February 6, 2025 • 39 mins
Philanthropist Josh Kraft has officially thrown his hat into the ring for Boston mayor. Kraft launched his mayoral campaign this week, making the issue of affordable housing one of his top priorities if elected mayor. Josh Kraft joined us on NightSide to talk about his campaign for mayor, the issues he’s most compassionate about, and his hope for Boston if elected.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBSY Koston's new video.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, welcome back everyone. I'm delighted to be joined
by Josh Craft. Last week Josh Kraft announced that he
was running from Mayor of Boston and so Josh, hopefully
we'll have you on several times between now and whenever.
But welcome for your first appearance here on Nightside.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
How are you, sir, I'm great, Dan, thank you, and
I want to also congratulate you on four thousand shows guys.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Thank you. Yeah, I know, pretty good run.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, You've been an institution in the city and the
in the region, and your show is educated and informed
many and it's an integral part of the city and
the community. So congratulations, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Rob was mentioning that last night they were using some
of my audio from my live shots during the Blizzard
of seventy eight, which probably means I've been around much
too long. But let's talk about the future, and let's
talk about you. First of all, tell us a little
bit about yourself. Obviously, know we know that you come
(01:15):
from this incredible family that owns the New England Patriots,
but just tell us a little bit about yourself, because
I think that you need the first of all, to
introduce yourself to.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Your potential constituents.
Speaker 5 (01:31):
Well, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, So, as you said, I'm a member of the
Craft family, my dad Robert, my late mom Myra, and
you know I've spent However, I wasn't in the family business.
I spent most of my life thirty five years working
in community, and thirty of those years with Boys and
(01:56):
Girls clubs in Boston. And I started back in the
fall of nineteen ninety in South Boston doing an outreach
program with kids in the West Broadway housing development in
the Old Colony development and Mary Allen McCormick and working
with kids and might have been having some issues in
school and other things. And really, back, like I said
(02:20):
nineteen ninety, it opened my eyes to things that only
read about or heard about, you know, on radio or TV.
And also what exposed me to was the power of community,
the power of people coming together to help folks overcome
obstacles or what have you. And the Boys and Girls
club and I made it my career and shortly after
(02:41):
started a club in Chelsea in the basement of the
Innis Public housing development and we got a beautiful building
there and then I spent my last twelve well, I
spent nine years moving the club around the city of Chelsea.
We finally got a club built in two been another
six years there and became CEO of Boys and Girls
(03:02):
Club in o Way and did that for twelve years.
And really community work became a calling for me, working
with people in community and that's me in a nutshell.
I know it's quick, but no, that's.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
You know, that gives us a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
So my question then is, obviously, I'm sure you had
plenty of options other than to do that's that sort
of service, and that's genuine service.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
What drew you to that?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was there a moment in time where you said, Hey,
I'm a pretty lucky guy. I can give back here.
What got you to that point?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm definitely a lucky guy. I think, as I said
in my announcement speech, I wasn't born on third base.
I was born at home Plate, and I'm very much
aware of that. But I think the community service work
and beyond Boys and Girls Club, I was involved in
a lot of volunteer you know, board service. I chair
(04:02):
the Hate Crimes Task Force for the state with Secretary
Reading but you know, Dan, it's pretty you know. I
was always told in life that if you love what
you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
And for me, community work, being with people, learning from
different people, I loved it and I still love it,
(04:24):
and I never really thought I worked a day in
my life because of that, and that's what I enjoy.
It's what inspires me, and that's that's it, you know,
meeting people, understanding different people from different backgrounds and how
to bring them together to build a sense of community
and to move us all forward.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I very much ascribe to that, to that philosophy as well.
So at some point you or some people must have
said to you, or you must have looked in the
mirror and said, gee, I'm going to take this one
step further and I'm going to offer myself as mayor
of Boston.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
When did you get to that point?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
And I'm sure it's like everyone who becomes a politician,
and you're a politician at this point, candidate for public office.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Huh.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It has to be an evolution.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I mean, you didn't wake up some morning on you know,
July third, whatever, twenty twenty four and say, you know what,
I want to do next?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
How did you how did you get to that point?
And again in a.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Nutshell, yeah, in a nutshell, you know, and get to
the endgame, you know, to be the mayor of Boston.
I know it's not an easy job. But to me,
as I said, I've done community work my whole life,
and being the mayor of Boston or any city or
(05:45):
town is the ultimate community job because you're dealing with
so many different people, a lot of different agendas, people
with different backgrounds, people with different thoughts, and to create
that means of community with all of them is the
ultimate community experience. So for me, in some ways, I
(06:07):
felt that was always trending towards not the mayor of Boston,
but a large community building challenger opportunity. And to be
specific about this job, I started thinking about it seriously
fourteen fifteen months ago. It was probably a couple months ago,
(06:29):
maybe six six, seven weeks ago I made the firm
decision to move forward, but it was it's been on
my mind for, you know, fourteen to fifteen months or so.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
So let's talk about some.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Of the distinctions that you will have to draw with
the incumbent mayor. And I've heard, I read your announcement.
I read all of the material, many columns as I could.
You've actually been I think treated pretty fairly by by
the Boston Globe, a couple of ittorial welcoming editorials. And
I think it's important for Boston to have a mayor's race.
(07:06):
And I think that you bring a set of experiences
and you know the city and you know the community.
So what has driven you to say, Okay, I can
do a better job. Because as I read your speeches
and I read the reports, I think that's what you're saying,
that you can be a better, more effective mayor than
(07:29):
the incumbent.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Thanks Dan, And for myself, when I look at this
opportunity and the current administration, it's not about ideology. It's
about getting results, making an impact. And I feel like
that's something I've been able to do throughout my professional career,
(07:57):
and I think that's the difference. I think that there's
a need for this for the city administration, the mayoral administration,
the current administration not not providing, not providing enough results
for the citizens of the city or impact. And that's
(08:19):
something that I'm confident myself and our administration could do,
and that's to me the number one difference. It's about
not about ideology, it's about getting results.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Okay, so let's let's talk One of the themes of
your first few days here is the need for more housing. Uh,
and you peer that with some ideas about rent control.
Let's talk about housing. What can a mayor do to
to create more housing? Obviously, the more housing we have,
(08:56):
the less expensive. I mean, it's the kind of economics
one on one supplying to me and the one's going
to argue with you about that.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
But what can do that's not being done currently?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, and you know, I know when I spoke about it,
I said rent control, And you know I'd like to say,
make a slight variation of that for us. We would
call it opt in rent control, where landlords would have
an opportunity to opt into a program where keeping their
(09:26):
rents at a sustainable wage, particularly for workforce and affordable
housing clients or housing folks and the and at the
back end they get a tax break tax abatement at
the end of the year. And this should be a
ten year commitment and then could revisit it after ten years.
(09:48):
So it's not I know, rent control, as you know,
it's seemed on on a slide deck or what have you.
But it's sort of So we've changed the name more
to an opt in rent control incentivizing landlords and you know,
it benefits landlords and it benefits renters as well, and
(10:11):
we're going to focus on we're not it excludes luxury units,
so workforce and affordable units.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Okay, So come back to the housing issue, and that is.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
This. Has a study been done as to how many
more housing units, whether they be rental apartments, condominiums, or
standalone homes or three decors that we need. Has anyone
taken the time to look at that and do a
survey and say, okay, here's where we are and here's
where we got to get to.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
That.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I can't answer, Dan, I don't have an answer to that.
I do know that on the sideline currently, there's more
than twenty three thousand permitted housing units that are sitting
on the sideline in the city. And it's not just
(11:05):
units that aren't being built, it's you know, construction jobs
as well as significant amount of tax revenue that's sitting
on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
So say city, when you say sitting on the sideline, shushu,
I want to make sure you're not talking about properties
that exist now and no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
No permited, yeah and ready to be built and for
whatever uh regulations or bureaucracy, they can't get going. And
I think we'd like to incentivize people in whatever way
we can to get shovels in the ground because in
(11:43):
the end, accessibility is affordability, and we need to create
access to more units. And look at it. I'm not
naive to think, oh, you just go in and in
day one. No, you got to work with people. You
got to understand people, and there's a give and take
and ending tootiation. But yeah, you got to sit down
with people you might not always agree with. You got
(12:06):
to sit down with people other people that don't agree
with each other and find a pass forward.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yeah, it sounds to me like you'd like to become
what I would call a red tape cutter, somebody who
might be able to come some of the regulations that
are holding things back exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
All right.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
My guest is Josh Kraft, candidate from mayor. He held
a very impressive announcement on Tuesday. We will take phone
calls if you're the only lines that are open right
now are the six, one, seven, nine, three, one, ten
thirty line. The two five, four to ten thirty is
full up. We're going to ask people to ask questions
(12:43):
and not try to engage in debates. This is an
opportunity for you to find out something about Josh Kraft.
It's got a long time between February and September of
primary and then September a final election in November, so
well we'll get more conversation. Should go on with Josh
Graft hit upon some of the other issues that he
feels are important and issues that distinguish him from the
(13:06):
incumbent mayor Michelle Will back on night Side.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
My name is Dan Ray.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Right after this now back to Dan Ray, Mine from
the Window World Nightside Studios on w b Z, the
news radio.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
My guess is Josh Josh Craft running from Mayor of Boston.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Josh, let me hit a couple a couple of quick
issues and then I want to give folks an opportunity
to to talk. Well, we'll get to phone calls right
after nine thirty. We have full lines. A couple of things.
Bike lanes. I feel strongly about bike lanes. I was
told by State Senator Nick Collins of South Boston. I
(13:46):
think that the city has spent one hundred and twenty
one million dollars installing bike lanes there everywhere. But what's
your thought on bike lanes?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Well, thanks, Jan, Well, let me first say I am
not against bike lanes. I'm all for bike lanes. However,
four bike lanes that are put down and installed in
the thoughts away that does not lead to congestions for pedestrians, bikers,
(14:19):
cars and buses. And you know, from everywhere I go,
whether it's I hear about the bike lanes from seniors, families,
folks and the say, you know, disabled folks, small business
owners and a lot of people and a lot of
their issues that they can't move around the city the
way they used to. Especially small businesses are feeling it.
(14:42):
And you know, to see a proliferation of bike lanes
without really a direction of a thought out plan on
how to put them down is concerning. And a lot
of people who have expressed consternation with that or whatever
they're not they don't feel really listened to or heard
(15:06):
with it. And then one hundred and twenty million dollars
and in a sort of haphazard not that out planned,
it's not a great way to do it, but I
want to want sorry, I just want to end up.
I think I do support bike lanes, but just done
in a thoughtful, correct way.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I tell you, if you ever take a walk on
Center Street in West Roxbury from the Holy Dame Circle
to uh, the business people out there are just beside themselves.
But but that's I'm sure you'll have an opportunity to
do that. Also, let's talk about White Stadium, and I
know that the people are saying, wow, you know it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Was a prep family.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
They're maybe they're trying to build a soccer stadium in
every conflict of interest. You pretty much dealt with that
the other day. But want to address that issue and
also address why White Stadium is being destroyed At this point,
I had someone on the other end who was telling
me that scores of beautiful trees are being uprooted near
(16:15):
White Stadium in order to provide parking spaces. My understanding
is a lot of the community there is pretty upset
with what's going on.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, I mean, and that really goes to my thoughts
and feelings on White Stadium. The first, I think the
project needs a pause, a hard pause, for two reasons.
And you just captured one the folks most impacted, the
folks that live around it. The majority have expressed real
(16:49):
and genuine concerns with what's going on there and how
it impacts them and their quality of life. You got
to listen to that, you got to hear that, you
got understand it. And the second part is, you know,
when you spend one hundred million dollars and maybe more
than that, when a public when a city spends that
(17:12):
much money of public money, tax dollars on a project
that primarily benefits a private entity, I think you've really
got to look at it balanced out, especially with the
the communities concerns, the most impacted community folks concerns with it,
and you really got to think it out and take
(17:34):
community concerns seriously and the amount of money you're spending seriously.
So again, I think a hard pause is needed on
the project.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
My guess is Josh Kraft running from mayor. Certainly the
family name needs no introduction, but this is hopefully an
introduction for all of you to talk and ask him
a question, to make a comment. We'll take a very
quick break for the news at the bottom of the hour,
and Josh will be taking your phone calls. I'm going
to try to stay out of it, but I'm going
to ask all.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Of you not to make speeches.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Ask a question about something that concerns you, formulate it
in your mind, and give him a chance to respond back.
On Night's Side, the lines are full right after.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
This, It's Night Side Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
We're going to try to get as many questions and
answers in. My guest is Josh Kraft running from mayor
of Boston announced on Tuesday. Appreciate him spending the time
with us tonight. Let's go to Brighton first and talk
with Glenn. Glenn, you were first tonight with the candidate
for mayor, Josh Craft. Your question of comment, Glenn, I had.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
A quick comment and a quick question. My comment is
it sounds like you're trying to lible Democrat each other.
I mean green schools and rent control and what's the
quest question? My question is what's your view on police
like I don't believe in defunding them, which is why
I voted for her opponent in the last election.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Or niece George, great question, Yeah, a public safety is
essential to this city and I would never defund the police.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
You got my vote, all.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right, Thanks, thanks, thank you appreciate it. That's a that's
a quick question and a direct answer. I think that's important. Thanks,
I appreciate it. Glenn held on a long time, asked
that question. Next up Bill in Boston, Bill, you were
next on Nightsager, right ahead.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Good evening, Dan Gatti, I'm the sigatore. I wanted to
comment that in the previous mayor election. Then Janey into
the race late three months after Walsh was named to
be the Lafe secorate for Joe Biden, and that caused
a split in the Black vote in Boston. Had she
not gotten in late, Andrew Campbell would likely have become
(19:53):
the mayor. I have a question for Josh, and my
question is in working with the young people and the
boys and Girls clubs in Boston and Chelsea, what did
you learn about the circumstances of their families as they
faced living in such an increasingly expensive city as Boston, the.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Circumstances where they had to rely on you know, well,
I'll talk to to the Boys and Girls club. Maybe
it's just both parents might be working. If there was
only one parent in the house, that parent was working,
and you could see, you know, they'd hustle. You know,
we were serving dinners, so it made it easier for
(20:37):
a lot of parents that were working full time, whether
I said both parents or if it's a single parent,
and you could see with some families how there was.
It was always a hustle. I got to get here
because I got to get this done. I got to
get here, got to get this done. And for whatever,
you know, rushing to get things done, knowing that constant
(21:00):
pressure and stress, and I'd hope that working through the
Boys and Girls Club, we were taking some of that away,
providing not just activities for kids, but access to opportunities
for them in their future. So that's what I learned.
I could see the stress that some families had with it,
(21:21):
and I hope that our organization when I was there,
and other Gray organizations across the city, whether it's the
Why or wherever, could help ease some of that stress.
Speaker 8 (21:34):
Knowing that you don't have to do this. I want
to say thank you for running for mayor of Boston.
Thank you very much, Bill.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I appreciate you called great, gracious, thank you. Okay, we're
going to go next to Paul in Boston. Paul you
were next on Night Side with Meryl Kennedy.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Josh Kraft, good evening.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Hello, Uh.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
I'm calling it.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I'm calling because, uh.
Speaker 9 (22:11):
Do you hear me?
Speaker 4 (22:12):
We heard?
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Okay, Okay, this is not a trick question or anything, Josh.
You get a lot going on, and it's early in
this contest. But I'm just curious if I had a
conversation with a former mayor was going on to do
some other things. And he's happy what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
He's a friend.
Speaker 9 (22:29):
But uh, I we well, Carver, I thing about president politics,
and I just said, I drive through the city, Maddie,
and I see three No, I said, I said, I see,
I see very few tower cranes. He looked right at
me and said, Paul, there are three in the sky
right now of Boston. Those are guy's not the mayor anymore,
and he knows and takes years before a tower crane
(22:51):
will even be erected to put a new building up.
Do you have any idea of how you might be
able to change this, because it's a it's a big
giant project. But and my other comment is.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Why don't we take them one at a time? Please, Paul,
Let's take them one Josh.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
Yeah, and.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I know the mayor, the ex mayor you were talking to,
is the best you know, and a good guy. I
learned a great guy and I learned a lot from
him when I was running boys and girls clubs. And yeah,
I know we we got to get cranes and cranes
in the sky, but people to work, which also means
(23:31):
somehow reimagining our downtown and bringing life back to our
downtown as well. And I will work with business folks,
other folks, the chamber whoever to figure out ways to
get those things moving again in the best possible way.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Oh you said you had one on the quick point,
make it quickly, because they got a whole bunch of
go ahead.
Speaker 9 (23:57):
I like to say, Josh, because you know Einstein said
that people can find a problem for resolution. But there's
a guy that's giving up his adult working life to
be a coalition builder. And I own a business at
Hyde Park. I can't vote to have I don't live
in the city anymore. But I think some people bussy.
Josh needs your head examined to go on a twenty
(24:17):
four to seven job, for you could do admittedly many
other things that make a lot more money and you're
right here rolling up your sleeves, so I wish you'd
love the best.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Well, you're able to make campaign contributions, Paul, even though
you don't live in Boston to the candidacy.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
You understand that, right, Yes, yes, sir, Okay, thanks having Paul,
Thanks Paul, appreciate it. All right, let me get one
in here.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I'm trying to take people primarily from Boston, but I'm
going to get Matt in Florida in real quickly.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Matt, go right ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Uh yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
My parents live in South Boston and they're too scared
to ask this question, so they have a hand in this.
Would you be willing to take a pledge that says
your family will not build a soccer stadium while you
are the mayor of Boston because a lot of people
just think you're only doing this, you know, grease palms.
Thank you, that's my only question.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Thank you? All right, thanks.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
I don't understand that, but I don't know where he's
coming fromwhere, God.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Josh, let me just say this, when it comes to
my family's business that's in front of the city, I
would recuse myself from many in all decisions that impact
my family's business. Or my family's business has impact on
the city, I would refuse myself from that. That being said,
(25:41):
you know I have I've had nothing to do with
decisions made by the Craft Group for thirty plus years,
and whether I'm the mayor of Bust or not, I'm
confident that would continue on for the rest of my life.
But let me be clear that I would recuse myself
from any decisions that deal with my family's business that
(26:02):
are in front of the city. So I can't I
would not take that pledge, but I would refuse myself.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I would also.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Add I'm not an expert here, Josh, but I believe
that the soccer stadium that's on the consideration will be
built in effort, which is a separate community might be
built in effort, which has nothing to do with Boston.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yeah, I mean there's a portion of it that is
in Boston, a small portion, so I get that. And
it also impacts transportation, you know, in the Charlestown as well,
so I completely understand that.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
But I mean, okay, good hitch, let me get one more.
David in San Francisco. David, You're next on a Night's Hiker.
Right ahead, You're own Josh Kraft running from Ayor to Boston.
Speaker 10 (26:53):
Go ahead, David, Thank you Dan, and good luck to you.
Mister Krafft.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
No, no, he's asking me how to spell my last name.
Rob will gave you the correct spelling my last name. David,
do you have a question for Josh.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Yes i am.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
I'm out here in San Francisco on Weft Coast, and
I'm just so far away from Boston politics. However, I
do listen to WBZ all day and I was wondering
if you have intentions of really fixing the MBTA.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Great good question, as Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Look, first I'd say that I think the current person,
mister Phil Aang, has been really doing a great job,
as good a job as I can remember A and B.
It's really not a city issue at the state issue.
So but I'd be happy. One of the things I've learned,
(27:56):
I'd be more than happier. I would want to work
with folks in the state, especially with the MBTA impact
boss and to make it better, more efficient for people
that need it.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
I think.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Also, by the way, David, you recently had a mayoral
election in San Francisco where an incumbent mayor was turned
out of office.
Speaker 10 (28:19):
Oh yes, I didn't follow that.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Okay, I did, Thank you very much, David. Stay there, Robi,
give you the correct spelling my last name. Maybe maybe
David's going to send me, I don't know, a check
in the mail.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
You never know, Josh your four thousand show.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Yeah, maybe you never know. The only lines open right
now are six one, seven, nine thirty. A couple of
lines there if you want to fill them up. We're
going to get some more questions and comments and conversation
with Josh Kraft Kennedy from mayor in Boston, he announced
formally on Tuesday.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Certainly at the end of this hour.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Josh, I want to give you some time to sort
of make a pitch and also give us the website
where folks can get into touch with you and your campaign.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
But I have.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Albertino coming up in Dorchester, Catherine in Boston, and more
callers on the way. We're back on Night Side with
my guest Josh Kraft right after this.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
My guest is Josh Kraft. A lot of phone calls, Josh,
let's keep them going. We're picking up the pace here.
Catherine in Boston. Catherine, you're next time Nightsiger.
Speaker 11 (29:28):
Right ahead, Hi Dan, Hi, mister Kraft. I have a
two part question. So I'm a lifelong resident. I'm a
lifelong resident of Dorchester. I'm raising my two kids here.
I wanted to know do you plan on keeping Boston
a sanctuary city and will you cooperate with the federal
(29:52):
governments plans for deportations?
Speaker 3 (29:56):
All right, thanks Catherine.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
First of all, what I am not for the mass
deportations of undocumented immigrants. You know, I support the current
stance because I spent my life in the cities and
I came in contact with many of these families that
(30:20):
were doing their best to live the right way. That
being said, you know, I know Mayor Walsh signed the
Trust Act or created the Trust Act when he was
in office that that permitted Boston Police to work with
federal ICE agents to arrest and deport undocumented violent criminals.
(30:48):
So I stand by and support Mayor Walsh's Trust Act,
and that's where I stand on that.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Okay, Captain Hope. That helps, Thank you, Thank you very much,
appreciate you here, good question. Next up.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Albertino in Dorchester Albertino. Next on Nice Ob with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
Go right ahead, Albertino, thany Man, good night, and when's
a craft? How are you today? I'm great. I have
two questions for you. First, I want to tell you
that Kate Ridian immigrant. I immigrated to Boston when I
was fifteen, thirty nine years ago, and I love Boston
(31:30):
and to the point where I want to I feel
like you are the right person for this job. For
a lot of reasons, I'm not gonna go. But my
first question is about the high school that I went to,
Madison Park. I don't know if you're familiar with the
project to renovate Madison Park, which it was put on hold,
(31:56):
and a lot of people are saying that the reason
they put it on hold because of the White stagent.
But if you win the election, what are you going
to do about that project? That's our first question? Okay, okay,
all right. So I don't know all the numbers, and
(32:20):
I don't know if the money from the Madison project.
I'm not saying it's not true. I just don't have
the fact, so I can't comment on that. I can
say that, you know, I think creating a more robust
(32:41):
technical school job opportunities through Madison Park. Hopefully engaging with
the unions in getting young people headed in that direction
is something I support. And I know that we need
to make Madison Park more impactful and stronger, and I'm
(33:02):
all for that. I would like to sit with the
folks that could help us do that, be it unions, teachers, educators,
community folks and alumni like yourself.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Let me, can I make a suggestin chentleman, Albertino, if
you would like to leave your phone number with Rob
and a daytime phone number, and Josh, if you get
a chance to look into this, and maybe week two
from now whatever you give you Artina a call back.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
That might work.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Okay, perfect, Albertina will do that. We're gonna take your
number and we'll get Rob will give it to Josh
when he leaves, and then he'll look into this and
I know he'll get back to you.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Okay, Okay, I have another question for of course, Albertina.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Let me do this. I gotta be fair.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I've only given everybody one at a time, so I'm
gonna get you some. Hopefully that's your most important question.
Let me get going here real quickly. If I can
I'm gonna ask Bishop right in Boston, Bishop.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Go right ahead, new ye had damn that? Were you?
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Good? Bishop? We're tight on time, my friend, go ahead.
Speaker 12 (34:05):
Okay, all right here here's my question for the running
mayor question about Blue Hill Avenue and the going back
to the bike lane. Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester border
right there across from Morton Street. Do we really need
the bike lane? Oh my goodness, I don't see no
(34:26):
one in that neighborhood riding bikes.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
So that's my question.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Do Bishop right, so you said we really need one
or we don't.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
No, he asked, do we really need one? Meeting, I
don't think he's very much happy about that bike lane.
Speaker 12 (34:46):
No going in that neighborhood riding bikes.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Okay, Yeah, Well, as I said, I'm not inti bike lane,
but I think we need to do a hard talk
on bike lane construction until we understand where they can
be the most efficient and help the most bike riders
as well as pedestrians and cars. So that also means
that there's places that are congested and unsafe, then we
(35:17):
have to look about, you know, removing them potentially in
those areas.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
There's a great question, but I got two more.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
I'm gonna try to sneak in here, okay, And I'm
with you, by the way, Bishop, I know that this
is Dan Ray. I'm with you one thousand percent on
that issue, my friend.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
You know that.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Okay, Yes, sir, Thanks Bishop, talk to you soon. Okay.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
We're gonna try to get two in very quickly. I'm
gonna ask Michael and Boston. Michael, please be as direct
and quick as you can with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Go ahead, Michael, sure.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (35:50):
Do you have anything in mind, mister Craft to relieve
the burden on taxpayers escalating taxis here in this a
number two four or against reparations?
Speaker 5 (36:06):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
For the first question, the tax relief, I think the
first thing we have to do before we go for
a home rule petition to shift tax burden is look
at the budget ourselves an administration. I think over the
(36:28):
last three years, the budget's grown twenty percent, three hundred
new jobs ad it at six figures, and we need
to you know, any I don't care if it's a
municipal government, of business or a nonprofit. You always start
before you do anything by looking at your budget, even
(36:49):
in good times, and finding places where you can make savings,
working with department heads to have them drill down and
find out where they can make savings. Maybe it's with
somebody's new jobs three hundred new jobs if Dan and
as Dan said, one hundred and ten plus million dollars
on bike lanes. Just looking at savings ourselves is one
(37:13):
way to do that.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
That's a question on reparations. I assume he means reparations
for the black community.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yes, yeah, and I've spoken to some folks about that.
I know there's so many different ways of looking at it,
but one of the things that I think is important
is finding pathways to generational wealth. And that's something you know,
I didn't mention early back at the beginning of this
the twenty plus thousand new units we want to get
(37:46):
moving that are permitted, creating a fund with the tax
revenue that could create first time home buyers for workforce
and affordable folks.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Excellent, Well, thank you for your question. One final quick question, Amy,
I'm going to get you in under the wire here.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
You gotta be quick. Amy is in Michigan.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Go ahead, Amy, What is the deal.
Speaker 11 (38:12):
With the homeless population and what is your.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Campaign going to.
Speaker 11 (38:22):
To help them?
Speaker 3 (38:24):
If anything?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Okay, look, Josh, need a quick answer there. How concerned
are you about the homeless population in Boston? That's Amy's
question and what can be done?
Speaker 3 (38:33):
I'm concerned about it. One homeless person is one too many,
and it's about bringing service providers, community leaders, health experts,
mental health, substance abuse experts together to create a plan.
And I know I could get more specific. I know
we're running out of time, but.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
We certainly are. Josh.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Look, let me just say this, You've given great answers.
You were hit with questions from across and UH and
you were honest enough to say you got to do
some more research. So I hope you get back to
Albertino in that.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
How can you get me Albertino's money? We can, we
can money.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Excuse me, his number, get his number, don't hang up first.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
First, I need your website where people can get in
touch with you or help your campaign.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Gosh for Boston dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Easy Josh from Boston dot com. Josh, Hopefully we.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Will do this again, definitely, Zan and congratulations on your
awesome career and four thousand shows.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
Thank you very much. Stay right there.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Rob has Albertino's phone number for you, and we have
the ten o'clock news coming, and we get back on
and talk about his President Trump getting out over skis
talking about Gossam. We'll be back on night Side right
after the ten o'clock news. So the call is in
the line, we should call it early, apologize,
It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBSY Koston's new video.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, welcome back everyone. I'm delighted to be joined
by Josh Craft. Last week Josh Kraft announced that he
was running from Mayor of Boston and so Josh, hopefully
we'll have you on several times between now and whenever.
But welcome for your first appearance here on Nightside.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
How are you, sir, I'm great, Dan, thank you, and
I want to also congratulate you on four thousand shows guys.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Thank you. Yeah, I know, pretty good run.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, You've been an institution in the city and the
in the region, and your show is educated and informed
many and it's an integral part of the city and
the community. So congratulations, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Rob was mentioning that last night they were using some
of my audio from my live shots during the Blizzard
of seventy eight, which probably means I've been around much
too long. But let's talk about the future, and let's
talk about you. First of all, tell us a little
bit about yourself. Obviously, know we know that you come
(01:15):
from this incredible family that owns the New England Patriots,
but just tell us a little bit about yourself, because
I think that you need the first of all, to
introduce yourself to.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Your potential constituents.
Speaker 5 (01:31):
Well, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, So, as you said, I'm a member of the
Craft family, my dad Robert, my late mom Myra, and
you know I've spent However, I wasn't in the family business.
I spent most of my life thirty five years working
in community, and thirty of those years with Boys and
(01:56):
Girls clubs in Boston. And I started back in the
fall of nineteen ninety in South Boston doing an outreach
program with kids in the West Broadway housing development in
the Old Colony development and Mary Allen McCormick and working
with kids and might have been having some issues in
school and other things. And really, back, like I said
(02:20):
nineteen ninety, it opened my eyes to things that only
read about or heard about, you know, on radio or TV.
And also what exposed me to was the power of community,
the power of people coming together to help folks overcome
obstacles or what have you. And the Boys and Girls
club and I made it my career and shortly after
(02:41):
started a club in Chelsea in the basement of the
Innis Public housing development and we got a beautiful building
there and then I spent my last twelve well, I
spent nine years moving the club around the city of Chelsea.
We finally got a club built in two been another
six years there and became CEO of Boys and Girls
(03:02):
Club in o Way and did that for twelve years.
And really community work became a calling for me, working
with people in community and that's me in a nutshell.
I know it's quick, but no, that's.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
You know, that gives us a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
So my question then is, obviously, I'm sure you had
plenty of options other than to do that's that sort
of service, and that's genuine service.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
What drew you to that?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was there a moment in time where you said, Hey,
I'm a pretty lucky guy. I can give back here.
What got you to that point?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm definitely a lucky guy. I think, as I said
in my announcement speech, I wasn't born on third base.
I was born at home Plate, and I'm very much
aware of that. But I think the community service work
and beyond Boys and Girls Club, I was involved in
a lot of volunteer you know, board service. I chair
(04:02):
the Hate Crimes Task Force for the state with Secretary
Reading but you know, Dan, it's pretty you know. I
was always told in life that if you love what
you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
And for me, community work, being with people, learning from
different people, I loved it and I still love it,
(04:24):
and I never really thought I worked a day in
my life because of that, and that's what I enjoy.
It's what inspires me, and that's that's it, you know,
meeting people, understanding different people from different backgrounds and how
to bring them together to build a sense of community
and to move us all forward.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I very much ascribe to that, to that philosophy as well.
So at some point you or some people must have
said to you, or you must have looked in the
mirror and said, gee, I'm going to take this one
step further and I'm going to offer myself as mayor
of Boston.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
When did you get to that point?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
And I'm sure it's like everyone who becomes a politician,
and you're a politician at this point, candidate for public office.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Huh.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It has to be an evolution.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I mean, you didn't wake up some morning on you know,
July third, whatever, twenty twenty four and say, you know what,
I want to do next?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
How did you how did you get to that point?
And again in a.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Nutshell, yeah, in a nutshell, you know, and get to
the endgame, you know, to be the mayor of Boston.
I know it's not an easy job. But to me,
as I said, I've done community work my whole life,
and being the mayor of Boston or any city or
(05:45):
town is the ultimate community job because you're dealing with
so many different people, a lot of different agendas, people
with different backgrounds, people with different thoughts, and to create
that means of community with all of them is the
ultimate community experience. So for me, in some ways, I
(06:07):
felt that was always trending towards not the mayor of Boston,
but a large community building challenger opportunity. And to be
specific about this job, I started thinking about it seriously
fourteen fifteen months ago. It was probably a couple months ago,
(06:29):
maybe six six, seven weeks ago I made the firm
decision to move forward, but it was it's been on
my mind for, you know, fourteen to fifteen months or so.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
So let's talk about some.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Of the distinctions that you will have to draw with
the incumbent mayor. And I've heard, I read your announcement.
I read all of the material, many columns as I could.
You've actually been I think treated pretty fairly by by
the Boston Globe, a couple of ittorial welcoming editorials. And
I think it's important for Boston to have a mayor's race.
(07:06):
And I think that you bring a set of experiences
and you know the city and you know the community.
So what has driven you to say, Okay, I can
do a better job. Because as I read your speeches
and I read the reports, I think that's what you're saying,
that you can be a better, more effective mayor than
(07:29):
the incumbent.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Thanks Dan, And for myself, when I look at this
opportunity and the current administration, it's not about ideology. It's
about getting results, making an impact. And I feel like
that's something I've been able to do throughout my professional career,
(07:57):
and I think that's the difference. I think that there's
a need for this for the city administration, the mayoral administration,
the current administration not not providing, not providing enough results
for the citizens of the city or impact. And that's
(08:19):
something that I'm confident myself and our administration could do,
and that's to me the number one difference. It's about
not about ideology, it's about getting results.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Okay, so let's let's talk One of the themes of
your first few days here is the need for more housing. Uh,
and you peer that with some ideas about rent control.
Let's talk about housing. What can a mayor do to
to create more housing? Obviously, the more housing we have,
(08:56):
the less expensive. I mean, it's the kind of economics
one on one supplying to me and the one's going
to argue with you about that.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
But what can do that's not being done currently?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, and you know, I know when I spoke about it,
I said rent control, And you know I'd like to say,
make a slight variation of that for us. We would
call it opt in rent control, where landlords would have
an opportunity to opt into a program where keeping their
(09:26):
rents at a sustainable wage, particularly for workforce and affordable
housing clients or housing folks and the and at the
back end they get a tax break tax abatement at
the end of the year. And this should be a
ten year commitment and then could revisit it after ten years.
(09:48):
So it's not I know, rent control, as you know,
it's seemed on on a slide deck or what have you.
But it's sort of So we've changed the name more
to an opt in rent control incentivizing landlords and you know,
it benefits landlords and it benefits renters as well, and
(10:11):
we're going to focus on we're not it excludes luxury units,
so workforce and affordable units.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Okay, So come back to the housing issue, and that is.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
This. Has a study been done as to how many
more housing units, whether they be rental apartments, condominiums, or
standalone homes or three decors that we need. Has anyone
taken the time to look at that and do a
survey and say, okay, here's where we are and here's
where we got to get to.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
That.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I can't answer, Dan, I don't have an answer to that.
I do know that on the sideline currently, there's more
than twenty three thousand permitted housing units that are sitting
on the sideline in the city. And it's not just
(11:05):
units that aren't being built, it's you know, construction jobs
as well as significant amount of tax revenue that's sitting
on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
So say city, when you say sitting on the sideline, shushu,
I want to make sure you're not talking about properties
that exist now and no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
No permited, yeah and ready to be built and for
whatever uh regulations or bureaucracy, they can't get going. And
I think we'd like to incentivize people in whatever way
we can to get shovels in the ground because in
(11:43):
the end, accessibility is affordability, and we need to create
access to more units. And look at it. I'm not
naive to think, oh, you just go in and in
day one. No, you got to work with people. You
got to understand people, and there's a give and take
and ending tootiation. But yeah, you got to sit down
with people you might not always agree with. You got
(12:06):
to sit down with people other people that don't agree
with each other and find a pass forward.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yeah, it sounds to me like you'd like to become
what I would call a red tape cutter, somebody who
might be able to come some of the regulations that
are holding things back exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
All right.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
My guest is Josh Kraft, candidate from mayor. He held
a very impressive announcement on Tuesday. We will take phone
calls if you're the only lines that are open right
now are the six, one, seven, nine, three, one, ten
thirty line. The two five, four to ten thirty is
full up. We're going to ask people to ask questions
(12:43):
and not try to engage in debates. This is an
opportunity for you to find out something about Josh Kraft.
It's got a long time between February and September of
primary and then September a final election in November, so
well we'll get more conversation. Should go on with Josh
Graft hit upon some of the other issues that he
feels are important and issues that distinguish him from the
(13:06):
incumbent mayor Michelle Will back on night Side.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
My name is Dan Ray.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Right after this now back to Dan Ray, Mine from
the Window World Nightside Studios on w b Z, the
news radio.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
My guess is Josh Josh Craft running from Mayor of Boston.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Josh, let me hit a couple a couple of quick
issues and then I want to give folks an opportunity
to to talk. Well, we'll get to phone calls right
after nine thirty. We have full lines. A couple of things.
Bike lanes. I feel strongly about bike lanes. I was
told by State Senator Nick Collins of South Boston. I
(13:46):
think that the city has spent one hundred and twenty
one million dollars installing bike lanes there everywhere. But what's
your thought on bike lanes?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Well, thanks, Jan, Well, let me first say I am
not against bike lanes. I'm all for bike lanes. However,
four bike lanes that are put down and installed in
the thoughts away that does not lead to congestions for pedestrians, bikers,
(14:19):
cars and buses. And you know, from everywhere I go,
whether it's I hear about the bike lanes from seniors, families,
folks and the say, you know, disabled folks, small business
owners and a lot of people and a lot of
their issues that they can't move around the city the
way they used to. Especially small businesses are feeling it.
(14:42):
And you know, to see a proliferation of bike lanes
without really a direction of a thought out plan on
how to put them down is concerning. And a lot
of people who have expressed consternation with that or whatever
they're not they don't feel really listened to or heard
(15:06):
with it. And then one hundred and twenty million dollars
and in a sort of haphazard not that out planned,
it's not a great way to do it, but I
want to want sorry, I just want to end up.
I think I do support bike lanes, but just done
in a thoughtful, correct way.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I tell you, if you ever take a walk on
Center Street in West Roxbury from the Holy Dame Circle
to uh, the business people out there are just beside themselves.
But but that's I'm sure you'll have an opportunity to
do that. Also, let's talk about White Stadium, and I
know that the people are saying, wow, you know it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Was a prep family.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
They're maybe they're trying to build a soccer stadium in
every conflict of interest. You pretty much dealt with that
the other day. But want to address that issue and
also address why White Stadium is being destroyed At this point,
I had someone on the other end who was telling
me that scores of beautiful trees are being uprooted near
(16:15):
White Stadium in order to provide parking spaces. My understanding
is a lot of the community there is pretty upset
with what's going on.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, I mean, and that really goes to my thoughts
and feelings on White Stadium. The first, I think the
project needs a pause, a hard pause, for two reasons.
And you just captured one the folks most impacted, the
folks that live around it. The majority have expressed real
(16:49):
and genuine concerns with what's going on there and how
it impacts them and their quality of life. You got
to listen to that, you got to hear that, you
got understand it. And the second part is, you know,
when you spend one hundred million dollars and maybe more
than that, when a public when a city spends that
(17:12):
much money of public money, tax dollars on a project
that primarily benefits a private entity, I think you've really
got to look at it balanced out, especially with the
the communities concerns, the most impacted community folks concerns with it,
and you really got to think it out and take
(17:34):
community concerns seriously and the amount of money you're spending seriously.
So again, I think a hard pause is needed on
the project.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
My guess is Josh Kraft running from mayor. Certainly the
family name needs no introduction, but this is hopefully an
introduction for all of you to talk and ask him
a question, to make a comment. We'll take a very
quick break for the news at the bottom of the hour,
and Josh will be taking your phone calls. I'm going
to try to stay out of it, but I'm going
to ask all.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Of you not to make speeches.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Ask a question about something that concerns you, formulate it
in your mind, and give him a chance to respond back.
On Night's Side, the lines are full right after.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
This, It's Night Side Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
We're going to try to get as many questions and
answers in. My guest is Josh Kraft running from mayor
of Boston announced on Tuesday. Appreciate him spending the time
with us tonight. Let's go to Brighton first and talk
with Glenn. Glenn, you were first tonight with the candidate
for mayor, Josh Craft. Your question of comment, Glenn, I had.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
A quick comment and a quick question. My comment is
it sounds like you're trying to lible Democrat each other.
I mean green schools and rent control and what's the
quest question? My question is what's your view on police
like I don't believe in defunding them, which is why
I voted for her opponent in the last election.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Or niece George, great question, Yeah, a public safety is
essential to this city and I would never defund the police.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
You got my vote, all.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right, Thanks, thanks, thank you appreciate it. That's a that's
a quick question and a direct answer. I think that's important. Thanks,
I appreciate it. Glenn held on a long time, asked
that question. Next up Bill in Boston, Bill, you were
next on Nightsager, right ahead.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Good evening, Dan Gatti, I'm the sigatore. I wanted to
comment that in the previous mayor election. Then Janey into
the race late three months after Walsh was named to
be the Lafe secorate for Joe Biden, and that caused
a split in the Black vote in Boston. Had she
not gotten in late, Andrew Campbell would likely have become
(19:53):
the mayor. I have a question for Josh, and my
question is in working with the young people and the
boys and Girls clubs in Boston and Chelsea, what did
you learn about the circumstances of their families as they
faced living in such an increasingly expensive city as Boston, the.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Circumstances where they had to rely on you know, well,
I'll talk to to the Boys and Girls club. Maybe
it's just both parents might be working. If there was
only one parent in the house, that parent was working,
and you could see, you know, they'd hustle. You know,
we were serving dinners, so it made it easier for
(20:37):
a lot of parents that were working full time, whether
I said both parents or if it's a single parent,
and you could see with some families how there was.
It was always a hustle. I got to get here
because I got to get this done. I got to
get here, got to get this done. And for whatever,
you know, rushing to get things done, knowing that constant
(21:00):
pressure and stress, and I'd hope that working through the
Boys and Girls Club, we were taking some of that away,
providing not just activities for kids, but access to opportunities
for them in their future. So that's what I learned.
I could see the stress that some families had with it,
(21:21):
and I hope that our organization when I was there,
and other Gray organizations across the city, whether it's the
Why or wherever, could help ease some of that stress.
Speaker 8 (21:34):
Knowing that you don't have to do this. I want
to say thank you for running for mayor of Boston.
Thank you very much, Bill.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I appreciate you called great, gracious, thank you. Okay, we're
going to go next to Paul in Boston. Paul you
were next on Night Side with Meryl Kennedy.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Josh Kraft, good evening.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Hello, Uh.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
I'm calling it.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I'm calling because, uh.
Speaker 9 (22:11):
Do you hear me?
Speaker 4 (22:12):
We heard?
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Okay, Okay, this is not a trick question or anything, Josh.
You get a lot going on, and it's early in
this contest. But I'm just curious if I had a
conversation with a former mayor was going on to do
some other things. And he's happy what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
He's a friend.
Speaker 9 (22:29):
But uh, I we well, Carver, I thing about president politics,
and I just said, I drive through the city, Maddie,
and I see three No, I said, I said, I see,
I see very few tower cranes. He looked right at
me and said, Paul, there are three in the sky
right now of Boston. Those are guy's not the mayor anymore,
and he knows and takes years before a tower crane
(22:51):
will even be erected to put a new building up.
Do you have any idea of how you might be
able to change this, because it's a it's a big
giant project. But and my other comment is.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Why don't we take them one at a time? Please, Paul,
Let's take them one Josh.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
Yeah, and.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I know the mayor, the ex mayor you were talking to,
is the best you know, and a good guy. I
learned a great guy and I learned a lot from
him when I was running boys and girls clubs. And yeah,
I know we we got to get cranes and cranes
in the sky, but people to work, which also means
(23:31):
somehow reimagining our downtown and bringing life back to our
downtown as well. And I will work with business folks,
other folks, the chamber whoever to figure out ways to
get those things moving again in the best possible way.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Oh you said you had one on the quick point,
make it quickly, because they got a whole bunch of
go ahead.
Speaker 9 (23:57):
I like to say, Josh, because you know Einstein said
that people can find a problem for resolution. But there's
a guy that's giving up his adult working life to
be a coalition builder. And I own a business at
Hyde Park. I can't vote to have I don't live
in the city anymore. But I think some people bussy.
Josh needs your head examined to go on a twenty
(24:17):
four to seven job, for you could do admittedly many
other things that make a lot more money and you're
right here rolling up your sleeves, so I wish you'd
love the best.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Well, you're able to make campaign contributions, Paul, even though
you don't live in Boston to the candidacy.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
You understand that, right, Yes, yes, sir, Okay, thanks having Paul,
Thanks Paul, appreciate it. All right, let me get one
in here.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I'm trying to take people primarily from Boston, but I'm
going to get Matt in Florida in real quickly.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Matt, go right ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Uh yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
My parents live in South Boston and they're too scared
to ask this question, so they have a hand in this.
Would you be willing to take a pledge that says
your family will not build a soccer stadium while you
are the mayor of Boston because a lot of people
just think you're only doing this, you know, grease palms.
Thank you, that's my only question.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Thank you? All right, thanks.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
I don't understand that, but I don't know where he's
coming fromwhere, God.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Josh, let me just say this, when it comes to
my family's business that's in front of the city, I
would recuse myself from many in all decisions that impact
my family's business. Or my family's business has impact on
the city, I would refuse myself from that. That being said,
(25:41):
you know I have I've had nothing to do with
decisions made by the Craft Group for thirty plus years,
and whether I'm the mayor of Bust or not, I'm
confident that would continue on for the rest of my life.
But let me be clear that I would recuse myself
from any decisions that deal with my family's business that
(26:02):
are in front of the city. So I can't I
would not take that pledge, but I would refuse myself.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I would also.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Add I'm not an expert here, Josh, but I believe
that the soccer stadium that's on the consideration will be
built in effort, which is a separate community might be
built in effort, which has nothing to do with Boston.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yeah, I mean there's a portion of it that is
in Boston, a small portion, so I get that. And
it also impacts transportation, you know, in the Charlestown as well,
so I completely understand that.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
But I mean, okay, good hitch, let me get one more.
David in San Francisco. David, You're next on a Night's Hiker.
Right ahead, You're own Josh Kraft running from Ayor to Boston.
Speaker 10 (26:53):
Go ahead, David, Thank you Dan, and good luck to you.
Mister Krafft.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
No, no, he's asking me how to spell my last name.
Rob will gave you the correct spelling my last name. David,
do you have a question for Josh.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Yes i am.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
I'm out here in San Francisco on Weft Coast, and
I'm just so far away from Boston politics. However, I
do listen to WBZ all day and I was wondering
if you have intentions of really fixing the MBTA.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Great good question, as Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Look, first I'd say that I think the current person,
mister Phil Aang, has been really doing a great job,
as good a job as I can remember A and B.
It's really not a city issue at the state issue.
So but I'd be happy. One of the things I've learned,
(27:56):
I'd be more than happier. I would want to work
with folks in the state, especially with the MBTA impact
boss and to make it better, more efficient for people
that need it.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
I think.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Also, by the way, David, you recently had a mayoral
election in San Francisco where an incumbent mayor was turned
out of office.
Speaker 10 (28:19):
Oh yes, I didn't follow that.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Okay, I did, Thank you very much, David. Stay there, Robi,
give you the correct spelling my last name. Maybe maybe
David's going to send me, I don't know, a check
in the mail.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
You never know, Josh your four thousand show.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Yeah, maybe you never know. The only lines open right
now are six one, seven, nine thirty. A couple of
lines there if you want to fill them up. We're
going to get some more questions and comments and conversation
with Josh Kraft Kennedy from mayor in Boston, he announced
formally on Tuesday.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Certainly at the end of this hour.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Josh, I want to give you some time to sort
of make a pitch and also give us the website
where folks can get into touch with you and your campaign.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
But I have.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Albertino coming up in Dorchester, Catherine in Boston, and more
callers on the way. We're back on Night Side with
my guest Josh Kraft right after this.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
My guest is Josh Kraft. A lot of phone calls, Josh,
let's keep them going. We're picking up the pace here.
Catherine in Boston. Catherine, you're next time Nightsiger.
Speaker 11 (29:28):
Right ahead, Hi Dan, Hi, mister Kraft. I have a
two part question. So I'm a lifelong resident. I'm a
lifelong resident of Dorchester. I'm raising my two kids here.
I wanted to know do you plan on keeping Boston
a sanctuary city and will you cooperate with the federal
(29:52):
governments plans for deportations?
Speaker 3 (29:56):
All right, thanks Catherine.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
First of all, what I am not for the mass
deportations of undocumented immigrants. You know, I support the current
stance because I spent my life in the cities and
I came in contact with many of these families that
(30:20):
were doing their best to live the right way. That
being said, you know, I know Mayor Walsh signed the
Trust Act or created the Trust Act when he was
in office that that permitted Boston Police to work with
federal ICE agents to arrest and deport undocumented violent criminals.
(30:48):
So I stand by and support Mayor Walsh's Trust Act,
and that's where I stand on that.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Okay, Captain Hope. That helps, Thank you, Thank you very much,
appreciate you here, good question. Next up.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Albertino in Dorchester Albertino. Next on Nice Ob with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
Go right ahead, Albertino, thany Man, good night, and when's
a craft? How are you today? I'm great. I have
two questions for you. First, I want to tell you
that Kate Ridian immigrant. I immigrated to Boston when I
was fifteen, thirty nine years ago, and I love Boston
(31:30):
and to the point where I want to I feel
like you are the right person for this job. For
a lot of reasons, I'm not gonna go. But my
first question is about the high school that I went to,
Madison Park. I don't know if you're familiar with the
project to renovate Madison Park, which it was put on hold,
(31:56):
and a lot of people are saying that the reason
they put it on hold because of the White stagent.
But if you win the election, what are you going
to do about that project? That's our first question? Okay, okay,
all right. So I don't know all the numbers, and
(32:20):
I don't know if the money from the Madison project.
I'm not saying it's not true. I just don't have
the fact, so I can't comment on that. I can
say that, you know, I think creating a more robust
(32:41):
technical school job opportunities through Madison Park. Hopefully engaging with
the unions in getting young people headed in that direction
is something I support. And I know that we need
to make Madison Park more impactful and stronger, and I'm
(33:02):
all for that. I would like to sit with the
folks that could help us do that, be it unions, teachers, educators,
community folks and alumni like yourself.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Let me, can I make a suggestin chentleman, Albertino, if
you would like to leave your phone number with Rob
and a daytime phone number, and Josh, if you get
a chance to look into this, and maybe week two
from now whatever you give you Artina a call back.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
That might work.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Okay, perfect, Albertina will do that. We're gonna take your
number and we'll get Rob will give it to Josh
when he leaves, and then he'll look into this and
I know he'll get back to you.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Okay, Okay, I have another question for of course, Albertina.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Let me do this. I gotta be fair.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
I've only given everybody one at a time, so I'm
gonna get you some. Hopefully that's your most important question.
Let me get going here real quickly. If I can
I'm gonna ask Bishop right in Boston, Bishop.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Go right ahead, new ye had damn that? Were you?
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Good? Bishop? We're tight on time, my friend, go ahead.
Speaker 12 (34:05):
Okay, all right here here's my question for the running
mayor question about Blue Hill Avenue and the going back
to the bike lane. Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester border
right there across from Morton Street. Do we really need
the bike lane? Oh my goodness, I don't see no
(34:26):
one in that neighborhood riding bikes.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
So that's my question.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Do Bishop right, so you said we really need one
or we don't.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
No, he asked, do we really need one? Meeting, I
don't think he's very much happy about that bike lane.
Speaker 12 (34:46):
No going in that neighborhood riding bikes.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Okay, Yeah, Well, as I said, I'm not inti bike lane,
but I think we need to do a hard talk
on bike lane construction until we understand where they can
be the most efficient and help the most bike riders
as well as pedestrians and cars. So that also means
that there's places that are congested and unsafe, then we
(35:17):
have to look about, you know, removing them potentially in
those areas.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
There's a great question, but I got two more.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
I'm gonna try to sneak in here, okay, And I'm
with you, by the way, Bishop, I know that this
is Dan Ray. I'm with you one thousand percent on
that issue, my friend.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
You know that.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Okay, Yes, sir, Thanks Bishop, talk to you soon. Okay.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
We're gonna try to get two in very quickly. I'm
gonna ask Michael and Boston. Michael, please be as direct
and quick as you can with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Go ahead, Michael, sure.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (35:50):
Do you have anything in mind, mister Craft to relieve
the burden on taxpayers escalating taxis here in this a
number two four or against reparations?
Speaker 5 (36:06):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
For the first question, the tax relief, I think the
first thing we have to do before we go for
a home rule petition to shift tax burden is look
at the budget ourselves an administration. I think over the
(36:28):
last three years, the budget's grown twenty percent, three hundred
new jobs ad it at six figures, and we need
to you know, any I don't care if it's a
municipal government, of business or a nonprofit. You always start
before you do anything by looking at your budget, even
(36:49):
in good times, and finding places where you can make savings,
working with department heads to have them drill down and
find out where they can make savings. Maybe it's with
somebody's new jobs three hundred new jobs if Dan and
as Dan said, one hundred and ten plus million dollars
on bike lanes. Just looking at savings ourselves is one
(37:13):
way to do that.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
That's a question on reparations. I assume he means reparations
for the black community.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yes, yeah, and I've spoken to some folks about that.
I know there's so many different ways of looking at it,
but one of the things that I think is important
is finding pathways to generational wealth. And that's something you know,
I didn't mention early back at the beginning of this
the twenty plus thousand new units we want to get
(37:46):
moving that are permitted, creating a fund with the tax
revenue that could create first time home buyers for workforce
and affordable folks.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Excellent, Well, thank you for your question. One final quick question, Amy,
I'm going to get you in under the wire here.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
You gotta be quick. Amy is in Michigan.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Go ahead, Amy, What is the deal.
Speaker 11 (38:12):
With the homeless population and what is your.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Campaign going to.
Speaker 11 (38:22):
To help them?
Speaker 3 (38:24):
If anything?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Okay, look, Josh, need a quick answer there. How concerned
are you about the homeless population in Boston? That's Amy's
question and what can be done?
Speaker 3 (38:33):
I'm concerned about it. One homeless person is one too many,
and it's about bringing service providers, community leaders, health experts,
mental health, substance abuse experts together to create a plan.
And I know I could get more specific. I know
we're running out of time, but.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
We certainly are. Josh.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Look, let me just say this, You've given great answers.
You were hit with questions from across and UH and
you were honest enough to say you got to do
some more research. So I hope you get back to
Albertino in that.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
How can you get me Albertino's money? We can, we
can money.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Excuse me, his number, get his number, don't hang up first.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
First, I need your website where people can get in
touch with you or help your campaign.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Gosh for Boston dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Easy Josh from Boston dot com. Josh, Hopefully we.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Will do this again, definitely, Zan and congratulations on your
awesome career and four thousand shows.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
Thank you very much. Stay right there.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Rob has Albertino's phone number for you, and we have
the ten o'clock news coming, and we get back on
and talk about his President Trump getting out over skis
talking about Gossam. We'll be back on night Side right
after the ten o'clock news. So the call is in
the line, we should call it early, apologize,
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