April 3, 2025 • 39 mins
A judge has ruled the renovation of White Stadium is not in violation of state laws. Candidate for Boston Mayor Josh Kraft joined Dan to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray w Bzy constance video.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you, Dan Watkins. I'm delighted to be joined the
start of this hour at least maybe well into the hour.
The candidate from Mayor. There is one candidate from mayor
who chose not to get in the fight this week,
Tom O'Brien, a Boston developer. However, the one candidate who
is in the fight to challenge Boston Mayor Michelle who
(00:27):
is Josh Craft. And Josh joins us here on Nightside.
Josh Kraft, welcome back to Nightside. How are you, sir Bank?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Thanks Dan, thank you for having me as always.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Well you very welcome. Today your opponent, the Mayor, took
a bit of a victory lap because the way apparently
has been cleared for the demolition or the completion of
the demolition of White Stadium and the construction of a
new stadium in its place, a soccer stadium, which is
(01:00):
going to cost some say two hundred million dollars, but
at the end it might cost more than that, and
Boston taxpayers are on the hook for at least half
of that or maybe more. What's your reaction to this development.
I'm sure you're you're not happy about it.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, No, Dan, regardless of legal decisions, made one hundred
million dollars to a project that primarily benefits a private entity.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It's just not fiscally responsible for the City of Boston
to take on, especially when I know that there's a
project through the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a third of
that price that build rebuilds the stadium, which needs to
be done solely for the use of Boston public school
(01:53):
kids as well as for the generations of people that
have enjoyed the park. I said, for generations. In addition,
that hundred million is going to go up, especially with
the crazy tariff situation that Donald Trump is imposing in
the trade war he's starting, and it's just going to
make the costs go way up. And it's just not
(02:18):
a fiscally sound thing to do.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Well. The other thing which bothers me about it, and
again I'm not a candidate for mayor. I just watch
the conversation back and forth, and you certainly have made
a lot of senses. I have watched you talk about
this over the last few.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Weeks, is that there was one of the reports that
I saw today they sort of minimized They said that
the soccer team would only use the stadium for twenty
games and a practice only once a week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
But my understanding is that once the soccer season starts,
which is just right at the end of winter in
late March, Boston school kids aren't going to have access
to the refer the new constructed white stadium until sometime
in November because the turf or you know, the playing
(03:12):
surface could not for a soccer team, can't be affected
by a high school football game. So therefore, high school football,
which starts in September and October and is pretty much
done by Thanksgiving, high school teams won't get in there
until sometime in November, which seems to me they are
really getting the short end of the stick.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, one hundred percent, Dan, And that's you know, it's
such a traditional place to play football. It's been that
way again for generations of Boston school kid school kids
and their families going to watch games, and they won't
be able to play a football game there till November.
And by that time that means probably one game per
(03:56):
team because by the early November and as winding down.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Uh if if that and and also there's a how
many trees have been cut down there. These are trees
that are eighty years, one hundred years old, as I
under did it, great shade trees for people who who
live in the community and and and are able to
take advantage. And you know, there's a lot of folks
(04:25):
who that is their oasis, that is their summer place,
and it's been taken away from from a community that
is underserved here in Boston.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, like we said, you know, I know generations of
families that have lived in that area have enjoyed that
park and believe it was one hundred and forty five
trees that were taking down, taking taken down excuse me?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, well yeah, I mean cut cut down and it's
it's you could you can plant some saplings, but it's
going to be a couple of generations or more or
before those trees are are replaced. The mayor today basically
said this was a historic victory. It might have been
(05:10):
an historic victory, but my question is a historic victory
for whom?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Right? I know that. You know what's interesting which doesn't
come up much, is that the RFP that the woman's
professional team responded to.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
By the way, what is it? RFP? You and I
both know what but maybe some.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
People, Yeah, yeah, thank you, Dan. There were requests for proposals.
So the folks that were awarded the contract or the
ability to play in the stadium and get the benefit
of the public dollars being invested in the stadium, they
had to sign They created an application process and then
(05:56):
they applied for it and where the soul, you know,
and where the grand tease and they got the contract.
And that tells me this was never about Boston Public
school kids. This was always about getting a woman's professional
team there. Because if it was about Boston Public school kids,
there's a and we all know the stadium needed lots
of work. There's a thirty million dollar proposal that that
(06:21):
solely benefits BPS kids as well as the folks that
want to use the park. And to me, that's a
much more cost effective alternative as well as a usage
alternative because it would be solely for the use of
Boston Public school kids.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
My sense, and I haven't followed this nearly as closely
as you, but my sense is that this has been
on a fast track. How many other applicants were there
for this this request for proposal, My understanding is there
was just one.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, I would I don't know, Dan, and if it
was just one. Remember they were the ones that created
the application to apply to So if I wanted to
go to college and then the college said here, create
the application, I would create an application that would be
easy for me to do well on.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Sure you'd be able to fit fit all of the guidelines,
and you'd be the premier applicant. Josh, Let's let's take
a quick break here. I'd like to talk to you
a little bit about the race from mayor. We now
have moved into the month of April, so we're five
months away from the primary, uh and about seven months
(07:36):
away from the final election. Love to know how it's going,
and if there's a couple of other issues that you'd
like to highlight. Let's see if folks would like to
join the conversation as well. We'll take you a couple
of phone calls six one seven thirty or six one
seven nine three one ten thirty. My name is Dan Ray.
This is Nightside. We're talking with Boston Merrill candidate Josh Kraft,
(08:00):
who has spent most of his life or virtually all
of his life, in the private sector and has worked
with a lot of great charities. He has not been
a member of the the football side of the Craft family.
He's decided to chart his own territory and has done
a lot of work with boys and girls clubs. That's
(08:21):
when I first met him, many many years ago. And
he is offering himself as a candidate for mayor and
we'll see, we'll talk about some of the questions. If
you have a question for him, like to offer a comment,
you more than welcome. Six months seven two thirty six
months seven ninety coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Way Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
My guess this is Boston merriw candidate Josh Kraft. We
did extend an invitation onto the Mayor's office this afternoon,
and as always we tend not to get quick responses
and sometimes don't get a response. That was the case
this afternoon. So let's go to phone calls for Josh Craft.
John in Braintree, Johnny, start us off tonight. Go right ahead.
You're on the line with Josh Craft. Go ahead, John. Okay,
(09:12):
Why don't we put John on hold if he's not.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
Hello, can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
I can hear you now?
Speaker 7 (09:18):
John?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yes? Yes?
Speaker 8 (09:19):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (09:19):
Okay, ll Hey, hi Josh, hi Dan, thanks to taking
my call.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
John. Did you have US on did you have US
on mute or something? I'm a little confused.
Speaker 6 (09:28):
I don't think so. I looked at I looked down
and it wasn't on mute. No, it was weird, Okay,
I did okay? At anyway, Hey, I got an interesting
question that I hope you guys can help me answer.
And Josh, we do appreciate all the work you've been
doing with the philanthropy, with the charitable work. How is
it okay for the all the cities across the country
(09:51):
to get money to build stadiums? And I'll use the
NFL in particular, but it's a billion billion dollar, you know,
charitable organization allegedly, you know, the football is And how
is it okay that they we give them unbelievable amounts
of money to build their stadiums and it's not okay
(10:14):
for them to do it with the high school and
women's soccer.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Football teams are not charitable organizations, John, this is Dan.
Let me make that clear. Foot football teams are owned
by individuals. It's not how is it that they get
those tacks right off?
Speaker 6 (10:32):
There's some there's some kind of very drastic thing about
them that they're they're not. I wish I could speak better. Usually,
don't I think you're missing something on the Dan Well.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I do know this, and I can just talk for
my own family, and I usually don't bring up the
family business. I know to that stadium was one hundred
percent privately financed. There was no public money used to
build the stadium. And my issue is not the city money,
(11:07):
not that the city is paying because White Stadium didn't
need to be fixed up. But there's a proposal for
a third of what the city is paying to make
it exclusively for high school use and public use. And
I think that's just a better path, a more cost
efficient path, and a better one usage for Boston public
(11:30):
school kids, which is better.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
John. I hope that answers your question. John. I'll tell
you that in other sections of the country.
Speaker 9 (11:40):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You know, different political leaders make decisions to uh to
to help finance a construction of a stadium venue because
they look at it as as sort of an investment which.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Will revenue generating, right.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
So so you know, they're not giving the money even
in the worst case Sceneio, they're not giving the money away. Uh,
they're they're floating a bond. And as they say, in
the case of Gillette Stadium, there was no public money involved.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
But there are there are other stadiums that And isn't
this going to be a revenue generating thing with a
with a bringing in you know, I saw women's soccer.
I mean, think of all the hotels that are can
be the people that are coming and people come to
see them. Wouldn't Why wouldn't that pick up that area
in that area. When I was in high school we
used to played and played in the band there. You know,
(12:35):
I loved it. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
First of all, I think that I don't know what
you know. Again, this is not a question for Joshua.
I'll just tell you that I don't know that a
women's professional soccer team is going to draw. I think
the seating capacity of the stadium would probably be around
six thousand, and I don't think that it would be
on the same schedule on the same scale say, you know,
(13:01):
the Red Sox or the Patriots, or the Bruins or
the Celtics for that matter. But what Josh's point is,
if you listen to him carefully, is that the kids
from bar will not be able to use that stadium
from from late March. And of course you're not going
to use a football stadium high school football stadium in December, January, February,
(13:25):
or the winter months until early November at the earliest.
So that's I hope we get got some of your
questions answered. Appreciate you call, John, Thank you, you appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Guys, you're welcome.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Let me go next to Matt in Boston. Matt, you're
next to a nice side with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
Go ahead, Matt, great, Thanks a lot, guys, really appreciate
the topic. Josh, you are a busy man. I've been
following you on Facebook. You've been everywhere. Yeah, you know, Matt.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
It's just trying to get out and meet as many
people as possible.
Speaker 10 (14:00):
That's great. Well, it's obvious. I had a question for you.
I'm curious in the next four years, your four years
are going to sort of echo the national four years.
I was curious how you thought you could navigate Boston,
the city of Boston, with you know, the the Trump administration.
(14:21):
What your thoughts are about that?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Thank man. Look, I'm always going to fight for Boston,
the people of Boston. That's kinda that has been my
priority in the community work I've done, and it will
be my priority as mayor. And if that means fighting
the federal government, Washington, d C, the Trump administration to
do what is right for the people of Boston, I
(14:45):
will always do that because they're my priority. And that's
how I navigate. I put the people first, and you know,
fight for whatever we need here in the city of
Boston against the federal government to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
The other thing, Matt, that you might think about is
that Boston has done pretty well with a lot of mayors,
you know, Kevin White and Ray Flynn, Marty Walsh and
of course the late great Tom Andnino uh And they
have been mayors through Republican administrations and Democratic administrations. And
(15:24):
I suspect that Boston will always prosper because it's it's
such an important economic engine of New England and for
that matter, intellectual and medical capital of the world. Boston's
never going to get short changed no matter who's mayor is.
I don't think, Matt appreciate you, Carl, thank you.
Speaker 10 (15:44):
Great, Thanks a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
All right, let's keep rolling here. Next up, Vinnie from
East Boston. Vinnie, you were next on nightside. Say hi
to Josh Craft, candidate for mayor.
Speaker 11 (15:55):
George, thank you for running for mayor.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Thank you, Janny.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Josh.
Speaker 11 (16:01):
I put up your signed last night with my neighbor.
We put it up on Falcon Street in East Boston,
the first sign underneath the lights. We can see it
even in the night. You need to have people run
your doing. I mean, I don't really know. I contacted
the guy who was putting up the sign. He was
on Bennington's Stein and they're not too old. You probably
(16:22):
know him. He said, he's ten years working on Tom Andino.
Then he says he went to Washington, now Washington, Hollywood.
You know guy, I'm talking from Dodgester. We don't give
somebody was he was putting them up at night. He
gave me the sign, he said, But I said, the
(16:44):
girl told me not to help Josh because you're a millionaire.
The kids said, he's not a maionnaire, he's a bionaire.
Does that matter to Boston? The status as a rich
guy or a poor guy doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Well, look, then I've spent I made a conscious decision
thirty five years ago not to work in my family business,
and instead I committed to doing community work in the
neighborhoods in and around Boston, and I did that for
thirty five years. And I've always believed the phrase that
if you love what you do, you'll never work a
(17:21):
day in your life. And to me doing those thirty
five years at community work, I never worked today in
my life. And that's why I want to run for
the mayor of Boston because in those thirty five years,
I not only learned to love the city of Boston,
I came to love the people of Boston, who I've
learned so much for. And that's why I'm running for
mayor because I feel like the city I love is
(17:44):
headed in the wrong direction, whether housing being unaffordable, parents
pulling the kids out of the schools at record rates,
a fiscal lack of fiscal discipline at city Hall, and
these are just a few of the reasons. And I've
feel like my campaign it's not about political ideology. It's
(18:04):
about getting things done for the people of Boston through
political will and getting results for the citizens of Boston
through bringing people together.
Speaker 11 (18:13):
So the Michelle Will people, they says Michelle has hot,
Do you have hot to a good heart. That's a point.
You have a good I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Yeah, well, I don't know if I can answer that question.
I do know I've done That's committed my life to
community work and I'll always put the people I've worked
with first, and I've always done that, and I want
to see all people do well because success for everyone
is my priority. Success for the city of Boston and
(18:51):
for every citizen in Boston would always be my priority.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I think that it's one of those questions that that
you ask, uh I. I think he has a record
of service, and I think it's up for people like
you to decide who has a bigger heart and who
wants to serve Boston. That's all. How you bike lane's
doing over there, Benny, by the way, in East Boston.
(19:17):
He got a few of those over there.
Speaker 11 (19:19):
I wish I could. I can't say what I'd like
to do the people on the scooters and the bikes.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
No, No, you don't want to hurt anybody. I'm just
wondering if you want.
Speaker 11 (19:29):
The road, well, you may want.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
You may want to think about that one. Vinnie, I
gotta run, Thank you very much, appreciate the call. This
is Dan Ray that's not Josh, Josh, I got full lines.
I'd like to keep you if you wouldn't mind, because
I think it's always good for you to hear from.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Questions.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Okay, yeah, let's uh, let's let's keep going. I got
to take a news break at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 12 (19:52):
Here.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
My guess is Josh Kraft. We're coming back on Night's
Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I'm bes Boston's news radio Bike, as.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Is Josh Craft, candidate for mayor or Boss. Let me
go to Sandra in in Boston. Sandra, you were next
time Nightside. Welcome.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
Hi Dan, Can you hear me?
Speaker 13 (20:13):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Can hear you? Fine? And so can Josh Craft. He's listening.
Go right ahead, Sander. What's your comment question?
Speaker 7 (20:19):
Well, I think it would be really good to get
the kids outside more, particularly in winter, and I wish
we could use our resources in the city better. And
one of my things is the hockey pond along Storrow Drive,
You know, the hockey pond alongside the Charles River this winter.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
What hockey are you talking about? Are you there's a
hockey rink out at the far end of Brighton Is
that the one you're talking about?
Speaker 7 (20:49):
No, no, no, no, I'm talking about what we call the
hockey pond right along the Charles River, right along Star Drive.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And bon are you talking about.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
The Yeah, it's called the hockey pond.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Well, it may be called the hockey pond. I used
to live on Beacon Street and I looked at that
and there were many winters when it never froze over.
Speaker 7 (21:10):
But there are winters when it doesn't freeze over. But
it did freeze over this winter, and I've always thought
I've literally skated on it, and I think it would
be wonderful to use resources we have in the city
like that a little better.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Well, as I'm sure Joss, that's that is not Boston property.
That's DCR, that's it. That's that is part of the
the Charles River area. So that's DCR part property, not
City of Boston property. But hey, you know, there's a
little bit of problem getting people down there. There's no
(21:47):
parking on Charles on Storo Drive, which would make it
easy for people to get to. But but I.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
Understand, I guess, I guess. My point is just that
one hundred million dollars, it won't be one hundred million
dollars that we put into this project. They can't build
a bus shelter in this town, you know for that.
You know it'll be seventy or eighty percent over budget.
You know it, and I know it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Let's let's let Josh address that. I think he might
he might agree with you, Sandra. Let's let's get let's
hear from Josh on that. Josh.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Yeah, thank you, Yeah, thank you, Sandra. Sorry Dan to
cut you off. Yeah, no, I agree, especially with the
current trade war and the tariff situation that's going on
now with President Trump, the costs are just going to
balloon and go up, and we're going to be on
(22:46):
the hook for a lot of money, well over one
hundred million dollars, I'm sure. And yeah, money could be
deployed elsewhere to engage not just kids, but improve school
create access to housing, which is a new number one
in the city.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
I'm also sorry that they cut down all those trees.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, one hundred and forty five trees.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
And if you live in that part of town, what
sort of environmental program is that?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Josh?
Speaker 9 (23:18):
Your question go ahead, Oh work, Well, I don't know,
you know, one hundred and forty five trees that you know.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Generations of families have enjoyed at the park, Franklin Park.
It's it's terrible that they needed to be cut or
had to be cut down.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah, and it certainly changes the entire environment those of
us who have been to Franklin Park, and I'm sure
you've been there, Sandra. You take one hundred and forty
five trees out, and all of a sudden it becomes
much more of a desert sort of feeling as opposed
to an area that that families can go and enjoy
and have picnic and spend some time, uh you know,
(24:03):
under foliage in the summertime and get some protection from
the heat.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
It's well right, and the whole Olmsted idea was to
make it the city healthier.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
With trees.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
That was the Olmstead wanted to make it healthier.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Sandra. Thank you. I got a whole bunch of calls
and I'm going to try to get as many of
them in as I can appreciate. It's always thanks and
good and you know I'm a big hockey guy. So
wherever we can find another place for kids to play hockey,
I'm with you all the way. Thanks Andrew. Byeye, let
me go next to Leo and Boston Leo. Next on
Nice with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 14 (24:41):
Go ahead, Leo, Hey, Dan, Dick's taking my call, and Josh,
I want to say one thing is your family is
a very nice family. Whether you get a penny or
a trillion, they always talk to you with respect the
first time they meet you. They always make it feel
very welcome.
Speaker 9 (24:57):
Uh.
Speaker 14 (24:58):
I met a couple of your brothers, but I had
a couple of questions on you might I touched it
is one of the these bike and bus lanes from
a crash reconstruction side of it. You know, these buses
are swerving into the opposite Lanta Travel because these they
put them out twenty five percent into the roadway and
people are having a hot times. I've seen on Northeak
(25:19):
a street just pulling out of their driveways and everyone
has to stop. I don't know how you feel about those.
I've heard rumors that you're looking into maybe getting rid
of some of these protection lanes.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Yeah, so go ahead.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
No, ready ahead, Josh. I was just to make sure
you heard the question. Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Oh no, no, no, I definitely heard the question.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Leo.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Thank you for the question. Thanks for your kind words.
At the beginning, look over the last three years, the
mayor has hastily laid down bus and bike lanes around
the city with little community impact and no data or
no long term studies on how to best lay them
(26:02):
down the most efficient way. Since I announced my candidacy
where I said I wanted to put a pause on
bike lanes, she has all of a sudden changed her
tune and has talked about doing an audit of the
bike lanes and halting halting any new bike lanes while
(26:24):
she audits the current bike lanes. Basically, she's adopted a
lot of our speaking points from our announcement speech and
my thoughts on the bike lanes. So I don't think
in an election year that a lot of people are
going to buy her sudden change. But really what these
(26:45):
bike and bus lanes are an example of her inability
to listen and hear people and take community feedback, especially
community feedback that might be an opposition to what she thinks.
And in the end, my feeling on bike lanes is
we need to pause bike lanes, do the research, collect
data and figure out the best way to lay them
(27:05):
down safest way, and also the lanes that have the
least impact on pedestrians and small businesses right, you know, I.
Speaker 14 (27:16):
Understand, and make it safe and find the right spot
for the right for the right lanes. You got the
awesome Brighton exit for the mass Pike off of Cambridge Street.
There used to be five lanes there. Now they narrow
it down to one. So in the mornings everyone's going
you know, it was going ninety east and it's one
language and they took they made the bike lane, that
(27:36):
protection lane three lanes wide, and now all the cars
on Cambra Street are funneling into one lane. And now
the west lane is wide open, but you can't get
there because it's all bortled necked up.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
You Leo, if you get a chance to take it
right over to West Roxbury and try to drive down
Center Street, Waffle they have like double.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
And I know they don't even pay through the roof.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
They don't even pay, Leo.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
I just want to ask Josh your question. Have you
had a chance, Josh to get over in Sena Street
in West Roxbury.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, a few times, and I know at least one
or two businesses. I assume more are down fifteen percent
uh because of the bike lines and the impact. So
we have to find a way, you know, do the data,
do the studies that has the least amount of impacts,
(28:31):
you know, for pedestrians trying to move around the city,
and of course small businesses, which are the heartbeat of
all the neighborhoods of the city.
Speaker 14 (28:38):
No question, no, right right, I mean, I know they
put down those wires like you see them put down
for the for they do the data for the for
the vehicles, for commercial motive vehicles, for regular vehicles, and
they count the cars and the speeds of the cars.
They should maybe somehow do that for the bike to
see how much is being used compared to the vehicles.
And you know, hey we'll share the roadway.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
But I mean, they.
Speaker 14 (28:58):
Shouldn't have thirty three percent of the roadway because coys
can't even park on the roadway anymore.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
You got it, Leo. Appreciate your call. I got to
run here. Okay, thank you guys. Have a good night.
All right, thank you, Josh. I got a whole bunch
of calls here. I know I didn't tell you would
do an hour, but if you can stay for three
more calls, I promise I'll let you go at about
five minutes to ten. Is that is that a deal.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Yeah that yeah, that that's fine. Okay, great man, no problem,
I okay, more.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Sure, absolutely well. We got Ashley, Frank and George coming up.
You guys stay there. We get a chance to talk
with Josh Craft, who is running for mayor of Boston.
And at the end we'll give you an opportunity, Josh,
to tell people how they can get in touch with
you if they'd like to help your campaign. We'll take
a quick break. It's nine five. Coming up right after
this quick commercial break. Here on Nightside More with Meyrill
(29:49):
candidate Josh Kraft.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
We're talking with Josh Kraft, candidate from mayor and Austin.
Let's get right back to the calls. George is in Westwood.
Georgerew next on Nisiger. Right ahead, you're on with Josh Craft.
Speaker 8 (30:07):
Hey, Dan, Hey Josh, I have a question for Josh.
Right ahead, Josh, and and you reply to a previous callege,
you're sauldn't going to be fighting for the people of Boston.
Ice is targeting convicted criminals who may be located in
the city of Boston. Are you going to be fighting
for them too.
Speaker 11 (30:25):
No.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
I believe in the Trust Act, which was creating twenty
eighteen by Mayor Walsh, and that directs be Boston Police
to work with ICE agents and federal agents to remove
and deport all federal criminal criminals. That's what I believe in.
At the same time, I'm against the mass deportation plan
(30:49):
of President Trump Secretary Homan. I think it's scary that
people that are in the house, you know, in a
house warship or in school can be rounded up and
removed even though they have no connection to violent crime.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
So to be clear your in favor, let me just George,
I want to make sure I understand Josh's position is
that criminal aliens who ICE picks up and who have
committed crimes, you're okay with getting them out of the country.
What about with like MS thirteen gang members and Trent
Deagua gang members? Is violent crime out of Venezuela. I
(31:35):
don't know how you feel.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Again, Yeah, No, I support and believe in the Trust
Act that Marty Walson acted in twenty eighteen. That mandate
directs be Boston Police to work with federal agents to
remove violent criminals. So as far as I know MS
thirteen those are violent criminals, but I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Yeah, well they are, they're they're they're one of the
most dangerous groups of criminals. And the US attorney in
Boston who's been in my show, Leah Foley, they are
doing a great job trying to find the people who
are who are who are literally killing and raping, uh,
you know, innocent people in Boston. So, George, uh, I
(32:24):
think I understand the purpose of your question. I tend
to agree with you, George, and I think Josh is
also pretty much on the same page as as as
you and I am.
Speaker 8 (32:32):
And absolutely Dan, I totally agree with Josh. We cannot
take people that we probably know personally that will probably
work with be taken away from our society. I totally
agree with Jush on that I got one more little
thing to bring up. He brought up tariffs. I believe tariffs.
What the President did yesterday is an investment in America,
(32:54):
and basically that doesn't really give an example. We may
pay six dollars for our lackey. I don't lattes, Dan,
but we do for a latte in Starbucks. But do
you know how much the coffee grinds cost for that latte,
they cost fifteen cents. Yeah, not fifteen cents. It's gonna
go up to eighteen cents. So I don't think Starbucks
is gonna change their price on the alattes if they
(33:17):
cost close up three cents.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, bas they might blame they might blame that on that.
I'm a I'm a Duncan guy. I don't know about Josh.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
I was speaking in tariffs and reference to material raw
building materials for White Stadium Rini project.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah. Absolutely, Okay, I'm a Duncan guy. I don't know
about Josh, but.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
You are.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Okay. Well that's good. I mean, if you live in
New England or live in Boston, you gotta love Duncan's,
that's for sure. Seattle's okay for Starbucks, but it's dunk
in his Boston.
Speaker 8 (33:58):
Hey, George, I'm a Duncan's guy too. I'm a Dunkist
guy too. But I might Duncan at the supermarket and
I make it at home.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Too, That's exactly what I do. George. Okay, thank you,
all right, thank you. Let's go to Ashley in Roxbury. Hi, Ashley, welcome.
You're all with Josh.
Speaker 13 (34:13):
Kraft Hi, Dan, Hi, mister Kraft.
Speaker 14 (34:16):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
We're doing great?
Speaker 12 (34:18):
Great?
Speaker 14 (34:19):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 13 (34:21):
I was just calling a dear I've been on here
a few times. Then my son Damien was murdered down on.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
Mass av Yes, I know you and.
Speaker 14 (34:35):
S thank you, thank you.
Speaker 13 (34:37):
So I've heard a lot about like I'm sorry, I
don't mean to sound rude, but a dear friend of
mine that I met through my grief down on mass
As is a man named Domingos ter Rosa is. Yes,
yes he is, and this is his fourth time running
(34:58):
and he hasn't even I'm on this show. Have all
the mayoral candidates been invited to be on your show
like this?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Eventually they will, Lastly, eventually they will. I think that
you know Domingo or any candidates. It's easy to say
you're a candidate, but we like to make sure that
people have shown him so well the one that they're
a candidate, and that they're going to be a serious candidate.
Speaker 14 (35:20):
If candidate, yeah, okay, we'll have him.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Have him contact me. I've had him on my show
several times, particularly when he was working with the kids
in youth football and they had problems with hypodermic needles
over in the football field, so I know Domingo very well.
Have him give me a call. Thanks, Ashley, I'm glad
you mentioned I done, But well, go ahead if you
got a quick question.
Speaker 13 (35:46):
Just a question, So what specifically, if you become mayor,
mister Kross, what are you going to do about the
fact that there are people right now getting stabbed in
a two block of our city?
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Okay?
Speaker 13 (36:01):
And and I don't understand why, you know, we're talking
about ice as ands and stuff, but what about just
regular cops being able to handle the level of violence
down there? And what what you would do specifically about it?
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Good questions? Go ahead, Josh oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
I would work with the police and take the lead
on the police and the community folks to understand, you know,
when is it the worst? You know what, what are
the peak times? How can we best work together to
solve the problem and make the area safe? And I'm
a firm believer in the police, and without without high
(36:44):
quality public safety, folks, we don't have a city at all.
And I would take follow the police's lead on how
how they both how they best think the problem could
be solved, and I would support them to do their job.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
All right, thank you for that question as well. I
would like to get one more in. Okay, thanks Ashley, Yeah,
thank you, all right, good night, all right, last call
for Josh Craft. Frank Is in Boston. Frank, you're next
to a nice that with Josh Kraft. Go right ahead.
You got about a minute and a half or so.
Speaker 12 (37:13):
Go ahead, Okay, here, let me the Craft. What what's
your idea? Pretty good? What's your what's your idea on
replacing the stadium down there at the White Stadium? And also,
how do you what would you do about the proposed
bus lane going down Blue the Avenue that a lot
(37:33):
of people in that community oppose.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Okay, let's take the stadium first. I think I know
what Josh first is.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Look, I think that one hundred million dollars spent on
a project that primarily benefits a private entity when there's
a proposal for a third that cost that would be
one hundred percent for Boston public school kids and families
to use the park is a better alternative. And I
feel like one hundred million dollars committed to that project
(38:04):
the benefits of private entity is just way too much
money to be spending. And plus there's been pretty vocal
and consistent, uh, community backlash against the project that has
not really been heard.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
About.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
The other question about the busson, I'll have I would
I would follow the community's lead on that. If it's
something they were opposed to, then I wouldn't want it
to then I would fight with them not to make
so it didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
All right, Josh, how can folks get in touch with
your campaign? What is the website whatever?
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Josh for Boston, Thank you, Dan, Josh for Boston dot Com.
And there's we'd love volunteers, we'd love support in any
way shape or form. Get our signs out, and if
you go to the website you can there's different ways
to get involved. And of course, the momentum in response
(39:04):
we've gotten throughout a bunch of neighborhoods, all the neighborhoods
in the city has been great and we want to
keep that up. And appreciate anyone's support of my campaign.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
All right, Josh, appreciate your time today, and I know
that these days tend to be long days, and appreciate
you taking the time talking to my listeners. Josh Josh
from Boston dot COM's the website You're more than welcome. Josh.
We'll talk again. Thank you so much, have you too,
Bye bye. When we get back, we're going to talk
about tariffs, and we're going to talk with a professor
(39:35):
who teaches at the teacher professor who teaches at the
Boston University School of Business. Back on Nightside. He's been
a guest before. You'll enjoy him.
It's Night Side with Dan Ray w Bzy constance video.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you, Dan Watkins. I'm delighted to be joined the
start of this hour at least maybe well into the hour.
The candidate from Mayor. There is one candidate from mayor
who chose not to get in the fight this week,
Tom O'Brien, a Boston developer. However, the one candidate who
is in the fight to challenge Boston Mayor Michelle who
(00:27):
is Josh Craft. And Josh joins us here on Nightside.
Josh Kraft, welcome back to Nightside. How are you, sir Bank?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Thanks Dan, thank you for having me as always.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Well you very welcome. Today your opponent, the Mayor, took
a bit of a victory lap because the way apparently
has been cleared for the demolition or the completion of
the demolition of White Stadium and the construction of a
new stadium in its place, a soccer stadium, which is
(01:00):
going to cost some say two hundred million dollars, but
at the end it might cost more than that, and
Boston taxpayers are on the hook for at least half
of that or maybe more. What's your reaction to this development.
I'm sure you're you're not happy about it.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, No, Dan, regardless of legal decisions, made one hundred
million dollars to a project that primarily benefits a private entity.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It's just not fiscally responsible for the City of Boston
to take on, especially when I know that there's a
project through the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a third of
that price that build rebuilds the stadium, which needs to
be done solely for the use of Boston public school
(01:53):
kids as well as for the generations of people that
have enjoyed the park. I said, for generations. In addition,
that hundred million is going to go up, especially with
the crazy tariff situation that Donald Trump is imposing in
the trade war he's starting, and it's just going to
make the costs go way up. And it's just not
(02:18):
a fiscally sound thing to do.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Well. The other thing which bothers me about it, and
again I'm not a candidate for mayor. I just watch
the conversation back and forth, and you certainly have made
a lot of senses. I have watched you talk about
this over the last few.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Weeks, is that there was one of the reports that
I saw today they sort of minimized They said that
the soccer team would only use the stadium for twenty
games and a practice only once a week.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
But my understanding is that once the soccer season starts,
which is just right at the end of winter in
late March, Boston school kids aren't going to have access
to the refer the new constructed white stadium until sometime
in November because the turf or you know, the playing
(03:12):
surface could not for a soccer team, can't be affected
by a high school football game. So therefore, high school football,
which starts in September and October and is pretty much
done by Thanksgiving, high school teams won't get in there
until sometime in November, which seems to me they are
really getting the short end of the stick.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, one hundred percent, Dan, And that's you know, it's
such a traditional place to play football. It's been that
way again for generations of Boston school kid school kids
and their families going to watch games, and they won't
be able to play a football game there till November.
And by that time that means probably one game per
(03:56):
team because by the early November and as winding down.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Uh if if that and and also there's a how
many trees have been cut down there. These are trees
that are eighty years, one hundred years old, as I
under did it, great shade trees for people who who
live in the community and and and are able to
take advantage. And you know, there's a lot of folks
(04:25):
who that is their oasis, that is their summer place,
and it's been taken away from from a community that
is underserved here in Boston.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, like we said, you know, I know generations of
families that have lived in that area have enjoyed that
park and believe it was one hundred and forty five
trees that were taking down, taking taken down excuse me?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, well yeah, I mean cut cut down and it's
it's you could you can plant some saplings, but it's
going to be a couple of generations or more or
before those trees are are replaced. The mayor today basically
said this was a historic victory. It might have been
(05:10):
an historic victory, but my question is a historic victory
for whom?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Right? I know that. You know what's interesting which doesn't
come up much, is that the RFP that the woman's
professional team responded to.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
By the way, what is it? RFP? You and I
both know what but maybe some.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
People, Yeah, yeah, thank you, Dan. There were requests for proposals.
So the folks that were awarded the contract or the
ability to play in the stadium and get the benefit
of the public dollars being invested in the stadium, they
had to sign They created an application process and then
(05:56):
they applied for it and where the soul, you know,
and where the grand tease and they got the contract.
And that tells me this was never about Boston Public
school kids. This was always about getting a woman's professional
team there. Because if it was about Boston Public school kids,
there's a and we all know the stadium needed lots
of work. There's a thirty million dollar proposal that that
(06:21):
solely benefits BPS kids as well as the folks that
want to use the park. And to me, that's a
much more cost effective alternative as well as a usage
alternative because it would be solely for the use of
Boston Public school kids.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
My sense, and I haven't followed this nearly as closely
as you, but my sense is that this has been
on a fast track. How many other applicants were there
for this this request for proposal, My understanding is there
was just one.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, I would I don't know, Dan, and if it
was just one. Remember they were the ones that created
the application to apply to So if I wanted to
go to college and then the college said here, create
the application, I would create an application that would be
easy for me to do well on.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Sure you'd be able to fit fit all of the guidelines,
and you'd be the premier applicant. Josh, Let's let's take
a quick break here. I'd like to talk to you
a little bit about the race from mayor. We now
have moved into the month of April, so we're five
months away from the primary, uh and about seven months
(07:36):
away from the final election. Love to know how it's going,
and if there's a couple of other issues that you'd
like to highlight. Let's see if folks would like to
join the conversation as well. We'll take you a couple
of phone calls six one seven thirty or six one
seven nine three one ten thirty. My name is Dan Ray.
This is Nightside. We're talking with Boston Merrill candidate Josh Kraft,
(08:00):
who has spent most of his life or virtually all
of his life, in the private sector and has worked
with a lot of great charities. He has not been
a member of the the football side of the Craft family.
He's decided to chart his own territory and has done
a lot of work with boys and girls clubs. That's
(08:21):
when I first met him, many many years ago. And
he is offering himself as a candidate for mayor and
we'll see, we'll talk about some of the questions. If
you have a question for him, like to offer a comment,
you more than welcome. Six months seven two thirty six
months seven ninety coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Way Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
My guess this is Boston merriw candidate Josh Kraft. We
did extend an invitation onto the Mayor's office this afternoon,
and as always we tend not to get quick responses
and sometimes don't get a response. That was the case
this afternoon. So let's go to phone calls for Josh Craft.
John in Braintree, Johnny, start us off tonight. Go right ahead.
You're on the line with Josh Craft. Go ahead, John. Okay,
(09:12):
Why don't we put John on hold if he's not.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
Hello, can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
I can hear you now?
Speaker 7 (09:18):
John?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yes? Yes?
Speaker 8 (09:19):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (09:19):
Okay, ll Hey, hi Josh, hi Dan, thanks to taking
my call.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
John. Did you have US on did you have US
on mute or something? I'm a little confused.
Speaker 6 (09:28):
I don't think so. I looked at I looked down
and it wasn't on mute. No, it was weird, Okay,
I did okay? At anyway, Hey, I got an interesting
question that I hope you guys can help me answer.
And Josh, we do appreciate all the work you've been
doing with the philanthropy, with the charitable work. How is
it okay for the all the cities across the country
(09:51):
to get money to build stadiums? And I'll use the
NFL in particular, but it's a billion billion dollar, you know,
charitable organization allegedly, you know, the football is And how
is it okay that they we give them unbelievable amounts
of money to build their stadiums and it's not okay
(10:14):
for them to do it with the high school and
women's soccer.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Football teams are not charitable organizations, John, this is Dan.
Let me make that clear. Foot football teams are owned
by individuals. It's not how is it that they get
those tacks right off?
Speaker 6 (10:32):
There's some there's some kind of very drastic thing about
them that they're they're not. I wish I could speak better. Usually,
don't I think you're missing something on the Dan Well.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I do know this, and I can just talk for
my own family, and I usually don't bring up the
family business. I know to that stadium was one hundred
percent privately financed. There was no public money used to
build the stadium. And my issue is not the city money,
(11:07):
not that the city is paying because White Stadium didn't
need to be fixed up. But there's a proposal for
a third of what the city is paying to make
it exclusively for high school use and public use. And
I think that's just a better path, a more cost
efficient path, and a better one usage for Boston public
(11:30):
school kids, which is better.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
John. I hope that answers your question. John. I'll tell
you that in other sections of the country.
Speaker 9 (11:40):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You know, different political leaders make decisions to uh to
to help finance a construction of a stadium venue because
they look at it as as sort of an investment which.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Will revenue generating, right.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
So so you know, they're not giving the money even
in the worst case Sceneio, they're not giving the money away. Uh,
they're they're floating a bond. And as they say, in
the case of Gillette Stadium, there was no public money involved.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
But there are there are other stadiums that And isn't
this going to be a revenue generating thing with a
with a bringing in you know, I saw women's soccer.
I mean, think of all the hotels that are can
be the people that are coming and people come to
see them. Wouldn't Why wouldn't that pick up that area
in that area. When I was in high school we
used to played and played in the band there. You know,
(12:35):
I loved it. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
First of all, I think that I don't know what
you know. Again, this is not a question for Joshua.
I'll just tell you that I don't know that a
women's professional soccer team is going to draw. I think
the seating capacity of the stadium would probably be around
six thousand, and I don't think that it would be
on the same schedule on the same scale say, you know,
(13:01):
the Red Sox or the Patriots, or the Bruins or
the Celtics for that matter. But what Josh's point is,
if you listen to him carefully, is that the kids
from bar will not be able to use that stadium
from from late March. And of course you're not going
to use a football stadium high school football stadium in December, January, February,
(13:25):
or the winter months until early November at the earliest.
So that's I hope we get got some of your
questions answered. Appreciate you call, John, Thank you, you appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Guys, you're welcome.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Let me go next to Matt in Boston. Matt, you're
next to a nice side with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
Go ahead, Matt, great, Thanks a lot, guys, really appreciate
the topic. Josh, you are a busy man. I've been
following you on Facebook. You've been everywhere. Yeah, you know, Matt.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
It's just trying to get out and meet as many
people as possible.
Speaker 10 (14:00):
That's great. Well, it's obvious. I had a question for you.
I'm curious in the next four years, your four years
are going to sort of echo the national four years.
I was curious how you thought you could navigate Boston,
the city of Boston, with you know, the the Trump administration.
(14:21):
What your thoughts are about that?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Thank man. Look, I'm always going to fight for Boston,
the people of Boston. That's kinda that has been my
priority in the community work I've done, and it will
be my priority as mayor. And if that means fighting
the federal government, Washington, d C, the Trump administration to
do what is right for the people of Boston, I
(14:45):
will always do that because they're my priority. And that's
how I navigate. I put the people first, and you know,
fight for whatever we need here in the city of
Boston against the federal government to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
The other thing, Matt, that you might think about is
that Boston has done pretty well with a lot of mayors,
you know, Kevin White and Ray Flynn, Marty Walsh and
of course the late great Tom Andnino uh And they
have been mayors through Republican administrations and Democratic administrations. And
(15:24):
I suspect that Boston will always prosper because it's it's
such an important economic engine of New England and for
that matter, intellectual and medical capital of the world. Boston's
never going to get short changed no matter who's mayor is.
I don't think, Matt appreciate you, Carl, thank you.
Speaker 10 (15:44):
Great, Thanks a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
All right, let's keep rolling here. Next up, Vinnie from
East Boston. Vinnie, you were next on nightside. Say hi
to Josh Craft, candidate for mayor.
Speaker 11 (15:55):
George, thank you for running for mayor.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Thank you, Janny.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Josh.
Speaker 11 (16:01):
I put up your signed last night with my neighbor.
We put it up on Falcon Street in East Boston,
the first sign underneath the lights. We can see it
even in the night. You need to have people run
your doing. I mean, I don't really know. I contacted
the guy who was putting up the sign. He was
on Bennington's Stein and they're not too old. You probably
(16:22):
know him. He said, he's ten years working on Tom Andino.
Then he says he went to Washington, now Washington, Hollywood.
You know guy, I'm talking from Dodgester. We don't give
somebody was he was putting them up at night. He
gave me the sign, he said, But I said, the
(16:44):
girl told me not to help Josh because you're a millionaire.
The kids said, he's not a maionnaire, he's a bionaire.
Does that matter to Boston? The status as a rich
guy or a poor guy doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Well, look, then I've spent I made a conscious decision
thirty five years ago not to work in my family business,
and instead I committed to doing community work in the
neighborhoods in and around Boston, and I did that for
thirty five years. And I've always believed the phrase that
if you love what you do, you'll never work a
(17:21):
day in your life. And to me doing those thirty
five years at community work, I never worked today in
my life. And that's why I want to run for
the mayor of Boston because in those thirty five years,
I not only learned to love the city of Boston,
I came to love the people of Boston, who I've
learned so much for. And that's why I'm running for
mayor because I feel like the city I love is
(17:44):
headed in the wrong direction, whether housing being unaffordable, parents
pulling the kids out of the schools at record rates,
a fiscal lack of fiscal discipline at city Hall, and
these are just a few of the reasons. And I've
feel like my campaign it's not about political ideology. It's
(18:04):
about getting things done for the people of Boston through
political will and getting results for the citizens of Boston
through bringing people together.
Speaker 11 (18:13):
So the Michelle Will people, they says Michelle has hot,
Do you have hot to a good heart. That's a point.
You have a good I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Yeah, well, I don't know if I can answer that question.
I do know I've done That's committed my life to
community work and I'll always put the people I've worked
with first, and I've always done that, and I want
to see all people do well because success for everyone
is my priority. Success for the city of Boston and
(18:51):
for every citizen in Boston would always be my priority.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I think that it's one of those questions that that
you ask, uh I. I think he has a record
of service, and I think it's up for people like
you to decide who has a bigger heart and who
wants to serve Boston. That's all. How you bike lane's
doing over there, Benny, by the way, in East Boston.
(19:17):
He got a few of those over there.
Speaker 11 (19:19):
I wish I could. I can't say what I'd like
to do the people on the scooters and the bikes.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
No, No, you don't want to hurt anybody. I'm just
wondering if you want.
Speaker 11 (19:29):
The road, well, you may want.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
You may want to think about that one. Vinnie, I
gotta run, Thank you very much, appreciate the call. This
is Dan Ray that's not Josh, Josh, I got full lines.
I'd like to keep you if you wouldn't mind, because
I think it's always good for you to hear from.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Questions.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Okay, yeah, let's uh, let's let's keep going. I got
to take a news break at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 12 (19:52):
Here.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
My guess is Josh Kraft. We're coming back on Night's
Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I'm bes Boston's news radio Bike, as.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Is Josh Craft, candidate for mayor or Boss. Let me
go to Sandra in in Boston. Sandra, you were next
time Nightside. Welcome.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
Hi Dan, Can you hear me?
Speaker 13 (20:13):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Can hear you? Fine? And so can Josh Craft. He's listening.
Go right ahead, Sander. What's your comment question?
Speaker 7 (20:19):
Well, I think it would be really good to get
the kids outside more, particularly in winter, and I wish
we could use our resources in the city better. And
one of my things is the hockey pond along Storrow Drive,
You know, the hockey pond alongside the Charles River this winter.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
What hockey are you talking about? Are you there's a
hockey rink out at the far end of Brighton Is
that the one you're talking about?
Speaker 7 (20:49):
No, no, no, no, I'm talking about what we call the
hockey pond right along the Charles River, right along Star Drive.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And bon are you talking about.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
The Yeah, it's called the hockey pond.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Well, it may be called the hockey pond. I used
to live on Beacon Street and I looked at that
and there were many winters when it never froze over.
Speaker 7 (21:10):
But there are winters when it doesn't freeze over. But
it did freeze over this winter, and I've always thought
I've literally skated on it, and I think it would
be wonderful to use resources we have in the city
like that a little better.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Well, as I'm sure Joss, that's that is not Boston property.
That's DCR, that's it. That's that is part of the
the Charles River area. So that's DCR part property, not
City of Boston property. But hey, you know, there's a
little bit of problem getting people down there. There's no
(21:47):
parking on Charles on Storo Drive, which would make it
easy for people to get to. But but I.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
Understand, I guess, I guess. My point is just that
one hundred million dollars, it won't be one hundred million
dollars that we put into this project. They can't build
a bus shelter in this town, you know for that.
You know it'll be seventy or eighty percent over budget.
You know it, and I know it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Let's let's let Josh address that. I think he might
he might agree with you, Sandra. Let's let's get let's
hear from Josh on that. Josh.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Yeah, thank you, Yeah, thank you, Sandra. Sorry Dan to
cut you off. Yeah, no, I agree, especially with the
current trade war and the tariff situation that's going on
now with President Trump, the costs are just going to
balloon and go up, and we're going to be on
(22:46):
the hook for a lot of money, well over one
hundred million dollars, I'm sure. And yeah, money could be
deployed elsewhere to engage not just kids, but improve school
create access to housing, which is a new number one
in the city.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
I'm also sorry that they cut down all those trees.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, one hundred and forty five trees.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
And if you live in that part of town, what
sort of environmental program is that?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Josh?
Speaker 9 (23:18):
Your question go ahead, Oh work, Well, I don't know,
you know, one hundred and forty five trees that you know.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Generations of families have enjoyed at the park, Franklin Park.
It's it's terrible that they needed to be cut or
had to be cut down.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah, and it certainly changes the entire environment those of
us who have been to Franklin Park, and I'm sure
you've been there, Sandra. You take one hundred and forty
five trees out, and all of a sudden it becomes
much more of a desert sort of feeling as opposed
to an area that that families can go and enjoy
and have picnic and spend some time, uh you know,
(24:03):
under foliage in the summertime and get some protection from
the heat.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
It's well right, and the whole Olmsted idea was to
make it the city healthier.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
With trees.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
That was the Olmstead wanted to make it healthier.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Sandra. Thank you. I got a whole bunch of calls
and I'm going to try to get as many of
them in as I can appreciate. It's always thanks and
good and you know I'm a big hockey guy. So
wherever we can find another place for kids to play hockey,
I'm with you all the way. Thanks Andrew. Byeye, let
me go next to Leo and Boston Leo. Next on
Nice with Josh Kraft.
Speaker 14 (24:41):
Go ahead, Leo, Hey, Dan, Dick's taking my call, and Josh,
I want to say one thing is your family is
a very nice family. Whether you get a penny or
a trillion, they always talk to you with respect the
first time they meet you. They always make it feel
very welcome.
Speaker 9 (24:57):
Uh.
Speaker 14 (24:58):
I met a couple of your brothers, but I had
a couple of questions on you might I touched it
is one of the these bike and bus lanes from
a crash reconstruction side of it. You know, these buses
are swerving into the opposite Lanta Travel because these they
put them out twenty five percent into the roadway and
people are having a hot times. I've seen on Northeak
(25:19):
a street just pulling out of their driveways and everyone
has to stop. I don't know how you feel about those.
I've heard rumors that you're looking into maybe getting rid
of some of these protection lanes.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Yeah, so go ahead.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
No, ready ahead, Josh. I was just to make sure
you heard the question. Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Oh no, no, no, I definitely heard the question.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Leo.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Thank you for the question. Thanks for your kind words.
At the beginning, look over the last three years, the
mayor has hastily laid down bus and bike lanes around
the city with little community impact and no data or
no long term studies on how to best lay them
(26:02):
down the most efficient way. Since I announced my candidacy
where I said I wanted to put a pause on
bike lanes, she has all of a sudden changed her
tune and has talked about doing an audit of the
bike lanes and halting halting any new bike lanes while
(26:24):
she audits the current bike lanes. Basically, she's adopted a
lot of our speaking points from our announcement speech and
my thoughts on the bike lanes. So I don't think
in an election year that a lot of people are
going to buy her sudden change. But really what these
(26:45):
bike and bus lanes are an example of her inability
to listen and hear people and take community feedback, especially
community feedback that might be an opposition to what she thinks.
And in the end, my feeling on bike lanes is
we need to pause bike lanes, do the research, collect
data and figure out the best way to lay them
(27:05):
down safest way, and also the lanes that have the
least impact on pedestrians and small businesses right, you know, I.
Speaker 14 (27:16):
Understand, and make it safe and find the right spot
for the right for the right lanes. You got the
awesome Brighton exit for the mass Pike off of Cambridge Street.
There used to be five lanes there. Now they narrow
it down to one. So in the mornings everyone's going
you know, it was going ninety east and it's one
language and they took they made the bike lane, that
(27:36):
protection lane three lanes wide, and now all the cars
on Cambra Street are funneling into one lane. And now
the west lane is wide open, but you can't get
there because it's all bortled necked up.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
You Leo, if you get a chance to take it
right over to West Roxbury and try to drive down
Center Street, Waffle they have like double.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
And I know they don't even pay through the roof.
Speaker 8 (28:04):
They don't even pay, Leo.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
I just want to ask Josh your question. Have you
had a chance, Josh to get over in Sena Street
in West Roxbury.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, a few times, and I know at least one
or two businesses. I assume more are down fifteen percent
uh because of the bike lines and the impact. So
we have to find a way, you know, do the data,
do the studies that has the least amount of impacts,
(28:31):
you know, for pedestrians trying to move around the city,
and of course small businesses, which are the heartbeat of
all the neighborhoods of the city.
Speaker 14 (28:38):
No question, no, right right, I mean, I know they
put down those wires like you see them put down
for the for they do the data for the for
the vehicles, for commercial motive vehicles, for regular vehicles, and
they count the cars and the speeds of the cars.
They should maybe somehow do that for the bike to
see how much is being used compared to the vehicles.
And you know, hey we'll share the roadway.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
But I mean, they.
Speaker 14 (28:58):
Shouldn't have thirty three percent of the roadway because coys
can't even park on the roadway anymore.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
You got it, Leo. Appreciate your call. I got to
run here. Okay, thank you guys. Have a good night.
All right, thank you, Josh. I got a whole bunch
of calls here. I know I didn't tell you would
do an hour, but if you can stay for three
more calls, I promise I'll let you go at about
five minutes to ten. Is that is that a deal.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Yeah that yeah, that that's fine. Okay, great man, no problem,
I okay, more.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Sure, absolutely well. We got Ashley, Frank and George coming up.
You guys stay there. We get a chance to talk
with Josh Craft, who is running for mayor of Boston.
And at the end we'll give you an opportunity, Josh,
to tell people how they can get in touch with
you if they'd like to help your campaign. We'll take
a quick break. It's nine five. Coming up right after
this quick commercial break. Here on Nightside More with Meyrill
(29:49):
candidate Josh Kraft.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
We're talking with Josh Kraft, candidate from mayor and Austin.
Let's get right back to the calls. George is in Westwood.
Georgerew next on Nisiger. Right ahead, you're on with Josh Craft.
Speaker 8 (30:07):
Hey, Dan, Hey Josh, I have a question for Josh.
Right ahead, Josh, and and you reply to a previous callege,
you're sauldn't going to be fighting for the people of Boston.
Ice is targeting convicted criminals who may be located in
the city of Boston. Are you going to be fighting
for them too.
Speaker 11 (30:25):
No.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
I believe in the Trust Act, which was creating twenty
eighteen by Mayor Walsh, and that directs be Boston Police
to work with ICE agents and federal agents to remove
and deport all federal criminal criminals. That's what I believe in.
At the same time, I'm against the mass deportation plan
(30:49):
of President Trump Secretary Homan. I think it's scary that
people that are in the house, you know, in a
house warship or in school can be rounded up and
removed even though they have no connection to violent crime.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
So to be clear your in favor, let me just George,
I want to make sure I understand Josh's position is
that criminal aliens who ICE picks up and who have
committed crimes, you're okay with getting them out of the country.
What about with like MS thirteen gang members and Trent
Deagua gang members? Is violent crime out of Venezuela. I
(31:35):
don't know how you feel.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Again, Yeah, No, I support and believe in the Trust
Act that Marty Walson acted in twenty eighteen. That mandate
directs be Boston Police to work with federal agents to
remove violent criminals. So as far as I know MS
thirteen those are violent criminals, but I don't you know.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Yeah, well they are, they're they're they're one of the
most dangerous groups of criminals. And the US attorney in
Boston who's been in my show, Leah Foley, they are
doing a great job trying to find the people who
are who are who are literally killing and raping, uh,
you know, innocent people in Boston. So, George, uh, I
(32:24):
think I understand the purpose of your question. I tend
to agree with you, George, and I think Josh is
also pretty much on the same page as as as
you and I am.
Speaker 8 (32:32):
And absolutely Dan, I totally agree with Josh. We cannot
take people that we probably know personally that will probably
work with be taken away from our society. I totally
agree with Jush on that I got one more little
thing to bring up. He brought up tariffs. I believe tariffs.
What the President did yesterday is an investment in America,
(32:54):
and basically that doesn't really give an example. We may
pay six dollars for our lackey. I don't lattes, Dan,
but we do for a latte in Starbucks. But do
you know how much the coffee grinds cost for that latte,
they cost fifteen cents. Yeah, not fifteen cents. It's gonna
go up to eighteen cents. So I don't think Starbucks
is gonna change their price on the alattes if they
(33:17):
cost close up three cents.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, bas they might blame they might blame that on that.
I'm a I'm a Duncan guy. I don't know about Josh.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
I was speaking in tariffs and reference to material raw
building materials for White Stadium Rini project.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah. Absolutely, Okay, I'm a Duncan guy. I don't know
about Josh, but.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
You are.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Okay. Well that's good. I mean, if you live in
New England or live in Boston, you gotta love Duncan's,
that's for sure. Seattle's okay for Starbucks, but it's dunk
in his Boston.
Speaker 8 (33:58):
Hey, George, I'm a Duncan's guy too. I'm a Dunkist
guy too. But I might Duncan at the supermarket and
I make it at home.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Too, That's exactly what I do. George. Okay, thank you,
all right, thank you. Let's go to Ashley in Roxbury. Hi, Ashley, welcome.
You're all with Josh.
Speaker 13 (34:13):
Kraft Hi, Dan, Hi, mister Kraft.
Speaker 14 (34:16):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
We're doing great?
Speaker 12 (34:18):
Great?
Speaker 14 (34:19):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 13 (34:21):
I was just calling a dear I've been on here
a few times. Then my son Damien was murdered down on.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
Mass av Yes, I know you and.
Speaker 14 (34:35):
S thank you, thank you.
Speaker 13 (34:37):
So I've heard a lot about like I'm sorry, I
don't mean to sound rude, but a dear friend of
mine that I met through my grief down on mass
As is a man named Domingos ter Rosa is. Yes,
yes he is, and this is his fourth time running
(34:58):
and he hasn't even I'm on this show. Have all
the mayoral candidates been invited to be on your show
like this?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Eventually they will, Lastly, eventually they will. I think that
you know Domingo or any candidates. It's easy to say
you're a candidate, but we like to make sure that
people have shown him so well the one that they're
a candidate, and that they're going to be a serious candidate.
Speaker 14 (35:20):
If candidate, yeah, okay, we'll have him.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Have him contact me. I've had him on my show
several times, particularly when he was working with the kids
in youth football and they had problems with hypodermic needles
over in the football field, so I know Domingo very well.
Have him give me a call. Thanks, Ashley, I'm glad
you mentioned I done, But well, go ahead if you
got a quick question.
Speaker 13 (35:46):
Just a question, So what specifically, if you become mayor,
mister Kross, what are you going to do about the
fact that there are people right now getting stabbed in
a two block of our city?
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Okay?
Speaker 13 (36:01):
And and I don't understand why, you know, we're talking
about ice as ands and stuff, but what about just
regular cops being able to handle the level of violence
down there? And what what you would do specifically about it?
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Good questions? Go ahead, Josh oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
I would work with the police and take the lead
on the police and the community folks to understand, you know,
when is it the worst? You know what, what are
the peak times? How can we best work together to
solve the problem and make the area safe? And I'm
a firm believer in the police, and without without high
(36:44):
quality public safety, folks, we don't have a city at all.
And I would take follow the police's lead on how
how they both how they best think the problem could
be solved, and I would support them to do their job.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
All right, thank you for that question as well. I
would like to get one more in. Okay, thanks Ashley, Yeah,
thank you, all right, good night, all right, last call
for Josh Craft. Frank Is in Boston. Frank, you're next
to a nice that with Josh Kraft. Go right ahead.
You got about a minute and a half or so.
Speaker 12 (37:13):
Go ahead, Okay, here, let me the Craft. What what's
your idea? Pretty good? What's your what's your idea on
replacing the stadium down there at the White Stadium? And also,
how do you what would you do about the proposed
bus lane going down Blue the Avenue that a lot
(37:33):
of people in that community oppose.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Okay, let's take the stadium first. I think I know
what Josh first is.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Look, I think that one hundred million dollars spent on
a project that primarily benefits a private entity when there's
a proposal for a third that cost that would be
one hundred percent for Boston public school kids and families
to use the park is a better alternative. And I
feel like one hundred million dollars committed to that project
(38:04):
the benefits of private entity is just way too much
money to be spending. And plus there's been pretty vocal
and consistent, uh, community backlash against the project that has
not really been heard.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
About.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
The other question about the busson, I'll have I would
I would follow the community's lead on that. If it's
something they were opposed to, then I wouldn't want it
to then I would fight with them not to make
so it didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
All right, Josh, how can folks get in touch with
your campaign? What is the website whatever?
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Josh for Boston, Thank you, Dan, Josh for Boston dot Com.
And there's we'd love volunteers, we'd love support in any
way shape or form. Get our signs out, and if
you go to the website you can there's different ways
to get involved. And of course, the momentum in response
(39:04):
we've gotten throughout a bunch of neighborhoods, all the neighborhoods
in the city has been great and we want to
keep that up. And appreciate anyone's support of my campaign.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
All right, Josh, appreciate your time today, and I know
that these days tend to be long days, and appreciate
you taking the time talking to my listeners. Josh Josh
from Boston dot COM's the website You're more than welcome. Josh.
We'll talk again. Thank you so much, have you too,
Bye bye. When we get back, we're going to talk
about tariffs, and we're going to talk with a professor
(39:35):
who teaches at the teacher professor who teaches at the
Boston University School of Business. Back on Nightside. He's been
a guest before. You'll enjoy him.
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