Editorial: Far from a dynamic duo on Boston Council
In a significant development for Boston’s political landscape, the City Councilors are set to receive an annual salary of $125,000, a figure that raises expectations for their performance and accountability. As reported by the Herald, Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata has garnered enough support to become the next president of the Council, with plans to appoint Councilor-at-Large Henry Santana as her vice president. However, Santana’s history of attendance issues has raised eyebrows, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of the council as it prepares for a year filled with critical decisions. Critics argue that the council’s current trajectory resembles a rubber stamp for Mayor Michelle Wu, rather than a body that actively engages in oversight and challenges the administration when necessary.
The article draws a parallel to Machiavelli’s timeless advice about the importance of surrounding oneself with advisors who can offer honest feedback, rather than mere flattery. This sentiment resonates particularly in the context of Boston’s governance, where the need for a balanced council is paramount. With Mayor Wu’s progressive agenda likely to have financial implications for taxpayers, the question arises: who will hold her accountable? The appointment of Santana, who narrowly retained his position against a former councilor, seems to signal a lack of commitment to robust leadership. The council’s effectiveness is crucial, especially as the city grapples with pressing issues like the opioid crisis and public safety. The article emphasizes that Boston deserves councilors who are proactive and engaged, rather than complacent figures who may prioritize loyalty to the mayor over the needs of the community.
As Boston navigates these challenges, the financial compensation of $125,000 for councilors underscores the expectation for them to perform at a high level. This salary, significantly above the national median household income, reflects the city’s commitment to attracting capable leaders. However, it also raises the stakes for accountability. If Councilor Santana fails to demonstrate commitment and effectiveness in his role, it could lead to calls for a reevaluation of how taxpayer dollars are spent on elected officials. Ultimately, the article advocates for a council that prioritizes rigorous debate and oversight, ensuring that the interests of Boston’s residents are front and center as the city moves forward.
Boston City Councilors will soon be paid $125,000 a year; they should start earning it.
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As the
Herald reported Tuesday
, Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata said she has secured the seven votes required to become the next Council president. There’s more to that story, but here’s the kicker: Her first hire, she says, is Councilor-at-Large Henry Santana.
Santana, who held off a comeback bid from former Councilor Frank Baker in last week’s election and finished fourth in the at-large race, would serve as vice president of the council.
The Herald was told that Santana has attendance issues, to put it mildly. But that doesn’t seem to matter on a board more interested in being a rubber stamp for Mayor Michelle Wu. We condemn that line of thinking. It isn’t serving Wu nor the taxpayers of Boston.
The mayor needs to surround herself with an equal dose of skeptics as supporters. Who is going to challenge her?
“There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you,” wrote Nicolo Machiavelli in “The Prince.”
Machiavelli wrote that pearl 512 years ago as a playbook for nobles in a time when rival city-states ruled Renaissance Italy. It still holds true today.
Why would Coletta Zapata turn to a junior member of the Council who barely hung on to his job when Boston is heading into a year where tough decisions will need to be made? It’s a blatant nod to the mayor.
Wu smoked Josh Kraft so badly the son of Patriots owner Bob Kraft sulked away days after his preliminary election thumping. Now the city is seeing what happens when politicians are unopposed.
Mayor Wu, to quote President Donald Trump, is a “smart” mayor, but she’s left of liberal and that’s going to hit taxpayers hard as she rolls out her agenda. So, where’s the stopgap? Coletta Zapata and Santana are not Batwoman and Robin.
The city deserves a dynamic duo and these two are far from it. Plus, this choice could come back to haunt the Council if Mayor Wu decides to skip the last years of her second term and, say, run for U.S. Senate? Go back to Harvard? Try her luck in Washington, D.C.?
Anyone paid $125,000 a year is at least living four times above the poverty line. It’s also $40,000 above the nation’s median household income of about $85,000, according to U.S. Census statistics. And try making that math work in Boston, where houses are sold for $1 million — and up!
This city needs hard-charging councilors who show up and push for answers, not act as puppets. The opioid crisis is a pox on our house and needs to be solved before the winter freeze hits. We need councilors to stay out of the police blotter and support law enforcement, not question every move officers make.
Coletta Zapata can count her votes and hope for the best, but she’d be doing the city a favor by seeking balance and turning to someone else to be her deputy.
Santana needs to put more years under his belt and show up more for every committee he’s assigned to. Anything less warrants a refund of his soon-to-be $125,000 large take-home cheddar.
