Hello, sorry for the radio silence over the last month. LIIIIFE amirite? Anyways, I have been hard at work regardless: writing poetry, journalism, in my diary, grocery lists etc etc.
I have a special surprise coming up in a few days but first I want to share this interview with two amazing youths who are out organizing for someone they can’t even vote for yet. They are Lillian Gibson and Zoe Vittori-Koch from Youth4Wu. They are campaigning for Boston mayoral hopeful & Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu. Interview below, thanks for reading everyone! See you in a few days.
*Also if you can’t tell, I am all aboard the #WuTrain and I invite you to hop on as well.
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Also, FYI, this will be the last post that will be totally free. The rest of the posts will only be for paying subscribers. I will still put out partial posts from time to time. Please support my journalism in Boston & beyond today because I need to eat too.
Also, I am planning on growing and making this newsletter weekly with original and non-original poetry, musical picks, quotes, and more content, along with my interviews and essays when they are available, so stay tuned.
CH: Why do you think Councilor Wu's Green New Deal is so important?
ZVK: The Boston GND, and all of her comprehensive policy reports, strongly differentiate Michelle Wu as a candidate because they represent her dedication to reaching beyond common-place solutions. I think it’s easy to say generic statements like you will move toward a more “sustainable” or “green” economy, but if you really look into the detail of Michelle’s plan, you will see that her policy initiatives are not just for show. She is taking a deep dive into what needs to change for the resiliency of our communities. Looking more specifically into the details of the plan, I think one of the key features is how intersectional it is. When talking about how Boston will be affected by climate change, Michelle is not only looking at the obvious aspects like sea level and temperature rise. The plan looks deeper into the idea that, in order to equitably take on climate change, we need to fix a broken system that is not guaranteeing basic rights like affordable housing and worker protections. The overall justice-focused lens in the Boston GND makes the plan stand out as something that is looking past political gain and toward community-based and equitable solutions for our city.
LG: Boston is a city that is at high risk for flooding and climate change in general, so a bold climate is needed in our city. I think the plan is so important because Boston can’t wait for policies in the national Green New Deal to get passed in congress but needs to take action on the local level. Wu’s plan doesn’t only address different infrastructure Boston should implement but it has a focus on helping climate justice communities and making sure we have an equitable approach in equipping our city for climate change. Having “Just Recovery” be an important aspect of her plan shows her focus on wanting an equitable recovery to covid-19 but also focusing on how as a city we can utilize resources we currently have to grow green jobs, increase green infrastructure, and much more.
CH: Why do you think Councilor Michelle Wu is the best candidate in the race?
LG: I think Michelle Wu is the best candidate for mayor because she has policies to meet the moment for many major issues facing people in Boston like climate change, barriers in city planning, and education inequality. I think the fact she hasn’t been afraid to speak out against institutions, like the BPDA, or actions of the Walsh administration while being a city councilor shows that she wouldn’t be afraid to make lasting change in Boston. Her being the first candidate to announce candidacy while Walsh was still in office shows how she is not planning her potential position as mayor to be a continuation of the previous administration. I think Wu has made it clear that she wants to step away from the status quo and fight to secure a future for working people, those with marginalized backgrounds, and those who want to see progressive change in Boston.
CH: What other campaign platforms of Councilor Wu make you the most excited?
ZVK: One of the greatest parts about Michelle is that she’s not a candidate who only has one main policy initiative that I feel is worth talking about. Michelle has a bold policy vision for nearly every issue in Boston, but I would highlight her other comprehensive policy reports (that accompany the Boston GND) such as her “Food Justice Agenda” and “Fixing Boston’s Broken Development Process”. These plans are lengthy, and can come off as intimidating to the average voter; however, they are not filled with political jargon like one might assume. On the contrary, the plans are so extensive because Michelle’s team is truly looking into every aspect surrounding the broad issue that they are trying to tackle. I would also mention the plan to “Free the T” because I think that this specific goal is one that stands out to many supporters. Making the T cost-free is something that is hardly talked about in the Boston political scheme, making it more significant that Michelle has taken it upon herself to lead with this issue as well as the area of transportation as a whole.
CH: What in Councilor Wu's platform appeals to you and the Youth4Wu effort?
ZVK: As a young person who has recently become more involved in political organizing, I immediately gravitated to Michelle. Her forward-thinking policy ideas definitely attract young progressives who are searching for somebody who will not side with the status quo. In addition to her policy, Michelle’s team has taken the extra mile in terms of making her campaign accessible, a step that reflects her platform of making Boston “a city for everyone”. Michelle is eager to hear ALL voices in Boston, especially those of young people. Youth4Wu was created because Michelle was speaking to us with the genuine intention of using our conversations to help craft her vision. One of Michelle’s first campaign events was having an open conversation with a wide range of youth activists in the city about the issues that were most important to them. When I first met Michelle, she spoke to me like my voice mattered, and explained how she hoped to hear all of my ideas for what I wanted in a mayor for my city. Not every politician looking to be mayor of a major, politically competitive city is so willing and eager to hear the opinions of just a fourteen-year-old girl. Michelle’s energy towards lifting up youth voices and valuing them in politics is one of the main reasons why I, and many other Youth4Wu, are putting their time behind getting Michelle elected.
LG: Her platforms being centered on equity and want to provide a livable and prosperous city for all Bostonians is very appealing to me. Seeing where our city is and the current inequities on racial and economic lines we need someone who has unique and bold ideas in the mayor’s office. For the Youth for Wu in particular Wu’s climate plan has been a big draw to many young people and her plans for transit. We’ve been able to host a few policy reading groups on Michelle’s plans so what may have initially drawn people to Michelle is now one of many reasons why they support her. For example, we held a policy reading group on her food justice plan and that’s been very popular among our members. I think many young people involved want to see a livable future and one that prioritizes issues that affect them and their peers greatly and seeing Michelle’s intersectional and equity-centered approach has made them excited to be involved.
CH: Why do you think a youth movement is so important in the political landscape today?
ZVK: A youth movement is absolutely critical in the political landscape today. Many Youth4Wu, including myself, came directly from Ed Markey’s senate campaign this past year. That race proved the astronomical power that young people have in getting a candidate into office. Especially when you look at digital, young people drove the force in terms of creating original and compelling content that changed the narrative that politics couldn’t be outwardly creative and entertaining. As the originators of S4WU, we want to bring this energy directly into the mayoral race because we know that Michelle is a candidate who wants to bring young people to the table. We are tired of being pushed aside and treated like we don’t know enough or don’t have the proper experience to be part of the conversation. A youth movement in relation to politics is especially important because politicians should not be legislating on issues that will affect young people without also valuing our input.
CH: What makes Councilor Wu stand out from the rest of the candidates?
LG: I think her bold and unique policies and that she is calling for a different aspect of people’s lives to be seen as a public good are really important and changing the conversation about what we can do as a city makes her stand out. I think her trying to show how much change the city government can make really shows to people how she wants to push the conversation. She doesn’t just want to reduce fares but push for fare-free transit and city-wide improvements so more communities can rely on sustainable and on-time public transit. She does not want to just improve childcare in Boston but is planning for universal affordability in early education and supports for childcare workers. I also think she focuses on issues that some people would think of, like her having a food justice plan. Overall I think her ideas as a candidate push people’s idea of what their city can do for them and has plans that have equity woven within both of which are not seen in many candidates.
Thanks for reading everyone! If you liked this interview please consider subscribing to support my work below.
Also, FYI, this will be the last post that will be totally free. The rest of the posts will only be for paying subscribers. I will still put out partial posts from time to time. Please support my journalism in Boston & beyond today because I need to eat too.
Also, I am planning on growing and making this newsletter weekly with original and non-original poetry, musical picks, quotes, and more content, along with my interviews and essays when they are available, so stay tuned.