Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, is dealing with criticism for “Nixonian techniques” after her administration admitted to creating an inventory of her most vocal critics and offering it to native authorities.
“The checklist was made in response to a request from the Boston Police Division after the Mayor had been harassed and bodily intimidated by people for a number of months exterior her residence, at metropolis features such because the annual neighborhood parks espresso hours, and at different public occasions,” Wu spokesman Ricardo Patron stated in an announcement to the Boston Herald.
The acknowledgment by the administration that it had compiled the doc got here after the checklist was uncovered in an e-mail obtained via a public data request by Wu’s opponents, the outlet famous.
The techniques utilized by the administration elevate concern over whether or not Wu and her administration try to silence or intimidate her critics, a lot of whom have protested exterior of her residence.
“The request (from police) got here after most of the people on the checklist repeatedly impeded the Dorchester Day Parade to harass Mayor Wu and her household and employees, yelling via megaphones at her and her youngsters for practically ninety minutes as they marched within the parade regardless of being requested by parade organizers to depart the parade route,” Patron stated, based on the Herald.
“Following the Dorchester Day Parade on June 5, 2022, Boston Police met with Metropolis employees on June 10 to make a security plan for the upcoming Bunker Hill Day parade on June 12, and the then-Captain of the District overseeing Charlestown requested for an inventory of people who had been concerned in public disruption and harassment of the Mayor on the Dorchester Day Parade and out of doors her home,” Patron added.
“The e-mail was despatched as a follow-up instantly after that assembly.”
The Herald reported that Wu’s actions drew comparisons from some critics to the late President Richard Nixon, who was well-known for compiling lists of political opponents.
Despatched through e-mail from Wu’s former Director of Constituent Companies Dave Vittorini to Boston Police Capt. Robert Ciccolo, the checklist, as reported by the Herald, comprises the names of “Wu’s most vocal opponents, equivalent to [Boston City Council at-large candidate Catherine Vitale], a number of anti-vaccine activists who’ve been protesting Wu’s home, and North Finish restaurant house owners who’ve opposed Wu insurance policies.”
The checklist included no motive as to why the names got and in addition listed the “Mendoza Brothers from the North Finish” and “A lady with the final title of Thuy who was arrested earlier than,” the outlet acknowledged.
Wu aides Tiffany Chu and Brianna Millor had been additionally cc’d on the e-mail, which was despatched after loud protests on the mayor’s residence within the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston final yr.
Final yr, an ordinance was handed within the metropolis prohibiting protests exterior of Wu’s residence throughout sure hours.
Wu, the primary girl and the primary Asian-American to carry the highest political workplace in Boston historical past, was sworn into workplace in November 2021.