Latest news with #Boys&GirlsClubsofBoston
Boston Globe
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Josh Kraft is defining himself — the wrong way
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up It makes what was already an uphill climb against an incumbent mayor an even tougher battle for Kraft — one that if she wins, will leave Wu with an even loftier platform than she had after her testimony last March in Washington. The mayor who faced down Republican lawmakers on the hot topic of immigration with Advertisement Kraft, who has never before run for political office, has squandered much of his reputation as a decent guy who did good things for young people in Boston as the head of the nonprofit Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Instead of emphasizing that positive story from the start, he went on the attack. The topics — from bike lanes and school safety to the cost of Wu's White Stadium renovation plans and lingering drug and homeless problems at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard — are fair game. But too often, Kraft's proffered solution is further study rather than a substantive alternative. Advertisement Meanwhile, he tapped into Meanwhile, by accepting the money that flows to a political action committee through his father's connections, Josh Kraft gets the baggage that goes with it, too. As Wu puts that baggage before Boston voters, no one can say she is taking reelection for granted. Advertisement The Kraft campaign It is true, as the Kraft campaign has also noted, that Wu has her own transparency problems. She has been less than forthcoming about estimated costs for the White Stadium renovation. Information about other city matters, such as the death of a 5-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a Boston school bus, is also slow in coming. That is Kraft's case to make. But despite the millions at his disposal and the name recognition that goes with his family, so far he has not been able to do it in a way that makes a difference in this race. Advertisement The poll that put Wu 30 points up also asked those surveyed to respond to this statement: 'Michelle Wu has had some challenges, but Josh Kraft is not the answer.' Sixty percent agreed. Just 25 percent did not. Only Kraft can change that conclusion and it's getting late for that. Joan Vennochi is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Josh Kraft unveils prison reentry plan in bid for Boston mayor
Prison reentry is not a new issue for Kraft, a longtime nonprofit executive who spent three decades at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, including 12 years as president and CEO. Kraft helped fund 'Operation Exit,' a city program from former Mayor Martin J. Walsh to provide apprenticeship opportunities for individuals returning from incarceration. His work on that grew into a passion for the issue, his campaign said, and Kraft in recent years sponsored a summit to discuss criminal justice reform. As one of Boston's largest employers, Kraft said Thursday, city government has a central role to play in hiring formerly incarcerated people. He proposed forming a commission to identify 'what areas of city government could benefit from hiring formerly incarcerated people who demonstrably turn their lives around.' Advertisement 'For me, this is an issue about more than compassion for people who are reentering our city. It's also about doing what's smart, doing everything we can to give this community the best chance of finding stable employment and careers,' Kraft said. 'Becoming advocates for deterrence is also the best thing we can do for our neighborhoods, our families, and our kids.' Advertisement Kraft said he would reinstitute the 'Operation Exit' program, calling it a 'mistake' that it was discontinued. He would also establish a 'Boston Reentry Network' of academic institutions, government officials, and nonprofits to address challenges faced by returning citizens. He said he would lean on partnerships with local organizations such as Justice 4 Housing, Petey Greene, and the Tufts University Prison Initiative, as well as Roxbury and Bunker Hill Community Colleges, to provide new opportunities for people who have finished stints in prison. Specifically, Kraft said, he would partner with local, state, and federal officials to create a 90-day plan for everyone approaching release from incarceration. That would include professional development seminars, financial literacy training, physical and mental health resources, and counseling to help reconnect with family and friends. At an unrelated event Thursday, Wu defended her administration's record on supporting people returning from incarceration, and called the attacks from her opponent 'irresponsible Kraft macaroni bologna.' She noted that since taking office, she has more than tripled the budget for the city's Advertisement Supporters at Kraft's event said they appreciated the candidate's commitment to the issue. One of those supporters was Stephen Pina, who stood beside Kraft on Thursday, a little over three years after Pina, 57, said that he regularly attends resource fairs for formerly incarcerated people held by Wu's Kraft has been a great source of personal support, Pina said, even attending some of Pina's court dates. 'He's showing up as Josh Kraft, my friend in support of me,' Pina said. Many in Boston were not so sympathetic, he added. 'Coming home, the difficulty was one, getting ID, finding housing, finding jobs,' Pina said. 'People look at us like we're the worst. We're not the worst thing we've done.' Romilda Pereira, another Kraft supporter, said she relied on Walsh-era programs for returning citizens to rebuild her life after incarceration — but believes those opportunities are lacking now under Wu. 'We don't have enough resources for folks,' said Pereira, 43, who is now program director at the nonprofit Project Turnaround, which connects formerly incarcerated people to social services. Pereira credited Kraft and other private donors for supporting nonprofits that help house formerly incarcerated individuals. She pointed out friends around the room who 'have keys to their own apartment' because of those organizations. Advertisement 'When the funding is low because the city or the state isn't supporting something like this, they do,' Pereira said. Jade Lozada can be reached at
Boston Globe
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Josh Kraft's welcome challenge to Mayor Michelle Wu
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Until now, so little has been known about Kraft's personal views that, in the long run-up to his official entry, voters unhappy with Wu have had the luxury of projecting whatever they've wanted onto him. Advertisement But now he's going to need to say: How specifically would he spur more housing construction, which he has named as a top issue? What's his vision for the school system? How would he improve the district's woeful school buses? What would he do — what does he think he could do — about rising property taxes in the city? If elected, how would he preserve what has undoubtedly been one of Wu's strengths — the city's low crime rate? In his announcement, Kraft began filling in some of the blanks. He said he supported an elected school committee and would favor a version of rent control. He also won applause by pledging to put a moratorium on bike lanes, which have become a divisive issue in many neighborhoods. Kraft also addressed the elephant in the room — his family's fame and fortune. Kraft's father, Robert Kraft, owns the New England Patriots. 'I'm asking the people of Boston to set aside any ideas they might have about me based on my last name,' he said. Kraft worked at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for 30 years, including 12 as its leader, and Advertisement Wu has formidable strengths, though, and Kraft enters the race as an underdog. But like any other politician, she deserves to face scrutiny and be held accountable for her decisions. She has not delivered some of things she promised in 2021 — the T is not free, for instance. The Boston has challenges, but it's not a city in crisis. Criticizing Wu's purported lack of listening skills will only take Kraft so far. Boston voters can appreciate that Kraft's running, yet still reserve judgment on him until he makes a convincing case that he's the better choice to lead the city for the next four years. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
