colinnew
Boston’s Democratic mayor is drawing widespread criticism for creating a list of her detractors and delivering it to local law enforcement agencies — a list which was reportedly uncovered in an email.
Critics are speaking out over Mayor Michelle Wu’s list, alleging that the Beantown mayor compiled a list of her political opponents in order to silence or intimidate them by means of law enforcement. Wu’s office vigorously rejects these notions.
“The list was made in response to a request from the Boston Police Department after the Mayor had been harassed and physically intimidated by individuals for several months outside her home, at city functions such as the annual neighborhood parks coffee hours, and at other public events,” Wu’s spokesman Ricardo Patron said in a statement to the Boston Herald.
“The request (from police) came after many of the individuals on the list repeatedly impeded the Dorchester Day Parade to harass Mayor Wu and her family and staff, yelling through megaphones at her and her children for nearly ninety minutes as they marched in the parade despite being asked by parade organizers to leave the parade route,” Patron added.
This list was discovered following a public records request made by Wu’s opponents, highlighting concerns about potential attempts to quell dissent within the city. Many individuals on this list are known for their public protests outside of Wu’s home.
“Following the Dorchester Day Parade on June 5, 2022, Boston Police met with City staff on June 10 to make a safety plan for the upcoming Bunker Hill Day parade on June 12, and the then-Captain of the District overseeing Charlestown asked for a list of individuals who had been involved in public disruption and harassment of the Mayor at the Dorchester Day Parade and outside her house,” Patron added. “The email was sent as a follow-up immediately after that meeting.”
The list, sent by Wu’s former Director of Constituent Services Dave Vittorini to Boston Police Capt. Robert Ciccolo via email, includes the names of Boston City Council at-large candidate Catherine Vitale, various anti-vaccine activists and North End restaurant owners who have objected to Wu’s policies. No reasons were given for the inclusion of these names. The list also mentioned the “Mendoza Brothers from the North End” and “A woman with the last name of Thuy who was arrested before,” according to the Boston Herald.
In the past year, the city passed an ordinance restricting protests outside of Wu’s home during certain hours. Wu, the first woman and the first Asian-American to hold the top political office in Boston history, has served in office since November 2021. The response to these revelations shows that her tenure continues to be scrutinized by critics and political opponents.
