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Zakim continuing push for Boston-only Olympics ballot questions, but sets conditions for backing statewide question instead
By adamg on Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:14pm
City Councilor Josh Zakim (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Mission Hill) said today he is continuing to work towards putting four ballot questions before Boston voters this fall on whether they want the city to host the 2024 Olympics and whether taxpayers should pay for anything related to the games or use eminent domain to take any property Olympics organizers think they need.
Zakim said recent pronouncements by Boston 2024 that it wants a statewide referendum is "very encouraging."
However, he said that before he drops his own referenda proposal, he'd want to see the specific language in a Boston 2024 ballot question.
And he said he would want assurances that the question would be decided before Mayor Walsh or any other officials sign documents that would bind Boston to hosting the games should the International Olympics Committee choose Boston in 2024.
The earliest the Boston 2024 question could get on the ballot is the fall of 2016. Zakim acknowledged hearing that this could be several months after Mayor Walsh would have to sign a formal commitment for the games - but said he's also heard conflicting statements that the mayor would not have to sign anything until after the vote. He said he would insist on a vote before anything binding is signed.
In contrast to the statewide proposal, Zakim said his questions could be ready for the ballot in as little as two months before this fall's election.
His proposal remains before a special Olympics committee set up and chaired by council President Bill Linehan. The measure won't go before the council for its vote until after that committee holds at least one hearing.
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Comments
How would you vote and why?
This is how they'll push it through
A statewide question would probably get a yes. Our leaders then get to say it's the will of the people while personally gaining benefit from the games in a way that the average citizen won't.
Just A Land Grab
I think this proves that Boston 2024 is more interested in making money off a pre-Olympics land grab than actually hosting the Olympics. By agreeing to a referendum, they're squandering their chances because even if it passes, the process will still taint the bid by politicizing it. The IOC severely frowns upon mixing politics with their cherished games, which is why a month ago Fish & Co. were claiming that they weren't beholden to any democratic processes and would go ahead with the bid even if a referendum were held and they lost.
Since a referendum would instantly tank their bid, this change of tune is entirely about kicking the can down the road long enough so they can silently push through enough zoning changes, land takings, and/or tax breaks while everyone is waiting for the referendum. If polls keep going in the same direction, their bid is dead in the water anyway. They're sacrificing whatever chance they had of actually being awarded the Olympics to keep their little enterprise relevant.
Referendum
Any move to place themselves up against the forces backing Boston 2024 at the polls is a grave mistake by any making an effort to stop them. NoBoston2024 has been doing just fine in relaying the message that public opinion was wildly against hosting the games. Clearly things were to the point that the IOC had to think it would be taking a risk to have chosen Boston. With a referendum on the ballot during a municipal election year or on its own in a special election turnout will be very low and the GOTV abilities of labor and incumbent office holders here in Boston and state-wide - will bury No Boston 2024. This is politics 101 and there is every reason to question the wisdom and agendas of those who have been pushing for a vote. Only a question on whether public financing should be allowed has a chance of stopping the Olympics and the staying power of that over ten years is unknowable.