One thing’s for sure about us Massholes – we love a fine whine.
Consider the extensive whine list these days. More than four in ten Massachusetts voters tell pollsters the state is on the wrong track. Huge majorities are bumming over the costs of living – health care, housing, energy. Democrats blame Trump, Republicans blame Healey. Nearly half of all voters disapprove of the Legislature, and last fall 70% were so miffed they voted to sic Diana DiZoglio on them.
Tuesday’s municipal elections are a chance to do something more than grouse about it. Presumably all sentient adults know what they’re shelling out for taxes and rent. It only takes a few mouse clicks to figure out what your local mayor and councilors have or haven’t been doing to ease the burden.
Parent of school age kids or senior nervously eyeing your tax bill? With pols like Boston Mayor-for-life Michelle Wu openly talking about ditching the 45-year-old Proposition 2 ½ brake on property tax hikes, Tuesday’s override votes will surely bring cash-strapped oenophiles rushing to the polls, no?
No. History suggests most places will struggle to match the pitiful 2021 turnouts in places like Boston (32%) and Somerville (31%) which featured open mayoral races.
There’s plenty of lip service paid to the power of the vote and disgruntled citizens’ desire to send messages and hold underperforming pols accountable. But it mostly seems to vanish like a forgotten New Year’s resolution.
What happened to us? Let’s go down memory lane to a distant past when the election-eve political rally next to Gerard’s in Dorchester’s Adams Corner was a real scene, candidates lining up to beg for votes from a packed crowd.
Yours truly was doing a live shot there on preliminary election eve 1993, headlined by a large field of serious candidates for mayor. But the turnout was paltry. Why? “Monday Night Football,” said a local wiseguy. “And these,” he added, flashing a bagful of Blockbuster rental movie videocassettes. (Millenials, look it up online.)
Now we have every movie ever made on-demand and the ability to bet on anything that moves. And the minimal effort to exert some control over the public policy issues you spend all year complaining about is, apparently, too much to ask for.
So if you just can’t manage to drag yourself to the polls this Tuesday, here’s a suggestion for the next time you feel a fine whine coming on: stick a cork in it.
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Massholes may not always put their voting energy where their mouths are, but here’s some good news about us – scratch the gruff, bleep-off exterior and there’s a good chance you’ll find a deep reservoir of grace and compassion. Our phone is testimony, jammed with dozens of very generous texts, emails and phone calls about the interruption by corporate layoffs of our 34-year run on local TV.
We’re going to respond to every last one, but in the meantime, thank you. Please keep reading our work here and in Boston Magazine, and pass the word to others who might be interested.
And stay tuned. More to come.