Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, who has been mayor of Boston since November 2021, has long supported a progressive approach to crime, but is now seeking to put some of the most basic crimes completely beyond the reach of prosecution.
Wu has argued that charges including shoplifting and disorderly conduct be out of reach of prosecutors along with other serious crimes, such as receiving stolen property and even driving with a suspended license.
But Wu’s progressive perspective goes even further: the 39-year-old seems comfortable with criminals who commit “quality of life” crimes going unpunished.
They include breaking and entering, wanton and malicious destruction of property, underage possession of alcohol and drugs, including distribution of marijuana and other types of marijuana.
Progressive Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Wants to Decriminalize Certain Crimes
Wu wants theft, robbery and disorderly conduct not to be prosecuted. In the photo, an unidentified man breaks the windows of a store in Boston in May 2020 (file photo)
Those who commit such senseless crimes would receive little more than a slap on the wrist.
All crimes are in a ‘do not process’ list which was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Rollins, who later joined the Biden administration but resigned amid ethics violations, had advocated for no more “low-level” crimes to be prosecuted.
in a 2021 Boston Mayoral Candidate Questionnaireof Progressive Massachusetts, a nonprofit that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials are, Wu was asked if he supported Rollins’ list.
‘Do you support the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s no-prosecute list and its expanded approach to addressing such low-level crimes? BUT?’ Progressive Mass asked in their survey.
“Yes,” Wu replied.
When Wu was asked if he supported closing the Boston police gang database, Wu again said yes.
Wu has said he favors certain crimes not being prosecuted. All of the crimes are on a “do not prosecute” list created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Those who commit numerous crimes would receive little more than a slap on the wrist.
A number of crimes are on a “do not prosecute” list created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Critics have argued that young people, primarily black and Hispanic men, have been incorrectly profiled as gang members and entered into the database.
Recently, the database was praised after it played a crucial role in the federal roundup of more than 40 people allegedly connected to a violent street gang that had operated for years out of a city housing project.
As mayor, Wu, who is the city’s first woman and first Asian American to take office, has promised to reallocate police funds to other city priorities and believes in demilitarizing law enforcement, opposing the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and attack dogs. .
In the questionnaire, Wu also stated that he supports the firing of any Boston Police Department employee involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
He also wanted police records on use of force and officers who faced misconduct to be made public. Critics argue that such identification could jeopardize the safety of officers.
Last summer, Wu faced criticism for allegedly using tactics to silence his opponents, including creating a list of his harshest critics and sending it to police.
‘The list was made in response to a request from the Boston Police Department after the mayor had been physically harassed and intimidated by people for several months outside her home, at city functions such as the annual coffee hours at the neighborhood parks and at other public events. ,’ Wu spokesman Ricardo Patrón said in a statement at the time.
Last year, Wu was criticized for hosting a Christmas party for non-white councillors, which was mistakenly announced to all councillors.
Records show that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu used her own campaign funds to pay for the ‘colored elect’ Christmas party held in a taxpayer-funded building.
Last year, she was criticized for hosting a Christmas party for non-white councillors, which was mistakenly announced to all councillors.
“Honorable Members: On behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu, I cordially invite you and a guest to the Chosen of Color Christmas Party,” said one email, which was mistakenly sent to everyone.
Just fifteen minutes after the email was sent, Wu’s aide apologized and noted that the invitation was only for minority municipal councilors.
Although his assistant apologized for the mistake, the incident sparked complaints, but the Massachusetts Attorney General ultimately decided not to investigate.
Upon taking office, Wu also established offices focused on “Food Justice, Black Male Advancement, LGBTQ+ Advancement, and Worker Empowerment” to foster a more equitable city.
But despite her progressive efforts, some critics had argued that she had not been inclusive of white residents, leading to several complaints to the state’s attorney general, Andrea Campbell, who ultimately decided not to investigate.