Despite the ongoing demolition of White Stadium, opponents have not ceased advocating for the halting of the public-private partnership between City Hall and BOS Nation while a more neighborhood-friendly alternative is considered. The Franklin Park Defenders have been at the forefront of this advocacy.
They allege “the city does not have the right to convey public parkland and change its use without legislative approval” and does so in violation of the terms of the George White Fund Trust.
While their day in court is still a month away, the Defenders held a “standout” of Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office on February 26, to demand she “take a stand and protect the public’s constitutional right to our public park.”
Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek addressed the cohort of defenders and the gathered media. She claimed the attorney general’s office has both the obligation and responsibility to prevent further construction under the Public Land Protection Act. Reauthorizing the lands’ use would require the state legislature’s approval.
She urged that failing to recognize either the trust or the state constitution could lead to other parks, “particularly in those areas that don’t have as much wealth,” could suffer from the dangerous precedent.
Mauney-Brodek was joined by civil rights leader Jean McGuire, who spoke to the park’s value to the community. “The park is a place where we meet with our children,” she said. “It’s not a place that should be monetized or turned into something that isn’t for the people. It’s an open, free Park, and that’s what it’s always been, and that’s what it should be.”
McGuire has lived by and regularly enjoyed Franklin Park for many of her 93 years. She spoke of the park with pride. “When you fly into Boston, if you look down, you can see our park.”
“Gorgeous,” she called it.
The value of the park as a green space was echoed by retired Vice President of Local 8751, Steve Kirschbaum, though with far stronger language. “What we are talking about is selling off our public park, our children’s future, so that some for-profit soccer team can ravage that area,” he said.
Kirschbaum alleged that Mayor Michelle Wu’s expedience in greenlighting BOS Nation’s tenancy violates uniform procurement, rhetoric he shares with Wu’s opponent in the upcoming mayoral race, Josh Kraft.
Wu denied these allegations to WCVB5 News.
Kraft has gained some early momentum for his tempered opposition to the development, but not every opponent to the public-private option is convinced.
Domingos DaRosa, who is planning a mayoral bid himself, said Kraft’s support is only as genuine as it is popular right now. “Anything that people say, he’s gonna gravitate towards because he wants the people’s support, but where [has he been] during the legwork?”
Suppose the Franklin Park Defenders are unsuccessful in court by election day. In that case, we will be long past the point where mayoral action could restore a totally public White Stadium, and not every defender is sold on making their campaign the opening shot to the upcoming race.
“My goal in this isn’t to help or hurt a candidate,” shared Defender Sarah Freeman. “It’s to stop what I think is an ill-conceived plan so that whatever trees are left, are left until all the legal questions are answered.”
“I’m very disappointed that the current mayor is steamrolling ahead when people say pause,” she added. “They’re not saying, Don’t ever do this. They’re saying, wait three weeks.”
However, there will be no wait as the stadium’s demolition is well underway. The attorney general’s office has since responded that while they understand the debate and appreciate the various perspectives, their office has “absolutely no role in that debate.”
“We have informed those challenging the project in court that, while we respect their advocacy, we do not share their legal position because the state laws on which they rely do not prevent the City of Boston’s plans, as the Superior Court already has indicated,” said a spokesperson.
The Franklin Park Defenders of Jamaica Plain need to learn to share the City with all residents. They don’t represent the views and opinions of all residents.