Is a mayor taking a vacation news?

It depends on the circumstances. In times like this, we turn to the Herald archives for perspective.

BOSTON_HERALD August_5_1926__p1

This front page is the first example from the archives for the term “Mayor on vacation.” As you can see, Mayor (Malcolm) Nichols (1926–1930) was front and center for taking time off. Historical fact: It appears he was the list Republican mayor of Boston. (Email me if I’m wrong.)

BOSTON_HERALD September_7_1849__p4

BOSTON_HERALD September_7_1849__p1

The first story ever published by the Herald that referred to an “acting mayor” appeared on Sept. 7, 1849. (I added a link to that year’s page 1 for historical context.) Another 3,411 stories follow that also contain the term “acting mayor.”

The city rules state the Council president is the acting mayor if there is a vacancy or the mayor is away.

Why the debate? Current Mayor Michelle Wu is on vacation and the communication of her absence was slow to surface — that is until the Herald reported on it today.

“The average American takes vacation. And I’m guessing most weeks she puts in 70 to 80 hours so she deserves it,” Larry DiCara, a former city councilor and longtime observer of Boston politics, told us today. 

DiCara added that during his time as council president in the 1970s he was informed when the mayor stepped away from the city. Such notice is not as “essential” with today’s technology, he said.

“The charter was written over 100 years ago when the world was a very different place,” DiCara added. “I would argue that if you’re easily reachable, like you’re on the beach or on the Cape, that probably it’s not essential. But if you’re out of state, probably the spirit of the charter would be that you notify.”

As of this writing we do not know if Mayor Wu is in state, out of state, out of country or out to sea. Hence, the story is one we should report.

Do you agree?