Josh Kraft, the billionaire son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft launched an ambitions campaign for Mayor in Boston today, calling for rent control, a boost to affordable housing development and a pause on the city’s controversial White Stadium project.
“Because I love this city and its people, I am excited to declare my candidacy to be the next Mayor of Boston,” Kraft, 57, said during his campaign launch at the historic Prince Hall in Dorchester.
In his call for rent control, Kraft said he’ll succeed where Mayor Michelle Wu has failed.
“Mayor Wu promised us rent control three years ago, but I will deliver it,” he said of his opponent.
Kraft also promised to bring an end to the “human tragedy that is Mass and Cass.”
The former President and CEO of the Boy’s and Girls Clubs of Boston said he’ll work with people in the community and state to solve the problems there.
“Listen, addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence,” he said, “among Boston’s prize possessions is a robust and resilient recovery community who prove that one day at a time.”
Kraft’s current job is as President of the New England Patriots Foundation, the family’s philanthropical arm.
Kraft also took aim at the controversial build out of bike lanes across the city. Hesaid he would pause all new bike lane construction and at the same launch an effort to reduce congestion. A “common sense traffic plan, he called it.
On White Stadium, Kraft said it’s time to put the brakes on the project, a partnership between Boston Unity Soccer Partners, and and the Wu administration to rehab the 75-year-old facility in Franklin Park.
Originally proposed as a $100 million project with the city kicking in $50 million, the project has more than doubled and the the city’s portion ballooned to $100M and counting.
This comes as the push to benefit a start-up women’s soccer team has faced intense local opposition from community members and stakeholders in the public space of Franklin Park. The project is the subject of a lawsuit filed in superior court.
Among the members of Boston Soccer Unity Partners is Linda Pizzuti, wife of John Henry, owner of the Boston Globe and Red Sox. Pizzuti herself is named CEO of the Globe.
“I think that White Stadium needs a pause for two reasons: one, when you invest a $100 million into a public project… that primarily benefits an private entity, you need to take a pause and really look at it,” Kraft said.
Secondly, he cited “consistent, unequivocal community concerns,” which he said need to be heard, especially in light of the $200million price tag.
– Developing