Boston, MA— Right to the City VOTE! (RTCV) today announced its endorsement of Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston with leaders in communities of color all over Boston at Wu’s campaign office at Blue Hill Ave in Dorchester.
In their endorsement, they stated that Michelle Wu is the leader we need for an equitable recovery in Boston, a champion on development reform and rent stabilization; ensuring Boston grows in a way that benefits all Bostonians and that those who make Boston a vibrant and thriving city can stay and enjoy stability.
RTCV started its mayoral endorsement process in December 2020 by engaging members and leaders who are working-class, immigrant, and residents of color from neighborhoods citywide. The internal process spanned four months and resulted in a platform of policy priorities which would most equitably improve quality of life for impacted communities.
In assessing candidates for endorsement, the coalition focused on advancing a yearslong political movement anchored by the ongoing organizing, base-building, and power-building of residents most impacted by inequities. RTCV sought commitments from candidates not only on policy platform positions, but also commitments to meaningfully engage community members and residents in sharing governance power once in office.
“I’m grateful to stand with Right to the City VOTE! in building a multiracial, multigenerational, multilingual coalition across our city. We’re ready to get out the vote and get to work in City Hall,” said Michelle Wu.
“We stand with Michelle Wu because she stands with communities of color. She will fight for racial justice and equity in our city, “ says Armani White, Roxbury activist and executive chair of Right to the City Vote, “ Michelle’s bold progressive platform and commitment to true progress is why Right to the City Vote is proud to endorse her.”
“We need someone to fight for truly affordable housing, stand up for education equity, and good jobs for the most marginalized. Michelle has been with us all along, ” says Mimi Ramos, housing justice activist and steering committee member of Right to the City Vote, “she’s committed to making our platform a reality, that’s why we are with Michelle.”
“Michelle helped pass the city’s short-term rental regulation, which curbs land speculation in Chinatown. Real estate speculation is happening all over the city. We need a bold leader to stand up against corporate investors and speculators, and work with working-class communities on finding solutions for housing stability. That’s why we are with Michelle,” said Karen Chen, executive board member for Right to the City Vote.
“Language justice is so important to our community. Michelle is committed to working with the community to improve the city’s multilingual services and make sure city hall is accessible to all.” Vanessa Snow, Right to the City Vote Secretary.
About RTCV: Right to the City VOTE! is a citywide political organization working to build the political power of Boston's rising electorate around a progressive agenda led by working-class communities of color. Its members and resident leaders represent working-class immigrants and communities of color in neighborhoods including Allston-Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roxbury, and parts of South Boston and the South End.
RTCV’s work challenges the political establishment by building upon years of local base-building and multiracial collaboration on a collective policy agenda, turning this into power at the ballot box. It is the only multiracial, multilingual, and multigenerational 501(c)(4) project and Independent Expenditure PAC in Boston and one of the few in Massachusetts. RTCV activists are a powerful force involved in year-round organizing and civic engagement to transform communities of color into high turnout neighborhoods. Since 2018, RTCV has knocked on more than 28,000 doors of voters—in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole—and in the 2019 citywide election, one in 7 Boston voters were contacted by RTCV.
Right to the City VOTE!’s endorsement add to an enthusiastic multigenerational, multicultural coalition of grassroots supporters, including leaders Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Kim Janey, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico, State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Mike Moran, State Representative and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, State Senator Sonia Chang Diaz State Senator Julian Cyr, Representatives Liz Miranda, Adrian Madaro, Jay Livingstone, Tram Nguyen, Tommy Vitolo, Natalie Higgins, Vanna Howard, Maria Robinson, Andy Vargas; Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix Arroyo Sr.; former State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing; labor unions North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, 1199 SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, Teamsters Local 25, New England Joint Board of UNITE HERE!, UAW Region 9A, Laborers Local 22, Alliance of Unions at the MBTA, MBTA Inspectors Union Local 600, OPEIU Local 453; climate organizations Sunrise Boston, Sierra Club, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, 350 Mass Action; Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts; WAKANDA II; The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus Political Action Committee; Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale; Boston’s Ward 1, Ward 4 and Ward 5 Democratic Committees; The Boston Guardian; and fellow municipal elected officials from across Greater Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For all of Michelle for Boston’s endorsements, visit michelleforboston.com
