He’s the invisible man of Boston Metropolis Corridor.
Councilor Ed Flynn – a thorn within the facet of the Wu administration – is being canceled by the progressives operating town. He can’t get a invoice handed, a listening to scheduled and even his picture faraway from the foyer.
And in a brand new low, Council President Ruthzee Louijeune snubbed Flynn throughout this week’s State of the Metropolis festivities, unintentionally, she claims, forgetting to introduce him when she introduced all the remainder of town councilors.
It’s downright Stalinesque, like when the Soviets used to chop individuals out of images.
The State of the Metropolis is a giant deal to elected officers. It’s one of many few instances councilors get to see their names talked about on reside TV with out it following a narrative on corruption.
So when Louijeune didn’t utter Flynn’s identify as she rattled off the names of all 11 of the opposite councilors, Flynn, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, was left quietly steaming.
It reveals that the progressive regime led by Louijeune and Mayor Michelle Wu may be simply as cutthroat because the previous regimes that used to run Metropolis Corridor.
Louijeune mentioned in an announcement to the Herald on Friday that she didn’t understand she “inadvertently omitted” Flynn’s identify till after the speech.
“This was an entire mistake,” she mentioned. “I’ve apologized to Councilor Flynn personally and acknowledged him within the ensuing social media posts. I need to specific my respect and gratitude for Councilor Flynn’s service to the Boston Metropolis Council.”
It nonetheless appears curious that Louijeune couldn’t bear in mind Flynn earlier this week.
Louijeune and Flynn, the son of former Mayor Ray Flynn and the main conservative on the council, have clashed repeatedly within the chambers this yr, with the president repeatedly shutting him down or ignoring his requests.
Flynn tried to cross a provision forming an ethics committee to supervise the council after corruption expenses have been filed towards Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, and it was despatched to die a quiet demise.
Flynn additionally despatched a letter to the Inspector Basic asking him to analyze the shortage of transparency round Wu’s tax plan, and it was equally shelved.
When Flynn needed the Wu administration to nominate a “rat czar” to deal with town’s large rodent drawback, it was additionally dismissed as a stunt by the administration.
And after Flynn requested Louijeune to take away his picture from the council foyer to protest his therapy, Louijeune dismissed him like a father or mother telling a toddler to be quiet.
Louijeune informed the Boston Globe earlier this yr that Flynn, who preceded her as council president, is making an attempt to undermine her authority.
“He prefers to place issues on letters and communications with me on X than really chatting with me as a colleague,” she mentioned. “As an alternative of being an elder statesman that councilors can flip to for recommendation and steering, he as a substitute needs to play the position of antagonist.”
Elder statesman? Even that sounds dismissive like Flynn is a few doddering previous man. He’s solely 56. Louijeune is 38.
And Flynn is meant to be an antagonist. Ought to he as a substitute be like one of many different subservient councilors in Michelle Wu’s again pocket?
The individuals of South Boston and Chinatown who elected him need him to be a watchdog, not a lapdog.
When Louijeune took over as council president, Metropolis Corridor observers questioned how she would deal with the reasonable to conservatives who was once in cost. Now we all know. It’s disrespectful to Flynn, a hard-working elected official whose household legacy has served town nicely. He has his faults like most elected leaders, like typically being an excessive amount of of a publicity hound.
Metropolis council presidents have little or no authority beneath town constitution besides to run the council conferences, appoint committee members and be performing mayor if the actual mayor will not be round. They’re no higher than different councilors.
Flynn declined to remark for this column however you may be positive he observed not being referred to as on the State of the Metropolis.
Initially Revealed:
