Awoke Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu, who has been mayor of Boston since November 2021, has long supported a progressive approach to crime, but is now looking to make some of the most basic crimes completely off-limits from prosecution.
Wu has argued that charges such as shoplifting and disorderly conduct should be excluded from the prosectors’ purview, as well as other serious crimes including receiving stolen property and even driving with a suspended driver’s license.
But Wu’s progressive outlook goes even further: The 39-year-old seems comfortable allowing offenders who commit “quality of life” crimes to go free.
These include burglary of property, wanton and malicious destruction of property, minors in possession of alcohol and drugs, including the distribution of marijuana and non-marijuana varieties.
Progressive Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to decriminalize certain offenses
Wu wants shoplifting, theft and disorderly conduct not prosecuted. In the photo, an unknown man breaks the windows of a store in Boston in May 2020 (file photo)
Those who commit such wanton crimes would receive little more than a slap on the wrist.
The violations are all on a ‘do not follow’ list which was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Rollins, who later joined the Biden administration but resigned over ethics violations, had argued for the non-prosecution of low-level crimes.
In a 2021 Boston Mayor Candidate Questionnairefrom Progressive Massachusetts, a nonprofit that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials are, Wu was asked if she supported Rollins’ list.
“Do you support the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s do-not-prosecute list and its comprehensive approach to dealing with such low-level violations? YES NO?’ Progressive Mass asked in its survey.
“Yes,” Wu replied.
When asked if she supported closing the Boston Police Department’s gang database, Wu again said yes.
Wu has said she is in favor of not prosecuting certain crimes. The crimes are all on a “do not prosecute” list established by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Those who commit a guest crime would receive little more than a slap on the wrist
A host of violations are on a “do not prosecute” list established by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins
Critics have argued that young people, mostly black and Hispanic men, were wrongly profiled as gang members and entered into the database.
Recently, the database was praised after it played a crucial role in the federal arrest of more than forty people allegedly linked to a violent street gang that had operated out of a city housing project for years.
As mayor, Wu, the city’s first female and first Asian American to take on the role, has pledged to reallocate police funding to other city priorities. He believes in demilitarizing law enforcement and combating the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and attack dogs. .
In the questionnaire, Wu also stated that she supports the firing of all Boston Police Department employees involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
She also wanted police data on the use of force and officers who encountered misconduct to be made public. Critics argue that such identification could jeopardize officer safety.
Last summer, Wu was criticized for allegedly using tactics to silence her opponents, including drawing up a list of her most outspoken critics and sending them to police.
“The list was created in response to a request from the Boston Police Department after the mayor spent months being harassed and physically intimidated by individuals outside her home, at city events such as the annual coffee hours in neighborhood parks, and at other public events. Wu spokesman Ricardo Patron said in a statement at the time.
Last year, Wu was criticized for hosting a holiday party for non-white city council members that was incorrectly announced to all council members.
Records show Boston Mayor Michelle Wu used her own campaign funds to pay for the ‘Chosen of Color’ holiday party held at a taxpayer-funded building
Last year, she was criticized for hosting a holiday party for non-white city council members that was incorrectly announced to all council members.
“Honorable members: On behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu, I cordially invite you and a guest to the Elected of Color Holiday Party,” read an email mistakenly sent to everyone.
Just fifteen minutes after the email was sent, Wu’s assistant apologized and noted that the invitation was only for minority city council members.
Although her assistant apologized for the mistake, the incident led to complaints, but the Massachusetts attorney general ultimately decided not to investigate.
Upon taking office, Wu also established offices focused on “Food Justice, Black Men’s Progress, LGBTQ+ Progress, and Worker Empowerment” to promote a more equitable city.
But despite her progressive efforts, some critics had argued that she had failed to engage white residents, leading to several complaints to the state’s attorney general, Andrea Campbell, who ultimately decided not to investigate.