Josh Kraft formally launches campaign to run against Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
BOSTON – Josh Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, formally launched his campaign for mayor of Boston on Tuesday.
Kraft will oppose fellow Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu, who has said she plans to run for re-election.
In a campaign video released Monday, Kraft said his No. 1 priority is to lower the cost of housing. He continued that theme during a rally in Dorchester a day later.
Josh Kraft campaign kickoff
Former city officials were at the event, throwing support behind Kraft. Former Boston Police Commissioner William Gross was among those in attendance.
Kraft kicked off his campaign with hard criticism of Wu, including the price and accessibility of housing, the effectiveness of schools, and the inconvenience of new bike and bus lanes.
The 57-year-old Democrat attempted to show how he would differentiate himself from the current mayor.
"It starts with housing, the No. 1 challenge facing this city. Today there are projects ready to be built that would result in more than 20,000 units of housing. But they are stuck. Stuck due to regulations imposed by the current administration. To jumpstart new housing construction, we will put in place one-time incentives aimed at projects that are priced for middle-class and first-time homeowners," Kraft said.
Josh Kraft mayoral campaign
Kraft's first campaign video focused on his work starting the South Boston Boys and Girls Club in 1990. In 2008, Kraft was chosen to lead the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.
"There's a saying that we had at the Boys and Girls Club. 'I care.' I care that Boston is heading in the wrong direction. I care that our region continues to leave many people behind. I care that middle-class families are squeezed by the cost of housing. And I care that City Hall puts politics and ideology ahead of impact. That's why I'm running for mayor," Kraft said in his first campaign video.
Josh Kraft on Boston housing
The ad then shifted to what Kraft says would be his top priority as mayor.
"My No. 1 priority is to lower the cost of housing by building more housing. Boston ranks near the bottom of all cities in America when it comes to housing studies. We have to do better," Kraft said. "Strong leadership starts with listening. I will continue listening to people in every part of Boston because my life has taught me that you can learn from anyone. True change comes not from orders from City Hall, but by empowering people in communities."
Kraft said he can parlay his decades in philanthropy into so solutions, such as an alternative to Mayor Wu's rent control proposal.
"And this is how the plan will work: In exchange for capping increases in rent over a 10-year period, the city will provide a cut in real estate taxes to building owners," Kraft said.
Kraft graduated from Williams College with a master's degree in social policy and also has education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Correction: An earlier version of this report said former City Councilor Tito Jackson attended the event. He was not there and has not endorsed any candidate for mayor.