Lydia Edwards has her sights set on the State House
Agrees with Wu on making T free
City Councilor Lydia Edwards is looking to shed City Hall for Beacon Hill, where she would be a big progressive ally to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in the quest for a free MBTA, but says the two are at odds on other issues.
“On some issues we’ve disagreed,” Edwards said during a Sunday appearance on WCVB’s “On the Record,” pointing to the 2020 police budget, in which she backed then-Mayor Marty Walsh’s plan slashing $12 million in overtime funding from the Boston Police. Wu voted against the budget. Edwards has been endorsed by progressive allies of Wu including U.S.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, but in Sunday’s interview attempted to distance herself from lockstep politics.
“When it comes to the police budget, I have been very clear. I believe in fiscal responsibility. One of the biggest reforms we’re pushing for is overtime reform,” Edwards said.
The city councilor from East Boston said she wants to “bring to scale” programs that already exist, like street outreach teams to reduce the reliance on public safety in all situations.
Specifically, she pointed to the addiction crisis at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard as a place where alternative resources are needed.
The area disparagingly referred to as “Methadone Mile” has become a hotbed of drug addiction and homelessness in recent years and reached crisis proportions amid the pandemic as a major tent encampment popped up.
“This needs a regional response, not pass the buck,” Edwards said, emphasizing that communities around Greater Boston need to work together to solve the issues there.
“We don’t have a choice but to come together and come up with resources that we all share,” Edwards said.
If she makes the step from City Hall to the State House, Edwards said she would continue to fight for a free MBTA — carrying the Wu campaign issue. Democratic opponent Anthony D’Ambrosio has bucked the idea.
“The best thing we can do is make sure that public transportation is free,” Edwards said. “That is going to make sure that people have access to jobs, access to homes and that there’s a sustainable model that we can look to.”
D’Ambrosio, a Revere School Committee member, faces off against her in the special primary election on
Dec. 14.
The general election takes place on Jan. 11, next year. No Republican candidates are running.