For City Council District 2 hopeful Ed Flynn, public service is both a heritage he is carrying on and a legacy he is imparting to his own offspring. The son and spitting image of former Mayor of Boston and Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn, Ed Flynn has served in a variety of capacities ever since he joined the Navy upon graduating high school, from working for the Department of Labor under President Bill Clinton to advocating for veterans and becoming a probation officer with a focus on helping returning ex-offenders find positive opportunities on the outside, Flynn is sharing his drive to civic engagement with his children not only by example, but by inclusion.
Flynn arrived at his interview with the South End News with his remarkably poised 14 year old daughter Caroline, and he is rarely seen at events without her. Flynn volunteers at the John Quincy Elementary School, accompanying his son Stephen, a rising fifth-grader who will attend Josiah Quincy Upper School this fall, on field trips such as a model UN where young Stephen participated in a forum on climate change.
Flynn brought his wife, Kristen and the two children along on the stump for 2016 presidential candidate Hilary Clinton in New Hampshire, taking them to rallies, canvassing and other campaign activities. Now the family is coming along on Flynn’s forays to the various neighborhoods of District 2 to meet and listen to voters.
Flynn and family attended Opening Day of South End Baseball, Festival Betances at Villa Victoria, the St. John the Baptist spring Greek Festival, the Washington Gateway Main Street Business of the Year Award ceremony honoring Foodie’s Urban Market, meetings of the Eight Streets and Old Dover neighborhood associations and the July 18 Mayor’s Coffee Hour at Monsignor Reynolds Playground, where dozens of Worcester Square Area neighbors shared their concerns about rampant drug-related crime.
As a probation officer, Flynn is very concerned with offering avenues of opportunity to offenders upon their release from incarceration to increase the chances that they will not reoffend and that they can earn a decent living. He sees access to drug treatment, education and vocational training as essential tools, and advocates CORI reform to prevent offenders’ past mistakes from impeding their chances for future employment and self-sufficiency.
“One issue I want to focus on and I think Governor Patrick did a good job on it is CORI reform. I would also like to see us move even further to give ex-offender a better opportunity in employment situations and not have CORI hinder them the rest of their lives.”
He continued, “When people are released from prison, 97 per cent are coming back to the community. For most people returning from prison or jail, most of their crimes were committed because they were under the influence or substance abusers. When they are released on parole or probation, they have a strict requirement they must follow, not to punish them but to rehabilitate them. It could include substance abuse counseling. A lot of people coming out of prison or jail don’t have a high school diploma; a judge could order enrollment in a GED program.” Flynn praised the Building Pathways initiative, a Walsh initiative in partnership with the Massachusetts Building Trades Council which gives those on probation and parole an entrée to the building trades.
Flynn has been studying the efforts of his potential colleague, District 3 councilor Frank Baker, who represents the corner of the South End closest to Boston Medical Center (BMC), the methadone clinics, Boston Health Care for the Homeless and the Southampton Street shelter.
“I think [District 3 city councilor] Frank Baker is doing very good work on substance abuse counseling and trying to get people into drug treatment programs. I am learning a lot from Councilor Baker. A lot of the homeless shelters are in District 2 and we are very compassionate: we want to make sure that those who are dealing with drug issues have immediate to detox, a long-term bed in a drug treatment program, counseling on demand to anyone who needs it and the opportunity to eventually get a job. It’s a challenge, and I think under the leadership of Mayor Walsh, the city is taking a compassionate approach and trying very hard to get those who are dealing with substance abuse into treatment.”
Flynn attended the June 19 city council hearing on a Safe Injection Facility proposed by the Massachusetts Medical Society and like Baker, councilor at large Annissa Essaibi-George and Mayor Walsh, Flynn opposes the idea, particularly its suggested location in the Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard (MassCass) area. In a follow-up to our interview, Flynn wrote, “I attended the hearing on the Massachusetts Medical Society’s proposed idea of safe injection sites, and I am opposed to their existence in Boston. To effectively combat the public health and public safety crisis before us, we need to focus on two major components: increased access to meaningful recovery programming and needle/sharp removal services.”
Addressing the frustration of neighbors who feel besieged with the crime and other adverse behaviors concurrent with opioid use, Flynn said, “As it relates to the neighborhood, we have to ensure that the streets are safe for everybody, and I would like to work closely with our police department to make sure we have more police on the street, engaging residents, business owners and young people. As a probation officer, Flynn walked through the South End with police officers, talking to residents and to people on probation, checking in on them and seeing what needs they might have. “It’s an important job and I was proud to do it,” Flynn said.
One of Flynn’s favored approaches to increasing job and economic opportunity for residents of District 2 is to improve transportation to employment hubs. He observed, “We have a booming economy and a lot of great companies are moving to the South Boston waterfront. I want to make sure that people have access to those jobs, but part of that is making sure transportation is available. From the South End and Chinatown, it can be extremely difficult to get to the South Boston waterfront. I think we have the best minds in Boston and It will take working closely with city, state and federal officials. I think the business community has to get more involved in helping our leaders in finding solutions to transportation issues in our city and our district.”
In a follow-up e-mail, he added, “Currently, Boston Medical Center and other private employers offer shuttle and jitney service between major economic hubs in the greater Boston area that are not easily conne
“I talked to one elderly woman about the lunch program and she said, ‘It’s more than just lunch, it’s about the friendships that we’ve made.’ This woman wasn’t from Boston but she moved here and that’s where she made her friends. I think there is a role for our government leaders to play, including the business community to make sure that all these services stay here in the South End. There are a lot of great companies moving into Boston. Is there a role for them to play in helping a group of people who have been in the community a long time? Can they be part of the solution of providing a safe environment for the elderly?” he said. Flynn’s own mother and father help to care for their disabled grandchild in their home.
A lifelong resident of South Boston, Flynn’s family has South End roots. When my grandfather came over from Ireland, he lived on Rutland Street for a time. A lot of Irish immigrants came to the South End. They felt comfortable in the neighborhood. The South End community was always there for them and for the poor and needy people.”cted by public transportation (BMC, Longwood Medical Area, Seaport, Kendall Square). By identifying transportation hubs and establishing public-private partnerships with employers, we can further connect District 2 residents with jobs and ease traffic congestion.”
Flynn also weighed in on the ever-increasing housing costs that are changing the face of his home base in South Boston as they have changed the South End. One of Boston’s greatest challenges is income inequality and housing cost disparities.
There are simply not enough units to meet demand, and it is crucial that we increase the BPDA’s inclusionary development requirement for all Article 80 redevelopment policies. Furthermore, many of the affordable units that exist are not 2+ bedroom units, and don’t have the capacity to house families. As City Councilor, I will work with impacted communities to ensure there is access to affordable housing, reliable transportation modes, and quality schools for all Bostonians.
Flynn also discussed the challenges that the elderly face remaining in the South End. He attended the May 24 United South End Settlements (USES) Vison125 Gala, at which USES leadership raised the curtain on their new strategic plan, which focuses on lifting families and children out of poverty and discontinues USES’s exercise, lunch and other programs for the elderly. Flynn recalled speaking with some of the seniors protesting outside the gala.