Family matters

LYNN – For an hour it focused on diversity and inclusion, but at the end of Thursday?s Ford School debate, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy brought family – her opponent?s – into the discourse.She summed up differences between herself and City Council President Timothy Phelan by noting that his son and daughter landed summer city jobs and one attended a “school in the suburbs.”The remark, delivered during her closing statement before an audience of about 80 people, drew this post-debate retort from Phelan: “She?s gone after my wife, my brothers, the City Council secretary and now she?s come after my children.”Kennedy, in her remarks, sought to draw distinctions between herself and Phelan following the debate, noting that she lives in a smaller home than his and ending with her political affiliation as a Republican and his as a Democrat.?I leave it up to you to decide who reflects the real vision of Lynn,” she said.Phelan did not dispute the accuracy of Kennedy?s remarks regarding his children, but referenced in his reply Kennedy?s investigation into a computer used by council executive secretary Terry Young.He said Kennedy?s remarks “left my wife in tears” but Kennedy said her concluding statement was intended to contrast herself against Phelan.?It?s him, not his children,” she said.Kennedy and Phelan spent much of the debate contrasting their elected service records, but they also took a question from St. Mary?s student Emily Kirby about school violence.Kennedy said anti-bullying efforts and police presence in schools have increased during her tenure as mayor. Phelan said violence prevention must focus on mandating teachers to address bullying – “seek and search it out.”Asked afterwards about the responses, Kirby said, “Tim answered the question a little bit better than Judy.”Kennedy kicked off the debate by stressing her efforts o boost police and fire ranks, and add 100 educators to public schools. She said the Fire Department has acquired modern equipment under her administration and she has bolstered police presence in schools and neighborhoods.?From 2006 to 2010, your tax rate went up. From the time I?ve been in office, your rate has been stable,” she said.Phelan said the homeowners bill of rights, for which he won council support, benefits Highlands families and noted Kennedy opposed the measure.?In the Highlands, where the common thread is family and community, I have fought alongside you,” he said.Phelan said the anti-foreclosure initiative grew out of conversations with homeowners who said they could not communicate with banks about mortgage problems. Kennedy said she unsuccessfully vetoed the proposal because she feared it “could have a chilling effect” on efforts by residents to obtain loans.
Equality for allKennedy told the audience she “has made it a hallmark of my administration to be inclusive, to be fair, to recognize diversity of the city” by adding “people of color” to city boards. She instituted a summer youth jobs lottery three years ago to open summer work opportunities.Asked if she could implement any city policy she desired, Kennedy said she would ban favoritism and “taking advantage of the system” as barriers to fairness for local residents.?I?ve made it clear I expect people to follow the rules. I see the whole city lifted up when people are treated fairly,” she said.Answering the same question, Phelan said he would focus on creating citywide pre-kindergarten opportunities. He said space is available in schools in the summertime for programs oriented to 3- and 4-year-olds.?For my administration, that would be a top priority,” Phelan said.Both candidates said they support restating Ford?s status as a voting place. Kennedy said if the council polling place list forwarded to her office includes Ford, “I will sign it.”When asked how they would address complaints concerning law enforcement?s “dragnets … targeting people of color,” Kennedy responded, “It is not the city?s place to enforce immigration laws.”