Boston Citizens Eager for More Info on Olympic Bid

(ATR) Bostonians are still curious about the 2024 Olympic project.

Around the Rings surveyed a number of citizens attending Boston 2024’s first public meeting on Jan. 21 to get their reaction to the bid, and what they want to see moving forward.

Sarah Bartlett said she was neutral coming into the meeting, but left being "pro-Boston 2024" after the presentation.

"There needs to be more conversation about what was said here tonight to inform the people and give them a better idea about what’s going on," Bartlett said.

Catherine Donaher from Brookline thinks she is "waiting to hear more" before forming a strong opinion on the bid.

"It’s a good start but it’s barely a start," Donaher said.

"The Olympics are a terrific opportunity but they can’t come at the expense of other great basic needs. My greatest concerns are about choices that will be made about the expenditures and the fact that those expenditures won’t be made on things that we need desperately."

"I just wanted to hear more about their ideas and see it up on the screen," William Wharff, who is in real estate and knows the bid leaders through his dealings, said.

"I didn’t have any preconceived ideas coming in here, but I was just very impressed with some of the artwork that we saw tonight."

Ken Knight, an architect from Boston, said that having an "open process" was going to be very important going forward.

"We do that on all projects in Boston," Knight said.

"It’s a very democratic city. It’s something the community expects."

Jonathan Berk told ATR that the public opinion in the city is split strongly on both sides.

"There’s not really much middle ground. Either you love it or you hate it," He said.

"I think, through more public dialogue and communications, they’ll bring a lot more people on board."

For the citizens at the meeting, the doubts over costs of the Games remain a concern, but one that isn't swaying them against the project too much.

"I think that’s my two biggest things cost and security," Alex Veras, a resident from outside of the city of Boston, told ATR.

"I want to know what the cost for the municipalities that are involved with this. You look at these guys they’re business people they know how to do things and make it work, I’m for that 100 percent."

Chris Dempsey, co-chair for the opposition group "No Boston Olympics" said that he heard some good things from the meeting, but there needs to be more talk on the "risks" hosting the Games comes with.

"We’re not hearing enough about risks and drawbacks, and we think those are substantial for these Games; it’s a bit of a one sided story," Dempsey said.

"That being said the more information shared the better the more opportunity for people to get together and hear thoughts for the city’s future I think that’s good."

Resident Evan Falchuk believes this may be the high water mark for support for Boston 2024.

"The more information that comes out, the more concern there will be," Falchuk said.

"This was not a point of major discussion; the news that Boston was selected by the USOC came as a surprise. I don’t think the story is over."

Boston 2024 will have their next "Citizens Advisory Meeting" on Feb. 23 at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has rescheduled his first public meeting on the Olympic bid to Feb. 3 at Suffolk Law School, due to the recent inclement weather.

Written by Aaron Bauerwith interview help from Ed Hula III

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