Boston Olympic Opposition Holds First Public Meeting

(ATR) Around 150 concerned citizens gathered for the first time to share concerns about Boston 2024.

The meeting was organized by opposition group "No Boston Olympics," as a platform for citizen engagement, according to the group’s co-chair Chris Dempsey.

Dempsey told Around the Rings he thought the meeting was "informative" and allowed a space for discussion for people who were unsure where they stood.

"It is an issue of priorities," Dempsey said by phone to ATR.

"[People] are not convinced by Boston 2024 that the event is truly aligned with the needs and goals of our community."

Smith college professor and sports economist Andrew Zimbalist spoke at the meeting and allowed time for questions. After his presentation, Boston 2024 outlined their vision and future plans to oppose the bid.

"No Boston Olympics" feels that the lack of transparency from the bid is harmful to citizens of Boston, as well as citizens of the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The group plans to attend next month’s mayoral hearings. They want to continue to engage the Boston public and spread their message across the state.

Dempsey mentioned the community of Cambridge as an example an outside example of citizens expressing opposition.

Cambridge City Council voted to not support the bid on Dec. 8, exactly one month before the United States Olympic Committee voted to pursue a 2024 Olympic bid in Boston.

"We think there is substantial risk to the state tax payers here, and we think that people [across Massachusetts] should have a say in this and make their voices heard," Dempsey said.

"We haven’t seen anything from Boston 2024 [about] their willingness to compromise, negotiate or make the public part of any sort of process."

Boston 2024 did not return requests for comment on the opposition meeting, but Mayor Marty Walsh has scheduled nine community meetings during 2015 to discuss the bid with citizens.

Dempsey did not rule out that "No Boston Olympics" could in fact one day support the bid, saying they are a "rational group who understands compromise."

"At this stage we haven’t seen [that] from Boston 2024. They seem content to make decisions behind closed doors and hold public hearings without providing any input from anyone but people they invite into the room."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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