Wu blasts Kraft Group over "limited to no" details about soccer stadium impact
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Mayor Michelle Wu holds a press conference in Charlestown across the river from the proposed New England Revs soccer stadium. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
A battle of public opinion escalated Monday near the proposed New England Revolution soccer stadium as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Kraft Group leaders traded jabs over their talks.
Between the lines: The strained negotiations spilled into public view with Wu blasting the developer for a lack of details about the Everett stadium's potential impact and a $750,000 pledge to cover mitigation costs.
- It pales in comparison to the $68 million Wynn Resorts committed in mitigation funds to build the Encore Boston Harbor casino (and the $36 million in traffic and infrastructure mitigation Wynn pledged to pay Boston).
Yes, but: It's also become political fodder in the mayor campaign between Wu and Bob Kraft's son, nonprofit leader Josh Kraft.
Driving the news: Wu, surrounded by local elected officials near the Alford Street Bridge, blasted the six-figure mitigation offer and what Wu called "limited to no answers" about the traffic, noise and environmental impacts anticipated from the stadium.
- The stadium is mostly on Everett land, save a sliver of property across the Mystic River owned by the city of Boston.
- Across the bridge in Everett, Revs president Brian Bilello and Mayor Carlo DeMaria held their own press conference hours later, criticizing Wu's characterization of negotiations.
- Bilello reiterated points the Kraft Group had made, saying "the tenor" of the talks was cordial up to this point, accusing her of sharing a different narrative "publicly to prioritize politics over getting a fair agreement done."
Friction point: Wu insisted the impact will hit Charlestown residents harder than their neighbors in Everett, pointing to the neighborhoods near Sullivan Square.
- Bilello said the company has provided information "anytime we've been asked," and that several studies are underway.
- DeMaria, who said the Revs' agreement with Everett includes the addition of a Commuter Rail stop and other transportation improvements, said the information Wu requested is typically addressed later in the process, citing Chapter 91.
- DeMaria also said he doesn't believe the stadium will negatively impact traffic as much as Wu suggests because the deal includes creating more public transit options.
What they're saying: "I don't see the impacts. Maybe I'm blind," DeMaria told reporters.
- "You have to use public transit."
Between the lines: Wu didn't hesitate to make references to her rival, mayoral candidate Josh Kraft, during her remarks.
- She said the $750,000 the Kraft Group offered for mitigation funds is a fraction of what he would get in "allowance," calling Josh Kraft a "pre-approved owner in waiting."
- Kraft has previously said he's not involved in the Kraft Group's efforts to build the stadium and would recuse himself from negotiations if he were elected mayor. The campaign declined to comment when reached by email.
What we're watching: The parties have until the end of the year to reach a deal with help from mediators.
- If no agreement is reached, they move to arbitration, where a binding decision would be forced.
This story was updated with remarks from a press conference held by the New England Revolution and Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria.