 Over the years, we have periodically looked at the city’s disaster planning with a focus on possible evacuations. Although not subject to forest fires like in Los Angeles, mass relocations due to super storms, terrorism or other possible disasters are possibilities. Long ago, the city’s planning to relocate many of its citizens ended at Boston’s boundaries with no coordination with our suburban neighbors. Other plans had designated some of our busiest streets as “evacuation routes” although they were already gridlocked during normal commute times. Over
three weeks ago, we assigned one of our best reporters, Brandon Hill,
to review the city’s plans with particular emphasis on the recent
increase in bike and bus lanes which have constricted vehicular traffic. He
was met with either silence or uncertainty about who to speak with by
both the Wu administration’s Office of Emergency Management and her
press office. It almost seemed like Hill was asking for the nuclear
launch codes or Elon Musk’s attempt to access sensitive government
files. As government’s
primary responsibility is the health and safety of its citizens, we are
left more than a little concerned and perplexed. It almost seems like
Mayor Wu’s attitude about our wellbeing begins and ends with prayer with
nothing in-between.
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