Boston City Councilor Seeks Release of Original Olympic Plan

(ATR) Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson wants to subpoena Boston 2024 so the organization can release the original bid city contract to the public.

In order for a subpoena to be approved, it would require a majority vote from the Boston city council.

The original bid plan Boston 2024 won the United States bid city nomination on was never released to the public, although Boston Magazine obtained a copy of the plan.

Jackson said at a press conference at Boston City Hall on Jul. 20 that it is unfair to ask the citizens of Boston to get behind a plan "without complete disclosure."

At the same press conference, Jackson said that he submitted paperwork with the city to subpoena the bid, which would require a vote from the city council on the matter. If the council votes to subpoena Boston 2024, chief executive Richard Davey would have to appear before the council with the original bid plan on Aug. 12.

"I am disappointed that Boston 2024 — a group of individuals that no one elected — would make financial promises, commitments, and speculations on behalf of the city of Boston and have the audacity to tell us it is none of our business."

The subpoena proposal is expected to be introduced to the city council on Jul. 22 according to a report from the Boston Globe. It is expected to be brought to a committee for review before a vote will take place.

Mayor Seeks Anti-Olympics Donor Transparency

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh would like No Boston Olympics to disclose its donor base.

Walsh says that in the in the name of transparency, the group should disclose those who have donated as Boston 2024 opens their books.

"Mayor Walsh supports Boston 2024’s commitment to publicly release all salaries and contributions, regardless of the amount, on an ongoing basis and he expects any group from either side that is directly involved in the Olympics to do the same," a spokesperson for Marty Walsh said in a statement.

For the opposition group, anonymity has been used to protect their donors from potential retribution, as they have disclosed their 2015 first quarter donation information.

"We’ve had supporters say their bosses support Boston 2024 and they fear retribution if they oppose the games," Chris Dempsey, co-founder of Boston 2024, said to the Boston Herald.

"We are a grass-roots organization fueled by hundreds of Massachusetts citizens who give, on average, about $100. Both sides of this debate have chosen to keep some donors anonymous. The difference is that Boston 2024’s contributions average $75,000 dollars, and they’ve spent more than $14 million since their inception, while we’ve spent less than $9,000."

Dempsey, along with Olympic opponent Andrew Zimbalist, is set to appear live in a televised debate with Boston 2024 chairman Steve Pagliuca and Boston 2024 board member Daniel Doctoroff on July 23.

The debate is set for 8:00 pm, and will be televised on Fox 25 Boston along with being streamed online at myfoxboston.com and bostonglobe.com.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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