All Politics is Local

One criticism of college students is that they only treat their university address as a temporary location to study and do not form roots in their campus's town. The student who forms roots at college and works to make a difference in his or her new community is the exception.

This spring, Boston's District 2 is holding a special election to replace a vacant seat. The former counciler, Jimmy Kelly, catered to the traditionalist South Bostonian. His views, however, have been outdated in the quickly gentrifying region the seat represents. Susan Passoni, who wrote her Harvard Kennedy School of Government doctoral thesis on what she would do as a Boston City Councilor, rose as a progressive candidate looking to fill the position.

Students living in the city of Boston should pay attention. Even if their school is not under District 2 jurisdiction, the decisions this Councilor makes will have implications for Bostonian life, including taxes, education, rent, and transportation. Just as Massachusetts citizens celebrated Democratic wins in the 2006 midterms, Bostonians should recognize that a city councilor follows their stand on city issues will also affect their lives. Getting involved and paying attention is not just for political junkies.

--kz