Mayor Thomas M. Menino was known as a hard charger in the business community, a force of nature who, among many other things, transformed South Boston's waterfront into the thriving Innovation District. But Herb Chambers remembers the city's longest-serving mayor most for his soft spot for children.
The car dealership magnate recalls Menino visiting Chambers' native Dorchester, looking for toy donations to give to kids at Christmas.
"His office was like a toy factory around the holidays," he said. "Even when the auto business was going through some difficult years, he would call me and say, 'I know things are tough, but can you help me out?' And I was happy to because he was just a wonderful man."
Jack Connors, the founder of Boston ad firm Hill Holliday, said Menino called him about nine years ago, troubled that many of Boston's poorest kids never got to see the world beyond their own neighborhoods.
Connors suggested creating a camp, and the two set out to raise $10 million. As of this year, they had raised $52 million for Camp Harbor View on Long Island, where 900 kids spend a month each summer and where Menino would have lunch with them every Friday.
"The money comes from donors who don't know the kids, but knew him and his vision," Connors said.
But Menino could be tough when the occasion called for it.
Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, remembers a meeting in which he, the mayor and U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy urged Terry McAuliffe, then chairman of the Democratic National Committee, to choose Boston as host of the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
McAuliffe initially said no, prompting Menino and Kennedy "almost simultaneously" to slam their fists on the table and say, "We deserve this, and no is not an acceptable answer," Guzzi recalled. "No beating around the bush. He was an advocate for Boston."
His resoluteness finally won over McAuliffe, paving the way for the city to host the convention.
Menino addressed the chamber annually, and his speeches invariably turned to two of his top priorities: education and summer jobs for kids.
"One always went with the other," Guzzi said. "I can still remember him saying, 'These kids are my kids. These kids are our kids. And they deserve the best.' As it got closer to summer, there was the always-expected phone call: 'What are you going to do for our kids this summer? We want more money and more jobs.'"
James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and Menino's chief of staff from 1999 to 2001, called the mayor's schedule "not human" and his attention to detail meticulous.
They would be driving to an event when Menino would spot a dead tree or a broken street light or a faded crosswalk in front of a school, and he'd quickly call City Hall.
"The department heads would tell me, 'If you're driving with him, try not to let him find anything,'" Rooney recalled with a chuckle. "It got so that I once threatened to paint over the passenger-side window to show a bright, sunny day with green trees, freshly painted crosswalks and everything perfect."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Business leaders also saw softer side of Tom Menino
Dengan url
http://wartawanlocal.blogspot.com/2014/11/business-leaders-also-saw-softer-side.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Business leaders also saw softer side of Tom Menino
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Business leaders also saw softer side of Tom Menino
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar