Battenfeld: Michelle Wu, master of tightly controlled messaging

Michelle Wu has a chance to be a true people s mayor in her second term truly engaging the residents and press rather than through canned statements and softball interviews Wu has mastered the art of putting out tightly controlled messages in her first term retreating to safe spaces like liberal residents radio or friendly podcasts Enough of that This is not state media As voters get a chance to weigh in on the mayor s race on Tuesday they deserve a chief executive who is truly transparent and not afraid to take part in real debates and tough questioning Wu should easily be able to handle debates against her opponent Josh Kraft before the November final electoral contest But it s likely she ll try to find friendly venues and moderators to host the debates While he was no skilled debater the late Tom Menino was known as the people s mayor because he was accessible to voters and the media nearly every day of his five terms creating a deep connection to the neighborhoods When Menino wasn t available his loyal press secretary Dot Joyce responded to media questions not a generic administration spokesperson afraid to even give their name Wu who worked under Menino at City Hall has not taken the same tack and has literally alienated herself from a segment of the population that has dared to challenge her like those opposing her White Stadium rebuilding plan Everything is a prepared message or talking points or softball interviews Her press office will often refer reporters to statements she s made on other media shows like her favorite WGBH Wu takes attacks personally and is thin skinned dismissing the criticism rather than trying to learn something from her mistakes Wu has in fact not admitted a mistake in her four years as mayor even when it s obvious like her over expansion of bike lanes and the failure to control the open drug use and crime from Mass and Cass If voters have a obstacle with all those bike lanes and speed bumps and reconfigured roads she should address it and admit the flaws And if it s clear that the White Stadium project will cost taxpayers well over million she should look for another way to do it The threat for Bostonians is that if Wu does win a second term and she has a -point lead she will be even less accessible and accountable That s truly scary