Word: white
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Timilty is not everyone's alternative to Kevin White. Safe money says not enough voters think he is their alternative. Even with the low turnout of a preliminary, White earned more votes in South Boston this September than he has ever earned there in a final election. He took Hyde Park this fall with the same number of votes that resulted in his losing the ward to Timilty in 1975. The mayor continues to have nearly unanimous support in the black and liberal wards and solid backing in Italian East Boston...
While it looks as if Joe Timilty is not the alternative this time, will the city in the future seek any alternative at all? The nature of Boston and its voters is changing. Since White has been mayor, and particularly over the past four years, the city's self-esteem has skyrocketed. Boston has become a model for urban living--ophisticated, chic, expensive and drawing new residents faster than the Larry Bird Celtics are drawing new fans...
Renovations for the waterfront area of Eastie, Southie and and Charlestown that White announced two weeks ago herald the changed atmosphere more affluent residents will bring. The theater district is becoming an established stop for shows on their way to Broadway. Quincy Market has more visitors than Disney World, and the Washington Street mall is earning downtown merchants record profits. Not to mention the Red Sox record-breaking ticket sales last year. People want to enjoy what a city has to offer. With a concentration of fresh enthusiasm and money, Boston's cultural life will explode, with even greater impact...
Middle class citizens as well are potential White supporters, as long as a stable municipal government continues to meet their needs. Those conservative voters, predominantly making their homes in the southwestern section of Boston, have neither the liberal's luxury of worrying about the erudite issues, nor the poor's immediate demands for assistance. They pay close attention to police protection, school quality and property values--and these have returned to normal during White's tenure...
...White entered the campaign for the final election with a tremendous lead. But the one thing that could hurt his chances almost did--a resurgence of racial tensions. Ironically, it is not with the black voters or the South Boston Irish that the city's racial problems have most hurt White's campaign. It is rather with the civic-minded middle class voters who just want the violence to end, the moderates who are the back-bone of White's coalition. Just as White began to deliver on his promise of stability, he seemed to lose control...