Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu told GBH's Boston Public Radio Wednesday the city's restaurants and performance venues should all have the same proof-of-vaccination requirements — as mandated in New York City and other places — "to ensure that those going into high risk indoor settings are able to be protected."
Wu, who finished first in last month's preliminary election, acknowledged some venues in Boston have already adopted the policy, "but they've taken it on their own shoulders to do the research, to do the coordination, to set the proper rules and then to absorb the backlash that that might bring onto them, as opposed to government stepping up and saying we are going to set clear standards across the board," she said.
Wu said the vaccine mandate helps businesses, and "we need to be sure that the burden of administration isn't on our entrepreneurs, but with a robust public health infrastructure, we can get to the point where other cities are and ensure that we are ending this pandemic and eliminating the risks so that people can go out and continue to enjoy being out in public."
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Asked by BPR hosts to respond to Gov. Charlie Baker’s comments a day earlier opposing rent control, Wu also said she did not see his remarks as the end of the conversation.
“Maybe this is a difference between the glass-half-full, half-empty situation, but the way that I heard the comments was that he would leave the door open a little bit anyway,” Wu said.
In a separate appearance on the show, candidate Annissa Essaibi George told GBH News that she now is open to Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins' plan to move some of people out of Boston's tent city near the intersection of Mass. Ave and Melnea Cass Blvd. to a renovated portion of the South Bay House of Corrections.
"This proposal by the sheriff is one that we have to explore," Essaibi George said. "As long as it's a public health response, when we think about getting people the treatment and the care that they need, I'm game … I am open to it."
On Monday night though, during the final televised mayoral debate, Essaibi George was less supportive of the plan.
"We have to think innovatively about this crisis, but locking up people who are not well, who are sick is not the answer," she said during Monday night's debate.
"So just to be really clear, you don't support Sheriff Tompkins' plan?" asked debate panelist Tiziana Dearing.
"I don't support the plan specifically as it's written. I applaud the innovation and the creativity," Essaibi George said Monday.
The At-Large city councilor, who lags behind Wu in the latest Boston mayoral poll, continued her criticism of Wu's campaign platform, particularly the vow to bring fare-free public transit to Boston.
"To legislate, to govern and to campaign on hashtags is irresponsible and it is inappropriate, I think, for a candidate for mayor who wants to lead this city to again attempt to sell a bill of goods to the people of Boston," she said. "We have to exist in reality."
Voters in Boston — and around the state — head to the polls on Election Day, next Tuesday.
