Curleyism
James Michael Curley was one of the most, if not the most, influential politician in Boston in regards to planning during this stagnant era.[1] Curley had 55 years of political experience with the city andbut in 1913 he was elected mayor.[1] In addition he was of Irish descent, which was convenient in how a handful of Boston’s immigrants were Irish.[2] In actuality, Boston became home to the largest Irish-American population of a city in America.[3] This was great for the Irish who were especially struggling to establish a home base in America, but not so great for the dominant native Yankee Bostonians who despised the Irish foreigners.[2] Thus the Yankees were not fans of Irish Mayor Curley. Curley created a project that with an aimaiming to redistribute the social ties and wealth amongst the Yankees and Irish. However, he seemed to only favor the Irish in regards to the choices he made as to which buildings to renovate and establish. Most of the buildings he constructed or renovated were of city amenities such as parks, bath houses, and other facilities to be used by the public.[4] These renewed buildings were often located in Irish ethnic neighborhoods rather than those of the Yankees, making Curley’s favoritism of the Irish evident. One could argue that Curley’s favoritism was not solely due to the ethnicity, but to the economic background. Curley was not of a wealthy family but rather of the poorer end of the scale.[2] Irish immigrants in Boston tended to not be wealthy as well and taking any and every chance they could acquire to forward themselves in Bostonian assimilation.[5] Curley most likely felt sympathy for them because of their economic background and even more sympathy because ethnically he was a part of them.
It appeared to be more of favoritism since the Yankee neighborhoods kind of underwent a reverse gentrification. With the Yankee-Irish redistribution project, instead of pushing away the poorer classes out of a certain area of renewal like normal gentrification, the native Yankee Bostonians desired to emigrate away from the Irish.[5]
It appeared to be more of favoritism since the Yankee neighborhoods kind of underwent a reverse gentrification. With the Yankee-Irish redistribution project, instead of pushing away the poorer classes out of a certain area of renewal like normal gentrification, the native Yankee Bostonians desired to emigrate away from the Irish.[5]
References:
1. Glaeser, E. and Shleifer, A. (n.d.). The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate. [pdf] http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/shleifer/files/curley_effect.pdf [Accessed: 14th February. 2013].
2. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places &
Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/
3. Boston and Its Neighborhoods » BU Libraries | Boston University. (n.d.). Boston University. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/boston/
4. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
5. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Figure 2. The Official Guide to Boston. (n.d.). Panorama: Boston Guide. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from www.bostonguide.com/articles/celebrate%20
1. Glaeser, E. and Shleifer, A. (n.d.). The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate. [pdf] http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/shleifer/files/curley_effect.pdf [Accessed: 14th February. 2013].
2. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places &
Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/
3. Boston and Its Neighborhoods » BU Libraries | Boston University. (n.d.). Boston University. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/boston/
4. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
5. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Figure 2. The Official Guide to Boston. (n.d.). Panorama: Boston Guide. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from www.bostonguide.com/articles/celebrate%20