BANNER UPDATE: CONFLICT ENDED! The Herald, NECN, and Suffolk University have conceded to moving the time of their televised mayoral debate to 8PM–after the candidates previously committed to the CREATE THE VOTE ARTS FORUM resolved to KEEP their promise and attend the arts forum rather than the TV debate. Thus, the candidates will talk to the public about arts at 6PM, then walk next door for a televised debate at Suffolk University at 8PM. Read MassCreative’s response here.

Now let’s pack the Paramount on 9/9!  Mayoral candidates Felix Arroyo, John Barros, Robert Consalvo, John Connolly, Charlotte Golar Richie, Mike Ross, Marty Walsh, and Bill Walczak have confirmed their attendance. I will moderate the forum 6-7:30pm, reception 5pm. RSVP here!

MY ORIGINAL POST:

OUTRAGEOUS. Look what the HERALD, NECN, and SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY have done– scheduled a TV MAYORAL DEBATE at exactly the same day/time that MassCreative’s Mayoral Forum on the Arts, Culture and Creativity has been scheduled at the Paramount Center! Seven candidates have already committed to the Forum, organized 10 weeks ago by MassCreative’s Create the Vote– and we are asking those candidates to keep their promise. So far candidates Marty Walsh, Bill Walczak, John Barros, Charlotte Golar Richie, and Michael Ross said they would honor their commitment and attend–see Ed Siegel’s splendid post.

The arrogant decision made by the aforementioned Boston Media Consortium to set the conflicting date is a truly nasty way to deal with the arts community in this town and further evidence of the low regard in which we are held in some quarters.

The arts community needs your voice now! Please spread the word to friends, followers, arts lovers and ask for their support in encouraging all the candidates to attend the Arts Forum as promised!  Matt Wilson executive director of MassCreative has listed 3 things you can do right now to make our Forum a success:

1) Send an email or make a quick call to the candidates thanking them for committing to the Create the Vote Candidate Forum. (See below for contact info.)

2) Tweet your concern about the media consortium’s decision to schedule their event at the last minute to conflict with our event.  Suggested tweets:

Not happy that @NECN @BostonHerald @Suffolk_U r planning debate same day/time as #CreatetheVote #BosMayor forum! https://ow.ly/ojIwX

Then follow it with this:

Ask #BosMayor candidates to keep promise to attend #CreatetheVote forum! https://ow.ly/ojIwX #bospoli

3) Redouble our efforts to pack the Paramount (600 seats!) by sending out an email and social media alerts to recruit your constituents and audiences to the Forum.  Let’s fill the Paramount and show the candidates that the creative community has the ear of the voters.

Candidate Contacts:
Arroyo 857-400-VOTE (8683) campaign@felixarroyo.com
Barros 617-860-2832/617 936-7180  john@barrosforboston.com
Conley 617-227-2013 – info@danconleyformayor.com (HAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO ATTEND)
Connolly 617-942-0136 info@connollyforboston.com
Consalvo 617-272-3041 field@robconsalvo.com (HAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO ATTEND)
Golar Richie 617-227-8087 scheduling@charlotteformayor.com
Ross 617-652-0501 info@mikeforboston.com
Walczak 617-858-1242 info@billforboston.com
Walsh 617-742-2103 ckeohan@ckstrategies.com