Flaherty-Yoon: A Kick Ass Team But With A Name You Probably Can't Say Ten Times Over Really Really Fast

L-R: Raymond Flynn, Mel King, Sam Yoon, Michael Flaherty

I'm all for the pairing of Flaherty and Yoon teaming on up to move Boston in a direction that they see fit with Yoon as Flaherty's would-be deputy mayor - and I'm thrilled to see the people coming out in support of the dynamic duo - but I gotta tell ya - trying to say their hyphenated named together should be a new drinking game - 'cause it's kinda tough.

And yes, Yoon is the easy one here.

Sam Yoons No More?

Well, I guess it was a good ride while it lasted, and for everyone Asian American out there that wins one, there a couple that don't, but there's no shame in that whatsoever, because if we're not out there at least giving it a try - we'll never get anywhere.

Here's hoping we'll see Sam Yoon get that win the next time around.

A Word From Sam Yoon

Thanks Sagar

Racist Sam Yoon Graffiti

While the picture might be a little hard to read, the billboard reads "Sam Yoon For Mayor" which someone decided to remake into "Sam Coon For Mayor".

Yay!

Racist graffiti for Sam Yoon!

You already know what I'm going to say, so we'll just leave it at that.

Thanks Fritz

Sam Yoon + Podcast = Goodness

Got word sent out that Byron down at the big WOWO has a new podcast with Boston candidate Sam Yoon (who you should already know by now especially if you're reading this blog) and while I haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet myself - just got the link a bit ago - I'll definitely be listening on in soon, and if you want to hear more from the Boston candidate himself - you will too.

Read the post. Check the podcast.

Guest Post-It From The Intern: First Week On The Job And Why Sam Yoon Needs Your Support

Here's a guest post from Sagar Sane who's interning for the Sam Yoon campaign, and who sent me out an e-mail asking if I could post up something he'd written about his first week. Sagar is from Overland Park, KS and is a graduate student in the Political Campaigning Masters program at the University of Florida.

Why Sam Yoon needs your support
By Sagar Sane

As an Indian-American and a political junkie, I keep tabs on many of the Asian-American candidates that stand for election across the country. Many of them are effective leaders that serve their constituents well. Sam, however, is an extraordinary leader who, if elected, would serve Boston exceptionally.

A few weeks ago, I decided to join the Sam Yoon for Mayor Campaign in Boston as a summer intern. I was a little apprehensive at first, never having worked on a big city campaign; frankly, as a Midwesterner, I had never even been to Boston and didn’t know what to expect. From the news articles and websites I’d read about the Mayoral race in Boston, I gleaned that Sam was a compelling candidate and that Mayor Menino was an entrenched, 4-term incumbent in a city were backroom politics often trump the interests of ordinary people. I felt the work I’d be doing on the campaign would be similar to what’s done by interns on most campaigns: fieldwork, phone calls, office stuff. But, while I have been doing some of that my first week, my experience thus far has been so much more. I’ve had the opportunity to work with staffers, constituents and the candidate himself promoting his candidacy, in parades, on street corners and in door-to-door visits with voters.

In the interactions I’ve had with Sam I’ve been very impressed, not only by his intellect or command of the issues, but by the way he comes off as approachable and interested in addressing the problems of every-day Bostonians. On any issue, he can pinpoint the root causes of the problem and can propose solutions. It doesn’t matter whether he is talking to an African-American voter in Dorchester (where our office is located and where Sam makes his home) or an Anglo-American voter in Jamaica Plains. Sam knows his stuff. People follow. And it shows.

The campaign staff, interns and volunteers are an energetic and dedicated group with varying levels of political experience. They were all drawn to this race not just by the prospect of winning, but because of their belief in Sam’s ability to change the way Boston politics operates, and to make fundamental improvements in the lives of Bostonians. I have seen first-hand how Sam has been able to bring together Boston’s various ethnic groups, interests and citizens without diminishing his beliefs. In the parades and visibility events I’ve participated in so far in the different neighborhoods, Sam has gotten a very strong reception from Bostonians of all backgrounds. People frequently honk their horns and shout “Sam for Mayor” and “Yooooooon!” in crowds.

From what I’ve read amongst the Asian-American blogosphere, there is a considerable amount of chatter over the phrase “model minority.” While Sam does have a stellar educational background, there is something different about him, something that distinguishes him from other candidates. Yes, he is a Korean-American candidate running for the mayor’s office in one of America’s most prominent cities. But he’s also a “rising star” and is followed by the political pundits. And from my point of view it would be more accurate to call him a “model candidate” than a “model minority.” Sam isn’t just a Korean name bundling together a set of issues and interest groups. He is a Korean-American candidate who also happens to have some of the most creative ideas for changing Boston.

Sam is a two-term city councilor, having won an open-seat in 2005 running a grassroots campaign. After spending a decade working on affordable community housing and development issues in Boston, he decided to enter the world of Boston politics. It hasn’t been easy by any means. It’s difficult to change the way this city’s politics operate. But Sam has done a great job as a councilor, working to make the city’s business more transparent. Making the big changes in the way the city’s budget works, the way the schools are funded, the way the transportation infrastructure works, and the way development issues are handled requires a visionary mayor. Sam is the candidate for the job and I’m glad he’s running.

I’ll be blogging more in the next few months about my experiences, but in the meantime, please do check out my site, off of Sam’s website at http://www.samyoon.com/. All of us on the campaign, and especially Sam, would love to have the support of the greater Asian-American community.

More Ways To Support Sam Yoon

I got some info sent out my way, and if you're so inclined and want to support Sam Yoon even more get online and hit up http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/22460 where you can help spread the word, plan an event, create a supporter page or just give the old fashioned way by donating a buck or two (because small amounts really do help - just think Obama).

Get.Political.

Sam Yoon Announces His Candidacy

You've heard me talk about Democrat Sam Yoon before (who was the first Asian American elected to City Council in the area) and I got word from my inbox that Sam Yoon officially announced his bid for Mayor of Boston yesterday, and while I don't know everything about Yoon - from all that I have read - it sounds like Boston would be in great hands if he was elected - so get on out, pass the word, or at the very least, just see what he's about.

And did I mention that if elected he would be the first Asian American Mayor of the City?

Yeah. I probably did.

Check out the video below, as well as the official site samyoon.com where you can get a lot of great information on him, his background, and what he's done in the past for his community.