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Massachusetts Boston Summer Olympics Question (2016)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Massachusetts Boston Summer Olympics Question was not on the March 2016 primary ballot or the November 8, 2016 ballot in Massachusetts as an advisory question. The measure would have asked Massachusetts voters whether they approve or disapprove of the Boston area hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. If a majority of voters disapproved, Boston 2024 would have ended its bid for Boston to host the games.[1]
Seeing that polls showed a public skeptical of hosting the Olympics, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh cut the city's engagement with the U.S. Olympic Committee, thus ending the potential bid.[2] Following this news, Boston 2024 ended its campaign.[3]
Support
The group leading the campaign in support of the measure was Boston 2024.[4]
Supporters
Officials
- Boston Mayor Martin Walsh[5]
Organizations
- United States Olympic Committee[5]
Arguments
- John Fish, chairman of Boston 2024, said the games would have been "good for Boston and will create thousands of jobs, drive economic development and serve as a catalyst for the long-term plans of Boston."[5]
- Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee, said, "We believe that Boston can and should lead America’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Great achievements are often preceded by great skepticism. The vision for these Games is sound, and they would be a powerful catalyst for growth and progress in Massachusetts. But that vision must be shared by the citizens, and for that reason we fully support the notion of a referendum."[5]
Opposition
Arguments
- Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-4) called the bid a "terrible idea" and stated, "If we can’t find a place for snow, where are we going to find a place for the Olympics?"[5]
Path to the ballot
Boston 2024, the group that supported a "yes" vote, would have needed to work with legislators in crafting an advisory question. Citizens cannot petition an advisory referendum onto the ballot in Massachusetts. Secretary of State William F. Galvin (D) recommended legislators to place a question on the March 2016 primary ballot to avoid the issue being overtaken by the presidential election. He said, "It would be a healthy turnout in the primary in March 2016 and it’s still early enough in the process that’s its meaningful."[6]
See also
Additional reading
- The Boston Globe, "Baker suggests Olympics referendum in early 2016," June 30, 2015
- The Boston Globe, "Legislature needs to initiate ballot question on Olympics," March 24, 2015
- The Boston Globe, "With referendum, Boston residents to have say on 2024 Olympics," March 24, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "With referendum, Boston residents to have say on 2024 Olympics," March 24, 2015
- ↑ ESPN, "Boston out as U.S. candidate to host 2024 Olympics," July 27, 2015
- ↑ WATD, "Boston: Group Behind Olympics Ballot Initiative Reacts to City’s Failed Bid," July 28, 2015
- ↑ Boston 2024, "Homepage," accessed March 25, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 New York Times, "In Reversal, Boston 2024 Wants Vote on Olympic Bid," March 24, 2015
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "Legislature needs to initiate ballot question on Olympics," March 24, 2015
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