This past Tuesday, elections resulted in significant changes for the cities of Boston and New York. After 20 years with a Republican or Independent mayor, New York City elected liberal Democrat Bill de Blasio in a landslide. In Boston, Thomas Menino, who this year decided not to run after holding office for 20 years, was replaced by Martin Walsh. What impact do you think de Blasio and Walsh will have over their respective cities?

Nicholas Medina '14

The impact that they will have is hard for me to predict. First and foremost, their impacts will depend on how much they care about their city. Without emotional investment, I think they are more likely to make decisions that help them stand out as politicians rather than actually improve citizens' quality of life. Second, I see at least de Blasio's landslide victory as more of a symbol that represents changes in New Yorkers' values. In a Nov. 5 article, the Washington Post commented that de Blasio is "ushering in an era of activist liberal governance," but I'd say most of the leading is done by New York City citizens on a daily basis. If the assertion of the Washington Post is true, maybe now politicians and activists will exist more harmoniously, and political activism might not feel so anti-political at least on the city level. Third, as a Dominican Bronx resident, I think it's critical that de Blasio make New York City less Manhattan-centric, especially as gentrification pushes ethnic minorities to the outskirts of the other four boroughs.

Nicholas Medina '14 is a Biology major and a Science Posse Scholar.

Noah Coolidge '16

A really good mayor has the potential to truly transform not just their city, but also their entire region. Marty Walsh and Bill de Blasio had very different paths to the mayor's office in their respective cities. De Blasio campaigned on a powerful progressive platform of fairness, equality and ending the discriminatory "stop and frisk" policy. Walsh has promised to focus on improving public education and economic development. Both come from different backgrounds and won in very different circumstances. De Blasio is the first Democratic mayor of New York in years and won a resounding victory. Walsh succeeds a 20-year incumbent Democrat and won by only two percent. Both will face difficult challenges as they begin leading their cities. They have ambitious agendas that will challenge the status quo and improve their cities and the regions beyond. Despite different circumstances, the two mayors-elect have at least one thing in common: they're both Red Sox fans.

Noah Coolidge '16 is a History major, has worked on several political campaigns, and is a resident of Lexington, Mass.

Mark Gimelstein '17

Following Bill de Blasio's win in the 2013 New York City mayoral election, it is clear that the city's populace has taken a major turn to the left on the political spectrum. In my opinion, the outcome of the election was an unfortunate one, as I believe that de Blasio's proposed policies have the potential to drive many job creators out of the city, which will make it that much more difficult for the city's poor to climb up the economic ladder. Personal opinions aside, this election matters because of New York City's great importance for the United States and global economy. As the financial capital of the world, the policies put in place by the mayor of New York City can be consequential and influential for millions, if not billions of people.

Mark Gimelstein '17 is a projected Politics and Economics major, and a Long Island, New York native.

Sam Mintz '15

Marty Walsh is a great guy with many supporters, and I think he'll be a fine mayor. However, what he won't do is bring many new ideas to a city that could really use some. Boston has had the same mayor for 20 years, and has had only three mayors in the last 45 years. While Walsh represents a token change, I think Boston would have been ready for a mayor like Charlotte Golar Richie, who came in third in the preliminary election behind Walsh and runner up John Connolly. She would have been both the first female and first African-American mayor in Boston history. Or what about Felix Arroyo, John Barros, or Rob Consalvo, excellent candidates, each of whom was vying to be the first Hispanic mayor of a city which now has as many or almost as many Hispanic residents as Irish-American residents?

Sam Mintz '15 is a Politics major, production editor of the Justice, and a native of Arlington, Mass.