Written By A.P. Blake

John Palmieri will step down as director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) this May, and Mayor Menino was quick to appoint a new man for the job – perhaps too quick. The new face of the BRA will be Peter Meade: former executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield, head of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, and most importantly, a close friend to many local politicians and officials.

At a time where local development has stalled – and is at an almost complete standstill – I say now is the time for someone full of energy and ideas to step up and ensure that Boston comes out of the global recession stronger than ever. We need someone who can fill in the hole of the former Filene’s building and develop the South Boston Seaport. But that’s not what’s on Mayor Menino’s mind.

Peter Meade has little real estate experience, something current director Palmieri had 24 years of. These years included 18 years restoring downtown Providence, RI and four years helping Hartford, CT recover from dire straits. So why was Meade picked for the job? Perhaps the mayor put it best when Meade was asked why he was taking the offer and the mayor chimed in, “Me.” Meade quickly added, “He’s right, [the mayor] and I talk about this city a lot.” Mayor Menino is looking for his sycophant, not a professional planner who can improve the city. Peter Meade will essentially be making $164,640 a year to say yes to anything the mayor says.

If the RFK Greenway is any sign of what’s to come, we’re looking at the decline of Boston. The Greenway has yet to attract significant sustained activity despite swallowing tremendous amounts of public funding, including millions of tax payer money each year. If Meade can’t draw out the crowds to the Greenway, how is he to improve our street life and urbanity? I don’t believe he can, but I certainly hope I’m wrong.