BOSTON — Josh Kraft stepped into South Boston this week with an actual plan: a comprehensive, 90-day pre-release program for formerly incarcerated residents, covering housing, job training, mental health care, and more. It was serious. It was policy. It was… refreshingly adult.

Mayor Michelle Wu’s response? “Irresponsible Kraft macaroni bologna” (Boston Globe).

Yes. That was the mayor’s official answer.

While Kraft stood beside advocates and returning citizens — people who’ve lived the system and are trying to fix it — Wu tossed out a pasta pun and moved on.

She later defended her record by saying she’s tripled the staff at the city’s Office of Returning Citizens, from two people to eleven. But critics were quick to point out: if the city looks the same — or worse — what difference does a bigger payroll make?

Just ask South End residents, who regularly report addicts slumped across schoolyards and sidewalks. Critics say Wu is great at expanding offices, not solving the problems they’re supposed to fix. Throwing more money at a broken system might look good in a press release, but not when families are dodging needles on the walk to school.

And the dysfunction isn’t just on the streets — it’s inside City Hall, too.

Wu’s pattern of retreat and deflection was on full display again this spring, when she became the first Boston mayor in decades to skip the Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s annual business lunch — a hallmark event where mayors are expected to take questions from the city’s business and civic leaders (Boston Globe). Her excuse? She didn’t like that the Bureau criticized her commercial property tax proposal.

Critics say it fits the same story: if Wu doesn’t control the room, she doesn’t enter it. If she faces criticism, she fires back with sarcasm. And if the heat gets too high, she logs off.

Just look at social media. Wu has gone silent on X, the platform where most of Boston still follows civic news. Instead, she’s quietly posting on BlueSky — a low-engagement alternative where she doesn’t have to deal with replies from, well… voters.

So let’s review:

• Kraft stands next to people who’ve survived the system and want to change it.
• Wu calls his plan “macaroni bologna.”
• Kraft proposes a network to unite schools, nonprofits, and city services.
• Wu touts a staff expansion — and offers no plan of her own.
• Kraft shows up. Wu skips the meeting.

Boston’s facing real challenges. Reentry, addiction, affordability, dysfunction at Mass & Cass. And the city’s top job comes with real responsibilities — not just clever comebacks and quiet exits.

Kraft showed up with a plan. Wu showed up with a punchline.
And voters are starting to notice who’s taking this race seriously — and who still thinks it’s a joke.