Candidates differ on developer incentives and support for downtown small businesses

The candidates answered audience questions about the loss of long-standing local businesses amid rising commercial rents and downtown construction.

Ysef Robi criticized the city’s economic-development approach, arguing that the office is too oriented toward large corporate handouts and pointing repeatedly to a $350 million package he said would prioritize parking-deck construction over housing. He urged better coordination of construction schedules, clearer communication with business owners, and active city promotion of affected storefronts during projects.

Christopher Taylor said the city and the downtown development authority work directly with shop owners and that permitting and inspection practices are being reoriented to be more helpful — ‘‘inspectors ... shouldn’t be cops. They should be coaches,’’ he said — and defended current infrastructure investments as necessary to repair long-neglected systems.

Both candidates acknowledged losses in the local business community and emphasized different remedies: Robi urged operational changes and stricter limits on developer subsidies; Taylor highlighted administrative reforms and ongoing engagement to reduce disruption during construction.

Attribution: positions and quotes are taken from candidate remarks at the League of Women Voters forum.