Boston Mayor Wu appoints interim chief of streets to replace bike-lane friendly predecessor

Mayor Michelle Wu has appointed Nicholas Gove as the city’s interim chief of streets, replacing Jascha Franklin-Hodge, who resigned last month after overseeing Boston’s contentious bus and bike lane expansion.

Gove was promoted from his most recent post as deputy chief of streets for the Boston Transportation Department, a position he’s held since April 2023. His new title is chief of streets, transportation and sanitation.

Wu also appointed Gove as interim commissioner of public works.

Both appointments became effective on Nov. 24, according to two letters the mayor wrote to the City Council last month. The letters are included on this week’s Council agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.

The mayor’s office did not respond to a Herald inquiry as to whether Gove’s appointment as chief of streets will become permanent or remain temporary until a new hire is made to replace Franklin-Hodge.

When confirming Franklin-Hodge’s resignation to the Herald on Nov. 7, the mayor’s office said it would provide an update “when we have more to share about this role,” when asked whether a replacement had been hired.

To date, no public announcement has been made for the chief of streets position, which became a high-profile job during the mayor’s first term that ends this month.

Franklin-Hodge was appointed chief of streets by Wu in December 2021, and resigned ahead of the mayor’s second term. Wu was reelected last month.

The city’s widespread implementation of bus and bike lanes under Franklin-Hodge’s leadership drew backlash from residents, became a campaign issue in the mayoral race, and led to a 30-day review last spring that concluded the engagement from the Streets Cabinet was “heavy-handed.”

The review was led by Mike Brohel, superintendent of basic city services, rather than Franklin-Hodge.

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“During the 30-day review meetings, we heard consistent feedback that project communications and community engagement were inadequate, that decisions seemed pre-determined, and that processes too often did not achieve consensus, contributing to a loss of community trust,” stated a city memo issued at the conclusion of the review last April.

“We heard feedback that the tone of some engagements was very heavy-handed and relevant information was not shared, questioning the veracity of the process.”

Franklin-Hodge was paid $191,653 last year, per city payroll records. Gove was paid $166,461 as the city’s deputy chief of streets.

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