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ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR BOSTON
Read the Story
How Mayor Ray Flynn's leadership and a coalition of activists transformed Boston, challenging established powers and setting new precedents for urban governance.
The Battle for Boston captures the remarkable era under Mayor Ray Flynn, whose election in 1983 marked the beginning of a profound shift in the city's political and social landscape. Don Gillis, a Flynn senior advisor, chronicles the inspiring journey of a city that dared to challenge the entrenched power brokers--including developers, landlords, and banking industry leaders--through powerful grassroots campaigns.
Gillis provides a vivid portrayal of the political dynamics and the coalition of community organizers, neighborhood leaders, and residents that played a pivotal role in rejecting the business-backed growth machine and the city's historically divisive racial politics. This book charts the strategic battles fought within the corridors of power and on the streets and highlights the substantial impact these movements had on the city's governance and power dynamics.
In a historic turn, in 2021, Michelle Wu became the first woman, person of color, and Asian-American elected Mayor of Boston. Wu’s victory on a similarly progressive platform as Flynn underscores the enduring relevance of his legacy, signaling a hopeful future for more inclusive and effectively governed cities.
The Battle for Boston poses a critical inquiry: Can cities truly embrace progressivism and govern effectively in the 21st century? This qualitative case study of Boston is a testament to the possibility of such governance in cities across America, driven by the indomitable spirit of those who strive for a fair and equitable society.
Critical Acclaim: The Battle for Boston
“A substantive political, economic, and social analysis of Flynn’s three Democratic mayoral terms (1984–93). This book is accessible to general readers but also contains enough depth for advanced researchers.” — Choice Reviews
“A detailed, qualitative study of Mayor Flynn’s progressive governance and its resulting effects on subsequent administrations, including Michelle Wu, the city’s first mayor of color. This thorough, experience-filled, and illuminating account will be of immense value to—and is highly recommended for—departments of urban studies, public policy, and political science.” — Library Journal
Meet the Author
Don Gillis, PhD, is a community organizer and longtime activist in Boston. He has advised mayors of several cities and led economic and workforce development agencies. He holds a PhD in urban sociology and the sociology of education and an MA in community sociology from Boston University. He has taught sociology courses such as Boston’s People and Neighborhoods, Race and Ethnicity, Occupations and the Workplace, Racial and Social Inequality in Schools, and the Sociology of HBO’s The Wire. He brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience that enriches the narrative, engages readers, and brings the period to life.
News and Media
The Battle for Boston (Book review by John Joseph Fahey, The City Paper, November 8, 2025)
Bostonia Magazine, Summer 2025, (August 8, 2025)
Explain Boston to Me Podcast- Mayor Ray Flynn (Lee Stabert with Don Gillis, July 16, 2025)
Ray Flynn's Battle for Boston (Dr. Francis Costello, Irish Echo, July 6, 2025)
Boston's Irish Soul (Dr. Francis Costello, The Irish News, June 18, 2025)
BNN News Interview with Don Gillis, Author of "The Battle for Boston" (Natalie Candler, BNN, May 13, 2025 - Video)
Library Journal, (Steve Dixon, March 1, 2025)
Praise for the Book
THE BATTLE FOR BOSTON delves into the historical events that shaped one of America's most iconic cities. This compelling narrative brings to life the struggles and triumphs of the people during a pivotal moment in history.
Ray Flynn is a wealth of wisdom; I’ve learned so much and appreciate how his dedication to people in our neighborhoods still shines through. Thank you for being the conscience of our city—Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston.
The book does raise important questions about the role of government when it comes to sharing the benefit of wealth and, by doing that, easing racial tensions. Gillis sees Flynn as a bridge to Wu, and even to Zohran Mamdani, the progressive candidate and Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, who calls Wu his role model. The leap from Flynn to Mamdani may be one too far. But overall, I think Gillis is right.”— Joan Vennochi, The Boston Globe
After taking office during a time of financial crisis and deep division, Mayor Flynn helped bring people together to solve problems and advance the common good across the city’s neighborhoods. From historic housing reforms and the creation of thousands of good jobs, to compassionately addressing homelessness and the AIDS epidemic, to improving parks and recreation facilities, to balancing the budget, Mayor Flynn’s administration made Boston better, fairer, and stronger. —President Bill Clinton
This book uncovers the complex challenges of how Mayor Ray Flynn advanced racial unity in Boston and shared the benefits of growth. The social revolution in the city that established a more progressive politics resulted in the election of Mayor Michelle Wu. It is a must-read for community organizers and civic leaders.—Hubie Jones, Dean Emeritus Boston University School of Social Work and Black civic activist
The Battle for Boston reveals Boston’s periods of growth and change, reckoning and reconciliation, and how Ray Flynn, who led at the national and international level, always knew where he came from and who he was elected to serve. He is a true champion of everyday working men and women, kids, and seniors, people with disabilities, the poor, the needy, and the homeless. Gillis’s book captures their stories and the battle to make Boston a more equitable city.—Marty Walsh, former Mayor of Boston and US Secretary of Labor
Ray Flynn doesn’t get enough credit for what he did around racial inequities. This book speaks to the challenges he faced. There is no doubt he moved the city forward.—Joyce Ferriabough, Boston media and political strategist, former president of Black Political Task Force
In The Battle for Boston, Don Gillis makes an important contribution to our understanding of city politics. Using Boston as a case study, he elevates important urban issues of politics, power, and inequality. This book is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and others interested in charting pathways toward increased equality in contemporary cities. Gillis helps promote and inform public debate about deepening inequalities and sharpens understanding of the promise of progressive cities. Japonica Brown-Saracino, Professor of Sociology, Boston University, author of A Neighborhood That Never Changes: Gentrification, Social Preservation, and the Search for Authenticity and How Places Make Us: Novel LBQ Identities in Four Small Cities.
The Battle for Boston helps us understand the challenges in urban America today and the role of progressive leadership in city politics. It is a must-read for students of urban politics and lovers of cities. It proves that progressives can win and put their vision into action. I want to honor all Ray Flynn contributed to Boston and, therefore, to the racial healing of America.—Bill de Blasio, former Mayor of New York City
(Photo courtesy of Tom O'Malley)
Governor Maura Healey
