B
oston Mayor Michelle Wu's re-election bid is gaining momentum, but the race just got more crowded. Community activist Domingos DaRosa has filed paperwork to form a candidate committee and run for mayor as an independent. He plans to focus on a "grassroots" campaign and has been developing a team to support him.

    DaRosa, 47, has a background in community work, including coaching the Boston Bengals Pop Warner team and co-founding the South End Roxbury Community Partnership to address the opioid crisis. He has also run for at-large seats on City Council three times. DaRosa's priorities include reducing dependence on cars, pursuing rent control options, and improving Boston schools through extracurricular activities.

    DaRosa could potentially challenge Wu on her handling of the situation at Mass. and Cass, where congregate drug use and crime have spilled over into other parts of the city. He has also criticized Wu's administration for not doing enough to address the opioid crisis.

    Another potential challenger is Thomas O'Brien, a prominent real estate developer who is considering a mayoral run. O'Brien could appeal to moderate voters who are dissatisfied with Wu's policies on affordability and development. However, his candidacy could also create tension within the business community, which has been critical of Wu's efforts to shift the property tax burden onto commercial real estate.

    Wu has faced criticism from developers for her attempts to increase affordability requirements and reduce giveaways to businesses. O'Brien's potential candidacy would add another layer of complexity to the mayoral race, with both DaRosa and Kraft potentially vying for moderate voters who are dissatisfied with Wu's policies.