Michelle Wu was sworn in Tuesday as Boston’s first lady and first particular person of coloration elected mayor within the metropolis’s lengthy historical past.
The swearing-in of the town’s first Asian American mayor got here two weeks after Wu received the town’s mayoral election. Earlier than Wu, Boston had elected solely white males as mayor.
“Metropolis authorities is particular. We’re the extent closest to the individuals, so we should do the massive and the small. Each streetlight, each pothole, each park and classroom, lays the inspiration for better change,” Wu mentioned after taking the oath of workplace.
“In any case, Boston was based on a revolutionary promise: that issues do not need to be as they at all times have been. That we will chart a brand new path for households now, and for generations to come back, grounded in justice and alternative,” she mentioned.
Wu, 36, takes over for a fellow Democrat — former appearing Mayor Kim Janey — who was Boston’s first lady and first Black resident to serve in, however who was not elected to, the highest submit.
Wu mentioned when she first set foot contained in the cavernous Boston Metropolis Corridor, she felt swallowed up by the maze of concrete hallways, checkpoints and looming counters – all reminders of why her immigrant household tried to keep away from such areas.
However she mentioned her household’s struggles finally introduced her to an internship with former Mayor Thomas Menino and finally a seat on the Boston Metropolis Council the place, she mentioned, she discovered the ropes of metropolis authorities and politics.
“Right this moment I do know Metropolis Corridor’s passageways and stairwells like my own residence,” she mentioned.
The swearing-in means Wu will now face the daunting job of making an attempt to make good on a slew of formidable coverage proposals that had been the spine of her marketing campaign.
To push again in opposition to hovering housing prices which have compelled some former residents out of the town, Wu has promised to pursue lease stabilization or lease management. The most important hurdle to that proposal is the truth that Massachusetts voters narrowly accredited a 1994 poll query banning lease management statewide.
One other of Wu’s high marketing campaign guarantees is to create a “fare-free” public transit system. Wu has mentioned the proposal would strengthen the town’s economic system, deal with local weather change and assist those that take the bus or subway to highschool or work.
Just like the lease management pledge, Wu cannot unilaterally put off fares on the general public transit system. Wu has mentioned she would attempt to work with companions in state authorities to make every proposal a actuality.
In her feedback Tuesday, Wu mentioned it is essential to sort out the massive challenges she has promised whereas not shedding sight of the nitty-gritty of metropolis authorities.
“Not solely is it attainable for Boston to ship fundamental metropolis providers and generational change – it’s completely vital on this second,” she mentioned. “We’ll sort out our largest challenges by getting the small issues proper.”
Wu, whose dad and mom immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, grew up in Chicago and moved to Boston to attend Harvard College and Harvard Legislation Faculty. She has two babies.
Janey made transient feedback earlier than Wu was sworn in, thanking the town for the prospect to function mayor, even for a short interval.
“I do know that Boston is in good arms, and I’m so proud to name you Madam Mayor,” Janey mentioned to Wu.
Janey had been president of the Boston Metropolis Council earlier than taking on as mayor, the second of the town’s three mayors this 12 months.
She rose to the highest submit on an appearing foundation when the town’s earlier elected mayor, Democrat Marty Walsh, stepped down this 12 months to change into U.S. Secretary of Labor underneath President Joe Biden. Janey was sworn in March 24.
Janey tried to make use of the standing of the workplace in her run to exchange Walsh, however she did not garner sufficient votes to make it previous the preliminary mayoral election that whittled the sphere down to 2 candidates – Metropolis Councilors Wu and Annissa Essaibi George.
Republican Governor Charlie Baker, Democratic U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and U.S. Represenative Ayanna Pressley attended the swearing-in.
