Accomplishments
Wu began her State of the City address by reviewing her administration’s accomplishments, including efforts to decentralize the drug treatment services in the Mass and Cass area and secure housing for homeless people struggling with addiction, the city’s response to the Orange Line shutdown, the piloting of three free bus routes, the expansion of bike paths and the completion of the reconstruction of City Hall Plaza.
Wu also highlighted the Boston Police Department’s removal of 900 unlawfully possessed guns and the lowest rate of violent and property crime in the last 15 years. She cited $100 million in contracts with businesses owned by women and people of color, including a school meals contract and a contract for snow removal.
Wu also cited her administration’s response to COVID, which earned her praise from Public Health Activists and scorn from a small but persistent band of protestors who staged daily pickets outside her home.
“When Omicron spiked and pushed our hospitals to the brink, we didnʼt turn away: taking decisive action for public health, because, no matter the backlash, Boston will never compromise on protecting our people,” she said.
Chief of Operations Dion Irish and Boston Public Library President David Leonard chat after the State of the City address. (Mayor’s Office photo by Isabel Leon)
She began her speech by name-checking members of her administration, two-thirds of whom, she noted, are people of color. Among those she called out were Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Chief of Worker Empowerment Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Economic Opportunity Segun Idowu and Chief of Human Services Jose Masso.
“Weʼre BPS parents and graduates, Wu said. “We speak Spanish and Arabic, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and more. We speak honestly about Bostonʼs past, present and future, because weʼve lived the challenges and shared the dreams of the families we now get to serve.”
