boston politics

The first Boston City Council meeting of the year followed a scripted format, with at-large Councilor Michelle Wu formally nominating District 7 Councilor Kim Janey for president of the 13-member body. In the body’s second meeting on Jan. 15, the councilors rolled up their sleeves and got to work, providing a preview of the year to come. Hearing orders and ordinance proposals came fast and furious, with several challenging the power of Mayor Martin Walsh.

Mayor Martin Walsh announced transformative new plans for housing on Tuesday night, pledging $500 million over the course of five years to ensure liveability and curb inequity.

Monday marked a historic precedent as four new Boston City Council members were sworn in at Faneuil Hall, forming the most diverse Council in the city’s history. 

With just one vote separating Julia Mejia and Alejandra St. Guillen, the Boston Election Department called the election in favor of Mejia, bringing to a close a marathon, three-day recount process that saw dozens of volunteers, attorneys and city workers poring through the 67,011 ballots cast in the Nov. 7 election.

According to the city’s unofficial results, there was only a 10-vote difference separating the two candidates — Mejia garnered 22,464 votes as St. Guillen grabbed 22,454.

The shift in the balance of power on the Boston City Council will likely bring a different politics to the body.

With less than four weeks left before Election Day, eight at-large candidates look to be residents’ top picks to either remain in their positions on the City Council or take over as new members.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh announced this week his capital plan for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, a list of city-sponsored improvement projects which span education, transportation, public safety and open space upgrades totaling $2.78 billion.

City councilor Lydia Edwards has proposed a change in Boston’s zoning code which would require the city to analyze future developments based on the 1968 Fair Housing Act, and look at how potential building would affect displacement in the city.

A trio of departing incumbents has ratcheted up interest in this year’s Boston City Council races and spurred at least 13 candidates to vie for the soon-to-be vacated seats.