The Boston Foundation congratulates Michelle Wu on her historic election as Boston mayor

Boston – The Boston Foundation today congratulates Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu for her historic achievement as the first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor of Boston, and as the first member of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to serve as mayor in the city’s history.

“For the second time in this calendar year, Boston is shattering historic barriers in politics,” said M. Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “Mayor-elect Wu has run a remarkable campaign and put forth a truly transformational vision of what Boston can be for all of its people. 

“As we emerge from one of the most trying times in recent history, with the triple pandemic of COVID, racial injustice and economic inequity made so evident, we at the Boston Foundation look forward to working with the Mayor and her administration to shape a Boston that heals past injustices and strives to build a more equitable future for the city, living up to our ideals as a shining City on a Hill, with impact on the region, the state and even the nation.

“As we celebrate the incoming mayor, we must also pause to thank outgoing mayor Kim Janey for her tireless work on behalf of the city during her term. Mayor Janey did not shy away from taking on the critical issues facing us through the past eight months, living up to her own historic role as the first Black and first woman to serve as Mayor in Boston history. Mayor Janey and the other candidates in this year’s election – Anissa Essaibi-George, Andrea Campbell, and John Barros – gave us a political season in which substantive issues and real debate brought forth bold ideas and opportunities for the city. At a time when too many elections devolve into attacks, lies, and disinformation, the candidates in Boston have largely stayed focused on the issues and ideas that we need to build a stronger city.

“This campaign leaves Boston in a better place than when it began. We face many challenges, and few if any easy solutions, but we look forward to working in partnership with City Hall, community leaders, and Boston’s nearly 700,000 residents to create those solutions in the coming months and years. Congratulations, Mayor-elect Wu.”