Greetings from the Office of the Council President!

Dear friends,

Greetings from the Office of the Council President! Once again, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to my colleagues for choosing me to lead us into this new term and decade. I am proud to be our City's third successive woman of color to serve as Boston City Council President, leading the most diverse Council in the history of Boston with a majority women and majority people of color. Click here to see my inaugural speech as Boston City Council President.

I look forward to tackling the many issues that our City is facing today with a strong emphasis on expanding and creating more affordable housing, chipping away at the systematic issues that have created our opioid crisis, closing wealth and opportunity gaps, increasing transit accessibility and usage as part of a plan to reduce traffic and congestion in Boston, investing in our schools, and decreasing public health disparities that communities of color face in the City of Boston. I will bring the bold action, creative solutions, and strong leadership that we as a legislative body and a City need to create a better Boston for all. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council and the Mayor on these very important issues to our city.

I can't do this work alone. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I also want to highlight my amazing staff who work hard every day to Deliver for District 7. I am so proud to be leading a team of such dedicated, diverse, intelligent and hard working people, representing eight different countries and who speak languages from around the world, including Spanish and Hindi. Meet my team:

A familiar face and pillar for in the office, Samuel Hurtado, serves as Chief of Staff. Samuel has 20-plus years of experience in organizing and advocacy. He is a founder and the former executive director of South Boston en Accion and was instrumental in SBEA's growth as a dynamic, member-led organization that provides high-quality services and builds community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, with a concentration in community organizing, from UMass Boston’s College of Public and Community Service. Samuel lives in Roxbury with his wife and two children and is fluent in Spanish. As Chief of Staff for Council President Janey, he loves having the opportunity to work in his community and being able to make a difference. Samuel enjoys trying unique cuisine at small "mom and pop" restaurants.

Next is Makayla Parkin, who is now Policy Director after serving initially as the Community Relations Coordinator and later as Campaign Manager for Councilor Janey's recent re-election. She is lifelong Boston resident and is originally from Hyde Park. Makayla graduated from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a Bachelor’s in Political Science in 2018. During her college years, she always made it a point to be active on campus whenever she could. She was an active member in Model United Nations, President of the Inter-Greek Council, ALANA and a Campus Conversations of Race Facilitator after incidents on her campus. Less than two weeks after she graduated, Makayla went to Michigan to work as a Field Organizer for Elissa Slotkin’s campaign for Congress. In her spare time, Makayla enjoys traveling and reading.

Chantelle Beaton is managing special projects for Council President Janey. She attended Kentucky State University earning her bachelor degree in Business Administration while working at the Kentucky Capitol with the Legislative Research Commission where she interned with Representative Derrick Graham. Upon her return to Boston, she was an Administrative Assistant at QuickPivot where she supported executives and the CEO as their executive assistant, and later on, joined Team Janey in January 2018. She loves working with the team and enjoys fulfilling her purpose in life which is to give back to her community. A fun fact about Chantelle is she played basketball at John D. O'Bryant High School. Go Lady Tigers!

Brandon Iizuka Russell is originally from Washington, D.C. where he owned and operated a bike courier service. He started his career in Massachusetts politics with an internship in Congressman Joseph Kennedy III’s District Office in Newton. He later went on to serve as an Assistant Registrar of Voters in the City of Boston’s Elections Department and as an Enumerator for the U.S. Census Bureau before joining Team Janey as the Communication & Community Relations Coordinator. Of Venezuelan and Japanese descent, Brandon is fluent in Spanish and has a deep understanding of Japanese and other East Asian cultures. He joined Team Janey in September of 2019 to pursue impactful work in social, economic, and racial justice. Brandon is a former member of USA Triathlon’s National Team and was selected for international competitions in Denmark and Switzerland, and was the 2018 age 20-24 National Champion in Long Course Duathlon. He also served as the Track Cycling Captain of the Harvard Cycling Team for two seasons.

Born and raised in San Diego, Pratik Dubey moved to Boston in 2016 to study Political Science and International Affairs at Northeastern University. During his time at Northeastern, Pratik was a student organizer with the Progressive Student Alliance and Students Against Institutional Discrimination as well as an intern at Massachusetts Jobs with Justice. In these roles, he developed some of the skills needed to organize successful labor and housing justice campaigns. He began as an intern at the district office of U.S. Congressman Scott Peters before working as a research assistant at Northeastern University where he studied critical infrastructure resilience and disaster management policy. Most recently, he worked as a Community Outreach Intern at the MBTA before joining my team in 2019 as a Constituent Services Specialist. Pratik enjoys working constructively with District 7 residents to solve a wide array of issues. Outside of work, Pratik enjoys cooking the Indian recipes he grew up eating and honing his film photography skills.

The latest addition to the team is Jasmine Lestrade. Jasmine has always been passionate about improving the conditions of disenfranchised communities and people of color and has worked with various community organizations to do so. She is particularly interested in removing educational disparities, which she firmly believes contributes to the cycle of poverty and crime. She believes that in order for change to occur the right policies need to be implemented by people who come from marginalized communities. It was this belief that inspired her to obtain her degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts - Boston. Prior to working for Council President Janey, Jasmine was an intern at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, an organization dedicated to being a voice for all working people in the Commonwealth. In her free time Jasmine enjoys spending time with her daughter.

As we kick off Martin Luther King weekend, let us reflect and recommit to carrying out his legacy of fighting for justice and equality! In the new term and new decade, let's continue our fight for equity and inclusion in Boston! Many thanks again to the residents of Roxbury, South End, Dorchester, and Fenway for all your support. It is an absolute honor and pleasure to serve you all.

In Solidarity,

Kim Janey

Boston City Council President

District 7

Please click here to RSVP.

My Inaugural Speech as

City Council President

Click the picture above to watch my inaugural speech as Boston City Council President from January 6th!

My Letter to Northeastern University

Re: 840 Columbus Ave.

Last November, Northeastern University announced plans for a 26 story dorm building on Columbus Ave. The public comment period ended on January 10th. I wrote a letter to the BPDA expressing my concerns (so many, in fact, that I couldn’t get them all in on a one page letter!) and encouraged community members to share their opinions with the BPDA as well. Please find my letter to the BPDA here.

In Tribute to

Former City Councilor Chuck Turner

Roxbury giant and activist

We lost a Roxbury giant. Rest in power and peace, Chuck Turner. Boston is better because of your activism and long service to our community. Thank you for your support and your partnership and for sharing your wisdom. The hunter will not tell this tale. Chuck is our Lion. We are his village. We will tell his story. We will tell OUR story. We will preserve his legacy by living his legacy.

Important Dates for

2020-2021 School Year Registration

In The News

Mayor signs off on real estate transfer fee

Bay State Banner

By Yawu Miller

The tax, championed by City Councilors Lydia Edwards, Edward Flynn and Kim Janey, is expected to raise more than $160 million a year, funds that would be applied to the city’s Neighborhood Housing Trust for the construction of affordable units. The new fee would be split evenly between the property’s seller and the purchaser.

While 20 percent of the new housing units built in Boston over the last six years have been affordable rentals or deed-restricted owner-occupied units, the waitlists for such units are long. Janey noted that at a recently-completed 76-unit development in Roxbury, the waiting list was over 4,000 people.

“I ran for office because people were being left out of the economic prosperity in this city and literally being pushed out of their neighborhoods,” she said. “We know we have to come up with solutions.”

Boston’s Dudley Square could be renamed Nubian Square as city works to erase racist historical narrative

New York Daily News

Theresa Braine

Boston’s Dudley Square could soon be renamed Nubian Square, mirroring the many moves afoot nationally to disentangle the United States from its laudatory treatment of the slaveholders of yore.

“There are efforts across the nation and even within the city to address our racist past and present when it comes to monuments, squares, names of streets, statues,” Boston City Councilor Kim Janey, who represents Roxbury and adjoining neighborhoods, told The Republican. “There’s a lot more work we need to do in the city to make sure there is diverse representation.”

Janey: ‘I have votes’ to head the Council

Dorchester Reporter

By Katie Trojano

District 7 City Councillor Kim Janey says she has secured enough votes from her fellow councillors to become the next City Council president in the new year.

Janey would be the third consecutive woman of color to hold the position, following Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell. If elected, Janey would succeed Campbell, who was the first African-American woman elected president of the panel.

In a tweet, Janey said, “I’m so incredibly grateful to my Boston City Council colleagues. I look forward to working with them, Mayor Marty Walsh, advocates, community groups, and the many residents of our great city! We’ve got work to do! Let’s get busy.”

“We’re at a crossroads. That’s why I ran for office to begin with in 2017, and we’re still there,” said Janey in an interview with the Boston Globe. “I believe there’s a clear mandate from the residents of this city to see more women in leadership, more people of color in leadership, and we can look to the last election cycle to see that.”

Walsh signs off on transfer fee for private real estate sales over $2M

Boston Business Journal

By Gintautas Dumcius

The transfer fee applies to the purchase price, with the seller and the purchaser each paying 1%. The money would go towards the city’s Neighborhood Housing Trust, or put towards the creation or preservation of affordable housing through the annual budget process.

The measure has the Boston City Council’s support. "When passed by the state legislature, this home rule petition will help curb speculative real estate practices and stands to bring as much as $169 million in revenue annually that can be invested in affordable housing,” said Kim Janey, who is vice chair of the council’s housing committee and represents Roxbury and parts of the South End, Dorchester and Fenway.

Boston City Council to focus on PILOT nonprofit tax programs

Boston Herald

By Sean Philip Cotter

Brand new City Council President Kim Janey is taking aim at the city’s storied colleges with a new effort to get the nonprofits to pay their fair share for public services.

Janey said the big universities in particular “have not done all they can.”

Janey, who as expected was elected the president for the nascent two-year council term, used her first speech to announce that she is creating a council committee to focus on the payments in lieu of taxes — or PILOT — program, which is a decade-old set of guidelines that lays out a voluntary framework for nonprofit organizations to give the city money and services instead of paying property taxes.

“There’s a lot of money that’s being left on the table, and we need to invest that money in our schools, in our roads, in affordable housing in our city,” Janey said. “Not all of our nonprofit partners are doing their best in fulfilling the commitment.”

Former Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner Dies

NBC Boston 10

By Marc Fortier

"He has 50-plus years of organizing for this city," Janey told the Globe. "Transformational changes have been made because of Chuck Turner. Lives have been changed because of Chuck Turner."

Say hello to Nubian Square

Commonwealth Magazine

By Andy Metzger

Boston City Councilor Kim Janey, whose district includes Dudley, supported holding the non-binding referendum, and wants the city to follow through on her constituents’ desires, but she remained officially neutral before the vote.

“We see efforts all across our country to address and confront our racist past and present, whether it’s tearing down monuments or new names for different squares and streets. This is no different,” said Janey, who is the incoming council president, in a statement Wednesday.

Equity, inclusion among top issues for new Boston City Council President

Fox 25

By Gene Lavanchy

"I am very proud, honored and humbled to lead the most diverse Boston City Council in Boston's history. I am so grateful to my colleagues for placing their faith in me. I think it is really important because representation matters, its a clear mandate from the voters of this City that they want to see more women in office, they want to see more people of color in office, and they want strong leadership with an agenda that will move this City forward." said Councilor Janey.

New push for free MBTA bus rides

WCVB

By Matt Reed

New City Council President Kim Janey said the city must find ways to increase ridership and improve traffic flow in Boston.

Supporters of the idea point to last year's decision by the city of Lawrence to make the Merrimack Valley Regional Authority bus routes free. The program is financed by $225,000 from the city's cash reserves.

But since the MBTA is a state entity, the city council can't make free MBTA bus rides happen just on their own.

Janey said councilors are willing to use their bully pulpit to advocate on issues that are out of their control.

Honoring MLK Jr.’s legacy at his Boston ‘home’ church

Boston Herald

By Rock Sobey

More than 100 congregants at the annual Martin Luther King Jr., convocation in Boston on Sunday were urged to honor MLK Jr.’s legacy and continue to push forward “on equity and inclusion” in a city that now has several black elected officials, many speakers highlighted.

City Council President Kim Janey called upon attendees to “push forward on principles that Dr. King cared about, principles of equity and inclusion in our city and making sure that everyone here in Boston can share in the prosperity in Boston.”

Roxbury leaders: Northeastern has lost its way

Boston Herald

By Sean Philip Cotter

The latest community-relations flare-up around Northeastern is the swanky new 26-story, 975-bed dorm proposed for the corner of Tremont Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard — a building that has drawn the ire of various community leaders who say the school is ignoring the needs of the neighborhoods it continues to build into.

City Councilor Kim Janey, who now represents the area, filed a letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency in December opposing the proposed dorm, saying, “For those living in Northeastern’s shadow, those benefits they claim to bring to the community go unseen. From supporting affordable housing projects, to supporting local vendors, the University has consistently fallen short on its promises to be a strong community partner.”

Taking the Oath: Councilors Welcome Four New Members; Elects Kim Janey as Council President

Jamaica Plain Gazette

By Lauren Bennett

“I am so proud of the work that we have accomplished together,” she told her colleagues. “There is no better way to begin this term than by working with you to create a more inclusive and equitable Boston for all.” Janey promised to continue to prioritize racial equity and inclusion as a City Council.

“Representation matters,” Janey continued. This council is made up of the first openly gay woman, the first Latina woman, and is more representative of the City of Boston as a whole, she said. “My district has rich history and amazing cultural assets,” she said, but it is also “ground zero for many of the inequalities in our city.” There is an “enormous wealth gap” despite economic prosperity in the city, and the housing affordability crisis continues, she added.

Keller @ Large: Boston City Council President Focused On Closing Wealth Gap

WBZ- CBS Boston

By Jon Keller

“I think education, transportation, housing, are certainly the issues that are important to residents in the City of Boston. Certainly, I hear about those issues and concerns from residents that I represent in District 7,” said Janey. “But I’m also interested in hearing more about how we close the wealth gap in Boston.”

She said she would have liked to hear more about “an economic strategy that really lifts people who have been left behind in terms of economic prosperity in Boston” during Mayor Marty Walsh’s State of the City address this week.

Diversity carries day as Council begins new term; Janey at helm

Dorchester Reporter

By Katie Trojano

She is the third consecutive woman of color to hold the council presidency, following Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell.

“Representation matters, and this body is much more representative of the city that we all love and serve. As a daughter of Roxbury, I am especially proud to lead the council,” Janey said after the vote. “My district has a rich history and amazing cultural assets, but it is also ground zero for many of the inequities in our city.”

“We must find new ways to tackle old problems, like free MBTA buses to increase ridership and improve traffic flow in our city. And that one’s for you, Russell,” Janey said, referring to state Rep. Russell Holmes, one of several lawmakers from the Boston delegation who attended the council meeting.

Boston councilors want tax-exempt colleges to pay more

Boston Herald

By Sean Philip Cotter

The city in 2019 requested educational institutions to give $57.3 million, according to data, resulting in $14.6 million in cash plus $25.9 credited as community benefits under the PILOT. Several officials have taken aim at “community benefits” as being too nebulous.

PILOT issues have been an early focus for the council. President Kim Janey last week said PILOT reform is one of her top priorities as she begins her two-year term leading the council, and she’s creating a committee specifically to focus on PILOT issues. That’s the likely destination for future hearings on both of the bills introduced Wednesday, though the council committees aren’t yet formalized.

Also, officials and and activists in Roxbury, which Janey represents, told the Herald last week their community is feeling the pinch from Northeastern University’s continuous high-end development and scant community benefits, as the university last year paid 65% of the $11.4 million requested.

Boston’s most diverse city council sworn in

Boston Herald

By Sean Philip Cotter

The most diverse city council in Boston’s history was sworn in this morning during ceremonies at Faneuil Hall.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh swore in a council that for the first time is made up more than half by women and people of color.

City Councilor Kim Janey will serve as the body’s president. She is the third woman of color in a row to preside.

2020 will tell much about Boston mayoral race

Boston Herald

By Sean Philip Cotter

Who’s taking on Marty?

The answer should become clear by the summer of 2020, said Larry DiCara, a former city councilor who studies Boston politics. If hopefuls don’t have operations up and running by then, they’ll have a hard time gearing up to take on two-term Mayor Martin Walsh in 2021, when the seat is up, he said.

Other pols who have caused some buzz lately include Kim Janey, the incoming council president who successfully got pot reform passed in November, and Lydia Edwards, who sought the presidency and has been vocal about government reforms and housing issues. Wu, Campbell, Janey and Edwards are all women of color in an increasingly diverse city that’s never had anyone but a white male as mayor.

New Boston City Council President Kim Janey Outlines Legislative Priorities

WBUR

By Tiziana Dearing & Walter Wuthmann

We catch up with new Boston City Council President Kim Janey on her legislative priorities for the months ahead, and what she wants to hear from Mayor Marty Walsh's "State of the City" speech Tuesday night.

This segment aired on January 7, 2020.

Framingham State of the City address

MetroWest Daily News

By Ken McGagh

Boston City Council President Kim Janey takes a selfie of Mayor Yvonne Spicer and other supporters after Spicer’s State of the City Address Thursday night.

Should Public Transit Be Free? More Cities Say, Why Not?

New York Times

By Ellen Barry

“Think about who is using our buses: It’s black people, folks who live in communities where there are deep, deep concentrations of poverty,” said Kim Janey, who was sworn in last week as the president of Boston’s City Council and has proposed waiving fares on a key route through some of the city’s low-income neighborhoods.

“I know what it’s like to stand on the bus, all cramped up, so I won’t be late to work,” she said. “When I say more representation matters, that’s why it matters. We will bring new ideas like free buses.”

Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar Talk Black Economic Opportunity In Boston

The Moguldom Nation

By Isheka N. Harrison

Freshman U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar had a meeting with residents in Boston, Massachusetts last weekend during the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) first visit to the state. The squad members were there to meet “with city leaders and activists to address the inequities facing Boston’s black and brown communities and offer solutions for their economic mobility,” reported the Boston Herald.

In addition to Pressley, Omar and members of the CBC, the meeting was attended by local Boston city leaders like Kim Janey, Boston City Council President, Segun Idowu, executive director of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Malia Lazu, an executive vice president at Berkshire Bank and former City Council member Tito Jackson. Each of them are working on solutions to close the wealth gap between Black and white residents in Boston.

Rep. Elugardo Calls for Rent Control with State Bill

Jamaica Plain News

By David Ertischek

Rents have skyrocketed through the years in Boston, much of Massachusetts, and across the country. Unfortunately, salaries have not kept up with rising rents, and a state bill proposed by state Rep. Nika Elugardo wants to allow local municipalities the ability to reenact rent control in the Commonwealth.

Several Boston City Councilors testified in favor of the bill, including City Council President Kim Janey, and At-Large City Councilors Michelle Wu and Julia Mejia.

Jobs, Resources, and Events

Since my very first week as a City Councilor, I began producing this newsletter as a way to keep residents informed and connected, not only on my work for District 7, but as a way to share resources, job opportunities, and information on events happening in our community. Please share within your networks. Thanks!

Intern

Office of City Council President Kim Janey

The Office of Boston City Council President Kim Janey is seeking dedicated high school, college and graduate school students who have an interest in public policy and municipal governmental relations to fill paid and unpaid internship positions during the spring semester and upcoming semesters. These roles will provide interns the opportunity to be exposed to issues related to housing, public safety/criminal justice reform, education, arts, anti-poverty, and economic development. To apply: Please e-mail a cover letter and resume along with availability to samuel.hurtado@boston.gov.

Special Assistant

Mayor's Office of Food Access

Under the guidance of the Director of Mayor’s Office of Food Access, the Deputy Director of Planning and Development will support all strategic planning and implementation efforts of the office and will pursue growth of the office to ensure capacity and effectiveness of those efforts. They will engage city departments and external partners, acting as the point of contact for the development of strategic partnerships, programs, and policies. They will also pursue funding and in-kind opportunities to actualize those strategic efforts and will manage reporting and evaluation to measure impact of their impact and maintain accountability with partners and funders. Overall they will support the Mayor’s Office of Food Access in building equitable food access in for all Bostonians. Candidates must be a Boston resident. To apply for this job, please click here.

Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion

Museum of Fine Arts

The position of Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion is new to the MFA and will play a critical role in delivering our promise to be a Museum that belongs to all of Boston. The Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion will support the Division of Learning and Community Engagement (LCE) in its commitment to the MFA2020 Strategic Plan to activate our collection of global art by: building and deepening our connection with current audiences; broadening our reach to engage new and diverse communities; and establishing the Museum as a welcoming and inclusive place for all. Apply here.

Education Trainee

Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

This is an entry-level position into the child development component of the ABCD Head Start Program. Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Must enroll in college courses or be an active participant in the CDA Program. Ability to work as a team member collaborating with coworkers, parents and community resources. Must have excellent written and verbal communication as well as interpersonal skills. Organized and flexible and ability to follow directions a must. Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity to the educational and socioeconomic needs of the children and families served. Apply here.

Racial Justice Undergraduate Internship

ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts, a public interest organization that defends civil rights and civil liberties, is seeking an undergraduate intern to work with our Racial Justice Program. The person will support the development and implementation of the ACLU of Massachusetts’ public policy/advocacy campaigns. They may also represent on our issues, communicate with advocates and community members, and attend community meetings and events on a variety of issues. The intern/volunteer will address a variety of the issues the Racial Justice Program covers. To apply for this job, please click here.

Recovery Specialist

The Dimock Center

Recovery Specialists is an entry level position that is part of an interdisciplinary team that provides support services for patients addicted to alcohol and other drugs during their first year of recovery. The overall goal of the Recovery Specialist is to monitor behaviors, care for and provide assistance to patients in early abstinence. To apply for this job, please email your resume and cover letter to hr@dimock.org. To read the full job description, please click here.

Administrative Assistant

Madison Park Development Corporation

MPDC is an active and established community development corporation that serves the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston with our housing and community development activities. MPDC seeks a full-time Administrative Assistant. The Administrative Assistant must be a self-motivated professional with unwavering integrity and dedication. Reporting to the Office Manager, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for providing administrative and secretarial support within the organization. To apply for this job, please click here.

ESOL Instructor/Education and Career Advisor

Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

Responsible for providing individualized and group instruction to adults in English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes as well as assist learners in setting goals and developing, documenting, and implementing education and career plans based upon these goals, and monitoring students’ progress through one-on-one advising meetings. To apply for this job, please click here.

Bilingual Family Service Worker

The Dimock Center

The Family Service Worker provides individualized, culturally-competent and strengths-based case management to a caseload of 35-40 at-risk families enrolled in Dimock’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs. This position assists families in identifying goals for themselves and their children and supports them in reaching those goals. To apply for this job, please email your resume and cover letter to hr@dimock.org. To read the full job description, please click here.

Digital Communications Manager

ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts, the state’s premier civil rights and civil liberties organization, has an opportunity for a Digital Communications Manager with strong skills in digital and social media content production, knowledge of and experience implementing best practices for driving multi-platform audience growth, and experience in website administration and maintenance. Please note that flexibility to accommodate work during evenings and weekends when warranted is a key requirement for this role. Playing an essential role on ACLU of Massachusetts’ five-person communications team, the Digital Communications Manager will report to the Communications Director. To apply for this job, please click here.

Every Friday through May 15th!

Melnea A. Cass Recreation Complex

120 Martin Luther King Blvd, Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119

Lunar New Year at Franklin Park Zoo

Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 10:30 AM – 2 PM

Celebrate the Lunar “Zoo” Year! The always-balmy Tropical Forest will be festively decorated for the occasion. In celebration of the year of the rat, you’ll learn fun facts about some of our rodents during zookeeper chats. Prepare to let your creativity soar at the craft table, where you can make your own traditional Chinese lantern. Don’t miss a performance of the lion dance by the Imperial Lion Dance Team at noon!