‘deep-down Boston strong’
Walsh gets emotional as he preps to leave Hub
Mayor Martin Walsh’s State of the City address doubled as a farewell speech, with the attimes tearful mayor declaring that the “state of our city is deepdown Boston strong” as he looked to set priorities while he prepares to leave.
“We may be hurting, but the state of our city is resilient, the state of our city is united, the state of our city is hopeful and the state of our city is deep-down Boston strong,” Walsh said.
Walsh shocked the Boston political world last week when his friend President-elect Joe Biden picked him for Labor secretary, setting up the mayor’s likely departure for D.C., as long as he’s confirmed by the soon-tobe-Democrat-held U.S. Senate. On Tuesday, hizzoner’s address had a distinctly valedictory feel.
“The truth is, I’m not going to Washington alone — I’m bringing Boston with me,” said Walsh, a Dorchester native who choked up and wiped away a tear as he thanked the people of Boston and his family.
“This city is not just my hometown, it’s my heart. It’s my mother and father at the kitchen table on Taft Street, talking about helping people,” he continued. “It’s the teachers, nuns, priests and clergy who guided me. It’s every kid I coached in Little League, CYO or at the Little House; everyone who shared recovery with me or reached out for help; my union and my labor family; my mentors and colleagues at the State House; and all the elected officials I serve with in Boston.”
If Walsh leaves, City Council President Kim Janey, the district councilor from Roxbury, takes the reins as acting mayor — and would be the city’s first chief executive who’s not a white man.
“I have spoken with Councilor Janey, and we have begun the transition,” Walsh said. “I am confident that the operations of city government, including our COVID response, will continue smoothly.”
Last year, Walsh gave this event in its normal setting: Symphony Hall crammed with a buzzing crowd of happily elbowrubbing Boston dignitaries. On Tuesday, as COVID-19 numbers continued to trend for the worse, it was fully remote, with Walsh speaking into a camera at the newly rebuilt library in Nubian Square.
Normally, he’s got some promises ready to roll out in this annual speech, plans and proposals for the coming year. But this year he used it as a plea for the priorities of the city as it moves forward without him: keep people safe during the pandemic, begin the economic recovery, continue building housing, promote racial equity and focus on green and drugabuse initiatives.
Walsh called 2020 “a year of struggle” and declared that “2021 is a year for healing.” He memorialized the 1,060 Bostonians killed by the deadly coronavirus, noting several including Police Officer Jose Fontanez and EMT Regina Phillips. He thanked medical staff, front-line workers, police, firefighters and city employees.
“The heroes are all around us,” Walsh said.