Janey defends eviction ban action
Housing issues are “deeply personal” for Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, who recounted her experience growing up in subsidized housing and living in a homeless shelter as she defended her new citywide moratorium on evictions.
“I’ve experienced housing insecurity as a child and young adult. I grew up in subsidized housing here in the city of Boston — even spent time in a shelter for women and children,” Janey said during a Sunday appearance on WCVB’s “On the Record.” She said her eviction ban and a $5 million bump in foreclosure prevention funding is designed to “protect residents” from losing their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
City Councilor-at large Annissa Essaibi George last week accused Janey of “scrambling to put a BandAid over a bullet hole” because of her lack of leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Janey shot back Sunday, “It is very disappointing to hear a candidate, particularly a candidate who has a track record of evicting tenants, to be critical of an eviction moratorium. We should be doing everything possible to keep people in their homes and to provide opportunities to live out the American dream.”
Janey gained the corner office with the departure of former Mayor Martin Walsh, who was confirmed as U.S. labor secretary in March.
Her tenure so far has been marred by a slew of inherited scandals — including an ongoing criminal court case over allegations of child rape dating back to the 1990s against former Boston Police Patrolman’s Association president Patrick Rose; a lawsuit lodged by Walsh-appointed former Police Commissioner Dennis White on his firing after mere days on the job when allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-wife surfaced; and, a revolving door of Walsh-appointed school committee members forced to resign over racially charged text messages and remarks.
Now, she’s facing a tight race to keep her job against a field of four contenders including three current city council members and the city’s former economic chief.
Janey is leading the pack in fundraising, according to the most recent state campaign finance data.
The acting mayor has raised more than $1.5 million since January and reported raising about $392,000 in August alone — her largest ever monthly haul, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
Campbell was second in fundraising with more than $1.4 million banked since January, according to state data. Next are Wu and Annissa Essaibi George, who have both raised more than $1.3 million.
John Barros, the city’s former economic development chief, has raised nearly $592,000.