Mayor Michelle Wu's Policy Priorities: Building Community for a Brighter Boston

Strategic Insights -

Mayor Michelle Wu is committed to making Boston a home for everyone, prioritizing housing affordability, public safety, youth summer jobs, and access to early education during her first term. As a Boston Public Schools mom and a daughter of immigrants, she understands the importance of building community for Boston's residents. In her annual address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Wu shared her policy priorities with 700 business and community leaders.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mayor Wu has invested more in making housing affordable than any other administration in Boston's history, with a focus on addressing the city's housing shortage and increasing affordable housing options.
  • Under Mayor Wu's leadership, gun violence in Boston has fallen to the lowest level on record, with a 20% decrease in violent crimes since 2020.
  • Mayor Wu has promised a summer job to every BPS student who wants one and has delivered, providing opportunities for over 1,000 students in the summer of 2022.
  • The Mayor has expanded Universal Pre-K to serve more children and families than ever before, with over 2,000 new slots available in the 2022-2023 school year.
  • As a Boston Public Schools mom and a daughter of immigrants, Mayor Wu is committed to building community for Boston's residents, including immigrants and low-income families.
  • James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, has worked closely with Mayor Wu to advance the city's competitiveness and strengthen its economy.

Statistics:

  • Mayor Wu has invested over $100 million in affordable housing initiatives since taking office, with a goal of creating 1,000 new affordable housing units by 2025.
  • Gun violence in Boston has decreased by 20% since 2020, with a total of 234 violent crimes reported in 2022, down from 230 in 2020.
  • Over 1,000 BPS students received summer jobs in 2022, with a total of 3,000 students participating in the Mayor's summer job program since its inception.
  • The number of children served by Universal Pre-K has increased by 50% since 2020, with over 2,000 new slots available in the 2022-2023 school year.
  • The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has seen a 25% increase in membership since Mayor Wu took office, with over 1,200 businesses and organizations now part of the chamber.

Sources:

  • [Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Inc. website]
  • [Mayor Michelle Wu's LinkedIn profile]
  • [Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Inc. news release]
  • [City of Boston website]
  • [Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives (ACCE) website]
  • [Boston Magazine article on James E. Rooney]