Following her ceremonial swearing-in — a demonstration of the city's growing Black political muscle — acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey revealed that she is meeting with concerned "stakeholders" about the issue of Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White’s ongoing suspension and investigation.
White was placed on leave and became the subject of an independent investigation immediately after his swearing in last month when old allegations of domestic violence were reported by The Boston Globe. After the Walsh administration retained a labor lawyer to investigate, a cone of silence descended on the issue.
On Wednesday, Janey gave the public its first update since February.
“Certainly, there are members of law enforcement who have a lot to say on that issue,” she told reporters Wednesday while speaking on the City Hall Plaza patio. “I am making room and inviting people in to share their thoughts on that. But I will wait until the investigation [concludes] before making any kind of decision."
The comment means that, at least for now, Janey feels empowered to take action based on what the investigation finds. The city charter says that an acting mayor can act “only in matters not admitting of delay" — in other words, pressing concerns that can't be delayed. So whatever the investigation finds, and whatever Janey decides, could be subject to political dispute.
On the pandemic, Janey is also picking up where Walsh left off, saying that she wants to continue to monitor critical health metrics to guide Boston’s re-opening. One nuance she emphasized repeatedly is equity.
“There are certain similarities between me and my predecessor," Janey said. "Secretary Walsh is a kid from Dorchester who certainly loves this city. He's overcome certain challenges. The same is true for me ... But we have very different lived experience,” Janey said.
“And just using that unique lived experience as a guidepost will help inform some of the challenges that we're trying to tackle when it comes to racial equity," she added.
Janey, a native of Roxbury, said the she brings a unique set of experiences to the job that motivate her to prioritize equity. That messaging places her directly in the campaign path of City Councilor Andrea Campbell, who launched her mayoral bid last September with a focus on equity informed by her experience in a segregated and unequal Boston.
Campbell leads the pack of five serious mayoral candidates in fundraising, with more than $840,000 in the bank. Her campaign is also now receiving contributions from the “Better Boston” super PAC, according to the Boston Business Journal, which reported the news as a backdrop to Janey's oath taking.
Although fundraisers for her political committee have asked for money while hinting at the possibility of a mayoral campaign, Janey declined to say whether she intends to run.
“I will make a decision in the coming weeks," she said. "Right now, I’m focused on being mayor. But I will make a decision and an announcement in the coming weeks.”
Asked whether she’s concerned about the limits of acting mayor, Janey said: “Not at all.”
“We are in a pandemic," she said. "And I will use every opportunity, I will use my authority as mayor and the power that comes with that office, to ensure that we are doing everything we can for the residents of Boston.”
Janey’s comments came as the council voted to formalize the separation between her new office and her former one as council president. It's a move that Janey said is appropriate.
"This is a very unique time in our city," She said. "[It's] important that I stay focused on being the mayor and the council does its work as a legislative body."
