Boston City Council Elects Kim Janey as President in Historic 12-1 Vote

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6061 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston City Council elects Kim Janey as president, first Black woman to hold the office. Janey, who represents District 7 in Roxbury, received 12 affirmative votes and one present in a roll-call ballot at the January 6, 2020, first meeting of the new council term, becoming the first Black woman and the first Roxbury resident to lead the body. Councillor Michelle Wu nominated her and Councillor Ricardo Arroyo seconded.

In her inaugural remarks, Janey noted the council is "the most diverse Boston City Council in Boston's history" — majority women, majority people of color, with its first openly gay woman and first Latina member. She announced the creation of a City Council committee on payment in lieu of taxes to scrutinize PILOT agreements with the city's large nonprofit institutions and called for exploring fare-free MBTA bus service as "a climate justice issue, but also an economic justice issue." Mayor Martin J. Walsh addressed the chamber in congratulations and pledged collaboration, separately lauding outgoing President Andrea Campbell as the first African American woman to have previously held the presidency.

The council adjourned in memory of former Councillor Chuck Turner, whom Janey called "a fearless warrior" and "a coalition builder."

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,055 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6061 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.