Mayor Michelle Wu gave her third State of the City Address Wednesday night.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave her third annual State of the City Address on Wednesday night.
In her remarks at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Wu defended the city against attacks from President Donald Trump's administration and allies in Congress, before whom she testified about Boston's immigration policies on Capitol Hill earlier this month.
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"Two weeks ago, I went down to D.C. because Congress had some questions about how we do things here in Boston. Now it might have been my voice speaking into the microphone that day, but it was 700,000 voices that gave Congress their answer: This is our city," Wu said in her speech. "No one tells Boston how to take care of our own. Not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings. Boston was born facing down bullies."
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She also directly responded to border czar Tom Homan's proclamation that he was "bringing hell" to Boston.
"Boston is the target in this fight for our future because we are the cradle of democracy, pioneers of the public good, the stewards and keepers of the American dream. We were built on the values this federal administration seeks to tear down," Wu said. "But for 395 years, come high water or hell — no matter who threatens to bring it — Boston has stood up for the people we love and the country we built, and we're not stopping now."
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The mayor touted the city's safety, which she compared favorably to other major cities.
"Together with our first responders, frontline public health workers, faith leaders and partners in every neighborhood, we have made Boston the safest major city in the nation," she said. "Four years ago, gun violence in Boston had just hit a 10-year high. Every year since taking office, we've set new record lows. Thank you to Commissioner Michael Cox and the entire Boston Police Department."
During her address, the mayor announced a partnership with utility companies aimed to reduce energy costs for customers in the city. The Boston Energy Saver program aims to help residents and business owners take advantage of the existing Mass Save program to upgrade homes and businesses with lower-cost energy options.
"We've harnessed our collective buying power to provide energy that's affordable and clean through Boston Community Choice Electricity, saving residents and businesses more than $260 million," Wu said. "But if your home isn't well insulated, you're using space heaters or an outdated boiler, you're spending too much to stay warm. So tonight, I'm announcing the Boston Energy Saver: A historic new partnership with Eversource and National Grid that will deliver more than $150 million in state funding for our residents to upgrade their homes and lower their bills. If you need new windows or an updated heating system, we'll find every dollar available to get the job done."
The goal is to help install at least 5,000 heat pumps and weatherize 10,000 buildings from 2025 to 2027. The program requires an estimated $150 million in investment and incentives that the city says will generate around $300 million in benefits for residents over the three-year period.
Wu added that starting this summer, all new big buildings constructed in the city would have net-zero emissions.
"Our climate leadership is making homes more affordable," she said.
She also announced the expansion of Boston Family Days to include a new pilot program adding performing arts to the range of cultural institutions accessible to students and families for free. This will include Arts Emerson, the Boston Ballet, The Boch Center, the Huntington Theatre and more.
It's been an eventful few months for Wu. At her Capitol Hill hearing, she drew kudos from many Democrats for the way she stood up to Republican lawmakers.
But she is also facing multiple opponents in her expected bid for reelection to a second term as mayor. Joshua Kraft and community activist Domingos DaRosa have already made their candidacies official, and real estate developer Thomas O'Brien has also expressed an interest in running.
