Professor Jennie Stephens and PhD student Alaina Boyle co-authored this op-ed for The Hill.
Michelle Wu recently became the first woman and the first person of color ever to be elected mayor of Boston. In a diverse and unequal city with a legacy of white men dominating politics and power, this election represents a transformation that is so much more than representation and Mayor-elect Wu’s identity: it reflects support for a new type of American climate policy.
Wu is not only a 36-year-old Asian American who has served on the Boston City Council for the past seven years. She is also an innovative, inspiring leader who brings optimism and hope with a new approach to climate justice. The cornerstone of her policy platform is her detailed plan for a Green New Deal and Just Recovery for Boston.