Mayor Kim Janey Farewell. (Mayor’s Office photo by Isabel Leon)

At Hibernian Hall in Roxbury Wednesday night, acting Mayor Kim Janey closed out her historic tenure as Boston’s 55th mayor and as the first woman and person of color to lead the city.

To a room packed with supporters, government officials and press, Janey reflected on her time in office and the ongoing challenges facing Boston. She spoke to the coronavirus pandemic and her efforts to distribute the vaccine, her efforts to increase housing stability, her commitment to public art and culture through her “joy agenda”, her work on public safety and even her controversial approach to the ongoing joint drug and public health crisis on Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

“Addressing the challenges of our city takes courage and commitment because these issues can only be solved when we all work together to create systemic change. From managing a public health crisis to confronting institutional racism, we have achieved historic milestones together,” Janey said.

Read the entire article as it originally appeared in The Bay State Banner here.