Kim Janey Makes History As New Acting Mayor of Boston by Abigail Basile News Editor
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Vol. 54 iSSUE 23 www.umassmedia.com the massUMass Boston’s independentmedia student newspaper MARCH 29, 2021 Kim Janey makes history as new acting mayor of Boston By Abigail Basile News Editor After Marty Walsh, the now-former you to the @USDOL. The working people Mayor of Boston, was confirmed as the U.S. of America will benefit greatly from your Secretary of Labor, now-former Boston City passion. Now, we look ahead to a new Council president Kim Janey became the day—a new chapter—in Boston’s history.” first woman and the first person of color to Under the city charter, Mayor Janey act as mayor of Boston. is able to perform mayoral duties that Because the City Council President is are “not admitting of delay,” but can’t next in line for the mayoral seat if the city’s make permanent appointments. She can mayor resigns during their term, Mayor Janey still perform many executive tasks, such assumed her position at 9:01pm on Monday, as passing or vetoing ordinances that the March 22—one minute after Secretary Walsh Boston City Council has approved, and submitted his letter of resignation after being handling payroll. confirmed to President Biden’s cabinet. A This is not the first time Mayor Janey ceremonial mayoral swearing-in ceremony has made history; in 2017, she was the occurred on Wednesday, March 24. first woman ever to be elected to represent Secretary Walsh and Mayor Janey have a district that includes Roxbury, as well worked together and held planning sessions as parts of the South End, Fenway, and to make sure that the mayoral transition is Dorchester. She is also the first black woman smooth for Bostonians. to hold the title of City Council President in On Monday, Secretary Walsh tweeted: Boston after being selected in January 2020. “Congratulations on making history, @ In an opinion piece she wrote for the Kim_Janey. I know you are going to continue Boston Globe, Mayor Janey provides a bit of serving our city and supporting an equitable insight into her past. recovery from #COVID19. I am always here She discusses her family’s six for you, my friend.” generations in Roxbury, having to endure In response, Mayor Janey tweeted: racial harassment while Boston attempted to “Congratulations on your confirmation, desegregate schools with busing, becoming Secretary Walsh. You are a proud son of a mom while in high school, and her work Photograph of mayor Kim Janey. Courtesy of www.kimjaney.org. Dorchester who will bring our city with to promote equity in Boston Public Schools. Continued on page 3 Supreme Court to hear appeal to University of reinstate death penalty for Massachusetts Boston Boston Marathon bomber Commencement By Abigail Basile By Nadeen El-Ansari News Editor Contributing Writer On Monday, March 22, the Supreme Court mastermind behind the act of terrorism, making We are less than two email it states that “the details of agreed to hear an appeal to reinstate the death Dzhokhar Tsarnaev less guilty. months away from graduation, our virtual celebration(s) have not sentence originally put forth for Dzhokhar The Supreme Court will hear the case this the day where all of the students been finalized, but we envision a Tsarnaev, one of the 2013 Boston Marathon fall. Because President Biden was Vice President completing their Bachelors, dynamic interactive event that will bombers. under the administration that initially sought Masters, and Doctorates join include the traditional elements of The original decision to solicit the death the death penalty for Tsarnaev but is currently together and celebrate their massive an in-person commencement.” penalty for Tsarnaev’s case was made by the opposed to the death penalty and looking to put accomplishments. Usually, this day There are various other Obama administration. However, the sentence an end to it, is is nebulous as to how President is filled with joy, excitement, and universities that are following this was thrown out by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Biden and his administration will proceed in the tears both happy and sad. But of route, and opting out of an in- the First Circuit last July. The ruling of the court matter. course, due to the pandemic, like person commencement. cites the fact that the original district court did White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki everything else, commencement Emerson College is one of not ask potential jurors about the media coverage spoke to reporters on Monday following the has changed this year. the schools that announced that they had seen regarding the case—which could announcement by the Supreme Court. On March 4, 2021, Chancellor their commencement will be have led to potential bias against Tsarnaev—as “President Biden made clear, as he did on Marcelo Suárez-Orozco sent out an conducted virtually through their reason for throwing out the sentence. the campaign trail, that he has grave concerns email informing the UMass Boston website. The website states that The appeal was filed by the Trump about whether capital punishment, as currently community of the upcoming plan their commencement is planning on administration, who asked the justices to decide implemented, is consistent with the values for this year’s commencement. being scheduled on May 9, and that on the case before the current term ended for the that are fundamental to our sense of justice So far, due to the pandemic, despite being virtual, they will try Supreme Court. Though Tsarnaev’s lawyers and fairness,” said Secretary Psaki. “He’s also the university has decided that the their best to “include many of the acknowledge that he and his older brother, expressed his horror at the events of that day and commencement for both classes of elements that students and families Tamerlan Tsarnaev, both set off the two bombs […] Tsarnaev’s actions.” 2020 and 2021 will be held virtually, have come to expect and love.” that exploded at the marathon finish line back in Should the Supreme Court decide to with an attempt to incorporate Another university that is 2013, they argue that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was the reinstate the death penalty for Tsarnaev, there is certain interactive elements. In the conducting a virtual commencement Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 www.umassmedia.com News 3 Kim Janey makes history as new acting mayor of Boston Abigaile Basile “I am ready to lead our city and those who have felt left out to Three Boston City Councilors Michael J Bianchi II, and Dana News Editor toward equity, justice, and joy,” join us in reopening and renewing who also happen to be women Depelteau have already announced wrote Mayor Janey. “That means every part of our city. You will of color—Michelle Wu, Andrea that they were running for the seat Mayor Janey also addressed current leading a citywide economic always have an open door to City Campbell, and Annissa Essaibi as well. racial disparities in Boston, how recovery that is equitable— Hall.” George—have already announced many of those disparities have been especially for the residents and Mayor Janey will act as mayor their candidacies. Former chief illuminated by the pandemic, and small businesses hardest hit. I call until the 2021 Boston mayoral race. of economic development in how her administration will work on business leaders, nonprofit She has not stated if she will run for Boston John Barros, North End to combat them. organizations, community activists, mayor yet. Representative Jon Santiago, Supreme Court to hear appeal to reinstate death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Abigail Basile the process. Tsarnaev was arrested News Editor the following day, after being found hiding out in a boat in a Watertown no requirement for President Biden resident’s backyard. to schedule an execution. The Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon Bombings killed three people, Bombing occurred on April 15, and injured more than 260. Those 2013. It is classified as a terrorist who died were Martin Richard, attack. The Tsarnaev brothers— Lingzi Lu, and Krystle Campbell, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar a graduate of UMass Boston. Sean Tsarnaev—set off two pressure- Collier, an MIT police officer, cooker bombs near the marathon was also killed by the Tsarnaev finish line, invoking fear in brothers, who were on the run and Bostonians and Americans alike, trying to steal the officer’s weapon and causing a manhunt that lasted at the time. for days and led to a city-wide Currently, Tsarnaev is locked shutdown. up in a federal prison in Florence, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was Colorado. On April 8, 2015, 26 years old, died in a firefight with Tsarnaev was convicted of all 30 police after he and his brother were criminal counts laid out against found hiding out in Watertown. him—17 of which held the death Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, then 19 years penalty as a possible sentence. old, had fled the scene in a stolen Of the 17, the jury agreed that six Depiction of marathon bombing court session. Illustration by Delaney Hooper / Mass Media Staff. SUV, running over his brother in warranted execution. University of Massachusetts Boston Commencement Nadeen El-Ansari guidelines, through stating that May 3 to May 7. university that plans on holding For now, it seems like our Contributing Writer they plan on holding two different As for Boston University, it an in-person commencement is university will be sticking with a ceremonies for the undergraduate also plans on holding an in-person Suffolk University. Marissa Kelly, virtual commencement. Within the is Harvard University. The department, and allowing each commencement. BU’s president Suffolk’s university president, has Chancellor’s email, there is a link university’s president, Lawrence S.