Mayor Wu addresses some of her biggest challenges entering her second term

Ally Jarmanning

January 13, 2026

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The Patriots' next playoff opponent is set: they'll face the Houston Texans this Sunday at 3 p.m. for the AFC divisional round. Let's hope they keep ~~cooking~~ baking.

Now to the news:

Second act: Fresh off her second inauguration, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has her hands full. Ongoing fights with the state Legislature over the city's property tax rate. Declining school enrollment. Dueling lawsuits and investigations with the Trump administration. Later today, she'll join a bunch of kindergarteners to kick off a program teaching them ride bikes. (Okay, that one just sounds fun.) Amid it all, Wu sat down yesterday with WBUR Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing to cover a slew of hot topics.

Watch out for ICE: Wu said she's making plans in case Boston becomes a bigger target for immigration enforcement. (Trump border czar Tom Homan’s threat of “bringing hell” to Boston still hangs over the city.) She told Tiziana she's frustrated that her conversations with police leadership now involve gaming out an ICE surge. "Unfortunately now, on top of the regular rhythm of what we have to discuss, we now have to think about planning for the unthinkable scenarios the federal government might bring," she said.
Police watchdog troubles: The board tasked with overseeing the Boston police has complained that police leadership keeps ignoring their discipline recommendations. Wu said they're still trying to figure out how the police and the 5-year-old Office of Police Accountability and Transparency should interact. "Even the simple act of how much an officer can be required to go testify and answer questions before OPAT when they're summoned is a little bit tied up in collective bargaining and other issues that we're trying to sort out," Wu said.
State House standoff: Wu has been stymied in her tax plans by Beacon Hill's leadership — and she hasn't been shy about her frustration. " We are very bound here to what our state government decides to do and not do," she said. "We have state legislators, particularly on the Senate side, who are connected to more of the interests that are wanting to preserve the status quo, or even still just trying to drag us backward." (That's a not-so-veiled dig at South Boston state Sen. Nick Collins, who Wu has said is blocking her proposal from a vote.)

A bruised DA steps aside: Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey says he is not running for reelection. If you know his name, it's likely as the much maligned chief of the office that presided over both Karen Read trials. In a statement yesterday, Morrissey announced the decision to step down after 15 years as DA. "I believe the time is right for me to start a new chapter in my life," he said. "I ran for this office to stand up for victims and give them a voice. I am proud to have done so for countless victims over the years and am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and in the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office."

The Karen Read of it all: It was Morrissey's office that decided to charge Read with second degree murder for the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend (and try again after her first trial ended with a hung jury). The second trial alone cost $1.4 million, mostly for special prosecutor Hank Brennan and an accident reconstruction consultant. After Read was acquitted of murder this summer, Morrissey released a four-word statement: "The jury has spoken." (Morrissey didn't mention Read, or any other case, in his statement on not running again.)
Other fumbles: It was Morrissey's office (and the state police investigators assigned to it) that first ruled Sandra Birchmore's 2021 death a suicide and closed the case. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell — who allegedly had a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was underage — is now charged with killing her and her unborn child after the U.S. Attorney's office took up the case.
The race is on: Four candidates had already announced they were running for Morrissey's seat. Read more about them here.

All aboard: Heads up, islanders. Summertime Steamship Authority vehicle reservations for full-time and seasonal residents of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket go on sale today at 8 a.m. It's part of the ferry company's Head Start program to give island residents better access to peak summer rides.

Landlubbers are out of luck (for now): We non-residents will have to wait a few weeks to get tickets. Tickets to Nantucket open to the general public on Jan. 27, with Martha's Vineyard opening Feb. 3.
Crash out: The Steamship Authority has spent millions of dollars on a yet-to-be unveiled website, while the reservation system, especially in the summer, has been plagued with issues. The state Inspector General last month released a scathing report that called the website redesign "doomed from the start" and a waste of public resources.

P.S. — Last week I told you about the Full Massachusetts, a meal consisting of all the commonwealth’s official foods (that I totally made up). Now, I want to know what your ultimate Massachusetts meal would be. Mine is a pizza and Greek salad from the old Christo’s in Brockton (*Jarmanning, party of four in the gold room*) with a Polar seltzer and an ice cream sundae from Nona's. Or maybe a lobster roll and clam chowder from Yankee Lobster before a concert at Harborlights? Tough call! Let us know what you think.