Walsh: 'I will listen. I will learn. I will lead'

As Tom Menino quietly left City Hall this morning, Marty Walsh was heading up to the stage at BC's Conte Arena to become Boston's first new mayor in 20 years.

In the speech, Walsh plans to say we're all in this together. And he updated Winthrop's famous "City Upon a Hill" reference:

We are a City Upon a Hill, but it’s not just the shining light of Beacon Hill.

It's Savin Hill, where I live. It’s Bunker Hill, Bellevue Hill and Fort Hill. It’s Pope’s Hill, Jones Hill, and Telegraph Hill. It’s Copp's Hill, Mission Hill and Eagle Hill.

So when I say we are sworn in together, it means we’re in this together.

We are in this together - every neighborhood.

We are in this together - every race and religion.

We are in this together, every man, woman and child. For our seniors and our students, for rich and poor, and everyone in between.

We will expand opportunity so it reaches every person in every corner of our city. We cannot tolerate a city divided by privilege and poverty.

We will protect and grow our sense of community. For it is Boston’s greatest source of strength.

And we will ensure equality for all: No matter your age, race, religion, sexual orientation. No matter what.

Together, we can create ONE Boston … one Boston, a hub of opportunity, community, and equality for all.

But Walsh said his top priority is curbing violence - and that one of his first acts today will be to convene a meeting on curbing "senseless violence" in the city:

I will bring together mothers of children killed by that violence, with members of the law enforcement community who work hard to stop it. Members of the recovery community, who know too well the hard road back from drug and alcohol abuse, and how such abuse contributes to the violence and crime. And
people who know what it takes to move away from a life of violence to become productive, contributing neighbors in a safe community.

There were fewer murders last year - 40 homicides in our city. And while that lower number is good news, and a testament to the hard work that has been done, we know, as Acting Police Commissioner Evans said the other day, 40 homicides still represents 40 grieving mothers too many. And I agree.

Walsh said that tomorrow, he will start talking to School Committee members about a nationwide search for a new school superintendent, one who will not just lift Boston schools but expand vocational opportunities at schools across the city.