Boston City Council at-large race: Ruthzee Louijeune

Ruthzee Louijeune is the current Boston City Council president and an at-large candidate.

Find out more about Ruthzee Louijeune on her campaign website and social media.

The following responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

What is the biggest issue facing Boston residents at the moment and what do you believe the City Council should do to address this?

The biggest issue facing Boston residents right now is the affordability crisis, especially around housing and cost of living. Too many families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they’ve called home for generations, and the dream of raising a family or aging with dignity in Boston is slipping away for far too many, especially for our most marginalized communities.

The City Council must use every tool we have to support deeply affordable housing, protect tenants from displacement, and ensure working people can thrive here. That means pushing for stronger protections for renters, investing in public housing, supporting first-time homebuyers, and advancing zoning and development policies that center building more housing and equity — not just profit.

As Council President, I’ve prioritized these issues, and I’ll continue to fight for bold, community-driven solutions that help all our residents — not just a few — build a future in Boston.  We just passed an ordinance to prioritize the use of former city buildings for affordable housing, we’re seeing how we can help residents with the high cost of groceries, we’re addressing issues of trash and overflowing dumpsters – we are listening to Bostonians. 

What makes you stand out from the other candidates in this race?

I bring a unique combination of lived experience, legal expertise, and proven leadership. I’m a daughter of Haitian immigrants, a product of Boston Public Schools, and someone who understands firsthand the challenges working families face.

As an attorney and a long-time advocate for housing justice, I’ve worked both inside and outside of government to protect tenants, fight displacement, and advance equitable development.

But what truly sets me apart is my track record of delivering and leading with collaboration, clarity, and compassion. As Council President, I’ve worked hard to bridge divides, elevate community voices, and deliver real results — whether it’s through housing investments, language access reforms, or stronger oversight of city departments. I believe in showing up, listening deeply, and governing with integrity.

Do you think the public has lost faith in the City Council in recent years? If so, what do you think should be done to improve the council’s public image?

As elected officials, we must be squarely focused on the issues that residents bring to us. I want our body to be known for doing the work and nothing else.  At times, there are distractions from the work that undermine public confidence. The public deserves a government that works transparently, effectively, and with accountability. The Council has taken important steps forward and we’ve increased the number of ethics trainings for all staff.  We’ve built a stronger relationship with the State Ethics Commission and continue to make internal improvements. We work everyday to build and strengthen trust by delivering results and focusing on the issues. We improve the Council’s public image when news stories are replete with neighborhood and policy problems and solutions to those problems.  

That starts with leading by example — being transparent in our actions, consistent in our values, and present in our communities. As Council President, I’ve worked to raise the bar on how we engage with the public: from livestreaming our committee hearings, to increasing language access, to holding space for community input on major decisions.

Restoring faith means moving beyond politics and working on big and small problems. And it means never forgetting who we work for: the people of Boston.