Ruthzee Louijeune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruthzee Louijeune
|
|
|---|---|
_(1)_(adjusted).jpg)
Louijeune in 2022
|
|
| President of the Boston City Council | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Ed Flynn |
| Member of the Boston City Council at-large | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Annissa Essaibi George |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1987 (age 37–38) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Hyde Park, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) Harvard University (JD, MPA) |
Ruthzee Louijeune is an important leader in Boston. She is a politician and a lawyer. Since January 2024, she has been the president of the Boston City Council. She first joined the council in January 2022. She is also the first person of Haitian-American background to be on the council.
Contents
About Ruthzee Louijeune
Her Early Life and School
Ruthzee Louijeune was born in 1987. Her parents came to the United States from Haiti. She grew up in the Hyde Park and Mattapan areas of Boston.
She went to Charles H. Taylor Elementary School. Later, she graduated from Boston Latin School in 2004. While in high school, she worked as an intern for State Representative Marie St. Fleur.
After high school, Ruthzee went to Columbia University in New York City. She earned her first degree there in 2008. Then, she moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. She studied at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School. In 2014, she earned two more degrees: one in public policy and one in law. During her time at Harvard Law School, she helped people in need as a student lawyer.
Her Work as a Lawyer
Ruthzee Louijeune worked as a lawyer for a company called Perkins Coie. She also helped with Senator Elizabeth Warren's campaign for president in 2020. In 2018, she worked as an election lawyer in Maine.
Ruthzee started her own company called Opening PLLC. This company helps people with legal advice and supports important causes. They also work to help more people in Boston own their homes.
She has volunteered to help people with housing problems. She has worked to stop people from being evicted from their homes. She also helps first-time home buyers find opportunities in Boston. Many people see her as a strong supporter of fair housing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ruthzee volunteered to deliver food. She helped families in the Dorchester neighborhood who were struggling to get enough to eat.
Ruthzee Louijeune on the Boston City Council
Ruthzee Louijeune has been a member of the Boston City Council since early 2022. She is known for her progressive ideas within the Democratic Party.
Her First Term (2022-2023)
_(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ruthzee Louijeune was elected to the Boston City Council in November 2021. It was her first time running for office. She finished third in the city-wide election. She became the first Haitian-American person to serve on the council. Her election showed the growing importance of the Haitian community in Boston's politics. She officially started her job in January 2022.
In her first term, Ruthzee led the Civil Rights Committee. She was also the vice-chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee.
In June 2022, Ruthzee and other council members helped pass a resolution. This resolution apologized for Boston's past role in the Atlantic slave trade. The council voted for it without anyone disagreeing.
Later in 2022, Ruthzee suggested a change to city rules. She wanted the city to regulate beekeeping. She also played a big part in a vote to increase the pay for city council members by 20%. However, Mayor Michelle Wu did not approve the 20% increase. The mayor supported an 11% increase instead.
Ruthzee and another council member, Kendra Lara, wrote a resolution. It asked Mayor Wu to increase the number of affordable homes required in new buildings. They wanted to raise it from 13% to 20%. They also wanted these rules to apply to smaller buildings. The resolution also suggested using local income levels to decide what is "affordable," instead of a wider area income.
In late 2022, Ruthzee supported allowing immigrants who are legal residents to vote in city elections. More than 28% of Boston's population are immigrants with legal status. In December 2023, she voted to approve a plan that would allow this. This plan still needs approval from the mayor, state government, and Boston voters.
In April 2023, the council supported doctors and medical students at Mass General Brigham. They wanted to form a trade union to represent their interests. Ruthzee helped introduce this resolution, and it passed unanimously.
After a court decision, the city needed a new map for City Council districts. Ed Flynn, who was the council president, asked Ruthzee to lead this important task. She was in charge because she led the Civil Rights Committee. They had to create a new map quickly so the 2023 city elections would not be delayed. Ruthzee led five long meetings over two weeks. Her committee agreed on a map. In late May, the full council approved the map, and Mayor Wu signed it into law. Ruthzee's leadership in this difficult process made her more well-known in Boston politics. Many people praised her for getting the map done on time.
In August 2023, a political writer called Ruthzee a "rising star" on the city council. He said she had quickly become a leader in less than two years. Other commentators also called her a "rising star."
Her Second Term and Council Presidency (2024-Present)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ruthzee Louijeune received the most votes in the city-wide election for the 2023 Boston City Council election. She was re-elected for a second term. Just two days after the election, Ruthzee said she believed she had enough support to become the next president of the council. On January 1, 2024, after the new council members were sworn in, they all voted for her to be their president.
A local newspaper noted that Ruthzee not only won the most votes, but she also made smart choices. She supported the right candidates and worked well with her colleagues. She quickly became the council president. This shows her skill in leading and keeping the council focused on important issues.
Her election as council president was also a special moment for Boston's Haitian community. It happened on Haitian Independence Day, which made it even more meaningful.
Ruthzee was a delegate at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. This is where the Democratic Party chooses its presidential candidate. In September 2024, after a false story about Haitian immigrants was spread, Ruthzee spoke out against it. She also took part in a protest to show her disapproval.
In early 2025, Ruthzee led an effort to change how Boston votes. She proposed a system called instant runoff voting. This system lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. The council approved her proposal in mid-May. It now needs approval from the mayor, the state government, and Boston voters in a public vote.
In 2024, Boston magazine called Ruthzee Louijeune "Boston's brightest rising political star." They also put her at #75 on their list of the "Most Influential Bostonians."
Her Personal Life
Ruthzee Louijeune lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. She speaks English, French, and Haitian Creole very well. She can also have conversations in Spanish.
Images for kids
-
Louijeune in 2022
