Marty Walsh feels ‘bad’ about leaving Kim Janey to inherit Boston scandals

U.S. Labor Secretary Martin Walsh says he feels “bad” about leaving Acting Mayor Kim Janey to inherit a slew of scandals from the Boston Police Department to the school committee, where four members have resigned in less than a year.

“It’s unfortunate,” Walsh said of a number of loose ends he left for Janey to clean up.

The lingering scandals that carried over from the Walsh administration include:

An ongoing criminal court case over allegations of child rape dating back to the 1990s against former Boston Police Patrolman’s Association president Patrick Rose;
A lawsuit lodged by Walsh-appointed former Police Commissioner Dennis White on his firing after mere days on the job when allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-wife surfaced;
And, a revolving door of Walsh-appointed school committee members taken out by racially charged text messages and hot mics.

“The one situation that I feel bad about is the Dennis White situation. I made it very clear that I wanted to resolve that situation before I left and unfortunately wasn’t able to,” Walsh said during an appearance in the city Monday.

Walsh praised Janey, who he said “took action” by firing White, who had been placed on administrative leave while the allegations against him were investigated.

Walsh named White in a hurried appointment days before he left the city for his new Washington assignment without a comprehensive search when former Commissioner William Gross abruptly resigned as the city’s top cop.

“I watched what she did and now there’s a search for a commissioner and that’s the right way to go,” the former mayor said.

Accusations that Walsh had prior knowledge of White’s alleged abusive past emerged when Gross and White filed signed affidavits with the court. Walsh has repeatedly denied any knowledge.

Monday’s event promoting a federal paid family medical leave policy marked Walsh’s first public appearance in Boston since he was confirmed as President Biden’s labor secretary in late March.

The former Boston mayor was in town to kick off the Biden administration’s Paid Leave for All bus tour, which is promoting 12 full weeks of paid family medical leave for all U.S. workers, in Massachusetts and Rhode Island this week, which both boast comprehensive state policies.

“Right now only 20% of private-sector workers have access to paid leave through their jobs in this country,” the labor secretary said. “Low-wage workers and people of color are least likely to have access to paid family leave.”

Walsh said his short-lived return was “bittersweet.” He was already headed back on the road on Monday afternoon but said his final stop on his way out of town would be at Doughboys in Southie for a cup of his favorite coffee.

The former mayor again on Monday said he did not plan to endorse in the upcoming race to find his replacement.

Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, arrives before a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, greets John Barros, a candidate in the running for Boston mayor, during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- City Councilor, and candidate for mayor of Boston, Annissa George speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- Boston City Council president Matt OÕMalley speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- Small business owner Leslie Forde, founder of MomÕs Hierarchy of Needs, speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, speaks as acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey looks on during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, is applauded by acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, looks on during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- Mass. State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Roxbury, MA.- Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey watches a video at the launch of the Working on Womanhood program to Boston Public Schools at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School on August 2, 2021 in Roxbury, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, and acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey talk before a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Roxbury, MA.- Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey hugs Shawn Brown, Boston executive director of Youth Guidance, launch of the Working on Womanhood program to Boston Public Schools at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School on August 2, 2021 in Roxbury, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Roxbury, MA.- Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey applauds speakers at the Boston launch of the Working on Womanhood program to Boston Public Schools at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School on August 2, 2021 in Roxbury, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- Mass. State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, speaks during a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA.- U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, arrives before a Paid Leave for All bus tour stop in Copley Square on August 2, 2021 in Boston, MA. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)