Matt O'Malley

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Matt O'Malley

| image = Matt O'Malley (2019).jpg

| caption = O'Malley in 2019

|office1 = President of the Boston City Council
{{small|Acting}}

|term_start1 = March 22, 2021

|term_end1 = November 16, 2021

|predecessor1 = Kim Janey

|successor1 = Kim Janey

| office2 = Member of the Boston City Council
from the 6th district

| term_start2 = November 16, 2010

| term_end2 = January 3, 2022

| predecessor2 = John M. Tobin Jr.

| successor2 = Kendra Lara

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|9|20}}

| birth_place = Roslindale, Massachusetts, U.S.

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Kathryn Niforos

| partner =

| children =

| residence = West Roxbury, Boston

| alma_mater = George Washington University (BA)

| profession = Boston City Councilor

| committees = Former Chair of the Committee on Government Operations; Current Chair of the Committee on Environment & Sustainability

| website = {{Plainlist|

[https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/matt-omalley City Council]
[http://www.votemattomalley.com/ Matt O'Malley]

}}

| relations = Jen O'Malley Dillon (second cousin)

}}

Matthew Joseph O'Malley (born September 20, 1979) is an American politician and businessman who served six terms a member of the Boston City Council. He was elected as the District 6 representative in a special election on November 16, 2010, and was re-elected in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. His district included the neighborhoods of West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, parts of Roslindale and Roxbury, and the Back of the Hill. As the most senior member of the council, O'Malley succeeded Kim Janey as acting council president after Janey became acting mayor of Boston in March 2021. In late 2021, he became the chief sustainability officer of Vicinity Energy, a U.S. district energy subsidiary of Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Early life and career

O'Malley grew up in Roslindale and now owns a home in West Roxbury. He is a graduate of Boston Latin School as well as the George Washington University, where he studied Political Science and English.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In high school, he served as an intern at Boston City Hall for former At-Large City Councilor, Peggy Davis-Mullen, and as a Ward Fellow for former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, Joe Malone, which he says "helped shape my interest in local government."{{cite web|last1=Ertishek|first1=David|title=Q&A: West Roxbury's Councilor Matt O'Malley Interviewed By His Office's Summer Intern|url=http://patch.com/massachusetts/westroxbury/qa-west-roxburys-councilor-matt-omalley-interviewed-b93f3eaede1#.U-0RUcVdWuI|website=Patch|date=30 July 2011|accessdate=August 14, 2014}}

His professional political experience began in managing the campaign for Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral in 2004, the first female in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts history to hold the position. O'Malley also served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for Suffolk County, where he worked to implement numerous crime prevention initiatives.{{cite web|title=Matt O'Malley|url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/councillors/omalley.asp|publisher=City of Boston|accessdate=August 14, 2011}}

For the following two years, O'Malley served as the political director for MassEquality. Additionally, O'Malley spent some time working as a political consultant for both the Steven Grossman and Stephen Pagliuca campaigns respectively. In 2010, O'Malley was elected for City Council during a special election.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

O'Malley was a member of the Democratic State Committee from 2008 to 2012 and the advisory committee for Project Hope, an anti-poverty agency in Boston. He also raised funds through the Boston Marathon for Children's Hospital and Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Boston City Council

File:Matt Sunscreen Dispenser real.jpg

File:matt reusable bag.jpg

File:Matt Bench.jpg in 2018]]

O'Malley chaired the Environment and Parks Committee, and was co-chair of the Education committee and the Arts and Culture committee.

He also served on the City Council Committees on Arts & Culture, Ways & Means, and the Special Committee on Charter Reform. In 2012 and 2013 Councilor O'Malley served as Chair of the City Council's Government Operations Committee and as Chair of the Environment Committee in 2011.

=First term (2010 and 2011)=

O'Malley was elected to the 6th district seat in the 2009 Boston City Council election.

O'Malley pushed for the expansion of a drug drop off program in Boston as well as the creation of a Silver Alert system for citizens with Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments. He has held public hearings to discuss vacated public school buildings, Arborway Year in Jamaica Plain, and snow removal jurisdiction (City B). Additionally, O'Malley pushed for paperless pay stubs for City of Boston employees, and continues working toward increasing the availability of tap water in open spaces and parks across Boston.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

=Second term (2012 and 2013)=

O'Malley was reelected in the 2011 Boston City Council election.

In 2012, O'Malley pushed for new energy-saving considerations in City buildings such as City Hall to measure how much energy it was using and whether or not it was efficient. He also introduced a hearing order to explore curbside composting in Boston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/03/26/boston-officials-want-a-curbside-compost-pick-up-program/|title=Boston Officials Want a Curbside Compost Program|date=March 26, 2013}} His hearing on ways to reduce to litter in Boston led to the creation of Clean Boston Task Force, a group of Boston residents who meet to discuss problem areas in Boston, and solutions that have worked in their communities.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In December 2012, the City Council passed an ordinance authored by O'Malley to greatly increase the scope and amount of inspections made to rental properties in Boston.{{cite web |last1=Lepiarz |first1=Jack |title=Boston Approves New Rental Inspection Ordinance |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2012/12/19/boston-rental-inspections |website=www.wbur.org |access-date=13 September 2021 |language=en |date=December 19, 2012}} It went into effect.{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=David S. |title=Mayoral Candidates and Their Council Votes |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/09/21/mayoral-candidates-council-votes/ |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=September 21, 2013}}

=Third term (2014 and 2015)=

==Unsuccessful campaign for the council presidency==

O'Malley was reelected to a third term in the 2013 Boston City Council election. O'Malley won 18,204 votes, equal to 85% of the district vote. This beat the record for most overall votes ever received by a district city councilor in Boston, which had been held by Thomas Menino since 1983.{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=Andrew|title=Councilor Tops Menino's Vote ount Record |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/02/councilor-matt-malley-tops-menino-vote-count-record/CfNffXZaob6sdWf1CfMcVP/story.html|website=The Boston Globe| date=December 2, 2013| accessdate=August 14, 2014}} After the city council election, O'Malley sought the support of others elected to the incoming council for him to be the next president of the Boston City Council. Similarly seeking support was Bill Linehan (a conservative member of the council) and Tito Jackson. O'Malley and Jackson were both considered to be members of the council's liberal wing (which had five returning members, including the two of them). Linehan was regarded as all-but-sure to win the backing from the six other returning council members (which included himself). This left the council's two newly-elected members (Timothy McCarthy and Michelle Wu) as the swing-votes for the council presidency.{{cite web |last1=Lowrey |first1=Wesley |title=Councilor-elect Wu Faces Backlash on Backing Linehan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/444268288 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Boston Globe |url-access=subscription |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=en |date=December 13, 2013}} There was an open agreement between O'Malley and Jackson that if one of them faltered in their efforts to secure support, they would bow out in favor of the other.

Quickly, the council's liberal wing largely quickly got behind O'Malley's candidacy, rather than Jackson's. O'Malley was initially able to secure a pledge of support from McCarthy, which put him a position to have six votes (in addition to his own vote and Jackson's vote). This still was one shy of the needed majority, as councilor-elect Wu had not committed her support to him (despite being considered a part of the incoming council's liberal wing that had otherwise gotten behind his candidacy).{{cite web |last1=Irons |first1=Meghan E. |title=Bill Linehan Elected Boston City Council President |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/01/06/bill-linehan-elected-boston-city-council-president/1P5qeYz2fuwdh2JB7u7CxK/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=28 October 2024 |date=January 6, 2014}} McCarthy soon withdrew his backing from O'Malley and gave his support to Linehan instead. This gave Linehan majority support. Soon after receiving McCarthy's support, Linehan was also able to bolster his support by securing the backing of the progressive-leaning Wu (despite their ideological differences).{{cite magazine |last1=Kim |first1=E. Tammy |title=Boston's Mayor Makes Friends—and Enemies—with Her Focus on Housing |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/persons-of-interest/bostons-mayor-makes-friends-and-enemies-with-her-focus-on-housing |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=18 June 2024 |date=20 March 2024}} With O'Malley having faltered, Jackson ramped up his effort to secure the backing of a majority of councilors. However, he too was unsuccessful. After Jackson failed, Ayanna Pressley (another member of the council's liberal wing) ran a last-minute challenge against Linehan. Ultimately, Linehan won the council vote, beating Pressley by 8–5 (with O'Malley being among five councilors who voted for Pressley).

==Other matters==

One of O'Malley's proudest achievements was getting free sunscreen dispensers placed in parks throughout the city. In the summer of 2015, with help from IMPACT Melanoma and Make Big Change (MBC), dispensers were installed and have since inspired cities around the country to do the same.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2015/06/30/boston-parks-sunscreen-dispensers/|title=Free Sunscreen Dispensers Are Now in Boston Parks}} These dispensers were featured on season 28, episode 3 of "The Simpsons," (The Town) when Homer takes the family on a "hate-cation" to Boston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5222754/|title=The Town|date=October 9, 2016|via=IMDb}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rfwiDeoFn_g Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201120011416/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfwiDeoFn_g Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfwiDeoFn_g| title = Vaccines - The Simpsons S28E03 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2015, O’Malley and councilor Josh Zakim filed an order for a public hearing on gas leaks in Boston. A hearing and a working session were held by the City Council's Environment & Parks Committee to examine the issue. Councilors O’Malley and Zakim also sponsored two City Council resolutions in support of state legislation on roadway gas leak repair and protecting customers from paying for unaccounted for gas. Both were unanimously passed by the council.{{Cite web|url=http://www.votemattomalley.com/press-releases|title=Matt O'Malley|website=Matt O'Malley}}

=Fourth term (2016 and 2017)=

O'Malley was reelected to a fourth term in the 2015 Boston City Council election. After his reelection, O'Malley had received support from several liberal members of the council to be the next council president. However, Michelle Wu (who had the backing of outgoing council president Bill Linehan) received greater support among all who were elected to serve in the 2016–17 council.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=Wu Says She Has Enough Votes to Be Council President |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/13/city-councilor-michelle-says-she-has-votes-next-council-president/UdtXOVs7vkyXbb3APgbCcK/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=25 October 2024 |date=November 13, 2015}} He withdrew himself from consideration on the eve of the vote, and Wu was ultimately elected unanimously.{{cite web |title=Michelle Wu Elected Boston City Council President |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2016/01/04/michelle-wu-boston-city-council-president |website=WBUR |access-date=25 October 2024 |language=en |date=4 January 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Pattison-Gordon |first1=Jule |title=City Council Welcomes New Faces, President |url=https://baystatebanner.com/2016/01/06/city-council-welcomes-new-faces-president/ |website=Bay State Banner |access-date=1 November 2024 |date=January 6, 2016}}

In 2016, O'Malley successfully passed an ordinance regarding the elimination of gas leaks in the City of Boston following a hearing on the environmental and economic impacts of gas leaks the year before.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaplainnews.com/2017/02/02/qa-matt-omalley-on-dog-parks-gas-leaks-and-development/23277|title=Q&A: Matt O'Malley on Dog Parks, Gas Leaks and Development|first=David|last=Ertischek|website=Jamaica Plain News}} Docket #0622 aims to eliminate gas leaks in the City of Boston within six years of the passage of the ordinance. Earlier that year, O'Malley passed an ordinance dubbed the "Puppy Mill Bill," that would prohibit pet shops in Boston from selling dogs, cats or rabbits and would prevent animal sales in public parks and on city streets. As a result, Boston joined more than 120 municipalities that have banned the sale of commercially bred puppies and kittens from pet shops. Its aim was to diminish large-scale breeding facilities employed by these commercial facilities, many of which have multiple violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In August 2016, the City Council voted 11–2 to adopt a resolution by O'Malley and Tito Jackson that expressed the council's opposition 2016 Massachusetts Question 2, a ballot measure that would have authorized the expansion of the number of charter schools in the state.{{cite web |last1=McKeirnan |first1=Kathleen |title=Council Votes Against More Charter Schools |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2016/08/04/council-votes-against-more-charter-schools |website=Boston Herald |access-date=11 July 2023 |date=4 August 2016}}

In October 2017, the Boston City Council voted to unanimously approve a resolution by O'Malley and fellow councilor Michelle Wu, having the city adopt Community Choice Aggregation.{{cite web |title=Community Choice Energy is Adopted by the City of Boston |url=http://thebostonsun.com/2017/10/12/community-choice-energy-is-adopted-by-the-city-of-boston/ |website=The Boston Sun |access-date=6 September 2021 |date=12 October 2017}}

Starting in 2017, O'Malley began hosting a podcast called, the "O'Pod," where he interviews fellow elected officials, city workers, notable people, his staff, family, and friends. Guests included, Congressman Joe Kennedy III, 2018 Boston Marathon women's winner Desiree Linden, and former Boston City Councilor John M. Tobin Jr.{{cite web |url=http://www.votemattomalley.com/opod/ |title=Matt O'Malley |website=www.votemattomalley.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726005854/http://www.votemattomalley.com/opod/ |archive-date=2018-07-26}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

In December 2017, O'Malley received unanimous support from his fellow Boston City Council members in passing an ordinance he had authored with fellow councilor Michelle Wu to ban single-use plastic bags from stores in the City of Boston.{{cite web |title=Boston City Council Votes To Ban Plastic Bags |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/11/29/boston-plastic-bag-ban |website=www.wbur.org |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=en |date=30 November 2017}} Mayor Marty Walsh signed it into law despite his administration having previously opposed such a ban when it was previously debated by the Council in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Irons |first1=Meghan E. |title=Plastic Bag Proposal Hits Snag With Walsh Administration |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/13/plastic-bag-proposal-hits-snag-with-walsh-administration/jJGmpIWWN6YDxhbsmSl0fN/story.html |website=BostonGlobe.com |access-date=6 September 2021 |date=13 December 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Glatter |first1=Hayler |title=Mayor Marty Walsh Signs Boston's Plastic Bag Ban Into Law |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2017/12/18/marty-walsh-bag-ban-boston/ |access-date=6 September 2021 |date=18 December 2017}} The law went into effect in the fall of 2018. This achievement came with many environmental benefits, including litter and pollution reduction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/17/walsh-signs-ban-plastic-bags-for-boston/tmnDLNF0HtJTkRzvLWsg2L/story.html|title=Mayor Walsh Signs Ban On Plastic Bags For Boston |website=BostonGlobe.com}}

=Fifth term (2018 and 2019)=

O'Malley was reelected to a fifth term in the 2017 Boston City Council election.

In 2019, O'Malley and fellow councilor Andrea Campbell proposed the idea of a vacancy tax on residential and commercial properties that have been abandoned.{{cite web |last1=Cotter |first1=Sean Philip |title=Boston Councilors Call For Vacancy Tax |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/10/22/boston-councilors-call-for-vacancy-tax/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=16 September 2021 |date=22 October 2019}}

In December 2019, the Boston City Council passed an ordinance that O'Malley had introduced with Michelle Wu that protects local wetlands and promote adaption to climate change.{{cite web |title=Boston City Council Passes Significant Climate Change and Wetlands Ordinance |url=https://www.clf.org/newsroom/boston-city-council-passes-significant-climate-change-and-wetlands-ordinance/ |website=Conservation Law Foundation |access-date=4 September 2021 |date=11 December 2019}} Mayor Walsh signed it into law later that month.{{cite web |title=Mayor Walsh Signs Local Wetland Ordinance |url=https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-walsh-signs-local-wetland-ordinance |website=Boston.gov |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=en |date=23 December 2019}}

O'Malley endorsed Elizabeth Warren's candidacy in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.{{cite web |last1=DeCosta-Kilpa |first1=Nik |title=Read the Full List of Elizabeth Warren's Massachusetts Endorsements |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/02/25/elizabeth-warren-massachusetts-endorsements/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=11 October 2021 |date=February 25, 2020}}

=Sixth term (2020 and 2021)=

Malley was reelected in the 2019 Boston City Council election, running unopposed{{cite news |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2019/council-ballots-set-preliminary-vote |title=Council ballots set for preliminary vote |first=Jennifer |last=Smith |website=Dorchester Reporter |date=July 18, 2019 |accessdate=July 21, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/unofficial-election-results |title=BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2019 |website=boston.gov |date=3 October 2016 |accessdate=November 5, 2019}} In the weeks before the 2020–22 Boston City Council term, support in the election of a new council president was initially sharply divided in their support between O'Malley and Kim Janey. Janey, with an important endorsement from Michelle Wu, ultimately secured enough pledges of support to secure her the council presidency. On January 6, 2020, O'Malley joined all member (except Frank Baker, who abstained) in unanimously electing Janey.{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Adam |title=The Inside Story: How Kim Janey Became Boston's Acting Mayor |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2021/06/08/the-inside-story-how-kim-janey-became-bostons-acting-mayor |website=wgbh.org |publisher=WGBH |access-date=August 30, 2021 |language=en |date=June 8, 2021 |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830150321/https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2021/06/08/the-inside-story-how-kim-janey-became-bostons-acting-mayor |url-status=live }} After Janey (as council president) became the acting mayor of Boston in March 2021, O'Malley began serving as president of the council in an acting capacity,{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/news/meet-boston-city-councils-new-council-president-matt-omalley |title=Meet Boston City Council's New Council President, Matt O'Malley |website=boston.gov |date=March 31, 2021 |accessdate=April 6, 2021}} officially as president pro tempore.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/03/24/matt-omalley-begins-to-preside-over-boston-city-council-as-kim-janey-becomes-acting-mayor/ |title= Matt O'Malley begins to preside over Boston City Council as Kim Janey becomes Acting Mayor |website=Boston Herald |url-access=limited |date=March 24, 2021 |accessdate=April 6, 2021}}

In October 2021, O'Malley voted against legislation that was passed by the City Council which restricted the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray by the Boston Police Department.{{cite web |title=Boston City Council passes tear gas, rubber bullet limits on second attempt |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/04/28/boston-city-council-passes-tear-gas-rubber-bullet-limits-in-second-attempt/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=4 October 2021 |date=28 April 2021}}

In October 2021, the City Council passed and Acting Mayor Janey signed into law an ordinance sponsored by O'Malley requiring buildings in the city that are larger than 20,000 square feet to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 and setting emissions reporting requirements for such buildings.{{cite web |title=Janey Signs Boston's Building Emissions Control Measure |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/janey-signs-bostons-building-emissions-control-measure/37872403# |agency=The Associated Press |website=WCVB |language=en |date=5 October 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Norton |first1=Michael P. |title=New Ordinance To Squeeze Emissions From Boston's Largest Buildings |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/new-ordinance-to-squeeze-emissions-from-bostons-largest-buildings/2509079/ |website=NBC Boston |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=October 5, 2021}} For years, joined by fellow council members Michelle Wu and Lydia Edwards, O'Malley had pushed to have the city divest its financial resources from fossil fuels. In November 2021, Wu (as mayor) signed such an ordinance into law.{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=Christopher |title=Mayor Wu signs landmark law standing against fossil fuel companies |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/11/22/mayor-wu-just-signed-a-landmark-law-standing-against-fossil-fuel-companies-heres-what-to-know/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=28 November 2022 |date=November 22, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Murphy|first=Matt |title=Mayor Wu Signs Ordinance Divesting Boston From Fossil Fuel Profits|url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/mayor-wu-signs-ordinance-divesting-boston-from-fossil-fuels/2572931/ |access-date=November 23, 2021 |agency=NBC Boston |date=November 22, 2021}}

In December 2020, O'Malley announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2021 Boston City Council election,{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/12/03/boston-city-councilor-matt-omalley-wont-seek-reelection |title=Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley won't seek re-election next year |first=Christopher |last=Gavin |website=Boston.com |date=December 3, 2020 |accessdate=December 3, 2020}} making his sixth term his final.

Post-Council employment

In December 2021, O'Malley announced his new position as chief sustainability officer for Vicinity Energy, the largest district energy provider in the United States.{{cite news |last=Chesto |first=John |title=Departing City Councilor Matt O'Malley steps over to steam plant owner Vicinity |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/03/business/departing-city-councilor-matt-omalley-steps-over-steam-plant-owner-vicinity/ |date=3 December 2021 |website=Boston Globe |access-date=1 June 2022}} Vicinity Energy is an American district energy subsidiary of Antin Infrastructure Partners.{{cite news |title=Boston City Council President Matt O'Malley Joins Vicinity as Chief Sustainability Officer |url=https://www.vicinityenergy.us/press-releases/boston-city-council-president-matt-omalley-joins-vicinity-as-chief-sustainability-officer |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=Vicinity |date=3 December 2021}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

Personal life

O'Malley and his wife, Kathryn, have one daughter. His second cousin is Jen O'Malley Dillon.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Alison |title=Who Is Mass. Native Jennifer O'Malley Dillon? Meet Biden's New Deputy Chief of Staff |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/politics/who-is-mass-native-jennifer-omalley-dillon-profiling-bidens-campaign-manager/2233475/ |accessdate=17 November 2020 |work=NBC Boston |date=16 November 2020}}