City Council

The meeting was called to order by Council President Liz Breadon at 12:00 PM. * Roll Call: Councilors Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, and Worrell were present. * Absent: Councilors Durkan, Mejia, and Weber. * Invocation: Delivered by the City Clerk, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Council held two major presentations: 1. Quality Homes for Humankind (QHH): Councilor Worrell recognized students from Tech Boston Academy (Michael Geelan, Brian Hodge Molina, Yasser Mohamed, and Mohammed Abram) and their advisor, Dr. Bruce Pompreon. The group won the National Aspen Challenge for their work on gun violence and vocational training. Dr. Pompreon noted, "We are totally convinced that this model of Transitional Housing, Belonging, Entrepreneurship, Asset Building... is the solution of building a safer community." 2. Boston to Belfast Youth Empowerment: Council President Breadon recognized youth hockey players from Allston-Brighton and Dorchester traveling to Belfast. Steve, the program leader, quoted Nelson Mandela: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the Power To Inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does."

The minutes of the City Council meeting held on August 5, 2026, were approved unanimously.

• Docket 1589: Message and order authorizing the City to accept a $40,000 Simone Foundation Charitable Donation Grant for the Police Department Homicide Unit. Councilor Santana noted the funds support specialized training and advanced technology. Outcome: Passed via roll call (10-0). * Docket 1590: Reappointment of Robin Casper to the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) Review Board. Referred to the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency, and Parks.

• Dockets 1591-1593: Appointments of Ann Moy and Kwong to the Chinatown Trust Fund Committee, and Adam Cederbaum as Chair of the Boston Election Commission. Placed on file. * Docket 1595: Report from Renato Costello on Participatory Budgeting ("Ideas in Action"). Placed on file. * Docket 1597: Designation of the Folsom House (34 Folsom Avenue, Mission Hill) as a landmark. Outcome: Passed via roll call (9-0). * Docket 1598: Constable Bonds for various individuals. Approved.

• Docket 1235 (Government Operations): Petition for Special Law regarding pension benefits for Firefighter Richard Lopez. The amendment increases disability benefits from 72% to 80% to comply with federal law. Outcome: Passed in a new draft (9-0). * Dockets 1401-1402 (Environmental Justice): Conservation restrictions for land at Zero Dale Street (Sharon Woods) and 198 West 8th Street (Sister Mary Veronica Park). Outcome: Passed (10-0). * Dockets 1403-1409 (Environmental Justice): Confirmation of reappointments (Samira Ahmadi, Jessica Boatwright, Stephen Ellis, Hassan Faruqi, Laurie Ferris, Gail Lattimore) and appointment (Camilo Escriva Zapata) to the BERDO Review Board. Outcome: All confirmed. * Docket 1514 (Planning, Development and Transportation): Surplus declaration and transfer of two parcels on Melnea Cass Boulevard (Crescent Parcel) to the BPDA for the development of 217 affordable rental units. Outcome: Passed.

• Docket 1391: $12,855,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the Skilled Trades Initiative. Councilor Worrell detailed the four strategies, including embedding pre-apprenticeship programs at Madison Park and expanding seats to 100 annually. Councilor Culpepper emphasized that "success after high school does not have one definition." Outcome: Passed.

• Docket 1599: Ordinance to increase Paid Parental Leave to 12 weeks at 100% pay for city employees. Councilor Coletta Zapata stated, "12 weeks of parental leave should mean 12 weeks at 100% of base pay." Referred to GovOps. * Docket 1600: Ordinance to amend and rebuild the Boston Human Rights Commission as an independent adjudicatory body. Referred to GovOps. * Docket 1601: Hearing to explore raising the CPA funds dedicated to affordable housing from 50% to 80%. Referred to CPA Committee. * Docket 1606: Resolution supporting ShotSpotter. Councilor Santana objected to immediate passage, seeking a hearing. Referred to Public Safety. * Docket 1610: Resolution for a weapons collection program. Amended to include both knives and firearms. Outcome: Adopted as amended. * Docket 1611: Resolution to grant Park Rangers police powers. Councilor Culpepper objected, citing the need for a hearing on training and civil rights. Referred to Public Safety. * Docket 1616: Resolution calling for state receivership of the Election Department through 2028 following early voting errors. Councilor Breadon and Louijeune opposed, calling the errors isolated and warning against undermining confidence. Outcome: Failed (2-7-1; Affirmative: Flynn, Murphy; Negative: Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Worrell; Present: Culpepper). * Docket 1617: Resolution declaring August 22nd as Elizabeth Freeman Day. Outcome: Adopted.

• Docket 1552: Resolution calling for a housing stabilization response for residents losing work authorization due to federal immigration policy changes. Outcome: Passed (9-0). * Late Files: Included absence letters for Mayor Wu and Councilors Mejia, Weber, and Durkan, and additional Constable Bonds.

The meeting adjourned in memory of: * Denise Washington * John Pierce Roumenier * Matthew St. Mark * Dolly Parton * Jack Bulger * George Mitchell * Rita de Jesse