City Council

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I don't need a mic, but... Good afternoon. Can you hear me?

Yeah.

You know, I got that preacher voice. I really don't need the mic. Good afternoon. I am District 7 City Councilor Minyard Culpepper. I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council, the first of the municipal year 2026. Pursuant to section 17 of the city charter, as a senior member of this council, I will preside over the meeting until the election of a city council president. Viewers can watch the council meeting live at boston.gov city council TV. At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in attendance to please silence your phones and any electronic devices that you may have. Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum.

Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louisian, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Murphy, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, and Councilor Worrell. A quorum is present.

Thank you. I have been informed by the clerk that a quorum is present. At this time, I would like to introduce Bishop Thomas Williams, pastor of the Holy Temple Church in Roxbury, to provide today's invocation. After the invocation, please remain standing as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

If we would bow our heads, let us pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you even now, Father God, recognizing first of all, Lord God, allowing us to come into a brand new year as well as, Lord God, an opening, O God, this body council, Father God, in the new year of 2026. And God, we pray and ask in Jesus' name, Father God, that you would move with your grace and favor upon each and every council member, Lord God, We ask that you would give them wisdom, insight, as well as a spirit of unity and harmony in taking care of the business and the affairs of the residents of the city of Boston, Lord God, to the best of their ability. We thank you as well for their families, oh God, understanding that the family dynamic plays a vital part in the emotional and the mental stability of those, oh God, that you have given this charge to.

We pray, dear God, that not only this session or today, but for the remainder of this year, that you would be present, that you would help them, Lord God, to govern and to guide with wisdom and insight. and we're grateful and we are thankful, oh God, for each and every one that is on this council for they are here because of your divine providence. We thank you, we praise you, and we ask these things in the name of our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord God. Amen, amen, and amen.

We'll now recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Clerk, will you please recognize the councillors? Councilor Durkan, Councilor Loujeune, and Councilor Worrell. Thank you. Now until the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of December 10, 2025. I'm sure all of y'all know those minutes from December 10th. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The minutes of the December 10th meeting are approved. Our next order of business, we will vote to adopt the 24-25

Council rules as temporary rules of the body until permanent rules for the new municipal year are adopted. Mr. Clerk. Will you please read docket 0101?

Docket number 0101, order to adopt the rules of the Boston City Council for municipal years 2024 and 2025. accept Rule 36 as temporary rules until permanent rules are adopted for municipal years 2026 and 2027.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair moves for adoption of docket 0101. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, docket 0101 has been adopted. We will now proceed with the election of a council president. Mr.

Clerk, will you please read docket 0102? Docket number 0102, communication of intent for the presiding officer to move for election of city council president.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0102 will be placed on file. The chair moves to proceed with the election of a city council president. Pursuant to section 17 of the charter, the clerk will conduct a roll call vote. Each council member shall say the name of the person that they would like to elect. Pursuant to section 17, which states as follows, all elections by the city council shall be made by a viva voice vote. Each member who is present answering to the name when it is called by the clerk, and stating the name of the person for whom they vote, and the clerk shall record every such vote. No election shall be valid unless it is made aforesaid.

Each Councilor will have 10 minutes to speak and I see Councilor Julia Mejia with her light on pursuant to Rule 39. Councilor Mejia, I will now turn on your mic. 10 minutes.

I'm sorry, I'm not ready. I thought we were going to go straight to the vote, so I just had a qualifying question.

No, no, got your 10 minutes.

I got you. I'll wait my turn.

Thank you. Thank you. Each counselor will have 10 minutes to speak.

One more time.

Councilor Weber. Sorry, point of order, I'm just, do we do nominations first or each, we're going in order? Can you just explain that?

The chair is giving each councilor 10 minutes to speak. Those counselors with their light on and no one has their light on will be given the 10 minutes to speak pursuant to rule 39. Yes, we can have a recess, a brief recess. Yes.

The council is back in session. One point of clarification with your 10 minutes. And I think this is where some council members weren't clear. You can nominate now as part of your 10 minutes. After everyone has spoken, those of you that wish to speak, The clerk will come back and then we'll vote for a council president. So this is your opportunity to make your nominations. You don't have to use all the 10 minutes, but you do have at least 10 minutes The nominations are part of your 10 minutes. Are we clear? I see Councilmember Flynn's light on. We'll start with Councilmember Flynn. You have 10 minutes, Councilmember Flynn.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I wanted to take this opportunity and nominate... City Councilor Brian Worrell. And the reason I want to nominate City Councilor Brian Worrell is because over the last several years as Ways and Means Chair and as Vice President of the City Council. He treated each colleague with respect. He listened to people. He engaged people. Sometimes you agreed with Brian and sometimes you didn't agree with Brian, but he always had an open door and he always listened to people. I think that's a critical part of being a city councilor or an elected official, the ability to listen. And I think that's what Councilor Worrell has done excellent.

But besides that, during difficult times as Ways and Means Chair with a challenging economy, Brian and Stuart, every city councilor had an opportunity to speak and advocate for what they wanted to see in the budget and had an opportunity to talk directly to the city department heads and the mayor about city priorities. He demonstrated positive leadership over the last several years, not just as Ways and Means Chair or as Vice President, but as a loyal colleague that was there for the for his fellow colleagues, and in my opinion, has demonstrated what it takes to be a city council president.

We can agree on issues and we can disagree on issues, but we know that there's always an open door policy with Councilor Worrell, and I know if he is elected City Council President, he'll be fair to all All of us, all 13 City Councilors equally. I think that's an important aspect of the job. Whether people vote for Brian for city council president or they don't vote for Brian, if he's elected, I think he'll ensure that every city councilor is heard and respected. and that's what I'm looking for in a city council president. Someone that understands the body, understands people, understands relationships, someone that has a has already demonstrated that critical leadership that is needed in the city, especially during these difficult times. As Ways and Means Chair, he knows the budget inside and out, and we need that type of

leadership as the city council president when we go into a difficult and rocky road. over the next two years or the next several years, but especially as we approach this budget process. Councilor Rall has demonstrated and ability to understand the budget, understand how to get things done, how to ensure that city departments come to this body and answer questions from city councilors. And that's a big part of the job is working closely with the administration. And I know Councilor Worrell can do that because he's already demonstrated that as an outstanding city councilor. an outstanding friend, an outstanding district city councillor, and he has a wonderful way about him bringing people together. And that's not just in his district, he reaches out across the city

and brings people together as does his brother, Representative Chris Worrell as well. So I just wanted to take this opportunity to nominate someone that I know would be an excellent city council president because I've, I also know what it's like to be City Council President. He has those exact qualities to be an exceptional leader for the City Council. Mr. Chair, thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Flynn. I see Councilmember Murphy's light is on. Councilmember Murphy, you have 10 minutes.

Thank you, Chair, and welcome. to the body with us. As we know, this process shouldn't be about backroom deals, but unfortunately, it usually is, and here we are. I do want to second. If my light was on first, I would have been the first, but I do want to second the nomination of Councillor Worrell. Over the past several weeks, Councillor Worrell has continued to engage colleagues respectfully and consistently, even when support wasn't immediate. By staying in conversation and doing the work required to build trust, he earned additional support and continued to demonstrate the kind of leadership I believe this body needs. Leadership is not demonstrated by declaring victory before a vote is taken. This vote is supposed to be us, us 13 members who decide who is our next presiding council president. It's not by treating an outcome as a foregone conclusion.

In my view, leadership on the City Council requires engaging all 13 members and having a good relationship with all of us, despite where we land on issues or O'Reilly, and many more. That's why I support Brian Worrell from the beginning and I'm confident he will lead this body with humility, independence, and respect for the institution. So I'm looking forward to vote for Councilor Worrell.

Thank you. Councilmember Weber, you have 10 minutes, sir.

Thank you very much, Councillor Culpepper. I'd like to reiterate what Councillor Flynn and Councillor Murphy I had to say about Councilor Worrell, I think he's done an incredible job as a Ways and Means Chair and he's definitely impressed me with his I think what we just heard was about how backroom deals shouldn't sway this council. But what we've seen in the last 24 hours is a lot of backroom dealing. and I want this council to be up front with people and not be picking favorites and I think the last 24 hours has not been the finest on this council. For that reason, I am going to nominate the longest-serving Councilor, Liz Breadon, as Council President. She has impressed me with her ability to bring people together and to be a voice in an often tempestuous storm for calm,

and I hope that she can bring calmness and deliberation to this body so we can address the really difficult challenges that we have facing us. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember Weber. Please, no clapping or indication for or against either candidate or their spoken word. Councilor Mejia, I see your light is on. You have 10 minutes.

Good afternoon, everyone. Congratulations. Councilor Culpepper, it's great to see you here in this chamber. Afternoon to everyone who is here celebrating this victorious moment with all of us. So if anyone knows anything about me, I've always been about the process. For me, It's more important how we get there than getting there. And from the onset, every single election that I have participated here on the Boston City Council has created an opportunity for me to listen and learn and hear from the candidates that are running to serve in this position. In the last two election cycles, we have been stripped away of that process. and have created a dynamic in which a small body of folks determine for an entire body who is going to oversee this body.

And that continues to erode the trust in our ability to have good working relationships. It's not about winners or losers. It is really all about how we choose to show up for each other and represent our constituents. I find it really challenging in this moment that walking into this chamber We haven't heard from everyone. The only person that has made a real concerted effort in this process to demonstrate what leadership was going to look like under this term has been Councilor Worrell. From the moment after the elections were certified, because we have to wait, there is a process, Councilor Worrell has communicated, has engaged, has spoken to every single member of this body.

trying to identify what is going to be the vision for 2026 and 2028. That is what this moment is calling for. Not a group of people deciding for a whole body how we are going to function. That does not set us up for success. What that does is continues to pick one person and one group against the other. And we've had enough of that here on this body. And so my hope is As we continue to discuss who should be overseeing this body, we should really ask ourselves, who do we want to be in this next term? and how we're going to utilize our politics and our political capital to move the work forward. Not in the interest of ourselves, but in the interest of those who put us in these seats. And so, yes, I am the call out queen and I will be calling out bad behavior.

There has been a lot of shenanigans happening over the last two and a half months as it relates to this particular race. And I think that all eyes are on us to demonstrate that we are independent and that we can make decisions for ourselves and that we don't have people behind the scenes dictating who is going to be our leader. And so if we want to be that body and get in line, and do business as usual, then so be it. But if we want to demonstrate that we have been elected by the people to serve the people, then this is our opportunity to be with the people. And so I am going to encourage my colleagues to really think about how all of this came to be because you all participated in it. And at the last minute,

because a group of people cannot hold on to power have decided to orchestrate a whole different campaign And we have yet to hear from the person who's running, who has been nominated. I need to hear from people. I need to hear what the vision is. I need to understand how you're going to govern. I need to understand how this body is going to build power. I need to understand how we are going to be a true independent body. And the person who has demonstrated that leadership here on this Boston City Council has been Councilor Worrell. I think we have the most diverse coalition. We have conservatives. We have people of different diverse backgrounds. This body represents a diverse community. Constituency. And it can't just be the same old, same old politics. We need to learn how to work together and work across our differences.

And the work that Councilor Worrell has done to get us here demonstrates what this city is asking for right now, especially with all eyes on us. So I'm asking us to really consider the narrative that's out about who this council is, who we have been. We're not a rubber stamp. We are an independent body. elected to serve independently and not with special interests and and you know people doing politics as usual and so I am going to I stand on business here regardless of what happens and regardless of who the president is at the end of the day our jobs are to A lead with fidelity. And my hope is that my colleagues find the political courage to do just that and to support us in supporting Councilor Worrell as he has been working hard.

The thing that we don't want to do is just give people something that they did not work hard for. And this is the body that people look to. And we are continuing to demonstrate that anyone could just Be propped into a position or shepherd into a title without really doing the work. So I'd like to see Councilor Worrell's hard work pay off. and would like my colleagues to support us in that quest.

Thank you. Durkan, I see your light is on. You have 10 minutes.

Thank you so much, Councilor Culpepper. Today, I am proud to support Liz Breadon, and I would like to second her nomination. For me, I actually sat in Councilor Breadon's office over a year ago and we were talking about the issues of the City of Boston. And I told her in a small gesture, you would make a great council president because of the way that she talked about the issues, the way that she spoke with respect for every single one of our colleagues. and I'm proud to support her. I think we're in a moment today where the city is facing a ton of issues and we are all working on them in our own junctures, our own districts, But today, the reason I'm proud to support Councilor Breadon is because she truly is going to put our body first. This is not any negativity, but the past 24 hours have been a whirlwind.

And I would like to also say that Councilor Coletta Zapata would have made an amazing president, and she will get her time to shine. I truly think it's important that in this moment that we not tear each other down, that we pick who would be best for the body in this moment for the city. We have 13 diverse members of this council that are from different places. In Liz, we would be picking the first out LGBTQ member. President, we would be picking someone who has actually led meetings before. She has experience as the person who has had to step in in those moments. And on top of all of this, it's really the candor and the way she talks about every single one of our colleagues that shines through. And so for me, I am proud to cast my vote for her.

This is really just about picking who I think would be best for the council. And I think we all have that decision to make. I have respect for every single one of my colleagues. Just because we come to a different conclusion doesn't mean Your voice and your vote is invalid, but the game of city council president is to get to seven. And I'll just say that I'm proud to serve on this august historical body where we have traditions. One of those is picking our council president on this very day. And so we all have to do what's right for us, but truly Liz is going to make an amazing council president. And I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting her.

Thank you, Councilmember Durkan. Councilmember Murphy, I see your light is on. And you have spoken. And so I want to make sure that no other council wants to speak before we give you Back. Two minutes of your time. I don't think you use all 10, but we will give you two. Mr. Clerk, are there any? Thank you. I see Mr. Fitzgerald's light is on. Murphy, I will come back to you, but we need to get through the first round of speaking and then we'll come back to you for two minutes. Mr. Fitzgerald.

and welcome to the council. I just want to address the mic.

You got to put me on there. Thank you and welcome, sir. First, I just want to address some of the rhetoric and feeling in the room of the last 24 hours. People have talked about backroom deals and shenanigans and stuff. Guys, what do we expect? This is the job that we were elected to do. This is how it operates. Only once in a strong mayor system, on this body, as us as elected councilors, do we actually have a small time to make a difference to deliver an impact for our community. And a lot of that has to do with the committees that we get and making the administration have leverage to deal with us, right? Or leveraging the administration to deal with us. So that's all this is. I just want to say when we use that rhetoric, guys, it doesn't help us. This is the job. No one should be surprised. Every two years, this is the stuff that happens. And it's OK that it happens. But we do have to use it.

Every each and one of us are trying to position ourselves to deliver for our constituents. That is the job. None of us can go back to the people that elected us and say, here's the deal I got, and I took it, but there was a better one on the table. They will look at us and say, John, why did you take that deal? Right? We put you there to deliver for us. So that's all this is. I think amongst us all, I feel that we have a genuine friendship amongst all of us. I really do. Sometimes we have hard decisions, but that's why we put ourselves here. Because if folks were in our shoes to be here and look friends in the eye and tell them one thing and do another, it hurts. It's hard. But it's the only opportunity we have. So no matter who is elected, I know we're going to all work well together. We have to set the tone off right this year for 2026. So I look forward to it. Whoever is the president, I commend them. I look forward to working with them. and all of you as well. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Fitzgerald.

Council Member Murphy, you have two minutes.

Thank you. Through the chair, if I could, if he wants to have a question for Council Weber, just... I don't know if you want to, I'll ask the question, you can tell me if you want to answer. When you had nominated your candidate, the Councilor Breadon, you had said that one of the reasons, because she's the longest serving, if I heard you correctly, I just want to clarify for the record, Flynn is the longest serving, and Councilor Mejia came in in the same year. So I just wanted to make sure that there was clarification there.

Thank you, Council Murphy. Council Murphy, is that?

That was, yeah, if I heard correctly.

Thank you very much.

Just because the public listens in, and I just want to be clear that if we're voting for just because someone's the longest serving, that that's just not true.

Thank you. If that's the case, then... You're the oldest, yeah.

Well, you're the oldest by age.

Mr. Weber, please.

Chair, just a short, thank you, Councillor Murphy, for pointing that out. I apologize. I meant to say long-serving Councillor, not longest-serving. I apologize to Councillor Flynn. I apologize to Councillor Mejia. I do stand by my comments that you know I do think Councilor Breadon is somebody who in very difficult situations is somebody who's brought this body back to a place where we can be productive and I think based on what I've seen in one term here that If she can do it, that's why I nominated her. I also just want to support what Councilor Fitzgerald said, and I really, regardless of what happens, Look forward to working with all of you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Weber, Councilmember Weber. Councilmember Flynn, you have spoken and we did not keep your time. But I will give you, you did. Did he use his last, all 10 minutes? He's got time. Council Member Flynn.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Chair, may I make a recommendation asking Councilor Worrell and Councilor Breadon to outline their vision on what they want to accomplish and how they will work with all colleagues. I do think that would be helpful to the body so we all know where both councilors stand on how they want to ensure that committee assignments are addressed, how issues are discussed, how they will interact with city council central staff as well. But I would like to ask if both city councilors would be willing to at least offer what their vision is to be city council president.

Now you know, Mr. Flynn, Councilmember Flynn, that they have 10 minutes. And it's their choice whether or not they use those two minutes. I don't see either one of their lights on. And so until I see one of their lights on, Councilmember Flynn, we keep on moving. Now, if I don't see either one of the lights on, I'll ask Council Member Fitzgerald to come to the dais, and I'll come and take your seat, and I'll make my statement. As a chair, in order to make my statement, I have to leave the dais to make my statement and I'll come back after I make my statement.

All right, heads up would have been nice. So here we are. I like it up here, guys. Anybody have nominations? Anyone have a nomination to give? All right.

Culpepper. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And you do look good up there. Colleagues, I rise today I'm humbled to join you as the only newly elected member to this body. As we walk away from our swearing in just hours ago, and into a new chapter of service, I know that we do so with a deep acknowledgement of the responsibility entrusted to us by the constituents of this city. And while I may be new to this chamber, I am not new to the work of this city, nor to the communities who depend on this council to lead with discipline, fairness, and care.

I take my role and I took my role as the presiding member over this council president election seriously. We all know that the role of council president is not ceremonial. It's operational, it's institutional. It requires someone who understands process, commands trust, across his body and knows how to translate debate into delivery. Who we elect must be ready to stand in as acting mid of this city, a moment we never wish to get to or welcome, but one must be ready at a moment's notice to enact. It is in that spirit that I am honored to nominate and support Councilor Worrell to serve as the next president of the Boston City Council. Over that note, remember I said you can?

Over the last two terms, Councilor Worrell has demonstrated, Councilman Worrell, clearly and consistently what effective leadership to this council looks like. As Vice President of the Boston City Council and Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Worrell has overseen some of the most complex and consequential work this body undertakes. He led the council's review and passes of a $4.8 billion operating budget, a $4.8 capital budget. He guided the approval of more than $250,000 $50 million in collective bargaining agreements. He helped direct over $9 million in new council-driven investments in fiscal year 26 budget investments shaped by equity. Fiscal Responsibility and Community Need.

In his very first term as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Councilor Wells demonstrated what principled leadership looks like when it matters most. rallying this council to override a mayoral veto. That moment was not about politics. It was about process, partnership, and the council asserting its role as a co-equal branch of government. And in fiscal year 26, it was Councilor Worrell's direct leadership, his ability to work with every member of this body and across coalitions that led to the mayor finally accepting the mayor who I love, the council's budget. That outcome did not happen by accident. It happened because Councilor Worrell knows how to listen. How to negotiate, how to build consensus without compromising this institution. Taken together, those moments show exactly what this council needs as its next president.

Someone who can collaborate with the administration. while also restoring, strengthening the city council as a serious, effective check when necessary. That kind of leadership requires more than policy knowledge. It requires steadiness, transparency, the confidence of colleagues across districts and ideologies. Councilor Worrell has earned that confidence by managing complexity with care and keeping this institution functioning even when difficulties arise. Beyond the budget, Councilor Worrell has filed more than 70 pieces of legislation and passed nearly 30, and I could keep going on and on and on and on. But I said to you, my brothers and my sisters and my colleagues of the council, who among us stands ready to create a sense of unity in this body and restore confidence with the public? Who amongst us

has proven through record, not just words, through record that they can stand as a check to the administration and generate consensus across views. The obvious choice is Councilor Brian Worrell. Councilor Worrell has already served as vice president of this council. He understands the responsibility of the chair. He understands the rhythm of this chamber. And he understands that the role of the president is not to dominate debate, but to elevate it, to ensure that every councilor Every district and every resident knows they have a fair voice in this institution. As for me, I've been asked what committee do I want. Everyone knows that my expertise is in housing, but I will take the committee chair of the bathroom cleaning committee. For me, it's not about what committee I take.

I take this work seriously. That's why I ran. And of course, When I look at my colleagues, all of you take it seriously too. Let me just close on this. Dr. Martin Luther King said, if you're a street sweeper, then sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, like Shakespeare wrote poetry. I say to the counselors, That we have to deliberate, debate, And we have an awesome responsibility to take what's in the best interest of the citizens of the city of Boston at heart. And so I say to my colleagues,

One day, heaven and earth will look down at us, and they will say, and they'll pause and say, this council, This council, this was a council that did well by the city of Boston. This council, this council that deliberated, debated, and made decisions on the city of Boston, this council did their job well. May God bless you. My nomination is for Councilor Worrell, and my vote will also go to Councilor Worrell. God bless you. No clapping! Mr. Fitzgerald, I will now return to the diaries.

The bathroom cleaning committee is yours, sir.

Mr. Clerk, Councilor Borrell, I'll recognize you for 10 minutes.

I started the time a little early. I didn't even get up yet. But good afternoon, colleagues, and it's hard to go against Minister, Reverend, but I'm going to do my best. Mr. Clerk, family, friends, members of the public, and everyone watching, First thing, first, I just want to congratulate all of my colleagues, all of my colleagues on earning another term. I know what it takes, the long days that turn into long nights, the never-ending meetings, The weekends that aren't really weekends, the doors you knock, the hands you shake, the hard conversations you don't get to skip. And behind every each and one of you is a team, family, that carries a lot of that weight, quietly, consistently, and often without the credit. So to your teams and to your families, I want to also say thank you and congratulations.

And to our newest member, welcome. You're here because your district believes in you. We're excited to have you engaging in this work because we know your work isn't new to the city and you're not going to have the bathroom committee. I think your skills and your talents far exceed that. and thank you to the mayor for presiding over our inauguration and also for our leadership. But I stand here today humbled and grateful and I accept the nomination for president of the Boston City Council. And I accept it not as a title, Certainly not as a trophy, but as a responsibility. A responsibility to build bridges, to strengthen our ability to govern, and to make sure every district in Boston has a council that shows up for them. Outside of being a father, this is the best job I've ever had. And one defined by a simple shared mandate delivered for Boston.

This is reflected in the oath we just took. A commitment to serve and empower our residents. It's rooted in the first, most powerful words of our Constitution. We the people. Those words are clear. Our loyalties to the people we serve and nothing else. That means using this platform to explain to people plainly what's happening, how it affects their lives, and how they can help shape it. Unfortunately, we mistake perception for truth. The truth about our neighborhoods. The truth about our kids. The truth about what this council can deliver. I grew up in a neighborhood shaped by policies. Policies that contributed to shorter life expectancy, limited access to quality education, and kept families out of housing. These policies are still driving negative measurable outcomes across neighborhoods in our city today.

We don't have to pretend everything is fine. The census, the economy, the literacy rates, the numbers tell us the real story who's being left behind. I know this because this was my family's experience. As a young black boy in Dorchester, I was told that the odds were stacked against me. I heard predictions about my limits instead of my possibilities. This wasn't a desire for victimhood. It was a matter of fact expectation setting. Informed by decades of lived experience, I thought I made peace with that reality. Until I became a father. When my son was born, I felt an outpouring of love and then a worry. Will the world see his gifts or reduce him to another stereotype? That fear is real and urgent. That fear being left behind is not just felt by young black boys from Dorchester,

It cuts across neighborhoods and demographics. It's our seniors on fixed incomes, our small business owners trying to hang on, our young adults wondering if they can afford to stay, and working class families who keep figuring out day in and day out. You can hear it in Eastie, Hyde Park, South Boston, Chinatown, Mattapan. Different communities, same fears. Boston can and must be the place where no one is written off. where everyone can see your future and where systems we build pull in the same direction. Structural equity means changing conditions, not one-off moments. It's about building the infrastructure of opportunity so people can feel it in their everyday lives. becoming a homeowner, trusting a school in their neighborhood, and having a job, a small business that pays a livable wage so that people, individuals, working class families can stay in the city of Boston.

When people can see a real path forward, it breeds hope, changes the choices they make, and creates a sense of belonging. That this city is truly theirs. This isn't about handouts, because I believe in personal responsibility. But I also know that systems matter. I think about a young man I met at a summer program who told me, I only know one person on my street who went to college. He didn't see it as a realistic for him until he got into a program, a program that put him on a campus, paired him with a mentor, and gave him a job that respected his time. He said, for the first time, I could see myself there. The statistics about his neighborhood didn't change overnight, but his belief did. That's what those programs did for me. They didn't erase the data, but they convinced me that the data didn't have the last word on my life. It's never one thing. It was a combination.

Family, discipline, self-responsibility, public policies and investments, opening up doors. Too often those pathways are a lottery. Our job as public servants is to build them at scale so opportunity is infrastructure, not luck. It's not enough to celebrate individual wins. We have to recognize that when we build out policies and make investments in people at scale, we change lives across generations. We are the legacy of leaders who fought, organized, and legislated for the representation that we have on this council today. They didn't fight so we could stand alone. and celebrate progress at the margins. They fought so we could stand together and transform this city so that families in every neighborhood can share in the opportunity that Boston has to offer. Our job now is to match the presence and to let that show in how we support one another.

Representation matters, results matter, and residents deserve both. Colleagues, if you entrust me with this role, I want a presidency that amplifies your work. A strong, independent council is good for every councilor and every constituent. That means matching your passions and skills with real responsibility. I want committee chairs leading in areas where they're already doing the work. Whether that's schools, housing, public safety, small business, transportation, climate, and to continue to increase capacity within our beloved central staff. Your constituents should be able to see your fingerprints on all of our results. It also means a fair process. There's no alienation. Residents expect us to work together on their behalf to get things done.

Disagreement is part of the job, but no one should feel shut out of the work. And to truly be an independent, effective body, We have to strengthen our own capacity. I would love to work to bolster our council communications so residents actually know what you're fighting for and what we've been delivering on this council together. And I also support the budget staff. Shout out to Karishma. So that every member has the analysis you need to advocate for your priorities and to negotiate with the administration. That's the kind of council I want to lead. One where we share power, share credit, and show the city that this body is not just reacting to the moment, but setting the agenda for Boston's future. So now it's our turn to recreate that vision for this generation.

If we want people to believe in democracy, we have to show that it brings hope to those who feel disconnected and that it delivers with families and individuals feel it the most. Belief comes when residents see us tackling the challenges they are living with. We will continue to build an ambitious agenda and a coalition to match it, not competition for its own sake, We'll partner where possible, push where necessary, but either way we will progress. As Mel King has taught us, progress is the chain of change. that every idea clears on the first vote and that's okay. Our job is to start conversations big enough to change the city and keep adding links until they do. So I'll keep reimagining policies, institutions, and how we do the work. I carry that weight with me, not as an extraction, but as the father.

My son Elias is two and he's turning three in 15 days. He's deep in his why stage. Right now, it's why broccoli, why bedtime? We'll point to something on the table and say, what is that? But one day, those whys and whats will get bigger, and they'll start asking the same question that we ask ourselves now. Why did my friend's family have to move out of our neighborhood? Why does my school look so different from the ones in other neighborhoods and towns? And what did you do when you sat in that seat and you had the power to change it? When that day comes, I don't want to tell them how we manage the status quo, but I want to look my son in the eye, and every child in this city, and I want to tell them how we delivered, or how we fought like hell trying. I'm asking you today and every day to join me in that fight.

But if we're willing to think big and build coalitions and stay focused on results, we can use this power on this council to finally close a lot of those gaps that are in our community. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Councilmember Worrell. There are no other comments. I see one more green light on. I see two green lights on. Councilmember Breadon.

Thank you Chair Culpepper and welcome to Boston City Council. Honoured to have you among us. My name is Liz Breadon. I'm the District Councillor for District 9, Alston, Brighton. I am an immigrant from Northern Ireland, a physical therapist by profession, and I came here in 1995. Before the peace process in Northern Ireland kicked off I needed a break from guns and bombs and all of that. Some of you know my story. I grew up in a rural community in County Fermanagh, which was pretty mixed. Catholic Protestant, but it was an area of Southeastern Manor that was deeply under-invested in by the government. I went to a primary school that had two rooms. We had two teachers. We didn't have electricity. We didn't have running water.

I went to college and studied to become a physical therapist and served in the National Health Service. I wish we had a National Health Service in this country where people wouldn't be worrying about going bankrupt because they can't afford their medical bills. But I had that privilege of working in the health service following my family. My mom and my aunts were all nurses. And in 1995, I had an opportunity at the urging of a friend of mine from college who came here to work in the University of New Hampshire. And she said, come on over. There's 27,000. Vacancies for physical therapists. And I needed a break, a little sabbatical, so to speak, and I came here for 18 months to work in Boston Medical Center.

Being a physical therapist you see every aspect of life and I'm very acutely aware of the inequities and the social determinants of health having served and worked in the city of Derry as a student. It's very apparent that the inequities that we see in our healthcare system are a direct result of poverty, disinvestment, and just inequities in care across the board. I consider myself an ally for our communities of color. and it is very humbling for me to be here among you all today asking you for your support as the next City Council President. Coming from Northern Ireland I understand completely how dysfunctional elected bodies can just waste time and not get anything done for the people. That's been the case in the Northern Ireland Assembly for many years.

Thankfully things have gotten better. and things are moving forward again. What I have to offer this body as the next elected City Council President if I am so lucky to be elected is to be fair. I am deeply committed to the work that we do here as a city council. I know that every single one of us is passionate about what we believe in, the people that we support, the districts that we work for. and just the future of this city. In this very, very dangerous moment right now, we are facing incredible challenges. We have a federal government that is systematically disinvesting in our government here in the city and in the state. They make no bones about it that we are a progressive blue state and a progressive city with a progressive mayor.

And they will do anything to take us off the rails and help us, you know, just demean us and devalue us and we're not going to stand for that. We stood together with the Mayor on the plaza a few months ago, united in our support against The incredible injustice and wrongheaded policies of this administration in Washington. We have to be united. We are facing some very, very difficult decisions in this body in the coming years, the next two years in particular. We're headed into Difficult economic times. We don't know what further cuts are going to be made to our budgets, etc. But we have to work together.

And I feel that in this position as a long-serving councillor from Northern Ireland who appreciates that political difference is very profound at times, but we cannot let political difference and ideology or misunderstandings get in the way of doing the work for the people of Boston. It's incredibly humbling for me to be here. I didn't know I would be standing here this time yesterday. But that said, I am ready to lead. I feel that I bring a certain mindset to this job. I respect every last one of you for your contributions, your leadership, and all the skills that you bring to this job. I also have great admiration for all the folks that work for you, your staff and the leadership that you demonstrate every day in this body.

I really have not much else to say except that I'm very determined that we will continue regardless of the outcome of this vote. I will continue to be a peacemaker, a bridge builder, and someone who hopefully will Be instrumental in helping us go forward positively with strong leadership from all of us and a united leadership from all of us so that the city of Boston can thrive and our people feel that their voices are heard and that we will prosper and get through this very difficult passage that we're in at the moment. So thank you for your consideration. I humbly ask for your support to be your next City Council President and just thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Breadon. Councilmember Mejia, I see your light is on. You have two minutes.

I still have five. No, I'm just joking.

Councilmember Mejia, you have... Two minutes.

So I'm just so excited that we get to have this conversation and that we get to have an audience while we have it. Because the most important vote that we'll make today decides the type of body and how we're going to function. It is all about political courage at this moment. It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our independence and our opportunity to demonstrate what type of body we are going to be. The fact that Councilor Breadon just announced that she just learned that she was going to be up for this position should let us in behind the veil in terms of how politics is getting done in this day and age.

If that does not alarm you as you decide what vote you're going to make today, All eyes are on us. Are we an independent body willing to take a stand and speak up? Are we going to continue to allow other people to dictate how this body functions? That is the question. that we're all going to have to live with here after we make this vote. That is what we have to really consider. People already believe that we do not function as a collective. People already believe that we are a rubber stamp. This is our moment, y'all.

to demonstrate real courageous leadership. at a time when the federal government is trying to strip us away of our power. On the local level, this is our opportunity to stand up and rise. I threw my name in the hat Just to be disruptive because we were not going to do business as usual and here it comes down to a vote that the person who's been nominated and has accepted that nomination has admitted that they weren't even thinking about it up until last night.

Councilmember Mejia.

So that said, let it be seen here for the record how we are already setting the stage for how this council is going to lead. So just let that marinate and sink in with that.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember. Let me just look at Rule 39 again to make sure that we're following protocol. But, Councilor Breadon, if this is your And this is the only light I see on. If you're the final speaker, and how much time did she have left?

She has four more minutes.

We've got four more minutes. After Councilor Breadon, my prayer is that we'll move to the clerk to call the roll. Councilor Breadon.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. That's precisely what I was intending to ask, that we move to a vote.

Thank you. Thank you. been moved and seconded. Mr. Clerk, that you will call the roll and second it. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilor Breadon. Brayden for Councilor Brayden. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Coletta Zapata, Liz Brayden. Councilor Culpepper. Worrell. Worrell, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Breadon, Councilor Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Councilor Worrell, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Worrell, Councilor

Louijeune, Councilor Brayton, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Worrell, Councilor Murphy, Murphy, Councilor Worrell, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Breadon, Councilor Santana, Santana, Councilor Breadon, Councilor Weber, Councilor Weber, Councilor Breadon, Councilor Worrell. Worrell, Pro-Councillor Worrell. One, two, three, four, five, six.

The Clerk has tallied the votes as cast and Councilor Breadon is our new Council President. Councilor Grady. Congratulations.

Thank you everyone. I want to express my deep gratitude to my colleagues and fellow Councillors for their support. It is an honor of my life to work for the people of Boston and serve alongside all of you in the Boston City Council. It is a privilege to serve as the next It will be my privilege to serve as the next Boston City Council President. As I just mentioned, my name is Liz Breadon. I'm the City Councillor for District 9, representing Alston Brighton. And I came to the role of City Councillor as someone who had never planned a career in politics. but as someone who came to public service through community. Before I was elected, I was a community organizer in Alston Brighton.

And in this role, I learned that leadership is not about titles. It's about persistence. It's about showing up again and again, even at those times when it's most difficult. and at those times when people think you're jousting with windmills and they give no chance of winning. Today is Inauguration Day. It's a day of renewal and responsibility. And as I look out at my fellow council members today, I see a body that continues to better reflect the city that we live in. As president, I commit to work with every single one of you, district councillors and at-large councillors, to strengthen this institution, to seek to create a council culture that values expertise, debate and mutual respect. First, I want to welcome the Reverend Councillor Minard Culpepper. As Mayor Wu said in her address today,

This may be your first day on the Council but it's certainly not your first day in public service and thank you for all of that. I want to thank outgoing City Council President, Russie Louijeune, for the intention and devotion to public service she brings with her every time she steps into this Chamber. and I am truly in your debt. Thank you, Rusty, for your incredible leadership over the past two years. Councillor Julia Mejia, happy birthday. Happy birthday. Julia is famous for winning by one vote, which is also her birthday is the 1st of January, so go figure. Number one is a very important number for Julia, Councillor Mejia. She is incredibly passionate in her fight for government accountability and transparency, and I commit myself to continue that work with you, Councillor Mejia.

Murphy, I want to thank you for your commitment to Boston Public Schools and all of our families. Your leadership in the Strong Women, Families and Communities Committee over the past few years has been incredible. And I think our young people are our most important work in the city of Boston. We want our young people to have an opportunity to be able to have hope for the future. And a lot of our young people don't have hope at this point. Henry Santana for empowering Boston's youth and ensuring all voices have a seat at the table. Lesbian to be elected to the City Council. I want to thank you personally for your incredible advocacy for our LGBT community here in the City of Boston. Thank you for that.

For your stewardship of the Government Operations Committee over these past few years, you've done a really incredible job in leading that. I also want to thank you for your passionate advocacy and ongoing persistent and Insistent advocacy for climate justice and climate resilience as we face, especially all across Boston, but especially in your district and across the waterfront. Edward Flynn for your stalwart advocacy for veterans and your service to our country and to the City of Boston. I want to thank you for that. Fitzgerald, for your continued advocacy for the Kearney Hospital. I think one of the first conversations we had when you came on board was the Stewart Healthcare System was going to close our hospitals and you were right in the fight for that incredibly important Kearney Hospital. It's not over yet.

We still have to make sure that your district and the Kearney Hospital, our healthcare access in your district is improved. Improving quality of life issues in the district also throughout all of Boston in your leadership of your committees. Brian Worrell. I know this is hard. I want to thank you for your innovative approach to ways and means. and to ensure your work to ensure the dream of home ownership is attainable for more Boston residents. We see so many people being forced out of our city and home ownership is the It's a great way of rent control. But I do thank you for your persistence, your strong advocacy, and I look forward to continue that advocacy work with you going forward.

Enrique Pepén for championing public transit and working to make Boston safer for all. especially when you bring to the forefront our focus that pedestrians and little people our children and our elders and our pedestrians have to be safe on our roads so thank you for that Ben Weber, for constantly fighting for labour rights and protecting some of our most vulnerable workers. Councilor Durkan, for your unabashedly bold solutions in the housing crisis we now face. I look forward to continuing that work with you. and to all the central staff, council staff and all the city staff who keep Boston running. Last but certainly not least, I would like to extend my congratulations to Mayor Wu. I look forward to continuing our bold work to advance equity.

Affordability, climate resilience and a city government that works for everyone, not just for the loudest voices or the most resourced interests. I also want to recognise our elected officials who are with us this afternoon. I want to just go back a little bit to Alston Brighton is a place of constant change and deep roots. It is a neighborhood of renters and homeowners, students and seniors, long-time residents and newcomers. It is a neighbourhood that helps Boston's economy and cultural life, yet so often finds itself treated as an afterthought when decisions are made downtown. Whether about transportation, infrastructure, housing or public services. I have folks who come to me and argue that Brighton is not in the City of Boston. Go figure.

As the president of this body, I intend to change that, not just for Alston Brighton, but for every neighbourhood that is felt overlooked and undervalued. Because citywide leadership does not mean flattening our differences. It means recognizing them, respecting them, and ensuring that every neighborhood has a real voice in shaping Boston's future. In this moment, we must govern with real urgency At the federal level, we face deep uncertainty, attacks on democratic norms, on civil rights, on a social safety net that so many Bostonians rely on. In this context, cities matter more than ever. Boston must continue to lead by protecting immigrants, by advancing racial and economic justice, by investing in public education, by treating housing as a human right, and by standing firmly by our LGBTQ+, Equality, Reproductive Freedom, and the Dignity of All People.

The Council is a citywide body. Our responsibility is to the entire city and our accountability is to the people who sent us here. We are elected by hundreds of thousands of voters across Boston's neighbourhoods and with that mandate comes duty to govern transparently, collaboratively and with integrity. As the first openly gay woman to serve the President of the City Council, I do not take lightly the responsibility of representation. But representation alone is not enough. What matters is that we do what we do with the power that has been entrusted to us. In closing, I believe deeply that when we share responsibility of governing, we share in its success. I am grateful to my colleagues for their confidence, to my family and loved ones for their unwavering support. and to the residents of District 9 for believing that their neighbourhood deserves a stronger voice in City Hall.

Together with the City Council and the members of the Mayor Wu's administration, I'm confident that we can meet them this moment, strengthen our democracy and continue building a Boston that truly works for all. Thank you. We will now continue with reports of public officers and others. Mr. Clerk, would you please read dockets 0103 through 0111.

Docket number 0103, notice will receive from the mayor of her absence from the city Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 at 2.55 p.m. Returning Saturday, December 27th, 2025 at 5 p.m. Docket number 0104. Notice received from the city clerk in accordance with Chapter 6. of the Ordinances of 1979, relative to action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of April 9th, 2025. Docket number 0105, notice received from The City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the Mayor and papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of October 29, 2025. Document number 10106, notice received from the city clerk.

in accordance with chapter six of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor and papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting of November 5th, 2025. Docket number 0107. Notice received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of December 3, 2025. Talking about 0108. Notice received from the city clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon. by the City Council at its meeting of December 10, 2025. Document number 0109, notice received from Nicholas Aranello, assessing commissioner of the appointment of Benjamin Stratter. as an assistant assessor effective December 6, 2025.

Document number 0110. Notice was received from Nicholas Aranello, assessing commissioner of the appointment of Jeffrey Moretta. as an assistant assessor, effective December 29th, 2025. In docket number 0111, communication was received from Evandro Carvajo, Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency regarding an update on the cases reviewed and adjudicated by the Boston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division.

Thank you, Mr Clerk. Before I go on, I didn't have the list of our elected officials who were in attendance. Honored to have Mayor Ray Flynn with us this afternoon, Councillor Modica, Councillor Zakem, and Representative Holmes. Thank you for being here. and Councillor Yancey. Thank you. We're now on to motions, orders and resolutions. Oh yes. Thank you. Dockets 0103 through 0111 will be placed on file. We're now on to motions, orders, and resolutions.

Per Rule 39, a lead sponsor may have the floor for three minutes when the new file docket is introduced. Co-sponsors may have the floor for two minutes. Mr. Clerk, would you please? Would you please read docket 0-1-1-2?

Docket number 0-1-1-2. Councillor Murphy offered the following. Order for a hearing regarding parking access for travelling Boston Public Schools employees.

Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. As some of us may know, many of our Boston public school employees, including especially our special education teachers, related service providers, specialists, and support staff travel to multiple school sites throughout the city each day as part of their professional responsibilities. These traveling employees play a vital role in providing equitable access to education, ensuring that students across neighborhoods receive the specialized instruction and services they need. Currently BPS provides a limited number of parking passes to employees who must travel between school sites and some employees as we know have incurred Significant parking fines, which is a personal cost and also a lack of time wasted during the day trying to get around and spending most of their time looking for a parking spot.

Supporting our traveling educators, not all of our VPS teachers, but those who have to travel between schools to provide services to our students on IEPs. I believe deserve equitable access to parking Thank you Councillor Murphy.

Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Is anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Weber, Councillor Coletta, Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, and please add my name. Sorry, Councillor Worrell and Councillor Pepén. Thank you. Docket 0304 will be referred to the committee. 0112 will be referred to the Education Committee. Oh, the Committee of the Whole until such times as we have committees. Thank you. Okay. Okay. President, thank you. The chair recognizes, are we going?

What's the next docket? 0113. Councillor, Mr. Clerk, would you please read docket 0113?

Docket number 0113, Councillor Murphy offered the following. Order for a hearing to examine Boston Public Schools closure and merger actions related to the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years and transparency in the long-term facilities plan.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I would like to add Councillor Flynn as an original co-sponsor.

Seeing no objections, Councillor Flynn is added.

And I'd also like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Meagher as a third sponsor.

Councillor Meagher is so added. Thank you.

Thank you. BPS advanced a series of school closures, mergers, and grade reconfiguration proposals beginning in January 2025. with implementation timelines extending through the 26-27 and 27-28 school year. The Boston School Committee has voted on multiple closures and merger actions during 2025 and additional decisions affecting school communities continue to be brought forward as part of this process. In January of 2025, I filed a hearing order along with Councilor Worrell seeking oversight and transparency regarding the Boston Public Schools closure plans and its long-term facilities planning. in good faith and with the expectation that the administration and the school department would provide clear, timely, and transparent information to the city council and to the public.

That hearing that was filed 12 months ago did not occur during the previous Council term despite continued closure and merger announcements, growing concern from affected school communities, and repeated documented efforts by my office to have the matter scheduled before the appropriate committee. I regularly receive calls, emails, and requests for advocacy from students, families, educators, and school communities when school closures and mergers are announced. and City Councilors must have access to clear, complete and accurate information in order to effectively respond, advocate and serve as a bridge between the school department and the public. I acknowledge that BPS faces real fiscal and operational challenges including declining enrollment, the conclusion of one-time federal ESSER funding, and the responsibility to manage aging facilities and public resources.

This hearing order is not intended to challenge whether long-term facility planning is necessary, but rather to examine how decisions regarding school closures and mergers are being made, communicated, and justified. Families, educators, students, and community members have raised concerns about limited transparency, unclear criteria, and insufficient public engagement prior to and following closure and merger announcements. BPS is required as part of its agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and implement a comprehensive long-term facility plan. While BPS has referenced enrollment projections, building conditions, and utilization metrics, the public and the City Council have not yet been provided with a complete, clear, and articulated long-term facilities plan.

I'm looking forward to having this hearing and the appropriate committee as soon as possible and as the previous hearing order that I filed I would hope as the new council president you help make sure that that gets Murphy.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Councillor Murphy for taking the lead on this. And I also want to acknowledge Councilor Mejia for her long time advocacy of BPS students and families across the city. I think this is an important discussion. an important hearing. I've received like probably almost all my colleagues received a lot of calls from BPS parents and teachers asking what the city council is doing or is there an opportunity to Hear the voices of those impacted schools, giving them an opportunity to tell about their school and why it should stay open or it shouldn't stay open. But I don't think they really had that opportunity here at the Boston City Council. That's why this hearing

is critically important and most of our students or a high percentage of our students are students of color. I think their families deserve an opportunity to be heard and to be respected here at the Boston City Council. Thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you Councillor Flynn. Councillor Mejia you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to my colleagues for their fierce advocacy. I just want to note what it looks like when you can work across different political ideologies You know, Councilor Murphy and Councilor Flynn tend to lean more on the conservative side, and I'm on the far left of the progressive side. But when it comes to issues that impact the residents that I serve, I know how I can reach across the aisle and work in collaboration with this body to make sure that we're advocating and fighting for our constituents, especially in the Boston public schools. So I'm really happy to join you in this hearing order. and again, I'm gonna make another call out and reiterate how important it is for this body in this iteration of this body that we are going to be under your leadership, Councilor President Breadon, that we are able to actually have real conversations here on the City Council

hosting public hearings, bringing in the administration, and doing our jobs. I am really looking forward to whoever gets assigned as the committee chair. of Education to actually step into their power and lead in ways that are going to get us the answers that we need so that we can start doing the work and really Holding ourselves accountable, especially when it comes to Boston Public Schools as a Boston Public School graduate, a Boston Public School parent, a Boston Public School agitator and organizer, I think it is imperative whoever is The next education chair to recognize the important pivotal moment we have right now to host hearings and execute and do our jobs. So looking forward to making sure that this hearing is one of the first things that we hear in this term. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Culpepper, Coletta Zapata, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Louisine, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell, and please add my name. Docket 0113 will be referred to the Committee of the Whole. Thank you. I understand, Mr. Clerk, that we have some late file. We move on to late files. We have four late file matters. Four personnel orders. We will take a vote to add these matters to the agenda. All of those in favour of adding the late file matters say aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. The late file matters have been added to the agenda. Mr. Clerk, please read the late file matters into the record.

First late file matter, personnel order. Councillor Culpepper for office employees. The second late file, personnel order. Culpepper for office employees. Late file, third late file, personnel audit, Councilor Culpepper for office employees. And the fourth late file, Personnel Order, Councillor Culpepper for Councillor Pepén.

Thank you. The Chair moves for passage of these late file matters. All those in favour say aye. All those opposed say nay. The personnel orders have been adopted. We now move on to the consent agenda. I have been informed by the Clerk that there are no additions to the Consent Agenda. The question now comes on approval of the various matters contained within the Consent Agenda. All those in favour say aye. Thank you. The consented agenda has been adopted. Do we have any list? Does anyone wish to lift up the name of anyone?

Roussy-Louijeune. You have the floor. Before we move on, I'd also like to recognize Councilor Representative Worrell, who's here. Thank you for being with us.

Councilor Louijeune.

Madam Chair, I'd like to remember my good friend from South Boston, Judge Michael Flaherty, who's the father of former City Councilor Michael Flaherty, Jr. I was also close with Judge Flaherty. He's a US Navy veteran. He's a member of the same veterans post that we We were part of the Fitzgerald Post 561 in South Boston. But I knew Judge Flaherty really as Michael Flaherty, who was a wonderful man. I was close with his wife also, Peggy Flaherty. and their sons obviously Michael and John and their daughter who's a judge, Peggy Flaherty. But I wanted to highlight him as a neighbor in South Boston that was always there for the residents of my community, always giving back, whether it was through the South Boston Citizens Association

or to the South Boston Youth Hockey Program or other sports programs. You could see Michael Flaherty down at the hockey rink coaching kids, mentoring kids, also getting kids, young adults into drug treatment programs. and even when he was a judge, he'd take phone calls at 12 o'clock, one o'clock in the morning, helping people get into detox. So that's what I remember about Michael Flaherty and our prayers are with him. He was buried last week, but I know he had a lot A lot of friends and support there, and I just want to thank my fellow city councillors for remembering Judge Michael Flaherty.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you. I wanted to defer because I just wanted to also just remember Judge Flaherty. I didn't know him, but the father of a former colleague of ours, and it's important for us to Make sure that we remember him. And I also wanted to uplift Joseph Eubanks, Jr., who passed away, a big advocate in the city of Boston in Roxbury and around our city. So I just wanted to make sure that we uplift and remember Joseph Eubanks. Thank you.

Joseph Eubanks? Joseph Eubanks. E-U-B-A-N-K-S. E-U-B-A.

Thank you. Murphy you have the floor.

Thank you. I want to uplift also, but I won't refer to him as Judge Flaherty. I'll refer to him as Big Mike because I first met him when I had his grandchildren in class in Eller and Jack. Michael's kids were very proud to invite their grandfather in for career day and it was one of the highlights that years, you know, 20 years later we still talk about that day Big Mike came into the classroom. So I just want to keep Peggy, John, Michael, and all their families and their grandchildren in our prayers today. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. Councillor Culpepper.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to lift up Judge Leslie Harris, one who served on the bench for many years, one who served in Roxburgh. For many years, and we want to make sure that he's lifted up and remembered for all that he did in the Roxbury community and around the city of Boston. I want to associate myself with Councilor Louijeune in remembering Joseph Eubanks, one who was a member of my church for many years. His mother was also a member of the church for many years.

Would you mind repeating those two names?

Joseph Eubanks. Eubanks? Yes. And Judge Leslie Harris. Gerard. Judge Leslie Harris.

Could you spell that last name? H.A.R.R.I.S. Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Council President. It's great to say that. So we had a hit and run, tragic. Lee in the back bay over the weekend. John Axelrod was hit. It's still under investigation, but essentially... Someone was killed in my district over the weekend and he was a well-known art collector and his dog also passed away in that moment of collision. It was intentional and I just want to uplift him and want to make sure that His collection is at the MFA. He was a huge collector of black artists and he really was an art collector who valued People who were lesser known but have become big deals in our community. And so I just want to thank him for his philanthropy and mourn with his family. It's incredibly tragic to have that happen on the Comm Ave Mall.

Wanna make sure that we uplift him. John Axelrod.

John Axelrod. Anyone else? The Chair moves that the Council adjourns today as it does in memory of the aforementioned individual, Judge Michael Flaherty, Joseph Eubanks, Leslie Harris and John Axelrod. Thank you to my colleagues, central staff, the clerk and the clerk's office, and the council stenographer. All in favour of adjournment please say aye. The council is adjourned until the body is called to meet again. Thank you.