City Council

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Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council. Viewers may watch the council meeting live on YouTube at boston.gov backslash city dash council dash tv. At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in attendance to please silence your cell phones and electronic devices. Also pursuant to Rule 42, I remind all in the Chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum.

Councilor Breadon. Here. Councilor Calera-Zapata. Here. Councilor Culpepper. Here. Councilor Durkan. Here. Councilor Fitzgerald. Here. Councilor Flynn. Here. Councilor Louijeune.

Here.

Councilor Mejia. Here. Councilor Murphy. Here. Councilor Pepén.

Santana, Weber, Worrell, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, McQuarram, Mc Because of the weather, so Mr. Clerk, if you would graciously offer an invocation. And following that, we will say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Good afternoon, everyone. Let's pray. The ringing of bells calls us to worship. The pounding of drum calls us to war. The popping of a court calls us to celebration. What is the sound that calls us to hear one another? Listen, listen carefully. It is here in the silence. Listen deeply. The beating of our own hearts calls us to ourselves. Call us to be our true selves. Call us to be our best selves. Call us to be what we might become. Listen, there is another sound. The breath of our neighbors call us outside ourselves. Call us to be companions. Call us to be allies. Call us to be partners. Listen, we must heed the call of our own hearts, where love and truth, caring and justice are born. Listen, we must heed the call of others to gather together with some great purpose, where passion

and Fidelity, Compassion and Equity are nourished. The hammering silence calls us together, that we may do the work we cannot do alone. Let us heed the calls that come in the silence. may be well and do good together for all of Boston. Amen.

America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We are now on to presentations. Councillor Culpepper, do you have a presentation to make? Yeah, come on up. Councillor Culpepper, if you bring your presentation, Black Men and Boys Commission, if you want to come on up and make your presentation.

Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon to all of my council colleagues. Today I rise to proudly present this resolution Recognizing the Boston Black Men and Boys Commission for its leadership, advocacy, and ongoing commitment to advancing equity, opportunity, and outcomes for black communities across our city. The work of the commission is not just important, it's essential. At a time when far too many black men and boys continue to face systemic barriers in education, employment, public health, Public Safety, this body has remained steadfast in its mission to ensure that their voices are heard, their challenges are addressed, and their potential is fully realized.

Through thoughtful policy recommendations, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, the Commission has helped shine a light on disparities, which actively working toward solutions and that create meaningful pathways to success for future generations. As we honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, it is especially fitting that we take this moment to recognize the Commission's unwavering commitment to uplifting black communities and inspiring positive, lasting change here in Boston. Their work reflects the legacy of those who came before us, leaders who demanded justice, expanded opportunity, and worked tirelessly to ensure that progress was not promised to some but delivered for all. I would like also to take this opportunity to recognize some of the dedicated members of the Commission

whose leadership continues to move this work forward, including the Chair, Madre Goode, and you'll hear from him in just one second, Richard Claytor is not here, Hassan Muhammad, Jackie Dean, Tony Brewer, Tito Jackson, former city councilor, and all of the commission members whose service and advocacy make a difference in the lives of Boston's residents each and every day. Because of your efforts, we're building it stronger. Because of your efforts, We are building a stronger, more inclusive city, one where black men and boys are not only supported, but empowered to thrive. Just a reminder, the Black Men and Boys Commission is having a ball this Friday. A ball that all of you counselors are invited to.

This Friday in honor of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. On behalf of my colleagues on the Boston City Council, we extend our sincere congratulations and our best wishes for your continued success. I'd like to read this resolution now, and then Chairman Madry Good will come up and bring remarks. City of Boston and City Council, Official resolution presented by Councilor Menard Culpepper. Be it resolved that the Boston City Council extends its congratulations to the Black Men and Boys Commissions in recognition of the Commission's leadership Advocacy, and ongoing commitment to advancing equity, opportunity, and outcomes of black communities. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, we recognize this commission for its unwavering commitment to uplifting black communities

and inspiring positive change. And be it further resolved that the Boston City Council extends its best wishes for the Commission's continued success that this resolution be duly signed and has been duly signed by the President of the City Council and attested to a copy thereof, transmitted by the Clerk of the City of Boston. Chairman Madry, the mic is yours.

Let me first by thanking you, Council, Culpepper. This is an honor and a joy to do this work on behalf of the city. I want to thank the Mayor, the Office of Black Male Advancement. I just want to acknowledge Frank Farrell, the Executive Director, who's been here since the inception. I had the pleasure of working with folks in this room. I want to thank all you counselors. You've all been supportive of our mission from day one and really look forward to the ball on Friday if folks can attend. And just want to say thank you on behalf of all the commissioners and most importantly the community. The community has embraced us. The community has supported us. The community has challenged us. And so it is a loved relationship. And we are here to support on behalf of the community and appreciate all the support that you've given us. and if we can do anything to support you please let us know and happy Black History Month. Thank you.

Would my colleagues like to come up for a photograph? You can stay up here and let everybody else go.

As the president has spoken.

Thank you everyone.

Mr. Clerk, could you please amend the attendance to reflect that Councillor Coletta Zapata is present? Now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of February 11th, 2026. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The minutes of the February 11th meeting are approved.

Dr. Number 0377, a message in honor of authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $189,000 in the form of a grant, the Solar Recommissioning Project Grant awarded by the Mass Department of Energy Resources. to be administered by the Environment Department. The grant would fund the replacement of existing inverters with newer models, the incorporation of rapid shutdown modules to meet safety regulations, The replacement of the monitoring system and proper redressing of wiring.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0377 will be referred to the committee.

Oh, Councilor Worrell, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. This is a small dollar amount grant from the Department of Energy Resources that will allow the city to recommission existing solar arrays on three city-owned buildings. The Archives Building, which will receive $126,000, which I'm sure the city clerk will be happy about, Boston Latin Academy, which will receive $56,000 of the grant, and Dearborn STEM Academy which will receive $7,000. These funds will replace aging inverters, upgrade safety equipment with rapid shutdown modules, improve wiring and install a modern web-based monitoring system so we can ensure these systems are operating efficiently and reliably. This work strengthens Boston's Climate Action Plan

improves our green energy infrastructure, supports our 2050 carbon neutral goals, and even provides educational values for our students learning about renewable energy technologies. The vendor is expected to be selected by April and the work to begin this summer. As chair of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency, and Parks, I would like to request suspension and passage of this docket. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell. The Chair of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks sees suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 0377. All those in favour say aye. All those against say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0377.

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Durkan. Yes. Councilor Durkan. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Mejia. Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy? Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén? Yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana? Yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Weber yes and Councilor Worrell yes. Docket number 0377 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0378?

Docket number 0378, messaging on authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $20,930 in the form of a grant. The El Centro Fellowship Grant awarded by Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston to be administered by the Department of Innovation and Technology. The grant would fund the fellowship program Foyle Central IT Training Program graduates.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0378 will be referred to the Committee on City Services. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0379? 20380. Dr.

Number 0379, message transmitting certain information under Section 17F regarding Costs of out-of-district vocational placements for Boston resident students, document number 0297, passed by the City Council on February 4th, 2026, and document number 0380. Message transmitting certain information under Section 17F regarding traveling Boston public school employees and parking access needs. Docket number 0298 passed by the City Council. on February 4th, 2026.

Thank you. Docket 0379 to Docket 0380 will be placed on file. We're now on to reports of public officers and others. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0381 through 0386?

Docket number 0381, notice received from the mayor of her absence from the city. from Thursday, February 12th, 2026 at 7 a.m., returning Sunday, February 15th, 2026 at 12 p.m. Document number 0382, notice received from the mayor of absence from the city from Monday, February 16, 2026 at 9 a.m., returning Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 6.30 p.m. Docket number 0383, notice received from the 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 February 11th, 2026, document number 0384. Communication received from the City Clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding proposed minor modification to the Washington Park Urban Renewal Plan.

Project Number Mass R-24 with respect to Parcel L-19, Docket Number 0385, communication from Council Flynn regarding temporary rollback of inclusionary development Policy Percentage for five years and document number 0386, communication received from the Office of Black Male Advancement of the report entitled Black Male Advancement Impact Report 2025.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket 0381 through Docket 0386 will be placed on file. We are now on to matters recently heard. There were no hearings on Monday and Tuesday due to council closure. So dockets 0200 and docket 0166 will remain in committee. We are now on to motions, orders and resolutions. A reminder that under Rule 38, remarks on new matters not up for a vote today should be limited to three minutes for the lead sponsor and two minutes for the co-sponsors. For resolutions or any other matters being voted on, remarks will be limited to three minutes for the docket sponsors and two minutes for any other councillor wishing to speak. For refiled matters, I kindly ask that councillors limit their remarks to no more than one minute and co-sponsors defer to the lead sponsors for remarks. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read docket 0387?

Dr. Nema 0387, Councilors Coletta Zapata and Louijeune offer the following, an ordinance establishing the Boston Emergency Relief Fund.

Councillor Zapata, Councillor Coletta Zapata, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to respectfully ask to suspend Rule 12 and add Councillor Worrell as a original co-sponsor.

Seeing it here, no objections. Councillor Worrell is added as a third co-sponsor.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Today I rise to introduce the Boston Emergency Relief Fund, which is a first-of-its-kind fund and standardized process to support residents in the very worst moments of their lives. When a family loses their home to a fire or building collapse, they are not thinking about forms or bureaucracy. They are thinking about where their children will sleep that night, how they will replace medication, clothing, or food. And as housing stabilization dollars dwindle and rents continue to skyrocket, the gap between emergency response and long-term recovery has only widened. Too often, landlords do not meet their legal obligations. I have personally witnessed landlords present on scene Only to disappear once they are informed they are required to secure or pay for lodging never to be heard from again. Families are left navigating trauma and displacement alone.

and too often bringing these landlords to court is not sufficient enough to ensure that these folks have a stable recovery. Through conversations in this council and with the administration and the Red Cross, we learned that while families may receive limited emergency funds or temporary shelter if they qualify, Rising hotel costs and depleted emergency assistance resources means that support often runs out far too quickly. This ordinance was shaped by the community, by families who have experienced displacement, by grassroots organizations who have mobilized mutual aid in the absence of a formal system, and by service providers who told us clearly We need a standing, predictable mechanism to respond. After multiple conversations in this council about fire response, housing instability, and trauma-informed recovery, it is time to move from words to action through legislative work. Importantly, this filing does more than create a fund.

It creates the legal framework for the city to actively pursue and deploy diverse funding streams. It authorizes the acceptance of federal and state grants, private foundation support, corporate and individual donations, and ensures those dollars are held in a dedicated account that can be expended efficiently and transparently. It establishes governance and reporting requirements to guarantee accountability while allowing rapid deployment when emergencies strike. This is about filing critical gaps for essential needs, first month's rent, temporary lodging, clothing, food, so families can stabilize quickly and with dignity. We are deeply grateful for community organizations like East Boston Mutual Aid, the East Boston Social Centers, and so many others across the city who have shown us how to do this and do it right. What this ordinance makes clear is that every community deserves that same stability regardless of what their capacity is to self-organize or fundraise in a crisis.

I look forward to reviewing this collaboratively with the administration and my colleagues to ensure Boston has a reliable, equitable system in place when our residents need it the most.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councilor Coletta Zapata for your work here. I think this is incredibly important. During my first term, we held the hearing on emergency response to specifically fires based on experience in my short time as a city councilor. of people experiencing fires and the trauma, the financial trauma, the emotional, mental trauma based on my experience as an attorney representing people who were in difficult living situations and experienced a fire. Thank you for bringing us to the next steps that we can have this fund established. At our hearing, we heard from other cities like Cambridge who already have a fund like this. So it's important that we are able to start this up. unfortunately experienced just right now as I'm sitting, got a text from someone about how they experienced a fire when they were younger and have a lot of lived experience on how we can be better prepared as a city to respond. and so looking forward to the work in getting us past the line here. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Louijeune. Councilor Worrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councilor Coletta Zapata and Councilor Louijeune Working on this all together and just want to just shout out some of the great CBOs that have worked with me in the past to stand up emergency relief funds when many of my residents were going through displacement, the Boston Project Ministry. This work should not fall solely on our community-based organizations. It's something that the city should take on. So I'm looking forward to working with you on establishing this fund to make sure that That relief is there for those when they're going through some traumatic instances. So thank you and looking forward to continuing this work.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell. Would anyone like to add their name? Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber. Please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0387 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, can you please read Docket 0388?

Document number 0388. Councillor Coletta Zapata offered the following in Ordinance Modernising and Increasing Transparency at the Zoning Board of Appeal.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognises Councillor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor.

President, may I ask that docket 0388 and 0389 be read together by the clerk? Pardon? May I ask that docket 0388 and 0389 be read together? Read together?

Okay.

Thank you.

Mr. Clerk. Document number 0389. Councilor Culetta Zapata offered the following petition for a special law relative to an act relative to the Zoning Board of Appeal.

Thank you. Coletta Zapata, you have the floor. Thank you so much, Madam President. Today I rise to, excuse me, and may I also ask that Councillor Santana be added as an original co-sponsor?

Councillor Santana is added as a second co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Today I rise to reintroduce a two-part revised legislative package.

This is a reintroduction of a two-part revised legislative package to modernize and strengthen the Zoning Board of Appeals, which is an entity that has enormous influence over housing production, neighborhood character, and equitable development over our city. The first is a city ordinance that strengthens transparency, ethics, and accountability. It modernizes operations by requiring a searchable online database, improved public notice, email subscription systems, translation access, and a neutral in-person guide to help residents, especially those without attorneys, so they can meaningfully participate. It also mandates biannual public reporting on variances by neighborhood and zoning district and requires annual hearings before the council to increase oversight. It also strengthens conflict of interest standards expands disclosure requirements and requires comprehensive ethics trainings for members and its staff. Back in 2019, then Mayor Marty Walsh introduced an executive order, and a lot of what is in this ordinance

without speaking to the council oversight piece was included in that executive ordinance, excuse me, that executive order. It is now being put into law or hopefully being put into law through this ordinance. The second docket is a home rule petition, which enables us to rebalance and broaden representation on the board. It adds seats for an environmental protection expert, an urban planner, and critically, a renter. alongside representation from the trades, real estate, architects, and neighborhood organizations. So there's already been a lot of back and forth on this with the administration. I really look forward to moving this forward, seeing that we have done a lot of work on it. and again look forward to collaboration and partnership with my colleagues. Thank you.

Thank you Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Santana, the second docket is a refile is my understanding so you have the floor for two minutes.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to my colleague, Councilor Coletta Zapata, for your leadership on this matter and for including me as an original co-sponsor. Our city's institutions, especially those with as much tangible impact as a zoning board of appeals, needs to be transparent, promote public confidence, and ensure that our residents are informed about how and when they can weigh in on these decisions to public comment. So I really appreciate this filing in regards to the second filing, The special law will serve to improve public trust in the Zoning Board of Appeals at a critical time. Our communities know the important ways that our zoning laws shape the way their neighborhoods look, for better or for often worse. given for important zoning issues are, our communities are looking towards the CBA, the organization that allows for accessions to these laws for impartial and transparent rulings. And they're looking for representation of a diverse interest and backgrounds

whether that representation of our renters or our climate change and environmental experts. This law is a step towards that, and I wholeheartedly support my colleague, Councilor Coletta Zapata, in her efforts to build public trust in the board Increase transparency and expand representation. As stewards of our local government, that work cuts to the heart of our responsibilities to our constituents. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Councilor Coletta Zapata and my colleagues to move this matter forward. Thank you Madam President.

Thank you Councillor Santana. We'll take these two dockets separately for those who want to add their names. Docket 0388 would anyone like to add their name? Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Weber, Worrell, Chair Would anyone like to add their name to docket 0389? Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Louijeune, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Dockets 0388 and docket 0389. 89 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read docket 0390?

Dr. Number 0390, Councilor Coletta Zapata, offer the following. Petition for a special law regarding an act directing the City of Boston Fire Department to waive the maximum age requirement for firefighters for Richard Semeca.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor.

Thank you so much Madam President. I'm seeking suspension in passage as we have done with wave maximum age Waiver requirements before on this council. I don't think I got that right, but it's an age waiver requirement. There we go. So this is for Ricky Skameka, somebody who I've known for a very long time. He's a disabled veteran. He's a local kid. He grew up in the North End. He's trying to get on the fire department and has gone through physical tests. He's gotten an ID8 on the exam. And so he's just asking for more time. He's really excited to be a firefighter and very dedicated. And so all this is is just giving him an opportunity to do just that. Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. I see, Councillor Flynn, you have your light on.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be brief. I just want to say thank you to Councillor Coletta Zapata. for bringing this forward. Any opportunity we have to support a disabled veteran in this city is time well spent. Disabled veterans deserve an opportunity to continue to contribute their service to our city and to our nation as well. This is an important document. Thank you, Councillor Cleta Zapata.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Cleta Zapata seeks suspension and passage of Docket 0390. All those in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0390?

Docket number 0390, Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper. Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell. O'Reilly. Yes. Docket number 0390 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0390 has been passed. Mr. Clerk. Can you please read docket 0391? This is a refile.

Docket number 0391. Councilor Santana offered the following. Order for a hearing regarding Boston LG. GBTQIA plus youth community spaces and their public health benefits. A refile from 2025.

The chair recognizes Councillor Santana. Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. This is a re-file. I would also like to add Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor.

Councilor Louijeune is still added. Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Docket 0391 will be referred to the Committee on Human Services. Mr. Clerk. Could you please read docket 0392?

Docket number 0392, Councilor Santana, for the following. Order for a hearing regarding Boston's LGBTQIA plus mental health data collection processes. Existing Services and Further Community Needs. A refile from 2025.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Santana. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Can I please add Councillor Durkan as an original co-sponsor. Durkan. Would anyone else like to add their name?

Please add the chair. Docket 0392 will be referred to the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness and Recovery. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0393?

Docket number 0393. Councilor Santana, I offer the following. Order for a hearing to ensure access to life-saving online resources for LGBT. PTQIA Plus and other marginalized communities in response to proposed federal and state digital censorship legislation. A refile from 2025.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognises Councillor Santana. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. This is a refile.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0393 will refer to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read docket 0394? Docket number 0394, Councilor Santana offered the following. Order for a hearing regarding legalizing construction of triple-deckers and other two to four unit housing in the City of Boston. A refile from 2025.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Can I add Councillor Durkan as an original co-sponsor? And can I suspend the rules and add Councillor Pepén as an original co-sponsor as well.

Who's the first one again?

Councillor Durkan.

Durkan and Pepén.

Correct.

Durkan is added as a second and seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Pepén is added as a third. You have the floor Councillor Santana.

Thank you Madam President. This is a refile. We need more housing.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Weber, Councilor Worrell, and please add the Chair. Docket 0394 will refer to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0395?

Docket number 0395. Councilor Santana, I offer the following. Order for a hearing regarding legalizing accessory dwelling units in every neighborhood in the city of Boston. A refile from 2025.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Can I please add Councillor Pepén as a co-sponsor and suspend the rules and add Councillor Durkan as well?

Pepén is added as a second and seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Durkan is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President. This is a refile.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Collins, Fitzgerald, Collins, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0395 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Could you please read Docket 0396? Docket number 0396, Councilor Santana, I offer the following. Order for a hearing to facilitate the creation of single room occupancy in the City of Boston. A refile from 2025. Thank you.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This is a refile.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Collins, Durkan, Collins, Fitzgerald, Collins, Louijeune, Collins, Mejia, Collins, Pepén, Collins, Weber, Collins, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0396 will be referred to the Committee on Housing and Community Development. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0397?

Docket number 0397. Councilor Santana offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss how Boston Public Schools can expand the use of evidence-based best practices for inclusive learning environments for multilingual and special education learners. A refile from 2025.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Can I add, Councillor Culpepper, as an original co-sponsor and can I suspend the rules and Councillor Mejia as an original co-sponsor as well.

Councillor Culpepper is added as second and seeing and hearing no objections Councillor Mejia is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President. Oh, I'm sorry.

It's a refile.

It is a refile. Thank you.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, oh, she's already on, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, Weber, and Worrell. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read docket 0398? Docket number 0398. Councillor Santana offered the following. Order for a hearing regarding the public safety requirements and possible locations for a new emergency. Operations Centre in the City of Boston. A refile from 2025.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

Thank you Madam President. This is a refile.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Durkan, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. The Docket 0398 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0399?

Docket number 0399, Councilor Santana, I offer the following. Order for a hearing regarding how the Boston Police Department collects, uses, protects, and shares information that may be requested by external entities. I refile from 2025.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Can I add Councillor Weber as an original co-sponsor, and can I suspend the rules and add Councillor Mejia as an original co-sponsor?

Weber is added as a second. And seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Mejia is added as a third. Does it refile? Thank you. Refile. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, and please add the Chair. Oh, and Councillor Worrell. Thank you. Docket 0399 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0400?

Talking number 0400. Councilor Santana for the following. Order for a hearing regarding all City of Boston grants administered by the Boston Fire Department. A refile from 2025. Thank you, Mr.

Clerk. Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. This is a refile. This is just so we can host a hearing and bring down the fire department and ask our questions on behalf of all the grants that there will be. Would anyone else like to add their name?

Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0400 will refer to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0401? Docket number 0401. Councilor Pepéno for the following. for a hearing to discuss parking benefit districts.

Councillor Pepén, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm renewing a discussion first started by my predecessor that comes from Rosnell Village Main Streets. Many neighborhoods in Boston suffer from parking issues specifically due to the quantity of cars, looking for parking exceeding available spots. This is to detriment This is to the detriment of our local shops, parks, and community spaces. A parking benefit district could help manage parking by monetizing parking if it's either meters to increase turnover while committing to the revenue to improve streets, sidewalks, and businesses in the immediate area. It would be great to explore these ideas where our neighborhoods are safer, easier to visit, and better for local businesses. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Santana, Weber, Worrell. Thank you. Docket 04. Councillor Flynn, did you have a question? You had your light on.

Yes, may I speak on this matter?

It's going to go to committee, so we'll be having, unless you're a co-sponsor, you won't be, only co-sponsors and co-sponsors will speak on the matter if it's going to committee. It's going to committee. Docket 0401 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0402?

Docket number 0402. Councillor Culpepper offered the following. Order for a hearing to examine reallocating funding for the Blue Hill Ave project towards streetscape improvements and beautification and to provide a status update on project implementation.

Thank you. Mr. Clerk, the Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I file this hearing order to ensure District 7 residents have a meaningful voice in shaping one of the most important of the city's corridors. While improving transit access, and we understand it's a shared goal, many residents, workers, and small business owners While improving transit access is a shared goal, many residents, workers, and small business owners along Blue Hill Avenue have raised concerns about the lack of thorough community consultation on the proposed center running bus lanes for a project that will significantly affect traffic, parking, and Daily Mobility, engagement must reflect the realities of those who rely on this corridor.

Without it, the design risks deepening inequities. Many District 7 residents depend on cars for work, caregiving, and reducing flexibility and mobility will create new barriers to economic participation and mobility. There is much more work to be done along Blue Hill Avenue corridor to ensure that residents experience the quality of life and beautification along the corridor that they deserve. This hearing will examine how decisions were made, evaluate whether equity is fully integrated into planning, and ensure that any investment in Blue Avenue serves not undermines the needs of the community. Can you imagine, Madam President and my colleagues, a center bus lane running down Blue Hill Lab during a snow emergency like the one we are in now? Madam President, I would like to ask for suspension of the rules at Councilor Worrell and Mejia as co-sponsors to this filing.

Thank you, Madam President.

Worrell is added as a second, and Councilor Mejia is added as a third.

Councilor Worrell, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councilor Culpepper for adding me as a original co-sponsor on his hearing order. I also just want to thank Councilor Mejia for your work around community engagement around having this conversation about Blue Hill Lab. Blue Hill Lab is an economic engine in my district. It is home to small businesses, families, churches, and generations of residents who deserve the same level of investment that we see in other parts of our city. During the course of this process, my offices sat through hours of meetings and conversations with residents, small business owners, and commuters along Blue Lab. We listened carefully to the feedback and have consistently supported the beautification proposal because that's what I've heard people asking for. There are over 2,000 signatures from residents who have expressed opposition to a center-runner bus lane down Blue Hill Ave. During the process, I advocated for side-runner bus lanes

A bus priority was to move forward. But with where we are today, I believe we should solely focus on what is called the beautification plan for Blue Hill Lab, which was also presented by the Boston Transportation Department. That plan also includes important safety measures for pedestrians, flashing crosswalk beacons, better lighting, more trees, and signal-activated illumination systems. I also agree with the need for automated traffic enforcement which we should continue to advocate to be passed on Bleak and Hill this session. Blue Hill Lab deserves equity, it deserves beautification, and it deserves safety improvements. We have the opportunity right now to move forward with the beautification proposal and finally deliver Long overdue investments to this corridor. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. And I want to thank Councilor Culpepper for adding me to this hearing. And I also want to thank my colleague, Worrell for his partnership alongside our office in working in partnership and making sure that we are centering the people over everyone else in regards to this particular conversation. Blue Hill Lab is a critical corridor for many of our neighborhoods. In June of 2025, we held a hearing where we heard overwhelming opposition to the proposed center running bus lane configuration. Residents were clear about their concerns while also expressing strong support for improving and investing in Blue Hill Lab. This hearing gives us an opportunity to revisit the project's status, review implementation progress, and explore whether relocating funding towards street and many more.

Our goal should be to design something that improves safety, accessibility and the overall Corridor Experience in ways that aligns with community voice. I remember back in 2022, our office hosted the first town hall alongside Bishop Borders, VOG and we did so centering the voices of community and here we are I don't know how many years later and we're still sounding the alarm making sure that the people definitely do have a seat and shaping what the Blue Hill Lab corridor should look like. So looking forward to working alongside my colleagues in doing just that.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Higa. My own? Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata. Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Santana, Weber. Docket 0402 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Transportation Development and Transportation. Are you a co-sponsor? Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm so concentrating on this. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Madam President, I respectfully appeal to the decision of the Chair to assign this to the Government Operations Committee. I believe that this issue should be assigned to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. The future of Blue Hill Avenue is fundamentally a civil rights issue rooted in decades of disparate public investment and potential for disproportionate adverse impacts on black, brown, and low-income residents within the meaning of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The hearing order itself makes clear that decisions regarding street design, transportation infrastructure, and capital funding along this corridor implicate Madam President protected classes and must be examined through a civil rights lens to ensure publicly funded programs do not unjustify

Disparably Impact, and I underlined Disparably Impact on communities of color. Madam President, I'd ask you to refer that to the Committee on Civil Rights, Equity, and Immigrant Advancement.

Hold a second.

We're going to take a brief recess.

Thanks for watching!

Is he back? Back in session. Councillor Culpepper has appealed the decision of the chair. There's a motion. Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the council? Just out of respect for the person who moved the motion, he's back. A vote shall be by roll call and it shall be decided in the affirmative unless a two-thirds majority of all members of the council is to the contrary. So, Mr. Clerk.

I think, yes, I think your time has passed, yes. Thank you. you were the seconder Councillor Flynn did you second the motion I think the motion before the body is whether or not to change the decision of the chair by assigning the docket to a different committee. So that's the question before us right now. I think we decide, we're not actually voting on the docket, we're actually voting on whether it goes to the, yes. Keep your lights on. Councillor Culpepper. One minute.

One minute, thank you. And I want to make it clear with regard to the disparate impact, because I think there is some confusion with regard to this. When you looked at The bus lane that was going up Boyoson Street, majority white area, that bus lane was pulled down because of the community that opposed it. When you look at what happened in West Roxbury, there were some issues with regard to bus lanes there. That was pulled down. I say for this community in District 7, the way they have voiced their opposition to this To not pull it down and pull it down in white areas, that's exactly what disparate impact is under the Constitution. So I ask our brothers and sisters to look clearly at where we are Don't be afraid to look at the Constitution and don't be afraid to think about disparate impact when it comes to District 7 because that's exactly what's happening now. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. One minute, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was at a public meeting at the Cotter Post in Mattapan a while back discussing this issue. Residents were very concerned about it, but residents said specifically, most of my colleagues were there, they believe this is a civil rights issue. and Councilor Culpepper highlighted the reasons why he thinks it's a civil rights issue. It's about respecting the residents but it's also I stand with Councilor Culpepper's proposal to put in the civil rights issue. because I also believe this is a civil rights issue and people in that district and people of color should have the opportunity to be heard and respected as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Yes, I'd like to rise in support of my colleague, Councillor Culpepper, having worked in this This has been an issue for many years. I wholeheartedly agree. And I believe that given everything that's happening in the political landscape and all of the racial tension that has continued to bubble up to the top, I think that we here on the Council have an opportunity to demonstrate what a collaborative leadership looks like. So I think we're debating on What committee it falls in? I think under the leadership of a black man who represents District 7, who is also a civil rights lawyer. I don't know what else to say to help

Thank you, Consul Mejia.

Councillor Weber, you have the floor.

Yeah, I'm sorry, just a clarifying question. What was the committee that it was originally assigned to? Because I think I've heard a couple. Planning, okay, yeah, thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor. One minute.

Thank you. First off, just to clarify, so if someone does question the placement of a committee, that we are all allowed to speak before the vote? Correct? Yes, would I just speak before I vote? Going forward, I just want to make sure that will always happen. Thank you. I just want to rise and thank... Reverend Culpepper for so eloquently stating why he thought it is important to switch it and I do just also want to say that many of the issues and topics we file every year As Councillor Santana, many of yours, which you are calling refiles, issues that we'll continue every year to bring up. So many times hearing orders may have been placed in committees in the past, but I don't think we always have to just use past history of where things had gone. I just want to thank you for enlightening me on seeing that it would be a stronger committee to place it in and we can always include

All departments, just because a hearing is in education doesn't mean only BPS can come and so forth. So just looking forward to having this hearing in the correct committee, which I believe is civil rights. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. The Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan. Councillor Durkan, you have one minute.

Thank you so much. If this does happen in my committee, I am pressed to have this conversation. I think it's an important one to have. And I actually think that MBTA bus riders getting to work faster is an important issue in transportation. And so I think there's a nuanced way to have this conversation in any committee, but I do think basically the... I would ask my colleagues to vote yes and stand We vote yes to stand with the decision of the Chair.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. One minute. This is a courtesy. One minute.

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I think one of the reasons why I keep showing up here is because I like to be the translator for everybody who's tuning in. The underlining issue, too, here that I believe needs to be brought to light is that there's a level of mistrust, right, in terms of who's going to facilitate this conversation that impacts black people. And so because of that, and because this issue has gone on and we keep kicking down the can down the street, this is an opportunity for us to stand with community and create a real conversation and opportunity for people to be heard in ways that they're not going to be silenced or muffled. I'm going to be honest. You know what? People don't trust certain situations when they come to this chamber.

And I think that this is an opportunity for us to redirect the conversation and give Reverend Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, because it's his district in particular, an opportunity to be the leader in that.

Thank you, Councillor. Pepén. You haven't spoken. You have the floor.

Cllr. Thank you, Madam President. Following this topic in general, blue hoab, I know that has spurred up a lot of conversations in our district, especially Gary District, Councilor Morales District, and my district. And we attended the meeting last year, and I, you know, as for District 7, I do see how this really impacts your district and is probably a passion for your community members. And I was wondering if there's a way that you can reword the hearing order or amend it in a way that It could go to your committee because what's happening is that the way For protocol and the way that it's written right now, it really does sound like something that should go to the planning department, just in general. But if you were to reword it in a way, I do believe that it would be amazing if you were to chair this conversation.

Thank you Councillor Pepén. The Chair recognises Councillor Culpepper.

I'd be glad to work with you if you give us time now. I don't know whether you want to take a quick five-minute recess, but I would like to work with Councilor Pepén to see if we can come up with some language to make it acceptable with regard to going to the Civil Rights Committee.

Thank you. Councilor Worrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I support that collaboration to see if we could reword it, but if that time is not given, I stand with Councilor Culpepper on Moving into the Civil Rights Committee just because it was his sole intention as the lead sponsor to have a civil rights conversation about The investments on Blue Hill Lab and I just want to stand with the lead sponsor and what his intention truly was when writing this hearing order. Thank you.

Well, no, just a motion to table this until when we reach the end of the docket to give... We have to deal with the first motion, and then we can have another motion. It's a subsidiary motion? Anyway, okay, sorry, I apologize for the... Incorrect motion.

Councillor Culpepper, would you wish to withdraw and we can table your motion to appeal the decision of the Chair and we can Bring this docket back at another time.

No, but to rewrite it, to give us time to rewrite it, rather than doing it right now today. Discussion back and forth. I'm willing to work with you to give us a few minutes. When you think about this Senate bustling issue and you think about the community and you think about the years that this has been going on and on and on, I think at some point, Madam President, we have to really bring it to the point where we, as Councilor Mejia, said have serious discussion to get this issue resolved. I think this is the beginning of getting it resolved.

Thank you.

who says he can't remember.

Councillor Culpepper, if you withdraw your motion, we can take a recess and you can rewrite. No. Okay. Hold on a second. I think we'll go back to the motion on the floor is whether or not the council shall a decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the council. So we would have a vote on that and bring it. Kuntler, Durkan.

Thank you so much and I'm sorry I don't want to be unprofessional. I would like to suggest that the chair jointly assign this to civil rights and planning development and transportation. That is something that has been done years ago. I know when When the mayor was council president, she often jointly assigned things. I personally heard my colleagues, and I think it's important that we have a nuanced conversation. I think it's also important that we have one that is based in transportation. and but also civil rights. So I think for this specific docket, I'd like to suggest that we jointly assign this and I'm really, I'll be happy to work with my colleague from District 7 on this. I think it's really, really important that we have a nuanced conversation and that it's clearly important to my colleagues that this have a civil rights lens. But I think it's also important for the transportation Department and for us to have this joint lens.

So I respectfully request that the chair do that.

Councillor Flynn. I'm going to come back to that. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. One minute.

Thank you Madam Chair. I rise again in requesting that the The resolution, the order placed by Councilor Culpepper is pretty clear. He outlined why it should be in the Civil Rights Committee. I understand it is a controversial issue. Some people may not want to Thank you very much. But we shouldn't be changing the language just because people don't want to take a difficult vote. Let's take this difficult vote and vote For civil rights, vote for human rights, vote for what's right. And that's supporting Reverend Culpepper's proposal placing it in the Civil Rights Committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Two things. One, we had many hours of conversation about the committees, which was a big part of the rules. We all agree that many of these committees overlap. My own committee has many overlap with public health and with public safety. So I do think that it's all, I mean, I know it's always up to The President to make that decision, even if some of the wording seems as though it could go into one. So I don't believe we have to change the wording, To make sure that it's safely placed, you can place it in whatever committee you want. But I do just want to respond to the Offer from Councilor Durkan, just so everyone is clear, that I already filed a hearing order this year where I requested that it go into both myself and Councilor Flynn's Committee, City Services, and Human Services. And I was told by you and the Clerk that we cannot place hearing orders anymore in two committees. So I was already denied that.

So I'm hoping that we continue to treat everyone equally going forward.

Thank you. The Chair recognises Councillor Culpepper.

With regard to Councillor Pepén, let me just read the third whereas clause in this hearing order so that it's clear that this is One of the interesting things about the Transportation Committee is that all of that can still have a disparate impact. Let me read this to you to see if it doesn't clarify it for you. Street design, traffic planning, and the allocation of public transportation infrastructure resources may result in a disproportionate adverse impact on protected classes. can still become part of what we're alleging, including black and brown residents within the meaning of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when such investments failed to address longstanding Inequities and Public Street Conditions.

And that's why, Madam President, I say that the rightful place for this is in the Civil Rights Committee. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The Chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. Councilor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think this is a really important discussion, the Blue Hill Avenue Center running bustling. I think it's important for us to talk about the sources of funding. Important for us to continue the conversation also as a lawyer, also as someone who's done a lot of civil rights work. There's a disparate impact in almost everything that we do as a result of legacies of slavery, legacies of racism. Every hearing order, therefore, if you follow the same logic, could be placed in the Civil Rights Committee. Every hearing order because if you were talking about schools, if we're talking about transportation, if we're talking about housing, if we're talking about the racial wealth, all because of the racial wealth gap and all because of legacies and centuries of discrimination, even if there's not a disparate intent, There will be a disparate impact. And therefore, if you follow that logic, every hearing order can be placed in that committee. There's a civil rights angle to almost every hearing order. And I think that it's important for us in terms of for this body to be able to logically say, this is why this hearing order is going in this committee. Who are the parties that will be called?

It will be planning, it will be the planning department, and Transportation. They are the ones who are going to be the most interactive with what the intent of this hearing order is, which is why Planning, Development and Transportation is the right committee. There is obviously a civil rights angle and I think it's really important. Thank you for consistency.

There's a motion on the floor. Councillor Culpepper has asked for a reassignment of the chair's decision to send this docket to civil rights rather than planning transportation So shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the council? Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote?

Councillor Brayden. Yes. Brayden, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata?

Yes.

Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper?

Yes. Wait.

No. Yes.

Hold on a second. The motion that's on the floor is Councillor Culpepper has asked that this doc be reassigned to a different committee. and the motion on the floor is shall the decision of the chair, me, stand as a judgment of the council. So if you're in agreement with me, and saying that this needs to go to planning transportation, then you say yes. If you're in disagreement with me and you want it to go somewhere else, to civil rights, then you vote no. Is that clear? The vote has already started. You can vote now. Yes, we're voting. The vote has already started. Please take your seats. Thank you. Councillor Culpepper.

Madam Chair, can we go back to the beginning of the vote? Can we start the vote?

Yes, start all over. One person at a time, please. Mr.

Clerk, we're going to move to a vote.

We've had a pretty thorough discussion.

Put my mic on. Thank you. Clerk, can you redo the vote? Thank you.

Council of Breadon? Yes. Council of Breadon? Yes. Council of Coletta Zapata? Yes. Council of Coletta Zapata? Yes. Council of Culpepper? No. Durkan, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, no, Councilor Fitzgerald, no, Councilor Flynn, no, Councilor Flynn, no, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, no, Councilor Mejia, no, Councilor Murphy, Murphy, no. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, no. Councilor Worrell, no. Seven votes in the affirmative and six votes in the negative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket 0402 shall be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0403?

Docket number 0403. Councillors Culpepper and Flynn offer the following. Order for a hearing to examine the status of the proposed Long Island reconstruction project and the reopening of the Long Island Treatment Centre.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you're the lead sponsor on this one.

We opened Long Island. We opened Long Island. Has long been identified as a critical component of the city's response to the opioid crisis and the need for expanded treatment. and Recovery Infrastructure. While there is broad agreement on the importance of restoring services on Long Island, there continues to be significant uncertainty around the project's timeline, the funding, Regulatory approvals and the practical steps necessary to make treatment access a reality in the near term. For individuals and families navigating substance use disorder, housing instability, Delays in expanding treatment capacity have real and immediate consequences. As the city continues to pursue long-term infrastructure solutions, it is essential that we also examine whether they are viable

Interim access options such as ferry service that could help restore treatment and recovery services sooner. Last year, this body unanimously approved a resolution in support of prioritizing of Recovery Campus for the City of Boston. Why not put that campus back on Long Island? This hearing will provide an opportunity to better understand where the project currently stands, Identify any barriers to progress. Explore alternative pathways to ensure that the reopening of Long Island does not remain a long-term goal, but becomes timely and accessible for those in need of care and support. This time, Madam President, I'd like to ask for suspension of the rules to add Councilor Fitzgerald as the third original co-sponsor to this filing.

And Madam President, I was recently in Los Angeles, and I went to what they have as the Skid Row Care Campus. Let me just say, Boston is well ahead of many other cities in dealing with these issues that would deal with mass and cash. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The Chair, oh, Councillor Culpepper seeks to suspend the rules and, oh, seeing here no objections to adding Councillor Fitzgerald, he's so added. Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Councillor Culpepper, for adding me as an original co-sponsor. As a Massachusetts probation officer for over eight years, I focused on re-entry service programs and helped hundreds of individuals and families. I know that the recovery service facility at Long Island were an invaluable tool that help people into recovery. But while we have been solely focused on the $100 million budgeted to rebuild the Long Island Bridge, we have remained frozen in place. Although we have budgeted $38 million for the campus, we have not made any serious efforts in the meantime to reopen the Long Island treatment facility or use the ferry service via pilot funds, as I called, when I was a candidate in 2017. We did not use hundreds of millions of dollars in one-time American Rescue Plan Act funding as well.

Despite the pleas of residents, civic organizations, and small businesses, we have not made any headway to open a recovery campus elsewhere in Boston. I look forward to this hearing to learn from city officials on what the current status is of The construction of the Long Island Bridge. I'm not giving up on the people in need of recovery services. This is what I did my entire life as a probation officer. And I'm also not giving up on the people of Dorchester, the South End, Roxbury, and South Boston that deserve a safe neighborhood, a healthy neighborhood, and we have to do more work on the mass and cast crisis that's facing the residents of Boston. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald. Councillor Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. As Long Island sits in District 3, I'm happy to work with my co-sponsors here and thank you for putting this forward. It was about a year and a half ago that myself and some of my other colleagues here on this council took a tour out there and got to see some of the land. I think it would be helpful again to issue that to the entire council to take a trip out there and see because it certainly would be a benefit that impacts all of our districts. But look forward to the conversation and obviously living and breathing this stuff every day. and happy to help out and lend what I've since learned about Long Island to my fellow colleagues. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Fitzgerald. Would anyone else like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Collins, Durkan, Collins, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0403 will be referred to the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness and Recovery. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0404? Dr. Number 0404, Councilors Culpepper and Weber offer the following. Order for a hearing to examine whether emergency policies for unhoused individuals in the City of Boston in coordination with Housing and Homelessness Assistance providers, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Madam President, earlier this month, the council unanimously adopted Docket 0353, recognizing the avoidable death of Carville Curry and highlighting the life-threatening risks extreme weather poses to unhoused neighbors As weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, our emergency response must be proactive, humane, and focused on protecting human safety and dignity. Passing the resolution was only the first step. The city and the MBTA must act, and we will help facilitate the discussion to ensure that solution-oriented action becomes a reality. Earlier this morning, I sent a letter to the MBTA general manager asking to clarify what the MBA's emergency weather policies are and to express concerns. I understand that

The MBTA Manager Ng prioritizes writer comfort, but it's equally important to implement compassionate policies During extreme conditions, especially when lives are at risk, I am encouraged that during the recent blizzard South Station remained open after hours and sheltered nearly 50 people, further demonstrating the right of comfort and support for those in need can be prioritized during weather emergencies. This hearing will examine current policies and assess how the city can improve coordination with partners including service providers and the MBTA. Collaboration with housing and homelessness assistance providers is critical to ensuring timely communication, shelter access and supportive services.

By reviewing existing efforts and identifying improvements, the Council can help ensure unhoused individuals in Boston have access to safe shelter and necessary during extreme weather. Madam President, I would like to ask for a suspension of the rules to add Councillor Durkan as a third original co-sponsor to this filing. Thank you, Madam President.

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Durkan is added as a third co-sponsor. Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, and thank you to Councillor Culpepper for filing this, as well as the resolution that we passed in honor of Carvel Currie. You know, this is... This is an incredibly important issue for us to work on. There are people in our neighborhoods that don't have stable housing. We need to make sure they are supported. I know we've heard it here several times. I'll just reiterate. The reported numbers are about 5,000 of our 47,000 BPS students experience homelessness every year, and every school leader will tell you that that number is likely under-reported. We need to make sure that people have access to shelters. And one thing that I'll just highlight, we have a state EA shelter in West Roxbury Thank you.

Thank you. that are there and figure out how we can advocate for those people. So again, thank you to Councilor Culpepper for adding me.

Thank you, Councilor Weber. Whoops, the chair recognizes Councillor Durkan. Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. I want to thank Councillor Culpepper for bringing this forward. independently from his advocacy had just felt like a you know emotional pull towards this issue and I have had a couple of meetings scheduled with the MBTA that they've canceled last minute So I'm now proud to be working with this caucus of compassionate leaders so I look forward to scheduling that meeting with the MBTA directly and hopefully we can get them in to I do want to say as the chair of pilot, it's actually intergovernmental relations as well. So I know that this might go to public health, homelessness, and recovery. I definitely think there's an element of potentially this going to pilot because we are going to have to compel the MBTA to show up to this hearing. And I know that when we compelled the federal government to show up,

There was a, when we compelled the federal government to show up in the postmaster, unfortunately they did not show up. That happened through the pilot committee. Fitzgerald, and Chair Fitzgerald would do a great job with this conversation as well. I just wanted to illuminate that aspect to this of we really do need to have this conversation. Get in front of these folks and I've been attempting to do so privately and maybe we have to do so publicly.

Thank you Councillor Durkan. Councillor Flynn I see your light is on. The co-sponsors, the lead sponsor and the two co-sponsors have already spoken. There's no other conversation at this.

This will go to committee.

Thank you. Well we look forward to a speedy hearing and hopefully everybody will be able to attend. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Worrell. Thank you. Docket 0404 will be referred to the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness and Recovery. Mr Clerk.

Could you please read docket 0405? Docket number 0405. Councilors Culpepper and Mejia offer the following. Order for a hearing to examine crossing guard staffing shortages in the city of Boston. and to explore strategies for improved coordination and volunteer recruitment.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier this month at our February 11th council meeting, we unanimously passed a resolution I filed to establish a crossing guard corps at the Trotter Elementary School And it really wasn't limited to the Trotter Elementary School, but we could start using that as a pilot. In researching that effort, I learned just how serious this issue is across the entire city. About one in four crossing guard positions in Boston are currently unfilled. That means too many school intersections lack consistent safety coverage during arrival and dismissal. I might say that they did recently hire a crossing guard for that Trotter School crossing, but I understand the city budget's constraints. I also know there are community members who are ready willing and able to step up to help keep our students safe. I'm one of them.

We should be looking at ways to better recruit and train volunteers to support our existing workforce while also strengthening coordination with the Boston Police Department, which plays a key role in improving posts and supporting pedestrian safety around schools. This hearing is an opportunity to better understand the scope of the shortage and figure out How the city and the Boston Police Department could work together to build a more reliable, community-driven model, one that ensures every student has a safe path to and from school. Madam President, I will ask For suspension of the rules, I add Councillor Murphy as a third co-sponsor to this filing. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. Seeing and hearing of no objections, Councillor Murphy is added as a third co-sponsor. The chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councilor Culpepper for adding me to this hearing order. Crossing guards play a vital role in keeping our students safe each day. This is an opportunity for us to strengthen coordination, support recruitment efforts, and ensure every neighborhood has consistent coverage at school crossings. I look forward to this conversation, and I also think it's really important to continue to uplift that Boston is resource rich and coordination poor. And because we have an opportunity to step up our game in that space, I look forward to having this hearing so that we can explore how we can do just that.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The Chair recognises Councillor Murphy. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I rise in support of this hearing order. Crossing guards are a critical part of keeping our students safe as they travel to and from school. And with too many positions currently unfilled, as Councilor Culpepper told us, one in four, families are experiencing inconsistent coverage at key intersections during arrival and dismissal times. That is simply something we cannot ignore and many of us are probably getting lots of calls and emails about heightened concern with the snow piles that have been around for a long time too near bus stops and for our students, our teachers and our families. This hearing will give us the opportunity to better understand the scope of the staffing shortages, examine coordination between the city and the Boston Police Department, which we know the crossing guards do fall under the of the Boston Police Department, and explore stronger recruitment strategies for both paid and volunteer crossing guards.

Student safety must remain a top priority, so I appreciate the collaboration and the work we'll do together. I also want to thank Councillor Culpepper for reaching out and adding me, but I am aware that Councillor Pepén Since he's come on to the council and it was your maiden speech and I know I've been to all of your hearings around safety of students and school buses I also know that different this year though this term if you're not an original sponsor you can't speak but it also is true and I just want the public to know that all of us attend and have the same You know, ability to speak at hearings and vote if a vote comes up. But I am going to allow Councilor Pepén, who had asked if he can be an original sponsor, Would anyone else like to add their name?

So we've... I'm sorry, we've got two lead sponsors at the moment?

She wasn't.

Oh. So you're substituting? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Murphy, I'll leave the chair to you.

I do, Madam President. I do accept Murphy, withdrawing as a co-sponsor, and adding Councilor Pepén as a co-sponsor, original co-sponsor.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Pepén.

Thank you, Madam President. Yes, thank you, Councilor Murphy, for giving me the opportunity. And Councilor Culpepper, thank you so much for filing this. I've been working on this since getting on the council. I've been speaking to the superintendent, sorry, the commissioner of BPD, crossing guards with the Boston Police Department, and trying to find ways to really elevate their positions and making sure that they're all filled up. Last time I checked, there were 51 openings for crossing gardens across the city. I know that the concerns you're hearing in District 7 are very similar to District 5 across the city. I look forward to this conversation.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0405 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0406?

Docket number 0406, Councilor Mejia, for the following. Order for a hearing on transparency and accessibility of private fundraising in Boston Public Schools.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. And before I start, I just want to note that I'm fiercely advocating to have this particular hearing order in my committee, just in case. So the Boston Public Schools is funded primarily through public dollars, yet many individual schools supplement their budgets through private funding. and in 2018 the district commissioned an independent audit of school-based accounts and affiliated nonprofits which found that about one-third of schools had a 501c3 organizations that had those schools were among the highest fundraisers in the entire district. Today, there is no centralized, publicly accessible system that shows how private funding is raised across BPS and which schools benefit. or how those funds are used.

Not all schools have the same fundraising capacity and we all know that those folks who have access to capital and networks and Proximity to Power usually do better, not just in BPS fundraising but in all areas of and in a year where BPS faces a projected $53 million shortfall, that disparity matters now more than ever. This hearing is about transparency and equity, ensuring that we understand the full financial picture so that all schools are supported fairly. And so I'm looking forward to hosting this hearing and drawing from experience from folks across the country who have found ways to of the Plainfield across districts. So looking forward to hosting this hearing order. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Oh, one more thing.

I want to thank Quest and the parents that have been fiercely advocating Thank you, Councillor Mejia.

Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper? Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, Murphy. Docket 0460406 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0407?

Docket number 0407, Councilor Mejia, I offer the following. Order for a hearing to review prevention and response to bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual misconduct in the Boston Public Schools.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Students deserve to feel safe in our schools. Data nationally shows that bullying and sexual harassment remain persistent issues through K-12 settings when incidents are handled inconsistently. The trust of parents and students are undermined. This hearing is focused on prevention and response, what trainings exist, what reporting pathways are available, how families are informed, how is data tracked, and how our repeat issues address. We're not assuming failure, we're asking for clarity. Students and parents and educators need to know that there are clear protocols, trauma informed Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. because oftentimes it seems like a blind eye is turned or things are not getting reported or addressed so looking forward to working with the district to provide an opportunity for us to learn and to figure out what we could be doing differently.

Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Murphy, Santana, Pepén, Weber, Worrell, and please add the Chair. Docket 0407 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0408?

Docket number 0408. Councillor Mejia offered the following. Order for a hearing to identify community priorities, needs, and hopes in Boston public schools.

Thank you Mr Clerk. The Chair recognises Councillor Mejia. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President.

Over the past few years, Boston Public Schools has experienced enrollment shifts, budget constraints, and major structural discussions. Families have been deeply engaged and often have shared their concerns. This hearing will create space to formally document what communities are saying they need, explore academic stability, facility investments, language access, special education, Support, Transportation Reliability, and Trust. Policy decisions are being made quickly, and this is an opportunity to slow down and listen intentionally before we restructure schools or allocate resources We should clearly understand what students and families are prioritizing right now. This hearing is about grounding decisions and documenting community input. So looking forward to hosting this opportunity to do just that.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

May I be heard?

Yes, you may be heard.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia, for filing and adding me as an original co-sponsor to this hearing order. Boston Public Schools needs a prioritized hearing, taking feedback directly from the community they serve.

Mejia wishes to add Councillor Culpepper as a second co-sponsor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Go ahead, sir. You're the second, sir.

Thank you, Councilman Mejia, for following and adding me as an original co-sponsor to this hearing order. BPS needs to prioritize hearing, taking feedback directly from the communities they serve. This hearing orders a great step in that direction. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Anyone like to add their name? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell. Please add the Chair. Thank you. Docket 0408 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0409? Stocking number 0409. Councilor Mejia, I offer the following. Order for a hearing on civil rights, constitutional, and legal implications of the Boston Regional Intelligence Center, also known as BRIC. The Associative Violence Information System, AVIS, Automated License Plate Readers, ALPR, and Participation in Federal Joint Task Forces, JTTF.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Concha Mejia. Concha Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I know that the clerk is annoyed with me. Sorry about that, but I am sorry. In case you didn't notice, I noticed it, so... Thank you, Madam President. I would like to add Councilor Culpepper as a second co-sponsor, and I also would like to suspend the rules and add Councilor Santana as an original third co-sponsor.

Councillor Culpepper is added as a second and seeing and hearing no objections Councillor Santana is added as a third as members of this council we have sworn to uphold the constitution that requires proactive oversight of the city's intelligence

and Surveillance Infrastructure. BRIC is one component. Within the ecosystem sits AVIS, the Associative Violence Information System, previously known as the GANG database, where individuals may be included in intelligence records based on associations or behavioral indicators. Boston Police Department utilizes surveillance tools such as automatic license plate readers. Over the summer, BPD conducted a trial with flock safety, and while we do not yet have a full update On that pilot, there have been documented concerns nationally about Flock as a company and about ALPR technology more broadly, particularly around data retention Interagency Sharing and Prolonged Location Tracking. These systems do not operate in isolation.

Data collected through ALPRS and other tools may intersect with broader intelligence sharing environments including BRIC and Federal Task Force. Our office has been in communication with community and civil rights organizations including the Muslim Justice League, Digital Fourth who have been researching and investigating BRICS operations for years. They have raised concerns regarding transparency, due process, racial impact, and data sharing practices. While we understand that BRICS may be coming before this body for a vote this year. This committee and that committee will be probably most likely in the Public Safety Committee intends to hold hearings. This order is focused specifically on the civil rights and constitutional dimensions. It centers the expertise of community partners who have done extensive work

on this issue so that counselors and the public are fully informed and prepared ahead of any public safety proceedings. This is about ensuring that our decisions are grounded in constitutional analysis, community expertise, and a clear understanding of the implications for civil liberties in Boston. So if y'all can't tell from the, The tone in my voice, I'm really advocating that this is a civil rights and constitutional issue, just in case.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Councilman here, for following and adding me as an original co-sponsor to this hearing order. Information shared between the BRIC and BPD with other agencies must be carefully scrutinized. to ensure that it does not infringe upon the civil rights and liberties of Boston's residents, particularly those in vulnerable communities. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The chair recognizes Councillor Santana. Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and thank you Councillor Mejia for including me in this. Looking forward to the conversation. We got to chair many of these conversations last year with my work with the Public Safety Committee. Wherever this ends up, I'm looking forward to the conversation and working with my colleagues to get the information out to residents. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Weber, Councillor Worrell, and please add the chair. Docket 0409 will refer to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0410?

Document 0410, Councilor Mejia, offer the fine. Order for a hearing to examine and modernize the Boston City Charter in advance of the city's 400th anniversary.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Boston is approaching the city's 40th, oh my God, 400th, That moment calls for reflection on how we can govern ourselves today. Boston's current city charter structures date back decades. The charter defines that power of the mayor and the council. sets checks and balances and shapes how residents engage with their government. Many residents don't know what is in or how it shapes daily decision making. This hearing is about reviewing whether parts of the charter are outdated, whether accountability gaps may exist, and what reforms could strengthen democratic participation. 400 years is a meaningful milestone and it's an appropriate time to ensure our governing framework reflects modern day Boston. So really looking forward to diving into this and figuring out how

We are really creating pathways for real co-governance structures and styles that allow us to really do our jobs. So I'm looking forward to this hearing.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Pepén, Weber, Worrell, Louijeune, and please have the chair. Docket 0410 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0411?

Docket number 0411. Councillor Mejia offered the following. Order for a hearing to explore how to amend Special law to expand access to the ballot box by removing language barriers and aligning with the language and communications access ordinance.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and I want to rise and add Councillor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor. Culpepper is so added. And I want to suspend the rules and add Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Louijeune is added as a third co-sponsor. Thank you, Madam President. Boston is a multilingual City. Thousands of residents have English proficiency. And while we passed a language access communications ordinance, the state special law still restricts certain ballots mechanisms. This hearing explores how to align state special law with our local language access commitments. This includes reviewing translation requirements, ballot design, voter notices, and removal of barriers that impact immigrant communities. Voting is fundamental.

If residents cannot fully understand ballot election materials, access is limited. This is about aligning policy with our state equity commitments and ensuring meaningful participation I just want to uplift that this issue really came to us in regards to ensuring that in municipal elections we have Haitian Creole listed in our ballot. and we have learned that upon further research it has been discovered that the last time legislation has been passed to broaden the languages on the ballots in Boston was chapter 166 of the acts of 2014, I believe. So therefore, we have an opportunity to really get up to speed and ensuring that all of our residents can actually fully participate in their native language.

Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councillor Mejia, for adding me as an original co-sponsor to this hearing order. As we explore amendments to... To expand ballot access, we must ensure that any changes fully protect language minority voters from disenfranchisement and uphold their civil rights under existing federal and local language access protection. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The chair recognizes Councillor Louijeune. Councillor Louijeune, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm good. You're good? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor... Coletta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Pepén, Worrell Thank you. Docket 0411 will be referred to the Committee on Census, Redistricting and Elections. President, Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0412?

Docket number 0412. Councilor Louieune offered the following. Order for a hearing to bring World Cup activations and Economic Activity to Boston Neighborhoods.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Louijeune. Councillor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Thank you, Councillor Breadon. May I add Councillor Pepén as an original co-sponsor?

Councilor Pepén is so added.

And may I suspend the rules to add Councilor Worrell as a third original co-sponsor? Seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Well is added as a third co-sponsor. Thank you. This hearing order is about making sure Boston delivers a truly city-wide world Cup Experience in 2026, not just the downtown one. We're really excited that Fan Fest is going to be here at City Hall. There's a lot of excitement in our neighborhood to keep on getting emails about how we're going to uplift and support people. across the city. While matches will be held in Foxborough, visitors and residents will come to experience the World Cup together. We have an army coming from Scotland. They're very excited. I've been talking to them. They're very excited to come here. But we need to make sure that we have activations not just here at City Hall but in our neighborhoods to support neighborhood watch parties or maybe at people's favorite restaurants. and to support our small businesses. This hearing order is about working in partnership with administration, with the Boston 2026 host committee and our neighborhood stakeholders to make sure that this historic moment benefits

and the entire city. And we have a lot that we can pull from. Other host cities are already giving us a good playbook for what good collaboration in all of our neighborhoods could look like. Mexico City is operating a main fan festival Mexico City's main public square, plus dozens of neighborhood watch zones across the city, explicitly framed as Social World Cup. Toronto is combining its downtown fan festival with neighborhood fan zones supported by small grants and partnerships with business improvement areas to drive foot traffic to local corridors. Kansas City is investing. A shout out to Emily, my chief of staff. Kansas City is her home. Investing in early neighborhood activations. using existing community organizations and locally curated programming to extend its economic impact. These cities are treating neighborhood engagement not as an add-on, but as an integral part of the infrastructure for a successful World Cup. Boston already has infrastructure to do so well. We have our Main Street districts who've already reached out.

We have cultural organizations. We have youth sports organizations, neighborhood associations, and they're all ready to participate if given clear coordination and support. Last term, my office, we held a hearing order on World Cup and on contracting, and we want to take it a little bit further to make sure that all of our neighborhoods are included. We've already given guidance to a lot of the main entities involved Some of the main planning of events this summer. This hearing is also about making sure local businesses, especially small, people of color owned, woman owned, veteran owned, and other businesses are positioned to benefit from World Cup related activity. Not just observe it from the sidelines. The goal of this hearing order is straightforward to help ensure that the World Cup comes to our city and that we bring the World Cup to every neighborhood. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louijeune. The chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. Councillor Pepén, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and thank you to Councilor Louijeune for having me as a co-sponsor. You know once we found out that that FIFA was going to come here to Boston and to Foxborough to play a game. And especially once we found out that Haiti had the opportunity to play here, we were like, we've got to do something about it. I think Councilor Louijeune said it perfectly, where You know, this is an opportunity for us to expand outside of downtown Boston. We have a very rich Haitian community in District 5 between Hyde Park and Mattapan, and I would love to see a FIFA watch party when Team Haiti plays here for the World Cup. I love that the state also came up with the grants to activate local businesses to be able to have the opportunity to also just have fun with this experience and I'm looking forward to this conversation and hopefully we can work something out with FIFA to expand that love of what is FIFA across our different neighborhoods. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The chair recognizes Councillor Worrell. Councillor Worrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to thank my co-sponsors on this. I'm just looking forward to the conversation. They pretty much wrapped up the excitement and the opportunity that we have. Yes, we're all looking forward to it.

Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Weber, and please add the Chair. Docket 0412 will be referred to the Committee on Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Tourism and Special Events. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0413? Docket number 0413. Councillor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss water and sewer infrastructure in Chinatown and the Leather District.

I refile from 2025. Murphy.

Over the weekend, there was another water main break in Chinatown from an eight-inch private fire pump. My staff was on scene. as they were coming out of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. And they talked to the water and sewer, Boston Police, Boston Fire, Public Works. My parents were with them and with Senator Collins as well. In 2025, there was another water main break in Chinatown causing extensive flooding. Over the last few years, there have been several other water main breaks, including a 12-inch water main break in 2023. In 2024 in the Leather District, residents complained that Tap water temperatures were reaching nearly 100 degrees and shared concerns regarding the adverse effects of high groundwater level on civil infrastructure. These are issues that we have to continue to focus on. These are nuts and bolts, quality of life issues. I'm asking Water and Soil to get more engaged, more active. I had a brief conversation with John Sullivan

Over the weekend about some issues, I'm trying to reach the Executive Director as well, but we can't ignore water and soil issues in our neighbourhoods. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Since this is a refile, it's just confined to the lead sponsor. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Pepén, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell, and please add the Chair. Thank you. Docket 0413 will be referred to the Committee on City Services. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0414?

Docket number 0414. Councilor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing on the establishment of a Committee on Civility in the City of Boston. A refile from 2025.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you Madam Chair. May I add Councillor Murphy? Councillor Murphy is so added.

Thank you. Intense partisan identity has been on the rise with people across the country. We have been left in a place where there is a large volume of issues for people to disagree with and in fact many are Disagreeing with each other in disrespectful ways, even violent ways, 80% of US adults said that Americans were greatly divided on the most important values that we face. This hearing will be an opportunity to learn from legal experts, nonprofits, residents on how this committee will serve as an example of strong leadership in fellowship. It would be beneficial to look at how other cities are working on civility-related issues. I do believe that Boston can make improvements in this regard. I think it's important that we all come together, we respect each other, we treat each other with respect and dignity, and we might disagree on issues, but we shouldn't be disagreeable. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Murphy? Oh, this is a refile also. Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Culpepper. Murphy is already at it. Docket 0415 will be referred to the Committee on Government Sorry, read the wrong number. Councilor Docket 0414 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket number 0415?

Doctrine number 0415. Councilor Flynn offer the following. Order for a hearing to discuss appropriate uses of Boston 311 and 911 emergency. Refile from 2025.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you Madam Chair. On this docket 0415, could I add Councillor Murphy? Councillor Murphy is still added. This is really an opportunity for us to discuss when to use 311 and when to use 911. Both play a critical role in the city, but it's important to listen to city officials explain why 311 is important, why 911 is important, Distinguish between the two of them when to use 311 and 911. But I think residents would find this as an informative opportunity to learn more about the 311 process, the reasons to call 911. Having said that, if you think there is an emergency in Boston, please use 911. The Boston Police will respond.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Pepén, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair. Docket 0415 is referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0416? Docket number 0416. Councilor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss the Boston 2025 crime statistics.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I add, Councillor Worrell is an original co-sponsor.

Councillor Worrell is so added.

I think it's important for this body to discuss The 2025 Crime Stouts I know the Boston Police is doing much of that work as well throughout the neighborhoods, but it would be important for us to have an opportunity to talk to the Boston Police about crime stats, crime trends, Would anyone else like to add their name?

Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Worrell, Santana, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 0416 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0417?

Dr. Number 0417, Councillor Flynn, offer the following order for a hearing to discuss Boston Public Schools' health services leadership requirements.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognises Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. Madam Chair may I add Councillor Murphy as an original co-sponsor and suspend the rules and add Councillor Mejia as well.

Councillor Murphy is so added and seeing and hearing no objection Councillor Mejia is

Added as a third. School nurses play a critical role in our schools. They are responsible for the health of our children, ensuring that they are safe, they are healthy, assessing and treating illness and or injury. Distributing medication, promoting the overall health of the school community, their respected professionals. In recent weeks, many BPS school nurses have expressed concerns regarding the recent change to the qualification for the senior director of Health Service position within the Boston Public Schools, which no longer requires candidates to hold a registered nursing license. Many school nurses have expressed concerns that this recent change and qualifications has a negative impact on their work environment, citing that being led by someone without a nursing license undermines the profession and raises legitimate concerns about the quality and integrity of health leadership within our schools.

Moreover, many are saying that this change could potentially have a direct impact on student care. School nurses, as I mentioned, play a critical role in ensuring that students with complex and significant healthcare needs can safely and fully participate in their education. This responsibility requires current evidence-based clinical judgment, sound decision making, supported by strong leadership from an experienced and highly educated nurse. Without that leadership, the consistency and quality of health services for our most vulnerable students may be put at risk. At this time, it is critical for the Boston City Council to work with and listen to BPS leadership on their decision to cut this critical qualification and the impact it has on our students or it will have on our students in the school nurse community as well. It's important that we provide the safest environment we can

and the Boston public school system and every school for every child and doing that requires exceptional nurses and professionals and we can't take away that requirement. It is benefiting Students. It is benefiting the nurse profession, and I'd like to learn more about why they cut out this requirement. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you Councilor Flynn for adding me to this hearing order. I rise in support as a school teacher for all those years and as a parent knowing that school nurses are so important. to our children's education. School nurses are highly trained medical professionals who carry enormous responsibility in our schools. They care for students with complex medical needs, administer medications, respond to emergencies, and ensure that children can safely access their education. I feel strongly when a job requires specific professional qualifications, we cannot pick and choose when those requirements matter. Standards exist for a reason. When we begin to relax them, especially for leadership position, it raises legitimate concerns about consistency, fairness, and whether decisions are being made based on qualifications or something else.

Many BPS nurses have expressed serious concerns about removing the requirement that the Senior Director of Health Services hold a registered nursing license. They believe it undermines their profession and could impact the quality and integrity of health leadership in our schools. This hearing is not about attacking individuals. It is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring that our students, particularly those with significant medical needs, are supported by leadership grounded in clinical expertise and professional experience. Our nurses deserve respect, our students deserve the highest standard of care, and I look forward to a thorough and honest discussion.

Thank you. You okay? Would anyone else like to... Is this a... Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Pepén, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Worrell. And please add the Chair. Thank you. Docket 0417 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0418?

Dr. Number 0418, Councilor Coletta Zapata, offer the following. Resolution recognizing Women's History Month and reaffirming Boston's commitment to women's rights.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I'd like to add you as a second co-sponsor and suspend the rules and add Councillor Louijeune as third co-sponsor.

Thank you, the Chair has added as a second co-sponsor and hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Louijeune has added as a third.

Thank you so much. And while women no longer have majority on this council, it should go without saying, but I feel like all of our names should be on this just because when women do well, we all do well. But today I rise to introduce this resolution recognizing Women's History Month and reaffirming Boston's commitment to women's rights. Boston has long been a center of women's leadership, from the suffrage movement to civil rights organizing to women leading in our classrooms, hospitals, small businesses, and public service today. Women are more than half of our city's population and nearly half of our workforce. They are the backbone of our economy and the heart of our communities. While we are incredibly lucky here in Boston and in Massachusetts, women still do not reflect society in positions of leadership. And this is why we know the work is not finished. Women continue to face persistent wage gaps, higher rates of housing insecurity, Disproportionate caregiving burdens, maternal health disparities, and gender-based violence.

At a time when federal protections around reproductive health, workplace rights, and civil rights are being weakened, local leadership matters more than ever. And I've said it many times before, but I have spent the better part of my career recruiting, training, and electing women to office. and that is something that I will continue to do even beyond whatever the next life is for me and I realize that it goes beyond that where we should be mentoring young women, bringing them into spaces not just in the political world but in business, and the healthcare field, do what you can to reach back and lift young women up. This resolution is both a celebration and a commitment. A celebration of the immeasurable contributions of women in Boston and a commitment that our city will continue advancing equity, protecting rights and defending dignity.

Thank you. Louijeune. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. Councilor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Councilor Coletta Zapata. Happy upcoming Women's History Month. I think what the sponsor said is Really spot on yesterday, I was on a call with a young woman, a young black woman who just talked about, she lamented her ability to advocate for herself when it came to getting equal pay and she went back and she noticed that The white male who had had a job prior to her, who had a starting salary that was much higher than hers. So I want to underscore how important it is for us to support each other, especially to support are young women who are entering the workforce to make sure that we can root out pay disparity. because it's such a big issue on the long term when it comes to women feeling secure in the workforce, feeling secure in their ability to enter their professions and be considered just as good and just as worthy.

And so may we continue to work on those issues as we're exiting Black History Month. There are so many. I always remember what Dorothy Height said about being a black woman. and being rejected in both spaces. And so it's important for us to uplift the women and the women of color who continue to push forward to try to create spaces for people, especially women of color in all spaces. So thank you and happy Women's History Month.

Thank you, Councillor Louijeune. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Coletta Zapata seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0418. All those in favour say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 0418 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0419.

Document 0419, Councilor Culpepper, offer the following. Resolution declaring February 17th as Jesse Jackson Day in the City of Boston.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

The Chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper.

Thank you, Madam President. In recognition of Jesse L. Jackson Sr., we honor a towering figure in the struggle for civil rights whose life helped shape the modern-day movement for justice, equity, opportunity in America. Reverend Jackson passed on February 17, 2026, a date that will now stand not only as a celebration of his life's work, but as a solemn reminder of the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Mentored by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he carried forward the principles of nonviolent social change through decades of advocacy for voting rights, educational access, political empowerment, and economic justice. As founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition, he created pathways for communities across the country

to demand fairness and opportunity in the face of systemic inequality. He launched Wall Street Project Economic Summit, an annual event in New York City that expanded businesses, employment, and investment opportunities for people of color, women, and minority-owned firms, challenging corporate America to end the multibillion-dollar trade deficit with minority vendors and consumers. His leadership also left a mark on Boston, particularly during the school desegregation crisis of the 70s, when he elevated the challenges facing communities of color and supported efforts towards school integration Fair Housing, Workforce Equity, and Inclusive Economic Development. Today, as the Boston City Council declares February 17th as Reverend Jesse L. Jackson's Senior Day in the City of Boston,

We honor a life devoted to justice and recommit ourselves to the work that he championed. I was blessed to call him both a friend, faith partner, mentor, leader, and I will carry forward his example of courage, and moral leadership in the years ahead. Madam President, I would like to ask for suspension of the rules that Councilor Worrell, as an original co-sponsor, and I would like to ask For suspension of the rule to vote on this document. Thank you, Madam President.

Who is your second one?

Councilor Worrell, and there was not a second co-sponsor.

Okay, excellent.

Thank you. Third, there was not a co-sponsor.

Thank you. Worrell has added as a second. Councillor Worrell, you have the floor.

Councillor Worrell Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to Councillor Culpepper for bringing this resolution forward. Reverend Jesse Jackson's impact on black communities was never abstract. It was real. You could feel it, especially in cities like Boston, as we were navigating some of our hardest moments around race, access, and opportunity. He didn't just speak about justice, he stood on it. As a son of immigrant parents coming up in the 80s and 90s, I remember hearing, keep hope alive. And for so many of us, that wasn't just a slogan. It was a charge. A charge to believe we belong. are charged to step forward, are charged to run, even when the odds and the system said we shouldn't. When he ran for president, he expanded the map of what felt possible for black men and black leadership in this country. He helped clear the path that others would walk, Leaders who came after him and leaders who are still coming. He showed us that hope is not quiet. Hope organizes. Hope runs. Hope demands to be seen.

I pray he rests in powers and his work lives on through all of us. Thank you.

Thank you Councillor Worrell. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and please add the Chair. Culpepper seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0419. All those in favour say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Thank you. Docket 0419 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0420?

Docket number 0420. Councilors Pepén and Santana offer the following. Resolution recognizing the 27th of February as Dominican Independence Day.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. May I suspend the rules and add Councillor Mejia as the third original co-sponsor?

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Mejia is added as the third co-sponsor.

Thank you. February 27 celebrates Dominican Independence Day. The Dominican community in Boston has made remarkable contributions through our city, through businesses, culture, and civic leadership, enriching our city and strengthening neighborhoods. As a proud son of Dominican immigrants, to make Independence Day as a reminder of the history that led to where I am today. Here in the City Council, we have three brilliant Dominicans representing our people. We're very proud of that. We were going to have a beautiful flag raising today, but the Dominicans do not participate in the Winter Olympics, so we decided to move that on to next week. Hopefully it's going to be a little bit less snowy outside, but I know that there's a lot of beautiful events happening this week through our community. I know Councilor Mejia is going to host a breakfast that I believe was, I'll let her speak on that, and then make sure everyone's invited to our flag raising. Next week.

Thank you. You're good. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank my Dominican colleagues for allowing me to join you all as an original co-sponsor, being on this council for I don't know, six or seven years. I've been really proud to be one of the first Dominicans elected here in the city of Boston. And I've been a beautiful thing to see Councilor Lara walk through that door, followed by Santana, and Councilor Pepén. I'm so really happy to see the Dominican community growing in political power, but as well as recognizing the contributions that so many of our Dominican-owned businesses make here to contribute to our local economy. Dominican residents are educators, healthcare workers, public servants, and small business owners, and they strengthen our neighborhoods every day. As someone who came to this country

At the age of five, leaving a beautiful, warm weather behind, and to be met here during the blizzard of 78, y'all. I was here for that, yes. It has been a culture shock. but I'm really excited to join in celebration of the Dominican independence and also just want to acknowledge that every year we host our Dominican breakfast and every year we pick different Partners. The first year we worked in collaboration with Councilor Santana and Councilor Pepén. The following year we worked with our Lawrence colleagues because they have actually the largest Dominican population lives in Lawrence. And this year, we are partnering with Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos and Councilor Ana Vargas from Rhode Island and honoring women, Dominican women in political Power Building across New England.

And so this year, due to the snow, we are postponing our Dominican breakfast to March the 13th, and I look forward to continuing to celebrate.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell and please add the Chair. Conscious, Pepén, Santana, and Mejia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0420. All in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Thank you. Docket 0420 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0421?

Docket 0421. Councillor Murphy offered the following. Resolution recognizing March 2nd as Read Across America Day.

Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to add Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Mejia is so added.

And I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Culpepper, please.

Councillor Culpepper. Hearing and seeing no objection, Councillor Culpepper is added as a third.

Thank you. I file this resolution recognizing Read Across America Day and reaffirming Boston's commitment to literacy. Read Across America Day promotes the joy and importance of reading for children and families across the nation. As we know, strong literacy skills are foundational to academic achievement, economic opportunity, and lifelong success. One of the reasons I continue to be a fierce advocate in getting up our literacy scores across the city of Boston when less than 80% and many more. Increasing reading proficiency across Boston public schools remains essential to improving educational outcomes. and closing opportunity gaps.

School libraries, public libraries, educators, librarians, families, caregivers play a critical role in supporting student literacy and access to books across the city of Boston. Families are essential partners in supporting children's literacy development and fostering a lifelong love of reading at home and in the community. Cultivating a culture of reading strengthens families, empowers children, and contributes to stronger communities throughout the city of Boston. I'm hoping that we can suspend and pass that all of the colleagues will support this after the other lead sponsors speak to reaffirm our commitment for all residents. And I do just want to highlight that Last week, myself, Councilor Flynn, and Councilor Mejia are at the library hearing about making sure that all of our branch libraries in every neighborhood has access to equitable access to Library, Books, Literacy, and so looking forward to continuing that advocacy. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank my colleague for adding me as an original co-sponsor. I'm not even sure which term it was, but our office established a literacy task force here in the city of Boston specifically designed to get a handle on the literacy rates. The last time there was a study, to measure our literacy rates. I believe it was in 2003. And so we are well overdue. We understand that literacy also is one of the things that are feeding the school to prison pipeline. We have young people who are being bounced from grade to grade, then they end up behind the wall, and those young people who and many more.

established a literacy task force here in the city of Boston, had interrupted education, and struggles to read and write even in her native language. So when we're talking about literacy, it's not just young people, it's all across the entire age spectrum. and so I think that reading is definitely essential and I also believe that as we continue to move through this work I'm looking forward to working in partnership with the district to ensure that our early Early Childhood Education efforts lead our young people away from the school to prison pipeline.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilor Murphy. Adding me as an original co-sponsor to this Read Across America Day resolution. I think it's important and significant that on March 2nd that we visit specific schools to read to the children. I've done that with the Brooke Academy School, and I plan to do it again this year. I'm not sure what schools we're going to on March 2nd, but I'll be reading with students in the Boston Public Schools. Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell. Please add the Chair. Mejia and Culpepper seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0421. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Thank you. Docket 0421 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0422?

Docket number 0422. Councillor Murphy offered the following. Resolution recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the City of Boston.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. You have the floor.

Thank you. I'd like to add Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn is so added.

I rise to ask for adoption of this resolution recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the City of Boston. This month is not just about awareness. It is about inclusion. It is about ensuring that residents with developmental disabilities are fully seen, fully valued, and fully included in every part of civic life in our city. Individuals with developmental disabilities are our students, our coworkers, our neighbors, and our family members. They strengthen the fabric of Boston every single day. Our responsibility as policy makers is to make sure our systems, schools, workplaces, and public spaces reflect that value through true accessibility and meaningful opportunity. I also want to acknowledge the families, caregivers, educators, and advocates whose dedication makes inclusion possible and whose voices must continue to guide our work.

I respectfully ask for adoption of this resolution and reaffirm our commitment to building a Boston where everyone truly belongs.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Council Murphy, for adding me. This is an important resolution to me and to my family. We have a special needs nephew, but I also know that In my neighborhood in South Boston, there's wonderful organizations that do exceptional work, and there's so many wonderful organizations across the city as well. But for example, the South Boston Special Needs and Young Adults Group They do a tremendous amount of work helping developmentally young children and adults, young adults, through various programs. But it's about, as Councillor Murphy mentioned, It's about treating them with respect and these are civil rights issues as well. We must do everything we possibly can to ensure that every space is accessible for persons with disabilities, including people with developmental disabilities as well.

It's about bringing people in. It's about inclusion. I also want to acknowledge the special education teachers in the Boston Public School System for the incredible work that they do. I know Councilor Murphy was a wonderful teacher, and I also know Councilor Mejia was involved in this issue for a long period of time as well, supporting Flynn.

Would anyone like to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell Councilors Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0422. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Thank you. Docket 0422 has been adopted. Could you please read docket 0423?

Docket number 0423. Councilor Murphy offered the following. Resolution recognizing March as National Social Work Month.

The Chair recognizes Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I rise to ask for adoption of this resolution recognizing March as National Social Worker Month in the City of Boston. Social workers are often the quiet backbone of our communities. They show up in moments of crisis, in moments of transition, and in moments when someone simply needs to be heard. Whether in our schools, hospitals, community health centers, public safety systems, or housing programs, they provide steady, compassionate support to residents across Boston. Their work is rooted in dignity, respect and a deep commitment to social justice. They strengthen families, stabilize communities, and help ensure that our most vulnerable residents are not left behind. Today we take a moment to say clearly and publicly that their work matters and that this Council is grateful for their service to the people of Austin. So I respectfully ask that we adopt this resolution today. Thank you. Yes, and I have added, Councilor,

Mejia as an original sponsor. Co-sponsor. Our office has been working in deep partnership with social workers since the inception of the work that I've been doing here on the Boston City Council. We know that social workers usually are the front lines. They're the first line of defense. When young people are struggling to access the curriculum, oftentimes it's because they're dealing with an issue at home or they're being bullied or they're dealing with other issues. And so I think our social workers definitely are a piece of the puzzle as it relates to the academic success of our students. And more importantly, they're always underutilized, overworked, and underpaid. And so I think it's really important for us

Not only recognize their work but to advocate fiercely to ensure that we can soften their workload. I also just want to uplift all of the social workers who Literally saved my life while I was growing up here in the Boston Public Schools, navigating very difficult challenges, and it was social workers that put me on the right path. So shout out to Miss Garen, who I know still keeps an eye on me. And the reason why I ended up graduating high school, I used to play hooky and go to work after dropping out of school. And I remember her sometimes going to my place of employment, which was Tom McCann's shoe store, and bringing me back to school where I belonged. And so she was the one who got my first job working at PICC. And I just want to thank her because of her.

I got to hear Liz Walker speak and that put me on a pathway to graduating high school and so it was a social worker and a guidance counselor at my school who redirected my My life and so shout out to you all for all the work that you do and all the lives that you save.

Thank you Councillor Mejia. Would anyone else like to speak on this issue, this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councilors Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the Chair. Murphy and Mejia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0423. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. Docket 0423 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0424?

Docket number 0424. Councillor Murphy offers the following. Resolution recognising Women's History Month and The Boston City Council Women's History Month Celebration.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Thank you. I'd like to add Councillor Mejia. My fellow colleague and both mothers of daughters to sponsor this resolution with me. Thank you. Women's History Month is observed each March to honor and recognize the contributions of women throughout history in contemporary society. In 1987, Congress designated March as Women's History Month, establishing a national opportunity to reflect on the achievements and lasting impact of women across our nation and within our local communities. Women have shaped the social, economic, cultural, and civic life of the City of Boston through leadership in education, healthcare, business, public service, the arts, advocacy, and countless other fields. Generations of women in Boston have strengthened families, built institutions, advanced equity, and contributed to the character and progress of our neighborhoods and our cities.

Women serving on the Boston City Council and within its central staff play a vital role in advancing legislation, conducting oversight, and ensuring the effective and equitable operation of municipal government. The growing presence of women in elected office and municipal leadership reflects meaningful progress while underscoring the continued responsibility to expand opportunity, mentorship, and inclusion for our future generations. The Boston City Council will host the 2026 Women's History Month celebration on Wednesday, March 18. in the Curly Room to recognize outstanding women nominated by all the members here on the Council. I'm looking forward to this celebration where other women-owned businesses will help us host this celebration and I'd also ask that we suspend and pass this resolution today.

Thank you. for adding me as an original co-sponsor. And I know that we're celebrating women all day, every day. While it's a month, I want you all to know, all you men out there, That every day is Women's Day, OK? Just for the record. But it is not lost on me that I was raised by a single mother, and I am a single mother raising a daughter. And it is not easy. Thank you. Thank you. But I'm happy to say that my daughter, despite it all, continues to persist and has utilized her own voice to advocate on behalf of herself and her peers.

And so we have to understand that how we show up definitely demonstrates The next wave of women who will step into positions of leadership. And I hope that we continue to create space and allow people to be as they are in all of our rough edges. that we come in all different shapes and sizes and personalities and so as we continue to create space for other women to step into these chambers we also have to remind ourselves that We have to embrace all that comes along with us. So that's all.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councillor Durkan. Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you. I was just wanting to ask, I know the docket 0418 is very similar, so was there a conversation about Rule 15?

We've had a conversation about it. I think there was some Revisions of the docket. So I think we made the decision to let it go forward.

Okay, I think they're suspiciously familiar so I don't think the council should get into the practice of voting on the same thing twice so I do object to a vote today on this resolution just to keep it clean so that there's one Women's History Month docket.

Thank you Councillor Durkan. Docket 0424 will be sent to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0425?

Docket number 0425. Councilor Pepén offered the following. Resolution urging continued funding of the MBTA's fare-free bus program.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. May I add Councillor Culpepper as the second original co-sponsor?

Councillor Culpepper is so added.

Thank you. The fare free bus program on the 23, the 28, and the 29 bus route has helped thousands of residents save money, ride more often, and spend less time waiting at bus stops. This program has been extremely popular has improved travel for the community and boosted overall bus ridership. This initiative needs to continue, and we should keep working to make the public transportation more affordable, convenient, and reliable for every single City of Boston resident. I also wanted to bring in some specific numbers of the trial from the past three years. Since the beginning of the fare free pilot, nearly 24,000 trips are taken fare free every weekday on routes 23, 28, and 29. Ridership grew by 35% in the first year, more than double the MBTA system average, and these routes are now carrying 16% more riders than before the pandemic. All door boarding has also been cut by about 20% of time.

Because of this, the 28 bus has actually become one of the top three most used buses in the entire MBTA network. and I was just on the bus on Friday. We were getting an interview and we were able to just see how packed it was even on a BPS vacation week. There were folks going from Mattapan. We got on Mattapan Square. and we rode all down to Nubian Square and there were folks getting in for the grocery stores. We spoke to someone that was going to the mosque. We spoke to someone that was going to the community health center. It's used for every single thing to think about. It's a beautiful program. Hopefully, we are looking for a continued partnership with the MBTA and the state. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Councilor Pepén, for following this resolution and adding me as an original co-sponsor. We need to support the continuation of the Fair Free Bus Program which has been an overwhelming success as alluded to by Councilor Pepén. Some of the most low-income writers who rely on the bus rely on routes 23, 28, and 29. As we consider long-term funding operations, I believe we should also look at short-term funding options like exploring reallocating available funding from the Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Plan project to sustain the free bus Thank you, Madam President.

Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I ask a question to Councillor Pepén, please? You may. The reason I wanted to ask a question, I didn't want to object to it. I'd rather take a vote, but I do want to get a little bit of information before I do vote. Could you tell us... Address your question to me and he will answer. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Can you tell us how much each month the city... is spending on this MBTA fair program. It's not free. The city has to pay the MBTA several hundred thousand dollars per month maybe. I think this is through federal ARPA money. I just want to ask Councillor Pepén if he has an idea of some of the funding.

Councillor Pepén, do you have that information? You have the floor.

Yes, Madam President. Through you, to respond to my colleague. So every single month this is funded by ARPA funds, which we know it's coming down to an end. It's about $300,000 an estimate per month, which is why we want to collaborate with the MBTA and the State to look at all the ways we can fund this project. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you. I'm definitely prepared to vote yes on this today. I do think it's important we have a conversation about cost. But I understand that it has been extended through the summer, and I really support that. I think that some of the areas of highest bus ridership have already been prioritized by the administration, particularly I had an experience where my phone died and the 28 bus was my only way home and I only had tap pay. It was a very crazy situation. I was at a meeting in Roxbury and the 28 bus got me where I needed to go. So I know how important it is to have these conversations around costs, but I think it's important that this is really a policy issue that

is really about equity and it's really about how do we have this conversation of who rides buses and how do we get people, how do we create opportunity So I'd be thrilled to also have a hearing on this matter because I think it's really important, but I'm prepared to support this today.

Thank you. Anyone else like to speak?

Just adding up the figures, it's almost $4 million we are spending on this bus route. Maybe $3.6 million, I should say. I don't know how many years it's been ongoing. Again, it's federal money. That federal money is almost over. During this budget process, I'm sure that issue will come up and we'll try to figure out a way forward. But I do think it's a lot of money to spend when we're cutting the budget of the public schools I would like to see a bus program that really captures much more of the city but more low-income residents or seniors and maybe plan it that way. I do know some residents in my district, especially in Villa Victoria or Ruth Barclay have asked me

About advocating for them, so I do want to advocate for my constituents as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councillor Louijeune. Councillor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Thank you. I rise in support of this resolution. I think it's really important that we sort of look at the data and what the data has shown is that our most vulnerable, our most low-income are the folks who use this route, the 23, the 28, and the 29. And I also think the data on sort of the time saved by not having to pay, by trying to shuttle the bus along. Little Avenue is also really important data. It is so important that our working poor, my family members depend on the 28, jump on the 28 to go to work, to go to school, to go to their jobs, that this has been An important addition, and you hear it if you're talking to folks who are riding the bus. Unfortunately, too often the people who are in that we are naturally conversing with, the folks who are sometimes at meetings, are not necessarily the ones who are the Poor folks who are riding this bus, the 23, the 28, and the 29. So I think it's incredibly important.

It's really rich data that shows what happens when you invest in public transit as a public good, which it is and which we need to continue doing. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louijeune. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Culpepper.

Madam President, I would like to take note of the comments that the Mayor made with regard to this free bus program and continuing it. And one of the points that she made that really stood out to me was that these families have about $20 extra to use to buy food and use for other needs in their homes. because of this free bus program. So I think when we look at this we should work hard to find a way to keep the free bus program running past June. Thank you Madam President.

Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy. Weber, Santana, Worrell, and please add the chair. Councilors Pepén and Culpepper. Seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0425. All those in favour say aye. All those opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0425. Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata.

Yes.

Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan.

Yes.

Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn.

No.

Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0425 has received 12 votes in the affirmative and 1 in the negative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0425 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0426?

Docket number 0426, Councilor Louijeune, offer the following. Resolution and recognition of independence, the independence of Ghana on March 6, 1957.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This is a resolution that I'm seeking suspension in passage recognizing the independence of Ghana, the first free African Nation in Sub-Saharan Africa that gave the world so much. Under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, this happened, and Ghana and its diaspora has given so much to the city of Boston, to the country, but also when Ghana became independent, it really helped spark the liberation movements for a number of countries in Africa, and it also helped Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame, Agnere, so many carried forward, Alea Paul, Sengat Sandor in Senegal, Amical Cabral in Cape Verde, Angola and Guinea-Bissau. There are so many who carried forward the torch of liberation and doing the work of Pan-Africanism. because of Ghana.

Its rich history predates colonization, even though what we're marking is its independence. But there's so much rich history when it comes to the Ashanti Empire. the Kingdom of Dagbon, whose resistance colonial domination reflected a long-standing commitment to sovereignty and self-determination. And so they adored a number of different European colonizers, But Ghana today, and I've had the pleasure of traveling there, is a country in West Africa and Africa as a whole that is a model for stability, is a model for peace, and is a model for continued leadership in West Africa and in the entire continent. We have a rich Ghanaian population here. This will not be our first or second or third or fourth time raising the Ghanaian flag here. I want to thank the Ghanaian community that has reached out to us to make sure that This could happen and was happy to be involved in the last few years.

We also know that Ghana is one of the countries that is playing in the World Cup here in the city of Boston, well, in the greater Boston area, and we're excited to Welcome the Ghanaian community here in the City of Boston. We'll be raising the flag next Friday at 10 a.m. with this resolution, and I hope my colleagues can join in support and can join in passing and supporting this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louijeune. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillors, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Councilor Louijeune seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0426. All in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, would you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0426.

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia. Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0426 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0427? Oh, beg your pardon, I asked, he should ask people to add their names, is that?

Oh, no, no, just one, I just wanted to add one thing, sorry if I may. I forgot to mention that there's a sister city, Secundi Tacoretti, and there were city councillors prior to this body. Yancey, and others who made sure that the sister city partnership, it's not in my resolution, so I wanted to make sure that I uplifted our partnership with the sister city in Ghana, so Condi, Tuck, Reddy, that's all.

Thank you. Yes, thank you for reminding us about that. I think sister cities are a wonderful thing. We're also sister city with Belfast, where I come from, Northern Ireland, so thank you, Councillor Louis-Jeanne. Okay, where are we? Webber. Did we read your docket? Hang on. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0427?

Docket number 0427. Councilor Webber offered the following. Resolution in support of HD 5608, an act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment, the Protect Act.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Webber. Councillor Webber, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. I'd like to add Councillor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor. Councillor Culpepper so added. Thank you. On December 4th, 2024, this body reaffirmed its commitment to the Trust Act. which makes clear that our police department will not assist in civil immigration enforcement and won't assist ICE. On March 5, 2025, this body adopted a resolution in support of several state immigrants' rights bills, including the Safe Communities Act, the Immigrant Legal Defense Act, and the Dignity Not Deportations Act. the latter which prohibits the state from entering into new 287 agreements which are the cooperation agreements with local entities and and Ice. On January 29th, Governor Healey signed an executive order prohibiting the state from entering into new 287G agreements, although I will point out that Massachusetts is the only democratically controlled state that has a 287G agreement.

Massachusetts Department of Corrections does cooperate with ICE. The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus filed legislation that would similarly prohibit local police from cooperating with ICE for civil offenses. It would ban law enforcement from asking about immigration status and restrict non-public information sharing were the release of coordination for civil ICE actions unless required or backed by a judge. It would block any Civil Immigration 287G partnerships and place strict state oversight on department-seeking agreements that focus on serious criminal activity that is You can still have 287G agreements if this addresses serious criminal activity, but there will be an overview by EOPS to make sure that those requirements are met.

It protects courthouses, protects courthouse access, safety, prohibits civil immigration arrests in and around courthouses, which has been a big problem here in our city. Protect survivors and victims of domestic violence through consistent U and T visa certifications. It stops detainee ghosting, which is where detainees are essentially disappeared. in the immigration system by providing intake rights, notice and language access, rapid confidential legal communications, a facility hotline, and a secure locator for quick confirmation about where Our residents and family members are being held. It also will maintain high policing standards by requiring anyone applying to work as a law enforcement officer in Massachusetts to notify and disclose their employers that they have worked for ICE during this period.

We have seen, if anyone watched the State of the Union last night, we know that the federal government has not learned from its actions in Minneapolis. and across the country. They, despite routine violations of people's constitutional rights, breaking down doors, detaining people without due process, and even murdering peaceful demonstrators. We know that they want to continue these actions. By supporting the state Black and Latino caucus and this legislation, we can help make sure that we are going to stand up to the federal government if they have a surge here. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilor Weber. The chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilor Weber, for adding me as an original co-sponsor, for following this resolution to support the PROTECT Act. which will help safeguard the constitutional rights of all Boston residents. This effort builds upon the work I advanced through docket number 20260266, an ordinance prohibiting ICE from using city property. At both the city and the state level, we need to ensure our resources are not used in ways that undermine due process or erode trust between immigrant communities and local government. Thank you, Councilor Weber.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. Would anyone else wish to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillors Coletta Zapata, Councillors Durkan, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, and please have the chair. Oh, Councillor Worrell. Weber, and Councilor Culpepper seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0427. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0427, please?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. Dock number 0427 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0427 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0428?

Docket number 0428. Councillor Flynn offered the following. Resolution in support. of an initiative to create a U.S. commemorative stamp series in honor of African American veterans.

Thank you. Over the last several years, my friend Heywood Fennell, a former U.S. veteran and founder of the Triad Veterans League, has been spearheading an effort to recognize African American veterans. This stamp will be based on original artwork from an art exhibit called Triumph Unsung Heroes. Since the founding of our nation, African American soldiers have played an important role in the defense of our country. During the American Civil War, certainly President Abraham Lincoln, Emancipation Proclamation allowed for the first black regiment right here, the Mass 54th out of Hi-Pak. to be created in, through their success, inspired the enlistment of over 180,000 black men. World War II, Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African American aviators in the Air Force.

They not only got in much success and earned eight Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, and this led to President Truman signing the Executive Order in 1948 to end segregation. Time and again, the African-American soldiers have placed themselves in harm's way for the protection of our nation and still are not treated with respect. They have been and continues to be and they are and continue to be an integral part of our military. Without their contributions, our forces would not have accomplished their missions. I had the opportunity to join several of my colleagues over the weekend for a brunch in Roxbury in honor of black veterans. It was wonderful to listen and talk to them about critical issues that they are concerned with. But we also must advocate for them At the VA, I was down in D.C. over the weekend.

I was there for probably 18 hours and needed to come back before the storm. But one of the issues I wanted to focus on and did focus on somewhat down in D.C. is how we support black veterans and their families, women veterans. I highlighted this when I spoke at the Hibernian Hall over the weekend. My close friend was a gentleman by the name of Willis Saunders, who was a Boston police superintendent who was a Tuskegee Airman. But black veterans have contributed so much to our nation, to our city, and I want to stand with my friend Haywood in advocating for this important stamp to ensure that we provide the respect and dignity that African Americans have demonstrated day in and day out, night in and night out,

Inhamsway and came back to America and still faced racism, discrimination and hate crimes. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Does anyone else wish to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councilors Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Weber, Worrell. Please add the chair. Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0428. All in favour say aye. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on 0-4-2-8?

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. Document number 0428 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0428 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0429?

Docket number 0429. Councillor Flanagan for the following. Resolution in support. of receiving a response to docker number 0221, order requesting certain information under section 17F regarding elevator access, life safety, and disability compliance.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. On January 28th, 2026, the Boston City Council passed an order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding elevator access, life safety, Disability Compliance, which was docket 0221. That was nearly a month ago. Nearly two weeks ago, I wrote to Corporation Counsel Michael Firestone, respectfully requesting the law department assist with getting a response to the 17F request to provide clarity on whether BHA is out of compliance with timely responses and when the City Council and the public should expect a response. Details are essential to the City Council's oversight function. Elevator access and public housing directly impacts resident safety, access to medical care, The City's obligation to residents with disabilities, not limited to mobility impairments.

Without complete and reliable information, the Council cannot evaluate BHA's action, the effectiveness of its internal controls or the need for further legislative or oversight measures. I simply refuse to stop advocating for residents of public housing, communities of color, our seniors, Persons with Disabilities on these critical accessibility issues. These are civil rights issues. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The Chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. Councillor Pepén, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. As Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, I felt the need to speak on this today because while it is absolutely essential that we support resident safety and accessibility in public housing, I do not believe this resolution in support of the 17F is the appropriate path forward. Section 17F is a power granted to the City Council under the City Charter with which the Mayor's Office is required to comply. It carries more weight than a non-binding resolution and I'm concerned that passing this measure would set a dangerous precedent by undermining The authority that we have as a council to submit a 17F request in the future. For that reason, I will be objecting immediately to this passage of the resolution today.

Thank you, Madam President. Pepén. Docket 0429 will be sent to the Committee on Housing and Community Development. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0430?

Talking number 0430. Councilor Flynn offered the following. Resolution in support of establishing a blue ribbon commission to study and address downtown office vacancies and city revenues.

The Chair recognises Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. I'm filing this resolution for the third time to call for the establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission. made up of business leaders, city and state officials, neighborhood advocates, other experts to study and make recommendations regarding the issue of office vacancies in downtown Boston and city revenue. I represent downtown Boston. This body passed this resolution on this critical issue twice now in the last two years. I hope that my colleagues will join me again. It is my understanding, according to a Boston Globe report in December 2025, The City of Boston indicated that it would launch a time-limited task force in 2026 on these issues that I highlighted, including exploring ways to generate revenue aside from commercial property taxes.

In 2020 freight, I held a hearing on bringing back all City of Boston board meetings and related businesses in person with a hybrid option for the public in an effort to bring much needed foot traffic, economic activity downtown I continue to encourage more in-person work from all of us. Downtown Boston is an important economic driver of our city, state, Regional Economy. But over the last several years, a number of high-profile buildings have sold for large discounts, including 101 Arch Street, selling for $43 million less than when it was bought in 2005. One Lincoln Street, formerly known as the State Street Building, and now Habervest, which was sold for $400 million at a foreclosure auction, and 99 High Street, which sold for $227 million. and for $46 million less than in 2025.

I highlight these real estate transactions to inform you that Boston will see less property tax due to these sales of We need all hands on deck to ensure we are supporting a strong and vibrant downtown Boston economy. and I, if this report by the globe is accurate, I do want to say thank you to the administration for moving forward on my recommendation to establish a task force. I also want to thank the city council for Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you Councillor Flynn.

Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Councillors Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén Weber, Worrell, Mejia. Okay, Councilor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0430. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0430.

Councillor Breadon. Present. Councillor Breadon, present. Councilor Kaleta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Loujeune, yes, Councilor Loujeune, yes, Councilor Mejia. Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. Ten votes in the affirmative and one present.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0430 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0431?

Dr. Number 0431, Councilor Flynn, offer the following. Resolution in support of the seven nights per week residential parking only in South Boston.

Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn.

Councilor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. In December 2024, BTD informed me that they would implement my plan to implement a seven nights per week resident parking only policy for all areas of South Boston. Most of the town has RPP four nights per week and nothing from Friday at 10 a.m. until Monday at 6. I'm asking for support from colleagues to make this a reality. The parking crisis in South Boston has become increasingly unsustainable. In 2023, BTD indicated that there were over 29,000 active resident parking permits in only 10,000 on-street parking spaces. I requested an audit of all South Boston residential parking permits. Thousands of incorrect permits were revoked. But residents continue to ask for enforcement and question the pandemic policy of automatic parking permit renewals.

Meanwhile, South Boston continues to absorb a significant amount of Article 80 developments. While a large number have gone through a thorough community process and gained support of residents, neighbors, civic groups, elected officials, In the midst of our housing crisis, developers have reported being stalled with requests to cut already agreed upon parking ratios and adhere to BTD's recommendation. of parking guidelines of 0.5 parking spaces. For several years, neighbors noticed on BPD board agendas that other neighbors and neighborhoods will have large projects with at least one-to-one parking ratio is what I have advocated for consistently. They ask, why is our community being Singled out differently to a different standard. Neighbors continue to call attention to having to consistently search for parking. They need cars to take their children to activities.

They need to care for elderly, for their parents. They need to work nights. They come home to circle for 45 minutes hoping to find a parking spot. South Boston residents consistently report a large number of out-of-state plates in cars lacking a resident parking permit. With the neighborhood having become a destination for many young people on the weekends, visit a parking for several days beginning Friday morning until Monday evening is very challenging. At the very same time this influx of non-resident vehicles occurs each weekend, there are no residential parking only restrictions to speak of. BTD enforcement is scaled back. I'm simply asking for respect for my neighbors in South Boston as you would your neighbors that you advocate for in your neighborhood. My residents in South Boston deserve resident parking. It was promised to us

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Worrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilor Flynn, for following this. I hear from my neighborhoods all the time that they want to hear about the future of the program. There's no clarity right now if the residential parking Program is still up and running or what is it going to look like in the future? So I do urge the administration just to provide a future timeline if the program is going to exist or if they're doing away with it or just let us know what their thoughts around this residential parking program actually is. So I am urging the administration to just offer some clarity to us as councillors and to the rest of the public around this program. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell. Would anyone else like to add their name? Councilors Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0431. All those in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, would you kindly take a roll call vote on docket 0431?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. Yes. Councillor Culpepper. Yes. Councillor Durkan. Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Pepén, yes. Council Santana, yes. Council Santana, yes. Council Weber, present. Council Weber, present. Council Worrell, yes. Council Worrell, yes. Docket number 0431 has received 10 votes in the affirmative and one present.

Thank you. Docket 0431 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, can you please read Docket 0432?

Dr. Number 0432, Councilor Flynn, offer the following. Resolution in support of a temporary rollback for the inclusionary development policy and affordable housing requirement to 13%.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councilor Flynn, Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In light of our housing crisis, the urgent need to increase supply and address affordability in our city, I am respectfully recommending that the City of Boston temporarily roll back inclusionary development policy and income-restricted affordable unit percentages. For new development, Backdown was previously at 13% for the next five years. Let me be clear, for the last eight years, I've been a strong supporter of affordable housing in district, To and throughout the city of Boston, in my district, we have absorbed as much or more housing, and I have supported as much or more housing and affordable housing as any other district councilor during that period of time. I also advocated for onsite affordable housing when it came to planned downtown, which the city did not include. At the same time, I said no one wants to see wealth storage units that do not address the housing crisis.

As you all know, I supported increasing our affordable housing requirements. I still believe that is still the right thing to do. But we have to acknowledge the economy we're in and the data showing we are not building enough housing and affordable housing at this time. The reason being several years now of post-pandemic inflation, a high interest rate environment, rising construction costs, tariffs. But I also believe it is long past time for elected officials and leaders in our city and state to acknowledge reality. While we do not control many of the big picture economic conditions, we should do what we can within our power to make adjustments that will help to spur economic development, housing, and affordable housing in Boston. During this time of great economic uncertainty, we also use tools available to build housing in Boston. The numbers clearly show that production has dropped significantly. According to a June 2025 report,

in the Boston Globe. We went from 9,800 units in 2020 to 2,300 in 2024 and just 852 in the first half of 2025. Recent reports also show Boston lags 16 peer cities in production. All options should be on the table. A higher percentage of affordable units had the best of intentions from all of us to address affordable housing crisis for working families. But in these conditions, if we're producing less housing, we're also getting less affordable units for working class people. Some housing is better than no housing. I understand we are in politics. I'm sincerely asking us to have the courage to put politics aside, ignore the noise of social media, and make this temporary adjustment with the best interest of the city and Boston's long-term economic reality in mind.

This is a crisis. We need all the tools to solve this crisis. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Councillor Flynn for bringing this forward because affordability continues to be an issue in the city of Boston. Obviously, there's been a history of it. As a chair of housing, there's a lot of hearing orders and other policy being brought into my committee to talk about What is happening with the construction of affordable housing? How can we make it easier? There's been conversation about rezoning, conversation about parking minimums, conversation about using empty parcels across the city. So there's a lot of things that go into the construction of affordability in the city of Boston. And then I also just, once the agenda came out, I received messages, I received a specific message from, you know, Reclaim Roxbury from District 7 with great concerns that if we were to roll this back, That would have serious concerns to the community side as well. And a lot of work that went into this when this was implemented was from the community. It wasn't just from internally here today. Again, as the chair of housing,

and considering that there's so many hearing orders already put in place that I'm more than committed to hearing to talk about affordability and the construction of more affordable housing in the future. I'm going to respectfully object to this resolution and I am committed to do a resolution on this, I mean to have a hearing on this. So thank you so much, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. Docket 0432 will be sent to the Committee on Housing and Community Development. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0433?

Docket number 0433, Councilor Mejia, for the following. requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding increased white stadium costs and their effect on other Boston public school capital projects.

The Chair recognizes Country Mejia. Country Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Under Section 17F, we are formally requesting documentation related to increased white stadium costs. and their impact on other Boston public school capital projects. Public reporting has cited rising costs and a 252 We need itemized documentation, the guaranteed maximum price contract, contingency change orders, financial projections, and any BPS projected delays. or reduced as a result. We've been getting a lot of questions from community, and we believe that the best way for us to move forward, oftentimes a hearing might be able to work, but sometimes we have to do things like this. to get answers to the people that we serve. So looking forward to submitting this respectfully. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone else wish to speak on this issue? Ms. Matter? Anyone like to add their name? Mejia seeks suspension of the rules in passage of Docket 0433. All those in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0433?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Mejia. Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. O'Reilly, yes. Docket number 0433 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket 0433 has passed. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0434? Docket number 0434. Councilor Flynn, I offer the following. Order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding memoranda of understanding, cooperation agreements, or collaborative partnerships between the City of Boston and external entities.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I file this 17F to get more public information on any existing and or expired memorandum of understanding cooperation agreements between Boston and Federal Pond. This would be from January 2021 to the present. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Flynn. The Chair recognizes Councilor Weber. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

Yeah, thank you. I just, maybe to the chair, I filed a 17F for memorandum of understanding between the Boston Police Department. I think Councilor Santana joined me on that. I don't know. I'm happy to support this. I do believe... This is different, yeah. Okay, the clerk says it's different, great. Just for my colleagues, we've been told that those memoranda are forthcoming and part of the delay has been that for each one, They have to get the permission of the other party in the contract before they disclose it. So that has been happening and I hope to have a response to the 17F that I follow. Councillor Santana. Webber.

Thank you. Respect his position. Respect that he filed a 17F similar to this, but somewhat different. But I just want to say thank you to Council Weber. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you. Through the chair, I'll just ask respectfully, is the 17F you're referring to The same one you refiled that we filed back in August that never got a response.

Councillor Weber, you have the floor. Yes.

We're now in what month? Seven, right? So they have plenty of time to get us answers. And I think we need to work more collaboratively as this body to make sure we get the information we need to advocate for the residents of the city of Boston.

Thank you Councillor Murphy. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Oh, that's 17F. I will remember that. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councilor, may he... Hang on. Councilor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 0434. All in favour say aye. I'll say nay. Thank you. Docket 0434 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0435?

Docket number 0435. Councilor Flanagh for the following. Order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding detainer requests from January 1st, 2024 to the present.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Basic information, as you highlighted, clerk highlighted rather, regarding detainee requests from January 2024 to the President. Thank you.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Webber. Councillor Webber, you have the floor.

Yeah, thank you very much. And I appreciate these 17F requests being a way for us to get necessary information. I mentioned the State of the Union earlier, and despite repeated actions where we've seen cities terrorized, People pepper sprayed in their faces, doors knocked down, constitutional rights being violated, and people being murdered. That's all based around this false narrative that our cities are unsafe and it's because of our immigrants that they're unsafe. We saw the President double down on that last night. So, you know, I just, I personally do not want to give any oxygen to that false narrative, and I do feel like this 17F is aimed at that, so that's why I'll be voting no on this 17F. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Webber.

Anyone else like to speak on this matter? Anyone like to add their name? Oh, sorry, got it. Councilor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 0435. All in favor say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0435?

Councilor Breadon. No. Councilor Breadon, no. Councilor Coletta Zapata. No. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia, no. Councilor Mejia, no. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, no, Councilor Santana, no, Councilor Weber, no, and Councilor Worrell, no, Councilor Worrell, no. Doctrine number 0435 has received nine votes in the affirmative and four votes, excuse me, nine votes in the negative and four votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0435 has failed. We're now on to personnel orders. Mr. Clerk, could you please read the personnel orders? I understand we have, read docket 0436 through docket 0439.

Personnel orders, docket number 0436, Councilor Breadon. For a temporary employee, document number 0437, Councilor Breadon, for Councilor Mejia. Document number 0438, Councilor Breadon, for Councilor Mejia. And document number 0439, Councilor Breadon, for Councilor Mejia.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair moves for passage of Docket 0436 through 0439. All in favour say aye. Thank you. Thank you. The personnel orders have passed. We're now on to green sheets. Before we move to green sheets, is there anyone who would like to add their name to a docket that they have missed, that missed the call vote for? Durkan. Chair recognizes Councilor Durkan. You have the floor.

Thanks. I'd like to add my name to 0407, 0409, 0411, 0412, and 0433. Thank you.

Anyone else? Councillor Fitzgerald?

Yes, signing on to 0409 please and thank you.

0409. Very good. So we're now on to green sheets. Is anyone looking to pull anything from the green sheets? I understand the Chair of Ways and Means has a poll. Chair recognizes the Chair of Ware's and Main's, Councilor Weber.

I apologize. Get my numbers straight. This is MSBA funding for schools that we voted on once already and that we have to vote on again. I apologize. Okay, yeah, I've got it right here. Sorry. I'd like to pull docket numbers 128 and 129 from the green sheets. They're on page two assigned for further actions under the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Clerk, could you read docket 0128 and docket 0129 into the record?

From the Committee on Ways and Means, docket number 0128, message in honour for your approval, in order authorising the City of Boston to appropriate $6,500,000 for the purpose of paying costs for the window and door replacement projects at the following schools. The Edward Everett Elementary School and the Richard J. Murphy K-8 School. This includes the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto and for which the City of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. and said amount to be expended under the direction of the Public Facilities Department on behalf of the Boston Public Schools. And docket number 0129, message in order for your approval and order authorizing The City of Boston to appropriate $3 million for the purpose of paying costs for the roof replacement projects at the following schools.

The Thomas J. Kenney Elementary School and the Hugh Rowe O'Donnell Elementary School. This includes a payment of all costs incidental related thereto and for which the City of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Said amount to be expended under the direction of the Public Facilities Department

on behalf of the Boston Public Schools.

Oh, thank you very much. As I said when I was stalling just then, these are MSBA grants to help repair our schools. Windows, Doors, and Roofs at four BPS schools. So it requires two votes. We've already voted once in the affirmative and as the chair of Ways and Means. I'm now asking for a second reading of the docket, which has happened, and a vote in the affirmative. Thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Webber, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, moves for a second reading and passage of docket 0128. Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote on docket 0128?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councillor Culpepper. Yes. Councillor Culpepper. Yes. Councillor Durkan. Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell. Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Talking about 0128 as received. 13 votes in the affirmative and the second reading.

Thank you. Docket 0128 has received a second reading and has passed. Webber, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, moves for a second reading and passage of Docket 0129. Mr. Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote on Docket 0129.

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén. Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docking number 0129 has received 13 votes in the affirmative. receiving a second reading.

Thank you. Docket 0129 has received a second reading and has passed. Are there any other pulls from green sheets? Thank you. Now we're on to late files. I'm informed by the Clerk that there is one late file matter, a communication from the Law Department. Absent objection, these late file matters will be added. Mr. Clerk, could you please read the late file matter into the record?

Communication from the Law Department regarding open meeting law complaint filed on February 1, 2026.

Thank you. This communication will be placed on file. We're now on to the consent agenda. I am informed by the Clerk that we have eight 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 consent agenda has been adopted. Moving on to announcements. These are an opportunity to remind us of upcoming dates and events. We have City Council birthdays. Happy birthday to our colleague, Councillor Sharon Durkan. with a birthday yesterday, and also happy birthday to Malaya Hayes, who works in District 9's office. Happy birthday to everyone. Any other birthdays to shout out?

Thank you. Does anyone else have announcements? Please put your light on if you have an announcement. No announcements. Mejia. Right in front of me. Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I just wanted to wish Annalise a happy birthday. So even though she doesn't work for the city council yet, one day she'll be here terrorizing all of y'all. But until then, I just wanted to wish her turn 16, on the 16th, which was her golden birthday. It was a big deal. So I just want to wish her a happy, happy, happy birthday. And thank you for sharing me with the world and for sacrificing so much of Our time together.

So I love you. Thank you. Thank you. We all wish Annalise a happy birthday. Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor. Madam President, I just want to wish Annie Johnson 100th birthday today.

We are now moving on to memorials. Would anyone like to uplift a name? Please put your lights on if you want to call the name. Councillor Pepén and then Councillor Culpepper.

Thank you Madam President. I have two names today. From Rosendale, Mr. Bob Aliano passed away on February 14th. Bob was a former owner of a beloved Rialto Barbershop where he worked for 65 years. Not just cutting hair, but being a community staple to so many Rossendale, West Roxbury residents where he lived most of his life. And then second, I would like to take a moment to honor Mr. Joseph G. Oakley, the father of Representative Brandon Fooker-Reed, who passed earlier this month. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Madam President, I rise once more today, not simply to acknowledge a public figure, but to reflect on the life of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a true force whose impact reached across nation and helped reshape its conscience. Reverend Jackson was more than a civil rights leader. He was a bridge builder. A truth teller and an unapologetic voice for the unheard. He inspired generations to do the same. At critical moments in our country's history, He challenged institutions to live up to their promises and called communities to believe in their collective power We need that courage now and we need that strength. His work advanced voting rights, economic justice, educational opportunity, and political empowerment, not as abstract ideas but as lived realities for millions.

Beyond the movement and the headlines, I knew him as a man of deep faith and conviction I was blessed to call him a friend and I miss him dearly. May we honor not only Reverend Jesse Jackson in words, but in actions by keeping hope alive. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor Culpepper. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. Councilor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Thank you. I want to uplift two names. One is just thinking of the Richards family and the loss of Cheryl Golo Richards. Sheaves loved deeply and was missed by her three children, including her son, Elijah, who works for the Office of Black Male Advancement, and her son, Tony Richards, who works for Mass Housing and is an integral leader here in the city of Boston. including many other aunts, uncles, and cousins. So just wanted to uplift her memory. And also, on behalf of the clerk, wanted us to adjourn in remembering George J.S., an Army veteran of Jamaica Plain and of South Yarmouth, who passed away peacefully at the age of 98. We want to thank him for his service to his country and hope that he is resting in peace and same with Cheryl.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to raise up the name of Marianne McLaughlin, the mother of my friends I went to high school with that was buried this past weekend. She worked at JPNDC and did a lot of work giving back to the community in both Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. And also I want to lift up Santos Lavoie, who passed away last week and is being memorialized tomorrow at Mission Church. She is a 50-year resident of Mission, Maine. And so my prayers are with both of those families. Thank you.

Would you mind repeating the second name for me?

Santos Laboy. Laboy? Yes.

Okay. Anyone else? Mejia. The Chair recognises Councillor Mejia.

You have the floor. Councillor Mejia AMBASSADOR MEJIA AMBASSADOR MEJIA AMBASSADOR MEJIA AMBASSADOR MEJIA AMBASSADOR Yes. I wanted to rise and also uplift our very own Juan Lopez, who recently Lost his son, Juan Gabriel López, so I just wanted to uplift his name in this chamber.

Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Today we will adjourn our meeting in memory of the following individuals. On behalf of the whole council, Juan Gabriel López, the son of Juan López. On behalf of Councillor Durkan, Chyna Altman, and Anna Priscilla Mungay. On behalf of Councillor Pepén, Joseph G. Oakley and Bob Aliano, Flynn, Boston Firefighter William G. Carey, Councilor Louijeune, George J.S., and Shirley Goaler Richards. On behalf of Councillor Fitzgerald, Mary-Anne McLaughlin, and Santos Le Boy.

On behalf of Councillor Culpepper and the entire Boston City Council, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Please take a moment of silence. The Chair moves that when the Council adjourns today, it does so in the memory of the aforementioned individuals. The Council is scheduled to meet again in the Ionella Chamber on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 12 p.m. Thank you to all of our colleagues, the clerk, central staff, the clerk's office, and Ellen.