City Council

and those in attendance to please silence their cell phones and electronic devices. Also pursuant to Rule 42, I remind all in this Chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted. including but not limited to signs, placards, banners, cheering, clapping, booing, etc. And if such demonstrations are made, the gallery or public seating area will be cleared. This rule will be strictly enforced. Clerk, could you please call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum.

Councilor Breadon. Here. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Durkan.

Here.

Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Councilor Weber, and Councilor Worrell.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. I've been informed by the Clerk that a quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, would you do us the honor of offering an invocation for us today and following that we will cite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you, Councilor. Good morning, everyone. Please stand. Let us pray. Somewhere at our innermost core, each of us wants to submerge self-interest so that we may do that which is right. to promulgate justice tempered by mercy. But this is not always an easy path for human, all too fallible men and women. Knowing this, we ask today for patience that we may diligently weigh conflicting evidence and find the right therein we ask for tolerance that we may truly hear and consider opinions unlike our own we ask for wisdom that we may recognize the face of truth when it appears before us All this we ask in the name of that eternal creative spirit, that supreme power that guides us all. Whatever our traditions, to act in ways that are loving, wise, and just.

So be it forever and ever, days without end. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ever.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have two presentations today, so first I will call up Councillor Santana. For your presentation, you've got five minutes, and then, following that, we have Councillor Mejia.

Good afternoon. Happy Pride, everyone. I would like to be able to thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity. I would like to call up Some of the speakers that I'll be having today, Christian, Tina, and Ricardo, if they can come up, and we'll be hearing from them. Happy Pride, everyone. As you all know, Today, alongside with 35 plus organizations, we're hosting a prize celebration. And this is not about me. As I've mentioned it to you all, I really want to be able to hear directly from the speakers. So first we're going to have Christian, we're going to hear from Tina, and then we'll close it out with Ricardo, and then we're going to invite all my council colleagues and everyone here celebrating Pride to come up for the picture. Without further ado, I'm Christian.

Good morning, everyone. Greetings, earthlings. My name is Christian Gaudet, also known as stage name Freckles, which stands for freedom, recognition, compassion, knowledge, love, support, music. I'm grateful to be here today and have this opportunity to share with you some of my experiences. To start, I was born in the city of Boston. I was adopted at the age of five. I was moved to the Merrimack Valley. I was raised in that region area. Upon my adolescence, I struggled very much with my identity. I struggled with connecting with my peers in many ways due to just a lot of things.

Paired with the intersections of not having contact with biological family and things like that, which led me to a lot of stuff and wound me up at 17 incarcerated in MCI Framingham. I did about four years incarcerated there. And that's truly where I met my first transgender person, which shifted and shaped the way that I could start to see myself. And as I integrated back into this community in Boston, Fenway Health was a huge resource to me. And I struggled immensely because I am A former addict. I was born addicted to substances. I am also a mental health specialist. I work with Kids Impatient with McLean through Franciscan Children's.

And every day that I'm seeing the things that I had experienced as a kid in my own youth and adolescence, is trickling down into their lives as well through everything that's happening today. And as a queer person of color, I first hand know how visibility and belonging are not always the same thing. That there have been times when I've been welcomed into spaces because of one part of my identity, Well, other parts of me remained unseen. For many BIPOC LGBT plus people, that is a reality we all know too well. We often exist in an intersection of multiple forms of marginalization carrying experiences that are unique communities and in our cultures. And my work as an artist here, a mental health specialist, a recovering addict, a formerly incarcerated individual, have been rooted in healing, storytelling, creating space for people who don't feel seen.

Through my music and my art, it's not to entertain, it's to create space, it's to create a conversation. And what I've learned is that being queer looks different depending on where you come from. It's not about the color of your skin. It's not just about the neighborhood you grew up in and the culture or your faith. In your socioeconomic background, we can't talk about our experiences as LGBT individuals if we're not including all of that in a whole spectrum. Sorry, I'm neuro-spicy. Lost my space here. And this is why the representation matters, and that's why our community matters, and that's why collective consciousness matters. And every day I see young people carrying unimaginable burdens that I did not have to carry as LGBT youth.

I didn't have to deal with an administration and the burdens of that in my youth. Some are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, family rejection, housing instability, bullying, and simply the exhaustion of feeling like they have to hide who they are to be accepted I've sat with young people who have never heard someone tell them that their identity is not something that needs to be fixed I watch what happens to these kids every single day in and out. and they are the reason that I drive to do what I do in this community is the reason that I want to connect with more people. It is the reason that I need to talk to as many people as I need to to hear where there's lack of, where there's misinformation, where people are missing Missing certain very significant points when it comes to identity.

These young people teach me how to refine and redefine belongingness, how to recreate that conversation because we're all changing every single day. And the goal isn't just to be seen. It's to be supported. It's not just to make statements about support. It's to put action behind that. And the goal is to create communities where BIPOC, queer, disabled people, immigrants, all marginalized communities can have access to that safety opportunity Mental health resources, leadership roles, spaces where they can thrive. Pride began as a movement demanding dignity and humanity and today that work needs to continue. It needs to continue to uplift. My hope is that Young people can feel different, and every person who has questioned whether they belong can look at the people in the rooms and know that there's a place for them.

Not because they earned it, not because they had to prove themselves, not because they are not worthy, but because they do belong there. And I just want to say thank you for my time.

Hutt, Hi, I'm Tina Jushi Caruso. I am a MassArt alum. And I am a queer BIPOC person who's an immigrant who was adopted at 11 months from China. And I just was out. I've been Ellen Proud for two years. I went to MassArt. It was the first time I saw people like me, BIPOC and queer people. It was the first time I found community. MassArt was a pivotal moment for me. You might have seen me on Love on the Spectrum. I came out a little before that at MassArt. Through that, I realized there's a community here in Boston that I belong to. I have never felt Belonging, like the Queer community in Boston. I grew up in Somerville, outplaced by Somerville school districts.

I was placed into schools that my mom called were equivalent to Arkansas' southern Southern, Arkansas is like Southern schools, where I was, racially, I could not be myself. I was always targeted by teachers as well as fellow students. I got bullied for being a transracial adoptee. I could not be A BIPOC person, let alone, I did not even know I was queer at the time. All I knew by high school, I was an ally to this community. I did not realize until two years ago, 2024, that I was part of this queer community and I am so excited to be able to represent this community and I hope to uplift your voices and I want to say as a queer artist myself

that funding and budgeting is very important to this community because a lot of us are also artists and we want to do the best work and when we don't have the resources we can't do what we need to do best.

Hi, everyone. Can you hear me back there? All right. Thank you, Boston City Council, for making space for our community to be seen and celebrated in the city we call home. Let me just start by saying that I love queer people. I do. I love us. I love our tenacity and our creativity. I love the way that we find each other. I love chosen family. I love the way we build joy in spaces that were not built with us in mind. I love who we are and I love the license we give people to be a little bit more of themselves when we shine extra bright. I'm proud to stand here celebrating us and holding space for everything that we carry. Pride, it means different things to different people. For some, it means marching. For others, it means quiet reflection, a private accounting of how far we've come and how far we've yet to go. Pride is visibility. It is action. It is care.

It is chosen family and courage that surprises you when it shows up. It doesn't have to be all of those things at once, and it should never come at the cost of who we are. I want to be honest about what Pride feels like in a moment like this. We are living through a sustained and intentional attack on LGBTQ plus lives, on our health care, on our bodies, on our children's ability to learn and grow in safety. People's very right to exist in public life, to be recognized, to be named, to move through the world as who they are. The cruelty is not incidental. It is the point. and what I want us to name something clearly is that is not something we brought upon ourselves. It is harm that has been forced upon us by others' obsession with our bodies, with who we love, or whether our families meet some unattainable standard. We did not choose to fight, but you better trust and believe that we know how to do it.

I have always understood advocacy as personal. I think of the people that I've worked alongside in Arizona, in Texas, in Ohio, in Maine, in New York, and what I hear over and over is not a radical demand, it's a yearning. A yearning for a fair shot at a good life. The ability to marry if we choose, to build families if that's part of our path, to have identity documents that reflect who we are and let us move through daily life without unnecessary barriers. To live in cities and states with real non-discrimination protections, to have safe schools, places where young queer people have access to the same experiences as any other kid. To have childhoods that are not burdened by questions of safety, not spent calculating how much of themselves they need to hide to feel a sense of false belonging. I think about the families who left Texas, who left Florida, who found what felt like safety in cities like Boston and who are now asking whether they need to leave this country entirely.

I think about parents working deliberately, creatively to build pockets of joy for children, navigating a world that doesn't always feel that was made for them. Even here, even in Boston, what some consider a beacon of LGBTQ Safety, there are queer people who do not feel seen, who do not feel heard, who are honestly not up to the task of performing resilience. Many of us are tired. Tired of fighting every day. Tired of two step forwards and one or two steps back. Tired of being asked to show up to City Council Pride celebrations after being cut from a budget. That exhaustion, that anger and frustration is real and it belongs in this room. It deserves to take up space so it doesn't live within us. I'll say something else that is true for me personally. I don't need everyone to accept me. I accept myself.

My mother who leads a prayer circle every week and prays for LGBTQ people accepts me and that is not nothing. That is everything. and I have stopped letting the people who refuse to see me determine how I see myself. That clarity, knowing who I am, knowing who you are, when others insist you are something else or something less, is not just survival, it's our superpower, It is the thing that no executive order can take away from you. And when I look around this room, that is what I see multiplied by hundredfold. I look around and I see community leaders and so many others, I see organizations, across the city that have shown up for LGBTQ people, for immigrants, for people living with disabilities, for young people, for elders, with consistency, love, and care. often on tiny budgets always on behalf of people who deserve much more than they are given. The richness of what is in this room is extraordinary.

You are the people who give me real confidence about the future that we are building together. And this moment is asking all of us to show up differently, with uncommon courage, with conviction, with pride in who we are and valor in what we do. It is asking our organizations to lead with authenticity even when that is the harder path. But it is asking something of our allies and institutions too. It is asking you to meet us in the ring, to be clear-eyed about your values and the world you are helping us to create, to say the word trans, to not dodge questions about your support for our community, to be relentless in your pursuit of restoring funding to the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement, to the Office of Immigrant Advancement, to Black Male Advancement, to housing, to youth jobs. To double down on what you say you believe when the pressure is highest, not walk away from it. To fuel this necessary work with your time, your treasure, and your voice.

What I want and what I've always wanted is for LGBTQ plus people and everyone in this city, regardless of who you are, regardless of where you come from, to have a real shot at a good life. That is not a radical vision, that is the baseline. But in the here and now, over the next 20 days of Pride Month, I want us to dance. I want us to rejoice. I want our doors to open wide and to fully welcome the vibrancy and difference of our community. I crave connection and joyful abandon. I crave freedom and creativity. And yes, I crave being a nuisance to everyone who refuses to see us or pretend that we don't have a rightful place in this world. Because we do. We always have. This Pride Month, choose to be whole, even in your grief for what we are experiencing right now. And then shine, not despite everything, but because of it. because we will persist long after this administration.

We will deliver on the promise of this country for all of us, for all who came after us. We always have, we always will. Happy Pride.

I want to thank our three speakers, Christian, Tina, Ricardo, for your thoughtful message and for bringing your lived experience here. If I can ask all my colleagues for a picture. If I can also ask anyone who wants to be part of this picture, I know community has shown out today, and please come over to the podium here. We do it every single year. We'll pack the chamber. Thank you so much for being here, but we'll now take a picture. As folks are doing that, I'll just mention, and I've said it multiple times today, I know we have declared ourselves as a sanctuary city, and we need to make sure that our policies I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues to pushing policies So we're going to show that we're a sanctuary city.

Thank you, everyone.

Do I have to stand on something?

Should I go up front because I'm too short?

Yeah yeah yeah, but we got ours today.

Oh, okay.

You got it, Bailey.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Steele,

We're here! We're here!

This is who you are!

There we go.

There we go.

Good luck today. It's your long day. Now let's do the one that was in the Bristol office. I can try to find it.

How's it going?

I'm going to try to find one more.

I can say two. I think it's a wrap. How are you? Very good. All right.

We have a...

Thank you.

Mejia to come forward with her presentation.

All right, y'all, good afternoon. Okay, so I would like to invite Napoleon Jones's, Henderson's family here to the podium, please. So make your way here. Today, I am proud to recognize June the 19th, 2026, as Napoleon Jones Henderson Day in the city of Boston. That's right, occupy space, y'all, because this is what we do. That's right, let them all know that we are here. So June 19th is also Juneteenth, just in case y'all don't know.

And this day is being declared as Napoleon Jones Henderson Day here in the city of Boston to honor a life that has left A lasting impact on generations of artists, students, and communities across our city. That's right. Remember, Councilor Breadon said no. No, I don't want no problems up in here, okay? Napoleon Jones Henderson was a mentor, a teacher. A builder of community who believed deeply in the power of art to uplift people and to tell our stories with dignity. We are especially proud to recognize him on June the 19th, Juneteenth, because of the role he played in helping bring the celebration of the holiday to Boston through advocacy and deep commitment to black

Cultural Expression. Born in Chicago in 1943, he became an early member of the Afro Cobra, the groundbreaking collective rooted in black liberation and self-determination. Boston became his home for more than 50 years after he moved here in 1974. to teach at MassArt. Through his work and mentorship, he helped shape Boston's art community into a space rooted in culture and connection. He opened doors for young artists and invested in people long before institutions did. And that is why this recognition matters so much right now.

At a time when we continue to see cuts and disbessements in the arts, we have to remember that art is not a luxury. They are an essential part to life and this city. When we cut arts funding, we cut spaces where young people can find their voices. Napoleon Jones Henderson's legacy lives on through the countless people he inspired and uplifted throughout his life. Today, alongside this resolution and legacy citation, We honor his extraordinary contributions to Boston. At this time, I'd like to invite Akua Holmes to speak briefly on Napoleon's legacy and his contributions to bringing Juneteenth to the city of Boston. Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. My name is Aqua Holmes, and I was one of those young people looking for spaces as an artist back in the 70s. I was fortunate, like the person who presented earlier, to find my way to mass art. And eventually, that led me to Napoleon Jones Henderson, who came from Chicago to teach weaving. He turned our world upside down. because we had only heard about maybe two African-American artists ever. They weren't teaching it at our school. Even though it was a Massachusetts College of Art and Design to represent all of the people, they weren't telling the whole story. Napoleon came and started to fill in the pieces. He taught us about an organization called the National Conference of Artists. What does that mean? It's the National Conference of Black Artists.

that met across the country annually to celebrate African American art, African art, writing, literature, culture. We began to go to those conferences We met Romare Bearden. We met Elizabeth Catlett. And those people became real to us. They weren't just little postage size pictures in a book. They were real life people who were living as artists. So when I stand here today, I know I'm standing on the shoulders of people like Napoleon Jones Henderson. To get back to Juneteenth, I never heard of Juneteenth when I was in my teens and twenties. But Napoleon had a Juneteenth celebration at his home in Roxbury every year. And his friends would come to Chicago and transform the place with music, with incense, with food, with art. and they would tell us about our own history that we did not know. He was the first one to bring it here and eventually the rest of us caught up with him.

And that's pretty much how it was with Napoleon. He was 10 steps ahead and we caught up with him all the time, even to the fact that he bought that mansion and envisioned it as a cultural museum for African Americans. That was years ago and it's happening. I also wanted to say after he left MassArt in a couple of years, he could have gone on and done other things, gone to other institutions, left Boston, but just as we had adopted him, he adopted us. and he put down deep roots here. And that same spirit of generosity that he brought Juneteenth here with, he continued to keep his doors open to artists of all ages and stages, not just young ones, but old ones too. He would always be willing to teach you about weaving, about the ceramics that he did, and he always had something good on cooking in the kitchen.

Some people talk about the banana bread, some people talk about the beans and rice, But even if you only got one shrimp, because it was kind of like, you know, Jesus and the loaves. Maybe we start out with five people, but we end up with 15. But we all left feeling fulfilled and nurtured and cared for. When I drive up Cedar Street even to this day, I look to my left and I know that that's Napoleon's house. And I was saying to someone today, he's still in our midst. He's still influencing us. He's still caring about us. Whatever the next realm is, I know he hasn't left us. And we will celebrate Juneteenth in a much more bold way this year because he's left us physically, and we want to honor the fact that he was the first one to teach us about it. Thank you so much.

His daughter is the reason why we all here. She don't want to say anything. And I just want to also acknowledge that then former Councilor Campbell and myself, alongside Councilor then Kim Janey, worked on having Juneteenth be a recognized holiday here in the city of Boston. So this even means more to me here today. So I'd like to ask my colleagues to come and take a photo. And I'll read the resolution while my colleagues make their way up here. So this resolution is presented by me, Boston City Councilor at large, Lillian Mejia. The resolution that we're going to be passing on the City Council today is recognizing June the 19th, 2026, as Napoleon Jones Henderson Day here in the City of Boston. And every year, I hope y'all are showing up in this chamber to honor his legacy. And so without further ado, come take a photo.

And can we clap it up one more time? Everybody's moved? All the little shorties come up here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

.

.

.

.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Santana, for your presentations. Mr.

Clerk, could you please amend the attendance to recognize that Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Culpepper, and Councillor Worrell have joined us? We are now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of June 3rd, 2026. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it and the minutes of the June 3rd meeting are approved. We are now on to communications from our honourable Mayor. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1181.

Dr. Number 1181, message in honor authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $1 million in a form of a grant, Cummings Community Safety Grant, awarded by Cummings Foundation Incorporated. to be administered by the Office of Human Services. The grant will fund and support the Community Safety Initiative, Public Health Initiative, Community Events Initiative, and Youth Engagement Initiative.

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

Thank you Madam Chair. I just rise to share some of the information of this million dollar grant and I hope my colleagues will support in passing this today. The FY27 Cummings Violence Reduction gift talking points here. So the city will be receiving from the Cummings Foundation for the following violence reduction and public safety initiatives to bolster Boston's standing as the safest major city in the U.S. The Boston Public Health Commission will receive funds across three main initiatives. Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. BPHC's Data and Evaluation Systems, and Life Course Unit, which is a violence reduction framework that integrates age group-based initiatives.

The BHA will receive some of these funds to scale Charlestown's successful adult education center and re-entry model at the Mildred C. Haley Complex in Jamaica Plain, reducing transportation barriers from neighborhoods like Mattapan and responsive to the program's oversubscribed waitlist. And then a smaller portion of the funds will support a mobile intervention unit that has served as a highly visible low barrier entry for clinical navigation Building on a model that has successfully placed hundreds from the MAS and CAS region into recovery pathways. So the acceptance of these installments moves the city away from isolated reactionary programming to sustained investments in Root Cause Violence Prevention, ensuring our neighborhoods and constituents remain safe, healthy, and supported all year. So I'm asking my colleagues to suspend and pass today. Thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Murphy, the Chair on the Committee on Human Services, seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 1181. All those in favour say aye. I doubt the vote. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1181.

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor 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.

Docket number 1181 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Document number 1182, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $3,220 in the form of a grant. The Mass Ability Rehabilitation Commission Grant awarded by Mass High Department of Career Services. To be administered by the Office of Workforce Development, the grant will fund employment and training assistance, career counseling, and job search assistance for disabled individuals who are clients at Boston's Mass Hire Career Centers.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Worrell, the Chair of the Committee on Labour and Economic Development. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This is a very small dollar amount grant. Valued at $3,220 that would provide funding to operate the two Mass Hire one-stop career centers we have in Boston. So just looking to pass this small dollar amount. So we get much needed support over to the Mass Hire One Stop Career Centre. Thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Worrell, the Chair of the Committee on Labour and Economic Development, seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 1182. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1182. Councilor Culpepper, 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 Murphy, yes. 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. Docket number 1182 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket 1182 has passed. We are now on to reports of public officers and others. Mr. Clerk, could you please read dockets 1183 through 1185.

Docket number 1183, notice received from the city clerk. In accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979, we guide an action taken by the Mayor and papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting on May 20, 2026. Doctrine No. 1184. Communication was received from Timothy Smith, Executive Officer of the Boston Retirement Board, regarding result of the election for a vacated for a vacant elected board seat. Dennis Callahan was elected to serve as trustee of the Boston Retirement Board for a term ending January 15, 2027. and Dock Number 1185. Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding protocol for the Boston Fire Department, Boston Police Department, and Boston Emergency Medical Services. Thank you Mr. Clerk.

Dockets 1183 through 1185 will be placed on file. We're now on to reports of committees. Mr Clerk, could you please read dockets 0796 through 1040 together, please?

Docket number 0796, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, to which was referred on April 15, 2026. Docket number 0796. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of David Sampson as an alternate member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring on December 31, 2030. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 0797. The Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, which was referred on April 15, 2026, document number 0797. Message in order for the confirmation. of the reappointment of Robert Weintraub as a member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring on December 31st. 2029 submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Document number 0798, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation to which was referred on April 15th 2026. Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of David Dixon as a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30th, 2028. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Dock number 0799, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation. to which was referred on April 15, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Kristin Hoffman as an alternate member of the Boston Landmarks Commission. for a term expiring June 30th, 2026, submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Docket number 0800, the Committee of Planning, Development, Transportation, to which was referred April 15, 2026.

Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Kristen Hoffman as a member of the Four Point Channel Landmark District Commission. for a term expiring on June 30th, 2026, submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 1037, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, to which was referred on May 20th, 2026, Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Vinit Gupta as an alternate member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30th, 2026. submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 1038, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, to which was referred on May 20th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission. for a term expiring June 30th, 2026.

Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 1039, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, to which was referred on May 20th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a member of the Fort Port Channel Landmark District Commission for a time expired on June 30th, 2026 submits a report recommending that the order are to pass. In document number 1040, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, to which was referred on May 20th, 2026, Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Kathleen Connor as a member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring December 31st. 2026 submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan, the Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council President. Last Friday, June 5th, the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation held a hearing on these eight dockets concerning appointments and reappointments to the Boston Landmarks Commission and several historic district commissions. We were joined by Joe Cornish, Director of Design Review for the Boston Landmarks Commission and Elizabeth Sherva from the Office of Historic Preservation. Both endorsed the nominees and spoke to the expertise and thoughtful selection process behind these appointments. We then heard from testimony from nominees regarding their experience, professional backgrounds, and interest in serving on these commissions. For the appointment of the Back Bay Architectural Commission, we heard from Rob Weintraub and David Sampson. For the appointments of the Boston Landmarks Commission, we heard from David Dixon and Vineet Gupta. We also heard from Kirsten Hoffman for the appointment of the of the City of Fort Point Channel District Landmark Commission and reappointment to the BLC. Two nominees were unable to attend this hearing. In their absence, we received and many more.

We also have information from the administration regarding Susan Goganian who is being appointed to the Boston Landmarks Commission and formerly served on the Commission. We also heard from Kathleen Conner. We heard from the administration on Kathleen Conner for the reappointment to the BBAC. It was inspiring to hear from such accomplished professionals whose career spans public service, historic preservation, architecture, and urban planning. The depth of knowledge and experience They bring to these roles will be invaluable and it is clear that Boston is fortunate to have these high caliber individuals helping steward our historic resources. One of my favorite responsibilities as chair of the Planning, Development, and Transportation Committee is bringing forward these nominations to commissions that support historic preservation. This work is essential to projecting and preserving our history and our culture that define Boston's neighborhoods. Accordingly, I recommend that these dockets be reported out of committee to the full council for consideration and for formal action.

My recommendation to the council is that these matters ought to pass. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Durkan, the Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 0797. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Beg your pardon, I'm jumping ahead. We'll start with 0796. All in favour? I'll start over again. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Six acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0796. All in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0796?

Councillor Brayton.

Yes.

Councillor Brayton, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. Yes. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Durkan. Yes. Councillor Durkan, yes. Councillor Fitzgerald. 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 Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. Document number 0796 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0796 is passed and the appointment is confirmed. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0797?

Breadon, yes, Councilor Breadon, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, 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, Luzon, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor 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. Docket number 0797 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0797 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0798. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0798.

Councillor Breen.

Yes.

Councillor Breen, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Durkan. Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Vepen, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Document number 0798 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0798 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0799?

Breadon, Colletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, 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 Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docking number 0799 has received 12 votes in the infirmary.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0799 is passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of docket 0800. All in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0800?

Council of Breedon.

Yes.

Council of Breedon, yes. Council of Coletta Zapata. Council of 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, 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. Document number 0800 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0800 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 1037. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Dirk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1037.

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor 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, Councilor Murphy, Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell. O'Reilly. Docket Inva 1037 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1037 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1038. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1038?

Brayton, yes, Councilor Brayton, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald. Hsu, Councilor Hsu, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia. Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 1038 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1038 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1039. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1039?

Councilor Breen.

Yes.

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

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia. Councilor Murphy.

Yes.

Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber. Webby and Councilor Worrell. Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 1039 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1039 is passed and the appointment is confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of docket 1040. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1040?

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor 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. Councilor Murphy. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell. O'Reilly, yes. Docket number 1040 has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1040 has passed and the appointment is confirmed. Mr. Clerk, would you please read dockets 0741 through 0754 together? I'll give you a moment. A lot of reading today.

Dock number 0741, the Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8, 2026, message not approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools Revolving Fund. for fiscal year 2027 to support the maintenance and repair of Boston public school facilities including custodial and utility costs for extended building time, floor refinishing, landscaping, and building repairs. Receipts from lease, permit for use, and parking fees for Boston public school facilities will be deposited in the fund. Boston public school facilities will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall not exceed $2 million. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document 0742, the Committee on Ways and Means for which was referred on April 8th, 2026. Message in order.

in order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 for Boston Public Schools transportation costs, including bus and public transportation costs. The revolving fund shall be credited with revenue received by the Boston Public Schools Department for the provision of transportation to groups and entities for field trips and activities other than transportation to and from school. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $150,000. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 0743. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8, 2026. Message in order, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to repair and purchase Boston Public Schools computer technology including computers, mobile devices, and instructional software.

This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from equipment Sales and Repair Fees for Boston Public Schools Technology. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $2 million. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Doctrine number 0744, the Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred April 8th, 2026, message in order authorize, message in order approving in order authorizing a limit for the Environmental Conservation Commission involving fund for fiscal year 2027 for the purpose of securing outside consultants, including engineers, wetland scientists, wildlife biologists, and other experts in order to aid in the review. of proposed projects to the commission for the city ordinance protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts

From fees imposed by the Commission for the purpose of securing outside consultants, the Environment Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund Such expenditures shall be capped at $50,000. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 0745. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8th, 2026. Message in order. Approving in order. Authorizing a limit for the distributed energy resource revolving fund for fiscal year 2027. to facilitate the purchase of offsets of greenhouse gas emissions which shall be associated with a portion of the electricity consumed by the city annually, and to operate, maintain, monitor, and expand the city's existing solar arrays, and Boston Public Schools combined heat and power facilities. This revolving fund shall be credited with ending all receipts from the sale of renewable and alternative energy certificates.

and demand response program revenues Produced by Combined Heat and Powers Unit located by Boston Public School sites. And a solar renewable energy certificates produced by the city's photovoltaic arrays. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $150,000. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 0746. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred April 8th, 2026. Message not approving an order authorizing a limit to the equitable emissions investment The revolving fund outlined in Section 1G of Berto for fiscal year 2027, pursuant to Mass General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E and a half, to incur liabilities against and spend monies for Such fund consistent with the ordinance.

The revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from the alternative compliance payments. ACPs are an approved emissions mitigation pathway that consists of Payments equal to the average cost per metric ton of CO2e to decarbonize buildings. The Environment Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at 1,500,000 submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Doctrine number 0747. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8th, 2026. Message in order, approving in order, authorizing a limit for the Boston Center for Youth and Families Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027.

To pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the City Hall daycare. Childcare. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from tuition paid by parents or guardians of children enrolled at the center. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $1,100,000. Submits a report recommending the order ought to pass. Dock number 0748. The Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred on April 8th, 2026. Message not approving in order authorizing a limit for the Law Department Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027. to purchase goods and services to pay for repairs to city property. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from recoveries for damages to city property caused by third parties.

The Law Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at $300,000, submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Talking number 0749. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred April 8th, 2026. Message not approving in order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the Boston Police Department Fitness Center. Revenue for this fund is derived from monthly membership fees. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $100,000. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Document number 0750. the Committee on Ways and Means which was referred April 8th, 2026.

Message in order, approving in order, authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the K-9 units training programs. For officers and police dogs from non-City of Boston law enforcement agencies, the Special Operations Division will charge tuition and other fees to outside law enforcement agencies for training with the K-9 unit. The tuition and other fees paid by outside agencies will be used to purchase training equipment, certify instructors, update facilities, and provide funds for other training needs not otherwise budgeted. The Special Operations Division will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at $100,000. submits a report that the order ought to pass. Doctrine number 0751, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred April 8, 2026. Message in order. Approving in order. Authorizing a limit.

for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support public art to enhance the public realm throughout the City of Boston. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from easements within the public way granted by the Public Improvement Commission. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped. at $800,000 submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Docking number 0752, the Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred on April 8, 2026. Message is not approving and not authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027. to purchase goods and services to fund the operation of Strand Theater. The revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from rental fees for the use of the Strand Theater.

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only Unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditure shall be kept at $300,000 submits a report that the order ought to pass. Document number 0753. The Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8, 2026. Message in order. Approving in order. Authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Tourism. Revolving fund for fiscal year 2027. to purchase goods and services to support events and programming on and around City Hall Plaza to advance tourism and promote participation in public celebrations and civic and cultural events. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from payments for the use of City Hall Plaza pursuant to City of Boston Code Chapter 11, Section 7-14. The Mayor's Office of Tourism will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at $150,000.

Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. and document number 0754, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred April 8, 2026. Message in on approving in order authorized and limit for the Transportation Department Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the operation of the bike share program within the City of Boston. This revolving fund shall be funded by system-generated user revenue, sponsorship revenues, and advertising revenues. The Transportation Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be kept at $1,400,000. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This is a marathon session for you today. The Chair recognises the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councillor Weber. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. I'm going to take dockets 0741 to 0745. First, these authorized annual spending limits for city revolving funds that allow departments to use revenue They generate themselves. These revolving funds include BPS revolving funds for facilities, custodial utility and transportation costs, Computer Repair and Purchase Costs for the sale of renewable and alternative energy certificates and funding for the Environment Conservation Commission to secure outside consultants in order to aid in the review of proposed projects to the Commission per the city's ordinance protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation. For these reasons, the committee recommends passage of these five dockets, and I respectfully ask for my colleagues' support on docket numbers

0741-0745 and then I'll address the rest 0741-0745 Can we vote on them all together? One separately. Councillor, we've read them all into the records, so we'd probably like to go ahead and vote on them all. He's still in discussion of the dockets that were read into the record. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

So that was docket number 0741 to 0745. 0746 creates a new revolving fund to support Boston's building emissions program, otherwise known as BIRDO. The fund would be paid for through collection of fees from building owners who choose to make compliance payments instead of reducing admissions. The Environment Department would manage the fund with a cap of $1.5 million per year. Docket numbers 0747 to 0753 authorize annual spending limits for city revolving funds, which allow departments

Thank you.

which allow departments to use revenue they generate themselves. These revolving funds support the Equitable Emission Investment Fund under Berto, City Hall Child Care Operations, the Police Canine Training Program, Public Art Initiatives, Operations at Strand Theater and Tourism, and Cultural and Civic Programs at City Hall Plaza. For these reasons, the committee recommends passage of these seven dockets, 0747 to 0753, I respectfully ask for my colleague's support. Docket number 0754 creates a new revolving fund to support Boston's bike share program. The fund would be paid by user fees, sponsorship, and advertising revenue. generated by the program. The Transportation Department would manage the fund spending capped at $1.4 million per year. So I believe that's what we've read into the record.

Mejia, did you have a... We got it clarified? Very good. Thank you.

Oh, sorry, withdrawn.

Withdrawn? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. That was a lot to read through. We will now proceed to a vote on these dockets. We'll start with docket 0741. The Chair of the Committee of Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report in Passage of Docket 0741. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0741?

Councillor Breadon.

Yes.

Councillor Coletta Zapata. 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 Murphy, Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Dock number 0741 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means has been accepted and docket 0741 has passed. Clerk, could you please record that Councillor Coletta Zapata has joined us. Thank you. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0742. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 0742?

Councilor Breen.

Yes.

Councilor Breen, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docking number 0742 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been adopted and docket 0742 accepted and docket 0742 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0743. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0742 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0743?

Brayton, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn. Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber. FBS and Councilor Worrell. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0743 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0743 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0744. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on 0744.

Councillor Brayton.

Yes.

Councillor Brayton, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. 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 Murphy, yes, Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell. Royal, yes. Docket number 0744 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0744 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report and Passage of Docket 0745. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0745?

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Durkan, yes. 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, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber. Councilor Webber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0745 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0745 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the Committee Report on Passage of Docket 0746. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call? Vote on docket 0746.

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Durkan, yes. Durkan, yes, 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, yes, 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. Docket number 0746. As we see the unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0746 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0746. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0747. Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Webber, OBS and Councilor Worrell. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0747 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0747 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0748. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0748?

Councillor Breadon.

Yes.

Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councillor Zapata, yes. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Culpepper, yes. Councillor Durkan. Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Talking number 0748 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0748 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0749. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0749?

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Calazapata. Yes. Councilor Calazapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. O'Reilly, yes. Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Doctrine number 0749 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0749 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0750. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0750.

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber. Councilor Webber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0750 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0750 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0751. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0751.

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Michelle, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune. Councilor Mejia. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy. Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell. O'Reilly, yes. Docket number 0751 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0751 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0752. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0752?

Councillor Brayden.

Yes.

Councillor Brayden, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Penn, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docking number 0752 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0752 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0753. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0753?

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. The document 0753 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0752 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report in passage of Docket 0753. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call? I've done it. I need to check it off, thank you. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report and Passage of Docket 0754. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0754 has passed. We are now going to take a brief recess until 2.15. Thank you. Brief recess.

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Thank you.

Thank you.

What's the point of order? What rule are you bringing up?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, during this recess, I do understand and want to bring it to the attention that negotiations were taking place behind the scenes outside of this Ionella Chamber, which I believe potentially could be an open meeting law violation. We can't negotiate outside of this area while the body's in session. Flynn, we're moving on.

Pursuant to Rule 39, each councillor will have 10 minutes to discuss the main motion, which is the full docket as presented. The Assistant Clerk will keep track with a stopwatch. If Councillors do not use all their time in the first round, they will be able to use any remaining time they have in a second round. Pursuant to Rule 30, Councillors will have a separate two minutes for each subsidiary motion meaning and including amendments for Councillor will be limited to two minutes. We will be reasonably enforcing time limits in accordance with the council rules and to ensure each councillor is allotted an equal and fair amount of time. Mr. Clerk. Would you please read Docket 0733? I beg I'll give you the mic. Thank you.

Docket number 0733, the Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on April 8th. 2026. Message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027. Submits a report recommending the order ought to pass in an amended draft.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councillor Webber, the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Councillor Webber, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. First procedural issue, I'd like to move to substitute the committee report with a new committee report. This reflects a few changes. One in the package has been removed $200,000 that was being pulled from Boston Public Libraries. and after feedback from my colleagues and advocates and an increase from a poll from the execution of courts by $100,000. In addition, so the full package would be $8.1 million, and it would fund $2 million for city housing vouchers, which is still Instead of 2.1 million, which is still over 100% of what it was last year. In addition, the original committee report sought to ensure that funds for the Office of Black Male Advancement, the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement,

and the Office of Women's Advancement went directly to those offices instead of sending them to the Equity Office. While the funds for the Office of Black Male Advancement were sent directly to that office in the original tax order, There was some confusion about where the funds for the Office of Women's Advancement and the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus would end up. The substituted committee report alters the tax order to prevent any possible confusion by expressly routing directly to the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement $100,000 and to the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement $200,000. That's in addition to the $555,000 being directly sent to the Office of Black Male Advancement. In the prior report, the funds were designated for these offices but were routed through the Equity Office. This change reflects what was screen-shared and discussed during the last working session, and now the tax order is updated. to ensure the funding goes directly to those two offices.

So I move to substitute the committee report for those reasons, and then we can discuss the merits of it.

Absent objection, Councillor Weber's substitution is before the body.

I just walked in. Just so that I'm clear, are we on docket 7033? Yes. And the motion on the table is just a substitution, right? Correct. Not his...

We will discuss the full package after. This is just to substitute the committee report. and honestly most of it is just to make sure that funds that we've designated for the Office of Women's Advancement and the Office of LGBTQ plus advancement will be sent directly to those offices instead of to the equity office, which was in our presentation but not in the tax order.

Thank you. No, and I appreciate that. I think that it's really important for those who are following us on this journey.

Councilor Mejia, are you objecting to this?

No, I just wanted to make sure that we all knew what was happening. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Coletta Zapata had her light on first.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to move a motion to amend the Ways and Means Amendment Package to restore $1.2 million for the Office of Immigrant Advancement Grants.

We're not there yet. I haven't brought the package to the floor.

Okay, after we've substituted, I believe I can make a motion to introduce that package.

Thank you.

But have we substituted this package? Yeah.

Hold on a second. Mejia, are you objection? Okay, you have the floor.

No, just because I feel like right now there's a little bit of

I just want to make sure. So I, if it would be helpful for me to understand, you know, because Councilor, Coletta's already ready to go to amendments. I believe he's still talking about substitution, so I just need to, I need somebody to help me understand what is at play, and at what point I can speak In regards to objecting this whole process.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Because Councillor Mejia is objecting to the committee report, we'll be polling the committee. A yes vote means you agree with the Chair's recommendation on reporting this out. A no means that this matter should return to committee. Mr. Clerk, could you please take the poll?

Thank you, Councilor Breadon, for recognizing me now officially.

Madam President, I object to the Chair's Committee Report on Docket 0733. To be clear, I am not objecting to the Chair's offering a substitution I am objecting to the chair's reporting out on this docket so that we can move this item to the green sheets and then pull it from the green sheets to take a full vote on rejecting the budget. Community members have been actively calling for this action, and it would be disrespectful to not allow councilors to vote on it and have those votes reflected for the public record. I ask respectfully that my colleagues who are members of the Ways and Means Committee to vote no on agreeing on the chairs reporting out when they are polled so that we can let democracy play out.

Weber, you have the floor.

We're just trying to substitute the committee report so we can then bring it to the floor and have a discussion. about the amendments that we're doing. People will have a full opportunity to vote for or against the amendment package, make amendments, and we'll have that discussion again. The vote is just to make two minor changes to the committee report, primarily to make sure that funds in the amendment package for the Office of Women's Advancement and the Office of LGBTQ Plus Advancement will go directly to those offices instead of through the Equity Cabinet. In addition, we did remove a cut from the Boston Public Library's and, you know, I took $100,000 from execution courts in addition to what we'd originally proposed, but again,

You don't have to, voting for this or allowing this to go forward allows for a full hearing about the amendment package and you can still vote down the amendment package, you can make amendments to the amendment package, it just brings it to the floor.

Keir, we're going to poll the committee. Hang on, I need to just take a breath here. We would like to poll the committee. Mr. Clerk.

I have a question with regard to black male advancement. When he talked about taking out the... So it's still in there?

Where is it? This will all be open for discussion. We just need to bring the amended report properly before the body right now. I just want to...

Okay.

One at a time please.

Yes. In the remarks I think before you were in here, the committee report as originally filed directed $555,000 directly to the Office of Black Male Advancement. It's just that the $300,000 for the Office of Women's Advancement and the LGBTQ Okay. Thank you. Okay.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper, for your question.

Councillor Coletta Zapata, you have the floor. I have a procedural point of information, I guess, from the Clerk. My question is, was the Report properly substituted on the floor. And then, because I made a motion first and it was seconded, isn't that motion in the sequential order should be taken first before any other motions?

It's still an outstanding motion.

It's still an outstanding motion that's on the floor. So moving forward, will that be taken first, that motion? That's my intention, yes. Thank you.

If councillors want to speak, I will allow my colleagues to speak, but I want to clarify that we are only addressing the question of polling the committee for the chair's report right now. Comments and debate on the budget itself will be fully allowed later in the meeting at the appropriate time. Mr Clerk, could you please poll the Ways and Means Committee.

Members of the Committee on Ways and Means. Councillor Webber. Yes. Councillor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes to bring it on the floor. I'm calling for a recess. Councilor Coletta Zapata. I'm calling for a recess.

President of the Assembly. We're polling the committee. A yes vote means that you agree with the Chair's recommendation on reporting this out. A no vote means that this matter should remain in committee. Hold on, I'm taking a brief recess here because all of this is...

Thank you.

We are polling the Ways and Means Committee. A yes vote means that we agree with the Chair's recommendation of the substitution, and a no vote means that this matter should return to committee. Mr Clerk, could you please poll the Ways and Means Committee?

Weber, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, no, Councilor Louisiane, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes,

Thank you. The chair's substituted committee report is before the body. I would like to return to Councillor Weber, Chair of Ways and Means, for your continued remarks. Weber.

Thank you very much, Madam President. This year's budget process was exceptionally challenging. City costs, particularly for healthcare, are rising much faster than revenues, with property taxes rising at the slowest rate since 1998. As a result, the overall budget from FY26 to FY27 grew by just 2.1%, marking the slowest growth since the Great Recession in fiscal year 2010. As a result of those pressures, the Mayor's proposed budget cut many of the grants and programs that support our most vulnerable communities. In a city that must do everything it can to address gaps in wealth, health, and academic achievement that fall along racial and socioeconomic lines, we need budgets that provide real, tangible support for housing, seniors, youth, small businesses, food access, and the arts.

City Councillors have heard calls to restore the cuts over the last two months in over 150 hours of budget hearings, City Hall listening sessions, neighborhood town halls, and working sessions. Accordingly, my office received submissions from my colleagues about what we should fund with the amendments to the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, and that aligned with the advocacy of our constituents. As a result, as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the Boston City Council, I submitted an amendment package last Wednesday and again today that restores nearly all the cuts that advocates have been fighting for in response to the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. The amendment package before us today totals $8.1 million and will fund the following. For the Office of Housing, approximately $3 million. That's $2 million for housing vouchers.

$450,000 for access to council, $300,000 for down payment assistance, $125,000 for BHA team mentoring, and $60,000 for rent stabilization. all at 100% or above of what they were last year. For the Age Strong Commission, the amendment package restores $1.2 million for senior programming and grants. For the Office of Black Male Advancement, $555,000. For the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement, it's $200,000. and for the Office of Women's Advancement, another $100,000. For youth jobs, it adds $750,000

When added to the private funding secured by Mayor Wu for 2,000 school year youth jobs, this will supply approximately 2,225 youth jobs more than the 1,800 jobs last year. For returning citizens and families, this package will provide $750,000. For arts and culture, $600,000. For small businesses, $600,000. And for food access and support, $400,000. This package moves more money than the Council has in recent years on a more challenging budget and with a forecast for more trouble ahead. We are under more pressure than ever to make smart decisions that are going to set up Boston for future success. Our goal was to supply a budget amendment package that would fund vital programming like housing vouchers and youth jobs without negatively impacting the services our residents rely on or create the risks of layoffs of city workers. Our process has helped us construct an amendment package that restores

100% of the cuts impacting housing vouchers, access to council, down payment assistance, rental stabilization, BH18 Mentoring, the Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement, and the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement. In addition, we have secured 89% of the grants for Age Strong, 67% of the funding for small businesses, 58% of the funding for returning citizens and their families and 50% of the funding for arts and culture and grants to combat food security. And by adding $750,000 onto the youth jobs pool, we'll be ensuring there will be city-based jobs for our youth and with the private funding secured by the Mayor, there will be more than 500 more school year jobs than were provided last year. The Council must take action today Wednesday, June 10th, where the mayor's budget will automatically move forward unamended, which is why I urge my colleagues to support this package and deliver the funds and grants our communities deserve.

I'd be remiss not to thank my staff and City Council Central Office, our Central Office budget staff for all the hard work they've put in over this process, which has allowed us to arrive at a vote today on a package. I'd also like to thank my colleagues who participated in this budget review process. As the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, I am seeking acceptance of this committee report and amended draft and passage of this docket before you today. Thank you.

Knocked my cellphone. Thank you, Chair Weber.

Chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor. Thank you, Councillor President. So, Madam Chair, I move to amend the amendment package to restore the $1.2 million for the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Grants. This amendment would restore funding for immigrant legal services, ESOL programming, and community-based immigration support grants consistent with the funding levels previously discussed during the council's working sessions and introduced by the chair. I ask that that amendment be distributed and considered.

Madam President. Do you have a second? Madam President, point of information or whatever we're calling it. Just for the record, I'll be recusing myself from this discussion based on guidance I've received from the State Ethics Commission. Okay, thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Coletta, your motion is seconded. You have the floor.

Thank you so much. I rise today in support of this amendment restoring funding to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement. This amendment restores funding that many of us discussed extensively throughout the budget process and that was originally contemplated as part of the broader restoration conversations that occurred during the working session that we all agreed that we wanted to introduce. Specifically, this amendment restores funding for immigrant legal services, ESOL programming, which is a huge need in my district, language access and community-based grants administered through the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement. So specifically, what this amendment to the amendment package introduces is ESOL, grant support to the tune of $275,000, legal access, which is a huge necessity during this federal administration and their horrific attacks on our immigrant brothers and sisters and folks, even with legal protected status. Diverse Neighborhoods Grant, $164,000.

and Tuition Equity for $172,000 and then as well as Weaving Wellbeing at $269,517. Across Boston, immigrant families continue to navigate increasingly complex legal challenges, language barriers, and uncertainty about access to services. The legal aid funded and supported through Moya helps families access qualified legal representation and trusted community-based assistance. The ESOL funding helps residents learn English, access employment opportunities, support their children's education, and fully participate in civic life. In District 1, these investments are especially important. East Boston is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city of Boston and home to a generation of immigrant families from around the world. Every week, our office works with residents who rely on legal aid services, language access support, and ESOL programs to navigate everyday challenges. We have seen firsthand how these investments improve economic mobility, educational outcomes, and community stability.

This amendment also reflects the work already done by this Council. The funding levels contained in this amendment mirror the restoration concepts previously discussed during our working session and are consistent with the priorities many colleagues expressed throughout this process. To me, this is not a partisan amendment. It is an amendment that recognizes that immigrant families are a part of Boston's story, part of Boston's economy, and part of Boston's future. For those reasons, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment and restore funding to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement. Thank you.

Mr. Clerk, could you please read Councillor Coletta Zapata's... I apologise, we're getting the cart before the horse here. Could you please read Councilor Coletta Zapata's amendment into the record?

Amendment of Councilor Coletta Zapata, docket number 0733, message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027 as amended. shall be amended as follows. Decrease execution of court special appropriation, increase office for immigrant advancement contractual services $960,000 for the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Funding. Decrease Department of Innovation Technology Contractual Services Increase Office for Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services $40,000 for Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Funding Decrease Office of People Operations Contractual Services Increase Offers for Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services $50,000 for Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Funding.

Decrease Labor Relations Contractual Services Increase Office of Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services $50,000 for Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Funding Decrease Office of Financial Contractual Services, Increase Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services, $100,000 for Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Funding, filed in the Council June 10th.

Thank you Mr Clerk. Does anyone wish to speak on this amendment? Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. I want to begin by recognizing the work of our Ways and Means Chair, Chair Weber, the administration, all of my colleagues on this council, Of course central staff, specifically Karishma and Ryan. Over the past several months this process has been, we've been involved in many hours of hearings, working sessions, public testimony, and conversations with residents across the city. There have been significant disagreements about the best path forward, many of which remain, but I believe this amendment package before us with the included amendment reflects a thoughtful effort to address concerns while meeting the financial realities facing our city. For that, I rise today in support of both the chair's amendment package and this addition. The budget, as proposed by the mayor, was not written under easy circumstances. It reflects the real financial constraint of the Movit driven by rising costs from employee health care and public safety overtime to unanticipated snow removal costs and the continued inflationary pressures affecting both municipal budgets across the country and specifically Boston.

In times like these, the Council is tasked with doing what responsible government must do, make decisions. Across the Commonwealth, I read in the Globe this week, Cities Somerville, Malden, and New Bedford are confronting layoffs and service reductions amid significant financial challenges. Many are warning that without additional revenue measures, including against Prop 2.5 overrides, they will be forced to make additional cuts. Against that backdrop, I'm proud that this package preserves The core services that residents rely on every day while protecting filled city positions. It reflects a serious effort to live within our means while responding to priorities raised throughout the process. Across this body there has been consensus that some of the additional

Coletta, you've failed us. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

Colleagues we're going to take a brief recess.

Colleagues, please leave the floor, and I ask the Chair to turn the chamber, please.

Thank you.

Thank you for watching!

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I'd ask my colleagues...

We hope!

Tell us where the money goes!

We go, we talk, we hope, tell us where the money goes, talk, we hope

Oh, tell us where the money goes.

Oh, tell us where the money goes.

Excuse me, can I have silence please? Can I have silence please? Tell us where the money goes, y'all!

We need hoes!

Tell us where the money goes, y'all!

We need hoes!

Tell us where the money goes!

Pino, Pino, Pino, Pino, Pino, Pino. Tell us where the money goes, we hope! Tell us where the party goes, we go, we go Tell us where the party goes, we go, we go Tell us where the party goes, we go

This meeting is recessed.

Excuse me, sir. This meeting is recessed for 30 minutes. Thank you.

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Thank you. Think about a few things that we can think about.

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Thank you, young people.

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I have two questions.

I have two questions.

I have two questions.

And then you say, how many questions?

That's what I'm saying.

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Good afternoon. We need your church to leave. We need to continue with the business of this meeting. If we don't leave, we have a hard deadline. Thank you for watching! I'm not going to debate this, that's my understanding. Thank you.

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We are back in session as a pursuant to Rule 2042. No demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted, including but not limited to signs, placards, banners, cheering, clapping, or booing, etc. If such demonstrations are made, the gallery or public seating area will be cleared. This rule will be strictly enforced. There will be no more warnings. If you make a disturbance or distraction, you will be escorted out. As a reminder, we are currently on docket number 0733. The motion before the body is Councillor Coletta Zapata's amendment to docket 0733 before the chair. We are currently addressing this amendment. Once we finish this amendment, we will finish addressing the other amendments.

Does everybody have Councillor Coletta Zapata's amendment in front of them? was given out earlier. If anyone hasn't got it. Given the disruption I don't remember who was next up to speak so in fairness to my colleagues please refresh my memory and who is next and we will go from there. Coletta Zapata you have the floor.

Thank you and this is actually good because after having conversations with colleagues in the spirit of collaboration consensus and collegiality I am going to formally withdraw the motion understanding that there's going to be A motion from one of my colleagues. I think we're all here to do the work of the people and no one wants this body to dissolve into chaos. Just for the sake of trying to figure out who's putting what up, my motion was to fully fund immigrant advancement. to be clear I believe that that is something that is happening that's my understanding that's my hope that's my wish and so in the spirit again of consensus collaboration collegiality I'm going to withdraw my motion and I do look forward to ultimately voting on

This budget package presented by the chair and then look forward to hearing from my colleagues if they have other ideas of things that they want to fund and talking through those amendments in a very cordial and respectful way.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald. Councillor Fitzgerald you have the floor.

Yes, thank you, Madam President. I'd like to thank Councilor Coletta Zapata for withdrawing that, knowing that in an amendment package that we were going to originally propose, we will now bifurcate that. and I would like to introduce an original amendment on the floor to be voted on. and then my intent is to after this amendment package that we will then have a vote on the Moya amendment package as well. So I have a non-Moya package and a Moya package for

Do you have a seconder? We have a seconder. Mr. Clerk, could you read this amendment into the record for us? I better give you some amps here.

Amendment of Councilor Fitzgerald, Doctrine Number 0733, Message in Order for Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for Fiscal Year 2027. As amended, shall be amended as follows. Coordinated Response Team. Decrease Boston Transportation Department Personnel Services Increase Office of Human Services Personnel Services 75,000 to be directed toward three permanent full-time employees for The citywide coordinated response team. Decrease Boston Public Health Commission Special Appropriation. Increase Office of Human Services Personnel Services 125,000 to be directed towards three permanent full-time Employees for the Citywide Coordinated Response Team. Eight strong grants and programming. Decreased Boston Transportation Department personnel services Increase age-strong commission contractual services $150,000 to be directed toward community grants.

Office of Food Justice grants decrease Boston Transportation Department personnel services Increase Office of Food Justice Contractual Services. $50,000 to be directed toward community grants. EMS Health and Wellness Grants. Decrease Boston Transportation Department Personnel Services Increase Boston Public Health Commission Special Appropriations $125,000 to be directed towards emergency medical services, health, and wellness. Legacy Business Awards Decrease Boston Transportation Department Personnel Services Increase Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Contractual Services. $300,000 to be directed toward Legacy Business Awards. MWBE Procurement Readiness Pilot. Decrease Boston Transportation to Crime Personnel Services

Increase public facilities department contractual services $200,000 to be directed toward MWBE procurement readiness pilot. At-risk and transitional youth jobs and assistance Decrease Boston Transportation Department personnel services, increase youth employment, and Opportunity Contractual Services, $50,000 to be directed toward at-risk and transitional youth jobs and assistance, arts and culture grants, decreased Boston Transportation Department personnel services, increased Office of Arts and Culture contractual services $225,000 to be directed toward arts and culture grants. Human Rights Commission decreased Boston Transportation Department Personnel Services Increase Human Rights Commission Personnel Services $200,000 to be directed toward Human Rights Commission Personnel Services.

Veteran Services Decrease Boston Transportation Department Personnel Services Increase Office of Veterans Personnel Services $25,000 to be directed toward additional supports for veteran services. Fair Housing Testing Program Decrease Boston Public Library personnel services Increase Office of Fair Housing and Equity Contractual Services $100,000 to be directed toward fair housing testing program filed in the council June 10th.

Chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald. You may continue.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Mr. Clerk, for reading all that. First, I'd like to focus on where these polls are coming from so people understand. They're coming from BTD. We have 1.4 million coming from BTD personnel services. The reason we chose to focus in on the BTD personnel services is that we looked at their five-year underspend and the average was $3.5 million. By taking $1.4 million, we believe that the department can make the necessary changes within the department to decide what they want to do with this cut, just as when we cut from any other department They have to recalibrate internally, and we believe that they have the bandwidth to do that. There are a couple other ones at BPHC and Library. Those are offset by other things that will be in the substituted budget from the chair.

and as you can see originally we had some more money in this but as things you have to work out you know not everyone is just sometimes not enough to go around this year right to feed everybody but some of the stories that does come out of this I think should be good The Coordinated Response Team, getting folks to help with the open congregate drug use, and that is a citywide team. And again, all of the increases we have here, are really for a citywide services. No one is benefiting from their district specifically. This is in collegiality with everybody. And I got to say, I have to give a personal shout out. Council Santana has been fantastic in this process. and working together and making sure we get to a good thing. really worked with all the colleagues, and this is a team effort to get here. There was a lot of things we had to do, and to stay by the rules and everything, we really did it, and it took a lot, and this process is designed to be chaotic. and so I know at times it can seem that.

But what I hope folks understand is that the folks on this body care about this city, and we actually do care about one another. And I think this budget, while it isn't as strong, this amendment package, while it isn't as strong as many of us would like, we do understand the constraints with which we are operating. But CRT, we have Age Strong Gants to support our seniors, the Office of Food Justice gets an increase, EMS, Health and Wellness, which I think is so important because often they're often overlooked in our public safety. Legacy Business Grants, we hope to even try and get more at some point in the future to make sure this year's Legacy Business Grants winner are also made whole. There's a procurement readiness pilot, and I'd like to thank Mr. Culpepper for advocating for that. We have additional at-risk and transitional youth jobs, and I know Julia, Councilor Mejia has been a huge advocate along with Councilor Santana around that. The vets, I'd like to thank Councilor Ed Flynn for advocating to get veterans money in there.

We have arts and culture, which I know all of our districts love and make each individual district beautiful. and so we wanted to make sure we restored more of their grants so that they can continue to do what they do. And then we have the Human Rights Commission restoration which I think will be a vital thing when we talk about, especially where we're going in the future, and the Fair Housing Testing Program. So these are the things that are increased that we were all able to build consensus around and agree that they should go forward and we should increase each of these things and I gave you the reason of where the decrease comes from and so with that, Madam President, I would like to conclude the summary of my $1.4 million amendment package that hopefully will gain the support of everybody here because they all had a hand in making this work. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Fitzgerald. Let me see where we are. I should keep my list of lights here. The Chair recognises Councillor Santana. Councillor, you have the floor. Oh, hang on. Hold on. Hold on a second. Let me just check my list. Councillor Murphy, you have the floor. You're the next one.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. And before I speak to this amendment proposal, I do just want to speak to the public. They're probably wondering why we haven't been here for a couple hours. And I do want to thank Officer Z, Sergeant Mills, the Boston police officers who were here, all our municipal officers, and property management who worked so professionally and diligently and got us to a place where we could come back into this chamber and continue this work. Thank you. Thank you. So, thank you, Madam President. I have serious concerns about the ethics questions surrounding this process.

And I hope those... Contra Murphy?

Contra Murphy? I'm talking about the amendments. And I hope these concerns do not come back to harm this council or undermine the work we do today. But I'm here today to vote. I have shown up, attended the hearings and working sessions, reviewed the amendments, and advocated for the priorities I believe I am proud that this package fully restores important funding for age-strong grants. Our seniors deserve behavioral health support and opportunities to remain connected and engaged and their communities. This package gives them the dignity that they earned and deserved and I also want to thank the advocates, Megan and Chinatown and others who have been strongly reaching out I also support the additional funding for veterans that I have strongly advocated for.

We're asking and we're getting $25,000 and some may ask why do we want to fight for $25,000 but to me it's a true placeholder in the veterans budget. Anytime something completely goes away, you often never get it back. So I'm grateful to Brighton Marine for its generous support this year, but private donations cannot replace a dependable city commitment. We should preserve this line item in the budget. Once a line disappears, it becomes much harder to bring it back and history shows it almost never comes back. So keeping even a modest placeholder protects our ability to continue to advocate for more support next year, especially when the nonprofit partners may not be able to provide the same level of support year after year.

I also support the investments in youth jobs, including the Boston Student Advisory Council positions and all the others, as well as funding for arts and culture grants, housing vouchers, returning citizens, food justice, blackmail investment. These are services residents see and fail in their neighborhoods. They support young people, seniors, veterans, families, artists, tenants, community organizations across Boston. I hope this body can come together around this modest amendment package. I don't believe it's modest because we didn't have the ability to fight for more. I believe it's modest because we weren't willing to use the power we have. But I'm here to support it, and I'm here to listen to what my colleagues also want to advocate for. So thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today, I first want to thank Councilor Fitzgerald for putting this amendment package together. I think as Councilor Fitzgerald mentioned, I think we're all experiencing, this has been a very chaotic experience, but I think in listening to each other through working sessions here in the chamber, I think that this package actually directly speaks to what many of our councilor colleagues have been speaking about right so I think we really have an opportunity to be able to come together today and be able to Again, make this budget better. I don't think that anyone here is saying that this is a perfect budget or a great budget, but we have an amendment of powers to make it better, and I think that this package does that. And I think, as Councilor Fitzgerald mentioned,

I support all of the amendments being put here specifically because they're citywide initiatives. They're citywide initiatives that will impact all of our districts I think that's where we're going to be able to build consensus. So I appreciate your leadership, Councilor Fitzgerald, and I'm looking forward to supporting this package when that time comes. Thank you, Madam President.

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

Thank you Madam Chair.

Yes, you've got it.

I also want to say thank you to Councillor Fitzgerald for His leadership during this challenging time and coming up with a plan that recommendation that listened to everybody and respected everybody. A couple of the amendments, a couple of the departments that I specifically advocated for in this package included the EMS health and wellness, ensuring that EMTs, paramedics, that do an exceptional job for the residents of Boston and visitors, but they also have the health and wellness programs available for them. I think that is critical. They have a very difficult and stressful job and we need to ensure that employee assistance programs, health and wellness programs are there for them.

Oftentimes EMS is overlooked, but I think this is a signal that we respect them and we respect the work they do and their families as well. I also highlighted and advocated for the Human Rights Commission with Reverend Culpepper. I want to say thank you to Reverend Culpepper for working with me on this recommendation when the Human Rights Commission was first established. It really was supporting gay and lesbians at that time that were victims of hate crime and racism. Certainly it's expanded, but we need to do the work, the important work ahead to make sure the Human Rights Commission is a place where residents feel heard and are respected. And that's what I'm committed to doing, working with my colleagues. The final point, veteran services. It's only $25,000.

It's the lowest number on this recommendation. I'm supporting this proposal. I'm disappointed in that figure, but I realize this is a compromise. But I do want to point out that this figure of $25,000 is very low and veterans need to be treated with respect and dignity. I don't necessarily think they are receiving it, but it's a step in the right direction. and I'm willing to support that because it is a step in the right direction, but next year we can't, we have to take a strong look at that department and support it with the right resources and support that it needs and deserves. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank the public for their persistence in asking us to go I know when it's my turn to speak on my amendments I'll be presenting my own for consideration. But for now, I am rising to thank the advocates for their steadfast persistence, and I will just note that. The amendment package that is in front of us I don't think meets the moment and it's not going as hard as we need to and I have heard that we have not been given much to work with and we can't find any more money and I believe that there is money out there. We just are afraid to ask for it.

And so I want to note for the record that we did receive a legal memo stating that We have the power to reject and continue with amendments and we're not choosing to do that. What we're choosing to do is water down a process even further. And while I believe compromise is important, This moment also is asking us to demonstrate that this body can actually push the administration to Tap into the Park and Media Fund to find other dollars, but we are not there in this moment. and I'm very disappointed in that process. And I do want to thank Councilor Fitzgerald for his leadership and really trying to bring the body together. I know it was not easy. Councilor Fitzgerald,

You were able to reach across the aisle and get some folks here. So I do appreciate you doing that. And you know that I'm not happy with the youth jobs line item, and I can't in good conscience Support, something that does not go a little bit harder.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. I do appreciate the move to introduce this amendment package. I want to thank Councilor Fitzgerald. I also want to thank Councilor Henry Santana, who my understanding was integral into these conversations in trying to ensure that there was a package That helped to be representative of everybody's priorities. So thank you as well to Councilor Santana in your work in getting that done. And I want to thank Councilor Fitzgerald for Separating out Moya from this package that we're talking about now. So there's something said about these are necessary changes. There's an opportunity to recalibrate internally, and that VTD in particular has the bandwidth to do that. 1.4 million dollars from the Boston Transportation Department in particular is a really tough cut for my district. We also just got a communication from the CFO that clearly states that this will result in layoffs of the Transportation Department.

And I know for a fact that I have a lot of constituents that work in the streets cabinet, in particular in transportation. They're up in the control room. They're parking enforcement officers. And so that's one reason. But then in addition to that, the issues that BTD works on, I had my team go back and check our constituent services logs. They provide vital city services that are important to my residents. Overwhelmingly, besides public work issues, so trash or ISD issues, things related to or things that BTT works on or oversees is one of the top priorities of my constituents so parking enforcement officers we have we hear a lot from folks that We need more parking enforcement officers on the streets of East Boston because people park in Eastie and then they go to the airport. They just kind of leave their cars there. So that's just one example.

But for those reasons, I cannot support this particular section or this particular amendment that has been put up by Councillor Fitzgerald, so I will be voting no. but mainly for the personnel that are in my district that work in the transportation department as well as the vital services that BTD provides my district in particular. Thank you.

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

Thank you. We all acknowledge how important these areas of investment are. And that's why I can see some of my advocacy in this package. But my issue with this package is that the polls from BTD will undoubtedly result in layoffs. As the Chair of Planning, Development, and Transportation, who oversaw hearings regarding the lack of movement on important transportation initiatives, I cannot fathom giving BTD less resources to make our streets safer. If this amendment is added to the package, as a point of unity, I will support the full package. But it always feels like some departments for basic city services are on the chopping block. I've heard from former employees of VTD that this will have an impact, so I plan to vote no. I acknowledge how important the areas of investment are, I just wish we were taking it from somewhere else.

Thank you. Councillor Mejia, you've already spoken, so Councillor Coletta Zapata, would you mind taking the chair for a few moments?

Breadon, you now have the floor.

Thank you. I want to thank Councillor Fitzgerald and Councillor Santana in particular for leading this consensus building effort. I think it's really important. I've been supportive of the effort to build consensus throughout the amendment process and of efforts to ensure this process reflects many community voices that we've heard. I also want to thank Councillor Weber for the work that he has done over the last two months, the extensive outreach in community and town hall meetings, et cetera, and the They're always the challenging last lap of a budgeting process this last few weeks. I appreciate the intent behind this amendment to broaden consensus. Expand the reach of our restorations and respond to many community voices we have heard throughout this rigorous process.

However, I cannot support this proposed cut to the Boston Transportation Department as a Councillor for Alston Brighton. This amendment would cut £1.4 million from personnel services at BTD. It is the second largest cut the council would make to any city department. This is a targeted cut that has the potential to substantially impact our Our city's ability to improve safety of our community members on city streets and conduct much needed transportation planning. While I support restoring essential services for our communities, including housing programs, age strong youth jobs, and other critical services, we have to look carefully at where the money is coming from. Transportation and street safety is one of the top issues that I hear from my constituents in District 9. In Alston Brighton, families with children, young adults, seniors, cyclists, transit riders and people with disabilities all want to move safely through our neighbourhoods.

Parents should be able to walk their kids to school without worrying each time they cross the road. Last week, a neighbour of ours, an 82-year-old, was crossing on a crosswalk on Chestnut Hill Ave and was struck by a truck. She's lucky to be alive. In April, the council held a hearing on delays of vital transportation projects throughout the city, and I remain deeply concerned about the city's current pattern of delay. and I'm focused on advancing a transportation agenda that makes Boston safer, more accessible and better connected. We cannot afford to cut the very department responsible for helping keeping our streets safe and our city moving. Boston needs near-term street safety improvements and long-term vision for a more equitable transportation planning. If this reduction is approved by the Council, it will be up to the Administration and BTD leadership to determine how to implement these cuts. to this Department.

I urge the Administration to protect BTD's transportation planning capacity, its transportation planning positions, and ensure that street safety work is not undermined.

Thank you, Councillor Brayden. Councillor Mejia, you now have the floor.

Yes, I have a quick point of clarification.

Yes, Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. Hang on a sec. Yeah, got it.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President. You know, there's a lot at stake here, and I want to make sure that we are all paying attention and we're getting this right. It would be helpful through the chair for me to hear from Councilor Fitzgerald. I may have missed the dollar amounts for some of his proposals, number one. And number two, this is my point of clarification. Because I also have amendments. And what I worry about, because for those folks, there's lots of negotiations already been happening in IGR and the administration has been very busy. and really working hard at chipping away whatever votes we had. So I just want to make sure that whatever we are voting on right now, if this is going to be our last ditch effort to at least get something for community, Before I make a vote on Fitzgerald's package,

and then I also want to propose my amendments for consideration and I want to know.

We're taking one amendment at a time so if you have a direct question for Councillor Fitzgerald Like a particular ask, then please ask him directly and then he'll...

So let me try this one more time in terms of what I'm trying to communicate so that way I'm clear. What I want to make sure is that I don't kill Councilor Fitzgerald's last ditch effort to try to salvage whatever little crumbs we can get for people, okay? I also have amendments that I want to present for consideration. And so I need you to tell me, procedurally, we're going to first take a vote on Fitzgerald's amendments. And if those die, then it's a done deal for community. Because I'm sure that what I'm trying to propose, there's no appetite here to take any of these cuts.

We take one amendment at a time, so we're dealing right now with Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment. We will take a vote on that, and then we'll move on to the next amendment.

And then can we do a reconsideration for Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment? Thank you. Thank you. If my amendments die, then the community does not get left without nothing. That's what I want to know.

I think the answer is if Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment stands, then we will move on. It will be included in the final package. to get them included in the final package. But we have to take one amendment at a time. We can't muddle the water.

Could I then ask for consideration If it's possible, and maybe we might have to take a vote, and maybe Megan could, the legal team here can help me with this, but is it possible for us to lay Fitzgerald's amendment on the table and then I can

No, that's not the way. We have to take a vote on this amendment.

But if I call to lay his amendment on the table... I could do that, right? Thank you. See, this is why I ask these questions, because knowledge is power and there's some people in this chamber who have a lot more than others and you are always utilizing procedural tactics to prevent things from happening and so therefore for the record If I can put a motion on the table to lay Councillor Fitzgerald's amendments.

So would you like to offer a supplemental amendment to his amendment? Is that how you'd like to proceed? Hold on a second. Can we take a recess? Yeah, very brief. Don't go anywhere. We're back. We're back. It didn't gavel in recess, so we're right back. Mejia has a motion to lay Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment on the table. Do you have a seconder, Councillor Mejia? Do you have a seconder, Councillor Mejia? Thank you.

Mr Clerk, will you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Mejia's motion to lay Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment on the table. No. Oh, sorry, beg your pardon.

Councillor Brayton. No. Councillor Brayton, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata. No. Councillor Coletta Zapata, no. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? No. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn? Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, no. Councilor Murphy, no. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana, no. Santana, no. Councilor Weber? No. Councilor Weber, no. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Motion to lay on the table. Eight.

in the negative and four in the affirmative. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. I think the next person who has not spoken yet is Councillor Culpepper. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I hadn't planned to speak, but I heard Councilman here talk about this amendment. And all week long we've been working on amendments. Councilor Worrell and Fitzgerald and others. And I went home pretty excited because I thought we had a pretty good amendment package. And I came back this morning and I looked and we still had a pretty good amendment package. We had some pretty good numbers in here for the... Human Rights Commission, Fair Housing Testing Program, the Office of Food Justice, the MWBE Procurement Readiness Program. That's a program that I started to get young folks ready for the procurement process.

Felt pretty good until those young folks came in and took over. And something happened when they took over. Everybody left. And it was like smoke. that came back in, then we ended up with this. And I feel like I'm being told, take this or you don't get anything. Because this is not the package that I went to sleep with last night, excited about. But something happened when everyone went out and we came back, and this is what we have. Not only that, we got folks that said, no, they don't even want us to get this. I am amazed at what happened today.

to Councilor Mejia's point, I'm going to vote for this. Not because I want to, but because we fought for black male advancement. That's in that other plan. We fought for LGBTQ advancement. That's in that other plan. We fought for women's, that's in the other plan. We fought for food justice. That's in the other plan. We fought for a lot of stuff in the other plan, but we thought we were beefing it up. And instead of beefing it up, it got beefed down. But I'm going to vote for it because if I don't, to Constable Muirhead's point, we may not get anything. We do have some good stuff in the other budget that we'll talk about later.

For one who's only been here six months, I'm learning the process. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy, and then we'll go back to Councillor Fitzgerald.

Thank you.

Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you. Through the Chair to Councillor Fitzgerald, if I could ask a question about the pulls from transportation, please, if you will.

Fitzgerald, would you like to answer that question?

I think what I heard is that you said there was $3 million in underspends from transportation. Is that true? And we're only asking for how much? $1.2 million?

Councilor Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Five-year historical average was 3.5 million underspend and we are using 1.4 of that to still allow flexibility for the department.

So a very small portion. Okay, so it seems very reasonable and there won't be actual people cut off, but just want to remind this body that eight of us voted and it passed. We just fired, laid off four There were 1,500 employees in the school department last week. No one seems to be talking about that. But we're worried about a potential, and I wish we could always keep jobs open and the money there to fund them. and advocacy to get people hired, but we know year after year that that's the whole point of the fighting about where to pull from is that all of my colleagues and they make good points that historical data has showed that department after department underspends so let's take it where it will hurt least But when it came to the BPS budget, we didn't care as a body. We hit them where it matters most.

And just today in the Globe, another article came out about how BPS is changing the way they teach their special ed students and it's not going to help. and we already know we were doing a really bad job so I just want to remind everyone that we laid off 400 City employees. So let's not confuse it. Just because the school committee has the final vote on the school budget, they are city employees. They are our colleagues and they are with our children, our students, our future every day. So I think we need to rethink whether or not we want to support this small package that we should be fighting for more. But if this is all we can get, I hope we have at least seven to support it. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognises, let's see where we are, Councillor Coletta Zapata. Flynn Thank you so much Madam President.

I think it does need to be addressed and said. I think it's a gross oversimplification to even compare BPS budget to the operating budget as it's not and I would like to respond to that directly. In the city's operating budget, the City Council has the opportunity to identify resources and make targeted investments that help preserve positions and services. Many of us have worked to restore these investments. And I think that we all want to reduce harm or do no harm where we can. I think the BPS budget presents a different challenge. The school committee, as mentioned, Not the City Council has the final vote over staffing decisions. And the district is confronting long-term enrollment challenges. We lost 3,000 kids. There's rising fixed costs, transportation expenses. and state and federal funding pressures that districts across Massachusetts are facing. I had referenced this in my Thank you.

Thank you. Multilingual Learning, Literacy, and Student Support. And so supporting the BPS budget is not endorsement obviously of every staffing decision. It is a recognition that withholding funding from the entire school system would not reverse those decisions and could create additional instability for students, families, and educators. And so I felt like it needed to be addressed. Again, I think it's an oversimplification to compare BPS budget to the operating budget and I'm grateful for the opportunity to directly address that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I voted against the BPS budget. And the reason I voted against the BPS budget, I felt that the budget Thank you for joining us. The paraprofessionals, I tried to stress this The other day, paraprofessionals help students with disabilities. They take them to the bathroom. They help, they wash them. They help them clean up.

They wash their hands. Then they come back to the classroom and they work with the other students. That is probably the most important job in the city of Boston, as far as I'm concerned. But the city council voted to cut several hundred of those positions. That was a moral vote. It wasn't a political vote, it was a moral vote. We had the ability to go to bat for people that don't have a voice in the city. And we chose not to go to bat for them. We can't deny that.

We're going to have to eventually address that issue because it's not going away and we heard a lot of low-income families in this city that supported special needs children. And that's a major stain on the City of Boston as far as I'm concerned. Thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. I think Councillor Culpepper, you're next. Then we'll go to Fitzgerald and then back to Councillor Mejia.

Madam Chair, I hadn't planned to say anything about that school committee budget. I thought I said what I needed to say last week. But when I heard my colleague mention that if we had not passed that budget, it would affect the stability of the Boston public school families, I thought about what about The Boston public school employees that will lose their jobs and their stability. And what bothers me the most about all of this is that many of the Young folks that are now working, they don't have that three years, they're going to be laid off. It reminds me of the last hired, first fired. because all these young folks that have been working the last couple years trying to buy a house or take care of their families, They're now going to be out of a job.

And when you think about how we encourage young folks to go to school, go to college, finish, and when you look at who gets fired, I get upset because I haven't seen any statistics, but I know my district, District 7, is going to be hit very hard with these layoffs. And what can we do about it? The vote has been taken. Folks are going to be looking for a job. September, they won't have a job. And those are the families that are going to be disabilized because they won't be able to put food on their tables. They won't be able to pay their rent. They won't be able to get gas with the way gas is going up. And we've already voted down the package. Today, the school department, BPS, still doesn't know how many folks they're gonna lay off. Even today, I talked to them this morning, they still don't know.

And we've already passed the budget and we're not even thinking about looking at the folks that get laid off, how we're going to help them keep a roof over their head, food on the table, and shoes on their feet.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The chair recognises Councillor Fitzgerald and then we'll go back to Councillor Mejia.

I'd just like to make a motion to vote on the amendment package on the floor, if folks are done.

Could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment? Someone, did you get a second to move the question? Durkan.

Councilor Brayton.

No.

Brayden, no. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, no. Durkan, no. 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? Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. The motion to move the question passes 10 in the affirmative, 3 in the negative.

Thank you.

To move the question, yeah.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes. Mr. Chair, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Fitzgerald's amendment?

Raiden, no. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, no. Durkan, no. 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, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Amendment of Councilor Fitzgerald passes. Ten votes in the affirmative, three in a negative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Now, does anyone else wish to offer an amendment? Councillor Mejia? Councillor Fitzgerald, hold on.

Yes, I was just going to offer another amendment package if you could, procedural. Go ahead. This would be the, yeah, I'll take five seconds. Yep. Understood.

Fitzgerald.

Webber.

Yeah, based on the guidance I received from the State Ethics Commission, I'll recuse myself from this discussion.

Thank you. We'll call you back when this is decided. Oh, okay, let's get it all in order. Mr. Clerk, could you please read the second amendment from Councillor Fitzgerald?

Second amendment from Councilor Fitzgerald, docket number 0733, message in honor for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027. As amended, shall be amended as follows. Moya ESOL grant. Decrease Office of Labor Relations Contractual Services Increase Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services $50,000 to be directed toward English for speakers of other languages for parents and caregiver grants. Decrease Office of People Operations Contractual Services. Increase Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services. $50,000 to be directed toward English for speakers of other languages for parents and caregiver grants. Decrease Department of Innovation and Technology contractual services. Increase Mayor's Officer Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services.

$40,000 to be directed towards English for speakers of other languages for parents and caregiver grants. Decrease execution of court special appropriation. Increase mayor's officer immigrant advancement contractual services. $135,000 to be directed toward English for speakers of other languages. for Parents and Caregiver Grants, Moyer Miscellaneous Grants, Decrease the Execution of Court Special Appropriation, Increase Mayor's Office Immigrant Advancement Contractual Services, $825,000 to be directed toward Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Grants. Decrease Boston Public Library personnel services. Increase Mayor's Officer Immigrant Advancement Contractual, $100,000 to be directed toward Mayor's Officer Immigrant Advancement Grants.

Just to be clear, has everyone got a written copy of this amendment in front of them? Very good. Thank you. Continue.

Thank you, Madam President. As discussed yesterday, to remain far above the expectations of any advice some of our colleagues have received. The Mayor's Office of Immigration and Advancement was left out of the original budget. We had a working session yesterday where we all agreed I would put forth The Mayor has offered Immigrant Advancement money back into that budget through an amendment process. This is it exactly as it was taken out from the same increases and decreases and so I look forward to a vote.

Thank you Madam Chair. Do you have a second? Second. Councilor Durkan is the second. Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. You have the floor.

No, that was when I thought I was going to get called for my amendment.

Okay, thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this amendment? Okay. Would anyone like to... Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Fitzgerald's second amendment?

Councillor Breadon.

Yes.

Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Yes.

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, yes. Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes. Second Amendment of Council of Fitzgerald passes. Twelve votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Ron, could you The Messenger. Could you ask Councillor Webber to rejoin us? Fitzgerald's second amendment has passed. Does anyone else wish to offer an amendment? Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Do you have written copies of your amendment?

Yes, I do. I believe Sydney's going to... Give them to Ryan now, I believe. Excuse me, Karishma does have them.

Just bear with us for a few minutes.

Thank you.

So Ryan is just giving, bringing around everyone a copy of Councillor Flynn's amendment. And then, Mr. Clerk, would you mind reading Councillor Flynn's amendment into the record?

Amendment of Councilor Flynn, document number 0733, message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027. As amended, shall be amended as follows. Decrease neighborhood services personnel Services, Increased Police Department Equipment, $500,000 for equipment at the Boston Police Crime Lab.

Thank you.

Oh, Councillor Flynn, you need a second for your amendment. Councillor Murphy is the second. Councillor Flynn, please continue.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I've been working on crime lab related issues for six or seven years now. And I'm making this motion because it is my goal, it is my vision to have the best crime lab we possibly can in the country. Boston Police equipment to enable advanced DNA testing techniques, including Y-screening. This is the most advanced testing on basically testing sexual assault kits for this Y screening program. These amendments for personnel and advanced testing were previously passed by the city council. However, it is still unclear if this funding was ever actually reallocated.

In both 2024 and 2025, I held a hearing with my colleagues here to discuss the challenges that the Boston Police Crime Lab have and had including delays in testing of sexual assault kits that I mentioned. The city of Boston was not meeting the state requirement of testing within 30 days and at that period had not upgraded their DNA testing I believe we owe it to the victims of sexual assault, their families, and the public at large to both ensure that we are testing sexual assault kits within the state mandated 30-day requirement, which I believe we are, as well as utilizing the most advanced technology available.

And with this $500,000, it could go a long way to ensuring that the Boston Police Department continues to improve their crime lab. And it's an issue I've focused on and will continue to focus on

Pappin, and so on. I completely understand the reasoning for adding the money in the line item to equipment for the BPD because I know they need it. But where we're pulling the money from is not a good place because the neighborhood services personnel and the work that they do. They're the ones that go to all the community meetings. They're the ones that attend all the events to make sure that if there is a department that doesn't have a community engagement team, they're the ones stepping up and filling those roles. I just don't think that this is a good poll. I recommend that my colleagues also vote no on this amendment.

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

Thank you, Chair. I think because this wasn't talked about during the working sessions, I have no idea the impact on Current jobs. I imagine this would result in layoffs in the mayor's office. And not knowing who those people would be, I will be voting no.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Contra Mejia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to note that the reason why we may not have all of the information that is required for us to make educated decisions is because we had One real working session on Monday, and it was five hours long, but not everyone stayed. to go back and forth with the hard job of doing the amendments. So it's going to be a really interesting journey here this evening because in reality, the real work was supposed to happen during our working sessions where we were supposed to build consensus and also build consensus around what decreases we were willing to pull from which departments, but we never got to do that in a real serious way So that's why we are here today. So for those who are paying attention, understand that had we done our jobs the last few sessions that we've had, we probably would be having a different conversation today.

Thank you, Councillor Mehear. The chair recognizes the chair of Ways and Means. Councillor Weber, you have the floor, and then we'll go back to the sponsor of the amendment.

Yeah, I just want to correct the record a little bit on that. I believe at the working session, We asked for amendment packages and Councilor Flynn said he did not want to disclose what he wanted to amend and where the money would come from in the working session. We definitely had an opportunity to discuss this, and we didn't. So just to fill in people, I know it was lightly attended at the end there.

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

I wasn't going to rise, but it kind of feels like it's turning into a tit-for-tat. But I was definitely at one of the working sessions where we weren't talking about specifically where the money would go, but Councillor Flynn gave a I thought very thorough reason why he was willing. And he even said, I know I will get flack for this. I know people will not be happy. But here are the departments I am willing to pull for. And if I remember correctly, which I think I am, it was minutes before the chair adjourned the meeting because then another amendment package was brought up. O'Flynn did list and ONS was definitely one of them and he gave his reasons why. One of them being that it has grown significantly in these past years. Under this new administration. So just to set the record straight. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. Anyone else wait to speak who hasn't already spoken? Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. Just to correct the record, I was very clear in the amendment process at the budget hearings where I was going to pull this from. I listed several City Departments, including Office of Neighborhood Services. I didn't miss one budget meeting the entire time. I was very clear. I've said it several times. I was going to take it from Office of Neighborhood Services. I understand people may not like that, but you can't say I didn't say it on the record. I understand there's a lot of political support for the Office of Neighborhood Services. That's fine. But there also has to be support for the crime lab as well. We have to prioritize what is more important, Office of Neighborhood Services, Community Engagement, or Crime Lab. That's a fair question.

That's a fair question. If you think the Office of Neighborhood Services, then that's fine. But I think the crime lab deserves equal attention and that's why I'm advocating for that because I believe we need to have a state-of-the-art crime lab in Boston. We don't have it. We're currently hiring a executive director at the crime lab because the previous executive director was on leave for an extended period of time. We don't have the right management in the crime lab as well. But while we're not focused on the crime lab and it's kind of operating itself, I'm going to do my due diligence to provide the best I can for the crime lab, but this is an important vote. Do we put politics ahead of public safety? Thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you Councillor Flynn. Would anyone else wish to speak on this matter? We'll move to a vote then. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Flynn's First Amendment?

Councillor Breadon. No. Councillor Breadon, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata, no. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan? No. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald? No. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn?

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijan? No. Councilor Louijan, no. Councilor Mejia? Mejia, no. Councilor Murphy? Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén?

No.

Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana? No. Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Weber? Councilor Webb a no and Councilor Worrell? No. Councilor Worrell, no. Amendment of Councilor Flynn, 11 votes in the negative and two in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councillor Flynn's First Amendment has not passed. Have you got copies? We need copies.

Here they come.

Somebody's got a runner. Mr. Clerk, do you have a copy?

Yes.

Would you like to read Councillor Flynn's second amendment into the record, please?

Amendment of Councilor Flynn, document number 0733. Message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027 as amended shall be amended as follows. Decrease neighborhood services personnel Services Increase Boston Police Department Contractual Services $500,000 for health and wellness services for Boston Police Department.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Flynn, do you have a second?

Yes.

Councilor Murphy is your second. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Health and wellness for city employees is critical. Boston police officers, in my opinion, have a very stressful job, many of them, or most of them. are working 16 hours a day. I want to make sure that we have the necessary resources and support for Office of Wellness and Health For police officers and their families, when we send a police officer on a 16-hour We have a responsibility, in my opinion, we have a responsibility to ensure the mental health of the officer as well and the family.

We just can't expect that a police officer is going to work 16 straight hours and then we're not going to have the necessary resources and support to support that police officer and his or her family. I do think it's an important issue. I do acknowledge that people may not support it because it's the Boston Police. But let's also remember that Boston Police officers are our neighbors. They're part of our community. They're engaged in after school programs. They're community activists. and they deserve a fair shake. And a fair shake to me means ensuring that when we give an assignment for someone to work 16 hours a day consistently for years, Eventually they need the mental health and wellness programs. We don't have it right now.

This is our opportunity, I believe, to stand with Our city employees, our neighbors, to ensure that we respect the job that they're doing, but we're also providing the critical support and mental health services that they need and deserve. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. Do you wish to speak to this issue?

I'm waiting my turn.

Okay. I'll switch this off then. Would anyone else like to speak on this amendment? Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Flynn's second amendment?

Councillor Brayden.

No.

Councillor Brayden, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata, no. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia, no. Mejia, no. Councilor Murphy? No. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén? No. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana? No. Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Weber? No. Councilor Weber, no. And Councilor Worrell? Second Amendment of Council of Flynn, two votes in the affirmative and nine votes in the negative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councillor Flynn's second amendment has not passed. Councillor Flynn, you have a third amendment.

I have a third one. I don't expect my colleagues will support it, but I do have a third one. Certainly your privilege. I support their amendments but they won't support my amendments.

Mr. Clerk, could you please read Councillor Flynn's third amendment into the record?

Doc. Amendment of Council of Flynn, Doc. Number 0733, Message and Order for Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for Fiscal Year 2027. As amended, shall be amended as follows. decreased neighborhood services permanent employees, increased fire department contractual services, $500,000 for mental health services, safety, health and wellness programs, and cancer screening for Boston Fire Department.

Flynn, you need a second? Have you got a second?

Yes, I haven't.

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

Madam Chair, many of us went to the wake in West Rocks where the firefighter killed off. Many of us went to the funeral at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross Church in the South End. We went there to pay our respects to this firefighter for the incredible service, the supreme sacrifice he made to our city. At the same time, Madam Chair, is it fair, is it fair for this body to ask, can we ensure that firefighters and their families have access to cancer screening? Health and Wellness Programs.

Do you know that the average, when a firefighter retires at the mandatory age, the number of years on average they live is about five years? I go to their banquet. I think Councilor Murphy attends and Councilor Fitzgerald attends. We go to the banquet and we talk and say thank you to the retirees. and at the same time we know that they're going to collect their pension and it's likely that they're gonna live five years with that pension. But as city councilors, can't we do something more than that, than show up to a retirement banquet? Can we put money in the budget so that they can get cancer screening? Is that a lot to ask for? That they can get health and wellness, employee assistance. They're not asking for a lot.

I think they're asking for a little support here from our colleagues on the Boston City Council. This shouldn't be a political issue. This is about supporting our neighbors that are firefighters and their families. Health and wellness of firefighters is critical. Cancer screening is critical. If we help and identify cancer in one firefighter, then we've done our job. We know young men and young women are diagnosed and firefighters have a high cancer rate. Are we willing to maybe, Tell the Mayor's Administration that we might have to cut some services at Office of Neighborhood Services. Why? Because we think, as a body, we think health and wellness of firefighters and their families is important.

We know by voting yes, you might get into a little bit of trouble with the administration, but you're going to be doing the right thing. You can hold your head up high and say, I went to bat for a family that needed employee assistance. I went to a bat for a firefighter's family that needed various health and wellness programs. I know because I served 24 years in the Navy. Health and wellness programs are critical. You don't just send someone into a dangerous job and then when they come home and say, oh, by the way, you're on your own. That's our job as city councilors, is to make sure that we support their families, we support firefighters, we support our first responders. That's what they asked us for.

That's all I have to say on this. I do want to respectfully ask my colleagues to put politics aside and do the right thing. Do the right thing on this one. You'll be proud of your vote. I'll guarantee you that. You'll be proud of your vote.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. You have the floor, and then we'll go to Councillor Pepén and then Councillor Santana.

Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you. So I know we spoke about this before. Thank you, Council Flynn, for putting this through as an amendment. I think it was in our original package that dwindled down between those hours when we needed to recess, but... Just to be clear, when the fire department came before us to talk about their budget, they were concerned that this year they did not receive the $1.2 million grant that they have been receiving in past years that supports 150,000 of that did support cancer screening, but it also supports mental health, health and wellness, the employee assistance program where they support recovery services. It was more than just cancer screenings. I know that the mayor had a press conference and Dana Faubus stepped up and they gave $150,000 to make sure that

The cancer screening piece will be covered this year, which is great, but we still have $1,050,000 of support that is no longer going. to our firefighters and Councilor Flynn made it clear and I know I've said this many times on the floor that our firefighters are at risk for so many things like all of our first responders are. So I think it's important that we find it and the mayor can always find a way to spend other money if needed. But if we send a message, That all of us want to make sure that the firefighters get this money back into the budget and if she does not want to take it from ONS she can find $500,000 somewhere else. So if we send the message that we don't want it vetoed we can So I'm hoping our colleagues join us.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I rise again to say that This is not about what the amendment actually stands for, but more of a concern about where we're pulling from. I think we're all in agreement with what Councilor Flynn is saying right now. The firefighters do need support. We were all at that funeral that day. We all talked to the fire union. We all talked to the commissioners and to the firefighters from our district. And I know that the firefighters and the firefighter union were also at a press conference with Dana Farber to make sure that they were getting the support that they needed in order to serve their firefighters. What I don't feel comfortable is taking away money from a department that residents in my district, day after day, I have a vacancy right now in one of my neighborhoods, And they keep saying, when is this going to be filled? Because it is a very important decision where residents reach out for day-to-day services.

And what I don't want to see is the day that Mattapan, Rossino High Park, or Southeast, South End, or Chinatown don't have a liaison that they can go to. Because at the end of the day, the services that they provide, this is why it's so difficult to compare departments because we could talk about the importance of one, not the other, but they do provide crucial services that our residents depend on and they call on us to make sure that they also have the support. So again, I just want to make sure that I emphasize That it's not about not standing with the fire departments. It's about having a legitimate concern of where we are pulling this money from. That's why we're voting no, and I recommend my colleagues do the same.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. Anyone else wish to speak on this amendment? Councillor Flynn, since no one else wishes to speak, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just one minute at this stage around the second round.

Madam Chair, this process is difficult. When you advocate for something, you have to pull it from another department. If someone wants to tell me where they want me to pull it from, I'll do that. But that's the process we have. I'm making a recommendation based on my experience. I think district city councilors can also do the job. of O&S as well. is more concerned with politics than they are with helping our first responders.

Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. Our firefighters are deeply important to our city and the idea that Voting on this is political here. If it's being made political, it's being made political by the folks that are bringing it. because today we have a real opportunity here to talk about the great partnership that Dana-Farber is stepping forward I was proud to call Dana-Farber a great An incredible group of an incredible institution in my district who just permitted the first world-class cancer hospital in the city. I was proud to be a part of that. Our Article 97 amendment that we passed through this council with my leadership just passed the Senate. So fighting occupational cancer is, all of us have been part of that work. I want to thank my colleagues for their continued support to end occupational cancer.

I think what's missing from this conversation as well is EMS. And so while I'll be voting no today, my work and my charge and occupational cancer for city employees will not stop.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Would anyone else wish to speak who hasn't spoken? Thank you. Councillor Flynn.

Yeah, just to correct the record straight, to correct the record. We are discussing EMS. I was the one that put the money into EMS for health and wellness. So I'm not sure why that comment came out that we're not focused on EMS and health and wellness. I advocated strongly to ensure that that got into the amendment process led by Council Fitzgerald. But that's not the point. The point is there's a significant amount of money that was cut from the health and wellness of the Boston Fire Department. Yes, Dana Fabra contributed $200,000 to $300,000, but there's still a significant amount that was cut. And can I finish my comments, please?

No, but please, Councillor Flynn, I've given you many times to come round and I really just, I'd ask my colleagues not to, no comments on other people's statement right now, and Councillor Flynn, please. Please continue.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do believe we can make a statement here that the life of firefighters and their families are significant. They are important. We should not overlook that. Let's do the right thing. Let's do the right moral thing today. Let's support our firefighters. They deserve it. They need it. Their families need it. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Seeing no other request to speak on this issue, Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Flynn's third amendment?

Councillor Breadon.

No.

Councillor Breadon, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Culpepper, no. Councilor Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Loujeune, no. Councilor Loujeune, no. Councilor Mejia. Mejia, no. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Weber, no. Councilor Weber, no. And Councilor Worrell, no. Councilor Worrell, no. 10 votes in the negative and two votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councillor Flynn's third amendment has not passed. Councillor Flynn, I understand you have another amendment? No. The Chair recognizes Councillor Julia Mejia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Before we start, do we have copies of your amendment?

I was told. That central staff has them, allegedly.

Yeah, they're coming. I don't know. The clerk didn't get one? All right, you guys, I'm making it. Here they come. Can we have one for Mr. Clerk first?

Yes, it's this. Yeah, it's this one. Did we not? This one. Good job.

I have a few. I have a few. That's fine, we'll start number. So I'm gonna let everybody know I got one, two, three little packages. Three little packages. So that means that three times the essential staff will come out with a piece of paper.

Mr. Clerk, would you mind reading Councilor Mejia's First Amendment into the record?

Amendment of Councilor Mejia, document number 0733, message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027 as amended, shall be amended as follows. Decrease Boston Police Department personnel services Increase Office of Food Justice Contractual Services $50,000 for Food Justice Grants Decrease Boston Police Department Personnel Services Increase Mayor's Office of Housing Contractual Services $130,000 for Grow Boston, decrease Boston Police Department personnel services, increase arts and cultural Arts and Culture Contractual Services $475,000 for Arts and Culture Grants Decreased Boston Police Department Personnel Services Increased Boston Veterans Engagement Transition and Services, Contractual Services, $200,000 for veterans grants.

Decrease Boston Police Department personnel services, increase youth employment, and opportunity contractual services. $2,225,000 for Success Links grants.

Conchomehue, do you have a second?

Second. Thank you. Conchomehue, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and I rise to make a motion to amend docket 0733 by adding additional amendments to make the funding for the Office of Food Justice, Grow Boston Arts and Culture Whole, as well as adding $200,000 for veterans and $2.25 million for youth jobs in contractual services for a success link program. I have three amendment packages that I will be putting on the floor today, one at a time. And this is my amendment package, version two. You should have copies of this amendment in front of you, which I believe you do. So thank you, Madam President. I'm proposing this package today because the proposed amendment package in front of us is claimed to be a restoration budget, but still leaves room for half of the nearly $20 million in cuts still unresolved.

And I want to note again, for the record, we still... We had over 20 million in cuts and lots of it is still unresolved. This package will make the funding for the Office of Food Justice, Grow Boston and Arts and Culture whole, as well as adding 200 We need to be bold and propose more than 9.4 million in amendments. and this package seeks to do just that by closing more of the gap that's still left. I tried to bring this version of this amendment forward in our working session on Monday to engage in a consensus building exercise but my colleagues you know but some of them just they didn't not want to be fully engaged therefore I'm bringing it here

This package is a win for community and this council. It takes very little from police salary savings and over time to fully or partially restore six main priorities for this body and community. This moment is calling us to invest in community. And so therefore, I am going to ask my colleagues for consideration.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia. Would anyone like to speak on this amendment? Okay. OK. Mr.

Clerk, could you—

Did you? Okay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Mejia's First Amendment?

Councillor Breadon.

No.

Councillor Breadon, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia, no. Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy? No. Councilor Murphy, no. Councilor Pepén? No. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana?

No.

Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Weber? Councilor Weber, no. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes.

9 votes in the negative and 3 votes in the affirmative.

So I want to note for the record here is that we only have a little over $3 million that we're trying to tap into. For the police overtime and underspending and personnel. of Vacancies, and we're not asking for a lot.

Before we start, I would like to start by asking Mr. Clerk to please read Councillor Mejia's second amendment into the record, please.

Second Amendment of Councilor Mejia, Doctrine Number 0733, Message and Order for Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for Fiscal Year 2027. As amended shall be amended as follows. Decrease youth employment and opportunity personnel services. Increase youth employment opportunity contractual services. $250,000 for success link grants.

Thank you. Mr. Councillor Mehear, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Do you have a second? Councillor Murphy, thank you. Please continue Councillor Mejia.

Yes, so thank you Madam President and I rise to make a motion to amend docket 0733 by moving $250,000 for youth jobs funding not specified for BSAC or red shirts from personnel services, specifically emergency employees. From there to contractual services within the Chair's proposed amendments. This is so that the funding goes towards Success Link and so that the nonprofits receive these funded youth jobs instead of the city. as typically SuccessLink supports approximately 70% of school year youth jobs. And this is my amendment package too. You should have copies, right? And you do. Great. As the proposed amendment from the chair for the youth job stands, all 750,000 is going towards personnel services. which they are four city jobs.

Within the 750,000, it is separated out into three lines which are General Personnel Services, BSAC, and Red Shirts. I'm proposing to move the $250,000 for generic personnel services from their two contractual services. This amendment puts this $250,000 into funding the SuccessLink program. which typically, like I said earlier, host approximately 70% of school year youth jobs. Seeing that none of the youth job funding in the Chair's proposal was allocated for SuccessLink, This program, I'm hosting the majority of the school year youth jobs. I want to move the proposed youth funding that was not specified. At least put some in the city funding to the program success link. also support our nonprofits by providing them youth workers without having to fund those positions themselves.

Also, we cannot rely on promises of private corporations for the supposed 2,000 jobs. We are still waiting for an MOU regarding the Mayor's Youth Private Funding Announcement. The least that we can do is shift at least $250,000 into Success Link from the City Jobs Youth So that we can please give them a few pennies. to our youth and our nonprofit organizations. And so I just want to note for the record, as we continue to say that we deeply care about young people, that they are our future, this is our opportunity to demonstrate that we want to invest in them accordingly. I'd like to see where we land with this one.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this Councillor Mejia's amendment? Okay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Mejia's second amendment?

Councillor Brayton.

No.

Councilor Breadon, no. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia.

Yes.

Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Santana, no. Councilor Weber, no. Weber no, Councilor Worrell yes. Second amendment of Councilor Mejia, nine votes in the negative and four votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Mejia's second amendment has not passed. Councillor Mejia, you have a third amendment. Yes, I do.

Mr.

Clerk, would you mind reading Councilor Mejia's Third Amendment into the record?

Third Amendment of Council Mejia, docket number 0733, message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027 as amended shall be amended as follows. Decrease Mayor's Office of Housing, Contractual Services, Increase Youth Employment and Opportunity Contractual Services. $250,000 for SuccessLink grants.

Thank you Mr Clerk. Just to check, has everyone got a written copy of Councillor Mejia's third amendment in front of you? Thank you. Councillor Mejia, do you have a second? Thank you. Coach Mejia, you have the floor.

You know, this feels like the Hunger Games here. We're all trying to stay alive. And I am very disheartened by the fact that we can't even have the political courage and or will to just fight a little bit harder and to do a little bit more, especially for our young people. So here we go. Thank you, Madam President. And I rise to make a motion to amend docket 0733 by moving $250,000 from access to council. That's the package that we're looking at right now. and move it to Youth Employment and Opportunity Contractual Services within the Chair's proposed amendments. This will get us to at least a million dollars for youth jobs in the Council's amendments.

This is my amendment package three, and you have it in front of you. There are nearly right now $6 million in cuts to youth jobs in the proposed budget. The Chair's proposed amendment packages only fund $750,000 for youth jobs. I'm just seeking to add only $250,000 to go towards the city funding for youth jobs so that we can at least get to a million. Anything less is a spit in the face of community and our youth. Many of my colleagues claim to support youth jobs and our young people, and this is when we put our money where our mouth is. And I'm putting this funding into contractual services so that it can go directly to SuccessLink And so as I explained before, these dollars can go directly to the nonprofits that are supporting our young people.

And before anybody uprises, I just want to know for the record that While I understand and appreciate access to counsel being important, I'm not taking all of it. I'm taking a portion because I know that the mayor is probably tomorrow going to announce a private partnership with some legal defense fund to step in the gap of certain things. So since we're giving money away, might as well just, you know, Take money from one place because we know we're probably going to fill it up with something else somewhere else. So, you know, at the very least, let's go see what happens.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councillor Pepén and then we'll go to Councillor Weber.

Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Again, appreciative of the amendment. However, as the Chair of Housing, I highly recommend my colleagues to not pull any money from the Department of Housing Due to the fact that it is probably one of the top, if not the top issue that we're facing right now, especially something like access to council where it helps families. My understanding is actually families with BPS kids from facing evictions. And I just had a meeting with housing leadership About a couple weeks ago now where we are facing eminent threats of losing even more funding from our federal government that's supposed to go into the housing department. I just highly recommend us do not pull any money from our housing department, if it is contractual, if it is personnel. If it is for vouchers, et cetera, anything inside that department, it is crucial at the moment that we hold firm and keep that in there. So that's why I'll be voting no on this specific amendment. Thank you, Madam President.

Chair recognizes Councilor Weber. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you. I'm just going to stick up a little bit for the Access to Council program. Over 100 families a year are prevented from facing eviction. These are BPS families, so please do not cut the Access to Council program.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. I'm undecided on this one here, but could I just ask the maker... Could you just give me a little bit more background on the Access to Council program? So just so I have a good idea of what I'm voting, I know what I'm voting for, but what I would be voting against.

My turn? Chancellor, you have the floor. Thank you. So for those who are tuning in, I want to be really clear. I am not cutting money from housing. There are legal defense funds. There are lots of nonprofit organizations that provide legal support to folks who are dealing with eviction. And that is Okay? And because we are dealing with this budget crisis right now, all I'm asking for is a portion of The Access to Council line item to support youth jobs. I am not gutting it completely.

All I'm trying to do is take a little bit from it to help us restore some dignity in this process to support youth jobs. Because there is this narrative here, this fearmongering going on here, that everything that we're going to do is either going to get people laid off, fired, You know, people are going to end up in housing court without no support. That's not true. That's not true. I'm not taking all of it. I'm taking a little bit from it. So don't get it confused here. And so it is only $250,000. And if you don't like that price, let's bring it down some. Thank you, Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Weber, I will actually, Councillor Durkan had her light on. I will come back to you. Are you to clarifying point? Okay, and then we'll go to Councillor Durkan.

Thank you. Okay, the Access to Council Programs is innovative for the nation pilot. We funded it at $450,000, so taking $250,000 is... Much more, I don't know, 60%, 70% of it. And so that would gut the program that is really helping people. If you've ever been to Housing Court, right across the street, there's tons of folks in there who have no representation. Despite the fact that there's groups that are trying to help people, this is a very valuable program that keeps our BPS kids from being homeless, being put in shelters outside the city, and having to be bused in. Thank you, Councillor Weber.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan.

Thank you so much, Chair. I have been a huge proponent of the Access to Council program since we originally passed it. To my chagrin and to many of our chagrin, this is something that came out of the City Council that then when it We saw the mayor's team taking a lot of credit for its success. And I think I have been the first one to say thank you to Councilor Weber for putting this in place. I think that BPS families having access to counsel that are facing eviction is incredibly important and so So I think pitting youth jobs against BPS families facing eviction is unnecessary in this process. And I stand with the chair. I honestly wish we could put more money into Access to Council than we have this year. So thank you, Councilor Weber, for your leadership. And I was surprised that it wasn't in this year's budget, so I think this is something that

The council has the ability to fully restore, which we have in the initial package, and I truly believe in it. And I think that it actually will save the city a lot of money, because every BPS family that ends up being in a homeless shelter outside of the city, ends up being bused in at tremendous cost, like the chair said. So thank you, chair.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. I do want to go on record in support of Councillor Mejia's proposal. I do want to at least support one of them. I do think it's a worthy proposal. I listen to the young people across the city at every budget hearing and do want to stand up for them the best I can. The other point I do want to make is For me, it seems like if amendments weren't part of the official report, if you have your own individual amendments, that they're just going to get voted down. I don't know what... What kind of process that is. It's not even like we're voting with an open mind. We're just voting no consistently, even if we support the program.

So I'm kind of discouraged that we're automatically voting no just because it wasn't part of the established docket here. So I just want to highlight that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Murphy, would you like the last word? Councillor Mejia, have you got your light on? Sorry, you're standing, so either... Do you wish to speak? Hold on. There you go.

Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. Thank you, and I do appreciate my council colleagues as someone who... I've dealt with housing insecurity growing up and as a BPS graduate I know how important it is to have stable housing and so by no means do I want to create any hardship to folks who are already experiencing further harm. And so I think it's important for us to recognize that we are in harm reduction right now and what I'm thinking about is the fact that so many young people are usually sometimes working to help support their family so that they can stay housed. I'm looking at the bigger picture here, and this is a prevention and intervention amendment, but I understand the tension that exists.

Pitting Housing versus Youth Jobs, because both of those are equally important. And to that, if you all are not interested in taking it from housing, then I think I'm going to ask for a recess because I don't think it's just that we like this whole entire amendment exercise that that one single dollar was approved to increase youth jobs. And so I'm going to take, I'm going to request a recess to see where I could find another $250,000.

No, Councillor Mejia, we're going to continue. Anyone else wish to speak on Councillor Mejia's amendment? Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Councillor Mejia's third amendment?

Councillor Brayden?

No.

Councillor Brayden, no. Councillor Coletta Zapata? No. Councillor Coletta Zapata, no. Councillor Culpepper?

No.

Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan? No. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald? No. Councilor Fitzgerald, no. Councilor Flynn?

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune?

No.

Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia?

No. had $8 million left. Councillor Mejia, we're taking a vote. And $10 million of that was spent for access to council.

So there is money out there.

Mejia.

Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy? Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén? No. Councilor Pepén, no. Councilor Santana?

No.

Santana, no. Councilor Weber?

No.

Councilor Weber, no. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Nine votes in the negative and four votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Councillor Mejia's third amendment has not passed. Councillor Mejia, do you have any further amendments?

I don't think so. I think my amendments have all died. Thank you. I'll be going to a funeral.

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

Madam Chair, I have an amendment. I move to amend Doctrine 733 for an order regarding the Boston Fire Department. I think it's been passed and distributed.

This is Councillor Culpepper's First Amendment. Do you have a second?

No. This is my first and last for the night.

Councillor Murphy is your second.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Mr. Clerk will read it into the record and then you can speak as well. Okay. Excellent. Mr. Clerk, have you got a copy of Councilor Culpepper? Yes. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Councilor Culpepper's first amendment into the record?

Amendment of Councilor Mignon Culpepper, document number 0733. Message and order for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027 as amended shall be amended as follows. Decrease Boston Transportation Department contractual services Increase Boston Fire Department supplies and materials. $200,000 for the procurement of PFAS-free turnout gear and protective equipment for firefighters.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, I move to make a floor amendment to the amended docket to provide $200,000 investment for PFAS free turnout gear and Protected Equipment for Boston Firefighters. While I appreciate that this investment currently appears in Chair Weber's amended budget as a recommendation, Madam President, recommendation is not enough especially when you're dealing with lives of the firefighters. This council believes this is a priority that we should actually fund it and incorporate it into the budget itself rather than merely expressing support for it. Boston firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our residents from immediate danger, but increasingly we are learning that many firefighters also face long-term dangers from the very equipment designed to keep them safe.

Studies have consistently shown that firefighters experience disproportionately high rates of occupational cancer and PFAS chemicals have been identified as a significant concern and Turnout Gear and Protective Uniform. Massachusetts has already taken important steps and departments across the country are being the transition to safer alternatives. Occupational safety experts and firefighter organizations have made clear that as PFAS-free turnout gear becomes available, departments should move aggressively toward replacing legacy equipment containing harmful chemicals. This amendment is about acting on the information we have today Rather than waiting until years from now on to say we should have done more, we ask firefighters to run toward danger every single day. The least we can do is ensure that the equipment we provide them does not expose them to preventable risk

Long after the fire is out, I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this amendment. I'd also like to read something, Madam President. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancer, including kidney and test Tessula Cancer, Thyroid Disease, and Reproductive Issues. And I think that For us not to pass something to give them at least a pilot is in some ways irresponsible. They wouldn't have to go to Dana-Farber for the cancer test If we got them the PFAS equipment, Quincy just bought many sets for their firefighters. Madam President and my colleagues, I ask you to support this amendment to provide PFAS-free equipment as a pilot for all firefighters. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn, and then we'll go to Councillor Murphy. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do want to say thank you to Councillor Culpepper for bringing this forward. I think this is the most common sense amendment. and important amendment tonight, in my opinion. And for many reasons, but it's easy It's easy for us to support this. We should all be voting for it. He's not asking for a lot of money. $200,000 is not a lot of money. But the money in the... The pilot will help so many firefighters, and this is an easy one for us to support. We should all get on board this one because it's critical, as Councilor Culpepper said, that we provide firefighters with the critical resources support that they need to prevent, to prevent health related issues.

And I just want to, again, say thank you to Councilor Culpepper for taking the important lead on this. And I do want to make one short story. My Uncle Dennis Flynn was a A firefighter, and he was a decorated Vietnam veteran as well, served in the Army. He died at a young age for heart-related disease. He had a heart attack. at a young age, but he was one of the closest people to me. But I think about him every day, and I wish these programs were available When he was around, and they were around, what Councilor Culpepper is asking for is a little bit of respect for firefighters and their families. That's the least we can do as city councilors. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Culpepper for putting this forward. I just want to go back four years ago when any of my colleagues who were with us then, and we put forth our first amendment package where I think 90% of it got vetoed and then those that got finally passed we realized the very important difference between an inter and an intra departmental amendment and so any recommendation which is an intra within the department and it says recommendation so I appreciate the chair didn't leave that word out but we're still waiting on the answer which many of us know that even those amendments that aren't just recommendations that are inter which are pitting and it was said during the last amendment where someone was advocating for something that I don't want to pit one

Department against the other, all of this amendment process is always pitting one department against each other, not just some of our amendments, every single time. We have to pull from somewhere. And there's not one department, even when money wasn't so tight, departments never wanted us to pull from them. So an intra-departmental amendment is nothing. Even more so than the amendments, which we know the amendments aren't really anything. They're all basically recommendations. But to say that because we voted and passed this package that the Chair put forth and we have turnout gear and we have money for ISD and we put money back into the Bridge the Gap, Grant for Boston Vets. It's just saying, you should do this. And we know they're not going to, because history and the data has shown that they haven't.

I am hoping, because it's a small amount, that if we vote, there's a better chance that it will be executed if we can get it into an actual amendment and not just an intra-departmental swap. So thank you.

Murphy. Would anyone else like to speak on this amendment?

Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, no, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, no, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, no. No. Council Santana?

No.

Council Santana, no. Council Weber? No. Council Weber, no. And Council Worrell? Yes. Council Worrell, yes. Five votes in the affirmative. No. Councilor? Durkan, no. Seven votes in the negative and five votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr Clerk. Councillor Culpepper's First Amendment has not passed. Anyone else offer an amendment? Seeing no more amendments, we're going to take a brief recess to add the amendments to the docket. So each councillor will have it before them before we go to a final vote. So I have no idea what time it is because my wife... Seven o'clock? Fifteen? We'll take a 15-minute recess and thank you. Don't go too far. We'd like to keep going and... get through this process. Thank you so much.

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