City Council

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Good afternoon, everyone. I apologise for the delay in getting started. We had some technical difficulties with our live stream, but we are ready to roll. I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council. Viewers can watch the council meeting live on YouTube at boston.gov backslash city dash council dash tv. At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in attendance to please silence 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, 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. Thank you. Mr.

Clerk, will you please call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum?

Councilor Breadon.

Yes, here.

Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber. Thank you.

I have been informed by the Clerk that the quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, I'd like to call on you to offer some brief remarks as an invocation today, and following which we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you, Councilor. Good morning, everyone. Let us pray. Spirit of life and love which moves through us and through all the world, may we this day be grateful for the gift of life which is ours. Remembering today and always that the life we have and hold is to us a mystery and precious, may we this day be reminded of the responsibilities we carry, not so that we are intimidated overwhelmed but so that we may be true to them so that we may be faithful in carrying them forward may we this day be inspired be filled with new breath and be filled with new enthusiasm Be ready to use fresh opportunity, new perspectives, unnoticed avenues for action and resolution. And may we this day remember those virtues that bless our lives and bless the lives of others. The virtues of caring and concern.

The virtues of honesty and respect. The virtues of charity, industry, and patience. And may the members of the Boston City Council maintain a high sense of their calling. Remember that we are invested here with honor and call to a wider vision of the world and a world made more fair, more just, more equitable by their efforts. Amen.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We have two presentations today. Councilor Mejia is recognizing BPS paraprofessionals, and following that, Councilor Weber will be recognizing the BPS cross-country state champions. Oh, did you want to go first? Councilor Mejia, you are up first.

Good afternoon, everyone. It is so good to see this chamber. Full with people who we work for. So welcome to your chamber. So good afternoon. I am really excited today to recognize and celebrate the paraprofessionals of the Boston Public Schools. And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the difficult moment many are experiencing. This year, Boston Public Schools proposed the elimination of 161 paraprofessional positions as part of a broader staffing reduction across the district. Okay? While the Boston City Council's role in the BPS budget process is limited to voting yes or no, because that's the job of the appointed school committee, The overall budget is just for us a yes or no.

But we do not have the authority to amend The school department budget itself and we must recognize the symbolic impact of our votes and the message that they send to the people who make our schools work every day. Behind every position is a person who has spent countless hours helping students succeed, providing one-on-one support assisting teachers, supporting students with disabilities, helping multilingual learners, and ensuring that young people feel seen, safe, valued, affirmed, and so to our powerful professionals who have dedicated their entire careers to helping to support our most vulnerable learners, we are recognizing today as your day. and the Boston City Council. And this is an official resolution. Come on down, y'all.

Let's give it up for our power professionals. And we would like to just, I'll read this into the record, and then we'd love to give you an opportunity to speak. So this is an official resolution from our office. Be it resolved that the Boston City Council It sends its congratulations to the Boston Public School paraprofessionals in recognition of their dedication to supporting students across the city of Boston through their daily commitment and care. They help create supportive and enriching learning environments for countless young people. We honor the essential role of paraprofessionals of the Boston Public Schools in strengthening our schools and uplifting the next generation. So let it be resolved. that the Boston City Council extends its best wishes for continued success and that this resolution be signed by the President of the City Council and attested to with a copy transmitted by the Clerk of the City of Boston.

And this is not just a piece of paper. This is part of the history book. So forever, this will be a part of our historical archive. So just want to thank you all for your dedication and your work. And we would love to give Colleen the mic.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia. I appreciate it. We accept this in all the power professionals of the City of Boston, many of which cannot be with me today because they're supporting our schools. As we mentioned, today is a really important vote for the budget. I ask you and implore you to vote no. 161 of my colleagues are going to lose their jobs. at the end of the school year, which means our students are gonna lose their services and supports, and our schools are gonna be deeply affected by that loss. Standing behind me right now are many generations of paras from the last 40 years. that came with me today to represent the paraprofessionals of these cities, some of which are still very active in our schools. The vote is so important. Our students deserve the best we can offer them in this city. And if they don't have the supports they need every day to be successful, what type of education are we giving them? So I ask you to vote no today.

in favor of the budget so that we save the positions, we save the services our students deserve. But I would like to thank you for this honor today on behalf of all the power professionals across the city of Boston. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you. And I wanna note too, for those who are tuning in, is that the majority of our paraprofessionals, many are women, single mothers, and communities of color who are taking on these roles. And I think it's really important if we're really serious about racial equity, then we really start thinking about how we're utilizing this budget season to define what that really looks like. So thank you. Now I'll ask my colleagues to come up and take a photo. Thank you very much. Let's give it up one more time for our power professionals.

Come on, occupy space.

There you go.

On three. One, two, three.

Vote no. That's right.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. So, Councillor Weber, I invite you up to make your presentation and invite the BPS cross-country state champions to come up as well.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Oh, yeah, please. The BPS cross-country team, I think it was really a passion project for Coach H, for anyone who knows him. And up until a couple years ago, it had been 50 years since the BPS cross-country team I think boys or girls had made it to the state meet. And they finally made it after all this hard work. Competed for a couple years, and then this fall, both the boys and the girls team won the state meet.

So please, a round of applause. So under Coach Ward, who's done an incredible job With this group, 13 students, seven boys and six girls from various BPS schools won the Division II Cross Country Championship The first time for BPS athletics in over 100 years. Very nice. Not even I was around for that. The students in front of us today are from the O'Brien, the Dearborn, Boston Latin Academy, and our sophomores, juniors and seniors. As Coach Ward told the Bay State banner last November, in order to be successful, At cross-country, it takes a special type of dedication and work ethic. Being able to find young athletes wanting to go through the everyday grind of cross-country training was only made possible by the joint leadership of both Coach Ward and Coach H over the past 10 years.

Most recently, October, Coach Ward predicted that his teams would step up to a higher level after a meet in Falmouth. Is that where? The girls won their competition by one point and the guys finished third, but only five points off the lead. In November, the girls team scored a decisive victory over Canton High School. And who came in second for the boys? Okay, Fall Meadow. Long Meadow, sorry, Long Meadow. Before I pass the mic over to Coach Ward, I just want to take a moment to recognize Some of the team's top runners. I have resolutions for all of you. Let me see if I can hand these out. We have here Coach Ward. Let me see. Khalid. We have Nathaniel. Thank you.

Nathaniel Iliff, Maya Friedman. Great job. We have Nev Flynn. Ryan Collins, Pietro Waterman, Sarah Blanco Adam Kramer, Brandon Spice, Spice, Spice, and Maddie. Okay. Okay. Did everyone get one? No? Okay. Well, great. Sarah Blanco goes to the O'Brien. Nev Flynn is from BLA. Brandon Spiess and Adam Kramer are from the O'Brien. Ryan Collins goes to BLA. And Terrence McGee, no, Terrence isn't here. Youngest member of the team goes to the Dearborn Academy. I just want to congratulate

All the runners, I hope the seniors are going on to run next year. And everyone else, just PRs next fall. and does a little better with Coach Ward's help. So Coach Ward, if you have anything you want to say.

Just thank you to all for giving us this honor. It was a lot of hours of hard work and dedication. These kids, they really put in so much time. As like a unified co-op team in Boston, it takes a lot of effort to kind of I'm just really proud of them. Thank you so much for the honor. Appreciate it.

I'd like to invite my colleagues up for a photo. Where are the seniors going next year? Are you running? Who's running? Forty-second quarter-mile. Thanks a lot.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations once again to the BPS cross-country state champions. I actually ran cross-country when I was in high school, believe it or not. Yeah. Who's coming? Mr. Clerk, could you please amend the attendance to record that Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Worrell and Councillor Culpepper have joined us? Thank you. We're now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of May 20th, 2026.

All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The minutes of the May 20th meeting are approved.

Document number 1083, message in order. Authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $80,000 in the form of a grant, community safety initiative awarded by the Mass Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the City of Boston's comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing gun gang and youth violence in the City of Boston. Docket number 1084, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $39,000 in the form of a grant donation by MSP Surplus Vessel Marine 43. Awarded by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the transfer of one 1979 Coast Guard UTB patrol boat

Marine 43 from the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit to the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councilor Santana, the chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm rising today to suspend and pass both of these grants, first on Docket 1083. This grant is one of many grants that fund the YOU program. You will be able to support over 200 core involved or at-risk youth on a yearly basis. The cohort participants will have access to case management, which includes resource coordination, advocacy and support, Mentoring, Transitional Support, and much more, depending on the needs of each individual. Youth also have the opportunity to explore different supervised opportunities with our community-based organizations. Some of these opportunities include opportunities in the culinary arts, DJ and mixing, Sports, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Photography, and many more. With the acceptance of this grant, the Office of Workforce Development will be able to continue to uplift and serve these young residents who need that support as they continue to learn

and Bill, the skills necessary to be successful and productive members of this community. And then the second grant, a $39,000 low-level grant. This is going to be going to the crime lab To support their efforts, and I know we've had many hearings led by Councilor Flynn on this issue. We want to make sure that that office has the resources it needs to be able to execute the work. So I'm looking to suspend and pass both of these grants today. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Santana, the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Thank you. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. May I speak on DACA 1083, please?

Certainly. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know this grant would fund Boston's strategy aimed at reducing gun gangs. and Youth Violence in the City. Just want to acknowledge, well, I want to say thank you to Councilor Santana. Myself and Councilor Worrell will be holding a hearing soon on the yearly report, Boston Police sends to the City Council on trafficking of guns throughout the country here into the City of Boston. So I'm looking forward to having a discussion on how we work Thank you. Thank you.

Santana, the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice seeks suspension of the rules in passage of Docket 1083. All in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0183.

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, 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, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell. Document number 1-0-8-3 has passed.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Councillor Santana, the Chair on the Committee of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, seeks suspension of the rules in passage of Docket 1084. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1084?

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Lucien, yes, Councilor Mejia, 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. Docket number 1-0-8-4 has passed.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1-0-8-5?

Message unknown. Authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount. of $20,930 in the form of a grant, the El Centro Fellowship Grant awarded by Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston to be administered by the Department of Innovation and Technology. The grant will fund the fellowship program for El Centro IT training program graduates.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 1085 will be referred to the Committee on City Services. Mr. Clerk. Could you please read docket 1086?

Docket number 1086, message transmitting. Certain information under section 17F regarding all grant programs, contacts, and funding provided to nonprofit organizations, community-based organization and external partners in fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027, including all reductions, eliminations, and Changes in Funding. Docket number 0873, passed by the City Council on April 29th, 2026.

Thank you. Docket 1086 will be placed on file. We're now on to reports of public offices and others. Per rule 39, there'll be no remarks and communications from councillors. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1086 and 1095? Sorry, beg your pardon, 1087 and 1095.

Docket number 1087, notice received for the Mayor. for absence from the city on Saturday, May 30th. 2026 at 11 a.m. and returning Sunday, May 31st, 2026 at 1215 p.m. Docket number 1088, notice received from the city clerk in accordance with Chapter 6. of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of April 29, 2026, docket number 1089. Notices received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting on May 13, 2026. Dock number 1090.

Communication received from the city clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding application of West End Library Preservation Associates Limited Partnership for authorization and approval of a project pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 121A and the Acts of 1960, Chapter 652, each as amended for the West End Library Redevelopment Project. and the West End neighborhood of Boston. Docket numbers 1091. Communication received from the city clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding Mildred Haley Phase 1 Chapter 121A project. First Amendment to Report and Decision. Document number 1092. Communication received from the city clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding Mildred Haley Phase 1, Chapter 121A.

Project Phase 4A and Phase 4B, Second Amendment to Report and Decision. Document number 1093, communication received from the city clerk of the filing. by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding Mildred Haley Phase 1 Chapter 121A Project Completion of Design Review Procedures for Phase 4A and Phase 4B. Second amendment to report and decision. Document number 1094, communication received from the city clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding Franklin Hill Phase 2A and 2B Chapter 121A Project Amendment to Report and Decision and Regulatory Agreement Document Number 1095 Communication was received from the City Clerk of the filing.

by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding Mattapan Heights 3, Chapter 121A project, second amendment to report and decision.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket 0187 through Docket 095 will be placed on file. I'm having my dyslexic numbers today. Docket 1087 through 1095 will be placed on file. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1096?

Document number 1096, communication was received by the city clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for city council action on the designation of the petition number 294.24. The Swallow Mansion, 33 Corridor Street, Charlestown, Mass. In effect after July 1st, 2026, if not acted upon.

Chair recognizes Councilor Durkan. Chancellor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. As chair of the Planning Development and Transportation Committee, I wanted to speak on the Swallow Mansion, which was built in 1845. It's an architecturally significant Rare Boston area example of Greek revival temple form house with a full height columned portico capped by a pentiment. Through the Greek Revival style was common throughout New England. Only a handful of homes in Boston are temple fronts with high height porches. With the monumentality of its columns, And the pentiment, the Swallow Mansion, could be considered the finest example of a Greek revival house in Charlestown, and one of the finest in all of Boston. Set back from the street, the house's position on its site is also unique for the neighborhood. From the south end of Cordes Street, the swallow mansion rests on its foundation like a temple projecting from the incline of Breed's Hill.

Constructed at a moment of social tension amid efforts to create both an upper class enclave in Charlestown and counter the increasing immigrant habitation in the area. The history of the Swallow Mansion uniquely centers around both Boston's political and merchant elite and its immigrants. The subtle changes to its Fabric, including the early 20th century alterations that formed in its high-style home of the prominent Swallow family into a multifamily home for Irish immigrants. made a uniquely well-preserved example of Boston's elite housing stock, creatively adapted by underrepresented groups to help propel them into better standards of living. The Boston Landmarks Commission recommends that this ought to pass. And as the Chair of Planning, Development, and Transportation, I'd like to ask for your support today on this landmark designation.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Durkan, the Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, seeks suspension of the rules in passage of Docket 1096. All those in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1096?

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. 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, Penn, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 1096 has passed.

Thank you. 1096 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1097 through 1098?

Docket number 1097, communication was received from Flynn, transmitting the Wolfe and Company audit and docket number 1098. Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding a double amputee, disabled veteran sleeping outside Thank you Mr. Clerk.

Docket 1097 and 1098 will be placed on file. We are now onto reports of committees. Mr. Clerk, would you please read docket one nine six nine.

Docket number zero nine six nine. Dock number 0969, the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, of which was referred on May 13, 2026. Dock number 0969. Message and order authorizing the City of Boston. to accept and expend the amount of $12,573,604 in the form of a grant, 2026 FIFA World Cup Grant Program awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Pass through the Mass Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Office of Emergency Preparedness. The grant would fund support to the safety and security needs of our Massachusetts State and local entities directly involved with providing services for the Boston 2026 World Cup event submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councillor Santana, the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Councillor Santana, you have the floor. This is for Docket 0969.

Thank you, Madam President. On Thursday last week, we held a hearing on the 2026 FIFA World Cup grant program. During the hearing, we heard from Adrian Jordan, who's the Chief of Emergency Management, Malik Kante, Director of Administration and Finance with OEM, Deputy Superintendent Sean Martin with the Assistant Bureau Chief of Field Services with Boston Police Department, Kevin Coyne, who's the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance with the Boston Fire Department, and Neil Mulane, who's the Deputy of the Office of Field Services with the Boston Fire Department. I was joined by my colleagues, Councilor Louijeune and Councilor Fitzgerald At the hearing, we learned that the grant would provide necessary funding to enhance security and preparedness operations in the city during the 2026 FIFA World Cup events. They went over the The lay work of the $12 million house will be broken down to multiple grants. Obviously, we're going to have a lot of visitors this upcoming summer.

About $10 million of this $12 million is going to cover overtime for the Boston Police Department. So this grant is going to be needed and it's going to be useful. So as a chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, I recommend that docket number 0969 ought to pass. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana. The Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of docket 0969. All in favour say aye. Mr Clerk. Could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0969?

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. 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 Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Phippen, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0969 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0969 is passed. Mr. Clerk, would you please read docket 1030 and 1031 together?

Docket number 1030, the Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred on May 20, 2026. Dock number 1030. Message not authorizing the city of Boston. to appropriate an amount of $47,120,292 for the purposes of funding the snow and winter management appropriation to meet operating expenses of the fiscal period Commencing July 1st, 2025 and ending June 30th, 2026. Submits a report that the order ought to pass. And document number 1031, the Committee on Ways and Means, which was referred on May 20th. 2026, docket number 1031. Message not authorized in the city of Boston.

to appropriate the amount of $22,845,672 for purposes of funding Boston Public Schools to meet operating expenses of the fiscal period commencing July 1st Board of Trustees Meeting Projected Deficits and Health Insurance, $18,087,750, and Utility Spending, $4,757,922. Submits a report. Recommend the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Chair recognizes Councilor Weber and the Chair of Ways and Means.

You have the floor. Okay, thank you very much. For docket number 1030, this is a supplemental appropriation for the amount of $47 million, $120,292. for the purpose of funding the snow and winter management. The committee held a hearing on this docket on Wednesday, May 27th. It was joined by Councillors Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Murphy, Flynn, and Madam President Breadon. I'd like to thank my colleagues for attending as well as CFO Grafenberger and Office of Budget Management Director Jim Williamson. I'd like to thank them for their participation in the hearing. As you recall, this winter was extraordinary with extensive amounts of snow and cold and ice. At the hearing, the administration proposed the use of free cash to fund

This supplemental appropriation, in doing so following the guidance of the state regarding the use of free cash, as stated by the Division of Local Services Free Cash is considered a non-recurring revenue source used for one-time expenditures. Given the unique and one-time nature of this winter season, the emergency response necessary The committee believes that it is an appropriate use of those funds while also helping protect the city's fiscal stability by addressing these expenses now rather than carrying a deficit forward in the fiscal year. In addition, there is There's state law that governs snow removal and if we do not fund The amount of our overage on snow removal, which was $47 million over our budget, it gets tacked on in a tax order for next year. Madam President, do you want me to address both dockets?

If you could address both dockets and then we'll separate them for a vote.

Okay, so for those reasons I recommend the committee, I recommend passage of docket 1030. and respectfully ask my colleagues for their support. On docket number 1031, this is a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $22,845,672. For the purpose of funding the Boston Public Schools operating expenses for the fiscal year 2026, after hearing testimony from the Boston Public Schools leadership and reviewing the financial impacts facing the district, I recommend passage of this docket. I'd like to thank Councillors Pepén, Flynn, Fitzgerald, Culpepper, and Madam President Breadon for attending our hearing. I'd also like to thank BPS CFO Bloom for his participation and thorough responses at last week's hearing CFO Bloom presented. on the budget challenges that the district is currently facing, particularly around rising health insurance and utility costs.

The administration outlined steps already taken during the school year to reduce spending including pauses on discretionary spending, delaying certain hires, and implementing cost saving measures across the district that even with those efforts where the projected deficit was over $50 million, the district continues to face significant unexpected costs, particularly due to the increase in employee health insurance expenses and utility rates. This supplemental appropriation would help stabilize the district's finances the remainder of the school year and allow BPS to meet its operating obligations. This funding is necessary to address immediate financial pressures on BPS and avoid carrying a deficit forward into next year. For those reasons, as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, I recommend passage of docket number 1031 and respectfully ask for my colleagues' support. Thank you very much.

We're going to vote on these separately. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 1030. All those in favour say aye. Would you please take a roll call vote on socket 1030? And I'd like to amend the attendance record to recognize Councillor Coletta Zapata. Welcome back.

Roll call vote on docket number 1030. 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 Louisa, yes. Councilor Louisa, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Vepen, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Dock number 1030 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 1030 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please, the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 1031.

Clerk, would you please take a roll call vote on docket 1031? 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 Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pan, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Dock number 1031 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 1031 has passed. We're now on to matters recently heard. 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 help track time with a stopwatch. If councillors do not use their time in the first round, they will be able to use any remaining time they have in the second round. Pursuant to Rule 30, Councillors will have a separate two minutes for each subsidiary motion, meaning and including amendments for a Councillor will be limited to two minutes. We will be reasonably enforcing time limits in accordance with the council rules and to ensure that each councillor is allocated a fair and equal amount of time. Mr.

Clerk, could you please read dockets 0733 through 0740?

Docket number 0733 through 0735. Orders for the fiscal year 27 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations for the school department and for other post-employment benefits. Docket 0736. 0737 orders for capital fund transfer appropriations and docket number 0738 through 0740 orders for the capital budget including loan orders and lease purchase agreements.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councilor Weber, the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to get through a couple of these. Before we get to the operating budget, I'd ask Madam President for a 15-minute recess to allow. We're going to pass out. All the tax orders and everything and people can have 15 minutes here in the chamber to review. But I think to get to a couple of the, to get to OPED and capital and BPS first. Thank you.

I think 15 minutes here in the Chamber would be allowed. Yes, thank you. Constable Mejia, you have the floor.

Yes, so that I'm clear and I'm understanding and tracking the dynamics that are happening here. We're going to get, we only had seven hours and 38 minutes over the last four or five days to review These budgets. And now we're going to be given 15 minutes to review documentation. And then you were only going to get two minutes to speak on our deliberation and we're going to be asked to take votes with no voice and no way of really being able to be fully heard in this process. I just want to hear that, if that's what's happening right now, before we engage in this process.

Councilor Mejia, each councilor This is a main motion. It will be allowed 10 minutes to discuss. And if there's subsidiary amendments, they will be allowed two minutes to discuss. So I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, President. Yesterday. During a working session, the meeting was adjourned. without proper procedures and without allowing us as a member of 13 bodies here to be able to talk about amendments. And so you're going to only give us two minutes to talk about any amendments we potentially may want to make. So I need to hear from you President, Councilor Breadon, that we're not going to utilize procedural tactics to prevent people from advocating for the things that the community has asked us to do.

That is not the intention, first of all.

Okay, so that's how it's beginning to feel.

First of all, we'll allow the Chair to present his report. It's customary to bring in the final report. In previous years, the report has arrived on our desks on the morning of this vote.

And in previous years, we've had 30 hours worth of deliberation, not just 7 hours and 38 minutes.

I appreciate that concern.

So that concern is cause for us to recognize how flawed this process has been. and so therefore a 15 minute recess to deliberate is unjust.

Well I would beg your indulgence to actually receive the committee report and peruse it. I don't imagine And then we can debate it, and then we can move on from there.

Right. And then the other piece of it, right, the other piece of it, because right now what it's beginning to feel like is that we're being steamrolled through this process. Right? And what we're not going to do is continue to do business as usual. And if we've been given powers to do our jobs, then you need to allow us to do our jobs today in this chamber.

That's our intention. We'd like to see the report first, though.

My concern is with the process, and it's important to be clear about how we run here. On November 2nd, 2021, we're asking voters to...

Thank you.

Mayor, that power was given to the city council as a body. It was not given to one individual councillor, one committee chair, or a process negotiated with the administration without the full council. This is now the fifth budget cycle since voters approved that change, and I have been here for all of them. And for the last four years, there has been a process for working through proposed amendments. Council has submitted amendments. We reviewed them together, discussed priorities and used a straw vote or a show of hands to see which amendments had enough support to move forward. That process was not perfect, but it gave every councilor a fair opportunity to have their proposals discussed and considered by colleagues. This year has been very different. There were 111 amendments submitted by Councillors, and it was a Google Doc where you couldn't also add where you wanted polls from,

You were only allowed to say what you wanted to add, which was very different from past times. I understand that some were duplicative and overlapped with others, but this body never worked through the full list together. Instead, the Ways and Means Chair gave us his much shorter package of amendments, and at every working session, Council is asked how that list was determined, why some amendments were included, and why others were left out. We still do not have a clear answer why this process wasn't transparent. The Chair also made clear that Councillors who voted to reject the budget on May 20th did not have their amendments included for discussion in this package. That is a serious process problem. A vote against the earlier budget order was not a decision to give up our role in the amendment process. Councilors who voted no still represent residents.

We still have budget priorities and still have the responsibility to advocate for the communities we serve. Excluding those amendments from discussion based on a prior vote is not how I believe this authority should be executed. This discussion was abruptly cut off yesterday by the Chair. While Councillors were still asking questions, and it was the first working session, we still hadn't had any of our questions answered. And now we're being expected to read through A very thick document without having any discussion completed. So we're coming here today and in the past four years there was a very clear Understanding when we came into this chamber and maybe Brian's office printed it out and we got it the day of the vote but we already knew where we stood. We all had our voices heard and we weren't

The Ways and Means Chair has an important role in managing hearings and helping organize the budget process, but the Charter Amendment gave budget amendment authority to the Council If we are going to use that authority responsibly, every councillor should have a fair opportunity to submit amendments, have them discussed, and see whether they have support from colleagues. That is what voters approved in 2021, a stronger role for the council in shaping the budget. exercised openly, collaboratively, and transparently, and that is not what has happened. So I just think we need to pause, not just take a 15-minute break. I think we need to not take a vote today.

Flynn.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Pardon, pardon, beg your pardon, Councillor Flynn. Councillor, let me just say, let me just say, We haven't heard from the chair of the committee yet. We haven't seen the packet and we're going to be open Murphy. We are going to be open to amendments. We are allowing time to peruse it. We've seen this packet that's been in circulation for two weeks. So, I am going to recognise the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Due to some technical difficulties with the package, it's taken a few more hours to produce. I'm told it's being printed out. We'll have time to review it. This year is different than other years. We have an overwhelming call to fund several areas that were cut from the budget. Almost every Councilor advocated to fund those and so on. because this budget was different. There was a series of cuts. We heard restore the cuts several times. And in terms of what people submitted, Everyone agreed, or most of us agreed, on what to fund with our polls, and I will explain those when we get to Let's talk about that.

First, there's docket number 0735, which is the appropriation of $40 million for the Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund, better known as OPED. This cost covers retiree health and life insurance benefits similar to pensions. Employees can earn OPED over their year of service and then receive them during retirement. As of June 30, 2024, the OPEC Trust Fund had a balance of $1.17 billion. The city has been contributing $40 million to the fund each year since fiscal year 2013. That being said, I recommend we approve this docket today to fund OPED benefits for our retirees.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report. and Passage of Docket 0735, which is OPED. Mr. Trier, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0735?

Councillor Brayden. Yes. Councillor Brayden, yes. Coletta Zapata, 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 Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy. Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber.

Yes.

Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell?

Yes.

Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0735 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. Committee report has been accepted and Docket 0735 has passed. Mr. Chair, do you have any other dockets? Mr. Chair, can you have the floor?

Yeah, thank you. So docket numbers 0736 to 0737. I'm recommending passage of these dockets. which total $8.5 million for the city's capital grant fund and the surplus property disposition fund. It's $3.5 million to the capital grant fund and $5 million to the surplus property disposition fund. City's Capital Grant Fund is used to address the impact of transportation network companies or TNCs on our roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure and can be used for other public purposes that are substantially related to the operation of TNCs on the City. The Surplus Property Disposition Fund is credited to the city's capital fund for planning, design, and construction of coastal resilient solutions around the city. In recent years, this fund has supported decarbonization efforts at BHA and helped repair and improve the city's animal shelter. and supported the city's interim coastal resilience efforts.

With that being said, I recommend we approve dockets 0736 and 0737.

Thank you. The Chair of the Committee on West Main seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of DoC at 0736. Contramahir, yes.

Yes, thank you, Madam President. Just so that I'm curious, the operate, where the, Docket, which one is the BPS budget?

We're not there yet.

We're not there yet, right? No, no. Okay, no, I just want to make sure that y'all are not trying to pull a fast one.

We have a lot of dockets to go through. Thank you. Thanks for your question. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report on Docket 0736, which is the Capital Grant Programme.

Thank you. Just on this particular docket, thank you, Madam Chair, for letting me speak. But just on this particular docket, I know some of this funds will be used towards BHA. I respectfully ask the chair, one of the main challenges I've had in my district is the faulty elevators at BHA. I know some of this. Some of this will be supporting BHA operations. But could I ask the Chair what impact will this have on supporting residents living in public housing at BHA developments, specifically with How we're going to improve elevator safety and quality of life of residents. I do think it's an important discussion, and I just want to respectfully ask the chair

Where we go from here in terms of addressing the faulty elevators throughout the BHA system and if this will have any impact at all on how we can support residents living in public housing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chair recognizes Councilor Weber. You have the floor.

Okay, yeah, it has been used for decarbonization efforts at BHA developments. I hear you on elevator issues, especially at the Ruth Barkley Apartments, and I'm willing to work with you Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Weber. Constra Flynn. Yes, you have the floor.

I just want to say thank you to the chair for that response. I appreciate it. I look forward to working with the chair on how we improve elevators in the BHA development. I also know Councilor Pepén reached out to me as well. He wants to work with me. on how we can improve elevators in our BHA development. I do respectfully want to ask all of my counselors if they will commit to working with me to improve elevator safety-related issues, not just in my district, but throughout the city. I do think it's a very important issue. It doesn't get discussed very often, but I am concerned if there is a fire at one of our BHA developments, our elevators are down, how we're going to get people from the fifth floor down to the first floor. I do think it's a matter of life and death, and I do take this issue very seriously. and I take it personally. Thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you Councillor Flynn. I appreciate your advocacy. I'd like to move on to the vote please. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report in Passage of Docket 0736, which is the Capital Grant Program. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0736?

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes. Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana? Yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Dock number 0736 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 0736 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0737. This is the docket on surplus property. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0737. Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana. Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Document number 0737 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket 0737 has passed. Mr.

Chair, you have the floor. Okay, thank you very much. Next, I'd like to address docket numbers I'm recommending approval of docket numbers 0738 to 0740, which is the $4.4 billion five-year fiscal year 2027 to 31 capital plan, which will fund 321 projects across all of our neighborhoods As you may recall, the committee held two hearings on the capital budget, the first on April 14th, the second on Tuesday, May 26th. Both hearings were reminded that our capital budget is primarily funded through the sale of general obligation bonds Careful management of our debt service is a big reason why we have a AAA bond rating, which keeps the cost of our debt as low as possible, enables us to fund projects that we need across the city. Again,

Much of the capital fund is used for maintenance of already built structures. We should note that the city restructured our debt Schedule this year in order to maintain our capital funding source while reducing the burden our fiscal year 2027 budget by $13.1 million, which is a 4.2% reduction to the fiscal year 2027 debt service appropriation. We've done this by spreading out the amount of time that we pay off our loans. Furthermore, this loan order would specifically support four BCYF centers along with renovations and repairs at various BCYF and BPS pools, two loan orders for the fire department, four for BPDA projects, and IT Server Infrastructure Refresh Project for the Public Health Commission, various BPS, Parks and Rec, Property Management and Public Works Project, and Financial Memorial to Crispus Attucks,

as well as support a permit and licensing technology system for the Department of Innovation and Technology. Better knows do it. As the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, my recommendation is that These matters ought to be read for the first time and assigned for further action.

Docket number please.

Docket number 0738, 0739, and 0740. 0747 0738 0739 and 0740

These are the dockets pertaining to capital. Correct. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means takes acceptance of the Committee Report in Passage of Docket 07380. Hold on, 0739, so I'm opening the floor for comments or debate at this point. Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. Thank you, thank you.

I'm just curious, I know in previous iterations of the Ways and Means, there was a breakdown based on neighborhoods in terms of how much money is being allocated to like Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan. Do you have that information? I know Councilor then Anderson did like a racial equity analysis about our capital budget and we were able to DeSoto, and so on. Do we have that here so we can see?

Mr. Chair, would you like to answer that query? Thank you. Yeah, we were provided a breakdown of all the projects by neighborhood in the budget book.

Is that in your final report?

No, it's in the budget book.

It's in the budget book, so people got to go dig for it.

Well, we covered it at the hearings.

So, okay, great. Thank you for that. And then I'm just curious about White Stadium. Are we seeing investments here for White Stadium? I don't see White Stadium here. That's because we already funded it in the last budget cycle. Yeah, I'm just curious because I don't see it in your report.

Okay, I believe it's in the capital budget.

Yeah, but it's not in your report.

Okay, it's in the budget.

I just want to know for the record, that White Stadium was not listed here.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On the capital budget, I will be voting in favor of the capital budget, although I aggressively advocated for... A new Blackstone school. I have been talking to teachers and neighbors and parents and students. The Blackstone school is in the south end. and it's literally sandwiched between Ruth Barclay Apartments and Villa Victoria. It's not included in the capital plan. It's probably one of the most diverse schools in the city of Boston. The school is falling apart. It needs major structural repairs. There is a swimming pool. That's also on the grounds that is part of the school building with BCYF.

That school pool has not been operating for many, many years. The pool will not be fixed until there is a, well, it won't be fixed. We'll only get a new pool if there's a new school building. I am concerned about this issue. I want to make sure that the residents of the south end in Roxbury, it's not too far from Roxbury, in Chinatown as well, but mostly the south end in Roxbury, I want to make sure that they have A school in a BCYF facility that works for them. But right now this school is in very bad condition. It needs a lot of maintenance. It needs a lot of support. It should have been part of the capital budget, having fully addressed this issue for many years

We're delaying justice for so many students and families in residence, but we have to make a priority that The Blackstone is going to be part of the capital plan next year. Again, I'm voting on this plan on this budget now. But I do have to highlight the major concern I have with a new Blackstone school not being part of the budget. I don't want to shortchange our constituents in the south end and across the city of having a new school. Not sure if this is a priority with the administration or with BPS but it's one of the most Schools that is in neglect across the city. Many of my colleagues here on the city council have been there.

but I do want to address that issue and ask that it be part of the next capital budget because I think the residents of the south end deserve a new school that doesn't leak on them, that has a pool that Thank you. Thank you. Pretend it's not happening right now. The residents of the South End deserve a new Blackstone School, and I'm respectfully asking that this body support the residents of the south end and across the city as well. Again, it's not going in this budget, but I want to respectfully ask now if people will support a new Blackstone school going forward. I think it's a priority, and I don't think we can delay justice any longer. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Flynn. Councilor Breadon, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you colleagues. I have given this vote a great deal of thought. As many of you know, the capital budget is something I have been talking about for many years. And I want to thank the administration, the chief financial officer in city departments, and my colleagues in the council for the tremendous amount of work that we've gone into this budget. These discussions have reflected a very real challenge facing our city and our neighbourhoods and our finances. These are not easy times. Throughout these hearings, however, one message came through clearly. Residents want to know not only what we are funding but whether those investments will ultimately be delivered. They want transparency. They want accountability. They want confidence that investments are reaching neighbourhoods fairly and equitably across the city. They want to know that when promises are made, there's a clear path to results.

As someone who served on the council for six years and now as council president, I have heard these concerns consistently from residents across Boston. They are legitimate concerns and they deserve a response. Over the course of this budget process, we have had productive conversations with Mayor Wu, members of our administration, in multiple hearings here in the Chamber. the Chief Financial Officer and my colleagues regarding ways we can strengthen transparency, accountability, public reporting and public confidence in the capital process. I appreciate the Administration's willingness to engage in these issues and to continue that work in the months ahead. The concerns raised during these hearings did not begin with this administration and they will not be solved by any one administration. They reflect challenges that we have accumulated over many years and in many cases decades.

My expectation is that before next year's budget cycle, we will make meaningful progress towards giving residents a clearer understanding of how projects move forward from authorization to delivery, how investments are distributed across neighborhoods, and how public dollars are being tracked and managed. At the same time, Boston cannot afford to stop investing in its future. Our infrastructure needs investment. Our roads and bridges need investment. Our public facilities need investment. We need to invest in climate resilience and our neighbourhoods need investment. For that reason, I will be voting yes on this capital budget. As we face tighter fiscal conditions in the years ahead, this work becomes even more important. Every dollar matters. Every neighborhood matters. Public trust matters. Today's vote authorizes investment.

Tomorrow, together, our responsibility is to ensure delivery. I also want to remind my colleagues and those watching that this Capital, DACA, this appropriation is not for specific projects per se, but it authorizes the city to borrow to do capital investment in our infrastructure across the city. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and just thank you to Chair for allowing us to talk about capital budget. As a district councilor, the capital budget is always one that I look closely at, making sure that the three neighborhoods that I represent are well represented. When I saw the budget this year, I obviously had some concerns and I spoke with the budgeting team about my priorities and what my residents are asking for, making sure that throughout the next few fiscal years that they The neighborhoods that I represent, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roslindale, are getting the investments that they deserve. My residents in Hyde Park are asking me for a new EMS port, capital plans for Healy Field and Roslindale. I have residents in Mattapan that want to see continuation and infrastructure improvements for their pools, for their roads, for their libraries, making sure that the projects that are scheduled

Thank you for joining us. When we look at the funding to neighborhoods, making sure that every neighborhood gets a fair share throughout the years, and I am advocating, obviously, for District 5's priorities, but always looking out for every single neighborhood in the city. I'll be voting yes on the capital budget today. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The chair recognizes Councillor Louijeune, and then we'll follow up with Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I want to say thank you to all my colleagues, especially my district colleagues who continuously advocate for the needs of their district and the capital budget. The capital budget is an important reflection of where we want to see long-term investments across our city. And so Madam Chair, your advocacy in Alston-Brighton, I want to thank all the community members and residents who have come out and have demanded what they should have and what every neighborhood should have, which is a community center that is vibrant, that has facilities for everyone. And I also want to uplift the advocacy of the residents of Mattapan. It's important that all residents feel like the city is thinking about them when we're thinking about I do think that we need to have a look back, a five-year look back to see what neighborhoods have and haven't received investment and the follow-through. I know one area of investment in Mattapan is via the Taylor School, my elementary school, and their merger with the PA Shaw.

That is going through the process of the Mass School Building Authority. We have work to do there. because it's been very evident that our students, our urban district isn't getting the same amount of resources that suburban districts get from MSBA and that's why our schools are left behind. And so I think there's a lot more work that we need to continue to do on our capital budget. specifically that's why I proposed a Boston school building authority because I do think that there is fiscal strength in this city and that we have with our AAA bond rating that we're not using enough when it comes to building schools when it comes to building affordable housing and so I'm eager to really We work alongside a number of education advocates on the Boston School Building Authority because I think that there's work for us to do there. But I also want to point out that my first hearing order here on the council was about how we are using our fiscal strength in the city to do the work of building schools, to do the work of building housing and how we issue more affordable housing bonds, how we issue more social bonds.

And I do want to give credit to what OBM did this year, finally, After years of advocacy is looking into how we're repaying back our debt because aggressive repayments of debt means that we have less money to do the things that we need for our residents, especially our most vulnerable residents. So one thing you'll see, and I think the chair mentioned this, is for some of our outstanding debt, there's been a longer runway for repayment. And that longer runway for repayment, which would still You know, people have looked into it and don't believe that will negatively affect our bond rating will free up money for us to do things. And I think one of those things is the Boston School Building Authority doing the work of building schools and so on. I want to say that to the residents of Mattapan, Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council, to the residents of Austin-Brighton, the advocacy is important for us to make sure that we are investing equally and looking, especially when it comes to issues of equity, making sure that we are investing in communities Black and Brown communities that have too long been ignored.

I think this capital budget is inching in the right direction because of how we're looking at that service. And I think there's more work for us to do. I'm happy sort of at least with that and want to make sure that as we move forward we continue to try to be more equitable with how we're making sure capital projects happen in every district. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Today, I rise in support of the FY27 capital budget. First, I want to thank Chair Ben Webber for your diligence and thoughtful approach in this year's budget. It has not been easy. You have not shied away from conversations. You have gone to difficult conversations. You've made yourself available and accessible in various neighborhoods. And so I just want to say thank you for what you've done. I think you've done an incredible job. You and your staff. I also want to thank Karishma and the entire central staff team for their thorough analysis and responsiveness during budget season. Karishma has 13 different bosses and she does it all with grace and love for the City of Boston, so I want to shout her out. for her work as well. I also want to thank my staff who has worked tirelessly through this budget season while I have been on maternity leave. I just gave birth to beautiful Joaquin who is here with me. He's waiting for me to feed him.

But I will be here to vote on all of the budget no matter how long it takes because it's very important that we are here and doing our due diligence and maximizing our power here on the council. And I want to thank all my council colleagues for their thoughtful and many more. Suggestions, comments, everything has been done, again, with love for this city and its people. One, there are significant investments that I want to highlight and say why I am voting in favor of it. In East Boston, we continue to advance critical climate resilience and waterfront protection efforts. despite historic divestment from the federal government. So this includes Border Street Resilience, Lewis Mall, and Carlton Wharf. These projects will protect vulnerable residents in the City of Boston despite the fact that we will see not if but when we will see

Major and severe weather storms coming through Boston and these are just incredible investments and I just want to shout out the Office of Climate Resilience for that. We are seeing major investments in our schools through the PJ Kennedy, the Adams School, the O'Donnell School, the Otis, the JFK. We're moving forward with improvements at McLean Park. Shout out to Harborview Neighborhood Association and your advocacy for that. Brown, the Mary Ellen Welsh Greenway, and projects that will improve accessibility, recreation, stormwater management, and public space for residents. In Charlestown, transformative projects continue to move forward. We recently celebrated the reopening of the Clority Pool. Construction is underway at Ryan Playground. There are improvements being made in the Lost Village neighborhood, and investments continue to happen at Bunker Hill Housing. We're also advancing long-awaited transportation improvements through Sullivan Square. Thank God it's been 30 years. and Rutherford Avenue Corridor Project, expanding waterfront access through the Little Mystic Harbour Walk connection.

In the North End, we continue to move forward on what is one of the most important civic investments in our neighbourhood's future, the North End Community Centre. Thank you to State Representative and Ways and Means Chair Erin Michalowicz for getting $25, I think $30 million through the state budget for that. Design work is also advancing for Christopher Columbus Park, Webster Avenue Playground, and improvements to several historic public spaces. that help preserve the character and accessibility of that neighborhood. In downtown in the Wharf District, major resilience investments continue along Long Wharf, while substantial improvements are underway elsewhere in that section of the neighborhood. At the same time, today's vote is not simply about celebrating projects that are underway. It's about recognizing that there are still projects that need our attention. Of course, I'm going to shout out the North End Library because, to me, that is the last piece of the puzzle in our district for major capital improvements. Barry Fields Clubhouse, Ryan Playground Fieldhouse, Eagle Square, and Austin Street Bridge.

And so the projects before us represent investments in safety, resilience, housing, recreation, accessibility, and quality of life. and these are investments that will benefit residents not just this year but for decades to come and I do want to shout out, I forgot to mention the budget staff, OBM and all of the incredible city workers that work day in and day out to serve this city, including our mayor. But again, I want to thank my colleagues and just reiterate that I will be voting yes on the capital budget this year. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata. We look forward to meeting your little guy. The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councillor Weber, for bringing this forward. I would say that When we had the capital investment hearing, one of the things that I asked for was for a list of what capital investments were in District 7 through the chair. I have yet to see that list. of Capital Investments for District 7, even though it was two to three weeks ago. When I look at this list attached to capital investments to docket number 0738, I don't see, if anything, for District 7 on this list. And so my question to the chair is, is this list what's being voted on with regard to the capital investments?

Chair, would you like to answer? You have the floor.

Yes, so in the budget book, it's broken down by neighborhood. You can view all the projects. They're broken out by project. There's a description of each one with a dollar figure. and what the status of that is, whether it's being constructed, it's in design, to be scheduled and that's been in the budget book since it was produced on April 8th.

One of the reasons I asked for during that hearing and through the chair and the leadership said they would provide it is so we wouldn't have to be looking through that book trying to find capital investments in District 7. And so I stand here today I have no idea if there's anything. And when I look at this sheet, my question is, is this sheet of what's listed here representative of what's going into the different districts?

Madam President.

Chair recognizes the chair.

It's in the budget book. If you want to take a two-minute recess, I will fetch the book, and you can look at all the projects.

Madam Chair, that's not my question.

Well, it's been in the budget book.

My question is, are... Here's my question. The list that's attached to 0738, is that representative of what we're voting on today? This list that you've got attached. Is that what's represented and what's worth voting on today?

It's the list that's in the budget book that's presented by the mayor.

Madam Chair, will you direct them to answer my question? All I want to know is what capital investments are in District 7 somewhere without having to take time to run through that budget book?

I'm sorry, but that's the purpose of the budget.

Well, then let's take a recess and let me look at the budget book.

Very well. We'll take a five-minute recess. Ten minutes, at least? No, five minutes. Thank you. We're taking a very brief recess, five minutes.

Thank you everyone I call my colleagues back.

We'd like to get started.

Culpepper. We're back in session. You have the floor. Could everyone please take their seats?

Madam Chair, I think I'm reviewing what's in my district and I'm fine. Until we come to a close, I am reviewing it right now.

Thank you. Chair, Councillor Webber, you have the floor.

Yeah, thank you very much. Just to clarify, the report has new authorizations. So the capital plan, again, it's five years. A lot of these projects are in the capital plan, which you can view through the through the budget book. And also just for my colleagues, the capital budget requires two votes. So we'll be voting today and then depending on How we vote, we'll have another vote in a couple weeks. If that helps anyone, thank you.

Thank you. So we have three dockets. Docket 0738, 0739 and 0740. The first docket is 0738. The message and order approving the appropriation of $384,455,000.

I just wanted to give Councilor Culpepper sufficient time if you feel like you need more time.

Thank you. I also recognize that Councillor Durkan, you had your light on before we took the recess. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much to Chair Weber, central staff, and to the chair, three years into being a city councilor, I can see my office's fingerprints and the advocacy of our district eight neighbors reflected in the capital budget. I still think there's much to do on the realization of the Boston Common Master Plan and I continue to advocate for the need for a downtown parks administrator that would help manage that work. The Reconstruction of Blossom Street, which has been long awaited, I know is on the agenda for this year and talks The Thorough Path Reconstruction, which we have shared the great news with WECA. The mayor and I attended a WECA meeting recently to talk about the plans for the reconstruction. Lacey and Improvements of the Chauvin Community Center. Every single thing in the district, I remember a community walk or a meeting that has helped precipitate it.

and right now alleys are being repaved in the back bay for alleys curb to curb that have been asked for for a very long time. In addition, the Kenmore Square Mall connecting our historic Kenmore Square to the Comm Ave Mall will be completed this year. Delivery for District 8 on a lot of what we want to see is often contingent upon development projects. and other part of community benefits. So in District 8, we're still waiting on a Fenway Library, we're still waiting on a number of things. I am proud that the West End Library redevelopment went through the BPDA Board and that the West End can expect to have a new library in addition to hundreds of units of affordable housing. So I'm grateful. I think there's more work to do and I'm excited to continue to roll up my sleeves

To prioritize things and get things on the agenda in my district But I want to thank the administration for the thought and the partnership on all of the projects that we are working on in partnership So, thank you chair

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

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to rise and say When I first started, I took a look at the capital plan and did a five-year analysis. What I saw was that District 4, over that time span, was one of the lowest districts to receive capital funding towards it. So I'm constantly going to be advocating for more equitable investments just because of past lack of investments, but also advocating for corrective investments because District 4 and District 5, parts of District 5 have received small portions of the capital plan. and those are the neighborhoods of Dorchester and Mattapan. I know in the past budget cycles, we have received large investments, whether it's through the BCYF Grove Hall Center that's coming in, Mother's Rest Parks, Walsh Park,

and other parks in the district but we need to make sure that those investments continue to come into the neighborhood to fix all of our public infrastructure so advocating for equitable investments but also corrective investments to make sure that we are catching up to past capital plans that have not funded equitably inside of the district. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam President. And I think that it is important for us to continue to sound the alarm around how monies get distributed. And I'm so happy to hear that District 9 is going to get Jackson Mann, and the Center, because I know you fought hard during the budget cycles in previous iterations, and I know your advocacy regarding the capital budget in years past really and the groundswell of support from community really led to that victory. So I just want to acknowledge your leadership and your voice in that space. And I do want to stand in partnership and in solidarity with my council colleague from district Thank you for pointing that out and I'm with you.

So we're gonna move on to a vote. We've cut three dockets. This will be the first reading, so we'll have another reading, a vote on another reading, a second reading in a few weeks. Mr. Clerk, could you please? The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0738. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0738? Yes. I beg your pardon. There you go.

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

Yes.

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. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0738.

has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative and is assigned for further action. The Chair of the Committee of Ways and Means takes acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0739. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0739?

Councilor Brayton. Yes. Councilor Brayden. Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Durkan. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes. Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Talking of a 0739 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative and assigned for further action.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0739 has received its first reading and will be assigned for further action. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0740. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0740?

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, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Pen, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0740 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative. and assigned for further action.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0740 has received its first reading and will be assigned for further action. We will now move to the chair. Mr. Chair, the Chair of Ways and Means, you have the floor.

Sure, thank you very much. Now I'd like to discuss docket number 0734, the BPS budget. Madam President, today I'm recommending approval of the BPS budget, docket number 0734, in the amount of $1.73 billion, which is an increase of 2.7%, so about $88 million. As I think we're all aware, the committee held several hearings and working sessions on BPS, including pre-budget hearings and three Three actual budget hearings on the BPS budget that was approved by the Boston School Committee on March 25th. Like the FY27 operating budget, The school operating budget requires us to make some very tough decisions. Unlike the operating budget,

The cuts will actually impact personnel for some of our lowest paid BPS employees such as paraprofessionals for special needs students and other in-school Support staff. Much of this being the result, even though the budget is going up by $88 million, because of the sharp rising costs in healthcare plus declining enrollment and the rising costs of other services. While I don't want to see the loss of jobs and as the parent of two BPS students and the son of a New York City special ed teacher. I do not want to see any teachers or paras lose their jobs. We have heard that this is the result of the loss of 3,000 students in our system. and most of those positions being eliminated are due to the closure of schools. We are still heavily investing in our kids with 1.73 billion dollars, I think it's about 30,

$5,000 per student among the highest. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. tough choices. And also, as we discussed in the discussion we had about rejecting the budget, the proposal and many more. Thank you. Thank you. additional schools. I think we heard it's three to four more schools over the next few years. So my heart goes out to our hardworking BPS staff.

But I still recommend passage of this docket, given that it will provide stability for the district, which needs an operating budget by July 1st. in order to fulfill collective bargaining agreements we passed and would allow the district to enter into other agreements to provide for our students and families including being able to go forward with some summer programming would be jeopardized if we don't have a budget by the end of this month. I know we all support our teachers and staff at BPS and our students I think it's important for us to ensure that the district is able to deliver for our students and their families for the current and upcoming school year in a way that is fiscally responsible. That is why I'm recommending passage of this docket. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam President. And as a BPS graduate and a BPS mom and a BPS agitator, I rise here today on behalf of the voices of the people. And so I'm going to read into the record The letter from the BTU dated June 2nd to the Boston City Council. On behalf of the more 10,000 active and retired educators of the Boston Teachers Union, we strongly urge you to vote to oppose The proposed BPS budget. This request has not come lightly, but we cannot endorse a budget which will eliminate more than 400 student facing positions from an already under-resourced school system. Each educator eliminated from our schools has an impact on student academic's career. Each position represents a class of students

cannot take additional supports that a struggling learner cannot access or a needed counseling session that is no longer available. And eliminating 700 positions The proposed budget sets a dangerous precedence. In difficult fiscal times, it is our most vulnerable students who will carry the weight of our struggles and we will need to stand with them. We are calling on the city to enact a pre-evented supplemental budget to add additional resources to the Boston public schools. This cannot be done by leveraging increasing state aid, modestly tapping into our growing reserves This can be done by leveraging our increasing state aid, modestly tapping into our growing Reserve Funds, or transferring money from historically over budgeted departments. As of now, Boston Public Schools is the only city department to see job cuts.

We understand that this budget was not an easy one, But the future of Boston children cannot be where we give up. The BTU strongly urges you to oppose the proposed BPS budget at your June 3rd meeting, which is today. Thank you for your time and your consideration. and I just wanna know for the record is that there's a lot of what we can't do here in the city of Boston and I believe that we should have a can do attitude and there's a lot of fear mongering going on about what potential things could happen to us. But if you all remember, then Councilor, when she was a City Councilor, talked about these fair tactics. And I just want us to be mindful that when it comes to this budget, the conversation has shifted significantly. So I just want to note for the record that I am, as the Education Chair, rejecting

Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. I think this is probably the most significant vote that we will take. Over the last two years, whether or not we stand up for students with disabilities, We just recognized the paraprofessionals here just a couple of hours ago. We thank them. We all personally thank them for the incredible work that they are doing every day helping all students. Students with disabilities, most of them are students of color. We thank them today and cut their job tomorrow.

We have to decide if students with disabilities and their teachers, paraprofessionals, are they important? Are they a priority? Do they deserve a little bit of respect and dignity? Or, yes, these are difficult times, or should we balance the budget on their backs? That's the choice we have to make in the next few minutes. Do we stand with these students and students with disabilities and their teachers and the paraprofessionals and say, we think you deserve a little bit of respect. We think you deserve These incredible programs and services that these teachers are providing. I think they're worth it. I think they should be a priority. I don't think we should overlook them.

They are not insignificant. Students with disabilities and their parents I think their parents are really unsung heroes in this city. I see them taking their kids every day to after school programs, getting them ready for school, taking them to sports. programs on the weekends trying to get the best services they possibly can for their child. I see grandmothers doing that same support also. 70-year-old grandmother or grandfather doing the best they can, providing the best services that they can for their grandchild, getting them the support they need. Now they come to us.

Hey, Ed, do you think we could ensure that our child that has disabilities, do you think we can get a little bit of justice here from the Boston City Council? That's the decision we're making. And if the answer is no, then fine, that's the answer. The answer is no, there's no justice here. But that's not what I came here for. I didn't come here to satisfy The powers to be. I came to fight for my constituents. Many of my constituents, more than any district city councilor here, live in public housing. Most of them go to public schools. Do they deserve to be treated fairly? Do they deserve to be treated with respect? Or should they be overlooked? That's the decision we're going to make today.

Boston has a AAA bond rating due to the financial management of many mayors over the years. over the last 50 years. And let me just highlight them. Mayor White, Mayor Flynn, Mayor Menino, Mayor Walsh, Mayor Janey, Mayor Wolf. But can we find any money in the budget For students with disabilities, can we find any money in the budget for paraprofessionals? Can we find any money in the budget for teachers? Or are we just going to throw up our hands and say, no, there's nothing here for you. Maybe next year. Well, that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to make difficult decisions to say to our students with disabilities, to say to their teachers, their paraprofessionals, to their parents or their guardian, that they are part of this city too.

They may not come from privileged backgrounds or have a lot of money or live in exclusive neighborhoods. or go to the Cape on the weekends or New Hampshire skiing, but I see them and we value them. We see them at our youth sports programs. All of the time, we see them at after school programs. And the decision we have to make today is, are they part of the city of Boston? Should we overlook them? Is there money in the budget for them? There's money in the budget for a lot of things, but is there money in the budget for students with disabilities? Is there money in the budget for paraprofessionals? Is there money in the budget for teachers?

that teach these special needs children how to read, how to interact with each other. I see these paraprofessionals and teachers taking these students with disabilities to the bathroom, helping them exercise, cleaning them, after they go to the bathroom. Does that teacher deserve a little bit of respect? Or are we just a white, privileged, wealthy city? that can just simply overlook people because they don't have any political advocacy. They don't have any lobbyists.

For me, the decision is easy. It might not be the best political decision, but it's the right moral decision. And that's the only decision I want to make. is what's best for the residents of the city, especially those people that don't have a voice in government. I think that's our job. Wealthy people have People that can speak for them. We see them every day. They contribute to our campaigns too. But the families of special education Those families, they need city councilors to stand with them, to fight for them, to do what we can to make sure that they're treated with respect.

Those are the values I learned in my neighborhood in South Boston. That's what I hope I contribute as a city councilor. That's why I fight fiercely for my constituents, whether they're in the South End, whether they're in Chinatown or they're in my neighborhood of South Boston. But I especially advocate for my constituents if they live in public housing. Many of the students in public education here in Boston are public housing, live in public housing. What are the after school programs for them? Many are single parents. I just don't think this progressive body can overlook what's happening in our city if we vote to eliminate paraprofessionals.

They're one of the lowest paid city employees. And what are we going to do? We're going to cut them. But we're not going to cut high salaries employees. But why should we balance the budget on paraprofessionals? They're only trying to make ends meet. They don't have any money. They don't have money for rent. They don't have any money for their kids' clothing. They don't have any money to take the MBTA. Sometimes they don't have any money to eat. Why are we trying to balance the budget on their backs? Is that fair? I come here and I know I used up my time. But I do think this is important for me to speak out because when I see injustice, I don't turn around and walk the other way.

That might be the political thing to do. is to go along with everybody, but that's not what I signed up for. I came here for this job for one reason, one reason only, to advocate as hard as I possibly can for my constituents. I don't think they're being treated with respect. I think there's money in the budget for them. We have to ensure that there is money for them. They're not insignificant. They are important. They are part of the city. They deserve a little bit of respect from the city council, and I hope we're gonna provide it to them this afternoon. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor and then you'll be followed by Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When I ran for this District 7 seat, one of the promises that I made for not just The BPS in District 7 and the teachers and the paraprofessionals, I made it to everyone I came into contact with that I was gonna fight for them. There was one promise that I knew I could keep is that I was gonna fight for them. And so I stand here today thinking about that scripture that says, do justice. Do justice. We're not talking about being extravagant or anything that's unearned.

We're talking about doing justice to make sure that paraprofessionals and teachers supports Workers and aides are able to put food on their table for their children and their families. Today, we stand with the possibility of taking food off the table for these children. Taking away rent money. Gas for the cars. Shoes where those shoes have holes in them. I can't believe that I'm standing here fighting with a 1.73 billion budget. No, I'm serious. Did y'all hear that? Did you hear that? What did I say? No, no, no. What did I say?

Say it like you believe it. $1.73 billion budget.

We're putting folks out of work. We have some rules, and I'd like you to abide by them. I understand we have lots of very supportive people in the audience, but the floor is yours and yours alone right now. Thank you.

It's Sunday morning. I'm used to that.

I know you are. Go ahead. Go ahead.

This is a sad day, especially when we started these hearings. All of us heard them say no one was going to lose their jobs. All of us heard them say that. And when David sat here a couple of weeks ago, I asked him about that. He said yes. He couldn't even tell us how many. I asked him how many folks were going to lose their jobs. He couldn't even tell us. But I come back to do justice. I can't believe that we're even considering talking about approving this budget. I don't know when the last time the city council stood up to send a budget back to the school committee, but it's time for the city council to stand up and send this budget back to the school committee and say, based on your 1.73

You need to find some money to keep folks working in September. It's a sad day. If we send this budget and approve it and we have the authority to reject it, We don't have much authority, but what little authority we have we ought to use it. I mean, I can't believe I'm standing here with a $1.73 billion budget in what folks are calling the most progressive city in the country. Well, if we're progressive, then we ought to progress and send this We cannot, we cannot, and I know my chair said my heart goes out, but I don't want your heart to go out, I want your no vote to go out. Because that will tell where your heart is. They led us to believe that there would be no teacher cuts.

And I'm standing here today arguing for This 1.73 mind-boggling budget to make sure that everyone that got up to go to work this morning will be able to get up in September and go to work. That's all we're asking for. We're not asking for raises. We're not even asking for overtime, and we're so used to overtime. We're just saying to give them what is due. And when you think about that scripture, it says do justice. And then it says to love mercy. This is time for us to have mercy. If anybody wants to shout have mercy, this is the time to say have mercy on these teachers. that are going to be laid off.

Have mercy, city council and these prayer professionals. Have mercy. This is the time. This is what mercy is all about. If you don't know what mercy is, mercy is saying send this budget back. Make sure everyone is hired and then send it back to us. That's what mercy is. And so when I stand here today, Not anticipating that we would have a budget that is, and it's funny how easy we said lay it off. We're firing folks We're firing folks. We go to work every day, right? In a couple years, some of us will be up for reelection, right? Some of us may get fired.

But for today, for today, I say to this council, let's have the courage to do justice because these are the most vulnerable of all of us. And somebody's gotta stand up and fight for the most vulnerable. If this council doesn't stand up and fight for the most vulnerable, who will? Who will? If we don't stand up and fight for folks that cannot fight for themselves, then who will? And that's not the city I live in. That's not the city I want to see Treat the most vulnerable without looking again at this budget. One, I keep saying that, I can't believe it. Somebody needs to correct me. I can't believe it's 1.7, correct me.

Mr. Chair, how much is this budget for? through the president.

Is it really 1.73 million? The budget is increasing by 88 million for 1.73 billion. Layoffs were announced when the school committee approved the budget in March. If you look at the stories, all the layoffs.

I've been watching the stories. I still can't believe them though.

All the testimony before this body is that there would be these.

Hang on. No crosstalk, please. Just one at a time here.

Did you say it's increasing by 88 million? What are we doing? Seriously. We are employers. We are employers. As I beg my counselors, as employers, Let's not fire anybody today. Let's send this budget back. with the directive to hire and make sure and 1.73 billion plus an increased budget by $88 million. to find room for those that otherwise, come September, would not know how they're going to pay their rent or mortgage

We now know how they're going to buy new clothes for their kids. Everybody in September buys their kids new sneakers, new jeans, and new shirts. We all do. And I'm doing now for my grandkids. But we all do. We cannot take the food out of these young children's mouths. We cannot put families on the street. That's not us. That's not what we do. And I hope that we look at the last part of that scripture that says walk humbly, that we walk humbly. And make sure that those that got up to go to work this morning, just like we all did, that will be able to, in September, get up and go to work.

to keep a roof over their heads. I would hate to think that this city councilor, this progressive city council would vote with a 1.73 billion budget, increased by 88 million, has the courage to send anyone home, take away their means of making a living, and then have the audacity to come back to work tomorrow. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. The Chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata.

You have the floor. Thank you so much, Madam President. This budget does arrive during a challenging moment for public education across the Commonwealth. As we know and it's been widely reported school districts across Massachusetts and across the country are facing rising costs enrollment shifts and increasing demand on student services and BPS is no exception. We are managing significant increases in health insurance. Transportation, Special Education, and Collective Bargaining costs, while also planning for approximately 3,000 fewer students than just two years ago. In my district, we have seen a rising increase in declining enrollment due to gentrification. Quite frankly. And the fear tactics taking hold within immigrant communities. Folks are leaving Boston, they're leaving the country. And so especially in my district at Charleston High School and other places where we see multilingual learners, We have seen this decline in enrollment. And that reality has consequences, has real consequences.

And we are faced with these difficult decisions. Thank you. Thank you. A 74 million increase over the last year. And this investment allows for the district to continue moving forward on priorities that many of us have advocated for. Inclusive education, multilingual learner supports, equitable literacy, high quality instructional materials, I want to shout out Tommy Welsh in my district who has done an incredible job building these early college pathways. We have a historic partnership with the Center for Community Collaborative Education, CCE, and Oscar Santos in partnership with Dr. Contempasas to help these kids have better pathways from kindergarten through high school or middle school and through high school. and this includes expanded opportunities for students with diverse learning needs.

As the representative of District 1, I am particularly encouraged by continuing investments in bilingual education and multilingual learners. East Boston is one of the most linguistically diverse communities in the city, and our students thrive when they have access to strong language supports, dual language programming, as seen at the Umana, shout out to the Umana, you all are doing an incredible job, and culturally responsive learning environments. I'm also encouraged by the district's continued commitment to inclusive education and ensuring that students with disabilities have access to resources and services they need to succeed alongside their peers and I'm in constant communication with my school leaders and school principals. They have not flagged any sort of divestments that will impact their ability to provide inclusive education for students with disabilities. But that does not mean that every concern has been resolved. Throughout the hearing process, members of this council heard concerns from families about enrollment changes, classroom impacts, transportation, facilities, and the implementation of the new school funding formula.

Those concerns are real and I expect the district to continue engaging families transparently as these changes move forward. And as the council, we have the responsibility not only to review the budget, but also to continue exercising oversight throughout the year. I just want to get to the rejection call here. As it was stated by the chair, rejection doesn't change the very real circumstances that we have lost thousands of students. It doesn't solve for the long-term budget issues, the structural systematic issues that we are feeling, not just in Boston, but statewide. It was said that, or there was discussion that this is on the backs of teachers in Paris, and of course, we do not want to see this. I think it should also be said that there has been a huge reduction I don't have the exact percentage maybe the chair can correct me but there's at least been a 17% reduction in central office which is something that we have all been calling for

understanding that there have been multiple positions that have gone that were created that we were all calling into question whether or not it was positively impacting our students and positively impacting classroom outcomes at the end of the day. And so our teachers and paras deserve respect. They also deserve stability and long-term solutions. And I think we all, I'm not going to speak for anybody, but I remain committed to finding that and trying to pull from The discretionary funds is a short-term solution. So I do remain committed to monitoring how these investments are implemented, ensuring resources reach students who need them the most, and advocating for equitable outcomes across every neighborhood in Boston. And so for those reasons, I'm going to be voting yes on the BPS budget this year. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. You're next. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. So as a former teacher for over two decades, I know firsthand how important our powers are. Colleen Hart, who was here earlier, worked with me in our classroom. She was the paraprofessional at the Murphy with me in our classroom in kindergarten. And all of my years, 20 plus years, The students, our most vulnerable students, do not and will not get the education they deserve if the paras who show up for them every day doing what they need to access the curriculum, to feel included, They're also paid so low that many of our paras are also our bus monitors because they need to make ends meet. So it's discouraging that, yes,

Reverend Culpepper, for the last four years, the budgets, Council Mejia and I have voted no, and the fact that we're increasing each year and we're at 1.74 billion, and we can't make sure that our lowest paid. And we're still waiting, Chair, on Bloom to give us the answer because central office payment funding It doesn't just include those who are the highest paid working with the superintendent. All of our itinerants, nurses, our custodians, our social workers are all paid through. Central Office. So that's 17%. We never got a clear answer how many were actual office workers, managers who are not forward-facing with our students. and most of those positions, it would take four to five paras salary to equal one of those positions.

I think it's important that we vote not just to make sure, even though it's incredibly important, that people aren't losing their job, but that our students, our most vulnerable students, that we know from the data, I stand up here every time, and say it. When 84% of our students aren't reading on grade level and that percentage is even higher when we look at our students of color, when we look at our ESL students, and when we look at our special ed students, all who have Paraprofessionals, now they do, next year many won't, in front of them, helping them make sure that they get the education they deserve. So I really do hope my colleagues reject it It also is true that it's the beginning of June, If we just rubber stamp the BPS budget today, then they're just gonna come back next year and maybe not give us full lances again. But if we reject it today, there is time

To work through changes we want to see, there's plenty of time to have more meetings and vote on this before the end of June and not force it into a 112 budget. So don't be fooled that this is the only day we get to take a vote and a stand for our students and our teachers. So I want to thank our paras. Murphy, Know that I know firsthand how important your work is, and I hope that my colleagues join me in voting now. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I want to thank the Chair for bringing this forward. I want to thank BPS. for all their work. I'm a Boston Public School kid through and through. It's all I know. It's all my sisters know. My dad, when he got here, people encouraged him to put me and my sisters in Catholic school. couldn't afford it. And so when we look at who's in our Boston public schools, it's often our kids who There often weren't any other options. And so when I look at what we're doing in BPS and are we getting it right by our kids, it is a complicated question because I want our schools always to exist in a place of abundance. Our public schools are too often treated as though they are the last option or the only option and that's not enough for our kids. Over the last few years, I've been the biggest advocate for our SLIFE classrooms.

Those are our classrooms with students with limited or interrupted formal education to make sure that they had paraprofessionals to make sure that they have social workers and everything that they need so that the students in those life classrooms can thrive. Every budget hearing, every BPS hearing, that's what I talked about, as we saw the numbers in our BPS schools increase. as we were experiencing the money that we did have, which was a sort of abundance that I don't think any of us realized with the federal government with the ESSER funds. and so now we don't have those funds and even more than that we have an antagonistic federal government and we see declining enrollment of 3,000 students year over year and that is There needs to be a response to that. I want to see everyone always choosing Boston Public Schools, which is why again I think focusing on facilities, making sure that all of our school buildings are ones that have

A gym, an art classroom, and they're equipped with a library with a librarian is essential for every classroom. It's essential for every school, which is why when we were having these conversations and I heard that there was a school where All of their librarians were being cut. I went to the source, and I think another counselor said, Councilor Pepén, to make sure that that was not happening, because again, every school deserves a library with a librarian. So I do think that there are tough calls. I think another colleague has mentioned that central office has been cut in addition to what we see happening because of layoffs, because of declining enrollment in our schools, and also because of the discontinuation of those federal ESSER dollars. But we have the inclusion model that we need to get right in all of our schools and in all of our classrooms. I know as an at-large city councilor, I try to visit as many schools as possible to make sure that I'm talking to School leaders and students to talk about the needs of their schools.

And honestly, one of the biggest issues that I hear is about infrastructure. The schools that don't have elevators and the students who think it's too much for them to ask, for an elevator, teachers that are living with bathrooms that I know none of us want to use. So there are so many things that are important when it comes to physical infrastructure of our schools, because infrastructure is policy. That's why we're working on the Boston School Building Authority. to give ourselves dedicated revenue streams, right? Revenue is an important part of this conversation so that we can do the work of school buildings. Too often when we're talking about our schools and when we're talking about and many, many more. who have high levels of disability who are English language learners when you compare them to other sorts of schools. And so they are schools that need to be resourced differently and abundantly.

I want to work with all of my colleagues to think about how we are getting more money. More money for our city, more money for our schools. That has to happen by working in partnership with the state to get more money from the Mass School Building Authority to get more money from the state when it comes to charter school reimbursements. There's so much work that we have to do and that we can do collectively as a body to get more money into our schools to create school buildings that are worthy of our students and that attracts students back to our public schools. I support this budget. I know that there were some hard choices, and I'm going to continue working alongside everyone to make sure that we are making the best decisions possible for our kids. I know that there are some schools that had, you know, Resources that were able to pull out students on a more frequent basis because of the dedicated resources that they had. and it's going to be a change to not have as many staffers.

But I think that these issues are being thought about thoughtfully and I want to ask any of my colleagues that want to do the work of figuring out how we get more, whether it be federal or state dollars into our schools or how we can think about having dedicated revenue streams. I think there are a lot of really great ideas about how we have dedicated revenue streams. For our schools, I'd love to have those conversations with my colleagues. So I want to again say thank you to everyone, to the superintendent, to her team for the work that they do, the work of showing up for our students. and the work of public education is incredibly hard, especially when it becomes, you know, when politics are involved, All levels are involved. But I do, at the end of the day, every day think about what are we doing for the most vulnerable kids in our schools? And are we getting it right? And I do believe that we are not perfect. Far from it.

But I do believe that we are inching in the right direction when it comes to making sure that our most vulnerable students are cared for in our schools and that we are able to attract students back into our school system. Thank you.

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

Thank you so much, Chair Breadon. I will be voting in support of the BPS budget. I do want to respond to some of the themes that have been offered today. I think in a city where we have declining enrollment, 3,000 students less than yet last year. Healthcare costs are up $34 million. Transportation is up $11 million. Special Education, $12 million. Staff salaries are up $29 million, which we voted on through the collective bargaining that we approved. Students with disabilities were spending $175 million dollars up from $456 million. This year we had a $53 million budget shortfall, and now we are in a hiring freeze.

The cost per student is $36,000, and that's how much is being spent per student. Costs are rising faster than revenue in the city of Boston. Superintendent Skipper is doing a great job. We are working hard to get a lot of things done. I do want to talk about one conversation that I had with Superintendent Skipper. We heard testimony in our BPS hearing specifically about the supervisors of attendance and how important they were. And I got the chance to meet with Superintendent Skipper. Three of those positions were restored, which I think was a City Council advocacy, so I want to thank everyone who weighed in. I specifically want to thank a supervisor of attendance that weighed in at the City Council.

While we don't have a ton of power, I do want to thank the Chair, Chair Weber, for for outlining some of our concerns. I think a big part of this is $197 million is being spent, over $197 million, on busing. We were able in a working session to get Superintendent Skipper to dial down into those numbers. There are a number of things that they feel like fixed costs and unless the school district deals with sort of these overarching issues we're going to continue to face I think the problems are mounting. They are mounting. And I think we budgetarily are Really really confined in this year's budget, but I want to share that I believe that the superintendent is doing a great job I believe that

There are more families that are choosing BPS. I've had a lot of conversations with folks in my district about choosing BPS, choosing schools that are nearby. We don't have a lot of District 8 elementary schools. Moving towards a system of we do need to shrink in order to thrive. The cost of simply managing some of these schools that need a lot of investments. Those costs are mounting. And so I think there's a lot of difficult decisions being made in terms of closures, in terms of mergers. I applaud those really difficult decisions that are being made because I think they're setting us up for a more resilient school district. But I hesitate to talk on BPS issues because I don't have a child. I didn't grow up in Boston and I didn't attend a BPS school, but this is such a big part of our budget.

I think we all need to do our part and weigh in. So I support this budget. I do think there are a number of issues that the Chair of Ways and Means outlined in the City Council's letter that for future years should absolutely be dealt with and should be responded to. I understand that we have an appointed school committee and that our powers are less than that, but I don't think our powers in terms of advocacy are. because I've seen through this budget process and through past budget process how the City Council has shaped BPS and I think we should continue to do that. and I want to thank all of my colleagues. I know whether you're voting for this budget or against this budget, there's a lot of people who really care about BPS students and I think some of our points of advocacy on the council

I think can be really really useful towards making a better school district so I want to thank all of my colleagues for all that they do to weigh in on both the schools in their district and also just across the city so So thank you chair and I'm grateful to the chair for all of his work on this on this budget and as we continue to see As we continue to move forward, I want to thank the superintendent and continue to work collaboratively to make the best education for all BPS students and also to make more families choose BPS. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia for your second time.

Thank you. Because I didn't use all my time. So I'm reclaiming the rest that I have left. I want to just note a few things as we continue to have these conversations that I think For those who are paying attention and tuning in, a no vote, what it does, it gives us the opportunity to organize and to really demonstrate that the city councilors are willing to do the hard work of standing up to the administration and the superintendent and the appointed school committee and letting them know that we're paying attention and doing our job by being the checks and balance. So by no means a no vote today is really going to have the district in a disarray. What it does, it demonstrates that we are doing our job. So, don't get it twisted, a no vote today just gives us more time to organize, just for the record. We do have an appointed school committee. My office worked alongside Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 99.2% of all of the votes that the appointed school committee has taken has been in favor of the administration and the superintendent. So if we're really serious about being Independent, and we also have to be mindful of the fact that that appointed committee structure has no real power either, just like the city council. Lastly, there's been a significant disregard for students, staff, residents. I think about the CPC,

Spedpak, and we even had a multilingual, I was on the ELL task force, and that ELL task force dismantled and formed their own because they had no real vote of confidence in Boston Public Schools. Therefore, we continue to feed a system that continues to disregard the very same people that we're supposed to be advocating on behalf of. I think that it's really important for us to understand everything that is at play while people may want to support BPS and I do appreciate the progress that it has made but we can't continue to feed a system that is not giving us a return on those investments. And at some point, We're going to have to be held accountable for the liability that we are continuing to engage in when we always give BPS a pass. So I said it as a BPS parent when I was organizing on the outside.

and I've rejected the budget every year since I've been on the inside, and I think this is a moment, and while I understand what's happening on the federal level, We can't just keep using what's happening on the federal level as an excuse to not do our job here locally because at the end of the day the decisions that we make locally also set a stage for what happens globally. So there you go.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Worrell.

Councilor Worrell, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I do want to applaud BPS for the progress that they have made throughout the years. But I do want to be clear, we are continuing to fail our black students, our multilingual learners, and too many families who are counting on BPS to deliver. I appreciate that some of the day-to-day operations are running a bit smoother and that matters, but last year I stood here and said we needed to stop only talking about operations and start focusing on academics. Because at the end of the day, buses running on time is important. But if our students are not reading, if they're not being served in the right classroom settings, if they are not getting the support they need to succeed, then we are not doing our job. So let's look at where we are today. We still have more than 3,000 students in substantially separate classroom settings. Even though federal guidance points to us

and many more. of the overall school population. That should stop us all in our tracks. And when we look at academic outcomes, the picture is just as alarming. Last year fewer than 10 black students in third, fourth, Fifth grade scored extremely proficient on the reading test on MCAS. That's fewer than 10 in a $1.7 billion school system. And when 95% of multilingual learners in the fifth grade are above or not meeting state academic standards, We cannot pretend that this is a system that just needs a few tweaks around the edges. This is a system that needs serious improvement

Serious attention, urgency, and serious investment. We're not going to get there by eliminating hundreds of teachers and paraprofessionals from our classrooms. We're not going to get there by telling schools to plan for inclusion. We're not going to get there by dismantling exclusion models that have worked for years in some of our strongest schools. That's not reform. It feels like retreat. And my fear is that this budget But BPS on the pathway towards cuts this year, more cuts next year, and then more cuts the year after that. And every year, the students who need the most support will be asked to carry the heaviest burden. And that's something I can't support. Our students need more from us. Our families need more from us. Our educators, the people doing the work every single day, need to know that this body is not going to balance the budget on the backs of classrooms.

We need more investments in our schools, not less, and for those reasons, I'm a no on the BPS budget.

Thank you. I'd like to ask my colleague and the Dean of the body, Councillor Culpepper, to take the chair for a few moments.

Madam President, you have the floor. Thank you.

I stand here to speak . It's on. It's on now. Very good.

The mic is on.

The mic is on. Thank you. I have two speeches. It's like justice weighing the scales here. I have very... This is the hardest vote I'm making today, EPS. I have a yes vote and I have a no speech and a yes speech. I'd like to begin by acknowledging the hard work of our teachers, paraprofessionals, school staff, superintendent, and the administration. This is the most, Boston Public Schools and the work we do with our children is the most important work that we do in the city. It's an investment in our future and it demands our serious attention. I think regardless of how I end up voting, my vote will reflect the concerns that I have raised consistently throughout my six years on the City Council.

During that Time, I've repeatedly asked for greater transparency, stronger financial accountability, clearer reporting, and better long-term planning within Boston Public Schools. I recognize that this administration and the superintendent have made progress and I appreciate the work that has been done. However, we have a long way to go. Boston Public Schools, as someone has already mentioned, receives approximately $1.7 billion this year and represents one of the largest investments we make in the city. One third of the city budget goes towards Boston Public Schools. Yet we continue to face significant challenges with ageing school buildings, deferred maintenance, long-term capital planning, the public understanding of how major decisions are made is wanting.

and yet our families deserve confidence that the resources are being, are not being, of where our resources are being invested. The issues that are particularly important to me are the fact that so many of our students are not reading at grade level. We have an inclusion policy and yet I hear from families that there are children falling through the cracks that need support. They need behavioural, functional behavioural assessments, they need support, they need paraprofessionals to support them in the classroom so they're not, so they can learn and they're not disruptive to other students. Buses are a nightmare for some of our families. I have one particular school in our district where last year there was five instances of the buses being late. All year and this year it's more like five incidents a week.

It's really stressful for families and at this moment families are evaluating their options and figuring out should they stay or should they leave the city and leave BPS. This is not what we want. I was educated in a public school system back in Northern Ireland. And I love public schools. I love going to our classrooms. And what I'm saying is that we have a long way to go. Despite the efforts of our school department, we're not there yet. And we as individuals, every single one of us have a responsibility to hold our school department accountable and keep the pressure on. This is the most important investment we make as a city. And it is the future of our city. It's our future leaders, our future parents, our future workers,

and the issues that I really care about are just holding our school department accountable like we hold every other department accountable and also Given that we invest so much in Boston Public Schools, we have to ensure that we get value for our money. I feel that we have a long way to go. I'm hopeful. I'm hopeful, I see progress, but it's not enough. I'm hopeful that with all of our efforts and all of our partnerships with our schools and holding our school department accountable that we can move the ball down the field.

So I urge you, despite my very grave concerns about how we're progressing, I'm going to vote yes on the BPS budget. Every single one of us needs to hold their school department accountable and next year's budget starts this year in July. We need to start talking about the BPS budget and what we want to see and what the measurables are this July, July 2026. Because we can't leave it to next February to have a conversation about Boston Public Schools. Thank you.

The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the Committee Report and passage of Docket 0734. I recognise the chair of Ways and Means. Councillor Weber, you have the floor.

Yeah, I'm just, Councillor Coletta Zapata is in the building. I'd like to give her a chance to weigh in on this.

It's... Thank you. I see Councillor Mejia, you have, your light is on. I was just joking. You're joking? Okay, very good, I like that. We will take a, Councillor Flynn. I know you've already had your time, but as a courtesy I'm curious to see what you have to say.

I just want to be respectful to my colleagues. Do we want to... I'm just trying to be respectful to my colleagues, that's all.

Thank you, I appreciate your concern. Sorry to interrupt your time with your little guy. Hey, welcome back. Where were we? The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0734. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0734? Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper, no. Councilor Culpepper, no. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Flynn, no. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, no. Councilor Mejia, no. Councilor Murphy, no. Councilor Murphy, no. Councilor Pepén, yes. Penn, yes, Council Santana, yes, Council Santana, yes, Council Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, no, Councilor Worrell, no. Eight votes in the affirmative and five votes in the negative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The committee report has been accepted and docket 0734 has been passed. Now move to recognize the Chair of Ways and Means. Councillor Webber, you have the floor.

Okay, thank you very much. We're now going to discuss the operating budget, docket number 0733. Being passed around is... The committee report the tax order and just a table that we printed up to help people and I would ask for At least a 15-minute recess for people to be able to review this and come back and have a discussion about it.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm receiving this information for the first time, the committee report, which is very significant. I'm also receiving other information that have been attached as well. I do think in the interest of us doing our job and putting our due diligence into this, I'm not prepared I won't be prepared in 15 minutes to thoroughly review all of these documents. There might be 20 or 30 pages, I don't know. But I would need time to do my due diligence to look at every

I'm providing my constituents the best leadership I can, and to the residents of Boston, but to give me ten minutes to look at this and to rubber stamp it, that's not what I'm going to do. I'm asking for significantly more time than 10 or 15 minutes I think I'm probably speaking on behalf of all of my council colleagues that also want to look at these documents and not just rubber stamp it. They want to read this and figure out what is in here This is the first time we're seeing this. And I say this, Madam Chair, as someone that hasn't missed a City Council budget vote at all this year. I take this job seriously. I'm gonna read every word in these documents, but I'm not going to just rubber stamp something that's put in front of me and say to me, Ed, you need to vote on this in a few minutes. That's not what I'm going to do.

I want us to have the opportunity. I think I speak for all city councilors when I say we need several hours. I know the audience might not like that, but we need several hours, if not more time than that, to actually review these documents. And Madam Chair, we're doing constituents of Boston a disservice If you, not you, if we take a look at these documents and vote immediately, we're not doing our due diligence, we're not being, and effective advocate for our constituents, we're not really representing the residents of Boston if we're not willing to do the hard work of reading the documents, studying it, asking questions, maybe even having the opportunity to call a city department and ask what impact does this have? This is the first time we're seeing this.

and I want to do my due diligence so I'm fully prepared. That's what my constituents expect from me. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. The Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I just want, for all the record, for those folks who are tuning in, to be really clear about what has happened up until this point. Because there's lots of narratives, and I like to just keep it straight. So first of all, there have been 31 public hearings. Absolutely. Most of those hearings, usually we don't get any answers to the questions that we've asked the administration. So oftentimes, we... utilize our political capital and never get any answers anyway, so that's number one. Number two, right, we had Four days after May 26, actually, we had a big public testimony session, at which point we had already been asked to submit amendments before we even had the whole situation Finalize, but that's another conversation.

But we were asked to provide amendments without saying where we were going to pull from. Then we were asked... that we were going to have four days to have working sessions. Usually working sessions, you get like eight hours full of maybe 10 of these working sessions. and during this time you have an opportunity to deliberate, to actually build consensus, to read and to learn and to hear your colleagues speak, but this particular budget was designed with the administration and the Chair of Ways and Means, not the Boston City Council and the Chair of Ways and Means, because seven hours and 38 minutes were dedicated to an amendment process. and now we get a, I don't know how many pages this is, but we get a whole booklet

Thank you for watching! showed up ready to do my job yesterday and we got adjourned because Fitzgerald presented an alternate budget for consideration, but we didn't even have the audacity or the courtesy to allow us to review those recommendations. But yet, steamrolling, again, to just present us with the version that the chair wants us to consider. So therefore, President Breadon, this body really needs to recognize who it is that they work for, and they work for the people of Boston. and I'm not done yet, hold up. Hold up.

So I know, Clerk, we've already talked about this is gonna be a long day. This is gonna be a long day because I don't think it's fair and just for you all to think Especially because nobody really talked to me about this. I know IGR made their rounds, but nobody came knocking on my door because they know I don't do behind the scenes negotiations, right? So everything has to be done in public. So therefore, because things are gonna get done in public, I'm going to ask that we have more time to review this and that we allow ourselves to unpack this package. because otherwise we're just going to go along to get along and I think these moments are calling us to demonstrate that we have political will and Courage to fight back and really take a deep dive to see if this budget, did this change since yesterday? I think you fought for maybe $9 million.

We needed $20 million to restore the budget. Did this change since you gaveled us out yesterday? What are we walking into and what has been different? And who did you negotiate with to get to this point. I'd like to know, who were you negotiating with? Because it wasn't me. Was it the seven votes that you already have lined up? Was it the administration? I'd like to know who you got this budget from. To the chair, please.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia. Murphy, I would really, in the interest of giving everyone time to peruse the documents that we've just gotten, I'd like to move to adjourn, not adjourn, to recess very soon, but Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Yesterday, I said it earlier, but still not sure exactly why. Maybe because confrontation wasn't wanted, or conversations that are needed to come to an agreement. The meeting was adjourned by the chair with no explanation and we were left there ready. I was ready. Had my whole night lined up knowing I wouldn't be home Any time early, because we were going to discuss it. So I'd like two questions. One, how much time are we going to have? And I do also want to say, through you, the chair, before it was 5 o'clock, and I was driving home earlier than I thought, I called you. And I said, as the president of this body, are you going up to the clerk's office to schedule, so we could have a 48-hour notice, a meeting, a council meeting for this Friday? in anticipation that we would not get to a vote today. And we do need 48-hour notice, and that was not scheduled. So I do wanna say that we can proactively be prepared

to not be ready today and not feel like we have to wait till next Wednesday and I did ask you to do that and that didn't happen. We could do it now. We could come in on Friday and have this vote if needed at 3.30 on Friday. That is 48 hours out. So I do just want to continue, which I have done in the past, to remind... Those who are at home watching, Wednesdays, and there's only 32 meetings we come here on a Wednesday, is not the only time important votes can happen. So maybe with the clerk here, we can... Schedule a meeting for Friday because I'm assuming if any of our colleagues come back with more concerns or questions and we need departments to come down. or time to work through a lot of amendments that are gonna be filed on top of what this packet says that we're gonna need that time. So I would like to know that answer. How much time are you giving us now? and are you willing to schedule a meeting for Friday in case that we don't get to a board today?

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. The time right now is 3.30pm. I will recess this meeting until 4.30pm. We're in recess and please give you adequate time to review the papers. They're not unfamiliar to you and we will be back here to discuss further at 4.30. Thank you. When recess.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone. The meeting is back in session. I hope folks have time to review the docket. I think we've got a quorum. Seven? Okay, we're ready to go. Councillor Santana, would you mind taking your seat?

Thank you.

Thank you everyone. We're back in session. The Chair recognises Councillor Webber, the Chair of Ways and Means. You have the floor.

I believe Councillor Murphy.

Oh, it was before you. Okay. Councillor Murphy, just switching on your mic. You have the floor.

So, Madam President, Clerk, does the Chair of Ways and Means need to read the operating budget docket into the record or no? Are we fine? Okay. I stand. Thank you, Madam President. I move that we postpone the consideration of this matter, which is Docket 0733, Orders for the Operating Budget. until a day certain, which would be the meeting of the council on June 10th, 2026, as the discussion in our working sessions is very incomplete. I will also advocate that we host a council meeting on June 17th so that we have a meeting scheduled to receive the mayor's response to our vote Additionally, between today and June 10th, we must hold additional working sessions to do our work. There is still time to vote on this matter at the June 10th, 2026 meeting

As the Boston City Charter states in Section 48, that no later than the second Wednesday in June, the City Council shall take the definite action on the annual budget by adopting, amending, or rejecting it, June 10th is the second Wednesday in June. Does anybody second it? So debate on the motion to postpone and the time it has been moved to be postponed can occur. So I'm hoping that we now can take a vote and see. If our colleagues agree.

The floor is open for any comments. Hold on a second. I, yes. Okay. Hold on. We have one motion at a time. We have a second. Councillor Murphy has a motion to postpone to a day certain, which is Wednesday, the 6th of June, 2026, at 12 noon. in the Ionella Chamber. Thank you. And it's been properly seconded. So, Mr. Clerk, can you please take a roll call?

Okay.

Councillor Mejia wants to move the question and move to a vote. This requires a majority, two-thirds majority to move to a vote. Mr. Clerk, could we please take a roll call vote on Councillor Mejia's motion to move to a vote? Without debate. I'm mic's off. You're mic's off.

Councilor Breadon.

Let me clear what we're holding on here.

We want to get to... We're going to vote on the question.

Yeah. No. So, Councillor Mejia has a motion to move the vote. So, to go to a vote. So, if you want to move to a vote, please say yes, and if you do not want to go to a vote, say no. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote?

Then who's second?

Oh, and did you have a second, Councilor?

Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn. Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. 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. Pippen, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Motion has passed by two-thirds.

So the motion to move to a vote has been approved. Mr Clerk, could you repeat the motion? Hold on, we're just getting our mic on. Thank you. Beg your pardon, Councillor Murphy, you've got the floor.

Thank you. My motion is to postpone Docket 0733, Orders for the Operating Budget. To move this matter to the next council meeting on June 10th, 2026 as the discussion in our working sessions is very incomplete. I will also advocate that when we vote today, that we're also voting that we host a council meeting on June 17th so that we have a meeting scheduled to receive the mayor's response to our vote on the 10th. Additionally, between today and June 10th, we must hold additional working sessions to do the work that the people have elected us to do. There is still time to vote on this matter at the June 10th meeting as the Boston City Charter states that in Section 48, no later than the second Wednesday in June, the City Council shall take a vote on the annual budget. by adopting, amending, or rejecting it. So June 10th is the second Wednesday in June.

So that is what we're voting on now that it's properly before the body.

Chair Weber, you have the floor.

In terms of working sessions, I think that's up to the Chair. I don't know if there's voting on scheduling working sessions, which I'm fine to do, but That's up to the discretion of the chair. I just think it's an improper subject for a motion.

I'm just going to move to a vote. Mr. Clerk, can you please take a roll call vote? on the motion to postpone and to have... Yes, Wednesday noon. June 10th.

Document number 0733.

0733. To move it to next week's council meeting.

Councilor.

If I may, I thought of every vote that we had that we... Could raise issues for or against with regard to this? No, we move to vote. We just move to vote. I understand that. And so we're now voting. I thought every vote we could then speak on that motion.

No, not in this case. No.

Why'd you do that?

Okay, folks. Okay, Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on the motion to postpone to a day certain the vote on docket number... 0733 to next Wednesday at noon in the Ayanella Chamber, 6-10-26.

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Coletta Zapata, no. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Durkan, no. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. 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? Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? No. Councilor Weber, no.

Quiet, please.

And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Murphy, you have the floor. 10 votes in the affirmative and 3 in the negative. Passes.

Thank you. So the motion to respond to a certain has been passed.

And the second part was that we would come back on the 24th. Was that the second part of the motion? The 17th.

Yeah. Thank you everyone.

Excuse me.

Councillor Mejia, you have the floor. I beg your pardon, is it the dodgy lights?

Thank you, Councilor, President. I understand that discussions regarding what chairmanships are allowed to do or not, but I want to state for the record publicly that I do believe that seven hours and 38 minutes to deliberate on a budget is not enough time. And therefore, regardless of whether or not the chair is at their discretion, I am going to advocate and ask you as the president of this body to ensure that we have more time to deliberate as a 13-member body about what we're going to do for the people's budget. I find it unreasonable and disrespectful that we're not going to have a definite commitment to continue to have working sessions so that we can do the job that we've been hired to do. So I need to hear that.

From you, as the president of this body, that we're going to make sure that we continue to have working sessions publicly so that we can continue to do this.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. We are now moving on to motions, orders and resolutions. A reminder that under Rule 39, remarks on new matters not up for a vote today should be limited to three minutes for the lead sponsor and two minutes for the co-sponsors. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket? Excuse me. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1099?

Document number 1099. Councilor Worrell will offer the following ordinance to require quarterly revenue reports to be provided to the City Council.

The Chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper. Oh, Councilor Worrell, beg your pardon.

Councilor Worrell, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I'm asking to add Councilor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor. Councillor Culpepper so added. Minister, suspend the rules and add Councillor Mejia as a third original co-sponsor.

Hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Mejia is added as a third.

This is an ordinance that codifies a practice I had as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which was to receive quarterly revenue reports I think it's important that we receive these reports as a body. Last year we had Q3 revenue through March 31st available. But it's more important to make sure that this practice is codified into law. Right now, what's codified into law is that we receive quarterly expenditure report, but revenue is currently left out inside of that language inside of the charter. If we are going to have budget conversations and advocate for the budget, I think this is best practice that expenditures and revenue is part of the conversation and the data around both expenditures and in expenditures and revenue is presented from the administration on a timely matter. Some might point to

Under investments or under forecasted income from investments for reasons why we are in a financial revenue constraint. but we have consistently under-forecasted revenue throughout the many years. So this ordinance gets it on the books and makes sure that there's something Thank you.

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

Thank you, Councillor Forwell, Worrell, for your leadership on this issue of advocating for more transparency around revenue

Thank you, pardon, Councillor Culpepper. We're trying to take care of the sunlight. Please continue.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell, for your leadership on this issue of advocating for more transparency. around revenue reporting and for adding me as an original cosponsor. This is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring that the City Council has the information it needs to make informed decisions on behalf of the people of Boston. This ordinance is straightforward. The Council already receives quarterly expenditure reports And with this ordinance, the city would also have to provide quarterly revenue reports so that we can have a complete picture of the city's finances throughout the year rather than only seeing one side of the ledger. At the same time, we are regularly asked to make difficult decisions based on revenue assumptions, approve supplemental appropriations, and elevate proposed spending reductions. If the council is expected to accept

We should exercise meaningful oversight over the city's finances. We should have access to timely information about both expenditures and revenues. This is not a radical proposal. At the state level, revenue collections are reported publicly every month. Legislators, stakeholders, and the public can track trends in real time and make more informed decisions as a result. This ordinance simply brings a similar level of transparency to City Hall by requiring Quarterly revenue reporting no later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. Good government depends on transparency. Better information leads to better policy making, better budgeting, and greater public trust. For those reasons, Madam President, and Councilor Worrell, I am proud to support this ordinance and urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you, Madam President.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to thank Councilor Worrell for his fierce advocacy as a previous Chair Ways and Means. He was really all about making sure that we were well-informed and had data and information so that we can actually do our job. So I just want to say thank you for your leadership. And now this ordinance here is a continuation of that amazing work. So as the former chair of Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility, which is a committee that I established here in the city of Boston under, thank you to Councilor Flynn for allowing me to My office has regularly held quarterly hearings reviewing the implementation of previously approved budgets. Those conversations highlighted the need for a stronger mechanism to monitor the city's finances throughout the year, not just during the annual budget process.

The council is often asked to make decisions about spending, supplemental appropriations, the future budgets with limited visibility into how revenues are tracked in real time. Regular revenue reporting would provide greater transparency and help inform those discussions. This is a straightforward proposal that strengthens accountability and gives both the counselors and residents a clearer understanding of how the city's physical position looks like throughout the year. So I want to thank Councilor Morrell for bringing this forward and I also would be remiss if I did not also include the importance of oversight and the fact that our office worked on establishing the Office of Inspector General and it got watered down and till this day we're still trying to fight now in the State House But we have always been about making sure that the city councilors have access to information in real time.

So I'm hoping through this ordinance we can at least get a step closer to that. Thank you.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Flynn, just the co-sponsors will speak on this, but if you wish to add your name. Anyone like to add their name? Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy. Please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 1099 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1100?

Docket number 1100. Councillor Worrell, I'll offer the following. Resolution to receive quarterly revenue reports from the Finance Cabinet.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add Councilor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor. Culpepper, so added. And I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councilor Mejia as a third original co-sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Mejia, so added.

And this just goes off of The ordinance I just filed and a resolution that just supports us receiving quarterly revenue reports from the administration. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councillor Worrell, for your leadership on this issue and for advocating for more transparency. Instead of reading the entire remarks again, let me just close with this paragraph. Good government depends on transparency. Better information leads to better policy making, better budgeting, and greater public trust. For those reasons, I am proud to support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. But since we've had a long day, I think I've said enough. Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Flynn and Councillor Fitzgerald. And Councillor Murphy, and please add the chair. Worrell, Culpepper, and Mejia seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1100. All in favour say aye. O'Neill. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1100?

Brayden, yes, Councilor Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, Wu,

7 votes in the affirmative.

Where did everyone go? I know we have a quorum, but six of our colleagues aren't here. Is there something happening that I'm not aware of? I have no idea.

Let's continue. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1101?

Docket number 1101. Councillors Flynn and Murphy offer the following. Order for a hearing. to discuss Boston Main Streets programs and the recently released Wolfe and Company audit.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Boston Main Street programs were created to support neighborhood commercial districts throughout the city through revitalization, supporting small businesses with technical assistance, community engagement, and with millions in city and federal money funding distributed annually In 2025, the Boston Finance Commission uncovered alleged financial irregularities at three square main streets in Jamaica Plain, including forged bank statement transactions in a potential misuse of federal grants. The discrepancies were flagged by a dedicated city employee who demonstrated accountability, civic responsibility. In response, the city of Boston contracted the Wolfen Company That's a national CPA firm to conduct a wide-ranging audit of up to 20 main street organizations across the city.

The Wolfen Company audit report published in December 2025, I actually just got a copy of it, and I put it in the communications that should be available to the public also, found that internal controls did not meet reasonable standards to manage risk. The report also confirmed fraud in missing funds for an altered bank statement found that two Main Street programs did not accurately report their annual FY2024 submissions. The findings in report raise serious concerns about financial oversight, internal controls, transparency of city supported non-profit programs. Dozens of other Main Street organizations across Boston continue to operate with integrity, providing valuable services and support to small businesses and commercial

I believe it is the duty of the City Council to ensure that all public funds are used for their intended purposes and that the community trust in city-supported nonprofit partnerships is upheld through proper stewardship and accountability. Madam Chair, a portion of this money was federal funds. We did have a hearing on this previously, but that was before I actually got the report from the Wolfen Company. It took me a while for me to actually receive it, although it was published in December 2025. I received it, not from the city, I just received it a couple weeks ago.

I do think as city councilors we have a financial responsibility in oversight to ensure that any money we receive, whether it's city money, whether it's state money or federal money, that we spend it appropriately. and I'm asking for us as a city council, as a body, to have a hearing to discuss Main Streets, their financial practices and want to stress that the majority of Main Street programs are doing very good work. However, we need to ensure that they're all operating effectively, efficiently, and taxpayer money is spent appropriately.

Thank you Madam Chair.

Yes, just looking forward to this hearing now that we have a copy of the report and just want to echo what Councilor Flynn said. Most of our main streets, if close to all of them, are doing wonderful work for our small businesses and our communities. But when we see something like this, it is our job to be fiscally responsible, so wanting to make sure that the supports are there for all of the other Main Street directors to make sure that they have the supports they need and that this doesn't happen, because any federal dollars that are misspent could go to important services that are needed. Thank you.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Worrell, Flynn and Murphy seek suspension of the rules. Oh no, sorry, beg your pardon. Wrong thing to do. Thank you. Docket 01101101 will be referred to the committee on post audit. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1102?

Docket number 1102. Council, let me hear of the following. Order for a hearing regarding the City Council's authority to adopt, amend, or reject the annual budget under the Boston City Charter.

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

Thank you, Madam President. And I'd like to add both Councilor Fitzgerald and add Councilor Worrell.

as original co-sponsors. Councillor Fitzgerald is added and hearing and seeing no objection, Councillor Worrell is added as a third.

So today as we prepared to vote for the fiscal year 2027 budget, I'm filing this hearing order because I believe there's value in creating a shared understanding of how City Council's role and authority looks like in the Boston budgeting process. Throughout this budget season, there has been considerable public discussion about the powers available to the city council when reviewing the mayor's proposed budget. Questions have been raised about the relationship between Council's authority to amend the budget and its authority to reject it. Others have expressed different interpretations of what voters intended when they approved the 2021 Charter Amendment establishing shared budget powers between the mayor and the city council. These conversations have highlighted that there is not always a common understanding of the council's role in this process. Given the importance of the annual budget, I believe it's appropriate for the council to host a hearing that brings together legal experts, municipal governance,

scholars, former elected officials, public finance professionals, and members of the public to discuss the scope and the purpose of the council's budget authority. The process is flawed. The 2021 Charter Amendment changed Boston's budget process by establishing shared budget authority between the mayor and the city council and granting the city council the power to adopt Thank you. Thank you. and how they function in actual practice. This hearing is an opportunity to better understand the role that adoption, amendment and rejection each play within the shared budget process and to provide residents with greater clarity How budget decisions are made and whether or not the way we're going about it makes sense. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilor Worrell, you have the floor.

Fitzgerald.

I beg your pardon. I'm getting you guys out of order.

Thank you, Madam President. I think one thing we've learned through this process in having these powers that we've gone through the years is the process is flawed. It is a good time after five years of looking this like any business would do. You sort of do a review of past practices and see where you can look to improve them. I don't think we're getting the result we want out of this, essentially. So I think it's a good time to review it, have that discussion, and see how it can be improved. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to Councilor Mejia and Councilor Fitzgerald. I know you have been leading on examining this charter amendment process for a while now. Thank you. Thank you. Our own expert vying for us. So I'm just looking forward to this hearing. Also looking forward towards any recommendations on how to make this process better because the original intent behind this charter amendment was to make sure that the city council had more power. So looking forward to that conversation to make sure that we are living up to the original intent of the charter amendment. Thank you.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy. Thank you. Docket 1102 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1103?

Docket number 1103. Councilor Worrell, I offer the following. Order for a hearing to examine eliminating minimum lot size requirements in District 4.

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

Thank you, Madam President. There are hundreds of vacant lots across the city, meaning empty lots that can be used to house residents. The Mayor's Office of Housing owns 915 vacant lots, including 187 in District 4. These vacant lots become eyesores They attract rodents and oftentimes seen as dumping grounds while they're not being taken care of. and I know us district councils probably get hundreds of phone calls around these vacant lots. And one of the reasons these smaller lots remain vacant is because the zoning code for that district forbids building residential housing on anything less than 3,000 or 4,000 square feet. We have made progress on this thanks to Welcome Home Boston, which has turned dozens of vacant lots into affordable home ownership units built by WMBE contractors. is an innovative program that has done great work, but has also only scratched the surface and is limited to publicly owned lots. Over the past two years, my office has had regular meetings with developers,

I just want to just say thank you to all the developers that have given us their time and their knowledge of both small and large projects in District 4 to hear feedback from them on ideas that can help make development more affordable unlock resources and thereby spur the production of more housing and home ownership opportunities in the city. One of the most common themes we heard was that the minimum lot size requirement often poses a problem. For example, the current zoning law requires a minimum lot size ranging from three to 7,000 square feet District 4 for single family to three family units. In District 4, more than 60 vacant city owned lots are under the 3,000 square feet minimum. and dozens more are smaller than the 7,000 square feet minimum lot requirement. So if someone wants to build a three-story project on any of these lots, down to 3,000 square feet or less,

To add three new units to the area, they will be forbidden from doing so for no other reason than the zoning code's arbitrary minimum lot size restriction. This conversation comes at a pertinent time when people need housing and the city has vacant space just sitting there waiting to be used. Councilors and residents have been asking over and over for real solutions to create housing and to make development more affordable. This is a method that targets a specific part of the city's outdated zoning code in the way that the chief of planning testified last month that he prefers it to be done, which is neighborhood by neighborhood and not blanketed reform citywide. The needs of each of our neighborhoods and residents vary so much and our zoning code to reflect that. This is a way to tangibly make it easier for developers to build more housing by removing unnecessary requirements to free up all of this currently unused space. I'm looking forward to diving in and figuring this out together so we can bring more housing and more revenue to the city.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell. Would anyone like to add their name? Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy and please add the chair. Docket 1103 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1104?

Docket number 1104. Councilor Culpepper offered the following. Order for a hearing to examine the elimination of the Boston Human Rights Commission in the fiscal year 27 operating budget.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I'd like to add Councilor Flynn as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules. that Councilor Worrell adds a third original co-sponsor.

Councilor Flynn is added as a second. And seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Worrell is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President. The Mayor's proposed budget eliminates the Human Rights Commission by including no appropriation for it, with its functions to be absorbed by the Equity Cabinet and supplemented by existing state resources according to the narrative and the fiscal year 27 budget book. Significant questions remain about whether those departments have the staffing, the expertise, and the capacity to fully absorb the commission's responsibilities. and whether state agencies can deliver services that are local, timely, accessible, and responsive to Boston residents' specific needs. Above the structural concerns, Madam President, eliminating a department dedicated to making Boston more equitable, inclusive, and safe for all of our neighbors is deeply troubling.

The fact that this administration has allowed the commission to remain inactive for two years is not a justification for eliminating it. It is the very question that we should be asking today. Why was it allowed to deteriorate? What message does that send to our constituents? We need to rebuild the commission. As a stronger institution than it was before, this is the moment to invest in these protections, not allow them to fade. How can we sit in these seats, speak out against a federal government that is actively coming for our basic human rights and then turn around and eliminate the very department designed to protect these rights for our constituents. That's a contradiction we cannot afford and one our residents cannot afford either. In Boston, we like to brag about being the most progressive city in the country.

Well, Madam President and my colleagues, let's act like it. Every Boston resident deserves comprehensive, Accessible Civil Rights Protection Against Discrimination. And this council has a fundamental obligation to ensure that structural changes do not come at the expense of people we serve. This is at its core. Let me just say that again. This is at its core a civil rights issue just eliminating the Human Rights Commission. This is the time to invest boldly, strengthen our communities, and ensure that every community in Boston has the most robust protections they deserve. Thank you, Madam President.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Councillor Culpepper for adding me. Thank you to Councillor Culpepper for Your important words, but your actions for many years in this field as a housing lawyer fighting for civil rights and equal justice. I also want to acknowledge Councilor Louijeune who was working on this issue as well. So I want to acknowledge Councilor Louijeune in her commitment to the Human Rights Commission. I also want to acknowledge former Senator Wilkerson for her commitment to civil rights in this field as well. There's a lot of good people doing this work and I want to be part of it. I know others are leading on it, but I do want to do my part.

This commission was established 83, 84 under Mayor Flynn. And the first executive director, I should say, of the Human Rights Commission was a friend of mine, Ian Sanders, I don't know if many of you No, Ann Sanders. Diane knows Ann Sanders. She was my neighbor in South Boston just recently and she moved out. But at one time, Boston had a lot of hate crimes We still have hate crimes in Massachusetts and Boston, but we had a lot of hate crimes against gay and lesbian people at that time, now the LGBTQ community. and that was really what the Human Rights Commission was about, but also supporting civil rights, human rights, ensuring people of color are treated with respect, but it was an opportunity I agree with Councilor.

Culpepper, I agree with Councilor Louijeune and others in the community. This is an important opportunity for us to address civil rights, to address human rights, and we need to ensure that there's money in the budget for this important department. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam President. And thank you to Councilor Culpepper and Councilor Flynn for adding me on this. I just want to thank Councilor Louijeune for your leadership and work on this matter as well. I know both of you have a deep history with this commission. and saw its power during the 1980s and 1990s. My office has been in touch with one of the former executive directors, as Councilor Flynn just mentioned, Ann Sanders. And I have a letter that she shared with me to read into record. As a former executive director of the Boston Human Rights Commission in the early 1990s during Mayor Ray Flynn's administration, I'm writing in support of the commission and urgently request that funding be restored for this critical city department. A little history, the commission was established by city ordinance in 1984 by then City Council, David Skondras, and signed into law by Mayor Flynn.

It was dedicated to promoting equality, preventing discrimination, and advancing human rights for Boston residents, and was the first such commission in the country to include LGBTQ protections. It became inactive in 1996 and was finally reactivated in 2019 under Mayor Martin Walsh, largely due to growing concerns about the civil rights and protections of immigrant communities. The importance of commission both then and now cannot be understated. It was a place where immigrants who had lived in the city for years, as well as newcomers to Boston, could come and feel safe. Many had come from countries where the police or other government agencies where they would go for protection often with their oppressors. It was a place where people could feel safe and understood because often an investigator for the commission spoke their language. It was a place where an LGBTQ person could come and receive a warm reception.

It was a place where a person who had been treated differently because of his or her faith could come Many may think today that those population and many others no longer need protection, but sadly they are wrong. To think that discrimination no longer exists in Boston or that there is no longer need for a Human Rights Commission is misguided and short-sighted. People coming to the commission. They have been treated differently in a variety of settings such as employment, public accommodations, transportation because of who they are. During my tenure, we instituted the practice of mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution. which was very effective in dealing with many complaints. In addition to speaking different languages, all our investigators became certified mediators. The city of Boston is known worldwide as a city that is welcoming. Part of that is due to every person being able to feel safe working, visiting, or going to school here.

And they know if they need help, they will be able to access that in a supportive environment. The cities of Boston Human Rights Commission, one of the things that makes Boston a great city and a great place to live is because it cares about the people who live and work here. Signed, Ann. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, and please add the Chair. Docket 1104 will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1105?

Docket number 1105. Councilor Worrell, I'll offer the following. Order for a hearing to explore the creation and maintenance of public bathroom facilities in the city of Boston.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add Councillor Mejia as an original co-sponsor. Councillor Mejia is so added. Thank you. There are areas of the city, including in my district, that do not have a public restroom. There might be a bathroom inside a privately owned facility, but the owner of that facility is not required to open up their restrooms to the public. This is a public health issue. And there's an access issue. There's an equity issue. and it's relevant to the health and well-being of every resident's life. Yes, you might be able to access a library community center, but that's obviously a very limited window to use, and it's often not available when our parks are being used. Models exist, and other cities such as Cambridge have piloted them. Oftentimes I go to Love Field at Robert's Playground and there are three different porta-potties all with locks on them because one of the youth organizations orders and maintains them. and then half the time the Porter party has fallen over the hill or has not been well maintained. It's just not befitting of a world-class city.

I'm looking forward to having this conversation to make sure that our public parks and public restrooms are better maintained and more accessible. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I want to thank Councillor Worrell for filing this hearing order and adding me as an original co-sponsor. And I also want to give a shout out to the Austin Brighton DSA Thank you to the crew because they have been one of the loudest voices here in this chamber advocating on this very specific issue here. So access to public Restrooms may seem like a small issue until you need to use one yourself and can't find one. For many residents, including seniors, families with young children, people experiencing homelessness, and those managing health conditions, Access to clean and safe restrooms can determine whether they are able to do so comfortably while navigating and enjoying public spaces. Other cities have found creative ways to provide and maintain public restroom facilities, and this hearing gives us an opportunity to learn from those models and explore what we can be doing here in Boston, considering that Boston wants to pride itself as being a progressive city. We want to make sure that we are

living up to that name. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. So would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, and please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 1-1-0-5 will be referred to the Committee on City Services. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1-1-0-6?

Docket number 1-1-0-6. Councilor Flynn and Worrell offer the following. for a hearing to discuss the 2025 Boston firearm trafficking report.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I suspend Rule 12 and add Councillor Culpepper?

Hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Culpepper, so added.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Gun violence is a leading cause of death and injuries in this country, causing harm to not only the individual but also to communities that experience gun violence. In October 2022, The City Council unanimously adopted a resolution declaring gun violence as a public health emergency. In November 2023, the City Council approved an ordinance requiring requiring the Boston Police Department to study the trafficking of illegal firearms and to publish a report every year on their findings. I want to thank Councilor Worrell for his continued partnership and leadership on this issue. According to the police stats from January 2025 to December 2025, there were 122 shooting victims. Gun trafficking in illegal flow of firearms is a major contributor to gun violence.

Boston Police recovered 819 total illegal firearms in 2025. There were 470 arrests for firearm-related charges in 2025. 73 of the arrests were juvenile, an increase of 13% compared to 2024. with growing concerns related to ghost guns. That's basically an illegal firearm that you can practically build at your own house and have parts sent to you. from a 3D printer. It is critical that the Boston Police continue to collect data and help law enforcement and policy makers across Massachusetts and really across New England and the country to better understand the impact of illegal gun trafficking

According to the report, 54 crime guns recovered were privately manufactured as ghost guns, as I mentioned. I was going to highlight several recent incidents, but I'm not going to do that. But I do think it's important for us to provide a critical provide the critical leadership on gun violence in our city. But what happens in other cities and towns across the country has a huge impact right here in Boston. What happens up in Maine or what happens in Florida has an impact here in Boston. It's about us working together, studying the issue, providing the leadership to ensure that guns don't come into this city, but also really

to any city in America because we have an epidemic of gun violence throughout major cities across America. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councillor Flynn, for adding me on this and your work around I think this data is incredibly useful and is only available thanks to our collaboration in 2023 to identify the flow of guns into the city. These stats inform not only where our police should be located, but they also help us as a city to see where our other resources should be directed, such as housing, Food Access, and Employment Assistance. Because we know that if you have a good job, good enough food on the table, and a steady place to rest your head at night, then we're addressing the root causes of violence. So thank you to Councilor Flynn and I look forward to this hearing.

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

Thank you, Councilor Flynn, for your advocacy on this issue and for adding me as an original co-sponsor. And thank you to Councilor Worrell for your advocacy. Collecting data is not only impactful if we analyze it and use it to make purposeful change, As a council, we have a profound obligation to the victims of firearm violence, to their loved ones, to our current residents, to the future of this city, to always strive for safer streets. That obligation is not passive. It demands action. The 2025 Firearm Report reveals a significant concentration of firearm recoveries and Violence in Districts B2 and B3 at the very heart of Boston. This is not just concerning data. It is a call to action.

Reports like this one exist to show us where the need is greatest, and it is our responsibility, Madam President, to respond. We cannot allow these findings to just sit on a shelf. That is why this hearing, along with the one I filed on firearm trafficking, gun violence, and firearm violations in Police District B2, and B3, we must bring together the right bodies and stakeholders to analyze this data, understand the root causes, and develop intentional, targeted policy solutions that meet this very moment. The residents of B2, B3, and every neighborhood in Boston deserve a city council that turns data into action and action into results. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Would anyone like to add their name? Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Murphy. Please add the chair. Thank you. Docket 1106 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1107?

Docket number 1107. Councillor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss the findings of the 2025 Annual Report by the Boston Disability Commission.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Boston Disability Commission serves as the city's primary advocate for advancing accessibility, inclusion, and civil rights for residents with disabilities. I have great faith in this commission. I have great faith in their commissioner, Commissioner McCosh. The Commission's 2025 Annual Report provides valuable data, findings, recommendations regarding architectural and communication access, ADA compliance, training, transportation, employment, Public Accommodations, Overall Quality of Life of Persons with Disabilities in Boston. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four adults in the United States lives with a disability. making disability inclusion a critical component of effective municipal governance in public service delivery.

Boston has committed itself to advancing accessibility and ensuring that all residents regardless of ability can fully participate in civic, economic, education, and the cultural life. The findings contained in the 2025 report provide an opportunity for us on the city council, city departments, advocates, and residents to evaluate progress, identify barriers, discuss strategies to improve accessibility across the City of Boston. Disability rights, civil rights. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Would anyone like to add their name? Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Murphy, Pepén, Worrell and please add the chair. Docket 1107 will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1108?

Docket number 1108. Councilor Flynn offered the following. Voter requesting certain information under section 17F. regarding a number of parking meters and annual revenue generated in the City of Boston.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I filed the 17F to learn more about annual revenue Austin receives from parking meters over the last 15 years and how many... We have had in service every year how many parking meters we had every year, how many were removed each year, and what streets they were removed from. I think this is important information to have because we're $100 million in the red right now and 50 million in our schools. It's important for us to learn as much as we can about revenue sources. And this is a simple 17F. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Councillor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 1108. All in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1108?

Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén. Pippen, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell. Yes, yes, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Talking about 1108 has received eight votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. May I ask my colleague Councillor Culpepper to take the chair for a few moments while I

Madam President, are you happy? I'm ready to go.

Stock number 1109, Councilors Braid and Flynn offer the following. Resolution recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Month.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Madam President, you have the floor.

Thank you Mr. Chair. I'm honored to be here to support the recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Month in Boston this past May. Because we didn't have a council meeting last week, we missed Actually having this as a resolution in May, but we did not want to let this important recognition go unnoticed. I want to thank Councilor Flynn for being a co-sponsor and for always being a strong advocate for our AAPI community in Boston. You can find a vibrant and diverse community of Asian American and Pacific Islanders from all walks of life throughout Boston. And they provide leadership and business growth, as well as civic engagement and culture in Boston. as they continue to thrive within our neighbourhoods. There are many contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to help The City of Boston continue to move forward, whether it is through education or healthcare services, small business ownership, artistic ability, or advocacy for the public good.

As the District Councillor for Alston Brighton, I am proud to represent a vibrant and growing AAPI community. This recognition reminds us that we must continue to support all residents to feel Respected and represented especially given the recent rise in discrimination against people of Asian descent and the increase in the occurrence of anti-Asian hate-related incidents. I hope this resolution will show that we as a council reaffirm our commitment to equity and advancing opportunity throughout the city and celebrate our diversity which makes us strong. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to Councilor Breadon for including me. I also want to acknowledge all city councilors for their important work they have done as well in supporting Asian Americans here in Boston but across Massachusetts and want to acknowledge Mejia Wu and her team as well for the incredible work that they have done on this issue. Mr. Chair, when I served overseas in the military, I served with Asian Americans and saw their incredible Devotion to our country and service. And I also saw their willingness to lead and to take charge, to provide the incredible leadership, not just in the military, but also throughout so many segments of society.

And I think of that because I also know that at the same time their loved one is serving overseas in harm's way, Back here in the United States, we see a rise in anti-Asian racism and hate crimes as well. So it's important to acknowledge that, to address it, But it's also important to acknowledge the incredible contributions Asians and Asian Americans have made to our city and to our country. And we haven't treated them with the respect that they've earned as well. including a history of racism against the Asian community, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, which is the first time the United States ever excluded a race of people based on their race. And this is,

the same community, the Chinese community that worked with the Irish and others as laborers and helped build the Continental Railroad connecting the East Coast to the West Coast. Again, being excluded, The Chinese community, there was a famous photo out in Salt Lake City when the railroad was connected. Even though it was built by the Chinese laborers, not one Chinese person was pictured in several hundred people in that photo. That's just one small example. It's actually a large example of the anti-racism that continues to take place across the country. We need to acknowledge it and we need to work together. Mr. Chair, thank you for giving me an extra few seconds.

Thank you, Councilor Flynn. Would anyone like to add their name? Dr. Murphy? Yes, you may.

Thank you, Councilor Culpepper. I just wanted to rise to thank Councilor Flynn and Councilor Breadon for filing this. It's never too late to make sure we recognize our Asian community. Next to Councilor Flynn, I spent a lot of time in Chinatown and in all the communities around the city and in my own home neighborhood. and a lot of Vietnamese families, neighbors. So I think it's important that we're always uplifting the Asian community. I know both of my colleagues have already expressed Thanks and gratitude to many of our city employees, but I did want to give a special shout out to Superintendent Chin and the intent that I know the captain in A1 that covers Chinatown has really intentionally made sure that our police, that we're really putting a lot of Asian police officers in Chinatown. And I know that when I go to the Chinatown safety meetings and the business meetings, they talk a lot about thankful for the language access and knowing that

They just feel safe and seen in so many different departments across the city So just thank you for this and know that if anyone ever wants to go to Chinatown with me, I'm always up for a good visit. They have great food, great neighbors, and it's a vibrant community that really does need our support. So thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Murphy. Would anyone like to add their name to this docket? Councilor Murphy? Councilor Fitzgerald? Councilor Mejia? Councilor Pepén? Weber, and Councilor Worrell. Councilors Breadon and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1109. All in favor say aye. Our polls say no. The ayes have it.

Mr. Clerk? Doctrine number 1110. Councilor Brayenoff with the following. Resolution affirming the City of Boston's commitment to green infrastructure.

Councilor, Madam President, Got it.

Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. I would like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Worrell as an original co-sponsor.

There being no objections, Councillor Worrell is added.

I rise today to ask for suspension adoption and adoption of this resolution reaffirming the Council's support for green infrastructure across the City of Boston. With Boston continuing to feel the effects of climate change, investing in greener infrastructure has become a requirement of the Environment, and Necessary for the Health of the Citizens Living in Boston. Right here in the city of Boston, we have three watersheds. We have the Charles River, we have the Mystic River, and we also have the Neponset River, Green infrastructure helps to strengthen our neighbourhoods by enhancing stormwater management systems, providing usable green space and improving public health for all members of our communities.

In Alston, Brighton and throughout Boston, our citizens have voiced many times their concerns regarding their need for clean air, resilient infrastructure and planning that supports a sustainable future. within our communities. The City's 2030 Climate Action Plan identifies green infrastructure as a core strategy for addressing stormwater and inland flooding, and it calls for clear standards and coordinated implementation. With the recent elimination of the Office of Green Infrastructure, many residents and advocates have raised understandable concerns about how this work will continue, how ongoing projects will be managed, and how the city will meet its stated climate goals. This resolution urges the Administration and the Streets Cabinet to restore staffing capacity, provide transparent timelines and ensure clear reporting on all green infrastructure and stormwater projects.

Our communities deserve clarity, accountability and sustained investment in this critical, climate resilient work and I respectfully ask for your support. Just out of a few incidents, we had a storm a few years ago where two inches of rain fell in two hours. It resulted in closure of the Green Line because storm water was accumulating, the line had to close. and a newly constructed below-grade basement apartment was flooded with four feet of water. This is real and it's very, very important that we continue to support an active and dynamic Green Infrastructure in our department in our city. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Worrell.

Councillor Worrell. You have the floor.

Oh, there we go. We figured it out. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Madam President, for adding me and bringing this hearing order forward. As Council President Breadon stated, Boston is facing multiple climate threats, many of them directly related to serious issues with infrastructure around the city. We need all experts as hands on deck to address the challenges ahead. A lot of this office's work, the Climate Office, slated for Mattapan to address inland flooding issues and other infrastructure tools. The elimination of the Office of Green Infrastructure, especially after the city's release of the Climate Action Plan, concerns me. but I think I speak for all in this council that we are committed to green infrastructure but what we need to have a conversation with the administration about is how these plans and these goals will be brought forward.

One way to do that is to reinstate this office to make sure that we'll be following through the city's climate action plans promises. Thank you.

I'd like to add their name to this docket. Docket 1110. Councilor Fitzgerald. Councilor Flynn. Councilor Louijeune. Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Weber. Thank you. Councilor Brayton seeks suspension of and Councilor Culpepper. Thank you. Council President Breadon seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1110. All in favor say aye. Aye. Those in favor say nay. The ayes have it.

Mr. Clerk, please count the vote. Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. 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. Pippen, yes, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Orrell, yes. Councilor Orrell, yes. Document number 1110 has received 10 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Thank you Councillor Culpepper for taking the chair. 1111. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket number 1111?

Councilor Worrell offered the following resolution, recognizing Juneteenth in the City of Boston.

Chair recognizes Councilor Worrell.

Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add Councilor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor. Councilor Culpepper so added. I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councilor Mejia as an original co-sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Mejia is still at it.

I'm proud to stand today in support of this resolution recognizing Juneteenth and calling for the establishment of an annual Juneteenth banner program here in the City of Boston. As a black man, as a father, and someone who represents a district rooted in black history, culture, and resilience, this is deeply personal to me. Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom for black Americans did not come all at once. Even after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, enslaved black people in Texas remained in bondage for more than two years before finally learning they were free on June 19, 1865. That history matters because it reminds us that progress is not always immediate, justice is not always guaranteed, and information itself can be power. And here in Boston, a city built in part by black labor,

Black advocacy and black resistance, we have a responsibility not just to acknowledge that history, but to make it visible. That's why I'm excited about the idea of a Juneteenth banner program across our city. I think about young black kids walking down Blue Lab through Dorchester, downtown, Back Bay, and seeing banners honoring black leaders, freedom fighters, artists, organizers, and community builders. Seeing reminders that they come from strength, brilliance, and survival matter. And this is also about investment, supporting black artists, black designers, and black-owned businesses in creating these banners mean turning celebration into opportunity and economic empowerment. As we approach Juneteenth, I hope we continue telling the full story of this country, not just the comfortable parts, but the honest parts.

because understanding that history is how we continue moving closer to the freedom and equity our ancestors fought for. I'd like to request suspension and passage of this resolution. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Councilor Worrell, for adding me as an original co-sponsor. June 19th. 1865, the day enslaved black Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free, making the true end of slavery and this United States. This came roughly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had already declared itself. That delay is part of the lesson. Freedom declared is not freedom delivered. Justice promised is not justice done. Juneteenth is our annual reckoning with that gap and our unwavering commitment to closing it. In Boston, we know this history well. Black Bostonians didn't just wait for change. They forced it.

They organized. They marched. They sacrificed. Right here on these streets in Boston, To recognize Juneteenth officially is to tell the full truth of who we are, how we got here, and how much further we have to go. The banner program this resolution calls for is how we continue to close that gap. Each June, flags on our lampposts, street poles, in our parks will pull history into the light, making visible the legacy, the sacrifice, and the living contributions of Black Bostonians and Americans. We are filling this gap with real economic purpose. By rooting this program in black-owned businesses, trusting them to design and create these banners, we go beyond symbols. We put resources where they are owed. support present day community leaders and turn commemoration into direct investment.

Juneteenth reminds us that the arc of justice does not bend on its own. It bends because people push it. The vote is one push, but our black communities are still fighting for equitable schools. Equitable Safety, Housing, and Health. Let this resolution, Madam President and my colleagues, be a foundation, but as a promise, a promise that Boston will keep working until equality is no longer the exception, but the expectation. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia.

Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Councilor Worrell for adding me as an original co-sponsor to this resolution recognizing Juneteenth in the City of Boston. Juneteenth holds a special place in my heart. In 2020, at the height of the racial and civil unrest, Then, alongside Councilor Kim Janey and Councilor Andrea Campbell, I was proud to help lead the effort to have Juneteenth be recognized officially and by the City of Boston and then later by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a holiday. What started as a resolution before this body became a statewide holiday, ensuring that this history would be acknowledged and remembered for generations to come. For me, Juneteenth is not only a celebration of freedom, it is a reminder that freedom delayed is freedom denied, and that the fight for justice, equity, and liberation did not end in 1865, it still continues today.

As an Afro-Latina, as an immigrant, and as someone who believes deeply in solidarity across communities, I understand that our struggles are interconnected. Juneteenth calls on all of us to honor black history, celebrate black joy, and remain committed to dismantling systems that continue to create inequities and exclusion. And I also think, and I say this everywhere that I go, is that when they abducted our ancestors, the only difference was the port that they dropped us off at So I'd love to stand in solidarity and I want to thank Councilor Worrell for adding me. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune and then we'll go to Councilor Flynn.

Thank you. I just want to stand in recognition of Juneteenth and the folks in Galveston, Texas who found out on June 19th, 1865, learned of their freedom. And I just wanna, you know, so many, as a black woman here in this city, whose parents came from Haiti, I recognize that we stand on the shoulders of so many who were brought here via chattel slavery and endured and helped really build this country and built the groundwork for capitalism in this country. So I just want to say happy Juneteenth. enjoy uplifting and celebrating alongside our African-American community here. I also want to give a big shout out to Opal Lee, who was the architect, a job of one, and really pushing to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. And so I want to make sure that we recognize those who came before us who did the work to make sure that we could pause

and remember Juneteenth, which was really a day of Jubilee that started off in the backyards of churches and in people's homes celebrating in Texas what freedom really meant. I look forward to all the Juneteenth celebrations that will happen across the city and to the people who will put them on into the continued work of justice and freedom. Thank you.

Thank you. Chairman recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to say thank you to Councilor Worrell, Councilor Culpepper, and Councilor Mejia for bringing this important resolution forward. I also want to acknowledge Mayor Janey as well. for her work, the important work she has done and provided in this city for many years. I was with her the other night at an event and just want to acknowledge her leadership. I also want to acknowledge The sacrifice in service of African American veterans. I know I have said it before, but I think it's worth repeating that African American veterans have given so much to our nation and to our freedom. And at the same time, they came back to cities across America

and not treated with the respect and dignity that they've earned, including at the Veterans Administration Hospital. myself and Councilor Culpepper were at an event a couple weeks ago celebrating plaque veterans in Roxbury. I also know that there's a, I believe it might be Congresswoman Presley that's sponsoring a Bill in Congress that recognizes the families of black veterans that really didn't receive their VA benefits, World War II or Korea. These veterans, black veterans, didn't receive their benefits that they've earned, but this legislation would provide their family members with the benefits that their loved one that were denied access. to these benefits, whether it was education, whether it was housing, or some other type of benefits.

I just want to acknowledge Congresswoman Presley as well and Mayor Janey. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Would anyone else like to add their name? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Culpepper. Culpepper's already on there. Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Murphy, Councilor Louijeune, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Weber, and please add the chair. Wilrell, Culpepper, and Mejia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1111. All in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1111.

Breadon. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune. Leuzen, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Webber, Yes, and Councilor Worrell. Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 1111 has received 10 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 1111 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1112?

Docket number 1112. Councilor, I'll offer the following. Resolution recognizing Caribbean American Heritage Month in the City of Boston.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add Councilor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor.

Culpepper, so added.

I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councilor Mejia as a third original co-sponsor.

And seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Mejia is added as a third.

Thank you. As a son of a Bayesian and Jamaican immigrant parent, I'm happy to celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month. From the food, to the music, to the accents, to the sports, to the joy, Caribbean people Bring flavor, resilience, and yes, especially with this weather, we bring the heat. Boston's Caribbean community has shaped every corner of this city in healthcare, in small businesses, in public service, in the arts, in education, and in the neighborhoods. and District 4, especially Caribbean families, are part of the heartbeat of our community. I also want to shout out a few, not all, some of the organizations that organize around Caribbean Heritage Month and advocate for Caribbean community year round. The Authentic Caribbean Foundation, United Barbadians in Massachusetts, and leaders like Shirley Shillingford, who has spent decades making sure Caribbean culture continues to thrive here in Boston.

Also, we have Besoka and BCAA, amongst a whole host of other organizations. I also believe that this month shouldn't just be about celebration, but also recognition and investment. My office has filed a hearing order to explore Cultural Districts across the City of Boston because our immigrant communities deserve spaces where culture, business, and community can grow together. So to every Caribbean family across Boston, Whether you're Jamaican, Haitian, Dominican, Trinidadian, Barbadian, Grenadian, we all know who had the best patties, but today, and this is the month that we all get to celebrate. Thank you. I'm seeking suspension and passage of this resolution.

It sounds like you should have a Caribbean bake-off or something. The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Councilor, for adding me as an original co-sponsor. The two decades June has marked National Caribbean American Heritage Month. Boston is incredibly proud to honor the vibrant community that shapes the fabric of our city every single day. As a city councilor for District 7, I am deeply proud to represent a district home to such a strong, thriving, and beautifully diverse Caribbean community. Since 1980, Boston's Caribbean population has more than tripled, now making up 18% of our neighborhoods. You see this profound impact everywhere you look. And the dedicated healthcare workers and caregivers giving and keeping our families safe and healthy. The visionary small business owners driving our local economy.

and the grassroots cultural leaders who spent decades building deep roots of connection, advocacy, and opportunity. This month isn't just about recognition. It is a celebration of cultural pride, and a shared spirit of resilience that continues to shape, inspire, and uplift District 7 and the entire city of Boston. And I might add that Brian Councilor Worrell's brother has challenged me to Jamaican oxtails versus southern oxtails. and I plan for District 7 to make the best oxtails in the City of Boston. Thank you, Madam President.

Sounds like a plan. I hope you invite me when you do that. The Chair recognizes Councilor Contra Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. By the time we get done with this speech, I think we're all going to get 10 pounds fatter, right? Because we've got lots of good stuff here. So I want to thank Councilor Worrell for filing this resolution and the opportunity to join as a co-sponsor. As someone who is of Caribbean descent, Caribbean American Heritage Month is deeply personal at a time especially It's a time to celebrate the countless contributions Caribbean communities have made in Boston. From our culture, small businesses, to our advocacy, leadership, and community building, we bring all the spices and everything nice. I often say that The only difference between us is the port that they dropped us off at, and our community shares so much history, resiliency, and struggle, and we are stronger when we recognize those connections. Caribbean Americans have helped shape this city in profound ways, and this month gives us an opportunity to honor that legacy while also celebrating the richness and diversities of our cultures.

I'm proud to support this resolution and stand alongside many of my Caribbean community friends and family as we continue to make Boston a more welcoming and beautiful city for all. And I also just want to say that I have to say, even though I'm Dominican, we do make some good oxtails. But if I had to choose, I would have to say Jamaican oxtails. will win, sorry Culpepper. And I know my mom has probably turned, my mom is not happy that I'm saying that, but Jamaicans are holding it down when it comes to the oxtails and also their patties. Yeah, so. Yeah, I just want you to know, I'm down with the Jamaicans.

Thank you. It sounds like we've got a potential bake-off or something going on here. The chair recognizes Councillor Louie Jeanne. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you. I want to thank my colleagues for filing this and recognizing Caribbean American Heritage Month for what it is, a celebration of a diaspora here in Boston that is really expansive and inclusive of all of our islands in the Caribbean as a proud daughter of Haitian Americans. I grew up really celebrating, going to Caribbean Carnival, celebrating with our Caribbean community that brings their full selves and their full island heritage here, so it's always great to to the flag raisings here happening at City Hall. and I just wanna thank all of the different groups and organizations that every day are putting on for our Caribbean community. I personally am waiting for doubles from Dossie from the great land of sweet tea and tea. I'm a big doubles fan and I just wanna say Thank you to all of our Caribbean leaders here in the city for all the work that they do. I know that people come here, and when they migrate here, home is always in their heart.

and for so many people while they're here they send remittances back home to the islands and do what they can even while they're here to better their countries and so I just wanted to say happy Caribbean American Heritage Month to everyone here in the city. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilor Worrell? Oh, I beg your pardon. Who would like to add their name to this wonderful resolution? Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair. Worrell, Culpepper, and Mejia seek suspension of the rule as an adoption of docket 1112. All in favor say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1112?

Yes. Councilor Brayton, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Fitzgerald. Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune.

Yes.

Councilor Lujan, yes. Councilor Mejia. Yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy. Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén. Yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana. Councilor Weber. Webber, Councilor Webber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 1112 has received 10 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 1112 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1113?

Docket number 1113. Councilor Flanagh for the following. Resolution calling for a federal investigation into Boston Housing Authority elevator failures.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. For years, residents in Boston Housing Authority developments have endured repeated elevator failures that have left them trapped in their apartments, forced to miss medical appointments, unable to access groceries and medicine, cut off from their families, daily life. On November 22nd, 2024, October 16th, 2025, The City Council held hearings to discuss the status of elevators at BHA Ruth Barclay Apartments in the South End. Residents shared heartbreaking stories of broken elevators that have caused them to miss critical services difficulty making it to the bathroom in time. In one instance, one resident said to me they couldn't attend their child's funeral. Last year,

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, there was a two-day elevator failure at Ruth Barclay right up until the Thursday morning of Thanksgiving. Many residents were forced to alter and cancel plans with their families. Following my City Council hearing last fall in December of 2025, I called for and filed a resolution in support of BHA Elevator Safety Commission which would be composed of BHA Task Force members, BHA leadership, the Boston Fire Department, Inspectional Services, the Disability Commission, a City Council member, a representative from the elevator maintenance industry. Recently, on May 11th, the Boston Housing Authority was fined $363,000 as a result of an investigation into the Ruth Barclay apartment elevator failures by the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board.

The fine was significantly reduced from the $363,000 figure. On May 12th, I wrote to Mayor Wu and Administrator Block to request a full investigation into any and all BHA properties with an elevator. I have also offered to chair the commission that I highlighted earlier. Last week, a resident in Ruth Barclay Apartments, a double amputee, A disabled veteran was not able to get into his apartment to get his medication as a result of a 22-hour elevator failure. He was on the fifth floor. He couldn't get back into his elevator. He was forced to sleep outside of Salt Station overnight because BHA did not provide him with a hotel voucher. To stay while he could not access his apartment.

BHA staff insisted that he call the fire department. to carry him upstairs, an option that left him feeling he was not treated with dignity and respect. This is under state investigation right now. I have called, or I am calling, for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate this. I believe it is a violation of federal housing quality standards In failing to maintain safe access, it's probably a violation of the ADA law as well. Americans with disability. At this time, the Boston Housing Authority should be subject to a federal investigation by HUD due to the ongoing elevator failures that have left our seniors and persons with disabilities without reliable access to their homes. In the final analysis, I am fully aware how serious it is to call for a federal investigation.

My colleagues in the city know I do not take these issues lightly. But as you can see over the last two years, we have failed our neighbors in public housing. We have violated the Americans with Disability Act. We continue to put their safety at risk. What would happen if there is a fire at Ruth Barclay Apartments and we can't get the persons with disabilities down? They can't get... down to the basement. They can't get down to the ground floor in an emergency. I'm sure city councilors would prefer that I stop talking about this. It makes life easier for everybody. But it doesn't make life easier for residents in public housing. However, what I will do is instead of asking for this resolution to go forward, I am going to,

I'm going to put this or respectfully ask that it be put into a committee and have a hearing on it once again. Although I don't want to call for a federal investigation because many of my colleagues asked me that they want to be part of this discussion and have a hearing. I agreed. I have challenges about that. I'm not happy about it, but I will do that out of respect for my city council colleagues to ask this be put into a committee. But this is not me backing away from my constituents and public housing. I'm going to continue to fight for them and advocate for them to ensure that they're treated with respect and dignity. And if people at BHA think I'm gonna stop advocating for my constituents, They don't know how I advocate and I'll continue to fight and I'll fight tooth and nail anyone that tries to

advocate against safety conditions in public housing developments. This is a matter of life and death. If elevators don't work, Madam Chair, and elderly people can't get down for various reasons, One person couldn't get down because of a funeral. One lady soiled her pants because she couldn't get up to her bathroom. If this doesn't discuss people, I don't know what will, but I can't remain silent. I'm asking my colleagues to be part of this. You have blocked me previously on this issue, but I'm going to give everybody

Flynn, and other opportunity to work with me.

I just wanted to rise and say this was brought up earlier when Councilor Flynn filed his communication and I know it was referenced by a few of Our colleagues as an issue and I just want to be clear that to me this is a tragedy and I just want to thank Councilor Flynn for bringing this forward. It is never hard to continue to fight and advocate for things that we know many city employees all the way up to the mayor would like us to not address, but this is one that we can't ignore. We all wear this shame. When an elderly amputee veteran is locked out and sleeping outside because he can't get to his apartment. We all need to do better, so thank you, Councilor Flynn, for fighting always for our BHA residents, but this incident should not have happened for us to be all in, but I'm looking forward to, and I hope that

you get the commitment that you were told before you pushed this to a hearing order not just a resolution and that we continue to advocate. Thank you.

Thank you Councillor Murphy. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald. Mejia, Councillor Murphy. Thank you. This docket, number 1113, will be sent to the Housing Committee. Thank you. We're now on to personnel orders. Mr. Clerk, can you read how we've got for personnel orders? Two. We have two personnel orders. Mr. Clerk, could you please read the two personnel orders?

Docket number 1114, personnel order, Councilor Breadon for Councilor Louisienne. And docket number 1115, personnel order, Councilor Breadon for Councilor Worrell.

The Chair moves for passage of the personnel orders. All those in favour say aye. The ayes have it. The personnel orders have passed. We're now on to green sheets. Before we move on to green sheets, is there anyone here who would like to add their name to a docket that they may have missed? Councillor Webber, do you have... Okay, and Councilor Worrell?

Yes, I'd like to add Councilor Murphy as an original co-sponsor to docket number 1103.

1103, we can do that. Anyone else? Councilor Fitzgerald?

Could you please add my name and support for 1083, 1084, I don't think I was hit for 1085 either. I think that was it.

Can you repeat those again?

The first three communications from the mayor. Okay. 1083, 1084, 1085.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. You have the floor. Thank you. I'd like to add my name to docket number 1103. and 1107 and 1109. I believe I have one other I'm trying to figure out on the last one. I'm trying to remember what that one was. Okay. and I think I missed a roll call vote.

Can you repeat those again?

Okay, yep, that's 1-1-0-3. One second. 1-1-0-7, 1-1-0-9. And I believe there was a roll call vote on docket number 1096 to put forward a motion for reconsideration of that vote. Is that seconded?

Yes.

Seconded? Second. Okay, and so I'd like to vote in the affirmative. Yes, on docket number one.

Councillor Louijeune would like to move to reconsider her vote. All those in favour say aye. Aye. Thank you. The ayes have it. Councillor Louijeune.

Yes. And Mr. Clerk, I'd like to vote in the affirmative as a yes on docket number 1096. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

All good? We're now on to green sheets. I understand there's a poll from green sheets. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you. I've got two polls from green sheets. Docket numbers 0756. Do you have a page number? Yeah, it's the last page of the green sheets for the Ways and Means Committee, 0756 and 0757.

You've got it. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, could you please read... These two dockets 0756 and 0757 into the record, please.

From the Committee on Ways and Means, docket number 0756, message not approving in order appropriating. $1,400,000 from the income of the George Francis Parkman Fund. The funds are to be expended under the direction of the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the Maintenance and Improvement of Boston Common and Parks in Existence as of January 12, 1887. Father in the Office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026, document number 0757, message in our approving and appropriation of $3,600,000. from the 21st Century Fund, also known as the Public, Educational, or Governmental Access and Cable-Related Fund, purchased pursuant to Section 53F The funds may be used to support PEG access services to monitor compliance with the Cable Franchise Agreement.

and for preparation of renewal of the franchise license. Filed in the office of the city clerk April 6, 2026.

Thank you. Absent objection, the motion of the committee chair is accepted and dockets. 0756 and 05757 are properly before the body. Councilor Weber, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Docket number 0756 is a $1.4 million appropriation. from the George Francis Parkman Fund for the maintenance and improvement of the Boston Common and parks in existence since January 12th, 1887. We discussed this fund during our May 11th hearing on the Parks and Recreation departmental budget. Docket number 0757, is a $3.6 million appropriation from the 21st Century Fund, also known as the Public Education or Government or PEG Access and Cable-Related Fund, which is used to support public education and governmental access to cable television service. The fund's made up of revenue from cable franchise fees paid by subscribers to Comcast, RCN, and Verizon,

that supports Boston Neighborhood Network, better known as BNN Media, and Tech Goes Home, which is a digital equity initiative which provides low-income, underserved residents in the city. Lastly, the fund supports the city's dark fiber infrastructure and other cable-related advocacy, auditing, and regulatory service. This fund was discussed during our April 27th hearing on the Department of Innovation and Technology, Better Runners Do It. As the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, I'm seeking acceptance of the committee report and passage of these two dockets today. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Webber. Councillor Webber moves for passage of Docket. We'll take him separately. Docket 0756. All those in favour say aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0756?

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

Yes.

Luzon, 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 0756 has received 10 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket 0756 has passed. Councillor Webber moves for passage of Docket 0757. All those in favour say aye. Aye. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 0757?

Councilor Breen. Yes. Councilor Breen, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata. Councilor Culpepper. Councilor Culpepper, yes. Councilor Durkan. Councilor Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Docket number 0757 has received 10 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket 0757 has passed. We are now on to late files. Mr. Clerk, do we have any late files?

One late file.

Oh, I beg your pardon, Councillor Flynn. I didn't appreciate that you had another green sheet poll. Do you have a number?

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you for recognizing me. 0307, page 10. 007.

0307. 307. We really need to be notified in advance, Councillor Flynn, because we're trying to...

I understand.

I understand Just bear with us for a second Docket 0307 was referred to the committee on February 4th, which is 119 days ago. This requires a vote of seven members of the council to bring it to the floor. Read it into the record first. Mr. Clerk, could you please read this docket, 0307, into the record?

From the Committee on Housing and Community Development, docket number 0307. Resolution in support of Boston Housing Authority Elevator Safety Commission.

Flynn. In order to take this, this requires a vote of seven members to bring it to the floor. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote? to allow this to come before the body Excuse me. Hold on a second here. Bear with me, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Pepén, you had a point of order.

I just have a point of order through you, through the chair, to my colleague. As a chair of housing, I'm just, I wasn't made aware of this poll, so I just want to get clarification on does this, in order to bring it out of the green sheet, do we need seven votes in order for us to talk about it? It just, you know, I just want to make sure I get a heads up here.

Well, yeah, this is the Elevator Safety Commission that I've been, this is different from what I proposed earlier, but this is the Elevator Safety Commission that I think is important for us to at least have a conversation about and to acknowledge that we do need a commission to investigate when to talk about elevator safety commission in the city. That's what I believe. but it's different from what I proposed earlier.

Okay, thank you. Everyone take a deep breath. Rule 24. Within 60 days after a matter is referred to the Committee, it shall not be voted upon without the consent of the Committee Chair, Councillor Pepén. 60 days after a matter is referred to the committee it may be called by nine members of the council 90 days after the matter is referred to the committee it may be called by seven members of the council and 120 days This is 119 days at the moment. 120 days after a matter is referred to the committee, it may be called by five members of the council. So right now it requires seven members of the council to vote in order to bring this to the floor. Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on the proposal to bring this docket 0304 to the floor? You're voting in the affirmative if you want to bring this docket to the floor. If you do not want this docket to come to the floor and remain in the Housing Committee, please vote no.

Brayton, no, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Bichot, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Louijeune, no. Councilor Mejia. Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, no, Councilor Pepén, no, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, no, Councilor Weber, no, and Councilor Worrell, present, Councilor Worrell, present, present. Five votes in the affirmative and four votes in the negative.

This stays in committee. Docket 0307 will remain in committee. It's been a long day. I'd like to take a very short recess. No more than five minutes, so don't go too far. Thank you.

Folks, we're back in session. Let's keep this show on the road. Councillor Worrell, you had, you wanted.

Motion to reconsider.

Second. My vote.

My last vote.

You'd like to reconsider your last vote on docket number 30307?

Yes.

Mr. Turner, can you record that as an affirmative?

That's an affirmative, yes.

Is that what you want?

Yes.

From present to yes. So docket 0307 has one, two, three, four, five, six votes in the affirmative and four votes in the negative.

So docket 0307 will remain in the housing committee. I understand that there was a late file that has been put... Mr. Clerk? There's no late files. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Okay. We are now moving on to the Consent Agenda. We're now moving on to the consent agenda. I've been informed by the clerk that there are no additions to the consent agenda. The question now comes on approval of the various matters contained within the consent agenda. All those in favour say aye. Thank you. The consent agenda has been adopted. We're now on to announcements. Please remember that these are for upcoming dates and events. Does anyone have announcements? Please put your light on.

Councillor Mehear, you have the floor. Sorry. You're good? Anyone else? Announcements? Any big parties you'd like to announce? Thank you. Councilor Louijeune, you have the floor.

Yes, I just wanted to say a happy birthday to my goddaughter, Ella. Drew, who will be turning to this Saturday. So just wanted to wish her a very happy birthday.

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

Thank you, Madam President. June 14th. Councilor Worrell, June 14th, 2026 at 3 o'clock at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to celebrate my 30th pastoral anniversary. June 14th, 2026 at 3 o'clock. Everyone is invited. And if you come, bring a resolution. Thank you.

Or bring some oxtail. Thank you. Congratulations, Councillor Cuttlepepper. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do want to make an announcement on two events that wanted to invite my, well, one event I wanted to invite my colleagues to, it's this Saturday in South Boston. It's basically a family fun day from 11 to four. Yeah. 1800 Dave Boulevard. But if anyone needs more information, it's about community coming together, celebrating the contributions. of this wonderful new park we have in South Boston and the generosity of the community coming together and want to say thank you to our state partners as well. But it's this Saturday, want to invite everybody I'll give you more information if you'd like to come. Also, this Friday, I just wanted to keep you posted on an important event.

It's a golf tournament sponsored by the City of Boston Veterans Department. I'm not inviting anyone to golf. I just wanted to let you know. But I'm not going to golf. I get there early and say hello to everybody. But if anyone wants any information about it, please let me know. I usually get there at seven o'clock in the morning before the tournament starts to thank the veterans and their families for their service. But if anyone wants to join me, for coffee at the city's golf course, please let me know. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. We also want to wish a happy birthday this week to Elaine Donovan of Councillor Coletta Zapata's office and Shane Pack of Central Staff. Happy birthday. Anyone else? Any more further announcements? We're now moving on to memorials. Would anyone like to lift up a name? Councillor Pepén, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. In my district, we've had two pretty significant deaths, unfortunately. First, I'd like to begin with Rita Joanne Garufi, The mother of Joe Garufi, the owner of Bacaro's and Sophia's Grotto, both very amazing establishments in my district, beloved by the neighborhood. I mourn with a Garufi family. She left a really strong legacy. They are very involved in everything that happens in my district. And I just wanted to extend my condolences to the entire Garufi family. and then the second person that passed yesterday, I attended in the wake of Terry Perota. Terry was the infamous dance instructor for Dance Academy in High Park. She touched generations of dancers across my district and surrounding areas. We were at Most Precious Blood Church yesterday. The line was out the door.

Such an overwhelming amount of support from the residents from all over the city and across the state. We lost a really big person in Hyde Park yesterday, and I know that a lot of people are mourning in my community right now, so I wanted to make sure that I extend my condolences to their family as well. Thank you, Madam President.

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

Thank you. I just wanted to uplift Eileen Kenner, who was such a renowned figure in the black community here in Boston. I saw her literally, I think, two days Prior to her passing at the Haitian American Unity Parade, and she was at the flag raising that we had on that Friday. just decked out in red white and blue American colors but celebrating alongside the Haitian community and her passing was a real big blow to so many people in Boston who really loved and cared for her And so just want to make sure that we adjourn today in memory of Eileen Kenner. Also want to adjourn in memory of Terry. As Councilor Pepén had mentioned, so many of the Hyde Park dance community are grieving

And lastly, I know all of us were at the very moving wake and funeral for firefighter Bobby Kilduff, Jr. And so just my extended condolences to him, his family, his community, his children, and everyone.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also want to acknowledge the passing of Firefighter Kilduff and the incredible contributions Sacrifices really the family has made to the city and to our nation. I also want to acknowledge the passing of a friend from the south end, Barry Hayes. It was a Vietnam veteran and a long time resident of the South End. Many people will recognize Hayes Park in the South End. That's in memory and named of his His family, the Hayes family. But Barry, as I mentioned, was a decorated Vietnam veteran, a community leader. My wife, Kristen, and I were with him just a week ago at Hayes Park for an event.

and he was always there with his wife and they were always contributing to the community, to the park. They loved that park. And they were always bringing people together. He didn't say much, but he was always He was always there for the community and always treating everybody fairly and had a wonderful way about him. So I want to acknowledge Barry Hayes and the Hayes family during this difficult time as well.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Culpepper.

Madam President, I'd like to join in with Councillor Louijeune with regard to Eileen Kenner. I'm not sure if I would be here today if it wasn't for all the work that she put in. All the text messages to make sure all the events I should attend while I was running. Mr. Clerk just brought up A resolution for me to sign that I will give to her family tomorrow at her home-going ceremony.

Thank you. On behalf of Councilors Worrell, Louijeune and Culpepper, Eileen Kenner. On behalf of Councilor Louijeune and Councilor Pepén, Theresa Terry Parata. On behalf of Councillor Louijeune, Andrea and Anna Mathurin and Francis Dennis. On behalf of Councillor Worrell, Desriana Clary, on behalf of Councillor Flynn, Superintendent and Chief John Gill, and Massachusetts Correctional Officer John Edwards, and Gary Hayes. On behalf of Councillor Coletta Zapata, Mary Rose Sullivan Carroll, on behalf of Councillor Pepén, Rita Ann Garuffi, and on behalf of the entire Boston City Council,

Boston Firefighter Robert Bobby Kilduff Jr. The Chair moves that when the Council adjourns today, it does so in memory of the aforementioned individuals. A moment of silence please. The Council is scheduled to meet again in the Ionella Chamber on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 at 12pm. Thank you to my colleagues, central staff, the clerk, the clerk's office, and the council stenographer. All in favor of adjournment, please say aye. Aye. Thank you. The council is adjourned. Thank you everyone.