Also pursuant to Rule 42.

I remind all those in the chamber that no demon demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, would you please call the role to ascertain the presence of a quorum?

I'm celebrating.

Here.

Council Doken.

Council Fitzgerald here.

Council Flynn.

Council Flynn here.

Council Louis Jeanne.

Council Mehia.

Council Murphy.

Council Pepin.

Council Peppin.

President Council Santana.

Council Warrell.

We have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I've been informed by the clerk that there is a quorum present.

We will now recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Oh, pardon?

Oh, you came by.

Mr.

Clerk, uh Madam Clerk is going to do an invocation this morning.

Uh uh, our clergy were unavailable, and uh the church was unavailable.

So here we are.

Madam Clark, you have the floor.

Is it bench?

Stay on everyone.

God of creation, whom we try again and again to make into our own image.

Enable us to desire rightly and to be the use of in the service of others.

Be with these Boston City councillors, grant them the wisdom to create what is essential for the common good.

Keep within each of their hearts a love for the cause of human welfare and a dedication to enrich the lives of all people.

Guide them in their labor to maintain and strengthen our public lives and remind them to be good stewards of the gift of life.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

So I'll invite uh Council Culpepper to come up and introduce our guests.

And then that will be followed by Consular Flynn, who's recognizing the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

You will come up next.

So uh Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Today, Council Louis and I are honored to invite Kinfield and Fabiola Mendez of Jazz Boston to the dais.

Ken will say a few words.

Uh and then Fabiola will honor us with uh it says short performance, but I'm just gonna say a performance in recognition of April 30th as International Jazz Day in the City of Boston.

Jazz is a uniquely American art form that grew from the African American experience, blending musical traditions with global techniques to create something truly transcending.

Boston has long been a vital part of that story from the legendary stages of the hi-hat and wigwam to the enduring legacy of Wally's, which still brings live music to our city every single day on Massachusetts Avenue in my district.

We must look forward metaphorically and specifically as the opening of the Jazz or Bane opens in Nubian Square next month, and also because we sell a celebrate jazz, not just as history, but as a living breathing force for creativity.

Thank you.

Thanks to uh President Braden and Councillors Lugine and Culpepper for giving me a few minutes to speak.

I'm the president of Jazz Boston.

Since 2006, we've been advocating for the Boston area jazz community of musicians, audiences, venues, and media.

We currently have over 4700 members.

And about 60% of them open our monthly newsletters on a regular basis.

They're engaged, they're passionate about this important music.

And I always say this is important music.

It's not just music we play or enjoy.

Jazz was created in the African American community.

We think it's valuable to shine an ongoing spotlight on that history.

Jazz is a somewhat unique musical style in that it focuses on spontaneous improvisation.

Boston has played and continues to play, as the counselor mentioned, a central role in the history of jazz.

And this music has spread across from the U.S.

across the globe, and Jazz Boston is proud to bring you this uh afternoon a short international jazz day performance by the Puerto Rican-born Quatrista Fabiola Mendez.

Did I say that right?

Okay.

Fabi will tell you about her guitar-like instrument, the Quattro, but I can tell you that she's performed at venues such as NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Celebrity Series of Boston, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and many others.

Her collaborations have included with Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Danny Rivera, the Chicago Philharmonic, and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, among others.

Please give her a warm welcome.

And if you'd like to be informed about Jazz Boston's activities, you can sign up for free membership at JazzBoston.org.

And one more thing, uh, Fabiola is going to be doing a performance at uh WGBH tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

And it's a uh ticketed event.

But if any of the counselors would like to attend, talk to me or send me an email at info at jazzboston.org, and we'll make it happen.

Thank you very much.

Fabiola.

Yeah.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I am so honored to be here on the share of my culture, my instrument, and of course, the heritage of jazz.

This is a cuatro, and it's a Puerto Rican folk guitar that's traditionally used in the country music of Puerto Rico.

But I've had the blessing of attending Berkeley College of Music and exploring how this instrument can also be merged with jazz and other genres of music.

So I'm gonna play an original song of mine entitled Dedicatoria in Spanish, but celebrating the women in my life that have been inspiration.

I hope you enjoy it.

The City of Boston, City Council.

Resolution recognizing April 30th, 2026 as International Jazz Day.

Jazz is a unique art that embodies a unique blend of creativity, cultural heritage, individual expression, and combining elements of black musical traditions with global musical techniques and forms.

The Jazz Preservation Act of 1987, the United States Congressional Act, states jazz has achieved preeminence throughout the world as an indigenous American music and art form, bringing this country and the world a uniquely American musical synthesis and culture through the African American experience.

And jazz has played a significant role in cultural development of Boston, influencing and being integrated into the city's education, arts, and community life.

And Boston has been home to many legendary jazz musicians, such as Mel Hallett, Leo Resmond, Don Redman, Johnny Hudges, Harry Carney, Dean Earle, Slam Stewart, Roy Haynes, Alan Dawson, and so many others.

And has fostered a vibrant jazz scene that contributes to the city's reputation as a cultural hub.

And in the 1940s and 50s, Boston thrived with well-known jazz clubs like the Hi Hat, the Wigworm, Savoy, and Wally's, frequented by jazz greats at the intersection of the South End and Roxbury.

Wally's is still operating today, offering live music 365 days a year, and new clubs like Jazz O'Bane, set to open in May 2026 in Nubian Square, showcase jazz as long-standing endurance and freshness.

And International Jazz Day highlights the power of jazz as a force for enrichment and creativity, promoting expression and dialogue through musical art, spontaneity and vitality, and the observance of International Jazz Day supports the cultural vibrancy of Boston, enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike through performances, education, and community events.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City of Boston City Council hereby recognizes April 30th, 2026 as International Jazz Day, and encourages all citizens to participate in activities and events celebrating the rich heritage of jazz music, thereby enhancing cultural appreciation and fostering a deeper understanding of this significant art form.

Ken and Fabiola, I present you with this resolution on this 2030th day of April, International Jazz Day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No, you don't have to be so much.

Okay.

And our friends from the MA.

You want to come up?

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President, for giving me a couple of minutes.

I'm here with City Councillor Durkin and Councillor Brian Wurell as well.

But we have a resolution later in the program in support of the Mass Nurses Association.

But with us today is Miles Matthew and Sarah Bestwell.

And Sarah is a women's health nurse at the Brigham and Women.

I want to extend my deep appreciation and a warm welcome to the Mass Nurses Association at the Brigham and Women Hospital.

It's an honor to have them with us today.

You represent the very best of our community, professional professionals who show up every day with skill, compassion, unwavering commitment to care for others.

We recognize that nursing is more than a profession, it is a calling.

However, we also know that these are challenging times at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The nurses and nurse practitioners at Brigham and Women Hospital compromise a workforce of more than 4,000 dedicated professionals providing high quality life-saving care to patients, literally across the country.

These nurses have been engaged in contract negotiations since October 25.

What are they advocating for?

Fair wages, affordable health care, safe working conditions.

Current management proposals include a 0% wage increase for most nurses, nurse practitioners.

We're advocating here on behalf of the city council is justice.

A little bit, a little bit of respect, dignity, compassion for the nurses.

I think I think they've earned it.

And I think what we're going to do later today is talk about a resolution, vote on a resolution that stands with the nurses during these challenging times.

Having said that, I do want to ask Sarah from the Mass Nurses Association from the Brigham and Woman Hospital if she'd like to come up, say a few words on behalf of the nurses at uh Brigham and Women's.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Um Councillor Flynn said, I'm Sarah Baswil.

I'm a registered nurse at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

I'm the secretary of the MA bargaining committee there, and I also sit as the secretary of the MA Board of Directors.

I want to start by thanking Bosse Boston City Councilors, especially Councillors Flynn, Durkin, and Warell, thank you.

Um, for pass or for talking and hopefully passing this resolution today, receiving this support on the same day we're holding our informational picket outside Brigham and Women's Hospital means a lot to us, Brigham nurses.

It shows that the community understands what's at stake here.

We're picketing today because we care deeply about our patients and the future of Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Unfortunately, more and more we're seeing decisions by executives at Mass General Brigham that are moving the health system in the wrong direction.

They're closing programs like the Weiner Center, threatening the Brigham Byrne unit, and cutting programs that help coordinate care.

Brigham nurses see the impact of these decisions every single day.

They affect continuity of care, harm patient outcomes, and put more strain on the staff that are holding everything together.

At the same time, MGB is telling nurses we're worth zero percent raises while trying to increase our health insurance costs.

MGB's approach would make it harder to keep experienced nurses at the bedside and more difficult to recruit new nurses.

That's 15 people.

Instead of giving millions to people who don't know their way around a patient bed, MGB needs to invest in nurses who provide direct care and keep our hospital running.

We'd like a fair union contract that supports first and foremost safe patient care, provides competitive wages and affordable health insurance, and respects the essential care we get we provide every single day.

We're going to keep showing up for our patients, for us, and for the future Brigham and Women's Hospital.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Quick could I ask my colleagues to please join.

Oh yeah, are you?

Thank you so much, Councillor Flynn, for your support of working people.

To the nurses and nurse practitioners from Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Thank you for being here this morning.

And thank you to my colleague, Councillor Flynn.

It's like there is not a picket line that this man will not join.

So thank you for your support of and um these nurses deserve fair compensation, affordable health care, and a contract that supports safe staffing levels and a workplace where they can continue delivering the level of care for their patients that they rely on every day.

A city councilor for district eight, I urge Mass General Brigham and their leadership to reach a fair agreement that reflects the values of these professionals and responds to concerns they have been raising since October of last year.

Boston's commitments to supporting workers is what makes our city strong.

I've been proud to uphold that commitment and stand in support of health care professionals as they advocate.

I'm also a Beacon Hall resident and represent Mission Hill.

So I'm in line with people in their Crocs, getting to work.

I see the hardworking, you know, going to get your caffeine fixed.

It's like you are my neighbors, you are my friends, and I think it's really important today that we stand in support of these workers because who's the person who makes sure that you get great care when you're in the hospital?

When you're it's nurses.

I, you know, you get five seconds with the doctor, and like these are the professionals that are doing the actual work.

And so, like we've stood with union labor, and every, you know, every single chance we get at the city council, we're a union city.

They deserve a fair contract, and we have to demand that, and we have to demand it at this platform and in this room.

Um, but also we need to demand it on the picket line.

So we'll be out there, and I appreciate everything that you do every single day to make sure that the standard of care is high.

Um, when you're raising the alarm, we need to release raise the alarm for you.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Could our colleagues please join us for a photo?

Two to four outside.

And many of our colleagues might be on the picket line today from two to four at Brigham and Woman.

Thank you.

Two to four.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for the time.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

I'll see you there.

You'll be there.

Great to see you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Sally.

Thank you.

I might see you later.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you, Liz.

Thank you, everyone.

Madam Clerk, would you please amend the attendance to reflect counsellors?

Uh Weber and Warrell have joined us.

Oh, okay.

Now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of April 15th, 2026.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

The ayes have it.

The minutes of the April 15th meeting have been approved.

We are now on to communications from Her Honor the Mayor.

Madam Clerk, could you please read dockets 0850 and 8051 together?

Dr.

0850.

Message transmitted certain information under section 17F regarding Boston Public Schools, school bus auto-liability insurance coverage, including the non-renewal of the prior policy and procurement of a new insurance provider and all related safety claims and cost data.

Docket 0779 passed by the city council on April 8, 2026.

Docket 0851.

Message transmitting certain information under Section 17F relative to the City of Boston Insurance and Liability Coverage.

Docket 0817 passed by the City Council on April 15th, 2026.

Thank you.

Docket 0850 and 8051 will be placed on file.

We are now on to report to public officers and others.

Madam Clerk, can you please read Docket 0852 through 0863?

Docket 0852.

Notice was received from the mayor of the appointment of Rodney Marshall as Fire Commissioner and Chief of the Boston Fire Department effective May 1st, 2026.

Docket 0853.

Notice was received from the mayor of the appointment of Mark Hudson as a member of the task force on the study of on the city of Boston Reparations Effective Immediately.

Docket 0854.

Notice was received from the mayor of the appointment of Darien Johnson as a member of the task force on the study of City Boston Reparations Effective immediately.

Docket 0855.

Notice was received from Nicholas Arianello, Assessing Commissioner of the appointment of Carolyn Newone as the assistant assessor effective April 10th, 2026.

Docket 0856.

Notice was received from the trustee of the Boston Retirement Board seeking an individual to fill the vacant of fifth member board position due to the vacancy.

This term shall expire on January 15, 2027.

Docket 0857.

Communication was received from Timothy Smith, Executive Officer of the Boston Retirement Board regarding FY 2027 retiree cost of living adjustment base vote.

Docket 0858.

Notice was 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 this at its meeting on January 28, 2026.

Docket 0859 notice was 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 February 4th, 2026.

Docket 0860 notice was 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 February 25, 2026.

Docket 0861 notice was 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 March 18, 2026.

Docket 0862 communication was received from Councillor Finn requesting a response on Docket 0220221 relating to BHA Route Berkeley Elevators.

Docket 0863 communication was received from Councillor Finn regarding a public record request relating to drink spiking in Boston.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 0852 through 0863 will be placed on file.

We are now on to reports of committees.

Madam Clerk, would you please read Docket 0260, 0760 through 0761 together?

Docket 0260, the Committee on Environment, Justice and Resiliency and PAC to which was referred to on February 4th, 2026, Docket 0260, message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Samara Ahamani as a member of the Building Emission Reduction and Disclosure Ordnance Review Board for a term expiring May 23rd, 2026, submit a report recommended that this appointment ought to be confirmed.

Docket 0760.

The Committee on Environment, Justice and Resiliency and PACs, to which was referred to on April 8, 2026, Docket 0760.

Message and order for your approval and appropriation order in the amount of $860,000 for the cemetery division of the Parks and Recreation Department and the Trust Office of the Treasury Department to be funded for the Cemetery Trust Fund established under Chapter 13 of the Acts of 1961, submitted report recommended that the order ought to pass.

Docket 0761, the Committee on Environment, Justice and Resiliency and PAC to which was referred to on April 8, 2026, Docket 0761, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $375,000 in the form of a grant, Red Sox Acts and Parks program grant awarded by the Boston Red Sox to be administered by the Mayor's Office, submit a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Warrell, the Chair of Environmental Justice Resiliency and Parks.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

The Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks held a hearing on Tuesday, April 21st at 10 a.m.

virtually discussed dockets 0260, Border Review Board, 0760, Cemetery Grant and 0761, Red Sox Grant from the Administration testimony was provided by Samara Amadee, nominee to the Berto Review Board, Tom Sullivan, General Superintendent of the Cemetery Division, Margaret Dyson, Director of Trust from the Treasury Department, Vieta Cologne, Deputy Chief of Staff and Strategic Planning, and from the City Council, we had Councillors Fitzgerald, Louis Jen, and Durkin in attendance.

For Docket number 0260, the discussion focused on the nomination of Samara Ahmadi to the Virto Review Board.

Ms.

Amadi, a Boston resident, founder principal of NV Energy Studio LLC brings over 15 years of experience in energy and sustainability consultant with a focus on supporting residential and commercial buildings, including affordable housing and meeting burdo compliance and advancing energy efficiency.

The committee discussed her experience as well as broader challenges related to decarbonization, implementation of burdo requirements.

For the docket number 0760, the discussion sent around an appropriation of $860,000 from the Cemetery Trust Fund to the Cemetery Division of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Funding will support long-term burial planning, infrastructure improvements, landscaping, signage, digital access to records, and tree care across Mount Hope, Fairview, and Evergreen Cemeteries.

The division currently oversees 19 cemeteries, spending 265 acres, and manages approximately three 600 to 800 burials annually.

For Docket No.

0761, the discussion focused on a 375,000 grant from the Boston Red Sox, part of an eight-year agreement designated for the Fenway neighborhood.

The funding will be used to mitigate impacts from large events at Fenway Park and support community initiatives.

The Deputy Chief stated that the administration will collaborate with community leaders and the city council to implement a finalized spending plan.

As chair of the committee on environmental justice resiliency in parks, I recommend that these are matters ought to pass.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Warrell.

The Chair of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks seeks acceptance of the report and the passage of Docket 0260.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say nay.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted and docket 0260 has passed.

This appointment is confirmed.

The chair of the committee on environmental justice and resiliency and parks seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0760.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted, and docket 0760 has passed.

Seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0761.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted, and docket 0761 has passed.

Madam Clerk, would you please read Docket 0569 and 0758 together?

Dockets 0569.

The Committee on Community Preservation Act, to which was referred to on March 18, 2026, Docket 0569.

Message and order approving an appropriation of 32,600,000 for physical year 2026.

Communities preservation fund revenues for community preservation project at the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee.

The upcoming project would aim to improve the quality of life across Boston neighborhoods.

Plan includes renovating playgrounds and enhancing creating recreational space such as parks, community gardens, and urban farms.

In addition, these projects would plan trees to go into city three canopy preserve historical building and artifacts, support a program affordable first-time home buyers, and construct new affordable housing units for residents.

Together, these efforts are expected to deliver a meaningful and lasting positive impact on city on Boston neighborhoods and communities.

Submit a report that the order ought to pass.

Docket 0758, the Committee on Community Preservation Act, to which was referred to on April 8, 2026, Docket 0758, message in order approving an appropriation order in the amount in the amount of 1,763 and $63,009 for the administration and operation expense of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee for physical year 2027 and if you and a further appropriation order in the amount of $39,587,798 from the Community Preservation Fund.

Estimate annual revenues for the physical year 2027 to be appropriated and reserved for further appropriation.

Submit a report recommended that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

The Chair recognizes the chair of the Committee on Community Preservation.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Last Tuesday, the Committee on Community Preservation Act held a hearing to discuss the projects of the Community Preservation Committee, has recommended all to be funded from the FY26 appropriations, as well as the approval of funds for fiscal year 2027 from historical preservation projects, new green spaces, and renovations to parks and affordable housing.

The Community Preservation Act continues to be one of the most powerful and beneficial pieces of legislation that improves the quality of life for Bostonians.

The Community Preservation Committee has recommended full funding for 42 projects, including over $16 million for affordable housing projects, over $8 million for historical preservation projects, and over $8 million for open space and recreations projects.

As for the funding into FY27, the funds are split into two appropriations based on estimated revenues for the community preservation fund.

The administrative and operating expenses total $1,763,090 and cover employee costs and contracted services under the 5% maximum of the funds total estimated revenue, a limited imposed by law.

A second appropriation totaling $39,587,798 represents the rest of the estimated revenues and represents future appropriations for future recommendation by the community by the preservation committee, which will fund the future projects.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed saying thank you.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0569?

Roll call vote on Docket 0569.

Council Braden.

Yes.

Council Brayden, yes.

Council Coleta Zapata.

Yes.

Council Calaras Aparez.

Councillor Calpapa.

Yes.

Council Cal Pepper, yes.

Councillor Durcin.

Council Durkin, yes.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn.

Council Luigian.

Councillor Mahia.

Councillor Mahia, yes.

Council Murphy.

Yes.

Council Murphy.

Yes.

Council Peppen.

Council Pepin, yes.

Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Council Warrell.

Yes.

Council War, yes.

Twelve vote and the affirmative.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted and docket zero five six nine is passed.

The chair of the committee on community preservation seeks uh act seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket zero seven five eight.

All in favor, please say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Thank you.

Madam Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0758?

Roll call vote on Docket 0758.

Councilor Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden, yes.

Councilor Councillor Colerta Zapata.

Council Calaras Aparez.

Councillor Colpepper.

Councillor Cal Pepe.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald, yes.

Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes.

Councillor Lujan.

Councillor Mejia.

Councilor Mejia, yes.

Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy.

Yes, Councillor Peppin.

Yes.

Councillor Peppin, yes, Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes, Councillor Weber.

Yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Councilor.

Yes.

Councillor War.

Yes.

12 vote and affirmative.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted, and Docket 058 0758 has passed.

Madam Clerk, would you please read Docket 0771?

Docket 0771.

The Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, to which was referred to on April 8, 2026, Docket 0771.

Communication was received by the City Clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for the City Council action action on the designation of the petition number 147.89, the Copley Plaza Hotel Back Bay, in effect after April 30th, 2026, if not acted upon.

Submit a report recommended that the destination ought to be approved.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Durkin, the Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Well, we've got one day to approve this landmark, so I'm so happy we're here today.

Last Tuesday, April 21st, I chaired a hearing in the Planning Development and Transportation Committee on the proposed landmark designation of the Copley Plaza Hotel.

I was joined by my colleagues, Councillors Flynn and Louise Jeanne.

The committee heard testimony from Elizabeth Sherva, Deputy Director of Historic Preservation at the Office of Historic Preservation.

The panelists highlighted the historic significance of the Copley Plaza Hotel as a prominent New England institution since it opened in 1912.

We also spoke to the civic importance of the being the cornerstone of Copley Square, which has emerged as a major city center by the 1870s.

Architecturally, the building is also an example of Italian Renaissance revival style, characterized by its palazzo-inspired design, pale brick and limestone facade, and its distinctive swell fronts and flanking wings.

The proposed landmark designation boundary corresponds to the hotel parcel, and the panelists noted that the interior protections were carefully limited to publicly accessible spaces.

These interiors are notable for their decorative finishes, their painted murals and ornate ceilings.

There were other areas in the hotel that had been changed significantly, and those were not part of the internal designation.

From my personal experience, the rooms I visited within this building are amongst some of the most beautiful spaces we have in Boston.

I know some most of you are familiar with this famous establishment because we've all had many memories in the Copley Plaza Hotel.

Um when we think about preserving this history.

Um to uh to the hotel as well.

Thank you.

Uh the chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Councillor Durkin for holding this important hearing.

It was an informative hearing.

I'm proud to represent this hotel was kind of in the heart of district two and had the opportunity on the way back from the Boston marathon the other day with with Kristen to walk through the hotel.

And love going in there.

But what I liked about the hearing is it gave us an opportunity to ask direct questions to the administration team that was there.

And they were very engaging, very professional, knew exactly what the um knew exactly about all of the issues, and it's it's really a reason why it's we're here is to educate the public as well.

The opportunity to talk about um you know what impact this would have on residents, what impact it would have on the hotel, um, how do we improve access for persons with disabilities?

So it's an informative discussion, and want to say thank you to Council Durrican for holding this and really educating the public about this historic hotel and the historic significance it's had for so many years in the city of Boston.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair of the committee on planning development and transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and approval of docket 0771.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0771?

Roll call vote on Docket 0771.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Council Calera Zapara.

Council Calera Sofare is Council Calpaco.

Yes.

Council Cal Peppa is Council Dirkin.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Louis Jean.

Councillor Mehia.

Council Mehia, yes.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes.

Council Pepin.

Council Pepin, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

And Council War.

Yes.

Council Weber.

Yes.

12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

The committee report.

For Docket 0771 has been approved.

We're on to Matt now on to matters recently heard.

Madam Clerk, will you please read Docket 0733 through 0757?

Docket 0733 to Docket 0735.

Order for the FY27 operating budget, including annual appropriation for departmental operation for the school department and for other post-employment benefits.

Docket 0738 to Docket 0740.

Order for the Capital Budget, including loan orders and lease purchase agreements.

And Docket 0757.

Message and order, approving an appropriation of $3,600,000 for the 21st century fund, also known as the public educational or governmental access and cable related fund to Section 53F 3-4 of the of Chapter 44 of the general laws.

The fund may be used to support PEG access services to monitor compliance with the Cable Franchise Agreement and for the preparation of renewal of franchise license.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Weber, the chair of Ways and Means.

Do you have the floor?

Thank you, Madam President.

Last Wednesday, the Committee on Ways and Means began hearing directly from department heads, the cabinet chiefs on their proposed uh budgets for FY27.

I'd like to uh acknowledge uh last week we heard from Chief Sweat and Director Wasserman from the Environment Cabinet, Deputy Chief Sugarman Brazen from Worker Empowerment, and Mike Firestone from Corporation Council, as well as Director Costello from the Office of Participatory Budgeting.

I'd like to thank them for their participation in hearings we held uh last week.

Um just note that uh the uh Office of Uh Labor Compliance and Worker Protections will start uh uh gearing up to enforce the heat uh illness prevention ordinance that this body passed last year and will go into effect this summer to protect workers uh from the heat uh and that participatory budgeting while their budget is going down uh the amount of money that they are uh planning on having the same amount available to folks to vote on next year as this year.

It's about you know just over two million dollars.

Um so and so far this week uh the committee has held an additional three hearings and a public testimony session on dockets 0733 to 07 uh 35 and 0736 to 0737, as well as dockets 0738 to 0740, uh all related to the uh proposed FY27 budget.

Just so this week on Monday, we heard from the Department of Innovation and Technology on their proposed budget of 57.5 million dollars, which is down for 58 million dollars in fiscal year 26.

Uh we also talked about the public educational uh or governmental uh uh fund, which is the otherwise known as the PEG access and uh and cable related fund.

The uh Doet's budget is going down by about one percent.

Uh and we heard how they are facing some challenges in hiring uh filling their vacancies for high uh level positions, which they face a lot of competition from the private tech industry, which uh no surprise can offer their candidates a little more compensation uh than the city.

Um Chief Garcis and his senior staff gave us several updates on changes and improvements.

Do it is made to the digital platforms and services the city offers to residents and city employees, including for things like reporting issues, uh requesting permits and accessing data.

We heard how the switch to the Boston-based cratio platform uh is going to help and about work that do it is doing to move more of their services in-house to increase efficiency and security and also help them operate on a tighter budget.

In fact, uh the their amount of their budget is decreasing, is is almost entirely coming from contractual services, uh, which is going from 9.6 million to 8.8 million.

On Monday, we also heard from the mayor's office of housing on their proposed uh uh operating budget of 49.2 million.

Chief Dillon stated uh that despite how challenging it has been for her department with the current federal administration, the proposed budget for FY27 preserves uh a vast majority of city funding in order for her and her team to continue important housing, the community develop work.

Uh you know, um uh Joe uh wool uh was also here uh from the BHA to answer questions in regards to funding for public housing developments in the city of Boston.

Um my colleagues uh and I uh raised concerns about the removal of the affordable commercial assistance fund and cuts to special appropriations, many of which uh uh were uh based on our amendments from last year.

We're looking at cuts uh to the access to council uh pilot program of 450,000 uh while city housing voucher support is there.

Uh the amount that we've amended of 1.6 million dollars is cut.

There's cuts of $300,000 for homeownership vouchers and staffing uh as well as a cut of $50,000 to the tenant stabilization fund.

Uh in addition, there was a $400,000 cut for growth, the Grow Boston initiative, and at the hearing we had uh considerable public testimony asking that we restore funding uh for uh you know uh Grow Boston and our community gardens across the city.

On Tuesday, the committee heard from uh representatives from the community engagement cabinet, including uh representatives from the Office of Neighborhood Services and the Director of Boston 311.

Um they presented a $5.9 million dollar budget, which uh which will support uh programs under the community uh under community engagement, including the Office of Civic Organizing and Spark Boston, as well as all the community liaisons that we rely on.

We're told that while the personnel services line item is increasing by roughly 200,000 to cover wage increases, they are not adding positions.

In fact, they are removing a one long-term vacancy.

The cut grants uh they and they are cutting grants next year for the summer block party and spooky street uh initiatives.

Um instead they're looking to partner with uh private uh funders for those grants in FY27.

Finally, last night we held the third of four public listening sessions.

We heard testimony from young people, members of the Boston People's Response Campaign asking for us to fully fund a community-based mental health crisis response pilot.

We heard from members of the Boston Democratic Socialists of America asking that we bring sorry that we prioritize public restrooms in the budget and advocates for funding of the school year youth jobs program.

In attendance uh last night, I just want to uh thank people who showed up.

We heard uh we had Councillor Flynn, Councillor Braden, Councillor Culpepper, Councilor, and Councillor Pippen was there in the chamber as well.

Uh I'd also like to thank um, I think everyone who came and testified, we did receive absence letters from counselors Santana and Mejia.

The fourth and final listening session will be held on May 26 here in the chamber at 6 p.m.

And we're working to secure interpretation services in Spanish, Asian Creole, and Cantonese.

Uh while we should of course be engaging our residents outside our city hall in our districts and across the city.

I highly encourage all of my colleagues to attend these listening sessions.

It's a way we can engage directly with our residents.

That being said, as the chair of Ways and Means Committee, my recommendation is that these dockets remain in committee.

Uh uh Madam President, I see you also uh called docket number 05 um 057, which is uh an appropriation of 3.6 million dollars to uh from the 21st century fund.

From the 21st century fund.

I just I'd ask that this matter remain in committee.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Dockets 0733 through 0757 will remain in committee.

We're now on we're now on to motions, orders, and resolutions.

A reminder that under Rule 39, remarks on new matters not up for vote today will be limited to three minutes for the lead sponsor and two minutes for the co-sponsors.

Madam Clerk, can you please read docket 0864?

Docket 0864.

Counselors Coleta Zapata and Webber offered a four-line.

An ordinance increase in tenant protection due and rental inspection code violations.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm going to sit down for the remainder of the council meeting.

I want to suspend Route 12 and add Councillor Santana.

Hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Santana is so added.

Thank you so much.

Colleagues, as we know, Boston is in the middle of a housing crisis.

Rents are among the highest in the country.

Vacancy is tight, and for nearly two-thirds of our residents who rent, that reality has created a real imbalance of power.

What that means in practice is simple.

Too many tenants are living with unsafe conditions, so this is mold, heat issues, broken systems, and are afraid to speak up.

And if they do speak up and call 311, or if they ask for repairs and assert their rights, they could face retaliation, eviction, or displacement.

And we know what happens next.

Small issues become major ones, families are pushed out, and the city ultimately pays the cost through housing instability, public health impacts, and a strain on our shelter system.

This ordinance is about interrupting that cycle, and at its core, this legislation does three things.

First, it strengthens enforcement and accountability.

And so we're updating fees and penalties that have not been meaningfully adjusted since 1984.

So registration fees increase from $25 to $75, and annual renewals from $15 to $50.

Inspection filing fees increase from $15 to $150.

And critically, we change the penalty structure for non-compliance from $300 per month to $300 per day as allowable through state law, because monthly penalties simply do not create urgency or deterrence in today's market.

Second, it approves coordination and proactive support for tenants.

Right now, too often, a tenant files a complaint with ISD, and there's no consistent system to connect that tenant to the Office of Housing Stability or other supports.

This creates a shared data set between ISD and OHS, ensuring that when a unit has serious violations, when a property is flagged as a problem property, or when enforcement escalates, tenants are proactively connected to resources, guidance, and case management within days, not weeks.

And third, it strengthens protections against retaliation and clarifies tenants' rights.

We define retaliation as more than merely more merely and more clearly in code, excuse me, whether it's illegal lockouts, harassment, sudden rent increases, or interference with basic services.

And we ensure tenants have a pathway to report and be referred to the appropriate protections.

And so what does this mean in practice for our residents?

It means that a tenant who calls about heat in the winter doesn't just get an inspection.

They get connected to somebody who can help them stay housed.

It means a landlord who ignores violations, faces real consequences and quickly.

It means better data, better coordination, and a system that actually follows through.

And it means we are investing in the basics, safe, habitable housing, and at a time when even minor issues can spiral into displacement.

This ordinance is practical, it's implement, it's uh easy to implement, and I look forward to working with all of you in the administration to move this forward.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata.

The chair recognizes Councillor Weber.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Okay.

I think I'm more nervous watching Councillor Coletta Zapata than Jason Tatum.

Uh just watching your facial expressions and hoping uh you know labor starts.

But uh okay, thank you very much for filing this, uh, Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Shortly after uh you know I was sworn in a constituent Thomas Pelke came to my office to talk about his struggles as a renter in Jamaica Plain, including a dispute with his landlord that stretched into its fourth year without resolution.

Uh he brought a proposal for a housing oversight body that would fill a gap between code enforcement and the courts.

Uh he also highlighted uh uh uh that this body uh could be funded by a reasonable reasonable increase in antiquated rental registration fees, which were set in 1983.

Uh the current annual registration fee for apartments is fifteen dollars.

That uh that uh and a fine for a violation is also fifteen dollars.

These amounts again were set in 1983 for context.

In 1983, films like war games and risky business rule the box office, and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Boston hovered around 400.

The average rent now is uh closer to 3,400.

Landlords should be paying a reasonable fee, and this ordinance raises uh the the uh registration amounts and the penalties for fines conservatively to allow us to protect uh tenants.

Um, you know, I I just want to say that this ordinance uh is drafted, builds on uh Mr.

Pelke's proposal, creates a shared data set between ISD and OHS to ensure that when a unit fails inspection, the city reacts appropriately, creates uh new funding and a penalty model that that again reasonably increases registration fees and fines for non-compliance, and it creates a proactive case management system that requires outreach within 10 days of a violation to ensure tenants understand their rights and have a clear path to resolution in addition, protects them from retaliation when they stick up for their rights.

So I look forward to working on this with all of them.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and um I want to thank um Councillor Claro Zapata for um your leadership on this and for for this filing.

Um I rise today as a proud co-sponsor of this ordinance to strengthen tenant protections during rental inspection quota violations.

At a time when Boston's housing market continues to put immense pressure on working families.

We have a responsibility to ensure that that the basic right to safe and habitable housing is not conditional or out of reach.

Too often tenants are forced into silence, afraid that reporting unsafe conditions could lead to retaliation or displacement, um, and I think that's unacceptable.

This ordinance takes an important step forward.

It strengthens enforcement, improves coordination between departments, and ensures that tenants are not navigating these challenges alone by creating a more proactive system, one that connects residents to the Office of Housing Stability and provides clear protections against retaliation.

We are shifting from a reactive approach to one-centered um prevention and support.

Um this is about more than just quota enforcement, it's about stability, it's about public health, and it's about ensuring that every Boston resident, regardless of income or background, can live with dignity um in their home.

I want to thank again, Councilor Caledo Zapata and Councillor Weber um for including me in this, and I look forward to um the conversations uh and the working sessions ahead.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um Councillor Coleda Zapata, you have your light on the I'm sorry, I you normally don't do this, but I totally forgot to thank um Thomas Pelke for his work on this and the staff uh my office, um Council Weber and Councillor Santana, they've been working on this for two years, and I just support uh working through this.

So I just wanted to say thank you to everybody.

Thank you.

Um would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Counselor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, uh Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Papen, Councillor Uh Warrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Dock at zero eight six four will be referred to the committee on government operations.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket Zero 865?

Dock at 0865.

Councillor Pepin offered a foreign order for hearing to explore the use of parking structures.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Papan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm sure that all my colleagues will agree that parking is an issue many residents and local businesses are concerned about, especially when it comes to our squares and main streets.

Looking to parking structures, particularly on existing municipal lots, can help us change our approach to storing cars while maintaining access and supporting our neighborhoods.

Building the idea of building garages over these lots balances that need for parking with the goal of creating more livable people facing streets and neighborhoods.

For me and my district, I have three three main street quarters.

You have Rosie Square, Cleary Square, Matapan Square.

Luckily in all three, there are municipal lots, and it's a way for us to look at how we can um be more creative to ensure that we if if it's building a structure on top of it, if it's just being more intentional with how we use those spaces.

So I look forward to this hearing.

And um, I'm have a question for you, Madam President.

Councillor Louis Jeanne wanted to be a co-sponsor, but she's I think if she's not not here, I can add her.

Okay.

So thank you.

Can I add Councilor Rutherley Jen as a second as a second?

Yes.

Madam Clerk, will we add a second?

Good.

Um would anyone else like to add their name.

Councillors Durkin.

Uh Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Dock at zero eight six five will be referred to the committee on planning, transportation, and development.

Madam Clerk, would you please read docket zero eight six six?

Docket zero eight six six.

Counselor Durkin offer the following order for hearing to discuss the City of Boston planning department's performance and 2026 annual report.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council President.

I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Claude Zapata and Councillor Fitzgerald as a third original co-sponsor.

Councillor Cullet Zapata is added.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Councillor Fitzgerald is added as a third.

Thank you.

As you are all aware, the mayor signed an ordinance passed by this body in April 2024 that transferred many of the responsibilities of the Boston Redevelopment Authority to the newly created planning department.

As part of that ordinance, we included a provision, and I should say we, but Councillor Claude Zapata, who was the government operations chair, um did a great job with the ordinance.

And something that the city council added was that the city council should hold an annual hearing to review the report and evaluate the department's performance.

The date in the ordinance is May 31st of each year.

Um this requirement was intended to ensure that transparency and oversight during a period of transition would sunset after five years.

Last year, the planning department did produce an annual report, however, they have not reproduced one yet this year.

So we created this hearing order to make sure that we can have a hearing once we have the report in hand.

Um given the transition is still in early stages.

Um there was an understanding originally that the hearing requirement would be waived, but now we are ready to talk.

And I know we're entering budget season, and there will be a planning department um budget, but I just wanted to make sure that my colleagues knew that we would have this hearing that is required under the ordinance and evaluating the department's performance and advancing the city's goals for affordability, resilience, equity, and zoning and planning, along with reviewing its financial statements and the financial transfer memorandum agreement is an oversight responsibility of this council.

While some of this review will occur during the budget process, I look forward to a more in-depth conversation as part of this hearing order.

And I want to thank my colleagues uh for joining me in this.

Um and I also want to thank Councillor Mejia who uh asked to be a third co-sponsor, but um, I ended up giving it to the guy who worked at the planning department for a dozen years.

So um grateful um that we are uh having this conversation and um and looking forward to it.

Thank you.

Uh the chair recognizes Councillor Cleta Zapata, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam President, and thank you to Councilor Dirkin for adding me as a co-sponsor.

Um, I'm really proud of the work that this council did in partnership together to add in some of these protections and oversight mechanisms back in 2024.

We there was a lot that was missing in terms of what um again, what accountability we would have when we're moving planning into uh the city as a core function.

So just as a reminder, it requires this annual report from the planning department in consultation with the BPDA that doesn't just describe activity but it evaluates performance.

And so I know the word audit has been thrown around.

This is essentially that um how we are actually advancing affordability, how we are embedding resilience into our built environment and how we are delivering equitable outcomes across neighborhoods.

Second, it requires this council to hold an annual hearing as Councillor Dirkin Messon uh mentioned.

Um it establishes a robust financial transparency requirement.

We now will receive detailed reporting on revenues and expenses, assets and ground leases, developer mitigation funds, vendor payments, salaries, year-to-date spending, and any major budget shifts, both for the planning department and the BBDA.

And then finally, we require audited financial statements and public reporting.

And so I'm proud of what we built into this ordinance.

This is what this hearing is about, and I look forward to a productive hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald.

Councillor Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I would like to thank Councillor Durkin for adding me as a third, given I've spent my my first and hopefully longest tenure at any job with the planning department.

And uh it is the economic engine of New England, really, if you think about it, with Boston being the capital of Massachusetts and it uh spreading it forth from there.

Uh so it's vital that we make sure we understand how it's operating because its impact goes well beyond the the borders of the city of Boston, and so uh it is behoover uh upon us uh to make sure it's running properly and efficiently.

So I'd like again to thank Councilor Durgan, happy to be a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, um, counselor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Varrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0866 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Madam Chair, could you please read Dock at 0867?

Docked 0867.

Councillor Flynn offered a follow-on order for a hearing to discuss a moratorium for artificial intelligence data centers in Boston.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Madam Chair, may I add Councillor Murphy as a second co-sponsor and add Councillor Culpepper as a third co-sponsor, please?

Councillor Murphy's added as a second.

No, no, I'm sorry, Council Mejia.

Council Mejia.

Councillor Mahee is added as a second, and Councillor Culpepper.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Over the last year, municipalities across the country have heard from constituents concerned about the impacts of AI data centers on electricity, utility bills, fresh water consumption, sustainability, contaminated soil, news noise pollution.

The City of Boston must exercise transparency and carefully consider impacts on employment, cost of living, the environment.

The power and water needed to do this has to come from somewhere.

We want to lead on technology, but it cannot be a race to the bottom.

During a nationwide affordability crisis, residents across the country have reported utility and electric bills being higher than their car payments, even on par with their mortgage at times.

We don't want to be in a situation where utility bills are going to where utility bills are going up because we are subsidizing the wealthiest corporations.

Data centers also require cooling systems and consume significant amounts of fresh water.

Consumption from data centers reached an estimated 211 billion gallons in 2023.

Data centers also generate generate noise pollution from cooling systems and equipment.

Nearby residents reporting persistence humming that negatively impact their quality of life, public health.

This month, a bypass bypass bipartisan bill passed the main legislature to impose an 18-month moratorium on new data centers.

Other cities are following.

In March, the City of Boston announced a private public partnership with UMass Boston, Boston Public Schools, to improve artificial intelligence.

Additionally, the city has indicated interest in partnering with Silicon Valley, referencing the overlap in health and life sciences.

Well, both Massachusetts and Boston have been supportive of AI dentist center development due to competitiveness in the innovation economy.

Concerns regarding community impact in electricity costs remain.

We're seeing that in Lowell at a data center as well.

In the final analysis, we're the Boston City Council.

We don't have a say over the miracles of medical advancements this may unlock or the perils if it goes wrong, like misinformation and dangers to democracy.

However, we decide what impact these companies will have on our communities, on their quality of life, on public health, on public safety.

Boston deserves transparency.

Set of ground rules and safety standards.

We do have a say in what happens in our city.

And I think it's important for us to educate the public, especially, because I do believe a lot of residents don't necessarily know about data centers, and maybe this is an opportunity for us to explain it.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Flynn for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

I'm really looking forward to this conversation at a moment where policies are struggling to keep up with the pace and speed and scale of emerging technologies.

We've seen this first hand where innovation makes moves quickly and protections for communities come much later.

Now we're facing the same challenges with AI data centers.

These are not neutral developments.

These uh they bring impacts on electricity demands, on water usage, on the quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods, and across the country, residents are raising concerns about rising utility costs, environmental strain, and constant noise.

And we need to balance AI equity without creating more harm.

And I think that this is a very important conversation because what we don't want to do is uh look at unintended consequences.

And so we're seeing this play out all across the country.

In Missouri, our residents voted out half of their city council after a data center was approved against public will.

It is a clear message that when people don't feel heard, they organize and respond.

Um, and that level of backlash tells us something important.

Communities want to be a part of these decisions, not an afterthought.

This hearing is not about stopping innovation, it's about making sure that we're asking the right questions before decisions are made that could have long-term consequences on our residents.

It's about transparency, accountability, and making sure Boston's growth is aligned with our values, especially around sustainability, affordability, and public health.

We have an opportunity here to be proactive and not reactive, um, and to learn from what's happening elsewhere and ensure that any future development truly reflects the needs and voices of our communities.

I look forward to having this hearing, and I thank Councillor Flynn for adding me.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Culpepper.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Council Flynn, for this hearing order.

That's concerns around the country, Madam President, face significant scrutiny over the extreme resource consumption, specifically regarding immense energy usage, high water consumption for cooling, which constrain local power grids and water supplies.

Many environmentalist concerns include carbon emissions from fossil fuel reliance and noise pollution.

Other key concerns include increased electricity rates, and I'm beginning to wonder when those rates went up, and no one knew why those rates went up, whether or not they had to do something with their data centers.

The other thing that's really concerning is we don't know where they are.

We know they're here.

We know they're using a lot of energy, but we really don't know where they are.

We don't know the impact that they're having on us.

I'd just like to thank Council Flynn once again for raising this issue in a way that we can all begin to understand what's happening in our environment around us and with our electricity and energy rates.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor.

Uh, would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Dock at 0867 referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Madam Kirk, could you please read Dock at 0868?

Docket 0868.

Councillor Culpepper offered a follow-up.

Order freight here and to explore establishing a university small business technical assistant partnership in the city of Boston.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Madam President, my request, Doctors 0868 and 0869 be read at the same time.

Certainly.

Madam Chair, could you also read Dock at 0869?

Docket 0869.

Councillor Culpepper offer the following resolution in support of establishing a university small business technical assistance partnership in the city of Boston.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

Madam President, I would like to add Councillor Mejia as the second original co-sponsor to both dockets.

I would also like to request suspension of the rules to vote on passage of Docket 0869.

Boston small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods, and the city has made investments through the office of small business to support their growth and long-term success.

At the same time, Boston is uniquely positioned as a hub of world-class universities where business students are actively engaged in consulting programs that provide real world support to businesses.

However, these are these efforts often operate in parallel rather than in coordination.

There's an opportunity here to better align the city's existing resources with the capacity and talent within our universities.

Small businesses, particularly those in neighborhood commercial corridors, and in sectors like retail, food service, and personal services, continue to navigate real challenges tied to a difficult economy, changing commuter patterns, and involving consumer behavior.

Expanding access to high quality, consistent technical assistance can make a meaningful difference in helping these businesses adapt and thrive.

This is a chance to better connect the assets we already have in Boston and ensure that our small businesses are fully supported with the tools, guidance, and expertise they need to succeed.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Council Culpepper for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

Boston is resource rich, and as I always say, too often, coordination poor.

We have an office of small business neighborhoods-based support, world-class universities, and students ready to provide consulting, but these efforts are not fully aligned.

This hearing is about closing that gap.

It's about being intentional in how we connect what already exists.

So small businesses, especially in our neighborhood quarters, can actually access and benefit from these resources.

And at the same time, as we continue conversations around pilot contributions, the role universities play in our local economy should be a concrete way for institutions to deepen their impact.

If they're not already meeting their expected pilot contributions, there are still meaningful ways to show up by directly supporting the small businesses that sustain our communities.

And since these were both uh uh read together, I'll just state in regards to the resolution.

Um, this feels like for us a really next step.

The previous docket hearing um opens up the conversation in this resolution, affirms our commitment around it.

Um we hear all the time from small businesses that support is hard to navigate or inconsistent.

This is a way to be clear about what the city is offering and who's a part of delivering it.

It also speaks to the role that universities play here in Boston.

They benefit from being here, and this is one way for us to be more directly connected for them to be directly connected to the neighborhoods around them, especially as we continue to broaden conversations about pilot and institutional responsibilities.

So thank you, Culpepper, excuse me, Council Culpepper for your leadership.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor, uh Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Fitzgerald, Council Warrell, and please add the chair.

Um that's for docket 0868.

Um eight six eight will be referred to the committee on labor and economic development.

Uh and docket zero eight six nine.

Uh, this is the resolution.

Uh, would anyone like to add their name to the resolution?

Pardon?

Yes, I just wanted to get some clarity.

It's true, it's two dockets.

No, I understand.

I'm gonna talk on where the committee assignments.

The committee went to the committee on labor and economic development.

Because this is a small business, so I was just wondering.

And it's and that includes small business.

Oh, I thought there was a separate committee.

No, it's been merged in.

Oh, you guys merged it?

Yes.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Uh Councillor Warrell is the chair of that committee.

So we'll go on to the resolution 860869.

Would anyone like to add their name to the resolution?

Uh Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councilman Murphy, Council Peppin, Council Santana, Council Weber, Council Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillor Culpepper and Councillor Mejia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0869.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0869?

Roll called vote on Docket 0869.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden.

Council Coleta Zapata.

Councilor Culpepper.

Yes.

Council Culpepper, yes.

Council Dirken.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Lujan.

Council Mejia.

Yes.

Council Mejia, yes.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy.

Council Papan.

Yes.

Council Papan, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Council Warrell.

Yes.

Council Worrell, yes.

One council, five, six, and eight, nine.

Ten and affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0869 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0870?

Docket 0870.

Councillor Culpepa offer the following.

Order for hearing to examine the circumstances surrounded in custody debt at the Suffolk County House of Correction and systematic factors contributing to mortality in custody.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Councillor Majia as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to add Council Worrell as the third original co-sponsor.

Counselor Mahee is added as a second.

And hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Warrell is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President.

Deaths in custody raise serious concerns about public safety, about accountability, and civil rights within correctional facilities.

Over the past five years, there have been over 20 deaths across Suffolk County Correctional Facilities.

A concerning pattern that demands urgent care and attention.

The death of Shakobi Kenney in December 2025 following an altercation with correction officers raises significant questions about the use of force, staff conduct, mental health crisis response, and the adequacy of emergency and medical care that inmates receive.

Reporting and legal filings have highlighted concerns related to underlying health conditions, access to timely and appropriate medical and mental health care, and whether systemic failures may be contributing to preventable deaths.

People in custody, Madam President, are people.

And correctional system must be held to the highest standards of care, dignity, and accountability.

This hearing is a step toward understanding what went wrong and how we can prevent future tragedies.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Mejia.

Council Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And as an original co-sponsor, I want to thank Councillor Culpepper for filing this hearing order.

This is about oversight and clarity.

Over the past several years, there have been multiple in-custody deaths across Suffolk County facilities, including the Suffolk County House of Corrections.

That alone warrants a closer look at trends, conditions, and systems in place.

The death of Jacobi Kennedy Kenny was brought has brought additional attention to questions around use of force, emergency response, and access to medical care.

This hearing is an opportunity to better understand both individual incidents and broader patterns that includes looking at policies, staffing, training, and how medical and mental health services are delivered within the facility.

The goal here is to get a fuller picture, identify where there may be gaps, and understand what steps are being taken to address them.

I am proud to support this hearing, and I look forward to a productive conversation grounded in facts and accountability.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Warrell.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank my co-sponsors, Councillor Culpepper, and also Council Mejia on this.

What we said then, um, I want to reiterate today is there needs to be full transparency.

Uh that means full details, including video footage and making sure this information is available, not just for this case, but for all in custody deaths we've seen and subject council in recent years.

I also just want to uplift some of my colleagues who also wrote statements and letters.

Uh, Councillor Santana and also Senator Miranda, um, I believe Council Mejia as well.

Um, the 20 death in over the past five years is something we cannot overlook.

You've called for that and called for now a comprehensive review of use of forced practices and for the relief release of complaints and disciplinary actions involving all staff.

Uh, again, accountability matters.

And I also want to acknowledge that incidents like this are traumatic for our community.

Families are left searching for answers and communities are left questioning systems.

I'm looking forward to the conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Warrell.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Papin, Councilor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0870 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0871?

Docket 0871.

Councilor Culpepper offer the following resolution calling for independent investigation into the in custody debt of Shacobi County at the Suffolk County House of Correction.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Cole Pepper.

You have the floor.

Madam President, I would like to add Council Mahia as a second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to vote on the passage of this docket.

Councillor Mejia so added.

Thank you, Madam President.

Any correctional staff directly involved in the death of Shacobi Kinney should be placed on a temporary administrative suspension for the duration of the investigation.

This is not a determination of guilt.

It is a necessary step to protect in custody witnesses from potential retaliation or intimidation, ensure their safety, and preserve the integrity of the investigation.

There is no collective bargaining conflict when placing correctional staff on an administrative suspension during an investigation.

This is an established and appropriate tool designed specifically for situations like this.

At its core, this is about creating the conditions for a credible and thorough investigation, but most importantly, it is about protecting those who are vulnerable in this situation.

Ensuring that witnesses are safeguarded and free from pressure or intimidation is essential to uncovering the full truth and demonstrating that accountability will be taken seriously.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Mejia.

Council Mahey, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I want to thank Councillor Culpepper for adding me yet again.

This resolution is about integrity of the process.

When there is death in custody, the investigation has to not only be thorough but clearly independent.

And that's what building trust is all about when we're looking at outcomes.

In the case of Shacobi Kennedy at the Suffolk County House of Corrections, there's still an open questions, lots of them, about the circumstances and the sequence of events.

This resolution is focused on how those questions are examined.

Calling for an independent investigator is a way to ensure that the review is conducted without overlap or perceived conflict and that all aspects, including staff actions, medical response, and facility policies are looked at with full transparency.

This is not about drawing conclusions ahead of time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Mahes.

Um Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

We are actually reading 0872 when we should be on 0871 as well.

Yes.

I think we should be on 0871.

I think that was the one I read.

That's the one she read.

No, I understand that.

Yeah.

But we read 0872, even though she read 0871.

You folks read 0871.

We did.

We did, madam president.

I'm calling your attention to my mistake.

Um they are very different.

So let's just focus.

Do you need to rephrase your comments with regard to OSA77?

No, no, no, Madam President.

Well, uh in some ways I do because 0871 is calling for an independent investigation.

0872 is calling for the staff to be suspended that were involved in the altercation.

So the clerk read 0871.

Yes.

Your remarks pertain to a different docket.

Yes.

Um I think um 872.

You read OE87.

I read the remarks regarding the case.

I jumped ahead of myself.

Yes, we'll lay uh 0872 on the table.

No, we're going the other way around.

So we've already read.

Can I say hold on, just take a brief recess.

Back in session again.

I think this the solution, Councillor Culpepper, is for you to uh we read your comments with regard to docket zero eight seven one and we will vote on that and then we will proceed and have the clerk read the next docket, which is without the remarks on the and then we'll vote on that accordingly.

Yeah.

Thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, I would like to add Council Mahir as a second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to Councillor Flynn as a third original co-sponsor.

I'd like to request suspension of the rules to vote on the passage of this docket.

So this is docket 0871.

Uh you've asked to have Council Mahia uh and Councillor Flynn.

Umlynn, you have the floor.

Oh, wait, yes.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

We're coming up on six months since the tragic in custody death of Shacobi Kinney at the Suffolk County House of Correction.

In that time, there has been no publicly confirmed cause of death and no meaningful update on the status of the investigation.

That absence of information has only deepened concern and eroded public confidence.

The circumstances surrounding Mr.

Kinney's death, including reports of an altercation with correctional officers, raises urgent concerns about the use of force, staff conduct, and whether the current investigative process can deliver answers the public can trust.

An independent investigator should be appointed to conduct a full transparent and impartial investigation of what happened.

Ensuring accountability through an independent investigation is a necessary step toward uncovering the full truth of what happened, restoring public trust, and preventing future tragic tragedies.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um Suller Culpepper, you asked to suspend the rules and that.

Yes, I do.

So hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Flynn is so added as a third.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

And yes, you have the floor.

Thank thank you, madam chair, and I want to say thank you to Councillor Culpepper for Reverend Culpepper for adding me.

I want to say thank you to Reverend Culpepper and Councillor Orell for bringing these issues forward.

What happens in the Suffolk County House of Corrections, what happens at the Suffolk County jail, have a significant impact on the City of Boston on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Controversial issues, yes.

But Reverend Culpepper and Council are standing up for what they believe in.

And advocating for justice.

So I want to acknowledge Reverend Cole Pepper and Council Rell for the important leadership they're playing on this issue and um and other issues in the criminal justice field.

And regardless of why you're in jail or regardless of why you're in prison or what you did or didn't do, or your criminal background, you deserve to be in a safe environment.

Treated with respect as well.

I I spent in my life, I spent 13 months inside a detention facility when I was stationed at the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, and I understand how important these issues are of ensuring detainees are treated are treated fairly.

So I'm so I'm here to say thank you to my colleagues.

Okay, thank you.

Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Papin, Councillor Santana, Council Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillors Culpepper, Mehia and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket zero eight seven one.

All in favor say aye.

Councillor Braden.

Yes, Council Brayden, yes.

Council Calarasapara.

Councillor Calpapa.

Councilor Dirkin.

Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Lujan.

Councillor Mahia.

Council Mahia, yes, Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Papin.

Yes, Councillor Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Councillor Weber.

Council Weber, yes, Council Rorell.

Council Orell, yes, five, six, seven, eight.

Let me end affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket zero eight seven one has been adopted.

We're going to take a brief five minute recess.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to add Council Mahia as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to vote on the passage of this document.

Thank you.

Um Council Mahia is saladed as a second.

Madam President, to my colleagues.

Any correctional officer directly involved in the death of Sacoby Kenny should be placed on a temporary temporary administrative suspension for the duration of the investigation.

This is not a determination of guilt.

It is a necessary step to protect in custody witnesses.

Let me just say that again.

This is not a determination of guilt.

This is an established and appropriate tool designed specifically for situations like this.

At its core, this is about creating the conditions for a credible thorough investigation, but most importantly, it is about protecting those who are most vulnerable in this situation.

Ensuring the witnesses are safeguarded and free from p pressure or intimidation is essential to uncovering the full truth and demonstrating that accountability will be taken seriously.

Madam President, I raise this because we've been hearing over and over that the current inmates, potential witnesses, eye witnesses that saw this auto altercation are now afraid to come forward because these officers continue to be on duty every day.

Umsulor Mahea, you're the second uh sponsor.

Madam President, and I don't get left behind.

Okay.

So I just want to thank Madam President and and Councillor Culpepper.

Um I I think it's really important, especially in this moment, for us to understand how uh so much trust um has eroded in government in general.

And I think when it comes to retaliation and intimidation, um we have an opportunity here to protect the integrity of this process while the investigation is ongoing.

In the case of Jacoby Kenny at the Suffolk County House correction, there are individuals who may have witnessed or have information about what happened, and they remain in the settings where they are under the authority of the same institution.

Sometimes that's how it feels like here on the council.

This resolution speaks to that dynamic.

Placing staff uh directly involved on an administrative leave during the investigation is a standard step in many contexts.

It is not the conclusion of about wrongdoing, it's a way to ensure that witnesses can come forward, that information can be gathered without pressure, and that the process is able to move forward with clarity.

It also helps maintain confidence that the investigation is being handled in a way that is fair and credible.

And I think, and while I I know um that we don't have the jurisdiction, this is a resolution, so I just want to manage everybody's expectations that this is really a resolution which is non-binding, it's not going to change the outcome, but it's really a declaration about our values and what we believe, um, and especially in these moments when so many people are afraid um to speak up everywhere, including here.

Thank you, Councilman Here.

The chair recognizes Council Flynn.

You have the floor.

Then we'll follow that with Consor Dirkin.

Thank you, madam chair, and thank you to thank you to Reverend Cole Pepper for bringing this forward.

I'm I'm torn um to be honest with you on this because I I certainly support an independent investigation of what happened prior to the death leading up to the death, the the death of the inmate and what happened after.

I think there should be as we voted on it, an investigation in probably a federal investigation, in my opinion.

But it comes back to should the people be suspended on that were involved in in what happened in the death of Shacobi Kenny.

And I'm torn on this because I don't know what happened.

I don't know who was involved.

I have not received any communication or read any communication from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department.

I don't know the details.

I don't know the facts.

I don't know the people that were the officers that were well were not involved.

I don't want to vote on something to suspend someone that I have no idea of what happened.

I think I need to do my due diligence in finding out what happened.

And that would be through an investigation.

I just can't support suspending someone that I have no idea of what happened and who I'm asking to be suspended.

Is it one person?

Is it four four people, four officers?

I don't know.

Um so again, I'm torn on this tremendous respect, as you know, for Reverend Culpepper, because really this is the first time we're bringing up these issues, and these issues are important.

I do believe there should be a federal investigation.

The what I should be voting is voting present because I don't have all the facts, but I don't like voting present.

Never voted present in eight years.

Um I either vote yes or I vote no.

But thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, um, Chair, and um so we have talked about issues of employment many times on the council.

So, and I think as a city councilor, um I often go back to the city charter to figure out what is within our jurisdiction, what is not within our jurisdiction.

And so 17G of the city charter.

I've actually read this probably three or four times standing up here.

I've read 17G of the city charter.

Um, it's from the Acts of 1951.

Neither the city council nor any member, committee, officer, or employee thereof shall directly or indirectly on behalf of the city take part in the employment of labor, nor in the conduct of the executive or administrative business of the city or county, nor in the employment or removal of any city or county employee.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting present today, um, because this is outside of our jurisdiction, and not only is out it's it's we're specifically called out that we cannot be involved in the employment of labor in the termination um of any city or county employee.

17G of the city charter.

So please join me in voting present.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um first a technical question, but do you want to follow up on what Councillor Durkin just said?

Um are you calling for this leave?

Because temporary suspension can mean many things.

Is it one employee that we're aware of?

Is it everyone who was working that shift?

And would how long is the suspension we're asking for, and is it paid?

If I could ask those questions, please through the chair to the maker.

Um pepper, would you like to clarify those questions?

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you for the inquiry, Counselor Murphy.

It would be temporary, as is stated in the uh resolution.

It would also be a paid administrative lead.

And so I can't tell you uh specifically who was involved.

That's what we're asking the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department to determine.

But I do say that when there's a death, and we have one in this case that officers were involved with the altercation, and even though my brother Counselor Flynn said he didn't hear anything about it, he didn't know anything about it, he does know there's a death.

He does know these officers were involved in the altercation as a result of the death.

What more do you need to suspend these officers pending the investigation with pay?

Um, thank you for that answer.

I'd just like to continue.

Um I would like to know why the sheriff himself has not suspended them already, and if there is a reason, because I don't see they must have, and they obviously have information we don't have, so that information for me would be helpful to weigh in, feeling like I have all the information needed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Consul Murphy.

I think given the fact that we have an order for a hearing to examine examine the circumstances of the in-custody death at Suffolk County.

I feel that we're going to have an opportunity to ask more in-depth questions uh in the when this hearing comes before the bottom when we have this hearing.

So thank you for your your questions.

Uh Consor Mejia, you have the floor.

Um thank you, Madam President.

And I will reiterate for the record that these resolutions are non-binding, it's literally a vibe check.

It is really an opportunity for us to stand on some values that we believe in.

And so that is what this resolution is calling for.

Um at least my interpretation of it.

I mean I have the chapter of 53,963 chapter law in front of me, but I will just say that when I understand the resolutions as they are here, they are non-binding, they are not going to change anything.

It is really a demonstration of our values and our beliefs, and literally a vibe check, y'all.

So for those who are tuning in, we're not going to determine whether or not we're going to suspend these officers.

All we're doing is standing on values that we believe that if folks feel intimidated and they are afraid, then we need to do everything in our power to create the type of environment in which people feel safe to be able to fully speak.

And if temporary suspension would add a level of comfort, then we believe that to be the case.

Let's just take it.

I'm calling for a vote, and let's keep the conversation going.

So I'm calling for a vote.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murph.

Uh Councillor Mejia.

Before we go to a vote, would anyone like to add their name to this resolution?

Councillor Santana, Councillor Morell, Councillor Pepin.

Thank you.

I'm about to we have a move to a vote.

We had a signal vote before.

Okay, thank you.

Councillor Culpepper, we're about to go to a vote, but yes, I'll give you the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And I just wanted to respond to the comments made by uh Council Durkin regarding 17G.

And there's a case in point.

There's a case in point, Madam Chair, that deals with the exact issue of whether or not uh the city council could prevent the mayor from making a decision with regard to action by the council in terms of hiring.

And let me just read some of this for you.

Planning at the city of Boston by James Kelly, City Council President.

What's the saction against Thomas Menino in his capacity as a mayor of the city, alleging that the mayor has unlawfully interfered with the operation of the legislative branch and thereby prevented the city council from performing its lawful function altered to match the people of the city of Boston.

The city now moves for preliminary junctions seeking to restrain the mayor from preventing the city council from adding a paid attorney to its staff as city council.

And I really hold that out that the City Council by passing this resolution will suffer no irreparable harm, even if it's is granted.

And the relief which the city council seeks is adverse to the best interest of justice.

So, madam chair, I point out to you when we look at this resolution, there's no irreparable harm.

That's what the cases say.

And so I would go ahead.

Hold on a second.

Can you finish your comments?

Because we're going to go to a vote.

And I would ask the council to vote to approve this resolution as Council Mahia said it's not binding.

But I think what it does do is speaks to the values when there's a death involved.

May not be the Boston police, but the same thing would happen immediately with the Boston Police Department when there's a police officer involved there.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um we're going to move on to a vote.

Uh council.

No.

I didn't use all my time.

I think that's all my time.

Council Durkin.

I think it's really important that my remarks were actually about whether we were weighing in on the employment or termination of a city or county employee, which um it 17G of the city charter says we cannot do that.

And there's actually consequences in the city charter for weighing in on that.

So I will be voting present.

And for those of us that follow the city charter, I would recommend you do the same.

Thank you.

Um we're now going to move on to a vote.

Um docket uh counselors.

No, no, no, counselor mehia.

We're we've you asked to move to a vote.

We're moving to no no, we're moving to a vote.

Councillors Culpepper and Mejia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket zero eight seven two.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All appeal.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0872?

Roll called vote on Docket 0872.

Councillor Braden, present.

Councilor Colletta Zapata.

Councilor Culpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, present.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, no.

Council Flynn.

Council Flynn, no.

Councilor Lujian.

Councilor Mahia.

Yes.

Council Mejia, yes.

Councilor Murphy.

Council Murphy, no.

Councillor Peppen.

Yes.

Councilor Peppen, yes.

Councilor Santana.

Yes.

Councillor Santana, yes.

Councillor Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Councilor Warrell.

Yes.

Council Warrell, yes.

One, two, three, four, five.

Six votes in the affirmative.

This uh dock it's it's a constant.

So you want me to read who voted?

Yes.

No.

Okay, so I have um one, two, three, four, five.

Six in the affirmative.

One, two, three.

No, and two present.

Can we represent the docket zero eight seven two has been adopted?

Madam President.

That's not that adopted.

Oh, beg your pardon.

Was it said?

Yeah, it hasn't been six on the oh six.

Beg your pardon.

Docket zero eight seven two has not been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket Zero 873?

Docket 0873, Council Murphy offer the following.

Order requesting certain information under Section 17F.

We got in all grants, programs, contacts, and funding provided to nonprofit organizations, committee-based organizations, and external partners in physical year 2026 and physical year 2027, including all reduction eliminations and changes in fundings.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Consul Murphy.

Do you have the floor?

Thank you.

So I filed this hearing.

Um this 17F two weeks ago, it was blocked.

It was not voted on present but blocked, so we couldn't bring it up.

But I do did have a conversation with you after, Madam President, that you would work on getting the information that you didn't agree it shouldn't have gone to a vote or passed, knowing that we had to wait two more weeks.

But I do just want to be clear that this 17F that I filed was originally filed back on March 18th.

And so even though the city charter clearly states that the administration has seven days to answer our questions, it has now been 42 days and still has no answer to this question, these questions, which, although there may be a few questions, all of them are very straightforward, and we should be getting answers for them.

So now we're 40 days out on a 17F.

So I'm hoping that we get these answers as soon as possible.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Consul Murphy.

Consul Murphy seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket Zero 873.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh all those opposed say nay.

Consor Durkin.

Thank you so much.

Um I preferred to vote yes on the 17F as I do with all but one in my whole time on the City Council.

Um, but I do think it undermines the power of a 17F when we continue to vote on the same 17F information over and over again because obviously state law says that they have to respond to our 17F requests.

So by continuing to file the same 17Fs, you're basically essentially making 17F their response is optional, which the response is not optional.

So that's just my take.

Um and yeah, I'm prepared to vote yes.

Thank you.

I I I am in error.

We should just move straight to a vote on this one.

But I did just want to follow up and I totally agree that I respect for the president who said she would work on it.

And I know I've spoken with others, and we could suspend all of the business before the meeting for if you look at the green sheets.

I think there's 11.

Maybe one was answered, 10 outstanding 17F's which are late, so I agree, and I say this every time we should work collectively to work together to get answers on these questions.

So next time maybe that's what we'll do, but out of respect for the president, I did what she asked.

Thank you.

Uh Council Murphy seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket Zero 873.

All in favor say aye.

Thank you.

Docket 0873 has passed.

Madam Clerk, can you please read Docket 0874?

Docket 0874.

Councillor Murphy and Flynn offer the following.

Order requesting certain information under section 17F regarding the City of Boston efforts to address drink, spiking, and drug facilitated sex assault and night and nightlife establishments, including safety training programs, prevention initiatives, communications with licensed venues and records maintained by the city related to these efforts.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Consular Murphy.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'll be brief.

This again was filed several weeks ago, still waiting for answers.

This along with grants have been also asked through hearings that we've had through different departments.

So RFIs are still outstanding and hoping that we do get these answers quickly and that they actually are thoroughly answered so we can use them to go forward during the budget season.

So thank you.

Thank you, Consul Murphy.

Consulate Chair recognizes Consul Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I also want to get this information.

I have many restaurants and and bars in my district.

I want to provide the safest environment for every person that goes in there.

Spiking drinks is a critical problem.

I've talked to two survivors over the last two weeks over Zoom about Boston's inaction.

Boston's inaction on this issue.

To survive is said to me, Ed, when are we going to uh when are you going to start doing the training on providing the training to the restaurants in Bas on this issue?

And we we do need to provide that training on how people can prevent spike drinking or at least reduce it as much as possible.

But we need to look at those numbers.

How much training has actually taken place over the last I don't know, four years at restaurants and bars in Boston.

Residents are asking us these questions.

Survivors are asking us these questions, and they don't want us to stonewall them.

They want us to be proactive to prevent to prevent any type of sexual assault that is taking place to report it.

A lot of these crimes go unreported.

A lot of the reason, or some of the reason I should say, is survivors don't have faith in the criminal justice system.

But us not providing this information to the public is not helpful to survivors.

They want to know what we're doing about drink spiking in Boston.

They deserve to know what we're doing.

They want to look at the results of what we're doing.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Consular Flynn.

This is a 17F.

And we don't usually have comments apart from the two lead sponsors.

So we will hear about this is possible to I'm going to take a brief recess.

Hold on.

I'd like to uh ask my colleagues.

Um Councillor Kaleda Zapata was the lead sponsor of a hearing that was held to is it we've done a lot, we've done a lot of work on this space.

Um and I think uh your insight would be valuable in this conversation before we go to a vote.

So I need silence.

No, you were Consular Colette's a part that was and one.

No.

Just hold on.

I'm going to let Consul Coletta Zapata start, and then I'm going to go on the Durkin, and then we're going to go to a vote.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I just I so this is this is an issue that, as everybody knows, that I've been working on this for quite a long time.

Um, and no one disagrees that drink spiking and sexual assault are serious public safety issues.

But here's the reality.

I think that trying to just gather information alone through the 17F does not ultimately keep people safe.

This is just one component of the work ahead.

Uh, what keeps people safe are sustained implemented policy work that supports survivors and a willingness to do the hard work of prevention.

And so, as a victim myself, my office has been working in partnership with those most impacted, including survivors, demanding tangible change in action.

We've held hearings, we've partnered with advocates and sexual survivors, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

We've held countless meetings with the sexual assault unit to change whole reporting systems, working with universities and college police in the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.

You were at the the hearing.

And uh there has been training that has taken place.

Um why there's an oversight of that when you can clearly go back into the video and look at it.

And so this issue is being framed around urgency, but it comes after years where there was little engagement in the actual policy work or the advocacy needed to move this forward.

And so my message to anybody listening who is a survivor or an advocate is to demand effectiveness and to demand actual results.

If my colleagues want to engage meaningfully on this issue, I welcome that partnership, but get involved in the work.

We owe it to survivors to focus on outcomes and not optics.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Consular Darkin, you've got two minutes, and then uh going back to Consul Flynn, and then we'll go to a vote.

So last week, when this was late filed, I felt like this was actually late filed because I'm a survivor and because my colleagues didn't think I would block something on something that had been so personal to me.

So I feel like it was weaponized to weaponize a late file four weeks after a hearing about drink spiking when I am a survivor of drink spiking.

The work that's being done by the city is incredible.

The work that was done before I was a counselor by Councillor Clada Zapata has been incredible.

I feel seen by her leadership on this issue.

And for me, um I don't believe in late files.

I don't think that they there should be late files.

Um I think that we should use open meeting law and apply open meeting law to every single meeting and make sure that we're actually delivering for constituents and making sure that there's transparency in this body.

And so the fact that I was put in the position four weeks after a hearing to block something that obviously is so important to me because I felt like my colleagues wanted that to happen.

That was very upsetting to me, and so I just need to call that into this conversation.

And I care a lot about this issue.

I've experienced it, I've spoken with the police department, I worked in partnership with Councillor Clara Zapata.

Um this work couldn't be more important, um, but it's not about you know late filing something, you know, not forty, you know, not taking you not even filing something 40 hours before our regular deadline.

So I'll be voting in support of this today, but um the performativeness needs to stop.

Councilor Durkin.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor, and then we're going to vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

What's important is we do everything we can for survivors of sexual assault.

We need to provide a safer environment in restaurants and bars.

We need to educate and train restaurant managers, personnel, bartenders.

We also need to hold them accountable.

And that's something I'm committed to continuing to do as a city council that represents a large area with many of these restaurants in bars.

I've been doing this work for eight years.

I'm also trying to provide a safer environment for people coming out of restaurants and bars that are using Uber and Lyft.

Um, I think that's also part of the solution is holding Uber and Lyft accountable, or ride shares, I should say.

Um thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Thank you.

I know there's a lot of emotion around this issue.

It's an incredibly important issue.

I want to call out my colleagues, Councillor Coletta Zapata for her leadership in this.

She's been leading on this bit in this issue for years.

Um I also want to respect my colleagues' uh right to ask for uh file a 17F and ask for information that they feel important.

So I I know I know we're all agree on the importance of this issue, and I really want us to get past this in fighting and try and work collaboratively.

It takes all of us to work together to help solve and advance this this very very important issue.

So at this moment, I'm going to ask a councillor Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0874.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on 0874?

Doctor 0874.

Council Braden.

Yes, Council Braden.

Council Coleta Zapata.

Councillor Collada Zapata, President, Council Cal Pepper.

Yes, Council Cal Peppa, yes, Councilor Durkin.

Yes, Councillor Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Councillor Lou Jean.

Council Mehia.

Council Mehia, yes, Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Council Peppin, yes, Councilor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes, Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes, Council War.

Council World, yes.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Dock at 0874 has passed.

I'm informed by the clerk that dock at 0875 has been withdrawn.

Yeah.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0876?

Docket 0876, Councillor Colera Zapata offered a fallen.

Resolution affirming the city of Boston, opposition to the use of the Charleston for Everett Stadium event parking.

The chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I uh am proud to put this resolution forward to make one point.

Charlestown is not a parking solution for the proposed Everett Stadium.

The City of Boston has already negotiated an agreement with the Kraft Group that sets clear expectations around transportation and parking.

And that agreement contemplates a comprehensive transportation plan reviewed through MEPA with the explicit goal of minimizing vehicle traffic impacts on Charlestown.

It includes commitments to limit cut-through traffic, monitor congestion, uh deploy enforcement to prevent non-residential parking and require additional mitigation if thresholds are exceeded.

That's why a recent presentation to the Charlestown Neighborhood Council is so concerning.

A conceptual plan that identifies half of Charlestown as a potential parking zone is fundamentally inconsistent with both the letter and the spirit of what the city has already negotiated.

It contradicts the core premise that this would be a transit-oriented project, and it risks undermining public trust in the process.

Charlestown residents have been clear since day one.

Traffic and parking are among their most serious concerns, and they were told explicitly that this project would not rely on our neighborhood to absorb those impacts.

This resolution is about holding a line on that commitment, and it's about ensuring that what was promised in formal agreements is not walked walked back through informal proposals or shifting plans.

So today we're sending a clear message any proposal that directs stadium-related parking into Charlestown is inconsistent with the city's agreement and should be rejected.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Chair recognizes uh counselor mehia, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Madam President.

And so before I even re begin my remarks, I just want to state for the record that I am going to be uh supporting this resolution.

However, I also just want to know for the record that a lot of folks here in the city of Boston are always paying attention to when we stand up and when we fall back.

And I just want to note that my support of this uh resolution is because I am deeply committed to community and community voice, and when community opposes something, I stand alongside community.

And I also just want to note for the record that as it relates to White Stadium and the opposition that we've heard and the things that we have advocated on behalf of community residents, the majority of community residents that actually live in the surrounding area, the majority of which who happen to be black and or brown, um, that their issues regarding white stadium and those and the opposition regarding parking and health and equity and all of these things that we say we care about.

Um, this council has yet to uh stand in support of the other side of Boston.

And so I just want to note for the record that while I'm supporting this resolution, it would be not it'd be very unlikely not to stand up and speak up and utilize this opportunity to uplift all of the advocacy that has literally fallen on deaf ears here on the Boston City Council as it relates to opposition to White Stadium.

So the mayor did a really great job at advocating for an amazing community benefits package for um the residents of Charlestown and the residents of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, not so much so.

So I just want to make sure that those folks who follow me know that I'm supporting this because I represent all, and anybody who's an opposition about something that I believe in, I'm going to support, but it would not be lost on me not to uplift that.

Thank you, uh Council Mejia.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you.

I just wanted to stand beside my district um council colleague.

Um, and I know that our um districts about each other, but also um I know how important it is representing TD Garden and Fenway Park, um, that the transportation agreements that are made by these groups, you know, are actually followed.

And so appreciate um Councillor Clada Zapata's leadership, and I'm planning to vote yes.

Um, I'm grateful um to have that partnership with her because we we definitely both share in the impacts of TD Garden and when and um and understanding that this stadium is going to have immense impacts um on the city of Boston.

I actually testified um at the State House when this was seeking um uh seeking relief from the State House.

So I I'm just grateful to her for her leadership, and I think we have work to do, um, but I think that the city is moving in a great direction on this project, and um and I I know just how when you come against a project like this one, like I did two years ago.

I know that soccer fans will revolt.

So um I just want to say like I'm happy it's happening now, but it needs to happen with the right um with the right things in place, and I'm grateful to uh both uh rap Danny Ryan's leadership and also um Councillor Claudia Zapata's leadership in this.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

I'm I'm going to vote in favor of this resolution, although I I wish we had the same determination as we had at White Stadium in working on traffic issues or parking issues or an environmental study or traffic study at White Stadium.

I think we spent more time on the Charlestown and the Everett uh community package than we did on the on the White Stadium quality of life issues and public safety issues, traffic, environment, parking.

I'm still concerned about how people are getting to White Stadium and where they're going to park for this um the soccer stations, soccer stadium, the privatization of it really, of um the most beautiful park in Boston.

But again, I'm supporting, I'm supporting this proposal.

I just we have I just wish we had the same commitment to communities of color in the Roxbury area and the Jamaica Plain area.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Um attention to my vote.

Um Councillor Weber, you have the floor, and then we'll go to Consul Warrell.

Sorry.

No, no, it's okay, Councillor uh uh beat me to it, but uh no, that that's fine.

Um, you know, I I'm gonna vote in support of this resolution.

I just since we're talking about White Stadium, uh, I feel like there are some important differences here for the Everett Stadium, the mayor negotiated community benefits in terms of money and uh other things for the community.

White stadium, in addition to funds for Franklin Park, the community benefit is the creation of a high school uh facility for use by all of our BPS kids.

So I just I just don't agree uh with uh the narrative that that somehow a different standard is applying.

The creation of a facility that every day of the year, including on game days, can be used by the public of Boston, uh, whereas that is not the case in Everett.

This is not a public facility.

It's not gonna be used by our high school students.

Uh so you know, I just uh I I don't I I don't feel like it's inconsistent to uh support support this resolution and support White Stadium, which is going to create uh a facility for our BPS kids 15 nights a year, it'll be used by the team to play their games in a stadium with a capacity of roughly 10,000, which is again different than Everett, provides uh different issues to solve, and uh you know I look forward to working with my colleagues on the council and residents in all the districts that are gonna be impacted uh by that uh as you know we have a year or so before the team moves there.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Council Weber.

Uh, Council Warrell, I apologize for getting out of order, but you have the floor.

Yeah, no worries, Madam President.

Um I rise in support of this resolution.

Uh the concerns coming out of Charlestown are valid.

Residents should not have to absorb their parking and traffic impacts of a project that is not even in their neighborhood.

Um there are clear expectations around transportation, mitigation, enforcement, and I commend the administration uh for securing those protections.

Um at the same time, I do want to be clear that there are still concerns around parking and traffic around White Stadium, and I do want to just lift that up in this conversation.

And I do hear uh Councilor Weber on his point of uh you know the the stadium is a community benefit, but that does not take away from the concern around parking um that residents still have around White Stadium.

Um it's not just you know the parking, this is quality of life issues and access.

Uh so I again I support this resolution.

I do believe that we need to make sure that that transportation plan uh has clarity and the same level of attention and protection uh for the community around White Stadium.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Warrell.

The chair recognizes uh counselor uh mehia and then no, sorry, beg your pardon, counselor Clata Zapato was first.

Council Mahia can go next.

Uh Councilor Mejia.

Let's go.

You have the floor.

You know, um Madam President, I have been really working hard at um having emotional discipline in this chamber.

And I want to just note for the record here that I find I find it incredibly uncomfortable when we have a hard time understanding race relationships and how we talk about people when we are expressing ourselves and how we advocate for the people that will put us in these seats.

And now I am struggling, right?

With the notion, and I've said this before consistently that it's different strokes for different folks consistently when it comes down to issues of white stadium and how we show up for black and brown people.

Okay.

That stadium, white stadium, is not going to be the vision of what we're all trying to sell people on.

The fact of the matter is is that if you want to have an event at White Stadium, you're gonna have to ask for a permit.

If you want to park, you're going to have to ask for a permit for guest parking on days of the event.

Don't try to, you know, gaslight people when we know what is happening in the hood.

And Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan residents feel unheard and undervalued as it relates to this.

And so I am happy to support Charlestown, right?

Because at the end of the day, both of these conversations need to be happening.

But I just I just want people to recognize, right, that we're not going to continue to disregard black and brown communities in this chamber and think that we can get away with it.

I'm not going to let that happen.

Thank you, Council Mejia.

Councillor Coletta Zapato, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank my colleagues for all of their um thoughtful remarks.

I think comparing the Everett Stadium to White Stadium is an over simple oversimplification of the context that each is in.

I mean, we have the Encore Casino in Everett, uh, we have the TD Garden, Charlestown is a peninsula.

There's only a couple ways in, a couple ways out.

It's one square mile.

Um another city said emphatically yes to this.

We did not ask for this.

And so I think there are there are a couple key details here where I can see the parallels, um, and I think everybody has the right to advocate on their own uh on behalf of their own neighborhoods.

I want to thank my colleagues for their support on this.

I just felt like it was important to call that out as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councilor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councilor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillor Coletta Zapato seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0876.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0876?

Roll call vote on Docket 0876.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councilor Braden has Councillor Coletta Zapata.

Councillor Calpepa.

Councillor Dirkin.

Yes.

Councillor Dirkin, yes.

Councilor Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes.

Councillor Louis Jeanne.

Councillor Mejia.

Yes.

Councilor Murphy.

Council Murphy.

Yes.

Councillor Peppin.

Yes.

Council Pepin, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Council.

Councillor Peppa.

Councilor Warral.

Yes.

Council.

Twelve votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0878.

No, sorry, wrong docket.

0876 has been adopted.

Madam Vice Chair, could you take the podium for a few minutes?

For my next two dockets.

Madam Clerk, can you please redocket 0878?

0877.

08 Docket 0877.

Councillor Braden offer the following resolution in support of safeguarding state and federal funding are located for transportation and streets project.

Docket 0878.

Council Braden offered a following resolution in support of the United States Postal Service re-establishing a post office location in Austin.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Braden.

Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to add Councillor Peppen as a second original co-sponsor.

Hearing and hearing no objections, Councillor Peppen is so added.

Earlier this week on April 23rd, alongside Councillor Durkin and Councillor Weber and Councillor Weber's hearing orders, the city council held a hearing to discuss stalled transportation and street projects.

We learned that multiple projects, large and small, are now behind schedule, and that state and federal partners have raised concerns about the city's delays.

Colleagues, this resolution is about safeguarding the state and federal dollars that Boston has already fought hard to secure.

Funding that is essential for safety, mobility, and equity across our neighborhoods.

We all know that this is a tight budget year, and we cannot afford to lose or delay this funding that has been secured.

It would mean delaying safety improvements, stalling climate and mobility goals, and be a real harm to public trust.

We are relying on those projects as critical investments in our streets, sidewalks, and transit corridors.

It would weaken also weaken Boston's credibility that we seek future when we go to seek future competitive grants.

This resolution is not about assigning blame or debating the merits of any specific projects.

It is about fiscal responsibility and ensuring that the city meets the deadlines attached to these grants.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution so that we can send a clear message.

Boston must protect the dollars we've secured, deliver the projects our residents were promised, and maintain our standing as a reliable partner to partner to state and federal agencies.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Braden.

Councillor Peppin, did you want to say if you would have a question?

Chair.

And thank you, Council President, for adding me as a co-sponsor.

As a public transit and safe streets advocate, I strongly urge the Streets Cabinet and BTD to move forward on the large number of projects that can only happen with this external funding.

We know the Trump administration is unpredictable and will take every opportunity to stop progress in our city if we give them any reason to.

I know some of these projects may not be fully comprehended, but stop, but to stop any one thing stops everything.

And our residents deserve better, safer streets in transit.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and continue listening to your residents pleading for these changes as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Peppin.

I apologize.

I don't um know who put their lid on first.

Um Councilor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, um, Chair.

And I I feel like this resolution is asking really hard questions.

Is grass green?

Is the sky blue?

Seriously, it feels like, you know, I I am in full support of this.

Um I'm in full support of the hearing we had.

Um obviously we all have different opinions on transportation projects that move in and out of our district and what priority level they should have.

But when money falls from the federal sky, we should accept it.

We passed um grant money through uh the planning development and transportation committee last year, the Roxbury Resilient Corridors grant.

Um we passed the grant, and then it was yanked by the federal government.

Um, and I got a call.

I found out, not because someone from the mayor's administration told me, not because, but because our reporter from NPR called me about it.

So it's um I think it's really important that we the these threats are real and um they're important, and all of these projects are important, um, and they years of work go into even submitting an application to the federal government.

Um, and there's certain specificities that need to be met.

And so whatever we can avoid doing to avoid losing federal money is it behooves the city in a hard financial time to say, like, scratch, should we take 125 million dollars or not?

So I I hope my colleagues will act that way in their districts, and I hope that we will honestly um put you know, put the city first in a financial way on on all of these projects.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Flynn, you now have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and um I'm I'm supporting this proposal.

I I do want to make a note for the record that there were many senior officials at the uh chief of streets department um that left, including some policy or implementation people that were able to provide um a lot of technical assistance on many of these transportation projects.

They left it a at a critical period of time.

I'm not placing blame on anyone, but I do know that because people left up this department, uh, there was a slowdown in decision making about where transportation would go and what uh what the next steps would be.

I still think we're in that situation right now, but I do think even if it is federal federal money, that is still taxpayer money, and we have to be accountable for it.

We have to be fiscally disciplined, fiscally responsible, transparent, and accountable to the public.

Federal funds are taxpaying money.

It's not our money, it's the residents, and we have to make sure that if we spend it, it has to be spent appropriately, and we can't be making mistakes over and over again.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Counselor Culpepper.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And I believe you support the resolution.

But I also want to make it clear for the record that we do want the money to come in this case to Blue Hill Avenue or wherever.

But we don't want it to come for the center bus lane.

There's been disinvestment in the community for many years.

If you write a blue hill lab, you'll see a street, a major thoroughfare that has been ignored, that has been uh disregarded and excluded.

We do want the money to come, but we want it for Blue Hill Avenue beautification, not for center bus lane.

I just want to make that clear that we're not saying the money should go back.

We do want the money to come, but we want it to come for what the community has been requesting for years.

And so I want to make sure that there's a distinction for the record of what the money should be used for, and the money should really be used for what the community has been asking that happened for years that Blue Hill Avenue be beautified, and that Blue Hill Avenue when you look at it's not even ADA compliant.

And so we do want the money to come, but we want the money to come for what the community thinks the money should be used for.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Council Culpepper.

Councilman here.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and uh I want to thank uh Council President uh Brayden for her leadership in this space and bringing this forward.

I just want to go on the record that I will be uh supporting uh this resolution, and I will also just like to note that for the record, I think that my colleagues uh here have made very passionate remarks regarding the the no-brainer situation here, so I appreciate that.

Uh and I will just add that you know, to Councillor Culpepper's uh remarks in regards to how we do things, that is the problem that we are finding ourselves in here in this chamber.

It is how we get to decisions about what um transportation needs look like.

That's where I believe that that the council needs to do a little bit of work on all of us.

Um so while I'm supporting this, I think I just want to uplift that um we need to uh figure out how we're gonna start learning how to listen.

Thank you, Councilor Majia.

Uh wouldn't anyone else like to speak on this matter?

Oh, Councilor Warrell, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Vice President.

I do support the federal funds that are coming in.

However, I do think it needs to be in line uh with community support.

And currently in this resolution, uh the Blue Hill Lab Transportation Plan, uh, we have heard from community members over and over again that the current design uh does not meet um what the community wants or needs.

Uh so what I would what I want to request uh from uh the the sponsor, Madam President, is because this is the only one uh from what my understanding is that does not have consensus from the community um as of now, and that's also based off of the hearing or meeting that Council Culpepper that and I had with over 200 people showed up.

Um it's also reflective of the 2,000 plus signatures on a petition that says no to a center running bus lane.

If that we can make a suggest a friendly amendment uh to remove the Blue Hill Lab Transportation Plan uh from this resolution.

Okay.

Um Councillor Brayden, you have the floor.

I think my resolution doesn't name any specific project.

That's these are citywide projects that uh involve the green line, they involve uh Hyde Park Avenue, they involve projects all across the city.

Um so I wasn't we we went to great lengths not to uh specifically name uh individual projects because we're talking about dozens of projects.

So I feel that um I'll respectfully decline to uh accept it a friendly amendment at this point because it really want to keep the the conversation very general.

Thank you, um Councilor Braden.

Um we have uh Councilman here and then Councillor Murphy.

I'm sorry, who was first.

Okay, Council Majia.

Oh, Jesus.

Okay.

Um so I would like to advocate on behalf of my council colleague Rorell, and while I do appreciate the president's remarks regarding wanting to keep it general, there is something to be said around consensus building, and I do think that at the very least, if the amendment could be um maybe everything except the one that doesn't have consensus, um, I I think that that could be a way to find a win-win to get us to a vote.

So um, yeah, I think that is the fair thing to do.

And I I do believe that we should consider at least maybe a whereas, whereas in the case of the Blue Collab uh central bus lane, given the staunch opposition of 2,000 signatures, this particular project may not, I don't know, something that Councillor Rora will feel like we're listening and paying attention and at least trying to find a middle ground here.

I I don't know, Council President Braden, if you could consider finding some middle ground here so that those who don't feel comfortable with the way it's presented now could feel more uh gun-ho about it.

Because here's the deal.

Here's the deal.

So the for those folks who are paying attention here, there's a lot of tension in this city as it relates to Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan in particular.

And so we have to move very carefully about decisions that impact the city as a whole.

And while there's 13 of us, there's only four that are at large.

Everyone else is a district counselor.

And so I just want to be mindful of decisions that we're making here as a city as a whole, regarding decisions that impact very specific neighborhoods.

So I just think, out of the fairness of this exercise, that we think about how this will land for black and brown people in particular.

Thank you, Councilor Majia.

Um, I'm gonna have Councilor Murphy and then Councillor Enrique Papan and then Councilor Warrell, and then Councillor Um Bradengo as the final word.

Thank you.

Councilor Murphy.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, I am just rising to support Councilor your request and know as a resident of Matta Pan, my square now is Mattapan Square.

I do hear um and just know myself that being vague and not lifting up the voices of a community that always feels like we're not listening to them and we're not willing to really die on that hill for them.

So although your office did work, and I respect that Councilor Braden, that you tried to keep it vague.

There are times, and the idea of who wouldn't want to take money, there's many times in my life, like sometimes money, if someone's willing to give it to you, if it's not for the right reasons, you should always say no.

Money is not always the best thing.

And in this case, if they're gonna force something that the residents and the neighbors don't want, and what happens on Blue Hill Lab affects what happens in East Boston, what affects what happens in South Boston in Charlestown, our neighborhoods are you know individual in many ways, but at the same time, we need to make sure, and I think it would show respect to uh many of the residents who do not fail like we respect them.

So I am asking that you add that because I would not want to vote no, but like Councilor Flynn, I'm not willing to vote present.

But if there is any residents in this city who feel as though we're ignoring their cry to be heard, then we should do what we can.

So I am respectfully asking you to add that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Murphy.

I'll go to Councillor Petin.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And my understanding is when I was work with my office, was working with Councilor President Braden's office, is that this resolution isn't necessarily about supporting every project as is, especially one on Blue Ho Avenue.

This is about making sure that we are safeguarding the funding that is coming from the federal government.

There's a lot of conversation left, especially with the MBTA and the administration on what's going to happen on Blue Hill Av and around the other projects that are that are at risk of being of losing that federal and state funding.

That's why I fear that by saying oh, an exemption to Blue Hill Av, it's a message that we're saying we don't care if we lose the funding completely, because this isn't saying we approve of the designs as they are.

It's just saying we want to make sure we don't lose the funding.

Because what we've heard, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Warrell and myself, who we split Blue Hill Ave is that people want investment into Blue Hill Avenue.

Yes, there's a split between people that don't want a center running bus lane and those that do, but at least they we all know that they do want an investment if it's either if it's either for the beautification or for the um for safer for safer transportation infrastructure because all of that and we've learned that 70% of the money that is allocated for that project is going to those specific things.

So that's why I would I would I'm a little bit concerned about that suggestion because it's this is again this isn't about saying oh we support the project as is, it's just saying let's not lose the money and let's come to an agreement as soon as possible.

That's why I I I would hesitate I would tell my counsels to hesitate to to not move that forward just because it would then create a lot more confusion than what this is actually about.

Thank you, Councillor Pepin.

Um, just in fairness to others, I will go to um those who've had their their light on.

Counselor Braden, I think you were before Durkin, but as the lead sponsor, do you want to go last?

Okay, uh Councillor Durkin and then Councillor Weber.

I was going to motion for a vote, but if the if the lead sponsor would like to speak.

Okay.

Um counselor Weber.

I just um I wanted to clarify.

I I believe Councillor Culpepper has filed a Blue Hill Ave resolution that was objected to that there'll be a hearing on it.

I don't know if I have that right.

Um if Councillor Culpepper wants to say anything about that.

And I mean I I understand that we we don't necessarily we don't want to conflate that issue here and make it sort of have a resolution on Blue Hill Ave.

So uh if if there is going to be a hearing on a on a Blue Hill Ave resolution, uh maybe we join these together for a hearing uh in the future, that's just my suggestion.

Okay.

Thank you, Councillor Weber.

Um Councillor Burrell, and then Councillor Braden.

Uh thank you.

And again, like I'm not I'm in support of the traffic infrastructures and designs and investments where we have built right consensus with the community, where the community has seen a design that they want to get behind.

Currently, there's too many conversations that are still happening around Blue Hill Ave, and that money right now, that federal funding is tied to a specific design.

Uh so I I I when I hear advancing, right?

It's advancing right the current application that we have submitted uh to the federal government for these funds, which is around the center running bus lane, which we do not have full support or majority opposition from the voices of my community and and every other elected official that I have spoken to or has done the survey, that they are not comfortable.

The residents are not comfortable with the current sub current design that is on the application for this funding.

So I am not against anything else that has again received consensus in anyone else's district.

I guess I'm just saying that in Blue Hill Ave, where it's tied to a design that the constituents in that neighborhood are not comfortable with, and as conversations continue to progress, can we just remove it as of now?

Thank you, Councilor Warlord.

Um, Councillor Braden.

And then we'll move forward.

Thank you.

I I really do appreciate um the concerns around uh Blue Hill Ave um and and um different people have different opinions about what should happen there.

The reality is that in our district, we've already lost 350 million dollars for uh I the I-90 uh realignment.

Uh we've lost funding for uh replacement of the Cambridge Street Bridge, which is in disrepair in bad shape.

Uh we've lost funding for the Franklin Street uh pedestrian bridge, which can reconnect.

It was a grant for reconnecting communities across the pike.

The the railroad and the pike have cut through our neighborhood just like they did in Chinatown.

And those grants were in the Obama, not the Obama, the Biden administration, the reconnecting communities grants were meant to reconnect communities that were cut and bisected by that by those by that railroad.

And it was thrown out because of an equity issue because it was talking about communities that were impacted, environmental justice communities.

So I really I don't want to lose the tread here.

I really appreciate people's concerns, but this is really a resolution to urge this, you know, to urge us to move forward in a in a in a timely way so that we don't actually lose more funds.

This is $300 million from my neighborhood.

The realignment of the Green Line project is to prepare the tracks for new cars.

We might get the cars delivered before the tracks are ready, and that would really be an egg on the face for Boston.

So I really feel that this is an important issue that goes beyond it's a big question, and all of this money, like Councillor Coletta Zapata has Rutherford Ave, I think is one of the projects that is impact by this.

All across the city we have projects.

So I really would appreciate everyone's concern, but I really do want us to keep it general and just urge the city to keep moving forward and utilizing these funds.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um I said that we were going to move for a vote, I think, in again in fairness.

Everyone's been hold on.

Yep, one second, Councillor Culpepper.

I'm going to say that you people one second.

So I was just about to say that everybody has the opportunity to speak once or twice on this.

I've already allowed for twice, or somebody had to speak on this twice, so I'll go to Council Culpepper and you were also named.

So Council Culpepper.

Thank you, Madam President.

I was just responding to Councillor Weber that we did file a hearing order on Blue Hill Avenue.

And I even think Councillor Weber mentioned that during the budget hearings, he had Wednesday morning possibly open.

And so I would say we should do this as soon as possible.

This hearing on Blue Hill Avenue.

If there's a Wednesday morning, we can work to try through the chair to try and get it scheduled, but I think as soon as possible, so we can get the issue discussed and resolved.

I think that's a great idea, Council Culpepper.

Thank you.

Thank you, everybody.

Um we're going to move to our vote, everybody.

We're going to move for a vote.

Uh Councillors Braden and Papen seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0877.

All those in favour say aye.

Madam Clerk, will you please conduct a roll call vote on this docket?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Council Calera Zapata.

Yes.

Councillor Calpepa?

No.

Council Cal Pepper.

Councillor Dukin.

Yes?

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Councillor Flynn.

No.

No.

Council Luzian.

Council Mehia.

Councillor Murphy.

Council Mahia.

Council Mehia, what is your vote?

Yes or no?

President Council Mahia, present.

Councillor Murphy.

No.

Okay.

Council Murphy, no.

Council Peppen.

Yes.

Council Pepin, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Councillor Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Council World?

No.

Council Orell, no.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0877 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, can you please re-docket 0878?

I'll do it again.

Council Braden offer the following resolution in support of the United States Postal Service re-establishing a post office location in Oxford.

Councillor Braden, you have the floor.

Can you put my light on there?

Got it.

Thank you.

This resolution speaks to a basic service residents should be able to rely on that every neighborhood has access to essential postal services.

Alston has gone seven years without local postal service.

After the with the local from a local post office after the 2019 closure due to structural issues with the building.

Approximately 87,000 residents of Alston Brighton have had to rely solely on the Boston Post Office in Brighton Centre.

On April 23rd, April 23rd, we learned from the USPS back that USPS had backed out of the project despite a fully negotiated lease and construction plans and despite an explicit letter of commitment that they had sent in 2025.

Alston's immigrant communities, small businesses, seniors, and residents without reliable internet access, depend on USPS for daily needs like secure mail delivery, medications, government documents, passport services, and the basic infrastructure of civil life.

Seven years ago, seven years is too long for a neighborhood of this size and diversity to go without a local branch.

The community deserves clarity, accountability, and a firm commitment from the USPS to restore the services it previously promised.

This resolution urges the USPS to re-establish a post office in Alston and restore the essential services that our residents rely on.

I ask my colleagues, just colleagues to support me in this resolution, and that the Boston that the Boston City Council calls upon USPS to re-establish a post office location in Alston.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Braden.

Councillor Durkin.

Thank you so much.

I just want to support our council colleague, Council President Braden in this.

We had a similar thing in Mission Hill, where it was posted on the door that the um that the post office was closing.

And when we actually got to the bottom of it, it was HUD holding up a lease.

I worked with Senator Murkey, and we were able to save the post office.

That what we found when we did a hearing on the mail delays uh last year was that uh USPS is doing this all over.

They are treating uh mail service as if it's optional and not public service.

So I'm grateful, and um I I have joked with the council president before.

I do have two precincts of Alston that we don't often talk about because they're mostly uh they're mostly BU's campus, but um, but I just want to say I will join you in support as the other Alston City Councillor.

Thank you, Council Durkin, Councillor Murphy.

Um I rise in support of this, but just have a question through the chair to the maker.

Um where is the closest post office?

Is there one in Brookline or over the line in the city?

Because obviously the post office doesn't just you know stay within so I think through the chair.

Um the nearest uh post office is uh Brighton Center.

Um as as one who uses that post office very often, you go in and you you want to get in and get your business done and get out, and very often is a line with about 20 people waiting and waiting to get to the counter for service.

So uh but given that we have a huge population of 87,000 people, it's it's really no, I agree with the newspaper.

I was just wondering if yeah, if there was one in Brookline outside of the that was closer.

I have no idea where the one in Brookline would be.

Okay, just knowing that you know you don't have to stay within city limits to use the post office.

So I was wondering if there was one closer to Alston.

I can do that research, but thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Would anyone else like to speak on this matter?

Would anyone else like to add their name?

Madam Clerk, would you please add Councillor Durkin, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Papen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and Councillor Warrell?

Please add Councillor Fitzgerald.

And please add the chair.

Uh I did not see your hand.

I'm sorry, Councillor Culpepper as well.

Um Councillor Brayden seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0878.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, would you please conduct a roll call vote?

Roll called vote on Docker 0878.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Council Calera Sapata.

Yes.

That's a list.

Councilor Calara Sapata, yes, Councillor Copapa.

Council Cockpit, yes, Councillor Durkin.

Council Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Lujian.

Commissor Mehia.

Council Mahias.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes.

Council Peppin.

Yes.

Council Pepin, yes, Council Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes, Council World.

Yes.

Council War, yes.

12 vote and the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0878 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, can you please read Docket 0879?

Dr.

0879.

Councillor Flynn offer the following resolution in support of the elimination for summer block party grants.

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Boston is currently offering $750 grants for summer block parties.

The City of Boston has historically provided these grants to promote community engagement and connect with neighbors.

However, Boston is also currently facing difficult economic times.

In my opinion, we simply cannot afford to continue to afford paying for parties or paying for unnecessary programs while we're cutting special education programs while we're cutting teachers.

We have to make a decision.

During these challenging economic times, it's critical that Boston eliminate the summer block party grant and evaluate the program's effectiveness in long-term success.

We must demonstrate fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability.

Fiscal discipline requires us to immediately eliminate any program that is unnecessary during these challenging economic times.

We must account for every dollar we receive and we spend.

And when teachers are getting laid off in what cutting special education programs, I need to do my due diligence to find where cuts can be made in city government, and this is one of them.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Consular Flynn.

The chair recognizes Council Kappan.

Consor you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I rise to say that I am opposed to this resolution.

I'm planning on voting no.

Um yesterday we were able to hear from the community engagement cabinet, especially from the Office of Civic Organizing where these grants live, and we were able to ask the questions about the money about the money from where we get these grants from.

And we learned that the money that they're getting funded not only for this year but in continuing years, they're not funded by the operational budget, they're actually being funded by partners outside of the city to make sure that we are activating our spaces.

Um so one that clarifies that this is not being operational money is not being used for these grants.

Two, I have nothing but great experiences in my district with these grants because what I've been able to see is the activation of residents that don't usually interact with one another.

And I have two examples of two different block parties in Rosenlow and High Park that as a result of the activation of the residents based on these grants, there has been um new civic organizations be founded because of it.

And one, I see the purpose of this.

Um, I think that they're very effective, and three, uh, we have eliminated the concern that this is not coming from the operational budget, so that's why I'll be voting against this, and I invite my colleagues to also do so as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I'm also rising today in opposition to this resolution.

Um, you know, I think Councillor Peppin just mentioned um the source of the funding, um, but also as he's just as chair of public safety on the Boston City Council.

I think um the work that these grants do to provide block parties to bring communities together, I think really adds to our public safety, um, especially during our summer times.

It's important for our neighborhood neighborhoods to get together for our neighbor for neighborhoods to know who lives um, who lives around them, what youth are there, what elderly are there.

Um, and I think um, as we're heading into a summer with many activities, um, I think um these grants are crucial to our public safety here in the city of Boston.

So I will be voting um um in opposition to this resolution um today, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Centana.

The chair recognizes Councillor Jerkin, and then we'll go to Mejia.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Um, I've had some great experiences at some of these block parties.

Um, the North Slope of Beacon Hill had never had a public event um before, and this new neighbor, Grace organized this block party that was incredible.

It was all young people, all renters.

Um, they they um shut down um two blocks of Phillips Street, and um it was incredible.

They started an email list, they started a WhatsApp chain, they the friendships that were made.

Um the grant didn't pay for much, um, but what it what it created was community.

Same on Kazwick Street in Audubon Circle, um, where neighbors came together, the Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association ACNA, I know a lot of you know them.

They're a well-known civic association, hosted their first ever block party on Keswick Street with a spooky streets grant.

Um while I am the first to say fiscal conservatism is important.

We're in the middle of the budget process and we each have a chance to weigh in.

Um, but I do want to thank my colleague for his ideas and his thoughts because I think it's really important that we respect each other, that we work together, and that um and that we actually just vote, you know, on the c you know, our conscience.

My experiences is that um the fire department came to this north end, I'm sorry, north slope of Beacon Hill party.

Um the fire truck came, people touched uh truck for the first time.

I saw kids in the neighborhood that I had never met before.

I think it's for community building, it's family building.

If we want to be a city that really represents everyone and and is great for families, this is part of that.

Chair recognizes Consul Mejia.

Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, it's really interesting, right?

Because I feel like we are utilizing a lot of theater uh lately and politics and utilizing opportunities to bash people.

And I think as it relates to the block parties, there's a narrative that we're being irresponsible in terms of how we're utilizing our money.

There's a lot of irresponsibility happening here as it relates to budget, and if we're not looking at how we're spending money on white stadium, but we're talking about blocks uh party grants.

I just don't understand where our priorities are.

But I will say I am going to be um opposing this particular resolution because of the intent.

Um I think that if we're really serious about being fiscally responsible when it's time for us to take votes on the things that provide social and emotional uh well-being to our residents, that we're looking at everything.

We're looking at the entire budget, not just picking and choosing things that feel like fluff, when in reality, the social and emotional and mental well-being of our residents is a public safety tactic.

It build community because I knew I grew up here in the city of Boston, and I knew all of my neighbors when I grew up here because we used to have lock parties, and we didn't have a dime to put together one, but we still got together and organized as community.

So there is something to be said about the city utilizing resources to bring people together, especially when there's so much trauma that we're all experiencing today.

So even if it's just for the sake of building community so people can organize around the issues that they care about, maybe it's a block party, but we're you do you doing it with a twist.

We're organizing around fixing something that is broken in our neighborhoods.

So then that way we can still gather as a community and do something that brings us together, and let's just stop all this divisive politics because nobody's winning here.

We just like let's let's everybody just stop with all of the drama.

Thank you, Councilman.

The chair recognizes Consul Claire Zapata.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um respectfully, I will be voting now on this.

I think these block uh these grants, as Councillor Peppen had pointed out, is being funded by partners partner organizations.

We have um a large Colombian and Moroccan community uh in East Boston, and um I know that the this is gonna be utilized in a way that uh only strengthens our communities.

I cannot wait to literally share picadas with my neighbors who are putting this on.

It brings people together.

Um it's gonna create a safe space.

Uh so that public safety lens was well taken.

Thank you, Councilor Santana, for for bringing that forward as well.

So um, and we did see in Copo America when Columbia was in um, I know that's that's a tough subject for Colombian fans, including my husband, but when they were in Copo America, we saw an overrun of bars and restaurants, and it really was untenable.

And so this is just another way to try to manage the situation, make sure that folks are engaging in family-friendly and community safe one.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Constable Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

I I respect my colleagues' um opposition to this amendment uh to this resolution.

I also wanted to highlight, I don't I don't take it personal.

I don't I do want to highlight though that I agree with them.

People do have a good time at these block parties, and it does bring people together.

I acknowledge that.

They are fun to go to.

I just think during this challenging time, we just don't have the money for it.

Let me be clear.

This is city money.

Any dollar that comes into the city and that is spent by the city, we have to we have to be accountable for it.

We raise taxes.

We raised property taxes the last two consecutive years.

Double digits.

It does set, it does leave a bad taste in people's mouths that get the property tax raised 13% or 10%.

And then when they see the bo what see the city of Boston spending money on parties.

We hear the criticism from residents about property taxes.

I'm I'm trying to work on getting property tax relief for homeowners.

But I I do believe it sets the the wrong example when the economy of Boston is struggling.

When we're cutting services to residents in need.

Budget 14%.

Did everybody know that?

We're cutting the city of Boston veterans budget 14%.

A lot of the funding is going to veterans in need.

Keep that cut from happening.

But how could I vote for block parties?

And on the other hand, cut the budget for the veterans department.

We have to be consistent.

We have to determine what is more important.

Services for students with disabilities for veterans.

Or for block parties.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Uh, Chair recognizes Council Weber.

You have the floor.

Yeah, uh, thank you very much, uh, Madam President.

I just do we we we did have this discussion.

I know Councillor Pippen mentioned it briefly in a ways and means uh hearing you know what we were told was that there is no money being used this fiscal year for or the summer block parties that may be held uh you know in June, and that in the next fiscal year, you know, any uh block parties summer in the summer spooky Halloween related block parties would be coming from you know partnerships and private grants, so uh you know that is that information we will you know uh influences how I'm voting on this resolution.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um you have the you have the floor.

I do have the floor, thank you, Madam President.

Um, so uh I'm not sure if you guys, and I'm sure that you heard, right, that uh that BPD right now they have a budget of 55.6 million dollars, and we're talking about cutting budgets, and we're talking about reallocating resources.

We have an opportunity to tap into other budgets if we're really serious about making sure that we take care of everybody.

And also, if we really want to be problem solvers, community policing and the community engagement division for the Boston Police Department also has a fund where they also utilize their dollars to provide entertainment to community.

So why don't we just bridge these two groups together and maybe they can have block parties together, and then that way everybody wins.

Like, hello, everybody.

Let's get to a place where everybody feels like we're winning.

Thank you, Consulman.

Here recognizes Consular Murphy and then go to Consular Warrell.

Yes, Consulor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to rise because most times, not all, but most times when we file resolutions, we are reminded either by the filer or other people who stand up and speak, is that these are non-binding, that it is just a statement either of our values or a message we want to send a vote yes or no or blocking this is not going to touch or change what the Office of Civic Organizing is doing this summer, what they're planning on doing in the fall.

And like many departments, unfortunately, they're telling us that many of the grants and funding that they were able to give out will no longer be there.

They're hoping to find new funding, and that is admirable.

But at the same time, I do respect Councillor Flynn's intent to send a message to the residents.

And as an at-large city counselor and all of the neighborhoods I hear it time and time again, over and over again, is that it's just so expensive to live here.

Our taxes continue to be raised, and they're questioning what are we actually spending our money on.

One of the reasons why counselor Flynn and I did call for an audit, which was just look closely at are we being the most fiscally responsible we can at every level across the city of Boston.

So for me, this is just a message that a summer block party, no money should be going to something like that.

And many of us know that almost all of the events and block parties we go to are not funded through these grants.

There's a small number of actual block parties that we have, and I'm at most or all of them around the city myself or my team and enjoy them and know the value they give.

So for me, this is not about saying that the intent of block parties and grants aren't a good idea.

It's saying that we really do.

We're halfway, it seems, through the budget season.

Ben might say we're nowhere near half, but I know we're getting to a place where we're gonna have to start making hard decisions.

We haven't even talked about amendments.

We know, like counselor Flynn said, the veterans department, a very small budget is being cut 14%.

To me, that's just unacceptable.

So anyway, we can say to the residents, we hear you, we care, we will be fiscally responsible.

That's important to me.

Thank you, Council Murphy.

The chair recognizes Council Warren.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

And I uh definitely understand the intent around what Council Flynn is looking to do, uh, but also just understand that um it sounds like a large portion of these uh blog parties are coming from external grants, uh, and we cannot reallocate those external grants to uh backfill uh any other cuts within the operating budget.

So um knowing that information, I'm going to be supportive, but I do understand the intent that we have to be fiscal responsible uh to make sure that we are providing basic city services at this time where revenue is not growing or the projected revenue um in the budget has not grown um as fast as you know previous years.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I will say a few words about block parties.

Um I think um my experience is and it was new, I didn't know what a block party was before it came to Boston, but um in our neighborhood we have a few really good block parties that were folks who live in group homes and folks who wouldn't necessarily be uh engaged with the rest of the community all are invited to participate and come and join the fun.

And I just feel it's an incredible opportunity.

Many of you have spoken to the benefits of of block parties as a way to build community and connection and have people feel seen and recognized in their neighborhood.

So I I am a big uh proponent of block parties.

Uh fully understanding Councillor Flynn's concerns about fiscal responsibility, but also uh with the understanding that we clarified the other day when we had a hearing that uh there's external funds that are brought in to uh hopefully um support uh continuing uh these opportunities to build community across the city.

So I am now going to uh move to uh anyone like to add their name before we go any further.

Councillor Murphy Councillor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0879.

All in favor say it.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0879?

Roll called vote on Docker 0879.

Councillor Braden.

No.

Council Braden, no, Council Colera Sapata.

Council Colada Sapana.

Council Carpapa.

Council Count Papa, no.

Councillor Doken.

Council Doken, no.

Council Fitzgerald.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Councillor.

Council Mahia.

Council Mahia, no, Councillor Murphy.

Yes.

Council Murphy, yes.

Councilor Papan.

No.

Council Papan, no, Councillor Santana.

Council Santana, no.

Council Reba.

No.

Council Webb and no.

Council War.

No.

Council War, no.

This did not pass.

It got three votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, Docket 0879 has not been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0880?

Docket 0880.

Council Fitzgerald offer the following resolution declaring Polish constitution in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Council Fitzgerald.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add uh Council Flynn as the second co-sponsor.

Um still added.

Thank you.

Uh in May 3rd, 1791, the first modern constitution in Europe was made.

It was the Polish uh constitution.

Uh, and therefore uh I'd like to do this resolution declaring Polish Constitution Day.

We are doing the Polish flag raising next week.

Uh I've got Polish food from DJ's Market coming in before the before our uh council meeting.

So hopefully we'll do a nice flag raising, come back, have some great Polish food and celebrate the Polish community uh as I represent the Polish triangular district three.

Uh and Polish Fest will be coming up as well.

Uh so for all my at-large counselors but uh district as well.

Uh it's actually a great, it's a great time, uh, and I recommend anyone come checking it out uh and come checking out the Polish Club as well.

Cheap membership, cheap beer.

Well, what about Perogies?

Okay.

I got you.

I got you.

Um chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair, and I want to say thank you to Councilor Fitzgerald for adding me.

I live near the Polish triangle off of the Andrew Square.

I live near on Dorchester, Dorchester Street and F Street area, um, which is just a short walk from the Polish triangle.

Love everything about the Polish triangle, love everything about the Polish people, the culture, the history, uh the opportunity to visit Poland in 1980 uh seven with with Maya Flynn.

Um that's when the shipyard workers in Gdansk were on strike, and we went in to see um Lakwalesa, Lak Valesa, um, in the shipyard was called the Gadan Shipyard.

Or at that time was called the Lenin Shipyard, actually.

And we had an opportunity to meet um with the Solidarity Trade Union.

These were these were men and women that were fighting the communists that really changed history.

They came in in and defeated defeated communism, uh, the Cold War, but they contributed so greatly here in Boston and Chicago and Milwaukee and so many wonderful cities across America, large um Polish and Polish American cities, and we recognize them for their contributions, their sacrifices, their dedication, their commitment to our nation.

I had the opportunity to serve on active duty with many Polish Americans.

I saw their incredible bravery, I saw their heroism, I saw their devotion to the United States.

But you know what I loved about about them as well.

We would be on the on a Navy ship.

Um regardless of where we were, would be sitting around talking and having coffee.

They would be talking about their uh grandparents living in Poland or some of the stories about their culture, learned a tremendous amount from my sailors, fellow sailors, but also I learned a lot from um residents throughout the Polish Triangle at the uh Polish Civic Association and my father actually was born on Boston Street, which was right next to the Polish Triangle, which is in which is in Dorchester.

Um thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Umsul Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Could I suspend the rules and add Council Murphy, President?

Um thank you.

Hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Murphy is added.

Council Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Fitzgerald for adding me.

I also represent the Polish Triangle, but um have been there many times.

Shout out to the Polish Club, it's a wonderful place in the neighborhood.

Um have been to the mass there, and I know every year when we have the flag raising, so many of the community come and they really enjoy that day.

It's a it's probably one of my favorite flag raisings during the year.

Many come dressed in their red and their cultural outfits, but uh I do just want to uplift.

Um I often feel there's communities in Brighton that I see this and other places around the city, but when so many of the elected officials really try to make sure in our busy schedules to show up time and time again when certain communities reach out, and not just myself, Councillor Fitzgerald and Councillor Flynn, who are often there at the um Polish Club or just um events around the also State Representative Moran, State Representative Bailey and Senator Collins are often there, and I think that just shows the connection they have and their advocacy to uplift and know the importance of their relationship with us and in many ways um you know and call us out in a good way to advocate and make sure that their community that needs our voices is heard.

So looking forward to the flag raising all the events that they have year round, but thank you, Council Fitzgerald for adding me.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councillor Pep Penn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to rise and in support of this resolution.

I think in my first year as counselor, I was able to join Councillor Fitzgerald and have some pierogies and had fun.

Uh, but I also know that a resident of District 5 is sitting behind me, Steve Pufftak, who is a proud member of the um the Polish American Citizens Club in Dorchester.

So I just wanted to give uh my um resident a shout out for all the work that he does.

And uh yeah, just looking forward to voting support of this.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councilor Durkin, uh, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell.

Please add the chair.

Councillor Fitzgerald Flynn and Murphy seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket Zero 880.

All in favor say aye.

Council.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Dock at 0880?

World called vote on Docker 0880.

Council Braden.

Yes.

Council Colada Sapata.

Council Cal Pepper.

Council Doken.

Council Dokken, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Council Louis Jean.

Council Maya.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Papin.

Council Papan, yes, Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana is Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes, Council Burrell.

Council World, yes.

10 vote in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Dock at zero eight eight zero has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0881?

Dock at 0881.

Council Fitzgerald offer the following.

Resolution recognizing National Teacher Appreciation Week.

The chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald.

I know you've got a personal interest in recognizing teachers.

I do, I do.

Thank you, Madam President.

Could I also add Councillor Mejia and suspend the rules and add Councillor Murphy?

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

Thank you.

Yes, uh, Council President, you correct.

Uh, usually when I do this each year, it ends up being an ode to my wife.

And uh, but I will say that uh the passion at which I speak to her work.

I know there are many other people out there, either the spouses of teachers or of kids that are being taught by their teachers or a family that are teachers, and so it really does impact anyone.

So I hope I can do justice for all uh when I talk about it.

But uh when I see the work that my wife puts in every day uh for the kids uh teaching at a public school that uh she pours her heart into it into helping the kids learn, helping kids with disabilities, helping kids with problems, helping kids with their home problems that they bring into school with them.

Uh, and the amount it takes out of you to do that.

I mean, she's not just raising my three kids, she's raising a whole community's worth of kids.

Um, and I know how much three kids takes out of me.

I can only imagine multiplying that tenfold over, right?

Uh and she does it, she's been doing it for 20 years uh with so much love, so much caring.

Um, and it really is as much as we need more male teachers to be there for for a lot of our kids, it's the care that comes from the woman that really is what makes a teacher a teacher, and it's very hard to replicate.

I don't know if it can be.

Um, and so it's just so important to our female educators.

I'd like to call out the most uh just because it's they're not in it for the money.

Um, and that I think shows the true sign of who they are.

Uh and knowing that never mind not in it for the money, they're not in it for their own money because they have to pay half the time for all the stuff in their classroom, which was mind-blowing to me when I first learned that that schools don't pay for the stuff that goes into a teacher's classroom, but it comes out of their own pocket.

Um, and so that was a harsh reality uh when I dated my then my my now wife.

Um but uh all to say uh it's teacher appreciation week.

They should be the highest paid people in the entire city.

Uh, and I will always continue to advocate for that.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Uh Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Fitzgerald uh for adding me as an original co-sponsor and for bringing this forward.

Um this is one of the moments where I think we can pause and recognize something that we all know, but don't always say enough, and that's thank you to our teachers.

Um, across Boston in our public schools, charters, private schools, and early education centers, teachers are showing up every day for our young people, not just to teach, but to support, guide, and respond to whatever students are carrying into the classroom.

And in that same breath, we have to be honest about what educators are um dealing with right now.

We're hearing directly from teachers about classrooms with multiple students with IEPs, and only one or two adults in the room.

We're seeing the impact of budget decisions on staffing and support.

Educators are raising alarm about the the means for students and for their ability to do their jobs well.

They're not just asking for appreciation, they're calling on us to listen and respond.

This is this workforce largely is made up of women whose labor and care often goes unrecognized.

So this week is about gratitude, but it's also about responsibility and alignment.

And I'm proud to support this resolution.

And I'll just whatever time I have left, I'll just name quickly.

And I wish I could remember her name, but all I remember was that she was my sixth grade teacher at the Donald McKay.

And she literally took me in for a period of time, and I just want to just thank her because she literally saved my life.

And so teachers do, I mean, back then they she probably would have gotten in trouble.

And I hope I don't get in trouble now.

But you but anyways, it was an intervention.

I got to stay with her.

Um it was exactly what I needed, and teachers do so much more of that work still here today with so many kids who are in in homes that are usually not safe.

Thank you, Councilman.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Um, thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Fitzgerald for adding me as a I guess you'd never stop being an educator, but for a BPS teacher for 20 something years, I'm also now the proud mother.

I guess for five years now, my daughter is a BPS teacher, so I continue to see firsthand the dedication that is put into it.

I always say it's not a profession, it's a calling, and for those who do it well, which almost all of them do, you know, they really make a difference in the lives of our children.

When I am out in the community, um, and if I'm visiting schools, which are my favorite things to do, I'm often asked by the students, you know, what do you do?

Many of us probably get that question like what do you do?

What does the city council do?

And um, I often say that you know, I go to work to you know fight for making sure your city is like, you know, that you have the best city to live in, and as you grow older, that this city is working for you.

But my favorite time is when I'm able to visit our students and see them out in the community at sporting events or at school events.

So thank you for um this body for always recognizing and uplifting the work.

Every time uh we know, not just during budget cuts.

I knew as an educator, you are always spending your own money, like Council Fitzgerald said, but not just for the extras.

You are buying reams of paper to make sure you can make copies.

You are doing things that most people wouldn't believe.

You know, you are buying the Clorox wipes, you are buying the healthy snacks, and although our school budget does show those things are there, we know that they're not there all the time in every classroom.

And so thank you to the teachers who are doing that, and for their families who are sacrificing, knowing that many times teachers are buying sneakers or buying a jacket or a school bag for a student, which means their child may not be getting something.

So, no, even though I'm a strong um advocate and often am asking tough questions of the school department, it in no way has ever meant that I don't care and uplift the teachers in our city.

So thank you to all the teachers.

If you work at a public school, a parochial school, private, or charter, we um appreciate you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Um, would anyone um like to add their name?

Councillor Cold Pepper, Councilor Durkin, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Um Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Council Rail, please add the chair.

Councillors Fitzgerald Mahia and Murphy seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket zero eight eight one.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0881?

Roll call vote on Docker 0881.

Council Braden.

Yes, Council Coleta Sapata.

Council Cal Pepper.

Yes.

Council Cal Pepper, yes, Council Dirken.

Yes.

Council Doken is Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigian.

Councillor Mahia.

Council Mehia, yeah, yes.

Council Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, yes.

Council Papan.

Council Papan, yes.

Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Council Warrell.

Yes.

Council War, yes.

One, two, three, four, five, six, and nine.

Eleven votes in the formative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docker 0881 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docker 0882?

Dock at 0882.

Council Rural offered a follow-on resolute resolution recognizing May 1st, 2026 as Dr.

Jean McGuire Day in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Council Warrell.

Councillor Warren, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to add Council Mejia as an original co-sponsor.

Council Mahia is so added.

And I like to suspend the rules and add uh Counselor Culpepper as a third original co-sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no uh objection, Council Culpepper is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm proud to stand in support of this resolution recognizing May 1st as Dr.

Jean McGuire Day in the city of Boston.

Dr.

McGuire's work has shaped the trajectory of this city in ways that are both historic and deeply felt across generations.

For many of us, and me personally, her impact is something that we carry with us every day.

As a MECO student, I'm a direct reflection of the opportunity she fought to create.

At a time when access was not guaranteed, Dr.

McGuire was among the leaders who made sure young people like me were given a real chance to succeed.

That kind of leadership does more than just open doors.

It changes the course of people's lives.

Through her leadership with MECO and her service on the Boston School Committee, where she was the first African American American woman elected to, she helped redefine what educational access could look like in this city.

Her work created pathways for students of color to step into spaces that have been long out of reach and to do so with the support and expectation and success.

And her legacy is not something we look back on.

It's something we are still called to live up to.

We know the work improving education educational outcomes as far from done.

But Dr.

McGuire's work reminds us of what it takes to move that work forward.

Commitment, clarity, and a belief in the potential of every young person in the city.

I'm honored to support this resolution and to recognize Dr.

Jean Maguire for her lasting impact she's had on the city on so many lives.

I also want to take a time to celebrate and acknowledge uh the 60th anniversary of MECO.

Um, and also uh this year, uh Dr.

Gene Maguire turned 95.

Um, and it's a legacy.

Uh, it's something that I will continue to uplift every year, and with that, I would like to request success suspension and passage of this docket.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Warrell.

The chair recognizes Councilman.

Councillor Mahie, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Rorell for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

I am so incredibly excited to support uh this resolution recognizing Dr.

Gene Maguire and her legacy.

Dr.

Maguire's impact on Boston is deep and lasting.

As the first black woman elected to the Boston School Committee and a founding force behind MECO, she helped open doors for generations of students who had long been denied access to Ecuador education.

And as someone who grew up here in the city of Boston during the bossing era, her leadership had a lasting impact on my own education.

During the fight for desperate uh, while um the fight, I still believe our schools are uh still segregated.

Um her commitment wasn't just about policy, it was about changing what opportunities look like in the city.

And what stands out was her work did not stop there to this day.

She's still showing up right here and still fighting for students, and we've seen her continued advocacy, including her efforts to make sure that spaces like White Stadium remain centered on public access and not privatized in ways that would limit opportunities for um Boston Public School students.

And that through line matters.

It reminds us that fighting for educational equity, it's not something in the past.

It is ongoing.

Recognizing Dr.

Maguire is not just about honoring history, it's about grounding ourselves in the work that still needs to be done.

I'm proud to support this resolution to recognize May 1st as Dr.

Gene Maguire Day here in the city of Boston.

And the last time we honored somebody, there was a whole hoop law because when I did the Cardi B situation, it was the same day that we allegedly blocked a vote from happening, and it was about the budget and the us being irresponsible.

So I want to know for the record that I hope that doesn't happen again this time around.

Thank you, Councilman Here.

The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

In addition to Jean McGuire of being the first black woman elected to the Boston School Committee, being co-founder of MECCO.

She also served as a board member of various associations in Boston, including the Boston Children's Museum, the Community Change Incorporated, and Campman for Citizenship, Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, and the Black Educator Alliance of Massachusetts.

When she was interviewed about the documentary Eyes on the Prize, she looked at the keys to the kingdom and looked at education as the king keys to the kingdom.

In 2004, she won the Boston Ethical Community Humanitarian Year Award.

She was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Community Change for her work in the education system in the segregated communities in 2012.

And she received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Tufts University in 2017.

This is what Jean Maguire said, Dr.

Gene McGuire, the really stayed with me as one of my mentors.

She always said that we all have the ability to do some good.

So I stand here today, working to live out the legacy that she continues to leave us to do some good, all of us.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, uh, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Council Santana, Councilor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillors Morrell, Mejia, and Culpepper seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket Zero Eight Eight Two.

All in favor say aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket Zero Eight Eight Two?

Roll call vote on Docket Zero Eight Eight Two.

Council Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden, yes, Council Coletta Zapata.

Council Cal Peppa.

Yes.

Council Car Peppa, yes, Council Dukin.

Council Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Council Luigian.

Council Mehia.

Council Mehia, yes, Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes, Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes, Council Warrel.

Yes.

Council World, yes.

11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 0882 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0883?

Docket 0883.

Council Mejia offer the following.

Resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Chair recognizes Council Mejia.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And so I am really excited to given everything that's happening on the national scale and even here locally.

We are dealing with a mental health crisis here.

And I think it's an opportunity for us to really recognize those folks who are on the front lines doing this work.

It shapes how we show up in our families, our workplaces, in our communities.

And I also say that this is personal.

For me, I've been forthcoming about my own experience of mental health challenges growing up.

And I share that because I know how important it is to break the cycle of silence and stigma that too often keep people from seeking the support that they need.

Here in Boston, we have organizations doing critical work every day.

And I want to shout out the Louis D.

Brown Peace Institute, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as well as uh John Smith, who is doing a lot of work with young black boys around suicide prevention and so many other community-based and culturally rooted mental health resources that are needing people where they are, especially in communities that have been historically overlooked.

At the same time, we know that there's still gaps, barriers tied to cost, language, cultural access, continue to prevent people from getting the care that they need.

And the past few years from the pandemic to economic stress to community violence have only made that more clear.

So this month is about awareness, but it's also an opportunity to act.

It's about making sure that care is accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in community.

It's about investing in early support in schools and neighborhood-based services and in programming that uplifts the social emotional and mental well-being of our communities.

And people are doing this work every day.

Thank you, Council Mejia.

Oh, nice ask for suspended passage.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillor Mejia seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0883.

All in favor say aye.

Thank you.

Docket 0883 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0883?

Roll call vote on Docket 0883.

Council Braden.

Yes, Council Braden.

Council Coletta Sapata.

Council Cal Pepper.

Yes.

Council Call Pepper, yes.

Councilor Durkin.

Council Durkan, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigian.

Council Mahia.

Council Mahi.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy.

Yes, Council Peppen.

Yes.

Council Peppin'.

Councilor Santana?

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Weber.

Yes, Council World.

Yes.

Council World.

Yes.

Leven vote in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0883 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0884?

Docket 0884.

Council Mahia offered a follow-up.

Resolution recognizing National Nurses Month and National Nurses Week.

Chair recognizes Council Mejia.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I would like to add Councillor Fitzgerald as an original co-sponsor.

Counselor Fitzgerald is so added.

As the filer of this resolution, I'm proud to recognize National Nurses Month and National Nurses Week.

And I also want to thank Councillor Flynn for supporting and standing with the Brigham and Women's Nurses today and uplifting them here on the council in their advocacy.

Nurses are the center of our health care system across Boston in hospitals, community health centers, schools, shelters, and in people's homes.

They're often the first point of care on the steady presence that patients and families can rely on.

And their work goes far beyond the clinical care.

Nurses are educators, advocates, and problem solvers.

They're navigating complex systems, supporting patients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives and making sure people understand their care and their options.

We saw this clearly during the pandemic, but the reality is that this level of commitment has always been there.

And in a city like Boston, where we continue to confront deep health inequities, nurses on the front lines of that work.

They're helping to close the gap in access, building trust in communities, and delivering care in ways that are culturally responsive and grounded in real relationships.

At the same time, we know this work is not easy.

Nurses are working long hours facing staffing challenges and operating in high pressure environments.

The conversations about appreciation has to include how we support them, how we invest in safe working conditions, and how we make sure that they have the resources they need to continue doing this work sustainably.

So this month is about recognition and also moving with intentional policy making and utilizing our platform to support our nurses beyond words.

I'm proud to Father's resolution in honor to recognize the nurses who continue to care for Boston every day.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Mejia.

The chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Mejia, for adding me as a co-sponsor.

This as well.

With my mom being a nurse, I thought growing up that uh having a mom uh that was a nurse was the best.

What I've learned is having a mom as a grandmother, uh having a nurse as the grandmother to your kids is actually way more beneficial to me.

But um, yeah, they're they're on their feet 10 to 12 hours a day dealing with people when they're at their absolute worst.

So it's it's physically uh a toll, it's mentally a toll, um, and they do it in uh with a smile and providing the best care in the world, and so uh it really just uh to to my mom and to all nurses out there.

Uh I want to say thank you and recognize them uh this month and this week.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Fitzgerald.

I also am uh have a mother who is uh a nurse, a whole family of nurses, so yes, I join you in applauding and supporting our nurses.

Um was I would anyone else like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Councillors Mejia and Fitzgerald uh seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket zero eight eight four.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All of host say nay.

Thank you.

Docket zero eight eight four has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0885?

Docket 0885.

Councillors Flynn and Durkin offered a follow-up resolution in support of nurses at Bergham and Women's Hospital.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes the chair recognizes Councillor Durcan.

Oh, sorry, I'm getting these new folks out of order.

Councillor Flynn and uh then councillor Durkin's second.

Thank you.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, may I add Council O'Reill?

Um seeing and hearing no objection, Councillor Well is so added.

Madam Chair, I we had, as you know, the nurses from um the hospital that were here earlier uh from Brigham and Women Hospital.

Want to acknowledge Councillor Durkin, the Brigham and Women Hospital is in Councillor Durkin's district.

Um I highlighted some of my comments earlier.

I'll try to be brief as possible.

Um nurses and nurses practitioners of Brigham Women Hospital.

Their workforce is 4,000 dedicated professionals.

They provide exceptional high quality life-saving care to patients in Boston across New England, really across the world.

Um we mentioned earlier the current management proposal uh for a new contract that they're providing includes a 0% wage increase for most nurses in nurse practitioners while at the same time proposing a significant increase in health care costs, effectively resulting in a reduction in take-home pay for nurses.

Fair compensation, accessible health care benefits are essential to retain retaining experienced nurses, maintaining safe staffing levels, ensuring the continued delivery of high quality patient care.

I asked that my colleagues support the nurses and nurses practitioners at Brigham and Women Hospital in their efforts to receive a wage, fair wage, affordable health care, safe working conditions, and the respect and dignity they deserve.

We we had a wonderful presentation this morning, actually this afternoon, uh, with the nurse from Brigham and Women Hospital named Um Sarah, and want to say thank you to Sarah and Miles and Matthew for being here.

They did have a demonstration out front of the hospital today from two to four.

Unlikely we're able to make it, but we want to acknowledge the professional work that they do.

We stand with them in as they advocate for a fair wage, decency, respect, and in the ability to support their family as well.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

I just wanted to thank Councillor Flynn for including me on this resolution.

I think we heard it best from the NMA MA member that was here today.

Boston is fortunate to be home to world-class hospitals and a high standard of patient care.

But nurses are the backbone of that, and if we don't support them in their fight for a fair wage, um, we you know it will be detrimental to our health care system.

I'm hoping we're all will be able to pass this resolution in support of their efforts to secure a fair contract, dignity that includes way higher wages, um, and acknowledges that um they deserve dignity in the work that they do.

And I think when this city council stands with working people, um that that is what we do best, and it's you know it's not political.

Um I have you know gotten kicked off of a few speaking engagements in my district because of my support of labor, and I'm proud of that.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Uh the chair recognizes Councillor Warrell.

You have the floor.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank Councillors Finn and Durkin for bringing this forward and adding me as a co-sponsor and as chair of uh labor and economic development.

Uh stand with our nurses and demanding fair wages, fair benefits, and fair treatment.

Because when you care for your communities every day, uh you deserve to be cared for too.

Uh, we simply can't talk about quality health care without supporting the people who deliver it.

So I stand with our nurses in their fight for a contract that reflects uh their value and their impact.

I just want to give a quick shout out to uh my sister-in-law, Suzette, who's also a nurse.

Thank you.

Um like to add their name, counselor uh Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Uh Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Councillors Durkin, Flynn, and Warrell seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket Zero Eight Eight Five.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket Zero Eight Eight Five?

Roll called vote on Docket 0885.

Council Braden.

Yes.

Council Brighton is Council Coletta Zapata, Council Cal Pepper.

Yes.

Council Copper Peppa, Councillor Durkin.

Council Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Council Lujan.

Council Mehia.

Yeah.

Yes, Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Pepin.

Councillor Pepin, yes.

Council Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Council Weber.

Yes.