Good afternoon, everyone.

I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council.

Viewers can watch the City Council meeting live on YouTube at Boston.gov backslash city-consul dash TV.

At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in the audience to please silence their cell phones and electronic devices.

Also, pursuant to rule forty-two, I remind all in the chamber that um that there is no there's no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please call the role uh to ascertain the presence of a quorum?

Councillor Braden.

Here, Councillor Calera Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louisiane, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pipen.

Councilor Santana.

Councillor Weber.

Thank Council and Councillor Warrell.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

I've been informed by the clerk that there's a core.

A quorum is present.

Now it's my pleasure to ask uh counselor uh peppen to come forward and introduce today's clergy.

And um today's clergy if you'd like to come up.

And following uh the invocation, we'll recite the pledge of allegiance.

Thank you.

Today's clergy is Bishop Julia Whitworth, who is the 17th Bishop diocesan of the Episcopal diocese, Diocese of Massachusetts, and the first woman in the role.

She was elected in May 2024, and then ordained and consecrated in October 2024 at Trinity Church in Copley Square.

She leads over 40,000 Episcopalians across 170 worshiping communities in Eastern Massachusetts.

Bishop Whitworth was ordained to the priesthood in September 2010.

She served as the assistant rector at St.

James Church in West Hartford, Connecticut, the canon for liturgy and the arts of the Cathedral Church of St.

John the Divine in New York City, and was the rector of Trinity Church in Indianapolis before her election.

Bishop Whitworth is a passionate advocate for vulnerable communities.

While a rector in Indianapolis, she helped found Trinity Haven, Indiana's first and only housing program dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ plus young people at risk of homelessness.

She recently launched an immigrant legal emergency fund that has raised a quarter of a million dollars.

We're all there standing in solidarity, and the words of Bishop Whitworth really stood to stood out to me.

So I just want to make sure that we give her another opportunity to give us some words of inspiration and of prayer for today's council meeting.

So with that, I'm thrilled and excited to have the right Reverend Julia Whitworth today before the council.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Councillor Pepin.

Thank you so much, President, and thank you all for welcoming me this day.

I am still very new to the Commonwealth and to the City of Boston, and I hear it takes generations before you're actually considered truly from here.

But I am grateful, grateful to be serving with you this magnificent city.

We have congregations in every one of your districts.

So if you don't know the local clergy and would like to be connected with them, please reach out to my office, and we'd be happy to do so.

We are committed as a diocese as all 170 congregations to promoting justice and dignity for every human being whom we meet.

Not simply Episcopalians, not simply Christians, not simply Americans, but every one of God's beloved children.

And I am so so grateful for the work you do in promoting justice and dignity for your constituents as well.

And it is my honor to lead you in prayer.

Let us pray, gracious and holy one, source of life, breath, and wisdom deeper than our knowing, God of many names and no name at all, be with us this day.

Bless this council, entrusted with the care of the people of Boston, a city of neighborhoods and stories of long memory and of great promise, of deep abundance and real inequity.

Grant to these leaders clarity of mind and courage of heart.

Where decisions are complex, give them wisdom, where the path is costly, give them resolve, where voices compete, give them discipline to listen, especially to those too often unheard, the poor, the displaced, the weary, the young.

Stir in all of us a deeper commitment to the common good.

Guard us from cynicism masking as realism, from indifference that hardens into injustice.

Call us all back again and again to the dignity of every human life, to the work of repair and the possibility of transformation.

May this chamber be a place not only of policy but of purpose, where the work is measured not only in budgets and votes, but in flourishing of communities and widening of opportunity in the daily quiet restoration of hope.

These things I pray in the name of my God and the God of love.

Amen.

Blessings on you all.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bishop Whitworth, for uh being here this morning with us and sharing your words of wisdom.

Um we are now on to pre- we have one presentation this morning.

Uh this afternoon, uh, Counselor Culpepper and your guests, if you'd like to come forward.

The Greenwich family and their friends.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Again, Madam President.

Next Monday marks the 72nd anniversary of a landmark moment in civil rights history.

When on May 11th, 1954, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination reached a conciliation agreement with the Pullman Company to end discriminatory hiring practices in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

George Greenwich was a World War II veteran, a trained Army radar instructor, and a man who returned home ready to build a life with dignity.

Despite his qualifications, he was blocked from advancement and forced into lower paying work within the Pullman Company.

A reflection of a deeply entrenched racial hierarchy that limited black voters while reserving positions of authority for white employees.

His decision to challenge that system helped break down those barriers in Massachusetts and contributed to a broader movement for equity and justice at a pivotal moment in our nation's history.

His legacy is one of courage, persistence, and a belief that fairness is not negotiable.

That legacy is part of a larger story.

The Greenwich family has been deeply rooted in the civic, cultural, and intellectual life of Boston for generations.

A generation before George, his uncle, Reverend James Greenwich, founded St.

James African Orthodox Church in Roxbury in 1910, helping to shape the spiritual and community life of the neighborhood, advancing the principles of self-determination and empowerment.

That commitment to community and justice continues today through members of the Greenwich family, including Carrie Greenwich, a historian, Caitlin Greenwich, a novelist and essayist, Kirsten Greenwich, an award-winning playwright, and George Tripp Greenwich, Chip Greenwich, an activist, academia, community convener, nonprofit leader, each of whom, in their own way, continue to contribute to Boston's civic and cultural life.

I want to thank all the Greenwich family members who took the time to be here today.

George Chip Greenwich, Carrie Greenwich, Caitlin Greenwich, Diane.

Go on, keep going.

Diane, Gibb.

Go ahead.

Chris.

Go ahead.

Amber.

Zaire.

Michelle.

Louder.

Come on.

By recognizing May 11th as George Greenwich Day.

We ensure that this courage and the broader legacy of the Greenwich family are remembered, uplifted, and carried forward as part of Boston's ongoing commitment to justice and equality.

I now want to turn over the mic to George Chip Greenwich, the founder, director, and leader of the greatest minds.

Hear ye him.

Thank you.

Everyone, please give it up for uh City Councillor Reverend Culpepper.

I just want to just thank him for bringing this up.

And it's really a good thing to say, is that, you know, it's my namesake.

And when you think about civil rights history, we always think about it's all in the South.

But uh-uh-uh.

The Boston area has been amazing and lots of stories and lots of histories that often go unsung.

And so what I encourage people here in your own families is to use this as evidence as we look behind and see what the histories of are.

I need you to talk to your great-grandparents, your grandparents, and so forth, to get these stories out and to start documenting them.

So I'm excited to be here today, and I'm glad to live on this legacy and glad to have all my family members here as well.

And also his daughter's, two daughters are here, George C.

Greenwich's, and I would like Diane just to say one word because she's gonna say it real quick.

We didn't just come on ship.

Some of us were here before the ships, Scotty.

We're very proud people.

We're very nice people.

And a lot of the couple chat, no matter who you are, comes from our people, because we are the oldest people.

So I want to thank you for honoring my father because he was like a great guy.

Tell him, Kim.

He was he was just like good.

He made all of this, and we're very excited, that family.

So thank you for calming us down for one minute.

Oh, and Mr.

Santiana, I remember him being the student.

So proud.

So thank you, City Council, City Council President.

Thank you.

Hold on.

I'm not I'm not finished yet.

Reverend up here.

City of Boston and City Council.

Official resolution presented by Councillor Mignard Culpepper.

Be it resolved that the Boston City Council offers its recognition to the Greenwich family.

Recognition of the Greenwich family legacy of courage, advocacy, and contributions to civil rights rooted in the Roxbury community.

The Greenwich family's history reflects a powerful commitment to justice, exemplified by George C.

Greenwich of Roxbury, who prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act challenged racial discrimination in 1954 by taking on the Pullman Company and winning, setting a precedent for fairness and equal opportunity.

The Greenwich family has a long and distinguished history of documenting and participating in black civic life in Greater Boston, dating back to the early 1900s, a generation before George C.

Greenwich, his uncle, Reverend James Greenwich, founded the St.

James African Orthodox Church in Roxburgh, serving as a spiritual and civic leader.

This legacy continues today through distinguished members of the Greenwich family, including historian Kerry Greenwich, novelist and essayist Caitlin Greenwich, award-winning playwright Curtin Greenwich, and none other than George Chip Greenwich, an activist, academician, Domitian, nonprofit leader in Boston, of the greater minds, all of whom carry forward a tradition of leadership, scholarship, and community engagement.

Be it further resolved that the Boston City Council extend his best wishes for your continued success, and that this resolution be duly signed by the president of the City Council and attested to a copy thereof, transmitted by one and only clerk of the city council, President Elizabeth Braden, offered by Minyard Culpepper.

Chip, I present this to you and your family on this May 6th 226th day.

May you continue to fight for justice, peace, and for what's right.

God bless you.

Thank you.

We take a picture of the colleagues to come up for a photograph.

Thank you.

Come on.

No, no, come on.

Oh no, come on.

You gotta get your looking for you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So he can come up.

There it is.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you for watching.

I want to proceed.

I love your dress.

Thank you.

I'll just rock.

Okay.

Stay on.

You're here.

Thank you, Councillor Copeper.

And uh congratulations to the Greenwich family.

Nice to have you here.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please amend the attendance to affect Councillors Durkin, Weber, and Warel are present.

Now on to the first order of business, which is the Council Murphy?

Pursuant to Rule 46, I move to suspend the regular order of business for limited purpose of addressing overdue and unanswered Section 17F orders currently pending before this body.

Under Rule 17, the council operates under a defined order of business.

Under Rule 8, questions relating to the priority of business are properly before the chair.

I believe this matter directly affects the council's ability to carry out its oversight responsibilities and conduct informed legislative business.

Before we proceed further with the regular order, I am requesting that the council address the outstanding Section 17F requests currently pending on the green sheets and elsewhere before this body.

These are not informal requests.

When those orders go unanswered, it limits the council's ability to conduct oversight, ask informed questions, evaluate policy decisions, and properly represent residents.

I also believe we need to be honest about institutional accountability.

Accordingly, I move that the council suspend the regular order of business to require an update regarding all outstanding Section 17F orders, including identification of overdue responses, the departments responsible, reasons for delay, and date certain for full compliance.

As of now, there are 10 unanswered 17 Fs.

One did come in after Monday at 10, so there are still 12 showing on the green sheets.

School transfer policy, students, grant programs, important information we need to continue.

So I'm asking that we suspend the meeting and get these answers before we move forward.

We're back in session.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy, for that uh inquiry.

We have spoken with IGR.

They've told us that they're working on these outstanding seventeen F's, and is our expectation as a body that those will be responded to in a timely way.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you for talking with me and IGR.

I don't think that's an acceptable answer.

I think the moment we file a 17F, it's understood that they are working on them.

Many of these are, they're supposed to be answered within seven days, some are over 40 50 days.

I will not adjourn the meeting, even though I know it's within our purview, but I'm hoping that they get all of the 10 unanswered 17Fs back to us before next Wednesday's meeting.

And then we can do this again if needed.

I'm hoping we don't need to.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

We're moving on.

Is the most motion withdrawn?

The motion is withdrawn.

We're not suspending.

Okay, thank you.

Um we're on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of April 29th, 2026.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

The ayes have it.

The minutes of the uh April 25th, 29th meeting are approved.

Uh so we are now on to communications from our honor of the mayor.

Mr.

Kirk, could you please read docket 0909 through 0912?

Docket number 0909, message in order for your approval in order to reduce fiscal year 26 appropriation to the reserve for collective bargaining for 1,951,800 and 94 to provide funding for the Boston Police Department for fiscal year 26 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society.

Filed by the Office of the City Clerk on May 4th, 2026.

Docket number 0910 message in order for a supplemental appropriation order for the police department for fiscal year 26 in the amount of 1,951,894 to cover the fiscal year 26 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Belevolent Society.

The terms of the contracts are July 1st, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

The major provisions of the contract include a base wage increase of 2% in July of 2025.

The contract also includes also contains an update to hazardous duty pay and amended language around sick time buyback every time.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on May 4th, 2026.

In the amount of 1,366,093 to cover the fiscal year 26 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society.

The terms of the contract are July 1st, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

The major provisions of the contract include a base wage increase of 2% in July of 2025.

The contract also contains an update to hazardous duty pay and amended language around pay details and summer vacation schedules.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0909 through Zocket 0912 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0913 through 0916?

Docket number 0913 message in order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of 16,834,742 in the form of a grant from the Federal Fiscal Year 26 Community Development Block Grant awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to be administered by the mayor's office of housing.

The grant will fund housing, economic development and social service programs.

The amount, the award amount is estimated from prior years.

Docket number 0914.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $4,825,132.90 cents in the form of a grant.

The Federal Fiscal Year 26 Home Investment Partnerships Program Grant, awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to be administered by the Mayor's Office of Housing.

The grant will fund the production of new affordable rental and homeownership housing and also provide operating support for community development corporations.

The award amount is estimated from prior years.

To be administered by the mayor's Office of Housing.

The grant will fund services or income eligible individuals and families affected by AIDS.

The award amount is estimated from prior years in document number 0916.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $1,489,616 in form of a grant, the Federal Fiscal Year 26 Emergency Solutions Grant, awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to be administered by the Mayor's Office of Housing.

The grant will fund street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing assistance, and shelter services.

The award amount is estimated from prior years.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0913 through 0916 will be referred to the committee on housing and community development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0917 and 0918 together?

Docket number 0917, message in order.

Authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand the grant in the amount of 157,650 dollars from the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, semi-quincentennial grant.

This grant is awarded by the City of Boston through the Parks and Recreation Department for Gravestone Conservation in Dorchester North Burying Ground located in the neighborhood of Dorchester.

Document number 0918.

Message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expending a grant in the amount of 104,000 dollars from the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Cultural Facilities Fund Grant Program.

This grant is awarded to the City of Boston through the Parks and Recreation Department for Gravestone Conservation in Dorchester North Burying Ground, located in the neighborhood of Dorchester.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket Zero 917.

Oh, Councillor Morrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um these are both small dollar amount grants for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department's historic burying grounds initiative specifically for the Dorchester Burying Ground.

This site dating back to 1633 is one of Boston's 16 historic burying grounds and plays an important role in preserving and telling the story of our city's early history.

Through these grants, uh the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, the city will be able to support critical restoration work.

This includes conservation treatment for approximately 150 gravestones as well as resetting around 120 gravestones that have shifted or tilted over time, helping to preserve the integrity and dignity of this historic space.

As chair of environmental justice, resiliency and parks, I'd like to request suspension suspension and passage of these dockets.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Warrell.

Councillor Worrell, the chair of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks.

We'll do these two dockets separately.

Seek suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0917.

All in favor say aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you take a roll call vote on Docket 0917, please?

Oh no, I thought I said it.

Okay, thank you.

Um 0917 has passed.

Um, doubt the vote.

I did say doubt the vote.

You did ask.

Sorry, I didn't know I did.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you for that clarification.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0917?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes.

Councilor Colletta Zapata.

Councilor Calpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Calpepper, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Counselor Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigi.

Yes.

Council Luigian, yes.

Council Mehia.

Council Mehia, yes.

Councillor Murphy.

Councilor Murphy, yes.

Council Verpenn.

Yes.

Councilor Penn, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Councillor Weber.

Yes.

Councilor Weber, yes, and Councillor Worrell.

Yes.

Councilor, yes.

Docket number 0917 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0917 has passed.

Chair of the Committee on Environmental Justice Resiliency and Parks seeks suspension of the rules and approval of Docket 0918.

All those in favor say aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take uh roll call vote on Docket 0918?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councilor Braden, yes.

Council Calarazapata.

Councillor Culpepper.

Yes.

Councilor Culpepper, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council of Cheryl, yes.

Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes.

Council Louisiana.

Yes.

Councilor Louisiana, yes.

Council Mejia.

Councilor Mehia, yes, Councilor Murphy.

Councilor Murphy, yes.

Councilor Bapen.

Council of Pen, yes, Council Santana.

Councilor Santana, yes.

Councilor Weber.

Yes.

Councilor Webber, yes, and Councilor Warrell.

Yes.

Councilor Worrell, yes.

Docket number 0918 as we see 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0918 has been passed.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dockets 0919 and Docket 0920 together?

Docket number 0919, message you know authorizing the city of Boston procurement department to enter into a contract for a period of up to five years for the purchase of biodiesel ULSD octane and number two heating oil.

The contract term will begin in 2026.

The City Council's permission to enter into a contract of this type for a period of more than three years is required by section 12 of chapter 30b of the general laws.

A term longer than three years will enable the city to ensure that it gets the best price on purchases of biodiesel.

ULSD octane and number two heating oil.

Excuse me.

Allowing the city to lock in lower costs for a longer period.

Docket number 0920.

Message in order authorizing the city of Boston procurement department to enter into a contract for a period of up to five years for the purchase of harbor boat fuel.

The contract term will begin in 2026.

The city council's permission to enter into a contract of this type for a period of more than three years is required by section 12 of chapter 30B of the general laws.

The term long a term longer than three years.

Will enable the city to ensure that it gets the best price on purchases of harbor boat fuel by allowing the city to lock in lower costs for a longer period of time.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 09923.

Docket 0920 will be referred to the committee on city services.

We now want to report to public officers and others.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0921 through 0927?

And if you need to take a moment with your document number 0921.

Notice we receive from the mayor the appointment of Gregory Hobson as a member of the Residency Compliance Commission for a term expiring January 7, 2030.

Document number 0922.

Notice we received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter six of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting of March 25th, 2026.

Docket number 0923.

Notice was received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter 6 of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor.

Document number 0924.

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 of April 8th, 2026.

Docking number 0925.

Notice was received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter 6 of the ordinances of 1979.

Regarding action taken by the mayor and papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting of April 15, 2026.

Docket number 0926 communication received from Scott Finn, City Auditor regarding a list of the fiscal 2026 reallocation made by the mayor prior to April 15, 2026, for the purpose of continuing operations.

Docking number 0927.

Communication received from Council Murphy regarding late files and council process.

And document number 0928.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0921 through Docket 0927 will be placed on file.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0928?

Docket number 0928.

Communication was received from the City Clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for City Council action on the designation of the petition number 295.25 memorial hall in effect after June 3rd, 2026, if not acted upon.

Chair recognizes uh Counselor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Thank you so much.

Um, Chair.

Before us this morning is the opportunity to designate Memorial Hall at 14 Green Street in Charlestown as a Boston landmark.

This building has great historical significance and has continued to bring immense value to the Charlestown community.

Constructed in 1791, it began as a residence for prominent Boston families, including Samuel Dexter, who sold served both secretary of war and secretary of the treasury under John Adams.

By the late 19th century, it had been transformed into a community gathering space, and it has remained one ever since.

In 1888, following the major rehabilitation, the building was given to Abraham Lincoln Post 11 of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of civil war veterans.

Since then, Memorial Hall has stood as a symbol of service and remembrance and has served as a gathering space for veterans in the broader Charlestown community for more than 130 years.

The building was recently restored in 1988 appearance and its appearance and reopen its 1988 appearance and reopened its stores last year.

This effort was supported by the Charlestown Preservation Society and funds from Boston's Community Preservation Act.

The George B.

Henderson Foundation and Brown funds for restoration of Memorial Hall.

It was also made possible thanks to the hard work of the Preservation Carpenter Program and dedicated volunteers.

The proposed designation covers the building exterior and below ground work on the parcel, ensuring that its historical historical character is protected while allowing it to continue to serve the community.

This is exactly what preservation should do.

Safeguarding our history while keeping these spaces active and accessible.

It is especially fitting that we take up this up during preservation month, which I will recognize later in this meeting.

And it underscores the importance of the work of the landmarks commission.

While this designation will take effect if we do not act on it within 30 days, I believe it's important that we affirm it.

It's an opportunity to honor Charlestown's history.

And although district councilor, Councillor Claudia Zapata is not here with us this morning.

She isn't supportive of passing this designation.

I'm going to read a statement on her behalf.

I strongly support the proposed landmark designation of Memorial Hall at 14 Green Street in Charlestown and urge the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation to advance its passage before the Boston City Council.

As detailed in the Boston Landmarks Commission study report, Memorial Hall is one of Charlestown's few remaining 18th-century houses built in 1791 for Samuel Dexter and later transformed into Grand Army of the Republic Hall, and it has served veterans in the broader community for over 130 years.

Its unique architectural character, along with its long-standing role as a civic gathering space, makes it a vital piece of Boston's cultural and historical fabric.

Designations will ensure that the preservation of this irreplaceable resource while allowing it to continue to serve our community.

I would like to suspend the rules and ask for my colleagues to support this designation today.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes.

Counselor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just rise to support this.

I was um I've been there several times to the post, but last May joined in the celebration along with Charlestown residents and their strong veteran community, and they've done a wonderful job restoring it, and this would just give it the recognition that it deserves.

So hoping my colleagues also join us in passing this today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I also rise to support the proposal outlined by Councillor Durkin.

I have been at this veterans post many times.

Throughout many wars in this in our nation's history, but Charlestown residents have always been there fighting for our nation during good times and bad.

So I just want to acknowledge the people of Charlestown.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Dirk and the Chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation seeks suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0928.

All in favor, please.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0928?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes.

Councillor Colletta's appointment.

Counselor Cultepper.

Yes.

Counselor Culpepper, yes.

Counselor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Councillor Louis.

Yes.

Council Lugen, yes.

Council Mejia.

Counselor Mehia, yes.

Counselor Murphy.

Counselor Murphy, yes.

Councilor Pipin.

Councilor Papen, yes.

Councilor Santana.

Councilor Santana, yes.

Councilor Weber.

Yes.

Councillor Weber, yes, and Councilor Warrell.

Yes.

Councilor Warrell, yes.

Docking number 0928 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0928 has passed.

We're now on to matters recently heard.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0733 through 0754?

Docket 0733 through 0735.

Orders for the fiscal year 27 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations for the school department and for other post-employment benefits.

Docket numbers 0736 through 0737.

Orders for capital fund transfer appropriations.

And docket number 0738 through 0740 orders for the capital budget, including loan orders and lease purchase agreements.

And document number 0754.

Message and not approving an order authorizing a limit for the transportation department revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the operation of the bike share program within the city of Boston.

This sponsorship, this revolving fund shall be funded by system-generated user revenues sponsorship revenues and advertising revenues.

The transportation department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be kept at one million four hundred thousand dollars.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Mr.

Clerk.

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

Thank you very much, Madam President.

Last week, the Committee on Ways and Means held two hearings and a working session to discuss proposed FY27, the FY 27 budget and the amendment process.

On Thursday, the committee heard from the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Supplier Diversity, Consumer Affairs and Licensing, Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.

I'd like to thank interim chief Donald Wright and Directors Porcena, Barros, and Caruth for their participation in the morning session and directors Joyce Yandel and Chief Joseph Henry for participating in the afternoon session.

I'd also like to acknowledge those who testified on Thursday.

We heard about two hours of public testimony from residents asking for the restoration of funding for the arts in Boston.

On Friday, Counselors Flynn, Murphy, Durkin, Braden, Orel, and Fitzgerald attended a working session that we held to begin discussion about the budget amendment process.

And thank you again.

I thought it was a very productive discussion.

On Monday, the committee heard from the operations cabinet, which consists of the Boston Transportation Department, Public Works, Inspectional Services, Public Facilities, and the Property Management Division.

We heard about their proposed uh operating budgets for FY27.

In the first hearing, interim chief of streets, Nick Gove, Director of Finance and Budget, Finance and Budget, Omar Koshafa, Public Works Superintendent of Streets, Operations, Daniel Nee, and BTD Director of Operations John Romano.

Interim Deputy Chief of Infrastructure and Design, Amy Cording, and Capital Projects Design Director, Lydia.

I'm gonna it's either Hossel or Housley, I keep messing that one up.

Um we're here for a panel.

The proposed FY 27 streets budget, operating budget uh uh is uh I believe that there's a cut of around 0.7 percent or 1.6 million dollars.

I'm sorry, that's an increase over last year, uh, mostly due to increases in waste removal contracts and the curbside management solution contract.

Global issues are driving up recycling costs and unpredictable weather is always a challenge.

The Streets team also presented uh its 1.4 billion dollar fiscal year 27 to 31 uh capital budget.

The streets team gave a preview of upcoming construction projects and shared that a record 1,723 ADA compliant ramps were reconstructed in 2025.

They also discussed restructuring the capital plan to manage fiscal constraints and rising costs, including the removal of several projects from the plan, uh including the uh uh center south street plan in Jamaica Plain, and a refocus on repairs.

They also pointed out the impact of federal and state uh grants and the fact that 22 million dollars of federal grants have been rescinded by the Department of Transportation.

Finally, they introduced us to the city's new bike share revolving fund and our new five-year contract with Lyft to expand bike share operations in the city.

Um in the afternoon, we heard from uh Chief Irish Director Jones uh from public facilities, ISD Commissioner Del Rio and Property Management Deputy Commissioner Sheldon, about a 3.1% decrease for the public facilities, FY27 budget, and a one million dollar increase to ISD's budget and a 160,000 dollar increase to the property management budget.

Director Jones shared the status of several projects that the public facilities department oversees, including school projects, library projects, the BCOIF projects, as well as BPD and fire facilities in addition to hiring a senior manager for trade and supplier diversity, the 10.9 million dollar budget.

We are now back in session.

Just a reminder.

Is Council rules that we will not have disturbances?

Noise or disturbances during the council meetings.

So please retin your seat.

Go back to your seats.

And we will start with resume the presentation from Consular Weber, the chair of Wes and Means.

Um uh we um I'll just uh fast forward uh we heard from uh IAC Commissioner of Del Rio, who shared statistics on what the inspectional services department was able to achieve in calendar year 2025, including issuing over 37,000 permits, conducting more than 58,500 building inspections, and almost 15,000 rodent control inspections.

The proposed budget for ISD is 25.8 million, a budget that's meant to support enhanced performance management to reduce permitting times, which are now recorded at 33 days for plan and zoning application reviews, which is down for 35 days, and to continue to move legacy in-person and phone processes online.

This budget will also prioritize or the proposed budget for 27 will also prioritize continuation of the Boston Rhode Action Plan, getting a thousand more units uh registered through the rental registration program, implementing a plan review digital tool and launching mobile inspections, which will lower the amount of time, takes the issue permits, and complete inspections.

Commissioner Shelton from Property Management uh shared that uh their mission is to manage, maintain, and repair and provide security for all the city's municipal buildings, including Faniu Hall and City Hall.

The department will also be focused on that.

They'll look to reduce operating costs through effective and preventive maintenance.

Uh the department also handles tasks such as graffiti removal requests, snow removal requests, oversight, overseeing public safety, building and security technologies, as well as the planning and hosting of special events.

The proposed fiscal year 27 uh budget of 27.9 million will allow the department to continue to perform facility condition assessments of all city buildings and act appropriately in order to provide our BCOF centers and other buildings such as City Hall with improvements and upgrades to remain accessible.

On Tuesday uh that's uh yesterday, the committee heard from the planning department, the worker empowerment cabinet, and the human re human services cabinet, which consists of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement and the Youth Employment and Youth Employment and Opportunity.

The planning department budget was presented by Chief Cairo Shen, Deputy Chief Devin Quirk, and BPDA Executive Director Uh Teresa Polamus.

Um their proposed budget is 29.5 million, a 1.7% decrease, with uh the largest decrease coming from contractual services line.

The department currently um has about 44 vacancies.

Uh there, just as a reminder, their funding comes through from the BPDA and through the revenue that the BPDA generates.

But they're working on Article 80 modernization uh and and uh neighborhood zoning uh policies, and uh we had a lengthy discussion with them.

Lastly, in the afternoon, we heard we had a hearing on the proposed budgets for the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement, Youth Options Unlimited, and Youth Employment and Opportunity.

We're joined by Chief uh Chief Wynne and Directors Cruz, uh Verneri and De Leon, and uh to learn about proposed cuts to the school year jobs program and the need for the city to seek external funding to fill the gap in the audience.

Uh also our Chief Masso and Chief of Staff Joseph Leigh.

Uh we heard about the city's intention to uh use its uh operating budget to maintain 10,500 youth summer jobs.

However, with a 25.5% cut to the youth employment opportunity budget in the amount of six million dollars.

This would result in a loss of funding for approximately 1,700 school year uh youth jobs.

Um the hearing uh lasted from uh three to after seven, while we heard from uh approximately a hundred youth about preservation of that school year uh jobs uh program.

I want to thank counselors Louis Jen, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Culpepper, and Warrell for attending.

Uh, but uh also uh special thanks to uh uh sorry Councillor Papen uh was also there.

Counselor Santana stuck with me to the bitter end.

Uh I want to thank him for for being there.

Um I especially want to thank every one, uh every one of the young people who showed up to testify and spoke passionately, you know, from such groups as Teen Empowerment, Youth Justice and Power Union, and the Becoming a Man program, about the need for us to invest in year-round jobs and the benefits they provide to countless young people and families in Boston.

The committee also receives absence letters from Madam President Braden and Councillor Coleta Zapada.

I also want to thank the mayor's team for staying at the hearing until the end of public testimony.

Often, you know, we don't see that.

I'd also like to thank central staff, particularly uh Megan, Ethan, Candace and Kurishma for uh being here until after 7 o'clock and keeping the hearing going smoothly.

Um, so with all that said, uh, as the Chair Weighs and Means Committee, I recommend at this time that these dockets remain in committee.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councillor Um Weber.

Um these dockets, uh, dockets 0733 through 0754 will remain in committee.

Thank you.

Mr.

Clerk, can you please read document number 0930?

Document number 092.

Oh, sorry, Mr.

Clerk, sorry.

Uh, can you please read document number 0929?

Document number 0929.

Councilor Braden off the following order for a meeting to review the Boston City Council rules.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Braden.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Over the past several weeks, there have been an ongoing interest in gaining greater clarity and shared understanding of the rules of the Boston City Council.

The past few years we've had this order to review uh the rules via rules committee order.

This order is responsive to that interest.

It creates a structured opportunity for us to review the rules that govern our meetings, our parliamentary procedures, and the expectations for conduct.

I want to underscore that the rules for the 2026-27 term were adopted unanimously by this body on January 28th, 26th, after a collaborative process that included multiple working sessions.

These are the rules we are voted we have voted on together, and they provide a framework for how we conduct our business.

A regular and deliberative review of the rules is healthy for the institution.

It ensures alignment with current practice and gives counselors a constructive venue for to raise questions, but it must happen in an orderly, deliberative setting.

This meeting will allow us to walk through the rules collectively and reaffirm our understanding of how they operate.

If there are questions for how the rules apply, the appropriate place to do that is in a committee meeting dedicated to reviewing the rules, not during debate on unrelated matters, and not through improvised interpretations on the floor.

I look forward to a focused productive discussion in committee, and I expect that all colleagues will approach this meeting with the seriousness and clarity that our governing rules deserve.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council President.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Mr.

Clerk, can you please add Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fistero, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Gen, Council Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Council Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add uh the chair.

Um thank you.

Docket number 0929 will be referred to the committee on rules, ethics, and administration.

Mr.

Clerk, you please read document number 0930.

Docket number 0930, Councillor Slyn and Murphy offer the following.

Order for a hearing to discuss immediately reinstating the 724,000 dollar cut from the Department of Veterans Services from the recommended fiscal year 27 operating budget.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The City of Boston proposed to cut 14% of the City of Boston Department of Veterans budget.

This is approximately $800,000 in a cut to a small department.

Regardless of it's 25 cents or it's 800,000.

In my opinion, we should never cut a veteran's budget.

Veterans make a solemn oath to our nation that they're going to lay down their life in defense of our country in return.

The promise was always that they would be respected when they returned to cities and towns across America.

And part of that obligation is to support them in programs that they have earned.

We're not giving veterans and military families anything.

These are earned benefits.

Advocating against cuts at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury in Jamaica Plain that President Trump has proposed.

But I have to be consistent.

I can't I can't sit by and allow a 25 cent cut or an 800,000 dollar cut to veterans.

At this department, as we know, they support a lot of low-income veterans, African American veterans, veterans of color, women veterans, military families.

They do an exceptional job.

I don't think I've ever missed one of their events, maybe in eight years.

But as a body, we must have a discussion in the city council on what these cuts would mean.

But what these cuts mean also is it sets a precedent that if you cut the veterans' budget this year, you can do it again next year.

And we can't accept that.

The budget was cut by the city council.

Veterans fought back, and we had the money reinstated.

But this hearing is important.

I think we need to educate ourselves as elected officials about what veteran benefits are, what impact they have, why it's never acceptable to cut a veteran's budget.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Council Flynn, for filing this hearing order so we can discuss more these devastating impacts that it will have on this department.

Um, you know, my feelings on this because I have also filed a resolution coming up next, but I agree that any cut to our veterans' budget, however small it may be, is something that we should never do in this body.

So that's a proud mother of an active duty son who is deployed now in war, and just everyone in the city of Boston deserves our respect, fighting for making sure that this department never takes any cut.

So looking forward to that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Counselor uh Cul Pepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Orrell, and uh please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0929 will be referred to the committee.

No, wrong number 0930 will be referred to the committee on ways and means.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0931?

Document number 0931.

Councillors Murphy and Flynn offer the following resolution urging support for a budget amendment to fully fund the Office of Veterans Services.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I rise to speak on this resolution, and I want to thank my colleague, Councillor Culpeper, who has done a similar thing, where something that is very important to him, he uses all of the tools and all the different types of legislation we can file.

So I don't feel as this is duplicative, but important that we also file it this way.

So, dear council colleagues, I rise today to ask for your support on this resolution and on the amendment to restore the proposed 724,000 cut to the Office of Veteran Services.

And before anyone says that this is not really a cut because the administration says no direct services will be impacted, I want to respectfully but very clearly address that point right away.

A 14% reduction in one of the smallest departments in the city of Boston matters.

It absolutely matters.

When a department is already operating with limited staffing, limited flexibility, and limited resources, there is no such thing as a harmless 14% cut.

You cannot remove nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from a department this small and pretend there will be no impact.

Maybe it means fewer outreach efforts, maybe it means fewer partnerships, maybe it means less programming, maybe it means less ability to respond when veterans and military families need help, or maybe it means fewer resources for the people doing this work every single day.

But let's be honest, cuts have consequences.

And I think it is important that we are truthful with the public and especially truthful with our veterans about that reality.

And I think it's important, and I also want to acknowledge up front that using a resolution tied directly to a budget amendment is not typically how this process has worked in prior years.

I understand that.

For the past several years, much of the council's budget amendment process involved adding funding during years with stronger revenue and surplus.

This year we are dealing with rail cuts, difficult cuts.

And when we are talking about cutting services for veterans, military families, and surviving spouses, I believe this council has a responsibility to use every tool available to protect those services.

The reality is that many of us have also raised concerns over the years about the amendment process itself.

Amendments may pass, recommendations may be made, but we are still waiting for clarity and answers on whether every approved recommendation is ultimately implemented or funded.

That uncertainty makes it even more important for the council to speak clearly and publicly when we believe a proposed cut is unacceptable.

This is one of the smallest departments in the city of Boston, and a 14% reduction may not sound large in the context of an overall city budget, but for a department this size, it is devastating.

So I respectfully ask for the support of this resolution and support for the amendment to fully restore the funding to the Office of Veteran Services.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And when these proposed when these cuts were proposed, a lot of veterans reached out to me and were extremely disappointed that veterans' department veterans benefits were going to be cut at $800,000, 14% to a small budget.

Unconscionable.

As a disabled veteran, I just can't accept that.

I think everybody here knows that.

But you also, as city counselors, go to a lot of veterans' events in the district as well.

And you talk to veterans and you talk to military families, and you look them in the eye and you say thank you for your service.

But what does that really mean when you say thank you for your service?

Is it just symbolism?

Or do we really mean it?

If we say thank you for your service, we have to go back to City Hall.

We have to go back to the State House, go back to the Congress and fight for veteran benefits.

That's what the solemn oath is all about.

We have seen so many veterans returning home after Vietnam that weren't treated with respect.

They didn't go to the VA system.

They believe, and they rightfully so that government forgot them.

And here we are.

Cutting veterans' benefits, cutting veterans' programs, cutting a veterans's budget.

African-American veterans, women veterans.

This department does exceptional outreach to veterans of color.

I've seen it.

I go to all the events.

Let's not balance the budget on the backs of veterans and military families.

Let's keep our promise that we've made as a nation to veterans.

Let's treat them with the respect and dignity that they've earned.

Stand with me.

Stand with veterans, stand with military families and make a tough vote today, but do the right thing.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council Flynn.

Chair recognizes Councillor Weber.

You have the floor.

Thank you very much.

Let me just say, you know, I strongly support our veterans, and I hope through the budget process, we will be able to return, you know, a lot of this funding, if not all of it, to the to this line item.

I do think, though, this resolution, we have a budget process, which we will be going through and voting on a budget in June.

This resolution puts the cart before the horse.

I really hope all of us can work together on a budget, make tough choices, and be able to deliver for our constituents, including veterans.

I'm sure everyone here supports the language of this resolution.

My worry is that is that people on this body will try to uh do the budget process through these resolutions.

Um, so I I'm just I want everyone to be on notice that as the ways and means chair, I we need to work together on the budget process.

An amendment is two parts.

There has to be money added, and we have to find where the money is coming from.

I really hope to have the filers' support if we have a budget that funds this, uh, and they're not going to vote against the budget just because they don't like where the money comes from.

Here, this resolution just to fund this.

If that's all we're doing, great.

Let's work together.

Uh, and I hope we can vote on a budget that does restore this this funding.

I will just let everyone know as the Ways and Means chair.

I will be objecting to all future resolutions.

My worry is that people will be filing more of these.

I don't care if it's, you know, we're gonna uh put counselor Weber's uh uh kids through college with the city budget, I will be objecting to those resolutions.

I will be I'm in favor of a lot of different things, and not whether I'm in favor or not, I will be objecting.

Uh, but so hopefully this isn't leading to that.

Uh I I'm okay with this going forward, and I will be voting in support.

I support the language of the resolution, but I don't think this is the way to conduct the budget process.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Counselor Weber.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much.

Um, and thank you, Chair, and thank you to the filer.

Um, I think you know, um, I have uh my family has a long history of serving in the military.

Um, and so um, so I I don't think this is appropriate use of resolutions.

Um, you know, the people in my life that have served and that continue to serve.

Um, I I don't think that I think that this is getting at we have a process, we have not had veteran services even come before us yet, so um, so I don't know how I'm going to vote on this particular docket because I just think that it's it's essentially, we're essentially being put in a situation where we're being asked to vote on the floor on something that we in working sessions are gonna be working on every single day to figure out what are our priorities.

I'm I guess I'll be watching this to see how many of my colleagues this is a huge priority for them.

Um I definitely think it's important to note that um what is being cut is grant funding, which is being cut from every single department right now, and so I think it's we just had the arts and culture hearing where we heard that basically all of the grant money for arts and culture is being cut.

This um in veteran services, there's no direct cuts to services other than grant money.

So essentially, grant money has been cut from every city department, and so veteran services was no different in this budget and what was handed to us, and I think we have difficult decisions to make in this process, but that is a process that we're going through.

And so, while I appreciate the advocacy for veterans and I appreciate all the events and I appreciate veteran services and all the great work that they do.

Um, my understanding is that every city department works with the administration to submit a budget.

So this is not us coming against veteran services by not supporting this.

This is really, this is really us saying we're gonna vote on the budget and we're gonna work through the budget process.

And I definitely think this is coming before that process.

Thank you, Councillor Jerker.

The chair recognizes uh counselor Weber.

Sorry, just uh I I forgot to add, you know, it just to highlight how I don't think this is an effective way to advocate.

We do have a hearing with uh veterans next Thursday, 10 a.m.

to discuss.

Uh I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure Councilor Flynn Murphy will be there as will most of us.

So I look forward to having that conversation uh and talking about what the impacts are of these uh cuts and and again working with my colleagues to uh to agree on a budget that will you know uh find money for veterans.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognized Consular Flynn, Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair, and thank you for giving me another opportunity to speak.

Um, I do want to highlight, madam chair, that veterans benefits, veterans' services are different, fundamentally different than any other programs that the city or the state or the federal government operate, and they're different because when a veteran goes into when signs up takes an oath of enlistment, um, they're willing to put their life on the line for their nation, and there has always been this promise, a solemn promise that the government has made to our returning veterans that when you when you come home, you will be treated with respect, you'll be treated with dignity, there will be services for you.

That's why this is fundamentally different than any other type of program, any type of city program, federal program, or state program.

These are these are earned benefits, these are earned services.

Once we get in the habit of making cuts to the veterans' budget, it will become routine for us to continue to do that.

It will set a precedent for next year to cut veteran services, veterans programs.

If this was a 25 cent cut to the veterans department, I would fight like heck against that 25 cent cut to the veterans budget because it sets a precedent that we're now looking at veteran services when we make cuts, but you can never balance your city budget, your state budget, or federal budget on the backs of veterans and military families.

That's what I want to stress to my colleagues.

These are fundamentally different programs and services.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

You have the floor, and then we'll talk uh take Council Meeting next.

Madam President, um, I just rise and acknowledge that the chair did make some points that I did make sure I carefully put into my resolution.

I am aware that this isn't how it usually has been done or should be done, but I was at the working session for the amendments, and what I was told and what I left there knowing is that this year our amendment process is different, and in the past we've always presented an amendment, and we ourselves have matched it with which department we want to take it from.

And this year, it is my understanding that we're going to submit only the amendments we want to put forward forth, and we're not allowed to then say where we want it to come from.

So I'm really hoping we're not being set up in a way where yes, we're going to fully fund the veterans, but that's only if because I made it clear at that meeting that there are certain departments that I'm just not willing to cut from, and it's not that one department's more than others, but I think Councillor Flynn as a veteran himself knows and said it I think very um eloquently that the veterans department it's just different, and we should just acknowledge that and hoping that our colleagues vote.

If you vote no, that's fine.

But I just hope that this can go forward.

So I am asking that we move forward for a vote.

Thank you.

Um counselor Mejia, and we're going to move to a vote, but um, Councillor Murphy is moved to a vote.

Um Mr.

Hang on, hold on a second.

Uh would anyone this is a uh resolution, so do we we haven't gone through the yes?

I'm gonna let Council Mejia speak and then we'll have ask people to add their names if they would wish to.

Uh Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

You have the floor, thank you, Madam President.

Um, I really do appreciate all the advocacy that we are um displaying here today.

Thank you very much.

Um I was rising to just say let's end this discussion and move to a vote, but while I have the floor, um I think it's really important for those folks who are paying attention um to understand that, and I agree with counselor uh Weber that uh resolutions are not the appropriate way for us to deliberate on the budget, and I also think it's dangerous for us to start pitting people against each other and groups because I can get up here and fight uh fiercely for youth jobs, as uh you all know me to do every year, right?

So let's not get into that toxic behavior and let's just focus on making sure that whatever process is in place that we honor, and I want to acknowledge that counselor Fitzgerald and myself um files a hearing order so that we can look at how we are deliberating and how we're making decisions as it relates to this budget.

So the fact that we are changing and evolving and and um continuing to figure out how we can get to a space where everybody feels heard and affirmed.

I just don't think that we have met that moment just yet, and I look forward to working with Councilor Fitzgerald to hosting that hearing so that we could have a different conversation so that we can learn how to work more collaboratively with each other, and so that we can get this right.

Thank you.

And I move for a vote, please.

Thank you.

Uh, would before we go to a vote, would anyone like to add their name?

Thank you.

Thank you, Docker.

Uh, I just counselors Flynn.

Uh sorry, Councillors Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at 0931.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on doc at zero nine three one?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Counselor Braden, yes.

Councillor Colorado's a part.

Council Culpepper.

Yes.

Councilor Culpepper, yes.

Counselor Durkin.

Counselor Durkin, present.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Councillor Lou Jen.

Yes.

Council, yes, Council Mejia.

Council Mejia, yes.

Councillor Murphy.

Councilor Murphy, yes, Council Papen.

Yes.

Councilor Penn, yes, Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Weber.

Council Webber, yes, and Councillor Warrell.

Yes.

Councilor, yes.

Docking number 0931 has received 11 votes in the affirmative and one vote present.

Thank you.

Docket 0931 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0932?

Docker number 0932.

Councilor Flynn offered the following order for a hearing to discuss discounts with seniors and persons with disabilities by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, may I add Council as an original co-sponsor?

Uh yes, Council Burrell is so added.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Boston Water and Sewell Commission actively monitors the health and function of its systems via pipe refining, pipe replacement, other preventive maintenance programs, including water main flushing, pipe cleaning, couch basin cleaning, among others.

The commission works with customers on manageable payment plans to ensure there's no interruption in services.

Homeowners, age 65 and older as well as well as fully disabled homeowners living in owner-occupied one through four family residential properties are eligible for a 30% discount on monthly water, sewer, stormwater charges.

Eligible properties must be owner occupied residential dwellings.

To request a discount on water and stormwater charges, residents must complete the discount form available for download as a PDF or in person at the Boston Water and Soil Commission offices in Roxbury.

Residents who are customers of the Boston Water and Soil Commission that require payment assistance are encouraged to call the Commissioners Collection Department at 617-989-7070.

Residents can also email me and I can get the relevant information to you at ed.flynn at Boston.gov.

Ed.flynn at Boston.gov.

But this hearing would be an opportunity for myself and Council and someone from the Boston Water and Soil Commission to talk about this program, but really to use it as an opportunity to educate residents about this exceptional program, in my opinion, and how more homeowners can take advantage of this, especially persons with disabilities and our seniors as well.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Warrell, you have the floor.

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

We all know that costs are rising and our seniors are on fixed income, so it feels like double a burden for our seniors.

And as Councillor Flynn has laid out, there is a program currently over at the Boston Water and Sewer that offers a 30% discount.

But I think this is an opportunity for us to simplify access and opt-in strategy to that program.

We have a senior tax exemption where we know residents are currently qualifying for.

So I think the opportunity I would like to present is that if you are enrolled in that senior tax exemption, then you should be automatically a road into this senior water and sewer discount program.

This is yes, a way to kind of modernize our systems, instead of having a print-out PDF to fill out to then submit back to the city of Boston.

We already know who our seniors are, who own homes, and then we also know through that senior tax exemption uh the income limits.

So just looking forward to this conversation to have find ways on how to more modernize and simplifies uh these discount programs.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Burrell.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, uh, Councillor Louis Gen, Consul Mejia, Councilor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0932 referred to the committee on city services.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0933?

Docker number 0933, Councillor Culpepper for the following order for a hearing to examine notice, community engagement, and equity in the sighting of transitional housing in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Council Mahia as a second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules that council will at the third original co-sponsor.

Councillor Mahia is added as a second, and seeing and hearing no objections, Council Warrell is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President.

Boston has made important commitments to addressing homelessness and supporting individuals transitioning from mass and cars into stable housing.

These efforts are critical, but how and where these programs are established matters just as much as the services themselves.

We've heard from residents and neighborhood associations who feel that in specific cases, housing programs have been introduced without sufficient notice or meaningful engagement, leaving communities and residents feeling unprepared and excluded from decisions that directly impact them.

This hearing order is about examining how we can do better by strengthening transparency, improving communication, and ensuring that establishments, the decisions that are being made are made equitably.

No neighborhoods should feel disproportionately impacted or left out of this process where these transitional homes are established.

By bringing together the mayor's office of housing, the Boston Public Housing Commission, and community stakeholders, we can work toward clearer standards that build trust while continuing to deliver the housing and the support that our city needs.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Culpepper.

The chair recognizes Council Mahia.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Culpepper for bringing forward this hearing order and for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

I think this conversation is important because it is possible to both support services for vulnerable communities while also recognizing that neighbors want to be informed, engaged, and treated as partners in decisions that impact their neighborhoods.

The hearing is really about transparency, communication, and equity.

Residents across the city have raised concerns about not receiving adequate notice when transitional or supportive housing programs are cited or expanded in their communities.

At the same time, we know the city has an obligation to address homelessness with urgency, compassion, and dignity.

These two things could exist, and we need to learn how to bring these tensions together.

So the goal here should be understanding how we can strengthen community engagement processes without creating barriers to housing or services for vulnerable residents.

We should also examine whether certain neighborhoods are carrying the dispar um the share of these placements and what equitable distribution and coordination should we look at citywide.

I look forward to hearing from residents, service providers, advocates, those who are living the realities, city departments about what is working, where the gaps exist, and how we can improve trust and communication as we continue to move forward.

This one size fits all and us versus them is no longer working, so let's figure out how we can make this work for everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Mejia.

The chair recognizes Councillor Warren.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor Cole Pepper and Councillor Mejia for introducing this anatomy as a co-sponsor.

Transitional housing is a key resource for many of our residents who are relying on supportive housing services.

We know that this work doesn't happen in isolation.

It requires real wraparound services and strong support systems to meet those complex needs.

Across Boston, we have organizations doing this work every day.

Uh, BHA, the Boston BPHC, Boston Care Health Care for Homeless, and the homes for little wanderers all play a critical role.

Our city needs these services and we need to make space for them.

At the same time, as with any project, we have to make sure that there is a process.

In my district, I've heard from residents who are looking for more clarity around the process.

Uh so that's why I think this hearing order uh is important step to just add more clarity around that process.

So I'm just looking forward to this conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, uh Counselor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, uh, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and uh please add the chair.

Thank you.

Dock at 030933 will be referred to the committee on housing and community development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0934?

Document number 0934.

Councilor Culpepper offer the following order for a hearing to examine the impact of proposed federal HUD immigration related eligibility requirements on subsidized housing in Boston.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Cole Pepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Council Mahea as a second original co-sponsor.

Council Mahia is so added.

Thank you.

Boston depends on federal housing like Section 8 to support thousands of residents, including many immigrant and mixed status families, who are an essential part of the fabric of our communities.

The proposed HUD changes related to immigration-based eligibility are deeply concerning and could put families at risk of displacement, instability, and the loss of critical housing support.

We should be clear, madam president.

Boston stands with our immigrant residents and mixed status households, and we must do everything within our power to protect them.

This hearing order is about fully understanding the potential impact of these federal policy changes and preparing a strong local response.

We need to know how many families could be affected, what risks they face, and what tools the city can use to safeguard housing stability.

By convening the Boston Housing Authority, the Mayor's Office of Housing, and other stakeholders, we can ensure that Boston is ready to respond and committed to protecting the residents who are mostly impacted.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council Mahia.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank uh the lead sponsor, Counselor Culpepper, for filing this hearing order and for adding me.

You've already been known as a freshman counselor who actually has been doing the work.

You hit the ground running, Councillor Culpepper.

So I just want to acknowledge the number of hearing orders and the advocacy that you've done in this the short time that you've been here as someone who is a very active.

I'm feeling like you're trying to catch up to me, and I don't know how I feel about all that, but I see it and I appreciate it because you know we get hired to do the work and it has been less than six months, and the conversations that you've brought into this chamber really uh mean a lot to the residents that we serve.

So I just want to acknowledge that.

We already know that Boston has thousands of residents and families who rely on federally subsidized housing programs to remain um stably housed.

We also know that the proposed HUD changes tied to immigration-related eligibility requirements could create fear, confusion, and instability for mixed status households across the city.

This hearing is important because we need clarity on what these proposed federal changes could mean locally, how many residents will be impacted, and what steps the city and housing providers are prepared to take in response.

I also think that this is a broader conversation about housing stability and making sure vulnerable families are not pushed into further crisis because of federal policy decisions.

And trust that it's while we're talking about immigrants today.

Um I just want to know for the record is that everyone is under attack.

The next thing you know, they'll start uh attacking single moms.

Like I'm telling you, no one is safe here.

Residents deserve accurate information, transparency, and support, especially when housing security may be at risk.

I look forward to hearing from the Boston Housing Authority, the mayor's office of housing, advocates, impacted communities about the potential impacts and what protections or resources we um would need uh moving forward.

And so I just will end um when I talk about the fact that everyone is under attack, and these conversations need to be um had with understanding that.

Thank you.

Uh Council Cold Pepper.

I request suspension of the rules to add counselor well as a third original co-sponsor.

Hearing and seeing no objection, Councillor Warrell is so is so added.

Thank you, madam.

Council Morell, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Just want to thank Councillor Culpepper and Council Mahia, half Adamia as original co-sponsor, and I think they pretty much summed it up.

So I'm just looking forward to the conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone else like to add their name?

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

Thank you.

Docket 0934 will be referred to the Committee on Housing and Community Development.

Mr.

Kirk, could you please read Docket 0935?

Docket number 0935.

Councilor Flynn offered the following.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Council, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, may I add Council Warrell as an original co-sponsor, please?

Councillor Warrell is still added.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

On April 19th, Governor Healy signed an act modernizing the Commonwealth's cannabis laws that would reform the state's cannabis regulations and the cannabis control commission.

Basically, the previous cannabis control commission was dissolved and was reduced from five members to three.

These new commissioners must be appointed by May 19th, 2026.

The Commission is also tasked with creating an anonymous portal to accept reports of illegal conduct.

But the law will also roll out regulations that would govern sites where people can consume marijuana cannabis products in social settings.

This includes three new social consumption establishment licenses, supplemental licenses will allow existing marijuana or cannabis establishments to incorporate on site consumption hospitality for non-cannabis businesses, event organizers to host temporary consumption events.

Additionally, adults can now legally possess up to two ounces of marijuana from the previous one-outs.

Business owners may now also obtain up to six licenses.

These regular regulatory changes will have significant impact on public health, public safety, quality of life, local zoning, enforcement, economic development in Boston.

This will require significant coordination, significant coordination among city departments and community stakeholders.

With consumption and social settings, it's also critical that Boston get ahead of this and get it right.

We have existing quality of life issues.

But this is not about whether we support cannabis or not.

This is going to be implemented by state guidelines through the cannabis control commission established by the governor.

And I think I do think it's important for Boston to have a voice during this process, but also to listen to residents about what they want to see, what they want us to advocate for, what are some of the pros and cons of any particular issue, or highlight why they support consumption site at a particular establishment, but not at other establishments.

Maybe there's a certain public safety reason, a quality of life issue.

I I don't know, but I do think it's important for residents to feel heard and respected.

I think this is an opportunity for us as a body at the city council, really to listen to residents and also to listen to uh state officials that might testify as well.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Warrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Flynn for bringing this forward.

These changes at the state level are significant and they're going to require coordination and forward thinking from the city as we think about implementation.

But I also want to connect this to what we're seeing on the ground.

In my district, we've seen local businesses face real challenges.

That's not about how complicated and at times difficult the system can be for smaller equity-focused operators to navigate.

As my office is looking into this, we found that in states like Illinois, they've actually put forward tens of millions of dollars in direct forgivable loans specifically for social equity cannabis businesses, including a recent round of over 30 million dollars.

And in New Jersey, they created both the cannabis equity grant program and a low-interest loan fund to help small operators access capital and stay afloat.

So as we talk about expanding opportunities in this space, you also have to ask are we building a system that actually supports the businesses we said we wanted to uplift, or are we creating additional barriers that make it harder for them to survive?

At the same time, I do think there's an opportunity here.

Social consumption and new licensing structures, if done thoughtfully, could create new pathways for small businesses, new economic and new economic activity, and a more regulated approach to something that is already being done informally.

But that requires us to get it right.

I want to thank all the advocates, especially uh Counselor Tito Jackson for its work in the space.

I'm looking forward to this conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Counselor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Counselor Louisiane, Councillor Mejia, Counselor Murphy, Councillor Santana, Counselor Weber, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Dock at Zero.

Docket 0935 will be referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0936?

Document number 0936.

Councillor Culpepper offer the following.

Order for a hearing to examine Boston public schools' potential participation in nationwide social media litigation.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Madam President, I would like to request Dockets 0936 and 0937 to be read at the same time.

Thank you.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please uh read Docket 0937 as well?

Document number 0937.

Councilor Culpepper offer the following resolution calling on Boston public schools to join the nationwide social media litigation seeking accountability for youth mental health impacts.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Copever.

You have the floor.

Madam President, I'd like to also request suspension of the rules to vote on the passage of Docket 0937.

And I'd like to add Council Mahia as a second original co-sponsor to both doctors, both dockets.

Thank you, Madam President.

Youth mental health is one of the most pressing challenges facing our students today.

Across the country and here in Boston, we're seeing the impact show up in classrooms and in the growing need for behavioral health supports.

Boston has made meaningful investment in youth mental health, including initiatives like Heads Up Boston.

But the need continues to grow, and we must explore every available option to support our students.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes the second co-sponsor.

Umsul Mahia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank the lead sponsor for filing both this resolution and the hearing order and for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

Youth mental health continues to be one of the most urgent issues impacting students, families, educators, and school communities across our city.

We know that schools are carrying an increased responsibility when it comes to addressing anxiety, depression, bullying, social isolation, and other challenges many young people are still facing today, especially more so now post-COVID.

Across the country, school districts and municipalities have already begun pursuing legislation, litigation, excuse me, against major social media companies over the impacts that these platforms may be having on youth mental health and educational environments.

We've already seen cases in other sectors involving public harms resulting in significant settlements when institutions choose to participate, while others that did not participate lose opportunities to recover resources.

Our office has also been in communication with organizations like Sociedad Latina under Alex leadership and her young people have been doing a lot of work in this space, so I just want to uplift um Alex and her youth, and the entire uh even greatest minds.

We actually hold um hosted a hearing here last summer talking about issues of social media and phones in our Boston public schools.

Um just want to think that uh we need to look at legal teams currently working with other school districts that are participating in this nation um nationwide litigation.

One of the most important points raised that participation is typically pursued on a contingency basis, meaning that there is no upfront cost for districts to explore whether this is an appropriate fit or not, which means that money's coming out of our pockets for those who want that in translation.

I want to be clear that this resolution is not directing Boston public schools to automatically join litigation.

What it's asking for is serious evaluation and public conversations around whether participation makes sense for Boston, or alternatively, why BPS may decide it does not.

Either way, I think families, students, and taxpayers deserve transparency around that decision making process.

This hearing is also an opportunity for us to better understand the broader impacts social media may be having on students, well-being, and what additional supports or resources schools may uh need moving forward.

And I just want to know for the record that I'm reading both for a hearing and a resolution, so my time technically is not up.

I look forward to hearing from BPS, mental health professionals, advocates, students, family, and legal experts about the potential opportunities, limitations, and consideration.

Thank you, Council Mejia.

The chair uh recognizes Councillor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much.

Um, through the chair, I just wanted to ask about the act of litigation, because I did get an email about this.

I know uh councillor Santana, Councilor Prevan, and I hosted a hearing on this, I think last year um and two years ago, and really appreciate the work Society Latina has done with the attorney general um on guidance uh for um for schools um and so just wanted to ask about the active litigation because I I support um work on this issue, student mental health is a huge issue, and I think uh we need to be working on this, and I support the work of um that the AG has been doing with Society Latina and others, uh, but just wanted to know more about the lawsuit because I I have not been able to find anything online about it.

Counselor um Culpepper, President and Councillor Durk in the chair, through the chair, please.

Oops, excuse me.

The litigation is ending and ongoing.

Thank you.

Um thank you.

We're still on dock at 0936.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councilor Peppen, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Dock at 0936 will be referred to the committee on education.

Right now, on to dock at 0937, which is the uh the uh resolution.

Um, so would anyone just getting my numbers right here?

Would anyone like to add their name to the resolution?

Councillor uh Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Uh Warrell, and please uh the chair, counselors Culpepper and Mahia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at 0937.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Mr.

Clerk, would you please take a roll call vote on Dock at 0937?

Councillor Braden, yes, Councillor Braden, yes, Councillor Colorado's opponent.

Council Culpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Culpepper, yes, Councillor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Councillor Flynn, yes, Council Louis Jen.

Council Louisiane, yes, Council Mejia, Councilor Mehia, yes, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Murphy, yes, Council Pepin.

Councilor Penn, yes.

Council Santana.

Councillor Weber.

Council Webber, yes, and Councillor Warrell.

Councilor, yes.

Dockin number 0937 has received 11 votes on the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 0937 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0938?

Docker number 0938, Council Pepin offer the following.

Resolution recognizing May as asthma awareness month in the city of Boston.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Pepin.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Counselor Mejia as an original co-sponsor, and I would like to suspend the rules and have Councilor Roots of Louis Gen as a third original co-sponsor.

Council Mahee is added as a second.

And hearing and seeing no objection, Councillor Louis Jean is added as a third.

Thank you.

As a young man with asthma, I have lived through a lot of scary moments in my life.

Reaching for my inhaler, I have here my arbuterol sulfate inhaler.

Fleeing to the ER for immediate oxygen or feeling the world stand still.

It's a disease that when it attacks you at a moment notice can be very scary, but one that can be managed and controlled sometimes by our own lifestyle choices and sometimes by larger institutional change.

I want to share that in Boston, childhood asthma is not evenly distributed.

It is heavily concentrated in a handful of neighborhoods that face the greatest environmental and economic challenges.

Areas like Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, and Roxbury consistently show some of the highest asthma rates.

These same neighborhoods are also where large share of asthma-related hospitalizations among children originate, particularly in communities that are predominantly black and Latino and experience higher poverty levels.

What's driving this is just health care access is the conditions children are growing up.

Older housing stock with mold, pest and poor ventilation combined with higher exposure to air pollution from traffic and industrial activities, significantly increases asthma risk.

Some of these the asthma rates in these neighborhoods are higher sometimes by 172% compared to other neighborhoods.

And I also want to give a shout-out to the Boston Children's Hospital, who focus a lot on prevention on childhood asthma.

And they have actually I've actually been able to meet with them on multiple occasions to learn how we can bring services to our neighborhoods.

So this month is asthma awareness month, and as a body, we should continue to advocate for cleaner air, safe housing, public transit, and a better climate resilience so that Boston as a city is not a reason for someone to have worsened asthma.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepin.

The chair recognizes Council Mahia.

Council Mejia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank the lead sponsor, Councillor Pepin, for filing this resolution and for allowing me to uh join him as an original co-sponsor.

As someone who also has asthma, I have a little red canister, I'll be around.

Okay.

I know how serious and disruptive this condition can be.

Asthma impacts daily lives and is often made worse by poor air air quality, environmental triggers, and unhealthy housing conditions.

We also know that asthma disproportionately impacts black, Latino, low income, and public housing communities across Boston.

The data continues to show significant disparities between especially between young uh among children and communities of color.

This is not just a health care issue, it is also an environmental justice and housing issue.

That is why programs like Breathe Easily at home and the Boston Asthma Home Visiting Program are so important.

Recognizing May as asthma awareness month is an opportunity for us to continue advocating for cleaner air, healthier communities, and housing, and stronger public health investments so our residents can breathe safely regardless of their zip code.

And I think while I still have 47 minutes left, I think it's you know the budget season.

This is where I really do believe when we start looking at our values and the things that we fight for and the um budget amendments that we file.

I know that um BHA has had a lot of issues specifically around rotons and and um roaches, and I think that you know this is really an opportunity for us to make some deeper investments um in BHA, and I'd like to see some of that advocacy on behalf of that community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia.

The chair recognizes Councillor Luigian, the third co-sponsor, legal sponsor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and I want to thank Councillor Peppen for adding me as a co-sponsor on this growing up here.

Um you know a lot of folks, um, obviously my colleagues who have asthma, it's a med disproportionately affects black and brown communities, those who are poor, and it's a direct often result of environmental racism, and it's incredibly important that we put more resources towards addressing these issues to ensure that folks that our kids can grow up in clean, safe, um, and livable environments.

Uh I'm standing because um my office has uh connected a lot of residents to the free asthma um home visits that are provided by the Boston Children's Hospital and by neighborhood neighbor health.

So if anyone in this um uh in the city who's listening uh wants a free asthma home visit to figure out what they can do for their families, they should reach out to neighbor health and to uh into Boston Children's Hospital.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louisiane.

The chair recognizes Counselor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to the sponsors for bringing this important resolution before us.

Um I support it.

I also know that in my district and district two, Chinatown has one of the highest asthma rates of any of any neighborhood in New England as well, uh, for many reasons, including that it's right on the Mass Pike, it's right on the expressway system 93.

Um also the cell station bus terminal, the salt station train station where a lot of the bus uh fumes run sometimes nonstop.

But but it's it's environmental justice issues.

In fact, the United Scientists concerned scientists of America, I believe the organization, they rated Chinatown as having the one of the highest asthma rates of any uh place in New England, and that's an issue I've focused on for a lot of years.

One of my colleagues mentioned pest control has a significant impact on respiratory related issues in high rates of asthma as well.

Uh disabled veterans have a high rate of asthma, and that's something I'm gonna continue to work on, but want to say thank you to my city council colleagues for bringing the support and resolution forward.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Chair recognizes Councilor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Councillor Peppen, for bringing this forward.

I think having more knowledge and speaking about it more will bring the much needed um resources to this.

I know many of my colleagues have already said most of the important things.

I do just want to highlight um the mention about the rodent and pest control and how it has a direct impact to our health.

I know it was said earlier, but just a shout out to John Alwick and the director of in the environmental department with ISD, because I know they come out and residents call us and every neighborhood has this concern.

But for many families, they know that when mice, rats, and other rodents are in their home, their young children and you know their family members are at risk and the seniors.

So just um want to thank you for bringing this up and looking forward to supporting this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, and I want to thank my colleagues for advocating uh for this.

Um, I know I've met with mothers out front, and we have a May tap polluting peaker plant um in my district, which impacts a lot of um environmental justice communities, and it's really important that you know we work to not only deal with asthma at the source and let you know, and raise awareness about asthma, but also go straight to the source.

So deeper carbonization is a huge part of that.

Um, you know, I can't also think of a policy that would impact the environment more than eliminating parking minimums for new residential development either.

Um, encouraging cars in our in our society and encouraging more cars to move into our city with new buildings, um, is in direct defense to um to working towards uh environmental justice and working towards uh a city where everyone can breathe.

Um so thank you, Councilor Peppen, for sharing your story.

Um, it means a lot, and um thank you to the chair for the time.

Thank you.

Um would anyone like to add their name?

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

Councillors Peppen, Mejia, and Luigi Anne seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0938.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0938?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councilor Braden, yes.

Councillor Color is a part of it, Councillor Culpepper, Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn, yes, Council Flynn, yes, Council.

Council Lugen, yes, Council Mejia.

Council Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, Councillor Murphy, yes, Council Papen, yes, Council of Penn, yes, Council Santana, Council Santana, yes, Council Weber, Council Weber, yes, and Council Warrell.

Council Warrell, yes.

Docking number 0938 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docker 0938 has dock at 09938 has been adopted.

The chair, uh Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0939?

Docker number 0939, Councillor Culpepper offered the following.

Resolution in support of recognizing May 11th as George Greenwich Day in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh I would like to add Council Mejia as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to add Council Warrell as the third original co-sponsor.

Counselor Mejia is added as a second, and counselor hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Warrell is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam President.

And uh I made my remarks when we gave the presentation.

So uh hear from Council Mejia.

I mean, look, you'll hear from Council.

I mean, you'll give Council.

I will certainly give your co-sponsors a moment, yes.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council Mejia, you have the floor.

I know why he's doing that, but I appreciate you advocating to make sure that I have a voice here.

So thank you, Council Culpepper.

Um, and thank you, Madam President.

Uh, and the lead as the lead uh co-sponsor actually I'm the co-sponsor.

I want to think I would have been the cool lead if you didn't beat me to it, because you know I love George for filing this resolution and for adding me uh George.

Um Greenwich legacy is an important reminder that the fight for civil rights and racial justice was not only happening nationally, but right here in Boston, especially in communities like Roxbury.

I also want to recognize Chip Greenwich who continues to carry that legacy forward today.

He consistently shows up for community um events all across the city, including many events hosted by our office.

Um he's always willing to pour into young people, uplift youth leadership, and share the importance of civic engagement, history and empowerment with the next generation.

Recognizing May 11th as George Greenwich Day is not only about honoring history but also acknowledging the continued impact that the Greenwich family has had on our communities today.

So I just want to give a shout out to Greatest Minds and all the young people who come to this chamber to advocate on behalf of the things that they want us to fight for.

Um and it's always a pleasure to see Chip and his crew out in these streets.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Warrell.

Council Warren, you have the floor.

Uh I want to thank uh Council Cole Pepper and Councillor Mejia's Adamie as a original co-sponsor.

Just wanted to say thank you to the Greenwich family for all their kind contributions uh to Boston, also towards the fight for civil rights.

Um, and also it's just uh great to see the legacy of George Greenwich live on uh with Chip constantly uh engaging and um you know moving forward with young people at the Center for Civic Engagement.

So just happy to stand in support.

Um, just want to continue honoring the families um and people and individuals uh that contribute so much here in Boston.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I didn't get in a chance to ask for uh suspension of rules in the vote on the passage of this document.

We will take care of that.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Centana.

Councillor Centana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to thank the filers, especially Councillor Culpepper.

You know, I think really shout out to the Greenwich family.

They've been amazing.

Um I think Councilman, I guess I've advised right.

I think the Chair Pes has been someone who uh continues to pour into our youth and brings our youth across the city to stay civically engaged.

Um and I know I benefited from that personally through other people in my life, and I'm glad that he's been he can do that um for so many of our youth, especially our black and brown um youth here in the city of Boston.

Um I actually also um have something in common.

I got to introduce to um Chip um while I was in high school.

Um I attended Fribert Academy up in Maine, and Chip's uncle, um David Greenwich, um, was the first black man to attend that school, and the first black man to become president of that school.

And in 2015, I had the honor of being the president's second black president, and both David and I um did a presentation to our um to our school, and ever since then I I've been connected to the Greenwich family.

So um they've been um uh uh they've just been breaking uh um so many uh they've done just so much um and continue to do so much, and I know they're gonna continue to do so much for generations to come.

And I'm just so thankful to know them, and I'm really honored that um we're able to honor them with this day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councilor Louis Jeanne.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you.

I just want to echo the sentiment of my colleagues and um say this is a moment uh long and in uh long time coming for the Greenwich family for this acknowledgement both via George Sr.

Um and obviously the the love that his family has poured into this city, not only the city of Boston, but the city of Cambridge, having roots um in Cambridge, and uh Chip, who of course is an activist, we all know uh a fellow at Harvard, a professor at Harvard.

Uh there's nothing he can't do, and I'm really grateful for the work that he does here in the city.

Um, and it it you know it actually really nicely uh loops into the fact that we are in Preservation Month, although we're not talking about a physical building, we are talking about history, and you know, my first job here was as a walking tour guide in the South End and in Lower Roxbury, sharing the history of everyday people who were part of the civil rights movement who helped to create change here in our city.

So I just wanted to make sure that we always uplift regular people who are part of making Boston and Cambridge and the surrounding area what it is.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I think I'd like to echo the sentiments of all my colleagues that um uh George Greenwich uh through his activism and his work for social and uh racial justice to have his family here today, and multiple generations of his family are continuing the work, so it's a tremendous testament to his leadership and years gone by.

Uh would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councilor Murphy, Councillor's Council Louis Gen, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Council Weber, uh, and please add the chair.

Counselor's Culpepper, Mejia, and Morrell.

Think suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at 0939.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh all of opposed say nay.

Thank you.

The ayes have it.

Uh dock at 0939 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you counselor?

Um, hold on, Councillor Flynn will we'll read the docket first.

Thank you.

Council, could you please read Dockett's 0940?

Docking number 0940.

Councilor Flynn offered the following.

Resolution in support of the establishment of a committee to maintain and attract young adults to Boston.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, may I add um Councillor Murphy, please?

Uh Councillor Murphy is so added.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Affordability is the number one issue across the country.

Working families are struggling.

We have serious fiscal issues here in Boston.

What will make everything worse is if young talent that we attract here from all over the world to our colleges and universities, if they decide Boston is simply too expensive.

The 2026 young residence survey by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce found that a staggering 26% of residents in their 20s and 30s are likely to leave Boston within the next five years.

Young adults play a critical role in the city of Boston's community and economy.

However, the pandemic's accelerated migration out of cities, not just Boston, but other cities as well.

This trend has been further reinforced by the rising cost of living, the lack of affordable housing, employment opportunities, transportation.

Reports indicate access to entry-level jobs has also been difficult.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, unemployment rate for college graduates reached 5.6% at the end of 2026, up from 4.2 overall unemployment rate at the time.

Survey by Boston.com indicated that of the 115 respondents in the greater Boston area, 40% have been applying to jobs for over a year.

Housing production has dropped significantly in Boston in recent years.

The Boston Globe report also indicated that Boston legs 16 pair cities in production of housing in 2024.

Let's come together, have a committee.

Study how we can maintain and attract young people to ensure that the city of Boston remains a desirable place to live and do business.

Boston works best when we work together.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The Chair recognizes the second co-sponsor, Counselor Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um thank you, Councillor Flynn, for adding me.

I would like to acknowledge also that Dan Conley has joined us, the former DA and City Councillor, thank you for being here.

Um this is personal as a mom of young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Um I know firsthand that this isn't just a problem or an issue to um that we need to address.

This is devastating for so many of our young um hard-working residents across you know this city and this state that are just finding it really impossible to get ahead to move out and live the life that I know I was able to when my generation was.

So looking forward to the work that I know this commission will um address, and hope that our colleagues will join in on this.

Thank you.

And clerk, I know you're former bosses here, but I'll give a good word.

He always does a great job.

So yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councillor Peppin.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Yeah, before I get my remarks, just a shout out to former district five city councilor Dan Connolly.

Eddie Connolly says hi.

Um, you know, this is funny.

This resolution comes at the time.

I just posted uh this over the weekend something uh I wrote a love letter essentially to young professionals and and young families because what I'm hearing for a lot from folks in my generation as a young as youngest city councilor with young kids trying to really cement myself in the city.

Um, we're consistently asking ourselves like can we make it in our city?

Can we afford to live here?

Um are there opportunities for us here?

That is the reason why I try to be so courageous.

I'm so courageous in pushing for policy that our young professionals, our young families want, and that is advocating for more housing, advocating for better public transportation, advocating for better resources for jobs, and education for our kids.

Those are things that we all have to take into consideration that when we file, this is a great idea.

When we file resolutions like this to form a committee, but there's also also opportunities so that when there's policies that will make life easier for those same people this community is gonna serve, that we also have the same courage to vote in favor of them.

Um and that's what I've I've heard them ask for hundreds and hundreds and countless of times, and um obviously this is very personal to me, very personal to to my friends, to the to the people I serve.

So I am all for this, and I want to make sure that there's always a room for young professionals and young families here in the city of Boston, and I will I commit myself to this work to make sure that we move this our priority forward for our young people in the city of Boston.

Okay, thank you, Councillor Pepin.

Uh chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, and thank you so much to the sponsor.

Um I am the embodied example of someone who moved to the city.

I think I'm the only city counselor who moved to the city um from another place and took root here and know how hard it is.

Well, he I should say young person, no offense, counselor.

Me too.

But um, but I think it's really important that we actually center the needs of young.

I'm so sorry, Counselor Robert, uh, that we center the needs of young people.

I mean, I'm someone who moved here with $1,500 in my bank account and slept on people's couches, and garnered money for uh first last and a broker's fee, and it was really hard to be here, and it was really it's still hard to be here as a young person, and living in some of the only naturally occurring affordable housing on the north slope of Beacon Hill.

I want to provide those opportunities to the next generation of people that are choosing whether they can stay in the city, and so um, and you know, I have to say there are three city counselors that are younger than me, so you have that.

Um, but I think it's really important that we actually center the needs of young people, and and sometimes that means making hard decisions.

When I just went to the most recent BTD hearing, I heard many people talk about how bad blue bikes were.

That is something that the young people in my district care a lot about.

That is something my uh my the locations in my district are the top blue bikes stations in the entire city, and they're going to all of your districts as well.

So, so I just like I I wanna I'm voting yes on this, I want to support this, but like I think our actions and our policy positions need to back up actually supporting young people in the city, and that means supporting different modalities of getting around.

That means parking, eliminating parking minimum so people can actually afford to stay in the city.

Thank you.

And so let's be bold on the you know, and once this committee comes together, I wonder what they're gonna recommend.

Thank you, Councillor Jerkin.

Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia, you have the floor.

Okay, spicy.

Um, so happy to uh rise and uh just I I want to be clear and and and have a better understanding, and I do agree with some of my colleagues in regards to how important it is for us to really affirm what it looks like to support young people and young families, and I think that young people here in the city of Boston have been asking us to support youth jobs.

Uh, they've been asking us to uh have better public education.

There are a lot of things that this body can be doing to demonstrate what it looks like to stand up for young people without having a committee, and I really am looking forward to seeing all of that manifest at some point, at least while I'm still here.

Um, and I just have a a point of clarification and through the chair.

I it says I am supporting a resolution in support of an establishment of a committee to maintain and attract young adults to Boston.

So are we affirming that we're going to create a committee like adding a committee to our already existing committees, and we're gonna name chairs.

So I I need a point of clarification on if that's what we're asking for.

Because if we're what don't answer, I still got 45 seconds.

I'm not done.

I was going to answer your question.

We'll stop the clock.

Okay.

I'll stop the please stop the clock.

I'm just saying I'll Mr.

Clerk.

To answer your question, it's a non-binding resolution.

I think it's la it's a very important consideration.

I think many of these issues go beyond just one committee.

Okay.

I think as many of our colleagues have already stated, this is a multi- uh multiple, there's multiple um spheres in which uh our support for our young people or young professionals who live either they grew up in the city and can't afford to stay, or they're young people who came here to work and find it increasingly impossible to afford to live here.

I think this is uh a multidisciplinary multi-departmental um uh conversation, and I I look forward to working with uh uh you know all of you to see if we can find a way forward.

I don't necessarily agree that it needs to establish a separate committee, but we need to certainly work on it, and it falls, it's worth the worthy of further conversation.

Thank you.

Councilor Mejia, we will start the talk again for you.

On you go.

Thank you.

Okay, great.

Thank you for that clarification.

Because I was just going to offer that, you know, as we continue to move through these conversations, is that if we're going to be uh supporting the creation of something that I think that there to your point, there are a lot of other existing structures and spaces and places in which we can deliberate around those issues.

So I just wanted to be clear and I'll end with the fact that I've dedicated my entire um career to working with young people in the nineties, and I went on to work at MTV, and everything that I have done has been to benefit and move young people forward, and I think that now in this chamber, it really is about how we utilize our platform, our policy um making, and also the most important thing that we can demonstrate to young people who are paying attention are our votes, particularly during the budget season, is how we're utilizing our budget votes to um support uh the things that are going to provide young people the quality of life that we all have said we deeply care about.

So looking forward to that.

Thank you, Council Mahia.

The chair recognizes Council Weber, you have the floor.

Yeah, I mean, I I if the filers want to comment, I I do think the resolution talks about forming a committee with uh young adult residents, business professionals.

It seems more like uh outside this body.

Uh again, I support the the the sort of mission here, and just uh to clarify, you know what I I my wife and I moved here 19 years ago.

Uh you know, I my wife still looks at that age.

I looked a lot younger uh than I do now, uh certainly two and a half years with this body hasn't helped.

Uh thank you very much.

Thank you.

And I was a young professional when I came to Boston 1995 as well, so that's a long time ago as well.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Cold Pepper, Counselor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louis Gen, Council Mehia, Councillor Peppen, Councilor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councilor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Counselors Flynn and Murphy seek suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at zero nine four zero.

All in favor say aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on dock at zero nine four zero?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes.

Councillor Colletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Culpepper, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald, yes.

Councillor Fischer, yes, Councillor Flynn, yes, Councillor Flynn, yes, Council Louis Gen.

Council, yes, Councilor Mejia, Council Mejia, yes, Councillor Murphy.

Councilor Murphy, yes, Council Papen, Councillor Penn, yes, Councillor Santana.

Yes, Council Santana, yes, Councillor Weber, yes, Councillor Weber, yes, and Councillor Warrell.

Councilor Raleigh, yes.

Docking number 0940 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0940 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read dock at 0941?

Document number 0941.

Councilor Durkin offer the following.

Resolution recognizing May as national preservation Month in the landmarks commission's 50th year.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair.

I'd like to add Counselor Louis Jeanne and Counselor Peppen as a third co-sponsor.

Counselor Louis Jeanne is added as a second, and hearing and seeing no objections.

Councillor Pepin.

Peppen is added as a third.

Thank you.

I am proud today to introduce this resolution recognizing May as National Preservation Month.

This year also makes the third, the 50th anniversary of the Boston Landmarks Commission, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the vital preservation work happening across our city.

Boston's one of the most historic cities, and our built environment carries stories of revolution, abolition, and generations of immigration.

As we grow, we cannot lose sight of that history.

We must protect the buildings that keep these stories alive and preserve the character that makes Boston special.

The benefits are clear from educational and cultural value in our neighborhoods to the continued draw from visitors around the world looking to look at our history.

1975, the state legislature established the Boston Landmarks Commission to mitigate the impacts of urban renewal, recognize the need for the city's environmental and historical character.

For five decades, the commission, alongside 10 historic district commissions, has worked to safeguard our historic properties, neighborhoods, and cultural landmarks.

Boston would not be the city it is today without this extraordinary work.

Director Coderitas and the entire Office of Historic Preservation and the Landmarks Commission deserve recognition for their leadership, and I look forward to bringing them before the council at some point to make sure that we celebrate their 50th anniversary.

As chair of the committee on planning, development and transportation, I'm honored to help oversee the commission, steward landmark designations before this body, and confirm requirement appointments to our historic district commissions.

I don't take that responsibility lightly, and over the past year, we've seen firsthand the powerful impact preservation has had on our communities and on our city.

Just this past week, we've uh we've done the Copley Plaza Hotel, we've landmarked now Memorial Hall today.

Um we're standing in a historic landmark city hall, and today is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to this work, to raise awareness of its importance, and I hope we continue to find new ways and more opportunities for residents to engage in preserving and celebrating history in their neighborhoods.

Um and this isn't as someone who represents three historic districts.

This isn't just about Back Bay Beacon Hill and Mission Hill and the historic districts that are within our city.

This is about uh the pending Charlestown as a landmark.

This is about pending landmarks across the city that um that we have preservationists looking into at all times.

And so I'm really grateful to the work that goes on day in and day out, and grateful to our Office of Historic Preservation and uh grateful to my colleagues for joining me uh in celebrating that this month.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Louis Gen.

You have the floor.

Thank you, and want to say thank you to Councillor Jerkin for adding me as an original co-sponsor.

Um, it is like I said before, um, it is important that we uh preserve and landmark our history, both through uh formal landmarking processes and through other actions that we're doing to really make sure that, especially in this year, the 250th that we're commemorating our important sites.

Um, everyone 250 is a project, uh collaborative project between embrace Boston, uh, MA 250, Boston 250, where they are uh putting markers on important local historic places.

One of them was historic Avenue Baptist Church.

Another recently last week was uh League of Women uh for community service in the South End, which was one of my tour stops when I was a youth tour guide in my town and was one of the places that Coretta Scott King uh lived uh before she was king, she was just Coretta Scott when she lived there as a student here at the New England Conservatory.

Um, and the league has an important history of black women participating and building uh the city of Boston and in community service.

So I just want to shout out Claire Shaw and all of those who were involved, involved in uh making sure that we are getting resources towards places like the League of Women of Community Services, but we're also that we are putting these markers on historical sites and that we are preserving the very rich, the very people centered history of the city of Boston.

So thank you again to Councillor Durkin to the landmarks commission to everyone to 50 for everyone who's doing the work uh now and beyond in marking the important moments in our history.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Peppen, third co-sponsor.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin, for adding me as a third co-sponsor.

Yeah, as the chair of the community preservation committee, I've been able to really admire and appreciate the work of historic preservation in landmark and across the city.

Since the inception of the community preservation act, actually, the city has been able to fund over tens of millions of dollars towards historic and landmark preservation in the city of Boston.

And in my district, I want to give a shout out to the High Park Historical Society, because every year they do such a good job of making sure that they're advocating for the preservation of important um buildings and landmarks across not only in Hyde Park but across the city as well.

Just this year, we were able to get them a grant for the preservation of the readable reading room over down in my district, and that's something that they've been advocating for for many years.

And just I think that Boston is known because of its history, because of its important um building.

So the fact that this is the 50th anniversary of it, and coincidentally, is the 10th anniversary of the community preservation act, and I think it goes hand in hand, all the work that we do.

So I I'm glad that we're celebrating this and voting on this resolution today.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Thank you, Councillor Peppin.

Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, and I just want to thank uh my colleagues uh for uh filing this resolution and I want to thank Councillor Durkin.

I think last year you hosted a um lunch and learn with the historical uh landmark commission folks, and you know I learned a lot in that lunch and learn.

Um, and I I was really uh grateful for the opportunity to have a better understanding of the their impact and and the work that that they do here in the in the city of Boston, and I am also just rising up to to say that when it comes to this particular uh conversation, and I think I said this during the lunch and learn, is that there are a lot of people in low-income communities, people who don't know much about this life or all of this is happening all around them, and I think that the city has an opportunity uh to really seize this moment to provide more education, particularly in like low-income communities, BHA, to our Chester Roxbury, Matta Pan, South Boston.

There's certain pockets of people who don't even understand what preservation is or what historical landmarks are.

And I think that we owe it to our community to bring them in so that they can just be as equally as excited as we are about our 250th anniversary and our 50th anniversary and all of these things that the city of Boston is uh celebrating.

So looking forward to educating those who follow me on Instagram.

Um, and hopefully, Councilor Durkin, you and I can do a live so that we can get people excited about this so they can be like woo-hoo, just everybody else.

So yeah.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia.

Um, as someone who's interested in preservation, uh I just want to uh acknowledge the tremendous work that's been done by the landmarks commission over many many years.

I think we have had a conversation about the local significance.

Many very often landmarks have state or federal significance, but very often there's gems that reflect the history of our neighborhoods that have local significance, and it's important to preserve those as well as best we can.

Um Boston is a historic destination city.

People travel from all over to come here.

I think it's really important to preserve our uh built uh heritage and also the stories of our pioneers and folks who shaped history in this in this country uh in Boston, but also uh be in the present and then look forward to the future so that this continues continues to be uh an inclusive and equitable uh city for the city of Boston.

Um would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the Chair.

Councillors Durkin, Louis Jeanne and Pepin seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0941.

All in favour say aye.

Thank you.

Docket 0941 has been adopted.

We are now on to personnel orders.

Mr.

Clerk, I understand we have two personal.

Two personnel orders.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read the personnel orders?

Personnel orders document number 0942, Councillor Braden from Council of Santiana and personnel order, document number 0943, Councillor Brain from Council of Penn.

Thank you.

The Chair moves for passage of the personnel orders.

All those in favour say aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it.

Personnel orders have passed.

As some of my colleagues have already mentioned, we've joined by in the chamber by State Rep Bill McGregor, former District Six Councillor John Tobin and former district five councillor Dan Conley.

Welcome.

Good to have you here.

Before we move on to Green Sheets, is there anyone who would like to add their name to a Docker that they may have missed?

We will start with Councillor Fitzgerald.

Councillor Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Could you please add my name to docket number 0931?

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, would you add my name to 0933, please?

Thank you.

Councillor Peppin, do you?

Thank you.

Can you add my name to 0934 and 0935?

Thank you.

Got that, Mr.

Clerk?

Yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Um929 and 0930.

Okay.

Anyone else?

Good.

We're now on to green sheets.

Is anyone looking to pull anything from the green sheets today?

No.

No.

Good.

We move on then to late files.

Mr.

Clerk, do we have any late files?

No, no late files.

Okay.

I'd like to take a few moments to address late files and recent confusion and request for clarity regarding the process of late files.

At the start of my presidency, after multiple collaborative working sessions, this body unanimously approved the council rules from municipal years 2026 through 2027.

And the rules regarding late files were unchanged from previous years.

Rule 12 states any measure submitted with considerate for consideration by the council shall be filed with the clerk electronically with one hard copy delivered to the clerk's office by 10 o'clock a.m.

and two days preceding the city council meeting.

With respect to late files, Rule 46 states that Rule 12 may be suspended only by unanimous consent, provided, however, that Rule 12 may be suspended to introduce a matter submitted by a councillor calling for action by the council on the day of the meeting, only in the case of an emergency.

And the filing includes a declaration explaining such emergency, which per open meeting law would be under circumstances where such filing was unable to be anticipated prior to the filing deadline and requires an immediate response by the council.

These are the rules that we all agreed upon.

These are the rules that I am obligated to enforce as president.

However, there's been some consistency and confusion from on my end, which I fess up to about the details.

I want to outline how I will handle late files moving forward.

When we reach the late file portion of the agenda, the clerk will inform me of the number and type of each late file.

I will then announce the number of late files and the category for each, whether it is a personnel order, a text amendment, or another type of matter.

Councillors submitting late files will have given copies to central staff who will have placed copies on councillors' desks for counselors to review.

Absent objection, we will take up late files one at a time.

And I will ask the clerk to read the filing and we will take a vote.

If a matter is objected to, the late file matter will not be taken up, will not be read into the record, and will not become and will not come before the body.

The councillor objection objecting ought to specify which matter they're objecting to.

And this is consistent with the precedent followed by the majority of the last four city council presidents.

I also wanted to remind colleagues that the proper use of parliamentary tools under Roberts rules.

Point of order is used to call attention to or perceived violation of the rules.

A point of information is used to request factual clarification.

Neither points of order or points of information should be used to express opinion on council related business.

If a point of order or point of information is misused, I will rule it out of order and move on.

These tools are not an opportunity to preview or argue the merits of a late file matter.

And I hope that we will continue to conduct our business with clarity, consistency, and respect for the rules that we adopted together.

Thank you.

So we have no late files.

Thank you very much.

We're now on to uh moving on to the consent agenda.

I've been informed by the clerk that we have two additions to the consent agenda.

The question now comes on approval of the various matters contained within the consent agenda.

All those in favor say aye.

Thank you.

The consent agenda has been adopted.

We are now on to announcements.

Please remember that these are for upcoming dates and events.

Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

Oh, you're leaving, sorry.

Something I said.

I don't have any contact.

No, no, we're now on to please on to uh does anyone have announcements?

Please, if you have announcements, please put your lights on.

Councillor Mejia, you had the floor.

Yes.

I was hoping to just you uh read something into the record, and I just uh wanted to, if you could, just for those.

Is this an announcement?

No, it's I had a question about what you just the late filing that you just know, but I would like for the record if you could just please help everyone us understand what constitutes as an emergency.

I think it's really important for the exercise for people to be on notice on what constitutes an emergency.

That's a very valid question.

Yeah, thank you.

Um we're going to discuss all of these issues when we have our rules committee meeting.

Um else next.

Uh councillor, I may have got you slightly out of order.

Councillor Louis Gen, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

I rise today just with so much joy in my heart for someone who matters so much to my office because he matters so much to my chief of staff, Emily Polston.

Um her father is celebrating 10 years of sobriety, Larry Polston, and he is an incredible man.

He's an incredible father, and he is an incredible American, an incredible veteran, and he uh just uplifts uh so much of the work that we do in our office, even when we have uh very uh fun uh political uh conversations and disagreements.

Um he's just such an asset, and he raised such an amazing daughter.

And uh last week his family gathered in Kansas because Emily's from Kansas, yeah, um, to celebrate what it means to be 10 years sober.

Um, and each day is another day and another um uh another day to just continue on this journey.

And so I just want Larry Polston to know that we love him.

Congratulations on 10 years, probably 10 years now, and and six days.

But uh we love you, Larry.

Um, and I can't wait to celebrate your 20th year of sobriety.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Luigian.

Certainly worth celebrating and acknowledging.

Councilor Darkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much.

I just wanted to um say congratulations to my state senator, Lydia Edwards.

I am going to her commissioning ceremony.

She has risen to the rank of captain as a Jag Officer in the Massachusetts National Guard.

Um, she's an incredible inspiration to me.

I've been so proud to support her at different stages in her career, and now I'm proud to serve alongside her and really, really, really proud that she's my senator, and um, so it's incredibly moving to me that uh that that there's a ceremony tomorrow to celebrate her.

Thank you.

Uh, I think we all send our congratulations to our former colleague, former counselor Edwards and on our promotion.

Um, anyone else got an announcement?

Counselor uh Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Uh, more of a public service announcement really, but just a reminder that uh this upcoming weekend is Mother's Day for all of us who still uh can uh celebrate our mom, so uh all the expected mothers as well.

That goes for our colleague here in Council Coletta Sabata.

Uh so happy first Mother's Day to her, and uh yeah, just more don't forget the gift.

That's all.

Oh, very important.

Certainly, do not forget that.

Uh Councilor Mahia, um, you have the floor.

Yes.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

And uh I want to just acknowledge that this is uh the Mother's Day Walk for Peace.

Um, Tina Cherry.

I know um her son uh and I were neighbors, and so this organization has been dedicated to making sure that Mothers on Mother's Day, whether you have your children or not, or if they've been um taken away from you, it is an opportunity for moms and just the whole entire community to get together.

Um, and so I just want to acknowledge Tina Cherry and the Louis C.

Brown Peace Institute.

Um, this Sunday is their annual Mother's Day uh walk.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'd like to wish a happy birthday this week to Win Ye of my office, Aidan uh Walsh of Consular Murphy's office.

Juan Concepcion of Consular Santana's office, Jesse Frizier, and Tony Baez of Consular Dorkin's office.

And last but not least, um Mark Cohen of Consular Weber's office.

Busy time for birthdays.

Uh so wish everyone a happy birthday.

Um, no more announcements.

We're now on to memorials.

Uh would anyone like to uplift a name?

And all of the buttons have gone at once.

Councillor Murphy, if you'd like to start.

Thank you.

Um, I rise to uplift Ann Galvin.

I always refer to her as Mrs.

Galvin.

I know her husband, called her wife, Eamon Danny and Craig referred to her as mom, many of her friends and loved one as Peachy.

Andrew in my office, along with all of his cousins, referred to her as Nanny Peach.

So I do just want to send love to Andrew and his family.

And as they navigate this painful next phase of their life, she was so such a force in their family.

So just want to uplift Mrs.

Galvin.

I also would like to um uplift Sakaria Bell Cade, who is the state trooper who was tragically killed.

Oh no, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry.

Sakaria Bell Cade, who was the student yesterday, who was tragically killed with a falling tree in the playground.

I think it would be respectful, obviously, if we all just gave him and his family, his school community, and the entire um town of Melrose that respect.

Um, also the Mass State Trooper Kevin Trainer, who was killed earlier today while responding to a wrong way driver on the expressway.

So to all of our first responders, who I know put their life on the line day in and day out.

So to his family, his colleagues, to the Mass State Trooper Union, to all of those trying to deal with that loss today.

Thank you.

Just to be clear, is Kevin Trainer, you got the name, and is a carrier Valdez.

Okay.

Next, uh Counselor Louis Gen, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Um, I'd like to remember Juan Carlos Merada, who was the manager at Costello's Tavern in Jamaica Plain, uh uh tavern uh uh frequented by a lot of city workers here in our city by a lot of um those who work, our first responders.

He tragically passed away at 39, and he leaves behind his mother and his two daughters.

So I just wanted to make sure that we uh remember him and his children.

He died very young, and so I um my heart just goes to his family and to the entire Costello's community that remembers him and mourns him.

I also want to um uh uh remember the father of Hans Dormes, Jean Marie Dormes.

Uh Hans's uh puts together the U.S.

Haitian Business Expo, and his father um died, and it's been a heavy burden on uh the entire family.

So just want to uh shout um remember him and uh Marie Edith Timothe Debruy, who is the sister of Marie Auguste, who um has the Haitian American Haitian Americans United with her husband.

Um, and also on behalf of the clerk, um, I want to make sure that we remember uh Nancy Morhan, um a vibrant uh Rosendale resident who I had the pleasure of knowing as well.

So just wanted to uh make sure that we uplift these names.

I know um uh Madam President, you will also read these names, but wanted to make sure that we I acknowledge them.

Thank you.

Um Carlos Malara.

Thank you.

Um Chair recognizes Consular Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to mention the passing of James Jim Coveny of South Boston in Dorchester.

He was a United States Navy veteran, Vietnam veteran, but he was also active in the especially in the Dorchester community, McKeon Post, as the as the former commander, but he helped a lot of veterans, he helped a lot of military families, not just in South Boston and not just in Dorchester, but really across greater Boston as well.

Wonderful, wonderful man, wonderful advocate in the Dorchester community and a strong veterans advocate as well.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

James Jim Coakley, Coveny.

Yes, thank you.

But just want to make sure.

Thank you.

Next, uh Counselor Peppen, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Two nights ago, both Councillor Santana and I lost a close friend.

Um his name is Rodney Peres.

He's a 29-year-old who passed away in a tragic umor vehicle accident.

And um he meant a lot for a lot of us.

He um worked in the he worked in the pick office for Charleston High School.

He I go to church with his parents with his little brother.

Um he leaves behind the nine-year-old son.

Uh he leaves behind a beautiful wife, Naomi.

And um it always catches you by surprise when it's someone that you know, someone that you grew up with.

That life is so unexpected, and makes you cherish life.

And I just I want to pray a lot for um his parents, Ramesi Josefina, or his brothers, Traudi and Amauris, for his wife Naomi, for his son Anyen, for everyone that loved him.

Um he's gonna be missed, and um just yeah, I I want to make sure we pray for him and it's all also.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I also want to lift up um Rodney Perez's uh Rodney Perez.

Um he was my middle school best friend.

We sat at home um home homeroom together at the Tobin.

He's an amazing, amazing young man, an amazing family.

So I just want to keep the Perez family in our prayers.

The Councillor Peppin mentioned some of the family members that he left behind.

And Wilmer Cuyonis from my office.

He was a brother to him as well.

So I think if if anyone who was close to Wilmer, please reach out to him as well.

As he's going through a very difficult time, but just want to lift up Rodney.

He was someone who poured into our youth, someone who just smiled every single day and uplifted others.

And from one day to another, he's no longer here, and no parent, absolutely no parent should have to go through through this.

And I really feel for the Perez family, and I feel of a feel for the entire family during this difficult time.

So may Rodney Perez rest in peace.

Thank you.

On behalf of Councillors Fitzgerald and Murphy, Anna M.

Galvin, on behalf of Councillor Fitzgerald, Mary Sexton, on behalf of Councillors Fitzgerald Murphy and Flynn, James Kenevey, on behalf of Councillor Murphy, again Anna Galvin, Nana Peach, on behalf of Councillors Peppen and Santana, Rodney Perez, on behalf of Councillor Louis Gene, Mary Edith Timmy Timoth, DeBrill, Jean-Marie Dormasant, and Annie Nancy Moraghan.

On behalf of Councillor Murphy, Zekara Valdeck and State Trooper Kevin Trainer.

On behalf of Councillor Russi Louis Jen, Juan Carlos, Marin.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The chair moves that when the council adjourns today, it does so in memory of the aforementioned individuals.

A moment of silence, please.

The council is scheduled to meet again in the INLA chamber on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 12 p.m.

Thank you to my colleagues, Central