Boston City Council Budget Hearing on Equity Offices – May 12, 2026

On May 12, 2026, at 2:10 PM, the Boston City Council’s Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Councillor Ben Weber, held a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 operating budgets for the Office of Immigrant Advancement (MOIA), Office of Language and Communication Access (LCA), Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and the Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement (MOLA). The hearing included presentations from agency heads, a first round of councillor questions, in‑person and virtual public testimony, and closing remarks. A central theme was the impact of proposed budget reductions—particularly cuts to grant programs—on vulnerable communities.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aisha Gaskins (Roxbury/Dorchester) raised concerns about immigrant services, disability funding, and LGBTQIA2S+ family building, questioning perceived inequities compared to Black Americans.
• Tanya Neslusan (Mass Equality) urged the council to restore MOLA grant funding, stating that community grants are “not symbolic investments” and that eliminating them would cause “immediate and harmful” consequences for LGBTQ residents.
• Nina Savaggio (Greater Boston PFLAG) testified that MOLA grants enabled free training for city departments and BPS staff, and that budget cuts would undermine public health and safety at a time of rising anti‑LGBTQ rhetoric.
• Trey Andre Valentine (Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, MTPC) argued that cutting grants violates the city’s “sanctuary city” promise, stating that more than 60% of MTPC funds go directly to community members for name changes, rent, and food.
• Jeff Walker (LGBTQ Senior Housing, Hyde Park) reported that MOLA funding enabled over 300 programs reaching nearly 3,000 individuals in the past year, including LGBTQ elders and BIPOC community members.
• Sorella Blyman-Cohen (QNIST) described how a Beyond Pride grant launched a peer support group for LGBTQIA+ youth that expanded from a handful of participants to serve over 25 young people.
• Carolyn Cronin (resident of The Pride, Hyde Park) spoke as a “receiver of services,” emphasizing that government funding is critical for keeping LGBTQ elders “safely housed, fully engaged, and feeling welcome.”
• Kirsten Keels (LGBTQ Senior Housing) urged rejection of cuts, stating: “Is Boston only a city for the straight, the white, the gender‑conforming … ?”
• Claudia Green (English for New Bostonians) asked for level funding of $500,000 for parent English classes, noting that in FY26 an additional $250,000 allowed 10 community‑school partnerships to launch six new classes and sustain ten existing ones, serving 402 parents over two years.
• Audrey Martinez (parent and former teacher) submitted letters from 22 parents who rely on English classes to communicate with schools and help their children; she said cuts “desperately” need restoration.
• Mercedes Loving Manly (Pride Extended Incorporated) stated that MOLA grants allowed redistribution of over $10,000 annually to individuals for food, housing, and medical support, and called the cuts “a slap in the face” to community organizers.
• Andrew Cho (Ability Stands Boston) said MOIA grants provided free movement classes at six BHA locations with 90% immigrant attendance; cuts would reduce offerings and harm marginalized students.
• Matisse DuPont (Queer History Boston) warned that losing grant funding echoes the 1981 elimination of the mayoral liaison to the lesbian/gay community, which was “first to be cut and last to be restored.”
• Elijah Oyanuga (Save Ourselves/SOS) testified that MOLA’s Beyond Pride grant funds peer‑led support for trans individuals facing homelessness, violence, and discrimination, and that cuts would threaten life‑saving work.
• Rainbow (Save Ourselves) shared a personal story of how MOLA funding helped her access clothing, transportation, food, and a sense of safety and belonging.
• Mickey Jones urged protection of MOLA funding, stating: “The LGBTQIA2S+ advancement was what saved my life here in Massachusetts.”
• Sao Khan (Out Newcomers) opposed cuts, saying small grassroots organizations fill critical gaps for LGBTQ migrants and that city claims of being a sanctuary are undermined by defunding grants.
• Jay Lamb (Medford/Somerville) argued cutting funds from LGBTQ+, immigrant, and disabled communities “promotes systematic barriers.”
• Rick Boyd (Queer Neighborhood Council) said the cuts signal that “my life and the lives of my neighbors … are negotiable and not valued equally.”
• Curtis Santos (BLU Foundation, Boston Black Pride) and a youth mentee testified that MOLA funding has created solidarity and belonging, and that cutting it would harm “youth and elders of the queer community.”
• Giselle Byrd (The Theater Offensive, virtual) stated that the recommended budget “has devastating cuts” and that if passed “there will be blood on your hands.”
• Shirley Riga (The Pride, Hyde Park, virtual) read an excerpt from a poem displayed in City Hall and warned that “community members like me will lose affirming spaces and trusted resources.”

Discussion Items

• Councillor Flynn praised Commissioner McCosh and directors, asked about the office’s role regarding non‑city streets and sidewalks. McCosh explained that her office works with the Streets Cabinet to identify ownership and refer issues to state agencies when necessary, and also works with the Licensing Board on service‑animal compliance.
• Councillor Flynn asked LCA Director Vivar Wong how the office keeps up with new languages. She replied that the office uses census data, on‑demand interpretation trends, and partnerships with other departments (BPS, BHA, BPHC) to identify emerging language needs.
• Councillor Murphy asked about funding and staffing for departments that rely on LCA and the disability commission. McCosh and Vivar Wong explained that LCA centrally funds most language‑access accommodations and gives departments budgets for ASL/CART; other departments can tap into citywide contracts. Murphy also asked MOIA about summer youth jobs: Courtney White said the goal is to serve 500 youth across 33 partner sites, with spots still being filled.
• Councillor Pepin asked about constituent casework volume. White reported that MOIA directly supported approximately 2,500 people in FY26 so far, with six staff handling constituent services. Pepin also noted the loss of MOLA grants and asked about future strategy. Lee said the office is having conversations with outside funders, shifting to community recognition and advisory structures, and focusing on events like the flag raising and Pride celebration.
• Councillor Santana expressed frustration that equity grants were cut, calling the situation “life and death” for immigrant and LGBTQ communities. Chief of Equity and Inclusion Mary Angelie Solis Cervera noted that FY27 cuts are not limited to equity offices and urged the council to also examine larger grant programs in other agencies. Santana declared that he would work with colleagues on amendments to restore these grants, particularly for MOIA and MOLA.
• Councillor Cole Pepper criticized the cuts, asking “How do we continue to do that work if there’s no grant funding?” He requested a specific list of eliminated grants from each office. White listed MOIA cuts: Weaving Well‑Being, ESOL, Mutual Aid (Strengthening Boston’s Diverse Neighborhoods), academic‑year youth advancement, and immigration legal access (partially restored through participatory budgeting). Lee confirmed MOLA’s three grants—Beyond Pride, Gender Affirming Idea Grant, and family/individual legal support—were cut 100%.
• Councillor Louijeune asked Commissioner McCosh about curb‑ramp compliance and the captions ordinance. McCosh said about 40% of restaurants are in compliance with the captions ordinance, and the office will prioritize enforcement this summer. Louijeune also asked MOLA about the impact on community‑facing services; Lee said the FY27 budget preserves 45,000 for public events and that an Advisory Council will guide future spending.
• Councillor Fitzgerald asked each office what cuts they “feel the most” and how they plan to backfill. LCA noted its equipment line was reduced but operations continue; MOLA will shift to a community awards ceremony and affirming job fair; MOIA will partner with BPHC and BPS for mental‑health and youth work, and focus on free immigration consultations.
• Councillor Worrell pressed for detail on specific grants and their impact. White said MOIA’s mental‑health mini‑grants ($230,000 distributed) are being cut, but BPHC partnership may help. Lee provided data that the Gender Affirming IDEA Grant received twice the applications this year; $70,000 supported MTPC and others with document‑change assistance. Worrell noted the total cuts across equity offices: $1.8 M from MOIA, $500K from Black Male Advancement, ~$400K from Human Rights Commission, $360K from Office of Equity, $283K from MOLA, $157K from Women’s Advancement, $112K from Fair Housing & Equity, and $100K from LCA. He questioned “what is equitable about these cuts.”
• Chief Solis Cervera acknowledged that personnel will continue all work and that the reductions do not decrease staffing. She urged the council to also focus on “bigger dollars” in other agencies and to use the budget amendment process to restore funding.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken at this hearing; it was a public budget review session.
• Multiple councillors (Santana, Cole Pepper, Louijeune, Fitzgerald, Worrell) indicated they would propose amendments to restore grant funding for MOIA, MOLA, and other equity offices during the formal budget approval process in June.
• The council will continue its budget review with additional hearings in May and June.
• The committee accepted written testimony and will accept further online comments and two‑minute video submissions through the budget website.