Good afternoon.

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

Viewers can watch the council meeting live on YouTube at Boston.gov backslash city dash council dash TV.

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

Also pursuant to Rule 42, I remind all in this chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted.

Uh call a role to ascertain the presence of a forum.

Councillor Culpepa.

Councillor Culpepper here, Councillor Dilken.

Councillor Dilken here, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Counselor Fitzgerald here, Councillor Flynn.

Council Flynn here, Council Louis Jeanne.

Counselor Mehio.

Councillor Murphy.

Counselor Murphy here.

Councillor Peppin.

Council Papen here.

Council Santana.

Council Santana, yeah.

Council Webber.

Council Webber here.

Council World.

Council World here.

A forum is present.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

The clerk has informed me that a quorum is present.

It is my pleasure to now ask Councillor Dirkin to come forward and introduce today's clergy.

And following the invocation, we will uh say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you so much, Madam President.

Dana Farber is such an important partner in my district, and today we're joined here by Sarah Harba, who is a multi-faith chaplain at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

She cares for people in some of the hardest times of their lives, and they graduated as a Master's of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology in 2022, and completed clinical pastoral education at Jefferson Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and at Havenwood Heritage Heights in Concord, New Hampshire.

In their role as multifaith chaplain, Sarah supports the spiritual well-being of patients, their loved ones, and staff at Dana Farber.

Sarah's work is rooted in approaches in humanist philosophy, religious pluralism, and people centered care.

They are endorsed as a chaplain by the Humanist Society, and we're so happy that they are here with us.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

I'd like to begin by sharing a reading written by Howard Thurman from Meditations of the Heart, called Two Areas of Need.

There are at least two areas of need in which all people are involved.

One is the insistence upon finding something to worship.

Everybody has to have something to worship.

It is not optional.

It is not merely the result of some particularly significant spiritual bias in personality, either.

There is something native to the human spirit that insists upon the offering of one's precious gifts, precious possessions, offering them to something outside of oneself, something that is regarded as supremely worthful.

What happens when you get a very wonderful piece of good news?

What do you do?

You want to tell somebody, somebody who means enough to you to accept your tidings as a symbol of nearness and devotion.

What do you worship?

What do you bring the most precious increments of your spirit, your mind, and your possessions?

The need is ever present.

Whatever it is that holds so central a place in your reaction to living, that is your all.

There is also the need of being a part of the family, the human family, the human race.

I'm aware that all the race, in some meaningful sense, breathes through me, that I am a part of the very pulsating rhythm of existence.

I am not a thing apart, I am not a separate unit.

I am deeply involved in the collective experience of aliveness and of human aliveness.

If I am cut off so that only my little life breathes through me, only my little hopes course through my mind and spirit, only my little thoughts penetrate my brain, then life for me is not worth living.

Nothing less than this will satisfy.

Therefore, I must manage somehow to keep the lines of communication open between me and the human family.

How wonderful it is if I can do this by love, by warmth, by kindling flame of abiding fellowship.

Often, if it cannot be done that way, there is resort to hate, to antagonism, to belligerency.

The shouting of defiance is the call of my heart for kinship.

If one cannot become the center of an increasing affection, in their desperation, they become the core of a great rejection.

For better or for worse, there is but one family under all, and I am a member of it.

In my work as a chaplain at Dana Farber, I frequently wonder about what it means to provide care or what is the meaning of care.

In her essay titled Who Cares, political scientist and author Joan Toronto states, needs never end until we die.

Care is always present, rarely visible, always requiring something from us.

What does it mean to care?

I imagine in today's meeting, this council will indeed take care in reviewing the items on today's agenda and contemplating how best to meet the needs of the city of Boston.

Then let us prepare for the task ahead with a moment of quietude and a blessing.

May a spirit of siblinghood and friendship be in the hearts of all persons in the city of Boston.

And may we collectively strive to create a more caring world together.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

One nation under God and individual liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Sarah.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Um I would like to now invite um the MAB uh the MAB group, contract group to come forward for a photo.

We have a resolution for with in support of MAB, and they're uh seeking a fair contract.

If you'd like to come up, we have a photograph with our colleagues.

Colleagues, if it'd come up, we'll have a photograph with them.

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community Services MAB was founded in 1903 and has long created opportunities and empowered people with disabilities through programs that promote independence, resilience, and community.

Today's resolution is that the Boston City Council expresses the support for the MAB community service workers represented by SEIU 5509 and calls upon the MAB Community Services to promptly and meaningfully respond to all MAB members' contract proposals and speedily reach a fair contract without delay.

So welcome.

So this isn't a formal presentation.

We're going to have a resolution, so we'll just have a photograph with our uh colleagues.

Thank you.

So are you in um Alston Brothers?

Come forward.

Come forward up to the front.

So thank you.

I worked at the Parkinson School for the Blind for 16 years, and I I really appreciate the importance of care workers like the folks at MAB who help support our folks with uh visual impairment as they uh live independently in the community and uh and also as they age in place later on in their lives.

So I want to thank you so much, and I wish you uh all the best in your contract negotiations and a speedy resolution.

Thank you.

And we'll hold this off.

Good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So next, we will have um two presentations today.

Uh our colleagues, Consular Weber is recognizing BPS girls' sports coaches, and Councillor Santana is recognizing BPS city basketball champions.

Lots of athletes in the room.

And Councillor Warrell, are you you're you Councillor Santana and Councillor Warrell?

Excellent.

So we'll start off.

Counselor Weber, you have the floor for five minutes.

Do you want to invite your folks down?

Yeah.

Thank you, Madam President.

If I could get uh John Connolly and Claudia Prudencio, uh Clarita, sorry, Prudencio down here.

Hi.

Sorry, Clarita.

Yeah, please stand behind me.

Today I have the honor of presenting uh two resolutions to two incredible individuals that have made a difference in the lives of countless girls involved in youth sports here in Boston.

With me today are uh Parkway girls soccer coach uh and uh former at-large city councilor John Connolly and uh Clarita Prudencio, who is the head volleyball coach at East Boston High School.

Um I'm gonna start with uh Coach Prudencio, uh who has been hard at work as the head of the girls' uh head coach of the girls volleyball team at East Boston High.

Um I'm presenting this resolution on behalf of District One City Councilor Gabriela Caleta Zapadu's uh currently out of maternity leave.

Um we asked BPS uh for to recognize somebody who's made the a difference in the lives of our uh uh girl athletes here in Boston, and uh and we were told Coach Prudencio is the the person to recognize uh an East Boston High alum and former member of the City League uh uh volleyball and softball all-star teams.

Uh Coach Clarita became a member of the East Boston High School staff in 2021 and had a terrific first season as head of the volleyball program with 10 wins and three losses with her former teammate uh Jessica Saravia uh serving as um her assistant coach.

Uh under her leadership, the volleyball team became uh an MIAA tournament qualifier in 2022 and 2024.

As a leader, uh Coach Prudencio can be described as an organized and disciplined coach who's well connected to the needs of her team, in constant communication with parents and families, and uh and is an active member of the East Boston High community.

Uh Coach Prudencio is currently teaches FIZED at East Boston High School, and um uh has uh has really shown excellence uh in coaching that that team.

I know I've been to some volleyball games.

My daughter goes to BLA, who's on the JV team, and so uh we saw how well drilled the East Boston team was, although I'm not sure who won this year.

I could have been BLA, but um uh we we don't have any favorites here um except right now we're our favorite is East Boston High.

Um so I I have a resolution here for uh Coach Clarita.

I if you would like to come up and uh here, and if you would like to say anything, recognize you whoever's with you.

Okay, just um good afternoon everyone.

I would like to thank the Boston City Councilor and Boston Public Schools and BPS Athletics for this incredible honor.

As a proud East Boston High School graduate and former BPS student athlete, it means so much to come back and coach at the school that helped shape who I am.

This recognition belongs to my players, my assistant coaches, families, and the entire East Boston community.

Thank you for trusting me and making our program what it is today.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back and look forward to continuing to support and inspire the next generation of student athletes.

Thank you.

Okay, uh thank you very much.

Uh, we're also joined today uh by a uh uh an esteemed member of this body, uh John Connolly.

Um uh he served for three terms as an at large city councilor, uh, who's renowned for his work on education and environmental matters, going on to become the founder and leader uh and advisor of the nonprofit Schoolfax Boston, and also the executive director and founder of 1647 Families, so I have that right.

Okay.

Um given his interest in public education and the youth in our city, it's no surprise that counselor Connolly is now known as Coach Connolly.

Um as president of Parkway Travel Soccer, he's helped grow the West Roxbury based program uh to nearly 600 girls participating this season alone.

His longstanding commitment to youth soccer, you know, in West Roxbury, and I know families come from uh Hyde Park and Rosendale and Jamaica Plain also has made him a steady part partner uh to the Boston Soccer League since its inaugural uh pilot seasons, supporting girls' participation access to sport across the city.

I know uh when I played soccer as a kid, none of the parents knew how the sport worked.

Uh there was one person in my hometown who's from a long-gone country called Yugoslavia because he was not from the United States, he must know something about soccer.

And so he was the soccer coach in the town, and towns like that all over the country relied on people just to organize something around soccer.

And so it, you know, and that that back then it was a few kids here and there who would be playing.

Now it's people like John Connolly, you know, who are really gathering communities and setting up the infrastructure that can handle uh providing coaching, jerseys, you know, uh uh shin guards uh and teams for 600 uh girls in Parkway soccer alone, and it's that kind of you know community organizing and organizing around soccer that is really, you know, it it really benefits all of our uh all of our neighborhoods, and you know, I'm proud to be able to stand up here uh with Coach Connolly and recognize uh him for his work uh with Parkway soccer.

Um thank uh thank you, Councillor Weber for uh the kind words and um thank you, uh President Breden for all your good work, and thank you, uh counselors.

It's great to see um so many familiar faces and to see some new ones and uh I know how hard you work uh on behalf of the the city of Boston and I thank you for um all your your hard work in the parkway.

We started Parkway girls' soccer this past year uh for five to eight year olds to uh have an entry point for an all girls uh soccer league.

We had uh over a hundred girls sign up like that, um, which really showed uh the demand for it, uh, primarily girls from West Roxbury, Rosalindale, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, but also girls from Mattapan, Dorchester, and Brighton, who who play in it uh as well.

It's incredible to see the smiles on their faces as they're learning the game for the first time, but also to know uh that they're developing self-confidence and leadership skills um at the same time.

And I would be remiss if I didn't say that Parkway Girls Soccer was founded by um seven parents, five of whom are moms.

Um the president of the organization is a uh mom and a nurse who couldn't be here today because she had to work.

Um, and so I'm I'm honored to accept this on behalf of all of them.

And I would also say um the lion's share of our coaches are moms.

Um, and so this is really an incredible thing.

We love having the dads too.

I it's my favorite part of the week, but to know that these little girls see moms in coaching leadership roles uh and the impact that will have on not hopefully just creating uh girls who are gonna love soccer, love playing it, but who will then go on um to coach it at some point um in their lives.

And so again, thank you for all your great work uh for everything you do for the city.

I believe me, I understand how hard you work, and thank you, Councillor Weber.

I like our colleagues to come up for a photograph.

Thank you.

I think the excitement around soccer.

Uh I think it's a whole new generation of young people going to be wanting to play soccer after the World Cup this year, so thank you.

I'd love to get together.

So thank you, Councillor Weber.

Next, uh Counselor Santana and Councillor Santana and Councillor Warrell are going to recognize BPS City Basketball Champions.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Today's theme is student sports, but before I dive into my remarks, just want to recognize uh Priscilla Flint and the Marcus Anthony Hall Educational Institute for being here in the chambers with us.

Yes, we give them a round of applause.

But let's give it up for our elementary and middle school city champions who can make their way down.

I know for many counselors that middle school athletics has been an area of focus, and it's been something that BPS has been focused on so that all students have access to supports across the city.

Uh the results of that is competitions like our city championship, which now uh have elementary and middle school city championships.

I want to thank uh Avery uh from BPS Athletic and also Chief McCarthy and his whole student support team at BPS.

And I also want to recognize the championship teams.

We have the Condon School led by Brittany Ellis and Nick Williams, which won the K through eight Boys City Championship.

Let's give him a round of applause.

The English High Team, led by Anthony Seymour.

Yes.

Which won uh the 7 to 12 boys school city championship.

Yes, go English.

And they were in there and there, and then we have uh the Mildred Ad School led by Tina Anderson, which won the girls middle school city championship.

Investments in student athletes showcase excellence on the courts and in our classrooms.

So uh let's give uh these coaches and student athletes a round of applause and let's bring up Councillor Santana.

Thank you, Councilor.

Today we are proud to recognize our Boston Public Schools elementary and middle school city basketball champions.

We celebrate the hard work, dedication, teamwork, and perseverance those student athletes have shown throughout the season.

Um I would like to recognize the coaches, the families, um, the brothers.

I know there's a brother in here supporting his little brother here.

Um the school communities who support uh made these achievements possible.

It is now my pleasure to also introduce um, or before I I we do have some resolution, so I'll introduce Coach Randy first, and then we have um resolutions for all of our coaches here.

Um but it is my pleasure to introduce Coach Randy Samore, a dedicated um educator and leader whose commitment to youth development, athletics, and academic success continues to make a lasting impact on students across Boston.

Coach Samore is driven by deep passion for education and sports and believes that authentic relationships, teamwork, trust, and collaboration are essential to developing lifelong learners.

Through his commitment to supporting our students and fostering strong community partnerships, he has created meaningful opportunities for young people, both inside and outside the classroom.

Please join me in welcoming Coach Randy Samore.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I would like to begin by thanking Boston Public Schools athletic department, uh City Councillor Santana and City Councilor Warrell for organizing today's celebration here at City Hall.

We are proud to honor our middle school basketball city champions, the Condon Boys Basketball Team.

The Mildred Girls Basketball team.

For winning the K-8 bracket in the English high school middle school boys basketball team for winning the 7-12 bracket.

It's a privilege to speak to you all today.

I am Randy Seymour, an inclusion math teacher and co-coach alongside Josh Gresham.

So we'll pop it up to post question.

For the English high school middle school basketball championship team.

As educators and coaches, we strive to support the whole child by fostering teamwork, trust, and tenacity.

Our student athletes prove that anything is possible.

Echoing Kevin Garnett after the Celtics 2008 championship.

I was gonna say anything is possible by showing incredible sportsmanship, teamwork, and consistency on their path to win in the 2026 BPS Middle School City Championship Tournament.

To all the student athletes with us this afternoon, continue to take pride and sharing joy in dedicating yourselves to important learning opportunities, both on and off the court.

This level of commitment builds critical thinking, life skills, promotes positivity, and consistently enhances your physical and emotional growth.

To my fellow coaches and administrators, let's keep investing in our school communities to empower our student athletes right here in Boston.

To our families and colleagues, we all share profound gratitude for you for your unconditional love, patience, and unwavering support that you showed to our student athletes as we managed and adapted game schedules all season long.

Ultimately, raising a child requires a collective community effort.

And every one of us play a vital role in that community.

So we want to give a huge congratulations to our families, our coaches, and more importantly, our student athletes.

You are all true champions.

Thank you.

Thank you, coach.

Um, and congratulations to all our student athletes again.

Um, and uh as a coach mentioned, I think it takes a village.

Um so thank you to our coaches, our teachers, um, our families, the mothers, uh mothers, fathers, the brothers and sisters.

It takes all, right?

So, um, right now I just want to be able to see.

Oh, I think we have a young man who wants to say a few words.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

The best dressed here.

I was volunteer to strike for this.

I did not want to do this, but um, we worked really hard throughout the year on our academics to stay on the team, as well as trying to get points to like win it all.

And we work really hard to become champions, so uh yeah.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Alright, so he's gonna be good.

MVP, MVP, MVP.

MVP, MVP.

Thank you.

Good job, everyone.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, further ado, we just want to recognize um again the Condon elementary basketball champions.

We wanna uh recognize the Mildred Av School K-8 Girls City Basketball Champions.

We got the Condon K through eight boys city basketball champions.

And finally but not least, the English School 7 to 12 boys city Basketball championship.

All right, can we just invite my colleagues?

I also want to thank my colleagues who came for the reception um earlier and spoke to our student athletes as well.

If we can invite all our colleagues for a group picture.

Now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of June 24, 2026.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

The ayes have it.

The minutes of the June 24th meeting are approved.

We are now on to communications from her honor the mayor.

Madam Clerk, can you please read dockets as one three-one one and one three one two together?

Docket one-three-one one, message and order authorizing the city of Boston to appropriate the amount of five million dollars for the purpose of paying the cost of feasibility study and somatic design associated with a project for the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, located at 75 Malcolm X Boulevard Roxbury, Mass 02120.

This includes the payment of all costs incidental and related there to and for which the city of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Set amount to be expended under the direction of the public facility department on behalf of the Boston Public Schools.

Docket one three one two message and order authorizing the city of Boston to appropriate the amount of eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of paying costs for feasibility study and somatic design work associated with window door and roof projects at the following school, Boston Adult Academy, Joseph J.

Hurley School, Ellis Mendel Elementary School, Joyce Kelma K 9 K 8 School, and the Leiden Upper 9-12 school.

This includes the payment of all costs incidental and related there too, and for which the city of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Docket 1313, message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept accept and expend a gift of Purchase gliding horse valued at $8,500 from the Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit.

This gift is awarded to the City of Boston through the Parks and Recreation Department for the use of mounted unit of the Boston Park Rangers.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor.

Councillor Orell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

This is a small dollar amount grant.

So I asked my colleagues to suspend and pass so we get these resources over to the park rangers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councillor Durkin, I see your light on.

Thank you so much.

I am a huge friend of the Friends of the Mounted Park Rangers, and I'm grateful for their gift of a horse.

The Friends of the Mounted Park Rangers works to support the Mounted Park Ranger Unit and its role in promoting public safety, education, and community engagement across Boston's parks, and has helped grow the unit into a highly recognized and respected agency of the city of Boston.

Its fundraising efforts have provided critical care to the mounted unit's needs and operations, including veterinary and farrier care for its equine members, stable needs and transportation.

I'm grateful and I commend the Friends Organization.

And I recently attended their annual reception, where I saw just how much enthusiasm there is for supporting our parks and the Emerald Necklace.

I did offer to go to Canada to pick up the horse and they declined, but I'm a huge fan of all their efforts and uh thank you to the chair for pushing forward for a vote today.

Thank you, Councillor Jerkin.

Uh Councillor Warrell seeks suspension of the rules and passage of docket 1313.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1313?

Roll call vote on Docket 1313.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden, yes.

Council Coletta Zapata.

Councillor Culpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Calpepa, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, yes.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Councillor Lujen.

Council Mahia.

Councillor Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes.

Council Peppin.

Yes.

Council Peppin, yes.

Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes.

Council Worrell.

Yes.

Council Worrell, yes.

Thank you.

Docket 1313 has passed.

Madam Clerk, can you please read Dockets 1314 through 1316?

Docket 1314.

Message and order confirming the appointment of Jessica Collis as a member of the Highland Park Architectural Conservation District Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2028.

Docket 1315, message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Seth McCoy as a member of the Highland Park Architectural Conservation District Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2028.

And Docket 1316.

Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Felicia Jakes as a member of the Boston Planning and Development Agency Board for a term expiring August 15, 2029.

Thank you.

Dockets 1314 through 1316 will be referred to the committee on planning, development and transportation.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1317?

Docket 1317.

Message transmitting certain information under Section 17F regarding the City of Boston effort to address drink spiking and drug facilitated sex assault and nightlife establishment, including safety training programs, prevention initiatives, communications with licensed venues, and the status of records maintained by the city regarding the effort on Docket 0595 passed by the council on 318 2026 and Docket 0874 passed by the council on 429, 2026.

Thank you.

Docket 1317 will be placed on file.

We are now on to uh reports of public officers and others.

Um parallel 39.

There'll be no remarks on uh communications from councillors.

Madam Clerk, can you please read Docket 1318 through 1326?

Docket 1318.

Notice was received from the mayor of the reappointment of Raymond Boyle as chair of the Board of Review effective immediately immediately for a term expiring January 7, 2030.

Docket 1319, notice was received from the mayor of the reappointment of Arlene Collin as a member of the Board of Review effective immediately for the term expiry in January 7, 2030.

Docket 1320.

Notice was received from the mayor of the reappointment of Helen Wong as a member of the Board of Review effective immediately for term expiring January 7, 2030.

Up to what time?

Docket 1321, notice was received from the mayor of the reappointment of Helen Wong as the interim commissioner of the assessing department effective July 1st, 2026.

Okay, okay.

Docket 1322, communication was received from the Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner regarding a vote to approve Diane Fernandez Bibu as serve as the community preservation committee as the representative of the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission.

Docket 1323.

Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 regarding action by the mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meetings on June 3rd, 2026.

Docket 1324 notice was received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter 6 of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting on June 10th, 2026.

Docket 1325 notice was received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter 6 of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting on June 24, 2026, and Docket 1326 communication was received from Council President Liz Braden regarding City Council nominations for the transagenda, gender diverse intersects, and LGBQ, LGBTQ, IA2S Plus Oversights Commission.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Dockets 1318 through 1326 will be placed on file.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1327?

Docket 1327.

Communication was received from Council President Les Braden to address an open meeting law complaint and respond according to the accordingly on behalf of the Boston City Council.

Thank you.

Docket 1327 will be referred to the law department.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Dockets 1328 through 1331?

Docket 1328.

Communication was received from Councillor Flynn calling for a public safety submit.

Docket 1329 communication was received from Councillor Flynn calling for the Boston Police Enforcement on Main Street and Commercial Corridors for MOPEDs and e-bikes.

And Docket 1330 communication was received from Councillor Flynn regarding the lack of community engagement and public safety consideration for 3 a.m.

last call.

Thank you.

One more.

One more.

Sorry, go ahead.

Communication was received from Councillor Flynn requesting a supplemental budget to support recently laid off Boston Public Schools BPS employees.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Dockets 1328 through 1331 will be placed on file.

We are now on to reports of committees.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0970?

Docket 0970.

The Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, to which was referred on May 13, 2026, docket 0970 message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of 1,073,239.34 cents in the form of a grant, the FY26, Senator Charles E.

Shannon Jr.

Community Safety Initiative awarded by the Mass Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the police department.

The Grand Red Fund regional and multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through coordinated prevention and intervention, law enforcement, prosecution, and reinterrogation program submits a report recommended that the order ought to pass.

Thank you.

The Committee on Public Safety Criminal Justice.

Councillor Santana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

On Thursday last week, we held a hearing on the FY26 Senator Charles E.

Shannon Jr.

Community Safety Initiative Grant, or commonly known as the Shannon Grant.

I was joined by my colleagues, Councillor Ed Flynn, Counselor Aaron Murphy, Counselor Ben Weber, and Councillor Culpepper.

We also received a letter of absence from Councillor Louis Jeanne.

During this hearing, we heard from Demon Bills, the project coordinator for the Shannon Grant Safety Initiative Grant, as well as representatives from nonprofits and community organizations about the impact this funding has had on their work.

The Shannon Grant is an investment that supports the City of Boston's comprehensive public safety strategy through regional multidisciplinary collaboration among the state and local agencies as well as partnerships with faith-based philanthropic business and community organizations.

This year, the grant is providing funding to 17 nonprofits and community organizations.

The Shedding grant supports coordinated prevention and intervention, law enforcement, prosecution, and reintegration efforts aimed at reducing gun gang and youth violence across the city.

These initiatives fund programs and resources that promote positive youth development mentorship education and recreational opportunities for Boston's young people.

As chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, I recommend that docket number 0970 ought to pass.

I also just want to read very quickly the 17 organizations that did receive funding, so you're some so that my colleagues are aware.

In the years past, this grant was about three million dollars.

We're now down to one million dollars for this grant.

And it's projected that we will continue to see decrease in this funding.

So I think we in the past have funded over 35 organizations.

We're down to 17 right now.

And so you'll see some of that impact, but the BCYF, BMC VIAP, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Louise Lewis D.

Brown Institute, Project Wright, Youth Connect, the DA's office, U Boston, the record company, Veronica Roblis Cultural Center, Bean Town Slam, Teen Empowerment, Maverick Landing Cultural Center, Sportsman Tennis and Enrichment Center, Zoomix, We Are Better Together, and Mothers for Justice and Equity are the 17 organizations that received grant funding this year.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana.

Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Madam President, I do want to begin by expressing my disappointment that the state would reduce the Boston Shannon's grant by $600,000 compared to the previous year.

At a time when communities across Boston continue to grapple with gun violence, gaining activity, and the track track tragic events we witnessed this past weekend.

This is precisely when we should be expanding investments, improving violence prevention strategies, not scaling them back.

Knowing that this reduction was coming, I also believe the city should have been should have anticipated this gap during the fiscal 27 budget process.

Barrel and presenting organizations should not be forced to reduce services because of decisions made at the state level when the city has the ability to prioritize these investments locally.

Had we planned for this reduction, we could have supplemented a portion of that loss to the city budget to help ensure continuity of services for organizations doing this life-saving work.

That said, if ever there was a time for Boston to accept the Shannon grant funding, that time is now.

While this award is smaller than in prior years, it still represents more than a million dollars that will support coordinated prevention, intervention, law enforcement, prosecution, and reintegration efforts aimed at reducing gain and youth violence.

Turning aside these resources would only make it harder to keep our community safe.

Shannon Grant is far more than a law enforcement grant.

For 20 years, it has supported a comprehensive public safety strategy and has funded approximately 250 nonprofit organizations across Boston.

Although funding rejections have meant that only 17 nonprofit and city organizations, as stated by Councillor Santana, will receive awards this year.

Those organizations remain the backbone of this work.

Well, I hope the state restores and expands Shannon funding in future years.

Today our responsibility is clear.

We should accept these funds so that Boston can continue supporting the organizations, outreach workers, and community partners who are doing the difficult work of preventing violence before it occurs.

And I might say, Madam President, when I did the youth gang work and we were in the streets with the young folks, fighting, working to help them find jobs and to help them understand the significance of being part of the positive environment in the community.

It was a Shannon grant that made a big difference years ago to show that the organizations were doing the work, not only had the funds necessary to expand to do the work, but also the Shannon grant was spread across some of the organizations that worked with the toughest and the roughest of these young folks.

So now we see we won't have the money to be spread around as much, but the work will continue, and I will vote in favor of receiving this grant.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpapper.

Counselor Flynn?

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and I want to say thank you to Councillor Santana for an informative meeting and had an opportunity to listen to the award recipients about the programs that they run and how effective they are in impacting and supporting our youth and families.

I also will be voting in favor of this.

You know, we have we have also to acknowledge the with the increase in violence.

It's about public safety, it's about uh supporting our police, but it's also equally as important, supporting our young people, giving them an opportunity to learn about violence prevention, learning about jobs and education, supporting them in different after-school type of programs.

I learned this as a probation officer for eight years at Suffolk Superior Court.

It's not just about the law and order aspect of it, it.

It's about giving people hope, giving people an opportunity before they even get into the criminal justice system.

But I also know that when someone is in the criminal justice system, we also have a responsibility when they come out to provide them with education, training, support, social services.

99% of people coming out of jail in prison are coming back to our communities.

And yes, they have made mistakes, but they deserve an opportunity to get back into society.

Reintegration is a critical part of it.

And that's why I support these programs.

It's about helping young people, but it's also giving them a little bit of encouragement, a little bit of support, especially during these challenging times.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0970.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0970?

Rule 12 vote on Docket 0970.

Councilor Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden, yes.

Council Coletta Zapata.

Council Culpepper.

Yes.

Council of Culpepper, yes.

Councillor Dukin.

Council Dopin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigian.

Yes.

Council Luigian, yes.

Council Mehia.

Council Mehia, yes.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes.

Council Pepin.

Yes.

Council Papen, yes.

Council Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Counselor Weber, yes.

Council.

Yes.

Council Warrel, yes.

Twelve and affirmative.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted and docket 0970 has passed.

Madam Turk, could would you please read Docket 0968?

Docket 0968, the Committee on Planning Development on Transportation, to which was referred to on March 13, 2026, message and order authorizing the City of Boston, acting through the Mayor's Office of Housing, to accept and expend payments in the amount of $30 million given to the city inclusionary development policy fund.

The City of Boston Inclusionary Development Policy Fund was established by executive order in February 2000 to support the production and prevention of affordable housing and new market rate housing development.

The IDP requires all developers of residential development projects, which 10 or more units to include affordable units in their project as a condition of receiving relief from the Boston Zoning Code.

Further, the exclusive or the exclusive order provide the option for developers to make contribution to the IDP fund in lieu of providing on-site affordable units, subject to the approval of Boston Planning and Development Agency submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes the chair of the committee on planning development and transportation.

Councillor Durkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair.

I think you just gave me a promotion.

Now I'm the head of the planning department.

Don't tell Kairos.

Thank you, Council President.

On Thursday, June 25th, the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation convened a hearing on Docket 0968, an order authorizing the Mayor's Office of Housing to accept and expand 30 million from the inclusionary development policy fund.

I was joined by my colleague, Councillor Flynn, and the committee heard testimony from the mayor's office of housing officials, Rick Wilson, the Director of Administration and Finance, Christine O'Keefe, Director of Neighborhood Development, and Andy Feldman, Housing Policy Manager.

Inclusionary zoning was established by executive order in February of 2000 to support production and preservation of affordable housing and new market rate housing in Boston.

The MOH officials described the evolution of IDP policy and oversight, noting that the administration was transferred it from the BPDA to MOH in 2013.

They also discussed the 2023 policy updates, which increase IDP percentages.

These funds are IDP revenue generated from payments made in lieu of on-site or off-site units, as well as other one time partial unit payments overseen by the BPDA.

The panelists shared more than 200 million of IDP revenue has been collected since the policy's inception, and projected that the program will collect 26 million in fiscal year 27 and 28, consistent with the typical annual range.

The 30 million authorized in this order, together with the six million that was previously authorized, has been allocated to 10 affordable housing projects, including both rental and home ownership opportunities across Roxbury, Madagan, East Boston, Dorchester, and Chinatown.

Many of these projects are close to completion, and the passage of this today will provide the funding needed to help to keep moving forward hundreds of affordable rental and home ownership units.

We know how urgently Boston needs affordable housing, and I have great confidence in MOH's ability to keep continue delivering quality affordable housing across Massachusetts with these funds.

For that reason, as the chair of planning, development and transportation, my recommendation to the full council is that this matter ought to pass.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Jerkin.

The chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0968.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Uh Madam Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0968?

Roll call vote on Docker 0968.

Council Brainon, yes.

Council Braden, yes, Council of Colada Zapata.

Council Call Pepper.

Yes.

Council Call Pepper, yes.

Council Ducan.

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

Council Flynn, yes, Council Luigian.

Council Mehia.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Council Pepin, yes, Council Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Council Weber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes, Council Royal.

Yes.

Council Weber, yes.

Thank you.

Uh the committee report has been adopted and docket 0968 has passed.

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

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

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1332?

Docket 1332, Council Cal Pepper offer the following.

Petition for a special law regarding an act relative to increasing civil penalties for illegal position, use and sale of fireworks in the city of Boston.

The Chair recognizes Council Colpepper.

Council, you have the floor.

Madam President, every year, neighborhoods across Boston experience the consequences of illegal fireworks.

Residents lose sleep, veterans and others living with PTSD are affected by repeated explosions, pets become distressed.

Families worry about the risk of fires, injuries, and property damage.

Especially during July 4th.

This home rule petition increases the civil fine for the illegal possession or use of fireworks to between 100 and 1,000 and increases the civil fine for the illegal sale or offering for sale of fireworks to between 500 and 5,000 dollars.

All existing enforcement provisions includes seizure, forfeiture, arrest, authority, and all applicable criminal penalties remain unchanged.

The goal of this petition is simple: to provide a stronger deterrent against conduct that continues to threaten public safety and disrupt neighborhoods across our city.

Illegal fireworks are not a harmless nuisance.

They create real risks for residents, firefighters, emergency personnel, and property owners by updating funds that have not kept pace with the seriousness of these violations.

We're strengthening a tool to discourage illegal fireworks while preserving the broader enforcement framework already established under state law.

And I might add one of the reasons that really move me to file this is sitting up at night, getting calls from folks about fireworks, and the possibility that a home or home would be set on fire.

It's amazing that we have to every year during July 4th go through the same thing over and over and just sit there and nod our heads.

But I think before something becomes seriously, like a home catching fire, that this council needs to act.

And I put this forward with all seriousness because 4th of July night, fireworks were going crazy.

And one of the persons there stood up and said, I'm the adult here, and I'm the mother of many of these kids.

I said, You are the one responsible.

And she said, I'll take responsibility.

I went in house, got a big green bag.

The next morning they cleaned up all of the fireworks residue that was left on there.

And so I just think that we need to be able to work to uh as a deterrent to these illegal fireworks in the city of Boston.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpecker.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Counselor Fitzgerald, Counselor Flynn, Councillor Luigian, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Counselor Weber, Councillor Warell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docker 1332 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Madam Clerk, Councillor, Madam Clerk, could you please read Docker 1333?

Docket 1333.

Councillor Flynn offered a following order-free hearing to discuss the impacts of recent Boston public schools, personnel cuts on students with disabilities.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

May I add Councillor Mejia as an original co-sponsor?

Councillor Mejia so added.

May I suspend the rules and add Council Murphy?

Seeing it here, no objections, Council Murphy's added as a third.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

With the recent vote by the city council to approve the BPS budget, hundreds of teachers, paraprofessionals, and other frontline workers, educators, are anticipated to lose their jobs.

These dedicated and compassionate workers provide critical social services to many of the most vulnerable residents in Boston, students with disabilities.

As we reflect on this terrible injustice and the impact this will have on BPS employees and their families as well.

Individuals with students and individuals with disabilities play a critical role in our city in our country.

Individuals with disabilities act governs how states provide early intervention in special education for eligible students with disabilities, including infants, toddlers, and children in grade school.

In Massachusetts, all students are entitled to a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, meaning that all students with disabilities are permitted to services like speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, assistive technology, transportation, and other academic accommodations, including deadline extensions.

These BPS personal cuts may result in devastating impacts for students with disabilities.

Let me let me rephrase that.

They will result in devastating impact for students with disabilities.

In the absence of paraprofessionals, all students, especially those with disabilities, may face difficulties with classroom support, accessing resources, accommodations, and ultimately result in a decline in academic and social programs.

With the projected loss of several hundred BPS employees, it's critical that the city council provides oversight and understands the consequences of our actions for students, families, and neighbors.

It was reported that it was likely 400 personnel at BPS would be impacted.

I think it's much larger than that.

I think it might be 500.

Those are 500 BPS families, but there are also students with disabilities that won't get the needed critical services that they're entitled to by law.

Let me say that again.

By federal law, students with disabilities have a right to the same education as everybody else.

That's by federal law.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank Councillor Flynn for adding me to this hearing order.

You know, I voted against the BPS budget because we knew that the significant staff cuts to students facing positions would negatively impact all students, most especially our students with uh special educational needs, our multi and our multi-lingual learners.

The BTU teachers, paras, and other school staff, youth and families, community and community members, sounded the alarm for months.

Yet the school committee and some of our council colleagues approved the BPS budget anyways.

Historically, Boston has been a leader in inclusive education, but advocates have been warning that programs have been weakening with personnel cuts in the last BPS budget.

Our students and the educators who are now supporting them with fewer colleagues and resources than ever before will suffer.

We need to have a conversation to understand the impacts of these personnel cuts will have on students with disabilities and develop a long-term plan to better support our students.

I look forward to this hearing and having the conversation.

So I look forward to doing just that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn, for including me and Council Mejia in this important conversation, and thank you for the way you worded it to discuss the impacts.

I know that we've had many conversations about the job loss of hundreds.

The last article had it at 560 jobs lost for September.

And it's important that we do continue to talk about the budget.

And I know there was a hearing at the last meeting that I didn't think should go in Ways and Means.

I'm hoping this goes into education where we can really talk about the direct negative impact this is going to have on our students who need these supports the most, and always caring and talking about the loss of jobs that our neighbors are going to be losing.

But looking forward to this conversation and hearing directly, and hopefully this hearing, Councillor Flynn, um, is happens before the school year starts.

So before our students come back to our classrooms, that we on this council are able to get the information needed to advocate to make sure that our teachers, our principals, our parents, especially our students, have the support so that they can get the resources that they need.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Counselor Durkin, Counselor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Pepin, Council Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Docket uh docket number 1333 will be referred to the committee on education, Madam Clerk.

Could you please read document one three three four?

Docket 1334.

Councillor Peppa offered a following order for hearing to discuss the status of HVAC updates in the Boston Public Schools.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Peppin.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I would like to suspend the rules and add yourself, Council Fitzgerald as a third co-sponsor.

Thank you.

And I'd like to suspend the rules and add counselor Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, beg your pardon.

Boston Public Schools has made significant progress in upgrading H-back systems across school buildings over the past several years.

Okay.

We are now back in session.

We will go back to uh Councillor Peppen.

You docket number 1334.

You have the floor.

If you'd like to start at the beginning of your comments again, that might be good.

Yeah.

Thank you, Council President.

Sorry.

Would like to add you as a second co-sponsor.

I'm added, thank you.

And then you asked to add Councillor Fitzgerald as a third, so there was no I didn't see or hear any objection, so Councillor Fitzgerald is added as a third.

Yeah.

You have.

Thank you.

Boston Public Schools has made a significant progress in upgrading HVAC systems across school buildings over the past several years.

However, eight buildings remain without full building air conditioning and temperatures reached over 90 degrees in some classrooms during the last month of school.

Two of those schools out of the eight are in my district, the Mozart and the Bates.

A good amount of parents reached out to my office with concerns of the temperatures that the classrooms reach during some of the warmer days at the end of the school year.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm a second sponsor on this.

I think they allow me to speak for two minutes.

Councillor Braden, you now have the floor.

Got it, thank you.

Um I'd like to thank Councillor Peppen for bringing this important issue forward and for adding me as a co-sponsor.

Many BPS facilities are very old, and as the climate continues to grow hotter and more unpredictable, we need to have a plan.

The status of HVAC systems remains a major issue for our BPS facilities.

The Jackson Mann School building in Alston was declared on inappropriate for its intended use, and large part due to deferred maintenance of the HVAC system.

HVAC improvements appeared in the capital budget decades ago, but action was never taken, and the school was forced to close as a result.

Addressing HVAC challenges will require coordination among many departments.

HVAC upgrades must be integrated into a broader capital planning, electrical modernization, and climate resilience efforts.

Additionally, extreme heat affects students' ability to focus, retain information, and perform academically.

Every BPS student deserves a comfortable environment in which to learn.

This is particularly important for our students with disabilities, where as many of them have temper temperature regulation issues.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Culpepper.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

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

This one's personal for me as my kids go to a school that does not have air conditioning and obviously just missed uh with the late school year.

They just missed it by a week of having 100 degree temperatures outside uh and what that could have done uh to the learning environment for my children and everyone's children inside.

Um so I appreciate Council Pepin bringing up the fact of just asking the administration and folks uh at the BPS uh what the timeline is and what we can do in the meantime to mitigate these impacts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would it would anyone like to add their names?

Councillor Flynn, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Murphy, Councillor P.

Oh, Council Santana, Council Weber, Council Worrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Doctor number one three three four will be referred to the committee on education.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Madam Chair, could you please read Docker 1335?

Order for hearing to discuss the status of the Blackstone Pool and independent engineering study on repairs.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

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

Councillor Fitzgerald is added as a second.

And may I suspend the rules and add Councillor Culpepper, please?

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Culpepper's added as a third.

And just want to note that the Blackstone pool is in the South End, and it's shared by myself, Council Fitzgerald, and um Councillor Culpepper.

Want to thank both of them for um their commitment to the residents of the South End.

The Blackstone Community Center in Boston Public School has historically served communities of color in the South End and Roxbury, including across the street is Villa Victoria, and across from that is the BHA Ruth Barkley apartments.

It has been closed indefinitely due to structural issues, drain line failure, groundwater intrusion.

Of the 18 pools operated by BC BCYF and or Boston Public Schools, nine were closed for the summer of 2025.

Significantly limiting access to swim lessons, swim lessons, and recreational water activities, which are vital for health, youth development exercise.

16 of the 18 pools have since reopened, with the exception of the Blackstone Swimming Pool and the Maribella Swimming Pool.

The City of Boston FY 27 through 31 capital budget includes 500,000 of the Blackstone school study, which will determine the scope of major renovations at the school and pool.

A complete renovation will take years.

However, this pool closure continues to worsen disparities and exposure to hotter summits and denies enrichment opportunities for communities of color in our immigrant neighbors.

We're just talking about hundred-degree days in BPS.

In June 2026, the City Council held the hearing on the overall condition of BCYF pools, where BPS informed the body that reopening the Blackstone would require a full excavation to understand the full scope of damage in maybe in major renovations to BCYF Blackstone.

It's critical that the Blackstone pool undergo an independent engineering study on how to fix the pool.

In my opinion, failure to invest the appropriate resources in the Blackstone School is an issue of social, economic, environmental, and racial justice.

I want to ensure that my constituents, constituents in the South End and Roxbury, have equal opportunity as other neighborhoods.

I want to see how we're able to give the kids from the South End in Roxbury the opportunity the opportunity to go to a swimming pool in their neighborhood and learn and take swimming lessons.

I think this is an issue about equal justice and ensuring that communities of color have the same rights and opportunities as other neighborhoods.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The Chair recognizes and recognizes Counselor Fitzgerald.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to thank Council Flynn for adding as a co-sponsor here, knowing again, with Council Culpepper, myself, and Councillor Flynn representing a large swath of the South End, that these are our constituents who use this pool and have every right and ability that should have that ability to have that amenity in their neighborhood.

And so we look forward to having the Blackstone pool reopened and hopefully get these repairs underway.

Thank you.

Madam President, I'd like to associate myself with the remarks from Councillor Flynn and Councillor Fitzgerald.

We recently had that hearing where we discussed the significance of the swimming pools in the city of Boston.

It's sad that Blackstone will not be part of the good times, the training, the swim meets that they'll have at the different pools.

I think they deserve it, and I think the sooner they can get it done, the better it would be for the students of Blackstone.

Hopefully it can be done soon.

Again, Councillor Flynn, thank you for filing that resolution and uh to my colleague counselor Fitzgerald.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Councillor Durkin, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Counselor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Hunter Santana, Councillor Weber, Counselor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Docket uh 1335 will be referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Madam Clerk, could you please read dock it?

Could you please read docket 1336?

Docket 1336, Councillor Flynn offer the following order for hearing to discuss the potential impact on city revenues in the event that Boston received and on favor favorable unfavorable court judgment on commercial property assessments.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes counselor counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The City of Boston is currently involved in a lawsuit with a group of commercial property owners over alleged inflation of commercial property values.

While the lawsuit is ongoing in court, there could be major impacts to Boston's assessing practices and generated revenues in the City of Boston if Boston does not win the case.

In the event that Boston does not win the case, I think it is important to have a discussion what impact it has on the City of Boston in our finances.

In December 2025, a group of commercial property owners entered into a lawsuit with the City of Boston, alleging that the city had implemented a policy for property owners who have filed for an abatement and appeal to the ATB.

They described it as retaliatory.

In May 2026, Suffolk Superior Court denied the City of Boston's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

While the litigation is ongoing, the potential negative economic implications on the city of Boston should be discussed.

We don't really know what the implications would be.

If any commercial property assessments have a major impact on Boston's revenue, it's critical that Boston and property tax assessments are conducted with transparency, and there should be an opportunity for the city councilors to ask questions about this process.

I think it's important for the city council to be more engaged in this practice and learning, especially learning about assessing department, the critical work they play, the impact they have on taxes in the city.

But it is important for us to learn that if there is a negative uh ruling by the court that we can have a respectful conversation on what impact it will have on the city finances, neighborhood services, quality of life issues.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Would anyone else like to add their name?

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

Docket number 1336 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1337?

Docket 1337, Councillor Peppin and Webber offer and offer the following order for a hearing to discuss the fulfillment of community benefits funded by the development projects.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Peppen.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to suspend the rules and add Council Louis Jean as a third.

As a third, seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Louis Jeanne's added as a third.

Thank you.

Applicants for certain building projects in the city of Boston are required to identify and create benefits for the surrounding community as part of their review process.

These include improvements to open spaces in the public room, jobs, and affordable housing.

However, the production of these community benefits can face unclear timelines or not be completed at all.

This hearing will discuss the status of community benefits for current development projects, the process for completing them on schedule, and see what can be done to make sure our communities get what they deserve.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chair recognizes Councillor Weber.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Yeah, thank you very much.

I just want to thank uh the um uh councillor Pepin for for adding me on to this.

Uh, you know, if this has been an issue in District Six, uh, you know, with several projects uh trying to get the developers to comply with the promised community benefits.

Um so I look forward to being part of the discussion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Louis Jeanne.

Counselor, you have the floor.

I'm skipping it.

Thank you, and I just want to thank Councilor Peppen for um for adding me.

Um my office has been doing work on this issue, um, and I know that there's issues with databases to ensure accountability, and so I'm just glad to be on it and look forward to working.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louis Jeanne.

Would anyone else like to add their name?

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

Uh docket number one three three seven will be referred to the committee on planning development and transportation.

Um I'm going to call on my colleague again.

Madam Clerk, would you please read the docket?

Docket 1338.

Councillor Braden offer the following.

Order for hearing to discuss re-establishing a post office location in Alston.

Chair recognizes Councillor Braden.

Counselor Braden, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I rise today in support of this hearing order to discuss the urgent need to re-establish uh a U.S.

Postal Service location in Alston.

Alston's postal branch, post office branch was closed in November of 2019, when the building was located in a uh a building that was deemed structurally unsound.

Uh, for the past seven years, the nearly 300 31,000, nearly 32,000 residents of Alston have been without a neighborhood post office, forcing families, seniors, students, and small business owners to rely on a single location in Brighton Center.

In June 2025, USPS sent a letter to Mayor Wu confirming the final decision to reestablish a post office branch in Alston after a fully negotiated lease with a new development currently under construction at the previous post office site.

In April of this year, my office receives a letter from USPS stating that they had decided to temporarily pause looking for an alternative facility while it further reviews the operational needs in Alston.

This abrupt reversal is an unconscionable, unacceptable, broken promise in the to the Alston Brighton community.

I'm calling for a hearing today to allow the council to hear directly from USPS, the developer that is pre that had previously secured a commitment from USPS, city officials regarding the delay, and to identify next steps.

Restoring a post office in Alston is about equity, accessibility, and ensuring every neighborhood has access to this essential public service.

I hope this hearing brings uh helps bring all parties back to the table to see if we can finally deliver on the commitment that was made to the people of Alston.

I urge my colleagues to support this hearing and look forward to the discussion.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Counselor Flynn, Councillor Louis Jen, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Counselor Woolwell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket number 1338 will be referred to the Committee on Pilot Agreements, Institutional, and Intergovernmental Relations.

Thank you, Councillor Culpeper.

Um Madam Clerk, could you please read Docker 1339?

No, did I jump ahead too far?

No.

Dr.

1339, Council Culpepper offer the following order for a hearing regarding housing board voucher discrimination and fair housing civil rights enforcement in Boston.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Madam President, I would like to add Counselor Warrell as the second original co-sponsor.

Councillor Warrell is so added.

Thank you, Madam President.

Boston continues to face a housing affordability crisis, but affordability alone is not enough.

If residents who lawfully qualify for housing are still denied equal access because of who they are or how they pay their rent.

Fair housing is a civil rights issue, and every resident should have an equal opportunity to access safe, stable housing, regardless of their race or whether they rely on a housing voucher.

Research conducted by the Suffolk University Law School Housing Discrimination Testing Program and the Boston Foundation found troubling evidence that discrimination remains widespread in a greater Boston rental market.

The report found evidence of voucher-based discrimination in 86% of tests and race-based discrimination in 71% of tests, with winners receiving different treatment throughout the housing search process from initial inquiries and apartment showings to applications and follow-up communication.

This hearing is an opportunity to better understand the extent of housing discrimination in Boston, evaluate whether our current enforcement tools are sufficient, and identify additional steps the city can take to strengthen fair housing education, testing enforcement, and coordination with state and local partners.

We are serious about expanding access to housing and combating segregation and combating segregation, then we must also ensure the residents who have housing vouchers or other lawful sources of income are not unlawfully denied the opportunity to live in the neighborhoods of their children.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

The chair recognizes Councillor Warrell.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Cole Pepper, for introducing this hearing order and adding me as an original co-sponsor.

We know residents are still facing housing discrimination in our city.

That's our obligation as a city council to make combating that discrimination a priority in our actions, not just in our value statements.

That's exactly why I filed a hearing order earlier this year to discuss the city's implementation of fair housing practices and how the administration is fair and achieving the goals laid out in the original affirmatively furthering fair housing assessment.

That assessment was put together in 2016 by a dedicated team of housing experts and advocates called the Community Advisory Committee to outline how the city must affirmably further fair housing opportunities for all our residents.

That assessment sheds light on discrimination in our city with steps outlined to rectify the problem.

In 2020, Boston became the first major city in the nation to include fair housing requirements in the zoning code that mandate developers to take significant steps to prevent the displacement and ensure equitable housing access.

As a council last year, we voted 11-0 in favor of strengthening and protecting our family further and fair housing ideals.

So let's follow through, and I'm looking forward to this hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Royale.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Counselor Fitzgerald, Counselor Flynn, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docker 1339 will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity, and Immigrant Advancement.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docker 1340?

Docket 1340, Councillor Culpepa offer the following order for a hearing to examine the civil rights implications of rapid transit inequities in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Council Culpepper.

Council, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, may Dr.

1341 be read alongside 1340.

Certainly you can read them together, but when it comes to uh adding co-sponsors or whatever, we'll figure it out as we go.

So, Madam President.

Dr.

1341, Councillor Colpepa offer the following resolution in support of evaluating the orange line extension along Blue Hill Avenue.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Councillor Rowell as a second original co-sponsor.

On doctors 1340.

1340.

Okay, thank you.

And 1341.

Okay.

Uh Councillor Warrell is so added to Docket 1340 and 1341.

Thank you, Madam President.

Access to reliable high speed, high capacity public transportation is fundamentally a civil rights issue because it determines rep whether residents have equal access to employment, education, health care, child care, and economic opportunity.

When some neighbors receive sustained investment and rapid transit, while others wait decades for promise improvements, we have a responsibility to ask whether those decisions have produced disparate impacts and whether every community has been afforded equal opportunity.

Nearly 40 years ago, when the Orange Line was relocated to the Southwest Corridor, residents lost rapid transit service along Washington Street with the understanding that comparable rail service would replace it.

That promise, madam president and my colleagues, has never been fully realized.

And today the corridor remains one of the busiest bus corridors in the Commonwealth while continuing to lack the permanent rapid transit infrastructure found elsewhere in the city.

During that same period, the Commonwealth continued investing in major rail projects elsewhere, including the completion of the red line extension to Alwife in 1985, the relocation of the orange line and construction of new Southwest Corridor stations in 1987, the opening of the Silver Line Waterfront in 2004, the opening of assembly station on the Orange Line in 2014, and the completion of the Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford beginning in 2022.

Well, each of these projects served important transportation needs.

They also illustrate their transformational rail investments have continued to move forward in other parts of Greater Boston, while communities along Blue Hill Avenue have continued waiting for the rapid transit improvements they were promised.

This hearing is not about dimension diminishing investments made elsewhere.

It is about asking whether the distribution of rapid transit infrastructure over the past four decades has been equitable.

It is about asking whether the distribution of rapid transfer infrastructure over the past four decades has been equitable.

It is about asking whether the distribution of rapid transit infrastructure over the past four decades has been equitable, whether historic planning decisions have had a disparate impact on protected communities, and what steps are necessary to ensure that future transportation investments advance equal opportunity rather than reinforce long-standing disparities.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Warrell.

I'm assuming you'd want to speak to both these documents that you're a co-sponsor.

Yes.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

And I just urge everyone, especially my colleagues to look up the MBTA map overlaid on top of the city of Boston.

What you see is a gap that covers a large portion of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapin.

Cannot help but see this gap in transit and connect it to the gaps in wages, the gaps in educational outcomes in the gaps in health outcomes.

Some folks think doubling down on diesel buses in an environmental justice neighborhood will solve all this.

But our community is asking what so many other Boston communities have: a one-seat ride downtown on rail, not a center running bus lane to nowhere.

We're being asked to give up parking and any new housing.

We're being asked to give up parking in some of our small business districts, and then we're told that our only option is a bus rather than a train.

This gap is a painful reminder of decades of racial injustice in Boston.

We need to think big and grand to solve it, and we can't put a ceiling on the price for corrective investments.

The lack of capital planning and funding is holding back generation after generation.

So I think Council Culpepper again for his partnership on this.

It's imperative we provide transit equity and fix this transit gap for the future of black Bostonians.

Thank you, Councillor Orell.

Um I see Councillor Peppen and Councillor Flynn's light on if it if a docket is the hearing order is if you want to speak to docket number 1341.

Um, that's what I mean.

I'm not asking for vote on either of these today.

I'm asking for both of them to be referred to the committee on civil rights.

Okay, thank you.

No vote then.

Uh, we'll have no further no further discussion.

Thank you.

Okay.

Counselor Flynn.

But could I could I still speak on 1341 since it originally came in as a as a resolution?

Um, I think under the circumstances we've all had a challenging afternoon.

I will give you two minutes, Councillor Flynn.

And I'll also give the same privilege to Councillor Penn.

Then thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Just because it's um on 1341 as a resolution, we we do have the under the law, we do have the right to um speak on it if a vote does take place with the resolution.

But my point, my point is I want to say thank you to Council Culpepper, Council Warrell for bringing this important subject forward.

I think as a district counselor, Councillor Culpepper, and as a district council of Council, they know their communities best.

They listen to their residents on a daily basis, they understand the transportation challenges in their particular neighborhoods.

I think when a district city council speaks on a particular issue, I think it has incredible weight because they're the closest people to the public, they're the closest people to their constituents.

So I do support them on this resolution on this hearing order and support what they're what they're asking.

And I think what they're asking is respect and dignity for their constituents.

I also believe this is also a civil rights issue as well.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Councillor Peppin, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I also wanted to rise just to thank Councillor Cole Pepper and Councillor Morrell for you know talking about this issue.

We all know that the Blue Hole conversation has not been easy.

Um I represent about 1.4 miles of it from Mattapan Square to Morton Street, and I've heard everything from people against it, people in support of it, how it's going to impact businesses, how it's going to help some people, how it's going to hurt others.

Um what I wanted to provide as part of the conversation is that what's very funny about all of this is that we used to have beautiful street cars running right down the middle of Blue Hill Ave all the way to Agerson Square from the 1890s to 1955.

And it just shows that decisions that were made over 70 years ago are now negatively impacting us because they decided to get rid of the street cars, add more lanes for cars, and we now see that the neighborhoods that do have street cars are more like the green line right now.

There, people really love that.

And what happened is that there was a huge disinvestment into this part of the city.

And I just think that you know we have to be courageous when I'm not just speaking here about Blue Hill I've speaking about public transportation in general.

We have to be courageous about the investment of it.

We have to continue to advocate for it more.

Um, I hear residents in Hyde Park asking for Orange Line extension down High Park Avenue.

I hear people in Rosalind wanting it to extend all the way down to West Roxbury.

Um, folks in Lynn want the blue line.

I there's there's so much potential that we can do, and I just hope that we can use this specific conversation to realize what a benefit it is to advocate for more public transportation so that our residents are not facing the consequences as was made 70 years ago.

So thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Peppen.

Would anyone like to add their name to Docker 1340?

The hearing order for the hearing order for uh to examine civil rights implications of rapid transit inequities.

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

This docket number 1340 will be referred to the committee on civil rights, racial equity, and immigrant advancement.

Would anyone like to add their since uh Docket 1341 is going to go directly to committee?

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Counselor Louisiane, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Councilor Weber, and please add the chair.

Umce the wording, I'm just this wasn't going to be a reject.

I think this uh docket will go to planning, transportation and development.

Docket 1341.

Thank you.

Madam Chair.

Councillor Councillor Culpepper.

I respectfully appeal the decision of the chair to assign docket 1341 to the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity, Immigrant Advancement.

Transportation Infrastructure is not just about moving people, it is about a vehicle for opportunity.

Historically, as this hearing order notes, inequitable investments have created a train desert in the heart of Boston Black and Immigration communities.

The continued failure to provide their services of clear civil rights concern that is producing disparate impacts that limit access to health care, education, and housing.

We must examine these design and funding decisions through a civil rights lens to ensure that our public infrastructure reflects the principles of racial equity and equity, equal opportunity, something that's not happening now and has not happened for 40 years.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Uh, Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just rise in support of Council Culpepper's request to reconsider.

He also wanted them read together because I do believe he wants to work on them together with him and Council Worrell.

But it was something that Councillor Worrell said, and I'm looking forward to either you sharing with me or I'll find it after this meeting.

When you said when you overlay a map of the transit in the neighborhoods, and it's really showing the desert you speak of and the neighborhoods that are most negatively affected.

So I do think it's important that these two are heard, and I think it's more effective for us as a body to hear these together.

So I hope we keep them in the same committee and agree that it should be in the civil rights committee.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Um, I second the question.

Um counselor.

Let me see, counselor uh counselor Warrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I know uh our intent um was to have the hearing and then afterwards after the hearing uh bring this up for a vote after the hearing, and I think that is um why we as um sponsors on this wanted to keep them together um and not take a vote now but have the hearing first and then move forward with a vote after the hearing.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Um there is already as the chair of planning development and transportation, there is already a blue hill ab docket um in the planning development and transportation committee, uh, which could be heard alongside this resolution as well as the uh the other docket.

So um I I do think as it's written, it's written as a transportation docket, and I um I appeal to my colleagues.

Um we do have another docket for Blue Hav in the committee and have attempted to get that scheduled.

So looking forward to potentially uh working together um on that.

Uh again, it's I have no skin in the game other than the fact that there are other pending dockets, and I think it makes sense for all the dockets that are heard to be heard together.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If you remember the extended conversation that we had over that previous docket that Councillor Durkin is referring to, it was not written in a civil rights perspective with a civil rights uh disparate impact added to it.

So I would say, Madam President, that this docket 1341 was written as Council Warrell said to go along with 1340 and to have the vote after we had the hearing on 1340.

Thank you.

I appreciate and I think what's what's confusing is that the two dockets um were put together, and the resolution is a slightly different dynamic than the call than a hearing order.

So uh given your um given your advocacy, Councillor Culpepper, I will send uh both dockets to um um the committee on civil rights, racial equity and immigrant advancement.

Thank you.

Um I also appreciate Councillor Durkin's um intention to hold a hearing on this uh issue in the planning development and um we're working on you're working on it.

Very good, thank you.

I hope that can be addressed fairly soon.

Um so both these dockets uh one three four zero uh will go to the committee on civil rights, racial equity and immigrant advancement, and docket one three four one will also go to the committee on civil rights, racial equity and immigrant advancement.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docker 1342?

Docket 1342, Councillors Pepe and Ourell offer the following resolution calling calling on Boston Public Schools to fully partner with the Massachusetts State Roads School Program.

Chair recognizes Councillor Papin.

Councillor Pepin, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

May I add Counselor Fitzgerald as our second co-sponsor?

Councillor Fitzgerald is so added.

Thank you.

Um, as many of you know, the transportation safety around schools in our neighborhood has been my number one priority since getting into the city council.

Um this specific topic was part of my meeting speech, my very first speech on the city council.

I've been strongly advocating for this forever.

I have a lot of elementary middle schools in my district where parents continuously feel unsafe about just drivers speeding down the neighborhood streets, their kids crossing the crosswalks safely.

We honor our crossing guards making sure that they are getting the resources that they deserve.

Councillor Flynn and I were able to attend a luncheon with them with the crossing guards not too long ago and thank them personally for what they've done.

This program through the state is a is a free program, federally funded program focused on protecting children on their way to and from the classrooms.

Joining the program costs nothing to our school district.

Yet today, fewer than 60 out of the 103 eligible BPS schools are enrolled.

The reason for this is that the school leaders have to reach out individually to the state program in order to actually sign up and receive the resources, the resources, the trainings, and all the available tools that the state provides in order to teach their kids about this transportation safety.

Every family in our in every neighborhood across Boston deserves to know that their children have a safe way to get to school.

So full enrollment into the Safe Routes of School Program supports that goal, and I've already had conversations with our superintendent.

She's very open to this.

This is one of those conversations where it would benefit every single BPS student to get these resources.

So it's time that every single school that is eligible for this is receiving this resources, and that's why I'm calling to support this and get this resolution passed today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Fitchell.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you again, Councilor Pepin for having me as a co-sponsor on this bill.

Uh it's important to me not only as a parent who walks my kids to school every morning, uh, but also I believe that uh the bus budget that we have uh is exorbitantly high.

Uh and in order to save money, I think we can cut from the bus budget going back to local schools.

If we go back to local schools, then we have to make sure that there is a safe route for people to walk to those schools.

And so I think getting out and putting this infrastructure in place ahead of time for all schools will help us be better prepared for that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, Councilor Peppen, you have a second thought on that one.

No, I just I meant to I want to add suspend the rules and add Councillor Warell as a third original co-sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no objection, Councillor Morrell is added as a third.

Thank you.

Councillor Warrell, would you like to speak to this?

And then we'll go to Councillor Flynn.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Thank you to uh Councillor Pepin and also Councillor Fitzgerald uh for including me on this resolution.

Uh, we've done a lot of work with Matt Mastor Safe Routes to School to address unsafe bus routes in my district, and they are a phenomenal program over the past year.

The program served um over 600,000 students in 1,300 schools across cities in the commonwealth.

And in their most recent report, they cited numerous positive outcomes on students in their communities, not just in reduced congestion and traffic fatalities, but also improved academic performance, classroom attendance, physical activity, and strengthen interpersonal skills among students.

At the city level, the Boston SRTS project has focused on pedestrian and bike safety education as well.

The city program is mostly focused on elementary schools, but we know the state-run program offers support for all our schools.

My office has worked with them around some of the schools in my district, including the King, Tech Boston, and the Conservatory Lab Charter School.

I want to give a big shout out to Tina for really working with our school leaders and offering realistic and responsive support around the school communities' needs rather than a technocratic approach to pedestrian and cyclist safety.

I know many of our schools are partnering with the Boston safe routes to school chapter, but there are too many that are not.

This means many of our schools are not getting access to free resources and services that could have substantial traffic traffic safety and health benefits for our students and communities in order to create a safe transportation system citywide.

I'm urgent full partnership with the MassDocs safe route to school to allow every BPS student to benefit from safer and greater access to transportation to school.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Chair recognizes Counselor Flynn.

Council, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

Um thank you to the sponsors for bringing this forward.

It was it was wonderful to join Councillor Pepin a couple weeks ago as he mentioned in Roxbury, where there was a lunch to recognize the crossing guards throughout the city of Boston.

I think the crossing guards play a critical role in our city.

Um I think they're really unsung heroes as far as I'm concerned and really do an exceptional job.

They don't receive the recognition or the pay or the or the support that I believe they they earned.

But I would I would like for us to uh moving forward to do as much as we can for the crossing guards because of the critical role they play in public safety, literally putting their body in front of a car to ensure the safety of a student.

We've heard about that.

We know that's that's the case.

The other point I wanted to make, madam chair, is I do believe traffic enforcement is a critical aspect that needs to take place by the Boston police, especially especially cars that are speeding reckless driving in and around schools.

We know that the speed limit is 25 miles an hour at schools is 20 miles an hour.

I do think that is excessive 20 miles an hour at a school.

I think it should be reduced to 15 miles an hour, um, and making sure that we do more traffic enforcement.

I've asked uh requested from the police commissioner that we do more traffic enforcement in and around schools for cars that are speeding, and I know councillor Pepin worked on this.

When we see the school bus that has the stop sign coming out of it, we often see cars driving right by it.

That's a major violation as as far as I'm concerned.

Um, but traffic enforcement by Boston police has to be a critical part of this conversation, along with hopefully reducing the speed limit once again.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair, and I just want to thank Councillor Peppen for his advocacy.

Uh we have a number of issues in district eight, um, outside of the Tobin and Fenway High School, and so making sure that kids can get to school safely is of utmost priority, and I plan on supporting this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Cold Pepper, Counselor Durkin, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Santana, Counselor Weber, Councillor, and please add the chair.

Councillors Pepin, Fitzgerald, and Warrell seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket one three four two.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1342?

We will call forward on Docket 1342.

Councillor Braden.

Yes, Council Braden, yes, Council.

Council Carl Pepper.

Council Carl Pepper, yes, Councillor Duken.

Council Dubkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes, Council Flynn.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigi, yes, Council Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Peppin.

Council Peppin, yes, Councillor Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes, Council Rao.

Council World.

11 and affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Madam Clerk.

Uh Docket Uh 1342 has been adopted.

Um, you had a question.

Yes.

Um, before we move forward, um, docket 1341, the resolution.

Central staff had handed out a substitution for some wording, and I don't remember if that was substituted before we voted on it.

So I just want to make sure that we have the right docket.

I know, but I'm just putting it towards the president to let her know.

I'm not sure if you got a copy, but I'm just noticing that that wasn't mentioned when we read the dockets together.

I know it went to committee, but just making sure that we have the right docket that was formally brought to committee.

We still named a resolution even though we didn't vote.

Thank you Councillor Murphy for bringing this to my attention we'll just hold on a second we have a brief recess.

Thank you.

We're back in session.

Thank you Councillor Murphy for that inquiry Council Culpepper would you like to address this question from Counselor Murphy.

Yes madam President I'd like to keep the way it is we can change the language when we vote on the committee certainly thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you Councillor Murphy.

So what are we um next up, Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket one three four three docket one three four three Councilor Louis Jeanne offer the following resolution denouncing the United States Supreme Court decision along allowing the termination of temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian nationals and affirming Boston support for TPS holders.

Chair recognizes Council Louis Jean, you have the floor.

Thank you, Councilor Braden um I would like to add Councillor Pipeton as a second original co-sponsor.

Councillor Peppen is so added.

The decision of the Supreme Court to terminate temporary protected status has a devastating impact on our city.

A devastating impact on our residents.

This reckless decision that where it foregoes its responsibility to do judicial review of administrative action and where it ignores the very clear racial animus and anti-blackness of this administration in their immigration policy and a number of other policies, is a smack in the face of so many here in our city and in our country.

My phones in our office have been ringing off the hook since the decision with people worried, scared, and looking for help, and it is at a point of crisis for so many.

Employers who are trying to figure out what to do.

And so the effect and the impact on our economy on families, tearing families apart.

We are already seeing declining enrollment in our schools that is going to continue with these reckless decisions that scare families and tear them apart here in our city, um, home to one of the largest Haitian communities and a large Syrian community.

This opinion is also going to have an effect on the 15 other countries that have had the TPS designation.

We were just here with our Venezuelan community uh lifting the flag yesterday, and that uh is a and they just experienced an earthquake.

All of these decisions are very real to our residents.

Um, and so I want to uplift the work that so many have done from the lawyers who argued the case to the immigrant family services institute here to um association of Haitian Women for Boston.

They're uh I want to thank Governor Healy, who very quickly organized uh press conference condemning this decision because she understands vitally what this is going to mean for our economy.

We're talking about people who have a lawful immigrant status and who have had one for years, who have adult U.S.

citizen children who pay billions of dollars in taxes to our city.

So I'm just my entire office, we are devastated by this decision.

So many of our immigrant communities and national TPS coalition devastated by this decision.

We're working on legal clinics, we're working on family preparedness clinics.

We are working on uplifting the Senate Bill 4814 and want to continue thanking Congresswoman Presley for the work that she did in Congress to for TPS three-year extension.

We know that we would need it to pass the Senate as well, and we are organizing people around Senate Bill 4814.

I wish we didn't have to do this because this decision is again reckless, harmful in ignoring the very real racial animus of this administration.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louis Jean.

Uh Chair recognizes Councilman Peppin.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I asked Council Louis Jean to be a co-sponsor on this resolution because of how devastating this is to the Haitian community and to the Syrian community.

Um I was able to join Council Louis Jeanne and others at the steps at the State House and to feel the pain and the frustration that these this community is facing because of such just inhumane decisions taken by our Supreme Court by the president of this country.

Um yes, this is about federal issues and federal legislation.

However, this genuinely impacts the people right here in the city of Boston.

I can hear Dr.

Gobo repeating the numbers 4814 during her speech and asking the Senate to please support it.

Um but I also hear the outcry from the community.

You know, I obviously represent a beautiful Haitian community in District 5 and just seeing what a thriving, hard work and loving community they are.

I just don't understand how these decisions can be made.

I wanted to stand here in solidarity to make sure that my council colleague, Councillor Louis Gen, who worked tirelessly to make sure that this was was passed at the congression at the Congressional level, which did so successfully with Congresswoman Presley's support.

But there's a lot more work to do, and I just wanted to stand here in support and thank my colleague for all the work that she does.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Papen.

Chair recognizes Counselor Santana.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Louis Gen for offering this important resolution.

The Supreme Court decision is a moral failure.

We could not allow residents and families to be at risk of deportation back to sites of political instability and humanitarian crisis.

TPS holders have become an integral part of Boston through its businesses and community participation, and we would not be the city we are today without them.

The loss of this status will damage communities and inflict hardships on families and residents of Boston.

The loss of protective status for Haitian and Syrian nationals is something the City of Boston and the Boston City Council must condemn.

I stand in full support of this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I also want to say thank you to the sponsors for bringing this important resolution forward.

The U.S.

Supreme Court decision ending TPS status for Haiti is unconscionable.

TPS acknowledges that people should not be forced to return to a country like Haiti that's riddled with war or natural disasters.

When I was stationed in the Navy in 2009-2010 in Guantanamo, the devastating earthquake wreaked havoc on the people of Haiti, which was just maybe 90 miles from where I was at that time.

I saw the incredible work of so many humanitarian organizations that volunteered to support this devastated country.

But we know that when this happened, it was important for the United States to welcome Haitian people, and they've contributed greatly to this city for so many years.

I believe we need to show compassion for victims of natural disasters and those in need by extending TPS for the people impacted.

I previously stood with the Haitian community in 2000 and 2018 and 2023, calling for the extension of TPS.

Advocated for more assistance for our Haitian neighbors as well.

We are a city and nation of immigrants and must always welcome those in search of a better life for themselves, their families, and those who have endured terrible natural disasters as well.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Roarell.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Councillor Louis Gen, for filing uh this important resolution, and thank you for all your work around uh fighting back against the Trump administration.

Ending temporary protective status as the Trump administration is doing will mean thousands.

Thousands of Haitian and Syrian families will lose their jobs, their communities, and any and all senses of security for no other reason than deep-seated hatred from our federal officials.

For 250 years, elected officials in our nation have touted ourselves as a beacon of hope for the wary to find refuge, opportunity, and to be accepted and embraced for who they are.

Ending something as crucial as TPS is a direct violation of that 250-year-old promise.

So I stand in support of this resolution and again thank you for this filing.

Thank you, Councillor Warrell.

Chair recognizes Councillor Fitzgerald.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to thank Councillor Louis Jean again for bringing this forward.

Uh, and know that she has the full support of all of us on the council and just want to uplift her advocacy as they know how personal this is and how hard she's been working, uh, and we will be here to do anything we can to help.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to associate myself with the remarks of Councillor Louise Jen.

And for commending her for filing this resolution.

Just wanted to read a small paragraph from the simply an opinion by Justice Jackson, when she said that this court has vowed vastly undervalue the devastating consequences of allowing the government to up in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people while the legal challenges are still going on.

She also raised concerns during oral arguments regarding whether President Trump's effort to terminate the TPS programs were motivated by racial animus against minority populations, which we know they were, and I think Madam President, when the Supreme Court issued the decision, along with that voting rights decision, revoking section two, that I think it was a sad day in the United States of America.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpeper.

Counselor Durkin, you have you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair.

Um I just want to say how much it means that we have a Haitian member of the City Council, the first Haitian to ever be elected to the City Council serving alongside us, the first Haitian council president.

It doesn't mean that we can move mountains, and um, but I know that the Haitian community feels well represented in Council Louis Jeanne, and I'm just really proud to serve alongside her.

She advocates for her community and our Boston neighbors who deserve better.

Um I know there's a lot of fear right now.

I can't imagine feeling that type of fear.

Um I'm just grateful that we have a colleague who serves alongside us who uh represents that community with such honor and grace, and um, and we stand with the Haitian community right now during these tough times.

Thank you, Counselor Durkin.

Um I'd also like to thank Councillor Louis Jeanne for her incredible leadership, and I know she's working her and her staff.

She and her staff are working incredibly hard to try and address this really challenging and difficult situation.

The injustice in uh revoking the TPS is uh is horrific.

It shows an incredible lack of understanding and lack of uh valuing uh communities, the Syrian community, the Haitian community, and all the other communities that have temporary protected uh status in our country.

Um I have Haitian family members.

I know that this is heading home to them really strongly as well, uh, because they have families and friends in the United States that are in TPS.

So I thank you, Councillor Louis Gen, and um I think we all stand united behind your leadership on this one.

Thank you so much.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Uh Flynn, Councilor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Yuron Already, Counselor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Councillors Louis Gen and Councillor Pepin seek suspension of the rules adoption of docket one three four-three.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay, madam clerk.

Could you please take a roll call vote on 1343?

Roll call vote on docket one three four-three.

Councilor Braden.

Yes, Council Brayden, yes, Councillor Colorado Zapata.

Councilor Culpepper.

Councillor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkin.

Council Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes, Council Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes, Council Flynn, yes, Councillor Louis Jen.

Council Louis Gen, yes, Councillor Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Papin.

Council Peppin, yes, Councillor Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Councilor Weber.

Council Webber, yes, Council Worrell.

Yes.

Council Warrell, yes.

11 vote in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 1343 has been adopted.

I'll ask my colleague, Councillor Culpepper to take the chair for the next two dockets.

Madam Clerk, would you please read the docket?

Resolution resolution in support of Senate Bill 312, an act authorizing municipalities to opt into a temporary pilot to extend the hours of liquor licenses and to allow the public consumption in designated district in summer 2026.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Brady.

Councillor Braden, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

And I would like to add Councillor Warrell as a second original co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, Councilor Well has been at it.

Thank you.

This is a resolution to support Senate Bill 3112, which would extend the pilot program from municipalities to opt in to extending last call and establishing social districts through the rest of the summer.

Mayor Wu adopted Boston, opted Boston into the initial pilot early on.

More than 200 establishments now participate, and two social districts operate downtown.

There has been a positive reception.

Residents and visitors have embraced the extended hours in social districts.

We've hosted the Tartan Army and other World Cup visitors with great success.

The summer is just getting started, but the pilot program is set to expire at the end of this month.

I'm thankful to Senator Sir and Feingold for filing this legislation on Beacon Hill to keep the fund going and allow cities and towns to continue the program through August.

August is one of the busiest months for tourism in Boston.

And given the struggles of the hospitality industry that faced it faced uh post-COVID with inflation and labor shortages, allowing Boston to continue with this pilot program and create more opportunities for small businesses as a no-brainer.

This resolution calls on the council to express his support for this bill and to encourage Boston to continue opting into this pilot program should the bill ultimately pass.

I'm asking my colleagues to support this resolution and uh and thank you.

Uh it also is an opportunity since it's a pilot program to capture some vital data to inform future policy making regarding Boston's hospitality and tourist economy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh yes, no one.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and uh thank you to uh Council President Braden for uh introducing this and including me on this, and just want to give a shout out to also Senator Feingold uh for um putting this bill forward also just want to just uh also shout out the licenses department uh who has been uh working and being very flexible on uh getting this license implemented.

Um I think this is a great opportunity for our small businesses and for us to get more data on if we want to consider uh consider uh making this a permanent program here in the city of Boston.

So the more information we get, uh the more people we are bringing into the table to understand uh what are the uh pros and cons on establishing establishing something like this permanently in the city of Boston, I believe uh is beneficial not only to our city but our small businesses.

So the more information we get uh the better uh understanding we have of the program, so we can see uh what the program should look like in the future.

And again, this doesn't mean that the program needs to have every bar or every restaurant open three uh until three three a.m.

uh to every day of the week.

Uh but we could be flexible in the program.

So the more information the better, and I think this is a great opportunity for small businesses to reap the benefits on the tourism that has come back to the city of Boston.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council of Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Chair, um, I'm not going to object to a vote on this.

I I do believe the resolution should have a vote either up or down, but I am going to vote against this for several reasons.

And one of the reasons is I don't believe that there is a community engagement process in terms of keeping these bars or restaurants open till 3 a.m.

Some of the area impacted with recent decision in as it relates to downtown Boston.

Um residents in the downtown Boston area expressed to me some residents that they didn't have any opportunity to weigh in with the licensing board, with the city council, with the mayor's office.

It was just kind of rubber stamped and approved.

Um I do believe in a community engagement process.

I do think residents in a particular neighbor in a particular neighborhood should have the opportunity to voice their opinion.

If you're keeping a restaurant or bar open in a particular neighborhood, say on Broadway in South Boston where I live, do I would I want my neighbors to have the opportunity to vote for it or against it?

I I think I would.

I think residents most impacted by this type of decision should be heard.

They should be respected.

The decision should, in my opinion, should not come from City Hall.

Resident residents deserve an opportunity to be heard, to be respected.

I also think there are other issues that we have to factor in in terms of keeping bars or restaurants open to three o'clock.

What impact does that have on other city services that may need to be uh part of the solution as it relates to public safety or inspections as well?

So I'm gonna vote.

I'm gonna vote no, although I do think it should go to the a committee for a hearing, but I'm not going to do that because I I want to be respectful to my colleagues.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy, Counselor Murphy.

Do you have the floor?

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, to the maker to the chair if it's fine if you have answers just to a couple questions.

Where are the current designated consumption areas in the city of Boston?

I know you're saying that we want to opt in to this temporary pilot, and how many establishments, how do we choose which ones, and will all of them, if this became permanent, be given a 3 a.m.

liquor license.

Council Braden, you have the floor.

I think really that it's a pilot to extend it through August.

So I think we I don't I don't have the data on the precise uh establishments uh currently.

Currently, yeah.

But I do know it's it's really a resolution on support of the um the Senate bill that is pending at the moment.

And is it something that this body with this resolution is saying that we are in support of all of our liquor licenses without neighborhood input or business input or police and public safety input having a say?

Is that tied to do you know?

I'm trying to put words in your mouth, but wondering if that is a good idea.

I think the parameters of the summer program are established, so I think it would be continuing whatever, and it's not a it's entirely voluntary, so you know it doesn't force businesses to stay open to three, but if if there's even not even every day, like it might be just one one night a week or whatever, but yeah.

Thank you.

So I also would will not be locking this as a vote.

I think a vote is a good idea today, but I will be filing just it as a hearing order also just to get answers, especially if this pilot then becomes a permanent thing.

I think it's important that we have that information, but that's something we can do down the road.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Chair, before we proceed, may I?

Yes.

Um I omitted to I would like to suspend the rules and add Council Louis Jeanne as a third co-sponsor.

Council Louisiane is active, added as a third co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chairman Councillor Durkin.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Chair Cole Popper.

Um I am in support of this.

I uh was able to go to Temple Place, which is where one of the uh public consumption sites is on um downtown uh that the downtown Boston Alliance is running.

Um and I just saw the vitality that it's bringing to both the common and the whole area, and I was really really grateful uh for their leadership and Mike Nichols' leadership.

He was my constituent until about six months ago, so I'm really proud of him and the work that the downtown Boston Alliance is doing to revitalize the downtown area.

Um, generally, I am in support of the city of Boston having more power when it comes to licensing and then giving us the opportunity to weigh in in our individual districts.

Um so I am exited um to support this.

Um again, there are a number of areas that I do not think a 3 a.m.

would work in district eight.

Um, but having the ability for the city of Boston to have those conversations at the licensing um side of things would be really important.

So I'm both in support of this and the other bill at the State House because I believe that given the set of giving the city of Boston more optionality when it comes to what works for our businesses in our neighborhoods is helpful, and so um so grateful, Councillor Braden.

I know you have uh the youngest district around.

Um, and so I know that a lot of your constituents are benefiting this uh from this as well as mine.

Um, but it's been really exciting to see the vitality that's been brought from the World Cup, and uh I really with Sale Boston coming, um, it's exciting to see what uh what the city of Boston can do to continue that for local businesses.

Uh for me, supporting local businesses is the cornerstone of what I try to do as a city councilor because we we have very few opportunities to say um to to really to really help our businesses, and so while a lot of people chose not to go for the 3 a.m.

Um, I'll just be very clear that um this is a one-hour um extension of your license.

So if you are uh 12, you can go to one.

If you're a one, you can go to two, and if you're a two, you can go to three.

Um, so I think that's helpful to clarify.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Murphy.

I just haven't turned the light off from earlier.

You've never turned your light off.

Thank you.

Always ready.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Peppen, Council Santana, Councillor Weber, Councilor Durkin and Council Fitzgerald.

Thank you.

Councilor Braden seeks suspicion of the rules and adoption of Docket 1344.

All in favor, say aye.

Madam Clerk, please count the vote.

Roll call vote on 1344.

Councilor Braden.

Yes.

Council Braden, yes.

Council Caledas Apara, Council Cal Pepper.

Present.

Council Carl Pepper, present.

Councilor Durkin.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

No.

Council Flynn, no.

Council Louis Jeanne.

Yes.

Council Louis Gen, yes, Council Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, no.

Council Pepin.

Yes.

Council Pepin, yes.

Council Santana.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber, Council Weber, yes, Council Rural.

Council Royale, yes.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight votes, yes, one present, and two no.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Madam Clerk, can you please read document number one three four or five?

Docket one three four-five.

Council Braden offer the following resolution in support of FIA contract for MAB Community Services Group home direct support staff.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Braden.

Councillor Braden, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I rise today in support of this resolution supporting a fair contract for the direct professional and assistant residential coordinators at MAB MAB community services.

For more than 100 years, MAB community services empowered individuals with disabilities by providing programs that promote independence, dignity, and community inclusion throughout Boston and the Commonwealth.

The staff at MAB perform essential work every day and help individuals live as independently as possible.

These are demanding responsibilities that require patience, compassion, professionalism, and dedication.

Yet many of these workers remain under pred with few benefits.

After choosing to unionize with SEIU 509, these employees have been working toward a first contract that provides fair wages, reasonable benefits, and workplace protections and respect on the job.

Supporting workers to provide who provide this level of care is supporting the individuals and families who rely on them every single day.

A fair contract will help improve employee retention, strengthen the workforce, and ensure continuity of care for some of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable residents.

Because this program is largely publicly funded, negotiations must continue in good faith and move toward a fair agreement that recognizes the value of these essential workers, and this resolution calls for that.

And I respectfully ask my colleagues to support support me and join me in supporting this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Would anyone like to add their name?

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

Council Warwell.

Can't forget you.

Council Braden seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number one three four five.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Madam Clerk, please count the vote.

We'll call vote on Docket 1345.

Council Braden.

Council Braden, yes.

Council Coletta Zapata.

Council Call Pepper.

Yes.

Council Cal Pepper, yes.

Council Durkin.

Durkin, yes.

Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigian.

Council Luigian, yes.

Council Lamahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Papin.

Council Papin, yes, Council Sam Tana.

Yes.

Council Sam Tana, yes, Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes.

Council.

Yes.

Council Worrell, yes.

11 in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 1345 has been adopted.

Thank you, Councillor Culpeper.

Uh Mr.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1346?

Docket 1346.

Councillors Murphy and Flynn offered a follow-up resolution calling for immediate briefing on Boston Summer Safety Plan and a collaborative review to strengthen public safety.

Chair recognizes Council Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Protecting the safety of Boston residents, the visitors, businesses, all of our neighborhoods, and the first responders is the most fundamental responsibility of municipal government.

As we all know, Boston has experienced repeated incidents of violent crime throughout this current year, including shootings, assaults on Boston police officers, and other serious public safety incidences that have heightened concern among residents across the city.

Not just residents, but all of us, I believe.

Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, multiple shootings occurred across the city of Boston, resulting in 13 individuals being shot and two people being killed.

While offices also face dangerous conditions, including fireworks being thrown and shot at them during public safety responses.

These incidents are not isolated but part of a larger and deeply concerning pattern that demands a clear, coordinated and accountable response from city leadership.

Effective public safety requires prevention, intervention, enforcement, community partnership, adequate staffing of the Boston Police Department, and continued support for Boston Fire, Boston EMS, and violence prevention organizations.

The City Council has both the legislative and oversight responsibility to ensure that the city's public safety strategies are transparent, accountable, responsive to changing conditions, and reflective of the needs of residents in every neighborhood.

The people of Boston want us to work together to keep every neighborhood safe, and they want to see us that we're committed to taking proactive steps to preventing violence before tragedy strikes.

That the Boston City Council, so this resolution I'm filing, I think it's hard, especially in our leadership roles when we're hearing information on the news or we're seeing it on social media and not getting the information directly to us.

Oftentimes, then it means we're not getting the accurate information needed to make the decisions we have to advocate for.

So I'm hoping that this resolution sends a message that we are going to work together.

We I want to see, and Council Flynn, we talked about this when we were getting calls and seeing the violence happening over last weekend, that we get a briefing, we get the information we need, and with that information, which that knowledge is power to make the right decisions, to not be reactive, but to have the tools we need to help make the decisions needed going forward.

So I also think it's important that we reconvene and really see if the summer safety plan that I guess is in place.

I know I've never received a formal copy of it, that we see what it is and what needs to change so we can advocate for those changes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councilman Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Council Murphy, for adding me.

Staffing levels are dangerously low.

Shifts are not filled, impacting public safety in every neighborhood.

We have also witnessed frequent assaults against police officers.

We have held hearings for years on many of these issues, but especially the low number of police officers we've we have.

We know police officers are frequently working 16 hours a day.

We also know morale is low on the Boston Police Department.

Police officers know they're not supported or appreciated here at City Hall.

When you're working a 15-hour day shift, and something terrible happens, will City Hall support the police officer that was forced to work 15 straight hours?

You're not on top of your game after working 15, 16 straight hours, and then being intense situations throughout many neighborhoods of the city.

I think having a public safety meeting, discussion, briefing, summit.

I do think city councils want to be part of the strategy and be engaged and offer their opinion.

But I also think the public wants to be heard as well.

We have to respect our police officers.

We have to respect the people in our neighborhoods.

But we're not providing the level of police officers that are needed across the city of Boston.

Public safety is negatively impacted because of that.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Chair recognizes Councillor Jerkin.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much.

And I just want to say to some of Councillor Flynn's remarks.

I absolutely support the police department.

My sister served in her local police department.

My grandmother was a police officer.

I know how hard it is to have family members go out for work and not know what's going to happen to them.

So I just, I just want to say, on behalf of my office, we care deeply about what our public safety professionals are going through every single day.

And I know that Councillor Flynn also called along the city council to do a ride-along.

I have done two since I've been in office and excited to join for another.

I think it's really important today that I absolutely support uh briefing on Boston summer safety plan.

I did notice that there is a late file matter from Councillor Culpepper, which I have decided I am not going to object to, given that it's regarding a, it's really regarding a docket uh that is properly before the committee and it's regarding the same subject.

So I think his hearing order gives an opportunity for this safety summit and hearing order to happen, and so I will not be objecting to this late file.

And I absolutely support our public safety professionals and the work that they go through.

And I know there is a uh docket leader in this uh to support our public safety officers and our Boston police.

Um, it is so important that they know that the city council does stand with them and knows that um and knows the work that they go through day in and day out uh to support uh to support the public.

Um, and I I want to uh also shout out Operation Brain Freeze and the Boston Common and our A1 captain, Captain Driscoll, who is making sure that community policing um is at the is at the, you know, that we're at the top of our game in community policing.

So uh thank you, Chair, and thank you to the filers.

Thank you, Councillor Jerkin.

Chair recognizes counselor uh Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

The recent acts of violence across our city, most of which occurred in my district, are heartbreaking, and every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood.

And we cannot and will not normalize what has happened and what has happened.

I know this firsthand.

I've worked directly on effort to address gang-related violence, so it's heartbreaking to see violence resurface in communities that have fought hard to move forward.

The Boston Police Department's 2025 gun trafficking report made this clear.

The highest concentration of gun trafficking investigations remain clustered in districts B2 and B3, predominantly Roxbury and parts of Dorchester.

I support developing a summer safety plan, but as we develop this plan, we must recognize the work already being done despite limited resources for decades, organizations like the Greatest Minds, Torchlight, Martha 11, along with leaders like Randy Mohammed, Bishop Dickerson, Rivenwall, Chip Greenwich have built relationships, trusted relationships, mediated conflicts, mentored young people, and invested in neighborhoods carrying a disproportionate share of gun violence.

Their work has saved lives, yet it too often goes unrecognized and underfunded.

Elected officials and law enforcement have a responsibility to develop a strategy that protects every neighborhood, but we don't need to reinvent the will to get there.

Must have a seat at the table from the very beginning.

Their roles shouldn't be limited to recommendations after a plan is written.

It should be reflected in the plan itself.

Now is the time to come together as one city, incorporate community organizations' expertise into the city's summer safety strategy and ensure they no longer have to bear the responsibility of protecting, supporting, and engaging our communities alone.

I support this resolution and look forward to working alongside my council colleagues, the administration, law enforcement, and our community partners to build a summer safety plan that reflects both the experience of those on the ground and the urgency of this moment.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Chair recognizes Council Louis Jean.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I want to thank my colleagues for their work.

And I also just wanted to express sort of the deep sadness as a result of what happened this past weekend in our city in the deep sense of unsafety, the sense of uh loss, and and community grieving.

I think it's important for us to always bring people and stakeholders together to think about what we can be doing better, how we improve, to get to no violence, no gun violence, no uh no domestic violence, no forms of violence at all in our city.

And so um I welcome these conversations.

Um I do know that these are focusing on um summer, but I do want to state that um that I you know I think there's specific things that we need to do for summer, and some of those can be for also Lent uh year-round solutions.

So I do have a hearing order that I filed earlier this year for um a collaborative citywide strategy for community safety and violence prevention, and this was really filed um upon the dismantling of SOAR and our street worker program that really allowed for direct um intervention.

I mean, I think it's worth exploring sort of the the what worked, what didn't work, and how that can be retooled.

So uh council Culpepper, look forward to working with you on the summer plan and community strategies, but also hope that we can have the larger conversation about what are the interventions that work, what we've done in the past that uh we should look at again, or that we and we should retweak and to also hear suggestions from communities, hoping that uh we can have a multi a number of conversations at once to address it during the summer and year round.

You're right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louis Jeanne.

Uh would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Counselor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, um counselor Louis Jeanne, Councilor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councilor Weber, Counselor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Counselors Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket one three four six.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed, say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1346?

We'll call vote on Docker 1346.

Councilor Braden.

Yes, Council Braden, yes, Councillor Colada Zapata.

Councilor Calpepper.

Yes, Council Carl Pepper, yes, Councilor Dilgan.

Council Dilken, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald, yes, Council Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn.

Yes, Council Flynn, yes, Council Louis Gen.

Council Louis Gen, yes, Council Mehia.

Council Murphy, Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Council Pepin, yes, Council Santana.

Council Santana, yes, Council Webber.

Council Webber, yes, Council Rural.

Yes.

Council, yes.

Eleven vote in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 1346 has been adopted.

Uh I understand that docket 1347 has been withdrawn.

Yes, thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Um Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1348?

Docket 1348.

Council Flynn offer the following resolution to use a supplemental budget to restore funding for Boston Public Schools employees.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

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

Councillor Murphy's added as a second.

Thank you.

I was obviously going to add um Council Mahir.

But I do want to acknowledge Council Mahia's longtime advocacy for BPS families.

So my this resolution, Madam Chair, is a is an opportunity for us to acknowledge that the city council got it wrong because there's likely going to be 500 potential job loss this year of teachers of paraprofessionals of bus monitors.

This resolution would encourage the city of Boston to do a supplemental to let those dedicated workers, most of them, most of them are women of color, but letting them know that they're important.

They're a part of the city.

They do exceptional work helping students with disabilities.

I think it is.

I think it's worth it.

We visit schools all the time.

We see paraprofessionals, we see bus monitors, we see teachers, we see paraprofessionals taking special education kids to the bathroom.

They're cleaning them after they go to the bathroom, washing their hands, bringing them back to the classroom, managing and help helping the teacher with with order and what's in with educational assistance.

They were a critical part of our education.

They're unsung heroes, as far as I'm concerned, along with the crossing guards, as I mentioned earlier.

But is there room in this city for low-wage workers that do an exceptional job?

No one's even questioning their professionalism or their dedication.

Then why are we giving them a pink slip?

Do they deserve the opportunity to go back to school to do the job that they love that they were trained to do?

They're not making a lot of money, but their service is invaluable.

They're helping students with disabilities, they're supporting their families, they're paying taxes, they're doing everything government asked them to do and more.

And what do we say to them?

We're sorry, there's no more money for you.

But there is money.

If we vote for supplemental budget, we can encourage a city, city government, the mayor's office, to recognize these mostly women of color, give them an opportunity to get back to the classroom so that they can pay their bills, educate our children.

They deserve dignity, they deserve respect.

They're not getting it right now.

In the Boston City Council voting for the BPS budget, we basically cut their job.

It was 400 jobs.

Now it could be 500 jobs that we're learning.

Is that racial justice?

Is that social and economic justice?

Is that helping our teachers?

Is that helping our students with disabilities?

Is that a progressive vote?

Is there an opportunity for low-wage workers in this city to continue to do the job that they love to help students with disabilities?

I think there is.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councilor Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council Flynn, for adding me and continuing to advocate with myself, and you mentioned Council Mahier and our colleagues here.

If there was ever a rainy day, I do believe this is it.

Um, and I think it's always a good day to fight and advocate for our city workers.

I know I've stood up every time over the last couple months when we've been talking about the budget, and when this body passed the BPS budget, which we knew was going to cut jobs that our teachers, our paraprofessionals, they are city workers.

Even though it's a separate budget, they are worth advocating.

Just like we changed our amendment poll.

We we really advocated and made changes to make sure that the transportation department didn't have any cut at all, even though it was underspent for years, and not one job would have been touched.

We really intentionally worked to make that poll come from somewhere else, so there was no even appearance of taking away anyone's job here in the city of Boston.

But for some reason, and I will never understand why.

When it comes to our power professionals, which many of these over 500 positions are going to be in classroom teachers, we don't seem to have the same advocacy.

But I voted against the Boston public school budget again this year because I could not support a plan that cuts hundreds of jobs from our schools.

We are now learning that more than 560 positions will be eliminated even more than originally projected.

These aren't just jobs, they are our neighbors.

They are the teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and school staff who make a difference in the lives of Boston children every single day.

Boston has more than 500 million in available reserves.

If there was ever a rainy day, this would be it.

I believe protecting the people who educate, mentor, and support our students is exactly what those funds should be used for.

I support this resolution to send a message that we the council as a body is saying to the administration, saying to the school committee, saying to the superintendent, but more importantly, saying to the educators who last day was over a week ago, who were out of a job that we're gonna fight, we're not gonna give up, and hopefully come September, they're back in classrooms, and also we're fighting for our students because every time a staff member is eliminated from a school, it's a child, it's a family, it's a classroom that's negatively affected.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Goodbye.

That's the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Just like Councillor Flynn and Councillor Murphy have stood over and over to voice their dissatisfaction with the approval of the Boston Public School budget.

And it's it's amazing how with the 1.73 billion dollar budget.

We found it possible to from what we've learned this week to fire, and that's what we're doing.

We're actually firing over 500 uh employees on the Boston public school system, and here's what's sad about it.

None of us will feel the pain that those families will feel.

None of us will go without food in their refrigerator.

None of us will struggle to find ways to pay their rent.

None of us will struggle when September comes to make sure that our children have shoes on their feet.

But yet we were able to approve that budget, knowing that there were those that would be fired.

I do hope that there's some way that we can find, and I understand that the Boston public school system is continuing to hire employees that receive that letter, but I do hope there's some way that we can find some mechanism, whether it's a supplemental budget or whether it's from the state for the share fund, some way to make sure that these families have food on the table and that their rent is paid.

Thank you, madam president.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

Would anyone?

Counselor Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you very much.

Uh and um, you know, I I know we talked a lot about using supplementals to do things in the budget for one-time uh expenses.

I think as the filers have mentioned in previous uh hearings that we're not sure about what the numbers are actually going to be until September, October.

I think that would be a better time to advocate for a supplemental.

Uh I mean, I, you know, I'm I'm fine with letting this go forward and and supporting our teachers, uh, but until we address you know the the sharp drop in enrollment in our school system and how we're going to deal with that.

We're going to be having this conversation for a long time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Counselor Weber.

Uh, Counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you thank you, madam chair.

The timing of this is important because it's it's it's July, and families need to, these workers need to begin to understand that they're not going back to a job in September.

They're not going to back to a job that they love, helping kids, educating kids, students with disabilities.

Do we have money in the budget for those programs?

400, 500 jobs, union jobs, union jobs.

I hear a lot of city council is talking about how they support working men and women and support organized labor.

There is no more important issue than supporting this.

Low wage workers, the unionized, the women of color.

Are we going to turn our back on them?

Now is the time.

Now is the time to say yes.

We support them.

They've been here for us.

Counselor Cole Pepper mentioned it.

Who else is going to do that work?

These dedicated workers are doing the work.

They're doing an exceptional job.

They're working hard.

They're compassionate.

They treat their students with respect, they provide services to them.

I talk to the parents.

The parents are thankful for our paraprofessionals after the day is over because the paraprofessional and the teacher helped the student.

That makes the parents' job easier.

We have to be a compassionate city.

There's money in the budget.

There's money in the coffers for workers that do this type of work.

We can't turn our backs on them during this time of need.

Now is the time for us to stand with them.

Why?

They've always stood with the residents of Boston.

They've always stood with students with disabilities.

They never gave up on them.

They never turned their backs on them.

They might be making $35,000 a year.

Is there an opportunity for them in the city of Boston?

That's the question we have to ask.

And if we say yes, then vote for it.

And if we say no, there's no place for them, then you vote no, I guess.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Mr.

Councillor Culpepper, would you mind taking the podium for a few minutes?

Thank you for the advocate.

Mr.

Chair.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Braden.

Counselor Braden, you have the floor.

Thank you.

I really feel that this is an incredibly difficult issue as we discuss it back and forward.

I appreciate Councillor Flynn and Councillor Murphy's incredible advocacy for, and all of us really appreciate the incredible value in the work of our paraprofessionals.

I've talked to the chair of the school committee, I've talked to the superintendent, I've talked to families.

And right at this moment, I don't feel that we're dealing with accurate numbers, accurate information.

We know that our school population is dropping by 3,000 students.

Our enrollment is dropping, we are closing schools.

And it remains to be seen also the incredible pressure and the uncertainty about families being displaced and uh sent deported basically.

Uh we in our neighborhood, uh, a young kid from uh one of our elementary schools, her mother voluntarily returned to uh Honduras and took her school age uh elementary school age U.S.

citizen with her back to Honduras.

Uh it's a very volatile and unstable situation with regard to our enrollment in the schools at the moment.

Uh I have been assured that folks that are permanent uh paraprofessionals are being rehired and reassigned to schools and places that they're needed.

I've also heard that you know, as teachers that are uh their school is closed, that they're being reassigned.

So I think it's a work in progress, and right now I don't feel that I can in all honesty vote in support of this resolution because I don't feel that I'm working with a full data set.

I appreciate the advocacy, I also appreciate the the stress and the trauma of uh paraprofessionals getting a pink slip saying that they're not going to not going to be rehired.

But I think the BPS is in the process of rehiring as many people as they can at this moment.

So this is a difficult one for me, but I think I'm going to probably vote present on this because I feel we need more information before we can make this vote on this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Counselor.

Councillor Murphy, the chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Okay.

Thank you.

Councillor Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, True.

Just wanted to follow up and I often feel like I'm a broken record, but many of these issues, I stand up and reiterate that these questions that you're right, Councillor Braden, we need these answers, but they're questions that have been being asked time and time again, not just weeks ago, months ago, and we still went forward in voting voted on a budget with these questions that were on the record, either in a 17F form or RFIs that remained unanswered.

The data is there, and it is true.

If you're a permanent teacher and if your position is cut, you still do have a job.

You absolutely have a job.

The district does have to find someplace for you.

It's not where you were, and that's hard, but you will have a job.

We're talking about over 500 positions of people who aren't guaranteed jobs.

And just a few months, a few weeks ago, we had Colleen, who is the representative of the union of our paraprofessionals come in and encouraged us to vote down this budget, knowing that many of those paraprofessionals that she supports every day were going to lose their jobs.

So the school department and the city of Boston, we deserve these answers.

Just like we deserve answers about public safety and summer safety plan, we do deserve these answers.

But this resolution, I mean, obviously people can vote any way they want, but the reason why I put it forward and the reason why I'm voting in favor of it is because when we advocate for all of the other city jobs, which I do and will continue to do, or many of us this morning at 5 30 this morning, I was in front of Brigham and Women's Hospital advocating for the nurses who have just been locked out for the next five days.

So it's important that we support our lowest paid, and in many cases, I know Council Flynn and Council Culpepper eloquently stand up and say it is that you know they're working with our most vulnerable students, and in a district where we're forcing in many ways not effectively inclusion across the entire district, and we're taking away the supports needed.

That's it's just unfair.

So I hope that many of our colleagues will vote in support.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Would anyone else like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, um, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Weber, Counselor Warrell.

Thank you.

Councillors Flynn and Murphy seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 1348.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

And Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on 1348?

We'll call vote on Docket 1348.

Council Braden.

Present.

Council Braden, present.

Council Calarasapata, Council Cal Pepper.

Yes.

Council Carl Pepper, yes.

Councilor Durkin.

Council Durkin, no.

Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn.

Council Flynn, yes.

Council Luigian.

Council Louisiana present.

Council Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes.

Councillor Peppin.

No.

Council Santana.

Council Santana, no.

Council Weber.

Council Webber, yes.

Council Rural.

Council Rural, yes.

Six, yes, one present, and three no.

Two present.

So let me go over it again.

Six, one, two, three, four, five, six, yes, two present, and three, no.

Thank you, doctors.

One three four eight has been adopted.

No, no, no.

Oh, need seven.

It's two people.

Majority of okay.

Thank you.

Docket one three four eight has not been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read one three docket read one three five zero?

Docket one three five zero.

Council Flynn offered a following resolution to support maintaining and a hearing the proposition two and a half in the city of Boston.

Chair recognizes Counselor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Proposition two and a half is a law passed by voters in 1980.

It limits how much cities and towns can raise property taxes.

The levy limit determines how much a city municipality can increase property tax collection for one year to the next.

It's determined by taxes generated from new growth, such as new residential commercial development or renovations to existing properties that increase assessed value.

The levy ceiling is the absolute maximum amount of property taxes that can be collected by a city municipality.

A city or town can't collect more than two 2.5% of the total value of all taxable property within its borders.

Municipal employees' salaries benefits that we were just discussing.

We also know that there's been ongoing discussion here at the city and throughout many cities and towns and at the State House about potentially lifting proposition two and a half in October 2025 when they were called to the Massachusetts legislature to repeal proposition two and a half.

Many city officials said it should be repealed.

Limiting property tax revenue growth means the govern the local government must exercise fiscal responsibility, accountability, transparency.

This proposition makes taxes more predictable for residents who have endured challenging economic times in Boston due to several years of steep increases in the property taxes for many residents over the last over the last two years.

They've seen a double-digit property tax increase.

This resolution, I believe, is important because it provides Boston, it provides cities and towns with structure of how much they can raise taxes, but also live within their means to be fiscally disciplined, fiscally responsible, transparent, accountable.

I believe we need to reaffirm our commitment to these principles and ensure that we practice fiscal discipline and responsibility as much as we can, knowing that residents are seeing steep property taxes consistently.

Is there an opportunity for us to have a important discussion down the road about proposition two and a half and taxes generally?

I think that's also an important factor that we should consider as we cut services, like jobs for public school teachers.

Um I think that's an important part of this discussion as well.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Chair recognizes Councillor Weber.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you very much.

Uh I I agree with the filer that this uh does set the table for an important discussion.

We just spent two months or three months uh fighting to restore vital programs.

Uh we also talked a lot about the fact that revenues uh are not increasing enough to keep pace with increased expenses.

The Massachusetts municipal associations issued a report called The Perfect Storm about how uh this is causing havoc with city budgets all across the Commonwealth.

Uh the report points out, number one, that since uh 2005, state aid has gone down from 23% of city budgets to now it's closer to 11%.

It's also pointed out that Prop 2 and a half um does not keep pace with increased costs for health care, energy, inflation, construction costs, and climate resiliency investments.

The MMA recommended that uh uh we rework Prop two and a half to allow for flexibility in the cap and flexibility in how we allocate uh uh taxes between residential commercial properties.

Uh we uh uh just spent weeks looking through the minutiae of our city budget, uh, you know, including uh things like revenue generating aspects like the parking meter fund at a time when we're talking about spending increases, adding 300 to 600 more police officers, uh creating funds to uh make sure we hire 400 more BPS employees.

Um, you know, it makes sense to have an informed discussion about uh the number one source of this city's revenue.

To do that, we should have a hearing.

Uh I am going to object to this, ask that it be sent for a hearing.

I hope that it goes to the ways and means uh committee where I will I will make sure we have a hearing as soon as possible, we can have informed discussion uh about this issue, which I agree is important.

Thank you, Councillor Weber.

Um I think uh there's been an objection to this um this docket uh one three five zero will be uh sent to the committee on ways and means.

Thank you.

I think that uh merits a more in-depth conversation.

Thank you so much.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1351?

Oh, beg your pardon.

Sorry, Madam Clerk, could you hold a second?

Um, I see Councillor Pepin's uh light is on.

Did you have I know uh when it was it's it's gone to committee, so.

Yeah, no, thank you.

This is actually in regards to a previous matter.

Um thank you.

Um, I would like to ask um when would it appropriate to motion to reconsider a vote?

Uh we're going to do that at the end before we when we get down to past green sheets.

We're going to before we do yes, I'll do that for everyone that's later.

Thank you.

I'll do that later.

Thank you.

I'll come back to you.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1351?

Docket one three five one.

Councillor Flynn offered a following resolution of unequivocal denouncement against any violent assault and harassment to what's Boston police officers, our dedicated first responders and city officials.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Flynn.

Council, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Counselor Fitzgerald is so added.

May I suspend the rules and add Counselor Murphy?

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Murphy is added as a third, third co-sponsor.

Thank you.

And as the resolution noted, it's also about respecting other city workers that provide first responder type services or some type of public safety support or interacting with the with residents as well, such as code enforcement officers play a critical role in the city of Boston.

Boston transportation traffic enforcement officers, as well.

I see them frequently.

They do an exceptional job, but they're often sometimes they're harassed and even physically assaulted by the public.

We know, and I mentioned Boston police has longstanding issues of understaffing, overstretched resources, forced overtime, looming retirements.

Boston police officers work 16 hours a day.

Boston Police Patrolman Association recently noted that the department is down roughly 600 officers, operating at roughly one-third of the workforce.

This and similar incidents contribute to low morale retention, recruitment.

The lack of support or indifference when it comes to supporting the police, the fire, EMS, has a negative impact.

Public safety begins with supporting the families of the men and women who put themselves in harm's way every day to serve and protect our communities.

It's critical that we uh, especially the city council, denounce any violence, assaults, harassment against the police, code enforcement officers, officials in transportation, our dedicated first responders, and we support their families as well.

We also make it clear that those who put their lives on the line to protect our communities deserve our support, respect, resources to effectively serve the residents of Boston.

To paraphrase my good friend Counselor Michael Flarity, he used to say that yes, we have the best hospitals, colleges, universities in the country right here in Boston.

We know that they are the crown jewels of the city of Boston, but make no mistake, people who want to come here and experience them because they believe it is safe to be here, and that is due to the work of our dedicated first responders.

They don't get the appreciation or respect, in my opinion, from elected officials, but they certainly have earned it.

I think this is a small step to acknowledge their professionalism, to acknowledge the dangerous position that they're often placed in, and to let them know that the city council has their back.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Counselor Fitzgerald.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Council Flynn for adding me as a co-sponsor.

Um, you know, we saw some of what our public safety officers have gone through over this past weekend in a very difficult time, and we know some of that was due uh to understaffing, um, and so uh we just really want to support them in this time of need.

They're trying to do their job.

They're trying to get back to their families safely as well.

And uh we just want to make sure uh that the folks out there know um that they're not just uh they are people too, uh and we support them, and we want them to get back to their family.

Uh, and we please ask everyone to just maintain common courtesy out there while having fun, be respectful, and understand that folks are just trying to do their job, and please don't treat them as an object uh as they're people too.

And we ask our we always, as we always ask our police to do the same uh for those uh people that were that are out there um causing the trouble, and so um, you know, really just hope that we can do and I thank Council Flynn for adding me as a co-sponsor here.

Uh, and we as always we stand up with our Boston police officers and all public safety that have to take the heat out there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Um, Council Fitzgerald, the chair recognizes Council Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

The recent attacks on Boston police officers must be condemned clearly and without hesitation by every elected official in our city.

Our offices put themselves in harm's way every day to protect not just our neighborhoods, but all of our residents and visitors to the city of Boston.

They deserve respect, support, and the confidence that city leaders will stand with them when they are attacked.

Many of our offices who were working over the holiday weekend in extreme heat, there was a heat wave going on, had fire workers, firecrackers, fireworks shot at them while they were out just trying to keep our city, our neighborhood safe.

That's completely unacceptable.

Boston needs more police officers.

The department has been understaffed for too long, leaving offices stretched thin, working forced overtime and responding to dangerous situations without enough support.

We need to condemn attacks on police officers every time they happen.

And like Council of Fitzgerald said and Flynn, unfortunately, in the last few weeks, there have been attacks that are just unacceptable.

And I know that our offices fail it often.

So I think it's important that we stand with them knowing that we support their the work they do and their families that we know.

When an officer, when any first responder serves, their family serves alongside them.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor, Councillor Councillor Pepe, and Pepin, Councillor Weber.

Um, okay.

And please add the chair.

And Fitzgerald seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1351.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1351?

We'll call vote on Docket 1351.

Council Braden.

Yes.

Council Cal Pepper, yes, Council Dirken.

Yes.

Council Durkin, yes, Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Council Luigi.

Council Luigi, yes, Council Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Yes.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Council Peppin, yes, Council Santana.

Council Weber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes, Council Rural.

Yes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 1351 has been adopted.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 1352?

Docker 1352, Council Culpepper offered the following resolution in support of declaring July 11th as Mad Mom's Day in the City of Boston.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, I would like to request suspension of the rules on the passage of this docking.

Behind every statistic about substance abuse, use, overdose, or community violence.

As a family whose life has been permanently changed.

Organizations like Mad Moms remind us that recovery and healing are not only individual journeys, but their community responsibilities through advocacy, peer support, education, and creating spaces where families can grieve, heal, and support one another.

Mad moms has become an important resource for individuals and families now navigating some of life's most difficult challenges.

This resolution also recognizes the extraordinary leadership of Janice V.

Johnson, whose decades of service to Boston have touched countless lives.

Rather than allowing personal tragedy to define her, she transformed it into a mission of compassion, ensuring that other families have access to the support and sense of community that every person deserves.

The opening of the five-star studio cafe is another example of that commitment.

Creating a space where healing, creativity, and recovery can come together.

I am proud to support this resolution recognizing July 11 as Mad Moms Day and thanking Janice Johnson and everyone at Mad Moms for the work they continue to do to strengthen our communities and to bring hope to families across the city of Boston.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

The chair recognizes Councillor Warrell.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Cole Pepper.

I just want to stand up and just um express my deep gratitude for Janice Johnson and her team uh for such selfishness and undeniable impact on the well-being of our communities and all that the work that they have done in turning pain into power.

So uh shout out to Janice, uh the whole team over there.

Um and Jess, thank you for your service to the city of Boston.

Thank you, Councillor Warrell.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Counselor Flynn, Councillor Um Fitzgerald, Councillor Louisiane, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair, Councillor's uh Cole Pepper seek suspension of the rules, adoption of docket 1352.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Madam Clerk, could you please read um no?

Could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1352?

We'll call vote on Docket 135.

Councilor Braden.

Yes, Council Braden, yes, Council Colada Zapata, Council Carl Pepper.

Yes, Council Carl Pepper, yes, Councilor Dirkin.

Councilor Fitzgerald.

Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Council Flynn.

Yes.

Council Flynn, yes, Council Luigian.

Yes, Council Mahia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber.

Council.

Yes.

Council War, yes, Madam 24569.

Nine in the affirmative.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Docket 1352 has been adopted.

We are now on to personnel orders.

Madam Clerk, could you please read the personnel orders?

Dockets 1353 through 1357.

Personal order, doctor 1353, Council Braden for Council Mehia.

Doctor 1354, Council Braden for Councillor Murphy.

Doctor 1355, Council Braden for Councillor Santana.

Doctor 1356, Council Braden for Council Webber.

Oops.

The chair moves for passage of the personnel orders.

All those in favor say aye.

The ayes have it.

The personnel orders have passed.

Before we move on to green sheets, is there anyone who'd like to add their name to a docket that they may have missed?

I think uh Councillor Warrell and then we'll go to Councillor Pepin over there.

Councillor Warrell.

I'd like to add my name to docket number one three five one.

Is that it?

That's all.

Okay.

Um counselor Papen, you have the floor.

No, thank you, Madam President.

You all said.

Uh Councillor Durkin.

I just wanted to add my name to 1339.

Anyone else want to amend the record of their votes?

Thank you.

Um we're now on to green sheets.

Is anyone looking to pull anything from the green sheets?

Uh councillor, the chair recognizes Councillor Santana, the chair of the committee on Public Safety.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to pull docket number one zero three five for further action.

Um Madam Clerk, could you uh one one zero three five and what was the those two, okay?

They're probably separate, right?

What's your second one?

We'll do the one three 1035.

Okay.

Go ahead, Madam Clerk.

I'll get 1035 message on order authorizing the city of Boston to accept an expand amount of 24,000 95 dollars in the form of a grant FY 24 Paul Cavaltic Science Improvement Awarded by the United States Department of Justice passed through the Massachusetts State's police crime laboratory to be administered by the police department, the granite fund training and continued education for physics examiner, criminalists and laboratory personnel.

So did you have a second document?

I don't need a just one.

I have a second document, but there's a okay.

One one zero three five.

Okay.

Absent objection, the motion of the committee chair.

Chair is accepted, and document 1035 is properly before the body.

Counselor, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, Paul Corbell, forensic science improvement grant program awards, funding states, and units of local government to help improve the quality of homelessness and of forensic science and medical examiner services provided.

The Boston Police Department will utilize the funds requested through the FY24 Coverdale to offset training costs associated with the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities for newly hired and existing staff members.

Training costs will also be offered for those undergoing changes in job functionality due to changes in work requirements or the development of additional expertise.

Members of the forensics groups, um, firearms analysis unit, latent print unit, and crime scene response unit will attend various trainings throughout the year to improve their abilities and experiences.

This program is needed to maintain and keep personnel up to date on the latest forensic laboratory techniques um and research.

It is critical due to the evolving science and new technology used to process evidence and contribute to investigations of crimes.

As a chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice, I recommend that this docket ought to pass.

Thank you, Councillor Santana, the chair of the Committee on Public Safety.

Moves to passage of Docket 1035.

Am I able to speak on it?

Um certainly, Councillor Flynn.

You have got two minutes.

Thank you.

Gives the Boston police and in first responders an opportunity to get the training and experience they need in work with colleagues throughout the country on forensic related issues.

This is an issue I've worked on for eight years as it relates especially to the Boston Police Crime Lab.

It is my goal to have the best crime lab in the country.

We are not there right now.

We have significant challenges with the Boston Police Crime Lab.

As it relates to how we test sexual assault kits, we need to be using the most advanced equipment technology, which is why screening, but also the people that work at these labs, technicians, crime lab specialists.

They also need the training as Councillor Santana highlighted.

The training to understand and learn from their colleagues across across the country about how important it is to continue to study and learn about new technology, new ways to test firearms, new way to test sexual assault kits, and that's through Y screening.

But we need to have the best fire, we need to bet we need to have the best crime lab in the country.

New York City police department has an exceptional crime lab.

Boston needs to be on pace with New York.

We're a first class city.

We need a first-class crime lab.

I've I've visited there many times, it's small.

It's not doing the work that it should be doing.

We need to, we need to ensure we have the right leadership, the right personnel, the right training, the right experience.

And right now the crime lab is struggling.

I'm going to continue to focus on this issue as long as I'm a city counselor.

Survivors of justice demanded.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Thank you for your continued advocacy for the crime lab.

Councillor Santana moves for passage of Docket 1035.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1035?

We'll call vote on Docket 135.

Council Braden.

Yes.

The breeding, yes.

Council Coletta's the power.

Council Cal Pepper.

Yes.

Council Carl Pepper, yes.

Council Durkin.

Council Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Council Flynn.

Yes.

Yes, Council Mehia.

Council Murphy.

Council Murphy, yes, Council Peppin.

Yes.

Council Pepe and yes.

Consul Santana.

Yes.

Council Santana, yes.

Council Webber.

Yes.

Council Webber, yes, Council Rural.

Yes.

Council Weurell, yes, 11 in the formator.

Thank you.

Docket 1035 has passed.

Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket one two two five?

Yep.

Thank your pardon.

Counselor, counselor, I'm getting everything back.

You can do it for me.

Counselor Santana, you have the floor.

Um thank you, Madam President.

I would like to pull Docket 1225 for further action.

Madam Clerk, could you please read uh Docket 1225 into the record?

Docket 1225 message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand 100,000 of credit from the antitropic to the strengthening of the city cyber defense.

These credits are granted to antitropic through the state, local tribal and terroral cyber defense program.

The credit will utilize the automated scanning and triggering the patching of our city technology infrastructure using Claude O Plus 4.8, the latest model of antitropic generative AI tool.

The initiative would help to significantly evaluate evaluate our cybersecurity posture against increasingly sophisticated AI-driven threats.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Absent objection, the motion of the committee chair is accepted and docket 1225 is properly before the body.

Councillor, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President.

The evolving threat landscape and adversarial AI, the cyber threat landscape facing local governments has fundamentally shifted.

Municipalities are no longer just dealing with coordinated human hackers.

We are now defending against adversarial artificial intelligence.

Threats actors are actively leveraging AI to exploit government entities in several unprecedented ways.

Can bypass traditional firewalls defenses by adapting its code in real time to avoid detection.

And then finally, the um hyper realistic fishing threats actors use generative AI to draft highly convincing localized phishing emails targeting city employees, making human detection incredibly difficult to defend a city in this new landscape.

Human intervention alone is no longer fast enough.

We must buy AI with AI.

Sorry, um the credits will be utilized to automate the um scanning and patching of our city's technology infrastructure using Claude Opus 4.8, the latest model of anthropothics generative AI tool.

This initiative will help to significantly elevate the city cyber security posture against increase increasingly sophisticated AI-driven results.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana.

Counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Madam Chair.

For the chair, may I ask a question to uh council Santana?

Certainly.

Yeah.

Did we have a hearing on this?

Council Santana.

We did have a hearing that was covered with multiple of these grants, and this grant was one of them that was covered.

I don't know if we, if any of the I don't remember any of the counselors going into detail specifically about this one.

Um but I did receive um communication um from the police department about you know being able to pass this because of the um the threat that we're dealing with right now.

Okay.

Um Madam Madam Chair, may I just ask one more question?

Um could I just I'm gonna vote yes on this, but could could the chair tell me about the communication between Boston police and other first responders, and and do it is do it part of this conversation as well.

Yep, do it is always part of all of these conversations.

Um I haven't had direct conversations with do it myself, um, but they are they are they're the ones that are overseers of of all of this.

Thank you, uh Council Santana for answering my questions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Santana.

Um Councillor Santana moves for passage of docket one two two five.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Madam Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket one two two two five?

Recall vote on docket one two two five.

Council Braden.

Yes, Council Braden, yes, Council Collada Sapata, Council Cal Pepper.

Yes, Council Carl Pepper, yes, Councilor Doken.

Yes.

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

Council Flynn, yes, Councillor Louis Jen.

Council Mehia, Council Murphy, Council Murphy, yes, Council Papin.

Council Papen, Council Santana, Council Santana, yes, Council Webber, Council Webber, yes.

Council Rural, Council Rural, yes, 11 and affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 1225 has passed.

We are now uh moving on to late files.

Um Madam Clerk, have many have a we've I've just been informed we have one one late file, which is a hearing order.

Um, absent objection, these late file matters will be added.

Madam Clerk, could you please read the late file matter into the record?

Offered by Councillor Um Culpepper, order for a hearing regarding a community-based summer public safety plan for the city of Boston.

Thank you.

Chair.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to request suspension of the rules, introduce the late file, and I would like to add Council Will Rao as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to add Council Santana as a third co-sponsor.

And if I could, I would request suspension of the rules that Councillor Louis Jun has a fourth co-sponsor.

But since I can't.

I need to back up a little, Councillor.

Council will as the second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules to add Councillor Santana as the third original co-sponsor.

Counselor is added as a second, and Councillor Santana is seeing and hearing no objections.

Councillor Santana's added as a third.

Um the chair moves that passage of these um for passage of these late file matters all in favor.

This is to get them into the to have them before the body.

I beg your pardon.

I'm slightly out of order here.

You are example.

Um the chair moves for passage of all easily.

All in favor, say aye.

All opposed say nay.

The ayes have it.

Um that's a personal one.

Counselor, please continue with any of file.

Madam President, the recent uh acts of violence across our city over the fourth of July weekend have been heartbreaking and demand immediate action.

After speaking with community leaders Monday, it was clear their voices must be at the table now, which is why I'm putting forward this late file.

This is an emergency situation that requires immediate response from the council.

As we discuss what a community-based summer safety plan should look like, we need to recognize that we do not have to start from scratch.

Organizations like the greatest minds torchlight, MyS 11, have mentored young people and invested in neighborhoods that are too often carried a disproportionate share of the burden of gun violence.

Their work has saved lives, and any comprehensive public safety strategy should build upon our duplicate or overlook the work that they've already done and are still doing.

When the city cuts funding for community facing programming, the community work continues.

When the city does not adequately plan for summer safety across all neighborhoods, the community steps in.

This is the work that the should that the city should be leading and resourcing all along.

The community will always be there for one another, but they shouldn't have to do it alone.

This is why I'm ready to form another coalition, coalition for peaceful Boston.

The organization and residents have spent years doing this work on the ground, and they should not simply be consulted after a plan is drafted.

They should be active partners in developing it from the very beginning.

This is how we build a strategy that is both effective and rooted in communities that is meant to serve.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

The chair recognizes Councillor Warrell.

Councillor, you have the floor.

Oops.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you to Councillor Culpepper for uh bringing this forward.

I also want to um send my prayers and my thoughts to all the families impacted by the recent gun violence over the weekend.

I also want to acknowledge the efforts that so many community members have stepped up, wanting to assist the city and all city departments on creating a summer of peace and a more uh way to collaborate on establishing new initiatives or re-establishing old initiatives here in the city of Boston that have been proven uh to be effective.

So looking forward to this conversation, working with all stakeholders involved, and seeing if we could bring community members, city departments, uh state agencies to the table to reinstate or restart some past programs, but also to make sure that everyone has a voice in making sure that we have uh a summer and where we continue to decrease the violence in our neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Culpepper and Councillor Warell for your uh leadership on this.

Um, this past weekend, the epidemic of violence hit devastatingly close to home, right on our own doorsteps, um, with 13 people shot and two lives tragically cut short.

Um, you know, my heart goes to the families of those who are um affected.

Um, one of the people who who who did tragically pass away was someone that I used to play baseball with in Little League.

Um, and you know, just want to read his name into the record of you know, Chris Conway, someone who um was very loved in in our communities.

Um I'm carrying a heavy heart, a grief that I know is shared by families and neighbors all across Boston, and I refuse, as we as a city must refuse, to even normalize a reality where our streets and neighborhood celebrations turns into scenes of chaos and heartbreak.

Violence is never acceptable.

While we can look across the state and the country and see similar struggles.

My focus today is entirely on our home to truly protect our community.

We have to confront a difficult truth.

We cannot simply police or react our way out of this cycle.

I believe it is a failure of leadership if we only throw resources into a neighborhood after a tragedy has already occurred.

We need to brace ourselves for the marathon of the work ahead.

There are no shortcuts here.

I am urging an immediate, equitable distribution of city resources, shifting our strategy entirely from reactive damage control to root causes solutions.

To prevent this from happening again, we must ensure that every single person in Boston has immediate access to meaningful economic opportunities, robust mentorship, and localized support systems.

This means creating year-round youth employment pipelines, secure and sustainable funding for our community centers, and building localized networks where youth and adults alike can easily find career guidance or mental health consultant right in their block.

True safety is built when we empower our communities from within, given our neighborhoods and structural support and resources that they need to uplift themselves.

Our neighborhoods deserve nothing less than our total commitment.

I am ready to begin that structural work with you today, ensuring safety and opportunity belong to every single resident.

And we must get to work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Counselor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Gen, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Counselor Weber, and please add the chair.

This docket will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

We're now on to the consent agenda.

I have been informed by the clerk that there are no additions to the consent agenda.

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

All in favor say aye.

Thank you.

The consent agenda has been adopted.

We're now on to announcements.

Please remember that these are for upcoming dates and events.

Does anyone have an announcement?

If you want to put your light on, I'll call on you.

Uh we want to be, we are wishing a happy birthday to Diana Bronchuk, a counselor in Councillor Pepin's office.

Happy birthday, Diana.

Um, anyone else on your birthday's coming up?

Uh we're now moving on to memorials.

Oh, are you um Councillor Louis Jeanne?

You have the floor.

Thank you.

He would absolutely hate to know that I'm doing this because he does not like acknowledgement of his birthday, but I just love my dad so much, and his birthday is next week.

So I'm I'm just so lucky to um have him in my life, and I want to acknowledge his birthday and say happy birthday to my dad.

Rightly so.

Your dad is a remarkable man, and he's a great dad to you because uh counselor counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

Um I wanted to make an announcement about the nurses' strike that is taking place right now at Brigham and Woman Hospital.

I was over there this morning.

Um, but I do know that there's still an opportunity for um others to join that may want to go.

I would like to acknowledge Councillor Durkin and myself sponsored a city council resolution in support of the nurses a couple of months ago.

Um I think it is important for us to continue to support our support nurses at Bregman Women Hospital, like we have at many other hospitals across Boston and Greater Boston.

They play a critical role in our health care system, but they provide exceptional care and deserve dignity and respect.

But I I do want to say thank you also to my colleagues for their longtime support of um nurses throughout Greater Boston throughout Massachusetts, but also to let people know that there's still time if they do want to get over to uh the strike this afternoon.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Sharon.

Thank you to Councilor Flynn for his leadership on that issue.

I will be headed there shortly.

Um but just Councillor Louis Jeanne reminded me my mom's birthday is July 19th.

Juanita Ruiz.

She is coming to town to celebrate with us, and I know she's ready for tall ships and everything that's going on in Boston right now.

So I didn't realize we didn't have a meeting.

So thank you, Councillor Louis Jeanne, and happy birthday to your dad.

Thank you.

Uh we're now moving on to memorials.

Would anyone like to lift up a name?

Councillor Cold Pepper, you have the floor.

Madam President, I would like to lift up the name of a Richard Weston of the South End.

40-year partner of Bob Barney.

We ask the key of Bob Barney and his family and the family of Richard Weston in prayer.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

I'm just going to go and run the room.

So uh Counselor Darkin, you're next.

Thank you so much.

Um, I wanted to read into the record Manuel de Jesus, Castillo Flores, who passed away.

Um he was a green line worker, uh train driver, and was known for his dedication and kindness.

Um I know the union is really the Carmans Union is really um really sad um about his passing.

Um I know that his body will travel to El Salvador where his mother waits for him uh to lay him to rest.

Um, and this journey is really important to his family.

Uh, but just wanted to wrap my arms around the Carmans Union and everyone who works for the tea, as I know they lost him early, so thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Flynn.

Counselor, you have the floor.

And thank you, madam chair, and um Reverend Cole Pepper mentioned um Bani's partner, uh Mr.

Weston.

So I also want to offer my condolences as well, and to let them let Bob and the family know that we are thinking about them during this challenging time.

Uh prayers with them.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Louis Gen.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

I similarly wanted to uplift the passing of uh Chris Conway as Counselor Larry Santana mentioned, and just his entire family is just mourning, so just wanted to uplift the memory of Chris Conway.

Um, also wanted to uplift the memory of um at Morningstar Baptist Church.

Uh, there's uh uh a bunch of nurse per uh nurses and uh Rose Marie Nicholas is someone who passed away and who's a beloved member of the Morningstar community, so just wanted to lift her up, and last but not least, someone who had an outsized impact um in Roxbury and in the entire city of Boston, Pastor Chris Sumner.

Just wanted to make sure that we um recognize him and all he's meant to so many, whether it be in the Jubilee community or in the city of Boston, all that he has done.

Um just wanted to acknowledge him and give my condolences to his family as well.

Thank you.

Um counselor Louis Jeanne, would you remind repeating your your first one?

Uh this Chris Conley, but you had another.

Chris Conway, yes.

Um, I'm sorry, I thought I think Pastor Chris Sumner, yeah.

Um, and then uh Rosemary Nicolas Rosemary.

Rosemary Nickel.

Nichols, Nicholas.

Thank you for your patience.

Um next, um Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you.

I wanted to uplift along with Councillor Flynn Paula Ryan from South Boston, the West 9th friends are mourning her.

We were at one of the Unity Days just I think it was just yesterday, and it it was it was sad to not see her there.

She always had such a big presence and was at all the events around the neighborhood, and also enjoyed always going to the special kids' South Boston Special Kids event.

So you would see her smiling face, and the neighborhood is missing her.

So I just wanted to uplift her name.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councillor Peppin.

Um, thank you.

I would like to uplift the memory of John Raymond.

He is was a resident of High Park, specifically the Pride, one of the first residents to move into the Pride.

We were just with him a couple months ago for a coffee hour.

And um, he was also once the head of the High Park Neighborhood Association, very prominent leader in the community.

So I just wanted to uplift the spirits and send my my love and prayers to also the residents of the Pride that I know, Titanic community.

It's John Raymond.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to again just uh um uplift the name of Chris Conway, who we just lost over the weekend and uplift, send uh the thoughts and prayers to his entire family.

Uh I know um so many residents.

Um our mourning is mourning as lost, and for anyone who knew Chris, um he was just a beacon of light, someone who um was was very positive, such a great um young man, um, and someone that we definitely lost um too quickly.

So, just want to be able to uplift his name.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Weber, you have the floor.

Uh yeah, I'd like to um uh speak in honor of uh Jim Galvin, who uh resident of Roslendale was a staple of Parkway Little League, he coached uh Little League for 33 years and uh you know uh driving teams to make the Little League World Series.

He compiled two state championships and multiple district and sectional titles.

Um his uh funerals uh tomorrow uh tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

at the Gormley funeral home in West Roxbury with a mass at St.

Teresa at uh 10 a.m.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Warrell, you have the floor.

Uh like to uh remember the name of Chris Conway, um, also past the summer, and then our church family lost um our lead deacon, our head deacon, um Michael Young.

So uh please keep all these families in these names in your prayers.

Michael Young.

Michael Young.

Okay.

Thank you.

On behalf of Councillors Warrell, um and uh Louis Jeanne, Pastor Chris Sumner, on behalf of Councillor Durkin, Manuel, Mani, De Jesus, Costello, Flores, on behalf of Councillor Weber, Jim Galvin, on behalf of Councillor Coletta Zapata, Jean A.

Tochterman, uh, on behalf of Councillor Louis Jeanne, Rosemary Nicholas, on behalf of Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councilor Santana, and Councillor Aurel, Chris Conway, on behalf of Councillors Culpeper and Flynn, Richard Weston, on behalf of Councillor Murphy, Paula Ryan, behalf of Councillor Pepper, John Raymond, and on behalf of Councillor Orrell, Michael Young.

A moment of silence, please.

The chair moves that when the council adjourns today, we do so in memory of the aforementioned individuals.

The council is scheduled to meet again in the Ionella chamber on July 22nd, 2026 at 12 p.m.

Thank you to my colleagues, central staff, the clerk, the clerk's office, and uh the council stenographer, as always, Ellen.

Thank you.

All in favor of adjournment, please say aye.

This council is adjourned.

Thank you.