Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers
The Boston City Council meeting of May 6, 2026 opened with an invocation by Bishop Julia Whitworth of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and a presentation recognizing the Greenwich family's civil rights legacy, with Councilor Culpepper sponsoring a resolution designating May 11 as George Greenwich Day. Councilor Murphy moved to suspend the regular order over unanswered Section 17F oversight requests; the motion was withdrawn after the chair reported the administration is working on responses. The council approved a Boston Landmarks Commission designation of Memorial Hall in Charlestown and two grants for gravestone conservation at Dorchester North Burying Ground. Members debated a resolution urging full restoration of a proposed $724,000 cut to Veterans Services, which was adopted 11-1, and adopted resolutions on asthma awareness month, social media litigation and BPS, young adult retention, and National Preservation Month. Several hearing orders were referred to committee, and the FY27 budget dockets remained in the Ways and Means committee.
1:17 and.
1:41 The.
3:15 Other.
8:14 Hand.
9:53 That had.
10:16 A good afternoon everyone.
10:18 I call to order today's meeting
10:19 of the boston city council.
10:22 Viewers can watch the city
10:24 council meeting live on
10:25 youtube@boston.Gov.
10:28 Backslash city council dash tv
10:29 .
10:31 At this time I ask my
10:32 colleagues and those in the
10:33 audience to please silence
10:34 their cell phones and
10:35 electronic devices.
10:39 Also pursuant to rule 42, I
10:41 remind all in the chamber that
10:43 uh that there is no that
10:45 there's no demonstration
10:47 of approval or disapproval from
10:48 members of the public will be
10:49 permitted.
10:50 Thank you for that.
10:53 MR. Clerk, could you please
10:54 call the roll, uh, to ascertain
10:56 the presence of a quorum?
10:59 Councilor breadon here.
11:00 Councilor.
11:00 Colletta.
11:01 Zapata.
11:02 Culpeper.
11:02 Councilor.
11:03 Councilor.
11:04 Durkan.
11:04 Councilor.
11:05 Fitzgerald.
11:07 Councilor flynn.
11:08 yeah.
11:09 louijeune.
11:09 Councilor.
11:10 Councilor.
11:10 Yeah.
11:11 Mejia.
11:11 Councilor.
11:12 Murphy.
11:13 councilor.
11:14 Pen.
11:16 Council santana here.
11:19 Councilor weber and council and
11:21 councilor mauro a quorum is
11:22 present.
11:23 Thank you, mr clerk.
11:24 I've been informed by the clerk
11:26 that there's a quorum is
11:26 present.
11:28 Now it's my pleasure to ask,
11:31 uh, councilor uh pepen to come
11:33 forward and introduce today's
11:36 clergy and, um, today's church
11:37 if you'd like to come up.
11:42 And following the invocation
11:43 will recite the pledge
11:44 of allegiance.
11:45 Thank you.
11:48 Um.
11:52 Good afternoon everyone.
11:56 Today's clergy is bishop.
11:59 Julia whitworth with the 17th
12:01 bishop diocesan of the
12:04 episcopal diocese, diocese
12:06 of massachusetts and the first
12:07 woman in the role.
12:10 She was elected in MAY 2024 and
12:12 then ordained and consecrated
12:15 in OCTOBER 2024 at trinity
12:16 church in copley square.
12:20 She leads over 40,000
12:22 episcopalians across 170
12:23 worshiping communities in
12:23 eastern massachusetts.
12:26 Bishop whitworth was ordained
12:28 to the priesthood in SEPTEMBER
12:29 2010.
12:30 She served as the assistant
12:32 rector at saint james church in
12:33 west hartford, connecticut.
12:36 The canon for liturgy and the
12:37 arts of the cathedral church
12:39 of saint john the divine in new
12:41 york city and was the rector
12:43 of trinity church in
12:44 indianapolis before her
12:45 election.
12:46 Bishop whitworth is a
12:47 passionate advocate for
12:48 vulnerable communities.
12:50 While a rector in indianapolis
12:52 she helped found trinity haven,
12:54 indiana's first and only
12:56 housing program dedicated to
12:58 supporting the lgbtq plus young
13:00 people at risk of homelessness
13:02 .
13:03 She recently launched an
13:04 immigrant legal emergency fund
13:07 that has raised a quarter of $1
13:08 million.
13:10 And most recently I was able to
13:12 to meet bishop whitworth
13:13 outside during a press
13:15 conference that we were there
13:18 in support of the tps um
13:19 holders that were at risk
13:21 of holding their tps test
13:23 status.
13:24 Um, obviously thanks to a lot
13:25 of the efforts of our
13:26 council at large, ruthie
13:28 louijeune we were all there
13:29 standing in solidarity and and
13:30 the words of bishop whitworth
13:31 really stood out to me.
13:33 So I just want to make sure
13:34 that we give her another
13:35 opportunity to give us some
13:37 words of inspiration and enough
13:39 prayer for today's
13:40 council meeting.
13:41 So with that I'm thrilled and
13:42 excited to have the right
13:44 reverend julian whitworth today
13:45 before the council.
13:46 Floor is yours.
13:48 thank you, councilor pepen.
13:53 Thank you so much PRESIDENT And
13:54 thank you all for welcoming
13:55 me this day.
13:59 I am still very new to the
14:01 commonwealth and to the city
14:02 of boston.
14:04 Um and I hear it takes
14:05 generations before you're
14:07 actually considered truly from
14:08 here.
14:09 but I am grateful grateful to
14:11 be serving with you this
14:12 magnificent city.
14:15 We have congregations in every
14:16 one of your districts.
14:18 So if you don't know the local
14:20 clergy and would like to be
14:21 connected with them, please
14:22 reach out to my office and we'd
14:24 be happy to do so.
14:26 We are committed as a diocese
14:29 as all 170 congregations to
14:31 promoting justice and dignity
14:32 for every human being and we
14:35 meet not simply episcopalians,
14:36 not simply christians, not
14:38 simply americans but every one
14:40 of GOD's beloved children.
14:42 And I am so, so grateful for
14:44 the work you do in promoting
14:47 justice and dignity for your
14:48 constituents as well.
14:50 And it is my honor to lead you
14:51 in prayer.
14:53 Let us pray.
14:58 Gracious and holy one source
15:00 of life breath and wisdom
15:02 deeper than our knowing GOD
15:04 of many names and no name at
15:06 all.
15:07 Be with us this day.
15:10 Bless this council entrusted
15:11 with the care of the people
15:13 of boston a city
15:15 of neighborhoods and stories
15:17 of long memory and of great
15:21 promise of deep abundance and
15:22 real and equity.
15:24 Grant to these leaders flaherty
15:27 of mind and courage of heart
15:28 where decisions are complex.
15:30 Give them wisdom where the path
15:32 is costly.
15:34 Give them resolve where voices
15:35 compete.
15:37 Give them discipline to listen
15:39 especially to those too often
15:42 unheard the poor, the displaced
15:43 ,the weary, the young.
15:47 Stir in all of us a deeper
15:49 commitment to the common good.
15:52 Guard us from cynicism masking
15:55 as realism from indifference
15:57 that hardens into injustice.
16:00 Call us all back again and
16:02 again to the dignity of every
16:04 human life, to the work
16:06 of repair and the possibility
16:08 of transformation.
16:10 MAY this chamber be a place not
16:12 only of policy but of purpose.
16:15 Where the work is measured not
16:16 only in budgets and votes but
16:19 in flourishing of communities
16:21 and widening of opportunity in
16:23 the daily quiet restoration
16:24 of hope.
16:28 These things I pray in the name
16:30 of my GOD and the GOD of love.
16:31 Amen.
16:34 blessings on you all.
16:35 Thank you so much.
16:41 I have say.
16:43 He has.
16:45 taken america.
16:46 And to outline.
16:47 His has.
16:48 Relation.
16:50 Uh.
16:51 This is all.
16:52 Energy and yes it's all.
16:55 Thank you.
17:01 thank you bishop whitworth
17:03 for being here this morning
17:04 with us.
17:06 Uh, and sharing your words
17:07 of wisdom.
17:11 Um, we are now on to we have
17:12 one presentation this morning.
17:15 Uh, this afternoon, uh,
17:17 councilor culpeper.
17:18 Uh, and your guests if you'd
17:20 like to come forward.
17:24 The greenwich family and their
17:25 friends.
17:43 Are.
17:47 councilor culpeper.
17:48 You have the floor.
17:49 thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
17:59 Right up the.
18:17 Thank you again, MADAM
18:18 PRESIDENT.
18:19 Next monday marks the.
18:23 72nd anniversary of a landmark
18:26 moment in civil rights history
18:29 when on MAY 11th, 1954, the
18:31 massachusetts commission
18:33 against discrimination reached
18:35 their conciliation agreement
18:38 with the pullman company to end
18:40 discriminatory hiring practices
18:42 in the commonwealth
18:43 of massachusetts.
18:45 George greenwich was a world
18:48 war two veteran, a trained army
18:51 radar instructor and a man who
18:53 returned home ready to build a
18:54 life with dignity.
18:57 Despite his qualifications, he
18:59 was blocked from advancement
19:01 and forced into lower paying
19:03 work within the pullman company
19:05 a reflection of a deeply
19:07 entrenched racial hierarchy
19:09 that limited black voters while
19:11 reserving positions
19:12 of authority for white
19:13 employees.
19:14 His decision to challenge.
19:16 That system.
19:17 Helped break down those
19:18 barriers.
19:19 in massachusetts.
19:21 And contributed to a broader
19:22 movement for.
19:23 Equity and justice.
19:25 At a pivotal moment.
19:26 In our nation's history.
19:29 His legacy is one of.
19:30 Courage.
19:32 persistence and a belief
19:34 that fairness is not
19:35 negotiable.
19:37 That legacy is part of a larger
19:38 story.
19:40 The greenwich family has been
19:41 deeply rooted in the civic.
19:46 Culture and intellectual life
19:47 of boston for generations.
19:50 A generation before george his
19:52 uncle reverend james greenwich
19:54 founded saint james african
19:57 orthodox church in roxbury in
20:00 1910, helping to shape the
20:02 spiritual and community life
20:03 of the neighborhood and
20:06 advancing the principles
20:07 of self-determination and
20:08 empowerment.
20:10 That commitment to community
20:11 and justice.
20:13 Continues today through members
20:14 of the greenwich family.
20:18 Including kerry greenwich, a
20:19 historian.
20:20 Caitlin greenwich and novelist
20:22 and essayist kirsten greenwich,
20:25 an award winning playwright and
20:27 george trip greenwich chip
20:32 greenwich, an activist academia
20:33 community convener nonprofit
20:36 leader each of whom in their
20:38 own way continue to contribute
20:41 to boston's civic and cultural
20:42 life.
20:43 I want to thank all the
20:44 greenwich family members who
20:47 took the time to be here today
20:50 george chip greenwich, kerry
20:52 greenwich, caitlin greenwich.
20:56 Now going.
20:57 keep going.
21:01 Diane give chris.
21:02 amber.
21:04 Desire.
21:05 michelle.
21:07 Louder.
21:08 Come on.
21:09 Michelle because.
21:14 My recognizing MAY 11th as
21:17 george greenwich day we ensure.
21:18 That this courage.
21:19 And the broader legacy.
21:21 Of the greenwich family are
21:23 remembered, uplifted and
21:26 carried forward as part
21:27 of boston's ongoing commitment
21:30 to justice and equality.
21:33 i now want to turn over the mic
21:36 to george chip greenwich, uh,
21:38 the founding director and
21:42 leader of the greatest minds.
21:43 Hear him.
21:44 Thank you.
21:46 Everyone please give it up for,
21:47 uh.
21:48 City councilor.
21:50 Reverend paul pepper.
21:52 I just want to just thank him
21:53 for bringing this up and, um,
21:55 it's really good thing to say,
21:58 um, is that, you know, it's my
21:59 namesake.
22:00 And when you think about civil
22:01 rights history, we always think
22:03 about it's all in the south.
22:06 But, uh, the boston area has
22:08 been amazing and lots
22:09 of stories and lost to
22:11 histories that often go unsung
22:12 .
22:13 And so what I encourage people
22:15 here and your own families is
22:17 to use this as evidence as we
22:19 look behind and see what the
22:20 histories of are.
22:21 I need you to talk to your
22:22 great grandparents, your
22:25 grandparents and so forth to
22:26 get these stories out and to
22:27 start documenting them.
22:30 Um I have so I am excited to be
22:32 here today and I'm glad to live
22:33 on this legacy and glad to have
22:35 all my family members here as
22:36 well.
22:38 And also his daughters two
22:39 daughters are here george si
22:40 greenwich's and I would like
22:42 diane just to say one word
22:43 because she's going to say it
22:44 real quick.
22:46 We didn't just come on ship.
22:48 Some of us were here before the
22:50 ships carry.
22:51 We're very proud.
22:53 People and we're very nice.
22:55 People and.
22:57 a lot of your culture.
22:58 No matter who.
22:59 You are.
23:00 Comes from our people.
23:02 Because we.
23:04 Are the oldest people.
23:05 Yeah.
23:08 so I want to thank you for
23:10 honoring my father because.
23:12 He was like a great GOD.
23:15 Tell him cam he was he was just
23:19 like glad he made all of this.
23:21 and we're very excited to do
23:22 that film.
23:23 So thank you.
23:25 For calming us down for one
23:26 minute.
23:29 Oh, and mr santana and remember
23:31 him being a student.
23:33 I'm so proud.
23:37 So thank you.
23:39 City councilors, city
23:40 council PRESIDENT.
23:41 Thank you.
23:43 oh no I'm not I'm not
23:44 finished yet.
23:45 Reverend up here.
23:49 City of boston and city
23:50 council official resolution
23:53 presented by councilor minyard
23:55 culpeper pepper resolved that
23:58 the boston city council offers
24:00 its recognition to the
24:01 greenwich family.
24:03 Recognition of the greenwich
24:04 family legacy of courage.
24:08 Advocacy and contributions.
24:10 to civil rights rooted in
24:11 the roxbury community.
24:13 The greenwich family's history
24:14 .
24:16 Reflects a powerful commitment
24:17 .
24:18 To justice.
24:19 Exemplified by george c
24:21 greenwich of roxbury.
24:22 Who prior to the.
24:24 Passage of the civil rights act
24:25 challenged racial
24:26 discrimination in.
24:29 1954 by taking on the pullman.
24:33 Company and winning, setting a
24:34 precedent for.
24:36 Fairness and equal opportunity
24:37 .
24:39 The greenwich family has a.
24:41 Long and distinguished history.
24:44 Of documenting and
24:45 participating in black civic
24:48 life in greater boston dating
24:49 back to the early 1900s.
24:52 A generation before george c.
24:53 Greenwich.
24:55 his uncle reverend james.
24:58 Greenwich founded the saint
24:58 james.
25:01 African orthodox church in
25:02 roxbury, serving as a.
25:04 Spiritual and civic leader.
25:06 This legacy.
25:07 Continues today.
25:08 through distinguished
25:09 members of the greenwich family
25:13 ,including historian kerry
25:15 greenwich, novelist and
25:16 essayist caitlin.
25:17 greenwich.
25:19 Award winning playwright
25:21 kirsten greenwich and none
25:23 other than george.
25:27 Chip greenwich, an activist
25:31 eager to dimension nonprofit
25:32 leader.
25:33 In boston.
25:36 Of the greater minds all
25:37 of whom carry forward a.
25:39 Tradition of leadership,
25:41 scholarship and.
25:42 Community engagement.
25:43 Be it.
25:44 Further resolved that the
25:46 boston city council extend his
25:47 best wishes.
25:50 For your continued success and
25:51 that.
25:53 This resolution be duly signed
25:54 by the PRESIDENT Of the city
25:55 council.
25:58 And attested to a copy there
26:01 of transmitted by one and only
26:03 clerk of the city
26:05 council PRESIDENT Elizabeth
26:07 breadon offered by.
26:08 Minyard culpeper.
26:11 Chip I present this to you and
26:12 your family.
26:13 On this MAY.
26:17 6th, 226th day.
26:19 MAY you continue to fight for
26:22 justice, peace and for what's
26:23 right.
26:24 GOD bless you.
26:26 You thank you.
26:28 take a picture for
26:29 PRESIDENT.
26:30 We asked our colleagues up for
26:32 a photograph.
26:33 Thank you.
26:34 I open it right.
26:39 but you would.
26:45 Like this from right?
26:49 Not just looking.
26:51 Come on, come on, come on, come
26:52 on.
26:54 No, no.
26:55 No come on, come on.
26:59 Just got to.
27:00 get you there.
27:02 Look at me, okay?
27:03 Thank you.
27:05 so he can come all.
27:07 Here it is this.
27:12 thank you thank you thank.
27:14 You all.
27:16 Thank you for thank you.
27:17 Thank you.
27:19 Another question please do I
27:21 don't have to personally I have
27:22 to.
27:24 For all the field work this
27:25 one.
27:26 Hi I love it.
27:31 Here today algebra done well
27:35 okay stay on point ashley okay
27:37 okay.
27:40 It look.
27:41 like.
27:43 Right into like everybody and
27:45 jared it was a nice.
27:49 thank you yes yes appreciate
27:52 that thank you thank you.
27:57 Now.
28:08 Yeah he's doing.
28:13 Felt.
28:16 You here.
28:24 See I still see that.
28:31 Whether.
28:33 Okay.
28:43 Thank you councilor culpeper
28:45 and congratulations to the
28:47 greenwich family.
28:48 Nice to have you here.
28:50 Okay.
28:52 Mr chair, could you please
28:53 amend the attendance to reflect