City Council

Name: Boston City Council meeting
Start: 2026-06-10T16:00:00+00:00
Location: Council Chambers

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers

Video of the meeting

On the agenda

Roll-call votes

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, Cummings Community Safety Grant, awarded by Cummings Foundation Inc. to be administered by the Office of Human Services. The grant would fund and support the Community Safety Initiative, Public Health Initiative, Community Events Initiative, and Youth Engagement Initiative.: Passed 12-0
Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Dollars ($3,220.00) in the form of a grant, the Massability/Rehabilitation Commission grant, awarded by MassHire Department of Career Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund employment and training assistance, career counseling and job search assistance for disabled individuals who are clients at Boston's MassHire Career Centers.: Passed 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 15, 2026, Docket #0796, for the confirmation of the reappointment of David Sampson as an Alternate Member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring on December 31, 2030, the committee submitted a report recommending that the appointment should be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 15, 2026, Docket #0797, for the confirmation of the reappointment of Robert Weintraub as a Member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring on December 31, 2029, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 15, 2026, Docket #0798, for the confirmation of the appointment of David Dixon as a Member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2028, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 15, 2026, Docket #0799, for the confirmation of the reappointment of Kirsten Hoffman as an Alternate Member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 15, 2026, Docket #0800, for the confirmation of the appointment of Kirsten Hoffman as a Member of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on May 20, 2026, Docket #1037, for the confirmation of the appointment of Vineet Gupta as an Alternate Member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 2 (Coletta Zapata, Mejia).: Accepted 11-0
On the message and order, referred on May 20, 2026, Docket #1038, for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a Member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 2 (Coletta Zapata, Mejia).: Accepted 11-0
On the message and order, referred on May 20, 2026, Docket #1039, for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a Member of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 2 (Coletta Zapata, Mejia).: Accepted 11-0
On the message and order, referred on May 20, 2026, Docket #1040, for the confirmation of the reappointment of Kathleen Connor as a Member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission, for a term expiring December 31, 2026, submits a report recommending that the appointment ought to be confirmed. The report was accepted; the appointment was confirmed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 2 (Coletta Zapata, Mejia).: Accepted 11-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0741, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to support the maintenance and repair of Boston Public Schools facilities, including custodial and utility costs for extended building time, floor refinishing, landscaping and building repairs. Receipts from Lease, Permit for Use and Parking Fees for Boston Public Schools facilities will be deposited in the fund. Boston Public Schools Facilities will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0742, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 for Boston Public Schools Transportation costs, including bus and public transportation costs. This revolving fund shall be credited with revenue received by the Boston Public Schools Department for the provision of transportation to groups and entities for field trips and activities other than transportation to and from school. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0743, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to repair and purchase Boston Public Schools computer technology, including computers, mobile devices and instructional software. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from equipment sales and repair fees for Boston Public Schools technology. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0744, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Environment Conservation Commission revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 for the purpose of securing outside consultants including engineers, wetlands scientists, wildlife biologists, or other experts in order to aid in the review of proposed projects to the Commission, per the City’s ordinance protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from fees imposed by the Commission for the purpose of securing outside consultants. The Environment Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0745, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Distributed Energy Resource Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to facilitate the purchase of offsets of greenhouse gas emissions which shall be associated with a portion of the electricity consumed by the City annually; and to operate, maintain, monitor, and expand the City’s existing solar arrays and Boston Public Schools’ combined heat and power facilities. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from the sale of renewable and alternative energy certificates and demand response program revenues produced by combined heat and power units located at Boston Public Schools sites, and solar renewable energy certificates produced by the City’s photovoltaic arrays. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0746, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Equitable Emissions Investment (BERDO) revolving fund outlined in Section 1(g) of BERDO for Fiscal Year 2027, pursuant to M.G.L. ch. 44 s. 53E1/2, to incur liabilities against and spend monies from such fund consistent with the Ordinance. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP). ACPs are an approved emissions mitigation pathway that consists of payments equal to the average cost per metric ton of CO2e to decarbonize buildings. The Environment Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at $1,500,000, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0747, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Center for Youth & Families (BCYF) revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the City Hall Child Care. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from tuition paid by parents or guardians of children enrolled at the center. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,100,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0748, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Law Department revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to purchase goods and services to pay for repairs to city property. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from recoveries for damages to city property caused by third parties. The Law Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Flynn).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0749, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the Police Department Fitness Center. Revenue for this fund is derived from monthly membership fees. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0750, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to support the Canine Unit’s training programs for officers and police dogs from non-City of Boston law enforcement agencies. The Special Operations Division will charge tuition and other fees to outside law enforcement agencies for training with the Canine Unit. The tuition and other fees paid by outside agencies will be used to purchase training equipment, certify instructors, update facilities and provide funds for other training needs not otherwise budgeted. The Special Operations Division will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0751, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support public art to enhance the public realm throughout the City of Boston. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from easements within the public way granted by the Public Improvement Commission. The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Louijeune).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0752, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support the operation of the Strand Theatre. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from rental fees for the use of the Strand Theatre. The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Louijeune).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0753, approving an order authorizing a limit for the Mayor’s Office of Tourism revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support events and programming on and around City Hall Plaza to advance tourism and promote participation in public celebrations and civic and cultural events. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from payments for the use of City Hall Plaza pursuant to CBC Chapter 11, section 7-14. The Mayor’s Office of Tourism will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed: yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Louijeune).: Accepted 12-0
On the message and order, referred on April 8, 2026, Docket #0733, for Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for FY2027, the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass in an amended draft. Councilor Weber moved to substitute language in the committee report. Seconded by Councilor Durkan. The substitute committee report was properly substituted. Councilor Mejia objected to accepting the committee report. Recess. Committee members polled: yeas 6 (Weber, FitzGerald, Coletta Zapata, Louijeune, Pepén, Worrell), nays 1 (Culpepper). Yeas prevailed. Councilor Coletta Zapata offered an amendment. Seconded by Councilor Durkan. Councilor Weber recused himself from discussion of the amendment. The amendment was properly before the body. Recess. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the amendment was withdrawn. Councilor FitzGerald offered an amendment. Seconded by Councilor Flynn. The amendment was properly before the body. Councilor Coletta Zapata in the chair. Councilor Breadon in the chair. Motion by Councilor Mejia to lay the amendment on the table. Seconded by Councilor Flynn. The motion did not prevail; yeas 4 (Durkan, Flynn, Mejia, Worrell), nays 9 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber). Councilor FitzGerald moved to close debate. Seconded by Councilor Durkan. Motion prevailed; yeas 10 (Culpepper, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), nays 3 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan). A roll call vote was taken; the amendment passed; yeas 10 (Culpepper, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), nays 3 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan). Councilor FitzGerald offered a second amendment. Seconded by Councilor Durkan. Councilor Weber recused himself from discussion of the amendment. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment passed; yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Worrell), not present 1 (Weber). Councilor Flynn offered an amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 2 (Flynn, Murphy), nays 11 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell). Councilor Flynn offered a second amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 2 (Flynn, Murphy), nays 10 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber), not present 1 (Worrell). Councilor Flynn offered a third amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 2 (Flynn, Murphy), nays 10 (Breadon, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata). Councilor Mejia offered an amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 3 (Culpepper, Mejia, Worrell), nays 9 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber), not present 1 (Coletta Zapata). Councilor Mejia offered a second amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 4 (Culpepper, Mejia, Murphy, Worrell), nays 9 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber). Councilor Mejia offered a third amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 4 (Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Worrell), nays 9 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber). Councilor Culpepper offered an amendment. Seconded by Councilor Murphy. The amendment was properly before the body. A roll call vote was taken; the amendment did not pass; yeas 5 (Breadon, Culpepper, Flynn, Murphy, Worrell), nays 7 (Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber), not present 1 (Mejia). Recess. The substituted report was accepted; Docket #0733, the order as amended was passed; yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), nays 1 (Mejia).: Accepted 12-1
Order requesting certain information under Section 17F relative to the number of units and affordable units approved in the City of Boston over the last ten years by neighborhood and City Council District.: Passed 10-0

Documents

Summary

The Boston City Council meeting on June 10, 2026 covered Pride Month and Napoleon Jones Henderson Day presentations, approval of a $1M Cummings Foundation community safety grant, a $3,220 MassHire career center grant, multiple landmark commission appointments, and 14 revolving fund authorizations. The bulk of the session was spent on Docket 0733, the FY2027 operating budget. Ways and Means Chair Weber presented an $8.1 million amendment package restoring cuts to housing vouchers, youth jobs, senior programs, and other services. FitzGerald offered a $1.4 million amendment package funded by cuts to the Boston Transportation Department, which passed 10-3. Flynn offered three amendments for police crime lab equipment, police health/wellness, and fire department cancer screening—all failed. Mejia offered three amendments on youth jobs funding—all failed. Culpepper offered a PFAS-free turnout gear amendment that failed. The final amended budget passed with 12 votes in favor and 1 against.

Transcript

0:02 backslash city council dash tv.

0:05 At this time I ask my

0:05 colleagues and those in

0:07 attendance to please silence or

0:08 cell phones and electronic

0:09 devices.

0:12 Also pursuant to rule 42 I

0:14 remind all in this chamber that

0:16 no demonstration of approval or

0:18 disapproval from members of the

0:20 public will be permitted

0:21 including but not limited to

0:22 signs, placards, banners,

0:24 cheering, clapping, booing etc.

0:26 And if such demonstrations are

0:28 made the gallery or public

0:30 seating area will be cleared.

0:32 This rule will be strictly

0:32 enforced.

0:35 Mr cook, could you please call

0:37 the roll to ascertain the

0:38 presence of a quorum?

0:40 Councilor breadon here

0:41 councilor collette as opposed.

0:42 Councilor culpeper.

0:44 Councilor durkan.

0:47 Councilor fitzgerald.

0:49 Councilor flynn.

0:50 Councilor louijeune.

0:51 Councilor.

0:51 Mejia.

0:53 Councilor murphy.

0:54 Councilor.

0:55 Yeah.

0:57 Councilor santana.

0:57 Yeah.

0:59 Councilor weber and

1:00 councilor worrell.

1:01 Quorum is present.

1:02 Thank you, mr clerk.

1:04 I've been informed by the cook

1:05 that a quorum is present.

1:08 Mr clerk, uh, would you do us

1:10 the honor of offering an

1:11 invocation for us today?

1:12 And following that we will

1:14 sign, uh, the pledge

1:14 of allegiance.

1:18 Thank you councilor.

1:19 Good morning everyone.

1:19 please stand.

1:22 Let us pray.

1:24 Now.

1:26 Somewhere in our innermost core

1:27 .

1:29 Each of us wants to submerge

1:30 self-interest so that we MAY do

1:33 that which is right to

1:34 promulgate justice tempered by

1:34 mercy.

1:36 But this is not always an easy

1:39 men and women.

1:39 path for human all too fallible

1:42 Knowing this, we ask today for

1:44 patients that we MAY diligently

1:46 weigh conflicting evidence and

1:48 find the right therein.

1:50 We ask for tolerance that we

1:53 MAY truly hear and consider

1:54 opinions unlike our own.

1:57 We ask for wisdom that we MAY

1:58 recognize the face of truth

2:00 when it appears before us.

2:04 All this we ask in the name

2:06 of that eternal creative spirit

2:08 that supreme power that guides

2:11 us oh whatever traditions to

2:13 act in ways that are loving,

2:16 wise and just so be it forever

2:18 and ever a days without end.

2:18 Amen.

2:24 I pledge allegiance to the flag

2:27 of the united states of america

2:29 for which it stands one nation

2:32 under GOD, indivisible with

2:34 liberty and justice for.

2:41 Thank you, mr clerk.

2:45 Um, we have two presentations

2:46 today.

2:49 So first I will call up, uh,

2:50 councilor santana.

2:51 Uh, if for your presentation

2:53 you got five minutes and then

2:54 followed that we have contra

2:54 mejia.

3:02 Good afternoon.

3:06 Happy pride everyone.

3:10 Um, I would like to be able to

3:11 thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT, for

3:12 this opportunity.

3:14 i would like to call up, um,

3:16 some of the speakers that I'll

3:17 be having today.

3:19 Um, christina and ricardo if

3:20 they can come up.

3:21 Um.

3:23 and we'll be hearing from

3:23 them.

3:24 Um.

3:25 Happy pride everyone.

3:27 Um, as you all know, um, uh,

3:30 today uh, alongside with 35

3:32 organizations, um, 35 plus

3:32 organizations.

3:34 Uh, we're hosting a pride

3:34 celebration.

3:38 Um, and this is not about me.

3:40 Um, as I mentioned to you all,

3:41 I really want to be able to

3:42 hear directly from the

3:42 speakers.

3:45 Um, so first we're going to

3:47 have, um, christian.

3:48 Uh, we're going to hear from

3:50 out.

3:50 tina and then we'll close it

3:51 Um, with ricardo and then we're

3:53 going to invite all my

3:54 council colleagues and everyone

3:56 here, um, celebrating pride to

3:57 come up for a picture.

3:59 Well, further ado, um,

4:00 christian.

4:05 Good morning everyone.

4:08 Greetings, earthlings.

4:09 My name is christian gardner.

4:11 Also known as stage name

4:14 freckles which stands for

4:15 freedom, recognition,

4:16 compassion.

4:16 Knowledge.

4:17 Music.

4:17 Love support.

4:18 Um.

4:20 I'm grateful to be here

4:21 today and have this opportunity

4:23 to share with you some of my

4:23 experiences.

4:26 Um to start.

4:28 Um, I was born in the city

4:28 of boston.

4:32 Um I was adopted um, at the age

4:33 of five.

4:36 I was moved to the merrimack

4:38 valley uh, region area and

4:39 raised in that area.

4:42 Um, upon my adolescence I

4:43 struggled very much with my

4:44 identity.

4:46 I struggled with, um,

4:47 connecting with my peers in

4:49 many ways due to just a lot

4:50 of things.

4:52 Um, paired with the

4:53 intersections of, um, not

4:56 having contact with biological

4:57 family and things like that.

4:58 Um.

4:59 which led me to a lot

5:02 of stuff and wound me up at 17

5:04 and incarcerated in my

5:05 framingham.

5:07 Um, I did about four years

5:08 incarcerated there.

5:10 Um, and that's truly where I

5:12 met my first transgender

5:12 person.

5:15 Um, which shifted my and shaped

5:17 the way that I could start to

5:18 see myself.

5:19 Um.

5:22 and as an integrated back

5:24 into this community in boston.

5:26 Um, family health was a huge

5:27 resource to me.

5:30 Um, and I struggled immensely.

5:32 Um, because I am a former

5:32 addict.

5:34 I was born addicted to

5:35 substances.

5:35 Um.

5:39 I am also a mental health

5:39 specialist.

5:42 I work with kids inpatient um,

5:44 with mclean through franciscan

5:45 children's.

5:47 Um, and every day that I'm

5:49 seeing the things that, uh, I

5:51 had experienced as a kid in my

5:53 own youth and adolescence is

5:56 trickling down into their lives

5:56 as well.

5:58 Through everything that's

5:58 happening today.

6:03 And uh, as a person of color,

6:05 uh, I firsthand know how

6:06 visibility and belonging are

6:08 not always the same thing.

6:10 That there have been times when

6:11 I've been welcomed into spaces

6:12 because of one part of my

6:13 identity.

6:15 Um well, other parts of me

6:17 remained unseen for many um

6:20 bipoc, bipoc, lgbtq plus

6:20 people.

6:22 That is a reality we all know

6:23 to love.

6:25 We often exist in an

6:27 intersection of multiple forms

6:28 of marginalization, carrying

6:30 experiences that are unique

6:31 communities and in our

6:31 cultures.

6:34 And my work as an artist here a

6:36 mental health specialist, a

6:37 recovering addict, a formerly

6:39 incarcerated individual um have

6:40 been rooted in healing

6:41 storytelling creating space for

6:43 people who don't feel seen.

6:46 Um through through my music and

6:48 my art it's not to entertain.

6:49 It's to create space.

6:51 It's to create a conversation.

6:52 Um.

6:54 and what I've learned is

6:56 that being looks different

6:57 depending on where you come

6:57 from.

6:59 Um, it's not about the color

7:00 of your skin.

7:02 Um, it's it's not just about

7:03 the neighborhood you grew up in

7:06 in the culture or your faith,

7:08 um, in your socio socioeconomic

7:08 background.

7:11 We can't talk about our

7:12 experiences as lgbt individuals

7:14 if we're not including all

7:16 of that in a whole and a whole

7:17 spectrum.

7:18 Um.

7:19 sorry.

7:20 I'm no space here.

7:22 Lost my space here.

7:24 Um, and this is why the

7:25 representation matters and

7:26 that's why our community

7:27 matters and that's why

7:27 collective consciousness

7:28 matters.

7:29 Um.

7:33 and every day I see young

7:35 people carrying unimaginable

7:36 burdens that I did not have to

7:39 carry as lgbt youth.

7:42 I didn't have to deal with an

7:44 administration and and the

7:46 burdens of that in my youth.

7:48 Um, somebody struggling with

7:50 anxiety, depression, trauma,

7:51 family rejection, housing

7:53 instability, bullying and

7:54 simply the exhaustion

7:55 of feeling like they have to

7:57 hide who they are to be

7:58 accepted.

8:00 Um, I've sat with young people

8:02 who have never heard someone

8:03 tell them that their identity

8:04 is not something that needs to

8:05 be fixed.

8:06 Um.

8:08 I watch what happens to

8:10 these kids every single day in

8:10 and out.

8:11 Um.

8:14 and they're the reason that

8:15 I drive to do what I do.

8:16 And this community is the

8:18 reason that I want to connect

8:19 with more people.

8:21 It is the reason that I need to

8:22 talk to as many people as I

8:24 need to to hear where there's

8:26 lack of where there's

8:27 misinformation, where people

8:28 are missing, missing, missing

8:30 certain very significant points

8:31 when it comes to identity.

8:34 Um, these young teach these

8:36 young people teach me and how

8:39 to redefine and redefine

8:40 belongingness, how to recreate

8:42 that conversation because we're

8:43 all changing every single day.

8:45 And the goal isn't just to be

8:46 seen and to be supported.

8:47 It's not just to make

8:48 statements about support.

8:50 It's to put action behind that

8:50 .

8:54 Um and the goal is to create

8:57 communities where bipoc,,

8:58 disabled people, immigrants all

8:59 marginalized communities can

9:01 have access to that safety

9:03 opportunity mental health

9:05 services, leadership roles,

9:06 spaces where they can thrive.

9:08 Pride began as a movement

9:10 demanding dignity and humanity

9:12 and today that work needs to

9:12 continue.

9:14 It needs to continue to uplift.

9:16 My hope is that.

9:19 Young people can feel different

9:20 and every person who has

9:22 questioned whether they belong

9:23 can look at the people in the

9:26 rooms and know that there's a

9:28 place for them not because they

9:30 earned it, not because they had

9:32 to prove themselves, not

9:34 because they are not worthy but

9:36 because they do belong there.

9:41 you for my time.

9:41 Um and I just want to say thank

9:52 Uh.

9:56 hi, I'm tina tucci caruso.

10:00 I am a mass ar alum and I am a

10:02 bipoc person who's an immigrant

10:04 who was adopted at 11 months

10:07 from china and I haven't.

10:08 I just was out.

10:11 I've been ellen proud for two

10:11 years.

10:12 I went to mass art.

10:15 It was the first time I saw

10:18 people.

10:18 people like me bipoc and

10:20 It was the first time I found

10:20 community.

10:23 Mazur was a pivotal moment for

10:23 me.

10:24 You might have seen me on love

10:25 on the spectrum.

10:27 I came out a little before that

10:28 at mass art.

10:31 Through that I realized there's

10:34 a community here in boston that

10:36 I belong to.

10:39 I have never felt belonging

10:42 like the community in boston.

10:44 I grew up in somerville all

10:45 place by somerville school

10:46 districts.

10:49 I was placed into schools that

10:51 my mom called were equivalent

10:54 to arkansas's southern

10:54 southern.

10:58 Um arkansas was like southern

11:01 schools where I was racially

11:02 racially I could not be myself

11:02 .

11:06 I was always targeted by

11:08 students.

11:08 teachers as well as well as

11:11 I got bullied for being a

11:12 transracial adoptee.

11:16 I could not be a bipoc person

11:16 let alone.

11:18 I did not even know I was at

11:19 the time.

11:21 All I knew by high school I was

11:23 an ally to this community.

11:26 I did not realize until two

11:29 years ago 2024 that I was part

11:30 of this community.

11:33 And I am so excited to be able

11:36 to represent this community and

11:39 I hope to uplift your voices.

11:42 And I want to say as a artist

11:44 myself that funding and

11:46 budgeting is very important to

11:48 this community because a lot

11:50 of us are also artists and we

11:51 want to do the best work.

11:53 And when we don't have the

11:55 resources we can't do what we

11:56 need to do best.

12:01 Thank you.

12:05 hi everyone.

12:07 Can you hear me back there?

12:08 All right.

12:11 Uh thank you, boston city

12:12 council for making space for

12:14 our community to be seen and

12:16 home.

12:16 celebrated in the city we call

12:18 Let me just start by saying

12:19 that I love people.

12:20 I do.

12:21 I love us.

12:23 I love our tenacity and our

12:24 creativity.

12:25 I love the way that we find

12:26 each other.

12:27 I love chosen family.

12:29 I love the way we build joy in

12:31 us in mind.

12:31 spaces that were not built with

12:33 I love who we are and I love

12:35 the license we give people to

12:36 be a little bit more

12:36 of themselves.

12:40 When we shine extra bright I'm

12:41 proud to stand here celebrating

12:44 us and holding space for

12:45 everything that we carry.

12:46 Pride.

12:48 It means different things to

12:49 different people.

12:51 For some it means marching.

12:52 For others it means quiet

12:54 reflection a private accounting

12:56 of how far we've come and how

12:57 far we've yet to go.

12:59 Pride is visibility.

13:00 It is action.

13:01 It is care.

13:03 It has chosen family and

13:04 courage that surprises you when

13:05 it shows up.

13:07 It doesn't have to be all

13:09 of those things at once and it

13:10 should never come at the cost

13:11 of who we are.

13:13 I want to be honest about what

13:15 pride feels like in a moment

13:15 like this.

13:18 We are living through a

13:19 sustained and intentional

13:21 attack on the lgbtq plus lives

13:23 on our health care, on our

13:24 bodies, on our children's

13:25 ability to learn and grow in

13:26 safety.

13:29 Our trans people a very right

13:31 to exist in public life, to be

13:32 recognized, to be named, to

13:34 move through the world as who

13:34 they are.

13:37 The cruelty is not incidental.

13:38 It is the point.

13:40 And what I want us to name

13:42 something clearly is that is

13:43 not something we brought upon

13:44 ourselves.

13:46 It is harm that has been forced

13:48 upon us by others obsession

13:49 with our bodies, with who we

13:51 love or whether our families

13:53 meet some unattainable

13:53 standard.

13:55 We did not choose to fight, but

13:57 you better trust and believe

13:58 that we know how to do it.

14:00 I have always understood

14:02 advocacy as personal.

14:04 I think of the people that I've

14:06 worked alongside in arizona, in

14:08 texas, in ohio, in maine, in

14:11 new york and what I hear over

14:12 and over is not a radical

14:13 demand.

14:15 It's a yearning a yearning for

14:17 a fair shot at a good life.

14:19 The ability to marry if we

14:21 choose to build families, if

14:23 that's part of our path to have

14:24 identity documents that reflect

14:25 who we are and let us move

14:27 through daily life without

14:28 unnecessary barriers.

14:30 To live in cities and states

14:31 with real nondiscrimination

14:32 protections.

14:33 To have safe schools.

14:35 places where young people have

14:36 access to the same experiences

14:38 as any other kid to have

14:39 childhoods that are not

14:40 burdened by questions of safety

14:42 ,not spent calculating how

14:44 much of themselves they need to

14:47 hide to feel a sense of false

14:47 belonging.

14:49 I think about the families who

14:51 left texas, who left florida,

14:53 who found what felt like safety

14:55 in cities like boston and who

14:56 are now asking whether they

14:57 need to leave this country

14:58 entirely.

15:00 I think about parents working

15:02 deliberately creatively to

15:03 build pockets of joy for

15:05 children navigating a world

15:06 that doesn't always feel that

15:07 was made for them.

15:11 Even here even in boston what

15:14 some consider a beacon of lgbtq

15:15 safety.