City Council

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers

Video of the meeting

On the agenda

Roll-call votes

Documents

Summary

The Boston City Council met June 24, 2026, opening with a presentation recognizing La Alianza Hispana's 55 years of service, delivered by Councilor Santana and executive director Marisol Amaya. The Council passed a senior property tax exemption update tying eligibility limits to the CPI (docket 0697), roughly $79 million in HUD housing and homelessness grants, capital loan orders for the FY27-31 capital plan, and the modified FY27 operating budget took effect after no override motion. The Council also adopted resolutions on rent stabilization support, rideshare sexual assault legislation, youth jobs, reparations task force continuation, laid-off BPS employees, sickle cell care, PTSD awareness, and Boston Medical Center's 30th anniversary. A notable dispute arose over unanswered Section 17F information requests from the administration, and Councilor Mejia's appeal of the chair's referral of a BPS FY28 budget hearing to Ways and Means failed on a 6-6 tie vote.

Transcript

1:09 i'm.

4:28 Afternoon everyone.

4:31 I call to order today's meeting

4:32 of the boston city council.

4:34 Viewers MAY watch the

4:37 council meeting live on

4:37 youtube@boston.Gov.

4:41 Backslash city council dash tv.

4:43 At this time I ask my

4:45 colleagues and those in the

4:47 audience to please silence

4:50 their cellphones and electronic

4:50 devices.

4:53 Also pursuant to rule 42 I

4:55 remind all in the chamber that

4:57 no demonstration of approval or

4:58 disapproval from members of the

5:00 public will be permitted.

5:00 Thank you.

5:04 I also want to give my

5:05 colleagues a heads up.

5:07 The fifa fan fest starts today

5:10 at 2 P.M. And we've been told

5:11 that they will modify the

5:13 volume but if it gets too loud

5:16 in the chamber we will have uh

5:17 we will have a recess and take

5:18 it from there.

5:20 So hopefully it won't get too

5:21 loud and we'll be able to

5:23 proceed through our long agenda

5:24 in a timely way.

5:26 Mr trayer, could you please

5:27 take a roll call vote to

5:29 ascertain the presence of a

5:29 quorum?

5:32 Council breadon here.

5:32 Councilor.

5:34 That is a further councilor.

5:35 Culpepper.

5:36 Councilor.

5:36 Durkan.

5:37 Council.

5:38 Fitzgerald.

5:39 Councilor.

5:39 Flynn.

5:41 Councilor.

5:41 Louijeune.

5:42 Councilor.

5:43 mejia.

5:43 Councilor.

5:44 Murphy.

5:45 Councilor.

5:45 Pippin.

5:46 Councilor.

5:47 Santana.

5:50 Councilor weber here.

5:51 And councilor worrell.

5:54 A quorum is present.

5:57 Thank you.

5:58 I've been informed by the clerk

6:00 of the quorum is present.

6:02 Mr clerk, if you would please

6:06 uh uh, do us the honor

6:07 of offering an invocation this

6:10 afternoon and then we'll follow

6:11 that with the pledge

6:11 of allegiance.

6:17 Good afternoon.

6:20 Please stand.

6:22 Blessed are the just for they

6:24 have their we would and

6:25 indestructible integrity.

6:28 Blessed are they who labor in

6:30 the vineyards of the public

6:31 realm for they shall be

6:31 remembered.

6:34 Blessed are they who loved

6:35 their nation enough to praise

6:37 its strengths and criticize its

6:38 weaknesses.

6:40 For they shall be made wise.

6:42 Blessed are public officials

6:44 who are responsive to the needs

6:45 of these the least of the

6:47 people, for they shall be

6:48 deputies of the community.

6:51 Blessed are they who serve the

6:51 public good.

6:54 For their reward is in being

6:54 used.

6:57 Blessed are the powerful who

6:58 acknowledge that power is both

7:00 gift and responsibility.

7:02 For they know the binding

7:03 obligations of their bounty.

7:06 Blessed are they who rebuke

7:07 narrow self-interest.

7:08 To sustain the common good.

7:11 for they are the patriots the

7:12 nation needs.

7:15 We especially ask your blessing

7:16 upon the members of the boston

7:18 city council as they continue

7:20 their good work on behalf

7:22 of the people of this city on a

7:23 hill.

7:23 Amen.

7:25 Thank you, mr chair.

7:28 Pledge allegiance to the flag

7:30 of the united states of america

7:32 and to the public for which it

7:36 stands one nation under GOD,

7:38 indivisible, with liberty and

7:39 justice for all.

7:50 Um, we are on to presentations

7:50 .

7:52 We have one presentation this

7:53 afternoon.

7:57 Uh, councilor santana, are you

7:58 ready for your presentation?

8:00 I am in the basement from

8:01 anticipated.

8:04 And I'd also, uh, like to

8:05 acknowledge that we've been

8:07 joined by councilor mahi,

8:08 councilor louijeune.

8:11 Councilor pepen and

8:12 councilor santana.

8:16 Okay.

8:17 uh, but it's coming right

8:18 around.

8:21 Is it coming around the long

8:21 way?

8:22 Right.

9:08 Councilor santana's recognizing

9:09 la alianza.

9:12 Alianza hispania.

9:13 is.

9:15 is you planted better place

9:15 .

9:19 So welcome your guests up and,

9:20 uh, I want to invite them up to

9:20 the.

9:21 Yes.

9:25 Good afternoon everyone.

9:28 When I started this, um, I want

9:29 to say good afternoon to my

9:29 colleagues, members of the

9:32 public and honored guests.

9:34 Um, today we have the privilege

9:36 of recognizing and celebrating

9:39 the extraordinary work of la

9:42 alianza espina for over 55

9:43 years.

9:45 Alianza banner has been a

9:47 trusted starting point for

9:48 thousands of latinos seeking

9:50 support at every stage of life.

9:52 Come up.

9:53 Everyone in the space for

9:55 everyone through education,

9:58 social services and advocacy,

9:59 the organization strengthens

10:01 community and helps individuals

10:02 across massachusetts reach

10:03 their fullest potential.

10:06 La la spinal provides vital

10:07 programs and resources to

10:09 latino individuals and families

10:10 to our boston.

10:11 These programs include

10:13 workforce development

10:15 workshops, senior wellness

10:17 initiatives and family centered

10:18 development services that help

10:20 residents build stability,

10:22 opportunity and connection.

10:24 Additionally, the organization

10:25 is devoted to supporting latino

10:27 seniors and adults with

10:29 disabilities to social

10:30 engagement and enriching

10:32 activities while also providing

10:33 critical support to immigrant

10:35 mothers and families that the

10:36 spaniards work is deeply

10:38 important to the city of boston

10:40 because it uplifts and empowers

10:42 members of the latino community

10:43 by expanding access to

10:46 education, health care, senior

10:48 services, workforce development

10:49 and social support networks.

10:52 As we recognize la today, we

10:55 honor more than five decades I

10:57 repeat five decades

10:59 of dedicated service advocacy

11:00 and community leadership.

11:02 the commitment to empowering

11:03 individuals and strengthening

11:05 families continues to make a

11:06 lasting difference in boston

11:08 and across massachusetts.

11:09 And it's important that we

11:11 acknowledge and celebrate the

11:12 remarkable impact that they

11:14 have had on our generations and

11:17 um, our residents and for me as

11:18 an immigrant for the dominican

11:20 republic, um, this is extremely

11:21 personal to me.

11:24 Um, you know, organizations

11:25 like this help me and my family

11:26 get to where we are today.

11:28 Um, and right now our immigrant

11:30 communities as we all know, um,

11:32 is under so much attacks, um,

11:33 from all different levels um,

11:35 particularly our federal

11:38 government and having um a

11:40 group of women right group

11:42 of latinas um who do every

11:44 single who just do this work

11:44 every single day.

11:46 It's personal to them.

11:47 Um, but it's not easy.

11:50 Um, and I acknowledge that

11:52 right now, um, and I get

11:52 emotional because I start

11:55 thinking about, um, my family,

11:57 my cousins, my friends.

11:58 Um, and the moment that we're

11:59 living in right now.

12:01 Um, so without further ado, I

12:02 don't know who who wants to

12:03 speak.

12:06 Um, but all is, um thank you so

12:07 much for the work that you all

12:07 do.

12:08 Gracias.

12:10 Um, and right now we're in to

12:11 be able to support

12:12 organizations like this, um,

12:15 who are, um, ultimately saving

12:15 lives.

12:18 So this time to crisis.

12:20 Good afternoon.

12:23 I'm marisol amaya, executive

12:24 director, l'agence espana.

12:27 And these are some members

12:27 of my team.

12:29 We had them shown on the main

12:30 site in the office.

12:34 So we have some of those, um,

12:37 55 years ago la started with a

12:40 simple mission a refusal to

12:43 leave our latino people to be

12:43 invisible.

12:48 So in 1971 the latino families

12:51 that parties children, uncles

12:54 causing crime patterns a

12:57 rainbow stone with no english

12:59 without notice how to navigate

13:02 this system we lack the

13:04 possibilities and it's sad to

13:07 know them 55 years ago and we

13:08 continue on the same.

13:12 So for this reason la alliance

13:13 was focused on the holistic

13:14 family approach.

13:16 We care and we have programs

13:18 for every member of our family.

13:21 So we have a program for

13:24 children 0 to 5 than we do home

13:25 visit visitor program the home

13:27 visit the program focus and

13:29 make sure that child is ready

13:31 for kindergarten but at the

13:34 same time supported our latino

13:34 family.

13:38 We had also we cared about our

13:39 older like people with

13:40 disabilities.

13:41 We had the senior program and

13:43 we had an adult day care

13:44 program that is the first one

13:46 in the city of boston for the

13:51 latino community 5554 years is

13:53 that all day care program and

13:55 we had the workforce making

13:57 sure our they had opportunity

13:59 to find a job with computer

14:01 class re

14:01 sume

14:03 s and also

14:04 searching for a job for

14:04 everyone.

14:07 And we had information I prefer

14:09 something very important

14:10 because latino families come

14:10 here.

14:12 They they don't know where they

14:12 start.

14:16 We are for 55 la the answer has

14:19 been left in the community.

14:21 better future.

14:21 It has been the bridge for a

14:25 We ensure that our older adult

14:27 age with dignity we move

14:29 families given the right tool

14:32 from survival to thriving and

14:34 we get know care about our

14:36 children as the good students

14:38 but also as our future leaders.

14:43 We don't look at the metrics

14:45 just are looking at the numbers

14:46 on a piece of paper.

14:49 We look at the mother who came

14:51 to la alianza terrified because

14:53 didn't had a place to sleep,

14:54 where to eat and didn't know

14:56 what to do with their life.

15:00 Now the mother has their own

15:00 place.

15:02 They had life and now she's

15:05 working with us also making

15:07 sure the other family has the

15:08 right things and the right

15:09 tools to survive.

15:13 We are talking about the older

15:16 adult who was in the apartment

15:20 with our out yes lonely and

15:20 isolating.

15:23 Now that person is writing a

15:23 book.

15:26 I'm put her life in a piece

15:27 of book and selling that book

15:29 and then my son dies and in

15:31 part where I'm making that

15:32 person is no invisible is

15:34 visible for the community.

15:38 We also talking about the

15:40 immigrant that came without

15:42 speaking english and now he's

15:44 out on their own business

15:46 giving job to order and give it

15:47 opportunity to success for so

15:49 many.

15:52 we are here l'alliance alianza

15:55 we don't know yes do things

15:56 because we had to do it.

15:58 We do it with passion and we do

16:00 it because we care about our

16:00 community.

16:02 Everybody who work at alliance

16:04 is an immigrant so we know we

16:06 work, we know how difficult it

16:08 is but we know it's possible.

16:12 La alianza is nothing without

16:14 their staff thanks to them all

16:16 the staff who are coming they

16:17 are the heroes.

16:20 They are the one who made sure

16:23 that every latino child than

16:26 every latino elder and every

16:29 family has a future and they

16:31 are not invisible in this city

16:32 a la alianza.

16:34 We don't provide services.

16:36 We give a better future and

16:38 thank you for the recognition

16:42 at 55 years but we are going

16:42 after more.

16:44 Thank you to everybody.

16:47 we thank you mighty for them

16:52 and you can you can.

16:55 You can feel the passion um and

16:56 how personal it is and as

16:59 marisol mentioned um, we're all

16:59 immigrants, right?

17:02 And so um, everyone working

17:03 there are immigrants and it's

17:04 extremely personal to them.

17:06 I do want to give a shout out

17:08 just to, um, both, um, city

17:10 councilors julia mejia um, the

17:11 first american woman to be on

17:13 the city council and we had two

17:15 of my colleagues and I know all

17:16 my colleagues care about latino

17:17 community, but I just want to

17:19 acknowledge, um, the work that

17:20 you have both have done.

17:21 Um, and we were just talking

17:23 before about how we really need

17:25 to you know, they're doing the

17:26 work and we need to be able to

17:27 do and support the work.

17:29 Um, and I know both of you and

17:30 my colleagues do that every

17:32 single day and, um, I know this

17:34 guy likes to be in the shadows,

17:35 but I want to give a shout out

17:37 to juan lopez, um, that we all

17:39 love and know um, just for the

17:41 education um, and the

17:42 commitment to all of our

17:44 communities but particularly

17:44 the latino community.

17:46 Um, I'm here because of the

17:47 work that you've been able to

17:47 pave.

17:49 So, um thank you.

17:50 Um, I want to be able to and by

17:53 all my colleagues up, um, for a

17:53 quick picture.

18:02 Everyone has a window on, uh,

18:02 the.

18:03 Uh.

18:07 doing this but these folks

18:08 in front.

18:24 Know what.

18:24 we do the.

18:25 Pictures manga and.

18:28 I want to go on.

18:31 Okay.

18:47 wonderful I.

18:52 Have.

19:10 Always you and.

19:15 That what that.

19:22 When I'll come back.

19:25 To.

19:34 The.

19:49 Thank you, councilor santana

19:51 and congratulations again to la

19:51 alianza.

19:55 Uh, his former um.

19:59 Much better.

20:00 things.

20:03 For mr turner.

20:04 Could you please amend the

20:06 attendance to reflect the

20:06 constable waddell has joined

20:07 us.

20:07 Thank you.

20:11 And I think we got her the last

20:12 time to kind of punch from

20:12 here.

20:13 Okay?

20:14 okay.

20:15 thank you.

20:18 We're now on to the first order

20:19 of business, which is the

20:19 approval of the minutes from

20:23 the meeting of JUNE 17th, 2026

20:23 .

20:25 All in favor say I I all

20:26 opposed say nay.

20:27 Um.

20:28 the ayes have it.

20:31 The minutes of the JUNE 17th

20:32 meeting have been approved.

20:34 Councilor flynn, you have a

20:35 question.

20:36 You have a point of order yes.

20:36 I do.

20:38 which which rule are you

20:38 referring to?

20:40 Um.

20:42 I have a few few rules but

20:42 let me start with rules.

20:43 Oh.

20:44 I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

20:44 Rule 13.

20:45 Um.

20:48 MADAM Chair, um, this morning I

20:50 mentioned to you um, I wanted

20:52 to get some information on 17

20:52 apps.

20:54 I wanted to be respectful to

20:55 you and the process to give you

20:56 a heads up.

20:57 Um.

20:58 that I was looking for

21:01 information about 17 apps, but

21:02 today's agenda includes a

21:04 response from the boston

21:06 housing authority and docket

21:09 0221, which was a 17 five filed

21:12 on for elevator access and life

21:12 safety.

21:15 I filed this on JANUARY 28th.

21:18 The response just came but it

21:19 ignores many of the specific

21:21 questions in my request and

21:22 does not take responsibility

21:25 for a variety of issues

21:26 including unpaid invoices in

21:27 ongoing litigation.

21:30 But I didn't cancel offline.

21:31 We usually don't know.

21:32 I just.

21:33 Don't use what I understand

21:35 comment on correspondence.

21:37 Okay, but I also have several

21:39 several outstanding 17 apps

21:41 that have not been responded to

21:43 um including one from FEBRUARY

21:47 1st in APRIL, several others um

21:49 seven rule 13 MADAM Chair

21:51 requires that unanswered 17

21:53 orders remain listed as pending

21:54 matters and green.

21:56 Sheets under rule eight I am

21:57 asking the chair to recognize

21:58 that this is a question

22:00 of priority of business and to

22:01 address these pending requests

22:03 before the city council proceed

22:05 with other matters, I

22:06 respectfully request that the