Convicted Boston City Councilor celebrates final meeting with whirlwind of “mostly symbolic” resolutions.
District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson celebrated her final Council meeting Wednesday, pending her official resignation on July 4. The councilwoman pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges for operating a kickback scheme in May, after a months-long legal battle. On her way out of office, she pushed ten resolutions ranging from recognizing an official District 7 Workbook to officially recognizing July as Cabo Verdean Heritage Month.
Fellow city councilor Erin Murphy said the resolutions were mostly symbolic. “Not all of them were substantive, but a few made sense and I agreed with them,” Murphy said. “I assume she was going through, knowing this is the last day she can put forth things she cares about.”
“She won’t be here to see them through. We’ll see if they die in committee or not.”
During Fernandes Anderson’s presentations, many of her colleagues departed the chambers, almost causing the session to lose quorum.
“I think people are often afraid, on this body, to take hard votes, and I think they weren’t sure what the tone was going to be,” said Murphy, adding that her peers might have stepped out to avoid weighing on issues presented by a counselor who is “on their way out.”
Councilor Ed Flynn was also critical of Fernandes Anderson, calling for a stricter code of conduct and ethics for elected officials.
“We must demonstrate ethics, integrity, accountability, transparency and positive leadership through our actions,” he posted to X.
In her final resolution, Fernandes Anderson sought to recognize the courage, diversity, and collective commitment to justice and civic engagement of her constituency. She also took the opportunity to criticize the corporate liberalism of Mayor Michelle Wu and called her colleagues good people in a bad system.
“I leave this chamber the way I entered, with a big smile, grounded, God-willing, humble, faithful, not in the system, but in the people. This is not an ending. It is a return to the base, to the roots, to wear real power lips with all the people,” she said.
Councilors Julia Mejia, Sharon Durkhan, Liz Breadon, and Brian J. Worrel bid farewell to Fernandes Anderson, recognizing the councilor’s commitment to her district.
Murphy hopes Fernandes Anderson’s departure will close a chapter in which the council is seen as not taking ethical violations seriously. She also extended an invitation to the District 7 staff to reach out to her for support and remains confident that, thanks to their hard work, District 7 will be in a good space.
Fernandes Anderson will be sentenced on July 29.
Jacob Downey is a contributor to Caught in Dot. He is formerly of The Clock, Plymouth State University’s award-winning student newspaper. He enjoys spending time with his two kittens – Gin and Tonic – reading Uncanny X-Men and writing about local government meetings.
Steals from the city, admits it, gets convicted and rails against ‘the corrupt system’ that ‘took her down’ (racism heavily inferred). The councilors who sang her praises should be ashamed of themselves. A comparison to Harriet Tubman was especially ridiculous. And to Julia Mejia who is afraid that the same ‘corrupt system’ is coming after her too……if you’re stealing our money then Yes, it’s coming for you too. If not, why are you worried? A system that removes thieves from office is a system that’s working.
She should have never been allowed to continue to collect a pay check. How crazy is that.