Dear neighbors,

I hope you and your families are enjoying the holiday season. As 2024 draws to a close, I would like to provide an update on my work at the City Council this year in many key areas outlined below. This year, we had many notable achievements in District 2 and throughout the city.

During the budget process, we secured $2 million in funding to renovate the Blackstone School Pool in the South End. This is on top of the $20 million planned for the Blackstone School Renovation from last year’s budget. Additionally, other projects in the construction, design, and to be implemented phases include $20 million to build new mixed-income housing for Phase 1 of the Mary Ellen McCormack Redevelopment, $22 million to design and construct a new Chinatown Branch Library, $13 million to design and construct a new EMS station and $4 million for a new Boston Fire Department station both in the South Boston Waterfront, and $3 million to repair sidewalks in Chinatown. To see the full list of Capital Projects in District 2, please click here.

Thank you to the advocacy of my neighbors throughout South Boston and in Boston Housing Authority (BHA) public housing developments, we were able to pushback against a proposal from the largest for-profit urgent care company in the country to open on West Broadway, less than a block from the South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC). If approved, this project would have potentially jeopardized the future of the SBCHC, its staff, and the public health of the neighborhood at large, including for our seniors, persons with disabilities, immigrant neighbors, and communities of color. Because of your efforts, the proposal was ultimately withdrawn.

Throughout the year, I had advocated alongside Councilor Murphy to expand the BPS Sundays Program to allow all children and families in Boston to visit our world-class museums and cultural institutions. In December, the administration announced Boston Family Days, which includes free access for all Boston school-aged children and their families on the first two Sundays of each month at premier Boston institutions. I am thankful that the program is now being expanded to include tens of thousands of children – those in private schools, charter schools, and thousands of students of color. This is a win for every Boston family, and all will now have the opportunity to enjoy our exceptional museums and cultural institutions.

On public safety, in December 2023, the Boston City Council unfortunately voted to reject a $13.3 million federal anti-terrorism grant. I strongly advocated for passage of this public safety grant and, in January 2024, the Council subsequently approved this funding that not only supports the city, but also surrounding towns like Chelsea, Revere, Everett, Winthrop, and Quincy. At the December 11 Council Meeting this year, I also advocated for the passage of the $11.9 million Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant to fund the enhancement of regional preparedness. Although my Council colleagues expressed concerns, we ultimately passed this funding.

Moreover, in June, the City Council passed an amendment to reallocate $1 million to the Boston Police Crime Lab, which was not meeting the state mandated deadline of testing sexual assault kits within 30 days due to staffing shortages. The Crime Lab is also lacking the most advanced DNA testing technology known as “Y Screening”, utilized by the MA State Police. We have significant leadership challenges at the Crime Lab that I will continue to address.

On transportation, thanks again to the feedback of my fellow South Boston elected officials, neighbors and civic organizations, the City of Boston announced the Summer Street PILOT Program had officially ended in September. Although bus lanes at appropriate locations can relieve areas of high congestion and move our workforce – like the one-block stretch that was implemented further along Summer Street approaching South Station – my colleagues, South Boston neighbors, and I repeatedly warned for years that extending the bus lane down the entire Summer Street corridor in areas that did not have pre-pandemic bottlenecks, and now with reduced traffic flow on account of remote work policies, was seemingly a solution in search of a problem.

With respect to Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds this year, I was proud to support many worthwhile and wonderful projects in District 2. These include the Major Christopher F. Lee playground in South Boston which received additional funding on top of last year’s $560,000, United South End Settlements ($350,000) in the South End, Phillips Square Plaza ($700,000) in Chinatown, Old Corner Bookstore ($500,000) in Downtown.

Last week, I called for the cancellation of White Stadium proposal. Since August, I had written to both the the Boston Parks Commission and BPS School Committee to oppose and advocate for neighbors who are concerned about the White Stadium renovation. Recent reports have noted that projected costs for the Stadium have jumped from $50 million to now $91 million for the city, with the other half paid for by the professional soccer team. Neighbors cited reports that a renovation for student athletes could be done for $20 million. They also expressed concerns on a lack of a thorough community process, the potential use of public land for private organizations for at least 40 days annually during warmer months, transportation and other quality of life issues. Lastly, they continue to raise the practicality of having two professional soccer stadiums in close proximity, while we have many other available options across the city and at our colleges and universities. It is critical that we work with stakeholders to come up with a plan that not only allows for Boston to have a professional women’s soccer team, but one that respects the voice of our neighbors and student athletes.

Below, I have included a detailed list of what I have worked on in City Hall throughout the year.

Thank you, and wishing you and your families Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year.

Ed

Budget & Residential Tax Exemption

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Providing $15 Million Towards Residential Taxpayers in need of Relief.

• Held a Hearing to Explore Utilizing Surcharges to Provide Residential Tax Relief.

• Proposed Alternative Plan to Administration’s Property Tax Shift

• Called for a Hearing to Review the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program in the City of Boston.

Quality of Life & City Services

• Held a hearing to discuss Ordinance Establishing the Office of Pest Control in the City of Boston.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Proposed Zoning Amendment to Remove the Half-Mile Buffer Zone Between Cannabis Establishments.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Notification Process for Abutters Meetings in the City of Boston.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Importance of the Cruise Industry in the City of Boston.

• Passed Resolution Supporting the Extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program and Advancing Digital Equity.

• Passed a Resolution recognizing the Boston Water Sewer Commission’s (BWSC) Lead Incentive Replacement Program.

• Passed a Resolution Calling for the Reinstatement of the Community Syringe Redemption Program in the City of Boston.

• Filed a Resolution Recommending the Placement of the City of Boston Election Department Under State Receivership.

Public, Pedestrian Safety & Transportation

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Ways to Provide Critical Public Safety Support and Address Quality of Life Issues Relating to the Crisis at Mass & Cass.

• Held a Hearing Regarding Public Safety and Quality of Life Issues in Boston Common and Downtown.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Pedestrian Safety, Traffic Calming, and Expanding the Safety Surge Program in the City of Boston.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Community Process for Transportation Planning in the City of Boston.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Plans to Address Drag Racing, Dirt Bikes, ATVs, and Other Off-Road Vehicles on Neighborhood Streets.

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Resources for the Boston Police Crime Laboratory.

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Boston Police Department Staffing Levels.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Ways to Ensure the Operations of the 911 System and Contingency Plans in case of a 911 system Outage.

• Filed a Resolution in Support of a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Committee at the Boston City Council.

Boston Public Schools

• Voted to fund the Josiah Quincy School over the years and celebrated the opening of their newly renovated Upper School in September, which was a $223.5 million investment.

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Boston Public Schools Transportation for Student Athletes.

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Boston Public Schools Transportation for Students on the First Week of School.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Resources for Early Childhood Education and Ways to Ensure Access to Early Childhood Education for Boston Families.

• Called for a Hearing to discuss financial literacy programs in Boston Public Schools.

Parks, Open Spaces & Environment

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Expanding the Urban Tree Canopy in District 2.

• Passed a Resolution Supporting the Renaming of the Soccer Field within Saunders Stadium in Honor of Billy Baker.

Public Health

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Impact of For-Profit Urgent Care Centers on Nonprofit Community Health Centers in the City of Boston.

• Passed a Resolution Declaring Speeding Cars and Reckless Driving as a Public Health Emergency.

• Passed a Resolution in Support of H.1250/S.799 “An Act To Advance Health Equity.”

• Passed a Resolution Calling for the Boston Public Health Commission to Declare a Public Health Emergency Relative to the Closing of Carney Hospital.

Civil Rights

• Held a Hearing on the Current Status of the Elevator System in Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Developments.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Impact of CORI on Access to Employment and Other Opportunities.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss Elder Scamming.

• Passed a Resolution Calling for Commitment from the State Government to Ensure the Preservation of all Steward Hospitals in Boston.

Labor

• Passed Resolution in Support of the International Longshoremen’s Association.

• Passed a Resolution Recognizing National Public Works Week.

• Filed a Resolution in Support of Our Local Restaurants in the City of Boston (Against Question 5).

• Was a strong ally in support of our hotel workers at Unite Here Local 26.

Immigrant Advancement

• Passed a Resolution Recognizing January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

• Passed a Resolution Celebrating Lunar New Year.

• Passed a Resolution Recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

• Passed a Resolution in Support of Tufts University’s Cherish Chinatown Restaurant Challenge.

• Filed a Resolution Honoring the Lives Lost on the October 7th Terrorist Attacks.

Veterans and Military Families

• Held a Hearing to Discuss the Goals and Priorities of the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans Services.

• Held a Hearing to Discuss Services for Women Veterans.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Process of Establishing Hero Squares in the City of Boston.

• Called for a Hearing to Discuss the Lung Cancer Rates Among Black Veterans

• Passed a Resolution in Support of:

• the HERO Act (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans);

• S. 3526, “Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act.”

• S. 3452, “Fred Hamilton Veterans’ Lost Records Act.”

• H.R. 6452, “Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act.”

• H.R. 8560, the “End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2024.”

• S. 5210, Building Resources and Access for Veterans’ Mental Health Engagement Act of 2024 or the “BRAVE Act of 2024.”

• Passed a Resolution Recognizing Black Women Veterans during Black Maternal Health Week.

• Passed a Resolution Recognizing the Achievements of Black Veterans.

• Passed a Resolution Celebrating Flag Day.

• Passed a Resolution Commemorating Memorial Day and Honoring those who made the Supreme Sacrifice for Our Country and Our Gold Star Families.

• Passed a Resolution Celebrating Veterans Day and Honoring those who Served our Country.

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or [email protected].