Frustrations have surfaced among Boston councilors Ed Flynn, Erin Murphy, and John FitzGerald following the last-minute cancellation of three council hearings this week. One of the canceled hearings focused on the impact of individuals’ criminal records on future employment prospects, while another aimed to address safety policies for school bus drivers, which is now set to be rescheduled for next week.
Murphy, known for her outspoken criticism of Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration, articulated her concerns to the Globe, emphasizing that the repeated cancellations appear to signal an alarming trend of the administration exerting control over council operations.
“Families, advocates, and community members rearrange their schedules to be heard, and it is unacceptable that the administration and some colleagues allow this pattern of delay and avoidance to continue,” Murphy said.
In response, Mayor Wu defended her administration’s coordination with the council, pointing out that her staff had taken part in 122 council hearings so far this year, including eight in just the past week.
As a former city councilor, Wu expressed her appreciation for the council’s role, highlighting the importance of advocacy and participation in the city’s budget and other major functions.
Wu added that the council operates as a distinct branch of government, not requiring the administration’s approval to schedule hearings. However, she acknowledged that there is a need for coordination when councilors seek testimonies from her Cabinet members during lengthy hearings.
“We do our very best to prioritize councilors’ requests for Cabinet chiefs and department heads to take time away from important responsibilities serving residents, to provide information that is crucial for oversight and council deliberations,” Wu stated.
Despite the mayor’s defense, Flynn, Murphy, and FitzGerald argued that the cancellation of these hearings is indicative of a concerning pattern of behavior from the administration.
Flynn, a persistent critic of Wu on the council, sent a letter to Council President Ruthzee Louijeune alleging that Wu’s officials had pushed to cancel the hearing on criminal record information after the Boston Herald reported that a Level 3 sex offender had worked for the city’s parks department until mid-August.
In his letter, Flynn argued that the culture of blocking transparency and avoiding difficult discussions has become the norm, particularly with the approaching election season.
Additionally, Councilor Ben Weber, who chairs the committee responsible for the canceled hearing on criminal records, clarified that he was informed by the administration about a scheduling conflict, resulting in the hearing being rescheduled for September 22.
Another hearing, which had been scheduled for Tuesday morning concerning towing practices, was abruptly canceled. Councilor Liz Breadon, the hearing’s sponsor, stated that she opted to reschedule for the following Tuesday to support the mayor at her press conference addressing a threatening letter from Attorney General Bondi.
It is noteworthy that Flynn, Murphy, and FitzGerald were the only councilors absent from that press conference.
The cancellation of Thursday’s hearing on school bus driver safety and the new ridership policy for Boston Public Schools (BPS) was also requested by the administration, according to an email obtained by the Globe. Clare Kelly, the director of intergovernmental relations in the mayor’s office, had asked to postpone the hearing for a week after an investigative report related to BPS’s bus contractor was released. The contractor was involved in an unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of a kindergarten student in Hyde Park in April.
Councilor Henry Santana, who chairs the education committee and is aligned with Wu, mentioned his intention to reschedule the hearing for next Thursday, promising the attendance of the external investigator and other key officials.
Murphy criticized the idea of postponing the hearing, arguing that the council should have proceeded as planned and conducted a separate discussion on the report. She also questioned why it had taken months to schedule this particular hearing, which she proposed back in May.
“It is a huge responsibility we have as elected officials, in making sure that we’re taking the council and our role in checks and balances against the administration seriously,” Murphy remarked.
FitzGerald, while typically less vocal about his criticisms of Wu, conveyed his own frustration regarding the administration’s repeated requests to cancel or delay hearings, claiming that such requests often coincide suspiciously with the primary election period.
“This has become an egregious overreach of a manufactured excuse not to hear the issues before our city,” FitzGerald stated.
Council President Louijeune admitted that improvements are needed in coordinating council operations, but reminded that all 13 councilors are also facing reelection this year, not just the mayor.
“I do believe that the administration can do a better job at coordinating with members of the council on hearings … [but] some of this is political theater,” Louijeune asserted.
Other councilors voiced more severe accusations towards their colleagues.
“Splash and drama might sell newspapers, but partnership actually solves problems,” remarked Councilor Sharon Durkan, who supports the Wu administration. “What’s critical here is we have some councilors that want to work in partnership, and some councilors that want to create headlines.”
FitzGerald countered this assertion in a statement to the Globe, defending his motives and highlighting his record.
“I don’t cry wolf for headlines, and my record shows that,” FitzGerald concluded.
image source from：bostonglobe
