Inside City Hall last Friday, all of the Black, Latino and Asian City Councilors fired off a list of demands to Mayor Martin Walsh in advance of their Wednesday vote on his budget.
The letter, sent by Council President Kim Janey and co-signed by councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Andrea Campbell, Lydia Edwards, Julia Mejia and Michelle Wu, calls on the mayor to reduce the BPD budget by 10%, eliminate the controversial gang database, fully implement the use of body cameras, create a civilian review board with subpoena power and commit to ending discriminatory hiring and disciplinary practices, such as the hair test and promotional exams.
City Councilor Michelle Wu, who pointed out that Walsh’s proposal calls for cutting the department’s $60 million overtime budget would not necessarily diminish the overtime hours officers work or their pay.
Several councilors said they received similar emails from city department heads, nonprofit leaders and community groups expressing concern that a “no” vote would lead to budget cuts.
Organizers from the Youth Justice and Power Union (YJPU) teamed up with members of Boston nonprofits such as the Muslim Justice League, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project and For The People Boston to protest on City Hall Plaza, after weeks of marching, meeting with city councilors and the mayor, and attending town halls with other youth.
