FY26 BUDGET SEASON: Preview of Week 3 Hearings
Among those testifying this week: Segun Idowu, Mayor Wu's top surrogate & economic development aide; Boston's very first "Chief Climate Officer"
This week the Boston City Council is back in action after taking April school vacation off to celebrate Patriots Day & the Boston Marathon. There are 6 hearings and a budget working session. Those 6 hearings are:
Monday at 10 AM: Office of Equity, Black Male Advancement, Women’s Advancement, Fair Housing and Equity;
Monday at 2 PM: Immigrant Advancement, Language and Communication Access (LCA), Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Human Rights Commission, LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement - this hearing is virtual, not in-person;
Tuesday at 10 AM: Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI), Supplier Diversity;
Tuesday at 2 PM: Consumer Affairs and Licensing, Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, Tourism Revolving Fund;
Thursday at 10 AM: Department of Innovation and Technology (DOIT), PEG Access Fund;
Thursday at 2 PM: Environment, Office of Food Justice, Environment Revolving Funds;
Friday at 10 AM: the Council’s first budget working session, these meetings are technically public but they are not televised or recorded.
There are two big things to watch at this week’s hearing:
First, Tuesday’s hearings will feature Segun Idowu in his role as Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. Idowu is Mayor Wu’s top economic development aide, and one the Mayor’s top surrogates: he is one of just four Wu administration figures, along with Mayor Wu, Boston Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, who has appeared on WCVB’s ‘On The Record.’
Second, Thursday afternoon’s hearing will feature the Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet, which saw a lot of turnover & leadership changes over the last year: Kim Janey’s pick to lead the cabinet, announced her resignation in January 2024; in April Wu’s pick replaced her with a new title “Chief Climate Officers;” in August two of Mayor Wu’s top environmental advisors got second jobs, each atop an EEO office. In addition, this is chance to learn more about a still unresolved scandal in another of EEO’s agencies: Landmarks Commission. There is finally permanent leadership there after Mayor Wu fired the Executive Director in April 2024.
Keep reading for more on each of the six hearings!
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 10 AM, IANNELLA CHAMBER
The listed topic for this hearing is “Office of Equity, Black Male Advancement, Women’s Advancement, Fair Housing and Equity.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Equity & Inclusion Cabinet - p. 243-315
Office of Equity - p. 291-297
Black Male Advancement - p. 247-251
Women’s Advancement - p. 309-315
Fair Housing and Equity - p. 261-268
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Equity & Inclusion Cabinet - $14,893,287 in FY25 vs $14,679,977 in FY26, a ($213,309) or 1.4% decrease vs FY25
Office of Equity - $3,290,579 in FY25 vs $3,725,869 in FY26, a $435,290 or 13.2% increase over FY25
Black Male Advancement - $2,093,429 in FY25 vs $2,094,031 in FY26, a $782 or <1% increase vs FY25
Women’s Advancement - $742,925 in FY25 vs $643,544 in FY26, a ($99,381) or 13% decrease vs FY25
Fair Housing and Equity - $767,000 in FY25 vs $352,805 in FY26, a ($414,196) or 54% decrease vs FY25
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
Mayor Wu’s letter discusses the overall decrease in this cabinet in the 3rd full paragraph on this page - p. 4:
Other departmental decreases reflect more effective use of City funds; for example some departments in the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet show a year-over-year budget decrease due to centralizing cabinet functions. These departments are not losing resources, but rather coordinating access to cabinet-wide support.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
While there is a national angle to this hearing & the one in the afternoon on the rest of the Equity & Inclusion Cabinet because these departments are a target of the Trump Administration, but that is not the story here.
Rather, this hearing & the one in the afternoon will be the first time that the Wu administration will have to explain budget cuts. Mayor Wu has not emphasized efforts at rationalizing City Hall bureaucracy in her previous 3 budgets. The letter says that her administration is “centralizing cabinet functions” and “coordinating access to cabinet-wide support,” but this hearing shows that means slashing Fair Housing & Equity budget’s by more than half.
With cuts or below-inflation found across the FY26 budget, Monday will be the first time that City Hall officials will explain those choices to the Council.
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2 PM, VIRTUAL
The listed topic for this hearing is “Immigrant Advancement, Language and Communication Access (LCA), Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Human Rights Commission, LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Immigrant Advancement - p. 283-289
Language and Communication Access (LCA) - p. 299-303
Commission for Persons with Disabilities - p. 253-259
Human Rights Commission - p. 269-273
LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement - p. 275-281
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Immigrant Advancement - $3,689,500 in FY25 vs $3,575,316 in FY26, a ($114,234) or 3% decrease vs FY25
Language and Communication Access (LCA) - $2,169,498 in FY25 vs $2,160,042 in FY26, a ($9,456) or <1% decrease vs FY25
Commission for Persons with Disabilities - $893,403 in FY25 vs $916,047 in FY26, a $22,644 or 2.5% decrease vs FY25
Human Rights Commission - $464,789 in FY25 vs $391,622 in FY26, a ($73,257) or 16% decrease vs FY25
LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement - $782,203 in FY25 vs $820,702 in FY26, a $38,499 or 5% increase vs FY25
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
See above.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
See above.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 10 AM, IANNELLA CHAMBER
The listed topic for this hearing is “Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI), Supplier Diversity.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet - p. 403-443
Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) - p. 417-427
Supplier Diversity - p. 439-443
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet - $13,405,897 in FY25 vs $14,369,526 in FY26, a $963,629 or 7% increase vs FY25
Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) - $7,135,058 in FY25 vs $7,192,111 in FY26, a $57,053 or <1% increase vs FY25
Supplier Diversity - $2,355,387 in FY25 vs $2,445,088 in FY26, a $89,701 or 4% increase vs FY25
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
There was talk about the economy broadly, but no specific policy actions.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
Yesterday, OEOI Chief Segun Idowu went on WCVB’s ‘On the Record,’ and was asked about the in office values and record high office vacancies. Here is what he said:
Missing from this conversation was talk about a broad-based effort to revitalize downtown Boston. Other cities - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC among them - have managed to bring business, non-profits, and local government together to face the problem of how to revive their post-COVID downtown. Based on Idowu’s answers yesterday and looking at other announcements from the Wu administration, there is no effort to revitalize downtown Boston on par with those other cities.
This hearing will be a test for whether this Council is willing to press for more activity from the Wu administration on downtown revitalization. It is clear from the growing body of literature about post-COVID downtown revitalization that local government plays a central role in any successful effort. As one of the Mayor’s top surrogates, and her top aide on economic development, Idowu should have an answer.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2 PM, IANNELLA CHAMBER
The listed topic for this hearing is “Consumer Affairs and Licensing, Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, Tourism Revolving Fund.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Consumer Affairs and Licensing - p. 407-416
Office of Tourism - p. 429-437
Sports and Entertainment - this phrase does not appear in the FY26 Budget Book
Tourism Revolving Fund - this phrase does not appear in the FY26 Budget Book
Tourism has one source of external funds, the “City Hall Plaza Fund,” which is not described as a revolving fund - p. 429 & 437
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Consumer Affairs and Licensing - $2,012,986 in FY25 vs $2,089,573 in FY26, a $76,587 or 4% increase vs FY25
Tourism - $1,902,466 in FY25 vs $2,642,754 in FY26, a $740,288 or 39% increase vs FY25
Sports and Entertainment - Not a line item
Tourism Revolving Fund - Not a line item
The City Hall Plaza Fund - $150,000 in FY25 vs $150,000 in FY26
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
On p. 3 of Mayor Wu’s letter she wrote: “tourism from international visitors.” This was not a City Hall policy priority, but as something that President Trump’s actions were having a negative impact on.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
This hearing covers a lot of ground, from Licensing handling the hundreds of new liquor licenses that Beacon Hill approved last year, to Tourism, which is playing a role in the 250th anniversary celebrations.
The biggest question that BPI has is what these department heads plan to do about this issue, identified in a big story in the Boston Business Journal last week. 6 restaurant industry leaders talked about the challenges facing their industry, including one who said this about opening a new restaurant:
I went right over the line in Brookline. The process was much different. You get a free liquor license and you still get that Boston feel. So we can do great numbers over there. I think the problem here in Boston is that no department talks to each other.
Finally, what is “Sports and Entertainment,” where can it be found in the budget book, and why did it get its own mention in this hearing order?
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 10 AM, IANNELLA CHAMBER
The listed topic for this hearing is “Department of Innovation and Technology (DOIT), PEG Access Fund.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Department of Innovation and Technology (DOIT) - p. 936-959
There is also a project that DOIT is managing for the Public Health Commission - p. 910
PEG Access Fund - is not a line item, but there is something called the “21st Century Access Fund” in the FY26 Budget Book, which is describes as:
The 21st Century Access Fund is used to support Public, Educational or Governmental (PEG) access services pursuant to Section 53F3/4 of Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws funded provided through cable television franchise agreements.
This description is on p. 952 & the 21st Century Access Fund is listed on p. 940, the front page of DOIT.
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Department of Innovation and Technology (DOIT) - $53,821,477 in FY25 vs $57,981,166 in FY26, a $4,159,689 or 8% increase vs FY25
PEG Access Fund - $2,991,039 in FY25 vs $3,600,000 in FY26, a $608,961 or 20% increase vs FY25
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
This department was featured in the Mayor’s letter - on p. 4 & 5 of the FY26 Budget Book:
The Information and Technology Cabinet's budget will grow in FY26 by $4.1 million or 7.7% as they lead efforts in partnership with the Community Engagement Cabinet and all the service delivery departments to build out a new 311 constituent relationship management technology and permitting and licensing systems, improving constituents' experience reporting issues, requesting services, and obtaining permits.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
City Councilors and their staff spend a significant chunk of their time working on constituent issues, which DOIT’s budget increase is aimed at improving. That should give them a unique perspective on how DOIT should approach this budget increase, and it will be interesting to see how Councilors translate those experiences into concrete asks.
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2 PM, IANNELLA CHAMBER
The listed topic for this hearing is “Environment, Office of Food Justice, Environment Revolving Funds.” Check out more from the public notice for this hearing.
WHERE TO FIND IN THE FY26 BUDGET BOOK?
Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet - p. 521-623
Environment Department - p. 525-541
Office of Food Justice - p. 543-549
Environment Revolving Funds - these are all the “external funds” in the Environment Department list on p.525 that have “revolving fund” in their description:
Equitable Emissions Investment Fund/BERDO 2.0 - p. 534
Conservation Commission - p. 535
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates - p. 330
In addition to these departments there are two other offices in this Cabinet:
Parks & Recreation is also in this Cabinet and has a hearing on Tuesday, May 20 at 10 AM;
Office of Historic Preservation, which oversees the Landmarks Commission and the City’s historic districts, seems not to have been given its own hearing and also did not have a hearing last year - p. 551-557
BUDGET NUMBERS IN FY25 vs FY26?
Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet - $43,749,924 in FY25 vs $45,646,864 in FY26, a $1,896,940 or 4% increase vs FY25
Environment Department - $5,150,484 in FY25 vs $5,526,586 in FY26, a $376,102 or 7% increase vs FY25
Office of Food Justice - $1,396,037 in FY25 vs $1,426,602 in FY26, a $30,565 or 2% increase vs FY25
Environment Revolving Funds:
Equitable Emissions Investment Fund/BERDO 2.0 - $1,000,000 in FY25 vs $1,000,000 in FY26, no change
Conservation Commission - $50,000 in FY25 vs $50,000 in FY26, no change
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates - $175,000 in FY25 vs $150,000 in FY26, a $25,000 or 14% increase
Office of Historic Preservation - $1,538,983 in FY25 vs $1,575,024 in FY26, a $36,041 or 2% increase vs FY25
WAS IT IN THE MAYOR’S BUDGET LETTER?
This is the only mention in the Mayor’s letter - p. 6 of the FY26 Budget Book:
Homeowners will have greater access to utility-based incentive programs through the Boston Energy Saver program, which is hosted in the Environment, Energy and Open Space cabinet, enabling homeowners to upgrade their heating and cooling systems, saving significant money.
According to the FY26 Budget Book, this program is housed inside of the Environment Department, and is responsible for some of the budget increase.
WHAT IS BPI WATCHING FOR?
There have been enormous changes in the leadership in the EEO Cabinet, the Environment Department, the new Office of Climate Resilience, and the Office of Historic Preservation. The question this hearing should answer is: how are those leadership changes proceeding? This question can be answered by Brian Swett, who was appointed last April to be the EEO Cabinet Chief and the City’s inaugual Chief Climate Officer, but did not testify at last year’s budget hearings.
The top issue that Swett needs to update the Council on is: what is happening at the Office of Historic Preservation? There was a series of leadership changes at that office since last April, when Mayor Wu fired the Executive Director of the Landmarks Commission was fired after a letter signed by all of the Landmarks Commissioners charged that Mayor Wu’s staff were interfering in their work. Charges of political interference were also surfaced by the Boston Globe in an August 2023 article. There were a series of other leadership changes as well:
The OHP chief also left and a new one, Kathy Kottaridis was hired in September; and
In March, OHP hired Elizabeth Sherva, a new deputy director who is also serving as the Executive Director of Landmarks Commission.
Sherva & Kottaridis need to appear before the Council during this budget season to not only go through their own office, but also to explain to the Council how the allegations in last year’s letter from the Landmarks Commissioners have been addressed.
There are other major leadership updates the Council needs. Two of the Mayor’s other top environment aides both got more formal roles in the City’s bureacracy:
Oliver Sellers-Garcia, who was the “Green New Deal Director” and last August was also appointed Environmental Commissioner; and
Chris Osgood, who was the “Senior Advisor to the Mayor” and last August was appointed to lead the new Office of Climate Resilience.
The Council should get an update on how they are settling into their new positions and balancing them with the responsibilities of their previous jobs.
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