A small crowd gathered outside the Iannella Chamber before the City Council’s regular meeting on Wednesday, for Councilor Julia Mejia’s No Taxation Without Representation rally. Although the councilor urged her colleagues to challenge the FY27 budget, she said she has not, and will not, participate in the “smoke and mirrors” amendment process.
Mayor Michelle Wu proposed a $4.9 billion budget for the next fiscal year. In a letter to the council, the mayor described this as a “difficult moment” for the city, stating that the budget required “tough choices, including targeted reduction.” These reductions will be felt in millions cut from affordable housing, food access, and programs supporting veterans and other marginalized identities, despite a $7.5 million increase in funding for police.
This comes following a $50 million budget deficit driven by spending on snow removal, police overtime, and public employee health insurance…