Colleagues Murphy and Flynn, Franklin Park defenders weigh in
City Councillor-at-Large Julia Mejia – backed by two colleagues and an assortment of constituents – is urging Mayor Wu to release a new cost estimate for the city’s share of expenses for the White Stadium project, which number she and other critics say has ballooned far beyond initial expectations laid out by the mayor.
Mejia also is taking issue with a recently announced Boston Public School consolidation plan that would close or reduce grades in several schools, including three in Dorchester.
During a press conference staged outside the council’s Iannella Chamber last Wednesday morning, Mejia, in noting that the Wu administration has not answered her requests for an updated cost estimate for the stadium project, said, “Our legislative cycle ends today and we’re closing our legislative work without knowing the final number,” adding, that it was “not a good way to end the year.”
The stadium project remains a source of controversy, despite court rulings that have favored the Wu position and allowed for the construction to proceed.
The initial estimate for the rebuild was $50 million from the city, with Boston Unity Sports Partners picking up an additional $50 million. The city’s share later ticked up to an estimated $91 million.
With demolition completed, the construction site has largely been quiet through the fall since and there has been little new information posted on the project web page managed by city officials.
Last week, in response to an inquiry from The Reporter, a city spokesperson said: “As of Dec. 9, the City’s project expenditures include $12 million on demolition and construction, and an additional $76 million in subcontracts have been awarded. After more than 40 years of failed starts, White Stadium is being rebuilt as a state-of-the-art facility for BPS student athletes and the community, open year-round. We are excited to be underway.”
A number of vocal stadium critics were part of the Mejia-led press conference, including Kate Phelps, a resident of Roxbury and a member of the Franklin Park Defenders, who was critical of both the mayor and the city council.
“We’re all dealing with a seemingly tone-deaf administration and increasingly a city council,” she said, “except for these three councillors – a reference to Mejia and two of her colleagues – Councillors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy, who spoke at the press conference – that has decided to turn its back on the needs of the people who live, work, and get educated in the city of Boston.
“What’s clear to me is the lack of transparency is a reason why this mayor has been allowed to get along as much as she has, particularly with the White Stadium debacle.”
A group shot of the coalition that has formed to push back on school closures and the White Stadium reconstruction project. Seth Daniel photo
Murphy and Flynn signaled that they intend to continue to challenge Wu’s decision-making in her second term.
“This is a last ditch ask before the session ends, but come Jan. 5 these will be continued,” Murphy said. “There is hope that even though it seems like this council has decided to not be separate from the administration, but to just work alongside, we’re hoping we go in a different direction come Jan. 5 and we will use our power and political will to work together to fight for the residents and the students.”
As to the school reshuffling plan, one of the attendees who spoke up that morning was Nylah Hicks, a student at Dorchester’s Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH), one of the schools slated for closure in 2027 under a district plan.
CASH student Nylah Hicks, vice president of the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC). Seth Daniel photo
Hicks, who serves as vice-president of the Boston Student Advisory Council, called the closures “acts of harm. These decisions are not being made with us, they are being made for us and that’s not community engagement,” she said.
“Closures don’t come because the school is failing; closures come because the system has failed the school…To every student feeling scared and unsure right now, you are not alone. Your voice matters and we will fight for you.”
