Boston City Council Approves 10-Year Blue Bikes Deal, Housing Ordinance

BOSTON — June 25, 2025 — Boston City Council approved a 10-year Blue Bikes operator contract and a $9 million federal road safety grant at its June 25 meeting, while advancing a broad housing ordinance and three police age waivers. The Blue Bikes contract, championed by Planning Committee Chair Sharon Durkan, passed 10 to 2 over objections from Councilor Edward M. Flynn, who called the decade-long term "excessive" and said the city should await a pending bike infrastructure study before committing. The $9 million U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets grant, also reported out by Durkan's committee, will fund intersection safety work at eight locations across Dorchester, East Boston, South Boston, Chinatown, and Eggleston Square. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune introduced an ordinance requiring the Mayor's Office of Housing to evaluate surplus city-owned properties for affordable housing before any sale or repurposing. The council also unanimously accepted a $344,335 AmeriCorps Senior Companion grant and a $550,000 Cummings Foundation violence prevention grant, and approved home rule petitions waiving the police officer age cap for three individual applicants. A citizen petition to place an independent municipal inspector general on the November ballot was blocked from a floor vote by Councilor Durkan's objection and sent to committee, prompting a pointed floor challenge from Councilor Julia M. Mejia, who warned that an August filing deadline left little time for further delay.