Boston City Council Approves Over $4 Million in Federal Elder Care Grants During Pandemic Session

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6070 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston City Council approves more than $4 million in federal elder care grants and two COVID-19 reopening measures at a fully remote pandemic-era session. The council passed Dockets 0709 and 0711 — an elder meals grant and a $27,960 long-term care ombudsman award — on suspension of the rules at the urging of Councilor Mark Braden, who called it urgent that funds reach seniors "as soon as possible," while six additional elder care grants totaling more than $4 million were referred to the Committee on Strong Women and Families. Boston EMS Chief Steve Hooley joined virtually to accept recognition for National EMS Week, with Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George noting the department's 400 EMTs handle roughly 110,000 calls a year.

Essaibi-George also won unanimous support for a late-file hearing order creating a small business reopening task force, referred to the Small Business and Workforce Development Committee, and a resolution calling for a COVID-19 workplace safety helpline, both timed to the governor's announced June 1 city reopening. The council also heard from Ways and Means Chair Sharon Linehan Bach that budget hearings on BPS transportation and the Boston Public Health Commission remained ahead, and referred Councilor O'Malley's net-zero carbon building hearing order to the Environment, Resiliency and Parks Committee.

In the full story:

• Substantive content: The three BPS revolving funds at issue were
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,360 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6070 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.