Boston City Council Challenges White Stadium Contract, Flagger Award in Procurement Hearing

BOSTON — July 24, 2025 — Boston City Council scrutinizes White Stadium contract and civilian flagger award in equitable procurement hearing. Councilor Julia M. Mejia, chairing the July 24 hearing on Docket 0175, pressed city Supplier Diversity Chief Shigun Idiru and purchasing agent Casey on why the White Stadium renovation drew only one bidder and whether the RFP was adequately publicized before a deal was reached. Idiru reported that in fiscal year 2024 Boston spent more than $100 million with businesses owned by people of color for the first time in city history, and awarded more than $230 million in contracts to women- and minority-owned firms. On the civilian flagger contract — awarded to the Ed Davis Company over First Armor Protection Services following a February 2025 RFP — community panelist Larry Ellison alleged a "glaring" conflict of interest tied to Davis's prior role selecting Police Commissioner Michael Cox, while First Armor owner Aisha Miller testified her firm received no feedback after losing and described the RFP language as "very much written for a particular company." Mejia said she intends to bring a motion for reconsideration before the full council on both matters, noting roughly $7.5 million has been spent on White Stadium against a projected cost exceeding $130 million.