Boston City Council Passes $5M Small Business Relief, Calls District 1 Special Election

BOSTON — February 2, 2022 — Boston City Council unanimously approves $5 million in ARPA funds for small businesses and calls a District 1 special election. Council President Edward M. Flynn presided over the February 2 virtual meeting, during which the council released the $5 million to replenish the city's Small Business Relief Fund 2.0, which had already distributed $8 million in grants to 628 businesses since September 2021; Councilor Kenzie Bach, chair of the Committee on Boston's COVID-19 Recovery, said the funds would prioritize restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, and gyms. The council also unanimously suspended rules to order a preliminary special election for District 1 on April 5 and a general on May 3, 2022, following Councilor Lydia Edwards's departure for the state Senate. Councilor Julia M. Mejia introduced a 15-member reparations study commission ordinance — noting a reported average net worth of $8 for Black Boston families — but the docket was referred to the Committee on Government Operations after Councilor Michael Flaherty raised questions about paying each member up to $50,000 a year. Councilor Erin J. Murphy delivered her maiden speech calling for a hearing on the youth mental health crisis, citing a 31 percent rise in emergency room mental health visits for children ages 12 to 17 during the early pandemic.