Boston City Council passes four resolutions, advances FY23 budget hearings

BOSTON -- May 4, 2022, Boston City Council passes four resolutions and advances hearings on $390 million in federal relief funds. The council unanimously adopted resolutions recognizing National Survivors of Homicide Awareness Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Haitian Heritage Month, and supporting state civil asset forfeiture transparency bills, while committees on ways and means and COVID-19 recovery continued work on the FY23 budget and roughly $349.5 million and $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act grants. Councilor Julia M. Mejia, lead sponsor of the homicide survivors resolution, said survivors face ongoing trauma with inadequate city support: "there isn't a moment in time when the grieving stops." Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, the council's first Haitian American member, announced a Haitian Flag Day breakfast at City Hall on May 13. A hearing order on diversifying cannabis business models drew pointed opposition from Councilor Baker, who argued home production of edibles posed safety risks, before the item was referred to committee.