Boston Council Examines Closures of Schools and Community Centers for $34 Million Upgrades

BOSTON -- March 7, 2023, Boston's City Council committee grills the Wu administration over temporary closures of five BCYF community centers to allow energy upgrades totaling more than $34 million. The Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities, chaired by Councilor Liz Breadon, heard from Deputy Chief of Operations Morgan McDaniel, BCYF Commissioner Marta Rivera, and Public Facilities Director Kerry Griffin about the city's Renew Boston Trust program, which includes a $21.8 million roof overhaul at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, $9.9 million in retrofits at the Murphy School and Leahy-Holleran Community Center, and $2.3 million at the Tynan. The Leahy-Holleran summer camp will relocate to the Perry School in South Boston for both summer 2023 and 2024, while the BCYF Quincy and Orenberger face closures in successive summers. Councilor Erin J. Murphy pressed the administration on accessibility at the Perry and staffing commitments for teen counselors, and Councilor Frank Baker demanded direct communication lines so problems on the first day of camp can be resolved in hours, not days.