Boston Council Scrutinizes Reparations Task Force Transparency at Public Hearing

BOSTON — June 27, 2024 — Boston's City Council reparations hearing draws criticism of task force composition and community engagement. The Committee on Civil Rights and Immigrant Advancement, chaired by Councilor Tanya Fernandez-Anderson, convened Thursday to review the Boston Reparations Task Force, which has awarded a $500,000 research contract split between teams at Tufts University and Northeastern University, with reports expected by December 2024. Task force Chair Joseph Feaster, Jr. said the ordinance's original June 2023 research deadline was unworkable given the task force was not sworn in until April 2023, and the mayor has extended phase one twice. Reverend Dr. Kevin Peterson of the New Democracy Coalition told the council the mayor's office has "muffled the voices of credible witnesses" and demanded Mayor Wu rescind the appointment of former state Representative Byron Rushing, whom Peterson said "opposes reparations." Senior Advisor Lori Nelson acknowledged the administration "was not prepared at the very beginning" on community engagement and said community partnership grants of $2,500 to $25,000 will be awarded in July 2024, drawing pushback from Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, who said community members consider the amounts insufficient.