Boston Council Hears Calls to Restore Youth Jobs, Fund $4M Mental Health Pilot

BOSTON — April 28, 2026 — Boston residents pack City Council budget hearing, urging restoration of millions in cuts. Committee Chair Benjamin J. Weber convened the Ways and Means Committee's first FY27 public listening session Monday, drawing testimony on docket numbers 0733-0740 with Council President Liz Breadon and District 4 Councillor Brian Worrell in attendance; Weber publicly noted the absence of most colleagues, saying, "I will personally ask all of my colleagues to be here." Members of the Boston People's Response campaign called for $4 million to pilot a non-police, consent-based mental health crisis response, noting that only about $1.3 million has been allocated so far against a fully designed community model. Youth employment advocates flagged a proposed $6 million cut eliminating school-year jobs, while teacher Hannah Hoven testified that the Access to Counsel eviction legal program — funded at $450,000 last year — is slated for elimination despite serving 94 BPS families in just two months. Boston DSA members also opposed a combined $820,000 cut to parks and building operations budgets that maintain public restrooms. A second listening session, with Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Cantonese interpreters, is scheduled for May 26 at 6 p.m.