Boston Council Hears Readiness Plans for FIFA, Tall Ships, 250th Summer Events

BOSTON -- March 26, 2026, Boston city councilors quizzed police, fire, and EMS leaders Thursday on readiness plans for a summer that includes FIFA World Cup fan events, the Tall Ships festival, and the nation's 250th anniversary. Councilor John FitzGerald sponsored the hearing under Docket No. 0174, calling it a chance for families to understand what preparations are in place. EMS Chief James Hooley said his department's 440 personnel handled more than 141,000 incidents in 2025 and that planning for the summer surge began months ago; Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, retiring after 36 years, said a new class of 60 firefighters graduates in April and that hazmat coverage will not be reduced for any event. Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Sean Martin said supplemental personnel from regional partners under mutual aid agreements will fill gaps without cutting neighborhood response. Councilor Miniard Culpepper recommended a formal MOU between the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and the state police fusion center to ensure Boston-specific threat intelligence is shared; Martin said the two bodies communicate daily but could not confirm whether a formal agreement exists. Costs remain unresolved, with grant applications pending and no final overtime figures yet available.