Boston Renames City Hall Garage for Parking Attendant Jimmy Donnelly

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6190 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston renames City Hall Plaza parking garage for longtime attendant Jimmy Donnelly. Mayor Michelle Wu presided over the emotional July 22 ceremony at Government Center, honoring Donnelly — a South Boston native who worked the garage for years as the first face visitors encountered at City Hall — while he remains hospitalized with a serious illness. Wu, who visited Donnelly at the hospital before the ceremony, said the naming was intentional in its departure from tradition: "Very rarely do we have a person that comes into an administration or comes into a job that's from the neighborhood." The idea originated with Pat Barofi, who was present and credited publicly by the mayor.

Donnelly's best friend Natalie left his hospital bedside to attend, telling the crowd, "There's nobody going to replace you ever." Father Joe White offered an ecumenical prayer remembering Donnelly's late brother Thomas and calling on attendees to imitate Donnelly's goodness.

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Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6190 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.