Boston City Council reschedules free museum hearing due to Wu administration’s absence

Two Boston City Council members who had criticized the mayor’s program that limited free museum access to public school students decided not to proceed with a long-awaited hearing on the issue after their preferred invitees from the Wu administration did not attend.

Council members Erin Murphy, the lead sponsor, and Ed Flynn decided to reschedule the hearing until Monday morning “to discuss extension of free museum passes exclusively for Boston Public Schools families” after beginning a virtual education committee meeting after learning of the administration’s absence.

Considering that Mayor Michelle Wu has already announced its plans To expand the program to all city schoolchildren next year – something Murphy and Flynn advocated – the hearings would have to focus on how the program would be funded going forward, according to Murphy’s statement.

“This expansion represents a significant step toward inclusion and equity for our city’s diverse families,” Murphy said in a statement. “While I appreciate the mayor’s commitment to expanding the program beginning in January 2025, I want to emphasize the importance of a robust financial plan to support this initiative.”

“To ensure this expansion is feasible and sustainable, I invited Ashley Groffenberger, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Boston; James Williamson, director of the Office of the Budget Management; and Stephen Chan, Senior Partnership Counsel, will join us for the hearing. They will look at key financial issues and help us understand the path forward.”

After Councilman Henry Santana, who chairs the education committee, noted that the committee had also invited Cara Elliot-Ortega, head of the city’s arts and culture department, and representatives from the Boston Children’s Museum, Flynn questioned whether Murphy’s invitation included administration officials, Groffenberger and Williamson were on the call.

After learning that they were absent from Santana, Flynn asked for a short recess to give them time to join, and Murphy addressed what she saw as the Wu administration’s tendency to back out of hearings where she had invited them to testify on issues affecting Boston Public Schools.

“This situation continues to happen,” Murphy said. “I appreciate the Children’s Museum for being here… but I think it’s important that we take a break and make sure that the administration that can answer the important questions that we have is present at this hearing, or I’ll ask it to end and reschedule the hearing. »

After a break, Santana confirmed that the two CFOs were unable to attend the hearing and said the hearing would be rescheduled to a later date to accommodate the lead sponsors’ request for “senior personnel” to be present.

The reason for their absence was not given, although at a press conference at City Hall, where Groffenberger was also scheduled to appear later that day, it was stated that she was unable to attend the press conference because she was busy with meetings.

“Chief Cara Elliott-Ortega was prepared to discuss financial support for the program at the canceled hearing,” Wu’s spokesman said in a statement.