Disgraced Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Zoom-bombs meeting to attack colleagues debating her departure
Published in News & Features
BOSTON — Disgraced Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Zoom-bombed a meeting devoted to whether the city should waive a special election upon her resignation, saying the debate was “moot” as she isn’t departing her $120,000 role anytime soon.
Fernandes Anderson, who has agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges on May 5, unloaded on her colleagues Friday for “grandstanding” with a Council-president led home rule petition that would allow the city to bypass a special election that would be triggered by the city charter if she resigns before May 8.
“I’m not sure why this was filed,” Fernandes Anderson said after hopping onto the 46-minute Zoom meeting half an hour late. “I don’t understand because I specifically spoke with Councilor Breadon and Council President Louijeune, and I specifically communicated that District 7 is adamantly verily asking not to resign prior to May 8.
“So I’m confused,” she said. “This feels like grandstanding.”
Ultimately, the City Council voted, 9-3, to approve legislation filed Monday by Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilor Liz Breadon that seeks to waive a special election if Fernandes Anderson were to resign her District 7 seat more than 180 days before the general election, as required by the city charter.
The home rule petition, if approved by the state Legislature, would also allow the city to immediately seat the winner of the District 7 race in November, upon certification of the general election results. Typically, new councilors would be seated in January.
The petition has led to debate this week over why the City Council was taking a different approach for the Roxbury-centric District 7 seat than it did two years ago when a special election was held on a similar timeline for the Beacon Hill-centric District 8 seat.
That disagreement was featured somewhat in Friday’s special meeting, but took a backseat when Fernandes Anderson, a 46-year-old second-term councilor, jumped onto the Zoom call half an hour into the debate to attack her colleagues.
She hopped off the call, however, before the vote was taken, and was recorded absent from that tally.
Before leaving, Fernandes Anderson directed most of her ire at Louijeune, who led the home rule proposal, and Erin Murphy, who was pushing a dueling measure that called for the city to “promptly schedule” a special election for District 7 and blocked a vote on Louijeune’s petition this past Wednesday.
Fernandes Anderson claimed that the District 7 Advisory Council, which she has been talking to about the timeline for her resignation and transition plan for the district, is asking that Murphy “please seize your comments, that you do not represent Roxbury.”
“You have been too aggressive on this issue,” Fernandes Anderson told Murphy. “It’s that you don’t actually understand the district. So you are speaking from a position of assumption or presumptions, and it’s frankly insulting. People have commented on Facebook … with your insults on me and asking you to mind your business.”
At that point, Louijeune, who was chairing the meeting, cut in to ask that Fernandes Anderson direct the comments to the chair, as dictated by Council rules.
That led to Fernandes Anderson unloading on Louijeune.
“I’m going to direct the comments to you,” Fernandes Anderson said. “Council president, this has become just a matter of grandstanding again. I spoke directly with you, and I told you there was no need for this filing, and yet you guys are sitting here having a conversation on something that is completely moot.
“Is it so that you can say you care, or is it so that you can say you understand Roxbury?” she added.
Louijeune and Murphy are at-large city councilors, meaning that they represent the whole city, including Roxbury and the rest of District 7, which also includes parts of Dorchester, Fenway and the South End. The two other at-large councilors, Julia Mejia and Henry Santana, were also on the day’s Zoom call.
In response to Fernandes Anderson, Louijeune said that the “point of the filing is that the Council would not be caught flat-footed in the event of a vacancy.”
“Even though I told you there wouldn’t be a vacancy?” Fernandes Anderson shot back.
To that, Louijeune replied, “I can only do what I think is in the best interest of ensuring that we’re hearing from community who brought this issue forward, and that’s why there’s this filing.”
“Well, Council president, I appreciate your good intentions,” Fernandes Anderson said. “I do believe this is grandstanding. I would have appreciated … if you didn’t want the answer, then not ask it. You asked it, I gave you the answer, and still filed. It doesn’t make any sense.
“And here we are allowing colleagues to have opportunities to go on and on about a district that they don’t understand. They have not done anything to listen to constituents, including yourself, and then you sit here talking about you want to do what’s best for the constituents.”
Fernandes Anderson, who has accepted a plea deal in a federal corruption case tied to allegations that she stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers in a kickback scheme the feds say she carried out at City Hall, went on to cap her remarks.
“I’m hurt for my constituents that you guys continue to do this performance,” Fernandes Anderson said. “My job, until I am out, is to represent the voice of the district. I’ve communicated that to you guys, and then you still felt like you had to perform.”
Her remarks drew a rebuke from Murphy, who questioned why Fernandes Anderson was able to dictate the terms of her resignation.
“While the city charter permits her to remain in office until sentencing, or until she resigns or is removed by a Council vote, it is deeply troubling that she continues to participate in Council proceedings and influence decisions that affect her constituents,” Murphy said in a statement.
“It is inappropriate for a councilor who has admitted to serious ethical violations to dictate the terms of her departure or the process by which her successor is chosen,” she added. “The Council’s inaction and lack of decisive leadership in this matter undermine public trust and the integrity of our institution.”
Per Council rules, councilors can be removed by the body only after sentencing, which may or may not take place during a May 5 change of plea hearing. Prosecutors plan to recommend that Fernandes Anderson be sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution, according to the plea agreement.
Councilor Ed Flynn, who joined Murphy and Councilor John FitzGerald in voting against the home rule petition, said the day’s proceedings demonstrated why the Council needs an ethics oversight committee, as he proposed this week.
“The Boston City Council failed to provide positive leadership,” Flynn said in a statement. “We have lost the moral high ground needed during this critical time. To regain some credibility with Boston residents, comprehensive ethics reform must be implemented, including oversight of the city council on issues relating to transparency, accountability and ethical behavior.”
Louijeune did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Fernandes Anderson’s remarks at the day’s special meeting.
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