President Flynn’s Statement on the $13 Million Public Health & Safety Grant to Office of Emergency Management
December 21, 2023
This morning, I had the opportunity to visit the City of Boston Office of Emergency Management (OEM) with Mayor Wu and the director of this office, Chief Shumean Benford. We discussed the critical role OEM plays not only in Boston, but throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Cities and towns rely on Boston, as the capital city, to support them in leading emergency management services, training, coordination and act as the fiscal steward of state and federal funding.
I have also spoken with senior City of Boston public safety officials about this important funding. This $13 million Urban Area Security Initiative grant provided to Mayor Wu’s Office of Emergency Management by President Biden and Governor Healey’s administrations is used to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats of acts of terrorism, not only for the City of Boston, but also for surrounding cities in the region. Ensuring the public’s health and safety is the most critical issue that impacts any city, and it is important that our city and region have the necessary resources and personnel to keep our residents and visitors safe.
I voted in favor of this grant, and I’m deeply disappointed that my City Council colleagues failed to provide the leadership necessary to protect our city and many cities and towns throughout Greater Boston. As the President of the City Council, I am now asking Mayor Wu to resubmit the necessary paperwork next week to the City Council for a formal vote to accept this funding. If city officials fail to exercise that option, I will call for an emergency City Council meeting for next week to discuss our options and to encourage my colleagues to vote to support this funding. The status quo is not an option.
We must put politics aside, and focus on the safety of our residents as a top priority. As a member of the U.S Navy, I have studied anti-terrorism issues in different regions across the globe. I understand how dangerous the world is and that Boston is not immune from a terrorist attack. As the launching site for the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the site of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the people of Boston know all too well what’s at stake. Delaying or blocking this funding any further only puts our people at higher risk, and that is something that our City and Commonwealth cannot afford.
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