The head of Boston’s largest police union is asking for the resignation of the City Council’s finances committee chair, following her “cowardly” try and blame the mayor for a controversial proposal that may reduce tens of millions from the police finances.
Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, mentioned officers have been incensed by feedback from City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who mentioned the mayor’s failure to settle the police contract left the Council with out a clear sense of how a lot cash was wanted to fund their division.
“Councilor Fernandes (Anderson) has not once publicly supported the members of BPPA in our efforts to secure a collective bargaining agreement that is almost three years expired,” Calderone informed the Herald on Thursday.
“She has consistently tried to defund the BPD and continually bashes the hardworking police officers publicly. She’s not fooling anyone with her phony statements of blame yesterday. She only further embarrasses herself with her lack of budget knowledge, leadership and responsibility for her own actions.”
Calderone described Fernandes Anderson’s try and shift blame onto Mayor Michelle Wu, who vetoed the Council’s proposal to chop almost $31 million from the Boston Police Department, as “cowardly,” and one which reveals she has “no business being chair of ways and means,” the committee that handles the finances course of.
Fernandes Anderson mentioned Thursday that she was “extremely disappointed, but not surprised” to listen to Calderone’s remarks.
“I am committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our city, and his message goes against everything I stand and fight for,” she mentioned. “I am a dedicated public servant who works tirelessly to ensure that our budget is fair and equitable for all members of our community, including our police officers, firefighters and veterans.”
Fernandes Anderson added, “His accusations of my lack of knowledge and experience are baseless. He’s decided to not speak the truth about the numbers to justify his position. That’s his prerogative. The numbers don’t lie. He should speak the truth.”
Fernandes Anderson mentioned at Wednesday’s City Council assembly that the cuts, which included a $22 million discount in time beyond regulation, wouldn’t have resulted in any layoffs. Further, she argued that the finances reductions would have left BPD with more cash than it’s on tempo to spend this fiscal yr.
Calderone mentioned, nevertheless, {that a} have a look at previous years’ figures would present the police division is “constantly under-budgeted,” and within the “red by tens of millions of dollars each year.”
This, he mentioned, is because of a scarcity of manpower, a scarcity of efficient management, and “in effect, a City Council that has not appropriately funded the police budget for well over a decade.”
“Councilor Fernandes (Anderson) should stop trying to backpedal from trying to strip monies from police officers, veterans and firefighters by blaming someone else for her own lack of experience and knowledge of budget,” Calderone mentioned.
Further, Calderone mentioned her feedback from Wednesday, the place she referred to as upon the mayor to deal with law enforcement officials with respect and dignity by settling their contract, “were a complete insult to everybody that wears a badge and a uniform.”
“She should just step down and let a more experienced and fair councilor formulate a budget for police, fire and veterans that will help continue to protect the general public and benefits to veterans,” he mentioned.
Fernandes Anderson pushed again, describing Calderone’s remarks as “unwarranted and unproductive.”
“You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Fernandes Anderson mentioned. “I never had a chance with these people. This man has never extended professional courtesy to engage in a dialogue. He clearly doesn’t know anything about my work, experience, knowledge, or what I’ve supported.”
She urged Calderone to contact her, rethink his phrases and “refrain from making ignorant and hurtful comments.” She additionally questioned why the union president was defending the mayor, and never urgent her to settle an expired contract.
“As public servants, police officers should respect the democratic process and refrain from attacking elected officials who are advocating for fair resolution to their contract negotiations,” Fernandes Anderson mentioned.
Calderone referred to as this assertion “ludicrous,” pointing to the union’s submitting for arbitration with the state. The software was accepted by the Joint Labor-Management Committee, which assists in resolving collective bargaining disputes involving municipalities and their law enforcement officials and firefighters.
Mayor Wu proposed a $404.97 million finances for the police division for fiscal yr 2024. This would symbolize a $9 million enhance over the present fiscal yr. The Council’s proposed $31 million reduce would have resulted in a $374 million finances, a $21.84 million lower from fiscal yr 2023.
If the Council have been to override the mayor’s veto, which might require eight councilors to vote towards Wu’s closing finances, the reduce to the police division would go into impact, as would the rest of the physique’s $52.9 million in amendments.
The Council had additionally proposed a $900,000 reduce to the veterans providers workplace, and sought to slash tens of millions from metropolis providers just like the transportation, public works, and library departments.
The $4.2 billion amended working finances handed final week through a 7-5 vote, and a supply informed the Herald the Council doesn’t have the votes for an override.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”