Disgraced Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Zoom-bombs meeting to attack colleagues debating her departure

Disgraced Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Zoom-bombed a meeting devoted to whether the city should waive a special vote upon her resignation saying the debate was moot as she isn t departing her role anytime soon Fernandes Anderson who has agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges on May unloaded on her colleagues Friday for grandstanding with a Council-president led home rule petition that would allow the city to navigate around a special voting process that would be triggered by the city charter if she resigns before May I m not sure why this was filed Fernandes Anderson declared after hopping onto the -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 is adamantly verily asking not to resign prior to May So I m confused she commented This feels like grandstanding Ultimately the City Council voted - to approve bill filed Monday by Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilor Liz Breadon that seeks to waive a special ballot if Fernandes Anderson were to resign her District seat more than days before the general voting process as required by the city charter The home rule petition if approved by the state Legislature would also allow the city to instantly seat the winner of the District race in November upon certification of the general referendum 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 seat than it did two years ago when a special referendum was held on a similar timeline for the Beacon Hill-centric District seat That disagreement was featured somewhat in Friday s special meeting but took a backseat when Fernandes Anderson a -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 preponderance 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 ballot for District and blocked a vote on Louijeune s petition this past Wednesday Fernandes Anderson claimed that the District 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 described Murphy It s that you don t in fact 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 commented Council president this has become just a matter of grandstanding again I spoke directly with you and I narrated you there was no need for this filing and yet you guys are sitting here having a conversation on something that is thoroughly 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 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 explained 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 reported 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 society who brought this issue forward and that s why there s this filing Well Council president I appreciate your good intentions Fernandes Anderson commented I do believe this is grandstanding I would have appreciated if you didn t want the answer then not ask it You solicited 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 occurrence tied to assertions 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 mentioned 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 revealed in a announcement 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 community 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 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 in restitution according to the plea agreement Related Articles Boston City Council renews ethics committee push after Tania Fernandes Anderson plea deal BPS reaches on-time morning buses lays out plan for more efficient transportation Boston City Council push to circumvent Tania Fernandes Anderson special referendum blocked for now Josh Kraft calls on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to explain Fernandes Anderson special poll double standard Boston City Hall employee launches bid for mayor against Michelle Wu Councilor Ed Flynn who joined Murphy and Councilor John FitzGerald in voting against the home rule petition stated the day s proceedings demonstrated why the Council requirements an ethics oversight committee as he proposed this week The Boston City Council failed to provide positive leadership Flynn noted in a declaration We have lost the moral high ground needed during this critical time To regain various credibility with Boston residents comprehensive ethics change must be implemented including oversight of the city council on issues relating to transparency accountability and ethical behavior Louijeune did not without delay respond to a request for comment on Fernandes Anderson s remarks at the day s special meeting