Fernandes Anderson constituents say it’s too early to draw conclusions

Yawu Miller

Yawu Miller is the former senior editor of the Bay State Banner. He has written for the Banner since 1988.... VIEW BIO

Since the December 6 arrest of District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson on federal corruption charges, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and five of her Council colleagues have called on her to step down.

Fernandes Anderson pleaded not guilty to charges she awarded a $13,000 pay bonus to one of her City Council staff members, then arranged and accepted a kickback of $7,000.

Roxbury resident and political activist Bruce Bickerstaff was among Fernandes Anderson’s constituents expressing caution on calls for Fernandes Anderson to leave office.

“An accusation is just that, without proof,” he said. “I’m a bit disappointed. I would think the Council would stay out of the adjudication of her case.”

Roxbury activist Lorraine Payne Wheeler, a former staffer, noted that Fernandes Anderson has pleaded not guilty.

“Tania has tried very hard to serve the needs of the district,” she said. “What’s being reported in the news is very serious. We have to wait until this plays out.”

In its indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston presents as evidence records of three cash withdrawals totaling $10,000 Fernandes’ unnamed staff member made from an account with Santander Bank as well as a two-text exchange between the staffer and Fernandes Anderson.

In the June 6, 2023, text exchange, the staffer sent Fernandes Anderson a message reading “Bathroom.” Fernandes Anderson texted back, “ready.”

The U.S. attorney alleges that the text message exchange shows Fernandes Anderson arranging to receive a cash payment of $7,000 from the staffer in a City Hall bathroom. No previous or subsequent texts appear in the U.S. attorney’s indictment, nor records of any other communication between Fernandes Anderson and the staffer indicating an exchange of money.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not present evidence of Fernandes Anderson depositing the alleged kickback in her account. The indictment does claim that Fernandes Anderson was charged overdraft fees and was late on her car payments — an indication that officials combed through her financial records.

The absence so far of an explicit acknowledgement of a payment or kickback may suggest that the U.S. attorney’s case will rely heavily on the testimony of the staffer.

Longtime community activist Louis Elisa said he doesn’t believe the government’s charges.

“I believe [Fernandes Anderson] when she said that she was not involved in any kickback,” he said.

Fernandes Anderson has continued to participate and hold City Council hearings and has attended meetings in her district. Her next court date is scheduled for January 29.

While noting that Fernandes Anderson has a right to a fair trial, Wu argued for her to step down from the District 7 seat in a statement sent to the news media.

“Like any member of the community, Councilor Fernandes Anderson has the right to a fair legal process,” Wu’s statement reads. “But the serious nature of these charges undermines the public trust and will prevent her from effectively serving the city. I urge Councilor Fernandes Anderson to resign.”

City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilors Sharon Durkin, Gabriella Coletta Zapata, Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy have called on Fernandes Anderson to step down from her Council seat.

Elisa dismissed Wu and the other councilor’s calls for Fernandes Anderson to step down.

“She represents a community,” Elisa said. “There’s no reason she should step down.”