Boston, MA

Out of Boston City Hall love spat come serious questions for Wu – The Boston Globe

Published

3 weeks ago

May 21, 2025

Out of Boston City Hall love spat come serious questions for Wu – The Boston Globe

But questions arising from this messy incident are not so easily swept away — although Wu is trying to do just that.

Huang was the neighborhood business manager for the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, at a salary of $70,469. Khudaynazar was chief of staff for the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, at a salary of $83,769.

The two were arrested and charged last week after police responded to a call from an apartment in Chinatown, where Khudaynazar told police she bit Huang in self-defense because he wouldn’t let go of her wrists, according to a Globe account of the police report. When police began to arrest Huang, Khudaynazar said, “I don’t want that, I was lying, I was lying.…I bit him,” according to the report.

She then allegedly tried to close the door, while telling police, “we both work for the city of Boston, we both work for the mayor’s office.” At one point, Khudaynazar allegedly began to hit an officer on the chest while shouting obscenities. Huang also allegedly told police, “We both work for the city, this is unnecessary.”

Khudaynazar was charged with assault and battery on a police officer and assault and battery on a household member. Huang was charged with assault and battery on a household member. Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments.

Citing police reports, several media outlets, including the Boston Herald, also reported that Khudaynazar allegedly told police that Huang was cheating on her and she went on a date with his boss. Huang also allegedly told responding officers that Khudaynazar and his boss “booked a hotel room and she came here to rub it in my face.”

The boss referred to has not been named in any reports. But City Councilor Ed Flynn has called for the resignation of Segun Idowu, the city’s chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, who oversees the office for which Huang works. In an interview, Flynn said he is also calling for an independent investigation into the incident in order “to restore public trust.”

Josh Kraft, who is challenging Wu in the mayor’s race, has called for Wu to release the internal report and to disclose whether the fired workers are receiving severance payments. Kraft has also called upon Wu to disclose Idowu’s “role” in the incident.

Put aside the obvious political motivations of two Wu critics, including one who is seeking her job, and both Flynn and Kraft raise valid issues.

Asked if Idowu is involved in any way, a spokesperson for Wu told me via text that she did not have “anything to share” on that. While Khudaynazar did not report directly to Idowu, there could be potential power dynamics in play given that he is a member of Wu’s Cabinet, and it’s fair to ask Wu to address that. Meanwhile, a group of Black leaders has signed a letter that supports Idowu, and describes calls for his resignation as “unfounded and politically motivated.”

Another tangential question: What work is the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, where Khudaynazar was employed, actually producing?

Established in 2020 in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the office was set up as a civilian body to investigate complaints of Boston Police Department misconduct and holds subpoena power.

At the time, Wu was one of 12 city councilors who voted for it, and then-mayor Marty Walsh signed the ordinance that created it. Since then, as the Globe recently reported, OPAT has experienced turnover and vacancies and failed to hold public meetings or produce public reports.

Last October, Boston 25 News reported that the OPAT website was “full of broken links, making information inaccessible to the public.” When I checked, the last meeting and report listed on the current website dated back to January 2024. But a Wu spokesperson said the OPAT team has met, has investigated 143 complaints, and plans to release a report in July.

Wu appointed Evandro Carvalho, a former prosecutor and former state representative, as executive director a year ago. As he recently told the Globe, “We’ve had some challenges in terms of fulfilling all the functions, but we’ve been working hard to build capacity to make sure these gaps are closed.” In that interview, Carvalho also said that recent hires included a chief of staff.

It’s unclear what specific qualifications Khudaynazar had for a job that should require a certain level of experience and maturity.

Political work attracts young people, and young people sometimes do dumb things that should not define their entire lives. But when you work for the public, you are accountable to the public. That’s a tough lesson for Khudaynazar and Huang.

There’s also a lesson for Wu. Who gets hired and fired sends a message about workplace priorities, culture, and oversight. Especially in an election year, that message matters.

Joan Vennochi is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her @joan_vennochi.

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Boston, MA

1 year until the World Cup, and Boston is buzzing: ‘It's going to be amazing'

Published

17 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Press Room

The Greater Boston area is officially a year away from hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe for the FIFA World Cup 2026 .

“It’s going to be amazing, this place is going to go nuts!” Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday.

Fans living and visiting Boston said they can’t wait for what co-hosts U.S., Mexico and Canada have in store for the biggest event in soccer.

“I saw a couple games from Chicago [when the U.S. last hosted in 1994], so I’ll be happy to hopefully catch some more games this year or next year,” Jason Herbeck said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick-off on June 11. These are some of the numbers and dates you need to remember.

“Obviously, like, being a soccer fan, it’s going to be exciting to see the games,” said Herbeck’s daughter, Sido.

No matter who fans are backing next summer, organizers say there will be room in Boston for all.

“We’re super excited about the prospect of hosting teams from across the globe here, especially those that might have more cultural fit to our incredibly diverse community here in Boston,” said Meet Boston President and CEO Martha Sheridan.

We are officially a year away from the kickoff of one of the biggest sporting events ever to come to the Boston area.

While Boston will get the people, Foxborough will get the matches: seven of them, including one each in the round of 32 and quarterfinals. Team draws and brackets will be announced in December.

There are “450,000 tickets available for the stadium and then millions of opportunities to experiences,” FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 CEO Mike Loynd noted.

But more planning is still needed to get a fan festival ready and the transportation and security logistics figured out, some of which requires help from state officials like Healey, who said she has been working with organizers at Boston 2026 and Meet Boston.

Healey expects the state will see about $1 billion in revenue from the event, when roughly a million people are expected to visit the metropolitan area.

The first match Boston will host is on June 13, 2026. Soon, FIFA will be recruiting about 3,000 volunteers to help with the event in Boston alone.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will air on Telemundo.

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is set to play host for seven World Cup matches in 2026 – though it will do it under the name “Boston Stadium.”

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Guerschon Yabusele credits Boston Celtics tenure for NBA comeback

Published

2 days ago

June 11, 2025

Press Room

Guerschon Yabusele credits Boston Celtics tenure for NBA comeback

Guerschon Yabusele not only had a successful NBA comeback, but now, he should be an interesting free agent this summer. Yabusele bet on himself last year coming off the Paris Olympics, taking a minimum contract with the 76ers.

Due to buyout rules, Yabusele wasn’t necessarily making as much monetarily in his NBA comeback attempt. Now, Yabusele is again a free agent this summer after an impressive season in Philadelphia. But instead of wondering which NBA team will sign him, he should be in line for a payday after showing what he can contribute stateside.

Speaking with HoopsHype, Yabusele broke down the free agency process and how he expects to stay in the NBA. Plus, the former Celtics first-round pick explained why he partially credits his Boston tenure for his NBA comeback.

“Even though I was not with Boston anymore, I learned so much from that season,” Yabusele said. “And it helped me for the second part of my career after that. It really pushed me. It really, like, I had that mentality of loving that basketball. Because I know I love basketball. But if you’re in a situation that you don’t play, it’s hard. I missed it. And I was like, you know what? I want to play now. I want to be somewhere where I always play, so I always try to pick the right situation now for me.”

Yabusele was picked 16th overall in the 2016 draft by the Celtics before spending two seasons in Boston from 2017-19. After he was waived by the organization, Yabusele ended up in China to continue his pro career. He said it didn’t go well, forcing him to spend roughly 1.5 months without a team. Yabusele revealed that was a wake-up call as he hoped and wished for his next opportunity.

“Going through that process and just waiting like that, I was like, no, this is — it’s impossible,” Yabusele said. “This is not what I want. A couple years ago, I was drafted first-round, pick 16. How am I in this situation? I put myself into the situation to really tell me the truth about what was not right, what would I do wrong and stuff like that. I questioned myself a lot, then I went and started working out. I was like, get that mindset that, okay, I’m gonna prove everybody wrong.”

Yabusele then got his next chance with ASVEL in his native France. He played five games with them before getting re-signed. That break allowed him to sign with Real Madrid, which is where he spent three seasons, including winning a EuroLeague title. After Yabusele starred for France on their way to the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, the attention was back on him.

Yabusele is looking for his next team once again. But this time, he should have a lot more confidence he’ll land with a new squad. The Sixers have been vocal about wanting to bring him back to the organization. Other teams could also come calling. Yabusele averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 70 games last season. He also shot 38.0% on his 3-pointers as the 6-foot-8 forward fits well into the NBA game.

“I really, really want to stay in the NBA, now that I have a real reason over there I want to do some more,” Yabusele said. “Watching the playoffs, you watch those guys having fun, you always look, I want to be there. My competitor side is really pushing me to work hard this summer, try to get everything that I can to come back next season and crush it even more.”

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Red Sox Host Drag Show Inside Fenway Park For Pride Night, Invite Drag Queens On Field For First Pitch Again

Published

2 days ago

June 10, 2025

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Red Sox Host Drag Show Inside Fenway Park For Pride Night, Invite Drag Queens On Field For First Pitch Again

The Red Sox welcomed drag queens to Fenway Park as part of their traditional Pride Night.

PublishedJune 10, 2025 9:45 AM EDT•UpdatedJune 10, 2025 9:45 AM EDT

The Boston Red Sox hosted their annual Pride Night on Monday and continued their tradition of hosting a drag show inside the gates of Fenway Park while also welcoming drag queens onto the field for the ceremonial first pitch.

Ahead of what was a 10-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night, fans of all ages entered the gates of the historic ballpark and were greeted by a drag show on a stage built right in front of some of the concessions.

The Red Sox and their Pride-themed logo on X shared a video of various men dressed in drag dancing for fans before the first pitch of the contest.

Speaking of the first pitch, the drag queens who participated in the show, as well as individuals representing various LGBTQ+ causes and organizations in Boston, were welcomed onto the diamond with the stadium’s announcer urging fans in attendance to applaud them.

“We know that visibility and inclusivity in sports not only affirm the right of everyone to participate and along, but also enrich the spirit of competition and camaraderie,” the announcer said over the stadium’s loudspeakers.

“When teams, front offices, and fans come together to create welcoming environments, everyone can thrive and we prove that we are all better when we stand together.”

The Boston Legacy Football Club of the NWSL, the Boston Fleet of the PWHL, Boston Common Golf, the Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics were all mentioned as having representatives on the field for the ceremonial first pitch.

The Red Sox have welcomed drag queens to Fenway Park for their annual Pride Night dating back to at least 2022, according to archived Getty Images.

A pre-game ceremony is held in recognition of Pride Heritage before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics on June 15, 2022. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The Red Sox promoted Pride Night leading up to the game with an exclusive ticket purchasing offer where fans would receive a Red Sox hat in Pride colors while also inviting them to attend a Pride Party – presumably the drag show – inside Fenway Park prior to the game starting.

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