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As former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson faces sentencing this Friday for counts of wire fraud and theft of federal funds, she comes into the hearing with the vocal support of several of her former colleagues — including Allston-Brighton’s own councilor.
In a July letter to Judge Indira Talwani ’82, who is presiding over Fernandes Anderson’s case, Breadon asked her not to incarcerate the disgraced councilor as federal prosecutors seek a yearlong prison sentence.
Instead, Breadon asked the judge to “consider placing (Fernandes Anderson) on home confinement,” writing that the councilor had showed “heartfelt commitment to effectively serve the most vulnerable populations in our city,” and that the arrangement would help her continue supporting her family.
Fernandes Anderson entered the council four years ago alongside Breadon, and was noted for breaking many barriers at the time: she was the first Muslim, African immigrant, and formerly undocumented person to hold the office.
But late last year, federal agents arrested Fernandes Anderson outside her Dorchester home and accused her of receiving a $7,000 kickback from a family member in a City Hall bathroom the year before.
Prosecutors pointed to Fernandes Anderson’s financial struggles at the time, saying she had missed rent and car payments prior to the kickback scheme.
The councilor has since stepped down from her post — following pressure from Mayor Michelle Wu and the city council president — and pleaded guilty to two of the six federal charges. (The remaining four were later dropped.)
Scott Lauer, her court-appointed lawyer, declined to comment in advance of Friday’s sentencing hearing.
Though Breadon wrote that Fernandes Anderson had “undoubtedly fallen short in our expectations of a public servant,” she also underscored Fernandes Anderson’s dedication as a foster mother and her record as a former nonprofit leader.
Breadon joined several other local political leaders in writing supportively of Fernandes to Judge Talwani.
Over the spring and summer, more than 90 people submitted letters in support of Fernandez Anderson, including Boston City Councilors Julia Mejia and Brian Worrell, State Representatives Christopher Worrell and Russell Holmes, and State Senator Liz Miranda.
All of them emphasized Fernandes Anderson’s generous and compassionate character and track record as an advocate, but stopped short of excusing the corruption convictions.
Holmes noted that the Fernandes Anderson has fostered 17 children, and cited her nonprofit work revitalizing areas in Dorchester.
In an interview this week, Breadon also praised Fernandes Anderson for bringing to light disparities in funding across the city's neighborhoods during her time chairing the council’s Ways & Means committee.
Most of all, Breadon said, Fernandes Anderson highlighted the city’s relative lack of funding to Allston-Brighton, now a long-running gripe among the neighborhood’s civic leaders.
“A lot of my recent advocacy for a new community center, for example, was born out of Councilor Fernandes Anderson highlighting the disparities in capital investment across different districts in the city,” Breadon said.
In 2024, Breadon criticized the Boston city council’s capital projects budget for allocating four times less funding to Allston-Brighton than almost all of the other neighborhoods in the city.
Most recently, the city has faced high pressure from residents to fund a new community center in the neighborhood after its only one has been scheduled for demolition since 2019 and has slowly shuttered since then.
In the interview, Breadon also praised Fernandes Anderson’s constituent outreach, calling her “innovative in how a city councilor would serve their neighborhood.”
Just days after Fernandes Anderson’s Friday hearing, District 7 residents will begin the process of filling her seat, choosing two out of the eleven primary challengers to proceed to the general election. Breadon, meanwhile, will gear up for a general contest against challenger Pilar Ortiz in November.
—Staff writer Angelina J. Parker can be reached at angelina.parker@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @angelinajparker.
—Staff writer Emily T. Schwartz can be reached at emily.schwartz@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @EmilySchwartz37.
