Editorial: City Hall can’t afford to miss another security lesson
In a recent incident that highlights the pressing need for enhanced security measures, Boston’s City Hall experienced a significant breach when an unauthorized individual entered the building and stole personal belongings from employees. This incident unfolded just as Mayor Michelle Wu’s office had publicly emphasized City Hall’s welcoming atmosphere, which now seems ironically misplaced in light of the events that transpired. An email from the city confirmed that several employees reported their wallets—containing cash, credit cards, and personal identification—were stolen from their offices. This breach has raised urgent calls for a reevaluation of security protocols at a facility that houses the mayor’s office, the City Council, and various city agencies.
The incident is particularly alarming given a previous security lapse in 2023, when George Williams, a project coordinator for the City of Boston’s Task Force on Reparations, managed to enter City Hall after hours undetected, ultimately leading to his arrest. Despite this glaring oversight, the recent theft underscores that security measures remain insufficient. Reports indicate that the thief not only stole from employees but also used the stolen credit cards for unauthorized purchases totaling over $1,500 at retailers like Macy’s and Walgreens. As employees grapple with the fallout of identity theft and the hassle of replacing stolen items, the incident raises critical questions about the safety of government workplaces and the protection of confidential information.
City Councilor Ed Flynn voiced the need for a collaborative effort to create a safer environment for both city employees and the public. He stressed that ensuring the security of confidential documents and personal data should be a top priority for the city. This incident serves as a stark reminder that security cannot be taken for granted, especially in a government building where public trust and safety should be paramount. As Boston reflects on this security breach, it is clear that urgent action is required to prevent future incidents and to safeguard the well-being of its employees and constituents alike.
Sanctuary City Boston just gave an inadvertent lesson in the need for border security with a recent
“security breach”
at City Hall.
While an email from Mayor Michelle Wu’s office described City Hall as “a welcoming building open to the public,” one of the public allegedly took that welcome too far, rifling through office suites and stealing wallets stuffed with cash and credit cards from employees.
Now there are calls to tighten security protocols.
Sound familiar?
Irony aside, one would assume the government building would have tight security as a matter of course. The mayor’s office is there, as well as the City Council and numerous city agencies. None of these should be vulnerable to “rifling.”
And yet, the city stated in an email Tuesday, “Yesterday, an unauthorized member of the public entered several office suites in City Hall and stole personal belongings from employees. Property management and Boston Police are aware of the incidents and are collaborating on the investigation, as this is unacceptable and clearly violates feelings of trust and safety in our workplace.”
It does, however, help explain how in 2023
George Williams
, the project coordinator for the City of Boston’s Task Force on Reparations, managed to enter City Hall after hours, bypassing metal detectors and security to then sleep in offices on the upper floors, Municipal Protective Services told Boston Police officers who then arrested him. Williams was subsequently fired.
That should have been a major wake-up call. There shouldn’t be security lapses two years on. And yet here we are, with three city employees reporting that their wallets, which contained cash, credit cards, health savings account cards, insurance cards, and personal ID were stolen from their offices on Monday, according to BPD reports.
One woman who had her wallet snatched out of her purse with two credit cards, her City Hall ID, Massachusetts driver’s license, insurance and library cards, and $100 in cash told police two of her coworkers saw an unknown man “in the area who was wearing a brown beanie, dark jacket, sweatpants, and a blue face mask.”
Two other employees told police that not only were cash and credit cards stolen from their offices, but the thief used the cards to rack up hundreds of dollars in unauthorized purchases — totaling $1,500 at Macy’s and Walgreens.
We can’t imagine the employees’ nightmare scenario of having to deal with credit card companies, stolen cash, replacing their drivers licenses and fears of identity theft.
This shouldn’t happen in any workplace, much less a government building.
“It’s important we work together to provide a safer work environment for city employees and the public as well. Boston works best when we work together,” said City Councilor Ed Flynn.
We should have been working together since 2023 at least.
Flynn added that the city should also investigate whether confidential documents or data was stolen, saying that “the privacy of residents and maintaining confidential data in a secure setting must be first and foremost.”
Consider this City Hall’s wakeup call #2. Don’t hit snooze on security.
Editorial cartoon by Al Goodwyn (Creators Syndicate)
