BOSTON — In Mayor Michelle Wu’s Boston, some city officials get 63% raises. Others get felony charges. One managed both.

As commercial property values fall and Boston residents brace for higher tax bills, City Hall spending continues to climb — especially within the city’s growing equity bureaucracy. One of the clearest examples: a $45,000 raise for the Deputy Director of LGBTQIA+ Advancement, a title unfamiliar to many taxpayers but quietly increased from $71,000 to $116,571 in a single year.
Source: City of Boston Employee Earnings Report

The official who received that raise, Daunasia Yancey, was arrested on April 11 and charged with felony assault for allegedly slamming a woman into a wall during a domestic dispute.

But instead of disclosing the arrest, the city kept it quiet. Yancey remained on paid leave for nearly a month, and was only moved to unpaid status on May 7, after what City Hall described as “more specific information” came to light.

The public remained unaware until a report by Mass Daily News revealed the arrest and the months of silence that followed. Original MDN report

As of this week, Yancey is still listed as an active City of Boston employee.

What we know:

• Arrest date: April 11
• Paid leave ended: May 7
• 2023 salary: $71,000
• 2024 salary: $116,571
• Current status: Still employed

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The city’s silence on the matter — coupled with the size of the raise — has raised new questions about spending priorities under Mayor Wu’s leadership. While Boston faces a steep drop in commercial tax revenue and growing uncertainty over its financial future, Mayor Wu’s administration is expanding City Hall like nothing is wrong — piling on six-figure equity jobs with little oversight, little scrutiny, and big taxpayer bills.

Critics say it’s not just the raise or the arrest — it’s the silence.

A $116,000 salary. A felony charge. And still, not a single word from City Hall.

Mass Daily News will continue reporting on this story.