The Boston City Council on Sept. 30, 2026, unanimously approved an emergency resolution urging city departments to help businesses destroyed by Monday’s six-alarm fire at the Edison building in Nubian Square, Universal Hub reported. Councilors Miniard Culpepper (Roxbury), Henry Santana (at large), and Ruthzee Louijeune (at large) filed the late-file measure after the blaze at 72 Warren St. wiped out multiple small storefronts.
Nubian Square Council Resolution: What Passed
Universal Hub reported that councilors cast a roll-call vote after a recess and that the resolution passed without opposition. Culpepper said the affected businesses “will essentially have to start over from scratch” and that the city should not leave them to recover alone. Councilors said their offices would help owners navigate city assistance, according to the same account.
The fire began the morning of Sept. 28 at the 103-year-old Edison Building in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. GBH News reported a six-alarm fire destroyed businesses including Ugi’s Subs, The Handyman Team, and Atlantis Physical Therapy & Chiropractic. Boston.com and the Boston Fire Department said roughly 200 firefighters responded; no civilians were inside when crews arrived, though several firefighters were injured during the long fight, GBH reported.
Late-File Debate on the Council Floor
Universal Hub reported that after the Nubian measure cleared, councilors argued over a separate late-file hearing request by Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy on police health-screening payments—a topic the council had debated months earlier. Councilor Julia Mejia asked Council President Liz Breadon to define “emergency,” saying late files have become routine and can create misleading headlines. Breadon said the rules do not clearly define the term.
Councilor Sharon Durkan, who has frequently objected to non-emergency late files, told colleagues the Nubian resolution was a legitimate emergency—unexpected, unplanned, and a crisis—while criticizing politicization of the late-file process, Universal Hub reported. Under council rules, a single objection can block action on an emergency motion. Breadon then called the roll on the Nubian businesses resolution, which passed unanimously.
Recovery Context in Roxbury
Roxbury Main Streets called the fire a significant blow to Nubian Square’s commercial core, Boston.com reported. State Sen. Liz Miranda told NBC Boston that neighborhood services and Roxbury Main Streets were working to help businesses continue operating. Mayor Michelle Wu said on the day of the fire that the city would support the small businesses “however we can,” CBS Boston reported. Related Roxbury civic coverage on this site includes the Boston Roxbury grant lawsuit over federal transportation funds and the city’s defense of the Immigrants Lead Boston civic program. For other recent council business, see our report on the police detectives pay deals.