Overview
- The Lawrence City Council conducted a symbolic vote of no confidence on Tuesday, Oct. 6, saying it lacks charter power to remove Mayor Brian DePeña but must act to protect city governance.
- DePeña remains in office and has refused to resign while facing federal charges that accuse him of wire fraud and money laundering tied to roughly $1.6 million in pandemic relief loans and a separate 15‑count state indictment alleging illegal City Hall recordings and witness intimidation.
- Councilors hired independent auditor CliftonLarsonAllen to perform a Comprehensive Governance Assessment focused on authority, risk, and internal controls to identify vulnerabilities in city finances and operations.
- Governor Maura Healey said Lawrence residents deserve an elected official they can trust and called the allegations serious without explicitly demanding DePeña’s resignation.
- Upcoming court proceedings and the auditor’s findings are likely to shape practical oversight steps and day‑to‑day city operations, with the council emphasizing continuity of services and stronger financial safeguards for residents.