Latest news with #SegunIdowu
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Real reason Boston's 'Democrat dictator' fired only two of three staffers embroiled in 'sordid love triangle'
A Boston City Hall staffer who was fired by Mayor Michelle Wu over her alleged involvement in a sordid love triangle has lifted the lid on what she says really led to her termination - and why only she and her boyfriend were let go. Marwa Khudaynazar, 27, and her boyfriend Chulan Huang, 26, were fired after facing domestic violence charges stemming from alleged romantic advances on May 15 involving a third city official. Khudaynazar, former chief of staff of Police Accountability and Transparency, went to a bar with her friend that night before running into Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu - her boyfriend's then boss - where she allegedly shooed off his advances and was kissed by him. When Huang, former neighborhood liaison for Downtown, Chinatown, and the Leather District, found out, he allegedly told officers, 'She went on a date with my boss', adding 'they booked a hotel and she came here to rub it in my face.' Now, Khudaynazar claims Idowu was not only the reason behind their feud that night, but also why only the couple were terminated - to protect Wu's top aide, according to The Boston Globe. Wu is often referred to as the 'Democratic dictator' by her adversaries for her progressive policies. Khudaynazar told the outlet that Idowu, 36, made several advances toward her after they ran into each other at Hue, a local bar, and told her he rented a room at the Park Plaza Hotel for them. Text messages shared with the Globe between Khudaynazar and the top aide appeared to confirm their interaction, as she told him: 'You're my partner's boss. You know that this isn't appropriate.' 'I told him before we left the bar, "I'll take [you] to [your] hotel, but I'm not coming up",' she added. In another text message, reviewed by the Globe, Idowu told Khudaynazar at 12.47am 'I'm in the room,' along with an upside-down smiley face emoji. 'I know you're not gonna join me but I hope I've proven that I don't talk sh** and I mean what I say. Let me know when you get home.' She also said that the night she allegedly saw him at the bar she was drinking with one of her friends, per the Globe. Khudaynazar told the outlet he went on to buy them cocktails and once her girlfriend left, Idowu started to approach her. 'He has a hand on my back, he's whispering in my ear, we're chatting really close,' she recalled to the outlet. 'He's on his phone for a bit and then he just turns his phone toward me and is like, 'I just booked a room, would love for you to join me.' Khudaynazar, who had three drinks that night, then declined his offer and said she would just drop him off and call it a night, but that's when he kissed her on the lips, she told the Globe. She also said that the night she allegedly saw him at the bar she was drinking with one of her friends. He then kept asking her to change her mind, but Khudaynazar declined again, she stated. Khudaynazar (pictured) said that the night she allegedly saw him at the bar she was drinking with one of her friends After she dropped Idowu off, Khudaynazar made her way to Huang's apartment and told him what happened - leaving him furious and her to call the police. During their interaction, Khudaynazar said Huang clung onto her wrists, so she bit him multiple times in self-defense. When officers arrived, they slapped handcuffs on Huang, leaving Khudaynazar upset. 'I remember specifically telling the officer inside the house, you know, we both work together, we both work for the city,' she told the Globe. 'If you're looking at this like a domestic violence situation and you think I'm a victim, escalating this is not what I need.' She also noted asking the officers to call their supervisor, but was told there was not one around. According to Khudaynazar, she chose to mention her job to make it clear she knew how to de-escalate domestic violence incidents, not to save herself from getting arrested. 'Never once was I like, "I work at OPAT; you can't arrest me",' she said. Days after, she said she was interviewed by City Hall resources staff, but they did not ask about Idowu or what happened that night. They were only interested in knowing if she mentioned where she worked, Khudaynazar told the outlet. In her official termination letter from May 20, the city said Khudaynazar asked to not discuss what happened that night, but she said she did agree to talk with investigators, according to records. In the moment, she wrote she was doing so 'under duress' because everything moved so fast, leaving her with no time to obtain a lawyer to defend her. That letter also stated that she failed to get formal approval for medical leave - another allegation she has disputed, telling the outlet she used her sick time to recover from recent hip replacement surgery. Although Idowu declined to answer questions about his interaction with Khudaynazar that night, through his lawyer he denied being a part of any behavior that would indicate sexual harassment. Jeffery Robbins, his attorney, told that his client was interviewed as part of the investigation and there 'was no finding of any improper, unethical or inappropriate conduct on his part was made, because he engaged in none.' 'Since it is our understanding that there is a criminal investigation into the alleged incident between these two individuals--an incident which had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr. Idowu--it is pretty plain that due regard both for law enforcement and for the individual rights of these two individuals dictates that the appropriate thing is for Mr. Idowu to refrain from comment on the matter, and that is what he will do,' Robbins added. Khudaynazar and Huang were both charged with assault and battery on a household member. She was also charged with assault and battery on a police officer, according to court documents first reported by the Globe. Both pleaded not guilty. She also accused the police department of exaggerating what happened when they arrived as one officer wrote that she pulled her hand out of their grasp and 'proceeded to strike' the cop's chest. No mention of injury was included in the police report, but after the incident, Wu told reporters: 'It's never OK to harm a police officer.' A city spokesperson told 'The City's internal review found no violations of laws or city workforce policies by any other employee. 'Whenever the City receives an allegation of employee misconduct from an employee, a former employee, or a member of the public, the City's Human Resources team takes steps to review and takes employment action accordingly,' they said, adding that 'This conduct by City employees is never acceptable.' The investigation itself has opened a larger can of worms for Wu as Josh Kraft, a politician running against her to become the next mayor of Boston, has called for an internal probe to take place. 'The public deserves more information,' Kraft said. Others have agreed with Kraft, including Boston City Counselor Ed Flynn. 'I do think there should be an outside investigation to determine all of the facts of what happened because clearly something happened,' Flynn said. 'We owe it to her and to the other city employee to have a full investigation that isn't just closed on the administration side,' said Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy.
Boston Globe
04-02-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
‘A win-win for the community': Vicente's Supermarket, a Brockton-based grocery store, to replace Warren St. Walgreens in Roxbury
Walgreens closed the location in January 2024, prompting pushback from residents and elected officials who said the closure would threaten residents' access to over-the-counter medications, life-saving prescription, and pharmacists advice. Segun Idowu, the city's chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said the Vicente's owners are exploring a pharmacy model inside the property. Advertisement 'I expressed to them the desire of the community that there needs to at least be a pharmacy element in there, and they said, 'If that's what the community wants, we will find a way to make it work,'' Idowu said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He added, 'It's a win-win for the community: fresh food and access to needed medication.' It is not clear when the store would open, but JP Plunkett, principal for Dorchester-based Red Dome Realty, said 'it shouldn't be too far out.' 'It's going to be wonderful for the Roxbury community, given the dearth of grocery options there,' he said. 'The neighbors are going to be super excited about this.' As of Tuesday afternoon, 416 Warren St. was included among the supermarket's locations on Plunkett did not confirm if the forthcoming tenant would include a pharmacy component. However, Vicente's Supermarket has pursued health-focused endeavors in the past, though none related to pharmaceuticals. In 2015, the local chain partnered with the Advertisement While Red Dome Realty did not confirm how long Vicente's has committed to staying at Warren Street, Plunkett said the store signed a long-term lease, meaning it is 'making a strong commitment to that neighborhood.' Founded in 1994 by Manuel Vicente, Vicente's Supermarket specializes 'in a delightful array of Brazilian products,' Vicente's Supermarket could introduce a fresh food option in an area with limited options. A Price Rite supermarket is a 4-minute walk away, and a handful of convenience stores are peppered in the area. A Popeyes and McDonald's are also in close proximity. The space is owned by Four16 Warren Street Limited LP, and is valued at roughly $4.5 million, according to When Walgreens announced its Warren Street location in late 2023, it sparked public outrage from elected leaders, clergy, and neighborhood residents alike. Dozens of dissatisfied residents picketed at the drugstore, Boston City Council convened a hearing to assess the closure on the surrounding community, and members of the US Capitol penned letters to the drugstore giant demanding accountability. Many charged Walgreens with contributing to local ' Advertisement The neighborhood surrounding the Warren Street store is nearly half Black, and one-third Hispanic, according to census data. Residents age 65 and over make up 15 percent of the population. Almost a third of families live below the poverty line. At least 47 pharmacies closed across Massachusetts in 2024 — the most since 2018, according to a Globe analysis of drugstore registration data. The data also shows that at least two pharmacies have closed since the start of the year, although some announced closures, such as a Walgreens store in This story was produced by the Globe's team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. You can sign up for the newsletter . Tiana Woodard can be reached at
