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Council approves $200,000 transfer for AI workforce training despite resident objections
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Summary
The Lawrence City Council voted to transfer $200,000 from free cash/ARPA to the Merrimack Valley Workforce Board for AI workforce training for residents 18–25, after residents urged keeping funds with locally awarded programs and raised concerns about AI’s impact.
The Lawrence City Council voted to appropriate $200,000 from free cash/ARPA accounts to the Merrimack Valley Workforce Board to fund an AI workforce training program for Lawrence residents aged 18 to 25.
Councilor Infante, chair of the Budget & Finance Committee, presented the item as a favorable recommendation and moved the measure; the motion was seconded and carried following a roll‑call vote the clerk announced as carrying the motion.
The appropriation drew several hours of public comment before the committee presentation. Shakira Asuncion, a Lawrence resident, told the council she opposed moving the money because it had already been allotted to local recipients under the city’s Thriving Lawrence Act: “The monies I have already been assigned. ... This money goes towards the creating the businesses of Lawrence's and business owners of Lawrence who are needed,” she said, adding that “AI is very dangerous for this world and dangerous not only for our minds, but also for our planet.”
Ashley Asuncion, who said she attended the local workforce program as a teen, said the existing workforce provider had succeeded without AI and urged the council to prioritize supports such as transportation and meals over technology: “AI was just created and is not needed for our citizens to thrive.” Wilson Delosanto, who identified himself as a small‑business owner, warned reallocating funds away from microbusinesses would harm local Latino‑owned businesses and urged councilors to consult small‑business owners before reassigning cash.
At the council meeting, Councilor Infante noted a clerical issue in the committee record and asked the clerk to ensure the committee vote was recorded accurately before the full‑council vote. The clerk corrected the committee tally and then called the roll for the full council vote; the clerk announced the motion carried.
The transfer moves the funds to the Merrimack Valley Workforce Board to support an AI training program aimed at residents 18–25. The council’s approval authorizes the appropriation; administrative implementation and program details will follow through the mayor’s office and the recipient agency. Sponsors and councilors said the program is intended to expand training opportunities for young residents, while several public commenters argued the funds should remain with locally vetted organizations that had applied under earlier city programs.
Next steps include administrative paperwork to release the funds and the workforce board’s implementation of the training program. Any additional conditions or reporting requirements were not specified on the council floor.
