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and.

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>>

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good afternoon everyone.

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My name is ed flynn.

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District city council.

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I am the chair of the boston

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city council committee on city

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services.

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Today is AUGUST 31st 2026.

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The exact time is 203.

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This hearing is being recorded.

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It is also being live streamed

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at boston.Gov/city council dash

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tv broadcast on xfinity channel

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eight rcn 82 fios channel 964.

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Written comments MAY be sent to

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the committee email at sk dot

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csv city@boston.Gov.

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And will be made part of the

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record and available to all

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city councilors.

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Public testimony will be taken

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at the end of the hearing.

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Individuals will be called on

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in order in which they sign up

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and will have two minutes to

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testify.

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If you are interested in

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testifying in person, please

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add your name to the sign up

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sheet near the entrance of the

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chamber.

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When you walk in if you are

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looking to testify virtually,

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please email our central staff

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liaison shane pack and shane

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and dot pack@boston.Gov.

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For the link and your name will

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be added to the list.

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Before I begin I do want to say

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thank you to shane and ethan

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for being here.

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They're our city

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council central staff and we

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want to thank them for their

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for their work and

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professionalism.

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Today's hearing is on docket

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0335.

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in order for a hearing to

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discuss accessibility issues in

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boston city hall.

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This matter is sponsored by

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myself and city council erin

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murphy who was referred to the

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committee on FEBRUARY 11th,

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2026.

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Today I am and I am joined by

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city councilors in order

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of arrival.

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Councilor fitzgerald, city

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council PRESIDENT Breadon, city

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councilor louijeune.

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At this time I do want to

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acknowledge a letter of absence

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I did receive from one of my

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colleagues.

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I'll read it into the record,

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dear chair flynn.

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MR. Clerk, city

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council colleagues, I regret to

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inform you that I'm unable to

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attend this morning's committee

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on city services on docket

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033135 order for a hearing to

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discuss accessibility issues in

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boston city hall.

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I will follow up with

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additional questions upon

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reviewing my staff's notes and

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watching the recording.

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Please do not hesitate hesitate

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to contact my staff with any

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questions.

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Sincerely, enrique pepen boston

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city council district five.

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I have the honor of introducing

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two exceptionally um well

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qualified advocates in the

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disability community and worked

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with both of them for a number

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of years on accessibility

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issues.

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But before I ask both casandra

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xavier and bill todd before I

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ask them to give an opening

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statement um, I do want to give

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an opportunity to my city

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council colleagues to provide

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an opening statement.

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I do want to give my colleagues

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as much time as necessary, um,

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for their opening statement.

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I'm going to give I'm going to

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give five minutes if if you go

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over five minutes that's okay.

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Continue going.

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And I will not cut you off.

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Let me start with

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councilor fitzgerald.

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Councilor fitzgerald you have

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the floor.

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Thank you very much chair.

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I do appreciate it and I am

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happy to be here for this

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important hearing.

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Uh, regarding accessibility,

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uh, in and around boston city

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hall but also just the wider

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city in general.

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Uh, and I think how we, uh,

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show up, uh, for accessibility

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in and around the property that

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we manage here at city hall uh

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should certainly be the

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forefront and the leader of how

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we, uh, provide accessibility

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to the rest of the city if we

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can't do it in our own

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backyard.

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Uh, it's going to be pretty

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difficult for people to think

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we can do it elsewhere in their

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homes and in their

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neighborhood.

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So, um, I look forward to

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learning a lot, uh, from both

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cassandra and bill.

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Uh, thank you for being here

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today.

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Uh, and for educating us on

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what the problems that persist

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uh, what some of the new

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problems are, uh, and how we

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can best learn and, uh, react

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to what we're seeing out there

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and, um, from you guys who are

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living it every day, uh,

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putting us in your shoes and

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telling us what you need and

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how best we can support you.

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Uh, I think it's very

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important.

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So I thank you for taking the

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time to be here.

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Uh, and chair and I look

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forward to both working with

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the administration, uh, the

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advocates and my colleagues,

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uh, to make sure that we can

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see sure that some of these

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things are followed through on

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to make life a little bit

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easier for our residents.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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>> council fitzgerald city

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council PRESIDENT And

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council PRESIDENT.

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PRESIDENT.

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You have the floor.

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Thank you.

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>> uh, councilor flynn,

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mr chair.

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Good afternoon, bill and

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cassandra.

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So nice to have you here.

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Um, I'm this is an important

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discussion just to evaluate

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where we're at in terms

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of accessibility, uh, in and

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around boston city hall.

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I know we've made incremental

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improvements over the years and

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it's an ongoing project.

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We're not there yet.

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Uh, so I'd love to hear your,

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um, impressions, your

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suggestions and hopefully we

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can, uh, actualize, uh, some

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of your suggestions and make

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our city hall until the city

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hall plaza on the environment

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around, uh, here in government

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center, uh, more accessible to

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everyone and across the city.

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So thank you for being here.

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Thank you, council PRESIDENT.

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Councilor louijeune, you have

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the floor.

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Good afternoon everyone.

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I'm happy to be here.

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Thank you to my colleague, uh,

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councilor flynn for hosting

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this hearing.

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And I want to thank cassandra

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and bill for being here.

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We need to make sure.

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Yes, cassandra are our policy

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queen.

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Thank you for being here and

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our advocacy queen.

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Um, it's important that we make

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sure that the doors of city

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hall are open to everyone and

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that it's accessible.

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We don't have a city for

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everyone if we're not, uh,

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remembering to bring the

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margins and making sure that

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those who have been

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historically excluded from our

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spaces and places that they are

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centered.

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And so I want to continue to

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learn from all of you to think

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about what we can do better

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here in the city of boston and

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work alongside the

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administration and my

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colleagues to make that

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possible.

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I think that was only 40s so

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I'll I'll yield all my time

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back.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, councilor louijeune.

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I believe the americans with

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disabilities act is arguably

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one of the most important

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pieces of federal legislation

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on the books.

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I filed this hearing order

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because it is critical that we

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make accessibility a top

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priority for all in our city,

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especially our seniors persons

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with disabilities.

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We know that over the years

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boston city hall has made

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improvements to ensure

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compliance with the ada

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american disability act and

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improve accessibility for

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persons with disabilities.

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Some of these examples include

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a new accessible entrance on

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the second floor and a sloping

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promenade in the city hall

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plaza renovation in 2022, which

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began under the leadership

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of mayor marty walsh throughout

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mayor janey's time and

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completed a the mayor will.

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There was also the installation

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of a vertical lift at city

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hall's third floor entrance to

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the mezzanine area.

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However, there is more work to

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be done to improve

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accessibility inside the

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building.

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Aging infrastructure continues

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to limit accessibility in

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certain areas such as the

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broken escalators connecting

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the second and third floor as

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well as the halfway between the

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second and third floor and city

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hall labeled the third floor on

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the north elevator.

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As we all know, these elevators

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have been down for quite some

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time and it is important to

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review access within other

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parts of the building to ensure

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those with disabilities can

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fully access access all floors

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departments meeting rooms when

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they are in city hall.

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Residents and neighbors tell

292
00:11:37,823 --> 00:11:39,525
me it MAY be difficult and

293
00:11:39,525 --> 00:11:40,993
confusing for them sometimes to

294
00:11:40,993 --> 00:11:42,861
navigate city hall when they

295
00:11:42,861 --> 00:11:44,530
are trying to obtain city

296
00:11:44,530 --> 00:11:45,798
services, especially when they

297
00:11:45,798 --> 00:11:46,265
have to reach multiple

298
00:11:46,265 --> 00:11:48,265
departments.

299
00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,703
They MAY come in from the city

300
00:11:50,703 --> 00:11:51,537
hall plaza or congress street

301
00:11:51,537 --> 00:11:53,572
from the garage area.

302
00:11:53,572 --> 00:11:55,274
They MAY use the south

303
00:11:55,274 --> 00:11:57,543
elevators to go to to go and

304
00:11:57,543 --> 00:11:59,445
pay a ticket or get a birth

305
00:11:59,445 --> 00:12:02,148
certificate on the second floor

306
00:12:02,148 --> 00:12:04,416
while visiting a assessing on

307
00:12:04,416 --> 00:12:05,484
third floor but with the

308
00:12:05,484 --> 00:12:06,752
escalator down they have to

309
00:12:06,752 --> 00:12:09,550
take the stairs to navigate

310
00:12:09,550 --> 00:12:10,923
their way to find the north

311
00:12:10,923 --> 00:12:12,591
elevator to get up to the tax

312
00:12:12,591 --> 00:12:14,991
collection division or a

313
00:12:15,261 --> 00:12:17,661
taxpayer assistance center in

314
00:12:18,164 --> 00:12:19,632
that kind of half between the

315
00:12:19,632 --> 00:12:21,300
mezzanine area on the third

316
00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,700
floor and second floor.

317
00:12:23,769 --> 00:12:24,804
It does sound confusing if

318
00:12:24,804 --> 00:12:25,700
you're not familiar with the

319
00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:27,700
building.

320
00:12:27,707 --> 00:12:29,209
Last NOVEMBER I reached out to

321
00:12:29,209 --> 00:12:31,209
commissioner shelton who

322
00:12:31,677 --> 00:12:32,545
mentioned that the existing

323
00:12:32,545 --> 00:12:34,213
escalators have been fully

324
00:12:34,213 --> 00:12:36,613
decommissioned as they are

325
00:12:36,715 --> 00:12:37,983
beyond repair, not

326
00:12:37,983 --> 00:12:39,251
code compliant and no longer

327
00:12:39,251 --> 00:12:40,319
considered to meet

328
00:12:40,319 --> 00:12:42,154
accessibility standards.

329
00:12:42,154 --> 00:12:43,622
He also mentioned that the city

330
00:12:43,622 --> 00:12:45,725
is working to replace these

331
00:12:45,725 --> 00:12:48,627
escalators with new stairs in a

332
00:12:48,627 --> 00:12:49,610
fully accessible four stop

333
00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:51,610
elevator.

334
00:12:51,530 --> 00:12:51,998
And while the design phase is

335
00:12:51,998 --> 00:12:52,399
ongoing.

336
00:12:52,399 --> 00:12:54,300
But the.

337
00:12:54,300 --> 00:12:56,300
>> timeline for construction

338
00:12:56,335 --> 00:12:58,735
and completion remains unclear.

339
00:12:58,771 --> 00:13:00,400
I also highlighted the safety

340
00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:00,906
of the main staircase on the

341
00:13:00,906 --> 00:13:02,906
third floor.

342
00:13:03,142 --> 00:13:05,440
In my hearing order, the short

343
00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,113
length of the bricks in the

344
00:13:07,113 --> 00:13:09,415
reflective shine make it

345
00:13:09,415 --> 00:13:10,683
difficult to see, especially

346
00:13:10,683 --> 00:13:12,752
when you're walking down from

347
00:13:12,752 --> 00:13:13,190
the fifth floor to the third

348
00:13:13,190 --> 00:13:15,190
floor.

349
00:13:16,689 --> 00:13:18,157
And while the current

350
00:13:18,157 --> 00:13:19,625
guardrails help, I believe the

351
00:13:19,625 --> 00:13:21,894
safety of these stairs need to

352
00:13:21,894 --> 00:13:24,163
be enhanced to prevent people

353
00:13:24,163 --> 00:13:25,431
from tripping and getting

354
00:13:25,431 --> 00:13:27,660
serious hurt seriously hurt.

355
00:13:27,660 --> 00:13:28,367
Many people know exactly where

356
00:13:28,367 --> 00:13:31,367
I'm talking about where they

357
00:13:32,710 --> 00:13:34,340
have um the podium for speakers

358
00:13:34,340 --> 00:13:36,609
and the mezzanine level.

359
00:13:36,609 --> 00:13:40,513
But right next to it is the

360
00:13:40,513 --> 00:13:41,981
lift for the um for people that

361
00:13:41,981 --> 00:13:42,682
are in a wheelchair so that

362
00:13:42,682 --> 00:13:45,820
they can get up.

363
00:13:46,319 --> 00:13:49,255
But I believe those stairs are

364
00:13:49,255 --> 00:13:50,923
pretty dangerous if you fall

365
00:13:50,923 --> 00:13:52,625
um, you'll literally fall the

366
00:13:52,625 --> 00:13:55,461
whole flight off the stairs.

367
00:13:55,461 --> 00:13:57,763
Um, I look forward to this

368
00:13:57,763 --> 00:13:57,997
hearing to discuss these issues

369
00:13:57,997 --> 00:13:59,599
.

370
00:13:59,599 --> 00:14:00,866
Improving accessibility on the

371
00:14:00,866 --> 00:14:01,534
second and third floor must be

372
00:14:01,534 --> 00:14:03,534
a top priority.

373
00:14:04,170 --> 00:14:06,239
And for nine years this is

374
00:14:06,239 --> 00:14:09,239
probably been my number one

375
00:14:09,942 --> 00:14:11,644
issue is how we ensure persons

376
00:14:11,644 --> 00:14:14,440
with disabilities are treated

377
00:14:14,146 --> 00:14:15,214
with respect and dignity and

378
00:14:15,214 --> 00:14:16,810
that's something I'm going to

379
00:14:16,810 --> 00:14:18,481
continue to work on.

380
00:14:18,718 --> 00:14:20,820
Um we're honored to have

381
00:14:20,820 --> 00:14:22,488
cassandra and bill and I do

382
00:14:22,488 --> 00:14:24,790
want to give cassandra and bill

383
00:14:24,790 --> 00:14:26,859
an opportunity to introduce

384
00:14:26,859 --> 00:14:29,259
themselves, give an opening

385
00:14:29,962 --> 00:14:32,232
statement and after that we

386
00:14:32,232 --> 00:14:32,698
will go to questions from my

387
00:14:32,698 --> 00:14:34,698
colleagues.

388
00:14:34,767 --> 00:14:36,869
But I don't want to rush you so

389
00:14:36,869 --> 00:14:39,739
I'm going to probably give each

390
00:14:39,739 --> 00:14:42,139
person maybe maybe 12 minutes

391
00:14:42,842 --> 00:14:43,709
and then and then after that

392
00:14:43,709 --> 00:14:46,109
we'll go to questions.

393
00:14:46,946 --> 00:14:47,813
So bill or cassandra who would

394
00:14:47,813 --> 00:14:50,213
like to go first?

395
00:14:50,650 --> 00:14:53,500
Uh I'm going first.

396
00:14:53,850 --> 00:14:55,922
Okay bill, you're going first.

397
00:14:55,922 --> 00:14:57,190
Just give me an opportunity, um

398
00:14:57,190 --> 00:14:59,590
,to set the timer.

399
00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:01,294
Um, so bill, you have 12

400
00:15:01,294 --> 00:15:02,128
minutes.

401
00:15:02,128 --> 00:15:04,128
Introduce yourself.

402
00:15:05,765 --> 00:15:06,232
Give us a give us your

403
00:15:06,232 --> 00:15:07,834
background.

404
00:15:07,834 --> 00:15:08,901
What's important to you in

405
00:15:08,901 --> 00:15:09,202
terms of a person with

406
00:15:09,202 --> 00:15:11,202
disability?

407
00:15:11,537 --> 00:15:13,937
Um, any recommendations that

408
00:15:14,207 --> 00:15:15,508
you might have and, um, want to

409
00:15:15,508 --> 00:15:16,776
say thank you to you, bill, for

410
00:15:16,776 --> 00:15:18,478
your commitment to, um, civil

411
00:15:18,478 --> 00:15:18,711
rights bill, you have the

412
00:15:18,711 --> 00:15:20,546
floor.

413
00:15:20,546 --> 00:15:22,546
Good afternoon.

414
00:15:23,816 --> 00:15:25,840
Um, thank you for inviting

415
00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,484
me to this hearing.

416
00:15:29,755 --> 00:15:30,189
I have a long journey becoming

417
00:15:30,189 --> 00:15:32,189
blind.

418
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,600
I was declared blind APRIL

419
00:15:37,764 --> 00:15:39,764
22nd, 2025.

420
00:15:43,269 --> 00:15:46,773
I used to live in boston and I

421
00:15:46,773 --> 00:15:48,841
recently moved to cambridge

422
00:15:48,841 --> 00:15:50,710
because it's a brand new

423
00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:52,512
building and an accessible

424
00:15:52,512 --> 00:15:54,512
apartment.

425
00:15:54,847 --> 00:15:55,915
And I want to thank the mass

426
00:15:55,915 --> 00:15:58,915
commission for the blind for

427
00:15:59,218 --> 00:16:01,120
helping me have this wonderful

428
00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,120
place to live.

429
00:16:05,591 --> 00:16:06,659
There are many issues facing

430
00:16:06,659 --> 00:16:09,590
the city of boston.

431
00:16:09,695 --> 00:16:12,695
They go beyond city hall.

432
00:16:13,966 --> 00:16:16,869
I'm going to talk about one

433
00:16:16,869 --> 00:16:18,939
of them that has become quite

434
00:16:18,939 --> 00:16:21,939
frankly one of the most

435
00:16:22,475 --> 00:16:23,943
important issues for me as a

436
00:16:23,943 --> 00:16:26,646
person who is blind with low

437
00:16:26,646 --> 00:16:29,646
vision and a senior citizen.

438
00:16:30,316 --> 00:16:32,185
The lack of public bathrooms in

439
00:16:32,185 --> 00:16:33,820
the city of boston.

440
00:16:33,820 --> 00:16:34,287
The city should be ashamed

441
00:16:34,287 --> 00:16:36,287
of itself.

442
00:16:39,359 --> 00:16:40,827
The city it thinks that

443
00:16:40,827 --> 00:16:43,227
bathrooms and fire departments

444
00:16:43,296 --> 00:16:43,763
and police stations are public

445
00:16:43,763 --> 00:16:45,763
bathrooms.

446
00:16:47,433 --> 00:16:49,102
Firemen have told me they're

447
00:16:49,102 --> 00:16:50,404
concerned because they don't

448
00:16:50,404 --> 00:16:51,871
want people out digging in the

449
00:16:51,871 --> 00:16:52,305
bathrooms when they have to

450
00:16:52,305 --> 00:16:54,305
respond.

451
00:16:55,775 --> 00:16:57,775
To a911 call.

452
00:16:59,450 --> 00:17:01,714
The boston I spend most of my

453
00:17:01,714 --> 00:17:02,782
time in the city now between

454
00:17:02,782 --> 00:17:05,782
city hall and back bay.

455
00:17:07,453 --> 00:17:09,755
The bathroom at the souvenir

456
00:17:09,755 --> 00:17:12,755
concession store at the park

457
00:17:12,859 --> 00:17:15,859
street closes at 4:45 P.M..

458
00:17:16,950 --> 00:17:17,196
If you don't know where the

459
00:17:17,196 --> 00:17:18,197
other bathrooms are.

460
00:17:18,197 --> 00:17:20,197
Good luck!

461
00:17:21,467 --> 00:17:22,935
There is a temporary bathroom

462
00:17:22,935 --> 00:17:24,604
just before you cross the

463
00:17:24,604 --> 00:17:24,871
street to go to public gardens

464
00:17:24,871 --> 00:17:26,871
.

465
00:17:29,342 --> 00:17:30,410
I attended jaylen brown's

466
00:17:30,410 --> 00:17:32,410
magnificent event yesterday.

467
00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,680
Those bathrooms were closed for

468
00:17:37,383 --> 00:17:38,885
regular maintenance per a

469
00:17:38,885 --> 00:17:40,520
boston police officer.

470
00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:41,354
Fortunately there were potter

471
00:17:41,354 --> 00:17:43,354
parties there.

472
00:17:45,250 --> 00:17:48,250
What happens if it's not

473
00:17:48,127 --> 00:17:48,561
bathrooms closed walk down the

474
00:17:48,561 --> 00:17:50,561
hill.

475
00:17:51,464 --> 00:17:54,868
You just go to but you want to

476
00:17:54,868 --> 00:17:55,435
go to the red line kind of go

477
00:17:55,435 --> 00:17:57,835
back up the hill.

478
00:18:01,574 --> 00:18:04,844
The city says that hotels are

479
00:18:04,844 --> 00:18:06,913
considered public bathrooms to

480
00:18:06,913 --> 00:18:07,380
all the hotels in the city know

481
00:18:07,380 --> 00:18:09,380
that.

482
00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:12,919
I also received information

483
00:18:12,919 --> 00:18:14,320
that the city has a website.

484
00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,320
For bathrooms.

485
00:18:16,756 --> 00:18:17,190
Great.

486
00:18:17,190 --> 00:18:18,859
But what if.

487
00:18:18,859 --> 00:18:20,360
>> you are one of the more 2

488
00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:21,795
million international visitors

489
00:18:21,795 --> 00:18:23,263
that come to the city and you

490
00:18:23,263 --> 00:18:25,499
have a five year old child.

491
00:18:25,499 --> 00:18:26,933
That needs a bathroom?

492
00:18:26,933 --> 00:18:28,100
You're really going to look for

493
00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:29,200
that website?

494
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,200
No.

495
00:18:31,471 --> 00:18:34,471
This is a big concern.

496
00:18:35,509 --> 00:18:36,776
Additionally, there are many

497
00:18:36,776 --> 00:18:38,776
resources available.

498
00:18:39,212 --> 00:18:40,847
Uh.

499
00:18:40,847 --> 00:18:41,881
>> we'll briefly talk about.

500
00:18:41,881 --> 00:18:44,281
a couple of them.

501
00:18:44,918 --> 00:18:45,786
One is the carroll center for

502
00:18:45,786 --> 00:18:47,821
the blind in newton.

503
00:18:47,821 --> 00:18:49,821
I'm an alumnus.

504
00:18:50,256 --> 00:18:51,891
That school transforms.

505
00:18:51,891 --> 00:18:53,526
People's lives.

506
00:18:53,526 --> 00:18:55,362
The other.

507
00:18:55,362 --> 00:18:55,895
One is achilles international.

508
00:18:55,895 --> 00:18:57,895
It's for.

509
00:18:57,931 --> 00:18:59,931
>> athletes with disabilities.

510
00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:03,637
Offices around newbury street.

511
00:19:03,637 --> 00:19:04,471
You can find out more

512
00:19:04,471 --> 00:19:06,871
information on the website.

513
00:19:07,707 --> 00:19:08,342
City guides.

514
00:19:08,342 --> 00:19:09,976
There are.

515
00:19:09,976 --> 00:19:11,976
Many resources.

516
00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:16,916
Available to people who um any

517
00:19:16,916 --> 00:19:18,916
citizen anybody.

518
00:19:19,586 --> 00:19:19,886
With sign any have a

519
00:19:19,886 --> 00:19:21,488
disability.

520
00:19:21,488 --> 00:19:23,488
But there's a.

521
00:19:24,124 --> 00:19:24,391
Huge problem in the city

522
00:19:24,391 --> 00:19:25,392
of boston.

523
00:19:25,392 --> 00:19:27,392
There is.

524
00:19:29,950 --> 00:19:31,564
No way for any person to find

525
00:19:31,564 --> 00:19:32,832
out all the most magnificent

526
00:19:32,832 --> 00:19:34,467
resources the city has.

527
00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:36,302
Because every.

528
00:19:36,302 --> 00:19:38,302
Department, every commission.

529
00:19:38,738 --> 00:19:41,138
Has its own silo.

530
00:19:41,775 --> 00:19:43,430
The question is.

531
00:19:43,430 --> 00:19:43,510
>> what's the city going to do

532
00:19:43,510 --> 00:19:45,510
about it?

533
00:19:45,945 --> 00:19:46,780
A little background.

534
00:19:46,780 --> 00:19:48,780
About me.

535
00:19:49,416 --> 00:19:51,840
I am serving now my sixth year

536
00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:52,953
on the city's eight strong

537
00:19:52,953 --> 00:19:53,219
commission senior advisory

538
00:19:53,219 --> 00:19:54,854
council.

539
00:19:54,854 --> 00:19:55,689
So some of them.

540
00:19:55,689 --> 00:19:57,324
>> are warmness of the.

541
00:19:57,324 --> 00:19:59,359
Council, some for the blind.

542
00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,359
Thank you to the school.

543
00:20:03,663 --> 00:20:05,532
I am also a community

544
00:20:05,532 --> 00:20:06,366
accessible monitor certified by

545
00:20:06,366 --> 00:20:07,400
the state office.

546
00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,400
On disability.

547
00:20:10,236 --> 00:20:11,171
I don't.

548
00:20:11,171 --> 00:20:13,171
>> have political power.

549
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,276
But I can tell you about.

550
00:20:15,276 --> 00:20:18,276
things you need to improve.

551
00:20:18,312 --> 00:20:19,790
The sandra.

552
00:20:19,790 --> 00:20:20,313
>> is going to talk.

553
00:20:20,313 --> 00:20:21,949
About city hall.

554
00:20:21,949 --> 00:20:23,350
And the.

555
00:20:23,350 --> 00:20:25,750
Infrastructure of the city.

556
00:20:27,621 --> 00:20:27,888
We both know it's yeoman's

557
00:20:27,888 --> 00:20:29,888
work.

558
00:20:31,324 --> 00:20:31,959
Last thing couple.

559
00:20:31,959 --> 00:20:33,959
Last things.

560
00:20:36,290 --> 00:20:37,297
Anybody want any city

561
00:20:37,297 --> 00:20:38,765
council staff wants to come to

562
00:20:38,765 --> 00:20:40,367
the council on.

563
00:20:40,367 --> 00:20:41,801
You can reach me.

564
00:20:41,801 --> 00:20:42,836
Through council.

565
00:20:42,836 --> 00:20:44,836
Funds office.

566
00:20:46,606 --> 00:20:47,841
Happy to take you on a.

567
00:20:47,841 --> 00:20:48,740
>> tour of this incredible

568
00:20:48,740 --> 00:20:50,740
place.

569
00:20:50,343 --> 00:20:51,479
The second.

570
00:20:51,479 --> 00:20:53,790
Thing and the last thing.

571
00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:55,790
>> is I've made.

572
00:20:55,115 --> 00:20:56,183
This offer and no city

573
00:20:56,183 --> 00:20:56,416
council has taken me up on

574
00:20:56,416 --> 00:20:57,851
that.

575
00:20:57,851 --> 00:20:59,486
It's all repeated again.

576
00:20:59,486 --> 00:21:01,886
You want me to.

577
00:21:01,922 --> 00:21:02,790
Come to your district walk with

578
00:21:02,790 --> 00:21:03,390
you citywide?

579
00:21:03,390 --> 00:21:04,391
Any place.

580
00:21:04,391 --> 00:21:06,391
Any time.

581
00:21:07,461 --> 00:21:08,595
Happy to be your tour guide.

582
00:21:08,595 --> 00:21:09,596
We will both.

583
00:21:09,596 --> 00:21:11,431
Learn from each other.

584
00:21:11,431 --> 00:21:13,431
Once again.

585
00:21:13,466 --> 00:21:16,103
Thank you for the opportunity.

586
00:21:16,103 --> 00:21:16,570
To speak at this important

587
00:21:16,570 --> 00:21:18,570
hearing.

588
00:21:19,406 --> 00:21:20,440
Thank you bill.

589
00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:21,909
Thank you for your testimony

590
00:21:21,909 --> 00:21:22,175
for the important work you were

591
00:21:22,175 --> 00:21:24,175
doing.

592
00:21:25,110 --> 00:21:26,613
We're also joined by city

593
00:21:26,613 --> 00:21:28,181
councilor brian were all city

594
00:21:28,181 --> 00:21:31,181
council ben weber as well.

595
00:21:33,253 --> 00:21:33,520
Um, cassandra and same with

596
00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,520
you.

597
00:21:36,756 --> 00:21:38,590
Um, I'm going to give you I'm

598
00:21:38,590 --> 00:21:41,590
going to give you 12 minutes

599
00:21:41,128 --> 00:21:43,630
but um, if you feel like you

600
00:21:43,630 --> 00:21:43,897
need more time um, please take

601
00:21:43,897 --> 00:21:45,432
it.

602
00:21:45,432 --> 00:21:47,340
I will not cut you off.

603
00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:50,303
Okay, but you have the floor.

604
00:21:50,303 --> 00:21:52,303
Hello, everyone.

605
00:21:53,974 --> 00:21:55,242
My name is cassandra xavier and

606
00:21:55,242 --> 00:21:55,509
I'm a resident of the north

607
00:21:55,509 --> 00:21:57,509
end.

608
00:21:59,579 --> 00:22:01,681
I am a disability advocate and

609
00:22:01,681 --> 00:22:05,185
I'm here once again to continue

610
00:22:05,185 --> 00:22:07,585
the advocacy efforts for

611
00:22:08,550 --> 00:22:08,522
residents of all backgrounds in

612
00:22:08,522 --> 00:22:10,522
boston.

613
00:22:11,992 --> 00:22:16,192
Um, my the thing I would like

614
00:22:16,296 --> 00:22:18,999
to bring forward is the most

615
00:22:18,999 --> 00:22:20,501
difficult part in that is the

616
00:22:20,501 --> 00:22:22,501
concurrent street crossings.

617
00:22:25,372 --> 00:22:27,772
That is incredibly important

618
00:22:28,675 --> 00:22:31,145
that we address the issue

619
00:22:31,145 --> 00:22:33,545
of concurrent street crossings

620
00:22:34,681 --> 00:22:37,810
along with the already

621
00:22:37,250 --> 00:22:39,553
concerning infrastructure of a

622
00:22:39,553 --> 00:22:41,221
huge portion of the city the

623
00:22:41,221 --> 00:22:42,689
street the concurrent street

624
00:22:42,689 --> 00:22:43,123
crossings are incredibly

625
00:22:43,123 --> 00:22:45,123
dangerous.

626
00:22:45,159 --> 00:22:46,626
Now some of you MAY be

627
00:22:46,626 --> 00:22:49,260
wondering what a concurrent

628
00:22:49,730 --> 00:22:52,599
street crossing is and in the

629
00:22:52,599 --> 00:22:54,999
most simplest terms concurrent

630
00:22:55,702 --> 00:22:58,605
street crossings are is when

631
00:22:58,605 --> 00:23:00,707
the vehicle and a pedestrian

632
00:23:00,707 --> 00:23:00,941
can cross and drive at the same

633
00:23:00,941 --> 00:23:02,941
time.

634
00:23:04,110 --> 00:23:06,411
For some strange reason.

635
00:23:08,682 --> 00:23:10,550
The overseers of this does not

636
00:23:10,550 --> 00:23:12,190
believe it is a concern that

637
00:23:12,190 --> 00:23:14,419
needs to be fixed.

638
00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:19,192
Now imagine your child or

639
00:23:19,192 --> 00:23:21,662
yourself or someone you know

640
00:23:21,662 --> 00:23:23,131
who's elderly or with a

641
00:23:23,131 --> 00:23:25,833
disability trying to cross the

642
00:23:25,833 --> 00:23:29,336
street and as they have the

643
00:23:29,336 --> 00:23:31,839
right to cross a large vehicle

644
00:23:31,839 --> 00:23:36,390
of any kind is also turning in

645
00:23:36,543 --> 00:23:40,470
towards them thus leading to a

646
00:23:40,470 --> 00:23:40,948
preventable serious accident or

647
00:23:40,948 --> 00:23:42,948
tragic incident.

648
00:23:45,419 --> 00:23:47,888
I was on the radio gbh talking

649
00:23:47,888 --> 00:23:49,356
about this not too long ago and

650
00:23:49,356 --> 00:23:51,756
how dangerous it is.

651
00:23:51,825 --> 00:23:54,127
I really really believe that

652
00:23:54,127 --> 00:23:56,597
needs to be fixed and along

653
00:23:56,597 --> 00:23:58,699
with the concurrent street

654
00:23:58,699 --> 00:24:00,167
crossings which I hope to have

655
00:24:00,167 --> 00:24:03,670
some of you come see with

656
00:24:03,670 --> 00:24:04,137
me one day would be the city's

657
00:24:04,137 --> 00:24:06,137
infrastructure.

658
00:24:10,210 --> 00:24:14,410
There are there's a lot of uh,

659
00:24:15,549 --> 00:24:17,417
street curbs and sidewalks that

660
00:24:17,417 --> 00:24:20,417
really need to be addressed.

661
00:24:21,689 --> 00:24:22,956
Um, it's a lot of accidents

662
00:24:22,956 --> 00:24:25,259
waiting to happen or have

663
00:24:25,259 --> 00:24:26,326
already happened to a lot

664
00:24:26,326 --> 00:24:28,829
of pedestrians and I've been

665
00:24:28,829 --> 00:24:29,496
talking about this relentlessly

666
00:24:29,496 --> 00:24:31,496
over and over.

667
00:24:31,532 --> 00:24:33,767
Every time I come here.

668
00:24:33,767 --> 00:24:35,202
Every person I've been

669
00:24:35,202 --> 00:24:36,703
interviewed with by

670
00:24:36,703 --> 00:24:39,703
news reporters it's been the

671
00:24:40,241 --> 00:24:41,675
same exact concern

672
00:24:41,675 --> 00:24:43,777
infrastructure of boston and

673
00:24:43,777 --> 00:24:45,446
many other places need to be

674
00:24:45,446 --> 00:24:47,446
corrected and addressed.

675
00:24:47,682 --> 00:24:49,750
The concurrent street crossings

676
00:24:49,750 --> 00:24:51,619
need to be addressed in

677
00:24:51,619 --> 00:24:52,860
truncated domes need to be

678
00:24:52,860 --> 00:24:54,860
corrected.

679
00:24:54,321 --> 00:24:56,623
And if you're also wondering

680
00:24:56,623 --> 00:24:58,692
what an in truncated dome is,

681
00:24:58,692 --> 00:25:00,561
it is the little strips on the

682
00:25:00,561 --> 00:25:02,463
ground at the end of the curb

683
00:25:02,463 --> 00:25:03,430
that you could cross and there

684
00:25:03,430 --> 00:25:05,666
are bumps on the ground.

685
00:25:05,666 --> 00:25:07,702
It's not just for decoration.

686
00:25:07,702 --> 00:25:08,135
It's for someone with a

687
00:25:08,135 --> 00:25:09,970
wheelchair.

688
00:25:09,970 --> 00:25:13,400
Someone who uses a white cane.

689
00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:14,308
Uh rollerbladers and strollers

690
00:25:14,308 --> 00:25:16,577
to know that they're on the

691
00:25:16,577 --> 00:25:18,479
edge of the sidewalk so that

692
00:25:18,479 --> 00:25:20,948
they are able to stand at the

693
00:25:20,948 --> 00:25:22,983
end of the street safely.

694
00:25:22,983 --> 00:25:25,850
Some of those in truncated

695
00:25:25,850 --> 00:25:25,753
domes are broken and those need

696
00:25:25,753 --> 00:25:27,753
to be corrected.

697
00:25:30,224 --> 00:25:31,910
Um, and once again, my name is

698
00:25:31,910 --> 00:25:33,910
cassandra xavier.

699
00:25:33,928 --> 00:25:36,230
I am a disability advocate and

700
00:25:36,230 --> 00:25:39,901
i live in the north end and.

701
00:25:39,901 --> 00:25:41,769
Thank you for your time and

702
00:25:41,769 --> 00:25:44,769
I'll hand the floor back.

703
00:25:45,206 --> 00:25:46,400
Thank you.

704
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,400
>> cassandra.

705
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,760
Thank you for your testimony.

706
00:25:52,746 --> 00:25:54,815
Thank you for your leadership

707
00:25:54,815 --> 00:25:56,483
in advocating for persons with

708
00:25:56,483 --> 00:25:58,986
disabilities here in boston but

709
00:25:58,986 --> 00:26:00,754
also across the commonwealth as

710
00:26:00,754 --> 00:26:00,989
a commonwealth of massachusetts

711
00:26:00,989 --> 00:26:02,989
and we.

712
00:26:03,757 --> 00:26:04,625
Have tremendous respect, um,

713
00:26:04,625 --> 00:26:07,250
tremendous respect for you.

714
00:26:08,696 --> 00:26:09,263
Um, I'm going to start with

715
00:26:09,263 --> 00:26:11,263
councilor fitzgerald.

716
00:26:12,833 --> 00:26:14,301
I'm going to give each city

717
00:26:14,301 --> 00:26:16,403
councilor six minutes and if a

718
00:26:16,403 --> 00:26:17,771
city council needs more time,

719
00:26:17,771 --> 00:26:19,139
I'm not going to cut them off

720
00:26:19,139 --> 00:26:19,807
and they can they can take the

721
00:26:19,807 --> 00:26:21,442
time that they need.

722
00:26:21,442 --> 00:26:22,843
But I'll give everyone six

723
00:26:22,843 --> 00:26:23,811
minutes and then start with

724
00:26:23,811 --> 00:26:24,979
council fitzgerald and

725
00:26:24,979 --> 00:26:26,780
council breadon

726
00:26:26,780 --> 00:26:27,949
council louijeune council we're

727
00:26:27,949 --> 00:26:29,949
all councilor weber.

728
00:26:30,518 --> 00:26:31,151
Um council fitzgerald you have.

729
00:26:31,151 --> 00:26:32,753
>> the floor.

730
00:26:32,753 --> 00:26:34,222
Thank you very much chair and

731
00:26:34,222 --> 00:26:35,322
again thank you cassandra and

732
00:26:35,322 --> 00:26:36,790
bill for your advocacy and

733
00:26:36,790 --> 00:26:37,791
testimony today.

734
00:26:37,791 --> 00:26:39,627
Um.

735
00:26:39,627 --> 00:26:40,294
So just sort of going over what

736
00:26:40,294 --> 00:26:41,929
what we just.

737
00:26:41,929 --> 00:26:44,431
Heard I heard truncated domes,

738
00:26:44,431 --> 00:26:45,499
concurrent signals, uh,

739
00:26:45,499 --> 00:26:46,701
bathrooms around the city.

740
00:26:46,701 --> 00:26:48,701
Um.

741
00:26:49,937 --> 00:26:52,439
What else would you add to that

742
00:26:52,439 --> 00:26:53,708
list that we think is and

743
00:26:53,708 --> 00:26:54,809
without having to delve too

744
00:26:54,809 --> 00:26:56,244
deep into any of that, I see

745
00:26:56,244 --> 00:26:56,878
the look on on bill.

746
00:26:56,878 --> 00:26:58,312
But if.

747
00:26:58,312 --> 00:26:59,279
We really want to know right.

748
00:26:59,279 --> 00:26:59,613
Like what are some of the

749
00:26:59,613 --> 00:27:01,613
things that.

750
00:27:03,450 --> 00:27:04,151
persist uh, that affect uh many

751
00:27:04,151 --> 00:27:04,985
with disabilities?

752
00:27:04,985 --> 00:27:06,530
Bill, why don't you go ahead

753
00:27:06,530 --> 00:27:06,554
you could just start maybe you

754
00:27:06,554 --> 00:27:06,887
can just rattle.

755
00:27:06,887 --> 00:27:07,188
Some off.

756
00:27:07,188 --> 00:27:08,222
I'm just.

757
00:27:08,222 --> 00:27:09,490
Wondering what some of the

758
00:27:09,490 --> 00:27:11,920
other ones that are pertinent

759
00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:11,292
to what you think are you know,

760
00:27:11,292 --> 00:27:12,393
what.

761
00:27:12,393 --> 00:27:14,793
>> would you would prioritize?

762
00:27:15,863 --> 00:27:16,897
I would oh my gosh I would

763
00:27:16,897 --> 00:27:18,165
prioritize the concurrent

764
00:27:18,165 --> 00:27:18,499
street crossings.

765
00:27:18,499 --> 00:27:19,700
Yep.

766
00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:21,802
Not just for myself.

767
00:27:21,802 --> 00:27:24,400
There are many of us with all

768
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,473
kinds of backgrounds invisible

769
00:27:25,473 --> 00:27:25,806
disabilities and very visible

770
00:27:25,806 --> 00:27:27,806
disabilities.

771
00:27:28,742 --> 00:27:30,742
Um we're outside.

772
00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:33,881
We are active people or trying

773
00:27:33,881 --> 00:27:37,385
to become more active out and

774
00:27:37,385 --> 00:27:40,487
about and we should not have to

775
00:27:40,487 --> 00:27:41,355
be in fear of our safety just

776
00:27:41,355 --> 00:27:43,355
across the street.

777
00:27:43,991 --> 00:27:45,860
You know, it is the most

778
00:27:45,860 --> 00:27:47,928
disconcerting experience to be

779
00:27:47,928 --> 00:27:49,396
someone who went through

780
00:27:49,396 --> 00:27:51,796
numerous years of mobility

781
00:27:51,899 --> 00:27:54,169
training for their white cane

782
00:27:54,169 --> 00:27:55,669
and to have the right of way to

783
00:27:55,669 --> 00:27:57,972
cross the street properly and

784
00:27:57,972 --> 00:27:59,240
to still almost get hit by a

785
00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,640
motorcyclist or a car.

786
00:28:01,676 --> 00:28:03,344
That takes all of your skills

787
00:28:03,344 --> 00:28:04,211
and training and it flushes it

788
00:28:04,211 --> 00:28:05,880
right down the drain.

789
00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,549
Concurrent street crossings

790
00:28:07,549 --> 00:28:08,416
need to be addressed

791
00:28:08,416 --> 00:28:08,816
immediately please.

792
00:28:08,816 --> 00:28:10,251
Yep.

793
00:28:10,251 --> 00:28:11,652
Understood.

794
00:28:11,652 --> 00:28:12,753
>> so the truncated domes

795
00:28:12,753 --> 00:28:13,354
concurrent signals?

796
00:28:13,354 --> 00:28:15,354
Yes.

797
00:28:15,790 --> 00:28:16,424
Uh, and anything else that.

798
00:28:16,424 --> 00:28:18,590
>> you would.

799
00:28:18,590 --> 00:28:19,527
Sort of that you come into, you

800
00:28:19,527 --> 00:28:20,995
know, on a daily basis where

801
00:28:20,995 --> 00:28:22,163
you say this is lacking in

802
00:28:22,163 --> 00:28:22,797
terms of accessibility and

803
00:28:22,797 --> 00:28:24,797
could be better.

804
00:28:24,966 --> 00:28:25,266
Sidewalk infrastructure.

805
00:28:25,266 --> 00:28:27,266
Yep.

806
00:28:27,501 --> 00:28:29,403
>> you get your canes or your

807
00:28:29,403 --> 00:28:31,472
mobility aid caught in the

808
00:28:31,472 --> 00:28:33,742
crack of a ground or you twist

809
00:28:33,742 --> 00:28:36,430
your ankle on a sidewalk where

810
00:28:36,430 --> 00:28:38,346
there are missing bricks, you

811
00:28:38,346 --> 00:28:40,547
know and that's just not cool.

812
00:28:40,547 --> 00:28:42,160
Yeah I agree and this this is

813
00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:42,483
not something again not for

814
00:28:42,483 --> 00:28:44,319
anyone.

815
00:28:44,319 --> 00:28:46,420
Not even an accessibility issue

816
00:28:46,420 --> 00:28:46,987
uh, necessarily for those that

817
00:28:46,987 --> 00:28:48,290
have any impairments.

818
00:28:48,290 --> 00:28:48,556
But I mean this is for

819
00:28:48,556 --> 00:28:49,560
everybody.

820
00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:49,690
My guess.

821
00:28:49,690 --> 00:28:50,910
It's everybody.

822
00:28:50,910 --> 00:28:51,793
Right, mike?

823
00:28:51,793 --> 00:28:53,160
>> I turn my ankle in a loose

824
00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:53,594
brick all the time walking the

825
00:28:53,594 --> 00:28:55,229
streets.

826
00:28:55,229 --> 00:28:55,696
I completely I get it and I

827
00:28:55,696 --> 00:28:57,696
should seek.

828
00:28:58,132 --> 00:28:59,634
Someone deserves access to a

829
00:28:59,634 --> 00:29:00,101
sidewalk without rolling their

830
00:29:00,101 --> 00:29:00,401
ankle.

831
00:29:00,401 --> 00:29:01,836
Yes.

832
00:29:01,836 --> 00:29:03,370
>> understood.

833
00:29:03,370 --> 00:29:04,672
>> it hurts.

834
00:29:04,672 --> 00:29:04,905
I believe we built anything

835
00:29:04,905 --> 00:29:05,940
then.

836
00:29:05,940 --> 00:29:07,940
Yes.

837
00:29:08,976 --> 00:29:09,443
>> to follow up on consensus

838
00:29:09,443 --> 00:29:11,443
priority.

839
00:29:12,914 --> 00:29:14,982
When I lived on west foxboro I

840
00:29:14,982 --> 00:29:15,449
took a city employee for road

841
00:29:15,449 --> 00:29:17,449
tire.

842
00:29:17,885 --> 00:29:19,287
To walk center street.

843
00:29:19,287 --> 00:29:21,287
And here's.

844
00:29:22,570 --> 00:29:25,359
>> what you face on one side is

845
00:29:25,359 --> 00:29:25,793
the latest equipment to cross

846
00:29:25,793 --> 00:29:26,794
the street.

847
00:29:26,794 --> 00:29:28,429
Some talk.

848
00:29:28,429 --> 00:29:29,630
Some don't.

849
00:29:29,630 --> 00:29:30,899
On the.

850
00:29:30,899 --> 00:29:33,299
other side there's nothing.

851
00:29:34,169 --> 00:29:34,402
On one side is a yellow tone

852
00:29:34,402 --> 00:29:36,402
path.

853
00:29:36,637 --> 00:29:37,104
On the other side there's

854
00:29:37,104 --> 00:29:39,104
nothing.

855
00:29:39,341 --> 00:29:41,741
You also have brown.

856
00:29:42,577 --> 00:29:44,479
Well, folks, there's a reason

857
00:29:44,479 --> 00:29:45,546
why I wear this yellow cap in

858
00:29:45,546 --> 00:29:47,546
the city hall.

859
00:29:48,783 --> 00:29:52,860
It's a reminder yellow is a

860
00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:52,553
better color than brown or.

861
00:29:52,553 --> 00:29:53,187
>> black.

862
00:29:53,187 --> 00:29:53,387
For those tone pants.

863
00:29:53,387 --> 00:29:55,387
Okay.

864
00:29:56,657 --> 00:29:57,125
>> why does the city have

865
00:29:57,125 --> 00:29:58,960
sewers?

866
00:29:58,960 --> 00:29:59,961
But the curb cut outs.

867
00:29:59,961 --> 00:30:01,961
?

868
00:30:03,231 --> 00:30:06,134
Blind people I know can lose

869
00:30:06,134 --> 00:30:07,100
their came if they don't have

870
00:30:07,100 --> 00:30:09,100
this ball.

871
00:30:09,437 --> 00:30:10,905
If they have a regular stick

872
00:30:10,905 --> 00:30:13,341
and it comes into the sewer.

873
00:30:13,341 --> 00:30:15,341
No.

874
00:30:15,376 --> 00:30:16,440
>> what are you going to do

875
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:17,579
about it?

876
00:30:17,579 --> 00:30:18,646
When I was here in MARCH

877
00:30:18,646 --> 00:30:21,460
talking about accessibility and

878
00:30:21,115 --> 00:30:23,718
snow, the question for the

879
00:30:23,718 --> 00:30:26,118
city's administration what are

880
00:30:26,587 --> 00:30:28,560
your plans to make sure

881
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,456
sidewalks are more accessible

882
00:30:31,392 --> 00:30:32,260
to everyone next winter storms

883
00:30:32,260 --> 00:30:33,600
are coming.

884
00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,600
Are you ready?

885
00:30:35,897 --> 00:30:39,200
I offered a suggestion that not

886
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:40,669
one city council took me up on

887
00:30:40,669 --> 00:30:43,971
create what I called the snow

888
00:30:43,971 --> 00:30:46,971
upgrade briefly pay the kids.

889
00:30:47,409 --> 00:30:49,143
The money goes not.

890
00:30:49,143 --> 00:30:49,610
>> in an amazon card into a

891
00:30:49,610 --> 00:30:51,446
bank account.

892
00:30:51,446 --> 00:30:53,446
Now one.

893
00:30:53,581 --> 00:30:54,490
City councilor approached

894
00:30:54,490 --> 00:30:56,490
me afterwards.

895
00:30:56,217 --> 00:30:56,451
That's embarrassing for the

896
00:30:56,451 --> 00:30:58,386
city.

897
00:30:58,386 --> 00:30:59,655
Council because it's.

898
00:30:59,655 --> 00:31:01,456
>> going to happen again.

899
00:31:01,456 --> 00:31:03,856
Snow doesn't go away.

900
00:31:03,891 --> 00:31:05,526
cassandra's priority.

901
00:31:05,526 --> 00:31:07,926
It's also my priority.

902
00:31:09,197 --> 00:31:11,700
I walk all over back bay

903
00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:11,933
downtown crossing city hall

904
00:31:11,933 --> 00:31:13,468
class.

905
00:31:13,468 --> 00:31:14,902
>> of the city.

906
00:31:14,902 --> 00:31:15,570
Did a great job with copley

907
00:31:15,570 --> 00:31:17,570
square park.

908
00:31:17,605 --> 00:31:19,540
Much more accessible.

909
00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:20,875
I'm usually there.

910
00:31:20,875 --> 00:31:21,543
>> every tuesday and friday for

911
00:31:21,543 --> 00:31:23,543
the farmers market.

912
00:31:24,379 --> 00:31:25,446
It's a great place, it's more

913
00:31:25,446 --> 00:31:27,810
accessible and I feel.

914
00:31:27,810 --> 00:31:29,810
Safe from right.

915
00:31:29,117 --> 00:31:30,518
So what's the city.

916
00:31:30,518 --> 00:31:32,754
Going to do about snow removal?

917
00:31:32,754 --> 00:31:33,210
It's coming just a few months

918
00:31:33,210 --> 00:31:34,756
away.

919
00:31:34,756 --> 00:31:36,756
What's the plan?

920
00:31:37,192 --> 00:31:39,694
I asked the question and then

921
00:31:39,694 --> 00:31:41,162
lastly mayor wolf, I've been

922
00:31:41,162 --> 00:31:42,397
trying to speak to you for two

923
00:31:42,397 --> 00:31:44,465
years in person about this.

924
00:31:44,465 --> 00:31:45,767
And your.

925
00:31:45,767 --> 00:31:48,167
>> staff has never responded.

926
00:31:49,437 --> 00:31:50,638
Thank you.

927
00:31:50,638 --> 00:31:52,273
Thanks, bill.

928
00:31:52,273 --> 00:31:52,541
I'm sure you're not alone there

929
00:31:52,541 --> 00:31:53,241
.

930
00:31:53,241 --> 00:31:55,760
The truncated domes.

931
00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:56,310
Uh.

932
00:31:56,310 --> 00:31:57,111
They are going around and.

933
00:31:57,111 --> 00:31:57,745
Repairing them now.

934
00:31:57,745 --> 00:31:58,780
Right there is.

935
00:31:58,780 --> 00:32:00,114
>> a federal lot to.

936
00:32:00,114 --> 00:32:01,216
What I believe that was taking

937
00:32:01,216 --> 00:32:01,449
place and so I know it's a

938
00:32:01,449 --> 00:32:03,840
long.

939
00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:03,484
Process but is it not?

940
00:32:03,484 --> 00:32:04,852
Uh.

941
00:32:04,852 --> 00:32:06,540
They're going around to try and

942
00:32:06,540 --> 00:32:07,550
make them even on both sides.

943
00:32:07,550 --> 00:32:08,690
>> of the road and.

944
00:32:08,690 --> 00:32:09,558
Taking it piece by piece from

945
00:32:09,558 --> 00:32:11,558
what I understand.

946
00:32:12,193 --> 00:32:13,610
Uh, and as for the uh, the the

947
00:32:13,610 --> 00:32:14,596
snow brigade.

948
00:32:14,596 --> 00:32:16,300
Um, I think as.

949
00:32:16,300 --> 00:32:16,464
Many councilors do here in our

950
00:32:16,464 --> 00:32:18,464
own districts.

951
00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:20,569
Uh, we do have a typical we try

952
00:32:20,569 --> 00:32:21,636
to buy the kids ice cream if

953
00:32:21,636 --> 00:32:23,137
they shovel out, uh, a

954
00:32:23,137 --> 00:32:24,806
neighbor's sidewalk or a

955
00:32:24,806 --> 00:32:26,740
hydrant, uh, or an elderly

956
00:32:26,740 --> 00:32:26,307
neighbor or things of that

957
00:32:26,307 --> 00:32:26,641
nature.

958
00:32:26,641 --> 00:32:28,610
So.

959
00:32:28,610 --> 00:32:29,644
Uh, we do what we can with.

960
00:32:29,644 --> 00:32:31,790
>> what we've got, bill.

961
00:32:31,790 --> 00:32:32,180
But I agree it could be more

962
00:32:32,180 --> 00:32:34,180
organized and substantial.

963
00:32:34,215 --> 00:32:35,416
But again, uh, that is my time.

964
00:32:35,416 --> 00:32:37,585
Thank you, uh, to both.

965
00:32:37,585 --> 00:32:38,553
>> of you for your suggestions.

966
00:32:38,553 --> 00:32:39,187
>> look forward to, uh, talking

967
00:32:39,187 --> 00:32:40,221
in the future.

968
00:32:40,221 --> 00:32:42,221
Thank you chair.

969
00:32:42,257 --> 00:32:42,724
Thank you,

970
00:32:42,724 --> 00:32:44,724
councilor fitzgerald.

971
00:32:47,896 --> 00:32:50,799
Um, I do want to, um I do want

972
00:32:50,799 --> 00:32:51,233
to acknowledge my city

973
00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:53,233
council colleagues.

974
00:32:54,636 --> 00:32:57,105
They did go on record in

975
00:32:57,105 --> 00:32:59,207
support of my proposal on to

976
00:32:59,207 --> 00:33:01,207
eliminate basically concurrent

977
00:33:02,310 --> 00:33:02,544
street lighting several times I

978
00:33:02,544 --> 00:33:04,544
believe.

979
00:33:05,213 --> 00:33:06,470
But I do want to acknowledge my

980
00:33:06,470 --> 00:33:08,149
colleagues for the important

981
00:33:08,149 --> 00:33:09,617
work and leadership they have

982
00:33:09,617 --> 00:33:11,853
provided on that issue.

983
00:33:11,853 --> 00:33:13,121
Certainly we have more work to

984
00:33:13,121 --> 00:33:14,823
do to try to convince the

985
00:33:14,823 --> 00:33:16,900
administration that we need to

986
00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:18,490
make a complete change.

987
00:33:18,726 --> 00:33:20,295
I also want to acknowledge and

988
00:33:20,295 --> 00:33:22,295
the council fitzgerald

989
00:33:22,797 --> 00:33:24,799
mentioned it but um I do know

990
00:33:24,799 --> 00:33:27,199
councilor worrell was active

991
00:33:28,737 --> 00:33:30,605
and is active on trying to uh

992
00:33:30,605 --> 00:33:33,740
continue to work with the city

993
00:33:33,740 --> 00:33:35,977
administration on the street um

994
00:33:35,977 --> 00:33:37,445
snow removal and we had a

995
00:33:37,445 --> 00:33:38,947
hearing several months ago but

996
00:33:38,947 --> 00:33:40,815
I think council all wants to

997
00:33:40,815 --> 00:33:41,483
have another one over the next

998
00:33:41,483 --> 00:33:43,883
month or two months.

999
00:33:44,719 --> 00:33:46,921
Um, but let me go to the city

1000
00:33:46,921 --> 00:33:47,155
council PRESIDENT For six

1001
00:33:47,155 --> 00:33:49,155
minutes.

1002
00:33:49,324 --> 00:33:49,691
Um, council PRESIDENT Breadon,

1003
00:33:49,691 --> 00:33:50,325
you have.

1004
00:33:50,325 --> 00:33:51,359
>> the floor.

1005
00:33:51,359 --> 00:33:52,193
Thank you very much.

1006
00:33:52,193 --> 00:33:54,193
And, um.

1007
00:33:57,699 --> 00:33:59,167
I really the I share your

1008
00:33:59,167 --> 00:34:00,435
concerns about the concurrent

1009
00:34:00,435 --> 00:34:02,435
street crossings.

1010
00:34:04,506 --> 00:34:07,109
Um in and I feel that there's a

1011
00:34:07,109 --> 00:34:10,109
level of lack of enforcement

1012
00:34:10,379 --> 00:34:11,450
and safety challenges with

1013
00:34:11,450 --> 00:34:12,881
crosswalks in general.

1014
00:34:12,881 --> 00:34:14,149
Like I was talking to someone

1015
00:34:14,149 --> 00:34:16,851
recently in the last few weeks

1016
00:34:16,851 --> 00:34:18,720
about just the sheer number

1017
00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:19,989
of incidents like we've had

1018
00:34:19,989 --> 00:34:21,560
fatalities on crosswalks in

1019
00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,560
allston, brighton.

1020
00:34:24,325 --> 00:34:27,325
We have had near-misses and

1021
00:34:28,229 --> 00:34:28,663
injuries were uh drivers don't

1022
00:34:28,663 --> 00:34:29,998
stop.

1023
00:34:29,998 --> 00:34:31,433
They stop, they slow down.

1024
00:34:31,433 --> 00:34:32,901
They stop and and the person's

1025
00:34:32,901 --> 00:34:34,369
like three quarters of the way

1026
00:34:34,369 --> 00:34:35,870
across but they run the drive

1027
00:34:35,870 --> 00:34:38,339
on and then they clipped them

1028
00:34:38,339 --> 00:34:39,608
on the shoulder with the wing

1029
00:34:39,608 --> 00:34:41,843
mirror and breaker on.

1030
00:34:41,843 --> 00:34:42,310
That has happened in our

1031
00:34:42,310 --> 00:34:44,310
district.

1032
00:34:45,347 --> 00:34:47,249
So I think and the other aspect

1033
00:34:47,249 --> 00:34:48,683
just the demography the

1034
00:34:48,683 --> 00:34:50,785
demographics of our of our city

1035
00:34:50,785 --> 00:34:51,860
is we have an we have an aging

1036
00:34:51,860 --> 00:34:53,860
population.

1037
00:34:53,489 --> 00:34:54,756
Uh, as we get older we have

1038
00:34:54,756 --> 00:34:56,391
more mobility problems.

1039
00:34:56,391 --> 00:34:57,860
We have vision and hearing and

1040
00:34:57,860 --> 00:34:59,728
sensory issues that new folks

1041
00:34:59,728 --> 00:35:02,728
can speak to very well.

1042
00:35:06,835 --> 00:35:10,739
Um and it it seems to be that

1043
00:35:10,739 --> 00:35:13,842
our um, streets are not safe

1044
00:35:13,842 --> 00:35:17,345
for all road users and I think

1045
00:35:17,345 --> 00:35:19,745
it's really challenging like

1046
00:35:19,849 --> 00:35:22,751
how do we in terms of your

1047
00:35:22,751 --> 00:35:24,519
knowledge, bill and cassandra

1048
00:35:24,519 --> 00:35:26,788
of other municipalities maybe

1049
00:35:26,788 --> 00:35:29,188
either globally, nationally or

1050
00:35:29,691 --> 00:35:30,759
locally the people places where

1051
00:35:30,759 --> 00:35:31,626
they do things differently that

1052
00:35:31,626 --> 00:35:33,261
we might learn from.

1053
00:35:33,261 --> 00:35:34,129
Have you any any any thoughts

1054
00:35:34,129 --> 00:35:35,730
on that matter?

1055
00:35:35,730 --> 00:35:37,650
Yes.

1056
00:35:37,650 --> 00:35:39,650
>> the city.

1057
00:35:40,302 --> 00:35:41,570
Belongs as a member of the open

1058
00:35:41,570 --> 00:35:43,570
mobility foundation.

1059
00:35:44,606 --> 00:35:46,606
It has had.

1060
00:35:47,750 --> 00:35:49,475
Staff lead that organization.

1061
00:35:50,545 --> 00:35:51,914
The question.

1062
00:35:51,914 --> 00:35:52,180
>> is and I don't know the

1063
00:35:52,180 --> 00:35:53,381
answer.

1064
00:35:53,381 --> 00:35:54,216
.

1065
00:35:54,216 --> 00:35:55,617
What is the.

1066
00:35:55,617 --> 00:35:57,252
City doing to.

1067
00:35:57,252 --> 00:35:58,687
Use the technology.

1068
00:35:58,687 --> 00:36:00,687
That's open source.

1069
00:36:01,523 --> 00:36:03,923
To improve monitoring of.

1070
00:36:05,193 --> 00:36:06,194
Transportation and vehicles.

1071
00:36:06,194 --> 00:36:08,194
?

1072
00:36:09,598 --> 00:36:10,232
>> for example, minneapolis has

1073
00:36:10,232 --> 00:36:12,232
been a pilot.

1074
00:36:12,667 --> 00:36:14,667
Program with.

1075
00:36:15,537 --> 00:36:17,639
Major companies like pps to

1076
00:36:17,639 --> 00:36:17,873
make sure the curb cut outs and

1077
00:36:17,873 --> 00:36:19,873
up.

1078
00:36:21,743 --> 00:36:23,311
Walked along times as far as.

1079
00:36:23,311 --> 00:36:24,112
What city councilor fitzgerald.

1080
00:36:24,112 --> 00:36:25,113
Said.

1081
00:36:25,113 --> 00:36:26,949
>> that class.

1082
00:36:26,949 --> 00:36:28,617
Action lawsuit said the city

1083
00:36:28,617 --> 00:36:30,617
had 23,000.

1084
00:36:34,723 --> 00:36:37,359
Miles sidewalks to fix those.

1085
00:36:37,359 --> 00:36:39,728
Curb cut outs, according to.

1086
00:36:39,728 --> 00:36:42,728
The settlement, the city only

1087
00:36:44,866 --> 00:36:48,466
has to fix 1600 a year in 2024

1088
00:36:48,970 --> 00:36:51,873
to meet the goal 2025 the city

1089
00:36:51,873 --> 00:36:52,307
was proud it fixed over 1700

1090
00:36:52,307 --> 00:36:53,141
folks.

1091
00:36:53,141 --> 00:36:55,141
Do the math.

1092
00:36:55,377 --> 00:36:56,645
How long is it going to fix

1093
00:36:56,645 --> 00:36:58,460
those 23,000.

1094
00:36:58,460 --> 00:36:58,780
And they'll.

1095
00:36:58,780 --> 00:37:00,780
Never all get.

1096
00:37:01,217 --> 00:37:03,850
Fixed because it's just going

1097
00:37:03,850 --> 00:37:04,719
to start over again.

1098
00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:06,719
The law changes.

1099
00:37:07,989 --> 00:37:08,456
I know city government moves

1100
00:37:08,456 --> 00:37:09,580
slower than.

1101
00:37:09,580 --> 00:37:10,826
Turtles.

1102
00:37:10,826 --> 00:37:11,860
>> but the city needs to move.

1103
00:37:11,860 --> 00:37:13,762
Faster because the.

1104
00:37:13,762 --> 00:37:15,762
>> world moves faster.

1105
00:37:17,632 --> 00:37:19,670
Getting feedback.

1106
00:37:19,670 --> 00:37:21,670
Hold on.

1107
00:37:23,539 --> 00:37:24,773
That feedback is coming.

1108
00:37:24,773 --> 00:37:26,208
Okay.

1109
00:37:26,208 --> 00:37:28,208
>> feedback on way.

1110
00:37:28,677 --> 00:37:30,379
Sort of question.

1111
00:37:30,379 --> 00:37:31,847
Is what are you going to do

1112
00:37:31,847 --> 00:37:32,810
about these sidewalks and

1113
00:37:32,810 --> 00:37:34,490
streets?

1114
00:37:34,490 --> 00:37:34,916
What are you going to do about

1115
00:37:34,916 --> 00:37:37,916
the trees and the roots?

1116
00:37:38,387 --> 00:37:38,620
Roots don't go down they go

1117
00:37:38,620 --> 00:37:40,620
out.

1118
00:37:40,856 --> 00:37:42,591
Like I.

1119
00:37:42,591 --> 00:37:44,526
Said happy to.

1120
00:37:44,526 --> 00:37:46,329
>> come any time any place to a

1121
00:37:46,329 --> 00:37:47,796
city council district and city

1122
00:37:47,796 --> 00:37:48,497
wide walk with.

1123
00:37:48,497 --> 00:37:50,497
>> me.

1124
00:37:51,366 --> 00:37:53,869
And also cassandra on MARCH 9th

1125
00:37:53,869 --> 00:37:55,137
hearing she saw the very

1126
00:37:55,137 --> 00:37:57,537
impactful video she made.

1127
00:37:58,206 --> 00:37:59,674
Anybody looked at it since it

1128
00:37:59,674 --> 00:38:01,510
was shown.

1129
00:38:01,510 --> 00:38:03,510
MARCH 9th 2026.

1130
00:38:04,479 --> 00:38:06,349
There's a lot the.

1131
00:38:06,349 --> 00:38:07,783
City can do but the problem is

1132
00:38:07,783 --> 00:38:10,183
it's all in silos.

1133
00:38:11,453 --> 00:38:12,721
I don't know how well city

1134
00:38:12,721 --> 00:38:14,156
agencies work together.

1135
00:38:14,156 --> 00:38:15,691
I'm an.

1136
00:38:15,691 --> 00:38:17,826
>> outsider, not an insider.

1137
00:38:17,826 --> 00:38:19,826
Thank you.

1138
00:38:20,262 --> 00:38:22,262
>> um.

1139
00:38:24,990 --> 00:38:24,933
>> in terms.

1140
00:38:24,933 --> 00:38:26,933
Of the.

1141
00:38:28,370 --> 00:38:29,671
The tactile pads or the the

1142
00:38:29,671 --> 00:38:32,710
truncated domes as they're

1143
00:38:32,975 --> 00:38:34,443
called, um it seems that some

1144
00:38:34,443 --> 00:38:38,430
of the the yellow ones which

1145
00:38:38,747 --> 00:38:42,347
are more visually on the um.

1146
00:38:43,190 --> 00:38:44,886
Yes accessible that very often

1147
00:38:44,886 --> 00:38:45,954
the materials are made in is

1148
00:38:45,954 --> 00:38:47,220
degrades very quickly

1149
00:38:47,220 --> 00:38:47,289
especially if it's been

1150
00:38:47,289 --> 00:38:49,289
exposed.

1151
00:38:49,291 --> 00:38:50,993
Is that something that you

1152
00:38:50,993 --> 00:38:53,262
folks are observing in your

1153
00:38:53,262 --> 00:38:56,262
travels like uh just the

1154
00:38:56,565 --> 00:38:59,565
comments that the the truncated

1155
00:39:00,690 --> 00:39:02,271
um pads deteriorate and

1156
00:39:02,271 --> 00:39:02,471
basically need replacement in

1157
00:39:02,471 --> 00:39:03,720
very.

1158
00:39:03,720 --> 00:39:04,273
>> short order?

1159
00:39:04,273 --> 00:39:06,273
Yes.

1160
00:39:07,142 --> 00:39:09,445
>> uh, speaking of in truncated

1161
00:39:09,445 --> 00:39:11,513
domes that need to be replaced

1162
00:39:11,513 --> 00:39:11,814
by the edward brooke

1163
00:39:11,814 --> 00:39:13,814
courthouse.

1164
00:39:16,419 --> 00:39:17,919
Um, there is a there is an inch

1165
00:39:17,919 --> 00:39:20,319
truncated dome that is

1166
00:39:21,390 --> 00:39:21,857
completely ripped off and it's

1167
00:39:21,857 --> 00:39:23,857
missing.

1168
00:39:23,892 --> 00:39:25,794
I don't know if they plan on

1169
00:39:25,794 --> 00:39:27,697
fixing it any time soon or if

1170
00:39:27,697 --> 00:39:27,930
it was taken off intentionally

1171
00:39:27,930 --> 00:39:29,930
.

1172
00:39:30,365 --> 00:39:32,365
Um, but.

1173
00:39:33,402 --> 00:39:34,871
That's a concern and I believe

1174
00:39:34,871 --> 00:39:37,973
that they should all be a

1175
00:39:37,973 --> 00:39:40,750
standard color like yellow for

1176
00:39:40,750 --> 00:39:42,544
easy visibility, for low vision

1177
00:39:42,544 --> 00:39:46,490
and for anyone that you know

1178
00:39:46,490 --> 00:39:47,516
needs to be able to see it at a

1179
00:39:47,516 --> 00:39:49,785
distance or up close to know

1180
00:39:49,785 --> 00:39:51,220
where to stand properly.

1181
00:39:51,220 --> 00:39:53,220
Um yeah.

1182
00:39:53,255 --> 00:39:55,900
Thank you.

1183
00:39:55,900 --> 00:39:57,260
>> that's that's my time.

1184
00:39:57,260 --> 00:39:58,227
I have a place to talk.

1185
00:39:58,227 --> 00:39:58,861
Two places to talk.

1186
00:39:58,861 --> 00:39:59,461
About the.

1187
00:39:59,461 --> 00:40:00,896
Follow up.

1188
00:40:00,896 --> 00:40:02,896
At the.

1189
00:40:02,931 --> 00:40:03,365
Corner of charles and beacon

1190
00:40:03,365 --> 00:40:05,365
street.

1191
00:40:06,435 --> 00:40:08,303
There's a fire hydrant right

1192
00:40:08,303 --> 00:40:09,339
where the curb cut out should.

1193
00:40:09,339 --> 00:40:10,773
Be as.

1194
00:40:10,773 --> 00:40:12,410
>> you cross the street from

1195
00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:13,709
charles to go to the public

1196
00:40:13,709 --> 00:40:15,344
gardens next.

1197
00:40:15,344 --> 00:40:15,577
And I saw this when I had

1198
00:40:15,577 --> 00:40:17,577
better.

1199
00:40:17,746 --> 00:40:19,381
Eyesight walk out the.

1200
00:40:19,381 --> 00:40:21,617
back bay commuter rail station.

1201
00:40:21,617 --> 00:40:21,884
Turn right to go down dartmouth

1202
00:40:21,884 --> 00:40:23,884
.

1203
00:40:24,153 --> 00:40:25,540
Street at the intersection.

1204
00:40:25,540 --> 00:40:25,854
>> of dartmouth and.

1205
00:40:25,854 --> 00:40:27,289
Stewart street.

1206
00:40:27,289 --> 00:40:29,289
Couple of years.

1207
00:40:29,325 --> 00:40:31,460
Ago there was no curb cut out.

1208
00:40:31,460 --> 00:40:32,461
I saw.

1209
00:40:32,461 --> 00:40:33,295
>> a mother.

1210
00:40:33,295 --> 00:40:35,295
Push a.

1211
00:40:35,731 --> 00:40:36,499
>> child in a wheelchair and

1212
00:40:36,499 --> 00:40:37,499
had to go up.

1213
00:40:37,499 --> 00:40:39,499
Stewart street.

1214
00:40:39,535 --> 00:40:41,170
In the street.

1215
00:40:41,170 --> 00:40:42,271
I actually got a phone call

1216
00:40:42,271 --> 00:40:43,872
from some consultants.

1217
00:40:43,872 --> 00:40:45,708
>> I couldn't figure.

1218
00:40:45,708 --> 00:40:45,974
Out who owns that curb cut off

1219
00:40:45,974 --> 00:40:47,974
.

1220
00:40:48,100 --> 00:40:48,277
I was told it was the mass

1221
00:40:48,277 --> 00:40:49,845
turnpike.

1222
00:40:49,845 --> 00:40:51,845
It still.

1223
00:40:52,470 --> 00:40:52,281
>> hasn't been fixed as of last

1224
00:40:52,281 --> 00:40:54,281
friday.

1225
00:40:56,151 --> 00:40:59,540
I hope no other mother has to

1226
00:40:59,540 --> 00:41:02,358
push a child in a wheelchair up

1227
00:41:02,358 --> 00:41:02,791
stewart street to wherever she

1228
00:41:02,791 --> 00:41:04,426
was going.

1229
00:41:04,426 --> 00:41:05,160
I think it.

1230
00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:05,661
>> was a doctor's.

1231
00:41:05,661 --> 00:41:05,962
Appointment because I.

1232
00:41:05,962 --> 00:41:07,962
Asked her.

1233
00:41:09,332 --> 00:41:10,432
>> that's just 1.

1234
00:41:10,432 --> 00:41:10,967
>> or 2 simple examples.

1235
00:41:10,967 --> 00:41:12,967
A fire.

1236
00:41:15,671 --> 00:41:16,380
Hydrant at a curb cut off and a

1237
00:41:16,380 --> 00:41:16,839
mother having.

1238
00:41:16,839 --> 00:41:18,574
>> to walk.

1239
00:41:18,574 --> 00:41:19,575
>> up stewart street because

1240
00:41:19,575 --> 00:41:23,175
there's no curb cut out there.

1241
00:41:24,246 --> 00:41:25,247
Make a thank you, bill.

1242
00:41:25,247 --> 00:41:27,647
Thank you, MISTER Chair.

1243
00:41:28,450 --> 00:41:30,850
Thank you, council PRESIDENT.

1244
00:41:31,860 --> 00:41:31,554
Um, councilor louijeune, you

1245
00:41:31,554 --> 00:41:32,889
have the floor.

1246
00:41:32,889 --> 00:41:34,356
Thank you.

1247
00:41:34,356 --> 00:41:35,824
>> and I want to thank you both

1248
00:41:35,824 --> 00:41:36,250
for your for your testimony,

1249
00:41:36,250 --> 00:41:37,459
bill.

1250
00:41:37,459 --> 00:41:37,893
i do want to take you up on

1251
00:41:37,893 --> 00:41:39,893
your offer.

1252
00:41:39,962 --> 00:41:40,396
Um, to walk through the

1253
00:41:40,396 --> 00:41:42,396
neighborhood.

1254
00:41:42,631 --> 00:41:44,500
Um, for me, I live on the

1255
00:41:44,500 --> 00:41:46,200
street and I want to thank the

1256
00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:47,169
council and they're not here or

1257
00:41:47,169 --> 00:41:47,836
they're not coming right to the

1258
00:41:47,836 --> 00:41:48,871
disability commission.

1259
00:41:48,871 --> 00:41:49,304
I know their staff.

1260
00:41:49,304 --> 00:41:50,506
Okay?

1261
00:41:50,506 --> 00:41:51,740
But I have been there.

1262
00:41:51,740 --> 00:41:53,309
They have been really gracious

1263
00:41:53,309 --> 00:41:55,211
and the administration has come

1264
00:41:55,211 --> 00:41:56,479
out to my street to really look

1265
00:41:56,479 --> 00:41:56,946
at the disability and

1266
00:41:56,946 --> 00:41:58,681
accessibility issues.

1267
00:41:58,681 --> 00:41:59,749
And so I think that we do need

1268
00:41:59,749 --> 00:42:01,784
to do more of that.

1269
00:42:01,784 --> 00:42:02,851
Um, I wonder and because

1270
00:42:02,851 --> 00:42:03,886
they're not here it's a

1271
00:42:03,886 --> 00:42:06,155
difficult question to ask.

1272
00:42:06,155 --> 00:42:09,240
Uh, we there are so many silos

1273
00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:09,825
where like regardless of the.

1274
00:42:09,825 --> 00:42:11,260
Issue.

1275
00:42:11,260 --> 00:42:12,361
>> especially when it comes to

1276
00:42:12,361 --> 00:42:13,429
the needs of folks who are too

1277
00:42:13,429 --> 00:42:15,429
often marginalized.

1278
00:42:15,664 --> 00:42:17,133
I'm wondering if anyone knows

1279
00:42:17,133 --> 00:42:18,400
whether the disability

1280
00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:19,401
commission right now has

1281
00:42:19,401 --> 00:42:20,436
meetings where they try to

1282
00:42:20,436 --> 00:42:22,836
bring everyone together where

1283
00:42:23,139 --> 00:42:24,607
the top where the issue is just

1284
00:42:24,607 --> 00:42:24,907
on accessibility and

1285
00:42:24,907 --> 00:42:26,907
disability.

1286
00:42:27,810 --> 00:42:28,878
Um, I'd.

1287
00:42:28,878 --> 00:42:29,946
>> like to speak about

1288
00:42:29,946 --> 00:42:30,479
commissioner councilor t.

1289
00:42:30,479 --> 00:42:32,479
>> uh.

1290
00:42:32,515 --> 00:42:33,549
They do yeoman's work.

1291
00:42:33,549 --> 00:42:33,983
They need to.

1292
00:42:33,983 --> 00:42:35,818
>> be.

1293
00:42:35,818 --> 00:42:36,653
Trained put up for.

1294
00:42:36,653 --> 00:42:38,653
>> major projects.

1295
00:42:40,523 --> 00:42:41,991
They have to evaluate 217 city

1296
00:42:41,991 --> 00:42:43,991
buildings for accessibility.

1297
00:42:45,294 --> 00:42:45,528
Thousands of miles of sidewalks

1298
00:42:45,528 --> 00:42:46,929
.

1299
00:42:46,929 --> 00:42:49,565
And you got to figure out.

1300
00:42:49,565 --> 00:42:49,832
she told me who owns the

1301
00:42:49,832 --> 00:42:51,670
sidewalk?

1302
00:42:51,670 --> 00:42:53,467
>> who owns the bridge?

1303
00:42:53,703 --> 00:42:53,969
I think it's really complicated

1304
00:42:53,969 --> 00:42:55,969
.

1305
00:42:56,805 --> 00:43:00,109
And when you're looking at road

1306
00:43:00,109 --> 00:43:01,977
diet I was told you have

1307
00:43:01,977 --> 00:43:04,413
federal, state and city laws.

1308
00:43:04,413 --> 00:43:04,880
They conflict with each other

1309
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:06,880
on many.

1310
00:43:06,882 --> 00:43:08,417
Levels and that.

1311
00:43:08,417 --> 00:43:10,119
>> was from the project manager

1312
00:43:10,119 --> 00:43:12,988
who managed the road diet

1313
00:43:12,988 --> 00:43:13,255
program and a project from west

1314
00:43:13,255 --> 00:43:15,255
roxbury.

1315
00:43:17,260 --> 00:43:19,260
Thank you.

1316
00:43:19,261 --> 00:43:19,562
>> I'm happy to speak to

1317
00:43:19,562 --> 00:43:20,529
afterwards.

1318
00:43:20,529 --> 00:43:22,164
Thank you.

1319
00:43:22,164 --> 00:43:23,233
Thank you for taking me up on

1320
00:43:23,233 --> 00:43:23,466
my offer for the commissioners

1321
00:43:23,466 --> 00:43:24,901
team.

1322
00:43:24,901 --> 00:43:26,901
That's great work.

1323
00:43:27,169 --> 00:43:28,437
They need more people and they

1324
00:43:28,437 --> 00:43:31,730
need better budget, more money.

1325
00:43:31,730 --> 00:43:32,309
Thank you.

1326
00:43:32,309 --> 00:43:34,309
>> thank you bill.

1327
00:43:35,144 --> 00:43:36,120
Um, either casandra or bill on

1328
00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:37,713
the issue of general

1329
00:43:37,713 --> 00:43:39,182
accessibility on the issue

1330
00:43:39,182 --> 00:43:39,449
of uh, concurrent street

1331
00:43:39,449 --> 00:43:40,449
crossings.

1332
00:43:40,449 --> 00:43:41,918
Are there examples of cities

1333
00:43:41,918 --> 00:43:43,953
who are doing it?

1334
00:43:43,953 --> 00:43:45,755
Um or doing.

1335
00:43:45,755 --> 00:43:47,190
Uh.

1336
00:43:47,190 --> 00:43:47,657
>> accessibility in ways that

1337
00:43:47,657 --> 00:43:49,657
we need to.

1338
00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:51,160
Copy or model or examples that

1339
00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:52,461
you've seen in other places

1340
00:43:52,461 --> 00:43:53,496
because you don't have to raise

1341
00:43:53,496 --> 00:43:56,496
a hand the light source.

1342
00:43:56,766 --> 00:43:58,434
So accessibility concerns

1343
00:43:58,434 --> 00:44:00,434
should always be.

1344
00:44:01,304 --> 00:44:03,704
It should be prioritized.

1345
00:44:05,141 --> 00:44:06,809
Oftentimes whenever an

1346
00:44:06,809 --> 00:44:08,770
accessibility need is brought

1347
00:44:08,770 --> 00:44:10,477
up to the forefront.

1348
00:44:10,546 --> 00:44:12,140
Um or is at least attempt to it

1349
00:44:12,140 --> 00:44:14,414
is always an afterthought.

1350
00:44:15,251 --> 00:44:16,752
you know, I always remind

1351
00:44:16,752 --> 00:44:19,222
everybody at some point you're

1352
00:44:19,222 --> 00:44:22,525
going to many of us will become

1353
00:44:22,525 --> 00:44:23,393
older and we will develop

1354
00:44:23,393 --> 00:44:25,393
disabilities by age.

1355
00:44:26,662 --> 00:44:26,896
So right now many of us can

1356
00:44:26,896 --> 00:44:28,896
avoid.

1357
00:44:29,966 --> 00:44:31,634
Those cracks in the road if

1358
00:44:31,634 --> 00:44:32,680
we're walking in a really fast

1359
00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:34,680
speed.

1360
00:44:34,537 --> 00:44:36,606
But sooner or later maybe 20 to

1361
00:44:36,606 --> 00:44:38,307
30 years you MAY not have the

1362
00:44:38,307 --> 00:44:40,610
same agility or quickness that

1363
00:44:40,610 --> 00:44:43,312
you once did in the past and or

1364
00:44:43,312 --> 00:44:45,181
at some point anyone can become

1365
00:44:45,181 --> 00:44:45,449
a part of the disability

1366
00:44:45,449 --> 00:44:47,449
community.

1367
00:44:47,884 --> 00:44:50,153
Uh no one is exempt from

1368
00:44:50,153 --> 00:44:50,853
acquiring a disability not even

1369
00:44:50,853 --> 00:44:52,853
20 minutes from now.

1370
00:44:54,123 --> 00:44:57,123
So whenever these things are

1371
00:44:57,627 --> 00:44:58,160
being whenever construction and

1372
00:44:58,160 --> 00:44:58,528
reconstruction of certain

1373
00:44:58,528 --> 00:45:00,528
places.

1374
00:45:00,563 --> 00:45:02,963
Are is is happening.

1375
00:45:04,200 --> 00:45:06,102
Accessibility should always be

1376
00:45:06,102 --> 00:45:08,502
woven into these things.

1377
00:45:09,139 --> 00:45:12,139
You know it's a compliance

1378
00:45:12,241 --> 00:45:13,509
thing and I'm going to keep

1379
00:45:13,509 --> 00:45:15,379
repeating it over and over and

1380
00:45:15,379 --> 00:45:15,611
over until we see it happening

1381
00:45:15,611 --> 00:45:17,470
.

1382
00:45:17,470 --> 00:45:18,800
And I'm also.

1383
00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:19,883
Open to.

1384
00:45:19,883 --> 00:45:21,984
Some further discussion after

1385
00:45:21,984 --> 00:45:22,219
this hearing as well with

1386
00:45:22,219 --> 00:45:23,853
anyone.

1387
00:45:23,853 --> 00:45:25,489
Thank you cassandra.

1388
00:45:25,489 --> 00:45:27,690
Other areas in the city that

1389
00:45:27,690 --> 00:45:28,758
you think are like the most

1390
00:45:28,758 --> 00:45:31,158
problematic, the most difficult

1391
00:45:31,427 --> 00:45:31,894
,the most inaccessible for our

1392
00:45:31,894 --> 00:45:33,894
residents here.

1393
00:45:35,131 --> 00:45:35,799
Oh my gosh I can list one

1394
00:45:35,799 --> 00:45:38,799
of the many of them.

1395
00:45:40,269 --> 00:45:41,938
Um along common ave in the area

1396
00:45:41,938 --> 00:45:45,842
by the area where they have the

1397
00:45:45,842 --> 00:45:48,144
elephant standing those streets

1398
00:45:48,144 --> 00:45:49,212
or those blocks on the uh,

1399
00:45:49,212 --> 00:45:51,212
commonwealth area.

1400
00:45:52,882 --> 00:45:54,150
a lot of them do not have apps

1401
00:45:54,150 --> 00:45:56,419
buttons and that's shortened

1402
00:45:56,419 --> 00:45:58,819
for audible pedestrian signals.

1403
00:45:59,689 --> 00:46:00,556
Those are incredibly dangerous

1404
00:46:00,556 --> 00:46:02,556
street corners.

1405
00:46:03,793 --> 00:46:05,261
Um, and I believe that is where

1406
00:46:05,261 --> 00:46:07,261
someone had unfortunately

1407
00:46:09,565 --> 00:46:10,333
passed away because of lack of,

1408
00:46:10,333 --> 00:46:11,400
you know, the audible

1409
00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:12,469
pedestrian signals and the

1410
00:46:12,469 --> 00:46:14,469
street crossing signals.

1411
00:46:15,304 --> 00:46:17,173
And that is also where the

1412
00:46:17,173 --> 00:46:19,173
concurrent street crossing

1413
00:46:19,475 --> 00:46:20,109
issue is also heavily noticed

1414
00:46:20,109 --> 00:46:21,945
as well.

1415
00:46:21,945 --> 00:46:23,179
Okay.

1416
00:46:23,179 --> 00:46:25,179
>> um.

1417
00:46:25,615 --> 00:46:25,849
I'm not qualified to talk about

1418
00:46:25,849 --> 00:46:27,830
other.

1419
00:46:27,830 --> 00:46:28,484
Cities but the problem.

1420
00:46:28,484 --> 00:46:30,119
With cassandra said.

1421
00:46:30,119 --> 00:46:31,955
I don't know who said it.

1422
00:46:31,955 --> 00:46:33,323
But everybody.

1423
00:46:33,323 --> 00:46:33,990
>> in the world has a

1424
00:46:33,990 --> 00:46:35,990
disability in waiting.

1425
00:46:36,250 --> 00:46:36,993
Just of don't know when it's.

1426
00:46:36,993 --> 00:46:39,195
>> going to show up.

1427
00:46:39,195 --> 00:46:41,595
I do not know.

1428
00:46:43,266 --> 00:46:45,368
Till 2015 that I had an

1429
00:46:45,368 --> 00:46:48,368
isolated disease called my kill

1430
00:46:48,437 --> 00:46:48,739
generation of any of the city

1431
00:46:48,739 --> 00:46:50,340
councilors.

1432
00:46:50,340 --> 00:46:52,208
Talk to all the doctors at

1433
00:46:52,208 --> 00:46:54,444
mount sinai or doing research.

1434
00:46:54,444 --> 00:46:55,245
For doctors.

1435
00:46:55,245 --> 00:46:57,245
Who are teaching.

1436
00:46:57,714 --> 00:46:59,749
Students that the college of.

1437
00:46:59,749 --> 00:47:00,384
Optometry you want to.

1438
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:02,219
>> meet them.

1439
00:47:02,219 --> 00:47:03,853
Come and see me.

1440
00:47:03,853 --> 00:47:04,420
I'll introduce you to talk to

1441
00:47:04,420 --> 00:47:05,655
ross at the normal.

1442
00:47:05,655 --> 00:47:07,560
College of optometry.

1443
00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:08,691
Amazing woman.

1444
00:47:08,691 --> 00:47:10,691
Amazing doctor.

1445
00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:11,761
Amazing research is still here.

1446
00:47:11,761 --> 00:47:13,596
That's just.

1447
00:47:13,596 --> 00:47:14,631
One example.

1448
00:47:14,631 --> 00:47:16,631
>> of my journey.

1449
00:47:18,680 --> 00:47:20,680
Thank you.

1450
00:47:20,637 --> 00:47:21,871
um, I wanted to follow up on

1451
00:47:21,871 --> 00:47:22,139
something that you stated

1452
00:47:22,139 --> 00:47:23,806
earlier.

1453
00:47:23,806 --> 00:47:26,176
Bill and I want to read it just

1454
00:47:26,176 --> 00:47:29,120
to make sure that I, um.

1455
00:47:29,120 --> 00:47:29,512
Uh, just to make sure that I

1456
00:47:29,512 --> 00:47:30,914
got it right.

1457
00:47:30,914 --> 00:47:33,416
I think when you were talking

1458
00:47:33,416 --> 00:47:35,685
about the issue of public

1459
00:47:35,685 --> 00:47:38,685
bathrooms, you were stating you

1460
00:47:39,389 --> 00:47:40,791
stated that hotels in the city

1461
00:47:40,791 --> 00:47:41,759
of boston or is it in the

1462
00:47:41,759 --> 00:47:43,759
commonwealth of massachusetts

1463
00:47:44,600 --> 00:47:45,261
that they are by right by law?

1464
00:47:45,261 --> 00:47:45,562
Public?

1465
00:47:45,562 --> 00:47:45,795
No.

1466
00:47:45,795 --> 00:47:47,130
Okay.

1467
00:47:47,130 --> 00:47:48,164
I just wanted to clarify what

1468
00:47:48,164 --> 00:47:48,998
the what you stated.

1469
00:47:48,998 --> 00:47:50,998
Okay.

1470
00:47:51,835 --> 00:47:53,903
>> I filed the complaint with

1471
00:47:53,903 --> 00:47:54,237
311 about the lack

1472
00:47:54,237 --> 00:47:55,572
of bathrooms.

1473
00:47:55,572 --> 00:47:56,806
I received.

1474
00:47:56,806 --> 00:47:58,274
The form letter from crystal

1475
00:47:58,274 --> 00:47:59,709
with cautions office.

1476
00:47:59,709 --> 00:48:01,709
It stated.

1477
00:48:03,546 --> 00:48:05,181
It to the.

1478
00:48:05,181 --> 00:48:06,649
City considers public bathrooms

1479
00:48:06,649 --> 00:48:08,649
and hotels.

1480
00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:10,153
What are you going to do.

1481
00:48:10,153 --> 00:48:11,554
Parts for public bathroom?

1482
00:48:11,554 --> 00:48:13,223
Yeah.

1483
00:48:13,223 --> 00:48:15,292
>> I use the bathrooms, said

1484
00:48:15,292 --> 00:48:17,560
the company fairmont hotel a

1485
00:48:17,560 --> 00:48:19,229
lot because it's a shorter walk

1486
00:48:19,229 --> 00:48:20,663
than going to the library.

1487
00:48:20,663 --> 00:48:22,766
And what happens if the library

1488
00:48:22,766 --> 00:48:24,367
is close at 5:00 and you got a

1489
00:48:24,367 --> 00:48:25,202
five year old kid who needs to

1490
00:48:25,202 --> 00:48:26,836
use the bathroom?

1491
00:48:26,836 --> 00:48:27,704
They're not going to look at

1492
00:48:27,704 --> 00:48:29,105
the websites.

1493
00:48:29,105 --> 00:48:29,973
They're not going.

1494
00:48:29,973 --> 00:48:31,608
>> to look at wayfair.

1495
00:48:31,608 --> 00:48:33,760
That's in the letter that I

1496
00:48:33,760 --> 00:48:35,476
perform whenever I receive.

1497
00:48:36,946 --> 00:48:38,150
I recognize the person across

1498
00:48:38,150 --> 00:48:38,248
the commission team has human

1499
00:48:38,248 --> 00:48:40,248
work.

1500
00:48:42,519 --> 00:48:43,186
i can't talk about what other

1501
00:48:43,186 --> 00:48:43,987
cities do.

1502
00:48:43,987 --> 00:48:44,587
I only know.

1503
00:48:44,587 --> 00:48:46,423
About boston.

1504
00:48:46,423 --> 00:48:46,890
I'm just beginning to learn

1505
00:48:46,890 --> 00:48:48,825
cambridge.

1506
00:48:48,825 --> 00:48:49,860
It's a.

1507
00:48:49,860 --> 00:48:50,660
>> fascinating journey.

1508
00:48:50,660 --> 00:48:51,895
Come on.

1509
00:48:51,895 --> 00:48:54,295
Come and join me.

1510
00:48:55,565 --> 00:48:57,434
You'll find out what it's like

1511
00:48:57,434 --> 00:48:57,901
to become blind in the city

1512
00:48:57,901 --> 00:48:59,901
of boston.

1513
00:49:00,370 --> 00:49:01,805
Sometimes it's amazing,

1514
00:49:01,805 --> 00:49:02,639
sometimes it's hilarious.

1515
00:49:02,639 --> 00:49:04,639
And some.

1516
00:49:04,874 --> 00:49:05,309
Times this christian just says

1517
00:49:05,309 --> 00:49:07,309
it's tight.

1518
00:49:07,978 --> 00:49:08,845
Rome dangerous to navigate

1519
00:49:08,845 --> 00:49:10,380
these streets.

1520
00:49:10,380 --> 00:49:11,816
And we're.

1521
00:49:11,816 --> 00:49:12,249
>> in better shape than some

1522
00:49:12,249 --> 00:49:14,249
other cities.

1523
00:49:15,519 --> 00:49:15,752
My mobility husband's from

1524
00:49:15,752 --> 00:49:16,786
mexico.

1525
00:49:16,786 --> 00:49:18,189
Jesus christ.

1526
00:49:18,189 --> 00:49:18,922
Is where he lives.

1527
00:49:18,922 --> 00:49:20,922
Oh my GOD.

1528
00:49:21,758 --> 00:49:23,593
Good thing she has sights.

1529
00:49:23,593 --> 00:49:25,593
.

1530
00:49:25,629 --> 00:49:28,290
>> so is the city.

1531
00:49:28,999 --> 00:49:30,166
Going to move slow or is it

1532
00:49:30,166 --> 00:49:30,434
going to move fast and be

1533
00:49:30,434 --> 00:49:32,434
careful.

1534
00:49:34,604 --> 00:49:35,605
You've got over 200 million to

1535
00:49:35,605 --> 00:49:37,474
2 million visitors that come

1536
00:49:37,474 --> 00:49:37,908
here every year from across the

1537
00:49:37,908 --> 00:49:39,908
world.

1538
00:49:40,143 --> 00:49:40,810
We've got a great example for

1539
00:49:40,810 --> 00:49:42,646
world cup.

1540
00:49:42,646 --> 00:49:43,246
They're coming.

1541
00:49:43,246 --> 00:49:44,581
Back folks.

1542
00:49:44,581 --> 00:49:46,500
What are you going to do to

1543
00:49:46,500 --> 00:49:46,917
make sure they know about

1544
00:49:46,917 --> 00:49:47,784
accessibility in in this

1545
00:49:47,784 --> 00:49:49,784
wonderful city?

1546
00:49:49,819 --> 00:49:51,819
That's the question.

1547
00:49:51,821 --> 00:49:54,821
I don't have the answers.

1548
00:49:54,891 --> 00:49:56,426
Well thank you.

1549
00:49:56,426 --> 00:49:57,294
Thank you for your, uh for your

1550
00:49:57,294 --> 00:49:59,529
time and your testimony.

1551
00:49:59,529 --> 00:50:00,397
I started my day today at the

1552
00:50:00,397 --> 00:50:02,397
national braille press.

1553
00:50:03,466 --> 00:50:04,534
Um, and I just know that it's

1554
00:50:04,534 --> 00:50:06,403
important that we do everything

1555
00:50:06,403 --> 00:50:09,272
that we can for, um.

1556
00:50:09,272 --> 00:50:10,341
Uh uh, all of our communities

1557
00:50:10,341 --> 00:50:12,341
here especially those.

1558
00:50:13,376 --> 00:50:14,478
Who are living and trying to

1559
00:50:14,478 --> 00:50:15,879
thrive with disabilities.

1560
00:50:15,879 --> 00:50:16,346
So thank you for your

1561
00:50:16,346 --> 00:50:17,147
testimony, bill.

1562
00:50:17,147 --> 00:50:19,147
Um.

1563
00:50:19,382 --> 00:50:20,317
>> and to you, cassandra and

1564
00:50:20,317 --> 00:50:20,550
for everyone at the national

1565
00:50:20,550 --> 00:50:21,510
braille.

1566
00:50:21,510 --> 00:50:22,686
>> press for.

1567
00:50:22,686 --> 00:50:23,753
The work that they do to make

1568
00:50:23,753 --> 00:50:24,421
sure accessibility is a real

1569
00:50:24,421 --> 00:50:25,755
thing for everyone.

1570
00:50:25,755 --> 00:50:25,989
Later I'd like to hear about

1571
00:50:25,989 --> 00:50:27,989
it.

1572
00:50:28,625 --> 00:50:30,527
And by the way, if any city

1573
00:50:30,527 --> 00:50:32,596
city councilor my go to find

1574
00:50:32,596 --> 00:50:33,290
links to come and see it talk

1575
00:50:33,290 --> 00:50:35,290
to me.

1576
00:50:35,899 --> 00:50:36,533
Brian the ceo will welcome you

1577
00:50:36,533 --> 00:50:38,533
with open arms.

1578
00:50:38,969 --> 00:50:40,403
Thank you.

1579
00:50:40,403 --> 00:50:42,390
Thank you.

1580
00:50:42,390 --> 00:50:44,390
>> thank you,

1581
00:50:46,760 --> 00:50:48,345
councilor louijeune and, um,

1582
00:50:48,345 --> 00:50:50,380
next up is councilor.

1583
00:50:50,380 --> 00:50:53,250
We're all just stepped out.

1584
00:50:53,250 --> 00:50:53,784
Um, one thing I do want to

1585
00:50:53,784 --> 00:50:55,784
mention I'll go.

1586
00:50:56,553 --> 00:50:57,621
I'll go to council whether I

1587
00:50:57,621 --> 00:50:59,489
visited the carroll center for

1588
00:50:59,489 --> 00:51:02,489
the blind several years ago.

1589
00:51:02,759 --> 00:51:04,261
Uh, serving all ages in all

1590
00:51:04,261 --> 00:51:06,661
stages of vision loss.

1591
00:51:07,970 --> 00:51:07,364
But talking to bill and

1592
00:51:07,364 --> 00:51:09,364
cassandra.

1593
00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:12,669
Um, I plan to do a visit

1594
00:51:12,669 --> 00:51:13,737
sometime in OCTOBER and would

1595
00:51:13,737 --> 00:51:15,205
like to invite all of my

1596
00:51:15,205 --> 00:51:15,672
colleagues if they are able to

1597
00:51:15,672 --> 00:51:16,730
join us.

1598
00:51:16,730 --> 00:51:18,730
I'll give.

1599
00:51:18,541 --> 00:51:18,976
And I'll give people plenty

1600
00:51:18,976 --> 00:51:20,976
of notice.

1601
00:51:21,211 --> 00:51:22,713
Um, but I think cassandra

1602
00:51:22,713 --> 00:51:23,947
cassandra is going to join

1603
00:51:23,947 --> 00:51:24,381
me and ride over with me.

1604
00:51:24,381 --> 00:51:25,482
Yeah.

1605
00:51:25,482 --> 00:51:26,750
>> over to newton.

1606
00:51:26,750 --> 00:51:28,180
Then we're going to go to one

1607
00:51:28,180 --> 00:51:29,886
of those ice cream places after

1608
00:51:29,886 --> 00:51:30,220
I think so, yeah.

1609
00:51:30,220 --> 00:51:32,220
Oh, my.

1610
00:51:32,456 --> 00:51:33,223
>> uh my colleagues are, um,

1611
00:51:33,223 --> 00:51:35,459
welcome to join us.

1612
00:51:35,459 --> 00:51:36,293
Um, next up is council weber.

1613
00:51:36,293 --> 00:51:37,694
Council weber.

1614
00:51:37,694 --> 00:51:39,329
You have the floor.

1615
00:51:39,329 --> 00:51:40,397
Okay.

1616
00:51:40,397 --> 00:51:40,697
>> thank you very much.

1617
00:51:40,697 --> 00:51:42,697
Uh.

1618
00:51:42,933 --> 00:51:45,690
Nice to see the panelists.

1619
00:51:45,690 --> 00:51:47,104
Um, uh, and I see bill.

1620
00:51:47,104 --> 00:51:49,206
But cassandra, like bill was

1621
00:51:49,206 --> 00:51:51,740
talking about, you know, he,

1622
00:51:51,740 --> 00:51:52,976
uh, other cities and you know,

1623
00:51:52,976 --> 00:51:55,645
he knows what's going on here.

1624
00:51:55,645 --> 00:51:57,515
Uh, is there is there another

1625
00:51:57,515 --> 00:51:58,982
city you know, in the country

1626
00:51:58,982 --> 00:52:01,485
somewhere else that we should

1627
00:52:01,485 --> 00:52:03,153
be looking to for, you know,

1628
00:52:03,153 --> 00:52:03,420
how to approach these issues as

1629
00:52:03,420 --> 00:52:05,420
somebody?

1630
00:52:07,691 --> 00:52:07,925
Uh, other cities that we

1631
00:52:07,925 --> 00:52:09,925
should.

1632
00:52:11,595 --> 00:52:15,795
Look into for like I would say

1633
00:52:17,134 --> 00:52:19,534
minneapolis minneapolis has uh

1634
00:52:20,238 --> 00:52:23,238
,very how do I say?

1635
00:52:26,543 --> 00:52:26,810
They can be an example of how

1636
00:52:26,810 --> 00:52:27,811
to.

1637
00:52:27,811 --> 00:52:29,811
Make sure.

1638
00:52:32,830 --> 00:52:34,985
A city can be as accessible as

1639
00:52:34,985 --> 00:52:36,453
possible, especially the

1640
00:52:36,453 --> 00:52:38,453
southeast minneapolis area.

1641
00:52:39,323 --> 00:52:41,723
Uh, audible pedestrian signals.

1642
00:52:46,129 --> 00:52:47,397
Um, a lot of infrastructure

1643
00:52:47,397 --> 00:52:49,797
accessibility in many ways.

1644
00:52:50,267 --> 00:52:51,935
But it has been a while since I

1645
00:52:51,935 --> 00:52:54,335
had last visited minneapolis.

1646
00:52:56,206 --> 00:52:57,875
Um, but when I went there I

1647
00:52:57,875 --> 00:52:58,876
found it to be pretty cool.

1648
00:52:58,876 --> 00:52:59,310
Like well.

1649
00:52:59,310 --> 00:52:59,643
>> not.

1650
00:52:59,643 --> 00:53:00,770
cool but.

1651
00:53:00,770 --> 00:53:01,712
>> like.

1652
00:53:01,712 --> 00:53:04,381
Be accessible because I was

1653
00:53:04,381 --> 00:53:07,284
there at a training center for

1654
00:53:07,284 --> 00:53:08,919
the blind at the time and.

1655
00:53:08,919 --> 00:53:10,919
It was.

1656
00:53:11,989 --> 00:53:14,389
Pretty easy to navigate.

1657
00:53:15,225 --> 00:53:18,129
And though every city is not

1658
00:53:18,129 --> 00:53:21,310
perfect but I kind of was

1659
00:53:21,310 --> 00:53:21,899
wishing that minneapolis and

1660
00:53:21,899 --> 00:53:23,899
massachusetts could trade.

1661
00:53:24,234 --> 00:53:26,504
Resources in a way.

1662
00:53:26,504 --> 00:53:27,404
Mhm.

1663
00:53:27,404 --> 00:53:28,500
>> if that answers.

1664
00:53:28,500 --> 00:53:29,600
>> your yeah yeah.

1665
00:53:29,600 --> 00:53:31,406
No that's that's good.

1666
00:53:31,675 --> 00:53:31,942
Uh I have the I don't know if

1667
00:53:31,942 --> 00:53:33,942
the.

1668
00:53:35,179 --> 00:53:36,460
Current former the city

1669
00:53:36,460 --> 00:53:36,714
councilor for minneapolis on on

1670
00:53:36,714 --> 00:53:37,548
speed dial uh we.

1671
00:53:37,548 --> 00:53:39,830
Were in.

1672
00:53:39,830 --> 00:53:41,830
>> touch during this.

1673
00:53:42,352 --> 00:53:43,821
Tour so uh I can I can give him

1674
00:53:43,821 --> 00:53:44,254
a call and and see what they're

1675
00:53:44,254 --> 00:53:45,550
doing there.

1676
00:53:45,550 --> 00:53:45,389
Great.

1677
00:53:45,389 --> 00:53:45,823
Uh, yeah.

1678
00:53:45,823 --> 00:53:47,725
Bill.

1679
00:53:47,725 --> 00:53:48,425
City council member to

1680
00:53:48,425 --> 00:53:49,493
interrupt you since you're

1681
00:53:49,493 --> 00:53:52,563
going to make that phone call.

1682
00:53:52,563 --> 00:53:54,310
Minneapolis is one of the

1683
00:53:54,310 --> 00:53:56,990
cities that runs pilot projects

1684
00:53:56,990 --> 00:53:57,168
for the open mobility

1685
00:53:57,168 --> 00:53:57,401
foundation that I mentioned

1686
00:53:57,401 --> 00:53:58,836
earlier.

1687
00:53:58,836 --> 00:53:59,470
I want.

1688
00:53:59,470 --> 00:54:00,404
>> to ask.

1689
00:54:00,404 --> 00:54:02,404
>> him or.

1690
00:54:02,840 --> 00:54:05,109
Her what their involvement is

1691
00:54:05,109 --> 00:54:06,944
with the military foundation.

1692
00:54:06,944 --> 00:54:08,944
It's a nonprofit.

1693
00:54:08,979 --> 00:54:10,414
In cities.

1694
00:54:10,414 --> 00:54:12,149
Across the world belong.

1695
00:54:12,149 --> 00:54:13,484
To it and that includes.

1696
00:54:13,484 --> 00:54:15,484
Boston, massachusetts.

1697
00:54:16,553 --> 00:54:18,989
Good question to ask them.

1698
00:54:18,989 --> 00:54:19,690
Thanks for bringing.

1699
00:54:19,690 --> 00:54:20,257
>> up minneapolis.

1700
00:54:20,257 --> 00:54:21,692
oh yeah.

1701
00:54:21,692 --> 00:54:22,960
Minneapolis is one of those

1702
00:54:22,960 --> 00:54:23,360
special cities for me.

1703
00:54:23,360 --> 00:54:24,995
Mhm.

1704
00:54:24,995 --> 00:54:26,463
>> okay yeah I've been there.

1705
00:54:26,463 --> 00:54:27,731
Uh I went to law school in iowa

1706
00:54:27,731 --> 00:54:29,199
so took some trips up to

1707
00:54:29,199 --> 00:54:31,690
minneapolis is really

1708
00:54:31,690 --> 00:54:32,360
interesting city and uh yeah I

1709
00:54:32,360 --> 00:54:35,360
can't wait to reach out.

1710
00:54:35,305 --> 00:54:37,575
Um uh so I guess cassandra, you

1711
00:54:37,575 --> 00:54:39,975
also mentioned uh, concurrent

1712
00:54:40,770 --> 00:54:41,145
lighting and as the chair

1713
00:54:41,145 --> 00:54:42,813
mentioned, you know, we filed

1714
00:54:42,813 --> 00:54:44,915
uh resolution I think at least

1715
00:54:44,915 --> 00:54:46,784
one that you know, we we voted

1716
00:54:46,784 --> 00:54:48,852
in favor of of getting rid

1717
00:54:48,852 --> 00:54:50,354
of them in the city and the

1718
00:54:50,354 --> 00:54:52,220
reason why one of the reasons

1719
00:54:52,220 --> 00:54:53,290
why I support it is because

1720
00:54:53,290 --> 00:54:55,592
right in my district on hyde

1721
00:54:55,592 --> 00:54:57,461
park ave uh, where I think you

1722
00:54:57,461 --> 00:54:59,763
you made your video this winter

1723
00:54:59,763 --> 00:55:01,633
and tower uh, glen ingram was

1724
00:55:01,633 --> 00:55:03,300
killed by a bus on a concurrent

1725
00:55:03,300 --> 00:55:04,769
light and and so he was

1726
00:55:04,769 --> 00:55:05,235
crossing in a green a couple

1727
00:55:05,235 --> 00:55:07,235
of years ago.

1728
00:55:07,705 --> 00:55:08,939
Um, I mean, we heard from the

1729
00:55:08,939 --> 00:55:10,841
chief of streets we asked him

1730
00:55:10,841 --> 00:55:12,276
the I think I think the chair

1731
00:55:12,276 --> 00:55:13,444
asked him about concurrent

1732
00:55:13,444 --> 00:55:16,347
lights and I think the response

1733
00:55:16,347 --> 00:55:17,615
was if we if we did a blanket

1734
00:55:17,615 --> 00:55:19,683
concurrent light ban across the

1735
00:55:19,683 --> 00:55:21,585
whole city, it would cause a

1736
00:55:21,585 --> 00:55:23,354
lot of a lot more traffic, a

1737
00:55:23,354 --> 00:55:24,555
lot more, you know, a lot

1738
00:55:24,555 --> 00:55:25,990
of some insurmountable issues.

1739
00:55:25,990 --> 00:55:28,459
Is there I guess my question

1740
00:55:28,459 --> 00:55:30,361
for you is is there a way to do

1741
00:55:30,361 --> 00:55:32,229
it in a targeted way where we

1742
00:55:32,229 --> 00:55:34,131
create zones where there's no

1743
00:55:34,131 --> 00:55:36,600
concurrent lights or are you

1744
00:55:36,600 --> 00:55:38,502
just thinking would you just

1745
00:55:38,502 --> 00:55:40,371
want you know, the entire city

1746
00:55:40,371 --> 00:55:40,838
just to ban them from one side

1747
00:55:40,838 --> 00:55:42,838
to the other?

1748
00:55:43,908 --> 00:55:45,776
My thing is I would ask this

1749
00:55:45,776 --> 00:55:48,279
person what do they think is

1750
00:55:48,279 --> 00:55:48,746
more important the safety of a

1751
00:55:48,746 --> 00:55:50,581
person.

1752
00:55:50,581 --> 00:55:52,581
On the street.

1753
00:55:55,520 --> 00:55:55,719
Walking around or a car stuck

1754
00:55:55,719 --> 00:55:57,719
in traffic?

1755
00:56:00,191 --> 00:56:02,590
You know the person they just

1756
00:56:02,590 --> 00:56:03,127
need a couple of seconds extra

1757
00:56:03,127 --> 00:56:05,527
to cross the road.

1758
00:56:05,763 --> 00:56:08,265
The car could always get to

1759
00:56:08,265 --> 00:56:08,899
their destination a lot faster

1760
00:56:08,899 --> 00:56:10,899
than a person.

1761
00:56:12,370 --> 00:56:14,171
So it's like I mean I've never

1762
00:56:14,171 --> 00:56:14,438
I've never driven in my life

1763
00:56:14,438 --> 00:56:16,307
before.

1764
00:56:16,307 --> 00:56:17,975
I've always been living with

1765
00:56:17,975 --> 00:56:18,209
blindness and deafness together

1766
00:56:18,209 --> 00:56:20,209
.

1767
00:56:21,245 --> 00:56:23,748
So I don't know what the

1768
00:56:23,748 --> 00:56:27,251
urgency is to be behind the

1769
00:56:27,251 --> 00:56:28,953
wheel and want to rush through

1770
00:56:28,953 --> 00:56:29,186
even with someone trying to

1771
00:56:29,186 --> 00:56:31,186
cross.

1772
00:56:31,422 --> 00:56:34,422
I've always been the pedestrian

1773
00:56:35,326 --> 00:56:38,926
but maybe some of the most

1774
00:56:39,864 --> 00:56:41,966
active or highly um trafficked

1775
00:56:41,966 --> 00:56:45,870
spots in the city could have no

1776
00:56:45,870 --> 00:56:47,171
concurrent street crossings and

1777
00:56:47,171 --> 00:56:48,390
as it might just get rid of it.

1778
00:56:48,390 --> 00:56:48,240
>> just get rid of it.

1779
00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:49,773
Okay?

1780
00:56:49,773 --> 00:56:50,175
>> just just take it out.

1781
00:56:50,175 --> 00:56:50,809
Yeah.

1782
00:56:50,809 --> 00:56:51,242
Take it out.

1783
00:56:51,242 --> 00:56:51,742
Okay.

1784
00:56:51,742 --> 00:56:52,910
It's okay.

1785
00:56:52,910 --> 00:56:54,780
They can stand in the traffic

1786
00:56:54,780 --> 00:56:55,312
light a little bit longer.

1787
00:56:55,312 --> 00:56:55,613
They have air conditioning in

1788
00:56:55,613 --> 00:56:57,140
their car.

1789
00:56:57,140 --> 00:56:57,281
They have a heater in their

1790
00:56:57,281 --> 00:56:59,830
car.

1791
00:56:59,830 --> 00:57:00,185
The pedestrians are exposed to

1792
00:57:00,185 --> 00:57:00,919
the heat and the cold.

1793
00:57:00,919 --> 00:57:02,754
They'll be fine.

1794
00:57:02,754 --> 00:57:03,540
So sounds good.

1795
00:57:03,540 --> 00:57:04,188
Uh.

1796
00:57:04,188 --> 00:57:04,722
And I just take.

1797
00:57:04,722 --> 00:57:04,956
>> it off.

1798
00:57:04,956 --> 00:57:05,389
Yeah.

1799
00:57:05,389 --> 00:57:06,958
>> okay.

1800
00:57:06,958 --> 00:57:07,359
>> bill, you got your hand up.

1801
00:57:07,359 --> 00:57:09,359
You know.

1802
00:57:09,627 --> 00:57:10,661
>> as a person who used to be

1803
00:57:10,661 --> 00:57:12,661
able to drive.

1804
00:57:13,331 --> 00:57:14,732
And I.

1805
00:57:14,732 --> 00:57:15,990
Lived on one spot street and

1806
00:57:15,990 --> 00:57:17,990
now I'm.

1807
00:57:17,569 --> 00:57:19,470
Just watching center street, I

1808
00:57:19,470 --> 00:57:20,104
think to myself I used to drive

1809
00:57:20,104 --> 00:57:20,839
on that road.

1810
00:57:20,839 --> 00:57:22,773
What am I.

1811
00:57:22,773 --> 00:57:23,808
>> what am I crazy?

1812
00:57:23,808 --> 00:57:25,242
Okay.

1813
00:57:25,242 --> 00:57:26,310
And that's that's before and

1814
00:57:26,310 --> 00:57:28,710
after the road diet.

1815
00:57:29,146 --> 00:57:31,490
So since you brought it up, how

1816
00:57:31,490 --> 00:57:31,716
about doing a pilot project in

1817
00:57:31,716 --> 00:57:33,716
west roxbury?

1818
00:57:33,785 --> 00:57:34,818
You've already got road diet.

1819
00:57:34,818 --> 00:57:37,218
You still got problems.

1820
00:57:38,389 --> 00:57:39,591
I know it's still a big issue

1821
00:57:39,591 --> 00:57:41,659
for you as a city councilor,

1822
00:57:41,659 --> 00:57:43,929
but you got the bike riders who

1823
00:57:43,929 --> 00:57:44,161
are here in full force and then

1824
00:57:44,161 --> 00:57:44,795
.

1825
00:57:44,795 --> 00:57:46,795
>> MARCH.

1826
00:57:47,966 --> 00:57:48,200
Pick a neighborhood, pick a

1827
00:57:48,200 --> 00:57:49,834
street.

1828
00:57:49,834 --> 00:57:51,834
What they're don't.

1829
00:57:52,200 --> 00:57:52,370
Pick the street he wants to do

1830
00:57:52,370 --> 00:57:52,970
the pilot.

1831
00:57:52,970 --> 00:57:54,970
Project is.

1832
00:57:55,806 --> 00:57:57,842
It's dangerous out there.

1833
00:57:57,842 --> 00:57:59,842
You know.

1834
00:58:01,512 --> 00:58:02,981
The question is how many

1835
00:58:02,981 --> 00:58:04,849
fathers are going to get killed

1836
00:58:04,849 --> 00:58:07,118
with a stroller with a three

1837
00:58:07,118 --> 00:58:08,619
year old and I'm and I know I'm

1838
00:58:08,619 --> 00:58:08,853
being very blunt and very

1839
00:58:08,853 --> 00:58:09,887
direct.

1840
00:58:09,887 --> 00:58:11,322
How long.

1841
00:58:11,322 --> 00:58:12,790
>> is it going to take for

1842
00:58:12,790 --> 00:58:14,590
another adult to get killed on

1843
00:58:14,590 --> 00:58:14,725
the streets of summer street in

1844
00:58:14,725 --> 00:58:16,725
west roxbury?

1845
00:58:16,794 --> 00:58:18,429
That happened a few years ago.

1846
00:58:18,429 --> 00:58:19,263
I almost got killed crossing.

1847
00:58:19,263 --> 00:58:21,263
Center street.

1848
00:58:21,299 --> 00:58:22,801
A few years ago when I still

1849
00:58:22,801 --> 00:58:26,237
had I was not legally blind.

1850
00:58:26,237 --> 00:58:28,237
how many deaths?

1851
00:58:28,473 --> 00:58:31,175
It's a kind of take for that

1852
00:58:31,175 --> 00:58:32,443
person to wake up and have a

1853
00:58:32,443 --> 00:58:34,278
pilot project.

1854
00:58:34,278 --> 00:58:37,149
And I know I'm in your face and

1855
00:58:37,149 --> 00:58:38,416
I'm being direct I don't care I

1856
00:58:38,416 --> 00:58:39,717
don't want another person to

1857
00:58:39,717 --> 00:58:42,386
get killed on the streets

1858
00:58:42,386 --> 00:58:43,254
of boston because you got

1859
00:58:43,254 --> 00:58:45,123
concurrent things.

1860
00:58:45,123 --> 00:58:47,191
You got drones that don't work

1861
00:58:47,191 --> 00:58:48,859
about lighting on one side

1862
00:58:48,859 --> 00:58:49,527
there's a button on the other

1863
00:58:49,527 --> 00:58:51,527
side there's nothing.

1864
00:58:52,163 --> 00:58:53,865
I've walked center street from

1865
00:58:53,865 --> 00:58:55,933
roach brothers all the way to

1866
00:58:55,933 --> 00:58:56,802
the fight in the hospital more

1867
00:58:56,802 --> 00:58:58,436
than once.

1868
00:58:58,436 --> 00:59:00,271
I live about a mile away.

1869
00:59:00,271 --> 00:59:02,573
You want to come on a walk with

1870
00:59:02,573 --> 00:59:02,840
me to center street anytime,

1871
00:59:02,840 --> 00:59:04,840
anyplace?

1872
00:59:05,476 --> 00:59:06,444
Okay, I think thanks, but I see

1873
00:59:06,444 --> 00:59:08,844
my time is up.

1874
00:59:08,880 --> 00:59:09,313
I just have one quick follow up

1875
00:59:09,313 --> 00:59:10,749
bill.

1876
00:59:10,749 --> 00:59:12,717
This is free for you.

1877
00:59:12,717 --> 00:59:14,819
Uh, and I waited till my time

1878
00:59:14,819 --> 00:59:15,653
was up, so we just a short and

1879
00:59:15,653 --> 00:59:16,187
I'll try not to.

1880
00:59:16,187 --> 00:59:18,187
Be long.

1881
00:59:18,823 --> 00:59:20,124
Well, no, not yet, but just I

1882
00:59:20,124 --> 00:59:21,192
know you'd be advocated for

1883
00:59:21,192 --> 00:59:21,459
accessibility at the libraries

1884
00:59:21,459 --> 00:59:22,260
.

1885
00:59:22,260 --> 00:59:23,461
I can.

1886
00:59:23,461 --> 00:59:24,295
Answer that question more.

1887
00:59:24,295 --> 00:59:25,290
Okay.

1888
00:59:25,290 --> 00:59:26,564
>> but what.

1889
00:59:26,564 --> 00:59:27,865
>> I will tell you is ask

1890
00:59:27,865 --> 00:59:29,901
kristen mccosh that question.

1891
00:59:29,901 --> 00:59:31,436
Okay.

1892
00:59:31,436 --> 00:59:32,303
>> so it's something we need to

1893
00:59:32,303 --> 00:59:32,503
follow up on.

1894
00:59:32,503 --> 00:59:33,504
Yeah.

1895
00:59:33,504 --> 00:59:34,339
>> you want to have a

1896
00:59:34,339 --> 00:59:34,973
conversation with me later?

1897
00:59:34,973 --> 00:59:36,973
Absolutely.

1898
00:59:36,975 --> 00:59:37,842
>> let's go to the west roxbury

1899
00:59:37,842 --> 00:59:39,842
library someday.

1900
00:59:39,978 --> 00:59:42,130
and let's go to the.

1901
00:59:42,130 --> 00:59:44,315
Central library and read all

1902
00:59:44,315 --> 00:59:46,184
you city councilors read what's

1903
00:59:46,184 --> 00:59:46,951
on the library's website today

1904
00:59:46,951 --> 00:59:48,951
about accessibility.

1905
00:59:50,622 --> 00:59:52,924
You might be surprised what it

1906
00:59:52,924 --> 00:59:55,324
says good and bad.

1907
00:59:55,359 --> 00:59:57,359
That's an issue.

1908
00:59:57,595 --> 00:59:59,230
I will tell you this.

1909
00:59:59,230 --> 00:59:59,464
The library's trying to improve

1910
00:59:59,464 --> 01:00:01,464
it.

1911
01:00:02,133 --> 01:00:03,801
I'm really working hard at it

1912
01:00:03,801 --> 01:00:05,269
but they've had pitfalls.

1913
01:00:05,269 --> 01:00:05,503
You're going to spend the

1914
01:00:05,503 --> 01:00:07,139
money.

1915
01:00:07,139 --> 01:00:07,405
It always comes down to the

1916
01:00:07,405 --> 01:00:09,405
money.

1917
01:00:10,642 --> 01:00:12,543
Is the city going to give the

1918
01:00:12,543 --> 01:00:14,612
boston public library the money

1919
01:00:14,612 --> 01:00:15,913
to be the best library in the

1920
01:00:15,913 --> 01:00:17,616
world too?

1921
01:00:17,616 --> 01:00:18,917
Well, I suggest you take a look

1922
01:00:18,917 --> 01:00:21,152
at what seattle does.

1923
01:00:21,152 --> 01:00:23,421
Seattle has approximately the

1924
01:00:23,421 --> 01:00:23,889
same size population as the

1925
01:00:23,889 --> 01:00:25,889
city of boston.

1926
01:00:26,925 --> 01:00:27,792
Both cities are under 700,000

1927
01:00:27,792 --> 01:00:29,792
and residents.

1928
01:00:33,464 --> 01:00:34,980
Okay.

1929
01:00:34,980 --> 01:00:34,399
>> okay.

1930
01:00:34,399 --> 01:00:34,833
Yeah.

1931
01:00:34,833 --> 01:00:35,833
Thanks, bill.

1932
01:00:35,833 --> 01:00:37,269
You're welcome.

1933
01:00:37,269 --> 01:00:38,336
Look forward to seeing you in

1934
01:00:38,336 --> 01:00:38,970
west roxbury and, uh.

1935
01:00:38,970 --> 01:00:40,805
Um.

1936
01:00:40,805 --> 01:00:41,973
I still cruise the streets

1937
01:00:41,973 --> 01:00:42,240
of center street at least once

1938
01:00:42,240 --> 01:00:44,240
a month.

1939
01:00:44,676 --> 01:00:46,744
Yeah, well, uh, send me a text

1940
01:00:46,744 --> 01:00:47,379
message when you're there on

1941
01:00:47,379 --> 01:00:47,912
me on the street.

1942
01:00:47,912 --> 01:00:49,481
Um, okay.

1943
01:00:49,481 --> 01:00:51,516
Uh, thanks a lot, chair.

1944
01:00:51,516 --> 01:00:52,160
Thank you.

1945
01:00:52,160 --> 01:00:54,160
Council member.

1946
01:00:54,886 --> 01:00:55,153
I'll also take take six

1947
01:00:55,153 --> 01:00:55,554
minutes.

1948
01:00:55,554 --> 01:00:57,554
Um.

1949
01:00:59,624 --> 01:01:00,192
I'll set the clock now for

1950
01:01:00,192 --> 01:01:02,192
myself as well.

1951
01:01:05,897 --> 01:01:08,533
Thank you, bill and thank you.

1952
01:01:08,533 --> 01:01:09,601
Uh, cassandra for again for

1953
01:01:09,601 --> 01:01:11,669
being here for the important

1954
01:01:11,669 --> 01:01:14,572
testimony you are providing but

1955
01:01:14,572 --> 01:01:16,972
also your incredible leadership

1956
01:01:17,876 --> 01:01:19,511
on civil rights issues.

1957
01:01:19,511 --> 01:01:21,212
Supporting persons with

1958
01:01:21,212 --> 01:01:22,280
disabilities and supporting our

1959
01:01:22,280 --> 01:01:24,280
seniors.

1960
01:01:25,116 --> 01:01:26,584
Ensuring our open spaces spaces

1961
01:01:26,584 --> 01:01:28,486
throughout the city

1962
01:01:28,486 --> 01:01:30,486
commonwealth are accessible.

1963
01:01:32,557 --> 01:01:32,824
Disability rights are civil

1964
01:01:32,824 --> 01:01:34,824
rights.

1965
01:01:34,826 --> 01:01:36,826
Um.

1966
01:01:41,132 --> 01:01:42,634
Cassandra, I know you spoke

1967
01:01:42,634 --> 01:01:45,340
eloquently at the beginning

1968
01:01:45,103 --> 01:01:47,103
about concurrent street

1969
01:01:47,172 --> 01:01:49,572
crossing lighting and we

1970
01:01:50,675 --> 01:01:53,178
continue the conversation and I

1971
01:01:53,178 --> 01:01:55,460
agree with everything you said

1972
01:01:55,460 --> 01:01:57,115
both with both the pedestrian

1973
01:01:57,115 --> 01:01:59,818
and the vehicle can't have the

1974
01:01:59,818 --> 01:02:03,540
right of way at the same time.

1975
01:02:03,540 --> 01:02:06,558
It's it's really to me it's

1976
01:02:06,558 --> 01:02:07,626
really about respect for the

1977
01:02:07,626 --> 01:02:09,940
pedestrian respect for the

1978
01:02:09,940 --> 01:02:11,494
person with disability, respect

1979
01:02:12,597 --> 01:02:13,899
for our senior citizens or a

1980
01:02:13,899 --> 01:02:16,569
parent taking their little kid

1981
01:02:16,569 --> 01:02:16,835
across the street in the in the

1982
01:02:16,835 --> 01:02:17,235
crosswalk.

1983
01:02:17,235 --> 01:02:19,235
Um.

1984
01:02:25,143 --> 01:02:27,445
So on that note I, I was at a

1985
01:02:27,445 --> 01:02:29,514
location and there was a there

1986
01:02:29,514 --> 01:02:32,217
was a guy that was driving a

1987
01:02:32,217 --> 01:02:35,320
car and he had on new york

1988
01:02:35,320 --> 01:02:37,822
license plate and he was making

1989
01:02:37,822 --> 01:02:38,890
the turn at the same time when

1990
01:02:38,890 --> 01:02:40,125
people were trying to cross.

1991
01:02:40,125 --> 01:02:42,125
Him and.

1992
01:02:44,596 --> 01:02:47,465
He he almost missed them.

1993
01:02:47,465 --> 01:02:48,733
He was about 1ft or 2ft away

1994
01:02:48,733 --> 01:02:49,000
from the person in the

1995
01:02:49,000 --> 01:02:51,000
crosswalk.

1996
01:02:52,204 --> 01:02:53,705
And I said to him, um, you

1997
01:02:53,705 --> 01:02:54,973
know, you have to let the

1998
01:02:54,973 --> 01:02:56,973
people by cross.

1999
01:02:57,609 --> 01:02:58,276
He said he said to me he didn't

2000
01:02:58,276 --> 01:02:58,910
know me.

2001
01:02:58,910 --> 01:03:00,745
I didn't know him.

2002
01:03:00,745 --> 01:03:02,214
He said, well why do you have

2003
01:03:02,214 --> 01:03:04,820
but the light he had the right

2004
01:03:04,820 --> 01:03:04,549
of way which he does have the

2005
01:03:04,549 --> 01:03:06,549
right of way.

2006
01:03:07,119 --> 01:03:09,988
Um he said I have the right.

2007
01:03:09,988 --> 01:03:11,456
And I said, well, you do have

2008
01:03:11,456 --> 01:03:12,524
the right of way but so does

2009
01:03:12,524 --> 01:03:14,524
not the pedestrian.

2010
01:03:15,193 --> 01:03:16,610
And he said, well this is my

2011
01:03:16,610 --> 01:03:17,729
first time here.

2012
01:03:17,729 --> 01:03:17,929
How do I how do I know that.

2013
01:03:17,929 --> 01:03:19,364
Mhm.

2014
01:03:19,364 --> 01:03:21,000
>> well now he knows but.

2015
01:03:21,000 --> 01:03:22,667
But now he knows that's that's

2016
01:03:22,667 --> 01:03:25,170
right but what about someone

2017
01:03:25,170 --> 01:03:26,638
else that doesn't know the city

2018
01:03:26,638 --> 01:03:29,380
that doesn't know that

2019
01:03:30,742 --> 01:03:32,644
particular intersection and

2020
01:03:32,644 --> 01:03:34,713
they're they're they're making

2021
01:03:34,713 --> 01:03:35,981
the right turn at the same time

2022
01:03:35,981 --> 01:03:37,981
pedestrians are crossing.

2023
01:03:38,617 --> 01:03:40,719
Um but it's really not that

2024
01:03:40,719 --> 01:03:41,787
person's fault because they

2025
01:03:41,787 --> 01:03:42,120
really don't know the

2026
01:03:42,120 --> 01:03:44,890
neighborhood.

2027
01:03:44,890 --> 01:03:45,724
They don't know the lighting

2028
01:03:45,724 --> 01:03:46,191
and I'm not I'm not here to

2029
01:03:46,191 --> 01:03:48,191
blame anybody.

2030
01:03:49,861 --> 01:03:50,950
But why can't we come together

2031
01:03:50,950 --> 01:03:52,950
?

2032
01:03:53,165 --> 01:03:55,668
Acknowledge that it is a public

2033
01:03:55,668 --> 01:03:56,134
safety problem that we have in

2034
01:03:56,134 --> 01:03:58,134
the city.

2035
01:04:00,605 --> 01:04:02,474
And if the if they're not going

2036
01:04:02,474 --> 01:04:04,342
to make change here at city

2037
01:04:04,342 --> 01:04:06,645
hall, I do believe we might

2038
01:04:06,645 --> 01:04:07,790
have to make change in the

2039
01:04:07,790 --> 01:04:09,790
court system.

2040
01:04:09,147 --> 01:04:11,160
Absolutely because I don't

2041
01:04:11,160 --> 01:04:12,317
think I don't think the chief

2042
01:04:12,317 --> 01:04:12,784
of streets is going to make the

2043
01:04:12,784 --> 01:04:14,186
change for us.

2044
01:04:14,186 --> 01:04:14,453
I've asked them a bunch

2045
01:04:14,453 --> 01:04:16,188
of times.

2046
01:04:16,188 --> 01:04:17,356
My city council colleagues have

2047
01:04:17,356 --> 01:04:18,790
asked them as well.

2048
01:04:18,790 --> 01:04:19,240
They're not going to make the

2049
01:04:19,240 --> 01:04:20,590
change.

2050
01:04:20,590 --> 01:04:22,590
um.

2051
01:04:23,950 --> 01:04:23,962
>> but but do you think we can

2052
01:04:23,962 --> 01:04:25,163
bring this to court?

2053
01:04:25,163 --> 01:04:27,163
That's my question.

2054
01:04:27,800 --> 01:04:28,500
Um, I would like to ask one

2055
01:04:28,500 --> 01:04:28,701
question first.

2056
01:04:28,701 --> 01:04:29,134
Sure.

2057
01:04:29,134 --> 01:04:30,536
Go ahead.

2058
01:04:30,536 --> 01:04:31,404
Is the chief of street even

2059
01:04:31,404 --> 01:04:33,404
from boston?

2060
01:04:35,674 --> 01:04:36,942
Like do they live in the

2061
01:04:36,942 --> 01:04:38,410
perimeters of the area to even

2062
01:04:38,410 --> 01:04:40,410
see this themselves?

2063
01:04:40,646 --> 01:04:42,314
I think I think every

2064
01:04:42,314 --> 01:04:43,181
department head is required to

2065
01:04:43,181 --> 01:04:43,982
live in the city.

2066
01:04:43,982 --> 01:04:45,982
Okay, good.

2067
01:04:49,287 --> 01:04:51,556
And then the other part is yes

2068
01:04:51,556 --> 01:04:51,990
it needs to be escalated to a

2069
01:04:51,990 --> 01:04:53,990
higher level.

2070
01:04:54,660 --> 01:04:55,928
We've already tried everything

2071
01:04:55,928 --> 01:04:58,797
we could to reason with them.

2072
01:04:58,797 --> 01:05:00,666
We've done the best we could to

2073
01:05:00,666 --> 01:05:02,969
reason to make sure the

2074
01:05:02,969 --> 01:05:05,969
pedestrians are safe, but they

2075
01:05:06,672 --> 01:05:09,174
don't want to, you know, make

2076
01:05:09,174 --> 01:05:09,641
that simple gesture to be like

2077
01:05:09,641 --> 01:05:11,476
okay, cool.

2078
01:05:11,476 --> 01:05:13,512
Pedestrians are important too.

2079
01:05:13,512 --> 01:05:14,112
And not just the drivers.

2080
01:05:14,112 --> 01:05:16,112
Yes.

2081
01:05:18,217 --> 01:05:19,885
So without any further just

2082
01:05:19,885 --> 01:05:20,452
just let's just go to the next

2083
01:05:20,452 --> 01:05:22,452
level with it.

2084
01:05:23,488 --> 01:05:25,991
Yeah I am concerned the longer

2085
01:05:25,991 --> 01:05:27,459
we wait the likelihood that

2086
01:05:27,459 --> 01:05:27,726
there could be another accident

2087
01:05:27,726 --> 01:05:29,161
.

2088
01:05:29,161 --> 01:05:30,562
We want to stop that.

2089
01:05:30,562 --> 01:05:31,797
That's exactly right.

2090
01:05:31,797 --> 01:05:33,232
You're exactly right.

2091
01:05:33,232 --> 01:05:33,665
We want to stop it before it

2092
01:05:33,665 --> 01:05:35,665
gets worse.

2093
01:05:36,935 --> 01:05:38,604
And what happens if it's a

2094
01:05:38,604 --> 01:05:40,473
child in the crosswalk?

2095
01:05:40,473 --> 01:05:41,106
Um, what happens if it's a

2096
01:05:41,106 --> 01:05:43,106
senior citizen?

2097
01:05:43,342 --> 01:05:44,900
What happens if it's a person

2098
01:05:44,900 --> 01:05:46,900
in a wheelchair?

2099
01:05:46,245 --> 01:05:48,881
What happens if it's anybody?

2100
01:05:48,881 --> 01:05:51,281
it's a preventable situation

2101
01:05:51,383 --> 01:05:53,852
that could have been avoided

2102
01:05:53,852 --> 01:05:54,153
and that needs to be addressed

2103
01:05:54,153 --> 01:05:55,754
immediately.

2104
01:05:55,754 --> 01:05:56,822
Like as soon as possible

2105
01:05:56,822 --> 01:05:59,910
hopefully before the end

2106
01:05:59,910 --> 01:06:01,159
of this year to take them to

2107
01:06:01,159 --> 01:06:02,427
court for it if if it's even

2108
01:06:02,427 --> 01:06:04,427
possible.

2109
01:06:06,980 --> 01:06:08,367
And if possible me and bob can

2110
01:06:08,367 --> 01:06:08,834
go along and certainly well to

2111
01:06:08,834 --> 01:06:09,634
the court.

2112
01:06:09,634 --> 01:06:11,690
Yeah.

2113
01:06:11,690 --> 01:06:13,690
Yeah.

2114
01:06:13,305 --> 01:06:15,374
Let's go to court and make sure

2115
01:06:15,374 --> 01:06:16,410
you know pedestrians lives

2116
01:06:16,410 --> 01:06:18,410
matter to.

2117
01:06:18,477 --> 01:06:20,379
Yeah I agree I don't I don't

2118
01:06:20,379 --> 01:06:20,812
think anyone really wants to go

2119
01:06:20,812 --> 01:06:22,448
to court.

2120
01:06:22,448 --> 01:06:22,681
I think that's our last option

2121
01:06:22,681 --> 01:06:24,681
.

2122
01:06:24,917 --> 01:06:25,184
But I don't like you cassandra

2123
01:06:25,184 --> 01:06:27,184
.

2124
01:06:28,220 --> 01:06:29,521
I don't want to wait until an

2125
01:06:29,521 --> 01:06:31,521
accident happens again.

2126
01:06:33,392 --> 01:06:34,660
Um, I know there have been

2127
01:06:34,660 --> 01:06:35,494
several deaths in the city

2128
01:06:35,494 --> 01:06:36,529
of boston because of this.

2129
01:06:36,529 --> 01:06:37,162
Yeah.

2130
01:06:37,162 --> 01:06:39,162
Um.

2131
01:06:39,198 --> 01:06:40,466
>> concurrent jurisdiction,

2132
01:06:40,466 --> 01:06:42,866
street lighting related issue.

2133
01:06:45,137 --> 01:06:49,337
Um, but my time is almost up.

2134
01:06:50,242 --> 01:06:51,110
Um, let me let me just ask one

2135
01:06:51,110 --> 01:06:52,444
final question.

2136
01:06:52,444 --> 01:06:54,346
I'm going to I'm going to shut

2137
01:06:54,346 --> 01:06:54,780
off the, um, the clock in one

2138
01:06:54,780 --> 01:06:55,314
second.

2139
01:06:55,314 --> 01:06:56,149
It's about two.

2140
01:06:56,149 --> 01:06:56,549
It's about one.

2141
01:06:56,549 --> 01:06:58,549
Um.

2142
01:07:00,819 --> 01:07:04,323
So one issue that I've I've

2143
01:07:04,323 --> 01:07:07,826
focused on along for a while is

2144
01:07:07,826 --> 01:07:10,696
the lift for peop for people in

2145
01:07:10,696 --> 01:07:12,999
wheelchairs on the on the third

2146
01:07:12,999 --> 01:07:14,330
floor the entrance to the third

2147
01:07:14,330 --> 01:07:16,433
floor on city council.

2148
01:07:17,703 --> 01:07:20,205
Um the plaza area when you're

2149
01:07:20,205 --> 01:07:21,673
going in where the bricks and

2150
01:07:21,673 --> 01:07:24,576
you go through the security and

2151
01:07:24,576 --> 01:07:25,844
you kind of go around uh past

2152
01:07:25,844 --> 01:07:27,120
the elevators in there's the

2153
01:07:27,120 --> 01:07:29,315
lift that will bring you up to

2154
01:07:29,315 --> 01:07:31,183
the mezzanine with it's a lot

2155
01:07:31,183 --> 01:07:34,183
of kind of civic events.

2156
01:07:34,853 --> 01:07:37,323
I don't believe that area is

2157
01:07:37,323 --> 01:07:38,624
necessarily accessible to

2158
01:07:38,624 --> 01:07:39,959
persons with disabilities.

2159
01:07:39,959 --> 01:07:43,559
Yes, we do have a lift.

2160
01:07:45,664 --> 01:07:48,301
Um, but it can be challenging.

2161
01:07:48,301 --> 01:07:51,203
I know, I know many people have

2162
01:07:51,203 --> 01:07:55,403
not used the lift um, for for

2163
01:07:55,507 --> 01:07:56,375
various reasons but I am

2164
01:07:56,375 --> 01:07:58,430
uncomfortable at that

2165
01:07:58,430 --> 01:07:59,912
particular area of city hall

2166
01:07:59,912 --> 01:08:01,380
and I love I love this building

2167
01:08:01,380 --> 01:08:04,283
but I am uncomfortable with

2168
01:08:04,283 --> 01:08:06,785
that part of the building

2169
01:08:06,785 --> 01:08:08,854
because I feel it is not

2170
01:08:08,854 --> 01:08:10,123
accessible to persons with

2171
01:08:10,123 --> 01:08:10,756
disabilities and seniors.

2172
01:08:10,756 --> 01:08:12,756
Mhm.

2173
01:08:13,592 --> 01:08:16,950
Seniors also trying to walk up

2174
01:08:16,950 --> 01:08:17,596
the stairs coming from the

2175
01:08:17,596 --> 01:08:18,797
third floor senate plaza.

2176
01:08:18,797 --> 01:08:20,797
Very challenging.

2177
01:08:21,233 --> 01:08:23,233
Very very difficult.

2178
01:08:23,869 --> 01:08:25,971
Also the hand railings if you

2179
01:08:25,971 --> 01:08:27,840
notice the hand railings are

2180
01:08:27,840 --> 01:08:30,840
kind of awkward and they're

2181
01:08:30,943 --> 01:08:33,245
almost in the center the center

2182
01:08:33,245 --> 01:08:34,680
of the of the brick stairs.

2183
01:08:34,680 --> 01:08:35,448
They're not laid out properly

2184
01:08:35,448 --> 01:08:37,848
and in my opinion.

2185
01:08:37,883 --> 01:08:40,883
I do want us to.

2186
01:08:42,540 --> 01:08:42,521
Study on how we can make it

2187
01:08:42,521 --> 01:08:44,521
more accessible.

2188
01:08:45,157 --> 01:08:46,525
But bill I think you wanted to

2189
01:08:46,525 --> 01:08:47,993
speak and want to give you the

2190
01:08:47,993 --> 01:08:48,261
opportunity because I'm I'm out

2191
01:08:48,261 --> 01:08:49,429
of time.

2192
01:08:49,429 --> 01:08:53,290
But bill, you have the floor.

2193
01:08:53,499 --> 01:08:54,767
I actually visited the third

2194
01:08:54,767 --> 01:08:56,767
floor last friday.

2195
01:08:57,803 --> 01:08:58,871
There's a wonderful volunteer

2196
01:08:58,871 --> 01:09:00,272
is only there on fridays.

2197
01:09:00,272 --> 01:09:02,509
His name is jerry.

2198
01:09:02,509 --> 01:09:03,375
He probably knows the building

2199
01:09:03,375 --> 01:09:05,811
better than all of us.

2200
01:09:05,811 --> 01:09:07,790
according to one of the

2201
01:09:07,790 --> 01:09:07,313
volunteers that was there

2202
01:09:07,313 --> 01:09:09,313
today.

2203
01:09:10,820 --> 01:09:13,953
He did bring me to the lift.

2204
01:09:13,953 --> 01:09:15,621
He said you just have to have

2205
01:09:15,621 --> 01:09:16,989
security or volunteer help you

2206
01:09:16,989 --> 01:09:18,824
to open it to go on.

2207
01:09:18,824 --> 01:09:20,590
I didn't do it.

2208
01:09:20,590 --> 01:09:21,861
So I can't address them.

2209
01:09:21,861 --> 01:09:22,762
I will talk about the railings

2210
01:09:22,762 --> 01:09:25,162
across the city hall.

2211
01:09:25,197 --> 01:09:26,699
I brought that up when we did

2212
01:09:26,699 --> 01:09:26,932
the walkthrough earlier this

2213
01:09:26,932 --> 01:09:28,932
year.

2214
01:09:29,368 --> 01:09:30,836
A lot of the rail, all the

2215
01:09:30,836 --> 01:09:32,836
railings, a rectangle.

2216
01:09:34,707 --> 01:09:37,376
Why not have a round look?

2217
01:09:37,376 --> 01:09:40,212
Are canes easy to handle?

2218
01:09:40,212 --> 01:09:42,114
Now there is a problem with

2219
01:09:42,114 --> 01:09:42,381
city hall and it looks

2220
01:09:42,381 --> 01:09:44,381
beautiful.

2221
01:09:47,190 --> 01:09:47,453
The stairs are nice and shiny

2222
01:09:47,453 --> 01:09:49,121
foyer.

2223
01:09:49,121 --> 01:09:50,589
I think they are dangerous now

2224
01:09:50,589 --> 01:09:52,859
that I'm legally blind but to

2225
01:09:52,859 --> 01:09:55,859
my side people dangerous from

2226
01:09:56,162 --> 01:09:59,650
the beginning even more so I

2227
01:09:59,650 --> 01:10:00,533
think I walk very slowly up and

2228
01:10:00,533 --> 01:10:03,200
down those stairs and I can

2229
01:10:03,200 --> 01:10:04,700
demonstrate to you folks how I

2230
01:10:04,700 --> 01:10:05,538
was taught at the college

2231
01:10:05,538 --> 01:10:06,405
center for the blind by a

2232
01:10:06,405 --> 01:10:07,473
wonderful mobility trainer

2233
01:10:07,473 --> 01:10:09,473
named augustine.

2234
01:10:09,909 --> 01:10:12,178
Yeah, I'm giving him a plug.

2235
01:10:12,178 --> 01:10:13,450
He saved my life a number

2236
01:10:13,450 --> 01:10:16,450
of times recently through his

2237
01:10:16,315 --> 01:10:19,315
training and I can demonstrate

2238
01:10:19,852 --> 01:10:23,556
to you after this how I was

2239
01:10:23,556 --> 01:10:25,825
taught to navigate crosswalks

2240
01:10:25,825 --> 01:10:28,494
that don't have these systems.

2241
01:10:28,494 --> 01:10:30,796
It's very interesting to watch

2242
01:10:30,796 --> 01:10:31,564
the traffic stop because

2243
01:10:31,564 --> 01:10:33,800
of what I was taught.

2244
01:10:33,800 --> 01:10:35,669
All the railings in this

2245
01:10:35,669 --> 01:10:37,136
building need to be changed

2246
01:10:37,136 --> 01:10:39,239
very expensive but they'll be

2247
01:10:39,239 --> 01:10:41,741
safer for the seniors who come

2248
01:10:41,741 --> 01:10:41,974
to this building actually

2249
01:10:41,974 --> 01:10:42,309
anybody.

2250
01:10:42,309 --> 01:10:44,309
mhm.

2251
01:10:45,440 --> 01:10:46,946
Because they're not rectangle

2252
01:10:46,946 --> 01:10:49,346
round you know round.

2253
01:10:51,217 --> 01:10:53,850
I will in closing thank

2254
01:10:53,850 --> 01:10:55,188
commissioner mccosh because she

2255
01:10:55,188 --> 01:10:56,856
and I she addressed a very

2256
01:10:56,856 --> 01:10:57,523
serious question I had about

2257
01:10:57,523 --> 01:10:59,523
the new elevator.

2258
01:11:00,560 --> 01:11:02,863
There were buildings in the

2259
01:11:02,863 --> 01:11:04,630
city commercial buildings.

2260
01:11:04,630 --> 01:11:05,965
They don't have the button

2261
01:11:05,965 --> 01:11:07,366
panel anymore on the elevator.

2262
01:11:07,366 --> 01:11:09,766
Everything is video monitored.

2263
01:11:10,636 --> 01:11:11,904
Thank GOD for security when I

2264
01:11:11,904 --> 01:11:14,607
was doing work two years ago

2265
01:11:14,607 --> 01:11:16,750
when this he put area

2266
01:11:16,750 --> 01:11:16,909
commissioners was the cautious

2267
01:11:16,909 --> 01:11:18,909
response was wonderful.

2268
01:11:19,979 --> 01:11:20,446
She said I'm not going to quote

2269
01:11:20,446 --> 01:11:22,446
to paraphrase.

2270
01:11:23,683 --> 01:11:24,784
There will be no video monitors

2271
01:11:24,784 --> 01:11:25,510
in the elevators in this

2272
01:11:25,510 --> 01:11:27,510
building.

2273
01:11:27,687 --> 01:11:28,921
Thank you, commissioner mccosh

2274
01:11:28,921 --> 01:11:31,321
for being that clear.

2275
01:11:31,390 --> 01:11:32,825
Well thank you bill.

2276
01:11:32,825 --> 01:11:34,825
Thank you cassandra.

2277
01:11:36,495 --> 01:11:39,495
Um, my time is up.

2278
01:11:40,767 --> 01:11:42,635
I do want to give my colleagues

2279
01:11:42,635 --> 01:11:44,971
an opportunity if they want to

2280
01:11:44,971 --> 01:11:46,720
have a closing statement, but I

2281
01:11:46,720 --> 01:11:47,940
do want to give an opportunity

2282
01:11:47,940 --> 01:11:50,209
for cassandra and bill.

2283
01:11:50,209 --> 01:11:50,476
Um, give you the opportunity as

2284
01:11:50,476 --> 01:11:52,476
well.

2285
01:11:52,945 --> 01:11:53,413
If you'd like to give a closing

2286
01:11:53,413 --> 01:11:54,414
statement.

2287
01:11:54,414 --> 01:11:55,449
You're ready.

2288
01:11:55,449 --> 01:11:56,449
Um, first.

2289
01:11:56,449 --> 01:11:58,449
Let okay.

2290
01:12:01,421 --> 01:12:01,687
Let me ask, um, councilor weber

2291
01:12:01,687 --> 01:12:02,321
.

2292
01:12:02,321 --> 01:12:02,855
No.

2293
01:12:02,855 --> 01:12:03,356
I'm sorry.

2294
01:12:03,356 --> 01:12:04,490
I'm sorry.

2295
01:12:04,490 --> 01:12:06,490
Council shouldn't.

2296
01:12:06,525 --> 01:12:07,593
I'm going to give my colleagues

2297
01:12:07,593 --> 01:12:07,860
two minutes for closing

2298
01:12:07,860 --> 01:12:09,860
statement.

2299
01:12:10,496 --> 01:12:12,565
Um, and then and then I'm going

2300
01:12:12,565 --> 01:12:13,633
to give both of you, um, an

2301
01:12:13,633 --> 01:12:14,300
opportunity to give the closing

2302
01:12:14,300 --> 01:12:16,300
statement as well.

2303
01:12:17,437 --> 01:12:17,737
So council louijeune you have

2304
01:12:17,737 --> 01:12:18,370
the floor.

2305
01:12:18,370 --> 01:12:18,905
Thank you.

2306
01:12:18,905 --> 01:12:19,973
>> I'll be brief.

2307
01:12:19,973 --> 01:12:21,241
>> I want to thank you, bill,

2308
01:12:21,241 --> 01:12:21,441
for your advocacy and for being

2309
01:12:21,441 --> 01:12:23,109
here.

2310
01:12:23,109 --> 01:12:24,410
I want to thank you, of course,

2311
01:12:24,410 --> 01:12:25,511
cassandra, for all the work

2312
01:12:25,511 --> 01:12:26,713
that you do put your travel

2313
01:12:26,713 --> 01:12:27,714
fella to be the boss on.

2314
01:12:27,714 --> 01:12:29,714
Really appreciate it.

2315
01:12:29,949 --> 01:12:31,170
Um, and we obviously bill made

2316
01:12:31,170 --> 01:12:32,385
it clear cassandra made it

2317
01:12:32,385 --> 01:12:33,386
clear that the city has a lot

2318
01:12:33,386 --> 01:12:33,686
more work to do and look

2319
01:12:33,686 --> 01:12:35,686
forward to.

2320
01:12:35,689 --> 01:12:36,556
You know, it would be great to

2321
01:12:36,556 --> 01:12:37,624
hear from the disability

2322
01:12:37,624 --> 01:12:38,691
commission or from the

2323
01:12:38,691 --> 01:12:39,993
administration about their

2324
01:12:39,993 --> 01:12:41,361
efforts to see sort of where

2325
01:12:41,361 --> 01:12:42,228
they go down the street from

2326
01:12:42,228 --> 01:12:43,696
their perspective sort of why

2327
01:12:43,696 --> 01:12:47,296
we are lagging behind so much.

2328
01:12:47,367 --> 01:12:48,635
But um, I, I know like I stated

2329
01:12:48,635 --> 01:12:49,702
that even in my neighborhood on

2330
01:12:49,702 --> 01:12:50,536
my street there are

2331
01:12:50,536 --> 01:12:52,238
accessibility major

2332
01:12:52,238 --> 01:12:53,906
accessibility issues that I

2333
01:12:53,906 --> 01:12:54,107
want uh, to help solve in the

2334
01:12:54,107 --> 01:12:55,375
city.

2335
01:12:55,375 --> 01:12:56,943
So thank you for your work.

2336
01:12:56,943 --> 01:12:58,177
Uh, I want to give another big

2337
01:12:58,177 --> 01:12:59,479
shout out to the workers at

2338
01:12:59,479 --> 01:13:00,113
national bill press for all

2339
01:13:00,113 --> 01:13:00,947
that they do.

2340
01:13:00,947 --> 01:13:02,181
For.

2341
01:13:02,181 --> 01:13:03,249
>> uh, all of our communities

2342
01:13:03,249 --> 01:13:04,830
and especially those who.

2343
01:13:04,830 --> 01:13:04,884
Are blind.

2344
01:13:04,884 --> 01:13:06,419
Thank you.

2345
01:13:06,419 --> 01:13:07,954
Thank you.

2346
01:13:07,954 --> 01:13:08,387
>> thank you,

2347
01:13:08,387 --> 01:13:10,387
councilor louijeune.

2348
01:13:12,792 --> 01:13:14,661
I want to give council weber

2349
01:13:14,661 --> 01:13:16,162
the opportunity to give a

2350
01:13:16,162 --> 01:13:16,395
closing closing statement as

2351
01:13:16,395 --> 01:13:17,300
well.

2352
01:13:17,300 --> 01:13:18,431
Um.

2353
01:13:18,431 --> 01:13:18,831
Two minutes, consul weber.

2354
01:13:18,831 --> 01:13:19,465
Okay.

2355
01:13:19,465 --> 01:13:20,466
Thank you.

2356
01:13:20,466 --> 01:13:22,302
Thank you very much.

2357
01:13:22,302 --> 01:13:24,404
Uh, cassandra and bill, it

2358
01:13:24,404 --> 01:13:24,837
just, uh it's it's great to see

2359
01:13:24,837 --> 01:13:26,837
you here.

2360
01:13:27,307 --> 01:13:29,609
Uh, and I, you know, hope you

2361
01:13:29,609 --> 01:13:30,877
realize how much of a

2362
01:13:30,877 --> 01:13:32,545
difference your advocacy makes

2363
01:13:32,545 --> 01:13:35,181
for people in this city.

2364
01:13:35,181 --> 01:13:36,849
Uh, you know, it's like you you

2365
01:13:36,849 --> 01:13:39,152
really elevate this issue and

2366
01:13:39,152 --> 01:13:40,620
we talk about, you know, making

2367
01:13:40,620 --> 01:13:42,489
this a priority when we look at

2368
01:13:42,489 --> 01:13:44,924
all other kinds of issues.

2369
01:13:44,924 --> 01:13:46,920
I know you know myself and the

2370
01:13:46,920 --> 01:13:47,360
chair councilor louijeune my

2371
01:13:47,360 --> 01:13:48,829
other colleagues will be

2372
01:13:48,829 --> 01:13:50,230
thinking about you know, what

2373
01:13:50,230 --> 01:13:51,799
you have said today and what

2374
01:13:51,799 --> 01:13:52,650
you said in many other hearings

2375
01:13:52,650 --> 01:13:53,700
.

2376
01:13:53,700 --> 01:13:54,334
Uh, so I just you know.

2377
01:13:54,334 --> 01:13:56,334
Your hard work.

2378
01:13:57,804 --> 01:13:59,672
Is it's it's it's very valuable

2379
01:13:59,672 --> 01:14:01,174
in this city for people who

2380
01:14:01,174 --> 01:14:02,409
maybe can't even make it here,

2381
01:14:02,409 --> 01:14:03,676
uh, to speak up.

2382
01:14:03,676 --> 01:14:04,177
So I just want to thank you.

2383
01:14:04,177 --> 01:14:06,120
For for.

2384
01:14:06,120 --> 01:14:07,680
Being the folks who who.

2385
01:14:07,680 --> 01:14:09,783
You know, highlight this and

2386
01:14:09,783 --> 01:14:10,250
elevate this, uh, for us to

2387
01:14:10,250 --> 01:14:12,250
sort of taken.

2388
01:14:13,860 --> 01:14:14,754
To more with so, uh, I know we

2389
01:14:14,754 --> 01:14:16,356
have our marching orders and,

2390
01:14:16,356 --> 01:14:16,723
uh, just want to thank you for

2391
01:14:16,723 --> 01:14:17,524
being here.

2392
01:14:17,524 --> 01:14:19,524
Thanks, chair.

2393
01:14:19,993 --> 01:14:20,727
Thank you.

2394
01:14:20,727 --> 01:14:22,727
>> council weber.

2395
01:14:25,999 --> 01:14:28,635
I checked with, um, shayne.

2396
01:14:28,635 --> 01:14:30,937
Uh, we do not have any public

2397
01:14:30,937 --> 01:14:32,405
testimony, but before I give a

2398
01:14:32,405 --> 01:14:33,807
closing statement, I do want to

2399
01:14:33,807 --> 01:14:37,310
say thank you to shane and to

2400
01:14:37,310 --> 01:14:39,779
ethan for, uh, conducting, um,

2401
01:14:39,779 --> 01:14:40,460
organizing a very helpful

2402
01:14:40,460 --> 01:14:42,460
hearing.

2403
01:14:44,250 --> 01:14:45,819
Um, well, I'm going to I'm

2404
01:14:45,819 --> 01:14:46,860
going to hold off on my closing

2405
01:14:46,860 --> 01:14:48,860
statement.

2406
01:14:48,521 --> 01:14:52,121
I want to give, um, cassandra

2407
01:14:52,225 --> 01:14:54,127
and bill the opportunity to you

2408
01:14:54,127 --> 01:14:55,161
to go first and then I'll and

2409
01:14:55,161 --> 01:14:56,629
I'll kind of briefly conclude

2410
01:14:56,629 --> 01:14:58,629
after the after.

2411
01:14:59,990 --> 01:14:59,366
So bill or who would like to go

2412
01:14:59,366 --> 01:15:00,700
first.

2413
01:15:00,700 --> 01:15:01,134
Because I was.

2414
01:15:01,134 --> 01:15:01,534
>> in.

2415
01:15:01,534 --> 01:15:02,135
First place.

2416
01:15:02,135 --> 01:15:03,169
Okay.

2417
01:15:03,169 --> 01:15:04,504
Okay.

2418
01:15:04,504 --> 01:15:05,171
>> because cassandra, you have

2419
01:15:05,171 --> 01:15:05,772
the floor.

2420
01:15:05,772 --> 01:15:07,772
All right.

2421
01:15:08,208 --> 01:15:10,510
Um, I would like to say to

2422
01:15:10,510 --> 01:15:13,510
everyone thank you for taking

2423
01:15:13,780 --> 01:15:17,980
the time to invite us into this

2424
01:15:18,518 --> 01:15:19,153
space to, uh, have our voices

2425
01:15:19,153 --> 01:15:19,986
be heard.

2426
01:15:19,986 --> 01:15:21,986
Um.

2427
01:15:22,422 --> 01:15:24,422
>> I consider these

2428
01:15:24,724 --> 01:15:25,992
opportunities pretty rare and,

2429
01:15:25,992 --> 01:15:28,392
you know, great opportunities

2430
01:15:29,863 --> 01:15:32,365
to be heard to be a part of the

2431
01:15:32,365 --> 01:15:33,833
progress and advocacy

2432
01:15:33,833 --> 01:15:34,401
throughout the commonwealth

2433
01:15:34,401 --> 01:15:36,401
of massachusetts.

2434
01:15:37,237 --> 01:15:40,837
And it's been a long time

2435
01:15:41,775 --> 01:15:44,879
coming for a lot of us to, um,

2436
01:15:44,879 --> 01:15:45,311
speak on really important

2437
01:15:45,311 --> 01:15:47,311
situations.

2438
01:15:47,981 --> 01:15:50,250
Happening and we hope to

2439
01:15:50,250 --> 01:15:51,518
continue coming back for more

2440
01:15:51,518 --> 01:15:53,518
discussions.

2441
01:15:53,754 --> 01:15:56,223
And I hope that what we talked

2442
01:15:56,223 --> 01:15:58,324
about today also makes more

2443
01:15:58,324 --> 01:15:59,359
progress and we get what we are

2444
01:15:59,359 --> 01:16:02,262
looking for so that everyone

2445
01:16:02,262 --> 01:16:03,463
can navigate the commonwealth

2446
01:16:03,463 --> 01:16:03,763
of massachusetts safely and

2447
01:16:03,763 --> 01:16:05,763
comfortably.

2448
01:16:06,166 --> 01:16:07,567
Thank you cassandra.

2449
01:16:07,567 --> 01:16:09,236
Excellent testimony.

2450
01:16:09,236 --> 01:16:11,236
excellent closing statement.

2451
01:16:12,706 --> 01:16:13,740
Um, bill, you have the floor.

2452
01:16:13,740 --> 01:16:15,740
Thank you.

2453
01:16:17,410 --> 01:16:19,279
City council, for and for this

2454
01:16:19,279 --> 01:16:19,746
opportunity to come before the

2455
01:16:19,746 --> 01:16:21,746
council again.

2456
01:16:23,216 --> 01:16:25,850
And the most important thing

2457
01:16:25,850 --> 01:16:28,321
for me is I hope you listen.

2458
01:16:28,321 --> 01:16:30,223
I hope all the commission had

2459
01:16:30,223 --> 01:16:32,590
department heads also listen.

2460
01:16:32,590 --> 01:16:34,459
This is real time.

2461
01:16:34,494 --> 01:16:36,129
It's not facebook.

2462
01:16:36,129 --> 01:16:38,129
It's not instagram.

2463
01:16:39,566 --> 01:16:42,269
When I walk out this door and

2464
01:16:42,269 --> 01:16:42,936
head for the streets I have no

2465
01:16:42,936 --> 01:16:44,772
idea.

2466
01:16:44,772 --> 01:16:46,440
But the two of us will be

2467
01:16:46,440 --> 01:16:48,840
facing changes every minute.

2468
01:16:50,944 --> 01:16:51,379
I thank you for the opportunity

2469
01:16:51,379 --> 01:16:53,379
once again.

2470
01:16:54,448 --> 01:16:55,820
Any time any place in the city

2471
01:16:55,820 --> 01:16:57,820
the district.

2472
01:16:58,753 --> 01:16:59,219
Lastly mayor will you're also

2473
01:16:59,219 --> 01:17:00,620
invited.

2474
01:17:00,620 --> 01:17:02,656
I've been trying for two years.

2475
01:17:02,656 --> 01:17:04,324
Hopefully one of your staff

2476
01:17:04,324 --> 01:17:06,159
members will respond this time.

2477
01:17:06,159 --> 01:17:08,159
Thank you all.

2478
01:17:09,290 --> 01:17:10,960
Last thing I think to see is it

2479
01:17:10,960 --> 01:17:11,980
has a little secret.

2480
01:17:11,980 --> 01:17:13,534
It's a lot of fun.

2481
01:17:13,534 --> 01:17:14,602
I found incredible people over

2482
01:17:14,602 --> 01:17:16,360
the last six years.

2483
01:17:16,360 --> 01:17:18,360
Very lucky.

2484
01:17:18,572 --> 01:17:19,206
Wonderful support.

2485
01:17:19,206 --> 01:17:20,440
Thank you very much.

2486
01:17:20,440 --> 01:17:22,440
Thank you bill.

2487
01:17:25,545 --> 01:17:26,120
I'm going to give myself two

2488
01:17:26,120 --> 01:17:28,120
minutes as well.

2489
01:17:30,250 --> 01:17:31,652
First I want to say thank you

2490
01:17:31,652 --> 01:17:34,652
to my city council colleagues

2491
01:17:35,756 --> 01:17:38,250
for being here for their

2492
01:17:38,250 --> 01:17:38,692
important dialog and input that

2493
01:17:38,692 --> 01:17:40,692
they provided.

2494
01:17:41,128 --> 01:17:42,963
Excellent questions as well.

2495
01:17:42,963 --> 01:17:46,266
I want to say thank you to bill

2496
01:17:46,266 --> 01:17:47,734
and cassandra for your advocacy

2497
01:17:47,734 --> 01:17:50,771
and for being here as well.

2498
01:17:50,771 --> 01:17:52,873
And I think you testimony and

2499
01:17:52,873 --> 01:17:55,273
if testified before this

2500
01:17:56,376 --> 01:17:57,611
committee many times but it's

2501
01:17:57,611 --> 01:18:00,611
important for me it's important

2502
01:18:01,114 --> 01:18:04,714
for our colleagues to listen to

2503
01:18:05,520 --> 01:18:07,321
you, to hear from you, to

2504
01:18:07,321 --> 01:18:09,823
understand what you are going

2505
01:18:09,823 --> 01:18:11,910
through and through your life

2506
01:18:11,910 --> 01:18:11,359
experience, through your

2507
01:18:11,359 --> 01:18:13,359
testimony.

2508
01:18:14,361 --> 01:18:16,463
That makes us better count

2509
01:18:16,463 --> 01:18:18,863
better city councilors because

2510
01:18:19,333 --> 01:18:21,350
we can be more effective in

2511
01:18:21,350 --> 01:18:21,368
advocating for persons with

2512
01:18:21,368 --> 01:18:23,368
disabilities.

2513
01:18:23,704 --> 01:18:25,704
We know.

2514
01:18:27,374 --> 01:18:27,607
Disability rights uh, civil

2515
01:18:27,607 --> 01:18:29,243
rights.

2516
01:18:29,243 --> 01:18:30,377
There's more.

2517
01:18:30,377 --> 01:18:33,377
Work we need to do.

2518
01:18:35,249 --> 01:18:36,951
As a as a member of the

2519
01:18:36,951 --> 01:18:38,418
disability rights community,

2520
01:18:38,418 --> 01:18:39,686
I'm an active member of the

2521
01:18:39,686 --> 01:18:40,287
disabled american veterans.

2522
01:18:40,287 --> 01:18:42,287
Yeah.

2523
01:18:43,156 --> 01:18:45,250
>> I do want to say thank you

2524
01:18:45,250 --> 01:18:48,625
to you because what you are

2525
01:18:48,929 --> 01:18:49,997
advocating for is helping all

2526
01:18:49,997 --> 01:18:51,499
persons with disabilities

2527
01:18:51,499 --> 01:18:52,366
across the commonwealth, not

2528
01:18:52,366 --> 01:18:54,366
just yourself.

2529
01:18:55,802 --> 01:18:58,506
You are making life easier,

2530
01:18:58,506 --> 01:19:00,174
healthier and more accessible

2531
01:19:00,174 --> 01:19:02,810
to so many more people.

2532
01:19:02,810 --> 01:19:03,243
Whether they're older or

2533
01:19:03,243 --> 01:19:04,611
younger.

2534
01:19:04,611 --> 01:19:04,879
But you are setting the example

2535
01:19:04,879 --> 01:19:06,879
.

2536
01:19:08,549 --> 01:19:11,852
For a new generation of persons

2537
01:19:11,852 --> 01:19:14,252
with disabilities to advocate

2538
01:19:14,321 --> 01:19:15,823
on their behalf to ensure that

2539
01:19:15,823 --> 01:19:17,859
they are treated with respect.

2540
01:19:17,859 --> 01:19:20,527
They they are treated with

2541
01:19:20,527 --> 01:19:24,127
dignity because as we all know

2542
01:19:24,631 --> 01:19:26,299
,disability rights uh civil

2543
01:19:26,299 --> 01:19:27,935
rights absolutely.

2544
01:19:27,935 --> 01:19:29,403
And we can't do enough for

2545
01:19:29,403 --> 01:19:29,870
persons with disabilities in

2546
01:19:29,870 --> 01:19:31,870
this city.

2547
01:19:32,506 --> 01:19:33,974
We have a lot more work to do

2548
01:19:33,974 --> 01:19:37,770
and I'm honored to work with

2549
01:19:37,770 --> 01:19:39,346
you to call you friends and

2550
01:19:39,346 --> 01:19:40,814
let's keep up the conversation

2551
01:19:40,814 --> 01:19:42,249
in advocacy as well.

2552
01:19:42,249 --> 01:19:42,850
Absolutely.

2553
01:19:42,850 --> 01:19:43,417
>> absolutely.

2554
01:19:43,417 --> 01:19:44,852
>> thank you.

2555
01:19:44,852 --> 01:19:45,152
>> thank you.

2556
01:19:45,152 --> 01:19:47,152
Thank you.

2557
01:19:50,570 --> 01:19:52,125
This this hearing on docket

2558
01:19:52,125 --> 01:19:54,429
0335 order for a hearing to

2559
01:19:54,429 --> 01:19:56,730
discuss accessibility issues in

2560
01:19:56,730 --> 01:19:59,730
boston and boston is concluded.

2561
01:20:00,801 --> 01:20:02,801
Marvelous san.