[2:03] and.
[2:52] >>
[2:54] good afternoon everyone.
[2:56] My name is ed flynn.
[2:58] District city council.
[3:00] I am the chair of the boston
[3:02] city council committee on city
[3:02] services.
[3:07] Today is AUGUST 31st 2026.
[3:11] The exact time is 203.
[3:15] This hearing is being recorded.
[3:18] It is also being live streamed
[3:20] at boston.Gov/city council dash
[3:24] tv broadcast on xfinity channel
[3:29] eight rcn 82 fios channel 964.
[3:33] Written comments MAY be sent to
[3:36] the committee email at sk dot
[3:39] csv city@boston.Gov.
[3:42] And will be made part of the
[3:43] record and available to all
[3:44] city councilors.
[3:48] Public testimony will be taken
[3:49] at the end of the hearing.
[3:52] Individuals will be called on
[3:54] in order in which they sign up
[3:55] and will have two minutes to
[3:56] testify.
[3:58] If you are interested in
[4:00] testifying in person, please
[4:01] add your name to the sign up
[4:03] sheet near the entrance of the
[4:03] chamber.
[4:06] When you walk in if you are
[4:08] looking to testify virtually,
[4:10] please email our central staff
[4:14] liaison shane pack and shane
[4:18] and dot pack@boston.Gov.
[4:20] For the link and your name will
[4:21] be added to the list.
[4:22] Before I begin I do want to say
[4:26] thank you to shane and ethan
[4:27] for being here.
[4:28] They're our city
[4:30] council central staff and we
[4:31] want to thank them for their
[4:33] for their work and
[4:33] professionalism.
[4:37] Today's hearing is on docket
[4:38] 0335.
[4:41] in order for a hearing to
[4:44] discuss accessibility issues in
[4:44] boston city hall.
[4:48] This matter is sponsored by
[4:49] myself and city council erin
[4:51] murphy who was referred to the
[4:53] committee on FEBRUARY 11th,
[4:54] 2026.
[4:59] Today I am and I am joined by
[5:01] city councilors in order
[5:01] of arrival.
[5:05] Councilor fitzgerald, city
[5:08] council PRESIDENT Breadon, city
[5:09] councilor louijeune.
[5:11] At this time I do want to
[5:13] acknowledge a letter of absence
[5:15] I did receive from one of my
[5:15] colleagues.
[5:19] I'll read it into the record,
[5:21] dear chair flynn.
[5:23] MR. Clerk, city
[5:24] council colleagues, I regret to
[5:26] inform you that I'm unable to
[5:27] attend this morning's committee
[5:30] on city services on docket
[5:33] 033135 order for a hearing to
[5:34] discuss accessibility issues in
[5:34] boston city hall.
[5:38] I will follow up with
[5:39] additional questions upon
[5:42] reviewing my staff's notes and
[5:44] watching the recording.
[5:45] Please do not hesitate hesitate
[5:47] to contact my staff with any
[5:48] questions.
[5:50] Sincerely, enrique pepen boston
[5:52] city council district five.
[5:57] I have the honor of introducing
[6:01] two exceptionally um well
[6:03] qualified advocates in the
[6:05] disability community and worked
[6:07] with both of them for a number
[6:10] of years on accessibility
[6:11] issues.
[6:17] But before I ask both casandra
[6:20] xavier and bill todd before I
[6:22] ask them to give an opening
[6:24] statement um, I do want to give
[6:26] an opportunity to my city
[6:28] council colleagues to provide
[6:29] an opening statement.
[6:32] I do want to give my colleagues
[6:36] as much time as necessary, um,
[6:37] for their opening statement.
[6:39] I'm going to give I'm going to
[6:41] give five minutes if if you go
[6:42] over five minutes that's okay.
[6:43] Continue going.
[6:45] And I will not cut you off.
[6:47] Let me start with
[6:47] councilor fitzgerald.
[6:50] Councilor fitzgerald you have
[6:50] the floor.
[6:52] Thank you very much chair.
[6:53] I do appreciate it and I am
[6:55] happy to be here for this
[6:55] important hearing.
[6:58] Uh, regarding accessibility,
[6:59] uh, in and around boston city
[7:00] hall but also just the wider
[7:01] city in general.
[7:04] Uh, and I think how we, uh,
[7:06] show up, uh, for accessibility
[7:09] in and around the property that
[7:11] we manage here at city hall uh
[7:13] should certainly be the
[7:14] forefront and the leader of how
[7:16] we, uh, provide accessibility
[7:18] to the rest of the city if we
[7:19] can't do it in our own
[7:19] backyard.
[7:20] Uh, it's going to be pretty
[7:22] difficult for people to think
[7:23] we can do it elsewhere in their
[7:24] homes and in their
[7:24] neighborhood.
[7:26] So, um, I look forward to
[7:28] learning a lot, uh, from both
[7:29] cassandra and bill.
[7:31] Uh, thank you for being here
[7:31] today.
[7:33] Uh, and for educating us on
[7:35] what the problems that persist
[7:37] uh, what some of the new
[7:39] problems are, uh, and how we
[7:41] can best learn and, uh, react
[7:43] to what we're seeing out there
[7:46] and, um, from you guys who are
[7:48] living it every day, uh,
[7:50] putting us in your shoes and
[7:51] telling us what you need and
[7:53] how best we can support you.
[7:54] Uh, I think it's very
[7:55] important.
[7:56] So I thank you for taking the
[7:57] time to be here.
[7:58] Uh, and chair and I look
[7:59] forward to both working with
[8:01] the administration, uh, the
[8:02] advocates and my colleagues,
[8:04] uh, to make sure that we can
[8:05] see sure that some of these
[8:06] things are followed through on
[8:07] to make life a little bit
[8:08] easier for our residents.
[8:08] Thank you.
[8:09] Thank you.
[8:11] >> council fitzgerald city
[8:12] council PRESIDENT And
[8:13] council PRESIDENT.
[8:13] PRESIDENT.
[8:14] You have the floor.
[8:15] Thank you.
[8:18] >> uh, councilor flynn,
[8:18] mr chair.
[8:21] Good afternoon, bill and
[8:21] cassandra.
[8:23] So nice to have you here.
[8:27] Um, I'm this is an important
[8:28] discussion just to evaluate
[8:30] where we're at in terms
[8:31] of accessibility, uh, in and
[8:33] around boston city hall.
[8:36] I know we've made incremental
[8:37] improvements over the years and
[8:38] it's an ongoing project.
[8:39] We're not there yet.
[8:42] Uh, so I'd love to hear your,
[8:45] um, impressions, your
[8:48] suggestions and hopefully we
[8:51] can, uh, actualize, uh, some
[8:53] of your suggestions and make
[8:55] our city hall until the city
[8:56] hall plaza on the environment
[8:59] around, uh, here in government
[9:01] center, uh, more accessible to
[9:02] everyone and across the city.
[9:03] So thank you for being here.
[9:05] Thank you, council PRESIDENT.
[9:07] Councilor louijeune, you have
[9:07] the floor.
[9:09] Good afternoon everyone.
[9:11] I'm happy to be here.
[9:13] Thank you to my colleague, uh,
[9:14] councilor flynn for hosting
[9:14] this hearing.
[9:16] And I want to thank cassandra
[9:17] and bill for being here.
[9:18] We need to make sure.
[9:20] Yes, cassandra are our policy
[9:21] queen.
[9:22] Thank you for being here and
[9:23] our advocacy queen.
[9:25] Um, it's important that we make
[9:26] sure that the doors of city
[9:28] hall are open to everyone and
[9:28] that it's accessible.
[9:30] We don't have a city for
[9:31] everyone if we're not, uh,
[9:32] remembering to bring the
[9:33] margins and making sure that
[9:35] those who have been
[9:36] historically excluded from our
[9:37] spaces and places that they are
[9:38] centered.
[9:39] And so I want to continue to
[9:40] learn from all of you to think
[9:41] about what we can do better
[9:42] here in the city of boston and
[9:44] work alongside the
[9:44] administration and my
[9:45] colleagues to make that
[9:45] possible.
[9:48] I think that was only 40s so
[9:49] I'll I'll yield all my time
[9:49] back.
[9:50] Thank you.
[9:52] Thank you, councilor louijeune.
[9:55] I believe the americans with
[9:56] disabilities act is arguably
[9:58] one of the most important
[10:00] pieces of federal legislation
[10:00] on the books.
[10:02] I filed this hearing order
[10:05] because it is critical that we
[10:06] make accessibility a top
[10:09] priority for all in our city,
[10:11] especially our seniors persons
[10:12] with disabilities.
[10:15] We know that over the years
[10:16] boston city hall has made
[10:18] improvements to ensure
[10:19] compliance with the ada
[10:21] american disability act and
[10:22] improve accessibility for
[10:24] persons with disabilities.
[10:26] Some of these examples include
[10:28] a new accessible entrance on
[10:31] the second floor and a sloping
[10:32] promenade in the city hall
[10:36] plaza renovation in 2022, which
[10:37] began under the leadership
[10:40] of mayor marty walsh throughout
[10:42] mayor janey's time and
[10:43] completed a the mayor will.
[10:46] There was also the installation
[10:48] of a vertical lift at city
[10:50] hall's third floor entrance to
[10:51] the mezzanine area.
[10:54] However, there is more work to
[10:55] be done to improve
[10:57] accessibility inside the
[10:57] building.
[10:59] Aging infrastructure continues
[11:02] to limit accessibility in
[11:04] certain areas such as the
[11:05] broken escalators connecting
[11:08] the second and third floor as
[11:10] well as the halfway between the
[11:13] second and third floor and city
[11:15] hall labeled the third floor on
[11:15] the north elevator.
[11:18] As we all know, these elevators
[11:19] have been down for quite some
[11:21] time and it is important to
[11:23] review access within other
[11:24] parts of the building to ensure
[11:26] those with disabilities can
[11:30] fully access access all floors
[11:32] departments meeting rooms when
[11:33] they are in city hall.
[11:35] Residents and neighbors tell
[11:37] me it MAY be difficult and
[11:39] confusing for them sometimes to
[11:40] navigate city hall when they
[11:42] are trying to obtain city
[11:44] services, especially when they
[11:45] have to reach multiple
[11:46] departments.
[11:48] They MAY come in from the city
[11:50] hall plaza or congress street
[11:51] from the garage area.
[11:53] They MAY use the south
[11:55] elevators to go to to go and
[11:57] pay a ticket or get a birth
[11:59] certificate on the second floor
[12:02] while visiting a assessing on
[12:04] third floor but with the
[12:05] escalator down they have to
[12:06] take the stairs to navigate
[12:09] their way to find the north
[12:10] elevator to get up to the tax
[12:12] collection division or a
[12:15] taxpayer assistance center in
[12:18] that kind of half between the
[12:19] mezzanine area on the third
[12:21] floor and second floor.
[12:23] It does sound confusing if
[12:24] you're not familiar with the
[12:25] building.
[12:27] Last NOVEMBER I reached out to
[12:29] commissioner shelton who
[12:31] mentioned that the existing
[12:32] escalators have been fully
[12:34] decommissioned as they are
[12:36] beyond repair, not
[12:37] code compliant and no longer
[12:39] considered to meet
[12:40] accessibility standards.
[12:42] He also mentioned that the city
[12:43] is working to replace these
[12:45] escalators with new stairs in a
[12:48] fully accessible four stop
[12:49] elevator.
[12:51] And while the design phase is
[12:51] ongoing.
[12:52] But the.
[12:54] >> timeline for construction
[12:56] and completion remains unclear.
[12:58] I also highlighted the safety
[13:00] of the main staircase on the
[13:00] third floor.
[13:03] In my hearing order, the short
[13:05] length of the bricks in the
[13:07] reflective shine make it
[13:09] difficult to see, especially
[13:10] when you're walking down from
[13:12] the fifth floor to the third
[13:13] floor.
[13:16] And while the current
[13:18] guardrails help, I believe the
[13:19] safety of these stairs need to
[13:21] be enhanced to prevent people
[13:24] from tripping and getting
[13:25] serious hurt seriously hurt.
[13:27] Many people know exactly where
[13:28] I'm talking about where they
[13:32] have um the podium for speakers
[13:34] and the mezzanine level.
[13:36] But right next to it is the
[13:40] lift for the um for people that
[13:41] are in a wheelchair so that
[13:42] they can get up.
[13:46] But I believe those stairs are
[13:49] pretty dangerous if you fall
[13:50] um, you'll literally fall the
[13:52] whole flight off the stairs.
[13:55] Um, I look forward to this
[13:57] hearing to discuss these issues
[13:57] .
[13:59] Improving accessibility on the
[14:00] second and third floor must be
[14:01] a top priority.
[14:04] And for nine years this is
[14:06] probably been my number one
[14:09] issue is how we ensure persons
[14:11] with disabilities are treated
[14:14] with respect and dignity and
[14:15] that's something I'm going to
[14:16] continue to work on.
[14:18] Um we're honored to have
[14:20] cassandra and bill and I do
[14:22] want to give cassandra and bill
[14:24] an opportunity to introduce
[14:26] themselves, give an opening
[14:29] statement and after that we
[14:32] will go to questions from my
[14:32] colleagues.
[14:34] But I don't want to rush you so
[14:36] I'm going to probably give each
[14:39] person maybe maybe 12 minutes
[14:42] and then and then after that
[14:43] we'll go to questions.
[14:46] So bill or cassandra who would
[14:47] like to go first?
[14:50] Uh I'm going first.
[14:53] Okay bill, you're going first.
[14:55] Just give me an opportunity, um
[14:57] ,to set the timer.
[15:01] Um, so bill, you have 12
[15:01] minutes.
[15:02] Introduce yourself.
[15:05] Give us a give us your
[15:06] background.
[15:07] What's important to you in
[15:08] terms of a person with
[15:09] disability?
[15:11] Um, any recommendations that
[15:14] you might have and, um, want to
[15:15] say thank you to you, bill, for
[15:16] your commitment to, um, civil
[15:18] rights bill, you have the
[15:18] floor.
[15:20] Good afternoon.
[15:23] Um, thank you for inviting
[15:25] me to this hearing.
[15:29] I have a long journey becoming
[15:30] blind.
[15:34] I was declared blind APRIL
[15:37] 22nd, 2025.
[15:43] I used to live in boston and I
[15:46] recently moved to cambridge
[15:48] because it's a brand new
[15:50] building and an accessible
[15:52] apartment.
[15:54] And I want to thank the mass
[15:55] commission for the blind for
[15:59] helping me have this wonderful
[16:01] place to live.
[16:05] There are many issues facing
[16:06] the city of boston.
[16:09] They go beyond city hall.
[16:13] I'm going to talk about one
[16:16] of them that has become quite
[16:18] frankly one of the most
[16:22] important issues for me as a
[16:23] person who is blind with low
[16:26] vision and a senior citizen.
[16:30] The lack of public bathrooms in
[16:32] the city of boston.
[16:33] The city should be ashamed
[16:34] of itself.
[16:39] The city it thinks that
[16:40] bathrooms and fire departments
[16:43] and police stations are public
[16:43] bathrooms.
[16:47] Firemen have told me they're
[16:49] concerned because they don't
[16:50] want people out digging in the
[16:51] bathrooms when they have to
[16:52] respond.
[16:55] To a911 call.
[16:59] The boston I spend most of my
[17:01] time in the city now between
[17:02] city hall and back bay.
[17:07] The bathroom at the souvenir
[17:09] concession store at the park
[17:12] street closes at 4:45 P.M..
[17:16] If you don't know where the
[17:17] other bathrooms are.
[17:18] Good luck!
[17:21] There is a temporary bathroom
[17:22] just before you cross the
[17:24] street to go to public gardens
[17:24] .
[17:29] I attended jaylen brown's
[17:30] magnificent event yesterday.
[17:33] Those bathrooms were closed for
[17:37] regular maintenance per a
[17:38] boston police officer.
[17:40] Fortunately there were potter
[17:41] parties there.
[17:45] What happens if it's not
[17:48] bathrooms closed walk down the
[17:48] hill.
[17:51] You just go to but you want to
[17:54] go to the red line kind of go
[17:55] back up the hill.
[18:01] The city says that hotels are
[18:04] considered public bathrooms to
[18:06] all the hotels in the city know
[18:07] that.
[18:11] I also received information
[18:12] that the city has a website.
[18:14] For bathrooms.
[18:16] Great.
[18:17] But what if.
[18:18] >> you are one of the more 2
[18:20] million international visitors
[18:21] that come to the city and you
[18:23] have a five year old child.
[18:25] That needs a bathroom?
[18:26] You're really going to look for
[18:28] that website?
[18:29] No.
[18:31] This is a big concern.
[18:35] Additionally, there are many
[18:36] resources available.
[18:39] Uh.
[18:40] >> we'll briefly talk about.
[18:41] a couple of them.
[18:44] One is the carroll center for
[18:45] the blind in newton.
[18:47] I'm an alumnus.
[18:50] That school transforms.
[18:51] People's lives.
[18:53] The other.
[18:55] One is achilles international.
[18:55] It's for.
[18:57] >> athletes with disabilities.
[19:02] Offices around newbury street.
[19:03] You can find out more
[19:04] information on the website.
[19:07] City guides.
[19:08] There are.
[19:09] Many resources.
[19:15] Available to people who um any
[19:16] citizen anybody.
[19:19] With sign any have a
[19:19] disability.
[19:21] But there's a.
[19:24] Huge problem in the city
[19:24] of boston.
[19:25] There is.
[19:29] No way for any person to find
[19:31] out all the most magnificent
[19:32] resources the city has.
[19:34] Because every.
[19:36] Department, every commission.
[19:38] Has its own silo.
[19:41] The question is.
[19:43] >> what's the city going to do
[19:43] about it?
[19:45] A little background.
[19:46] About me.
[19:49] I am serving now my sixth year
[19:51] on the city's eight strong
[19:52] commission senior advisory
[19:53] council.
[19:54] So some of them.
[19:55] >> are warmness of the.
[19:57] Council, some for the blind.
[19:59] Thank you to the school.
[20:03] I am also a community
[20:05] accessible monitor certified by
[20:06] the state office.
[20:07] On disability.
[20:10] I don't.
[20:11] >> have political power.
[20:13] But I can tell you about.
[20:15] things you need to improve.
[20:18] The sandra.
[20:19] >> is going to talk.
[20:20] About city hall.
[20:21] And the.
[20:23] Infrastructure of the city.
[20:27] We both know it's yeoman's
[20:27] work.
[20:31] Last thing couple.
[20:31] Last things.
[20:36] Anybody want any city
[20:37] council staff wants to come to
[20:38] the council on.
[20:40] You can reach me.
[20:41] Through council.
[20:42] Funds office.
[20:46] Happy to take you on a.
[20:47] >> tour of this incredible
[20:48] place.
[20:50] The second.
[20:51] Thing and the last thing.
[20:53] >> is I've made.
[20:55] This offer and no city
[20:56] council has taken me up on
[20:56] that.
[20:57] It's all repeated again.
[20:59] You want me to.
[21:01] Come to your district walk with
[21:02] you citywide?
[21:03] Any place.
[21:04] Any time.
[21:07] Happy to be your tour guide.
[21:08] We will both.
[21:09] Learn from each other.
[21:11] Once again.
[21:13] Thank you for the opportunity.
[21:16] To speak at this important
[21:16] hearing.
[21:19] Thank you bill.
[21:20] Thank you for your testimony
[21:21] for the important work you were
[21:22] doing.
[21:25] We're also joined by city
[21:26] councilor brian were all city
[21:28] council ben weber as well.
[21:33] Um, cassandra and same with
[21:33] you.
[21:36] Um, I'm going to give you I'm
[21:38] going to give you 12 minutes
[21:41] but um, if you feel like you
[21:43] need more time um, please take
[21:43] it.
[21:45] I will not cut you off.
[21:47] Okay, but you have the floor.
[21:50] Hello, everyone.
[21:53] My name is cassandra xavier and
[21:55] I'm a resident of the north
[21:55] end.
[21:59] I am a disability advocate and
[22:01] I'm here once again to continue
[22:05] the advocacy efforts for
[22:08] residents of all backgrounds in
[22:08] boston.
[22:11] Um, my the thing I would like
[22:16] to bring forward is the most
[22:18] difficult part in that is the
[22:20] concurrent street crossings.
[22:25] That is incredibly important
[22:28] that we address the issue
[22:31] of concurrent street crossings
[22:34] along with the already
[22:37] concerning infrastructure of a
[22:39] huge portion of the city the
[22:41] street the concurrent street
[22:42] crossings are incredibly
[22:43] dangerous.
[22:45] Now some of you MAY be
[22:46] wondering what a concurrent
[22:49] street crossing is and in the
[22:52] most simplest terms concurrent
[22:55] street crossings are is when
[22:58] the vehicle and a pedestrian
[23:00] can cross and drive at the same
[23:00] time.
[23:04] For some strange reason.
[23:08] The overseers of this does not
[23:10] believe it is a concern that
[23:12] needs to be fixed.
[23:17] Now imagine your child or
[23:19] yourself or someone you know
[23:21] who's elderly or with a
[23:23] disability trying to cross the
[23:25] street and as they have the
[23:29] right to cross a large vehicle
[23:31] of any kind is also turning in
[23:36] towards them thus leading to a
[23:40] preventable serious accident or
[23:40] tragic incident.
[23:45] I was on the radio gbh talking
[23:47] about this not too long ago and
[23:49] how dangerous it is.
[23:51] I really really believe that
[23:54] needs to be fixed and along
[23:56] with the concurrent street
[23:58] crossings which I hope to have
[24:00] some of you come see with
[24:03] me one day would be the city's
[24:04] infrastructure.
[24:10] There are there's a lot of uh,
[24:15] street curbs and sidewalks that
[24:17] really need to be addressed.
[24:21] Um, it's a lot of accidents
[24:22] waiting to happen or have
[24:25] already happened to a lot
[24:26] of pedestrians and I've been
[24:28] talking about this relentlessly
[24:29] over and over.
[24:31] Every time I come here.
[24:33] Every person I've been
[24:35] interviewed with by
[24:36] news reporters it's been the
[24:40] same exact concern
[24:41] infrastructure of boston and
[24:43] many other places need to be
[24:45] corrected and addressed.
[24:47] The concurrent street crossings
[24:49] need to be addressed in
[24:51] truncated domes need to be
[24:52] corrected.
[24:54] And if you're also wondering
[24:56] what an in truncated dome is,
[24:58] it is the little strips on the
[25:00] ground at the end of the curb
[25:02] that you could cross and there
[25:03] are bumps on the ground.
[25:05] It's not just for decoration.
[25:07] It's for someone with a
[25:08] wheelchair.
[25:09] Someone who uses a white cane.
[25:13] Uh rollerbladers and strollers
[25:14] to know that they're on the
[25:16] edge of the sidewalk so that
[25:18] they are able to stand at the
[25:20] end of the street safely.
[25:22] Some of those in truncated
[25:25] domes are broken and those need
[25:25] to be corrected.
[25:30] Um, and once again, my name is
[25:31] cassandra xavier.
[25:33] I am a disability advocate and
[25:36] i live in the north end and.
[25:39] Thank you for your time and
[25:41] I'll hand the floor back.
[25:45] Thank you.
[25:46] >> cassandra.
[25:49] Thank you for your testimony.
[25:52] Thank you for your leadership
[25:54] in advocating for persons with
[25:56] disabilities here in boston but
[25:58] also across the commonwealth as
[26:00] a commonwealth of massachusetts
[26:00] and we.
[26:03] Have tremendous respect, um,
[26:04] tremendous respect for you.
[26:08] Um, I'm going to start with
[26:09] councilor fitzgerald.
[26:12] I'm going to give each city
[26:14] councilor six minutes and if a
[26:16] city council needs more time,
[26:17] I'm not going to cut them off
[26:19] and they can they can take the
[26:19] time that they need.
[26:21] But I'll give everyone six
[26:22] minutes and then start with
[26:23] council fitzgerald and
[26:24] council breadon
[26:26] council louijeune council we're
[26:27] all councilor weber.
[26:30] Um council fitzgerald you have.
[26:31] >> the floor.
[26:32] Thank you very much chair and
[26:34] again thank you cassandra and
[26:35] bill for your advocacy and
[26:36] testimony today.
[26:37] Um.
[26:39] So just sort of going over what
[26:40] what we just.
[26:41] Heard I heard truncated domes,
[26:44] concurrent signals, uh,
[26:45] bathrooms around the city.
[26:46] Um.
[26:49] What else would you add to that
[26:52] list that we think is and
[26:53] without having to delve too
[26:54] deep into any of that, I see
[26:56] the look on on bill.
[26:56] But if.
[26:58] We really want to know right.
[26:59] Like what are some of the
[26:59] things that.
[27:03] persist uh, that affect uh many
[27:04] with disabilities?
[27:04] Bill, why don't you go ahead
[27:06] you could just start maybe you
[27:06] can just rattle.
[27:06] Some off.
[27:07] I'm just.
[27:08] Wondering what some of the
[27:09] other ones that are pertinent
[27:11] to what you think are you know,
[27:11] what.
[27:12] >> would you would prioritize?
[27:15] I would oh my gosh I would
[27:16] prioritize the concurrent
[27:18] street crossings.
[27:18] Yep.
[27:19] Not just for myself.
[27:21] There are many of us with all
[27:24] kinds of backgrounds invisible
[27:25] disabilities and very visible
[27:25] disabilities.
[27:28] Um we're outside.
[27:32] We are active people or trying
[27:33] to become more active out and
[27:37] about and we should not have to
[27:40] be in fear of our safety just
[27:41] across the street.
[27:43] You know, it is the most
[27:45] disconcerting experience to be
[27:47] someone who went through
[27:49] numerous years of mobility
[27:51] training for their white cane
[27:54] and to have the right of way to
[27:55] cross the street properly and
[27:57] to still almost get hit by a
[27:59] motorcyclist or a car.
[28:01] That takes all of your skills
[28:03] and training and it flushes it
[28:04] right down the drain.
[28:05] Concurrent street crossings
[28:07] need to be addressed
[28:08] immediately please.
[28:08] Yep.
[28:10] Understood.
[28:11] >> so the truncated domes
[28:12] concurrent signals?
[28:13] Yes.
[28:15] Uh, and anything else that.
[28:16] >> you would.
[28:18] Sort of that you come into, you
[28:19] know, on a daily basis where
[28:20] you say this is lacking in
[28:22] terms of accessibility and
[28:22] could be better.
[28:24] Sidewalk infrastructure.
[28:25] Yep.
[28:27] >> you get your canes or your
[28:29] mobility aid caught in the
[28:31] crack of a ground or you twist
[28:33] your ankle on a sidewalk where
[28:36] there are missing bricks, you
[28:38] know and that's just not cool.
[28:40] Yeah I agree and this this is
[28:42] not something again not for
[28:42] anyone.
[28:44] Not even an accessibility issue
[28:46] uh, necessarily for those that
[28:46] have any impairments.
[28:48] But I mean this is for
[28:48] everybody.
[28:49] My guess.
[28:49] It's everybody.
[28:50] Right, mike?
[28:51] >> I turn my ankle in a loose
[28:53] brick all the time walking the
[28:53] streets.
[28:55] I completely I get it and I
[28:55] should seek.
[28:58] Someone deserves access to a
[28:59] sidewalk without rolling their
[29:00] ankle.
[29:00] Yes.
[29:01] >> understood.
[29:03] >> it hurts.
[29:04] I believe we built anything
[29:04] then.
[29:05] Yes.
[29:08] >> to follow up on consensus
[29:09] priority.
[29:12] When I lived on west foxboro I
[29:14] took a city employee for road
[29:15] tire.
[29:17] To walk center street.
[29:19] And here's.
[29:22] >> what you face on one side is
[29:25] the latest equipment to cross
[29:25] the street.
[29:26] Some talk.
[29:28] Some don't.
[29:29] On the.
[29:30] other side there's nothing.
[29:34] On one side is a yellow tone
[29:34] path.
[29:36] On the other side there's
[29:37] nothing.
[29:39] You also have brown.
[29:42] Well, folks, there's a reason
[29:44] why I wear this yellow cap in
[29:45] the city hall.
[29:48] It's a reminder yellow is a
[29:52] better color than brown or.
[29:52] >> black.
[29:53] For those tone pants.
[29:53] Okay.
[29:56] >> why does the city have
[29:57] sewers?
[29:58] But the curb cut outs.
[29:59] ?
[30:03] Blind people I know can lose
[30:06] their came if they don't have
[30:07] this ball.
[30:09] If they have a regular stick
[30:10] and it comes into the sewer.
[30:13] No.
[30:15] >> what are you going to do
[30:16] about it?
[30:17] When I was here in MARCH
[30:18] talking about accessibility and
[30:21] snow, the question for the
[30:23] city's administration what are
[30:26] your plans to make sure
[30:28] sidewalks are more accessible
[30:31] to everyone next winter storms
[30:32] are coming.
[30:33] Are you ready?
[30:35] I offered a suggestion that not
[30:39] one city council took me up on
[30:40] create what I called the snow
[30:43] upgrade briefly pay the kids.
[30:47] The money goes not.
[30:49] >> in an amazon card into a
[30:49] bank account.
[30:51] Now one.
[30:53] City councilor approached
[30:54] me afterwards.
[30:56] That's embarrassing for the
[30:56] city.
[30:58] Council because it's.
[30:59] >> going to happen again.
[31:01] Snow doesn't go away.
[31:03] cassandra's priority.
[31:05] It's also my priority.
[31:09] I walk all over back bay
[31:11] downtown crossing city hall
[31:11] class.
[31:13] >> of the city.
[31:14] Did a great job with copley
[31:15] square park.
[31:17] Much more accessible.
[31:19] I'm usually there.
[31:20] >> every tuesday and friday for
[31:21] the farmers market.
[31:24] It's a great place, it's more
[31:25] accessible and I feel.
[31:27] Safe from right.
[31:29] So what's the city.
[31:30] Going to do about snow removal?
[31:32] It's coming just a few months
[31:33] away.
[31:34] What's the plan?
[31:37] I asked the question and then
[31:39] lastly mayor wolf, I've been
[31:41] trying to speak to you for two
[31:42] years in person about this.
[31:44] And your.
[31:45] >> staff has never responded.
[31:49] Thank you.
[31:50] Thanks, bill.
[31:52] I'm sure you're not alone there
[31:52] .
[31:53] The truncated domes.
[31:55] Uh.
[31:56] They are going around and.
[31:57] Repairing them now.
[31:57] Right there is.
[31:58] >> a federal lot to.
[32:00] What I believe that was taking
[32:01] place and so I know it's a
[32:01] long.
[32:03] Process but is it not?
[32:03] Uh.
[32:04] They're going around to try and
[32:06] make them even on both sides.
[32:07] >> of the road and.
[32:08] Taking it piece by piece from
[32:09] what I understand.
[32:12] Uh, and as for the uh, the the
[32:13] snow brigade.
[32:14] Um, I think as.
[32:16] Many councilors do here in our
[32:16] own districts.
[32:18] Uh, we do have a typical we try
[32:20] to buy the kids ice cream if
[32:21] they shovel out, uh, a
[32:23] neighbor's sidewalk or a
[32:24] hydrant, uh, or an elderly
[32:26] neighbor or things of that
[32:26] nature.
[32:26] So.
[32:28] Uh, we do what we can with.
[32:29] >> what we've got, bill.
[32:31] But I agree it could be more
[32:32] organized and substantial.
[32:34] But again, uh, that is my time.
[32:35] Thank you, uh, to both.
[32:37] >> of you for your suggestions.
[32:38] >> look forward to, uh, talking
[32:39] in the future.
[32:40] Thank you chair.
[32:42] Thank you,
[32:42] councilor fitzgerald.
[32:47] Um, I do want to, um I do want
[32:50] to acknowledge my city
[32:51] council colleagues.
[32:54] They did go on record in
[32:57] support of my proposal on to
[32:59] eliminate basically concurrent
[33:02] street lighting several times I
[33:02] believe.
[33:05] But I do want to acknowledge my
[33:06] colleagues for the important
[33:08] work and leadership they have
[33:09] provided on that issue.
[33:11] Certainly we have more work to
[33:13] do to try to convince the
[33:14] administration that we need to
[33:16] make a complete change.
[33:18] I also want to acknowledge and
[33:20] the council fitzgerald
[33:22] mentioned it but um I do know
[33:24] councilor worrell was active
[33:28] and is active on trying to uh
[33:30] continue to work with the city
[33:33] administration on the street um
[33:35] snow removal and we had a
[33:37] hearing several months ago but
[33:38] I think council all wants to
[33:40] have another one over the next
[33:41] month or two months.
[33:44] Um, but let me go to the city
[33:46] council PRESIDENT For six
[33:47] minutes.
[33:49] Um, council PRESIDENT Breadon,
[33:49] you have.
[33:50] >> the floor.
[33:51] Thank you very much.
[33:52] And, um.
[33:57] I really the I share your
[33:59] concerns about the concurrent
[34:00] street crossings.
[34:04] Um in and I feel that there's a
[34:07] level of lack of enforcement
[34:10] and safety challenges with
[34:11] crosswalks in general.
[34:12] Like I was talking to someone
[34:14] recently in the last few weeks
[34:16] about just the sheer number
[34:18] of incidents like we've had
[34:19] fatalities on crosswalks in
[34:21] allston, brighton.
[34:24] We have had near-misses and
[34:28] injuries were uh drivers don't
[34:28] stop.
[34:29] They stop, they slow down.
[34:31] They stop and and the person's
[34:32] like three quarters of the way
[34:34] across but they run the drive
[34:35] on and then they clipped them
[34:38] on the shoulder with the wing
[34:39] mirror and breaker on.
[34:41] That has happened in our
[34:42] district.
[34:45] So I think and the other aspect
[34:47] just the demography the
[34:48] demographics of our of our city
[34:50] is we have an we have an aging
[34:51] population.
[34:53] Uh, as we get older we have
[34:54] more mobility problems.
[34:56] We have vision and hearing and
[34:57] sensory issues that new folks
[34:59] can speak to very well.
[35:06] Um and it it seems to be that
[35:10] our um, streets are not safe
[35:13] for all road users and I think
[35:17] it's really challenging like
[35:19] how do we in terms of your
[35:22] knowledge, bill and cassandra
[35:24] of other municipalities maybe
[35:26] either globally, nationally or
[35:29] locally the people places where
[35:30] they do things differently that
[35:31] we might learn from.
[35:33] Have you any any any thoughts
[35:34] on that matter?
[35:35] Yes.
[35:37] >> the city.
[35:40] Belongs as a member of the open
[35:41] mobility foundation.
[35:44] It has had.
[35:47] Staff lead that organization.
[35:50] The question.
[35:51] >> is and I don't know the
[35:52] answer.
[35:53] .
[35:54] What is the.
[35:55] City doing to.
[35:57] Use the technology.
[35:58] That's open source.
[36:01] To improve monitoring of.
[36:05] Transportation and vehicles.
[36:06] ?
[36:09] >> for example, minneapolis has
[36:10] been a pilot.
[36:12] Program with.
[36:15] Major companies like pps to
[36:17] make sure the curb cut outs and
[36:17] up.
[36:21] Walked along times as far as.
[36:23] What city councilor fitzgerald.
[36:24] Said.
[36:25] >> that class.
[36:26] Action lawsuit said the city
[36:28] had 23,000.
[36:34] Miles sidewalks to fix those.
[36:37] Curb cut outs, according to.
[36:39] The settlement, the city only
[36:44] has to fix 1600 a year in 2024
[36:48] to meet the goal 2025 the city
[36:51] was proud it fixed over 1700
[36:52] folks.
[36:53] Do the math.
[36:55] How long is it going to fix
[36:56] those 23,000.
[36:58] And they'll.
[36:58] Never all get.
[37:01] Fixed because it's just going
[37:03] to start over again.
[37:04] The law changes.
[37:07] I know city government moves
[37:08] slower than.
[37:09] Turtles.
[37:10] >> but the city needs to move.
[37:11] Faster because the.
[37:13] >> world moves faster.
[37:17] Getting feedback.
[37:19] Hold on.
[37:23] That feedback is coming.
[37:24] Okay.
[37:26] >> feedback on way.
[37:28] Sort of question.
[37:30] Is what are you going to do
[37:31] about these sidewalks and
[37:32] streets?
[37:34] What are you going to do about
[37:34] the trees and the roots?
[37:38] Roots don't go down they go
[37:38] out.
[37:40] Like I.
[37:42] Said happy to.
[37:44] >> come any time any place to a
[37:46] city council district and city
[37:47] wide walk with.
[37:48] >> me.
[37:51] And also cassandra on MARCH 9th
[37:53] hearing she saw the very
[37:55] impactful video she made.
[37:58] Anybody looked at it since it
[37:59] was shown.
[38:01] MARCH 9th 2026.
[38:04] There's a lot the.
[38:06] City can do but the problem is
[38:07] it's all in silos.
[38:11] I don't know how well city
[38:12] agencies work together.
[38:14] I'm an.
[38:15] >> outsider, not an insider.
[38:17] Thank you.
[38:20] >> um.
[38:24] >> in terms.
[38:24] Of the.
[38:28] The tactile pads or the the
[38:29] truncated domes as they're
[38:32] called, um it seems that some
[38:34] of the the yellow ones which
[38:38] are more visually on the um.
[38:43] Yes accessible that very often
[38:44] the materials are made in is
[38:45] degrades very quickly
[38:47] especially if it's been
[38:47] exposed.
[38:49] Is that something that you
[38:50] folks are observing in your
[38:53] travels like uh just the
[38:56] comments that the the truncated
[39:00] um pads deteriorate and
[39:02] basically need replacement in
[39:02] very.
[39:03] >> short order?
[39:04] Yes.
[39:07] >> uh, speaking of in truncated
[39:09] domes that need to be replaced
[39:11] by the edward brooke
[39:11] courthouse.
[39:16] Um, there is a there is an inch
[39:17] truncated dome that is
[39:21] completely ripped off and it's
[39:21] missing.
[39:23] I don't know if they plan on
[39:25] fixing it any time soon or if
[39:27] it was taken off intentionally
[39:27] .
[39:30] Um, but.
[39:33] That's a concern and I believe
[39:34] that they should all be a
[39:37] standard color like yellow for
[39:40] easy visibility, for low vision
[39:42] and for anyone that you know
[39:46] needs to be able to see it at a
[39:47] distance or up close to know
[39:49] where to stand properly.
[39:51] Um yeah.
[39:53] Thank you.
[39:55] >> that's that's my time.
[39:57] I have a place to talk.
[39:58] Two places to talk.
[39:58] About the.
[39:59] Follow up.
[40:00] At the.
[40:02] Corner of charles and beacon
[40:03] street.
[40:06] There's a fire hydrant right
[40:08] where the curb cut out should.
[40:09] Be as.
[40:10] >> you cross the street from
[40:12] charles to go to the public
[40:13] gardens next.
[40:15] And I saw this when I had
[40:15] better.
[40:17] Eyesight walk out the.
[40:19] back bay commuter rail station.
[40:21] Turn right to go down dartmouth
[40:21] .
[40:24] Street at the intersection.
[40:25] >> of dartmouth and.
[40:25] Stewart street.
[40:27] Couple of years.
[40:29] Ago there was no curb cut out.
[40:31] I saw.
[40:32] >> a mother.
[40:33] Push a.
[40:35] >> child in a wheelchair and
[40:36] had to go up.
[40:37] Stewart street.
[40:39] In the street.
[40:41] I actually got a phone call
[40:42] from some consultants.
[40:43] >> I couldn't figure.
[40:45] Out who owns that curb cut off
[40:45] .
[40:48] I was told it was the mass
[40:48] turnpike.
[40:49] It still.
[40:52] >> hasn't been fixed as of last
[40:52] friday.
[40:56] I hope no other mother has to
[40:59] push a child in a wheelchair up
[41:02] stewart street to wherever she
[41:02] was going.
[41:04] I think it.
[41:05] >> was a doctor's.
[41:05] Appointment because I.
[41:05] Asked her.
[41:09] >> that's just 1.
[41:10] >> or 2 simple examples.
[41:10] A fire.
[41:15] Hydrant at a curb cut off and a
[41:16] mother having.
[41:16] >> to walk.
[41:18] >> up stewart street because
[41:19] there's no curb cut out there.
[41:24] Make a thank you, bill.
[41:25] Thank you, MISTER Chair.
[41:28] Thank you, council PRESIDENT.
[41:31] Um, councilor louijeune, you
[41:31] have the floor.
[41:32] Thank you.
[41:34] >> and I want to thank you both
[41:35] for your for your testimony,
[41:36] bill.
[41:37] i do want to take you up on
[41:37] your offer.
[41:39] Um, to walk through the
[41:40] neighborhood.
[41:42] Um, for me, I live on the
[41:44] street and I want to thank the
[41:46] council and they're not here or
[41:47] they're not coming right to the
[41:47] disability commission.
[41:48] I know their staff.
[41:49] Okay?
[41:50] But I have been there.
[41:51] They have been really gracious
[41:53] and the administration has come
[41:55] out to my street to really look
[41:56] at the disability and
[41:56] accessibility issues.
[41:58] And so I think that we do need
[41:59] to do more of that.
[42:01] Um, I wonder and because
[42:02] they're not here it's a
[42:03] difficult question to ask.
[42:06] Uh, we there are so many silos
[42:09] where like regardless of the.
[42:09] Issue.
[42:11] >> especially when it comes to
[42:12] the needs of folks who are too
[42:13] often marginalized.
[42:15] I'm wondering if anyone knows
[42:17] whether the disability
[42:18] commission right now has
[42:19] meetings where they try to
[42:20] bring everyone together where
[42:23] the top where the issue is just
[42:24] on accessibility and
[42:24] disability.
[42:27] Um, I'd.
[42:28] >> like to speak about
[42:29] commissioner councilor t.
[42:30] >> uh.
[42:32] They do yeoman's work.
[42:33] They need to.
[42:33] >> be.
[42:35] Trained put up for.
[42:36] >> major projects.
[42:40] They have to evaluate 217 city
[42:41] buildings for accessibility.
[42:45] Thousands of miles of sidewalks
[42:45] .
[42:46] And you got to figure out.
[42:49] she told me who owns the
[42:49] sidewalk?
[42:51] >> who owns the bridge?
[42:53] I think it's really complicated
[42:53] .
[42:56] And when you're looking at road
[43:00] diet I was told you have
[43:01] federal, state and city laws.
[43:04] They conflict with each other
[43:04] on many.
[43:06] Levels and that.
[43:08] >> was from the project manager
[43:10] who managed the road diet
[43:12] program and a project from west
[43:13] roxbury.
[43:17] Thank you.
[43:19] >> I'm happy to speak to
[43:19] afterwards.
[43:20] Thank you.
[43:22] Thank you for taking me up on
[43:23] my offer for the commissioners
[43:23] team.
[43:24] That's great work.
[43:27] They need more people and they
[43:28] need better budget, more money.
[43:31] Thank you.
[43:32] >> thank you bill.
[43:35] Um, either casandra or bill on
[43:36] the issue of general
[43:37] accessibility on the issue
[43:39] of uh, concurrent street
[43:39] crossings.
[43:40] Are there examples of cities
[43:41] who are doing it?
[43:43] Um or doing.
[43:45] Uh.
[43:47] >> accessibility in ways that
[43:47] we need to.
[43:50] Copy or model or examples that
[43:51] you've seen in other places
[43:52] because you don't have to raise
[43:53] a hand the light source.
[43:56] So accessibility concerns
[43:58] should always be.
[44:01] It should be prioritized.
[44:05] Oftentimes whenever an
[44:06] accessibility need is brought
[44:08] up to the forefront.
[44:10] Um or is at least attempt to it
[44:12] is always an afterthought.
[44:15] you know, I always remind
[44:16] everybody at some point you're
[44:19] going to many of us will become
[44:22] older and we will develop
[44:23] disabilities by age.
[44:26] So right now many of us can
[44:26] avoid.
[44:29] Those cracks in the road if
[44:31] we're walking in a really fast
[44:32] speed.
[44:34] But sooner or later maybe 20 to
[44:36] 30 years you MAY not have the
[44:38] same agility or quickness that
[44:40] you once did in the past and or
[44:43] at some point anyone can become
[44:45] a part of the disability
[44:45] community.
[44:47] Uh no one is exempt from
[44:50] acquiring a disability not even
[44:50] 20 minutes from now.
[44:54] So whenever these things are
[44:57] being whenever construction and
[44:58] reconstruction of certain
[44:58] places.
[45:00] Are is is happening.
[45:04] Accessibility should always be
[45:06] woven into these things.
[45:09] You know it's a compliance
[45:12] thing and I'm going to keep
[45:13] repeating it over and over and
[45:15] over until we see it happening
[45:15] .
[45:17] And I'm also.
[45:18] Open to.
[45:19] Some further discussion after
[45:21] this hearing as well with
[45:22] anyone.
[45:23] Thank you cassandra.
[45:25] Other areas in the city that
[45:27] you think are like the most
[45:28] problematic, the most difficult
[45:31] ,the most inaccessible for our
[45:31] residents here.
[45:35] Oh my gosh I can list one
[45:35] of the many of them.
[45:40] Um along common ave in the area
[45:41] by the area where they have the
[45:45] elephant standing those streets
[45:48] or those blocks on the uh,
[45:49] commonwealth area.
[45:52] a lot of them do not have apps
[45:54] buttons and that's shortened
[45:56] for audible pedestrian signals.
[45:59] Those are incredibly dangerous
[46:00] street corners.
[46:03] Um, and I believe that is where
[46:05] someone had unfortunately
[46:09] passed away because of lack of,
[46:10] you know, the audible
[46:11] pedestrian signals and the
[46:12] street crossing signals.
[46:15] And that is also where the
[46:17] concurrent street crossing
[46:19] issue is also heavily noticed
[46:20] as well.
[46:21] Okay.
[46:23] >> um.
[46:25] I'm not qualified to talk about
[46:25] other.
[46:27] Cities but the problem.
[46:28] With cassandra said.
[46:30] I don't know who said it.
[46:31] But everybody.
[46:33] >> in the world has a
[46:33] disability in waiting.
[46:36] Just of don't know when it's.
[46:36] >> going to show up.
[46:39] I do not know.
[46:43] Till 2015 that I had an
[46:45] isolated disease called my kill
[46:48] generation of any of the city
[46:48] councilors.
[46:50] Talk to all the doctors at
[46:52] mount sinai or doing research.
[46:54] For doctors.
[46:55] Who are teaching.
[46:57] Students that the college of.
[46:59] Optometry you want to.
[47:00] >> meet them.
[47:02] Come and see me.
[47:03] I'll introduce you to talk to
[47:04] ross at the normal.
[47:05] College of optometry.
[47:07] Amazing woman.
[47:08] Amazing doctor.
[47:10] Amazing research is still here.
[47:11] That's just.
[47:13] One example.
[47:14] >> of my journey.
[47:18] Thank you.
[47:20] um, I wanted to follow up on
[47:21] something that you stated
[47:22] earlier.
[47:23] Bill and I want to read it just
[47:26] to make sure that I, um.
[47:29] Uh, just to make sure that I
[47:29] got it right.
[47:30] I think when you were talking
[47:33] about the issue of public
[47:35] bathrooms, you were stating you
[47:39] stated that hotels in the city
[47:40] of boston or is it in the
[47:41] commonwealth of massachusetts
[47:44] that they are by right by law?
[47:45] Public?
[47:45] No.
[47:45] Okay.
[47:47] I just wanted to clarify what
[47:48] the what you stated.
[47:48] Okay.
[47:51] >> I filed the complaint with
[47:53] 311 about the lack
[47:54] of bathrooms.
[47:55] I received.
[47:56] The form letter from crystal
[47:58] with cautions office.
[47:59] It stated.
[48:03] It to the.
[48:05] City considers public bathrooms
[48:06] and hotels.
[48:08] What are you going to do.
[48:10] Parts for public bathroom?
[48:11] Yeah.
[48:13] >> I use the bathrooms, said
[48:15] the company fairmont hotel a
[48:17] lot because it's a shorter walk
[48:19] than going to the library.
[48:20] And what happens if the library
[48:22] is close at 5:00 and you got a
[48:24] five year old kid who needs to
[48:25] use the bathroom?
[48:26] They're not going to look at
[48:27] the websites.
[48:29] They're not going.
[48:29] >> to look at wayfair.
[48:31] That's in the letter that I
[48:33] perform whenever I receive.
[48:36] I recognize the person across
[48:38] the commission team has human
[48:38] work.
[48:42] i can't talk about what other
[48:43] cities do.
[48:43] I only know.
[48:44] About boston.
[48:46] I'm just beginning to learn
[48:46] cambridge.
[48:48] It's a.
[48:49] >> fascinating journey.
[48:50] Come on.
[48:51] Come and join me.
[48:55] You'll find out what it's like
[48:57] to become blind in the city
[48:57] of boston.
[49:00] Sometimes it's amazing,
[49:01] sometimes it's hilarious.
[49:02] And some.
[49:04] Times this christian just says
[49:05] it's tight.
[49:07] Rome dangerous to navigate
[49:08] these streets.
[49:10] And we're.
[49:11] >> in better shape than some
[49:12] other cities.
[49:15] My mobility husband's from
[49:15] mexico.
[49:16] Jesus christ.
[49:18] Is where he lives.
[49:18] Oh my GOD.
[49:21] Good thing she has sights.
[49:23] .
[49:25] >> so is the city.
[49:28] Going to move slow or is it
[49:30] going to move fast and be
[49:30] careful.
[49:34] You've got over 200 million to
[49:35] 2 million visitors that come
[49:37] here every year from across the
[49:37] world.
[49:40] We've got a great example for
[49:40] world cup.
[49:42] They're coming.
[49:43] Back folks.
[49:44] What are you going to do to
[49:46] make sure they know about
[49:46] accessibility in in this
[49:47] wonderful city?
[49:49] That's the question.
[49:51] I don't have the answers.
[49:54] Well thank you.
[49:56] Thank you for your, uh for your
[49:57] time and your testimony.
[49:59] I started my day today at the
[50:00] national braille press.
[50:03] Um, and I just know that it's
[50:04] important that we do everything
[50:06] that we can for, um.
[50:09] Uh uh, all of our communities
[50:10] here especially those.
[50:13] Who are living and trying to
[50:14] thrive with disabilities.
[50:15] So thank you for your
[50:16] testimony, bill.
[50:17] Um.
[50:19] >> and to you, cassandra and
[50:20] for everyone at the national
[50:20] braille.
[50:21] >> press for.
[50:22] The work that they do to make
[50:23] sure accessibility is a real
[50:24] thing for everyone.
[50:25] Later I'd like to hear about
[50:25] it.
[50:28] And by the way, if any city
[50:30] city councilor my go to find
[50:32] links to come and see it talk
[50:33] to me.
[50:35] Brian the ceo will welcome you
[50:36] with open arms.
[50:38] Thank you.
[50:40] Thank you.
[50:42] >> thank you,
[50:46] councilor louijeune and, um,
[50:48] next up is councilor.
[50:50] We're all just stepped out.
[50:53] Um, one thing I do want to
[50:53] mention I'll go.
[50:56] I'll go to council whether I
[50:57] visited the carroll center for
[50:59] the blind several years ago.
[51:02] Uh, serving all ages in all
[51:04] stages of vision loss.
[51:07] But talking to bill and
[51:07] cassandra.
[51:10] Um, I plan to do a visit
[51:12] sometime in OCTOBER and would
[51:13] like to invite all of my
[51:15] colleagues if they are able to
[51:15] join us.
[51:16] I'll give.
[51:18] And I'll give people plenty
[51:18] of notice.
[51:21] Um, but I think cassandra
[51:22] cassandra is going to join
[51:23] me and ride over with me.
[51:24] Yeah.
[51:25] >> over to newton.
[51:26] Then we're going to go to one
[51:28] of those ice cream places after
[51:29] I think so, yeah.
[51:30] Oh, my.
[51:32] >> uh my colleagues are, um,
[51:33] welcome to join us.
[51:35] Um, next up is council weber.
[51:36] Council weber.
[51:37] You have the floor.
[51:39] Okay.
[51:40] >> thank you very much.
[51:40] Uh.
[51:42] Nice to see the panelists.
[51:45] Um, uh, and I see bill.
[51:47] But cassandra, like bill was
[51:49] talking about, you know, he,
[51:51] uh, other cities and you know,
[51:52] he knows what's going on here.
[51:55] Uh, is there is there another
[51:57] city you know, in the country
[51:58] somewhere else that we should
[52:01] be looking to for, you know,
[52:03] how to approach these issues as
[52:03] somebody?
[52:07] Uh, other cities that we
[52:07] should.
[52:11] Look into for like I would say
[52:17] minneapolis minneapolis has uh
[52:20] ,very how do I say?
[52:26] They can be an example of how
[52:26] to.
[52:27] Make sure.
[52:32] A city can be as accessible as
[52:34] possible, especially the
[52:36] southeast minneapolis area.
[52:39] Uh, audible pedestrian signals.
[52:46] Um, a lot of infrastructure
[52:47] accessibility in many ways.
[52:50] But it has been a while since I
[52:51] had last visited minneapolis.
[52:56] Um, but when I went there I
[52:57] found it to be pretty cool.
[52:58] Like well.
[52:59] >> not.
[52:59] cool but.
[53:00] >> like.
[53:01] Be accessible because I was
[53:04] there at a training center for
[53:07] the blind at the time and.
[53:08] It was.
[53:11] Pretty easy to navigate.
[53:15] And though every city is not
[53:18] perfect but I kind of was
[53:21] wishing that minneapolis and
[53:21] massachusetts could trade.
[53:24] Resources in a way.
[53:26] Mhm.
[53:27] >> if that answers.
[53:28] >> your yeah yeah.
[53:29] No that's that's good.
[53:31] Uh I have the I don't know if
[53:31] the.
[53:35] Current former the city
[53:36] councilor for minneapolis on on
[53:36] speed dial uh we.
[53:37] Were in.
[53:39] >> touch during this.
[53:42] Tour so uh I can I can give him
[53:43] a call and and see what they're
[53:44] doing there.
[53:45] Great.
[53:45] Uh, yeah.
[53:45] Bill.
[53:47] City council member to
[53:48] interrupt you since you're
[53:49] going to make that phone call.
[53:52] Minneapolis is one of the
[53:54] cities that runs pilot projects
[53:56] for the open mobility
[53:57] foundation that I mentioned
[53:57] earlier.
[53:58] I want.
[53:59] >> to ask.
[54:00] >> him or.
[54:02] Her what their involvement is
[54:05] with the military foundation.
[54:06] It's a nonprofit.
[54:08] In cities.
[54:10] Across the world belong.
[54:12] To it and that includes.
[54:13] Boston, massachusetts.
[54:16] Good question to ask them.
[54:18] Thanks for bringing.
[54:19] >> up minneapolis.
[54:20] oh yeah.
[54:21] Minneapolis is one of those
[54:22] special cities for me.
[54:23] Mhm.
[54:24] >> okay yeah I've been there.
[54:26] Uh I went to law school in iowa
[54:27] so took some trips up to
[54:29] minneapolis is really
[54:31] interesting city and uh yeah I
[54:32] can't wait to reach out.
[54:35] Um uh so I guess cassandra, you
[54:37] also mentioned uh, concurrent
[54:40] lighting and as the chair
[54:41] mentioned, you know, we filed
[54:42] uh resolution I think at least
[54:44] one that you know, we we voted
[54:46] in favor of of getting rid
[54:48] of them in the city and the
[54:50] reason why one of the reasons
[54:52] why I support it is because
[54:53] right in my district on hyde
[54:55] park ave uh, where I think you
[54:57] you made your video this winter
[54:59] and tower uh, glen ingram was
[55:01] killed by a bus on a concurrent
[55:03] light and and so he was
[55:04] crossing in a green a couple
[55:05] of years ago.
[55:07] Um, I mean, we heard from the
[55:08] chief of streets we asked him
[55:10] the I think I think the chair
[55:12] asked him about concurrent
[55:13] lights and I think the response
[55:16] was if we if we did a blanket
[55:17] concurrent light ban across the
[55:19] whole city, it would cause a
[55:21] lot of a lot more traffic, a
[55:23] lot more, you know, a lot
[55:24] of some insurmountable issues.
[55:25] Is there I guess my question
[55:28] for you is is there a way to do
[55:30] it in a targeted way where we
[55:32] create zones where there's no
[55:34] concurrent lights or are you
[55:36] just thinking would you just
[55:38] want you know, the entire city
[55:40] just to ban them from one side
[55:40] to the other?
[55:43] My thing is I would ask this
[55:45] person what do they think is
[55:48] more important the safety of a
[55:48] person.
[55:50] On the street.
[55:55] Walking around or a car stuck
[55:55] in traffic?
[56:00] You know the person they just
[56:02] need a couple of seconds extra
[56:03] to cross the road.
[56:05] The car could always get to
[56:08] their destination a lot faster
[56:08] than a person.
[56:12] So it's like I mean I've never
[56:14] I've never driven in my life
[56:14] before.
[56:16] I've always been living with
[56:17] blindness and deafness together
[56:18] .
[56:21] So I don't know what the
[56:23] urgency is to be behind the
[56:27] wheel and want to rush through
[56:28] even with someone trying to
[56:29] cross.
[56:31] I've always been the pedestrian
[56:35] but maybe some of the most
[56:39] active or highly um trafficked
[56:41] spots in the city could have no
[56:45] concurrent street crossings and
[56:47] as it might just get rid of it.
[56:48] >> just get rid of it.
[56:48] Okay?
[56:49] >> just just take it out.
[56:50] Yeah.
[56:50] Take it out.
[56:51] Okay.
[56:51] It's okay.
[56:52] They can stand in the traffic
[56:54] light a little bit longer.
[56:55] They have air conditioning in
[56:55] their car.
[56:57] They have a heater in their
[56:57] car.
[56:59] The pedestrians are exposed to
[57:00] the heat and the cold.
[57:00] They'll be fine.
[57:02] So sounds good.
[57:03] Uh.
[57:04] And I just take.
[57:04] >> it off.
[57:04] Yeah.
[57:05] >> okay.
[57:06] >> bill, you got your hand up.
[57:07] You know.
[57:09] >> as a person who used to be
[57:10] able to drive.
[57:13] And I.
[57:14] Lived on one spot street and
[57:15] now I'm.
[57:17] Just watching center street, I
[57:19] think to myself I used to drive
[57:20] on that road.
[57:20] What am I.
[57:22] >> what am I crazy?
[57:23] Okay.
[57:25] And that's that's before and
[57:26] after the road diet.
[57:29] So since you brought it up, how
[57:31] about doing a pilot project in
[57:31] west roxbury?
[57:33] You've already got road diet.
[57:34] You still got problems.
[57:38] I know it's still a big issue
[57:39] for you as a city councilor,
[57:41] but you got the bike riders who
[57:43] are here in full force and then
[57:44] .
[57:44] >> MARCH.
[57:47] Pick a neighborhood, pick a
[57:48] street.
[57:49] What they're don't.
[57:52] Pick the street he wants to do
[57:52] the pilot.
[57:52] Project is.
[57:55] It's dangerous out there.
[57:57] You know.
[58:01] The question is how many
[58:02] fathers are going to get killed
[58:04] with a stroller with a three
[58:07] year old and I'm and I know I'm
[58:08] being very blunt and very
[58:08] direct.
[58:09] How long.
[58:11] >> is it going to take for
[58:12] another adult to get killed on
[58:14] the streets of summer street in
[58:14] west roxbury?
[58:16] That happened a few years ago.
[58:18] I almost got killed crossing.
[58:19] Center street.
[58:21] A few years ago when I still
[58:22] had I was not legally blind.
[58:26] how many deaths?
[58:28] It's a kind of take for that
[58:31] person to wake up and have a
[58:32] pilot project.
[58:34] And I know I'm in your face and
[58:37] I'm being direct I don't care I
[58:38] don't want another person to
[58:39] get killed on the streets
[58:42] of boston because you got
[58:43] concurrent things.
[58:45] You got drones that don't work
[58:47] about lighting on one side
[58:48] there's a button on the other
[58:49] side there's nothing.
[58:52] I've walked center street from
[58:53] roach brothers all the way to
[58:55] the fight in the hospital more
[58:56] than once.
[58:58] I live about a mile away.
[59:00] You want to come on a walk with
[59:02] me to center street anytime,
[59:02] anyplace?
[59:05] Okay, I think thanks, but I see
[59:06] my time is up.
[59:08] I just have one quick follow up
[59:09] bill.
[59:10] This is free for you.
[59:12] Uh, and I waited till my time
[59:14] was up, so we just a short and
[59:15] I'll try not to.
[59:16] Be long.
[59:18] Well, no, not yet, but just I
[59:20] know you'd be advocated for
[59:21] accessibility at the libraries
[59:21] .
[59:22] I can.
[59:23] Answer that question more.
[59:24] Okay.
[59:25] >> but what.
[59:26] >> I will tell you is ask
[59:27] kristen mccosh that question.
[59:29] Okay.
[59:31] >> so it's something we need to
[59:32] follow up on.
[59:32] Yeah.
[59:33] >> you want to have a
[59:34] conversation with me later?
[59:34] Absolutely.
[59:36] >> let's go to the west roxbury
[59:37] library someday.
[59:39] and let's go to the.
[59:42] Central library and read all
[59:44] you city councilors read what's
[59:46] on the library's website today
[59:46] about accessibility.
[59:50] You might be surprised what it
[59:52] says good and bad.
[59:55] That's an issue.
[59:57] I will tell you this.
[59:59] The library's trying to improve
[59:59] it.
[1:00:02] I'm really working hard at it
[1:00:03] but they've had pitfalls.
[1:00:05] You're going to spend the
[1:00:05] money.
[1:00:07] It always comes down to the
[1:00:07] money.
[1:00:10] Is the city going to give the
[1:00:12] boston public library the money
[1:00:14] to be the best library in the
[1:00:15] world too?
[1:00:17] Well, I suggest you take a look
[1:00:18] at what seattle does.
[1:00:21] Seattle has approximately the
[1:00:23] same size population as the
[1:00:23] city of boston.
[1:00:26] Both cities are under 700,000
[1:00:27] and residents.
[1:00:33] Okay.
[1:00:34] >> okay.
[1:00:34] Yeah.
[1:00:34] Thanks, bill.
[1:00:35] You're welcome.
[1:00:37] Look forward to seeing you in
[1:00:38] west roxbury and, uh.
[1:00:38] Um.
[1:00:40] I still cruise the streets
[1:00:41] of center street at least once
[1:00:42] a month.
[1:00:44] Yeah, well, uh, send me a text
[1:00:46] message when you're there on
[1:00:47] me on the street.
[1:00:47] Um, okay.
[1:00:49] Uh, thanks a lot, chair.
[1:00:51] Thank you.
[1:00:52] Council member.
[1:00:54] I'll also take take six
[1:00:55] minutes.
[1:00:55] Um.
[1:00:59] I'll set the clock now for
[1:01:00] myself as well.
[1:01:05] Thank you, bill and thank you.
[1:01:08] Uh, cassandra for again for
[1:01:09] being here for the important
[1:01:11] testimony you are providing but
[1:01:14] also your incredible leadership
[1:01:17] on civil rights issues.
[1:01:19] Supporting persons with
[1:01:21] disabilities and supporting our
[1:01:22] seniors.
[1:01:25] Ensuring our open spaces spaces
[1:01:26] throughout the city
[1:01:28] commonwealth are accessible.
[1:01:32] Disability rights are civil
[1:01:32] rights.
[1:01:34] Um.
[1:01:41] Cassandra, I know you spoke
[1:01:42] eloquently at the beginning
[1:01:45] about concurrent street
[1:01:47] crossing lighting and we
[1:01:50] continue the conversation and I
[1:01:53] agree with everything you said
[1:01:55] both with both the pedestrian
[1:01:57] and the vehicle can't have the
[1:01:59] right of way at the same time.
[1:02:03] It's it's really to me it's
[1:02:06] really about respect for the
[1:02:07] pedestrian respect for the
[1:02:09] person with disability, respect
[1:02:12] for our senior citizens or a
[1:02:13] parent taking their little kid
[1:02:16] across the street in the in the
[1:02:16] crosswalk.
[1:02:17] Um.
[1:02:25] So on that note I, I was at a
[1:02:27] location and there was a there
[1:02:29] was a guy that was driving a
[1:02:32] car and he had on new york
[1:02:35] license plate and he was making
[1:02:37] the turn at the same time when
[1:02:38] people were trying to cross.
[1:02:40] Him and.
[1:02:44] He he almost missed them.
[1:02:47] He was about 1ft or 2ft away
[1:02:48] from the person in the
[1:02:49] crosswalk.
[1:02:52] And I said to him, um, you
[1:02:53] know, you have to let the
[1:02:54] people by cross.
[1:02:57] He said he said to me he didn't
[1:02:58] know me.
[1:02:58] I didn't know him.
[1:03:00] He said, well why do you have
[1:03:02] but the light he had the right
[1:03:04] of way which he does have the
[1:03:04] right of way.
[1:03:07] Um he said I have the right.
[1:03:09] And I said, well, you do have
[1:03:11] the right of way but so does
[1:03:12] not the pedestrian.
[1:03:15] And he said, well this is my
[1:03:16] first time here.
[1:03:17] How do I how do I know that.
[1:03:17] Mhm.
[1:03:19] >> well now he knows but.
[1:03:21] But now he knows that's that's
[1:03:22] right but what about someone
[1:03:25] else that doesn't know the city
[1:03:26] that doesn't know that
[1:03:30] particular intersection and
[1:03:32] they're they're they're making
[1:03:34] the right turn at the same time
[1:03:35] pedestrians are crossing.
[1:03:38] Um but it's really not that
[1:03:40] person's fault because they
[1:03:41] really don't know the
[1:03:42] neighborhood.
[1:03:44] They don't know the lighting
[1:03:45] and I'm not I'm not here to
[1:03:46] blame anybody.
[1:03:49] But why can't we come together
[1:03:50] ?
[1:03:53] Acknowledge that it is a public
[1:03:55] safety problem that we have in
[1:03:56] the city.
[1:04:00] And if the if they're not going
[1:04:02] to make change here at city
[1:04:04] hall, I do believe we might
[1:04:06] have to make change in the
[1:04:07] court system.
[1:04:09] Absolutely because I don't
[1:04:11] think I don't think the chief
[1:04:12] of streets is going to make the
[1:04:12] change for us.
[1:04:14] I've asked them a bunch
[1:04:14] of times.
[1:04:16] My city council colleagues have
[1:04:17] asked them as well.
[1:04:18] They're not going to make the
[1:04:19] change.
[1:04:20] um.
[1:04:23] >> but but do you think we can
[1:04:23] bring this to court?
[1:04:25] That's my question.
[1:04:27] Um, I would like to ask one
[1:04:28] question first.
[1:04:28] Sure.
[1:04:29] Go ahead.
[1:04:30] Is the chief of street even
[1:04:31] from boston?
[1:04:35] Like do they live in the
[1:04:36] perimeters of the area to even
[1:04:38] see this themselves?
[1:04:40] I think I think every
[1:04:42] department head is required to
[1:04:43] live in the city.
[1:04:43] Okay, good.
[1:04:49] And then the other part is yes
[1:04:51] it needs to be escalated to a
[1:04:51] higher level.
[1:04:54] We've already tried everything
[1:04:55] we could to reason with them.
[1:04:58] We've done the best we could to
[1:05:00] reason to make sure the
[1:05:02] pedestrians are safe, but they
[1:05:06] don't want to, you know, make
[1:05:09] that simple gesture to be like
[1:05:09] okay, cool.
[1:05:11] Pedestrians are important too.
[1:05:13] And not just the drivers.
[1:05:14] Yes.
[1:05:18] So without any further just
[1:05:19] just let's just go to the next
[1:05:20] level with it.
[1:05:23] Yeah I am concerned the longer
[1:05:25] we wait the likelihood that
[1:05:27] there could be another accident
[1:05:27] .
[1:05:29] We want to stop that.
[1:05:30] That's exactly right.
[1:05:31] You're exactly right.
[1:05:33] We want to stop it before it
[1:05:33] gets worse.
[1:05:36] And what happens if it's a
[1:05:38] child in the crosswalk?
[1:05:40] Um, what happens if it's a
[1:05:41] senior citizen?
[1:05:43] What happens if it's a person
[1:05:44] in a wheelchair?
[1:05:46] What happens if it's anybody?
[1:05:48] it's a preventable situation
[1:05:51] that could have been avoided
[1:05:53] and that needs to be addressed
[1:05:54] immediately.
[1:05:55] Like as soon as possible
[1:05:56] hopefully before the end
[1:05:59] of this year to take them to
[1:06:01] court for it if if it's even
[1:06:02] possible.
[1:06:06] And if possible me and bob can
[1:06:08] go along and certainly well to
[1:06:08] the court.
[1:06:09] Yeah.
[1:06:11] Yeah.
[1:06:13] Let's go to court and make sure
[1:06:15] you know pedestrians lives
[1:06:16] matter to.
[1:06:18] Yeah I agree I don't I don't
[1:06:20] think anyone really wants to go
[1:06:20] to court.
[1:06:22] I think that's our last option
[1:06:22] .
[1:06:24] But I don't like you cassandra
[1:06:25] .
[1:06:28] I don't want to wait until an
[1:06:29] accident happens again.
[1:06:33] Um, I know there have been
[1:06:34] several deaths in the city
[1:06:35] of boston because of this.
[1:06:36] Yeah.
[1:06:37] Um.
[1:06:39] >> concurrent jurisdiction,
[1:06:40] street lighting related issue.
[1:06:45] Um, but my time is almost up.
[1:06:50] Um, let me let me just ask one
[1:06:51] final question.
[1:06:52] I'm going to I'm going to shut
[1:06:54] off the, um, the clock in one
[1:06:54] second.
[1:06:55] It's about two.
[1:06:56] It's about one.
[1:06:56] Um.
[1:07:00] So one issue that I've I've
[1:07:04] focused on along for a while is
[1:07:07] the lift for peop for people in
[1:07:10] wheelchairs on the on the third
[1:07:12] floor the entrance to the third
[1:07:14] floor on city council.
[1:07:17] Um the plaza area when you're
[1:07:20] going in where the bricks and
[1:07:21] you go through the security and
[1:07:24] you kind of go around uh past
[1:07:25] the elevators in there's the
[1:07:27] lift that will bring you up to
[1:07:29] the mezzanine with it's a lot
[1:07:31] of kind of civic events.
[1:07:34] I don't believe that area is
[1:07:37] necessarily accessible to
[1:07:38] persons with disabilities.
[1:07:39] Yes, we do have a lift.
[1:07:45] Um, but it can be challenging.
[1:07:48] I know, I know many people have
[1:07:51] not used the lift um, for for
[1:07:55] various reasons but I am
[1:07:56] uncomfortable at that
[1:07:58] particular area of city hall
[1:07:59] and I love I love this building
[1:08:01] but I am uncomfortable with
[1:08:04] that part of the building
[1:08:06] because I feel it is not
[1:08:08] accessible to persons with
[1:08:10] disabilities and seniors.
[1:08:10] Mhm.
[1:08:13] Seniors also trying to walk up
[1:08:16] the stairs coming from the
[1:08:17] third floor senate plaza.
[1:08:18] Very challenging.
[1:08:21] Very very difficult.
[1:08:23] Also the hand railings if you
[1:08:25] notice the hand railings are
[1:08:27] kind of awkward and they're
[1:08:30] almost in the center the center
[1:08:33] of the of the brick stairs.
[1:08:34] They're not laid out properly
[1:08:35] and in my opinion.
[1:08:37] I do want us to.
[1:08:42] Study on how we can make it
[1:08:42] more accessible.
[1:08:45] But bill I think you wanted to
[1:08:46] speak and want to give you the
[1:08:47] opportunity because I'm I'm out
[1:08:48] of time.
[1:08:49] But bill, you have the floor.
[1:08:53] I actually visited the third
[1:08:54] floor last friday.
[1:08:57] There's a wonderful volunteer
[1:08:58] is only there on fridays.
[1:09:00] His name is jerry.
[1:09:02] He probably knows the building
[1:09:03] better than all of us.
[1:09:05] according to one of the
[1:09:07] volunteers that was there
[1:09:07] today.
[1:09:10] He did bring me to the lift.
[1:09:13] He said you just have to have
[1:09:15] security or volunteer help you
[1:09:16] to open it to go on.
[1:09:18] I didn't do it.
[1:09:20] So I can't address them.
[1:09:21] I will talk about the railings
[1:09:22] across the city hall.
[1:09:25] I brought that up when we did
[1:09:26] the walkthrough earlier this
[1:09:26] year.
[1:09:29] A lot of the rail, all the
[1:09:30] railings, a rectangle.
[1:09:34] Why not have a round look?
[1:09:37] Are canes easy to handle?
[1:09:40] Now there is a problem with
[1:09:42] city hall and it looks
[1:09:42] beautiful.
[1:09:47] The stairs are nice and shiny
[1:09:47] foyer.
[1:09:49] I think they are dangerous now
[1:09:50] that I'm legally blind but to
[1:09:52] my side people dangerous from
[1:09:56] the beginning even more so I
[1:09:59] think I walk very slowly up and
[1:10:00] down those stairs and I can
[1:10:03] demonstrate to you folks how I
[1:10:04] was taught at the college
[1:10:05] center for the blind by a
[1:10:06] wonderful mobility trainer
[1:10:07] named augustine.
[1:10:09] Yeah, I'm giving him a plug.
[1:10:12] He saved my life a number
[1:10:13] of times recently through his
[1:10:16] training and I can demonstrate
[1:10:19] to you after this how I was
[1:10:23] taught to navigate crosswalks
[1:10:25] that don't have these systems.
[1:10:28] It's very interesting to watch
[1:10:30] the traffic stop because
[1:10:31] of what I was taught.
[1:10:33] All the railings in this
[1:10:35] building need to be changed
[1:10:37] very expensive but they'll be
[1:10:39] safer for the seniors who come
[1:10:41] to this building actually
[1:10:41] anybody.
[1:10:42] mhm.
[1:10:45] Because they're not rectangle
[1:10:46] round you know round.
[1:10:51] I will in closing thank
[1:10:53] commissioner mccosh because she
[1:10:55] and I she addressed a very
[1:10:56] serious question I had about
[1:10:57] the new elevator.
[1:11:00] There were buildings in the
[1:11:02] city commercial buildings.
[1:11:04] They don't have the button
[1:11:05] panel anymore on the elevator.
[1:11:07] Everything is video monitored.
[1:11:10] Thank GOD for security when I
[1:11:11] was doing work two years ago
[1:11:14] when this he put area
[1:11:16] commissioners was the cautious
[1:11:16] response was wonderful.
[1:11:19] She said I'm not going to quote
[1:11:20] to paraphrase.
[1:11:23] There will be no video monitors
[1:11:24] in the elevators in this
[1:11:25] building.
[1:11:27] Thank you, commissioner mccosh
[1:11:28] for being that clear.
[1:11:31] Well thank you bill.
[1:11:32] Thank you cassandra.
[1:11:36] Um, my time is up.
[1:11:40] I do want to give my colleagues
[1:11:42] an opportunity if they want to
[1:11:44] have a closing statement, but I
[1:11:46] do want to give an opportunity
[1:11:47] for cassandra and bill.
[1:11:50] Um, give you the opportunity as
[1:11:50] well.
[1:11:52] If you'd like to give a closing
[1:11:53] statement.
[1:11:54] You're ready.
[1:11:55] Um, first.
[1:11:56] Let okay.
[1:12:01] Let me ask, um, councilor weber
[1:12:01] .
[1:12:02] No.
[1:12:02] I'm sorry.
[1:12:03] I'm sorry.
[1:12:04] Council shouldn't.
[1:12:06] I'm going to give my colleagues
[1:12:07] two minutes for closing
[1:12:07] statement.
[1:12:10] Um, and then and then I'm going
[1:12:12] to give both of you, um, an
[1:12:13] opportunity to give the closing
[1:12:14] statement as well.
[1:12:17] So council louijeune you have
[1:12:17] the floor.
[1:12:18] Thank you.
[1:12:18] >> I'll be brief.
[1:12:19] >> I want to thank you, bill,
[1:12:21] for your advocacy and for being
[1:12:21] here.
[1:12:23] I want to thank you, of course,
[1:12:24] cassandra, for all the work
[1:12:25] that you do put your travel
[1:12:26] fella to be the boss on.
[1:12:27] Really appreciate it.
[1:12:29] Um, and we obviously bill made
[1:12:31] it clear cassandra made it
[1:12:32] clear that the city has a lot
[1:12:33] more work to do and look
[1:12:33] forward to.
[1:12:35] You know, it would be great to
[1:12:36] hear from the disability
[1:12:37] commission or from the
[1:12:38] administration about their
[1:12:39] efforts to see sort of where
[1:12:41] they go down the street from
[1:12:42] their perspective sort of why
[1:12:43] we are lagging behind so much.
[1:12:47] But um, I, I know like I stated
[1:12:48] that even in my neighborhood on
[1:12:49] my street there are
[1:12:50] accessibility major
[1:12:52] accessibility issues that I
[1:12:53] want uh, to help solve in the
[1:12:54] city.
[1:12:55] So thank you for your work.
[1:12:56] Uh, I want to give another big
[1:12:58] shout out to the workers at
[1:12:59] national bill press for all
[1:13:00] that they do.
[1:13:00] For.
[1:13:02] >> uh, all of our communities
[1:13:03] and especially those who.
[1:13:04] Are blind.
[1:13:04] Thank you.
[1:13:06] Thank you.
[1:13:07] >> thank you,
[1:13:08] councilor louijeune.
[1:13:12] I want to give council weber
[1:13:14] the opportunity to give a
[1:13:16] closing closing statement as
[1:13:16] well.
[1:13:17] Um.
[1:13:18] Two minutes, consul weber.
[1:13:18] Okay.
[1:13:19] Thank you.
[1:13:20] Thank you very much.
[1:13:22] Uh, cassandra and bill, it
[1:13:24] just, uh it's it's great to see
[1:13:24] you here.
[1:13:27] Uh, and I, you know, hope you
[1:13:29] realize how much of a
[1:13:30] difference your advocacy makes
[1:13:32] for people in this city.
[1:13:35] Uh, you know, it's like you you
[1:13:36] really elevate this issue and
[1:13:39] we talk about, you know, making
[1:13:40] this a priority when we look at
[1:13:42] all other kinds of issues.
[1:13:44] I know you know myself and the
[1:13:46] chair councilor louijeune my
[1:13:47] other colleagues will be
[1:13:48] thinking about you know, what
[1:13:50] you have said today and what
[1:13:51] you said in many other hearings
[1:13:52] .
[1:13:53] Uh, so I just you know.
[1:13:54] Your hard work.
[1:13:57] Is it's it's it's very valuable
[1:13:59] in this city for people who
[1:14:01] maybe can't even make it here,
[1:14:02] uh, to speak up.
[1:14:03] So I just want to thank you.
[1:14:04] For for.
[1:14:06] Being the folks who who.
[1:14:07] You know, highlight this and
[1:14:09] elevate this, uh, for us to
[1:14:10] sort of taken.
[1:14:13] To more with so, uh, I know we
[1:14:14] have our marching orders and,
[1:14:16] uh, just want to thank you for
[1:14:16] being here.
[1:14:17] Thanks, chair.
[1:14:19] Thank you.
[1:14:20] >> council weber.
[1:14:25] I checked with, um, shayne.
[1:14:28] Uh, we do not have any public
[1:14:30] testimony, but before I give a
[1:14:32] closing statement, I do want to
[1:14:33] say thank you to shane and to
[1:14:37] ethan for, uh, conducting, um,
[1:14:39] organizing a very helpful
[1:14:40] hearing.
[1:14:44] Um, well, I'm going to I'm
[1:14:45] going to hold off on my closing
[1:14:46] statement.
[1:14:48] I want to give, um, cassandra
[1:14:52] and bill the opportunity to you
[1:14:54] to go first and then I'll and
[1:14:55] I'll kind of briefly conclude
[1:14:56] after the after.
[1:14:59] So bill or who would like to go
[1:14:59] first.
[1:15:00] Because I was.
[1:15:01] >> in.
[1:15:01] First place.
[1:15:02] Okay.
[1:15:03] Okay.
[1:15:04] >> because cassandra, you have
[1:15:05] the floor.
[1:15:05] All right.
[1:15:08] Um, I would like to say to
[1:15:10] everyone thank you for taking
[1:15:13] the time to invite us into this
[1:15:18] space to, uh, have our voices
[1:15:19] be heard.
[1:15:19] Um.
[1:15:22] >> I consider these
[1:15:24] opportunities pretty rare and,
[1:15:25] you know, great opportunities
[1:15:29] to be heard to be a part of the
[1:15:32] progress and advocacy
[1:15:33] throughout the commonwealth
[1:15:34] of massachusetts.
[1:15:37] And it's been a long time
[1:15:41] coming for a lot of us to, um,
[1:15:44] speak on really important
[1:15:45] situations.
[1:15:47] Happening and we hope to
[1:15:50] continue coming back for more
[1:15:51] discussions.
[1:15:53] And I hope that what we talked
[1:15:56] about today also makes more
[1:15:58] progress and we get what we are
[1:15:59] looking for so that everyone
[1:16:02] can navigate the commonwealth
[1:16:03] of massachusetts safely and
[1:16:03] comfortably.
[1:16:06] Thank you cassandra.
[1:16:07] Excellent testimony.
[1:16:09] excellent closing statement.
[1:16:12] Um, bill, you have the floor.
[1:16:13] Thank you.
[1:16:17] City council, for and for this
[1:16:19] opportunity to come before the
[1:16:19] council again.
[1:16:23] And the most important thing
[1:16:25] for me is I hope you listen.
[1:16:28] I hope all the commission had
[1:16:30] department heads also listen.
[1:16:32] This is real time.
[1:16:34] It's not facebook.
[1:16:36] It's not instagram.
[1:16:39] When I walk out this door and
[1:16:42] head for the streets I have no
[1:16:42] idea.
[1:16:44] But the two of us will be
[1:16:46] facing changes every minute.
[1:16:50] I thank you for the opportunity
[1:16:51] once again.
[1:16:54] Any time any place in the city
[1:16:55] the district.
[1:16:58] Lastly mayor will you're also
[1:16:59] invited.
[1:17:00] I've been trying for two years.
[1:17:02] Hopefully one of your staff
[1:17:04] members will respond this time.
[1:17:06] Thank you all.
[1:17:09] Last thing I think to see is it
[1:17:10] has a little secret.
[1:17:11] It's a lot of fun.
[1:17:13] I found incredible people over
[1:17:14] the last six years.
[1:17:16] Very lucky.
[1:17:18] Wonderful support.
[1:17:19] Thank you very much.
[1:17:20] Thank you bill.
[1:17:25] I'm going to give myself two
[1:17:26] minutes as well.
[1:17:30] First I want to say thank you
[1:17:31] to my city council colleagues
[1:17:35] for being here for their
[1:17:38] important dialog and input that
[1:17:38] they provided.
[1:17:41] Excellent questions as well.
[1:17:42] I want to say thank you to bill
[1:17:46] and cassandra for your advocacy
[1:17:47] and for being here as well.
[1:17:50] And I think you testimony and
[1:17:52] if testified before this
[1:17:56] committee many times but it's
[1:17:57] important for me it's important
[1:18:01] for our colleagues to listen to
[1:18:05] you, to hear from you, to
[1:18:07] understand what you are going
[1:18:09] through and through your life
[1:18:11] experience, through your
[1:18:11] testimony.
[1:18:14] That makes us better count
[1:18:16] better city councilors because
[1:18:19] we can be more effective in
[1:18:21] advocating for persons with
[1:18:21] disabilities.
[1:18:23] We know.
[1:18:27] Disability rights uh, civil
[1:18:27] rights.
[1:18:29] There's more.
[1:18:30] Work we need to do.
[1:18:35] As a as a member of the
[1:18:36] disability rights community,
[1:18:38] I'm an active member of the
[1:18:39] disabled american veterans.
[1:18:40] Yeah.
[1:18:43] >> I do want to say thank you
[1:18:45] to you because what you are
[1:18:48] advocating for is helping all
[1:18:49] persons with disabilities
[1:18:51] across the commonwealth, not
[1:18:52] just yourself.
[1:18:55] You are making life easier,
[1:18:58] healthier and more accessible
[1:19:00] to so many more people.
[1:19:02] Whether they're older or
[1:19:03] younger.
[1:19:04] But you are setting the example
[1:19:04] .
[1:19:08] For a new generation of persons
[1:19:11] with disabilities to advocate
[1:19:14] on their behalf to ensure that
[1:19:15] they are treated with respect.
[1:19:17] They they are treated with
[1:19:20] dignity because as we all know
[1:19:24] ,disability rights uh civil
[1:19:26] rights absolutely.
[1:19:27] And we can't do enough for
[1:19:29] persons with disabilities in
[1:19:29] this city.
[1:19:32] We have a lot more work to do
[1:19:33] and I'm honored to work with
[1:19:37] you to call you friends and
[1:19:39] let's keep up the conversation
[1:19:40] in advocacy as well.
[1:19:42] Absolutely.
[1:19:42] >> absolutely.
[1:19:43] >> thank you.
[1:19:44] >> thank you.
[1:19:45] Thank you.
[1:19:50] This this hearing on docket
[1:19:52] 0335 order for a hearing to
[1:19:54] discuss accessibility issues in
[1:19:56] boston and boston is concluded.
[1:20:00] Marvelous san.