[4:40] .

[4:41] Good afternoon, everyone.

[4:42] I call to order today's meeting

[4:43] of the boston city.

[4:44] My name is richard louijeune

[4:45] and I am the PRESIDENT Of the

[4:47] boston city council.

[4:48] You can watch the

[4:49] council meeting live on youtube

[4:51] at boston.Com.

[4:55] Forge city council dash tv.

[4:56] At this time I ask my

[4:57] colleagues and those in the

[4:59] audience to please silence

[5:00] their cell phones and

[5:00] electronic devices.

[5:03] Thank you.

[5:04] MR. Clerk, will you please call

[5:05] the roll to ascertain the

[5:06] presence of a quorum?

[5:07] Councilor breadon

[5:10] councilor coletta

[5:11] councilor durkan council for an

[5:14] seeing the city

[5:14] councilor fitzgerald.

[5:17] Councilor flynn.

[5:18] Councilor louijeune here.

[5:21] Concilor mejia here.

[5:21] Councilor murphy.

[5:24] Councilor pepin.

[5:25] Councilor santana.

[5:28] Councilor webber and

[5:29] councilor.

[5:29] We're all here.

[5:32] A quorum.

[5:32] Thank you.

[5:33] I've been informed by the clerk

[5:35] that a performance present at

[5:36] this time I ask for all

[5:37] councilors in gas to please

[5:39] rise for the invocation.

[5:40] After the invocation please

[5:41] remain standing as we recite

[5:43] the pledge of allegiance.

[5:44] It's my pleasure to introduce

[5:45] this week's clergy reverend

[5:47] lynch invited by

[5:48] councilor worrell.

[5:49] Customer well, would you like

[5:50] to come up to the podium with

[5:58] your guest?

[6:01] Good afternoon everyone.

[6:02] Today I had the honor

[6:05] of bringing my pastor to the

[6:06] dais and to the city council.

[6:10] Pastor audie lynch, who is a

[6:11] charismatic, knowledgeable and

[6:14] progressive thought leader who

[6:15] serves as a senior pastor of my

[6:18] home church a faithful church

[6:21] of christ those that no party.

[6:22] Personally call him a man

[6:26] of passion and purpose.

[6:27] Beyond the pulpit, audie is a

[6:29] graduate of the berklee college

[6:30] of music as a world class

[6:30] musician.

[6:33] He has turned toward all across

[6:34] the united states and abroad

[6:37] spanning from germany, israel

[6:37] and the caribbeans.

[6:41] Earned a master's of counseling

[6:41] degree from gordon cromwell

[6:44] theological seminary seminary

[6:45] and served the greater boston

[6:48] area and beyond as a social

[6:49] worker.

[6:51] Already married his best friend

[6:52] jacqueline ray lynch in 215.

[6:56] They are the proud parents

[6:58] of are already the second at

[6:59] eight and joshua and brandon

[7:01] alex alexander.

[7:03] I would now like to bring to

[7:04] you guys pastor audie lynch.

[7:08] She good afternoon everyone.

[7:09] Certainly grateful for the

[7:12] opportunity to stand before you

[7:16] on the last day of the first

[7:20] month of 2024 and truly we are

[7:21] grateful for life and strength.

[7:22] So we're going to go before the

[7:23] lord in prayer.

[7:24] Heavenly father, we thank you

[7:27] for this opportunity just to

[7:27] stand here with life.

[7:31] O GOD blood running warm in our

[7:32] things we have the activities

[7:32] of our lives.

[7:35] when I write mine.

[7:36] I pray lord, that you will

[7:38] bless us right now with a

[7:38] spirit of gratitude.

[7:40] We want to just thank you for

[7:42] this privilege as we are

[7:43] standing here as we're serving

[7:46] for each person that stands in

[7:47] this room what they represent,

[7:50] who they are, the unique path

[7:50] lord you have brought them here

[7:53] for a reason and I pray that

[7:54] they feel empowered and

[7:55] inspired as they serve

[7:58] oftentimes with less thanks or

[7:59] gratitude that we deserve and

[8:01] our service.

[8:02] But nonetheless we are grateful

[8:03] to serve in this capacity.

[8:05] I pray for this council room

[8:06] lord that you will give fresh

[8:09] inspiration and fresh knowledge

[8:09] and fresh direction that you

[8:12] will give us a sense of purpose

[8:14] as we serve the greater boston

[8:17] community, our different

[8:18] districts and our different

[8:20] areas.

[8:21] All that's happening in our

[8:21] city we pray that the peace

[8:24] that's in this room will also

[8:25] translate to the peace that's

[8:25] in this city.

[8:27] I pray that will lock hands and

[8:28] move forward with agendas that

[8:31] will be profitable to everyone

[8:32] not with a hidden agenda but

[8:35] just for the well-being of this

[8:39] community as we are a beacon to

[8:39] the world.

[8:40] Everyone takes a look at how we

[8:42] move and I pray that we all

[8:43] walk with a sense of purpose.

[8:45] I pray lord GOD for every

[8:46] demographic for our elderly,

[8:50] our seniors, our middle age,

[8:51] our young people lord those

[8:53] that MAY be migrating to the

[8:54] city of boston that don't have

[8:54] direction I pray that their

[8:57] voice is heard even as we're

[8:58] moving from the month

[8:58] of JANUARY to FEBRUARY.

[9:01] A historic month for

[9:01] african-americans.

[9:03] I pray lord GOD that everybody

[9:05] recognizes the importance

[9:06] of what we do and why we do

[9:07] what we do.

[9:09] I pray lord GOD not only for

[9:10] justice for the lord GOD but

[9:11] for the families that we

[9:13] represent that peace and love

[9:14] and harmony will be in our

[9:15] homes and our marriages among

[9:17] our children, our loved ones.

[9:18] I pray, lord GOD that we will

[9:19] always be reminded of who you

[9:21] are in our lives and that we

[9:22] MARCH and we wake up every

[9:24] morning with a sense of purpose

[9:24] .

[9:25] We say thank you right now we

[9:26] love you.

[9:28] We say thank you right now have

[9:28] your day.

[9:29] We pray in the name that we

[9:30] know that can save and deliver

[9:33] in the name of jesus christ.

[9:33] Amen.

[9:34] In amman.

[9:38] Thank you.

[9:39] Please recite the pledge

[9:43] of allegiance.

[9:45] I believe in the united states

[9:46] of america and to the republic

[9:49] for which it stands one nation

[9:52] under GOD, indivisible with

[9:55] liberty and justice for all

[10:06] which is I thank you again,

[10:10] reverend lynch for that prayer

[10:11] and that blessing.

[10:11] We appreciate it.

[10:14] We now have a brief

[10:17] presentation honoring higher ed

[10:18] for all.

[10:19] I'll be hosting this

[10:21] presentation.

[10:22] This is counselor fernanda

[10:23] anderson's but she currently is

[10:26] not here and so I will be I had

[10:28] the honor of presenting this

[10:29] coalition affordable, high

[10:33] quality public higher education

[10:34] and is central in promoting

[10:36] economic mobility and fostering

[10:37] inclusivity across diverse so

[10:40] so socioeconomic backgrounds by

[10:41] ensuring accessibility and

[10:44] affordability individuals are

[10:45] empowered to pursue their

[10:45] educational aspirations

[10:48] unlocking opportunities for

[10:49] personal growth and

[10:50] contribution to our society

[10:52] investing in public higher

[10:53] education a public good not

[10:56] only enriches individuals lives

[10:57] but also strengthens

[11:00] communities and drives economic

[11:01] prosperity and shared

[11:01] prosperity throughout our

[11:03] commonwealth.

[11:04] Recognizing the critical

[11:05] importance of fully funding

[11:08] community colleges, state

[11:08] universities and umass campuses

[11:11] higher ed for all advocates for

[11:12] equitable access to quality

[11:15] education for all students this

[11:16] entails addressing financial

[11:16] barriers beyond tuition fees

[11:20] such as textbooks, housing and

[11:20] transportation to bolster

[11:21] college enrollment and

[11:24] graduation rates particularly

[11:24] among underserved populations

[11:28] more of our higher ed for all

[11:29] underscores the need for fair

[11:30] wages and working conditions

[11:31] for faculty and staff within

[11:35] the public higher education

[11:35] system to ensure a learning

[11:35] environment and a conducive

[11:38] learning environment and

[11:39] enhance educational outcomes by

[11:43] prioritizing accessibility,

[11:43] affordability and equity in

[11:44] higher education we can empower

[11:46] individuals to realize their

[11:47] full potential, strengthen our

[11:48] communities and foster a more

[11:51] prosperous future for our

[11:51] commonwealth.

[11:53] And that's from our counselor

[11:53] district seven counselor

[11:54] cameron in jefferson.

[11:55] If I could have the coalition

[11:57] come down, I know that we're

[11:58] going to share just a few words

[11:59] with with everyone that would

[12:00] be great.

[12:01] So crystal and stephanie and

[12:26] the entire coalition so as you

[12:27] come up just want to say thank

[12:30] you for all the work that

[12:31] you're doing to advocate for

[12:34] access higher education for all

[12:35] with passage of the cherish act

[12:36] which is on today's agenda, you

[12:38] can come up here jonathan come

[12:39] don't be a stranger.

[12:45] Everyone come up here.

[12:48] Awesome.

[12:49] And I like to read this

[12:49] resolution.

[12:53] This is an official resolution

[12:53] .

[12:54] Come on up though.

[12:54] Don't be shy.

[12:56] Come on right here.

[12:57] All right, come on.

[12:58] This is official resolution be

[13:00] resolved that the boston city

[13:01] council extends its

[13:02] congratulations to higher ed

[13:04] for all in recognition of your

[13:05] admirable at efforts in

[13:06] advocating for fully funded

[13:09] community colleges and b a

[13:09] further resolve that the boston

[13:11] city council extends its best

[13:12] wishes for continued success.

[13:12] This resolution be duly signed

[13:15] by the PRESIDENT Of the city

[13:16] council and attested to and a

[13:17] copy thereof transmitted by the

[13:18] clerk of the city of boston.

[13:22] Thank you.

[13:26] I would like to try to say a

[13:29] few words.

[13:32] I mean tell this up going I'm

[13:33] jonathan cohn.

[13:34] I'm here with progressive as

[13:37] part of the higher ed for all

[13:37] coalition the kind of the

[13:38] higher ed for all coalition and

[13:40] the coalition of faculty staff

[13:41] students, graduates, community

[13:44] members from around

[13:45] massachusetts fighting for a

[13:47] vision of higher ed the kind

[13:48] of higher ed of for all in the

[13:49] state the bill that that we're

[13:51] fighting for this session in

[13:52] particular the cherish act is

[13:52] something that builds on that

[13:55] vision with debt free higher

[13:56] education so that students

[13:56] aren't graduating with kind

[13:59] of thousands and thousands

[14:00] of dollars in debt that makes

[14:03] it hard for them when they

[14:04] start out and it's damaging for

[14:05] the economy of massachusetts as

[14:06] a whole kind of investing in

[14:07] strong supports for students so

[14:08] that we know that all students

[14:10] who who start kind of at

[14:11] college have the supports that

[14:14] they needed to succeed knowing

[14:15] that students are full of full

[14:18] human beings in need that

[14:19] support to happen for that

[14:20] education to deliver on its

[14:22] promise retention of high

[14:23] quality faculty and staff

[14:26] making sure that we are paying

[14:27] paying the professors and the

[14:30] staff that are that are key to

[14:30] that positive experience

[14:31] of everybody there and making

[14:33] sure that they're having

[14:34] diverse faculty and staff to

[14:35] kind of to meet the need to

[14:38] meet needs as well and having

[14:38] green and healthy buildings I

[14:41] know many people here aware

[14:42] of the problems of climate

[14:42] change as well as the recent

[14:45] things that we with the covid

[14:45] pandemic that we saw the

[14:46] importance of having healthy

[14:48] kind of healthy environments

[14:49] and fighting to make sure that

[14:50] we can have that on all of our

[14:52] campuses as well.

[14:54] I think I hit the main point

[14:54] anybody can ask and feel free

[14:56] to tag in with the additional

[14:57] staff of what I'm fighting for

[14:58] and continuing to build the

[15:00] coalition kind of across the

[15:04] state because of how critical

[15:05] public higher education is in

[15:09] massachusetts as an engine

[15:09] of economic mobility as well as

[15:09] helping to reduce racial and

[15:13] economic inequalities in the

[15:13] state.

[15:14] So I'll pass it on anybody else

[15:16] who the state is just as a

[15:17] group we just want to thank you

[15:19] for this.

[15:20] It means a lot to have your

[15:21] support for teachers, for

[15:25] educators, others, staff,

[15:26] faculty, administrators all

[15:28] feel that beyond the

[15:28] k-through-12 system that we

[15:31] have your support in higher ed

[15:32] and community colleges and the

[15:33] state colleges

[15:33] of massachusetts.

[15:36] So thank you.

[15:37] If I could ask my colleagues to

[15:38] come up for a group photo thank

[15:41] you.

[15:42] Come on.

[15:44] Come on.

[15:48] Sideburns.

[15:49] Okay.

[16:18] Thank you.

[16:18] Awesome.

[16:19] Thank you.

[16:20] Thank you.

[16:41] You can't see anything you just

[16:49] kind of I'm learning.

[16:50] MR. Clerk, would we please

[16:53] amend the attendance to reflect

[16:54] that counselor coletta is has

[16:57] joined us and is now present?

[16:57] Yes.

[17:03] So now on to the first order

[17:04] of business which is the

[17:04] approval of the minutes from

[17:06] the meeting of JANUARY 24th,

[17:06] 2024.

[17:10] All in favor say I the ayes

[17:10] have it.

[17:11] The minutes of the last meeting

[17:14] are approved.

[17:15] We are now on to communications

[17:17] from her honor the mayor.

[17:18] MR. Clerk, would you please

[17:20] read that number 0256 duncan

[17:23] number 0256 message in order

[17:24] for you approval in ordinance

[17:25] amending city of boston called

[17:28] ordinances chapter 12 section

[17:31] 12 dash 3.5 senior citizen

[17:35] property tax work off abatement

[17:37] thank you docket number 0256

[17:38] will be referred to the

[17:39] committee on government

[17:41] operations.

[17:42] Mr clerk, would you please read

[17:44] docket number 0257 duncan and

[17:45] number 0257 message in order

[17:48] for your approval in ordinance

[17:48] creating the planning

[17:49] department and the city

[17:52] of boston thank you docket

[17:54] number 0257 will be referred to

[17:55] the committee on government

[17:58] operations.

[17:59] Mr clerk, would you please read

[18:01] docket number 0258 duck number

[18:04] 0258 message in order for your

[18:05] approval authorizing the city

[18:08] of boston to submit to the

[18:08] massachusetts school building

[18:12] authority statements

[18:12] of interest for their

[18:13] accelerated repair program for

[18:15] the following schools kennedy

[18:19] kinney elementary school.

[18:20] O'donnell elementary school.

[18:23] Adams elementary school.

[18:23] shattuck elementary school.

[18:26] Everett elementary school.

[18:27] Gardiner pilot academy.

[18:30] Linden elementary school and

[18:31] murphy k through eight school

[18:33] thank you DR. Number 0258 will

[18:34] be referred to the committee on

[18:37] ways and means.

[18:38] We are now on to petitions

[18:41] memorials and reminds MRS.

[18:42] MR. Clerk would you please read

[18:43] docket number 0259 ducky number

[18:44] 0259 petition of uptown

[18:48] transport inc. For a license to

[18:49] operate motor vehicles for the

[18:51] carriage of passengers for hire

[18:55] over certain streets in boston

[18:59] thank you.

[18:59] Docket number 0259 will be

[18:59] referred to the committee on

[19:00] planning, development and

[19:03] transportation where we are now

[19:06] on to reports of public

[19:07] officers and others.

[19:13] MR. Clerk, please read docket

[19:14] number 0260202610260 notice

[19:15] received from the mayor of the

[19:17] appointment of woodrow hartzog

[19:21] as a member of the surveillance

[19:22] oversight advisory board

[19:22] effective immediately and

[19:26] docket number 0261 notice was

[19:28] received from the mayor the

[19:29] reappointment of gary saunders

[19:32] as a trustee of the boston

[19:35] groundwater trust for a term

[19:38] expiring JANUARY 22nd, 2026

[19:41] thank you dockets number

[19:42] 026020261 will be placed on

[19:45] file.

[19:45] We are now moving on to

[19:46] motions, orders and

[19:46] resolutions.

[19:49] MR. Clerk would you please read

[19:52] docket number 026 to duck in

[19:53] number 0262 councilor of flynn

[19:56] offered the following ordinance

[19:57] establishing the office of pest

[19:59] control in the city of boston.

[20:00] Thank you.

[20:01] the chair recognizes

[20:08] councilor flynn kaushal flynn

[20:10] you now have the floor.

[20:14] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[20:15] Last year I filed a hearing

[20:17] order on the creation of an

[20:18] office dedicated to pest

[20:18] control.

[20:22] We heard from neighbors city

[20:23] officials about the challenges

[20:25] that they face when dealing

[20:25] with pest control related

[20:26] issues.

[20:29] I have heard from my

[20:30] constituents who are supportive

[20:32] of an office of pest control.

[20:34] As you know, pest control is

[20:36] critical to our residents.

[20:37] Quality of life as rats and

[20:41] rodents are not only a nuisance

[20:41] but they also impact public

[20:42] health.

[20:45] The safety of our

[20:45] neighborhoods, the maintenance

[20:48] of our properties.

[20:48] Currently pest control is

[20:51] cross-departmental effort in

[20:53] the city of boston and they do

[20:55] excellent work with

[20:56] inspectional services.

[21:00] Public works boston water and

[21:03] sewer the parks department each

[21:04] department is playing a

[21:04] critical role.

[21:07] We have 14 inspectors covering

[21:11] the city but having a dedicated

[21:12] city department on pest control

[21:15] would allow all of us to better

[21:16] focus on the issue providing

[21:19] more streamlined and

[21:19] coordinated approach a process

[21:23] in reducing pests in coming up

[21:26] with innovative ways in

[21:26] preventing pest related

[21:26] challenges.

[21:30] We face in the city.

[21:33] This ordinance would formally

[21:34] create an office of pest

[21:35] control and it would act as a

[21:38] central point to dedicated

[21:39] persons in developing and

[21:41] implementing long term short

[21:42] term integrated pest management

[21:45] plans for individual

[21:46] neighborhoods based on their

[21:49] specific needs.

[21:50] It would coordinate multi

[21:53] departmental efforts to reduce

[21:57] pet rat and pest population,

[21:57] develop overall pest control

[22:01] strategies, conduct research to

[22:02] residents on rodent related

[22:04] issues.

[22:05] I look forward to this

[22:06] ordinance to work with my

[22:08] colleagues and I've had the

[22:12] opportunity to talk to the city

[22:12] of new york.

[22:13] They recently hired a and

[22:16] established a standalone city

[22:17] department on pest control.

[22:21] I had the opportunity to talk

[22:21] with the director of that

[22:24] office several months back.

[22:26] I do hope to visit in the near

[22:27] future but it's an issue in

[22:28] fact impacting every

[22:31] neighborhood across the city.

[22:32] Let's work together.

[22:32] Let's get this done.

[22:37] Thank you MADAM Chair.

[22:38] Thank you.

[22:39] Councilor flynn, is anyone else

[22:41] welcome to speak on this matter

[22:41] .

[22:42] Councilor durkan, you now have

[22:52] the floor to help us.

[22:53] Thank you so much,

[22:54] councilor flynn for your

[22:56] leadership on this.

[22:57] Having talked to a lot of city

[22:59] departments I think what's

[23:00] really needed is coordination

[23:03] and so I really appreciate your

[23:04] work and excited to join in the

[23:07] conversation about how we can

[23:08] make our offices more

[23:08] coordinated around pest

[23:08] control.

[23:11] Thank you.

[23:11] thank you.

[23:12] Councilor durkan is anyone else

[23:16] looking to speak on this matter

[23:16] ?

[23:17] Is anyone else looking to add

[23:18] their name?

[23:21] MR. Clerk please add

[23:21] councilor breadon

[23:21] councilor durkan.

[23:24] Councilor flynn.

[23:25] Councilor fitzgerald.

[23:29] Maria murphy.

[23:29] Ben santana.

[23:31] Webber we're out and please out

[23:32] of the chair.

[23:32] Thank you.

[23:35] Docket number 0262 it will be

[23:36] referred to the committee on

[23:38] government operations.

[23:39] MR. Clerk would you please read

[23:45] docket number 02630263

[23:45] councilor flynn offer the

[23:48] following petition for a

[23:49] special law relative to an act

[23:52] regarding the disability

[23:56] pension for brian macpherson.

[23:57] Thank you.

[23:58] The chair recognizes

[24:00] councilor flynn.

[24:01] Councilor, you now have the

[24:01] floor.

[24:02] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[24:03] This is a home rule petition

[24:04] for disability pension for

[24:07] deputy sheriff brian mcphee son

[24:08] who sustained serious injuries

[24:09] when he was working in the

[24:11] suffolk county sheriff's

[24:15] department in 2000 and in 2008.

[24:17] Brian was responding to

[24:18] multiple incidents involving

[24:21] inmates at suffolk county house

[24:21] of correction.

[24:23] He was punched in the head and

[24:26] hit his head on the concrete

[24:29] and as a result he suffered

[24:30] permanent injuries that

[24:30] prevented him from his duties

[24:34] as a sergeant as deputy sheriff

[24:39] and was forced to retire at age

[24:40] 37 when he was employed by the

[24:41] suffolk county sheriff's

[24:41] department.

[24:44] He was a city of boston

[24:47] employee and is a retired

[24:48] system falls under boston.

[24:52] He is working with his state

[24:52] legislator who's outside

[24:55] of boston.

[24:56] State representative alison

[24:59] sullivan on this issue and was

[25:00] told that he would need a home

[25:03] rule petition passed in boston

[25:04] in order to receive full

[25:09] disability pension pay.

[25:10] So I would I would respectfully

[25:13] ask that we have the

[25:13] appropriate hearing.

[25:17] Learn more about this.

[25:17] Have a formal meeting.

[25:20] Get the required documentation

[25:21] and medical documentation and

[25:25] do our due diligence to ensure

[25:28] that sergeant brian macpherson

[25:32] is treated with all the respect

[25:32] that he's earned.

[25:34] But we also want to do our due

[25:36] diligence as city officials to

[25:39] make sure we ask the tough

[25:40] questions during this process.

[25:43] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[25:47] Thank you.

[25:48] Councilor flynn, is anyone else

[25:50] looking to speak on this matter

[25:51] ?

[25:52] Would anyone else like to add

[25:54] their name?

[25:55] MR. Clerk please add councilors

[25:58] braedon durkin, flynn

[26:02] fitzgerald murphy.

[26:02] Santana.

[26:03] Webber.

[26:03] Morrell.

[26:05] Please add the chair this

[26:06] docket.

[26:06] Thank you.

[26:09] Docket number 0263 we will be

[26:13] referred to the committee on

[26:13] government operations.

[26:17] MR. Clerk, would you please

[26:19] read docket number 02640264.

[26:20] Councilor flynn offered the

[26:23] following order for a hearing

[26:26] to discuss the impact of for

[26:27] profit urgent care centers on

[26:29] nonprofit community health

[26:34] centers in the city of boston.

[26:34] Thank you.

[26:35] The chair recognizes

[26:35] councilor flynn.

[26:37] Councilor you have the floor.

[26:38] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[26:41] MADAM Chair, MAY I add

[26:42] councilor erin murphy, please?

[26:42] Seeing no objections.

[26:46] Councilor murphy is added.

[26:46] Councilor flynn, you have the

[26:47] floor.

[26:47] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[26:50] I know that we are aware about

[26:52] the recent reports of stewart

[26:53] health and the serious concerns

[26:56] about potentially devastating

[26:57] impact that could have on

[27:00] health care access and quality

[27:01] care issues for all of us.

[27:04] We recently several hours ago

[27:05] just had a hearing, had a phone

[27:08] call, a discussion on that

[27:09] issue with members of the mass

[27:14] nurses association and seiu

[27:14] 1199.

[27:17] In that type of situation will

[27:18] have a devastating impact on

[27:22] our seniors.

[27:23] Persons with disabilities,

[27:23] communities of color, our

[27:26] immigrant neighbors in most

[27:29] vulnerable and public housing.

[27:30] But today I'm also asking to

[27:34] keep our focus on for profit

[27:34] health care in our

[27:37] neighborhoods throughout boston

[27:37] .

[27:38] In recent years there has been

[27:39] an increase in the number

[27:41] of urgent care centers in

[27:44] boston where these clinics

[27:45] offer walk in services for

[27:48] patients experiencing

[27:48] non-emergency medical care.

[27:52] While urgent care centers MAY

[27:55] offer convenient and quick care

[27:56] to patients, some of these

[27:59] clinics are for profit and seen

[28:00] as an investment opportunity

[28:03] for private equity firms in

[28:04] venture capital funds.

[28:08] One reason they are as

[28:08] attractive investment

[28:11] opportunities as urgent care

[28:12] centers is they do not have the

[28:15] legal obligation to treat

[28:16] patients if they do not have

[28:19] the ability to pay.

[28:20] Unlike emergency departments,

[28:24] many urgent care centers do not

[28:27] accept medicaid which creates a

[28:27] barrier to access for low

[28:30] income patients.

[28:31] We are now seeing for profit

[28:35] urgent care centers being

[28:37] proposed in close proximity to

[28:38] nonprofit community health care

[28:41] centers who provide similar

[28:42] services which can threaten the

[28:44] financial success viability

[28:49] of these invaluable community

[28:50] health care centers and

[28:52] neighborhood institutions.

[28:56] Most recently a for profit

[28:57] urgent care center is being

[29:00] being proposed on west broadway

[29:01] in south boston only a block

[29:04] from the south boston community

[29:05] health center which has been

[29:08] providing exceptional

[29:09] compassionate care to the

[29:10] people of south boston and

[29:12] other neighborhoods for 50

[29:15] years.

[29:16] They serve 70,000 patients a

[29:20] year and the patients include

[29:21] our seniors persons with

[29:25] disabilities, communities

[29:25] of color, immigrant

[29:29] neighborhoods, immigrant

[29:29] neighbors at our big public

[29:32] housing developments that mary

[29:34] allan mccormack old colony west

[29:35] ninth street and the west

[29:36] broadway development.

[29:39] This proposal has the potential

[29:40] to negatively impact the

[29:42] community health care center

[29:43] and take away its patient base.

[29:47] This is not a health care does

[29:50] it and there is no community

[29:51] need here.

[29:52] With this proposal less than a

[29:54] block away especially when the

[29:55] nonprofit south boston

[29:57] community health center is

[29:58] already in the process

[30:01] of expanding existing urgent

[30:02] care at the west broadway

[30:05] facility 8 to 9 patients in the

[30:08] coming months, the community

[30:12] health care center also has a

[30:13] nearby urgent care clinic in

[30:16] the south boston waterfront

[30:16] that is currently available to

[30:19] nine patients with a validated

[30:24] parking for $5 next door.

[30:24] Boston has many great community

[30:27] health care centers serving our

[30:27] neighborhoods and our

[30:31] constituents by providing

[30:31] valuable quality health care

[30:35] professional health care to all

[30:36] of our residents including the

[30:36] south boston community health

[30:39] care center.

[30:40] South cove community health

[30:42] care center club and square

[30:43] health care center bowdoin

[30:46] street health care center.

[30:47] East boston health care center

[30:50] the south end fenway health and

[30:51] many more that my colleagues

[30:54] could mention.

[30:55] Let me be clear I do not want

[30:58] to see cuts to programs,

[30:59] services and staff at any

[31:02] of these beloved community

[31:02] health care centers.

[31:08] My team and I recently met with

[31:09] seiu 1199 as a considerable

[31:12] portion of the workers at south

[31:12] boston community health center

[31:16] members who come from working

[31:16] families.

[31:19] We are working together on this

[31:20] issue as they share the same

[31:23] concerns they sorry cancer plan

[31:24] if we could all just please

[31:27] silence our cell phones make

[31:28] you comfortable and you can

[31:30] continue.

[31:31] We are working together on this

[31:34] issue as they share the

[31:35] concerns of our neighbors.

[31:38] You know that this could lead

[31:39] to cuts in programs, services

[31:42] and staff while leading to

[31:43] decreased health care access

[31:45] and quality including our most

[31:46] vulnerable.

[31:49] I am calling this hearing to

[31:50] also make my colleagues and the

[31:53] people of boston aware of this

[31:54] issue as similar to other

[31:54] development issues.

[31:57] This MAY be just the first shoe

[31:58] to drop in south boston but it

[32:01] could happen in many of the

[32:02] other neighborhoods across the

[32:04] city.

[32:05] There will likely be more for a

[32:08] nonprofit urgent care center is

[32:09] being proposed in our city and

[32:12] some might be next to the

[32:13] individual community health

[32:14] care centers in your

[32:16] neighborhood.

[32:17] We need to understand how this

[32:19] can impact our community health

[32:20] care centers in their quality

[32:24] of care and how we can improve

[32:24] access with local health care

[32:27] centers and hospitals.

[32:28] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[32:31] Thank you, councilor flynn.

[32:36] The the chair recognizes

[32:36] councilor murphy.

[32:39] Councilor murphy, you now have

[32:40] the floor.

[32:40] Thank you.

[32:41] Thank you.

[32:43] Councilor flynn, for calling

[32:43] for this important hearing.

[32:46] I think great minds think alike

[32:47] many of the words I prepared to

[32:50] say you have said.

[32:51] But I will continue on.

[32:52] This is happening on west

[32:55] broadway in south boston next

[32:55] to my health care center.

[32:59] I've said it before.

[33:00] We've had many hearings in this

[33:03] chamber since I've been here

[33:03] supporting the health centers

[33:05] and the amazing work they do

[33:06] for our communities across the

[33:10] city in this project on west

[33:11] broadway seeks to bring

[33:14] american family care urgent

[33:15] center to the solid right next

[33:18] to the south boston community

[33:19] health center.

[33:20] It is a for profit company in

[33:22] the largest urgent care

[33:23] business in the country by

[33:25] number of locations.

[33:26] This urgent care location if it

[33:29] is approved and constructed

[33:30] will be less than a block away

[33:33] from the health center in south

[33:34] boston and provide only some

[33:37] of the many services that the

[33:38] health center already provides.

[33:40] The south boston community

[33:41] health center has been

[33:42] providing essential quality

[33:45] of life improving health care

[33:45] services for over 50 years.

[33:49] Guided by the principle that

[33:49] all who seek care are welcome

[33:52] here and like you referenced

[33:53] already, councilor flynn, not

[33:57] all will be able to go if they

[33:58] can't afford it to this for

[34:00] profit center that will take

[34:01] away some of the business for

[34:05] the south boston and in that

[34:06] time this nonprofit with a

[34:08] community based boarded

[34:09] directors has been routinely

[34:10] recognized for its outstanding

[34:12] care of and for its community

[34:15] receiving multiple awards and

[34:16] patient experience pediatric

[34:19] primary care in the best

[34:20] overall clinical performance

[34:23] demonstrating the needs in

[34:24] of the moment in distributing

[34:28] during covid over 35,000

[34:31] vaccines and testing 14,000

[34:32] people for covid 19 but the

[34:34] health center doesn't stop at

[34:35] offering excellent top of the

[34:38] line health care as seen from

[34:39] its long history, patient

[34:42] satisfaction and outcome awards

[34:43] in its partnership with some

[34:45] of the world's best hospitals

[34:46] bmc mass general and tufts

[34:49] medical center, the health

[34:50] center also takes the

[34:50] additional steps of not just

[34:53] improving health care but

[34:54] moving towards overall health

[34:56] and wellness in its work

[34:57] through the south boston

[34:57] community food pantry something

[35:00] I know you've been a strong

[35:04] advocate for here making sure

[35:04] we can grow that one thing we

[35:05] all found out when the health

[35:07] care center stepped up and

[35:08] provided food during the

[35:11] pandemic is once the pandemic

[35:12] ended it was a need that didn't

[35:15] go away and they continued to

[35:16] provide food for our neighbors

[35:18] there in south boston it is

[35:19] clear that the health center

[35:21] which provides over 70,000

[35:22] service visits a year to almost

[35:25] half of south boston's

[35:26] population is a foundational

[35:29] element of the boston community

[35:30] in an invested involved

[35:30] committed neighbor who deserves

[35:33] the same protection and

[35:34] resources that it gives back to

[35:34] us.

[35:37] I'm deeply concerned that the

[35:38] south boston health center as a

[35:41] nonprofit will be at a

[35:42] financial disadvantage on the

[35:45] unequal footing of afc's for

[35:46] profit status and the good

[35:49] health centers will maybe have

[35:50] to shut down some of its

[35:52] services.

[35:53] Like you said, councilor flynn,

[35:54] if this goes through here in

[35:57] south boston, it could happen

[35:57] next to any of the community

[35:59] health centers across the city.

[36:00] So I look forward to

[36:03] participating in this hearing

[36:04] and advocating for our health

[36:04] centers.

[36:05] Thank you.

[36:08] Thank you councilors for your

[36:08] advocacy.

[36:09] Is anyone else looking to speak

[36:11] on this matter?

[36:11] Would anyone else?

[36:12] Councilor brayton, you now have

[36:15] the floor.

[36:15] Thank you.

[36:16] MADAM PRESIDENT, I would like

[36:19] you to bring forward this very

[36:20] important discussion.

[36:23] Hope very focused on the south

[36:23] boston community health center

[36:26] and the impact of this urgent

[36:26] care facility.

[36:30] But you know, we're in a moment

[36:30] in the health care landscape in

[36:33] which our emergency rooms are

[36:34] overrun.

[36:37] We don't have the capacity to

[36:38] respond to all the folks who

[36:41] need care.

[36:42] Our community health centers

[36:43] are under stress and need more

[36:45] investment.

[36:46] And you know, when we do need

[36:51] urgent care after hours folks

[36:52] are resorting to going to the

[36:56] emergency room so I really feel

[36:57] that we have to look to our ems

[37:00] system and other ways to

[37:03] respond to dealing with urgent

[37:04] care matters and trying to keep

[37:06] people out of out of the

[37:07] emergency room which is not an

[37:08] appropriate place to go all

[37:12] necessary relief but also to

[37:13] really focus on expanding our

[37:14] primary care infrastructure

[37:15] across the commonwealth

[37:19] of massachusetts urgent care we

[37:21] want to do a globe article on

[37:22] JANUARY 25th about cvs its

[37:26] expansion into this space

[37:26] of providing urgent care.

[37:29] There's lots of skepticism

[37:30] about whether they can actually

[37:31] deliver because of staffing

[37:34] challenges they don't provide

[37:34] continuity, comprehensive care

[37:38] and continuity of care and when

[37:39] you hand off care, who do they

[37:41] refer to and do this?

[37:42] Does the patient have a timely

[37:44] response and follow up?

[37:45] So there's lots of questions.

[37:46] I'm really excited to

[37:49] participate in this hearing

[37:49] because I think it's vitally

[37:51] important that we get a handle

[37:52] on the needs of our community

[37:56] broadly not just not just in

[37:56] the particular instance that

[37:57] councilor flinders is

[38:01] referencing but I think it's an

[38:02] important conversation to had

[38:03] and please out my name thank

[38:08] you councilor breadon is anyone

[38:09] else looking to speak on this

[38:11] matter?

[38:12] Would anyone in addition to

[38:12] councilor breadon like to add

[38:13] their name?

[38:16] MR. Clerk please please add

[38:16] councilors breadon calata

[38:19] durkin fitzgerald.

[38:19] Maria pippen.

[38:23] Santana webber while and please

[38:26] have the chair thank you doctor

[38:27] number 0264 will be referred to

[38:29] the committee on public health

[38:30] ,homelessness and recovery.

[38:34] MR. Clerk would you please read

[38:39] docket number 026560.

[38:43] mr. Clerk I'd for the record

[38:44] can we reflect councilor tanya

[38:47] fernando anderson is now

[38:50] PRESIDENT With the council.

[38:50] Thank you.

[38:51] MR. Clerk can you please read

[38:57] docket number 0265.0265

[38:57] councilors webber and louijeune

[39:01] offer the following order for a

[39:02] hearing to explore a right to

[39:04] councilor pilot program for

[39:05] tenants facing eviction in the

[39:12] city of boston.

[39:13] Councilor webber you now have

[39:16] the floor for what I believe is

[39:16] your maiden speech.

[39:19] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[39:22] Before I begin, I would like to

[39:25] take a second to thank you and

[39:26] my 12 council colleagues.

[39:26] You've all been incredibly

[39:29] welcoming and I look forward to

[39:29] serving with all of you even

[39:32] though at least one of you is

[39:34] way better than me and caitlyn

[39:37] bolling so but also, MADAM

[39:37] PRESIDENT, I would like to

[39:40] suspend the rules and add

[39:40] councilor breadon as a

[39:43] co-sponsor.

[39:47] I see no objections.

[39:48] Councilor weber seeks

[39:49] suspension of the rules add

[39:51] councilor breadon as a third

[39:51] original co-sponsor seeing no

[39:52] objections.

[39:55] Councilor breadon is so out

[39:56] of council weber you now have

[39:56] the floor.

[39:57] Thank you.

[39:59] While running for city

[39:59] council I received a phone call

[40:02] from a woman named marion west

[40:02] roxbury.

[40:04] She said she saw that I was

[40:05] running.

[40:06] She heard I was an attorney and

[40:09] she was calling me for help.

[40:13] Mary was a senior senior

[40:14] citizen and was being kicked

[40:16] out of her housing.

[40:17] She said it's crazy.

[40:20] I have lived here all my life.

[40:21] I'm on a fixed income and now I

[40:22] can't afford to live here.

[40:24] I don't know where I'll go.

[40:25] It was the kind of call I've

[40:28] gotten periodically an attorney

[40:29] for the last 18 years.

[40:30] I connected mary with some

[40:32] advocates who helped her to

[40:33] eventually find housing.

[40:35] But even the threat of being

[40:36] evicted and having to navigate

[40:39] a complex confusing legal

[40:40] system without any help where

[40:43] the result could be

[40:44] homelessness was incredibly

[40:44] stressful.

[40:47] Eviction proceedings are

[40:48] complex procedures where you

[40:51] really want to have an

[40:52] attorney.

[40:55] The reality is that when people

[40:56] are threatened with eviction

[40:56] they often face a lopsided

[40:58] playing field.

[40:59] The numbers are simply

[40:59] outrageous.

[41:03] According to the massachusetts

[41:05] housing court database

[41:06] approximately 95% of landlords

[41:09] here in massachusetts are

[41:10] represented by councilor in

[41:13] eviction proceedings due to

[41:16] nonpayment of rent while less

[41:17] than 4% of tenants facing

[41:20] eviction in those cases have an

[41:21] attorney.

[41:24] In a 2018 decision, former

[41:24] supreme judicial court chief

[41:27] judge ralph katz summarized the

[41:30] landscape here by writing that

[41:31] eviction cases are quote

[41:34] complex, fast moving and

[41:35] generally litigated by

[41:36] landlords who are represented

[41:39] by attorneys and tenants who

[41:39] are not.

[41:42] And judge cancels not being

[41:43] facetious about the fast moving

[41:46] part tenants generally have

[41:47] less than seven weeks from the

[41:50] time they are issued with a

[41:51] notice to quit from the time

[41:51] they are removed from their

[41:53] housing.

[41:54] In an eye opening article by

[41:57] harvard law school professor

[41:58] esm\ camillo, she highlighted

[42:00] how the lack of representation

[42:01] for tenants has real

[42:02] consequences.

[42:05] The landlords lawyer knows what

[42:08] facts are relevant and what

[42:09] documents to file.

[42:10] The landlord's lawyer is fluent

[42:11] in english.

[42:12] The landlord's lawyer has

[42:13] access to the internet and a

[42:16] printer.

[42:16] The landlord's lawyer knows

[42:17] what a hearing looks like.

[42:20] Lastly, lawyer knows what

[42:23] deadlines are, what deadlines

[42:24] are which in housing court are

[42:25] exceptionally tight.

[42:27] It's simply unfair and that is

[42:28] not to suggest that landlords

[42:31] or their attorneys are doing

[42:31] anything wrong.

[42:35] We have an adversarial legal

[42:35] system and landlords and a

[42:36] landlords attorney has an

[42:39] ethical obligation to zealously

[42:42] advocate for her client and

[42:43] obtain the best results

[42:44] available under the law.

[42:46] The results when the other side

[42:47] doesn't have representation

[42:49] however, are sadly predictable

[42:50] .

[42:53] Nearly 25% of tenants lose

[42:54] their housing cases by default.

[42:58] That is they never even make it

[42:59] to trial because they failed to

[43:02] show up in court or failed to

[43:02] file important court documents

[43:06] on time because they simply

[43:07] don't understand the court's

[43:07] complex rules.

[43:09] Tenants who are represented

[43:10] meanwhile end up with default

[43:13] judgments less than 5% of the

[43:17] cases even unrepresented tend

[43:18] to make it to court and make

[43:21] the filings rarely make it to

[43:22] trial because they settle as

[43:25] expected.

[43:25] These settlements are generally

[43:26] one sided where tenants either

[43:29] agree to vacate their homes or

[43:29] agree to conditions that are

[43:32] impossible to meet.

[43:33] A recent law review article by

[43:33] another harvard law school

[43:36] professor nicole reviewed 1000

[43:37] massachusetts housing court

[43:40] settlements and found that they

[43:44] were so one sided she called

[43:44] them quote civil probation.

[43:47] The housing laws in the

[43:48] commonwealth are intended to

[43:48] promote public health, prevent

[43:51] discrimination and prevent

[43:52] homelessness.

[43:53] We have some of the strongest

[43:55] housing laws in the country but

[43:56] the lack of representation

[43:59] means that they aren't given a

[44:02] chance to satisfy their purpose

[44:03] due to the housing crisis.

[44:04] Evictions are on the rise.

[44:07] We have a housing shortage here

[44:08] and the cost of housing for

[44:10] renters often rises by double

[44:11] digits.

[44:14] As a result, evictions are also

[44:15] on the rise in boston.

[44:16] In the last year eviction

[44:18] filings rose by more than 40%

[44:18] in suffolk county.

[44:22] There can be no doubt that

[44:22] evictions have a discriminatory

[44:23] impact.

[44:26] Studies have consistently shown

[44:26] that renters living in black

[44:29] and latinx are evicted at

[44:30] significantly higher rates than

[44:33] renters living in predominantly

[44:34] white neighborhoods.

[44:35] Moreover, a recent study found

[44:39] that single were the most at

[44:39] risk for eviction.

[44:41] Meanwhile, undocumented

[44:42] immigrants are reluctant to

[44:45] even go to court to assert

[44:46] their rights and simply leave

[44:46] their housing when served

[44:51] notice to criminals of the time

[44:51] .

[44:52] Right to councilor programs

[44:55] keep people in their homes.

[44:56] Right to councilor programs

[44:57] have a clear track record

[44:59] of success.

[45:00] They reduce eviction filings,

[45:03] allow tenants time to find new

[45:04] housing and they lessen the

[45:06] burden on government resources

[45:06] .

[45:07] During the covid 19 pandemic,

[45:08] the commonwealth stepped up and

[45:11] funded the covid eviction legal

[45:11] help project which among other

[45:14] things provided legal

[45:15] representation to tenants in

[45:15] housing court.

[45:18] The program kept 70%

[45:19] of represented tenants in their

[45:23] homes and gave another 20%

[45:24] of tenants more time to find a

[45:26] place to live.

[45:27] A 90% success rate for people

[45:29] with representation.

[45:30] Cities including new york and

[45:31] cleveland and the states

[45:34] of connecticut and washington

[45:34] have boosted access to

[45:38] councilor for tenants who end

[45:38] up in housing court with

[45:39] similar results.

[45:41] Moreover, an important part

[45:42] of a right to councilor program

[45:45] a here in boston would provide

[45:48] representation to protect the

[45:49] rights of small landlords

[45:50] providing them with councilor.

[45:52] I would also make sure owner

[45:55] occupier landlords are able

[45:56] navigate the system and stay on

[45:57] the right side of the law and

[46:00] that is a vital point.

[46:01] An access to councilor program

[46:03] does not create new rights for

[46:04] either landlords or tenants.

[46:05] It simply seeks to make sure

[46:08] that there already existing

[46:08] rights are protected.

[46:09] And as other cities and states

[46:11] have already found doing this

[46:14] will actually save money.

[46:15] Evictions have a cascading

[46:16] effect on families and the

[46:19] community leading to the use

[46:20] of extensive public resources

[46:22] from entering shelters to

[46:23] relying on mental health

[46:23] supports.

[46:26] But by keeping more tenants

[46:27] their homes when evictions do

[46:28] take place it creates fair

[46:30] terms for tenants and we save

[46:31] taxpayer dollars.

[46:33] When the boston bar association

[46:34] evaluated a right to

[46:35] councilor program in 2020, they

[46:38] can serve it of lee estimated

[46:41] that for every $1 spent on

[46:42] providing an attorney it would

[46:44] save taxpayers $2.40 of public

[46:47] resources that would have

[46:48] otherwise been spent on shelter

[46:48] services.

[46:51] And this number does not even

[46:51] include savings on other

[46:52] services such as mental health

[46:54] supports.

[46:54] Connecticut, meanwhile,

[46:56] estimated that its access to

[46:58] councilor program saved the

[47:01] state $6 million in 2022.

[47:05] Let's keep people have this and

[47:05] preserve public resources.

[47:08] I represented farmworkers as an

[47:09] attorney at texas rio grande

[47:10] legal aid and represented

[47:13] workers across the country with

[47:13] both the attorney general's

[47:14] office and lipton and was

[47:16] reared and I saw firsthand how

[47:20] powerful it was for workers to

[47:21] learn that they had rights and

[47:21] that there were people willing

[47:24] to help them enforce those

[47:24] rights.

[47:25] We can do the same for seniors

[47:28] like mary in west roxbury.

[47:29] We will be joining a growing

[47:31] chorus seeing the need to fix a

[47:32] glaring problem with housing

[47:32] here in the commonwealth.

[47:35] Governor healey recently

[47:38] proposed including $3.5 million

[47:39] in the state budget for an

[47:42] access to councilor program for

[47:42] tenants.

[47:43] State senator sal de domenico

[47:46] and representative day have

[47:46] proposed state legislation

[47:49] funding a broader right to

[47:50] councilor program statewide.

[47:51] We can help support these

[47:54] efforts by establishing a right

[47:55] to councilor pilot here in

[47:56] boston and ensure that the

[47:58] basic needs of our residents

[47:58] are met.

[47:59] The right to councilor is a

[48:02] bedrock of our democracy.

[48:03] The supreme court recognized

[48:05] the fundamental right to

[48:05] councilor in criminal

[48:06] proceedings in 1963 in gideon

[48:09] versus wainwright and the

[48:10] massachusetts supreme judicial

[48:13] court also found that indigent

[48:14] parents had a constitutional

[48:14] right to councilor on

[48:17] termination of parental rights

[48:18] cases in the 1970s.

[48:19] It has been shown that

[48:21] providing access to

[48:22] councilor in housing cases

[48:25] protects one of the most basic

[48:25] needs a right to have a roof

[48:27] over your head.

[48:28] And thinking about this hearing

[48:29] order I was reminded reminded

[48:32] about another case involving my

[48:35] first employer tiahleigh during

[48:36] a lawsuit in the early 1980s

[48:38] which was long before my time.

[48:39] It came out while speaking to

[48:43] growers at an onion while

[48:44] speaking to growers about an

[48:46] onion picker strike.

[48:47] A texas county sheriff stated

[48:51] and I quote I think that truly

[48:53] is the problem because their

[48:54] supplying these people with the

[48:55] information and they're telling

[48:57] them all about the federal laws

[48:58] and everything.

[49:01] That quote became a motto and a

[49:02] mission statement for truly for

[49:04] the last 40 years.

[49:05] Like my former colleagues

[49:08] literally I hope the members

[49:09] of this council will join me in

[49:12] being part of the problem by

[49:12] providing boston's neediest

[49:16] residents with the information

[49:16] about housing laws and an

[49:20] advocate to ensure that their

[49:20] basic rights are protected.

[49:24] That is why I am filing this

[49:24] hearing order today.

[49:25] I would like to thank the MADAM

[49:27] PRESIDENT and council brainard

[49:28] for co-sponsoring this hearing

[49:28] order.

[49:31] I would also like to thank

[49:32] deputy director daniel john

[49:34] johnson from the office

[49:35] of housing stability who is

[49:36] already doing incredible work

[49:38] on this issue along with

[49:39] greater boston legal services

[49:40] and harvard legal aid for

[49:43] already working in this space.

[49:44] I'd also like to thank my staff

[49:47] aaron branum, jordan frias and

[49:49] melissa beltran for doing an

[49:50] incredible amount of work in a

[49:51] very short period of time to

[49:53] help me put this together.

[49:54] I look forward to working with

[49:55] my colleagues and the

[49:57] administration.

[50:26] thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[50:27] Congratulations, counselor

[50:31] weber, on your maiden speech.

[50:32] You are now unleashed to speak

[50:35] on the floor and I thought that

[50:38] was a fantastic maiden speech

[50:39] and I'm so excited to work on

[50:41] this issue with you to be a

[50:42] co-sponsor on this docket to

[50:46] realize a legal needs

[50:47] of residents in the city

[50:50] of boston as they face eviction

[50:50] .

[50:51] Two of the people you

[50:52] mentioned, nicole and esm\ were

[50:53] two people who I worked with

[50:54] closely as colleagues at the

[50:56] harvard legal aid bureau when

[50:57] we were inundated with

[50:59] evictions which as you stated

[51:00] affect our most vulnerable

[51:04] populations our woman woman

[51:05] of color, woman of color with

[51:05] children.

[51:06] So I'm so excited to be in

[51:07] partnership with you on this

[51:08] work and for your presence on

[51:11] the council that you would have

[51:12] the know how to to introduce

[51:14] this as your maiden speech.

[51:15] So thank you again, counselor

[51:18] weber um, the chair now

[51:21] recognizes councilor breadon,

[51:22] another original co-sponsor on

[51:22] this docket.

[51:25] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT and

[51:26] congratulations, counselor

[51:26] weber and thank you for

[51:29] including me as an original

[51:29] co-sponsor.

[51:30] This is a critically important

[51:32] issue and I think you hit all

[51:33] the points with regard to how

[51:37] incredibly necessary this is to

[51:38] try to level the playing field

[51:41] and, allow tenants to have more

[51:44] support when they face the very

[51:45] difficult and challenging

[51:49] situation with the threat

[51:50] of with with the threat of an

[51:51] eviction.

[51:52] I also am glad that you also

[51:55] included the the issue

[51:56] of trying to protect the rights

[51:59] of small landlords folks who

[52:00] are owner occupiers and find

[52:02] themselves in the really

[52:03] heartbreaking situation where

[52:04] they MAY have to ask the tenant

[52:04] to leave.

[52:07] It's a very difficult situation

[52:07] for all concerned.

[52:10] And I also would like to show

[52:11] that the necessity of mediation

[52:11] services until we can probably

[52:14] avoid getting to the point

[52:15] of having to go to court at

[52:15] all.

[52:18] But this is a critically

[52:18] important issue and thank you

[52:21] so much for bringing forward

[52:22] congratulations again on your

[52:26] speech.

[52:27] Thank you, councilor breadon.

[52:28] Councilor coletta, you now have

[52:28] the floor.

[52:29] Thank you so much, MADAM

[52:29] PRESIDENT.

[52:30] I rise to just congratulate

[52:32] you, councilor weber and

[52:33] commend your leadership in

[52:34] bringing this to the floor.

[52:36] A stable home situation means

[52:37] stability in all facets

[52:37] of life.

[52:38] We've seen an alarming increase

[52:40] in housing shortages, evictions

[52:41] and ultimately displacement.

[52:43] It seems like every single week

[52:44] we receive a call from somebody

[52:45] who is getting evicted and they

[52:47] don't know what to do or how to

[52:48] protect themselves and we help

[52:49] as best as we can by providing

[52:52] information to resources like

[52:53] you mentioned greater boston

[52:53] legal services to represent

[52:55] them in housing court.

[52:56] The attorneys are simply

[52:59] overwhelmed and at capacity and

[53:00] that's with us turning away

[53:01] many individuals.

[53:03] So building their capacity

[53:04] should be something that we

[53:04] consider.

[53:07] But this idea is not only

[53:09] needed, it is vital for the

[53:11] survival of folks and the

[53:12] mental health and well-being

[53:12] of many.

[53:15] We can look to sister cities

[53:16] and lean in with state agencies

[53:17] and state partners to obtain

[53:17] earmarks.

[53:19] So I look forward to those

[53:19] conversations and helping the

[53:20] best that I can.

[53:21] But just congratulations and

[53:22] report to the work.

[53:25] Thank you.

[53:30] Thank you.

[53:31] County clerk of the chair now

[53:33] recognizes councilor mejia.

[53:33] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[53:34] And I want to say

[53:36] congratulation to my colleague.

[53:38] I think it's so important when

[53:40] we file legislation and put

[53:41] forth things that we do so with

[53:44] our heart and purpose and

[53:44] passion.

[53:47] And I think that that's what

[53:48] our constituents want is for us

[53:49] to fight for them.

[53:51] And so I'm really excited to

[53:52] have you here on the colleague

[53:53] fighting for those folks who

[53:55] often feel and unheard and

[53:56] thank you for tackling on such

[53:58] an issue like this.

[53:59] Having worked with women who

[54:01] are transitioning out

[54:02] of welfare back in the day I

[54:05] remember having to go to court

[54:06] and I felt like erin brockovich

[54:10] because I understand the first

[54:10] thing about supporting them but

[54:13] it was incredibly frustrating

[54:17] to be ping pong from space to

[54:18] space trying to advocate for

[54:20] folks who didn't have

[54:20] representation and as someone

[54:23] who was just a case manager I

[54:24] understand how difficult it is

[54:28] to advocate for folks like

[54:28] that.

[54:29] So I just want to say thank you

[54:30] for your leadership in this

[54:31] space.

[54:32] I look forward to being a

[54:33] champion and utilizing my

[54:35] platform to being the big mouth

[54:36] that I know that I can be to

[54:38] ensure that we we do everything

[54:39] in our power to move these

[54:40] things along.

[54:41] So thank you for your

[54:42] leadership in the space and

[54:43] congratulations to your staff

[54:44] for getting you this far.

[54:46] Looking forward to going all

[54:46] the way.

[54:47] Thank you.

[54:50] Thank you.

[54:51] Councilor durkan, you now have

[54:54] the floor.

[54:54] Thank you so much

[54:55] council PRESIDENT Louijeune and

[54:57] thank you so much

[54:58] councilor weber for your

[54:58] leadership here.

[55:01] I thought it was beautiful that

[55:02] you have lifted your new

[55:05] constituent mary's issue then I

[55:06] think the best the best

[55:08] legislation that we can come up

[55:09] with is really one that comes

[55:10] to us because someone reached

[55:13] out with a problem.

[55:14] So thank you so much and it's

[55:17] an honor to see two lawyers

[55:20] partnering together on this and

[55:21] to have that leadership as well

[55:24] on the council so so excited

[55:25] and thank you so much for

[55:26] everything and can't wait to

[55:28] partner with you in the future

[55:32] and it was an honor to share

[55:32] and something like our last

[55:33] meeting and it's just an

[55:36] incredible thing to have

[55:37] another lawyer on the council.

[55:37] So thank you.

[55:40] Some of us want to be lawyers

[55:43] but only two are so thank you.

[55:44] Thank you.

[55:46] Councilor durkin, three years

[55:49] of law school hardened careers

[55:50] council you now have the floor

[55:51] and I thank you, MADAM

[55:53] PRESIDENT and congratulation

[55:54] councilor webb on your maiden

[55:55] speech and I'm at the get you

[55:59] on a bowling alley to see to

[56:01] play yet thank you for just

[56:02] putting people first leading

[56:05] with your passion and it's just

[56:06] trying to level the playing

[56:08] field as a real estate

[56:09] professional I see firsthand

[56:12] how those playing fields are

[56:13] not leveled and I think a

[56:14] coordinated effort is much

[56:16] needed here in the city

[56:17] of boston to help our tenants.

[56:19] Three fourths of our population

[56:22] are tenants so you speak up for

[56:23] the people when you lead on

[56:23] with this policy.

[56:24] So thank you for bringing

[56:26] forward this and looking

[56:27] forward to working with you on

[56:30] the council so thank you

[56:31] councilor around the chair and

[56:33] recognizes

[56:34] councilor fernanda anderson

[56:34] thank you.

[56:37] MADAM PRESIDENT and every time

[56:38] I say that I feel like I'm

[56:41] going to say she's the queen to

[56:42] be.

[56:45] Thank you councilor canadians

[56:46] you now have the pleasure to

[56:50] see their castle.

[56:51] However, I am thoroughly

[56:53] impressed.

[56:54] Thank you so very much for

[56:57] being so thorough and so

[56:58] sincere and genuine over the

[57:01] last couple of weeks or so

[57:05] we've connected and look

[57:06] forward to communicating some

[57:08] more and working together.

[57:13] But what I got from you is just

[57:14] a sense of patience and truly

[57:17] compassion and interest in the

[57:17] work.

[57:18] So I look forward to that and

[57:21] congratulations on your maiden

[57:21] speech, your official act.

[57:25] I look forward to more.

[57:25] Thank you.

[57:26] And MADAM PRESIDENT, are we

[57:28] doing a picture with this

[57:29] family or folks that are do you

[57:33] have your folks here?

[57:33] Yes.

[57:33] Thank you.

[57:34] Cameraman andrew anderson, that

[57:34] camera.

[57:36] But would you like to take a

[57:36] photo with your family and

[57:37] loved ones who are here for

[57:38] your maiden speech?

[57:38] Awesome.

[57:52] Well, okay.

[58:11] I really think they don't leave

[58:11] me alone.

[58:14] Come on.

[58:18] Yes.

[58:19] Oh, sure.

[58:20] However, do you and your what

[58:23] what kind of come up here?

[58:25] Yeah.

[58:26] Come on.

[58:27] No, no, no.

[58:33] Come on.

[58:40] Get in there.

[58:43] Are your staff here?

[59:18] We got your well, I think you.

[59:18] Yeah.

[59:22] I can't do anything.

[59:25] MR. Clerk, will you please read

[59:26] it out?

[59:27] Congratulations again,

[59:31] counselor weber.

[59:32] I think as everyone stated, I

[59:32] look we look forward to working

[59:33] with you the housing legal aid

[59:34] attorney in me is very excited

[59:37] to work on this with you and

[59:37] congratulations again.

[59:39] Would anyone like to add their

[59:43] name?

[59:44] MR. Clerk please add counselors

[59:47] cleta durkin, fernando anderson

[59:48] fitzgerald, flynn midkiff peck,

[59:52] ben santana, weber, al murphy

[59:55] and please add the chair.

[59:57] Docket number 0265 will be

[59:58] referred to the committee on

[1:00:01] housing and community

[1:00:01] development.

[1:00:02] MR. Clerk would you please read

[1:00:07] docket number 02660266

[1:00:08] councilor for ananda sanderson

[1:00:11] offer the following order for a

[1:00:12] hearing to discuss creating a

[1:00:15] fund for translation and

[1:00:16] interpretive services to be

[1:00:18] utilized at community meetings

[1:00:26] held by city councilors.

[1:00:27] Thank you, MR. Clerk.

[1:00:30] The chair recognizes counselor

[1:00:30] fernando anderson.

[1:00:37] Counselor, you have the floor.

[1:00:38] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:00:41] I'm happy to offer to offer

[1:00:44] this as I consider it a very

[1:00:45] important matter that all

[1:00:48] of our constituents be able to

[1:00:49] fully participate in the

[1:00:52] democratic process.

[1:00:53] About one out of every eight

[1:00:56] adults in our city has a

[1:00:57] limited proficiency in english

[1:01:00] language and in many of our

[1:01:01] communities the numbers rise to

[1:01:05] areas between one fourth to one

[1:01:05] third.

[1:01:08] Boston is an international city

[1:01:11] and that is that boston is an

[1:01:12] international city that is home

[1:01:15] to many who come from lands

[1:01:16] where languages other than

[1:01:19] english are spoken such as

[1:01:20] spanish, vietnamese, cape verde

[1:01:23] and creole chinese as well as

[1:01:26] many others.

[1:01:27] Many members of these

[1:01:30] communities often speak english

[1:01:34] but it is in their native that

[1:01:35] many remain most proficient at

[1:01:38] such folks are integral members

[1:01:38] of our community working hard,

[1:01:42] raising children, buying and

[1:01:43] rent homes and more.

[1:01:46] And yet when it comes time to

[1:01:47] being able to fully involve our

[1:01:49] citizens and constituents they

[1:01:50] find that language barriers

[1:01:54] limit their ability to fully

[1:01:54] engage in the process.

[1:01:57] It is essential that they be

[1:02:01] able to obtain all relevant

[1:02:02] information that can be gleaned

[1:02:05] from community meetings from

[1:02:06] their elected officials and

[1:02:06] others in positions of civic

[1:02:08] authority.

[1:02:09] And while we are fortunate to

[1:02:10] have the language and

[1:02:13] communications services under

[1:02:13] the city's auspicious they are

[1:02:17] auspices they are not able to

[1:02:21] currently assist councilors due

[1:02:22] to how the council budget is

[1:02:22] allocated.

[1:02:24] This creates a problematic

[1:02:25] situation in which individual

[1:02:28] councilors must utilize funds

[1:02:32] from their own office budgets

[1:02:33] or rather their own campaign

[1:02:36] budgets in order to provide

[1:02:36] interpreting services for civic

[1:02:39] meetings.

[1:02:40] And yet we are fortunate to

[1:02:43] have within our midst a number

[1:02:44] of nonprofits that do great

[1:02:47] work in regards to translation

[1:02:47] interpretation services such as

[1:02:50] found in translation and

[1:02:51] english for new bostonians

[1:02:51] among others.

[1:02:55] For example found in

[1:02:55] translation already offers

[1:02:56] translation services for

[1:02:58] communities forums.

[1:02:59] So so as a possible partnership

[1:03:03] with them for example could be

[1:03:04] in line with the vision I am

[1:03:07] putting for us here.

[1:03:10] So it seems to me that there

[1:03:11] are mechanisms in place by

[1:03:14] which we could provide these

[1:03:15] services if we tweaked our

[1:03:18] budget to reflect the

[1:03:19] imperative need of our

[1:03:20] councilors to provide them.

[1:03:22] Therefore I look forward to

[1:03:25] working with you all and

[1:03:26] holding a hearing with the

[1:03:27] office of language and

[1:03:30] communication services relevant

[1:03:30] non-profits, community

[1:03:33] stakeholders and others to

[1:03:34] discuss the possibility

[1:03:35] of creating a fund for

[1:03:37] interpretive and translation

[1:03:38] services for city councilors to

[1:03:39] utilize during community

[1:03:42] meetings.

[1:03:42] Thank you.

[1:03:43] Thank you councilor fernando

[1:03:43] anderson.

[1:03:45] Would anyone else like to speak

[1:03:48] on this matter?

[1:03:49] Would anyone else like to add

[1:03:50] their name?

[1:03:54] MR. Clerk please add councilors

[1:03:56] breadon coletta durkin

[1:03:57] fitzgerald.

[1:04:00] Flynn murphy, ben santana

[1:04:03] webber and please add the chair

[1:04:04] this docket.

[1:04:09] Thank you doc in numbers 0266

[1:04:09] will be referred to the

[1:04:11] committee on city services and

[1:04:15] innovation technology.

[1:04:16] MR. Clerk, would you please

[1:04:17] read docket number 0267 so I

[1:04:18] can number 0267 council as

[1:04:21] murphy and flynn offered the

[1:04:22] following order for him to

[1:04:25] address the plans underway to

[1:04:28] do facilities work this summer

[1:04:29] at several of our buildings

[1:04:32] that MAY impact the services we

[1:04:32] provide for our children,

[1:04:40] families and seniors.

[1:04:41] thank you.

[1:04:41] The chair recognizes

[1:04:42] councilor murphy.

[1:04:44] Councilor, you now have the

[1:04:44] floor.

[1:04:44] Thank you.

[1:04:48] I filed this hearing with

[1:04:48] councilor flynn to discuss the

[1:04:49] possible disruptions at many

[1:04:52] of our b cyf camps and summer

[1:04:55] school sites as the city

[1:04:55] continues its much needed

[1:04:59] facilities work this summer.

[1:05:00] As many of you know bc cyf

[1:05:03] serves thousands families with

[1:05:04] a wide range of programing in

[1:05:07] summer camps for our youth and

[1:05:08] employs hundreds of city kids

[1:05:08] each summer.

[1:05:11] Many of our community centers

[1:05:14] are located close to housing

[1:05:15] developments and serve our most

[1:05:15] vulnerable children.

[1:05:18] Boston public schools utilizes

[1:05:19] many of these school buildings

[1:05:23] for summer school camp joy and

[1:05:23] the extended school year

[1:05:26] program which is a five week

[1:05:27] summer program for our students

[1:05:29] with disabilities.

[1:05:30] Councilor flynn and I both

[1:05:33] parents know firsthand how

[1:05:34] stressful it is to coordinate

[1:05:38] safe enriching plans for our

[1:05:38] children each summer and

[1:05:41] parents know that you start

[1:05:42] this in the fall, maybe JANUARY

[1:05:45] you feel like you're late if

[1:05:46] you haven't already secured and

[1:05:49] know exactly where and at what

[1:05:50] times your children will be

[1:05:52] during the summer months.

[1:05:53] It's our priority to bring all

[1:05:56] stakeholders together to make

[1:05:57] sure we are communicating

[1:05:57] between city departments and

[1:06:00] including those communities

[1:06:01] that will be most negatively

[1:06:01] impacted.

[1:06:05] Closing any one of our B.C. Y

[1:06:06] of community centers or summer

[1:06:08] school sites can have a major

[1:06:08] impact on our families.

[1:06:12] So we look forward to holding

[1:06:13] this hearing to discuss these

[1:06:15] possible closures and be

[1:06:16] prepared with alternative plans

[1:06:19] to support our residents.

[1:06:20] Many of you who were here last

[1:06:23] year know that I filed this

[1:06:24] hearing last year with

[1:06:24] councilor baker.

[1:06:28] Many of the employees at these

[1:06:28] centers.

[1:06:29] Teachers at dps who teach

[1:06:32] summer school and families were

[1:06:32] grateful that we were lifting

[1:06:33] their voices.

[1:06:35] So I'm looking forward to

[1:06:36] having this hearing again.

[1:06:38] Like we said at that hearing

[1:06:39] then we're very I'm very

[1:06:42] grateful that a lot of this

[1:06:43] h-back work and other upgrades

[1:06:46] to our buildings are much

[1:06:47] needed so we don't want to get

[1:06:48] in the way of fixing our

[1:06:51] buildings but we want to make

[1:06:52] sure that our families to

[1:06:54] partake in any summer

[1:06:55] programing for their children

[1:06:59] or seniors also that use these

[1:06:59] community centers that will be

[1:07:01] shut down that transportation

[1:07:02] and other necessary city

[1:07:05] services are put into place

[1:07:06] well in advance so everyone is

[1:07:07] prepared.

[1:07:10] So thank you.

[1:07:11] Thank you, councilor murphy.

[1:07:12] Councilor flynn, would you like

[1:07:13] to contribute?

[1:07:15] Would anyone else like to speak

[1:07:15] on this matter?

[1:07:17] Would anyone else like to add

[1:07:18] their name?

[1:07:21] MR. Clerk, please add

[1:07:21] councilors breadon coletta

[1:07:22] durkan fernanda anderson

[1:07:25] fitzgerald pepin santana

[1:07:25] webber.

[1:07:29] And please add the chair.

[1:07:30] Thank you.

[1:07:31] Docket you.

[1:07:32] Docket number 0267 will be

[1:07:34] referred to the committee on

[1:07:35] city services and innovation

[1:07:45] technology.

[1:07:47] Could I ask about the committee

[1:07:47] placement?

[1:07:47] Sure.

[1:07:49] Well, the committee on strong

[1:07:50] women families and communities

[1:07:53] concerns itself with

[1:07:53] stabilizing communities and

[1:07:57] show work with, as you know,

[1:08:00] other related issues for youth

[1:08:00] adult families ensuring their

[1:08:04] needs are met, delivering human

[1:08:07] human services and programing

[1:08:08] for our youth, family and

[1:08:09] seniors.

[1:08:12] Yes councilor murphy I thought

[1:08:13] about that committee as well

[1:08:15] this when we're talking about

[1:08:16] city facilities that to me and

[1:08:19] we're talking about city

[1:08:20] services that to me strikes in

[1:08:20] the committee of city services

[1:08:23] innovation technology.

[1:08:24] However, the facilities there

[1:08:26] the strong women and I'm happy

[1:08:28] to place them in that no I know

[1:08:28] it's just saying the

[1:08:28] facilities.

[1:08:30] We know the work is being done.

[1:08:31] Last year we wanted to hear

[1:08:32] because we weren't sure yet but

[1:08:35] now that we know that work is

[1:08:35] being done I think it's

[1:08:36] coordinating with the

[1:08:38] departments that are delivering

[1:08:39] the social services.

[1:08:39] I'm fine placing in that

[1:08:41] committee especially because

[1:08:42] we've placed a lot in the city

[1:08:43] services committee and I know

[1:08:45] that you chair the strong women

[1:08:46] and families committee happy to

[1:08:47] place in that committee.

[1:08:49] councilor murphy.

[1:08:49] Thank you.

[1:08:50] Okay.

[1:08:51] We are now moving on to oh.

[1:08:53] MR. Clerk, if you could place

[1:08:55] docket number 0267 in strong

[1:08:56] women communities and families.

[1:08:59] Thank you.

[1:09:02] We are now moving on to docket

[1:09:02] number 0268.

[1:09:06] MR. Clerk, can you please read

[1:09:10] docket number 02680268

[1:09:11] councilor oral law for the

[1:09:12] following order for a hearing

[1:09:13] to discuss boston public

[1:09:14] schools budget for fiscal year

[1:09:24] 2025 the chair recognizes

[1:09:24] councilor oral counselor around

[1:09:26] you now have the floor.

[1:09:27] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:09:28] I like to suspend the rules and

[1:09:30] add counselor for now jenison

[1:09:31] as an original co-sponsor.

[1:09:35] Seeing no objections, counselor

[1:09:36] fernanda anderson is added as

[1:09:36] an original co-sponsor casa

[1:09:39] oral you now have the floor.

[1:09:41] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:09:42] I'm proud to offer my first

[1:09:45] order as a ways and means chair

[1:09:46] and it's extremely important

[1:09:46] one because it affects our

[1:09:48] students.

[1:09:49] As each day passes we are faced

[1:09:52] with pressing challenges that

[1:09:53] affect the educational

[1:09:55] experiences of our students and

[1:09:56] we must take action to address

[1:09:56] these concerns.

[1:10:00] We know that federal funds have

[1:10:03] allowed bpf to delay inevitable

[1:10:04] closures and painful mergers

[1:10:08] but we also know that those

[1:10:10] funds are now running dry.

[1:10:11] But once allowed for increasing

[1:10:14] diversity among our faculty, a

[1:10:15] new program for our students

[1:10:18] now has us confronting a fiscal

[1:10:19] cliff.

[1:10:22] We know that the district is

[1:10:23] changing how it teaches

[1:10:25] majority of our students which

[1:10:26] brings new challenges.

[1:10:29] We need to figure out.

[1:10:30] Navigating this will require

[1:10:33] both community input and our

[1:10:34] council's oversight.

[1:10:37] We also know that programs like

[1:10:38] the fifth quarter and summer

[1:10:39] learning academies are

[1:10:41] producing real, real results

[1:10:44] showing us why we need to keep

[1:10:45] investing in stem education to

[1:10:47] help our students learn and

[1:10:48] grow.

[1:10:49] With that said, this is the

[1:10:53] right time to start a

[1:10:53] conversation with beps and

[1:10:57] understand and the budget

[1:10:57] before the school committee

[1:10:59] approved it in MARCH.

[1:11:03] So the school committee will be

[1:11:07] approving the budget in MARCH.

[1:11:09] So this is just giving us as

[1:11:11] counselors an opportunity to

[1:11:12] collaborate with the

[1:11:12] administration to help

[1:11:15] influence and bring our

[1:11:16] constituent voices to the

[1:11:16] table.

[1:11:20] My office has started working

[1:11:23] with bp's and

[1:11:24] superintendent skipper to

[1:11:25] ensure that this council can

[1:11:27] exercise oversight duties and

[1:11:31] open pathways to advocacy in

[1:11:31] the coming months.

[1:11:33] Councils can expect to have one

[1:11:34] on one meetings with bp as well

[1:11:37] as a budgetary briefing which

[1:11:38] will be followed by a working

[1:11:38] session.

[1:11:41] This year we are committed to a

[1:11:42] collaborative approach to the

[1:11:44] budget process ensuring that

[1:11:45] the voices of our constituents

[1:11:46] are heard in the decision

[1:11:49] making process in our schools

[1:11:49] budget.

[1:11:50] Let us make this an opportunity

[1:11:52] to showcase our unwavering

[1:11:53] commitment to the students and

[1:11:57] the families of boston.

[1:11:57] Thank you.

[1:11:58] Thank you.

[1:11:59] Councilor earl cameron.

[1:12:00] Angie anderson, you now have

[1:12:01] the floor.

[1:12:05] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:12:05] I second of course everything

[1:12:09] that my brother in service

[1:12:11] council role has stated

[1:12:12] of course very grateful for you

[1:12:16] adding me this and looking

[1:12:17] forward to our partnership to

[1:12:19] work on this.

[1:12:21] I can't tell you how proud I am

[1:12:23] that you are our chair of ways

[1:12:26] and means looking forward to

[1:12:27] supporting you in whatever way

[1:12:28] I can as well as your vice

[1:12:31] chair councilor pepin and just

[1:12:36] overall like in terms of budget

[1:12:40] for veeps I know that in the

[1:12:41] last couple of years you have

[1:12:44] been a strong advocate in

[1:12:44] understanding and increased

[1:12:45] oversight.

[1:12:48] You have also

[1:12:48] created partnerships or

[1:12:51] collaborations to advocate for

[1:12:52] the needs in dps whereas some

[1:12:55] areas need increased

[1:12:56] allocation, some area needs

[1:12:59] decreased allocations and we

[1:13:00] can of course this this is the

[1:13:00] job right?

[1:13:03] We can all get together at a

[1:13:04] table with vips and the

[1:13:06] committee and our ministry our

[1:13:10] mayor and look at what can we

[1:13:11] change, how can we improve it.

[1:13:13] And I think the more oversight

[1:13:13] the better.

[1:13:14] So looking forward to the work.

[1:13:15] I'm so proud of you.

[1:13:18] Thank you so much.

[1:13:18] Thank you.

[1:13:19] Councilor fernando anderson

[1:13:23] county collector, you now have

[1:13:23] the floor.

[1:13:24] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:13:26] I rise again to thank the MAY

[1:13:27] maker and thank you for your

[1:13:29] steadfast leadership on this um

[1:13:30] on this topic matter.

[1:13:32] I've often opined publicly in

[1:13:33] officials that by the time that

[1:13:34] the budget is presented to us

[1:13:37] it's fully baked veep's

[1:13:37] appearance before us they

[1:13:40] present their powerpoints, we

[1:13:41] ask our questions and there's

[1:13:42] very little transparency about

[1:13:44] multi-year spending

[1:13:45] differentials and that

[1:13:48] obscurity negatively impacts

[1:13:49] our ability to effectively

[1:13:50] advocate for advocate for our

[1:13:52] constituents.

[1:13:53] After these budget hearings

[1:13:54] there's usually very little

[1:13:56] change and we have little

[1:13:59] leverage to embed meaningful

[1:14:00] changes through the budget

[1:14:00] process.

[1:14:01] It's extremely frustrating and

[1:14:04] ends with a simple yes or no

[1:14:04] vote.

[1:14:05] And this was a point

[1:14:06] of contention when we tried to

[1:14:07] amend the city charter to

[1:14:08] better say over our budgetary

[1:14:10] authority.

[1:14:11] It was eventually taken out

[1:14:15] of that proposal and now we

[1:14:15] have of course the ability to

[1:14:16] amend line items just in the

[1:14:19] operating budget and so maybe

[1:14:20] there's a chance that we can

[1:14:23] get back there but for now this

[1:14:24] is the system that we have

[1:14:25] inherited with the surf cliff

[1:14:26] looming large and declining

[1:14:27] enrollment and wade funding

[1:14:30] decreasing as a result.

[1:14:30] This conversation is necessary

[1:14:34] and having a conversation with

[1:14:34] me before this budget gets to

[1:14:38] us in the school committee i

[1:14:38] think will be very productive.

[1:14:39] So I want to thank you for

[1:14:41] bringing this forth.

[1:14:42] Thank you.

[1:14:43] Thank you.

[1:14:43] Councilor coletta, is anyone

[1:14:45] else looking to speak on this

[1:14:45] matter?

[1:14:48] Casimir, you now have the floor

[1:14:49] and thank you to my colleague.

[1:14:53] As you all know, I'm a graduate

[1:14:55] of parents a fierce advocate

[1:14:56] and I started my own nonprofit

[1:15:00] organization to hold us

[1:15:00] accountable so much so that I

[1:15:03] entered this chamber to

[1:15:04] continue to do that work.

[1:15:05] And it's so frustrating that

[1:15:07] every single budget season we

[1:15:11] have the same conversation and

[1:15:12] yet again the only thing that

[1:15:15] changes are the characters that

[1:15:15] are before us, right?

[1:15:18] So I'm really looking forward

[1:15:19] to having a very different

[1:15:20] conversation as it relates to

[1:15:23] beps because I gave them a pass

[1:15:24] last year because we had a new

[1:15:27] superintend and I really wanted

[1:15:28] to make sure that we worked

[1:15:31] alongside the administration so

[1:15:31] that we can meet the moment.

[1:15:35] But now we have an opportunity

[1:15:36] to really make sure that we

[1:15:36] know what accountability looks

[1:15:39] like and that we bring the

[1:15:40] voices of the people into this

[1:15:41] chamber so that we can actually

[1:15:43] really fight for people the way

[1:15:43] that we've been elected to do

[1:15:44] so.

[1:15:46] So really looking forward to

[1:15:47] doing that alongside you in

[1:15:49] your leadership in this round

[1:15:50] because I believe that this is

[1:15:54] what this moment is asking for

[1:15:55] is for us to really hold beps

[1:15:58] to the fire as it relates to

[1:15:59] the dollars that we have been

[1:16:00] spending and that we need to

[1:16:01] see a return on that investment

[1:16:05] because I believe we can't keep

[1:16:06] doing business as usual and

[1:16:08] expect different results

[1:16:09] because otherwise people are

[1:16:11] just going to feel like we're

[1:16:12] just more blah blah blah.

[1:16:13] So really looking forward to

[1:16:14] your leadership under this

[1:16:17] space.

[1:16:18] And congratulations to carlo

[1:16:20] santana who's going to be

[1:16:20] overseeing beps.

[1:16:21] I think that we have an amazing

[1:16:24] opportunity to really change

[1:16:24] the conversation and really

[1:16:25] finally give people what

[1:16:28] they've been literally dying

[1:16:28] for.

[1:16:29] So looking forward to being a

[1:16:31] big voice in that space.

[1:16:32] Thank you.

[1:16:35] Mejia the chair recognizes

[1:16:36] councilor murphy.

[1:16:36] Oh, sorry.

[1:16:37] Sorry.

[1:16:39] I'm sorry.

[1:16:40] Thank you, councilor.

[1:16:43] We're all looking forward to it

[1:16:43] .

[1:16:45] I've often said that one or two

[1:16:46] meetings for a $1.4 billion

[1:16:49] budget that bp has is not

[1:16:49] enough.

[1:16:50] And you've already said and my

[1:16:51] colleagues who have been

[1:16:53] through it before that the

[1:16:54] slide shows that we already

[1:16:57] know don't give us the answers

[1:16:58] that we need.

[1:17:00] We have an interim cfo.

[1:17:01] Right.

[1:17:02] And they could have has left so

[1:17:04] we don't have the cfo that has

[1:17:05] been there for a long time and

[1:17:08] really understands the

[1:17:09] questions we're going to ask.

[1:17:10] So I'm looking forward to these

[1:17:12] hearings before the actual

[1:17:13] budget season kicks in.

[1:17:14] As many of you know as a

[1:17:17] teacher, a parent, a dps, a

[1:17:21] student myself and I voted

[1:17:22] against the budget the last two

[1:17:25] times the only one last year

[1:17:26] because one of the biggest

[1:17:29] reasons is they continue to not

[1:17:30] invest their lack of investment

[1:17:33] in the athletics arts before

[1:17:34] and after school programing but

[1:17:37] also asking the questions that

[1:17:38] you're going to be asking in

[1:17:38] this hearing.

[1:17:39] So looking forward to it.

[1:17:42] Fearful about these esser funds

[1:17:42] that we all know are going to

[1:17:45] dry up what is going to happen

[1:17:46] because we know schools are

[1:17:47] starting to see the crunch and

[1:17:49] starting to see that and it's

[1:17:50] always the last teachers in or

[1:17:53] it's the art and science

[1:17:53] teacher that get cut.

[1:17:56] So making sure that these

[1:17:57] conversations are had early so

[1:17:58] that when the budget season

[1:18:01] does come we can really

[1:18:01] advocate for funds directly

[1:18:04] line item where we need them.

[1:18:04] So thank you for your

[1:18:05] leadership on this.

[1:18:08] Thank you, councilor murphy.

[1:18:09] Councilor flynn, you now have

[1:18:10] the floor.

[1:18:14] Thank you, MADAM Chair and I

[1:18:15] want to acknowledge and

[1:18:17] congratulate brian

[1:18:22] council overall on this role

[1:18:23] and I know he'll do a

[1:18:23] tremendous job.

[1:18:26] So thank you councilor all that

[1:18:27] I'm sure I just said to two

[1:18:29] quick questions am I able to

[1:18:29] ask council or all the

[1:18:32] questions to you through me?

[1:18:35] Yes.

[1:18:39] When when we vote on the city

[1:18:40] council budget as it relates to

[1:18:43] the public public education the

[1:18:44] first time in if it doesn't

[1:18:47] pass do we have the ability to

[1:18:51] go back several weeks later to

[1:18:52] vote on it a second time as in

[1:18:55] the past and again I've always

[1:18:56] I've always voted in favor

[1:18:58] of the city of the public

[1:18:59] education budget but just as a

[1:19:02] point of of parliamentary

[1:19:05] related issues if we vote

[1:19:07] against vote no, does that mean

[1:19:09] we have 2 to 3 weeks to come

[1:19:14] back again in in reconsider it

[1:19:19] through the chair if the

[1:19:20] councilor would like to answer

[1:19:21] the question or I could take

[1:19:23] that on it and it's a

[1:19:24] discussion that you can have

[1:19:26] this on my prior knowledge

[1:19:27] based on the date on when the

[1:19:30] votes happen it's it's possible

[1:19:31] it depends on when the vote

[1:19:34] actually happens.

[1:19:34] It's my understanding.

[1:19:38] Councilor moira, would you.

[1:19:41] Yeah there's two votes.

[1:19:42] I guess what we're trying to do

[1:19:45] here is the beeps budget when

[1:19:46] we get the opportunity to vote

[1:19:49] on it all we're doing is

[1:19:50] allocating the fines so it's

[1:19:52] already passed through their

[1:19:52] governing board the school

[1:19:53] committee.

[1:19:56] So this is giving us more

[1:20:00] influence hopefully to to bring

[1:20:01] our voices our advocacy on

[1:20:01] effect in the actual budget

[1:20:04] before it actually comes to us

[1:20:05] just to allocate the funds.

[1:20:05] Right.

[1:20:08] So we're taking trying to get a

[1:20:08] closer look at that.

[1:20:12] So numbers in the program and

[1:20:12] in in the dollars instead

[1:20:15] of the the progressed the

[1:20:16] program that they just bring it

[1:20:17] to us in the typical budget

[1:20:25] cycle but but yes we do have

[1:20:28] two votes on the budget on the

[1:20:31] two that's two votes on the

[1:20:32] capital and it's one it's one

[1:20:35] vote on beps.

[1:20:36] But I think it depends on how

[1:20:36] it's voted on.

[1:20:39] You could potentially bring it

[1:20:40] up for an additional vote.

[1:20:42] MADAM Chair, I, I just wanted

[1:20:43] to highlight again I'm not

[1:20:46] recommending this but I've

[1:20:47] always voted as I mentioned in

[1:20:50] favor of the public education

[1:20:50] budget.

[1:20:51] But city council is do have the

[1:20:55] right or the option to vote no

[1:20:58] on the public education budget

[1:20:58] .

[1:21:02] Then the beep would come back

[1:21:02] again, present their budget,

[1:21:05] maybe make changes based on

[1:21:06] what the recommendations are

[1:21:10] and then vote on it two or

[1:21:10] three weeks later.

[1:21:13] That was always the process.

[1:21:14] I don't know if that's still if

[1:21:17] that's still the case.

[1:21:18] MR. Clerk you've seen that

[1:21:20] before.

[1:21:24] I also yes.

[1:21:28] So MR. Clerk is stating that

[1:21:29] there are times when they vote

[1:21:33] against it the mayor files and

[1:21:33] then there's another vote on

[1:21:37] the budget that's so there are

[1:21:37] times when it's one vote there

[1:21:38] but it all depends on the

[1:21:41] timing based on when we are

[1:21:41] required to to vote on the

[1:21:44] budget by the end of JUNE.

[1:21:45] Councilor warren, would you

[1:21:48] okay and then thank you, MADAM

[1:21:49] Chair and thank you MR. Clerk

[1:21:51] then my final my final question

[1:21:55] is we certainly have a migrant

[1:21:56] crisis here in the city

[1:21:58] of boston.

[1:21:59] Are we able to consider that

[1:22:03] now as we prepare for some

[1:22:06] of these young people going

[1:22:07] into our schools?

[1:22:10] do we need to provide dps with

[1:22:11] additional funds to ensure that

[1:22:15] our young families are given

[1:22:15] the best education social

[1:22:19] services to be as well or would

[1:22:21] that come back during the

[1:22:22] budget time control if you

[1:22:26] would like to address

[1:22:27] councilor flynn's question

[1:22:30] yeah, great question and these

[1:22:30] are the conversations and

[1:22:33] questions and investments that

[1:22:34] we should be asking beps to see

[1:22:35] what type of investments are

[1:22:38] going towards, you know, our

[1:22:39] children that are newcomers to

[1:22:42] the city of boston.

[1:22:42] So these are the questions that

[1:22:44] we want to have to see and

[1:22:46] understand where investments in

[1:22:46] programs are going towards

[1:22:50] prior to being voted on in

[1:22:50] school committee.

[1:22:51] So that's a great question for

[1:22:54] when we have in this working

[1:22:55] session with beeps thank you

[1:22:57] councilor world thank you

[1:22:58] councilor worrell and also yes

[1:23:01] it comes from flynn.

[1:23:02] Those are questions that we can

[1:23:03] ask more of in the workings

[1:23:05] after the hearing I think it's

[1:23:05] great that we're getting beeps

[1:23:06] in the door as soon as possible

[1:23:08] so that we can ask these

[1:23:09] questions and really take a

[1:23:12] look deeper look at the budget.

[1:23:14] So thank you to councilor about

[1:23:16] for filing this and I look

[1:23:17] forward to this hearing with

[1:23:19] boston public schools.

[1:23:21] I as a grad myself I care

[1:23:24] deeply about our schools and

[1:23:25] meeting the needs of every

[1:23:25] single one of them and the

[1:23:27] power that we have really is

[1:23:27] through the budget.

[1:23:31] So thank you would anyone else

[1:23:34] like to speak on this matter?

[1:23:35] Councilor fernanda anderson you

[1:23:45] have the floor you really just

[1:23:46] need to have the floor.

[1:23:47] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:23:49] Just to be clear and thank you

[1:23:51] so much, councilor flynn for

[1:23:52] your questions and for your

[1:23:56] grace MADAM MADAM PRESIDENT,

[1:23:57] for allowing conversation.

[1:24:00] But yes, totally agree should

[1:24:01] go to a hearing.

[1:24:02] Let's talk about in hearing

[1:24:03] let's ask in hearing or working

[1:24:04] session it's just to be clear

[1:24:07] for those at home if you vote

[1:24:11] no on the beps budget if we

[1:24:13] vote no on the budget, it goes

[1:24:14] to rule 112 essentially that

[1:24:18] every 30 or so days or 31 so

[1:24:21] every month you'd have to we

[1:24:22] would have to come back and

[1:24:23] review the budget until it

[1:24:25] passes or just continues and

[1:24:27] that's what we call the 112 so

[1:24:30] one vote it's a no it goes to

[1:24:31] 112 thank you thank you comes

[1:24:35] from an indigenous and I

[1:24:35] believe it depends on when that

[1:24:37] no vote happens the one that

[1:24:38] kicks in after JUNE 30th.

[1:24:40] So if there are more votes

[1:24:42] prior so okay well we have a

[1:24:45] working session in a hearing

[1:24:46] where we'll discuss this in

[1:24:47] further detail.

[1:24:48] Would anyone else like to add

[1:24:52] their name MR. Clerk please add

[1:24:52] councilor breadon coletta

[1:24:56] durkin fernanda anderson cruz

[1:25:00] fitzgerald flynn maria murphy,

[1:25:01] pippin santana weber and please

[1:25:04] add the chair this docket will

[1:25:05] be referred to the committee on

[1:25:05] ways and means.

[1:25:09] MR. Clerk would you please read

[1:25:11] docket number 0269 duncan

[1:25:12] number 0269 councilor flynn for

[1:25:14] the following resolution

[1:25:17] recognizing JANUARY 27 as

[1:25:18] international holocaust

[1:25:23] remembrance day.

[1:25:23] thank you.

[1:25:27] The chair recognizes

[1:25:27] councilor flynn.

[1:25:28] Councilor flynn, you now have

[1:25:29] the floor.

[1:25:31] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:25:32] MADAM Chair, I provided a

[1:25:35] document that's a substitute

[1:25:36] for the previous previous

[1:25:38] docket resolution.

[1:25:42] I just want to ensure that that

[1:25:43] paperwork is on everyone's desk

[1:25:46] before I go forward.

[1:25:46] Yes.

[1:25:47] Does everyone have the

[1:25:48] substitution on their desk?

[1:25:50] Yes.

[1:25:51] So flynn, are you making a

[1:25:54] motion to substitute?

[1:25:54] Yes, I am.

[1:25:55] Okay.

[1:25:58] Seeing as that motion seconded.

[1:25:58] Seconded.

[1:26:01] So seeing no objections the

[1:26:02] motion for substitution is

[1:26:04] allowed casual flynn you now

[1:26:07] have the floor.

[1:26:08] Thank you.

[1:26:09] Thank you MADAM Chair.

[1:26:14] On JANUARY 27, 2024 was

[1:26:17] international holocaust

[1:26:18] remembrance day.

[1:26:21] This day was adopted by the

[1:26:24] united nations general assembly

[1:26:27] and 2005 to commemorate the

[1:26:28] liberation of auschwitz in

[1:26:34] poland in JANUARY 1945.

[1:26:35] We must reaffirm our commitment

[1:26:38] in our responsibility as

[1:26:39] citizens to ensure that these

[1:26:42] horrific atrocities will never

[1:26:43] be forgotten and that the

[1:26:48] memories of these atrocities

[1:26:49] will contribute towards the

[1:26:52] prevention of mass crimes,

[1:26:53] genocide and crimes against

[1:26:56] humanity.

[1:26:57] I hope we can suspend in pass

[1:26:59] this resolution today.

[1:27:03] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:27:04] thank you.

[1:27:05] Councilor flynn, would anyone

[1:27:07] else like to speak?

[1:27:08] The chair recognizes

[1:27:13] councilor weber now unleashed

[1:27:16] if you'll regret that.

[1:27:21] But so you know as a as a

[1:27:22] jewish person I just I'd like

[1:27:25] to thank councilor flynn for

[1:27:28] for introducing this resolution

[1:27:29] .

[1:27:32] Um, you know, as as a as a

[1:27:33] jewish kid growing up in the

[1:27:39] 1980s, the this is only three

[1:27:40] 3540 years after the holocaust

[1:27:43] and I felt like the scars

[1:27:46] of that were were visible.

[1:27:50] You know we had a woman who

[1:27:51] worked in the cafeteria at my

[1:27:53] elementary school um, who would

[1:27:54] yell at us to be quiet and a

[1:27:58] thick german accent and you

[1:27:58] could see the tattoo on her

[1:27:58] arm.

[1:28:00] It was a daily reminder of of

[1:28:04] the atrocities and you know, as

[1:28:08] as as wounds heal I just I

[1:28:11] don't know what are our kids

[1:28:13] you know know about this and

[1:28:15] it's it's very important that

[1:28:16] we make sure that they they

[1:28:19] know what happened during the

[1:28:19] holocaust.

[1:28:20] I also just like to point out

[1:28:23] that holocaust remembrance day

[1:28:24] is not just limited and it's is

[1:28:27] in the resolution not just

[1:28:28] limited to jewish people.

[1:28:30] It's to recognize the millions

[1:28:32] of other people, you know, who

[1:28:35] were exterminated, you know, by

[1:28:36] the nazis and their

[1:28:36] collaborators.

[1:28:38] And so, you know, I just think

[1:28:39] it's an important thing that we

[1:28:39] recognize.

[1:28:41] And again, thank you to the

[1:28:42] council.

[1:28:46] Thank you, councilor weber,

[1:28:47] would anyone else like to speak

[1:28:49] on this matter?

[1:28:50] I'll just say thank you and I

[1:28:52] especially appreciate

[1:28:53] councilor weber, your personal

[1:28:56] reflections on this matter.

[1:28:59] I had the opportunity to visit

[1:29:03] the how concentration camp

[1:29:04] right outside of munich,

[1:29:07] germany and it is something

[1:29:11] that will forever stay with

[1:29:15] me for the jewish people who

[1:29:16] died in the holocaust and the

[1:29:18] political dissidents who were

[1:29:21] and who were there maybe

[1:29:26] collectively say never again oh

[1:29:27] would anyone else like to add

[1:29:30] their name?

[1:29:31] MR. Clerk please add councilors

[1:29:33] breadon coletta durkin,

[1:29:37] fernanda anderson fitzgerald,

[1:29:42] maria murphy, ben santana weber

[1:29:48] worrall please of the chair

[1:29:52] castro francis suspension

[1:29:53] of the rules and passage

[1:29:55] of docket number 0269 all those

[1:29:58] in favor say all those opposed

[1:29:59] say no thank you.

[1:30:05] Docket number 0269 has passed.

[1:30:09] Oh, okay.

[1:30:10] Six suspension of the rules and

[1:30:14] adoption of docket numbers 36

[1:30:15] nine all those in favor say

[1:30:15] aye.

[1:30:16] All those opposed any thank

[1:30:17] you.

[1:30:19] Docket number 0269 is passed.

[1:30:21] Mr clerk, would you please read

[1:30:26] docket number 0270 docking

[1:30:30] number 0270 of council is for

[1:30:31] ananda sanderson and coletta

[1:30:34] offer the following resolution

[1:30:36] in support of the legislature

[1:30:37] of the commonwealth

[1:30:37] of massachusetts to pass the

[1:30:40] cherish act.

[1:30:44] Thank you, mr clerk.

[1:30:45] The chair recognizes

[1:30:47] councilor fernando anderson.

[1:30:51] Thank you.

[1:30:52] MADAM PRESIDENT, I like to

[1:30:53] suspend rule 12 and add

[1:30:55] yourself council PRESIDENT

[1:30:59] Louijeune seeing no objections

[1:31:04] hereby added thank you.

[1:31:09] Thank you again and to my

[1:31:12] co-sponsors and of course to

[1:31:13] the community leaders here

[1:31:15] today and MADAM PRESIDENT,

[1:31:17] thank you so much for on my

[1:31:20] behalf presenting the citation

[1:31:20] earlier.

[1:31:24] As you all know, our public

[1:31:24] colleges and universities are

[1:31:28] among the greatest resource in

[1:31:28] our state.

[1:31:30] Higher education represents a

[1:31:31] possible pathway to economic

[1:31:35] mobility is an inherent good

[1:31:35] through the production

[1:31:39] of knowledge it creates and

[1:31:39] graduates our public

[1:31:42] universities are more likely to

[1:31:42] stay in massachusetts

[1:31:45] contributing to our collective

[1:31:46] cultural, social and economic

[1:31:47] well-being.

[1:31:50] The majority of black, brown

[1:31:52] and first generation students

[1:31:53] attend public colleges and

[1:31:56] universities and it is vital

[1:31:57] that they continue to provide

[1:32:00] educational opportunities to

[1:32:01] students who MAY not otherwise

[1:32:05] be able to afford or access

[1:32:05] college.

[1:32:08] This is especially important in

[1:32:09] light of the fact that there

[1:32:12] remain systemic racism and

[1:32:13] class inequities that our black

[1:32:16] brown immigrant and working

[1:32:16] class students must overcome

[1:32:20] such inequities result in lower

[1:32:21] college enrollment and

[1:32:24] graduation rates particularly

[1:32:25] for our black and latino

[1:32:27] students.

[1:32:28] Tens of thousands attend

[1:32:29] college but are unable to

[1:32:32] graduate due to economic

[1:32:32] hardship, family

[1:32:35] responsibilities and more.

[1:32:36] While a whopping 700,000 people

[1:32:39] in the state have earned some

[1:32:40] credits but have not graduated

[1:32:43] from college, the state has

[1:32:44] additional funds now via the

[1:32:46] fair share amendment that is

[1:32:47] already being used toward our

[1:32:51] public schools and

[1:32:51] transportation system and could

[1:32:54] also be used to assist our

[1:32:55] working class students receive

[1:32:58] needed funds to pursue their

[1:32:58] education.

[1:32:59] These funds could help our

[1:33:02] students graduate debt free so

[1:33:05] that they don't graduate in a

[1:33:08] five or six figure four hole

[1:33:12] before they are even to find a

[1:33:12] job.

[1:33:15] The funds from the cherish act

[1:33:16] could also help us properly

[1:33:19] invest in academic staff

[1:33:20] allowing us to pay them be

[1:33:23] competitive salaries they

[1:33:24] deserve in order to hire and

[1:33:26] retain first rate professors

[1:33:27] and other professionals in our

[1:33:30] universities.

[1:33:31] Now based on the importance

[1:33:35] of this proposal, I ask my

[1:33:35] colleagues to join me and

[1:33:38] councilor clara and

[1:33:42] council PRESIDENT Louijeune to

[1:33:42] suspend and pass this

[1:33:43] resolution today.

[1:33:47] Thank you so much and to bring

[1:33:48] the higher education act to all

[1:33:50] to our state.

[1:33:51] Thank you.

[1:33:54] Thank you, counselor finance

[1:33:55] anderson the chair recognizes

[1:33:56] classical letter classical

[1:33:57] letter the floor is yours.

[1:34:01] Thank you vice chair and I want

[1:34:02] to thank everybody in

[1:34:02] attendance for their advocacy

[1:34:05] namely the higher ed for all

[1:34:05] massachusetts teachers

[1:34:08] association.

[1:34:09] and I want to give a shout out

[1:34:10] to my former local government

[1:34:12] and policy professor caroline

[1:34:13] kasha for contacting me through

[1:34:16] her capacity as faculty staff

[1:34:17] union rep PRESIDENT At umass

[1:34:19] boston.

[1:34:20] I am a proud product of all

[1:34:23] public education institutions

[1:34:24] from first grade until I

[1:34:24] graduated college I would have

[1:34:25] been there for kindergarten but

[1:34:27] I MISS A deadline because my

[1:34:28] birthday is different story.

[1:34:31] I know how important it is to

[1:34:32] have all these systems well

[1:34:35] resourced so our children can

[1:34:36] live to their fullest potential

[1:34:36] and they're incredible staff

[1:34:39] fully compensated to embolden

[1:34:40] and shape young minds.

[1:34:41] More and more americans are

[1:34:43] going to college as tuition

[1:34:43] increases to it.

[1:34:46] Tuition has recently grown at

[1:34:50] the fastest at public

[1:34:51] institutions for which tuition

[1:34:53] has gone up 65% since 2000.

[1:34:54] Obtaining a degree from a

[1:34:57] higher ed institution is

[1:34:58] increasingly becoming out

[1:34:59] of reach for many who do not

[1:35:02] qualify for financial aid or

[1:35:02] there are those like me who

[1:35:03] have taken out thousands

[1:35:05] of dollars in student loans in

[1:35:06] hopes of gaining the necessary

[1:35:07] skills to become a productive

[1:35:09] member of society.

[1:35:10] We know that there are

[1:35:13] reverberating effects that

[1:35:14] impact the economic prosperity

[1:35:14] of these individuals like

[1:35:18] owning a home, buying a car and

[1:35:18] family planning.

[1:35:19] Passing the cherish act means

[1:35:21] properly investing in the

[1:35:21] commonwealth's most important

[1:35:25] engine of democracy opportunity

[1:35:26] and economic prosperity.

[1:35:27] it enables more people to

[1:35:29] benefit from public education

[1:35:29] public higher education by

[1:35:33] increasing scholarship aid to

[1:35:33] provide debt free college for

[1:35:37] students, creating a debt free

[1:35:38] community college program and

[1:35:39] for four year reverse

[1:35:39] universities subsequently

[1:35:43] eliminating student fees

[1:35:44] related to capital debt, fringe

[1:35:46] benefits and payroll costs.

[1:35:48] And so I want to thank the lead

[1:35:49] sponsors up at the state house

[1:35:51] rep gabrielli duffy senators

[1:35:54] comerford, kennedy, mark and

[1:35:55] all of their all of area excuse

[1:35:58] me and I just respectfully

[1:35:59] asked my colleagues in spending

[1:36:00] on passing this resolution

[1:36:02] thank you.

[1:36:02] Thank you, councilor coletta.

[1:36:03] MADAM PRESIDENT, the floor is

[1:36:04] yours.

[1:36:06] Thank you, mr chair.

[1:36:07] I want to thank my colleagues

[1:36:08] councilor financially anderson

[1:36:09] and councilor coletta for adamy

[1:36:10] and for the advocacy.

[1:36:13] I want to thank mta and higher

[1:36:14] ed for all for all of your work

[1:36:15] and for being with us here in

[1:36:17] chambers as highlighted by my

[1:36:18] colleagues public our public

[1:36:20] higher education system has

[1:36:21] faced significant funding cuts

[1:36:22] over the years leading to

[1:36:25] soaring college costs and an

[1:36:26] alarming increase in student

[1:36:26] debt.

[1:36:29] The church act would be a

[1:36:30] transformative approach to

[1:36:30] address these challenges that

[1:36:33] would restore funding for

[1:36:34] public higher education to at

[1:36:36] least the 21 I just zero

[1:36:36] inflation per student levels.

[1:36:40] This report this supports the

[1:36:41] findings of the 2014 higher

[1:36:44] education finance commission as

[1:36:44] a necessary step towards

[1:36:47] stabilizing and strengthening

[1:36:48] our education system.

[1:36:49] Moreover, this would not only

[1:36:51] ensure an increase in funding

[1:36:51] but also a commitment to

[1:36:55] maintaining these levels,

[1:36:55] preventing further erosion

[1:36:56] of our educational

[1:36:58] infrastructure.

[1:36:59] In essence, the cherish act is

[1:37:02] not only about funding it's

[1:37:02] about upholding our commitment

[1:37:05] to the future generations

[1:37:06] ensuring they have access to

[1:37:07] affordable high quality

[1:37:10] education.

[1:37:11] It's a call to action for all

[1:37:12] of us to support the pillars

[1:37:14] pillars of our public higher

[1:37:14] education system.

[1:37:15] Public education is a public

[1:37:18] good.

[1:37:19] It's an it's an economic

[1:37:20] equalizer and it helps to make

[1:37:21] sure that we are allowing

[1:37:22] families to enter into

[1:37:25] different classes.

[1:37:26] That's true for me and I know

[1:37:27] that's true for so many people.

[1:37:29] So I am just happy and thrilled

[1:37:32] to support the cherish act to

[1:37:33] support this coalition higher

[1:37:36] ed for all as you advocate for

[1:37:37] access to public education as a

[1:37:40] public good for all of our

[1:37:41] students.

[1:37:42] So thank you and thanks again

[1:37:44] to the lead sponsor for adding

[1:37:44] me.

[1:37:47] Would anyone else like to speak

[1:37:48] with anyone else like to add

[1:37:52] the names clark please add

[1:37:53] council breadon

[1:37:55] councilor durkin.

[1:37:55] Councilor fitzgerald casimir

[1:37:59] councilor pepin council santana

[1:38:08] council weber and council water

[1:38:08] councilor fernando anderson

[1:38:09] councilor coletta and

[1:38:10] council council louijeune six

[1:38:10] suspension of the rules and

[1:38:13] passage of docket number 0270

[1:38:16] all those in favor say I am not

[1:38:21] to vote clerk can you please do

[1:38:25] a roll call vote roll call vote

[1:38:28] on of all to seven zero.

[1:38:28] Councilor breadon yes.

[1:38:32] Councilor breadon yes.

[1:38:33] Councilor coletta yes.

[1:38:34] Councilor coletta yes.

[1:38:36] Councilor durkan.

[1:38:36] Councilor durkan yes.

[1:38:39] Councilor for ananda sanderson

[1:38:39] .

[1:38:40] Councilor fernanda sense and

[1:38:41] yes.

[1:38:43] Councilor fitzgerald.

[1:38:43] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[1:38:44] Councilor flynn yes.

[1:38:47] Councilor flynn yes.

[1:38:48] Councilor louijeune yes.

[1:38:51] Councilor louijeune yes.

[1:38:51] Concilor mejia here.

[1:38:52] Councilor media yes.

[1:38:54] Councilor murphy.

[1:38:55] Councilor murphy yes.

[1:38:56] Councilor fetterman yes.

[1:38:58] Councilor pepin yes.

[1:38:58] Councilor santana yes.

[1:39:02] Councilor santana yes.

[1:39:03] Councilor webber yes.

[1:39:03] Councilor worker yes.

[1:39:06] And councilor worrell?

[1:39:06] Yes.

[1:39:07] Councilor wu yes I can.

[1:39:09] Number 0270 has received a

[1:39:11] unanimous vote in the

[1:39:18] affirmative.

[1:39:23] Thank you.

[1:39:25] Docket number 0270 has passed.

[1:39:30] We we did a picture but because

[1:39:33] you were in here you are fine.

[1:39:34] You can this is your docket?

[1:39:35] Yes, we can take another photo.

[1:39:37] Let's do it at the high red for

[1:39:39] all coalition can come down for

[1:39:42] a photo.

[1:40:08] Thank you for with we all come

[1:40:11] on up and don't be shy come on

[1:40:39] up to the dais to come come on

[1:40:55] up so thank you thank you thank

[1:41:08] you thank you appreciate that

[1:41:27] somewhere we are in a brief

[1:45:12] recess now

[1:45:16] we're now back in

[1:45:17] session.

[1:45:18] We are now back in session.

[1:45:21] I want to thank ron and

[1:45:22] everyone and help deal with the

[1:45:25] little we had over there.

[1:45:26] We are now moving on to docket

[1:45:28] numbers 0271.

[1:45:30] Mr clerk, would you please read

[1:45:36] docket number 02715 read

[1:45:37] resolution in support of the

[1:45:43] hero act.

[1:45:48] The chair recognizes

[1:45:48] councilor flynn and

[1:45:49] councilor flynn you now have

[1:45:51] the floor.

[1:45:52] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:45:55] This is a resolution and

[1:45:59] support of honoring recognizing

[1:46:00] our service members and

[1:46:04] veterans known as the hero act

[1:46:06] now be now at the state house.

[1:46:07] This was filed by governor

[1:46:10] moira healy, lieutenant

[1:46:11] governor kim driscoll under the

[1:46:14] leadership of secretary

[1:46:14] santiago.

[1:46:17] They it includes 17

[1:46:18] comprehensive spending and

[1:46:21] policy initiatives, tax

[1:46:24] credits, changes that are aimed

[1:46:25] at improving veterans welfare

[1:46:29] in the of benefit expansion, a

[1:46:32] commitment to inclusivity and

[1:46:32] greater representation

[1:46:36] modernization of veterans

[1:46:36] services.

[1:46:40] This act includes expansion

[1:46:40] of behavioral health treatment,

[1:46:43] access for veterans, increase

[1:46:44] of tax credits for small

[1:46:48] businesses who hire unemployed

[1:46:51] for low income veterans support

[1:46:52] for same sex women veterans for

[1:46:55] the creation of a pilot program

[1:46:59] to those who have been denied

[1:47:03] ivf reimbursements just to name

[1:47:06] a few.

[1:47:07] We also know that there's a

[1:47:10] veterans suicide crisis impact

[1:47:14] in this country over 20

[1:47:17] veterans a day complete suicide

[1:47:18] .

[1:47:19] My colleagues counselor flynn

[1:47:23] is speaking so mental health

[1:47:27] counseling is critical.

[1:47:31] The expansion of benefits will

[1:47:31] impact nearly 30,000 women

[1:47:35] veterans women are the highest

[1:47:38] growing population in the

[1:47:39] veterans administration.

[1:47:42] Health care we need to improve

[1:47:46] and focus on gender specific

[1:47:50] quality medical care for women

[1:47:50] veterans.

[1:47:51] We have a good program here in

[1:47:54] boston at jamaica plain in west

[1:47:55] roxbury.

[1:47:57] But it's not that case

[1:47:57] throughout the country.

[1:48:01] But what happens throughout

[1:48:02] country does have an impact

[1:48:06] here in boston with the

[1:48:06] proposed hero act in this in

[1:48:09] its initiatives and changes.

[1:48:10] This would modernize and bring

[1:48:13] substantial updates to the

[1:48:13] benefits care requirements that

[1:48:16] would meet the needs of our

[1:48:17] veterans today many people have

[1:48:21] already reached out to me about

[1:48:24] this veterans across greater

[1:48:28] boston across the country

[1:48:32] veterans organizations complete

[1:48:33] agreement with lieutenant

[1:48:36] governor driscoll and governor

[1:48:37] maura healey on this labor

[1:48:41] unions are in support of it.

[1:48:42] Local 718 the boston

[1:48:43] firefighters union are in

[1:48:47] support of this among others

[1:48:50] with the proposed hero act.

[1:48:51] This would modernize and bring

[1:48:54] substantial changes that are

[1:48:55] desperately and critically

[1:48:58] needed here in boston

[1:48:59] throughout the commonwealth.

[1:49:02] I do hope we can suspend and

[1:49:02] pass this today so that we can

[1:49:05] better provide our veterans

[1:49:06] with the best with the

[1:49:07] necessary health care support

[1:49:10] and resources.

[1:49:12] Honored to be the chair of the

[1:49:14] veterans committee and I

[1:49:15] encourage all of my colleagues

[1:49:18] if they want to file a hearing

[1:49:21] order please do.

[1:49:22] I think it's critical that we

[1:49:25] learn as much as we can about

[1:49:26] the importance of veterans

[1:49:28] benefits, veterans service

[1:49:32] we've lost three soldiers from

[1:49:34] the U.S. Army the U.S. Army

[1:49:39] reserve recently we lost two

[1:49:43] navy seals recently but I guess

[1:49:47] my main point here is during

[1:49:51] difficult times that we MAY see

[1:49:52] here in the city we MAY see

[1:49:55] here in the state in the

[1:49:55] country people will look to see

[1:49:58] where we can cut services, cut

[1:50:02] programs and it's usually the

[1:50:06] groups that have the least

[1:50:09] amount of political influence

[1:50:09] whether it's persons with

[1:50:13] disabilities, people in public

[1:50:16] housing, our disabled veterans

[1:50:17] .

[1:50:20] But as we go forward, let's not

[1:50:22] balance the budget on the backs

[1:50:25] of disabled veterans.

[1:50:25] They've put their life on the

[1:50:29] line for our country all walks

[1:50:35] of life in every part of the

[1:50:36] city they've contributed

[1:50:40] contributed greatly to boston.

[1:50:41] So you have my commitment as

[1:50:44] the chair of the veterans

[1:50:45] committee that when you bring

[1:50:46] something to my committee I'm

[1:50:48] going to try to have a speedy

[1:50:53] hearing and bring in the best

[1:50:54] people I possibly can that can

[1:50:58] provide us with the knowledge

[1:50:58] and information we need and

[1:50:59] deserve.

[1:51:01] But I also would ask the

[1:51:02] veteran's chair is for all my

[1:51:05] colleagues to come to every

[1:51:06] committee meeting I have and

[1:51:09] come engaged with your

[1:51:12] questions and to stay the whole

[1:51:14] time I want I want to try to

[1:51:16] provide as much knowledge and

[1:51:17] information to all of my

[1:51:20] colleagues as I possibly can.

[1:51:21] So during the budget time all

[1:51:24] of you can advocate for

[1:51:24] veterans services.

[1:51:25] That's my job as as the only

[1:51:28] veteran I want to make sure you

[1:51:29] guys have the knowledge to do

[1:51:30] your job.

[1:51:32] I also want to thank counselor

[1:51:33] murphy for her commitment to

[1:51:37] veterans as the former former

[1:51:37] chair so I hope we can suspend

[1:51:39] and pass this today.

[1:51:43] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:51:43] Thank you.

[1:51:44] Councilor flynn, is anyone else

[1:51:46] looking to speak on this matter

[1:51:46] ?

[1:51:47] The chair recognizes counselor

[1:51:47] murphy.

[1:51:50] Counselor murphy, you now have

[1:51:51] the floor.

[1:51:54] I just wanted to rise to thank

[1:51:58] counselor flynn and as you just

[1:51:59] mentioned, the only veteran on

[1:52:00] this body the veterans in the

[1:52:02] city of boston and commissioner

[1:52:03] santiago are in good hands.

[1:52:05] You're always advocating and

[1:52:06] uplifting the needs.

[1:52:09] One of the things I learned is

[1:52:12] that we do we don't have enough

[1:52:13] support for our veterans but

[1:52:15] many of our veterans don't know

[1:52:16] how to get connected to the

[1:52:17] services we do have and you've

[1:52:19] always been a caring,

[1:52:20] empathetic counselor who make

[1:52:24] sure you connect veterans to

[1:52:28] the services they deserve and I

[1:52:28] look forward to your hearings

[1:52:28] and look forward to advocating

[1:52:29] for more in the veterans budget

[1:52:31] so that our veterans have what

[1:52:31] they deserve.

[1:52:32] So thank you so much.

[1:52:34] Thank you.

[1:52:35] The chair recognizes counselor

[1:52:39] here thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT

[1:52:42] and thank you, counselor flynn

[1:52:42] for your dedication and I'm

[1:52:45] going to bring some glasses to

[1:52:46] the next hearing because you

[1:52:47] are throwing some serious shade

[1:52:49] there.

[1:52:50] I will be showing up for all

[1:52:51] your hearings.

[1:52:52] Do not worry about that.

[1:52:53] But I just want to rise and

[1:52:56] just uplift a few names of men

[1:52:57] who I know have served this

[1:52:58] country.

[1:53:01] Tony molina I mean rodriguez

[1:53:05] who has always been in the

[1:53:05] front center all around all

[1:53:06] things I deal with puerto rican

[1:53:09] veterans and I also just want

[1:53:12] to underscore and acknowledge

[1:53:13] you know, I talked about the

[1:53:14] fact that during suicide

[1:53:16] prevention month I talked about

[1:53:17] the fact that my cousin died by

[1:53:20] suicide and he was a veteran.

[1:53:21] And I think when we're talking

[1:53:22] about veterans services and

[1:53:23] we're talking about supports

[1:53:24] that we also need to make sure

[1:53:27] that we're talking about mental

[1:53:28] health and the and and the

[1:53:32] intersection of both I'm so I

[1:53:32] look forward to being a loud

[1:53:34] voice and working alongside

[1:53:35] you.

[1:53:36] Councilor flynn, you do not

[1:53:37] have to worry about me because

[1:53:39] I always show up and I am

[1:53:40] looking forward to your

[1:53:42] leadership as the chair of this

[1:53:43] committee and looking forward

[1:53:44] to working alongside you to not

[1:53:46] just have resolutions and

[1:53:49] hearing orders but to really

[1:53:51] look at what can we do from a

[1:53:51] policy perspective.

[1:53:54] It's not just the budget but I

[1:53:54] think that there's also some

[1:53:55] things that we can do around

[1:53:56] protocols, policies and

[1:53:57] procedures here in the city

[1:53:58] of boston to help alleviate

[1:54:01] some of the hardships that our

[1:54:01] veterans face.

[1:54:02] So looking forward to

[1:54:03] partnering with you on that

[1:54:05] work.

[1:54:06] Thank you, councilor fernandes

[1:54:09] anderson, you now have the

[1:54:09] floor.

[1:54:10] Thank you so much, MADAM

[1:54:12] PRESIDENT and thank you

[1:54:12] councilor flynn.

[1:54:14] It's good to see you smiling

[1:54:16] today.

[1:54:17] Looking forward to our work

[1:54:19] together and of course

[1:54:23] absolutely happy and proud to

[1:54:24] stand here in support of your

[1:54:26] filing.

[1:54:27] I wanted to just acknowledge

[1:54:30] our young men and women in our

[1:54:32] country really if you can just

[1:54:35] imagine what volunteerism looks

[1:54:35] like.

[1:54:38] I think that's really what the

[1:54:38] service is because they don't

[1:54:39] get paid enough.

[1:54:42] They're not treated in my

[1:54:46] opinion with the financial

[1:54:47] compensation that they should

[1:54:49] be to be.

[1:54:50] And of course I'm a little

[1:54:53] biased to the U.S. Marines

[1:54:54] because as a military mom but I

[1:54:57] wanted to shout out today also

[1:54:57] PRESIDENT Union PRESIDENT,

[1:55:01] firefighter sam dillon who is

[1:55:02] here present with us.

[1:55:04] Thank you so much your service.

[1:55:05] Thank you, counselor flynn for

[1:55:08] your service as well and thank

[1:55:12] you to my son corporal rocha

[1:55:16] for his service.

[1:55:19] And I think that here I want to

[1:55:20] just make sure that we clarify.

[1:55:23] Last year we had a process in

[1:55:24] the budget where we looked at

[1:55:24] funds and there were some

[1:55:28] services that could there were

[1:55:28] in compensation sort

[1:55:31] of services that could be

[1:55:32] compensated or supplemented by

[1:55:35] other funds or allocations.

[1:55:39] And so some of my colleagues a

[1:55:40] couple of my colleagues asked

[1:55:42] that we reallocate funds from

[1:55:43] services and that went south

[1:55:46] right that went wrong bad idea

[1:55:47] and still refuse to tell you

[1:55:50] who that was or those my

[1:55:53] colleagues were and I just I

[1:55:57] believe that we're not perfect

[1:55:58] and we made some mistakes and I

[1:55:59] think that we look at it

[1:56:02] carefully if there are truly

[1:56:06] compensating sort of supplement

[1:56:07] or funds that can be allocated

[1:56:09] if you move these funds because

[1:56:10] they're not being used in a

[1:56:11] timely fashion or whatever the

[1:56:12] programmatic things are, we

[1:56:13] should look at it carefully

[1:56:17] because it with that I live

[1:56:21] next to a veterans home like

[1:56:21] literally like a veteran

[1:56:23] service home where veterans go

[1:56:28] to live and if you look at the

[1:56:31] conditions it's not adequate

[1:56:32] and I look forward to advocate

[1:56:36] so that we can improve those

[1:56:39] programs and whether or not we

[1:56:40] agree here it's really not

[1:56:40] about us.

[1:56:43] It's about looking at people as

[1:56:43] human beings that are

[1:56:46] sacrificing their lives for our

[1:56:47] freedom here in this country.

[1:56:51] So I stand here and I hope you

[1:56:53] receive this in good faith

[1:56:57] council flynn that I am in full

[1:56:58] support in looking at the

[1:56:59] allocations and looking at

[1:57:01] programs and supporting our

[1:57:04] military men and women here in

[1:57:05] boston more appropriately.

[1:57:08] Thank you so much.

[1:57:09] Thank you.

[1:57:10] Counselor fernanda anderson

[1:57:13] counselor coletta, you now have

[1:57:13] the floor.

[1:57:14] Thank you so much.

[1:57:17] I simply rise to thank

[1:57:17] counselor flynn over the last

[1:57:18] six years it really has been

[1:57:21] such a joy to see your passion

[1:57:21] and leadership on this issue

[1:57:25] with with veterans and I'm so

[1:57:26] grateful to have you as a chair

[1:57:28] so that you can bring your

[1:57:29] lived experience as a veteran.

[1:57:32] And I want to thank you for

[1:57:33] bringing these issues into the

[1:57:36] forefront of public discourse

[1:57:37] for the betterment ultimately

[1:57:38] of the quality of life of folks

[1:57:40] as councilor fernandez

[1:57:40] mentioned of the folks in their

[1:57:43] families who make the ultimate

[1:57:44] sacrifice.

[1:57:45] So I just wanted to stand and

[1:57:46] say thank you and express

[1:57:48] gratitude who said my name and

[1:57:49] I will be voting in the

[1:57:49] affirmative.

[1:57:50] Thank you.

[1:57:52] Thank you.

[1:57:53] Councilor coletta, is anyone

[1:57:54] else looking to speak on this

[1:57:55] matter?

[1:57:56] I just want to say thank you to

[1:57:58] castro flynn thank you to

[1:57:59] everyone all of my colleagues

[1:58:00] who spoke and highlighted how

[1:58:03] important it is for us to

[1:58:03] support our veterans and their

[1:58:04] needs.

[1:58:07] Thank you to

[1:58:07] councilor fernanda anderson to

[1:58:08] also always bringing in your

[1:58:11] lived experience as a military

[1:58:14] mom and so I am grateful for

[1:58:15] your leadership as a chair

[1:58:17] of veterans of the veterans

[1:58:18] committee and looking forward

[1:58:19] to more conversations what

[1:58:22] anyone else like to add their

[1:58:22] name?

[1:58:25] MR. Clerk please add counselors

[1:58:26] breadon coletta durkin,

[1:58:27] fernanda anderson fitzgerald

[1:58:30] murphy but then santana weber

[1:58:31] we're out.

[1:58:38] Please add the chair.

[1:58:39] The chair seeks castro flynn

[1:58:39] seek suspension of the rules

[1:58:44] and passage of docket number

[1:58:45] 0271 doubt the vote MR. Clerk,

[1:58:46] will you please do a roll call

[1:58:50] vote roll call vote on docket

[1:58:54] number 0271 council read yes

[1:58:55] council agreed and yes

[1:58:55] council coletta

[1:58:56] councilor coletta yes.

[1:58:58] Councilor durkin

[1:58:59] councilor durkin yes.

[1:59:02] Councilor for ananda sanderson

[1:59:02] .

[1:59:03] Councilor for ananda sanderson

[1:59:03] yes.

[1:59:05] Councilor fitzgerald.

[1:59:06] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[1:59:07] Councilor flynn yes.

[1:59:09] Councilor flynn yes.

[1:59:10] Council louijeune yes.

[1:59:11] Councilor louijeune yes

[1:59:13] concilor mejia here yes

[1:59:14] concilor mejia here.

[1:59:16] Yes councilor murphy

[1:59:17] councilor murphy yes.

[1:59:18] Councilor turpin

[1:59:20] councilor pepin yes.

[1:59:21] Councilor santana yes.

[1:59:22] Council santana yes.

[1:59:24] Councilor webber yes.

[1:59:25] Councilor webber yes.

[1:59:26] Councilor wu yes.

[1:59:29] Councilor worrell yes talking

[1:59:31] about 0271 has received a

[1:59:32] unanimous vote in the

[1:59:32] affirmative.

[1:59:35] thank you DR. Number 0271 has

[1:59:36] been adopted.

[1:59:38] MR. Clerk, would you please

[1:59:41] read docket number 0272 docking

[1:59:42] number 0272 councilor fernandes

[1:59:45] sanderson offer the following

[1:59:48] resolution recognizing FEBRUARY

[1:59:50] 1st as world hijab day in in

[1:59:52] boston.

[1:59:53] Thank you.

[1:59:56] The chair recognizes

[1:59:57] councilor fernando anderson

[1:59:57] councilor you now have the

[2:00:03] floor.

[2:00:03] Thank you.

[2:00:05] MADAM PRESIDENT, I am very

[2:00:08] happy to stand here and offer

[2:00:08] this resolution in recognition

[2:00:11] to of world hijab day

[2:00:15] particularly in light of going

[2:00:16] ignorance and misunderstanding

[2:00:16] and lack of tolerance around

[2:00:19] the matter that continues to

[2:00:20] prevail among far too many

[2:00:23] world hijab day has founded was

[2:00:29] founded by asma khan and to

[2:00:33] 2002 13 to honor hijab wearers

[2:00:36] around the world over in now

[2:00:39] recognize each year by 140

[2:00:39] countries.

[2:00:40] The purpose of the day is to

[2:00:44] encourage women of all

[2:00:45] backgrounds to experience the

[2:00:47] wearing of hijab to contemplate

[2:00:48] its meaning from an educational

[2:00:51] perspective if they should

[2:00:52] choose so to do so.

[2:00:56] Additionally, it seeks to

[2:00:59] spread awareness as to why many

[2:01:00] women choose to wear hijab.

[2:01:02] Like to pause there just to

[2:01:03] explain that hijab is an arabic

[2:01:06] word it means covering or

[2:01:07] protection or to cover you to

[2:01:11] for modesty a scarf.

[2:01:15] So let's not romanticize it too

[2:01:18] much just a scarf on my head.

[2:01:22] Can the founder of bangladeshi

[2:01:25] women american and said

[2:01:26] created the day to raise

[2:01:29] awareness and normalize the

[2:01:30] wearing of hijab?

[2:01:33] This was done in the spirit

[2:01:34] of fostering religious

[2:01:34] tolerance due to her personal

[2:01:37] experiences of facing

[2:01:38] discrimination and being

[2:01:42] bullied in school and at

[2:01:42] college as well as being chased

[2:01:46] spat on and called a terrorist

[2:01:46] among other indignities.

[2:01:50] Sadly, these are outrages.

[2:01:54] These are outrage that many

[2:01:57] of our hijab wearing women

[2:01:58] girls and non-binary people

[2:02:00] face on a daily basis as

[2:02:01] islamophobia and anti-muslim

[2:02:05] bigotry remain prevalent across

[2:02:06] so the so called progressive

[2:02:09] and developed world including

[2:02:12] right here in boston.

[2:02:13] Indeed millions of hijab

[2:02:16] wearers throughout the world

[2:02:17] continue to face such

[2:02:18] harassment as well as harmful

[2:02:20] and hateful acts due to

[2:02:24] islamophobic stereotypes.

[2:02:25] Hence this day serves as a

[2:02:28] powerful counterbalance to the

[2:02:28] profound ignorance that

[2:02:31] continues to abound in

[2:02:32] non-muslim world about what the

[2:02:35] wearing of hijab signifies.

[2:02:36] Furthermore, the message of the

[2:02:40] day connotes that the wearing

[2:02:43] of hijab should be a personal

[2:02:44] choice and that it loses its

[2:02:46] meaning when it is forced upon

[2:02:47] the wearer of the state

[2:02:48] authority.

[2:02:51] Therefore, while no state

[2:02:52] should insist on wearing the

[2:02:55] hijab of hijab neither should a

[2:02:58] state or any of its people

[2:03:02] harass or discriminate against

[2:03:03] anyone who chooses to wear

[2:03:03] hijab.

[2:03:07] Essentially the point is that

[2:03:08] the wearing of hijab is

[2:03:10] personal a personal decision to

[2:03:11] be made by the individual and

[2:03:14] that it can function as an

[2:03:15] important manifestation of the

[2:03:18] wearer's spirituality and

[2:03:18] religious belief.

[2:03:22] Any of all and all efforts made

[2:03:25] to spread awareness and to

[2:03:26] educate the masses of people as

[2:03:29] to the true meaning of hijab

[2:03:30] and what it symbolizes are

[2:03:33] valuable particularly in our

[2:03:34] era of strife, conflict and

[2:03:36] stereotypes.

[2:03:40] Look, I.

[2:03:41] I am what we call revert

[2:03:44] because in islam we believe

[2:03:45] that people everyone belongs to

[2:03:48] GOD and that everyone is born

[2:03:48] muslim meaning belonging or in

[2:03:51] submission to GOD.

[2:03:52] And so this is a belief this is

[2:03:55] our personal belief.

[2:03:56] And so I when I reverted back

[2:03:59] to understanding this, I

[2:04:02] decided to wear hijab.

[2:04:03] Even sometimes when I don't

[2:04:04] want to wear it or want to wear

[2:04:07] it, it keeps me reminded that

[2:04:11] what I represent and that I am

[2:04:13] human and that I'm flawed and

[2:04:14] that I should be kind or more

[2:04:17] patient that wearing this

[2:04:18] represents a sense

[2:04:21] of centralized unity with

[2:04:22] people that are struggling.

[2:04:25] The word.

[2:04:26] Please don't MISS Edit that and

[2:04:28] make sound something else.

[2:04:32] Media people meaning that when

[2:04:33] you struggle your internal

[2:04:36] struggle when you are

[2:04:37] conquering your own demons,

[2:04:40] your own negativities.

[2:04:41] That is the struggle.

[2:04:42] If you breastfeed your young

[2:04:44] that's called.

[2:04:47] If you feed the poor that's.

[2:04:49] If you wear a hijab and it's a

[2:04:52] sacrifice it's because believe

[2:04:52] you me.

[2:04:56] you guys don't want to see

[2:04:57] me without it.

[2:04:57] It's a sacrifice.

[2:05:00] So I preserve my beauty myself

[2:05:04] in the way that I cover to keep

[2:05:07] myself more focused on what's

[2:05:08] important on the inside.

[2:05:11] My character.

[2:05:12] So if you ever or friends or

[2:05:15] people are interested in your

[2:05:16] communities, if you're

[2:05:19] interested in more education or

[2:05:20] opportunities, I would love to

[2:05:22] collaborate with you to be able

[2:05:23] to extend that education and to

[2:05:23] all of you.

[2:05:27] It MAY be difficult for some

[2:05:28] of you to accept.

[2:05:30] It MAY be difficult for some

[2:05:31] of you to digest it but that's

[2:05:34] okay.

[2:05:36] I'm not going to force feed you

[2:05:36] because you know what happens

[2:05:38] when you force feed people.

[2:05:39] They throw up all over you and

[2:05:39] that's ugly.

[2:05:42] So I look forward to again

[2:05:45] slowly bring us to a

[2:05:46] realization when I'm ignorant

[2:05:50] and I'm faulted and I am less

[2:05:50] than respectful.

[2:05:51] Correct me.

[2:05:53] Let's do this together.

[2:05:53] Let's evolve and together do

[2:05:56] the work in this council.

[2:05:57] So therefore I ask my

[2:06:00] colleagues to join me in

[2:06:04] recognizing FEBRUARY 1st, 2024

[2:06:05] as world hijab day in the city

[2:06:08] of boston and I appreciate you

[2:06:08] today for your support.

[2:06:11] Thank you.

[2:06:12] Time's up.

[2:06:13] Fernanda anderson what anyone

[2:06:15] else like to speak on this

[2:06:16] matter?

[2:06:19] Councilor weber you now have

[2:06:19] the floor.

[2:06:20] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[2:06:23] i just wanted to rise in

[2:06:24] support of councilor fernandez

[2:06:26] anderson's resolution.

[2:06:28] You know, I think we need to

[2:06:30] support any effort to raise

[2:06:31] awareness and allow people to

[2:06:31] wear the hijab without

[2:06:35] experience seeing harassment,

[2:06:35] discrimination or islamophobia.

[2:06:38] And so I just want to support

[2:06:38] her efforts.

[2:06:39] Thank you.

[2:06:42] Councilor webber, is anyone

[2:06:43] else looking to speak on this

[2:06:46] matter?

[2:06:47] I want to thank you,

[2:06:47] councilor fernanda andersson

[2:06:50] for introducing this resolution

[2:06:50] .

[2:06:51] And I know you spoke on this

[2:06:52] last year as well, so thank

[2:06:52] you.

[2:06:54] Would anyone like to add their

[2:06:55] name?

[2:06:55] MR. Clerk, please add

[2:06:57] councilors breadon durkan

[2:07:01] fitzgerald flynn murphy, pat

[2:07:02] benn.

[2:07:02] Santana webber.

[2:07:07] Worrell, please out of the

[2:07:07] chair.

[2:07:08] Castro fernanda anderson seeks

[2:07:09] suspension of the rules and

[2:07:12] passage of docket number 027 to

[2:07:13] all those in favor say I.

[2:07:14] All of polls say nay.

[2:07:20] Mr clerk, please do a roll call

[2:07:25] vote roll call vote on docking

[2:07:26] number 0272.

[2:07:27] Councilor breadon.

[2:07:27] Yes.

[2:07:29] Councilor breadon.

[2:07:30] Yes.

[2:07:30] Councilor coletta.

[2:07:31] Councilor coletta yes.

[2:07:33] Councilor durkan.

[2:07:34] Councilor durkan yes.

[2:07:35] Councilor fernanda sanderson

[2:07:37] yes.

[2:07:38] councilor fernanda sense and

[2:07:38] yes.

[2:07:41] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[2:07:42] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[2:07:43] Councilor flynn yes.

[2:07:45] Councilor flynn yes.

[2:07:46] Councilor louijeune yes.

[2:07:47] Councilor louijeune yes.

[2:07:49] Concilor mejia here.

[2:07:50] Concilor mejia here.

[2:07:50] Yes.

[2:07:51] Councilor murphy.

[2:07:53] Councilor murphy yes.

[2:07:54] Councilor pitman yes.

[2:07:55] Council captain yes.

[2:07:57] Council S.A. Yes.

[2:07:57] Councilor ten yes.

[2:07:58] Councilor webber.

[2:07:59] Yes.

[2:08:01] Councilor webber.

[2:08:01] Yes.

[2:08:02] And councilor worrell yes.

[2:08:02] Councilor wu yes.

[2:08:05] Talking number 0272 has

[2:08:07] received a unanimous vote in

[2:08:07] the affirmative.

[2:08:08] Thank you.

[2:08:11] Docket number 0272 has been

[2:08:11] adopted.

[2:08:12] MR. Clerk, would you please

[2:08:16] read docket number 0273 docking

[2:08:16] number 0273

[2:08:17] councilor fernanda sanderson

[2:08:20] offered the following

[2:08:21] resolution on behalf of the

[2:08:24] boston city council in honor

[2:08:25] and celebration of black

[2:08:27] history month to be recognized

[2:08:34] in the month of FEBRUARY 20, 24

[2:08:34] .

[2:08:35] Thank you, MR. Clerk.

[2:08:38] The chair now recognizes

[2:08:39] councilor fernanda anderson

[2:08:39] councilor green envy anderson,

[2:08:40] you now have the floor.

[2:08:41] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[2:08:46] MAY I suspend the rules and add

[2:08:46] councilor roll and

[2:08:49] council vision, please see no

[2:08:50] objections.

[2:08:54] councilor rl is now added that

[2:08:54] councilor fernando anderson

[2:08:57] seeks to suspend rule 12 and

[2:08:58] add councilor louijeune as an

[2:09:00] original co-sponsor.

[2:09:01] Seeing no objections the rule

[2:09:05] is suspended and carol

[2:09:06] louijeune is at it.

[2:09:06] Councilor fringe anderson you

[2:09:08] now have the floor.

[2:09:11] Wakanda forever no.

[2:09:12] Stick to the script.

[2:09:16] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[2:09:19] So of course this is like super

[2:09:20] ,super, super exciting.

[2:09:21] We're getting into the month

[2:09:24] where we celebrate all of is it

[2:09:26] 26 or 27 days whatever three

[2:09:29] ticks all of our 2029

[2:09:32] sorry we're oh 29 oh okay great

[2:09:36] awesome and this is super

[2:09:36] exciting.

[2:09:40] I'm so proud to have to rise

[2:09:46] and do this for my afro-latino

[2:09:47] actually like I would love to

[2:09:51] have so set better the rules

[2:09:52] and and also I would have loved

[2:09:53] to done that.

[2:09:54] I would love to add a

[2:09:56] councilor mejia and add santana

[2:09:57] and everybody else that I

[2:10:02] consider brown here.

[2:10:03] That is not a letter I would

[2:10:04] have added.

[2:10:06] I would bring in now to add an

[2:10:07] oreo because you are all

[2:10:08] invited to the cookout anyway

[2:10:12] so the black people in and

[2:10:13] whoever you could you could

[2:10:16] come to the cookout to like

[2:10:17] fitzgerald like come on

[2:10:20] council are you are invited to

[2:10:21] the cookout flynn everybody's

[2:10:22] invited.

[2:10:23] The black people in the united

[2:10:26] states have made epic

[2:10:27] contributions to humanity

[2:10:30] despite centuries of systemic

[2:10:31] structural and personal

[2:10:32] oppression, marginalization and

[2:10:35] disenfranchisement, this

[2:10:36] mistreatment manifests in a

[2:10:38] variety of ways leading to

[2:10:39] systems of thought and power

[2:10:43] awash in neo colonialism and

[2:10:47] anti-blackness to come back to

[2:10:47] centuries of criminality that

[2:10:48] such systems connote the black

[2:10:52] historian chirurgie woodson

[2:10:55] created history week in 1926

[2:10:58] the main idea of the week was

[2:10:59] to give black people a true

[2:11:01] sense of their collective worth

[2:11:02] and history to better forge

[2:11:05] ahead in the struggle

[2:11:06] of liberation of their people.

[2:11:09] In 1969, black educators and

[2:11:12] students at kent state in ohio

[2:11:15] discussed plans to build on

[2:11:16] woodson's week by creating a

[2:11:17] black history month which they

[2:11:20] did the following year.

[2:11:21] In 1970, black history month

[2:11:24] was recognized by then

[2:11:27] PRESIDENT Gerald ford in 1976

[2:11:31] as part of the bicentennial

[2:11:31] celebrations of that year.

[2:11:34] Since then black history has

[2:11:35] grown to be recognized through

[2:11:38] the world throughout the world

[2:11:41] most fittingly by several

[2:11:45] countries in africa the

[2:11:49] motherland of the black, the

[2:11:52] black diaspora whose continent

[2:11:56] was looted of its people labor

[2:11:57] ,land and resources by the

[2:11:59] economic and political elites

[2:12:00] of europe and the americas.

[2:12:04] The month of FEBRUARY has

[2:12:04] within it many powerful

[2:12:05] landmarks in his historic

[2:12:08] events including the uprising

[2:12:12] led by the enslaved nat turner

[2:12:13] ,the first of harriet tubman's

[2:12:16] daring escapes the act

[2:12:17] of rebellion led by the

[2:12:20] ultimate white ally john brown.

[2:12:24] My guide the birth of frederick

[2:12:28] douglass and web dubois the

[2:12:31] greensboro sit in of 1960 and

[2:12:32] the ultimate assassination

[2:12:35] of malcolm x to name several

[2:12:36] black history month continues

[2:12:39] black history continues to play

[2:12:40] an important role in reminding

[2:12:43] all of us of the centrality

[2:12:44] of black experience within

[2:12:47] american life the wonders

[2:12:51] of black music literature,

[2:12:52] dance activism, cuisine, family

[2:12:56] traditions and more as well as

[2:12:58] the entrenched efforts by those

[2:12:59] in positions of power to

[2:13:02] brutalize and marginalize them

[2:13:03] at every turn based on the

[2:13:06] wondrous history and the

[2:13:07] indomitable will of spirit and

[2:13:11] spirit that our black brothers

[2:13:11] and sisters continue to

[2:13:12] demonstrate.

[2:13:15] I ask you to join me in the

[2:13:16] council to recognize black

[2:13:18] history month and I just wanted

[2:13:19] to shout out to the

[2:13:22] african-american people who

[2:13:22] have paved the way with their

[2:13:25] blood, sweat and tears for all

[2:13:26] black immigrants, for all those

[2:13:29] in a spirit of bringing

[2:13:30] migrants and welcoming them to

[2:13:33] roxbury today and forward.

[2:13:37] I wanted to say that it was

[2:13:38] it's a very difficult thing to

[2:13:40] make way in already disinvested

[2:13:43] or disenfranchized communities

[2:13:44] and african-americans are often

[2:13:47] put in those situations where

[2:13:48] they have to prove their

[2:13:48] humanity.

[2:13:52] They have to explain why they

[2:13:55] deserve they have to calculate

[2:13:56] out a budget for you to say

[2:13:57] what is equitable and what is

[2:13:59] not.

[2:14:00] Often if it's not sensational

[2:14:04] the media doesn't want to talk

[2:14:04] about it.

[2:14:05] So a lot of the issues in

[2:14:07] african-american communities

[2:14:08] are not interesting for the

[2:14:11] media.

[2:14:12] No one takes notice of all

[2:14:13] of the important work that my

[2:14:15] myself and my colleagues do

[2:14:16] here in terms of equity.

[2:14:19] No one in the media takes

[2:14:20] notice and says I want to talk

[2:14:23] about how you're building

[2:14:23] economic development in

[2:14:24] roxbury.

[2:14:26] I want to talk about all

[2:14:29] of your sense of arts and

[2:14:32] preserving history and culture

[2:14:33] that you are doing in 87 and

[2:14:35] boston I want to talk about I

[2:14:36] want to talk to my white

[2:14:37] colleagues and about their work

[2:14:40] on equity that they are doing

[2:14:44] as well and shout out again to

[2:14:45] councilor clara who is always

[2:14:47] rising in support of equity

[2:14:48] shout out to my afro latinos

[2:14:51] who is stands boldly against

[2:14:54] their own suppressive cultures

[2:14:55] and background and colourism

[2:14:58] and all that they have to face.

[2:14:59] I'm here to say to you

[2:15:03] everybody understands clearly

[2:15:04] that civil rights is for for

[2:15:06] everyone but human rights is

[2:15:07] what I'm looking for.

[2:15:10] I'm I'm looking to partner with

[2:15:13] you with an open mind to say

[2:15:14] look, what is equity?

[2:15:17] What does that mean to you?

[2:15:18] So every time I say black I'm

[2:15:19] going to say black.

[2:15:21] I'm going to say black, I'm

[2:15:22] going to say black and I'm

[2:15:23] going to say black until you

[2:15:23] understand it is not

[2:15:26] threatening to your whiteness

[2:15:26] or it's not threatening to your

[2:15:27] brownness or it's not

[2:15:29] threatening to your classes

[2:15:30] that you look at us in a way

[2:15:32] that I don't have to constantly

[2:15:34] explain in order for me to be

[2:15:34] worthy of rising to the

[2:15:37] occasion so that we can become

[2:15:38] allies and actually do the work

[2:15:41] without feeling like I have to

[2:15:42] execute.

[2:15:45] I have to be soft in my

[2:15:46] delivery before you can accept

[2:15:49] that I am human enough or that

[2:15:50] my people are human enough to

[2:15:51] be able to talk about racial

[2:15:53] equity in the city of boston.

[2:15:56] I thank you for indulging me in

[2:15:57] listening to me and I look

[2:15:58] forward to working with you

[2:16:01] again.

[2:16:02] I hope that you can and you can

[2:16:04] hopefully that my heart is

[2:16:05] sincere and pure enough to come

[2:16:08] up to stuff right?

[2:16:12] Sometimes we talk like that and

[2:16:13] we look at allies and this is

[2:16:15] for my muslim or my religious

[2:16:16] brothers and sisters.

[2:16:19] You look at allies in the gay

[2:16:20] the lgbtq gay and lesbian are

[2:16:21] out there doing all the work

[2:16:23] and we're not coming up to

[2:16:24] stuff.

[2:16:27] So I'm asking everyone to come

[2:16:28] up to stuff put your behind

[2:16:32] you and look at how we can work

[2:16:35] together for a better humanity

[2:16:36] ,for better life, for better

[2:16:39] equity or racial equity

[2:16:40] solutions in boston let's

[2:16:40] celebrate black history month

[2:16:43] y'all.

[2:16:44] We got a barbecue.

[2:16:46] Thank you.

[2:16:47] Thank you.

[2:16:48] Councilor fernanda anderson the

[2:16:49] chair recognizes councilor oral

[2:16:51] casual, oral.

[2:16:52] You now have the floor.

[2:16:54] Thank you, councilor anderson

[2:16:55] thank you to my co-sponsors.

[2:16:56] Thank you for your leadership

[2:16:59] and I'm looking forward to that

[2:17:01] cookout.

[2:17:02] I'm humbled to be a voice for

[2:17:06] my people and to stand here

[2:17:06] today recognizing the

[2:17:07] importance of black history

[2:17:09] month, especially in the city

[2:17:09] of boston.

[2:17:13] Our city's history is deeply

[2:17:13] intertwined with the remarkable

[2:17:17] contributions of black people

[2:17:18] who have not only shaped his

[2:17:20] identity but also changed the

[2:17:21] entire trajectory of boston.

[2:17:25] I just want to amplify and I

[2:17:28] think it's important that we

[2:17:28] continue to amplify our rich

[2:17:29] black history that we have in

[2:17:32] the city of boston because it's

[2:17:32] not always put out there.

[2:17:36] So I'm just going to go through

[2:17:36] a list of people black people

[2:17:39] who have come through boston

[2:17:40] for boston based trailblazers

[2:17:43] like rebecca lee crumpler who

[2:17:44] is the first black dentist

[2:17:48] mccall bowling allen who

[2:17:49] shattered the barriers in the

[2:17:50] legal fields to iconic figures

[2:17:51] such as the first patriot

[2:17:55] crispus attucks whose bravery

[2:17:55] ignited the flames

[2:17:58] of revolution boston black

[2:17:59] population and black population

[2:18:03] has left an enduring mark on

[2:18:03] our country's cultural

[2:18:04] tapestry.

[2:18:07] Boston holds the honor of being

[2:18:08] home to the first black senator

[2:18:11] edward brooke and also boasts

[2:18:12] the oldest branch charter

[2:18:15] of the naacp established in

[2:18:15] 1912.

[2:18:19] Our city has a rich legacy a

[2:18:19] spearheaded litigation that has

[2:18:23] led to major reforms in areas

[2:18:23] such as school desegregation,

[2:18:27] employment equity and housing.

[2:18:29] We celebrate luminaries from

[2:18:30] the 18th century such as poet

[2:18:34] phillis wheatley to iconic

[2:18:34] figures of the 20th century

[2:18:37] such as activist melina cass

[2:18:38] additionally, we cannot

[2:18:41] overlook the contribution that

[2:18:42] black women leaders past and

[2:18:45] present will work tirelessly to

[2:18:45] make boston a better place.

[2:18:48] She also not forget those who

[2:18:49] broke boundaries in boston

[2:18:52] sports such as william ray,

[2:18:53] chuck cooper and bill russell

[2:18:56] remind us of the profound

[2:18:56] impact black athletes had on

[2:19:00] our sporting landscape this

[2:19:01] FEBRUARY FEBRUARY we reflect on

[2:19:03] the triumphs and struggles

[2:19:04] of black americans throughout

[2:19:04] history.

[2:19:07] Let us also recognize the

[2:19:07] importance of preserving their

[2:19:08] rich legacy.

[2:19:11] My office is committed to

[2:19:12] honoring the contributions

[2:19:15] of black boston's black leaders

[2:19:16] and we have partnered with wet

[2:19:18] wet wet wrap around four

[2:19:19] corners main street in the

[2:19:23] craft foundation's to educate,

[2:19:26] amplify and to showcase our

[2:19:27] black leaders to our community.

[2:19:33] And we did this by honoring 200

[2:19:34] black women and the black women

[2:19:35] lead initiative where we had

[2:19:38] the faces of 200 women on the

[2:19:39] blue who life is still up there

[2:19:41] today and we want to continue

[2:19:44] to do that too and recognize an

[2:19:45] individual's hopefully and and

[2:19:48] a statue for crispus attucks

[2:19:49] ensuring that their legacy and

[2:19:51] their stories are woven into

[2:19:52] our city's narrative.

[2:19:52] So let's join together in

[2:19:55] commemorating black history

[2:19:56] month and reaffirm our

[2:19:56] commitment to fostering equity

[2:19:59] and our mutual understanding

[2:20:00] of the history of the city

[2:20:00] of boston.

[2:20:04] Thank you.

[2:20:04] Thank you councilor.

[2:20:07] Rl I'll just speak briefly as

[2:20:07] an original co-sponsor.

[2:20:08] Thank you COUNCILMAN Andrew

[2:20:10] anderson for introducing the

[2:20:11] resolution and earl I love

[2:20:14] black history month also known

[2:20:15] as black heritage month in some

[2:20:18] spaces we have to know that

[2:20:18] american history is black

[2:20:21] history and black history is

[2:20:22] american history and we have to

[2:20:24] do a better job in our schools

[2:20:24] .

[2:20:25] I'm excited to hear that their

[2:20:26] schools now where african

[2:20:29] american history is offered at

[2:20:29] the ap level and so we still

[2:20:32] have so much more to do.

[2:20:33] We're still bending that moral

[2:20:34] arc of the universe towards

[2:20:36] justice.

[2:20:37] We are on the heels of mlk

[2:20:38] weekend where everyone picks

[2:20:40] out a favorite mlk quote but

[2:20:41] it's not just about the

[2:20:42] coat it's about the work as

[2:20:43] counterpoint anderson said to

[2:20:44] really center equity racial

[2:20:45] equity and to correct for our

[2:20:47] past our arms.

[2:20:48] But it's also a moment to

[2:20:49] celebrate to celebrate all that

[2:20:51] we've achieved, all those

[2:20:52] who've attempted and all those

[2:20:52] who are still striving.

[2:20:55] I was today looking at the wall

[2:20:56] of past city council presidents

[2:20:57] and was looking at bruce

[2:20:59] bowling was looking at charles

[2:21:00] yancey and all of those who

[2:21:01] paved the way and all of those

[2:21:02] who tried and attempted and

[2:21:03] didn't make it and they are

[2:21:06] they are too they are legacy

[2:21:07] and so I'm excited to have you

[2:21:09] all as colleagues and for this

[2:21:10] council as a body to celebrate

[2:21:11] black history month which we'll

[2:21:13] be doing on FEBRUARY 18th here

[2:21:14] at city council where we'll be

[2:21:17] also honoring our small

[2:21:17] businesses.

[2:21:18] So thank you so much for having

[2:21:20] me on and I look forward to

[2:21:20] celebrating black history month

[2:21:23] black heritage month with all

[2:21:24] of you and I think cause we're

[2:21:25] out to do a good job

[2:21:27] of uplifting how much rich

[2:21:28] black history we have here

[2:21:29] african-american trail and

[2:21:31] beacon hill we talk about

[2:21:32] lonely cars.

[2:21:33] We talk about harriet tubman,

[2:21:35] we talk about mlk, malcolm x

[2:21:36] who all have a local history.

[2:21:37] And what's so great about the

[2:21:39] embrace monument is a tribute

[2:21:40] to our local freedom fighters

[2:21:43] who sometimes go nameless but

[2:21:44] whose sacrifices are important

[2:21:47] to the stories to my story and

[2:21:48] to a lot of people's stories

[2:21:48] here in the city of boston.

[2:21:50] So onward and thank you for

[2:21:51] having me.

[2:21:51] Thank you for allowing me to

[2:21:52] speak and thank you for having

[2:21:54] me on the resolution council.

[2:21:55] Fernando anyone else looking to

[2:21:58] speak on this matter?

[2:21:59] Councilor mejia, you have the

[2:22:02] floor.

[2:22:02] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT and

[2:22:05] thank you to my colleagues.

[2:22:06] I remember when I first came

[2:22:08] onto this council then

[2:22:09] councilor janey was the

[2:22:12] PRESIDENT And I was so

[2:22:13] incredibly honored that she had

[2:22:16] invited me to participate in

[2:22:20] that in the annual celebration

[2:22:24] that happens here on the

[2:22:25] council and it was a really

[2:22:27] important moment for me because

[2:22:31] she affirmed my identity in

[2:22:32] terms of how I always talk

[2:22:32] about being a afro-latina,

[2:22:35] being a black latina.

[2:22:36] It was the first time that I

[2:22:39] have felt seen and affirmed in

[2:22:40] understanding my culture and

[2:22:42] understanding the fact that

[2:22:43] when they abducted our

[2:22:43] ancestors the only difference

[2:22:46] was the point that they dropped

[2:22:47] us off at right when we talk

[2:22:50] about black culture, when we

[2:22:51] talk about black history, I

[2:22:52] think a lot of dominicans in

[2:22:53] particular have a hard time

[2:22:57] embracing their black roots.

[2:22:58] And so for me, even though I'm

[2:22:59] light skinned I always tell my

[2:23:01] family and the blackness

[2:23:02] of them all because I'm here to

[2:23:04] affirm those those who have

[2:23:05] come before me.

[2:23:06] And I just wanted to say that

[2:23:09] as a policymaker, you know, one

[2:23:09] thing is to be an ally.

[2:23:10] Another thing is to be a leader

[2:23:12] when it comes to affirming here

[2:23:13] the work on the council, you

[2:23:16] know, under my leadership we

[2:23:17] established the the black men's

[2:23:20] commission with a budget

[2:23:21] of $1.6 million to support

[2:23:21] black male advancement work.

[2:23:24] We also work alongside our

[2:23:25] community to establish a

[2:23:27] reparations task force and I

[2:23:28] worked alongside counselor

[2:23:31] janey and campbell to establish

[2:23:32] juneteenth as a national as a

[2:23:36] city a municipal holiday here

[2:23:36] in the city of boston.

[2:23:39] So when we're thinking about

[2:23:40] this work and what we're

[2:23:40] thinking about what allyship

[2:23:43] looks like it thinks, I think

[2:23:43] there's an opportunity for us

[2:23:46] to recognize that resolutions

[2:23:47] are important and hearings are

[2:23:47] important.

[2:23:50] But when we have an opportunity

[2:23:51] to affirm blackness and we have

[2:23:52] an opportunity to really do the

[2:23:54] work that we all rise up in

[2:23:54] doing just that.

[2:23:55] So looking forward to

[2:23:57] celebrating black history month

[2:23:58] alongside my siblings and I'm

[2:23:59] here for all of it.

[2:24:01] Thank you.

[2:24:03] Thank you concilor mejia here

[2:24:03] councilor flynn, you have the

[2:24:08] floor.

[2:24:09] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[2:24:10] And listening to my colleagues

[2:24:12] I.

[2:24:13] I was glad to hear of our

[2:24:16] former colleague mayor janey's

[2:24:17] name mentioned and and city

[2:24:20] councilor andrea campbell's

[2:24:21] name mentioned as well.

[2:24:22] The massachusetts attorney

[2:24:24] general.

[2:24:25] I also wanted to highlight some

[2:24:27] other some other political

[2:24:31] officials, civic leaders

[2:24:32] including our former colleague

[2:24:35] lydia edwards who's the state

[2:24:36] senator now from the the east

[2:24:38] boston area.

[2:24:42] One of the people I also wanted

[2:24:43] to highlight was my constituent

[2:24:46] mel king, former state

[2:24:50] legislator candidate for mayor

[2:24:52] who did a tremendous job in the

[2:24:53] city bringing people together

[2:24:58] and we certainly MISS Mel and

[2:25:01] we MISS His advocacy and

[2:25:02] support for not just the black

[2:25:05] community in boston but for all

[2:25:05] major marginalized communities

[2:25:09] as well.

[2:25:10] Malkin is a real trailblazer

[2:25:13] and a hero to so many,

[2:25:17] including quoting myself he was

[2:25:17] a good friend.

[2:25:20] I also wanted to highlight

[2:25:21] another friend of mine who's

[2:25:23] been gone for a long time as

[2:25:24] well as saunders.

[2:25:25] If any of the older people

[2:25:28] remember wallace saunders he

[2:25:32] was a tuskegee airman and was

[2:25:32] the superintendent of boston

[2:25:36] police a real a real hero and

[2:25:40] another some other names that

[2:25:41] come to come to mind is another

[2:25:43] friend ted lance markham

[2:25:47] exceptional loyal educator is

[2:25:51] on the bpa board.

[2:25:53] Doris bundy was the first vha

[2:26:00] resident to become the director

[2:26:01] as I mentioned well a saunders

[2:26:01] but also george russell.

[2:26:04] Many people MAY know george

[2:26:07] russell of leon stamps was the

[2:26:08] first collector treasurer from

[2:26:11] the city of boston the first

[2:26:14] order of the city of boston at

[2:26:16] that time a lot of those

[2:26:18] financial jobs in city

[2:26:18] government didn't necessarily

[2:26:25] go to the african-americans but

[2:26:26] it was people like george

[2:26:26] russell and leon stamps and so

[2:26:29] many others that opened the

[2:26:32] doors for others in this city.

[2:26:36] So I wanted to say thank you to

[2:26:37] my colleague

[2:26:37] councilor fernandez anderson

[2:26:40] and my other colleagues for the

[2:26:44] tremendous work you do.

[2:26:45] But also I'm glad you have

[2:26:46] mentioned a few of these names

[2:26:47] because I've always respect and

[2:26:51] admire some of those some

[2:26:52] of these leaders in the city

[2:26:55] including our current police

[2:26:57] commissioner and our former

[2:27:01] police commissioner.

[2:27:02] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[2:27:02] Thank you.

[2:27:05] Councilor flynn.

[2:27:06] As any councilor the chair now

[2:27:09] recognizes councilor durkan

[2:27:10] councilor durkan, you now have

[2:27:10] the floor.

[2:27:11] Thank you so much.

[2:27:12] Council PRESIDENT Rosie

[2:27:14] louijeune and our third black

[2:27:14] woman council PRESIDENT.

[2:27:15] It's exciting.

[2:27:18] We're an exciting moment in the

[2:27:21] city of boston and I'm excited

[2:27:22] to celebrate black history

[2:27:25] month and I was last night I

[2:27:26] was at the museum

[2:27:27] of african-american history on

[2:27:29] joy street in beacon hill and

[2:27:32] it just reminded me how much or

[2:27:33] how little I know about the

[2:27:36] history of my own neighborhood

[2:27:36] .

[2:27:37] So I know they're eager to

[2:27:40] partner with the boston city

[2:27:41] council on a tour one that I'm

[2:27:44] happy to help get everyone and

[2:27:45] get the council PRESIDENT

[2:27:45] Connected to.

[2:27:47] But just knowing that there are

[2:27:48] spots in each of our districts

[2:27:49] that have important

[2:27:51] significance in black history.

[2:27:55] So I would be excited to kind

[2:27:56] of go across our neighborhoods

[2:27:59] and see what what history that

[2:28:03] we maybe are just uncovering

[2:28:04] because so much of our history

[2:28:05] has been written by the wrong

[2:28:08] people and so excited excited

[2:28:11] to honor black history my first

[2:28:12] time as a city councilor.

[2:28:13] Thank you so much.

[2:28:15] Thank you.

[2:28:16] Councilor durkan the chair

[2:28:17] recognizes councilor breadon

[2:28:18] and councilor breadon and you

[2:28:20] have the floor well in

[2:28:23] evergreens cemetery in brighton

[2:28:27] there was an unmarked grave in

[2:28:28] a corner of the cemetery which

[2:28:32] was the last resting place of a

[2:28:34] man called horatio homer.

[2:28:37] He was born in 1848 and he died

[2:28:40] in 1923 and he was boston's

[2:28:41] first african-american police

[2:28:41] officer.

[2:28:42] He was hired by the boston

[2:28:47] police department in 1878 and

[2:28:48] served on the force for 40

[2:28:48] years.

[2:28:49] And the reason I'm saying is

[2:28:52] that this is there's a I belong

[2:28:54] to a group called the irish

[2:28:58] tiara of the irish ancestral

[2:28:59] research association and one

[2:29:00] of our members actually did

[2:29:03] research into she was

[2:29:03] interested in police history

[2:29:07] and she went discovered this

[2:29:10] this horatio sergeant ratio

[2:29:14] homework in a research and she

[2:29:18] really got into it and did his

[2:29:21] just a notable thing and she

[2:29:22] actually did a whole

[2:29:26] presentation I went to hear the

[2:29:27] presentation in the roxbury

[2:29:29] library and nubian square and

[2:29:29] then we invited to come to

[2:29:32] allston brighton which was

[2:29:33] where sergeant horatio homer

[2:29:39] was buried and we had the

[2:29:43] presentation and two of this

[2:29:45] man's grand granddaughters were

[2:29:46] came to the presentation in at

[2:29:49] the historical society in

[2:29:50] brighton.

[2:29:52] He was born in 1848 and his

[2:29:53] granddaughters came to this

[2:29:57] presentation and you know, do

[2:29:58] the math but it's interesting

[2:30:00] that not only that but it was

[2:30:04] really incredible and now you

[2:30:05] find out that he that his grave

[2:30:08] was unmarked so there was a

[2:30:08] special celebration and

[2:30:12] official placement of a mark a

[2:30:13] stone marker in the graveyard

[2:30:15] at evergreen cemetery to mark

[2:30:18] this is him as being the first

[2:30:19] african-american police officer

[2:30:22] in boston police department and

[2:30:23] is and to mark honor his

[2:30:26] service by putting a marker on

[2:30:27] his grave in brighton in the

[2:30:27] evergreen cemetery.

[2:30:30] I just wanted to hold up his

[2:30:31] memory today.

[2:30:31] Thank you.

[2:30:34] Thank you, councilor breadon

[2:30:35] for sharing that.

[2:30:38] I think that was very powerful

[2:30:38] .

[2:30:39] You know, in hyde park we have

[2:30:41] rebecca crumpler crumpler at

[2:30:42] fairview, the first medical

[2:30:45] doctor recognized as a medical

[2:30:45] school.

[2:30:47] we know that a lot of black

[2:30:48] women were doctors and healers

[2:30:49] without being recognized as

[2:30:52] such.

[2:30:53] Just another example of how

[2:30:53] black history is every part

[2:30:56] of our local history.

[2:30:57] So thank you councilor breadon

[2:30:57] for sharing that.

[2:30:59] Councilor fernanda anderson for

[2:31:00] a small addition because of an

[2:31:00] injury.

[2:31:03] Anderson you now have the floor

[2:31:03] .

[2:31:04] Thank you.

[2:31:04] MADAM PRESIDENT, I would be

[2:31:07] remiss if I didn't properly

[2:31:08] acknowledge my colleague

[2:31:11] concilor mejia here because

[2:31:12] of me here you have been the

[2:31:14] exemplary councilor in terms

[2:31:15] of the work on racial equity

[2:31:19] and I wanted to properly rise

[2:31:19] and acknowledge that and I

[2:31:23] appreciate your courage and

[2:31:27] your presence, your heart and

[2:31:28] you standing in your identity

[2:31:29] and being able to do this work.

[2:31:34] I partner with you or you added

[2:31:35] me to the reparations task

[2:31:35] force and I look forward to

[2:31:38] working with you as the chair

[2:31:39] of civil rights moving the

[2:31:42] reparations rfp forward.

[2:31:43] Looking forward to working with

[2:31:46] you on other things as well.

[2:31:50] Yes, you have done tremendous

[2:31:51] work here for racial equity and

[2:31:54] for black people in the

[2:31:55] diaspora.

[2:31:56] In that spirit I wanted to say

[2:31:59] that I think we can responsibly

[2:32:02] and appropriately celebrate

[2:32:06] this month where we can include

[2:32:07] a diaspora without it and again

[2:32:11] responsibly and respectfully do

[2:32:13] it in a way that we are one

[2:32:14] united people.

[2:32:15] So for the black history month

[2:32:17] I encouraging those at home

[2:32:20] watching that we include our

[2:32:21] latino brothers and sisters

[2:32:22] afro-latino, afro-latinos,

[2:32:25] breton sisters and all of that

[2:32:26] for the caribbean, the african

[2:32:28] continent.

[2:32:29] So here in the united states so

[2:32:33] that we can celebrate as one

[2:32:33] united people.

[2:32:34] Thank you.

[2:32:36] Councilor for in and now so

[2:32:39] when I think in uplift

[2:32:40] council durkan for mentioning

[2:32:41] and I think it was mentioned as

[2:32:42] well but when I was saying the

[2:32:44] photos of councilors bowling in

[2:32:46] yancey in addition

[2:32:47] council presidents bowling

[2:32:52] yancey janey, andre campbell

[2:32:53] and janie so I want to thank

[2:32:55] all of them for the legacy that

[2:32:59] they've given me so I.

[2:33:00] Councilor it's been inge

[2:33:02] anderson councilor worrell and

[2:33:03] louijeune expansion of the

[2:33:03] rules.

[2:33:06] Oh we've got other names but

[2:33:07] anyone else like to add their

[2:33:07] names?

[2:33:10] MR. Clerk please add councilors

[2:33:10] breadon calata durkan

[2:33:13] fitzgerald flynn mckinney.

[2:33:14] Murphy pippen.

[2:33:19] Santana webber to docket number

[2:33:23] 0273.

[2:33:27] Sorry.

[2:33:27] Yeah.

[2:33:28] 0273.

[2:33:29] Castro fernando, you understand

[2:33:31] we're out and louijeune

[2:33:32] expansion of the rules and

[2:33:35] passage of docket number 0273

[2:33:39] all those in favor say I.

[2:33:40] All those opposed nay.

[2:33:40] The ayes have it.

[2:33:43] This docket has been adopted.

[2:33:44] We are now moving on to

[2:33:47] personnel orders.

[2:33:48] MR. Clerk, would you please

[2:33:48] read the personnel orders?

[2:33:51] Duncan number 027 for

[2:33:52] council louijeune for

[2:33:54] council on mejia.

[2:33:57] The chair CHAIRMAN Mr passage

[2:33:57] of docket number 0274.

[2:33:58] All those in favor say.

[2:34:02] All those opposed nay.

[2:34:03] The personnel order has been

[2:34:04] adopted.

[2:34:05] We are now moving on to green

[2:34:05] sheets.

[2:34:08] Is anyone looking to pull

[2:34:11] anything from the green sheets

[2:34:12] ?

[2:34:13] We are now moving on to late

[2:34:15] files.

[2:34:16] I'm informed by the clerk that

[2:34:16] there are three late file

[2:34:21] matters to two late bio matters

[2:34:22] one personnel order and one

[2:34:23] consent.

[2:34:28] There are three right person.

[2:34:32] Okay.

[2:34:33] Okay.

[2:34:35] We we are informed by the

[2:34:36] correct that there are three

[2:34:36] late file matters.

[2:34:41] One personnel order, one

[2:34:42] resolution and one for the

[2:34:42] consent agenda.

[2:34:45] We will take a vote to add

[2:34:46] these matters to the agenda.

[2:34:47] All of those in favor of adding

[2:34:49] the lethal matters say I all

[2:34:52] oppose the same.

[2:34:53] The ayes have it.

[2:34:54] The late file matters have been

[2:34:57] added.

[2:35:00] Councilor flynn, your light is

[2:35:01] on.

[2:35:01] I'm not.

[2:35:03] I ask the question is it about

[2:35:07] the late file matters?

[2:35:10] Yes, it's health conditions

[2:35:19] about the green sheets.

[2:35:19] Yeah.

[2:35:20] Point.

[2:35:20] Point of order.

[2:35:21] I no, sorry.

[2:35:22] point of orders are just on

[2:35:25] orders for the rules.

[2:35:26] No, not for.

[2:35:27] So if it's not on a point

[2:35:29] of order, I.

[2:35:30] I don't know under what are you

[2:35:31] are looking to pull something

[2:35:34] from the green sheets.

[2:35:35] No, I'm not.

[2:35:36] I want to ask a question about

[2:35:36] the green.

[2:35:36] Okay.

[2:35:40] And the reason I'm rising is

[2:35:41] because the there's a there's a

[2:35:44] federal grant that's in the

[2:35:45] green sheets now.

[2:35:48] But the time for us to act on

[2:35:48] it is now.

[2:35:52] I am concerned that if we don't

[2:35:55] act on it other cities and

[2:35:56] towns across greater boston

[2:35:59] need this funding so that they

[2:35:59] can keep their communities

[2:35:59] safe.

[2:36:03] Boston might be okay but we

[2:36:07] need to provide support to

[2:36:08] chelsea and to quincy and to

[2:36:08] other areas.

[2:36:11] But I am concerned that if we

[2:36:11] don't pass this today, MADAM

[2:36:15] Chair, that other communities

[2:36:16] will be placed in there their

[2:36:19] safety will be will be impacted

[2:36:27] and I can't take that chance.

[2:36:28] I request to disagree with you

[2:36:29] but you should.

[2:36:31] Do you want to pull it?

[2:36:32] Do you?

[2:36:33] Would you like to pull it?

[2:36:37] Yes, I would like to see no

[2:36:43] objection.

[2:36:43] The vice chair.

[2:36:45] The chair who I believe has and

[2:36:49] the vice chair can pull

[2:36:53] something from committee with

[2:36:53] that which vice chair?

[2:36:54] What would you like to pull it

[2:36:55] from?

[2:36:56] Committee.

[2:37:02] I know there's still some i

[2:37:03] know some of my colleagues

[2:37:04] still have some outstanding

[2:37:06] questions and I do want to give

[2:37:08] them the opportunity to get

[2:37:09] some of their questions

[2:37:11] answered.

[2:37:16] MADAM Chair, thank you.

[2:37:17] Thank you, councilor.

[2:37:20] I understand that but we've had

[2:37:21] so many opportunities to

[2:37:23] discuss this and the police and

[2:37:27] fire and first responders are

[2:37:30] desperately in need of this

[2:37:30] funding.

[2:37:33] They want to keep our city safe

[2:37:34] .

[2:37:35] They want to keep our

[2:37:35] neighborhoods safe.

[2:37:38] But also it's about working and

[2:37:38] partnering with cities and

[2:37:42] towns in and around boston.

[2:37:43] I just can't take the chance

[2:37:46] that we're sitting on this

[2:37:49] grant in some potential

[2:37:50] emergency disaster could take

[2:37:51] place.

[2:37:53] I'm really looking this for

[2:37:54] this body to provide leadership

[2:38:00] and take a vote on this talking

[2:38:00] things.

[2:38:04] Thank you.

[2:38:05] And I just spoke with.

[2:38:06] We are ending discussion on

[2:38:07] this.

[2:38:08] I am also prepared to vote on

[2:38:11] this docket because it's been

[2:38:12] filed within 60 days.

[2:38:13] Only the chair can actually

[2:38:15] move to pull the docket the

[2:38:18] chair the vice chair if they

[2:38:19] are looking to pull the docket

[2:38:19] they can do so.

[2:38:27] But if not we'll come forward

[2:38:29] and forward.

[2:38:29] Okay.

[2:38:33] Do we have the docket number?

[2:38:36] I'll have to read it into I

[2:38:39] think we'll get to what he's

[2:39:01] calling the docket so do you

[2:39:12] have the docket number so for

[2:39:22] docket number 0134.

[2:39:22] Okay.

[2:39:35] Yeah, it's docket number 0134.

[2:39:35] Yes.

[2:39:39] Mr clerk, can we pull docket

[2:39:43] number 0134 from the green

[2:39:44] sheets on page four from the

[2:39:46] committee of public safety and

[2:39:49] criminal justice dugan number

[2:39:50] 0134 message in order

[2:39:53] authorizing the city of boston

[2:39:59] to accept and expend the amount

[2:40:00] of $13,317,200 in the form of a

[2:40:02] grant from the fiscal year 2023

[2:40:05] urban area security initiative

[2:40:06] awarded by the united states

[2:40:09] department of homeland security

[2:40:09] .

[2:40:10] Pass through the mass executive

[2:40:13] office of public safety and

[2:40:14] security to be administered by

[2:40:15] the mayor's office of emergency

[2:40:18] management.

[2:40:18] The grant will fund planning,

[2:40:21] exercise training, operational

[2:40:22] needs that will help prevent

[2:40:26] respond to and recover from the

[2:40:28] threat of acts of terrorism

[2:40:29] including chemical, biological,

[2:40:32] radiological, nuclear and

[2:40:33] explosive incidents.

[2:40:36] Thank you, MR. Clerk.

[2:40:37] The chair recognizes the vice

[2:40:40] chair of the committee.

[2:40:41] You've had a hearing on this.

[2:40:46] Those sorry we've had a hearing

[2:40:48] on this.

[2:40:49] The administration has

[2:40:50] responded back when the right

[2:40:52] information that was sent out

[2:40:55] on JANUARY 22nd to all of our

[2:41:00] council colleagues so it's time

[2:41:01] to suspend and pass these these

[2:41:03] funds that our public safety

[2:41:03] officers and office

[2:41:06] of emergency management

[2:41:07] desperately need.

[2:41:08] Thank you.

[2:41:11] Council rl are you are there

[2:41:12] any objections from the

[2:41:14] committee members?

[2:41:16] If not, are you are you looking

[2:41:19] to move this to a vote

[2:41:19] council?

[2:41:19] Yeah.

[2:41:20] All right.

[2:41:23] I was anyone looking to speak

[2:41:23] on this matter?

[2:41:24] Councilor breadon, you have the

[2:41:25] floor.

[2:41:26] This is speaking on the matter

[2:41:27] before we vote

[2:41:29] councilor breadon, you have the

[2:41:30] floor PRESIDENT And I fully

[2:41:33] intend to support this docket.

[2:41:34] But the questions we had

[2:41:37] outstanding where the fact that

[2:41:40] as a pass through entity for

[2:41:41] federal grants the city

[2:41:42] of boston must have internal

[2:41:44] controls, monitor the

[2:41:44] activities of some recipients

[2:41:48] to ensure that the sub sub

[2:41:49] award is used for authorized

[2:41:51] purposes and compliance with

[2:41:51] federal regulations and to

[2:41:52] ensure performance goals are

[2:41:55] achieved for the city

[2:41:58] of boston's financial year 22

[2:42:02] audit report a review of U.S. I

[2:42:03] ask you a s I grant for

[2:42:07] financial year 20 1919

[2:42:08] financial year 20 financial

[2:42:11] year 21 and financial year 20

[2:42:12] to find that the city's

[2:42:15] internal control over sub

[2:42:15] recipient monitoring reflected

[2:42:19] a significant deficiency.

[2:42:23] The report stated that the city

[2:42:24] did not perform a formal

[2:42:27] evaluation of each subsequent

[2:42:28] risk of noncompliance with

[2:42:30] federal statutes regulation

[2:42:31] some terms and conditions

[2:42:32] of the sub award for purposes

[2:42:35] of determining the appropriate

[2:42:38] sub recipient monitoring to be

[2:42:38] performed.

[2:42:39] It appears to be due to

[2:42:42] inadequate policies and

[2:42:42] procedures surrounding both the

[2:42:43] initial risk assessment of the

[2:42:47] sub recipients as well as

[2:42:48] follow up months when sub

[2:42:50] recipients with sub recipients

[2:42:51] when differences were noted

[2:42:51] between funding amounts

[2:42:55] reported to the sub to the sub

[2:42:58] recipient by oem and the

[2:42:59] amounts reported of the sub

[2:43:02] recipients sched schedule

[2:43:02] of expenditures for federal

[2:43:03] awards.

[2:43:06] This is why I asked for a

[2:43:07] further discussion of this.

[2:43:10] I asked the chair to send our

[2:43:13] questions of a to the to the to

[2:43:17] to figure this out before we

[2:43:18] had a vote on it.

[2:43:21] Um, you know, I the importance

[2:43:22] of this but we also have a have

[2:43:25] a have a responsibility for a

[2:43:26] good oversight over

[2:43:29] expenditures especially with

[2:43:29] relation to federal grants.

[2:43:32] So that's my reason for I will

[2:43:33] vote present today.

[2:43:33] Thank you.

[2:43:38] Thank you councilor breadon and

[2:43:39] I agree with you that we have

[2:43:40] an incredible oversight

[2:43:40] responsibility.

[2:43:42] Councilor coletta, you now have

[2:43:43] the floor.

[2:43:44] Thank you so much.

[2:43:48] PRESIDENT Louijeune I voted in

[2:43:49] the affirmative for this last

[2:43:49] year mistake in session and

[2:43:51] vote yes for it again.

[2:43:54] These funds for 90% of the

[2:43:55] office of emergency management.

[2:43:57] Every time they show up to fire

[2:43:58] or disaster that funds the

[2:44:01] grant funds that oem does all

[2:44:02] of the emergency management

[2:44:02] planning that supports my

[2:44:05] district specifically.

[2:44:06] The training through this grant

[2:44:07] funds all public safety, tech

[2:44:10] rescue and swift water rescue

[2:44:13] and it would fund high water

[2:44:14] vehicles in the region to

[2:44:15] support calls for flooded

[2:44:17] residents.

[2:44:18] I always talk about when not if

[2:44:21] a hurricane is going to hit

[2:44:22] boston and so for those reasons

[2:44:23] I do intend to vote yes on

[2:44:25] screen.

[2:44:26] Thank you.

[2:44:27] Thank you, councilor coletta.

[2:44:28] COUNCILWOMAN, here you have the

[2:44:33] floor and cars cars for mejia.

[2:44:34] You now have the floor.

[2:44:35] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[2:44:37] And I do appreciate the vice

[2:44:39] chair's consideration for

[2:44:40] allowing us to have democracy

[2:44:43] play out.

[2:44:44] And I do appreciate the fact

[2:44:45] that there was a hearing.

[2:44:48] The hearing happened under a

[2:44:48] different council.

[2:44:48] Right.

[2:44:52] So while I do appreciate the

[2:44:52] fact that some of the

[2:44:53] council colleagues have been

[2:44:55] briefed, I do believe in

[2:44:56] honoring the integrity of what

[2:44:59] this body is supposed to do and

[2:44:59] that is really to be the checks

[2:45:02] and balances to the

[2:45:03] administration.

[2:45:04] And so for me I have some

[2:45:07] serious concerns about just

[2:45:09] approving something without a

[2:45:10] formal process and I think that

[2:45:11] because we've been so

[2:45:15] criticized for being a rubber

[2:45:16] stamp, I don't want to set the

[2:45:17] tone that that's how we're

[2:45:18] going to operate.

[2:45:19] And though under normal

[2:45:22] circumstances for a mount this

[2:45:23] huge we normally have some sort

[2:45:27] of public discussion in which

[2:45:27] people are able to deliberate.

[2:45:30] And so for me because I am the

[2:45:30] chair of government

[2:45:31] accountability, transparency

[2:45:34] and accessibility, I feel

[2:45:35] really uncomfortable about just

[2:45:38] taking a vote without some sort

[2:45:39] of process or some compromise

[2:45:41] if my colleagues are looking

[2:45:42] for additional questions and

[2:45:45] even if we can just send them

[2:45:45] over email and have them

[2:45:46] answered.

[2:45:49] I think that in the spirit

[2:45:49] of maintaining the integrity

[2:45:53] of this body, I think it's

[2:45:54] important for us to do our due

[2:45:56] diligence which is why gravely

[2:45:56] concerned about just taking a

[2:45:59] vote just for the sake

[2:46:00] of taking a vote.

[2:46:01] I don't think that that's going

[2:46:02] to send the right message to

[2:46:03] our constituents especially

[2:46:07] because they already fear that

[2:46:08] we are just going to be rubber

[2:46:08] stamping everything that comes

[2:46:11] through this council.

[2:46:12] I don't want to set the stage

[2:46:14] as our first vote on JUNE $13

[2:46:14] million to just go on as

[2:46:18] business as usual.

[2:46:18] I don't think it's fiscally

[2:46:19] responsible for us to do so and

[2:46:22] I think it's going to set the

[2:46:23] stage for creating further

[2:46:26] mistrust in this.

[2:46:29] So that is why I am advocating

[2:46:31] for us to at the very least

[2:46:33] honor the fact that there are

[2:46:36] still some unanswered questions

[2:46:37] and to everyone's surprise I

[2:46:42] will I am not opposed to

[2:46:42] supporting this.

[2:46:44] I think it's really important

[2:46:45] but I am more concerned about

[2:46:46] the process.

[2:46:49] For me the process is far more

[2:46:50] important than the outcome.

[2:46:53] And so while I do support the

[2:46:54] initiative, I think for me it's

[2:46:56] about maintaining the integrity

[2:46:57] of this council and making sure

[2:47:01] that we have a process.

[2:47:02] if there is a process in place

[2:47:03] I am more than welcome to say

[2:47:05] let's go for it and approve as

[2:47:09] is but currently I am not going

[2:47:11] I don't feel comfortable just

[2:47:12] stepping to the side and being

[2:47:15] cloud over in a way that

[2:47:16] undermines the body and our

[2:47:19] voice in decision making

[2:47:19] processes.

[2:47:22] So I would recommend that we

[2:47:26] maintain the integrity of this

[2:47:27] council and I agree with

[2:47:30] councilor reed in vote is

[2:47:31] really more about the process,

[2:47:34] less about less about the merit

[2:47:35] of what is at hand.

[2:47:37] Just for the record.

[2:47:38] Thank you, councilor mcguire.

[2:47:39] Councilor murphy, you now have

[2:47:40] a floor.

[2:47:41] Thank you.

[2:47:45] And again I rise to say that

[2:47:46] I've been in support of this

[2:47:47] grant since it came to a

[2:47:49] hearing by then

[2:47:50] council of flaherty on DECEMBER

[2:47:50] 11.

[2:47:54] Many of us it was a different

[2:47:54] body than many of you weren't

[2:47:56] councilors then in on DECEMBER

[2:47:57] 12 questions were brought back

[2:48:00] as many questions we did have

[2:48:01] from the council and

[2:48:04] councilor flaherty then made

[2:48:05] sure that all questions we had

[2:48:08] were answered so we had that

[2:48:09] information.

[2:48:11] All of us had that information

[2:48:12] before the vote on DECEMBER 13

[2:48:12] I voted yes.

[2:48:15] It didn't pass.

[2:48:16] That's why it's here again last

[2:48:19] week when it was pulled from

[2:48:23] the to be voted on to suspend

[2:48:26] it passed last week I was like

[2:48:27] council me here saying what

[2:48:30] about the process?

[2:48:31] The questions to the answers to

[2:48:32] the questions we received by

[2:48:35] email from megan cavanaugh on

[2:48:36] DECEMBER 22nd were the same

[2:48:39] questions we had on DECEMBER 12

[2:48:41] the day before we voted on the

[2:48:42] 13th.

[2:48:43] So my question then is the same

[2:48:45] question I have now why the

[2:48:48] whole purpose of the

[2:48:49] council meeting and placing a

[2:48:51] docket into a committee is to

[2:48:52] hold a hearing.

[2:48:55] Why wasn't a hearing held and

[2:48:57] why are we now discussing it on

[2:49:00] the council floor seven days

[2:49:00] past and I hadn't heard from

[2:49:03] anyone about whether or not I

[2:49:04] saw on friday when candice

[2:49:07] share the council schedule that

[2:49:07] there was nothing scheduled for

[2:49:10] monday or tuesday which were

[2:49:11] open times for us to hold a

[2:49:14] hearing and get questions asked

[2:49:14] .

[2:49:15] I understand the importance I'm

[2:49:18] going to be voting yes again

[2:49:19] for this but I just would like

[2:49:22] to know why we didn't hold a

[2:49:23] hearing.

[2:49:24] But now today you didn't want

[2:49:26] to pull it from the green

[2:49:26] sheets because you say there

[2:49:27] are new questions.

[2:49:30] So why didn't we try to hold a

[2:49:31] hearing on monday or tuesday?

[2:49:32] Because I'm not sure that would

[2:49:34] even hold a hearing before the

[2:49:35] next council meeting.

[2:49:36] So I'm going to make sure to

[2:49:38] vote and hope that hopefully it

[2:49:38] passes today.

[2:49:41] But that's what I just want to

[2:49:44] ask on the record because I

[2:49:45] haven't seen any other

[2:49:46] questions I asked last week

[2:49:48] where there are new questions

[2:49:49] and I didn't get an answer to

[2:49:50] that because I wanted to make

[2:49:52] sure that we weren't violating

[2:49:53] any open meeting laws or that

[2:49:53] only some councilors had

[2:49:56] information.

[2:49:58] We all need to have access to

[2:49:58] the same information so we know

[2:50:00] what we're voting on and that

[2:50:01] we all feel confident that

[2:50:03] we're voting on the same thing

[2:50:04] .

[2:50:04] Thank you.

[2:50:08] Councilor murphy.

[2:50:09] Councilor rob, would you like

[2:50:12] to respond?

[2:50:12] Councilor?

[2:50:13] Yeah, I could respond.

[2:50:15] I mean councilor breadon

[2:50:16] brought up a few of her

[2:50:19] questions that she still had so

[2:50:23] those are that right and then

[2:50:24] on then on top of that I

[2:50:27] believe claire correct me but

[2:50:28] wrong anyone in the committee

[2:50:30] could could could host a

[2:50:34] hearing from the chair but can

[2:50:38] anyone host a hearing that's

[2:50:39] usually usually a chair.

[2:50:39] Okay.

[2:50:44] Excuse me chair so yeah, any

[2:50:48] question some of the questions

[2:50:51] councilor breadon has presented

[2:50:52] and I'm willing to communicate

[2:50:55] that to the administration but

[2:50:56] we're looking to suspend

[2:50:56] suspending pass just because

[2:50:59] public safety has asked for

[2:51:00] this after this money so it

[2:51:03] won't further any operations.

[2:51:04] Thank you councilor.

[2:51:10] I'll the chair calls on you

[2:51:11] have your light on

[2:51:14] councilor fernando anderson

[2:51:15] thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[2:51:17] I hope it's okay that I stay

[2:51:18] seated.

[2:51:21] I just wanted flaherty on

[2:51:25] councilor MAY here through.

[2:51:26] MADAM PRESIDENT flaherty on

[2:51:29] both my my colleagues caused

[2:51:32] me and councilor murphy.

[2:51:35] So if the hearing happened

[2:51:39] prior to the new councilors do

[2:51:40] any of the new councilors have

[2:51:43] questions or does

[2:51:44] concilor mejia here have

[2:51:46] questions?

[2:51:47] Thank you

[2:51:48] councilor fernanda anderson

[2:51:50] because for mejia you have your

[2:51:54] light on if you want to speak

[2:51:58] so I'm going to go back to what

[2:52:01] I started with is the fact that

[2:52:02] what is at stake is the

[2:52:03] integrity of this body in terms

[2:52:05] of how we move and there are

[2:52:08] rules and processes in place

[2:52:09] regardless of the questions

[2:52:12] that I have it is around

[2:52:15] creating a public discourse for

[2:52:18] us to really have a

[2:52:19] conversation about $13.9

[2:52:19] million.

[2:52:22] And so for me it's more about

[2:52:26] the process and making sure

[2:52:30] that we feel so okay.

[2:52:31] You know I'm a be honest the

[2:52:33] way this council works and how

[2:52:37] we move it's all about who has

[2:52:38] access to information and who

[2:52:41] does not and I don't think

[2:52:44] right for us to walk into this

[2:52:47] chamber already I found out at

[2:52:48] 7:00 last night that this was

[2:52:49] going to go down.

[2:52:52] That's just how we do business,

[2:52:52] right?

[2:52:53] We need to be able to be

[2:52:56] transparent and if people have

[2:52:56] had sidebar conversations and

[2:52:59] have already negotiated with

[2:53:00] the administration right.

[2:53:02] That's not collaborative.

[2:53:04] And so for me as I continue to

[2:53:07] walk into this space, I want to

[2:53:08] make sure that I'm always open

[2:53:11] and transparent which is why I

[2:53:12] called for a hearing when I

[2:53:15] stopped the motion from being

[2:53:19] on the floor last week, I was

[2:53:19] really concerned that the

[2:53:22] entire week had gone by and no

[2:53:22] hearing and I was surprised to

[2:53:26] hear because I didn't hear

[2:53:26] about it until this morning

[2:53:27] because I had a missed call

[2:53:28] after 7:00 last night that this

[2:53:31] was going to be pulled from the

[2:53:32] green sheets.

[2:53:33] That's not how we do business

[2:53:36] that is not what colleagues do

[2:53:40] when we're trying to really

[2:53:40] move the work forward.

[2:53:41] And so for me I'm not here to

[2:53:44] carry anybody's and so I would

[2:53:45] like to be all about the

[2:53:48] process and if my colleagues

[2:53:49] still have questions then I

[2:53:52] would like the chair to at the

[2:53:53] very least honor the fact that

[2:53:55] they're still I'll standing

[2:53:56] questions he had already he had

[2:53:59] already committed to allowing

[2:54:03] us to submit those questions so

[2:54:06] that we can then take a vote so

[2:54:07] again I'm going to go back to

[2:54:08] what I started with.

[2:54:10] I am more concerned about the

[2:54:10] process than I am the outcome

[2:54:12] and if we're going to have a

[2:54:14] hearing about this particular

[2:54:15] issue right now then let's have

[2:54:18] a hearing about this issue

[2:54:18] right now.

[2:54:21] But I'm not going to just rush

[2:54:22] a vote for the sake of passing

[2:54:23] $30 million.

[2:54:25] I'm not doing that.

[2:54:29] Thank you councilor here I

[2:54:30] yeah, one moment I will just

[2:54:33] state that as someone who had

[2:54:34] questions last time and was

[2:54:36] given the answers on the day

[2:54:39] of our meeting last time 727

[2:54:43] pages to really make sure that

[2:54:44] they were complying with our

[2:54:44] surveillance order that my team

[2:54:47] need to do a deep dive in the

[2:54:48] answers and make sure that we

[2:54:50] felt comfortable.

[2:54:51] This is a grant that we voted

[2:54:52] for in the past that's actually

[2:54:54] passed unanimously on this body

[2:54:55] with me being present in the

[2:54:58] conversations with the

[2:54:59] community who had questions

[2:54:59] they elevated those questions

[2:55:02] and the office of emergency met

[2:55:06] of the office of emergency

[2:55:07] management and bpd were really

[2:55:07] gracious in actually giving

[2:55:10] me a lot of the answers to

[2:55:11] those questions.

[2:55:12] And so now not that all the

[2:55:13] questions have been answered

[2:55:14] there are more questions but

[2:55:17] this is a grant that we review

[2:55:18] every year and there will be

[2:55:21] opportunities to ask for

[2:55:22] questions.

[2:55:22] Kathryn andrew anderson it's if

[2:55:24] you want to make a brief point

[2:55:31] because senator flynn apologies

[2:55:32] has been thank you MADAM

[2:55:35] PRESIDENT.

[2:55:36] It's clear that

[2:55:39] councilor breadon has a

[2:55:43] question and or questions and

[2:55:44] then I guess the question here

[2:55:46] is whether or not we motion to

[2:55:47] recess so that she can this is

[2:55:50] flaherty on the answers that

[2:55:51] she's seeking.

[2:55:54] It's not clear to me whether or

[2:55:55] not my colleagues

[2:55:59] councilor murphy and

[2:55:59] councilor mcguire have

[2:56:02] questions too because I heard

[2:56:03] her say I heard one of them say

[2:56:06] that because the hearing took

[2:56:07] place prior to the new

[2:56:09] councilors that the new

[2:56:10] councilors deserve the

[2:56:13] integrity and the right to have

[2:56:13] their questions answered.

[2:56:16] But I don't hear any of the new

[2:56:17] councilors stating that they

[2:56:17] have questions today

[2:56:20] councilor breadon is saying she

[2:56:21] needs further clarification

[2:56:25] then do we recess and get the

[2:56:25] clarification?

[2:56:28] Does councilor mejia need us

[2:56:29] have specific questions and can

[2:56:32] we motion to also ask for a

[2:56:36] motion to speed up this

[2:56:36] conversation and decide what

[2:56:37] we're doing?

[2:56:39] Thank you COUNCILMAN Andrew

[2:56:40] anderson there is a vote on the

[2:56:44] floor because and this is the

[2:56:44] conversation before the vote

[2:56:45] because not only that

[2:56:46] council as well as the vice

[2:56:47] PRESIDENT Moved for a vote.

[2:56:51] So I appreciate your comments

[2:56:52] and the comments of my

[2:56:52] colleagues concentrate on you

[2:56:53] and I have the floor.

[2:56:54] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[2:56:55] And you know, this is the

[2:56:58] reason I wanted to have a

[2:57:01] further hearing on this which I

[2:57:01] anticipated.

[2:57:02] I'm bringing this these

[2:57:05] questions into the space today

[2:57:06] because I was anticipating that

[2:57:07] I didn't know that there was

[2:57:10] going to be pulled from green

[2:57:10] sheets until about a few hours

[2:57:11] ago.

[2:57:13] But we had this prepared for we

[2:57:14] had this prepared to bring to a

[2:57:17] hearing and it's a post it's a

[2:57:20] post audit and oversight issue

[2:57:21] that if we are getting federal

[2:57:24] grants we need to ensure that

[2:57:25] they're that we're attending to

[2:57:28] the details.

[2:57:29] There's been questions about

[2:57:31] these grants going back to 2013

[2:57:34] and it's about just recording

[2:57:35] and knowing that the money's

[2:57:38] been spent expended as it's as

[2:57:38] anticipated.

[2:57:42] And you know, I voted in the

[2:57:43] and I've supported this grant

[2:57:44] all of the time I've been on

[2:57:46] city council but we're going

[2:57:47] into a period of like you know

[2:57:50] we need to we need to pay

[2:57:53] attention to these details and

[2:57:54] a post audit and oversight

[2:57:58] isn't really critical for

[2:57:59] congress and we do as a city

[2:57:59] council.

[2:58:01] So you know, I just I had hoped

[2:58:05] that we could and chair were

[2:58:06] able to suggest that we just

[2:58:08] send these questions and bring

[2:58:09] it to a vote next time next

[2:58:12] week if we can get some

[2:58:13] commitment to follow up on

[2:58:16] these recommendations from the

[2:58:17] audit this year on year on year

[2:58:21] these recommendations for

[2:58:21] tightening up of reporting and

[2:58:22] those you know what happens

[2:58:25] year on year it hasn't happened

[2:58:25] so we need to fix that.

[2:58:29] I respectfully you know, I will

[2:58:33] respectfully honor the will

[2:58:36] of the community, the the body

[2:58:37] here but I'm just raising some

[2:58:41] concerns that I have and I do

[2:58:41] support this grant.

[2:58:43] I want it I want it to be spent

[2:58:44] in a timely way.

[2:58:45] But this is our job to keep a

[2:58:48] good tight a tight oversight on

[2:58:48] these.

[2:58:52] It's a huge grant 13 and a half

[2:58:52] million dollars.

[2:58:53] This is our job to keep keep

[2:58:56] oversight on how this money is

[2:58:57] spent.

[2:58:57] It's I totally trust that it's

[2:59:00] been spent appropriately but it

[2:59:00] needs to be documented

[2:59:01] appropriately as well.

[2:59:01] Thank you.

[2:59:03] Thank you, councilor breadon

[2:59:05] councilor durkin, you now have

[2:59:07] the floor.

[2:59:11] I move to close discussion and

[2:59:11] push for a vote.

[2:59:13] Is there a second?

[2:59:13] Okay.

[2:59:14] Thank you.

[2:59:17] I didn't get a chance.

[2:59:18] Speak with you now patrick

[2:59:18] flynn after catching flynn

[2:59:21] there's no more speaking and

[2:59:22] we're voting on the matter.

[2:59:25] thank you the before before I

[2:59:25] speak.

[2:59:28] MADAM Chair, isn't this the

[2:59:28] opportunity for everybody to to

[2:59:32] weigh in whether they yeah,

[2:59:33] there was a motion made so out

[2:59:36] of courtesy I'm allowing you to

[2:59:37] say no because it was seconded.

[2:59:38] I understand it but other

[2:59:40] others might want to weigh in

[2:59:41] on on on the issue too.

[2:59:42] There are no other lights on

[2:59:43] but yours.

[2:59:43] Okay.

[2:59:46] Okay.

[2:59:47] Well, I think people I think

[2:59:50] people my colleagues that I

[2:59:50] support the grant.

[2:59:53] I'm looking for an immediate

[2:59:54] vote today.

[2:59:58] We also had a hearing and this

[3:00:01] is not not against the new

[3:00:02] colleagues because they weren't

[3:00:03] here but we also had a hearing

[3:00:09] in in DECEMBER in this body in

[3:00:10] this chamber and there's only a

[3:00:12] few city councils that were

[3:00:16] present for for that hearing

[3:00:19] and the director of emergency

[3:00:20] management was here maybe for

[3:00:23] an hour and a half maybe 2

[3:00:24] hours answered every question

[3:00:27] and provided background on this

[3:00:32] grant the chief the the chief

[3:00:35] of office emergency management

[3:00:38] also invited all of our city

[3:00:39] councilors several months

[3:00:42] before that to assure of the

[3:00:46] facility if they had any

[3:00:47] questions on this department

[3:00:48] and this grant and the function

[3:00:53] of this department and I was

[3:00:54] the only city council that

[3:00:58] showed up to that site visit

[3:01:02] and I spoke and we had a

[3:01:03] discussion and there were some

[3:01:05] staffers there and we talked

[3:01:06] for about 2 hours about this

[3:01:06] grant.

[3:01:09] I think councilor flynn there

[3:01:10] is a motion on the floor so I

[3:01:10] just want to I know I

[3:01:12] understand but what I'm saying,

[3:01:12] MADAM Chair, it's important I

[3:01:16] take this I take this issue

[3:01:17] very seriously as do my as do

[3:01:19] my colleagues.

[3:01:22] I have seen how unsafe this

[3:01:23] city can be.

[3:01:26] This is where the marathon

[3:01:27] bombing started.

[3:01:30] This is where the fights left

[3:01:34] from on SEPTEMBER 11th in a lot

[3:01:37] of other potential issues where

[3:01:38] we're stopped because of the

[3:01:40] professionalism of our armed

[3:01:40] force.

[3:01:44] But people my my my main point

[3:01:47] is of the $13 million about

[3:01:48] half of it goes outside

[3:01:51] of boston to cities and towns

[3:01:51] that desperately need it and

[3:01:55] it's not just about us.

[3:01:56] It's about us working together

[3:01:58] providing leadership to a city

[3:02:00] such as chelsea or to a

[3:02:04] cambridge or somerville working

[3:02:05] together.

[3:02:05] The boston fire department

[3:02:09] works closely with the chelsea

[3:02:09] fire department.

[3:02:10] What happens in chelsea has a

[3:02:13] major impact on on east boston.

[3:02:16] On boston the lng tankers,

[3:02:17] logan the airport, the

[3:02:20] transportation system while

[3:02:21] that sits on top of chelsea in

[3:02:25] boston, the trucking so we have

[3:02:29] a lot of high tech we're an

[3:02:29] international city we have to

[3:02:33] plan in protect the city and

[3:02:34] provide the best public safety

[3:02:36] for first responders.

[3:02:37] They know what they're doing.

[3:02:39] They need this money to protect

[3:02:40] us.

[3:02:40] It's about public safety.

[3:02:44] It's about security and I wish

[3:02:44] we did have it.

[3:02:46] I wish we did have a hearing

[3:02:47] but we can't wait any longer

[3:02:51] the time to vote on this is

[3:02:52] now.

[3:02:52] Thank you.

[3:02:53] Thank you, councilor flynn.

[3:02:55] And I think that's why we want

[3:02:56] to be on to get on to a vote

[3:02:58] because of all of my colleagues

[3:02:59] who have who have spoken.

[3:03:03] We are we are going to move on

[3:03:04] to a vote because it's on the

[3:03:05] in on the floor.

[3:03:08] So a point of order if it's a

[3:03:10] rule issue I throw seen andrew

[3:03:11] in that he was the only

[3:03:14] councilor to attend I thank you

[3:03:15] for that hearing as well.

[3:03:18] I just want to thank you

[3:03:18] councilor brayton for

[3:03:19] correcting the record.

[3:03:20] I appreciate you and I

[3:03:21] appreciate the work that you do

[3:03:21] on this.

[3:03:22] I also know that a lot of us

[3:03:23] are in districts and in areas

[3:03:25] where security is a major issue

[3:03:28] and a lot of us on this body

[3:03:29] are part of identity groups

[3:03:31] that are often under attack

[3:03:32] whether as lgbtq plus muslim,

[3:03:35] jewish, black people, people

[3:03:36] of color.

[3:03:37] That does not abdicate our

[3:03:40] responsibility for oversight.

[3:03:41] It is really important for us

[3:03:42] to get this right and

[3:03:44] councilor brayton we will have

[3:03:44] opportunities.

[3:03:45] We will continue asking these

[3:03:45] questions.

[3:03:48] I have questions as critical I

[3:03:49] can be of surveillance and the

[3:03:49] powers that we give police

[3:03:51] bodies I also know that

[3:03:52] security and safety is

[3:03:52] important for this body.

[3:03:55] It's important for this

[3:03:56] community and for the city.

[3:03:57] And so I think you council are

[3:03:59] all for moving for the vote.

[3:04:00] i think you cast offline for

[3:04:01] your statement which I know a

[3:04:03] lot of people share and we've

[3:04:04] heard from people like j.C r.C

[3:04:05] who talk about the white

[3:04:07] supremacist groups and about

[3:04:08] how a lot of us face terrorism

[3:04:10] both foreign and domestic how

[3:04:11] we've seen that in the city

[3:04:14] of boston against lgbtq plus

[3:04:14] people, against people

[3:04:15] of color, against jewish

[3:04:18] population, against our muslim

[3:04:18] brothers and sisters.

[3:04:20] And so I think that we all

[3:04:22] appreciate what you stated

[3:04:23] councilor flynn and appreciate

[3:04:24] your advocacy and we've heard

[3:04:26] from other people in towns

[3:04:26] about the importance of this

[3:04:27] and so we are now moving to a

[3:04:32] vote on docket number 0134

[3:04:35] council rl seek suspension

[3:04:38] of the rules and passage

[3:04:39] of docket number 0134 all those

[3:04:42] in favor say I have mr clerk

[3:04:45] can we take a roll call vote?

[3:04:47] Do we have to do we did because

[3:04:49] you agreed?

[3:04:50] Yes.

[3:04:50] And there was no objection.

[3:04:53] So it's only if there's an okay

[3:04:56] roll call vote on numbers 0134

[3:04:57] count celebrating as

[3:05:00] councilor breadon present

[3:05:01] councilor coletta

[3:05:01] councilor coletta yes.

[3:05:04] Councilor durkin

[3:05:05] councilor durkin yes.

[3:05:06] Councilor for ananda sanderson

[3:05:06] yes.

[3:05:09] Councilor fernandes yes.

[3:05:09] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[3:05:11] Councilor fitzgerald yes.

[3:05:12] Councilor flynn yes.

[3:05:13] Councilor of flynn yes.

[3:05:16] Councilor louijeune yes.

[3:05:17] Councilor louijeune yes

[3:05:20] councilor me here councilor to

[3:05:20] murphy councilor and murphy

[3:05:21] yes.

[3:05:24] Councilor pepper yes.

[3:05:25] Councilor pepin yes.

[3:05:26] Councilor santana yes.

[3:05:27] Councilor santana yes.

[3:05:28] Councilor webber yes.

[3:05:29] Councilor webber yes.

[3:05:33] Councilor l yes.

[3:05:33] Councilor well yes sir.

[3:05:35] I can answer oh three four has

[3:05:38] received uh 11 votes in the

[3:05:39] affirmative one vote present

[3:05:41] and one absent.

[3:05:45] The docket passes.

[3:05:46] Thank you, MR. Clerk.

[3:05:47] We are now moving on to late

[3:05:49] files.

[3:05:49] I believe that's where we were

[3:05:50] before and then we went back to

[3:05:51] read sheets.

[3:05:59] I am informed by MR. Clerk

[3:06:00] present that was on docket

[3:06:03] number 0134 accounts for mejia

[3:06:03] voted present.

[3:06:04] Okay.

[3:06:04] Thank you.

[3:06:06] Late files.

[3:06:07] I'm informed by the clerk that

[3:06:09] there are three late vital

[3:06:11] matters one personnel order,

[3:06:12] one item for the consent agenda

[3:06:15] and one resolution we MAY have

[3:06:16] done this already but just for

[3:06:17] the sake of flaherty on the

[3:06:18] record we will take a vote to

[3:06:20] add these matters to the

[3:06:20] agenda.

[3:06:21] All of those in favor of adding

[3:06:24] late file say I all oppose say

[3:06:27] nay thank you.

[3:06:28] The late the late file matters

[3:06:29] have been added to the agenda.

[3:06:31] Mr clerk, will you please read

[3:06:32] the first late matter into the

[3:06:32] record?

[3:06:34] Firstly five men a personnel

[3:06:37] order councilor louijeune for

[3:06:38] councilor a brief the church

[3:06:41] expansion seeks passage of that

[3:06:42] personnel order all in favor

[3:06:45] say I all oppose in the ayes

[3:06:46] have it the docket is passed so

[3:06:47] I can like file a male

[3:06:49] resolution recognizing FEBRUARY

[3:06:52] 2nd, 2024 as lucius day in the

[3:06:56] city of boston, the chair

[3:06:56] recognizes councilor durkin

[3:07:00] councilor durkin, you now have

[3:07:00] the floor.

[3:07:01] Thank you so much.

[3:07:02] Councilor PRESIDENT Maybe

[3:07:04] you've heard of a group called

[3:07:05] lucius, maybe you haven't.

[3:07:06] But we all have something in

[3:07:08] common with his band members

[3:07:11] jess wolf, holly, lisa daniel

[3:07:12] that and peter lesh and that is

[3:07:13] a love and appreciation for the

[3:07:15] city of boston as a transplant.

[3:07:16] I resonate with the band's

[3:07:19] story because each of us have

[3:07:20] found a place to grow in

[3:07:22] community here boston welcomes

[3:07:24] lucius as a success story from

[3:07:27] my district and one I'm proud

[3:07:28] to recognize today in an

[3:07:30] interview with boston magazine

[3:07:31] in 2013, lead singer jess wolf

[3:07:34] said when we went to berkeley

[3:07:35] it was the time we felt like we

[3:07:38] were a part of community.

[3:07:39] I don't know if it's something

[3:07:40] about boston but for us it was

[3:07:42] boston.

[3:07:43] It brought such a release waves

[3:07:44] and such a powerful time for us

[3:07:46] as young women in their own

[3:07:46] words.

[3:07:47] Boston was where it all began

[3:07:50] for meeting in dorm rooms off

[3:07:51] mass of and boylston to their

[3:07:52] very first time on stage at

[3:07:54] berkeley performing arts center

[3:07:55] and the first real show as

[3:07:58] lucia's paradise rock club.

[3:07:59] They celebrated many milestones

[3:07:59] in district eight and

[3:08:01] throughout boston including

[3:08:02] their first sold out show

[3:08:03] headlining at great scott and

[3:08:05] playing boston calling

[3:08:06] alongside berklee instant

[3:08:06] strings.

[3:08:09] Lucia says gained over 1

[3:08:10] million monthly listeners on

[3:08:13] spotify performed over 600

[3:08:14] concerts while stopping in

[3:08:16] boston for every major tour.

[3:08:17] Their lead singers have

[3:08:19] received three grammy

[3:08:19] nominations and 2023.

[3:08:20] My sister tori introduced me to

[3:08:23] this band over ten years ago

[3:08:24] and it's a pleasure watching

[3:08:27] these accomplished artists and

[3:08:28] vocalists that are joining us

[3:08:30] at the house of blues on friday

[3:08:31] in my district to celebrate

[3:08:31] their ten year anniversary

[3:08:34] of their breakout album will

[3:08:35] the woman.

[3:08:36] I would be honored if we would

[3:08:38] vote to make friday FEBRUARY

[3:08:39] second lucia's day in the city

[3:08:42] of boston to celebrate their

[3:08:43] contribution to boston's music

[3:08:43] history.

[3:08:46] And I asked my colleagues to

[3:08:47] suspend in pass.

[3:08:48] Thank you so much.

[3:08:50] Thank you, councilor durkin.

[3:08:51] Is anybody else looking to

[3:08:51] speak on this matter?

[3:08:54] Would anyone else like to add

[3:08:54] their name?

[3:08:58] MR. Clerk, please add

[3:08:59] councilors breadon coletta,

[3:09:01] fernando anderson fitzgerald.

[3:09:02] Flynn murphy.

[3:09:02] Pippin santana.

[3:09:03] Webber.

[3:09:04] Worrell and please add the

[3:09:07] chair.

[3:09:08] Councilor durkin seeks

[3:09:11] suspension of the rules and

[3:09:12] passage of this resolution.

[3:09:15] All in favor say I am opposing

[3:09:16] the ayes have it.

[3:09:19] This resolution has been

[3:09:19] adopted.

[3:09:23] mr. Clerk, please read the next

[3:09:24] file matter into the record.

[3:09:26] The consent agenda.

[3:09:29] We're now moving on to the

[3:09:30] consent agenda.

[3:09:32] I have been informed by the

[3:09:33] clerk that there is one

[3:09:34] addition to the consent agenda.

[3:09:36] The question now comes on

[3:09:37] approval of the various matters

[3:09:38] contained within the consent

[3:09:38] agenda.

[3:09:41] All those in favor say I think

[3:09:43] the consent agenda has been

[3:09:44] adopted.

[3:09:47] We are now on to announcements

[3:09:48] for announcements.

[3:09:49] We have two birthdays coming up

[3:09:49] this week.

[3:09:51] I want to give a special shout

[3:09:55] out to lorraine schettino.

[3:09:55] It's her birthday on saturday.

[3:09:56] I believe so lorraine is in

[3:09:59] central south all the time.

[3:10:01] So happy birthday lorraine and

[3:10:02] happy birthday to my policy

[3:10:03] director.

[3:10:03] Who's birthdays tomorrow?

[3:10:08] Jessie purvis who and for

[3:10:09] anyone who I MAY have missed

[3:10:12] happy birthday.

[3:10:13] I also want again we saw there

[3:10:16] was an op ed this week in the

[3:10:16] globe by attorney general

[3:10:20] andrea campbell and mayor

[3:10:24] michelle wu about third party

[3:10:28] suppliers.

[3:10:28] So again want to remind

[3:10:28] everyone about the importance

[3:10:28] of boston community choice

[3:10:28] electricity and having folks

[3:10:29] enroll in that program to lower

[3:10:32] their cost and how we should

[3:10:35] opt in to bce and not the

[3:10:36] people who come knocking at

[3:10:39] your door trying to engage

[3:10:39] engaging in deceptive practices

[3:10:43] to have you actually end up

[3:10:43] paying more for your

[3:10:44] electricity so it can save the

[3:10:47] average household hundreds

[3:10:47] of dollars a year in energy

[3:10:50] cost and you could opt into

[3:10:50] 100% renewable energy.

[3:10:51] It's boston go forward slash

[3:10:54] energy.

[3:10:55] Please be sure to share it with

[3:10:55] everyone in your family, your

[3:10:56] constituents so that we can

[3:10:57] help bring people's energy

[3:10:58] costs down.

[3:11:00] We are now moving on to oh does

[3:11:01] anyone have any announcements

[3:11:02] any of my colleagues have any

[3:11:05] announcements?

[3:11:08] Okay.

[3:11:10] We are now moving on to

[3:11:12] memorials today we will adjourn

[3:11:13] our meeting in memory of the

[3:11:16] following individuals and if

[3:11:17] anyone would like to add anyone

[3:11:19] just feel free to put your mic

[3:11:20] on.

[3:11:21] For myself counselor louijeune

[3:11:24] ronald cormier longtime

[3:11:27] gardiner city city

[3:11:28] councilor judith duffy,

[3:11:30] longtime employee of the city

[3:11:34] clerk's office.

[3:11:37] A moment of silence please.

[3:11:41] The chair moves that when the

[3:11:42] council adjourn today it does

[3:11:42] so in memory of the

[3:11:45] aforementioned individuals.

[3:11:46] The council is scheduled to

[3:11:47] meet again in the iron chamber

[3:11:49] on wednesday FEBRUARY 7th at

[3:11:49] noon.

[3:11:52] Thank you to the clerk's office

[3:11:53] for all of your hard work.

[3:11:54] Thank you to central staff.

[3:11:55] Thank you to all of our

[3:11:56] staffers for all of your

[3:11:57] incredible work every day.

[3:11:58] This meeting is hereby

[3:11:58] adjourned.

City Council on 2024-01-31 12:00 PM

Agenda

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