[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.
[16:19] 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.
[1:16:32] 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.
[2:06:11] 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.
[2:06:39] 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.
[2:32:34] 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.