uh meeting
of the boston city
council viewers can watch the
council meeting live on youtube
at boston.Com for each last
city dash council dash tv.
At this time I ask my
colleagues and those in the
audience to please silence
their cell phones and
electronic devices.
Also pursuant to rule 42 I
remind all in this chamber that
no demonstration of approval or
disapproval from members of the
public will be permitted.
Thank you.
Mr clerk, will you please call
the roll to ascertain the
presence of a quorum?
Oh, councilor breadon
councilor colette as per
councilor durkan.
Councilor fitzgerald.
Councilor flynn.
Councilor louijeune here.
Concilor mejia here.
Councilor murphy.
Councilor pippin.
Councilor S.A..
Councilor weber and
councilor worrell.
A quorum has passed.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the court
that a quorum is present and I
also want to welcome back to
chambers our 14th
councilor michael.
Thank you for being here with
us to appreciate having you
help.
Now it is my pleasure to
introduce this week's clergy
pastor matthew keith thompson,
junior of jubilee christian
church in mattapan who will be
providing our invocation
invited by councilor santana.
Councilor santana, you have the
floor and after the invocation
we will recite the pledge
of allegiance.
Good afternoon.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT and
good afternoon to my
council colleagues and members
of the public.
With me today I have someone
who is unfamiliar with our
body.
I was able to bring him and
invite him over last year.
As many of you know my my
number one priority on the on
the council was our youth and
just love being able to support
the individuals and the great
leaders that we have that are
directly involved with our
youth.
So with us today we have passed
pastor matthew keith thompson
junior who is a pastor of the
jubilee church youth and young
adults ministries called city
wide and influence.
He is a 25 year old basketball
player, a spoken word artist,
social justice advocate and a
husband to his beautiful wife
of two years breanna thompson.
His youth ministry has touched
the lives of thousands of youth
as he does his best to not only
present the gospel to young
people but also give them a
safe space to heal.
Have fun and be themselves and
to develop as leaders of the
world.
So with my great honor and to
introduce matthew kim, keith
thompson junior.
Good morning everybody.
Well, good afternoon.
I was told that the last person
that henry brought in spoke for
17 minutes.
I'm not going to do that.
i'll be before you probably for
maybe like 3 minutes.
3 minutes.
Okay.
Is that cool?
Like we are.
So I'm the youth and young
adults pastor at jubilee
christian church and last week
we actually celebrated 43 years
of ministry.
We are a church that believes
in legacy and that believes in
the next generation.
So my grandfather started the
church.
My dad is the senior pastor
of the church and for 43 years
we don't just believe in
presenting the gospel but
economic development,
homeownership just helping the
community literally in whatever
way we can.
On a yearly basis we do this
thing called jubilee in the
city where we just go up and
down the streets of every
location boston stoughton,
worcester paying for people's
gas, paying for people's
groceries, cleaning up the
streets, doing whatever we can.
And every friday we have 2 to
300 youth that are in the room
that are not just receiving the
gospel but also training to be
leaders in spaces just like
this.
And so I'm so grateful that my
church believes in legacy and
actually a year ago my father
and I sat down with someone
that was in office and we had a
conversation with them and you
know, my father was going
through some things just with
some stuff that he was trying
to do and he said I'm trying to
set something up for the next
generation.
We believe in legacy and that
person's response was well, we
don't believe in legacy.
We're just believing for the
next election.
And what I love about henry
what I love about roots is see
what I love about you guys in
this room is that you guys
believe not just in the next
election but in legacy in what
is coming next.
There's a quote from a very
famous speaker simon sinek,
that says that great leaders
they don't think in terms
of short term and long term.
They don't think in terms
of the next election or the
next term but they think in
terms of legacy what generation
is coming next so that we can
bless everyone that is coming
up.
And so with that I just want to
pray.
Dear father, we thank you and
we praise you because we have
the opportunity to be in your
presence once again.
And lord we recognize that in
the bible when we see that you
were the GOD of abraham.
You don't just leave it right
there but you say that you're
the GOD of abraham, isaac and
jacob.
You're a GOD of the
generations.
And so we're grateful that we
have the opportunity to emulate
your care not just for one
generation but for all the
generations that are present.
You're not a GOD that only
cares about one span of time.
You care about all time.
And so lord today as we're here
in this meeting, as we're
talking about things that are
happening in the city as we
bring awareness to cancer, as
we are believing for for
healing for people that are in
broken or sick spaces.
We're just saying will you be
present in here today?
Every word that is spoken.
Every thought that is thought
will you blessed.
And lord, we thank you that
you've said in your word that
once a blessing has been spoken
it cannot be denied.
And so lord, we're just saying
will you speak a blessing into
this room so that nothing can
stand up against it?
We thank you and we praise you
not just for what you're doing
but for all that you're getting
ready to do in us and through
us in jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Thank you.
We'll now recite the pledge
of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the united states of america
and to the republic for which
it stands one nation under GOD,
indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, pastor, for
that wonderful invocation and
those words.
My sisters and I grew up
hanging out at the youth nights
at before it was jubilee at new
covenant and we want to thank
your grandfather for his
leadership and his vision and
his legacy here in the city
of boston which we know has
expanded outside of the city
of boston to stoughton to
everywhere around our
commonwealth and we are
grateful and indebted to you
and your family.
So thank you MR. Clerk could
you please amend the attendance
record to reflect that
councilors that council durkan
is now PRESIDENT With us
council and council worrell is
now PRESIDENT With us.
Thank you.
We are on two presentations.
We have one presentation today
offered by my office uplifting
awareness for cancer awareness
month and celebrating the elie
fund.
Thank you to all of my
colleagues who look lovely in
your pink pretty in pink.
But it is also about raising
awareness for cancer month.
So I would like to welcome to
the podium meredith mendelson.
Nakia clarke, jenny marceline,
our very own michelle goldberg
.
If you could please come to the
podium.
Thank you.
Behind me are cancer fighters.
Cancer warriors,
cancer advocates and
cancer survivors.
As we recognize
cancer awareness month, we are
honored to welcome meredith
mendelson, the executive
director of the alley fund, a
massachusetts based nonprofit
dedicated to providing
essentials support to
cancer patients and their
families for more than 30 years
the fund has helped ease the
daily burdens that come with a
cancer diagnosis offering
transportation to treatment,
grocery and meal assistance and
support for household needs
allowing patients to focus on
healing and recovery.
Their work embodies the
compassionate care and
community that this month
represents and reminds us that
that awareness is not only
about early detection but also
about standing beside those in
treatment and recovery.
I am also so grateful to have
my dear friend jenny marcellin
with us here today.
Within the past month jenny has
been able to benefit from the
generosity of the elephant as
she is in treatment and
recovery.
It's just the way the world
works.
I think we had just the week
prior talk to meredith about
the elephant and about, about
the work that we could do
together.
And then I got a call from
jenny and we made the
connection and I this job one
of the most important things
that we can do in this job is
to make connections to support
people and our very own
michelle goldberg who has her
own story with her cancer and
who has been valiantly leading
us.
So thank you so much for your
courage and for your strength
and for standing with us here
today and to my own grandmother
who I never met but died of
cancer, immaculate care your
legacy with me every day.
I have the citation here
recognizing the work of the
elephant and the who is here
who is the director
of community engagement for the
ali fund.
So if you could both come
forward this is an official
resolution presented by the
boston city council to be it
resolved that the boston city
council extends its
congratulations to the ali fund
in recognition of your tireless
efforts to provide essential
support services for
cancer patients to ease the
stresses of everyday life
allowing the focus to be on
family recovery and healing.
So thank you so much, meredith.
I know you have a few other
things so thank you so much and
just okay.
So as you heard I am the
director of community
engagement and outreach but I
started off as a caregiver,
then a patient and fruition
into becoming an elephant staff
after volunteering.
It's so important to be aware
of cancer, to be aware
of self-advocacy and for every
one of you to know about the
elephant so people can refer
your constituents so everyone
knows about what we do and it's
no questions asked we in 2022
we became the co-chairs of the
boston cancer equity coalition
and where we wanted to make
sure we get into the community.
So as my job I go into each and
every communities in the boston
area and talk about the design
and the work that we do.
So we need all of you all to
help to get the word out and
make sure everyone knows about
the elephant.
And thanks to council illusion
we were able to help.
Jenny and I'll let jenny come
in say some words before jenny
comes.
She has a mic and I also like
to call up I meant to call up
councilor santana as we know
from so many this battle is
personal for so many of us here
in this chamber and I'd like to
after jenny offers some
remarks, councilor said and if
you'd like to you good
afternoon.
I am fortunate to be here and I
mean I've been volunteering
with lucy for quite some time
now and I called her and said
hey, I got to lay low because
this is what's going on.
We would talk and then next
thing I know her chief of staff
got to get in touch with me and
then she said I'm going to I'm
going to connect you with this
organization.
They're going to call you and
then if you want not no
pressure.
And then when I got the call oh
my GOD, it was they didn't they
didn't.
The only qualification that I
had to have was to be to have
cancer.
Unfortunately they didn't ask
me for my income.
They didn't ask me for my
citizenship.
Nothing.
And then they've been with
me for the past month and I
never dreamed of welcoming
cancer or cancer itself in my
life and then now having it I
feel like I have the support
that I need to deal with that
I'm someone I battled in the
past with depression anxiety
attempted suicide and it's been
a quite a life for me and then
to have this battle right now
and having these people with
me so help me I think that's
all people in my shoes right
now.
That's all we want.
We want to be part of a family
that is nonjudgmental, that is
understanding of what we're
going through.
It's like right now telling you
I'm in pain.
You're like oh you look very
nice.
You look good.
How could you be in pain?
Well that's wednesday at this
time I was at the hospital
waiting to have my second
surgery so I am in pain but you
don't know that.
But they do know whether what's
going on with me, you know?
So I'm very grateful thankful
to counselor which I'm and then
I hope all of you counselors
that you will let your
constituent know about ali fund
so just like I have that piece
of mind.
They too can have peace of mind
.
Thank you.
I'm meredith mendelson, the
executive director of the L.A.
Fund.
I've met many of you counselors
before and I'm grateful for the
opportunity to show you what
the ali fund family is like and
to show you that we are
available and ready for your
constituents.
We are prepared to serve 2000
patients and their families
this year.
We are laser focused on
improving outcomes between
black and brown women and men
who are going through cancer.
They are 40% more likely to die
than their white peers.
Nikki and I as co-chairs of the
boston cancer equity coalition
with karen burns white from
dana-farber.
Our mission is to reduce those
disparities and we're here
today offering genuine offers
of hope, family resources so
that our patients are not
getting extras.
They're being treated whole as
they deserve to be.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
City council PRESIDENT Rosie
louijeune for bringing us and
convening us here today.
You know, as many of you know
you know the most important
person in my life has been
battling cancer for the last
two years and my mother maria
santana.
And although I wasn't you know,
she wasn't originally diagnosed
with cancer.
She was diagnosed with lung
cancer.
We've caught it on such a late
stage that it spread throughout
her entire body and she was
giving a timeline to live.
Right.
And you know, organizations
like the ali fund I guess so
crucial to to our residents
here to all of our families.
Because I think the biggest
thing that we can do you know,
I think I always say
cancer doesn't discriminate.
It touches all of us.
It touches you know and if
you're not personally going
through it, you MAY know a
neighbor or resident or another
family member that's going
through it.
And I think the best thing that
we can do as a body and as a
city is to invest in
organizations like the ali fund
and provide early screening for
all of our residents.
And I think I just really want
to thank the council PRESIDENT
And the ali fund for being here
jenny for sharing your story.
Unfortunately you know, I think
there are many people who will
share that same story and we
often stay quiet and we all you
know, I think a lot of these a
lot of individuals go through
this alone.
And I think I want to be able
to uplift and educate and
provide as many resources got
to to save lives.
So thank you, city
council PRESIDENT For for
leading on this and I really
appreciate that, ali, for being
here today.
If I could ask my colleagues to
come forward for a picture if
we could hold it up and look at
the cameras and that same
chance.
Okay.
She nice to see you.
You in a minute but good
familiar face.
Thank you so
.
Thank you.
That's a little bit.
Okay.
Thank you again to meredith, to
nakia, to jenny for sharing so
much of yourself and your story
to our very own michelle
goldberg to sam, to henry and
to your mother and in the
memory of my father's mother
immaculate and to my chief
of staff emily posten, who's
been working so closely
alongside the ali fund to make
today possible.
Okay.
MR. Clerk, do we need to amend
the minutes?
Okay.
Thank you.
We are now on to the first
order of business which is the
approval of the minutes from
the meeting of OCTOBER first,
2025.
All in favor say I.
I all oppose say nay.
The ayes have it.
The minutes of the
OCTOBER first meeting are
approved.
We are now on to communications
from her honor the mayor.
MR. Clerk, would you please
read dockets number 177721782.
Docket number 1777.
Message not authorizing the
city of boston to accept and
expand the amount of $2,316,369
in the form of a grant for the
federal fiscal year 26 total
three sea nutrition services
program grant awarded by the
united states department
of health and human services
passed through the mass
executive office of elder
appears to be administered by
the strong commission that
grant will fund nutrition
services for older adults in
the city of boston.
Talking number 1778.
Message in order authorizing
the city of boston to expand,
accept and expand the amount
of $1,067,829 in the form of a
grant for the federal fiscal
year 26 title three be
supportive services grant
awarded by the united states
department of health and human
services passed through the
mass executive office of elder
affairs to be administered by
the eight strong commission.
The grant will fund home based
support services for older
adults in the city of boston so
I can have a1779 message in
order authorizing the city
of boston to accept and expand
the amount of $540,791 in the
form of a grant for the full
federal fiscal year 26 title
three family caregiver support
program awarded by the united
states department of health and
human services passed to the
mass executive office of elder
affairs to be administered by
the age training commission.
The grant will fund care giver
services for older adults in
the city of boston.
Number 1780 message in order
authorizing the city of boston
to accept and expand the amount
of $470,366 in the form of a
grant for the federal fiscal
year 26 title three area plan
administration grant awarded by
the U.S. Department of health
and human services passed
through the mass executive
office of elder affairs to be
administered by the h on
commission.
The grant will fund costs for
the administrator of title
three programs.
The grant will fund consumer
protection programs to improve
long term services for older
adults in the city of boston.
Dark number 1781.
Message in order authorizing
the city of boston accept and
expand the amount of $177,619
in the form of a grant for the
federal fiscal year 26 title
three ombudsman program grant
awarded by the U.S. Department
of health and human services
passed to the mass executive
office of elder affairs to be
administered by the eight
strong commission.
The grant will fund consumer
protection programs to improve
long term services for older
adults in the city of boston
and can number 178 to message
an order authorizing the city
of boston accept and expand the
amount of $84,002 in the form
of a grant for federal fiscal
year 26 title three d disease
prevention and health promotion
awarded by the united states
department of health and human
services passed to the mass
executive office of elder
affairs to be administered by
the eight strong commission.
The grant will fund services
that assist older adults in
boston to prevent illness and
manage chronic conditions.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor murphy, the chair
of the committee on strong
women families and communities.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, clark, for reading
all of those.
I'm asking I know this is a
large amount these six grants
total $4,656,979.
I don't want to set a precedent
that we just suspend and pass
the grants that come through
this body.
But these are all grants that
have come through in the past.
I held hearings last year a
strong emily came in and her
team and spoke to the great
work that these grants and this
money does to support our
seniors.
They are going to promote
health promotion, disease
prevention, consumer protection
,caregiver support, nutrition
services in home based services
.
So I am asking that this body
supports me in just suspending
and passing these grants so we
can get the money where it
needs to be.
And I am going to be asking
denise and emily from age
strong to write up a one pager
that I'll share with all of you
if you do want to get more
information on each one it will
be after the vote.
But I'm hoping that you'll
support me in suspending and
passing these grants today.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor durkin.
Councilor durkin, you have the
floor.
I just wanted to say I'm in
total support of this.
Thank you, councilor murphy,
for pushing this forward.
Thank you.
Would anyone else like to speak
on this matter?
Councilor murphy seeks
suspension and passage of these
.
I believe total three six
grants.
MR. Clerk is best we take it
we'll vote one by one.
Okay.
Councilor murphy seeks
suspension of the rules and
passage of docket number 1777.
All those in favor say I I all
the polls say nay.
The ayes have it.
This grant is passed before we
move on, mr clerk, could you
please amend the record to
reflect that comes with a pen
is now present and with us.
Yes.
thank you so much.
Councilor murphy's suspension
of the rules and passage
of docket number 1778.
All those in favor say I aye.
All those opposing the ayes
have it.
This docket is passed.
Councilor murphy's suspension
of the rules of docket number
1779.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
All those opposing the ayes
have it.
This docket has passed
cancer murphy's expansion
of the rules and passage
of docket number 1780.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye I all those opposing the
ayes have it.
This docket has passed.
Councilor murphy seeks
suspension of the road and
passenger docket number 1781.
All those in favor say I I all
those opposed nay.
The ayes have it.
This docket has passed casa
murphy's expansion of the rules
and passion docket number 1782
all those in favor say I I all
those opposed they nay the ayes
have it.
This docket has passed and as a
quick want to make sure that it
had 1781I did that okay.
Thank you mr court could you
please read docket number
1783.1783 message in order
authorizing city of boston to
accept an expense in-kind
donation of eight hand dryers
in the labor and materials
required for installation
of those dryers valued at
$11,070 donated by excel dryer
in coordination with co-design
collaborative the property
management department will
utilize these handrails in city
hall faneuil hall in the thomas
johnson community center so
that both city of boston staff
and members of the public MAY
benefit from their use.
Thank you.
The jargon as is customary
premature the committee on city
services innovation technology
you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Which is six suspension of the
rule and voting pattern of this
docket it is a simple small
donation that will bring
cleanliness and comfort to our
public buildings and restrooms.
Thank you.
So anyone looking to speak on
this matter cancer preventing
suspension of the rules and
adoption of talking number 1783
all those in favor say I I all
those opposing the ayes have
it.
This docket is passed we are
now on to reports of public
officers and others.
Mr clerk, can you please report
this number 178421786 docking
number 1784 notice we received
from the city clerk in
accordance with chapter six
of the ordinances of 1979
relative to action taken by the
mayor on papers acted upon by
the city council at its meeting
of SEPTEMBER 24th, 2025 docket
number 1785 communication from
councilor of flynn regarding a
violent hate crime against
lgbtq plus neighbors and number
1786 communication from
councilor flynn regarding the
late night raid in the south
phone thank you.
These charges will be placed on
file councilor flynn as you
have your light on to speak on
a communication you have a
total of 2 minutes to speak on
the docket you have the floor.
Thank you MADAM Chair.
I'm going to speak on docket
1768.
This is a communication
regarding late night riot and
the south end on around 2:00 in
the morning on sunday hundreds
of people took over the
intersection of bassett,
massachusetts avenue and
drummond street and immediately
began throwing fireworks cones
and poles at boston police
officers.
Several people were arrested.
It is never acceptable to
assault a police officer or
first responder this week under
assault in boston police
officers must be prosecuted and
if convicted a state sentence
is warranted.
Those arrested should be held
on higher high cash bail.
We cannot accept lawlessness in
boston and it is critical that
we swat our police officers and
their families as well.
A similar incident occurred in
the back bay last APRIL in
downtown boston just last night
as a result I wrote to
commissioner cox to
respectfully request
prioritizing additional public
safety resources to main street
streets throughout the city,
especially on weekends and late
night hours.
This is where a lot of the
majority of the late night
traffic is taking place and
with visitors to our city often
our as you all are aware for
many years I have consistently
advocated for hiring of police
officers every year for the
next decade really to address
longstanding issues of staffing
overstretched resources,
mandatory overtime, looming
retirements.
I will speak more about this
issue later in this
council hearing.
But we have to have zero
tolerance against any attack
and violence against the men
and women of the boston police
department unacceptable what is
happening in this city.
The violent attacks in the
boston police are unacceptable.
We need to stand up and support
them.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
We are now on to reports
of committees.
MR. Clerk, would you please
read that number 1690 duck
number 1690 the committee on
ways and means to which was
referred on SEPTEMBER 24th,
2025 number 1690 message in
order for your approval in
order authorizing the city
of boston to appropriate the
amount of $2,500,000 for the
purpose of paying for the cost
of a feasibility study and
schematic design associated
with a project for the roofs
perhaps an academy formerly
known as the john w mccormick
school located at 315 mount
vernon street dorchester, mass
.
Hold 2125 this includes the
payment of all costs incidental
and related thereto and for
which the city of boston MAY be
eligible for a grant from the
massachusetts school building
authority set amount to be
expended under the direction
of the boston public facilities
department on behalf of the
boston public schools submits a
report recommending that the
order ought to be read for the
first time in a sign for
further action.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor from the chair
of ways and means.
You have the floor.
Thank you MADAM PRESIDENT.
The committee on ways and means
held a hearing on thursday,
OCTOBER 2nd, 2025 to discuss
talking number 1690 testifying
on behalf of the administration
was chief denis loss of capital
planning for boston public
schools executive director
jones of the public facilities
department and project manager
magoffin at the public
facilities department and the
city council.
In attendance were a
council PRESIDENT Louijeune
councilor fitzgerald we
received letters of absence
from council flynn pepen and
santana at the hearing
mr magoffin provide an overview
of the massachusetts school
building authority also known
as msp, a state agency that
funds the construction
of public schools to one penny
of the state sales tax.
The city has strengthened its
partnership with the msb in
recent years completing the
dearborn's stem academy arts
boston arts academy.
Josiah quincy upper school and
carter school as well as 35
accelerated repair projects
totaling a $656 million
construction and $241 million
in reimbursements.
the bruce basin academy must be
a core process began in APRIL
2024 with the city statement
of interest and was formally
invited to the program in
DECEMBER 2020 for the 270 day
eligibility period begin on
JULY 1st 2025 allow the mdba to
assess district readiness
through preliminary
requirements such as forming a
school building committee,
completing an enrollment
questionnaire and developing a
maintenance plan and
educational profile.
All requirements have been
completed except for the
appropriation of funds for a
feasibility study with this
target fulfilled by requesting
$2.5 million to hire an owners
project manager and architect
chief dan stanislaus emphasized
that the merger and forming the
bruce basin academy was shaped
by robust community engagement
to ensure the new school
reflected the values and
aspirations of students and
families.
The unified youth in the
academy blends the strength
of bcl and mccormick offering
enhanced academics wraparound
supports and expanded early
college pathway.
Umass boston representatives
stated that the feasibility
study will take 18 to 24 months
and conclude with the project's
scope and budget outlining next
steps for construction or
renovation upon campus board
approval.
The district returned to the
council for additional
appropriation in the fall
of 2027.
The study will examine the
entire river basin campus
including the soon to be
closed.
Debra elementary school with
projected enrollment increasing
from 644 to about 1000
students.
The study will also evaluate
climate resilience given the
site's proximity to the
waterfront and explore options
for outdoor field space.
As chair of the committee on
ways and means I, I recommend
that this matter ought to be
read for the first time in its
scientific action.
Thank you.
The chair of the committee on
ways and means.
I just want to reiterate that
anyone want to speak on this
matter?
I'm very excited this is moving
forward as attendee is someone
who went to the mccormick.
I know that the students are
eager to get a new school
building that blends in what
high school students deserve so
very excited and want to thank
the administration and the
important work of getting an
sba funding to make this happen
.
The chair recognizes you have
the floor.
Thank you MADAM Chair.
I also rise to support this
proposal.
I also want to highlight the
work of state treasurer deb
goldberg in our school building
authority and the exceptional
support they've provided to the
residents of boston in our
public school students for so
many years.
Again, thank you to state
treasurer deb goldberg.
Thank you to the chair, the
committee on the way on ways
and means recommends acceptance
of the committee report and a
vote on the first reading
of docket number 1690.
Mr clerk, can you please take a
roll call vote on docket 1690
of roll call vote on docket
number 1690 account celebrating
yes council of breadon yes.
Councilor colette as opposed to
councilor colette as a partner
?
Yes.
Councilor durkan
councilor durkan yes.
Council a fitzgerald yes.
Councilor fitzgerald yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
Councilor louijeune yes.
Concilor mejia here.
Concilor mejia here yes.
Councilor murphy
councilor murphy yes.
Councilor per pen councilor pen
yes councilor santana
councilor santana yes.
Council whether councilor weber
yes and councilor worrell yes.
Councilor worrell yes.
Talking number 1690 has
received 12 votes in the
affirmative.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted in docket number 1690
has been read for the first
time and assigned for further
action.
We are now onto the matter.
Recently heard MR. Clerk when
you please read docker number
1276 duck number 1 to 7 six
ordinance two priority days
surplus municipal property is
affordable.
thank you.
The chair recognizes chair
of the committee on government
operations councilor cllr
zapata.
You have the floor.
Thank you vice chair docket
1276 is an ordinance proposing
amendments to the city
of boston code to create
priorities for the disposition
of city owned property deemed
specifically the ordinance
requires the city prioritize
the creation of affordable
housing on surplus sites by
vesting me with the
responsibility of evaluating
surplus sites for affordable
housing and the authority to
upon the chief of housing
determination can exempt
certain surplus properties from
being developed into affordable
housing.
The matter was sponsored by
councilors louijeune pippen and
morrell and referred to the
committee on JUNE 25th, 2025.
We held a hearing on AUGUST
15th, 2025 in a working session
a robust working session just
recently on OCTOBER six to
discuss this docket, the
committee heard testimony on
behalf of the administration
from janey smith, senior
environmental compliance
manager, mayor's office
of housing daniel lesser, chief
of staff from the mayor's
office of housing and rebecca
thomas, civic director of real
estate at the planning
department.
At the hearing on OCTOBER 15,
the committee examined how the
city identifies transfers and
reuses municipal property that
are no longer needed for public
purposes.
The administration described
the existing surplus property
as a multistep community driven
process that includes
environmental review and
multiple approvals before
redevelopment can occur.
Acknowledging that these steps
often make the process complex
and the timeline lengthy
councilors discussed the need
for earlier coordination among
departments clear communication
about when properties become
surplus and stronger alignment
between housing priorities and
redevelopment decisions.
Community advocates expressed
strong support for codifying
the process through ordinance,
emphasizing that a clear
consistent, clear and
consistent framework and
process would make it easier to
turn public land into lasting
community benefits.
At the working session this
monday, the committee reviewed
the ordinance line by line to
refine definitions and ensure
alignment with existing city
procedures.
There was general consensus to
strengthen the definition
of affordable housing, extend
and clarify timelines for
exception determinations and
confirm that the ordinance
applies only to city owned
properties under municipal
control.
The committee also discussed
amendment suggestions aimed at
improving transparency,
accountability and coordination
across departments requiring
annual reports on all surplus
property activity even in years
when no designations occur and
mandating that written
exception determinations be
included in all rfp for public
visibility.
Councilors agreed that these
changes would create a clearer,
more efficient and transparent
framework for managing surplus
municipal property ensuring
that public assets are more
effectively leveraged to
advance boston's affordable
housing goals so quickly.
And you all have a copy of this
with you as well.
The summary of amendments to
the ordinance as amended
revises section one with the
purpose to clarify the scope
of the ordinance and to
strengthen its extant intent by
striking the words and
subsidies and while allowing
flexibility when other
municipalities need clearly
apply and replacing the letter
with once the city has
determined the property is not
needed for other municipal
purposes.
The ordinance also amends
excuse me revise the section
two definition to align the
definitions with city processes
and to clarify the scope of the
ordinance and the duties
of city departments in
implementation under the
definition of affordable
housing.
The following words concerning
individuals eligible for
affordable housing were struck
with housing costs not
exceeding 30% of gross annual
income as defined by mass
general law chapter 44 b and
chapter eight dash 12 of the
boston city code and the
following words were regarding
eligible developments were
inserted including at least 40%
of the units are considered
affordable and the overall
project under the definition
of exception determination.
The word 90 days were struck
and replaced with 180 days and
the following language was
inserted to explicitly include
a description of community
feedback and to allow for the
extension to the 180 day
deadline for an exception
determination.
If additional time is required
the chief of housing shall
issue a written notice that
additional time is needed in
which time an automatic
extension of 180 days shall be
granted the written notice and
the property plus the
designation must be made
publicly available under the
definition of surplus municipal
property.
Language was reworded in the
following words were struck and
has been formally designated as
surplus by the public
facilities commission.
This includes but is not
limited to former borough dpd
property police, fire, ems and
public school buildings under
the care costing control of the
city of boston.
The ordinance also before I go
to that as amended the
definition for feasibility
evaluation was also struck in
its entirety.
The audience also amend section
three procedure to maintain
consistent language, enhance
transparency and flaherty and
clarify the process the parties
involved in the process in
their duties as amended.
this section inserts the words
community input strikes and
replace the words mayor's
office of housing with the city
and strikes and replaces the
words public facility
commission with pertinent city
department language was also
revised under the section
clarify that exception
determinations shall be filed
for future rfp issued for the
property.
The ordinance also means and
revises section four reporting
to ensure consistent procedures
and strengthened transparency
reporting by inserting words
and the planning department
allowing h to submit the report
required under the section
jointly and inserting following
language to ensure that a
report is submitted even if no
new surplus designations have
occurred and to require the
report to include a summary
of housing units
created through surplus
designations.
I want to thank councilor mejia
for that suggestion.
Since passage of the ordinance
or within the previous five
years whichever is shorter.
And then lastly section five
and thank you for your patience
everybody under authority and
enforcement to ensure
compliance and consistency with
all applicable laws by
inserting the following
language and any other
applicable laws or regulations
regarding the disposition
of property.
And so for me this just
provides additional structure
to an unstructured process
right now provides transparency
to what is currently an opaque
process with the psc and puts
it on my page to essentially
have first right of refusal to
make more affordable housing
and proliferate affordability
across the city.
And it also provides us with
the opportunity to continue to
advocate in partnership with
the community even as a pfc
process is happening.
So I think overall just really
great.
I want to thank
councilor louijeune for her
leadership, her staff jessie
purvis I want to thank alex
sanchez, my chief of staff for
their work on this as well.
And so as chair of the
committee on government
operations, I recommend moving
this listed docket from the
committee to the full
council for discussion
of formal action.
And at this time my
recommendation to the full
council is that this matter
ought to pass in a new draft.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
council PRESIDENT Louijeune
councilor you have the floor.
Thank you.
And I want to thank you, MADAM
Chair, for your diligence in
moving this forward and for
your work and your staffer.
Please work on this.
Really appreciate it.
I want to thank all of my
colleagues for their
engagement, their attendance at
the hearing and that the
working sessions and thoughtful
collaboration which made this
legislation that we wrote from
the ground up and made it a lot
stronger.
I want to recognize
administration partners chief
sheila dillon daniel lesser,
devin quirk, james smith,
rebecca tomasso vic and and all
of my colleagues for their
feedback.
And I want to acknowledge the
advocates who really helped to
strengthen this ordinance and
underline why it's so
important.
Charlie adams, a developer at
penrose who developed the pride
who has expertise in adaptive
reuse.
Richard giordano at fenway cdc
has been a longtime advocate
for equitable development and
for affordable housing
development on municipal land
into ambrosi in scio esparza at
the madison park development
corporation who has deep
experience in community
centered housing.
And gretchen van ness of, the
lgbtq plus senior housing in
hyde park at the pride and a
champion for inclusive and
senior focused affordable
housing who is also tessa who
is also able to testify to the
problems that occurred by how
long it took for the pride to
actually develop into what it
is.
And so the core message of this
is that this ordinance is about
predictability, ensuring that
everybody knows when public
buildings come off line and are
long no longer being used for a
municipal purpose that
affordable housing is the
city's priority.
Like the council that is a part
of said when people have asked
me how do I describe this?
I consider this as giving the
mayor's office of housing a
right of first refusal so that
we can do the work of building
more affordable housing.
For too long surplus municipal
property schools, police
stations, libraries have sat
vacant for too long or have
been or been redeveloped
without a clear purpose.
This changes that this
ordinance creates a transparent
,accountable process to
evaluate surplus building for
housing potential before
anything else.
But it doesn't lock anyone into
the city and it's not rigid.
It allows for an exception
determination should there be
an alternative or best use
through clearly documented
reasoning as to why affordable
housing be prioritized in this
instance?
Again, it establishes
affordable housing as a first
and preferred use for surplus
city property subject to
feasibility and legal
constraints.
It requires clear documentation
of public reporting when
properties are not used for
annual reporting to track once
which site to move forward.
How they're used and how many
affordable units result.
Again thank you to
councilor mejia for that
recommendation.
It gives the city a stronger
data city data driven framework
just case by case decisions.
We often get questions from
constituents why wasn't this
building used for this or why
did we decide to use it for
this instead saying this is a
clear value statement that when
municipal building is no longer
being used for municipal
purpose that the highest and
best use is affordable housing.
Unless there's an exception
determination.
It's a tool in our toolboxes
ordinance is not a silver
bullet.
There's no silver bullet that's
going to help us solve our
affordable housing crisis.
But it's an important
structural reform that should
be ensured transparency and
public purpose.
Housing prices are still at
historic highs.
This helps ensure that every
possible public asset
contributes to addressing
boston's housing crisis and the
ordinance is not exclusively
for affordable housing.
It allows for mixed use.
It allows for mixed housing and
I think it gets at the goal
of helping make sure that we're
building and with a focus on
building affordable housing we
make concessions on the
timeline to ensure that we give
the city enough time to think
about whether affordable
housing is the highest and best
use.
But our priority has never
wavered in moving surplus
property to affordable housing
efficiently and predictably and
is what the legislation
reflects what we can accomplish
when the council administration
and advocates work together in
good faith.
I want to thank former city
councilor tito jackson who
first elevated this as an issue
of importance.
And I want to thank our mayor
who's been helpful in thinking
through what works and what
works and what is sensible and
predictable.
It's also about turning public
assets into public goods homes
for families, for seniors and
residents who want to stay in
the city that they love.
Just yesterday I was on the
phone with someone from south
boston who was saying how we
you know, his parents will live
there but he was priced out to
quincy because of how expensive
housing is and we talked about
the work of this ordinance and
how we can help further those
goals.
So this is how we create
predictability in housing for
the city of boston.
This is how we make sure that
we are one of the ways we can
help make sure that we are
building a city where
generations of bostonians can
afford to live.
And it's one important part
of the toolbox.
So I want to thank my
colleagues again and want to
thank you, MADAM Chair.
I want to thank my staff for
just who helped work on this
and all of the affordable
housing advocates who helped us
bring this ordinance to where
it is today.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor pepen council give
the floor.
Thank you, mr chair.
And thank you to the MADAM
PRESIDENT for including me on
this docket but also for her
leadership on this issue.
Thanks to chair colette, it's a
battle for holding a very great
hearing and work in session on
this transforming older out
of youth buildings into much
needed housing is something we
should continue to advocate for
as a city that continues to
reinvent old solutions to fix
current problems in a similar
fashion.
This morning I was honored to
attend the official ribbon
cutting of these hey robert
school in roslindale a historic
moment where the old washington
irving school building was
repurposed to fit a merger
of two smaller schools in the
neighborhood.
Now small buildings that could
possibly fit who knows what in
the future are available and
council PRESIDENT Mentioned
already the pride that is a
very clear example and right in
my or my district of a school
building that's transformed
into this beautiful magnificent
senior affordable lgbtq plus
friendly institution that now
is the heart and soul of high
park.
So there's so much opportunity
that we can do with surplus
buildings and land in general
in the city of boston.
I've also heard creative ideas
of using existing library
spaces in potentially building
affordable housing on top
of the libraries etc. So
there's just there's a lot that
we can do here and I think that
in order for us to tackle the
housing crisis that we are in
right now of people wanting to
move into the city of boston
but not enough supply we have
to be creative here and be
proactive as we can which is
why I'm so excited to be part
this conversation.
Thank you.
I just want to just also thank
the chair also thanked
council PRESIDENT Louijeune and
also thank the coalition that
came together to put together
this ordinance.
And I believe that when you
have the city, the city
council, the administration
developers and advocates at the
table, you make a strong
ordinance that works for
everyone.
We know that we have affordable
housing affordability crisis.
We hear it too often that
people have to move out of the
city.
But this ordinance starts to
make it makes it clear to the
residents that the city
of boston is making housing
affordability a priority.
And we know one of the drivers
of high housing costs is the
land and the city being able to
use surplus land hopefully will
start to decrease the costs for
developers to create affordable
housing.
There's not one silver bullet
but this is one of the other
options that are now in our
toolbox to fight the
affordability crisis.
And again, it just makes it
clear to the rest of the city
and all of our residents that
housing affordability is a
priority for us and everyone
else here in the city
of boston.
Anyone else looking to speak?
The chair recognizes
councilor fitzgerald kelsey
of the floor.
Thank you, vice chair.
Question if I could to the
council from east boston.
Okay.
Question to the chair if you do
see to yep.
Great.
Thank you.
I just want to make sure in
this process that there is
nothing that changes the
process for which the land is
actually attributed to any
developer it does not change.
It's still the rfp process that
will go out that is run that's
the same as today.
This is just prioritizing the
use of that land first.
Correct.
So it doesn't it doesn't favor
any one person to build on that
land or not get excited about
it.
The floor yeah that's exactly
correct and I feel like it MAY
be helpful for folks to walk
through and maybe the not the
entire process but generally so
there's there's four components
of it.
So first of all the city
department so let's take that
as possibly station for example
the police department had said
that they don't need it any
longer and so that commences a
surplus process.
It goes to pfc.
Pfc has the authority upon
approval from the mayor to
acquire lease, rent or sell
city owned property that has
been deemed in surplus and then
so under 30 b which is
procurement, the commission has
to first declare that the
parcel is available and spell
out any sort of use
restrictions.
And so this is where we kind
of bifurcate step three out
of four where ammo which is now
integrated into the process
where before the rfp is given
they work in tandem with the
planning department to
understand what the use will.
So is it affordable housing?
Will it be used for something
like a food hub?
All of that but the 30 b is
pretty much protected by state
law.
So it'll it'll basically be the
same process but we're
splitting that process up and
integrating ammo agent into
that stuff.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor flynn, councilor to
the floor.
Thank you, mr chair.
Mr vice PRESIDENT, I'm going to
support this proposal.
I just want to make two quick
points.
I do want to acknowledge my
former colleague city
councilor tim mccarthy that did
a lot of work on pride in hyde
park and thank you to tim's
leadership for for originally
working on this.
The second point I do want to
make is again I'm supporting
this but I do want to
acknowledge that we as a city
council and as a city have to
be very observant that we are
not giving a land away to
politically connected
developers.
I think we owe it to the
taxpayers to our due diligence
to ensure that this process is
on the up and up and that no
political politically correct,
politically connected
developers have an inside to to
getting the land and developing
on this.
That's a concern I do have and
again we are all subject to the
state ethics commission as
well.
Thank you, mr CHAIRMAN.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor santana and
council the have the floor.
Thank you, mr vice PRESIDENT
And thank you to PRESIDENT
Louijeune as well as councilors
pepperdine we're all for your
leadership on this matter.
City owned land and publicly
owned buildings are some of the
boston's most valuable and
underutilized tools to address
our housing crisis.
But unfortunately buildings are
no longer serving their
original purpose have been left
vacant due to unclear policy
surrounding the repurposing.
Today we have the opportunity
to ensure that buildings which
have since retired from their
original purpose can continue
to serve the public as
affordable housing.
Boston is facing a severe
housing affordability crisis
and too many of our residents
are being pushed out the city
they love every day where those
are the people who make the
city special.
But it doesn't have to be this
way.
Initiatives like this one are
among the many solutions in the
housing crisis that will keep
our city alive, vibrant and
affordable.
By prioritizing the use
of vacant municipal property
for affordable housing, we
ensure its redevelopment
centers the community benefits
to public rather than private
interests.
And in doing so we empower our
cost burden residents and allow
them the opportunity to
continue calling boston their
home.
I look forward to continue my
role in support of this measure
.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor breadon cassidy
of the floor.
Thank you, mr chair and thank
you to the lead sponsors and
everyone who participated in
this conversation and chair
clara zapata for her work on
this as well.
I think it was part of the
conversation was the highest
and best use that we consider
for surplus property in the
city is definitely housing
affordable housing that would
make it add to our housing
stock that's affordable for
folks in the city.
But it also leaves a little
flexibility in terms of us
councilors have had a lot
of support as already mentioned
that there are other other
public goods that could be
served in this situation with
surplus property such as a food
hub or the other group of of
the other group that has been
pushed out of the city and
finding of increasingly
difficult to stay are a
nonprofit group small
nonprofits community nonprofits
that are doing essential work
day care facilities and things.
So I'm glad that we have that
opportunity to.
If housing is one need but also
to look at other needs that
would be determined by the
mayor's office of housing to
see if if surplus property if
there's another that would
serve the public good as well.
So I'm delighted to vote in
favor of this ordinance and
these amendments and thank you
for all the work that's been
done on it.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor colette as a party
councilor you have the floor.
Sorry I left out the most
important part which was the
fourth step which is that it
has to no matter what happens
this has to come before the
council and we have to vote on
it twice with two thirds
majority.
So that's the hook that we have
as a council.
So no matter what we still have
that layer of accountability
and have a say.
But with what we're trying to
do here it's an extra step
of of transparency.
So I just wanted to say that I
didn't want to leave everybody
hanging on what the fourth step
was.
Okay.
Thanks.
Thank you.
The chair of the committee on
government seeks acceptance
of the committee report and
pass it to duncan number 1 to
76 and the new draft.
All those in favor say I others
opposing they think that oh,
mr. Clerk, can you please
conduct the roll call vote roll
call vote on duncan number 1 to
7 six councilor breadon yes,
councilor breadon yes.
Councilor collette is a party
councilor collette as per the
yes.
Councilor durkan yes.
Councilor fitzgerald
councilor fitzgerald yes.
Councilor flynn councilor flynn
yes.
Councilor louijeune yes.
Councilor risen yes.
Concilor mejia here.
Concilor mejia here yes
councilor murphy
councilor murphy yes.
Councilor pen yes councilor and
yes councilor santana yes.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber yes.
Councilor weber yes and
councilor worrell yes
councilor wu yes I have a 1 to
7 six has received 12 votes in
the affirmative.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted in docket number 1 to
76 has passed in a new draft.
Mr kirkby please redact number
1450 duck number 14502 for a
hearing to discuss next steps
to improve safety on the
northern stretch of hyde park
avenue from old walk hill
street to the arbor.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes the chair
of the committee on planning
development and transportation
councilor durkan you have the
floor.
Thank you so much chair and the
committee on planning
department transportation held
a public on docket one four or
five zero on monday,
OCTOBER six to discuss next
steps to improve street safety
on the northern stretch of hyde
park and from warfield to the
arbor way the matter was
sponsored by councilors weber
and rick pappin and brian roe.
We're also joined by my
colleagues council PRESIDENT
Louijeune councilor murphy and
councilor flynn.
The committee also received a
letter of absence from
councilor santana.
The committee heard testimony
from yesha franklyn hodge,
chief of sts matt moran,
transit team director and tyler
loo, a project manager in the
streets department.
The hearing was held offsite at
b2 school on rock hill street.
Approximately 40 community
members gave public testimony
and there were nearly 100
people in attendance.
We heard from community members
about the urgent need for
safety improvements along the
stretch of hyde park of city
officials provided background
on the project and the reasons
for a delay.
While my colleagues asked
thoughtful questions focused on
finding solutions, it was clear
that there is an overwhelming
demand for traffic calming
improvements and more
pedestrian and bike friendly
corridor.
We hope the administration will
move forward quickly on this.
While residents expressed how
they have made the case over
and over it seems like right
the administration's plan is to
do a repave and residents want
more.
it was a productive
informational hearing.
I want to thank my colleagues
who attended.
I also want to give a chance
for the lead sponsor
councilor weber to speak on
this docket.
Honestly, if I'm just going to
be frank I was skeptical about
having an offsite hearing.
It was very worth it.
I we saw the frustration
of residents who have been
asking for more.
I would like to as the chair
of this committee back up these
residents and their concerns.
There were it was actually hard
to speak at times because
of how many kids were in the
crowd until 9 P.M. And I just
think it's kind of crazy that
we need to do more here.
So I just want to thank
councilor weber councilor pep
fan and councilor all for their
advocacy here.
I think as a city council we
could all come together to ask
for more improvements on this
stretch so.
Councilor weber thank you.
The chair and council member
you have the floor.
Thank you.
And I'd like to start I really
want to thank councilor durkan
for agreeing to chair a
hearing.
You know in jamaica plain and
gave residents and my
constituents a chance to make
their voices heard about an
issue that is incredibly
important to them and to my
community that I represent.
I want to thank my colleagues,
councilor pepen and earl for
co-sponsoring and also you
know, I honestly do.
MADAM PRESIDENT councilor flynn
and councilor murphy for making
it to the hearing how a hyde
park avenue in front of forest
hills station has never worked
.
You know it combines, you know,
traffic congestion, unsafe
driving and unsafe conditions
for cyclists and pedestrians
were a year removed from the
death of glen ingram was killed
on a concurrent green light you
know while crossing the street
by an empty bus, you know and I
think the hearing highlighted
how we need to promote
pedestrian and cyclist safety
and bus travel through that
corridor.
You know, one thing that we
talked about was the push at
the state house to allow red
light cameras.
You know, my sierra san antonio
has been pushing that.
I really hope all of us push
their state reps to support
that so we can at least, you
know, have deterrents on
speeding and people driving
through red lights through our
city and I really feel like,
you know, the neighborhood made
the case for that stretch
of road needs a solution.
You know, I would just I want
to just add you know, I think
you know, on the other side
of gp we had a 77 year old
woman who was killed in a hit
and run on south huntington
along with her 39 year old
caregiver was critically
injured in that hit and run.
You know, I think it just
highlights how you know, all
the flashing lights police
officers raise crosswalks, you
know, speed limit signs, speed
bumps, bike lanes, you know,
everything else is not going to
stop that.
It's not it's going to help
people but it won't eliminate
the possibility that people
will be injured by cars.
We have so much traffic, so
much aggressive driving in this
city.
You know, I just 1897 this was
the city the first city in
north america with the subway
and this is apocryphal maybe
but you know, one of the
reasons why they put that
subway in was because so many
horses were packed on tremont
street that it was unsafe and
unhealthy for people we put in
the subway there are no more
horses, you know, on fremont
street.
You know, I think we I really
want to see this city band
together and show the same kind
of innovation.
You know, we we we showed in
1897 we need a better public
transportation infrastructure
here in the city.
And until we do that, you know,
we'll be talking about
pedestrian deaths and unsafe
driving until we get people out
of their cars.
So thank you very much to
councilor durkin for for
allowing us to highlight this
in district six.
Thank you.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor depending on the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
And thank you to
councilor weber for having
me as a co-sponsor of this very
important topic that impacts my
district as well.
Hyper cab is that quarter that
connects the southwest part
of boston into the downtown
boston area as opposed to the
forest hills area.
And I just want to thank
councilor durkin for hosting
that hearing in person as well
in the district that was very
important.
I think we were able to really
hear from a numerous amount
of people that were in
attendance a lot of people that
live on hyde park hour near the
area that use it frequently and
for the for the third time it
was clear what people who live
on the north more than part
of hypercard want and need out
of the street design.
I'm hopeful that the
administration will listen to
the constituents and provide
much needed improvements
particularly the exceptional
dangerous intersection
of ukraine way in high park
avenue.
I compel the administration to
do so promptly so no more
fatalities occur.
I'm also looking forward to the
entire safety improvements
of the of the entirety of high
park avenue.
It's not just one stretch that
needs improvement.
It's the entire stretch of it
that goes all the way from
wolcott square and redeveloped
to forest hills and we just
need to act now.
And I want to remind everyone
that even those that are not
impacted by what's happening on
high park have you MAY use it
here and there and we all need
to be part of the solution.
So thank you, councilor weber
for for leading the charge on
this.
I look forward to supporting
you.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor have ryan floor.
Thank you councilor PRESIDENT
And thank you to the chair
councilor durkin for hosting
this hearing and also thank you
to the lead sponsor
councilor weber and my close
and our co-sponsors
councilor pepen for your
continued leadership to
bringing attention to hyde park
dive and also just thank you to
the residents that continue to
raise their voices around this
stretch for many years and we
heard that on full display at
the hearing.
I am in support of the
automated traffic enforcement
reform moving through the state
house the proposed legislation
that would allow cities and
towns to install road safety
cameras including for red light
running and intersection
blocking and also speeding and
like councilor weber said, I
encourage all my colleagues and
residents who advocate at the
state house to get that, you
know, accepted and passed.
I also want to continue to push
the administration to push for
the rollout of transit signal
priority systems ensuring
busses aren't delayed as
signals which will help create
safer traffic flow.
I think these tools and cameras
and smart signal timing are key
to changing driver behaviors
especially in place and when
enforcement resources are thin.
And I also want to encourage
bpd and btd to do more
coordination around these areas
for more traffic enforcement.
I know that there's currently
no traffic enforcement officers
or department inside of bpd but
I do believe that in areas
where we are hearing these
complaints or high crash areas
that there should be some level
of traffic enforcement.
So looking forward to working
with my colleagues in the
administration and our state
house colleagues for temporary
fixes and also more permanent
solutions.
Thank you.
The chair again, it's kind
of funny you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you to councilor durkan
for holding this important
meeting and councilor pepen
councilor weber council we're
all for being the original
co-sponsors of the meeting as
well.
I attended and was was there
and heard most of the public
testimony.
I've learned a lot from from
the residents of jamaica plain.
I didn't necessarily advocate
for any particular design
because I'm not familiar with
the what the area but what I
highlighted is something
similar to what councilor we're
all mentioned is the critical
need for traffic enforcement in
boston ensuring that the boston
police department do more on
traffic enforcement citing
people arresting people.
one person council of pepen
will tell you was driving up
hyde park avenue going 70 miles
an hour, 70 miles an hour on a
on a narrow, narrow street and
they could not stop he if he
had to crossing a crosswalk.
Imagine imagine as a little kid
and it's been in the child's
mother or father would taking
him or an elderly person or
persons with disabilities.
We need to do more on traffic
enforcement that's a that's a
critical issue across across
the city.
Is this across the city?
One of the final point I made
was and I think
councilor councilor weber
mentioned it concurrent
signaling and that is when a
pedestrian almost has the same
right of way to cross the
street as a vehicle taking say
taking a right turn and then
the pedestrian crosses at the
same time this body the city
council body voted 13 to
nothing to ask the city not to
have that policy anymore and I
want to say thank you to my
city council colleagues.
I brought this up the other
night and I received pushback
from the chief of streets on
this particular issue and we we
debated it and I still believe
that we need to make this
significant change across the
city.
We need to see it happen today
.
Again, I'm calling on the chief
of streets to implement a that
a change in the lighting where
the pedestrian and the car
don't have the same right
of way at the same time in my
opinion the pedestrian has the
right away and then at a
certain point then the vehicle
has the right away but under no
circumstance can both of them
have the right of way.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Being the chair recognizes
times are great and you have
the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT and
thank you.
I know this hearing pertains to
hyde park avenue and walk
straight over it near the over
in constable happens
councilor webber's district we
just last week got seven speed
bumps as part of the safety
surge on fabulous street in
brighton.
It's close to a public housing
facility and a park that's well
used by neighbors.
We've had a incredible amount
of positive feedback and
excitement about having these
first seven safety surges and
50 surge speed bumps and I said
the first and only we have
seven speed bumps in allston
brighton that are part of the
safety surge only seven with
the size of somerville yet
within that was last week on
the weekend we had a few
hundred feet from from faneuil
street on market street we had
a car traveling at speed that
hit a concrete light pole,
knocked the concrete light pole
down and hit hit a house and
thankfully there was nobody
seriously injured and the folks
were able to walk away from the
the site the scene.
But I think back to the point
about traffic enforcement.
We've talked to the boston
police department traffic
enforcement 24 seven is not
really a feasible option given
staffing levels, etc. But I
think the red light cameras and
and they think we need to
revisit concurrent signaling
and the bottom line is that
many of our neighborhoods are
used as cut through for people
who are traveling through the
neighborhood to get somewhere
else and they're always in a
hurry and it's making our
roadways very, very dangerous
for our residents.
So thank you.
I thank you for holding this
hearing.
I know it wasn't in my district
but I think we need to continue
elevating the importance
of this issue so that all
of our residents especially
families, elders and folks with
mobility issues and all of our
road users are safe.
Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN Of this
council murphy had the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I just want to rise to thank
chair durkin and the other
councilors who sponsored and
thank central staff.
I've been a strong advocate for
having more offsite hearings
but I do understand it's a lot
of work but any time I've
cheered one or attended them
they're so well attended by the
residents and there was just
great feedback and testimony
when will be able to hear
directly from the residents
alongside the administration
who can also hear directly from
them and traffic concerns
probably next to wraps are
something all of us get a lot
of calls from in our office and
i do just want to also uplift
something I think you said
council are prepared that this
is a citywide issue.
We address to this small
section and there was some real
concerns and need and a want to
not pause some of the ideas
that the residents have been
waiting for to make that
stretch safer.
But the day after the hearing I
was in the north end and so as
someone who works on the north
end who said oh, I saw you last
night I was a resident in at
that meeting and I ride my bike
from jamaica plain into the
north end every day so they
were thanking us for holding
that meeting.
So this does affect all of our
residents and just looking
forward to continuing to
advocate for offsite hearings
at and at the same time making
sure we're supporting and thank
you to ethan, meghan and
candice who worked late into
the night and I did also just
want to give a shout out to
durkin, weber and pepen staff.
I saw them all there and they
were helpful to not just us as
councilors but also the
residents, the neighbors who
showed up.
So thank you.
Thank you.
I want to thank
councilor durkin for chairing.
It was a very packed room and
residents were rightly
frustrated and I also want to
thank the work of the
administration.
I know that this is something
that matters a lot to the
administration and we just need
to work faster and getting it
right.
I think central staff and the
sponsors for bringing this
topic to the community and want
to think again central staff
all the work that they do this
docket will remain in
committee.
We are now on to motions,
orders and resolutions.
A reminder to my colleagues
that if you are a lead sponsor
you have 3 minutes on a docket.
If you are a counselor working
wishing to speak on a docket or
a co-sponsor you have 2 minutes
to speak on a docket.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read a number 1787 dock number
1787 it councilor fitzgerald
off of the following petition
for a special law regarding an
act directing the city
of boston police department to
waive the maximum age
requirement for police officers
for elijah osborne, thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilors.
Gerald, do you have the floor?
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Elijah osborne is 43 years old
and a resident of dorchester.
His he has a current role as an
assistant superintendent at the
massachusetts convention center
authority.
He has passed civil service
exam and attended the first
orientation that was just held
on saturday SEPTEMBER 20th.
I'm looking to suspend and pass
this whole room so elijah can
continue the process and enter
the police academy.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
The chair recognizes country
club as a party on the floor.
Thank you so much.
And I'm rising to support and
support the others that are
coming in.
I think there's a deadline
approaching so we're seeing
these come in more often.
I just wanted to give an update
that I was pleased to go in
front of the committee on
public service to prove or ask
for a favorable favorable
report out of that committee
for the formal petition that we
set up sent up there.
It's going through that process
.
It's a long process but just
wanted to give folks that
update as these keep coming
through.
I'll continue to keep pushing
the state house to pass that.
Thank you.
And I support all the dockets
including council fitzgerald's
thank you.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter but anyone else
like to add their name?
MR. Clerk, please.
That counts as breadon because
I was a potter durkin flynn
here pippin santana, weber
world please out add the chair.
Councilor fitzgerald's
expansion of the rules and
adoption of docket number 1787
all those in favor say aye all
those opposing the ayes have
it.
This docket has passed.
Mr clerk, could you please read
docket number 17881 duncan
number 1788
council of fitzgerald offer the
following petition for a
special law regarding an act
directing the city of boston
police department to waive the
maximum age requirement for
police officers for domingos
rosa, the chair recognizes
councilor fitzgerald.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Domingos rosa is 44 years old
and as a lifelong resident
of boston who has been living
at the same address in
dorchester for the past 15
years, he's passed the civil
service exam and attended the
first orientation on saturday
SEPTEMBER 20th.
He's also has an extensive
resume of service as a veteran
of the united states marine
corps six years of service as a
correctional officer with
suffolk county sheriff's
department and 11 years
of experience in his current
work as a compliance officer in
the boston public health
commission's tobacco
department.
He's also fluent in cape
verdean creole and can
understand spanish and
portuguese which will help our
police department better serve
all our residents of the city.
I welcome the suspended pastor
sean also domingos can continue
the process to enter the police
academy.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor fellini on the floor
.
Thank you.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
And I just want to say thank
you to councilor fitzgerald for
bringing this forward.
Domingos is a united states
marine.
We need to give every and all
consideration to a veteran who
have served who has served our
country and I think this is a
is his right to do this.
Give a veteran an opportunity
to continue that same level
of service and the leadership
that they provided the country
doing it here again right in
the city of boston.
I want to say thank you to john
fitzgerald dickey membership.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
Would anyone else like to add
their name?
MR. Clerk pleased councilors
brayden zapata flynn here but
ben santana weber world please
of the chair councilors gerald
suspension of the rules and
adoption of docket number 1788
all those in favor say I all
opposing the ayes have it this
docket is passed.
Mr clerk can you please read
docket number 1789 doc number
1789 council of S.A. For the
following petition for a
special law regarding an act
directing the city of boston
police department to waive the
maximum age requirement for
police officers.
The teyana taylor closing thank
you.
The chair recognizes
councilor santana.
Councilor santana you have the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT
taylor taylor rossini is a 40
year old boston resident who
has wanted to be a boston
police officer officer since
childhood though she was hired
by the department in 2019 she
withdrew due to childbirth and
has since been waiting
patiently to answer the call
for public service once again
since 2019 MS. Taylor has taken
and passed the massachusetts
civil service examination each
year, demonstrating her sincere
commitment to public service,
her preparedness and her
unwavering dedication to
serving her community.
I believe that MS. Taylor rose
the longstanding commitment to
community safety would make her
an asset to the boston police
department and the communities
it serves.
I am committed to this home a
petition to waive the maximum
age requirement for boston
police officers.
I am thinking of my colleagues
support and moving this to
suspend the rules and pass this
petition today.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
What anyone else like to add
their name?
MR.
MR. Clerk could you please add
council's brayden zapata flynn
maria murphy but then weber
world please add the chair
carlos santana suspension
of the rules and partial docket
number 1789 MR. Clerk could you
please conduct a roll call vote
roll call vote on number 1789
council brief yes.
Councilor breadon yes.
Councilor collette as of the
council color as a party yes.
Consider councilor fitzgerald.
Councilor fitzgerald yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
councilor allusion yes.
Susan yes.
Councilor me here council me
here.
Yes.
Councilor murphy
councilor murphy yes.
Councilor pippin
councilor griffin yes.
Councilor santana
councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber councilor weber
yes and councilor world yes.
Councilor well yes talking over
1789 as we see 11 votes
information thank you this this
docket has passed now so like
to say hello to welcome to
chambers haitian community
leader gary zizi.
Thank you for being with us
here today.
The chair recognizes county
councilors gerald you so at
just the point where there was
not a roll call and my two
passages, is there a difference
of why that was done tonight
and if we could I just want to
be consistent.
Yeah, my apologies.
I usually do roll calls on all
formal petitions and so they
like that something that an
elder a councilor taught
suggested that we do roll calls
on all human petitions.
If I didn't I apologize it was
it just I I for that I'm happy
to do a roll calls on those
yeah yeah yep yep happy to do
so so can we do a roll call
vote mr clerk undocking number
1787 if roll call vote on
docket number 1787
council operated yes
councilor breadon yes.
Councilor colette as a partner.
Councilor as a party yes.
Councilor durkan.
councilor fitzgerald counts
of his show.
Yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
Council yes.
Councilor louijeune yes.
Council me here councilor you
mejia yes councilor murphy.
Councilor murphy yes
council have a pan council have
a pan yes.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber council member
yes.
In councilor worrell yes.
Councilor worrell yes so I can
number 1787 has received 11
votes of the permanent thank
you and can we do a roll call
vote on number 1788 roll call
vote and I can number 1788
councilor braid yes.
Councilor breadon yes.
Councilor colette as a partner.
Councilor as a partner, yes.
Councilor durkan
councilor fitzgerald is
councilor vice-chair yes.
Councilor flynn councilor flynn
yes.
Council louijeune yes louijeune
yes concilor mejia here
concilor mejia here yes
councilor murphy
councilor murphy as
councilor pippin
council opinions yes.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber yes.
In councilor worrell yes
councilor worrell yes talking
number 1788 has received 11
votes in the affirmative.
Thank you.
This one has passed.
Did we and we did a roll call
vote on docket number 1789 we
did.
Okay.
All right.
So now we are on docket number
1790.
Mr clerk, could you please read
docket number 1790 docket
number 1790.
Councilor weber offer the
following petition for a
special law regarding an act
directing the city of boston
police department to waive the
maximum age requirement for
police officers for edney.
Joseph thank you.
The chair again as a
council member you have the
floor.
You now have the floor.
Okay.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I like it too.
Movement for age waiver say I'm
glad to join in in moving
forward requests for an age
waiver for any joseph he lives
in west roxbury born in haiti
but moved here as a kid and
graduated from west roxbury
high school.
He has a family was dedicated
to law enforcement.
His brother is a boston police
officer.
He has spent the last several
years.
First he worked as a court
officer in in the district
courts and for the last couple
of years has worked as a police
officer at northeastern because
he's 44 and given his ties to
the city and having worked as a
court officer in northeastern
police officer, I believe he'd
be a great fit for the boston
police department.
You know, it's why I'm seeking
a suspension and passage
of this order today.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, councilor weber, I
actually I have a I have a
question if I MAY myself to ask
the question through the chair
of government operations or
anyone who knows is there an
upcoming deadline that folks
are because we have one that we
were working on in my office
but want to know if there's an
upcoming deadline that we
should be aware of that anyone
should be aware of.
The chair can I just kind
of record as a party of the
floor?
I had heard anecdotally that
there's an upcoming deadline
having to do with the academy
or the test but I can't say for
sure.
Okay.
All right.
For now.
Thank you.
All right.
Anyone would like to ask to
speak on this matter but anyone
else like to add their name?
MR. Clerk, please.
Councilors breadon and collette
as a partner fitzgerald flynn,
mickey murphy band santana
world please are the chair
councilor weber suspension
of the rules and adoption
of dock number 1790.
MR. Clerk could you please
conduct a roll call vote roll
call vote on dock number 1790
with councilor breadon?
Yes.
Councilor breadon yes.
Councilor colette as a party
councilor as a party, yes.
Councilor durkan
councilor fitzgerald.
councilor fitzgerald yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
Councilor louijeune yes.
Concilor mejia here.
Yes.
Councilor murphy.
Councilor murphy yes.
Councilor pippin council have
been yes.
Councilor santana.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber yes.
Council whatever.
Yes.
And councilor worrell?
Yes.
Councilor wu yes I can have
a1790 has received ten votes in
the permanent I mean 11 votes
and in four.
Thank you.
Docket number 1790 has passed.
MR. Clerk, can you please read
docket number 1791 duck number
1791 council breadon and
louijeune offer the following
order for a hearing to discuss
the role of publicly owned
grocery stores in addressing
food insecurity.
Think of the challenges
councilor brading has operated.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I would like to suspend suspend
the rules not consider colette
as a partner as a third
co-sponsor.
Councilor breadon seeks to bend
the rules had council cut as
about as a third original
co-sponsor seeing and hearing
no objections councilor colette
as a partner so added
councilor and you have the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
this is a hearing order and I
emphasize it's a hearing order
to discuss the role of publicly
owned grocery stores in
addressing food insecurity in
the city of boston.
This hearing order has
generated a lot of interest as
many of you are aware in the
news is right in this moment as
we see snap cuts as snap
benefits being cut and the
increase of increase of food
due to inflation due to tariffs
the cost of food sorry and it's
in this moment the boston
greater boston food bank did is
is flagging up the fact that an
increasing number of our
residents in the city of boston
are food insecure to this
hearing is asking us to explore
the possibility of whether or
not establishing publicly
funded grocery stores would be
another tool that we could use
to strengthen our food
infrastructure in the city
of boston developing
alternative modes of food
access is vital at this point.
Many of us live in
neighborhoods such as rundle
square and brighton center is a
food desert.
Believe it or not, we have
residents in the city of boston
who live across the street from
wonderful grocery stores but
they MAY be on limited income.
They MAY be retirees or folks
with disabilities.
They MAY be single parents
trying to raise a family.
And very often the the fact
that there's a food food store
across the street but they're
not able to access it.
Our former colleague, former
city councilor ayanna pressley
congresswoman ayanna pressley
uses the term food apartheid
because of the fact that you
have a grocery store across the
street doesn't necessarily mean
that you're able to afford to
buy food there.
So I really would love to set
this forward.
I know that council PRESIDENT
Louijeune had a very similar
hearing order to discuss access
to food, different modes
of allowing access to food in
the city of boston.
So it's a great pleasure that
I'm actually melding these
these two dockets and having a
conversation about food
insecurity in the city
of boston.
You know, food it's a sad
reflection of the fact that we
live in the richest country in
the world and there are
children and young people and
elders going to bed hungry at
night when there's an abundance
of food.
We are literally plowing
thousands of tons of food into
food into landfill going
perfectly edible.
So it's been disposed of in
landfill when we have folks
hungry in the in the in the
city and across the country.
So thank you.
I look forward to this very
important hearing and thank you
for your partnership on this
one.
Thank you.
Accounts are great and I really
like the framing of abundance
because we do live in a city
of abundance and just don't
know you're doing the best
of ensuring that all of our
residents have access to food
quality food.
I was really 15 on this because
we were thinking very similarly
and you filed this one.
I filed it very similar here in
order to look at how we support
our nonprofit grocers and
looking at alternative models
like city owned supermarkets so
that I do hope in our hearing
we're able to also have a
broader discussion to support
our nonprofit grocers.
Many of you know the closure
of the daily table in mattapan,
roxbury and dorchester really
affected the residents.
I was in roxbury a few weeks
ago with the madison park
corporation residents over on
do it drive and who are really
lamenting the closure of the
daily table we have a number
of others the closure of farms,
the closure of boston organics
and we have dorchester food
co-op which is in need
of assistance and in need
of help that I've been happy to
support.
So I want this hearing to be
about how we support our
nonprofit grocers, how we're
supporting more urban farming
and looking at what's been
working in places like atlanta
is opening a city supported
grocery store after large
grocers have abandoned black
neighborhoods or madison,
wisconsin or venice, illinois
that have looked at city
sponsored markets.
These are examples that that
exist that we can continue to
work on and a hearing can give
us the opportunity to examine
what we can do better as a
city.
See eliza wasserman from the
office of food justice
of course want to thank her for
all of the work that she does
and a number of what really
really made me want to put the
proposal this forward was last
week a number of us were on a
call with the boston food
access council and they were
uplifting the challenges that
our residents especially our
senior residents had with
securing food.
I mean so I think now's the
time really for us to have this
conversations we've shouted out
councilor weber brought the
students here kids here from
hyde square task force.
We didn't amazing work
of pointing out food
discrimination or super at
stopping shop over charging
folks at roxbury and compared
to what folks in the suburbs
are getting.
So I just think this is a
timely conversation to explore
fragile food network in
partnership with our food
justice advocates to see how we
can move this forward.
Thank you.
The chair could I just
counselor gabriela colette
zapata, you have the floor.
Thank you so much, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
And I want to thank brayden and
yourself for adding me as a
co-sponsor on this important
hearing order in east boston.
I've talked about this often.
I held a hearing thanks to a
council prepared under the city
services committee.
I held a hearing in boston on
the topic of a food hub and a
food hub is loosely defined as
a low cost or free grocery
store for folks that need it
most while also helping and
supplementing the existing food
systems and food nonprofits
with refrigerated storage
space.
So it's a it's it's a wonderful
idea concept and I'm just
really excited about the food
hub refrigerated storage space
that this council all voted to
fund with arpa funds that's
open at newmarket that now
services dozens of food access
organizations in boston and is
helping to feed hundreds
probably thousands of residents
in and in boston now especially
with the snap cuts this is just
so important in east boston far
too many residents live in
what's considered a food
desert.
Families, seniors and
immigrants struggle to find
affordable and healthy grocery
stores to home because we only
have one grocery store that is
monopolizing everything in the
entire neighborhood and it's
not even transit adjacent.
My office has done outreach to
grocery operators.
We met with the portland food
co-op.
We went to dorchester food
co-op as well.
We're talking to everybody all
the way to minnesota, to
florida and we're really
interested in this and I and I
love the fact that this is at
the forefront of public
discourse now because we talk
about government helping to
assist people and having a real
impact in people's lives and
helping to provide basic human
needs and dignity.
We talk about housing as a
human right access to dignified
stable housing and the city and
the state gets involved in that
.
Food is also a basic human
right access to healthy,
nutritious food and but we
don't talk about the city or
the state coming to play in
that of course we have
different subsidies but to keep
it short I'm really looking
forward to this hearing and I
look forward to the
conversation.
Any ideas that folks have?
Obviously everyone's welcome to
the table and we welcome all
stakeholders.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor for any of the floor
.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I also want to recognize the
important role our co-ops play
across the city as well and
community gardens I have
several in my district
including the berkeley
community garden and the salt
end area across from castle
square.
But I also wanted to highlight
the important role nonprofits
play in supporting residents in
critical need of food.
Many of my constituents are in
need of food clothing residents
in chinatown in the south in
south boston want to
acknowledge the important role
the woman's lunch place plays
in the city of boston located
near the location on newbury
street near copley public
library.
But a lot of my constituents
especially chinese elderly
people do go there and they do
have food for them that is
culturally appropriate for
them.
So I want to want to say thank
you to the nonprofit arts that
play in co-ops but say thank
you to the nonprofits that play
a critical role on social and
economic justice issues.
Our city thank about china the
chair recognizes council areas
law thank you.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I just want to
rise is to say thank you for it
.
Councilor breadon
councilor louijeune and also
councilor led as a partner for
bringing this forward.
Food insecurity is an issue
that I hear across my district
especially when it comes to our
seniors and I do believe that
we need to do everything to
strengthen our food ecosystem.
I do also want to point out and
advocate for the support for
dorchester food co-op if you
live in dorchester we are
fighting to keep this open.
The co-op isn't backed by a
corporation is powered by
residents who built it from the
ground up to make sure fresh
food is available right here in
our community.
We already lost daily table and
we can't lose dorchester food
co-op.
They need our now and I would
just say if you live nearby go
shop there this week.
They're struggling but the
struggle will be even deeper
for our community if they close
their doors and all I need and
I need all of dorchester and
all of boston to fight to keep
the lights on the co-op.
also just want to uplift the
work that our common square
farmer's market does and also
beef back and also the fresh
truck.
They have been fred truck has
been filling in the gaps for
daily table with a lot of our
senior sites in our public
housing.
I'm looking forward to this
area and I do support to
strengthen in our food access
system.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
Would anyone else like to add
their name?
MR. Clerk please add councilors
here pepen santana weber world
this docket docket number 1791
will be referred to the
committee on city services
innovation and technology.
MR. Clerk can you please read
docket number 179 to talk
number 179 to council a reading
of the following order for a
hearing to discuss the minimum
wage in massachusetts.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor brading has a great
and you have the floor.
Thank you MADAM PRESIDENT.
I rise to offer a hearing order
for a hearing to discuss the
minimum raising the minimum
wage in massachusetts this is
just a way to sort of open the
conversation, elevate this as
an important issue we live in
one of the most important and
most expensive cities in the
country and as we know as we
all know in the aftermath
of covid with rising inflation,
tariffs on food imports, the
arrest and detention of of this
is really relevant to the
previous the previous hearing
order on the public grocery
stores.
But the detention of farm
workers etc. The cost of food,
the cost of housing we are
anticipating a dramatic
increase in the cost of health
care in it which is why we are
in the middle of this stop it
this this stoppage at the
national level the minimum wage
in massachusetts was
established under the minimum
wage law and it was since 2013
the raise up massachusetts
coalition which comprised
of more than 150 community
organizations faith based
groups, labor unions and was
led had led a legislative and
ballot campaign advocating for
an increase in the minimum
wage.
I know many of you probably
participated in the raise
of massachusetts campaign back
then to raise the minimum wage
up to $15 so it was passed, the
ballot measure was passed and
the ground up when it was went
to the state house the grand
bargain was struck which
increased the minimum wage to
$12 in 2019 $12.75 in 2020
$13.50 and 21 and $14.25 in
2022.
And right now the current rate
is $15 which became effective
on JANUARY 1st, 2023.
The grand bargain also made
increases for tipped workers
raising the service rate to $4
and 20 $0.35 in 2019 and that
was increased incrementally.
So in 2023 it reached $6.75
with employing employees
required to ensure that tips
plus wages equal at least the
standard minimum wage.
It seems a you know it's a it's
it's an really important issue
to bring to the spring to bring
up right now this is an
economic justice issue and it's
really a just an opportunity to
start the conversation as the
city of boston we're not really
don't really have the power to
legislate and insist on raising
the minimum wage across
massachusetts.
But we can certainly open the
conversation and highlight the
plight of our many, many
workers who are minimum wage
workers who are finding it
increasingly difficult to
survive and stay in the city.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor breadon
the chair recognizes
councilor weber, council member
you on the floor.
Thank you very much, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
Thank you to councilor brayton
for filing this.
You know there is a federal
minimum which is the floor and
states and municipalities can
set a wage is higher than that
floor.
I'm thankful that the federal
minimum wage is stuck at around
725 an hour think that we have
higher minimum wage and look
for ways to, you know, support
our workers.
I'd ask that at the hearing
maybe we talk about also the
boston living wage ordinance
which sets a slightly higher
minimum wage I think it's about
$18.78 for city vendors who are
paying city workers.
Uh, look at that formula and
make sure we're supporting our
city workers too.
I think you know, we heard from
a lot of folks or not we but
you know around the country
when they set a minimum wage
of $0.25 an hour in 1938 that
this is going to destroy the
economy in the united states
and wouldn't be supportable.
Well, you know, we've seen
that's not correct.
And by supporting our workers,
you know, we're only helping
not just the workers but our
economy too.
And so I look forward to
joining councilor brayton on
this, you know, in the in the
hearing.
Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN Is concentrating
on the floor.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I was remiss I
would like to suspend the rules
and add you as a second
co-sponsor.
Thank you.
Times are great and I'm so at
it and I want to thank you for
adding me and filing this.
It does relate to the prior
hearing order on food justice
and I think it's important that
we look at the economic justice
issues here in our city.
The work that my office has
been doing in talking about a
minimum having a floor, a
minimum wage for city employees
if there's work that we can
outside of the collective
bargaining process that's work
that we've been doing on it.
We've gotten some data from
chief florence's shop on that
but I think it's really
important if we are talking
about housing as a basic right
for everyone but our residents
aren't having enough funds to
make that possible.
I think it's time for us to
really have this discussion and
realize that these economic
issues, these pocketbook issues
are the issues that residents
care about a higher minimum
wage we have less food justice
issues and so I'm looking
forward to this conversation
and to hearing from the city
the office of work empowerment
and different departments on
how we can we how we can as a
city tackle some of these
economic issues.
Would anyone else like to speak
on this matter but anyone else
like to add their name?
Mr clerk to the council's
claudia zapata fitzgerald flynn
murphy pepen santana weber
world this docket docket number
1792 will be referred to the
committee on labor workforce
and economic development.
Mr clerk, could you please read
docket number 1793 docket
number 1793 councilors flynn
and louijeune for the following
resolution recognizing domestic
violence awareness functions in
the city of boston.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
MAY I suspend the rules and
councilor murphy, please.
Counselor murphy counselor
flynn since it's been the rule
and rules and outcomes
counselor murphy is the third
original co-sponsor seeing and
hearing no objections.
Counselor murphy so eddie
castro flynn you have the
floor.
thank you, MADAM Chair.
Secretary to counselor murphy
and councilor PRESIDENT
Louijeune for me.
OCTOBER 1st marked the
beginning of domestic violence
awareness month the issue
of domestic violence and sexual
assault remain prevalent in our
society including in the
commonwealth of massachusetts
and here in the city of boston
in 2023.
A report by jane doe documented
that were that there were 19
domestic violence homicides in
massachusetts in 2024 boston
police crime stats report there
were 903 incidents of domestic
aggravated assault up by 43
incidents compared to 2023 in
massachusetts nearly one in two
woman and one in four men have
experienced sexual violence
with nearly one in three women
and one in five men experienced
rape, physical violence and or
stalking according to the
domestic national domestic
violence hotline, the presence
of a gun in domestic violence
situations increases the risk
homicide for woman by 900% in
nearly eight years at the
council I have been deeply
involved with this issue
of domestic violence and sexual
assault holding a number
of city council hearings on
this issue going back to 2018,
2019, 2021.
What then city
council PRESIDENT And now
attorney general andrea
campbell as well as with
council flaherty I worked
closely with a number
of organizations including the
asian task force against
domestic violence, kassam
lerner as well.
I also wanted continue the work
of my mother cathy flynn, who
sought to support survivors
of domestic violence when she
was the first lady of boston at
the city council meeting last
OCTOBER.
I also mentioned that the
national center for injury
prevention that 33 34% of women
and 31% of men experience
physical violence, sexual
violence and stalking.
These numbers are actually much
higher in the military as well.
I follow these numbers numbers
closely in the military and the
sexual violence and of sexual
assaults military member on
military member is staggering
since being elected to the body
of advocated for survivors
of domestic domestic violence
and I think it's a critical
issue and we need to work
together to ensure that
survivors of domestic violence
have the necessary support.
This issue relating to domestic
violence and sexual assaults
are often underreported by
immigrant neighbors.
Members of the lgbtq community
.
I represent a large community
here in district two and I know
a lot of those incidents
violence does not get reported
in the month of OCTOBER and
throughout the year it is
critical that we continue to
work together to break the
stigma and remind survivors
that they are not alone.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you and thank you for
adding me.
This is an important
resolution.
it's one that I filed every
OCTOBER since my since I got
here last term and again 15
twice today.
So thank you for having me.
This is a matter that is
personally important to me and
my loved ones and something
that is important to so many
here in the city of boston.
We last year earlier this year
I sponsored a hearing here and
chambers and we heard from so
many people from shakira
robinson from the asian task
force against domestic violence
from casimir and our from our
very own city staffer at the
boston public health commission
who is right now entrenched in
data to figure out how we show
up better for folks who are
experiencing domestic violence
.
And I want to give her a shout
out kimberly mendoza everett
who is deeply involved in
making sure that we can
eradicate domestic violence if
you look at any major issue
of mass violence or gun
violence at root there is often
a story of domestic violence so
routing out and really
addressing the issues
of domestic violence helps us
to eradicate all forms
of violence.
Intimate partner violence is
probably one of the hardest to
address often because of the
financial burdens that people
feels stuck in situations.
And so it's incumbent upon us
to give people resources and to
help people gain.
If any councilor here has
worked on an issue that
involved domestic violence, you
know that getting our residents
help on these issues can be
really difficult.
So I just wanted to make sure
that people know who are
watching and listening, you
know, that they are not alone
on these issues and that help
is available even in situations
that feel impossible.
And I wanted to make sure that
we give out information.
Information is powerful and is
the most important thing that
people who are in these
situations can have.
So their safe link which is via
casimir or which is 24 seven
domestic violence dating
violence hotline that number is
18777852020.
There's also the asian task
force against domestic violence
a task they have a 24 seven
multilingual helpline at
6173382355 and they're among
others is beth israel deaconess
center for violence prevention
and recovery that has community
based on domestic violence and
violence support advocacy
programs.
So one again shut out all
of these organizations want to
shut out shakira robinson and
shakira a story we want to shut
out jane doe want to shut out
also the work of colleen
desmarais association
of haitian women in boston for
all the work that they do to
center the lived experience
of women and men and all
of those who have been victims
of domestic violence, the chair
recognizes counselor murphy on
the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you counselor flynn for
adding me and always being a
strong advocate and reminding
us of the work that your
wonderful mother did for so
many years.
This is a heavy topic but it's
something that we do need to
always uplift and any time we
can reach out and make sure
those who are victims are aware
that there are resources out
there that that is important.
Many times they struggle and
stay silent because of shame.
But there are so many dedicated
city workers and nonprofits and
just state level also.
So I do just want to take the
opportunity to thank our boston
police, our family justice
center, the social workers who
work alongside so many of them
the public health commission
but also the da's office.
So if you are a victim or if
you need help, know that you
can reach out to any of us here
on the council or any city
agency in that we're here to
give you support.
Thank you.
Would anyone else like to speak
on this matter but anyone else
like to add their name?
Mr clare, could you please that
council's in collette zapata
country gerald maria santana
weber world and please oh okay.
Councilor louijeune and murphy
suspension of the rules and
passage of docket number 1793
all those in favor say I I oh
and councilor prepared
MR. Clerk, could you please
conduct a roll call vote don't
get left the roll call vote on
number 1793.
Councilor breen councilor and
yes councilor colette as a
panel.
Councilor colette as a partner.
Yes.
councilor durkan.
Councilor fitzgerald yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
Helpline yes.
Councilor louijeune yes.
Concilor mejia here.
Yes.
Councilor murphy.
Councilor murphy yes.
Councilor pippin.
Councilor years
councilor santana.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber council member
yes.
And councilor worrell yes.
Councilor wu yes talking over
1793 as received 11 votes in
the affirm thank you this
docket has passed and again if
there is anyone who is
listening at home or in
chambers who didn't get all
those resources, my office as
we do every year will put out a
number of resources if anyone
is in need, if anyone is
experiencing intimate partner
violence or domestic violence
for them to reach out to the
resources that exist here in
the city.
The chair record.
MR. Clerk would you please read
docket number 1794 number 1794
council is colette as a part
of an louijeune off of the
following resolution in support
of an east boston cultural
district designation.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor that as a partner you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I'd like to suspend the rules
and add councilor mejia as a
third co-sponsor.
COUNCILMAN, here comes a closer
partnership.
Suspend the rules that caused
me.
He has a third original
co-sponsor.
Seeing and hearing no
objections comes from here.
So at it comes record as a
party of the floor.
Thank you so much and I rise
partnership with
council PRESIDENT Louijeune and
councilor mejia to offer this
resolution in support of an
east boston cultural district
designation.
This is a request that came
directly from the east boston
community.
This boston has always been a
neighborhood defined by its
creativity resilience and
diversity.
Our artists, small businesses
and cultural organization are
the heart of our community
telling our stories, bringing
people together and driving
local economic opportunity.
Designation as a cultural
district would help strengthen
and protect this ecosystem.
It would provide new
opportunities to preserve
historic landmarks, support
local artists and attract
investment from community based
programing, public art and open
space improvements.
It would also help us better
protect residents and cultural
organizations from displacement
ensuring that east boston's
creative identity remains
accessible inclusive for all
who call it home.
Not too many people know but
boston was home to a lot
of artists in the 1980s.
In the early 2000s because it
was very affordable for them
and they have also with with
the displacement gentrification
crisis have had to move.
But there there's a resurgence
and renaissance of of cultural
identity in east boston
centered around various
countries and ethnicities but
also really speaking to east
boston's identity over the last
century really across the city
we've seen how cultural
districts and places like
fenway, roxbury, the latin
quarter and boston's little
saigon have brought new energy,
collaboration and visibility to
local.
It's time for east boston to
join that network and be
recognized for the incredible
cultural asset and artistic
assets that we have.
I'm grateful and grateful to
organizations like lawyers
committee for civil rights
yvonne who is also an east
resident east neighborhood
advocates civically leaders and
cultural organizations who have
been laying the groundwork for
this effort.
And I'm proud to bring this
forward to honor and uplift
east boston's creative spirit.
And I respectfully ask my
colleagues to join me in
supporting this resolution.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor cleta
zapata I want to thank the
boston advocates who made this
possible.
You listed some of them
including yvonne espinosa
madrigal who's been meeting
month after month to make this
possible.
I want to thank jessie purvis
on my team who's attended many
of those meetings.
It's so important that we
celebrate the richness of our
diverse cultures in the city
of boston but we also ensure
that it's not just a
designation that there's
economic empowerment along with
that economic development.
So I just wanted to also shout
out michael bobbitt for the
mass cultural council who has
had many conversations with
me about cultural districts and
hopefully we'll be able to
bring him in here to talk a bit
more about these cultural
squared these cultural
designations because I think
they can if done right and
thoughtfully can really be an
economic boon to the
neighborhoods that are so
designated.
So I think you can take that as
a positive or bring this
forward.
And thank you to all of the
east boston advocates for the
work that they've been doing
for over a year to make the to
bring this before us the chair
recognizes comes from here you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT and
thank you to councilor clarissa
pata for inviting me to
participate as a co-sponsor.
You know the heart of every
neighborhood is its peoples,
its stories and its creativity
.
East boston represents all
of that and more.
When we invest in culture we
are investing in belonging.
A cultural district is about
preserving identity.
It is about celebrating
community.
It is about creating
opportunities that reflect the
vibrancy of the people who call
east boston home.
This effort is a reminder that
art is not separate from our
daily lives.
It is woven into how we connect
and how we build stronger
of neighborhoods.
I am proud to stand in support
of this resolution because it
centers community voice and I
hope that as a city we continue
to support spaces that not only
showcase culture but sustain it
.
And as a donna mccay graduate
and someone who also attended
the humana back in the day it's
possible for all will forever
be in my heart so really
excited to see this work and
having participated in some
of the meetings that have
existed prior to this
resolution being filed, I'm
really excited to make every
effort that we can make this
possible.
Thank you.
Anyone else looking to speak on
this matter?
Would anyone else like to add
their name?
MR. Clerk said council is
braedon flynn, santana weber
worl fitzgerald murphy
councilors clarke zapata
louijeune and mcguire
suspension of the rules and
adoption of DR. Number 1794 all
those in favor say I I all any
the ayes have it this docket is
passed.
MR. Clerk could you please read
the number 1795.
Number 1795 council as murphy
and flynn offer the following
resolu tions supporting
boston's police officers and
first responders in condemning
violence against those who
serve.
The chair recognizes murphy on
the floor.
Thank.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I would like
to suspend the rules and add
fitzgerald councilor murphy has
been the riverside county
manager of the third original
co-sponsor seeing and hearing
no objections, he added
councilor murphy to the floor.
Thank you.
This resolution is supporting
boston police officers and all
first responders in condemning
violence against those who
serve in the early morning
hours of OCTOBER fifth a
violent incident in the south
and roxbury neighborhood
resulted in a boston police
cruiser being torched and
officers assaulted while
responding to an unlawful
street takeover.
This was the third in a long
night of violence across
boston.
The first one started in the
home depot parking lot in west
roxbury.
There was an incident that
occurred in high park and then
ended in the south end.
This incident underscores the
real dangers faced by the men
and women who wear the uniform
police officers, firefighters,
emergency medical personnel and
also many of our city workers.
These individuals perform
difficult and often dangerous
work with professionalism and
dedication to serving the full
support and gratitude of the
communities they serve.
The families of our first
responders also carry the
weight of this sacrifice hoping
each day their loved one return
home safely.
Our city strength and public
trust depend on standing firmly
with those who protect and
serve while ensuring that
violence and lawlessness will
never be tolerated.
I also want to highlight last
night since we filed this
resolution there was a rally
going on in arrest and at same
time a couple of blocks away an
arrest was being made for
something completely different
and those officers needed
backup.
Someone they called a one for a
backup and the cruisers came to
support our officers who were
doing their job.
Many of those who were a part
of the rally then blocked the
police cars and then broken
bones and beer sprayed was
targeted to many of our first
responders and police officers
here who were injured.
So I think it's important that
we as a council reaffirm our
commitment to ensuring that
boston's first responders have
the resources, respect and
protection they need to do
their job safely and that their
family know that this city
stands with them today and
always.
Thank you.
Did you recognize the times
of plenty on the floor?
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, councilor murphy,
for adding me as an original
co-sponsor.
Over the last several weeks we
have seen ongoing violent
assaults against the men and
women of the boston police
department.
This includes a police officer
shot and roxbury police
officers, an assault and the
south end where their car was
set ablaze.
This is awesome.
This is attempted murder last
night in downtown boston police
officers were assaulted by a
violent protest mob.
It was a riot.
Police officers were
outnumbered and unprepared for
this riot.
Although we are a city that
welcomes public protest, what
we experienced last night was a
riot.
It is never acceptable to
assault police officer or four
first responder.
Last night in this weekend's
assault on boston police
officers must be prosecuted and
if convicted a state's sentence
is warranted.
There also needs to be higher
bail for those who are
arrested.
We cannot accept lawlessness on
the streets of boston.
It is critical that we support
our police officers and their
families.
I wrote to commissioner cox on
monday morning asking for more
enforcement throughout the city
.
For years I've advocated for
hiring hundreds of police
officers every year for the
next decade to address long
standing issues of police
staffing levels, mandatory
overtime overstretch resources,
looming retirements.
What do we think the
environment over the last
several years for police
officers or incidents like this
do for recruitment?
What does it do for retaining
police officers?
Many have gone on to the fire
department.
I hold monthly meetings year
round to prepare for this.
For the st patrick's day parade
they told me we lost we lost
130 police officers last year.
It is long past time for the
boston city council and all
elected officials to stand up
and support the men and women
of the boston police department
firefighters, ems personnel and
condemn all acts of acts
of violence intimidation
against our dedicated city
employees.
I'm asking my city, my
colleagues not to worry about
activist and do what's right
for this city.
The boston police department is
one of the most highly trained
in the country.
They are not part of the
problem.
They are part of the solution.
I'm calling for an
investigation of the facts.
What happened last night?
What happened in the south end.
Thank you.
I'm not kidding.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I'm not I'm not happy with the
way things are going and I want
to make sure that we have the
right resources.
MADAM Chair, last night at the
at the riot we didn't have
enough police officers present.
I don't think the police
officers had the right
equipment as well.
That's a concern to me.
I can't sit here and remain
remain silent while men and
women of the boston police
department don't have the
resources or the tools to do
their job.
We need to get involved in this
issue and get off the
sidelines.
Thank you, MADAM
Councilor fitzgerald, you have
the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
It's great to have people who
care and people who want to
speak up and speak out whether
it's about democracy being
dismantled before our eyes or
standing up for any of the
numerous atrocities around the
world, people should stand up.
That gives me hope.
But make no mistake we're at a
tipping point beyond actually
with how folks are standing up.
Since when does breaking a
police officers a boston police
officer's nose a member of the
finest police force in the
country help advocate for your
cause no matter the cause
between saturday's takeover in
the south end and last night's
protests by boston common, at
least six boston police
officers have been injured and
multiple vehicles vandalized.
I think about the hearing we
had around the bpd clerk that
was assaulted and the disgust
and outrage we all felt when
the city worker was assaulted
in past three days we've had
six assaulted.
Discipline is not fun but it is
necessary.
I'm learning that as a parent
of three kids we must apply
proper discipline for the
people to understand the
severity of their actions
whether it be for political or
entertainment purposes.
And finally I challenge those
who participate in any type
of protest anywhere for any
cause.
Follow the golden rule lead by
example.
That's the hard thing to do to
lead by example.
I think of my own children
looking up to me and how I
would act and might act.
And I want to make sure this
next generation has good role
models and good people to
follow.
Anyone can start a fight.
Anyone can cause trouble.
That to me is the easiest and
lowest form of action anyone
can take to truly enact change.
You must be the change you want
to see in the world.
And if we do embrace the words
of martin luther king jr that
only love can drive out hate.
Then let's start acting like
that.
Our police officers and first
responders have a difficult job
as it is and we should support
them every day not just when
violence occurs.
And my thoughts are with those
injured this past week.
Thank you, MADAM Counselor or
any other floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
And I really want to thank the
council of murphy calls my
friend and colleague fitzgerald
for this important resolution
as our communities are facing
an epidemic of violence.
It's necessary that we call out
these attacks when we see them
in just the past few weeks.
I've called out multiple times
the systemic violence that's
happening in our country.
This violence is affecting our
youth.
And this weekend's incidents is
another example of how
nationwide violence is seeping
into our communities.
I put forward some policy
approaches to address this
epidemic of violence and I am
committed to continuing to work
with our residents, community
organizations long enforcement
and my colleagues and pursuing
concrete actions.
We take at the city level here
in boston to address the
national crisis.
Our police officers deserve to
do their jobs with the
assurance of safety that they
deserve their families who
carry the worry that their
loved ones will not return home
safely.
Deserve better than this.
As chair of the committee on
public safety and criminal
justice, I am committed to
ensuring our police and first
responders are protected, safe
and supported.
I look forward to continuing to
support our law enforcement and
call for the full
accountability of those
responsible for this incident.
I really want to thank the
league sponsors for putting
this and for always standing
with our first responders.
And I'm going to continue to
you know, advocate for these
changes and for these
approaches to make sure that
all our first responders,
including our police officers
are safe here in the city
of boston.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Okay.
Is anyone else willing to speak
on this matter?
What anyone else like to add
their name, MR. Clerk because
it concerns graydon carter,
zapata mejia, santana weber
world peace other chair
councilors flynn murphy and
fitzgerald so expect on the
rules and adoption of docket
number 1795 all those in favor
say I am opposing.
The ayes have it.
This docket is passed.
Mr quote could you please
conduct a roll cover roll call
vote on duck number 1795.
Councilor breadon yeah.
Councilor breadon yes.
Councilor colette a zapata
councilor colette as a party,
yes.
Councilor durkan.
Councilor fitzgerald yes.
Council of australia yes.
Council flynn yes.
Councilor flynn yes.
Council yes.
Council region yes.
Concilor mejia here.
Yes.
Councilor murphy.
Councilor murphy yes.
Councilor per pan
councilor santana.
Councilor santana yes.
Councilor weber.
Council member yes.
And councilor worrell yes.
Councilor oh yes duck can have
us 1795 has received ten votes
in the affirmative.
thank you.
This target has passed
MR. Clerk, could you please be
talking number 1796 duck number
1796 council louijeune offer
the following resolution
recognizing OCTOBER is
cancer awareness month in the
city of boston.
Thank you MS. Court could I
please add councilor santana as
a second original co-sponsor
and since we had the
presentation this morning I'm
not going to speak on this
matter.
I just want to thank again the
ali fund jenny marcellin and
michelle goldberg all for
standing up here.
It was more emotional than I
realized but it's important
that we help our residents with
screenings that we reduce the
disparities between when when
black women and women of color
their prognosis and that we
support and let people know
about the resources that exist
with the fund.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
The chair recognizes
councilor santoni on the floor.
Thank you MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you for added me to this
important resolution.
I also I wrote long remarks but
I think I will get too
emotional so I won't read it.
But I do want to highlight you
know we've been doing really
one thing the early fun for
being here this morning,
looking forward to connecting
them with my family and my
mother to see if there's any
services that that my mother
can benefit from but also just
want to give out a few shout
outs you know, since you know
this year I've been very
focused on trying to do more
work in this area and one
of the connections that we've
been able to make in my office
and I have been able to make is
I'm connecting with the flores
love doctor flores it's my
mother's doctor and she's just
been incredible and we're so
lucky to have her.
But you know, she's very
concerned about early screening
and she's been able to produce
resources and tests to get
already screenings to our
residents and to our families,
particularly at our latino
black and asian populations.
I just want to give her a shout
out for the incredible work
that she's doing.
I also just want to give a
shout out to milagro milagros
maltese who has been an
incredible partner and
collaborator with my office to
try to get resources and
information out to our
residents.
And you know, I think I just
want again I mentioned in my
remarks earlier we're often so
quiet and this and I think so
many people are facing this
battle and it's something
that's so personal, so
emotional and I just want to
use my platform to to uplift,
you know, this issue and to
just amplify the resources to
make sure that the resources
early testing or screening gets
to our most vulnerable families
here in the city of boston.
So I really want to thank you,
MADAM PRESIDENT, for leading in
this and for the work that you
and your office are doing.
and I look forward to the
future collaboration between
our offices.
Thank you.
Councilor santana, is anyone
else looking to speak on this
matter?
Would anyone else like to add
their name?
MR. Clerk please add counselors
.
Coletta oh, apologies the
jargon I just come from here
comes mejia on the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I just want to thank you all
for filing the resolution and
also your advocacy in the
space.
Earlier this year as I
mentioned in the chamber I lost
one of my peer leaders from
back in the day to her battle
to cancer and so that's been a
journey for her and her peers
who are still very active here
in the city of boston.
And I also just want to uplift
and the boston rhythm writers
angie dickerson in particular
who has been leading a lot
of the work in this space and
for advocacy and her organizing
and really bringing awareness
to particularly people of color
in regards to how we can better
support cancer survivors and
also those who have fallen
victim to cancer.
So I just wanted to uplift
angie and the boston rhythm
writers for all their advocacy
in this space and the double
dutch crew as well.
Thank you.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
What anyone else like to add
their name MR. Clerk to that
council is breadon zapata
fitzgerald mcguire murphy
warren flynn this councilors
louijeune and santana 6.0 and
weber anybody any at the hands
of councilors louijeune and
santana as expansion of the
rules and adoption of docket
number 1796 all those in favor
say I held the vote.
MR. Clerk, could you please
conduct a roll call vote roll
call vote on docket number 1796
councilor breadon is
council breadon yes.
Councilor carla zapata
council of the party yes.
Councilor durkan
councilor fitzgerald
councilor vasco yes.
Councilor flynn councilor flynn
yes.
Council louijeune yes.
Council louijeune yes
concilor mejia here.
Council me here yes
councilor murphy
councilor murphy yes
council open councilor santana
councilor S.A. Yes.
Councilor weber council member
yes and councilor worrell yes.
Councilor wu yes I can number
1796 has received ten votes in
the affirmative.
Thank you.
This docket is passed.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read the number 1797 stuck in
number 1797 council's louijeune
and mejia for the following
resolution recognizing
indigenous peoples day thank
you.
The chair recognizes
council PRESIDENT Louijeune
councilor you have the floor.
I like to suspend the rules and
add council whereas the third
original co-sponsor
council PRESIDENT Louijeune see
suspension of the rules here
and seeing no objection.
Councilor weber so added
council PRESIDENT Louijeune the
floor is yours and before I
continue I'd like to hand it
over to councilor breadon who a
few years ago wrote a land
acknowledgment that you would
like to read the chair
recognizes councilor brading
council.
You have the floor.
Thank you, mr chair.
And thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT
.
Several years ago it's
customary it should be
customary every every day at
this time when we're in a
moment of trying to erase
history we MAY often overlook
that this land was inhabited by
native americans and indigenous
peoples for hundreds
of generations before europeans
arrived on these shores.
This is reflected in some place
names we use today we still use
today such as massachusetts,
massachusetts, mattapan,
merrimack, walton sponsored
shawmut in allston brighton
square we have the anthem and
washburn as we prepare to
recognize indigenous peoples
day in the city of boston.
Maybe be intentional in making
a land acknowledgment to
recognize indigenous peoples as
a traditional stewards of this
land.
We also honor the enduring
relationship between indigenous
peoples and their traditional
territories despite painful
histories of genocide and
forced removal, this land
acknowledgment is based on the
modified form of the upstander
project, a boston based
organization committed to
challenging indifference to
injustice by raising awareness
and sharing resources to
encourage upstander as those
who stand up speak out and take
action against injustice so the
land acknowledgment as we
acknowledge the sacred land
where we work, live, learn and
build community has been a
place where people have lived
for over 13,000 years.
This land is the territory
of the massachusetts pawtucket
and their neighbors the
wampanoag and the nipmuc
peoples who have stood this
stewarded this land for
hundreds of generations.
We recognize the repeated
violations of sovereignty,
territory and water perpetrated
by invaders who have impacted
the original inhabitants
of these lands for 400 years.
We extend our respect to the
citizens of these nations who
live here today and their
ancestors who have lived here
for over 500 generations and to
all indigenous peoples.
We also affirm that this
acknowledgment is insufficient
.
It does not undo the harm that
has been done and continues to
be perpetrated against
indigenous people, their land
and water.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
council PRESIDENT Louijeune
council you have the floor.
Thank you and thank you to
councilor breadon for for your
work and for that land
acknowledgment.
I'm proud to introduce this
resolution and recognizing
indigenous peoples day as we
did last year.
This resolution honors the rich
history culture and
contributions of the indigenous
peoples particularly the
massachusetts people on whose
traditional territory the city
of boston is situated including
the ponca boag tribe who lived
around the blue hills area and
calibrated mentioned mattapan
where I was born and raised
which means a good place to sit
we must acknowledge the
difficult legacy
of colonization and the
dispossession of these lands
and displacing indigenous
peoples from their ancestral
lands.
We attempted to erase their
cultures, languages and ways
of life.
This legacy is highlighted with
broken treaties, forced
removals, acts of violence all
of which have lasted have had
lasting effects on indigenous
populations including the
massachusetts and the ponca
poet peoples.
By acknowledging this painful
history we are committing to a
more honest understanding
of our past and to advancing
justice and healing for
indigenous communities.
I want to recognize in addition
the connection to other
indigenous nations including
the wampanoag, the nipmuc, the
penicuik, the and pawtucket
tribes who have shaped the
history and culture of this
region region this resolution
encourages all bostonians
reflect on these histories,
honor the indigenous
communities that continue to
enrich our city and to
celebrate indigenous peoples
day with respect and a
recognition they deserve.
I'm sure a council website will
also mention niqab the north
american indian center
of boston and I was at the
pleasure at jp open studios a
few weeks ago to visit and to
talk to the artists and to just
see how important it was
through art for them to
continue to keep their
histories and their stories
alive.
And so I want to thank everyone
at niqab to to recount your
look at reggie for all the work
that they do and and making
sure that we're centering
indigenous communities whether
when or whether it's when we're
talking about long island and
recognizing that when the
colonial colonialization and
settlement that many of the
indigenous of this land were
pushed off to our to our small
islands and have legacies and
histories and stories there
that it's important for us to
honor and make space for.
So thank you to our indigenous
community here for teaching us
and for leading the way and
thank you to my colleagues and
I'm looking for suspension and
passage and hoping that we can
pass this today.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor me here councilor the
other floor.
Thank you chair and thank you
to MADAM PRESIDENT and thank
you to councilor breeden for
reading that land
acknowledgment indigenous
people day is a reminder not
just of the injustices that
indigenous communities have
faced but their continued
strength and stewardship
of this land.
Our indigenous communities
deserve to be centered as they
are countless generations who
cared for this land long before
our city took shape.
Today is about honoring that
truth as we all know
recognition is important but it
is must be paired with action
that means amplifying
indigenous voices in our civic
life investing in partnerships
rooted in respect and ensuring
that indigenous communities
have the space and resources to
thrive.
So as we as we recognize
indigenous people day let's
make sure that our city
continues to be a place where
all communities see themselves
reflected, valued and heard.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes
councilor weber council you
have the floor.
Thank you chair.
Thank you MADAM PRESIDENT
louijeune and concilor mejia
here for for adding is a third
sponsor to this resolution.
I'm honored to have the north
american indian center
of boston and I grew up in my
district which has been a
valuable resource to me and is
an important advocate for
peoples you know who's who
continue to suffer due to the
impacts of dispossession and
who rely on groups like niqaab
to make their voices heard.
I look forward to joining my
colleagues on monday and and
and I support the adoption
of this resolution.
Thank you.
It's one also thank.
MADAM PRESIDENT and council me
here in council weber and also
thank you to councilor braydon
for it for that letter.
And as we celebrate indigenous
peoples day we need to
recognize that this land was
home to native americans long
before us.
To continue to honor them not
just today but every year.
And this resolution is one
meaningful way to do that.
I also want to highlight that
the cities equity and inclusion
cabinet has dedicated program
manager for indigenous
communities a resource for
anyone looking to learn more
and support indigenous
initiatives here in the city
of boston.
Is anyone else looking to speak
on this matter?
When anyone else like the other
name is a click keep that
counter brain encapsulate as a
party councilor fitzgerald
councilor flynn
councilor murphy
councilor santana please as add
the chair council councilor
PRESIDENT Louijeune mejia in
weber c suspension of the rules
and pass of the docket number
17997 all those in favor say I
are those opposing need as have
it.
Thank you doctor number 179697
has passed.
thank you.
Before we move on would anyone
like to add their name or seek
a motion to reconsider on a
vote when they were out
of chambers?
The chair recognizes
councilor murphy on the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I did add my name when we went
back and did a roll call vote
but I wanted to make sure my
name was added to talk at 1787
and 1788.
I voted in favor but I wasn't.
I did not add to the name
originally so thank you.
Do you have that, MR. Clerk?
Okay.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Okay.
We are now on to green sheets.
Would anyone like to pull
anything from the green sheets
?
Okay.
We're now moving on to late
files.
I've been informed by the clerk
that there are no late file
matters.
Good job, everyone.
Okay.
We are now moving on to the
consent agenda.
I've been informed by the clerk
that there are no additions to
the consent agenda.
The question now comes on
approval of the various matters
contained within the consent
agenda.
All those in favor say I.
I think the consent agenda has
been adopted.
We're now on to announcement.
Please remember these are for
upcoming dates and events.
We have some birthdays coming
up.
Deborah glennon on OCTOBER 11.
Sean jacobson OCTOBER 17th and
rhc on OCTOBER 21st.
So happy birthday to the
upcoming birthdays.
This weekend or next weekend we
have open streets mattapan on
OCTOBER 18th and we also have
the dietrich y's block party at
a painting center block party
next saturday.
I hope everyone has a good long
weekend and in celebration
of indigenous peoples day and
also next wednesday we will
have our hispanic and latino
heritage month celebration.
I hope you have all let us know
who your honorees are.
We are looking again to move a
lot quicker.
We are going to have a
performance here in the b at
the top of the event and we're
looking to have colleagues come
on the mic very briefly, 30
seconds introduce your honoree
and have your honoree speak.
Yes, yes.
Cover it it and have your
counselor and have your
honorees speak for 2 to 3
minutes so that we can move
over into the monte room for
more entertainment, more
fellowship and more food.
Sooner rather than later.
It's that people are often
quite hungry and it would be
great if we are all.
It'd be great if for the
duration of everyone's honorees
if all of my colleagues can be
standing up here and we get
through that in 3040 minutes
and then we're over to the
monte room so try to switch it
up this year that thank you to
the recommendations of council
santana guzman here and guzman
pen in the planning to try to
make this a great event and one
in which we spend more time
together fellowship being in
the monte room okay if anyone
has an announcement now is the
time that you recognize this.
Councilor murphy, you have the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I just want to rise to give my
annual birthday wishes to my
three boys.
So I want to wish my son brian
collin and michael who shares
your birthday counselor
santana.
But I also want to send love
and prayers to my daughter in
law and my son who I think any
hour now any day now will be
adding a grandson to my family.
So looking forward to a fourth
OCTOBER birthday and my family.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Congratulations,
councilor murphy, the chair
recognizes councilor weber.
You have the floor.
Okay.
Thank you.
On sunday, OCTOBER 12th at from
4 to 6 at evergreen cafe in
jamaica plain there will be a
celebration of the life
of marie turley.
Hope you know everyone can join
me.
Thank you.
Thank you, ben.
Thank you for uplifting her
charlie here and her legacy.
The chair recognizes control
flynn, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
And this is the first time I
made an announcement and it's
important for me to make this
announcement because tomorrow
we have a city council hearing
on the impact the government
shutdown is having on veterans.
It's tomorrow at 10:00 but
prior to that at 930 I'm
hosting a reception kind
of informal reception for any
veteran that wants to come
testify but have a cup
of coffee at 930 so right in
the curly room.
So I want to invite my
colleagues here to the
reception obviously to the
hearing.
But for those that are watching
on television I do want to
welcome you to the city
council hearing tomorrow again
tomorrow at 10:00 it's a
hearing on the impact of the
federal government shutdown and
the impact it has had on or
will have on veterans and
military families.
I invite you to the reception
prior to that as well and I I'm
going to be going down to D.C.
Probably in the next week or so
with some veterans to advocate
in support of our veterans and
military families.
But this government shutdown is
going to have a major impact on
veterans military families
especially low income veterans,
low income families that need
the critical services that they
earned and some of those
services are a little bit
of financial support that they
receive monthly from the
government for their services.
Not a lot of money but it's
money that helps pay their for
their groceries or for their
electric bill.
So just one encourage my
colleagues to be here tomorrow
at 10:00 or 930.
Thank you.
Does anyone else have any
announcements?
Okay, I'll make an announcement
and ron would like us all to
take a photo in our pink.
So right after the
council adjourns our staff and
and colleagues we're here.
Just sit tight for us to take a
photo right in front of our
clerk and stenographer.
Okay.
We are now moving on to
memorials.
Would anyone like to uplift a
name?
The chair recognizes counselor
clara zapata.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
First I just want to express
respects because I didn't get a
chance to commemorate charlie
who was a mentor.
My campaign fairy godmother.
MAY she rest in peace and I'm
going to be there.
And so thank you for for
uplifting that.
But I'm also here rising to
memorialize rocco.
Charlie's deeply saddened by
the passing of rocco who we
think is east boston's last
world war two veteran rocco was
100 years old.
He was survived by many cousins
friends and a partner of over
40 years clara clare o'dea
rocco served honorably in the
us army with the 85th infantry
division in italy earning a
bronze star and a purple heart
for his bravery on the gothic
line which was a german in
italian defensive line.
The more I learn about rocco
the more I realize he was a
real life forrest gump his life
was remarkable in the most
peculiar ways.
Yesterday at his memorial I saw
photos of him with bob dole.
PRESIDENT Clinton celebrities.
His life was the inspiration
for a number one bestselling
book the rifle written by east
boston resident petty officer
and veteran andy baggio.
Rocco won an emmy for his
appearance in a youtube
documentary world war two vets
return to italy and for his
role in erecting monuments to
the fallen.
This council voted to dedicate
his own square in east boston.
Thank you so much for that.
You got a chance to see that
before he passed.
MAY he rest in peace and MAY we
carry forward his legacy with
gratitude.
And I'm thinking of his loved
ones during this difficult
time.
Thank you.
I'm so glad as bob the chair
recognizes councilor murphy at
the floor.
Thank you.
I want to uplift greg tumulty
who passed suddenly who leaves
behind young children a family
who loved him and will MISS
Him.
Thank you.
Greg is the name greg tumulty.
Okay.
Thank you.
Would anyone aspect uplift
anyone who was passed?
Okay.
Today we will adjourn our
meeting in memory of the
following individuals.
I'm bob of country club zapata
rock.
Oh, that the chair recognizes
comes flynn.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I also wanted to mention greg
tumulty.
Thank you to councilor murphy
for mentioning him.
He was he was a close friend
of mine.
I also want to highlight a
wonderful woman that passed
away.
I went to her wake last night
in south boston and nancy lee
MRS. Lee was a wonderful woman
mother, grandmother.
She had seven children, five
boys, two two girls.
She was active in the south
boston community.
She was active in the go to
heaven and saint bridget
parish.
But also active in the south
boston sports programs and and
in so many other nonprofit
organizations in south boston
including supporting veterans
and military families.
Many of her children went on to
serve on the boston fire
department but also in other
public safety agencies and in
the us military.
Her husband, mr MR. Lee is a
retired school principal as
well.
But the family is well
respected in the south boston
neighborhood.
And just want to acknowledge
the passing of of MRS. Lee and
her contributions.
She's married to our city and
our country.
Thank you, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
thank you.
And I'd also like to adjourn
today on behalf of louis aviles
cortez, the husband of high
park community leader eileen
mcclellan.
I know that this is a very big
loss for her so I just want her
to know that we are keeping her
and her family in our prayers
on the passing of her husband
today and our meeting in memory
of the following individuals on
behalf of castro carlotta
zapata.
Rocco talese and joseph gerald.
Dynamo dumas to you.
On behalf of councilor
fitzgerald marie maguire.
I'm able to come to flynn,
peter joseph meade and in nancy
lee on behalf of myself, louis
and counselor pepen louis a
valise cortez husband of eileen
mcclellan devils on behalf
of councilor morale andre
taylor on behalf of councilors
murphy and flynn greg tumulty a
moment of silence the chair
moves that when the
council adjourn today do so in
memory of the aforementioned
individuals.
Reminder to my colleagues to
stick around for us to take the
photo in pink round request and
for any staffers who are
currently in the office if you
could come to chambers and we
could take the photo here.
That would be great.
The council was scheduled to
meet again in dianella chamber
on wednesday OCTOBER what's
that date?
I don't have a date in here.
OCTOBER 22nd wednesday,
OCTOBER 22nd at 12 noon.
Thank you to my colleagues
central staff.
the clerk in the clips office
and the council stenographer.
And thank you so much for
filling in for alan today.
We really appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
All in favor of a german police
say I I the capsule is