GOOD EVENING. UH YEAH. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS BEN WEBER. I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCILOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
UH, THIS EVENING IS MAY 26TH, 2026 AND THE EXACT TIME IS 6:11 P.M.. UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UH, BRIEF OPENING STATEMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE. UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, UH,
I JUST WANT TO SAY I COULD GET THROUGH A COUPLE PRELIMINARIES. UH, THIS HEARING'S BEING RECORDED. IT'S ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL TV
AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT OR ON CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. THIS COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS ENCOMPASSES A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT BEGIN
IN APRIL AND RUN THROUGH JUNE. TODAY, UH, THIS MORNING WE HELD OUR UH, LAST DEPARTMENTAL UH, HEARING. UM AND UH AFTER THIS WE WILL BE
HOLDING MEETINGS WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WE WANT TO PUT FORWARD. UM, SO WE'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. THIS IS THE FOURTH OF FOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY LISTENING
SESSIONS. YOU CAN TESTIFY IN PERSON IF YOU'RE TESTIFYING IN PERSON. SIGN IN AT THE SIGN UP SHEET. UH, WHICH IS NEAR THE ENTRANCE. IF YOU'RE ONLINE, YOU CAN, UH
YOU CAN SIGN UP BY USING OUR ONLINE FORM ON OUR COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT DWM AT BOSTON ARCHIVES OR BY
EMAILING OUR CENTRAL STAFF BUDGET ANALYST CHRISTMAS SHOW ON A CAR ISH MARKET@BOSTON.GOV . UH, WHEN YOU'RE CALLED TO
TESTIFY. UH, IF YOU'RE IN THE CHAMBER YOU CAN TESTIFY ONE OF THE TWO MICS OVER HERE. UM PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHERE YOU LIVE IF YOU'RE WITH AN
ORGANIZATION YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TONIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE TWO MINUTES PER PERSON OR ELSE
WE'LL NEVER GET TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE. UM UH, AND THAT INCLUDES UH IF YOU'RE UH IF YOU CAN ALSO GIVE TESTIMONY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
WE HAVE INTERPRETERS HERE, UH, WHO SPEAK CANTONESE SPANISH. UH, WE'RE WAITING STILL, UH, I GUESS AND MANDARIN. DO WE HAVE CANDIES AND OR CANDIES AND OR MANDARIN?
UM OR JUST MANDARIN? I HAVE MANDARIN DOWN HERE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS CANTONESE. INTERPRETER DO WE HAVE? BOTH? CAN'T CANTONESE OR AND OR MANDARIN?
WE ARE WAITING FOR, UH, INTERPRETER WHO'S HERE FOR US? WHO SPEAKS HAITIAN CREOLE? UH, LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT PERSON'S HERE. UM, AND UH, AGAIN, PLEASE KEEP
YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. WE'LL THEN HAVE INTERPRETATION FOR FOR TWO MINUTES AFTER THAT. UM UH AND AGAIN IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TESTIFY ONLINE YOU CAN DO SO AT THIS LISTENING
SESSION BY EMAILING OUR DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET ANALYSIS CHRISTMAS SHOW ON ACTOR ISMA TKO YOU H.R AND AT
BOSTON GOV. UH, THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSION IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 073320740. THIS IS ONE OF FOUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY LISTENING SESSIONS THAT WE'VE WE WILL HAVE HELD HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. UH, THIS IS OUR LAST HEARING ON
THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 8TH, 2026. FOR ANYONE WHO'S HERE IN THIS
ROOM, UH, WE DO HAVE LIKE A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU CAN'T FIT IN THE IN THE SEATS UH, IN YOUR ON THE STAIRWELL YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER.
WE HAVE A, UH THE MEZZANINE WILL HAVE A VIEWING AREA. THERE IS A TV BEING BROUGHT THERE. IT'S NOT THERE YET AND I'M TOLD IT WILL BE THERE ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES. UM, SO THE PLENTY OF PUBLIC
TESTIMONY TO LISTEN TO. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME AND YOU YOU WANT TO ATTEND BUT YOU CAN'T FIND A SEAT. UM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP THE HEARING THIS LISTENING SESSION IF PEOPLE ARE SITTING
IN THE AISLES AND STANDING AND EVERYTHING. SO UM, AGAIN, IF YOU PLEASE MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR YOUR FELLOW, UH, YOU KNOW, BOSTON RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE TO TESTIFY.
MAKE ROOM FOR THEM IN THE SEATS OR ELSE WE WE HAVE TO. OH, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A BUNCH OF SEATS IN THIS ON THIS RIGHT SIDE. IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE COMING IN, PLEASE FIND A SEAT. YOU NEED TO FIND A SEAT OR OR
WE CAN'T GO FORWARD. YEAH. YEAH. I'M JUST UH. YEP. YEAH, I. OH AND POR FOR THE ESTAR AQUI
IN ONE SENTENCE. YEAH. OKAY. >> UH AND SO AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, UH A BRIEF ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ORDER OF ARRIVAL. UM, UH, ALSO IN TERMS OF PEOPLE
SIGNING UP, IF YOU'RE HERE WITH CHILDREN, WE'RE GOING TO CALL ON YOU FIRST. SO, UH, PLEASE BE READY TO GIVE YOUR TWO MINUTES. UM, AND PLEASE STICK TO THE TWO
MINUTES. I'VE JUST RAMBLE ON. YOU HAVE A STATEMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTERPRET. UH, NOW WE'VE GOT SPANISH, MANDARIN, CANTONESE. FOR.
>> WITH START OF THIS IS LIKE THE ESPANOL WITH US TODAY BUT I LIKE THAT. SO YOU'VE BEEN WITH IT AND CONSEJO STYLE DE LA CIUDAD DE DISTRITO SEIS YOU SAW EL
PRESIDENTE DEL COMITÉ SUPERSTARS. SO LET'S SAY ON M ESTAMOS HACIENDO IS THAT INFORMATION REALLY MEAN THAT IS A IS THE
GREAT BANDO ESTAO DMCA Y TAMBIÉN SIENDO TRANSMITTED AND BEBO IN BOSTON PUNTO OF CITY COUNCIL TIBI TAMBIÉN SAYS THAT AS WE CHANGE THE ELECTRICITY
CHANNEL ALSO IT CANNOT TAKE THOSE THE RSA AND E FIELDS STILL CANNOT SAY SQUAT. EL PROCESO DE REVISION THAT PRO SUPUESTO DEL CONSEJO INCLUDING BY YOURSELF. YES.
OKAY ELISA I DON'T KNOW NOBODY CONTINUE AND THAT'S THE WHOLE NEW ESTAMOS AHORA IN LA ULTIMA AUDIENCIA CABRA E DEPARTAMENTO ALI DESPUÉS DE NOS VAMOS PARA
PROSTHETIC USTEDES PUEDEN TESTIMONIAL AQUI AND PERSONA AUTOMOBILE PUEDEN HACER PERSONA BURGH DECLARATION PERSONA
PASADO LA LISTA DE LA ENTRADA. SEE YOU ANOTHER TESTIMONIAL TO HELP WITH INFORMATION SAY SE PUEDEN NOTE THAT IN LA FORMA IN LINEA OR AMBIENTE CORREO
ELECTRONICO THEY SAY PUNTO DE. ALL ALL LEVELS FROM PORTUGAL OR ELECTRONICO ARKADIUSZ FROM AT PUNTO TROJAN A ROBOT MOST GOAL
IS CUANDO PORFAVOR PUEDO PASAR WITHIN DECLARATION ESPANOL ESO BY INTERPRETER BEGAN ENGLISH PUEDEN POR FAVOR THEY SEE YOU SOON HOMBRE.
E UNA DE ESTOS DOS MICROPHONE SEE SO AFFILIATION SO RESIDENCIA YOU VIETNAM SOLAMENTE MINUTO COMENTARIOS TENEMOS TIEMPO VAMOS A THERE IS
A LIMITED MINUTO. >> IF IT. VAMOS UH. IN. >> A LATTICE. >> YOU'LL STILL TESTIMONIAL PUBLICOS EL DIA DE ALL. IS THAT IN LOS FOR THE FSA
LOCATED THIS THIS I'LL SAY YOU'LL SEE A THICK WHAT YOU SAID DE LAS CUATRO SESSION IS A TESTIMONIAL PUBLICO RESPECT. CORPORATE SUPUESTO DELANO FISCAL DEL DOS PLEASE WAIT TO
SEE IT E TODOS ESTOS ASSUNTOS SIENDO PADALKA MICHELLE WOLF IF YOU DON'T IF YOU DON'T ALCHEMY EL OTRO THEY BEING THE LATEST SAFE POR FAVOR IS YOU SEE I
DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET THIS CONTINUES BANDA PODER DECLARED PRIMERO. HOW WHAT YO I'M WEBER UH SHE
WROTE TO YOU AT SHOULD YOU UH TYPE WILL YOU SOMEWHERE WAY TO SEE UH GENIUS STARTING ARE WHEN THERE WE ARE TO DO A HOT THEN TO THE KINGDOM WE JUMP A LITTLE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TV TO REPORT UH BEING IS THE PORTAL XFINITY THE POPPING THE UH RCMP PASS OUR DOG UH.
VOICE UH TEACHER LEO SU PINTO SHU HER USUAL DUO TANG JOHN POCO CAPTAIN DON'T WE SHE TOLD YOU YET? WELL, MY CHARLIE CODY. UH, CHARLIE CODY JUNIOR
INTERPRETER TO QUOTE HONG TONGA . UH, THE JUNTA PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR. UH, NIKOLAI TOMBOYISH. UH, YOU DON'T THINK IT'S HIGH TIME YOU DON'T WAIT FOR YOU?
OH, MY YOUNG TIME MAN. THINK SO? 2018 DOWNTOWN TRAM YOUNG YUKON KAI FABIO DON'T WAIT. UH, WELL DON'T UH. TEEN DON'T.
TAKE HOME THE ONE TO PASS INCOME SLASH COUNCIL UM BUDGET UH DOMAIN. YOU WON'T YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING . UH DON'T QUIT I'M PAY RUSSIA.
UH, I'LL TELL YOU IN PERSON FOR THAT UH UH YOUR VIDEO HOW YOUR TEEN PARENTS ARE UH WE ARE VIDEO HA SHOWERS LIVE WITH THE AIR.
AND THE PREACHING TO THE FIRE. UH, ZOOM SESSIONS I I, UH, CRUCIFYING NIKOLAI. UH UH, USUAL TUNE TO WATCH I I
CAN TAKE UP UH UH UH FAR AWAY I USE YOUNG UH SKI DOT AND AT BOSTON DARK OF.
UH RUN DOWN IF I AND THE UH SHOTS AND SHOW ME THE SINGING IS A SOCIAL CHICO JUJUTSU BEING CHUNGCHEONG FIRE AND COUNTRIES
I DON'T I DON'T EAT MY CHIP ALSO AND THE EASIER THOUGH NOT BEATING THE. UH GLUCOSE LEARNING UH YOUR OWN UH SHOW FOR YOU BY HOW YOU PUT
ON WHAT? UH HOW YOU THINK? YEAH. SHE COEVAL SHE SHE.
UM MY BANG WE DON'T SEE THEY LOOK CRAIG OUT. YEAH. GO. HEY, BOSSY. DONE. SEE YOU AND WE TELL MORE AWAY AND DO THEY COME YET? HIRING YOU LANE AND YOU EAST
OF LAHORE. HIGH LEAGUE OR SAIGON HIGH POINTY GETTING THING BOY HIDING DOUGH LOOKING TORNADO HATER HYPER SEDAN. UM DARK.
CITY CANCER TV DUNHUANG JACKPOT I THINK HEIDEGGER AFFINITY HERE PANDO BUT I SEE AN PANDO BUS UPDATE ON MY F PANDO GET GALAXY S I BOUGHT IT CAT SEE YOU.
ARE YOU SHOOTING ON SOME TITAN GEORGIA HYPERLOCAL YET I DID HOW I KONG COIN DING DING. WAY TO GO. SEE YOU. YEAH HATHI YOU TAKE YOU LET IT GO LIKE OH MAN I TOLD TO SECOND
TIME YOU T GET GAUTENG TYCOON SEE ME. ENGAGING. T NIHAR YOU GO. HEY TOM YOU NOW? YEAH. HEY TOM GANG ARE THEY GETTING PENGUIN BIG DA HIGH GONG HIGH
GETTING ALL DAY. HEY JIM WE HOME WE SEE A BOW MOUNTING THING. WE? WAIT UH. TOM YOU HAVE SAY TING ALL DAY TOM GANG OR THEY GETTING THING
WE. I GETTING ALL A HIGH MITIGATING TIME WHICH I LEARN T TWO MORE AND HYUNG YOU THINK HONG KONG CHONG G CAN GET TING TING WAIT ON HOW DEEP SOUTH CHOONG KONG
CHONG GET UH 20. YOU INDICATING TING WE YET TO HANG ON BY. HEY, WHAT ARE THEY? HIGH HIGH MON TIME PASSES DUNKIRK COUNCIL BUT JACKSON
TELL YOU TO HANDLE IT DON'T WANT YOU WANT MY HIGH SCHOOL HIGH LING DING DING BOYS IN YOUR HEART HOW YOU SAY YOU ABOUT YET HUMS. SINK A LONG TIME DON'T DON'T YOU EASE UP LOCK YOUR CASE IN
CASE THEY HARM LOCK THEM GOOD HOW YOU 20,000. IT'S A HIGH TONGUE THOUGH DO THINGS SOME NINJA I DON'T THINK IT ALL RIGHT HOW LONG ARE THEY
GOT? SOME TEN HOUSE IN SHANGHAI. UH LINK. THANK YOU. GO SAY. YOUR 20. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE. YOU GO I THINK THOUGH WE TEN. THERE. YEP. FOR GUN HEIGHT ON GAY BILLS ARE
GETTING MAN. YOU SO YOU HOW YOU DOING A RELATIVELY HIGH SAYING WHAT A SEE WE YOU SHOULDN'T GET SOME TIME ON TIME SHOW AND GET SEEN SHOW.
HOPE YOU GOT HIGH JOHN HANG DO YOU TALK IT I THOUGHT SONG TNG OKAY NO DOC UM AT BOSTON DOCTOR .
WHAT THEIR HEIGHT KISS MY GET CHOSEN AT BOSTON DOC CALLED IN HEIGHT WHY YOU IN. COME. >> THEY DID. DON'T LET AGE AND PHOTO I HOW
TO SHOOT ME SINGING TO MY SHOTS OKAY WHITE GOATEE DAY BY JOURNEY DAY IF YOU GET SECOND HAND I LEARNED FROM JOHN JULY YOU COP OSORIO YOU CAN CALL MY
YELLOW BE LONGER HATING TOE THEY YOU TO I SEE ME SING TO TOKYO DL GETTING HIGH FASHION GO AWAY AND WE GO YEAH WE SHOW SEEK M AT BOSTON DOC GOT.
THAT HOW LONG I TAKE A LONG SHOWING UP YOU GOT HIGH TEACHER YOU DIDN'T LEARN FUN DON'T GETTING TEACHING PAIN. YOU LATE. >> I SAY YOU LOOK I SEIZING YOU WE YOU ALLOW TELLING YOU YOU
HOW TO SAY HI BY PHONE SEIZING WHAT YOU SEEN GUY WONG BOSTON SCOTT CONTRA PUDGY LEARN YOU YOU'RE ENTITLED YOU TALK TO YOU HOW?
JOHN JOHN HONG INTERN I OCTANE ALL THEY HOW YOU DO BO MANGA SUN JOY GJ DEMON HI MOVIE WAY
FAT UNION HIALEAH AND I'M DOING A DON'T THINK YOU SEE GOD YOU GO HEY MOM HI THANK DAN HEY MAY I THANK YOU THING FOR SOMETHING DOG WHO DON'T LAUGH GM CATCH MY UH CHOW HUNGER YEAH SON.
YEAH. HOW'S MY HAND AT BOSTON DOCTOR I TELL YOU AND SOME GUY WILL YEAR IN DIP ARE THEY WAY DOWN NAGA SING MING TO MY YEAH FOR
MORE FUN SAY YOU SHOOT YJ HI. THERE YOU GO. SECOND TEAM GOD OR HIGH DANCER YOU ALL DAY YOU COME YET? HI SHOW YOU YOU YO BODY I WILL SEE WHERE YOU I FIND YET YOU IN
FRONT VIEW I WOULD SAY BANG ARE YOU POTENT LA HOYA DAY TOMORROW YOU. OKAY? >> HOW ARE YOU FOOTBALL YOU GO HIGH SEASON PANTING FROM GET DOWN GAVE YOU SOUND DON'T
JOGGING IS HOW JAKE GYM NASIR SHOW YOGA UNION FAN YOU YOU GO YAHOO YAMAHA YE MANGA SHOUTING THANK YOU FOR GANGA UH FINA DUNGEON.
BECAUSE I YEAH. OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE'RE WE DO HAVE A HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETER WHO IS ON THEIR WAY. UH INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES ARE
EACH GOING CAN HAVE A MINUTE UH TO TESTIFY I JUST I I'M NOT DOING I'M JUST GOING LEFT TO RIGHT SO COUNCILOR MEJIA COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR CULPEPER COUNCILOR DURKAN
COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCILOR SANTANA. UH WE WILL WE MAY PAUSE WHEN THERE IS A BREAK FOR, UH, OUR HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETER BUT ME SO WE DO ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY FOR SHOWING UP AND TUNING OUT THE WAY YOU DID THE RALLY ON CITY HALL PLAZA THE YOUTH LED MARCH AND BLOCKING CONGRESS EARLIER SHOWS THAT THE
POWER REALLY DOES LIE WITH THE PEOPLE. DON'T LET ANYONE TRY TO TELL YOU OTHERWISE. OUR OFFICE. HAS FILED OUR AMENDMENTS TO RESTORE THE CUTS PLUS A LITTLE
BIT MORE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT RESTORING THE CUTS WAS JUST NEVER ENOUGH. THESE AMENDMENTS REFLECT THE TOTAL AMOUNTS THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING TO BE ON THE COUNCIL'S AMENDMENTS, AND I
PLAN TO CALL, SIGN AND SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES AMENDMENTS AND THEN ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE REACHING THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LINE ITEM IN OUR OFFICE. SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS OKAY, I
WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND WE ARE OUR HOPE IS TO DELIVER. AND SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THIS WORK.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE FILED, OUR OFFICE SUPPORTS THE BE TO USE CALL FOR A BETTER BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING WORKING SESSIONS. I WILL BE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY AND BECAUSE I BELIEVE
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY UH I AM GOING TO BE ASKING UM MOVING FORWARD UH NOT. NOT THIS CYCLE BUT MAYBE AT SOME POINT THAT WE HOST OUR WORKING SESSIONS INSIDE THIS
CHAMBER AND THAT WE DO SO TRANSPARENTLY AND THAT WE CREATE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS BEING SAID AND DONE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF MY BIGGEST ADVOCACIES MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS A SINGLE MOM I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY BUT MY STAFF WILL BE HERE THE ENTIRE TIME AND WILL BE UPLIFTING YOUR VOICE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHOWING UP AND SHOWING UP. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH WE HAVE WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN PAGES OF PEOPLE TO HEAR FROM TONIGHT AND WE REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE AFTER COUNCIL HERE IN TERMS OF THE TIME SO PLEASE PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, YOU YOU WENT OVER PLENTY. WELL OKAY, I'LL LEAVE THE BELL RUNNING THAT.
SO OKAY. COUNCILOR FLYNN ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND THANK. >> YOU TO MANY MEMBERS, UM,
FROM DISTRICT TWO INCLUDING CHINATOWN SOUTHWEST AND THE SOUTH END THAT ARE ALSO HERE. TONIGHT'S PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS BASICALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE IMPACT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE ON
THE AMENDMENT PROCESS. WHEN WE UH WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST WEEK TO VOTE THE BUDGET DOWN AND THEN DO THE LOBBYING WORK NECESSARY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MAJOR CHANGES
IN THE BODY. UH, BUT WE GAVE UP THAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE WE DIDN'T VOTE THE BUDGET DOWN WHEN I STOPPED WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL COUNCIL WILL CAMPBELL,
EDWARDS, FLAHERTY THEY ALL VOTED THE COUNCIL BUDGET DOWN INITIALLY AND THEN THEY ADVOCATED FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WILL CRITICAL. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION HERE IN BOSTON AND UH ISSUES IMPACTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL TIMED. UH OKAY COUNCILOR CULPEPER. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY, THE PASSION THAT YOU BROUGHT TO CITY HALL THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET HEARING ESPECIALLY TONIGHT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WE HEARD
YOU. WE SEE YOU AND WE STAND FOR YOU. WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT SENIORS SERVICES, IMMIGRATION SERVICES, YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES,
VIOLENCE PREVENTION, PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY GRANTS, FOOD GROW AND OTHER CRITICAL SUPPORTS THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY.
TONIGHT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING DOCTOR KING SAID WHEN HE SAID THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG BUT IT BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE. HE SAID WE WILL RISE ON THE TAILS OF DESPAIR TO THE BEAUTY
AND SEA OF HOPE. HE SAID WALK TOGETHER CHILLING . DON'T YOU GET WORRIED? THERE'S A GREAT CAMP MEETING. WELCOME TO THE GREAT CAMP MEETING Y'ALL DON'T GET UH OKAY
. THIS IS A GREAT CAMP MEETING. OKAY. >> AND AS YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR COLT THAT. THANK YOU. >> YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT. UH, OKAY. UM. COUNCIL DURKAN. HEY. >> NO, NO.
UH. OKAY. >> GREAT. UH, UM, SO JUST COUNCILOR DEREK IF YOU JUST WAIT ONE SECOND. YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE. >> THE STATEMENT? UM. >> ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SO WE HAVE OUR HAITIAN CREOLE
INTERPRETERS HERE IF THERE'S A STATEMENT TO READ. UH, BUT IF YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE LIKE LIVE INTERPRETATION. UH, YEAH. CAN YOU JUST CAN YOU ARE YOU
READY TO DO THAT NOW OKAY. SO WHY DON'T YOU GET SET UP AND AND WE'LL JUST WAIT. YEAH. UH YEAH. SO WE HAVE SOME OTHER INTERPRETERS I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY WENT. UH, THEY'RE IN THE BACK.
UH UM, SO ANY ANYONE WHO, UH, IS WAITING FOR HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETATION, UH, I GUESS WE'RE READY TO GO ON THAT. UM, OKAY, COUNSELOR DURKAN. UH. ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU. CHAIR. UH, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS I'M PICKING UP WHAT COUNCILOR CULPEPER WAS PUTTING DOWN, SO THANK YOU, REVEREND. UM, SO MY DISTRICT HAS EMAILED
ME ABOUT ARTS PARKS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS VOUCHERS. SO, UM, THAT'S PART OF WHAT I ADVOCATED FOR, UM, THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS, UM, PARTICULARLY VOUCHERS, LEGACY
BUSINESSES, ARTS AND CULTURE AND YES SO WELL FOR PARENTS UH ALONG WITH THE LOUIS DE BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD RESTORE FUNDING FOR SENIORS UM AND FOR UM VETERANS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AMENDMENT PROCESS WITH MY COLLEAGUES. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOU HERE TO TESTIFY AND I'M HERE TO LISTEN. THANK YOU. CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. BRAEDEN GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY FOLKS OUT ON THE PLAZA EARLIER . AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO CITY HALL TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY OF ALL OF US IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I APPRECIATE YOUR UH ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AMENDMENT
PROCESS THAT WE WE'VE HAD OUR LAST HEARING AS COUNCILOR UH, WEBER JUST MENTIONED TODAY AND WE WILL START THE AMENDMENT PROCESS THIS WEEK. SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN
,UM, UH, PUT MONEY, MOVE THINGS AROUND SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT YOU'RE ALL GOING TO TALK TO TODAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND GOOD
AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING LAUNCHES AT ALL THOSE UM UM FIRST AND FOREMOST I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE ORGANIZERS, PARTICULARLY OUR YOUTH, UM, WHO HELD A RALLY RIGHT BEFORE THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
WE'RE IN AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIMES RIGHT NOW AND FIGURING OUT THIS BUDGET. I DO FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE YOUTH, UM, WHO ARE STEPPING UP IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS. UH, SOMEONE WHO IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS OUR YOUTH. UM, I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I AM NOT OKAY WITH A $5.9 MILLION UM, CUTS TO YEAR-ROUND YOUTH JOBS.
UM, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE UH, MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY DURING THIS PROCESS RESTORING THE 1800 JOBS UM, FOR OUR YOUTH. I'VE SAID IT ONCE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR MANY OF OUR YOUTH UM, NOT JUST FOR THE JOBS BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, CUTS TO OUR LGBTQ PLUS PROGRAMS TO CUTS TO OUR IMMIGRANT, UM, GRANT CUTS TO OUR BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT
GRANTS. UM, UH, WE DON'T WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, TO RESTORE THIS. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MY FOCUS. UM, THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES WHO, UH WHO SHOWED UP TONIGHT, UH, WHO SHOWED UP THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE THE HARDEST PART IN FRONT OF US, WHICH IS TO
RESTORE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO FUND IN THIS PROGRAM. IT TAKES, UH, YOU KNOW, A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL. SO THAT'S THE THAT'S AFTER THIS IF YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE UH, AGAIN, THIS IS OUR FOURTH
LISTENING SESSION. I THINK I'VE BEEN IN TEN TOWN HALLS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE CITY TO THE OTHER HEARING FROM PEOPLE UH, AS THE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO THOSE
UH, TO TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, UH, AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST HELP THE PEOPLE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S HERE AGAIN. IF YOU CAN'T FIND A SEAT,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ESCORTED OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAUSE THE HEARING SO YOU'LL YOU'LL GET TO TESTIFY IF YOU SIGNED UP. BUT IF YOU CAN'T FIND A SEAT AND THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SEATS UP THERE SQUEEZE IN UP HERE BUT
YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE. THERE WILL BE A TV AND YOU CAN UH UH YOU CAN WATCH IN THE MEZZANINE. UM SO AGAIN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SEAT YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO JUST WAIT OUTSIDE THOUGH
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR HOURS. UH AND SO EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO TESTIFY UH AND I JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE FIRE SAFETY AND STANDING AROUND WE
WE JUST CAN'T HAVE THAT ALSO, UH, PLEASE MAKE ROOM FOR THE HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETER, UH ,SO HE CAN HAVE A PLACE TO SIT BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BE IN HERE.
UM, OKAY, SO AGAIN, TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. UH, WE HAVE, UH, FROM NEW BAY. WE'VE GOT TWO PEOPLE. IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE GOT AISD
HERE AND WENDY, IF THEY'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU CAN TESTIFY AT ONE OF THESE MICROPHONES IF YOU NEED INTERPRETATION. WE HAVE. UH, YEAH, JUST I'M SORRY, I
JUST YEAH. WELL GIVE ME I'LL LET YOU READ THAT AND I JUST STAY THAT STAY THERE. UM UH YEAH YEAH YEAH. SORRY, I JUST I GOT THAT UM SO WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IS FROM
ISAIAH AND WENDY. WE ALSO HEAR FROM OUR HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETER AND THEN ANYONE WHO'S HERE WITH CHILDREN PLEASE COME DOWN AND GET IN LINE OVER HERE. YOU'RE JUST GOING TO. YOU IF. >> YOU'RE HERE IF YOU'RE WITH
CHILDREN SEE A STATIC ON NINOS. UH, PUT A, UH, PERMISO FOR ME. ESPANOL. BUT, UM, OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A STATEMENT. IF YOU IF IF YOU'RE. >> READY, YOU CAN READ THAT
OUT. YEAH, YEAH. BOSSO ATAMAN BOTSWANA. MACEDONIA WASN'T WHAT THAT WORD WAS SO I TOOK ONE POSSIBLE SUPERIOR INTERPRETATION OR MET THEM ALL ADVICE WITH YOU AND I
FAILED IN YOUR BEAUTY SUCCESS POOL. UM COUNSELOR VILLA O'CONNELL SAYS THAT AN AVAILABLE STORE OF A TO ONE CAN A COMMUNITY ISSUED THE VAN CEASE MADE A
MELVIN CEASE LEAH KONYA IS UH SINK GOT HONORED BY TWO CAPTIVATED BY ORIGINAL ALL BY TWO Y'ALL FAIL YOU KNOW US TO SO TELEVISION. SUPER CALM. YEP.
TYPICAL UM PROGRAM NAPOLI INVALID BY AN UP AND UP VISIT THE BGA ON A POST CEASE WHEN AFFECTED BY PEOPLE ON A DIAL UP COMO SEE SEE MORE UH WE'LL JUST
GOT MORE JOIN NO UNCLE TWO DAYS HE DOES PUT MAMA UP. WE KNOW I GOT ON GOSH AND A POSSE SLAPPING OFF THEIR PUT BY KNOCKOUT CAME IN A DOZIER SAVAGE SECOND COOK BY RUBIES
APPLICATION KICKED BY OBI SMOOTH WAY. OH UH OH GOD DO YOU DE LA PAULO POOPOO TESTIMONY ON IT BY 2 TO 1 KEEP IS AN ORIGINAL HOOK UP BY NETWORK SNAP WHATSAPP WELL
DISNEY AS YOU TURN UP WITH SKIPPY BLEAK WILL BE AN ADJECTIVE TO PUT YOUR GOURMET BJ'S ALL BY OKAY PARLAY TO. UM OVERLAP WE SHOULD XIAN UP
THERE OKAY SHASHI BY DOWNLOAD BY OKAY WE SEE UP WITH ENOUGH ANY WILL WILL GET KICKED BY MONKEY HOOKAH SO SWEET WEB LA BOSTON.GOV CAL SO BJ'S UH UNCLE
AS I SEE WHERE BLAH BOSTON.GOV CASTLE BS UNLOAD BY TWO AND UP SHOULD THE UH EVENTS SWEET UH WE'LL UH SEASON AND UP WITH
MEANS ENOUGH FAILING ALL THAT BY TWO SHOULD BE AN AFFAIR. YOU KNOW EVENTS THIS MAY UH CAESAR SUGAR COOKIES SHOW KICKBACK I ALWAYS SOME SECOND CARE KISS YOUR CAKE
BIOAVAILABLE ALL CATS IS RESUME ALSO I TALK UH SOON I'LL BE WALK ON YAHOO JUST LIVE EMAIL BUT KNOCK ON KISS YO I'LL CALL MESSY. WAS.
>> ON THE WHOLE THING. OKAY? >> ALL ALL BY TWO HOOK UH SUDHAKAR KISS SHOP LBJ HOOK UP. NETWORK IS ALSO ILLICIT OKAY
CAR SHIMMER DOT. SHUSHAN CHALLENGE. JAR OKAY POOPOO LINK ZOOM UM NO NAP AS YOU KNOW SOON STUFF SO
WE CAN KICK IT SHOW A LOAD BIAS FOR BUSINESS SERVICE INTERPRETATION SO WE CAN GET QUESTION OKAY UH GETTING I'LL GET CUT AND UP WITH NO GAME UP WITH PULL ESPANOL NO GAME TAP
PULL MANDARIN I BET NO CAN'T UP WITH PWC UM CLEARLY SEEING A VERY LONG NO GAME ENTER PITBULL CANTONESE CANTONESE BY DAWN UM
OLIVE BY LUCA SINCE SUPER YEAH SO GET KICKED BY I SEE A SUPERBIA LOGO MAY THEY KNOW SO BUSY THINK WITH US CHUNKY DRACONIS WE CAN GET KIDS SURE
NO O'CONNELL UNCLE UM NORMALLY SAID DANIELA BUMBO INTERPRETATION OKAY PLEASE SAY LONGER SURE ISN'T PICKING AS WELL GUYS SO OKAY COOKIES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?
UH UH MESS YOUR SUBJECT MESSY. OKAY LET'S SEE. UM OKAY. UH SO FIRST UP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR.
MIS MISREADING EVERYONE'S HANDWRITING IN ADVANCE BUT, UH IS THAT OKAY, DEAR? OKAY. UH, SO WAS YOUR TWO MINUTES THEN WENDY AND THEN ANYONE HERE IS HERE WITH, UH, A CHILD. UH.
YOU'RE UP. OKAY. >> HELLO? CITY COUNCILS. UM, MY NAME IS. OH, DEAR. I'M 15 YEARS OLD AND I LIVE IN EAST BOSTON. I'M IN NINTH GRADE AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE ORGANIZATION
NEW NEIGHBORS UNITED FOR A BETTER EAST BOSTON. I WANT TO START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BUDGET CUTS ARE NOT JUST AFFECTING ME AS A YOUNG PERSON, BUT ALSO MY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMMUNITY AND YOUTH THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE DOING RALLIES AND PROTESTING, BEGGING FOR OUR COUNCILORS TO REJECT THESE PROPOSALS THAT THE
MAYOR HAS PUT IN PLACE IN SCHOOLS. WE LEARNED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. ARE THEIR JOBS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY'RE MEANT TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING BOSTON GREAT LIKE WE EXPECT IT TO BE. BUT CLEARLY WHAT WE SEE ARE WE'RE SEEING THAT THE BUDGET THAT MICHELLE WU HAS MADE IS
NOT FOR THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH. THESE PROPOSALS ARE AFFECTING US IN A NEGATIVE WAY LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LIKE WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING
FOR PROGRAMS THAT GIVE US AND OUR FAMILIES ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD PRODUCE, CUTTING MONEY FOR HOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES, CUTTING FUNDING FOR YOUTH JOBS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND
SUMMER WHEN I HAD MY FIRST YOUTH WHEN I HAD MY FIRST YOUTH YOUTH JOB LAST YEAR IT WAS A REALLY POSITIVE MOMENT WHERE I LEARNED A LOT OF NEW THINGS AND I LEARNED MORE ABOUT MY
COMMUNITY AND MYSELF AND OTHERS AND I WAS ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP BETTER MY COMMUNITY BY DOING ACTIVITIES THAT BROUGHT KINDNESS AND JOY. I LEARNED TO HOLD PEACE CIRCLES AND HOST FARMERS MARKETS AND
TALK TO EVEN YOUNGER PEOPLE ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND THE BAD CONSEQUENCES OF VAPING. WITH THE BUDGET CUTS THAT THERE THAT THERE WILL BE LESS YOUTH THAT ARE GOING TO BE EMPLOYED
BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT ARE BEING TAKEN OUT AND STRIPPED AWAY, STRIPPING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR YOUTH TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE LIKE I DID. INVESTING IN YOUTH JOBS IS ONE
OF THE SMARTEST AND MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT A CITY CAN MAKE FOR MANY YOUTH. FOR MANY YOUTH IN A CITY FUNDED JOB, WHEN YOU TAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS FROM.
THOSE WHO ARE SORRY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. CAN YOU JUST. WRAP UP? >> YEAH. >> SO I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY UH LIKE END OF BY SAYING THAT BY YOU GUYS ACCEPTING WHATEVER MICHELLE WU HAS PUT IN
PLACE ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTING US YOUTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. OKAY. SORRY. UH THERE'S THAT FOR FOR REASONS THAT WILL BECOME APPARENT IN 3
TO 4 HOURS. WE'RE JUST NOT UH, HAVING REACTIONS TO EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE'LL BE HERE A VERY LONG TIME. SO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND, UH ,JUST KEEP THINGS TO THE MINIMUM, OKAY?
UH, WENDY AND THEN, UH, WE'LL GO OVER HERE. UH, SO WHENEVER. >> YOU'RE READY. AND ANSWER THEM, ANSWER. DENPASAR NO SUPPORT, NO. INTERPRETATION SIMULTANEOUSLY.
ESPANOL ELLOS OTRO. IDIOMA SI. >> LOBO. NO TODO HAVE LEARNED ENGLISH IN THEIR LOCAL ORLANDO. BEFORE WE START, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING SIMULTANEOUS
INTERPRETATION TO SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES BECAUSE ALL OF YOUR BORDERS OR CONSTITUENCIES. UH ARE NOT. SPEAK ENGLISH. AND YOU. REPRESENT THEM. THAT PERMISO TENEMOS UH
TRADUCTION IN ESPANOL SIMULTANEOUS SEE? OKAY. MY NUMBER IS GWEN LOS GONZALEZ E ALLOWED THE NCA POR ESTAR AQUI.
A GOOD EVENING. WELL GOOD. AFTERNOON UH, TO ALL THE COUNSELORS AND FOR BEING HERE. I MEAN HOMBRES GWEN DE LA SO TRABAJO CON NOOB.
MY NAME IS WENDY LASSO AND I WORK WITH NUBE. B-BOY IS BOSTON AQUI PARA LA DE LAURA CORTEZ. THIS SOBRE LA FONDOS DE LA
COMIDA Q FAMILIAS BENEFICIAL THAT'S Y AHORA COMO ESTA RECORD DE. I LIVE IN EAST BOSTON AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE.
CUTS THAT THE MAYOR IS DOING ESPECIALLY THOSE CUTS FOR THE FUNDS FOR FOOD THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES WEAR BENEFIT IN ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT AND NOW THEY'RE. FACING THESE CUTS.
IT'S PUT THEM AT RISK. ESTOY AQUI DANDO ESTA TESTIMONIAL POR CIENTO Q LOCAL ALCALDE SIENDO ASING HUTTO MOMENTOS DEL SUR LA VERSE POR
AQUI MIEDO ESTAR AQUI. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TESTIFYING HERE. AND I'M. HERE TO GIVE MY TESTIMONY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WHAT THE MAYOR IS DOING IT'S VERY UNFAIR
. AND I'M HERE TO RAISE MY VOICE THE NAME OF THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID TO BE HERE. FOR A PLACE I WILL STAY.
THIS CANNOT BE RECORDED. CAPI LAURA CORTEZ AND TODA TODA LA FAMILIA FICARA MUCHOS DE LA DEDOS TRABAJO TODO LO ESTAMOS
VENDER CONTEXTO POLITICO VIVIENDO. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU CITY COUNCILORS TO, UM TO NOT SUPPORT. THE MAYOR'S. CUTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE.
FAMILIES ARE BEING AFFECTED. THEY'RE LOSING THEIR JOBS DUE TO THE POLITICAL CONTEXT THAT THEY LIVE IN RIGHT NOW. E MUCHOS DE ESTA FAMILIA TAMBIÉN ES EL BOATHOUSE TERRACE
. POR ESO A YES LES LOCALLY HERE ON PARA REPRESENT TAMBIÉN EBAY POR EL ESTADO DE LA FAMILIA A LOT OF THESE. FAMILIES THEIR BORDERS THEY
HAVE VOTED FOR ALL OF YOU. THEY ELECTED YOU AND YOU ARE REPRESENTING THEM FOR THEIR WELL-BEING AND THEIR FAMILIES. NO PARA. >> LA OUR HOUSE TODAY CNN ACERCA ESTO FONDO PROGRAMAS
NECESITAMOS REPRESENTANTES ILLEGAL RESCUE CON LA COMUNIDAD PARA PODER LA. SO INSTEAD THESE FAMILIES ARE BEING AFFECTED AND WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU FOR THE FUNDS THE
FUNDS THESE FUNDS TO COME BACK TO THE PROGRAMS WE NEED THIS PROGRAM AND WE NEED OUR REPRESENTATIVE LEADERS LIKE YOU SO YOU CAN VOTE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS
ASKING FOR. YOU TO SUPPORT. DOES. >> HIDALGO POR ULTIMO. I KNOW I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO I WANT TO SAY ONE LAST THING. LA CANASTA BASICA DEMASIADO
CARA SOBRE VIVIR SO FOND OF YOU CAN RECORD LOW LEVEL CUL DE SAC UN GRAN SCENARIO CAN ONLY AFFECT LOW RECORD SO FAMILIA TAMBIÉN MUCHAS GONZALEZ SALARIO
THE SIENTO 20 CINCO ANOS DE LOS TAXI NOSOTROS PARA IMPUESTOS. SO FIRST OF ALL WITH THE GROCERY IS SO EXPENSIVE RIGHT
NOW AND WE'RE BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR WITH HER BIG SALARY IS SHE'S NOT BEING AFFECTED BY THIS OR HER FAMILY AND ALL
OF YOU ALSO WHO ARE MAKING A GOOD SALARY. YOU'LL MAKE OVER 125,000 A YEAR AND. THAT MONEY COMES FOR THE SALE TAXES AND ALL THE TAXES AND AND
MY TAXES I PAY TAXES. BUT I WON'T GET OFF THAT SCORCHING LA LA LA COMUNIDAD. YOU KNOW WHAT FOR THE SUPUESTO NINO PORQUE YOU KNOW LA
COMUNIDAD. Y RECUERDA MANANA NOSOTROS NO VAMOS A RECORDAR EVEN MUY PRONTO GRACIAS. SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
REMEMBER THIS THAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY AND TO VOTE IN THE FAVOR OF OUR GOOD. BUDGET NOT A HARM IN BUDGET AND THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITY AND REMEMBER TOMORROW THAT WE WILL REMIND YOU THIS BECAUSE ELECTIONS ARE COMING SOON.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE HIRED INTERPRETERS IN SPANISH, ENGLISH, IN SPANISH, HAITIAN CREOLE,
MANDARIN AND CANTONESE. SO I DIDN'T REALIZE WE'RE NOT DOING SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION . WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH STAFF TO HAVE THAT SET UP. UH BUT UH DO DO UH IF YOU NEED
TO WORK WITH WHO SO UH, PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME WHERE YOU LIVE AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. IF YOU DON'T EVEN.
SOMEBODY LEFT I OKAY. NECESITA TRADITIONAL ENGLISH. OH NO. I'M READY. OKAY, I WAS WAITING. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LEAH SERENA AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION WHERE I REPRESENT MORE THAN 11,000 ACTIVE AND RETIRED EDUCATORS WHO DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THIS CITY.
OUR CITY IS APPROACHING A PIVOTAL MOMENT. NEXT WEEK THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT DECISION WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON DETERMINING THE DIRECTION OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR
CHILDREN'S LIVES. TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE NOTABLE PROGRESS. THIS YEAR OUR MORE STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL THAN ANY OTHER POINT IN THE DISTRICT'S HISTORY. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS DECLINING AND WE'RE GAINING
GROUND ON THE LEARNING LOSS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN WITH THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS SLASHED PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING, WE HAVE BUILT MONUMENT TO A MAN MOVEMENT TOWARDS A
BRIGHTER FUTURE. IF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET PASSES IN ITS CURRENT FORM, WE RISK THAT THAT MOVEMENT AND DIMINISHING THE BRIGHT FUTURES OF OUR STUDENTS. AS IT STANDS, THE BEST
ALLOCATION IN THIS BUDGET WOULD CUT MORE THAN 400 EDUCATOR JOBS IN OUR SCHOOLS. JUST THIS MORNING WE LEARNED THAT POTENTIAL POTENTIALLY LOSING OVER 100 PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO WILL NOT BE CALLED BACK TO THIS
DISTRICT. MORE THAN 80% OF STUDENTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS HIGH NEEDS AND ABOUT 70% COME FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 STUDENTS HAVE A DISABILITY, AND ROUGHLY
35% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. EACH OF THESE DESCRIBE A STUDENT POPULATION THAT REQUIRES A DYNAMIC AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION. IF WE CUT 400 EDUCATION
POSITIONS THEN THE DISTRICT IN OUR FUTURE IS LIMITING OUR STUDENTS ABILITIES. SINCE THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL WE HAVE RELEASED THE B TO YOU HAS WORKED WITH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES TO REMIND THE
DECISION MAKERS YOU AND THIS CITY THAT THE IMPACT OF A SINGLE EDUCATOR CAN HAVE ON A STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE VALUE OF A TRUST OF TRUST CANNOT BE FULLY CONTAINED IN A SALARY OR A SINGLE BUDGET LINE
ITEM. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOSTON THAT BOSTON FACES SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, MANY OF WHICH WERE CAUSED BY FORCES OUT OF OUR CONTROL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISTRICT ACROSS THE STATE ARE
CONFRONTING SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND EVEN STILL WE ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PASS FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SOLUTION TO THESE CHALLENGES IS NOT TAKING AWAY CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR OUR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. >> SO ARE YOU THE I'M SORRY. WE'RE MAKING SOME SPACE FOR, UH ,MOTHERS WHO'VE COME WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO. GET OUT OF HERE.
UH. >> SO YOU CAN. GO TO PERMISO. SO AGAIN, WE CAN'T HAVE ANYONE BLOCKING EITHER THE STAIRWAYS
OR THE DOOR. IF YOU'RE NOT TESTIFYING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. CAN YOU PLEASE YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE. SO WE'VE GOT A MEZZANINE SET UP AND A TELEVISION.
OTHERWISE THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND STOP THE HEARING AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. I HAVE TWO. CHILDREN OKAY. WHEN I. START THIS MEAN YOU'RE NOT. CORDERO SO RESIDENT THEY
ROXBURY. SORRY MY. >> NINOS ACERCA OH GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOHANNA CORDERO. I'M A RESIDENT OF ROXBURY AND I HAVE THREE. CHILDREN AND I AM HERE BECAUSE
OF MY TEENAGE SON. GARETH. >> PRESSURE ME PREOCCUPATION FOR LOSS RECORD THIS I PRAY SUPUESTO MUCHOS. ESTEBAN CASO ME OR ESTABA LA
OPORTUNIDAD DE TENER SUPREME TRABAJO PARA EL SIGNIFICATIVA RESPONSABILIDAD INDEPENDENCIA YOUR HONOR SO PROPERLY NEUTRAL. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE CUTS INTO THE BUDGET
THAT WILL LEAVE MANY CHILDREN WITHOUT ANY EMPLOYMENT THIS SUMMER. IN MY CASE. MY SON WAS VERY EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO. HAVE HIS. >> FIRST JOB TO HIM THIS MEANT THE RESPONSIBILITY,
INDEPENDENCE AND THE PRIDE OF BEING ABLE TO EARN HIS OWN MONEY. FARO PERO ALL THOSE RECORD ASSIGNMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY
TRISTEZA SAINT OPORTUNIDAD AND THEY DON'T FORGET COMO MADRE ES MUY SO BAD I HOPE THEY LAS ESPERANZA STAY ALGO KUBO, THE
ACTRESS SAID A MONTH IN CAMINO POSITIVO. BUT WHEN HE FOUND OUT ABOUT THESE CUTS THAT EXCITEMENT BECAME SADNESS. HE FELT THAT HIS OPPORTUNITIES
WOULD DISAPPEAR WITHOUT HIM EVEN BEING ABLE TO TRY. AS A MOTHER IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO SEE MY CHILD LOSE THE HOPE OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM TO GROW AND TO KEEP
FOCUSED IN THE POSITIVE ROAD. . >> ESTO ESTO ES PROGRAMA NO SOLO BLUE TAMBIÉN ESPACIO SEGURO DONDE NUESTRAS APRENDER DISCIPLINE A COMPROMISE SO I
VALIDATE ES PARA FUTURO. MOTIVO DE LAS YES. THESE PROGRAMS DON'T ONLY OFFER JOBS THEY ALSO OFFER. SAFE SPACES WHERE OUR YOUTH WILL LEARN DISCIPLINE,
COMMITMENT. AND AND SKILLS FOR THEIR FUTURE. THIS KEEPS OUR CHILDREN MOTIVATED AND THEY KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THE STREETS.
LOW SL MEANS RECIBIR LOS HOME AND IT'S COMO ME SO ESO FUTURO SO NO SOME SOMEBODY THAT. THE SADDEST THING IS THE MESSAGE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE
MY SON THAT THEIR DREAMS AND THEIR. FUTURE ARE NOT A PRIORITY. AND NO LONGER SO IT'S UNKNOWN STILL INVESTORS COMUNIDADES INVESTORS AND FUTURO DE NUESTRO
ETHOS. INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH IS NOT AN EXPENSE IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. AND SO YEAH KEEP AT THE END
OKAY? IF INTRINSIC NINOS IF THEY MOTIVATE TRABAJAR YEAH I I'LL GO. AND YOU SAY I'M ROTAS. AND I'M. HERE BECAUSE IT'S VERY SAD TO
SEE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SO EXCITED IN BEING ABLE TO HAVE THESE DREAMS AND SUDDENLY THESE DREAMS ARE JUST DESTROYED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU THANK YOU. OKAY SO NORMALLY.
SO SO NORMALLY. THEY DON'T. DO YOU KNOW. SOMEONE I'M GOING TO I'M. >> GOING TO GIVE MY STATEMENT. OH THAT'S WHAT MINUTOS UH IN THOSE CITY ALMOST. WHEN ESTEBAN.
ESCOBAR BE. >> IN JAMAICA PLAIN SO MADRE LITTLE NINOS UNO DE ELLOS CORNER ESPECIALLY ME DIEGO IS ALWAYS TO THE ESCUELA BLACKSTONE. YES. UNA DE UNA SERIE RODAS IN NO
PRESSURE COMO PALABRAS SIENTO NECESITA CUANDO SAFE SIENTE TOMADO ENTRAR INCREASES IF YOU'RE NOT COMO MADRE COMO SE MIEDO CONSTANTE.
DEFEATED POR ESO PREOCUPA PROFUNDAMENTE LOS RECORD PRESUPUESTO ESCOLAR SOLO AFFECT AND PLAY AFFECT ON EMOTIONAL SEGURIDAD DE LOS ESTUDIANTES
COMO MIJO IN EL SALON THEY MEAN HOPE THEY ARE YOU KNOW PARA PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT CÉSAR CONVERTIDO IN SU PERSONA FAVORITA WAS ALSO INFANTRY
TRANQUILO PARA ME WHO REPRESENT US SEGURIDAD. CONCERT GIVE ME HOPE THIAGO NO POLDRACK EN LA POLO IS THAT
EVERY INDOMIE SCORER EL CORAZON COMO MADRE EL SUPUESTO RECORD SOLO SENTI DE LA PÉRIODE DE ALGUNA CASE FOR FUNDAMENTAL SU VIDA. THE AREA OIL LEVANTO LA WAS FOR
ME HOW MUCH OF NINO SKIN IS. UP FOR YOU? UM KNOW YOU KNOW EDUCATION VERDADERA MENTAL INCLUSIVE EMBEDDING LIMITED CAREER FRUSTRATIONS I LOST NECESIDADES
SPECIALIST MEJOR THE VERY IMMATERIAL FUTURO DE ELLOS. GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TANIA I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND I AM THE
MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN. OKAY. >> ONE OF WHOM HAS SIGNIFICANT SPECIAL NEEDS. MY SON TIAGO IS A STUDENT AT THE BLACK STONE SCHOOL. HE PERMANENTLY DEPENDS ON THE WHEELCHAIR AND CANNOT EXPRESS
WITH WORDS WHAT HE FEELS OR NEEDS WHEN HE BECOMES FRUSTRATED OR OVERWHELMED. HE GOES INTO CRISIS AND CAN HAVE SEIZURES AS A MOTHER LIVING WITH THAT CONSTANT FEAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
THAT IS WHY I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CUTS TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET BECAUSE THESE CUTS DO NOT ONLY AFFECT JOBS. THEY ALSO AFFECT THE EMOTIONAL STABILITY AND SAFETY OF VULNERABLE STUDENTS LIKE MY
SON. IN THIAGO'S CLASSROOM THERE IS A PARAPROFESSIONAL MISS GATA WHO HAS BECOME HIS FAVORITE PERSON. JUST HEARING HER VOICE MAKES HIM SMALL SMILE AND FEEL CALM. FOR MY SON SHE REPRESENTS
SAFETY, TRUST AND PEACE. THINKING THAT THIAGO MAY NO LONGER HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT STABILITY THAT MASCARA PROVIDES BREAKS MY HEART. HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND BUDGETS OR CUTS. HE WOULD ONLY FEEL THE LOSS
OF SOMEONE WHO IS ESSENTIAL IN HIS DAILY LIFE. TODAY I RAISE MY VOICE FOR MY SON AND FOR MANY OTHER CHILDREN WHO NEED HUMAN SUPPORT, STABILITY AND A TRULY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION.
INSTEAD OF LIMITING STUDENTS AND CREATING MORE FRUSTRATION FOR THEM, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN THEIR FUTURE. SOMETIMES I WONDER IF ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WHEN WE
LOOK AT WHO IS MOST AFFECTED IT IS HISPANIC STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND OTHERS. I MENTIONED THIS ONLY SO THAT YOU WILL REFLECT ON IT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THESE REALITIES ARE NOT BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I ADDRESS. A IF YOU WILL. THAT'S THE YOU KNOW I THINK IF
YOU'RE HERE WITH KIDS FIRST. OKAY. >> WHEN I STARTED I NOTICED GONZALEZ'S PRESENT EL AUDIENCE YOU MAY KNOW. THE VARIOUS VARIOUS SCENARIO.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ESCUELA HURLEY AGE. I GUESS THAT BUYS US ANYTHING ON YOU, MARIO MUCHO SUENOS EKONG EL DSL DE CONSULATE ONLY
FUTURO PARA PARA HACER UNA DE LAS COSAS MAS MAYOR GUSTADO DE ESTE ES CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PARA LAS PERSONAS CARE CARING IS FOR CHARITY IS A LEAD
ADELANTE THERE'S A TRATA DE APROVECHAR CADA OPORTUNIDAD OPERA SENTADO ACTUELLEMENT ESTOY ESTUDIAR EN EL PROGRAMA DE ENGLISH COMO YOU FORGIVE
ME MADAM IS SEGUIR CRECIENDO PROFESSIONAL ME SUENO IS COMBATE PRIMERO AN UNA PROFESSIONAL E MUST ADELANTE
SAID MAESTRA. PARA ME IS A SOLO TRABAJO UNA PERSONA ES UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE TRANSFORMER MAYBE THE E TAMBIÉN
LA VIDA DE LA FAMILIA PERO PARA ALCANZAR SUENO NECESITO LAS HERRAMIENTAS LA EDUCACION EL PROGRAMA DE PERSONAS COMO YOU
BUT SO ESTOY AQUI. PORQUE PREOCUPA SE RECORD PARA SUPUESTO CASE PODESTA'S PROGRAM CASOS PROGRAMAS MUCHAS PERSONAS
PODRIAMOS PERDER ACCESO A CLASS A RECURSOS E OPPORTUNITY THAT IS QUÉ REALMENTE THE CAMBIUM BEAT US E NO SOLO CAFETERIA ME TAMBIÉN MUCHOS FAMILIAS
TRATANDO DE AVANZAR CONSTRUIR OMAHA FUTURO JUST LIKE I DON'T CARE I SANDO QUIERO DEMOSTRAR LET ME SEE CASO UH. CONGRESS WORKSHOP FOR YOUR
LOCAL SUENOS OKAY CONSIDERING EL IMPACTO REAL CASES SEC STANDING AND PERSONAS IF I COMO MUCHAS GRACIAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DORIS CABARRUS AND I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ROXBURY. I ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH MANY DREAMS AND A DESIRE TO BUILD A
BETTER FUTURE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IS BELIEVING THAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND MOVE FORWARD.
SINCE I ARRIVED I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES MY WAY. I AM CURRENTLY STUDYING ENGLISH BECAUSE MY GOAL IS TO CONTINUE GROWING PROFESSIONALLY. MY DREAM IS TO FIRST BECOME A
PARAPROFESSIONAL AND LATER BECOME A TEACHER. FOR ME THIS IS NOT A JOB OR A PERSONAL GOAL. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM MY LIFE AND ALSO THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY. BUT TO ACHIEVE THAT DREAM I
NEED TOOLS, EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE ME. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS. IF THESE PROGRAMS LOSE SUPPORT
MANY PEOPLE COULD LOSE ACCESS TO CLASSES, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT TRULY CHANGE LIVES AND IT WOULD NOT ONLY AFFECT ME BUT ALSO MANY FAMILIES WHO ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD A BETTER
FUTURE. I AM MAKING PROGRESS AND I WANT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO SHOW MY CHILDREN THAT WITH EFFORT AND SUPPORT DREAMS REALLY CAN COME TRUE. THAT IS WHY I ASK YOU TO
CONSIDER THE REAL IMPACT THESE DECISIONS HAVE ON PEOPLE AND FAMILIES LIKE MINE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. TOWARDS EACH OTHER. SO IF YOU COULD TRANSLATE FOR BUT FOR ME.
YEAH. SO IF WE HAVE SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION IN SPANISH IF THERE'S A MACHINE I DON'T KNOW WORKS OVER THERE YOU CAN PICK. IT UP. >> SEE THIS IS AN INTERPRETER. >> WE'VE DONE AL ESPANOL PUEDEN
PASAR PUEDEN PASAR AQUI PARA ESCUCHAR OKAY. ALSO WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY UH COUNCILOR RUSSI LOUIJEUNE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMPANHIA AHORA LA CONCHITA LUCY LOUIJEUNE.
OKAY. >> UM. >> UH. OKAY. IS THERE. ANYONE ELSE? >> YEAH. SORRY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR. ORDER WHEN I START. THIS IS NATALIA. SO POCO MAS OKAY.
YEAH. SO YOU MADE IT NINOS SOY COLOMBIANA YET? UH. THERE WILL. >> BE A. SOCIAL MEDIA SETTLEMENT. UM. >> ESTOY AQUI PARA SA ME PREOCUPACION Y COMO EL
RECORD QUEST OFICINA MARIA OKAY . ME AJUDA. I LOVE. >> CASA DE LA FAMILIA IMMIGRANTS COMO LAMIA ATENEO LA OPORTUNIDAD. IS TO THE AH ENGLISH. CUANDO. >> SE. PIS MITSOTAKIS IMPOSSIBLE TO
COMMUNICATE. HACIENDO UN CORSO INGLÉS. CON EL CONOCIMIENTO AIR CARRIER TENGO MAS CONFIANZA PARA.
LA INTERRACIAL BACARDI GRACIAS I ESTO ESTOY TRABAJANDO NON ESCUELA. PLEASE DON'T. POKEMON MAESTROS ITO A PERSON NOT UN CONTAINER UN CONTINUOUS
TO THE ANDO SIN EMBARGO TIMOR OKAY SO RECORDED AFFECTED ME A STUDIO. CICERO SUPUESTO MUCHAS PERSONAS COMO JOE PODRIAMOS UNA OPORTUNIDAD IMPORTANTE PARA
INTEGRAR E CREATURE A CONSTRUIR EN NUESTRO COMMUNITY OR FOR CONTAINER AN UP OR DOWN PROGRAMA LOCATION APRENDIZAJE AN ENGLISH CAMBIO AREA PUERTAS
MUCHAS GRACIAS POR ESCUCHAR ME. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NATALIE DE MARTY. I AM THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN. I AM COLOMBIAN AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES FOR
THREE YEARS. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN MATTAPAN. TODAY I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT HOW BUDGET CUTS WOULD AFFECT ME AND MANY OTHERS THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT MOYA, WHICH SUPPORTS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES LIKE MINE. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY ENGLISH. WHEN I ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.
THANKS TO THE ENGLISH CLASSES I HAVE BEEN TAKING AND THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE GAINED, I NOW FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT SPEAKING AND NAVIGATING DAILY LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. I NOW WORK AT ONE OF THE BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE I AM ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF. I AM STILL CONTINUING MY STUDIES. HOWEVER I FEAR THAT THESE BUDGET CUTS COULD AFFECT MY EDUCATION.
IF THE BUDGET IS REDUCED, MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULD LOSE A VERY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE, GROW AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY TO OUR COMMUNITY . PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING
THESE PROGRAMS. EDUCATIONAL LEARNING ENGLISH CHANGES LIVES AND OPENS DOORS FOR MANY IMMIGRANTS WORK FAMILIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> FOR LISTENING TO ME. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. GOODBYE. >> OKAY. UH.
SO LET ME GET MY BEARINGS HERE WITH THE SIGN IN SHEET. SO IS THIS CASSANDRA? OH, WE HAVE ANOTHER OKAY. YES. UH.
UNDER BOY THAT START WITH A YAMO. WHAT IS THE MATTER IF WE WALK IN BOSTON YOGA ALLAH. UM, YOU KNOW. OKAY. RECORDING. >> AND OKAY.
LAST. AIR PARA HOLINESS SEE RECORDING AND DE NIRO BOY UH AFTER ME FUTURO CUANDO TENER SUFICIENTE.
MAESTROS E TRABAJADORES. CUANDO COME. COME COME. COME PLAY. ANOS POR FAVOR AS WELL. AS NO NOR RECORD THEM.
TODO MUCHAS GRACIAS. HELLO MY NAME IS SARA SUAREZ AND I LIVE HERE IN BOSTON. I GO TO THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO MAKE ANY
CUTS IN THE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS AND IN THE JOBS FOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. IF YOU CUT THIS MONEY YOU ARE GOING TO AFFECT MY FUTURE. I WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS
AND WORK FOR WHEN I AM 14 YEARS OLD. PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR VOICES. DO NOT CUT OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. >> OKAY.
UH OH WE ARE WE GOOD? OKAY. >> OH OKAY. SO I'M SORRY SO I JUST I HAVE TO GO BY THE LIST WITH SOME PEOPLE. SORRY I'M NOT. CASSANDRA CRIBBS. ADRIANA I'M NOT BECAUSE.
BECAUSE I'M OKAY. SORRY. I HAVE TO GO. ARE YOU HERE WITH A CHILD? SORRY. UH, NO. OKAY. >> UH, SO I GOING TO GO BY THE LIST. SO WE WENT A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
FOR, UH FOR PEOPLE. >> HERE WITH CHILDREN AND THEY GET BACK TO THIS PLACE. SO CASSANDRA CRUZ IS UP NEXT. YOU CAN. >> GO OVER THERE AND THEN I HAVE JOHANNA. CORDERO. >> JOHANNA NEED.
YOUR HAND LEFT. OKAY OKAY, OKAY. OH, SHE ALREADY WENT AND ALEX GARCIA. IS RIGHT THERE OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. MY ALEX WOULD BE, UM. AFTER CASSANDRA. OKAY?
OKAY. >> MY NAME IS CASSANDRA. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON. I LIVE IN. >> DORCHESTER AND I'M I'M PROUD. I AM PROUD TO SERVE. AS A PARENT MENTOR WITH SAINT STEPHEN'S YOUTH PROGRAMS.
THIS PROGRAM CHANGED MY LIFE. SAINT STEPHEN'S HELP ME TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD MY GOAL OF. BECOMING A PARAPROFESSIONAL. THROUGH THROUGH THEIR WORKSHOPS . >> AND EXPERIENCES I'VE GROWN
NOT ONLY AS A MENTOR BUT AS A MOTHER AND AS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. I'VE LEARNED THAT CHILDREN
THRIVE. WHEN THEY FEEL SUPPORTED. UNDERSTOOD AND. SAFE BUT THAT SUPPORT CANNOT STOP AT THE CLASSROOM DOORS. FAMILIES NEED SUPPORT TO.
THAT IS WHY THESE BUDGET CUTS ARE SO. UPSETTING TO. >> MANY OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY . WE KEEP HEARING. THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS. YOUTH PROGRAMS, TRANSPORTATION
AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES BUT SOMEHOW WHEN OTHER THINGS NEED FUNDING THE MONEY IS ALWAYS THERE. THE CITY OF BOSTON IS NOT BROKE. SO WE ARE THE WE SO WE ARE THE.
PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY HELP OUR. CHILDREN AND. COMMUNITIES ALWAYS. SO SORRY SORRY. SO WHY. ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY. HELPING HELPING OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES ALWAYS THE
FIRST ONES AT RISK? OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. >> THAN CONSTANT CUTS AND LIMITATIONS. WE NEED MORE. INVESTMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, MORE SUPPORT FOR PARENTS.
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH. RESOURCES AND SAFE SPACES. >> AND JOBS WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN GROW AND SUCCEED. INVESTING IN CHILDREN IS INVESTING IN BOSTON'S FUTURE. >> I AM HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE
FOR. >> THE PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM AND FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY. IF WE TRULY WANT STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS. AND BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEN WE NEED TO STOP CUTTING WHAT OUR FAMILIES
ACTUALLY NEED AND START PUTTING BOSTON'S MONEY BACK INTO BOSTON'S PEOPLE. OKAY THANK YOU CASSANDRA OKAY SO NEXT I HAVE ALEX.
GARCIA AND ZOE GARCIA AND UH, NATALIE TO MARTY, UM, AND THEN SIMAO RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
MY NAME IS ALEX GARCIA. I AM 15 YEARS OLD, UH, NINTH GRADE STUDENT AND I WAS IN ROSLINDALE. I SPEAK ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT IN 2027 THE
CITY OF BOSTON PLANS TO CUT FUNDING FOR YOUTH JOBS. FOR MANY OF US THESE JOBS ARE NOT JUST SOMETHING EXTRA THEY ARE REAL OPPORTUNITIES. THEY KEEP US BUSY, TEACH US RESPONSIBILITY AND HELP US STAY
AWAY FROM TROUBLE. THEY GIVE US HOPE AND REMIND THAT WE DO HAVE A FUTURE. UM WHEN THESE PROGRAMS ARE TAKEN AWAY IT'S NOT JUST A JOB
THAT'S LOST. IT'S OUR CHANCE TO GROW, TO LEARN AND TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. WE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF BOSTON NEED MORE SUPPORT, NOT FEWER RESOURCES. WE NEED YOU TO BELIEVE IN US
BECAUSE WHEN YOU INVEST IN US TODAY YOU'RE INVESTING IN A STRONGER, SAFER AND BETTER FUTURE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY . THANK YOU. >> SO THANK YOU. UH. ZOE GARCIA. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS ZOE GARCIA.
I'M 13 YEARS OLD AND SEVENTH GRADE. I LIVE. >> IN ROSLINDALE AND I ATTEND. >> SCHOOL IN WESTWOOD. >> THROUGH THE METCO PROGRAM. I'M HERE. TODAY BECAUSE. >> I LEARNED I HEARD AS STARTING AS OF. 2027. >> ALMOST $6. >> MILLION WILL BE CUT FROM THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT GRANT. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR. THIS MONEY. >> IS.
NOT BEING WASTED. IT IS USED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GROW INTO FUTURE LEADERS. IF WE'RE. >> NOT GIVEN THE CHANCE TO WORK THEN WE'RE NOT. WE'RE GAINING THE EXPERIENCE WE NEED TO LEARN AND GROW AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR'S POINT
OF VIEW THAT AND WE KNOW THAT INFLATION IS GOING UP DUE TO FEDERAL REASONS. AND I. >> UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. WE SEE THAT AND WE UNDERSTAND IT BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND TO TO SEE OUR SIDE.
WE ALSO ASK FOR YOU TO SEE OUR SIDE EVEN IF OUR PARENTS CAN PROVIDE FOR US HAVING A YOUTH FULL JOB OR SORRY HAVING A YOUTH JOB IS IMPORTANT. IT GIVES US EXTRA MONEY TO USE
RESPONSIBLY AND TEACHES US VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS AND HELPS US. LEARN HOW TO. MANAGE TIME, MONEY AND OTHER THINGS RESPONSIBLY ALSO THINGS THAT WE CANNOT LEARN IN SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AWAY FROM US. USE JOBS YOUTH. JOBS UM ARE ONLY THE BEGINNINGS OF OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU OKAY GREAT JOB. OKAY.
UH. NATALIE. >> UH, DEMONTE AND. THEN NATALIE IS ALREADY TESTIFIED. OKAY, OKAY. UH, AND CEMIL RODRIGUEZ. OKAY. AND THEN I JUST I HAVE ANNABELLE TAVARES.
DID SHE ALREADY UNABLE TO ADDRESS KYRA? UH, AMADOR AND, UH, I THINK THIS IS DENISE AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LAST NAME IS. >> OKAY? OKAY.
WHEN I STARTED THIS MAY NUMBER SEVEN. RODRIGUEZ. YOU SAY AN IMMIGRANT REPUBLICA DOMINICANA. A LA COMUNIDAD ROXBURY MAN HAS TO DO A BLACKSTONE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL DE LUCA STILL MIGHT BE NECESITA TERAPIA DE LA HABLA ABAJO SPECIALIZED PARA SOVIET OF. >> UM SANTO. OH YEAH. >> SO YAKI PORQUE CUANDO SE HABLA THE RECORDINGS IN ESCUELA . NOT BEING.
SO IGNORE ME. HUH PERSONAS PALABRAS AND LAS BARRIERS IN TODO EL NECESITA PARA APRENDER CRESCER SANTO.
SERA MUCHOS. NINOS INCLUYENDO. >> ME. HUH BUT SERVICES ESSENTIALS. MANOS MAESTROS MAY NOT OPPOSE YOUR EMOTIONAL IN MENOS OPORTUNIDADES PARA SO THAT YOU YOU SAY.
GET UP AND. GO TO SEE THAT IS IS THE UN IMPACTO REAL IN SYLVIE. THAT YEAH. >> SO WHAT DO. ARE SOME OF THOSE PUNTO MUCHOS. >> FAMILIAS PARA. NUESTROS ESPECIALMENTE PARA LOS
ESTUDIANTES I BECOME YEAH PARENTHESIS DELIRIUM ENGLISH NO TRUST ALIAS NECESITA MAESTROS HEROES TERAPIAS PROGRAMAS CARLOS I DO THE OTHER PLENUM IN
IN IS IN BARTERING TODA LA COMPAGNIE THAT LESS PERILOUS CONTINUING UP ESCUELA EL FUTURO DE NUESTROS ESTUDIANTES MUCHOS GRASSROOTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME. >> IS EMAIL RODRIGUEZ I'M AN IMMIGRANT FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND I LIVE IN THE ROXBURY COMMUNITY. MY DAUGHTER AT THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL AND HAS AN
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN IEP. SHE NEEDS SPEECH THERAPY AND SPECIALIZED SUPPORT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS. TODAY I. >> AM HERE BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR ABOUT BUDGET CUTS IN SCHOOLS I DON'T THINK ABOUT NUMBERS.
I THINK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER. I THINK ABOUT THE BARRIERS SHE FACES EVERY DAY AND ALL THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO LEARN, GROW AND BELIEVE IN HERSELF. IF FUNDING IS CUT, MANY
CHILDREN INCLUDING MY DAUGHTER WILL LOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, FEWER TEACHERS, LESS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND. FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH GREATER NEEDS AND THAT HAS A REAL IMPACT ON THEIR
LIVES AND THEIR FUTURE. THAT IS WHY TODAY I RAISE MY VOICE ALONG WITH MANY FAMILIES TO ASK THAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCES BE PROTECTED. ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS. OUR CHILDREN NEED TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS. AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM FULLY DEVELOP. INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN IS INVESTING IN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE
SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH. >> WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNSELOR L AND REJOINED BY COUNSELOR FLYNN GAMING THE SYSTEM COMES IN AND OUT AFTER
WE ANNOUNCE HIM BUT UH UH, OKAY. SO, UH, ANNABELLE TAVARES OKAY . AND THEN KYRA AMADOR I HAVE DENISE I'M AGAIN NOT SURE
WHAT'S AFTER THAT AND THEN FATIMA. UH. >> POND. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. GIVE IT. >> AWAY. WHEN I STARTED THIS NUMBER IS AND I WILL TAVARES SO RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER. MY I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH
PIERCE YOU KNOW VENGO SOLAMENTE COMO MADRE TAMBIÉN BANGO COMO UNA MARAMING DORA CU TRABAJO THE AREA SALON THE LOCATION. INCLUSIVE A. >> TODOS LOS DIAS BELLO Q REALMENTE CUANDO SE SIENTE LAS
PUERTO SALON. SE LO Q ALCUNI NECESITA. SPECIALIST PUEDO CENTERS. CENTERS A SEGURO E COMMON SET UP THERE. IS UNNECESSARY. >> PORQUE. CASUALLY THAT NEED A.
SO SAY THAT. GRACIA SARA SAMANTHA'S MAESTROS ASSISTING. >> THE. E PERSONA YOU CAN. >> START HI. PARA SUSTAIN HELLO PARA LA MANO REGULAR THOSE EMOTIONS ARE LOW PASS TO PASS POR ESO ESCUCHAR
CASA RECORDED PARA ESO SEVEN AFECTADOS PUESTOS NUESTRAS ESCUELA IT'S. AN ENVIRONMENT NOT NOT A IT MAESTROS PROFIT PROFESIONALES E
PERSONAS ESSENTIAL IN GONZALO INCLUSIVE BETA THEY DON'T SAY A UN PERSONA NO NO ISN'T SIMPLY. A HOSTED ADMINISTRATIVELY. IS THE HAT THIS. PRODIGY? >> THOSE ARE LOS NINOS.
Q NECESITO A SOBRE GAGA MAS ALLA. LIMITING BOSS. >> KNOW SO WHEN I SAID THAT POVERTY. IT SUITS THAT THE ENEMY THERE TO SAVE US ENTONCES COMO LA
FAMILIA TRABAJADORES DE COMUNIDAD ES COMO LA MIA CASA DE NIRO PARA OTRA DEVICE PERO NO PARA LA SUSTAINABLE ESTUDIANTE GOING TO SEE THAT AS
A SPECIALIST AS A SEGURO APRENDER LA DECISION EXCUSE THE . CONSEQUENCES REAL. ESTATE INSTEAD OF SEAHORSE ENGLISH CEOS INVESTORS FAMILIAL INVESTORS ALGUNOS DE CLASSES
UPSTAIRS THE EL PODER DE CAMBIAR ESTO EL PODER DE MODIFY PUESTO EVEYTHING IT IS. >> TO THE. SPEED OF DE LET'S BE CANAVAN DONIGAN MR FAMILIA MIANO
ESTUDIANTES MAS VULNERABLE THE MAVERICK A LEADER THIS TO YOU THAT THEY JUST RECORDED THIS EITHER FUNERAL FUTURO DE NUESTROS NINOS. >> MUCHAS GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ANABEL TAVARES. I AM A RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER, THE MOTHER OF A STUDENT. AND TODAY I AM NOT HERE ONLY AS A MOTHER. I AM ALSO HERE AS A PARENT MENTOR WHO WORKS EVERY DAY IN
AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION CLASSROOM. EVERY DAY I SEE WHAT REALLY HAPPENS ONCE THE CLASSROOM DOOR CLOSES. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES FOR A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN, FEEL SAFE AND
BEGIN LEARNING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE OR BY MAGIC. IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF HUMAN BEINGS TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO ARE THERE TO HOLD THEIR HAND, HELP REGULATE THEIR
EMOTIONS AND GUIDE THEM STEP BY STEP. THAT IS WHY HEARING THAT THESE BUDGET CUTS WILL ELIMINATE POSITIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS IS SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS. WE ARE LOSING TEACHERS,
PROFESSIONALS AND ESSENTIAL STAFF AND IN AN INCLUSIVE CLASS CLASSROOM LOSING EVEN ONE PERSON IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT. IT MEANS LEAVING THE CHILDREN WHO NEED THE MOST SUPPORT
WITHOUT PROTECTION. IT MEANS PLACING EVEN MORE PRESSURE IN THE EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALREADY STRETCHED TO THEIR LIMITS. BOSTON IS NOT A POOR CITY. THE CITY HAS MILLIONS AND RESERVES.
SO HOW DO WE EXPLAIN TO WORKING FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE THAT THERE IS MONEY FOR OTHER PRIORITIES BUT NOT FOR THE AID? WHO HELPS A STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FEEL SAFE AND LEARN?
THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE HERE HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CLASSROOMS. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THIS. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MODIFY THIS BUDGET AND STOP THESE
DEVASTATING LAYOFFS. I ASK YOU NOT TO ABANDON OUR FAMILIES OR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS FROM ONE MOTHER. TO THE LEADERS OF THIS CITY. REJECT THESE CUTS AND DEFEND
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. KYRA AMADOR. YES. OKAY. WHEN I STARTED THIS MY IS KYRA. THE IDEA THAT.
>> THE RICHEST. CONSISTENTLY WILL. BE IS YOUR. KIERA. >> REALIDAD ELLA REALIDAD. MUCHOS FAMILIAS IN BOSTON. SO MOTHER. THERE WAS. >> E TRABAJO. >> ESTUDIO YAGO. TODO LO POSSIBLE POR. AND IT GOES TO MY.
>> HEART FOR DURO BUT. >> I MEAN FAMILIA. LET ME. >> SEE AT THE END THE DIVA NSC. THAT YOU DON'T THEY. >> PUEDA CRAZY THIS PARLIAMENT . I LOVE SIENDO. TODO LO CORRECTO.
TRABAJANDO ESTO THIS IS FOR VA TODAVIA. >> NO. PODIDO CONSEGUIR WILL NOT BE WHEN THE ESTABLISHED PARA. >> ME SEE WHO IS THE. MOMENTUM AND WONDER WITHIN THE. LA CASA DE ME MAMA. PUNTO YOU TRATANDO DE MANTENER. I MEAN FAMILIA UNIDA IS.
SEGURAMENTE AN OPPORTUNITY. THAT POR. ESO CUANDO. RECORDAR I. >> LOVE ME WHEN THE SOUP SEE THE OTHERS. >> NO HABLANDO. SOLAMENTE PUESTO ESTAMOS HABLANDO DE FAMILIAS REALS THE
MOTHER LUCIANO. THE MOTHER. LUCIANO THE. >> NINO NECESITA. PARA PODER UPENDED. >> SAYING THERE IS A SEGURO DINERO. FUTURO NO HOPE. >> BUT I'M FAMILIAR. DIFFERENTIATE WRITTEN IN SEGURO
OVER IN EL MIEDO CONSTANTE. OKAY THAT IS A SCENE DE TO BOSTON AS SOON AS YOU LOVE FOR IT TO SAY TRABAJAR. LAURA PERO. >> NO. WAY TO. >> FORCE A TAMBIÉN SE ME AND COMO LA PERSONA MY
VULNERABILITY NUESTRA COMUNIDAD WE ARE GOING IN A DECISION POR . FAVOR NO GODDESS. NO RECORDING PARA SINO RECORDING. DIGNIDAD IMPERTINENT VIVIENDA
IS IMPERTINENT FAMILIAS IN NINOS INSTITUTO DE NUESTRA SU GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KYRA AMADOR AND I LIVE IN DORCHESTER IN THE
DORCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE TWO. >> CHILDREN WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS AND TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY OWN REALITY AND THE REALITY THAT MANY FAMILIES IN BOSTON NOW FACE. I AM. >> THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN. I WORK, STUDY AND DO EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY FAMILY. ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAS HEARING LOSS AND NEED STABILITY, SUPPORT AND A SAFE HOME WHERE SHE CAN GROW AND DEVELOP PROPERLY.
EVEN WHILE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT. WORKING, STUDYING AND STRIVING EVERY DAY. I STILL HAVE. >> NOT BEEN ABLE TO SECURE STABLE HOUSING FOR MY CHILDREN. AT THIS. >> MOMENT I AM LIVING WITH MY MOTHER ALONG WITH MY CHILDREN TRYING TO KEEP MY FAMILY
TOGETHER AND. SAFE WHILE I FIGHT FOR AN OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS WHY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CUTS TO SUBSIDIZED HOUSING WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT MONEY OR BUDGETS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL FAMILIES, ABOUT MOTHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND ABOUT CHILDREN WHO NEED STABILITY IN ORDER TO LEARN, FEEL SAFE AND HAVE A BETTER FUTURE. HOUSING IS NOT A LUXURY FOR
MANY FAMILIES. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A SAFE HOME OR LIVING WITH THE CONSTANT FEAR OF BECOMING HOMELESS. BOSTON IS A STRONG, DIVERSE AND HARDWORKING CITY BUT OUR TRUE
STRENGTH IS ALSO MEASURED BY HOW WE PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY I CALL ON THOSE MAKING DECISIONS. PLEASE DO NOT CUT HOMES, DO NOT
CUT HOPE AND DO NOT CUT DIGNITY . INVESTING IN HOUSING MEANS INVESTING IN FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DENISE.
I HAVE, UH. STOOD HERE. PRETTY CERTAIN THAT THE TEXT THE. STATEMENT YOU CAN WILL YOU CAN GIVE IT TO OUR STAFF. AND WE. WILL TAKE IT.
THANK YOU. SORRY. THANK YOU. CHRISTIAN. UM, OKAY. FATIMA FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE. STU. DORIS. UH, TAVARES. OKAY. AND, UH. SERGEI. RONDO.
BUT I. >> HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL. OF US. >> MAY KNOW. AS FATIMA B1. SCENARIO THAT DORCHESTER IS SO MADRID. EL NINO THE TANYA. CATHY ST.
ALICE LATERAL ELEMENTARY. SCHOOL TO. >> ASPEN UP OR. NOT MISS ME. HIJO? >> ESTAMOS VIVIENDO EN LA CASA. I SAY. >> ALL. ENERGY IN NEW. JERSEY BUSCANDO UNA MUJER OPORTUNIDAD. PARA ME.
HOME PASAMOS. >> NO WHAT I MAY SAY NG CHESTED EL GHOST NO. SOCORRO THIS BOY THERE SO ON. AMIGA NOS. >> ARE YOU THOUGH FOR. THOSE MAY SAY PERO TAMBIÉN TENER UNA. FAMILIA E NO BODY YEAH.
>> THEY HAD NO MAS TIEMPO. COMO MADRE NO I'M. TALLER MAS GRANDE. THEY CANNOT. SABIA DON'T BOTHER. >> ME AT HOME. LO CHECK OUT THE PARA ENCONTRAR AJUDA ESTA LEDA PARA NOSOTROS
FINALMENTE. AS MAY KNOW THEY ME A RECIPE I DO THAT AT HOME. BE SICK TELL YOU THAT IS TEMPORARY YOU SEE LUCIANO PARA . EL FUTURO.
ESTABLISHED PARA ME HOME FOR ESO CUANDO VOCAL PARA SUPUESTO DE HOUSING SARA REDO SIDO I THINK QUANTICO OUTRO PUNTO
CUARENTA SIETE MILLONES. A MILANESE THEY THINK CUANDO CUATRO PUNTO QUARANTINE A QUARANTINE OF $8.20 MILLION OR RECORD A MONTH THEY THINK OF.
ME YONI. SIENTO MIEDO PORQUE SOFT NUMERO I FAMILIA. REAL I MOTHER OF COMO YO I
NINOS NECESITA HOGAR SEGURO PARA PODER AUTOMATED ESTUDIAR EGRESS AIR CONDITION NIDA LA ME BE IN NO ES UN LORO ES UNA
NECESIDAD CUANDO SE REDUCING ESTOS. FONDO LAS PERSONAS MAS O FRIENDZONE LAS. FAMILIA OKAY YES DE ALVARADO DE
LO TODO ME HOME ADDRESS IS LEADER MARISSA. CONCENTRATION IS QUELLA SIEMPRE COOPER SAID ON THE VAMOS ABSORBED A ETO FAMILIA DEVOS
TAMARISK NISSAN MISMA OPPORTUNITY DE LA SPEED OKAY SING A LAS PERSONAS DEPENDE DEMO DE ESTOS PROGRAMA CANNOT RECALL TEN RECURSOS CAPOEIRA
SIGNIFICA LA DIFERENCIA ENTERTAINER OH GOD OH TERMINA NUEVAMENTE LA CAJA GRACIAS POR ESCUCHAR. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS FATIMA PINA. I LIVE IN THE DORCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM THE MOTHER OF A TEN YEAR OLD BOY WHO ATTENDS THE TROTTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO MY SON AND I WERE LIVING ON THE
STREETS. A YEAR AGO I ARRIVED FROM NEW JERSEY SEARCHING FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY FOR MY SON. WE SPENT NINE MONTHS IN THE SHELTER AND THEN WE WERE ASKED TO LEAVE.
AFTER THAT A FRIEND HELPED US FOR TWO MONTHS BUT SHE ALSO HAD A FAMILY AND COULD NO LONGER LET US STAY. AS A MOTHER THERE IS NO GREATER PAIN THAT NOT KNOWING WHERE YOUR CHILD. IS GOING TO SLEEP. I FOUGHT.
EVERY DAY TO FIND HELP AND STABILITY FOR US. FINALLY LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH HOME BASE. I KNOW THIS HELP IS TEMPORARY AND I AM STILL FIGHTING TO
BUILD A STABLE FUTURE FOR MY SON. THAT IS WHY WHEN I SEE THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WILL BE REDUCED FROM
54.47 MILLION TO 49.22 MILLION A CUT OF MORE THAN $5 MILLION. I FEEL AFRAID. BECAUSE BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS ARE REAL FAMILIES. THERE ARE MOTHERS LIKE ME AND THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO NEED A
SAFE HOME WHERE THEY CAN SLEEP, STUDY AND GROW WITH DIGNITY. HOUSING IS NOT A LUXURY IT IS A BASIC NECESSITY WHEN THESE FUNDS ARE REDUCED, THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER THE MOST ARE
FAMILIES WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE EDGE OF LOSING EVERYTHING. MY SON TO PRESERVE STABILITY HE DESERVES TO FOCUS IN SCHOOL WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO LIVE. AND EVERY FAMILY. >> IN BOSTON DESERVES THAT SAME
OPPORTUNITY. I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THESE PROGRAMS. PLEASE DO NOT CUT RESOURCES. THAT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A HOME OR ENDING UP BACK ON THE STREETS AGAIN.
THANK YOU. >> OKAY THANK YOU. UH, CAROLINE. AND THEN, UH, DORIS SUGAR. OKAY. WELL, WHEN I YOU MAY KNOW
CAROLINA SO WE WANT ALWAYS SCENARIO DORCHESTER. SO MY NINO. ADOLESCENT QUINCY I KNOW. AND AND KNOW VINOGRADOV OR NOT
THAT EXCELLENT THEY ARE A E OTRO NINO THERE IS A NEW COMO MADRE ESTO. >> ES. >> MENT FATHER I SAY LISTEN MAN I MEAN YOU KNOW I. CAN SAY. I KNOW MY MOMMY QUIERO.
TRABAJO VERANO PARA PODER CONSEGUIR EXPERIENCIA LABORA ESEA PUNTO PARA CUANDO I IF I RECALL. THEY SAY TO ME NINO.
NO ME NINO NO WORK EL PRESUPUESTO PARA LOS PROGRAMA JUVENILE IS THAT REAL SIENDO COMO MADRE ME SIENTO. >> MUY. PREOCCUPIED.
QUIERO THAT I'M NINO. COMO SE PARA SUPUESTO. PUNTO CUATRO MEDIO. CANA IN THE SEC. >> PUNTO CUATRO.
MILLIONS DONDE ESTAMOS. SAME MEDIO DE OPORTUNIDADES SAY MILLIONS DE. SARVA VIDA PORQUE TODO ESTO WHOLENESS NECESITAN.
EXPERIENCIA LAURA. NECESITAR AN UN PLAYER. BUT IS PARA THE AREA YET THAT IS FOR THEIR INSERT PASSÉ ALGUNA COMUNIDAD UN ASSOCIATE
THAT WHOLE STACK THE ONLY THING LEAVE IT IS THE LA KAIJU. DE PELIGRO. AND THROW ANYTHING. THEY FEAR. COMO MADRE NO NO STAY THERE COY TO THEM AND I SAY THAT GUAIDO
PROGRAMAS. THEY KNOW. SOMEONE LO. SOMEONE IN VERSION MUESTRA. ALGUNA COMUNIDAD. SON PROGRAMA I DO. I HOPE WE KNOW THAT. >> IT IS ON THE.
ALLEY HAVE. >> DE. VIOLENCIA. >> MALOS. CONTROL AND. FUTURO A CONTOURING EL FUTURO DE LA HOLINESS S IMPLEMENT
CONSTRUIR IN UNA. >> COMUNIDAD THE. E PARA MUCHOS. HOME AND. >> ESTABLISHMENT DE COMUNIDADES . THEY ARE. HUNGRY ESO. TRABAJO OLIVEIRA NO ES. >> UNA OPPORTUNITY LABORA MARCA LA DIFERENCIA. ABOGADO.
>> OR SENTIR SAY OR BEDAZZLE CUANDO EMBEDDED INTO IMPEDIMENT . SEGURIDAD PUBLICA. EDUCATION ECONOMICO MENOS FONDO SIGNIFICA MENOS EMPLEO MENOS.
MENTARY MENOS OPORTUNIDAD ES PARA INFERENCING BARRERAS AND. LUGAR DE RECORDAR ESTO. PROGRAMA DE GOT ALMAS FAMILIA.
IMUS HOLE IN HIS. LAP RECONSIDER IS RECONSIDERING IS THE. RECORDING PRIORI THING. NUESTRA WHO WENT TO IS MY RACING OPPORTUNITY PARA PARA.
APRENDER PARA. CONTRIBUIR POSITIVO I MEANT. WHEN I. >> SAY THAT. NO SE. >> PUEDE PERMITIR ABANDON AH MY GENERATION THIS DEVICE GRACIAS . THANK YOU THANK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME.
>> IS KAROLINA SOTO I LIVE IN THE DORCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN A 15 YEAR OLD NINTH GRADER WITH A GRADES AND A TEN YEAR OLD SON . TODAY AS A MOTHER I FEEL
EXTREMELY WORRIED. A FEW DAYS AGO MY SON TOLD ME MOM I WANT TO WORK DURING THE SUMMER SO I CAN START GAINING EXPERIENCE AND EARN POINTS FOR WHEN I GO TO COLLEGE. WHAT COULD I TELL HIM?
WELL MY SON THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT BUDGET IS BEING CUT TO 17.4 MILLION AND THE CHANCES OF YOU GETTING A JOB ARE VERY LOW BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE
ENOUGH FUNDING TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CUTS TO THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS BUDGET, REDUCING THE FUNDING
FROM 23.4 MILLION TO 17.4 MILLION MEANS TAKING AWAY 6 MILLION IN LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME PART OF A POSITIVE SOCIETY FULL
OF POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR DREAMS AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS ARE NOT A LUXURY THEY ARE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS HELP YOUNG
PEOPLE GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE, DEVELOP SKILLS, STAY AWAY FROM VIOLENCE AND BUILD A STABLE FUTURE. FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. A SUMMER JOB OR WORK
OPPORTUNITY CAN MAKE. >> THE. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEELING SUPPORTED OR FEELING FORGOTTEN . WHEN WE INVEST IN YOUTH WE INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
LESS FUNDING MEANS FEWER JOBS, LESS MENTORSHIP AND FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ALREADY FACE BARRIERS. INSTEAD OF CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS, WE SHOULD EXPAND THEM TO REACH MORE STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES. I ASK. >> YOU TO RECONSIDER THESE CUTS AND PRIORITIZE OUR YOUTH. YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW, LEARN AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO OUR SOCIETY.
WE COULD NOT ALLOW THE NEXT GENERATION OF THIS COUNTRY TO BE ABANDONED. THANK YOU. OKAY, DORIS. DORIS TAVARES.
UH, SERGEI. UH. SORRY. BRANDON. YES. >> UM. UH, ANTON SAYS, UH, ADRIANA AND THEN, UH, JAMES CORDERO. JOANNA THAT ARE. ALREADY.
>> OKAY. >> UH. JOANNA CORDERO. UM, OKAY. OKAY. >> OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. WHEN ASKED NOT TO. ASK THE. BOSTON MINT. SO DON'T BE CROSSING THEN.
SO I'M MARRIED WITH NINOS. THEY SAY TRACY. >> GOT. TO SAY I KNOW. THAT I. >> HOW COME. I PARA THANK YOU PROGRAM. UH, COOPER MUTUAL. RECALL THEN MY MY MY MOST.
FIONA BEING. SAID AND THE AND CAN WE SEE HER THING AND TRABAJO. NO SIR POR EL DINERO PUEDEN CANNOT SEE NO POOR TODO. ESTO REPRESENTA. APRENDER RESPONSABILIDAD
COMPLETE. COMPROMISED CONOCER. NUEVA PERSONAS. COMING SAID AT A. MORE RECENT. ANNUAL MUNDO REAL CONFIANZA. DESPUÉS DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DE COVID NUESTRAS HOME AN
EXPERIENCE MUCHO MAS. ROJO MUJER SEGURIDAD AND SEE MISS MOST. CONNECTIONS SOCIAL E. OPORTUNIDADES PARA CRECER. EMOTIONAL MENTE. AND MUCHOS ESTAR.
SANDOVAL WHERE ADOLESCENT. COMUNICAR IS THIS A PARTE DE LA. COMUNIDAD OTRA VEZ. FOR A SOLO PROGRAMA DE EMPLOYER WHO I NEED SOMETHING IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY NECESSARY THAT.
IT'S A PROGRAM UNLESS THERE'S. ALWAYS A. >> SPECIAL SEGURO. PARA APRENDER. >> CHRIS SAID THE DAVIS THE CITY. DE POSIBILIDADES. LESS PEDRO DE CORAZON CAN RECORD. >> THE IMPRESSIVE. >> PUERTO. IT IN OTHER. PROGRAMA JUVENILES IT.
>> HAS NO. OPORTUNIDAD DE TRABAJO CAN METROS. HOMELESS NECESITO THEM SILENT ISSUE THAT NECESSITY. WHO SAYS PERFORMER. AND AREAS.
UTILIZANDO RESERVOIRS PERO. A MISTRUST. NO THAT'S FAMILIA DE MACHADO INSERTED IN ESTOS YES LO. ESTAMOS APOYO ESTABLISH.
THAT Y OPORTUNIDADES. DE WAS SOBERNESS. CUANDO ELLOS ESTAMOS EN NUESTRA COMUNIDAD UNA COMO THAT'S
FUERTE MY SEGURA ESPERANZA EL PODER AHORA DE LA MAJOR ASI COMO. SU ADVISOR ALSO SO WHEN A CONSEJO.
PARA GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NEW HAVEN DON I LIVE IN ROSLINDALE. I AM THE MOTHER OF THREE
CHILDREN AGES SIX, 13 AND 14 AND I WORK AS A FAMILY ORGANIZER FOR THE SAINT STEPHEN'S PROGRAM. AS A MOTHER, I. LOOK FORWARD FOR THE DAY WHEN MY CHILDREN GET THEIR FIRST JOB. NOT ONLY.
BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THEY MAY EARN BUT BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY, HONORING COMMITMENTS, MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND BEGINNING TO NAVIGATE THE REAL WORLD WITH CONFIDENCE.
AFTER EVERYTHING WE LIVED THROUGH WITH DURING COVID, OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE LOST SO MUCH IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. MANY LOST SELF-CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW EMOTIONALLY.
MANY ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO RECONNECT WITH OTHERS, COMMUNICATE AND FEEL LIKE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY AGAIN. THAT IS WHY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT. THEY ARE NOT THE LUXURY THEY
ARE IN THIS SOCIETY. THESE PROGRAMS GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN, GROW, DEVELOP SKILLS AND DISCOVER THAT THEY TRULY DO HAVE A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.
I SINCERELY ASK YOU NOT TO CUT THE BUDGET ALLOCATED TO YOUTH PROGRAMS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. IF THE. >> CITY NEEDS. TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, PLEASE DO SO IN OTHER AREAS OR BY USING RESERVES. BUT DO NOT TAKE OPPORTUNITIES
AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN. FAMILIES ALREADY LIVE WITH TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY EVERY DAY. WHAT DO WE NEED TO SUPPORT STABILITY AND REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH WHEN WE INVEST IN THEM WE ARE
INVESTING IN A STRONGER, SAFER COMMUNITY WITH MORE HOPE FOR EVERYONE. THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS. PLEASE. >> WE COUNT. ON YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.
UH. >> ADRIANA. YEAH. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. OKAY. >> JAMES CORDERO I THINK IN MADISON. I DON'T NEED MY GLASSES. UH, KAREN I'M OKAY. OKAY. >> UH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.
>> CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ADRIANA. MY NAME IS. >> BOSTON RESIDENT. UH. VOLUNTEER WITH NEIGHBORS UNITED PROPERTIES. BOSTON, NORWAY. AND I'M HERE TODAY. TO URGE. YOU OUR. >> CITY COUNCIL'S COUNCILORS THROUGH REJECT MAYOR'S WHEEL PROPOSAL BECAUSE.
>> IT. IS DISHEARTENING. TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD AND THAT OUR NEEDS. ARE BEING IGNORED. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S. BUDGET PROPOSAL. FOR THIS YEAR.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE MESSAGE BEING SENT TO US THAT WE DON'T MATTER AND THAT OUR VOICES DO NOT COUNT. THE MAYOR WANTS TO CUT FUNDING IN AREAS. >> THAT DIRECTLY UPLIFT. >> OUR COMMUNITY AT A TIME WHEN WE.
>> ALL. KNOW HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING TREATED, HOW THEY ARE BEING KIDNAPED AND SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND MOST OF THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE BREADWINNERS AND THEY LEAVE BEHIND THEIR CHILDREN WITH A
BURDEN ENTIRELY ON THEM. MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH CITY FUNDED RESOURCES. YET THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED TO.
COMPLETELY ELIMINATE. THE BUDGET FOR THESE RESOURCES. FORCING THESE. BEAT UP. BY THE LEGAL CLINICS TO SHUT DOWN. THOUSANDS COULD AVOID UNFAIR DEPORTATIONS.
BUT WITHOUT THESE. WITH WITHOUT THESE HELP THEY WON'T STAND A CHANCE. AS A MEMBER OF A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, I KNOW FIRSTHAND MANY PEOPLE. >> IN MY COMMUNITY. WHO OUT OF DESPERATION TO SAVE
THEIR LOVED ONES OR THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN AS HAVE BEEN AS CAMPAIGN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY THESE SO-CALLED LAWYERS. AND THEY STEAL MONEY EARNED BY PEOPLE WHO BREAK THEIR BACKS
WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITHOUT A SINGLE DAY OF REST. AND CITY FUNDS HAVE ALLOWED OUR COMMUNITY TO CONNECT WITH TRUSTWORTHY LEGAL SERVICES AND AUTHORITIES WOULD TRULY SUPPORT
OUR PEOPLE. WITHOUT THIS FUNDS, OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO FALL PREY TO SCAMS DUE TO A LACK OF ACCESS. AND WHILE THE EXISTING FUNDS
ARE ALREADY NOT ENOUGH AND WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE INVESTMENT IN THESE SERVICES TODAY AT THE VERY LEAST WE DEMAND THAT THEY DON'T THEY DO NOT CUT THE LEGAL SUPPORT WE ALREADY HAVE.
YOU CANNOT PROUDLY GOOGLE YOURSELF A DEMOCRATIC CITY AND A PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS WHILE ALLOCATING FUNDS TO DEPARTMENT THAT OPPRESSED AND TERRORIZED OUR COMMUNITY.
OKAY I DO, I DO. DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT HERE TO PROTECT US. SORRY. >> CAN YOU WRAP UP PLEASE? >> IT'S OKAY. UH, PLEASE ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHICH IS UNDER CYBER ATTACK.
UH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT FEAR BEING DETAINED AND SEPARATED FROM OUR FAMILIES AND YEAH, IT'S TIME TO YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND PROVE ONCE AND FOR
ALL THAT US STAND ON OUR SIDE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, JAMES. UH, THEN MADISON. JOHN LABELLA DAVID AND. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JAMES CORDERO. I AM, UH, BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, BTU MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER. UM, SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS FOR YOU TO
ADVANCE A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OVER THE SUMMER TO RESTORE AS MANY STUDENT FACING POSITIONS AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM OUR VICE PRESIDENT THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND LOSING SO
MANY STUDENT FACING POSITIONS IS A BARRIER TO US CONTINUING TO MAKE THE PROGRESS THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. AND ONE AREA THAT I WANT TO PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHT IS THE ACCESS TO COUNCILOR PROGRAM,
WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY MADE SURE THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FACING EVICTION CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES. AND THAT PROGRAM IS ALSO ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. AND SO IN ADDITION TO FINDING
THE FUNDS FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO RESTORE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. ANOTHER AREA THAT I WANT TO SPEAK ON IS THE LONG TERM AFFORDABILITY ISSUE WHERE WE KNOW PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO
LIVE HERE IN BOSTON. THERE ARE 5400 STUDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY LONG TERM THINGS WE COULD DO AS A
CITY TO ADDRESS THAT. AND ONE WAY I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND SEATTLE'S SOCIAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE TAKING $60 MILLION, BUYING A BUNCH OF A BUILDING OF MARKET
RATE UNITS AND KEEPING HALF OF THOSE UNITS AFFORDABLE BUT USING THE PROFIT FROM THE MARKET RATE UNITS TO ACTUALLY CAPITALIZE BONDS WITH THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO BUILD 2000 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS. I THINK WE COULD USE THAT IN BOSTON AND I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE WITH ME. THE CITY HAS A REVENUE PROBLEM AND THAT'S AN ISSUE. BUT WE HAVE ONE RESOURCE WHICH IS ABOUT $500 MILLION IN FREE
CASH. THIS IS THE. >> PERFECT THING FOR US TO DO. GOOD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. WE ARE IN TOUGH TIMES AND I THANK YOU ALL AS CITY COUNCILORS FOR THE LEADERSHIP YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING IN THIS TOUGH TIME. AND I'M ASKING YOU FOR A LITTLE
MORE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AND FOR BOSTON TO THINK ABOUT ALLOCATING SOME FREE CASH TO A SOCIAL HOUSING AUTHORITY LIKE THEY'RE DOING IN SEATTLE BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS HOME. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU.
OKAY. >> YEAH. UH, MADISON. UH, JOHN LABELLA, DAVID NORMAN AND MICHAEL KEANE. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILORS. MY NAME IS MADISON KROHN HEIM AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION AND A
FOURTH AND FIFTH ABA CLASSROOM TEACHER AT THE JOSEPH LEE SCHOOL IN DORCHESTER WHERE I EDUCATE AUTISTIC STUDENTS WITH HIGH NEEDS. BEFORE THE INCLUSION ROLL UP AGAIN, MY SEPARATE STUDENTS HAD AMPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE
INCLUDED WITH THEIR SAME AGE PEERS BUT WITH THE CONSISTENT CUTS TO PARAPROFESSIONAL ROLES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE DISAPPEARED. OUR INCLUSION CLASSROOMS ARE ALREADY DROWNING WITH THE LACK OF SUPPORT THEY HAVE, AND THEY'RE SLATED TO HAVE EVEN
LESS SUPPORT NEXT YEAR WITH THE LOSS OF MOST OF OUR CLASSROOM INCLUSION PARAS BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AND OTHERS, WE ARE CALLING ON THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE MORE OF THE CITY'S OVERALL BUDGET TO OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR CLASSROOMS ARE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED AND STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET. SO HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WITH LESS SUPPORT? OUR STUDENT FACING ROLES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR
CLASSROOMS, AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RESTORE THESE ROLES THAT ARE AT RISK OF BEING CUT FOR NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO STOP ACTING AS THOUGH THERE IS NO MONEY TO FUND OUR CLASSROOMS. BETWEEN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND THE MILLIONAIRES TAX WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS
AVAILABLE. WE KNOW THAT THESE CLAIMS OF NO MONEY ARE MEANT TO DIVIDE US, BUT WE SEE RIGHT THROUGH THIS FACADE AND WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE CLASSROOMS OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. WE ARE ASKING OUR. COUNCILORS TO. DEMAND A. >> SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO
ENSURE THAT WE MINIMIZE ANY STUDENT FACING POSITIONS BEING CUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. >> UH, JOHN LABELLA, DAVID NORMAN, MICHAEL CAINE AND DB RAFE. GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN LABELLA
I LIVE IN THE FENWAY. UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF HOUSING WORKS AND A MEMBER OF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY COALITION. HOUSING WORKS HANDLES THE WAITLISTS FOR ABOUT HALF THE CDC IN BOSTON.
SO WE ACTUALLY GIVE THEM TO NAMES TO FILL VACANCIES. UM, UM, IN THOSE ACTUALLY ALL THE CDC'S THERE ARE MANY EMPTY UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN EMPTY FOR
SIX MONTHS, 18 MONTHS EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NAMES ON THE LIST. UH, THE ISSUE IS THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS AREN'T AFFORDABLE. UH, HISTORICALLY PEOPLE USED TO
PAY 35% OF INCOME FOR RENT. THAT WAS A HUD STANDARD FOR SOCIAL STABILITY. NOW, UH, THE CDC IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FILL THE UNITS HAVE MOVED THAT TO 40% AND IN THE
LAST YEAR OR SO TO 50 AND 55% THEY'RE LETTING PEOPLE MOVE IN BECAUSE THEY NEED TO FILL THE UNITS AND THE PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN BECAUSE THEY NEED HOUSING. UM PUTTING ASIDE THE ISSUE
OF WHERE IS THAT GOING TO STOP THERE IS THE LARGER ISSUE OF THE CDC'S ARE IN THIS CATCH 22 WHERE IF THEY DON'T MOVE PEOPLE IN THEIR BUDGETS ARE STRAINED. THEY CAN'T KEEP STAFF.
UH THEY TURN OVER UNITS SLOWER OR THEY CAN MOVE IN PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BE PAYING THE RENT. UM, THE ONLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM THAT I'VE SEEN THAT IS REALLY
CONCRETE IS THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM. UH, IF LEVEL FUNDED IS NOT REALLY GOOD ENOUGH IT NEEDS IT INCREASE. BUT IF YOU DO THE 2 MILLION CUT YOU'RE PROBABLY PUSHING AROUND
83 FAMILIES BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS. SO THAT'S NOT 83 ON TOP OF THE NUMBER THAT'S 83 DAMAGED PEOPLE ON HOUSEHOLDS ON TOP OF THAT.
UM, GIVEN THAT HOUSING STABILITY IS ARGUABLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LOWERING CRIME AND INCREASING SOCIAL CAPITAL THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO PULL THEMSELVES UP. UH, IT MAKES SENSE THAT YOU PUT
MORE MONEY IN THAT PROGRAM, EVEN IF IT MEANS YOU PULL IT FROM THE POLICE FUND WHERE YOU MAY NOT NEED, UH. SO MUCH IF THERE'S INCREASED STABILITY.
UH, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. DAVID NEWMAN, MICHAEL CAINE DEBRIEF. UH, RICKY MANKIW. UH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. UH.
MY NAME. >> IS DAVID NOLAN AND UH, I AM A MEMBER OF THE MASS ALLIANCE OF TENANTS. UM. UH, COUNCILOR WEBER CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I APPRECIATE THE BEING GIVEN THE ABILITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. UM, I WOULD. >> I.
WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR IS REALLY VERY SIMPLE. UM, BUT I'LL BEGIN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY. IN 2020, MAYOR WALSH INITIATED
A $5 MILLION RENT SUBSIDY, A PILOT PROGRAM AND UH, THAT WAS INCREASED. UH, IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL WAS INCREASED IN 2024 TO 11.75
BILLION. UM. IN MARCH OF 2026, MAYOR WU
REQUESTED A $2 MILLION DECREASE FOR FISCAL UH 2027. WHAT'S THE RESULT? AND SO WHAT'S THE RESULT OF THAT?
THE VHA, UH, A RECENT VHA REPORT INDICATES THAT 387 THERE WILL BE A $387,611 SHORTFALL
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. AND IF AND THAT IS EVEN IF THE FULL UH, 13,913 MILLION $900
BUDGET UH WERE RESTORED IN FULL. SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE UH, WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR IS AN INCREASE
UH, FOR THE UH, FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AND WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE $2 MILLION CUT, UH, TO UH, CITY RENT SUBSIDIES TO AVOID
DISPLACING 83 PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS EXTREMELY LOW INCOME FAMILIES FROM THEIR HOMES. SO ONE MORE ONE LAST THING THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD. UM, HOW DOES THIS HOW COULD
THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN? UM, WE THINK, UH, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OUGHT TO LOOK AT WE WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST THAT COUNCILOR WEBER IS LOOKING AT
THIS, UM, TO FIND OTHER PLACES WITHIN THE BUDGET. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, I'M AS HAPPY TO BE SUPPORTED AND
PROTECTED, UH, BY THE POLICE AS ANYONE ELSE, BUT THE POLICE CONTRACT IS COMING UP THIS YEAR. UH UM, AFTER MANY YEARS, UM,
THAT CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE RENEGOTIATED. WHAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, UH, COULD FIND A WAY TO
RENEGOTIATE THAT BUDGET TO FIND AND RESTORE THAT $2 MILLION. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. THANKS. >> UM. MICHAEL CAINE, UH, RICKY. MANKY AND THEN ALEX ALLEN'S. UH. >> THANK YOU COUNSELOR.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL CAINE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE MASS ALLIANCE OF HUD TENANTS. I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN. UH, AND UH WE ALSO STAFF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY COALITION AND
WE WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE FUNDING TO 13.9 MILLION LAST YEAR. THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED TO CUT 2 MILLION. AND AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, WE CALCULATE
THAT THAT WILL MEAN. 83 CURRENTLY HOUSED PEOPLE, ALL OF WHOM ARE HOMELESS. WHEN THEY GOT A CITY RENT SUBSIDY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET PERMANENT HOUSING BUT IT'S ONLY
PERMANENT IF IF THE FUNDING IS RENEWED EACH YEAR AND IF THEY'RE IF THEY HAVE TO CUT 2 MILLION THAT MEANS. 83 CURRENTLY HOUSED FORMERLY HOMELESS PEOPLE WILL BE
DISPLACED. THEY'LL BE MADE HOMELESS AGAIN. THE HOMELESS AGAIN. SO WE NEED THE COUNCIL AT A MINIMUM TO RESTORE THAT CUT. WE SUPPORT THE, UH, BETTER
BUDGET ALLIANCE DEMANDS TO RESTORE 16 MILLION IN UH, SIMILAR CUTS UH, TO YOUTH JOBS UH, ACCESS TO COUNCIL UH,
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND LGBT Q PROGRAMING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE CUT. TOTALLY THE THE COALITION IS ASKING FOR $16 MILLION.
THAT'S AN ACCOUNTING ERROR IN A $4.9 BILLION BUDGET. UH, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN'T FIND THAT, UM, UH, THAT THE CITY CAN'T FIND. SO IF THE COUNCIL IS NOT GOING
TO REJECT THE MAYOR'S, UH, BUDGET OUTRIGHT AND AND DEMAND MORE REVENUE, UH, THEN THE COUNCIL CAN AMEND IT BY FINDING OFFSETS. UH, AND I KNOW COUNCILOR WEBER HAS BEEN WORKING AT THAT.
WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT. UH, BUT THE LONG TERM THIS WHOLE CRISIS HAS SHOWN THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER THAT THERE IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IN THE
IN THE BUDGET AND THE BIGGEST WASTE FRAUD AND ABUSE IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. UH, BOSTON. GLOBE HAS REPEATEDLY PUBLISHED.
YOU KNOW HOW WHAT IS IT 40 PEOPLE BEING PAID MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THEY WORK AT THE BOSS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, HOW IS IT THAT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE PAID MORE THAN THE MAYOR?
RIGHT. THIS IS NUTS AND A LOT OF IT IS JUST FRAUDULENT. LIKE YOU SHOW UP FOR 15 MINUTES AT COURT AND YOU GET PAID FOR FOUR HOURS OF TIME AND A HALF.
WHAT IS. YOU KNOW THAT IS WHERE THE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSES CONTRACTS. UH, YOU ALL CAN TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE AS COUNCILORS TO COME OUT WITH A REPORT AND A
MEMO RECOMMENDING THAT THE MAYOR RENEGOTIATE. THEY'RE SUGGESTING WAYS TO DO IT. THERE WOULD BE A STRONG CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM FROM THE
BOSTON GLOBE AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO SEE THAT YOU CAN YOU CAN DO THAT AND ACTUALLY. IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY SPREADING THE UH, OVERTIME AROUND WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO IT'S NOT ALL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO RETIRE AND WHO THEN GET UH PENSION BENEFITS. UH, AD INFINITUM AT A HUGE AMOUNT. SO THAT'S WHERE THE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE IS.
THIS IS THE TIME WITH THE CONTRACT UP TO REALLY MAKE A CAMPAIGN AND DEMAND OUT OF THAT . WE URGE YOU TO DO THAT. I HAVE A MEMO. TO THANK YOU. UH. SO WILMER, CAN YOU GRAB THIS THING?
YEAH. ALSO, UH. UH. >> SO I JUST I HAD INVITED ANYONE WITH KIDS, UH, OR KIDS THEMSELVES. UM, SO SASHA'S PARENTS OR, UH, SASHA.
IF, UM. COUNCILOR WEBER. COULD I'M JUST GET CAN WE JUST COULD JUST. >> HAVE DEEB ATTEND? UH, SHE JUST NEEDS. >> TO GET. HOME AND IT'S BEEN WAITING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. SO SO I DON'T WANT TO. OKAY.
I HEAR YOU. UH, SO DB, IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN FIRST OR NO, UH, SASHA, YOU TAKE ONE STEP BACK. DB SECOND TIME TODAY. THERE THE. KIDS HERE OKAY. I HAVE THEM.
THAT JUST ONE YEAH. SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OH OKAY. WOULD YOU, UH. TV EVERYBODY AND THANKS TO THE. ALL THE. >> CITY. COUNCILORS I KNOW YOU'VE HAD.
PROTESTERS OF THE MONTHS. AND I KNOW. YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. UM, UH, THIS. >> WERE A SPEECH. THE TITLE WOULD BE.
THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY A COMMUNITY CENTER GENERATES. SO BY THE WAY, I AM FROM AUSTIN BRIGHTON AND I'M TALKING ABOUT UH, COMMUNITY CENTER THERE. LIKE MANY OF YOU.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS HAVING NO FORMAL EDUCATION. MY PARENTS DID WHAT ALL IMMIGRANT PARENTS DID FOR THEIR GROWING FAMILIES. THEY WORKED HARD. THEY STARTED WHAT IS KNOWN AS A
CANDY STORE IN NEW YORK, WHICH MEANT SELLING HUNDREDS OF CUPS OF COFFEE, NEWSPAPERS AND CIGARETTES GALORE PENNY CANDIES, ICE CREAM SODAS AND A LOT OF GOOD SHARE TO BRING PEOPLE BACK.
DAY AFTER DAY. WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS BY OPENING AT 530 IN THE MORNING TO MAKE SURE FACTORY WORKERS COULD GET THEIR COFFEE AND ROLLS AND CLOSING AT TEN AT NIGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDED AN EMERGENCY ICE CREAM CONE COULD GET ONE. THESE WERE THE HOURS WE WERE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT RUSSIA, CHINA AND YOM KIPPUR.
IN OTHER WORDS, MY PARENTS WERE BUSY IF MY SIBLINGS OR I NEEDED HOMEWORK HELP OR A DROP IN CENTER WE WERE OUT OF LUCK. IF A BROTHER WANTED TO PURSUE HIS ARTISTIC INCLINATIONS TOO
BAD IF MY SISTER WANTED TO PLAY TEAM SPORTS SHE WAS ON HER OWN AND WHEN I NEEDED AN AVAILABLE ADULT TO TURN TO IN A TIME OF CRISIS, I TOO WAS ON MY OWN. A COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD HAVE
MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES. MY GRANDMOTHER MIGHT HAVE GONE TO ENGLISH AND I MIGHT HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME. THAT'S WHY I AM SO PAINFULLY
AWARE OF THE VALUE A B C WIFE WOULD BRING TO ALLSTON BRIGHT AWESOME. BRIGHTON'S LARGE IMMIGRANT HARDWORKING POPULATION. I'M GONNA READ A SHORT QUOTE FROM THE HARVARD CRIMSON
OF SEPTEMBER 2024. UH QUOTE THE CENTER ALSO DID NOT HOLD ITS ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP IN 2023 OR 24. FULL PROGRAMING HAS ALSO BEEN DISRUPTED FOR TEENAGERS, WHICH
HELPS THEM CREATE RESUMES AND APPLY TO COLLEGES. BY DENYING THE KIND OF INVESTMENT IN THE F Y 27 CAPITAL BUDGET THAT HELPED ENSURE OTHER COMMUNITIES GET
NEW CENTERS. THIS BUDGET IS MORE THAN JUST DISAPPOINTING. ALLSTON BRIGHTON RESIDENTS. DB SORRY THE BUZZER WENT OFF IF YOU OH. >> I'M SORRY LET ME I'LL JUST READ THE END THE DECISION BOTH DISADVANTAGES THOSE RESIDENTS
AND LEAVE THEM FEELING DISRESPECTED AND DEMEANED. UH I HOPE THAT YOU ALL FIND A WAY TO PUT, UH, THE $65 MILLION IN THE BUDGET THAT
COUNCILOR BREADON HAS REQUESTED AND THAT'S NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE CENTER, NOT JUST DO ANOTHER STUDY. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO JUST TELL US YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU'RE FROM.
UH, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. HI, I AM SASHA PILCHER. I'M A SEVENTH GRADER AT BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY. I'M ALSO A GRADUATE OF DESIRE QUINCY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE SOUTH END MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT A TEACHER I AND MANY OTHERS LOVE AND RESPECT. AP ELLA CHELSEA EVANS. SHE'S BEEN LAID OFF THIS YEAR FROM BP SOLELY BECAUSE OF HER SENIORITY AND NOT BECAUSE
OF HER PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM. WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT BELLA I WAS NERVOUS AND EXCITED. IT WAS A NEW SCHOOL WITH NEW TEACHERS, NEW SCHEDULES, NEW BUILDING. IT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN.
THEN I HAD MY FIRST HUMANITIES CLASS AND MET MISSY. I INSTANTLY FELT WELCOMED AND LESS NERVOUS. SHE WAS APPROACHABLE, ENTHUSIASTIC AND OBVIOUSLY LOVED TEACHING. SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES
FROM THE CLUB FROM THIS YEAR WERE IN HER CLASS LIKE WHEN WE CHOSE THEM OR I MISSED THE STUDY AND MADE IT INTO A NETFLIX SERIES OR WHEN SHE TOOK THE TOP 25 PERFORMANCE STUDENTS ON A FIELD TRIP TO THEM TO THE
MFA TO SEE THE NEW HENRY DAY AT HIS EXHIBIT. SHE ALSO HELPED OUT STRUGGLING STUDENTS ALWAYS AFTER SCHOOL TO HELP OUT WHETHER YOU NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT OR STRUGGLING A LOT WITH THE UNIT.
AS YOU CAN SEE SHE IS EVERYTHING THAT WANTS IN A TEACHER. THIS IS WHY IN JUST TWO WEEKS MY PETITION FOR HER TO STAY AT BP'S GOT 110 SIGNATURES BOTH FROM PAST AND PRESENT STUDENTS
OF HERS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MISSY. OH, NO. SORRY. SHE UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE SHE HASN'T REACHED PROFESSIONAL TEACHER STATUS. SHE'LL BE DISMISSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT BP'S VALUES SENIORITY OVER PERFORMANCE AND CARES MORE ABOUT HOW LONG A TEACHER HAS WORKED THERE INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY INDIVIDUALLY DO TO BE THE AMAZING TEACHERS THEY ARE.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MISSY. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER TEACHERS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUR STRATEGY FOR HOW WE LAY OFF TEACHERS. NOW I KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WANTS TO PROVIDE THE BEST
POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY STUDENT IN DPS, SO LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN. LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW TEACHERS ARE HIRED, HOW TEACHERS ARE LAID OFF SHOULD IT BE HOW LONG THEY'VE TAUGHT
THERE OR SHOULD IT BE WHAT THEY INDIVIDUALLY DO TO BE THE AMAZING TEACHERS THEY ARE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH, RICKY AND THEN ALEX, ALEX, MICHELLE DELIMA AND UH, LYDIA.
UM, I THINK IT'S LORI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RICKY MONKEY. I'M A RESIDENT OF ALLSTON, BRIGHTON AND I'M THE. DIRECTOR OF THE RAT CITY ARTS FESTIVAL, A GRASSROOT ARTS
FESTIVAL HERE AND ALLSTON BRIGHTON. TODAY I ONCE AGAIN SPEAK FOR. >> THE NEIGHBORS OF ALLSTON BRIGHTON. FAMILIES. >> IMMIGRANTS, ARTISTS, YOUTH AND WORKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED FOR SO LONG WITHOUT THE BENEFIT. >> OF A FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER. THE JACKSON COMMUNITY CENTER.
IS A CONDEMNED BUILDING NOT SAFE FOR PUBLIC USE. IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE ROOF IS LEAKING AND THE FRONT DOOR IS PERMANENTLY. CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. I ASK ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY,
EACH OF YOU REPRESENTING DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVING A COMMUNITY CENTER. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON SHOULD HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER? I SPEAK TO THOSE HERE. IN THE ROOM AND THOSE WHO ARE
NOT. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU LED THE STRONG WOMEN. FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE HOSTED A MEETING IN THE JACKSON. MAN. WILL YOUR PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TRANSLATE INTO A VOTE FOR THE FAMILIES
OF ALLSTON BRIGHTON? COUNCILOR EARLE, YOU SOUGHT OUT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENCY. I WAS EXCITED FOR YOUR BOLD VISION FOR THE CITY. WILL YOU SHOW US WHAT THAT VISION WOULD BE LIKE BY STANDING WITH THE NEIGHBORS
OF ALLSTON BRIGHTON? COUNCILOR DURKAN, I'VE BEEN TOLD YOU ARE A STRONG ALLY TO THE MAYOR. WILL YOU UTILIZE YOUR ALLYSHIP TO ENSURE THE MAYOR UNDERSTANDS THAT THE JACKSON. MAN SHOULD BE A PRIORITY IN
THIS BUDGET? IF WE COULD ALSO HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR COUNCILOR COLLETTA. SUPPORT OF SOMEONE WHO JUST RECENTLY HAD A NEWBORN IS OUT ON PARENTAL LEAVE. I AM PERSONALLY. >> COME ON FOLKS THAT'S
AMAZING. I'M PERSONALLY INSPIRED BY A WORKING CITY COUNCILOR. WHO IS NOT ONLY RAISING A CHILD BUT ALSO WORKING FOR OUR CITY. I ALSO KNOW COUNCILOR PEPEN ALSO SERVES WHILE BEING A
PARENT. THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BCF POOLS AND. COMMUNITY CENTERS TO. ENJOY AND GROW FROM. BUT MY. SON OF 11 MONTHS HAS NO IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF A COMMUNITY. CENTER OR POOL IN ALLSTON
BRIGHTON. WILL YOUR LEADERSHIP APPLY TO THE ONLY TO THE FAMILIES IN YOUR DISTRICT OR WILL YOU ALSO STAND WITH THE FAMILIES OF ALLSTON, BRIGHTON AND WHAT THEY WANT BEST FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN?
COUNCILOR BRIGHTON YOUR ROLE SPEAKS TO VOLUMES OF YOUR. LEADERSHIP BEING COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE LONGEST SERVING COUNCILOR. WILL YOUR LEGACY BE THAT YOU SUCCEEDED IN. >> FINDING A JACKSON MAN. OR THAT YOU FAILED IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR DISTRICT?
COUNCILOR SANTANA AND COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE BOTH OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED EVENTS IN THE RED CITY ARTS FESTIVAL. AND I. TRULY KNOW YOU TO BE DEFENDERS OF. UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS HERE IN THE CITY. WILL YOU ALSO BE DEFENDERS OF THOSE POPULATIONS AND
ALLSTON BRIGHTON. RICKY THE THE BUZZER WENT OFF COULD YOU PLEASE. ALL RIGHT I'LL WRAP IT UP. I HOPE YOU LET ALL OF THE UNITY OF YOUR VOTES REPRESENT THE VALUE THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES A COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE TOO AS A NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE UNITED IN THIS EFFORT. FOR THE RATS OF THE RAT CITY. I HOPE YOU ALL ATTEND THE MAYOR'S MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT 6 P.M. AT THE JACKSON MANN. COMMUNITY CENTER. YOU'LL FINALLY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTLY SPEAK TO THE MAYOR, AND I HOPE WE COULD FINALLY PRIORITIZE THE JACKSON BID IN OUR CITY'S BUDGET. OKAY, RICKY. THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER. THANK YOU EVERYONE AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU VOTE YES FOR A
BUDGET THAT PRIORITIZES THE. JACKSON MAN. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALEX. UH, MICHELLE DE LIMA.
UH, LYDIA, UH, FROM CHINATOWN, UH, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND, UH, I THINK IT'S VIVIAN, UM, PETITE HOME. OKAY. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. MY NAME IS ALEX. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS
BUDGET CYCLE, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM. THERE HAVE BEEN GRUMBLINGS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE THE RESIDENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW LITTLE POWER YOU HAVE GENERALLY OR WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET. THAT'S FAIR IN PART, BUT IT IS
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FLAHERTY ON THE OBSCURE NATURE OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT. WHY ARE WE HERE TO PRESENT DATA TESTIMONY STORIES AND REQUEST IF THE BEST Y'ALL CAN DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH LESS THAN A PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET? IT IS CLEAR WE DO NOT HAVE A
FUNCTIONAL CITY GOVERNMENT. I OBSERVE THE CITY AS A SYSTEMS ANALYST AND WHAT DO I SEE? CITY LOTS OVERFLOWING WITH LIQUOR BOTTLES AND LITTER. BP'S FACILITIES FALLING APART WHILE THE CITY PUMPS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS INTO A FACILITY MOST STUDENTS WON'T GET TO SEE
MOST DAYS. SIDEWALKS ARE UNUSABLE BY THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES. CARS BLOCK CROSSWALKS, SPEED THROUGH RED LIGHTS AND DOUBLE TRIPLE PARK ACROSS THE CITY. YOU CANNOT BE SO AFRAID TO LOSE POLITICAL FAVOR OR DAMAGE FUTURE AMBITIONS THAT YOU DON'T
USE YOUR LIMITED POWER TO ENSURE THAT THE MAYOR AND HER OFFICE ARE PRESENT AND ACCOUNTABLE AT MEETINGS LIKE THESE. THEY ARE THE ONES WITH THE BUDGET POWERS WHO SHOULD BE FACING THE PEOPLE ONTO SPECIFIC POLICY. THE COUNCIL HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN RESTARTING THE REDSHIRTS
PROGRAM TO DO WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING ACROSS THE CITY FOR THE PAST YEAR. ON SUNDAY BIKING HOME FROM WORK, I FILMED 40 VEHICLES DOUBLE PARKED ALONG NEWBURY AND BOYLSTON STREET. PART OF THE RETRO RESPONSIBILITIES CAN INCLUDE
YOUTH ON BIKES WITH TELL ME ABOUT TWO CAMERAS TO CATCH THESE INFRACTIONS AND THAT TEN MINUTE RIDE AT $75 A TICKET. THE CITY COULD HAVE MADE $3,000. THIS IS AN AVENUE TO FUND YOUTH PROGRAMS WHEN THE CITY SAYS ITS BUDGET IS STRETCHED THIN FOR A
FULL YEAR I'VE BEEN OFFERING IDEAS LIKE THESE TO MY DISTRICT COUNCILOR, COUNCILORS AT LARGE, THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER DISTRICT COUNCILORS. I DO THE WORK AND RESEARCH TO DRAFT HUNDREDS OF POLICY THE KIND OF POLICY THAT BOSTON
NEEDS TO BE THE LEADER THAT THIS CITY SAYS IT IS THE CITY AND ITS LEADERS TALK A BIG GAME ABOUT BOSTON'S ROLE AS A LEADER IN THE NATION. I DON'T SEE IT. I BRING THESE IDEAS TO CITY LEADERS TO POSITION THEMSELVES AS ADVOCATES FOR THE YOUTH
INCUBATORS OF HOMEGROWN TALENT AND PEOPLE WHO INTIMATELY UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE THAT THE STATUS QUO CAUSES. BUT YET FOR MONTHS SILENCE, NODDING AND LISTENING IS NOT SUPPORT. IT IS A BARE MINIMUM FORCING A CONSTITUENT TO SEND MULTIPLE
EMAILS, FIND YOU IN PERSON AND ATTEND WORK OUR HEARINGS IS NOT ACCESSIBILITY. THE RULES ARE MADE UP. THEY HAVE THE POWERS YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE THEM. YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE RISK AND SHOW INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS YOU CAMPAIGNED ON FIXING.
OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UM. UH, MICHELLE, UH, YOU AND LYDIA FROM CHINATOWN. I THINK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST VIVIAN PETITE HOME THAT MAC
HUDSON SUSAN ASI AND AND UH UH THE LADY. THANK YOU. UH, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. I'M MICHELLE DE LIMA HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEADLY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE AND THE
GREATER BOSTON COMMUNITY LAND TRUST NETWORK, DSA HAS BEEN ORGANIZING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING IN ROXBURY IN NORTH DORCHESTER FOR 40 YEARS. AS MEMBERS OF THE BETTER BUDGET
ALLIANCE, WE SUPPORT THE DEMANDS FOR FULL RESTORATION OF ALL OF THE BUDGET CUTS AND MORE. WE KNOW THE CITY IS FACING SHORTFALLS BUT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO STRUGGLING AND WE CALL ON YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE CORE
NEEDS OF RESIDENTS HOUSING, SCHOOLS, FOOD ACCESS, SUPPORT FOR ELDERS AND IMMIGRANTS AND JOBS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON HOUSING SPECIFICALLY THE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM AND CITY
VOUCHERS ALSO KNOWN AS A CITY RENT SUBSIDY ACROSS OUR NETWORK OF CLT, SIX OF WHICH ARE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHICH WE HAVE 300 FAMILIES IN PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
RENTAL UNITS WITH 130 MORE UNITS IN THE IMMEDIATE PIPELINE . EOP AND VOUCHERS ARE VITAL TO THE WORK OF CLT AND OUR PARTNERS. AOP GIVES FORGIVABLE LOANS TO NONPROFITS TO PURCHASE EXISTING
OCCUPIED HOUSING, PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND BRINGING HOUSING UNITS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY. >> BASED. ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CLT. SINCE IT BEGAN, AOP HAS SAVED MORE THAN 1400 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH IS
FAR MORE EFFICIENT THAN BUILDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WE ALSO NEED UH UM WITH LINKAGE FEES DOWN AND OTHER SOURCES HIGHLY UNCERTAIN, WE CALL ON THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
A $3.5 MILLION AMENDMENT FOR AOP IN THE FY 27 BUDGET. IT'S A FRACTION OF WHAT WE NEED ACROSS THE CITY, BUT THE UNITS IT WOULD SAVE AND THE FAMILIES IT WOULD KEEP IN PLACE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT.
AOP IS CORE TO BOSTON'S ANTI DISPLACEMENT WORK AND SHOULD CONTINUE AND GROW BY INCLUDING IT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL WILL SIGNIFY THEIR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING TENANTS IN THEIR HOMES IN THE LONG TERM.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY IS KEY FOR KEEPING VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES, SO I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS HAS ALLOWED OUR CLT AND SO MANY
OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS TO BE GOOD LANDLORDS TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NO INCOME. WE CALL ON THE COUNCIL TO FULLY RESTORE AND EXPAND THE CITY'S VOUCHER PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW VICKI AND I HAD TO GO HOME SO THE THE PERSON AFTER LYDIA IS NOT HERE. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, JUST WANT TO SORRY. JUST TO. >> OUR. INTERPRETERS NEED A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
OUR INTERPRETERS. UH, WE JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE CAN TAKE A SHORT RECESS, BUT, UH, I DON'T HAVE MY LIST, SO WHOEVER'S UP NEXT. YEAH. >> HELLO, I'M LYDIA LOWE.
I WORK FOR THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND, UM. AT FIRST I WAS. >> TOLD LIKE, OH, I'M GOING TO BE WAITING HERE FOR A LONG TIME TO TRY AND SPEAK BUT I ACTUALLY AM GLAD BECAUSE I FOUND IT VERY
INSPIRING TO HEAR ALL OF THE YOUTH WHO CAME FORWARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH JOBS. UM, SO I'M HERE TO, YOU KNOW, CALL FOR RESTORING THE BUDGET CUTS TO THOSE WHO. >> ARE THE.
>> MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY. LIKE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING AND I THINK THAT YOUTH JOBS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH AND ALSO
PEOPLE YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE SPOKE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF STABLE HOUSING. STABLE HOUSING IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYBODY'S LIVES . AND UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THAT STABLE HOUSING IS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE HOMES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. UM, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT TO US TO, UM, RESTORE THE CUTS TO THE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE CITY'S PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES BY TAKING HOMES OUT OF THE
SPECULATIVE MARKET AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE PRESERVED FOR LONG TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS RESTORING THE MONEY FOR THE CITY VOUCHERS. THE CITY VOUCHERS AGAIN ARE
HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE TENANTS UM TO REMAIN IN PLACE. UM AND AS UM COUNCILOR FLYNN AND UM UH COUNCILOR WEBER KNOW
YOU KNOW WE ALSO HAD A BUDGET HEARING IN CHINATOWN AND SO I NEED TO ALSO PUT IN A PLUG FOR UM, MONEY FOR STREET IMPROVEMENT IN CHINATOWN THAT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, UM, FOR THESE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST STARTING NOW WHICH WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO SEE. WE WANT TO SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE TONY LEE PLAZA PROJECT. >> AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. UM, SO WE'RE JUST I THINK WE HAVE LIKE NINE PAGES TO GO THROUGH. WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH PAGE TWO.
UM UH, SO I'M WE'RE GOING TO FINISH PAGE TWO AND THEN I HAVE A FEW, UH, TEENAGERS WHO UH, NEED TO GET HOME AND UH, FINISH THEIR HOMEWORK. SO, UH, HEAR FROM ABOUT FOUR
TEENAGERS AFTER WE HEAR FROM MARK HUDSON, SUSAN ASI AND UH AND, UH, THE LADY. OKAY. >> AND EVERYONE. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? MY NAME IS MARK HUDSON. I REPRESENT THE BLACK AGENDA
COALITION. IN ADDITION ACCESS MASS WHICH WHICH DEALS WITH RACIAL EQUITY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I GREW UP IN BOSTON, ROXBURY AND DORCHESTER. ALL MY LIFE. UM, AND I NOW RESIDE IN
MATTAPAN. I WANT TO FIRST YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO KIND OF SKIP PAST ALL THE NARRATIVES THAT I THINK THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW AND I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT
TODAY. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY THESE CUTS ARE NECESSARY . RIGHT. WHAT I WHAT I FEEL. WHAT NEEDS. >> TO BE SAID IS THAT WE NEED
TO START BREAKING THE ILLUSION THAT SOMEHOW BECAUSE WE'RE FACING THIS FEDERAL SCRUTINY, THAT IT IMPACTS US IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE MAYOR HAS LACKED IMAGINATION WHEN IT COMES TO
BALANCING THE BUDGET FOR ALL OF US. NOW IF NEW YORK COULD DO IT IF IF THE MAYOR IN NEW YORK COULD DO IT WITH A MUCH GREATER TASK BUDGET OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND
HE'S UNDER THE SAME SCRUTINY AS THE FEDS ARE I MEAN FROM FROM TRUMP THEN WHY ARE WE UNABLE TO DO THAT? THAT'S CALLED LACK OF IMAGINATION.
HE'S ABLE TO DO MAKE THOSE CUTS 124.7 BILLION WHEN I BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT CUTTING. RESOURCES TO ANYONE. THAT IS A MESSAGE RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT A
DEFICIT OF ALL THESE CUTS THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT ELDERLY HOUSING. THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING HOME FORMERLY INCARCERATED EVERYONE TO TO THE YOUTH WHO CAN'T GET SUMMER JOBS IN WHICH WE ALL
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF THAT AND WE ARE SITTING HERE PRETENDING LIKE WE DON'T KNOW OR WHY THIS IS NOT A CRISIS. I THINK IT'S UH IT'S SHAME ON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
PRETENDING LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE AND IT'S SHAME ON US IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO.
MY LAST POINT I WANT TO SAY AND I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THIS AS Y'ALL NEGOTIATE RATHER THAN SEND THIS BUDGET BACK AND FORTH TO THE MAYOR'S IN AND PLAY THIS
POLITICAL GAME, PLEASE GET TOGETHER FOR SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING AMONG YOURSELVES TO RESTORE WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. SO FOR THE BE ON BEHALF. >> OF ALL OF US THAT REALLY. >> NEED YOU IN THIS TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SUSAN. AND AND OF OF I'M SORRY. VELARDE. SUSAN ASI. YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU LISTED
MY NAME. YES. SUSAN ASI AND THEN AND UH AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO UH, TAKE OF A BRIEF DETOUR TO UM, GET
SOME YOUNG PEOPLE. I'M SUSAN ASI MY COLLEAGUE IS CINDY TOWER LOW AND WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING THE NAACP BOSTON EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENROLLMENT DECLINE OF 3000 STUDENTS FROM 2025 TO 2027. STILL THE CENTRAL QUESTION HOW WILL THE BUDGET CUTS IMPACT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT NEEDS TO BE
MORE VIGOROUSLY CONSIDERED CUT BUDGET CUTS ARE SEVERE. WE ASKED THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WU TO NEGOTIATE STAFF CUTS THROUGHOUT CITY HALL DEPARTMENTS TO OFFSET
THE HUNDREDS OF STAFF CUTS. INCLUDED IN THESE CUTS IS SPECIAL ED POWER PARAPROFESSIONALS A LOSS FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS SPECIAL NEEDS
STUDENTS WE SUPPORT MAYOR WU'S PROPOSAL TO DRAW $70 MILLION FROM BOSTON'S RESERVE FUNDS TO FILL DEFICITS. AND WE ASK THAT THE $6 MILLION CUT TO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND
OPPORTUNITY BE REINSTATED. FUNDING CUTS WILL DEPRIVE THE STUDENTS OF LEARNING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ULTIMATELY WILL WEAKEN FAMILIES AND INCREASE STREET VIOLENCE, ACCORDING TO CITY DATA.
YOUTH JOBS REDUCE VIOLENCE BY 35% IN BOSTON, WE SPOTLIGHT THE HISTORIC AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AFFECTING STUDENTS OF COLOR, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS FROM 2007 TO 2 2023 MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS RECEIVED ABOUT $3,600 MORE PER PUPIL FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS THAN DISTRICTS MADE UP
MOSTLY OF STUDENTS OF COLOR. ALSO WE PUSH FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND MULTILINGUAL INSTRUCTION TO BE PART OF THE CORE CURRICULUM RATHER THAN SEPARATE INITIATIVES.
STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FAMILIES CALL FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN BUDGETARY DECISION MAKING. ALTHOUGH SCHOOL CLOSURES ARE ALREADY SLATED, WE STRONGLY
REQUEST THAT BOSTON SCHOOL COMMUNITIES BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS EARLY ON WITH MORE SUSTAINED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK. THE NAACP BOSTON BRANCH WILL
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY AS IT IMPACTS THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND GROWTH. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, IS ANNA FROM THE B2? YEAH. >> OKAY.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES. >> PERFECT. >> UM, MY NAME IS ANNA VELARDE . I AM A SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER AT THE MARIO MANA ACADEMY AND I'M ALSO A PROUD BOSTON TEACHERS UNION
MEMBER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF GABRIELLE MOYA, AN EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE. PARAPROFESSIONAL AT THE MARIO MANOR ACADEMY WHOSE POSITION HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN ELIMINATED DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.
MR MOYA IS UNABLE TO SPEAK TODAY SO I WILL BE SHARING SOME WORDS ON HIS BEHALF. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS GABRIELLE MOYA AND I AM A PARAPROFESSIONAL AT THE MARIO MANOR ACADEMY.
FROM MY VERY FIRST DAYS IN THE BUILDING I FELT LIKE I WAS PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN A JOB . IT FELT LIKE A COMMUNITY. I WAS SUPPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND OTHER PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO
TOOK THE TIME TO GUIDE ME, INCLUDE ME AND MAKE SURE THAT I COULD SUCCEED. THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPED HOW I SHOW UP FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY. PARAPROFESSIONALS AREN'T JUST EXTRA HELP.
WE ARE ESSENTIAL TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND FOCUSED ON THE LESSON. WE ALSO SUPPORT STUDENTS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS. I CHECK IN WITH STUDENTS EVERY DAY, I TALK WITH THEM AND I BUILD TRUST BETWEEN MYSELF AND
THE STUDENTS. FOR MANY STUDENTS THE SCHOOL IS A SAFE. SPACE. HAVING SOMEONE THERE TO LISTEN TO THE KIDS IS EXTREMELY VITAL NOT JUST FOR THE PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM BUT OUTSIDE
OF THE CLASSROOM AS WELL. IF PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE CUT, THESE RESPONSIBILITIES DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR THEY FALL DIRECTLY ONTO THE TEACHERS. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE
STUDENTS HAVING FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN. I GREW UP IN EVERETT, THE SON OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS THAT WORK HARD TO GIVE ME A BETTER FUTURE AND MANY OF THE STUDENTS I WORK WITH CONNECT WITH ME BECAUSE WE SHARE THE SAME BACKGROUND.
WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE. THEY KNOW WHEN SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS CEMENT CONNECTION MATTERS AND IT HELPS THEM OPEN UP TO STAY ENGAGED AND TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS. LOSING PARAPROFESSIONALS THAT SHARE AN IDENTITY WITH THE
STUDENTS IS A DETRIMENT TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS PEOPLE, I AM ASKING YOU TO TAKE THE CONCRETE AN IMMEDIATE ACTION INCREASE AND PROTECT FUNDING FOR STUDENT FACING POSITIONS LIKE. PARAPROFESSIONALS. >> SCHOOLS NEED RESOURCES TO
RETAIN THE PEOPLE WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. . >> OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, OKAY. UM I'M JUST WE HAVE, UH, SOME TEENAGERS IN THE AUDIENCE.
I'VE GOT STAR NUNEZ. UH, DAVID. UH, I'M NOT SURE. UH, I WAS OSEARY UH, SHERRY WILLIAMS AND DEVELOPER MORE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THERE. >> ARE ANY OTHERS HERE. YEAH. UH, AND HENRY SANTANA NOT THE COUNSELOR. UH, NO. >> YOU. YES. OKAY. UH, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. HI.
>> MY NAME IS STAR NUNEZ. I USUALLY HER PRONOUNS AND I'M A ROXBURY RESIDENT. I'M HERE. >> TODAY NOT AS JUST A YOUNG PERSON BUT AS A YOUNG PERSON WHO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS BUDGET HEARING.
I AM HERE ASKING YOU TO REJECT MAYOR MICHELLE WU'S PROPOSED BUDGET, RESTORE THE CUTS AND AMEND THIS BUDGET TO FUND BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE BECAUSE. WHEN YOU. >> CUT YOUTH JOBS YOU ARE NOT JUST CUTTING JOBS, YOU'RE. >> CUTTING STABILITY, YOU'RE
CUTTING SAFETY. YOU'RE CUTTING COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE CUTTING HOPE. 17 1800. YOUTH JOBS ARE EXPECTED TO DISAPPEAR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR THAT IS 1800 YOUNG PEOPLE LOSING A
SAFE PLACE TO GO AFTER SCHOOL, 1800 YOUNG PEOPLE LOSING MENTORS 1800 YOUNG PEOPLE LOSING INCOME THAT HELPS THEM SURVIVE IN THE CITY 1800 YOUNG PEOPLE BEING TOLD THAT THEY ARE DISPOSABLE WHEN THE BUDGET GETS
DIFFICULT AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A YOUTH JOB I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROGRAMS MATTER. THEY MATTER DEEPLY. MY YOUTH JOB GAVE ME THE STRUCTURE. IT GAVE ME PURPOSE. IT GAVE ME COMMUNITY DURING
MOMENTS WHERE I COULD EASILY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS AND FALLEN APART. FOR MANY OF US THESE JOBS ARE NOT EXTRA THEIR SURVIVAL THEY'RE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISOLATION AND SUPPORT. THE DIFFERENCE.
BETWEEN FEELING LOST AND FEELING VALUED. YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE ALREADY CARRYING SO MUCH. WE ARE CARRYING FINANCIAL STRESS. WE ARE CARRYING HOUSING INSECURITY. WE ARE CARRYING FOOD INSECURITY .
WE ARE CARRYING ANXIETY ABOUT OUR FUTURES EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NOW THIS BUDGET ASK US TO CARRY EVEN MORE. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE MATTER WHILE REMOVING THE VERY PROGRAMS THAT KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE GROUNDED.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS WHEN TAKING AWAY SPACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED. THIS IS WHY BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE MATTERS BECAUSE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT CARE.
IT'S ABOUT PREVENTION. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE IN CRISIS ARE MET WITH SUPPORT INSTEAD OF ABANDONMENT. IT IS ABOUT CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL PROTECTED AND NOT FORGOTTEN. I WANT TO REMIND THE CITY
COUNCIL THAT BUDGETS ARE A MORAL DOCUMENT. BUDGETS REVEAL PRIORITY AND RIGHT NOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WATCHING VERY, VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE WHETHER THIS CITY TRULY PRIORITIZES US OR ONLY SPEAKS
ABOUT US WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT. SO TODAY I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE REJECT THIS BUDGET, RESTORE THE CUTS, PROTECT SCHOOL YEAR YOUTH JOBS INVESTED IN FORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD ACCESS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND AMEND
THIS BUDGET TO TO FUND THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN. YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT NEED MORE SPEECHES ABOUT THE FUTURE. WE NEED AN INVESTMENT AND A COMMUNITY.
OKAY I I JUST HAVE UH, DAVID UH ,A FIRST BUT. I'M GOING. >> TO GO TOTALLY UP TO YOU. YEAH. SO THE RIGHT FOR IT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. >> IN COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVE MOORE.
I LIVE IN. ROXBURY AND I'M AN 11TH. GRADE 17 YEAR OLD. >> MEDICAL STUDENT AT WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A SENIOR. ORGANIZER AT THE CENTER FOR TEEN EMPOWERMENT. >> AND DORCHESTER SITE, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING AT C E FOR TWO YEARS. OR THREE SESSIONS.
AND TO ME WHAT MAKES THESE CUTS SO FRUSTRATING IS THAT THEY. EXPOSE A DEEPER CONTRADICTION IN. HOW THE CITY. UNDERSTAND ITS PUBLIC INVESTMENT. BOSTON IS PERFECTLY WILLING TO SPEND. ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY
MANAGING THE DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCES OF. INEQUALITY BUT BECOMES HESITANT . BUT BECOMES HESITANT THE MOMENT THE CONVERSATION SHIFTS TO REDUCING INEQUALITY AT ITS SOURCE. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
>> ARE ONE OF THE FEW POLICIES THAT. SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESS ECONOMIC MOBILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH. EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. THE RESEARCH.
ON THIS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL ANYMORE. STABLE EMPLOYMENT. DURING ADOLESCENCE IS STRONGLY CORRELATED. WITH LONG TERM EARNINGS. LOWER JUSTICE SYSTEM. INVOLVEMENT, IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND.
STRONGER CIVIC PARTICIPATION. IN OTHER WORDS, THESE PROGRAMS. WORK PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY INTERVENE BEFORE A CRISIS OCCURS. BUT PREVENTION IS POLITICALLY INCONVENIENT BECAUSE ITS
EXCESSES ARE INVISIBLE. YOU CANNOT HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE OR HEARING FOR THE HARM THAT NEVER HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. THE CITY IS CONTINUOUSLY INVESTING DISPROPORTIONATELY IN
REACTIVE SYSTEM. SYSTEMS POLICING. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. INCARCERATION, DISCIPLINARY INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THOSE SYSTEMS PRODUCE INVISIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF AUTHORITY
THEY COMMUNICATE CONTROL. YOUTH JOBS, MENTORSHIP AND SOCIAL SUPPORT PRODUCE SOMETHING LESS THEATRICAL STABILITY. AND STABILITY RARELY RECEIVES
THE SAME POLITICAL URGENCY AS PUNISHMENT. SO THE QUESTION IS SO THE. QUESTION IS. NOT WHETHER BOSTON CAN AFFORD TO FUND YOUTH JOBS. THE QUESTION IS WHY THE A CITY WITH THIS MUCH WEALTH
CONSISTENTLY TREATS INVESTMENT IN WORKING CLASS PEOPLE YOUTH OF COLOR, STUDENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS. FRIENDS. >> PEOPLE AS NEGOTIABLE.
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH, DAVID AND UH, SHERRY WILLIAMS AND THEN I THINK HENRY SANTANA. ALL RIGHT. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID O'SHEA.
I'M 15 AND I WORKED IN DISTRICT THREE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I AM HERE TODAY AS. >> WELL AS EVERYONE HERE. UH, I'M. HERE TODAY AS WELL AS EVERYONE HERE BECAUSE MARY WHO HAS BEEN FAILING OUR CITY AND MANY UH,
IN MANY THINGS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR YOUTH I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE AND I HOPE TODAY TO RECEIVE YOUR HELP TO SUPPORT THE RESPONSE AS WELL AS MAKE YOU REALIZE IF YOU. >> HAVEN'T ALREADY. WELL, MAYBE IT'S.
DOING TO THE YOUTH IS A ROBBERY TO START ARE WE THREE NAMES? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON JACOB. JACOB GREECE A 20 A 29 YEAR OLD MAN WHO WHO WHILE IN THE MIDST
OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WAS SHOT BY BOSTON POLICE TERRENCE COLEMAN, A BLACK MAN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA WHO WAS FATALLY SHOT. AND A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY ALLEGED THAT BOSTON POLICE AND EMT TRADING PROVIDED A POOR
UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS . JEFFERSON KING JR, A MAN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHO WAS SHOT BY BOSTON POLICE DURING A CONFRONTATION FOR ALLEGED CARJACKING.
ALL THOSE NAMES ARE PEOPLE WHO . WERE FAIRLY KILLED BY POLICE WHO ACTUALLY DID NOT HAVE TRAINING AND HOW TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CASES LIKE THESE
CAUSE THE COMMUNITY TO BE AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE, SCARING THEM INTO BELIEVING IF THEY DO SOMEONE SOMEONE WILL END UP DEAD. NOW MAYOR WHO'S MAKING THIS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WORSE BY
CUTTING 6 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR YOUTH JOBS BUDGET SUING OVER 1000 JOBS FROM THE YOUTH TAKING AWAY THESE JOBS STRIPS YOUNG PEOPLE OF STABILITY AND SAFETY CAUSING
THINGS LIKE FINANCIAL STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH MENTAL WELL MENTAL HEALTH THE CITY IS CUTTING THE LIFELINES IN OBTAINING THEM ABANDONING THEM TO THE EXACT
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OUR CURRENT SYSTEM FAILS TO HANDLE. THE BOSTON. PEOPLE'S RESPONSE WILL ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE AND DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY TRAINED SPECIFICALLY AND HOW TO HELP PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS AND PROVIDE THEM RESOURCES TO END THINGS SAFELY . I HOPE TODAY YOU WILL CHOOSE TO GET BEHIND THE RESPONSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND THANK YOU.
OKAY. UH. YEAH. >> UH WHENEVER YOU'RE READY AND THEN UH SO. AND HENRY SANTANA. IS TRANSCRIPT. SO YEAH. UH GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS HENRY SANTANA ON IRONICALLY, UM, YOU'RE. YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER, HENRY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UM, SO TO START OFF, I'M 18 YEARS OLD. I GREW UP IN THE SOUTH END.
UM, I ATTENDED THE HURLEY K THROUGH EIGHT AND I'M NOW GRADUATING FROM BOSTON ACADEMY . UM. >> I'M. HERE. TODAY BECAUSE. PROGRAMS LIKE SUMMER. YOUTH PROGRAM. HAVE GENERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. UM, IT'S A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION AND WHEN WE TALK. ABOUT YOUTH. >> JOBS THEY SOMETIMES TREAT THEM LIKE. EXTRAS IN THE. BUDGET OR BASICALLY JUST A STATISTIC WHEN THAT'S BASICALLY NOT WHAT WE ARE. UM. >> THEY ARE OUR FIRST PAYCHECK. THEY'RE OUR FIRST MENTOR. THEY'RE OUR. >> FIRST.
REAL RESPONSIBILITY. UM. >> AND SOMETIMES. THE ONLY. >> SAFE AND STRUCTURE PLACE THAT WE HAVE DURING THE SUMMER OR DURING THE. AFTER SCHOOL. UM AND AS SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS. BOTH SPANISH. AND ENGLISH, I'VE. SEEN HOW PROGRAMS LIKE. >> THIS. OPEN DOORS.
FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T ALWAYS GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS, MENTORSHIP AND EXPERIENCE THAT I GAINED THROUGH THE YOUTH PROGRAMS ALONE, I'M NOW ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE. >> FOR.
COMPLETELY FREE. TUITION FREE I PAY NOTHING. UM THEY JUST. THAT OPPORTUNITY DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE BOSTON INVESTED IN YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME.
UM, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. I HAVE. >> TWO YOUNGER SISTERS. WHO ARE. >> BOTH FUTURE YOUTH. JOB WORKERS AND WHAT HAPPENS. TODAY WILL AFFECT THEIR FUTURES TOO. WHEN YOU CUT YOUTH JOBS YOU'RE NOT JUST CUTTING A SUMMER PAYCHECK. YOU'RE CUTTING CONFIDENCE,
MENTORSHIP, CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPE FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TEACH COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE. AND LEADERSHIP. THEY KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE
PRODUCTIVE AND CONNECTED TO POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS INSTEAD OF LEAVING THEM BEHIND. AND BOSTON ALWAYS. TALKS ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUTH AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY. I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY TO
MATCH THOSE WORDS WITH ACTION. YOU CAN EITHER INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE NOW OR. >> PAY TO PAY THE. PRICE LATER. WHEN OPPORTUNITIES DISAPPEAR BECAUSE WHEN BOSTON CUTS YOUTH JOBS IT CUTS FUTURES TOO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UH. YEAH, I'M SORRY. ABOUT THAT. >> HI. >> MY NAME IS SHERRY WILLIAMS. I'M 16 YEARS OLD. I'M A MEMBER LEADER FOR THE
BOSTON. PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN. ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY SCHOOL AND I LIVE. >> IN DISTRICT FIVE. TIME AND TIME. AGAIN PEOPLE OF. COLOR HAVE. >> BEEN FAILED BY. THOSE WHO ARE MEANT TO. PROTECT US. WHY SHOULD MY. SKIN COLOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR. >> THE HEALTH ISSUES.
I'M EXPERIENCING AFFECT HOW I AM TREATED BY THE. POLICE OR MY ACCESS TO. ADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE? SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN YOUTH AGED 15. >> TO 19. ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH OF BOSTON.
REPORT OF. 2024 FROM 2017. >> TO 2021. BLACK ADOLESCENTS. EXPERIENCED HIGHER RATES OF. MENTAL HEALTH. UM EMERGENCY. DEPARTMENT VISITS ACROSS MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS 10. >> TO.
14, 15 TO 17 AND 18 TO 19 THAN WHITE YOUTH OF THE SAME AGE GROUP. WITH THE HIGHEST RATES. OBSERVED AMONG BLACK FEMALE YOUTH. AS A. >> BLACK. FEMALE MYSELF. >> I DEEPLY FEEL THAT YOU AS CITY COUNCILORS SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE YOUTH.
WHO WILL. ONE DAY. >> BE IN YOUR SHOES ARE FULLY TAKEN CARE OF PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY BY BEING GIVEN THEIR HUMAN RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE WITHOUT RISK OF INCARCERATION. AND ALSO GIVEN ACCESS TO YOUTH JOBS WHICH.
>> IS KNOWN TO LOWER RATES OF. VIOLENCE AND SUICIDE. >> IN YOUTH. IN THE. >> SEVENTH GRADE 2022 I STARTED . ATTENDING BOSTON. LATIN SCHOOL. TWO DAYS. AFTER THE. >> FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, A. >> NINTH GRADE STUDENT JUMPED IN FRONT OF AN MBTA. TRAIN AND ALTHOUGH. >> NOT. INJURED IT WAS STILL
DEVASTATING TO HEAR ABOUT. THEN IN EIGHTH GRADE, A STUDENT GOT SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. BECAUSE SHE HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO A VAPE. MY FRIEND WAS DOING SELF HARM IN THE BATHROOM BECAUSE OF FAMILY ISSUES AND THE. >> SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST HAD. NO INTEREST.
OF LISTENING TO HER AND WOULD HAVE LIKELY CALLED THE POLICE ONLY FURTHER ENDANGERING HER. FURTHERMORE. >> THE. CONSTANT POLICE SURVEILLANCE AT FOREST HILLS THAT HAS INCREASED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS ONLY PUTS YOU THAT MANY. MORE YOUTH MORE ON EDGE.
AND IN AN AREA WHERE THEY SHOULD FEEL THEY CAN HANG OUT AND BE FREE TO DO WHAT THEY PLEASE. ALTHOUGH I NO LONGER ATTEND BOSTON LAW AND HAD MY FRIENDS OR I. HAD ACCESS TO BPR, THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE RESOURCES
WOULD HAVE BEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE PROVIDED FOR SUBSTANCE USE, DEPRESSION. AND SUICIDE PREVENTING. AND TREATING THEIR PAIN IN A WAY THAT IS COMMUNITY BASED AND EQUITABLE. FINALLY, I'D BE WELL AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST SAID THE WAY TO
RIGHT WRONGS IS TO TURN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH UPON. >> THEM. TO CORRECT THIS COLOSSAL. WRONG. >> TURN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH ON THE BUDGET BY REJECTING MAYOR WHO'S BUDGET AND AMENDING IT TO RESTORE ALL FUNDING BECAUSE WE KNOW OF THE ATROCITIES THAT WILL OCCUR IF OUR BUDGET IS
IMPLEMENTED. DO WHAT IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOSTON THE PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO.
BACK TO THE LIST HERE. WE'VE GOT KRISTA MAGNUSON. UH, JEN BREADON DOMINGO. UM, I THINK CINTRON UH, AND
FRANKLIN PERALTA. SORRY. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UM, WE ACTUALLY. HAVE TWO. MORE YOUNG PEOPLE. OKAY. >> YEAH. UH, SORRY. KRISTA. >> SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE ON HOLD. UH, SO JUST START WITH YOUR NAME SO I KNOW WHO TO CROSS OFF
AND, UH, YOU GET TWO MINUTES. YEAH. >> MY NAME IS QUINCY PIERRE. JUST GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE. UH, QUINCY PIERRE. GREAT. >> ALL RIGHT. HELLO. MY NAME. >> IS QUINCY PIERRE. I'M 17 YEARS OLD AND I WORK AT
YELP. I DEMAND THAT MAYOR WHO. STOPS TRYING TO DEFUND YOUTH JOBS BY TAKING AWAY OUR BUDGET. I HAVE WORKED IN COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH JOBS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, WHICH HAS TAUGHT
ME IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PUBLIC SPEAKING, WORKERS RIGHTS ISSUES AND PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS SUCH AS MYSELF COMMUNITY YOU JOBS HAS HELPED ME TAKE THE FINANCIAL WEIGHT
OFF MY PARENTS SHOULDERS BY HAVING THE MONEY TO BUY WHAT I NEED SO MY PARENTS CAN FOCUS ON OUR FAMILY ALSO IS BETTER FOR THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY
BECAUSE IT HELPS YOU STAY OUT OF TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO INSTEAD OF LIKE BEING OUTSIDE ON THE STREETS DOING WHATEVER. UM I'VE SEEN TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND MY AGE GETTING
INTO TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY WHICH YOU JOBS PROVIDE. SO IF I HAVE IF I WASN'T IN A COMMUNITY YOUTH JOB I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE RIGHT NOW.
SO PLEASE MAYOR WU IF YOU HAVE A HEART PLEASE GIVE US OUR FUNDING BACK. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> JUST, UH. HI. >> MY NAME IS ALYSSA. UM. >> I'M A DORCHESTER. RESIDENT AND I WORK OUT WHILE.
UM. >> I'M TESTIFYING TODAY BECAUSE BUDGET CUTS AREN'T. JUST NUMBERS ON A PAPER. THESE BUDGET CUTS AFFECT REAL PEOPLE WHETHER. THAT'S IMMIGRANTS WORKING.
WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND BIPOC CUTTING FUNDING FROM HOUSING, FOOD. ASSISTANCE AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. WHILE INCREASING THE POLICE. BUDGET BY $7 MILLION SENDS A
HARMFUL MESSAGE ABOUT. >> WHOSE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING MATTERS THE MOST. FOR MANY BIPOC COMMUNITIES. TRUE SAFETY DOES NOT COME FROM MORE POLICING ALONE. SAFETY COMES FROM STABLE HOUSING, ACCESS TO FOOD, HEALTH
CARE, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT HELP MANY FAMILIES LIVE WITH DIGNITY. FAMILIES IN BOSTON FACE EVICTION, OVERCROWDING. >> AND HOMELESSNESS. RENT PRICES ARE RISING EVERY. DAY AND ARE ALREADY FORCING
MANY PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AWAY FROM COMMUNITIES THEY GREW UP IN. CUTTING FOOD RESOURCES MEANS CHILDREN AND ELDERS AND WORKING FAMILIES MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.
AND REDUCING IMMIGRATION SUPPORTS. SUPPORT HELPS. HURTS AND REDUCING IMMIGRATION SUPPORT HURTS. FAMILIES IN SEEKING. STABILITY. >> LEGAL PROTECTION AND GREATER
OPPORTUNITIES. AS A YOUTH LEADER WHO'S VERY. PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. I BELIEVE. REAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND EVERY DOLLAR TAKEN. >> AWAY FROM. HOUSING. >> IMMIGRATION AND.
>> FOOD PROGRAMS IS A DOLLAR TAKEN AWAY FROM SOMEONE'S CHANCE TO SUCCEED AND SURVIVE. SO I DEMAND MAYOR WU IN THE. >> CITY. COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THESE. PRIORITIES AND INVEST IN RESOURCES THAT UPLIFT COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF CONTINUING CYCLES
OF INEQUALITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, SO. ,UM YEAH, WE HAVE. ME INCLUDING ME THREE MORE YOU'VE COME TO SPEAK UP SO OKAY.
>> WELL IF YOU COULD JUST TO MAYBE WE'LL DO ALTERNATING HERE UH AND UH WE'LL WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH SO I'LL JUST GO DOWN THE LIST ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE AND THEN YOU. >> CAN. YOU'LL HAVE LIKE I DON'T KNOW 4
OR 5 PEOPLE SO WE'RE. THREE OKAY THREE. OKAY OKAY. >> THANKS. UH, KRISTA. GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS KRISTA MAGNUSSON. >> I LIVE IN. JAMAICA PLAIN AND I'M. >> A PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS.
I'M ALSO. >> A STATEWIDE ORGANIZER WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION. JUSTICE ALLIANCE. WE HAVE ALL HEARD AT THIS POINT ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT COST. INCREASES IN HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION. >> AND STRUCTURAL COSTS. THAT MEAN THAT THE BEEF BOTH THE. BUDGET AND THE OVERALL.
CITY OPERATING BUDGET IT WON'T COVER WHAT THEY HAVE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A. DIFFICULT SITUATION. BOSTON IS BY NO MEANS. ALONE AND FACING THESE FINANCIAL. CONSTRAINTS. >> BUT THESE. PROPOSED BUDGETS ARE BEING BALANCED BY CUTTING ALL. >> THE MOST VITAL. STUDENT AND YOUTH FACING
SUPPORTS. WE'VE PROBABLY ALL. >> HEARD. SOMEONE SAY THAT. >> A. BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. >> I THINK HALF A DOZEN OF US HAVE SAID THAT TONIGHT AND. >> THAT'S TRUE. THE CHOICES THE CITY MAKES. >> FOR THIS. BUDGET THAT WERE A REFLECTION OF ITS PRIORITIES AND THESE. CHOICES DO NOT. REFLECT WELL ON BOSTON. MOST OF US. >> ARE ALSO. >> AWARE BY.
>> NOW OF THE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL WITH RESPECT TO. BUDGETING AND THAT THE OPTIONS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE. COUNCIL ARE INSUFFICIENT. YOU CAN VOTE YES OR NO ON THE BUDGET. >> YOU HAVE LIMITED. AMENDMENT POWER OVER THE OPERATING BUDGET AND. >> YOU'RE ALL FIGHTING ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS TO DO
HERE. BUT HERE'S THE THING YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO DO IT ALL. IT'S NOT YET JUNE. THERE'S TIME TO VOTE DOWN THE BUDGETS AND SEND THEM BACK TO THE MAYOR FOR ADJUSTMENTS AND GO THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS FOR THE OPERATING
BUDGET AND STILL PASS IT IN TIME TO AVOID A 112 SITUATION. YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO DECIDE TO ACT TOGETHER EXPEDIENTLY TO DO IT AND NOT TO LOSE MORE TIME ARGUING OVER THE ONE TRUE WAY FORWARD. IN HIS MOST RECENT. >> LETTER.
NEWSLETTER TO HIS CONSTITUENTS ,CHAIR WEBER HAS ARGUED AGAINST REJECTING THE BUDGET, SAYING THAT A VOTE TO REJECT WOULD HAVE GENERATED SOME HEADLINES AND THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE LOOKED BAD FOR A MINUTE UNTIL SHE RESUBMITTED THE SAME BUDGET AND ASKED THE COUNCIL TO
STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN AND GET BACK TO WORK RESPECTFULLY WHATEVER THE MAYOR MIGHT CHARACTERIZE IT. AS USING THE POWERS THAT ARE GIVEN TO YOU AS A COUNCIL IS NOT ACTING LIKE CHILDREN NOR IS IT AVOIDING WORK.
TRYING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR BUDGET TOOLBOX SHOWS DEDICATION TO CREATING THE BEST BUDGET POSSIBLE IN THESE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. PLEASE COUNCILORS WE YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ELECTED YOU AS WELL AS THE YOUTH WHO DON'T GET
THAT MUCH OF A SAY YET ARE COUNTING ON YOU. WELL DON'T LET US DOWN. THANK YOU. . >> JEN BREADON DOMINGO UH UH AND UH, FRANKLIN PERALTA AND THEN WE'LL GO.
BACK TO UH, YOUTH TESTIMONY. OKAY. >> UH. GOOD EVENING COUNCILORS. UH, MY NAME IS FRANKLIN PERALTA. I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND I
HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT I'M HERE TONIGHT TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF ENGLISH FOR NEW BOSTONIANS IN MY ROLE. AS DIRECTOR OF. PUBLIC POLICY. I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO INCLUDE
COUNCILOR SANTANA CHOLERA SUPPORT AND DURKIN'S AMENDMENT TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR ENGLISH CLASSES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF STUDENTS BY
INVESTING 500 550,000 UH 500,000 IN ENGLISH CLASSES FOR IMMIGRANT PARENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. YOU WILL. >> PREVENT THE CLOSING OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND CLASSES THAT AIRBNB HAS
LAUNCHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, SPECIFICALLY NEW CLASSES WE RECENTLY OPENED AT THE HANNIGAN
,THE CURLEY AND MADISON SCHOOLS. AS WELL AS THE HEINZ EARLY LEARNING CENTER PLUS TWO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY CLASSES SERVING PARENTS IN DORCHESTER,
MATTAPAN, ROXBURY AND HYDE PARK AND THE EXPANSION FROM THERE BEING TO INCLUDE FAMILIES AT THE SHOW AND TAYLOR SCHOOL. WE ALSO SUPPORT TEN ADDITIONAL
STRONG EXISTING CLASSES IN EAST BOSTON, BRIGHTON, CHINATOWN AND IN GO. IN TOTAL IN FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 26 402 PARENTS INCREASE THEIR
ENGLISH AND THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. HERE'S ONE OF ONE OF THEM WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY MARIA MARIA FROM EAST BOSTON HARBORSIDE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL SHE SAID THE ROAD IS LONG I KNOW BUT I NO LONGER FEEL PARALYZED BY THE LANGUAGE. NOW I CAN COMMUNICATE CONFIDENTLY WITH MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND I HAVE THE TOOLS AND
SUPPORT I NEED TO PURSUE MY DREAMS. ENGLISH IS NOT LONGER JUST A SET OF GRAMMAR RULES. IT IS MY MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE THE KEY I HAVE FOUGHT FOR MY
FUTURE AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PART OF MARIA NELLA WHO I AM TODAY. IN CLOSING, PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE BUILDING RATHER THAN WASTING TWO YEARS OF HARD WORK. INVEST $500,000 IN IMMIGRANTS,
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY BY SUPPORTING PARENT CLASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UH. AND I, I DIDN'T SEE, UH, JEN BREADON DOMINGO.
UH, CINTRON CINTRON. OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING. CHAIRMAN WEBER. AND BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO TESTIFY.
MY NAME IS. DOMINGO CINTRON. I LIVE IN THE WESTERN PART OF BOSTON. I'M HERE REPRESENTING. MATT MBA IN. MASSACHUSETTS ALLIANCE OF HUD.
TENANTS WHO? I'M HERE TO ASK THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. TO PUT $2. >> MILLION AT LEAST IN THE BUDGET AS OF NOW THERE WOULD BE
83 VOUCHER HOLDERS ELIMINATED FROM THE BUDGET. WE MUST FINALLY ADDRESS THE
WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE SO THE FUNDS COULD BE REALLOCATED INTO THE BUDGET. PLEASE SOMEONE TOLD ME WHEN YOU SAY PLEASE THAT'S BEGGING
PLEASE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHOEVER IS LISTENING AND I'D LIKE TO WISH A BELATED HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL THE
FAMILIES OF FALLEN VETERANS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL. WHICH WAS YESTERDAY. THEY CELEBRATED ON MAY. >> 25TH. 2026 MONDAY. I AM ALSO A VIETNAM ERA VETERAN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU THANK YOU JIMMY YOUR OKAY UH WELL I DON'T.
SO IF THERE'S THREE PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO I MEAN JUST GET IN LINE AND UH TELL US YOUR NAME. UM GOOD AFTERNOON. >> MY NAME IS JOAQUIN ATALA GUTIERREZ AND I'M. 17 FROM. >> HYDE PARK IN DORCHESTER.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH THE YOUTH. JUSTICE AND POWER UNION TO. DEMAND THAT THE CITY. COUNCIL REJECTS THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. NOT AMENDS. REJECTS THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS BUDGET IS AN ATTACK. >> ON THE PEOPLE OF.
BOSTON. WHILE MAYOR WU INCREASES FUNDING TO. POLICE. >> SHE CUTS. FUNDING TO. >> EDUCATION. >> YOUTH JOBS, HOUSING, FOOD, AMERICAN SUPPORT AND EVEN ELDERLY SUPPORT. ASPECTS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE. COME HERE SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANY. >> OF THE. CITY FUNDS. >> A COMMUNITY AND. >> YOUNG LEADERSHIP CONTINUE. >> TO FAIL US. POLICE DON'T. >> KEEP THE CITIES SAFE. THE PEOPLE DO. ACCORDING TO BOSTON POLICE. DATA. >> WHEN THE POLICE BUDGET. GETS LOWER, WHETHER THE YOUTH
JOBS BUDGET GOES UP, THE CRIME RATE GOES DOWN WHICH GOES TO SHOW THE. NEED FOR. FUNDING AND OTHER. AREAS OF THE BUDGET OTHER THAN THE. POLICE TO PROTECT THE CITY'S SAFETY. BOSTON IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND A.
>> THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE CITY. >> TO LIVE. >> IN IN. >> THE COUNTRY. YET THE MAYOR IS HERE CUTTING FUNDING TO THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE THE CITY MORE AFFORDABLE AND SAFE AND HAS SAID PUTS IT IN POLICE. CITY COUNCILORS INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT HOW. >> THE HOW YOU. LOOK IN.
>> THE MAYOR'S EYES LISTEN TO US AND. REJECT THIS OPPRESSIVE BUDGET AND THINK ABOUT. HOW YOU LOOK IN. >> THE. PEOPLE'S EYES. THE YOUTH OF THE FUTURE. AND THE CITY AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY. SO LISTEN TO US. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> JUST START WITH YOUR NAME. REJOICE E GYMS. GOOD EVENING ALL MY NAME IS REJOICE E GYMS. >> AND. I DEMAND THAT. >> THE CITY COUNCIL LISTEN TO US THE YOUTH AND THE. COMMUNITY WHEN WE SAY STOP
CUTTING YOU JOBS JUST TO CONTINUE THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF THE POLICE BUDGET CUTTING SCHOOL YEAR JOBS BY $6. >> MILLION. AND LEAVING. NOTHING LEFT. >> ISN'T JUST OUTRAGEOUS BUT IT'S A DECISION. THAT TELL STUDENTS THEY. DON'T MATTER. AND THAT'S SOMETHING. >> WE. SHOULD NEVER ACCEPT. DOES THE.
>> MAYOR. ACTUALLY CARE. >> ABOUT THE. COMMUNITY AND. >> MORE IMPORTANTLY THE YOUTH. >> WHO WILL BE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW? MY YOU JOBS IMPORTANT TO MY DREAMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CREATED AN. ENVIRONMENT FOR. >> ME TO THRIVE. I WORKED VARIOUS NEW JOBS. >> FROM BIG SISTER. BOSTON FUTURE. CHEFS. >> BOSTON AREA HEALTH EDUCATION.
CENTER AND. >> YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION. UH GAINED SO. >> MUCH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT. MY CITY. AND MY HYDE. PARK COMMUNITY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUBMIT MY. COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. DEPOSIT LAST MONTH.
AND MY NEW JOB IS MY IS CRITICAL TO I AM TODAY AND WHAT I CAN DO FOR MYSELF. IT IS NOT THE ONLY. I'M NOT. >> THE. ONLY YOUTH. THAT FEELS THIS WAY. MANY OTHERS TODAY FEEL THE SAME WAY. YOUR JOBS ARE NOT AN EXTRA
OPPORTUNITIES BUT THEY'RE LIFE CHANGING AS OUR CITY COUNCILORS. WHO WE ELECTED TO. BE OUR VOICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, YOU ARE FAILING US. YOUR JOB IS TO CHECK THE MAYOR AND NOT MAKE DEALS UNDER THE TABLE WITH HER. USE YOUR LEGISLATIVE POWER AND
DO THE RIGHT THING. THAT'S WHY I'M DEMANDING YOU REJECT THE BUDGET AND ADD 10. >> MILLION TO THE. SCHOOL YEAR BUDGET TO PROTECT OUR DREAMS AND THE GENERATION AFTER ME.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. UM. >> YOU JUST TELL US YOUR NAME. LET'S. >> HELLO. >> MY NAME IS INDIGO. DAGNY FROM JP. WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORKING
AT TEEN EMPOWERMENT. STUDIOS AS A YOUTH ARTIST AFTER THIS SUMMER. I'M 19 YEARS OLD TURNING 20 THIS YEAR AND I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS. 15 YEARS. >> OLD SO. THAT'S A WHOLE FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN WORKING.
HOPEFULLY MY WORDS TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE THE LAST TIME WERE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE AFFECTED BY THE FEAR THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE WORDS OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. WE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE.
BUT IT IS. ULTIMATELY UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU REJECT THIS BUDGET. WE KNOW THIS. HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR LIVES ARE IN YOUR HANDS. QUITE LITERALLY.
THE YOUTH NEED FUNDING FOR THEIR JOBS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD. FOOD, HELP. >> OUT. WITH BILLS AND GROCERIES LIKE I DO AND HELP OUT WITH RENT. LOW INCOME FAMILIES NEED A HOUSE OR THEY WILL FREEZE IN THE WINTER OR SUFFER. >> FROM.
HEAT STROKE IN THE SUMMER WITHOUT A WARM BED OR FOOD TO EAT. CHILDREN NEED A GOOD EDUCATION AND TEACHERS TO MATCH OR THEY WILL LIVE IN A WORLD OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INCREASINGLY GETTING MORE AND MORE UNEDUCATED WHICH
IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS. SO WE CAN SAY OPPRESSED ARTISTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET FUNDS FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THEIR PIECES BECAUSE ARTS ARE. CRUCIAL TO SOCIETY AS WELL. WE ARE ALREADY UNDERPAID
ESPECIALLY WHEN PRICES ARE HIKING UP A MINIMUM WAGE STAYS THE SAME. HMM. SO THIS WAS. PURPOSEFUL TO KEEP. >> THE PROLETARIAT. AT A LOW AND BENEFIT THE WEALTHY PEOPLE OF THE CITY. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT 70 K.
A YEAR ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP A. SUSTAINABLE LIVING CONDITION ANYMORE, RIGHT? THIS ISN'T THE 80S ANYMORE. SO TELL ME WHAT IS SO COMPLICATED. ABOUT THIS? EXACTLY WHAT MORE FUNDING THE
POLICE NEED. WHY TO WIPE. OUT EVERY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBER TO. WIPE EVERY. POOR PERSON. OUT AS THEY GET ARRESTED FOR SOMETHING THEY CAN'T CONTROL.
WHICH IS HOUSELESSNESS WHAT MORE FUNDING DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEED? WHAT WOULD. >> THEY USE. >> THEIR. ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR? ASK YOURSELVES THIS NEXT TIME. >> THE MAYOR TRIES TO PRESSURE YOU. >> INTO KEEPING THIS BUDGET. I BEG YOU ALL.
WE ALL BEG YOU GROW. >> A. SPINE AND DECIDE WHAT IS. RIGHT FOR US. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> UH, WE'VE GOT, UH, BRASS KAREN HEALY, UH, MADELINE.
UH. RIGHT. UM. SORRY. NEPHEW. UH, NAUSHAD. RYAN KELSO AND KERRY MOSEY. OKAY. >> MY NAME IS BRYCE.
KAREN HEALY. I'M A BOSTONIAN SINCE 2008 AND A LIBRARIAN AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WHERE I'VE WORKED SINCE 2014. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I'M ALSO CHIEF STEWARD
OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY PROFESSIONAL STAFF ASSOCIATION AND I'M A MEMBER OF BOSTON THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA OUT IN THE JP BRANCH. I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO SUPPORT THE BETTER BUDGET ALLIANCE WITH
THEIR CALLS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT AND, UH, THIS DEEPLY IMMORAL, DEEPLY SHAMEFUL BUDGET THE MAYOR'S PROPOSING AND TO RESTORE THE CUTS, UH, THAT THE MAYOR IS PROPOSING. UH, BUT I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUT FOR THE BPO IN FISCAL YEAR 2027. UM, I WAS HERE LAST TUESDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR CITY COUNCILORS PRESENT FOR THAT HEARING. NOT INCLUDING YOU,
COUNCILOR WEBER WHO WAS CHAIRING IT. UH, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE LIBRARY IS A KEYSTONE OF OUR PUBLIC, CIVIC AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE IN BOSTON AND IT'S ONE
OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR CIVIL SOCIETY. I KNOW YOU'RE ALL THINKING THAT OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO SAY THAT HE WORKS THERE. BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. JUST ASK THE MAYOR FROM OUR OWN STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE MAYOR SAYS THAT THE LIBRARY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR CITY'S CULTURAL INTELLECTUAL LIFE A HUB FOR COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION, A HOME FOR EVERYONE AND A CORE PILLAR OF SUPPORT FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS.
NOW NONE OF THIS JUST HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS BECAUSE AND THROUGH OF THE WORK AND LABOR OF UNIONIZED BPO WORKERS LIKE MYSELF AND MY COWORKERS, WE'RE PROUD TO MAKE THE EVERYTHING THE CITY DOES POSSIBLE.
AND INDEED AS LIBRARY WORKERS OF THE BPO WHOSE PATIENCE, PRESENCE AND PASSION MAKE THE BPO THE MAGICAL WELCOMING SPACE THAT IT IS. SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THE SAME MAYOR WHO SAYS THAT IS
PROPOSING A BUDGET THAT CUTS LIBRARY FUNDING. THE REALITY IS WE'RE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED RELATIVE TO PURE AMERICAN LIBRARIES. WE IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WE HAVE A BUDGET OF 62 MILLION AND
550 FULL TIME STAFF. COMPARE THIS TO CHICAGO AT 113 MILLION WITH 1152 FULL TIME STAFF L.A 203 MILLION A 978
FULL TIME STAFF BROOKLYN 197,001,168 FULL TIME STAFF AND NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 380 MILLION WITH 2120 FULL TIME STAFF. WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO
INCREASINGLY MORE WITH LESS AND IN THE FACE OF A BUDGET CUT IN THE HIRING FREEZE, THE WORKING CLASS IN BOSTON DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS AND OUR LIBRARY WORKERS DESERVE BETTER. I'M ASKING YOU TO REJECT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET
AND RESTORE FUNDING INSTEAD. OKAY, MADAM. MY NAME IS MADELINE WRIGHT. I'M COMING UP ON SEVEN.
YEARS IN BOSTON. SIX OF THEM IN COUNCILOR BRADEN'S DISTRICT IN ALLSTON. BRIGHTON. >> UM, AND I'M. PROUD TO BE A CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AT. >> THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MY. UNION, THE PSA. YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE MY NERVES.
I'M NOT A PUBLIC. SPEAKER OUTSIDE OF STORYTIME. BUT I'M. >> HERE BECAUSE. BOSTON NEEDS A FULLY FUNDED LIBRARY. MAYOR WU HAS. UPHELD BOSTON AS A BEACON OF RESISTANCE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND AS.
LIBRARIANS WE. >> WE TAKE PRIDE IN BEING. CUSTODIANS OF FREE. SPEECH AND DEMOCRACY. BUT ASK ANY. >> ONE OF THE UNION. WORKERS WHO KEEP THE LIBRARY. RUNNING DAY. >> TO DAY AND WE'LL. >> TELL YOU. >> WE. ARE RUNNING ON FUMES AS IT IS. THE CITY. >> KNOWS THAT. >> WE ARE. UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED.
AND STILL WE STRIVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS BECAUSE WE CARE. BUT THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. I'LL USE MY OWN DEPARTMENT. AS AN EXAMPLE THE CENTRAL CHILDREN'S LIBRARY THOUGH WE. >> ARE FAR FROM THE WORST OFF WITH ONE. RETIREMENT AND. >> ONE RESIGNATION. THIS YEAR WE'VE LOST ALMOST.
30% OF. >> OUR STAFF OF. SEVEN LIBRARIANS AND. ACCORDINGLY HAD TO REDUCE OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS BY. 30% SO THAT. >> WE COULD KEEP STAFFING THE DESK. WE'RE STILL DOING A LOT. WE PUT OUR HEARTS AND. >> OUR SOULS INTO. >> THIS. JOB BUT WE FEEL THE DIFFERENCE
AND. >> SO. DO OUR PATRONS BOSTON'S YOUNGEST CITIZENS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO FEEL THE. CONSEQUENCES IF WE. >> CONTINUE TO. >> TAKE THESE STEPS IN THE WRONG. DIRECTION EVEN. >> NOW. AS WE APPROACH. THE END OF FISCAL YEAR. 26. >> WE'RE SEEING OUR STAFF
BURNOUT. IN OUR BARGAINING. UNIT OF ABOUT 200. >> WE'VE HAD 23. RESIGNATIONS THIS PAST YEAR. THEY FLEE FOR HIGHER. PAY FOR BETTER WORKING. CONDITIONS FOR. CITIES WHERE. THEIR OWN WORKERS ARE NOT
FORCED TO RELY ON. UH. >> ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. EXCUSE ME TO GET BY IN A. CITY WHERE. WE ARE REQUIRED. >> TO. LIVE BY. LAW. >> THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON DESERVE BETTER. AND THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE. OUR LOCAL. >> GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES FORGETS.
THAT THAT INCLUDES US THE PEOPLE WHO. >> KEEP THE. LIBRARY RUNNING. EVERY SINGLE DAY. I URGE YOU ALL. TO VOTE AGAINST THE. MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. >> AND INCREASE. LIBRARY FUNDING. AND I'LL THROW IT IN THERE. THE POLICE OVERTIME.
BUDGET IS LARGER THAN THE LIBRARY'S ENTIRE OPERATING BUDGET. I'LL LET YOU DO THE MATH. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UM, OKAY. THANK YOU BRYSON, THAT I HAD TO
RESIST THE URGE TO SAY BUT YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR TAKING ALL YOUR TIME. OKAY. UM. UH, OKAY, NOW WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS FROM THE, UH, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA. I'M GOING TO SHOW MY SOLIDARITY
BY GOING TO THE BATHROOM WHILE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC BATHROOMS. MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU MIGHT NOT BREAK THE TIMER SO WE CAN KEEP THIS GOING. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW. NISHAD. >> RESIDENT OF AUSTIN. >> AND CO-CHAIR OF. >> THE ALLSTON. BRIGHTON BRANCH. >> OF. BOSTON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA. AND I'M. >> HERE TO SAY SOMETHING. STRAIGHTFORWARD ALLSTON BRIGHTON. >> NEEDS A COMMUNITY CENTER AND. >> THE CITY NEEDS TO FUND AND. >> PUT A TIMELINE ON ONE NOW. WE ARE. >> THE. SECOND LARGEST. NEIGHBORHOOD IN. >> BOSTON WITH OVER.
85,000 RESIDENTS AND. >> YET OUR DISTRICT IS THE ONLY. ONE IN. >> THIS. CITY WITHOUT A SINGLE FULLY. FUNCTIONAL CITY RUN COMMUNITY CENTER. EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS. ONE SOME EVEN MULTIPLE. WE HAVE THE JACKSON MAN.
A CRUMBLING BUILDING. IN THE PROCESS OF. CLOSURE THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FOUR OUT OF FIVE. PEOPLE AND THEIR. HOMES RENT, WHERE. 15% OF BOSTON'S. IMPOVERISHED POPULATION LIVES,
WHERE IMMIGRANT SERVICE WORKERS, STUDENTS AND WORKING FAMILIES HAVE. BUILT THEIR LIVES FOR GENERATIONS. THERE ARE EXACTLY. THESE ARE EXACTLY. THE PEOPLE BCF IS DESIGNED TO SERVE. WITH ADULT. EDUCATION ENGLISH.
CLASSES AND A FLEXIBLE. >> THIRD. SPACE FOR OUR. >> NEIGHBORS TO GATHER. AND BUILD COMMUNITY. WE ARE ASKING THE CITY TO INCLUDE FUNDING IN THE CAPITAL. >> PLAN TO ADVANCE. >> THE DESIGN OF CONSTRUCTION IN A FOR A NEW CITY CENTER IN ALLSTON. BRIGHTON AND TO PROVIDE
OPERATING FUNDING. FOR THE INTERIM FACILITIES. NOW. AND ON. >> THAT. NOTE, THE OPERATING. BUDGET AS PROPOSED IS A. SERIOUS PROBLEM AS WELL THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY ARE. FEELING IT. >> BP'S PASSED A BUDGET.
THAT CUTS ALMOST 600 POSITIONS WITH HUNDREDS OF LAYOFFS. OVER 200. TEACHING POSITIONS AND MORE THAN 100 CLASSROOM AIDES, MENTAL HEALTH AND. SUPPORT STAFF. CHILDREN IN. >> THIS CITY ARE LOSING THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEM IN
SCHOOL AND ON SAFE STREETS. THE CAPITAL PLAN ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR DEDICATED. BUS LANES ON SUMMER AND BOYLSTON STREET ZERO'S OUT THE ROXBURY TRANSPORTATION. CORRIDOR AND CUTS THE CENTER AND SOUTH STREET REDESIGN
ENTIRELY. THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET'S. FIVE YEAR. CAPITAL PLAN. WAS CUT BY. 30% 58 MILLION GONE. THESE AREN'T LINE ITEMS THESE ARE BUSSES, SIDEWALKS AND SAFE CROSSINGS THAT WORKING CLASS
PEOPLE DEPEND ON EVERY. SINGLE DAY. THE BUDGET. ASKS FOR PEOPLE. THE MOST. THE BUDGET ASKS. THE MOST. >> FROM. PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE. LEAST AND. >> AN AB WE. ARE ASKED. >> TO WAIT YET AGAIN WITHOUT A COMMUNITY CENTER, WITHOUT SAFE
STREET INVESTMENT AND WITHOUT. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD CAN TAKE FOR GRANTED, THE CITY HAS SHOWN THAT IT CAN ADD. BOLDLY ACT. BOLDLY IN NORTH BEACON STREET. WE ARE DEMANDING THAT SAME BOLDNESS.
IN NEW YORK DSA ELECTED ZORAN MAMDANI CONSISTENTLY DELIVERS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY SHIRLEY WU YOU CAN DO THE SAME RIGHT? THANK YOU. SO I STAND HERE DEMANDING NOT
ASKING FOR YOU TO FUND THE COMMUNITY CENTER FUND THE SAFE STREETS FUND OUR SCHOOLS COUNCILORS REJECT THIS BUDGET. FUND IT ALL NOW AND DEFUND THE POLICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP WE HAVE RYAN KELSO AND FOLLOWED BY, UM, KERRY MOSEY. JUST START THE CLOCK HERE. MY NAME IS RYAN KELSO AND I LIVE. BY THE JACKSON MAN.
BUT THIS TESTIMONY IS IN FAVOR OF STUDYING HISTORY. IN THE 1950S, BOSTON HAD TO ADJUST TO A NEW TECHNOLOGY THE AUTOMOBILE A TECHNOLOGY THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AND WORK
AND PLAY IN THE CITY. WHAT HAPPENED? WHITE FLIGHT BUILDINGS WERE ABANDONED, PROPERTY VALUES PLUMMETED AND THE CITY LOST CRITICAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. THEY BEGGED THE STATE FOR HELP
. WHAT DID THE STATE HOUSE SAY TO THIS? THE WHITE HOUSE. IT'S YOUR PROBLEM AND YOU ARE GOING TO PAY. HOW? BY RAISING YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SELLING OFF THE SCRAPS AT A
PREMIUM TO THE BANKS AND THE BUSINESSES TO BUILD PALACES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY CAN GO TO WORSHIP THEIR SAVIORS THE WEALTHY PALACES CALLED THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER.
MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL AND CITY HALL. THE PEOPLE HAD TROUBLE RESPONDING. MANY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THEM. MANY WOULD RATHER FLEE THAN STAY AND FIGHT. MANY CONTINUED.
TO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION AND BY THE TIME UNITY WAS FOUND THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. DIVISION WAS THE WRECKING BALL AND THE PEOPLE HAD THEIR TEETH BLOWN OUT.
TODAY THE CITY HAS TO ADJUST TO A NEW TECHNOLOGY. IT'S CALLED ZOOM A TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE SUBURBS AND STILL PLAY IN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU ARE GOING TO CAVE. IT'S THESE VOTES RIGHT NOW THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHO THE SELLOUTS ARE GOING TO BE. THEY'D ALREADY RATHER FUND 30
POLICE OFFICERS TO LIVE. >> AND PAY TAXES. >> IN THE SUBURBS. THAN 1800. YOUTH IN RED SHIRTS MAYBE. TO PATROL THIS CITY. THE SUBURBS. HAVE THE. POWER TO STARVE THE CITY.
IT'S TRUE. BUT THE CITY HAS THE. POWER TO STARVE THE WHOLE REGION. IF THIS CITY REMAINS MORE THAN A PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY
WHEN THESE YOUNG FACES ARE OLD, YOU WON'T HAVE TO MAKE US OPEN OUR MOUTHS TO SEE. WE STILL HAVE. THANKS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. KERRY. HI.
MY NAME IS KERRY MUZZY. UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THE CITY BUDGET. I'M HERE ESPECIALLY TO LIFT UP THE DEMAND FOR MORE FREE, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE,
WELL-MAINTAINED RESTROOMS NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT. I'VE WORKED IN BOSTON FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND USE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET TO WORK EACH WEEK. I ALSO HAVE AN UNPREDICTABLE FOOD SENSITIVITY.
I THINK MANY OR ALL OF US CAN RELATE TO NEEDING A RESTROOM WHEN ONE WASN'T AVAILABLE. WHETHER WE'RE CARRYING THE LITTLE ONES WHO STILL IN TRAINING OR WE'RE GETTING OLDER AND JUST NEED TO GO MORE OFTEN .
SO PLEASE PRIORITIZE OPENING MORE RESTROOMS IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT. UM THE CITY SHOULD ALSO KEEP EXISTING PUBLIC RESTROOMS OPEN NOT JUST PART OF THE YEAR OR
PART OF THE DAY BUT 24 OVER SEVEN AND MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND KEEP THEM WELL-MAINTAINED WITH FREQUENT CLEANING. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC
RESTROOMS WE ALL NEED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR. AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THOSE WHO'VE BEEN CALLING FOR REVERSING THE CUTS TO EDUCATION, HOUSING ASSISTANCE,
LIBRARIES, IMMIGRANT SERVICES, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND YOUTH JOBS. THESE ARE ALL ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN THE CITY. AND PLEASE DEFUND THE POLICE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS AN OLDER STEAL AND WIND STEAL. I TAKE NOTE HERE DON'T STEAL.
OKAY GUYS, COME ON DOWN. OKAY, SO, UM. I THINK THIS IS HERE. TO STEAL.
UM, MAYBE NOT HERE. UH, THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON. FIRST NAME I CAN'T READ IS ALSO NAME STEAL LAST NAME. OH, MAYBE. WAYNE.
NO. UH, OKAY. I'VE GOT, UH, YASMIN BAILEY. JANEY TALKING NAMI UH, KELLY WILLIAMS AND UH, MARINA.
UM, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE. LAST NAME IS OKAY. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. NICK. UH, GOOD EVENING, BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS YASMINE BAILEY. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM AND STRATEGY AT THE CITY SCHOOL. I'M A. >> MEMBER OF, UH, THE BOSTON
PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. CAMPAIGN AND A REGISTERED VOTER OF. BOSTON DISTRICT FOUR. HEY, BRIAN. HOW ARE YOU DOING? WONDERFUL. >> I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE BOSTON DESERVES BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY OFFER FOLKS IN CRISIS. THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE,
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL WAS BUILT BY THIS CITY ACTUALLY. IT WAS. >> FUNDED BY THE CITY TO EVEN RESEARCH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND. >> OF MENTAL. >> HEALTH RESPONSE MODEL WE
NEEDED. THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE PREVIOUS MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION . PUT IN. >> UM FOR A RESEARCH PROJECT FOR US TO LOOK INTO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE FOR THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO A RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT THEY
COULD DO FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE FOR A CO RESPONSE MODEL WHICH IS THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FOR A COMMUNITY LED DESIGN GROUP TO LOOK INTO WHAT WE CAN
DO FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE POLICE. AND SO I WAS A PART OF THAT TEAM. UM UH, SO SPECIFICALLY THAT. HAPPENED AROUND 2021.
BOOM. NOW UH. THE BOSTON BASED A BOSTON BASED ORGANIZING GROUP, BOSTON BASED ORGANIZING GROUP SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED THE CITY TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRUE COMMUNITY LED CRISIS RESPONSE. >> THAT'S WHAT I JUST TALKED
ABOUT. THE CITY SCHOOL. YEAH, AND BOSTON LIBERATION HEALTH YAY! AND 14 CORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THE CITY. YAY THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON
HANDPICKED BUT A BOOM BOOM THEY ANSWERED THE CALL WE SPENT UPWARD OF A YEAR DESIGNING A MODEL AND A PILOT WITH A REAL INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE PAST 3 TO
4 YEARS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND MEMBERS HAVE COLLABORATED EXTENSIVELY ON ENSURING THE CITY FUNDS. >> A. COMMUNITY LED. NON CARCERAL, FULLY FUNDED, UH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PILOT. UH WE STUDIED WHAT WORKS WE
LOOKED ACROSS DIFFERENT CITIES IN. >> THE UNITED. STATES AND THEY ALL SHOWED THAT THEY ALL DEMONSTRATED THAT TRAINED CIVILIAN RESPONDERS CAN SAFELY HANDLE THE VAST MAJORITY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CALLS WITHOUT POLICE AT A FRACTION
OF THE COST. UH, I WILL WRAP UP VERY SOON. BOOM. THE SCOPE IS BROAD OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM THAT'S BROAD BY DESIGN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. WELL, WELLNESS CHECKS,
SUBSTANCE USE CONCERNS, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, COMMUNITY TRAUMA, CONFLICT DE-ESCALATION. THAT'S A SCHOOL, UM, A NEIGHBORHOOD BASED RESPONSE TEAMS, RIGHT, ARE A CENTRAL
DISPATCH HUB. IT'S A. DEDICATED LINE. WITH NO ID. COLLECTED, NO AUTOMATIC 911 DIVERSIONS. THIS IS A BOSTON MODEL. THIS IS BOSTON'S MODEL AND WE
BELIEVE INVESTMENT IN IT IS IMPERATIVE RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND I WILL HAVE MY COLLEAGUE HOPEFULLY AMY TO UH, COME UP AND SPEAK A BIT MORE ABOUT WHY
WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, SORRY. UH, AMY. UH, KELLY WILLIAMS. MARINA.
IF I'M GETTING IS JOHN SMITH SINCERE AND JOSEPH ROLAND, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANKS, JASMINE AND GOOD EVENING, COUNSELORS. MY NAME IS AMY TALKING. AMY I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT. SIX.
>> A SOCIAL WORKER AND A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN. SO AFTER OUR MODEL AND PILOT WERE DESIGNED AND PRESENTED THE CITY IN 2022 AS YASMIN JUST
OUTLINED, OUR CAMPAIGN WAS FORMED TO ORGANIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE FULL FUNDING AND FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT WAS SO THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED BY AND FOR COMMUNITY.
SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2023, THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN HAS GROWN INTO A BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL BASE OF BOSTON RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, MANY OF WHOM ARE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CURRENT ROLE OF POLICING AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE. THIS INCLUDES YOUNG PEOPLE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, DISABLED PEOPLE, AND TRANS PEOPLE,
IMMIGRANTS, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND FOLKS WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. AND WE KNOW LIVED EXPERIENCE IS EXPERTISE AND WE ARE DEEPLY
GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE CO-DEVELOPED THIS CAMPAIGN WITH US OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS IN SERVICE OF STEWARDING AND BRINGING TO LIFE THIS COMMUNITY DESIGNED RESPONSE.
OUR CAMPAIGN ALSO INCLUDES SOCIAL WORKERS LIKE MYSELF, NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO BELIEVE A NON-POLICE NON-CAUSAL RESPONSE IS URGENTLY NEEDED AND WHO SEE
FIRSTHAND FROM A PROVIDER POINT OF VIEW THE LIMITATIONS AND HARMS OF OUR CURRENT CARCERAL APPROACHES TO CRISIS RESPONSE. TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR FROM MANY OF OUR BRILLIANT MEMBERS ABOUT WHY WE ARE URGING
YOU TO INVEST IN OUR COLLECTIVE HEALTH AND OUR COLLECTIVE SAFETY BY FIRST REJECTING THE MAYOR'S HARMFUL BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH CUTS CRITICAL LIFE AFFIRMING PROGRAMS LIKE SCHOOL
YEAR YOUTH JOBS THEN RESTORE THOSE CUTS INCLUDE $4 MILLION IN THE FY 27 BUDGET FOR A NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PILOT. NEXT I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER
TO MY COLLEAGUE MARINA WHO'S GOING TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MODEL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR. >> WHAT? THANK YOU. THANKS, AMY. UM AND. THANKS EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY
TESTIFIED. HELLO. >> UH, MY NAME IS MARINA HONEY. I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS. I AM. FROM DORCHESTER DISTRICT THREE . I'VE BEEN DOING GOOD WORK FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
UM, I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND A NON THE NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE BASED, UH, PILOT AND FULLY FUND THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
UH YOU JOBS. OH, OKAY. OKAY. >> TAKE YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK. UM, AS A YOUTH WORKER, I'VE PERSONALLY SEEN YOUNG PEOPLE
FORCIBLY HOSPITALIZED AND SENT AWAY TO TREATMENT FACILITIES LIKE HOURS AWAY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY HOME FAMILIES. THIS DISTANCE DOESN'T JUST MAKE VISITING HARD.
IT MAKES COORDINATING SUPPORT HARD AND MAKES UM LIKE SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PERSON ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. UM AND BEING REMOVED FROM A FAMILY, A COMMUNITY YOUR
SUPPORT SYSTEM LIKE IS THE REAL REALITY WHY FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF CALLING 911 ARE AFRAID OF BEING CRIMINALIZED OR INVOLUNTARILY
LIKE TAKEN AWAY. UM AND I THINK THIS MODEL WOULD OFFER A DIFFERENT OPTION AND A DIFFERENT RESOURCE AND. KEEP LIKE YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE,
KEEP FAMILIES SAFE AND TOGETHER . UM, AND AS A YOUTH WORKER I FEEL LIKE, UH I DON'T FEEL LIKE I BELIEVE THAT NEW JOBS HAVE, UM.
LIKE REAL VALUE AND HAVE LIKE SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH. UM, AND YOU SEE THAT THROUGH THE STRUCTURE. YOU SEE THAT THROUGH DISABILITY
SHE THAT THROUGH UM THE KIND OF LIKE VOICES THAT YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY TODAY AND TONIGHT AND MANY OTHER NIGHTS I BET. UM AND I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD A CITY JOB.
I GREW UP IN BOSTON. I HAD A CITY JOB FROM THE AGE OF 14 THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND IT MATTERS THESE OPPORTUNITIES MATTER.
THESE SPACES MATTER IN CUTTING THEM LIKE SENDS A REAL MESSAGE TO THE CITY YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHAT LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO VALUE. SORRY I'M GETTING REALLY
SIDETRACKED, BUT. I'M URGING YOU TO REJECT MAYOR WU'S BUDGET AND INCLUDE FOUR MIL MINIMALLY.
INTO THE FINAL. BUDGET FOR A FULLY FUNDED PILOT AND RETURN BACK THE FUNDING FOR YOUTH SCHOOL YEAR JOBS. THANKS. I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO MAYA.
HI. >> BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MAYA TRICKY DISTRICT SIX. I UM I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH BPR SINCE THE DESIGN PROCESS AND I'VE BEEN A LICENSED CLINICAL. SOCIAL WORKER IN. MASSACHUSETTS FOR CLOSE TO 15 YEARS.
I WANT TO AMPLIFY AND ADD TO WHAT MARINA SHARED ABOUT ANTICIPATED POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE BPR MODEL. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE PEOPLE I SEE IN THERAPY OR THE PEOPLE MY SUPERVISEES SEE ARE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS AND THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY HESITANT OR ONLY SHARE ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED AFTER THE FACT. THIS CONCERN COMES FROM THE FEAR OF BEING FORCIBLY HOSPITALIZED OR HAVING THE POLICE CALL. ON THEM. >> WITH THE BPR MODEL THERE
WOULD BE MORE TRUST BECAUSE THE MODEL WOULD BE FULLY CONSENT BASED AND WOULD NOT INVOLVE THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIAL WORKER WORKFORCE IS PREDOMINANTLY WHITE WOMEN SOMETIMES WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY WORK.
THIS DYNAMIC ALSO CERTAINLY IMPACTS TRUST WITH BPR RESPONDERS THAT ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE RESPONDERS. INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO CALLS CITYWIDE AND WOULD REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE VIOLENCE OF OUR CURRENT
CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAMS. SO PRIMARILY BIPOC FOLKS AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. ONE ADDITIONAL POINT I WANT TO MAKE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A THERAPIST IS THAT THERE IS A CONTRADICTION WITHIN THERAPY
BECAUSE TALK THERAPY CANNOT ITSELF SOLVE SOLVE THE LARGER SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE SO MANY MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. THIS IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS BUDGET TALK THERAPY AND CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAMS CANNOT
THEMSELVES RESOLVE THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS THAT WOULD MOST CERTAINLY RESULT FROM THE MAYOR'S CURRENT CUTS FROM ENDING SCHOOL YEAR YOUTH JOBS TO EVEN FURTHER DECREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SHOWN UP HEARING AFTER HEARING THIS BUDGET CYCLE SHOULD BE A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW BAD THIS BUDGET IS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING WILL BE IMPACTED IF CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS IT TO GO THROUGH OR ONLY MINIMALLY AMENDS IT.
CITY COUNCILORS SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS INSTEAD OF CATERING TO THE FEAR AND THREATS THE MAYOR WAS INSTILLING IN BACKDOOR CONVERSATIONS. THE VAST POWER OF A MAYOR IS ONLY FURTHER ADDED BY YOU ALL
NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER. SO PLEASE FIGURE IT OUT. PLEASE TAKE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS SERIOUSLY MEANING FIRST VOTE TO REJECT THE CURRENT BUDGET AND CUTS AND
FORCE WOULD TO ADD MORE MONEY TO THE BUDGET FROM RESERVE FUNDS AND THEN ALSO INVEST FUNDING INTO THE BPR BATTLE. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST I DID HAVE I DON'T WANT
TO INTERRUPT YOUR MOMENTUM. I DID HAVE JOHN SMITH SAINTS HERE AND JOSEPH ROLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS. UH AND THEN UH I HAVE MANY MORE FOLKS FROM THE PEOPLE'S
RESPONSE. TO MY TIME. YES.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? UM, MY NAME IS JOHN SMITH SAINTS HERE AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BOSTON AND THE FOUNDER OF THE JOE SMITH SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER FOR YOUNG BLACK BOYS.
UM, FOR YEARS BOSTON HAS BENEFITED FROM A ONCE IN A GENERATION FUNDING CLIMATE BUILT AROUND COVID RECOVERY, RACIAL EQUITY, HOUSING STABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY REPAIR.
THE CITY USED THE LANGUAGE OF EQUITY TO FRAME RECOVERY AND TRACK LEGITIMACY, ALLOCATE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND PARTICIPATE IN A PHILLY IF THERE ARE MOMENT WHERE BILLIONS WERE BEING
PLEDGED NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY. NOW THAT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HAS SHIFTED, RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO KEEP TESTIFYING FOR THE SAME EQUITY COMMITMENTS THAT HELP JUSTIFY THE MONEY IN
THE FIRST PLACE. THIS BUDGET SEASON WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REDUCE DISPLACEMENT, TRAUMA, POVERTY, VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION AND COMMUNITY INSTABILITY AND TO TWO MINUTES
BEFORE THE CITY DECIDES WHETHER OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WORTH PROTECTING. THAT IS INSTITUTIONAL SHUCKING AND JIVING. IF OUR PAIN HELPED FRAME RECOVERY CAN OUR PROTECTION
CANNOT BE OPTIONAL WHEN IT IS TIME TO PASS THE BUDGET. THE CITY CANNOT USE EQUITY AS A LANGUAGE WHEN IT IS USEFUL TO ENSURE EQUITY AS NEGOTIABLE. WHEN RESIDENTS ASK FOR INVESTMENT PROTECTION AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR THE CUTS TO THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO BE FULLY RESTORED ALONG WITH ALL OTHER COMMUNITY FACING CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. VOTING RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK. BLACK POLITICAL POWER IS BEING DILUTED THROUGH GERRYMANDERING . DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE BEING TARGETED. CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS ARE
BEING WEAKENED. AND IN THAT SAME MOMENT, BOSTON IS CUTTING THE VERY LOCAL OFFICES THAT SHOULD BE STANDING AS A LINE OF PROTECTION. THOSE ARE NOT SMALL INCONSISTENCIES.
THEY REVEAL THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE CITY SAYS AND WHAT THE BUDGET ACTUALLY DOES. AND IF THE QUESTION IS WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM, I THINK THE THEME FOR TODAY AND ALL OTHER HEARINGS I'VE ATTENDED IS
TAKE IT FROM THE POLICE. THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO FUND POLICE RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES WHILE CUTTING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
THAT IS HOW CRISIS BECOMES CRIMINALIZED. THAT IS HOW BLACK PEOPLE LIKE STEPHENSON KING END UP DEAD. WHEN THE CITY FUNDS WE ACTION OVER PREVENTION IT IS NOT FUNDING SAFETY.
IT IS FUNDING THE CONDITIONS THAT PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK. THAT IS WHY RESTORING THESE CUTS MATTER. SO IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE,
IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQI STUDENTS THEN VOTE LIKE IT. REJECT THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> JOSEPH ROLAND AND UH THEN BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. OKAY.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSEPH ROLAND. >> I LIVE IN AUSTIN BRIGHTON. UM I WANT TO SECOND WHAT. LINDA LOWE SAID EARLIER. I'M VERY MOVED. BY THE. TESTIMONY TONIGHT AND HOPE YOU. RESTORE THE CUTS TO YOUTH JOBS. UH. >> BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE
SURE THE UNSOLVED. HOMICIDE SQUAD WAS BROUGHT UP AT THIS HEARING. UM, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY, UH, AMENDMENT. IT'S MORE OF A. >> NOTE FOR NEXT YEAR. UM, IT. >> IS WELL KNOWN THAT. BOSTON HAS A LOT OF UNSOLVED
HOMICIDES OVER 1800. UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST DECADE OF OUR COLD CASE CLEARANCES, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE SQUAD IS PRIORITIZING THE CASES WITH DNA EVIDENCE. 14 OF THE LAST 20 WERE MADE
WITH A DNA MATCH. THIS APPROACH OF WAITING FOR A DNA MATCH LEADS TO STRONGER PROSECUTIONS, BUT ISN'T REALLY PAYING OFF IN MORE CLEARANCES. THE SQUAD IS MOVING AT A PACE
OF ABOUT ONE CLEARANCE A YEAR UNDER TWO. UM COMPARED TO ABOUT TEN A YEAR IN THE 90S EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MORE MANPOWER AND INVESTIGATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAN
EVER, EVERY THREE YEARS OR SO THE SQUAD APPEARS BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. UM AND CLAIMS THAT ANOTHER DNA GRANT IS NEEDED TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK. BUT LET'S THINK CRITICALLY
ABOUT HOMICIDES FOR A SECOND. GRANTS FOR DNA EVIDENCE WOULD ONLY BENEFIT THE CASES IN WHICH BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN PRESERVED. THESE TEND TO BE THE HOMICIDES
WHERE THE SUSPECT WAS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM. BUT MOST FIREARM HOMICIDES, WHICH I FOUND MAKE UP TWO THIRDS OF BOSTON'S UNSOLVED HOMICIDE CASELOAD.
WELL, FOR THOSE CASES IT IS NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT CLOSE CONTACT. UM. >> THERE ARE THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. BUT I REPEAT DNA GRANTS DO LITTLE TO NOTHING FOR TWO THIRDS OF BOSTON'S UNSOLVED
HOMICIDES. THERE IS NO DNA BACKLOG AFFECTING THIS MAJORITY OF CASES. INSTEAD IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE JUST BEING NEGLECTED. UM, WITNESSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE PASSING AWAY
WITHOUT EVER BEING INTERVIEWED . IF WE WANT EQUITABLE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS IN THIS CITY, ANOTHER APPROACH IS NEEDED FOR THESE CASES. UM I'M ALMOST I CAN I CAN
ASSUME YOU GUYS CARE ABOUT ALL HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS, NOT JUST THE ONES WITH DNA EVIDENCE, BUT I WANT YOU TO SHOW US YOU CARE BY ASKING ABOUT THESE GUN HOMICIDES WHEN
YOU GET THE CHANCE AND BY LISTENING TO SURVIVOR ADVOCATES LIKE THE UNSOLVED HOMICIDE AMBASSADORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UM, YEAH. SO, UH, PEOPLE'S RESPONSE I
THINK THERE'S ABOUT 20 OR SO SLOTS HERE. THERE ARE SOME OTHER PEOPLE HERE TO TESTIFY, SO, UH, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, JUST. >> TELL ME YOUR NAME. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO IN THE ORDER THAT YOU SIGNED UP IN HERE, BUT I MAY CUT YOU OFF
LIKE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW 20 PEOPLE IN. UM, ALSO, DOES ANYONE HERE NEED INTERPRETATION SERVICES? WE HAD THE INTERPRETERS HERE UNTIL NINE.
UH, IF YOU NEED SPANISH, CANTONESE, MANDARIN, HAITIAN CREOLE. ANYONE? OKAY. GOING ONCE. GOING TWICE. UH, OKAY. UH, INTERPRETERS, I REALLY WANT TO THANK.
YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. UH, AND, UH, AND FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. >> AND BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. >> UH, YEAH. NEVER.
UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UM, MY NAME IS TARA VENKATRAMAN . UM, SHE HER PRONOUNS AND I'M. >> A RESIDENT OF ROSLINDALE. UH, I'M A LONG TIME YOUTH. WORKER AT THE CITY SCHOOL. UM, AND I'M A PROUD STEERING. COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S. RESPONSE CAMPAIGN WHO YOU'RE.
>> GOING TO HEAR A NUMBER MORE OF US. >> UH, RIGHT AFTER THIS. UM, I JUST WANT TO. BRIEFLY SHARE. THAT OUR. >> CAMPAIGN IS ADVOCATING FOR. THIS NON-POLICE. NON CARCERAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PILOT IN THE. CONTEXT OF. >> A LARGER BUDGET. COALITION MANY OF WHOM. >> YOU. ALREADY HEARD FROM TONIGHT ALONGSIDE.
BETTER BUDGET. ALLIANCE. >> THE CITY. SCHOOL TEEN EMPOWERMENT YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION, ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP. AND COUNTLESS OTHER. ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO RESTORE THE. CUTS FOR SCHOOL YEAR JOBS. AS A CAMPAIGN. FOR REAL SUPPORT.
>> FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I'M NOT BEING HYPERBOLIC WHEN I SAY THAT THE MAYOR'S. CURRENTLY PROPOSED BUDGET WILL LEAD. >> TO AN. INCREASE IN MENTAL. HEALTH CRISIS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY.
THE CURRENT PROPOSED. BUDGET COMPLETELY ELIMINATES SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROGRAM CUTS FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS, FOR AND TRANS RESIDENTS, FOR EVICTION PREVENTION AND FOR FOOD ACCESS .
THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON ARE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON. HAS THE MONEY. >> FOR WHAT. >> WE NEED. BOSTON HAS OVER 1 BILLION RESERVES OF WHICH UP TO 600. >> MILLION CAN BE USED. THE PARKING METER FUND CAN BE USED. WE ARE. ASKING FOR WHAT IS ULTIMATELY A FRACTION OF THAT.
BUT THAT MONEY. >> CAN. ONLY BE ACCESSED IF THE BUDGET. >> IS. REJECTED AND NOT AMENDED. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT FUNDING IS MEANT TO BE USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BUT RIGHT NOW THIS BUDGET. PROPOSAL HAS CREATED FOR US A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE UNTIL PAST 9 P.M. ON A TUESDAY NIGHT. COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY UNDER ATTACK. COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER ATTACK BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE FIGHTING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. NOW RIGHT HERE IN THIS CITY.
SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUNG. PEOPLE AS DO FUNDING FOR AND TRANS FOLKS AS DOES EVICTION PREVENTION AS DOES FOOD ACCESS. ALL OF THAT IS MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
SO WE ARE CALLING ON. YOU ALL TO REJECT THE MAYOR'S CURRENTLY. PROPOSED BUDGET AND STAND TOGETHER TO INSIST WE NEED MONEY. ADDED TO. >> THIS BUDGET. AMENDING THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR IS NOT ENOUGH AND SO WE ARE CALLING ON ALL OF YOU.
TO REJECT AND THEN INCLUDE 4. >> MILLION. FOR THE COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE IN THE FINAL. VERSION OF. >> THE BUDGET. FUND US OR FAIL US. THANK YOU.
HI MY NAME IS. MCKINLEY NELMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCILORS. >> MY NAME IS MCKINLEY. I'M A YOUTH WORKER AT THE CITY SCHOOL. A STUDENT AT UMASS BOSTON. AS WELL AS. >> A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF. BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. >> TO ASKING.
FOR 4. >> MILLION TO BE ADDED INTO THE CITY'S. 2027 BUDGET. >> TO FUND A PILOT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE RESPONSE, WHICH WILL BE CONSENT BASED NON-POLICE AND NON CARCERAL.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS RESPONSE MODEL IS THAT IF SOMEONE DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE DUE TO FEAR OF BEING MET WITH VIOLENCE OR INADEQUATE CARE.
BPR WOULD BE A GREAT. RESOURCE TO PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND THAT ONE HAS CONTROL OVER THE CARE THAT THEY RECEIVE . TOO OFTEN PEOPLE HOLD BACK FROM ASKING FOR HELP FEARING THEY
WILL GET UM THE POLICE CALLED ON THEM OR INSTITUTIONALIZED. WHEN IN REALITY EVERYONE DESERVES THAT AGENCY AND THE CARE THEY RECEIVE NO MATTER THE SITUATION. WHEN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BE
REDIRECTED TO A SOLUTION THAT THEY KNOW IS SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL AND CONSENT BASED, IT GIVES THEM THE PEACE OF MIND AND CONFIDENCE TO SEEK SUPPORT WHENEVER THEY NEED TO. I'M CONFIDENT THAT ONCE THIS IS
UP AND RUNNING THIS WILL BE SOMETHING VITAL IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS WILL GIVE. PEOPLE WHO. >> FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO SUFFER IN SILENCE A SAFE SPACE TO RECEIVE THE CARE THEY DESERVE. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT BPR STANDS IN SOLIDARITY
WITH. >> ALL THE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE ADVOCATING UM ON BEHALF OF MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A HUGE PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN AND MY. USUAL PERSONALLY FROM THE CITY
SCHOOL IS A HUGE PART OF WHY I'M HERE TODAY TESTIFYING AND WHY I'M ABLE TO ORGANIZE. AROUND BPR AND MANY OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS YOUTH JOBS. SO ONCE AGAIN, UM I'M ASKING
THAT YOU REJECT THE MAYOR'S CURRENT BUDGET AND THAT 4 MILLION FOR OUR PILOT AND, UM, RESTORE THE 6 MILLION FOR YOUTH JOBS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCILORS. UM, MY NAME IS JULIE WANG. I'M A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND I'M A FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER HERE IN BOSTON. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF MYSELF TODAY IN SUPPORT OF A NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL AT $4 MILLION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHICH CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY TAKING THE FIRST STEP TO REJECT MAYOR WU'S CURRENT BUDGET.
AND WHILE I'M SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT THE SPECIFIC LINE ITEM, I EMPHATICALLY URGE YOU TO RESTORE ALL THE CUTS WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT UM AND TESTIMONY TONIGHT. MANY OF THE PATIENTS I WORK WITH ARE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES
HERE IN BOSTON WHO ARE ACTIVELY POLICED AND DISINVESTED IN BY OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS WHOSE LIVES WILL BE MADE EVEN HARDER WITH MAYOR WU'S PROPOSED BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO SEEKING SUPPORT IN THE
MIDDLE OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, OFTEN THEIR ONLY OPTION IS TO TURN TO THE VERY INSTITUTIONS THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED REPEATED VIOLENCE FROM AND TRAUMA WITHIN, INCLUDING FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PATIENTS SHARE HORROR STORIES ABOUT BEING BROUGHT INTO EMERGENCY ROOM BY THE POLICE AND BY EMS FORCED INTO INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES WHERE THEY WERE NOT GIVEN CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MEDICATIONS THEY'RE BEING
INJECTED WITH, HOW LONG THEY WERE BEING MADE TO STAY IN THESE UNITS FOR THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE MODEL WOULD INSTEAD ALLOW FOR MY PATIENTS TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORS ,FROM PEERS, FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH SHARED LIVED
EXPERIENCES IN THE MIDDLE OF CHALLENGING AND SCARY EXPERIENCES. THIS MODEL WILL ALLOW THEM TO BE MET WITH CARE AND CHOICE AS OPPOSED TO CONTROL AND POTENTIAL VIOLENCE. AS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WITH
A LARGE PANEL OF PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS MANY OF WHOM ARE UNDERSTANDABLY MISTRUSTFUL OF INSTITUTIONS HAVING ACCESS TO A RESOURCE LIKE THIS TO DIRECT MY PATIENTS TOWARDS AND TO CALL ON MYSELF
WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS RELIEF. I DO MY BEST TO PRIORITIZE CONSENT, AGENCY AND DIGNITY IN ALL OF MY PATIENT INTERACTIONS AND THEREFORE BELIEVE IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MY PATIENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR A COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH MODEL THAT
IS THIS LIFE AFFIRMING AND VALUES ALIGNED. I ONCE AGAIN URGE YOU TO REJECT MAYOR WITH CURRENT BUDGET, RESTORE THE CUTS THAT UPLIFT ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND FULLY FUND THE PILOT AT $4 MILLION IN THE FY 27 BUDGET.
THANKS. OKAY. >> HELLO. >> MY NAME IS. AMANDA LAWSON AND. I AM A. ACTUALLY I'M ALMOST. TWO DECADES. INTO. >> UM, BEING A CITIZEN HERE IN
. BOSTON AND. YOU KNOW, I JUST. >> WANT TO BE FRANK HERE. I'M TIRED. NOT JUST. YOU KNOW. >> PHYSICALLY TIRED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT I'M JUST TIRED. OF JUST THE SAME. >> IT FEELS. >> LIKE. THE SAME CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW. YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING TO SCREW US OVER. AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO COME HERE AND YOU KNOW, BASICALLY BEG YOU. GUYS TO NOT SCREWS OVER. UM, AND ESPECIALLY IT HURTS
MORE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE CURRENT. ADMINISTRATION SCREWING US OVER. AND NOW YOU GUYS. >> ARE. DOING IT. AGAIN ESSENTIALLY BY, YOU KNOW, GOING. ALONG WITH THIS BUDGET. I'M NOT GOING TO. TELL YOU.
>> GUYS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. BECAUSE FRANKLY. >> YOU GUYS ALREADY. KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO. WHICH IS TO REJECT THIS BUDGET. I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE. AS A YOUTH WORKER AND WHY I MEANS JUST SO MUCH TO
ME BECAUSE. YOU KNOW. >> WHEN I FIRST BECAME A YOUTH WORKER I WAS IN A ROUGH PLACE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MYSELF FOR THE FUTURE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, GOING. INTO. >> YOU KNOW. YOUTH WORK. IT GAVE ME A PURPOSE. IT GAVE ME. A WILL TO LIVE HONESTLY, YOU
KNOW A FUTURE AND TO SEE IT BEING THREATENED BY ALL OF YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO UPSET THE POLICE UNION OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT UM OR WHATEVER. SO IT'S JUST REALLY IT IS HEARTBREAKING JUST HAVING TO YOU KNOW, SEE THAT ESPECIALLY. >> WITH. MY YOUNGER BROTHER YOU KNOW HE'S COMING UP AND YOU KNOW FORTUNATELY. HE WILL.
>> BE ABLE TO FIND A JOB AND HE AND I ARE BOTH. ARE LIVING IN A TOUGH. SITUATION AND JUST SEEING YOU GUYS DO THIS IT JUST YEAH DO
BETTER FRANKLY. YOU KNOW WHENEVER YOU'RE READY . OKAY. >> COOL. >> UM HI. MY NAME IS VEENA AND I'M A YOUTH. WORKER IN DORCHESTER. AND I AM STANDING HERE TODAY
SUPER EMOTIONAL BUT I'M HERE BY THE STRENGTH AND LOVE OF MY COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I'VE HAD A VERY COMPLEX HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROVIDERS. BUT SINCE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT
NOW, I'VE TRY TO. UTILIZE MY RESOURCES AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I GET INVOLVED IT'S AN IMMEDIATE REMINDER OF THE LACK OF COMPASSION AND INEFFICIENT PLAN OF CARE FROM THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
AND IT'S KILLING OUR PEOPLE. AS A YOUTH WORKER, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE. >> TO. WORK WITH PHENOMENAL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES DO NOT. HAVE THE CAPACITY TO. FULLY SHOW UP BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND UNSTABLE LIVING
CONDITIONS, BUT THEY'RE AFRAID OR DON'T HAVE TRUSTED. ADULTS OUTSIDE. >> OF HOME TO REACH OUT TO FOR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK. AND THAT'S SO HEARTBREAKING. COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH PROGRAMS
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER COMMUNITY LOVE AND SUPPORT TO YOUTH, BUT IT'S ABOUT TO BE TAKEN AWAY UNLESS YOU REJECT THE BUDGET CUTS. GROWING UP I'VE EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THAT LED TO
VIOLENCE THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK. REACHING OUT TO THE POLICE HAS ALWAYS LEFT US FEELING EVEN MORE TRIGGERED, HOPELESS AND AT THE EDGE OF GIVING UP. IT'S IT'S SUCH A TRAUMATIC
PROCESS AND IT'S SO DEAFENING WITH NO SUPPORT PLAN OR RESOLUTION AND ACTUALLY PUTTING OUR SAFETY AT AN EVEN HIGHER RISK. BUT THANKFULLY WE HAVE EACH OTHER AND WE NEED COMMUNITY
BASED NON CARCERAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND THAT'S WHY I AM DEMANDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REJECT MAYOR WU'S BUDGET AND HER CUTS TO ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE YOUTH JOBS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND
FUND THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE BECAUSE MY COMMUNITY HAVE OFFERED ME MORE HEALING AND CARE THAN ANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS EVER HAVE AND EVER WILL.
THANK YOU. HELLO MY. >> NAME IS RAISSA AND I CURRENTLY WORK IN DISTRICT ONE AND HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT SEVEN. OF BOSTON. >> AND I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. OF FUNDING THE BOSTON.
PEOPLE'S RESPONSE MODEL FOR THIS YEAR'S. CITY BUDGET. I ASKED. >> FOR THE. CITY COUNCILORS REJECT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL PROPOSED BUDGET WHICH CUTS FUNDING FOR LIFE AFFIRMING SERVICES AND
ADVOCATE FOR $4 MILLION TO. >> FUND THE BPR MODEL. WE NEED. >> AN ALTERNATIVE. >> FOR SUPPORTING MARGINALIZED PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. YOU MIGHT BE. THINKING WELL. >> WE ALREADY. HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. RESPONSE IN PLACE IN BOSTON.
INCLUDING THE BUS. TEAM AND THE 908 HOTLINE. HOWEVER, BOSTON. PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. HAS AMONG. MANY TWO UNIQUE. FEATURES THAT DEMONSTRATE WHY WE NEED THIS.
NUMBER ONE, THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE WOULD OPERATE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE. OF THE. POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE KNOW THAT THE. POLICE ARE LIKELY TO ESCALATE AND WORSEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND ACCORDING TO A 2024 POLL.
>> ON. PUBLIC PERSPECTIVES CONDUCTED BY NAMI, 77% OF BLACK AMERICANS, 72% OF HISPANIC AMERICANS AND 80%. >> OF. LGBTQ PLUS AMERICANS SAY THAT
THEY WOULD BE AFRAID THE POLICE MAY HURT THEIR LOVED ONE OR. THEMSELVES WHILE RESPONDING TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. PEOPLE HAVE LARGELY NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS UM. INTERACTING WITH POLICE DURING A MENTAL. >> HEALTH CRISIS. SO IT'S.
IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. THE NUMBER TWO UNIQUE THING IS THAT. THE BPR IS ROOTED IN. LOCAL COMMUNITY. NEITHER THE. 908 HOTLINE OR THE. STATEWIDE BEHAVIORAL. HEALTH HELPLINE. ARE ROOTED IN.
LOCAL COMMUNITY. IN CONTRAST, BPR WOULD OFFER DIRECT SUPPORT UM. UH FROM NEIGHBORHOOD. >> BASED RESPONSE TEAMS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND WHO. REPRESENT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT. THEY ARE SUPPORTING.
I'D LIKE TO END WITH A QUOTE FROM RUTH WILSON GILMORE, A PRISON ABOLITION. MOVEMENT LEADER. ABOLITION IS ABOUT. PRESENCE NOT ABSENCE. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING. >> LIFE. AFFIRMING INSTITUTIONS. BPR IS A LIFE AFFIRMING
INSTITUTION AND AT A TIME OF INCREASING FASCISM AND UNCHECKED RACIST VIOLENT RHETORIC TOWARDS. >> BLACK AMERICANS. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TRANS PEOPLE. WE NEED TO. BUILD SOMETHING NEW. WE NEED.
TO RESTORE CUTS AND BUILD LIFE AFFIRMING INSTITUTIONS LIKE BPR. THANK YOU. UH, SAM, YOUR UH I'LL PUT IT
BACK IN THE LINE BUT UH YEAH. UM MAYBE UH HOW ABOUT WE'LL HEAR FROM FIVE MORE PEOPLE FROM THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE AND THEN WE'LL UM, GO TO UM. THERE'S SOME. >> OTHER FOLKS. GOOD EVENING.
WE'RE THE SAME GROUP OR NOT? SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, BEN. UM. HI, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR STILL BEING HERE. >> CITY COUNCILORS. MY NAME IS ERIC FISHMAN. I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT SIX AND JAMAICA PLAIN. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE
CAMPAIGN. I'VE BEEN A TEACHER IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS FOR A DOZEN YEARS, INCLUDING IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FOR MANY YEARS I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS
WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITY EXPERIENCES WHAT A YOUNG PEOPLE NEED. TO THRIVE. WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE TONIGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS
WHEN THEY'RE FULLY FUNDED, STUDENTS INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ABLE TO BUILD REAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ADULTS TASKED WITH SUPPORTING THEM ARE TREATED AS
FULL HUMAN BEINGS OF CHOICE AND AGENCY OVER THEIR LIVES AND ARE SUPPORTED TO DEVELOP SKILLS THAT WILL HELP DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDINGS OF. THEMSELVES. >> THEIR PEERS AND SOCIETY. AND THEN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
LEAVE THE SCHOOL BUILDING, GO OUT INTO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND IF THEY EXPERIENCE AN ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RIGHT NOW THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AROUND THEM IS TO CALL THE COPS AND TO SEND SOMEONE
WITH A GUN WHO HAS NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM BUT IS SIMPLY A DISGRACE. UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BEST TEAM AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT EXISTS. IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT
OF WHEN I USED TO WORK IN A NO STRESSES CHARTER SCHOOL WHERE THERE WAS ALSO A SOCIAL WORKER . WHEN WE HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE BASED ON VIOLENCE AND PUNISHMENT FOR PEOPLE AND YET WE SAY HERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S HERE TO SUPPORT YOU THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SUPPORT PEOPLE
TO ACTUALLY THRIVE. WE ACTUALLY NEED SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT ARE GENUINELY BUILT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE ON THE WAYS THAT THEY NEED. UM. . WE'VE HEARD FROM. THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S HEARING FROM DOZENS OF RESIDENTS ABOUT
THE REAL LASTING IMPACTS OF THOSE BUDGET CUTS. I HAD A STUDENT EARLIER THIS WEEK SAY WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S CUTTING ALL THE JOBS SHE WAS JUST AT THE SCHOOL YEAR SCHOOL JOB FAIR EARLIER THIS YEAR. UM AND YET LAST YEAR WE HEARD
THAT THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, SPENT. >> JUST. A 100 MILLION JUST ON OVERTIME . WE'RE ASKING FOR. $4 MILLION ALONE TO FUND A NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM.
WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER REJECT THE BUDGET AND FUND BPR. THANK YOU. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS MARIA FONG. I'M AN ELECTED. MEMBER LEADER OF THE BOSTON.
PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN. SORRY. >> AS WELL AS A. FREELANCE ARTIST AND A YOUTH WORKER IN BOSTON. I WORK. >> IN DORCHESTER CHINATOWN AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND SEAPORT. WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS. >> WHO WANT TO MAKE ART AND MAKE CHANGE.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST REJECT AND AMEND THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. WHEN YOU DO. THAT, ALL. >> OF. US TESTIFYING TO. >> STOP THE BUDGET CUTS WILL. >> BRING THIS ENERGY TO PRESSURE. >> MAYOR. WU TO ADD. >> A. FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MUST INCREASE TO THE. BUDGET TO FILL THE GAP.
AS A YOUTH WORKER. >> I CARE ABOUT. YOUTH JOBS FUNDING BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN HOW IMPACTFUL THESE PROGRAMS ARE TO YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST A JOB BUT A SUPPORT SYSTEM COMBATING LONELINESS, HOPELESSNESS AND A LACK
OF SELF-CONFIDENCE NOT JUST AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. >> BUT A PLACE TO BUILD COMMUNITY. SKILLS AND GOALS. AS A PERSON WHO. STRUGGLES WITH. >> MENTAL HEALTH. I CARE ABOUT FUNDING A NON CARCERAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE BECAUSE. >> IT. WILL PROTECT PEOPLE AT THEIR
MOST VULNERABLE MOMENTS. MENTAL HEALTH WORK IS NOT ONLY ABOUT A NUMBER TO CALL, IT'S INVESTING IN THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE THEY REACH A CRISIS TO. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY FRIENDS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS MENTAL HEALTH WHEN THEY LOSE ACCESS. TO FOOD AND HOUSING. THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE CANNOT LOSE SPENDING ON OVER UNPAID POLICE OVERTIME IS IMPACTING.
ALL THESE OTHER CITY SERVICES. POLICE RESPOND TO CRIME AND CRISIS BUT WHAT IF WE INVESTED IN WORK BEING DONE THAT PREVENTS THOSE FROM HAPPENING? OTHER COMMUNITY LED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSES
NATIONALLY HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO SAVE CITIES MONEY. OUR ASK OF $4 MILLION IS ONLY THE EQUIVALENT. ABOUT OF. ABOUT THREE DAYS OF THE BPD BUDGET.
WE MUST INVEST IN WORK BEING DONE THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HEALING LIKE FUNDING FOR YOUTH JOBS, ARTS AND CULTURE AND HOUSING FUND US OR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HI MY NAME IS JANET AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR FULL ATTENTION . UM, TODAY UH I SAW SOME OF. >> YOUR DOWNSTAIRS WHEN YOU. KNOW, BEFORE WE STARTED. >> THE RALLY. AND WE HAD A RALLY TODAY WHICH MADE ME REALLY EXCITED.
SAME THING LAST YEAR WE HAD ANOTHER. RALLY AND JUST. AND OUR NUMBERS. >> KEEP. ON GROWING. UM. I WANT TO SAY. PLEASE DO YOUR JOB. UM, WE HAVE JASMINE CORK.
UM, I MIGHT SAY HER. NAME WRONG BUT JASMINE. CROCKETT AND AOC THESE ARE UM REPRESENTATIVES THAT ACTUALLY DO THE JOB ACTUALLY STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME FOR BOSTON AND, UM. IT'S THIS IS REALLY DISGUSTING. >> OF HOW MANY THINGS ARE GETTING. CUT. >> BUT Y'ALL KEEP ON PRETTY UM KEEP ON PUTTING MONEY IN THE
POLICE BUDGET AND IT'S VERY SAD AND YEAH. THANK YOU. HI. >> UM, SO MY NAME IS NOT SICA. I AM FROM HYDE PARK. UM. AND I THINK IT IS.
>> TIME THAT WE ARE BEING HONEST. >> WITH OURSELVES. UM. WE KNOW. THAT Y'ALL ARE SCARED. WE KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE SCARED. OF MAYOR WU. WE KNOW THAT Y'ALL. ARE SCARED OF DOING WHAT? OF NOT.
DOING WHAT SHE WANT. Y'ALL TO DO. UM. >> AND Y'ALL. >> ARE SCARED. >> FOR YOUR CAREERS. UM, AND THAT HAS TO BE THE REASON BECAUSE. I NEED. >> Y'ALL TO ASK YOURSELVES WHY ARE WE HERE? WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY. HERE EVERY SINGLE. >> YEAR ASKING. >> FOR. AN INCREASE. >> IN HOUSING, ASKING FOR AN
INCREASE IN YOUTH. JOBS. >> ASKING. FOR A DECREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET, ASKING FOR BETTER. TRANSPORTATION. >> BETTER ROADS, BETTER EVERYTHING AND YEAR AFTER. >> YEAR WE DON'T GET IT. AND THEN THIS. YEAR THE MAYOR HAS THE AUDACITY TO CUT. ALMOST EVERYTHING OUT OF THE BUDGET. EVERYTHING THAT'S. >> FOR THE.
>> COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET. WE ARE KIDDING OURSELVES. HAVING THIS CONVERSATION OVER. >> AND OVER. >> AND OVER AGAIN IS RIDICULOUS. IT REALLY IS. YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF LIKE ARE YOU HERE TO DO THE BIDDING
OF THE COMMUNITY OR TO DO THE BIDDING OF THE MAYOR? AND IT. >> IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE. TO COME DOWN HERE. AND HAVE TO CONSISTENTLY. ACT OUT TO REJECT THE BUDGET BECAUSE. >> WE KNOW THAT. AMENDING IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. WE'VE SAT. IN ON. >> THE. MEETINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE. THEREFORE Y'ALL ARE GOING TO
SIT. THERE AND. >> GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT FUNDING THE LIBRARIES AND MAYBE CUTTING FIRE DEPARTMENT AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO DO IT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND THE MONEY. WE KNOW FOR A FACT. THAT YOU NEED TO REJECT THIS BUDGET AND FORCE THE MAYOR'S
HAND TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE BUDGET IS RIDICULOUS. IF WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND FIND MONEY AND SCRAPS FROM $500,000 HERE, $100,000 THERE TO. >> DO. WHAT WE NEED TO FULLY. >> FUND EVERY. SINGLE ONE OF. >> THESE PROGRAMS THAT SHE'S
DECIDED TO DEFUND. THERE'S NO AMENDING IT IS COMPLETE REJECTION SO SHE CAN PROPERLY FUND THIS BUDGET. I HONESTLY I. DON'T KNOW. WHAT ELSE. TO SAY. UM I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE
MAYOR IS A COWARD AND A SNAKE. SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY TIME AFTER TIME. RUN ON. >> A CAMPAIGN THAT SAYS. >> THAT SHE CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON AND CONSISTENTLY HAS DONE EVERYTHING OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'VE ASKED HER TO DO.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK OF YOURSELVES THIS TONIGHT WHEN YOU ALL GO HOME AND ASK YOURSELVES DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THAT YOUTH NEED THIS MONEY? DO YOU. >> NOT BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANTS AND THIS MONEY THAT ELDERLIES NEED THIS MONEY THAT BOSTON HAS
A CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS? IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU DO NOT NEED THIS MONEY THAT BOSTON DOES NOT HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS, GREAT. CONTINUE LYING TO YOURSELVES. BUT I AM. CALLING OUT. SPECIFICALLY HENRY SANTANA, BEN
WEBER, BRIAN MORRELL, LUCY LOUIJEUNE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. PLEASE DO NOT BE LIKE THE MAYOR. DO NOT BE A COWARD. PLEASE REJECT. THE BUDGET. AND CALL THE MAYOR'S BLUFF BECAUSE WE DESERVE BETTER. YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE. BETTER, BOSTON DESERVE BETTER
AND WE'RE. ALL WATCHING YOU. >> PLEASE DON'T BE COWARDS. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHELLE WEINER. COUNCILOR WEBER I'M ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT SIX AND I'M HERE TODAY WITH THE BOSTON.
PEOPLE'S RESPONSE CAMPAIGN. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REJECT. THIS BUDGET THIS AUSTERITY BUDGET. TO RESTORE CUTS TO CRITICAL. PROGRAMS AND TO FUND A PILOT FOR A COMMUNITY. BASED MENTAL. HEALTH RESPONSE MODEL.
AND SPEAKING TODAY AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND A YOUTH WORKER, I'VE SPENT OVER TEN YEARS HERE IN THE CITY WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY AS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT. >> AT BERKELEY. THE BOSTON ALLIANCE OF.
LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH. AND IN THAT. ROLE I TESTIFIED HERE ON A PANEL HOSTED BY COUNCILOR SANTANA'S. OFFICE ABOUT. >> THE NEEDS. >> OF. LGBTQ PLUS. >> YOUTH. COUNSELOR SANTANA. I ATTENDED A NUMBER OF YOUR CAPA MEETINGS.
TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND. WE'VE TALKED. ABOUT ALL. >> OF THESE. THINGS THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND THAT FOLKS HAVE. TESTIFIED TO THE NEED FOR CRITICAL LIFESAVING SERVICES. SO I KNOW THAT. THE NEED IS UNDERSTOOD.
THE QUESTION NOW. IS TO PUT THE FUNDING TOWARDS THAT. BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL. >> YOU HOW MANY TIMES IN MY CAREER I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE A RESOURCE LIKE THIS MODEL AVAILABLE. MY FORMER. COLLEAGUES AT BAGLEY AND I, OUR COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> IS JUST A. COUPLE BLOCKS FROM HERE. AND SO. OFTEN WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING COMPLEX CHALLENGES WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE RESOURCES. >> TO CALL. CHALLENGES THAT DIDN'T WARRANT CALLING AN AMBULANCE. >> LET ALONE RISKING THE
POLICE. BUT WHERE OUR CENTER WAS OPEN AT 8:00. >> AT. NIGHT AND THERE. >> WAS NOTHING. >> TO. CALL. >> NO RESOURCES AVAILABLE. WE CONSTANTLY HAD TO NAVIGATE HOW TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. SUPPORT WITHOUT. CAUSING MORE.
RISK OR HARM. THAT IS DRAINING AND EXHAUSTING . IT IS A QUESTION THAT BURNS PEOPLE OUT. IT IS PART OF WHAT BURNED ME OUT OF THIS WORK. BOSTON NEEDS TO KEEP FUNDING
WHAT WE ARE ALREADY FUNDING LIKE. YOUTH JOBS WHICH ARE CRITICAL PREVENTION EFFORTS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOUTH PROGRAMS IN THIS CITY THAT WILL DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT WITHOUT THIS. FUNDING PROGRAMS LIKE ONES I'VE
RUN IN THE PAST THAT IF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. CAN'T FUND SCHOOL YEAR. JOBS THE PROGRAM. ITSELF THE. >> STAFF WILL. >> GO AWAY. >> THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO EXIST. JUST FOR TWO MONTHS. DURING THE SUMMER. AND WE ALSO NEED TO FUND. NEW SOLUTIONS.
WE KNOW THERE IS A YOUTH MENTAL. HEALTH CRISIS. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS IT AND A CAMP A MODEL THAT. >> IS. OPEN 24. SEVEN THAT IS FREE NON CARCERAL WOULD. BE A GAME CHANGER.
COUNSELOR WEBER LAST WEEK YOU SAID YOU HOPE THAT SOMEDAY FOLKS WILL. >> LOOK TO BOSTON. >> AS A MODEL FOR THIS I WANT THAT I WANT US TO ADD TO THE RESEARCH. ON WHAT THESE MODELS CAN DO. LAST YEAR THIS.
COUNCIL VOTED TO DECLARE BOSTON A TRANS SANCTUARY CITY. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME SAID WE WOULD HOLD YOU ALL ACCOUNTABLE TO PUTTING FUNDING AND RESOURCES. BEHIND THAT. THIS IS PART OF WHAT THAT MEANS
TO BE A TRANS. SANCTUARY CITY TO FUND US TO GIVE THAT DECLARATION TEETH TO FUND OUR EQUITY OFFICES, OUR YOUTH JOBS AND TO FUND NEW SOLUTIONS LIKE THIS MENTAL HEALTH. RESPONSE CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH YEAH. UH MAYBE TWO MORE FOLKS FOR PEOPLE'S RESPONSE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE HERE. SOUNDS GOOD. UM, MY NAME IS DOCTOR CHRISTINE MITCHELL. >> I'M A.
GRADUATE OF. >> HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT PROGRAM AT HEALTH AND PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS A NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH NONPROFIT. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO. VOTE TO.
>> REJECT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND TO ADVOCATE FOR $4 MILLION. TO FUND. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL COMMUNITY LED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. RESPONSE PILOT. FOR THE LAST.
DECADE I'VE DONE RESEARCH. EVALUATING NON-POLICE COMMUNITY LED CRISIS RESPONSE. PROGRAMS NATIONALLY. AND WHILE I CAN CITE. DOZENS OF RESEARCH STUDIES THAT SUPPORT THE FACT. THAT NON-POLICE MODELS. >> ARE BOTH MORE.
EFFECTIVE AT MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND MORE TRUSTED BY THE COMMUNITY THAN TRADITIONAL POLICING. I WOULD REALLY. RATHER THAT. YOU DEEPLY HEAR AND FEEL THE
CALL FROM ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED HERE TODAY. WHO HAVE. >> EXPERIENCED WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE POLICED AND. TRAUMATIZED AND. >> CONFINED WHEN WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED WAS SUPPORT. WHAT THEY HAVE SHARED IS MORE.
URGENT. >> MORE IMPORTANT. MORE COMPELLING THAN ANY RESEARCH THAT I CAN CITE. IN 2018, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION IDENTIFIED POLICE VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, CALLING FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS VIOLENCE AND. HARM WITHOUT CRIMINALIZING. COMMUNITIES MENTAL HEALTH
CRISES AND THE POLICE RESPONSE TO. THEM DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES DUE TO SYSTEMIC RACISM, ABLEISM AND THE FAILURES OF TRADITIONAL CRISIS RESPONSE. >> SYSTEMS. PEOPLE WITH UNTREATED MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS ARE 16 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE KILLED BY POLICE THAN THOSE. WITHOUT AND BEYOND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT BEING STOPPED BY POLICE IS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS
OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PTSD AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION . WE NEED A RESPONSE IN BOSTON THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE POLICE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CITIES ACROSS THE US INCLUDING OAKLAND ,MINNEAPOLIS, DENVER,
ALBUQUERQUE. DURHAM AND DAYTON. ALMOST NONE. HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILDING NON-POLICE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE BUILT FOR THOSE WHO BECAUSE OF THE RACISM, ABLEISM
AND VIOLENCE FROM THE POLICE WOULD NEVER CALL 911 BY INVESTING THE REQUESTED $4 MILLION INTO THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE, OUR CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A
NATIONAL LEADER IN MENTAL HEALTH AND I URGE YOU TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH ONE MORE UH, AND THEN. UM. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SOL MARTINEZ
GUEVARA. I USE DE SHI AND HE PRONOUNS AND I ALSO WORK AT OUR LIBRARY BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IN NICHOLSON SQUARE. AND BEFORE I START I WANT TO SAY THAT I SECOND WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID ABOUT ALSO
PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. I LIVE IN ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE A GREATER BOSTON THAT DOES NOT ABANDON ITS PEOPLE IN
TIMES OF GREAT NEED BY PROVIDING A SYSTEM OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE SUPPORT THAT ACT AS FIRST RESPONDERS TO PROVIDE LIFE AFFIRMING AND CONSENSUAL COMMUNITY LED AND NON CARCERAL CARE. EVERY ONE OF US COULD BE
SOMEONE THAT NEEDS SUPPORT AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES DUE TO LOSS OF HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, ACCUMULATION OF STRESS OR CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS ACCIDENTS
OR VIOLENCE THAT AFFECT OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES WHEN OTHER SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT HAVE FAILED. IT IS AT THIS CRITICAL POINTS THAT A PERSON NEEDS DIGNITY AND AGENCY WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE, WHEN THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHOICE
IN THE STEPS THAT LED UP TO A CRISIS. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THIS IS WHERE WE CAN SHOW THAT WE WILL NOT ABANDON SOMEONE'S PERSONHOOD BY MAKING CHOICES FOR THEM WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION. WE ALL THIS TO EACH OTHER,
ESPECIALLY AT POINTS WHERE THE CHOICES THAT ARE MADE CAN BE LIFE ALTERING. PEOPLE IN CRISIS NEED SUPPORT THAT IS CONSENSUAL AND INCLUDES OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR FAMILY AND THE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN GREATER BOSTON CITY COUNCILORS I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO FEEL YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS ROOM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE REPRESENTATION THAT YOU COMMITTED TO. IT IS UP TO YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE POWER THAT WE HAVE GRANTED YOU BY LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THIS MEANS HEARING THE CALL AND NEED FOR A CONSENSUAL NON CARCERAL IN CHARACTER AND COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE.
THIS MEANS REASSESSING THE 2027 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND MAKING AN AMENDMENT FOR THE $4 MILLION ALLOTTED FOR CURRENT CALL RESPONDERS AND PILOTING A PROGRAM FOR A LIFE AFFIRMING MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE THAT INCLUDES THE CONSENT OF THE
PERSON OR PEOPLE BEING RESPONDED TO. YOU CAN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A RESPONSE TEAM TEAMS THAT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM
WHICH CAN BE ISOLATING AND DESTABILIZING FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED TO EXPERIENCE AN AWARENESS THAT FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE NOW HAS A WIDE RANGE, MEANING THAT SOME OFFICERS OR STAFF DO NOT
HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, TIME OR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO RESPOND TO CALLS WITH EFFECTIVE CARE ON THE SPOT. THIS PROVES A NEED FOR A PILOT PROGRAM THAT EXPLORES ALTERNATIVE PERSON FIRST
OPTIONS FOR CARE FOLLOWING A CRISIS CALL OR A WELLNESS CHECK. BOSTON NEEDS TO PROVIDE NON-POLICE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THAT PRIORITIZES DIGNITY AND CONSENT AND NON-CAUSAL CARE.
PLEASE MAKE THE CHOICE THAT AFFIRMS THE LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE. >> PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> OKAY THANK. >> YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. ONE MORE. HELLO? >> CAN YOU. >> HEAR ME? YES. >> AUTHORITY. UM GOOD EVENING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND I JUST WANT TO DEMAND TWO MORE MINUTES OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TESTIMONY TONIGHT. MY NAME. >> IS HASSAN JIMENEZ.
AND I'M A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. CAMPAIGN. >> A YOUTH WORKER AT THE CITY SCHOOL AND A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE. I STAND BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY TO DEMAND THAT YOU ALL REJECT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL AND
FULLY FUND OUR PILOT FOR A NON-POLICE, NON CARCERAL. COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL AT $4 MILLION, I WANT TO SHARE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME OF A MOMENT
WHERE HAVING A CRISIS RESPONSE LIKE OUR MODEL WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BETTER OUTCOME AS A TRIGGER WARNING I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FORCED HOSPITALIZATION. I WAS. >> AT THE EMERGENCY. ROOM WHEN I WITNESSED A BLACK
YOUNG PERSON BEING SECTIONED AND SEDATED AGAINST THEIR WILL . THE GROTESQUE AND RACIST REMARKS THAT BPD OFFICERS AND HOSPITAL GUARDS WERE MAKING ABOUT THEM WERE UNFATHOMABLE AND INHUMANE WORDS THAT SHOULD.
NEVER BE. DIRECTED AT ANYONE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS. THEY WERE NOT A THREAT. THEY WERE A CHILD TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM FEAR. I ASK YOU. IMAGINE IF THAT WERE YOUR CHILD.
OR FAMILY MEMBER BEING TREATED AS. >> THEIR PAIN. MADE THEM DANGEROUS. THESE ARE NOT. PEOPLE WE WANT CARING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR YOUTH DESERVE TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE.
THEY DESERVE TO BE POURED INTO BY FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, WHO. HAD THE SAME. >> LIVED EXPERIENCES AND WHO WILL MEET THEM WITH COMPASSION RATHER THAN CONTEMPT. AS COMMUNITY GROUPS WE ARE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH ATTEMPTS TO PUT US AGAINST ONE ANOTHER TO FORCE
US. IT CAN BE PRESCRIBED FROM THE CITY. WE REFUSE TO FALL INTO THAT TRAP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2027 BUDGET WHICH CUTS AND UNDERFUNDING YOUTH. JOBS. >> HOUSING THE OFFICE OF FOOD
JUSTICE AND THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT AMONG OTHERS WILL ONLY DEEPEN THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OUR. COMMUNITIES ALREADY FACE ON THE DAY TO DAY BASIS. THE NARRATIVE OF SCARCITY IS.
FALSE THE MONEY EXISTS TO FUND COMMUNITY NEEDS. IF THE MAYOR AND THE. BOSTON CITY COUNCIL CHOOSE TO BUILD A DIFFERENT BUDGET. WE URGE. THIS COUNCIL TO DO EXACTLY THAT TO FIGHT FOR A BUDGET THAT BREAKS FROM THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL THAT SENATORS CAN GET IN. NEED AND THAT. INCLUDES FULL FUNDING AT FORMULA BUILDING AT $4 MILLION FOR THE COMMUNITY LED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL. OUR PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOU
TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. SAY. >> SAM, YOU'RE LIKE FIVE PAGES AWAY BUT, UM, UH, IT'S TIME. >> TO CLEAN. YEAH, SORRY. >> WE JUST. >> HAVE THREE MORE PEOPLE. NO NO, SORRY SORRY, I JUST I'VE
GOT, UH, PROPHET UH PROPHET QUARTER TO FARI UH, SAYS ARE AVERIL CARMINE AND MALCOLM SHERMAN GODFREY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE HERE. NO.
OKAY. SOME OF OUR OLD PEOPLE HERE. OKAY? OKAY. >> GABRIEL YOU'RE UP AND THEN SAMMY LEFT AFTER THAT.
OH BOY. WOW, WHAT A NIGHT. OKAY. ARE WE GOOD? YES. >> WHEN? WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANKS. >> UH, I. WALKED IN HERE WITH NO SPEECH, NOTHING PREPARED AT ALL. >> I WANTED. >> TO LISTEN TO HEAR VOICES AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS WOW.
WHO REALLY. FAILED OUR YOUTH? I'M I'M SPEECHLESS TO ALL OF IT ,BUT I'M VERY, VERY TOUCHED AND LIKE, OVERWHELMED BY THE
VOICES OF THE YOUTH HERE. SHARING THAT THESE. JOBS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE CITY SAVED. >> THEIR LIVES. SO I'M HEARING THAT SHE HAS A
RAISE FROM WHAT, 43,000. >> TO. 250,000 AND YET SHE WANTS TO CUT FUNDING FOR YOUTH PROGRAM FOR THE VETERANS UM FOR UH
THERE'S JUST ALL THESE CUTS YET SHE'S GETTING A RAISE AND UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR MURPHY THEY STEPPED UP AND SAID WE DON'T WANT OUR RAISES IF YOU'RE GOING TO CUT
THE FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE THESE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED. BRAVO. THANK YOU. THAT SETTING A STANDARD. UM. >> HALFWAY I WROTE DOWN SO MANY OKAY. THE FOUNDATION OF CITIES. OKAY.
I MIGHT NOT BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO SAY THIS BUT THE FOUNDATIONS IS SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND ANY TYPE OF PLACE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE AND THAT MEANS YOU KNOW,
IT'S THE POLICE, THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE EMS. UM AND THEN WE WE NEED SERVICES FOR OUR YOUTH AND SERVICES FOR OUR ELDERLY. WHY ARE WE HAVING ANY OF THESE
CUTS? WE HAVE A RAINY DAY RESOURCES WE. HAVE WHAT IS IT 1.7 BILLION FOR EMERGENCIES? I THINK WE'RE KIND OF HAVING A
LITTLE BIT OF AN EMERGENCY HERE WITH THE VOICES THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T EVEN FEEL SAFE WITH THEIR POLICE OFFICERS. I'M HEARING DEFUND THE POLICE AND I'M OVER HERE SHOCKED.
OH REALLY ALREADY TWO MINUTES. YEAH. WELL, UH IT'S DISHEARTENING UM ,IN THIS THIS BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE PROGRAM I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT. I SUPPORT THAT IF THE BOSTON
POLICE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, UM, EVEN OUR YOUTH IS FEELING SECURE ENOUGH TO EVEN CALL 911 UM, BUT THE DEFUNDING POLICE I'M SORRY. I SUPPORT MY POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, I CAME HERE AND TESTIFIED BEFORE TO, UM, SUPPORT THEM. THEY WE NEED MORE AND IT'S IT'S ALSO DISHEARTENING IN. ,UH. >> TO HEAR THAT YOUTH DON'T
EVEN WANT TO LIKE LOOK INTO BEING POLICE OFFICERS HERE IN BOSTON. WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE. ALL RIGHT I'M. GOING TO THE BUZZER. BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE, UH, TRANSPARENCY ABOUT MAKING UM
OPENING THE THE COUNSELOR MEETINGS I'M FOR THAT TO OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, SO I'VE GOT SAM BOSTON. WE CAN DO BETTER. OKAY. >> THANKS. UH, SAM PIERCE, UH, CARMEN
ALLEN, UH, AND OKAY, WE'VE ALREADY GOT TO MINGLE AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. OKAY. UH. >> GOOD EVENING. SORRY. IT IS NOW 10:00. IN THE EVENING AND THE REASON I
STAYED THIS LONG IS BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THIS WAS ON THE RECORD. WE DO HAVE OVER 118,000
UNSOLVED HOMICIDES, ONE OF WHICH WAS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS MURDERED BACK IN 2024 AND THE POLICE STILL HAVE NOT SOLVED HIS MURDER AND YET THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
I WANT TO REALLY MAKE AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THAT WE NEED PEOPLE IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICA THAT HAVE A BACKBONE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL. WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING
TO REJECT THE 2027 BUDGET, FREEZE THE 2026 BUDGET AND DO A POST AUDIT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE $5 BILLION THAT THEY GOT IN ARPA MONEY FROM
2021 TO 2026. THIS IS THE SAME COUNCIL THAT SENT A HOME RULE PETITION TO STOP BLACK PEOPLE IN ROXBURY FROM BEING ABLE TO VOTE, AND
NOW BLACK PEOPLE HAVE LOST THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY THE US SUPREME COURT. 1.7 MILLION IS NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT'S SLUSH FUND THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR BUDGET.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING TO OUR MONEY IF WE DON'T FREEZE THE BUDGET BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY BLATANTLY STEALING. SEVERAL STATE POLICE OFFICERS
WERE BROUGHT TO PRISON FOR STEALING AND OVERTIME. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PULL OUR PANTS UP AND ACT LIKE ADULTS AND ACTUALLY ADDRESS THIS BUDGET LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO?
I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT THE PEOPLE IN BRIGHTON DO NOT HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER. I THINK WE NEED TO START MAKING SOME TOUGH CHOICES AND UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE HEALTH CARE
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, THEN THE CITY OF BOSTON SHOULD HAVE A HOSPITAL AGAIN. MASS GENERAL EMPLOYS OVER 18,000 PEOPLE. THEY HAVE A BUDGET THEMSELVES
JUST THE HOSPITAL OF OVER $3 BILLION. IT IS TIME THAT WE START BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AND IN CLOSING ALL I WOULD JUST
SAY IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CSO OFFICES FOR THE EMS OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WOULD DE-ESCALATE A LOT OF THE CONFRONTATIONS THAT SOME OF THE POLICE ARE DEALING WITH.
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> IN. CARMEN. CAMERON WEBER. THAT'S THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE WITH A DIFFERENT HAIR COLOR BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE. CLOSER TO THE MIC. BECAUSE I'M LAUGHING AND I'M ONE OF THE FABULOUS SENIOR CITIZENS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL REMEMBER I TOLD YOU I WAS SPENDING 60% OF MY INCOME ON RENT AT THE FORBES BUILDING. I'M A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE FOLKS
BUILDING IN JAMAICA PLAIN. I'VE ALSO JUST RECENTLY BEEN ELECTED TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE SECRETARY POSITION FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF HUD
TENANTS STAFF BY THE MASS ALLIANCE HAVE HAD I HAD TENANTS. SO UM I'M I'M IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CUTS HAPPEN.
UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, KEEP THIS POSITION I WOULD HAVE TO STAY IN THE FORBES BUILDING. BUT DUE TO THESE CUTS I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I MAY NOT UM.
UH I MAY BE HOMELESS BY, UM, SUNDAY. SO, UM, I URGE YOU TO, UH. RESTORE THE 2 MILLION FOR, UH,
THE FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. I DON'T HAVE A VOUCHER OR ANYTHING. I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN. MY SAVINGS ARE DEPLETED NOW THOUGH, SO I I THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING STABILITY AND THE, UM, MASS HOMELESS UM ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ASSIST ME, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. UM AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
THERE'S JUST NOT ANY TIME. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A PART OF THE SHORE UP PROGRAM WHICH, UM, IT'S SUPPOSED TO, UH, KEEP SENIORS FROM BEING DISPLACED,
BUT IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM AND THEY'RE ONLY BEING FUNDED BY LIKE $200,000. SO I'M COMPETING WITH OTHER FAMILIES ACROSS THE CITY. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I
HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING AND, UM, TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION NOT JUST THE YOUTH BUT OUR SENIORS TOO. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
UH, BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. UH, JUST TO TELL ME YOUR NAME FIRST, UH, THAT YOU. WAKE UP. >> OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NICK YOUNG. I'M 30 YEARS OLD AND I'M A FULL
TIME PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND A BOSTON RESIDENT. I RESIDE IN DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS IN DISTRICT THREE ON PAWTUCKET LAND AND I'M A PROUD COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THIS CAMPAIGN. WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCILORS
TO REJECT THE MAYOR'S CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN ADD 4 MILLION FOR THE FINAL 2027 BUDGET FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NON-POLICE NON CARCERAL COMMUNITY LED MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL PILOT. MY CLIENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO EXPLORE WARM LINES AND INTERVENTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CARCERAL SYSTEM AND HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE OPTIONS AS A
PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WHO HOLDS THE TITLE OF MANDATED REPORTER. I FULLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT PEOPLE NEED ARE COMMUNITY CONNECTION RE GROUNDING AND NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS MODEL
TO BE AN ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY ONCE IMPLEMENTED AS THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO ACCESS A SYSTEM OF CARE THAT'S TANGIBLE, RESPONSIVE, LOCAL AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN. TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF RESPONDERS.
I WANT TO DIRECTLY NAME THAT LESS THAN 5% OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS PERPETUATE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND. LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT THE VIOLENCE OF UNAFFORDABLE
HOUSING ANTI-BLACK POLICE VIOLENCE, HOMELESSNESS, WEALTH DISPARITIES AND SEGREGATED NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON. FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VIOLENCE OF YOUTH JOBS BEING CUT FIRST AND ADDING AN
ADDITIONAL COUPLE MILLION TO THE POLICE BUDGET FIRST. WHAT POINT IS THERE TO DISCUSS THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING VIOLATED EVERY DAY? AND I BELIEVE IN THIS COMMUNITY ABILITY TO CREATE AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEM THAT
CAN ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL THREATS TO RESPONDER SAFETY. IN MY EXPERIENCE BOTH LIVING WITH PEOPLE IN A DV CRISIS AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, A LOCAL THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION THAT IN PERSON AND NOT A HOTLINE
WOULD HAVE MADE A MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCE AND NOT JUST SUPPORTING THE PERSON EXPERIENCING THE CRISIS BUT ALSO ME AND OTHERS WHO ARE WITNESS AND DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT AND GROUNDING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. A THIRD PARTY WITHOUT WEAPONS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY AND SOMEONE WHO'S TRAINED IN PEER SUPPORT TO HELP GROUND AND RESPOND WAS NEEDED. IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOLDING PEOPLE THAT WE'VE LOST WHETHER SAEED FAISAL IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, SONIA MASSEY IN
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS OR OTHER KOREAN AMERICANS JUST LIKE ME FROM KOREATOWN, L.A. YONG YANG AND VICTORIA LEE FROM FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY. REST IN PEACE TO THE LIVE SENSELESSLY LOST IN A MOMENT WHERE THEY NEEDED CONNECTION
AND SUPPORT. WE NEED ALTERNATIVES NOT MORE POLICE, NOT MORE PRISONS, NOT MORE SYSTEMS THAT DON'T AFFIRM AGENCY AND HUMANITY. $4 MILLION IS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING COMPARED TO MAYOR WU'S RECENT ALLOCATION OF MORE THAN $480 MILLION FOR POLICE. THE RESEARCH PROVES IT. OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE PROVES IT THAT WE NEED ALTERNATIVES.
BLACK BOSTONIANS, DISABLED BOSTONIANS, LGBTQ+ BOSTONIANS, IMMIGRANT BOSTONIANS, UNHOUSED BOSTONIANS, BOSTONIANS OF COLOR DESERVE THIS AND DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR HUMANITY, SAFETY AND
CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR FEARS AND WISHES AFFIRMED AND RESPONDED TO. THANK YOU. HI. >> GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS BILLY AND I WORK
AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP IN FIELDS CORNER, HEART OF BOSTON, LITTLE SAIGON . NOT ONLY AS A YOUTH WORKER BUT ALSO AS AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZER. I'M HERE TO FIND TODAY TO OUR CITY COUNCILORS AS MANY HAVE
NOTED HERE TO SUPPORT BPR. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE BPD AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER DESPITE MAYOR BOOSTING OTHERWISE TO SURVEIL AND POLICE OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. TODAY I WANT TO SHARE THE STORY
OF A MANUAL TO TODAY AND HOW BPR COULD HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE WHICH THE DORCHESTER REPORTED WHICH THE DORCHESTER REPORTER REPORTED ON A FEW MONTHS AGO. HIS STORY REPRESENTS HOW IMMIGRANT MENTAL HEALTH IS CRIMINALIZED AND FUNNELED INTO
THE PRISON TO DEPORTATION PIPELINE. IT WAS AT A SMALL FAMILY GATHERING IN DORCHESTER IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. WORRIED NEIGHBORS HAD CALLED POLICE FOR A SAFETY CHECK ON A FAMILY MEMBER FROM THE HOME. POLICE ARRIVED AND THE
SITUATION SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED, BUT A MISUNDERSTANDING LED TO A SUDDEN ESCALATION AND OFFICERS ARRESTED THOMAS AT THE SCENE FOR AN ALLEGED DOMESTIC ASSAULT CHARGE. AS HIS FAMILY WANTS TO BAIL HIM OUT, HE AS A FAMILY WENT TO
BAIL HIM OUT. HE NEVER CAME OUT. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER WITHIN HOURS OF ENTERING BPD CUSTODY, EMANUEL WAS TRANSFERRED TO ICE CUSTODY. BOSTON IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SANCTUARY CITY, BUT THE INSTANTANEOUS SHARING A
FINGERPRINT DATA WITH MULTIPLE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CREATED COLLABORATION WITH ICE. HE PASSED AWAY THIS EARLY SPRING BECAUSE OF A TOOTHACHE THAT LED TO SEVERE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE ICE IGNORED A BPR WHERE TO
EXIST BPR IS A TOOL AND RESOURCE TO DISRUPT THE PRISON TO DEPORTATION PIPELINE. EMMANUEL SHOULD STILL BE HERE. BPR COULD HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE. WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT HOW OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS MUST HE MUST BE PROTECTED.
WE NEED TO PUT MONEY WHERE THEIR WORDS ARE TO ACTUALLY PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. NOW WITH THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT BEING DEFUNDED. WE CAN'T JUST SHOW UP TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND SAY YOU SUPPORT THEM AND NOT SUPPORT THEIR EVERYDAY
REALITIES. WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH THAT ARE STUCK IN ICE DETENTION BECAUSE OF THIS AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT AND THEY'RE AT RISK OF BEING DEPORTED. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS POWER TO REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO
LIVE THE LEGACIES OF AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN THEIR HOMELANDS. INVESTING IN BPR IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BILLY. UH GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCILORS . MY NAME IS HASSAN RIZVI AND I USE THAT I'M PRONOUNS. UH I'M A RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER AND DISTRICT THREE. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND
YOUTH WORKER AT THE CITY SCHOOL AN ORGANIZATION AND UP ON THIS CORNER DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH ORGANIZERS . I AM ALSO A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE HERE TO CLOSE OUT OUR
REMARKS FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BPR MEMBERS AND MEMBER LEADERS WHO JUST TESTIFIED. WE ARE DEMANDING TO REJECT THE BUDGET AND THEN FILE AN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE 4 MILLION FOR THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S
RESPONSE. I AM ALSO DEMANDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF YOUTH JOBS SCHOOL YEAR YOUTH JOBS FUNDING SPECIFICALLY. WHEN I WAS 17 MY YOUTH JOB AT THE CITY SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY SAFE PLACE THAT I HAD AS A
YOUNG TRANS MUSLIM AND IT ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE POWER I HAD TO ORGANIZE AND CHANGE THE CONDITIONS I SAW AROUND ME. WE'VE JUST HEARD THE STORIES OF STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUTH WORKERS, THERAPISTS AND
CLINICIANS, TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS ON WHY WE NEED THIS PROGRAM SO INTENSELY. AS MY COLLEAGUES STAR SAID IN A PAST BUDGET HEARING. OUR CRISES ARE TREATED AS CRIMES.
AS YOUTH WORKERS, WE HAVE SEEN HOW YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS ABUSED BY THEIR FAMILIES OR PARTNERS ARE ARRESTED BY POLICE IN THE AFTERMATH OF CRISIS. WE HAVE SEEN HOW PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ARE KILLED BY THE POLICE
SERVICES MEANT TO SAVE THEM. THE CURRENT SERVICES WE HAVE AVAILABLE ARE DEEPLY FEARED AND DISTRUSTED. DCF THE BEST TEAM HOSPITALS, THE POLICE AND BY EXTENSION
THEIR WELL FUNDED CONNECTIONS TO ICE AND THE FBI. BPD CAN RESPOND TO THESE CRISES WITHOUT EXACERBATING HARM AT A FRACTION OF THE COST THAT IT CURRENTLY TAKES. WE DESERVE CONSENSUAL CARE FROM
FAMILIAR FACES. WE DESERVE A CITY THAT DOESN'T KEEP INFLATING THE POLICE BUDGET AND CUTTING LIFESAVING PROGRAMS. WE DESERVE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP THAT KEEPS THEIR PROMISES AND FIGHTS EVEN THE MAYOR TO
PROTECT OUR FUNDING, STOP THE CUTS, FUND US OR FAIL US. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, OKAY. IS THAT M IS THAT IT?
UH, FROM OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE, UH. >> AND. YOUR REALLY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS. UM, SO WE HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE IN THE ROOM. UH, I'M JUST GOING TO I HAVE
SAM COOPER. UH, KATIE KATE WINKY. UH, HE UH I THINK. UH. >> FIRST AND MIA HILLS. TO THE LEFT. OKAY. >> OKAY.
YEAH. UH, IF IF UM, UH, ERIC VAN AND SASHA UH, PILCHER I THINK TESTIFIED MEGAN CRUZ UH, T TANGERINE.
UH, FRANKLIN. UM UH, I THINK AND SO I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME COME UP AND TESTIFY IF I HAVEN'T CALLED YOUR NAME HONESTLY AND YOU'RE HERE TO TESTIFY.
JUST YOU PLEASE GET IN LINE AND YOU'LL JUST. GO IN THE ORDER THAT YOU'RE IN MIND. I APOLOGIZE. SORT OF. REACHING THE END HERE. OKAY, SO, UH. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. PLEASE TELL ME TO TELL ME YOUR
NAME WHERE YOU LIVE. IF YOU'RE HERE WITH AN ORGANIZATION. YEAH. >> UH. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TODAY. UH, MY NAME IS SAM COOPER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF ALLSTON, BRIGHTON WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR FOUR YEARS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA AND I ALSO HELP RUN THE AUSTIN BRYAN FOOD TRAIN, A MUTUAL AID GROCERY ACCESS NETWORK THAT SERVES FAMILIES ACROSS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TODAY WITH NEIGHBORS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY,
AND WE ARE DEMANDING THAT THE CITY MAKE A REAL FUNDED COMMITMENT TO REBUILDING THE JACKSON MAN COMMUNITY CENTER. ALLSTON BRIGHTON IS THE SECOND LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY AND ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE.
JACKSON MAN IS THE ONLY BCF COMMUNITY CENTER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AND FOR DECADES THE CITY HAS KNOWN IT IS CRUMBLING. THE JACKSON MAN K TO EIGHT SCHOOL IS CLOSED BECAUSE THE BUILDING HAD GOTTEN SO BAD IT
WAS LITERALLY PHYSICALLY UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN. THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS KEPT OPEN BARELY WITH THE BARE MINIMUM OF PROGRAMING. WE HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED AND NEGLECTED FOR A LONG TIME. AND THE REASON GIVEN WHEN A
REASON IS GIVEN AT ALL IS THAT ALLSTON BRIGHTON IS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRANSIENTS THAT WILL MOVE ON SO WE'RE NOT WORTH INVESTING IN. I HAVE LIVED IN ALLSTON AS A WORKING PROFESSIONAL FOR FOUR YEARS AND I'M NOT GOING
ANYWHERE AND NEITHER ARE THE SENIORS I SERVE AT THE FOOD PANTRY, THE FAMILIES I DELIVER GROCERIES TO OR THE CHILDREN GROWING UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW WHO DESERVE THE SAME CITY INVESTMENT THAT OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS GET. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE . YET WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE CITY BUDGET THIS YEAR IS A CLEAR PATTERN OF DISINVESTMENT IN BOSTON'S COMMUNITIES. THIS BUDGET CUTS FUNDING FOR
YOUTH JOBS, IT CUTS LIBRARIES, IT CUTS SCHOOLS AND SOMEHOW INCREASES THE POLICE BUDGET, A CRUMBLING COMMUNITY CENTER AND CUTS TO SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ARE A
REFLECTION OF THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES. THEY ARE NOT A REFLECTION OF OURS. STAND UP FOR US AND REJECT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO GO RIGHT
LEFT. SO YOU. GO TO YOUR LEFT HERE. UM. >> HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMIR THADANI. I'M A RESIDENT OF JP AND. I'M A. >> MIDDLE SCHOOL ESL TEACHER AT ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL. UH, YES, ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL. I CAME HERE TODAY AFTER THREE
HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE WERE PLANNING FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR WITH OUR STUDENTS. UM. BUT BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET. CUTS, MY POSITION WAS CUT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE BACK TO SUPPORT MY STUDENTS NEXT YEAR.
UM, WHERE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS I WON'T GET TO SAY HI TO THEM IN THE HALLWAY OR SEE THEM GROW EVERY DAY. I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN DEMANDING A PEOPLE'S
BUDGET IN THIS CITY, AND I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU RESTORE A YOU REVERSE THE CUTS TO POSITIONS IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS USING EVERY TOOL YOU HAVE AT YOUR. DISPOSAL, INCLUDING. >> A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE. DISTRICT.
>> RESTORE THE POSITIONS OF PEREZ AND TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS THAT MAKE OUR SCHOOLS RUN. WORKING PEOPLE ARE UNDER ATTACK TODAY. IMMIGRANTS ARE UNDER ATTACK. THE COST OF LIVING IS RISING
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YET THE STATE HOUSE IS PULLING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ABOVE THEIR PROJECTIONS BECAUSE THE RICH THEY'RE DOING GREAT. THE ULTRA RICH ARE DOING JUST FINE IN THIS STATE AND IN THE
CITY. MOST OF THEM LIVE IN THIS CITY BY THE WAY THE BILLIONAIRES. AND IN FACT STARTING TODAY IN THE CITY ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ WHICH IS A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM THAT MANAGES $100 BILLION IN
ASSETS AND IS ACCELERATING AI JOB DISPLACEMENT IN SEARCH OF MORE PROFITS. IT'S HOLDING A TECH WEEK IN BOSTON STARTING TODAY. THEY'RE SAYING OUR QUOTE UNQUOTE INNOVATION ECONOMY IS ON THE RISE.
SO WHY IS THERE NEVER ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE FUNDING THE PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN THIS CITY FOR SOME REASON, NO MATTER WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR WHO IS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE WEALTH OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR STATE AND OUR CITY DOES NOT GO TO MEET
OUR NEEDS. IT'S ALWAYS AUSTERITY. IT'S AUSTERITY WHEN THE STOCK MARKET GOES UP AND IT'S AUSTERITY WHEN THE STOCK MARKET GOES DOWN AND WORKING PEOPLE PAY THE PRICE WHETHER IT'S CUTS TO. UH YOUTH JOBS, CUTS TO HOUSING
OR CUTS TO OUR SCHOOLS, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR MANY TIMES BEFORE. IT IS UNDER ATTACK TODAY AT ALL
LEVELS SO YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE OR ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF THE BILLIONAIRES? IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE. THE MONEY IS THERE FOR YOU TO FIX THIS BUDGET SO YOU JUST
HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON. THANK YOU. HI I'M KATE. I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ORGANIZER IN ALLSTON, BRIGHTON.
UM, LIKE SAM SAID, WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY AND WE HAVE 85,000. RESIDENTS BUT WE ONLY HAVE A. SMALL PART OF ONE. COMMUNITY CENTER. THE CONDEMNED AND CRUMBLING
JACKSON MAN. I MOVED TO ALLSTON, BRIGHTON AS I WAS FINISHING COLLEGE. I WAS THE EXACT TRANSIENT POPULATION. THAT YOU ALL ARE IMAGINING WHEN YOU DEBATE WHETHER WE GET FUNDING.
I STAYED BECAUSE I FOUND MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPEN COMMUNITY CENTER. UH I FOUND MY COMMUNITY BY HOSTING. CRAFTING EVENTS IN A PIZZA SHOP. PEOPLE LIKE ME WANT TO STAY IN
AUSTIN. BRIGHTON. THE MAYOR'S BUDGET WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH US OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE LOVE. AND YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T DESERVE
MORE FUNDING BECAUSE WE MOVE TO BETTER SUPPORTED PLACES WHEN WE WANT TO PUT DOWN ROOTS. FOR DECADES, THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS PROMISED TO MAINTAIN THE JACKSON MAN AND FOR DECADES THE
CITY HAS BROKEN THOSE PROMISES . TWO YEARS AGO, CITY COUNCIL HOSTED A MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AT THE JACKSON MAN. WE MADE OURSELVES CLEAR TWO YEARS AGO AND WE'RE MAKING
OURSELVES CLEAR NOW. WE NEED A COMMUNITY CENTER. WE NEED A TIMELINE FOR DESIGN AND WE NEED CONSTRUCTION FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND WE NEED THE FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
AND ALL OF YOU, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THAT TO US BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN THE ENTIRE CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY CENTER.
THAT'S ON Y'ALL. OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING COUNCILORS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YEAH. >> JUST A CLOSER TO THE MIC. GOTCHA. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILORS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, MY NAME IS COLIN DE ROCHE
AND I CHOSE TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL A MORAL OBLIGATION TO MY FELLOW BAY STATERS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH. I STUDY AT UMASS BOSTON, WORK AT URGENT CARE TREATING BOSTONIAN PATIENTS AND AN ARMY
VETERAN. AND I'M IN THE HEALTHIEST RELATIONSHIP OF MY LIFE WITH A WONDERFUL MAN WHO IMMIGRATED HERE FROM COLOMBIA. I SPEAK BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DECISIONS MADE
IN OUR CAPITAL RIPPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. MY TIME IN THE ARMY TAUGHT ME A LOT. DESPITE BEING OVERWHELMINGLY CONSERVATIVE, ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE IS IRONICALLY A CASE
STUDY IN THE SUCCESS OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS. SERVICE PROVIDED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL. JOB SECURITY, STABLE HOUSING AND FOOD SECURITY.
AND I THINK IT'S TRAGIC THAT THE ONLY WAY TO EARN THESE RESOURCES IS TO SIGN A BLANK CHECK TO A GOVERNMENT FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LUXURY OF NEVER HAVING TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT. WHEN MY CONTRACT ENDED, I CHOSE
TO RETURN TO MASSACHUSETTS DESPITE ITS EXORBITANT COST OF LIVING. IN FACT, NONE OF US WOULD DARE TO DENY I RETURNED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE LONG TERM GAIN FROM INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSIT, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE OFTEN OUTWEIGH THE INITIAL COSTS. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT ARE NOT
ASKING FOR A HANDOUT. THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND TO BUILD UP THEIR COMMUNITIES. LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE PART
OF THESE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WE KNOW THEY BELONG TO THE BIPOC AND LGBTQ COMMUNITIES AND SOME OF THEIR CHILDREN BELONG TO THE SAME, WHICH MEANS THEY WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE
PROGRAMS WE'RE FIGHTING FOR. MAYOR WHO IS ALLOTTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BOOST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. BUT THIS IS LIKE BAILING A BOAT WITHOUT FIXING THE LEAKS. IF YOU WANT THE BEST FOR THE
POLICE, THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BOSTONIANS, BIPOC, LGBTQ FOR ALL OF BOSTON FUND THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY THAT ENDURE OVER TIME.
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE MORE. PERSON IN PERSON AND THEN WE'VE GOT ONE PERSON ONLINE. >> AND A VIDEO. SORRY. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR WEBER AND DREW YOU TO. THE COMMITTEE. UH, MY. NAME IS SIMON ELSINORE AND I'M
A RISING SOPHOMORE AT SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY AND I THINK IT'S ALREADY. >> BEEN MADE CLEAR WHY CUTTING FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH SERVICES IS BAD. AND IT. >> SHOULD NOT. TAKE STUDENTS MARCHING IN OCCUPY WALL STREET TO DEMONSTRATE THIS. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE PEOPLE HERE
TESTIFYING FOR HOURS FOR IT TO BE CLEAR WHY IT SHOULD BE REJECTED. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE THREE CAL IN THIS ROOM AND WATCHING LATER WERE ELECTED TO AVOID THE NEED FOR THAT. THE BUDGET SHOULD HAVE BEEN REJECTED.
A PUG GENERATED THROUGH THE WOODS CLEAR THAT WE WERE NOT ONLY REDUCING FUNDING FOR YOUTH WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATE UM BUT INSTEAD GIVING IT TO THE SAME POLICE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND
KILL PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. IT SHOULD BE SELF-EVIDENT WHY THAT IS A BAD THING. AND I KNOW ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN MATERIALS WHETHER IT WAS AT THE TOP OR NOT WITH A PROMISE TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS AND TO HELP OUR
YOUTH. BY REFUSING TO REJECT THIS BUDGET YOU WERE NOT ONLY YOU WERE SHOWING YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED SAYING THESE THINGS TO GAIN THE TRUST, TO GAIN TRUST NOT TO TRULY HELP THE
PEOPLE. TO CONCLUDE I'D LIKE TO NOTE ONE THING FOR TO TO SEEK HELP THROUGH TO THE TO THE YOUTH AND SEEK HELP THROUGH TO THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS WATCHING THIS FOR THE YOUTH YOU ONLY NEED TO
BE 18 TO RUN FOR BOTH ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT LIKE THE POSITION INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL AND YOU CAN AND SHOULD RUN FOR THEM INTO THE CITY COUNCILORS IF YOU DO NOT DO THE WORK TO PROTECT US, WE WILL GET EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU OUT OF THIS OFFICE AT THE BALLOT BOX. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> YEAH, I'M I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU BACK. >> THERE, BUT. THAT'S OKAY. HI. MY NAME IS TASIA. OH, SORRY. HI. >> MY NAME IS TASIA.
>> AND FRANKLIN. I AM A RESIDENT OF DORCHESTER. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE BOSTON. THANK YOU. >> ALL SO. >> MUCH. FOR BEING HERE STILL OKAY. UM, I WORK AT BOSTON PROJECT MINISTRIES, A NONPROFIT IN
DORCHESTER RIGHT IN COMMON AROUND COMMON SQUARE. >> I LIVE. RIGHT IN COMMONS SQUARE AND I'M AN ARTIST IN THE CITY. UM, WHO'S WHO HAS BEEN FUNDED JUST FOR MY FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. SO THE OPPORTUNITY FUND GRANT
WHICH I KNOW WILL BE CUT. UM, I AM GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT. LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU. THESE ARE MY YOUNG PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
I GET TO WORK WITH. I RUN A PROGRAM AT BOSTON PROJECT MINISTRIES CALLED ARTIST. >> IN ACTION. I TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE TO USE THEIR VOICES, THEIR TALENTS, THEIR GIFTS TO STAND UP FOR THINGS LIKE THIS PLACEMENT THAT THEY CAN SEE IS HAPPENING.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOVING HOUSE TO HOUSE DAILY I MEAN MONTHLY BECAUSE PARENTS ARE BASICALLY CHASING WHAT'S CHEAPEST RENT AND THEN WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE FALLING OFF IN SCHOOL EDUCATION. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES
RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS HEARD IT ALL TODAY BUT HONESTLY WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO IS PRAY. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL MAY NOT ARE NOT ONLY HAVING THIS IN YOUR
OWN HANDS. YES, IT'S ALSO IN THE HANDS OF THE MAYOR. BUT TRULY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I WANT TO SAY A QUICK PRAYER FOR ALL OF YOU AS YOU GO IN AND YOU FIGHT FOR US. WE ELECTED YOU ALL TO FIGHT FOR US SO WE'RE TRUSTING YOU TODAY
TO DO THAT. SO LORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE COUNCILORS THAT ARE BEFORE US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SPACE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN STAND HERE AND TESTIFY TO WHAT WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO
FOR WHAT THEIR JOBS HAVE BEEN TO DO. OH GOD. SO LORD, WE JUST PRAY OVER THEM THAT THERE WILL BE A PROTECTION ON THEM THAT THEY'LL COME STRONGER HARDER FOR WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED THEM TO DO OH LORD BUT LORD IN THEIR OWN
MISSING THEIR OWN TIME MAY THEY FEEL COMFORT, MAY THEY FEEL PEACE MAY NOT BE THREATENED BY THE WORDS OF PEOPLE, BUT MAY THEY BE EMPOWERED BY THE WORDS OF THE PEOPLE TO DO THE WORDS THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO. OH GOD. SO LORD, WE PRAY FOR THEM.
WE PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE THEY WILL BE STILL MAY THEY BE NO OH GOD LORD YOU SAYING YOUR WORD THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE STRENGTH OH GOD AND THAT BY THE OLD AND GRAY HAIRS OF THE ELDERS THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW
THAT THEY ARE WISE, THAT THEY SHOULD BE THEIR JOY TO BE WISE. SO WE PRAY NOW THAT ALL OF YOU FEEL THE JOY OF WISDOM AND GO FORTH AND BE WISE IN THIS PLACE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR COUNSELORS OF BOSTON AND I'M SO
GRATEFUL TO BE A RESIDENT OF THIS CITY. THANK YOU TODAY. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> VERY MUCH. UH, I THINK THAT WRAPS UP OUR IN PERSON TESTIMONY.
WE'VE GOT CASSIE ON ZOOM. CASSIE, IF YOU'RE STILL THERE. YOU CAN HEAR US. YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE
INVITATION.
OKAY. >> CASSIE. >> OH, NO. THE CASSIE! YOU'RE THERE. IF YOU CAN HEAR ME. TO UNMUTE. CAN YOU. >> HEAR ME? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, MAN. IT'S BEEN HOUR OR SO. OKAY. >> THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND. UM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST
1030. EVERYTHING I HAD TO SAY I FORGOT. YOU KNOW? BUT, UM, I WANT TO START BY AT LEAST THANKING YOU FOR BEING THERE.
UH, I WAS WONDERING WHERE THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCILS ARE. I CAN'T SEE THEM, YOU KNOW. UH, AT ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR THE PEOPLE. IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, ALSO I I WANT TO JUST ADD TO WHAT ALL THE YOUTHS ARE. SAYING IS IMPERATIVE FOR OUR CITY COUNCILS TO LISTEN TO THEM. YOU UNDERSTAND THEY ARE THE
NEXT GENERATION THERE. I REMEMBER BACK IN MY TIME WHEN SUMMER JOBS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE IT MOTIVATES YOU. YOU BUILD YOUR.
SELF ESTEEM. YOUR DIGNITY AND YOU PROMOTE YOU TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE. SO TAKING THE BUDGET FROM THEM AND FROM TEACHERS IS A NO NO
FOR ME. NOW THIS MAYOR THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME SHE TRIED TO PULL THIS TYPE OF THING, TRY TO REMOVE THE SCHOOL IN UH THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN ROXBURY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS SHE'S BRINGING UP THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOT TO SAY NO. YOU HAVE TO SAY NO TO THIS. NOW IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
BUDGET, THEY NEED TO PUT SOME BUDGET MONEY TO MAKE THE ROADS ,UH, SMOOTHER FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE TO PUT MORE HOMES FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, FOR
VETERANS, FOR ELDERLY. A LOT OF A LOT OF HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED AND MOST OF THEM ARE VETERAN PEOPLE. IF WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BUDGET WE NEED TO USE PUT SOME BUDGET
MONEY TO THESE ISSUES. MASSACHUSETTS HAS TOO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR NO REASON. SOME PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND GOING TO WORK. SO WE NEED TO REFOCUS.
OUR CITY COUNCILS NEED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE. THE PEOPLE LISTEN TO US. DO NOT ALLOW THIS.
THIS UM BUDGET TO GO THROUGH IS RIDICULOUS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WE NEED A MAYOR THAT CAN WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. SHE'S NOT KATE CASEY. >> I'M NOT SURE YOU HEARD THAT THE TIMER WENT OFF IF YOU COULD
WRAP UP. OKAY. >> SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE ARE ASKING THE CITY COUNCILS TO DENY THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND ALSO TO DENY PUTTING ALL THE
BUDGET MONEY MOST OF THE BUDGET MONEY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT . WE NEED TO REFOCUS ON THE PEOPLE, ON THE YOUTHS, ON THE TEACHERS, ON THE ISSUES WE HAVE
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT IS PERTAINING TO THE PEOPLE'S NEED. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. >> THANK YOU CASEY, IF YOU CAN'T SEE, UH, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR SANTANA. ARE HERE AND I'M HERE AND
THAT'S OKAY. I SEE COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN IS ALSO HERE. SO, UH. HELLO? >> COUNCILOR FLYNN. OKAY. >> OKAY. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CASEY. UH, AND IT LOOKS. >> LIKE WE HAVE, UH. A VIDEO A VIDEO TO.
UH, WRAP UP. THIS. >> OKAY. >> WHEN I JUST HIT PLAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ATHENA WANG AND I CURRENTLY WORK AS PART OF THE
ROXBURY KIND OF HARVARD'S. HEALTH AND WELLNESS PEERS. OVER THE. >> PAST THREE YEARS, THIS. EXPERIENCE HAS. >> HAD A. PROFOUND IMPACT ON. >> BOTH MY COMMUNITY AND. MY PERSONAL GROWTH. AND BECAUSE OF THAT. I ACTUALLY KEEP YOUTH JOBS AS A PRIORITY. >> IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE
. SINCE I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, I. GAINED PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT. MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN WHEN THEY TURN 18. SUCH AS FINANCIAL. LITERACY, PROFESSIONAL WORK
HABITS AND TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS. THESE LIFE. SKILLS NOT ONLY MAKE. >> THE TRANSITION INTO. ADULTHOOD SMOOTHER. BUT ALSO. INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
BEYOND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS WORK. >> HAS. GIVEN ME SOMETHING GREATER PURPOSE AND COMMUNITY. IT HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A. SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE LIKE. MINDED, PASSIONATE. YOUTH CAN CONNECT AND WORK
TOWARDS ISSUES AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES OF PRESENTING AND ADVOCATING HAVE TAUGHT ME TO ENGAGE IN MY COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE A TANGIBLE IMPACT.
PROGRAMS LIKE THE ARTS AND OTHER SUCCESSFUL. >> LINK FUNDED. OPPORTUNITIES CREATE ESSENTIAL SPACES FOR YOUTH TO BE ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY AND FOR THEIR VOICE TO BE HEARD DRIVING MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS BOSTON.
THESE YOUTH JOBS SHAPED FUTURE . CAPABLE. >> CONFIDENT AND SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. AND BECAUSE OF THIS I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO KEEP YOUTH JOBS AS A PRIORITY IN THE FY 27 BUDGET . INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE IS AN
INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF BOSTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR. TIME AND CONSIDERATION. OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE UH.
WHO UH SHOWED UP AND TESTIFIED AND SUBMITTED VIDEOS AND SHOWED UP ONLINE. I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF FOR KEEPING US GOING THIS WHOLE TIME, AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES . FOR STICKING.
WITH ME AND EVERYONE ELSE. THROUGHOUT THIS. UH, WE. HAVE SORT OF A WE HAVE TWO BUDGET. >> HEARINGS TOMORROW. AND ONE OF THE MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON. LITTLE EXTRA. UH, BUDGET BUDGET HEARING FOR
US UH, TWO OF THEM. UH, BUT. >> UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL MY. COLLEAGUES FOR FOR THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE HARD WORK WITH YOU. UH, AS. WE GET TO GET. >> THIS. BUDGET PROCESS WRAPPED UP. UM. UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND, UH, THIS HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED.