TODAY'S MEETING OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL VIEWERS CAN WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON.COM FOR EACH LAST CITY DASH COUNCIL DASH TV AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE
AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES ALSO PURSUANT TO RULE 42 I REMIND ALL IN THIS CHAMBER THAT NO DEMONSTRATION OR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL FROM MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED. THANK YOU MR CLERK. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A DURKIN DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN
COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON COUNCIL A FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR PIPPIN
COUNCILOR SANTANA HERE. COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WE'RE OUT HERE QUORUMS BUT THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE POPE THAT A QUORUM AS PRESIDENT.
MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE NOTE THAT CASA CARLOTTA ZAPATA IS ALSO WITH US? YES. THANK YOU. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY REVEREND DAVID WRIGHT INVITED BY COUNCILOR. AFTER THE INVOCATION WE WILL ALL RECITE THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL LGA BEFORE. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE REVEREND WRIGHT IS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BLACK MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE OF GREATER BOSTON WHICH AFTER MERGING WITH A TEN POINT COALITION A FEW YEARS AGO IS NOW BMA TEN POINT A GRADUATE OF BOSTON LATIN
SCHOOL. HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND HARVARD LAW. HE WORKED IN A PRIVATE PRACTICE AND WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GREATER BOSTON. HE WAS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN
OF THE LUNA PARK CDC AND SERVED SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ABCD. HE WAS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR FOR THE GORDON CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND IS AN ORDAINED
MINISTER IN THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES OF THE USA AND SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT PASTOR AT PEOPLES BAPTIST CHURCH IN ROXBURY. HE'S A PROUD HUSBAND AND A FATHER TWO SONS AND ONE DAUGHTER.
NOW WELCOME UP REVEREND DAVID WRIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TO ASK GOD'S BLESSING AS YOU DO THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF THESE
IN OUR CITY. LET US PRAY. GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF BEING BEFORE YOU.
I ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING ON THIS COUNCIL AS THEY DO THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK THERE IS THE PROTECTION OF THOSE FOR WHOM THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK FOR THEM. WHAT I PRAY THAT YOU BLESS THEM
AS THEY LEAD THIS CITY THAT WE CALL THE SANCTUARY CITY THAT SEEMS TO NOW BE UNDER ATTACK. GIVE THEM THE COURAGE THAT THEY NEED. GIVE THEM THE FORTITUDE, THE WISDOM, THE STRENGTH THAT THEY
NEED TO DO THE WILL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO. BLESS THEM. KEEP THEM. COVER THEM. BLESSED THAT THEIR CONVERSATIONS WIND UP WITH THINGS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE MEMBERS AND THE RESIDENTS
OF THIS CITY AND WITH RESPECT TO EVERY RELIGION REPRESENTED HERE WITH RESPECT TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE A RELIGION. I ASK THIS JESUS IN YOUR NAME AMEN. AMEN. WHEN I RECITE THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, REVEREND WRIGHT, FOR THAT INVOCATION AND FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY AND MAYBE LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS. OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNSELOR AT PENN IS NOW PRESIDENT WITH US? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM
THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I I ALSO SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 5TH MEETING ARE APPROVED. WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATION FROM OUR HONOR. THE MAYOR.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 0448 DOCKING NUMBER ZERO FOUR FOR A MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $14,400,000 IN
THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. PASS THROUGH THE MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND SYSTEMIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT 50 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN. COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE COMMONWEALTH AND MUNICIPAL PROJECTS IS PRECARIOUS AND FRAUGHT WITH THE
RISK OF POTENTIAL CLAWBACK OR SUSPENSION, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY DELAY WHEN ACCEPTING GRANTS IN THIS CATEGORY. AND I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PULLING THIS DOCKET WITHOUT A HEARING AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE URGENT THREAT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT IT POSES TO OUR CITY.
THEY PROMISE TO CUT FUNDING FOR STATES AND MUNICIPAL CITIES AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THE CURRENT UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WROTE A MEMO HIGHLIGHTING HOW FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING WOULD
AND SHOULD BE REDIRECTED TO AREAS WITH CHARACTERISTICS THAT PLACES LIKE BOSTON AND MASSACHUSETTS. CURIOUSLY SCORE LOW ON IN RELATION TO OTHER STATES AND CITIES THAT ELECTORAL ALIGN
WITH CURRENT THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN IN GOOD CONSCIENCE STAND BY OBJECTING TO PULLING FEDERAL GRANTS AT
THIS TIME THIS PARTICULAR GRANT BTD WILL IMPLEMENT UPGRADES IN LINE IN BOSTON SIGNAL OPERATIONS DESIGN POLICY WHICH EMPHASIZED PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BY INCREASING CROSSING TIMES AND
REDUCING HIGH RISK TURNS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE TARGETED AT KEY INTERSECTIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN BOSTON'S HIGH CRASH NETWORK WHERE DATA SHOWS THE GREATEST NEED FOR INTERVENTION.
THE UPGRADES WILL BE INFORMED BY A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF EACH LOCATION FOCUSING ON SIGNAL ANALYSIS, SIGNAGE AND STRIPING RE TIMING AND RE PHASING. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OUR
COUNCIL HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF AND I WILL COMMIT TO DO A POLICY BRIEFING WITH BTD ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. BUT TODAY I'M ASKING FOR A SUSPENDED PASS. THANK YOU COUNCILOR DURKAN.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN CONSTABLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
THE $15 MILLION $14,000,014.4 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO BE PASSED THROUGH THIS COUNCIL WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A HEARING OR KNOWING EXACTLY THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE, WHAT
NEIGHBORHOODS IT WILL GO TO. I WOULD NOT BE DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE BY VOTING TO APPROVE THIS WITHOUT HAVING A HEARING.
THE OTHER THE OTHER REASON I THINK A HEARING IS NECESSARY IS TO HAVE BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT COME DOWN TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN THIS BODY
TALKED ABOUT CONCURRENT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. WE FILED A A RESOLUTION THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY
EVERY SINGLE CITY COUNCILOR IN THIS $14.4 MILLION WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE
YET FROM THE CHIEF OF STREETS. HE KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS THIS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON.
I EXPECT BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CONCURRENT TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN OTHER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ACROSS ACROSS THE CITY.
OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED ME ALSO THEY WANT TO HAVE A HEARING. THEY WANT TO BE INFORMED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR DISTRICT. THEY WANT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
ADMINISTRATION OF WHAT INTERSECTIONS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT? THEY WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR VOICES AS DISTRICTS AND COUNCILS ARE HEARD AND THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. I WOULD OBJECT TO THIS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU ARE OBJECTING TO COUNCILOR TO COUNCILOR DURKIN'S AS A CHAIR OF PLANNING DEPARTMENT
TRANSPORTATION. YOU ARE OBJECTING TO A SUSPENDED PASS? YES. OKAY. I THINK YOU'RE DUCKING NUMBER 0448 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION . MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
REPORT NUMBER 04490449 MESSAGING ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $2,294,289
IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE WIOD YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. PASS THROUGH THE MASAYA DEVELOPMENT MASAYA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES IS TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO SERVE ELIGIBLE YOUTH AGES 14 TO 24 WHO FACE BARRIERS
TO EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU ACTUALLY PLEASE READ THROUGH ZERO FOUR OR FIVE TO SO I CAN HAVE A ZERO
FOR FIVE ZERO MESSAGE YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON EXCEPT EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $1,761,212.70 IN THE
FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE WIO ADULT ACTIVITIES AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. PASS THROUGH THE MASK HIRE DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES
TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND SERVICES TO HELP JOBSEEKERS ACCESS EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION, SKILLS TRAINING, APPRENTICE SHIPS AND
SUPPORT SERVICES. DR. NUMBER 0451 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $1,076,177 IN THE
FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE WAGNER PEYSER PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. AS TO THE MASS HIRED DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES THAT BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THE GRANT WILL FUND INDIVIDUAL REEMPLOYMENT NEEDS OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMANTS AS WELL AS PREVENT AND DETECT IMPROPER BENEFIT PAYMENTS AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR TRAINING AND
EDUCATION RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. IN TALKING THEM A0452 MESSAGE YOU KNOW AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND
THE AMOUNT OF $983,445.30 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE WIOD DISLOCATED WORKERS GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO PASS
THROUGH THE MASS HIRED DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A PROGRAM TO HELP DISLOCATED WORKERS GET BACK TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE AND OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THANK YOU. THESE DOCUMENTS DOCKET 044920452 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0453 DARK ANIMAS 0453 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $65,000 IN FORM
OF A GRANT FOR THE CHILD CARE AND ENTREPRENEUR FUND GRANT AWARDED BY THE DONOR GROUP TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILD EARLY CHILDHOOD . THE GRANT WILL FUND CHARITABLE
AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO CHILD CARE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM ASKING THAT WE SUSPEND THIS LOW DOLLAR $65,000 GRANT
WHICH WILL BE FUNDING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO CHILD CARE. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY. SEEK SUSPENSION OF PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET. DOCKET NUMBER 045330453.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSING IT. THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 0454. OKAY.
COUNCILOR MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE THE ATTENDANCE RECORD TO PROVIDE THAT? COUNSELOR FERNANDA ANDERSON IS NOW PRESIDENT WITH US. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 0454 AND 0455
TOGETHER SO I CAN HAVE A0454 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $43,312.50 IN THE FORM OF A
GRANT FOR THE FAA. WILL MLK SCHOLARS PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE BOSTON FOUNDATION PASS THROUGH THE PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE
OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND SUMMER JOBS ,FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOSTON YOUTH AND DOCTOR NUMBER 0455 MESSAGE
YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 AND FORMER GRANT FOR THE CAREER AND REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PASSED TO THE MASS HIGHWAY AND DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE
CREATION OF REGIONAL PIPELINE PROGRAMING FOR HIGH DEMAND INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH REGIONAL PLANNING PRIORITIES. THANK YOU.
DOCKETS NUMBER 0454 AND 0455 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A COLLABORATIVE PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 04560456 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE VBS. HORRIGAN START DONATIONS AWARDED BY JOHN HORRIGAN PASS THROUGH THE CITY OF BOSTON
TRUST FUNDS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND VARIOUS EXPENSES AT THE VERONICA DE SMITH SENIOR CENTER. IN BRIEF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORE FOR YOU ON THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO SUSPEND AND PASS THE VERONICA DE SMITH SENIOR CENTER DOES WONDERFUL WORK IN THE BRIGHTON ALLSTON AREA AND THIS
SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL HELP SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE DOING TO KEEP OUR SENIORS ENGAGED. SO I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT US. COUNTER MURPHY'S EXPANSION OF THE ROLES AND PASSION DOCKET NUMBER 0456 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
SAY I I OPPOSING IT I HAVE IT THE STOCK IT HAS PASSED. MR CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 0458 AND 0459.0458 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO SUBMIT A
STATEMENT OF INTEREST TO THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY CORE PROGRAM FROM MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PURSUANT TO MASS GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 70
B SECTION FIVE THE STATEMENT OF INTEREST DESCRIBES AND EXPLAINS THE DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THE SCHOOL FACILITY THAT PREVENTS BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM DELIVERING THEIR DESIRED
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. DUCK NUMBER 0459 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZING FOR YOUR APPROVAL AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO SUBMIT TO THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY STATEMENTS
OF INTEREST FOR THEIR ACCELERATED REPAIR PROGRAM FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS BOSTON ADULT TECHNICAL ACADEMY CURLEY K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL MILDRED RFK THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL
MENDEL'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MARY LINE PILOT HIGH SCHOOL JOYCE KILMER LOWER SCHOOL MARGUERITA MUNIZ ACADEMY ORCHARD GARDENS
12 THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL TRY TO K THROUGH SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE STATEMENTS OF INTEREST DESCRIBE AND EXPLAIN THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE PRIORITY CATEGORY CATEGORY THREE WHICH THE CITY OF BOSTON MAY BE
INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SINCE SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY IN THE FUTURE PRIORITY FIVE REPLACEMENT RENOVATION AND MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL
FACILITY SYSTEMS SUCH AS ROOFS, WINDOWS, BOILERS, HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS TO INCREASE ENERGY CONSERVATION AND DECREASE ENERGY RELATED COSTS IN A SCHOOL FACILITY.
THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 0458 AND ZERO FOUR OR FIVE NINE WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0460 STOCKING NUMBER 0460 MESSAGE YOU KNOW
FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DR. CARLO VALDEZ AS A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION'S BOARD OF HEALTH FOR A TERM EXPIRING JANUARY 15, 2028. THANK YOU.
DOCKET NUMBER 0460 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER 04610461
MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JESSICA BOATWRIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE REVIEW BOARD ALSO KNOWN AS BERTO FOR A
TERM EXPIRING APRIL 24, 2026. THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 20461 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RESILIENCY IN PARKS FOR SUPPORT WHEN YOU PLEASE REPORT CARD NUMBER 04620462 MESSAGE IN
ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF LAWRENCE TO CARR AS A MEMBER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM EXPIRING NOVEMBER 9TH 2026 THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 0462 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON POST AUDIT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY . WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICES IN OTHERS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET NUMBER 0463 AND 0464 DOCKING OF 0463 NOTICE RECEIVED FROM THE MIRROR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERICA BRADLEY AS THE FIRST ASSISTANT COLLECTOR TREASURER EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER
30TH 2024 IN DOCUMENT NUMBER 0464 COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR TO MURPHY AND COUNCILOR OF FLYNN REGARDING REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT A CITYWIDE BAN ON NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS
AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS. THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 0463 AND 0464 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE MR COURT WHEN YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 0465 AND 0466
DOCKING NUMBER 0465 COMMUNICATION IS FREE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT PLEASE LOUIJEUNE CALLING FOR THE ELECTION OF CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ON FEBRUARY 12,
2025 AND ENDING ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2028. PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE NOMINATES. ALEX JOINS US IN TALKING WITH 0466 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED
FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROSIE LOUIJEUNE CALLING FOR THE ELECTION OF AN ASSISTANT CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ON FEBRUARY 12, 2025 AND ENDING ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2028.
PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE NOMINATES DOES HE BEAT YOU? THANK YOU. I NOW MOVE TO PROCEED WITH THE ELECTION OF THE CITY CLERK I NOMINATE TO REELECT CLERK ALEX PRENTICE FOR A THREE YEAR TERM
PURSUANT TO SECTION 52 OF THE CITY CHARTER ENDING ON FEBRUARY SEVEN, 2028. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS?
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS ? NO. OKAY. PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 C OF THE CITY CHARTER, MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SO THAT EACH COUNCILOR CITY COUNCILOR CAN STATE THE NAME
OF THE PERSON THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR AGAIN, THE ONLY PERSON NOMINATED AND SECONDED IS OUR CURRENT CLERK ALEX JAUNDICE. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCILOR BREED
COUNCILOR BREADON ALEX CURTIS COUNCILOR COLETTE AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PART OF ALEX DURANT AS COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN ALEX CHALLENGES
COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON THE TASK GROUP COUNCILOR FERNANDES HANSON ALEX JOINT COUNCIL THE FITZGERALD COUNCIL OFFICIAL ALEX CHURCH AS
COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN ALEX AS COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE ALEX JAUNDICE COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE ALEX DURANT IS CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY.
COUNCILOR MURPHY. ALEX DURANT AS COUNCILOR PIPPIN CALLS IT THE COUNCIL OF PEN. ALEX DURANT IS COUNCILOR SANTANA DISTRICT
COUNCILOR SANTANA ALEX DURANT AS COUNCIL WEBER COUNCILOR WEBER ALEX CHALLENGES AND COUNCILOR WORRELL ALEX JAMES COUNCILOR WORRELL ALEX TRENT HAS 12 VOTES IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE DEBUT DOCKET NUMBER 0465 IS PASSED AND CLERK ALEX DURANT IS HAS BEEN REELECTED AS CITY CLERK. CONGRATULATIONS, MR CLERK THANK YOU.
YES, THERE'S NO CLAPPING BUT YOU MAY SHAKE EVERYONE'S HAND. MR CLERK RIGHT.
THANK YOU. YES, SIR.
I SUPPOSE IT'S ABOUT TO SAY WHAT AM I SHOULD COME TO YOU FIRST. OKAY. AND I KNOW IF MICHAEL WERE HERE HE WOULD WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HAND AS WELL. SO CONGRATULATIONS, MR CLERK.
AND NOW MOVE TO PROCEED WITH THE ELECTION OF AN ASSISTANT CITY CLERK I NOMINATE TO REELECT ASSISTANT CLERK DARCY BEACHUM FOR A THREE YEAR TERM PURSUANT TO SECTION 52 OF THE CITY CHARTER ENDING ON FEBRUARY
SEVEN, 2020. IS THERE A SECOND ORDER? ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 C OF THE CITY CHARTER? MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SO THAT EACH CITY
COUNCILOR CAN STATE THE NAME OF THE PERSON THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR AGAIN, THE ONLY NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED IS THAT OF DARCY BEECHER. MR CLERK, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
COUNCILOR COUNCILOR BREADON DOES HE BEAT YOU? COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER COUNCIL WITH COLETTE AS A PARTNER DOES HE BEAT YOU? COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN DOES HE BEACH
COUNCIL FINANCES SANDERSON COUNCIL FINANCES SANDERSON DOES HE BEAT HIM? COUNCILOR FITZGERALD CITY COUNCIL FITZGERALD DOES HE? BEECHAM COUNCIL FLYNN CITY
COUNCIL THING DOES HE BEAT HIM? COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE DARCY BEECHAM COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE DOES HE BEAT BEECHAM COUNCIL ME HERE COUNCIL ON MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY DOES HE BEAT CATCH CHOP OPEN
COUNCILOR PIPPIN DOES HE BEAT COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCIL SAID TENA DOES HE BEAT COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR WEBER DOES HE BEAT COUNCILOR WORRELL CITY COUNCILOR WORRELL DOES HE
REGION 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 40467 HAS PASSED AND IT'S JUST INCORRECT. DARCY BEACHUM HAS BEEN REELECTED AS ASSISTANT CITY
CLERK.
CONGRATULATIONS, DARCY
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLERK INTO OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0467 DOCKING NUMBER 0467 COMMUNICATION WAS
RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN REGARDING EVE GRIFFIN OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. THANK YOU, DR. NUMBERS 0460. COUNCILOR FLYNN WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS COMMUNICATION COUNCIL PLAY NOW THIS IS A
COMMUNICATION YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME TO 2 MINUTES YOU HAVE BEFORE THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TAKE LESS THAN ONE MINUTE. I JUST WANT TO INFORM MY COLLEAGUES THIS DEDICATED
EMPLOYEE AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS STAGE FOUR CANCER. SHE USED UP HER SICK TIME.
SHE IS SEEKING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SIT BACK SO THAT SHE CAN GET SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
THIS TIME AWAY AS SHE FIGHTS WITH STAGE FOUR CANCER. I SENT A LETTER TO DAVID LEONARD AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I ALSO SENT A LETTER TO THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS IF AND WE MUST BE A CITY THAT RESPECTS
PEOPLE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, CITY WORKERS IN NEED OF SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS THEY FIGHT FOR THE FIGHT OF THEIR
LIFE IN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WOMAN IS TREATED WITH RESPECT THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FINANCIAL ISSUES AS SHE DEALS WITH THE VERY
COMPLICATED MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. WOMEN'S HEALTH MUST BE A PRIORITY. WOMEN'S HEALTH MUST BE IMPORTANT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE DAVID LEONARD TO REVIEW THE FACTS AND PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO THIS WOMAN THAT HAS
DEDICATED HER LIFE TO THE CITY AND GREATER THAN NECESSARY LEAVE SO THAT SHE CAN CONTINUE FIGHTING THIS STAGE FOR
DIAGNOSIS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THIS DOCKET WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. MR POPE, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING TO MESEREAU TO THE SIX TALKING MA0 TO THREE SIX THAT
COMMITTEE IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON JANUARY 15, 2025 TALKING NUMBERS 0236 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL A NEW HOME WILL PETITION TO THE
GENERAL COURT PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW A RELATIVE TO ENACT FOR RESIDENTIAL TAX RELIEF IN THE CITY OF BOSTON SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE
DOCKET TO PASS IN A NEW DRAFT THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTACT AS A PART OF THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM PRESIDENT AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO BE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT TOPIC SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE END, THE INFORMATION RECEIVED AT THE HEARING. SO APOLOGIES TO MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THIS THE LENGTH OF THIS COMMITTEE REPORT AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION. THE COMMITTEE ON OPERATIONS HELD A JOINT HEARING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS ON
DOCKET 0236 ON JANUARY 27TH, 2025 ASHLEY ROBYN BURGER CFO NICHOLAS R ANELLO COMMISSIONER OF ASSESSING RAYMOND BOLEY DIRECTOR OF VALUATION ASSESSING
DEPARTMENT AND SHAGUN ATWAL CHIEF OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY INCLUSION TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THE NEWLY PROPOSED COMPETITION AIMS TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF BY ADJUSTING PROPERTY
CLASSIFICATION REGULATIONS. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW BOSTON TO EXCEED THE STATE IMPOSED LIMIT ON COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL TAX RATIO. THE ADMINISTRATION EMPHASIZED THAT THE SHIFT IS INTENDED TO
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO RENT TO RESIDENTS WHILE ENSURING THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES CONTRIBUTE A FAIR SHARE OF THE TAX BURDEN. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED CONCERNS THAT INCREASING COMMERCIAL TAX RATES
COULD IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES BUT NOTED THAT SAFEGUARDS SUCH AS TARGETED EXEMPTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE TAX CLASSIFICATION PROPOSAL IS PART
OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THE CITY THE ADMIN HIGHLIGHTED THE RISING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND AMONG ELDERLY
HOMEOWNERS. THE ADMINISTRATION ASSERTED THAT THE PROPOSED PETITION PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO OFFSET THESE RISING COSTS WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICES SCHOOLS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY ALSO FURTHER STATED THAT THE PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION CHANGES ALIGNS WITH BOSTON'S BROADER TAX STRATEGY WHICH PRIORITIZES MAINTAINING AFFORDABILITY FOR RESIDENTS
WHILE ENSURING A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE STRUCTURE. THE ADMINISTRATION NOTED THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR AND OBSERVED THAT SHIFTING A PROPORTION OF THE TAX BURDEN TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES HAS HISTORICALLY
PROVIDED RELIEF TO OWNER OCCUPANTS WITHOUT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING BUSINESSES. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THIS DOCKET REPRESENTS A REVISED APPROACH TO THE RESIDENTIAL TAX RELIEF THAT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM.
THE MAYOR'S PREVIOUSLY FILED FORMAL PETITIONS WHICH DID NOT PASS AT THE STATE HOUSE. THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT EARLIER PROPOSALS PRIMARILY SOUGHT TO INCREASE THEIR EARLIER PROPOSALS PRIMARILY SOUGHT TO INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION AND
PROVIDE DIRECT TAX ABATEMENTS. IT WAS STATED, HOWEVER, THAT EFFORTS FACE EFFORTS FACE CHALLENGES DUE TO CONCERNS OVER REVENUE STABILITY AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE BROADER TAX
STRUCTURE FURTHER, THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE EARLIER PETITIONS LIKE MECHANISMS TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT IN CONTRAST THE NEWLY PROPOSED PETITION INCLUDES PROVISIONS TO
SAFEGUARD SMALL COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS BY STRUCTURING THE TAX SHIFT IN A WAY THAT WILL PRIMARILY IMPACT LARGER COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THE ADMINISTRATION REITERATED
THAT THE NEW PROPOSAL WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK FROM LEGISLATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE BROADER IMPACT A POLICY PROPOSALS. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THAT THE REVISED
REVISED PETITION EXCUSE ME INCLUDES A SUNSET CLAUSE MEANING THAT THE TAX CLASSIFICATION CHANGE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW AN ELEMENT NOT INCLUDED IN EARLIER VERSIONS. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE
PROVISION WAS INCLUDED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS FROM STATE LEGISLATURES REGARDING PERMANENT TAX SHIFTS AND TO ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THEY STRESSED THAT THE NEW PETITION ALIGNS MORE CLOSELY WITH STATEWIDE TAX POLICIES,
MAKING IT MORE LIKELY TO GAIN APPROVAL AT THE STATE HOUSE. COUNCILORS QUESTIONED THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF SHIFTING MORE TAX ONTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THEY NOTED THAT WHILE THE
PROPOSAL TEMPORARILY INCREASES THE COMMERCIAL TAX RATE, IT DOES NOT FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THE CITY'S LONG TERM REVENUE STRUCTURE. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT BOSTON REMAINS HEAVILY RELIANT ON PROPERTY TAXES DUE TO LIMITED
ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES, COUNCILORS ALSO INQUIRED WHETHER OR NOT THE INCREASE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES COULD DETER BUSINESSES FROM REMAINING IN BOSTON. THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMERCIAL TAX RATES
IN BOSTON ARE COMPETITIVE COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES AND THAT THE ADJUSTMENT IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE. FURTHER, THEY ADDED THAT THE CITY WOULD MONITOR ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO ENSURE THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE NOT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. DURING THE HEARING, COUNCILORS PROPOSED SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS, FOR SENIOR HOMEOWNERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. SUGGESTED EXPANDING THE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SENIOR TAX FOR THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM. PROPOSING THAT INCOME THRESHOLDS BE ADJUSTED UPWARDS OF THERE TO REFLECT THE RISING COST OF LIVING HEALTH CARE
EXPENSES AND INFLATION. SOME RECOMMENDED RAISING THE CAP BETWEEN 60 AND 80% OF THE AMOUNT TO ENSURE SENIORS QUALIFY FOR RELIEF OR TO IMPLEMENT A LONG TERM SENIOR HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION EXEMPTION
WHICH WOULD PROVIDE INCREASED TAX RELIEF TO SENIORS WHO HAVE OWNED THEIR HOMES FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS. IN RESPONSE TO SUCH SUGGESTION ,THE ADMINISTRATION STATED THAT SEPARATE PROPOSALS
INCLUDING EXPANDING EXEMPTIONS FOR SENIORS AND LONG TERM HOMEOWNER HOMEOWNERS ARE UNDER REVIEW AND REITERATED THAT THIS DOCKET IS PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY TO ADDRESS RISING PROPERTY TAXES WHILE MAINTAINING WORK WHILE
MAINTAINING REVENUE DISTRIBUTION. REGARDING SMALL BUSINESSES. SUGGESTIONS WERE MADE TO INCREASE THE PERSONAL PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION REFERRED
TO IN SECTION 5 TO $100000. THE CURRENT EXEMPTION IS SET BY STATE LAW AT $10,000. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THAT BY 90%. THE ADMINISTRATION INFORMED THE
COMMITTEE THAT SETTING THE NUMBER AT $30,000 WILL SUPPORT OVER 5500 SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS BOSTON. FURTHER THAT RAISING THE EXEMPTION TO 100 $100,000 WOULD BE A LARGE INCREASE TO THE
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY OTHER CITIES. CAMBRIDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE, ALLOWING UP TO $20,000. THEREFORE $30,000 WOULD BE THE HIGHEST CAP IN THE STATE OVERALL.
THIS WOULD REDUCE THE TAX LIABILITY OF LARGER BUSINESSES INCREASING COSTS ON OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH INCREASED TAX RATES. REGARDING REBATES AND THIS WAS THE NEW SECTION OF THE PROPOSAL
AND SO I WAS HAPPY TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS THE ONLY NEW PART OF IT THAT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS TWICE ALREADY. COUNCILORS FOR THE RECOMMENDED STREAMLINING THE REBATE PROCESS APPLICATION PROCESS BY
AUTOMATING ELIGIBILITY CHECKS BASED ON TAX RECORDS THEREBY REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS AND ENSURING THAT ALL ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS RELIEVED RECEIVE RELIEF WITHOUT
BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES. A PROPOSAL WAS ALSO MADE TO ESTABLISH A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR LOW INCOME MUNICIPAL WORKERS TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES WHO FACE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
HOWEVER, AFTER MUCH CONVERSATION AND RESEARCH THE AMENDMENT COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN MY REPORT DUE TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER MASSACHUSETTS TAX LAW.
THE PRIMARY LEGAL CONCERN OR PRIMARY LEGAL ISSUE RATHER CONCERNS ARTICLE 112 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION WHICH GOVERNS PROPERTY TAX, TAXATION AND BENEFITS PROPORTIONATE IN TAXATION.
THE PROPORTIONALITY REQUIREMENTS DICTATES THAT ALL PROPERTY WITHIN THE SAME CLASSIFICATION MUST BE TAXED UNIFORMLY WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS UNDER ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW IN GENERAL.
COUNCILORS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY SIMPLIFY THE APPLICATION PROCESS PROVIDE MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES AND CONDUCT TARGETED OUTREACH EFFORTS, ENSURE THAT ALL ELIGIBLE SENIORS ARE AWARE OF AND CAN EASILY ACCESS
AVAILABLE EXEMPTIONS AND RELIEF PROGRAMS. FINALLY, COUNCILORS ADVOCATED FOR INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW PROPERTY VALUES ARE DETERMINED AND HOW RELIEF MEASURES ARE
APPLIED. THERE WAS ONE AMENDMENT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE UPDATED DRAFT. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE REBATE SECTION AND SO I'LL JUST READ THE AMENDMENT IN WHOLE FOR
FOLKS AND FOR THE RECORD. SECTION SIX LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO ENSURE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO TAX RELIEF BY SPECIFYING THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE REBATE SHALL BE CALCULATED, REVIEWED AND
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPROPRIATION ORDER AND ENSURING THAT REBATES WILL NOT BE ISSUED SHOULD THE APPROPRIATION CAUSED BY FISCAL YEARS. GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES OR GAP UNASSIGNED
FUND BALANCE TO GO BELOW 50% OF THE FISCAL YEARS GAP GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENDITURES AND OR CAUSE THE CITY STATUTORY BUDGETARY UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO GO BELOW 10% OF THE
CITY E'S GENERAL FUND THAT IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS RESTRICTED. EXCUSE ME OVER THERE ON AN ASIDE FUND BALANCE TO GO BELOW 10% OF THE CITY'S STATUTORY BUDGETARY OPERATING EXPENSES.
BOSTON'S GAP ON UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS THE PROPORTION OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND THAT IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS RESTRICTED ,COMMITTED, ASSIGNED OR NON SPENDABLE. IT IS A RESIDUAL CLASSIFICATION THAT CAN BE POSITIVE OR
NEGATIVE. THE CITY USES ITS FUNDS BALANCE TO HELP MANAGE CURRENT AND FUTURE RISKS AND THAT WAS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENT. IT IS INCLUDED HERE IN THE
COMMITTEE REPORT AND IS REFLECTED IN THE NEW DRAFT. AND SO BASED ON ALL OF THIS AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS I AM RECOMMENDING MOVING THIS LIST TO DOCKET FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL FOR
DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION. AND SO AT THIS TIME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL IS THAT THIS MATTER OUGHT TO PASS IN A NEW DRAFT AND IF I CAN JUST SAY A FEW OTHER WORDS BEFORE WE MOVE ON
SO I HAVE BEEN ALERTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT ARE COMING UP. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION AND ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS. I THINK AS AS CHAIR IT IS UP TO MY DISCRETION TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE MY COLLEAGUES ARE BASED ON THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED IN THE HEARING. I DID PUT OUT A CALL FOR FOLKS IF THEY HAD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY OR AMENDMENTS.
WE DID SEND AN RFP TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THEY DID RESPOND AND THAT WAS SENT TO MY COLLEAGUES. AND SO I DO THINK AT THIS POINT, GIVEN THAT 90% OF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN THE REBATE PORTION OF IT IS IS NEW. THIS IS MONEY THAT IS GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION. THE CITY HAS A VERY ROBUST
PROCESS TO TO TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT FORTH I FORGET EXACTLY BY BY WHICH
COLLEAGUE BUT THEY WERE THEY WERE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT SORT OF AND ON WHAT TIMELINE THIS WOULD PROVIDE FOR FOLKS ULTIMATELY. THE ADMINISTRATION MADE VERY
CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO HOMEOWNERS ON AN EXPEDITED TIMELINE THROUGH THIS REBATE PROCESS. AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM MY OFFICE HAS BEEN HEARING FROM
SAYING I AM A SENIOR ON FIXED INCOME. I AM STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW AS IT IS TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND I NEED RELIEF AND I NEED RELIEF FAST.
AND SO IN MY OPINION THE REBATE IDEA WHILE A BLUNT TOOL IS NECESSARY AND I AGREE WITH IT AND THAT'S WHY ULTIMATELY I THINK GIVEN SOME OF THE FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED AND I WANT TO THANK THE VENERABLE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS FOR COLLABORATING WITH ME ON THIS PROCESS AND AND REALLY MAKING THIS DOCUMENT INTO INTO A BETTER DOCUMENT.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE. AND SO I APPRECIATE PARTICIPATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. BUT MY MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THIS MATTER OUGHT TO PASSED IN THIS DRAFT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR CLUB AS A PARDON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS MATTER BOTH THIS YEAR AND THIS ITERATION AND LAST YEAR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE HOME RULE PETITION.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ALLOW FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL MUNICIPAL WORKERS AND THE SECOND
AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ALLOW FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A HOME IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND ARE 55 YEARS AND OLDER.
OKAY, SO THOSE MOTIONS HAVE BEEN SECONDED. THE MOTIONS I THINK CENTRAL STAFF THANK YOU IS PASSING OUT THE LANGUAGE FOR THOSE MOTIONS
AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES SHOULD HAVE THEM. WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED MOTIONS AND THEN.
CASWELL WELL I DID SEE YOUR LIGHT ON AND SO AFTER THIS IS COMPLETE WE WILL AFTER THE VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT I WILL THEN GO TO YOU. BUT COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CONTINUE SPEAKING ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, REGARDING THE
FIRST AMENDMENT, THE MUNICIPAL ESSENTIAL THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR ESSENTIAL MUNICIPAL WORKERS. THEY MIGHT BE FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY MIGHT BE EMPLOYEES AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE LIBRARY, A STRONG BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO LIVE IN. AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES ARE UNDER A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT RISING
PROPERTY TAXES, THE COST OF LIVING POST-PANDEMIC INFLATION HAS IMPACTED THEM ALSO THESE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES DIDN'T GO INTO GOVERNMENT TO
MAKE MONEY. THEY BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE . THEY KEEP OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD EVERY DAY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE BOSTON A BETTER PLACE
IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, LET'S ALSO INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES WHO ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING OUR CITY A DESIRABLE
PLACE TO LIVE, VISIT AND DO BUSINESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY VOTE AGAINST
THIS BASED ON THAT IT'S THAT THERE'S NO PRECEDENT OR IT MIGHT MIGHT NOT PASS MUSTER. BUT IF IF THAT IS THE CASE I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT IN WRITING.
SO WE COULD ALL BE INFORMED OF AN ISSUE AND IT MIGHT MIGHT IMPACT US, IT MIGHT NOT. BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT IN WRITING AS WELL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY I
WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK MY TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. LET'S ENSURE OUR CITY WORKERS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE
VALUED, THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THEY ARE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY OUR YOUTH SPORTS COACHES THEY'RE INVOLVED AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE WEEKENDS ON HOLIDAYS TO KEEP THIS CITY MOVING FORWARD PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES THAT THEY CAN FOR THE RESIDENTS
OF BOSTON. LET'S GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY IN AND TO LET THEM KNOW
WE VALUE THEM, WE VALUE THEIR FAMILY. WE VALUE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND I'LL HOLD OFF ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
IS THAT SO? OKAY. YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING SUBSTANTIVELY. I'M ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT. OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU. SO THERE'S A PROCEDURAL MATTER I'M KNEE CLARIFY FOR SO THE
MOTION WAS SECONDED. WE DO NEED TO TAKE A VOTE BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON SUBSTANTIVELY ON WHETHER WE WANT TO ACTUALLY VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT JUST TO HAVE THE MOTION PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY.
SO WE'LL START WITH THAT A MOTION IN FAVOR OF HAVING IT BEFORE THE BODY. WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHICH IS THE ONE FOR REAL PROPERTY $4,000 FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A
HOME IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND ARE AGES 55 AND OLDER ALL IN FAVOR OF HAVING THAT MOTION BEFORE THE BODY.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL THAT IS ABOUT TO I APOLOGIZE BUT I'M SURE I JUST HAVE A QUESTION SO BEFORE I THINK A RESPONSE TO THAT MIGHT HELP INFORM THIS DECISION OF FROM MY
COLLEAGUES TO PUT IT BEFORE THEM FOR A VOTE. OKAY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY. YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON YES SO I
BUT JUST SO I'M CLEAR THIS IS NOT A VOTE ON THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT WHETHER YES OR NO, IT'S ABOUT ALLOWING THE MOTION TO EVEN BE BEFORE THE BODY. RIGHT. OKAY. I HAVE MY MY POINT IS THAT I THINK THE RESPONSE THAT I HAVE
MIGHT INFLUENCE MY COLLEAGUE'S DECISION TO AT LEAST PUT IT IN FRONT OF THEM. BUT I'M SURE YOU MAY IF IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND THERE IS DEBATE ALLOWED FOR A MOTION TO AMEND AND SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
OKAY. SO I THINK THE THANK YOU COUNCILOR FINE. I APPRECIATE IT. I ALSO APPRECIATED OUR OUR GREAT CONVERSATION OVER THE WEEKEND WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE CONTENTS OF THIS AT THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND ONE THING I WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY IS THAT THE WHAT WHAT WE PROPOSING HERE IS IT THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT IS POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL IT IS NOT MEANT TO SAY
THAT WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT I'M A CHAMPION FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS. I'VE BEEN A CITY STAFF MEMBER FOR EIGHT YEARS. I HAVE DEEP RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION FOR FOLKS THAT WORK HERE. AND SO WHEN COUNCILOR FLYNN PRODUCED THIS AMENDMENT OR TALKED ABOUT IT, I PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO HIM. I CALLED HIM AND ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION. MY STAFF WENT BACK.
WE LOOKED AT THE MERITS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A STRATEGY THAT WE IMPLEMENT. WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO DO POTENTIALLY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STILL OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING.
BUT I'M TRYING TO CONDENSE IT DOWN ULTIMATELY WE ARE WE ARE ALLOWED TO CLASSIFY CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PROPERTY BUT NOT DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND SO THAT IN OF ITSELF
IT IT GOES AGAINST SECTION 112 OF THE CONSTITUTION AND TO SPEAK MORE BROADLY ON IT, THE KEY CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE AT ISSUE IS PROPORTIONALITY WHICH MANDATES THAT PROPERTY WITHIN
THE SAME CLASS BE TAXED UNIFORMLY UNLESS A REASONABLE EXEMPTION IS GRANTED AND WE HAVE NOT DEFINED WITH THAT REASONABLE EXEMPTION IS AT THIS
POINT IN TIME. YOU KNOW I DON'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT ON THAT BASIS. I THINK NO MATTER WHAT WE DO HAS TO BE VETTED LEGALLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEND SOMETHING UP THAT IS A LEGAL AND WHILE I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR FLYNN'S EFFORTS HERE, I HAD COMMITTED TO TO COUNCILOR FLYNN TO LOOK
AT THIS AND TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE MERITS OF IT ARE GOOD. IT JUST IT'S WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF OPENING OURSELVES UP TO A NUMBER A NUMBER OF OF
LEGAL CHALLENGES. AND I THINK JUST AGAIN THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE ON THIS SOME OF THE POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES AND THERE'S THREE HERE VIOLATION OF UNIFORMITY IN TAXATION SINCE THIS EXEMPTION
IS BASED ON THE PROPERTY OWNER STATUS RATHER THAN THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY IT COULD BE DEEMED AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER ARTICLE 112 PRECEDENT AND SCOPE, MASSACHUSETTS COURTS
HAVE TYPICALLY UPHELD TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE NARROWLY TAILORED TO SERVE WELL-ESTABLISHED PUBLIC POLICY INTERESTS. EXEMPTING MUNICIPAL WORKERS COULD BE SEEN AS FAVORING ONE
GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS OVER OTHERS WITHOUT SUFFICIENTLY WITHOUT A SUFFICIENTLY DISTINCT PUBLIC BENEFIT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY VERSUS HOME RULE. THE AMENDMENT PROVIDES BOSTON
WITH BROAD DISCRETION IN DEFINING WHO QUALIFIES AS A FRONT LINE MUNICIPAL WORKER. IF CHALLENGED, COURTS MAY QUESTION WHETHER SUCH A DELEGATION IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER
TEXAS UNDER STATE TAX LAW SO AGAIN THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR INTRODUCING IT. THOSE ARE MY THAT'S MY AND I WILL BE VOTING NO ON BRINGING THIS FOR FURTHER DEBATE AND
JUST BASED ON THOSE POINTS THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU. I HAVE A STRONG MEMBER ON HER
HUSBAND AND I DO THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED. WE ARE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT PROPERLY ON THE FLOOR SO I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST TO
BALANCE THIS OUT AND BEING COURTEOUS TO YOUR COLLEAGUES. HOWEVER IT'S NOT PROPERLY ON THE FLOOR TOTALLY UNPRECEDENTED. NOT APPROPRIATE. WE SHOULD PROBABLY PUT IT ON THE FLOOR. THAT WAS NOT FAIR.
LET'S LET'S PUT IT PROPERLY ON THE FLOOR PLEASE AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION. WE NEVER THAT HAS THAT HAPPEN AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THERE CAN BE DISCUSSION ON A
MOTION TO AMEND THE DISCUSSION ON ALLOWING THEM TO AMEND. IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THIS MOMENT. BUT IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES IT COUNTER BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO QUITE A SHEEP, DO YOU HAVE A WHAT IS IT
A POINT OF ORDER WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS A RULE THAT IS BEING VIOLATED. WHAT IS THE POINT OF ORDER? WELL, I. I WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT BUT THAT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER. I WANT TO GO TO THE POINT OF IT.
MADAM CHAIR, AND THEN I WILL RETURN TO YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN, IS THERE ANOTHER POINT OF ORDER AS A CHAIR AND AS A COUNCILOR MURPHY YOUR POINT OF ORDER ON A RULE ISSUE? YES. SO THE DISCUSSION THAT
COUNCILOR COLETTA GAVE TO TRY TO CLARIFY BEFORE A VOTE THEN I THINK I SHOULD BE ABLE TO REBUTTAL HER IS BECAUSE IF SHE WAS ALLOWED TO SAY WHY SHE THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO
THE FLOOR I HAVE REASONS TO SAY I ABSOLUTELY CAN'T RIGHT NOW I WANT TO KNOW THEN WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STATUS OF GOOD NEIGHBORS. HOW IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT? THAT'S NOT A POINT OF ORDER.
IS THERE ANOTHER POINT OF ORDER ON THE FLOOR IF YOU CAN SPEAK SUBSTANTIVELY, YOU CAN SPEAK SUBSTANTIVELY BUT THERE'S A POINT OF ORDER SO IT COMES FROM HERE.
DO YOU HAVE A POINT OF ORDER? WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POINT OF THE SECOND I WOULD TAKE MY TIME EXACTLY. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND SORRY THAT I'M LATE. I JUST GOT BACK FROM DC
DOMINICANS THE HILL MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED SO I'M HERE THOUGH I WAS NOT GOING TO MISS WORK FOR THE RECORD BUT I'M JUST
CURIOUS I'M CURIOUS ABOUT ALL OF THIS BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE GOING TO WAIT YOU KNOW, THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP FOR A VOTE UNTIL RECENTLY I THINK I
FOUND OUT ABOUT IT IN THE HERALD. BUT OUR OFFICE ALSO ASKED FOR SOME AMENDMENTS AND WE JUST LEARNED RIGHT NOW IN REAL TIME THAT THIS IS NOT A POINT OF I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT IS. HOLD ON A SECOND. OKAY. SO I'M JUST I DON'T KNOW I MEAN I AS A CHAIR I AM RECLAIMING THE MIC AND I AM SAYING THAT I AM ALLOWING IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK SPEAK SUBSTANTIVELY ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THAT IS
BEFORE US WE CAN DO THAT AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER BUT YOU DON'T DO THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE. BUT ANYWAYS BACK TO ME. I GOT THE MIC. YES YOU DO I SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE
LANGUAGE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IT WITH SUBSTANCE HOW YOU SAY THE WORD WHAT DOES IT MEAN? THERE'S A MOTION TO AMEND ON THE FLOOR THE SUBJECT MOTION I UNDERSTAND THAT. SEE THAT FINE SUBSTANCE THAT
MOTION WAS SECONDED. SO NOW WHAT IS ON THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE THERE ARE SOME MOTIONS THAT AREN'T DEBATABLE. WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE BUT THERE ARE SOME MOTIONS THAT ARE DEBATABLE AND THERE'S A MOTION
TO AMEND THAT IS ON THE FLOOR THAT IS OPEN TO DEBATE AND COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA EXPRESSED HER OPINION AS TO WHY THE MOTION TO AMEND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
AND OTHER REASONS AND THAT IS A FAIR DEBATE TO BE HAD AS WE WERE DISCUSSING A MOTION TO AMEND SO IT IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY HOW MUCH SHE KNEW ABOUT AND OUR ABILITY TO BIT TO
DEBATE IT IS ALSO PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY RIGHT SO MY QUESTION WAS AND FOR THE RECORD MY QUESTION WAS YOUR USE OF THE WORD SUBSTANCE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HOW DO YOU SAY IT IN AMERICA? THANK YOU.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR OUR VIEWERS WHAT THAT WORD MEANS AND HOW IT IS AND HOW IT MANIFESTS IN THE SPACE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW? SO THEN THAT WAY I'M ABLE TO SHOW UP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
MEAN BY THAT. PLEASE. THANK YOU. IT MEANS THE CONTENT THE CONTENT OF THE OTHER MATTER THAT IT'S IMPORTANT. OKAY YEAH BECAUSE THAT IT MAY OKAY BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE
PRIVILEGE HERE OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO SHOW UP IN THIS CHAMBER AND THOSE WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO BE IN THE SPACE . SO I JUST THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND A LITTLE BIT
MORE YOU KNOW, JUST EASIER SAID THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I DID NOT HEAR A POINT OF ORDER FROM YOU COUNSELOR FOR ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE A POINT OF ORDER BUT MADAM PRESIDENT, I
THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WHEN COUNCILOR COLETTA ASKED A POINT OF ORDER YOU DID NOT SET THE PRECEDENT. SO ACROSS THE BOARD YOU DIDN'T SAY COUNCILOR CLUTTER, YOU DO
NOT HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. THIS IS A COMMENT YOU WANT TO EXPRESS OR YOU WANT TO SHARE FEEDBACK BUT YOU ALLOWED HER TO GO ON AND THEN WHEN SOMEONE ELSE FOR EXAMPLE COUNCILOR FLYNN GETS UP AND SAYS POINT OF ORDER IN THE BUT
HE WANTS TO EXPRESS HIMSELF YOU DON'T SET THAT SAME PRECEDENCE. IT'S NOT FAIR. SO I'M ASKING IF THAT WAS IF YOU'RE SETTING PRECEDENTS AND THAT'S WE'RE ALWAYS DOING THIS THING WHERE SOMETIMES AS PRECEDENTS AND SOMETIMES IT'S
RULE AND SOMETIMES IT'S IT'S FAIR IT'S NOT FAIR. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO DO ACROSS THE BOARD IF YOU IF THEY DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY AS COUNCIL LEADER DID NOT EXPRESS IT IN THE RIGHT TERM THEN USE
THAT SAME USE THAT SAME COURTESY ACROSS THE BOARD. THANK YOU. SO WHAT COUNCIL CUT AS A PART OF DID CORRECTLY WAS REMIND ME THAT WE CAN DEBATE A MOTION TO AMEND AND THAT I WAS SEEKING
TO MOVE TO A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WHAT MOTION TO AMEND ARE NOT LIKE OTHER MOTIONS THAT ARE NOT DEBATABLE DEBATABLE THE MOTION TO AMEND IS DEBATABLE. I YES AND SO PEOPLE CAN SPEAK
ON THE MOTION THAT IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY BECAUSE IT IS DEBATABLE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES IS IT COUNCILOR MURPHY? COUNCILOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION COUNCILOR MURPHY SO WHEN THE WHEN SHE SPOKE SHE SAID THAT IT COULD BE ILLEGAL IN MY OPINION THAT SHE SCARED PEOPLE INTO
THINKING THAT IF WE VOTED ON THIS EVEN TO ALLOW IT TO COME TO THE FLOOR THAT WE'D BE DOING SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO GET OURSELVES INTO TROUBLE FOR. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO BE CLEAR THAT THE MAYOR AND HER TEAM AND
HER LEGAL TEAM MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING WE SEND OVER THAT MAY NOT BE LEGAL BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE GET THINGS SENT BACK LIKE THE FIRST YEAR WITH AMENDMENTS MEMBER THEY ALL GOT SENT BACK AND MANY THEY SAID WELL THEY
WEREN'T LEGAL SO THERE IS NO WAY THIS WILL GO UP TO THE STATE HOUSE IF IT'S NOT LEGAL AND IF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DECIDES THAT IT'S NOT LEGAL THAT'S FOR THEM TO DECIDE. SO I THINK THAT ALLOWING HER TO
SPEAK I THINK PEOPLE MAY BE AFRAID TO EVEN ALLOW IT TO COME TO THE FLOOR NOW. AND SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A POINT OF ORDER. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN.
CATCH FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST BELIEVE THAT AFTER MY PRESENTATION THAT AFTER COUNCILOR CARTER'S PRESENTATION THAT THE WELL HAS BEEN
POISONED. EVERYONE THINKS THAT THIS IS AN ILLEGAL AMENDMENT THAT WON'T PASS MUSTER UP AT THE UP AT THE STATE HOUSE BEFORE WE EVEN CAN BRING IT ON THE FLOOR.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT FAIR. PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE ON IT WHETHER THEY BELIEVE IN IT. BUT TO SAY IT'S ILLEGAL BASED ON AND I ASKED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT CAN I SEE THE
DOCUMENT? I WANT TO RESPECTFULLY SEE THE DOCUMENT PASSED OUT IN WRITTEN FORM SO WE CAN SEE WHERE IT SAYS IT'S IT'S ILLEGAL BUT IN THE DAMAGE PROBABLY HAS BEEN
ALREADY DONE BECAUSE NOW MY COLLEAGUES THINK THAT THEY'RE VOTING ON AN AMENDMENT THAT I, I PROPOSE THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S
ILLEGAL WE DON'T KNOW THAT BUT MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID IT IS ILLEGAL NOW IT'S NOW MAKING IT PUTS MY COLLEAGUES IN A BAD POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW THAT THE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON SOMETHING
THAT IS ILLEGAL, I DON'T I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS UNFAIR, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BUT AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU KNOW,
WE TALK ABOUT PRECEDENTS AND ALL OF THAT. I THINK THIS HAS PUT US INTO A NEW TERRITORY AND SO MY INTENTION WAS NEVER TO SCARE ANYBODY. IT JUST WAS TO INFORM YOUR DECISION ULTIMATELY AS CHAIR IT
WAS TO INFORM YOUR DECISION TO BRING IT FOR A VOTE. I THINK THAT THAT IS WITHIN MY RIGHT AND RESPECTFULLY COUNCILOR FLYNN IT IS IN WRITING IT'S IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT WAS FILED THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO FOLKS ON MONDAY AND I THINK I THINK THAT'S MY
LAST POINT. BUT I WILL BE VOTING NO. IT'S UP TO COLLEAGUES HOW THEY WANT TO GO ON THIS BUT I JUST WILL BE VOTING NO AND THAT'S SIMPLY WHAT I SAID. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY.
I KNOW THAT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR I'LL CONSIDER ALL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU, CHAIR AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE MAYBE THIS IS
TO CASTLE FLYNN OR CASTLE COLETTE AS OPPOSED TO IT'S KIND OF DOVETAILING OFF A CASTLE. MURPHY'S QUESTION IS IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE COUNCILOR FLYNN'S LANGUAGE ON THE HOME RULE PETITION WITH THAT WHOLE HOME
RULE PETITION THEN BE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL AND THEN ALSO TO COUNCILOR FLYNN, HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH TO TALK TO ANY LAWYERS THAT SAYS THAT YOUR LANGUAGE IS ILLEGAL IS LEGAL?
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. THANK YOU. I MEAN I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS COUNCIL WERE ALL ASKED BUT WEREN'T WOULDN'T THOSE BE THE QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE ASKED WHEN WE'RE OPEN TO DEBATE?
I DON'T KNOW. I JUST I DISAGREE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT CASUAL THAT THE PARTIES HAVING THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL RATHER HAVING ARE WELL WITHIN THE DISCUSSION TO BE HAD
ABOUT WHETHER TO ALLOW A MOTION WHETHER THE MOTION IS CONSTITUTIONAL. CAN WE ASK OUR ATTORNEY TO COME AND GIVE US ADVICE PLEASE? I HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON STAFF THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP US AND
SHE WAS THE ONE WHO REMINDED ME THAT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON THE MOTION AND THEN ALLOW IT TO BE OPEN TO DEBATE. BUT WHEN THE CHAIR SAYS THAT SHE'S AGAINST IT BEFORE THE VOTE EVEN HAPPENS, IT JUST DOES
PUT BUT THEN WE DO THAT ALL OF THAT IN MY MOUTH TO SAY THAT UPCOMING AMENDMENTS ALSO SHOW THAT THEY'RE NOT TRULY INVESTED IN THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO
HAPPEN IF I KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT I'M SAYING THE FEELING I GET AT IT IS I DIDN'T SAY IT WASN'T ANYTHING OTHER. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE EVER. I'M JUST SAYING HOW I FEEL AS ONE OF THE VOTING MEMBERS. OKAY. THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR MURPHY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. CASIMIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. YOU KNOW NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW HAD WE HAD A WORKING SESSION WHEN I ASKED
ABOUT HAVING ONE. NOW WE'RE HAVING A DEBATE WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE FULL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WHICH IS WHY
I SAID WHAT I SAID AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THIS IS THE REASON WHY PEOPLE QUESTION THE WAY WE SHOW UP IN THIS PLACE BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS THAT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN THIS
CHAMBER. WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THIS HAD WE HAD ONE WORKING SESSION SO EVERYBODY COULD HAVE HASH THINGS OUT. WE SUGGESTED A AN AMENDMENT AND
WE DIDN'T EVEN GET ANY COMMUNICATION BACK AND SO I'M GOING TO CALL IT OUT AND I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY
START DEMONSTRATING SOME SENSE OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENCY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY CONFUSING IN HOW WE ARE MOVING IN THIS CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAYS WHEN
WE'RE PULLING THINGS OUT OF GREEN SHEETS, WHEN WE'RE NOT HOSTING HEARINGS, WHEN WHEN WHEN PEOPLE SAY YEAH, PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP WHATEVER THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS THAT WE'RE
TAKING VOTES WITHOUT REAL DEBATE AND THEN WHAT IT BECOMES IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE SENIORS RELIEF. I'M HERE FOR ALL OF THAT BUT
FOR ME AND THIS IS WHY I MISS MATT O'MALLEY FOR ME IT'S ABOUT THE RULES. OH NO, I'M JUST SAYING HE WAS HE WAS ALWAYS A STICKLER FOR THE RULES. HE WASN'T MY MEMORY. HE WAS A STICKLER. IF YOU WERE HERE YOU WOULD KNOW THAT. BUT IN HIS TIME HE ALWAYS
TALKED ABOUT RULES. HE ALWAYS CALLED COUNCIL PRESIDENT JANEY OUT ON THE WAY WE WERE MOVING PROCEDURALLY AND SO BECAUSE HE WAS A STICKLER FOR THE RULES I'M TRYING MY BEST TO BE A
STICKLER FOR BUT THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS THAT THE RULES CONTINUE TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHO'S MIKE GOES ON AND WE CAN REPLAY THE TAPES BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT AND
I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME CONSISTENCY BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT AND IT CREATES THE DISCOURSE THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR EVERYTHING TO BE IN WRITING AND
SOME CONSISTENCY AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS UP THEN WE NEED A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHY BECAUSE NOW THESE TWO OVER HERE NOW MAKING ME QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT MY AMENDMENT IS EVEN
GOING TO DIE. WELL YOU CAN EVEN ALLOW ME TO TALK ABOUT IT SO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I'M WALKING INTO SO THAT I CAN DO MY JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN.
COUNCILOR DURKAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR ALL OF HER WORK. I THINK THAT I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES WE FORGET SORT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BODY
WHICH IS THAT THE COMMITTEE CHAIR BRINGS FORWARD THINGS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THEIR COMMITTEE AND THEY MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL ON THOSE SUBJECTS AND
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR A VOTE ON THAT. THAT MOTION HAS NOT BEEN SECONDED AND SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA THEN I
RECOGNIZE COUNCILOR BREADON THEN COUNCILOR FLYNN THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE SOME FLAHERTY TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. SO FIRST OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF I HAVEN'T
NECESSARILY SEEN YET SO I HAVE TO SEE THE SUBSTANCE OF IT. BUT THOSE OTHER AMENDMENTS I DON'T DEEM ILLEGAL OR UNCONSTITUTIONAL BASED ON THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT IS PRESUMPTUOUS TO SAY THAT ALSO IN TERMS OF PROCESS OR RULES THERE IS NO RULE OR PLAYBOOK AS IT RELATES TO HOLDING HEARINGS OR WORKING SESSIONS AT THAT
WORKING SESSION COUNCILORS HAD THE FULL OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR MIND. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AFTER IT COME TO ME AFTERWARDS YOU HAVE ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE
ADMINISTRATION AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL TOO AND HAVE DIALOG. WE ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THIS CITY AND SO I THINK IT IS ANOTHER FACTUAL OR DISCREPANCY
THAT I HEARD IS THAT FOLKS DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. WE DID RESPOND AND IT IS IN WRITING AND IT'S ALSO IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M GOING THROUGH THIS IS
HELPFUL SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY AND I'M READING THE ROOM AT THIS POINT AND I THINK WHAT WHAT I'M HEARING IS FOLKS WANT TO WANT TO AT LEAST HAVE A DEBATE ON IT. SO IF THERE IS FURTHER DEBATE I
SAY LET'S LET'S DO IT. I'M GOING TO SWITCH FROM FROM NO TO YES. THAT'S I THINK THAT THAT'S FINE. AT LEAST I DID NOT MEAN TO SET OFF THIS FIRESTORM OF FOLKS WHO FELT OFFENDED THAT I WAS TRYING TO STIFLE DEBATE OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. I WAS JUST MERELY TRYING TO INFORM FOLKS OF WHAT MY RESEARCH WAS AND THEN SO FOLKS WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE. SO I THINK I'M READING THE ROOM HERE I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS. MY INTENTION WAS NOT TO STIFLE DEBATE AND I APPRECIATE MADAM PRESIDENT DILIGENCE IN ALL OF THIS BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO CLARIFY IN THAT WAY AND NOT HAVE FOLKS FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T SPEAK ON
DIFFERENT THINGS OR DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENTERTAINED. THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, I WAS TRYING TO ALLOW FOR THE DEBATE TO HAPPEN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON AND
COUNCILOR BREADON AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR COUNCILOR BREADON HAS THE FLOOR. NO OTHER COUNCILOR COUNCILOR BREADON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU. I THINK WE ARE WE'RE HAVING THE
DEBATE RIGHT NOW AND I REALLY DO WISH WE'D JUST MOVE TO A VOTE TO HAVE THE DEBATE AND I AM NOT IN THE SECTION. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO AMEND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ALLOWING THE MOTION TO AMEND SAY I I WAS OPPOSING THAT. THE AYES HAVE IT. MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL VOTE ON
THE MOTION TO AMEND WAS DELIBERATE. YES. THE COUNCIL AGREED. YES, YES, YES, YES YES YES.
YOU KNOW COUNCILOR FOR THE INNOCENT? YES. COUNCILOR FINANCIAL SANDERSON YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCIL VAN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES.
COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR COUNCIL BE YES IN COUNCILOR WORRELL YES COUNCILOR WU YES. 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MOTION AND THE MOTION TO AMEND HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND THE
AMENDMENT IS BEFORE THE BODY. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT YOU MAY DO SO NOW THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COME FROM
HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM PRESIDENT, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A YEAR. THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS. WE HAVE BEEN ENDLESS
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND THEN WE WE WENT UP TO THE STATE HOUSE. THE HOME RULE WAS REJECTED. IT WAS ACCEPTED IN THE HOUSE. IT WAS REJECTED BY THE SENATE. AND NOW WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY'RE REALLY HORRIFIED AT THE INCREASES IN THEIR REAL ESTATE TAX BILL. WE HAD A SOLUTION THAT WAS REJECTED AT THE STATE HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY AND HERE WE ARE
COMING BACK TO TRY AND HAVE A SECOND GO AT IT OR A THIRD GO OUT AND I'VE LOST COUNT AT THIS POINT TO TRY AND GET TO A PLACE THAT GIVES OFFER SOME RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS IN
THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AND LIVE ON A TRY TO LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. I DO WANT TO THANK OUR CHAIR
OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS FOR HER DUE DILIGENCE ON TRYING TO LOOK AT ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE OFFERED. I AM SORRY I MISSED A LOT OF THOSE HEARINGS DUE TO MY RECENT SURGERY BUT BEEN
FOLLOWING ALONG FROM A DISTANCE AND YOU KNOW I THINK WHEN IT'S THE CHAIR'S PREROGATIVE WHEN WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT, WHEN IT'S EXAMINED LOOKS TO HAVE A
CONSTITUTIONAL LEGAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER MASSACHUSETTS LAW, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND ALSO AS A BODY WE HAVE TO LOOK LIKE WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS WORK AND
SEND UP A HOME RULE PETITION TO TO THE STATE HOUSE. WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. WE HAVE TO TRY AND DO DUE DILIGENCE ON ALL OF THIS AND SEND UP A DOCKET OR A HOME RULE PETITION TO THE STATE HOUSE.
IT HAS A CHANCE OF PASSING SO THIS WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO DO THIS. THERE'S DEADLINES TO MEET AND ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE LET'S GET TOGETHER, GET
OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND GET THIS DONE SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE WATCHING THIS PROCESS REALIZE THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND THAT WE ARE DOING OUR JOBS AND SENDING SOMETHING UP TO THE
STATE HOUSE THAT WILL PASS HOPEFULLY AND THAT THESE RESIDENTS WILL GET GET THE RELIEF THAT THEY NEED WITH
REGARD TO YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT PROPERTY AND CLASSIFICATION AND THEN TRYING TO FIND SOME RELIEF FOR THE FRONTLINE WORKERS AGAIN ,THAT IS A COMPLICATED
QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S NOT SOMETHING IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS FOR NEXT YEAR. IT NEEDS IT IT NEEDS PROPER TIME AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO IT BEFORE MARCH 1ST.
SO I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY UP FOR CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION AND DEBATE. BUT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT WE NEED TO SEND SOMETHING UP TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SOME RELIEF TO OUR HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY OUR ELDERS WHO ARE
ON FIXED INCOME. SO THANK YOU AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. GREAT IN THE CHAIR AND HIS COUNCILOR FLYNN KAUSHAL. FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
ON MY AMENDMENT ON PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR ESSENTIAL CITY WORKERS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE
THEM AND TO ENSURE THAT BOSTON IS A PLACE FOR THEM AS WELL. THEY DON'T MAKE MANY OF THEM. MOST OF THEM DON'T MAKE THE MONEY THAT WE MAKE HERE ON THE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MANY OF THEM ARE LOW PAID WORKERS. THEY MIGHT BE CLEANING THE STREETS, THEY MIGHT BE SHOVELING THE SNOW, THEY MIGHT
BE SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY, THEY MIGHT BE HELPING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ONE ON ONE AND THEY'RE THERE IN BOSTON.
THEY MIGHT MAKE 40 $50,000 A YEAR. THEY MIGHT OWN A HOME. BUT ARE WE SAYING BOSTON IS NOT A HOME FOR THEM? IS IS BOSTON A HOME JUST FOR
THE WEALTHY ALL RIGHT. OR FOR THE WORKING POOR AS WELL? I BELIEVE I BELIEVE WE SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE OUR DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL CITY EMPLOYEES, OUR ESSENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE TO
OUR CITY WHEN WE'RE SITTING DOWN HAVING THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH OUR FAMILIES, MANY OF THEM ARE CLEANING THE STREETS,
PUTTING OUT FIRES, SAVING A HEART ATTACK VICTIM AND THEY'D RATHER BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. TELL BUT IS THIS PARTY GOING TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SACRIFICE THEY'VE MADE FOR THIS CITY AND THEIR DEDICATION? I THINK WE SHOULD. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS ILLEGAL. I KNOW THAT THE WELL HAS BEEN
POISONED IN MY OPINION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. I THINK THIS PARTY CAN EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR DEDICATED AND CITY EMPLOYEES
RECOGNIZE THEM, RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND DON'T BE INTIMIDATED OR SCARED BY VOTING AGAINST IT BASED ON SOMEONE'S
OPINION THAT MIGHT BE ACCURATE, THAT MIGHT BE INACCURATE. BUT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AT A SECOND AT A
SECOND HEARING. WE CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. WE CHOSE NOT TO HAVE A SECOND HEARING. WE HAD THE TIME TO DO IT. BUT A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND I
KNOW OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE AMENDMENTS TO BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY DEBATES DEBATE. THE SUBJECT MATTER IS IN THE
HEARINGS I'M GOING TO WENT TO THE SUBJECT PLATE BUT ON REBATES THERE WAS SO MANY OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THAT ARE STILL UNANSWERED THAT PEOPLE WERE ASKING AT THE AT THE LAST
HEARING ONE CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE CAME INTO THE INTO THE MEETING AND SAID I ALREADY KNOW I'M VOTING. I'M VOTING FOR THE TAX FOR THE TAX PLAN. THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS A WASTE OF TIME. I THINK RESIDENTS WANT US TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO STUDY THE
PROPOSAL TO READ IT, ASK QUESTIONS, DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND BE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON IT.
BUT WE CAN'T SAY LET'S HURRY UP AND GET THIS DONE IN THE INTEREST OF TIME. THAT'S WHEN MISTAKES ARE MADE. LET'S HAVE AN HONEST DEBATE.
TAKE OUR TIME, DISCUSS THE MATTER, PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL CONSTITUENT WORK AND PROVIDE THEM WITH OUR BEST AS CITY COUNCILS THINK ABOUT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES TO
MEJIA ALSO I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT TO MR QUICK IF YOU CAN AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT CUSTOMER HERE IS NOW PRESENT IN WITH US. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR JUST FOR THE RECORD I'VE
BEEN HERE Y'ALL YOU HEAR SO JUST REALLY QUICK I SAW THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW THIS WE'RE OPENING UP FOR IS IT JUST HIS STAFF OR IS
WHAT IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS HIS AMENDMENT OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I TALK ABOUT THE COMPANY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. SO THEREFORE I WILL WAIT BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE
DEBATING THE WHOLE OKAY THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM I FORGET THE FLOOR. YES. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE
ASSUMPTION THAT MAYBE HOW DO WE CLARIFY ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND HOW WOULD WE THEN DECIDE WHO WOULD GET IT AND HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM HOUSING FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS OF A GOOD
LANDLORD OR DECISION? HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO'S ACTUALLY A GOOD LANDLORD WHO ISN'T? SO IF SOMEONE COULD CLARIFY IF THERE WAS SOME DEBATE ON WHY IF THIS WOULD BE ILLEGAL, WE
OFTENTIMES LOOK AT GROUPS ACROSS THE CITY TO GIVE THEM CERTAIN BENEFITS THAT ONLY SOME GET. SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
ADDRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS COMING UP. I KNOW THE GOOD NEIGHBOR IS COMING UP LIKE HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO WE'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS OR WHO A GOOD LANDLORD IS? WHY WOULD THAT BE ANY DIFFERENT? AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THERE
HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE HAVE SENT THINGS OVER TO THE MAYOR AND THEY DO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THEY DO HAVE A QUALIFIED STAFF THAT'S DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT
NOTHING THAT COMES BACK TO US ISN'T LOOKED AT AND MADE SURE THAT IT IS LEGAL AND READY TO GO TO THE STATE HOUSE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL CLAUDIA ZAPATA, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. GREAT QUESTION COMES FROM MURPHY. SO IT JUST GETS DOWN TO THE SAME TO THE SAME FACT THAT WE STILL CANNOT CATEGORIZE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY
OWNERS AND THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. IT'S A PROGRAM AND THERE WOULD BE CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY THAT WOULD BE SPELLED OUT.
SO WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON I'M NOT GOING TO REFERENCE THAT BUT IT IS A GOOD QUESTION WHERE WE STILL WOULD NOT BE UNDER THE GOOD LANDLORD WE WOULD NOT BE
CATEGORIZING CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS AS IT RELATES TO EXEMPTIONS AND THAT IN OF ITSELF IS WHERE WE GET INTO THE LEGAL GRAY AREA OF SHOWING
PREFERENCE FOR ONE OVER THE OTHER AS IT RELATES TO EXEMPTIONS THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM WOULD BE A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY IS NOW OPTING INTO WHICH HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE STATE HOUSE ALREADY LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS
AGO. I HOPE THAT CLARIFIES IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY, MY GUESS ON THAT IS I
THINK TO ADDRESS COUNCILOR MURPHY'S QUESTION IS WHERE WHERE'S THE THE THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX YOU KNOW RELIEF OR
SOMETHING ELSE IS ATTACHED TO THE STRUCTURE AND HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING OR I'M SURE WE HAVE TAX PROGRAMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ARE DIFFERENT BUT WHERE IS THIS PROPOSAL WHERE IT MIGHT RUN
INTO PROBLEMS IS WHERE YOU KNOW, JUST IDENTIFYING THAT IT'S THE PERSON IF THEY HAVE A JOB IN A CERTAIN PLACE THEY THEY THEY GET THIS TAX RELIEF I GUESS I KNOW COUNSELOR WHERE L ASKED A QUESTION TO THE FILER I
JUST I'D JUST LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT YOU KNOW AND MAYBE YOU ANSWERED COUNCILOR FLYNN ALREADY AND I APOLOGIZE IT JUST DO YOU HAVE IT IS THERE
ANYTHING OTHER THAN DO YOU HAVE ANY CASES OR ANY ANALYSIS THAT SUGGESTS THAT THAT REBUTS COUNCILOR COLETTA ZAPATA'S STATEMENT THAT THIS COULD BE
ILLEGAL? DO YOU KNOW IS IT DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THAT? THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR GLEN YOU EXPLORE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING SO I DON'T WANT TO PRESENT
SOMETHING NOW. BUT I ON THE OTHER HAND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT SAYS THIS IS THIS IS ILLEGAL BASED ON AN OPINION FROM A LAWYER.
WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. COUNCILOR WELL THANK YOU COUNCILOR AND I BELIEVE THAT LANGUAGE IS IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT BUT COUNCILOR WEBER I WILL ALLOW YOU TO RESPOND IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
YEAH, NO I WELL THE ISSUE IS YOU KNOW, I THINK AS COUNCILOR BREADON MENTIONED, WE'VE DEBATING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND YOU KNOW, I THINK
EVERYONE HERE KNOWS HOW SERIOUS THIS IS AND HOW WE YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR RESIDENTS NEED HELP AND IF WE DON'T GET THIS UP SOON, YOU KNOW, WE'LL
BE, YOU KNOW, DENYING THEM THE HELP THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN JANUARY. BUT WE YOU KNOW, WE DELAYED HERE FOR TOO LONG. THE STATE HOUSE DELAYED.
I DON'T WANT TO FURTHER GIVE ANYONE ANY MORE EXCUSES TO YOU KNOW, TO TO HARM OUR RESIDENTS. SO WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A TIMELINE HERE.
SO I WAS JUST ASKING IF YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO US TO DECIDE IF IF YOU HAD ANY ANYTHING THAT WOULD WOULD HELP US MAKE THAT DECISION. IT'S SOUNDS LIKE THE ANSWER IS NO.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD SWAY PEOPLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR BREADON IS WE NEED TO
ACT NOW RATHER THAN HAVE MORE DELAY. THANKS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I GUESS FIRST
THING I MEAN I GUESS THANK YOU FOR THE COURTESY OF ALLOWING US TO DISCUSS THE MOTION BEFORE THE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR. THERE IS NO SUCH RULE BUT THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR DISCRETION
TO DO THAT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SUCH RULE THAT SAYS SPECIFICS TO TIME AND DISCUSSION BEFORE THAT. BUT EITHER WAY, AS FAR AS THE LEGAL LANGUAGE BEING IN WRITING
CAN THROUGH THE. MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW COUNCILOR THE LATTER TO JUST POINT OUT WHICH SECTION OR EXACTLY WHERE IN THE REPORT SO THAT I CAN REFERENCE IT AND
CASTLE FLYNN I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILOR. I DO WANT HER TO PROVIDE IT THOUGH AND A RESPONSE TO COMMENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, IN TERMS
OF OUR ATTORNEY SPEAKING TO HER, I THINK COUNCILOR MURPHY WAS SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR ADVOCACY ON HER BEHALF AND SO IT PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA TO
GIVE HER THAT IF SHE WANTS SHE NEEDS TIME A RECESS TO TALK TO OUR OUR ATTORNEY AND GET THE LANGUAGE. IF COUNCIL FLYNN NEEDS IT IN WRITING I THINK ALSO THE LETTER
IS PREPARING TO DELIVER THAT AND THEN BECAUSE OF FLYNN WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT DELINEATING SPECIFICALLY WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE WE SHOULD IN TERMS
OF RESIDENTS WE SHOULD SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS IS IN MY OPINION FROM JUST FROM THE LITTLE BIT THAT I KNOW WOULD BE INCORRECT. SO BUT OUTSIDE OF THIS I THINK
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION ,COUNCILOR FLYNN, THAT PERHAPS CREATING A PROGRAM THAT DOES THAT SUPPORTS OUR YOU KNOW, FRONT LINE IS ESSENTIAL
MUNICIPAL WORKERS AND SO FORTH. SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU FILE SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM THIS SO THAT I CAN BE OF SUPPORT. BUT FOR NOW WAITING FOR ONE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO OUR ATTORNEY BECAUSE. MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I JUST THINK THAT IT IS FAIR TO ALLOW INDIVIDUAL COUNCILORS IF THEY ASK TO SPEAK TO ATTORNEY THAT THEY DO THAT. SINCE IT'S IN DISCUSSION RIGHT
NOW AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WAITING FOR COUNCIL A LETTER TO RESPOND. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CUT AS A PARTNER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR COLLEAGUE.
IT'S ON PAGE FOUR AND I ALSO HAD TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS READING THE REPORT. PAGE FOUR. TWO PARAGRAPHS UP ABOVE SUMMARY OF THE PRIMARY LEGAL ISSUE
CONCERNS ARTICLE 112 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION WHICH GOVERNS PROPERTY TAXATION AND MANDATES PROPORTIONALITY IN TAXATION. THE PROPORTIONALITY REQUIREMENT DICTATES THAT ALL PROPERTY
WITHIN THE SAME CLASSIFICATION MUST BE TAXED UNIFORMLY WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW. AND AGAIN THIS WAS PRODUCED IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT WHICH EVERYBODY GOT. IF IF FOLKS.
UM YEAH I THINK I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE BUT THEN ALSO THE OTHER PART OF THIS TOO IS THAT IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION THERE IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS.
IT WOULD NOT BE THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT VEHICLE TO DO THIS AND I DON'T KNOW. OH, YOU DON'T HAVE THE REPORT. THE COMMITTEE REPORT. IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY. SO THE COUNCIL CUT AS A PARTY HAS THE FLOOR HAS A CUT AS OF YET. THIS IS IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT WAS FILED ON THE AGENDA ON MONDAY. SO I DO HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
COUNCILOR TONY FERNANDES ANDERSON YOU HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION OF CLARIFICATION PLEASE AND CORRECT ME THAT WAY BECAUSE I DON'T SEE YOU CORRECTING OTHER PEOPLE THAT WAY WHEN THEY MAKE A MISTAKE. YOU HAVE ALL OF THE COURTESY
AND PATIENCE AND ALL OF THE COMPASSION TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THEM DIFFERENTLY. DO NOT CORRECT PEOPLE ONE WAY AND CORRECT OTHERS ANOTHER WAY. YOU NEED TO SET THE PRECEDENTS AND THE TONE HERE IN THE WAY
THAT YOU JUMP AND CORRECT MEJIA IN THE WAY THAT YOU DON'T LET HER FINISH HER HER HER HER EXPRESSIONS OR WHEN SHE'S SPEAKING ALLOW PEOPLE TO FINISH TO SPEAK. YOU'RE NOT DOING IT TO SOME AND
YOU'RE DOING IT TO OTHERS. THANK YOU US AND YOU'RE WELCOME SUPPORT OF CLARIFICATION I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHETHER WE GO ON RECESS OR WE TAKE A MINUTE FOR ME TO FIND IT OUT.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IN THE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS IN THE AGENDA. YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN. YOU'RE INTERRUPTING ME BEFORE I CAN EVEN FINISH MY SENTENCE. IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE A MOMENT
TO LOCATE IT JUST BECAUSE IT IS POIGNANT FOR HIM FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO REFERENCE IT. I'M AGREEING WITH HER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE 100% SURE THAT THAT IS THE POSITION. SO IF WE CAN JUST HAVE A SECOND
JUST A SECOND FOR ME TO LOCATE IT IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, YOU MAY HAVE A MOMENT TO LOCATE IT. COUNCILOR COLETTE, AS A MATTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO INFORM US WHERE IT IS OR TO PROVIDE THE
CHEMICAL AS A OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THE THE VERY THE THIRD PARAGRAPH ON PAGE FOUR OF THE
COMMITTEE REPORT IT EXPLAINS THE LEGAL CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE BASED ON MY OWN RESEARCH THERE ARE THREE POTENTIAL LEGAL
CHALLENGES THAT I LISTED BEFORE. I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THEM AGAIN. AGAIN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO INFORM MY COLLEAGUES IT IS UP TO US TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE PUT FORTH
AS A BODY WILL WITHSTAND A LEGAL CHALLENGE AND THAT'S JUST MY JUDGMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY.
COUNCILOR MURPHY HAD THE FLOOR . THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE CHAIR IS IT TRUE THAT I'M READING THIS WHERE YOU'RE JUST REFERENCING ARTICLE 112 OR DO YOU ACTUALLY SPELLED THE WHOLE
SECTION ON OH WELL TAKE A MOMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE SHE'S ALLOCATING THE MATTER FOR AN HOUR. DON'T I HAVE THE FLOOR?
BUT YOU ARE YOU'RE ASKING HER A QUESTION AND SHE'S RIGHT NOW RESPONDING TO ANOTHER THAT WE NEED A RECESS. SO DO YOU WANT TO REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? AND CAROL, THAT IS A PARDON. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THE WAY I
READ THE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT YOU REFERENCE ARTICLE 112 BUT YOU DON'T SPELL OUT THE FULL ARTICLE, IS THAT CORRECT? DO THE CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO COLETTE AS A PART OF YOU? ME THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.
I CAN READ I'M GOING TO READ THE SECTION THAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND I DON'T LEARN THIS WAY SO I DO BELIEVE LIKE I SAY A GRINCHY TIME ANOTHER SO READING TO YOU I HOPE NO ONE
FEELS DISRESPECTED BECAUSE BUT I DO JUST WANT TO GET IT ON THE RECORD. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THIS IS A THOROUGH WAY OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY STATES BUT IT DOES SAY
THAT PART CHAPTER ONE PART OF THE SECOND OF THE CONSTITUTION IS HEREBY AMENDED BY INSERTING AFTER THE WORDS AND TO IMPOSE AND LEVY PROPORTIONAL AND REASONABLE
ASSESSMENTS RATES AND TAXES UPON ALL THE INHABITANTS OF AND PERSONS RESIDENT IN ESTATES LYING WITHIN SAID COMMONWEALTH THE WORDS EXCEPT THAT IN
ADDITION TO THE POWERS CONFERRED UNDER ARTICLES SEVEN AND ARTICLES OF THE AMENDMENTS THE GENERAL COURT MAY CLASSIFY REAL PROPERTY ACCORDING TO ITS
USE IN NO MORE THAN FOUR CLASSES AND TO ASSESS RATE AND TAX SUCH PROPERTY DIFFERENTLY IN THE CLASSES SO ESTABLISHED BUT PROPORTIONATELY IN THE SAME
CLASS AND EXCEPT THAT REASONABLE EXEMPTIONS MAY BE GRANTED. SO IT DOES STATE THE WAY I READ IT THAT THERE THERE IS LEGAL ABILITY TO HAVE FOUR CLASSES
AND NOT TO IF THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE CHAIR IF WE KNOW WHICH OF THOSE FOUR CLASSES THERE ARE IN DOES IT CHANGE WHICH WHICH EACH RULE USING THIS ARTICLE OR IS IT BLANKET FOR ALL THROUGH
THE CHAIR COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT IS A PART IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO BASED AGAIN WE LOOKED INTO THIS SO BASED ON THIS SO IT REASONABLE EXEMPTIONS ARE FAIR
AND VALID AND THEY ARE ALLOWED FOR EXAMPLE SOME REASONABLE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY LAW AND THIS IS WHAT IS ON THE BOOKS SO FAR CERTAIN NONPROFITS SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT SEEKS TO EXEMPT A CATEGORY OF PROPERTY OWNERS BASED ON THEIR EMPLOYMENT AS MUNICIPAL FRONTLINE WORKERS WHICH IS NOT
CURRENTLY A LAW. A LEGAL CHALLENGE COULD ARGUE THAT THIS CREATES AN ARBITRARY DISTINCTION BETWEEN SIMILARLY SITUATED PROPERTY OWNERS VIOLATING THIS PROPORTIONALITY
PRINCIPLE. AND SO THE CITY OF BOSTON IF THIS WERE TO PASS WE NEED TO JUSTIFY WHY THIS PARTICULAR EXEMPTION SERVES AS A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST. BUT AGAIN THIS IS NOT LIKE THE
VEHICLE AND OF ITSELF THIS BEING INCLUDED IN THIS MIGHT BE CHALLENGED. WE NEED TO HAVE A SEPARATE PROCESS TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO MAKE IT LEGAL AND SO THAT'S I THINK I'M GOING TO END MY MY REASONING I HOPE
THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT AN OPINION. IT IS LAW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND HUDSON MURPHY TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY SO THE WAY I READ IT THEN
IS THAT WE CAN CREATE NEW EXEMPTIONS BUT WE DO HAVE THAT POWER WHICH IS WHAT NONPROFITS AND PEOPLE OF CERTAIN AGE DO AND SO ANY IN ANYTHING CAN BE CHALLENGED.
THINGS ARE CHALLENGED, CONTRACTS ARE WRITTEN TO BE CHALLENGED. I MEAN PEOPLE GO IN FRONT OF COURTS AND ATTORNEYS ALL THE TIME TO CHALLENGE THINGS. THE WAY I'M READING IT IS DIFFERENTLY AND IT'S SAYING
THAT WE DO HAVE THE POWER SO MAKING UPLIFTING THE GOOD IDEA THAT COUNCILOR OF FLYNN HAD THAT WE SEEM TO ALL WANT TO SUPPORT AH LOOK, I'M SORRY YOU'RE MAKING A FACE THAT MAKES ME SEEM LIKE NO, NO, NO,
NO. I THINK I HAVE SOME COUNCILOR. MURPHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. IF YOU DO, THEN I'M SORRY I DID TAKE IT AS COUNSELOR MURPHY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN I'M SPEAKING YOU TAKE A SIGH OR YOU
MAKE A LOOK AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH I'M ANNOYING. COUNSELOR MURPHY I ALLOW YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. BUT WHEN I'M SPEAKING AND I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU IT'S
DISTRACT AND I'M SORRY. I'M NOT REALLY SORRY. I JUST WANT TO BE OKAY. SO I DO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY SO IT'S HOW YOU READ IT. SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A
RECESS THEN AND ASK OUR ATTORNEY TO WEIGH IN. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR MURPHY COUNSELOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR PRESIDENT AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN, I JUST WANT TO BE
REALLY CLEAR AND FOR THE RECORD I AM IN SUPPORT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO I DON'T LIKE TO LEAD WITH FEAR I THINK NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE ONE THAT A PARENT SENIOR IS
FROM HAVING PEACE OF MIND. SO FOR ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE FOR ME AND I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE
PROCESS AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I FIND MYSELF HERE I'M GOING TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT AND SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DEBATE RIGHT NOW HERE AND IT
FEELS LIKE I THINK SENATOR WARREN YESTERDAY IN OUR MEETING WAS TALKING ABOUT FLOODING LIKE HOW THE THE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST THROWING EVERYTHING AT US. THAT'S HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS BEEN THIS THIS PARTICULAR TERM THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE IN THIS AND THE SEATS HAS BEEN A SERIES OF THINGS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN FLOODING US IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND THEN WHAT IT DOES IS CREATES THIS TYPE OF DISCOURSE AND THEN WE ALL LOOK CRAZY BECAUSE WE'RE OUT JUST TRYING TO HAVE A VOICE WHICH IS VERY
REFLECTIVE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE OUT ON THE STREET SAYING ABOUT US. SO THE WAY WE ARE BEHAVING HERE AS A BODY IS THE SAME WAY A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS FEEL ABOUT THE
DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. AND SO IT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME RIGHT AS WE DEBATE THIS FOR US TO BE THOROUGH IN OUR PROCESS. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT,
MADAM CHAIR, THAT IF THERE IS A NEED TO HAVE LEGAL COUNCILOR I'VE HEARD IT FOUR TIMES AND I HAVE YET TO SEE IT HAPPEN IF THIS IS GOING TO SATISFY THOSE WHO NEED IT THEN
LET'S JUST GIVE IT TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON. THANK YOU. CALLS FROM HERE I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND WE WILL BE GOING INTO A FIVE MINUTE RECESS NOW THAT YOU HAVE SPOKEN AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR
COUNCILOR QUESTIONS YOU MAY WE'LL GO INTO A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, PERHAPS TEN AS NEEDED
BUT WE ARE IN RECESS.
THANK YOU
. OKAY. WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. THANK YOU EVERYONE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTED TO PUT ANYTHING ON TO THE RECORD OR CLARIFY ANY POINTS.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO CONSULT OUR CITY COUNCIL COUNCILS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER POINT OF DISCUSSION OR IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU. THANK MADAM CHAIR. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY AND INFORMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY THAT THEY'RE
REALLY TAKING NO OPINION ON THIS WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR IT'S ILLEGAL, IT'S BASED ON WHAT YOUR INTERPRETATION IS. IT'S UNCLEAR. THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED AT THE
VERY BEGINNING. IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT I WHAT I DID ASK FOR IS A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION OR A WRITTEN RULING FROM US FROM A CITY
ATTORNEY WHICH WE DON'T HAVE OBVIOUSLY OR FROM AN OUTSIDE COUNCILOR BUT THE CITY COUNCIL STAFF ATTORNEY BASICALLY SAID THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S
LEGAL OR ILLEGAL. SO IN THE INTEREST OF IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, LET'S LET'S ASSUME IT'S IT'S LEGAL AND LET'S LET'S BE RESPECTFUL
TO OUR CITY, OUR DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES, OUR ESSENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THE CITY.
THEY MIGHT BE MAKING $40,000 A YEAR, $50,000 A YEAR. THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY. THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PAY THEIR BILLS SOMETIMES AND EVEN THESE CITY RETIREES THE CITY RETIREES MAKE SMALL A SMALL PENSION.
THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT MAKING 80 $90,000 A YEAR ON A PENSION ,MOST OF THEM MAKING 30 $40,000 A YEAR, $50,000 A YEAR. SO I GUESS MY POINT IS WE HAVE
THE ABILITY RIGHT NOW TO STAND UP AND VOTE FOR DEDICATED CITY OR CITY AND CITY WORKERS, TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT OR WE CAN
HIDE BEHIND SOME RULING THAT DIDN'T ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE THAT IT MAY BE LEGAL OR ILLEGAL BUT I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND UP IN AND SUPPORT ESSENTIAL CITY WORKERS.
DO WE KNOW ANY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? DO WE KNOW THEM? DO WE KNOW THEM BY NAME? DO WE SEE THEM AT COACH AND LITERALLY DO WE SEE THEM COACHING, TEACHING, DANCE?
DO WE SEE THEM TO TUTORING PEOPLE? THOSE ARE THE CITY EMPLOYEES I SEE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH BOSTON. THERE'S A LOT OF DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES.
I THINK MANY OF MY DISTRICT COUNCIL DOES FEEL THE SAME WAY. THEY KNOW THEM BY NAME THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY FOR 30 YEARS FOR YEARS MUCH LONGER THAN US AS CITY
COUNCILORS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN BOSTON, WE ARE THEIR HOPE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK JUST MY FINAL COMMENT ON ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE RESPONSE COUNCILOR COUNCIL
FOUND IS CORRECT THAT THE CONSTITUTION THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR REASONABLE EXEMPTIONS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED WITH SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH TO DO THIS. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO AMEND THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. AND I THINK JUST IN GENERAL WE ARE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MEETING THE DEFINITION OF REASONABLE.
MY ARGUMENT IS THAT IT THIS PARTICULAR DEFINITION WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSTITUTIONALITY THAT THAT IS WHAT I AND SO BASED ON THAT I'M
GOING TO RESPECTFULLY MOVE MOTION FOR A VOTE ON THIS MATTER. OKAY. THAT MOTION THAT MOTION TO SECOND IT ALL IN FAVOR OF EVOLVING TO A VOTE SAY I, I
ALSO SAY NAY. MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE A MOTION TO MOVE TO A VOTE REQUIRES TWO THIRDS MAJORITY I BELIEVE SO NINE TO VOTE IN FAVOR.
90 VOTE IN FAVOR. MR POPE, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE COUNT CELEBRATE NO COUNCILOR BREADON, NO COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER? NO. I CAN'T SEE COLETTE AS A PARTNER.
COUNCILOR DURKIN COUNCILOR DURKIN NO COUNCILOR FOR NANCY ANDERSON OH NO. MR QUINN JUST ONE MOMENT AS MR CLERK I THINK I DID NOT DO A
GOOD JOB. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT THE VOTE. SO WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW IS THE MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE WHICH REQUIRES A TWO
THIRDS VOTE OF THE COUNCIL. SO A YES VOTE WILL CLOSE DEBATE AND A NO VOTE WILL MEAN THAT WE CAN CONTINUE HAVING A DISCUSSION. WE ARE NOT YET AT THE VOTE ON
THE SUBSTANTIVE MATTER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY WHAT IS THE POINT OF ORDER ON THE ONE SAYING THAT THERE WERE LIGHTS ON SO THERE WERE COLLEAGUES WHO STILL WANTED TO TALK? I UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE
CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO MOVE TO CLOSE DISCUSSION AND MOVE TO A VOTE THAT DOES NOT IT IS NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED. WE ARE DOING A ROLL ROLL CALL
VOTE ON THE MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE AND MOVE TO A VOTE YES VOTE MEANS IT DOES NOT MATTER. WE ARE WE ARE THIS IS NOT DEBATABLE. WE ARE MOVING ON TO A MOTION OF CLOSE DEBATE TO MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION. MR. CLERK PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE A YES VOTE MEANS WE'RE CLOSING DEBATE A NO A NO VOTE MEANS WE WILL CONTINUE HAVING DISCUSSION ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN WHAT IS THE POINT OF ORDER? I THINK IT'S CONFUSING THAT WE ALREADY VOTED SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OUR VOTE. I I INTERRUPTED THE VOTE AND
NULLIFIED THAT WE'RE NULLIFYING THAT VOTE. SO MR HYDE, I WANT TO I VOTED YES BUT IT HAS BEEN THE DEBATE HAS BEEN CLOSED. SHE HAD A POINT OF ORDER THAT I
UNDERSTOOD. MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE OKAY, MR WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER COUNCILOR FLYNN MADE MY POINT
OF ORDER, MADAM CHAIR AS OTHER COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAD THEIR LIGHTS ON AND THEY THEY HAD THE LIGHTS ON BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY CALLED FOR A VOTE. I WANTED TO GIVE MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. CATCH A PLANE. THAT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER. THAT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER. MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE TO MOVE THE CLOSED DEBATE AND MOVE
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION? COUNCIL OF BRITAIN YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART AS A PER COUNCILOR COLORS PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES.
COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON COUNCILOR FINANCE STANCE AND NOW COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO. COUNCILOR FLYNN NO COUNCILOR FLYNN NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES.
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE NO COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY NO COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR PIPPIN YES COUNCILOR SANTANA YES COUNCILOR SANTANA YES.
COUNCIL WHATEVER. YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES COUNCILOR WU YES. EIGHT VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE
AND FIVE VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE YOU THAT MOTION HAS FAILED THE AMENDMENT IS STILL OPEN FOR DEBATE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
OKAY, SO JUST QUICK IS I CAN DEBATE RIGHT THIS WHEN I SAID OPEN FOR YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU JOIN UP APPROPRIATELY SO
I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE DURING COVID OUR OFFICE ESTABLISHED A FUND AND IT WAS $750,000 FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND IT WAS
A RENTAL PROGRAM THAT WE CREATED AND WHILE THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE BUT THE CITY FOUND A WAY TO IDENTIFY WHO WAS
WORTHY OF IT AND WHO WASN'T. AND I THINK IF WE IF WE KNOW WHO ARE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ARE AND IF WE KNOW WHO WHICH ONES MAKE UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DOLLARS. RIGHT.
LIKE AND IT JUST WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR MOTION IS NOT VALID AND I'M ASKING YOU SO THAT YOU CAN HELP
ME UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I AM LIKE UTTERLY CONFUSED RIGHT NOW AND I JUST I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION LIKE WE'VE DONE IT WE'VE WE SUPPORT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING IS LIKE IF WE VOTE AGAINST IT THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND I DO SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE RHETORIC THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. I AM IN SUPPORT OF OUR
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES FOR THE RECORD, I'VE DONE YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY SET THE PRECEDENT OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HELP SUPPORT FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING DURING COVID SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM
RENTAL RELIEF. I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR AT LARGE COUNCILOR SANTANA HAS A SOCIAL MIX HOUSING HEARING ORDER RIGHT? I'M DOING I'M TRYING TO DO
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND SO
MAYBE COUNCILOR FLYNN THIS MAY NOT BE THE VEHICLE TO GET US THERE SO WE DON'T HOLD COUNCILOR COLETTE AS SUPPORTERS HOLLOW PETITION HOSTAGE.
MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO IS FIND A DIFFERENT PATHWAY TOWARDS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS A BODY AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THAT
RECOMMENDATION TO MY COLLEAGUE BECAUSE THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER. WE CAN RALLY TO IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT FOR US TO GET TO. WE WANT TO BE SO I'M JUST GOING
TO OFFER THAT FOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA. WE HAVE LIKE 101 ITEMS TO GET THROUGH AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILOR FLYNN, RESPECTFULLY, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN SUCH A RECOMMENDATION? THANK YOU CALLS ME AND I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING YOU STATED BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD LOVE ACTUALLY IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEANS TEST PROPERTY TAXES FOR IT TO BE BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PAY TO BE BASED ON THEIR INCOME AND
ALL OF THAT AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA PERSONALLY I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO MEANS TEST PROPERTY TAXES BUT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHICH IS A REASON WHY I HAVE NOT PRESENTED THAT AS AN AMENDMENT SO THERE
CAN BE GREAT IDEAS TO SUPPORT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS THOSE WHO ARE NOT FINANCIALLY ABLE TO PAY BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEANS TEST IN A WAY THAT I WOULD LOVE RIGHT ME WE'VE HEARD
TESTIMONY HERE FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT WEALTHY PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY WHO SAID PLEASE TAX ME MORE, I CAN PAY MORE BUT OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T ALLOW THAT EVEN THOUGH I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT OUR SYSTEM IT IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR MEJIA. I JUST THINK THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO AS I SAID BEFORE, TO SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS
THERE IS A BOSTON FOR THEM MANY OF THEM SPEAK TO US EVERY DAY ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR THEM TO STAY IN THE CITY, THEIR HOME HOMEOWNERS MANY OF THEM
LIVE IN MY AREA. MANY OF THEM LIVE IN IN COUNCIL A HAPPENS DISTRICT TO COUNCIL RULES DISTRICT. BUT IS BOSTON GOING TO BE FOR EVERYBODY FOR IS BOSTON JUST
GOING TO BE FOR THE WEALTHY? IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY WORKERS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE AND IF THERE IS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HERE, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT
OF RESPECT AND THAT RESPECT INCLUDES A LITTLE BIT OF TAX RELIEF. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WIND UP GETTING A LOT BUT MAYBE IT'S THE DIFFERENCE OF THEM PAYING THEIR ELECTRIC BILL THIS MONTH.
MAYBE IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF THEM PAYING THE FOOD BILL OR SENDING THEIR KID TO AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. MAYBE IT'S PUTTING FUEL IN THE CAR. THOSE THOSE DOLLARS ADD UP
THOSE PENNIES THAT UP AS I WAS SAYING TO THIS PARTY A WHILE BACK I WAS AT A STORE IN SOUTH BOS ON THE CORNER OF F STREET
AND WEST FIFTH STREET AND A CITY RETIREE WAS IN THERE LOOKING AT A CAN OF SOUP AND THEY THEY WERE STRUGGLING WHETHER OR NOT TO BUY THAT
CAMPBELL'S SOUP BASED ON THE PRICE WHETHER IT WAS A IN 99 OR 205 THAT'S $0.06 MADE A DIFFERENCE SO THAT $0.06 MADE A
DIFFERENCE FOR THAT PERSON BUT THAT'S THE TYPE OF RELIEF WE ARE PROVIDING FOR ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IS GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT
OF DIGNITY, REWARD THEM, ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT WE ASSIST ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT AND IF IT IS DIFFERENT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEIR LEGAL TEAM WILL REVIEW IT AS WELL. WE KNOW THEY WILL.
THEY'LL DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE BUT DON'T SHUT OUT CITY EMPLOYEES THAT NEED OUR HELP NOW GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN BOSTON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES I BELIEVE I SAW COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR EPIPEN. THEN WHAT WHAT FOR MEJIA AND THEN INCARCERATED THE COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
I THINK MOST OF US SPOKE TO THE OUR ATTORNEY AND I THINK THE ADVICE WE GOT WAS CONSISTENT ENOUGH THAT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS WOULD BE
CONSTITUTIONAL AND YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT ADVICE INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK IT'S LIKELY LET'S SAY IT'S A
5050 SHOT. IT'S LIKELY THAT PUTTING THIS PROVISION IN WILL FURTHER DELAY THIS THIS MEASURE AND EITHER
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR FROM OUTSIDE PARTIES CHALLENGING IN COURT. AND WHEN YOU WEIGH THAT AGAINST THE CONSEQUENCE OF PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO NEED IT, YOU NEED TO TAKE
THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS THERE IS NO ACTUAL SUPPORT FOR THIS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOTHING THAT SAYS IT'S DEFINITELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY THINGS THAT SUGGEST IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE US TO KEEP IN MIND THAT FRONTLINE WORKERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM US PASSING THIS PROPOSAL AND BY INSERTING THIS PROVISION I THINK IT MAKES IT LESS LIKELY THAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR ALL
CITY RESIDENTS INCLUDING FOR OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PAT BANNING OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
BEFORE THE RECORD I DO HAVE A LOT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES IN MY DISTRICT. THEY'RE AMAZING HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE SERVING FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, TEACHERS, ALL WORKERS EMPLOYEES,
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ETC. THEY ARE THE FRONTLINE OF THE CITY OF THE CITY WORKFORCE. HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE THE RHETORIC THAT IS BEING USED IN THE ROOM
AT THE MOMENT WHERE IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE BEING PRESSURED TO GO FOR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE CONSTITUTIONAL AT THE MOMENT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION ON THE FLOOR OF WHAT IS THIS IS EVEN THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS?
HOW ARE EVEN HOW ARE WE EVEN ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS AT THIS TIME? BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING YES OR NO ON SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE FLAHERTY ON WHAT'S THE
RIGHT PROCESS. THANK YOU BECAUSE WE HAPPEN I, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE PROCESS THAT I USED IN THAT CULTURE. COLETTA ZAPATA DISCUSSED AS
WELL THERE I HAD THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT I WANTED TO OFFER AGAIN BASED ON MEANS TESTING. I'M A LAWYER BUT NOT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE SPOKE TO A COUNCILOR, SPOKE TO OUR TEAM AND REALIZED THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL.
I DIDN'T PUT THAT AMENDMENT FORWARD. WHETHER SOMETHING PRECLUDES US FROM SAYING THIS AMENDMENT CAN'T BE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THERE'S NOTHING THAT STATES THAT
THERE'S A MECHANISM TO PREVENT THAT. SO THE JURY AND I JUST COME TO MEJIA TALKING HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO FIRST APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUE TO THE RIGHT BUT I AM GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE CLOSE DEBATE AS MUCH AS Y'ALL HATE TO HEAR ME SAY THAT BUT I THINK IN
THE INTEREST OF WE'VE GIVEN THIS ENOUGH OXYGEN AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I THINK THAT I THINK WE GIVEN THE SITUATION AND GIVEN THAT WE
HAVE SO MANY OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH I THINK OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE BODY AND RESPECT FOR THE CHAIR AND THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH, I OFFERED ANOTHER PATHWAY TOWARDS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED THROUGH DIFFERENT HEARING ORDERS THAT WE HAVE FILED. I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AS CALLED SO PREPARED HAS STATED I
THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR ALMOST 2 HOURS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, COUNCILOR FLYNN, I AM GOING TO ASK THAT WE CLOSE DEBATE AND I
WANT TO SAY A MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE. I NEED A SECOND. THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO CLOSE DEBATE AND MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THAT MOTION IS NOT DEBATABLE.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE AND IT REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE IN ORDER OF A YES VOTE MEANS WE CLOSE DEBATE AND MOVE TO A VOTE. A NO VOTE MEANS THAT DEBATE WILL STILL BE OPEN. MR COX, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL
CALL VOTE COUNT CELEBRATE YES. COUNCIL OF READING YES. COUNCILOR CARLA ZAPATA COUNCILOR THAT IS A PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCIL FINANCE SANDERSON YES.
YES. COUNCIL FINANCE YOU WANT TO TELL HER WHAT IS THE MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE THAT I PROPOSED
THAT SHE PROPOSE? YES, I WAS ABLE TO YES COUNCIL FINANCE ANSWERED YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD KNOW
COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN KNOW COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY NO
COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCIL AND YES COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WILL IT BE YES IN COUNCILOR WORRELL? YES. COUNCILOR OH YES. TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE
AND THREE IN A NEGATIVE. THANK YOU. THE MOTION HAS SUCCEEDED, MR. CLERK. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO TAKING A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT. A YES VOTE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT
OF THE AMENDMENT AND A NO VOTE WILL BE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT IS A POINT OF ORDER
ON ORDER. OH, THIS IS A MAJORITY. THIS IS A MAJORITY. OH, WHAT WILL HAPPEN, COUNCILOR BARRY COUNCILOR BREADON PRESENT
COUNCIL COLETTE AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR COLETTE AS OPPOSED TO NOTE COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN NO. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON COUNCILOR FINANCE HANDS AND PRESENT COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES.
COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO. COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE NO. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE PRESENT CONCILOR MEJIA HERE PRESENT COUNCILOR MURPHY YES COUNCILOR MURPHY YES
COUNCILOR PIPPIN NO. COUNCILOR FINN NO. COUNCILOR SANTANA NO. COUNCILOR SANTANA NO COUNCIL WEBER NO. COUNCILOR WEBER NO. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL COUNCILOR WORRELL NO 607 VOTES
IN A NEGATIVE THREE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND THREE PRESENT. THANK YOU. THAT AMENDMENT HAS NOT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ INTO THE RECORD AGAIN
COUNCILOR FLYNN'S NEXT AMENDMENT AMENDMENT OF DOCKER NUMBER 0236 OF IT BY COUNCILOR FLYNN NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION FIVE OF CHAPTER 59
OF THE GENERAL LAWS OR ANY OTHER GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY THE CITY OF BOSTON SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ALLOW FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR $1,000 FOR
LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A HOME IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS IN OUR AGE 55 YEARS AND OLDER. THANK YOU SO THE MOTION CAPTURE
FLYNN ARGUES WE FIRST HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO ALLOW YOUR AMENDMENT BEFORE THE BODY SO ALL IN FAVOR ALLOWING THE MOTION TO AMEND BECAUSE BOTH MOTIONS WERE SECONDED AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ARE NOW VOTING ON THE ALLOWING THIS MOTION TO AMEND TO BE BEFORE THE BODY ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ALMOST SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT COMFORTABLE AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
YOU MAY THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO ALLOW PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF OR AN EXEMPTION FOR LONG TIME RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A HOME IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND ARE AGED 55 AND OLDER
. I ALSO CALLED FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR OUR LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND ESSENTIAL MEDICINE EMPLOYEES
WHICH WE DISCUSSED INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE OWNED PROPERTY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. PROPERTY TAXES ARE A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR ALMOST ALL
FAMILIES BUT THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THEIR HOME DECADES AGO BEFORE HOUSING PRICES AND PROPERTY VALUES SKYROCKETED IN THE CITY SOME OF WHICH WAS DUE TO NEW
CONSTRUCTION NEARBY. SO WE'RE ASKING RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT MORE HOUSING WHICH WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND THEN WHEN THE HOUSING IS BUILT IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HOME. BUT ALSO IT INCREASES THEIR PROPERTY TAX.
THEY MAY NOT BE WEALTHY BUT THEY ARE JUST TOO MUCH A PART OF THE SOUL OF THIS CITY AS ANYONE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY IN SO MANY WAYS FROM YOUTH
SPORTS TO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE MET, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS POST PANDEMIC INFLATION HAS ALSO CAUSED HARDSHIP FOR MANY OF THESE
LONGTIME RESIDENTS. THEY ALSO FACE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH PAYING BILLS THE COST OF LIVING RENT AND PROPERTY TAXES.
BOSTON IS NOT JUST A CITY FOR THE WEALTHY IT'S A WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ALSO BOSTON MUST BE A PLACE FOR THEM. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO FANCY
RESTAURANTS OR TO THE THEATER EVERY OTHER WEEK THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT PAYING THEIR BILLS FOR THEIR KIDS, PAYING CAR INSURANCE. AND IS THERE A BOSTON FOR THESE
FAMILIES? WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION RIGHT NOW POST-PANDEMIC INFLATION HAS CAUSED HARDSHIP. THEY ALSO FACE DIFFICULTIES
PAYING BILLS, RENT, PROPERTY TAXES, THEIR KIDS COLLEGE TUITION. TODAY I'M ASKING US TO CONSIDER GIVING RELIEF TO LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A HOME
IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND AGE 55 YEARS AND OLDER. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALL CAN SUPPORT. I DON'T KNOW OF REASON WHY
SOMEONE WOULD BE AGAINST THAT UNLESS THEY DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH BUT THERE SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG TIME FAMILIES IN THIS CITY WE MUST INCLUDE THEM. IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT COME
TO BOSTON FOR THESE WONDERFUL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND WE WELCOME THEM. BUT SHOULDN'T BOSTON ALSO BE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AS WELL?
I THINK SO. I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION AND WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE THAT QUESTION HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE MAKER OF THIS AMENDMENT I'M READING THIS AS LONG TERM RESIDENT SO IT WOULD BE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR HOME. BUT DO WE NEED TO CLARIFY WHO
IS IF THEY OWN MORE THAN ONE HOME, WHAT THEY GET THE $1,000 REBATE OR WOULD IT BE ONLY THE HOME THAT THEY'RE OCCUPYING IF DO THE CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU
MADE THEM CHAIR THANK YOU. VERY GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD THINK WOULD BE JUST THE HOME THAT THEY OCCUPY THAT THEY LIVE IN IF THEY OWN MORE THAN ONE HOME I DON'T I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD GOOD I WOULD SUPPORT BENEFITING THEM. IT'S ABOUT STRUGGLING FAMILIES TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE CITY. OKAY. SO DO WE NEED TO JUST DO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR MURPHY, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE YOUR MAC YES, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU. SHOULD WE AMEND IT TO MAKE THE WORDING A LITTLE BIT STRONGER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS JUST THE HOME THAT YOU'RE OCCUPYING
THAT IF YOU DO OWN OTHER HOMES IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO THOSE DO THEY? CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MY QUESTION ISN'T JUST TO THE MAKER, IT'S TO MAYBE THE CHAIR OF GOV OBST
BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING INTO HER COMMITTEE REPORT BUT I WENT TO THIS BODY IF PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL AS THOUGH CERTAIN RESIDENTS THANK
YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY. MADAM CHAIR, WITH WITH THE PERMISSION COULD WE TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK RECESS?
GIVE GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE WORDING AND I'LL BE BACK IN 15 MINUTES. I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. THAT'S PART OF IT'S IT'S A IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION IF IF 15 MINUTES IS
ALLOWABLE, I'LL HAVE THAT DOCUMENT HERE. MR. CLERK I MEAN SORRY, MR. CLERK COUNCILOR FLYNN IF THERE WERE AUDIBLE GROANS FROM MY COLLEAGUES WHEN YOU PROPOSED
HAVING A RECESS IF YOUR IF DURING DEBATE WITH MADAM CHAIR THOUGH I MEAN I HEAR YOU AND WE HAVE THE TIME ON THIS YOU AND YOUR STAFF CAN WORK. YES, I'M RESPONDING.
I'M GOING TO SAY NO AT THE MOMENT. BUT IF YOUR STAFF WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THE AMENDMENT AND THE DEBATE IS CONTINUING AND IT SHALL CONTINUE IF YOU THEN HAVE A MOTION THAT YOUR STAFF WOULD
LIKE TO BRING, THAT WILL BE FINE. BUT I AM NOT GOING INTO A RECESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL DO THAT BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MY COLLEAGUES EXPRESS THEMSELVES
TO A GROAN. I'M I'M HERE I'M HERE TO DEFEND MY CONSTITUENTS AND FIGHT FOR MY CONSTITUENTS. IF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T LIKE THAT I'M FINE WITH THAT. BUT I HAVE TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE AS A DISTRICT CITY
COUNCILOR AND IF I GET SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES UPSET WITH ME THAT'S THE PRICE I WILL PAY DEFENDING MY CONSTITUENTS. MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN PART OF THE ISSUE AND GOING FORWARD THERE
ARE YOU KNOW, UNDER ROBERT'S RULES THERE ARE THERE ARE LIMITS IN TERMS OF DEBATE ON MOTIONS AND BECAUSE OF HOW LONG THESE HAVE BEEN GOING WE WILL IN THE FUTURE BE IMPLEMENTING THOSE.
IF YOUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE FLOOR WHILE WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT CAN HAPPEN THE TIME RIGHT NOW IS TO
21 WILL CONTINUE FOR DEBATE. COUNCILOR MURPHY, WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? MY POINT OF ORDER IS THERE ARE CENTRAL STAFF ATTORNEY FIREMEN . THAT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER. COUNT COUNCILOR MURPHY IT IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE I WAS SPEAKING BEFORE. OKAY COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU MAY SPEAK YOU DO NOT HAVE A POINT OF ORDER BUT YOU WERE SPEAKING AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK BECAUSE SO THAT THE DEBATE
CAN CONTINUE ON. WE DON'T HAVE TO STOP FOR A RECESS IF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE BREAK TO DO THAT. IF WE COULD HAVE CENTRAL STAFF AMEND THIS AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORDED IN A PROPER
WAY IF IT IS IF IT IS CENTRAL STAFF OR COUNCILOR FLYNN STAFF, THEY MAY DO THAT AT THIS MOMENT. WOULD YOU IS THAT ALL? WELL, I NEED AN ANSWER. ISN'T THAT IN THE LAST HOUR CENTRAL STAFF COULD SUPPORT US
AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILOR FLYNN IS TAKING CARE OF THAT MATTER. COUNCILOR MURPHY, THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE WOULD LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF MISFITS HERE TODAY AND I AGREE AND I REALLY DO JUST APOLOGIZE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BACK AND FORTH THAT WE ARE
SUBJECTING OUR VIEWERS TO THIS AFTERNOON. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT LESSON FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE DON'T
FOLLOW PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDLESS OF WHO THE CHAIR IS AND WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE HAD, WE PROBABLY WOULD BE HAVING A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR
US TO MAKE A VOTE. IT IS CLEAR THAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE NOT HAD REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT
WHATEVER HERE WE ARE I THINK OUT OF THE I DON'T I DON'T RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS. I'M JUST GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS FOR TAT IS JUST NOT GOING TO HELP US. WE'RE JUST GOING TO LIKE NOT
YOU KNOW, GOING BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS ALL JUST STOP LET'S LEAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS AT THE DOOR AND LET'S FOCUS ON DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. I THINK COUNCILOR FLYNN, THE
PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION OF WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF AND CENTRAL STAFF IF NEED BE WHILE WE CONTINUE TO DEBATE IS A I BELIEVE I WILL SECOND THAT I
DON'T KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T IT'S SO I WILL SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE RECORD I WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN LIKE I THINK LET'S JUST KEEP IT
MOVING. I REALLY DO YOU THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW. I'M TRYING TO MOVE THIS TRAIN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES I BELIEVE IT'S CONTRACT TO ZAPATA WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR BREADON AND THEN
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL ARE OUT COME TO COLLECT AS A PAPER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M JUST SPEAKING TO THE CONTENTS OF THE AMENDMENT THE SAME PARAMETERS OF MY LAST ARGUMENT APPLY HERE EXEMPTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING
HERE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME COULD BE SEEN AS FAVORING ONE GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS OVER THE OTHER WITHOUT DEMONSTRATING TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS A DISTINCT BENEFIT. AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE MAYBE FOR I JUST WANT TO REITERATE I'LL KEEP IT AT THAT THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR BODY TO DO THIS. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM AND SO THERE IS STILL THE OPTION TO PRESENT A FORMAL PETITION THAT GETS TO THIS OR GETS TO THE LAST AMENDMENT AND SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR AS A PART OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCILOR AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. A QUESTION TO COUNCILOR FLYNN THROUGH THE CHAIR YOU MAY YOU MAY ASK A QUESTION TO THE
CHAIR. I'M CURIOUS THE RESIDENT THE CURRENT RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION REDUCES THE TAX BILL BY EXCLUDING A PORTION OF YOUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE FOR TAXATION PURPOSES THIS FISCAL
YEAR THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION WILL SEE A QUALIFIED BOSTON HOMEOWNERS UP TO $3,484 ON THEIR TAX BILL. IS THIS AMENDMENT GOING TO BE IN ADDITION TO THAT ALREADY
EXISTING RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY NEED TO FIND THAT EITHER IS NOT RESPONDING OR SHAKING HIS HEAD.
NO I'M NOT. IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME BUT HE'S NOT RESPONDING. SO IT'S VERY UNCLEAR TO ME WHY WE NEED THIS AMENDMENT IF WE ALREADY HAVE A HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION OF $3,984 FOR
HOMEOWNERS FOR RESIDENT THE CITY OF BOSTON THANK YOU COUNCILOR RATED THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WHERE I CONSIDER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND QUESTION TO THE FILER OR THE
MAKER OF THE AMENDMENT JUST SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS IS COUNCIL PLANNING SPOKE ABOUT WANTING TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS.
SO IS THERE AN INCOME LIMIT ON THIS EXEMPTION AND THEN ALSO HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WOULD THIS COST OR HOW MUCH BURDEN WOULD THIS SHIFT ON TO
ANY OTHER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXEMPT IN THAT FROM ANOTHER ANOTHER SET OF HOUSEHOLDS WE HAVE TO SHIFT TO SOMEWHERE.
SO HOW MUCH OF THAT SHIFT AND THEN ALSO WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO THE NEW RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE BE IT BECAUSE NOW THAT SHIFT HAPPENED, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT NEW RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE WOULD
BE? THANK YOU. THE CHAIR CATCH OF FLYNN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY. YEAH I WOULD I WOULD SAY IT'S IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL HOW MUCH THAT THAT RELIEF SHOULD BE FOR
I HAVE MY OWN RECOMMENDATION BUT I WOULD I WOULD LEAVE IT TO MY COLLEAGUES TO DECIDE WHAT WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A CITY WORKER HOW MUCH HOW MUCH ARE WE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR
THEM. IS THIS A PRIORITY FOR US IF IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR US THEN THEN THEN VOTE AGAINST IT. BUT I BUT FOR ME IT IS A
PRIORITY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF OVER THE AGE OF 55 AND THEY
ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR TAXES AND I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO SUPPORT THEM. YOU HAVE YOU CAN MAKE ANOTHER CHOICE COUNCILOR WORRELL BUT
FOR ME I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE KEEP THEM IN THE CITY COUNCIL. WELL IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY.
YEAH. AND A FEW MORE QUESTIONS THAT WENT UNANSWERED. IS THERE AN INCOME LIMIT? I THINK THE INTENT IS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES OR MODERATE OR
WORKING CLASS. IS THERE AN INCOME LIMIT ON THIS TO THE CHAIR, COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY ASK YOU MADAM CHAIR AGAIN WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES MAYBE
$30,000 A YEAR, MAYBE A LIMIT OF 30,000 UP TO I DON'T KNOW $70,000 A YEAR THAT WOULD HIT LOW INCOME WORKERS THAT WOULD
COUNCIL OVER WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING COUNCIL UP NOW WE WOULD NOT BE POLICING PEOPLE'S EXPRESSIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YOU'RE SPEAKING. OKAY.
I WAS SPEAKING I WAS SPEAKING TO COUNCIL ROW AND HE WAS TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THERE UP $30,000. COUNCILOR WORRELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR
YOU MAY. I MEAN IF THAT'S THE INTENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT ALSO TO HIS AMENDMENT TO KAZAKHSTAN IS AMENDMENT
SECOND NO, I MEAN I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO DO IT RIGHT. I'M NOT MAKING THAT OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WHEREBY COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SURE.
I THINK THAT COUNCILOR L'S QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW I HAVE A RAISE AN ISSUE WITH THIS. I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I'LL JUST MAKE COMMENTS.
COUNCILOR FLYNN WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. I JUST WEAR THE THOUSAND DOLLAR NUMBER CAME FROM 55 YEARS OLD.
20 YEARS WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON YOUNG HOMEOWNERS YOU KNOW, WHO ARE ARE OFTEN EARNING LESS THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE 55 YEARS OLD. YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOMES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS?
AND I JUST REITERATE I THINK COUNCILOR ZAPATA RAISED WHICH WAS I THINK THESE ARE WORTHWHILE ISSUES TO EXPLORE JUST NOT IN THIS ALONGSIDE
THIS, YOU KNOW, HOME RULE WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH AND GET SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENTS NOW WE CAN WE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL THESE QUESTIONS. I THINK WE NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO CRAFT
THIS IN A WAY INCLUDING THE INCOME LIMIT THAT IT WORKS FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CAROL FLYNN TO THE CHAIR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY. THANK THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND TO COUNCILOR WHETHER THESE ARE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THE THE SECOND WORKING SESSION OF THE HEARING, WE DIDN'T DO THAT. YOU WERE ONE OF THE COUNCILS
THAT DIDN'T DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A SECOND HEARING THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR US. WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A SECOND HEARING SO WE COULD ASK THOSE GOOD QUESTIONS AND RESPOND WITH
ANSWERS INSTEAD OF HAVING A DEBATE ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A SECOND HEARING. WE MISSED THAT OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL WHERE WE DIDN'T DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. NOW WE'RE SCRAMBLING AND WE'RE
TRYING TO COME UP WITH QUESTIONS AND WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE ANSWERS. WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AT THIS TIME AND WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT DOING OUR
DUE DILIGENCE TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON BY NOT FULLY DEBATING THESE ISSUES IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SITTING DOWN IN A HEARING TALKING ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS COMING UP WITH THE ANSWERS WHERE WE COULD ALL AGREE ON WHAT WHAT THE WHAT A LOW WAGE WORKER WOULD WOULD MAKE WHAT IMPACT WOULD THIS
HAVE ON THE PROPERTY OWNERS YOUNG YOUNG PROPERTY OWNERS THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE COULD HAVE ASKED OURSELVES DURING ANOTHER WORKING SESSION.
BUT YOU DECIDED YOU AGREED THAT WE DIDN'T NEED ONE. THANK YOU MADAM. THANK YOU. I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO REITERATE AND THANK COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PART OF THE CHAIR FOR HER DILIGENCE IN HER WORK WHEN SHE ASKED FOLKS ABOUT AMENDMENTS
AND ALSO THE OBLIGATION THAT EACH OF US AGAIN HAVE A LOT OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED SOUND VERY SIMILAR TO SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO AGAIN WHICH IS MEANS TEST PROPERTY TAXES. I VETTED THAT OPINION.
I VETTED THAT DESIRE TO DO THAT AMENDMENT. MY OFFICE VETTED THE DESIRE TO DO THAT AMENDMENT WITH OTHER COUNCIL WITH CORPORATE COUNCIL WHEN WE HAD HEARINGS I ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS.
I ACTUALLY ASKED THEM TWICE AT TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS THAT WE HAD ON THIS ISSUE. SO I DID NOT REST ON MY LAURELS. I MADE SURE THAT I WAS ASKING THE QUESTIONS WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT PUTTING FORWARD
AN AMENDMENT DID NOT PUT THAT AMENDMENT FORWARD BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS THE SAME THAT PRESENT HERE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR BRADING FOR YOUR
QUESTION. AND ON JANUARY 27TH WHEN WE HAD THE JAM PACKED HEARING THERE WERE FOUR DOCKETS AND DOCKET 0269 WAS A HEARING ORDER ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX VALUES
AND ASSESSING PROCESS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID LEARN THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T QUALIFY SO THEY'RE NOT EVERY HOMEOWNER WOULD BE GETTING BOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO APPLY AND YOU
HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE AWARDED THE EXEMPTION AND I THINK IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY WHEN I ASKED IF THERE'S OTHER INCENTIVES, WOULD IT BE ON TOP OF AND THEY
DID SAY THAT THE MAX I THINK WAS MORE LIKE 37,030 700 NOT 3400 I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT BUT THAT OTHERS CAN'T BE COMBINED IF IT WENT OVER A TOTAL AMOUNT.
SO AGAIN KNOW THAT THE I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT'S MY TURN TO TALK ABOUT THE HEARING ORDER NOT THESE AMENDMENTS ADDING BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT
FOR ANOTHER HEARING ORDER OR WORKING SESSION WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU RECOGNIZED CONTACT ME AGAIN FOR OH 90 SO
THIS IS INTERESTING. I I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I'M GOING TO JUST SAY THIS I THINK WE HAVE TO BE SUPER MINDFUL OF HOW WE ARE
CHARACTERIZING THE VOTES THAT WE'RE PRESENTING OUR COLLEAGUES TO TAKE. I THINK I'M GOING TO BE AGAIN CLEAR FOR THE RECORD ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR ARE MY CONSTITUENTS TOO AS
AN AT LARGE COUNCILOR AND I CARE ABOUT EVERYONE HERE IN THE CITY SO I NEVER WANT ANYONE WHO'S TUNING IN TO THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE NOT WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR. I DON'T BELIEVE IN OR SUPPORT. I THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT OUR DISTRICT COLLEAGUES WHO I'M SURE AGREE WITH ME BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS KNOCKING DOWN YOUR DOOR IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT
SOUNDS REALLY GREAT. SO I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR I BELIEVE WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. I THINK WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS THE PROCESS AND HOW I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PROCESS OF HOW WE'RE GETTING THERE AND I THINK THOSE FOUR HEARINGS THAT WE HAD IT WAS THE WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THIS
WAS THIS COULD KEEP PEOPLE KEEP SAYING THAT WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS AND MULTIPLE HEARINGS BUT THIS THERE WAS THE THE DEBATE AROUND THE TAX REBATES.
THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE REALLY FOCUSING MOST OF OUR ENERGY IN BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE ADD ONS ALL OF THESE OTHER ADD ONS ARE COMING AFTER THE FACT. SO I JUST THINK LET'S JUST KEEP
THOSE TWO THINGS SEPARATE. I THINK THAT WHAT I IF I'M CLEAR, WHAT I AM SEEING IS THAT FOLKS SAW AN OPPORTUNE NITY TO BE ABLE TO BRING ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS BEFORE WE SENT IT TO THE STATE FOR CONSIDERATION AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TACKING ON ALL THESE THINGS THAT IF THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING I THINK AND I'M
GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN I THINK THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PATHWAYS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE . I THINK THAT IF WE DON'T LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT PROTOCOLS,
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, I THINK IF PEOPLE ARE ASKING AND THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE GOVERNMENT UPS OR THROUGH YOU CHAIR BECAUSE YOU'RE THE
PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNCIL NORMALLY EVERYBODY'S OKAY NORMALLY RIGHT YOU HAVE A HIT YOU FILE THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S A HEARING AND THEN
THERE'S A WORKING SESSION OR MAYBE NOT MAYBE PEOPLE HAVE SIDEBAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IF YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO BE IN THEIR GOOD GRACES AND IF YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE
LUCKY IF YOU CAN GET A CALL BACK AND YOU ASK A QUESTION AND YOU DON'T FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT YOUR AMENDMENT WAS CONSIDERED AND SO YOU READ THE
COMMITTEE REPORT MONDAY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT DOES NOT WORK US TO SHOW UP IN
THIS COUNCIL. SO I JUST NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A WHOLE YEAR LEFT HERE AND IT'S ELECTION SEASON AND EVERYBODY'S ACTING UP RIGHT NOW SO I JUST NEED TO KNOW
MOVING FORWARD IS THE STANDARD THAT WE THIS HAS BEEN WHAT I NORMALLY HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN OTHER ITERATIONS OF THIS BODY IS THAT AN ORDINANCE IS PRESENTED THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN
SPEAK AND DELIBERATE. THEN THERE IS AN A WORKING SESSION IN WHICH COLLEAGUES ARE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH, COMB THROUGH THE LANGUAGE AND GO FOR TAT FOR EVERY SINGLE LITTLE
THING THAT WE WANT TO DO AND THEN WE BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IN THIS ITERATION OF THIS BODY IS THAT WE ARE BRINGING THINGS UP FOR A VOTE WITH VERY LITTLE DISCOURSE
AND DEBATE AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE HERE HELD HOSTAGE BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T FEEL HEARD SO I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN BECAUSE IF Y'ALL WANT TO GO
LOOK THROUGH EVERY SINGLE TAPE SINCE WE'VE STARTED THIS NEW ITERATION OF THIS BODY, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR CONSISTENCY. SO IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE
WAY NORMAL THINGS HAPPEN HERE IN THE COUNCIL AND WE'RE GOING TO DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY, THEN LET'S JUST SET THE STANDARD AND LET'S HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO IT. BUT WE COULD BE UTILIZING OUR
TIME DIFFERENTLY INSTEAD OF FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER PUBLICLY AND I KNOW I DO IT TOO THOUGH I SEE YOUR FACE I DO IT TOO. OKAY. THERE'S NO POLICING YOU BECAUSE
WE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME AND THERE'S NO POLICING OF ANYONE'S EXPRESSIONS IN THIS BODY ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE MISINTERPRETATIONS THAT OFTEN RESULT IN THAT. SO YES, IF I TOLD YOU FROM MY
VANTAGE POINT LOOKING AT ALL 13 COUNCILORS, ALL 12 COUNCILS ALL THE TIME THE DIFFERENT FACES TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON THAT THERE ARE RACIAL IMPLICATIONS AND IT'S VERY GENDERED IMPLICATIONS AND I DO NOT WANT
US TO GET INTO THAT HERE ON THIS EITHER. I HEAR YOU BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF I DON'T SAY IT MY FACE WILL SO ALREADY KNOWS YOU AND YOUR FACE OFTEN DOES AND THAT'S RIGHT AND I'M MY TRUE AUTHENTIC SELF IN THIS CHAMBER.
I WORKED REALLY HARD TO BE UP HERE SO I SHOW UP THIS WAY. ANYWAYS, GOING BACK TO MY DISCOURSE HERE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT PRESIDENT THAT WE HAVE A A STANDARD THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO BECAUSE THIS IS JUST GETTING A LITTLE BIT MESSY AND EVERY TIME I COME HERE ON A WEDNESDAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE PUT UP FOR A VOTE AND WHAT IS
GOING TO GET FLOODED AND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO AND HOW WE'RE ALL JUST LINING UP. SO I WOULD RATHER US STICK TO THE NORMS, FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO LIKE DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND KEEP IT MOVING.
LET'S JUST LET'S JUST KEEP IT MOVING. THANK YOU. HAVE SOMETHING HERE YOU ASKED IT IS THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE AT LEAST
A HEARING WHEN IT'S ON THE ORDINANCE BUT THERE HAVE BEEN ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED IN THE PAST. YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS BODY LONGER THAN ME ONE TERM LAST TERM THERE WERE ALL OF THE TIME
THERE WERE THERE WERE DIFFERENT PRACTICES GREEN SHEETS PULLED. THERE WAS NO ISSUE THERE. FOLKS WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE A WORKING SESSION, NOT OTHERS. IT IS THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR AND I HAVE I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE CHAIRS OF OUR
COMMITTEES TO MOVE HOW THEY BELIEVE IS BEST. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON AND THEN HAVE THE CLUB AS A PARTNER AND THEN I ENCOURAGE THAT WE MOVE TO A VOTE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCENTRATING ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I'VE JUST BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AT THIS TESTING SITE AND LOOKING AT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THERE'S QUITE A LOT I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION THEY HAD LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS
AMENDMENT IS TRYING TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN OWNER OCCUPANCY TAX EXEMPTION THAT IS
$3,984. WE HAVE A SENIOR REBATE THAT SEEMS TO BE MEANS TESTED THAT IF YOU I THINK IT LOOKS NEED TO
LOOKING AT WE HAVE A VETERANS EXEMPTION WE HAVE AN EXEMPTION FOR BLIND PEOPLE WE HAVE A CO HOUSING EXEMPTION, WE HAVE AN ELDERLY EXEMPTION. WE HAVE A HARDSHIP EXEMPTION FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE MAYBE
CALLED UP FOREIGN NATIONALS AND THEY'RE IN THE ARMY AND THE CALLED UP TO ACTIVE DUTY THAT THEY HAVE AN EXEMPTION OF THEIR WAY. WE HAVE AN EXEMPTION FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE CALLED UP FOR MILITARY DUTY, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY. AND AGAIN YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL ESTATE RELIEF ON REAL ESTATE TAXATION
AND IT'S A VERY, VERY SORT OF WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BROAD GROUP OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM ACTUALLY HELP WITH THEIR RENTAL
COSTS OR WHATEVER. SO I REALLY DO FEEL THAT THIS MERITS A MORE DEEPER CONVERSATION I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER FLYNN'S OBVIOUSLY VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE A
HEARING ORDER ON LOOKING AT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE RELEVANT OR NOT RELEVANT AND ANY TWEAKS THAT WE WOULD SUGGEST. BUT I THINK AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME THIS THIS THIS ISSUE IS
MOOT. WE HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION OF $3,984 FOR AN OCCUPANCY AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASKED TO CALL THIS UP FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU. THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED. BUT BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS I'M IN AN AMENDMENT THAT THERE WAS
LANGUAGE FOR A FOR A MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS BEEN PLACED BEFORE US. I KNOW THAT MEGHAN IS WORKING ON IT NOW. CAN I SLEEP ON THAT?
SO ONE ONE MOMENT SO COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU MOVED FOR A VOTE. IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT? DID YOU MOVE FOR A VOTE? YES. OKAY I, I AM GOING TO PAUSE
HERE ONLY BECAUSE WE NEED THAT UPDATED LANGUAGE AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED. IS THAT UPDATED? YEAH. OKAY. YVONNE COULD YOU PLEASE PASS THAT THAT UPDATED LANGUAGE THAT
EVERYONE HAS IT. YES. YES. TAMARA FLYNN I SEE YOU'RE LIKE IN A HUE RYAN IS PASSING OUT THE UPDATED LANGUAGE AT THE MOMENT. I WANT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO
HAVE THE UPDATED LANGUAGE
BEFORE THEM
. OKAY DOES EVERYONE HAVE THE SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE BEFORE THEM? COUNCILOR FLYNN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE SO THAT THIS COULD BE THE NEW
AMENDMENT BEFORE EVERYONE? YES, MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE PREVIOUS DOCUMENT. AND THIS NEW DOCUMENT IS THAT
MOTION SECONDED? OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MOTION DOES ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL GO SAY NAY. THIS DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY THERE IS BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS OUTSTANDING.
I DO HEAR YOUR MOTION TO MOVE THE QUESTION BUT BECAUSE THERE IS THIS OUTSTANDING LANGUAGE WILL ALLOW COUNCILOR FLYNN TO SPEAK ON THIS UPDATED LANGUAGE AND THEN I WILL GO BACK TO YOU COUNCILOR BREEDEN CAN
COUNCILOR FLYNN WE ALL HAVE BEFORE US THIS UPDATED AMENDMENT RIGHT AND WE JUST VOTED ON THE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THIS LANGUAGE. SO YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MOTION ON THIS AMENDED LANGUAGE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES JUST GOT THIS A MINUTE AGO AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY MY ASSISTANT VANESSA AND CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF FOR
HELPING DOCKET 0236 IS HEREBY AMENDED BY INSERTING THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE TO SECTION FIVE NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION FIVE OF CHAPTER 59 OF THE
GENERAL LAW OR ANY OTHER GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE CITY OF BOSTON SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ALLOW FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR $1,000 FOR
LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OWNED A HOME IN BOSTON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND ARE AGED 55. AND ALTHOUGH SUCH AN EXEMPTION SHALL BE APPLIED ONLY TO A
TAXPAYER OWNING ONE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND SUCH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SHALL BE THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF THE TAXPAYER AS USED BY THE TAXPAYER FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
THIS EXEMPTION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY EXEMPTIONS ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION FIVE PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT A NO INSTANCE SHALL THE TAXABLE VALUATION OF SUCH PROPERTY
AFTER ALL APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS BE REDUCED BELOW 10% OF ITS FULL AND FAIR CASH VALUATION EXCEPT THROUGH APPLICABILITY OF CLAUSE 18 OF SECTION FIVE
OF CHAPTER 59 WHERE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER 59 EXEMPT EXEMPTION IS BASED UPON AN AMOUNT OF TAX RATHER THAN ON VALUATION THE
REDUCTION OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR PURPOSES OF THE PRECEDING SENTENCE SHALL BE COMPUTED BY DIVIDING THE SET AMOUNT OF TAX BY THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS TAX
RATE OF THE CITY OR TOWN, MULTIPLYING THE RESULT BY $1,000 FOR FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH PARCEL SHALL MEAN A UNIT OF REAL PROPERTY AS DEFINED BY THE ASSESSORS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEEP WITH THE DEED FOR SUCH PROPERTY AND SHALL INCLUDE A CONDO UNIT AS WELL. MADAM CHAIR, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
FOR PEOPLE AT HOME THAT MIGHT FOLLOWING IT I JUST WANT IT TO BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK THE CHAIR IS CONCENTRATING ON THE FLOOR. A POINT OF TRYING CLARIFICATION MADAM PRESIDENT.
THROUGH YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE MAKER DOES THIS MEAN THAT HE'S PROPOSING TO REDUCE THE THE OWNER OCCUPANCY TAX
EXEMPTION FROM 3984 TO $1000 TO THE CHAIR COUNCIL? IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO RESPOND BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON COUNCILOR FLYNN'S SORRY CELEBRATING OF THE FLOOR, MADAM CHAIR, AND RAISE THIS ISSUE LEAST THREE TIMES, POSSIBLY FOUR. THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
QUESTION. I AGREE WITH YOU AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OR TO AT LEAST ANSWER THE QUESTION YES, I CANNOT I CANNOT FORCE ANYONE I GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. FLYNN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY WELL, I THINK YOU CALLED YOU WILL YOU CALLED FOR A VOTE AND THEN COUNCILOR BREADON ADDED SOMETHING IS THAT IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY WELL, COUNCILOR BREADON HAD THE
FLOOR? SHE ASKED A QUESTION I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED TO HER AND I DID NOT. SO I WOULD TAKE BUT THEN YOU BUT THEN YOU ADDED MADAM CHAIR, YOU CALLED FOR A VOTE. COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO RESPOND TO COUNCILOR BREADON YOU MAY IF NOT. OKAY. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN WOULD NOT LIKE TO RESPOND. COUNCILOR BREADON IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM CHAIR, IT'S VERY CLEAR TO
ME THAT THE EXISTING TAX EXEMPTION FOR OWNER OCCUPANCY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS $3,984 AND THIS AMENDMENT THE COUNCILOR FLYNN IS PROPOSING IS
TO MOVE TO AN OWNER OCCUPANCY EXEMPTION OF $1,000 FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHO OWN THEIR HOME. I DON'T THINK THIS MAKES SENSE. HE IS ADVOCATING TO REDUCE THE
THE TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE. RESIDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THESE WANTING TO REDUCE MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANGUAGE IS HE'S USING IS PROPOSING TO
REDUCE THE EXEMPTION FROM 9000 3984 TO $1000. I AM CONFUSED. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BENEFIT . I THINK THAT'S A REGRESSIVE STEP FOR OUR FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THE REAL ESTATE TAXES IN BOSTON TO
REDUCE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION JUST $31,000. I'M SORRY, I'M CONFUSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR. COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY.
YEAH, IT'S BREADON IS IS INACCURATE ON A LOT OF THE THAT SHE'S MADE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. COUNCILOR BREADON, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY.
MADAM CHAIR. MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M JUST TOTALLY FRUSTRATED THAT THIS IS THE MAKING OF THIS AMENDMENT REFUSES TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. IT'S VERY UNCLEAR TO ME AND I'M
SURE IT'S VERY UNCLEAR TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS DEBATE THAT HE IS PROPOSING A TAX A TAX REBATE OF $1,000 WHEN
WE ALREADY HAVE A TAX REBATE OF $3,984. TO ME THAT SEEMS REGRESSIVE AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE LINING UP TO VOTE FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S DETRIMENTAL TO RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. DO THEY?
CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY. SHE'S ENTITLED TO HER OPINION AND TO VOTE THAT WAY. MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A HEARING ORDER ON THIS SUBJECT. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT I DO WANT TO DISCUSS.
I HAVE A HEARING ORDER THAT WE WILL DISCUSS THAT. I DO HOPE COUNCILOR BREADON WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE BUT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST WEEK AND THE WEEK BEFORE TO DISCUSS
A LOT OF THESE ISSUES IN A SECOND HEARING. WE CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THAT. NOW WE'RE HAVING THIS THIS HEARING ON A WEDNESDAY AND IT SHOULD BE IN THE IN THE COMMITTEE IN THE COMMITTEE
HEARING AND COUNCILOR CHOSE NOT TO SHOW UP TO THE ORIGINAL HEARING. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR TO TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT
YOU KNOW, THIS THIS DISCUSSION REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE IN THE HEARINGS NOT NOT ON THE TRADITIONAL WEDNESDAY. AND MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ON IT.
WE COULD WE COULD GO BACK AND WE COULD GO BACK AND FORTH FOREVER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY GREAT. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY. MY FINAL COMMENT IS THIS MERITS A MUCH DEEPER CONVERSATION THAT
WE WILL NOT SORT OUT TODAY. WE NEED A HEARING ON THIS. WE NEED A DEEP DIVE. WE NEED TO GET THE ASSESSING DEPARTMENT IN HERE AND LOOK AT ALL THESE THESE EXEMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR VETERANS AND PEOPLE
WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND ELDERS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WE NEED TO LOOK THEM LINE BY LINE WITH THIS. THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AND IT DOES IT REALLY
DOESN'T HAVE ANY PLACE IN THIS IN THIS REQUEST THIS HOME HOME RULE PETITION THAT'S GOING TO THIS THE STEP RIGHT NOW TO GET RELIEF FOR OUR OWNER OCCUPIERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
SO I REST MY CASE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING. I ALSO RESENT THE FACT THAT I'M RECOVERING FROM MAJOR SURGERY ON MY KNEE AND HAVE HAVE BEEN ABSENT. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE BUT
IN THIS KIT AT THIS POINT IN TIME I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY OWN HEALTH AND I RESENT AN IMPLICATION THAT I AM NEGLECTING MY DUTY AS A CITY COUNCILOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR BREADON AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE RECOVERING
AND THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING. I HEARD A POINT OF ORDER. COUNCILOR MURPHY WHAT IS THE RULE THAT YOU BELIEVE IS BEING IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED AT THIS MOMENT? I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT. EARLIER THERE WAS A
COUNCILOR WHO WANTED TO SPEAK BEFORE A VOTE BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT MAYBE PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO VOTE AND I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO
COUNCILOR BRADEN'S OBSERVATION ABOUT THE FACT BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE QUALIFIES. JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD A I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU HAD A POINT OF ORDER AND NOW YOU'RE SPEAKING SUBSTANTIVELY ON THE MATTER. SO CUSTOMER WILL YOU ALLOW ME TO SPEAK?
YES. SO THAT YES, YES YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO COUNCILOR BREADON AT THAT MEETING THERE WERE 1700 APPLICATIONS AND THE HEARING WAS BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 3RD
DEADLINE. I LOOKED UP ON THE WEBSITE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ABOUT 1090 APPEALS RIGHT NOW SO MOST OF OUR HOMEOWNERS DON'T QUALIFY
FOR THOSE OTHER TAX ABATEMENTS. SO THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION IN MY OPINION WHERE IF THE OTHERS THAT YOU LISTED IF YOU'RE NOT A VETERAN, IF YOU'RE NOT IF YOU DON'T FALL UNDER OTHER CATEGORIES AND IF YOU KNOW BECAUSE THE APPEAL FOR
YOUR HOME IS ONLY THAT YOUR QUESTIONING THAT THEY ASSESSED IT IMPROPERLY AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN QUESTION IT BECAUSE THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK WITH A LARGER TAX BILL. SO THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION
FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO APPEAL BECAUSE YOU GET YOUR BILL. SOME HOMEOWNERS SAY HEY, I DON'T THINK YOU ASSESSED MY HOME PROPERLY. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO. SO THIS WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS KNOW THAT THERE IS NO ABATEMENT OR REBATE OPTION FOR THEM THAT THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND IN NO WOULD THEY DO BOLD OR CHOOSE
ONE OVER THE OTHER. SO I JUST WANTED TO BE WHAT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ON THIS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR AND HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I AM GOING TO REITERATE YET AGAIN THAT IF WE HAD DIFFERENT NORMS HERE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND WE'D BE DONE WITH ALL THIS BY NOW.
IT IS CLEAR THAT MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND I APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
EITHER ONE OR TWO THINGS WILL NEED TO HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE AMENDMENTS WE GOT COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE COUNCIL PLAN BUT I THINK IN THE INTERESTS OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE THINGS ALONG.
I AM GOING TO HUMBLY AGAIN SUGGEST AND I THINK I THINK THIS IS A THE REASON WHY WE ARE SHOWING UP THIS WAY IS BECAUSE THE SAME WAY THE COUNCILORS FEEL THIS THE SAME WAY THAT
COMMUNITY FOLKS FEEL PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL HEARD. PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL AFFIRMED. AND SO ALL OF THIS ENERGY IS IN THIS CHAMBER AND WE NEED STAGE HERE AND WE NEED TO SHOW UP DIFFERENTLY WHY ALL OF THIS IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK THAT FOR THE SAKE OF MOVING THINGS ALONG I AM GOING RECOMMEND THAT WE A MOVE
THIS TO A HEARING AND THAT YOU ORGANIZE AND YOU BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS CHAMBER RIGHT WHO CAN HELP DEMONSTRATE HOW AND WHY WE
NEED THIS BILL RIGHT NOW TRYING TO OBVIOUSLY YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN TRYING TO CHANGE ANYONE'S MIND TODAY IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
SO I WILL RECOMMEND RESPECTFULLY FOR US TO PUT THIS TO BED COUNCILORS, COUNCILORS, COUNCILORS, COUNCIL ME HERE HAS THE FLOOR. I DON'T THAT'S WHY I'M SO USED
TO ALL OF THIS BUT I'M SO IT'S I ACTUALLY CAN HEAR IT VERY OKAY BUT BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE HERE SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST AND MY
MOTION IS TO CLOSE THE DEBATES I'M NOT EVEN DONE SPEAKING HOW ABOUT LET ME FINISH MY THOUGHT . I HOPE THAT MY MOTION IS TO CLOSE DEBATE AND GIVE COUNCILOR FLYNN AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO THROUGH A DIFFERENT CHANNEL TO EXECUTE HIS VISION. AND I AND I RESPECT FULLY SAY THAT TO YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN IN THE INTERESTS OF JUST MOVING
THE WORK ALONG. MY APOLOGIES AGAIN BUT I AM GOING TO JUST ASK US TO KEEP THINGS MOVING BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGENDA TO GO THROUGH. SO OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE BODY,
OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN THESE UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS, I AM GOING TO ASK US TO KEEP IT MOVING. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MAY HERE HAS A MOTION ON FLOOR TO CLOSE DEBATE AND
MOVE TO A VOTE AS I'VE BEEN SECONDED SECONDED. OKAY WE WILL NOW TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO CLOSE THE BOTTOM OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AGAIN, IT'S REQUIRED A TWO THIRDS
VOTE. A YES VOTE MEANS THAT WE CLOSED THE MEETING AND MOVED TO THE PREVIOUS QUIET AND MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AND NO VOTE. THAT DEBATE STAYS OPEN. MR CLERK, COULD YOU AS EVERYONE
UNDERSTAND COUNCILOR BREADON YES, COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLORED AS A PARTY COUNCILOR COLORED AS A PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES.
COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON TO CLOSE DEBATE YES. YES. FERNANDES ANDERSON YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD KNOW
COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES COUNCILORS AND YES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE SEE COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY NO COUNCILOR OPEN COUNCILOR BYRNE
YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILORS SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THREE IN A NEGATIVE. THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT ITSELF A YES VOTE WHICH ONLY REQUIRES A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL. SO SEVEN COUNCILORS WOULD MEAN
THAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE CHAIR'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE TO THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND TO THE HOME RULE PETITION AND A NO WOULD MEAN THAT IT IS NOT ADDED
OKAY, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE? COUNCILOR BREEN NO. COUNCILOR BREADON NO. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS PARTY COUNCILOR AS A PART AND NO COUNCILOR DURKAN
COUNCILOR DURKAN NO. COUNCILOR FINANCE SANDERSON COUNCIL FINANCE AND PRESENT COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO COUNCIL FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR NO.
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE? NO. OH PRESENT. SORRY. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE PRESENT COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES.
COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR WITH NO COUNCIL SANTANA NO COUNCILOR SANTANA NO COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCIL MEMBER NO IN COUNCILOR WORRELL NO
COUNCILOR NO. NINE VOTES IN A NEGATIVE TWO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND TWO PRESENT. THANK YOU. THIS AMENDMENT HAS NOT BEEN HAS NOT PASSED SO WE ARE STILL BEFORE US.
WE HAVE THE CHAIR'S MAIN REPORT AND A RECOMMENDATION THAT IT OUGHT TO PASS. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT AND SO WHERE IS IT? I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL DAY AND I LOST MY SCRIPT. HERE WE GO.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO RECONSIDER. UM. OKAY. WHERE IS IT?
IT'S. I NEED A SECOND CLOSING MESSAGE IN MY MOBILE. YOU WANT TO I WANT TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT SO IT'S NOT A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. YOU WANT A MOTION TO AMEND?
I WANT A MOTION. OKAY, SO ALSO THE MOTION TO AMEND IS SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND I I ALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT.
COUNCILWOMAN HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. IT'S ALL THIS TIME I WAITED AND I CAN'T EVEN FIND MY SCRIPT. OKAY, SO I AM GOING TO JUST GO OFF THE CUFF HERE I ACTUALLY
WOULD LIKE SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILOR COLETTA WE HAD COMMUNICATED TO YOUR OFFICE TO
RECONSIDER A NUMBER OF TURN WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. I WANT TO JUST KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT OUR AMENDMENT THERE'S NO LEGISLATIVE OR
CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS AROUND IT FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN. MINE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN'S AMENDMENTS HAVE. SO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN CASE YOU ARE GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW,
QUESTIONING MINDS IS LEGIT I'M SO NATURALLY THAT YOURS WASN'T BUT LIKE YOU KNOW MY MY AMENDMENT IS I'D LIKE TO
PROPOSE I ASKED FOR 100 AND I AM GOING TO ASK INSTEAD OF 30 I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT FOR US TO DO A 50,000
EXEMPTION AND THAT IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FILLING THIS CRUNCH. WE WERE JUST IN DC THESE PAST FEW DAYS AND WE WERE WE
BROUGHT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS OWNERS MANY OF WHICH WERE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH EVEN JUST KEEPING UP WITH THEIR RENTS THEY HAVE THIS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT IS
MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN. RIGHT NOW THE EXEMPTION IS AT I THINK COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA'S IS AT 30 AND WHAT I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IF WE GO ANYTHING HIGHER LIKE COMPARING OURSELVES TO CAMBRIDGE I HAVE A HARD TIME DOING THAT BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT BOSTON JUST DOMINICANS ALONE
HAVE OVER 500 BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT EQUITY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES COMPARING BOSTON TO CAMBRIDGE KNOWING THAT HARVARD IS OCCUPYING SO MUCH
SPACE IN CAMBRIDGE, I THINK THE TIME WILL TELL AND THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES ARE VERY DIFFERENT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE EXEMPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
IN PARTICULAR IS THAT MANY OF THE BARBERS WHO HAVE YOU KNOW THEY'RE BEING TAXED ON THEIR CHAIRS, ANY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT AND OFTENTIMES SOME OF THEM HAVE MORE THAN
$10,000 OR MORE THAN $30,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT. SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR A THRESHOLD A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN 30. I KNOW I WAS BEING AGGRESSIVE
WITH 100,000. SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER MEETING ME HALFWAY AND JUST OUT OF COURTESY A LOT OF PROTOCOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND JUST
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, YOU KNOW. WELL, I DO APPRECIATE GETTING THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON MONDAY. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME FOR US TO HAVE SOME DIALOG SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND
THINGS SO THAT YOU KNOW, I IT'S IT'S JUST A BETTER PRACTICE. SO I HAVE HAD TO NOW UTILIZE THIS MOMENT TO FIGHT FOR IT. SO I'M ASKING US TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. OH, OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE A COUNCILOR THAT
IS A PARTY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO CONCILOR MEJIA HERE FOR INTRODUCING THIS. SO WHEN WE WERE REVIEWING THE NUMBERS GOING FROM 10 TO 30 I THINK I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER
RIGHT NOW IT STANDS AT $10,000. THE INCREASE TO 30 CAPTURES IS SPECIFIC FOR POOL OF BUSINESSES ABOUT 5500 BUSINESSES THAT ARE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL
TO THE SMALL MAN CLUB WE WERE LOOKING AT NUMBERS 400,000 OBVIOUSLY THAT'S YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN HE IS COUNTER I GUESS AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM TO TO $50,000
WE DID NOTICE LIKE AS WE DO INCREMENTAL STEPS UP IN $10,000 SO FROM 40 TO 50 THERE WAS IF WE'RE CASTING A WIDER NET WE
RUN THE RISK OF POTENTIALLY CAPTURING BUSINESSES THAT ARE CHAIN RESTAURANTS OR BUSINESSES WHERE LIKE THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT IN THIS PROPOSAL ISN'T NECESSARILY FOR
THEM. AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THE THE DECREASE IN THE NUMBER. I JUST THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M THAT I'M TAKING A LOOK AT IT. BUT BASED ON SOME OF THE
RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE IN LOOKING AT THOSE INCREMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AT 30. IT IS FAIR AND AGAIN IT PROVIDES THE RELIEF THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOR MOM AND POP
BUSINESSES AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN HUGHES PARTNERSHIP. I THINK EARLIER LAST YEAR WE HAD LOOKED INTO THIS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY PROTECT THE BUSINESSES IF AND
WHEN THE COMMERCIAL BURDEN OR THE SHIFT GOES TO OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS. AND YOU KNOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING INTO THIS AND I THINK I KNOW THAT BOSTON IS NOT
CAMBRIDGE BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO CRUCIFY I THINK 40% WHERE THERE'S A FISCAL ARGUMENT TO BE MADE AS WELL TO OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ARGUMENT TO BE MADE AND SO MY I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT BUT I
DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF COUNCILMAN HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. SO YOU KNOW, JUST THE PROPOSED INCREASE IS NOT JUST ABOUT ADJUSTING NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT REFLECTING THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THE 30,000 THRESHOLD IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RELIEF TO THOSE WHO
NEED IT MOST. INCREASING THE EXEMPTION TO 50,000 ALLOW US BETTER TO TARGET OUR SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO MAY ALREADY BE STRUGGLING WITH THE RISING COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS OR
LIVING IN BOSTON. THIS ADJUSTMENT WILL HELP REDUCE THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON THEM ALLOWING FOR MORE RESOURCES TO BE REINVESTED IN THEIR BUSINESSES, FAMILIES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING HERE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO WHO ARE TUNING IN LIKE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE HERE BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE ARE BRINGING HERE UNLESS AND UNLESS IT DID NOT COME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OR YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
HARD TIME PASSING ANYTHING THROUGH, I'M GOING TO DIG MY HEELS ON THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT AND AS SOMEONE WHO CHAIRED THE ONCE UPON A TIME THE SMALL BUSINESS AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AND AS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE TO FACE THESE SMALL BUSINESSES DAY IN AND DAY OUT, I THINK AN INCREASE FROM 30 TO 50 IS A
REASONABLE ASK. I FEEL LIKE THIS PARTICULAR ITERATION OF THIS BODY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP FOR FOLKS AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU ALL TO BREAK THE LAW, TO BREAK
THE RULES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A THUMP SO THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE
THE CHAIR FOR HER PUSHBACK. THIS IS NORMALLY THE WAY THINGS THIS IS HEALTHY DISCOURSE BUT I WILL ALSO HAVE TO JUST DISAGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND
I THINK THAT WE COULD DO BETTER AND IF WE'RE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THIS IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO DO THAT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ALL FOUR TO CONSIDER THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING A LOT OF THE PROCEDURES DURING THIS WHOLE SESSION HERE AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WE NEED TO MOVE ON, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO ASK
EVERYONE TO SUPPORT INCREASING THE PERSONAL TAX EXEMPTION IN SECTION FIVE FROM 30 TO 50000. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO TO TO CLARIFY OR TO JUST ADD THAT THIS
COMPETITION IS PASSING IN A NEW DRAFT AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE IT'S NOT WHAT WAS SENT TO US BY THE ADMINISTRATION. THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO REFLECT THAT WE NEED MORE
ROBUST UNDERSTANDING AND DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE NATURE OF REBATES IF WE DO DO REBATES, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS PROPOSED IN A NEW DRAFT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FINANCIAL PLANNING ON
THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND FOR THE RECORD I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY COUNCILOR ME HERE. I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE
REQUEST THAT YOU MAY COUNCILOR ME HERE AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE IN THE ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT KNOWS MORE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAN THAN COUNCILOR ME HERE SHE SHE TALKS TO THESE SMALL OWNERS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND LISTENS TO THEM KNOWS EXACTLY IN MY OPINION
KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WHAT THEY NEED DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT COUNCILOR MEJIA MY MY QUESTION TO MY COLLEAGUES AND MAYBE TO MAYBE TO COUNCILOR ME HERE IS
AGAIN I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTING I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROPOSAL BUT IF PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT IT, IS THERE A IS THERE
A RECOMMENDED NUMBER THAT YOU COULD LIVE WITH STRIKING STRIKING 30,000 AND INSERTING 50,000?
SO THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION. I THINK I THINK THE 50,000 NUMBER IS APPROPRIATE BUT IF THERE'S IF THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER FOR MY
COLLEAGUES, IS THERE SOME IS THERE ANOTHER NUMBER THAT YOU COULD LIVE WITH? SO COUNCIL AND COUNCILOR MEJIA CAN CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND FIGHT AND SUPPORT THESE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AGAIN, MANY OF THEM MANY OF THEM ARE IMMIGRANT OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY WOMEN ,PEOPLE OF COLOR. THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD TOO.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR CALLS ME. IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY CATCH MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO MODEL
BEHAVIOR HERE TO LOOK TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO CONTINUOUSLY BE THE ONE THAT ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND COMPROMISE. I AM GOING TO LET IT GO BECAUSE
WE KNOW WE'RE LIVING IN A VERY DIFFERENT CLIMATE RIGHT HERE UNLESS EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SUPPORT ME. BUT IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT ME BECAUSE I KNOW HOW WE ROLL.
NO. SO WHAT I THINK I THINK I AM WILLING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE VOTE AND THEN I HAVE A I HAVE A BACKUP PLAN TO SUPPORT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO EITHER WAY RIGHT EITHER WAY WE'RE GOING TO WIN. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE KINDS OF WEBER WEBCAMS WHERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY, I JUST I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THE MATH
CORRECTLY IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT THE YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE. MY MY UNDERSTANDING AND FOR THE FOUR ACCOUNTS FROM HERE YOU
KNOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TAX RATE IS ABOUT $11 FOR $3,000 IN VALUE. SO IF A BUSINESS HAS AN EXEMPTION THAT INCREASES BY
$20,000 THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $220 FOR THEIR TAX BILL FOR THE YEAR. SO I, I YOU KNOW, I'M JUST I, I JUST WANTED TO SET THAT LEVEL
HERE AS KIND OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO. I HONESTLY I APPLIED COUNSELOR TO HIS EFFORTS BUT I'M ALSO CONSIDERING A COUNSELOR CLOSE
THE POTTER'S OF YOU KNOW SORT OF EXPLANATION OF WHY WAS SAID AT THIS RATE THANK YOU THANK YOU. CATCH MEJIA IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND WITH THE CHAIR YOU MAY
. I'M CURIOUS UH, AND THIS IS JUST BECOMING A RECURRING THEME HERE.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE YOUR QUESTION BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE CHAIR AND HER LEADERSHIP SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO US
WHY THE ADVERSE REACTION OR DESIRE TO NOT WANT TO INCREASE THE $24,000, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 30 AND 50? IT'S ONLY $20,000.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHERE WHAT'S THE STRUGGLE HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND IT AND MAYBE YOU TOO. THANK YOU.
I THINK I THINK COUNSELOR WEBER IS QUESTION YEAH. OKAY. SO THE CHAIR AND HIS COUNTERPART IS ABOUT TO GO THE FLOOR. SO MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT HE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE. I DON'T THINK THAT HE WAS
ASKING ABOUT MY OPINION OF WHY I WANT TO KEEP IT AT 30. I THINK I HAD EXPLAINED THAT IN MY IN MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS TO YOUR TO REMEMBER IT BUT I DON'T COUNCIL MEMBER CAN YOU JUST PLEASE REPEAT IT JUST SO I HAVE
YES THANK YOU CAUSE WEBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR NOW AND I JUST I JUST SO IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN WOULD BE ON
AVERAGE YOU KNOW IF WE IF WE PASS THIS IT WOULD SAVE BUSINESSES $220 A YEAR. THAT'S THAT'S HOW I READ IT. I UNDERSTAND HOW EXEMPTIONS WORK.
MAYBE I DON'T SO I, I HAVE YOU SEE THE UH YOU KNOW THE MAKER UM KNOWS THIS BUT YEAH AS THE AS THE CHAIR OF GOVERNMENT OPS
YOU KNOW YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPINION ON IT AND IF WE DIDN'T SO HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU TOO. I JUST THAT WAS THAT WAS THE ONLY PURPOSE OF MY COMMENT WAS JUST TO KIND OF I THINK WHEN PEOPLE WATCH AT HOME THEY HEAR $20,000, YOU KNOW AND BUT WHAT
WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT ARE THE TAX BILLS AND JUST FOR MY SAKE AS I THINK ABOUT THIS, I JUST WANTED TO GET TO THE ACTUAL TAX DOLLARS SAVINGS AND THAT COULD MAKE OR BREAK A BUSINESS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S A LITTLE OR A LOT OR YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR COUNSELOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY TRY IT AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN
FRONT OF ME. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT FOR THE $30,000 EXEMPTION THAT'S 5500 BUSINESSES. AND SO WHEN WE GET INTO 40 OR 50 I JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS WITH ME TO FIGURE OUT
HOW MANY FOLKS ARE ARE GETTING THE EXEMPTION SO I, I, I AGAIN I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN HIS AMENDMENT I THINK THAT I DO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THERE
WAS A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE OF LIKE YOU KNOW, AMENDMENTS THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T GET INCLUDED JUST TO TO ECHO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE NEW DRAFT FROM A FROM A COUNCIL COLLEAGUE AND WHILE WE MAY HAVE SOME FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENTS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS WHAT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, WHAT IS FAIR, THE MERIT OF THE INCLUSION IS NOT
BASED ON WHO THE PERSON WHO INTRODUCED IT IS. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION THAT I HAVE TO MAKE HERE. THE OTHER THING TOO THAT THAT I TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WAS THE FACT THAT THIS WAS ALREADY VOTED ON AND PASSED BY THIS
BODY AND SO THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THIS IS AN ADEQUATE NUMBER, THAT THIS IS A NUMBER THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY A PART OF OF MY DECISION TO KEEP IT AT THE 30. AND SO I, I DON'T HAVE A
RESPONSE REALLY CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME TO COUNCILOR ME HERE BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT GOT ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I, I WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT THROUGH THE CHAIR COMES TO ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY.
YES. SO I JUST A OH SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S REALLY LISTENING HERE THIS IS NOT ABOUT IS I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO CONFUSE THE SITUATION HERE
AND I'M GLAD THAT COUNCILOR COLETTA CLARIFIED OF THE TAX DOLLARS. MY FOCUS IS REALLY ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT THAT BUSINESSES HAVE AND HOW THEY'RE BEING TAXED AND
THEIR EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN VALUED ABOVE $30,000. SO IF YOU TALK TO CARLOS CASTILLO OR YOU MORANDI
RESTAURANT OR YOU TALK TO MIAMI RESTAURANT, SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR BUSINESS IS FAR MORE THAN 30,000 AND EXEMPTIONS, RIGHT?
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE SOME OF THE CHAIRS
FOR GIVE YOU A BARBER SHOP IS $2,000 THAT THEY THAT IT COSTS FOR A BARBER CHAIR AND THAT THEY HAVE TEN OR 15 THEY ARE GONNA THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION SO THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO INCREASE IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE FOR THE PEOPLE JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTION BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW. SO AND I AND I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST KEEP GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT IF WE HAD A FAIR HEARING
WORKING SESSION WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HAVING ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YES, THIS PAST WE WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BUT I WASN'T HAPPY WHEN
IT WENT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME AND SO I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THE ADVOCACY THAT I'VE BEEN DOING ON BEHALF OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING IT
BACK TO THE COUNCIL FLOOR. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO SUCH A THING AND I'M WILLING TO DO THE WORK PERHAPS MAYBE DOING AN IMPACT STUDY BEFORE WE
EVEN GO THERE. JUST KEEP PUTTING EVERYTHING BACK TO THE BACKBURNER BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO FIGHT FOR, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN OTHER THINGS. COOK JUST PLOW THROUGH HERE SO
YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO JUST HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR THE BACKUP PLAN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'RE AN INTERESTING BUNCH. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND AS A CONSEQUENCE ANDREW ANDERSON, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I I THINK YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF LIKE DOING THIS FOR PERSONAL
PROPERTY TAX IN EXCESS TO WHAT AS TO MEJIA AS TEAM OR CONSUMER HAS STATED HERE IN EXCESS OF 50,000 A VALUE IT DOES I
THINK IT DOES INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO THINK THAT YOU KNOW TENANTS OR VENDORS ARE GOING TO BE SAVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND THEN INCENTIVIZING THE LANDLORDS TO PUSH YOU KNOW,
INCREASE THE RENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT POINT TO BE MADE. SO I DO APOLOGIZE IF I'M BEING REPETITIVE. THE OTHER POINT HERE IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE MAKING AN AMENDMENT AND THE
QUESTION IS I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO EXPECT THE CHAIR TO RESPOND TO AN AMENDMENT SOMEONE ELSE IS PROPOSING. YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS
EITHER WE'RE GOING ON BREAK OR WE'RE DECIDING THAT IS TOO OR IT'S TOO SOON FOR THE FOR THE VOTE AND WE'RE HOLDING A WORK IN SESSION. THERE IS A DEADLINE YOU GUYS
OF ALL HAVE READ IT MARCH SORRY MARCH WAS THE DEADLINE AND YOU WANT IT'S MARCH 1ST. THANK YOU. YEAH SO THAT'S AROUND THE
CORNER SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF US HAVING THIS ON THE FLOOR TODAY AND I MEAN THE ORIGINAL DOCKET BUT IT IN TERMS
OF THIS HERE I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ONE IF WE HAD MORE INFORMATION TO THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE LIKE A FULL OF INVENTORY OF BUSINESSES THE CITY HAS NOT
DONE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF THOSE BUSINESSES TO THEIR NEED OR IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW OVERALL LIKE TAX ASSESSMENT ON BUSINESSES IN BOSTON.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF PREMATURE FOR US TO VOTE ON INCREASING AN AMOUNT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPACT. SO I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY A STUDY TO ASSESS THE TAX IMPACT.
SO BEFORE WE COULD INCREASE IT AND THEN CONSIDERING THAT WE DO WANT TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY TOO SO THERE'S A BALANCE HERE TO HOLD UNTIL 30,000, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE FACT
THAT WE VOTED THE FIRST TIME CONSIDERING THAT FOLKS EVOLVE THEIR OPINION OR POSITIONS OR THAT THERE'S BEEN FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY,
SOMETIMES OUR POSITIONS MAY EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING ELSE. SO THAT'S RESPECTFULLY I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR THING TO SAY BECAUSE MANY OF US HERE
TIME AND TIME AGAIN CHANGE OUR MINDS OR AGAIN EVOLVE OUR POSITIONS SO THAT'S NOT THAT'S MOOT AND YOU KNOW AND ALSO A LITTLE ON THE SIDE I DON'T
THINK WE'RE A BUNCH OF MISFITS AND I THINK THESE COMMENTS AND RESPECTFULLY ARE VOID OF PROFESSIONALISM. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD EVEN
SAY THAT. I THINK WE'RE HUMAN AND I THINK THAT WE ARE WE HAVE INTENTIONS. THERE'S A LOT OF HEART HERE IN TERMS OF PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE PUT A LOT
OF WORK INTO RESEARCH. SO I TAKE YOU ALL SERIOUSLY AND THAT'S WHY IF I IF I'M PUSHED TO A POSITION WHERE I HAVE TO
SAY TO YOU, HEY, THAT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT OR FAIR I WILL BUT I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN THIS JOB AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT OUR CALLING AND THEN YOU
KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE AGREED THAT YOU KNOW, WE LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF MISFITS. I, I RESENT THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD MAYBE TAKE A BREAK MAYBE DO LUNCH FOLKS AT HOME WOULD UNDERSTAND WE'VE
BEEN HERE HOURS ON ONE SUBJECT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TAKEN BUT MAYBE TAKING A DEEP BREATH AND JUST AGAIN OFFERING OURSELVES BE KIND TO YOURSELVES LIKE OFFERING OURSELVES A LITTLE GRACE THAT WE ARE HUMAN AND WE
ARE PROFESSIONALS AND WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO NAVIGATE THIS THING SO THAT WE CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY . VISIONS THOSE ARE MY POINTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES PATRICK CLUB AS A PARTNER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I DO APPRECIATE AS ALWAYS COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON PROFESSIONALISM AND ABILITY TO ARTICULATE JUST THE SHARED AND
COMMON GOALS THAT WE HAVE HERE. I DID JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE 5500 ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES, I THINK I MISSPOKE AND SAID THE TAX THE TAX RATE WHEN I'M AT THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. BUT BUT THAT'S IT AND I AM
SEEING NO LIGHTS ON. I AM MOVING FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. THE COUNCIL IS ABOUT TO HAS A MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED IT'S NOT UP FOR DEBATE ALL IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THE QUESTION SAY I I ALSO SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE? WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW IS CONCILOR MEJIA HE IS AMENDMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE BODY YES VOTE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT AND A NO VOTE WOULD BE NOT IN
SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT. THIS REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE OF SEVEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON VOTING? THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON VOTING. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE
COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR CARLOS OPPOSED COUNCILOR CARLOS ZAPATA NO. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN NO. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON
AND COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANTOS AND PRESIDENT COUNCILOR FITZGERALD OH COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.
COUNCIL ALLUSION NO. COUNCIL ALLUSION NO. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE SEE COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES COUNCILOR THE PEN COUNCILOR THE
PEN NO COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA NO. COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR WEBER KNOW IT COUNCILOR WORRELL COUNCILOR WORRELL NO EIGHT
VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE FOUR VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND ONE PRESENT. THANK YOU. THIS AMENDMENT HAS NOT PASSED. OKAY SO BEFORE US IS STILL THE
MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR THAT THE DOCKET OUGHT TO PASS IN A NEW DRAFT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. I SEE COUNCILOR MURPHY'S LIGHT ON COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT TO PUT FORWARD. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MOTION TO PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT THAT'S BEING PASSED OUT NOW TO THE MINUTE FOR IT TO
BE PASSED. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO AMEND. RYAN IS PASSING OUT THE AMENDMENT IF I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ANY WOULD THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND? I SEE NO LIGHTS ON. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO
AMEND SAY I I. ALL THE POLLS SAY NAY AND KAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON
ALLOWING COUNCILOR MURPHY'S MOTION TO AMEND TO BE BEFORE PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY. THANK YOU. THE SECOND.
WAS THERE WAS THERE A SEC? SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW. IS THERE A SECOND? THE SECOND TO THAT MOTION. SO THIS IS A VOTE ON A MOTION TO AMEND AND I'M EXPLAINING WHAT THE MOTION TO AMEND IS FOR
YOU. SO IT'S ABOUT NOT GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE IT WASN'T SECONDED BUT THEN IT SEEMED LIKE YOU WERE ASKING SOMEONE TO SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD.
ISN'T IT TRUE THAT IF NO ONE SECONDED THE SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO COME BEFORE THE BODY THAT WE WOULDN'T TAKE A VOTE? I WASN'T I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WASN'T A SECOND NO
THE CLERK STATED THAT THERE HE WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS A SECOND AND SO THEN I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION IF THERE WAS A SECOND AND IT WAS SECONDED AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD THOUGH BECAUSE IF
NO ONE SECONDED IT, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THEN IT WOULDN'T GO TO A VOTE? I WILL I WILL SECONDED I WILL SECOND THE MOTION IF THERE WAS UNCLARITY THERE'S NO FLAHERTY ON MY PART WHAT THAT MEANS I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. OKAY.
IF THERE WAS NO FLAHERTY. SO THE MOTION IS THAT THIS BEFORE THE BODY IS A MOTION IS COUNCILORS MOTION TO AMEND COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS A MOTION
TO AMEND THERE WAS A NO VOTE I WANT TO CLARIFY WE SHOULD TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE. THIS IS JUST ON THE MOTION TO AMEND IT REQUIRES A MAJORITY IF YOU VOTE YES THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW COUNCILOR MURPHY'S MOTION
TO AMEND IF YOU VOTE NO IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE MOTION. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A REAL COVER? COUNCILOR BURY COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER . COUNCILOR AS A PARTNER, YES.
COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN KNOW COUNCIL FINANCE SANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. THAT'S COLLUSION.
YES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR THE PEN COUNCILOR OF A PEN YES. COUNCILOR S.A. YES. CONSISTENT WHEN HE IS COUNCILOR WEBER YES. SO HAPPY. YES.
AND COUNCILOR WORRELL? YEAH. COUNT SQUIRREL. YES. THANK YOU. THE MOTION TO AMEND IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. FIRST I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
FOR THOSE IN THE CHAMBER OR LISTENING ABOUT OUR OPEN MEETING LAW THAT ONCE THIS
COMMITTEE REPORT FOR DOCKET 0236 WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA ON MONDAY, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED AS COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OPEN MEETING LAW. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR AND
FOR THE PAST AMENDMENTS ALSO THAT IT WASN'T THAT OVER THESE PAST FEW DAYS WE CHOSE NOT TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE I DID HAVE INFORMATION I WANTED TO SHARE WITH ALL OF US BEFOREHAND.
I KNOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS HEARING I DID PASS OUT THREE SEPARATE PIECES OF PAPER HOPING THAT DURING THIS TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE THREE AND A HALF HOURS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.
I'LL GO THROUGH IT NOW BUT I DO JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT ONCE SOMETHING'S BEFORE THIS BODY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A GROUP. SO THIS DISCUSSION IS BEING FORCED TO HAPPEN NOW ON THE FLOOR.
SO AS WE CONFRONT THE PRESSING ISSUE OF ESCALATING PROPERTY TAXES THAT THREATEN THE STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONSIDER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO
OUR RESIDENTS. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION TO 40% A MEASURE THAT OFFERS TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO OUR HOMEOWNERS.
I DO HAVE SOME PROCEDURAL CONCERNS AND THE NEED FOR EQUAL CONSIDERATION. I HAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROCESS SURROUNDING THIS DOCKET. DOCKET 0236 WAS BROUGHT FORWARD
WITH THE FAVORABLE COMMITTEE REPORT YET DOCKET 0142 THE COUNCIL'S HOME RULE PETITION TO INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL TAX EXEMPTION FROM 35 TO 40% WAS
NOT GIVEN THE SAME CONSIDERATION THIS HOME RULE THIS HOME RULE WHICH I SPONSORED ALONG WITH COUNCIL OVER WELL WAS FILED ON DECEMBER 11 WELL BEFORE THE
MAYOR'S HOME RULE PETITION. I DID SPEAK TO COUNCIL CLETA AS A PART OF THE CHAIR ON MONDAY EVENING BUT AT THAT POINT LIKE I SAID, THIS REPORT WAS ALREADY FORWARD IN ANY OTHER OPTION TO
PUT FORWARD FOR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A LATE FILER PULLING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS AFTER THE JANUARY 27TH HEARING WHERE FOUR DIFFERENT DOCKETS WERE DISCUSSED AT THAT ONE HEARING
WE WERE ASSURED THAT A SECOND HEARING WOULD TAKE PLACE TO ADDRESS OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND ASSURE EACH PROPOSAL RECEIVED THE APPROPRIATE REVIEW. UNFORTUNATELY ONLY THE MAYOR'S
HOME RULE HAS BEEN ADVANCED WHICH I BELIEVE IS NEGLECTING AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR A FAIR AND THOROUGH DISCUSSION BY LIMITING THE REVIEW PROCESS WE HAVE DONE A DISSERVICE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS WHO DESERVE MULTIPLE WELL-VETTED SOLUTIONS TO THE PROPERTY TAX CRISIS. PROPOSED AMENDMENT DOCKET 0236 TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVE
THE RELIEF THEY DESERVE I AM PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO DOCKET 0236 TO INCORPORATE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION INCREASED TO 40%. THANK YOU RON FOR PASSING IT
OUT TO OUR COLLEAGUES. DOCKET 0236 IS HEREBY AMENDED BY INSERTING THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE AFTER SECTION SIX SECTION SEVEN NORQUIST STANDING
SECTION FIVE C OF CHAPTER 59 OF THE GENERAL LAWS OR ANY OTHER GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY WITH RESPECT TO EACH PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY
CLASSIFIED AS CLASS ONE RESIDENTIAL IN THE CITY OF BOSTON CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO BE ASSESSED TO ITS FULL AND FAIR CASH VALUATION AND AT THE OPTION
OF THE MAYOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL THERE SHALL BE AN EXEMPTION EQUAL TO NOT MORE THAN 40% OF THE AVERAGE ASSESSED VALUE OF ALL CLASS ONE
RESIDENTIAL PARCELS WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON. PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT SUCH SUCH AN EXEMPTION SHALL BE APPLIED ONLY TO THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF A TAXPAYER AS USED BY THE TAXPAYER FOR INCOME TAX
PURPOSES. THIS EXEMPTION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY EXEMPTIONS ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION FIVE PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT IN NO INSTANCE SHALL THE TAXABLE
VALUATION OF SUCH PROPERTY AFTER ALL APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS BE REDUCED BELOW 10% OF ITS FULL AND FAIR CASH VALUATION EXCEPT THROUGH THE
APPLICABILITY OF CLAUSE 18TH OF SECTION FIVE. SO I WILL NOW SPEAK TO MY AMENDMENT THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE OPTIONS. THE MAYOR'S PREVIOUS TAX PLAN
FAILED IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR . IT IS IN OUR CONSTITUENTS BEST INTEREST TO SEND A PETITION TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE OPTIONS INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AT LEAST ONE
MEASURE SUCCEEDS OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE HOUSE HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL TAX EXEMPTION. WE SHOULD NOT LIMIT THEIR
CHOICES BENEFITS INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL TAX EXEMPTION BY A LACK OF A PROMISED SECOND
HEARING IN A RUSHED PROCESS. THE COMMITTEE PROCESS AT THE JANUARY 27TH JOINT HEARING FOR SIGNIFICANT PROPOSALS WERE DISCUSSED INCLUDING DOCKET ZERO
ONE FOR TWO A HOME RULE PETITION TO INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION TO 40% DOCKET 0 TO 3 SIX THE MAYOR'S HOME RULE PETITION FOR A CITYWIDE TAX REBATE PROGRAM
DOCKET 0269A HEARING ORDER ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES IN THE ASSESSING PROCESS IN DOCKET 0270A PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT A
MISSED HEARING DESPITE THE CHAIR'S PROMISING A SECOND HEARING FOR TWO TAX RELATED PROPOSALS. THE HEARING NEVER OCCURRED AND I BELIEVE INSTEAD ONLY THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS BEING
ADVANCED FOR A VOTE WITHOUT THE PROMISE OF ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION. AND AS WE HAVE SEEN TODAY THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR COLLEAGUES ARE COMING UP.
SO I DO WANT TO JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY I BELIEVE THERE'S BENEFITS IN INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION TO 40% DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE RELIEF IMMEDIATE TAX
REDUCTION FOR OWNER OCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS. IT WILL ADDRESS THE RECENT SURGE IN PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS. THERE IS PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS THE CURRENT RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO
BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR MITIGATING TAX BURDENS INCREASING IT BUILDS ON A SUCCESSFUL FRAMEWORK THAT AIDS SENIORS, FIXED INCOME FAMILIES AND LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND
COMPLEMENTARY TO OTHER PROPOSALS A HIGH RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND IMMEDIATE METHOD OF TAX RELIEF. IT CAN BE COMBINED WITH OTHER TAX RELIEF MEASURES FOR A MORE
COMPREHEND APPROACH AND FOR PRESERVING COMMUNITY STABILITY . I BELIEVE IT WILL PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND ASSURE BOSTON REMAINS A CITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST SPEND LESS THAT THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD THE LUXURY OF 695 MILLION IN COVID 19 FEDERAL FUNDING.
THAT MONEY IS NOW GONE AND AS WE AWAIT THE MAYOR'S UPCOMING BUDGET, I DO HOPE IT REFLECTS RESPONSIBLE SPENDING CUTS TO PREVENT CITY EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS ON FIXED INCOMES FROM BEARING THE BURDEN OF INCREASED
TAXES. I DO JUST WANT TO SPEAK ON A FEW OTHER THINGS HERE SO FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE HOMEOWNER REBATE WITHOUT I KNOW A LOT
OF QUESTIONS WERE STILL UNANSWERED AFTER THAT JANUARY 27TH HEARING THAT I DO WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD HERE AND THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD
PREPARED AND WERE READY TO BRING TO THE SECOND HEARING THAT A REBATE CALCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION METHODOLOGY WHAT METHOD IS USED TO DETERMINE THE
REBATE AMOUNT FOR HOMEOWNERS UNIFORMITY WILL ALL HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE THE SAME REBATE AMOUNT OR WILL IT VARY BASED ON PROPERTY VALUE PROJECTED AVERAGES WHAT IS THE PROJECTED
AVERAGE REBATE AMOUNT ACROSS DIFFERENT PROPERTY VALUE RANGES? I HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS IN THAT MAYBE EVERYONE WOULD GET THE SAME AMOUNT AND THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE CLOSE TO 200 TO
$250 A ONE TIME CHECK FOR LESS THAN $250 WOULD BE GIVEN. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S TRUE IMPACT ASSESSMENT HOW DOES THE ADMINISTRATION ENSURE THAT THE REBATE MEANINGFULLY OFFSETS THE
IMPACT OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES AND THE TIMING OF IT? WHEN WOULD HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE THESE REBATES AND WOULD THEY BE TIMELY ENOUGH TO OFFSET THE CURRENT TAX INCREASE? I BELIEVE THOSE QUESTIONS
DETAIL ARE CRUCIAL TO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF. THE IMPACT ON RENTERS IN MULTI-FAMILY HOME OWNERS MARKET
INFLUENCE CAN THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT AN INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION WOULD DIRECTLY LEAD TO HIGHER RENT PRICES GIVEN THAT RENT LEVELS
ARE INFLUENCED BY MULTIPLE MARKET FACTORS? HISTORICAL DATA HAS THERE BEEN HISTORICAL EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT PAST TAX SAVINGS FOR LANDLORDS HAVE RESULTED IN
LOWER RENT PRICES FOR TENANTS? THESE DETAILS ARE CRUCIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF LED A STRAIGHT STATE OF STRATEGY AND FEASIBILITY THE
STATE HOUSE PASSAGE SINCE ALL HOME RULE PETITIONS MUST PASS THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE IN CONSIDERING THE MAYOR'S PRIOR TAX PLAN FAILED IN THE SENATE, WHAT ASSURANCES EXIST THAT THIS
PROPOSAL WILL PASS IN MULTIPLE OPTIONS GIVEN THE LEGISLATIVE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS SENDING MULTIPLE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF OPTIONS TO THE STATE HOUSE TO
MAXIMIZE OUR CHANCES OF SECURING MEANINGFUL RELIEF FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS A LACK OF A PROMISED SECOND HEARING. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE
HAVE FOUR WHAT I CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT PROPOSALS THAT WERE AT ONE HEARING ON JANUARY 27TH THE DESPITE THE CHAIR'S SECOND HEARING I MENTIONED THAT
ALREADY BUT A NEED FOR FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS HOMEOWNERS ESPECIALLY SENIORS IN LONG TERM RESIDENTS ARE FACING IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL STRAIN FROM RISING PROPERTY TAX RUSHING THROUGH
ONLY ONE PROPOSAL, ONE NEGLECTING OTHERS. I BELIEVE DOES NOT SERVE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS. I URGE US TO CONSIDER ADDING
THIS AS AN AMENDMENT TO ADD TO WHAT IS ALREADY GOING TO BE SENT UP TO THE STATE HOUSE IF THE PROPOSAL PASSES HERE ALONE.
THE COUNCIL AND I DO KNOW THAT WHEN THIS WAS FILED BACK IN DECEMBER ON DECEMBER 11TH, THE LAST MEETING WE HAD OF THE LAST AFTER WE KNEW THAT THE PLAN HAD
FAILED IN THE SENATE THAT I DIDN'T HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION BUT I DID READ A CRITIQUE THAT SOMEONE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE HAD GIVEN TO A NEWS OUTLET AND THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS CRITIQUED THE PLAN TO INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION, ARGUING THAT IT WOULD INCREASE THE ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE AND SHIFT THE TAX BURDEN ON TO RENTERS.
I CONTEND THAT THIS ARGUMENT OVERSIMPLIFIES THE ISSUE AND FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BROADER BENEFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS. BELOW IS MY POINT BY POINT RESPONSE DIRECT HOMEOWNER
RELIEF VERSUS UNCERTAIN RE REBATE MECHANISMS INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION PROVIDES IMMEDIATE DIRECT RELIEF TO HOMEOWNERS FACING SKYROCKETING BILLS.
IN CONTRAST, THE MAYOR'S REBATE BASED APPROACH IS SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE TIMELY RELIEF BALANCING THE TAX BURDEN FAMILY THE CLAIM THAT A HIGHER
EXEMPTION SHIFTS THE TAX BURDEN ON TO RENTERS IS MISLEADING MANY MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS ALREADY BENEFIT FROM THE EXEMPTION WHEN OWNER OCCUPIED AND LANDLORDS HAVE ALTERNATIVES
SUCH AS TAX DEDUCTIONS OPERATING COST ADJUSTMENTS OR COST SPREADING MEASURES INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATELY RAISING RENTS, RENTERS ALREADY BEAR THE COST OF PROPERTY TAXES.
RENTERS HAVE ALWAYS INDIRECTLY PAID PROPERTY TAXES THROUGH THEIR RENT REGARDLESS OF THE EXEMPTION LEVEL. THE MAYOR'S PLAN DOES NOT ENSURE THAT ANY SAVINGS WILL BE PASSED ON TO OUR TENANTS.
HOMEOWNERS ARE AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. ALL OF US HAVE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT UNLIKE LARGER LANDLORDS WHO MAY ABSORB COST INCREASES, MANY HOMEOWNERS FACE
THE IMMEDIATE RISK OF BEING TAXED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MAYOR'S PLAN WILL PASS THE STATE HOUSE. NO HOME RULE PETITION IS GUARANTEED PASSAGE THE MAYOR'S
PREVIOUS TAX PLAN FAILED IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL MAY FACE THE SAME LEGISLATIVE HURDLES ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IS BASICALLY THE SAME WE DID AT THE REBATE AND I DO THINK THAT A SECOND
MEETING AND THEN HEAR THE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADD MORE AMENDMENTS TO IT TO INCLUDE IN THE REBATE WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA BUT ISN'T GOING TO
GIVE THE IMPACT THAT OUR HOMEOWNERS NEED. AND SO ALSO INVENTING MULTIPLE TAX INCREASES THE OVERALL CHANCE OF THE SENATE BEING ABLE
TO PASS SOME OF THIS HOME RULE PETITION AND MAYBE NOT ALL MAYBE THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE TAX SHIFT BUT IF THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM TO GIVE OUR RESIDENTS RELIEF, I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION SELECTIVELY FRAMES TAX SHIFTS WHILE IGNORING THE PRESSING REALITIES FOR HOMEOWNERS. RENT PRICES ARE DRIVEN BY MANY
FACTORS BEYOND PROPERTY TAXES AN IMMEDIATE DIRECT RELIEF IS ESSENTIAL ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES A HIGHER RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION IS A PROVEN METHOD TO STABILIZE
HOUSING COSTS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AND IT CAN COEXIST WITH OTHER RELIEF MEASURES SUCH AS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND TAX REBATES. I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD SUPPORT BOTH APPROACHES TO ENSURE A
COMPREHENSIVE, FAIR AND IMMEDIATE TAX RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING ADDING THIS AMENDMENT TO THE COMMITTEE
REPORT. THANK YOU. OH OKAY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSTABLE COLETTE AS A PARTNER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE NUMBER OF INACCURACIES AND MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS AND EVENTS THAT WAS JUST TALKED
ABOUT JUST NOW. I HAVE MY STAFF CHECKING THE TAPE SO WE CAN WE CAN CHECK IT AND WE CAN WE CAN ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT IF I DID OR DID NOT SAY IT. MY RECOLLECTION AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE IS THAT
I NEVER PROMISED OR BOXED MYSELF INTO ANOTHER HEARING OR WORKING SESSION AND SO TO SAY THAT AND TO HAVE IT BE INACCURATE AND WE'RE DOUBLE CHECKING THIS I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD CORRECTED PLEASE AND
WE'RE WAITING ON THAT. THE OTHER THING TOO IS THAT THE OTHER THING THAT WAS SAID THAT I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO WAS THAT THIS HURT, THIS PROPOSAL THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION WAS
NOT GIVEN THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO BE BROUGHT UP FOR A VOTE. SHE'S CORRECT THAT I CALLED I CALLED MY MY COLLEAGUE ON MONDAY TO ASK YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE?
BECAUSE I DID SAY DURING THE HEARING AND THEN ON THE PHONE AS WELL THAT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS. I THINK WE JUST HAVE SOME FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHO SHOULD SHOULDER THE BURDEN
OF THESE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTIONS AND BECAUSE OF THAT AS CHAIR YOU KNOW, I WENT TO YOU AND I ASKED DO YOU WANT TO PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE OR DO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT IN COMMITTEE? WE CAN JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT
IT AND RESPECTFULLY YOU NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. AND SO I HAD TO COME TO YOUR OFFICE THIS MORNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR PLAN WAS AND THIS IS THIS IS SURPRISING
QUITE FRANKLY. AND THEN I ALSO THINK THAT THE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR AND THOROUGH DISCUSSION BASED ON THE HEARING AND THE MULTIPLE
HEARINGS AND WORKING SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THERE HAS BEEN ADEQUATE DISCUSSION AND THEN SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT I'M GETTING THAT WE'RE GETTING ABOUT THE REBATES LIKE THESE ARE NEW TO ME NONE OF THESE
QUESTIONS WERE ASKED DURING THAT HEARING AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT. SOME OF THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED THOUGH THE METHODOLOGY IT'S GOING TO BE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION.
WELL, ALL HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE THE SAME REBATE A REBATE AMOUNT THAT WAS ALSO TALKED ABOUT IN THE HEARING. THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS TOO IS THAT AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THE REBATE PART I UNDERSTAND
THAT FOLKS MAY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL PROCESS. SO THIS IS JUST SIMPLY GIVING THE CITY OF BOSTON THE AUTHORITY THROUGH THE SPECIAL
LAW TO HAVE A REBATE PROGRAM. I DO WANT TO JUST MENTION A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TOO JUST JUST TO BE SURE TO GET IT ON THE RECORD. THOSE THAT GET THE RESIDENTIAL
EXEMPTION WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REBATE AND SO LOOKING INTO THIS BASED LAST YEAR ABOUT 77,000 RECEIVED THE RESIDENTIAL
EXEMPTION AND SO THAT'S A REAL RELIEF TO TO THESE FOLKS. THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATION IF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR PASSES HOME WHOLE TO GIVE US THIS AUTHORITY, THE CFO WOULD WORK
WITH THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO DETERMINE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGAIN FOR APPROVAL AND WE ARE ABLE TO BAKE IT AND CODIFY THE FACT THAT WE WOULD
HAVE EXPLICIT OVERSIGHT INTO THIS PROCESS IT WOULD PROVIDE DIRECT RELIEF TO THE ELIGIBLE PERSON AND IT IS LESS OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN QUITE FRANKLY THAN THAN THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A DIRECT
RELIEF GIVEN TO TWO FOLKS AND AGAIN ADDITIONAL IS FORTHCOMING TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
PROPOSAL. IT WOULD BEHOOVE ME AS A RENTER TO TALK ABOUT THE SHIFT FROM 35 TO 40. THE CITY OF BOSTON IS 70% RENTERS AND THAT'S NOT TO
EXCLUDE OUR HOMEOWNERS FROM FROM ANY SORT OF RELIEF. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TRYING TO SHIFT THE COMMERCIAL BURDEN. WE'RE ALSO THEY GET RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTIONS AS IT IS IF YOU'RE AN OWNER OCCUPANT AND YOU DON'T RENT OUT THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR
UNIT. BUT INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION TO 40 COULD EXACERBATE DISPARITIES BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHILE POTENTIALLY INFLUENCING LEVELS AND AGAIN POTENTIALLY INFLUENCING RENT
LEVELS. IN BOSTON, CLASS WHEN PARCELS CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION WHICH REDUCES THE TAX FOR OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES. THIS EXEMPTION APPLIES TO ONLY PRIMARY RESIDENCE WHERE THE OWNER LIVES.
THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTRAL WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP THIS MONEY SOMEWHERE AND IN THAT INSTANCE THE OF THE
EXEMPTION IS REDISTRIBUTED IN A CITY AGAIN WHERE APPROXIMATELY 70% OF BOSTON HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENTER OCCUPIED WHICH TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 400,000 PEOPLE.
WE MUST CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT RAMIFICATIONS FOR RENTERS RENTERS IN PROPERTIES OWNED BY LANDLORDS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION. SO I THINK LARGER LARGER
BUILDINGS COULD EXPERIENCE HIGHER RENTS IF LANDLORDS PASSED THEIR INCREASED TAX BURDEN TO THEIR TO THEIR RENTERS. AND WHEN YOU ARE A LARGER LANDLORD AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE A
LITTLE BIT FAR REMOVED, YOU HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND SO IT DOES RIPEN THE CONDITIONS FOR FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. AND SO JUST TALKING ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING POLICY
AND GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF RENTERS CHANGES TO THE PROPERTY TAXES OR EXEMPTIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS COULD INDIRECTLY AFFECT A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATIONS.
AND SO IF WE'RE DEBATING THE MERITS OF THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH THE LENS OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS OR HARMS AND WITHIN THE SAME SET OF FACTS THAT ABSENT THE SHIFT WITHIN TAX LEVY TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THE BURDEN TO MAKE THIS REVENUE
NEUTRAL WOULD COME FROM RENTERS IN A RENTER DOMINATED CITY WHERE FOLKS ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IT IS NOT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT IN MY OPINION AND I DO OPPOSE
THIS AMENDMENT AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT I TRY TO REFRAIN FROM ANY SORT OF PERSONAL OR OR MISREPRESENTATION OF THINGS AND I AM QUITE SIMPLY SAYING THAT WE JUST DON'T WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND
POTENTIAL VALUE SET WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE . AND I JUST I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE RENTERS AND SO THINKING ABOUT THE OVERALL NET NET HARMS TO ABOUT 400,000
OF OUR FOLKS, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO BUT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF I EVER SAID AND JUST EXCUSE MEJIA I I NEVER
SAID I NEVER COMMITTED TO A SECOND MEETING AND SO I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD CORRECTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CUT ZAPATA COUNCILOR MURPHY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR I
WAS GOING TO YOU MAY COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I CAN'T CONTROL EVER SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED IN MY 55
YEARS HERE THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL HOW PEOPLE REACT TO HOW YOU SHOW UP AND WHAT YOU SAY SO I'M SORRY IF YOU TOOK OFFENSE TO ANY OF THAT BUT I CAN'T CONTROL THAT AND IN NO WAY WAS
IT MEANT FOR YOU TO FEEL THAT I WAS ATTACKING YOU. BUT MONDAY WHEN YOU CALLED IT WAS THE FIRST I KNEW THAT THE COMMITTEE REPORT WAS COMING FORWARD. I TOLD YOU I WASN'T SURE YET.
YESTERDAY I SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING WITH MY STAFF AND ALSO CENTRAL STAFF ON WORKING A LOT OF WHAT WAS PASSED OUT TODAY AND. THEN A FEW HOURS MORE REALIZING
THAT WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW SO I COULDN'T SHARE IT AND THEN WORKING WITH YOUR CENTRAL STAFF AGAIN THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST PLAN IT HAVE BEEN
PULLED FROM THE GREEN SHEETS. WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT LATER ON BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE HOME RULE PETITION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I BELIEVE ONE PERSON IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY
BLOCKED IT BECAUSE THEY BLOCKED EVEN THE DEBATE ABOUT AN AMENDMENT. SO I DON'T I DID NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WAITING JUST AND I KNOW IT'S STILL A FORMAL PETITION THAT IS IN COMMITTEE
AND THEY AT THE END OF THE JANUARY 27TH MEETING I WAS HERE FOR THE WHOLE THING COUNCIL OFFLINE COUNCILOR MCGUIRE AND MYSELF WERE SITTING ON THAT SIDE.
I KNOW IT WAS JOINTLY SHARED BETWEEN BOTH CHAIR WAYS AND MEANS AND YOURSELF THE CHAIR OF GOVERNMENT OPS I KNOW YOU WERE SITTING AT THE END AND WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS.
COUNCILOR MURPHY THERE IS A POINT OF ORDER ON THE FLOOR. COUNCILOR DURKAN WHAT RULE DO YOU FEEL IS BEING AT THIS MOMENT VIOLATED BY THE OTHER COUNCILORS? THEN YOU NEED TO REFER TO COUNCILORS THROUGH THE CHAIR
THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD REFER TO COUNCILORS AT THE CHAIR THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER BUT I WAS JUST TRYING TO SET THE VISUAL STAGE THAT I REMEMBER
AND THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT WE WERE HAVING ONE HEARING ON FOUR VERY IMPORTANT DOCKETS THAT I KNOW WE ALL CARE A LOT ABOUT
AND THAT WE WANTED TO BE ASSURED AND MAYBE THERE WAS NO DEFINITE GUARANTEE OF THE WORDS UP WE WILL HAVE THE SECOND BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY CONVERSATION THAT THIS IS OUTSTANDING AND THE
UNDERSTANDING I CAME AWAY WITH AND I KNOW TALKING TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WERE THERE TILL THE END THAT THEY WERE ALSO UNDER THE SAME IMPRESSION. SO IF WE IF I MISINTERPRETED WHAT YOU HAD PROMISED IN A
PROMISES REALLY YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR MIND AND I RESPECT THAT AS THE CHAIR OF ANY COMMITTEE YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND AND THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD REASONS TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND
THE QUESTIONS I HAVE THAT I PUT FORWARD AND I READ ARE IN NO WAY DID I EXPECT YOU TO ANSWER THEM TODAY. BUT I THINK IT DOES CLARIFY IS WHAT I WAS COMING WITH READY
FOR THE SECOND HEARING THAT I WAS ANTICIPATING. I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD FOR A VOTE AND I I CAN HAVE MY OWN FEELINGS ALSO FELT
THAT IF THERE WERE OTHER DOCKETS AT THAT HEARING THAT COULD HAVE A FAVORABLE COMMITTEE REPORT BROUGHT FORWARD, I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED AND I KNOW THAT
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE RULES BUT BEFORE I SAW IT IN THE AGENDA THAT I WAS AWARE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME FOR A VOTE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCUSS IT MORE IF IT
WAS A HEARING IF IT WAS A WORKING SESSION BECAUSE I DID HAVE MY QUESTIONS READY AND WE LEFT FOR THAT HEARING WITH MANY QUESTIONS OPEN. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY ALL
OF THAT AND HOPE THAT IF THERE IS ANY OTHER DEBATE OR QUESTIONS ON THIS I'D LIKE TO GO FORWARD. COUNCILOR THAT AS A PARTNER IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY AND AS DIRECTOR I
KNOW DEREK AND IT THROUGH ME THANK YOU. THANK YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR SO THERE WAS I'M THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT OPEN MEETING LAW THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE ARE COLLEAGUES BOSTON IS BETTER
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER RIGHT WE ARE COLLEAGUES AND WE HAVE TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND I THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND THIS IS ALL WITH IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE OPEN MEETING WHAT THE
OPEN MEETING LAW DOES NOT EXCLUDE US FROM HAVING INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS AND I'M SORRY I FEEL LIKE THAT'S
ANOTHER AND I DO APPRECIATE THE APOLOGY OF OF POTENTIALLY MISREPRESENTING MY WORDS OR WHATEVER IT WAS.
BUT I THINK IT IS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS BODY AND SAY THINGS WITH A LEVEL OF CREDIBILITY SO THAT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE
ARE SAYING IS 100% TRUE AND THAT IS THE INTEGRITY THAT I BRING TO THIS BODY AND I AM I DOUBLE CHECK I TRIPLE CHECK THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT OUR
RESIDENTS DESERVE THAT'S WHAT BOSTON DESERVES. AND THERE IS TALK ABOUT A SECOND HEARING ALL OF THAT AGAIN, I DID NOT HEAR ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS DURING THAT HEARING. I ALSO HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
REBATE. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION. WE WORKED ON AN AMENDMENT THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS COMMITTEE REPORT. ULTIMATELY AGAIN THIS JUST
GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO TO DO THIS THERE WILL BE A QUOTE UNQUOTE SECOND HEARING FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM WHEN IT COMES THROUGH AS AN APPROPRIATION ORDER AND GOES TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
AND SO ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS I MEAN AGAIN, SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED THROUGH THE FIRST HEARING BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE IN THE RE DATE AS A
WAY TO GIVE IMMEDIATE DIRECT RELIEF TO FOLKS A RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION IS IS IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW AND JUST THINKING ABOUT THE SHIFTING OF THE BURDEN, THE
REBATE DOESN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER RESIDENTS AND RENTERS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CLETA ZAPATA COUNSELOR MURPHY IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY OKAY. COUNSELOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND BOTH IN BOTH OF THE COLLEAGUES THAT RECENTLY SPOKE HIGHLIGHTED THE ISSUE OF OPEN
MEETING LAW VIOLATION. I'M NOT SURE I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS OR IT IS NOT. BUT WHAT I DID HEAR IS THAT COLLEAGUES CITY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE ABLE TO TALK TO OTHER TO DISCUSS A TO DISCUSS SOMETHING RELATED TO THE STALKING AND THAT'S NOT A
THAT'S NOT A VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW BUT BUT I GUESS AND I WANT TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE AND BE CONSISTENT AND BE TRANSPARENT BUT IS THERE ANY
POTENTIAL THAT WE HAVE VIOLATED IN AN OPEN MEETING OR BASED ON COLLEAGUES INTERACTING WITH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME?
AND IF THEY DID, IS THAT AN OPEN MEETING OR A VIOLATION AND HOW DOES THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR CONVERSATION IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE DO SEND SOMETHING UP TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE KICKED BACK TO US BECAUSE POTENTIALLY THIS BODY WAS IN VIOLATION OF THAT OPEN MEETING
LAW. I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IS THERE THE POTENTIAL THAT IT COULD HAPPEN BASED ON
INTERACTIONS THROUGH EMAIL, THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE REPORTED? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FERNANDA ANDERSON THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT. JUST A QUESTION IS THERE CLAIM AS TO LIKE WHO WAS PRESENT AND IF THERE WASN'T AND ALL OF THIS WE SHOULD JUST BYPASS ALL OF THOSE BUT TECHNICALLY THREE
COUNSELORS OR MORE OF THE SAME COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE SAME COMMITTEE WITH OPEN MEETING LAW IF THERE WERE PEOPLE, COUNSELORS ASKING QUESTIONS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THIS IS
JUST A MY HOPEFULLY HUMBLE OPINION THAT YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION BUT UNLESS IT WAS LIKE A MEETING OF THREE COUNSELORS OR MORE BUT IF THAT IS THEIR CLAIM
ON SOMEONE'S CLAIMING THAT THEY KNOW THAT THREE OR MORE COUNSELORS OF THE SAME COMMITTEE MET THROUGH THE CHAIR THANK YOU AND I'D JUST LIKE TO
RESPOND AND SAY THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A VOTING QUORUM AND ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS AT LEAST AND SO IT WOULD REQUIRE FOUR FOR FOR
THERE TO BE ANY POTENTIAL VIOLATION THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNSELOR FLYNN IF YOU WANTED TO RESPOND ACTUALLY TO COUNSELOR FOR AN AGENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE COUNSELOR MIGHT BE ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU. AND TO RESPOND TO WHAT COUNCILOR OF FLYNN SAID 100% NO ONE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS LIFE IS COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS AND TALKING AND
AFTER THE CONVERSATION KNOWING THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS OR INFORMATION READY TO SHARE BUT YESTERDAY I WAS GOING TO EMAIL THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES THINKING THIS WOULD GIVE US A TIME TO
WORK THROUGH IT LIKE WE TALK ABOUT WHEN THINGS ARE PULLED FROM THE GREEN SHEETS OR WE WANT TO SUSPEND IMPASSE $14 MILLION LIKE THERE'S QUESTIONS IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T MAYBE WANT SUPPORT IT IN THE LONG RUN
BUT IN NO WAY AND THAT I SEE THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN MEETING LAW VIOLATION. I'M SAYING I MADE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T VIOLATING IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T UNTIL AND IT'S WHAT
CENTRAL STAFF SAID TO ME AS SOON AS THE DOCKET WAS PRESENTED EARLIER THAT'S WHEN WE COULD PASS OUT AND TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE UP. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT'S MY FEELING ON IT THANK YOU. AND I DO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AGAIN WHAT COUNSELOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA STATED THAT THERE ARE WE ARE ALWAYS PERMITTED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
I'M WANTED TO I MADE SURE I TALK TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WERE VOTING ON THE CLERK AND THE ASSISTANT CLERK. SO I JUST YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE WILLING AND ABLE TO TALK TO
EACH OTHER AND THERE IS NO OPEN MEETING LAW CONCERN WITH US HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WHICH I RECOGNIZE IS KINDS OF OUTCOMES FOR YOU ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM. MADAM PRESIDENT, AS A
CO-SPONSOR I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IDEA. HOWEVER, I I I WAS HOPING THAT YOU KNOW OUR WAY OF MOVING THIS IDEA FORWARD WAS THROUGH THE
ORIGINAL HRP. BUT YOU KNOW WE ARE HERE NOW. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA BUT I WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON THE ORIGINAL HRP. HOWEVER I DO WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION
IN THE YEARS THAT IT DID INCREASE IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS THAT IT DID INCREASE AND IN BETWEEN THOSE YEARS WHEN IT DID IT INCREASED. NOW PICK ONE YEAR 2000 TO 2017
WHERE WE DID NOT INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION YOU KNOW KIND OF TRYING TO BLAME THAT THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION INCREASE WELL THEN INCREASE THE
RENT FOR RENTERS BETWEEN 2017 WE DID NOT INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION HOWEVER I WOULD ASSUME THAT RENTS DID STILL GO UP. SO I JUST WANT TO JUST PUT OUT
THERE THAT I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BAD THERE THAT I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BAD POLICY IN TERMS OF PUTTING INCREASING THE RENT ON RENTERS BECAUSE THAT IS IN MY OPINION A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT MARKET. AND THAT KIND OF DICTATES ITSELF. AND I DO THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX RELIEF WE SHOULD BE SENDING UP ALL THE
TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPENSE TO THE STATE HOUSE. HOWEVER, LIKE I SAID BEFORE AND EARLIER I WOULD PREFER US WORKING ON THIS ON A RICH ON
THE ORIGINAL HOME RULE PETITION SENT UP SENDING THAT UP BY ITSELF. BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS AMENDMENT? OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD WE PLEASE CAN
YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT? A YES VOTE WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT. A NO VOTE WOULD NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT. IT REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS?
OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL? VOTE COUNT, CELEBRATE, COUNT, CELEBRATE AND PRESENT COUNCIL COLOR AS A PARTY COUNCIL COLOR AS OPPOSED TO NO.
COUNCIL DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN NO COUNCIL FINANCING INNOCENT COUNCIL FERNANDES HAS BEEN PRESENT. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.
COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PEPEN COUNCIL AND NOW COUNCILOR SANTANA PRESIDENT. COUNCILOR SANTANA I PRESENT
COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER NO. COUNCIL. WORLD COUNCIL OVERALL, YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE.
PRESENT FIVE IN THE NEGATIVE FOUR PRESENT AND FOUR IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. SO ONE MORE TIME JUST FIVE IN THE FIVE AND THE FIVE IN THE NEGATIVE.
OKAY. FOUR PRESENT AND FOUR IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. OKAY. THIS AMENDMENT HAS NOT PASSED. WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US AS A COUNCIL IS COUNCILOR CLAUDIA
ZAPATA'S RECOMMENDATION AS CHAIR THAT THE COMMITTEE REPORT THE HOME RULE PETITION OUGHT TO PASS AND A NEW DRAFT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ANY ONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OH, I JUST THOUGHT I CONTEMPLATED THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHETHER IT BE INCREASING RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTIONS LIKE COUNCILOR MURPHY PROPOSED. I ALSO SUPPORTED INCREASING THE SENIOR EXEMPTION BY COUNCIL.
WE'RE ALL CLOSE AS WELL. AS I SAID EARLIER IN THIS DISCUSSION I ALSO CALLED FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS AND TO VOTE
ON PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION FOR OUR LONG TERM RESIDENTS ESSENTIAL MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AS WELL ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE OWNED PROPERTY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND
ARE OVER 55 YEARS OLD. MANY BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY DECADES AGO AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE ESCALATING PROPERTY VALUES TAXES IN PART FROM THEIR
VALUES INCREASING DUE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION NEARBY. THEY ARE NOT WEALTHY BUT THEY ARE PART OF THE CITY AS IT RELATES TO THIS ISSUE TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, INSTEAD OF COMPROMISES WE DID IT. WE DIDN'T COMPROMISE AT ALL. WE DID NOT ENTERTAIN ANY OF THE
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. I ENCOURAGED COLLEAGUES OVER MANY YEARS THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS SPENDING ESPECIALLY THE
8% INCREASE IN THE CITY BUDGET. I ALSO RECOMMENDED OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING TAPPING OUR RAINY DAY
FUND REVIEWING 70% DEPENDANCE ON PROPERTY TAX LONG TERM WITH FALLING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES OVER 70% DEPENDANCE ON
PROPERTY TAXES OVER 50% OF OUR LAND ABSORBED BY LARGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE HAVE ONE TERM FISCAL ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN OUR CITY.
I CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON BOTH DOWNTOWN OFFICE VACANCIES AND I HAVE A HEAVY RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAXES. ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SO
FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN BOSTON IN PUBLIC SAFETY IS I WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK. IN MY OPINION WE SHOULD NOT BE RAISING EVERYONE'S PROPERTY
TAXES ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY WHILE WE DO NOTHING TO CUT CITY SPENDING AFTER HIRING OVER 300 EMPLOYEES. RESIDENTS ASKED ME HOW WERE WE
ABLE TO RAISE TAXES ON RESIDENTS OF BUSINESS TO THIS DEGREE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN AFFORD TO PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZE A PROFESSIONAL STADIUM FOR A PRIVATE SPORTS TEAM ON PUBLIC LAND.
I WISH I HAD A GOOD ANSWER FOR THEM. UNFORTUNATELY THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REVISIONARY HISTORY OF WHAT JUST TOOK PLACE. THERE WAS NO COMPROMISE.
A DEAL WAS REACHED WITH BUSINESS GROUPS AT THE 11TH HOUR. THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED THIS PROPERTY TAX SHIFT LAST YEAR WITH AN ACCURATE DATA THE
MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATE FISCAL WATCHDOGS BUSINESS GROUPS WHO WERE INITIALLY ON BOARD WALKED AWAY FROM THE PROPOSAL WHEN THE ACTUAL DATA WAS FINALLY PROVIDED.
THE RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE CAN TRY TO SCAPEGOAT A FEW PEOPLE BUT JUST KNOW THAT'S ZERO CREDIBILITY ON THE ISSUE.
BLAMING PEOPLE NEVER WORKS. I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS PLAN. I'D LIKE TO SEE US MAKE CUTS TO
OUR CUTS IN CITIES IN CUTS IN OUR BUDGET CURRENTLY AT 8%. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION WHAT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET PERCENTAGE
WOULD BE INCREASED THIS YEAR. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET AN ACCURATE NUMBER. WILL IT BE 8%? WILL IT BE 6%?
WILL IT BE 5%? BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS SPENDING IN THE CITY. WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE SPENDING
MONEY NONSTOP WHEN EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM AT SOME POINT THE MONEY RUNS OUT. WE HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FISCALLY DISCIPLINE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
CHAIR AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WITHOUT SPEAKING ON THE HOME RULE PETITION AS A WHOLE RIGHT . AMENDMENTS. BEGONE. WHATEVER THEY CONCLUDE WE ARE
WE ARE NOW SPEAKING DUTCH CHAIR'S RECOMMENDATION THAT YEP, THE PETITION OUGHT TO PASS IN A NEW DRAFT. AWESOME. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. SO ON THE WHOLE THIS PETITION IS NOT PERFECT. AS IT STANDS, THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF IT THAT I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH IT
IN TERMS OF THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF THE CITY THAT MAY COME OF IT. BUT THERE'S SOME GOOD PORK BARREL LEGISLATION IN HERE THAT I THINK ARE I BELIEVE ADDRESSES
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND PROVIDES APPROPRIATE RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES OF BOSTON AS IT RELATES TO EARLIER. WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
THERE WERE SOME THAT I WAS HOPING TO SEE IN THERE, OTHERS THAT I THOUGHT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO FAR. WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET TO AN UPPER LEVEL OF YOU GET AN EXEMPTION, YOU GET AN EXEMPTION, YOU GET AN EXEMPTION OVER HERE BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WE DO HAVE TO ACTUALLY TAKE IN MONEY TO PAY FOR SERVICES.
BUT WHAT MY HOPE WAS THAT IS THE FOR INSTANCE THE 40% RESIDENTIAL I THOUGHT WAS A FAIR ONE THAT COULD BE ADDED IN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS CITY IS RENTERS BUT
THAT JUST MEANS THE BURDEN IS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THAT MUCH MORE AND NOT ALL RENTERS ARE LOW INCOME PEOPLE. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT RENT IN THIS BILL. THEY MAKE A VERY HIGH AMOUNT OF INCOME AND THOSE PEOPLE
COULD PROVIDE CARRYING THE BURDEN FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BOUGHT THEIR HOUSES AND STAYED HERE FOR A LONGER TIME. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGALITY OF THAT STUFF IS THAT WHAT WE WERE PRESENTING EVEN IF
IT WERE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENT BUT WE'RE UNSURE OF THE LEGAL STANDING WAS THAT IT COULD BE IT WOULD BE TAKEN OUT FOR US. NOW I DON'T RECOMMEND WE TAKE THAT ON EVERY TIME.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO OUR HOMEWORK BEFORE PRESENTING AMENDMENTS SO THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR US ABOUT WHAT IS LEGAL AND WHAT'S NOT. BUT I DO FEEL THAT SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS IT COULD
HAVE BEEN A WE'RE JUST SEEING WHAT STICKS AND GOING FORWARD FROM THERE AND WE WILL FIND OUT THROUGH THE PROCESS WHAT IS ALLOWED TO BE IN THERE OR NOT. UP AT THIS HOME WILL PETITION AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I WAS
ACTUALLY TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF PUTTING AN AMENDMENT FORTH MYSELF. BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE MY OWN DELIGHT AND MY OWN DECISION OF HAVING NOT DONE THAT GIVEN THE LAST 4 HOURS THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE.
BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE IT SOME CREDENCE WHILE WE'RE HERE AND THAT WAS ABOUT ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO LOOK AT EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR THE ABATEMENT PERIOD ON THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY. AS WE ALL KNOW THAT ENDED
FEBRUARY 3RD. MOST PEOPLE GOT THEIR TAX BILLS EARLY JANUARY. SO WITH THE POST OFFICE MESS UPS SOME EVEN GOT IT A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN THAT AND FOLKS DON'T HAVE THE TIME IN THEIR
DAILY LIVES TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY WELL I HAVE TILL FEBRUARY THIRD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE FEBRUARY 3RD DATE. SO I UNDERSTAND THE CRUNCH THAT MIGHT PUT ON THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE TIMELINE OF THE
ASSESSING DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS AND I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT HOW GOING FORWARD THAT COULD AFFECT THAT. ALL OTHER EXEMPTIONS ARE DUE APRIL 1ST. SO I GUESS I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD HERE OF SAYING
SHOULD WE LOOK AT THE ABILITY TO EITHER THIS YEAR IN FAIRLY EVALUATING PEOPLE'S HOMES BECAUSE THAT WAS A BIG PIECE OF WHY THEIR TAXES WENT UP IF THEY MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY THAT FEBRUARY 3RD DATE TO ASK
FOR A REEVALUATION OF THEIR HOME AND THAT AND AN ABATEMENT ON THAT THAT WE EXTEND THAT TO THE OTHER EXEMPTION DEADLINE OF APRIL 1ST. NOW I KNOW AGAIN THAT'S A LOT
TO TAKE ON BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT AT LEAST EXTENDING IT IN THE FUTURE SO FOLKS HAVE MORE TIME TO REACT TO THE TAX BILL AND LEARN WHAT THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS UNFAIRLY TAKE MONEY
OUT OF SOMEONE'S POCKET BECAUSE THEY'RE POTENTIALLY WERE REASSESSED IT WRONG. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE ASSESSING DEPARTMENT IS DOING A BAD JOB ASSESSING NO ONE'S
GOING TO BAT A THOUSAND ON ASSESSING EVERY PROPERTY IN THE VALUE. THERE ARE SOME THAT WERE QUITE OFF THOUGH AND I WANT THE FOLKS THAT FEEL THAT THEY WERE EGREGIOUSLY MIS VALUED TOO THAT
THAT PERHAPS MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE FEBRUARY 3RD TO LOOK AT THAT AS A HAD TO BE TO OPEN THAT UP AGAIN AND ALLOW THEM TO BE REVALUED. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS
THAT CAUSES ON OPERATIONS AND STAFFING AND THE TIMELINE HERE BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE AS A BODY LOOK FORWARD TO AT ANOTHER HEARING. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS IT GOES UP TO THE LEGISLATURE NOW THAT BEING SAID
AS A WHOLE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN HERE THAT SUPPORTS THINGS I BELIEVE IN AND THE SMALL BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL RELIEF AND SO I WILL BE VOTING TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS HOME RULE PETITION
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN SOME OTHER THINGS IN THERE AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO SAY RECORD THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST KIND OF AN INGENIOUS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I THINK FOR ME ONE OF THE BIGGEST I THINK TAKEAWAYS FROM THE HEARING WAS THAT WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING SYSTEMS
FOR ACCESSIBILITY. I HEARD A LOT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THE THE WAY THAT YOU ARE NOTIFIED EVEN IF YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER THIS IS YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS
EVERY YEAR WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES WITH THE MAILING SYSTEM THAT FOLKS WEREN'T REALLY GETTING NOTIFICATIONS ON TIME AND THEN NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY CRUMBS LIKE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT WOULD GIVE EXEMPTIONS AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT IN TIME I, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON MY COLLEAGUE WHO IS YOU KNOW, PROPOSING AN EXTENSION.
NOT ONLY DO WE NEED AN EXTENSION BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF ITS VALUATION, THE FORMULA THAT IS USED IT'S BASED ON SURROUNDING PROPERTIES SO WE'RE NOT GOING INSIDE OF THE
PROPERTY AND WE'RE WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS OF THINGS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY AND ITS SURROUNDING AND THEN WE'RE SAYING OKAY, YOU THREE FAMILY WE'RE BASING IT ON HOW MANY YOU KNOW, HOW MANY UNITS, WHAT
OTHER THE VALUES OF THE OTHER SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND UNFAIRLY ASSESSING PROPERTIES AND THEN OF COURSE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE INCREASE. SO I DO I DO FEEL THAT YOU
KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS OR MANY EVILS HERE IN THIS IN THIS CASE AND WE DO WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF DOING YOU KNOW, GETTING IT RIGHT BUT
ALSO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING NOTIFIED AND THEN WHEN YOU DO HAVE EXEMPTIONS OR REBATES THAT THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION ON TIME BUT ALSO NOT HAVING ACCESS.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT DIGITAL ACCESS HERE, NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND NOT ACTUALLY FAIRLY SAYING YES WE ARE EXECUTING THIS OR WE ARE JUST DISTRIBUTING THIS BENEFIT
EQUITABLY. SO I'M NOT I'M NOT I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THIS RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT PAUSING IT AND SUPPORTING IT TODAY AND THEN TO TO MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, MY RESERVATIONS HOPEFULLY I'VE BEEN CLEAR THAT ,YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDS PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND WE'VE SAID
ENOUGH ABOUT HOW WE WANTED IT WORKING SESSION IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE JUST DISCORD IN TERMS OF LIKE NOT AGREEING WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS WHO ARE RESPONDED TO OR
MET OR WHATEVER, I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO THERE. BUT IT DOES IT DOES POSE THE QUESTION OF IF YOU CREATE AN AMENDMENT THAT ONLY ADDS A PART
OF A SECTION THEN AND YOU HAVE NOT DISPUTED THE SECTIONS ITSELF THEN ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH THE ORDINANCE AS THE HOMEOWNER POSITION AS IS BUT YOU'RE JUST ADDING A PIECE OF IT.
SO CAN WE BOTH THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE COMES FROM HERE. GET THE FLOOR READ YOU OKAY. WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?
COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ALTERNATIVE REVENUE RESOURCES. I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE
WORK TO DO IN THIS SPACE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIX THE THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT ARE RESULTING FROM OUR FAILURE
TO PASS A HOME RULE PETITION LAST YEAR AT THE STATE HOUSE AND TRY AND OFFER SOME RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS A HOMEOWNERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN THE SHORT TERM.
BUT WE NEED TO REALLY DIG IN TO THE BIGGER ISSUES ABOUT OUR REVENUE RESOURCES. WE HAD A HEARING ON IT EARLIER IN THE IN THE YEAR BEFORE THAT BEFORE WE BROKE FOR THE
HOLIDAYS. YOU KNOW, 53% OF OUR PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS TAX EXEMPT BUT ONLY A PORTION OF THAT IS THE MEDICINE ED SO WE'RE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A HUGE FOOTPRINT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, THEY ARE TAX EXEMPT BUT ALSO STATE, FEDERAL AND CITY ARE ALL NONTAXABLE AND QUASI GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MASSPORT IS
ALSO ON ON TAXABLE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER ENTITIES THAT REALLY PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES TO PAY FOR THE
CITY'S SERVICES. SO AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. WE ARE ONLY AT THE END I THINK WE'RE AT THE END OF THE BEGINNING IS WHAT WE WOULD SAY AND WE NEED TO GET INTO THIS
AGAIN AND KEEP WORKING ON IT. IT'S NOT A REALLY YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUR DEPARTMENTS UP TO WORKFORCE LEVELS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY
DELIVER CITY SERVICES. WE TALK ABOUT INSPECTIONAL INSPECTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS. THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDERSTAFFED. SO YOU KNOW CUTTING STAFF IS NOT THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM.
WE JUST HAVE TO TRY AND FIND OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE. THINK COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AND WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S AN INFLATIONARY PRESSURE ON OUR HOUSING STOCK. THE VALUE OF HOUSING IN AUSTIN
AND BOSTON HAS GONE UP INCREDIBLY AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE OURS AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON 80% OF OUR POPULATION ARE RENTERS WITH A MEDIAN INCOME
OF 50 TO 40 5 TO 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. SO YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT ROLANDO HERE. WE MAY BE LIVING IN VERY EXPENSIVE HOUSING STOCK BUT IT'S NOT LUXURY HOUSING STOCK. SO WE HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO
ADDRESS AND WE ALSO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT'S DRIVING OUR COST OF HOUSING AND THEN BY EXTENSION COSTS INCREASING OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES IS THE SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT BY CASH
BUYERS AND PRIVATE EQUITY BUYERS WHO ARE INFLATING THE COSTS. THEY CAN COME IN AND BUY A HOUSE. IT CAN DROP $1,000,000 IN CASH FOR A HOUSE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. SO WE HAVE WE AS A GROUP
OF PEOPLE HERE THAT GET OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH REAL SOLUTIONS AND ENGAGE WITH OTHER LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS AT THE STATE HOUSE TO TRY AND COME UP WITH SOME REAL SOLUTIONS AND LET'S REALLY FOCUS ON THE
PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR RESIDENTS, ON OUR RENTERS AND OUR HOMEOWNERS IN THE CITY WHO CALL BOSTON HOME AND TRY AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE SPEND 4 HOURS ARGUING THIS
OUT FOR THE LAST AND IT'S REALLY WE'RE ALMOST BACK WHERE WE STARTED. SO THIS THIS THIS CONVERSATION NOT ENDED AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO AS AS
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY WOULD SAY SHOP ON OUR PENCILS AND GET BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YEAH. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GOING TO
SPEAK BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT ,YOU KNOW, SAID THIS WAS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NATIONAL SCALE. THEY'RE TRYING TO BEAT US DOWN SO THAT WE CAN GET TIRED. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET TIRED.
I'M GOING TO KEEP ON TALKING. SO I I THINK I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST MOVING THE CONVERSATION ALONG. I THINK WHAT I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THESE WATERS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE OUR TIMELINES, OUR DEADLINES AND I FEEL LIKE WE JUST HAD A HEARING IF WE COULD
HAVE PUT THIS ON A TUESDAY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN READY. NOW WE'RE DOING THIS ON WEDNESDAY SO HELLO THIS WAS WHAT A HEARING WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE. SO WE DID HAVE A HEARING ON THIS SO THANK YOU. GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT
ON TOP OF 500 OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK ON TODAY. BUT I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY THIS COULD BE A GOOD LESSON FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND
DOING BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY SO THAT FOLKS CAN DELIBERATE IN A PUBLIC HEARING SPACE NOT DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC AS WE CONTINUE TO PLOW THROUGH THIS
WORK. AND I THINK THAT THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WERE RAISED DURING THE ONE HEARING THAT WE HAD WHERE 500 LIKE THREE OTHER OR FOUR THINGS WERE
DEBATED ON. SO I JUST IT WAS A LOT SO THAT FORUM SO THAT I'M CLEAR THIS PARTICULAR VOTE THAT WE'RE TAKING ON IS JUST ON THE HOME RULE PETITION NOT YOUR STUFF
NOT ALL THIS OTHER SCUFFLING THAT HAPPENED RIGHT CALLING AMENDMENTS FAILED. WE ARE YEAH. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF DIALOG AND CLARIFYING YOU I THINK YOU AND
SO I THINK THAT IF WE HAVE NOT LEARNED OUR LESSON I THINK TODAY SERVES AS A REALLY GREAT TEACHABLE MOMENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR TO
ME THAT FOLKS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THEIR MIKES TO BE HEARD. AND SO WHETHER WE DO IT IN A HEARING OR WE DO IT HERE IN A COUNCIL MEETING, I THINK THIS PRESENTS ITSELF AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY. SO I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO TO DO JUST THAT. THEY THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA
IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL THAT AS A PARTNER FOR LEADING US TO THIS. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF US HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT TAXES AGAIN I THINK I ALREADY STATED THIS I LIKE THAT MY
STAFF INDEPENDENTLY WERE ASKING ABOUT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REBATES AND I LIKE THAT WE ADDED MORE CONTROL HERE ABOUT WHAT THE REBATES WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT OVER THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR OPENNESS AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYONE. MR. CLERK COUNCILOR RICARDO ZAPATA HAS MOVED FOR THIS FORMAL PETITION TO PASS IN A
NEW DRAFT. COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE? COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLORED AS A FAN OF COUNCILOR CLARE'S PARTY YES . COUNCILOR DURKAN.
COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FINANCE SANDERSON YES . COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN
NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR AND YES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR 15 COUNCILOR DEFENSE
COUNCIL SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR WU YES TALKING NUMBER
0236 AS WE SEE 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED. OCH, THANK YOU EVERYONE. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT
RECESS TILL ABOUT 430. I MEAN IT'S 421 NOW SO IF EVERYONE COULD BE PLEASE BE BACK IN CHAMBERS AT 430.
THANK YOU.
WE ARE IN
. WE ARE WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0293 SO I CAN NUMBER 0293 THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRED JANUARY 29TH 2025 DUCK MEMBERS 0293 NO SAID YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON
ACCEPTING SPEND THE AMOUNT OF $145,687 OR $0.72 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT A STOP GRID ORDER BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A CIVILIAN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE WHO PROVIDES SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND JAMAICA PLAIN AS WELL AS FOR SPANISH SPEAKING VICTIMS CITYWIDE AND ALSO SUPPORTING OVERTIME FOR ALL CIVILIANS.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE CITYWIDE SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT THE ORDER OUGHT TO PASS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WE HELD A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY SIX TO DISCUSS THE DOCKET THAT THE CLERK HAS JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR EARLE, COUNSELOR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR WEBER FOR JOINING US. I THINK IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO LISTEN TO THE POLICE AND ALSO THE GRANT WRITER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MONEY AND
OTHER INITIATIVES THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE STAY IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION JOANNA SAVAGE
WHO'S THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LIEUTENANT DETECTIVE LAPOINTE NICOLE LAPOINTE FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT
GAVE COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED, THEY SPOKE ON THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS THE USE OF LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES
FOR NON ENGLISH SPEAKERS IN THE ONGOING WORK TO ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN BOSTON. THE GRANT WILL FUND CIVILIAN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE TO ASSIST VICTIMS IN JAMAICA PLAIN WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS NOT A DOMESTIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE AT EACH DISTRICT POLICE STATION ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS ONE WILL BE ADDED TO JAMAICA PLAIN AS WELL AS BEING SPANISH SPEAKING VICTIMS CITYWIDE WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING OVERTIME FOR THE CIVILIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE LEARNED THAT OVERTIME IS NEEDED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THEM SO OFTENTIMES THEY DO HAVE TO WORK TO SUPPORT THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
THEY DID OUTLINE THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE AN ADVOCATE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE POLICE. THE PANELIST HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GRANTS AND ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORT TO SUPPORT
OUR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO I'M ASKING IF ANYONE WHO ATTENDED WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. I KNOW SOME DISTRICT COUNCILORS DID DO A GOOD JOB ADVOCATING AND WE DID ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
HOW THEY CHOSE WHICH DISTRICTS DID GET A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ATTENDED WHO MAY WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS AND THEN I'LL BRING IT FORWARD FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. CONSTABLE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR THIS INFORMATIVE HEARING.
IT WAS WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL HEARING AND WE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT BOSTON POLICE CONTINUE TO DO IN SUPPORT OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, MANY STATIONS ACROSS
THE CITY DON'T HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANT COORDINATOR IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I KNOW WE ALL ARE BUT WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT EVERY
DISTRICT IN THE CITY HAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANT COORDINATOR ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT SPEAK MANY LANGUAGES SUCH
AS CANTONESE OR SPANISH. WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN A ONE WHICH IS WHICH IS THE DOWNTOWN AREA INTO CHARLESTOWN IN CHINATOWN, CHINATOWN.
BUT WE SHOULD HAVE ONE THERE ESPECIALLY ONE THAT DOES SPEAK CANTONESE. WE ALSO NEED ONE IN THE SOUTH END AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT I ADVOCATED FOR.
I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERY DISTRICT HAVE IT AND IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES MOVES FOR PASSAGE
OF DOCKET NUMBER 0293 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I OPPOSING BUT I SAT AT THE START THIS PAST WEEK AND I WANT TO IMAGINE WE HEARD FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 01350135 ORDINANCE TO PROTECT WORKERS
FROM HEAT RELATED ILLNESS AND INJURIES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS HAVE DECLARED AS A PARTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
ON MONDAY WE HELD A HEARING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE. WE WERE JOINED BY A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS JODY SUGARMAN ROSEN FROM THE FROM THE LABOR PROTECTIONS DEPARTMENT.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ULTIMATELY GOING TO KEEP THIS IN COMMITTEE. I DID COMMIT TO HAVING ANOTHER WORKING SESSION WITHIN THIS HEARING. THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED AND ULTIMATELY
THERE'S SOME DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUESTING. SO AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME I'M GOING TO REQUEST THAT THIS DOCKET STATE COMMITTEE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0135
WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR QUOTE CAN YOU PLEASE BE TALKING TO MISSOURI 325.0325 ORDER FOR HIM TO DISCUSS BOSTON'S FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR ORAL CANCER. I HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANT TO BEFORE I START MY REMARKS AND REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR WEBER AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR WORK
WITH ME ON THIS ON THIS DOCKET THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HOSTED A WORKING SESSION ON FEBRUARY TEN. WE WERE JOINED BY CASAS PEPEN MURPHY, FLYNN, FITZGERALD WEBER AND DURKIN AND WE RECEIVED A
LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR BRAEDEN AND COUNCILOR SANTANA. THIS WAS THE FIRST WORKING SESSION HELD IN A SERIES OF WORKING SESSIONS WHERE WE WILL BE TO HOST AND DISCUSS AND SET OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE FY
26 BUDGET AND DURING THIS SESSION COUNCILOR DISCUSS OUR FILES FOR THE UPCOMING OPERATING BUDGET AND PRIOR AND YOUR PRIORITIES KANSAS HAVE A BUDGET INVESTMENT GIVEN THE
DIFFERENT NEEDS AND ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES BASED ON THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'LL BE HAVING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, MY OFFICE HAS STARTED DRAFTING AND EDITING A LIST OF OUR FILES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT TO BE
FINALIZED AND RETURNED BY EACH DEPARTMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AHEAD OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS. WE WILL ALSO BE HOSTING SEVERAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS ON BOTH THE OPERATING BUDGET AS WELL AS THE BUDGET FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HEAR
TESTIMONY FROM CONSTITUENTS AND ENSURE WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE CONCERNS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THAT. THE FIRST OF THESE WILL BE THIS THIS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18TH AT 6 P.M. AND I ENCOURAGE
CONSTITUENTS TO JOIN US AT THAT AT THESE SESSIONS AND TO OFFER TESTIMONY EITHER IN PERSON VIRTUALLY VIRTUALLY IN WRITING OR YOU CAN ALSO RECORD YOURSELF AND SEND THAT TESTIMONY IN.
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO BE BROUGHT IN FOR A HEARING ON FEBRUARY 27 AT THIS TIME THIS DOCKET WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR AROUND THIS DOCKET DOCTOR NUMBER 20325 SHALL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCTOR NUMBER 02410241 MESSAGE IN ORDER TEMPORARY EXTENDING
URBAN RENEWAL PLANS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON UNTIL MARCH 31ST, 2027 WELL PASSAGE OF A PROPOSED RELEVANT HOME RULE PETITION THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN, THE CHAIR OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION AND CONSIDER CAN YOU GET THE FLOOR? THANK YOU CHAIR ON FEBRUARY 11TH THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION HELD A HEARING ON OH TWO FOR ONE MESSAGE AN ORDER TEMPORARILY EXTENDED URBAN
RENEWAL PLANS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON UNTIL MARCH 31ST, 2027 OR PASSAGE OF A PROPOSED RELEVANT HOME RULE PETITION. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 15,
2025. WE WERE JOINED BY COUNCILORS MURPHY WORRELL, FLYNN WEBER LOUIJEUNE AND FERNANDO SANDERSON. THE ADMINISTRATION WAS
REPRESENTED BY DEVIN PERT, DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. LISA HARRINGTON, GENERAL COUNCILOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. REUBEN CANTOR SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND MAX HORTON POLICY SPECIALIST FROM THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT ALL PROVIDED A PRESENTATION DEALING WITH THE TOPIC AT HAND AND TESTIMONY TO THEIR TESTIMONY FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND WE TOOK
QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED URBAN RULE AND 12 ACTIVE EARL DISTRICTS INCLUDE THE BRUNSWICK KING URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, THE CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL, URBAN PLAN,
THE CENTRAL BUS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SOUTH STATION URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, THE CHARLESTOWN URBAN RENEWAL PLAN DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT FANEUIL HALL URBAN RENEWAL PLAN FENWAY
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN GOVERNMENT CENTER URBAN RENEWAL PLAN WHICH WE'RE STANDING IN KITTERIDGE SQUARE URBAN AN OLD PLAN PARK PLAZA TERMINAL AND SOUTH
COVE URBAN AN OLD PLAN SOUTH END URBAN RENEWAL PLAN WHICH INCLUDES ROXBURY WASHINGTON PARK URBAN AND OLD PLAN. COLLEAGUES LET ME BE CLEAR BY STANDING TODAY WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE SHAPING BOSTON'S FUTURE BY EXTENDING URBAN PLANS FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. WE MUST BE GUIDED BY THE
PRESSING CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME HOUSING TODAY THOUSAND 748 AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE TIED TO URBAN RENEWAL TOOLS. THESE HOMES AND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THEM ARE AT RISK IF WE FAIL TO EXTEND
THESE POWERS FOR ALL THE FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM, RENEWAL MECHANISMS HAVE PRESERVED THESE RESOURCES FOR DECADES PROVIDING CRITICAL STABILITY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. SCRAPPING THESE TOOLS WITHOUT A
CLEAR WORKABLE REPLACEMENT PLAN WOULD BE RECKLESS ESPECIALLY WHEN BOSTON IS IN THE SITUATION WE'RE IN NOW NEEDING TO PROVIDE INCREASED AFFORDABILITY. YES, REFORM IS NECESSARY. URBAN RENEWAL HAS ITS
SHORTCOMINGS BUT WE MUST LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST. BUT TO DISMISS THESE TOOLS OUTRIGHT TO CLAIM THEY FAILED TO TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDERCUTS THE VERY REAL GOOD THEY'VE DONE AND PUTS
VULNERABLE FAMILIES IN JEOPARDY. THE COMMITTEE HEARING WE HAD WAS A LITTLE OVER 2 HOURS. I KNOW IN THE PAST THIS HAS
BEEN MORE CONTROVERSIAL. TODAY WE HAVE WE LEARNED FROM FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT OPEN SPACE AND FOR PRESERVING OPEN SPACE AND PRESERVING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY IS USING THESE TOOLS AND AT THE HEARING YESTERDAY JOINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION PANEL WE REVIEWED THE 12 ACTIVE
URBAN AND ALL AREAS AND CAN AND RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAND DISPOSITION AGREEMENTS WE LEARNED THAT WHILE AWAITING PASSAGE OF A FORMAL PETITION THAT WOULD REFORM THE CITY'S URBAN RENEWAL POLICY, THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT MUST REQUEST AN EXTENSION TO URBAN AND ALL TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF THESE IMPORTANT LAND PROTECTIONS. ELDERS ARE MEANT TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND COMMUNITY LEVERAGE OVER LARGE
PROJECTS AND SMALLER PROJECTS BY INTRODUCING RESTRICTIONS PROTECTING OPEN SPACE, COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THESE IDEAS ARE AN EXTENSION
OF THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN BUT THE MAJORITY OF LDA EXPIRATIONS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN SUBSET SUNSETTING THE ADMINISTRATION PLAN ALL PROVIDED LDA RELATED DATA
INCLUDING A NUMBER OF LDA IS TYPES OF ODORS, EXPIRATION DATES, LOCATIONS AND EXAMPLES OF CURRENT ALGIERS. THESE CAN BE REFERENCED IN A SLIDE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PROVIDED.
THEY EXPLAINED THAT THIS ORDER WOULD APPROVE A TWO YEAR EXTENSION FOR THESE 12 URBAN AND OLD PLAN AREAS THAT WOULD BE EFFECT UNTIL MARCH 31ST, 2027. IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN, URBAN
AND OVER WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST, 2025 AND THE CITY WOULD LOSE KEY LAND USE PROTECTIONS FOR NEARLY 12,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THESE AGREEMENTS DISAPPEAR
IMMEDIATELY BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE LOSE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THE CITY LOSES A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN NEGOTIATING WE WOULD ALSO LOSE 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OPEN SPACE AND OTHER PROTECTIONS.
THEREFORE, AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION I RECOMMEND MOVING THE LISTED DOCKET FROM COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION AT THIS TIME MY
RECOMMENDATION IS TO THE FULL COUNCIL THAT THIS MATTER OUGHT TO PASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN, PENNSYLVANIA ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I PLAN TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND PUBLIC INPUT SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THIS IS THE
PLAN DOWNTOWN BOSTON THAT WAS BEEN ONGOING IN DISCUSSION FOR OVER I BELIEVE SIX YEARS, MAYBE SEVEN YEARS AND RESIDENTS FELT
FELT TAKEN ABACK WHEN A NEW A NEW MAJOR PROPOSAL RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CHANGED THE THE HEIGHT FOR
HOUSING SO BPA STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AND I HIGHLIGHTED THAT RESIDENTS
REALLY NEED TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION. IT CAN'T BE A TOP DOWN APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT. RESIDENTS HAVE TO BE PART OF IT
HAVE TO HAVE TO BE RESPECTED AND WHEN WE HAVE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE TO MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS SUCH AS
PLANNED DOWNTOWN, IT DID TAKE RESIDENTS THEY WERE SURPRISED IN A NEGATIVE WAY WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT THE
HEIGHT WOULD BE INCREASE AFTER I BELIEVE SIX YEARS OF PLANNING. SO IN MY OPINION PPD HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO REGAIN SOME TRUST. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK
ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILOR DURKIN SEEKS OC COUNCILOR DURKIN SEEKS PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION SEE TAPPED INTO THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0241 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I OPPOSED IT ALL. MR POPE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A REAL COVER ROLL CALL
VOTE ON NUMBER 0241 COUNCILOR BRIEF COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR CLOSE OPPOSE. COUNCILOR CLOSE PARTNER YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCIL FIRST SHOW YES. COUNCIL FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCIL IS IN YES COUNCIL FROM HERE COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES
COUNCILOR THE PAN COUNCIL OPINIONS COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCIL MEMBER YES AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR OH YES.
TALKING ON A 0 TO 4 ONE HAS RECEIVED 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. DOCKET NUMBER 0241 HAS PASSED. WE ARE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS,
ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE PER RULE 39 A LEAD SPONSOR MAY HAVE THE FLOOR FOR 3 MINUTES WHEN A NEW FILE WHEN A NEW DOCKET IS INTRODUCED AND CO-SPONSORS MAY HAVE THE FLOOR FOR 2 MINUTES WE WILL BE HEARING STRICTLY TO
THOSE RULES AND ALSO I KNOW THERE ARE FEW RE FILES ON THIS ON THIS DOCKET LIMITING RE FILES RECOMMENDATION IS THE LIMIT. WE FAST FORWARD 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE AND CO-SPONSORS
PREFERABLY NOT SPEAKING ON THE DOCKET ARE THE COUNCILORS WE WILL BE TAKING ONE DOCKET OUT OF ORDER SO MR QUICK IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0484 DOCKET THEM A ZERO 44
COUNCIL'S LOUIJEUNE AND DURKAN AFTER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM PRIMARY CARE POSITIONS. THANK YOU MR. CLERK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL PRESIDENT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND CAN I INVOKE RULE 12 TO ADD COUNCILOR WEBER AS THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE LOOKS TO INVOKE RULE 12 AND ADD COUNCIL WEBER AS THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR TO HIM NO OBJECTIONS . COUNCILOR WEBER SO AT LOUIJEUNE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL OF THE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS WHO CAME HERE AND HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK. BUT JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HERE ON THE COUNCIL HOPEFULLY STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH YOU AS YOU TRY TO GET RECOGNIZED AS A UNION. WE RECOGNIZE INVALUABLE ROLE OF OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU MAKE EVERY DAY TO OUR CITY WE'VE
BEEN ACTIVE IN RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE HEALTH CARE WORKERS PLAY TO SUPPORT AND SUPPORT THEIR RIGHT TO BETTER WORKING. THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST TIME BEING WITH YOU IN THIS FIGHT. I KNOW LAST YEAR COUNCILOR WAS DURKEE AND COUNCILOR SANTANA.
OTHERS WERE WITH YOU ON LABOR DAY MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE AT HOSPITALS ADVOCATING WITH YOU AND ON YOUR BEHALF ALONGSIDE THE BUILDING TRADES AND SO MANY OTHERS.
SO WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT YOU. THIS MOVE BY MGB PHYSICIANS FOLLOWS SIMILAR EFFORTS BY SALEM HOSPITAL CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER AND BROWN
UNIVERSITY HEALTH IN RHODE ISLAND. WHY ARE MGB PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS ORGANIZING THEIR CONCERNS INCLUDE INCREASED PATIENT LOADS, LOSS OF AUTONOMY
,HIGH TURNOVER RATES AND THIS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON PATIENT CARE. WHEN THERE IS REDUCED SUPPORT STAFF THERE'S LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR PATIENTS AND THE ELIMINATION OF VALUABLE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. STUDIES SHOW THAT PROFIT FIRST
DECISION MAKING WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND IN THE CITY CAN LEAD TO POORER HEALTH OUTCOMES RIGHT WHEN WE'RE PUTTING PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN THE
HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND SO THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WE KNOW AND RECOGNIZE AS FUNDAMENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT BOSTON STANDS WITH ITS HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN ADVOCATING FOR
FAIR TREATMENT AND SUSTAINABLE WORKING CONDITIONS SO I'M SEEKING SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET TODAY AND HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL STAND WITH ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR DRAGGING COUNCILOR DUNCAN TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR GETTING TO LIVE AND WORK NEXT TO THESE HEALTH CARE WORKERS LIVING IN BEACON HILL FOR TEN YEARS I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THEM IN THEIR SCRUBS ON THEIR WAY TO
GET COFFEE. I'VE SEEN HOW HARD WORKING THERE ARE. I'VE SEEN THEM MEETING TO GET BITE LATE AT A LOCAL PUB BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT WAS OPEN.
I'VE RESPECTED THESE WORKERS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND IN THE PANDEMIC I REMEMBER THERE WAS A LOCAL BEACON HILL BAGPIPER THAT EVERY DAY AT 7 P.M. PEOPLE WOULD CLAP FOR THE
HEALTH CARE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY KEPT US ALIVE IN A TIME WHERE WE WEREN'T SURE THAT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO SURVIVE A PANDEMIC AND
I DON'T SEE CLAPPING NOW. I DON'T SEE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THESE WORKERS AND UNIQUELY MY DISTRICT HAS BOTH MASS GENERAL
AND AND THE BRIGHAM AND BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S AND I SEE THESE WORKERS ALL THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT ARE STRIVING TO SURVIVE LOOKING FOR HEALTH CARE, LOOKING FOR DIGNITY IN
THEIR WORK AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING IT AND IT'S UPSETTING IT UPSETS ME EVERY DAY TO GET FOLLOW UP CALL AFTER FOLLOW UP CALL THAT THAT THIS INSTITUTION
IS NOT OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH. IT UPSETS ME EVEN MORE THAT THEY'RE LAYING OFF WORKERS TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN BOTTOM LINE. AND I THINK THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S STANDING WITH THESE WORKERS NOW IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. WE'RE AT A TIME WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ROLLING BACK PROTECTIONS FOR LABOR AND
WORKERS AND BUT LOCALLY WE'RE SEEING THE SAME WE'RE SEEING DIE BY INITIATIVES BEING STRIPPED. WE'RE SEEING COMPANIES AND
INSTITUTIONS SAYING WELL MAYBE I DON'T HAVE TO DO THE THINGS THAT MAKE MY INSTITUTION MORE INCLUSIVE BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SAYS SO AND TODAY I STAND WITH
THEM IN THEIR RIGHT TO DIGNITY A FAIR WAGE. I STAND WITH THEM IN NEEDING HEALTH CARE. I STAND WITH THEM IN NEEDING TO AFFORD THEIR LIFE WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND I THINK
EVERYONE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO HAVE A FAMILY TO TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT IS SAFE AND AND THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT ORGANIZE AND
SO I'LL STAND WITH THEM EVERY DAY AND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUYING ONE OF THEM COFFEE SOON AT MY LOCAL COFFEE SHOP SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER.
COUNCILOR GET THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR FOR ADDING ME AS A THIRD PERSON HERE AND YOU KNOW I WAS OUT THERE ON LABOR DAY I
BELIEVE COUNCILOR FLYNN WAS THERE ALSO IT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED YET BUT JUST AS A AS AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING WORKERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, MANY OF WHOM WERE NOT ALLOWED
TO FORM A UNION NOT EVEN RECOGNIZED AS EMPLOYEES. SO I WILL ALWAYS STAND UP WITH WORKERS WHO WANT TO STAND TOGETHER AND COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN FOR FAIR WAGES AND FAIR
BENEFITS. AND I REALLY HOPE THAT MGB WILL STEP UP AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE. I THINK AS COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED YOU KNOW WE HAVE A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT IS TRYING TO STOP THE NATIONAL
LABOR BOARD FROM EVEN FUNCTIONING OR MEETING. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS ON THAT END AS WELL. I STAND BY THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS MGB AND I FULLY
SUPPORT THEM IN THIS PUSH TO BE RECOGNIZED AND SO THEY CAN BARGAIN FOR THEIR THEIR WAGES. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR HAD COUNCILOR CARLOTA
ZAPATA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND FOR STICKING OUR OUR INCREDIBLE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I WILL BRING TO THIS IS
THAT I WILL ALWAYS STAND WITH MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC I THINK IT WAS APRIL 12TH WHEN WE FOUND OUT MY MOM HAD COVID AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE ONE
OF THE FIRST FOLKS TO BE INTUBATED AND IT WAS A REALLY SCARY TIME. AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS HERE. THEY SHIFTED TO THE ICU TO ADDRESS THE SPIKE THAT WE FIRST
SAW AND THEY LITERALLY SAVED MY MOM'S LIFE AND I HAVE I'M INDEBTED TO THEM MANY TIMES OVER. I WILL ALWAYS STICK WITH THEM AND OTHER WORKERS THAT ARE CALLING FOR THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING. THEY DESERVE A WORKING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE BURNT OUT. THEY DESERVE ADEQUATE PAY AND SO ENSURING SAFEGUARDS FOR OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ENSURES BETTER OVERALL HEALTH CARE.
AND SO OF COURSE I SUPPORT THIS AND I SAY I'M WITH YOU EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WE'RE ALL LIKE YOU, MR CHAIR.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR MURPHY THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNSELOR MURPHY WAS AT MANY OF THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS AS WELL .
WE ALSO DEMONSTRATED AT THE B.U. MEDICAL CENTER FOR PHYSICIANS THERE. BUT MASH GENERAL HOSPITAL IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER IN
THE REGION AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THESE MEDICAL PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS EVERY DAY IS IS OUTSTANDING.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME OR NOT WORKING AT ALL, WE WOULD SAY I REPRESENTED THE BACK BAY. I REPRESENT THE THE SOUTH END
OF SOUTH BOSTON BUT I WOULD SEE PEOPLE GOING TO WORK WALKING TO THE TRAIN STATION, WALKING TO THE THE THE HOSPITAL AND THEY'RE IN THEIR SCRUBS BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE SAVING LIVES
AND THEY'RE HELPING MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THEY'RE REAL THEY'RE UNSUNG HEROES AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IN THIS CITY. THEY DESERVE DIGNITY AND RESPECT BECAUSE THEY'VE EARNED IT.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRADING COUNCILOR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I ALSO STANDING THANK THE MAKERS FOR THIS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. EVERY DAY WE HEAR THAT ARE NOT UNIONIZED EXPERIENCING THREATS
OF DISMISSAL AND LAYOFFS. EVEN EXPERIENCED NURSES WITH DECADES OF EXPERT EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE TO THE MASS GENERAL ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR JOBS AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
AND I THINK IN THE ABSENCE OF HAVING UNION PROTECTIONS IT LEAVES THEM VERY, VERY VULNERABLE. SO I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND HOPE THAT MASS GENERAL WILL ALLOW THEIR NURSES
AND THEIR MEDICAL STAFF TO AND ALL OF THEIR HEALTH CARE WORKERS FOR THAT MATTER TO ORGANIZE AND TO ATTAIN FAIR WAGES AND GOOD WORKING
CONDITIONS GOING FORWARD THAT YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN WHEN YOU WORK AS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL I SPEAK FOR MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME. YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE JOB YOU WANT TO BE OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE AND YOU GET EXPLOITED.
BUT SOONER OR LATER YOU RUN OUT OF GAS AND YOU GET BURNED OUT AND GET DISILLUSIONED AND YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE BURNOUT OUT FOR A PHYSICAL THERAPIST. AT THE MOMENT I THINK IT'S ABOUT SEVEN YEARS POST-GRADUATION. THAT'S NOT IT. THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR REALLY HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND HIGHLY TRAINED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THE JOB THAT THEY'RE TRAINED FOR AND SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY WAY WE CAN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
JUST WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY I ALSO STAND WITH OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS. WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR STRENGTH IN OUR HEALTH OF OUR CITY. NEXT DAY I'M WITH THEM FOR
FIGHTING FOR FAIR WAGES AND MORE BENEFITS. BUT ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME. MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCIL BRADING CASA COLETTE ZAPATA CASA FITZGERALD CASTLE FLYNN CASTLE MEJIA CASTLE
MURPHY CASTLE PEPEN CASTLE SANTANA PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR CASTLE LOUIJEUNE SEAT SUSPENSION OF THE RULES IN A DODGE IN THE DOCKET NUMBER 20484 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I
ALTHOUGH THE SAID MR. CLERK, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DORKING AT A048 FOR COUNCILOR BERRY. YES COUNCILOR BREADON YES
COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PER COUNCILOR CALL IT AS PER YES COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FOR ANANTA SANDERSON . COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.
COUNCIL ALLUSION YES. COUNCILORS LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCIL PIPPIN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES.
NOW SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCIL MEMBER YES. IN COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR ARROYO YES. TALKING NUMBER 0484 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU DUNCAN NUMBER 0484
HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 04680468
COUNCIL ZERO FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH RAISE RESHAPING INEQUITIES THROUGH SYSTEM EMPOWERMENT BANK THANK YOU. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THANK YOU GABRIELLE
AND JOSIE FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT ALL THE WAY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE DOCTORS WHO HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK SO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THEM MY THANKS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR AND COUNCILOR ALL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THIS IS A REFILE JUST LOOKING TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION TO STRENGTHEN THIS ORDINANCE TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A PASSAGE THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?
OH. OH OH YES. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD CONCILOR MEJIA HERE AS THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. HE HAS ADDED AS A ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON CLAUDIA ZAPATA DURKAN FERNANDO ANDERSON FITZGERALD. FLYNN MURPHY, PIPPIN SANTANA
WEBER PLEASE OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0468 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE RE DOCKET NUMBER 0469 DICHOTOMOUS 0469 COUNCIL MURPHY AND FLYNN
FOR THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW REGARDING THE USE OF NON-DISCLOSURE, YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSS.
THANK YOU THE CHAIR AGAIN I WAS CONCERNED MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I STAND BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES TODAY TO PRESENT A FORMAL PETITION AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE USE OF NON-DISCLOSURE CONFIDENTIALITY IN OTHER
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THIS PETITION IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS POLICIES IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS. I DID FILE A HEARING ORDER ON
THIS ISSUE TO EXAMINE THE USE PURPOSE AND IMPACT OF THESE AGREEMENTS WITHIN THE CITY AND THAT HEARING DID PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHTS. THE HEARING WAS COMBINED IN THE
RULES COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILOR WEBBER'S POLICY BRIEFING THAT WE DID WORK THROUGH AND WE FROM THAT WE DID DECIDE AS A BODY TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY THAT PROHIBITS NDAS ON
THIS BODY IN THE COUNCIL AND THE DISCUSSION THAT ENSUED CLEARLY INDICATED TO ME THAT A MORE PERMANENT AND FAR REACHING SOLUTION WAS NEEDED BASED ON THAT INPUT AND AFTER CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION I'VE DETERMINED THAT FILING THIS HOME RULE PETITION ALONG WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENSURE LASTING REFORM IN THIS AREA. OUR PETITION IS DESIGNED TO
PROTECT NOT ONLY SENSITIVE CITY INFORMATION WHEN APPROPRIATE BUT ALSO TO SAFEGUARD TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW ESPECIALLY REGARDING ISSUES SUCH AS WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT,
DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT. BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PETITION WE ARE TAKING DECISIVE ACTION TO ALIGN OUR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES WITH THE HIGHEST AND OF OPEN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
TRUST. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THESE MEASURES WILL REINFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR ADMINISTRATION AND AMONG OUR CONTRACTORS WHILE PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR WORK
ENVIRONMENT. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MEETINGS IN THE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THIS PETITION GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR FLYNN CONSTABLE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR HAVING ME. IN RECENT WEEKS I HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY THAT THEY WANT TO SEE
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS REMOVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT NDAS AND CONFIDENTIAL AGREEMENTS OFTEN CREATE A SENSE OF MISTRUST AS AGREEMENTS ARE
SHROUDED FROM PUBLIC VIEW. IT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST CREATES CONFUSION, RUMORS REMOVING NDAS WILL SIGNAL TO RESIDENTS THAT THE CONDUCT OF CITY OFFICIALS
WILL BE PUBLIC. THEIR ACTIONS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I BELIEVE ALL PREVIOUS NDAS IN CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
LAST MONTH GOVERNOR HEALEY ISSUED A FORMAL POLICY PROHIBITING NDAS ACROSS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. MASSACHUSETTS STATE AUDITOR DISSOLVE LEO ALSO RECENTLY
RELEASED FINDINGS HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR LIMITS ON NDAS IN GOVERNMENT AS WELL. THE CITY SHOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD OF GOVERNOR HALEY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NDAS AND
SIMILAR AGREEMENTS IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT A COMMON PRACTICE. AS I MENTIONED IT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. WE MUST BE TRANSPARENT. ETHICS MUST BE PART OF GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE MAKERS IN TERMS OF WHY THIS WAS FILED AS A FORMAL PETITION. IS THERE A REASON THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD NEED STATE AUTHORITY OR IS THIS
SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WHOLLY DO WITHIN THE CITY WHICH THEN REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY IN HRP A FORMAL PETITION AND NOT JUST A CITY ORDINANCE? BECAUSE I, I MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT IT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW BUT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. WE CAN SPEAK MORE DURING THE HEARING BUT WE DID REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR AND SHE DID NOT RESPOND SO SHE COULD OF LIKE
THE GOVERNOR DID WHERE SHE STEPPED RIGHT IN BEFORE EVEN THE AUDITORS AUDIT CAME OUT. RIGHT. SO I WAS HOPING THAT THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE JUST IMPLEMENTED THIS OR THINKING THIS MIGHT BE
THE BEST ROUTE AND WE CAN TALK THROUGH THAT DURING THE HEARING . OKAY. I UNDERSTAND. JUST IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE AND IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CITY HAS AUTHORITY OVER AND LIKE WHAT WE NEED TO GO TO THE STATE FOR PERMISSION FOR.
THAT'S WHAT MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR RATING HAS A RATING. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, CONSTABLE MURPHY, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR OFFERING
THIS PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW ON NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. WHEN WE COME ACROSS IT IT'S NOT A NOT A REGULAR OCCURRENCE BUT WHEN WE COME ACROSS INSTANCES
OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN DISMISSED OR FORCED OUT OF THEIR JOBS THAT THEY'RE ASKED TO SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS TO COVER UP A
SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE SEEN HAVE SOME LIGHT OF DAY. IT'S VERY, VERY DISTURBING AND I THINK IT'S A SITUATION THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND I HOPE
THAT WE CAN HAVE A VERY BALANCED AND NUANCED CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. THE THE CONFIDENTIAL IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN ABUSED OR
TREATED BADLY OR JUST FORCED OUT OF THEIR JOB FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON AND THEN THEY'RE ASKED OH, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MONEY IF YOU SIGN AN
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT THAT'S THAT JUST SETS UP A WHOLE CULTURE OF IT SETS A CULTURE OF FEAR FOR OTHERS WHO MAY DARE TO SPEAK UP ABOUT ABUSE IN THE
WORKPLACE. SO I FEEL THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BRAEDEN. AND ALSO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY I KNOW FOLKS ARE HEARING SOME NOISES. THERE'S A CITY DEPARTMENT THAT IS BEING REMODELED.
THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHERE THE NOSES ARE COMING FROM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF ANSWER. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. COUNCILOR MURPHY ANSWERED IT
PERFECTLY BUT I WOULD ADD WHEN WE DID SEND THE LETTER TO THE MAYOR IT WOULD BE EASIER IF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE JUST KIND OF UNILATERALLY IMPLEMENTED A DECISION BARRING NDAS
THROUGHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT IN MAKING ALL PREVIOUS NDAS PUBLIC. THAT WOULD BE THE THAT WOULD BE IDEAL BUT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. WELL, WE'LL GO WE'LL GO THROUGH
THIS. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY MY QUESTION. IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE CUOMO PETITIONS ARE WHEN YOU NEED STATE AUTHORITY FOR SOMETHING AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE AUTHORITY FOR.
SO JUST AS A MATTER OF LIKE THE STRUCTURE IN THE PROCESS. THAT WAS MY QUESTION OF WHAT THE RIGHT PROCESS WAS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN, HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO THAT TO THAT POINT I'M JUST CURIOUS FROM YOUR RECOMMENDATION IF WE DO AS A BODY ARE ABLE TO JUST DO IT AS
A AS A ORDINANCE, WOULD IT BE EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR COMMENT IS AND MAYBE THESE MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY'D
BE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IF IF EXPEDITING IT QUICKER BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET THE HOME RULE PETITION THROUGH THE WORKING SESSION AND THEN IT GOES TO THE STATE AND
USUALLY THINGS DIE THERE. SO YOU WANTED TO LIVE AND YOU WANTED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE QUESTION BEGS DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT FROM A HOME RULE PETITION TO AN ORDINANCE?
IS THAT A QUESTION THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE MAKERS OR IS THAT IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? I'LL CLARIFY AGAIN WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY. IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A QUESTION OF WHAT'S EASIER OR NOT. IT'S LIKE WHAT IS WHAT IS
CORRECT OR NOT WHAT IS THE CORRECT? IF YOU DON'T NEED STATE AUTHORITY FOR SOMETHING YOU DON'T FILE A HUMBLE PETITION PERIOD. YEAH AND OKAY RIGHT TO MY POINT
SO AND IF YOU DON'T NEED IT THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR NORMAL CONSTRUCTS TO SHEPHERD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH OUR PROCESS THAT WAS LIKE THAT WAS MY QUESTION. RIGHT?
SO IF SO THIS IS GOING BACK TO THE POINT THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. IF THERE IS A STRUCTURE AND A FORMAL WAY IN WHICH WE GO ABOUT DOING BUSINESS, WE SHOULD
MAINTAIN THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SET THE PRESIDENTS TO DO IT THIS WAY THIS TIME AND THEN WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THINGS THAT WAY. I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY
SOMETIMES GETS THINGS GET A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING AT LEAST THEY DO FOR YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO FACILITATE THINGS. SO IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO ME BECAUSE YOU'RE THE CHAIR AND BECAUSE YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT SOMETHING FROM GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO CAN WE WITH MY COLLEAGUES HOPEFULLY BEING OPEN TO IT GO
THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS TO EXECUTE CUSTOM HERE. MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS EITHER WAY IT'S A IT'S WHETHER IT'S AS AN ORDINANCE OR A FORMAL PETITION IT GOES TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
AND SO LIKE I'M I AM EXPRESSING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE CORRECT THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED SPECIAL AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD NOT BE A COMPETITION. THERE IS A WORLD IN WHICH YOU KNOW, THERE'S DISCUSSION THAT
NEEDS OTHERWISE THAT'S WHAT I'M STATING BUT IT WILL BE IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND IT WILL BE IT WILL BE HASHED OUT IT CAN BE HASHED OUT THEN. YEAH. SO I GUESS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR I MEAN HERE YOU SO I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I'M ARTICULATING MY WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT ONCE IT GETS PLACED IN THE COMMITTEE IT'LL BE PLACED AS EITHER A HOME RULE PETITION OR AN
ORDINANCE. NO OR IT'LL BE EITHER OR AND IT WON'T IT DOESN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE IN COMMITTEE THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TO BE HASHED OUT.
OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANT CLEAR FLAHERTY. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING DEFINITIVELY. I ASKED A QUESTION. YEAH AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR SO THAT WHEN I WALK OUT OF HERE I KNOW WHAT I'M SIGNING UP FOR WHEN THIS COMES THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. YOU DID JUST SAY THAT IF IT WAS A HEARING ORDER OR A HOME RULE
PETITION IT WOULD GO NO MATTER WHAT ORDINANCE OR PETITION. RIGHT. SO ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE BECAUSE SHE'S ASKING FOR IT TO BE A HEARING ORDER TO GO INTO LIKE
THE ACCOUNTABILITY HERE COMMITTEE OR NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S ASKING. I UNDERSTAND SHE THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S ASKING. I'M OKAY. I CAN'T COME HERE. IT'S OKAY.
WE CAN MOVE ON. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING AND I BELIEVE WHAT IT COULD BE HAPPENING IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE.
HEAD COUNCILORS BREADON DURKIN, FERNANDA ANDERSON MEJIA BUT BEN WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0469 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE BE DARK IN NUMBER 04700470 COUNCILOR IS GREAT INCLUSION OF THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW AN ACT REGARDING THE BROKER FEES IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON EP BY THE PARTY WHO SOLD US A LICENSE BROKER THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCEPT WAITING TIMES ARE WAITING ON THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT DUNCAN ZERO FOR SEVEN NINE HOME RULE
PETITION ON REGARDING BROKER FEES I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND RULE 12 AND ADD COUNCILOR PEPEN AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PREPAREDNESS SO ADAM THANK YOU, COACH APOLOGIES
COUNCILOR BREADON SINCE IT'S BEEN THE RULE TO ADD COUNCILOR PIPPEN AS THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COME TO PREVENT THIS SO ADDED COUNCILOR RATING YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU COUNCILORS LOUIJEUNE AND PEPEN FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS WITH ME TODAY.
THIS IS A HOME RULE PETITION IS A REFILL FROM LAST MEETING OF 2024 SO I WILL BE BRIEF. AS MENTIONED WHEN IT WAS FIRST FILED MY OFFICE WAS COMMUNICATING WITH HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF FROM CITIES
AND TOWNS THAT HAD SOUGHT TO ABOLISH UNSOLICITED TENANT PEDRO COURSES FOR LANDLORD LANDLORD SOLICITING SERVICES. THEY ALSO RAISED THIS PROPOSAL WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING OVER THE PAST YEAR
OR SO AND IN THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS . THIS PROPOSED HOME RULE PETITION INCORPORATES LANGUAGE FROM VARIOUS PROPOSED BILLS AT THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDING PROVISIONS IN GOVERNOR HEALEY'S
FY 26 BUDGET. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE BECAUSE THE UNREGULATED PRACTICE OF TENANT PAY AND BROKER FEES IN THE RENTAL PROCESS PLACES UNDUE BURDENS ON
PROSPECTIVE TENANTS MANY OF WHOM ARE ALREADY SEVERELY COST BURDENED IN THE CURRENT RENTAL MARKET. PROHIBITING TENANT PAID BROKERS FEES FROM LANDLORDS SOLICIT SERVICES IS ONE OF THE MEASURES
TO REDUCE UPFRONT COSTS AND ALLEVIATE FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR RENTERS. THIS PROMPTS RENTER PROTECTION. THIS PROMOTES RENTER PROTECTIONS BY REQUIRING THE BROKER FEES TO BE PAID SOLELY
BY THE PARTY WHO SOLICITS THE BROKERS REAL ESTATE SERVICES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE CONVERSATION IN THE COUNCIL AND LEVERING THIS LEVERAGING THIS LOCAL HOME RECALL PETITION TO SUPPLEMENT
CURRENT CURRENT MOMENTUM THAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND IN MASSACHUSETTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS DURKIN FERNANDO ANDERSON FITZGERALD MEJIA WEBER WORL TO
THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 010470 THIS TALK WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MR PROPERLY PLEASE BE TALKING
NUMBER 04710471 COUNCIL PLANNING FOR THE FOLLOWING QUARTER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS REQUIRING ALL MICRO-MOBILITY DEVICES TO BE LICENSED REGISTERED AND INSURED. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILWOMAN JANICE SO ADDED COMFORTABLE INTO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
LAST FEBRUARY 2024 I RAISED THIS ISSUE IN A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY PROCESS RELATED TO BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME I SAID INSTEAD
OF NOT ENGAGING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOODS ON STREET WE DESIGN WITH A TOP DOWN APPROACH. WE SHOULD LISTEN TO NEIGHBORS AND ADDRESS THE INCREASE OF MOPEDS AND OTHER DEVICES
FROM THIRD PARTY DELIVERY DRIVERS. WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM NEIGHBORS OR WITNESSED MOPEDS AND SCOOTERS SPEED THROUGH STOP SIGNS IN RED LIGHTS GO THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY RIDE TO
THE RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK NAVIGATE BETWEEN VEHICLES AT RED LIGHTS ENDANGERING PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS. RESIDENTS CONSISTENTLY SHARED SERIOUS CONCERNS TO ME ABOUT
MICROMOBILITY DEVICES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE LICENSE, REGISTRATION OR LIABILITY INSURANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND THAT THEY POSE A DANGER TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
THIS NEW DYNAMIC IMPACTS ROAD SAFETY AND CAN PUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DRIVERS, CYCLISTS AND USERS OF MICROMOBILITY DEVICES IN HARM'S WAY.
I HAVE ADVOCATED REPEATEDLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR, IN THE MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IF YOU CAN GO 20 MILES PER HOUR YOU SHOULD BE LICENSED REGISTERED AND INSURED.
LAST WEEK THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THIRD PARTY DELIVERY PROVIDERS SUCH AS DOORDASH UBER EATS WRAP UP TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE THE COMPANIES TO HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ALL DRIVERS USING THEIR PLATFORM. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I PROPOSED A YEAR AGO WHILE HAVING THIRD
PARTY DELIVERY OPERATORS OBTAIN A PERMIT AND INSURANCE FOR THEIR WORKERS IS A STOCK AND WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT TO DETER BAD BEHAVIOR. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT
CONSISTENTLY AND HAVING ALL ROAD USERS LICENSED, REGISTERED AND INSURED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PLAYING BY THE SAME RULES. WE KNOW IN RECENT YEARS GROUPS OF DIRT BIKES WHO HAVE AT TIMES
OCCUPIED THE STREETS TO DO STUNTS AND RACING. WE KNOW ELECTRIC BIKES ALSO TRAVEL FASTER THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAVE ALL HEARD STORIES THAT
CIVIC GROUPS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS OF NOT ONLY MOPEDS BUT DIRT BIKES, ELECTRIC BIKES AND YES, EVEN REGULAR BICYCLES WHO GO TO RED LIGHT STOP SIGNS FOR
THE WRONG WAY. ON A QUIET A ONE WAY STREET THERE WAS A SIGN CURRENTLY ON SUMMER STREET IN DORCHESTER AVENUE RIGHT NEAR THE POST OFFICE ON THE WAY INTO CITY
HALL. IT SAYS AND I QUOTE STOP HERE AND READ AND ALL EXCEPT BICYCLES. THERE ARE BIKE LIGHTS ON THIS ROAD BUT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CYCLISTS WHO DO NOT WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS.
SIGNS LIKE THIS ONLY ADD TO THE CONFUSION FOR VEHICLES TRUCKS, PEDESTRIANS. WHY ARE WE NOT HAVING EVERYONE GET LICENSE REGISTERED? CARRY LIABILITY INSURANCE IN MY OPINION WHETHER IT'S A CAR
MOPED DIRT BIKE, ELECTRIC BIKE OR BIKE. EVERYONE HAS TO BE OBEYING THE SAME RULES OF THE ROAD AND BEING LICENSE REGISTERED AND INSURE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU COULD WRAP IT UP THERE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE INFORMING
THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE AND I'M STARTING TO AS STAY STRICT TO THIS 3 MINUTES SO IN THE NEXT 1015 SECONDS WE CAN'T HAVE RULES FOR ONE SET OF ROAD USERS BUT NOT ANOTHER.
BOSTON CAN NO LONGER BE THE WILD WEST AND LAST WEEK WE WERE INTRODUCING A GRANT TO ELECTRIFY THE BLUE BIKE STATIONS AND I'LL BE HONEST I WORRY ABOUT A CITY SPONSORED
ELECTRIC BLUE BIKE GOING 20 MILES PER HOUR THE WRONG WAY UP A ONE WAY STREET WITHOUT A HELMET AND SOMEONE GETTING HURT . WE'RE NOT MAKING THEM GETTING REGISTERED OR CARRYING LIABILITY INSURANCE.
THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY BE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH A THIRD PARTY DELIVERY. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILMAN JOE, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO
STICK TO THE 3 MINUTES? THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? GOOD. I'D LIKE TO SAY IN ED'S 3 MINUTES I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT
COUNCIL FLYNN HAS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD. IT'S REALLY TO ME IT'S A TWO BIRDS, ONE STONE ISSUE WHERE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WERE GOING TO. LATELY WE'RE ALSO SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF THESE MICRO-MOBILITY DEVICES ALONG
WITH CRIME RELATED ACTIVITIES AND IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR POLICE TO TRACK THOSE THAT ARE COMMITTING CRIMES ON THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED OR AND SO THEREFORE
THEY CAN'T IDENTIFY THEM OR LICENSE. BUT ALSO IT IS ANOTHER MEANS OF INCOME. WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT IDENTIFYING OTHER MEANS OF INCOME TO HELP OUT WITH THESE REBATES AND ABATEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT OF THAT NATURE.
SO IT'S SORT OF THIS YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOOK FOR THERE TO BE IF IT'S LICENSE AND REGISTERED I ASSUME THERE'S AN EXCISE TAX INVOLVED AS WELL THAT THE CITY WOULD SEE SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS TWO BIRDS ONE STONE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR BRINGING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND COUNCILOR DURKAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK THROUGH THE CHAIR IF THIS IS TOO SIMILAR TO 0407 WHICH IS IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
COMMITTEE. AS YOU KNOW I HOSTED A HEARING 030 3 TO 2024 WITH FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND 0407 IS
ACTUALLY THE FOLLOW UP THAT FILING FROM THE MAYOR IS ACTUALLY THE FOLLOW UP TO THE HEARING AND THE CONVERSATION AND THE WORKING GROUP THAT I'VE
BEEN A PART OF. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHAT DOCKET IS IT FOR US? DO YOU DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE HEARING OF THAT DUCK OF THAT HEARING ORDER? WE DON'T HAVE THERE'S ONLY TWO LINES OF A DAUGHERTY NOT THE
WHOLE THING. SO WE HAVE AN ELECTRONIC WELL WE ARE IN A BRIEF FIVE MINUTE
RECESS.
WE IN A PAPER
ARE BACK IN SESSION. MR CLERK ON ROLL 15, WHAT IS
YOUR DECISION? OH, THANK YOU.
WHICH STUFF? DOCKET NUMBER I LOST ORAL
DOCKET NUMBER 0471 AND HER THE DOCKET COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED I BELIEVE IS 0401. YEAH IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 0407 WAS FILED BY
THE MAYOR. THE MESSAGE OUT FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE FOR ROAD SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DELIVERY PROVIDERS AND THE COUNCIL I HAD
A QUESTION ABOUT THE SIMILARITY OF DOCKET NUMBER 0471 AND OF COURSE THE MAYORS ORDER IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
ACCOUNTABILITY DELIVERY PROVIDERS ORDINANCE FOR ALL THE GRUBHUB DELIVERY PROVIDERS AND THEN WHAT COUNCIL PLANS ENCOMPASS AS IS ALL
MICROMOBILITY DEVICES TO BE LICENSE AND INSURED. SO IN MY OPINION I BELIEVE IT IS DIFFERENT. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. CLERK. WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON
THIS. I BELIEVE THAT THESE TWO DOCKETS ARE SIMILAR. I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THERE'S SOME ENOUGH
DIFFERENCE FOR THERE TO BE SEPARATE FILINGS. I DO JUST WANT TO STATE WE'RE SEEING THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOCKETS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR ARE BEING FILED ON
TOP OF ONE ANOTHER AND THAT IS THE ANTITHESIS OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR US TO BE WORKING TOGETHER. AND SO AND NO ONE HAS TO BE THE KING OF THEIR OWN CASTLE IF
THERE'S A HEARING ORDER ON AN ISSUE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT ISAAC GEST THAT EITHER PARTNER OR SHOW UP AT THE HEARING AND ASK YOUR ROBUST QUESTIONS WE CANNOT
DO THIS WAY OF LAYERING DOCKET AND DOCKET AND DOCKET UPON EACH OTHER THAT ARE SO SIMILAR THAT WILL TAKE UP TIME ON THE COUNCIL'S DOCKET AND THEN TAKES US TIME TO DETERMINE LIKE A LOT
OF THE LANGUAGE IN COUNCILOR FLYNN'S HEARING ORDER IS VERY SIMILAR TO A LANGUAGE OF A DOCKET THAT WAS FILED LAST YEAR AND IS VERY SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN
THE HOME AS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THE MAYOR FILED. I BELIEVE WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE ORDINANCE AND THEN FROM THERE WE COULD SEE WHAT WHAT IS STILL LEFT ON THE TABLE.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE. SO I AM REALLY HOPING THAT IN THE FUTURE WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB OF WORKING TOGETHER AND OF DETERMINING THAT A CONVERSATION CAN HAPPEN AFTER ANOTHER ONE IF IT ISN'T AS
BROAD AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BECAUSE THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS HERE IS UNTENABLE IT REALLY IS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMEMBER HERE. COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. SO TWO THINGS THAT I'D LIKE US TO JUST TO OFFER THAT COUNCILOR BURBANK AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I HAVE A
CITYWIDE TASK FORCE AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT WAS BORNE OUT OF THE MOPED AND VIOLENCE SITUATION. SO I'M GOING TO OFFER TO MY
COLLEAGUE TO ALLOW THIS CONVERSATION TO ALSO BE LED BY COMMUNITY AND THAT WE CAN FIND SOME WAYS TO INCLUDE AND ENGAGE FOLKS IN THE PROCESS SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE
A HEARING ORDER IT WE COULD DO SOME OF THAT WORK THROUGH THERE SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO POLITICAL. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO OFFER AND THAT WAY WE CREATE A PATHWAY FOR REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT LEADS
TO SOME REALLY GOOD POLICYMAKING. SO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT MY COLLEAGUE CONSIDER WITHDRAWING HIS HEARING ORDER AND ALLOW SOME OF THE WORK THAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL TOGETHER AND HAVING A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING THE OC FOR CONSIDERATION. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE THAT
I'D LIKE TO OFFER IS THAT I THINK AND I, I JUST WANT TO NAME THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DO I THINK THAT THE REASON WHY SO MANY FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN FILING THINGS
THAT LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THE ADMINISTRATION IS BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION OF HOW WE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS GOOD GOVERNANCE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS GOOD POLICY. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IS THAT
MOST FOLKS HERE RIGHT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO TAKING VOTES OR MAKING THINGS HAPPEN SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES ARE NOT HEARD AND THAT POTENTIALLY MIGHT BE WHY
THERE'S SO MUCH DISCOURSE AND SO MANY COMPETING INTERESTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND OR THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO NAME THAT AS A POSSIBILITY AS TO WHY WE
MIGHT POTENTIALLY BE SEEING THESE DYNAMICS PLAYING OUT HERE ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR HUFF AND COUNCILOR MEJIA WORKING WITH THEM ON A CITYWIDE TASK FORCE SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE AND DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
IMPORTANT WORK OF COUNCIL PAP AND COUNCIL ME HERE HAVE BEEN DOING AND ENGAGING RESIDENTS ENGAGING PUBLIC SAFETY, LISTENING TO RESIDENTS LISTENING TO PEOPLE THAT ARE
THAT HAVE THESE MOPEDS AS WELL . AND AS I SAID BEFORE, I DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH COUNCILOR MCGWIRE OR WHAT HAPPENED ON SOME OF THE ON THE
ISSUES BUT LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC I CHANGED MY OPINION ON SOME STUFF. SO THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND COUNCILOR PEPEN ARE DOING IS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS MELCHOR THANK YOU AND I ALSO JUST WANT THAT COUNCILOR DURKIN DID FILE A HEARING ORDER ON THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE LAST YEAR. SO AS YOU ACKNOWLEDGE OTHER LEADERSHIP I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR DURKIN'S
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE FOR FILING THIS LAST YEAR AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE TO WHAT CONCILOR MEJIA HE HAS STATED IT'S NOT JUST ADMINISTRATION WE'RE SEEING FILINGS AND OTHER FILINGS. WE'RE SEEING IT AMONG US AS COLLEAGUES AND THAT IS WHAT IS
UNTENABLE, RIGHT? WE'RE PICKING OFF TRANCHES WHEN THE CONVERSATIONS CAN BE AND SHOULD BE HAPPENING TOGETHER. THE CHAIR AND HIS COUNCILOR FLYNN YEAH. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THIS ISSUE REALLY I'VE BEEN
I'VE BEEN THE LEADER ON THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I'VE BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF OF THIS ISSUE AND I KNOW THE CITY MADE PLANS RECENTLY ON IT
BUT I HAVE BEEN THE LEADER ON THIS. I REPRESENT A PART OF THE BACK BAY, THE CITY AND LAMENTED TAKING AWAY THE BACK BAY TAKING AWAY THE EMPTY BUS ON THE BACK BAY.
I ACTUALLY REPRESENT BOYLSTON STREET AND I WAS THE ONE THAT RECOMMENDED THAT. SO YOU ARE RIGHT THAT SOMETIMES WE DO CONFLICT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BUT I DO WANT TO
ADVOCATE FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND WHEN SOMEONE TAKES ISSUES AWAY FROM ME I DO RESPOND BECAUSE I WANT TO LET MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT I'M
ADVOCATING HARD ON THEIR BEHALF AND I FOLLOW THESE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND I TAKE THEM SERIOUS AND I TAKE THEM PERSONAL AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOING MY JOB AND SOMETIMES IT DOES
OVERLAP WITH OTHERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT PASSIONATE ADVOCACY ON AN ISSUE THAT CAN CONTINUE IN A HEARING ORDER AND SO JUST FOR THE FEW IN THE HEARING SO
JUST FOR THE FUTURE ADVOCACY AND PATIENT ADVOCACY CAN CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PERSON'S DOCKET AND ON ANOTHER FILING STACK AND FILINGS AND OTHER FILINGS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BRAYDEN COLLETTE ZAPATA DURKIN, FERNANDO ANDERSON.
MARIA MURPHY BUT BEN SANTANA WEBER PLEASE OUT THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0471 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0472047 TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW THE PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THINK OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES GENERAL FLYNN.
COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE SAME YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD COUNCILOR ME HERE AS A COUNCILOR MEJIA SO ADDED COMFORTABLE IN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THIS IS A HEARING TO REVIEW THE PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON. BOSTON IS FORTUNATE TO BE RICH WITH HIGHER EDUCATION MEDICAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN BOTH OUR CITY AND REGIONAL ECONOMY AT
THE SAME TIME THE CITY IS HEAVILY RELIANT ON PROPERTY TAXES FOR REVENUE AND OUR LARGE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS WHICH ALSO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FROM THE CITY. THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE LARGE TAX EXEMPT NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE ANNUAL VOLUNTARY CASH CONTRIBUTIONS OR COMMUNITY BENEFITS DUE TO BASIC CITY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
CITY SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, SNOW REMOVAL. THE CITY OF BOSTON'S PILOT PROGRAM SEEKS 25% OF WHAT THESE INSTITUTIONS WHAT INSTITUTIONS
WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY TO THE CITY HAD THEIR PROPERTY NOT BEEN TAX EXEMPT TO REFLECT THE PORTION OF THE BUDGET TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES HALF IN CASH PAYMENTS TO THE CITY AND HALF IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY
BENEFITS LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS, PARKING OPEN SPACES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JOB TRAINING AND 2023 THROUGH THE ANNUAL PILOT PROGRAM OUR ARTS NONPROFITS
CONTRIBUTED $35 MILLION IN CASH WITH 62 MILLION ACCEPTED BY THE CITY IN PILOT COMMUNITY BENEFITS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY WORLD CLASS HIGHER EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS THAT CALL BOSTON HOME. THEY ARE PART OF WHAT MAKES OUR CITY UNIQUE BUT OUR CITY PILOT PROGRAM SAW LARGE INSTITUTIONS TO ALSO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE
FUNDING OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CITY SERVICES THAT THEY THEMSELVES BENEFIT FROM AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE SOME WORK IN RECENT YEARS ON THE PILOT PROGRAM THE CITY COUNCIL HELD A HEARING IN 2023 TO DISCUSS TARGETED AND COORDINATED COORDINATION
OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM. ALSO BRAYTON HAS ALSO HELD A POLICY BRIEFING ON THE PILOT LAST YEAR. I KNOW I HELD HEARINGS IN
PREVIOUS YEARS AS WELL BUT THIS HEARING ORDER INTENDS TO BE A WAY FOR US TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND DISCUSS WAYS WHERE WE CAN WORK TO STRAIGHTEN THIS PROGRAM.
THE FINAL ANALYSIS WITH FALLING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES OVER 70% DEPENDENT ON PROPERTY TAXES AND OVER 50% OF ALL LAND ABSORBED BY OUR LARGE NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
WE HAVE LONG TERM FISCAL ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN BOSTON THE PILOT PROGRAM IS ABOUT FAIRNESS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AND TO THESE INSTITUTIONS AS WELL. IT'S ALSO ABOUT FAIRNESS WITHIN
THE PROGRAM TO THOSE PARTNERS WHO NOT PAYING THEIR PILOT AGREEMENTS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS. SOME SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR HER WORK ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I ALSO WANT TO RISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL BREEDEN IS THE CHAIR OF THE PILOT COMMITTEE AND ACTUALLY IS THE COUNCIL THAT
HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES IN HER DISTRICT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL LEAD SPONSOR, I WOULD LIKE TO
ADVOCATE AND I DIDN'T ASK YOU BUT YOU KNOW, PUT YOU ON COUNCIL AND BECAUSE WE GOT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A DISTRICT NINE COLLEAGUE BUT NONETHELESS I THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE ABOUT OUR CONVERSATIONS HERE ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUDGET SEASON AND THE TAX MAYHEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT EVERY
TIME WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION HERE THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING, THAT THIS IS WHAT IT IS, IT'S VOLUNTARY, THAT IT BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT DOESN'T JUST BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT IS ISN'T NECESSARILY MEAN.
THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS NEEDS CONTINUES TO BE AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY KEEP, YOU KNOW, GETTING A PASS BECAUSE WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE PILOT ACTION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES DOING WORK TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE A REAL MEANINGFUL SEAT AT THE TABLE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY IN THIS IN THIS YEAR TO REALLY PUT SOME POLITICAL WILL AND COURAGE BEHIND THIS HERE AS A COUNCIL BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THINGS HAVE TO GET
CHANGED THROUGH A HOME RULE PETITION OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS. WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO WE NEED TO JUST MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THESE INSTITUTIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE. I THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE FOR THEM TO HAVE A PASS AS THEY DO AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES IT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR FOLKS. BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BEING COURAGEOUS, THIS IS A MOMENT FOR US TO BE COURAGEOUS . AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE HEARING AND MAKING SURE THAT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION COMES TO THE
HEARING, WE'VE LEARNED THAT THEY'RE COMING READY TO TELL US THE WHY NOT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO HOLD THE INSTITUTIONS MORE ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS COUNCILOR BRAYTON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNTRYMAN HERE FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS HEARING ORDER. WE'VE BEEN IN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND WITH MORE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BUT THEY HAVE BEEN IN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NON ETS AND MEDS IN THE CITY.
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION AND GIVEN THE RECENT EVENTS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE DEFUNDING OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR HEALTH ETC. IT'S BECOMING EVEN
MORE COMPLICATED BY THE DAY. SO I THINK IT'S A TIMELY TIME TO SIT DOWN AND PUT ALL ALL THE PUT IT ALL OUT ON THE TABLE AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AND SEE IF WE
CAN IMPROVE ON THE EXISTING PILOT PROGRAM WHICH WAS INSTITUTED 12 YEARS AGO BY MAYOR MENINO IN A GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT WITH THE HEADS OF ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.
THE LEADERSHIP IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS HAS CHANGED. WE HAVE CHANGES IN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY AND WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME. SO WE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND COME UP WITH A
PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE SO THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DEREK AND CONSIDER GOING ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AS THE CITY COUNCILOR WITH 26 OF THE 45
PILOT ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS TOUCHING DISTRICT EIGHT, I APPRECIATE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. IT SEEMS LIKE I CAN JUST FILE SOMETHING ON PILOT TOMORROW AND IT WILL ALSO END UP ON THE
AGENDA. SO I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR BRAYTON FOR HER LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN LEADING THIS COMMITTEE AND AS THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE LOOK FORWARD
TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA ZAPATA DURKIN FERNANDO.
ANDERSON FITZGERALD MURPHY PIPPIN SANTANA. WEBER WARD PLEASE EITHER CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 04720472 IT WILL BE REFERRED TO THE PILOT COMMITTEE.
MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0473 DUNCAN EMMA 0473 COUNCIL WEBER OFF FOR THE FOLLOWING QUARTER FOR A HEARING REGARDING BIANNUAL OF THE BOSTON EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION
AND THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOB. DID YOU RECOGNIZE THIS COUNCIL MEMBER YOU HAD THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR MCGEE AS A CO-SPONSOR CANCELMI IS ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUSPEND THE
RULES AND. MADAM PRESIDENT, AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR WEBER SHOULD BEND THE RULES TO ADD MYSELF AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. SO ADDED COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SINCE 2017 THIS BODY HAS HELD
BIANNUAL HEARINGS ON THE BOSTON EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION'S WORK REGARDING THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOBS POLICY OR THE BJP. AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ON FILING THIS HEARING ORDER SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO SCHEDULE BOTH HEARINGS TO REVIEW COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE WHICH WE KNOW IS MEANT TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IN BOSTON, RESIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES. THERE IS A LIVE DASHBOARD AND JUST LOOKING AT IT TODAY WE'RE FALLING SHORT OF OUR GOALS.
WE'RE AT 51% OF HOURS WORKED BY BOSTON RESIDENTS ON QUALIFYING SITES RIGHT NOW THAT NUMBER IS AT 23.6% FOR WOMEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 12% OF HOURS WORKED BY WOMEN.
WE'RE ONLY AT 6.7%. WE ARE EXCEEDING THE EXPECTATION OR THE GOAL FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR WHICH SEEMS TO FIT WITHIN HISTORICAL TRENDS RIGHT NOW THE GOAL IS 40% OF OURS AND RIGHT NOW THAT
NUMBER IS AT 40.4%. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONDUCTING THESE HEARINGS WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND MY VICE-CHAIR
COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND I'LL SEE YOU AT THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR IS COMFORTABLE. ANY OTHER FLOOR?
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME THIS THIS HEARING ORDER IS CRITICAL. IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S REQUIRED AND IT'S ACTUALLY USUALLY THE BEST HEARING ORDER
OF THE YEAR. WE GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING. BUT THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS THE CRITICAL PART OF THESE TWO
HEARINGS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ONGOING ENGAGEMENT ON THIS AND ENSURING THAT WOMEN PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE
THE FAIR ACCESS TO CONSTRUCTION AND CONTRACTS AS WELL WHETHER IT'S IN SOUTH BOSTON OR DORCHESTER OR WEST ROXBURY OR
MATTAPAN AND DORCHESTER OR WHITE STADIUM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALREADY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
HEARINGS AND I WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF IS DIVING DEEPER INTO THE DETAILS OF THE HOURS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS DIFFERENT PAY
GRADE INSIDE OF THE UNION STRUCTURE. SO KIND OF SEEING IF THERE'S ANY WAGE OR ANY PAY DISPARITIES ON YOU KNOW IF THERE IS YOU KNOW, MORE LOW WAGE WORKERS
THAT FIT A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC AND THEN HIGH WAGE WORKERS THAT ARE FIT IN OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS I THINK JUST MORE ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL. I THINK THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL. SO THANK YOU.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST KIND OF HAVE ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSELOR WEBER FOR FILING THIS THIS SUCH
A CRUCIAL I GUESS DEPARTMENT WITH WITHIN OUR WHERE WE ARE AND WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH MY CONSTITUENTS PARTICULARLY WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL IN TERMS OF LIKE ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT DOES
NOT ACTUALLY REPORT CONSISTENTLY AND BLACK MALE BLACK MEN AND BOYS MALE ADVANCEMENT. SO AGAIN BUTCHERING THE NAME BEING ONE OF THE ONES THAT
ACTUALLY SUBMIT REPORTS TO US LIKE CONSISTENTLY WE SEE IT HERE IN OUR AGENDA ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS ON
WORKERS RIGHTS FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND EVERYONE ELSE AND ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THESE REPORTS CONSISTENTLY DONE FROM WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY KEEP FILTERING THE SAME FOLKS OVER AND OVER AND
OVER ON CONSTRUCTION SITES AND BEING THAT DISTRICT SEVEN IS THE DISTRICT THAT IS GETTING THE MOST CONSTRUCTION WORK OR PROJECTS DONE ALL AT ONCE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO ALSO
TALKING ABOUT LOOKING INTO YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE HOLDING THE WHITE STADIUM ACCOUNTABLE IN OTHER PROJECTS INDUSTRY SEVEN AS WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE
LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR EVERYTHING THAT CONCERNS BRAYDEN CLAUDIA ZAPATA, DEREK AND FERNANDA ANDERSON FLYNN MARIA MURPHY SANTANA WORLD PLEASE AND I'M ON THE DOCKET. THEY STARTED TALKING NUMBER 0473 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OH, ADAM MR A HAND OH, AND COUNSELOR FITZGERALD ON THIS TOPIC REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR QUOTE WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 04740474 COUNCILORS DURKIN AND SANTANA OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL
CODES UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN CONSIDER GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE THREE OF THESE COMING UP SO I WANT TO BE
REALLY SURE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR BREADON AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR DURKIN TO SUSPEND THE RULES THAT COUNCILOR BREADON AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SAYING HERE NO OBJECTIONS CONSUMMATING THE SO ADDED CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE THE FLOOR I RISE TODAY ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR SANTANA AND BREADON TO INTRODUCE A HEARING TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON'S UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE. BOSTON IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS HIGHER
INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING AND I'M PROUD AS A DISTRICT COUNCILOR TO REPRESENT SUCH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. THAT'S WHY ONE OF MY COUNCIL PREDECESSORS, JOSH
SEACOMBE IN 2014 ASSESSED AND AMENDED THE UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE AND THAT'S WHY MIKE ROSS, MY PREDECESSOR HIS PREDECESSOR ALSO DID THIS.
ORIGINALLY WROTE THIS I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO FORMER COUNCILOR ROSS LAST NIGHT AND HE'S HAPPY AND EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. SO I WE JUST HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IS IT WORKING?
OUR INSTITUTIONS COMPLYING WITH THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THE DATA BEING USED TO EFFECTIVELY INFORM CITY POLICIES. SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR I MEAN IS THIS KIND OF A SANTANA COMMENT? SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR DURKAN FOR INCLUDING ME IN THIS. I'LL KEEP THIS VERY SHORT. I THINK SHE MENTIONED OTHER POINTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. I ALSO WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PATRICIA FLAHERTY
WHO WAS PART OF MY FORMER COUNCILORS DI MIKE FOSTER STAFF WHO I KNOW REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS AND HAS BEEN MEETING ON THIS MANY WAYS AND AS A CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR DUNCAN . SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO
GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT AS WELL AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION IN WHATEVER 4 HOURS IT TOUCHES ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND AS IT COMES TO ANY OTHER FLOOR, I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS REALLY BRIEF.
THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR INCLUSION INCLUDING ME IN THIS WE HAVE THREE WE HAVE UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE UBC AND HARVARD AND OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD MANY
INSTANCES OF LIKE DISORDERLY DRUNKEN BEHAVIOR AND ALL SORTS OF NASTY THINGS HAPPENING AND I THINK IT'S REALLY A TIMELY MOMENT TO SORT OF REVIEW WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING AND HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE THE SITUATION. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLLOWERS. I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT HEARING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ABOUT HOUSING AVAILABLE
AND WHAT OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE DOING TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR THEIR STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU. BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK TO THAT COUNCIL'S CALL AS ABOUT A PENNY GUINNESS
AND FITZGERALD AND HERE MURPHY BY BEN WEBER WORLD PLEASE OUT THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0474 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MR QUOTE WHEN YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 0475.0475 COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANTOS AND OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE BUSAN CITY COUNCIL'S
LEGISLATIVE IMPACT ON DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS AND ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON PROJECTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES WITH
AN INVITATION. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, TRY TO BE BRIEF. BASICALLY THERE IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD ABOUT HOW COUNCILORS ARE
FILING OR PERHAPS EVEN OUR STATE PARTNERS ARE WORKING ON LEGISLATION TOO THAT IMPACTS DISTRICT SEVEN PROJECTS POLICY BUDGET ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU AND
DISCUSS WHAT HAVE YOU FILED FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE LEGISLATION THAT WE FILE IS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY BUT SOMETIMES SPECIFICALLY YOUR POSITIONS ON PROJECTS, YOUR POSITIONS ON BUDGET, YOUR
POSITIONS ON POLICIES UNIQUELY IMPACTS JUST DISTRICT SEVEN. AND SO A CONVERSATION TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE WHERE YOU ARE IN TERM WITH THIS WORK IF YOU
ARE NOTICING A PATTERN HERE OF CONTINUITY IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS ONE. I AM EVALUATING MYSELF IN TERMS OF WHAT METRICS FOR ALL POLICIES AND PROJECTS AND BUDGET DELIVERABLES FOR DISTRICT SEVEN WITH OUR
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AND STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A METRICS HOPEFULLY CREATE A DASHBOARD AT OUR DISTRICT SEVEN EVERYBODY GO TO DISTRICT SEVEN NUMERIC SEVEN
BOSTON DISTRICT SEVEN DOT COM IT'S OUR OWN DISTRICT'S WEBSITE NOT THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE SPECIFICALLY WHERE WE HAVE AN INVENTORY AND THE HISTORY WE'VE
DONE A STUDY OF DISTRICT SEVEN WE HAVE AN INVENTORY WE HAVE A WAY FOR YOU TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR CIVIC YOUR LOCAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THIS METRICS OR DASHBOARD WOULD ACTUALLY
PROVIDE A WAY TO MONITOR PROGRESS IN TERMS OF ACROSS THE BOARD POLICIES PROJECTS AND BUDGET DELIVERABLES. SO NOW IT'S THE TIME FOR US TO SAY COUNCILORS, WHERE HAVE YOU
BEEN ON THE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN? HOW HAVE YOU VOTED? WHAT POSITIONS HAVE YOU TAKEN? HAVE YOU SUPPORTED NOT SUPPORTED AND WHAT POSITIONS HAVE YOU TAKEN? SO I'D LIKE TO FINALLY THANK MY
AT LARGE COUNCILORS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF PROJECTS OR HAVE BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF PROJECTS 2 TO 2 THAT IMPACT MY CONSTITUENTS BUT ALSO
SPECIFICALLY I THINK COUNCIL FLYNN JUST SO I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO NAME PEOPLE BUT COUNCIL FLYNN IS ALWAYS SPECIFICALLY IN EITHER IN DISTRICT SEVEN OR ADVOCATING
OR ADVOCATING FOR THE POSITION AS AN SEVEN. I KNOW IT COMES FROM A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND I APPRECIATE IT. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE ME ADD YOU
TO EVENTS OR ADD YOU TO THINGS IN DISTRICT SEVEN BECAUSE I WELCOME IT AND I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN COLLABORATION TO DO EVERYTHING THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. DISTRICT SEVEN THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA ON THE FLOOR
. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO RISE AND THANK COUNCILOR ANDERSON FOR FILING THIS. I'M SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN DISTRICT SEVEN FAMILY STILL LIVES IN PICTURE SEVEN AND AS
OF LAST WEEK I HAVE A DISTRICT SEVEN CONSTITUENT AGAIN SO VERY ,VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK AS AN AT-LARGE COUNCILOR I KNOW THAT WE FOLLOW POLICIES THAT IMPACT THE WHOLE CITY.
BUT LIKE COUNCILOR ANDERSON SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR SO MANY YEARS FOR SO MANY YEARS AND DECISIONS SOMETIMES HAVE BEEN MADE ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS, I THINK WE
NEED TO I REALLY AM REALLY PLEASED BY HER INTENTIONALITY TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT SEVEN GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT
COUNCILOR AND DISTRICT SEVEN. SO THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? OH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PLENTY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR THIS IMPORTANT HEARING ORDER AND OUR DISTRICTS OVERLAP AND MANY OF THE AREAS INCLUDING IN THE SOUTH END AND THE BACK
BAY IN THE BACK BAY AREA AS WELL. BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER WORK ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES
ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH END WHERE WE WE REPRESENT A LARGE A LARGE AREA OF THE SOUTH END TOGETHER ALONG WITH CASTLE FITZGERALD THANK YOU
MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS DOIG AND FITZGERALD FLYNN HERE MURPHY BUT BENJAMIN TANNA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET
NUMBER 0475 WE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON POST AUDIT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 04760476
COUNCILORS DURKIN AND WORRELL FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING ON BOSTON'S DISTRIBUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COVID 19 RELIEF FUNDING AND PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN.
COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND AND ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROSIE LOUIJEUNE AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR. CONSIDER GOING TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MEET UP WITH THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS
DOING IN HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. I'M SO OUT OF TOUCH CONSIDER WORKING ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU CHAIR AND I KNOW WE'RE GETTING LATE SO I WILL BE BRIEF. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REVIEW THE COVID 19 AND ARPA
RELATED FINDINGS. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FULLY RECEIVED AND FULLY OBLIGATED OVER $550 MILLION OF ARPA RESOURCES AND I'M PROUD TO SAY
THAT THOSE RESOURCES HAVE BEEN USED MORE EFFECTIVELY AND MORE AMBITIOUSLY THAN MANY OF OUR PEER CITIES. WHILE MANY MUNICIPALITIES FOUND SHORT TERM FIXES BOSTON TOOK A
STRATEGIC ROUTE FORWARD AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE CHAIRING THIS HEARING. I DO NOTICE THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR DOCKET ON 0482 UNFORTUNATELY I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE BEFORE THAT ONE BUT I DO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE ONE CONVERSATION ABOUT ARPA RESOURCES AND THAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE THOROUGHLY VETTED
AND THAT WE TALK THROUGH HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OBLIGATED FUNDS ARE UTILIZED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE. DECEMBER 20, 26 SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS
. WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS CONVERSATION IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS COUNCIL OUT SINCE WE'RE ALL HERE ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL DURKAN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I BELIEVE I HEARD IN THE WORK IN SESSION THE WANTING OF HAVING THIS CONVERSATION SOONER BEFORE THE BUDGET TO HEAR WHAT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
DISCONTINUED, WHAT PROGRAMS WILL BE CONTINUING ON THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION IF WE COULD HAVE IT BEFORE BUDGET I THINK IT WILL BE USEFUL FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. WE'RE ALL I'M ON THIS AS A THREAD. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS WHAT WE ENVISION. SO A REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION. I THINK YOUR PROFILE IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE FOR ME THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS IMPORTANT HEARING AND ALSO DOING DOING A MORE THOROUGH
RESEARCH INVESTIGATION ON ON THE SUCCESS AND WHAT HAPPENED, HOW SUCCESSFUL THESE PROGRAMS WERE THAT WERE FUNDED. I THINK THAT'S ALSO A CRITICAL PART OF IT. WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY STUDIES
ABOUT COVID FUNDING. I'D BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK WAS A
COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON MURPHY FLYNN MARIA PIPPEN. OKAY THERE'S DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0476 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COVID 19 COMMITTEE IS A
COURT COULD YOU PLEASE WE TALK A NUMBER OF 04770477 COUNCILORS DURKIN AND FITZGERALD OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS CONTRACT OF PARKING REGULATIONS PERMITTING AND
ENFORCEMENT IN BOSTON. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FLOOR BUT NOW YOU DO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CHAIR I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD YOU AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR COUNCILOR AND COUNCILOR DURKIN C SUSPEND THE RULES, ADD MYSELF AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS I'M SO ADDED. COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I'M WEARING BRADEN'S FAVORITE
COLOR PURPLE. SO YOU THINK THAT'S QUIET ORANGE BECAUSE BECAUSE IT'S 6:00? YES. I RISE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING CONCERNS SURROUNDING CONTRACTOR PARKING REGULATIONS PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON. I ATTENDED THE BEACON HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION PARKING AND TRAFFIC MEETING CHAIRED BY BEN STARR ON JANUARY 23RD WHERE CONSTITUENTS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS AND CITED MULTIPLE
ISSUES SUCH AS CONTRACTORS PARKING ILLEGALLY ABUSED FOR EXPIRED PERMITS INCORRECTLY CATEGORIZING THE PERMITS THEY'RE USING AND A GENERAL LACK OF ENFORCEMENT. I AM EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
IT'S ONE THAT IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE ON BEACON HILL EXTREMELY. I ALSO REALIZED UPON TALKING TO CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT IT IMPACTS DORCHESTER AND THE ENTIRE CITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT REALLY GETS
AT ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE THAT WE HAVE CITYWIDE. I DID GET ALL THE THREE ON ONE DATA FOR DISTRICT EIGHT AND THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES SO SO IN REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS I WANT TO BRING THEM HERE.
I WANT TO HAVE THEM ON THE PANEL AND I WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION SO AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONSIDER AGAIN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KIND OF A JODY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE DID HAVE A MEETING LATER ON THIS WEEK WITH TO VISIT SOME OF THE SAVINGS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. IT'S MORE THAT WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO STOP THOSE THAT ARE UPDATING OUR HOUSING, CREATING NEW HOUSING, CREATE NEW TAXABLE
PROPERTY. HOWEVER, THERE'S THIS JUST BRINGS IN THE VALUE OF COMMON COURTESY BACK TO IT TO MAKE SURE THE IMPACTS WHILE WE MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS DO NOT IMPEDE ON OTHER PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR DURKAN FOR ADDING ME AS A THIRD YESTERDAY HAD A COCOA HOUR IN A CONSTITUENT BELIEVE CONSIDERING THAT YOU MENTIONED BEN CAME IN HE SPOKE TO ME ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT AND THANK YOU FOR ADDING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT
MATTERS TO A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND SO I THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THIS ISSUE ALONGSIDE THE BEACON HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND SO MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?
MR CLERK WITH THAT COUNCILORS OPINIONS ANDERSON MAGGIE MURPHY, BEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR OF THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0477 WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON
PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE BE BACK NUMBER 0478 DIACONATE 0478 COUNCIL OF FINANCE SAN JACINTO FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE
OPTIONS FOR THE CENTER RUNNING BUS LANE ON BLUE HILL AVENUE AND COLUMBUS AVENUE, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR AN ENGINEER SINGING ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
SO FOR THIS HEARING I THINK IT'S A LOT IT'S A VERY SIMILAR OR AT LEAST ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY FILED SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF THIS TOPIC. SO I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT IT'S
NOT SIMILAR IN WHAT I'M PROPOSING HERE TO DISCUSS SPECIFICALLY ALTERNATIVE FOR THE METRO BUSTLING BUT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE WHO FILED FOR
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY SPECIFICALLY ON PROJECTS SHE INCLUDED BLUE COLLAR AVENUE. SO I THINK THIS COULD BE SORT OF A JOINT HEARING OR SHE'S OFFERED TO HOLD A SPECIFIC
HEARING JUST FOR THIS. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY TO ALL MY CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THERE'S A PETITION OUT THERE WITH HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES ASKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE I KNOW THAT I WANT
TO SHOUT OUT MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FOUR WHO HAS BEEN ADVOCATING AS WELL ON ALTERNATIVE TO TO THE METRO BUS LANE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO A ROBUST CONVERSATION.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO ITS BEST TO YOU KNOW, ON CARBON EMISSION AND FIGURING OUT WAYS THAT IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND I'M ALL FOR THAT.
I, I BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE. LET'S MAKE IT ELECTRIC LET'S GO MIDDLE LANE AS TO ALL OF THAT BUT THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD. THERE IS SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR MY TEAM ACTUALLY DID A FULL
SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE BLUE LAB ALL OF THE BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESSES THERE AND WE CAME UP WITH ABOUT 76% OF FOLKS BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DID NOT WHO
WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND THEN OF THAT 76% 80% AND THAT'S OUT OF 115 BUSINESSES THAT WERE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.
OF THAT 76% 80% WERE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE MIDDLE CLASS. SO I THINK WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF TAKING TO REDUCING 40% OF PARKING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, DO APOLOGIZE. I WANTED TO SAY I WANTED TO ADD COUNCIL ME HERE AS A ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.
THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE USE THIS AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COMPANY ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THAT BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND THIS COMES FROM MEJIA AGAIN FOR THANK YOU BECAUSE I HAVE TO HURRY UP AND GO SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY MUCH
BUT I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FOR ADDING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE MORE THAT WE'RE OUT IN THE STREETS, THE MORE THAT WE HEAR OF THE TRUTH OF HOW PEOPLE
REALLY FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION . SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HOST THE HEARING AND CREATE SPACE FOR THIS DISCOURSE TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST
COUNCILOR OR I'LL CONSIDER ALL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR NANCY ANDERSON AND COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'VE HEARD YOU KNOW SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT BOTH MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HEARD.
BUSINESSES ALONG BLUE HILL I RELY HEAVILY ON FOOD DELIVERY DRIVERS, CUSTOMERS, DELIVERY TRUCKS AND COMMUNITIES. AND IF WE ARE LOOKING TO REVITALIZE BLUE LAB WITH NEW
BUSINESSES, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL POCKETS OF CUSTOMERS AND DESIGNATED DELIVERY ZONES. THESE ARE NOT MINOR ISSUES.
THEY HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE DAILY OPERATIONS. I MEAN DESPITE THIS AN INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY HAS YET TO BE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE HOW THESE CHANGES WILL AFFECT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
MEAN LET'S NOT FORGET THIS BLUE LAB WE'RE LOOKING AT TURN IT TO ONE LANE WILL BE LEADING DIRECTLY TO A 10,000 SEAT STADIUM. BLUE LAB NEEDS TO BE SAFER FOR
ALL ROAD USERS. THERE'S NO DENYING THAT AND IT'S BUMP BUMP OUTS IN DAYLIGHT DAYLIGHT AND TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS IN THESE BIKE LANES. AND HE'S WELL THOUGHT OUT
SHELTERED BUS STOPS TO HELP OUR BUS USERS AND IT NEEDS TO HAVE MORE TREES UP AND DOWN BLUE LIFE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS THAT VISION WAS MORE SKETCHED OUT IN THE ENHANCED CONDITION OPTION
THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO WITH MORE IN LINE WITH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS KINDS OF EVENT HAS THE VENUE AT THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR AS THE DISTRICT COUNCIL THAT REPRESENTS THE VERY LAST BIT OF BLUE HILL AVENUE PROBABLY WHERE THE PROJECT'S GOING TO START.
I DEFINITELY WON'T BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION NOW I'VE HEARD I'VE HEARD COMMENTS AS WELL AS WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DIVE DEEP INTO WHAT POSSIBILITIES WE CAN
APPROACH AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OR THE PLACE THAT THEY HAVE INSTALLED NOT JUST THE BUS LANES BUT ALSO THE ACTUAL SAFETY OF BLUE HILL AVENUE WHEN IT COMES ACROSS THE STREETS AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR
EVERYONE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK BECAUSE THAT CASH WAS
ZAPATA WEBER WORLD THAT BEN MURPHY SANTANA FITZGERALD PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0478 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 04790479 COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE ON THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO UPDATE AND REPLACE BLACK
HERITAGE TRAIL SIGNAGE THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR CHAIR THIS OH, I'D LIKE TO ADD OH I CAN'T DO THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR SANTANA AS AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR SANTANA SO ADD TO
THAT THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THIS IS ORDER ON A PROJECT THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE PUT IT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING REALLY HARD WITH THE CITY WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO GET NEW SIGNAGE FOR THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL IN BEACON HILL BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BLACK HISTORY.
WE ARE IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE JUST WE NEED TO GET DONE. THERE ARE CURRENT CHALLENGES WITH THE TRAIL SIGNAGE TO INCLUDE. THERE ARE MANY SIGNS ALONG THE TRAIL THAT ARE WORN DOWN WHETHER RUSTED OR COVERED IN STICKS, STICKERS AND GRAFFITI.
DIMINISHING THEIR READABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOR THE INFORMATION ON THE SIGNAGE TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND TO BE ENGAGING AND WE NEED TO
COLLABORATE WITH KEY INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE EMBRACE INITIATIVE THAT COMMEMORATION COMMISSION AS YOU'RE COMING UP ON THE 250TH. I WANT TO THANK DR. NOEL TRENT
AT THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY FOR ALL OF HER WORK IN HELPING HELPING TO SHEPHERD THIS CONVERSATION. AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY. WE HAVE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO JUST PUTTING THIS OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR GUERRA. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU VPI AND THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT, FOR INCLUDING
ME IN THIS YOU KNOW THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL IS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASSET. COMRADES, THE LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK BOSTON'S BLACK COMMUNITY AND I THINK WE
NEED TO HAVE AN OVERALL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE MAINTAIN AND PRODUCE SIGNAGE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GOOD AREA DOES A GOOD START TO TO THAT CONVERSATION. BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER SIGNAGE MAINTENANCE MOVING FORWARD FOR THIS HISTORICAL TRAIL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK TO THIS MATTER? NO. WHEN ANYONE. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR COLETTA ZAPATA COUNCILOR ANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD
COUNCILOR FLYNN CASTLEMAN HERE CASIMIRO. COUNCILOR PEPEN. COUNCILOR WEBER AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 0479 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ARTS, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM AND
SPECIAL EVENTS. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE READ DARLING NUMBER 204800480 COUNCIL ME HERE FOR THE FOLLOWING QUARTER FOR A HEARING TO EVALUATE YEAR TO DATE
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 OPERATING BUDGET. THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME FROM HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THE MOMENT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.
TODAY I FILED A HEARING ORDER. WELL, GOOD EVENING TO EVALUATE THE YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF WAY 2025 OPERATING BUDGET FY 2025 FOR POINT 6 BILLION BUDGET
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN BOSTON'S PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS. HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR IT IS CRITICAL TO EVALUATE HOW THOSE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT AND WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN
DELIVERING THE RESULTS WE HAVE ENVISIONED WHEN WE WHEN THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED. THIS HEARING IS ABOUT THE FINANCES OF A BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. WE ARE CONDUCTING A POST AUDIT TO EVALUATE HOW DEPARTMENTS
HAVE MANAGED THEIR ALLOCATIONS, WHETHER REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ALIGN WITH PROJECTIONS AND HOW EFFECTIVELY OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE MEETING THEIR GOALS AS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF OUR CITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO THE PRACTICE OF DOING YEARLY. THE BUDGET APPROVED IN JUNE DOESN'T GO AWAY ONCE IT'S PASSED. WE MUST FOLLOW UP ON IT. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO
APPROVE THE BUDGET AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN EQUALLY JUST AS INTENTIONAL PROCESS OF FOLLOWING UP ON HOW THE BUDGET IS PERFORMING. LET'S NOT FALL INTO THE HABIT OF APPROVING A BUDGET AND
MOVING ON. INSTEAD LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL AND PROACTIVE ENSURING THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
THIS HEARING ALLOWS US TO ACT TO ASSESS WHAT WORKED, ADJUST EFFICIENCIES AND ENSURE THAT EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM FY 2025 OPERATING BUDGET HAS BEEN SPENT RESPONSIBLY.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR WAYS AND MEANS COUNCIL AS WELL FOR BEING PROACTIVE AS IT PREPARES FOR FY 2026 BUDGET CYCLE. WHILE THIS HEARING IS FOCUSED ON CONDUCTING A POST AUDIT
OF THE 2025 BUDGET AS IT NEARS ITS CLOSURE, HIS FORWARD THINKING APPROACH TO THE UPCOMING BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREPARATION OF EVERY SINGLE STAGE OF THE PROCESS.
AND WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADD COUNCIL ROLE AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR ELLIS ADDED AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ON YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT YEAR TO DAY BUDGET FOR THE LAST YEAR BUT
ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND DIVING INTO THE DETAILS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLERK BECAUSE I CAN JUST CALL IT AS A PART OF AN AND FITZGERALD.
FLYNN MURPHY BUT BEN WEBER, PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0480 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON POST AUDIT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
MR COOPER WOULD YOU PLEASE ME DOCKET NUMBER 048120481 CONCILOR MEJIA HERE FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO AUDIT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH
THE CITY OF BOSTON CODE SECTION 11 DASH 1.1. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M FILING THIS HEARING TO AUDIT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT
OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON'S CODE SECTION 11-1.1. BOSTON IS BLACK IS RECOGNIZED ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THE
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE AS A CITY. BUT WE KNOW THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO ENSURE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS SAFE AND
SUPPORTED AND THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED EQUITABLY RESPONSIBLY. SECTION 11 DASH 1.1 OF THE CITY BOSTON CODE REQUIRES THE POLICE COMMISSIONER TO PREPARE AND
DELIVER WEEKLY REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. THESE REPORTS COVER CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY DATA INCLUDING CRIME INVOLVING MINORS, CRIME DATA BY DISTRICT YEAR TO DATE
TOTALS AND OFFICER DEPLOYMENT BY SHIPS. I WANT TO REALLY STRESS THE OFFICER DEPLOYMENT BY SHIP BECAUSE THESE METRICS ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL IN MAKING INFORMED
DATA DECISIONS THAT IMPACT RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. THIS AUDIT WILL HELP IDENTIFY GAPS IN COMPLIANCE THAT MAY UNDERMINE OUR ABILITY TO
ACHIEVE DATA DRIVEN, EQUITABLE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES BY EXAMINING THE TIMELINESS AND ACCURACY OF ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS WE
CAN PINPOINT INEFFICIENCIES AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. THIS PROCESS WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR SPENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY IS UTILIZED EFFICIENTLY BY IMPROVING
COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WE CAN STRENGTHEN FISCAL OVERSIGHT, ENHANCE RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND ENSURE THE EQUITABLE DEPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES
ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THAT'S IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. I WAS AT A COMMUNITY MEETING RECENTLY WITH THE COUNCIL. MURPHY WAS THERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THIS TIME
LAST YEAR BOSTON IS DOWN ABOUT 130 POLICE OFFICERS SIGNIFICANT DROP IN POLICE OFFICERS WHICH BASICALLY MEANS MORE POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK MANDATORY
OVERTIME. AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES THAT WE NEED TO CONSISTENTLY HIRE SEVERAL HUNDRED POLICE OFFICERS EVERY YEAR TO MEET THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS
DEMANDING LEVEL TO ENSURE BOSTON IS SAFE. BUT HAVING 130 POLICE OFFICERS EVERY REDUCTION COMPARED TO
LAST YEAR IS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS. IT DOES IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR AGAIN IS THIS CONCERN
MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT WAS RISING FOR BLACK THE WAY NOBODY ELSE WAS. THE SPEAKERS AT ME YOU HAD THE FLOOR CUSTOM HERE. I'M JUST CURIOUS COULD I DO A
POINT OF INFORMATION FOR SOMETHING ELSE? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALLOW ME TO JUST READ IN MY 17 EP.
I KNOW IT'S OUT OF ORDER BUT I AM. I AM REALLY LATE TO SOMETHING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE AT AT SIX SO IT'S A 17 F THAT I JUST WANT TO JUST READ.
NO, WE ARE WE ARE ON THIS DOCKET. SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET YOU ABOUT. YEAH. SO WE'RE ON THIS DOCKET AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
WITH THE DOCKET. YES. YOUR 17 F IS IT SOMETHING F THAT YOU CAN REFILE FOR THE NEXT SHE WANTS TO THAT SHE WANTS TO TAKE IT OUT OF HER?
YEAH. OKAY. I JUST WAS ASKED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN DO. OKAY SO LET ME JUST WITHDRAW IT AND I'LL JUST DO IT NEXT. YES. YES TO RE FILE I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SAME THING.
I JUST IT'S JUST JUST READ IT INTO THE RECORD. I WANT TO. OKAY. OKAY, COUNSELOR, LET'S FINISH THIS DOCKET AND THEN I'LL TALK TO THE CLERK. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. COUNSELOR MEJIA.
ARE YOU HERE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING ON THIS MATTER. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLERK, PLEASE. I'D COUNCILOR ZAPATA FERNANDA
ANDERSON FITZGERALD. FLYNN MURPHY PEPEN, SANTANA, WEBER WORLD PLEASE AT THE CHAIR
THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER ZERO OC DOCKET NUMBER 0481 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON POST AUDIT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
OKAY NOW YOU ARE LOOKING TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER DOCKET NUMBER 0940. MR CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCKET? YOU HAVE IT. OKAY. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET NUMBER 0490 INTO THE RECORD NUMBER 0490 COUNCILOR ON MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER REQUESTS AND INFORMATION OF THE 17TH SECTION 17 UP REGARDING
VEHICLES OWNED, LEASED AND OTHERWISE UTILIZED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON CUSTOMER HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR PRESIDENT SO THIS IS JUST A 17 F THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO GAIN SOME FLAHERTY AROUND VEHICLES THAT INCLUDE ANY CITY VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING USED AND ALLOWED SPECIFICALLY LIKE BEING UNMARKED WITH TINTED WINDOWS
DATA ON NEW VEHICLES. YES BECAUSE OH APOLOGIES OUR OFFICE I'M JUST GOING TO SKIP
TO THIS. OUR OFFICE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A BOSTON CITY CODE 7-84 THAT MANDATES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COMPLY WITH AN ANNUAL LIST OF ALL CITY VEHICLES INCLUDING DETAILS LIKE
DEPARTMENT ASSIGNMENTS, MAKE MODEL AND ENGINE SIZE AND REGISTRATION. AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THIS AND THIS INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO US IN TERMS
OF JUST WE BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE SOME DISCREPANCIES OF WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLES PEOPLE GET AND DON'T GET AND WHAT SOME GOT TINTED WINDOWS AND SOME DON'T SOME HAVE PLACARDS AND SOME
DON'T. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET CONSISTENT AND I GET YOUR A CLEAR ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE AND DON'T AND WHO HAS THEM.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT COUNCILOR THE COUNCILORS HERE SIX SPENT ON THE ROADS AND PASSENGER DOCKET 0490 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0404822 DAGENHAM 0482 COUNCILOR MURPHY ARE FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT
OF EXPIRING COVID RELATED GRANT FUNDING AND OTHER EXPENDITURES ON CITY PROGRAMS AND STAFFING. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT AND AT THE HEARING LAST WEEK THAT I CHAIRED AND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TEAM FROM THE POLICE
WERE HERE, THEY SHARED SOME TO ME I CONSIDERED ALARMING PROGRAMS AND STAFFING THAT WILL END IN JUNE BECAUSE IT'S FUNDED THROUGH COVID AND I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD THE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS AND FAMILIES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WHEN THERE ARE FUNDERS FUNDING ENDED AND THEY WERE CONFUSED WHY YOU KNOW, TEACHERS AND PROGRAMS WERE NOT
GOING TO BE REINSTATED. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE BUDGET HEARINGS START WITH EACH DEPARTMENT I KNOW COUNCIL OVERALL THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS MENTIONED THAT EARLIER THAT LAST HOUR
EARLIER THIS WEEK AT THAT WORKING SESSION ON THE BUDGET WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT CONCERN. IT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT IS BEING PUT FORWARD WITH THE RELIES ON THAT BUT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS RECEIVED
SIGNIFICANT COVID RELATED FEDERAL FUNDING WHICH IS SUPPORTED VARIOUS CITY PROGRAMS ,INITIATIVES AND STAFFING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE UTILIZED
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH OFFER AS WELL AS OTHER SOURCES AND WE'VE SUPPORTED A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADDRESSING
IMMEDIATE NEEDS, IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND DELIVERING RELIEF TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES JUST EARLIER MANY OF US WERE IN THE ROOM
WHEN ST STEPHEN'S PROGRAM CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT THEIR FUNDING 400 WAS USED, 400,000 WAS USED THROUGH THE CITY'S ESSER FUNDING WHICH WILL BE ENDING ALSO SO PROGRAMS LIKE ST
STEPHEN'S PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEIR PARENTS TUTORS IS GOING TO END ALSO THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING COVID 19 RELATED FUNDING OFFER
558.7 MILLION CARES ACT 120 MILLION THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FROM CARES ACT 5.2 MILLION AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT FROM THE CARES ACT ADD AT LEAST 10 MILLION WHICH IS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $695 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT AND
MANY MANY TIMES IMPORTANT INITIATIVES PROGRAMS AND AS WE KNOW STAFFING THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SUPPORTING CITY PROGRAMS IN HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF.
HOWEVER, ALL THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED AND WILL RUN OUT SOON OR IN SOME CASES HAVE ALREADY RUN OUT RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SERVICES IN POSITIONS CURRENTLY RELIANT
ON THESE FUNDS. SO I DO HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS SO WE'RE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHICH WHAT EITHER IF IT'S PROGRAMING OR STAFFING
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE UNDER THAT FUNDING STREAM AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF ALL CITY PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES AND DEPENDENT ON THESE SOURCES JUST
TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW EXAMPLES BUT THE EXPERTS AND FUNDING MAY JEOPARDIZED WHICH ARE CRITICAL CRITICAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
PILOT PROGRAM WHICH RECEIVED 18 MILLION AND ARPA FUNDING AND WILL END IN JUNE. THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY HEALTHY PUBLIC HOUSING INITIATIVE RECEIVED 32 MILLION
ARPA FUNDS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAM RECEIVED 1 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING TO PROVIDE DIGITAL ACCESS AND LITERACY TO
RESIDENTS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS THAT I THINK MOST OF US WOULD WANT TO IF NOT ALL OF US TO FIND OTHER FUNDING RESOURCES GOING FORWARD. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SO WE HAVE A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE FUNDING RUNS OUT AND WHERE THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE PULLING FROM. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
AND WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS ZAPATA ATTORNEY FERNANDO ENITAN FITZGERALD. FLYNN.
COBURN SANTANA WEBER PLEASE. OTHER CHAIR THERE'S TALK THAT WE'LL BE REFERRED TO THE COVID 19 RECOVERY COMMITTEE. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 04830483 COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON
OFFER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A STUDY TO EVALUATE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRIC SHUTTLE BUS PROGRAM TO CONNECT BUSINESS DISTRICTS ACROSS BOSTON. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES DIFFERENT ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE ART CORRIDOR CALLED THE ARTERY. AS YOU KNOW, ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROXBURY.
THE HEART OF BOSTON. AND SO IT'S I'VE AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IT'S ARTERY OR IT'S ROADS OR BUSINESS DISTRICT AND STREETS SHOULD BE THRIVING AND
ROBUST AND SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE SHOULD CREATE CROSS MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES AND WE SHOULD MITIGATE THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN BOSTON. I THINK THAT THIS COULD ALLEVIATE IT IF THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO A SHUTTLE BUS PROGRAM THAT COULD GO BETWEEN BEACON HILL AND MATTAPAN OR NUBIAN SQUARE AND UP A CORNER WOULD
ALLEVIATE SOME TRAFFIC TIME AS WELL AS REDUCE CARBON AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN ALLEVIATE SOME ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION ESPECIALLY CROSS DISTRICTS. THERE AREN'T ANY THAT GOES IN
BETWEEN. AS YOU KNOW, MOST ROADS ARE SORT OF PARALLEL IN IN ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN AREA BUT NOTHING THAT GOES BETWEEN THE
STREETS SO BETWEEN DISTRICTS. SO I THINK A LOT OF I'VE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA AND THE CROSS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY HERE IS THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY
HAVE LIKE COUPONS OR THEY COULD ALL FUNCTION ON AN APP WHERE I COULD GO TO FOR EXAMPLE A BARBERSHOP IN NUBIAN SQUARE AND I COULD THERE GET A DISCOUNT OR
A COUPON BECAUSE I WENT THERE TO ALSO SHOP AT BEACON HILL AND OFFERING THAT SORT OF CROSS CULTURE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. IT WOULD ALLOW FOLKS FROM
BEACON HILL IN ONE DAY TO GO TO AGAIN SHOP IN DOWNTOWN, THEN GO TO UNION SQUARE AND THEN GO TO UPLANDS AND EAT AT NIGHT. I THINK IT'S DOPE. I THINK YOU SHOULD SUPPORT IT JUST ASKING FOR SOME SORT
OF VISIBILITY STUDY HERE IN CONSIDERATION TO OUR BUDGET SEASON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I AM ASKING FOR A SUSPENSION SO THANK YOU. BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAME MR. CLERK TO THE COUNCIL IS AS ZAPATA FITZGERALD, FLYNN MURPHY, SANTANA WEBER PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET COUNSELOR FOR 90 MINUTES AND
SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0483 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I AM OPPOSING A THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. MR. CLERK PLEASE REPORT TO NUMBER 0485.0485
COUNCIL OF FINANCE IN SARNOFF OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT AND CREATE A SMALL BUSINESS TRUST CO-OPERATIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMPANY IDENTITY THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM PRESIDENT. I REALIZE THAT THIS IS SORT OF AN UNCONVENTIONAL IDEA FROM YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TRUST CO-OPS BUT THE CITY
CAN OFFER EITHER TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR SORT OF THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES TO DO THIS. BUT YOU YOU YOU SEE BRICK AND MORTAR SORT OF LIKE GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR PEOPLE NOT
AFFORDING THEIR OVERHEAD COSTS AND LOOKING AT HOW TO DIGITIZE THEIR BUSINESSES. AND I HAVE PRESENTED HERE AT HOW BE LOCAL CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO SOMEWHAT OF A SMALLER
AMAZON IF YOU WILL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IT WOULD BE FREE. IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT IT WOULD ALSO BE MANAGED BY A THIRD PARTY AGENCY THAT WOULD PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
SO ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY OFFERING IN TERMS OF BRANDING ITEMIZATION LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, DIGITIZING OR FIXING YOUR WEBSITE IT COULD ALL BE DONE WITH A BACK OFFICE
IN YOUR LANGUAGE ON A ZOOM AND SO YOU COULD YOU WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE MAIN STREETS AND PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. THIS WOULD TIE PERFECTLY WITH THAT CONCEPT OF A CO-OP BECAUSE
THEN YOU WOULD HAVE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF EITHER PROVIDING SOME SORT OF INVESTMENT IN RESOURCES OR SHARE JUST SHARING
RESOURCES IF YOU WILL. SO JUST LOOKING TO LOOK POSSIBLY SEND A MESSAGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IS THIS AN IDEA THAT WE COULD WORK ON?
I KNOW THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH CHIEF WILL IN LENTS ABOUT THE DIGITAL MARKETPLACE AND HE SUPPORTS IT ALTHOUGH. OBVIOUSLY THERE NEEDS TO BE AN APPETITE FROM A TECH COMPANY THAT WOULD DO IT AT THE FUNDS
THAT WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME FROM ARPA DOLLARS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON ON THIS AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN AGAIN SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN
DEVELOPING CO-OPS TO DO MAIN STREETS BETTER AND TO DIGITIZE OUR MARKETPLACE SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN BOSTON AND ALSO LOOKING FOR SUPPORT IN THE PAST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SO ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? IT'S A GREAT PIECE THAT CASTRO'S COLETTE AS A PARTNER FITZGERALD FLYNN MURPHY SANTANA WEBER PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR. THIS COUNCILOR FOR INDIGENOUS
AND SEEKS SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0485 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALTHOUGH THE POLLS SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED THE SECURITIES REDUCTION NUMBER 0486 DUNCAN MA0486
COUNCIL OF ANANDA SANDERSON OFFERED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE CONSTITUENT SERVICE SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE CITY COUNCIL CONSTITUENT SERVICES
ADVOCACY AND FOLLOW UP. I THINK THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KINDS OF AN INVITATION YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I DO WANT TO SHOUT OUT AND I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M TRYING OUT BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER WHO
FILED SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT WASN'T EXACTLY THE SAME. I THINK IT WAS COUNCILOR SANTANA WHO WAS TALKING SPECIFICALLY ON SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS TO
DO THAT THIS AND PARTICULARLY IT WAS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO ALL TYPES OF SOFTWARES AND PROGRAMS AND THEN CAME INDIGO AND OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WERE
OFFERING TO SUPPLY THIS TYPE OF SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE EASIER MORE INTUITIVE, MORE EFFICIENT CONSTITUENT SERVICE BUT IT COST
I THINK SOMETHING AROUND LIKE 26,000 FOR A COUNCIL OFFICE AND THAT ONLY OFFERED I THINK 64 TO 6 USERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I COULD BE WRONG. SORRY TO GO FROM NOT DOING THAT RIGHT BUT IT IT FELT COSTLY.
RIGHT. AND SO I THINK THAT ADMINISTRATION COULD LOOK AT WAYS OF US CONNECTING MORE TO THEIR 311 SYSTEMS FOR EXAMPLE ON THE WEBSITE WHAT I DID IS I
USE AIR TABLE AND I PROVIDED SPREADSHEETS FOR EACH STATUSES ON CONSTITUENT SERVICE INQUIRIES. SO WHEN YOU CLICK ON STREET YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING IN DISTRICT SEVEN THAT IS PENDING.
I'M SPECIFICALLY YOU KNOW, POTHOLES AND IMPROVING SIDEWALKS. BUT IF YOU DO IT MORE INTUITIVELY YOU COULD ACTUALLY CONNECT OUR SOFTWARE WITH THEIR SOFTWARE AND ALL ECOSYSTEMS
HAVE TO DO AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IS CLICK ON PLEASE SHARE INFORMATION WITH MY COUNSELOR AND THEN WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GET A PING ON OUR SIDE. IT COULD BE FILTERED SO THAT WE CAN NOT VIOLATE ANY TYPE OF LIKE YOU KNOW,
CONFIDENTIALITY. BUT WE ARE THE COUNSELORS AND AND YOU KNOW HOW IT HAPPENS, RIGHT? LIKE THEY CALL CONSTITUENTS OR THEY CALL 311 AND THEN THEY CALL US TO REINFORCE IT AND THEN WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT. THEN WE CALL THE DEPARTMENT AND
THEN WE'RE BACK AND FORTH BUT WE'RE NOT WORKING ON THE SAME SYSTEM IF THERE'S A WAY TO FILTER IT SO THAT WE'RE NOT VIOLATING CONFIDENTIALITY, YOU KNOW, AT FIRST ALL THE CONSTITUENT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROVIDE THE FEATURE THAT THE
CONSTITUENT CAN CLICK ON AND ACTUALLY SAY OPT TO SHARE WITH THEIR COUNSELOR WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WHY ARE WE KIND OF INTUITIVE? WHY IS THIS NOT HAPPENING?
SO MY OFFICE WE'VE WORKED ON YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY LOOKING AT SOFTWARES WE'VE USED AIR TABLE I KNOW WE USE CAMPAIGN TERMS OF TRACKING PROJECTS AND SO FORTH BUT WE DON'T HAVE
SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY FILTERS EMAILS WHEREAS THEY COME IN THROUGH THE SOFTWARE TO SAY THESE CONSTITUENTS CARE A LOT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. YOU COULD ACTUALLY DO THAT.
THERE'S THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT AND THEN YOU COULD ALSO FILTER IN WAYS OF LIKE HOW YOU SEND OUT EMAILS. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEND OUT EMAILS SPECIFIC TO HOUSING THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN
YOU CAN DO IT BY OF FILTERING EMAILS BUT ALSO BY DEMOGRAPHICS, BY OTHER TYPES OF CATEGORIZATION. SO I'M ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION TO INVEST IN THE COUNSELORS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE REPRESENTING THE CONSTITUENTS WHO PAY THE TAX TO DO THE JOB. BUT SINCE THE MAYOR HOLDS THE PURSE THEN SHE SERVES 2 SECONDS
COUNCILOR PRESIDENT THE MAYOR HOLDS THE PURSE TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE SO TO THE VOTERS THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS SERVICE ISSUES ALL
OF THEM NOT THE COUNCILORS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE WE REPRESENT YOU THEN WE ARE SOMEWHAT THE ENFORCER. BUT IF THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE COMPROMISED BETWEEN COUNCILORS
AND MAYOR OR ADMINISTRATION SOMETIMES THERE'S A LAG IN RESPONSE OR COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND SO THERE YOU HAVE IT THEN THERE'S NO RESPONSE IN ALL OF THIS BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION WE SHOULD DO AWAY
WITH THAT. WE SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM THAT YOU PAY YOUR TAX DOLLARS SO THAT WE CAN GET A SYSTEM IN ORDER TO DO THIS MORE INTUITIVELY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KLATT AS A PART. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK THE BAKER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IT HAS IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY LONG TIME SINCE I BELIEVE THE
LAST TIME THERE WAS A FORMAL INQUIRY INTO THIS IF THE BAKER DID NOT DO IT HERSELF I CAN'T REMEMBER AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT'S THE CASE. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ELLIE PIMENTEL IS THE FORMER CHIEF
OF STAFF TO THEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANDRE CAMPBELL WHO LOOKED INTO THIS AND ALSO FOUND THAT THE LICENSES WERE GOING TO COST $26,000 OR $30,000 FOR THE CRIMES SYSTEM AND 311 AND THEY
DID MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GET THAT TO BE A BENEFIT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN ACCESS. I HAVE TO TELL FOLKS ALL THE TIME THEY ARE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT CITY COUNCILORS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BACK END OF 311.
WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BOTTLENECKS ARE AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THE DELIVERY OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES OR EXCUSE ME THE DELIVERY OF BASIC CITY SERVICES
IS LACKING. IT'S EITHER TAKING A LONG TIME OR FOLKS ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESPONSES THAT THEY ARE GETTING AND THEY DO COME TO US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT AND BASICALLY PROVIDE CONCIERGE
SERVICE SERVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS GET AT LEAST A RESOLUTION. BUT IT IS IT IS TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS. I THINK I'VE GONE THROUGH MAYBE
FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT SYSTEMS FIRST AS A STAFFER, NOW AS A CITY COUNCILOR. AND SO I THINK THAT WE'RE PAST DUE AND WOULD SUPPORT A BUDGET AMENDMENT IF IT'S NOT ALREADY REFLECTED IN THE POTENTIAL BUDGET THAT'S PRODUCED BY THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDO ANDERSON. HE HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I DO APOLOGIZE. I FORGOT TO ASK FOR SUSPENSION AND PASS. THANK YOU.
BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK TO THE COUNCIL WAS CUT OPPOSED TO FITZGERALD, FLYNN, MURPHY BUT SANTANA WEBER WERE ALL PLEASE HAVE A CHAIR
BECAUSE OF AN INJURY ANDERSON SEEKS SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0486 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I OPPOSING IT. THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCTOR HAS PASSED SO QUICKLY NUMBER 0487 DUCK
MEMBERS 0487 COUNCILORS WERE ONLY SHOWN OFF WITH THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I THINK THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL OUR OUTCOMES ARE EVEN FOR I THINK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I LIKE TO SPEND THE RULES AND
AD COUNCIL FINANCE ANDERSON AS ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL WHEREAS AND SUSPEND THE RULES AT COMPANY IN UNISON AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING A HEARING OBJECTION COUNCIL FOR AN INTERVENTION SO OUTCOMES WHERE I GET THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ONCE SAID THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG BUT IT BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE. BUT THAT DOES NOT BEND ON ITS OWN. IT BENDS BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES THE COURAGE AND THE
RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE BY THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. HERE IN BOSTON THAT ARC HAS BEEN SHAPED BY REBECCA LEE CRUMPLER, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN DOCTOR IN THE CRISPUS ATTUCKS,
THE FIRST TO FALL FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. PRINCE HALL WHO FOUGHT FOR BLACK EDUCATION AND DIGNITY AND MELINA CASS, THE FIRST LADY OF ROXBURY DEDICATED HER LIFE
TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADVOCATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BOSTON IS ALSO HOME TO THE AFRICAN MEETINGHOUSE BUILT IN 1806, THE OLDEST EXISTING BLACK CHURCH BUILDING IN THE NATION.
THE HISTORIC SITE ALSO HOUSED ABBY SMITH. THE FIRST BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY ESTABLISHED IN 1835. AND POLITICS THOMAS ATKINS
WHERE THE FIRST BLACK ELECTED BOSS, A CITY COUNCILOR WINNING HIS SEAT IN 1967 AND SEVEN FROM 1968 TO 1971. JAZZ LEGEND ROY HAYNES, WHO
DIED LAST YEAR REVOLUTIONIZED DRUMMING LEAVING A MARK ON MUSIC. BUT THE ROXBURY NATIVE ALSO SERVED AS A STATE LEGISLATOR IN THE FIFTIES AND A LONGTIME PASTOR.
CARING FOR IT FOR HIS FLOCK WHICH INCLUDED DR. KING WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT AT BYU. AND GROUPS LIKE THE BLACK BOSTON, BLACK UNITED FRONT HAVE LONG FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE ADVOCATING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR COLLECTIVE ACTION. BOSTON HAS BEEN A MECCA FOR BLACK PEOPLE DRIVING THAT ARC OF JUSTICE FORWARD SHAPING HISTORY, PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND
LEADING THE WAY FOR CHANGE. AND THAT CHANGE HAS BEEN FUELED BY DIVERSITY NOT JUST IN RACE BUT IN IDEAS AND LEADERSHIP. IN MANY WAYS BLACK BOSTONIANS
HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO EVERY FACET OF THIS CITY'S HISTORY. JAMES BALDWIN ONCE SAID HISTORY IS NOT THE PAST. IT IS THE PRESENT.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE GATHERING ON FEBRUARY 19 AT THE NEA IN L.A. CHAMBER TO HONOR BOTH OUR BLACK LEGACY LEADERS AND OUR YOUNG BLACK FUTURE LEADERS. BECAUSE THIS MONTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKING BACK BUT IT'S
ABOUT UPLIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHANGEMAKERS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M MOVED TO SUSPEND AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR.
WE'RE OUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION NEXT WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR SPEARHEADING THAT. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EVERYBODY. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL AND IT
CONTINUES FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BLACK POPULATION HERE. WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING THE WORD DIY TO REALLY EXPRESS THEIR ANTI-BLACKNESS.
AND WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. I WANT TO THANK HOUSE TOMORROW FOR UPLIFTING ALL OF THE PIONEERS ON WHO SHOULDERS WE STAND. ONE THING THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY THAT IS REALLY SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE
HISTORY OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN NAME WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE PIONEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE THE LIKE CHRISTMAS ADDICTS LIKE REBECCA CRUMPLER, LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT
CAME SOMEWHERE ELSE STARTED LIKE FLASH WILEY WHO WILL BE ENDING TODAY IN MEMORIAM A PIONEERING LAWYER WHO HAD AN INFLUENCE ON MY LEGAL CAREER OR
DANIELLE GEORGE'S WHO WAS A POET LAUREATE IN THE CITY FROM DECEMBER 15 TO 19 WHO JUST PASSED AWAY SADLY TO CANCER. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WE CAN
NAME AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WE CAN'T NAME RIGHT? THESE ARE REGULAR ORDINARY FOLKS WHO ATTEMPTED AND WHO TRIED AND WHO OFTENTIMES WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL AND BECOMING SOMEONE. RIGHT. REBECCA CRUMPLER WAS THE FIRST
BLACK WOMAN TO BE A LICENSED DOCTOR IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE BLACK WOMEN WHO WANTED TO BE DOCTORS BEFORE AND THERE WERE BLACK WOMEN WHO WERE SERVING AS DOCTORS BEFORE EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE RECOGNITION FROM MEDICAL SCHOOLS HERE.
SO I REALLY LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT BLACK HISTORY PRESENTS ITSELF TO REMIND US THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY AND TRY TO REMIND US THAT AS WE ARE CELEBRATING THOSE WHOSE NAMES WE KNOW FOR US TO UPLIFT AND REMEMBER THE
NAMES THAT WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT . WE HAD CORPORAL WOODY WOODHOUSE HERE A FEW YEARS AGO AS A BLACK A FEW WEEKS AGO AS A BLACK VETERAN. WE UPLIFTED HIM AND HIS WORK AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO'S WHO
DIED ON BATTLEFIELDS WHOSE NAME THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE DON'T UPLIFT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO BE LAWYERS WHO TRIED TO BE TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THIS COUNTRY AND WEREN'T.
AND SO I THINK THAT JUST ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER AND TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN SO MUCH ABOUT BLACK COMMUNITIES AND ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IS UNDER ATTACK NATIONALLY THAT IT'S
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE THE WE'VE MADE AND THE STRUGGLES THAT WE ARE FIGHTING AND WE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT IN THE FUTURE. SO AGAIN, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH Y'ALL. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES MAY HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I GUESS COMING INTO THIS POSITION THERE WAS A PRACTICE WHERE THE ELDEST BLACK
RELUCTANT WOULD LEAD THE CELEBRATIONS SO I MISSED THAT AND THEN IT GOT CHANGED AND I DIDN'T GET NOTIFIED OF THAT AND SO I WAS PRETTY BUMMED BY THAT
OR DISAPPOINTED. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CELEBRATION THAT YOU AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT COUNCIL AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER AND I THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME TO THIS IN
TERMS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH I THINK WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT IT AS AN OXYMORON THAT EVERY MONTH IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND SO WHY DO WE NEED A BLACK HISTORY MONTH?
AND SO IT'S YES, RACE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THE IT'S THE WHITE SUPREMACIST THAT ORIGINATED THIS CONCEPT, RIGHT? IT FIRST WE GET CATEGORIZED, THEN WE GET NAMED AND THEN WE
GET CALLED BIPOC OR COLORED OR BLACK AND NOW WE FOLLOW THE VERY TRENDS. SO I'M OF THE OPINION THAT EVERY MONTH IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT I'M ALSO OF THE
OPINION EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU SAY OH YOU DON'T SEE COLOR OR YOU DON'T SEE RACE. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE EDUCATED ON THE HISTORY SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY SO, YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR JEWISH BROTHERS SISTERS SAY NEVER FORGET. IT IS VERY EASY TO STAND BY THINGS THAT ARE POPULAR OR POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO BE
ABLE TO SAY YOU KNOW, NEVER FORGET IT IS THAT IT FANTASIAS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS TO SUPPORT OTHER RACES AND CULTURES BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK PEOPLE
IN PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY THEY SEEM TO GET THE LOWEST END OF THE TOTEM POLE SOMETIMES PEOPLE SORT OF LIKE TO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, REFER TO
REFERENCE THE NEED FOR DEI OR THE NEED FOR MARGINALIZED OR INVESTMENT IN THE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND THEN THEY SORT OF THROW THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THERE. BUT THEY ARE IT'S NOT VERY
INTENTIONAL BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICANS CONTINUE TO BE TOKENIZED IN THIS COUNTRY MYSELF AS AN AFRICAN WOMAN, AS A BLACK AFRICAN WOMAN I HAVE TO UNDERSTAND MY PRIVILEGE AS AN
IMMIGRANT THAT SOMEHOW I FALL UNDER THIS CLASS THAT IS CONSIDERED A DEGREE OVER SO I GET MORE PRIVILEGE, I GET THE JOB OR I GET TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY AND MY BROTHER OR
SISTER ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BROTHER OR SISTER OR SOMEHOW CONTINUE TO BE DISMISSED. BUT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CULTURE. WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE THE PATH THAT THEY'VE PAVED FOR US.
WE COME HERE, WE DON'T PAY HOMAGE, NOT ENOUGH. AND I'M SPEAKING FROM AN IMMIGRANT PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR OR BLACK IMMIGRANTS THAT COME INTO
THIS COUNTRY, YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VERY OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PATH THAT THEY'VE PAVED FOR YOU AND YET YOU DISMISS THEIR IDENTITY CULTURE AND I AND HUMANITY YOU
DEHUMANIZE THEM AND YOU THINK OF THEM LAST. SO I STAND HERE TO SAY THAT IN THE HOPES THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD IN OUR UNITY FROM THE
TRAUMA OF DIVIDE AND CONQUER THAT WE ARE NOT TOGETHER. THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE FIGHT WITH THEIR OWN IDENTITY AND WILL TREAT OTHERS MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THOSE WHO
LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THEM. THEY ARE. AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY WHY CAN'T THEY GET IT TOGETHER BECAUSE OF 400 YEARS OF TRAUMA, BECAUSE OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF OUR
ANCESTORS WHO WERE MURDERED, SLAUGHTERED, RAPED AND MASSACRED, ABUSED AND CONTINUED TO BE PERPETUALLY ABUSED AND OPPRESSED THROUGHOUT THIS SYSTEM THAT EXISTS TODAY.
SO I SAY THIS THAT I STAND UP TO SAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CITY OF BOSTON WHEN YOU SAY IT WHEN YOU SAY THAT BLACK PEOPLE OR THAT INCLUSION IS IMPORTANT,
PLEASE STOP TOKENIZING AFRICAN-AMERICANS AS IF THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE SPOKESPEOPLE FOR EVERYBODY. THE FACE OF THE CAR TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT RACIST OR THAT YOU THINK OF BLACK PEOPLE PLEASE
INCLUDE PEOPLE IN DECISION MAKING AND POLICIES. PLEASE DON'T IGNORE PEOPLE WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT WITH THEM. DON'T JUST MEET WITH SOUTH BEND AND BEACON HILL OR THE NORTH
END IN DOWNTOWN OR ROSLINDALE MEET WITH GO TALK TO MATTAPAN, TALK TO BLACK PEOPLE EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU HAVE PATIENCE, HAVE COMPASSION. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY
INVESTING INTENTIONALLY TRANSFORMATIVE LEAD IN THOSE WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT TO CELEBRATE THIS THING ANYMORE THIS TOKENIZED THING WHERE IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY
REPRESENT REAL GENUINE INTENTION IN INVESTING IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE. BUT I WILL BECAUSE FOR THE TIME BEING I GUESS THE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION FORWARD.
I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WE MENTIONED WOODY WOODHOUSE BUT I WAS FRIENDS WITH AN OLDER GENTLEMAN, WILLIS SANDERS WHO WAS A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT ON
BOSTON POLICE, WAS A TUSKEGEE AIRMAN AND I WOULD LISTEN TO HIS STORIES ABOUT HIS SERVICE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THEN HIM COMING ON THE BOSTON POLICE AND
BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FIGHTING FIGHTING A WAR IN WORLD WAR TWO, FIGHTING FOR OUR NATION, HE CAME BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE. I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HIS COUNCILOR WERE ALL
MENTIONED TOMPKINS WAS A CITY COUNCILOR AND ACTUALLY THE THE ROOM IN THE THE CITY COUNCIL THE FIRST ROOM ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS NAMED AFTER TOM ATKINS AS WE AS WE ALL KNOW
THE FIRST WOMAN ON THE LEFT, OUR FORMER CONSTITUENT RECENTLY PASSED AWAY WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER IN THE SOUTH AND ROXBURY AND AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
MALKIN WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MAN THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS LIKE YOU ALL HAVE AS WELL THEN JUST WANTED HIGHLIGHT THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR
OF BOSTON JANEY I'M A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS BODY AS WELL FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK AND LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR JANEY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK
ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK. BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF ZAPATA FITZGERALD, FLYNN, MURPHY AND TANNER WEBER. COUNCILORS WERE ALL LOUIJEUNE AND FOR ANY ADVANTAGE SINCE
EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0487 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I'LL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT THIS DOCKET AS PASSED WAS A QUOTE COULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 0488 SO I CAN HAVE A
ZERO FOR 80 COUNCIL OF FERNANDA SANDERSON OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY PREFERENCE POLICY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT IN BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMPANY IN UNISON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO WHICH HAS SEEN SUCCESS IN REDUCING DISPLACEMENT THROUGH SUCH
POLICIES. THIS PROMOTES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HOUSING AND ALIGNS WITH CITY GOALS AND OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CREATE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT SYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZES LONG TERM RESIDENTS WHILE ALSO COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL AND STATE HOUSING LAWS. AND I MENTION THAT BECAUSE AS
KNOW IF IT'S FUNDED THROUGH HUD SPECIFICALLY YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY WE'RE PRIORITIZING RESIDENTS OR SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS BECAUSE THEN YOU FACE THE RISK OF BEING SUED FOR, YOU KNOW, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
THIS POLICY NOT ONLY PROTECTS RESIDENTS FROM DISPLACEMENT BUT FOSTERS STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. I URGE THE MAYOR AND THE BOSTON
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT SORRY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING TO COLLABORATE IN DEVELOPING THIS POLICY ENSURING THAT OUR BOSTON
NEIGHBORS ARE HEARD AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM ITS IMPLEMENTATION. I THINK TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY'RE HELPED TO
SHAPE. AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU HAVE ADVOCATED HERE SO SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD EVERYONE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HAS FILED SOMETHING ON HOUSING THIS
AND PARTICULARLY IT IS A RESOLUTION TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO SAY WE SUPPORT YOU IN DEVELOPING SUCH POLICIES. I KNOW THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH
MAYORS OFFICE OF HOUSING, BPA WHO ALL SHARE THE SENTIMENT OF CREATING SOME SORT OF ENTITIES ORDINANCE OR POLICY AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO
PROTECT LONG TERM OUR RESIDENTS FROM DISPLACEMENT. WE ALSO WANT TO UPHOLD HOUSING EQUITY, FAIRNESS, SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOODS ABILITY TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS ADDRESSING GROWING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
AND OF COURSE THIS IS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AGAIN WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHERE ARE WE WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? HOW DO WE DO IT MORE INTENTIONALLY OR MORE IN A MORE GENUINE WAY?
WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF DOING IT RIGHT LIKE DO WE DO WE SEND PEOPLE OUT IN BREAKOUT GROUPS AND WE TELL THEM CHOOSE A SPOKESPERSON, THEY COME BACK IN THE GROUP AND THEN ONE
PERSON SPEAKS FOR 10 MINUTES AS OPPOSED TO POLICING THAT PERSON FOR LIKE 2 MINUTES EACH AND THEN PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE BEING DISMISSED. HOW DO WE FIX THIS ISSUE OF HOW WE OUR COMMUNITY AND DO IT
BETTER? AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT WITH COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY. I THINK SOMEBODY HERE HAS SOME SORT OF SLOGAN THAT SHE SAYS
YEAH, I DON'T REMEMBER IT AND BUT IT'S SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE TO CREATE THESE POLICIES TOGETHER. AND SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MAYORS OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
SHOUT OUT TO CHIEF DILLON FOR ALWAYS BEING SO ASTUTE AND SUPER EFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING. AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TO
SUPPORT A MORE INCLUSIVE MODEL TO CREATING POLICIES LIKE THE ONE IN SAN FRANCISCO. THANK YOU. AND I'M ASKING FOR A SUSPENSION OF PASS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THAT AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO MODEL. WE HAVE FOLKS ALL THE TIME SAYING THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN EAST BOSTON, AFFORD
TO LIVE IN CHARLESTOWN ANYMORE. A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DO NOT LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT. I REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AND JUST HOW THERE
ARE WAYS IN WHICH WE DON'T VIOLATE THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF OVERSIGHT BY BY DOJ AND HUD AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A MUNICIPALITY COULD POTENTIALLY
ARGUE THAT PREFERENCE IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT DUE TO GENTRIFICATION. SO I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW I WOULD DO THAT AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.
AND FOR THOSE REASONS I'M GOING TO VOTE PRESENT BUT REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND SUPPORT THIS AND IN IN THEORY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMPANY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. OF ALL THE HEARING ORDER THINK
TWO WEEKS AGO NOW FOR AN END TO THIS BASEMENT HEARING TALK DIFFERENT STRATEGIES. SO I THINK THAT FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT TO ANSWER COUNCILOR CLAIR
TO SUPPORT THIS QUESTION, I THINK THAT THAT'S IN THE HEARING THAT I'M THE HEARING THAT I'M HOSTING I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS WELL AND OTHER IDEAS AS WELL. THAT'S A THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AGAIN IS COUNTRY FOR
AN INTERVENTION. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. CAT LOVERS DON'T KILL ME BUT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY OF GIVING A CAT, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT PROTECTION ZONING HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM. SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU PUT
FORWARD IN THE HEARING ORDER IS ONE OF THEM AND I'VE LOOKED INTO OTHER WAYS OF PRIORITIZING WHEN IT'S NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED AND HOW WE CAN DO THAT. HOWEVER I DO RESPECT THAT YOU
NEED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH. AS YOU KNOW, I'M SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SO I RATHER ALLOW YOU THE TIME TO DO
SOME RESEARCH WITH US TOGETHER AND IF CASTLE PIPPIN IS WILLING HAPPY TO JOIN MY RESOLUTION WITH YOU AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION TOGETHER SO YOU ARE NO LONGER SEEKING
SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE NO LONGER SEEKING SUSPENSION OF PASSING WITH GRANTED CASTLE PIPPIN IS OKAY WITH JOINING HIS
HEARING TO ALSO DISCUSS THE TOPIC HERE. OKAY THANK YOU. IS THAT ARE YOU JUST AGREEING? OKAY THE ANYONE ELSE OKAY SO THIS IS SO ANYONE ELSE WANT TO
SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? THE CHAIR MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD TO THAT
BEN MURPHY WEBER THIS ISN'T AN HOUR LATER SANTANA WUERL PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE REPORT IN NUMBER 0489 DUNCAN EMMA ZERO 49 COUNCIL ON MURPHY OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER REQUEST CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 F REGARDING
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I'M REQUESTING A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN AND REQUEST THAT THIS INFORMATION BE PROVIDED IN A
FORMAT THAT WILL ALLOW US ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT POLICIES AND HELP US MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. EVERYONE IS WORKING WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR MURPHY SEEKS SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0489 AND BEFORE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE 489. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I THE AYES HAVE IT.
THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. WE ARE NOW OH BEFORE WE GET ON THE BEACHES WITH ANYONE I LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A MATTER OR TO A DOCKET WHEN THEY WERE OR AN ISSUE WHEN THEY WERE NOT IN WHEN THEY WERE NOT INSIDE
OF CHAMBERS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR JODY HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
CLERK 04690473 PLEASE ADD MY NAME 04690473 YES, THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. DO YOU HAVE THOSE? YES. AWESOME. THANK YOU.
DID YOU RECOGNIZE CONSTABLE? YOU HAVE THE FLOOR HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST HAD A POINT OF ORDER ON COUNCILOR MURPHY'S REQUEST ON 17 HAVE MAY I ASK A QUESTION TO
YOU, CHAIR? YOU MAY ASK A QUESTION TO ME. UM, ARE WE STILL UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 17 FS THAT THEY
WILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN 17 WITHIN SEVEN DAYS TO THE TO THE THE PERSON THAT REQUESTED IT? I DO NOT I CAN'T ANSWER THAT
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I DON'T KNOW OUR RULES CLEARLY STATE THAT THE 17 DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO US WITHIN
SEVEN DAYS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IF THAT IS A GUIDELINE OR IF THAT'S A RULE THAT WE THAT WE RESPECT.
I I RECEIVE YOUR QUESTION. I WOULD NEED TO TAKE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK. THANK YOU. I NOT GO I DO NOT WANT US TO
GET INTO A DISCUSSION THAT WAS NOT ALSO NOT A POINT OF ORDER SO THERE WAS IT WAS NOT A POINT OF ORDER ON A A NO A POINT
OF ORDER. I WILL READ WHAT A POINT OF ORDER IS. OKAY. A POINT OF ORDER. HAVE IT IN THIS DOCUMENT IS IF
YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A BREACH OF THE RULES THERE'S A POINT OF ORDER. THERE'S A 17 THAT HAS BEEN FILED. THERE IS NO BREACH OF THE RULES. THEREFORE THERE IS NOT A POINT
OF ORDER. SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO DEBATE THE CLERK IS NODDING. THERE IS NO POINT OF ORDER. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. IT WAS A SIMPLE QUESTION. I KNOW IT WAS NOT A QUESTION
THAT MADAM CHAIR RANGE OF ORDER ASKED IT I ASKED IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. OF COURSE YOU DID AND I ASKED THEM IN A RESPECTFUL WAY BUT IT WAS NOT A POINT OF ORDER WHICH MEANS IT WAS NOT A QUESTION TO IT. WE DON'T JUST GET UP AND ASK
QUESTIONS IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THE FLOW OF THE MEETING AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AFTER. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AFTER IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL WAY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
OKAY CAMERON ANDREW ANDERSON ARE YOU LOOKING TO ADD YOUR NAME TO I THINK I HAVE MISSED
04680468 MR. QUOTE DO YOU HAVE THAT? I HAVE YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A DOCKET OR IN ANY OTHER ISSUE WHEN THEY WERE
OUT? OKAY WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY PULL ANY PULLS FROM THE GREEN SHEETS?
NO GREEN CHICOS. OKAY, WE ARE NOW OH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR. OUR OUTCOMES ARE LATE TO THE
COUNSELOR I HAVE BEFORE I FELT THE EYES I LIKE TO PULL DOCKET NUMBER 0270 FROM THE GREEN SHEETS PAGE 17 OF THE GREEN
SHEETS OKAY 0270 MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCTOR BEFORE YOU OKAY, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE DOCKET INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS DOCKET NUMBER
0270 OR TO ADOPT A GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT AS A LOCAL OPTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON? THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION
OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COMES FORWARD. ALL YOU HAVE BEFORE. RIGHT. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, WE PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY HELD A HEARING ON
THIS ON THIS AUTUMN BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE LEAD SPONSOR. I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME BRIEF REMARKS. WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND OUR ADVOCATES AT THE HEARING. THE INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION
IS CLEAR IT'S TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL INCENTIVE FOR LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALREADY KEEPING RENTS AFFORDABLE NOT TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE WHO NEGLECT THEIR PROPERTIES OR ENGAGE IN UNFAIR RENTAL PRACTICES.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED WITH A STRICT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA INCLUDING AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLDS SET BY THE CITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH HUD GUIDELINES ENSURING THAT ASSISTANCE GOES
TO SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE GENUINELY COMMITTED TO HOUSING STABILITY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE WHO OWN APPROXIMATELY 68% OF BOSTON'S RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTIES
ARE LESS LIKELY TO EVICT TENANTS COMPARED TO LARGER PROPERTY OWNERS CONTRIBUTED TO HOUSING CONTRIBUTED TO OUR HOUSING STABILITY BY OFFERING ABATEMENT WHERE LIGHTNING THE BURDEN ON THOSE PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EXPANDED HOUSING OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED IT THE MOST. SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SUPPORTED THE AVAILABILITY OF STABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
GROWS. PASSING THIS AS A FIRST STEP THIS ALLOWS A CITY TO OPT IN BUT THE PROGRAM WON'T BE IN PLACE UNTIL AN ORDINANCE IS CRAFTED AND PASSED FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.
THE AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION THE RELEVANT INCOME LIMITS AND THEN RELEVANT HOUSING RATE WILL BE WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CITY IN THE FUTURE. THE ORDINANCE. THIS JUST GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPT IN TO THIS
AND AS I SAID IN THAT LAST PART THAT WE STILL HAVE TO CRAFT THIS PROGRAM. SO I'D NOW LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO THE LEAD SPONSOR CATHOLIC LEADERS ABOUT THE COUNCIL AS A BODY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS. I'M GOING TO JUST REITERATE WHAT I HAD SAID ORIGINALLY WHEN I HAD PRODUCED THIS PROPOSAL. SO I DECIDED TO SPONSOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WITH WITH A COUPLE OF FOLKS IN MIND BUT
ONE IN PARTICULAR IN BOSTON. SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN WHO WHO IN HER OLD AGE HAS FOUND HERSELF AS WHAT SHE DESCRIBE AS HOUSE RICH IN CASH FOR HER PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP
AFTER A YEAR SINCE SHE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY WITH HER. NOW PAST HUSBAND IN THE 1970S. SHE DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE ANYWHERE ELSE AND HAS FOUND JOY IN PROVIDING RENTS THAT ARE WELL BELOW THE MARKET FOR A YOUNG FAMILY THAT LIVES IN HER
FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT. THE RECENT INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUATIONS HAS PUSHED HER OVER THE THRESHOLD OF MONTHLY EXPENSES AND SHE IS IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF. SHE DOES FIND HERSELF AT AN IMPASSE. DOES SHE RAISE RENTS AND
POTENTIALLY DISPLACE THIS FAMILY WHOM SHE KNOWS SHE CAN AFFORD OR WHOM SHE KNOWS SHE CAN'T AFFORD AN INCREASE OR DOES SHE LIVE ON A TIGHTER BUDGET? SO THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE LEGISLATION AND THIS IS
WHY I HAVE IN MIND THIS GOOD LORD, GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT IS JUST TO PROVIDE THEM THAT TAX BREAK AND I'VE GOTTEN A FEW EMAILS FROM FOLKS
WHO HAVE SAID HOW COULD YOU PROVIDE A TAX BREAK TO FOLKS WHO ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EGREGIOUS PRACTICES? THIS IS NOT FOR THEM. AND WHAT THIS IS IS ESSENTIALLY
DOING IS SAYING THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS OPTING IN AND WE ARE NOW COMMITTED TO PRODUCING SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES THE SORT OF RELEASE VERY SIMILAR TO THE ORDER THAT COUNCIL OR MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FIVE PUT OUT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I ABIDE BY THE RULES HERE AND MICHAEL TO FOLLOW FROM DISTRICT THREE.
SO JUST A QUICK SUMMARY. THIS WAS PASSED IN THE TAX PATCH PACKAGE OF 2023 ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO OFFER PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR LANDLORDS RENTING AT AFFORDABLE
RATES. THE GOAL OF THE ABATEMENT IS TO INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO KEEP RENTS AFFORDABLE, PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO LANDLORDS WHO ALREADY RENT AT ACCESSIBLE RATES AND EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BOSTON RESIDENTS. AND BASED ON THE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE COME FROM DLS THE STATE, THE MUNICIPALITY AND GRANTED THAT BOSTON IS A TYPE A GOVERNMENT SO IT EXPLICITLY STATES THAT THE MAYOR NOW HAS
TO COME UP WITH THESE STIPULATIONS COME TO US. WE TALK ABOUT IT AND DISCUSS IT, MAKE SURE THAT IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THEN WE VOTE ON IT. AND SO THE THINGS THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCUSS
IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION THE ANNUAL OCCUPANT HOUSEHOLD INCOME LIMIT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RATE OF RENT, THE DUMPSTER OF THE HOUSING REQUIREMENT OF THE OWNER IF ANY AND OTHER
RESTRICTIONS OR REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE LAW IT ELECTS TO IMPLEMENT. I'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM FOLKS AND I APPRECIATE PEOPLE REACHING OUT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME LAYER OF ACCOUNTABILITY IF THERE ARE ANY OUTSTANDING
ISSUES WITH THE PROPERTY OR WE DEEM THIS LANDLORD THAT TRIES TO SEEK THIS EXEMPTION AS HAVING OUTSTANDING CITATIONS OR THEY'RE JUST A SLUMLORD. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD THAT INTO BUT ALL OF THAT
IS ON THE TABLE ONCE WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. THIS IS SIMPLY JUST SAYING THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA AND THIS IS THE START OF THE CONVERSATION TO START EXPLORING IT. SO I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS BUT I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M LIKELY TO VOTE YES ON THIS
BUT WAS WAS THIS ON THE AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, I KNOW AS PART OF THE GREEN SHEET BUT I. I DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME TO
TO WEIGH IN EFFECTIVELY ON THIS ISSUE. I'M JUST KIND OF FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS NOW. BUT WAS THERE WAS IT DID WE KNOW ABOUT THIS EARLIER?
IT IS ON THE DOCKET AND AS MUCH AS THE GREEN SHEETS ARE PART OF THE DOCKET, NO AGENDA AND THAT PEOPLE ARE PULLING FROM REGIONS. OH AND COUNCILOR WHERE I'LL
SEND AN EMAIL OKAY WAS WAS IT WAS IT ON THE AGENDA? SO THE GREEN SHEETS ARE I GUESS GENDER. I UNDERSTAND THAT AND THIS IS LIKE WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME
AGAIN THIS IS A PULL FROM THE GREEN SHEETS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MADAM CHAIR. MY MY ONLY REQUEST WOULD BE IF I HAD MORE TIME AND MAYBE MAYBE
I'M SPEAKING FOR MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TOO. BUT IF WE HAD MORE NOTICE ABOUT THIS WE COULD BE FULLY ENGAGED IN THIS SUBJECT AND DEBATE THIS . IT'S IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT.
CAN WE CAN WE CALL FOR A BRIEF RECESS SO WE'RE ABLE TO COLLECT OUR THOUGHTS AND COLLECT OUR NOTES BECAUSE THIS THIS DOCKET IS JUST COMING UP NOW FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN A WHILE I'D LIKE TO BE THOROUGHLY BE PREPARED BEFORE I VOTE ON IT. THAT'S ALL I AM. THANK YOU. THERE WILL NOT BE A RECESS. THERE WAS A HEARING ON THIS MATTER. IT'S BEEN ON THE GREEN SHEETS.
THERE'S BEEN A GREEN SHEETS POLL AND OH MY COLLEAGUES CAN VOTE ACCORDINGLY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES FOR AN INDIGENOUS AND YOU HAVE THE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I DO HAVE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE THAT JUST ASKED FOR A RECESS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A RECESS BUT I SAW I THINK THAT THE THE LEAD SPONSOR JUST SENT
HER STAFF OUT TO GET A COPY FOR US. SO I THINK IT IS FAIR THAT WE LOOK AT IT JUST LIKE AMENDMENTS GET PUT ON THE FLOOR AND WE JUST WE HAVE TO LIKE GO THROUGH IT AND DISCUSS IT AND VOTE.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. BUT I DO THINK IT'S FAIR TO HAVE A HARD COPY IN FRONT OF US AND MAYBE THAT'S THE PRECEDENCE THAT WE SET MOVING FORWARD THAT
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING ON THE GREEN SHEETS IS JUST A TITLE AND YEAH SURE SOME PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT DIGITALLY BUT MAYBE SOME FOLKS
IT'S NOT AS IS ACCESS ACCESSIBLE FOR SOME FOLKS SO IF WE COULD HAVE A COPY IT'S NOT A LOT TO ASK WHILE ELLY'S IS GETTING COPIES FOR US I THINK
EVEN IF WE DON'T GET A RECESS I WOULD LIKE I'M SURE THAT THE SPONSOR WANTS MY VOTE SO I WOULD LIKE JUST A MINUTE YOU KNOW JUST TO READ THROUGH IT AND AND I'LL BE READY TO VOTE. OKAY BECAUSE THE COURT AS A
PARTNER WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER OTHERS WANT TO SPEAK TO ON THIS MATTER IF THERE IS AN IF IF IN FACT YOUR YOUR STAFF IS COMING TO GIVE COPIES FOR FOLKS AND IT'S NOT HERE IN TIME
WE CAN I CAN ASSESS THEN BUT WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THERE'S A PARTY ON THE FLOOR. YES. I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT MY STAFF MEMBER ELLIE SANCHEZ IS GOING OUT AND PRINTING IT.
SHE'S DOING THAT AS WE SPEAK. AND I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING A HARD COPY FOR FOLKS. I WILL BE SURE TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD AND THERE WAS A LOT TO GET READY FOR TODAY AND
SO IT JUST IS AN OMISSION OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF THINGS I HAD TO PREPARE FOR TODAY AND I DO APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES NEEDING THE TIME TO REVIEW IT AND THIS IS
ME ACTIVELY TRYING TO STRETCH THE TIME SO I HOPE THAT ELLIE IS HERE SOON. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THE THING TRYING TO MAKE COPIES
RON IS TRYING TO MAKE COPIES. ALI TRY TO MAKE COPIES. RON DO YOU HAVE OKAY, THE COPIES ARE COMING SUCH THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE THEM SOON SO MY GOAL IS FOR US TO HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF US AND THEN CONTINUE TALKING BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE GO INTO RECESS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO CALL
PEOPLE BACK AND SO WE WILL JUST WAIT AND WE WILL GET THE COPIES THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME TO IT AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR. I'M GOING TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO THANK MY PREDECESSOR COUNCIL, OUR STATE SENATOR LYDIA EDWARDS FOR FOR
PUSHING THIS FORWARD. IT WAS PUSHED FORWARD AGAIN IN THE TWIN 23 TAX PACKAGE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDY VARGAS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK O'CONNOR HAD SIGNED ON TO THIS AND HE'S A PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT EVERYBODY WHO DID A LOT OF WORK TO PUSH THIS AT THE STATE
HOUSE. BOSTON WOULD BE THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY TO DO THIS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CLAUDIA ZAPATA, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR WEBER, COUNCIL MEMBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE THIS UM THE FILER OR COUNCILOR OF COLOR AS I JUST SO THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S AUTHORIZED BY
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALREADY AND WE'RE JUST BY DOING THIS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD A PROGRAM THAT WE WILL THEN PARTICIPATE IN ITS
DEVELOPMENT AND WE'LL BE VOTING ON THIS AGAIN. OR HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THIS PLAYING OUT? THANK YOU. I BELIEVE IT'S I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE THIS. I THINK WAS IT WITH THE THE
LOCAL OPTION FOR THE VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT ALLOWED US TO SO THAT THERE'S A LOCAL OPTION AND THEN WE ARE OPTING SO WE'VE DONE ITERATIONS OF THIS ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE
OPTING INTO A LOCAL OPTION VIA A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORDINANCES AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL CUT THE ZAPATA WAS REFERRING TO AND ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE WORK OF STATE SENATOR LYDIA EDWARDS
AND IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. BUT I WILL ALLOW COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO COUNCILOR WEBBER'S QUESTION YOU MAN THANK YOU AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE ON THIS.
YEAH. AS I WAS MENTIONING SINCE WE ARE A TYPE A GOVERNMENT THE THE PARAMO OF THIS EXEMPTION NEED
TO ORIGINATE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR APPROVAL OR OUR AMENDMENTS OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO TO BUILD THIS OUT WE THEN HAVE TO GET TO VOTE ON IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THIS FORWARD AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS. I DO THINK THAT JUST AS A VALUE STATEMENT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE KEEPING BOSTON AFFORDABLE AND THIS IS JUST ONE SOLUTION IN A SUITE OF SOLUTIONS. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AND I'M EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD AND FOR THAT
FUTURE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CARDOZA, BY THE I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T MISSPEAK. AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT THIS IS AN ORDER THAT CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE BECAUSE THIS IS AN ORDER WOULD BE IN ORDER TO THE ADMINISTRATION. SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE? THE CHAIR IF IF YOU LIKE IF NOT
YOU DON'T? THE CHAIRMAN IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT AS A PARTNER. YEAH. I MEAN IT WOULD IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS EVERY ORDER THAT WE'VE DONE THIS FAR. I MEAN IT HAS TO ULTIMATELY HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE FROM THE MAYOR. I ALSO DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT BASICALLY ORDERS THE THE MAYOR TO START THE PROCESS TIMELINE IS IS TBD. BUT I HAVE I THINK THAT THERE'S
GOOD FAITH THERE TO GET THIS DONE AND I'M SORRY THAT I CAN'T SPEAK MORE ON IT BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNT WITH ONE COUNT OF ANY OF THE FLOOR
AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN I. I DO PLAN TO VOTE VOTE FOR IT. BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO
VOTING FOR THIS? IS THERE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON A HOMEOWNER, ON A TENANT, ON THE CITY, ON A ON THE ECONOMY? I, I, I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY DOWNSIDE OR ANY NEGATIVE ASPECT TO THIS AS WELL AT THAT WAS PART IF YOU'D LIKE TO ANSWER THE THE CHAIR YOU MAY IT'S THE MOST PERFECT PIECE OF LEGISLATION I'M SORRY THERE
ARE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT IS GOING TO BE A BULK OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE IN WHATEVER COMMITTEE THIS IS AND IF IT'S WAYS AND MEANS OR IF IT'S MIND WE REALLY ARE
THERE TO HELP FRAME AGAIN WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD. THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE LAW TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT ELIGIBLE
LANDLORDS IN THE CITY MUST HAVE TENANTS WITH A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 80% OR LESS AND ULTIMATELY IT'S A SPECIFIC INCOME OR INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR TENANTS
CAN'T EXCEED 200% OF AM I NOW I KNOW THAT THAT IS REALLY REALLY HIGH BUT THAT SETTING A CEILING AND SO NOW IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NUANCED VERSION OF THIS MEETS THE NEEDS
OF BOSTON RESIDENTS AND IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP BOSTON AFFORDABLE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU
MAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR COLETTA AS WELL FOR FOR THE RESPONSE. I JUST I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE FINAL QUESTION.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A BODY TO DO ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF HELPING OR SUPPORTING WOMEN VETERANS AS IT RELATES TO AS IT RELATES TO
THIS DOCKET? IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEHOW INCLUDE WOMEN VETERANS IN THIS DISCUSSION AT ALL OR IS
THAT SOMETHING THAT'S TOTALLY, TOTALLY NOT PART OF THE DISCUSSION? I ASK THAT BECAUSE I DO FEEL I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO ADVOCATE
FOR WOMEN VETERANS. I WANT TO ASK IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO ANYTHING TO SUPPORT WOMEN VETERANS THROUGH THE CHAIR COUNTRY CLUB AS OPPOSED TO IF YOU'D LIKE TO ANSWER YOU MAY
FOR AS LONG AS THE THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL WOMEN VETERANS ARE MEETING THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THEY WILL BE INVOLVED THE CONVERSATION THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KINDS OF PRINT ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COUNSELOR COLETTA FOR BRINGING
US THIS INFORMATION ALTHOUGH WE HELD A HEARING I'M SORRY THERE'S JUST ONE MINOR DETAIL THAT I'M NOT CLEAR ON HERE THAT HOWEVER THAT SAID INCOME SHALL NOT BE MORE THAN
200% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME WHENEVER WE ARE LIKE I JUST THINK 200% IS EXCESSIVE AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THAT WHY UP TO
200 AND DOES IT IMPEDE ANY ANYONE ELSE BELOW THAT LEVEL OR THROUGH THE CHAIR SORRY IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE JEREMY THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION SO NO THIS IS THIS IS
THE CEILING THAT WAS SET BY STATE LEGISLATION. SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO UP TO 200% AMI AND I THINK THAT 200% QUITE FRANKLY IS A LITTLE IS A LITTLE HIGH JUST GIVEN
THAT YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS THAT THAT WOULD BENEFIT FOLKS WE'RE MAKING LIKE $94,000 PER YEAR. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP FOLKS ON ON THAT ARE YOU KNOW SOLIDLY
WORKING CLASS AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT FOLKS MAKING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY POTENTIALLY DON'T DESERVE IT BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT'S THE CEILING THAT WAS SET BY THE STATE THAT YOU CAN
GO UP TO. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND WITH THE CHAIR KINDS OF AN INTERVENTION YOU MAY KNOW I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT I
GUESS YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY TO LIKE THE PROCESSES I GUESS YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S REALLY UP TO THE MAYOR WHETHER OR NOT TO JUST IMPLEMENTED HOTEL A DEPARTMENT TO GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT IT.
SO AT THIS POINT IT'S JUST SAYING LOOK, THIS IS ALREADY A LAW. WE TRIED TO DO THIS WITH WHAT IFS AND SO IT'S IT'S A IT'S ALREADY A THING IT'S ALREADY A LAW ON A STATE LEVEL.
SO THEN YOU JUST ASKING FOR AN ADOPTION AND THEN IF THERE'S AN APPETITE THEN THE MAYOR CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE OH GO AHEAD. THERE'S NO NEED FOR ADVOCACY. IT'S NOT A THING THAT'S PENDING
A VOTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO HOPEFULLY I'LL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND HOPEFULLY THE MAYOR DOES CONSIDER IT AND SUPPORTED AND IMPLEMENTED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILOR WORRALL SIX ADOPTION OF THIS DOCKET.
MR COOK REMIND ME THE DOCKET NUMBER OF DOCKET NUMBER 0270 CAN WE PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON
DOCKING NUMBER 0270 COUNCILOR BREEN COUNCILOR COLETTE IS A PARTY COUNCILOR CLOSE BY. YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR FINANCIAL SANDERSON COUNCILOR FINANCE SENSE AND YES
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCIL MURPHY
YES COUNCILOR BUT PENDING COUNCILOR OPINIONS COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCIL WEBER YES. COUNCIL MEMBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR OH YES.
TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED. IS THERE ARE THERE ANY OTHER GREEN SHEET POLLS?
OKAY WE ARE NOW MOVING ONTO LATE FILES. I'M INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE EIGHT LATE FILE MATTERS. TWO OF THE LATE FIVE METRO MATTERS ARE FROM THE MAYOR. THERE'S ONE 1782 PERSONNEL
ORDERS AND THREE REPORTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE THE FIRST TO FILE? YES. SEVEN. YEAH, I SAID ONCE THIS 17 F
RESPONSE MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE TWO LEAGUE FILE MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR INTO THE RECORD FROM OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND ORDER CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF REGINALD STOVALL
JR AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE REVIEW BOARD AND THE SECOND ORDER LATE FINAL ORDER FROM THE MAYOR AN
ORDER CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF LAURIE FERRIS AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE REVIEW BOARD. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THESE MATTERS ON TO THE RECORD
. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I HALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT THESE HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE RECORD AND MR CLERK, WILL THESE BE PLACED ON FILE WHETHER THOSE DOWN REFERRED TO THE FIRST DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT JUSTICE AND OR BOTH DOCKETS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT. BUT IT'S LATE. OKAY LET ME GET THE COMMITTEE NAME RIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, RESILIENCY AND PARKS.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE 17 RESPONSE? I BELIEVE IT'S A 79 RESPONSE READ INTO THE RECORD 35 FOR THE MAYOR. THIS IS A RESPONSE TO 17 OF 17 FOIA REQUESTS THINGS CERTAINLY
INFORMATION FROM REGARDING WHITE STADIUM AND MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DOCKET NUMBER 0343 THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR OF ADDING THIS MATTER TO THE DOCKET TO THE
REQUISITE I I THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADDED. MR COURT COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE THREE REPORTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICES AND OTHERS INTO THE RECORD? OH THAT YEAH. OKAY. THAT 17 RESPONSE WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.
MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ THAT THREE REPORTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICE AND OTHERS INTO THE RECORD? THESE ARE THREE COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY COUNCILOR MURPHY
REGARDING THE PROPERTY TAXES PROPOSALS. THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THESE FINAL MATTERS ON TO THE RECORD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I OPPOSED ANY OF THE AYES HAVE
IT. THESE DOGS HAVE BEEN ADDED. THESE DOCKETS WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. OKAY. WE ARE NOW ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. OH, THE TWO PERSONNEL ORDERS. MR QUOTE COULD YOU PLEASE DO
THE TWO PERSONNEL ORDERS FOR US PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCILOR OF WEBER AND THE SECOND PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCILOR EVENT THANK YOU WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THESE. THEY FOUND THAT ON TO THE
RECORD ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. I OPPOSE NAY. OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THEY'VE BEEN ADDED TO THE RECORD AS RENEE DENISON IS THIS
FOR THE RIGHT OKAY COUNCILOR FOR AN ENGINEER IN WHICH NAME WHICH DOCKET ZERO FOR YOU FOR MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE AT TIMES HAVE AN
ENTRANCE INTO DOCKET 0484? THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS TO THE DEFENDANT
UNDER THE QUESTION OUTCOMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONTENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I THANK YOU THE SENATOR THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED WE ARE NOW I WANT TO ANNOUNCEMENTS PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS AS COUNCIL ARE UPDATED WE HAVE THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT OUR CITY COUNCIL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT HAPPENING NEXT WEDNESDAY IN CHAMBERS AT NOON SO WE HOPE EVERYONE CAN BE HERE.
WE HAVE BIRTHDAYS COMING UP, TWO BIRTHDAYS COMING UP. A SHAME HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS BIRTHDAYS FEBRUARY 22ND AND OF OUR VERY OWN COUNCIL DURKAN FEBRUARY 24TH
24TH HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIDAYS VALENTINE'S DAY SO HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE. MENTAL HEALTH WHILE BLACK SUMMIT LED BY TONY BURTON THAT'S THIS FRIDAY ALSO ON
FEBRUARY 14 THERE'S A HALEY HOUSE SUPER BOWL WHICH IS ALSO HAPPENING THIS SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16TH AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AT THIS TIME. NO, WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO
MEMORIALS. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO UPLIFT THE NAME OF ANYONE WHO HAS PASSED AS I HAD MENTIONED, I JUST WANT TO MEMORIALIZE TWO GIANTS HERE IN THE CITY THAT WE RECENTLY LOST. WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF GIANTS
FLETCHER FLASH WILEY HE WAS A LAWYER AND A CIVIC LEADER. HE'S THE PARTNER OF OF BERNIE WILEY AND THE FATHER OF PRATT
WILEY AND ALSO I KNOW PRATT SO SISTER HE'S A PIONEERING ATTORNEY AND CIVIC LEADER IN BOSTON AND HE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 82. HE WAS A TRAILBLAZER IN LAW, BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SERVICE. HE BROKE RACIAL BARRIERS
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK CHAIRMAN OF THE GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND HE WAS A FOUNDING PARTNER AT BUD RILEY AND WILEY NEW ENGLAND'S LARGEST BLACK AND PEOPLE OF COLOR OWN LAW FIRM.
HE WAS A GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND HE DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO ADVOCACY, MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. HE WAS SO WARM HE WAS A LEADER
TO HERE IN BOSTON TO SO MANY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK STUDENTS LIKE ME WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT LAW SCHOOL. I MEAN HE'S SURVIVED BY SO MANY PEOPLE HIS CLOSE FAMILY AND AN EXTENDED FAMILY HERE IN BOSTON
AND ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD THAT DEEPLY, DEEPLY LOVED HIM. HIS LEGACY CONTINUES AS A MENTOR, FRIEND AND CHAMPION FOR EQUITY AND IT WILL ENDURE FOR MANY YEARS FOR THE MANY LIVES TOUCHED.
HE ALSO WAS A LOVER OF MOTOWN AND HAD JUST AN EXEMPLARY VOICE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY LOVE TO FLASH AND HIS FAMILY AND THEN I'D LIKE TO UPLIFT DANIEL NIGRO GEORGE WHO WAS AN
ACCLAIMED POET, TRANSLATOR AND EDUCATOR WHO PASSED AWAY LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF LITERARY EXCELLENCE AND CULTURAL ADVOCACY. SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL POETRY COLLECTIONS INCLUDING THE DEAR REMOTE NEARNESS OF YOU, WINNER OF THE NEW
ENGLAND POETRY CLUBS SHEILA MARGARET MOUNTAIN BOOK PRIZE. SHE RECENTLY DID A BOOK TALK AT TED JUST BOOKISH SHE WAS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF CREATIVE WRITING AT LESLEY UNIVERSITY AND TAUGHT OVER A DECADE AT THE
JOINT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND SOCIAL CAUSES AT UMASS BOSTON. HER WORK WAS RECOGNIZED WITH FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS FROM PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND LIKE I SAID, SHE WAS BOSTON'S SECOND POET LAUREATE FROM 2015 TO 2019.
SHE WAS A PROFOUND VOICE IN LITERATURE AND A DEDICATED MENTOR. HER IMPACT WILL RESONATE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE NUMBER OF HAITIAN PEOPLE SHE WAS ALSO HAITIAN, BORN IN HAITI, SPENT TIME IN THE CONGO, MOVED HERE AND THE NUMBER
OF HAITIAN PEOPLE BOTH IN BOSTON AND AROUND THE COUNTRY REACHING OUT TO ME ABOUT THE SADNESS OF HER PASSING. I DID NOT WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPLIFT HER AND FOR US TO ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY
TODAY. SO THANK YOU, DANIELLE, FOR ALL YOU GAVE THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE'VE LOST FOUR BEACONS IN OUR
EAST BOSTON COMMUNITY JUST THIS PAST WEEK BILL CHISHOLM WAS A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN AND A LOCAL LEADER IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY IN EAST JIM WAS A
CIVIC LEADER AND EDUCATION LEADER IN EAST BOSTON. STEPHEN POWERS, TEAMSTER UNION MEMBER AND FATHER TO SOME OF MY SOFTBALL TEAMMATES AND LAUREN
D'AMATO, MOTHER OF A OF A CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU WOULD. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO UPLIFT ANYONE? OKAY. TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN OUR
MEETING IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ON BEHALF OF CASA GABRIELA COLETTA ZAPATA WILLIAM J. BILL CHISHOLM. JAMES A JIM KEARNEY. STEPHEN POWERS.
LAUREN D'AMATO. I'M ASKING MYSELF COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE GAIL SCOTT MOTHER OF ABC ABC PRESIDENT AND CEO SHARON SCOTT
CHANDLER FLETCHER FLASH WILEY DANIELLE ALLEGRO. A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE.
THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURN TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN NOT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE NEXT WEEK IS OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION BUT ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27TH 2025 AT 12 NOON.
THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES CENTRAL STAFF, THE CLERK AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT.
PLEASE SAY I. I PICKED UP A LITTLE ADJOURNED