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of Haveral uh as spiritual leader. Uh Canerva serves on the steering committee of the Massachusetts chapter of uh is it Trua or Trua uh the rabbitic call for human rights uh and was a global justice fellow with American Jewish world
service in 2019 to 2020. Canva received uh uh or ordination from the Hebrew College in 2016. In 2007, she earned her bachelor of musical history and theory at the University of Toronto uh and performed
with Studio 16, an early music vocal ensemble in Toronto. In 2006, uh, Canerva, uh, received the Abraham Joshua Hesshel award from the, uh, New English, uh, New England Jewish Labor Committee at the 25th annual labor seder and was
recognized by the Marramc Valley Project in 2018 for her work in immigration justice and served as secretary on the New England Board of Caners. Uh, uh, Caner Vera has Boston roots, grew up in Cambridge, went to the Commonwealth School. Uh I was uh uh you know it's a a
very fraught time I think for everyone in this country who cares about social justice uh a and Jews in particular uh and I was uh touched by Canerva's comments at the labor seder and invited her to speak to us today. So uh thank
you for being here. Thank you, counselor, for that warm welcome and for inviting me to address this distinguished gathering. Thank you also to council president Ruthie Lu Jin and all of you distinguished council
members. We're meeting we're meeting in the presence of tragedy. Words are never sufficient, as a council president said, to address the death of a child. We are helpless in the face of tragedy like this, this kind of
grief. And we know that there is no way to make it better. In the Torah, in the Hebrew Bible, Aaron is both Moses's brother and the high priest of the emerging Israelite nation. When Aaron loses his
two sons, suddenly to flash of divine anger, he's silent. He doesn't speak again. chapters in the Torah. Words can't respond. Words can't bridge that fathomless loss when a young
person is taken from us. So today, we offer our own respectful silence, our sorrow, and our prayers for Lens Arthur Joseph. May all encompassing, all infolding mercy and compassion and care gather and
shelter Lens Arthur Joseph. May he and his family be held in the love and the support of their community. May he rest in peace and may all who love him find comfort and an easing to the sharpness of their sorrow.
And in my tradition, we would add, may his memory be for a blessing. The burden and the privilege of your leadership, counselors, is to work together as a council, sometimes like today, in the shadow of tragedy, to
navigate the many needs, the challenges, and the opportunities of this diverse and busy city next to which I was lucky enough to grow up. Your work touches every aspect of Boston city life. I was uh I was floored
looking at the agenda because just today you're addressing transportation safety and mobility, strengthening access to diverse kinds of critical health care, physical safety for vulnerable residents in heat emergencies, city finances, and
recognizing and affirming the heritage of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and Jewish Americans, and affirming and protecting the rights of queer folk. In other words, um this is this is a regular Wednesday for the agenda.
Yeah. You have so much to hold. You have so many different calls from different interests to respond to and to represent. And you have to do it as one deliberative body. At a time when, among other things, national events have raised every indicator of temperature
and of pressure. I imagine it's not easy. So Aaron, that same Aaron in the Torah who lost his sons, gets sworn in as high priest in this week's Torah reading. He and his surviving sons formally take on
their priestly roles, and they are charged with the care and the service of their people. There's a curious ritual in the ordination ceremony that the Torah reports. Blood from a sacrificial animal, this was not part of your swearing, Zen. I know um is smeared on
the new public servants right ears, right thumbs and right big toes. An 18th century Polish rabbi named Rabbi Yakov Gitzkra of Pashiska gives the following interpretation of this curious
sequence of events. And he says, "By smearing sacrificial blood on these three locations, Moses was reminding the priests of their responsibilities and calling and I would add the gravity of those responsibilities." He said, "It is to keep your ear tuned to the needs of your
nation. Keep your hand outstretched to give, not to take. And make sure that your foot is always ready to run to the aid of others. So as you go forward together today, sharing council, creating
practice, caring for the Boston community. May you find yourselves strengthened. May you hear the needs of this city's people. May you stretch out your hands to your constituents and to one another. May you hurry to offer every aid you can
to those in our community who are in need, who are in sorrow, or in fear. And many of us are in deep fear. People holding diverse and threatened identities. And we can let that fear set us at each other's throats. That is a
very easy human response. We can do that. and we can let it spur us to find safety in solidarity and to take better care of one another. So that's also my prayer today. You all share the same goal. You
all serve the public to help Boston thrive in opportunity, in diversity, in justice, in well-being. That's the city I grew up next to and that's the city this is today. as my Jewish community would
say, which means may it be so. Blessings on your work and thank you for it. We will now recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one
nation indivisible with all. Thank you so much Cander for that um beautiful invocation. We are now on to uh
presentations. We have one presentation from myself recognizing today um as International Jazz Day. Um, I'll now ask Kenfield and Wed Zary to join me up at the dis before their brief performance of Duke Ellington's caravan. I also want
to acknowledge that today, April 30th, is um, Black uh, April with the fall of Saigon and the capturing of Saigon by uh, uh, North Vietnam and beginning of the Vietnamese diaspora. So 50 years of
a lot of pain for our Vietnamese community. And so I just also want to mark the solemnness of of that day for a lot of our Vietnamese diaspora here in Boston, Louisiana, California, and I know that they're outside uh commemorating the moment. So just wanted to uplift our Vietnamese community as
well. All right, Ken and W, if you could please come forward. This is our second year recognizing International Jazz Day. And I want to thank Ken and I want to thank um uh Wed and I want to thank the wonderful performer we had last year whose name I'm blanking on but was simply
incredible here in the chambers to celebrate jazz. Uh uniquely American experience rooted in the African-American story. It's a unique art form that embodies a unique blend of creativity, cultural heritage, and it's played a significant role in our cultural development here in Boston. if
anyone knows Wall-E's Cafe. Um, but there was a time when that was known as the red light district of the high hat and the wigwam and Wall-E and it was the heart of African-American culture here in the city of Boston. Uh, a lot of famous people frequented these locations
and Wallally's remains the longest running familyowned and operated at jazz cafe, I believe in the country, but I won't oversp speak. Um, International Jazz Day highlights the power of jazz as a force for enrichment and creativity, promoting expression and dialogue
through musical art, spontaneity, and vitality, and also of storytelling for so much of the African-American experience. The observance of International Jazz Day supports the cultural vibrancy of Boston, enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike through performances, education, and community events. So, we are
declaring today uh International Jazz Day. We thank you again, Ken, for all the work that you do on behalf of Jazz Boston. and I want you to be up here too as we present this citation to you. Uh thank you so much uh President Lujene and for uh all the counselors for giving
me a few minutes to speak. Um I want to say my name is Kenfield. I'm the president of Jazz Boston. Since 2006, we've been advocating for the Boston area jazz community of musicians, of audiences, of venues and media. We currently have over 4,700 members. And
about 60% of them open our monthly newsletters on a regular basis. They're engaged. They're passionate about this really important music. And I'll interject from my prepared notes that uh music is important. Music alone is
important. and it is a a way for communities to come together to respond to difficult times uh which we're experiencing now. Uh I did say there's important music. It's not just a music we play or enjoy. Jazz was created as
you said in the African-American community and we think it's valuable to shine an ongoing spotlight on that history. Jazz is a somewhat unique musical style in that it focuses on spontaneous improvisation. Uh Boston has played and continues to play a central role in the history of
jazz. You said it all. Actually, I don't really have to say all this. This music has spread from the US across the globe and Jazz Boston is proud to bring to you this afternoon a short international jazz day performance by the Tunisian composer, u player and basis Wii Zeri.
And Mr. Zary is not only an excellent musician, he's also an anesthesiology nurse during his spare time. You have spare time. Uh I will join him on a short version of the jazz standard caravan composed by Juan Tisole and the great Duke Ellington. The song was first
recorded in 1936. And for the musicians among you, it's based on the harmonic minor scale which gives it a somewhat unique and mysterious sound. I hope you enjoy it. And if you'd like to be informed about Jazz Boston's activities, you can sign up for free membership at jazzboston.org. Thank you. We'll go up
there and play. Since you're up here, why don't I just have my colleagues come up for a photo and then after you do the performance. Yeah. Okay. golden kind of kind of do this though. Awesome. Thank you so much.
Oh, we'll send it. Thank you. All right, Ken and Wi, you have the floor. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. This is the wood
very instrument that's very Middle East,000 guitar. This particular one was made by great from over here in Massachusetts. And it sounds great. [Music]
[Music] [Music]
[Music] If I could add that Wally and his trio
are going to be performing tonight at GPH. It's sold out, but you can register it online by going to jazz. Thank you. Thank you so much um Ken and W and thank you Ken for uplifting the fact that
music can be and is an important part of of healing and community coming together. So thank you. We are now on to the first order of business which is the approval of the minutes for the meeting of April 16, 2025 and April 18, 2025. All in favor say I. I. All oppose
say nay. The eyes have it. The minutes of the April 16th and April 18th meetings are approved. We are now on to communications from our honor the mayor. Mr. Clerk, would you please read dockets number 0940 and 0941. And Mr. Clerk, could you please amend the record to reflect that council finance Anderson is
now present and with us? Document number 0940 message in order for your approval in order to reduce fiscal year 25 appropriation for the reserve for collective bargaining by 3 33,262,466 to revive funding for the
Boston public schools for fiscal year 25 impact of increases contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the Boston school committee and the Boston Teachers Union filed in the office of the city clerk on April 28th, 2025. Document number
0941. Message in order, a supplemental appropriation of for the Boston public schools for fiscal year 25 in the amount of 33,262,466 to cover the impact of fiscal year 25 cost items contained within the collective bargaining green between the
Boston School Committee and the Boston Teachers Union. The term of the contract is September 1st, 2024 through August 30th, 2027. The major provisions of the contract include general wage increases of 2.5%, 2%, and
2% in September of 2024, 2025, and 2026. The PAR professionals and the AVAs will also receive market rate adjustments. Thank you. Docus number 0940 and 0941 will be referred to the committee on ways and means. Mr. Clerk, would you
please read docket number 0942? Docket number 0942. message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of 1,987,500 in a form of a grant for hazard mitigation grant program awarded by the federal emergency management
agency passed through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to be administered by the planning department. The grant will fund the East Boston waterfront Carlton Warf and Lewis Small Resiliency Project. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Gabriella Khaleda
Zapata. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I'm asking my colleagues um uh for consideration for suspension of passage today. Uh this grant uh of 1.9 almost $2 million would help in the planning of um major closing
major uh flood pathways. So in in Lewis Wararf in district one in the north end, that is literally ground zero for for flooding should there be a major coastal flood. And then in East Boston, um at Carlton Warf, that is ground zero in East Boston for flooding. That's the reason why during the bombo genesis of
2018, we had people riding kayaks the streets of East Boston because this was the main uh flood pathway. The sooner we accept this funding and the sooner that we get this project going, it'll address one of um the most at risk for flooding in the city. It would also unlock could
unlock the balance of about $15 million in federal funding for construction. And so um in order to implement and execute the core strategies of the newly founded office of climate resilience to accelerate design and construction for 2030 flood paths and ultimately protect residents of Boston from being displaced
could there be a major uh weather event which is a possibility now unfortunately. Um I am asking my colleagues to suspend and pass this and and vote the affirmative. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, councelor Kleta Zapata, the chair of the committee on environmental justice, resilience, and parks, seek suspension of the rules and
passage of docket number 0942. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. Thank you. Docket number 0942 has passed. Mr. Cler, could you please read dockets number 0943 and 0944? Document number 0943, message not authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the
amount of $16,937.3 cents in the form of a grant for the carry-in Wagner Paiser administration grant awarded by the United States Department of Labor passed through the Mass Hire Department of Career Services to 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.
Document number 0944 message not authorizing the city of Boston to accept an expended amount of $13,735 in form a grant for the mass commission for the blind grant awarded by Mass Hire Department of Career
Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund employment and training assistance, career counseling, and job search assistance for legally blind individuals who are clients at Boston Massia Career
Centers. Thank you. These dockets, dockets number 0943 and 0944 will be referred to the committee on labor, workforce, and economic development. M uh the chair recognize it's on the next docket. Okay. Uh Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket number 0945? Docket number 0945. Message in order
authorizing the city of Boston to accept an expendit in donation of bike helmets valued at $2,300 donated by Brastone White and Gluck located at two center plaza number 530 Boston Mass 21108. The purpose of
this donation is to increase child uh participation and outdoor activities in the city of Boston. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Derk and you have the floor. Thank you. So, as the chair of planning, development, and transportation, I'd like to push for the passage of 0945, which seems like a
simple inkind donation of helmets um for children. So, I hope that we can get that passed today. Thank you. Thank you, Council Durkin. Uh suspension and passes to docket number 0945. All in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. The eyes have it. This docket is passed. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number
0946? Oh, 0946 to 0948. Doc number 0946, message and order for confirmation of the appointment of renewal constables authorized to serve civil process upon the filing of their bonds for a period commencing May 1st,
2025 and ending April 30th, 2028. Document number 0947, message in order for confirmation of the appointment of renewal inspectional services constables authorized to serve civil process upon the filing of their bonds for the period
commencing May 1st, 2025 and ending April 30th, 2028. In document number 0948, message and order for confirmation of the appointment of new inspectional services constables authorized to serve civil process upon the filing of their
bonds for a period commencing May 1st, 2025 and ending April 30th, 2028. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Santana, the chair of uh public safety and criminal justice. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. As chair of the uh committee on public safety and criminal justice, I would
like to um suspend the rules. um and ask for passage of these dockets. Thank you. Thank you. Uh oh, Mr. Clerk, could we please amend the record to reflect that counselors Fitzgerald, Flynn, and Murphy are now present and with us. Councelor Santana, suspend the rules and
passage of dockets number just make sure I get this uh suspension of the rules and passage of docket number 0946. All those in favor say I. I. All post say nay. Thank you. Docket number 0946 has passed. The appointment has been confirmed. Uh thank you. The chair of
the committee on public safety and criminal justice acceptance of the rules and passage of docket number 0947. All those in favor say I. I. All post say nay. Thank you. Docket number 0947 is passed. The appointment has been confirmed. Thank you. The chair of the committee on public safety. Council
Murphy, do you have a Okay. Um thank you. The chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice expansion of the rules and passage of docket number 0948. All those in favor say I. I. All those oppos say. Thank you. Docket number 0948 is passed. The appointment has been confirmed. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket
number 0949? Docket number 0949. Message transmitting certain information under section 17F regarding down payment assistance grants dispersed since 2021 filed on docket number 0774 passed by the city council on April
2nd, 2025. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Murphy. You have the floor. Um, thank you. And I will go back to 0945, but I will speak on this one now. Thank you. 0 0945. Yeah, that that's what I had the light on earlier, but I'll go forward with this. Oh, doc
0945. Okay. I'm sorry. What? Yeah. No, thank you. Um, thank you, Madam President. On April 2nd, I filed I'm sorry. Just Council Murphy has a floor and then I'll speak to that after. Yeah. No, I Yeah, I'm on New York. Okay. On
April 2nd, I filed a formal request for information under section 17F concerning down payment assistant grants dispersed by the city since January 1st, 2021. This request was explicit. I sought for full names of recipients, addresses, and
grant amounts awarded, eligibility criteria, annual dispersements, program changes, and assessment of the program's effectiveness. Many of these questions also were RFIs at different hearings we had with these departments. Um, under
the law, the administration is required to respond within seven days. While a response was submitted late last week, it omitted the most fundamental information I requested, specifically the names of the recipients and the addresses of the
properties. This information is crucial crucial for transparency and oversight. I did speak to IGR right away about it. um informed them that their submission was incomplete, but several days now a week has passed and I'm still waiting for the updated list. As counselors, we
have the fidiciary duty to ensure that public resources are distributed equitably and effectively. When a 17F request is ignored or inadequately addressed, it impedes our ability to fulfill this responsibility. I reiterate for the record, I'm still awaiting a
complete response to this request. Under Massachusetts law, records detailing the dispersement of public funds, including the names of grant recipients, are generally considered public records and are subject to disclosure upon request. This this principle is grounded in the
Massachusetts public records law codified at general laws chapter 66 section 10 and further defined by general laws chapter 4 section 7 clause 26. The law presumes that all records made or received by a public entity or
public unless are public unless they fall under specific exemptions, which these don't. The exemption pertains to personal privacy, but that is narrowly construed. It does not apply to information about individuals receiving public funds as the public interest in
transparency and accountability outweighs privacy concerns in these cases. Therefore, the names of individuals or entities receiving assistant grants funded by the city tax dollar is our public records. The city council holds a fidiciary responsibility
to oversee the allocation and use of public funds. Assess to detailed information about grant recipients is essential for the council to perform its duties effectively. I do just want to touch on a few illustrations that are standard practice
of transparency that we do do in the city here. The Boston Cultural Council grants in a recent cycle awarded $927,500 to 1004 art organizations. Some of those recipients were definitely Inc.
Boston Lyric Opera and others. The neighborhood activation grants which was um the city awarded 6.2 2 million with recipients names as High Park Main Streets, Boston Comics and Color, and the Franklin Park Coalition. Also, our
space grants, which are the supporting pandemic affected community enterprises. The city allocated $10 million to 90 businesses to support new lease agreements. Publicly disclosed recipients, which is right on the website, encompass a diverse range of
businesses such as Democracy Brewing, Haley House Bakery, Cafe, and Apex Bar and Lounge. Council Murphy, just it's it's communication normally two minutes. Please. And in summary, the administration is obligated under Massachusetts law to disclose the names
of individuals who receive public funds through city administered programs. The council should continue to assert its right to this information to uphold transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of governance. So, I am asking that they answer not within seven
days, but as soon um hopefully before the end of this meeting, they'll give us the answers to that question because it's already a month now, not just seven days. Thank you. This docket will be placed on file. Mr. Clerk, could you please read dockets number 0950 to zero?
Dockets 0950 to 09 67 67. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket number 0950, notice receive from the mayor of the reappoint of Trenion as a member of the trustees of the
charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring May 1st, 2026. Document number 0951, notice we received from the mayor of the reappoint of Alexandra Valdez as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for
inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring May 1st, 2026. Document number 0952 notice was received from the mayor of the appointment of Ashley Guffenberger as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term
expiring May 1st, 2026. Document number 0953 notice was received from there the appointment of Briana Millor as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term
expiring April 14, 2028 document number 0954 notice received from the mayor the appointment of May Mary Angelie Solia Sea as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring April April
14, 2028. Document number 0955. Notice received from the mayor of the appointment of Dr. Bola Educ as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for term expiring April 14, 2028. Document
number 0956. Notice we receive from the mayor the appointment of Jose C. Masso III as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring April 14, 2028. Docking of
0957 notice received from there the reappoint of Elisa R. Wasserman as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring April 14, 2028. Notice uh doc number
0958 notice received from the mayor the appointment of Sheila Dylan as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring April 14, 2028. Docket number 0959. Notice received from the mayor the
appointment of Nathalia Benitas Perez as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for term expiring April 14, 2028. Document number 0960. Notice received the mayor the
appointment of Sagon Adoa as a member of the trustees of the charitable donations for inhabitants of Boston for a term expiring April 14, 2028. Document number 0961. Notice received from the mayor the appointment of Carita Chambers Walker as
a member of the Boston School Committee nominating panel for a term expiring October 28, 2026. Document number 0962. notice or receive from the mayor of her absence from the city on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 from 9:00
a.m. returning Thursday, April 24th, 2025 at 6 p.m. Docket number 0963. Communication received from Timothy J. Smith, executive officer of the Boston Retirement Board, regarding results of the election for vacant elected board
seat. Sean F. Kelly was elected to serve as trustee of the Boston Retirement Board for the remainder of the term ending September 30th, 2026. Document number 0964 communication received from Timothy J. Smith, executive officer of the
Boston Retirement Board, regarding the fiscal year 26 retirey cost of living adjustment, cola base and docket number 0965. Communication received from the city clerk of the filing by Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding
proposed minor modification to the West End land assembly redevelopment plan project number mass 2-3 with respect to parcel 1A. Document number 0966. Notice received from the city
clerk in accordance with chapter six of the ordinances of 1979 regarding a action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon by the city council at its special meeting of April 18, 2025 and document number 0967.
Notice received from the city clerk in accordance with chapter six of the ordinances of 1979. Action taken by the mayor on papers acted upon by the city council at its meeting of April 16, 2025. Thank you. Dockets number 0950
through 0967 will be placed on file. We are now on to reports of committees. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0530? Document number 0530, the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice to which was deferred on February 26, 2025. Document number
0530. Message in order not authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $58,000 in the form of a grant for fiscal year 19 fire prevention and safety grant program awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to
be administered by the fire department. The grant will fund fire prevention, education and training, fire code enforcement, fire arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, prevention efforts and research and development. Submits a
report recommending the order ought to pass. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Santana, the chair of uh public safety and community public safety and criminal justice. You have the floor. You madam president. Um the committee held a hearing on Friday, April 25th, 25 2025 to discuss dockets
number 0530. The following testified on behalf of the administration. Um Kevin Coin, um deputy commissioner of the administration and finance, Boston Fire Department. Um Julie Debon, financial grants manager for BFD, Patrick Ellis,
chief of operations of field services with BFD, and Rodney Marshall, chief of operations um support services for BFD. Uh we were joined by councelor um Ed Flynn and joined by council president Rousi Lu Jun and also received a letter
of absence um from council from councelor um Weber, from councelor pepan and from council war. Um the panelists discussed the importance of fire department grants for enhancing the health and safety of first responders and improving their abilities
to protect um the public from fire and fire h um fire related hazards. As chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice, I recommend moving the listed dockets from the committee to the full council for discussion and formal action. At this time, my recommendation to the full council will be that this
matter um ought to pass. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The chair recognizes Councelor Flynn. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Council Santana, for the informative hearing. The hearing was excellent. We heard from Boston Fire Department some
excellent testimony. What struck me most was the testimony on health and wellness of our firefighters and their families. Um the average age after a firefighter retires of living is is just like an
extra six years and a lot of that is due to the um working conditions obviously of the of the firefighter. And but I also stress those issues, but I also stress the importance of supporting our firefighters families as well. That's
also a critical part of it, making sure that they have the the access to uh medical care that they they need and deserve. I also want to acknowledge the uh firefighters that retired over the weekend. And there was a bunch of city
councils that that were there and it was an outstanding it was an outstanding dinner over at Florian Hall. So we want to say thank you to local 718 Sam Dylan and the entire team there. But we really want to say thank you to those retired firefighters. Incredible contributions
they have made to this city and to this country. We also want to say thank you to their families as well. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. to the chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 0530. All in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. Thank you. The committee
report has been accepted and docket number 0530 is passed. Mr. Clerk, would you please read docket number 0887? Docket number 0887, the committee on strong women, families, and communities to which was referred on April 16, 2025. Docket number 0887.
Message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $4,149,200 in the form of a grant for the youth works grant awarded by the Mass Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to be administered
by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund a summer and school year jobs program that will provide leadership development, skills training, and career exploration for lowincome at risk youth ages 14 through 25. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor
Murphy. You have the floor. Um, thank you, Madam President. I rise today as chair of the committee on strong women, families, and communities to report on docket 0887, an order authorizing the city of Austin to accept and expend just over $4.1 million through the state's
youth works grant. Thank you to um councelor Flynn and councelor for being there and asking some important questions. This grant supports summer and schoolyear jobs for more than a thousand lowincome and atrisisk youths ages 14 to 25 across our city. These
jobs do more than provide a paycheck. They offer mentorship, skills training, and career pathways in critical industries like biotech, education, and public service. On April 24th, I had the privilege of chairing this hearing where we heard from Joseph Lee and Anna Shar
from the Office of Workforce Development. They walked us through the grant scope and how funding flows through community partners to ensure youth access meaningful work experiences including those at the Horus man school for the death and through digital
readies labbased biotech programs. As a lifelong educator and a parent of a child with cerebal palsy, I made it a priority to ask how this grant supports our youth with disabilities. Thank you to councelor Flynn who requested a program list and also a site
visit with to the horse man and I look forward to receiving those details soon. My colleagues councelor Flynn and Warell also raised important questions about referrals funding sources beyond youth works in equitable outreach to all youth including m multilingual and
undocumented populations. This grant represents more than funding. It reflects our shared commitment to equity and empowerment. I respectfully recommend that this docket ought to pass and I move it for its adoption today. Thank you. Thank you. Uh the chair uh of
the committee on strong women families and communities acceptance of the community report and pass the docket number. Oh, councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Can I Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to say thank you to councelor Murphy for this important hearing as well. very
informative and I think council Murphy said it perfectly, but this grant also supports young people, young adults um with disabilities and I I wanted to learn
more about those programs of how we can support our young people with disabilities getting them into job training programs and into careers or employment. um they have something significant to offer and once they
graduate from school or age out in various cases um you know they do they do have some excellent and exceptional skills and we want to make sure that there's an opportunity for them to be happy to be healthy and to be productive
and I think that's what this program is also all about is making sure that we treat our per people with disabilities, our young people with disabilities, giving them an opportunity to get into the workforce like everybody else and giving
them an opportunity to be successful. And that's really the role of government in my opinion is helping helping people that need need help and it was a very informative hearing and looking forward to working with my colleagues on this um on this program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The chair of the committee on strong women, families, and community seek acceptance of the committee report and passes of docket number 0887. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket number 0887 is passed. We are now on to matters recently heard. Mr. Cler, would you
please read dockets number 0822 to 0845. Docket number 0822 through 0824. orders for the fiscical year 26 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations for the school department and for other
postemployment benefits, also known as OPED. Docket numbers 0825 through docket number 0827. Orders for the capital fund credited appropriations. Docket numbers 0828 through
0830. Orders for the capital budget, including loan orders and lease purchase agreements. Docket number 0831 through 0845. Orders authorizing limits for departmental revolving funds including law, tourism, arts and culture,
environment, Boston centers for youth and families, schools and police and other budget related dockets. Thank you. The chair recognizes council or the chair weighs and means. You have the floor. Thank you madam president. The Committee on Ways and Means held a series of hearings tied to
dockets number 0822 through 0830 and docket number 0834 offering a closer look at the proposed FY26 investments and priorities. On Thursday, April 17th at 10 a.m., the Committee on Ways and Means
held a hearing to review the FY26 26 operating budget in the INLA chamber. Chief Financial Officer Crawenberger and Budget Director Williamson presented on behalf of the administration. Councilors presented uh present included councelor Flynn Kleta
Zapata Murphy Council President Louis Jen, Council Braden Weber, and the vice chair of the committee, Council Pepin, and a letter of absence was submitted by councelor Durkin. The administration forecasted a $144 million increase in property tax revenue for
FY26, including 90 90.5 million from the standard $2.5% levy and a $60 million in new growth. Interest income, however, is expected to decline significantly from $263 million in FY24 to a projected $80
million in FY20 uh 26, reflecting shifts in markets conditions. Overall, the city's continuing conservative approach to revenue projections in light of economic uncertainty and expiration of federal ARPA uh funds which must be spent by
December 2026. Councilors emphasized the need to avoid service disruptions across neighborhoods as opera funding phases out. The administration acknowledged this concern and stated that departments will be consulted to assess needs moving forward. Labor costs remain a key driver
of the budget. The administration noted six uh 6.5 million in new costs from recently settled civilian contracts. This is excluding uh the Boston Teachers Union. If add additional funds are needed midyear for contract agreements,
the city may pursue transfers or supplemental appropriations. Council requested that future CBAs include clearer year-by-year cost breakdowns. Ongoing overages and categories like legal settlements, public safety overtime, and snow removal
were flagged. The administration said reserve funds and built-in flexibility help cover these costs as they arise. The city anticipates $20 million in new revenue growth from fines, fees, and permits. This includes building permits,
parking enforcement, and a BPDA transfer to support planning. Council's raids interest in updating outdated fees such as the decades old owed $25 rental registration fee and increasing enforcement around short-term rental violations. The hearing also reviewed structural and
departmental shifts, including the transition of the elections department from the law department to the people operations cabinet, intended to provide stronger management support. Councils also discussed revenue forecasting, payroll savings, and free cash, which
was last certified at $512 million. The city the city remains on track to fully fund its pension system by FY28 after a one-year scheduled extension. Finally, the administration reiterated that property tax increases are capped by
Proposition 2 and a half and are not directly tied to the overall budget size. On Thursday, April 17th at 2 p.m., the committee held a hearing to review the FY26 capital budget in the INLA chamber. Testifying from the
administration were chief financial officer Graenburgger by budget director Williamson, Chief of Operations, Chief Irish, Chief of Streets, Chief Franklin Hodgej, Chief of Envir U environment and open space, uh, Chief Sweat, intern
parks, Commissioner Meyer, and Carlton Jones, the executive director of the public facilities department. Councilors present at the hearing included vice chair of the committee council pepin council Weber Kleta Zapata Praden Pen Santana and council president Louie Jen.
At the hearing we had a wide range uh we had wide range of discussion about overdue infrastructure repairs longstanding community priorities and the need for more transparency and urgency and project timelines. Council's raids raised serious concerns about facilities that are already falling
apart like broken equipment and steam rooms at brand new BCF community centers and demanding accountability from contractors in the administration. Councilors highlighted needed park and library upgrades from Barklay and Elmherst parks to South Boston and
Common Square libraries. Dangerous intersections like Northfor and Washington were flagged for redesign. The hearing covered a range of capital needs, including ongoing challenges meeting ADA ramp goals. While $3 million has been allocated and additional repair
contracts are in place, the city the city's sidewalk ramp backlog continues to impact its ability to make other sidewalk repairs. In East Boston and Charlestown, residents raised concerns about shared youth athletic spaces, asking for clar separation between
pickle, pickle ball, and street hockey. Updates were also shared on $91 million White Stadium renovation, which will be funded through bonds and the Sullivan Square redesign, which is now targeting construction for 2028 or 2029. The administration reported that
projects have seen delays like the Brighton Community Center and are beginning to move forward. However, cooling center availability remains a concern. HVAC upgrades at the Veronica Smith Senior Center won't be completed in time for this summer and Jackson man
is no longer a viable backup location. Councilors also highlighted continued interest in EMS and fire station infrastructure, animal shelter improvements, and investment in city archives, stairways, and climate resiliency. On Tuesday, April 22nd, at 6
PM, the committee held a virtual public testimony hearing on the FY26 budget. Council's president was council president Louis Jen, council Flynn, Braden, Santana Murphy, and the vice chair of the committee, council Pepin were all present for the
hearing. Residents shared feedback on budget priorities, highlighting concerns around equitable language access and planning efforts, the need for stronger investment in STEM education and workforce training programs for BPS students, and support for community-led
birthing centers. Testifiers also raised issues around home repair assistance for seniors with home health and trust and urged city and urged the city to consider public alternative for white stadium renovation to better serve local communities. Several speakers advocated
for expanding the city rent subsidy program to prevent um displacement and address the need for extremely lowincome residents. On Monday, April 28th at 10 a.m., the committee held a hearing to review the FY26 budgets for the Office of Equity, the Office of Black Male
Advancement, the Office of Women Advancement, and the Office for Fair Housing and Equity. Representing the administration were chief of equity chief solar sea, executive director of BMA Frank Farrell and executive director of mayor's office of women advancement
Dana at last, council Murphy, Flynn Weber, Braden Durkin, the vice chair of the committee, councelor Pepin and council president Louis Jan were present for the hearing. We also received a letter of absence from council Kleta Zapata. Throughout the hearing, departments emphasized efforts to
advance racial and gender equity, economic opportunity, and housing justice. The Office of Equity discussed expanding initiatives such as the Equity and Inclusion Academy, technical assistance programs, internal cultural change efforts, and strengthening
language access across city departments. They outlined the transition toward a centralized communications model to ensure more equitable outreach, noting that many departments previously lack communications capacity. In response to national threats to DEI initiatives,
they noted the importance of sustaining Boston's equity infrastructure and supporting community organizations affected by a shift in federal and philanthropic funding landscapes. The office of black male advancement highlighted its grant making work
distributing 500,000 to 53 organization in FY25 while also building capacity among over a 100 additional organizations through technical assistance um programs. Executive director Farrell emphasized that BMA's key focus areas are youth pathway
pathways to college and careers, economic opportunity, housing, mental health, and physical health. They are working closely with the Boston Public Health Commission to target disparities and health outcomes for black men and boys, including substance use related death, higher rates of homicides and
chronic illnesses. BMA is also managing an equity study that will inform phase 2 policy recommendations and reported plans to relaunch the Black Men Lead and Young Black Leaders program later this spring. The Office of Women Advancements focus
on expanding Metro equity work, supporting girls mentorship and violence prevention programs and advancing economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. They also collaborate with the Boston Public Health Commission on maternal health programs, including efforts to expand access to doula
services. Executive director at last discussed plans to strengthen partnership with the office of community safety to better address gender- based violence, especially through new grants targeting prevention efforts among young girls. Women's Advancements also continues this work to close the gender
pay gap, although challenge challenges remain of improving outcomes for low wage workers. The Office of Fair Housing and Equity reported ongoing investigations into housing discrimination will raise concerns about the loss of federal HUD funding for local fair housing testing. Public
testimony from Kelly Viera of Suffach University's housing discrimination testing program undisc the urgent need for city support to sustain local fair housing testing efforts. The office has maintained steady numbers of discrimination complaints, but without additional local funding, there are risk
of losing critical enforcement and data collection capacity. Council strongly advocated for continuing and expanded pair testing, a best practice for identifi identifying rental discrimination, especially against voucher holders and tenants of color.
Additional topics included updates on the reparation task force timeline with phase one find findings expected by September 2025, the growing integration of equity analysis into housing and development policies and the need for a more coordinated approach to city grants
for community organizations. Councilors emphasized that Boston must build on proven strategies and past equity reports like Resilient Boston and Imagine Boston 2030 rather than starting from scratch and requested better public access to grant opportunities and program updates.
On Monday, April 28th at 2 PM, the committee held a virtual hearing to review the FY26 budgets for the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement in the Office of Language and Communication Access, the Commission for Persons with the Disabilities, the Human Rights Commissions, and the in the Office of
LGBTQIA2S plus Advancement. Representing the administr administration were director of the office of im immigrant advancement. Wiku uh Wyn, director of language and community access, Jennifer Ver Wong, commissioner of commission commission for person with disabilities.
Uh Christristen Mos, chief of equity, Mariani Sola, and the director of office of LGBTQIA2S plus advancement Julian Lee. Participating from the city council were council president Louis Jen, councilors
Flynn, Mahia Murphy, Fitzgerald Weber, Braden, and the vice chair of the committee, Council Pepin. During the hearing, each office presented their progress and funded needs. The mayor's office of immigrant advancements emphasized the commitment to building a city of belonging, highlighting that in
FY25, they distributed over $2.1 million in grants to nonprofits serving Boston's 200,000 immigrants. They also supported youth jobs initiatives, provided 900 free immigration consult uh consultations and administered legal
access uh grants for immigrant workers. Given surging demand, especially around mental health support and legal services, Moya uh requested increased funding and call for deeper collaboration across city departments and external partners. The Office of Language and
Communications Access describes it work ensuring all residents, regardless of language or communications ability, can access city services. Director Wong highlighted achievements such as training over 4,000 city employees, publishing multilingual departmental
access plans, expanding simultaneous impert intera interpretation services, and developing a for the forthcoming multilingual public dashboard tracking accommodations. The office also strengthened partnership with community based organizations to
deliver culturally competent translations and ensure services meeting emergent needs espe especially given the rise of migrant populations from Central America. The Office of LGBTQIA2S+ advancement outlines its
efforts to remove systemic barriers for LGBTQIA2S plus residents awarding $150,000 and beyond pride grants to support LGBTQ affirming housing, youth services, and emergency assistance.
Director Lee stressed the urgent need for continued investments, noting increasing threats against LGBTQ communities nationally, a growing demand for legal aid, and a high rates of suicidal ideiation among LGBTQ youth.
The office also expanded citywide LGBTQ competency training, launched a new LGBTQ resource hub, and partnered on emergency housing support for transgender residents. Commissioner Macos discussed the
commission for persons with disabilities working on training uh um access review and policy advocacy. Highlights included up uploading evergreen disability training videos, collaborating with u public works on ADA compliant curb ramps, expanding
accessible parking programs, and updating the city's ADA transition plan to better track and advance disability access. Mosh also noted um improvements such as switching to cast iron tactile ramps for durability and emphasized uh continue
efforts to remove physical and systemic barriers citywide. The human rights commission was also discussed. Chief Solar Sea explained that a consultant has been engaged to realign the commission the commission structure and role with final recommendations uh
expected by June 30th 2025. The goal is to embed a human right lens across all equity across all equity work rather than operating as a standalone silo. In the interimm, two human rights commission positions are being integrated into broader equity inclusion
cabinet and funding previously allocated. The commission has supported legal access initiatives such as family legal support grants for LGBTQ residents. During the council council's questioning, several important topics were raised. council um expressed
concern about federal threats to immigrants, challenges facing undocumented residents, gaps in ESOL um programming, the urgent need for more local legal services, and expanded support for LGBTQ housing. Council's also advocated for stronger investments
in language access for emerging languages, and emphasized continued monitoring of access accessibility of u projects like sidewalk ramp repairs. The human rights commission's future role in integration into citywide equity efforts were also discussed at length with chief
solar assuring that human rights principles remain core to the city's equity agenda. With federal funding at risk, the question was asked if the if it was the city's plan to restart the Boston racial equity fund to protect and sustain local investments in equity.
Public testimony highlighted the need to sustain and expand funding for English language classes to meet surgic demand among immigrant parents and caregivers. On Tuesday, April 29th at 10:00 a.m. the committee held a hearing to review the FY26 budget with the
office of economic opportunity and inclusion in the office of supplier diversity. representing the administration with economic opportunity inclusion chief Jagun Idu, director of small and local business uh director Alicia Pcina, director of office of OEOI
Donald Wright and deputy director administration finance for supply diversity to Olivia Barials. Participating from the city council were councilors Flynn Weber Kleta Zapata and the vice chair of the committee council Pepin. We received a letter of absence from councelor Santana. The
administration outlined its highlights from the past year, including reactivation of city hall plaza, new ownership of Fenaniel Hall, the relocation of New World and Continental Corporate Headquarters in Boston, hosting 11 business development events in the city, 91 businesses receiving $10
million in space grants from ARPA, standing up the commercial acquisition assistance program, the office of nightlife economy touted its distribution of drink, spike in prevention covers, and the creation of social districts and the distribution of wake wake up the night grants to 50
events. The office of small business detailed it technical assistant grants on more than $1 million as well as programs such as restore which fix signs and facades on more than 30 businesses. The office of supply diversity showcased its continued progress on city contracts
on city contracts and Chief Edu announced that a new director will be starting soon. Council asked questions regarding main streets districts, reimburse reimbursements to existing main streets, matching retail vacancies with demand, language accessibility for small
businesses, merging supply diversity with procurement, figuring out how the office of small business can work with BTD and planning regarding street redesigns and retail spaces and new buildings, working with cultural districts and supplier diversity at White Stadium. On Tuesday, April 29th,
at 2 PM, the committee held a hearing to review the FY26 budgets for the tourism, sports, and entertainment in the office of licenses and consumer affairs. Representing the administration were economic opportunity inclusion chief Shagun Idu, chair of the office of
licensing and consumers affairs, Kathleen Joyce, deputy chief of OEI Donald Wright and director of tourism sports enter and entertainment John Borders IV. Participating from the city council were council president Louis Jen, council Flynn Murphy Weber, Kleta
Zapata, and the vice chair of the committee, councelor Pepin. We received a letter of absence from councilors Santana and Durkin. The office of consumer affairs and licenses outlined highlights from past from the past year, including the distribution of 37 new liquor licenses
with another deadline for applications coming in May, as well as the recovery of more than $300,000 for consumer fraud cases and changes to the special event permanent process. The Office of Tourism, Sports Entertainment presented its annual highlights, including the
events they produce, such as the Donna Summer Disco Party and the Patriots Day Parade, as well as events they collaborate collaborate with, such as the Bandfest and the Haitian parade. They also spoke about the challenges facing the city next summer with World Cup events and the
5250th anniversary of our country. Councilors ask questions and discuss topics including the allocation of excise tax, rules of the outdoor dining program, branding of cultural districts, a need for greater community engagement support at OEI, more support for the
distribution of the 225 liquor license, the need for more lodging in neighborhoods, a three-year plan for open streets, rules on drones and accessibility with the tall ships and the Boston 250th event events next year. We have more hearings again tomorrow,
Monday and Tuesday. We will also have a working session on Friday at 10 a.m. at the PME. And I encourage all my council colleagues to attend. And as chair of the committee on ways and means, I recommend that these dockets remain in committee. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for your diligence
in making sure that we have these hearings and for the work you're doing to shepherd us through yet another budget process. So, thank you. These dockets will remain in committee. Oh. Uh, the the chair recognizes Council Flynn. Council Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to
say thank you to um Chair Warell for excellent hearings, budget hearings, ways and means, and want to acknowledge uh city council central staff as well as uh city administration team for being here. Do want to encourage all of my
counselors to attend as many of these as possible. It's a great way to learn about city departments and ask specific questions to them. wanted to highlight one issue and I I know councelor
um mentioned when John Borders who's the director of the chief of um the sports and tourism special events department um one of the issues I highlighted was uh recently or several months back there
was a city sponsored event here on city hall plaza. I believe it was an NBA or an NHL event. Um, regardless, um, there was a drone that was flying above City Hall Plaza at a
city sponsored event on property and that drone actually crashed and um, injured a Boston resident and I'm asking the city to work with me to develop a drone policy, especially a drone policy
when the drone is being flown at city sponsored events and on city city city property as well. Again, there was a there was actually two injuries of uh two people um over the
last year on at city hall plaza. So, this is an issue that I take very seriously. I'm actually going to file a hearing order um on it next week for the city of Boston to develop a drone policy specifically on um when someone has a
drone flying over city property and or at a city event. There has to be written guidelines and policy to establish public safety, security and other related issues that are that are important as well. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Dockets number 0822 to 0845 will remain in committee. We are now on to motions, orders, and resolute. Oh, uh the chair recognizes councelor finan Anderson, you have the floor. Uh thank you, Madam President, and thank you uh Mr. Chair um
for that wonderful uh report. Um I do I I did you know review and then reviewed again the capital um uh plan for um FY 26 or for the for the five years and um plan and with the
printout that they um hand the administration hands over to us there's some discrepancies so I would like some more transparency if uh perhaps um you know someone from our from the ad our administrative side can actually um aggregate information properly. Um there
are some things in Roxberry. So it looks like Roxberry black neighborhood is getting all of this money that doesn't belong in Roxberry that it is Dorchester or that it is JP Jamaica plane. Um and then when you look at um Alustin
Brighton Alen Brighton's total when you go by neighborhood it says 100 million point something. But then when you go to um district 9, then its total capital um budget is 53 million. Um so those
discrepancies exist like all over the place. I won't go on and on and on be a little bit of the point. Um but I think it is confusing and misleading to constituents to look at it and say, "Oh, this neighborhood is getting all of this money, but then the Alson Brighton, if
I'm not mistaken, is only in district 9. So Austin Brighton's total can't be 53 million." um a hundred million but then district 9's total is 53 million. So um and again that exists all over the place between Roxberry and Dorchester, Roxberry and JP um South End. When you
look in multiple neighborhoods as well um the numbers don't match from district to neighborhood or um if it says multiple neighborhoods but it's only in the north end then it should be only north end. if it it should and then that number should be included in that
district so people can be very clear about what each district is getting or each neighborhood is getting. So don't mix it up when it's convenient to make it seem like that district is getting less or district 7 is getting a lot when it's not. Um and then sort of separating
what's new and from the plan and how long it's been taken. So, just some thoughts there and I would just like a more accurate um reporting from the administration, not yourself. Um, Mr. Chair, and then um I hope you can um appreciate that the work in session is
where it matters. So, I look forward to attending and um to advocate for district 7 um budget. Thank you. Thank you. Dockets number 0822 to 0845 will remain in committee. We are now on
to motions, orders, and resolutions. A reminder to my colleague that colleagues that the sponsor has three minutes to speak on a docket and any other colleague has two minutes to speak on a docket. Um Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket number 0968? Docket number
0968. Council Santana offer the following ordinance establishing the office of LGBTQIA2S plus advancement. Thank you. The chair recognizes uh councelor Santana. Councelor Santana, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I would like
to add um councelor Mahia as an original um second sponsor and like to suspend um rule 12 and add councelor Braden as an original sponsor. Councelor Mahia is so added. Councelor Santana seeks to suspend the rules. Add councelor Braden as a third original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, councelor
Braden is so added. Councelor Santana, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to formally introduce the ordinance of establishing the office of LGBTQIA2s plus advancement. Boston has long been a national leader in civil rights and this ordinance is about
continuing that tradition by institutionalizing our commitment to the LGBTQIA2s plus community. The challenges faced by our community um residents whether it's house in housing and health care and employment safety um are real
and urgent. Um these challenges are made even more complex by um intersecting identities including race, immigration status, age, and disability. Um by codifying the mayor's office of LGBTQIA2s plus advancement, we ensure
that Boston is not just um reacting to moments of injustice, but proactively creating systems um that affirm, protect, and uplift every member of this community. The office will serve as a hub for advocacy, policy, and connection, ensuring that the city that
city services and decisions reflect dignity, rights, and needs of the LGBTQIA2s plus residents and visitors. In a time when rights are being stripped away across the country, Boston must send a clear message. You belong here.
Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Mia. Council Mia, you have the floor. Oh, apologies. Council me, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Um, and I would like to thank the lead sponsor um for adding me as an original
co-sponsor. And I also want to um uplift councelor Anderson's work in this space that started back in 2024 I believe it was um when you were pushing for this. So
you're my honorary sponsor. Um so Mhola is not only an asset, it is a necessity. It is important that we take the step in cottifying moola into the city code because the reality is that leadership changes and at any point someone in
power can come along and say uh you know what we don't need this and we are seeing that happening uh more and more uh today with the unmanageable degree right now that is happening at the federal level. This is why this moment is important because protecting progress
means making it permanent. We must be proactive in these times and build resilience measures that protect the very same agencies that protect our city and make it safe for a place for everyone to feel like they are um able
to live and thrive. We're also seeing the hard fought rights of our LGBTQIA2 plus communities being attempted to be erased with the federal government suing states um over allowing trans people to
play sports, eliminating HIV prevention research um and with no regard for the consequences these actions will have on them, but also on every single one of us. The need is now for us to take this next step and further action um to
strengthen Mhola. It is our time and it's been beyond the time and I've said this before and I'll say it again that we at the city level must um step up and step in and I believe that we can continue to do more here in Boston
through codifying Mhola into our charter and committing to ensuring that they are equipped with the resources necessary to adequately protect this community. Thank you. And I'll just add that I remember the first time that we codified an office was the office of immigrant
advancement a few years ago and we noticed then even though this community was not under severe attack, we understood the climate that we were in then. And I feel like now more than ever, we need to recognize that these
departments, while they get funded, doesn't necessarily mean that they will always um be able to stand whatever leadership changes. And so I'm really excited to join councelor um Santana on cotifying this particular office um
because all of the work that we've been doing in the space. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Brad Councelor Braden. You have the floor. Thank you, Madame President, and thank you, Councelor Santana and councelor Mahia for including me in this um
proposal to establish the office of uh LGBTQI all this A2S plus um for the city of Boston. Um you know, I I haven't always lived here. I came here in 1995 and I grew up in Northern Ireland which
is a very conservative and certainly was a very conservative uh homophobic society back in the 70s and 80s. Um I was an active member of the of my church, the Episcopal Church. Um but it was homophobic. We couldn't uh be
ourselves. We couldn't come out. We couldn't um be recognized. We couldn't be visible. Um and ultimately I left the church and didn't go back for 40 years. So that speaks for itself. Uh when I was a young person back home, um queer young
people did not feel safe and many of the young people who are growing up in the United States today do not feel safe to be express themselves and be themselves. When I was in high school, a young student, a man, young man who probably would have been described or selfidentified as non-binary in this
time, uh, committed suicide. And there was no mention of him, just, oh, he's committed suicide. But I'm very clear that u the the society that we were were living in prompted this very desperate action. We didn't have uh gay straight
alliance groups. We didn't have any visible support uh for young people growing up in Northern Ireland. and and I think we're moving we've been moving over the last 50 years here in the United States to re and longer than that to change that. So, um, I ca I came out
in the when I was in my third, like I really came out in my in my 30s, um, and I shared what was going on with me with a trusted adult who had been a teacher and a mentor for me as a young person, um, when I was a teenager, but I hadn't come out to them at that time, so
it was only went so far. Um, and this their own homophobia prompted the response that I should leave Northern Ireland. I shouldn't. their own homophobia scared them and I had to leave Northern Ireland. I I really did
have to leave in the sense that I I didn't feel safe to be out and about and who I was to express myself fully in Northern Ireland at the time and I came to Boston and that changed everything. Uh I talk about the first time I went to the gay pride parade. I went to the interfaith uh service at the Old South
Church and I sat beside a lovely uh gay guy, Irish guy from Dorchester and he just kept handing me this the Kleenex and I cried the whole way through and um I walked out into the sunshine on Boilston Street and there was a color
guard from the police department and Mayor Woo, not Mayor Woo, oh that was the other guy, Mayor Menino was there. Um, sorry. Uh, Marmanino was there with a a police color guard and I was going,
"Wow, this is incredible. This would never happen in Northern Ireland." So, you know, this history has a has we I know I've been involved in some of the struggles here in in the city, the the equal marriage campaign and uh the uh
bathroom campaign and all of that. But, you know, we've made incredible progress. uh but and we're not finished making progress, but right in this moment in this country, there's an effort, a severe and serious effort to push us back into the closet and make us disappear completely back into the
closet. You know, they're banning books, they're banning transgender affirming care. They're um opening up the gates to discrimination, employment, and housing and all of that all across the country. I'm very proud that Boston and Massachusetts is holding strong. So, I
really applaud this uh effort to try and codify our uh department uh of LGBTQ IA2S plus. I'll never get rid of this, but to affirm that we are fully
human and we deserve to be seen and treated with dignity and respect. And I think instit codifying this uh will help in that effort and uh send a strong message to those young people in our communities just to say that the city
cares about them. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Braden. I also just want to note that for right now the clock is set to three minutes. So even though only original sponsors get three minutes, right now everyone's getting three minutes. So, I just want everyone to try to respect that you're getting an
extra minute with the before the timer goes off if you're not an original sponsor. The chair recognizes Council Fernand Anderson. You have the floor. Uh, thank you, Madam President. I don't know what's happening, but every time I light up my mic, you are turning it off by accident. So, just be mindful of that. Um, to the filer, thank you so
much for filing. I did file this um at the end of 2024 and um not sure through the Madame President, if I may ask a question to the filer. to the chair. You may um did you did you guys contact our office? And also if you could ask the
question directed to me. Sure. Did you guys uh contact my office? I'm sorry if I we didn't see the emails. There were communications. I'm sure you did. Um and I think it's all in good intention and I don't have to be like the person to file the thing and get the credit. Um I think
what's important is that we do it. We stick together. We represent people. Um and we fight for what's right. So, um, I when I did file it, I think the chair of GovOps canled my hearing without asking me and her intentions was to protect me because there was a lot going on. So, I
appreciate that, too. And all is forgiven. It's all good. Um, I really I really like what you filed. Um, kudos to your policy person. Um, and I uh appreciate just the work that you've done, the advocate that you've done. you've come fearlessly and you've said,
"Look, this is a population that needs um protection and that needs advocacy. I respect it. I support you." Thank you. Thank you. And just to clarify what occurred, I accidentally turned your uh council Anderson's light on when I meant to turn councelor Braden's light on as
the as an original co-sponsor. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Warell. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Uh first and foremost, I just want to thank the makers for their work on this ordinance. I know we all pledged our support uh to these communities earlier this month and
codifying Mhola allows us to take further steps and begin to add protections u for these communities. Um they're under attack at the federal level and we need to ensure that we protect them at the city level. It's imperative. I know we've all I know we've codified a couple of departments
already in the equity and inclusion cabinet um BMA and mayor's office of um immigrant advancement and I believe the next step is also part of this process is codifying the whole entire cabinet and with these departments sitting uh so
I will be looking to do that through um rise but I also just want to again acknowledge the great work that is happening here with Mola um and want to make sure that we continue this work on protecting equity and protecting these communities and making sure that they are codified into law. Thank you. Thank
you, Council Aral. Um I also just want to thank the makers. It is incredibly important during this time that we protect our most vulnerable communities and work doing this work alongside Mola is really important. Um and thank you to councelor Braden for sharing always so much of your lived experience. Um and uh
I appreciate that. Uh would anyone like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Kleta Zapata, Durkin, Fernand Anderson, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Weber, Warl, please add the chair. Docket number 0968 will be referred to the committee on government operations.
Mr. Cler, would you please read docket number 0969? Docket number 0969. Councilors Mi and Braden offer the following ordinance establishing a transgender, gender diverse, interex, and LGBTQIA2s plus oversight commission.
Thank you. The chair recognizes council here. Council here, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to uh suspend the rules and add Councelor Santana as an original um co-sponsor. Thank you. And just to clarify, if there are folks if people see it differently
on their docket, councelor Mahia is the original sponsor. Councelor Braden is a second um sponsor. And now, Councelor Mia is seeking to suspend the rules and add counselor uh Santana as a third original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, councilor Santana is
added as a third original co-sponsor on this docket. Council Mia, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I would also like to uh make a motion to substitute. Um I'm amending the section where the oversight commission is placed.
Thank you. Do uh do does everyone have the I don't have it. Okay. And what are what's the the Can you repeat the substitution? It's just a it's just where the um where the
oversight commission is placed. Okay. I put Council Mia has made a motion to substitute. Is it seconded? Second. All in favor say I. I. All post say nay. Okay. The substitution is allowed. Council Mia, you have the floor. Thank you. I am honored to stand here today
and introduce the part of our work that gives our trans and LGBTQIA2 plus um a sanctuary uh city uh resolution some teeth. As you know, that was the biggest call to action um when we declared um our support back in
February. Um we knew that the resolution was just the first step. At least it it was in this specific push for protections as this fight started well before me, led predominantly by black and brown trans women, and it is sure will continue well after that. That
said, and in only a little over a month, we brought together over 40 community advocates to take this um work to the next level in a way that balanced both the urgency and grace. The coalition we formed is made up of folks from all
different backgrounds, but they stand united in the pursuit of visibility, accessibility, and dignity for all. And you know, I always say all means all in their community. Together, led by the coalition uh chair, Chassity Broadwick um and in partnership with our
co-sponsors, the ACLU, the mayor's office of LGBTQIA2 plus advancement central office, and the government ops chair. We believe that we produced a strong ordinance that has two main components.
First, the establishment of an LGBTQIA2 plus oversight commission. The commission will serve as a body that is fully truly a representative of the LGBTQ plus community centering the voices and experiences of those who live
at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. community members have been calling for accountability and our vision for this commission is to do just that by um looking at the long missing accountability partners and trusted
voices within every corner of city government. And two, we also know that there is a lot of information that we need to collect and a lot of issues that exist in the current information we have. So we want the commission to uh to conduct a study on the challenges of
quality of life and contributions of the community that is both confidential, secure and reflective of the intersectionalities of other key nuances. I just like to thank my co-sponsors councelor Santana, councelor Braden and as well as their teams for
embarking on this process with us. And I also want to thank um the every single uh every single person in the coalition um who joined us on this journey and provided the most thoughtful feedback based on their own lived experiences and expertise. And I also want to know that
this is not the finish line and we know that it is simply just a checkpoint in our journey and I look further to strengthening this document through working sessions with my colleagues who I know are also committed to doing this work and doing it right. And I also want to give a big shout out um to our policy
fellow JD Moore who uh has taken the lead on working alongside our office to make this happen. I believe and also I want to acknowledge Scarlet um Airaa who is part of my team as well who was the source of inspiration for this. When you
step to the side and let people who are living the realities lead, magic happens. And our job here as policy makers is really to take our marching orders from those who understand things from a deep, profound place. And I just want to thank everyone who allowed me to
be a part of this work alongside them. So, thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Braden. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I really do want to extend my thanks and and appreciation to councelor Mia for her leadership in this u in this space
because I I really feel that you've really put your shoulder to the wheel and pushed really hard this last this last few months. I know this is and I also applaud your engagement and uh really inviting uh the community in to engage and participate in this process.
Uh I think we're we're ending up with a very solid uh document. uh and I I really do feel that uh this is a this is a step on the journey and we're not finished yet but um I this is a really tremendous start and we look forward to
the working sessions where we can uh participate in the conversation about how this might be improved further. Um, as I say, this is I think this is the thing that we need to do to meet the moment. Uh, given the incredible stress and the incredible pressure that uh
folks in in the uh the community are feeling at the moment uh and given all that's happening uh nationally and internationally. uh this the United States used to be a safe haven for folks who were living in countries overseas where there were uh incredibly um you
know brutal and uh severe punishments for for your expression as a queer person. Uh they came here for safety and now this safe haven is not safe anymore. So uh I really appreciate your leadership and also the leadership of councelor Santana
in this space as well. So, thank you all and I look forward to continuing the work. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Braden. Uh, the chair recognizes Council Santana, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I I also want to just um rise and and really thank um Councelor Mahia um for your true leadership and throughout this whole
process. Um, I know I was one of those people that when the um resolution came forward, I thought that this was um should have been done um first and you know in conversations with you said we're going to do the work and um you're you're doing it and um really appreciate the coalition that you've been able to
really build um one that's so diverse and one that's reflective of our city. Um, and so I just really want to thank that and I really want to thank um, your team um, in particular um, JD who's been um, just amazing to work with and who's been leading um, in this as well. And
you know, I just definitely want to shout out also my team and u, Matthew and Gabby who um, um, do so much um, for this community day in and day out. So, um, you know, Boston is a city with a powerful legacy, home to the origins of the transgender day of remembrance and a
place where people from across the LGBTQIA2S plus spectrum have organized, fought, and build community in the face of violence and systematic um, arousals. Um, this commission will be the first of its kind in Boston, a space built by and
for LGBTQIA2s plus residents to hold our institutions accountable and to advance policies grounded in equity, inclusion, and injustice. Um, from healthc care access to youth support, from data transparency to inter intergovernmental
advocacy, this ordinance gives the city the structure it needs to center LGBTQIA2s plus voices, especially those who are black, brown, um, disabled, immigrants, elder, and youth. At a time when
LGBTQIA2S plus rights are under attack nationwide, Boston must be a model of courage and care. This commission is a step forward and I am grateful to stand with counselors Mahia and Braden in bringing this forward. Thank you. Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? I also again just want to
thank the makers for putting this forward and for their deep work in the community to protect our most vulnerable residents. Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors, Zapata, Durkin, Fernand Anderson, Fitzgerald, Flynn Murphy, Pepen Weber, Warl, please the chair. Uh,
this docket, docket number 0969, will be referred to the committee on government operations. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0970? Docket number 0970, Council Lena offer the following petition for a special law and each waiver for Jason Dillion to join the
Boston Police Department. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council President Louis Jen. Counselor, you have the floor. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Um, this is an age waiver petition for someone to join the Boston Police Department. I am seeking suspension and passage. And I do
want to thank my colleagues. I believe counselors Kleta Zapata and Pepen uh working on the age waiver home rule petition that would allow people to join the police department. This is a Boston resident, 45 years old, who has a family of uh Jason DeLeon, the entire family of
res of of law enforcement officers who wants to join the force and I want to support him in doing that. And I want to thank uh Jeff Lopes for uplifting this. So I do hope that my colle Jeff Phillips of Mamio for uplifting this um issue. I do want to um um I hope my colleagues can vote with me to suspend and pass.
Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, could you please add council Braden, councilor Kleta Zapata, Council Durkin, councelor Fernand Anderson, Council Fitzgerald, Council Flynn, Council Mahia, Council Murphy, Council Pepin, Council Santana,
Council Weber, and please add the chair. Council President Lu Jen seeks suspension of the rules and passes of docket number 0970. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say nay. I Mr. Cut, could you please conduct a roll call vote?
Roll call vote on docket number 0970. Councelor Braden, yes. Councelor Braden, yes. Council Kleta Zapata, yes. Council Kleta Zapata, yes. Council Durkin, yes. Council Durkin, yes. Council Fernandez Anderson,
Council Fernandez Anderson, yes. Council Fitzgerald, Council Fitzgerald, yes. Council Flynn, yes. Council Flynn, yes. Council Len, yes. Council Len, yes. Council Mia, Council Mia, yes. Council Murphy. Yes. Council Murphy, yes. Council Pen. Council Pen, yes. Council
Santana, yes. Council Santana, yes. Council Weber, yes. Council Weber, yes. And council, yes. Council, yes. Document number 0970 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative. Thank you. Doc number 0970 has passed. Mr. Clerk, can you
please read docket number 0971? Doc number 0971. Councilors Flynn and Murphy offer the following. Order for a hearing to discuss Boston public schools new bus ridership policy. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Flynn. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam
Chair. Recently, Boston public schools announced a new bus ridership procedure which will opt out students who do not consistently ride the bus. The new policy will cancel door-to-door service and eliminate bus stops for students who
do do not show up to take BPS transportation or provide pri prior notification for at least 10 consecutive days. The goal of the new policy is to improve the reliability, safety, and efficiency of yellow bus service for the
students who need and use it. The procedure outlines that before opting out uh BPS would communicate with families in advance that the student is being opt out and provide families three business days to confirm if they intend
to continue riding the bus. Those who are opted out or do not respond will have their ridership paused with the option of reinstating transportation services available at any time. While this procedure could help
streamline bus routes, there are outstanding issues that need to to be addressed before this proceed procedure should take should take into effect. As I understand BPS is still working with another 1,000 students, including 400
students with disabilities, on bus services. I heard concerns that students with disabilities would be negatively impacted by this new procedure which would take away what are required services for special education
students. I also understand and know the need for efficiency in getting our students to school on time. Everyone knows that since September I have advocated for BPS families when it comes to late and no-show buses. We cannot normalize the disruption that occurred
this year for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. But before implementing this policy, I'd like to hold a hearing with BPS and BPS transportation leadership to get clarification on how this would impact the remaining BPS
students, especially students with disabilities. I understand students and families deserve to have buses that are reliable and on time. But we also must ensure that all BPS students, students with disabilities and their families are
contacted, aware of, and understand the implications of this policy to ensure no student or family will be left behind. I also know that families with a student that has a disability um have
other challenges as well. Sometimes they don't have the luxury of having um the ability to communicate effectively uh through a through a cell phone. Often times the the parent or the guardian is trying to get the student into onto the
bus or into a program and there's very little time to communicate with BPS. Um but we should not penalize a BPS student with disabilities or their families. We should do everything we possibly can to support BPS students
with disabilities. This policy right now I I could not support. We have to make sure that we provide every student with disabilities the opportunity to take transportation to and from school and
they should not be penalized for any reason at all. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Uh the chair recognizes Councelor Murphy. You have the floor. Um thank you, Madam President. Um, I rise today to address docket 0971, which calls for a hearing to discuss the
Boston public schools newly implemented bus ridership policy. This policy set to take effect in May um, tomorrow, this month, introduces a procedure where students who do not utilize their assigned school bus for 10 consecutive
school days without prior notification through the Zoom app will have their bus assignments paused. Families will receive a notification and have three business days to respond before the service is suspended. Importantly, students can reinstate their
transportation, but it will take um procedures and loopholes to jump through. And I do just want to uplift what councelor um Flynn had highlighted that many families may not have access or be savvy enough to know that if they
just put a message into the Zoom app that their bus service won't be paused even if they never take the school bus for the entire year if they just keep updating. So it's important that we make this equitable for all families. While I do believe the goal of improving
transportation efficiency is commendable and they are working hard at that, it is imperative that we scrutinize the potential implications of this policy to ensure it does not inadvertently disadvantage any students. Several concerns have been raised and this has
been brought to my attention months ago when principles and families first heard of the possibility of this new policy. One is a lack of consideration for diverse family circumstances. Families may have various reasons for not utilizing bus services consistently,
such as temporary illness, family emergencies, or alternative transportation arrangements. We also know that some many families opt out of the bus in the morning, especially if it's not reliable because they need to get to work, so they make other
arrangements. Potential impact on students with special needs. While the policy states that it does not alter a student's eligibility on their IEP, which would be written specifically about their transportation, there is concern about the practical
implications. Communication and accessibility challenges. The reliance on the Zoom app for notifications and tracking may pose challenges for families without access to smartphones or those with limited digital literacy. Clear accessible communication channels
are essential to ensure all families are informed and can respond appropriately. And I do feel there's legal and equity considerations. Past investigations have highlighted that transportation issues are can disproportionately affect students with disabilities and students
of color potentially violating their rights to equitable education access. It's imperative to assess whether the new policy upholds these students rights and does not inadvertently exasperate existing disparities that we know are there. There's also a need for an
inclusive policy development engaging families, educators, and community stakeholders in the development and implementation of this transportation policy that it can lead to more equitable. You're beyond the three. It's beyond three minutes. So two minutes. Okay. I heard I was definitely finishing
up giving these concerns. It's essential to thoroughly evaluate the new bus ridership's policy implications on all students, particularly those from vulnerable communities. Ensuring equitable access to education requires careful consideration of how such
policies are crafted and implemented. I'm looking forward to this hearing and getting some answers from the school department. Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, uh, this docket, docket
number zero, uh, docket number 0971 will be referred to the committee on education. Oh, uh, Mr. Clerk, could you please add counselors Braden and counselors Zapata and councelor Mahia Santana Pepen Weber? This docket will be
referred to the committee on education. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0972? Document number 0972, councilors Weber and Pepen offer the following. Order for a hearing to discuss making neighborhood streets safer following the 30-day
review of street projects in Boston. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Weber. Councelor Weber, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, I would like to suspend the rules and add Councelor Murphy as a a third co-sponsor. Councelor Murphy so added. Uh, Councelor Weber seeks to suspend the rules. Add Council Murphy as a third
original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, Council Murphy is so added. Council Weber, you have the floor. Uh, thank you. Uh, you know, I I filed this hearing order as a followup to to the uh the mayor's 30-day review of street projects. I know people in district 6 and I'm sure uh in in your
other in the other districts as well have questions about, you know, h how things are going to change as a result of that, but I I I find it impossible to talk about the review without focusing on the tragic death of Lens Joseph. Um and and so for that reason, I'm just
going to seed my time to uh my colleague from district 5, councelor Pepin. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Pepeni of the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Um, you know, I'm I'm proud to be co-sponsoring this hearing order with council Weber just because the in the
hearts of a lot of the residents in my district. Um, the conversation of transportation safety and pedestrian safety has been very heavily undermined since the tragic death of Lens. And we all know that while the investigation is still
ongoing, trying to get to the specifics of what happened, um we all know that it involved a vehicle, a school bus, and a child. And this case reminds me of the young boy struck and killed on Wood Avenue in High Park in the summer of
2023. There are a lot of much needed safety project in the works, especially in my district. I hope that with this hearing, we all know that results of this review and how it will affect street projects moving forward going to take place. We cannot halt current progress
being made. We cannot halt the projects our residents have been advocating for for years, some even decades. We cannot stop the possibility of saving a child's life. What's a little bothering to me is that it shouldn't take a hearing order for us
to look at what safety measures we can implement in the city of Boston. It's very easy for us to do a 30-day review to see if a bike lane or bus lane makes sense. How come we can't check the major intersections where a school is to make sure if those are safe or
not? The residents of my district and I know that the residents of many of all of the entire city of Boston They think about how can we make our streets safer, whether it's adding more crosswalks, stop signs,
speeds, crossing guards, um, anything to slow down drivers. There really isn't one answer to all this. We have to look at this in a holistic lens. So, I'm heavily urging the administration to take this serious and to act quicker than just a hearing.
And that's that's what I'll say. Thank you. Thank you, Council Pepen. The chair recognizes Council Murphy. You have the floor. Um, thank you. And thank you, Council Pep. I know that um it's been hard and you've been um a great um
resource and support to everyone in your district. I can see that if there's anything, I know we're all here for you. Thank you. Um so, thank you, Council Weber and Pepe. And I know your office has reached out because it is similar to a couple hearings that I have um filed
um with council of Flynn and I think most of us um have filed and do address street safety, public safety as one of our top priorities all of the time. And this initiative aligns closely with the concerns I raised in previous hearing
orders. docket 0772 on sidewalk accessibility and 0423 on the effectiveness of speed humps. Um, and this study did bring out some information that I'm looking forward to hearing from the administration on. Um,
it's important that we look to improve our city's approach at traffic calming and pest pedestrian safety. The city's safety surge initiative announced in 23 aimed to install over 2,000 speed humps and numerous intersection safety improvements annually. While this
represents a significant investment in traffic calming measures, it's imperative that we assess the effectiveness of these installations and ensure they meet the needs of our diverse neighborhoods. So, I'm looking forward to this hearing and speaking on all
safety issues. maybe at the same time, but um looking forward to working alongside my colleagues to make sure all of our residents, especially our youngest ones, our most vulnerable, are safe on our streets and on our sidewalks. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Braden. Uh
councelor Braden, you have the floor. Then it's councelor Durkin, Mahia, and Flynn. Uh councelor Braden, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I just want to express my sorrow and condolences to the very tragic circumstances in Hide Park. When any
young child gets struck by a car and and it's a fatality, even if they're struck by a car and survive, it's still a really serious situation. Um, thank you for bringing this forward uh a hearing to discuss the neighborhood streets safe. Um, if they're making
whether we're making these streets safer or not. Um uh we in our neighborhood are begging for speed humps. We as far as I know we have three speed speed bumps in the whole the whole neighborhood of 80,000 people. Uh it's the second largest neighborhood in the city after
Dorchester and we have three speed bumps. Uh and on Faniel Street just outside across the street from just at Faniel Gardens uh public housing uh a youngster was hit by a car on on crossrock fairly recently. Thankfully he survived. Uh but it could have been a
very different story. Um had uh and the other the other area is Chest Hill A is another area where there's a lot of speeding and uh it's very very difficult situation for pedestrians. Um, pedestrians are road users just like
everyone else. And I think what many of our priorities in the city and and also at the state level of DCR roadways are that uh the car is king and uh a lot of our planning is very carentric. um even
in the and and making it possible to have uh cars and bicycles and pedestrians coexist and use the high use the street the public streets safely is a is a priority. It takes a lot of collaboration, takes a lot of conversation with community, especially
community. I don't think uh we do enough of that. And I really feel that uh we cannot afford to have any more fatalities on our streets uh because we don't have adequate uh speed controls and adequate safety measures um in the
city of Boston. Uh and I'm also making a particular plea for my district, District 9. Um it's only a matter of time before there's another serious accident and uh we don't want to see that happen. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Durkin. Councelor Durk, you're the floor. Thank
you so much. Um and I thank the folks who have filed this. Um but we have now talked on the council floor four times about speed humps and thanks to councelor Murphy, we do have a date uh for a hearing. Um, so I'm going to keep my remarks brief. Um, on that'll be on
June 9th. And I hope that now that we've talked about on the council floor four times, I hope that every single one of my council colleagues is there for a robust discussion involving all of our districts. Um, I know that, um, in my budget asks, um, I have requested speed
humps in Beacon Hill because there's a lot of speeding inside Beacon Hill. um as a request of the Beacon Hill Civic Association traffic and parking committee. Um I've requested them in the West Fens um as a request from the um from the uh Fenway Civic Association. Um
and I've done a transportation walk with DCR um on Park Drive um in the Fenway where there's a lot of speeding and um I think I probably have the most DCR land in District 8. So, um I know how um
important this issue is. I know how important the multi-jurisdictional um issues are and I think there's some debate around whether I have the most ECR land, but I do have the esplanade. So, um but I'll just say that um this is such an important issue. Um and I want
to thank councelor Murphy forounding us to get that date because I think that is going to be a great time. I will be looping in this hearing with the other hearing and if there needs to be more robust discussion uh we can always do a continuence and have two hearings on these particular dockets. So um so thank
you. I know there's a lot of debate around speed humps, but I just say want to say that my district is pro- speed humps. They want them. They want them everywhere. Uh there are some historic streets that people are you know advocating against them but um in all in all uh people are seeing a lot of
speeding um and safety is a priority. So thank you. Thank you uh the chair recognizes Council Mia. Council Mir, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to the sponsors um for filing the hearing order and my condolences to the
family. And um I know it must be really hard for you, Councelor Bain. Um oftent times when things like this happen, the district council feels the heaviest. Um and I just want you to know as an atlarge city councelor, I'm here for whatever you need and however I
could be helpful um to you and your constituents. Um, I I also just want to acknowledge that our office has been working alongside your office and councelor Flynn on a uh quality of life task force and a lot of the
conversations that we've been having in that space has been about pedestrian safety and I think that we have an opportunity. There is accountability and we can't just rely on government to fix everything. My hope is is that we start really looking at this
conversation through a community centered lens and creating space for people to also have a seat and a voice at the table in terms of solutions because everyone has to be accountable when we're dealing with issues like this. So really looking forward uh to
having this hearing but also creating space for folks. And I just want to uplift um and shout out um Elizabeth uh who is known as Laflaka Boston who also been a loud voice particularly in the Latino community around um pedestrian
safety and just public safety issues overall. And we look forward to working alongside her and councelor the Ben's office to dive in a little bit deeper and figure out what we can do outside of the political space to really address these issues. Thank you. Thank you. The
chair recognizes councelor pl. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you to the sponsors and I also co-sponsored a hearing order with councelor Murphy which was which was very similar um on on many of these
issues. Um I guess my request would be maybe we can combine them and have one joint joint meeting. Um but to go over some of the issues that my and council Murphy's hearing order would discuss is
um certainly speed humps but also to to address other traffic caling related um challenges, violations, accidents, pedestrian safety in various neighborhoods across the city.
residents express um the support for speed humps citing improvements in traffic safety. Other residents raise issues of as councelor Mahia mentioned quality of life issues, pedestrian safety issues, but also emergency vehicle access and
the potential um the the potential it has on response time. It's important to evaluate the effectiveness of these trafficcoming measures. That was the hearing order that we we we filed.
Um and we we were requesting data from the transportation department, the Boston Police to um to figure out the impact of traffic calming measures in and on public safety. Um I'm looking we
are looking also for a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of traffic calming measures, speed humps, which I greatly support. Um, accessing the impact on traffic speed and violations, 25 miles an hour, driving your SUV
throughout the streets of Boston is excessive. I think the speed limit should be 20 miles an hour. I worked with councelor Baker to um in in May Walsh to get it down. Um, but 25 miles an hour
um is is very fast in the city of Boston. I also want us to analyze the impact of speed humps on traffic accidents, including accidents involving pedestrians in various neighborhoods. Uh discussing concerns raised by residents
um relating relating to these challenges. And um what what I want to ask again is if we can combine some of these hearing orders because my myself and council council Murphy were waiting for a long period of
time. Um, and maybe this will speed up the process if we just have one meeting, but it's it's very similar to the hearing order we we filed. Um, but it is a timely issue. And my my request, my
recommendation is to have it maybe in the next two weeks, maybe the next three weeks because I don't think we can wait any any longer because these these pedestrian safety issues are critical. I was in South Boston earlier
today c crossing the crossing this sidewalk and across the street. My parents were on the other side of the crosswalk and they were crossing crossing the street on Broadway and a car probably drove by them as they were in the crosswalk. Two elderly people
probably going 40 miles an hour down Broadway in an SUV. I see people I see young mothers mostly taking their kids to the library or to the or to church and young fathers taking them to the library or to school. Um they'll be in
the crosswalk and someone will drive right past them in the crosswalk. I see seniors, persons with disabilities in the crosswalk and someone will speed by them 40 50 miles an hour as if they're irrelevant. Irrelevant. They don't mean
anything. Um, I I think we need to I think we need to do more traffic enforcement with Boston police. Hold everybody accountable for reckless driving regardless of of who they are or what they're driving. But I but I also
think we need to reduce the speed limit um from 25 miles an hour to 20 20 miles an hour. Thank you, Madam Chair. The chair recognizes councelor Durk and you have the floor. Thank you so much. um given the um calendar being so packed with budget stuff and given the um dates
of when the folks that we specifically need at this hearing um are available. Um the hearing is set for June 9th. If something clears up before that, we might be able to have a hearing earlier. But I just um you know I we worked
really hard. I know councelor Murphy and I worked really hard to get this scheduled. So, um hopefully that works for everyone. Um I I would encourage um counselors that have issues with speeding and speed humps to reach out to the transportation department for any
needs that are immediate. Um but that this hearing should serve as both to look backward and to look forward. Um and I know the administration is excited to take part and um as the safety surge program is their um is their invention.
So, thank you. Thank you. Um, and thank you, Councelor Durkin, for uh, working on that and for the hearing, scheduling the hearing and also for your efficiency in um, working to get uh, the hearing scheduled. So, thank you. Um, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add
their name? Mr. Mr. Cler, could you please add counselors Braden, Kleta, Zapata, Durkin, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mahia, uh, Santana, Warl, please have the chair. This docket, docket number 0972, will be referred to the committee on planning, development, and
transportation. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0973? Document number 0973, Council Flynn, offer the following order for a hearing to discuss implementation of seven nights per week residential parking only policy in South Boston. Thank you. The chair recognizes
councelor Flynn. Councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Over the last year and a half, BTD has informed me that they would implement my plan to implement a seven nights per week residential parking only policy.
throughout all areas of South Boston that did not currently have overnight restrictions. I am seeking an update. The parking crisis in South Boston has become increasingly unsustainable. A 2023 Boston
Transportation Department study indicated that there that there were over 29,000 active resident parking permits in only 10,600 on street parking spaces.
As the city also shifted to a policy of automatic renewals instead of coming into city hall and providing proof of residency, I requested an audit of all South Boston residential parking permits. Thousands of incorrect permits
were revoked due to my leadership, but residents continued to ask for enforcement in question the policy of automatic resident parking permit renewals that continued since the pandemic. Meanwhile, South Boston continues to
absorb a significant amount of Article 80 development while a number have gone through a thorough community process and gain support of neighbors, civic groups, and elected officials in the midst of our h housing crisis. Developers have
reported being stalled with requests to cut already agreed upon parking ratios and adhere to BTD's recommendation parking guidelines of 0.5 spots per unit and disregard local zoning regulations. We had one yesterday with
70 units, zero parking spaces. That's not sustainable. residents have not noticed on BPD board of board agendas that other neighborhoods will also have article 80 projects with more than one to one to
one parking ratios or close to it which is what I have advocated for consistently. They ask why is our community being held to a different standard. Neighbors continue to call attention to having to consistently search for
parking, taking their children to activities, taking care of an elderly parent, enjoying a night out maybe. They come home to circle for 45 minutes hoping to find a spot. At the same time, they express concern regarding
sufficient parking on site for new development. They question the ability of the BTD to to restrict residential parking permits for new rental developments to prevent an overflow of street parking as well as highlighting the vid visitors that may
bring a car in park for the weekend which only enhances the problem. South Boston residents consistently report a large number of outofstate plates and cars lacking a residential parking permit. With the neighborhood
having become a destination for many young people on the weekends, visitors park for several days beginning Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. through Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. At the very same time, this influx of non-resident vehicles occurs each weekend. There are
no resident parking restrictions to speak of. BTD enforcement is also scaled back significantly. As a result, residents report increased quality of life and public safety issues on the weekends. Parking and handicapped
spots, crosswalks, bus stops, blocking driveways, fire hydrants, all public safety issues. In BT in December, BTD and the planning department conducting conducted a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce regarding the South Boston and
transportation plan. They discussed parking restrictions along Broadway as well as my plan to convert the neighborhood of South Washington to resident parking only for seven nights per week for all areas that currently lack overnight restrictions. In my
opinion, when we have a budding neighborhood neighborhoods in sim similar proximity to downtown that have strict residential parking reg regulations, it is no longer tenable for the absence of seven nights per week residential parking only policy. This is
a compromise in my view with other neighborhoods having 247 resident parking only. I'm looking for fairness. I'm looking for respect for my neighbors in South Boston and currently we're not receiving it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. The chair recognizes
councelor Kleta Zapata. You have the floor. Thank you so much, Madam President. I rise um to stand in solidarity from your district counselor in East Boston. I just want to give you kudos for doing this. Um we got a chance to dive deeper into parking regulations a couple years ago and realized that
over time and it's not contributed to any one administration, parking regulations happened on an ad hoc basis. There was no zoom out to understand what the holistic uh parking regulation uh holistic parking regulations across the city look like and in right sizing our parking enforcement to match it. What
would happen is that a constituent would make a request um the signs would go up. We wouldn't know if the if there would be enough coverage of parking enforcement officers based on that particular district. And it didn't really make sense where if there were parking regulations in in the daytime
but not the night time. So, I just wanted to rise and say I I support this and just kudos to you. Um, unfortunately, I'm I'm sorry to say this to my uh district counselor from South Boston. I use South Boston as an example of what it means to not plan effectively
when you have major developments coming um or or major developments that are proposed because the parking situation from what I've heard from friends that live there, folks that I know, it is just untenable. And um regardless, I do think that it warrants a conversation about proper planning for parking. I
would love to get more data about some of these buildings that are coming online that have uh zero parking um minimums and just better understand that and see what we're how we're tracking it. Um how we're use utilizing that data. But uh just wanted to rise and and
um stand in solidarity with uh my residents or my um my neighbors in in district 2 and and say that I look forward to the hearing. Thank you, Councelor Flynn. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Braden. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair, and and thank you to Councelor Flynn for bringing up
this important issue. I know his focus is very much on on South Boston, but uh I think all of our districts have challenges with u with residential parking or the lack thereof in our neighborhoods. Um in our particular district, we are surrounded by other
municipalities. We're surrounded by Newton, Brooklyn, and we have a river between us and Watertown. So that's not as such a problem. But uh Newton and and uh and Brute Glide do not allow on street parking overnight. And where do the folks come to park their cars? They
just come across this the the line and park in Brighton. So then in on one of our streets, Brainard, uh the residents of Brainard have been unable to get residential parking, but the folks from Brooklyn can park in their street. So uh needless to say, they're not happy. Um,
I think we we've also in our uh we've had a recent sort of building boom of of um a com uh new uh residential developments in Alustin and Brighton. And uh parking is expensive. It takes between 50,000 and $100,000 to build a
parking space. And the the developers charge 350 for the first car or and maybe 200 or 175 for the second car. And uh so folks who are uh finding their budget tight, they skip paying for the
parking in the garage and they park on the street. So we have asked so that if you're if there's parking available in the building that the those residents in those buildings shouldn't be allowed to get a residential parking sticker because folks who don't have a garage
need to be able to park on the on the street, so to speak. Um we have a we have a very interesting situation in Brighton uh in Austin because uh Austin I think 40% of the residents don't own a car. Maybe it's higher than that maybe 50. Um and those folks
um want to in you know want to see uh us address the uh issues of of other ways other mobility methods make sure that improving public transit is really important. uh accessibility of public transit and affordability uh and and
safe bike lanes and uh pedestrian safety as we already spoke about this this afternoon. So, you know, I think this is an issue that we need to dive into. We've been talking about this since before co and I think this is an addition an issue that we really need to dive into and come to some consensus
about what's reasonable and uh how we should move forward in a respectful and u responsible way. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Braden. The chair recognizes councelor Waral. You have the floor. Uh, thank you, Madam President, and thank you to councelor Flynn for u bringing this up. And as you heard from my other
colleagues in other districts, you know, it sounds like we are all um experiencing this. And what we um have heard um is that the residential park and permit program has been um paused uh for some time now. And I think it's time
to kind of hear from the administration on the future of that program. Uh but I know my residents in my neighborhood, whether it's Dorchester or Madapan or parts of Grove Hall, um they are requesting and advocating for residential parking pro because they're just frustrated on not being able to
park on their street and with the developments coming in uh with lack of parking. Um this is being exasperated. So looking forward to the conversation and hopefully we can get some clear answers from the administration. Thank you. Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone
else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden, Kota, Zapata, Fitzgerald, Mahia Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Warl. Please add the chair. This docket, docket number 0973, will be referred to the committee on planning, development, and transportation. Mr. Cler, could you
please read docket number 0974? Docket number 0974. Councilors Murphy and Flynn offer the following order for a hearing on fiscal transparency, equitable access, and council oversight in the expansion of the museum access program. Thank you. The chair recognizes
councelor Murphy. You have the floor. Um, thank you, Madam President. I rise today to address a matter of transparency and fiscal responsibility concerning the expansion of Boston's free museum access program. Last year, I filed along with council Flynn a hearing
order docket 1351, which was referred to the committee on education to discuss the extension of free museum passes exclusively for BPS families. As an advocate for equitable access to cultural resources, I championed the expansion to include all Boston
children, not just those in public schools. However, understanding our fiscal responsibilities, I sought to ensure that such an expansion was financially st feasible. Despite scheduling that hearing on this matter, the administration declined to send any
representative, leaving our questions unanswered. Now, we learned that the administration has made arrangements with participating museums to forego their voluntary payment in lie of taxes, also known as pilot contributions without informing the council. This lack
of transparency undermines our collective responsibility to make informed fiscal decisions. The city of Boston is governed by a collaborative body of 14, the 13 councilors in the mayor, and decisions impacting our city's finances should involve all of us
ensuring that we have access to the same information to fulfill our fiscal duties effectively. I urge the administration to provide full transparency regarding these agreements and to engage with the council in future decisions affecting our city's fiscal health. And I'm
looking forward to this hearing. Um 0974 and I hope and thank you councelor Santana. You did schedule that hearing. Um you did make time and we were on but no one came to answer those important questions. um because it is fun to, you
know, put in free bus lanes and expand wonderful programs, but we do have to make sure that we can afford it and how are we paying for it. So, I'm hoping that the administration shows up to find out to make sure that we're not then taking money away from other important um things that we need to do in the city
here. So, thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Counc Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Council Murphy. One of the questions I was going to ask at that meeting, I know the administration didn't show up, but one
of the questions I was going to ask is due to this program of providing free museum access to um BPS kids that we we all support, but I I also supported all
Boston kids along with Council Murphy. But one of the questions I was going to ask was uh what impact would this have on future pilot programs? That was really the question I was concerned with. What impact would this have on the
um finances of the city of Boston? Um would that if if you participated in that program, would that exempt you down the road from not paying payment in lie of taxes? I I I I I know we found out the answer
to that recently. Um but in the in the interest of transparent transparency, accountability, um I think it's important to have a discussion. I think my city councilors, our city councilors would also want to know what impact would that have on
future pilot payments from nonprofits. Does that exempt them going forward if you if you participated in the museum program? Again, we should have had that hearing with the administration um so we could have asked that asked those
questions, but we we weren't able to do that. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Durkin. Councelor Durkin, you have the floor. Thank you so much. Um, as the city councelor for many of these institutions, I can tell you that their contribution uh to our city through this
program is incredible. And uh I think the conversation around pilot has always been one of cash versus inind contributions. And at a time when the federal government is constantly attacking museums and nonprofits um and
institutions in district 8, I can tell you that the option for an institution to offer an inind benefit to residents of the city of Boston, one that is uniquely one that they can offer residents of the city of Boston is an ideal solution. Um and as the vice chair
of pilot um alongside uh the wonderful chair councelor Braden I think this conversation is interesting and exciting. Uh but I do think that there has been a politically motivated charge against this particular program and we've noticed it from the very
beginning. Within a week of this program coming online through the mayor's last state of the city, um it immediately became politicized about who was involved in a small pilot program. I obviously uh got up and had an issue
with the characterization of the initial program. A lot of the private philanthropy that has gone into this program is from residents of my district and other institutions. So um so I I think this conversation is important. I just want to make sure that it stays about the conversation that is at hand
which is one about whether institutions should be able to offer inind benefits as part of their payment in le of taxes. As we know we cannot make an institution give resources to the city of Boston. There is no compelling thing that we can
do. Um and I having worked with these institutions, having toured all of them, having had conversations with our leadership, this is a really unique solution that um the administration and the mayor have thought of. And I think the mayor being a mom who has brought
her own children to these institutions, I had the opportunity um to be at the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum um on one of the uh first Sundays where all students were included. Um, I really appreciated that opportunity to see
people light up, to see uh to see students for the first time be able to witness and be part of of a place that they'd never gotten the opportunity to uh to take in. Um, I've also enjoyed uh the MFA for one of these Sundays. And I
just I want to thank those institutions for stepping forward uh for for really partnering with the administration, for partnering with the city of Boston to do something that we witness in other cities. I mean, I think we all see DC really as the model. You can walk into
any of the Smithsonian institutions for free. Um this is a model. This is a pilot and now it's becoming reality. Um, and I just want to thank the administration for doing that with institutions in my district, for thinking of something that, uh, is
unique and is, uh, is something that I see a lot of residents benefiting from. But, um, let's keep it positive. That's what this is all about. Thank you. The chair recognizes council me. Council me, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Um, and thank you to the
filers. um just so that I can understand the the dynamics just help me. So the is the the is the issue that the
institutions instead of paying their taxes decided to give our kids a free pass. Is that what's the problem? because I I I just want to make sure I understand the the dynamics. So, I I'm I know we're going to talk a little bit
more about it in the hearing, but I just I just want to make sure that I understand before I put my name as a supporter of the hearing order that I know what I'm jumping into. What is the issue at
hand? That would help me better understand the dynamics that are happening here. Thank you, Council Mia. Councelor Flynn has his light on and he's one of the co-sponsors. So, if you'd like to respond to your question, you may. And then you are also correct
in that the hearing will be where folks can talk in more detail about this matter. The chair recognizes council. Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to councelor Mahia for that important question. I think it's a combination of if if you pay the p
payment in le of taxes whether it's $200,000 or $400,000 that money would go into the city budget but the basically the city gave the particular museums the opportunity not to donate the $400,000
or the $500,000. Instead of that um giving free access to children, giving them the the opportunity really to go to the museums instead of paying before $500,000 which they traditionally have
paid is is the payment lie of taxes. So it's it's a significant amount of money for the handful of museums that were given that opportunity or option to kind of not pay that payment. instead of paying instead of that payment they work
with the city to give them uh free access to children in for these wonderful wonderful museums. Um, hope that answers that question. And madam, Madame Chair, I I do want to I do want to respond. I I do want to provide
positive leadership, but when when I and Councelor Murphy advocated for all Boston children, it wasn't about politics. It wasn't about politics at all. I represent probably the most diverse district in the city. represent
the most residents living in public housing. I want to make sure that they also have the opportunity to visit these wonderful museums, cultural institutions. Uh many of them attend private school. Some of them attend
um METCO and other programs and they weren't entitled to this program. It's not about casting blame on anybody, but it's about working together. But the last on my mind when I wanted to work with councelor Murphy on this was about
the politics of it. I just feel residents in my district that go to private schools should participate and go to these same museums like wealthier families that have the option of sending their kids to public
schools. Many of many of them do send their children to public schools and that have the financial means and that is wonderful. But many of these children that go to private schools, Catholic schools sometimes, um, go there and they pay limited tuition. Their parent or
their guardian works extremely hard to pay limited tuition, but I also think they should have the opportunity to visit some of these museums. Cathedral High School, John, it's in my district, and your district right on the line. Um,
those families are not wealthy. um they don't have they don't their families aren't making a lot of money. But should they be denied the option of going to some of these cultural museums because their family doesn't have money
and they and they um are in a private school. It's about fairness. It's about respect. It's about dignity. But the last thing, Madam Chair, thank you. It's it's it's not about politics. I've I've I've been in on this body seven years
and um about the last thing I want to do is play politics with people in my district. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Flynn. The chair recognizes councelor Braden. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I'll keep it brief. um you know as a chair of the um pilot committee uh we've been in a long
and very involved and longstanding conversation back and forward with uh the administration and with um some representatives of our big institutions. I think it's recognized that in Boston 90% of the co the pilot payment comes
from nine institutions, nine big ones, the big EDS and meds. Um we say that about 53% of the of the non-t taxable uh property in the city of Boston is uh you know those are the institutions that don't pay taxes. Well, the federal
government is part of that. They don't pay taxes. The city of Boston doesn't pay taxes. And then we have our eds and meds. And then we have our cultural institutions. the cultural institutions and our and our uh schools, our private schools like u uh Catholic memorial or
BC High or uh any of the um Jewish schools, they don't pay taxes either. So, I think um the issue about the I think I I applaud the mayor for having the pilot and having it restricted to
BPS students and I also applaud like expanding it to all the other students that we have in our city. Uh, I think there's an ongoing conversation and it's gotten more complicated lately. I I wish we'd put the whole pilot conversation to bed at least a year ago, maybe two years
ago because we've been talking about this since 19 no 20 not 1917. I'm not that old. Um, 2017 we we the pilot action group has been talking about this since 20 2017. So we're going on seven
years conversation about how we need to uh revise and update the pilot program. Uh so it's still a work in progress and uh and I I really in this moment of fiscal constraint and and given the in the light of all that's happening at the
federal level and how the federal level is going after our nonprofits like they're going to go after NPR, they're going to go after WGBH, they're going to go after they're going after Harvard and BEu and all of our institutions. So this is a really difficult time to talk about
um you know how much we we um how much we charge or we can't charge how much voluntary contributions we expect from our nonprofits in the city. So as I say it's a work in progress and I'm hoping that we're going to make progress uh in
the near future. We also want to say that in this moment of crisis, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our nonprofits and say hands off. They do incredible work and we do uh expect to have some voluntary contributions in le of taxes
uh from them. But in this moment, we have to find a finesse and support everyone to keep keep these vital engines of our economy going uh in the face of such a an allout assault on them in in our city. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Braden. The
recognizes councelor Murphy. Um, thank you, Madam Chair. I do just want to if people may forget that when docket 1351 was filed, it then was split waiting for a hearing. It had been in arts and culture and then the money funding was
separated out, which was something I did oppose to when that happened. And then that was the hearing that went into education. So from the beginning, Council Flynn and I have been trying to work alongside and find ways and making sure that it is fiscally responsible to
expand. So I'm looking forward to continuing the conversation about how are we funding this wonderful program, but any other program across the city that we on the council are responsible for passing or not. So when the administration doesn't show up, when we
have a lot of questions that we want answered and then we submit questions at the hearing that never did then get answered, it leaves us in the dark and that's one of the reasons too that I'm looking forward to this hearing happening and hopefully with full
participation from the administration. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to my colleagues. Thank you to everyone for speaking on this. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? just want to say that I love this program and I am like councelor Braden stated, councelor Durkin, I think it's incredible the expansion. Um I think about myself as a
kid and my parents and their very limited budget and my ability as a kid in the city to go to uh these institutions and having to trade off the cost. And so um I think these are important conversations especially when you think as councelor Braden also highlighted the pilot discussions that
have been ongoing. Um, and it's a lot of things like a lot of things. It's a balancing act and a balancing test given the federal environment right now. So, I look forward to this conversation in this um and this topic. Uh, Mr. Clerk, could you please uh uh would anyone like to add their
name? Uh, Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden Mia Pepen. Uh, thank you. Uh, this docket, docket number 0974, will be referred to the committee on pilot agreements, institutional and intergovernmental relations. Um, thank you, Mr. Clerk. Before you read docket
number 0975, there's just one small thing that I wanted to state about um when we were speaking and and councelor Derkin left uh which is why I wasn't able to speak about it immediately, but it's for docket number 0972 that's planned in uh and that you stated June
9th is the date, but you also did state that you would maybe have more than one hearing that may be required if for some reason June 9th must be the date. I I I do want to just pay respect to the fact that council Weber's son is graduating that day. And so it and it's a hearing order that was filed in his com that
that he filed. So I mean maybe folks will be able to work something out, but I I I just I just wanted to put that on the table that his son is graduating and therefore that's uh going to be a I I don't want to get into it because I know that we are well working capable people of working together and can discuss the
scheduling, but I did just want to uplift that. Um thank you Mr. Clerk. Could you please read docket number 0975? Docket number 0975. Councelor Braden offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss the availability of cooling centers in the city of Boston
during extreme heat emergencies. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Braden. Councelor Braden, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. And I um I decided to offer this uh hearing order u in in the light of the fact that our Veronica Smith uh comm uh senior
center is getting a new HVAC system. Uh it's $4.5 million. It's going to be wonderful. It's going to be well money well spent. U it all but the but the process of putting a new uh cooling system into the Veronic Smith will will require that they vacate the building.
Uh, and I think it's scheduled to to happen in September. So, I I made sure that it wasn't going to happen within this heat system season, but we do get hot weather in September. That said, I'm delighted they're getting a new cooling system, new HVAC system. But,
um, our cool our cooling center in the city in in Austin, Brighton has always been the Jackson Man Community Center. And, uh, as you all know, it's in a sort of shaky position right now. So I wanted to highlight the issue of cooling
centers AC not just in my district but across the across the neighborhoods because last year on Junth which was a holiday in the city of Boston temperatures hit like in the high 90s there was high humidity and uh I spoke
to the clo the schools were closed the community centers were closed the um senior center was closed uh BHA had all their kids home uh from school that day uh and they were really scrambling to find splash pads and misting tents to
try and keep people cool. Increased temperatures like these heat waves that we have um the the every year gets hotter than the previous one in the city of Boston and in globally. So we are right in the midst of it. Just like uh
councelor Kleta frequently re references the the the flooding hazards, heat days and extreme temperatures are another of the hazards of climate change and we need to be prepared. So I just want to make sure that all of our cooling
centers are up and running and ready to go. Uh we get extreme heat in May. We get extreme week heat in June, July. we get extreme heat into a August. Um we might not get the five day sessions. The
other thing that we had in this incident of utility, we had a utility out outage in Brighton a few in a few years ago, the year before last and u it was a voluntary outage. It wasn't a bl brown out, but the utility companies needed to shut the system down so they could do
urgent repairs to prevent a catastrophic outage that would have knocked the electricity out from two of our hospitals, St. Elizabeth and Franciscan. So, we didn't have they put the put the power off for 24 hours. Um, and there
was no plan. We didn't have a we didn't have a heating a cooling center ready to go. And constituents were calling, "Can I bring my pets? Can I bring my pets to the cooling center? And then in those instances, how do we communicate with our vulnerable uh communities or elders
and people with illnesses that require using a uh like a breathing apparatus? I had a patient once in South Boston actually there was an outage overnight and she was bedbound but had a mattress that inflated and deflated to prevent
pressure sores. And uh during the outage when I went to see her the next day, she had developed pressure sores overnight from not having a power power to run her uh medical equipment. So um I think this is a really important thing we need to sort of dig into and I I I look forward
to the conversation. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to councelor Braden for this important discussion. Cooling centers are critical. one one summer I think council Braden
mentioned it was 100 degrees but one of my but in in Chinatown was not on the list at that time I had to fight to get a center opened in Chinatown but as we have this discussion I want the city administration to know that it's
critical that every neighborhood have a an an an important center where residents can get there. The other issue I wanted to highlight besides um besides Chinatown having a a cooling center, there must be special
um circumstances in support of helping residents living in Boston Housing Authority. Um very difficult for many residents to get out of their apartment. But we do need cooling centers in Boston
Housing Authority developments such as Cathedral um or or um West Broadway, any of these developments. But there should be a center, a site on on site for residents to go to that has access to
water and food. um cooling cooling center, but residents from BHA developments uh must be respected and listened to and included as part of this discussion. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else
like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors uh Kleta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mahia, Durkin, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Warl. This docket, docket number 0975, will be referred to the committee on uh public
health, homelessness, and recovery. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket number 0976? Docket number 0976. Councelor Flynn offer the following. Order for a hearing to discuss adding state oversight on statements of financial interest. The chair recognizes councelor Flynn. You have the floor. Thank you,
Madam Chair. Over the last several years, there have been a number of legal and e ethical lapses on the city council undermine the credibility of the body with the public. Two weeks ago, I called for a hearing of the council to establish an
outside oversight committee on compliance and accountability. This week, I'm filing a hearing order to discuss adding oversight from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission when it comes to statements of financial interest, SFIs, for all Boston city
councilors. In the interest of transparency, I am also advocating to make five years of federal and state tax returns available to the public for all city councilors. For the public's knowledge, a statement of financial interest is a financial
disclosure document that public officials and candidates for public office are legally required to complete annually. It is a document that ensures that public officials are acting in the public interest and all city councils
are required to file an annual statement of financial interest with the city clerk annually on or before June 1st. The kind of information a SFI collects includes our salary, other governmental positions held, information regarding
business holdings, government securities, stocks, bonds, other financial investments, real estate holdings, mortgage information. It also requires public officials to declare gifts and reim reimbursements received
from c certain sources during the calendar year. At the state level level, the financial disclosure law under MASH general law 268B requires elected state and county officials and certain appointed state
and county employees to file the statement of financial interest SFI with the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. However, this law does not require municipal officials to file with the commission. While Boston city
councilors are only required to report to the city clerk annually, as I mentioned, I would like to add additional oversight from the Mass State Ethics Commission. After the last several years at the council, now more than ever, it
is critical that we work to regain public trust by promoting transparency, good governance, preventing any conflict of interest. I also believe that is appropriate to to disclose five years worth of federal and state tax returns
to help us avoid any hint of impropriety. I look forward to hearing from and speaking with the Mass State Ethics Commission about how this would work. I hope my colleagues will support this effort. We have lost credibility. We need to regain it back. Thank you,
Madam Chair. Thank you, Councelor Flynn. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselor Kleta Zapata Duran uh Murphy Pepen Weber Warl Mia. This docket,
docket number 0977 will be referred to committee on 0976 will be referred to committee on rules administration. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket number 0977? Docket number 0977. Councelor Murphy offer the following order for a hearing regarding procedures
following a vacancy in the office of district city councelor. The chair recognizes councelor Murphy. You have the floor. Thank you. Um so I'm filing this hearing order to discuss procedures following a vacancy in any district council order. As I
highlighted at our last council meeting here in the chamber, there have been many special elections in vacancies for a short period of time for different reasons and um different council offices across the city, not just in certain neighborhoods. So, while the Boston City
Charter provides clear guidelines for initiating a special election when a district council seat becomes vacant, it remains silent on the status and responsibilities of the staff employed by a district city councelor who vacates their office before the end of their
term. There is an understanding there is um you know belief I think passed on like many procedures here on the council because it's been past practices or referred to as best practices. But I do believe there is an absence of clear guidelines that has led to a varying
interpretations and practices regarding the continuation of constituent services and staff duties during the interim period before a new counselor is elected and sworn in. Constituent services are the lifeblood of our work as counselors.
Many residents rely on our offices for assistance with a myriad of issues from navigating city services to addressing urgent community concerns. The sudden departure of a counselor at any time should not disrupt the continu continuity of the essential services
they deserve. Recent events have highlighted that challenges that arise when there is ambiguity about the role of a district office staff during such transitions. For instance, in the case of a district vacancy, there is uncertainty about
whether the staff will remain in place to serve constituents. And some of that um concern or confusion isn't coming from here, city hall, or colleagues. It is coming from residents when I'm out in different districts across the city. While at large, counselors are willing
to step in to assist, there's that's not sustainable or equitable solution for all districts. I believe it's imperative that we establish standardized procedures to ensure uninterrupted constituent services during periods of transition. This includes clear
guidelines on the retention of district office staff, delineation of their responsibilities and mechanisms for their support. Furthermore, I believe we must consider the implication to the staff members themselves.
Without clear policies, they may face uncertainty about their employment status, about responsibilities, and feel as though they don't have the support they deserve during some these periods. Providing clarity not only benefits constituents, but I believe more
importantly upholds the dignity and stability of our dedicated council staff that they deserve. So, I look forward to engaging in this hearing to collaborately develop policies that uphold our commitment to effective governance and uninterrupted service and
support to all of our staff. And as we know in many of us when we stand, we do reference our council staff and thank them for the hard work they do. So, I think this just goes along with making sure that we're supporting the staff that we have here on the city council. Thank you. Thank you. Would anyone else
like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Councelor Fernande Janison. the floor. Uh thank you, Madam President. Um I guess you know just a thousand questions about um the the file the filers's uh previous engagement with
district 7. What what does she know about district 7? What does she know about the policies, the work, the projects, the programs that District 7 is working on? Does she know the status of any parks or any capital anything improvements in District 7?
Um looking forward to the conversation. Um hopefully the hearing can be scheduled soon, but also there is already rules in place, right? You the council president um is in charge and so
there they're obviously protocols. filing this just feels like um we don't know that those rules exist and we've already been in communication with your office, Madam President, about
coordinating all of these transitions. My office in the past um years have been extremely organized um with databases, data research and
from constituent services all the way to policy. Considering that it's only going to be constituent service based, there is a plan and I guess I would have liked to see um the at all large counselor be more involved in the past three years
and understanding all of this. Um but blindly, you know, filing something like this is alarming because it it would seem that you don't know anything about District 7. But I look forward to the conversation. U Madam President, I have
faith that you are more than capable to be able to execute those rules in place. Um and I'm happy to provide um my transition plan as soon as as is ready and that has to be done in partnership with the district of course. Um we have
an advisory council that is composed of 63 um now 63 strong um civic associations and neighborhood groups. Um and they are the experts on the ground with everything
District 7. And so my staff um just like to take a moment to say thank you to my amazing, very capable staff who will be um divided by neighborhoods to provide constituent service. Of course, now more than ever, more hands-on in constituent
service. Um but there is a plan. Um let's not pretend that there isn't one. And there there are rules. Um and council president is standing right there. So she's going to do her job. And so I look forward to any questions in this hearing. I'm still here. Look
forward to that conversation so that we can soften the landing for the district. If it is truly about the constituents, then let's talk. Let's not pretend people are just not here, not doing their job. Thank you. Thank you. Uh councelor Fernanderson, this docket,
docket number 0977 will refer to the committee on rules administration. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0978? Docket number 0978. Council Pen offer the following order to adopt chapter 270 of the acts of 2024 regarding local law enforcement
continuity between the city of Boston and the town of Dham. The chair recognizes councelor Pan. You have the floor. Thank you madam president. So last week I filed this order to adopt chapter 270 of the acts of 2024 allowing Boston and datam police
to legally operate within 500 yard radius across municipal lines when handling a case. This police continue continuity is based off a current law enforce continuity with our border to Brooklyn that was enacted in 1979. While this chapter was brought through the
state legislature from public safety advocates along Boston and denim line, I understand the concerns my council colleagues have brought up to me regarding the Boston Trust Act and other matters. Therefore, I am asking this order to to be placed in committee for us to hold a hearing with Boston and Denim police officials to ensure our
city's values will continue to be carried out. Um, just for everyone's knowledge, this is coming directly from the state house. Um, it was was provided to me from my state representative Rob Consalvo. This is a practice that is practiced with other towns and municipalities. It's currently practiced
with Brooklyn and Milton. So, I just this is something that should be should have done should have been done about 20 30 years ago, but it wasn't. Um, so I think that having a hearing about it will be good for us to learn and just make sure it it happens the right way. So, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam
President, thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden Cla Zapata Durkin Fernandez Anderson Fitzgerald Mahia Murphy Weber
Warl the chair. This docket, docket number 0978, will be referred to the committee on public safety and criminal justice. Oh, it's me next. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket number 0979? Docket number 0979. Council Lu Jen offer the following resolution for a flag
raising to celebrate Monsurat. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council President Lu Jen. Counselor. Uh the floor is now yours. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a resolution in honor of uh Monserat uh the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, and
it possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in African, Irish, and British traditions. It's the only country outside of Ireland uh to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a national holiday and it includes honoring an attempted rebellion by enslaved Africans against European
colonizers in 1768. For any of that, last year was the first year that we uh raised the Monserat flag here at city hall and it was a beautiful event. Um and it just shows the diversity and richness of cultures and different cultures coming together and it was um
it was beautiful. And so I just want to make sure that my colleagues know about this and that we appreciate Monserat for all that they offer. Even though they're small diaspora here in Boston, they're small but mighty. Um it s the the flag symbolizes the island's identity, heritage, and enduring spirit. And it
features the Union Jack as self as a self-governing overseas territory within the British Commonwealth. Um and so I look forward to this Friday uh raising the flag alongside community. Want to definitely uplift Meredith to it. She is one of the most proud monerations that I
know and um I know that she uh cares deeply about the Caribbean community, cares deeply about the veterans community, cares deeply about women, cares deeply about so many communities and I just love that we get to celebrate this part that is really important. Um and as a fellow Caribbean, I look forward to just continuing to learn more about Monserat and raising the flag. And
so I again invite all of my colleagues this Friday um to be alongside our vibrant Monseratin community. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, thank you, Council President. Um, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Uh, thank you, Council President Lu Jen, for filing this. I'm looking
forward um to raising the flag and celebrating uh Monserat. Just want to also give a big shout out to Meredith Tuitt and also to Monerat Aspires, the organization over there for all the work that they do um in the community. Uh would anyone like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, can you please add council
Braden, councelor Kleta Zapata, um councelor Durkin, council finers Anderson, council Fitzgerald, councelor Flynn, council Mahia, councelor Murphy, councelor Pepin, council Weber, please add the chair. Council President Louis Jen seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 0979. All
those in favor say I. All those opposed say nay. The eyes have it. Thank you. Docket number 0979 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket number 0980? Docket number 0980. Council Flynn, Councilors Murphy and Flynn offer the
following resolution in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and in support of legislation to reclassify and protect 911 dispatchers. Thank you. Um the chair recognizes Councelor Murphy. Um Councelor Murphy,
you have the floor. Thank you. um this resolution recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunication Week um in expressing our support for legislation to reclassify and protect our 911 dispatchures. So I'm proud to
file this along with Council Flynn. And I would like to suspend the rules and add Councelor Fitzgerald if there's no objection. Councelor Murphy seeks to suspend the rules. Add Council Fitzgerald as the third original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, Council Fitzgerald is so added. Councelor Murphy, you have the
floor. Thank you. Each year during the second full week of April, we honor the dedicated professionals who serve as the critical link between our community and emergency services. These public safety telecommunicators are the first to respond in times of crisis, providing
vital information and support to both the callers and the emermergency personnel. Despite their essential role, 911 dispatchers are often classified as clerical workers rather than first responders.
This ma misclassification does not reflect the complexity and significance of their work. Legislation such as the 911 Saves Act seeks to address this by reclassifying dispatches as protective service occupations, ensuring they
receive the recognition but more importantly the benefits that com measurerate with their responsibilities. In Massachusetts, similar efforts are underway. House Bill H2667 aims to provide public safety telecommunicators with the same internal
benefits as first responders. Acknowledging their critical contributions to public safety. I'd like to acknowledge Tom McKver, president of SEIU Local 888 for his unwavering advocacy on behalf of our
911 dispatchers. Under his leadership, SEIU Local 888 has been instrumental in pushing for the reclassification of our dispatches, securing historic wage increases, in ensuring that these vital workers receive recognition and the support they
deserve. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and to advocate for the reclassification and protection of our 911 dispatchers. their unwavering commitment to our community deserves our recognition and support. And I would just like to recognize that
council Webber, you did um your office did reach out and ask to be a third sponsor, but I had already said um so but thank you. I know that this is something that you will support and help um pass up at the state house with us. Thank you. Thank you uh councelor
Murphy. The chair recognizes councelor Flynn. Councelor, you have the floor. And thank you, Mr. Vice Vice Chair. Thank you for council Murphy for adding me. I'm proud to support this resolution today and to honor the dedicated men and
women who work in public safety, telecommunication for their commitment, service, and sacrifice. 911 dispatchers are one of the most critical roles in in the city. They are our first call during a life or
death or emergency situation and their role is indispensable in ensuring public safety in the well-being of our residents and visitors. While we often see first responders such as firefighters, police, EMS, on-site, 911
dispatchers are often not seen. They are unsung heroes in the background and the voice of calm during extremely stressful situations for our residents and visitors. Many of them work overnight shifts to ensure residents
calls are answered. I urge my colleagues to support the bill in the Mass State House and urge Congress to reclassify 911 dispatches as well to ensure they receive appropriate benefits and recognition. Let's celebrate their work.
As the cost of living in Boston is becoming more expensive over the last decade, Boston has faced severe shortages in the 911 center. In 2022, during the pandemic, we lifted the re residency requirement for hard to
hire for city jobs, including our 911 dispatchers and call takers at Boston Police. This was a three-year waiver by the residency compliance commission and to my knowledge expires this year. Given the high cost of living
here in Boston in difficulties with home ownership, we need to have a conversation about these waiverss. In my view, public safety is of the utmost importance. We have to support our 911 dispatchers in whatever capacity in their work in order to keep our
residents safe. As councelor Murphy mentioned, um the union has been incredible allies supporting their workers. I also want to acknowledge our previous colleague who did tremendous work in supporting um 911 operators and
that is city councelor Michael Flareity. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor I'm not sure Fitzgerald. Thank you, Madam President. Uh it's hard to be a first responder if at first you're not uh if no one picks up the
phone at first. So uh I I'm much uh in support of this reclassification and also recognizing everybody that are u in this telecommunications uh the safety telecommunications week. Uh thank you to councelor Murphy uh for allowing me a co-sponsor on this. Uh but yeah, just
I've toured the uh the 911 facility, their headquarters. Uh it's a tough job. There's a lot of there's not as many people there you think answering phones uh which is kind of a scary thought and it's because it there's a lot of burnout in the job. It's tough hours and you have to deal with a lot of stressful
situations. So anything that goes to support them and retain them I think is better for our safety in the long run. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Durkin. Councelor Durkin, you have the floor. Thank you so much. Um given that there's five bills listed here, I obviously I'm a huge
supporter of SEAU88. Um, but because two of these are federal bills that I haven't read, I'd like to request a fivem minute recess so that I can read the bills that are listed within this docket. Um, just was there a third on this docket? I just want to clarif Oh, it was okay. It was for sure. It was a third.
Sorry. That's why I wasn't sure which order. Okay. Um, it's 3:11. We will be in recess until 3:20. [Music] [Music]
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[Music] [Music] [Music] Uh we are back in session. Uh Mr. Oh um the chair recognizes Sorry, the chair recognizes councelor Durkin.
You have the floor. Thank you. Thank you. Um, and thank you to my colleagues for uh the opportunity to do my due diligence. Um, I did review all of these and I am planning to vote in support. Thank you for bringing this forward. Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this
matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden, Kazapata, Durkin, um, Mahia Flynn, Santana, Weber, Warl, please chair. Uh, councilors Murphy. Uh,
councelor Flynn, you're a co-sponsor. Yeah. Okay. So, don't add councelor Flynn. Um, councilors Murphy, Flynn, and Fitzgerald, expansion of the rules and adoption of docket number 0980. All those in favor say I. I. Um, the eyes have it. This docket has
passed. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0981? Docket number 0981. Councelor Flynn off of the following resolution in support of House 1347, an act to improve cickle cell care. Um, thank you. The chair recognizes
councelor Flynn. Councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I please add council as an original co-sponsor, please? Council also added. Councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you. I'm filing this resolution today in support of cickle
cell care for our residents. H1347. It's an act to improve sickle cell care is currently up at the state house. It's sponsored by Rep. Bud Williams of Hampton. Sickle cell disease is an inherited
blood disorder and it cause it causes deformed red blood cells that are sickle shaped that can block blood flow. Over 100,000 people in the United States are impacted
by this disease. Those with this condition suffer or can suffer from chronic pain, infections, swelling, and organ damage among other conditions. Research from the center for disease control finds
that over 90% of those who have cickle cell disease are black and Latino in life expectancy among those with this condition is 20 years. 20 years shorter than an average person. H1347 aims to combat cickle cell disease
through four different areas, including creating a steering committee in the department of public health composed of experts, professionals in the community, implementing a detection in education program, creating a registry to collect data to facil facilitate studies,
improve treatments in follow-up care, and the last one requiring requiring Medicaid managed organizations to tier list strategies for cickle cell patients so that they receive comprehensive care such as access to specialists and better
access to medications. Our communities of color often experience health inequities that lead to disproportionately worse health outcomes in life expectancy. I hope colleagues will support this bill to ensure equitable
health. I also want to recognize the work of the Mass Sickle Cell Association which is a leading nonprofit that raises awareness, provides programs and supports individuals and families who suffer from this disease. They I got involved in
this issue. They would invite me to their cookout every year at Franklin Park. I think I've been there the last six years and I always enjoyed going to their cookout they had and kind of a walk as well. But they're wonderful
people. Um they're doing tremendous work across across Massachusetts really. Um but I will let my colleagues know when they when that cookout is scheduled and if you'd like to join me um it's a great way to talk to some of the some of the residents but also to learn more about
cickle cell and the impact it has on communities of color. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes uh council oral. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to councelor Flynn for introducing this resolution. Um, I have family members who live with sick cell disease. Um, and
it remains clear that better education, early detection, and specialized care are critical. Um, in some cases, environmental and social factors also impact health outcomes, making it even more important to invest in community-based resources. Um
unfortunately health and human services at the federal level recently reorganized eliminating uh the division of blood disorders which oversaw sick cell data collection. Uh we have now we have we now have no centralized way to
study this this disease that disproportionately affects the black community. Uh this bill uh H1347 an act to improve sick cell care um puts a lot of the remaining work at the state level and I'm proud to champion this cause alongside councelor
Flynn on the city side. Uh we need to do more not less for the sickell community and also big shout out to the mass secel um organization. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes councelor Braden you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Councelor Flynn, for bringing this
forward. And um I think I'm probably going to just um reiterate some of the points that uh councelor Warel made. Um I think our research into rare diseases is is under threat. sadly we seem to talk about nearly every issue we talk
about this is touched by the the incredible um sledgehammer approach uh to almost every government uh funded program in in Washington at the moment. Uh so we're very aware of the racial health care disparities in our city. Um,
and we are also very aware of the social determinance of health and how our social policies impact everyday the health and well-being of our everyday residents across the city, but in particular our communities of color. Uh, and you know, cickle cell disease is one
of those uh diseases that's a rare disease that there's ongoing research as to how to uh track its incidence and improve its the the treatment thereof. And uh it's one of many diseases that uh very important um research has been
going on. It's easy to get re get funding for the big the big blockbuster diseases. Uh but these more rare diseases are high lower incidents and u you know as I know from working at Perkins School for the Blind we had many kids with very rare syndromes. We had
one young man who who as far as we knew he had he was he was the only one that was known to the world uh because he had a rare he had a rare disease. Um and I really want to stand in support of this uh act to improve cickle cell care but also flag up the fact that there are
many other instances of research has been slashed and researchers that have been led off and years and years of of valuable uh information and data that's been gathered in is just been wasted at this point. Thank you. Thank you
councelor Braden. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Um I want to thank the makers for filing this. This is a matter that is near and dear to me and to my family. Um, you know, cickle cell started as a way to protect the the
way that it formed was as a way to protect people, especially black and brown people in parts of Africa, Latin America, uh, from malaria, the predominance of malaria in those countries. And um while it helped to protect them from malaria, it then
transformed into this very difficult to treat um disease, I spent many of my nights in college um at ERS with loved ones who were experiencing cickle cell crisis. And to see someone in a crisis from cickle cell
is um a very jarring thing to witness. And the research would be much further along if it wasn't a disease that particularly affected black and brown people. And so I want to thank the people who are doing the work. I recently was on a tour of Boston Medical
Center and talk to them about the work that they're doing. MGH is making really great strides. There's gene therapy now um that is still nent but where people are now there have been people who have been becoming slowly cickle cellf free and um that's a credit to people
focusing on the health inequities involved and so I also want to um uplift the Massachusetts cle cell association they're having their annual gala and scholarship awards night um on June 7th at um Benezia in Dorchester and I'll be
speaking there a lot about uh the personal journey and story of so many of those. There was a a a famous Haitian artist last year who died from this really um terrible disease. So I just want to um hold close all of those who are living with cickle cell because it
is really really painful and takes a lot of years off of people's lives. And so with emerging research and technology hopefully um we'll be able to make a dent in the way that people experience this horrible disease. Would anyone else would anyone like to add their name to
this docket? Mr. Cler, could you please add counselors, Zapata, Durkin, Fernand, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Mahia Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Warl. Oh, and councelor Braden as well. Um, councilors Flynn and Warl seek suspension of the
rules and passage of docket number 0981. Uh, all in favor say I. The eyes have it. Docket number 0981 is adopted. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket
number 0982? Docket number 0982. Councelor Flynn offer the following resolution recognizing Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madame Chair, may I add
Council Murphy and suspend the rules and add Council Mahia as original co-sponsors? Councilor Murphy is so added. Councelor uh Flynn suspend the rules. add council mahi as the third original co-sponsor seeing and hearing no objections. Councelor Mahia has so added. Councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I represent a large population of AAPI residents in my district, including in Chinatown, but also in downtown Boston, the South End, Bay Village, Back Bay, and South Boston.
Outside of my district, there is a large Vietnamese community in Dorchester representative represented very well by council Fitzgerald before that council Baker a Korean and Chinese population in Alustin as well a Cambodian community in
ll as well as other AAPI communities throughout the state. The Asian-American Pacific Islander community have been an integral part of American life for over 150 years. from the first Japanese immigrants
arriving in May 1843 and Chinese laborers playing an essential role in building the transcontinental railroad more than 150 years ago to later waves of immigrants of Japanese, Chinese, Kore Korean,
Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, other Asian immigrants. They helped build our country, you know, part of the fab fabric of America. They are our doctors, nurses, teachers, city and community leaders, business
owners, restaurant owners, bus drivers, administrators, youth mentors, coaches. They are also veterans. Here in Boston's Chinatown, we have the American Legion Post 328, which marks 76 years of
service to the Chinatown in veteran community. this year. The post is made up of young and older veterans who served as far back as World War II. Some of you may remember I mentioned that Veterans Commissioner Santiago and
I took part in Army Private Wing H's Hero Square dedication in Chinatown several years ago. Private H was among 20,000 Chinese Americans who served
during World War II. who was killed in action when he was 20 years old and whose body was identified and recovered in Italy three years ago. His square now sits in front of his home on Beach Street in the heart of
Chinatown where he lived more than 80 years ago. The AAPI community faced discrimination and racism in the past like the Chinese Exclusion Act, the interment of Japanese Americans during World War II. And these
challenges still remain as we have seen during the COVID 19 pandemic with anti-Asian sentiments and attacks on elderly and Asian residents. Actually, I had I called for the first public hearing during the start of CO 19. first
public hearing in the country we had at Josiah Quinzy. And one of the issues, I'll tell this story briefly. One of the most profound stories I heard as a city councelor was a young Asian American student, I believe she went to either
Boston Latin or Boston Latin Academy. And she told me um once this pandemic was started starting that she was taking the train to school. And when she got on the train, the people on the train got up
and left the train, mostly white people. They got up and left the train. They didn't want to be with her. They associated her with COVID 19. And what happened after that during the pandemic? Well, in great cities like Boston, New
York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles with large Asian populations, we saw hate crimes take place. A lot of it, in my opinion, was the rhetoric, the hateful rhetoric coming from the federal
administration at that time. The other story I just wanted to highlight is I mentioned it briefly is when the Chinese working with the Irish, but the Chinese really built the transcontinental railroad across the country and when they connected it just
outside of Salt Lake City. There was a famous photo of all the workers, a couple hundred people in the photo and not one not one Asian person was in the photo even though they practically built the railroad system. What did the US government do after
that? Well, we designed a specific immigration policy to in the first time to exclude a specific race of people naming them the Chinese Exclusion Act. U World War II
What did we do? Um, well, we put Japanese in internment camps mostly out on the uh west coast, Seattle or San Francisco, but also also around here as well. Um, so the reason I bring this up
is the Asian community has contributed greatly to the city and country. They're unsung heroes in my opinion, but there's still a lot of anti-Asian racism and hate that we continue to see today
and that's why I continue to focus on it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Murphy. You have the floor. Thank you. Um I commend Council Flynn for introducing this important resolution and I'm honored to co-sponsor it with
you. Boston's Chinatown is not just a historic neighborhood. It's a vibrant community that embodies the resilience, culture, and contributions of our AAPI residents. Over the years, I've spent considerable time in Chinatown engaging
with community leaders, businesses, and residents to understand and support their needs. Recently, I met with Debbie Hoe from Chinatown Main Streets, and we discussed initiatives aimed at bolstering local businesses and revitalizing the neighborhood's economy.
Their efforts along with other organizations and family groups in Chinatown are providing lots of um needed supports to the residents there. I know Chinatown Main Streets along with her husband Gilbert, they provide free tax assistance to lowincome residents
which is crucial in uplifting their needs and their economic needs. Public safety remains a top priority and I've been actively involved in the Chinatown safety committee and I've collaborated with the A1 police and also the Chinatown community leaders who meet
regularly several times a month to discuss their needs there. environmental health and other pressing concerns. Something that I know um councelor Flynn often brings up about the residents and the visitors to Chinatown. They experience some of the highest levels of
fine particular matter in the state largely due to their proximity to the major highways like the Mass Pike and I 93. This pollution has been linked to elevated rates of asthma and other health issues among residents in Chinatown. We also need to um address
these environmental challenges because it's a vital for the well-being and quality of life of all the residents there. In recognizing AAPI Heritage Month, we're not only celebrating the rich cultural tapestry that the community brings to our city, but also
reaffirming our commitment to addressing the unique challenges they face. It's important that we continue to support and uplift our AAPI neighbors, ensuring their voices are heard and their contributions are acknowledged. Thank you.
The chair recognizes Council Mah. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councelor Flynn for adding me as an original um co-sponsor. Um, I think it's important when we think about months like this, whether it is Italian Heritage Month,
Hispanic Heritage Month, you know, I think it's important to center the fact that it should not just be a month. We should always um uplift all of our communities at all times. And so, just wanted to affirm that. Um, you know, I think it's really important to in
furthering this work of building bridges between all communities of color here in Boston. Too often we allow ourselves to fall victim to pitting one racial group against the other. But the truth is is that we're all stronger when we band together. And that includes recognizing
the incredible contributions and real challenges and lived experiences of the Asian community. Um I also think it's important to um note that um the API the AAPI community is incredibly diverse.
Um, for those who may not know, it's comprising over more than 50 distinct ethnicities and over a 100 language dialects. Um, the stories of the AAPI community are part of the story of the United States and their experiences
reflects the ups and downs of this nation's history. Having lived in New York um and and having grown up here in the city of Boston, if anyone has traveled even to San Francisco, you know, we always talk about ch um little
Chinatown, little Saigon. And what you notice in these communities in particular is issues of displacement, issues of discrimination. And I think that as we continue to celebrate the heritage, we also need to acknowledge
the work and the impact that a lot of the community activists are doing right now in the city of Boston around some of the zoning issues that they are facing and all of the advocacy that they've been doing around being able to stay here in the city of Boston. So while we
recognize um and celebrate the heritage, let's also understand the attacks um that are falling specifically in the Chinatown area in regards to displacement. So really wanted to just
shout out Councelor Flynn for his fierce advocacy on behalf of his constituents. Um and thank you for allowing me to join you on this. Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden, Kleta,
Zapata, Durkin, Fernand Anderson, Fitzgerald, uh, Pep Ben Pen, Santana, Weber, Warl, please have the chair. This docket, docket number 0982. Oh, Mr. Clerk, um, councilors Flynn, Murphy, and, uh, Mia seeks a
suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 0982. All those in favor say I. I. The eyes have it. This docket is passed. Mr. Cler, could you please read number 0983? Document number 0983. Council Mia offer the following resolution in support of bill
SD2808, an act strengthening healthc care protections in the Commonwealth. The chair recognizes council here. You're on the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Um, I just want to thank uh the uh well, actually just me. Okay. Um, today I rise to express my strong
support of bill SD 20 uh 2808, an act strengthening healthc care protections in the Commonwealth. We are living in a moment where essential health care um and care that affirms people's identities, protects their futures, and in many cases saves lives. And in um
especially right now when there's uh we're under attack across this country from abortion bans to targeted restrictions on gender affirming care, we are seeing efforts to criminalize people seeking the medical support they need. These attacks are not just
political. They are deeply personal and they are in direct threat of the civil rights and safety of patients, families, and providers. Bill SD2808 championed by um Senator Cindy Freriedman and Attorney General Campbell
is a powerful response to this moment. It ensures that Massachusetts will not be complicit in its efforts of other states to penalize care that is both legal and necessary here. It expands privacy protections. It limits the
misuse of data systems. It ensures providers are not targeted simply for doing their jobs and it protects patients, especially those traveling here from hostile states from surveillance and retaliation. I urge my colleagues to stand with patients and
providers who need these protections. Thank you. Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden, Cla Zapata, Durkin, Fernand Anderson, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Ven, Santana, Weber, Warl. Please add the chair.
Docket number Council Mahia seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 0983. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. The eyes have it. This docket is passed. Mr. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0984? Docket number 0984. Councelor Fitzgerald offer the following
resolution declaring Polish Constitution Day. Council, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, Polish Constitution Day is celebrated on May 3rd each year, celebrating the signing of the Constitution on 3rd of May of 1791.
Uh it's regarded as the first liberal constitution of Europe and second worldwide only preceded by the US constitution. Uh following its signing, the neighboring monarchies responded by invading and and partitioning Poland. Uh and in 1918 when Poland once again became independent, uh Constitution Day
was commemor uh commemorated as an official holiday. uh during both the Nazi and Soviet occupations from 1939 to 1989 uh the day persisted as a day for Polish solidarity with many pro-democracy and pro-independence demonstrations taking place and the Polish immigrants have made significant
contributions to our city with their legacy thriving across all sectors including our c their culture businesses government labor education and the Polish community has made strong roots in Boston especially in Dorchester's Polish triangle and so uh we'd like to have it for um not only name
Polish Constitution Day uh which is the 3rd, but we also look forward to uh the raising of the Polish flag at 11:00 a.m. on May 7th, 2025. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Flynn. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Council Fitzgerald for bringing
this important resolution forward. Um I live down the road somewhat from the um Polish triangle and it's a wonderful community, wonderful people and had the opportunity several times with council Fitzgerald to visit to go
to the Polish citizens club into their festivals every summer. But I love the like like John, I love the Polish people and their enormous contributions they've made to our city and country. I had the opportunity to visit Poland in the mid
1980s as well when martial law was declared and visited um Lesa in the um who's who was the leader of solidarity the trade union electricians trade union really the leader of the
country in fighting the communist at that time but just want to say thank you to the maker council Fitzgerald for the important work he has done in really working to ensure that the Polish uh voices uh throughout South Boston and
Dorchester are included in civic civic um government and um ensuring their voices are heard as well. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add counselors Braden, Kleta, Zapata, Durkin, Fernand Anderson,
Flynn, Mahia, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Warl, please add the chair. uh council for general suspension of the rose and adoption of docket number 0984. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Um the eyes have it. This docket is passed. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0985? Docket
number 0985. Councilors Murphy and Flynn offer the following resolution in honor of International Firefighters Day in appreciation of the Boston Fire Department. its representation through local 1771 718 and the professional
firefighters of Massachusetts and the International Association of Firefighters. The chair recognizes Councelor Murphy. You have the floor. Um, thank you. We were looking forward to honoring our firefighters and the three unions that represent them at the
city, state, and international level. Um, I want to thank Sam and all the other firefighters who flew out to Chicago for a line um, a death in a line of duty funeral. So, we are postponing this presentation for next council
meeting. So, we'll be withdrawing this docket and we'll refile for next council meeting. Thank you. Mr. Cler, could you please read docket number 0986? Docket number 0986. Councelor Weber and Flynn offer the following resolution recognizing Jewish American Heritage
Month. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Weber. Council Weber, you have the floor. Uh, thank you, Madam President. I'd like to suspend the rules and add Rousy Lu Jen as a third co-sponsor. Councelor Weber seeks suspend the rules. Add Council President Lu Jen as a third original co-sponsor. Seeing and hearing no objections, I'm so
added. Council Weber, you have the floor. Okay. Thank you very much. Uh uh the first Jews arrived in America in the mid600s. Uh they fled Spain and Portugal uh and the Spanish Inquisition. Um since then there have been waves of Jews
who've come to the United States from Germany in the 1800s from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. You know who who were uh who fled oppression. Uh they in Europe uh they were herded into ghettos and they were restricted from
certain professions. They were the victims of of programs and and uh you know and riots. Um America was a place where Jews could call home and thrive. Uh and uh uh we've been able to make
significant contributions to American culture from Supreme Court judges, the good ones, uh to teachers to musicians, philosophers, comedians, and scientists. Um you know, I special shout out to my great uncle Graham who lied about his
age so he can in fighting World War II and my cousin Marvin who who served in Vietnam. Um uh Jews have have contributed uh uh mightily to American society. Um
uh and you know but the Jewish experience uh has a common thread through it and it is a struggle with acceptance and anti-semitism. Uh today that is no different. But just to to um link it
back to where we started today with Caner Vera, one of the reasons why I was touched by what she had to say in being recognized at the labor seder was how you know important is that we come together in this moment. Um you know uh
she I know works with Rabi Rabbi Alisa Schwarz who uh spoke to us uh the morning after the presidential election. Uh, Rabbi Aliso wrote recently about the so-called war on anti-semitism that the Trump administration is is is is
uh sort of using as a as a sort of a cudgel. Um uh and she highlighted how the authors of project 2025 had authored another project called project Esther. Uh these are uh this is a plan not just to target pro Palestinian demonstrators
but to target all so-called leftist leftists in the country. Uh this plan is not supported by Jewish groups. It's supported by Christian nationalists and evangelical Christians. In fact, Jewish groups have uniformly called out these uh plans as being anti-American and bad
for the Jewish people. I'll just briefly uh very quickly uh with your leave council president um the CEO of of TRUA there have been a call for civil rights who uh Caner Vero is on the steering committee of she recently wrote that you know the response to anti-semitism was
not involved dismantling our democracy we have flourished in this country because of its civil rights and civil liberties. working to preserve those protections is the single most important thing organizations that fight anti-semitism can do right now to keep Jews safe. I just want to echo those
concerns uh and make sure that we stand up for anybody who is uh you know whose whose civil liberties and civil rights are being denied to them you know because of their speech in this country. uh and that we not allow the Trump administration to use anti-semitism as a
pretext for uh for dismantling our country. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Council Weber. The chair recognizes council. Any other floor? Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councelor Weber, for including me.
Last night I attended a film screening called Etchton Glass, the legacy of Steve Ross, which is a documentary about the father of a former colleague of ours, city councelor, Mike Ross. His father is Steve Ross who as a child
Steve survived 10 Nazi concentration camps over five years who despite experiencing the horrors of Nazi concentration camps continue to demonstrate resilience in resolve changed countless lives and he lived
every day with hope and opportunity. He was a youth worker in South Boston. He he helped and he he tutored kids from South Boston and taught them taught them reading or he
taught them sports. He taught them how to how to be responsible. But he was a tremendous tremendous leader in South Boston. It was a very meaningful and moving screening and it is important that these stories of resilience and
hope are not forgotten at at a time of rising anti-semitism. The New England Holocaust Memorial just across the street from us was founded by Steve Ross and so many others to inspire remembrance, reflection, and hope. Let's remember that Jewish
Americans are an integral part of our city and our country. They are our school teachers, small business owners, health care and medical professionals, civil servants, policy makers, youth sports coaches, as council
council Weber said, veterans, military advocates. They are an indispensable part of our city's workforce and they contribute to our city and country. We also want to recognize many outstanding
organizations throughout greater Boston such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Vocational Services that's in downtown Boston that does tremendous work of educating and training so many people, diverse people
across across Massachusetts. I love I love visiting there and seeing all the wonderful job training programs that they offer. He combined Jewish philanthropies. The Anti-Defamation League in downtown on Tremon Street next to
Suffach law school. The Boston Holocaust Museum will open next year as we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. We must also continue to denounce anti-semitism,
neo-Nazism, white nationalism, hate crimes in our city, in our and across the country. And we've had them here in Boston as well. Throughout downtown Boston, I we
had a we had a Nazi group march through the streets of Boston. um right through Chinatown, right through downtown Boston, right into the Back Bay area into the Coppley area. Then they jumped on the train.
Recently, the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro Shapiro, and his family was targeted by an arsonist in their home just a after Passover. I think we've all seen the photos of the um governor's residence that was firebombed and the
governor and his family were there just having having Passover celebration just an an hour before that. The disturbing wave of anti-semitism warrants a long stance in condemnation from all leaders and communities across the country. We must
continue to reject and denounce any t any attempts to normalize anti-semitism or any form of hate. In the month of May and every day of the year, let's stand with and support our Jewish neighbors. Let's celebrate their
contributions and achie a achievements and re recommmit to speaking out against anti-semitism in other forms of hate as well. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Um, I am really glad that the cander was here earlier and that she talked about
and that you talked about council Weber uh the labor seder that you went to and um I in previous life helped plan freedom saders and what I love most about that is sharing our shared stories of struggle to find shared stories of
liberation and so um and something that she also mentioned is like the things that we are celebrating all in one month, right? All the things that may are just on this agenda alone, um AAPI month, um Jewish American Heritage Month, uh you know, declaring um uh
Polish Constitution Day, uh really shows how lucky we are to get to live in a city that celebrates the fullness of who we are. Um and so, happy Jewish American Heritage Month to my colleague, but also to the work that we have to do to continue to share our stories. Would
anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes councelor Braden. Councelor Braden, you have the floor. Thank you, Madame President, and and thank you u uh councelor Weber and councelor Flynn and councelor Cel President for bringing this resolution
forward. Um as you know, Alson Brighton, Brighton actually is the home to um a growing uh Jewish community. Uh it's a lot an old community, but it's also growing in a new way. uh we have increased numbers of young families in the neighborhood and it's just a very
vibrant uh place at this time of the year especially around Passover. Um but we also have another side to it in the sense that a few years ago I think it was maybe the about 2021
um uh the local a local rabbi was attacked and stabbed on the on Brighton Common which is one of our parks just across from the school and we've had in seen an increase in uh anti-semitic and uh neo-Nazi sort of graffiti around the
neighborhood. So I think we all need to just recognize that this we live in a wonderful country. We live in a wonderful community and a wonderful city and uh it's diverse. um many many different traditions and religions and uh
heritage groups that we all live together in a peaceful place and uh I think it's worth working to continue to promote uh mutual understanding and uh peace among all of us. Uh there are difficult conversations to be had at
times. I know that from coming from where I come from in Northern Ireland. They're not easy conversations to have, but you know, finding safe spaces to have those conversations is also important. So, I I want to let's uh just
uh recognize our Jewish American neighbors and uh celebrate their contribution to our communities. Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councelor Durkin, you have the floor. Thank you so much. I'm proud to represent a district that has been
um uh shaped so much by Jewish American heritage and history. Um I and I think that is so telling um given who has served from the seat, Mike Ross and uh Josh Zikum, both of their dads who really shaped um Boston's history. Um
and uh appreciate the even deeper history of Lewis Brandeise, the first Jewish Supreme Court justice, Leonard Nemoy, uh Mr. Spock on Star Trek who learned um in um synagogue in the West End uh the phrase live long and prosper.
Um I live um behind uh the Vilnishol. Um and I I we I get to walk through Jewish history every single day in District 8 and that history is still being shaped. Um so I want to thank the makers for uh bringing this forward. Um, and I think
uh in the times that we've lived through um on at least in my time on the city council, I think it it's so important for us to do this at this moment. Um I remember what it meant to folks last year. Um, and I remember constituents reaching out and um, I know sometimes it
these uh, these honors and these um, citations and these resolutions become cursory, but they really do mean something to the people that we are representing. So, I just want to thank the makers for uh continuing to put this forward and um and grateful to um
celebrate alongside them Jewish American Heritage Month and excited to take part in any celebrations across the district. So, thank you. Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, could you please add counselors Braden, Kleta, Zapata, Durgen, Fernand,
Anderson, Fitzgerald, Mahia, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Warl. Counselors Weber, Flynn, and Luan suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 0986. All those in favor say I. All oppose say nay. The eyes have it. This docket is passed. We are now moving on to
personnel orders. Before we do that, would anyone else like to add their name to a docket while they were out of chambers or would like to uh ask for reconsideration of a vote? The chair recognizes Councelor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you
for giving me the opportunity to readress some of these. I I did I do want to apologize for coming in late this morning, this afternoon rather. I was at the flag raising for the Vietnamese community. Um Madam, Madam Chair, may I revisit um some of the
dockets that I I missed this uh this afternoon? You may. Okay. Um docket number 0940. Um I'd like to vote um yes. Uh so would you like to put forward a motion to reconsider the vote? Yes. Yes.
Oh, that was referred to committee. So Okay. Okay. Was were any of them um vote votes today? 0941 4243 444. They were referred to committee. Docket
number 0945 was a suspended pass. Docket number 09. Which other one? Mr. Clerk? Yeah. 45 would be great. It was It was just It was a It wasn't a roll call. It was suspend. It was a suspend and pass voice vote. Okay. Is was there another
one, Mr. Clerk? No. Okay. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Um, we are now on to personnel orders. Mr. Clerk, would you please read the personnel orders? Doc number 0987,
personnel order council Luen for councelor Murphy. Docket number 0988, personnel order, council len for councelor Murphy. and docket number 0989 personnel order for council Louisiana. Uh the chair moves the
passage of documents number 0987 to 0989. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose say nay. The eyes have it. These personnel orders have passed. We are now moving on to green sheets. Uh would anyone else would anyone like to pull anything from the green sheets? Saw those lights going at the same time. So
I'm going to go to councelor Santana. Councelor Santana, you have the floor. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Clerk, as notified, um I would like to pull docket number 0891 for the Committee of Public Safety and
Criminal Justice. Um that's on page 18 of the green sheets. 0891. Yes. 0891. Correct. Mr. Clerk, do you have that docket in front of you? Yes. Can you please read it into the record? From the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, docket number 0891.
Message and note authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $180,000 in the form of a grant for the hazardous for the hazard mitigation plan update 2026 brick grant awarded by the federal management agency passed
through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to be administered by emergency preparedness. The grant will fund a sustained pre- disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and
structures while also reducing res reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. Thank you. Um absent objection, the motion of the committee chair is accepted and the docket is properly before the body. Councelor Santana, you have the floor. Thank you,
Madam President. The Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice held a public hearing on all grants administered by the Office of Emergency Management on Thursday, March 27, 2025. We're joined by my colleagues um councelor Flynn, Councelor Weber, and Councelor Murphy. We also received
letters of absence from councelor Pepen, Council President Lu Jen, Councelor Durkin, and Councelor Warell. The committee heard testimony on behalf of OEM and the administration about this grant specifically um specifically from Andrew um Bloni, assistant deputy chief
of administration for the office of emergency management. As we heard in the hearing, having an updated and u municipally approved hazard mitigation plan is a requirement for eligibility to receive building resilient infrastructure and communities um um
grant money as well as FEMA um federal emergency management agency recovery money, individual assistance, any other mitigation grants and disaster recovery. These are grants that are the city of Boston applies for often as for example the nearly $2 million of FEMA hazard
mitigation grant on today's council meeting agenda that will fund the East Boston waterfront um waterfront Carlton Wararf and Lewis Mall resiliency project. For clarification, I would like to note that um for this grant, brick
refers um to the building resilient infrastructure and communities program of FEMA and not the Boston Regional Intelligence Center of the BPD. Though relatively small in amount at $180,000, this grant um awarded by the
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will help to support Boston's work in updating and maintaining the city of Boston's hazard mitigation plan. And again, the city can only be eligible for FEMA grants with an approved AHMP in place. So, it's critical that we
accept this grant as a foundation for access to millions of dollars of other grants that protect the resiliency and safety of our city. Having held a productive hearing on this grant, as chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice, I recommend moving
this docket from the committee to the full council for discussion and a formal action. At that time, my recommendation to the full council will be that docket number 0891 out to pass. Thank you, Councelor Santana. Um, would anyone like to speak on this docket? No. Okay.
Councelor Santana seeks passage of docket number 0891. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Mr. Clerk, would you please conduct a roll call vote? Roll call on docket number 0891. Council Braden. Yes. Council Braden. Yes.
Council Kleta Zapata. Council. Yes. Council Durkin. Yes. Council Durkin. Yes. Council Fernand Sansson. Council Fance Sanderson. Yes. Council Fitzgerald. Council Fitzgerald. Yes. Council Flynn. Yes. Council Flynn. Yes. Council Len. Yes. Council Luen. Yes.
Council Mia. Council Mia. Yes. Council Murphy. Council Murphy. Yes. Council Pepen. Council Pen. Yes. Council Santana. Yes. Council Santana. Yes. Council Weber. Yes. Council Weber. Yes. And council. Yes.
Yes, doc number 0891 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative. Thank you. Doc number 0891 has passed. Um, is anyone else looking to pull anything from the green sheets that the chair recognizes? Councelor Weber, you have the floor. Uh, thank you. Uh, I'm rising
as chair of the committee on labor, workforce, and economic development. Uh, I'm looking to pull docket number 0848 from the green sheets that can be found at the bottom of page 10. 0848. Mr. Clerk, do you have that docket in front of you? Yes. Mr. Clerk, could you please read it into the record? From the
Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, document number 0848, message not authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $210,000 in form of a grant for the financial empowerment program awarded by
the donor group to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund financial education, credit, asset building, and employment services for residents at the city at the center for working families.
Absent objection, the motion of the committee chair is accepted and the docket is properly before the body. Council Robert, you have the floor. Thank you very much. So, so the docket is to accept and expend $210,000 in grants. 50,000 was awarded by the United Way of
Massachusetts Bay and 60,000 was awarded by the local initiative support corporation for Boston to be administered by the office of workforce development. Both grants will be used by the center for working families for their financial coaching program. The goal of the program is to help residents
build assets and take control of their personal finances. The $150,000 United Way grant would subsidize a full-time financial employment coach who works who will work with up to 200 residents annually. It would also be used to pay
for credit reports, which is an important part of their work. A smaller grant of $60,000 would subsidize digital literacy and credit building for residents. Um I we have not had a hearing on this. I I'm seeking to get it passed without that. these organizations
in to some extent rely on federal funding to make these grants. We want to get the the uh these grants approved. Uh I you know I thought maybe they were going to be covered by council Murphy's uh hearing this week. I I don't think they were, but so I'm pulling them. I I
think it's a relatively small amount for a good cause and I just want to make sure we get those grants approved uh and accepted and expended uh before something happens at the federal level. Um so I I just ask that uh I seek passage for this docket today and hope
to have a vote. Thank you. Uh the chair recognizes councelor Murphy. You have the floor. Um thank you through you to the um chair. Was this the hearing that was scheduled for last Tuesday at 10? Was this the docket that was going to be discussed that was cancelled at last
week's meeting? Just check through the chair. Council Weber, if you'd like to respond, you may. I I I believe so. Uh, yes. Thank you. It wasn't discussed um when I had the $4 million hearing. It wasn't brought to my attention to bring it up, but thank you
for explaining it. I'll be in support of passing it today. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Just thank you very much. I The confusion was on my end. Uh Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Council Weber seeks passage. Anyone else like to speak on this matter? Council Weber seeks
passage of docket number 0848. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay. The eyes have it. This docket is passed. Do we have anyone else who would like to fill anything from the green sheets? Okay. Um I'll take that as no.
We are now moving on to uh late files. Um I'm informed by the clerk that there are that there is one late file matter. Um it's a communication from councelor Pepen. You will take a vote to add the late file matter onto the record. All those in favor say I. I. I all oppose say nay.
The eyes have it. The late file matter has been added. Mr. Cler, could you please read the late file matter into the record? Just read it as a communication and then he'll have two minutes. One late file matter communication from councelor Enrique.
Um the chair recognizes council pen. You have the floor in two minutes. Thank you, madam president. Um this is a letter that I'm directing to the mayor and chief of streets Franklin Hodgej. This week's tragic death of a 5-year-old strike by struck by a school bus in High
Park has devastated our community. As a district 5 city counselor, I'm grieving alongside this child's family and neighbors. And I speak for all of Boston when I say this is a loss that should never have happened. We cannot continue to wait. This heartbreaking incident
underscores the urgent and overdue need to prioritize pedestrian safety, especially for our children. I'm calling on the city to act with seriousness and urgency as this moment demands it. That means immediate investment in safe street infrastructure across my district, including traffic common
measures like speed humps, race crosswalks, and protected intersections in school zones and residential areas. I'm also calling on the police department to immediately expand outreach and recruitment efforts to fill the remaining vacancies in the city school crossing guard program. We must
ensure that every crosswalk, especially those near our schools, are staffed and protected. No parent should fear for their children's life while walking to or from school. This is a devastating moment, not just for District 5, but for the entire city of Boston. We must
respond with action, not just words. Safety of our children cannot wait. I said I'm ready to work with our offices, our city departments, and our residents to make our streets safer and prevent tragedies like this from happening again.
Thank you. Thank you. This communication will be placed on file. We are now moving on to the consent agenda. I have been informed by the clerk that there are that there is one addition to the consent agenda. The question now comes on approval of the various matters contained within the
consent agenda. All those in favor say I. I. Thank you. Thank you. The consent agenda has been adopted. We are now on to announcements. Please remember that these are for upcoming dates and events. Um if anybody has any announcements, now is the time to turn on your light um to
do so. I just wanted to uplift some birthdays. We have Laura Teddano, whose birthday will be next week, and Wayne Ye, whose birthday will also be next week. So, happy um early birthday to the two of you. Um and um in terms of
announcements, I announced the Mount Serat flag. We're raising it on Friday. Um for those who were here last year, which I think it was just council or last year it was on Congress Street. This year it will be in front of it'll be in city hall plaza. Um okay. Uh the
chair recognizes councelor Weber. Councelor Weber, you have the floor. Sure. Uh I I invite all my colleagues to join me on Saturday, wake up the earth festival uh in JP to celebrate uh monumental decision not to put a highway
through our neighborhood. Um uh you know by Governor Sergeant um it's a wonderful parade and gathering and uh look forward to seeing some of you there. Thank you. Thank you. Um does anyone else have any announcements? Okay. Uh we are now
moving on to memorials. If anyone would like to end today's meeting in honor of anyone who has passed, um I'd like to uplift a few names actually. Um Pope Francis uh passed away the head
of the Catholic Church and he was a great moral and social justice leader here in our country and faith leader in our world. Um specifically caring about the poor, the stranger among us. And so I just want to make sure that we remember and
um honor Pope Francis's legacy um in this country in the in this country and and in the world. I also wanted to uplift a resident who um I celebrated her 103rd birthday last year. Um and so was happy that we were able to really uplift her, but she uh recently passed
away uh the mother of uh a dear friend of mine uh and her name is Idalia Jean Batist. She died at the age of 103. So just remembering her. Uh Molly McGovern uh the daughter of Congressman Jim McGovern and Lisa McGovern who passed
away um suddenly from uh a cancer diagnosis. Uh I just want to hold the McGovern family in our prayers. Um and then of course we started our meeting uh with a moment of silence for Lens Arthur Joseph. Um, and my heart continues to
break for this family as they navigate this tragic loss of their 5-year-old son. Um, it's a High Park family, a Haitian family, and um, they've already been going through so much, and I just
want them to know that, um, my heart is with them. So, I just wanted to make sure that I honor them um in this what is a very personal and very deep deep deep loss that they're experiencing. Would anyone else like to adjurnn the meeting on
behalf of anyone? The chair recognizes councelor Durkin, you have the floor. Thank you so much. On behalf of u me and the Beacon Hill Civic Association, I wanted to send my condolences to the family of Paul Greenfield. Um, I know he had emailed my office many times about so many issues and was a civic leader in
Beacon Hill. Um, and just want to um, uh, in memoriam thank him for all of his civic leadership. Um, you don't always know when your conversation or your email with someone will be the last. So, it's just something that uh, it weighs
on my mind that we need to do everything we can to uplift civic leaders while they're still here. So, thank you. Thank you, Council Derk. The chair recognizes councelor Pepan. You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. Um just want to pray for the soul of Lens Arthur
Joseph and the family. I know they're going through a lot right now and just um want to make sure that we uplift them again. And also we lost another community leader in Rosendale. Her name is Kim Okonnell. She um she actually helped with the
purchasing of zero del of of Dell Street and we were at the celebration with the mayor and the president was there too last year. So to to see her leave us so so soon so unexpectedly like that um has definitely devastated the community as well. So just wanted to give my prayers
to the Okong family as well. Thank you. The chair recognizes um Council Weber, you have the floor. Uh thank you. Um Susan Mahoney was a a wonderful neighbor for over a decade. could be seen working on her house uh often at the very high
up on a ladder well into her 70s. Um and uh you know she'll be missed her um my condolences to her daughter uh Colleen Keller who was a JP uh neighborhood liaison under Mayor
Manino. So thank you. Thank you uh Council Weber. Any anyone else? Okay. Today we will adjourn our meeting in memory of the following individuals. On behalf of councelor Kleta Zapata, Anna Maria Denzo on behalf of councelor Durkin, Dr. Paul S. Greenfield, on
behalf of councelor Fitzgerald, Alexander A. Betty, on behalf of uh myself, Molly McGovern, daughter of Congresswoman Congressman Jim McGovern and Lisa McGovern, Adalia Jean Batist, Felicia Nelson Jerome, grandmother of
Daphne Germaine, uh Pope Francis, and artist Rob Stole, and Constantine P. Calio Calonis. On behalf of councelor Pepen Kim Okonnell on behalf of council Weber Susan Mahoney on behalf of the entire
Boston city council lens Arthur Joseph a moment of silence. The chair moves that when the council adjourns today it does so in memory of the aforementioned individuals. The council is scheduled to meet again in the INLA chamber on Wednesday May 7th 2025 at 12 noon. Thank
you to my colleagues, to central staff. Shout out to Megan, um the clerk and the clerk's office and our council synographer for today, Sarah. Thank you for stepping in and being with us. We appreciate it. All in favor of adjournment, please say I. I. The council is adjourned.
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