--------- GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS BEN WEBER. I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCILOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. TODAY IS MARCH 23RD, 2026.
THE EXACT TIME IS 10:14 A.M.. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT'S ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY
CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FIOS CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT 6 A.M.
UH@BOSTON.GOV AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. UH INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
UH, SIGNED UP. IF YOU DO WANT TO TESTIFY, SIGN UP UH, OVER THERE. UM UH, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON, ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR
THE ENTRANCE. IF YOU ARE YOU LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY, PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON BRIAN PRATT AT RYAN THAT'S RIAA AND
DOT PRATT WITH TWO TS PRATT@BOSTON.GOV. UH FOR THE LINK IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 201 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON'S FY 27
OPERATING BUDGET. THIS MATTER IS SPONSORED BY MYSELF AND COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 4TH 2026. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY
COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR MURPHY, MADAM PRESIDENT BREADON, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR SANTANA.
UH, WE ARE JOINED BY, UH, THE CITY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ASHLEY ROETHLISBERGER AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT JIM WILLIAMSON. UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE'RE
HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, FY 26 REVENUES PROJECTED UH, REVENUES AND EXPENSES. UH, SO WE CAN PLAN FOR FY 27.
UM, UH, WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCILOR DURKAN. UH UH I GUESS UM I THINK THEY YOU KNOW, IF UH IF MY
COLLEAGUES WANT TO SAY SOMETHING UH, UPFRONT, UH, YOU CAN EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. UH, EVERYONE'S GONNA HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND EVERYTHING, BUT SINCE THERE'S FOUR OF US, I GUESS, UH, I CAN GIVE YOU ONE ONE MINUTE.
COUNCILOR FLYNN. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR. AND I WANTED TO GET THE RECENT
BUDGET MEMO THAT WAS, UM, RELEASED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UH, I WANTED TO READ IT SO IT WOULD HELP ME. BE PREPARED FOR THIS FOR THIS MEETING.
UH, WE AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE THE BUDGET MEMO OUTLINING PARTICULAR FREEZES, CUTS AND, UM, RELATED
ISSUES. I KNOW, MR CHAIR, THAT YOU WERE YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE IT ALSO. BUT GETTING THAT MEMO IS IMPORTANT FOR US. BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT. BUT THE MEMO WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT THE CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND WE STILL WE STILL DON'T HAVE A COPY OF IT. UM AND THAT WAS THAT WAS TEN
DAYS AGO. I ASKED FOR THE MEMO. OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED FOR IT. YOU'VE ASKED FOR COUNCIL LABOR AND UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY ASKED FOR IT.
UM, BUT HAVING THAT MEMO WOULD HELP US PREPARE FOR THIS MEETING. ARE WE ABLE TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS SO WE CAN GET THAT MEMO
REVIEWED AND THAT YOU MENTIONED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A RECESS SO WE COULD GET THE MEMO AND, UH, READ IT BEFORE THE BEFORE THIS BUDGET MEETING. YEAH. UH, SO, UM, I YOU YOU YOU DID
BRING THIS UP TODAY AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE THE LETTER. WE WILL UH, IF WE CAN IF WE CAN GET THE LETTER. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD WITH UH, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER AND UH, DIRECTOR WILLIAMSON'S PRESENTATION AS SOON AS WE GET THE LETTER, UH, AFTER THEIR PRESENTATION, BEFORE WE ASK QUESTIONS, WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS SO PEOPLE CAN REVIEW IT BEFORE THEY, UH,
THEY COME UP AND IF WE DON'T GET IF WE GET THE IF WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH OTHER QUESTIONS, WE CAN DO THAT TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AND ASK QUESTIONS BASED ON THE LETTER SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET IT.
COUNCILOR MURPHY. I JUST INFORMED US THAT WE DO HAVE IT. SO IF WE COULD PRINT IT OUT FOR EVERYONE AND TAKE THAT RECESS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I THINK IT'S BEEN SENT TO US. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR.
UH, BREADON, ANY. UM, MY STAFF ARE PRINTING AND I JUST KNOW I HAD I WAS I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE, BUT I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE MEMO HADN'T BEEN SHARED WITH EVERYONE. UM, BUT WE ARE GETTING THE HARD
COPY OVER HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. >> SOUNDS GOOD. COUNCILOR DURKAN, ANY ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? THANKS, CHAIR. UM, I KNOW I I'M GRATEFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE REVENUE NUMBERS. UM, I THINK IT'S WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PRIORITIZE GETTING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED TODAY. UM, AS WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, UH, GRATEFUL TO THE CHAIR FOR HIS WORK IN ORGANIZING THIS MEETING. UM, OKAY. SO UH, I, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST
GO AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATIONS. THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION THEN WE'LL TAKE, UH, FIVE MINUTE RECESS. UH, THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO LOOK AT THE LETTER. YOUR STAFFS CAN LOOK AT THE
LETTER AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL ALL TAKE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE WE COME BACK FOR ANYONE'S QUESTIONS. SO, UH, TO THE PANEL IF YOU HAVE UH, SOME SOME DATA OR UH, SLIDES THAT'D BE GREAT.
THANKS. SO, UH, CHAIRMAN UH, WEBER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE OUR ONGOING DIALOG. UH, THIS THIS SORT
OF CONSISTENT COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL IS IS TESTAMENT TO OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT, UH, UH, DELIVERY OF CORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES
WHILE MAINTAINING, UH, RIGOROUS, UH, FISCAL STEWARDSHIP THIS YEAR, UH, NEXT YEAR AND IN THE LONG TERM, UH THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW IS SORT OF UH IT'S A THREE YEAR LENS.
UH, TODAY WE ARE REVIEWING HOW WE SUCCESSFULLY CLOSE UH, FY 25 UH, CURRENT ACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF F Y 26 IN OUR STRATEGIC PREPARATION FOR THE CHALLENGES
OF F 427. SO WITH THAT I WILL GO INTO. THE FIRST SLIDE UM, WHICH IS
SORT OF A BULLETED SUMMARY OF OUR FY 25 YEAR ROUND. SO WE UH. SO SO UH SO WE ENDED UM, THE
BOTTOM LINE WITH THE $22 MILLION SURPLUS UH, WHICH IS IS A FRACTION OF A PERCENT OF THE EXPENDITURES UH, IT'S UM WHEN AND JUST FOR EVERYBODY I KNOW
EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM IS SORT OF FAMILIAR WITH THIS BUT WHAT WHAT HAPPENS TO WHAT YEAR ROUND SURPLUS IS IT JUST FALLS TO THE FUND BALANCE. UH, AND THROUGH A RIGOROUS SORT OF REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE
STATE IT COMES CERTIFIED AS FREE CASH AND THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN USE FOR UH TO APPROPRIATE FROM UH IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE PICTURE,
UH, IN TOTALITY WE HAD A REVENUE SURPLUS OF $17 MILLION, UH, DRIVEN BY INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS EXERCISES AND SOME DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE. UH, ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, UH, WE
HAD A BUDGETARY SORT OF A NET BUDGETARY SURPLUS OF $5 MILLION, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, BUT IT REQUIRED UM, THERE ARE UH, FEW UM, THE DEPARTMENTS
OF BUDGETS BY STATUTE THAT ARE ALLOWED TO SPEND INTO DEFICIT. UH, SO WE HAD A $71 MILLION DEFICIT IN THOSE ACCOUNTS AND IN FY 25 IT WAS BOTH OF THE TWO PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES FIRE AND
POLICE, UH, MAINLY DRIVEN BY OVERTIME, UH, WHAT WE CALL A SNOW IN WINTER MANAGEMENT NOW UH AND THE EXECUTION COURTS ALL EXCEEDED THE BUDGET UM FOR UH FOR 25.
SO CHIEF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED. SO, UM. SO HERE IS SORT OF A TABLE
OF REVENUE THAT SORT OF BREAKS IT UP INTO ITS ITS UH, LARGER CHUNKS. SO UH SO SOME OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND LIKE STATE REVENUES ARE SHOWN GOING UH, NOT MEETING THE BUDGET.
SO THIS BUDGET WAS ESTABLISHED THE TAX RATE IN SOME ELEMENTS OF OUR ASSESSMENTS ARE REVISITED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS PARTICULARLY UH IN THE THE CHARTER SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS.
SO UM SO SO SOMETIMES THAT CHANGES IT ALSO CHANGES THE REVENUE THAT GOES WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL. UM UH AS WE SAID WE DID A LITTLE BETTER WITH EXERCISES UM INTEREST ON INVESTMENT AND SOME
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVENUES UH IN BUT WE DIDN'T UH UH IN THE BUDGETARY FUNDS WHICH ARE UM OUR APPROPRIATIONS FROM FREE CASH AND FROM THE PARKING METER
FUND, UH, IN A SMALL AMOUNT FROM THE CEMETERY TRUST FUND. UH, WE DID TAKE A $110 MILLION FROM, UH, THE FREE CASH TO AND THAT, UH, TRACKS EXACTLY WITH
THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR APPROPRIATION THAT THIS BODY APPROVED LAST FISCAL YEAR. UH. >> MOVING INTO THE FIVE YEAR AND EXPENSES. SO WE HAD UH, AN OVERALL UM, ON
ON CITY APPROPRIATIONS WE HAD THESE ARE WHERE THE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS ARE IT WAS AN OVERALL DEFICIT LARGELY DRIVEN ON ON A NET BASIS FROM THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND MANDATORY SORT OF UH, EXPENSES
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION UH, FOR THIS TIME BUDGET. BUT WHILST PUBLIC SCHOOLS FINISH ON BUDGET OPEB IT'S SORT OF YOU KNOW, VERY UH IT'S JUST FUNDED IN IN FIXED COSTS.
WE SAW UM SOME SURPLUSES THERE AROUND UH DEBT SERVICE UH UM UH UH LARGELY IN UM AND IN SOME CHARTER SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS MOSTLY YOU KNOW, AS I SAID,
CHARTER SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS ARE REVISITED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND THE DEBT SERVICE BASED ON THE TIMING OF OUR BOND ISSUES THAT RESULTED IN A SURPLUS. MOVING RIGHT INTO THE CURRENT
FISCAL YEAR. UM, SO UH, SO WE ARE YOU KNOW, AND THIS THIS SPEAKS TO THE LETTER WE'RE DISCUSSING UH, TODAY WHICH IS THE SPENDING CONTROL.
SO THERE WAS A SERIES OF OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT SORT OF UM UH, SET THE STAGE FOR THIS THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO US. WE WE'RE WE'RE BUT THE THE CONTINUES TO BE SO IS EARLY IS
THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. UH, THE MAYOR WROTE TO THE COUNCIL UH, JUST UH, BRIEFING THEM ON THE THE EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET THE UH THE UM TAX UH, LEGISLATION THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE UH, SPENDING CONTROLS PUT INTO PLACE AT 526 AND ALSO THAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE GUIDED BY
GUIDANCE TO TO SEEK REQUESTS THAT UH WERE LESS THAN THEIR FOR 26 APPROPRIATE PATIENT UH THE VERY NEXT UH THE UM UH THERE WAS ALSO A UH RIGHT
BEFORE THAT THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT HEADS MEETING THAT WAS SORT OF BRIEFING UM, FOLKS OF THIS UPCOMING CHANGE. UH, AND THEN UH THERE WAS UM UH
GUIDANCE THAT WAS RELEASED ON DECEMBER 32ND TO DEPARTMENTS TO SAY THAT THEIR BUDGET REQUEST THAT WAS DUE IN UH IN JANUARY WAS WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE THIS
MORE MODERATE APPROACH TO UH BUDGET GROWTH AND TO LOOK FOR SAVINGS EFFICIENCIES, PLACES THAT WE COULD FIND ROOM A LEANER, MORE UH RESTRAINED
BUDGET FOR 2027 UH THAN THAN IN UH FEBRUARY UH ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A PRELIMINARY FORECAST FOR FOR EXPECTATIONS ANOTHER SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN THEN UH MOST RECENTLY ANOTHER UH, COMMUNICATION ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE PHENOMENON TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE TO UH, YEAH, WE DO WE DO APPRECIATE
THE THE COUNCIL'S UH UH UH, COMMUNICATION ABOUT PRIORITIES AND WE IN MOST CASES THOSE PRIORITIES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION UH, IN ALMOST EVERY CASE.
UM, BUT TO GET THAT TO THE THE PRESENTATION SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE CHALLENGED THAT THOSE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS AND NOTIFICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT UH, ISSUES
ARE REAL. UH, SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW IN EARLY DECEMBER THAT WE NOW KNOW NOW IS THAT THEY'RE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT, UNPRECEDENTED, YOU KNOW, SNOWSTORMS I THINK YOU
HAD A HEARING IN THE COUNCIL UH UH, ABOUT THOSE IT'S REALLY A REGIONAL UH, THING THAT OCCURRED. UH, SO ACTUALLY BOSTON PROBABLY FARED BETTER THAN A LOT OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE CAPE BUT BUT STILL IT WAS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING. UH, SO WE'RE WE'RE UM WE'RE DEALING WITH THOSE SORT OF, UH, EXPENDITURES THAT JUST REQUIRE THOSE SPENDING CONTROLS.
UM, SO UH BUT THE THE UH. THE THROUGH LINE IS IS THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE UH. UH CONTINUE TO BE RELIABLE. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE
MAY BE IMPACTED UM UH BY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN THE NEW GROWTH CATEGORY BUT IT'S IT'S A VERY RELIABLE UH AND OUR UH LOCALLY GENERATED REVENUES AND
EXERCISES ARE ARE DOING WELL UM OUR DO OUR AT LEAST MODESTLY IMPROVING UH INTEREST ON INVESTMENT HAS THAT YOU KNOW THIS IS THIS IS FEDERAL MONETARY POLICY THAT WE HAVE TO BE HAVE AWARE OF WHERE IT IS
OUT THAT IF UH, THE FED UH, CHANGES IN LOWEST RATES THAT'S GOING TO HAVE UH ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR ABILITY ON ON INTEREST INCOME UH, FOR THE CITY UH AND THEN SOME THERE'S
SOME UH UH SORT OF ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN REAL TIME IN THESE PERMITS THAT UH, UH, PUBLIC STREETS CABINET NIST ISSUED FOR BUILDING
PERMITS AND UM AND OCCUPANCY PERMITS THAT ARE TRACKING LAST AND THAT'S THAT'S A FUNCTION OF UH, YOU KNOW, LESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY GOING ON
AND UH AND WE STILL HAVE UH, OUR CONTINUED CONCERNS ON EXPENSES SURROUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY OVERTIME, UH, SNOW REMOVAL COSTS. UH, SO THOSE ARE ALL CONTINUE AND THEN THERE'S THIS PRESSURE
THAT I THINK YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, UH, WAS DOWN HERE WITH A HEARING ON ON THE PRESSURES ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. UH, WE, UH, GOT SOME OF YOUR FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON TO RESPOND TO THAT AS WELL FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. UM, AND SO HERE WE ARE UH, MEDIA REVENUE A LITTLE FURTHER PAST UH ONE ONE MONTH PAST MIDYEAR UH THROUGH JANUARY
31ST. SO UH, IT'S IT'S IT'S SORT OF A GOOD SNAPSHOT OF WHERE YOU ARE. UH, WE'RE WE'RE HOPING TO UM, YOU KNOW, UH, MAKE THESE WORK
BUT THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE DEFINITELY UH, SOFTENING UP PARTICULARLY IN THE DEPARTMENTAL CATEGORY WHERE UM, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE BUILDING PERMITS AND THE UM, OCCUPANCY PERMITS THAT UH, WE'VE
EXPERIENCED IN MOST IN MOST RECENT YEARS AND THEN UH, EXPENSES. SO UH, CITY APPROPRIATIONS UM UH THAT'S WHERE UH UH, SNOW AND
WINTER MANAGEMENT BUDGET IS AS YOU CAN LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TODAY THERE WILL BE A SNOW AND ICE RESPONSE TODAY THAT WILL UH, ACCRUE TO THAT BY YEAR. UH, BUT IT'S THOSE THOSE TWO
SORT OF MEGA UH, STORMS BOOKENDED BY A UH A PERIOD OF SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT REALLY, UH, UNLOCKED A LOT OF SPENDING IN THAT BUDGET AND WE'RE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT,
TRYING TO MANAGE AROUND IT. UH, WE KNOW WE LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND. WE KNOW WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S CALLED SNOW REMOVAL. UH, SNOW WINTER MANAGEMENT. BUT UM, YOU KNOW, BASED ON RECENT YEARS IT'S SORT OF, UH,
BEEN WELL WITHIN UH, WE HAD A A MODEST DEFICIT OF $9 MILLION LAST YEAR. UH, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED TO DO THAT. SCHOOLS HAVE SORT OF UH POSSIBLE WHICH TOOLS HAVE BEEN SORT OF UH VERY UPFRONT ABOUT
SOME OF THEIR FOB 26 BUDGETARY CHALLENGES AND THEY'RE WORKING VERY SIMILAR IN YOU KNOW, UH, NOT EXACTLY THE SAME LEVEL OF COMMUNICATIONS IS DONE WITHIN THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUT THE SAME ISSUE.
UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, OUR OTHER OTHER COSTS ARE SORT OF TRACKING UH, TO BUDGET GENERALLY AND THEN UH, MOVING INTO THE FY 27 PREVIEW. SO UM.
I THINK. IN IN UH THIS SORT OF TRACKS WITH SORT OF UH ANXIOUS COMMUNICATION IN LATE FEBRUARY ABOUT SORT OF THE FORECASTS FOR THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE UH WE'RE
ESTIMATING REVENUE TO GROW IN THE 1.5 TO 2 5.5% UH, RANGE OVER 26. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WE STILL ARE GOING TO CAPTURE UM, ALL
OF THE PROPERTY TAX, UH, REVENUE AVAILABLE TO US. UM, AND WE'RE HOPING YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE SPRING TIME WITH A LOT OF UH, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER LOWER ACTIVITY
INTO THE INTO THE SUMMER THAT WE'LL WE'LL SEE EXCISE REVENUE CONTINUE TO GROW MODESTLY. UM, YOU KNOW, INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS WILL WELL, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL, UH, BE
EXPOSED TO SORT OF FEDERAL MONETARY POLICY AND WHERE UH, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS WORKING, YOU KNOW, TO TO MAXIMIZE THAT REVENUE WHERE THEY CAN UH AND UH LICENSES AND
PERMITS ARE ESTIMATED TO UH UH ,YOU KNOW, NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE SORT OF THE THE SPEED AND UH, ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE UH DEVELOPMENT MARKET, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, BUILT NEW
BUILDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UM. >> AND THEN UH, YOU KNOW, UH, STATE AID WILL CONTINUE TO GROW ,UH, YOU KNOW, IN LINE WITH THE UH UH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. YOU KNOW, THERE'S MULTIPLE
ITERATIONS OF THE STATE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. UH, THEY ALSO ARE DEALING WITH VERY SIMILAR CHALLENGING UH, FISCAL CERTAIN UH, CIRCUMSTANCES. UH AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ANY REVENUE THAT
WE GET FROM THE COMMONWEALTH IS NETTED AGAINST, UM, ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY, UH, PUT UPON MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING BOSTON THE LARGEST BEING CHARTER SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS. BUT, UH, THERE'S AN MTA
ASSESSMENT, YOU KNOW, A HOST OF OTHER SORT OF, UH, MANDATORY ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE SORT OF NETTED OUT FROM OUR STATE REVENUE, UH, BEFORE IT EVEN GETS TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. UH, AND UM.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE UH YOU'RE RIGHT, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COST GROWTH FOR YOU KNOW, UH, WITH UH, LONG TERM UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO UH TO FUND
WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE FUND UH, THE LIKE LONG TERM LIABILITIES AND INCLUDING PENSIONS AND DEBT SCHEDULES. UH, THE GROWTH IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS IS SORT OF WELL, WELL KNOWN AND WELL
DOCUMENTED, UH, WITH WITH THESE PREMIUMS THAT ARE GOING TO INCREASE BY 22.6% UH, UH, WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT THAT CONVERSATION UM AND THEN UH
THERE ARE UH UH THERE ARE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MET IN THE UH FOR 27 BUDGET INCLUDING APPROVED UM, UH WAGE PACKAGES FOR FOR UNIONS
AND EMPLOYEES IN IN SORT OF BASIC UH INFLATIONARY COMPONENTS OF SERVICES THAT EVERY EVERY CONSTITUENT UH FEELS UH FRONT AND CENTER UH
WASTE DISPOSAL UH, YOU KNOW, UH CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH CURVE MANAGEMENT. UM SO UH AND THEN THERE THERE IS THAT SORT OF PHENOMENON ON
THE STATE STREET ASSESSMENTS THAT WE'RE WE'RE TALKING. >> ABOUT UH. AND THEN. UH, SO UH, IN TERMS OF THE FY 27 UH, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES .
SO WE LIVE IN A VERY UNCERTAIN UH, ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL LIVING AND BREATHING UH, THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON UH, YOU KNOW, GEOPOLITICALLY ARE
ARE UH TRANSLATING UH DIRECTLY TO TO UH BUDGET, YOU KNOW, BUDGETARY THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY. UH, SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE SORT OF GROWTH AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
UH, THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THE THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO TO MAKE CHANGES THERE AND YOU KNOW
AND AS AS I STARTED THE CONVERSATION THESE MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS GLOBAL EVENTS, UH, ARE HAVING LOCAL IMPACTS AND WHAT WHAT WE'VE BUILT INTO OUR SO A PRELIMINARY
SORT OF PREVIEW FOR REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS IS IS THAT THIS IF IF WE GO INTO A RECESSION UH SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE MODEST GROWTH LIKE IN EXERCISES
MAY BE RETREAT. UH AND SO WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT ABOUT THAT AND UH MANAGER BE PREPARED TO MANAGE AROUND THAT.
AND IT'S THAT THIS IS WHERE THESE QUESTIONS OKAY. UH IS UH ANYTHING ELSE? NOPE. OKAY. SO UH WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR PEPEN, COUNCILOR CULPEPER, UH,
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR WORRELL SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. WE HAVE ALL HAVE SHOULD HAVE PRINTOUTS OF A MEMO THAT WAS SENT TO DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH,
REGARDING A SPENDING FREEZE. UH, SO, UH, BEFORE WE START WITH QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO TAKE FIVE MINUTES AND, UH, I'M GOING TO SET THE TIMER AND WE'RE GOING TO START IN FIVE MINUTES. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE UP FOR FIVE MINUTES.
ANYONE WANT TO REVIEW THIS? NOW'S THE RECESS. UH, DO I GAVEL FOR A RECESS? NO. OKAY.
FIVE MINUTES.
OKAY. BACK FROM THE RECESS. UH, I THINK EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE LETTER. UH, AND SO, UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN, UH, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
UH, WE'VE GOT A FULL HOUSE TODAY. UH, WE'LL COME BACK FOR A SECOND ROUND IF, UH IF YOU GOT OTHER QUESTIONS, SO. OKAY, YOU HAVE. >> THE MIC. ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS
PUT OUT THERE WAS A LINE LOCALLY GENERATED REVENUE FOR PERMITS ARE BEING BEING ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY PACE OF BUILDING ACTIVITY.
UM BOSTON ONLY RECEIVED 78 MILLION IN NEW GROWTH IN 2024. UH WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE UM FOR WHAT IT WILL BE IN 2025? DO YOU MEAN IN 27?
UM YEAH. YEAH. UM SO WE'RE STILL FINALIZING REVENUE PROJECTIONS SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY WHEN OUR BUDGET COMES OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL WHAT WE'RE ASSUMING UH, FOR. UH.
>> NEW GROWTH IN 27. OKAY. >> AND SO OKAY. UM, JIM, MAYBE THIS ONE MIGHT BE FOR YOU. BP'S REPORTED. >> A DEFICIT OF 53 MILLION. UM, IN JANUARY.
UM. SEEMS LIKE CITY HALL IS OVERSPENDING ON MANY OF THE SAME LINE ITEMS THAT LIKE HEALTH CARE AND BUDGET AND OTHER BENEFITS. UH, CAN YOU LAY OUT EXACTLY
WHAT THE CITY IS OVERSPENDING ON IN FY 26 AND BY HOW MUCH? SURE. >> SO, UH, IT'S UM IT'S WHERE WE SEE OUR TRADITIONAL UH, EXPOSURES UH, TO UM, BUDGETARY
PRESSURE. SO. >> UH, WE'VE SEEN PUBLIC SAFETY OVER TIME EXCEEDING BUDGETS. UH EXCUSE ME COURTS UH UH ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE A BUDGET SO THAT ALL OF THE EXPENSES OF THE CREW THERE.
ARE PRESENT THEMSELVES. THERE'S A DEFICIT. UH, AND THEN UH, IT'S NO WATER MANAGEMENT. IT'S IT'S SORT OF IT'S SIGNIFICANT AND WE'RE WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THAT. UM. >> UH, SITUATION AND WE ARE.
UH WE'RE UH. AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I SORT OF WE'RE. TRYING TO MANAGE OUR OTHER. EXPENSES TOO. ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET ME LET ME GO TO THE SNOW. THEN THE CITY PUT OUT SPENDING
CONTROLS. UH, ON DECEMBER 3RD BEFORE THIS WINTERS BAD SNOWSTORM STARTED. UH. >> WHAT OVERSPENDING ISSUES DROVE THAT DECISION? UM, IT IT'S IT'S SORT OF THERE
WAS UM, THE KNOWN PHENOMENON OF HEALTH INSURANCE BUT ALSO UH THOSE OTHERS AND WE WE KNEW THAT WE FINISHED AT 425 WITH A. >> NINE MONTH. UH, DEFICIT WHICH IS UH WAS MANAGEABLE. >> BUT UM, WE.
KNEW THAT THAT WAS TO COME. OKAY. >> UM, BP IS RESPONDING TO, UM . FISCAL ISSUES. BY CUTTING WHAT, 500 POSITIONS
600 POSITIONS. IN FY 27 IS CITY HALL GOING TO CUT A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF, UH, FULL TIME EMPLOYEES? YEAH, IT'S UH. UH POSITIONS ARE ISSUE BECAUSE YOU KNOW. UH.
>> PERSONNEL IS IS USUALLY THE. LARGEST COMPONENT OF MOST CONTINENTAL BUDGETS. UH, WE ARE GOING THROUGH A RIGOROUS REVIEW. OF VACANT. POSITIONS. >> UH, AND. ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ATTRITION AND HIRING. UH, SO IT'S.
UH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE NAILED DOWN AN EXACT FIGURE OF. UH. >> HOW THAT TRANSLATES TO POSITIONS, BUT IT UH SO IT'S BOTH POSITIONS THAT MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET, UM, WHICH WE DO ROUTINELY UH, YEAR
OVER YEAR WE WILL MOVE. SORT OF LONGER. TERM UH VACANCIES THAT ARE NOT. REALLY BEING ACTIVATED BY DEPARTMENTS. UH AND THEN UH. THE CHANGE IN SALARY SAVINGS IS
JUST THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION. UM. >> ATTRITION RATES AND. UH THE TIME TO FILL UH, VACANT POSITIONS. OKAY. >> WHEN BP'S OVERSPENT ON HEALTH CARE BY 17 MILLION IN FY
26, HOW MUCH IS CITY HALL OVERSPENDING BY, UM ON HEALTH CARE? SO, UH, THE THE WAY HEALTH INSURANCE WORKS IS IT'S, UH THE OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDES THE
CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRUST FUND. UM, AND ALL OF THE CLAIMS GET PAID OUT OF THE TRUST FUND. UM, I THINK WHEN I WAS HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DYNAMIC
HAPPENING IN THE TRUST FUND. SO WE ANTICIPATE UM, THAT AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR THE TRUST FUND WILL BE IN DEFICIT BECAUSE OF ALL THE REASONS WE TALKED ABOUT HIGH COST CLAIMS,
UM, THE USE OF GLP ONES AND UM . AND JUST THE OVERALL GROWTH IN HEALTH CARE COSTS. SO UM, AGAIN THAT SITS OUTSIDE OF THE OPERATING BUDGET BUT UH THAT PHENOMENON IS HAPPENING IN THE IN THE TRUST FUND.
NOW ON ON HEALTH CARE ITSELF. UM OVER THE LAST YEAR THE OBVIOUSLY WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY. UM BUT DOES THE. CITY GET MONTHLY REPORTS EACH
MONTH DICTATING SHOWING HOW MUCH SPENDING IS TAKING PLACE, HOW MUCH OVERSPENDING IS TAKING PLACE? UH, MONTHLY REPORTS AND DID THE
CITY FLAG THAT KNOWING THAT WE'RE SEEING HIGH NUMBERS OF OVERSPENDING EACH MONTH AND IF SO HOW DID WE RESPOND TO WHAT DO WE DO TO PREPARE FOR. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CADENCE
OF REPORTING THAT WE GET ON THE TRUST FUND IT COULD BE MONTHLY. UM BUT AS JIM NOTED, WE DID HAVE UH AT THE END OF YOU KNOW, IN DECEMBER WE KNEW THAT UH WE
HAD UM THE PERFORMANCE IN THE TRUST FUND FOR THE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AND WE SAW THAT EXPENDITURES WERE OUTPACING OUR EXPECTATIONS. SO THAT'S WHAT LED TO THIS, YOU
KNOW, NEED TO INCREASE PREMIUMS FOR 27 TO HELP DEAL WITH THE THE SHORTFALLS IN THE TRUST FUND. SO WE STARTED TAKING STEPS UM, ON HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE AS SOON AS WE GOT FINAL
CONFIRMATION ON 25 TRENDS UM, IN DECEMBER. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I'M OUT OF TIME. I'LL WAIT TO THE NEXT ROUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSELOR FRONT COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU. UM. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED AT TEN AND I WALKED IN AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A MEMO SHARED JUST NOT WITH MYSELF AND OTHER COLLEAGUES. UM, I HAD FILED A HEARING ORDER ,UM. REFERENCING THE RECENT.
PUBLIC REPORTING. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THE GLOBE HAD THIS INFORMATION AND HAD REPORTED SOME CITYWIDE SPENDING CONTROLS AND ALSO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IN YOUR EMAILS BUT I DID EMAIL BOTH
OF YOU AT I THINK 945 REQUESTING A BRIEFING AROUND THIS SPECIFICALLY SEEKING REVIEW OF THE MEMORANDUM AND RELATED COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE AND I KNOW WE SPOKE THAT OUT.
UM, PUT ON THE RECORD THREE TIMES NOW TO GET THE, YOU KNOW, EXACT LANGUAGE THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE TOLD BACK IN DECEMBER. BUT I GUESS IT'S KIND OF TIMELY AND THEN WALKED IN AND FOUND
OUT THAT THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM AND QUICKLY DID REVIEW IT. BUT I. WISH WE HAD ALL GOTTEN IT TEN DAYS AGO WHEN IT CAME OUT SO THAT THERE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW,
SWIRLING RUMORS OR QUESTIONS AND I COULD HAVE PREPARED DIFFERENTLY FOR TODAY. BUT HAVING A MOMENT TO BRIEFLY. GO THROUGH WHAT. DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE ASKED UM.
I MEAN. IT SEEMS KIND OF VERY VAGUE LIKE HOW DOES A DEPARTMENT KNOW. LIKE WHICH REPAIRS OR STRUCTURES CONTRACTUAL SERVICES
IF ONLY 50% I GET THE 100% IT'S SAYING THAT 100% AND I WOULD ASSUME AND PLEASE TELL ME IF IT'S TRUE. IS THIS EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT ? UH, FOR THE MOST PART UM I
THINK WE EMAILED UH AND IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL. UM YOUR BUDGET IT DOES NOT APPLY TO FIN COMM AND THESE
EXPENDITURE CONTROLS BECAUSE BP IS DIFFERENT AND HAS THEIR OWN UM SET OF CONTROLS GOING ON THIS. THESE PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONS DON'T APPLY TO BP'S AND WHAT IF THINGS WERE ALREADY PLANNED? WILL THEY HAVE TO PAY OUT
OF POCKET OR CANCEL. UM SO WE HAVE A PROCESS BY WHICH DEPARTMENTS CAN APPEAL TO BUDGET DIRECTOR MYSELF AND THE CITY AUDITOR FOR UM RELIEF FROM THESE CONTROLS.
SO WE ARE IN TAKING THOSE REQUESTS AND REVIEWING THEM INDIVIDUALLY TO ASSESS. WHETHER THERE. ARE YOU WERE ACCEPTING RELIEF EVEN FOR THE 100% OR JUST THE 50%.
ONES I THINK THE BEST. YEAH YEAH FOR BOTH FOR ALL AND SO FAR HAVE YOU RECEIVED HOW MANY HAVE YOU RECEIVED. IT WAS A IT STARTED SLOW BUT I
THINK IT'S BEEN PICKING UP UM AND IT'S THE GOAL IS NOT TO BE PUNITIVE TO FOLKS WITH THINGS LIKE. SORT OF. >> IN PROCESS. UH SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO LIKE RELEASE THOSE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE BUT UH BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS IS TO HAVE PEOPLE BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THEIR THEIR SPENDING AND REDUCE SPENDING. UH, QUITE FRANKLY. IN THE MEMO REFERENCES CITY
WIDE SPENDING FREEZES IN HIRING DELAYS HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER THESE. CONSTRAINTS AND WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNT BEING RESTRICTED OR FROZEN?
AND IF YOU COULD ALSO SPEAK TO HOW MANY POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING DELAYED OR HELP VACANT AND I KNOW IT CAME UP IN COUNCIL PLANS ROUND BUT I KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE GONE THROUGH BUDGET I MEAN THE UNION
GETS VERY HAS STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT LONG STANDING POSITIONS THAT IF WE TAKE. THEM AWAY THEY CAN NEVER BE FILLED AND. THEY'RE JUST BEEN YOU KNOW AN INABILITY TO FILL THEM BUT NOT A NEED. >> OR WANT TO. FILL THEM. >> SO IF YOU.
>> COULD SPEAK TO THAT. IN TERMS OF HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER THESE EXPENDITURE CONTROLS AGAIN IT WOULD BE ALL OF THEM WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONES I LISTED PREVIOUSLY. UM AS.
FAR AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS I DON'T KNOW UM UH WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON SORT OF HOW MANY ARE BEING REVIEWED. UM, DOES IT APPLY TO PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND GOTTEN AN OFFER BUT JUST
HAVEN'T FINALIZED IT THROUGH H.R. WOULD. THOSE POSITIONS BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. THROUGH? >> UM, SO IF IF GETTING AN OFFER IS THE VERY LAST STEP SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE RECEIVED ALL. >> OF YOUR APPROVALS BEFORE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO. GIVE SOMEONE AN OFFER SO THAT
WOULD NOT APPLY. BUT EVERYTHING KIND OF LIKE UP INTO THE POINT OF THAT UH, FINAL STEP. WE'RE JUST. >> MAKING SURE DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS THE POSITION YOU WANT TO HIRE. IS THERE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT IT'S YOU KNOW, BETTER TO SWAP OUT.
SO I'M JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. WILL IT IMPACT THE. POLICE ACADEMY WHICH WILL BE STARTING. >> AT THE END OF THIS WEEK? NO. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
BUT YOU DIDN'T LIST THEM AS A DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE EXEMPT. SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN MORE? UM, I THINK IN THE PREVIOUS UH, ROUND OF HIRING CONTROLS WE DID MAKE IT CLEAR THAT UM, THERE
WERE EXCEPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, SO WE DID NOT REITERATE THEM HERE BUT UM. THEY'RE WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THAT TO DELAY THAT CLASS. YOU LIST KEY DATES FOR. PROCUREMENT TRANSACTIONS.
ARE THOSE DATES. SIMILAR TO PAST OR ARE THEY MOVED UP? YES UM SIMILAR SIMILAR TIMELINES AND JUST UH THIS MEMO GOES OUT EVERY YEAR. I THINK WE SORT OF, UM,
CO-OPTED IT TO INCLUDE THE EXPENDITURE CONTROLS. UM, SO IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY STANDARD MEMO THAT THE TEAM WOULD BE SENDING OUT AT THIS TIME. >> OF YEAR. COULD I REQUEST LAST YEAR'S MEMO TO JUST COMPARE THE LAST
YEAR TO THIS ONE WITH THOSE CHANGES. THROUGH THE. CHAIR, IF. >> I COULD. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, JOINED BY COUNCILOR COLLETTA ZAPATA. UH UH, MADAM PRESIDENT BREADON,
YOU HAVE, UH, FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. UM, JUST TO TALK CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, VACANT
POSITIONS AND, UH, PLANS TO FILL OR NOT FILL THOSE POSITIONS. UH, WE NEVER REALLY REGAINED OUR STAFFING LEVELS AFTER THE THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2020 2008.
UM, THAT'S A THAT'S A SORT OF PHENOMENON ACROSS ALL MUNICIPALITIES NATIONWIDE THAT UH, WE NEVER REALLY NEVER REALLY STAFFED UP AFTER THAT. AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER ASSAULT DURING COVID.
WE DIDN'T WE WE LETTER UH, MANY SOME DEPARTMENTS DECLINED IN NUMBERS THEN UM, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY MINDFUL OF LIKE AN ACROSS THE
BOARD CUT OF UH, NOT SELLING STAFF POSITIONS UM, IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST WAY TO GO BUT THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS UH, SUCH AS BTD AT THE MOMENT THAT
HAVE SEVERAL LIKE HIGH LEVEL POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT. MY CONCERN IS ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT UH WE ARE STILL ABLE TO DELIVER IN TERMS OF SERVICES ? UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PLACES
WHERE IT WON'T HAVE AN OPERATIONAL IMPACT. UH, BUT WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE SHORE UP THE PLACES WHERE, UH, CUTS AND STAFF OR FREEZING POSITIONS WILL HAVE AN OPERATIONAL
IMPACT. SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. YEAH. >> NO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE PLANNING TO TAKE ANY SORT OF ACROSS THE BOARD. APPROACH OTHER THAN TO JUST, YOU KNOW. ACROSS THE BOARD REVIEW. EVERYTHING CAREFULLY. WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY
DEPARTMENT SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT AND SO TRYING TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS OR YOU KNOW, REVIEW. >> IT. THROUGH THAT LENS. SO I THINK WE'RE UM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE. >> TO MOVE FORWARD ALL. >> OF THOSE UH, YOU KNOW,
MISSION CRITICAL OPERATIONALLY CRITICAL POSITIONS, UM, BUT GIVES DEPARTMENTS A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER, YOU KNOW. THERE ARE OTHER. POSITIONS THAT THEY CAN UH, YOU KNOW, DE PRIORITIZE AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND I KNOW WE READ IN THE IN THE NEWS OVER THE WEEKEND THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PHENOMENON THAT MANY ALL LET'S SAY EVERY MUNICIPALITY NOT ONLY IN MASSACHUSETTS BUT CERTAINLY IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE FACING
SOME TOUGH CHOICES ABOUT UM CLOSING LIBRARIES AND UM CLOSING ZOOS AND ALL SORT OF COST CUTTING EFFORTS. UM, IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES
PRIORITIZING UH, THINGS THINGS TO MAINTAIN. UH, DO WE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON YOU KNOW, I THINK YEAH. THOUGHTS ON WHAT WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. YEAH I THINK WE VIEW KIND OF THE CORE.
BASIC CITY. SERVICES THAT WE ALL SHARE YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY TRASH. LIBRARIES. >> THOSE KIND OF CORE. SERVICES MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE MAINTAINED THIS YEAR AND INTO. >> NEXT YEAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND UM THINKING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, YOU KNOW, THE RELIANCE ON REAL ESTATE TAXES IS A VERY STABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE.
BUT THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT IS THAT UM UH, IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR RESIDENTS GIVEN THAT 53% OF THE REAL ESTATE IN BOSTON IS NOT TAXABLE.
UM, ARE WE AND THE THE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE LIKE IS THIS A TIME LIKE ARE THERE ANY PLACES WHERE WE CAN GO TO LOOK FOR MORE REVENUE, UH, OUTSIDE OF JUST REAL ESTATE TAXES? YEAH. >> UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD
ME TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE EXCISE TAXES THAT ARE UP AT THE STATE HOUSE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE INCREMENT ON OUR EXCISE TAXES.
I THINK OUR ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THAT WOULD. BRING IN. YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS ANOTHER. 40 MILLION INTO THE CITY IF. THOSE WERE TO PASS. SO I THINK THOSE ARE. THINGS THAT ARE SITTING OUT THERE RIGHT. NOW THAT UM ARE. EASY TO IMPLEMENT.
WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO IT. WE COULD YOU KNOW, VERY QUICKLY, UM, TAKE THOSE AND SHOULD THAT PASS UM AND THEN OF COURSE ANYTHING KIND OF BEYOND THAT TAKES A LOT MORE TIME. >> WE ALL KNOW WE'RE CONSTRAINED HERE, UM.
>> AS A MUNICIPALITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO. UM, AND SO ANYTHING YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD . REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE REACH IS. >> GOING TO BE VERY SMALL. UM, AND. HELPFUL BUT YOU KNOW, THESE KIND OF MAJOR.
,UM, STRUCTURAL. CHANGES TO OUR REVENUE. TAKE TIME AND A LOT OF COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION. UM, THINKING ABOUT THIS SUMMER
,I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN BOSTON. UH, WE'VE GOT THE TALL SHIPS, WE'VE GOT FIFA UH, WE HAVE THE 250TH ON TOP OF ALL THE USUAL THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE SUMMER.
UM, ARE WE ANTICIPATING IS IS THE NET UM, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE MONEY OR LOSE MONEY OUT OF ALL THIS EFFORT? IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. UM. I THINK WE'RE HOPEFUL. THAT WE. >> SEE A NICE. YOU KNOW, EXCISE INFUSION COME
IN THROUGH MEALS AND YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT LOCAL. TOURIST ACTIVITY. UM, WE UH YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF. REPORTING IN THE. >> NEWS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS ASSOCIATED. WITH HOSTING THESE EVENTS. UH, WE, UH.
JUST GOT, UM, INFORMATION FROM THE STATE ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE. LARGER FEMA. GRANT UM, WE SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE. SO WE'RE GOING. THROUGH AND DOING THE EXERCISE TO ALIGN WHAT WE THINK WE. >> NEED.
TO DO TO DELIVER A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL EVENT VERSUS THE REVENUE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY WE EXPECT TO GET FROM THE GRANT. SO THAT ANALYSIS IS ONGOING BUT I'M HOPEFUL.
THAT IT IS A POSITIVE, UH, EXPERIENCE BOTH YOU KNOW, FROM AN EVENT STANDPOINT BUT ALSO REVENUE WISE. THANK YOU. THAT'S MY TIME. OKAY. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UH, COUNCILOR DURKAN, YOU'RE UP NEXT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, UH, THIS WAS REALLY HELPFUL AND, UM, GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. UH, ONE THING I'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON IS, UM, WITHIN THE,
UM WITHIN THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED UNDER EMERSON COLLEGE VERSUS BOSTON, WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY CERTAIN LIMITATIONS WE CAN'T TAX BUT WE CAN, YOU
KNOW, CREATE FEES TO UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE NEED RESOURCES FOR, UM, TO IMPLEMENT. UM, SO I HAVE A LIST OF VARIOUS
FEES THAT UH, ARE WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND I'M JUST CURIOUS SORT OF IF YOU WERE TO RATE AND SORT OF HOW MUCH REVENUE IS COMING IN FROM AND
IS ARE THERE FEES THAT ARE NOT ENFORCED UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CODE? UM, I KNOW THERE'S IF YOU'RE TO ASK FOR A CERTAIN SIGN THERE'S
A $150 FEE FOR INSTANCE. UM, IT'S $250 FOR AN AFTER HOURS INSPECTION FOR MY STUDY. YOU KNOW THE, UH, VARIANCE FEE AT DIVA AT 150 FOR A VARIANCE
OF OVER THREE UNITS. IS THAT IN FORCE? I'M JUST CURIOUS SORT OF HOW MUCH THE BUDGET OFFICE IS IN COORDINATION WITH THE MUNICIPAL CODE OVER FEES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED OR THAT ARE IN OUR
MUNICIPAL CODE. BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCE AS A CITY COUNCILOR IS WHEN I ASK FOR THE SORT OF THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS UM, AT MOST
HEARINGS IT'S OH, WE'D HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT AND THEN I DON'T REALLY GET A RESPONSE FROM AND I KNOW IT'S COORDINATING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS, BUT I DO THINK AS WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS THIS
TOUGH FINANCIAL YEAR, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST AN AUDIT OF ALL THE FEES WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL CODE SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW MUCH
REVENUE IS COMING IN IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AND I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF EVEN I SHOULD DESCRIBE IT AS REVENUE BUT FEES FROM THESE SPECIFIC UM, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE THERE'S A FORTUNE TELLERS
LICENSE, IT'S $200. DO WE YOU KNOW DO WE DO WE ENFORCE THAT? SO I'M JUST CURIOUS SORT OF BOTH OF YOUR TAKES ON THAT QUESTION. YEAH. >> SO UM UH I APPRECIATE THAT
THAT UM, THOUGHT AND IT'S SORT OF UH I THINK YOUR APPROACH IS IT'S GOOD TO SORT OF FIRST MAKE SURE YOU'RE MAXIMIZING THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO.
UH, AND UM, THE THE MOST SORT OF UM UH THE THE PERMITS THAT SORT OF GENERATE UH MOST OF THE REVENUE I THINK THINGS AROUND BUILDING AND OCCUPANCY PERMITS
WELL THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BUT ALL OF IT UH MATTERS AND UH SO UH WE DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO YOU KNOW, AND FEEDBACK ON ON BUT I WOULD DEFER TO SOME OF THE
OPERATING DEPARTMENTS ON THE ACTUAL LIKE EXECUTION ON THOSE FEES AND SO THE RELEVANCE YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING SORT OF THE LEGAL CONSTRUCT OF OF HOW YOU HAVE TO
INPUT UH, RIGOR AND YOU NEED TO PUT YOURSELF THROUGH IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A FEE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS SUPPOSED TO BE RECOVERING THE COST OF ADMINISTERING IT NOT REALLY FOR THE REVENUE GENERATION BECAUSE THAT.
WELL, THAT LENDS ME TO ONE OF MY UM MY CONSTITUENTS PET PEEVE IS YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY UH ,THEY ARE IN LOVE WITH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKERS. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, YOU KNOW,
OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKERS, THEY DO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT UM, SPECIFICALLY CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT.
I HAD A HEARING ON UM ON. ON OUR STREET OCCUPANCY PERMITS AND SPECIFICALLY CONSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY IN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE, YOU KNOW,
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CAN CAUSE ISSUES FOR FOR TONS OF NEIGHBORS AND VERY DENSE ENVIRONMENTS. UM, THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS A MONEYMAKER FOR THE CITY IS ENFORCEMENT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY, UM, INVEST MORE MONEY AND TIME AND RESOURCES BECAUSE UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT IT IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY
THINGS THAT'S CREATING REVENUE . UM, THE MORE PEOPLE WE PUT OUT THERE UM, SPECIFICALLY UM, UH, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING I DO HAVE A
HEARING ORDER THAT I'M EXCITED TO, UM, WORK ON WITH, UH, THE CHAIR OF UM CITY SERVICES COUNCILOR FLYNN ON UH ON THAT
ISSUE IN PARTICULAR. UH, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS AS A CITY HOW YOU THINK WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF MAXIMIZING THAT THE FEES UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT I THINK UH, YOU COULD ANSWER UH, IN A IN A WRITTEN WAY BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND MY LIST OF QUESTIONS BUT I'M CURIOUS OF THE FEES THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS, WHICH ONES WE ARE
ENFORCING. SO UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE OVERALL UM, ZOOM OUT AND I APPRECIATE UM, THE UH, FOCUS ON FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN
THIS TIME AND UM, I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BUT I'LL WAIT FOR THE SECOND ROUND. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILOR PEPEN, YOU'RE UP FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, AND GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M JUST ECHOING A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS ABOUT JUST APPRECIATING THIS HEARING AND THE FLAHERTY AND ALSO THE INTENTIONALITY BEHIND A LOT OF THE HARD DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE. UM, ESPECIALLY JUST GETTING THE
MEMO THE MEMORANDUM RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CUTS ARE JUST NOT CUT. SORRY, JUST SOME OF THE FROZEN BALANCES THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WHICH LEAD ME TO JUST
TWO QUESTIONS WHERE IT SAYS 50% OF AVAILABLE BUDGETARY BALANCES FROZEN AND SAYS UM, TWO OF THE LINE ITEMS ARE REPAIRS AND SERVICES TO EQUIPMENT AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS CONTRACTED SERVICES.
UM YOU DON'T YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT IF I CAN GET A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL CONTRACTED SERVICES AND REPAIRS AND SERVICES WE COULD MAYBE JUST TO JUST I'M JUST CURIOUS
OF WHAT THOSE ARE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPACTING OUR OUR OUR SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. DO YOU MEAN, UH, AMOUNT OR TYPES OF THINGS THE. TYPES OF THINGS. OKAY. YEAH, YEAH. UM IT'S A BROAD CATEGORY.
YEAH. UM SO THERE'S YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH KIND OF BUT IT COULD RANGE FROM YOU KNOW, A GRANT PROGRAM THAT'S GOING OUT. IT COULD BE A CONTRACT FOR YOU
KNOW, A SOFTWARE OR SOME YOU KNOW IT'S KIND OF ANY IT'S A IT'S A LARGE NON PERSONNEL CATEGORY BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH SOME EXAMPLES. OKAY GOOD. UM AND THEN I DON'T UNLESS I'M
MISSING I DON'T SEE A UH ESTIMATED NUMBER OF HOW MUCH WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE SAVING. DO WE HAVE THAT NUMBER AVAILABLE GOOD. UH NO. WE YEAH WE KIND OF INTENTIONALLY UM, DON'T PUT
IT OUT. I THINK WE JUST THERE'S SO MUCH LIKE, YOU KNOW, UNCERTAINTY HERE. WE NEED TO KIND OF START WITH THE CONTROLS AND AND WE DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PREVENT A
CRITICAL SERVICE FROM MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HIT A CERTAIN TARGET. I THINK THE POINT OF THIS IS TO REALLY, UM, SLOW DOWN AND BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR SPENDING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO JUST SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE WOULDN'T UH, WANT TO PUT A PARTICULAR TARGET OUT THERE BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER KIND OF THE BASIC THINGS. YEAH. BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, NEED TO MEET A PARTICULAR TARGET. OKAY.
YEAH, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. UM AND THEN I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE COUNCILOR DURKAN AND I KNOW COUNCIL BRENNAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND IT'S OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM. YEAH, THEY ARE AMAZING.
UM, SHOUT OUT TO THAT DEPARTMENT. THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN MY DISTRICT, THAT'S FOR SURE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S EVER THE CONVERSATION OF INCREASING SOME OF THE FINES FOR APPS.
AND SO I'M THINKING ABOUT ABSENTEE LANDLORDS WHO DON'T UPKEEP THEIR BUILDING. AND A LOT OF THIS HAPPENS IN MATTAPAN SQUARE AREA DOWN RIVER STREET WHERE YOU HAVE THE BIGGER THE BIGGER BUILDINGS
WITH JUST LANDLORDS WHO LIVE IN GEORGIA OR SOMEWHERE YOU KNOW ELSEWHERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THEY DON'T FOLLOW UP WITH THEIR DUES AND THEY RATHER JUST THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET JUST TO PAY FINES BECAUSE. THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE
GOING TO VIOLATE IT. SO IT'S LIKE CAN IS THERE HAS IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION TO EITHER INCREASE THOSE FINES OR MAKE THEM PAY THOSE FINES QUICKER? AND IT'S JUST I KNOW THERE'S A
LOT OF MONEY IS SITTING OUT THERE FROM PEOPLE THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CITY. YEAH. >> UM SO THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO INCREASE FINES FOR UM THOSE TYPES OF VIOLATIONS.
SO THAT IS THERE I THINK MY TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH UM PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER TEAMS UM AND THE CITY THIS IS AN EXTREMELY CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORT.
UM AND IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS RAISING IT FROM 100 TO 500. RIGHT? LIKE IF YOU HAVE A PERSON THAT'S NOT PAYING THEY'RE NOT PAYING WHETHER IT'S 100 OR $500. SO WE'RE SORT OF SPENDING A LOT
OF TIME UM, UNPACKING WHAT IT IS THAT PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM PAYING. PERHAPS IT'S A NOTICE ISSUE. THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE NOTICE WE HAVE THE WRONG ADDRESS FOR THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, NOTICING THEM
MORE FREQUENTLY. UM, THERE'S ALSO YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WE WANT TO ULTIMATELY HAVE HAPPEN MORE THAN COLLECT THE REVENUE IS FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED. RIGHT. AND SO HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE
AND FOLLOWING THROUGH THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RE TICKETING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN BEFORE IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. UM AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A NEED
FOR A CLEAR HEARING PROCESS AS WELL SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND APPEAL OR TALK TO US OR UNDERSTAND. SO IT'S IT'S REALLY A VERY LIKE I SAID CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL
MULTIFACETED PROBLEM THAT I DON'T THINK YOU NECESSARILY ADDRESSED BY JUST INCREASING THE AMOUNT. SO WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. UM WE I THINK HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN COLLECTIONS FOR
SOME OF THESE VIOLATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPROVED NOTICE AND WE'VE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THAT WORK. UM, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO. SO WE'RE WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT I WISH THERE WERE KNOW I WISH THERE WAS AN EASIER WAY TO
MAKE IT SIMPLER BUT UM WE'RE WE'RE DOING OUR BEST IT AND CHIPPING AWAY AT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. UM AND I KNOW MY TIME'S RUNNING UP. I DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY A QUESTION BUT MORE OF A PLUG
WHERE I JUST I HAD AN ENCOUNTER ABOUT MAYBE FIVE DAYS AGO AT A LOCAL BUSINESS AND HAD A CHAT WITH THEM AND HOW IT WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
IN ROSSI SQUARE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO US JUST CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO KEEP ADVOCATING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT, IN OUR CITY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE FEELING A LOT OF THEIR
HURT AS WELL AS OUR HOMEOWNERS, BUT I JUST WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN FIND THEM RESOURCES FOR THEM OR SUPPORTING THEM IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN AS A CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK. THAT YOU DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PIPPEN AND COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND UH.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? I WE HAVE THE CULPEPPER TIME. YEAH. THAT SAYS WE PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP. UH, THERE'S INJURY TIME. UH, AND AND, UH, THERE'S CULPEPPER TIME FOR HOPEFULLY
NOT. YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ASK ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR PERMISSION AND I'M GOING TO DENY IT UPFRONT. THERE WILL BE A SECOND ROUND. UH, SO THANK. >> YOU JEFF. UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WITH
REGARD TO THE DELAYED HIRING AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS BOTHERED ME WITH REGARD TO THE DELAYED HIRING IS THE FAIR HOUSING DIRECTOR.
IS THAT ON THAT DELAYED HIRING LIST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR SOME TIME NOW AND FOR LONGER THAN UH, A YEAR NOW FOR
SUCH A CRITICAL OFFICE. AND I'M WONDERING WHETHER THAT'S ON THE DELAYED HIRING AND IF IT IS, HOW DO YOU ASSESS WHETHER SOMETHING IN OFFICE
GOES ON THE DELAYED HIRING ESPECIALLY FOR A CRITICAL POSITION LIKE THE FAIR HOUSING DIRECTOR? UM, I DON'T KNOW THE STATUS OF THAT EXACT POSITION BUT I WILL SAY IN GENERAL WE KIND
OF START FROM A PLACE OF EVERYONE IS UNDER THE SAME SET OF RULES AND THEN WE UM ARE ABLE TO ASSESS THE THE NEED FOR A PARTICULAR POSITION. I THINK A POSITION LIKE A
DEPARTMENT HEAD IS ONE OF THOSE KIND OF CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE THE STATUS OF THIS SPECIFIC POSITION OR WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN
POSTED OR INTENDED TO POST SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THE SPECIFICS BUT UM, SOMETHING LIKE A DEPARTMENT HEAD WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD SAY OKAY, WE NEED TO YOU KNOW, MAYBE LET THIS ONE MOVE ALONG BECAUSE IT'S SO CRITICAL.
CAN WE LOOK AT THAT AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT. UM. >> WHEN WE CAN FILL THAT POSITION? YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE STAFF. THEY'RE PRETTY CONCERNED. I MEAN, THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP THERE.
UM, UH, FOR WHAT I CONSIDER, UH, MORE THAN CRITICAL OFFICE THAT THAT SHOULD AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITHOUT A
DIRECTOR AND SO CAN YOU GET BACK TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHETHER THE WHETHER IT'S BEEN POSTED I DON'T THINK IT HAS AND WHAT KIND OF TIMELINE THERE IS FOR THAT. THE HOUSING DIRECTOR.
I WANTED TO JUST PICK UP ON TALK ABOUT THE PILOTS A LITTLE BIT WITH REGARD WE KNOW NORTHEASTERN UH AGREED TO PAY
MORE UH I THINK THEY WENT FROM 1.9 MILLION TO 2.3 MILLION UH, BETWEEN NOW AND 2030, WHICH IS NOT MUCH. BUT WHEN WORK WENT UP A LITTLE BIT UH, THEY HADN'T PAID UH, IN
YEARS. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A MANUAL B SUFFERED SIMMONS EMERSON BOSTON COLLEGE MATH COLLEGE AWARD.
UH, WHEN WHEN DO WE BEGIN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT PILOT PAYMENTS? THE SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T PAYING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, HOW DO WE
MAKE A DECISION THAT IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO START PAYING? AND IS THIS, UM. A SCALE OF WHAT THE CITY IS ASKING THEM TO PAY WITH REGARD TO THE PILOT PAYMENTS?
I KNOW THE CITY ASKED NORTHEASTERN YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR $5 MILLION THAT IS AND KEPT PAYING 1.9 MILLION. DO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME
KIND OF ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO HELP THE SCHOOLS BE MORE UH ,FOCUS ON THE PAYMENTS THAT WE ASK THEM AND NOT WHAT THEY THINK? UM. UM IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND
THE PILOT PROGRAM HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK YOU KNOW, WE'RE SORT OF A MODEL FOR A LOT OF OTHER CITIES. UM, AND HOW WE DO THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM AND THAT'S
THE KEY WORD VOLUNTARY. UM, SO UH, OBVIOUSLY AS YOU NOTED, WE'VE HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH NORTHEASTERN AND WENTWORTH. UM, HOW AND WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS IS
KIND OF A UM NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OVER. OTHER FOLKS ON THE TEAM ARE UM IN CHARGE OF AND WORKING ON THOSE PILOT BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN AREA OF HUGE FOCUS FOR
THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE THINGS JUST TAKE TIME TO WORK THROUGH AND WORK OUT AND OBVIOUSLY UH, I THINK WAS DISRUPTED A LITTLE BIT UH, YOU
KNOW, IN THE LAST YEAR WITH KIND OF THE THE ATTACKS ON HIGHER ED AND UM, THOSE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS. SO I THINK CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING AND UM, WE'RE HOPEFUL AGAIN TO TRY AND INCREASE THOSE
CONTRIBUTIONS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. CAN WE GET A STATUS REPORT ON THE SCHOOLS THAT I JUST LISTED ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE TALKING TO THEM NOW?
UH, IF NOT WHEN WE WILL START TALKING TO THEM AND SOME KIND OF ESTIMATE ON THE REQUEST THAT THE CITY MADE, UM, VERSUS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY PAY AND YES.
YES. >> MA'AM. >> ONE FINAL QUESTION. UM, WITH REGARD TO THE POLICE OVERTIME, DO YOU THINK ABOUT UH ,BUDGETING A SPECIFIC AMOUNT
FOR THEM AND ASKING THEM TO HOLD TO THAT AMOUNT BASED ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S POLICE OVERTIME OR IS IT JUST WIDE OPEN? YEAH. >> UH. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT UM.
UH, POINT. SO, UH, THEY ALL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES. HAVE AN ELEMENT OF. UM OVERTIME UH, MAINLY. BECAUSE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO.
PROVIDE A CERTAIN UM BASE LEVEL OF SERVICE. UH. >> WE HAVE UH WE DO PROVIDE A BUDGET. UM, WE DO WORK WITH THEM REGULARLY TO. UH. >> WORK ON STRATEGIES TO MANAGE
THE THE BUDGET. UH UH, IN IN IN THE BENCHMARK UH, AT THIS POINT THERE'S A FAIRLY SIZABLE SPREAD BETWEEN THE BUDGET. >> AND THE SPEND. UH, SOME OF THAT WAS DONE. THROUGH BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS THAT
WERE DONE IN. FY 21 AND THAT FOR UH 22 UH. BUT UH ONE BENCHMARK IS IS YOU'RE ALWAYS MEASURED AGAINST HOW MUCH DID LAST YEAR OR SPENT
LAST YEAR IN OTHER AREAS THAT YOU CAN IMPROVE. UH. >> SOME. OF WHICH YOU CAN TRY TO ACHIEVE THROUGH CHANGES IN YOUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. SOME OF THEM ARE MANAGEMENT. DECISIONS ABOUT HOW. >> YOU DEPLOY OR UH, OR FEEL
SHIFTS. UH, I YOU KNOW, I WOULD I WOULD DEFER TO THE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEFS ON THE BEST APPROACH TO MANAGE THAT FOR OBVIOUSLY IN REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM
TOO BECAUSE UH. A GOOD ELEMENT OF THE SPENDING CONTROLS ARE CONNECTED TO SPENDING PRESSURES LIKE THAT. SO UM WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UH, WE'RE AS EFFICIENT AS
POSSIBLE IN THE. DEPLOYMENT OF OVERTIME. MR CHAIR, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, BUT I'LL HOLD IT FOR THE SECOND. ROUND, I THINK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. UM, OKAY, SO WE'RE MOVING ON.
UH, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE, YOU'RE UP NEXT AND THEN, UH, COUNCILOR EARL AND THEN COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PART. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
ASKING, UM, GREAT QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MY FIRST QUESTION IS ALWAYS SORT OF LIKE IT'S GOOD FOR US TO STEP BACK AND SORT OF LOOK AT HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES IN THIS MOMENT.
I THINK THERE WAS AN ARTICLE UM ,REFERENCED EARLIER ABOUT HOW THERE ARE SOME CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE HAVING TO CUT ZOOS AND UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE UM DON'T DO ANYTHING.
I KNOW THIS IS THE STATE JURISDICTION BUT UH, FRANKLIN PARK BUT UM HOW DO HOW HOW ARE WE COMPARING IN THIS FISCAL MOMENT TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS BOTH IN MASSACHUSETTS AND TO OTHER.
CITIES FINANCIALLY? MHM. UM, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO UH LOCALLY HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS I THINK WE'RE AS . WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT
I MEAN YEAH PROPERTY TAXES. YEAH BUT PROPERTY TAXES BEING A STABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE ABLE TO GET A TRIPLE AA BOND RATING FOR 12 YEARS IN A ROW, THAT'S A STRENGTH WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER CITIES.
BUT LIKE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING DIVERSION LIKE OUR OTHER CITIES SEEING MORE REVENUE BASED ON PERMITTING AND BUILDING ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OTHER CITIES THAT WE'RE NOT DOING LIKE THAT COMPARATIVE COMPARATIVE LENS?
YEAH I THINK WE UM ARE PROBABLY IN BETTER SHAPE THAN A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE ALL OPERATING UNDER THE SAME SET OF RULES AND THE SAME, YOU KNOW, BROAD
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE AND YOU SEE IT IN THOSE ARTICLES THAT ARE COMING OUT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CITIES AND TOWNS THAT ARE NEEDING TO CLOSED LIBRARIES OR ZOOS THE OUR BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE IN
BOSTON AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS PROPERTY TAX AND IT IS LIMITED TO 2.5% PLUS NEW GROWTH. WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE NEW GROWTH. A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DON'T BENEFIT FROM HAVING.
THE 1 TO 2% THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR. WE'RE BETTER WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL. FOR WELL SO FOR 20 YEAH I MEAN AND I THINK A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES TOO IN THIS MOMENT WHEN THEY'RE FACING A BUDGET SHORTFALL THEY'RE GOING AFTER AN OVERRIDE, THEY'RE
NEEDING TO SEEK AN OVERRIDE AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO DO NOR HAVE WE EVER DONE. UM, SO I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING TO MAKE TARGETED REDUCTIONS SO THAT WE CAN LIVE WITHIN THAT
LIMITED ONE AND A HALF TO 2.5% REVENUE GROWTH BECAUSE PROPERTY TAX IS GROWING. UM, IT CONTINUES TO GROW. UM BUT OUR COST TO SUCCEED THAT UM THAT CAP. AND THAT IT'S BEEN SORT OF LIKE
THE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ADVOCACY I BELIEVE THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL MAYORS ASSOCIATION OR WHATEVER IT GOES TO AROUND TWO AND A HALF BECAUSE IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SYLVIA'S EXACTLY. YES.
>> UM, OKAY. AROUND STATE REVENUE I ALSO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. LIKE WHAT CAN YOU GIVE US A I MEAN MAYBE YOU GAVE IN AND I APOLOGIZE I WAS LATE UM, THAT TALKING ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS THIS MORNING BUT IS THERE CAN YOU
GIVE US A PICTURE ABOUT STATE AID OVER THE YEARS? UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S EITHER FLATLINED OR DECLINED OVER THE YEARS. IF YOU COULD TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LIKE A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE AND WHY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. YEAH WE CAN I HAVE I DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME TODAY BUT I HAVE A NICE TABLE THAT HAS A HISTORY OF STATE AID AND I THINK IT'S A. BUDGET LIKE IT'S IT'S US LIKE
WE PAY THE STATE MONEY AS A RESULT OF OUR YOU KNOW, TAXES AND UM AND LIKE WHAT WE NET BACK IS. YEAH RIGHT ON THE IT'S NOT THE SAME AND WE HAVE SEEN UH STATE AID AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR
OVERALL OVERALL REVENUE DECREASE PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS OR SO. WHY IS THAT? IT USED TO BE ABOUT 25%. NOW I THINK IT'S LIKE 11%. IT'S STILL OUR SECOND BIGGEST
REVENUE SOURCE. BUT YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S A VERY. THE RESULT OF OUR OWN GROWTH IN SPENDING OR IS THAT THE LIKE ARE WE ARE WE JUST SPENDING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN WHAT WE'RE GETTING. >> YEAH I MEAN. WE'VE WE'VE. >> SEEN YOU KNOW WITH KIND
OF OUR BUILDING BOOM YOU KNOW PROPERTY TAX HAS GROWN UM BUT ALSO I DON'T THINK THE UM LOCAL AID EVER REALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL EVER REALLY RECOVERED
AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION. WE SAW A KIND OF A PULL BACK IN. 2008 AND TEN AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S CONTINUING TO GROW. BUT I THINK WE WE KIND OF EXPERIENCED A A MOMENT OF.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY ADVOCACY ON THAT END TO SORT OF GET THAT YES. INCREASED AND YES. THE THE MONEY THAT'S A BIG PART OF THEIR ADVOCACY IS TRYING TO INCREASE THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL GOVERNMENT AID UM TO
BUT TO BE WHAT I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY. AROUND CHARTER. >> SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS, I THINK THERE IS LOTS OF AREAS IN WHICH WE ARE NOT GETTING BACK WHAT WE PUT IN AS A CITY. YES. >> SO THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF ADVOCACY AROUND THAT. BUT AS WE KNOW THE STATE IS
FACING A LOT OF CONSTRAINTS AS WELL ON THEIR BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, ARE FACING A A BALLOT MEASURE THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, CUT, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE SORT OF LOCAL STATE WE'RE KIND OF ALL OPERATING IN
THIS REALLY CONSTRAINED. MOMENT OKAY I DON'T HAVE CULPEPPER TIME. WE JUST HAVE LOUIJEUNE TIME. SO I HAVE TWO THINGS I WANT TO GET IN INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS . UM I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME. THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY IN DEBT
SERVICE I THINK IS PROBABLY ABOUT 8% PROBABLY MORE LIKE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS I THINK LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN FISCAL POLICY THAT WE FOLLOW BUT DEBT SERVICE AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR OVERALL
OPERATING BUDGET I THINK THERE'S WORK THAT WE COULD DO. I'M JUST PUTTING OUT THERE NOT SAYING LIKE A HUGE AMOUNT 0.5% OR 1% WHEN IT COMES TO DEBT SERVICE TRAINING THAT COULD FREE UP SOME MONEY IF NEEDED IN
OTHER AREAS PROBABLY KNOW THESE ARE ALL POLICY CHOICES ABOUT FISCAL WHETHER TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, WHAT'S GOING TO GET US THE BEST MONEY FOR THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK? UM. >> WE PAY OUR DEBT SERVICE BACK
ON A RIDICULOUSLY SPEEDY SCHEDULE WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHEN YOU COMPARE IT, IF YOU COMPARE IT TO HOW PEOPLE PAY BACK THEIR MORTGAGES OR 38, OUR AMORTIZATION RATE IS JUST A LOT HIGHER THAN OTHER I MEAN THAT'S A POLICY CHOICE.
BUT IF WE ARE MAKING HARD CHOICES THAT ARE ALSO NOT PUTTING AT RISK OUR FISCAL STRENGTH, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AND THEN UM, I THINK THOSE ARE MY AND I MEAN
IF YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE MUNICIPAL EMPOWERMENT ACT STANDS BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE AROUND UM AROUND EXCISE TAXES AROUND BUT
LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S DEAD ON ARRIVAL JUST LIKE TRANSFER FEES ALL BUT ARE IMPORTANT TO GET MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY'S COFFERS. WE HAVE THESE IDEAS BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. SO WE'D LOVE AND HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE ADVOCACY AROUND THAT AS WELL.
UM DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER THAT ARE. UH WELL YES. THAT UH IS THERE THAT WE ADVOCATING FOR THAT. >> I THINK WE'VE. CERTAINLY. >> YOU KNOW, ADVOCATED FOR THOSE BUT AS YOU MENTIONED UM, I DON'T KNOW THE STATUS
OF WHERE THOSE ARE UP AT THE STATE HOUSE. I YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYTHING'S UM MAYBE STALLING A LITTLE BIT AS IT RELATES TO REVENUE. SO UM BUT WE'VE CERTAINLY MADE IT KNOWN THAT THOSE WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH. I'M SORRY, I THINK COUNCILOR WORRELL AND THEN COUNCILOR COLLETTE ESPADA AND JUST FOR EVERYONE BEFORE WE START THE NEXT ROUND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A, UH, SHORT
BATHROOM BREAK. BUT, UH, COUNCILOR L UH. THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, DOVETAILING OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE YOU KNOW, MENTIONED AROUND, UH, HOW WE
SPENT HOW WE PAY BACK OUR DEBT. ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY OTHER STRATEGIC WAYS? I KNOW HOW INSURANCE CHANGES ONE OF THEM TO TRY TO SCALE BACK COST. MHM. >> YEAH. >> UM FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT
EVERY POSSIBLE OPTION UM IN ADDITION TO ASKING OUR DEPARTMENTS TO DO MORE WITH LESS UM LOOKING AT OTHER KIND OF CENTRAL THINGS WE CAN DO WHETHER IT'S UM WE'RE LOOKING
AT OUR DEBT POLICIES TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN SPREAD PAYMENTS OUT OVER A DIFFERENT PERIOD OF TIME. UM, SO ALL OF THAT IS BEING REVIEWED. AWESOME. >> AND THEN I KNOW, UH, COUNCILOR CULPEPER ASKED ABOUT
THE UH, FAIR HOUSING UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND I KNOW WE'RE PUTTING A FREEZE ON A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS. ARE WE PUT IN A FREEZE ON AN RFP IN THE FAIR HOUSING
TESTING. UM, I KNOW THAT HASN'T GONE OUT YET. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PASSED THIS BODY PAST MAYBE LAST BUDGET CYCLE BUT WANTED TO SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS ALSO BEING FROZEN. UM, I DON'T AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY ON THAT UM PARTICULAR RFP SO WE'D HAVE TO FOLLOW UP. AWESOME. >> AND THEN DO THE CHAIR IF WE COULD JUST ADDED THAT IN, UH, THE MARCH 12TH MEMO.
UH, FREEZE IS 100% AVAILABLE BALANCES IN FOOD, TRAVEL, OFFICE SUPPLIES, FURNITURE, FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT, A SPECIAL APPROPRIATION OF 50% AND REPAIRS, CONTRACTED SERVICES, SUPPLY AND COMPANY CHARGES.
HOW LARGE UM, IS THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FROZEN ACROSS THE GENERAL FUND? I DON'T KNOW IF. WE HAVE I DON'T I DON'T I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW. I WONDER IF WE COULD PROBABLY GET THAT FOR YOU.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE A FOLLOW UP. AWESOME. >> DO THE CHAIR AND THEN CAN YOU GO OVER UH, THE NEW GROWTH LINE ITEM? UM, I KNOW WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT NEW BUILDINGS. UM, BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN
THAT. CAN YOU JUST DIVE INTO MORE LIKE WHAT GOES INTO IT? YEP. >> SO IT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION MOSTLY UM OR A BIG CHUNK OF IT IS UM BUT IT ALSO UM, CAN INCLUDE THINGS THAT HAVE
PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXEMPT AND ARE NOW TAXABLE. SO IF UM A PARTICULAR BUILDING OR PROPERTY HAD BEEN RECEIVING UM YOU KNOW A 121 A OR 121 B AGREEMENT FOR ANY REASON WHEN
THOSE EXPIRE UM IT CAN MOVE FROM EXEMPT TO TAXABLE SO THAT CAN REPRESENT A PORTION OF THAT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT OF NEW GROWTH RELATED TO UM PERSONAL. PROPERTY UM WHICH ARE KIND
OF LIKE THE MATERIALS OF DOING BUSINESS RIGHT. LIKE NEW KITCHEN A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN A UM IN A RESTAURANT OR UM, A BIG THING WE SEE IN NEW GROWTH FOR PERSONAL
PROPERTIES, UTILITY EQUIPMENT. UM, SO LIKE THE FIBER OPTIC CABLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, SO THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL. UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG COMPONENTS. GOT AND THEN WITHIN THOSE THREE
BIG COMPONENTS HAVE WE SEEN A DECLINE OR UH INCREASE IN ANY OF ONE OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES. YEAH I THINK WE'VE SEEN UM INTERESTINGLY SOMEWHAT OF AN
INCREASE IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN REPRESENTING A LARGER SHARE OF OUR OVERALL NEW GROWTH UM, KIND OF MORE THAN AVERAGE. UM, SO THAT'S ONE THAT STICKS
OUT. UM, AND THEN YOU KNOW, FURTHER BREAKING THAT DOWN, UH, WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH KIND OF SPECIFICS, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY HAS BEEN A BIG COMPONENT. ALL RIGHT. >> UM AND THEN IT IS SAFE TO
SAY WE COLLECTED AND THIS IS FY 25. UM, IS IT SAFE TO SAY WE COLLECTED 88 MILLION, UM, OVER OUR BUDGETED REVENUE? UM, WHEN I LOOK AT IT, WE HAVE.
UM I. FORGOT WHAT PAGE. SLIDE FIVE. BUDGETARY FUNDS TO MY UNDERSTANDING HOW I HEARD IT
BEING EXPLAINED WAS THOSE WERE ALL EXPENSES. SO BUDGETARY FUNDS ARE OTHER SOURCES LIKE FUND BALANCE OR
SOME OF OUR EXTERNAL OR NOT EXTERNAL FUNDS BUT UM, THE THE PARKING METER FUND OR THE CEMETERY TRUST FUND UM THAT WE KIND OF BUDGET FOR TO USE UM IN
THE BUDGET BUT KIND OF GIVEN LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU JUST SAID IF IF REVENUES IN OTHER AREAS ARE SUFFICIENT, WE CAN MAKE A CHOICE TO NOT LEVERAGE THOSE RIGHT. UM, AND PULL THOSE IN AND WE CAN SAVE THEM FOR A FUTURE
YEAR. UM, SO, UM I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS KIND OF LIKE BASED ON THE THE REGULAR REVENUES LIKE THE OVERAGE AND EXCISE THE OVERAGE AND INTEREST IN THE OVER JUNE DEPARTMENTAL THOSE ADD UP TO YOU KNOW, WHATEVER
THAT IS. UM AND THEN WE'VE CHOSEN TO NOT TAKE IN SOME OF THOSE OTHER BUDGETARY FUNDS SO THOSE REVENUES HAVE OVERPERFORMED BUT KIND OF NETTING OUT NOT TAKING
IN THAT OTHER BUDGETED REVENUE. IT RESULTS IN A $17 MILLION SURPLUS. GOT AND THEN JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THAT HOW MUCH HAVE THE REVENUE THAT WE PROJECTED
OVERPERFORM OR UNDERPERFORMED? I KNOW YOU HAVE A $22 MILLION SURPLUS BUT JUST ON REVENUE ALONE. SO IN TERMS OF FY 25. >> FY 25. YOU KNOW FY 25 WE DID SEE SOME .
UM UH EXPOSURES IN LIKE SOME OF THOSE PERMITTING WHICH FALLS IN DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE UM THAT WERE DID NOT ACHIEVE THE THE ESTIMATE THAT WE. >> SAW. BUT BUT A. TOTAL IN TERMS OF BUDGETED
VERSUS ACTUAL. YEAH WELL ARE IN IN AGGREGATE UH REVENUE EXCEEDED OUR ESTIMATES. NOT BY HOW MUCH. UH WELL IT NETTED OUT TO $17
MILLION TO UH JUST SO WE WENT TO THAT AND THAT'S ROUGHLY WHAT IT IS. >> YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> YEAH JUST JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THAT JUST SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SLIDES IT'S FIVE AND SIX.
SO IF THE SURPLUS IS 22 AND WE SO WE WE GOT 17 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE ABOVE WHAT WE EXPECTED AND WE SPENT 5 MILLION LESS THAN WE EXPECTED
TO SPEND SO THAT THAT'S HOW WE YOU KNOW JUST OKAY UH THAT'S HOW WE GET TO 22 MILLION. YEAH OKAY. >> SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> OKAY. THANKS. SORRY, COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PART OF, UH, FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A A BRIEF
BATHROOM BREAK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. I WAS ALSO GOING TO BE MY CLARIFYING. >> QUESTION. SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I APOLOGIZE THAT I WAS LATE. UM A LOT. >> OF. MY. COLLEAGUES HAVE. ASKED THE. >> QUESTIONS THAT I WAS GOING TO UM. >> JUST CALL OUT I MEAN, THE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS.
OF HIRING FREEZES. >> ON CITY SERVICES JUST UM, ANECDOTALLY JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT. IN THE. >> NORTH END FOR EXAMPLE ON HANOVER STREET I JUST NEED MORE. PEOPLE TO JUST. CHANGE THE TRASH BARREL.
BAGS LIKE HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT UM OR HOW. >> ARE THESE. FREEZES GOING TO IMPACT THAT? AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE UM LOOKING INTO THIS ESPECIALLY. AS WE APPROACH THIS SUMMER,
WHICH IS GOING. TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. UM, I GOT A TEXT. MESSAGE ABOUT IT. I WILL BE SENDING YOU TEXT MESSAGES. ABOUT IT IF WE. IF WE SEE THAT CITY SERVICES. ARE ON THE DECLINE. UM. >> AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS. >> ARE. CALLING FOR AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY DESERVE. UM AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I. WAS LATE AS. >> WELL BUT HAS IT BEEN QUANTIFIED. HOW HOW MUCH COST SAVINGS WE'RE GETTING BY THE, UH, EXPENDITURE CONTROLS THIS YEAR?
UM, SO WE HAVEN'T PUT A NUMBER TO IT YET BECAUSE, UM, WE YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE EXCEPTIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SO TO ENSURE THAT, UH, CITY SERVICES CAN CONTINUE,
RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT TO, UM, ARTIFICIALLY HOLD OURSELVES TO A TARGET AND SACRIFICE CITY SERVICES IN THE PROCESS. SO, UM, WE WE HAVEN'T REALLY ASSIGNED A NUMBER TO IT.
UM, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL CLEAN SOME AMOUNT OF SAVINGS, BUT WE'RE WE'RE NOT TARGETING A PARTICULAR AMOUNT. OKAY. >> ARE THERE ANY PROJECTIONS. THAT YOU SHOWED PUBLICLY? NO. >> OKAY. UM, THE. $71 MILLION. >> THAT IS. >> IT'S MID-YEAR.
SO THAT'S $71 MILLION. CAN I GET, UH, A BREAKDOWN. OF SNOW. REMOVAL OVER TIME AND HEALTH INSURANCE AND THEN IS THAT UP UNTIL WHAT POINT IN. >> THE YEAR? JANUARY? UM, YEAH. SORRY.
WHAT 71 MILLION ARE. YOU OH I APOLOGIZE. THE UM THE ESTIMATED. COST OVERRUNS. SO WE'RE. ATTRIBUTING SNOW REMOVAL OVER TIME HEALTH INSURANCE.
DO WE HAVE ACTUAL NUMBERS FOR THAT? UH. PER EACH LINE ITEM. AND THEN UP UNTIL. WHAT POINT IS THAT UNTIL IS THAT JANUARY? YEAH. >> SO, UM, THE MID-YEAR NUMBERS ARE THROUGH JANUARY.
UM, AND WE I BELIEVE HAVE SHARED OR WILL SHARE UM REVENUE AND EXPENSE REPORTS THAT SHOW ALL OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES COMPARED TO BUDGET THROUGH DECEMBER THROUGH
JANUARY. SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE UM WHERE ALL OF THOSE COMPARE UM TO BUDGET. OKAY. >> SO YOU HAVEN'T RELEASED THOSE NUMBERS. YEAH I THINK WE'VE SHARED IT WITH THE THE COMMITTEE THAT THIS MORNING. OKAY. >> UM AND THEN DO YOU HAVE ANY
PROJECTED UH OUT UNTIL FY 27. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR? UM NOTHING YET. UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY THROUGH JANUARY WE HAVE TO PICK
UP, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER EXPENSES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. SO WE'RE STILL PUTTING THAT UPDATED PICTURE TOGETHER. SO IT'S STILL A LITTLE TOO SOON TO TELL OKAY. AND WOULD THAT INCLUDE OUTSTANDING LIKE SNOW REMOVAL.
OCCURRED YES. >> OKAY OBVIOUSLY POLICE OVERTIME YEAH. EXACTLY YEAH. AND UPDATED REVENUES TOO SO THERE'S YOU KNOW COULD HAVE SOME PLUSES AND MINUSES IN THERE. WHERE DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
THE THE HIGHEST GAIN AND. REVENUES AT THIS POINT. UM YEAH SO OUR BIG ONE PROPERTY TAX IS KIND OF PAST US. WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT THERE. UM SO I THINK EXCISE IS UH
PROBABLY THE ONE THAT HOPEFULLY CAN OVERPERFORM PARTICULARLY WITH ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN JUNE. UM, SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT UH WE'LL SEE SOME UPSIDE THERE.
UM, AND THEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH INTEREST RATES IS ALWAYS YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'VE HELD THEM CONSTANT FOR ANOTHER UM FOR ANOTHER MONTH. SO WE'LL SEE KIND OF AS THE SITUATION IN THE WORLD
PROGRESSES WHAT HAPPENS WITH INTEREST RATES UM, IF THEY YOU KNOW, DROP THAT DRAMATICALLY WHICH I DON'T EXPECT THAT THEY WOULD DO BUT THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT. UM, BUT IF THEY CONTINUE TO HOLD IT STEADY WHEREAS WE'RE ASSUMING THAT IT WILL START TO
TICK DOWN, WE COULD SEE SOME UPSIDE THERE. OKAY. >> AND THAT. >> WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. >> WHY. YOU THOUGHT EXCISE. REVENUE WOULD INCREASE? UM BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE. UM THE AMOUNTS OKAY. UH. >> THE MUNICIPAL. EMPOWERMENT ACT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IT WAS. >> SENT A STUDY AND SO IT'S
SAFE TO SAY THAT IT PROBABLY WILL NOT ADVANCE OUT OF THE REVENUE COMMITTEE. UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT. I HAVE TALKED ABOUT. I HAVE MY OWN. MEETINGS WITH CONSTITUENTS AND I SAY CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS. YOU KNOW, WE'LL WRITE OUR OWN
LETTERS. UM, BUT IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE BLOW WHEN WE WHEN THAT DOESN'T ULTIMATELY PASS THIS YEAR. AND SO WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE. EXCISE TAX AND HOW MUCH UM
REVENUE AND UH THAT IT WOULD HAVE CREATED IF WE WERE GIVEN OUR OWN AUTHORITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COLLECT REVENUE. UM, I GUESS LIKE HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT STRATEGY OR
PLAN B. OR DO WE DOUBLE. DOWN ON OUR OWN SORT OF MUNICIPAL EMPOWERMENT ACT? I THINK THAT. >> THAT. WOULD. BE A. WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR. IT HAS THERE BEEN INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO NOW THAT WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO PASS THIS HERE?
UH, YES. UM I THINK I DON'T THINK WE WERE EVER COUNTING. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE NECESSARILY EXPECTING IT UM, TO GO THROUGH SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT
ANY OF OUR PROJECTIONS. BUT OBVIOUSLY REVENUE HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TWO YEARS. UM, SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THAT.
SO UM, HAPPY TO YOU KNOW, HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN EGR ABOUT THE STATUS OF SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS BUT CERTAINLY OPEN TO OTHER IDEAS, OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOW WE CAN ENGAGE AND INCREASE REVENUE IN OTHER KEY AREAS. THANK YOU. >> I KNOW THAT'S MY TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE WILL TAKE I DON'T KNOW UH, A TEN MINUTE BATHROOM BREAK
AND UH, COME BACK UH, AFTER
THIS RECESS.
OKAY. WE'RE BACK FROM RECESS. UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. I DID HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. UM, I'LL JUST I'LL GIVE MYSELF
30 MINUTES. I'LL GIVE MYSELF FIVE MINUTES. UM. UH, NO. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. UM, SO IN TERMS OF WHAT IMPACT
,IF ANY, WILL THE SORT OF SPENDING FREEZE, UH, FOR THE GENERAL BUDGET AND AND MAYBE ALSO HAVE ON OUR BOND RATING IF .
UM THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK IF ANYTHING IT WOULD BE VIEWED POSITIVELY. UM, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING UH,
TO CLOSE ANY SHORTFALLS THROUGH EXISTING, YOU KNOW, EXPENDITURE CONTROLS RATHER THAN USE RESERVE FUNDS FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE JUST SAW IN NEW YORK LAST WEEK THAT NEW YORK CITY HAD
THEIR RATING OUTLOOK DOWNGRADED UM, TO NEGATIVE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS CITED WAS THEIR PLUGGING UH, SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR STRUCTURAL BUDGET PROBLEMS WITH
ONE TIME SOURCES. UM, SO I THINK YOU KNOW, IN THAT CONTEXT IT WOULD BE VIEWED FAVORABLY. OKAY. >> UH LET'S. SEE AND THEN I THINK YOU SAID THIS ALREADY I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY ON UH PROJECTIONS FOR FY 26 FOR POLICE OVERTIME, SNOW REMOVAL, EXECUTION OF COURTS. UH, WE UH DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS FOR THOSE?
SO WE'VE SHARED UM, NUMBERS TO DATE ON HOW THOSE UM YOU KNOW ALL OF THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES ARE COMPARED ARE COMPARED TO BUDGET. UM I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO PUT UH, LIKE A
FORWARD LOOKING PROJECTION TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S SOME BIG OUTSTANDING INFORMATION LIKE THE FEBRUARY STORM WE NEED TO INCORPORATE IN HERE AS WELL . SO UM I THINK WE WE NEED MORE TIME TO COME UP WITH A FULL YEAR PROJECTION.
OKAY. >> UM, IN TERMS OF THE SO POLICE OVERTIME, UH, JUNE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE WORLD CUP EVENTS OR ARE WE GETTING EXTERNAL FUNDING?
UH, THAT WILL BE PAYING FOR HOW MUCH? UH, DO YOU KNOW? YES. >> SO THERE WAS A 40 UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWARDED MASSACHUSETTS $46 MILLION THROUGH FEMA FOR UM, EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORLD CUP.
UM, WE JUST GOT NOTIFICATION LAST WEEK. THAT PUBLIC THAT. YEAH. >> UM, THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING UM, I THINK IT WAS 12.5 MILLION FROM THAT UM,
AWARD WHICH IS LESS THAN WE HAD APPLIED FOR. UM HOWEVER, I THINK WHEN WE APPLIED INITIALLY WE HAD UH THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE SCALE OF THE EVENTS
THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF TRUING UP UM, OUR EXPECTED EXPENSES COMPARED TO WHAT WE EXPECT TO GET IN TERMS OF REVENUE FROM THIS GRANT.
UM, SO WE CAN IDENTIFY ANY GAPS SHOULD THEY EXIST. OKAY. >> YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPLIED FOR. WE APPLIED FOR ALMOST 24 MILLION. OKAY. >> UM. >> AND OKAY SO IN TERMS OF HOW
WE GOT TO A $22 MILLION SURPLUS LAST YEAR, UM, I MEAN SO I GUESS LIKE IN A NUTSHELL ARE WE PROJECTING A SURPLUS THIS YEAR
AND ASSUMING THE ANSWER IS NO BUT YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S YES. UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR? YEAH. >> WELL SO WE WE HAVE TO BE BALANCED.
SO UM, WE IN GENERAL CANNOT END THE YEAR IN DEFICIT. UM, WE WILL NEED TO SOLVE FOR CERTAIN THINGS OR SOME STATE RULES AROUND WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH SNOW AND AND A COUPLE OF OTHER UM, SHORTFALL
CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT. BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT THE YEAR END SURPLUSES HAVE BEEN TIGHTENING. UM, I THINK 23 THE SURPLUS WAS
OVER 100 MILLION FOR 24 YEAR AND WAS ABOUT 90 MILLION AND THEN FY 25 YEAR END IS 22. SO WE'RE SEEING THINGS TIGHTEN A BIT. UM LIKE I SAID WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK ON THE
THE PROJECTION. BUT I CAN SAY YOU KNOW WE WE WILL END THE YEAR BALANCED. UM WE HAVE TO UM BUT HOW MUCH OF A SURPLUS IF ANY WE SEE THIS YEAR REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT IT
SUGGESTS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ,YOU KNOW, A TIGHTER YEAR THAN WE'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY. UM, OKAY. AND UH, I GUESS, UM.
YOU SEE, I GUESS FOR INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS THAT WAS WE I MEAN, WE HAD A $22 MILLION SURPLUS 25 AND THAT WAS LIKE 30,000,032 MILLION OVER WHAT WE EXPECTED.
IT'S LIKE SO WHAT'S WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS AND IS THAT RELATED TO JUST THE INTEREST RATE THE YOU KNOW WHAT DO WE LOOK AT AND UM TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON. YEAH WHAT TO EXPECT. SO HERE.
UM SO IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE INTEREST RATE OF COURSE AND THEN ALSO HOW MUCH CASH WE HAVE UM WE DID DO UM THE COUNCIL APPROVED UM LAST YEAR
ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN JANUARY A LARGE UH, ONE TIME PAYMENT OF $110 MILLION FOR THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND. SO THAT IS $110 MILLION OF CASH WE NO LONGER HAVE.
UM, SO THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH CASH WE HAVE TO TO EARN INTEREST ON. UM, SO IT'S REALLY THOSE TWO FACTORS. UM, WE TRY TO BE PRETTY. CONSERVATIVE IN HOW WE PROJECT
AND BUDGET FOR INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT IN THE LONG TERM THAT REVENUE SOURCE WILL DECREASE. UM, SO WE DON'T WANT TO OVERLY
RELY ON IT, UH, FOR ONGOING EXPENSES SHOULD THAT, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY BECOME A MUCH SMALLER SOURCE OF REVENUE. OKAY. >> I'M JUST I'M GOING INTO CULPEPER TIME. ONE QUICK QUESTION. UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
JUST IN TERMS OF FREE CASH FLOW, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE? WHAT IS WHAT IS THE WHAT IS GOOD ACCOUNTING FOR WHAT THAT NUMBER. SHOULD BE. YES. >> SO OUR LATEST FREE CASH
WHICH UM WAS CERTIFIED LAST SPRING WAS 554. >> MILLION I WANT TO. SAY UM SO WE ARE UM WE'VE SUBMITTED OUR INFORMATION TO DO
OUR FOR UM A REVISED CERTIFICATION FOR THIS SPRING SO WE WILL HOPEFULLY KNOW THAT SOON. OKAY. >> AND THEN IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT WHAT ARE GOOD PRACTICES. >> YES. OH THANK YOU. UM SO THE CITY MAINTAINS A
POLICY WHERE WE, UM, SHOULD ONLY USE FREE CASH FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, UM, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND, UM, I CAN I CAN SHARE THE POLICY WITH YOU ALL
BUT GENERALLY, UM, IT'S A ONE TIME SOURCE AND SO WE, UH, BEST PRACTICE IS TO USE THAT FOR A ONE TIME PURPOSE. OKAY. >> I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE, UH,
IN WHAT ARE THE LIKE GUIDELINES FOR WHAT? THAT YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE? UM, YEAH. REVENUE OR WHATEVER I DON'T KNOW WHAT DO WE LOOK AT FOR. WE WE. MAINTAIN RESERVE POLICIES THAT
ARE NOT RELATIVE TO FREE CASH AND ARE RELATIVE MORE TO OUR OVERALL FUND BALANCE. SO UM WE HAVE A UM AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AMOUNT WHICH IS OVER $1 BILLION.
UM AND THEN WHAT WE SUBMIT WE SUBMIT UH TO DO ARE THEY UM SORT OF DON'T ALLOW US TO USE ALL THE YOU KNOW, ALL ALL 1
BILLION OF THAT ISN'T AVAILABLE BECAUSE MAYBE YOU HAVE A UM A LIABILITY ON YOUR BALANCE SHEET THAT YOU NEED TO HOLD BACK MONEY FOR. RIGHT? SO THERE'S A WHOLE, YOU KNOW, FORMULA THAT THEY PUT OUR OUR FUND BALANCE THROUGH AND THEN THAT'S WHAT ARRIVES AT THE FREE
CASH NUMBER. BUT WE WE MAINTAIN RESERVE POLICIES RELATIVE TO THAT OVERALL FUND BALANCE LEVEL. UM OUR POLICY IS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE UH 15%
OF BUDGETARY. I'LL HAVE TO DIG IT UP. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE LOOKED AT IT. UM, SO I'LL I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU BUT IT'S RELATIVE TO OUR OVERALL UM, FUND BALANCE AND THAT IS YOU KNOW, JUST TO BRING IT BACK TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION
ABOUT THE RATING AGENCIES, RATING AGENCIES CARE A LOT ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCE RELATIVE TO UM, EXPENDITURES. UM, I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR FUND BALANCE IS AROUND 24%, UM,
WHICH IS HEALTHY BUT UM THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THEY LOOK AT CAREFULLY. OKAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UM, WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A FIVE MINUTES AGAIN. UM, AND SO, UH, YOU'RE UP.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A FISCAL DISCIPLINE DISCIPLINE, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
UM, I'M GLAD WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT NOW. UM. JIM AND ASHLEY, BOTH OF YOU SERVE ON THE PERSONNEL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, HOW DID MAYOR WAS DELAYED HIRING ORDER FROM DECEMBER 3RD AFFECT THE DAY TO DAY WORK OF THE. PRC? UH, YES. IT'S AN EXCELLENT UH, QUESTION
BECAUSE ALL OF THESE SORT OF ADDITIONAL UM, CONSTRAINTS ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD UH, AMONGST UH ADMINISTRATIVE TEAMS AND IT JUST. UH WE ARE PAUSING ON EVERY
EVERY REQUEST TO HIGHER AND UM ,UM ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHEN'S THE LAST TIME IT WAS FILLED? OH, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE CORE UH, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION?
SO IT DOES IT DOES TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT UH, MORE TIME. WE TRY TO BE. UH. >> TOUCH EXCUSE UH, AT LEAST ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UH, IF NOT, UH BUT DEPARTMENTS OBVIOUSLY CAN REACH OUT, YOU
KNOW, IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY THEY NEED TO ADDRESS. CAN YOU GIVE US I KNOW THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US AN ACTUAL DOLLAR FIGURE FOR HOW MUCH MONEY THE SPENDING
CUTS ARE INTENDED TO SAVE? WE CAN'T PROVIDE THAT. TODAY I THINK UM, LIKE I SAID, WE WE HAVEN'T REALLY ASSIGNED A FIRM NUMBER TO THAT.
I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO SEE KIND OF WHAT SORT OF EXCEPTIONS WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE AND WHAT WHAT SPENDING UM, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO HAPPEN DESPITE THE CONTROLS. SO WE DON'T HAVE A FIRM NUMBER
TO SHARE TODAY. IS BOSTON STILL IN SUPPORT OF. TINKERING WITH. >> PROP TWO AND A HALF OR OR. >> EVEN. GETTING RID OF PROPOSITION TO AN OUT? SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LOT
OF DISCUSSION ABOUT PROP TWO AND A HALF OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE MAYOR HAS PUT OUT REPORTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW UH, LIMITING IT'S BEEN FOR MUNICIPALITIES. SO I THINK WE REMAIN OPEN TO
THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND WITH THE CITY UH, WITH WITH THE STATE I MEAN, UM, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR FLEXIBILITY BUT AS WE'VE SEEN HERE AND IN OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES THAT 2.5% INCREASE JUST IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF EXPENDITURES. SO UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE OPEN TO TINKERING OR DISCUSSING. >> WHAT YOU CONSIDER A UM AN
OVERRIDE OF PROPOSITION TWO AND A HALF WHAT BASICALLY VOTERS WOULD DECIDE. SO BOSTON HAS NEVER DONE A PROPERTY OVERRIDE AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL OKAY. >> YOU'D RATHER. >> DO IT FOR. THE FOR THE STATE HOUSE?
UH, WELL SO THE ALTERNATIVE TO A PROP TWO AND A HALF OVERRIDE IS TO MANAGE EXPENSES ON THE ON THE MUNICIPAL SIDE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT THE CITY OVER THE LAST YEAR
WAS IN SUPPORT OF TINKERING WITH PROP TWO AND A HALF OR EVEN ELIMINATING PROPOSITION TWO AND A HALF THOUGH. YES. >> WHICH YOU KNOW, KIND OF WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW LIMITING IT CAN BE BUT ABSENT
ANY CHANGES TO THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PROP TWO AND A HALF, WE AS A MUNICIPALITY UNLIKE OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE NOT SEEKING SEEKING TO OVERRIDE THAT UM AND ARE OPERATING
WITHIN OUR CONSTRAINTS. ON ON PROPERTY TAXES. IT'S IT'S IT SEEMED LIKE THE AVERAGE INCREASE WAS MAYBE 13% MAYBE 12%.
UM IS THAT THE NEW NORM NOW THAT PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE UM 10% OR HIGHER? I DON'T WANT TO YEAH I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE BECAUSE AS
WE'VE LEARNED IT'S VERY UM IT VARIES YEAR TO YEAR AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE. WE IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH
VALUES FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO TRYING TO LIMIT OVERALL INCREASES. THAT'S WHY WE'VE PURSUED THE HOME RULE PETITION. BUT UM I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE.
HAS BOSTON EVER REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES UM FOR RESIDENTS? I DON'T THINK BOSTON HAS EVER NOT TO TAKE IN THE 2.5% LEVY INCREASE. OKAY. >> SO THE ALWAYS ALWAYS WENT UP
A CERTAIN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE BUT EVEN IF THEY EVEN THIS YEAR WHEN IT WENT UP 10 OR 13% UM YOU KNOW WE WANT TO TRY TO GET
THAT DOWN FROM 13 TO 10% DOWN TO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT I WOULD IMAGINE. RIGHT. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. >> I MEAN THE AVERAGE INCREASE UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO YOU KNOW,
THE LAST RECENT UM LAST YEAR AND EVEN THE YEAR BEFORE HAD BEEN SOMETHING AROUND LIKE A 10% INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS. SO UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE INTERESTED IN KEEPING THAT AS MANAGEABLE AND PREDICTABLE AS POSSIBLE.
>> I DO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO BE FULLY IN PERSON. I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR CITY EMPLOYEES CITY HALL TO BE FULLY UM IN THE OFFICE WORKING
FIVE DAYS A WEEK. I THINK IT WILL GO GO AND BE A GREAT EXAMPLE IF WE DO THAT. UM, FOR THE NONPROFIT FOR UH THE BUSINESSES WHEN THEY SEE US
WORKING FIVE DAYS A WEEK I THINK THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HELP OUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS FOR MY COLLEAGUES, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THE CFO HAS A HARD STOP AT ONE. SO JUST IN TERMS OF I THINK
EVERYONE WILL HAVE FIVE MORE MINUTES AND UH BUT I JUST HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON UM COUNCILOR FLYNN'S QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WE HAVE IT LOOKS LIKE A WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE IN
THIS THIS YEAR AND UH, IN TERMS OF RISING EXPENSES AND NOT FAST ENOUGH RISING REVENUES, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN FY 20 WE PROJECTING THAT FOR FY 27.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY USING. WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR TO INFORM HOW WE'RE BUILDING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO WE'RE YOU KNOW EXPECTING CERTAIN REVENUES WILL NOT BE AS ROBUST GIVEN THEIR PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT'S OVERALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROJECTED ONE AND A HALF TO 2.5% EXPENDITURE GROWTH. SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL YOU KNOW GET IT RIGHT AND NOT BE IN
A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THESE MID-YEAR CONTROLS. BUT UM. YOU KNOW THE OTHER THAN HEALTH CARE COSTS LIKE WHAT? LIKE WHY WOULD OUR. EXPENSES JUST. YOU KNOW, SORT OF INCREASE IT
ACCELERATE FASTER THAN OUR REVENUE? YEAH. >> I MEAN WE HAVE UM LOTS OF REASONS UM, OUR KIND OF BASELINE CITY SERVICES CONTRACTS. I THINK OUR TRASH CONTRACT INCREASES BY THREE AND A HALF,
YOU KNOW, 3% PLUS SOME, YOU KNOW, INCREMENT EVERY YEAR OTHER YOU KNOW, OTHER SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY HAS THE CITY HAS CAN ESCALATE AT A RATE HIGHER THAN 2.5%.
UM, SO THERE'S YOU KNOW, LOTS OF THINGS THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THAT. I THINK OUR PENSION AND DEBT SCHEDULES ARE INCREASING UM HIGHER THAN 2.5%. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF UM A LOT
OF EXPENSES THAT GROW FASTER. OKAY. >> SO UH SO TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, I THINK COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU'RE UP NEXT. THANK YOU. UM, IN THE LAST PAGE OF THE
SOMEWHERE IN THIS PAGE 13 UM, IT SAYS A LARGE RECESSION IS NOT ASSUMED IN THESE PROJECTIONS. WE'RE IN A VERY VOLATILE MOMENT. UM, THINGS ARE NOT HELPING IN
THE MIDDLE EAST. UM, ARE WE MAKING ANY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LIKE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID, UM, INFLATIONARY
PRESSURE DUE TO THE OIL CRISIS AND AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. UM, SO ARE WE ANTICIPATING THE ENERGY COSTS AND COST OF GASOLINE FOR OUR FLEET? UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT
OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WHICH IS MAYBE A BLESSING IN THIS MOMENT, BUT WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THAT. IT WOULD BE A CERTAINLY A BUDGETARY PRESSURE. UH UH I THINK THE MOST RECENT
UM UH, SORT OF UH GROWTH IN UH, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IS PROBABLY NOT FALLING VICTIM TO TO WHAT WE WERE THINKING. SO WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO REVIEW THAT UH. REVISIT IT IF WE CAN OR MANAGE
AROUND IT. UH, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE NON DISCRETIONARY YOU KNOW POLICE CRUISERS IN FUELED UH FIRE TRUCKS NEED TO BE FUELED SO IT'S IT'S UH IT'S IT'S NOT THE
MOST UM MATERIAL ELEMENT OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET BUT IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'LL FEEL BUT YEAH PRESSURE FOR UH BUT JUST TO BUILD ON ASHES UH, JUST ONE OF THE THINGS WE UH WITH UH
WITH UM, UH, AN ECONOMY THAT WAS UH, LEVERAGED, UH, CONTRACTED LEVERAGE FACILITY LIKE SNOW REMOVAL. SO WE HAD ANYTIME THERE'S A REBUILD OR A CONTRACT YEAR SO
ENOUGH ABOUT 25 THAT'S WHEN THE ALL OF THE SNOW UH, IN WINTER MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS WERE WERE BID OUT AND TOOK THOSE OF COURSE ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY AND THAT'S GOING TO CARRY
FORWARD INTO UM 2017 THANK GOD. UM AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE UM HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND A FEW MINUTES AGO, THE 110 MILLION THAT WE TOOK OUT TO PUT
INTO A FUND TO HELP ACCELERATE SOME OF OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY BUT HOUSING PRODUCTION UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS LIKE A REVOLVING FUND LIKE YOU OWN IT AND THEN IT COMES
BACK WITH INTEREST. UM, DO WE GET INTEREST LIKE I'M SURE WE DON'T LEND IT ALL OUT AT THE SAME TIME? DO WE GET INTEREST ON LIKE AN ESCROW ACCOUNT THAT WE HOLD IT IN? YES. >> UM, SO ALL OF THOSE FUNDS SIT OVER UM, WITH THE BOSTON
HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY'RE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THOSE FUNDS. SO THEY'RE, UM, INVESTED IN AN ACCOUNT THAT EARNS INTEREST. UM, WE HAVE AN ABILITY PER OUR,
UM, MOU WITH THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT INTEREST COST. UM, SHOULD. WE NEED IT ON THE OPERATING SIDE. OR WE COULD LET IT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO BUILD AND GROW IN THE FUND SO IT IS IN AN
INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT. UM, THEN UM THE OTHER QUESTION ARPA FUNDS LIKE WE RUN OUT OF WE HAVE TO EXPAND EVERYTHING BY THE END OF THE YEAR DECEMBER 26TH.
ARE WE ON SCHEDULE TO EXPEND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE? I DON'T HAVE TO SEND ANY MONEY BACK. YES. >> NO WE ARE WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEND ANY MONEY BACK. UM, WE'RE VERY WELL ON TRACK I THINK WE'RE ALMOST IF NOT AT
90% EXPENDED PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT. SO WE'RE WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE TO SPEND IT ON ON TIME. AND UM THEN WITH REGARD TO THE
MUNICIPAL CODE I WAS I WAS I KNOW THAT THE MEN DOWN ME ADMINISTRATION AND UM NEW YORKER ARE LOOKING AT LAWS THAT ARE ON THEIR BOOKS THAT ARE NOT ENFORCED.
UM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN ARPA CAME OUT WE ASKED THAT WE UM, SPEND SOME MONEY ON REVIEWING AND UPDATING THE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH A PUBLISHING HOUSE LIKE THAT DOES THAT UH, I'M NOT
SURE IF WE EVER ISSUED AN RFP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MUNICIPAL CODE IS UP TO UP TO DATE. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO. I THINK GOOD PRACTICE IS TO DO IT EVERY 5 TO 10 YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.
UM, I'D REALLY LIKE TO CHECK IN AND SEE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN WE RAISED THE FINES THE FINES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE 1980S AND WE'RE YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S ONE PIECE OF IT. BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER
UH, CODES AND ORDINANCES IN THERE THAT WERE MAYBE UH I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT AS A SOURCE OF RATHER THAN GOING TO THE STATE HOUSE TO GET APPROVAL TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE ALREADY HAVE AUTHORITY
TO DO. I THINK THAT WOULD BE MONEY WELL SPENT. SO I HOPE WE CAN FOLLOW ON ON THAT. UM, AND UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG FRUSTRATIONS FOR ME PERSONALLY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SAY IN AND BEEPS BEEPS IT'S ONE THIRD OF THE CITY BUDGET IS 100
I THINK WE SHOULD NOT 1,000,001.8 MILLION THIS YEAR. UM AND YOU KNOW IT NEVER JUST SEEMS TO NEVER NEVER CHANGE. WE SEEM TO HAVE I KNOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. I HAVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY CREDIT.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS BUT IT'S. SLOW AND, UH, IT IS WITH SUCH A FALLING ENROLLMENT AND SUCH AN INCREASE IN THE AN A STEADY INCREASE IN COSTS EVERY YEAR, I
WISH THAT WE HAD MORE UM, MORE INFLUENCE EITHER AS A BODY OR AS A GROUP OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT YOURSELVES AND OURSELVES OR WHOMEVER TO REALLY SORT OF LIFT THE LID ON THE
LIFT THE BONNET ON UM BP'S SPENDING AND SEE WHERE. WHERE THERE'S. REALLY SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE TO MAKE A DENT UM, IN THE COST OF OUR PUBLIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UM, I'M 100% COMMITTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT UM, WE'RE WE'RE. WE'RE SORT OF IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE RIGHT NOW. SO I UH I THINK THAT'S A
CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNSELOR CULPEPPER. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
GOT AN UPDATE STATUS UPDATE ON THOSE SCHOOLS THAT I LISTED. AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD A LIST OF ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT I GAVE YOU EARLIER. CAN YOU REPEAT THEM? SO I MAKE SURE I HAVE ALL
OF THEM RIGHT. . EMMANUEL BOSSIER CITY SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY SIMMONS EMERSON BOSTON COLLEGE MASS.
COLLEGE OF ART NEW ENGLAND BOSTON. AND WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE NEW. ENGLAND LOST? THEY DON'T HAVE THEM THEY JUST HAVE THE LAW SCHOOL. OKAY.
THE OTHER THING WAS THE UPDATE ON THE COURT TENNIS UPDATE ON. HOUSING WHETHER THAT WAS ON THE DELAYED HIRING AND IF IT IS
SOME KIND OF TIMETABLE UH WHEN THAT POSITION IS GOING TO BE FILLED. MHM. >> YEP THAT'S ON. MY IT'S ON OUR. FOLLOW UP LIST. AND YOU MENTIONED NEW YORK'S BOND RATING AND HOW THAT ONE TIME ASSESSMENT WAS PART
OF THEIR PROBLEM WITH THE BOND RATING. AND WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF THOSE ONE TIME ASSESSMENTS THAT COULD AT SOME POINT BECOME A PROBLEM FOR US? UM SO YES SO THE ISSUE IN NEW
YORK WAS AGAIN USING MORE OF THEIR RESERVE FUNDS TO PLUG THEIR OVERALL BUDGET. WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB . UM. >> AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND BEFORE THAT OF NOT. UTILIZING ONE TIME FUNDS.
>> TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. UM, AND I THINK THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION GOING FORWARD THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO UM, NOT CREATE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS FOR OURSELVES IN THE BUDGET.
AND POLICY BUT ALSO FUND BALANCE IS WHAT'S THE POLICY FOR THE FUND? YEAH. >> I'LL UM I'LL DIG IT UP AND SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU. BUT AGAIN IT'S IT'S UM THE
POLICY IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF IT UM, RELATIVE TO OUR OVERALL BUDGET OR REVENUES. I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER THE EXACT UM, LANGUAGE BUT ENSURING
THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT BALANCE TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES. UM, SO THE POLICY STATES THAT WE WOULD HAVE 15% OF EXPENDITURES, UM, AS FUND
BALANCE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE I THINK 24% AS OF OUR LAST FINANCIAL STATEMENT. UM. >> SO WE'RE WE'RE WELL RESERVED BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LOOKED UPON FAVORABLY BY RATING AGENCIES.
AND GIVEN I THINK YOU SAID THAT UH, IN MOST CASES THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S WORK. WHERE DO YOU SEE WHERE THE
PRIORITIES ON AND LIKE. UM I. THERE'S PROBABLY I CAN'T I CAN'T THINK OF A SITUATION WHERE IT ISN'T GENERALLY ALIGNED SO.
TO WHERE IT'S SAID WITH THE I. >> THINK SO I THINK WE WERE IN RECEIPT OF THE MEMORANDUM ON THE PRIORITIES AND I THINK THE SAME PRIORITIES. AND UH YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMAN COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I TALKED A MINUTE AGO ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT UM, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS? AS WE. >> IN TERMS OF TOTAL. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. OR UM, SO WE WILL UH, PRESENT THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN ALONGSIDE OF OUR FY 27
OPERATING BUDGET. SO THAT TENDS TO COME UP A LOT. UM, IN THOSE. >> HEARINGS. WEDNESDAY UM OUR BUDGET WILL BE OUT ON. UM APRIL 8TH. OKAY. AND AT THAT POINT WILL WE BE
ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON IT OR WILL WE BE OKAY? THANK YOU. LET IT KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT I HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 35 SECONDS.
THIS IS I JUST THIS IS A SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE OR SOMETHING. UH, BUT, UM, WE'RE WE'RE BLESSED. UH, YOU KNOW, I WILL SO WE WE WILL VOTE ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET
UH, TWICE IN JUNE. SO WE'LL WE'LL HAVE OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AND, UM, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. OKAY. WELL, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSELOR CULPEPER. UM, I SEE YOU HAVE ONE MORE
MINUTE. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK, UH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT COUNSELOR IN TERMS OF THE FREEZES, YOU KNOW, THE SPENDING FREEZES. HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE, UH,
EXPECTING TO SAVE BY. DOING THAT? >> YEAH. >> IT'S, UH WE HAVEN'T ASSIGNED AN OVERALL TARGET TO IT. UM, AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD OURSELVES TO A TARGET AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOME CRITICAL HIRE OR CITY
SERVICE, UM, AS A RESULT. SO I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THE CONTROLS TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE WE CAN ESTIMATE IT. UM, SO IT'S STILL TOO SOON TO SAY. AND SO OKAY, I GUESS NUMBER ONE IS.
>> DO WE. ANTICIPATE AND WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE A DEFICIT SO. WE WE WE'RE. >> DOING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE OVEREXTENDING OR. OVER UH ABOVE BUDGET EXPENDITURES AND THOSE LINE
NAMES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UM UH, YOU KNOW, SNOW PUBLIC SAFETY EXECUTION OF COURTS AND AND OUR REVENUE HAS COME IN ON BUDGET BUT IT ISN'T QUITE LIKE YOU KNOW, TRACKING WITH
PREVIOUS YEARS. SO WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE EXPENDITURES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OKAY. >> AND THEN I DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WHAT WE THINK THE DEFICIT WOULD BE IF WE TOOK NO ACTIONS. UM AGAIN WE'RE.
DEALING WITH UM UPDATED INFORMATION NOW WE'LL HAVE THROUGH FEBRUARY. HOPEFULLY UM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL WE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF REPORT BACK ON A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, IT'S COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE LOUIJEUNE. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. >> UM, I DON'T HAVE. UM I DON'T THINK MAJOR CONCERNS I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY WE WOULD PUT OUT SOME SORT
OF FREEZES AND JUST SO THAT IT'S WHAT I FROM WHAT I READ IT'S LIKE FREEZES WHEN IT COMES TO MEALS AND FOOD ON EMPLOYEE ONLY EVENTS BUT NOT ON ANYTHING THAT ACTUALLY ENGAGES THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. SO IF THERE ARE EVENTS THAT ARE PLANNED THAT INVOLVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THERE'S NO DIRECT FREEZES ON THAT BUT THERE'S A FREEZE IF IT'S JUST LIKE INTERNAL ONLY EVENTS.
AND IF. EVERYTHING YEAH, I THINK IN EARLY DECEMBER UH THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GUIDANCE TO. SORT OF UH UM UM LIMIT YOUR
SPENDING TO CONSTITUENT FACING EVENTS. I THINK THIS MORE RECENT UM. ONE IS BROADER THAN THAT. IT WAS A FREEZE ON THE ENTIRE ACCOUNT BUT WITH WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO UM FOR FOR UM RELIEF REQUESTS. OKAY. >> UM I I GUESS I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION, UM, IN PUTTING ITEMS LIKE IN THE ROLES THAT YOU BOTH HAVE, WHAT ARE
YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS AND WORRIES ABOUT UH, LIKE BEING ABLE TO MEET OUR BUDGETARY NEEDS AND SORT OF THE UM, FISCAL CHALLENGES IN THE NEXT. 2 TO 3 YEARS?
I THINK. LIKE THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CITY FINANCES AND BUDGETING. I THINK IT'S BEEN I THINK. THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR. THERE'S BEEN A.
LOT UM, THAT I SAY HAS KIND OF GONE AGAINST US. SO UM, TWO HISTORIC SNOWSTORMS . ,UM. >> EXPENDITURES GROWING REALLY REALLY QUICKLY ON HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> YOU KNOW, SO IT'S. MOSTLY THESE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY PREDICT OR CONTROL THAT I THINK MAKES ME. >> THE MOST CONCERNED. UM. >> AND ENSURING THAT WE. ARE BUILDING IN ENOUGH. FLEXIBILITY AND. >> CUSHION TO. >> DEAL WITH THEM.
UH, WE'RE REALLY. FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE GOOD CENTRAL CONTROLS. WE ARE WELL RESERVED SHOULD WE. NEED TO USE ANY UM, RESERVE FUNDS TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS. SO WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. BUT UM, I THINK IT'S JUST
REALLY. MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE. SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS NOW AND IN THE. LONG TERM TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE TYPES OF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. AND WE'RE STILL ON TRACK TO
MEET OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS BY 20 THE END OF 2027 2022. 2028 YES. 2028 UM, JIM, UM DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION?
UM SIMILAR UH JUST IN I THINK IT'S SHARED BY A LOT OF UH, THE STATE AND MUNICIPALITIES JUST BUDGETARY PRESSURE THAT'S CROWDING OUT AND JUST WHAT IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS BEING SURE YOU'RE STILL COVERING THE MOST
CRITICAL SERVICES THAT YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS EXPECT. SO WHY ARE WHY WERE HEALTH CARE COSTS SO UNFORESEEABLE? RIGHT. LIKE WE UH WE I'M A COUNCIL I
DON'T KNOW ANY CONTRACT FOR A UNION THAT WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT. UM THOSE CBA THOSE CBAS COME WITH COST INCREASES LIKE WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE
COSTS THAT CAME AT SUCH AS SUCH A SHOCK TO THE CITY? AND I MEAN I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES. I MEAN ARE WE SEEING THE SAME SORT OF SHOCKED THE STATE AND CITY LEVEL AND AND WHY IS IT SO
GREAT? HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE ALWAYS AMONGST THE REASON WE SHOULD HAVE MEDICARE FOR ALL. BUT THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY. BUT WHY. SO WE'RE SO. I THINK. >> WE'RE SELF-INSURED. >> SO WE INCUR ALL OF THE RISK
UM. IS THAT IS THAT THAT TRUE FOR THE STATE. IS THE CONSIDERED. SELF-INSURED I THINK SO, YES. UH IT'S PRETTY COMMON. >> YEAH. IT'S IT'S COMMON FOR LARGE. EMPLOYERS TO BE SELF-INSURED.
UM MY UNDERSTANDING. SO WE TAKE ON ALL OF THE RISK. UM, AND FOR. MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PAID IN OUR PORTION EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING IN THEIR PORTION. COSTS HAVE BEEN LESS THAN WHAT
WE'VE PUT INTO OUR TRUST FUND. UM, AND WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD. >> A SURPLUS OVER THE YEARS WE'VE. >> BEEN ABLE TO. THE TRUST FUND SPECIFICALLY OFF FOR HEALTH CARE. YES. >> YEAH. SO UM THE TRUST FUND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUBSIDIZE. YOU KNOW, PREMIUMS. >> WITH SOME OF THE SURPLUS WE'VE DEVELOPED UM, OVER TIME.
UM, AND SO. AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'VE SORT OF EXHAUSTED. THAT SURPLUS WE. HAVE HEALTH CARE COSTS THAT WE JUST SEE. >> YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD GROWING FASTER. UH, AND YOU KNOW, WE ALSO LIVE
IN A. A STATE WITH A LOT OF. YOU KNOW, THE. BEST OF THE BEST HOSPITALS. IN THE WORLD. BUT THAT COMES WITH THE COST, RIGHT? SO THE. COST OF PROVIDING HEALTH CARE. >> IN. MASSACHUSETTS IS JUST HIGHER. BUT THAT'S ALWAYS I'M SAYING LIKE THAT'S ALWAYS THAT'S. >> ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. SO YOU KNOW IT'S SORT OF IT'S
IT'S. IT'S TICKING UP IT'S. GROWING FASTER. WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF REALLY HIGH COST CLAIMS. UM ANECDOTALLY WE'VE. >> HAD. TWO INDIVIDUAL. CLAIMS THAT HAVE COME IN THAT. >> ARE INDIVIDUALLY $3.5 MILLION APIECE.
UM, SO. >> THOSE ARE YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY PLAN FOR THOSE AND. >> THEN IT'S THE. PROLIFERATION OF. GLP ONE USAGE. I THINK IT'S LIKE. THOSE THREE THINGS HAPPENING. >> AT THE SAME TIME THAT. >> WE NECESSARILY. COULDN'T HAVE OR WOULDN'T HAVE
PREDICTED. UM THAT IS CAUSING THE SITUATION WE'RE IN NOW. THANK YOU. UM I WANTED IT SO JUST IF YOU
IF YOU ALLOW CHAIR YOU SAID THAT BEFORE THIS SPIKE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS THE TRUST FUND WAS BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE CERTAIN PREMIUMS. CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? YEP.
>> SO WE DEVELOPED. UH, YOU KNOW, A SURPLUS OVER TIME. AGAIN, REVENUES GOING INTO THE FUND WERE. HIGHER THAN. OVERALL COSTS GOING OUT. AND SO UH, THE CITY IN COLLABORATION. >> WITH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. COMMITTEE THAT IS OUR UNION
PARTNERS ON. HEALTH CARE. WE MADE A. >> DECISION TO UTILIZE. >> SOME OF THAT SURPLUS TO. ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZE PREMIUMS SO TO KEEP THEM LOWER THAN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN UH. PREMIUMS NOT JUST LIKE A SPECIFIC. EXACTLY YEAH OR NON. MEDICARE PREMIUMS.
YEAH EXACTLY. SO WE WE MADE A. CHOICE AND WE WE DID IT A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME AND. IT WAS YOU KNOW IT KEPT PREMIUMS PRETTY PREDICTABLE I THINK THE AVERAGE PREMIUM. INCREASE HAD BEEN UH I CAN'T
REMEMBER BUT IN THE SINGLE DIGITS RIGHT UM AND NOW. >> THIS YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO BE. 22 ALMOST 23% RIGHT. SO THERE'S A TON OF VOLATILITY. SO ANYWAY UM THAT THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THESE HIGH THESE COSTS ARE
GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY. OKAY THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MR. >> YEAH AND SO THAT THE TRUST FUND THAT THAT MONEY IS GONE WE DON'T REFUND OR THERE'S SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THAT. UM WHAT. >> DO.
YOU MEAN I'M SORRY I THOUGHT I WAS DISTRACTED BUT WE WE WE HAD A FUND THAT WAS BEING USED TO HELP WITH HEALTH CARE COSTS AND THAT HAS BEEN IT'S. YEAH, IT'S. >> IT'S HOW WE.
PAY FOR ALL OF OUR CLAIMS. SO UM, IN THE BUDGET THERE'S A. LINE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THAT'S THE. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION AND THEN. WE ALL IN OUR. PAYCHECKS YOU KNOW, PAY INTO THE TRUST FUND WITH OUR YOU KNOW, MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEN AND. >> THEN WE PAY CLAIMS.
OUT OF THAT FUND OKAY. AND SO WE'LL BE FUNDING THAT. MHM. >> YEAH. >> AND PART OF THE. REASON WHY IT'S GOING UP IS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THAT FUND HAS SORT OF GONE YOU KNOW IT WILL. LIKELY BE.
>> NEGATIVE BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO WE HAVE TO. RESTORE OURSELVES. >> TO. SOLVENCY AND. YOU KNOW GET READY. >> AND AND ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CLAIM ACTIVITY AT THE SIMILAR LEVEL. AS WE'VE SEEN. SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THE.
23% PREMIUMS. OKAY OKAY. UH SO COUNSELOR WELL UH. YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR. UM. GOING BACK. >> TO. THE JUST KIND OF GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF. LOCAL REOCCURRING REVENUE.
UM. WE AS A CITY SUBMIT LOCAL. RECEIPTS EVERY YEAR. TO, UH, DLS. UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE REPORTED.
LET'S PULL THIS UP REAL QUICK. UH, TO DLS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IS. OH, UH, SORRY. GIVE ME ONE.
SECOND JUST. >> PULLING UP THIS SPREADSHEET. HERE IT. >> GOES IN 20. >> IN. 2003 WE UNDERESTIMATED REVENUE
BY 30 MILLION TO 2004 42 2005 59 2006 80 MILLION UH 2007 72,008 38, 2009 24, 20 1021 AND
IN 20 1142 AND IN FY $2,590 MILLION. RIGHT. SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED REVENUE
LIKE REOCCURRING REVENUE BY $90 MILLION IN FY 25? I WOULDN'T. >> SAY THAT WE. UNDER ESTIMATE IT. I SAY WE BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY AND. >> THAT IS. VERY INTENTIONAL. BECAUSE YOU. ALSO HAVE EXPENDITURES.
>> THAT WE'VE. YOU KNOW UNDER BUDGETED FRANKLY RIGHT. YOU KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY OVER TIME DOES NOT REFLECT ACTUAL EXPENDITURES IN OUR BUDGET. BUT THOSE COSTS HAPPEN. AND WE NEED. REVENUE IN ORDER TO
COVER THOSE. SO THERE'S UM, YOU KNOW. CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING THAT HAPPENS. ON BOTH SIDES. UM. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO VIEW. THOSE TWO TOGETHER RIGHT? YEP. >> AND I I DO AGREE WITH THAT. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T PROPERLY BUDGET FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY IS KIND OF BAKED INTO HOW WE, YOU KNOW, PREDICT REVENUE. CORRECT THAT. I MEAN WE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE. GOING TO HAVE EXPENSES THAT EXCEED BUDGET IN CERTAIN. CATEGORIES. >> UM, THAT YOU KNOW, LIKE I
SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS YEAR SNOW. EXECUTION OF COURTS. THOSE ARE. >> THINGS YOU CAN'T ALWAYS PREDICT. SO IT'S IT'S IT'S GOOD PRACTICE TO BUDGET YOUR REVENUE CONSERVATIVELY SO THAT YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES AS THEY COME UP.
AWESOME. >> UH THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE MAYBE 1 OR 2 MORE QUESTIONS UH, FOR 121 SECTION
TEN UH, THE 121 IS DO WE EXPECT IT TO BE ZERO UM IN THERE AND WILL THERE BE A NO I GUESS IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS DO WE SEE
ANY OTHER REVENUE COMING IN TO UH, 121 SECTION TEN? DO THEY LIKE THE TAXES? UM, YEAH. >> ARE YOU. >> LOOKING. AT. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY?
UM, IT WAS THE QUARTERLY REPORT FOR REVENUE. YEP. >> OKAY. YEP. >> OH I SEE UM. OH I SEE. ONE IS.
UH YES SOME OF IT IS TIMING RELATED IN THE SECTION TEN PAYMENTS ARE CONNECTED UH. >> TO STATE. SO IT MIGHT BE JUST A LAGGING UH SO UM SO THAT THAT ACCOUNT.
SECTION TURN. YEAH I THINK. YEAH IT HAS COMPLETELY BEEN ON YOU KNOW UNRECOGNIZED BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A MORE OF A TIMING ISSUE COME WHEN WE WON'T GET IT DISTRIBUTED BY.
>> THE TIME. >> I THINK WE CAN GET YOU LIKE ONE WE EXPECT. >> THAT TO COME IN. GOT IT. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE LOOKING AT THAT SAME REPORT UM, ARE THERE ANY REVENUES THAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WILL MISS
BUDGET BY YEAR END? I THINK THE ONES WE'VE. TALKED ABOUT UM. AS BEING CONCERNS. >> ARE SOME OF THOSE. BUILDING RELATED. REVENUES LIKE PERMITS I THINK THOSE THOSE HAVE BEEN
UNDERPERFORMING. UM, SO THAT'S ONE THAT STICKS OUT TO. ME AND. THEN YOU KNOW ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WITH THE LARGER ECONOMY AND CAN CAUSE
SOME OF LIKE OUR EXCISE REVENUES TO, YOU KNOW, GO OFF TRACK. SO UM BUT I THINK MOST. ACUTELY THE. BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO UM
THE FREE CASH UM RESERVE DOLLAR AMOUNT WHEN WHEN WAS THE 110 RECOGNIZED WAS IT. IT WAS IN UM. UH COULD YOU. RECERTIFY EVERY JUNE OR.
UH WE CERTIFY. EVERY SPRING FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. SO I THINK WE'LL SEE. THAT UM, 110. APPEAR IN THIS. UPCOMING APPLICATION. ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT WAS AN FY 25
EXPENDITURE. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. >> UM NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DID I DO WE HAVE UH, THE NUMBERS FOR THE, UM, REVENUE
GENERATED BY THE BUILDING PERMITS UP THROUGH JANUARY? YEAH. UH, WHENEVER WE HAVE THE DATA FOR FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. IT SHOULD BE IN THIS. UH, FILE WE SHARED.
WITH YOU. OKAY. UM, JIM, WE'LL LOOK IT UP. YEAH. UM, SO YES. SO IT'S BUDGETED.
UH UM UH, LIKE $49 MILLION. UM, AND WE'VE RECOGNIZED UH, A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, 25 MILLION. SO THERE'S STILL IT'S IT'S A
IT'S A FUNCTION OF UM TRENDING AND ALSO LOOKING AT LIKE WHEN THESE PRIMARIES TYPICALLY HAPPEN THAT HAPPEN IN THE YEAR OKAY. AND THAT'S THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. YES THAT'S RIGHT OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR COLLETTA ZAPATA. THANK YOU CHAIR UM I HAVE A FEW OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS.
ONE IS ACTUALLY IT CAME UP IN. >> A BUDGET. TOWNHALL I JUST HAD IN THE NORTH END. UM. RESIDENTS WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD GET THE NUMBER AND SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED IT EARLIER, BUT, UM, QUANTIFYING NEW DEVELOPMENT.
REVENUE LIKE. UH, PROJECTS THAT ALREADY HAVE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND HOW MUCH REVENUE THEY'VE CREATED FOR THE CITY THIS PAST YEAR. MHM. UM IS THAT DATA AVAILABLE? CAN WE RECEIVE THAT THIS YEAR?
BECAUSE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING IS I CAN SEE ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND HELPING US WITH CITY SERVICES AND THEY'RE HELPING TO GROW THE CITY. WHAT IS THEIR IMPACT UH THEIR
FISCAL IMPACT ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET? AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT QUESTION. I WANTED TO BRING. >> IT HERE. YEAH. >> WE SHOULD BE ABLE. >> TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT. BREAKS DOWN THAT NEW GROWTH NUMBER A. LITTLE BIT. UM, SO. >> I'D BE HAPPY. >> TO. FOLLOW UP WITH YOU UM, WITH THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR RESPECTFULLY. >> IF WE.
>> CAN. GET THAT, I APPRECIATE IT. UM, CHIEF, YOU AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT I THINK IT WAS, UH, IN A INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATION BUT I DO REMEMBER EITHER LAST YEAR OR
TWO YEARS AGO ASKING ABOUT LIKE WHERE OUR MONEY IS BEING HELD AND IF WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR INVESTMENT. YES. UM, AND YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT WELL, IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT WE SHOULD DEPLOY WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? YEAH. >> UH, WE. >> HAVE A WHOLE TEAM DOWN. IN OUR TREASURY. DEPARTMENT THAT'S FOCUSED ON OUR INVESTMENTS. UM, AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW. MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SECURE AND LIQUID AND. >> ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE HAVE A, YOU. >> KNOW, REQUIREMENTS FOR HOW.
WE INVEST UM, AND ALSO ENSURING. >> THAT WE'RE KIND. >> OF GETTING THE MAXIMUM RETURN. UM, I CAN UM. PROVIDE YOU. WITH AN OVERVIEW. OF WHERE OUR. CASH IS INVESTED. UM, WE HAVE THESE MONTHLY CASH
REPORTS THAT WE CAN SHARE. UM, SO I CAN I CAN FOLLOW UP. ON THAT WITH YOU, UH, IF THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND THEN SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME TO ME AND I'M TRYING TO FRANTICALLY LOOK THROUGH
THE, UH, ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD WORKED TOGETHER ON FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET UM, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL TRANSFERS FROM UM FROM THE BDA .
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO EXECUTE AN EMOJI. UH, WE NEED TO RECEIVE IT. WE NEED TO REVIEW IT THROUGH A HEARING. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING FROM THE BDA THIS TIME AROUND? UM.
>> AND WHEN WE CAN ANTICIPATE RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION? YEAH. >> SO UM, JUST. GENERALLY SPEAKING THE. >> WAY. IT WORKS IS WE UM RECEIVE REVENUE. UM, FROM THEM IN KIND OF. QUARTERLY INSTALLMENTS.
UM, AND WE UM, WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM BASED ON KIND OF. EXPENDITURES AND UM, PROJECTED EXPENDITURES. HOW MUCH? UM, SO WE YOU KNOW, WE PUT A WE PUT AN AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET ASSUMING A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF EXPENDITURES AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR KIND OF UM TRUE IT UP TO ACTUALS AND PROJECTED. SO THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. UM, I. DON'T KNOW. >> IF JIM HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT ACTUALS TO. >> DATE BUT UM. YEAH, THERE IS A SCHEDULE UM
FOR THE TRANSFER FROM TRYING TO FIND THE UH THE REVENUE ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE'VE LOOKED SO FAR, UH. >> JUST TO. AND JUST WHY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT. I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT NOW THE
PPA OR SUCCESSOR AGENCY SHALL SUBMIT ANNUALLY TO US. UM, AN AUDITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT WHICH INCLUDE SUMMARIES OF REVENUE EXPENSES AND, UH IT SHALL BE MADE
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. SO OKAY. THEY'RE FINE. THEY'RE THE BPA IS AUDITED. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS I'M NOT. SURE IF. >> THEY'RE DONE. UM IF THEY ARE I'M SURE THEY'RE POSTED ONLINE. BUT WE. >> CAN CONFIRM.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO HOLD AN ANNUAL HEARING CHAIR ON IT. I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. OKAY. WE SHOULD DO THAT. YEAH OKAY, GREAT. SO FOR THE BPA WE'VE, UH, RECOGNIZED $34 MILLION THROUGH
THE TRANSFER. UM, IT DOES TRACK WITH SPENDING ,UM, AT THE FORMER PDA OPERATING UNITS. SO, UH, IT INTERACTS WITH UM,
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND SO WE HAVE SO, UH, ANY ANY SURPLUSES THAT UH, ACCRUE TO THOSE OPERATING DEPARTMENTS, THE REVENUE UH WILL BE REDUCED
TO MATCH THAT. SO UM OKAY. OKAY. SO IT'S IT'S UM IN IT'S THIS IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THE CITY'S
OPERATING BUDGET. SO UH, WE'RE STILL SORT OF WORKING THROUGH WHAT THE SIZING OF THOSE BUDGETS AND BUT EVERYTHING IS OCCURRING NOW IN THE CITY SYSTEM FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. UM. THAT'S ME.
OKAY. >> THANKS. UH, I HAVE A COUPLE, UH, QUESTIONS AND THEN, UH, MAYBE IF SOMEBODY IF YOU HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP OR UH, SO IN TERMS
OF FREE CASH DO WE USE DO WE UM TRANSFER MONEY FROM FREE CASH TO PENSION OR OPEN BENEFITS LIKE HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO TRADITIONALLY. WHAT YOU. >> SEE IN THE BUDGET IS UM A. $40 MILLION. >> FUND BALANCE.
APPROPRIATION WHICH MATCHES. >> THE $40 MILLION OPEB CONTRIBUTION. UM, SO THAT IS THE BEEN THE PRACTICE. >> AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND PROBABLY LONGER. >> THAN THAT. UM, AND THEN. EVERY YEAR WHEN WE'RE. CLOSING THE FISCAL.
YEAR DEPENDING ON UM HOW OTHER REVENUES HAVE DONE, WE CAN MAKE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR. NOT WE ACTUALLY USE THAT FREE. CASH TO COVER. THAT PARTICULAR EXPENSE OR IF REVENUES ARE DOING.
BETTER THAN EXPECTED. WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND PRESERVE THE. OKAY RESERVE. >> CAN YOU PROVIDE AND I MEAN UH, US WITH JUST AN A SORT OF AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW THAT IS PLAYED OUT LIKE THE LAST TEN YEARS.
YES YES WE CAN. UH AND SO YOU PUT IN THE MONEY GOES IS UH I UNDERSTAND THE MONEY YOU SORT OF RESERVE THE MONEY FOR FREE CASH. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE A BOND OR SOMETHING AND
THEN YOU YOU AT THE END OF THE YEAR YOU SORT OF YOU PUT IN IS THE PRACTICE TO PUT IN AS MUCH NON-FREE CASH INTO THAT BUCKET AS POSSIBLE OR UH. WE TRY TO AVOID USING. >> IT IF WE CAN.
OKAY. >> UH AND THEN SO THE MONEY GOES BACK TO FREE CASH. EXTRA MONEY. OKAY THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO TO HAVE UM IN TERMS OF UH THE
WORLD CUP I MEAN ARE WE PROJECTING REVENUE UH, ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN JUNE UH, FOR THE WORLD CUP AND HOW MUCH? YEAH. >> SO I DON'T THINK WE'VE. ACTUALLY FACTOR THAT INTO OUR FORECASTING. UM.
>> THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY. AROUND WHAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IS GOING TO HAPPEN. UM, SO. WE'VE BEEN. >> A LITTLE UNSURE OF HOW TO BEST DO THAT. IN A WAY THAT IS.
CONSERVATIVE YOU KNOW SUFFICIENTLY CONSERVATIVE WE DON'T WANT. TO WE DON'T WANT TO MISS THE MARK. I THINK WE'RE. HOPEFUL THAT. WE SEE. UH POSITIVE IMPACTS FROM THAT BUT WE HAVEN'T PROJECTED ANYTHING OURSELVES INTERNALLY. >> OKAY.
AND THEN IN FY 25 UH GOING BACK TO FREE CASH BUT ALSO IT IS THE PARKING METER FUND SEPARATE FROM FREE CASH IT. >> IS. YES OKAY. >> AND THEN DO WE ALSO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THAT FUND FOR OTHER PURPOSES AND I GUESS DID
WE USE DO WE DO ANYTHING WITH THE PARKING METER FUND IN 2025. YEAH FY 24. >> GOOD QUESTION. IT'S KIND OF A. >> SIMILAR UH. SIMILAR TO WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING WITH. >> FREE CASH WE. CAN BUDGET FOR SOME OF IT. AND THEN DEPENDING ON WHERE
REVENUES. ARE DURING THE YEAR. >> WE CAN MAKE A CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT. TO ACTUALLY BRING. IT INTO THE. GENERAL FUND OR SAVE. >> IT FOR ANOTHER USE LATER ON . OKAY. >> AND WHAT'S THE HOW MUCH IS IN THE PARKING METER FUND.
YEAR END WE'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU BUT IT'S UH IT'S IT'S IT'S REFERRED TO AS AN AVAILABLE FUND. IT ACTUALLY IS SUPPORTED THROUGH A RECURRING SOURCE SOURCE. SO PARKING METER REVENUE THAT'S
COLLECTED UH, IS DEPOSITED THERE. UH, BUT UH, WHAT WE'D HAVE TO DO WITH THE OKAY. UM. >> UH AND LET'S SEE UM.
I DON'T KNOW SO I'M JUST GOING TO I KNOW IF EITHER MY COLLEAGUES HAVE A FOLLOW UP. OKAY. SO COUNCILOR BREDON UM, OKAY. OKAY. THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. UH, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP
QUESTION. WE HAVE THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION, WHICH IS MADE UP OF HOW MANY MEMBERS. THAT UH. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. UM, I'M TRYING.
TO JUST ASSESS LIKE WHO ARE THE OTHER EYES LOOKING AT OUR FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN TERMS OF LIKE OUR PRACTICES AND THAT'S THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION. YEAH. >> SO UM, THE FINANCE. COMMISSIONER FIN COMMENTS WE
UH, OFTEN REFER TO THEM I THINK HAVE AN OVERSIGHT ROLE. UM. >> YOU KNOW, TEND TO AUDIT YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVE LIKE AN AUDIT TYPE ROLE. UM, I WOULD SAY. HISTORICALLY UM.
OTHER EXTERNAL ENTITIES. >> THAT HAVE LOOKED AT. >> OUR. FINANCES INCLUDE THE BOSTON. MUNICIPAL RESEARCH BUREAU. UM, THEY'VE. THEY'VE YOU. >> KNOW, BEEN LOOKING AT US FOR A WHILE. UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO. THAT COME TO MIND. RIGHT. >> AND THEN UM, THERE'S BEEN HOW INVOLVED HAVE THEY LIKE
WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT UM BUDGETARY FREEZES ARE THEY INVOLVED AT ALL OR DO THEY JUST COME IN AFTER AND YOU. KNOW YEAH TAKE A LOOK. >> AND REVIEW THE. THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED.
UM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. HAS BEEN. MORE UM. LESS ON SORT OF THE DAY TO DAY FINANCIAL PRACTICES AND MORE.
UM, WHEN IT COMES. >> TO LIKE THE BOND RATINGS AND. YEAH, AND MORE YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW. >> SPOTTING ANY LIKE IRREGULARITIES AND PARTICULAR SPENDING OR KIND OF LIKE. FRAUD TYPE THINGS SO THAT. THAT'S BEEN AN AREA WHERE
THEY'VE THEY'VE. >> BEEN INVOLVED IN IN MY EXPERIENCE. BUT I KNOW THEY'VE SORT OF GROWN A. LITTLE BIT. >> OVER THE LAST. >> COUPLE OF YEARS. >> SO IT'S. MAYBE THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIR. THEIR SCOPE. >> OF WHAT THEY LOOK AT. UM SO I THINK THEY. >> HAVE A PRETTY BROAD MANDATE BUT. THERE'S NOT. >> SOMETHING WE. >> WORK WITH THEM ON.
UM REGULARLY OKAY. AND THEN YOU CAN TELL LIKE I THINK I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT I DON'T KNOW I ALWAYS PREFACE IT BUT I LOVE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO COMPARATIVES ALL THE TIME TO
OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND OTHER WHATEVER. SO OUR RATE OF INCREASE IN OUR SPENDING DOES IT TRACK TO SORT OF THE SAME RATE OF INCREASE IN SPENDING ON THE STATE LEVEL OR TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. WHERE WHERE.
>> ARE WE FITTING ARE WE ARE WE GROWING MORE THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR MUNICIPALITIES? ARE WE GOING WHY ARE WE SPENDING LESS LIKE WE'RE YEAH. SO IN THE UM IN THE COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. >> WE'VE LOOKED. >> AT WE'LL TAKE THE. STATE AND LIKE SOME. OF THE.
>> SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WE'RE ALL SORT OF IN THE. SAME BALLPARK. >> IN. TERMS OF. GROWTH OVER YOU KNOW, THE. LAST 15 YEARS OR SO. GROWTH IN SPENDING AND NOT NECESSARILY IN REVENUE. YEAH, EXACTLY.
AND IT'S TOUGH. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE STATE THEY. PUT OUT A. BUDGET AND THEN THEY. DO SUPPLEMENTALS ALL DURING. >> THE YEAR RIGHT. SO IT'S A LITTLE HARDER. SO I YOU KNOW COMPARING THEIR BUDGET TO OUR BUDGET. IS ONE THING BUT THEN HOW MUCH
THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING. IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO WE DO TRACK. THAT AND TRY TO. >> JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE YOU KNOW. IN THE SAME BALLPARK. >> AS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. AND FROM WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT. FOR ALL GENERALLY IN THE SAME PLACE. UM, I THINK.
THE STATE'S. BUDGET GREW THE BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S. BUDGET I THINK UM, YOU KNOW, COMPARING BUDGET TO BUDGET UM, IS GROWING. MAYBE JUST. >> UNDER 4%. UM. >> AND OBVIOUSLY IT STILL HAS
TO GO THROUGH ITS PROCESS BUT THAT WOULD. BE MORE. THAN YOU. >> KNOW. THE ONE AND A HALF TO 2.5%. GROWTH THAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR NEXT YEAR. >> OKAY. AND AGAIN ONE AND A HALF TO 2% GROWTH IN SPENDING AND NOT IN
REVENUE ALL THE REVENUE. AND WE'LL YEAH REVENUE IS SORT OF OUR LIMITING. FACTOR RIGHT. SO THE BUDGET WE PUT OUT IN UM APRIL. >> WILL. BE CONSTRAINED BY. >> THAT. OVERALL REVENUE OKAY. AND UM IN NEW YORK CITY UH I THINK UH I THINK WAS IT RATING
AGENCIES JUST DOWNGRADED THEIR. THEIR OUTLOOK THEIR OUTLOOK. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT HAPPENED AND SHOULD BE WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED LIKE WE'RE NOT NEW YORK CITY BUT SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENING HERE? YEAH. >> UM SO FROM WHAT I COULD TELL
THE. REASON FOR THE OUTLOOK DOWNGRADE WAS. DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL BUDGET PROBLEM. AND WE'RE. USING A LOT OF ONE TIME FUNDS TO. PLUG ONGOING. GAPS IN. >> THEIR BUDGET.
UM. >> AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING. ABOUT WE ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL. >> ABOUT OUR USE OF ONE TIME FUNDS AND HAVE NOT HAD A PRACTICE OF USING FUND BALANCE . >> OR RESERVES OR FREE CASH OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. TO PLUG. OUR OPERATING.
BUDGET GOING FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'M. PARTICULARLY PAYING PARTICULAR . ATTENTION TO AND EVEN MORE SO. NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING THE RATING AGENCIES. TAKE ACTION. SO UM. I YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
THE RATING AGENCIES ARE GOING TO SAY. I BET THEY'RE GOING. >> TO PUT OUT SOME SORT OF. GENERAL WARNING SIGN, YOU KNOW, FOR. MUNICIPALITIES AS WE HEAD INTO THIS, UM, YOU. KNOW. >> MOMENT OF UNCERTAINTY. BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT OUR FUNDAMENTALS ARE REALLY. STRONG AND CONTINUE TO BE
STRONG. SO I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL. NOT HAVE A SIMILAR FATE. THANK YOU. UH, I HAD READ ACTUALLY THAT IT WAS MORE DRIVEN BY SORT OF THE POLICY ASPIRATIONS AND LESS SO ABOUT SORT OF THE ONE TIME.
SO IT'S CURIOUS I'M IT'S INTERESTING TO HAVE HEARD YOU SAY THAT. YEAH. UM YOU'LL. >> BE I IT'S THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN'S NEW CHAIR. THERE'LL BE BEFORE THIS BODY AGAIN RIGHT WHEN ONCE THE BUDGET ROLLS OUT THEY'LL WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CFO AND FROM I
JUST ASK I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR THIS BODY THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU DO ALREADY WALK IN KNOWING THE QUESTIONS THAT I'LL ASK AND THAT I THINK THEY'RE GOOD TABLE SETTING QUESTIONS WITH A COMPARATIVE
LENS IN TERMS OF LIKE PICK FIVE OTHER BIG CITIES UH PREFERABLY I KNOW I KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR BOND RATING THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT REALLY HAVE SUCH A HEAVY RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAXES BUT
THAT HAVE SIMILAR OR SIMILAR UM LIKE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIMILAR TYPE OF ECONOMY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR US TO HAVE A COMPARATIVE LENS TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND ALSO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE.
AND THEN I THINK IF YOU WANT TO PICK 2 OR 3 CITIES HERE, I THINK THAT'S ALSO VERY HELPFUL. IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL CONTEXTUALLY FOR ME TO LIKE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EVALUATE ANY OF THIS OUT OF CONTEXT. YEAH THANK YOU CHAIR.
YEAH I GUESS I MEAN WHAT WHAT OTHERS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES YOU KNOW WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND. YEAH I MEAN I TEND TO LOOK A LOT AT. UNFORTUNATELY WE. >> DON'T REALLY HAVE A PEER. >> IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT. WE DO LOOK AT SOMERVILLE.
CAMBRIDGE UM WORCESTER. YEAH. >> BECAUSE AT LEAST LIKE WE'RE ALL OPERATING UNDER. THE SAME. >> SET OF. >> RULES UH AND CONSTRAINTS. SO IT'S IT'S EASY. TO COMPARE. UM TO WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. UM IN TERMS OF. OTHER UM.
NON MASSACHUSETTS. CITIES I THINK WE. HAVE LOOKED AT. UM SAN FRANCISCO. DC, PHILLY. UM DENVER I THINK IS. ANOTHER ONE. >> THAT. COMES TO MIND. YEAH SO. >> I THINK SEATTLE.
YEAH SO. >> THERE'S. A COUPLE AND WE'RE. ALL SIMILAR. >> IN SOME WAYS DIFFERENT IN OTHERS. SO IT'S. >> UH. YOU KNOW A LITTLE. BIT OF A GRAIN. >> OF SALT. WITH WITH ALL OF THESE COMPARISONS BUT. UM I. >> KNOW WHERE I. CAME FROM SAN FRANCISCO. THEY'RE DEALING WITH A VERY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET.
PROBLEM FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. >> I THINK THEIR TWO. >> YEAR DEFICIT IS UM. >> ALMOST $900 MILLION. SO THEY'RE. IT'LL BE A TOUGH. >> YEAR FOR THEM. OKAY. >> ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. UM WELL OKAY THAT THAT'S I I
GUESS THAT'S IT FOR US IS NO NO ONE'S SIGNED UP ONLINE UH, TO TESTIFY. UM, I JUST YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK THANK THE CFO AND THE OBM
DIRECTOR FOR FOR BEING HERE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE BUDGET COMES OUT, UH, TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S COMING, PREPARE. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO, UM,
HAVE THE SORT OF, UH, NORMAL KIND OF. UM. >> AFTER THE BUDGET COMES OUT, WE'LL BE TALKING, UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THAT STUFF, BUT I JUST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR. FOR HAVING US FOR MAKING THE TIME AVAILABLE FOR US.
UM. LET'S SEE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S WHATEVER THE YOU CAN'T LEAVE UNTIL I SEE THE MAGIC WORDS. UH, WHICH ARE THE, UH, THIS HEARING UH, DOCKET NUMBER 0201
IS ADJOURNED. OH. Part: 2
A NOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS RENARD PEPPER. DISTRICT SEVEN CITY COUNCILOR. I'M A.
LET ME JUST LET YOU GUYS GET SEATED. THANK YOU. I'M CONDUCTING THE SORT OF TODAY'S HEARING. ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. COUNCILOR MEJIA. TODAY IS MARCH 23RD, 2026. THE EXACT TIME IS 204.
THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED AND IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAM AT FOURTH AND THAT UH CITY COUNCIL TV AND BROADCAST
ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO
THE COMMITTEE EMAIL THAT CDOT EDUCATION@BOSTON.COM AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN
AT THE END OF THIS HEARING AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON AND THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. SO IF YOU WANT TO TESTIFY AND
YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP, YOU CAN GO RIGHT TO THE LIST RIGHT TO MY LEFT AND SIGN UP THERE. UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON AS I SAID
,PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET. UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CHAMBER, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY, PLEASE EMAIL
OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON. MEGAN. HEY, MEGAN. MEGAN KAVANAUGH. AND MEGAN WILL MAKE SURE THAT
YOU NAME THAT YOU SIGN UP FOR WILL BE GIVEN. YOU'LL BE GIVEN A LINK THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY. DOCKET NUMBER 0587 ORDER FOR A
HEARING TO REVIEW ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY. EQUITABLE STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND STUDENT FREEDOMS AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
UH, TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR ED FLYNN AT THE MOMENT. UH, EXPECTING OTHER COUNSELOR TO ARRIVE VERY SOON.
THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR JIM A HERE AND ARE CULPEPER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON MARCH 18TH 2026.
BOSTON IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE WORLD. THESE INSTITUTIONS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE NOT ONLY IN
EDUCATING STUDENTS BUT IN SHAPING THE CIVIC, ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC LIFE OF OUR CITY. WITH THAT ROLE COMES A RESPONSIBILITY TO OPERATE WITH
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, ESPECIALLY THEIR STUDENTS. UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT ONLY
CENTERS OF LEARNING BUT COMMUNITIES THAT FUNCTION BEST WHEN STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF FEEL THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND VALUE.
WE HAVE HEARD GROWING CONCERNS FROM STUDENTS AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT THEIR VOICES ARE NOT MEANINGFULLY REFLECTED
IN UNIVERSITY DECISION MAKING. IT IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING TO HEAR STUDENTS THAT FEEL EXCLUDED FROM DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEIR ACADEMIC
EXPERIENCE, THE CAMPUS CLIMATE AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. RECENT DATA REINFORCES THESE CONCERNS. A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS SURVEYED REPORT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE
THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S POLICIES AND ACTIONS ALIGN WITH INSTITUTIONAL MISSIONS. MANY STUDENTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK
OF TRANSPARENCY, INSUFFICIENT COMMUNICATION AROUND KEY DECISIONS AND A LACK OF FLAHERTY ON ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THEIR SAFETY, THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR SENSE
OF BELONGING. WE ARE ALSO HEARING SPECIFIC CONCERNS RELATED TO PROTECTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY AROUND FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROTOCOLS AS WELL AS CHANGES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMING AND THE STATE OF FREE EXPRESSION EXPRESSION
ON CAMPUS. THESE ARE NOT JUST ABSTRACT ISSUES. THEY SHAPE HOW SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE STUDENTS FEEL IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. DECISIONS MADE BY UNIVERSITY
LEADERSHIP WHETHER AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL OR BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, HAVE REAL AND LASTING IMPACTS ON STUDENTS ,FACULTY, STAFF AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WHEN
THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT CLEAR COMMUNICATION OR MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT. IT CAN ERODE TRUST AND WEAKEN THE BROADER UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY. AT ITS CORE. HIGHER EDUCATION IS ROOTED IN OPEN DIALOG, SHARED GOVERNANCE AND THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS
ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITABLE STUDENT REPRESENTATION IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY TO MAINTAINING TRUST
WITHIN INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO TO UPHOLDING THESE BROADER DEMOCRATIC VALUES. AT THIS TIME I WOULD UH, GIVE MY UH, COUNSELOR COLLEAGUE ED
FLYNN AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OPENING REMARKS. AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES, COUNSELOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO YOU, COUNSELOR
CULPEPER AND COUNSELOR HERE FOR BRINGING THIS TOPIC FORWARD. I'M HERE TO LEARN FROM THE STUDENT CENTER. THERE'S A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT THAT ARE HERE. I'M HERE TO LISTEN TO THEM, TO
THEIR CONCERNS BUT ALSO TO LISTEN TO THE UM, PANEL AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR FLYNN.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S FIRST PANEL. UH, EMILY SPATZ, EDITOR IN
CHIEF OF THE HUNTINGTON NEWS. ADAM OMAR HOSEIN, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND AFFILIATED PROFESSOR OF LAW, DIRECTOR
OF POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY AND ECONOMIC PROGRAM AND VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND
KYLE PITTS NOMINEE. YES, SIR. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? DID YOU GOT IN MARCO? SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AND ALUMNI .
UM. EMILY, WE WILL START WITH YOU AND WE WILL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES TO BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY FOLLOWED BY KYLE, WHICH IS
JUST, UH, FOLLOW THE CITY IN ORDER AND THEN ADAM WILL, UH, GO TO YOU FIVE MINUTES. YOU MAY BEGIN. IS THE MIC ON OR. OKAY.
HI. UM, I'M EMILY I'M EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE HUNTINGTON NEWS. UM, I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND, UM, BEFORE THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE NEWS IN
SPRING 2023, BEEN AN EDITOR FOR THE CAMPUS SECTION FOR UM, A YEAR AND A HALF. SO I'VE WORKED PRETTY CLOSELY WITH MEDIA RELATIONS AND UM HELPED DIRECT COVERAGE FOR
CAMPUS MORE GENERALLY. UM, SO I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT UM, WE DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH NORTHWESTERN'S MEDIA RELATIONS. UM, WE DO SEND THEM UM,
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND SOME OF THE TIME THEY DO ANSWER US. UM, I WOULD SAY LIKE THE BIGGEST, UH, REASON THAT I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE, UM, THEY
DON'T ANSWER US FOR QUESTIONS THAT MATTER. UM, WHICH I'LL TOUCH ON LATER. AND WE'VE ALSO HAD LOTS OF DIFFICULTY GETTING UM, INTERVIEWS WITH ADMINISTRATORS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY INCLUDING UM, JOSEPH ALLEN. UM, SO YES. UM AND THEN WE ALSO KNOW THAT UM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
NORTHEASTERN IS KIND OF LIKE AN OUTLIER IN THE GREATER BOSTON UNIVERSITY LANDSCAPE. UM, OUR REPORTING INDICATES THAT UM, PRESIDENTS OF BOSTON
UNIVERSITY, UM BERKELEY OR EMERSON, UM, AND BOSTON COLLEGE HAVE SAT DOWN WITH THEIR PRESIDENTS IN LIKE THE PAST UM TWO YEARS SOMETIMES UM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.
UM AND WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH EVEN FOR UM THREE YEARS DESPITE ASKING UM 11 TIMES OVER EMAIL UM AND MORE TIMES IN PERSON.
UM AND UM IN OUR REQUEST TO INTERVIEW AONE UM WE HAVE SPECIFIED WHAT QUESTIONS WE WANT TO BE WOULD WANT TO ASK HIM AND AMONG THOSE TOPICS IS UM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UM
FUTURE CAMPUS GROWTH AND EDUCATION AND HOW NORTHEASTERN IS REACTING TO FEDERAL CHANGES . UM I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE PUBLISHED UM A REPORTED A PIECE
FEBRUARY 6TH UM, ABOUT A JUNE UH, HAVING NOT TALKED TO US IN THREE YEARS. UM AND THEN WE DID NOT HEAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY ABOUT AN
INTERVIEW WITH HIM AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 18TH HE, UH, TALKED TO A REPORTER FROM THE ATLANTIC AND ON FEBRUARY 13TH HE WROTE AN OP ED IN THE BOSTON GLOBE. UM, SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE
KIND OF BEING SINGLED OUT. UM, FROM COMMUNICATING WITH HIM. UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH NORTHWESTERN'S MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM ABOUT SETTING UP A MEETING
WITH THEM, UM, ABOUT AN INTERVIEW AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL HAPPEN SOMETIME MAY OR JUNE. UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A DIRECT OFFER TO INTERVIEW AND BUT AN OFFER TO SET UP A
MEETING WITH NORTHWESTERN'S MEDIA RELATIONS. UM, SO WE DO WE DO GET INTERVIEWS WITH SOME, UH, ADMINISTRATORS LIKE WE GOT AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PROVOST, UM,
RECENTLY. UM, HOWEVER, WE DO FEEL LIKE EVEN WE WANT AN INTERVIEW WITH ALLEN BECAUSE, UM, HIS IMPACT ON THE UNIVERSITY IS UNDENIABLE . HE'S BEEN PRESIDENT FOR CLOSE
TO 20 YEARS NOW. UM, IN THAT TIME NORTHEASTERN HAS GROWN TO ENCOMPASS 14 GLOBAL CAMPUSES. UM, HE ALSO HAS, UH, GREATLY INFLUENCED THE WAY THE
UNIVERSITY'S HANDLING I UH, WHICH IMPACTS STUDENTS NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM BUT ALSO IN CO-OP AND THE JOB SEARCH. UM, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY WE,
UM, WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE RECENT FEDERAL CHANGES GOING ON, UM, WHICH HAVE INCLUDED UH, NORTHEASTERN REBRANDING ITS DAY
OFFICE. UM AND UM YEAH. SO UM AND THEN I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE NEWS HAS HAD
ISSUES UM, GETTING IN TOUCH WITH EVEN UM, IN 2020. UH, IT HAD BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE A U AND HAD TALKED TO US THE LAST TIME WAS 2013 AT THAT POINT AND HE FINALLY SAT DOWN
WITH US AFTER UM, A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FROM ALUMNI. UM, SO WE'RE HOPING TO KIND OF EXERT SOME OF THAT PUBLIC PRESSURE AGAIN. UM, AND THEN SECONDLY, I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UH, MEDIA RELATIONS. UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE OFTEN HEARD ABOUT CONCERNS FROM FACULTY. UM, BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO US
BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF UNIVERSITY RETALIATION. UM, A LOT OF FACULTY MEMBERS WILL SEND US TO MEDIA RELATIONS WHEN WE ASK THEM FOR AN INTERVIEW REQUEST AND THAT KIND
OF IMPEDES OUR REPORTING AS WELL BECAUSE MEDIA UH WILL OFTEN NOT GET US INTERVIEWS. UM, THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFTEN REDIRECTS US TO UM, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ARTICLES
PUBLISHED ON ITS OWN MEDIA OUTLET NORTHEASTERN GLOBAL NEWS. UM THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THOSE ARTICLES. IT'S UNCLEAR WHO IS GIVING THE ANSWERS AND IT'S ALSO UNCLEAR WHO SUBMITS THE QUESTIONS UM
FOR ANSWERS. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO, UH, GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR. UM, THOUGH WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT UM.
GENERALLY HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU HAVE? I CAN SPEED UP. YOUR TIME. FIVE MINUTES IS UP BUT. OH, SORRY. I WILL LET YOU CONCLUDE. OKAY, OKAY. I'LL GO FAST. OKAY.
UM, SO, UH, WE IN DECEMBER AFTER THE BROWN UNIVERSITY AND MIT SHOOTINGS, WE CONTACTED THE UNIVERSITY TO ASK IF IT WAS GOING TO IMPLEMENT MORE, UM, SAFETY MEASURES ON CAMPUS.
WE DID NOT. UM, WE GOT REDIRECTED TO AN FAQ ARTICLE FOR THAT THAT DID NOT ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. WE'VE ALSO ASKED THEM ABOUT UM ,STUDENT VISA REVOCATIONS LAST SPRING UM, AND FEDERAL FUNDING
CUTS. UM AND DID CHANGES STUFF LIKE THAT. UM YES. AND THEN I'LL CONCLUDE ON. NORTHEASTERN IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL SO WE CAN'T REQUEST UM,
PUBLIC RECORDS ABOUT WHAT IS DOING. SO WE DO RELY ON MEDIA RELATIONS TO GIVE US INFORMATION. UM, AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION UM, ANY OTHER WAY. AND UH, YEAH, OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEM IMPACTS OUR MISSION OF INFORMING THE NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> EMILY KYLE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. UM, SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO
EXTEND MY THANKS AND MY GRATITUDE TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION IN BOSTON. BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, MY NAME IS KYLE BELCHER AND I SERVE AS THE SENIOR FELLOW AT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
AND ALUMNI OR ACTO. WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROMOTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION. WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS COLLAPSING. RECENT DATA SHOW THAT 70% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT THE SYSTEM IS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. WHILE MANY INSTITUTIONS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT IN BOSTON
ARE LEGALLY PRIVATE NONPROFITS, THEY STILL OPERATE AS PUBLIC TRUSTS. THEY'RE SUSTAINED BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNCOLLECTED PROPERTY TAXES, ACCESS TO PUBLIC GRANTS AND CRITICALLY PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAM WHICH
ALLOWS THEM TO COLLECT FEDERALLY BACKED STUDENT LOANS . THIS PUBLIC SUPPORT HINGES UPON A PROMISE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THEIR BEST TO PURSUE TRUTH AND CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CITIZENS FOR
WHICH WE'LL ALL BENEFIT WHEN THE INSTITUTIONS SEEK TO BECOME BLACK BOXES THAT MANAGE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX EXEMPT TUITION REVENUE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO SEEK GREATER TRANSPARENCY.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC'S TRUST LIES WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S BOARDS OF TRUSTEES . THE UNIQUE STRENGTH OF THIS BODY LIES IN ITS NATURE AS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ENTITY COMPOSED OF LAY VOLUNTEERS
BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE NO PAY AND RECEIVE NO SERVICES FROM THE INSTITUTION, THEY ARE ABLE UNIQUELY TO TAKE ON A FIDUCIARY ROLE WHICH COMES WITH THIS DISTINCT LEGAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING
DUTIES OF CARE, LOYALTY, PRUDENCE AND OBEDIENCE. IN A UNIVERSITY CONTEXT THIS OBEDIENCE IS NOT OWED TO THE INSTITUTION'S PRESIDENT OR ADMINISTRATION. IT IS OWED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION, WHICH MUST SERVE AS A
LODESTONE FOR EVERY IMPORTANT BOARD DECISION. TO BE EFFECTIVE, A TRUSTEE MUST BE RECEPTIVE TO EVERY CAMPUS CONSTITUENCY WHILE FAVORING NONE INDIVIDUALLY. WHEN ADMINISTRATORS PROPOSE A TUITION INCREASE, THE BOARD
MUST CONSIDER FOR EXAMPLE, IF STUDENTS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT INCREASE. THE TREND WE AT ACTON ABSORB NATIONALLY IS ONE OF INACTIVE TRUSTEE GOVERNANCE FACILITATED IN PART BY WELL-MEANING
ADMINISTRATORS WHO SEEK TO CORDON AWAY BOARD MEMBERS AND ONLY ALLOW THEM TO SEE THE CAMPUS THROUGH THE SANITIZED LENS OF A SLIDE DECK. SHARED GOVERNANCE ONLY WORKS IF A BOARD IS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED.
A RUBBER STAMP BOARD IS NO BOARD AT ALL. IT CANNOT SERVE AS A FIDUCIARY ,ONLY A LIABILITY. THE COST OF BOARD INACTION IS MEASURABLE ACCORDING TO THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSIONS 2026
COLLEGE FREE SPEECH RANKINGS, BOSTON'S LEADING INSTITUTIONS HAVE CAMPUS CLIMATES THAT ARE OVERTLY HOSTILE TO FREE EXPRESSION. NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, FOR EXAMPLE, RANKS 253RD OUT OF 257
INSTITUTIONS SURVEYED. WHILE DAY TO DAY DISAGREEMENTS ARE BEST LEFT TO ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY WITH DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF STUDENTS. THIS LEVEL OF ENMITY DIRECTLY THREATENS THE BOARD'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION. IN FACT, NORTHEASTERN
RECOGNIZES THIS AS THEY STATE ONLINE THAT QUOTE FOSTERING A COMMUNITY OF BELONGING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S MISSION OF TEACHING AND OVERSIGHT. BUT THIS HOSTILITY DOES NOT APPEAR OVERNIGHT.
IT REPRESENTS A LONG, SLOW SLIDE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED HAD THE BOARD BEEN ABLE TO CONFRONT THE REALITY OF WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY ON CAMPUS. THAT'S WHY WE ADVOCATE THAT BOARD STEP OUT OF THE BOARDROOM
AND VISIT THEIR CAMPUS REGULARLY BOTH IN PLANNED TOWN HALL MEETINGS WHERE STUDENTS AND FACULTY HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THEM AND AN IMPROMPTU MEETINGS WHERE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST CHAT WITH STUDENTS INFORMALLY. TRANSPARENCY MUST BE THE
CENTRAL PILLAR OF EVERY MODERN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION WHEN MAJOR DECISIONS OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT, STUDENTS WILL FEEL LIKE SUBJECTS OF A CAPRICIOUS BUREAUCRACY RATHER THAN MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY.
UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP MUST NOT SHY AWAY FROM DOING THE DIFFICULT WORK OF EXPLAINING DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY MAY BE UNPOPULAR ON CAMPUS. THIS BRINGS US TO THE MATTER OF INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY THE
PRINCIPLE THAT A UNIVERSITY MUST BE FREE TO GOVERN ITS OWN ACADEMIC AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS WITHOUT UNDUE POLITICAL OR EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE. THIS IS NOT MERELY PROCEDURAL PREFERENCE.
IT IS THE BEDROCK OF THE AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION MODEL . IT PRESERVES THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF OUR COLLEGES AND ALLOWS THOSE ARE THE MOST DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO SERVE THEM. SHIELDED FROM THE CAPRICE
OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY, HOWEVER, THIS AUTONOMY IS UNDER GLOBAL THREAT. THE 2026 ACADEMIC FREEDOM INDEX FROM GERMANY'S UNIVERSITY OF OUR LONDON NUREMBERG SHOWS THAT INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS
EXPERIENCED A FAST AND STEEP DETERIORATION SINCE 2020. HOWEVER, INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY IS NOT A SHIELD AGAINST ACCOUNTABILITY. BOSTON AND ITS COLLEGES AND ENJOY A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.
WHEN UNIVERSITIES FAIL TO COMMUNICATE THEIR MAJOR DECISIONS OR LIVE UP TO THEIR PUBLIC MISSION. IT ERODES THE PUBLIC TRUST THAT JUSTIFIES THIS AUTONOMY. PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THESE INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO
THEIR STANDARDS AND THEIR OWN STATED VALUES. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY STATING THAT THIS IS NOT MERELY AN ACADEMIC ISSUE FOR ME. I'M A CAPE COD. BORN AND RAISED IN DENNIS AND I'M THE SON OF A NORTHEASTERN ALUMNA.
I'M FIERCELY PROUD OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S SUSTAINED HISTORY IN INVESTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND WANT ONLY TO ENSURE THAT BOSTON REMAINS A SHINING CITY UPON A HILL AND THAT ITS COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES REMAIN BEACONS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO FOLLOW. KYLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ADAM. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CULPEPER. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN.
UM AND THANK YOU ALSO TO COUNCILMEMBER HERE FOR THE INVITATION TO TESTIFY TODAY. I AM ADAM OMAR HUSSEIN. I'M PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY. AT NORTHEASTERN. AND I'M ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTHEASTERN. UNIVERSITY'S CHAPTER OF THE.
AUP, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS. ONE OF THE CENTRAL GOALS OF. THE AUP IS TO PROMOTE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND SHARED GOVERNANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION . AND I'M HERE TODAY. >> TO REPRESENT OUR CHAPTER.
YEAR AFTER YEAR, POLLS. SHOW THAT THE COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS DECLINING. WE NOW SEE ABOUT A THIRD OF GEN Z SURVEY RESPONDENTS SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE
VALUE OF DEMOCRACY. BUT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION CAN SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN PEOPLE'S BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY AS WELL
AS BEING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LEARN TO VALUE DEMOCRACY. UNIVERSITIES ARE ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LEARN TO PRACTICE DEMOCRACY, WHERE THEY CAN COME TO REFLECT FOR THEMSELVES. TO CHALLENGE AUTHORITY AND TO
THINK TOGETHER ACROSS DISAGREEMENT. SO MUCH OF THE RESEARCH AND TEACHING THAT I SEE DONE AT NORTHEASTERN AND IN UNIVERSITIES ACROSS BOSTON REFLECTS THIS IMPORTANT
DEMOCRATIC MISSION. I SEE SO OFTEN PEOPLE CLASSROOMS BEING A KIND OF MINI UH, SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE LEARN TO HOW TO DO DEMOCRACY TOGETHER. AND I'M FIERCELY PROUD OF MY
STUDENTS AND THEIR OWN POLITICAL INVESTMENT. THIS DEMOCRATIC MISSION MAKES UNIVERSITIES A SPECIAL PLACE FOR SECURING POLITICAL FREEDOM, AND IT ALSO MAKES THEM A SPECIAL TARGET FOR THOSE AROUND
THE WORLD WHO WOULD SEEK TO LIMIT THAT FREEDOM. IT'S CRUCIAL THEN THAT UNIVERSITIES REMAIN COMMITTED TO THEIR DEMOCRATIC MISSION AND REMAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM THOSE POLITICAL FORCES THAT
WOULD SEEK TO SUPPRESS THAT MISSION AT A HISTORICAL MOMENT WHEN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES ARE UNDERSTANDABLY UNEASY. IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE GIVEN STRONG REASSURANCE AND GROUNDS FOR
TRUST ABOUT WHAT OUR ROLE WILL BE GOING FORWARD AND WHAT CAN BE DONE IS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND SHARED GOVERNANCE AT UNIVERSITIES SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO DEFINE A DEMOCRATIC MISSION AND
SUSTAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT IS BEING FULFILLED. UNIVERSITY BOARD MISSIONS WHICH COLLEGES TALKED ABOUT ARE ESPECIALLY FOUNDATIONAL, SO MAKING THEM MORE OPEN AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY VOICE
IS AN IMPORTANT BEST PRACTICE IN THIS AREA. MOREOVER, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE UNIQUE INSIGHTS INTO DAY TO DAY LIFE AT THE UNIVERSITY AND ANY SPECIAL CHALLENGES THAT ARISE AT THIS MOMENT.
SO IT'S TO THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD IF THERE IS GREATER REPRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF IN DECISION MAKING SINCE THIS WILL PROVIDE ALL BOARD MEMBERS ALL BOARD MEMBERS WITH BETTER ACCESS TO
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. AS THE GREAT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER W.E.B. DU BOIS PUT IT QUOTE REAL DEMOCRACY ASSUMES THAT WISDOM AND GOVERNMENT COMES FROM THE WIDEST KNOWLEDGE
CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT. FINALLY, IF UNIVERSITIES ARE TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO DO DEMOCRACY, HOW TO PRACTICE DEMOCRACY, IT MATTERS THAT UNIVERSITY DECISION MAKING ITSELF BE RELATIVELY
DEMOCRATIC. WE HAVE A CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE TO OUR STUDENTS BY EXAMPLE THAT OPENNESS TO QUESTIONS AND DISAGREEMENT ARE NOT A WEAKNESS BUT A STRENGTH IN ORGANIZATIONS AND IN
SOCIETIES. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO INCLUDE STUDENTS IN ROBUST DEBATE AND TO MODEL FOR THEM HOW IT CAN BE DONE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY THAT PROVES OUTCOMES FOR ALL. SO AGAIN, I SUGGEST THAT TRANSPARENCY AND BROAD
REPRESENTATION IN DECISION MAKING A CORE TO THE MISSION OF UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL MOMENT. I THUS WELCOME THE CITY'S INTEREST IN OUR IN OUR ACADEMIC
MISSION AND ASK THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS EFFORTS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND BROAD REPRESENTATION IN UNIVERSITY DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ADAM.
COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. AND EMILY, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE WORK YOU DO AS THE REPORTER AT THE HUNTINGTON NEWS. AND I DO GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM THE NEWSPAPER AND I LOVE TALKING TO THE REPORTERS AND
THEY WRITE SOME EXCELLENT ARTICLES ABOUT ISSUES IMPACTING STUDENTS BUT ALSO RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, UH, THE REPORTERS FROM YOUR
NEWSPAPER THEY DO THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AS TO THE OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NEWSPAPERS I ENJOY READING THEM. UM, SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY HAS ONE
ALSO THAT I READ A LOT. UM, SO. >> UM I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU A. QUESTION. >> SO YOUR. ARE YOU TRYING TO. SEEK A MEETING WITH THE
PRESIDENT OR ARE YOU JUST TRYING TO GET MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OR JUST HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP?
UH, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON EXACTLY WHAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING. YEAH. >> UM, NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, UM, SUPPORT OF HUNT NEWS. OUR OTHER REPORTERS ARE GREAT. UM, SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT YEAH, I WOULD SAY IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS. UM, I THINK THE ASIAN PIECE IS JUST KIND OF, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF THE BROADER ISSUE OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND A LACK
OF WILLING TO WORK WITH US. UM. YEAH. SO I WOULD SAY WE WANT A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. UM, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM REGULARLY, WHICH HAS
NOT HAPPENED IN THE PAST SEVERAL SEMESTERS, WHICH WE FEEL LIKE FURTHER LIMITS, UM, HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND HOW WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT FROM US AND WHAT UM, WE WANT FROM
THEM. UM SO YEAH. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. LET ME UM LET ME JUST ASK ONE AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION ON THAT
ON THAT SAME SUBJECT, IS THERE CERTAIN SUBJECTS THAT YOU'RE MORE INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT THAN OTHERS THAT IMPACT THE STUDENT BODY?
UM OR DO YOU HAVE AT OTHER MEETINGS BEING DENIED BECAUSE OF THE CERTAIN SUBJECT TOPIC OR IS THAT IS THAT WHAT IT IS? UM, YEAH. >> I MEAN HONESTLY WE'RE NOT SURE WHY THEY'RE BEING DENIED
WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT UM ,I WOULD WANT TO HEAR I KNOW LIKE SOME OTHER UNIVERSITIES LIKE HARVARD HAVE IMPLEMENTED NEUTRALITY POLICIES ABOUT LIKE NOT WANTING TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T AFFECT
UNIVERSITY FUNCTIONING. UM AND I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF NORTHEASTERN DIDN'T WANTED TO DO THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY DON'T TELL US WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND IF THEY WOULD ANSWER OUR EMAILS
AND JUST SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE A COMMENT BECAUSE OF THIS, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE WOULD IT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER RELATIONSHIP. UM, I THINK IN THE PAST WHEN
WE'VE TRIED TO ASK FOR A UNI INTERVIEWS WE KIND OF GET UM DELAYED. UM, SO THEY'LL SAY THAT THEY'LL CHECK HIS CALENDAR OR TRY TO LIKE SET UP A MEETING. UM, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS AND I
THINK THAT'S ALSO FRUSTRATING. UM, YEAH. SORRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YOU KNOW IT DOES. IT DOES. THANK YOU. UM, MAYBE MY FINAL QUESTION
DOES DOES THE STUDENT BODY HAVE OR DO THEY DO THEY ORGANIZE ANY TYPE OF TOWN HALLS WHERE STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AND THEY MEET WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP
OF OF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AND THEY THEY LISTEN TO THE THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY BUT ALSO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO WEIGH IN WITH
UM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU DO DO. UM THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE HUNTINGTON NEWS HAS DONE. UM I KNOW THAT THE EDUCATIONAL
FREEDOM PROJECT HOLDS, UH, A TOWN HALL. I DON'T KNOW IF ADMINISTRATORS WERE THERE. UM, BUT I WAS LIKE LAST SEMESTER I'M PRETTY SURE. UM, BUT YEAH. NO, THERE'S NO NOTHING LIKE UNIVERSITY ORGANIZED WHERE WE
HAVE TOWN HALLS OR ANYTHING, UM, TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS. AND SO NOT LEAST IN ALBANY, UM, MOST OF THE COLLEGES ARE NONPROFIT SO IF YOU ARE
NONPROFIT THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT, UM, YOU'RE NOT SUBJECT TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. IS THAT IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY OKAY, IF IT WAS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY LIKE THE CITY OF BOSTON
OR THE STATE YOU'D BE SUBJECTED TO UM, OPEN MEETING WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTING OF INFORMATION. UM, OKAY. NOW I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
UM, AGAIN THANK YOU EMILY. AND UM, ALSO TO KYLE AND ADAM FOR YOUR TESTIMONY BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EMILY IN THE, UM, OUTSTANDING JOB YOU DO AS A AS A NEWS REPORTER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. EMILY, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU REAL QUICK QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE.
AND LET ME JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOWS UP A UM IS NOT PRESENT AND JOHN TOBIN VICE PRESIDENT OF CITY
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUT NOT THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS NOT HERE EITHER. MY QUESTION TO YOU, EMILY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE NORTHEASTERN AND THE REBRANDED THE DEA
OFFICE HOW DID THEY REBRAND TO DIE OFF THIS? UM YEAH. SO THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR IN THE SPRING I THINK SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER UM, REGARDING DEA UM AND IT WAS LARGELY SILENT LIKE THE UNIVERSITY DIDN'T PUT OUT ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS EXPLAINING WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO UM, THE NEWS WAS KIND OF THE
FIRST TO REPORT ON IT. UH, WE NOTICED THAT, UM, THE OFFICE OF DEI UM THE WEBSITE HAD BEEN CHANGED TO OFFICE OF BELONGING. UM SO WE HAD REPORTED ON THAT
AND THEN UM, THE TO FOLLOW UP STORIES ABOUT UM STAFF MEMBERS OF THAT OFFICE WHO LEFT UM WE'RE NOT SURE IF THEY LEFT OR UH, WERE LET GO BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ASKED THE
UNIVERSITY AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER ON EITHER. UM SO YEAH, I WOULD SAY IT WAS ALL KIND OF UNDER WRAPS. WE WERE ALSO TRYING TO GET UM, AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN D
O'BRIEN WHO IS THE UM HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEA OFFICE AND THEN NOW THE OFFICE OF BELONGING. UM, WE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM THIS PAST WEEK BUT WHEN WE WERE ASKING FOR IT AT THE TIME
OF THE REBRAND WE DID NOT, UM, GET IT. BUT DID THE DEA OFFICE WHEN IT CHANGED THE NAME, DID THEY CHANGE THE MISSION? DID THEY TAKE DCI DOWN? YEAH.
>> UH, I WAS COMPLETELY SCRUBBED FROM ALL UNIVERSITY MESSAGING. I THINK UH, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGED. LIKE WE HAVE TRIED TO ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEIR, UH, INITIATIVES ARE THE SAME AND WHAT, UH, THE NAME CHANGE REALLY MEANS. BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER ON THAT.
UNTIL THE TWO TALKED TO THE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF CITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, JOHN TOBIN. DID YOU MEET WITH HIM ABOUT THAT REBRANDING? NO, NO.
UM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO MEET WITH HIM ABOUT THAT REBRANDING. UH THANK YOU. UH, EMILY CO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 70%
OF AMERICANS, UH, SAID THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THE AMERICAN COLLEGES. YEP. >> THIS WAS FROM A PEW RESEARCH SURVEY DONE, I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER. AND WHY. DID THEY WHY? UM, THERE'S A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. MAJORITIES OF THE COUNTRY WERE CONCERNED WITH ISSUES RELATED TO FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS AS WELL AS ISSUES RELATED TO AFFORDABILITY AND STUDENT DEBT . I BELIEVE AT THE TOP TOO.
OKAY, ADAM, DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT. ABOUT THAT ISSUE? UM. I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE 70% SAYING THAT THE AMERICAN COLLEGES ARE HEADING IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION. YEAH, I YOU KNOW, MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WHEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT WE REALLY DO IN UNIVERSITIES AND THE WAY WE TEACH, THEY SEE THAT WHAT WE TEACH PEOPLE IS NOT WHAT TO THINK BUT HOW TO
THINK AND THEY REALLY VALUE THAT. UM, I THINK UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT RIGHT NOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEING WHAT WE REALLY DO. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIND WAYS TO UH, TO INCREASE THAT KIND
OF CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC. THAT'S MY MY SENSE ABOUT THAT COURSE. AND ONLY ONE QUESTION. YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TO MEET
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A REQUEST? UM, THE LAST TIME. SO WE REACHED OUT IN I THINK IT
WAS EARLY JANUARY. UM, BECAUSE WE WERE PUTTING OUT THAT REPORTED A PIECE I THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE DECEMBER AND THEN AFTER WE PUT OUT THE
WE ASKED THEM FOR A COMMENT FOR OUR REPORTED PIECE JUST TELLING THEM, UM, WE'RE WRITING THIS PIECE ABOUT HOW WE PASSED 11 TIMES. UM, AND IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE HE'S TALKED TO US AND
THEY OFFERED TO SET UP A MEETING WITH MEDIA RELATIONS AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS LIKE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO SET UP A MEETING WITH MEDIA RELATIONS TO TALK ABOUT THE INTERVIEW WITH ALLEN. UM, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN
OFFERED AN INTERVIEW WITH THAT EVEN DIRECTLY. UM AND EMILY, HOW CAN WE AS COUNSELORS HELP? UM, I HONESTLY THINK JUST UH LIKE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE
ISSUE HELPS. UM, I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO KIND OF DO THAT WITH REPORTING AND LIKE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM.
IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF UM, TRYING BUT IT'S JUST UH WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO YEAH. WELL I'M SURE MEDIA RELATIONS HAVE THEY'VE HEARD YOU AND I'M
SURE YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM THEM TO SCHEDULE THIS MEETING. IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND WILL ASSIST YOU. LOOK, I HAD A HARD TIME SETTING UP A MEETING WITH THEM TOO.
I FINALLY DID SO YOU'RE NOT ALONE AND THEN WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO MOVE TO, UH, PUBLIC TESTIMONY NOW, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME
DOWN TO ONE OF THE TWO PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION. PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. I'LL CALL OUT THE FIRST FIVE AND YOU CAN COME TO ONE OF THE TWO MICROPHONES FOR LISA. YES, I SEE THEM.
UH. GROUP B YOU SEE US? DID I GET THAT RIGHT? RUBY SAYS. OH YEAH. >> OKAY I SEE UH I GOT TO I GOT TO.
WHAT ABOUT KAITLYN DANIELS? JORDAN CAMPBELL. AND CLAY UH, TO. THAT I GET THAT RAISED IT QUICKLY.
OH, OKAY. >> IS THIS THE RIGHT MIKE. FOR LISA? YOU CAN BE. YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES. OKAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FELICIA DIAS AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE BLUNT NOW I
KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AT THIS PODIUM. I'M NOT MEANT TO GRADUATE. I'M NOT MEANT TO BE HERE SEEN WITH UNPROFESSIONAL BLUE HAIR. BUT WHY? BECAUSE I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND I KNOW IT. I KNOW MY IDENTITY AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE IS A
THREAT TO THIS COUNTRY BUT IN MY KNOWLEDGE I NOR NORTHEASTERN HAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY PROBLEM. I'M THE CURRENT CO-PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE UMBRELLA BODY THAT ADVOCATES FOR, REPRESENTS AND BUILDS
COMMUNITY FOR EVERY BLACK STUDENT ON OUR CAMPUS AND AS A THIRD YEAR WITH INCREDIBLE MENTORS, HERE'S WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IN 1968, THE 13 DEMANDS WERE CREATED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS TO
COMBAT RACISM AND IMPROVE REPRESENTATION IN NORTHEASTERN. THE PRESIDENT PROMISED 10% BLACK ENROLLMENT WHILE WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 5.1%, OUR BSA WITH SIX OTHER CULTURAL ORGS HOSTED
A COMMUNITY FORUM AND MY EXPERIENCES ECHOED THE CONCERNS OF THESE STUDENTS TO BE THE ONLY BLACK OR HISPANIC OR LATINO STUDENT IN A CLASSROOM WITH A BOSTON CAMPUS OF OVER
9000 STUDENTS IS FLAT OUT DISTURBING AND EMBARRASSING. I'M BEING CHARGED A RECENTLY ENFORCED $100 LAB FEE WITH NO EXPLANATION AND INCREASE IN TUITION FOR INCOMING CLASSES. AND YET HOUSING REMAINS UNBUILT
. CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEFUNDED. RESEARCH REGARDING DEI HAS BEEN CUT. TERMINOLOGY FOR DGI IS ALSO CONSIDERED A THREAT TO INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING, AND I'VE
BEEN KICKED OUT OF OUR CULTURAL CENTER MULTIPLE TIMES NOW WITH NEWLY ENFORCED HOURS FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. YET MY BLACKNESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TARGET. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BELONGING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MANY WILL
EVER COMPREHEND IN THIS ROOM. IN MY ENTIRE FRESHMAN YEAR I REMEMBER STRUGGLING TO FIND A SINGULAR BLACK STUDENT AND THIS ISOLATION WASN'T JUST UNCOMFORTABLE IT WAS DEPRESSING. PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL IT A LACK
OF BELONGING BUT I CALL IT BLACK FATIGUE. I QUESTIONED WHETHER I WAS SMART ENOUGH WHETHER I DESERVE TO BE THERE, WHICH IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND IT THRIVES IN ROOMS WHERE NO ONE LOOKS LIKE YOU.
AND MORE AND MORE I HEAR FRESHMEN COMING TO NORTHEASTERN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF BLACK STUDENTS, THE LATIN OF THE LACK OF HISPANIC STUDENTS, THE LACK OF LATINO STUDENTS AND EVERY YEAR THE INCOMING CLASS DECREASES.
WITH THIS PAST YEAR BEING ONLY 142 BLACK STUDENTS ENTERING, I FEAR WHAT THE INCOMING FRESHMEN WILL EXPERIENCE AND IF I DON'T FIGHT FOR THEM NO WHAT WILL THEY HAVE ONCE I GRADUATE? THANK YOU.
FOR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. YES THE GUYS. DID YOU CONCLUDE YOUR REMARKS? NO I DID IT BUT I HAD LIKE A QUICK CONCLUSION. OH OKAY THANK YOU QUICK.
OKAY OKAY OKAY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I URGE THE PUBLIC OR I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PUBLICIZE THESE TROUBLES AND MAKE IT KNOWN ACROSS THIS CITY WE NEED TO HOLD OUR INSTITUTION
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR COMPLACENCY WITH TRUMP'S NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS. AND WE CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER 50 YEARS FOR CHANGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LUCY.
PLEASE NO APPLAUSE. UM BEFORE AFTER THE COMMENTS. THANK YOU. UH, SIMA. HI. >> UM MY NAME IS OUR SUMMER GARY IS I WAS BORN IN KENYA,
MOVED TO LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS 30 MINUTES FROM BOSTON WHEN I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD. GETTING INTO NORTHEASTERN FELT LIKE A FULFILLMENT, A DREAM. IT WAS NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR MY FAMILY BEING A FIRST GENERATION I'M A THIRD YEAR
STUDENT STUDYING CYBER SECURITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. BUT NO ONE EVER TELLS YOU THAT THE VERY INSTITUTION PROMISING YOU A FUTURE CAN ALSO MAKE YOU FEEL INVISIBLE. MY FRESHMAN YEAR I WAS PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LIVE IN
ONE OF THE SMALLEST ROOMS ON CAMPUS. IT FELT LIKE SLEEPING IN A SHOE BOX ON THE SAME FLOOR AT THE SAME COST, AT THE SAME PRICE. MY FRIEND HAD NEARLY A DOUBLE ROOM A DOUBLE SIZE OF MINE,
SAME BUILDING, SAME COSTS, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT QUALITY OF LIFE. MY SECOND YEAR WINTER ARRIVED AND MY BEDROOM BECAME UNBEARABLE DUE TO THE COLD AND THE OTHER ROOMS AND MY KITCHEN STAYED PERFECTLY WARM.
I WAS WAKING UP WITH BLUE LIPS EVERY SINGLE MORNING I WAS STRUGGLING. I REACHED OUT TO FACILITIES MANAGEMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER SOLVED. MY FAMILY HAD TO BUY ME A SPACE HEATER FOR CHRISTMAS A GIFT
THAT SHOULD NEVER BE NECESSARY. THE COLD AFFECTED MY SLEEP, MY FOCUS, MY MENTAL HEALTH AND MY ABILITY TO SHOW UP AS A STUDENT MY HOUSING EXPERIENCE IS NOT IS JUST ONLY ONE PIECE OF A MUCH.
LARGER PROBLEM. STUDENTS OF COLOR AT NORTHEASTERN ARE NAVIGATING INTO AN INSTITUTION THAT WAS BUILT WITH THAT THUMB IN MIND. MANY STUDENTS OF US DID NOT COME FROM HIGH SCHOOLS WITH
EXTENSIVE COURSES, COLLEGE COUNSELORS OR ADVANCED COURSEWORK. WE ALREADY WE ARRIVE ALREADY WITH BEHIND IN MANY WAYS UNIVERSITIES BARELY ACKNOWLEDGE AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEM MEANT TO
CLOSE THAT GAP CONSTANTLY ARE HARD TO FIND, UNDERFUNDED AND SIMPLY NOT THERE. NOWHERE IS THIS MORE VISIBLE THAN CARY COLLEGE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE. THE COLLEGE ADVERTISED IS FOR
EVERYONE. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. I STRUGGLED THROUGHOUT MY FRESHMAN YEAR EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS DUE TO LACK OF SLEEP AND THE PRESSURE TO GET GOOD GRADES AND A SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO
SUPPORT ME. BUT STUDENTS REPRESENT THE LARGEST GROUP TO DROP THAT MAJOR NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTED. RATHER THAN INVESTIGATING THE TARGETED ACADEMIC SUPPORT
OF STUDENTS OF COLOR, NORTHEASTERNERS RESPONSE WAS TO CHANGE THE CURRICULUM IT'S SAVE THE MONEY THE INSTITUTION CHOSE TO ADJUST THE PROGRAM RATHER THAN EXAMINE WHY SO MANY BLACK
STUDENTS WERE FAILED BY IT. THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION. NORTHEASTERN MARKS ITSELF AS A DIVERSE UNIVERSITY BUT DIVERSITY WITHOUT EQUITY IS JUST OPTICS. REAL INCLUSION MEANS ENSURING
THAT EVERY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE FROM, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR WHICH ROOM THEY'RE ASSIGNED HAS A FAIR SHOT. WE DESERVE. MORE THAN AN INSTITUTION THAT CHANGES THE RULES WHEN THE NUMBERS GET UNCOMFORTABLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. CAITLIN. AWESOME. >> I UH. UH THANK YOU. CAITLIN. >> HI. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS CAITLIN DANIELS. I'M A. >> THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT NORTHEASTERN STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS AND I'M THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISON OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BLACK ATHLETE CAUCUS AND A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
IN ADDITION TO MY ATHLETIC AND CO-CURRICULAR RESPONSIBILITIES, I WORK MY FIRST CO-OP AS A PROJECT AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT AT THE CENTER FOR CRIME, RACE AND JUSTICE, A CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER DEDICATED TO PROVIDING
EVIDENCE BASED REFORMS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I WORKED FOR ALL. OF 14 DAYS BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INAUGURATED AND THE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN THE CRG AND AT THE UNIVERSITY CHANGED
DRASTICALLY. NORTHWESTERN'S ADVOCACY FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION SEEMED TO BE RETRACTED AND REVERSED OVERNIGHT. THE FULLY FUNDED, FULLY FULLY STAFFED OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION BECAME THE
OFFICE OF BELONGING WITH ONLY TWO STUDENT FACING STAFF MEMBERS AND A NOTICEABLE LACK OF RESOURCES, I PITCHED, PLANNED AND HOSTED A SOCRATIC SEMINAR WITHIN THE TWO HOUR DAY TO PROMOTE OPEN DIALOG ABOUT THE THREAT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION POSED TO DIE AND HIGHER HIGHER EDUCATION AT LARGE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ADVERTISE PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF THE THE NEW UNIVERSITY POLICIES, NEW BACK AND OTHER STUDENT ATHLETE ORGANIZATIONS
WERE PROHIBITED FROM PUBLISHING STATEMENTS ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AS FOR SIMILAR REASONS AT THE CORE I WAS THE ONE SCRAPING THE WEBSITE AND SCRUBBING WORDS LIKE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND MORE TO MATCH THE
UNIVERSITY'S VAGUE FEDERALLY COMPLIANT MAKEOVER. DESPITE IT ALL STAFF THIS YEAR'S DAY AND WITHIN THE TWO I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASSURED MYSELF AND OTHERS THAT THE WORK WILL REMAIN THE SAME EVEN IF THE NAMES CHANGE.
BUT AS TIME PASSES I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL ABANDONED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. CLEARLY WHEN YOU SEARCH UP BELONGING AT NORTHEASTERN, THE PARAGRAPHS ON THE SITE THAT POPS UP INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. FOSTERING A COMMUNITY
OF BELONGING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S MISSION OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH. OUR UNIVERSITY IS STRONG AS A RESULT OF THE VARIED BACKGROUNDS, EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY BRING
TO THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. OUR REIMAGINED APPROACH CENTERS ON EMBRACING THE EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE GLOBAL UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL, THIS INVOLVES OFFERING TRAININGS AND
WORKSHOPS ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN OUR AFFINITY GROUPS, SHARING BEST PRACTICES AND USING DATA TO INFORM HOW WE FOCUS OUR RESOURCES AND WORK. WHEN WE EXAMINE THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE UNIVERSITY, WE CAN
ALL SEE A CONTRADICTION BETWEEN WHAT NORTH, WHAT NORTHEASTERN IS AND WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE. THE UNIVERSITY'S REFUSAL TO MEET WITH STUDENT LEADERS, BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT ITS DECISION MAKING AND TAKE A PUBLIC STANCE
AGAINST ANTI POLICIES COMBINED WITH HOW IT HAS SEVERELY REDUCED THE JOHN D O'BRIEN AFRICAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE'S OPERATING HOURS HAS BECOME A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW THE UNIVERSITY TRULY FEELS ABOUT ITS BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.
AND IT BEGS THE QUESTION DOES THE UNIVERSITY'S VISION INCLUDE US IN IT? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CAITLIN JUST. JORDAN. YES. HELLO. EVERY TWO MINUTES OKAY.
HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JORDAN AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE DWINDLING STATE OF NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES OR CASH FOR SURE AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE AFRICANA STUDIES PROGRAM IS DOING TO
STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF AND THE UNIVERSITY'S IMAGE AT LARGE. COMING INTO NORTHEASTERN I WAS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR. IT SEEMED THE MOST FITTING FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF AN ASPIRING LEGAL AID WHO WANTED TO DEDICATE HER EFFORTS TO THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY SLIGHTED BY OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. BUT A LOT OF MY CLASSES WEREN'T FULFILLING MY GOALS AND SUBSEQUENTLY WERE TAKING A TOLL ON MY MENTAL HEALTH. THE MATERIAL I WAS LEARNING WAS BEREFT. >> OF NUANCE. AND DIVERSITY AND IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPACES BEING EVEN LESS DIVERSE, I THEN FOUND MY WAY INTO TWO AFRICANA STUDIES CLASSES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FELT COMFORTABLE ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY PROFESSORS, ENGAGING IN
CLASS AND INVESTING IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE MATERIAL. THIS LED TO ME DECIDING MY MAJORS SHOULD BE AFRICANA STUDIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE GIVEN THE CLEAR INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ONLY TO FIND
OUT NORTHEASTERN WAS DRAGGING THEIR FEET TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A COMBINED MAJOR. THIS BECAME A HUGE OBSTACLE IN REGARDS TO MY DEGREE, BUT I DECIDED I WANTED TO CONTINUE TAKING THE CLASSES NONETHELESS . HOWEVER, LOOKING THROUGH THE
REGISTER I NOTICED A NUMBER OF NOT OFFERED THIS TERM LABELS FOR AFRICANA STUDIES CLASSES JUST TO COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE CATALOG WAS MISSING FROM THE REGISTRAR ,MAKING IT WOEFULLY DIFFICULT TO FULFILL MY ACADEMIC
INTERESTS. FROM TALKING TO PROFESSORS, I LEARNED THAT CSE HAS SUFFERED BUDGET CUTS OF 75% FROM NORTHEASTERN FOR REASONS NOT CLEARLY EXPRESSED MEANING CLASSES ARE FADING, PROFESSORS
ARE LEAVING AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THE AFRICANA STUDIES DEPARTMENT ARE TIRELESSLY WORKING ON NOW CEASED TO EXIST . THE BELL HOOK SYMPOSIUM WAS AN EVENT HONORING. >> BLACK. WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY CREATIVELY AND
ACADEMICALLY. >> AND. WAS PUT ON. >> FOR. FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS BEFORE BEING CANCELED. THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE AFRICANA STUDIES DOES NOT HAVE. >> THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE IT. THERE USED TO BE COMMUNITY EVENTS ALMOST TWICE A MONTH WHERE PEOPLE WOULD HEAR FROM
SCHOLARS SIT IN ON MOVIE SCREENINGS AND SPEAK TO. PANELS OF. >> PEOPLE THAT NOW IS ONLY. HAPPENED ROUGHLY FIVE TIMES THE. ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT LOSSES RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH HOW MANY EVENTS THEY WANT TO HOST.
WE'RE WITNESSING AN ERA IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS INCREASINGLY MORE CONSERVATIVE. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS FINDING WAYS TO DISMANTLE HUMANITIES STUDIES AND NORTHEASTERN CONSISTENTLY PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A PROUD LIBERAL ARTS
PROGRESSIVE INSTITUTION. YET ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. GOALS OF DISASSEMBLING CORE ACADEMIA THAT ATTACKS CONSERVATISM MEANS THIS NARRATIVE CAN'T BE ENTIRELY TRUE. THERE'S ENOUGH HARMFUL.
RHETORIC, RIGHT? WIDESPREAD PROPAGANDA AND HATE AROUND MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES AND STANDING AGAINST THIS AS WE CLAIM TO DO DOES NOT COME IN THE FORM OF GETTING RID OF DIVERSE ACADEMIA AND SPACES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU JORDAN. I'D LIKE TO CALL SALMON EVAN
LOKI'S LEO SADIE ERIS ODELIA MATTHEW AND ALISA. IS IT KWAY? IT'S QUA. QUA YEAH.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES? ALL RIGHT. UH, MY NAME IS QUOTA. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTHEASTERN BLACKSTONE ASSOCIATION. UM, TO START THIS OFF IN REGARDS TO THE MATTERS OF BLACK
LIVING ON NORTHEASTERN CAMPUS, WE ARE IN A TRULY PRECARIOUS SITUATION. WE ARE EFFECTIVELY ENDANGERED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY, VERY PALPABLE TO ALL OF US AND ALL OF OUR CAMPUS
SPACES AND THE URGENCY CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED AS STATED BEFORE. BUT MY PEERS, MY ALLIES AND MY FRIENDS THIS SCHOOL IS A BLACK BOX AND IT'S EASY TO HEAR ABOUT THE DWINDLING POPULATIONS AND THE CLASSES THAT WE CAN'T TEACH
ANYMORE. THE EVENTS THAT ARE DISCONTINUED AND CONSIDER THEM MERELY CONSEQUENCES OF HARSH DECISIONS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE PURVIEW TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE AND THAT IT IS RATHER
INAUSPICIOUS. BUT THERE IS NO CLEAR ACTOR WITH WHOM WE CAN HOLD ACCOUNTABLE. BUT YET WE KNOW THIS ISN'T THE CASE. THERE ARE CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS, BUREAUCRATIC SHUFFLES AND QUESTIONS LEFT
UNANSWERED WHICH IS THE NORM OF OUR EDUCATION AT THE SCHOOL. I GREW UP. POOR LIKE REALLY REALLY. REALLY POOR. I GREW UP IN PROJECT HOUSING AND THE CONCEPT OF GOING TO COLLEGE WAS SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T ALWAYS SEEM LIKE IT
WOULD RESONATE WITH ME. I DIDN'T THINK I'D LIVE PAST 17 AT A POINT AND THEN WHEN I CAME TO COLLEGE FINDING PLACES LIKE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE ,THE JOHN DOE O'BRIEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN INSTITUTE OR THE TWO AS WE CALL. >> IT FOR SHORT WAS A.
SAFE HAVEN. >> IT WAS MY LIFEBLOOD HAVING AFRICANA STUDIES CLASSES THAT WERE ABLE TO ARTICULATE MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE THINGS THAT I HAD SEEN MY FRIENDS LOSE THEIR LIFE TO CONSISTENTLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE COURSE
OF THIS COUNTRY'S EXISTENCE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND NOW THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SLIPPING THROUGH OUR FINGERS AND WHEN BUDGETS ARE CUT BY 75%, WE DESERVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE
DECISIONS WHEN OUR ADVISORS ARE SPEAKING IN HUSHED WHISPERS BECAUSE THEY TRUST THAT THEY CAN CONFIDE IN US MORE THAN THEY CAN CONFIDE WITH ADMINISTRATIONS, WE DESERVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CHOICES. AND WHEN OUR STAFF AND OUR
BUILDINGS ARE PUT ON EDGE AND WHEN WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN BE IN THESE BUILDINGS AND WE WERE GETTING PUSHED OUT THROUGH UM DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGIES THAT WE CAN'T SURELY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY. WE DESERVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CHOICES.
THE UNIVERSITY DID NOT JUST WAKE UP AND DECIDE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO START INCORPORATING BLACK PEOPLE AND THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD A JOHN DOE BRIAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN INSTITUTION. THE 13 DEMANDS WERE THING IN 1968.
THE BLACK STUDENTS CAME TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO MAKE CHANGE AND AS JAMES BALDWIN SAID NOT EVERYTHING FACE CAN BE CHANGED BUT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED UNTIL IT IS FACED. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME THAT WE START FIXING THESE
THINGS SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THEM. WITH THAT I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MINNESOTA AND YOU HAVE NO TIME TO YIELD. SO MA'AM. UM, IT'S ACTUALLY SIMON.
IT'S ABOUT SIMON. I'M SORRY. YOU, UH. OKAY. SIMON, YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES. YEAH. >> SO MY NAME IS SIMON ALCINDOR. I'M A FIRST YEAR STUDENT GOVERNMENT SENATOR AND SENATOR AND THE SUFFOLK GENERAL STAFF
WRITER. I GO TO SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY AS YOU CAN TELL AND I'M THE ONLY ONE FROM THERE. SO FORGIVE ME IF I GO A LITTLE BIT OVER BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO GET THROUGH. UM, LISA SAY THE. ISSUES ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE IN THE. CONTEXT OF NORTHEASTERN GO FAR
BEYOND THAT AT SUFFOLK. UM. >> FIRST OF ALL, LIKE THE SUFFOLK JOURNAL HAS NEVER HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT IN THE ENTIRE TIME THAT SHE HAS BEEN THERE ALL EIGHT YEARS. UM, AND NOT ONLY THAT, LIKE WE
ALSO FACE CONCERNS OVER THE FACT THAT WE'RE DIRECTLY FUNDED AT. SUFFOLK BY UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION. SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE COULD DO IN TERMS OF THAT. UM. IT WELL, OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT HAS A YEARLY Q&A WITH THE
PRESIDENT. IT IS. USUALLY VERY TIME CONSTRAINED. THAT'S WHAT WE CAN'T GET TOO MUCH. AND WITH THIS LACK OF COMMUNICATION IT'S ALSO THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, AS UH MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF RECENTLY, OUR UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ARMED. UM. >> THIS CAME AFTER A LONG TIME WHERE STUDENTS FACULTY
PRACTICALLY EVERY WENT THROUGH UNIVERSITY UM DISPLAYED THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH IT WITH THE WITH THIS MOVE UM NOT ONLY WAS
THERE SGA RESOLUTION TO GET TO THE UNIVERSITY PUT OUT A SURVEY AND THE RESULTS CAME BACK THAT NOT ONLY DID MOST PEOPLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OPPOSE IT, BUT TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD FEEL LESS
SAFE WITH THE CPD BEING ARMED AND YET UH, THE UNIVERSITY REFUSED TO TAKE OUR VOICES INTO ACCOUNT. IT STILL DECIDED TO GO AHEAD DESPITE THE UM, FACADE THAT
THEY PUT UP OF TRYING TO HEAR OUR VOICES DECIDED TO GO AHEAD ANYWAYS, THIS IS STILL CONTINUED. UM THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH WITH THE RECENT LAYOFFS THAT WE HAD WHERE THE UNIVERSITY OFTEN
FIRED THAT FACULTY STAFF QUITE SUDDENLY AND REFUSED TO ACTUALLY GIVE ANY REAL ANSWERS OR HOLD OR EVEN TALK ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY FIND ANY INFORMATION.
ABOUT UM. AT LEAST TO SAY LIKE THIS IS STILL SOMETHING IT'S ONGOING WITH CURRENT THINGS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE FOR ALL THOSE. >> WHO. AREN'T IN THE ROOM CURRENTLY THAT THE ISSUES ARE AT NORTHEASTERN SOMETHING THAT GO
FAR BEYOND IT AND ARE SOMETHING THAT REALLY IMPACTS. DEARLY MOST IF NOT ALL PRIVATE BOSTON UNIVERSITY THANK YOU. SIMON, HAVE YOU ASKED TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT?
UM, I LIKE IT IN THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY. YEAH. >> UM AS I AM NOT SURE ON THAT UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING IT WOULD BE. I'M JUST UM. BRO. >> YOU JUST SAID SHE WOULDN'T MEET WITH YOU, SO. NO, I WAS SAYING THAT WE HAVE NEVER MET WITH IT.
I KNOW SHE WOULD IT. MIGHT WANT TO ASK HER TO MEET WITH YOU. SHE'S PRETTY GOOD. SHE MADE ME WITH YOU? YEAH. >> NO, I'M NOT DENYING THAT SHE WOULD IT I'M JUST SAYING THAT. >> AS. FAR AS I'M AWARE, WE HAVE NOT EVER THOUGHT THAT. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MEET WITH HER PERHAPS. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU SIMON. THANK EVAN. HI. UH, BEFORE. >> MY TIME. >> STARTS, CAN I ASK THAT MY. UM, SHEET IS PRESENTED TO THE MEGAN? PARDON ME. CAN I ASK TO MY SHEET, UH, THAT
I HAND IT IN AS PRESENTED TO THE COUNSELORS. IS IT? YES. >> DID YOU FINISH IT IN. UH, ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS? YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO TESTIFY NOW? >> YES I DO. LET'S GO. YOU'VE GOT. TWO MINUTES. >> UH, TO THE COUNSELORS. UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. MY NAME IS EVANGELIST FAFSA LACUS AND I'M A FOURTH YEAR AT NORTHEASTERN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY. THEY PAY FULL TUITION WITHOUT
AID. THEY MAKE UP 35% OF NORTHEASTERN STUDENT BODY AND ALMOST 60% OF ITS GRADUATE ENROLLMENT. THEY ARE THE ONES TEACHING OUR CLASSES, RUNNING OUR LABS, GRADING OUR PAPERS, SWIPING US
INTO BUILDINGS, STOCKING OUR SHELVES. THESE STUDENTS RIDE THE TO BUY GROCERIES, PAY RENT AND MANY START THEIR CAREERS AND BUILD THEIR LIVES RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON. NORTHEASTERN DOES NOT. FUNCTION WITHOUT THEM AND
NEITHER DOES THE CITY AROUND IT. OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NEIGHBORS ARE ALSO AMONG THE MOST POLITICALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE DETAINED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN
UNMARKED CARS AND SENT THEM TO DETENTION FACILITIES WITHOUT NOTICE OR DUE PROCESS. THE GOVERNMENT NOW SCREENS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OF VISA APPLICANTS FOR VIEWS ANTAGONISTIC TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THIS
PROBLEM PREDATES THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UH ARE ON F-1 VISAS AND THEY CAN'T WORK OFF CAMPUS. THEY CAN'T FREELY CHANGE EMPLOYERS AND THEY CAN LOSE THEIR LEGAL STATUS FOR DROPPING
A SINGLE CLASS. STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK FREELY, ATTEND UNION MEETINGS, SIGN PETITIONS OR SPEAK ABOUT THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS. DESPITE THIS, NORTHEASTERN HAS
MADE NO PUBLIC COMMENT TO UH, LIMIT WHAT UH, STUDENT INFORMATION IT SHARES WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCIES AND NO PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO REFUSE ICE ACCESS TO CAMPUS WITHOUT A JUDICIAL WARRANT.
THERE ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO TESTIFY TODAY BUT DECIDED NOT TO. THEY'RE FEARFUL OF WHAT PARTICIPATING IN A DEMOCRATIC FORUM LIKE THIS MIGHT BRING THEM.
THIS AMBIGUITY IS EXACTLY WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE EXISTENTIAL FEAR AND PRECARITY THAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE. AT THE VERY LEAST, NORTHEASTERN CAN TELL THESE INVALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR INSTITUTION AND
OUR CITY WHERE IT STANDS NORTHEASTERN MUST PUBLICLY COMMIT TO NOT SHARING STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCIES BEYOND WHAT FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES, AND NORTHEASTERN MUST
ALSO PUBLICLY COMMIT TO REFUSING ICE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCIES ACCESS TO ITS CAMPUS, ITS RECORDS OR ITS PEOPLE WITHOUT A CRIMINAL JUDICIAL WARRANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
EVAN. UM, WE HAVE A SECOND PANEL SCHEDULED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SECOND PANELISTS ARE HERE.
IS HENRY MORGAN HERE? NOT YET. NOT YET. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE HERE. I'LL CALL YOU DOWN. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW MORE OF THE TESTIMONIES AND THEN I'LL CALL YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU MAKE SURE YOU HAD JOSE ON A COLON. OKAY. DYLANN LEE. HE'S ON HIS WAY.
OKAY. AND ZACH LOOKS ME. GREAT, GREAT. OKAY, DON. I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU ON AND JUST IF YOU DON'T. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. OKAY, LOOK.
HE'S OKAY. LOOKS OKAY. WELL, I'M GETTING EDUCATED TODAY. OKAY. LUCAS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS LOCATION. I'M CHAIR OF THE YOUNG
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CHAPTER HERE AT NORTHEASTERN. WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING FOR MANY YEARS AT THIS POINT. I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THAT ORGANIZING FOR THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN CHAIR FOR ONE YEAR. FOR THE PAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN
PARTICIPATING IN THE SANCTUARY CAMPUS CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AT NORTHEASTERN WE HAVE ORGANIZED A TOWN HALL RALLY, AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN, PETITIONS, PHONE
BANKING AND WE HAVE SENT OUT AT LEAST UH, 1900 LETTERS TO ADMINISTRATION AND NOT A SINGLE RESPONSE FROM A LIVE ACTION FROM THOSE THOUSANDS OF LETTERS
UH, NOT THERE TO SANDRA TORRES WHO WAS THE IMMIGRATION CONTACT AT UH THE GRADUATE UNION. HERE AT NORTHEASTERN. WE TRY TO PLAN RALLIES. THEY DON'T RESPOND. THEY DON'T RESPOND TO OUR EMAILS.
THEY HAVE GIVEN US NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER WITHIN THE PAST YEAR AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A ICE AGENT COMES ONTO CAMPUS. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS I SPEAK TO NOT ONLY ON THE STREET BUT AT THE GRADUATE UNION ARE NOT
ONLY SCARED TO ORGANIZE, THEY'RE SCARED TO SIGN OUR PETITION BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARFUL OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE TERRIFIED. WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY A GESTAPO KIDNAPING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT SAY THEIR POSITION ON THAT GESTAPO. THIS IS A DECISION THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE DAY TO DAY AND WE HAVE HEARD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
NOT ONLY ARE THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT WORKERS HERE BUT THE BROWN WORKERS, THE BLACK WORKERS OF THE ADJUNCT UNION, THE DINING HALL UNION ARE ALSO IN THE DARK OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
THEY'VE BEEN CONSTANTLY ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY UPDATES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION UH, NOT ONLY DUE TO ICE BUT ALSO DUE TO THE SCHEDULES THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER. AND IN EACH ONE OF THESE ASKS
EACH ONE OF THESE REQUESTS THEY'VE BEEN DENIED A RESPONSE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN THE STRUGGLE FOR IMMIGRATION AND THE RIGHTS OF BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE AND WORKERS AT NORTHEASTERN DOES NOT END AT TRANSPARENCY, BUT IT DOES BEGIN AT TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. UH, LEO? YES. >> HELLO. >> UH, MY NAME IS LEO AND SORRY, I'M A SECOND YEAR
POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS. OF AMERICA CLUB AT NORTHEASTERN . UM, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON. UM, I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN SOUTHIE. UH, IN CITY COUNCIL. DISTRICT TWO.
UH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN ED FLYNN FOR BEING HERE. UM, MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED FROM IRAN IN THE 1980S. UM, THEY FLED PERSECUTION FOR
THEIR. POLITICAL BELIEFS. THEIR DREAM WAS FOR ME TO COME HERE. UH, JOIN IN SPECIFICALLY IN BOSTON, JOIN ONE OF THE PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC UNIVERSITIES HERE AND BE ABLE
TO EXPRESS MY BELIEFS FREELY. STUDY WHAT I WANTED TO STUDY AND BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THINGS THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE OF A UNIVERSITY. THAT WAS MY GRANDPARENTS DREAM WHEN THEY CAME HERE.
NORTHEASTERN DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS DREAM ANYWAY AND THAT'S FOR MY EXPERIENCE BUT EVEN MORE SO FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. UH, NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION HAS ACTIVELY HIDDEN ITS EYES
POLICY FROM ALL INTERNATIONAL FROM ANY STUDENTS. UM AND HAS GIVEN US ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY WILL DO IF A ICE AGENT ENTERS CAMPUS. THEY DID AT THE BEGINNING
OF THIS YEAR GIVE US A LIKE UH ,DIY UM LIKE BRIEFING ON LIKE WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE AN ICE AGENT. NOTHING ABOUT THAT SAID THAT THEY WOULD PROTECT YOU FROM AN
ICE AGENT OR LIKE IT GAVE NO EFFECTIVE INFORMATION UM, IN ANY WAY. UM, IN MY POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASSES I GET TO REGULARLY WITNESS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
START TO MAKE A REMARK IN CLASS SOMETHING TOTALLY NORMAL THAT EVERY STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO AND THEN PAUSE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THINK IS THEIR ACADEMIC CAREER WORTH RISKING?
A COUPLE OF WORDS TO ACTUALLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO. I WAS UH, PART OF THE CANVASING TEAM FOR OUR EMAIL CAMPAIGN AND WHEN I UH CANVASED
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE WORK WE WERE DOING. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE FEARFUL THAT IF THEY PUT THEIR NAME DOWN ON THIS THEY WOULD FACE PERSECUTION FROM THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. UM YEAH. NORTHEASTERN HAS DONE NOTHING TO PROTECT THESE STUDENTS AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND ANY OTHER STUDENTS ARE THE NEXT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE PERSECUTED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU LEO CITY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I'M SADIE AND TODAY I'M HERE TO GIVE TESTIMONY ABOUT NORTHEASTERN LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AS IT PERTAINS TO STUDENT ACTIVISM AND ICE
POLICY. BEGINNING WITH STUDENT ACTIVISM. NORTHEASTERN POLICY AROUND PROTESTING IS EXTREMELY UNCLEAR, STATING THAT THE UNIVERSITY WILL TAKE ACTION
UNSPECIFIED IF PROTESTS IN THE UNIVERSITY DISCRETION VIOLATE ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS LAID OUT IN THEIR POLICY. THE FACT THAT THAT VIOLATION OF THEIR ALREADY STRICT
REQUIREMENTS IS UP TO THEIR DISCRETION MEANS THAT THERE IS NOT ULTIMATELY ONE STANDARD OF RETALIATION SHOULD STUDENT PROTESTERS SEEK TO CARRY OUT PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS ON CAMPUS.
THE REACTION ALSO VARIES DRASTICALLY BASED ON THE CONTENT OF DEMONSTRATIONS. THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY CREATES A HIGH BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION AND THE LACK OF STANDARD MEANS STUDENTS
CAN'T FEEL SAFE PROTESTING AND CAN'T BE ENSURED OF EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY. MOVING ON TO NORTHEASTERN POLICY AS IT REGARDS ICE, NO PUBLISHED POLICIES OR
STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED. ALMOST 40% OF THE STUDENT BODY AT NORTHEASTERN IS MADE UP OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO RIGHT NOW HAVE NO IDEA IF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY WOULD PROTECT THEM.
IF I WERE TO COME ON TO CAMPUS OR SEEK PERSONAL INFORMATION, I WOULD ASK NORTHEASTERN TO PLEASE TAKE A PUBLIC STAND AGAINST COLLABORATION WITH ICE TO MAKE A PUBLIC STAND TO PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS AND MAKE
NORTHEASTERN A SANCTUARY CAMPUS. FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BU, HARVARD, UMASS SUFFOLK, BERKELEY AND MIT JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE CANNOT LEARN IF WE FEEL
UNSAFE AND WE CANNOT TRULY HAVE A SAY IN OUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE. IF OUR QUESTIONS ARE MET WITH SILENCE AND OUR DEMONSTRATIONS ARE MET WITH SUPPRESSION. THANK YOU.
LET ME SAY THIS, SADIE. YOU TOOK ME BACK YEARS TO WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY. NOW LOOK, I AM NOT RECOMMENDING
THAT Y'ALL TAKE OVER ANY BUILDINGS. BUT WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT BRANDEIS, I REMEMBER WE TOOK OVER PERLMAN HALL FOR AN ENTIRE
WEEK TO SAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY CALL TRANSITIONAL YEAR PROGRAM THAT TYPE PROGRAM. IT'S STILL IN EXISTENCE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT PROTEST.
WHEN I WAS IN DIVINITY SCHOOL AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WE TOOK OVER THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT HOWARD. I WAS A DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENT AND A LAWYER AT THE TIME ADVISED THOSE STUDENTS.
THEY TOOK THE BUILDING OVER BECAUSE THEY HAD PUT LEE ATWATER ON THE BOARD. THEY DIDN'T GIVE THE BUILDING UP UNTIL LEE ATWATER RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD.
SO I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND PAST PROTESTING LOOK, DON'T DON'T SAY CULPEPER
SAID PROTEST BUT IT MADE A DIFFERENCE AND 2026 WHAT WE DID MANY YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UH ARIE. HARRIS. >> AARON HARRIS HARRIS.
NILES. >> YES. >> YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS ERIS NILES. I'M A SECOND YEAR STUDENT AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AND I'VE BEEN ORGANIZING WITH THE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM PROJECT AND
THE DSA SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MY SOPHOMORE YEAR ON DECEMBER 3RD OF 2025, NORTHEASTERN DSA HELD A RALLY CONDEMNING NORTHEASTERN S LACK OF A PUBLIC ICE POLICY.
NORTHEASTERN. THIS DEMONSTRATION POLICY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT A PROTEST PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED A WEEK IN ADVANCE. IN SPITE OF THIS ONE WEEK GIVEN IT TOOK OVER THREE WEEKS
OF BACK AND FORTH BUREAUCRACY BEFORE A PERMIT WAS FINALLY APPROVED, THE DSA FACED HURDLES AROUND TECHNICALITIES SURROUNDING BOOKING OUTDOOR SPACE AS WELL AS BEING QUESTIONED ON SPECIFICS OF THE
RALLY THAT WERE NOT ON THE PERMIT APPLICATION. THESE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ACROSS SEVERAL SEPARATE EMAILS ,ALL WITH SLOW RESPONSE TIMES. ALL OF THIS RED TAPE AND HEEL DRAGGING BY THE ADMINISTRATION
IS AN OBFUSCATION OF THE CHANNELS FOR STUDENT VOICE AND EXPRESSION. EVEN WHEN STUDENTS WENT ABOUT EXPRESSING THEMSELVES IN THE QUOTE UNQUOTE RIGHT WAY EVEN
WHEN THEY FOLLOWED THE POLICY ON DEMONSTRATIONS TO THE LETTER THOSE LETTERS ARE VAGUE ENOUGH, ARE TWISTED AND UNCLEAR ENOUGH THAT EVEN THE MOST TEXTBOOK OF DEMONSTRATIONS FACED A
WEEK'S WORTH OF HURDLES. THERE MAY ON PAPER BE WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO PROTEST, BUT IF THOSE WAYS ARE RENDERED INACCESSIBLE BY A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, BY A LACK
OF FORTHCOMING THIS AN ACCESSIBILITY ON HOW TO ACCESS THEM WHAT EXISTS ON PAPER CAN NEVER EXIST MATERIALIZED ON CAMPUS. BY DENYING STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO SPEAK OUT
THE CURRENT POLICIES AND DEMONSTRATION THE WAY THEY ARE COMMUNICATED EFFECTIVELY DENY STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT AT ALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR NILES.
ODIA. DID I GET IT RIGHT? OH WAIT SORRY. OH DEAR. OH, DELIA. OH, DELIA. CLOSE. >> UM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MATTHEWS NEXT. ALISA. CARLY.
AND THEN PATRICK. YOU CAN COME TO THE FLOOR AND MOVE TO ONE OF THE PODIUMS. OKAY, MISS ZUCKERMAN. OKAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS ODELIA ZUCKERMAN AND I'M A
FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENT AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW. UM, THE SCHOOL WAS SOLD TO ME AS THE NUMBER ONE PUBLIC INTEREST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORIENTED LAW SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.
YEAH, JUST OVER THE COURSE OF MY FIRST YEAR. I WORRY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF TO ENGAGE IN FREE SPEECH AND STUDENT ORGANIZING BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY.
THE SCHOOL HAS EFFECTIVELY STIFLED THE ABILITY FOR STUDENTS TO SPEAK OUT. THERE IS A NEW DEMONSTRATION POLICY THAT WAS JUST SPOKEN ABOUT UM WITH STRICT TIMELINE REQUIREMENTS COUPLED WITH
ADMINS BROAD DISCRETION TO REJECT ANYTHING WHENEVER THEY WANT WITH NO EXPLANATION. THESE POLICIES WERE ALSO GIVEN TO US VIA AN EMAIL WITH NO WARNING. THE STUDENTS, THE FACULTY, THE
STUDENT GOVERNMENT WERE NEVER CONSULTED ABOUT THIS POLICY AND IT BROADENS THE SURVEILLANCE THAT STUDENT ORGANIZERS ALREADY EXPERIENCE. THIS BURDENSOME DEMONSTRATION POLICY NOW BEING ENFORCED BY
NORTHEASTERN, MANIPULATES THE INSTITUTION'S POSITION AS A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND EFFECTIVELY RENDERS FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS OBSOLETE. THE ABILITY TO PROTEST SHOULD NOT HINGE ON A PERMIT OR APPROVAL BY AN INSTITUTION THAT
CONTROLS EACH STUDENT'S ACADEMIC STATUS AND FINANCIAL AID. NORTHEASTERN UTILIZES THIS CLEAR POWER AND BALANCE TO DISSUADE STUDENT SPEECH AND PUNISH THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLY. NORTHEASTERN LAW SCHOOL IN
PARTICULAR ATTRACTS AND RECRUITS PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PUSHING THE STATUS QUO. HOWEVER, ONCE WE ARRIVE NORTHEAST, NORTHEASTERN STIFLES OUR GROWTH IN THESE AREAS
SIMPLY BECAUSE STUDENT SPEECH IS INCONVENIENT TO ADMIT. EXCUSE ME NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO RATHER MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO OR EVEN GO BACKWARDS TO PROVE
THEIR LAWYER LOYALTY TO A FASCIST EXECUTIVE REGIME THEN WORK IN THE REAL INTEREST OF THEIR STUDENT BODY. STUDENT MOVEMENTS HAVE BEEN THE DRIVERS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE BACKBONE OF THIS DEMOCRACY
. THEY REPEATEDLY FORCE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVEN THE GLOBE TO INTERROGATE THEIR MORAL AND ETHICAL ALIGNMENTS. MAHMOOD CARLISLE SAID THAT THE STUDENT MOVEMENT IS THE MORAL
COMPASS OF THIS COUNTRY. STUDENT MOVEMENTS HOLD UP A MIRROR AND ASK WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? NORTHEASTERN DOES NOT STAND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, DOES NOT STAND FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT OR GROWTH. NORTHEASTERN AS IT CURRENTLY
OPERATES SIMPLY STANDS FOR PROFIT AND CAPITULATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> NO CLAPPING PLEASE. MAYBE YOU CAN DO THIS. I CAN'T I CAN'T EVEN DO IT.
UM. MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY ALYSSA FOLLOWED BY CARLY AND THEN PATRICK. MATTHEW, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR. HOLDING THIS HEARING. >> AND ALLOWING. ME ALONG WITH OTHER. STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY. MY NAME IS MATTHEW FALK. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
AND I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AS THE OTHER SPEAKERS. THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AT NORTHEASTERN IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR EDUCATION, BUT IT'S AN AFFRONT TO OUR DEMOCRACY. AS A STUDENT IN THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND
HUMANITIES. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR LAST SEMESTER THAT THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FOR OUR COLLEGES DEPARTMENTS WERE CUT BY 75 TO 80%. THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS ALLOW OUR COLLEGES TO HOST SPEAKERS
AND EVENTS. THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION OR INPUT FROM STUDENTS OR FACULTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT BUDGETS WILL ALWAYS FLUCTUATE BUT AN 80% REDUCTION TO OUR DISCRETIONARY
FUND WITH NO EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER PROVIDED IS ABSURD AND UNACCEPTABLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION DID THIS. THEY VERY RARELY COMMUNICATE MAJOR DECISIONS TO THE FACULTY
OR STUDENT BODY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE CUTS WERE MADE OUT OF FINANCIAL NECESSITY OR AS A RESULT OF MEDDLING FROM THE TRUMP REGIME. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT ONE OF THE FIRST TARGETS
OF TOTALITARIANS IS OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. AS EDUCATION IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE FORCE TO FASCISM, I DO NOT WANT TO ACCUSE THE NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION OF COLLABORATING WITH A FASCIST
REGIME. HOWEVER, UNTIL THEY PROVE THEY ARE NOT THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A POSSIBILITY. I WANT TO COMMEND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO VOTED TO APPROVE THIS HEARING. WHILE MANY MAY WRITE THIS EVENT
OFF AS PERFORMATIVE OR POINTLESS, THE TRUTH IS THAT EVENTS LIKE THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT PERFORMATIVE. THEY'RE NOT MEANINGLESS. THEY MATTER TO ALL THE COUNCILORS WHO VOTE TO APPROVE
THIS HEARING. ON BEHALF OF MY SCHOOL AND THE NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE DEMOCRATS ,I WANT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALYSSA. >> SHE'S ON HER WAY.
SO A WEEK WHEN SHE COMES MAKE SURE THAT PLEASE. UH, CARLY. FOLLOWED BY PATRICK. HELLO.
>> UH, MY NAME IS CARLY DWYER. I'M AN S5. >> ON SEIU 509 MEMBER AND AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR IN THE COLLEGE OF ART, MEDIA AND DESIGN SINCE THE SPRING OF 2022 WHERE I WAS HIRED 12 DAYS
BEFORE THE SEMESTER DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT AND THAT WAS LEAVING THE GAME PROGRAM UNDERSTAFFED. AND EVERY SEMESTER SINCE I'M LEFT TO WONDER ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY EMPLOYMENT. OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS COME LATE OFTEN WITH ONLY A DAY OR TWO
BEFORE THE SEMESTER BEGINS. IN THE FALL OF 2023 I SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR ONE COURSE BUT FOUND OUT I WAS LISTED IN THE COURSE CATALOG FOR A SECOND SECTION. I TAUGHT BOTH COURSES FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE UNION WAS ABLE
TO SECURE ME A CONTRACT FOR THE SECOND COURSE THIS LAST FALL HEADING INTO THE FALL 2025 SEMESTER AFTER LEADING A SUCCESSFUL UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER PROGRAM TO DENMARK, I WAS NOT ASSIGNED TO ANY COURSES DESPITE
HAVING SECURED PRIORITY PLACEMENT FOR TWO SECTIONS AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF TEACHING. I ONLY FOUND OUT MY COURSES HAD BEEN REASSIGNED TO PHD STUDENTS AFTER MY UNION PUSHED FOR FLAHERTY. AS OF TODAY I RECEIVED NO WORD
FROM THE UNIVERSITY CONCERNING THIS PAST FALL OR MY FUTURE AT NORTHEASTERN. I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN SUFFERING FROM THE DISORGANIZATION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT LEAVES BOTH ADJUNCTS AND FULL TIME PROFESSORS UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT
THEIR TEACHING. LOAD IS OR WHAT THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TEACH BEYOND COURSE ASSIGNMENTS. THE ADMINISTRATION AT CAMP EXPECTS US TO SPEND OUR OWN MONEY BY NOT PROVIDING ADJUNCTS
WITH COURSES SUPPORT FUNDS WHENEVER WE PRESS ABOUT GETTING ACCESS TO FUNDS FOR GUEST SPEAKERS OR CURRICULUM BASED MATERIALS, WE'RE TOLD ADJUNCTS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THESE FUNDS FORCING US TO SPEND OUR OWN MONEY IN ORDER TO OFFER OUR
STUDENTS THE SAME RESOURCES THAT FULL TIME PROFESSORS WHO TEACH FOR WHO TEACH THE SAME CLASSES. THIS PAST FALL, THE FULL TIME FACULTY AT CAMP WAS INFORMED THAT THEIR ACCESS TO FUNDING
FOR GUEST SPEAKERS HAS BEEN CUT ENTIRELY, TELLING PROFESSORS TO SPEAK IN EACH OTHER'S CLASSES A GESTURE OF GOODWILL. THIS CUT STUDENTS OFF FROM NETWORKING AND LEARNING FROM. >> THE. RICH PROFESSIONAL. NETWORKS THAT THESE PROFESSORS CAN PROVIDE.
I'VE BEEN A CLASSROOM TEACHER FOR 20 YEARS AND I WORK PROFESSIONALLY IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY, SO I'M QUALIFIED TO SAY THAT NORTHEASTERN IS SHORTCHANGING THEIR STUDENTS AT NEARLY $91,000 A YEAR, NORTHEASTERN IS CUTTING CORNERS
AT THE EXPENSE OF STUDENTS GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH FROM CUTTING FACULTY CO-OP FUNDS, CUTTING HIGHLY QUALIFIED ADJUNCTS TO FURTHER CUTTING FACULTY SUPPORT AND STUDENT PROGRAMING. THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR
COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PATRICK. >> HI MY NAME IS PATRICK GEIGER. I'M AN INTERNAL ORGANIZER WITH
SEIU LOCAL 509, THE UNION REPRESENTING OVER 600 PART TIME FACULTY LIKE CARLY. >> AT NORTHEASTERN. I WANT TO APPLAUD THE STUDENTS FOR CALLING FOR THIS HEARING AND FOR THE COUNCIL. FOR TAKING IT UP. UM, AS YOU HEARD FROM CARLY. UM. >> THE COURSE ASSIGNMENT
PROCESS AT NORTHEASTERN IS INCREDIBLY OPAQUE AND FRUSTRATING FOR ADJUNCTS WHO ARE FREQUENTLY LEFT UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE A JOB NEXT SEMESTER. THIS LEAVES THEM FINANCIALLY STRESSED AND UNABLE TO PROPERLY
PREPARE TO TEACH THEIR CLASSES . BUT BEYOND. THAT, THE UNIVERSITY ALSO STIFLES ATTEMPTS. >> TO GATHER MORE. INFORMATION AND TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THE UNION. RECENTLY REQUESTED. UH NOT THAT RECENTLY IN
DECEMBER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON A VERY SIMPLE DATA POINT WHEN. >> DID FACULTY GET THEIR COURSE ASSIGNMENTS? FACULTY HAD. COMPLAINED TO US REGULARLY. >> THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING. ASSIGNMENTS VERY LATE. HOWEVER SO. >> FAR THE UNIVERSITY HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION AS HAS BEEN THE CASE. >> IN. OTHER LABOR DISPUTES AT NORTHEASTERN. THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION WOULD SEEMINGLY RATHER FORCE UNIONS. TO LITIGATE. >> THEIR CLAIMS IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD RATHER THAN WORK
COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS WORKPLACE ISSUES. THIS WASTES TIME AND RESOURCES FOR ALL INVOLVED. LASTLY, ON THE POINT OF RESOURCES, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT. NORTHEASTERN HAS THE MONEY TO
SUPPORT ITS STUDENTS AND. >> TO. OPERATE IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. SINCE 2020, THE AVERAGE OPERATING SURPLUS AT NORTHEASTERN WAS $130 MILLION. ITS ENDOWMENT.
>> HAS GROWN SINCE 2020 FROM. $1.14 BILLION TO. 2.11 BILLION. >> NORTHEASTERN HAS THE RESOURCES TO INVEST IN ITS STUDENTS AND ITS WORKERS AND TO DO SO IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS HEARING CAN SERVE AS A WAKE UP CALL FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALERT THEM. >> THAT. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE TIRED OF THE SAME OLD TACTICS OF EVADING RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, WE WILL NOW RECESS THE
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE COUNSELOR TO YOU. MY HAIR IS NOW HERE. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 90 DAYS AND WE HAVE. HAD MANY HEARINGS.
THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST. EDUCATIONAL HEARINGS AND DELIGHTFUL HEARINGS THAT I HAVE HAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND DON'T STOP. THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW RECESS.
YOU KNOW THE STRINGS. >> YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HURRY UP AND GET BACK INTO YOUR SEATS. RECESS IS OVER. HI EVERYBODY. UM. >> SORRY I AM LATE. I HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT.
I AM THE OFFICIAL CHAIR OF, UH ,COMMITTEE CHAIR OF THE CHAIR OF EDUCATION. AND THIS HEARING, UM, WAS PLACED IN MY COMMITTEE AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ORGANIZED, UM WHO
WROTE THE. PUBLIC HEARING ORDER, UM, AND WHO HAVE BEEN SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UM, IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT ME, I AM ALL ABOUT GIVING
PEOPLE A VOICE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO NOT BE HEARD AND I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ME WITHOUT ME. AND SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT .
FOR OUR. OFFICE TO TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT . UM, SO NOT JUST BE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, UM, BUT TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE
CAN'T KEEP DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING POURED INTO HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS UM, AND NO GUARDRAILS. SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THIS, UM, HEARING IS OFFICIALLY BACK IN SESSION AND I WANT TO THANK PERFECT ATTENDANCE COUNSELOR UH, FLYNN WHO UH, NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE, UH, PERFECT
ATTENDANCE ON THE COUNCIL BUT DOESN'T JUST SHOW UP AND THEN LEAVE BUT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TIME. MY TEAM LET ME KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE. AND I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK COUNCILOR CULPEPPER
FOR HOLDING THIS DOWN, UM, IN MY ABSENCE. SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. WE STILL. HAVE 123456789 TEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
Y'ALL CAME Y'ALL DIDN'T COME HERE TO PLAY. Y'ALL CAME HERE TO. OKAY, I LOVE THAT FOR US. UM, AND THEN WE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY PANEL. SO IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING
THINGS MOVING AND NOT HOLDING ANYONE HOSTAGE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE CLASS AND THINGS. TO DO, I. >> AM. GOING TO CALL UP UH, 12345 PEOPLE AND THEN GO TO THE COMMUNITY PANEL AND THEN CALL
UP THE OTHER FIVE. DOES THAT SOUND GREAT? IS THAT OKAY? YOU SEE HOW THIS IS CALLED PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY ASKING WHETHER OR NOT THAT WORKS. FOR YOU. >> ALL INSTEAD OF JUST PLOWING THROUGH AND SAYING THIS IS HOW
IT IS COOL. ALL RIGHT. I'M MODELING BEHAVIOR Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT SO WE. HAVE I'M GOING TO CALL UP.
UM AIDEN JORDAN KYLIE ANDRE. OH SOMEBODY'S GOT TO WORK ON THEIR HAND. WRITING IS. WELL IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS US. WE'RE NOT WHOEVER IT IS, YOU PROBABLY WON'T WANT TO COME UP BECAUSE ALL OF THE ATTENTION I'M DRAWING TO YOUR NAME. >> AND THIS. >> YOUR HANDWRITING. REALLY?
>> JESUS IS A B UM. OH, IS THAT ABRAHAM? THAT CANNOT BE ABRAHAM. IS THERE SUCH A THING? IS THERE SOME NO FLYNN. OKAY. >> HELP ME OUT.
YEAH. WELL LAST LAST NAME IS BUT WELL I'M. LAUGHING I CAN. I WAS PROBABLY TOO SHY TO SHOW
UP. ABRAHAM WHAT A FUSS WE MADE. WE FOUND YOUR NAME, LORD AVERY. GO BACK. >> TO THE SCHOOL, LEARN HOW TO SPELL BETTER. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, RIGHT?
THEY TOLD YOU THAT YOU GOT THE MEMO. DON'T TRY TO GO OVER BECAUSE I'LL COME OUT OKAY? OKAY. >> THAT LATE AND, UM. OKAY. >> HELLO. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM A CURRENT SECOND YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENT. >> IN. NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
REPRESENTING HUSKY. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM. I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE NORTHEASTERN. HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE. >> BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR CITY AND OUR PLANET. NOW YOU SHOULD SEE AN ARTICLE BEFORE YOU THAT. DIRECTLY FROM. >> THEIR OWN NEW SITE.
YOU KNOW IF YOU THINK GLOBAL NEWS DATED JULY 11TH, 2016. WHICH HIGHLIGHTS. >> THE UNIVERSITY'S PUBLIC. PROMISE TO. INVEST 25 MILLION OF ITS ENDOWMENT. FUND SPECIFICALLY. >> IN. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THIS COMMITMENT WITH THE UPGRADE AS A BOLD. >> STEP. TOWARD CLIMATE. LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME BUT. >> NEARLY A DECADE LATER WE
STILL LACK TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY WITH USE WHETHER IT WAS FULLY ALLOCATED, WHAT REAL. IMPACT IT MADE. MORE TROUBLING ITS ONGOING LACK OF DISCLOSURE. >> ABOUT WHERE THE REST OF. >> THE. UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT, WHICH IS OVER $1.8 BILLION IS INVESTED.
ON TOP OF THIS, DESPITE PUBLIC CLAIMS SUSTAINABILITY. LEADERSHIP ETHAN. REFUSES TO CONFIRM WHETHER. IT CONTINUES TO FUND FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES. FOR ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES INVESTMENT DECISIONS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE OF REASON TO SAY WE CAN INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY.
BUT I CAN'T STOP FUNDING FOSSIL FUELS AT THE SAME TIME. DURING THOSE TWO. ACTIONS LIKE THEY CAN'T HAPPEN TOGETHER. IT'S NOT LOGICAL THAT JUST A LACK OF VISION IT'S A CHOICE. AVOID DOING IT RIGHT NOW. ETHAN COUCH IT UP AS A
SELF-DESCRIBED SUSTAINABILITY LEADER IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND YET. THERE HAVE BEEN. MEANINGFUL STEPS FORWARD. BUT YOU CANNOT YOU CANNOT CLAIM CLIMATE LEADERSHIP WHILE YOUR INVESTMENTS CONTINUE TO FUEL THE CRISIS. HOW CAN WE AS STUDENT.
ADVOCATE FOR A GREENER. FUTURE IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND RESEARCH WHY UNIVERSITIES MONEY SUPPORTS THE VERY INDUSTRIES DRIVING ENVIRONMENTAL HARM. THERE HAVE. >> BEEN MANY. EFFORTS BY. STUDENTS TO TRY AND CONVINCE THE UNIVERSITY TO DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUEL. STUDENTS IN.
THE PATH OF OUR STUDENTS. SUPPORT PROPOSED REFERENDUM THROUGH STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND PROUD ON CAMPUS. YET THE ADMINISTRATION BOARD TRUSTEES HAVE RESPONDED WITH SILENT OR VAGUE ASSURANCES, AVOIDING PUBLIC CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHERE TUITION ENDOWMENT DOLLARS ARE GOING. THERE'S NO PUBLIC DASHBOARD, NO INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AND NO TIMELINE FOR DIVESTMENT. THERE ARE ONLY PROMISES WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS ABOUT INTEGRITY.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING IT INSTITUTION WE TRUST OF OUR EDUCATION, OUR FUTURE AND OUR MONEY. IT'S UNDERMINING THAT FUTURE THROUGH HIDDEN FINANCIAL CHOICES. SO I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT STUDENT LED CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY,
ENCOURAGE EACH MINISTRATION TO OPEN A REAL DIALOG WITH STUDENTS IN WHICH NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHES CLEAR ANNUAL REPORTS ON ENDOWMENT INVESTMENTS AND TAKES MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARD FULL DIVESTMENT AND
REINVESTMENT IN A JUST, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT MOVING. UM WE HAVE JORDAN FOLLOWED BY
KYLIE AND JERRY AND THEN ABRAHAM. SO JORDAN YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS JORDAN WHITAKER AND I'M THE. PRESIDENT OF THE HUSKY. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION. TEAM AND A MEMBER OF THE DIVEST COALITION.
IN 2012, NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS JOINED THE DIVEST MOVEMENT, WHICH ENCOURAGES. BUSINESSES AND UNIVERSITIES TO STOP. INVESTING FUNDS INTO. >> THE. FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. THE DESIRES OF DIVEST AND NEW ARE THE SAME AS THOSE OF THE OVER. 250 SUCCESSFUL.
COLLEGE DIVESTMENT CAMPAIGNS. STOP SPENDING OUR TUITION. MONEY ON FOSSIL FUELS SIMILAR TO THOSE CAMPAIGNS. NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS REQUESTED TO MEET. >> WITH. THE PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF. TRUSTEES AND OTHER. ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBERS. >> TO.
GIVE UH TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES. UNLIKE THOSE SUCCESSFUL. CAMPAIGNS. >> NORTHWESTERN'S ADMINISTRATION BARELY GAVE US A. CHANCE IN 2014 BEFORE. >> MY TIME AT NORTHEASTERN AND SGA. REFERENDUM SHOWED THAT ABOUT 75%. OF STUDENTS WERE.
>> IN FAVOR OF DIVESTMENT, DIVEST MEMBERS HAND-DELIVERED A LETTER. CONTAINING THE REFERENDUM. RESULTS TO PRESIDENT OWENS OFFICE. THE HOPE WAS THAT THAT 75% STATISTIC WOULD ENCOURAGE ADMIN TO LISTEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY
THIS HOPE WAS DASHED BY YET ANOTHER REJECTION. THE CAMPAIGN FOUGHT. >> ON UNTIL 2016 WHEN THEY WERE MET WITH TWO. DEVASTATING STATEMENTS. FIRST, NORTHEASTERN PROMISED TO QUOTE INVEST NOT DIVEST
CLAIMING THE UNIVERSITY WOULD INVEST IN. UNNAMED SUSTAINABILITY. PRACTICES AS ADEN TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY. BUT IT WON'T STOP ITS HARM CAUSED BY THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. THE CAMPAIGN OFFICIALLY.
FIZZLED WHEN DIVEST AND YOU FINALLY GOT A MEETING WITH. >> THE. ADMINISTRATION BUT WERE CALLED QUOTE DEAD ON ARRIVAL BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE. MEMBER IN 2022 THE CAMPAIGN. >> WAS REBORN AND WE BEGAN WITH A. REFERENDUM THAT FOUND 92%
OF NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS IN FAVOR OF DIVESTMENT. WE MET WEEKLY TO RESEARCH SUCCESSFUL. STRATEGIES AND. >> MAKE. PLANS TO. >> IMPLEMENT THEM. WE MET WITH THE DIRECTOR. OF THE CLIMATE JUSTICE. >> AND SUSTAINABILITY HUB WHO ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT US WITH ADMIN BUT. WAS MET WITH SILENCE.
AFTER MULTIPLE. ATTEMPTS TO GET IN TOUCH AND RECEIVING NO RESPONSE, THIS CAMPAIGN CAME TO AN END AS WELL. A CRITICAL TAKEAWAY FROM TODAY'S TESTIMONIES IS THE. ROLE UNIVERSITIES. PLAY IN THE LIVES OF MANY.
THEIR DECISION SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND CONSIDER THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. DESPITE DIVESTMENT BEING AN. ACT THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF. ALL AND MEET. >> THE DESIRES OF. STUDENTS WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES AND MONEY TO THIS
INSTITUTION, NORTHEASTERN HAS PROVEN THAT THEY. >> ARE. UNWILLING TO. >> HEAR OUR VOICES IF IT DEADENS THEIR. FINANCIAL GAIN. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. >> SO THE CLOCK IS NOT WORKING . OR MAYBE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK IT.
UM, SO SOME OF YOU GOT EXTRA TIME JUST SO YOU. >> KNOW, JUST. SO YOU KNOW, I MADE A MISTAKE. OKAY, WELL THEN NOT READY. OKAY.
YOU JUST. THE ANXIETY RIGHT LEADING. UP THE TENSION HERE, KYLIE. YES? >> YOU HAVE. >> THE FLOOR. >> UH THANK YOU COUNCILOR. UH, I'M KYLIE BEMIS. I'M A TEACHING. PROFESSOR IN THE CORI. COLLEGE OF COMPUTER SCIENCES. I'VE TAUGHT AT.
>> NORTHEASTERN FOR TEN YEARS NOW. UH, I WANT TO START OFF BY JUST THANKING ALL OF THE STUDENTS. >> IN THIS ROOM. IT'S SO INCREDIBLE TO SEE ALL OF. >> THE STUDENTS HERE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR MONDAY AFTERNOON TO COME PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HAVE. THEIR VOICES HEARD.
AND IT'S REALLY A. TESTAMENT TO HOW. THEY FEEL. >> LIKE THE. UNIVERSITY HAS NOT LISTENED TO THEIR VOICES. UM I WANT TO KIND OF OBSERVE THAT UH WHEREAS. JOSEPH I ONE WHERE. ARE OUR. >> BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND AND
OUR PROVOSTS UH THE LACK OF. NORTHEASTERN LEADERSHIP IN. >> THIS ROOM. >> IS REALLY EVIDENCE OF THE PATTERN OF NEGLECT AND BETRAYAL. OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND MISSION THAT WE'VE ALL OBSERVED . UM. >> OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS .
UNIVERSITIES ARE. SUPPOSED TO BE BASTIONS. >> OF. TRUTH, UH, AUTHORITARIANISM AND TYRANNY. >> WILL SEEK TO CONTROL TRUTH. UH, DEMOCRACY. RELIES ON UH, FREEDOM OF SPEECH . ON FREE.
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR NORTHEASTERN LEADERSHIP. HAS UNDERMINED WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE AFRAID. TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS, WHO ARE UNABLE TO. PROTEST AND HAVE THEIR VOICES
HEARD IN THE WAY. >> THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE. IT HEARD. UM, OUR SENIOR. LEADERSHIP AT NORTHEASTERN. HAS COMPLIED IN ADVANCE IN WAYS TO ABANDONED D-I. WHAT IS. >> AN OFFICE. >> OF BELONGING IF WE ARE TOO
AFRAID TO NAME THE RIGHTS. AND SAFETY THAT WE THAT ARE BEING THREATENED? UH. THE LEMKIN. INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE PREVENTION HAS ISSUED RED FLAG ALERTS FOR ANTI-TRANS GENOCIDE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND. UH, NORTHEASTERN. UNIVERSITY HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED . THE FEAR AND, UH, DANGER THAT OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AT UH NORTHEASTERN IT'S FEELING UH,
IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. I'VE PERSONALLY MADE ATTEMPTS TO REACH OUT TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO JOSEPH ALLEN AND HEARD NOTHING BACK. I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO THE FACULTY SENATE AND AS FACULTY WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HOLD NORTHEASTERN ACCOUNTABLE.
UM I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. >> TO THE. STUDENTS HERE. UM, AND SO I'D LIKE TO END WITH, UH, AN APPEAL TO MY TENURE TRACK COLLEGE COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE. SPEAK UP, UM, AND HAVE ADVOCATE FOR THE. >> STUDENTS HERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE MOVING NOW. IT'S GOING TO WORK. THANK YOU. OKAY, NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO AND READY. ANDRE ANDRE. THAT'S MY HOW IS SPELL.
>> HERE THIS EVENING ANDRE. THANK YOU. >> UM I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR HAVING THIS HEARING AS WELL AS JACK. BAUZA OVER THERE FOR UH, INVITING THE VIEW ARE THERE FOR INVITED TO BE SPEAKERS. MY NAME IS ANDRE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING, UM, THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES STUDENT GOVERNMENT AT BU. AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PAY $90,000 A YEAR YET ARE LOCKED OUT OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DECISION MAKING. THE SECRECY OF THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES IS EVIDENT IN THE FACT THAT MANY STUDENTS I'VE SPOKEN TO ARE UNAWARE WE EVEN HAVE A BOARD OF TRUSTEES FORMAL STUDENT REPRESENTATION. UH. . ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE
COMMITTEES EXIST AND MANY OF PEER PLUS COUNTERPARTS INCLUDING UH BROWN, BRANDEIS, COLUMBIA, SYRACUSE, TUFTS AND UPENN JUST TO NAME A FEW. THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE SAME MECHANISM SHOULD NOT EXIST TO BE YOU.
EARLIER, UH, LAST SEMESTER I ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT WITH THE CHAIR OF THE BU FACULTY COUNCIL WHO WAS THE FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD. TO LEARN. >> ABOUT THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY AND PAST ACTIONS. HE REFUSED TO SPEAK WITH ME, ASSERTING THAT ALL BOARD
ACTIVITIES ARE PROPRIETARY. I ALSO DIRECTLY ASKED THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD WHETHER STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OR ITS COMMITTEES WAS SOMETHING THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. HE SAID THE BOARD WAS TOO PREOCCUPIED WITH MORE AND WITH
MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO CONSIDER SUCH AN IDEA. HE ALSO REFUSED TO DISCLOSE HOW BOARD TO DISCLOSE HOW BOARD MEMBERS ARE SELECTED OR TO DISCUSS THE AGENDA OF BOARD MEETINGS. FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE
CAMPAIGNED FOR STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. SPECIFICALLY, MY INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ADD ONE UNDERGRADUATE AND ONE GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND STUDENT LIFE. THIS COMMITTEE MAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF ACADEMICS AND THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE. STUDENT INPUT IS VITAL TO DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH ACTUALLY REFLECT STUDENT INTERESTS. SECURING STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THIS COMMITTEE IS NOT ONLY A
FOOT IN THE DOOR TO GREATER REPRESENTATION DOWN THE ROAD, BUT VITAL TO ENSURING STUDENT INTERESTS ARE CONSIDERED WHEN DISCUSSING HOW TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE. HPU CURRENTLY I HAVE A BUILT IN THE STUDENTS AND IT SOON TO BE VOTED ON AND ENTERED INTO
EVIDENCE HERE. JUST A NOTE THAT THE DATE IS FEBRUARY 2025 ON THE DOCUMENT WHICH WILL BE AMENDED TO MARCH 2026 IS SPONSORED BY THE STUDENT GOVERNMENTS OF EVERY COLLEGE AT BU AS WELL AS THE BU CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS DEMONSTRATING THAT INCREASED REPRESENTATION HAS BROAD ACROSS CAMPUS STUDENT AND FACULTY SUPPORT. IT IS SOON TO BE VOTED ON AND CALLS ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO OPEN A DIALOG ABOUT STUDENT
REPRESENTATION ON THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE. I HOPE THIS DIALOG IS PRODUCTIVE AND LEADS TO INCREASED STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND CONSEQUENTLY INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DECISION MAKING APP YOU THANK.
>> YOU. THANK YOU. ANDRE THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT SO. FINALLY ABRAHAM. UM. >> YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS ABRAHAM. I AM. >> THE. UNDERGRADUATE CHIEF. OF STAFF.
>> OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY REPRESENTING . UM 18,000 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. UM, IN MY ROLE WE ARE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF STUDENTS WEEKLY AND THE
PRESIDENT QUARTERLY. UH, WE ARE. >> DISAPPOINTED THAT NORTHEASTERN IS SEEMINGLY NOT AS COMMUNICATIVE. UM. >> BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION. THAT OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS ANDRE HAD MENTIONED. IS UM. SOMEWHAT UH, SECRETIVE AND AND. >> NOT.
AS AVAILABLE TO. STUDENTS AS WE WOULD NECESSARILY LIKE. UM, IN THE PAST IN THE 90S THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES. ON UM. VARIOUS TRUSTEE COMMITTEES. HOWEVER. UH A SERIES OF REORGANIZATIONS
OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES HAS ELIMINATED ALL OF. THOSE UH POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH THE TRUSTEES. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT. >> THE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO. FUNCTION IF STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES
OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES. UM, WHEN. >> WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS AND. WHEN WE UM, SEEK TO TO COOPERATE IN MAKING THE UNIVERSITY A STRONGER, BETTER SCHOOL, WE FEEL UM.
THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NOT ONLY AFFECTS UM, A STUDENT BODY BUT AFFECTS THE CITY OF BOSTON WHICH RELIES ON OUR MAJOR FINANCIAL UM. ,THE. >> MAJOR ACADEMIC. INSTITUTIONS FOR. JOBS AND EDUCATION.
AND AS. >> SUCH WE APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THIS ISSUE . THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. UM. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GO OLD SCHOOL. I'M NOT USING THIS CLOCK NO
MORE. >> I'M JUST GOING TO. SO YOU. OH SKIPPING. >> THE. I DIDN'T. >> CALL ON. >> YOU BUT JORDAN. HELLO. UM, MY NAME. WAS CALLED EARLIER. I'M MELISSA FUDGE. I WAS WHO JORDAN'S. OH. >> I'M MELISSA. FUDGE I WAS CALLED EARLIER BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE.
TESTIMONY OKAY. >> SO I'M HOPING I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK NOW IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU. PERFECT. >> OKAY, SO, UM, I'M TALKING. >> ON. THE. BEHALF AS A CURRENT WORK ASSISTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. CENTER AT.
NORTHEASTERN AND AS. >> A. GRADUATING SENIOR, I VOLUNTEERED WITH THE CENTER AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SINCE MY FIRST SEMESTER AT COLLEGE. SPECIFICALLY, I GAVE MY TIME TO THE. NATIONAL NONPROFIT CALLED JUMPSTART.
AMERICORPS AMOUNTING TO OVER 500 VOLUNTEER. HOURS WITH THIS. ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT MY COLLEGE CAREER. HERE COLLEGE STUDENTS PREPARED WEEKLY LEARNING SESSIONS TO PROMOTE EARLY EDUCATION IN. LESS RESOURCED COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE. LOCAL BOSTON AREA. COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO. SUPPORT THE. MOVEMENT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA ENTERS KINDERGARTEN PREPARED TO. SUCCEED AND. AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS WHO. COMPLETED 300. >> HOURS. OF.
ANNUAL COMMUNITY. SERVICE WERE GRANTED $1,175 IN THE FORM OF A SINGLE AMERICORPS . EDUCATION AWARD. SO THESE FUNDS WERE INTENDED. >> TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO VOLUNTEER. SO THEY. CAN HELP WITH EXPENSES SUCH AS
TUITION AND LOANS, AND IT SERVED AS A FEEDBACK LOOP SIMULTANEOUSLY. SUPPORTING COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO GIVE THEIR. TIME WITH THIS EDUCATION GRANTS . WITH GRANTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHILE ALSO HELPING THE. YOUTH OF. >> THEIR LOCAL AREA.
SO DUE TO FEDERAL CUTS IN APRIL OF. 2025. >> OVER $400 MILLION FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM AMERICORPS. OVER 32,000 AMERICAN JOBS WERE TERMINATED AND AMERICORPS.
EDUCATION AWARDS WERE ABRUPTLY TAKEN AWAY. IT WAS THE MOST DRASTIC SHUTDOWN THE OFFICE HAD SEEN. THE CENTER HAD TO LET GO OF FACULTY AND WASN'T ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE ANY EDUCATION AWARDS
AS GUARANTEED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. DESPITE EFFORTS TO COORDINATE PILOT PROGRAMS IN HOPES OF MAINTAINING OUR CONNECTIONS WITH THE. LOCAL PRESCHOOLS, WE SERVED IN ROXBURY CROSSING.
JAMAICA PLAINS AND THE SOUTH END. DUE TO. THE LACK OF FUNDING, SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATION FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY. THIS LED TO THE COMPLETE ERASURE OF THE PROGRAM THAT
I'VE KNOWN SINCE MY FRESHMAN YEAR, AND IT. >> WAS. COMPLETELY DEVASTATING TO WITNESS THE COMPLETE DISMANTLING OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AT NORTHEASTERN
UNIVERSITY AND NATIONALLY. SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE UNABLE TO RECEIVE THEIR EDUCATION AWARD FOR GIVING THEIR TIME TO JUMP START FACULTY LOST THEIR JOBS AND A
SOURCE OF INCOME AND THE PRESCHOOLERS LOST THEIR WEEKLY JUMPSTART FRIENDS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY IN NORTHWESTERN'S DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS AND SUPPORTING THE
ORGANIZATIONS THEY EMPHASIZE ARE SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. >> UM, SO MY DAUGHTER WAS A BENEFICIARY OF JUMPSTART. SO UM IT DEFINITELY CREATED A
SOLID LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR US. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND ADVOCATING. UM AND I'M. SURE WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION WE WE. HAVE 12345 MORE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. IF YOU'RE STILL HERE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU NEED TO GO YOU NEED TO GO. YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO GO NOW.
SORRY I'M TAKING YOU OUT OF TURN. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? HELLO EVERYONE. UM THANK YOU, HONORABLE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UM, FOR HEARING US TODAY. I'M MICHAEL I AM A THIRD YEAR
PHD STUDENT IN THE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY. UM, I'M HERE TO SUBMIT A COUPLE OF VIEWS THAT ARE AN EMOTIONAL APPEAL. UH, REGARDING WHAT I THINK TODAY HAS BEEN NOT ONLY ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY BUT ABOUT UM, ASKING UH, TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY UNIVERSITIES AND ALSO ASKING UH. >> FOR UNIVERSITIES TO SHOW COURAGE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND. >> FOR THEIR FACULTY. UM, I WANT TO START WITH UM WHAT IS ENGRAVED ON THE BOSTON
PUBLIC LIBRARY? IT SAYS THE COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE SAFEGUARD OF LIBERTY AND ORDER. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS AT THIS ON. >> THIS PUBLIC. BUILDING AND I KNOW THAT ONE BY HEART.
UM, AMONG THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO HERE ARE TO STAND UP FOR UNJUST AND DEHUMANIZING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POLICY . RIGHT. OUR CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS. I AM A U.S. CITIZEN.
UM I AM A PHD STUDENT IN PSYCHOLOGY AT A PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN BOSTON, ROUMANIA. ISAAC WAS A PHD STUDENT IN PSYCHOLOGY AT UM A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN BOSTON.
SHE IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN. AND THE UH INEQUALITY THAT IS BEING FACED WITH REGARD TO HOW PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITHOUT ANXIETY UM, IS IS VAST UM THE.
FEAR IS. >> TANGIBLE AMONGST MY UH MANY OF MY HIGHLY RESPECTABLE COLLEAGUES AND MENTORS. NO STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE UNDER UM THIS NO FACULTY ALSO DESERVE TO BE UNDER THIS CONSTANT
ANXIETY THAT THEY CANNOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES. NUMBER TWO STANDING UP TO THOSE POWERS WHICH STRIP FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. THE PRIDE FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF ACCEPTANCE, TOLERANCE, WELCOMING OPENNESS, PROGRESS
AND LOVE. I AM A GAY MAN. I GREW UP AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A SCHOOL WHERE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE THAT THE SOME TEACHERS HAD A PRIDE FLAG ON THEIR DOOR. IT MADE ME FEEL WELCOME. BOSTON UNIVERSITY IT IS
REPORTED IN DAILY FREE PRESS, THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER THAT THE PRIDE FLAG HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OFFICES. WE ARE UNDER THIS CONSTANT THREAT RIGHT NOW. UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT TAKING US
SERIOUSLY ON MANY ISSUES. THIRD ISSUE STANDING UP TO MARKETING. FORCES WHICH PROMOTE. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS IN EDUCATION. UM I WAS BORN IN 1998 THE SAME YEAR AS GOOGLE. UM I WAS TEN WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA
REALLY STARTED TO TAKE OFF. SCHOOLS BEGAN PHASING IN ONE DEVICE PER CHILD PROGRAMS AND I WATCHED AS STUDENTS AROUND ME CIRCUMVENTED THE DEVICE DESK. UH. >> RESTRICTIONS TO PLAY UM, GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN
CLASS. UM AND UH I FIND NOWADAYS I FIND IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO READ BOOKS. I THINK A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES DO A LOT OF MY STUDENTS DO. I WANT THERE TO BE CHANGE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR UM, THINGS
RELATED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THESE THINGS TO ALSO INCORPORATE STUDENT OPINIONS. THANK YOU. ,THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW WE PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS USUALLY TWO
MINUTES AND I'M AND I I'M SORRY THAT SOMETIMES YOU HEAR THE BUZZER AND WE HAVE TO LIKE MOVE IT'S NOT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL IT'S JUST WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THINGS MOVING SO THANK YOU I THOUGHT. >> YOU HAD TO LEAVE. THAT'S WHY I LET YOU GO.
OH. >> YOU SIT BACK. DOWN OKAY. SKIP THE LINE. RIGHT. SO. >> UM I THINK I'M GOING TO MOVE ON. TO OUR SECOND PANEL AND THEN WE CAN WAIT A. FEW MORE.
FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY LESS ANYBODY KNOW? OKAY. UM, SO I'M GOING TO CALL OUR UM, SECOND PANEL SO YOU KNOW
WHO YOU ARE, RIGHT? THE THE SECOND PANEL COME ON DOWN. UM, AND WHILE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN, I WANT TO JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE AND I'M SURE AND I HOPE, UM, THAT. WE HAVE UM. JOSIE HENDRY. DYLAN I.
SO COME ON DOWN. WHILE YOU'RE. >> MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN, I WANT. TO IF. NO ONE HAS. ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED. I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL.
REALLY DOESN'T. HAVE JURISDICTION OVER UM NORTH YOU KNOW, NORTHEASTERN AND BE YOU. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. >> OF. TAXES THROUGH PILOT. THEY OCCUPY A LOT OF SPACE IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO WHILE. >> I. APPRECIATE THE. >> FACT THAT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT WE CAN DO ON THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL, WHAT I WASN'T GOING TO DO IS ACT LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO AT THE VERY LEAST GIVE YOU ALL THE
PLATFORM AND A MICROPHONE TO AMPLIFY YOUR ISSUES. SO I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE. RECORD THAT AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS, I WANT TO MANAGE EVERYBODY'S EXPECTATION ESPECIALLY SINCE
YOU SPENT YOUR AFTERNOON HERE AND LOOKING AT US LIKE YOU THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING WHEN IN REALITY ALL WE CAN REALLY DO IS GIVE YOU A PLATFORM AND THEN ALSO UTILIZE THIS PLATFORM AN
OPPORTUNITY YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT WE HEAR MY COLLEAGUES ENCOURAGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO MAYBE FOLLOW RESOLUTION THAT WE WANT TO AFFIRM STUDENT VOICE
AND FACULTY VOICE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES THAT IMPACT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT A RESOLUTION WILL PROBABLY MIGHT BE SYMBOLIC BUT AT THE
VERY LEAST IT'S AFFIRMING. THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE UM, STEPPED INTO THE PLACE . AND I KNOW COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY, UM, TO WRITE A RESOLUTION UM, IN
SUPPORT OF WHAT WE HEARD HERE TODAY, UM, CALLING ON THESE HIGHER ED TO ACTUALLY LISTEN. TO THE PEOPLE. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A FAIR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT I DON'T KNOW WAS I TOLD
YOU ALL THAT I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO BUT DON'T GET ME IN TROUBLE BECAUSE. >> THERE'S. SO MUCH THAT THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT WE COULD. DO OTHER THAN JUST GIVE YOU ALL A PLATFORM TO BE HEARD AND THEN YELL AT THEM BASED ON WHAT WE
HEARD. I JUST WANT TO SO I DID JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE. THINKING THAT WE COULD DO A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN. SO WITH THAT. I'M GOING TO. UM TURN IT OVER TO OUR SECOND PANEL. AND YOU GUYS CAN GO WE CAN
START WITH HENRY AND THEN MAKE OUR WAY THIS WAY. I HAVE ONE. UH, WE GOT TO GET HEARD. THERE WE GO NOW. HI EVERYONE. I'M HENRY MORGAN. I'M THE. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. >> OF PHENOME. UM, I'VE BEEN.
DOING STUDENT ORGANIZING ON THE CAMPUS LEVEL AND ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW. UM, FIVE YEARS ACTUALLY, WHICH IS CRAZY TO SAY. UM, I WAS INVOLVED IN WINNING FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IN
WORKING WITH THE UMASS AND THE STATE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION TO WIN FREE COLLEGE FOR UM EVERY STUDENT WITH A FAMILY INCOME BELOW $100,000 A YEAR. UM, I FOUGHT FOR FREE COLLEGE
FOR PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. UM, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST
HERE TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC AS A MONOLITH, AS A ISOLATED PART OF THE WORLD. WE'RE PART OF AN ECOSYSTEM. THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AFFECT EVERY OTHER CAMPUS.
AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS HERE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD SUCH A POWERFUL MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY ON THEIR CAMPUS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE AN EXAMPLE TO
STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND HOW WE CAN EMPOWER OURSELVES TO PUSH THE ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE FOR DEMOCRACY AND WHY I MENTIONED THAT WE FOUGHT TO WIN
FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND FREE COLLEGE AT THE STATE AND UMASS LEVEL IS BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, WHEN I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE DEMOCRATIC EROSION AND I SEE A BREAKDOWN OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH
AND I SEE THE REPRESSION OF STUDENT ADVOCACY AND THE CLIMATE OF FEAR ON CAMPUS, I ASK MYSELF WHAT THE HECK WAS I FIGHTING FOR BECAUSE I WAS FIGHTING FOR FREE PUBLIC HIGHER
EDUCATION BECAUSE I KNEW THAT IT WAS THE FOUNDATION OF A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. I KNEW THAT AN EDUCATED ELECTORATE WAS AN ELECTORATE THAT COULDN'T BE CONTROLLED AND THAT WAS WHY WE GOT TOGETHER AND BUILT A MOVEMENT FOR FREE
COLLEGE. TODAY I SEE DEMOCRATIC EROSION. TODAY I SEE REPRESSION, I DON'T SEE DEMOCRACY ON CAMPUS. I SEE A CLIMATE OF FEAR AND AUTHORITARIANISM. I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO AFRAID
TO PAY THE COST OF A DISSENT, TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, TO ENGAGE WITH NEW IDEAS, TO CHALLENGE ORTHODOXY AND TO PUSH FOR PROGRESS WHICH IS WHAT ACADEMIA
WHICH IS WHAT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE ECOSYSTEM. IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT IN OUR SOCIETY. AND WITHOUT THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS DYING. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO
INSPIRED BY THE WORK THAT EFP IS DOING BY THE WORK THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS ARE DOING. TO CHANGE YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND HOPEFULLY TO CHANGE HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GONNA GO WORK FOR YOU, HENRY. GREAT. >> THANK YOU. JOSEPH. OKAY, CHELSEA. GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. UM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> CITY COUNCIL AND. >> COUNCIL MAYOR. UM. >> I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. TO BE. HERE TO REPRESENT MY. COMMUNITY AND.
I KNOW IT SAYS ASSISTANT UM, VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT, UM, FOR DEI BUT I'M HERE REALLY TO REPRESENT THE DOMINICAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION OR. THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE. UM. >> ON SENATE AND. >> AS WELL AS A BOSTON COMMUNITY MEMBER. UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
OF. TRANSPARENCY AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN ITSELF IS NOT A PRIVILEGE. UM, THERE ARE ACTUALLY THE BARE MINIMUM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES YET THEY ARE OFTEN VERY AVOIDED BY OUR INSTITUTIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IS SEEN TO HAVE TO BE FORCED TO NAVIGATE AND ADAPT TO. AND AS SOMEONE FROM BOSTON AND AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER AT NORTHEASTERN THROUGH MY VARIOUS COMMUNITY STANDINGS AND
PETITIONS, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF DECISIONS BEING MADE WITHOUT MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. AS A BOSTON PUBLIC. >> SCHOOLS ALUM, I REMEMBER COMMUNITY FORUMS BEING HELD ONLY AFTER DECISIONS WERE ALREADY MADE. WE'VE SEEN THIS PATTERN WITH ISSUES LIKE.
WHITE STADIUM, THE NEO CAST CENTER AND MANY OTHER DECISIONS ARE DEEPLY ARBITRARY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES YET ARE OFTEN PRESENTED TO US AFTER THE FACT RATHER THAN SHAPED WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING. AND NORTHEASTERN IS VERY.
WHAT'S THE WORD? UH. >> YEAH NORTHEASTERN DOES THAT A LOT. UM I NORTHEASTERN IN MY EXPERIENCE THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF MEANINGFUL TRANSPARENCY AND PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY REINFORCING THE SAME PATTERN
EXCEPT THE NORTHEASTERN CASE. OFTENTIMES DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE SEE THIS AN INSISTENCE OF THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE I AS MANY OF MY PEERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THE TRANSITIONING TO THE NAME OF THE OFFICE OF BELONGING
BELONGING YET DISPLACING VARIOUS POSITIONS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT HELP AID OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT NO NOTICE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBER UNLESS ACTS DURING A TIME WHERE BECAUSE IT'S OUR CONSTITUTION IS BEING CHALLENGED AND OUR
DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK AND INSTITUTION AS INFLUENTIAL AS NORTHEASTERN HAS THE SOCIAL. RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY . WHEN COLLEGES LIKE THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE IN NORTHEASTERN ARE SEEN TO REMOVE THE I POSITIONS
WHERE CLASSROOMS ARE ONLY VERY WHITE IN ROXBURY THAT IS AN ISSUE AS A COMMUNITY WE START TO WONDER IF WE'RE EVEN WANTED IN THOSE SPACES. THAT HAS A HUGE EMOTIONAL. PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MY PREVIOUS PEER
UM MENTIONED IN ONE OF HER TESTIMONIES LIKE IT'S AN IMPACT THAT US AS FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS AS STUDENTS WHO ARE OFTEN MARGINALIZED WE HAVE TO ARE FORCED TO NAVIGATE RATHER THAN TRULY LIKE ENGAGE WITH THE
SYSTEM UM, THE WAY ANY OF OUR OTHER WHITE PEERS MIGHT BE UM AS A DOMINICAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE IN SENATE, MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THIS FEELING OF DISPOSABILITY ON VARIOUS COMMUNITY AFFORD IT. FORUMS FEELING AS THOUGH OUR
BODIES ARE SIMPLY JUST TOKENS UM TO HIGHLIGHT DIVERSITY BUT DISREGARDED AS SUCH. AGAIN MENTIONING DID THE DEI ROLLBACKS WE SEE THAT UM AN ENTIRE OFFICE BEING DISSOLVED AND WE SEE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES BEING DISCONTINUED
BUT WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT IT IF WE ASK IF IT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE SHOULD BE GETTING UPDATES REGULARLY. WE KNOW THAT. THE TUITION IS EXPENSIVE. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE PAYING
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF TUITION, YET WE HAVE NO TRANSPARENCY OF WHERE THOSE TUITION DOLLARS ARE GOING . WE KNOW THAT WE CAN AFFORD A SHREK MOVIE IN THE COMMENTS BUT. WE CAN'T. >> AFFORD A PROPER HOUSING. WE CAN'T AFFORD OTHER UM, INSTANCES THAT CAN TRULY HELP
OUR MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS OR WE'RE BEING FORCED INTO TRIPLES WHEN REALLY IT'S IT'S NOT A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE IN FACING. UM I CALL FOR ACTION SIMILAR TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID ABOUT UM FREE EDUCATION IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN RATHER THAN FALLING TO THE FEET OF UM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY ACTUALLY
MADE COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EXPANDED FINANCIAL AID UM, TO STUDENTS UM WHOSE FAMILIES MADE AN INCOME UNDER THAN $125,000. >> THAT SHOWS US THAT. THAT IS POSSIBLE. >> THAT SHOWS. >> US THAT AS SOMETHING THAT. AN INSTITUTION CAN TRULY. UNDO IF THEY TRULY CARED.
WHEN STUDENTS BRING IN COMMUNITY FORMS I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT IT'S A LABOR OF THE STUDENTS UH, ME BEING A PART OF THE DOMINICAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, WE JUST HAD A DOMINICAN CELEBRATION FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY BUT IF WE DID NOT DO THAT NOTHING PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT. AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY FORMS THAT WE'VE LED, WE'VE. HAD TO. ORGANIZE UM WHAT ROOM WHAT SPACE WE HAVE TO DO WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE OR SHOULD WE HAVE FOOD? WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE ALL THESE
UM. OTHER ISSUES IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT ORGS CAN WE BRING TO THE TABLE BUT EVEN THEN THAT'S LABOR THE STUDENTS WE EVEN THOUGH YES STUDENTS WE SHOULD BE TAKING INITIATIVE I'M NOT.
GETTING PAID $2.7 MILLION TO DO THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY I DO THAT FOR MY COMMUNITY AND WHEN WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT'S GETTING PAID THAT MUCH AND WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT LIVES IN THE COMMONS IN THE MANSION AND IT IS BASICALLY COMPLETELY
DISCONNECTED. I'M TO BE HONEST I'VE NEVER HEARD HIS VOICE. BUT THE. >> FACT AGAIN WHAT THE ONE OF THE PREVIOUS TESTIMONIES MENTIONED LIKE THERE IS NO ONE HERE FROM ADMIN TRULY STAYING TO LISTEN TO US AND OUR TESTIMONIES AND THAT'S A
PROBLEM. UM WE SHOULDN'T CONTINUE HAVING THOSE THAT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. UM I THINK ALSO UH RATHER THAN TRUE RESPONSES THEY HIDE BEHIND A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION PAGE THAT WAS LAST UPDATED JANUARY 2ND OF 2026.
THAT IS A PROBLEM. THE LAST MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT TO THE STUDENT BODY FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS JUNE 13TH, 2025 UNDER WE AFFIRMING OUR MISSION TOGETHER, UM COUNCIL. >> ON. COMPETITIVENESS RELEASED A NEW REPORT SOMETHING THAT LITERALLY
ONLY LACKED SUBSTANCE AND TRULY JUST SYMBOLIC WORDS. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO REFORM WHEN IT COMES TO TRUE ACTION WE DON'T SEE IT. IF WE DID WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS SPACE TODAY. WE WOULD TRULY. >> BE. SEEING ACTIONS OF TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY BEING TAKEN PLACE. BUT THAT HAS YET TO OCCUR. I NOTICED IN THE START OF THE PANEL THAT UM OR NOT THIS PANEL. BUT THE. START I. STARTED THE ACTUAL HEARING WHERE THE QUESTION WAS CONTINUOUSLY ASKED HAVE YOU
ASKED TO SPEAK TO YOUR LEADERS? IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO ASK STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THEM. THEY SHOULD BE ASKING TO SPEAK WITH US WHEN STUDENTS CREATE COMMUNITY FORUMS AND WE SEE BASICALLY FLIERS BEING BROUGHT OUT AND SAYING WE'RE COMMITTING
AS A COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD BE THERE. IT SHOULD NOT BE MY JOB AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO BE LIKE HEY AND YOU SHOULD STOP BY AND HOPE THAT YOU'RE HERE. KNOW THAT IS PART OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION. THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
YOU SHOULD BE MAKING THE EFFORT TO MAKE YOUR FACE KNOWN IN THESE SPACES WHERE OUR MOST UM VULNERABLE STUDENTS LIVING. IF YOU TRULY CARE AND TRULY CARE ABOUT REAFFIRMING OUR INITIATIVE AND MISSION TOGETHER THEN YOU WOULD SHOW UP.
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY. UM WE'RE SEEING SYMBOLIC GESTURES. WE'RE SEEING UM, PERFORMATIVE ACTS. WE SEE POLICIES THAT ARE BROUGHT FORTH AND SAID THAT THEY STILL EXIST BUT TRULY. >> JUST GET DISSOLVED JUST.
BASED OFF OF HOW THEY ACT. I WANT TO MENTION THAT AS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE UM AGAIN ON SUNDAY BUT ONLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT DOMINICANS, THE DOMINICAN STREET ASSOCIATION, I HAD BROUGHT A UM LEGISLATION THAT
CALLED THE INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITMENTS OF MARGINALIZED STUDENTS AND THIS LEGISLATION ACTUALLY ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID TODAY EXCEPT IT WAS A YEAR PRIOR. UM THE LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTED THE GRIEVANCES OF MOST OF OUR
MOST UM MARGINALIZED STUDENTS. I'VE HEARD THE QUESTION OH, I ALREADY SAID THAT. SORRY. >> UM SO YEAH, IT HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES OF ACTIVISM, ACTIVISM, LOW BLACK STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN NORTHEASTERN AND UM, INABILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CURRENT
GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. EVEN THEN WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS ENCAMPMENTS WHERE LITERALLY IT WAS BRUSHED OFF AS A WELL WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER WE JUST ARRESTED OVER 100 STUDENTS. THERE WAS NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO
THE FACT OF THE ISSUE OF THAT. UM, AND I THINK EVEN HAVING UM . WAR PROPAGANDA ON CAMPUS WITH WITHOUT EVEN AN INCH OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE GRIEVING OF ANY PALESTINIAN
STUDENT ON CAMPUS IS A PROBLEM ALLOWING THAT IS A PROBLEM ALLOWING. JUST IN GENERAL. AGAIN THE ISSUE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO EXIST. IT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. AND WITH THAT LEGISLATION, UM,
I DON'T THINK ANYONE REACHED OUT TO ME AS A STUDENT OR UM AUTHOR. UM AND I THINK AGAIN THAT'S ALSO A PROBLEM. >> IF. A STUDENT. GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE IS WRITING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND IT IS BROUGHT FORTH INTO THE COMMUNITY, IT IS THE JOB OF SOMEONE GETTING PAID
MILLIONS. >> OF. DOLLARS TO NOW INTERACT WITH THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I'VE ECHOED THIS IN THE STREET. SILENCE IS COMPLACENCY AND WHEN IT IS SILENCE WHAT DOES THAT TELL THE COMMUNITY? IT TELLS US THAT WE ARE
DISREGARDED A TOKEN UM AND FORGOTTEN REGARDED AS REAFFIRMATION OF A MISSION WHEN AND UM SORRY. IT'S REGARDED AS A REAFFIRMATION OF A MISSION WHEN OUR BLACK POPULATION DWINDLES AND I WONDER IF THAT'S THE GOAL.
IF NOT, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU CALLING NORTHEASTERN TO LEAD AS AN INNOVATIVE INSTITUTION AND NOT FOLLOW LIKE A SHEEP. DURING MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY OUR MOST MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE STUDENTS ARE AT RISK. YET THE WORLD IS LITERALLY BURNING AROUND US AND OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE SADLY
COLLECTING TUITION DOLLARS WITH NO TRUE REFORM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY FORUMS AGAIN AND AS I FINISH WE ONLY HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRESENT AND NEVER OUR PRESIDENT WHEN HIS SALARY TELLS HIS CORE DESCRIPTION.
SO AT THE END WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A PRESIDENT IS NOT DOING HIS JOB? DO WE GIVE HIM A SLIDE AS WE ARE OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT OR DO WE HOLD HIM AND THE ENTIRE NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACCOUNTABLE? WE SHOULD NOT BE ADAPTING TO ADMINISTRATIONS.
WE WE SHOULD WE SHOULD BE CHALLENGING AND CHALLENGING THEM TO TRULY DO THEIR JOBS. AND THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DYLAN. I'M A FOURTH YEAR DATA SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS MAJOR AT
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OR SGA IS THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY THAT
REPRESENTS OVER UH 25,000 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ON THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S BOSTON CAMPUS. WE TAKE ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES, WRITE LEGISLATION AND ADVOCATE TO MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY
ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE STUDENT LIFE, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS AND THE OVERALL NORTHEASTERN BOSTON CAMPUS UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE. TODAY I'M HERE TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF SGA AND WHY WE
SUPPORT FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY AND STUDENT REPRESENTATION IN UM DECISION MAKING AT NORTHEASTERN SG'S WORK UH FOR THE STUDENT BODY DOESN'T HAPPEN ALONE DESPITE
BEING LABELED A GOVERNMENT ASIDE FROM OUR STUDENT ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY SGA DOES VERY LITTLE GOVERNING. INSTEAD, WE ACT MORE AS AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING
TO IDENTIFY STUDENT ISSUES, GATHER SENTIMENT AND PUSH FOR POSITIVE CHANGE TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN STUDENT NEEDS, SGA COLLABORATES WITH THE NORTHEASTERN ADMINISTRATION WHO HAVE THE REAL POWER TO ENACT
CHANGE, BUT OUR MODEL WITH THEM IS A REACTIVE ONE, NOT A STRUCTURAL ONE. WHILE OVER TIME WE'VE BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY ADMINISTRATORS WHO TRULY WANT TO WORK WITH US ON IMPROVING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.
ULTIMATELY, STUDENTS HOLD NO GUARANTEED SEAT AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE AND THUS EACH TIME WE MUST APPROACH THEM HAT IN HAND. THERE IS NO FORMAL MECHANISM FOR STUDENTS TO HELP SHAPE THE UNIVERSITY DECISIONS BEFORE
THEY'RE MADE, RESULTING IN THE FACT THAT THE THE CONSIDERATION OF STUDENT PERSPECTIVES RELY ON ADMINISTRATOR GOODWILL INSTEAD OF BEING EMBEDDED IN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF OUR UNIVERSITY.
WHEN STUDENTS INPUT IS INCLUDED IN INSTITUTIONAL DECISION MAKING WE SEE POSITIVE CHANGE IN STUDENT LIFE. MANY FEATURES OF NORTHWESTERN'S UNIQUE TAKE ON THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WERE BORN FROM STUDENT LED INITIATIVES
CREATED IN 2008, IN COLLABORATION WITH SGA AND THE NORTHEASTERN FACULTY SENATE. THAT TEACHER RATING AND COURSE EVALUATION OR TRACE SURVEY IS NORTHWESTERN'S IN-HOUSE MECHANISM BY WHICH STUDENTS
EVALUATE THE COURSES THEY TAKE. THIS NOT ONLY HELPS FACULTY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR CLASSES, BUT ALSO STUDENTS BETTER SELECT THEIR CLASSES IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR STYLE OF LEARNING. CREATED IN 2022 IN
COLLABORATION WITH SGA AND A STUDENT GROUP CALLED ACTIVE MINDS, THE WELLNESS DAY PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH AN EXCUSED ABSENCE WHEN NEEDED WHEN NEEDED TWO TIMES A SEMESTER, NO QUESTIONS ASKED TO
SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND GENERAL WELL-BEING. THESE PROJECTS ARE NOW SIMPLY CONSIDERED A NORMAL PART OF NORTHEASTERN LIFE AND BUT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT. BUT THEY ALL HAD A COMMON THEME STUDENTS WERE INVOLVED EARLY IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. STUDENT REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY HAS PROVEN TO BENEFIT THE
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND WHEN WE AREN'T CONSULTED LARGER PROBLEMS ARISE. WHEN THE UNIVERSITY INSTALLED AN ART EXHIBIT THAT BLOCKED OUR MOST ICONIC GRADUATION PHOTO
SPOT FOR INSTANCE, SGA SPENT A YEAR PUSHING FOR A FIX THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A SINGLE CONVERSATION. STUDENT FRUSTRATION AND BEING LEFT OUT IS REFLECTED STRONGLY
IN THE LEGISLATION AND REFERENDUMS THAT SGA PASSED THIS YEAR. LEGISLATION PASSED THROUGH A STUDENT SENATE WITH 24 YEARS, EIGHT NAYS AND THREE ABSTAINED WITH ONE OF THE KEY POINTS
BEING STUDENT REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY UM UH SPECIFICALLY ABOUT STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WITH THE
AUTHOR SERVING OVER 1000 NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ,95.8% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN DECISIONS REGARDING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IN UNIVERSITY POLICY.
MANY REFERENDUMS FOCUSED ON THIS TOPIC ALSO PASSED THROUGH THE STUDENT SENATE UH TO CONTINUE UM ON TO FULL STUDENT BODY VOTING. THESE QUESTIONS ASKED THE
NORTHEASTERN STUDENT BODY IF THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF UH OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RELEASING THEIR MEETING MINUTES UM PASSED
OVERWHELMINGLY 93.5% OF 6374 STUDENTS WHO VOTED THE QUESTION ASKING THE NORTHEASTERN STUDENT BODY IF THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF THE OF STUDENTS ON THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ALSO
PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY WITH 93.3% OF 6030 STUDENTS WHO VOTED. WHILE THESE RESULTS ARE DEFINITIVE, LEGISLATION AND REFERENDA PASSED BY SGA AND THE STUDENT BODY ARE NON-BINDING,
IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE FORCED TO IMPLEMENT STUDENT RECOMMENDED CHANGING CHANGES BUT THEIR NON-BINDING, NON-BINDING NATURE LEADS TO POOR FOLLOW UP. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
SGA HAS IMPLEMENTED A NEW MODEL TO ASSIGN EACH REFERENDUM TO A REFERENDUM ADVOCATE WHO FOCUS WHO WORKS ON RELEVANT PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT THE OPINIONS OF THE STUDENT SENATE AND THE STUDENT BODY ARE
CONSIDERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. WHILE THIS IS A FIX THAT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR US, THE BURDEN SHOULD NOT FALL ENTIRELY ON STUDENTS TO FOLLOW UP. PEOPLE MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
WHEN THEY ARE MORE, WHEN THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND AND UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT AN EXCEPTION. WHAT STUDENT REPRESENTATION REPRESENTS IS THE WHAT STUDENT
REPRESENTATION REPRESENTS IS A PROCESS WHERE UNIVERSITY DECISIONS ARE INFORMED BY THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST CURRENT LIVED EXPERIENCE OF CAMPUS. WHEN STUDENT VOICES AREN'T
HEARD, THE INSTITUTION IS LESS INFORMED AND COULD BE VULNERABLE TO DECISION MAKING THAT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE STUDENT BODY EVEN IF ENTIRELY WELL-INTENTIONED. SGA APPRECIATES THE
ADMINISTRATION'S COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT WHEN IT EXISTS, BUT WE WANT TO BUILD ON IT. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD MORE PERMANENT STRUCTURES UH, FOR STUDENT INPUT WHETHER THAT LOOKS LIKE STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON GOVERNANCE
BODIES LIKE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OR THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, MORE REGULAR STRUCTURED MEETINGS WITH THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OR A FORMAL PROCESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO RESPOND TO STUDENT LEGISLATION.
STUDENTS HAVE CLEARLY EXPRESSED WHAT THEY WANT. WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VOICES ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. NO LONGER WILL WE HAVE TO COME HAT AND HAND TO THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT RATHER AS A PARTNER AND A TRUE
COLLABORATOR. OUR POWER IN SGA LIES IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY. IF WE CANNOT HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE NOT EFFECTIVELY DOING OUR JOB. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
THIS INVITATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHEASTERN STUDENT ASSOCIATION ON THESE IMPORTANT TOPICS. LET ME TELL YOU HOW THERE WAS NO NOISE BACK NO WHATEVER Y'ALL
CALL IT. SNAPS THE COP UP. IT'S ALL THEM. YEAH, I'M NOT LISTENING. I THINK THOSE CALL PEPPER IS GONE AND YOU THINK THAT YOU KNOW. STOP IT. I DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE ALL IS BEING RECORDED. NO. >> UH.
>> NO PROPAGANDA, NO LITTLE. SIGNS, NO NOISE. NO. Y'ALL CAN Y'ALL CAN HAVE A LITTLE FUN HERE, SO. UNDERSTOOD. >> UH, THANK YOU, CHAIRPERSON MEDIA FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS ZEKE OXMAN.
I'M A MASTER'S IN SECURITY AND RESILIENCE CANDIDATE AT NORTHEASTERN, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM PROJECT EFP . WE ARE A STUDENT ASSOCIATION FOUNDED AT NORTHEASTERN
DEDICATED TO DEFENDING AND FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF HIGHER EDUCATION A PROMISE ROOTED IN LEARNING AND TEACHING AND EXPRESSION AND OPPORTUNITY. THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND
ADVOCACY WE HAVE REACHED A CENTRAL CONCLUSION NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OPERATES WITHOUT STRUCTURAL GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES, MAKE
DECISIONS OR HOLD OUR UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTABLE. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE CONDUCTED OVER THE LAST YEAR WE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S POLICIES AND COMMUNITY SENTIMENT. THIS FALL WE RAN A CAMPUS
CLIMATE SURVEY AND GATHERED OVER 1000 RESPONSES. WE ALSO HOSTED A 30 STUDENT LEADERS CLUB TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS THE CAMPUS CLIMATE, STUDENTS RIGHTS AND UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE BASED ON STUDENT
SENTIMENT. WE AUTHORED AND PASSED LEGISLATION THE NORTHEASTERN STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION SGA BACK IN NOVEMBER IS ONE THAT HAPPENED THIS SPRING AFTER
RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM NORTHWESTERN'S INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD, WE SURVEYED OVER 1000 NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGAIN FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATION'S PASSAGE ALONGSIDE SGA EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, WE
BEGAN MEETING REGULARLY WITH MEMBERS OF ADMINISTRATION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEGISLATION'S REFORMS. DESPITE THIS, THE UNIVERSITY HAS NOT MEANINGFULLY IMPLEMENTED ANY OF WHAT THE
LEGISLATION CALLS FOR. THIS IS A HISTORICAL PATTERN. IN WHICH THE UNIVERSITY'S ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO BRING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE TABLE ,LEADING TO A FAILURE TO MEET
THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF ITS COMMUNITY. WHAT THE NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND DECISION MAKING POWER IS NOT RADICAL. IT'S ALSO NOT NEW.
SINCE 2012, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT. IN 2019, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND DOZENS OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS CALLED FOR STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FOR WIDESPREAD IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT REFERENDUM QUESTIONS LIKE WITH OUR LEGISLATION, THESE CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND DECISION MAKING POWER WERE ALMOST ALWAYS IGNORED.
THIS IS. >> WHAT WE MEAN BY A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IS NOT MEANINGFULLY ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR ITSELF BECAUSE IT LACKS A TRUE MECHANISM TO OBTAIN INFORMATION
OR IMPLEMENT REFORM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT REFORM IS FOCUSED ON TRANSPARENCY AND REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED INTO EVIDENCE. I HAVE NEARLY 500 PAGES OF EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING HOW
THIS STRUCTURAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND DECISION MAKING HAS DIRECTLY LED TO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FROM THE BUDGET TO DENY THE UNIVERSITY'S
MURDERS AND FREE SPEECH POLICIES. LET'S TURN TO FREE SPEECH AS AN EXAMPLE. AFTER A YEAR OF PROTESTS ENDING. IN APRIL. >> 2024, THE. UNIVERSITY CHANGED THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, PLACING GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON FREE
SPEECH AND DEMONSTRATIONS. AND MAKING. >> PUNISHMENTS MORE SEVERE IF THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE VIOLATED. SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS WERE ALSO PLACED ON FACULTY. THE UNIVERSITY DID NOT COMMUNICATE THESE DECISIONS. STUDENTS AND FACULTY HAD NO SAY
IN THEM AND ONCE THEY WERE MADE, STUDENTS AND FACULTY CONDEMNED THEM AND CALLED FOR THINGS TO CHANGE AND ALMOST NOTHING HAS. MORE BROADLY, OUR RESEARCH
TELLS A CLEAR STORY 95% OF OUR STUDENTS OF OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS SAY NORTHEASTERN SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AND NORTHEASTERN SHOULD INVOLVE THE STUDENTS IN DECISIONS ABOUT THE
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES. YET IT DOES NOT. NORTHWESTERN'S POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND APPROVES EVERY UNIVERSITY WIDE POLICY. IT HAS 20 MEMBERS OF ADMINISTRATION AND ZERO
STUDENT REPRESENTATION. THE STUDENT. GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH COULD SERVE AS THE STUDENTS MECHANISM FOR. APPROPRIATE PARTICIPATION IN INTERNAL GOVERNANCE AS REQUIRED
BY ITS ACCREDITOR. IT COULD DO THAT. HOWEVER ITS CONSTITUTION STATES THAT THE SG'S POWER IS ONLY ADVISORY. SURVEY RESULTS SHOW THAT 4,041% OF STUDENTS DO NOT BELIEVE STUDENTS ARE MEANINGFULLY
REPRESENTED IN UNIVERSITY DECISION MAKING, ANOTHER 41% ARE UNSURE. THIS WIDESPREAD UNCERTAINTY INDICATES SIGNIFICANT OPACITY. NEARLY HALF THE STUDENTS CANNOT DETERMINE IF NORTHWESTERN'S
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE SERVES THEIR BEST INTERESTS. THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY LACKS TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE UNIVERSITY'S HIGHEST GOVERNING BODY. THE BOARD APPOINTS THE PRESIDENT AND CONTROLS THE
UNIVERSITY'S BUDGET POLICIES AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, IT PUBLISHES ONLY THE NAMES OF TRUSTEES, THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THEIR GENERAL LOCATIONS BUT DOES NOT
PUBLISH MEETING MINUTES, AGENDAS, TIMES, BYLAWS, TRUSTEE CONTACT INFORMATION OR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS. THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY SHUTS STUDENTS OUT OF DECISION MAKING AND REMOVES ACCOUNTABILITY AT
THE UNIVERSITY'S HIGHEST LEVEL. IN A SURVEY OF 1000 STUDENTS, 42% DISAGREE THAT THE UNIVERSITY CLEARLY COMMUNICATES DECISIONS AFFECTING THE STUDENT BODY. ONLY 11% AGREE THAT SENIOR
LEADERSHIP EXPLAINS THE RATIONALE BEHIND MAJOR POLICY AND BUDGET DECISIONS. PEER INSTITUTIONS SHOW THAT THIS CAN BE DONE DIFFERENTLY TO PROMOTE GREATER TRANSPARENCY
AND ENGAGEMENT, NORTHEASTERN SHOULD ADOPT PRACTICES SIMILAR TO THOSE OF CORNELL, WHICH HAS MULTIPLE STUDENT MEMBERS ON ITS CODE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE AND A SIX WEEK PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. LIKEWISE, NORTHEASTERN COULD
PUBLISH BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES AND INCLUDE STUDENT TRUSTEES AS BOTH CORNELL AND DUKE DO WE STUDENTS AT NORTHEASTERN URGE THE UNIVERSITY TO APPOINT AT LEAST
TWO STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AS VOTING MEMBERS OF THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE? ADDITIONALLY, WE STRONGLY REQUEST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLEAR AND EXPEDITED PATHWAY FOR AT LEAST TWO STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
SECOND, WE FORMALLY RECOMMEND THAT THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY PUBLISH THE BOARD TRUSTEES MEETING AGENDAS AND MINUTES IMMEDIATELY WE URGE THE UNIVERSITY TO MAKE BOARD BYLAWS, COMMITTEE STRUCTURES
AND CONTACT INFORMATION PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. WE ARE NOT HERE TO ASK THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO GOVERN NORTHEASTERN. WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU TO HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE.
NORTHEASTERN MISSION, AS STATED ON ITS WEBSITE, IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS FOR A LIFE OF FULFILLMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. 57% OF RESPONDENTS DISAGREE THAT NORTHEASTERN PRIORITIZES
EDUCATION OVER ITS REPUTATION. BOSTON IS A CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITIES. WHEN NORTHEASTERN ENROLLS 43,000 STUDENTS ON ITS BOSTON CAMPUS AND MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION AND RIGHTS.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITHOUT A SEAT AT THE TABLE, THAT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> WE ALREADY KNOW THAT.
UM, SO UH SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO I HAVE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE STILL HERE. SO Y'ALL GOING TO BE. HERE FOR A WHILE TO. >> UM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR PROVIDING CONTEXT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE I ALWAYS SAY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE OCCUPYING AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, BLOCKS AND LOTS OF SPACE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE GIVE THEM A PASS EVERY SINGLE DAY. UM AND. WE IN MANY WAYS ENDORSE BAD BEHAVIOR.
UM, SO WE CAN'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE ON THE PILOT PAYMENT OF TAXES BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO LITERALLY TAKE MONEY FROM THE STUDENTS AND THAT GIVE STUDENTS, UH.
SEE A REAL SEAT AT THE TABLE. I HEARD TWO NUMBERS AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> I HEARD IT RIGHT. UM, FIRST I HEARD 25,000 STUDENTS. THERE'S 43,000 STUDENTS AT NORTHEASTERN. HOW 25,000 STUDENTS IS THE
UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION? UM, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER. >> THAT ZE WAS REFERRING TO IS UH. IS THE. UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. SO 43,000. STUDENTS ATTEND NORTHEASTERN.
BOSTON CAMPUS. OKAY. >> AND HOW. MUCH IS THE HOW MUCH IS THE. THE YEARLY. >> UH TUITION. IT'S ABOUT $70,000. SO $70,000 FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD WITH MATH I NEED TO FIGURE.
$70,000 TIMES 20. UH, 43,000 IS A. LOT OF MONEY, RIGHT? YEAH. >> WORK WITH ME. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. HOW MUCH MONEY? YOU TELL US HOW MUCH. UM, I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. WELL, SOMEBODY WITH A CALCULATOR.
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE BOTTOM I NEED TO KNOW THAT FIGURE WHO HAS A FIGURE Y'ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES RIGHT NOW. DYLAN'S A DATA SCIENCE MAJOR.
PUMP 3 BILLION FOR THE RECORD. $3 BILLION. OUT OF YOUR POCKETS. IS BEING POURED INTO.
AN INSTITUTION. THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU A VOICE OR A SEAT AT THE TABLE. MHM. >> 3 BILLION. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? BILLION. OKAY NORTHEASTERN WE'RE PAYING
ATTENTION AND THEN ANOTHER. FIGURE THAT I HEARD I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I READ IT RIGHT. THE PRESIDENT. WAS NAMED PRESIDENT. YOON I. OWN YEAH.
UH HOW MUCH DOES HE MAKE? UM I THINK IT WAS WHAT. 2.7 MILLION. >> IS 2.7? UH, YEAH. HE GETS A LOT. >> OF OTHER. STUFF FROM UNIVERSITY OF PENTHOUSE RIGHT OVER LIKE. HE GOT MONEY. UH, OKAY. WAIT.
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD. THE PRESIDENT MAKES OVER TWO. LET'S JUST SAY ROUNDED UP. TO 3 MILLION MAYBE WITH ALL THE PERKS. 3 MILLION? >> IT'S FAIR TO SAY. $3 MILLION. YES. $3 MILLION? >> YES.
WOW. AND THAT'S JUST NORTHEASTERN. LET'S NOT EVEN TALK. ABOUT BE YOU. I WAS THERE SPEAKING EARLIER TODAY. SORRY I WAS. CHEATING ON YOU ALL. HAD I KNOWN ALL OF THIS? NO. I WAS THERE TALKING ABOUT.
POVERTY POLICIES. WHICH IS THE. CRAZIEST THING TO BE AT NORTHEASTERN WHEN THEY'RE CHARGING YOU ALL $90,000 A YEAR. WOW.
THIS IS ALL VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UM, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, RIGHT?
I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE. >> ON THE. COUNCIL TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY LOOKS LIKE ON OUR END BECAUSE WE. APPROVE. >> UM. >> THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
PACKAGES ALLEGEDLY. >> THAT WE GET WE WE. FIGHT FOR THOSE THINGS THROUGH PILOT AGREEMENTS AND YET UM UP UNTIL TODAY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A. CRITICAL MASS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WALKING. INTO THIS CHAMBER DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY ALONG FACULTY AND STAFF. SO THIS IS LIKE POWER BUILDING. AND MOVEMENT BUILDING AT. ITS BEST. AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT BECAUSE IT'S. REALLY HARD TO. IGNORE AND SHOO AWAY. A CRITICAL MASS OF. PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE BRINGING IT DIRECTLY TO GOVERNMENT. SO I JUST WANT. TO ACKNOWLEDGE. YOU ALL. >> THAT THEY CAN'T CONTINUE.
TO UH, SEE A BLIND EYE. AND WE. >> DO. HAVE SUBPOENA POWER. I THINK UH YOU HAND YOU WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT. I TALKED TO ANOTHER FOUNDER OF THE JACK MASLIN.
UH, AND HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, SUBPOENA POWER. I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE DIDN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR NORTHWESTERN'S ENORMOUS ENDOWMENT, WHICH IS UNTAXED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT .
UM, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A BILL PROPOSED BY NATALIE HIGGINS THAT WOULD, UH, LEVY A 2.5% EXCISE TAX ON PRIVATE COLLEGE ENDOWMENTS ABOVE $1 BILLION AND
IT WOULD RAISE MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND FREE COLLEGE FOR EVERY PUBLIC COLLEGE STUDENT IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH HAS LONG BEEN A POLICY PLATFORM OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND THEN GIVE A HEFTY CHECK TO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE. UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S AN INSPIRING VISION OF WEALTH
REDISTRIBUTION. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PILES OF UNTAXED WEALTH. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRUST FUNDS THAT THE 1% IN OUR COUNTRY HAS ACCESS TO THAT THE EPSTEIN CLASS USES AS THEIR
PERSONAL PIGGY BANK, AND THEY ATTACH SCHOOLS TO THEM THAT EDUCATE A SELECT FEW GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEN THEY PUT THAT MONEY INTO PRIVATE EQUITY
WHICH INVESTS IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND RISES UP OUR RENTS AND BRINGS US FURTHER INTO ECONOMIC INSECURITY. AND THIS MONEY IS COMPLETELY UNTAXED EXCEPT FOR THE VERY,
VERY SMALL TAX THAT IS NEW AND DOESN'T GO INTO PUBLIC GOOD. UM SO I'M INSPIRED BY A VISION WHERE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ARE REDISTRIBUTED TO EVERYONE, WHERE FREE SPEECH IS SOMETHING
THAT EXISTS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC CAMPUSES. UM, AND WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY BOTH TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, TO THE CITY COUNCILS AND TO THEIR STUDENTS. YEAH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M GOING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE UH. PUT TOGETHER HERE FOR MY TEAM AND THEN I'M. >> GOING TO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A DIALOG OKAY. SO UM ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE.
UH. >> COMMUNICATION IN. >> FEBRUARY 2026, THE HUNTINGTON NEWS. EDITORIAL BOARD. RELEASED AN ARTICLE CALLING. >> OUT UM, THE. PRESIDENT FOR. >> IGNORING OFFICIAL. REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS IN THE PAST WITH THE LAST INTERVIEW.
OCCURRING IN 2022. WOW. >> YOU COULD JUST. SAY NOT TO. ANSWER QUESTIONS. UM. WHAT HAS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN . THE NORTHEASTERN. ADMINISTRATION AND THE
HUNTINGTON NEWS LOOK LIKE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THIS. COMMUNICATION EXISTS? >> UH, IF I MAY, UM, WE HAD THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE HUNTINGTON NEWS HERE ON THE PREVIOUS PANEL AND A LOT
OF WHAT SHE MENTIONED, UH, DEMONSTRATES A HISTORICAL PATTERN OF THE PRESIDENT NOT ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR NORTHEASTERN. UM. >> IN 2012. UH. >> THROUGH UH. >> THROUGH A CAMPAIGN THROUGH
ALUMNI. UH. >> WELL, AFTER AFTER A LONG, LONG PERIOD BETWEEN 2012. >> AND 2020. UH, WHERE THE PRESIDENT DID NOT COMMUNICATE. >> AT. ALL WITH THE HUNTINGTON NEWS, HE SAT DOWN FOR ZERO INTERVIEWS. ONLY THROUGH PRESSURE THROUGH
COVID AND ALUMNI DID, UM, SIT DOWN FOR UH, AN INTERVIEW MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF. 2020, 2021 AND. 2022 SINCE COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFTED. THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT ENGAGED
WITH. THE HUNTINGTON NEWS. IT'S CLEAR THAT LIKE ONLY UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE WILL THE PRESIDENT ENGAGE WITH THE HUNTINGTON. NEWS THEREFORE ENGAGING WITH ITS STUDENTS ONCE THAT PRESSURE
SUBSIDES. UH. . THE PRESIDENT GOES QUITE UM OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM AND THEN I'M ALSO I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE. >> BIT ABOUT. STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND DECISION MAKING PROCESSES IF YOU COULD. UM.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE. >> YOU ARE MEANINGFULLY. REPRESENTED IN THE. UNIVERSITY DECISION MAKING? OBVIOUSLY I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU DON'T. >> EVEN. HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT EVERYBODY SAID DON'T I'M NOT EVEN. GOING TO. >> BOTHER ASKING THE QUESTION. BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY ACTUALLY I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THAT
QUESTION. IT'S A WASTE OF SPACE. UM BUT I WILL ASK HOW. FAMILIAR ARE YOU WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE POLICY OVERSIGHT. COMMITTEE UNDERSTANDING ITS SCOPE? UM, AS A STANDING COMMITTEE AT
NORTHEASTERN. UNIVERSITY THAT. IS RESPONSIBLE. >> FOR OVERSEEING THE CREATION ,REVISION. AND APPROVAL PROCESS. >> OF UNIVERSITY POLICIES. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS THAT, UM, NORTHEASTERN. ALLOWS FOR AND ENCOURAGES.
YOU TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE? CAN YOU TALK. >> TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? UM, I'D SAY FROM THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, UH, THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION. >> TALKS TO US ABOUT.
UM. UH, WE ONLY HEAR ABOUT THEM THROUGH THE POLICIES THAT THEY PUBLISH. UM, AND UH, GENERALLY UM, FROM STUDENTS WE'RE REALLY HEARING
THAT. UM, FURTHER TRANSPARENCY IS REQUIRED AND THAT UM. YOU KNOW. >> WE ALL REALLY WANT TO, UH TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. UM, WHEN THESE POLICIES THAT AFFECT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY. ARE MADE.
>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO. CLOSE THIS BECAUSE I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. SO YOU. ALL HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS AND HAVE BEEN SEEKING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN WHAT? NOTHING. >> WELL. >> SO WE PASS LEGISLATION. >> OH, SORRY. WE DO. WE PASS LEGISLATION THROUGH. STUDENT GOVERNMENT. SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW. >> AND I SO HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO END BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF. INFORMATION HERE. >> SO IF WE IF WE WANT. TO EXPAND THE EXTENT IF WE WANT
TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THEIR CAMPUS LITERALLY. IMPACTS YOUR NEIGHBORS. LIKE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY LIVE. >> IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WOULD BE REALLY. HELPFUL TO ME AND. TO THOSE. THAT FOLLOW ME.
ON SOCIAL. >> MEDIA TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT THE LEGISLATION IS BECAUSE WHEN. >> I. SEE LEGISLATION I'M LIKE OH. YOU WROTE. >> TO THE STATE TO THE SCHOOL LIKE WHAT? BREAK IT DOWN FOR US.
SO THE LEGISLATION. THAT A NUMBER OF SENATORS. UH, AND OUTSIDE STUDENT GOVERNMENT. AUTHORS WROTE. UH AND. >> PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE WITH AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. THROUGH THE NORTHEASTERN SENATE.
NORTHEASTERN THE STUDENT SENATE. OKAY. >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE I'M TELLING. >> YOU ALL MY PEOPLE WERE LIKE, OH, THEY WANT TO KNOW NOT SENT YOU KNOW, NOT. THAT STATE SENATORS. NORTHEASTERN SENATORS. AND STUDENT SENATORS OKAY. UH IT.
>> WAS CALLED THE LIGHT TRUTH COURAGE LEGISLATION. UM IT PASSED. UH, STUDENT SENATE AT. NORTHEASTERN WITH 24 YESES. AND ONLY EIGHT NO'S.
UH. IT'S NAMED AFTER NORTHEASTERN WHOSE OWN MOTTO LIGHT, TRUTH, COURAGE. UH SUGGESTING. THAT IF. IMPLEMENTED AND. ENACTED IT NORTHEASTERN WOULD
BE FULFILLING ITS. MISSION NOT ITS UH NOT ITS BRAND, NOT ITS FINANCES. BUT ITS DEMOCRATIC AND. EDUCATIONAL MISSION. IT CALLS FOR REPRESENTATION.
ON THE. COMMITTEE THAT CREATES ALL UNIVERSITY WIDE POLICIES FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY. IT CALLS FOR REPRESENTATION AND. TRANSPARENCY ON. >> THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES STRUCTURAL CHANGES.
IT ALSO CALLS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO THE OFFICE OF BELONGING PROTECTIONS FOR. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE POLICY. ON ICE. >> WHAT NORTHEASTERN WOULD DO IF ICE COMES. >> TO CAMPUS? WOULD THEY ALLOW THEM INTO DORMS UH, WITHOUT A.
JUDICIAL WARRANT? UH, IT CALLS FOR EXPANSION OF FREE SPEECH. OKAY, SO WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND. YOU HAD 24 YESES AND EIGHT NO'S AND THEN WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION LIKE DID THEY JUST DECIDE THAT IT JUST WASN'T WORTH THEIR TIME THEIR ENERGY LIKE HELP ME UNDERSTAND KIND OF LIKE THE DYNAMICS. BETWEEN WHAT YOU ALL. >> ARE FIGHTING FOR AND THE TENSION.
OF THAT STRUGGLE. LIKE I. NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS THAT YOU ALL CAN PASS SOMETHING . OVERWHELMINGLY GET STUDENT SUPPORT AND THEN IT JUST. DIES THERE.
LIKE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. CAN I? >> YEAH. SO UM, KIND. >> OF ECHOING WITH THAT POINT LIKE BASICALLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK STUDENT. GOVERNMENT IS TYPICALLY LIKE WE HAVE TO REACH OUT AND START THE CONVERSATION. UM, EVEN IF LEGISLATION IS
ALREADY PASSED AND I THINK DYLAN CAN ALSO SPEAK MORE TO THIS. UM, I PASSED A LEGISLATION LAST YEAR WHICH WAS A SENSE OF A SENATE WHICH ESSENTIALLY SAYS LIKE THE SENSE OF THE SENATE IS THAT BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. SO WE SPOKE ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO UM, MARGINALIZED STUDENTS AND THEIR WE TALKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS MOBILIZATION EFFORTS, UM, WHEN IT CAME TO UM THOUGH WE'RE NOT MORE AND HOW
NORTHEASTERN KIND OF ALSO UM EITHER. DISENGAGED WITH THAT CONVERSATION OR HOW THEY HELPED UM, KIND OF SUPPRESS THAT CONVERSATION. UM, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT UM, IN
THE LEGISLATION ABOUT HOW NORTHEASTERN IN GENERAL HAS A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO. PRETTY MUCH JUST LEAD AND ALSO UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LIKE
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS YOU MENTIONED, UM, THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY OCCUPY LIKE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE BLACK STUDENT POPULATION WE SEE IT DWINDLING . IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT AS A
NORTHEASTERN CAMPUS IN THE MIDDLE OF ROXBURY, KNOWING THAT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AN ENTIRE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT COME TRUE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO WHEN THIS LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, UM, LAST YEAR IT WAS
PRETTY MUCH PASSED AND IT. CAME TO IT CAME DOWN TO MY OWN LABOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS THEN MOBILIZED TO ADMINISTRATION ME AS A LOW INCOME STUDENT. I DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
DO THAT. SO I FOR EXAMPLE, JUST IN GENERAL WAS EXHAUSTED. I WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO MOBILIZING WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO HAVING SOMEONE LISTEN TO ME AGAIN. IT CAME DOWN TO ME JUST
CREATING THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION. AND EVEN WHEN THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION WAS MADE OUTSIDE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH OTHER VARIOUS EFFORTS, IT'S KIND OF AGAIN IN THE LABOR OF THE STUDENTS. SO IF STUDENTS TAKE CHARGE IF
STUDENTS LEAD THAT CONVERSATION. OKAY, IT'LL HAPPEN BECAUSE WE'RE PASSIONATE. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE ADMINISTRATION TRULY ACTING AND INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN IN STUDENT ISSUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO ON THEIR OWN.
OKAY GREAT. >> THANK YOU. >> HENRY I SEE. YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP BUT JUST. BEFORE AND IF YOU CAN INCORPORATE MY. >> THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND. IS YOU PASS THIS LEGISLATION. MY ASSUMPTION IS IS THAT
SOMETHING HAPPENS AS A RESULT. OF YOUR ADVOCACY. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE. YOU DO ALL OF THIS. YOU ORGANIZE. AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATION CAN
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO OR DENY THE YOUR ADVOCACY. IS THAT. WHAT HAPPENS? IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIMES THE WAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ENGAGES STUDENT GOVERNMENT IS
IN SORT OF A PR CAPACITY LIKE THEY CREATE A BODY WHERE STUDENTS ARE SUPPOSEDLY ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY TO CHANGE POLICY.
BUT IN PRACTICE THAT LOOKS LIKE UM, PEOPLE PASSING A RESOLUTION AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATION IGNORING THEM AND THEN UM, IF YOU TRY TO REACH OUT TO THE ADMINISTRATION I REMEMBER ONE
OF OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY WAS ABOUT REPRESSION AND ABOUT STUDENTS BEING AFRAID TO SIGN ONTO PETITIONS AND TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH ADMINISTRATORS. SO IF YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTION OF BEING A STUDENT SENATOR BEHIND YOUR
BACK AND YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT RETALIATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT HAVING YOUR FINANCIAL AID THREATENED WHICH FOR LOW INCOME AND FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS IS A DEVASTATING PROSPECT THAT
EVEN THE IDEA OF WOULD DETER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE ENGAGEMENT UM, WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AT SOME PRIVATE COLLEGES. UM I ALSO SERVE ON THE STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND I'VE
HEARD INSTANCES OF STUDENTS, UM, HAVING THEIR FINANCIAL AID UNDER THREAT BECAUSE OF THEIR ADVOCACY AND THEY'RE BEING INTIMIDATION BY UH, STUDENT CONDUCT OFFICES AROUND FINANCIAL AID, UM, FOR
PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE. OKAY. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT, JULIE. YEAH. >> IF I IF I COULD GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE, UH OF HOW LEGISLATION IS VIEWED AT. NORTHEASTERN AND ESPECIALLY. FROM THE LENS OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT. SO WHILE IT IS CALLED
LEGISLATION AND IT DOES GO. TO THE ADMINISTRATION. OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS UH, THAT ARE PASSED ARE DIRECTLY SENT UM TO. UH PRESIDENT OWNS EMAIL.
UM WE HAVE COME TO VIEW THEM MORE AS UH. SIMPLY ADDITIONAL SURVEYING. OF OF OF THE STUDENT BODY. THE STUDENT SENATE IS GREAT BECAUSE IT. UM INCORPORATES A A UM.
THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF. >> A LOT OF. CONSTITUENCIES AND. SO UH WE USE THAT GENERALLY IN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AS LOOK AT. WHAT THE UH. WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY
OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING. UM, WE ALSO LIKE I SAID SORT OF DURING MY UM STATEMENT WE RECENTLY UH, RAN UM REFERENDA WHICH. UM OUR. SURVEY QUESTIONS OF YES OR NO
ASKED TO THE ENTIRETY. OF THE STUDENT BODY. THESE USUALLY PRODUCE WAY MORE RESULTS. THAN CAN BE UM. OBTAINED JUST BY REGULAR. UH UM BY REGULAR SURVEYING.
AND WE FOUND THAT UH, WE AND WE FOUND THAT 6000 STUDENTS UM, UM ,ARE PARTICIPATING IN THESE REFERENDA AND THAT. UM AND THAT OF THINGS LIKE UH BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
RELEASING THEIR MEETING MINUTES 93.5% OF THEM AGREE. UM, AND THAT'S OF AGAIN. 6374 STUDENTS. UM, ANOTHER QUESTION. >> THAT. WE HAD ON UH. ,OUR. >> REFERENDA WAS UM. IF STUDENTS WERE IN FAVOR OF A STUDENT STUDENTS.
ON THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WHICH AGAIN PASSED WITH A 93.3% . UH. >> PERCENTAGE OF. >> PEOPLE SAYING YES. OF 6030. >> PEOPLE WHO VOTED. SO AGAIN, LIKE. THE UM.
THERE ARE NO FORMAL MECHANISMS BY. WHICH UH THE. ADMINISTRATION HAS TO CONSIDER. >> THESE PIECES. >> OF LEGISLATION AND THE WAY SGA HAS BEEN. OPERATING IS SORT. OF USING THEM AS A PIECE TO GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION FURTHER AND SAY, HEY.
UM WE. UH WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL OF. THIS DATA THAT IS CONCLUSIVE THAT SAYS THAT. STUDENTS REALLY WANT THIS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER. TO ENACT IT TOGETHER. YEAH. >> AND TO ADD UM.
WHEN LEGISLATION IS. IS PASSED. AND WE PROACTIVELY NEGOTIATE WITH ADMINISTRATION. ON IT UH. WITHIN EOP WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE
RESOURCES TO ALLOCATE. TIME TO DO THAT WORK. WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO DO THAT. UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY HAS SET UP. REGULAR MEETINGS TO DISCUSS SOME OF. THESE THINGS. >> WITH US THERE.
WE SAT DOWN WITH MEMBERS OF STUDENT LIFE. UH, AND. >> TALKED THROUGH THE LEGISLATION WITH THEM. HOWEVER, THERE IS THERE IS NO. UH THERE IS. >> NO STRUCTURAL. MECHANISM TO ACTUALLY PURSUE
TRANSPARENCY AND. REPRESENTATIVE UH PIECES OF THAT LEGISLATION. THEY WANT TO SOLVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT SORT OF CUT AROUND THE EDGES BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS
THAT ACTUALLY CUT TO THE CORE OF THE DEMOCRATIC HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INSTEAD OF. ATTEMPTING TO. SOLVE THOSE ISSUES, THEY INSTEAD.
DECIDE TO. SLOW WALK NEGOTIATIONS. WAIT US OUT. I'M A FIFTH YEAR AT NORTHEASTERN AND SO IT'S EASY TO SEE OKAY. I'M GOING. >> HE'S GOING TO. LEAVE AND THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM ANYMORE. WE CAN CONTINUE.
BUSINESS AS USUAL WHICH IS WHY. UH THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. >> IN CONVERSATIONS. ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES. OF THE DEMOCRATIC, UH, NATURE. >> OF OUR UNIVERSITY. NEED TO START. YEAH. >> YEAH, IT FEELS LIKE MEJIA IN THE CITY COUNCIL. LIKE. >> HELLO.
UM, BUT I'M CURIOUS HAVE YOU GUYS WHEN WAS THE. LAST TIME YOU WITHHELD YOUR, UM, TUITION PAYMENTS? HAVE YOU EVER DECIDED TO SAY I'M NOT PAYING BY BILL? NO. >> WHY NOT? YOU WANT TO?
I'VE TRIED THAT. >> IT DOESN'T WORK. >> IT DOESN'T WORK. YEAH. THEY LIKE ON ENROLL YOU FOR. ALL THAT. >> OKAY. FORGET IT. >> IT'S LIKE THAT. FROM THE RECORD. I DID NOT. SAY THAT HERE, BUT. BUT I ALWAYS DO THINK LIKE FOR REAL. UM, LIKE. PEOPLE GET AWAY.
>> WITH BAD. BEHAVIOR BECAUSE WE ALLOW. >> THEM TO. AND I THINK SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR POCKETS AND I AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO DO ESPECIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE. I'M NOT ASKING. >> YOUR PARENTS TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL HATE ME.
BUT I DO THINK THAT. UM FACULTY STUDENTS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF THEY NEED TO FEEL. THE IMPACTS. OF WHAT THEY WHAT THEY'RE DOING
TO YOU GUYS LIKE TO TO THE STUDENT. BODY TO. >> THE TO THE STAFF AND. ORGANIZING AND. SHOWING UP AND HAVING YOU KNOW, THIS THIS. PLATFORM IF YOU WILL. IS IS A GOOD STEP IN THE DIRECTION.
THAT I THINK WILL HELP AMPLIFY . BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE. FAR MORE UM I WOULD. RECOMMEND DIRECT. I WOULDN'T SAY A WALK. >> OUT. MAYBE A WALK OUT I. >> DON'T KNOW WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE I MEAN LIKE. WHAT WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING HERE. UM SORRY I WOULD SAY LIKE AGAIN . PREVIOUSLY LAST YEAR WHEN THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED I WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS FOR A PROTEST THAT WAS NOT UM.
I WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO SAY OFF THE RECORD BECAUSE. >> I TECHNICALLY I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO. >> THIS BUT. LIKE THE PROTEST, UM, AND IT WASN'T REGISTERED. WE JUST KIND OF DID IT AND IT WAS BASED OFF OF THE COMMANDS THAT CAME FROM THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PASSED.
AND THANKFULLY THEN I THINK THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ADHERE TO LIKE A PRESS RESPONSE UM, BECAUSE ADMINISTRATION WAS OUTSIDE WHEN THE THIS WAS HAPPENING BUT AGAIN NO LITERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT CAME FROM IT.
UM, MEANING LIKE THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION BEING LIKE WHAT ARE LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? SO UM AND ME AS SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY ON A SCHOLARSHIP THERE
,UM, I KNOW THAT THE WAY I VOCALIZE MYSELF IS KIND OF BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE LIKE YEAH . >> I'M TALKING. AGAINST UM, OBVIOUSLY. HUGE. >> YOU KNOW, INSTITUTION. UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND MY POSITIONALITY AS A STUDENT AND BOSTON RESIDENT THAT LIKE
ME BEING REPRIMANDED BECAUSE I'M VOCALIZING UM IS AN ISSUE IN ITSELF. SO THANKFULLY FOR ME FOR ME I'M ABLE TO SPEAK OUT. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO OTHER MARGINALIZED BODIES ON CAMPUS WHO DO RELY ON THE FINANCIAL
AID FROM NORTHEASTERN UM, I'VE HAD MANY INSTANCES WHERE EVEN VOTING FOR THE LEGISLATION LAST YEAR THERE OR PUTTING THEIR NAME ON THE LEGISLATION UM FROM THAT WAS PROPOSING TO THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT WAS SEEN AS
SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE SCARY AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC IN ITSELF. YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO PUT YOUR SIGNATURE ON A PIECE OF PAPER SIMPLY BECAUSE LIKE YOU'RE SCARED THAT THE INSTITUTION WILL RETALIATE.
THAT'S A PROBLEM AND I THINK LIKE THAT SPEAKS FOR THE POWER DYNAMIC IN ITSELF, UM, WHERE STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T ALLOWED TO VOCALIZE UM VOCALIZED THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF HOW
ADMINISTRATION WILL RESPOND. UM, YES. YEAH. >> YEAH. >> YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I KNOW YOU. >> I KNOW MY I LOOK AT. YOU STANDING UP. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO CLASS? OH. SO I COULD. UH, YOU ON THE LOOSE?
I DON'T. I PUT THEM ON. WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT. GET OVER THERE. TELL ME WHAT YOUR. >> NAME IS NATALIE PERKINS. VALERIE. NATALIE. >> NATALIE I'M SORRY. EVERY LITTLE SPEECH IMPEDIMENT. >> I'VE BEEN ON. >> THE CAMPUS FOR NINE YEARS NOW. I'M THE LAST, UH, PERSON ON THE
LIST. UH, I WENT TO BOARDING SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN 12TH. GRADE. >> I HAVE. >> SEVERE DYSLEXIA. IT'S NOT A LEARNING DISABILITY. IT'S A DISABILITY. I HAVE A TATTOO TO TELL MY RIGHTS AND LAUGHS. AND SO I'VE BEEN ON CAMPUSES
FOR A LONG TIME NOW. YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING AND NOR WILL YOU BE ABLE TO UVM UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT WENT AND HAD THE SAME EXACT BOARD TO TALK ABOUT HOW BAD THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR DORMS WERE BECAUSE THEY WERE LIVING WITH
MOLD AND KIDS WERE PHYSICALLY GETTING SICK AND GOING TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. AND SO THESE UNIVERSITIES DO HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO DO
IT AND NOT ANY LEGAL ASPECT WILL DO IT AT ALL BECAUSE THESE UNIVERSITIES HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT THEY CAN TAKE ANY LEGAL ACTION AND SHOVE IT DOWN. SO WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO MAKE UH,
BUSINESSES AND WEBSITES WHO FIX THIS. I HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE I SHOW STUDENTS THEIR DORM ROOMS BEFORE THEY MOVE IN. I'M MOVING TO OTHER THINGS AFTER THAT. BUT IF YOU CAN TELL TO SUFFOLK IN ONE OF THEIR DORMS ONLY HAS CUBICLES FOR SINGLES.
THERE ARE SIX SINGLES THAT HAVE ACTUAL WALLS AND THE REST OF THE DORMS THERE ARE SINGLES . DO YOU HAVE TO PAY $20,000 A YEAR, DON'T HAVE FULL WALLS AND LEGALLY CAN'T HAVE FOUR WALLS
BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO SMALL TO PUT STUDENTS IN? NOW IF WE CAN GET STUDENTS TO SEND IN PHOTOS AND SHOW INCOMING STUDENTS AND STUDENTS HERE. TODAY. >> YOU CAN GO TALK TO TOURS. YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING AROUND CAMPUS AND
ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IF THEY START SEEING A DIP IN THEIR STUDENTS COMING IN, THEY WILL START REALIZING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND THAT MIGHT BE PUTTING TOURS WHEN YOU GUYS AREN'T AROUND BUT THAT'S
GOING TO SCARE PARENTS. YOU NEED TO SCARE THE INCOMING STUDENTS AND EVEN NOW SAYING THIS HERE I'M GETTING READY TO BE SUED BY UNIVERSITIES BY THIS AND WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO
SUPPORT US BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK US TO LAWYERS AND PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTUALLY DO STUFF AND YOU KNOW THE LAWS. YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO
ANYTHING TO NORTHEASTERN BUT YOU CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS LIKE ME WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THESE UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE LEGALLY THEY WILL DESTROY US UNLESS WE HAVE HELP AND WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO STAND UP
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST BEEN ON THIS CAMPUS. THIS IS AT SUFFOLK. THIS IS A EVERY UNIVERSITY RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE AT A TIME WHERE STUDENTS ARE TERRIFIED TO SPEAK OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NATALIE.
AND I JUST. >> WANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD. THAT I DID TAKE NATALIE OUT OF UM. ,TURN AND LOOK, Y'ALL GOT. 20 MORE MINUTES. I JUST. >> WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THEN I GOT TO GO TO. PUBLIC TESTIMONY. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER
FIVE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT. WE ARE. TAPPING INTO THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME. IF I IF. >> I MAY SAY. SOMETHING, UM. JUST BEFORE LIKE OUR TIME.
IS GOING TO RUN OUT SOON UM. WHEN IN REGARDS TO LIKE WITHHOLDING OUR. MONEY AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT CUTTING TO. THE NORTHEASTERN. IS UH, REPUTATION AND FINANCES. >> I'D ALSO LIKE TO BRING UP
LIKE THE FINANCIAL EXPERIENCES. OF SOME OF THE STUDENTS. AT NORTHEASTERN AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE BROADER, UH. BOSTON COMMUNITY. UH. I'M GOING TO LIKE RATTLE OFF. SOME STATISTICS. UM, UH.
76% OF. 1000 STUDENTS AT NORTHEASTERN THAT WE SURVEYED ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF THEIR EDUCATION AND 67%. FEEL THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UH, AND. AND 43% ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE ON CAMPUS HOUSING. OPTIONS AT NORTHEASTERN. WITHHOLDING WITHHOLDING TUITION.
AND AND AND AND. ASKING STUDENTS. UH TO. TO PURSUE UH. THOSE THOSE MEANS. OF ADVOCACY IS IS VERY DIFFICULT AND ALSO. THE BROADER. IMPLICATIONS OF. >> A LACK OF.
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE THAT IT IS GENTRIFYING. >> THE BOSTON COMMUNITY. UM, IS THAT NORTHEASTERN. >> IS ABLE TO WITHHOLD PAYMENTS . AND THEN JUST NOT BUILD. >> ON CAMPUS HOUSING BECAUSE THEY. DON'T HAVE TO. THEY CAN BUILD ANOTHER ISAC.
OR AXP INSTEAD INCREASING THEIR. BRAND AND FINANCES. UH. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE LARGER CITY. IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS. IMPACTING THE DAILY LIVES. OF STUDENTS. UH, IT'S SOMETHING.
THAT WE CAN. >> HOLD. THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO. IF WE WERE TO GET MEETING MINUTES TO THE BOARD TRUSTEES HAVE A. REPRESENTATIVE ON IT. BE INVOLVED. IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOUSING AND. >> OTHER POLICIES AT NORTHEASTERN THAT ARE SUPPRESSING STUDENT VOICES.
UM. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE HAD ACCESS TO THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OR EVEN HAD A PUBLIC WAY TO UH, PURSUE CODE OF. CONDUCT CHANGES, UH. WE MIGHT. >> BE ABLE TO FIX IT'S IT'S A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND THERE
MIGHT NOT. BE, UH. THERE ARE NO MEANS FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN USE THIS PLATFORM. >> WE CAN USE. YOUR CIVIC AUTHORITY. UH, TO CALL.
ON NORTHEASTERN. AND PRESENT AND TO. GIVE US. ACCESS TO THE MEETING MINUTES TO GIVE US ACCESS. >> TO THE BOARD TRUSTEES WE WE TO EVEN SHOW UP TO A HEARING. UM. >> SO WE WOULD URGE YOU WE WOULD TO URGE NORTHEASTERN.
UM, TO SHOW. UP, LISTEN TO ITS STUDENTS. UH, AND INVOLVE. US IN DECISION MAKING THAT ISN'T JUST. IMPACTING US. BUT IS. >> ALSO IMPACTING THE SURROUNDING AREAS PUTTING THE. COMMUNITY AND THE CITY AT RISK. YEAH. NO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GONNA GO TO HENRY AND THEN I'M GOING TO. SEE IF YOU. HAVE EACH LIKE. A 32ND CLOSING. REMARKS SO THAT I CAN OPEN UP FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. IS THAT SO?
30S OH NO MORE THAN THAT. OKAY. I HAVE TWO THINGS I WANT TO SAY. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT I WANT TO CORROBORATE THAT THESE UNIVERSITIES HAVE HUGE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO EXPEND IN
EQUITABLY TO ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THAT'S WHY THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING. UH, I PHENOME IS AN $80,000 NONPROFIT. IT'S A RAGTAG BAND OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS AND ADJUNCTS AND
STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR FREE COLLEGE HARVARD SPENT $3 MILLION AGAINST US ONE YEAR HARVARD SPENT $3 MILLION AGAINST AN $80,000 RAGTAG BAND OF STUDENTS FIGHTING FOR CHANGE
. THEY HAVE RESOURCES THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO EXPEND ON ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY ABILITY OR ANYTHING GOOD BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO EXPEND THESE RESOURCES ON REPRESSION AND ON
ESCAPING ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT THIS ISN'T JUST AT NORTHEASTERN TRUMP HAS DONALD TRUMP HAS OUTRIGHTLY
SAID THAT THE ACCREDITATION BOARDS ARE HIS SECRET WEAPON IN HIGHER EDUCATION. UM, EVERY TEN YEARS THERE ARE NEW HIGHER THERE ARE NEW HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION ACCREDITATION STANDARDS WITH
MISSION NATIONALLY GUTTED AND DESTROYED EVERY SINGLE PROTECTION FOR STUDENTS FOR DEMOCRACY ON CAMPUS AND ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS LAST
SPRING. THANK YOU. WE NEED YOU WE NEED YOU TO CALL ON THESE PEOPLE AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. OKAY Y'ALL YOU. GUYS ARE. INVITED TO CALL OUR QUEEN. Y'ALL DON'T YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM, HENRY.
THAT'S WHAT I DO. THAT'S WHAT I WHAT THAT'S WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO. AND THAT'S WHY. Y'ALL ASKED. >> ME TO HOST THIS HEARING BECAUSE YOU KNEW I WOULD DO THIS RIGHT? THAT'S WHY Y'ALL ROLLED UP. UM, BUT I'LL SAY TWO THINGS. AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO.
EGYPT FOR YOUR 32ND THEN. TRANSITION IS. THAT YOU ARE. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO HERE AS GOVERNMENT AND I THINK OFTENTIMES WE KICK THE. CAN DOWN. OH WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT WE CAN WE HAVE THE. THE BULLY PULPIT. UM THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO PUSH . PEOPLE AND SHAMED THEM INTO ACTION. SO THAT'S. A REALLY GREAT TACTIC. >> AND THERE'S TWO MORE THINGS THAT I.
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD FILE A RESOLUTION TO GET ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THE RECORD THAT STUDENT FACULTY AND STAFF VOICES MATTER IN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES ACROSS ALL
HIGHER END INSTITUTIONS THAT. OCCUPY SPACE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I THINK THAT'S A. >> NO BRAINER. AND I THINK THE DAY THAT WE FINALLY WILL LET YOU KNOW. >> SO. YOU CAN. >> STARE AT. >> EVERYBODY AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY. >> SAY YES. OKAY. >> AND THEN THE SECOND THING THAT I THOUGHT OF AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS EXISTS AND I'M
SURE SOMEBODY WHO WILL EDUCATE ME ON IT IS THAT I DO BELIEVE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LIKE. TO HAVE A COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT PANEL. BECAUSE ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. ARE LITERALLY. OCCUPYING SPACE IN.
BOSTON, BUT THEY HAVE NO REAL. COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT. AND IT WOULD BE. SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF . WE IF IT EVEN EXISTS. BUT THERE TO BE A CITYWIDE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT PANEL FOR
HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS THAT IS COMPOSED OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON . RIGHT. >> BECAUSE WE. HAVE TO OPEN UP THE. TAP STUDENTS. FACULTY AND THAT. THAT COMMUNITY.
OVERSIGHT PANEL THERE IS SOME SORT OF FORMAL STRUCTURE IN WHICH ONCE. LIKE A YEAR. THERE COMES TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR. >> A REPORT OF. HOW THESE INSTITUTIONS. ARE SHOWING UP OR NOT SHOWING
UP FOR COMMUNITY. AND I. >> THINK. VERY SIMILARLY. >> TO WHAT WE DO WITH PILOT, THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT PANEL CAN FUNCTION AS A CHECKS AND BALANCES TO. RIGHT NOW THE. >> LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT
EXISTS. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK SPECIFICALLY. CONCRETE THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY. WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL. TO DESIGN HERE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE CITY
COUNCILOR IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH POWER IS THAT SOMETIMES IT'S DEPENDING ON THE PERSON WHO'S CHAIRING. >> A COMMITTEE. YOU I. ONLY HAVE THIS FOR TWO YEARS THIS. COMMITTEE ONCE IF. >> I. DON'T GET IT AGAIN THEN. >> THE. POWER SHIFTS AND THEN.
YOU NEVER. KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET UPSET. BUT IF WE. >> CAN. CREATE SOMETHING. THAT OUTLIVES THE POWER BUT IT'S A FORMAL STRUCTURE. FOR REAL. >> COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT AND VOICE. THEN YOU'RE. >> BUILDING ON SOMETHING THAT I
DON'T THINK HAS EVER EXISTED. >> IN THE. CITY OF BOSTON. AND THERE THERE'S WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY. MAKE AN IMPACT. DOES THAT. >> SOUND LIKE A. GOOD COURSE OF ACTION AND AND THINGS LIKE BECAUSE I DON'T. >> I DON'T LIKE TO. HOLD HEARINGS. TO WASTE MY TIME OR YOUR TIME.
YOU COME INTO THIS CHAMBER BECAUSE YOU WANT THINGS. >> TO. CHANGE AND WE WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN WHAT. THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE. SO WE'RE. INVITING YOU ALL TO BE PART. >> OF A WORKING SESSION. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS HEARING AND COMMITTEE. >> WILL DO A WORKING SESSION ON WHAT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY
LOOK LIKE. AND WE'LL DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO REALLY. CO GOVERNANCE HERE IN THE. >> CITY OF BOSTON. DOES THAT SOUND GOOD. OKAY OH NO Y'ALL NOW Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO CLAP LET ME LET
ME OH. OH YOUR GOODNESS OH AND THEN NOW WHEN IT'S TIME TOWN I INVITE Y'ALL TO. >> A Y'ALL DON'T DO IT OKAY. ALL RIGHT SO I. OKAY GOOD I JUST WANT TO PUT.
THAT UM ON THE RECORD. IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO. SO I'M GOING TO GO TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR 32ND CLOSING REMARKS AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE. AN ASK A VERY SPECIFIC THING. THAT YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE.
IN YOUR 32ND. UM. >> CLOSING AND THEN. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO. STILL SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UM, AND. SO YOU'LL BE COMING UP NEXT.
SO SINCE WE. STARTED WITH. >> HENRY. >> LADIES FIRST. OKAY. >> UM. >> FOR MY 30S I WILL SAY. SILENCE IS. >> COMPLACENCY AND I CALL. NORTHEASTERN TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS GOING ON CURRENTLY IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD. UM, I BELIEVE IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE. UM THAT STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED DURING THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY. WHEN WE KNOW ICE. >> IS ON CAMPUS. IT IS. IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN OUR. CONSTITUTION IS AT RISK. IT IS. IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY. IS BEING CHALLENGED.
AND SO I CALL ON NORTHEASTERN TO STOP FALLING ALL FALLING. SHORT AND FALLING FOLLOWING ALONG LIKE. SHEEP AND TRULY. >> STEP FORWARD AS THE INNOVATIVE INSTITUTION THAT ITS CALLING ITSELF TO BE. THANK YOU THANK. >> YOU. I WAS LESS THAN.
30S OKAY GOOD JOB. DYLAN UM I THINK ONE THING THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH. ME WITH. ME THAT YOU SAID UM. CHAIRPERSON MEDIA IS UH. >> IS PERMANENT STRUCTURES. >> I THINK UM. WE AS STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THE
UM. THE STRUCTURE TO ENACT CHANGE WITHIN OUR UNIVERSITY BY OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION AND. UM TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. THAT MAKES SENSE. THEY ARE THE ONES WITH THE POWER.
BUT UM. WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GATHER SO MUCH STUDENT. DATA ON. HOW MUCH STUDENTS. FEEL THAT THEY UM THAT THE UNIVERSITY. IS NOT. TRANSPARENT ENOUGH THAT UM. >> THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CO. GOVERNANCE AT.
>> OUR UNIVERSITY. UM. THE ONLY THING I CAN ASK OF THE. UNIVERSITY IS TO. BUILD THESE PERMANENT STRUCTURE STRUCTURES TO HELP US. UM, HELP THEM MAKE A BETTER UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE FOR.
THEIR CUSTOMERS. >> THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SUBMITTED INTO THE RECORD IS A 500. PAGE DOCUMENT OF EVIDENCE
DOCUMENTING. NORTHWESTERN'S HARMS TO ITS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT LACKS THE STRUCTURE, AS. DILLON SAYS. TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT INCLUDES CHANGES TO THE FACULTY AND STUDENT CODES OF. CONDUCT SILENCING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. >> IT INCLUDES CHANGES TO D WEBSITE SCRUBBING ANY WORDS OF. D AND THEN MULTIPLE.
FACULTY FOR INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEAVING THE OFFICE. AND INCLUDES BUDGET CUTS. LACKS OF TRANSPARENCY. IT INCLUDES HARMS TO THE NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY. AND SO I. >> WOULD. CALL UPON NORTHEASTERN TO.
RESPOND TO THIS HEARING YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP TODAY. AT LEAST SAY SOMETHING PUBLICLY . ACKNOWLEDGING IT. >> AND THEN ALLOW. US ACTUAL TRANSPARENCY. >> GIVE US. MEETING MINUTES THE BOARD TRUSTEES ACCESS TO THE POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. >> AND. ON THAT NOTE.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE CALL OUT QUEEN AGAIN SOON ON AN OVERSIGHT PANEL A COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT PANEL. AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU THERE TOO. YEAH. >> I'LL BE THERE. I DON'T THINK THEY'LL SAY NO TO US. WE'LL WE'LL GO THERE AND
PROTEST ALONGSIDE YOU. >> YEAH. HENRY. ,I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR, UH, RESTORATION OF THE PROTECTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE INITIAL ACCREDITATION
STANDARDS, UM, THROUGH WHATEVER LEGISLATIVE OR POLICY VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE TO US, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH THE BG, THROUGH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION AND AS A MORE LONG TERM TASK, I'D LIKE TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY ON
CAMPUS AND ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME STUDENT IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS WHETHER AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE OR A PUBLIC COLLEGE GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE. I THINK WE CAN DO THIS EVERY OTHER COUNTRY DOES THIS.
LET'S DO THIS HERE. LET'S DO THIS NOW. UM AND YOU SAY THAT IN TIME. UM. >>, RIGHT. SO BEFORE WE TRANSITION. UM I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR.
YOUR COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. IT IS NOT. EASY TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SO CONSISTENTLY EVEN PUTTING YOUR OWN SITUATIONS AT RISK IN.
YOUR EDUCATION AT RISK. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. UM, BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY AND I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO. COLLEGE AND I HAD TO FIGHT THE
LITTLE COLLEGE I WENT TO MY I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER EVER HEARD OF IT BUT I WAS THERE AND I HAD TO STAND UP AGAINST THE POLICE WHILE I WAS THERE. UM AND I ALMOST LOST YOU.
KNOW, I. DIDN'T GET KICKED OUT BUT I GOT IN TROUBLE FOR STANDING UP AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE TAKING BIG RISKS AND THE FACULTY AND STAFF ARE TOO. WHEN YOU SHOW UP INTO THESE.
SPACES AND PLACES AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. SO I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY BUT THEY WOULD RATHER YOU GO AWAY RIGHT UM AND BE SILENT THAN TO REALLY DO THE. JOB OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN HIRED
TO DO. WHICH IS TO PROTECT AND SERVE. AND GIVE YOU THE TYPE OF QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ARE. PAYING FOR. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> FOR INVITING OUR. OFFICE TO. >> BE A PART OF THIS ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. >> I'M REALLY EXCITED.
I LOVE GOOD. TROUBLE AND I WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEIR VOICES DON'T MATTER, BUT YOUR VOICES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. >> IN THIS.
PROCESS AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK. >> YOU FOR SPEAKING THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE. I'M GOING TO TRANSITION TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. Y'ALL CAN STAY THERE IF Y'ALL WANT TO BECAUSE Y'ALL. LOOK CUTE THERE. UM OR. >> YOU CAN SIT DOWN WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT I'M GOING TO GO TO
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND CAN. WE GIVE IT UP TO OUR PANELISTS Y'ALL? I'M GOING TO GET FIRED BECAUSE. I'M ENCOURAGING ALL TYPES.
>> OF. BAD BEHAVIOR HERE TODAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE. ON DECK JORDAN. DIANE MICHAEL ALREADY. WENT UM. SARAH NATHAN.
>> OH LAST NAME ALAN. OH. OH, DID THIS TO ME TOO. ALMOST I CAN'T EVEN. SPELL LET ME IT BEGINS WITH A.
AND B AND ENDS WITH A D THE FIRST NAME. STARTING. >> OH, IS THAT YOU? OH MY GOD YES I YOU DOES YOUR LAST NAME. BEGIN WITH. >> A C? DOES YOUR LAST NAME. >> BEGIN WITH A C? OH MY THIS COME ON DOWN.
YOU ARE THE NEXT. CONTESTANT THAT YOU GOT TO. WORK ON YOUR PENMANSHIP. NO I DID EVERYBODY. DID I SAY EVERYBODY'S NAME RIGHT? DID I. >> GET EVERYBODY RIGHT. OKAY SO.
WE HAVE JORDAN. DIANE SARAH, NATHAN LAST NAME ALAN AND. AC IS. >> THE INITIALS. SO I GOT ALL RIGHT.
YOU WAIT LET ME GET MY LITTLE CLOCK. YOU ALWAYS IN THIS BUILDING EVERY. STAY EVERY. WHY SO. I CARE. ABOUT DEMOCRACY I CARE ABOUT GOVERNMENT. I KNOW YOU DO BECAUSE. YOU HERE. >> FOR.
EVERY EVERY WEDNESDAY. I KNOW YOU KNOW ME. ALREADY I KNOW. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU GOT TWO MINUTES. HI. >> MY NAME IS JORDAN. >> CAWOOD AND I'M AN ALUM OF NORTHEASTERN HAVING EARNED MY BACHELOR'S IN 23 AND MY MASTER'S IN 24.
I'M ALSO A JEWISH STUDENT WAS ARRESTED AT THE NORTHEASTERN ENCAMPMENT FOR PALESTINE IN 2024. THE ENCAMPMENT WAS PEACEFUL AND COMPOSED OF NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AFTER 36 HOURS, NORTHEASTERN DECIDED TO MASS ARREST ALL
PARTICIPANTS WITH VP OF COMMERCE WERE NOT IN JAIL ALLEGING THE PHRASE KILL THE JEWS WAS MUTTERED AT THE ENCAMPMENT. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT BEING IT WAS ACTUALLY SAID BY A PRO-ISRAEL COUNTER-PROTESTER THIS COUNTER-PROTESTER
OF COURSE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GOAD ONE OF US INTO REPEATING IT TO MAKE US LOOK BAD. NO ONE DID. BUT THAT MOMENT GAVE THE SCHOOL THE PLAUSIBLE IMPETUS IT NEEDED TO CALL THE ENCAMPMENT DANGEROUS AND FALSELY CLAIMS THAT PROFESSIONAL INSTIGATORS
HAD INFILTRATED THE ENCAMPMENT BEFORE GASLIGHTING THE MEDIA BY FALSELY CLAIMING DETAINEES WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID ARREST BY SHOWING THEIR NEW ID. SPEAKING AS SOMEONE ARRESTED WHO DID PROVIDE THEIR ID
FINALLY NEIL CLAIMED THE ENCAMPMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPULSIVE ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN CALLED BOTH A AND A KAYPOH AND AS A AS A PROGRESSIVE JEW WHO DARED
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE. I FIND NORTHEASTERN STATEMENTS INSULTING AND OFFENSIVE. PLEASE REFUSE ME THE RIGHT TO FOR OVER THREE HOURS CAUSING ME TO RELIEVE MYSELF ON THE JAIL CELL FLOOR ALL BECAUSE NORTHEASTERN DECIDED TO ARREST
ME FOR THE CRIME OF SITTING IN THE GRASS ON MY SCHOOL'S QUAD. NORTHEASTERN THEN FOUND OUT MY 100 COMRADES AND I WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING JEWISH STUDENTS UNCOMFORTABLE NOT TO MENTION 20% OF US BEING JEWISH
WHO WERE ARRESTED. THE SCHOOL THEN ASKED ME TO WRITE AN APOLOGY LETTER FOR ANTISEMITISM THAT I DID NOT ESPOUSE, ASKING ME HOW I WOULD HAVE CHANGED MY ACTIONS IF THE SITUATION WERE TO REPEAT ITSELF
ALL WITHOUT DEFENDING OR JUSTIFYING MY BEHAVIOR OR ELSE I WOULD NOT GRADUATE. OF COURSE, THE HUMOR IN ASKING A JEWISH STUDENT DESCENDED FROM MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS SLAUGHTERED IN THE HOLOCAUST TO WRITE AN ANTI-SEMITISM APOLOGY
LETTER IS NOT LOST ON ME. I DID EVENTUALLY GET CLEARED TO GRADUATE VIA NORTHEASTERN EMAIL EVEN WITHOUT COMPLETING THE ASSIGNMENT, I WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE AT COMMENCEMENT AND HAVE EMAILS CLAIMING I GRADUATED RIGHT AFTER MY COMMENCEMENT I
WAS INFORMED I WOULD NOT OFFICIALLY BE AWARDED MY PHYSICAL DIPLOMA WITHOUT COMPLETING THE ASSIGNMENT. LAST SUMMER I SECURED A MEETING WITH INTERIM PROVOST TOM SHEEHAN TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER WHO DECIDED TO DEFAMATORY CLAIM
THAT IF I WAS ARRESTED IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS THREATENING OTHER STUDENTS AND THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN CONSEQUENCES. DAYS LATER HE CALLED ME WITH A CONCILIATORY TONE, ADMITTED TO FALSELY ALLEGING I THREATENED STUDENTS, THEN RECANTED THAT
BEFORE EXPLAINING HE MADE THE CLAIM BASED ON THIRD PARTY RUMORS. HE FINALLY TOLD ME IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT I WROTE AS LONG AS I WROTE SOMETHING AND THAT I COULD WRITE AND I QUOTE YOU NORTHEASTERN TO COMPLETE A THIS
OF COURSE APPROVED THE ASSIGNMENT WAS MEANINGLESS IF ITS CONTENT DIDN'T MATTER WITH. >> THOSE. WHO SCREAMED KILL THE JEWS NOT BEING PUNISHED BY THE SCHOOL I CONCLUDED AND MADE NO SENSE TO ABIDE BY PROTOCOLS THAT WOULD NOT BE EQUALLY UPHELD BY A
BIASED ADMINISTRATION. HE TOOK MORE THAN TWO. >> MINUTES. AND I FINISHED MY LICENSE. I'M UP AND YOU HURRY UP AT LAST. AND BECAUSE OF THE ADMINS ACTIONS I WILL ALWAYS HOLD NORTHEASTERN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT I
SUFFERED THAT DAY AND AS A CURRENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNORS COUNCIL AS A BODY TASKED WITH APPROVING JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH, OUR RIGHTS HERE IN THE US AND OUR FREEDOM TO EXERT THEM IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND I'M
NOT AFRAID TO SAY NORTHEASTERN OWES ITS STUDENTS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AND THE RIGHT TO NOT BE ARRESTED VIOLENTLY BY POLICE FOR FREELY EXERTING THOSE RIGHTS. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. NO NOBODY EVER DOES THAT AGAIN HERE. OKAY.
NO DROPPING OF THE F BOMBS AND. UH, I VOTED DIRECTLY. AND YOU GOT TWO MINUTES. DON'T BE TRYING TO TAKE MORE THAN TWO MINUTES I WILL TURN OFF THE MICS, OKAY? TWO MINUTES. Y'ALL READY FOR TWO MINUTES, RIGHT?
DID YOU WRITE YOUR SPEECH? DID YOU PRACTICE IT? I JUST YEAH, I GOT A LITTLE THING. OKAY. GO AHEAD. TWO MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. HEY, Y'ALL. MY NAME IS SARAH MOBLEY. I DON'T HAVE THE SPEECH, BUT I'M HERE TO CALL UPON JUST LIKE
THE CITY COUNCIL JUST FOR ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE. UM, I'M MY FIRST YEAR ON BOSTON . I'M A SOPHOMORE. I DID MY FIRST YEAR ABROAD AND IT WAS KIND OF ADVERTISED. WELL.
>> ACTUALLY IT. WASN'T ADVERTISED BY LIKE. NORTHEASTERN BUT ACTUALLY THE STUDENT BODY THAT THE TWO WOULD BE IT'S KIND OF A SAFE, SAFE PLACE TO GO TO AND I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THAT'S
THE FIRST PLACE THEY'RE KIND OF ERODING FOR NO REASON AND THEY'VE ALL FOR CONTEXT THEY RECENTLY UM SHUT DOWN THE HOURS OF OUR BUILDING. SO NOW PRACTICES CLUB ORGANIZATIONS THINGS THAT GO
PAST 9:00 EVEN TO TEN ARE NOW BEING LIKE OH YOU WERE HERE EARLIER BUT THIS IS PICTURE OF EARLIER SPEAKERS SPEAKING TO LIKE WE'RE BEING SHUT OUT. WE'RE BEING FORCED OUT BY THE PEOPLE THE FACULTY THERE
BECAUSE NORTHEASTERN IS GETTING UPSET WITH THEM AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT WAS A SECURITY ISSUE. BUT I SEE YOU ACROSS THE STREET SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WHAT'S SO SECURE ABOUT OUR BUILDINGS BEING OPEN. BUT YEAH, UM THAT'S BASICALLY
ALL I HAD TO THINK BUT YEAH. THANK YOU SARAH THANK YOU. YEAH. DIDN'T GO NOT SO. THAT I AM YEAH OKAY GO AHEAD. DIANE GOING BACK TO YOU. YOU HAVE TO WAIT.
LET ME START. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. UM, I'M JUST HERE TO SUMMARIZE SOME THINGS. MY NAME IS DIANE. I'VE BEEN A NORTHEASTERN STUDENT FOR FIVE YEARS. AS A NORTHEASTERN STUDENT I HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
I CARE ABOUT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THE STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY AND TODAY WE HAVE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE WHO SHARED THEIR FEARS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. AND THERE'S A COMMON THEME
THROUGHOUT. STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING A WORSENING LACK OF REPRESENTATION ON CAMPUS. WE FACE LIMITATION ON CAMPUS RESOURCES LIKE THE CHANGES MADE TO THE JOHN D O'BRIEN AFRICAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE.
WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH CUTS TO DEPARTMENT FUNDING AND THE REMOVAL OF DEI. MANY PEOPLE SPOKE TODAY ABOUT THE FEAR THEY FEEL, ESPECIALLY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PEERS WHO ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY MAKE UP 40% OF OUR CAMPUS. STUDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR CLEAR COMMUNICATION ON. ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO ICE ON CAMPUS AS RECENT ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION BOTH ON OUR CAMPUSES
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE AMPLIFIED THIS ISSUE. AND ALL OF THIS TIES BACK TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE MOST IMPORTANT GOVERNING BODY AT NORTHEASTERN AND THE LEAST TRANSPARENT THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, IN ITS OWN WORDS, SHAPING NORTHEASTERN STRATEGIC VISION, MISSION, BUDGET POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AND AS WE'VE HEARD, THERE'S LITTLE PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT
THE MEETINGS DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE. WE DON'T HAVE THEIR EMAILS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SPEAK ABOUT WHEN THEY MEET WITHOUT A COMMITMENT TO STUDENT AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION, TRUST FRACTURES BETWEEN THE STUDENT
BODY AND THE UNIVERSITY. THE REALITY IS STUDENTS ARE CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED. WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION THAT IMPACTS US OR OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO TO RESOLVE OUR FRUSTRATIONS AND THAT'S CREATED FURTHERING
FRACTURING OF THIS TRUST AND THIS RELATIONSHIP. SO THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING DURING A TIME WHERE OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER IMMENSE THREAT AND WHEN RECOMMITTING NORTHEASTERN AND
HIGHER EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS A WHOLE, UM REALLY MATTERS TO COMMIT THEM TO THEIR DEMOCRATIC VALUES. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
OKAY SO AC YOU'RE NOT NEXT. >> BUT YOU CAN GO SINCE YOU'RE READY TO GO AND THEN THAT NATHAN. YOU KNOW OKAY OKAY. OKAY AND ALLEN LAST NAME ALLEN
IS THAT YOU YEAH. KYLE CUT OKAY HOW? AC UM. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ARVIN CHETTIAR. I'M A STUDENT AT NORTHEASTERN AND A COLUMNIST FOR THE HUNTINGTON NEWS.
I WANTED TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN TALKED ABOUT MUCH TODAY WHICH IS TRANSPARENCY REGARDING FUNDING. SO IN MY CAPACITY AS A COLUMNIST I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THE NORTHEASTERN FUNDING AND I CAME ACROSS A $36 MILLION CONTRACT THAT
NORTHEASTERN HAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS CONTRACT IS TO BUILD A SENTRY AI SYSTEM. WHAT THIS MEANS IS AN AI SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THAT USES FACIAL RECOGNITION, SOCIAL
MEDIA POSTS AND SOME LIKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SECURITY CAMERAS TO ASSESS THREAT LEVELS. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. WE SHOULD ALL HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT'S USED IN MY
CAPACITY FOR THE HUNTING THE NEWS I REACHED OUT TO TRY TO GAIN MORE TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE PROJECT AND WAS SUMMARILY SHUT DOWN. I THINK THIS IS A TRAVESTY REGARDING TRANSPARENCY. I THINK IT IS A FAILURE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I ALSO THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COUNCILPERSON CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD USE SUBPOENA POWER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT IT'S BEING USED FOR.
I WAS JUST LOOKING THROUGH CONTRACTS AND RANDOMLY CAME ACROSS THIS. I THINK YOU COULD HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE NORTHEASTERN IS HIDING. THANK YOU. YEAH. WELL YOU'LL. >> BE YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW. I'M I'VE BEEN WORKING. WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. >> AROUND.
SOME OF THESE DATA CENTERS AND AI AND SURVEILLANCE AND FACIAL RECOGNITION AND ALL. >> OF. THESE THINGS THAT PUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AT RISK. AND SO WE ALREADY UM WE FILED A HEARING ORDER AROUND THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE. SO WHEN WE HOST IT WE'LL BRING YOU IN AND WE'LL ALSO INVITE UM ,$36 MILLION OF UH, ACCOUNTABILITY TO TELL ME SHOW ME WHERE THE MONEY IS AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING IT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I DON'T
EVEN KNOW ABOUT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND COULD YOU, UM, CAN SOMEHOW GET IN TOUCH WITH BEATRIX BEATRIX GET THAT NUMBER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN PLUG YOU INTO IT
THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO Y'ALL CAME TO THE RIGHT. CHECK HERE I. AM I'M. >> DOING MY JOB. OKAY. >> KAI, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU.
UM, MY NAME IS KAI. I AM A THIRD YEAR NEUROSCIENCE STUDENT HERE AT NORTHEASTERN. UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE LAST SPEAKER JUST MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO
TOUCH ON. UM, SEARCHING FOR CO-OP LAST YEAR I FOUND A LISTING THAT WAS FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THE DHS. NOW USUALLY I'VE BEEN LOOKING
ON THE CO-OP SITE AND I FIND THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE EITHER EVIL OR UNPAID. THIS ONE SURPRISINGLY WAS BOTH . UM AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO QUICKLY MAKE A CASE FOR FISCAL
TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UM, AT NORTHEASTERN BECAUSE UM, IT HAS RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EMPLOYERS THAT IT PRESENTS AND NEW WORKS
AND ABOUT ITS INVESTMENTS. UM, AND IT SAYS WE ARE NOT GOING TO IMPOSE A POLITICAL TEST ON EMPLOYERS WHICH BY THE WAY, I'M CURRENTLY ON CO-OP IN A POLITICAL OFFICE.
I'M NOT ASKING THEM TO SHY AWAY FROM POLITICS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULD UM, UPHOLD SOME PRINCIPLES
OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND UM AND ALSO I THINK THAT THEY'VE THEY LIKE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AS THIS SORT OF NEUTRAL BEING BUT
IN FACT WHEN THEY HAVE AN ENDOWMENT OF $1.83 BILLION INVESTING IN CERTAIN THINGS IS POLITICAL RIGHT. YOU CANNOT SEPARATE THAT FROM
POLITICS. INVESTING IN SOMETHING IS MORE POLITICAL THAN NOT INVESTING IN IT. RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF END US OFF WITH ONE
QUESTION. SO ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO UM, WE HAD STUDENTS THAT CAME IN DEMANDING THE DIVESTMENT FROM
UM SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK ALL OF US TODAY IF WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT NORTHEASTERN WOULD SUPPORT THAT TODAY BECAUSE IN MY VIEW I
THINK THAT THEY HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE RECALCITRANT THAN THEY WERE BACK THEN. I THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING AND WE ARE NOT POWERLESS AS
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENT AND AS THE PEOPLE WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THINGS LIKE CHANGE ZONING LAWS. WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THINGS LIKE RENEGOTIATE THE PILOT, UM
,NEGOTIATIONS AND PRETTY MUCH JUST TO MAKE OURSELVES HEARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> UM ALL RIGHT, SO I. DON'T SEE ANYONE.
ELSE SIGNED UP IF YOU DID SIGN UP AND I DIDN'T CALL ON YOU. PLEASE. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE REASON WHY YOU SPEND THE WHOLE AFTERNOON. DO NOT GET CALLED.
OKAY? >> DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON VIRTUAL OKAY, GREAT. UM. ALL RIGHT, SO YOU GUYS JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER IDEA. UM, WE SHOULD HAVE A COMMUNITY
TOWN HALL IN NORTHEASTERN, RIGHT? BEATRIX, WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN? UM. AND I SHOULD BE THE OPRAH AND
DO THE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT. WHAT SHOULD I THINK ABOUT THAT? UM. >> I THINK SO. UM, AND SO YES, I THINK WE
SHOULD DEFINITELY MAKE SOME OF THOSE, UH, THINGS HAPPEN AND I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS WORK. I THINK. YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT LOST ON
ME THAT TODAY IS MONDAY. UM, AND YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE BUT YOU DECIDED TO SHOW UP AND SHOWING UP DEMONSTRATES THE REAL POWER OF THE PEOPLE. UM, AND THAT YOU MEAN BUSINESS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS CRITICAL MASS OF FOLKS OCCUPYING ALL OF THESE SEATS HERE IN, UM, OUR CHAMBER IF THIS DOESN'T SCARE THEM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL. UM, THAT YOU PARTNERED. UP WITH.
>> ME. THAT IS GOING TO BE SCARY. UM. >> AND SO, UH. >> YOU KNOW. UH, I'M HERE FOR ALL OF IT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT BE HEARD.
AND THE FIRST TIME I USE MY VOICE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD IN THE WELFARE OFFICE WHICH IS DTA AND I HAD TO FIGHT UM FOR
SERVICES AND HAD TO SPEAK UP AND PUSH ON A SYSTEM THAT WAS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT I WAS GOING TO GET TO EAT THAT NIGHT AND I DID DESPITE
THE FEAR THAT I HAD AND LOOK AT ME I'M STILL STANDING AND SO I . DON'T WANT YOU EVER TO BE AFRAID TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH IN WHATEVER SPACE THAT YOU ARE IN BECAUSE YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF
FOR YOUR OWN LIBERATION TO DO JUST THAT AND THAT ALSO CREATE SPACE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME. SO THE MOST COURAGEOUS THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS TO SPEAK UP
WHEN NO ONE ELSE CAN. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND DOING JUST THAT. UM. >> AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ALL TO MOVE THESE THINGS FORWARD.
I'M NOT JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT, I'M GOING TO BE ABOUT IT. SO COUNT ON ME ON THAT AND I'LL END WITH I USED TO WORK AT MTV UM IN 2000. MANY Y'ALL PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN BORN THEN BUT I DID A LONG
TIME AGO AND I WAS A REPORTER AND MY JOB AT MTV WAS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN POLITICS AND TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
AND AS A REPORTER. TRAVELING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THIS WAS WHEN GORE RAN AGAINST BUSH. Y'ALL CAN GOOGLE THAT. UM. EVERYWHERE THAT I. WENT, EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT
I. VISITED EVERY YOUNG PERSON SAID THAT THEY. DON'T BELIEVE THEIR VOICES MATTERED BECAUSE NO ONE PAID ATTENTION TO THEIR ISSUES. . >> AND THAT. >> WAS THE BIGGEST LESSON TO ME AND WHY I DO THIS WORK THE
WAY THAT I DO IS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OUR FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR PRESENT AND ARE HERE AND NOW. AND YOUNG. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN STANDING IN THE GAP
FIGHTING SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS AND FIGHTING FOR YOUR OWN DIGNITY. AND SO NOW THAT I'M A CITY COUNCILOR, I TAKE THAT LESSON THAT I LEARNED 20 SOMETHING
YEARS AGO INTO THIS CHAMBER AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT BECAUSE IT'S FULL OF YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND I LOVE TO SEE IT. SO MORE OF THAT. AND WITH THAT.
DOCKET 0587A HEARING UM TO REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY AND I WILL SOON MY PRESENTATION UM STAFF AND STUDENT FREEDOMS AND HIGHER EDUCATION HAS COME TO
ADJOURNMENT. THANK YOU. >>