--------- . UH, MY NAME IS BEN WEBER. I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCILOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ON WAYS AND MEANS. TODAY'S APRIL 22ND, 2026 AND
THE EXACT TIME IS 10:06 A.M.. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY
CHANNEL EIGHT, RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. THE CHANNELS UH SORRY THE CHANNEL THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS WILL ENCOMPASS A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS UH,
WHICH BEGAN LAST WEEK AND WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE. UH, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD. YOU CAN DO SO IN SEVERAL WAYS.
FIRST, YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF THE HEARINGS AND GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE END OF EACH DEPARTMENTAL, UH, HEARING. AND ALSO YOU CAN, UH, TESTIFY
IN PERSON UH, TO UH UH, PUBLIC TESTIMONY LISTENING SESSIONS. THE FULL HEARING SCHEDULE IS ON OUR WEBSITE AT BOSTON.GOV/COUNCIL-BUDGET. OUR SCHEDULED HEARINGS
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY OR IN PERSON AT CITY HALL ON TUESDAY, APRIL 28TH AND SIX AT 6 P.M. AND AGAIN ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH AT 6 P.M. YOU CAN GIVE
UH, TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY. PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND SIGN UP AT THE SHEET SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY.
YOU CAN SIGN UP USING OUR ONLINE FORM AT OUR UH, COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT
KW M@BOSTON.GOV OR BY EMAILING CHRIS MITCHELL ON THAT CAR IS A.COM O U H A N@BOSTON.GOV. WHEN YOU'RE CALLED TO TESTIFY
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION YOUR RESIDENTS AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO A FEW MINUTES UH TO ENSURE ALL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS CAN BE HEARD UM IN LIEU OF UH
PERSONALLY TESTIFYING YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE AT SQUIRM@BOSTON.GOV. OR YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT A TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW TO TESTIFY, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSCO SLASH
COUNCIL DASH BUDGET. UM, WE'LL BE TAKING IN-PERSON TESTIMONY UH, AT THIS HEARING THIS MORNING'S HEARING AFTER THE FIRST ROUND OF COUNCILOR QUESTIONS, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY'VE SIGNED UP AND HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY, YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY. AGAIN, YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THE SIGN UP SHEET. UH OR IF YOU'RE VIRTUAL, PLEASE
EMAIL OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET ANALYSIS CHRISTIAN ON AT CAR I SHOW MARCO VAN@BOSTON.GOV FOR THE
ZOOM LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. THIS MORNING'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBERS 073320740 AND
DOCKET UH 074420746 UH AN OVERVIEW OF THE FY 27 BUDGETS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT ,THE OFFICE OF FOOD JUSTICE AND THE FOLLOWING REVOLVING
FUNDS CONSERVATION COMMISSION, DISTRIBUTED ENERGY AND BIRDO. UH, THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF HEARINGS TO REVIEW THE FY 27 BUDGET. UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES INFORMATION, THIS IS THE FIRST
YEAR THE BERTO REVOLVING FUND, UH, HAS BEEN FILED WITH US. UM, THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND WERE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 8TH, 2026.
UM, WE UH WE ARE JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL. NO SURPRISE HERE COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRADEN'S. UM.
LET'S SEE, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR SANTANA. UH, I'M NOW GOING TO INTRODUCE THE PANEL UH, WE HAVE WITH US THIS MORNING.
WE'VE GOT BRIAN SWETT, THE CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT CHRIS OSGOOD IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE, OLIVER SELLARS GARCIA, UH,
COMMISSIONER OF THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE. UH TASHA ROGERS, FINANCE DIRECTOR UH, FOR ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE UH AND UH
LIZA WASSERMAN DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FOOD JUSTICE. UM, BEFORE UH, WE GET TO MY, UH ,COUNCIL COUNCIL COLLEAGUES I DON'T KNOW IF THE PANELISTS
HAVE PRESENTATION ANYTHING THEY WANT TO OPENING STATEMENTS. DO YOU WANT US TO GO THROUGH THE BRIEF PRESENTATION FIRST? YEAH, I THINK SO. I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD BE YEAH, WE'RE SO WE'RE WAIVING OPENING STATEMENTS IN THESE
BUDGET BUDGET HEARINGS. UM, SO UH, THE PANEL THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR WEBER. UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WE HAVE A FEW BRIEF
SLIDES JUST TO SET THE CONTEXT. UH, WE SORRY THIS IS FAST. UM, SO IN TERMS OF, UH, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING US, UH, BROUGHT OBVIOUSLY MY COLLEAGUES WITH ME TO HELP PRESENT, UM,
SOME SUCCESSES FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, UH, AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THERE AND OUR, UH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE IT'S.
THE AUCTION NOT MAKING ANY. UH, MIGHT BE AT THE END OR IT USED TO BE. I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T FLIP THE ORDER OF SOME OF THESE SLIDES. GO BACK TO THE. UM. >> SO JUST IN TERMS
OF GROUNDING, UH, WHAT WE'RE COVERING HERE TODAY THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE CABINET UH, FOR THE CITY IS COMPOSED OF FIVE UH, OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS CURRENTLY. UH, YOU'LL HEAR FROM THREE OF THEM TODAY, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, THE
OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND THE OFFICE OF FOOD JUSTICE . UH, THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE'RE COMPLETING THE RFI THAT WAS REQUESTED UH, AND THEN PARKS AND REC HAS A HEARING SCHEDULED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FROM
A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE THE LARGEST UH, IN THE CABINET. UH, SO WE'RE HERE TO FOCUS ON UH, THOSE THREE. I THINK THE. YOU KNOW, JUST AS A REMINDER UH ,IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATION WE HAVE CREATED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 FOR THE CLIMATE COUNCIL TO HELP ORGANIZE UH, A NUMBER OF OUR OWN EFFORTS AND REALLY, UH, OPERATIONALIZING ALL THE GOVERNMENT APPROACH UH ,THAT IS STILL IN EFFECT AND
SUPPORTING BOTH OUR POLICY AND ACTION PLAN AGENDA AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE HIGHEST UH, RETURN ON INVESTMENT UH, FOR UH THE UH THE BUDGETS UH, IN THIS CABINET.
UH, SO AT A HIGH LEVEL I JUST WANT TO SORT OF PREAMBLE FOR MY COLLEAGUES UH, WE YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR RESPONSE TO UH, THE MAYOR'S, UH, DIRECTIVE OF FINDING SOME SAVINGS, UH, AND WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO,
UH, TO DO THAT WHILE PRESERVING KEY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, TO MINIMIZE ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT, UH, ON UH, CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN
BOSTON AND I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. UH, AND SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRESERVE KEY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE CRITICAL NOT ONLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING, UH, OF THE CITY
OF BOSTON BUT REALLY SUPPORTS OUR FOCUS ON INCREASING AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY AND WHETHER THAT'S UH, REDUCING UH ENERGY COSTS FOR CONSTITUENTS AND BUSINESSES, UH, REDUCING COST TO THE CITY UH, IN TERMS
OF OUR UTILITY COSTS, UH, OR INCREASING ACCESS TO UH, HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD UH ,IN IS AN AFFORDABLE FASHION AS POSSIBLE. UH, WE REALLY ARE EXPANDING UH, OUR FOCUS ON SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, UM, SOLVES, UH, CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. UH, SO, UH, WITH THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WILL GO THROUGH SORT OF THEIR BUDGETS, UH, AND A
BRIEF SORT OF REVIEW OF HIGHLIGHTS OF UH, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE UH, OVER THE LAST 9 TO 12 MONTHS. UH, AND THEN OUR FOCUS FOR UH THE UPCOMING. FISCAL YEAR. >> WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO OLIVER SELLERS GARCIA. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR. GREAT. UM. THANK YOU. UH, CHIEF SWEAT, MY NAME IS OLIVER SELLERS GARCIA. I'M COMMISSIONER. >> OF THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. AND, UM. I WILL. >> SHARE A LITTLE BIT, UM, AS BRIAN MENTIONED ABOUT.
UM. >> THE PAST YEAR AND THE YEAR AHEAD. UM, SO I'LL JUST START BY SAYING. HAPPY EARTH DAY. UM, THIS IS A, UH, AUSPICIOUS DAY. FOR OUR CABINET TO BE UM,
PRESENTING UH, THE BUDGET AND I WILL. JUST DO SOME. UH, A LITTLE BIT OF HIGH LEVEL FRAMING WHICH IS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS REALLY I THINK THE UM WHAT A BUDGET DESIGNED FOR UM,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION. IN 2026. LOOKS LIKE WITH UM MORE THAN EVER SETTING REALISTIC GOALS UM TIED TO SPECIFIC ACTION THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GUIDED MORE THAN
EVER BY OUR UM FORTHCOMING CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. UM, REALLY PLAYING TO OUR STRENGTHS WE HAVE SO MANY UM, IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND CONTINUING, UM, THAT SERVE.
CONSTITUENCIES ACROSS THE CITY AND UM, A REAL FOCUS ON CLIMATE ACTION THAT NOT ONLY UH HAS UM A CLIMATE IMPACT BUT THAT ALSO IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE AND
AFFORDABILITY. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. >> OF. THIS, UH, CURRENT YEAR AND OUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR OVERALL THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET UM, UH, IS.
PROPOSED WITH A UH 2.1% REDUCTION WITH UM A LOT OF THAT BEING ACCOMPLISHED WITH A ONE YEAR ONLY SHIFT FROM UH CONTRACT SERVICES TO REVOLVING FUNDS.
UM, AND WE'RE REALLY ABLE TO CONTINUE MAKING THE PROGRESS, UM, THAT WE HAVE MADE WITH THIS, UM, TEMPORARY MEASURE. I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT, UM, THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE
WHICH UM, UH, CHRIS WILL SPEAK TO UM DOES IS INCLUDED IN NON-PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. UM, SO UM IN TERMS OF OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, WE REALLY HAVE UM SO MUCH UM, THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU BUT JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS. UM, BERTO IMPLEMENTATION HAS REALLY MOVED UM FORWARD THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WITH A LOT OF NEW SERVICES FOR UH, BUILDINGS THAT ARE COVERED BY BERTO FOR EXAMPLE, ASSISTANCE, UM, PURCHASING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR UH, CONDOS AND CONDO ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, YOU'LL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THE BOSTON ENERGY SABER A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A MOMENT, BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MARQUEE PROGRAM THAT WE LAUNCHED AT THE END OF OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR THAT IS HELPING
RESIDENTS SAVE MONEY AND UM, HAVE MORE COMFORTABLE HOMES. WE LAUNCHED OUR THIRD ROUND OF CLEAN AIR UM CLEAN COMMUNITY AIR GRANTS UM AND WILL BE
HOLDING UH BOSTON'S FIRST UM BOSTON AREA UH AIR QUALITY SUMMIT ON MAY 15TH. WE ALSO CONTINUE THE IMPORTANT UH REGULATIONS UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH UH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ON UPDATING THE BOSTON UH, WETLANDS REGULATIONS ON UM THE SIDE OF OUR OWN, UH, ENERGY USAGE AS A CITY. WE'VE, UH, DONE A CONVERSION
OF GAS STREET LIGHTS TO LED LIGHTS AND BAY VILLAGE. I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, IN A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE'VE DONE BEHIND THE SCENES. BUT WE'RE WORKING VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO, UM, LOCK IN
MORE ENERGY SAVINGS WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD MORE, UM, RENEWABLE ENERGY. THIS YEAR WE COMPLETED UM, SOLAR INSTALLATIONS AND SIX BUILDINGS THAT WILL ADD UM, TWO
MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR CAPACITY TO THE CITY AND SAVE AN ESTIMATED $415,000 A YEAR IN ELECTRICITY COSTS. WE'LL BE LAUNCHING UM, OUR 2030 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN NEXT WEEK,
WHICH WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, WHICH HAS 40 STRATEGIES ON EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS RESILIENCE ,CLIMATE JUSTICE AND WORKFORCE PAIRED WITH A NEW DASHBOARD THAT UM PROVIDES A NEW LEVEL
OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INFORMATION, UM, ON UNDERSTANDING HOW WE'RE HAVING AN IMPACT AND HOW TO UM BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR PROGRESS. AND ALSO WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW INITIATIVES THAT WE LAUNCHED UM
,THIS FISCAL YEAR. I'LL MENTION WE CONTINUE UM, OUR COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY PROGRAM THAT HAS SAVED OVER $260 MILLION, UM, FOR RESIDENTS SINCE ITS LAUNCH
IN 2021. UM, WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW BUILDING MATERIAL REUSE PROGRAM WHICH IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE CAN NOT JUST UM, DEMOLISH BUILDINGS BUT SALVAGE THE MATERIALS AND
CREATE A MARKET FOR REUSING HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS. UM AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE NEWS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHERE UM PARTNERING WITH UM MARK TO LAUNCH BOSTON'S FIRST
STUDY OF USING THERMAL ENERGY FROM THE HARBOR AND RIVERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF CLEAN ENERGY. UM WOW, THIS. IS FAST. >> ISN'T IT? OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO DO A
TINY, UM, ZOOM IN ON TWO PROGRAMS THAT I THINK ARE JUST VERY IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS BUDGET YEAR THAT ARE ALL ABOUT CLIMATE AND AFFORDABILITY TOGETHER. SO I MENTIONED WE LAUNCHED THE
BOSTON ENERGY SAVER WHICH IS UM A LOT OF THINGS BUT WHAT RESIDENCY IS A UH FRIENDLY FACE AND A HELPING HAND TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THE VERY COMPLEX WORLD OF MAKING
UPGRADES TO YOUR HOME OR BUILDING OR FIGURING OUT HOW TO LOWER YOUR BILL. UM, NEXT MONTH WE CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES. WE SOLVE SOME OF THEIR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OWN. UM, WE'VE ENGAGED OVER THREE
OVER 1000 UM RESIDENTS AND HELPED UH, OVER 300 IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THROUGH OUR HELP DESK, WE ESTIMATE THAT WE'VE LEVERAGED ABOUT, UM, $50
MILLION IN MASSIVE INCENTIVES. AND, UM, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE, UH, SET AGGRESSIVE GOALS JOINTLY WITH THE UTILITIES FOR HEAT PUMP INSTALLATIONS AND
WEATHERIZATION AND FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND IN 2025 WE ARE RIGHT ON TARGET WITH, UM, A THIRD OF THAT GOAL ACCOMPLISHED IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.
UM, SO THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AT BOSTON.GOV/SAVE AND 617635 SAVE THE OTHER UM PROGRAM THAT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS MOMENT UM THAT IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO UM THE OVERALL CITY
BUDGET IS THAT THE MUNICIPAL ENERGY UNIT IN THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT WORKS UM BEHIND THE SCENES TO SAVE ENERGY COSTS SINCE UM MORE STRATEGICALLY
PURCHASING ENERGY STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 15, UM THIS PROGRAM HAS SAVED $61.8 MILLION IN AVOIDED ELECTRICITY COSTS. JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE IDENTIFIED THE POSSIBILITY TO
SWITCH SOME ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATIONS TO LARGER ENERGY USAGE UM RATES THAT ARE LOWER THAN WHAT THEY HAD BEEN ON THAT'S PROJECTED TO SAVE $2.3 MILLION IN THE UPCOMING
FISCAL YEAR WITH UH, VERY LITTLE COST TO IMPLEMENT. UH, WE ALSO HAVE IMPLEMENTED LOTS OF UM ENERGY SAVING PROJECTS IN OUR BUILDINGS SUCH AS LIGHTING. I MEAN THOSE EVERY YEAR SAVE
$2.3 MILLION COMPARED TO WHAT UM, WE WOULD BE PAYING HAD WE NOT MADE THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. SO I UM FOCUSING ON THOSE UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW IMPORTANT OUR, UH, FOCUS ON
CLIMATE AND AFFORDABILITY IS TOGETHER, WHICH YOU'LL SEE REFLECTED IN A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THIS FISCAL YEAR.
OH, I'M SORRY I FORGOT ABOUT MY GOALS FOR UM, THE NEXT YEAR WHICH I WILL GO VERY QUICKLY. UM, BUT REALLY IN THIS UM IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE WE ARE WE'RE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN ALL
OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I MENTIONED UM, AND MOVING THEM FORWARD. SO WHETHER THAT IS THE EXPANSION OF THE BOSTON ENERGY SAVER TO REACH MORE UM NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENTATION AND PROVIDING
SUPPORT. WE'RE ALSO UM REALLY WORKING ON UM BOTH UM, A VISION FOR EXPANDING UM AND MAINTENANCE OF THE URBAN WILDS JOINTLY WITH
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THE UM CONTINUING NOT JUST THE ENERGY REDUCTION MEASURES THAT I MENTIONED BUT ALSO STRATEGICALLY PURCHASING RENEWABLE ENERGY WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER AT A TIME
WHEN UM, THE RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKETS UM NEED STABLE CUSTOMERS SUCH AS THE CITY. AND I WILL MENTION AGAIN THAT UM NEXT WEEK WE WILL LAUNCH OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2030 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WHICH UM
REALLY SETS THE STAGE FOR VERY PRACTICAL WORK ACROSS THE CITY IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE CLIMATE COUNCIL. UM, THAT BRIAN MENTIONED AND UM THAT WILL REALLY BE THE NEXT PHASE OF UM THIS UH
DEPARTMENT'S WORK IN CLIMATE AND WE CONTINUE TO BE A UM TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON UM, HIRING AND UM, RETAINING TALENT. WE HAD AN EXCELLENT YEAR LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF HIRING WITH
VERY FEW POSITIONS. VACANT NOW. AND WITH THAT I WILL PASS THAT TO MY COLLEAGUE CHRIS. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL OF OUR. UH. >> CHAIR WEBER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRENNAN, COUNSELOR. CLASS AND PODCASTER FLYNN
PLEASURE TO SEE ALL OF YOU. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THIS WORK. SO ALL OF YOU MENTIONED I'M CHRIS OSGOOD. I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE OF LEADING OUR TERRIFIC OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE TEAM. UM, THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS
FOCUSED ON COORDINATING BOSTON'S ALL OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO RISK REDUCTION. UH, LOOKING AT THREE PRINCIPAL CLIMATE RISKS EXTREME HEAT, STORM WATER FLOODING AND COASTAL FLOODING. UM, FOR OUR MAYOR THE FOCUS IS
TO SHIFT FROM A DECADE OF REALLY GOOD PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH MANY OF YOU AND MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, UH, TO A DECADE OF IMPLEMENTATION. UH, AND THAT IS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH UH, IMPLEMENTING
SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS AND POLICIES THAT HELP PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CRITICAL PUBLIC ASSETS AND ENHANCE OUR PUBLIC REALM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DELIVERING ON THAT OBJECTIVE THAT BOSTON CAN BE A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO CALL HOME
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. UH. >> IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THIS SLIDE YOU SEE A QUICK SUMMARY OF OUR BUDGET. AS OLIVER MENTIONED, UH, WE HAVE A SHARED SERVICES BUDGET ON THE NON PERSONNEL LINE UH, SO THAT OUR NON PERSONNEL BUDGET IS WITHIN THE
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. OUR PERSONNEL LINE UH IS ESSENTIALLY THE HEART OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET. IT COVERS THE STAFF OF THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE. WE HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT FROM EXCELLENT EXTERNAL FUNDS,
PRINCIPALLY GRANTS THAT HELP US ADVANCE OUR WORK. UH, AND THEN A SET OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON RISK REDUCTION ACROSS THOSE THREE PRINCIPAL RISKS UH, HEAT, EXTREME UH STORMWATER FLOODING AND COASTAL FLOODING.
UH, AS YOU SEE IN THE LOWER LEFT, UH THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK BY THE OFFICE AND ACROSS THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST YEAR. UH, THAT INCLUDES CUTTING THE RIBBON ON THE BEAUTIFUL NINE ACRE RESTORATION OF THE MADISON
URBAN WHILE THE PROJECT DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, AND A SET OF WORK WHICH IS OPENING UP A NEW TRAIL NETWORK AND IMPROVING THE ABILITY OF THIS, UH,
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSET TO HANDLE STORMWATER AND COOL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON EXTREME HEAT IS ALSO ON THAT LOWER LEFT YOU SEE AN IMAGE OF A PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN CHARLESTOWN.
UH, IT IS A NEW, UH, PIECE OF, UH, FLOOD RISK REDUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG MAIN STREET. UH, THAT HELPS CUT SHORT A FLOOD PATH THAT OTHERWISE WOULD IMPACT A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND SOME CRITICAL OF A
STRUCTURE IN THE CHARLESTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PROJECTS, UH, AND OTHERS LIKE THOSE, WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO DEEPEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, UM, RECENTLY LAUNCHING OUR HEAT
RESEARCH AGENDA THE FIRST OF ITS TYPE, UH, FOR OUR CITY, UH, REALLY AS A INSTRUMENT TO HELP US HAVE BETTER COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES, UH, AND HELP US IDENTIFY THE BEST, BEST PATHS
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, UH, BOTH OVER THE LONG TERM, UH, AND DURING HEATWAVES, UH, AN INCREASING RISK TO THE PEOPLE THE CITY OF BOSTON, UH, AS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE THERE'S A WHOLE SET OF WORK WHICH IS CONTINUING AND ADVANCING, UH,
AND ACCELERATING IN OUR CITY UH ,OVER THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS UH, THAT INCLUDES COLLABORATION WITH OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT DURING THE HEAT WAVES THAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE
OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, UH, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, UH, RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR MOST CRITICAL POPULATIONS THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS, THROUGH THINGS LIKE MISTING TENTS, UH, AND THROUGH SOME, UH, DIRECT
OUTREACH AND WORK THROUGH NEW POLICIES FOR THINGS LIKE OUTDOOR WORKERS SOMETHING WHICH WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION UH CHAIR WEBER WITH UH WITH YOU UH ALSO A SET OF WORK UH DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MASS
AUDUBON TO EXPAND OUR TREE PLANTING EFFORTS ACROSS OUR CITY. UM, BOTH TO INCREASE SHADE, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT HAVE LOWER CANOPY COVER. UH, AND TO BE ABLE TO SORT OF TRANSFORM OUR URBAN HEAT
ISLANDS INTO PLACES THAT ARE COOLER OVER TIME AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS THERE. UH, IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF UH THE SLIDE YOU SEE TWO IMAGES OF SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING REALLY AROUND
COASTAL FLOOD RISK REDUCTION OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR AHEAD WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERING A SET OF INTERIM SOLUTIONS. AND THEN IMPORTANTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THIS SUMMER, UH, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE U.S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO RELEASE, UH, A PLAN LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM AREAS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD. >> LOOK TO. UH, INVEST IN FLOOD RISK REDUCING INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY. SO AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
WITH ALL OF YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND THE BUDGET PROCESS AHEAD AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ALLISON.
GOOD MORNING. UM MY NAME IS UH, LIZA WASSERMAN AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FOOD JUSTICE.
UM, AND REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT, UH, OF OUR OFFICE UM, OVER OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS OUR MISSION IS TO
BUILD A FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE AND JUST UM AND I'M GOING TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST
YEAR AND AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, AS WE'VE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED AND DEEPENED OUR OFFICES WORK IN PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS AND REALLY AT A CITYWIDE SCALE TO BE ABLE TO UM, LOOK AT SYSTEMS
CHANGE INTERVENTIONS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING GRO BOSTON BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, H STRONG BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO AND
MANY MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE UM BECAUSE BOSTON HAS SUCH A ROBUST FOOD ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE WHETHER IT'S
GROCERY STORES, FARMERS MARKETS ,MOBILE MARKETS, FARM SHARES, FOOD PANTRIES AND SO MANY OTHER FOOD ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, WE AT THE OFFICE
OF FOOD JUSTICE HAVE REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT RESIDENTS MOST BY SUPPORTING UH PARTNERSHIPS AND CRITICAL FOOD ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS
THE EXCELLENT WORK OF THESE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS. UM, AND LEVERAGING THEIR EFFORTS TO REALLY BE SORT OF MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR THEIR PARTS, UM, TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND. UM, I WOULD SAY IN, YOU KNOW, A YEAR THAT WAS CHALLENGING, UH, AT THE FEDERAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL
FOR UM, CONDITIONS THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD. OUR WORK CRITICALLY SUPPORTED THE ABILITY OF PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO BE ABLE
TO HELP RESIDENTS WEATHER THESE STORMS UH BOTH AT THE TIME LIMITED CRISIS OF THIS DELAY AND SNAP BENEFITS IN NOVEMBER UM AND THROUGHOUT WITH UH
ONGOING FEDERAL EFFORTS TO REMOVE UH RESIDENTS ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE SNAP AS WELL AS THE ONGOING HIGH COST OF FOOD. UM SO A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS UH,
OF THE AWESOME TEAM WE HAVE AT THE OFFICE OF FOOD JUSTICE WHO REALLY MAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN WITH OUR PARTNERS IN FY 26, UM, THROUGH OUR CONTRACTED
SERVICES BUDGET. UH, PRIMARILY WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD EQUITABLE ACCESS, IMPROVE EQUITABLE ACCESS I SHOULD SAY AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS FOR FRESH, CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND
OR REGIONALLY GROWN FOOD UH, CITYWIDE AND ESPECIALLY WITH A FOCUS ON FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITIES. SO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THOSE UH, THROUGH THE CITYWIDE FARMER'S MARKET COUPON
PROGRAM, WE PROVIDED NEARLY $428,000 OF FRESH FOOD AT NO COST TO LOW INCOME BOSTON RESIDENTS AT ANY OF THE 20 FARMER'S MARKETS ACROSS THE
CITY BETWEEN JUNE AND OCTOBER, UM, THAT WERE THROUGH COUPONS DISTRIBUTED BY 35 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. UM, ENSURING THAT FOLKS COULD
REALLY ACCESS FOOD OF THEIR CHOICE IN THE COMMUNITY OF THEIR CHOICE UM WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS. UM SIMILARLY ON THE FRONT
OF MAKING SURE RESIDENTS COULD AFFORD FRESH FOOD OF THEIR CHOICE UM THROUGH OUR DOUBLE UP FOOD BOX PROGRAM WHICH UH PROVIDES SNAP SHOPPERS 50% DISCOUNT ON FRESH FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING STORES. UM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROGRAM IN 2018, UH OUR OFFICE HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $1 MILLION
IN DISCOUNTS UH, TO SNAP SHOPPERS FOR FRESH PRODUCE. UM AND IN THIS PAST TODAY THIS PAST YEAR WE UM THE THE SUPPORT FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
HAS BEEN ABOUT $88,000. UM AND WE UM HAVE ACTUALLY ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL STORES TO THAT PROGRAM THE BROTHERS SUPERMARKET ON DUDLEY STREET IN
DORCHESTER ON THE I WOULD SAY ON THE BORDER OF ROXBURY HAVE TO KIND OF BOTH THERE AND UM HAPPY MARKET ON SOUTH STREET ACROSS FROM THE BJ'S SITE IN
JAMAICA PLAIN. UM ON THE FRONT OF THE SUPPORTING EMERGENCY FOOD ECOSYSTEM AND FOOD RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS.
UM OUR INITIAL SEED INVESTMENT OF ARPA FUNDS THANKS TO THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR THE GREATER BOSTON COLLABORATIVE FOOD ACCESS HUB IN ROXBURY, UM ,HAS REALLY UH, BEGUN TO
BLOSSOM IN TERMS OF UTILIZATION OF THE SPACE THIS PAST YEAR, UM, WITH QUITE A FEW PARTNERS INCLUDING ABCD, GPS CENTER FOOD HUB, ROSIE'S PLACE, MAVERIK LANDING COMMUNITY SERVICES,
FRESH START FOOD NETWORK AND FOOD LINK ALL UM BASING A PORTION OF THEIR OPERATIONS OUT OF THE FOOD HUB IN ROXBURY AND WORKING WITH ALMOST A DOZEN
OTHER COLLABORATING PARTNERS TO HELP MOVE FOOD IN AND OUT. WE WERE ABLE TO OFFICIALLY KIND OF PARTNER WITH THE YMCA AND MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM TO TO MORE OFFICIALLY OPEN THAT SITE THIS
YEAR. UM AND REALLY IT'S IT CHANGES EVERY WEEK. SO A FEW EXAMPLES OF UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS. UM DURING THE PAST YEAR THERE WAS A SHIPMENT OF BANANAS THAT
MOVED THROUGH CHELSEA. UM THAT REALLY COULD NOT BE THERE LIKE NO ONE ORGANIZATION COULD FIND HOMES FOR THAT ALL OF THE BANANAS AND THERE ARE CLEARLY MANY MANY HOUSEHOLDS
THAT COULD BENEFIT. AND SO THE HUB WAS WAS CRITICAL IN GETTING THAT THOSE RESOURCES UH TO RESIDENTS WHO NEEDED THEM UM AT ANOTHER POINT DURING THE
YEAR, AN ENTIRE TRACTOR TRAILER OF 15,000 PREPACKAGED MEALS UM ALSO WAS NOT GOING TO BE GOING TO PEOPLE TO EAT IT. IT WAS GOING TO GO TO WASTE.
UM, AND SO THE PARTNERSHIPS IN THAT SPACE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE MEALS OUT TO MANY, MANY HOUSEHOLDS, UM, IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WHEN SNOWSTORMS AND
FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES TO SNAP ALSO DISRUPTED SUPPLY CHAINS, THE COLLABORATIVE HUB UH WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION AS A CORE STOPGAP SPACE FOR OPERATORS IN
THE EMERGENCY AND LOCAL FOOD SPACES TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER TO HAVE THIS COLD STORAGE THAT, UH, YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME TALK ABOUT SO MUCH, UM, TO CONNECT AND ENSURE THAT FOOD
WOULDN'T GO TO WASTE AND THAT, UM, EACH COMMUNITY REALLY WOULD HAVE UM, UM, A GREATER ABUNDANCE OF FRESH FOOD. UM, SIMILARLY THE ADDITIONAL 12
UH, ARPA FUNDED COLD STORAGE GRANTS THAT WE UM PROVIDED TO FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS THIS YEAR INCREASED UM THE COLD
STORAGE AVAILABLE UH, BY 1330 SEVEN SQUARE FEET OF COLD STORAGE AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS INCREASED UH, THEIR AVERAGE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED THIS YEAR BY 33%.
UM DUE TO THIS SUPPORT. UM, SO I'LL JUST UM, CLOSE WITH ONE MORE PIECE OF OUR WORK WHICH IS OUR PARTNERSHIPS UM, WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERVICES WHICH UM HAS REALLY MADE AMAZING STRIDES AND PROGRESS OF FOR THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM WHICH UH WAS STARTED BY THE COUNCIL'S
GOOD FOOD PURCHASING ORDINANCE AND THIS YEAR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARNED UH, GOOD FOOD LEADER SILVER STATUS FROM THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CALLED THE CENTER FOR
GOOD FOOD PURCHASING. AND SO THAT MEANS THAT FOR THE 20 2320 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, UM, ALL OF THE FOOD THAT DPS PURCHASED UM GAVE THEM THIS
EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH RATING IN TERMS OF THE VALUES UH BEHIND THE FOOD THAT THEY PURCHASED UM IN IN AS PART OF THEIR MISSION TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH FRESH ,NUTRITIOUS, NUTRITIOUS AND
LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT BREAKFAST ,LUNCH AND UM, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER MEALS. UM AND SO THIS KIND OF INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT REALLY SHOWS THAT THEY SORT OF SCOUR ALL OF THE PURCHASES
AND LOOK AT THE THE INDIVIDUAL INGREDIENTS WHERE THEY'RE SOURCED FROM, HOW THEY'RE PRODUCED. UM, AND THIS IS UH A HIGHER RANKING THAN MANY OF THE DISTRICTS OR JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO ACHIEVE. UM AND THIS IS ONLY UH THEIR SECOND ASSESSMENT UM, EVER COMING FROM THEIR INITIAL BASELINE OF UH FROM THE 2019 TO 2020 SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, SO I WANT TO PIVOT A. >> LITTLE BIT TO TALKING. ABOUT OUR GOALS AND OUR PLANS FOR FY 27. WE UM OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
FY 27 UM, INCLUDES $609,852 FOR PERSONNEL AND $610,000 FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES UM AND COMBINED WITH UM AN ADDITIONAL
$500,000 FROM THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FY 26 PROCESS WHERE RESIDENTS VOTED TO UM SUPPORT FOOD ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS. UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
REALLY CONTINUING TO DELIVER ON SUPPORTING THIS AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE FRESH FOOD ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY. UM, IN ADDITION, WE WILL BE
DEVELOPING LOOKING AT WHAT INITIATIVES WE CAN DEVELOP TO REALLY DO MORE TO SUPPORT AFFORDABILITY AT LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT GROCERY STORES.
UM, DEVELOPING A FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD INSECURITY DASHBOARD EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF OR DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM WITH A REPORT THAT WILL BE COMING OUT THIS YEAR.
UM, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YEAR ROUND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE AFFORDABILITY THROUGH BOTH FARMER'S MARKETS AND LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY STORES. UM, GIVEN THE CHALLENGES WITH
SNAP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL PART WE WILL BE PARTNERING UM WITH ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND TO PROTECT ACCESS TO SNAP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF BOSTON RESIDENTS THAT COULD BE, HAVE ALREADY
BEEN AND COULD CONTINUE TO BE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP. UM, WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR FOOD RECOVERY ASSESSMENT UM, WORKING WITH FOOD WASTE GENERATORS, FOOD RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DISTRIBUTE UH RECOVERED FOOD
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM LASTLY, CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN VENDORS AND FARMERS SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SMALL AND
REGIONAL UH, BIPOC FOOD PRODUCERS THAT ARE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR PROCUREMENT CHANNELS AND THOSE OF OTHER LARGE INSTITUTIONS, UM, AND EXPANDING OUR GOOD FOOD PURCHASING WORK
TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS. LASTLY, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY INCLUSION SMALL BUSINESS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED GROCERY STORES TO UNDERSTAND BODEGAS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES UM AND IN PARALLEL TO IDENTIFY WHAT LEVERS. >> THE CITY COULD USE. >> TO SUPPORT THESE STORES TO BETTER WEATHER THE CURRENT
STORMS. AND WE ARE ADVISING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT WHERE THEY ARE, UM, LOOKING AT GROCERY
STORES AS PART OF UH ESSENTIAL UH QUALITY OF LIFE FACILITIES IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO BETTER UNDERSTAND UM, THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE OF GROCERY STORES AS
FOOD ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT NEEDS UM EACH OF OUR NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU AND I WILL ANCHOR GROUP ENOUGH. THANK YOU. >> LISA. UM, SO THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT UH, THIS YOU KNOW, BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SORT OF 2026 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND 2027 GOALS, I THINK UH, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON
DELIVERING ON CORE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH NEEDS UH AND SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE CONSTITUENCIES IN BOSTON, UH, WITH A WITH A REAL FOCUS ON NEAR-TERM. AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT MOMENT. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND THE CONVERSATIONS
HERE TODAY. OKAY. >> UH THANK YOU. UH, THAT BEING JOINED BY COUNCILOR COLLETTA ZAPATA, COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD I JUST UH I HAD A QUESTION JUST
CLARIFYING. SO WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN MONEY FROM PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FROM THE RECENT VOTE, HOW DOES THAT SHOW UP IN YOUR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET LIKE IN
YOUR IN YOUR OPERATING BUDGET? SO JUST TO AS A HYPOTHETICAL, IF YOU IF YOU GOT $200,000 IN PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WHICH I WAS THAT THE NUMBER UH. IT'S 500.
500 OKAY. >> SO YOU HAVE 500 THE OPERATING BUDGET WENT GOES DOWN 200 FOR THIS YEAR IS ARE YOU REALLY UP TO 300 I UH HOW DOES THAT WORK?
HOW SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT THAT? UM THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK UM, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY THERE'S A LOT OF ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE
PROJECT THAT RESIDENTS VOTED FOR AND SUGGESTED AROUND GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR FOOD ACCESS WITH HOW WE HAVE WORKED WITH PARTNERS THROUGH OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UM WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OPTIONS RIGHT NOW AND REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HONORING WHAT THE RESIDENTS SUGGESTED AND VOTED FOR.
AND I THINK IT WILL, UM, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOPEFULLY MAINTAIN, UH, THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR FOOD ACCESS. ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. SUPPORT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. OKAY. >> YEAH.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, SO ONE THE TIMING OF THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING THERE'S A LONG TAIL BECAUSE IT'S VERY PARTICIPATORY. UM, SO THIS IS THE FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN THE IN THE PREVIOUS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. UM AND SO AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS THERE WERE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT MADE SENSE FOR LFG TO RUN COMING OUT OF THAT PROCESS. THIS IS NOT JUST SORT OF UH AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES INTO
OUR. OPERATING BUDGET TO DO WITH IT WHAT OUR J FEELS. IT'S WHAT COMES OUT OF THE DISCOVERY PROCESS. SO THAT IS THE FY 26 DECISION OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATE BUDGETING PROCESS. YOU KNOW THERE'LL BE OBVIOUSLY
AN ALLOCATION TO PURCHASE BATTERY BUDGETING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AS WELL. BUT THE TIMING ISN'T SUCH THAT WE'RE YOU KNOW WE INCLUDED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. >> SUBMISSION OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. UH CLARIFICATION. UH OKAY.
SO I'M GOING TO GO TO MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL. UH WE'RE GOING TO DO SIX MINUTES UH, AFTER THE FIRST TIME WE GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THEY'LL BE UH SECOND ROUND
AFTER THAT. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM THAT IS HERE. UM, HERE'S MY FIRST QUESTION. WHAT ARE THE.
CONTRACTED SERVICES THAT ARE SEEING A $315,000 CUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING. BUDGET AND ANOTHER 1.6 CUT IN
THAT DEPARTMENT EXTERNAL FUNDS BUDGET. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? UH, YES. UH, JUST FOR THE FOR THE PANELISTS.
JUST DON'T TOUCH THE BUTTONS. UH, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. OKAY, GREAT. UM, SO FOR THE THE, UH, CONTRACT SERVICES, UM, THE UH.
REDUCTIONS ARE FOR UM, UH, SUPPORT PROGRAMS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION. SO THESE ARE UM PROGRAMS TO UM
THAT DIRECTLY UM, HELP WITH UM FOR EXAMPLE, UM PROVIDING UM A UH SUPPORT BY CREATING UM ADDITIONAL UM MATERIALS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I MENTIONED THE UH THE CONDO UM UH HANDBOOK WHICH WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT FOR NEXT YEAR WE'RE MOVING THOSE SERVICES TO UM CONTRACT
SERVICES OR WE HAVE A SERVICE THAT PROVIDES UM FREE THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO COMPLY UM HAVE TO HAVE
THEIR DATA VERIFIED BY A THIRD PARTY AND WE'RE MOVING THAT TO UM THE POLLUTION ABATEMENT FUND UM FOR ONE YEAR. SO IT IS UM BY AND LARGE THOSE ARE A COUPLE EXAMPLES. IT IS UH WHAT IS BEING MOVED IS
ENTIRELY UM FOR TO SUPPORT CONTRACT SERVICES. AND THE 1.6 UM THE 1.6. FROM EXTERNAL FUND. YES. >> YEAH I THINK WELL LET
ME LOOK TO THAT TIME. >> DO YOU HAVE UH. CAN YOU ZERO IN ON THAT. OR IS THAT ACTUALLY OCR. TO SOME OF THE FUNDS. WILL SIGN ALL OF IT CORRECTLY AND THAT'S IT REFLECTS LARGER
GRANTS AND SO SOME GRANTS ARE EXPIRING OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR. UM AND SO YOU SEE SOME EBBS AND FLOWS IN THE EXTERNAL FUNDS BUDGET AS. UH GRANTS UH CYCLE AND CYCLE OUT. AS A. >> SMALL EXAMPLE. OF UM THERE'S A GRANT FROM THE PA.
FOUNDATION THAT HAS. HELPED WITH OUR CLIMATE IN BOSTON IMPLEMENTATION. IN THE EXTERNAL FUNDS BUDGET. THAT IS SUNSETTING. >> AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A. CUT THOUGH IF YOU HAVE GRANTS AND THE GRANTS ARE EXPIRING
THAT'S NOT REALLY A CUT RIGHT. UM SO. JUST JUST BRIEFLY. THE THE SERVICES THAT YOU MENTIONED HOW HOW. HOW ARE WE. >> GOING. TO BE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE GOING TO
BE CUT? YEAH I THINK. LET ME UM ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> BY JUST. STATING AT THE TOP UM WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO BE CUTTING ANY OF OUR PLANNED
SERVICES WHERE WE ARE MOVING THEM FROM UH, FOR ONE YEAR FROM CONTRACT SERVICES. TO UH BE FUNDED BY A REVOLVING FUND. SO UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY
CUTTING ANY OF THE SERVICES. UM, WE'RE WE'RE CONTINUING EVERYTHING AS HAD BEEN PLANNED. OKAY. >> UM, LAST WEEK BOSTON ANNOUNCED THAT BIRD REPORTING DEADLINE HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO AUGUST, I GUESS.
CAN YOU WALK. THROUGH WHERE THE FREE ONE ON ONE TECHNICAL. SUPPORT FLEXIBILITY MESHES DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE CHANGES CAN BE SEEN IN THE BUDGET.
WHERE IN THE BUDGET IS THAT. WHERE IN. >> THE BUDGET IS THE IS REFLECTED THE SORRY JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION HOW HAS THE EXTENSION AFFECTED UM THE BUDGET? YEAH THE FREE ONE AND ONE
TECHNICAL. SUPPORT AND FLEXIBILITY MEASURES DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE CHANGE. WHERE IS THAT IN THE BUDGET. THAT IS UM UH IN FISCAL YEAR 26
UM OPERATING BUDGET. SO THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT THROUGH JUNE AND THOSE UM SAME. SERVICES UM WILL BE AVAILABLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
UM AND IF THE CONTRACTS ARE UM . >> IF. IT'S THE SAME CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE WORKING OFF OF, THEY. >> WILL. JUST BE UM FUNDED THROUGH UH THE UH SHIFT FROM THE REVOLVING FUND THAT I MENTIONED. SO IT'S QUITE STABLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. OKAY.
>> UM. >> THE THE EIGHT JOBS. LISTED ON THE JOIN THE WORK TO BECOME A GREEN NEW DEAL CITY, ALL OF WHOM APPEAR TO BE WORKING EITHER IN WHOLE OR IN
PART IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT. UM, HOW HAS FILLING THOSE JOBS BEEN IMPACTED AFFECTED BY THE MAYOR'S HIRING DELAY?
AND HOW WILL FILLING THOSE POSITIONS AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AS WELL? UM, SO TO TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION IS UM. HOW HAS FILLING.
POSITIONS BEEN? YEAH, WE UM WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UM OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR WE'VE WE FILLED UM A GREAT NUMBER OF VACANCIES AND I
BELIEVE ONLY HAVE UM 3 OR 4 NOW UM I WILL BE I WILL NOTE THAT UM, AS PART OF UH TO. CONTRIBUTING TO THE 2.1% REDUCTION UM, OF THE OVERALL
BUDGET WE'VE PROPOSED UM, FREEZING UM, THE HIRING OF A ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYST POSITION. WHICH UM, CAME FROM A RETIREMENT AND WE'RE ALSO
ACTUALLY RECEIVING UM, UH, FELLOWSHIP FUNDING FOR A TWO YEAR FELLOW THAT UM, NO LONGER REQUIRES US FOR THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS TO HAVE UM, FUNDING FROM THE UM EMERGENCY
EMPLOYEES LINE. SO THAT IS THE ONLY IMPACT IT IS, UM, THAT WE'RE HAVING ON THE BUDGET FROM HIRING. THANK YOU. >> MY FINAL. QUESTION MAYBE I'LL GET THE QUESTION IN. MR CHAIR. SHOULD I SHOULD I ASK IT AND
THEN YEAH OKAY. GO AHEAD. I JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES UM. WITH WITH. FURTHER REGULATIONS. I HAVE HEARD. OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THAT
WANTED TO DO SOME PARTICULAR UPGRADE TO THEIR CONDO. UM, WHETHER IT'S HVAC WORK UM, SO THEY WANT TO GET THE HVAC
WORK DONE BUT THEN THE ADDED REGULATIONS UM I'M MAKING IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM FINANCIALLY TO GET THAT DONE. IS THAT A. >> CONCERN YOU HAVE HEARD AND
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT THAT ARE IN A CONDO GROUP AND THEY DO NEED TO GET. VERTICAL UM UPGRADES TO THEIR APARTMENTS OR CONDOS BUT THEY
DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MONEY BECAUSE OF THE ADDED BURDEN OF REGULATIONS. YEAH. >> UM WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ANSWER. THAT QUESTION? YEAH. OKAY. UM SO I, I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF UM THE CASES
THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT BY AND LARGE WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IS THAT UM. WHEN FOLKS WANT TO MAKE UPGRADES, UM, THE UPGRADES THAT THEY WANT AND THIS REFLECTS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF TECHNOLOGY, ALL OF THE
UPGRADES THAT ANYONE WOULD MAKE TO A BUILDING WHETHER IT IS A BIG SINGLE OCCUPANT OR A CONDO, THEY. ALL GO IN THE DIRECTION OF REDUCING ENERGY USAGE AND DECARBONIZATION WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MARGO IS DESIGNED
TO DO. SO WE DON'T HEAR UM YOU KNOW, BERTA IS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO THE UPGRADE I WANT. IT'S MORE THAT I WANT TO DO THE UPGRADE I WANT WHICH IS GOOD FOR ME AND GOOD FOR BERTO, BUT
I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT NOW THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR. AND SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY UM, FLEXIBILITY MEASURES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO US AND DEVELOP A PLAN THAT.
PUTS THE TIMING OF THEIR UPGRADES, UM, ON A SPECIAL TRACK SO THAT IT MATCHES WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES. THAT WE JUST HAD. UM, COUNCILOR FLYNN, JUST FOR FLAHERTY FOR THOSE WATCHING BERTO REGULATES, UH, BUILDINGS
OF A CERTAIN SIZE NOT INDIVIDUAL CONDO UNIT SPACES. SO AT THE MOMENT, UH, THE ONLY BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING ROPED INTO BERTO IMPLEMENTATION FROM 2025 TO 2029 ARE 35 UNITS OR LARGER.
UM AND SO HAPPY TO YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS HAPPY TO TAKE ANY PARTICULAR CASES THAT ARE COMING TO YOU THROUGH OUR HELP LINE OR REACHING OUT TO US INDIVIDUALLY TO HELP WALK FOLKS THROUGH. THERE IS OFTENTIMES SOME SORT
OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE. UM, UPGRADES TO PARTICULAR UNITS OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE BUILDING CODE BUT BERNARD IS NOT YOU KNOW, UM, REGULATING PARTICULAR UNITS BUILDINGS ON A LARGE SCALE. YEAH, THAT'S THAT WAS MY
CONCERN. UM, THERE WAS ONE UNIT ONE BUILDING I SHOULD SAY IN MY DISTRICT MORE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT IS PARTICULARLY IN THAT SITUATION. SO MAYBE I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU UM, OFFICE AFTER THE MEETING. MR CHAIR, THANKS FOR GIVING ME AN EXTRA. >> COUPLE MINUTES. YEAH. UH, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR BREADON. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. UM.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IN TERMS OF BERTO HOW MANY BUILDINGS ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FURTHER REPORTING OR EMISSIONS LIMITS AND AND HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT IF THEY'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE FOR WHATEVER REASON?
UM YEAH. SO WE UM WE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UM, EXTENDED THE DEADLINE UM, FROM MAY 15TH TO AUGUST 15TH. SO UM WE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW UNTIL UM A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AFTER AUGUST. >> 15TH. WHAT COMPLIANCE WITH UM EMISSIONS LIMITS IS BECAUSE THAT IS THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR 2025 IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT UM WE WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT BECAUSE UH, BORDEAUX WAS DEVELOPED UM, SO CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS WE KNOW UM THROUGH SOME ESTIMATING THAT UM, THE VAST MAJORITY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN YOU
KNOW, 80 AND 90% ARE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COME IN UM MEETING THEIR UM EMISSIONS LIMITS. SO THIS IS REALLY A UM A YEAR THAT KIND OF SETS THE BASELINE
FOR UM FUTURE YEARS. UM, IN TERMS OF REPORTING UM, WE HAVE UM. AND SO SO KEEP IN MIND THAT AROUND 6000 BUILDINGS ARE COVERED BY BERTO AND UM WE'VE
HAD A UM TRYING TO KIND OF SIMPLIFY THE NUMBERS WE'VE HAD DEPENDING ON THE CATEGORY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S UM, YOU KNOW, LARGER LARGE BUILDINGS OR MEDIUM SIZE LARGE
BUILDINGS UM BETWEEN 70 AND 80% UM REPORTING AND THAT IS ABOUT UM UH COMPARABLE TO OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE HAD BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. UM, ALTHOUGH THERE AREN'T THAT MANY THAT ARE YOU KNOW,
BOSTON'S AT THE FOREFRONT HERE. UM, BUT WE EXPECT THAT WHEN COMPLIANCE COMES UH, EMISSIONS COMPLIANCE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT COMES INTO EFFECT FOR BUILDINGS REPORTING COMPLIANCE WILL UM INCREASE. AS WELL. >> THANK YOU.
UM AND THEN UH, I KNOW ONE OF THE KEY AREAS UH, AND YOU MENTIONED WAS UM, COOLING UM, TRYING TO HELP US SURVIVE HOT SUMMERS. UM.
SO AS YOU KNOW, ALSO AS AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND, UM, AND WE'RE WONDERING WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE TO ENSURE SAFETY WITH HOT SUMMER MONTHS AHEAD LIKE, UM, ARE WE GETTING UP TO A
PLACE? THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS JUST THINKING ABOUT WE WE HEARD RECENTLY WE'VE INCREASED OUR UM, TREE CANOPY BUT ARE WE STILL IS THERE STILL A LOSS
OF TREE CANOPY ON PRIVATE SPACES AND AND AND IMPROVING ON PUBLIC SPACES THAT STILL UH. YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING A QUESTION ON TOURNAMENT, CHRIS ON THE UM EMERGENCY UM RESPONSE IN TERMS
OF HEAT UH SO ON CANOPY COVERAGE GREAT QUESTION COUNCILOR. UH, SO THE REPORT YOU'RE REFERRING TO EVERY FIVE YEARS WE DO A LEADER SURVEY OF CANOPY COVERAGE. SO WE WAIT UNTIL FULL GROWTH OF LEAVES IN THE SUMMERTIME AND
SAY HOW MUCH UM, SHADE IS BEING PROVIDED BY TREE CANOPY IN BOSTON. UH, AND WE HAD A MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD FROM 2019 TO 2024, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS
FIVE YEAR PERIOD SHOWED NO CHANGE. YEAH. UM WE ADDED UH A LITTLE OVER 150 ACRES WHICH IS A REAL AMOUNT UM ACROSS THE CITY AND AND MOVED OUR TOTAL UM UNIT BY ABOUT HALF A PERCENT OBVIOUSLY
BECAUSE THE CITY OF BOSTON IS 48MI2 IT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF LAND MASS BUT IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, WE ALSO SAW, UH, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE CANOPY COVERAGE THAT THE PUBLIC
SECTOR DIRECTLY CONTROLS. SO THAT'S STREET TREES, YOU KNOW, OVER UM, SIDEWALKS AND RIGHTS OF WAY THAT'S UH TREES AND PARKLANDS UM, IS ON BUILDINGS AND ASSETS THAT WE OWN. WE SAW A VERY LARGE INCREASE
THERE UM, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ACREAGE THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY OFFSET BY THE REDUCTION OF TREE CANOPY COVERAGE ON PRIVATE SECTOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS. UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO UH, TRY TO FIND
BETTER WAYS OF ENCOURAGING PRIVATE SECTOR TREE PLANTING AND COVERAGE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE BENEFITS THAT PRIVATE SECTOR TREES ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS UH, PROVIDE. UH, AND YOU KNOW, OUR INTEGRATING THAT.
INTO OUR UM, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE ZONING UH, REVIEW UH TO SAY HOW DO WE ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING AND PROMOTE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHILE NOT PROMOTING THE CUT DOWN OF OLDER TREES?
I WOULD HIGHLIGHT UM, TWO THINGS THAT REALLY MOVED US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON CANOPY COVERAGE. ONE IS WE NOW HAVE AN URBAN FORESTRY UNIT THAT HOPEFULLY EVERY CITY COUNCILOR IS SEEING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. YES, WE ARE MAINTAINING TREES
IN WAYS THAT WE DIDN'T FOR THE PREVIOUS 40 OR 50 YEARS. YEAH. UM AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR CANOPY COVERAGE IS ACTUALLY PRUNING TREES AND NOT WAITING FOR MOTHER NATURE TO DO IT FOR US BECAUSE THEN WE USUALLY LOSE. >> THE. WHOLE TREE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. YES. UH AND SO WE NOW HAVE A GOAL
OF GETTING, YOU KNOW, TO EVERY STREET TREE AND TREE UNDER OUR UM, CARE AND COVERAGE EVERY 5 TO 7 YEARS TO PRUNE IT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR LONGER. UM, THAT HAS PROVEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL THOSE INVESTMENTS UM, THAT THIS COUNCIL MADE ARE
REALLY, YOU KNOW, RETURNING AN ROI. SECONDLY, WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE PLANTING OF NEW STREET TREES IN CLIMATE JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE HAVE MANY THROUGHOUT BOSTON INCLUDING UM ALLSTON, BRIGHTON UH WE PLANT
ABOUT 2000 TREES EVERY YEAR. UH AND 40% OF THOSE TREES ARE GOING IN THE 20% OF LAND THAT IS DEFINED AS CLIMATE JUSTICE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO WE ARE TRYING TO GROW THAT CAN'T BE COVERAGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE URBAN HEAT
ISLAND IS A MORE EXTREME ISSUE. THAT IS THE STRUCTURAL RESPONSE OVER TIME, UH, TO REDUCING URBAN HEAT. AND WE KNOW THAT TEMPERATURES CAN VARY UP TO TEN DEGREES OR MORE. YOU KNOW, AN EXTREME HEAT DAY UM, BETWEEN A WELL CANOPY
COVERAGE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LESS CANOPY COVERAGE AND THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS ALL TRANSITION FOR CHRIS TO TALK ABOUT OUR RESPONSE ON COOLING CENTERS, OUR RESPONSE ON SPLASH PADS AND DEPLOYABLE WATER FEATURES.
UM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SO UH PERHAPS FIRST TALK ABOUT SORT OF WHAT HAPPENS DURING A HEAT EMERGENCY AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL POINT ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR PUBLIC REALM OVER TIME AND THEN THIRD SERVE SOME DIRECT UM, PEOPLE
BASED OR PEOPLE UH. FOCUSED UH, INTERVENTIONS. SO OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS A WHOLE SET OF MISSING TENTS, UH, AND SHADE STRUCTURES TO BE ABLE TO DEPLOY UM, DURING THE COURSE OF A HEAT
EMERGENCY. VERY UH, HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON LOCATIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE SETTING THOSE UP. UM, UH, AS WE HEAD INTO ANY HEAT EMERGENCIES THAT WE EXPERIENCE OVER THE COURSE
OF THE SUMMER. UM, IN ADDITION, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE SIMPLY INFORMED OF, UH, HEAT RELATED RISKS AND THE STEPS THEY CAN TAKE INDIVIDUALLY. SO DELIGHTED TO WORK WITH ANY
OF YOU ON AMPLIFYING THAT MESSAGE, UH, PARTICULARLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER NOT JUST DURING EMERGENCIES BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. UM, ONE OF THE KEY WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE PROVIDING SHADE, UH, IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS THROUGH SOME
OUTDOOR COOL SPACES LARGELY AT OUR LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, INCLUDING ONE THAT IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. UM, AND HAPPY TO SORT OF. UH. >> AT SOME POINTS FROM WALK THROUGH THAT LOCATION AND THINK ABOUT OTHER COOLING RESOURCES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE WE PROVIDE AND ALLSTON BRIGHTON UM, A QUICK ADDITIONAL NOTE ON UM CANOPY COVER AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT LONG TERM TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU'VE SPOKE ABOUT, ONE OF OUR KEY INVESTMENT AREAS BEYOND STREET
TREES IS ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THAT IS DONE THROUGH THE BOSTON TREE ALLIANCE IN COLLABORATION WITH MASS AUDUBON. UH, WE'VE HAD A A ROUND OF INVESTMENT UH, THIS PAST YEAR OF A HALF MILLION DOLLARS
TO UH, SIX GRANTEES TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TREE PLANTING, UH, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, UH, IN PLACES THAT HAVE LOWER CANOPY COVER, UH HISTORICALLY AND HAVE HIGHER UH, HEAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND
OF THAT COMING OUT UH, NEXT YEAR UH, WITH UH SUPPORT FROM. INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING ABOUT. UH $320,000. UM ONE LAST QUICK NOTE UM, A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE PLACE BASED BUT REALLY HEAT IMPACTS
PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK BY OUR OFFICERS. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FOCUSED ON PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF SUMMER MONTHS AND EXTREME HEAT EVENTS .
AND THIS SUMMER WILL BE UH, OUR FIRST SUMMER WORKING UH, UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT UH. UH. >> THIS COUNCIL PASSED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AROUND HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PLANS, UH, FOCUS BOTH ON CITY CONTRACTORS
AND UM, CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE UH. CAN ACTUALLY. >> BE MOST AT RISK FROM EXTREME HEAT EVENTS. SO THERE'S A SET OF THINGS THAT ARE LESS ABOUT THE PLACE AND MORE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SURVIVORS UH. UH IMPACTED AND. HAPPY TO WORK MORE. >> ON THAT. >> WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA. UH, SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND I PROBABLY WILL HAVE A SECOND ROUND BUT I WILL UM, I'LL GO AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. UM, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP. IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. BOSTON IS A, UM, NATIONAL ROLE MODEL AS RELATES TO BEING A GREEN NEW YORK CITY AND, UH, OUR STANDARDS OF SUPPLY RESILIENCE. BERTO. CHIEF.
ELIZA I'M SORRY. I SHOULD KNOW YOUR NAME. JUST WHAT IS IT? I'M SORRY. TAISHA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT I WAS LATE, UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS JUST CHECKING MY OWN
MATH AND, UH, I'LL GO THROUGH COASTAL RESILIENCE, FOOD ACCESS AND RECOVERY AND THEN PARKS AND SPECIFICALLY PARKS MAINTENANCE AHEAD OF THIS YEAR AND ALL OF OUR EVENTS.
UM, TO CHRIS SO IN THE COASTAL RESILIENCE SLIDE WE HAD PUT 88 MILLION TO 91 MILLION FOR FOR CAPITAL AND JUST CONFIRMING THAT THAT'S THE COASTAL RESILIENCE FUND.
SO OF THAT CAPITAL BUDGET UH 75 MILLION IS THE COASTAL RESILIENCE RESERVE. UM THE BALANCE OF THAT ARE A SET OF UM COASTAL RESILIENCE LARGELY CULTURAL EVENTS RELATED PROJECTS UH THINGS LIKE THE
BORDER STREET PROJECT. THE ONE OF THE NEW PROJECTS WAS WHY WHEN WE SEE AN INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF SCHOOL IS NOW PART OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE DESIGN WORK WHICH IS HAPPENING THERE.
UM, AND JUST OF NOTE AND AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COASTAL RESILIENCE WORK UH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE NOT JUST IN THIS BUDGET BUT ARE ALSO IN THE PLANNING UH, CABINETS BUDGET AS WELL AS WITHIN THE PARK
SPECIFIC BUDGET. SO EFFORTS LIKE RYAN PLAYGROUND UH IN YOUR DISTRICT OR UM SOME OF THE WORK ON THE UH THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL, OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE IN UH OTHER DEPARTMENTS BUDGETS BUT ARE ALL
ADDING TO THE CITY'S OVERALL INVESTMENT COST RESILIENCE. OKAY. >> AND THAT LEADS INTO MY NEXT QUESTION AND THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE THE BOARD OF STREET PROJECT. WE HAVE THE MOBLEY PARK CONNECTOR. WE HAVE THE MARIO UMANA. YEAH. >> IS IT SAFE TO CLEANLY SAY THAT'S A PART OF THE 75 MILLION THAT'S ALLOCATED.
SO THE AMOUNT IS ACTUALLY ABOVE THE 75 MILLION. SO THE 75 TO 75 MILLION CUSTOMER RESILIENCE RESERVE AND THEN BORDER STREET UH LOCALLY
LEWIS ROMANA UH AND A SMALL SET OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS ARE ABOVE THAT 75 MILLION COASTAL RESILIENCE RESERVE. SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE RESERVE AND REALLY USE THAT WE THINK LARGELY FOR A SET OF MATCH EFFORTS.
UM SOME OF THAT WILL BE ABOUT LEVERAGING IT FOR THE ARMY CORPS PROJECT UH, IN THE OUT YEARS OF THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN. UM BUT SOME OF THAT WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO HELP US MOVE MORE QUICKLY ON SOME OF THE NEAR-TERM PROJECTS THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WE'VE BEEN MEETING ON.
THANK YOU. AND I WAS GOING TO ASK I KNOW THE LAST TIME WE HAD TALKED UM ,AND WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WHICH I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND UM JUST YOUR TRANSPARENCY. SO THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT
JUST GIVEN THE THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM MAYBE A MATCHING MODEL STILL UTILIZING IT FOR THE ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN FINE TUNE IT A LITTLE BIT JUST TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE NEAR-TERM COASTAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS. HOW IS THAT GOING, WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE HAPPENED AND ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT?
SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. UM, I THINK FIRST ON THE ARMY CORPS AND THEN ON THE RESERVE UM, SO WE HAVE UH RENAMED AS THE SAME LINE ITEM BUT WE'VE RENAMED UH WITHIN THIS BUDGET
FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES TO YOUR POINT, UH, THAT THE ARMY CORPS COLLABORATION IN PARTICULAR IS A $5.7 MILLION THAT IS. UH. >> BOTH FULL FUNDING OF UH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UH, AS
WELL AS UH THE CITY'S 50% MATCH FOR THAT WORK. UM, AS YOU'LL SEE, SERVING THE CASH FLOWS FOR THE $75 MILLION UH UH COASTAL RESILIENCE RESERVE, THERE IS AN
EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL USE PORTIONS OF THAT IN ADVANCE OF SOME OF THE OTHER UH, LARGE GRANTS UH OR ARMY CORPS INVESTMENTS IN THE OUT YEARS. I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE NEAR-TERM INVESTMENT OR USE
OF THAT FUND WILL BE FOR PROJECTS LIKE LEWIS STREET AND COLUMN WHARF. WE DO HAVE THE OUTSTANDING UH, ROUGHLY $10 MILLION GRANT WE WILL EXPECT FROM THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.
UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UH, RUNS AND THE CITY IS EXPECTING FOR A $10 MILLION MATCH TOWARDS THAT UH TOWARDS THAT PROJECT AND SO WOULD LIKELY PULL FROM THAT RESERVE FOR THAT PURPOSE UH, GOING FORWARD. GREAT. >> THANK YOU.
UM, I'LL GO TO FOOD ACCESS AND RECOVERY. ELIZA, UM. YOU'RE AMAZING. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR, UH, ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND BEING VERY, UM, OPEN TO SOME
OF THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE ESPECIALLY AROUND FOOD ACCESS, UH, AND FOOD RECOVERY. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION JUST AGAIN, DOUBLE CHECKING MY MATH. SO IFJ BUDGET IS DOWN 14% WITH
204 DOWN IN CONTRACTS. DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? UH, I APOLOGIZE IF YOU HAD GONE OVER THAT AND I MISSED IT, BUT WHAT CONTRACTS ARE WE LOSING? SO OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES LINE
ITEM IS A SORT OF A GENERAL. DOESN'T IT'S. >> NOT BROKEN DOWN BY SPECIFIC CONTRACT. SO UM, THERE ARE NOT SPECIFIC CONTRACTS UM THAT WE'RE LOSING
PER SE. IT IS THE GENERAL UH, SOURCE OF OPERATING FUNDS RESOURCES THAT ALLOWS US TO WORK WITH FOR
VARIOUS GRANT PROGRAMS, UM, AND ANY CONTRACTS THAT WE SET UP, UH, TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THE FARMERS MARKETS AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS DO. OKAY. >> I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. IF THERE IS MONEY THAT'S GOING
TOWARDS, UH, OR THIRD PARTY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THEIR. WORK. >> UH, WE ARE PRIORITIZING UH, THE PLACES WHERE UH WE ARE SUPPORTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. >> THAT. BUT FOR OUR SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE.
UM, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, FARMERS MARKETS AND, UH, LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORES ARE CONTINUING TO BE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE FOOD ECOSYSTEM AND THE STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE. UM, WHILE, YOU KNOW, BEING
AWARE OF SORT OF THE CHALLENGES OF SNAP BENEFITS AND, YOU KNOW, DIRECT FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS. UM, SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH UH, AND THE OTHER THINGS OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET COMMITTEES AND OUR TEAM WORK REALLY HARD ON FINDING OUTSIDE
FUNDING PHILANTHROPIC, CORPORATE AND OTHER PARTNERSHIPS WHERE WE CAN SORT OF CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND USE THE FULL WEIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S UM ,SUPPORT AND GRAVITAS TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BRING ATTENTION TO ISSUES. RIGHT? >> I KNOW THE UM THE BOSTON
FOUNDATION IS VERY FINELY TUNED INTO THIS AND I AND I APOLOGIZE JUST REALLY QUICK UM, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE UM, MY TIME IS UP, WHICH IT KIND OF IS NOW ANYWAY. SORRY CHAIR QUICK QUESTION.
THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S IT'S ON FOOD ACCESS JUST REALLY QUICKLY SO THAT FOLLOWING UP ON HIS QUESTION WITH THE MONEY THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING I WAS IN THAT FY 26 DECISION IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN IN FY 27.
HOW WILL YOU OPERATIONALIZE THAT. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING? UM HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET ONLINE BECAUSE THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO NEED IT. IT SAYS IT'S FOR UM THE NEIGHBORHOOD FRESH FOOD INITIATIVE.
WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE OPERATIONALLY AND WHERE IS IT GOING? UM, SO I WOULD SAY SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH GIVEN THE CHANGES TO OUR OPERATING
CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR FY 27 UM, KIND OF WHAT WE HAVE UH FEDERAL GRANT FOR DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS THAT IS ENDING AT THE END OF JUNE AND WE DON'T YET KNOW IF WE'LL BE ABLE TO
APPLY FOR UM, AN ADDITIONAL ROUND OF FEDERAL FUNDING WHICH REQUIRES A 1 TO 1 MATCH. SO WE I WOULD SAY ARE UM, WORKING THROUGH AS WE AS WE
DETERMINE LIKE WHAT OTHER FUNDING RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ,HOW TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF BOTH CITY OPERATING FUNDS AND ANY POTENTIAL EXTERNAL FUNDS. I UM SO I WOULD SAY WE'RE SORT
OF IN THE EARLY PLANNING PHASE OF THAT JUST BECAUSE IT YEAH, THE INFORMATION WE HAVE HAD FOR UM A FEW WEEKS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON UM ON THAT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SURE. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MURPHY. GOOD CHAIR. UM. I'LL GO. NOT IN THE ORDER I WAS THINKING JUST TO CONTINUE ON THAT
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SO ONE THING I HAVE BEEN ASKING, UM, AND JUST KIND OF CITYWIDE FOR MONTHS NOW LIKE
KNOWING THAT IN PROBABLY EVEN BEFORE DECEMBER EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS SAYING LIKE WE'RE COMING INTO SOME TOUGH TIMES. WHEN YOU PROPOSE YOUR BUDGET LIKE WHAT WOULD YOU CUT? AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE
ADMINISTRATION CAME BACK DEPARTMENTS. WERE NOTIFIED WHAT WAS ACTUALLY CUT FROM THEIR DEPARTMENTS. UM STILL WAITING FOR THOSE ANSWERS. BUT THE QUESTION THAT WAS JUST
ASKED IF THERE IS A NUMBER TO, YOU KNOW, FOOD ACCESS AND ARE WE. HOPING THAT EXTERNAL. FUNDS WILL COME BACK TO REPLENISH AND IF NOT THEN WHAT
AND. WHICH EXTERNAL PARTNERS OR EVEN CITY UM PARTNERS OR CONTRACTS DO NEED TO BE CUT. KNOWING THAT THEY MAY NOT COME
BACK. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY I'M A VERY. HOPEFUL PERSON. THEY WILL. BUT IF NOT THEN WHAT. YOU KNOW LET ME FRAME AND THEN AT LEAST YOU SHOULD EXPAND ON THE ANSWER. UM JUST EXPANDING ON ON HER
ANSWER THERE COUNSELOR UM, CALLED AS A PARTNER ONE OF THE MOVING TARGETS WE HAVE IS THERE WERE FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS THAT USED TO BE LIKE CLOCKWORK ON CERTAIN MONTHS THEY WERE LIKE RELEASED AND THERE WAS A VERY WE UPDATE THE APPLICATION WE KNOW IT'S COMING THAT
UNCERTAINTY AND THOSE USUALLY COME WITH A LEVERAGE. SO THE OTHER LOCAL PARTICIPATION HAS MEANT THAT WE'RE SORT OF WE'RE BEING I THINK APPROPRIATELY CONSERVATIVE IN SAYING WE WANT
TO WAIT TO GET THAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY AND UNDERSTAND IS THIS GOING TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS? MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT LEVERAGE AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF THAT LOCAL PARTICIPATION TO THEN GO AFTER THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, AND SO THERE IS ONE COMING
UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS THAT THE FOOD JUSTICE OFFICE FOR JUSTICE HAS USED HISTORICALLY TO SUPPORT AS PARTNERS THAT WE JUST WANT TO BE READY FOR. SO THERE IS THAT ELEMENT OF OF A MOVING TARGET, UM, WHERE HOPEFULLY WE'LL USE BOTH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND OPERATING FUNDING.
SO THE REASON WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE CAGEY LIKE WHICH PARTICULAR PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME FLEXIBILITY WITH AGAIN THIS LENS OF WHERE THE CITY'S INVESTMENT FROM WHATEVER BUDGET IS SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT OTHERWISE
WOULD BE FINANCIALLY A RISK THAT IS CRITICAL TO FOOD ACCESS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S WHAT WE PRIORITIZE. AND IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN GO TO PHILANTHROPY OR CORPORATE PARTNERS TO TRY TO BACKSTOP REDUCTIONS IN OUR
DIRECT SUPPORT, WE WILL DO THAT AND THAT'S THE HEADSPACE THAT WE'RE IN. YEAH I THINK I MEAN. THAT'S THOSE ARE THE DECISIONS. THAT WE'RE.
GOING TO BE MAKING AND I DON'T FORESEE THAT WE WOULD BE LIKE. CUT JUST. >> TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT I DON'T FORESEE THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC PARTNERS WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT WOULD
BE CUT PER SE AS MUCH AS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE HAD AROUND SUPPORTING AFFORDABILITY, WE MAY NEED TO. ADJUST THE SCALE OF SOME
PROGRAMS OR LIKE UH, THE CHIEF SAID SORT OF BE NIMBLE ABOUT WHAT WE DEPLOY WHEN BASED ON EXTERNAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE. WE DID HAVE A ROBUST. HEARING UM.
THAT WENT INTO MY COMMITTEE BACK ON MARCH 30TH THAT UM, COUNCIL FLYNN AND I SPONSORED ABOUT DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS THE CITY. WE DID MISS YOU REALIZE THAT
THERE BUT YOU KNOW PUBLIC HEALTH WAS HERE FOR THE CONVERSATIONS JUST AROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS EIGHT STRONG THERE'S SO MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU KNOW, FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS LOOK.
TO, BUT THEY'RE. ALSO GOING AFTER GRANTS AND FUNDING. UM, AND WE'LL RUN OUT OF TIME BUT HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS LEAN ON EACH OTHER
FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. AND WHEN THERE'S I NEVER SAY THERE'S LOTS OF MONEY BUT WHEN WE'RE NOT REALLY CUTTING BACK AND SCALING THERE'S NOT AS I THINK A CLOSE LENS ON WHO'S. ACTUALLY PAYING FOR IT.
>> AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DOES HAVE A SNOW REMOVAL BUDGET SO WE'RE MAKING SURE OUR PUBLIC WORKS IS AND EXPECTING TO SHOVEL LIKE SO ARE THERE MONEY OR GRANTS IN THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
>> THAT. WE'RE MAKING I MEAN OF COURSE WE'RE MAKING SURE BUT THAT WE CAN LEAN ON BECAUSE THIS. PROCESS THAT WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND IF AMENDMENTS ARE BEING PUT
FORTH LIKE HOW CAN WE AS A BODY OR HOW CAN I AS A COUNCIL AND MAKE SURE I'M ADVOCATING TO MAKE SURE THAT OBVIOUSLY YOUR DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST THAT'S MAKING SURE FOOD INSECURITY ISN'T HAPPENING, BUT ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS THAT SOMEWHAT RESPONSIBILITY SUPPORTING THAT GOING FORWARD.
UM YEAH I WILL SAY I THINK IT WILL BE BEST IF WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT SPECIFICS THERE THERE ARE DEFINITELY RESOURCES WITHIN EACH STRONG IN PARTICULAR AND UH THAT ARE
SUPPORT FEDERAL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAP INTO FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR GREAT SCHOOL AGE UM. STUDENTS FAMILIES AND AS WELL
AS OLDER ADULTS. UM AND UM WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION'S CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL DIVISION
THAT HAS UM WE'VE BEEN WORKING AROUND A STRATEGY FOR FRESH FOOD ACCESS AS PART OF THEIR REACH GRANT, UM, AS WELL AS GROW BOSTON'S WORK TO HELP PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR
OWN FOOD. SO UM, THAT THOSE ARE NOT DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT I CAN GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW. THAT'S FINE. JUST MAKING SURE I'M SUPPORTING ONE QUESTION BEFORE THE BUZZER GOES OFF. UM. >> TO SHADE AND COOLING SPACES
ACROSS THE CITY CHINATOWN OBVIOUSLY. IS A. >> UM I GUESS FOR A LACK OF A HOT HOTSPOT BUT KNOWING, UM. YOU KNOW. JUST DISEASES AND JUST NEEDS
THAT ARE THERE UM, THE COUNCIL FLYNN AND I HAVE BEEN AT MANY EVENTS. TUFTS IS A GREAT PARTNER AND OTHER YOU KNOW JUST NON-PROFITS THAT STEP UP TO SUPPORT. >> BUT IS. THERE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTICULAR IN
THE SUMMER MONTHS COMING UP? GREAT QUESTION. SO THERE HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION UH, IN PART SUPPORTED BY THE RESILIENCE OF THIS NETWORK TO DO A CHINATOWN SPECIFIC HEAT RESILIENCE PLAN. HAPPY TO UM, I CAN FOLLOW UP
AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU. AND OF NOTE, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH UH, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IN CHINATOWN AND DISCUSSING HAVE NOW BEEN PILOTED. SO UH, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, UM, WELL, STREET TREE
PLANTING AND TREE PITS IS A PRIORITY THAT SOME PLACES AND SOME OF OUR STREETS BECAUSE OF AREA WAYS WHERE THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO IT IS IN CHINATOWN ON HARRISON AVE WHERE WE FIRST PILOTED THESE SORT OF LARGE SCALE UM MOVABLE TREE
PLANTERS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE UH, COOLING ON SOME OF OUR STREETS IN CHINATOWN. UH, KNOWING THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE SOME OF OUR TYPICAL INTERVENTIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY UM, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REASONS. 101 THREE IN THE PARTNERSHIP
WITH BOSTON WATER AND SO WITH THEIR WATER TRUCK. UH, YES, EXACTLY. THE WATER TRUCK AND THE SHADE TENTS WERE ON THE UM UH THE PLAZA THOSE SORTS OF THINGS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE REGULAR SOLUTIONS COUNCIL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. >> UH, AND. >> WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR CULPEPER. YOU'RE AFTER COUNCILOR VIRTUE. THANK YOU. CHAIR. UH. MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR IT
JUST SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY QUESTION WE HAVE TO ASK EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT COMES IN FRONT IS HOW MUCH YOU LOSING AND YOU KNOW AND WHERE DOES IT HURT THE MOST. SO I'LL TRY AND PHRASE IT DIFFERENTLY IN THAT IF YOU COULD ADVOCATE I SAY MOSTLY
CUTS ARE COMING PROBABLY FROM CONTRACTED SERVICES EXTERNAL PERSONNEL FUND IF WHICH ONE ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE MOST AND IF THIS COUNCIL COULD ADVOCATE FOR ANYTHING IN TERMS OF THE POWERS IT HOLDS WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE REINSTATED AND I GUESS SO WHICH WHICH CUT FEELS THE HARDEST TO TAKE THIS YEAR FOR YOU GUYS? UM, IF WE HAD THAT ABILITY. UH IT'S A GREAT IN CONTRACTED
SERVICES IS IT IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OR WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE WHAT WHAT ARE WE LOSING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE BACK? YEAH. >> UM I THINK AT A HIGH LEVEL IT'S A GREAT QUESTION COUNCIL I THINK AT A HIGH LEVEL WE HAD BECAUSE OF CONSERVATIVE
BUDGETING IN THE PAST FROM SOME OF OUR UM REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS. WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CAPACITY TO TAKE A ONE YEAR HIT. SO HONESTLY OUR ANSWER IS WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE GOOD WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
COMMUNITIES WITH A BIT MORE MONEY ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS. BUT UM, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A DEMONSTRABLE DROP OFF IN SERVICES FROM THIS LIKE BUDGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO SHIFT SOME EXPENSES FOR ONE YEAR ONLY TO SOME FUNDS THAT
HAD BUILT UP SOME RESERVES BECAUSE WE CONSERVATIVE BUDGET HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING IN VERSUS HOW MUCH IS GOING OUT? UM THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE NEXT YEAR RIGHT. AND SO I THINK THESE ARE THE ANSWER IS LIKE YOU KNOW, I'M
HAPPY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS PUT IN THE AREAS THAT YOU KNOW WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS ALLOWS US TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE UM, BUT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT SORT OF UH IS GOING TO BE UH VERY
NEGATIVELY IMPACTFUL TO THINGS THAT WE'VE COMMITTED. >> TO. AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS WHERE IT'S LIKE OH, WE'RE CANCELING THIS PROGRAM THAT WE THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE LAST YEAR. WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT.
THAT WAS OPERATING BUDGET FUNDED. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY PROGRAMS THAT WERE EXTERNALLY FUNDED THAT LIKE HAVE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. WE ALWAYS TRY TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS WHEN IT'S EXTERNAL MONEY TO SAY THIS IS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, SPEND THAT MONEY AND THAT'S NOT SHIFTING
TO THE OPERATING BUDGET WHEN THAT'S DONE. SO LET'S MAKE SURE THOSE GAINS AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY'RE BENEFITING RIGHT. UNTIL YOU SAY NEXT YEAR THEN WE'RE NOT THE ONE THAT'S GONE
THE NEXT YEAR. THAT QUESTION MIGHT BE MORE PERTINENT. IF A SIMILAR ANSWER WAS MADE OF US NEXT YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR BECAUSE THOSE SORT OF RESERVES ARE YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL HAVE BEEN EXPENDED.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU SAW IN WHAT WAS BEING CUT THIS YEAR THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF NEXT YEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SORT OF FORECAST FOR AND MIGHT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. UM, YEAH.
THINGS THAT YOU FILLED IN WITH SOME OF THE REVOLVING FUND MONEY BUT SAYING HEY THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE SAME AREA NEXT YEAR IF THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED THIS YEAR. UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THERE THAT UM YEAH. >> I MEAN SO I THINK THEMATICALLY OBVIOUSLY THIS IS
A BIG YEAR FOR BURNOUT IN TERMS IMPLEMENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT UM RESPONDING UH BUILDINGS AND OWNERS NEED RIGHT THIS YEAR AND SO WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER, YOU KNOW, COME AUGUST ABOUT SAYING HERE ARE THE AREAS WHERE YOU
KNOW, WE ACTUALLY UM, WOULD WANT TO SEE MORE UM, TECHNICAL ADVICE AND SERVICES PROVIDED. UM, SO THAT'LL BE ONE THAT JUMPS IN MIND, UM, AS CHRIS MENTIONED AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF RAMPING UP ON
SPENDING ON BOTH CAPITAL AND OPERATING NOT ON RAMPING DOWN. SO WE CAN OBVIOUSLY PUNT A LITTLE BIT. >> FOR. A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WE'RE ASSUMING MORE RISK EVERY TIME WE'RE PUNTING DECISIONS TO REDUCE RISK. THAT'S JUST ASSUMING THE RISK,
YOU KNOW IN THE OUT YEARS. AND THEN I THINK ON ON FOOD IN PARTICULAR WE UM YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN WITH US FOR DECADES THAT IS PARTICULARLY POINTED BECAUSE OF THE
CONFLUENCE OF FEDERAL AND STATE UM AND LOCAL CHALLENGES INFLATION. WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR FOOD ECOSYSTEM AND WE KNOW AS THE CITY COUNCIL KNOWS YOU KNOW, UM, VERY WELL THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO OUR FOOD
ECOSYSTEM THAT ARE TEETERING FINANCIALLY. RIGHT? WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE GROCERY STORES UM CLOSE WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE FARMER'S MARKETS GO UNDER. SO WE NEED TO AND WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME, AS ALISA MENTIONED, TRYING TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE CITY'S ROLE IN HELPING SUPPORT THOSE ECOSYSTEMS, UH, AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND I THINK WE'D HAVE AN ANSWER NEXT YEAR ABOUT SAYING HERE ARE THE PLACES WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE SOME INVESTMENT MAKES
SENSE. UM, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT DOWNWARD SPIRAL, UH, AROUND FOOD ACCESS. THANK YOU. >> UH, STAYING ON THE FOOD EXERCISE ONLY ANECDOTALLY. RIGHT. I'VE GOT SOME FRIENDS WORKING
AT TEACHERS IN BP'S AND THEY CALL ME UP KNOWING WHERE I'M AT AND THEY SAY, HEY JOHN, LIKE EVERY MORNING WE GOT MUFFINS AND STUFF FOR THE KIDS BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND EVEN SOME TO GO DINNERS AND YOU KNOW, ONE
KID WILL TAKE ONE OUT OF THE 24 MUFFINS AND THEN THE REST JUST GO IN THE TRASH, RIGHT? AND TO THEM IT JUST BOTHERED ME. SO MY FRIEND REACHED OUT TO ME WAS LIKE THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING BETTER WE CAN DO WITH THIS FOOD. WHAT IS SET UP NOW AND WHAT DO
WE HAVE PLANNED FOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH BP'S HOW TO MAKE SURE ANY UNUSED FOOD GETS INTO THE HANDS IT NEEDS TO UM, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S DATA ON HOW MUCH FOOD GOES TO EACH SCHOOL.
I'M SURE THERE'S DATA ABOUT HOW MUCH FOOD IS USED, BUT I'M NOT SO SURE THERE'S ANY DATA ON HOW MUCH GETS THROWN OUT EVERY DAY. RIGHT. AND SO HOW DO WE FIND OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS AND HOW DO WE
SORT OF UH YOU KNOW LOWER THAT NUMBER. YEAH. >> SO I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AND PBS HAS THE SAME CONCERNS THAT UM, YOU
MENTIONED UH, THEY I WILL SAY A FEW THINGS YOU DID MENTION UM, BREAKFAST. SPECIFICALLY. >> UM, I IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GET DETAILS DIRECTLY FROM THEM BUT THEY BP'S IS WORKING ON
SORT OF I WOULD SAY STRENGTHENING AND OVERHAULING THE SYSTEM FOR UM WHAT ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT OFFER BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM AND IMPROVING SORT OF DATA TRACKING AND UH,
GIVING MORE CONTROL TO THE CLASSROOMS TO BE ABLE TO ALIGN WHAT THEY GET WITH WHAT STUDENTS WANT. UH, SO THAT COULD CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THAT. I THINK THE OVERARCHING UH,
CHALLENGE THAT ALL DISTRICTS THAT GET FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR SCHOOL MEALS FACE IS THERE ARE UH, WILDLY COMPLEX SET OF.
REGULATORY UM MEASURES THAT UH, USDA PLACES ON THEM WHERE THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY SORT OF DO THINGS THAT ARE SEEM LOGICAL TO US A LOT OF THE TIME. UM, LIKE THEY CAN'T REUSE
THINGS A LOT OF THE TIME BETWEEN FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND FOOD SAFETY. AGAIN, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON SOME OF THESE TECHNICAL DETAILS BUT UH, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS TO DO
SOME STUDIES AROUND THINGS LIKE FRUIT THAT UM LIKE WEIGHING IT ,DETERMINING HOW MUCH WASTE THERE IS AND WHAT MEASURES THEY CAN PUT IN PLACE AT A TRAINING LEVEL FOR THE MANY, MANY STAFF
UM, IN THAT DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE WASTE. IT IS A IT IS A PART OF THEIR UH MULTI-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THEY LAUNCHED LAST YEAR. GREAT. >> NO, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST ALWAYS THINK IT'S, UM YOU KNOW, IF YOU HEAR PEOPLE
WAITING FOR FOOD AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND WE GOT FOOD GOING INTO A TRASH CAN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WELL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO JOIN THOSE TWO. BUT UM, I'M GLAD FOLKS ARE THINKING ABOUT IT. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT, UH, KNOW MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. UH. SIX MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. >> CHAIRMAN MEMBER AND UH. >> GOOD MORNING. WHAT A DAY, HUH? BUDGET CUTS. AND SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BUDGET CUT. SO YOUR CUT IS $204,000 RIGHT? UH. YOU'VE RUN OFF AS A FOOD PROCESSOR ACROSS THE COUNTY. YEAH. SO WE. >> HAVE THREE FULL DEATHS. YEAH.
AND WHERE ARE THOSE SPECIFIC CUTS GOING TO APPLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM, THE FARMERS MARKET COUPON PROGRAM, THE
DOUBLE PROGRAM, THE COLLABORATIVE WHERE ARE THOSE CUTS GOING TO APPLY? WHERE ARE YOU APPLYING THOSE CUTS WITH THESE FIVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS?
SO AGAIN UM FOR FLAHERTY A LOT OF OUR FUNDING COMES ALSO FROM SORT OF EXTERNAL SOURCES. AND SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE WE ARE NOT LINE ITEM IN A PARTICULAR PROGRAM AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE
MIDST OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING CYCLES THAT WE'D WANT MATCH MONEY TO SUPPORT? THE LENS WITH WHICH WE ARE BRINGING IS NOT TO UM IS NOT UH ,YOU KNOW, IS TO HOLD HARMLESS
DOUBLE FOOD BUCKS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE FARMERS MARKETS AND PROGRAMS FOR UM THAT SUPPORT LOCAL GROCERY STORES FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE DON'T
WANT THAT ECOSYSTEM OF FOOD ACCESS, UM, TO BE DISRUPTED AND I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT BUT WE'RE. SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM WON'T BE CUT OR AFFECTED BY THESE
CUTS? THE FARMERS MARKET COUPON CODE PROGRAM WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THESE CUTS. THE DOUBLE PROGRAM WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THE CUTS. THE COLLABORATIVE FOOD ACCESS
PROGRAM WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THE CUTS IN THE COLD STORAGE GRANTS. WELL WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. BUT THOSE FOUR YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE PRESERVING THOSE
AND THEY WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THE CUTS I. MENTIONED THE FOOD BANKS AND THE AND THE FARMERS MARKET SUPPORTS THE ONES THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ANALYZING UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO SORT
OF LEVERAGE, UH, YOU KNOW, FUNDING SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR OTHER PROGRAMS. AND THE OTHER SO THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM IS PRIMARILY AND NOT IS A PERSONNEL UH, PERSONNEL SUPPORTED FOR US, IS
IT WE WE HAVEN'T UM, FOR THE MOST PART HAD UM GRANTS OR OR CONTRACTED SPENDING FOR THAT UM ,STAFF TIME AND YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR OUR SIX FTES.
UM. SO YOU JUST LOANING MONEY STAFF IS NOT MONEY ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE. UH FOR THE MOST PART ON OUR ON OUR OFFICES AND THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN THE THE GREATER BOSTON COLLABORATIVE. >> FOOD ACCESS HAVING. >> THE COLD STORAGE GRANTS WERE UM ONE TIME ARPA FUNDED WHICH WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO DISPERSE. THE THE REMAINDER OF THOSE
GRANTS THROUGH DECEMBER. UM BUT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE OPERATING SO. >> IT'S GOING TO CUT AT THE END OF DECEMBER. WELL THEY THEY WERE TIME LIMITED GRANTS RIGHT FOR A
SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT THOSE UH ,RECIPIENTS ARE WORKING ON. BUT THEY HAVE TO AT THE END OF DECEMBER THE PROGRAM'S GOING TO STOP. WELL THEY WERE ARE. >> YOU LOOKING FOR OTHER FUNDS
TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE IN DECEMBER? SO SO. THOSE TWO GRANT PROGRAMS IN PARTICULAR WERE FOR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT. SO THOSE WERE GRANT PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAD UH ONE WE HAD THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD HUB
COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF ARPA MONEY TO UNDERWRITE A MULTI-YEAR POLICE. >> NO, I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND BUT WE. NEVER INTENDED FOR MY POINT. >> THOSE WERE NEVER INTENDED AS ANNUAL OPERATING PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAMS.
SO THEY WERE JUST SO YOU PLAN FOR THEM TO JUST IN AT IN IN THE OPERA I. >> GUESS THE ISSUE I'M HAVING, THE WORDS I'M HAVING A WITH IS LIKE CUTTER AND THEY WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO CONTINUE THOSE WERE RUN. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THOUGH RIGHT?
WE WILL NOT BE ISSUING ANOTHER SET OF GOODS. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. YEAH RIGHT. MAYBE IT'S NOT THE RECIPIENTS OF THEM DIDN'T. AND THAT WAS MY THE QUESTION ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS. THAT'S MY NEXT QUESTION. >> I HAVE. >> AN. EXAMPLE THE. >> IMPACT ON THE RECIPIENTS. YES.
>> SO I. WILL SAY TWO THINGS. UM SO FOR EXAMPLE MOST OF THOSE GRANTS THE COLD STORAGE GRANTS UM THOSE ENTITIES WERE ABLE TO
IN SOME CASES PURCHASE A FREEZER, RIGHT? SO THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF FOOD SOURCES AND THE FREEZER HAS ALLOWED THEM TO TAP INTO ADDITIONAL SOURCES. THERE MAY BE SOME PORTION OF THOSE GRANTS. >> THAT.
THEY ARE USING FOR ONGOING COSTS. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE GRANT YOU WE GAVE THEM A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY UM, WITHIN THE FOCUS ON COLD STORAGE. BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS THEY CAN STILL USE THAT FREEZER
FOR THESE FOOD SOURCES. UM AND WE WE UM HAVE A PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER IN OUR TEAM AND WE HAVE ONGOING WORK WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO HELP
THEM CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER, CONNECT WITH OTHER RESOURCES WHERE UM, THOSE GRANTEES WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSORBED INTO THAT PARTNER NETWORK WHERE WE ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEM. WE'VE SUPPORTED SORT
OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH ESRD AT TIMES. UM, TO UM SO I THINK THE POINT YOU'RE RAISING ABOUT. WHEN THOSE FINAL GRANT
DISBURSEMENTS GO OUT UM, WILL THERE BE UM YOU KNOW, A PLATEAU OR AN IMPACT ON THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ABILITY TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO LIKE,
COLLECT INFORMATION ON AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY OTHER WAYS THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR PROGRAM SUPPORTED. RIGHT. >> AND ONE MORE QUESTION, MR CHAIR, IF I MAY. I HAD OTHERS BUT I'M GOING TO
JUST ASK ONE MORE. THANK YOU. UM, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE $200,000 CUT AND YOU LOOK AT UM THE REQUEST TO ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS WAS FOR A 2% CUT. FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS I THINK THE MAYOR I SAW THE DEPARTMENT FOR 2% CUT AND YOU CUT CAME OUT
TO BE 25% FOR YOUR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING. DID YOU MAKE THAT DECISION OR WHEN YOU WERE ASKED FOR THE 2% CUT, WHAT CUT DID YOU GIVE TO
THE UH LET'S SAY JOHN WILLIAMS WHEN THEY FOR THE 2% CUT OR DID YOU WERE YOU THE.
PERSON THAT GAVE THE DEPARTMENT THE 25% CUT? DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M GETTING THERE? SO YOU WERE ASKED FOR A 2% CUT RIGHT? BUT YOU ENDED UP WITH A 25%
CUT, RIGHT? WHO MADE THE DECISION TO CUT 25% INSTEAD OF 2%? SO SO THE 2%. >> CUT JUST FOR FLAHERTY WAS ACROSS THE. >> BOARD AND RIGHT.
RIGHT CONTRACTING. PERSONNEL AND OPERATING. UH OBVIOUSLY EACH OF THE. DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES IN THE . US CABINET ARE DIFFERENT SIZES AND SCALES. SOME ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON PERSONNEL LINE ITEMS, SOME ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON CONTRACT
DOLLARS TO DELIVER SERVICES SO IT DOESN'T WATERFALL DOWN COMPLETELY CONSISTENTLY. UM WE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH UH OBM YOU KNOW, FOR MONTHS ON DEVELOPING THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO IT'S NOT AS IF WE SUBMIT SOMETHING AND THEN THEY JUST THEY CHANGE IT AND THEY SUBMIT SOMETHING. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THAT OVERALL. INTENT OF AN AGGREGATE A YOU KNOW, A 2% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD
AND YOU'RE SEEING YOU KNOW, THREE OF THE FIVE OFFICES. THAT I. >> HAD THE PRIVILEGE OVER SAYING SORT OF THE BEST AVAILABLE RESPONSE GIVEN THE TASKS THAT WE WERE UM GIVEN AT HAND UH, SOME FELT CUTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS MORE DEEPLY
THAN OTHERS. UH, BUT IN THE AGGREGATE WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIVE TO THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN WHILE. CONTINUING TO. DELIVER KEY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. IN THE AGGREGATE YOU CAME UP
WITH THE 25% CUT. IN THE AGGREGATE HERE IS YOU KNOW, CAN WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON OUR FOOD PROGRAM PRIORITIES ON ECOSYSTEMS WITH $200,000 LESS IN GRANT MONEY,
YOU KNOW AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO. DO THAT. >> AND WAS THAT YOUR DECISION FOR THE 25% CUT OR WAS IT IN DISCUSSION WITH THE ANALYSTS TO TRY AND TRIM THE BUDGET?
I MEAN IT'S A IT'S A. COLLECTIVE CONVERSATION AND DECISION. IT'S NOT A BROADER CONVERSATION WITH. UH WITH THE SAME FOLKS WHO PRESENTED THE FULL BUDGETS. OF JIM WILLIAMS BUT. WHO WHO OF THE WHO WAS THE CONVERSATION WITH.
I JUST SAY ABOUT THE CUT WHO WHO WAS WITH NOT THE FOLKS WHO WERE THE FOLKS. WHO MADE THE NAMES OF. >> THE PEOPLE. YES. YEAH. YEAH. I WAS JUST SAYING. >> WITH IS WITH THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT SO JIM WILLIAMS AND JOHANNA BERNSTEIN
,YOU KNOW, UM THEY ALL WORK FOR ACTUALLY. YEAH. AND THE MAYOR'S TEAM UM SETTING DIRECTION. AND SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH THESE CUTS, YOU'RE
ASKING US TO REVERSE THESE CUTS IN THE LETTER TO US. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REVERSE CUTS IN THAT, PLEASE. SUPPORT OF JANE BOSTON RESIDENTS FOOD SECURITY BY
REVERSING THIS CUT. I THINK THAT MAY BE FROM ADVOCATES BUT I DON'T. IT DOESN'T SAY I THOUGHT IT DOESN'T SAY A NAME ON HERE I JUST ASSUME WELL LET ME ASK YOU CAN I ASK.
UH OKAY OKAY. YEAH IT SEEMS LIKE. WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE A SECOND FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COME BACK. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE MYSELF SIX MINUTES. THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THEN A SECOND ROUND. UM, SO JUST IN TERMS OF THE SO THERE'S $200,000 LESS IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR FOOD
JUSTICE. SO YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT DO YOU WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THAT REDUCTION. IS IT IS IT NOT NOTHING I JUST THERE'S SOME SOME SOMEBODY IS
GOING TO GET THEIR GRANT OR WHAT WERE THOSE WE HAD 800,000 LAST YEAR. YEAH. >> AND THE UM IT'S A REDUCTION IN THE LINE ITEM THAT COVERS ALL OF THE MONEY THAT COMES OUT OF THE UH OH FREE TO OUR
PARTNERS. SO AS ELISE HAD MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF ANY COMPLETE PROGRAMS, ANY PARTNERS. WE'RE ABSORBING, YOU KNOW, REDUCTIONS IN UM, GRANTS THAT HAD GONE OUT LAST YEAR AND THIS
IS A REDUCTION OF THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE TO GO OUT THIS YEAR. UH, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE A CANCELLATION OF ANY PROGRAM THAT WAS UM, COMMITTED TO UH IT'S REDUCTION IN AMOUNTS, YOU KNOW, THAT UH, PARTNERS HAVE
SUPPORTED AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND OTHER FUNDING FROM PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM CORPORATE DONATIONS OR LEVERAGE DIFFERENTLY TO BE ABLE. TO SORT. >> OF MAKE THOSE PARTNERS AS WHOLE AS POSSIBLE? THIS IS. >> YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE AS YOU
GUYS KNOW, WE'RE IN A TOUGH BUDGET CYCLE ACROSS THE BOARD AND DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE WHEN THERE WERE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS AVAILABLE OF OUR SORT OF CONTRIBUTING, YOU KNOW, OUR LEVERAGE TO GET THOSE YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO YOU KNOW,
THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE HIGHEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WHEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE? YEAH IT'S A YEAH I MEAN I JUST I MEAN EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN SO
FAR FOOD SECURITY IS INCREASING CORRECT RIGHT. UM YEAH. ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THE RECENT. WE'RE HOPEFUL I CANNOT SAY THE THE CAUSE OF THIS THE RECENT
GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK HUNGER REPORT THAT CAME OUT DID SHOW A SLIGHT DECREASE. >> IN FOOD INSECURITY FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY. WHICH UM YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I CAN'T I CAN'T SAY THE CAUSE OF THAT. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE MANY,
MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS WORK ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS FOLKS LIKE YOURSELVES AND POLICYMAKERS REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES. OF OF POVERTY AND HUNGER ARE STABILIZING THINGS TO.
SOME EXTENT. UM, BUT YES, THE WITH GROCERY PRICES WHAT THEY ARE UM IT'S IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN OUR CITY. OKAY. >> AND I MEAN I DOVETAILING
WITH COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S QUESTIONS FOR FOR YOUR OFFICE YOU KNOW, FUNDING WASN'T AN ISSUE. UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WHAT ARE 1 OR 2 THINGS
THAT YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO IN BOSTON OR WHAT DO YOU MEAN MAYBE THE ANSWER IS JUST INCREASE FUNDING FOR WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY DOING. BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT YOU THINK WE WE.
COULD POUR MORE RESOURCES INTO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? YEAH I MEAN AS AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, WE'RE CURRENTLY UH WAITING TO FIND OUT IF THE UH THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE
HAVE FOR DOUBLE OF FOOD BUCKS THAT IS ENDING UH, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THAT. UM, AND AND I THINK UM, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE MATCH FUNDING FOR THAT WILL BE
IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD, WHICH WE HAVE SORT OF THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO KEEP THAT OPTION OPEN. IF WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO. COMPETE FOR ANOTHER FEDERAL
GRANT. UM, I THINK AS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH. LOCALLY OWNED. INDEPENDENT GROCERY STORES AND BODEGAS, HAVING MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THEIR FINANCIAL LEVERS THAT THE CITY COULD SUPPORT? ARE THERE REALLY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THEM?
YOU KNOW, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER, HELPING THEM TO THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS BUT WE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM FIRST BEFORE WE CAN REALLY DETERMINE WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. OKAY.
>> AND I WOULD ADD YOU KNOW, GIVEN COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S QUESTION UM, THE MEASURE FOR US OF SUCCESS IS IN SORT OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING INTO FOOD ACCESS BUT HOW MUCH FOOD ACCESS IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING. RIGHT. AND SO I THINK WE ARE GETTING MUCH BETTER AT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF HEALTHY, YOU KNOW, NUTRITIOUS RECOVERED FOOD THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO WASTE AND ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO.
UM. >> TO BOSTONIANS WHO NEED IT. AND THAT TO ME IS WHERE IF WE CAN FOCUS ON ONE OF THOSE CHOKE POINTS AND IS IT COLD STORAGE, IS IT INFRASTRUCTURE, IS IT DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IN BOSTON A
PROBLEM WITH A LACK OF FOOD COMING INTO YOU KNOW THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF BOSTON ? IT'S A IT'S A MATCHING PROGRAM MAKING SURE THAT THE FOOD IS GETTING TO FOLKS WHO NEED IT IN THE MOST AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT FASHION. YEAH. >> AND THEN UH, IN TERMS
OF COLD STORAGE LIKE WHAT IS THERE A GOAL LIKE UH FOR A MANAGED CAPACITY THAT WE WE NEED UH OR ARE YOU JUST TRYING TO INCREASE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM. IT'S DEFINITELY A MOVING TARGET BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY SHIFTING. THEIR PROGRAM. I THINK THERE ARE SOME FOLKS
HERE WHO COULD MAYBE SPEAK TO. >> THAT BETTER. >> WHO DO THE WORK ON THE GROUND, UM, AND RIGHT THEIR LIFE OF A FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR. RIGHT. IT'S IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A FIXED POINT IN TIME AND THEN
IT'S DONE. SO UM, I KNOW THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO INVEST IN COLD STORAGE WITH. ARPA FUNDS PRIMARILY THAT
SUPPORT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAS COME FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY. UM, AND SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF OTHER LOCATIONS AND JURISDICTIONS, UM, REACHING OUT TO US TO TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND
HOW THEY COULD REPLICATE OUR MODEL. UM, AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE IT'S SOMETHING WE WE HOPE TO LEARN FROM AND SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. >> THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN OF THAT
QUESTION, UH, CHAIR, IS IS IT WHOLESALE OR RETAIL COLD STORAGE. AND SO WE INVESTED IN BOTH IN THIS FUNDING ROUND THERE IS SOME MORE CAPACITY FOR USE IN THE WHOLESALE UM AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OUT UH
,YOU KNOW THAT LAST MILE DISTRIBUTION COLD STORAGE AS. >> WELL OKAY. I GAVE EVERYONE ELSE EXTRA TIME SO I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS JUST, UH, IN TERMS OF BERTO, I JUST TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. UM, WELL, WILL THE EXTENSION
OF THE DEADLINE LIKE IMPACT THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE MADE FOR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE? UH, IN OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT THOSE OR THE THE THOSE FUNDS FLOWING INTO THE FUND.
SO LET ME LET ME DO THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE EXTENSION THAT YOU CAN HANDLE. >> THE CASH FLOW. UM, THE REASON THAT WE EXTENDED UH, PUERTO COMPLIANCE BY THREE MONTHS IS I THINK VERY APPROPRIATELY IN THE ORDINANCE WHEN WE MAKE A CHANGE TO HOW
COMPLIANCE CAN BE ACHIEVED, WE GIVE PEOPLE UM, 90 ADDITIONAL DAYS TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS WAS THEY WANTED MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THE PURCHASES OF RECS, UM, AND THE
APPLICATION ACROSS CALENDAR YEARS. WE PUT THAT INTO PLACE AND THAT TRIGGERED THIS THREE MONTH EXTENSION. UM, IN THE IN THE TERMS OF THE TIMING OF PAYMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO MAKE ACP
ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PAYMENTS SINCE THEY WERE ABLE TO FILE AND YOU KNOW, EARLY JANUARY OR FEBRUARY THROUGH THIS AUGUST 15TH DATE. SO WE ARE YOU'RE ASKING US UM, AT VERY APPROPRIATE HYPOTHETICAL THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ANY LINKED EXPERIENCE IN PRIOR YEARS TO SAY HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT CASH FLOW BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS CASH FLOW. BEFORE BUT. SO YEAH THANK YOU. UM CHAIR THE THE ANSWER IS
THAT. WE HAVE PROJECTED THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT REMAINDER. >> IN. THE EQUITABLE EMISSIONS INVESTMENT FUND TO CONTINUE A NEXT. ROUND OF GRANTS. COMPARABLE TO WHAT IS OPEN
RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS $600,000. SO IF WE KEEP IT IT'S JUST THE REGULAR BUSINESS THAT. UM, THE FUND HAS BEEN. DOING FOR BERTO GRANTS. UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PAYMENTS
CAME IN THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DISRUPTED AT ALL. UM, WE AS BRIAN MENTIONED EXPECT TO BE GETTING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PAYMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE SPRING ALL THE WAY INTO THE
END OF THE SUMMER AND THAT UM, WILL BE HOPEFULLY UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MUCH BIGGER GRANTS BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO THROW OFF THE CYCLE VERY MUCH AT ALL. SO I THINK UH THE SHORT ANSWER
IS IT'LL BE MINIMAL BUT WE HAVE A SOLID FOOTING TO CONTINUE OUR CURRENT. OKAY. JUST A QUICK FOLLOW TO IS THIS THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FROM, UH FOR USE
OF THE BERTO FUND OR IS THAT RIGHT? AND THEN WHY IS WHY IS THIS THE FIRST YEAR HAS THIS BEEN AROUND . THIS IS THE. >> FIRST YEAR THAT WE'RE. RECEIVING FUNDS THAT WEREN'T ALREADY AUTHORIZED FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT
OTHER PEOPLE'S PAYMENTS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT 2025 REGULATED BUILDING OWNERS UM, ARE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HITTING PERFORMANCE TARGETS THAT THEY ARE POTENTIALLY CUTTING CHECKS INTO THE FUND. OKAY. >> WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED OUTSIDE FUNDS OTHER THAN THE OPERATING
BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED, YOU KNOW. TO GO INTO THAT FUND BEFORE OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A UH UH I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTERLUDE HERE FOR UH FOR FOR
PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN THE ORDER AND WE HAVE I HAVE GREG MAYNARD ALLEN UH SCHRECK. SCHRECK AND BERGER. UH, ALEX TAUBMAN AND THEN
HASSAN FAROOQUI. UH, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES EACH TO TESTIFY ON THE COMMITTEE A SECOND HERE JUST TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN, UH, YOU GET TWO MINUTES. HELLO.
>> MY NAME IS GREGORY MAYNARD AND I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON POLICY INSTITUTE. THERE IS AN OFFICE MISSING FROM TODAY'S HEARING AND FROM THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET HEARINGS. THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THE EOS CABINET IS MADE UP OF FOUR OFFICES PARKS AND REC, ENVIRONMENT, FOOD JUSTICE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE COUNCIL IS HEARING FROM ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD JUSTICE TODAY AND PARKS AND REC ON MAY 11TH. THAT LEAVES JUST ONE OFFICE NOT
HAVING A BUDGET HEARING HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THIS OVERSIGHT IS SURPRISING GIVEN THE OFFICE'S IMPORTANCE AND THE FACT IT HAS A LARGER BUDGET THAN FOOD JUSTICE AND THE PERSONNEL OFFICES LED BY
CHRIS OSGOOD AND BRIAN SWEAT. THE LACK OF A BUDGET HEARING ISN'T NEW. HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THEREFORE THE ENTITIES IT OVERSEES. THE LANDMARK COMMISSION AND THE TEN AGORA ARCHITECTURAL
LANDMARK AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS DIDN'T HAVE 1 IN 20 24 OR 2025 EITHER. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE OFFICE THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION.
IN AUGUST 2023, THE BOSTON GLOBE REPORTED THAT UNNAMED CITY OFFICIALS PULLED A VOTE ON THE HOTEL BUCKMINSTER OFF THE BODY'S AGENDA. AND THEN IN APRIL 2024, ALL 15 COMMISSIONERS SIGNED THE LETTER WHICH LAID OUT SIX DIFFERENT
EXAMPLES OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS INTERFERING IN THE BODY'S WORK. AFTER THAT LETTER BECAME PUBLIC ,MAYOR WU FIRED THE BODY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE COUNCIL HAS NEVER HELD A STANDALONE HEARING ON THE
ALLEGATIONS IN THAT LETTER SINCE APRIL 2020 FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE INAUGURAL DIRECTOR RESIGNED AND A NEW CHIEF WAS HIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND A NEW DEPUTY CHIEF WAS HIRED IN MARCH 2025,
LEAVING HISTORIC PRESERVATION OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET HEARING IS A PARTICULAR OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT TO DO IN FY 27. IT IS IN THE MIDST OF CREATING AN 11TH HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR CHARLES TOWN'S MONUMENT SQUARE
AND IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CITY'S PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTRY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, WHICH WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTED BY SPONSORS AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS. SOMETHING FOR THE BUDGET
HEARINGS TO DIG INTO. THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION SITS AT THE INTERSECTION OF TOURISM AND PLANNING AND IS SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF CONFLICTING PUBLIC POLICY DEMANDS. IT SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET HEARING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UH, ELENA. AND THEN, UH, ALEX TALMAN. OKAY. >> YEAH. >> SO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU GET TWO MINUTES. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ELENA STEFAN BERGER. ABCD IS ONE OF MASSACHUSETTS 23 COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES AND SERVES OVER 100,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS GREATER
BOSTON, ADMINISTERING SEVERAL FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON CONTINUES AND INCREASES ITS INVESTMENT IN FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMING DUE TO
THE RISING COST OF FOOD AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS, FOOD INSECURITY HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN BOSTON AND THE NATION AT LARGE. RECENT AND UPCOMING CHANGES TO
SNAP, ALSO KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS HAS EXACERBATED THIS INCREASE. IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE DATA FROM THE GOOD OF BOSTON FOOD BANK AND MASS GENERAL INDICATES THAT PROXIMATELY 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS
OR 1.12 MILLION PEOPLE EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY IN THE PAST YEAR. AT THE SAME TIME, SNAP ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN DECREASING RAPIDLY DUE TO THE CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY.
IN SOME CASES, FEAR OF RE ENROLLMENT FROM STILL ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS. AS MORE OF THE CHANGES TO SNAP GO INTO EFFECT IN THE COMING YEAR, IT IS EXPECTED THAT ENROLLMENT WILL CONTINUE TO
DECLINE DESPITE THE INCREASED NEED. ABCD OPERATES SEVEN FOOD ACCESS CENTERS ACROSS BOSTON AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SENIOR BROWN BAG PROGRAM, DISTRIBUTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
OF FOOD EACH YEAR. ALL OF OUR FOOD ACCESS CENTERS AND SENIOR BROWN BAG SITES HAVE SEEN AN INCREASED NEED FOR FOOD. THEY HAVE EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR FOOD PICKUP AND CONSISTENTLY HAVE
FOR WAITLIST. BUT MANY CLIENTS UNFORTUNATELY MUST LEAVE WITHOUT FOOD BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND DUE IN LARGE PART TO A LACK OF FUNDING. THE FUND THESE FOOD ACCESS
ENERGY USED TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK AND OTHER SOURCES DO NOT GO AS FAR AS THEY USED TO. DUE TO INCREASED COST FOR FOOD ,THESE FOOD ACCESS AND A IS
COMPROMISED IN THE WORK OF THESE FOOD CENTERS IS COMPROMISED BY THE ABCD FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAM WHICH IS A MEMBER OF THE COLLABORATIVE FOOD STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
HUB IN ROXBURY. IF YOU COULD WRAP UP OKAY. UM, THROUGH THIS HUB THE FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAM IS ABLE TO COLLECT MORE FRESH AND
RECOVERED FOOD FROM GROCERS, FARMS AND OTHER ENTITIES TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT OUR FOOD AT THE CENTER RECEIVED FROM THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
OKAY, ALEX. AND MR FAROOQI AFTER THIS. YEAH. OKAY. COOL. >> UH, DEAR COUNCILORS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> TO TESTIFY TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS ALEX TAUBMAN AND I'M THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR FOOD SECURITY AT ABCD. I'M ALSO AN ELECTED STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER AT THE BOSTON FOOD ACCESS COUNCIL, WHICH
REPRESENTS AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 200 RESIDENTS FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE CITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS FROM ALL SECTORS OF BOSTON'S ROBUST FOOD JUSTICE
ECOSYSTEM. WE ORGANIZE TO REALIZE OUR CONVICTION THAT NOURISHING FOOD IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE. IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL ,THERE MAY BE. CUTS TO DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
THAT WILL IMPACT THE AVAILABILITY OF DOUBLE UP FOOD BOX AT GROCERY STORES AND FARMER'S MARKET COUPONS. THIS WILL LESSEN RESIDENTS ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY,
AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD AT A TIME WHEN 40% OF BOSTONIANS ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. GROCERY PRICES ARE GOING UP AND SNAP IS IN FREEFALL. CITY INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
AND ACCESSIBLE FOOD ARE NOT DISCRETIONARY BUT IMPERATIVE. FARMER'S MARKETS ARE CENTERS FOR COMMUNITY COHESION IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON. THEY BRING HIGH QUALITY FRESH FOOD CLOSE TO HOME.
THEY INCREASE THE PURCHASING POWER OF PUBLIC BENEFITS DOLLARS. THEY HAVE A MULTIPLIER EFFECT ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY'RE A KEY MECHANISM FOR ENSURING EQUITABLE MARKET
INFRASTRUCTURE CITYWIDE AND FOR INCREASING THE PURCHASING POWER OF THOSE NAVIGATING FOOD INSECURITY REGARDLESS OF THEIR SNAP ENROLLMENT. DOUBLE UP FOOD BOX EXPANDS FRESH FOOD RETAIL YEAR ROUND BY
MATCHING SNAP PURCHASES OF FRESH PRODUCE AND LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. UM UNDER OF JAY'S LEADERSHIP, THE PROGRAM HAS SCALED TO UM
SEVERAL LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, EAST BOSTON AND JAMAICA PLAIN. IT'S A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW COMMUNITY DESIGN SOLUTIONS WITH PUBLIC INVESTMENT CAN LEAD OUR CITY FORWARD IN CHALLENGING
TIMES. PLEASE SUPPORT OF JAY AND BOSTON RESIDENTS FOOD SECURITY BY REVERSING THIS CUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS.
>> OF THE COMMITTEE. >> UM, MY NAME IS HASSAN FAROOQI. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK. UH, OR BEACON AND I SERVE ON THE CITY OF BOSTON REVIEW BOARD . I'M A. >> CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE.
UM, I WILL. TESTIFY JUST ON THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING. >> VERY CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES. AND SO I WAS OF COURSE HOLDING MY BREATH WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT THERE WERE CUTS TO THIS
DEPARTMENT OR TO ANY DEPARTMENT. UM, BUT LOOKING CLOSER I WAS, YOU. KNOW, HEARTENED TO SEE THAT. WE'RE UM, SEEING AN INCREASE BY ABOUT 5% TO THE PERSONNEL SERVICES LINE ITEM.
UH, WHILE IT'S REALLY THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES THAT'S SEEING THE DECREASE OF ABOUT 20% AND SO I THINK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. >> WHAT'S MOST. IMPORTANT FROM OUR STANDPOINT IS THAT WE ARE. CONTINUING THE INVESTMENTS. IN THE STAFF. WHO DELIVER THESE REALLY.
CRITICAL BASIC CITY SERVICES TO LOWER. ENERGY BILLS, TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY. >> TO CREATE JOBS. AND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. MENTIONED REALLY ARE ADMINISTERED. BY THESE BY A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STAFF. SO UH, WE'RE HEARTENED.
TO SEE THAT THOSE STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR JOBS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. UM AND OF. >> COURSE IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH IS NEVER ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE ACTION. THERE'S NOT. >> UH. ANY AMOUNT. >> THAT. WE COULD. INVEST THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH BECAUSE EVERY.
DOLLAR HAS SO MANY. DOLLARS BACK IN ECONOMIC VALUE IN TERMS OF LOWERING. BILLS, RAISING WAGES, IMPROVING HEALTH. AND SO THOSE ARE THE OF COURSE LONG TERM INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO SEE. AND I THINK IT ALSO SPEAKS TO
WHY WE. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE IN THIS SITUATION UH LIKE THE ONE THAT WE'RE. >> IN TODAY. WE NEED TO EXPAND THE STATE AID THAT WE ARE GETTING UH. AND AND FIND ALTERNATIVE SUSTAINABLE LONG.
TERM REVENUE MECHANISMS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OPERATING BUDGET UM, SO THAT. THE CURRENT CHALLENGES FLEETING AS THEY MAY BE, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH. ARE NOT IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES. SO WITH.
THAT, UH, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND UM, THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE. ADMINISTRATION AS WELL. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE? >> UH, OKAY. NO ONE ONLINE.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO START AGAIN. SECOND ROUND. UH WE'LL DO LET'S SHOOT FOR FIVE MINUTES. UM. COUNCILOR FLYNN. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.
I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BURDEN OF REQUIREMENTS THE FINANCIAL, UM, IMPACT IT IS IT'S HAVING ON RESIDENTS BUT
ALSO NONPROFITS AS WELL. I DID HEAR FROM SEVERAL NONPROFITS ACROSS THE CITY THAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO. MAKE THESE. CHANGES OR TO BE IN COMPLIANCE
WITH WITH BOURDEAUX INCLUDING, UH, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, THE NO. ONE AN AQUARIUM AS WELL. UM ARE WE ARE WE. DOWNPLAYING THE.
FINANCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE? OKAY. UM, SO, UH. COUNCILOR FLYNN, UM, YOU YOU RAISED AN IMPORTANT TOPIC WHICH . I AM. HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO RESPOND TO. I THINK IT IS, UH, SORT OF ZOOMING WAY BACK. IT IS IT IS DEFINITELY A, UM, LARGE, UM, FINANCIAL UNDERTAKING THAT ALL OF US AS A
PLANET HAVE TO DO TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, MEETING WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US TO UH, TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND KEEP OUR UH, SOCIETY GOING IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO AMUSE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THIS PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY DESIGNED VERY CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO, UM, HAVE IT WORK ON THE UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT
EACH PROPERTY OWNER HAS. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT UM, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS UM, PARTICULARLY UM THE MFA IN NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THEY BOTH HAVE UM, UH
HARDSHIP COMPLIANCE PLANS IN PLACE AND THEY ARE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF HOW A THE THE BORDEAUX PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE TABLE UM,
WITHOUT TOO MUCH COST EMBEDDED IN THEIR WORK TO SAY THIS IS OUR SITUATION, HOW CAN WE EITHER, YOU KNOW, CHANGE SOME OF OUR TIMING? HOW CAN WE HAVE CUSTOM EMISSIONS LIMITS, WHICH IS WHAT THE AQUARIUM DID, UM, THAT
REALLY WORK ON OUR SCHEDULE OF WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL INCREASES AND UM, ALSO TO MAKE THE UM ANNUAL COMPLIANCE UM, MORE AFFORDABLE
WE HAVE UM LAUNCHED PROGRAMS LIKE I MENTIONED ON HELPING PROCURE RENEWABLE ENERGY ALL TOLD UM REALLY THE MESSAGE FOR ALL BUILDINGS THAT ARE UM COVERED BY BERTO IS IF NOW IN
2025 AND 2026 YOU ARE FACING HARDSHIP, WE HAVE A. PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP YOU BECAUSE THERE REALLY ARE INDIVIDUAL PATHWAYS FOR EVERY
BUILDING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITHOUT UM, TOO MUCH COST. THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO A QUESTION I ASKED EARLIER THE EIGHT JOBS LISTED ON THE JOIN THE WORK TO BECOME A GREEN NEW
DEAL CITY. ALL OF WHOM. UM WILL BE WORKING WITH THE THE ENVIRONMENT. IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT. BUT CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE EIGHT.
JOBS, THE SALARIES AS WELL THAT YOU'RE. LOOKING TO HIRE? I'M SORRY I FORGIVE ME I THINK I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION OF EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. OKAY, COUNSELOR.
MY APOLOGIES. I'M I'M JUST LOOKING ON THE JOIN THE WORK TO BECOME A GREEN NEW DEAL CITY AND SO ON THE KIND OF THE HOME PAGE OF THE.
OF THE OF THE. CABINET AND IT LISTS. AVAILABLE POSITIONS BUILDING DIRECTOR OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CLIMATE INNOVATION ANALYST ENERGY
ANALYST ENERGY MANAGEMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE MANAGER CLIMATE POLICY BUILDING PROJECT MANAGER. YEAH UM I I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE
TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT WEBSITE BUT IT MUST BE A WEBSITE THAT IS UM, OUT OF DATE. MANY OF THOSE POSITIONS HAVE. ALREADY BEEN FILLED. OKAY. UM, AND I THINK THE MOST ACCURATE, UM, PLACE TO LOOK FOR
FOR THE UM. SO NOT IN THE HOME PAGE. UM. THAT'S RIGHT. >> WELL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S UPDATED, BUT THE MOST ACCURATE PLACE TO LOOK FOR IS THE ACTIVE THE CURRENT JOB OPENINGS AND THE CITYWIDE PORTAL. OKAY. >> THAT'S FINE. UM, LET ME GO TO UM LET ME.
>> GO TO CHRIS. I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT. >> IT EARLIER. I WAS I. WAS IN CHINATOWN RECENTLY AND. TALKING TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ABOUT UH, LACK
OF TREE CANOPY IN THE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE WORKED ON TOGETHER. UM. WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO? CHRIS I KNOW THERE'S AN ONGOING PLAN, BUT. IS THIS A PRIORITY.
OR IS THIS JUST, UM IT'LL BE IT'LL. WE'LL GET THERE WHEN WE CAN GET THERE. OR IS IT A CASE WHERE IT'S A. COMMUNITY OF COLOR NEIGHBORHOOD ? THEY HAVE THE LOWEST TREE
CANOPY IN THE CITY AND IT IS A. PRIORITY WHICH WHAT. WHAT DO YOU THINK? SO I. >> THINK THAT. IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE CITY. I THINK YOU SEE PARTICULARLY AROUND TREE PLANTING, UH, WORK AS CHIEF SWETT MENTIONED, OUR
PARKS FORM HAS CHANGED NOT ONLY HOW THEY CARE FOR TREES BUT WHERE THEY'RE PLANTING TREES SO THAT 40% OF UH, STREET TREES THAT WE ARE PLANTING ARE NOW IN THE 20% OF BOSTON THAT HAVE A HIGHER SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX AND A LOWER CANOPY
COVER TODAY. SO CHANGING WHAT THAT UH, WHERE THE INVESTMENT HAPPENS AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND AS WE'VE WORKED ON UM THERE ARE ALSO SOME SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS THAT WE WERE TRYING AND CHINATOWN AROUND TREE PLANTING UH, GIVEN
SOME OF THE SUBSURFACE INFRASTRUCTURE UH THAT UH UH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH SO UH WE ARE TRYING ON THAT ONE BLOCK STRETCH OF HARRISON UH, THE ADDITIONAL STREET TREES
THAT WE PLANTED THERE UH, LAST YEAR OR INSTALLED THERE LAST YEAR. UH, AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS A PILOT. WE'RE LOOKING TO EVALUATE THAT AND SEE HOW WE CAN BE ABLE TO SCALE THAT UP. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY LED BY OUR. PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO REALIZE THAT THE INVESTMENT AROUND, UH, TREE PLANTING ALONE IS ONE PART OF A MIX OF RESOURCES WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, IN CHINATOWN AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY EXTREME HEAT. UM, AND THAT IS WHY COUNCILOR.
MURPHY. >> YOUR POINT THAT COLLABORATION WITH BOSTON WATER AND SEWER AROUND THINGS LIKE DEPLOYMENT OF UH UH OF OF THEIR WATER TRUCK AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OFFICE AND MANAGEMENT'S MISTING TENTS AND SHADE
STRUCTURES ARE ALL PART OF THE SET OF UH INTERVENTIONS. AND THEN. UH, WITH YOUR COLLABORATION WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY ITSELF ABOUT HOW WE ACTUALLY GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE OUT AROUND UH,
SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING. UH. >> FROM OUR OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU. >> AND I. >> JUST I JUST HAD, UM. ONE IF YEAH. WE HAVE. SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO PLANT TREES WHERE. >> WE CAN IDENTIFY TREATMENTS. RIGHT.
IF THERE ARE LOCATIONS, COUNSELOR, WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE UNDERGROUND CONFLICTS THAT WE AREN'T BY ALL MEANS LET ME KNOW AND WE WILL PLANT TREES THAT ARE. VERY QUICKLY THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN IN THE UNDERGROUND TERRAIN
IN TERMS OF UTILITIES MAKES IT SO COMPLICATED THAT WE NEED TO DO ABOVE. GRADE SOLUTIONS AND. >> SO WE WANT TO SEE IF THESE ABOVE GRADE TREE SIZE PLANTER POTS. >> ARE WORKING. AND THEN DEPLOY THEM YOU KNOW THROUGHOUT CHINATOWN IT IS MORE. EXPENSIVE BUT IT IS. ABSOLUTELY THE. >> RIGHT SOLUTION.
YOU KNOW IF THE TREE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT TO BRING SHADE TREE. THE OTHER PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WE. HAVEN'T TALKED. >> ABOUT THAT I THINK YOUR. TEAM IS YOU. KNOW, IN THE LOOP ON AND PLANNING IS THE PHILLIPS SQUARE INTERVENTION. YEP. WE ARE WE'RE. >> TALKING. ABOUT A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION THERE.
CAN WE ADD SO EVERYWHERE. THAT WE. >> CAN IN CHINATOWN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE ADD SHADE AND IDEALLY SHADE FROM CANOPY COVERAGE AND TREES BUT IF NOT AT LEAST FROM PHYSICAL STRUCTURES UM TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT IS ONE. >> OF THE DENSEST NEIGHBORHOODS. NOT JUST ABOVE GRADE BUT BELOW
GRADE. THANK YOU. >> WHEN I WAS WITH COUNCILOR WEBER AND CHINATOWN DURING A CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL LISTENING SESSION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, PROBABLY 70% OF THE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT
PHILLIPS SQUARE AND HAVING THAT ACCESS FOR. RESIDENTS. >> ESPECIALLY SENIORS. ANY QUICK UPDATE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT WHERE WE HAVE WHERE WE'RE AT OBVIOUSLY RESIDENTS WANT IT. IT'S CRITICAL TO.
THIS UH. >> TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE UH SOMEPLACE WHERE THAT THEY CAN GO TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF. SHADE ESPECIALLY DURING UM 100 DEGREE NIGHTS. YEP. >> SO THAT. >> ONE IS A IS A JOINT. >> AS YOU KNOW. BTD AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
EFFORTS ARE HAPPY TO UPDATE UH, IN ONE OF THOSE FROM MY KNOWLEDGE WE ARE AT THE END OF DESIGN FOR PHASE ONE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION. IT IS A IT'S A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT. UM, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
ON THE INITIAL PHASE IS. PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE YOU. >> KNOW. THEY HAVE BEEN BUT THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING ME TO GET IT TO GET IT DONE AND I KEEP TELLING THEM WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE BUT THEN I BUT THEN THERE'S NO
THERE'S NO PROGRESS AND I, I NEED TO GO TO THE RESIDENTS SAY AND SAY TO THEM WELL IN TWO MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE OR IN FOUR MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE. BUT WHAT IS THE DATE WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
YEAH WE'RE. I WILL. >> TAKE THAT AWAY AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH WHEN WE EXPECT TO BREAK GROUND ON PHASE ONE. AND AGAIN THAT'S A IT'S A JOINT PARK DEPARTMENT BTD BTD. CURRENTLY YOU KNOW IT'S UH IT'S A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT BUT I'LL GET YOU. >> WE. COULD COULD WE.
DO IT THIS SUMMER? UH, I THAT WOULD BE A GOAL TO. >> START. TO BREAK GROUND. YOU KNOW THIS. YOU KNOW, SEASON. SO. >> OKAY, UM. I THINK IT'S A PRIORITY. I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN. I VOTED FOR THE THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET. UM, FOR YEARS A VOTE OF SO I VOTED 12 OF THEM ON. I VOTED ALL TO APPROVE ALL OF THEM AND I'M ASKING SOMETHING FOR MY MY CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SO THAT THEY CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF SHADE IN THE SUMMERTIME AND I'M ALWAYS FIGHTING WITH PEOPLE ,UM, TO GET SOMETHING DONE I NEED TO GET THIS THING DONE GUYS. THANK YOU, MR MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN.
UH, COUNCILOR BREADON. OH, AND WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR. THANK YOU. >> UM, I'D. LIKE TO TALK A BIT, BUT I I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTENTION THE ATTENTION TO, UH, RISING
SEA LEVEL AND FLOODING CHALLENGES, UH, ALONG THE COAST BUT GOING INLAND TO THE RIVERINE PROBLEMS LIKE I KNOW WE HAVE THE MYSTIC WATERSHED, WE HAVE THE CARS AND WE HAVE
THE THE PONDS AT WATERSHED AND I'M JUST I'M SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN THE IN THE CHARLES RIVER. UH, I KNOW STORM WATER EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS LIKE WE HAD IN
AUGUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE HAD TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN TWO HOURS AND WERE UP TO THE GUNWALES IN WATER AND WE HAD BASEMENTS BEEN FLOODED AND ALL SORTS OF CRAZY STUFF HAPPENING .
UM WHERE ARE WE AT ON SHORT OF ENFORCING OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANS WITH REGARD TO PLANNING A PLANNING DEPARTMENT SAYING, YOU KNOW, PERMEABLE PARKING SPACE IS PERMEABLE
EVERYTHING PERMEABLE SURFACES THAT CAN ABSORB THREE INCHES OF WATER UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF TO TAKE THE EDGE OF THOSE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS LIKE HOW DO WE MAKE AND AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WAS IN
TERMS OF I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE HAS LIGHTENED UP ON THEIR UM, YOU KNOW, CONTAMINANT REQUIREMENTS FOR OF OUTFLOW INTO THE RIVER INTO THIS AND THEN THE KNOCK ON EFFECT
OF THAT IS THAT WE HAVE POLLUTANTS AND AND UH, MICROBES AND ALL GOING OUT INTO THE HARBOR AND WE HAVE WE HAVE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT CLOSE OUR BEACHES IN THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE SUMMER WHEN EVERYBODY
JUST WANTS TO BE AT THE BEACH. SO UM ANY THOUGHTS ON ON HOW WE CAN COORDINATE WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES AT THE STATE LEVEL OR BUS MODERATES OR WHATEVER? SO IT'S NOT ALL MARCHING IN THE SAME DIRECTION? SURE.
>> I'M HAPPY TO START AND THEN UM TO TRY TO CHIEF SWEAT. UM, SO THE MAJORITY OF THE STORMWATER WORK THAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS REALLY MANAGED BY TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES. AS YOU KNOW, ONE IS THE OFFICE
OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS WHICH IS WITHIN OUR STREETS CABINET REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR 800 MILES OF ROADWAY AND OUR 1600 MILES OF SIDEWALK, WE ARE
MAKING THOSE CHANGES UH COUNCIL THAT YOU THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN FOREST SURFACES? HOW DO WE EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OR IN SOME CASES EVEN UH, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDUCE FLOOD
RISK AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AS IT EVENTUALLY GETS TO THE HARBOR? UH, OR THE CHARLES RIVER MYSTIC RIVER FROM THE PONTZER RIVER. UM, THE OTHER KEY PARTNER OBVIOUSLY IS THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION. UH, AND UH IT IS THROUGH THEIR
THE THREE YEAR, NEARLY $70 MILLION CAPITAL PLAN FOCUSED ON STORMWATER THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT BOTH REDUCING STORMWATER FLOOD RISK AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING.
OBVIOUSLY IN YOUR DISTRICT. UM, THERE IS UH AN ADDITIONAL SET OF WORK WHICH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS BEST ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT REALLY IS LOOKING AT ESSENTIALLY YOUR QUESTION HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT
THOSE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT ADDRESS COASTAL FLOOD RISK THAT WE SHOULD BE BRINGING TO ADDRESS RIVERINE FLOOD RISK UH, IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE LIKE ALLSTON, BRIGHTON FOR A RIVERINE FLOOD RISK MAY
BE THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR. AND SO I DO EXPECT THERE'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MORE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR. IT IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, UH, THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED UH ON MONDAY.
UH, AND UH, SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SORT OF THE INTERSECTION OF PLANNING ZONING AND UH, STORMWATER FLOOD RISK REDUCTION . YEAH. >> UM AND THEN THE OFFICE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE UM,
WHO'S WHO'S WHO'S LEADING THAT OFFICE RIGHT NOW IT'S. IT'S THE DIRECTORS MAX ROOM, UH, WHO IS FORMERLY OF THE CHARLES RIVER WATERSHED SAYS OF COURSE. THIS MIKE I FORGET HE'S ONE
OF OUR NEIGHBORS FROM ALLSTON, BRIGHTON AND UM, IN TERMS OF JUST, YOU KNOW, THINKING OF PEOPLE PEERING OVER THEIR POCKET IN THEIR YARDS AND AND INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF ASH
FELTON AND THAT'S THAT'S CONTRIBUTES TO HEAT ISLAND UM ISSUES BUT IT ALSO IT REALLY SPEEDS UP RUNOFF SO THAT WE END UP HAVING FLASH FLOODS IN THE CITY THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED MAYBE YEARS AGO.
UM WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ACTUALLY KIDS UM PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HAVING POROUS PERMEABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND AND THEN AND HOW ARE WE ENFORCING, UM, FOLKS WHO DON'T OBEY THE RULES? SURE. UM, SO ON THE UM AGAIN, SOME WORK THAT OFF SCREEN RESEARCH WAS DOING AND THEN SOME WORK AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEWER COMMISSION IS DOING THE OFFICE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HAS DONE AND WE'LL BE DOING ANOTHER ROUND OF UH, WORK ESSENTIALLY HELPING SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS BE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE STORMWATER ON SITE THROUGH A
RAIN BELL PROGRAM. UH, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AND GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAILS ON. THAT'S A PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE ROLLING OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. THE PRINCIPAL ENTITY THOUGH THAT'S THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE TRANSFORMATION OF ASPHALT
SURFACES, UM, PRIVATELY OWNED LOTS IS THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION. UH, AND IN 2024, UH, THEY CREATED THE BOSTON UH THE STORMWATER PROGRAM UH, WHICH NOT ONLY HAS A STORMWATER FEE
COMPONENT TO IT BUT ALSO INSTEAD OF GRANTS AND CREDITS, UH, TO ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONS AND ENCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONS TO THEIR, UH. >> THEIR. PROPERTIES TO REDUCE ONSITE PONDING AS WELL AS RUNOFF IN
THE STREETS OR ADJACENT PROPERTY UH, PROPERTIES. I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ABOUT UM THAT PROGRAM AND AGAIN. OPEN TO. >> ANY BOTH. SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THAT PROGRAM UH, BUT ALSO COLLABORATION ON PROMOTING UH BOSTON WATER AND
SEWER EMISSIONS. PROGRAM THAT ARE JUST ROUND OUT THE ANSWER BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKED ABOUT REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT AS WELL. UM, THE TRIGGERS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ARE ON NEW PROJECTS AND THAT WOULD GO THROUGH DEPENDING ON THE SCALE OF THE
PROJECT PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND ESD. BUT BOSTON WATER SEWER COMMISSION HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THOSE PLANS. SO JUST FOR FLAHERTY FOR THOSE WATCHING OCR DOES NOT HAVE ANY REGULATORY FUNCTION ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN IT COMES TO
GROUNDWATER INFILTRATION. THOSE ARE POLICIES THAT YOU KNOW WILL CERTAINLY BE INVOLVED IN SETTING AND ENFORCEMENT IS THROUGH BOTH ESD AND MUSCLE ANSWER COMMISSION. YEAH. >> IT'S ALSO OFFERING MORE INCENTIVES FROM UM LIKE BOSS WATER AND SEWER TO DO WE HAVE A
RAIN GARDEN WHICH WILL ALL OF OUR WATER GETS STARTED. IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. UH BUT ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE TO DO SIMILAR THINGS TO TRY AND UH HELPS WITH DROUGHT IN YOUR YARD AND THAT UH, I BETTER STOP
TALKING BECAUSE MY TIME'S UP. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH. >> COUNCILOR COLLETTE, AS A PART OF. A THANK YOU. UM, AND I REALIZE THAT PARKS IS MAY 11TH BUT I MIGHT NOT BE HERE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK
THESE QUESTIONS. BUT. >> UM, I'LL DO MY BEST. GOD, I HOPE I'M NOT HERE ANYWAY. NO, THAT'S A JOKE. UM, OKAY, SO I, UH WHAT AM I GOING TO ASK ABOUT PARKS
MAINTENANCE? SO I SEE A COUPLE OF TIPS ON, UM, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE UM, DOWN FROM 21 MILLION TO 20 TO 20 MILLION.
UM, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE DELIVERING. SO MY LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONING WAS VERY MACRO. THIS IS VERY MICRO. HOW ARE WE JUST GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PICKING UP TRASH IN OUR PARKS GIVEN ALL
OF THE EVENTS ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE BUS AND TAIL UM FOR THE TALL SHIPS COMING THROUGH TO 50 AND UM WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES IN THE PAST ESPECIALLY WITH EAST BOSTON. THERE'S JUST BEEN SOME FOLKS ON
LEAVE WHEN IT COMES TO UM I THINK PEOPLE ARE TAKING FMLA AND THINGS JUST WEREN'T GETTING DONE AND SO PEOPLE WERE SEEING THIS HAPPEN IN REAL TIME IN FRONT OF THEM. SO HOW ARE WE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DECREASE IN SOME
OF THE FUNDING? YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WILL UM UH TRY TO ANSWER IT AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP AT A MORE DETAIL LEVEL BECAUSE I DIDN'T COME PREPARED WITH THE RIGHT FOLKS OR DOCUMENTS ON PARKS.
BUT MY QUESTION UM, WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BONKERS SUMMER, RIGHT FOR UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST 18 MONTHS. SO AS YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE TALL SHIPS. WE ARE WORLD CUP WE HAVE 250 CELEBRATIONS.
UH, SO WE WOULD BE OPERATING UH ,THE OWN TEAM IN PARKS THERE'S BEEN LASER FOCUS ON HOW DO WE DELIVER FOR THAT INCREASED DEMAND OF OUR SERVICES BECAUSE SOME FOLKS ARE GOING TO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE OUTSIDE IN OUR OPEN SPACE UM, AND USING IT AS
APPROPRIATELY HOPEFULLY. UM BUT INTENSELY UH, AND SO WITH THE BUDGET THAT THEY PUT FORWARD, UM WAS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH THAT INCREASE INTENSITY THAT SUMMER AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, THE GOAL OF BEING MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR
RESOURCES IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE DELIVER THAT. SO MY EXPECTATION AND WHAT I AM INFORMED OF IS THAT COUNT WHERE WE ARE, UM WE HAVE THE PLAN IN PLACE. UM WE HAVE THE COVERAGE AVAILABLE. UM I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS
CERTAINLY AS ALWAYS USED 311 WE RESPOND TO THAT THAT GETS DIRECTLY INTO OUR WORK ORDER SYSTEM. WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT USUALLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS IF IT'S LIKE A AN OVERFLOWING TRASH CAN UM IF NOT FASTER.
UM, WE'VE REALLY REFINED THAT SYSTEM SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO BE RESPONSIVE BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOLKS, YOU KNOW, USING OUR PARKING NOT GO UM, SEEING IT IN GOOD SHAPE AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, REFOCUS OVER THE PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> AND I UM I WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION HERE LAST WEEK ABOUT REVIVING A VARIATION OF THE REDSHIRTS PROGRAM IN PARKS DID COME UP AS A WAY TO UTILIZE THE POWER CORE PROGRAMS BUT THEN ALSO TRYING TO UTILIZE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UM, PIERCE PARK CHALLENGE CENTER WAS HERE TO SAY HEY, PLEASE UTILIZE OUR KIDS. LIKE NOT ONLY ARE WE BUILDING LEADERSHIP OR FAILING, BUT IT'S THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE HERE TO HELP AS WELL. SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT
ARE UM, READY AND WILLING TO TO STEP UP AND AND HELP OUR WONDERFUL PARKS DEPARTMENTS, UM ,STAFF MEMBERS LAST QUESTION IS JUST AROUND THE GREENWAY CONSTRUCTION.
UM, I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT IT HERE, BUT, UH, ARE WE ON TIME WITH THAT? ARE WE GETTING THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY ON ARLENE STREET UP AND RUNNING? THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THERE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD
BE IMPLEMENTED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. BUT WE WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU UH, ON THAT I DON'T WANT TO, UM, OVERPROMISE OR UNDER-PROMISE. OKAY RESPONSE BUT NO PROBLEM. THAT'S THAT'S ON ME FOR ASKING PARKS QUESTIONS BUT UM NO JUST
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP EVERYBODY. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. UH, ONE MINUTE. I'M JUST KIDDING. UH, FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE FOOD INSECURITY ISSUE AND, UH, I DID FIND THAT THIS WAS ALEX'S
TESTIMONY AND SHE TESTIFIED ABOUT THE 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY ACCORDING TO THE, UH, GREAT
ADVICE AND, UM. FOOD REPORT FOR 2025, I THINK A DOCTOR WAS WHEN YOU SAID THAT THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD REPORT
SAID THAT THE FOOD INSECURITY LEVEL LOWERED IN THE PAST YEAR. I THINK ALEX TESTIFIED THAT THE GREATER BOSTON FULL REPORT, UH
,ROSE TO 40% IN 2025, DOWN FROM UH 30%. AND SO. TALK ABOUT THAT INCONSISTENCY BECAUSE I THINK YOU SAID THAT
THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD REPORT THAT CAME OUT SAID THAT FOOD INSECURITY WAS LOWER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. ALEX TESTIFIED THAT IT WAS 40%
UH, MASSACHUSETTS HOUSEHOLDS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR. SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP AS WELL AS. IT I'M. APPRECIATE HEARING THE TESTIMONY.
SO I THINK THE THE KEY POINT IS THAT 40% FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR STATE IN OUR CITY IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IS REALLY A DAY TO DAY PROBLEM FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, OUR CONSTITUENTS. UM, I WAS UH I WAS REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO SUFFOLK COUNTY. UM, HONESTLY IT'S LIKE A 2% REDUCTION IS THAT'S BASICALLY
STABLE AND STABLE AT TOO HIGH A RATE. IS THAT. >> IN THAT GREATER BOSTON FULL REPORT TO CRISIS. SO SO I THINK SHE WAS REFERENCING THE STATEWIDE OUT SHE WENT TO. >> HER. COLLEAGUES UM STATEWIDE UH IT'S
IT'S HIGH IN SUFFOLK COUNTY. IT'S HIGH IN BOSTON IT'S HIGH ACROSS THE STATE. UM I THINK IT'S IT'S SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NOTED RECENTLY THAT IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE SEEMS TO
BE A SMALL DIP IN IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, BUT WE DON'T IT'S ANYWHERE NEAR FOR 40% OR 35% OR 38%. IT'S ALSO DONE THROUGH A SURVEY.
SO UM THIS IS DATA THAT HONESTLY YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE JUST AS VALID DATA AS ANY KIND OF A REPORT THAT'S A SURVEY. UM, SO THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE
DISCREPANCY YOU WERE NOTING IN WHAT YOU HEARD RIGHT. >> IT WAS UP 40% IN THE STATE. IT'S AT 40. INTERESTING. >> YEAH. INTERESTINGLY IT WENT UP FROM 2024 AND 2025 THOUGH.
BUT THE PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS UH AFFECTED AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY DISTRICT I DIDN'T SEE THAT THERE WAS A DECREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY.
WHAT I SAW WAS THAT THERE WAS UH INCREASE IN FOOD SECURITY ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN. AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE
REDUCTION IN THE FARMERS MARKET COUPON. PROGRAM THE LAST YEAR WAS 418,625.
WHAT DID THAT FISCAL YEAR 27 COULD DO TO THAT $418,625? YEAH. >> SO MY HOPE IS THAT IT WILL NOT GO DOWN. WHAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR RIGHT
NOW IS THIS SUMMER PROGRAM AND WE BETWEEN THE CURRENT FUNDS WE ARE FINISHING OUT FROM FY 26 AND THEN SOME FROM FOIA 27. WE ARE CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM .
UM WE'RE MAKING SOME PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE COUPONS BUT THE ACTUAL UM AMOUNT OF SUPPORT GOING TO RESIDENTS IS IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AT THAT LEVEL
THIS SUMMER. SO THAT SO THERE WON'T BE A CUT AND THAT 418,000. THERE WILL NOT BE A CUT THIS SUMMER. AND OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE REMAINDER
OF FY 27 FOR THE VARIOUS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY THROUGH FARMER'S MARKETS IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS UH, LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY STORES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL
OF PROGRAMING THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF FOIA 27. AND IS THAT THE SAME FOR THE DOUBLE PROGRAM? SO THAT'S THE ONE WHERE WE WHERE. THEY PURCHASE THE REFRIGERATORS .
UM, SO THE REFRIGERATORS IS A COLD STORAGE GRANT WE DID THROUGH ARPA. SO FOR THE DOUBLE UPS WILL THAT BE FOR THAT EXPERIENCE AHEAD? UH POSSIBLY THAT IS WE
CURRENTLY WE'VE HAD A FEDERAL GRANT FOR THAT PROGRAM THROUGH A USDA COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM SINCE 2021 AND THAT IS COMING TO AN END AT THE END OF JUNE.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO APPLY WITH RIGHT. SO I'M ASKING SO THAT AND THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME OR TO THE
COUNCIL THROUGH THE CHAIR WITH THE CUTS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE THE CUTS ARE AND POSSIBLY MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO PUT THE
MONEY BACK BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DOUBLE PROGRAM AND THE FARMERS MARKET. PROGRAM THAT FOOD THE GOAL GOES DIRECTLY TO THE TABLE. YES.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT FOLKS LOSING MEALS ESPECIALLY IN MY OPINION THERE'S AN INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY IN MY DISTRICT ,ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOOK AT
WHAT WE GIVE OUT WITH REGARD TO THOSE FREE FOOD BOXES AND HOW QUICK THEY DISAPPEAR ON A FRIDAY DURING COVID THEY WOULD
LAST THROUGH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE COVID IS OVER THERE'S NO MORE FOOD IN THOSE BOXES NOW
225 ARE GONE WITHIN TWO HOURS AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP KEEP FOOD ON FOLKS TABLE ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT SEVEN I MEAN FOR ALL THE THE CITY
OF BOSTON BUT I'M LOOKING AT FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT I JUST ONE QUESTION MISTER CHAIR. YES. >> ONE FINAL QUESTION. UH, WITH REGARD TO THE THE TREE CANOPIES YOU TALKED ABOUT THEM
UNDER THE THAT BOSTON URBAN FOREST PLAN. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR ROXBURY IN DORCHESTER FOR THIS YEAR. FOR THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF TREE PLANTING? YES. UM I CAN GET BACK TO WITH OUR
PLAN SO EVERY YEAR UH SO AGAIN IN THE AGGREGATE AND HISTORICALLY SINCE UM UH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE ADMINISTRATION WE PLANTED 40% OF THE TREES AND THE 20% OF THE AREA OF BOSTON DESIGNATED AS
CLIMATE JUSTICE, WE OPPORTUNISTICALLY WE'LL TRY TO GRAB LIKE A FULL STREET AS OPPOSED TO SAYING ONE TREE ONE TREE THERE. SO WE PLAN OUT A SPRING AND FALL PLANTING SEASON. UM, YOU KNOW, HOLISTICALLY
THROUGH OUR OFFICE URBAN ACTUALLY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO'S NOT REPRESENTED HERE. SO THAT WOULD BE A TOPIC FOR THE MAY MEETING BUT I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY TO TALK. SO WHERE IS THAT 20% YOU SAID
40%. UM 20%. WHERE DOES THAT 20% IN TERMS. >> OF DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE THAT ARE URBAN HEAT ISLAND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM AND THEY'RE NUMBER OF IN ROXBURY. WITH REGARD TO MY DISTRICT WHERE WE.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPLY A MAP WITH SORT OF THE BOUNDARIES AND THE. YEAH THANK YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR THANK YOU. MR CHAIR. >> YEAH THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER COUNCILOR WORRELL, UH, YOU. >> KNOW EVERYONE'S. GOT 11 MINUTES SO FAR. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A FIVE MINUTE CYCLE AND I'LL GIVE YOU SIX
MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. ,AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. >> FOR BEING HERE. UM, THE URBAN COMMUNITY. FORESTRY UH, FUND. I KNOW IT WAS A LEAVE. I WAS A THREE YEAR, FIVE YEAR
PLAN. UH, WAS THE INITIAL. 2026 APPROPRIATION OF. $2 MILLION? >> WAS THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OR WHAT WE'RE SEEING UM, THIS YEAR
AND FY 27 IS THAT A DRAWDOWN OF THE 2 MILLION? CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME YEAH I WAS LOOKING OUT. THAT IS LARGELY FUNDING THE BOSTON TREE ALLIANCE PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS UH A PATH TO BE
ABLE TO EXPAND TREE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON. UM, WE DO EXPECT THERE'S A COMBINATION OF FUNDS WE'VE USED FOR THAT PROGRAM. A PORTION OF THAT IS ARPA A PORTION OF THAT AS INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING. UM.
WE DO EXPECT THROUGHOUT THE BALANCE OF UH THIS FISCAL YEAR AND ACTUALLY ALL OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT PROGRAM AT THE SAME RATE IT'S BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE ARE IN ACTIVE WORK.
A LOT OF LEADERSHIP BY THE PERSON WHO IS DIRECTLY OVER YOUR SHOULDER. UM, IN FIGURING OUT HOW IN 2028. >> AND BEYOND. >> TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO. SUSTAIN. >> UH, THAT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT . BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTMENT TOWARDS THIS
TREE PLANTING PROGRAM. UH. THAT AGAIN WILL BE SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT THIS FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU. >> UM. AND THEN SPEAKING. >> OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY I DO SEE A DIP
IN TERMS OF EXTERNAL FUNDS? HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS FEDERAL GRANT? I THINK WE CAN COME IN. >> YES YOU CAN. YEAH. >> WE WE COULD. GET BACK TO YOU.
DEFINITIVELY BUT I'LL JUST SAY. SCANNING THE, UM. EXTERNAL FUNDS THAT ARE JUST THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. >> I'D. SAY VIRTUALLY NONE. NONE. >> OKAY. YEAH. SO WE DID THAT MEANT THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT LOSE ANY
FEDERAL GRANTS. THE FOLLOWING YEAR 26. ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT IS BACK THERE. YEAH. OKAY. SORRY I DIDN'T WANT TO. YEAH. >> UH OH. >> THE GASTELUM YEAH. YEAH SORRY I LIKE I I STAND
CORRECTED THERE IS THERE'S ONE GRANT THAT WAS UM CANCELED THAT WAS $1 MILLION UM FOR REPLACEMENT OF GAS STOVES IN DORCHESTER AND UH, OKAY. AND THAT WE REPLACED WITH THE
POLLUTION UH, ABATEMENT FUND FUNDING, UM, FROM OUR OWN REVOLVING FUND. SO, UM, THE THE REASON IN MY HEAD THE ANSWER IS NONE IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT BUT YEAH.
OKAY SO SO WE ATE THOSE COSTS THAT CLIMATE RESILIENCE WE DID HAVE PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED UM THAT THAT FUNDING HAD BEEN RESCINDED. IN TERMS OF PROJECTS THAT WE HADN'T GOTTEN STARTED ON. OKAY.
BUT AS YOU KNOW LIKE WE TRY TO BUILD UP MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES TO DO THESE MAJOR PROJECTS. SO WE HAVE LOST A COUPLE OF WEDGES ON A COUPLE OF PROJECTS AND CHRIS AND THE TEAM HAD TEED UP OVER THE YEARS BUT NOW WE NEED TO BACKFILL AND
WE'RE JUST YOU KNOW WE'RE FURTHER BACK BUT IT IS NOT STOPPED CURRENT WORK FROM MOVING FORWARD UH OR ONGOING WORK. OKAY. AND AND I KNOW.
WE BUDGET FOR UM EXTERNAL FUNDS HAVE WE ARE WE BUDGETING FOR A LACK OF FEDERAL FUNDS ARE WE PUTTING IN FOR YOU KNOW, EXTERNAL FUNDS THROUGH WHETHER IT'S YOU. KNOW, ANY OF THESE OTHER.
REVOLVING FUNDS THAT WE HAVE WHETHER IT'S THE MVP ACTION GRANT, I JUST KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF EXTERNAL FUNDS. SURE. >> SO THERE'S A DIFFERENT STORY FOR EACH OF THE OFFICES I THINK
YOU MAY WANT TO COMPREHEND. OKAY. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE FOOD JUSTICE IS MUCH MORE DEPENDENT ON SOME OF THE FEDERAL UH, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU ARRIVE OR TALKING ABOUT SORT OF LEVERAGING SOME OF THE HUD GRANTS. CLIMATE ZONES ARE DEFINITELY
DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL FUNDS FOR CAPITAL. PURPOSES RIGHT. FROM AN OPERATING JUST TO SET THE TABLE. MAYBE I SHOULD ANSWER FROM AN OPERATING FTE STANDPOINT. UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CURRENT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON
FUNDING FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL. BUT WE DO HAVE CAPITAL AND GRANT YOU KNOW, EXPOSURE. SOME OF THIS AS WAS TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS WINDING DOWN OF PROGRAMS THAT YOU KNOW, WERE NEVER INTENDED TO EXTEND THAT
WERE USING ARPA MONEY. AND I REMEMBER WE WERE JUST GETTING THE LAST OF IT OUT RIGHT. AND SOME OF IT IS ONGOING GRANTS OR THINGS THAT HAD BEEN TENTATIVELY AGREED TO THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO. WORK AND I WOULD WANT TO
EXCLUDE ARPA DOLLARS FROM. THIS GRANT THIS CONVERSATION. YEAH. YEAH. UM SO HAPPY TO. >> GIVE. YOU TWO. QUICK EXAMPLES AND HAPPY ALSO TO FOLLOW UP UM. WE UH HAD. A UH GRANT UM ESSENTIALLY FROM
FEMA FOR INVESTMENT IN THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL, UM, FOR $10 MILLION. UH, THAT WAS UH GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AN AWARD. IT IS A LENGTHY PROCESS OF SORT
OF UM, UH, COLLABORATION WITH FEMA TO GET THE ACTUAL AWARD UM ,THAT WAS RESCINDED BEFORE IT WAS ULTIMATELY AWARDED IN THIS BUDGET, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS FINDING A DIFFERENT. WAY TO DELIVER MORE
EXPEDITIOUSLY FLOOD RISK REDUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THAT GRANT WAS FOR FOR THE FOUR POINT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS A LINE ITEM. IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE PARKS CAPITAL BUDGET AGAIN HAVE. >> TO. PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON THAT.
UM A SECOND EXAMPLE OF THIS UH WHICH IS LESS OF A CHANGE OF APPROACH AND MORE OF A CHANGE OF FUNDING SOURCE. UM, WE HAD UH AN INVESTMENT IN A FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN MOBILE PARK UH, THAT UH SIMILARLY WAS UH AT LEAST TEMPORARILY RESCINDED. UM, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PATH TO ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT THROUGH A COLLABORATION
WITH U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. SO THERE HAS BEEN CHANGES IN THE WAY IN WHICH THE FEDERAL INVESTMENT HAS HAPPENED AND IT'S IMPACTING OUR STRATEGY OF WHERE WE'RE SEEKING FUNDING OR UM, HOW WE'RE SEQUENCING PROJECTS. GOT IT. AND FOR YOU SOUNDS LIKE MOST
THE. MOSTLY EXACTLY FOR. >> VERY MUCH SOMETHING. YEAH FOR ENVIRONMENT. >> I WOULD. SAY THAT WE'RE UM FORTUNATE THAT WE DO NOT RELY ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR UM OPERATING OR
CAPITAL WITH RESPECT TO UM OTHER EXTERNAL FUNDS. UM I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE UH IN THE HEARING THAT WE ARE UM CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CUT BY
UM SHIFTING SOME UM, YOU KNOW, BERTO SUPPORT SERVICES TO A REVOLVING FUND BUT WE PROJECT THAT WE WE PLAN FOR THAT AND WE EXPECT THAT TO BE SUSTAINABLE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I WILL ALSO YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR FLYNN IS NOT HERE, BUT I WILL RESPOND TO HIS QUESTION EARLIER AND NOTE THAT THE REDUCTION THAT HE SAW IN EXTERNAL FUNDS ARE ALL FROM UM,
UH GRANTS THAT AS CHRIS ACCURATELY MENTIONED, UM FOR FOR RESILIENCE THAT ARE UM SORT OF ENDING AND GOING DOWN OR WERE PLANNED FOR ANYWAY. SO JUST. TO IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR QUESTION HOW DO YOU BUDGET FOR
UM POTENTIAL. CUTS UM AND WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A CUT IS ACTUALLY A PLANNED COMPLETION OF A UM, PROGRAM. GOT IT. >> UM, FEDERAL FUNDING SPECIFICALLY. YEAH.
SO YEAH. SO OUR WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT GRANT UH, THAT HAS BEEN A MATCHING GRANT SINCE 2021 FOR 500,000 AND THEN WE'VE BEEN USING 500,000 IN OPERATING
FUNDS. UM, THAT ENDS AT THE END OF JUNE. UM, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT PERSONNEL SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO. RIGHT.
SO, UH, WE DO HAVE A CURRENTLY A TEMPORARY PROGRAM MANAGER WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING THAT PROGRAM THAT UH THAT POSITION IS IS SET
TO UM THE CONTRACT IS THROUGH THE END OF JUNE WITH AS IT'S BEING SUPPORTED BY UH, THE FEDERAL GRANT. UM AND WE DO HAVE OTHER UH,
STAFF ON OUR TEAM WHO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM WITH OPERATING FUNDS. UM, AS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TIME FOR SEVERAL OF US. UM, SO DEPENDING ON IF WE'RE
ABLE TO GET ANOTHER FEDERAL GRANT, WE WILL OR SHIFT SOME OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM . AND WE DO HOPE TO CONTINUE. WORKING WITH THOSE STORES TO PROVIDE THIS KIND OF, UH, SPECIFIC FRESH FRUIT AND
VEGETABLE DISCOUNT TO. SNAP SHOPPERS. AWESOME. >> AND IF YOU COULD JUST QUANTIFY NOT NOT RIGHT NOW BUT TO THE CHAIR TO THE CHAIR WE JUST GET A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE UM I THINK IT'S 500 K YOU SAID
AND THEN THE TEMP POSITION. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE POSITION. >> FOR THE POSITION. RIGHT. AND THEN YOU SAID THERE WAS ALSO DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED TO I GUESS SOME OF THE STAFF IN THE OFFICE AS WELL. YOU COULD JUST GET A DOLLAR
AMOUNT. MY MY LAST QUESTION I THINK UM. IS AROUND. I'M GOING TO SINCE I SAID IT'S
GOING TO BE MY LAST QUESTION. UM. THE NO COST ACCOUNT ANALYSIS UM THAT WILL SAVE AN ESTIMATED
$2.3 MILLION A YEAR. UM DOES THAT. I DON'T. >> KNOW IF I WANT TO ASK THAT QUESTION NOW. >> IT'S IT'S A GOOD ONE. IT'S A. >> GOOD ONE. HE HASN'T TAKEN HIS HANDS OFF. >> THE. CHEST PIECE. YEAH, I KNOW EXACTLY. THIS QUESTION. >> YES.
UM I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT AND THEN ALSO THE UH THE SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES UM I JUST WANT TO JUST GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT WORKS. SO I GUESS WE COULD TALK ABOUT
. THE THE COST SAVINGS TO THE, UH ,NO COST ACCOUNT ANALYSIS AND THEN THE SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES FUND. YES. >> UM, I CAN EASILY ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION WHEN YOU REFER TO SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY
CERTIFICATES, ARE YOU, UM, REFERRING TO A EXTERNAL FUND OR SOMETHING YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION? UH, IT WAS IT WAS THE EXTERNAL FUND. OKAY. IT'S KIND OF GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT WORKS. YEAH. >> OKAY.
UM, UNDERSTOOD. SO, UM, WE UM THE THE RECLASSIFICATION IS THAT OUR WONDERFUL MUNICIPAL ENERGY UNIT, UM, IS UM, RESPONSIBLE
FOR MANAGING UM ALL OF THE CITY'S ENERGY USAGE, OUR ASSETS ,YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE CITY, VERY FEW OF THEM ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT AND UM AND AND OUR UM TEAM
FOUND THAT UM USAGE HAD INCREASED IN A NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS, UM, THAT WOULD ALLOW IT UM, ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS TO BE MOVED TO A RATE CLASS FOR HIGHER USAGE USERS.
WHICH REDUCES THE COST BECAUSE. THAT IS HOW IT WORKS. AND SO WE PROJECT THAT JUST BY DOING THIS RECLASSIFICATION WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAVE UM $2.3 MILLION RELATIVE TO WHAT WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING UNDER THE OTHER RATE CLASSES. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT I SUPPOSE THAT WAS IN FY 26 OF THAT THE SAVINGS IS FOR FY 22. IT'S ACTUALLY JUST FOR UM YOU
KNOW, 12 MONTHS. OKAY. UM SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS THAT WE WILL TRACK THE USAGE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROJECTED SAVINGS REALLY DO UM ARE
VERIFIED WITH OUR ESTIMATES AND THEN UM, MAKE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND REPORT UM, OUR WHERE OUR PROJECTED. SAVINGS AS I EXPECTED. UM AND THEN I MEAN THIS. IS AND THAT WILL START IN JUNE JULY OR.
OR I'D. SAY SEVERAL OF THOSE UM ACCOUNT CLASS RECLASSIFICATIONS AS HAVE ALREADY STARTED IT'S IT'S ABOUT LIKE 40 ACCOUNTS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. SO THEY WILL HIT GRADUALLY. YEAH AND THEY'RE ACROSS CITY
SOME OF THEM ARE SCHOOLS SOME OF THEM. >> ARE UM. AND AS WE KNOW IT'S BASED ON HISTORICAL USE AND AS I WAS MENTIONING KNOW BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS THAT THE CITY PAYS WHERE THERE'S NOT ONE CITY.
UM, AND WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO LOOK FOR GETTING THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS RATE BASED ON THE USE OF THAT BUILDING. RIGHT. AND SO WE FOUND I THINK IT WAS OVER 100 OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. AND SO AS WE FIND THEM WE PUT
IN THE REQUEST TO RECLASSIFY THE RATE. SO IT'S NOT AS IF LIKE THEY ALL GO INTO EFFECT JUNE 1ST. >> IS RIGHT IT'S EVERSOURCE. >> THEY CHANGE IT IN THE NEXT MONTH IT'S THE BETTER RATE GOT. >> IT. AND AND. DOES THAT COST SAVINGS GO BACK
TO THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. THAT IS WE. SHALL WE MAKE THAT THE ANSWER COUNSELOR DO YOUR. >> BEST. WHY IT WOULD BE NICE BUT YEP AND THE OTHER ONE IS SO THAT UM. SO WITH UH SOLAR UM WHAT WHAT I
WILL SAY IS THAT BUT I'M GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK ON WHY THAT IS SHOWING UM TOTAL BUDGET FOR UM FISCAL YEAR 27 BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A UM OLD REVOLVING
FUND THAT WHERE WE UM, SOLD UM SOLAR CREDITS FROM UM SYSTEMS THAT WE OWNED BUT THAT'S NO LONGER THE MODEL THAT WE USE. AND SO UM I'M GOING TO DOUBLE
CHECK WHETHER IT'S ACCURATE TO STILL KEEP IT LEVEL UM OR NOT BUT BUT LONG STORY SHORT THIS IS A WE USED TO OWN SOLAR PANELS. NOW WE, UM, RENT THE SYSTEMS THAT WE DO BECAUSE IT'S MORE
PROFITABLE. UM, SO YEAH, I'LL MAKE ANOTHER DOUBLE CHECK. >> ON THAT OKAY. AND THEN UM, SPEAKING ON THAT AND JUST MY HONESTLY MY SECOND TO LAST QUESTION. UH MANY RESIDENTS KEEP GETTING ARE.
USING THE CLEAN CHOICE ENERGY PROGRAM. I JUST BRING THIS UP JUST BECAUSE WE HEAR ABOUT HIGH UTILITY COSTS OFTEN JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW THE PROGRAM'S GOING. IT'S ABOUT UM 210,000 ACCOUNTS
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. >> IS THAT AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR? UH, THERE'S A KIND OF. A I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS INCREASED FROM AROUND LIKE I BELIEVE AROUND, UH, 180 OR 90,000 WHEN THE PROGRAMS
LAUNCHED IN 2021. SO IT'S BEEN THAT. COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY. YEAH OKAY. YES THAT'S RIGHT. >> YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM A LITTLE. >> BIT YEAH. >> WELL MY QUESTION IS WHAT'S AND WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE ON THAT.
GREAT. >> UM UM WELL I, I CAN THANK OUR, UM, DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL ENERGY UNIT CHRIS KRAMER, WHO IS FEEDING THE INFORMATION LIVE. OKAY, SO BUT DON'T ASK QUESTIONS THAT ARE TOO COMPLICATED.
THANKS, CHRIS. UM, IT'S ACTUALLY, UH, 219,000 PCC ACCOUNTS IN UM, 2025 AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT'S AROUND,
YOU KNOW, 70% OF UM, ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS IN BOSTON. SO THERE'S THERE'S ROOM TO GROW AND I'D SAY THAT OUR PLAN IS TO UM YOU KNOW, OUR RATE IS LOCKED
IN THROUGH THE END OF 2027. SO THAT WILL BE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STABILITY AND MOST LIKELY SAVINGS TO THAT PERIOD. BUT IN THE IN THE COMING YEAR OUR FOCUS IS REALLY TO UM DO AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING IN THE PROGRAM IN THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY COMES DOWN TO BECAUSE UM, SADLY THIS IS THE STATE OF THE WORLD THAT'S
GETTING THEM OFF OF PREDATORY THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS. SO THROUGH THE CCE PROGRAM OUTREACH, THROUGH ALL THE TOUCH POINTS WE HAVE WITH THE BOSTON ENERGY SAVER AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE ARE RECRUITING
TO WORK WITH US TO WORK WITH RESIDENTS ON UM THEIR QUESTIONS ON ENERGY WE REALLY ARE LOOKING TO UM GET MORE UH, ONE ON ONE ASSISTANCE TO GET PEOPLE INTO
THE PROGRAM OFF OF THOSE UM, UH ,SUPPLIERS THAT ARE CHARGING THEM SO MUCH AND UM AND THAT IS SORT OF THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS GOING WE HOPE UM, KNOCK ON WOOD
TO BE AIDED BY SOME CHANGES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO UM, UH LIMIT OR PROHIBIT THOSE THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS WHICH WOULD BE A HUGE INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT LIKELY
WE WOULD SEE TO THE PROGRAM UM, ALL OF THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE AND AS OUR MAIN FOCUS. >> FOR THE. PROGRAM SO SO JUST FOR FLAHERTY AND THEN PLUG UM BOTTOM FOR ENERGY LIKE ALL THE COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE IS AN OPT OUT NOT AN OPT IN.
SO WE SWEEP ALL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE JUST ON EVERSOURCE INTO BCC BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM THE VAST ,VAST MAJORITY OF THEM OUR RATES HAVE BEEN BETTER UM AND AND SAY IT'S CUSTOMERS MONEY
BUT FOLKS IN OPT OUT SO THEY GET A POSTCARD THEY SAY IF I WANT TO JUST BE ON EVERY SOURCE RATE FOR SOME REASON I WANT THEM. AS OLIVER MENTIONED, THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON DCC ARE ON THIRD
PARTY SUPPLIERS FROM SOMEBODY ELSE OFTENTIMES WITH A SWEETHEART LIKE 1 OR 2 MONTH, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL DEAL LIKE. >> YOU. SEE IN A BANK AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY'RE PAYING RATES THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN BCC AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT BECAUSE
PEOPLE VERY RARELY TRACK RATE OVER RATE LIKE CHANGES EACH MONTH AND THEY'RE LIKE JUST GO. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO LET FOLKS KNOW, UM, AND WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC OF SOME POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WILL EMPOWER THIS BODY TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
BUT SHORT OF THAT I JUST ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR ENERGY BILL IT'S BOSTON ENERGY SAVER. YOU KNOW, GO TO YOU KNOW BOSTON I'LL GO BACK JUST LIKE SAVER
635 SAVE WE HAVE FOLKS ON STAFF FOR FREE WHO WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHATEVER YOU SHARE. WE WILL AUDIT THE ENERGY. >> BILL AND. SAY YOU KNOW WHAT THE RATE YOU'RE PAYING IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN IT WOULD BE. >> YOU NEED TO CALL. YOUR THIRD PARTY SUPPLIER AND SAY I DON'T WANT TO RENEW MY CONTRACT OR I WANT OUT SO I CAN
JOIN THIS AND THEN WE CAN GET THEM A BETTER. >> RATE. AND THOSE CONTRACTS ARE RENEWABLE EVERY MONTH OR THEY. YEARLY. >> IT DEPENDS ON THE THIRD PARTY SUPPLIER OKAY. AS THE WILD WEST OUT THERE SOME OF THEM HAVE CANCELLATION PENALTIES, SOME OF THEM HAVE THEM ONLY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
SOME UNFORTUNATELY HAVE LIKE AUTO RENEWAL IN THEM SO THAT YOU CAN'T GET OUT UNLESS YOU LIKE REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY I NO LONGER WANT THIS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN REALLY CHALLENGING PRACTICE THE THE
HISTORY OF THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS IS THAT IT PREDATES BOSTON COMMON CHOICE ENERGY SO THEY WERE THE ONLY OPTION OUT THERE BUT BACK WHEN IT STARTED THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE AND WE DO A BETTER JOB FOR THE CONSTITUENCIES IN BOSTON AND BUYING BULK.
POWER AWESOME. THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM THESE ARE THE FUN ONES THAT YOU CAN KEEP GOING. YEAH. >> UH, JUST IN TERMS OF GRANTS THAT WERE LOST, I THOUGHT THERE
WAS A LIKE DIVERSITY AND TREE GRANT THAT WE HAD UH. THERE SORRY. THAT MAY BE PART AND. >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT. YEAH. IT WAS JUST THESE THREE OFFICES ARE MAYBE PARKS DEPARTMENT RELATED. YEAH. >> SO WE COVERED IN. >> THAT HERE. IT WAS. >> LIKE A STUDY BECAUSE IT. >> HAD THE. >> WORD DIVERSITY IN IT AND IT
WAS YOU KNOW THE WHEN. >> THEY'RE DOING THE WORD SEARCH. >> IN WASHINGTON IT HAD. UM YEAH. UH IT WAS THE UM OKAY. UH WELL SO JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME AND THEN UH,
WE'LL WRAP UP TODAY UH, UNLESS COUNCIL ROYAL HAS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WILL GO ON FOR 20 MINUTES. UH, BUT UH UM SO IT JUST UH IT
AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOLAR PANELS IS THAT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MAINTENANCE REVOLVING FUND IS THAT RELATED TO THAT? OKAY. I'LL WAIT. UM. >> FOR THAT UH, I GUESS FOR
ELIZA IN TERMS OF THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FUNDING THEY DID. YOU KNOW, UH, THAT WAS AWARDED UM, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND IN USING THAT MONEY, IS THERE
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PROCESS THAT YOU THAT WERE THAT YOU'RE. LEARNING HOW SOON CAN. >> YOU PUT THAT. MONEY TO USE? UM UM I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CHALLENGES. WE'RE UM WE'RE MEETING WITH
THEM NEXT WEEK ACTUALLY AND THEY'VE KIND OF SET UP A VERY CLEAR PROCESS FOR US TO INDICATE KIND OF THE THE PROCESS WE WILL USE TO TO DETERMINE HOW IT WILL BE SET UP AND EVALUATED.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF PART OF BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING NATURE OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS, UH, KIND OF SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH FINDING OUT THAT THAT THAT
THOSE RESOURCES UM, WERE THE YOU KNOW, WERE VOTED FOR BY RESIDENTS FOR FOOD ACCESS. UM, WE IT'S REALLY SORT OF US I
THINK UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXTERNAL RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH. >> THE. DOUBLE UP FOOD BOX GRANT AND FIGURING OUT UM FROM SORT OF A REALLY NOT INTERESTING
ADMINISTRATIVE LIKE OPERATIONS, UM, SET UP LIKE WHAT THE BEST WAY TO GET THOSE RESOURCES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY I WOULD SAY THE FASTEST BUT ALSO RIGHT TO
TO HELP UH, GET FOLKS THE MOST AMOUNT OF FRESH FOOD. RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT UM, WAYS OF DOING THAT. I JUST I THINK WE KNOW FROM THE AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT GETTING . >> THE.
MONEY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF ALLOCATED IS THAT. HALF THE. BATTLE MAYBE NOT EVEN HALF OF IT IT'S UH THEN TRANSLATING THAT INTO INTO REAL LIFE ACTION MIGHT YOU KNOW, TAKES
ADDITIONAL TIME IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS IS THAT WE CAN HELP WITH THAT OR UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT.
THOSE YEAH, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN HURDLES FOR US. PARTICULARLY THAT UM THAT I THINK THE YEAH THEY'RE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS IS IS IS A SMOOTH PROCESS IS JUST SORT
OF AS WE'RE PLANNING FOR OUR FARMERS MARKETS THIS SUMMER AND DOUBLE UP LIKE DETERMINING THE BEST USE OF. THE FUNDS OKAY. AND THEN JUST I KNOW THE FOOD RECOVERY ASSESSMENT UH, TALKED
ABOUT WORKING WITH ESD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOOD RECOVERY VEHICLES COULD PARK UH ,AND GET THE FOOD HAVE HAVE YOU MADE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT?
CAN WE HELP IN ANY WAY? THAT IS A REAL SPECIFIC QUESTION. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN. UM SO UH LET ME SEE. I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT BUT I WILL SAY WE HAVE
BEEN IN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH ISD AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS ABOUT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE SORT OF EVERYONE'S ALIGNED AND ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT SITUATIONS
WHERE UM, LIKE RECOVERED FOOD MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIVERGENT FROM LIKE TRADITIONAL PRACTICE WHERE UM WITH FOOD PANTRIES OF LIKE WHAT I SEE IS USED TO DEALING
WITH JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE THE DATES MAY BE ON THE FOOD OR WHEN THEY'RE HOW THEY'RE GETTING IT UM I'M NOT I'M JUST TRYING TO YEAH. LET ME LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ASKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT VEHICLE. YEAH. >> I MEAN AND IF IF THERE'S SOME WORK THAT CAN BE DONE, UH, ON OUR END TO MAKE SURE THOSE
VEHICLES CAN PARK AND, UH, UM, NOT. BE TICKETED OR. YEAH, I DON'T. I THINK THAT UM THAT WOULD FALL MORE WITH BPD AND BPD THAN WITH ISD.
OKAY. SO THERE ARE SORT OF A FEW DIFFERENT REGULATORY THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THAT REPORT UM, THAT YOU KNOW. JUST CURIOUS AND THEN UH, SO IN
YOUR CONTRACTS THERE'S A LIKE A IT LOOKS LIKE THE LAST THREE YEARS WAS THE CONTRACT WITH THE YMCA. UH, IS THAT ONGOING? UH IS THAT FUNDED FOR NEXT YEAR AND WHAT WAS THAT CONTRACT
DOING? SO YEAH, WE HAD UH, ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE YMCA THAT WAS WE WERE ABLE TO RENEW TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WHICH IS THE THE LIMIT THAT WE HAVE ON
NUMBER OF RENEWALS AND THAT WAS TO SUPPORT THEM AS A SPONSOR FOR SUMMER MEALS UM FOR COMMUNITY SITES BOTH IN UH CITY LOCATIONS LIKE COMMUNITY
CENTERS, LIBRARIES BAR AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY RUN PROGRAMS UH THAT ALL OF WHICH OFFER SUMMER MEALS BUT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN
OFFICIAL SPONSOR THAT IS UM PARTNERS DIRECTLY WITH DC AND USDA TO PROVIDE THE MEALS WHICH IS YMCA PLAYS THAT FUNCTION OKAY BUT IT'S NOT IS THE OTHER
SPONSOR FOR SITES IN BOSTON. SO UM OUR OUR TEAM ACTUALLY OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR MELISSA THIS HERE HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY
CLOSELY WITH UH THE YMCA AND AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY HOW TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING UM, SUMMER MEAL SITES UM, THIS SUMMER AS MANY
OPEN SITES AS POSSIBLE. UM, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE CONTINUING THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT. JUST BECAUSE THE. RENEWALS ARE UP, BUT WE ARE WORKING SORT OF A FROM A PERSONNEL STANDPOINT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE AS MANY UM OPEN SITES FOR FOR YOUTH AS POSSIBLE THIS SUMMER. OKAY. >> AND THEN JUST LAST QUESTION. UM, YOU KNOW I YEAH, I THINK COUNSELOR CULPEPPER IS ALLUDING TO IT LIKE YOU KNOW, IN THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THERE AND I KNOW THE PANELISTS THINK THAT THE BUDGET IS PROBABLY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY AND WE SHOULDN'T TOUCH IT. BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE GOING
TO BE PUTTING MONEY INTO FOOD SECURITY, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES WOULD BE THE PLACE WHERE YOU COULD DO THE MOST GOOD WITH THAT EXTRA MONEY OR IS THERE PERSONNEL?
DO YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE UH OR OKAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER BUT I JUST IF YOU WANT TO YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING TO AMEND THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY. LIKE WHICH OF YOUR LINE ITEMS
SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT? UM. >> UM, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UM, IT'S A FAIR QUESTION. I MEAN, I THINK I MEAN IT'S A TEAM, RIGHT? AND SO UH, IF MY ANSWER THAT QUESTION WOULD BE CONTRACT
SERVICES GIVES THE MOST FLEXIBILITY AND HISTORICALLY OSHA HAS OPERATED THROUGH SUPPORTING PARTNERS TO DELIVERY TO DELIVER PROGRAMS. RIGHT. UM, YOU COULD HAVE CHANGED BUDGET TOMORROW AND WE'RE STILL
NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE SIGNIFICANTLY ON FOOD ACCESS. RIGHT. THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN BOSTON. THAT'S WHY SNAP IS SO IMPORTANT IN IN THESE OTHER PROGRAMS. IS THAT THE SCALE SO WE ARE
FOCUSED ON THE THE ROI, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMIC CHANGES WE CAN MAKE THAT IS EASIEST THAT IS MOST BEST SERVED THROUGH CONTRACT SERVICES BECAUSE THAT IS THE LINE ITEM THAT WE CAN THEN
ISSUE GRANTS TO SAY OH YOU KNOW MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER COLD STORAGE FACILITY OVER HERE OR YOU KNOW AT A WHOLESALE OR MAYBE WE NEED YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, A RETAIL PROGRAM THERE. UH, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN
ALWAYS USE MORE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY. THAT'S THE NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. UM, AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE SUBMISSION THAT WE MADE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR VALUES. BUT YOU KNOW, YES, WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE WITH MORE.
OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL. WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY UH. UH. >> LAST LAST QUESTIONS? YEAH. THIS WOULD BE THE LAST LAST LAST QUESTIONS. UH UM, THE. BERTO 2.0.
REVOLVING FUND. >> WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN THAT REVOLVING FUND CURRENTLY? YEAH. >> UM, WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON EXACT NUMBERS. UM, BUT. THE EQUITABLE EMISSIONS INVESTMENT FUND IS THAT IS TECHNICALLY WHAT IT'S CALLED.
UM, BUT WE CAN JUST. >> CALL IT. >> THE THE BERTO FUND UM, WAS SEEDED WITH $3 MILLION FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HAS LARGELY
BEEN SPENT ON UM, UH, GRANTS AS WELL AS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT. UM BUILDING OWNERS DIRECTLY WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS. UM, SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT IS
IT'S UM WE'RE WE HAVE AN OPEN GRANT ROUND RIGHT NOW OF WE'RE TARGETING AROUND $600,000 IN GRANTS. WE HAVE UM WE ESTIMATE WE'LL HAVE APPROXIMATELY THAT AMOUNT LEFT UM, AFTERWARD.
SO THE BALANCE IS LESS THAN HALF OF THE 3 MILLION THAT WAS SEATED. BUT WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR ALL OF THAT. UM, AND THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE COMING IN UM IS IN THE FORM OF ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE
PAYMENTS. UM, BUT SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT UM THOSE WILL BE MADE, WE UM WE HAVE A VERY WIDE RANGE OF WHAT UH PROJECT
BECAUSE FRANKLY WE'RE HAPPY IF WE GET THE PAYMENTS WE'RE REALLY HAPPY IF WE DON'T BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING IN OTHER WAYS. UM, SO THAT IS WE WE WILL HAVE A LOT TO SHARE BACK UM, A YEAR FROM NOW IN TERMS OF WHERE WE
ARE BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE US A CLEARER PICTURE. I JUST SAID THE INTENT BEHIND FORWARD FUNDING IT WAS UM OPERATING DOLLARS WAS REALLY LIKE PRIME THE PUMP ON THIS NEW GRANT PROGRAM THAT OVER TIME WE
FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE BUILDING OWNERS THAT USE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PAYMENTS AND FUND THE OTHER EMISSIONS INVESTMENT FUND. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LIKE THE RECIPIENTS AND THE APPLICANTS UNDERSTOOD THIS PROGRAM. SO WE JUST ANNOUNCED THE SECOND
ROUND OF WINNERS UM THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IN A PRESS RELEASE. WE'RE HAVING EVENTS WITH THEM. WE KNOW THERE'S DEMAND OUT THERE FOR THE SUPPLY OF FUNDING TO INVEST IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS FOCUSING
PREDOMINANTLY ON HOUSING. UH AND NOW THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT. AND SO THAT WAS THE INTENT HERE WAS ALWAYS THAT THAT 3 MILLION WE WEREN'T GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT OPERATING DOLLARS INTO THAT FUND.
WE'RE LIKE PRIMING THE PUMP FOR A A BRNO ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANT PAYMENT ANNUAL FUNDING PROCESS. RIGHT YEAH NO YEAH. UM YEAH I THINK I WAS HEARING
THAT UM TO BACKFILL SOME OF THE CONTRACTED WE WERE USING THE FUND WAS IT WHICH FUND WAS. TEMPORARILY TO SHIFT SOME OF THE BURDEN SUPPORT COSTS. >> THAT IT'S. ACTUALLY TO TO A DIFFERENT FUND KIND. >> OF UH. POLLUTION ABATEMENT.
FUND POLLUTION WHICH. UM COVERS UH WORK ON AIR QUALITY AND UM EMISSIONS REDUCTION WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS ALSO YOU. >> KNOW, RIGHT. BORDEAUX RELATED AND CURRENTLY FUNDS PUERTO ACTIVITIES ALREADY . YEAH BUT IT'S A IT'S A
DIFFERENT FUND. THE AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT FUND HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN SPENT OUT ON DIRECT SERVICES. PERFECT. >> AND CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE ME UH DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT REVOLVING FUND? YES. >> WHY DON'T WE WHY DON'T WE JUST DO THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND? YEAH.
UM. IN WRITING. PERFECT. OKAY. YEP. AND. >> UM, FOR THE CONTRACT, THE SERVICES THAT WERE DECREASED UM, IN FY 26, HOW MANY
RECIPIENTS UM, RECEIVED THE GRANT? UM IN THE LINE ITEM THAT WAS DECREASED. SORRY. >> FOR WHICH OFFICE? OH, I THINK IT WAS. WAS IT? YEAH I THINK IT WAS UP TO FOOD JUSTICE. YEAH.
>> UM SO IT'S NOT UH. IT'S IT'S A LITTLE TOUGH TO ANSWER BECAUSE. OUR WHOLE CONTRACTED SERVICES IS ONE UM, THERE AREN'T SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS. OKAY. >> SO IT'S NOT LIKE ONE LINE
ITEM LINE ITEM WAS DECREASED BUT CONTRACTED SERVICES AS A WHOLE, RIGHT. AND HOW MANY VENDORS WERE YOU ABLE TO FUND TO DO YOUR OWN ONE . THAT CONTRACTED. >> SERVICES.
LINE ITEM. UH I CAN I MEAN I CAN I'M TRYING TO DO SOME QUICK MATH IN MY HEAD THEY'RE SEPARATE BUT THEY'RE SEPARATE PROGRAMS SO THERE'S LIKE 20 FARMERS MARKETS RIGHT?
THERE ARE 35 ORGANIZATIONS THAT DISTRIBUTED COUPONS. SOME OF THOSE ARE THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS. YEAH I MEAN ROUGHLY PROBABLY 55
OR 50 TO 55 IF YOU LOOK AT FARMER'S MARKET OR I'M GETTING A LITTLE HIGHER 6065 OKAY. UH, SOME PANTOMIMING GOING. >> ON BEHIND YOU. YES, I SAY 55 TO 65 COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DISTRIBUTE FARMER'S MARKET COUPONS RUN FARMER'S MARKETS, UH, SMALL GROCERY STORES AND BODEGAS UM, AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER FOOD
ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS UH, THAT THROUGH SUMMER EATS OR UH OTHER FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT. AND THEN HOW WOULD THE IN TERMS OF RECIPIENT HOW WAS HOW WOULD
THE REDUCTION. I MEAN HOPEFULLY. WE WILL. >> CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS. AT A SMALLER SCALE LIKE A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT. IS THAT THE IDEA? UM. >> YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE OPTIMISTIC WE'RE HOPEFUL WE MAY
BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR ANOTHER FEDERAL GRANT OR FIND ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL RESOURCES SO WE WON'T NEED TO REDUCE THOSE. UM. BUT YEAH.
THAT'S THE IDEA IS TO NOT ELIMINATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY AND BENEFITING, YOU KNOW, FOLKS SHOPPING AT FARMER'S MARKETS OR SHOPPING AT UM YOU KNOW, USING NUMBER OF BOX BUT UH. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GRANT
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE SHIFTED OVER TIME IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE. TO GRANT. >> TO THEM. >> AND UH, THIS YEAR'S A IS. ALREADY BUT AND JUST IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING LIKE HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THIS
QUESTION. WITH BECAUSE THERE'S 500,000 FROM PURCHASE THROUGH BUDGETING . MHM. RIGHT IT'S. >> GOING GOING TO YOU. RIGHT SO HOPEFULLY THERE WON'T BE A NET DECREASE TO THESE PARTNERS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH IN OTHER WAYS. AWESOME.
>> AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS UM IT'S A BIG TOPIC AND DISTRICT FOUR AROUND THE TALBOT UH NEIGHBORHOOD TRIANGLE OR NORFOLK TRIANGLE UM UH
SUBSTATIONS UH HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT OR ARE WE THINKING ABOUT ANY ALTERNATIVES FOR SUBSTATIONS? YEAH, I CAN SEE THE BROADER
REMIT AND THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC SO UH, TO MEET ENERGY DEMAND IN BOSTON GOING FORWARD, UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ABOUT, UH, SIX ADDITIONAL SUBSTATIONS NEEDED IN BOSTON OVER THE NEXT 10 TO
15 YEARS. UH, THAT IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY CURRENT SUBSTATIONS BEING AT OR OVER CAPACITY. RIGHT. AND SO RIGHT NOW THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE LACK OF RESILIENCE IN OUR GRID IS
THESE SUBSTATIONS ARE RUNNING IT'S LIKE RUNNING YOUR ENGINE TO HOT RIGHT. THESE STATIONS ARE RUNNING REALLY HOT AND THEN THEY'RE GETTING EXTRA CAPACITY FROM SUBSTATIONS FURTHER AWAY WHICH IS LESS EFFICIENT AND THERE ISN'T UM CAPACITY EVEN FOR
INCREASING DEMAND OF EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, INCREASING DEVELOPMENT UM AS WELL AS ELECTRIFICATION. SO WE ARE FOR ME THE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS REALLY YES AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
BEHIND THE METER IN TERMS OF SOLAR AND BATTERY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY THAT WILL NOT UM, PREVENT US FROM STILL NEEDING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE TO DISTRIBUTE DEMAND WHERE IT IS NEEDED, WHERE SUPPLY WHERE IT IS COMING FROM.
UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AT ANY GIVEN TIME A RESIDENT IS EXPORTING POWER AND THEN IT'S IMPORTING POWER AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS EXPORT. SO THOSE ARE THE SUBSTATIONS WHEN IT BALANCES THAT INPUT AND OUTPUT INTO THE SYSTEM.
UM SO THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE IN MY OPINION AND BASED ON YOU KNOW WHAT UM TECHNICAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH US WITH THE SIX SUBSTATIONS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY. UM AND THE ONE YOU'RE REFERRING
TO IS ONE THAT SORT OF NEXT UP FROM THE PRIORITY LIST FROM EVERY SOURCE WHERE THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT LOCATION? IS IT THE RIGHT SIZE SIDE IS THE BEST FIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? UM, HOW DOES IT GET MITIGATED
IN TERMS OF ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HAVING IT THERE AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING? YEAH. >> UM I WILL JUST SAY I THINK UM CHIEF SMITH SAID IT PERFECTLY THERE'S THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THE PROBLEM THAT WE
HAVE WHICH IS EVEN TO MEET CURRENT DEMAND, LET ALONE WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IF WE DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN BOSTON.
AND SO THE QUESTION FOR US IS HOW DO YOU DO IT WELL, HOW DO YOU DO IT WITH AS MUCH COMMUNITY UM, VOICE AND INFLUENCE? HOW DO YOU DO IT WITH THE UTILITIES AND REGULATORS
UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED AND WHAT THE CITY'S ROLE IS IN BRINGING ALL OF THESE PARTIES TOGETHER AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, DICTATING FOR OURSELVES WHERE IT SHOULD GO BECAUSE THIS IS A COMPLICATED MOVING PICTURE.
AND WHAT I WILL ADD JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE SENSE OF WHERE WE SEE OUR INFLUENCE IS THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE BAR FOUNDATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT HAS UM TAKEN
SHAPE IN THE LAST YEAR AS A PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING WITH SOME VERY SKILLED CONSULTANTS TO LOOK AT THE CITY AND ALL OF THE UM SORT OF PARCELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WHAT OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRIORITIES, WHAT ARE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SO THAT WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT AND WE'RE DOING THIS SORT OF NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH EVERSOURCE BUT WITH THEIR
AWARENESS AND WITH SOME EXCHANGE OF DATA SO THAT WITH EVERY FUTURE COMMUNITY UM AND IT'S IT WILL BENEFIT UM DORCHESTER AS WELL THAT WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE DOING
IT FROM A MUCH BETTER POSITION OF SAYING LIKE WELL HAVE YOU LOOKED DOWN THE STREET OR THIS ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE BECAUSE COMMUNITIES REALLY VALUE GREEN SPACE. HOW CAN WE COMBINE THE TWO OR HAVE THE BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT DOES THAT?
I'M GIVING YOU SOME EXAMPLES NOT ACTUAL UM. SITUATION IN DORCHESTER. SO UM THAT IS WHAT ALTERNATIVES MEANS IN MY MIND IT MEANS ACTUALLY ZOOMING OUT AND THINKING OF ALL THE SORTS
OF THINGS THAT ARE ALTERNATIVES NOT JUST ONE SPOT VERSUS ANOTHER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME INTO PLAY. RIGHT? >> AND UM, I KNOW. THAT CAMBRIDGE WAS ABLE TO BUILD AN UNDERGROUND UH, SUBSTATION BUT THEY HAD
COORDINATED AND NEGOTIATED THAT WITH, YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE DEVELOPER. SO UM, HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT WHEN LARGE PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, MAYBE.
TAKING A LOOK. AT, YOU KNOW, SEEING IF THAT COULD BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UM, KNOWING THAT WE NEED RIGHT IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE GRID AND EVERYTHING THAT
GOES ON IN OUR HOMES, UM, AND TO HIT OUR ENERGY GOALS, UH, THAT WE NEED THE SUBSTATION. SO YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT IS A COORDINATION THE CONVERSATION OR PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, LARGE DEVELOPERS. THAT ARE LOOKING.
>> TO BUILD IN BOSTON UM, CARNEY HOSPITAL I KNOW UM THERE ARE SOME THAT APPROVE I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD GO BACK UH, INTO THAT CONVERSATION BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE IT'S UNDERGROUND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A WAY BETTER CONVERSATION FOR THE COMMUNITY. UH, IT'S A POINT WELL MADE. I WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS IN THAT DIRECTION. SO THERE WAS A UNIQUE CONFLUENCE OF FACTORS OF KENDALL SQUARE THAT WAS
HAPPENING ONE YEAH. THERE WAS NO NEW DEVELOPMENT UH ,GOING TO HAPPEN IN KENDALL SQUARE UNTIL THEY SOLVED THAT BECAUSE THAT SUBSTATION WAS OVER CAPACITY ALREADY. SO THAT HAD THE LARGEST PRIVATE
SECTOR SUBSIDY OF AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION ANYWHERE AND IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE SUBSTATION EVER BUILT IN. >> NEW ENGLAND. SO BUT BECAUSE AND YOU MAY REMEMBER LIKE THAT HAPPEN AT THE PEAK OF LAB RENTAL RATES SO
COMPANIES SAYING I CAN'T BUILD MY NEXT 500,000FT2 OF LAB SPACE I'M WILLING TO SUBSIDIZE IT BELOW GREAT SUBSTATION BECAUSE THERE'S A UNIQUE CONFLUENCE IT DID NOT COST THE RATEPAYERS IN EVERSOURCE ANY MORE THAN A TREE.
SO SUBSTATION ALL OF THAT ADDITIONAL COST WAS SUBSIDIZED BY THE DEVELOPERS AROUND THAT THAT BENEFITED FROM THAT ADDITIONAL SUBSTATION. SO TO YOUR POINT, WHENEVER WE HAVE A SUBSTATION NEED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHERE THERE IS
ALIGNMENT WITH NEW POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE TOTALLY TALKING ABOUT CO-DESIGNING PLANNING DEPARTMENT WITH EVERSOURCE AND SAYING OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED ONE IN CHARLESTOWN, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHARLESTOWN THEN MAYBE IT GETS TIGHT. DEFINITELY AWESOME RIGHT?
BUT THERE IS A TIMING ASPECT TO THIS THAT YOU CAN'T YOU CAN ONLY WAIT SO LONG BEFORE LARGE DEVELOPMENTS MATERIALIZE AND THEN YOU KNOW THE ELECTRIC UTILITY SAYING OH LIKE WE'RE BEYOND CAPACITY I NEED THIS SOONER THAN THAT.
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S A POINT WELL MADE. I JUST. >> WANT TO MANAGE EQUITY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH UM THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE IT FOR THIS MORNING'S HEARING. WE HAVE TWO BUDGET HEARINGS UH ,TOMORROW DOUBLEHEADER IN THE
MORNING, OFFICE OF UH, LABOR COMPLIANCE AND WORKER PROTECTIONS AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE AFTERNOON PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. THERE'S AN AFTERNOON HEARING
ON, UH, STREET SAFETY. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE CENTRAL STAFF ENOUGH TIME TO GET READY FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS MORNING'S HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED. Part: 2
FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS SHARON DURKAN, DISTRICT EIGHT CITY COUNCILOR AND I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. TODAY IS APRIL 21ST. THE EXACT TIME IS 2 P.M. THIS
HEARING IS BEING RECORDED AND IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED@BOSTON.GOV BACKSLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES
CHANNEL 964 WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT SIX PLAN DMV@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. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON AND THE ORDER OF WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP AND HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE
CHAMBER. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE ENTER. PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON SHANE PACK AT SHANE SHEA AND E.PACK@BOSTON.GOV AND
UM YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0204. ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS MAKING NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS SAFER FOLLOWING THE 30 YEAR REVIEW OF STREET PROJECTS IN
BOSTON. THIS MATTER IS, UH, SPONSORED BY BENJAMIN WEBER AND ENRIQUE PEPEN AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 28TH, 2026 DOCKET 0588 ORDER FOR A HEARING
TO DISCUSS CITY OF BOSTON TRANSPORTATION PHILOSOPHY AND STATUS OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THIS MATTER IS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS DURKAN, PEPEN AND WEBER AND REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON MARCH 18TH, 2026 AND DOCKET 0589 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LIZ BREADON AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON MARCH 18TH, 2026. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL . OKAY COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR. PEPEN.
COUNCILOR. BREADON. COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR COLE. POPPER. AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
UM GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WHEN I INTRODUCED MY DOCKET TO THE COUNCIL FLOOR, I COMMITTED TO SCHEDULING THIS HEARING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE MIDST OF BUDGET SEASON BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT AND URGENT. RESIDENTS EXPECT AND DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE ON OUR STREETS. MEETING THAT EXPECTATION IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THAT DEPENDS ON CONSISTENT WORK AND CLEAR COORDINATION ACROSS CITY
UM ACROSS THE CITY. BOSTON HAS COMMITTED THROUGH VISION ZERO TO ELIMINATE FATAL AND SEVERE TRAFFIC CRASHES BY 2030 AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT STREET AND SAFETY PROJECTS UNDERWAY TO HELP GET US THERE. BUT IN RECENT MONTHS THERE HAS
BEEN CONCERN THAT TOO MANY OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SLOWED DOWN OR STALLED WITHOUT CLEAR EVIDENCE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OR WHY. CONSTITUENTS ASK ME EVERY DAY FOR UPDATES. UM AS WELL AS UM THROUGH AND THROUGH BEING THE CHAIR
OF PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND I HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO PROTECT ALL ROAD USERS AND ENSURE EVERYONE CAN GET AROUND OUR CITY SAFELY, ESPECIALLY OUR
MOST VULNERABLE IN DISTRICT EIGHT WHERE SO MANY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS NAVIGATE BY FOOT ALL EVERY DAY. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT CONSISTENTLY. I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
AND MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE USING ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION WALKING, BIKING OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT . MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING NOT TO DRIVE. WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
RECOGNIZING THAT MANY BOSTON RESIDENTS INCLUDING MYSELF DO NOT OWN A CAR, THE DELAY OF MANY OF THESE PROJECTS UM HAS ALSO PUSHED STATE AND FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AT RISK.
UM ON RELATEDLY, WE LOST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANTS INCLUDING THE ROXBURY RESILIENT CORRIDORS GRANT, WHICH WAS YANKED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER WE PASSED IT THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE. SIMILARLY, WE'VE HAD
DISCUSSIONS IN THIS CHAMBER ABOUT WE WILL HAVE AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE FACING CHALLENGES AND A CHALLENGING BUDGET SEASON COUPLED WITH FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY AND DECREASING STATE FUNDING. WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO SECURE EVERY DOLLAR FOR THESE CRITICAL PROJECTS AND KEEP IT. I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS TAKING STEPS TO EXPAND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. HOWEVER, THERE DOES REMAIN A LACK OF FLAHERTY, UM, ON HOW
WE'RE MOVING IN AN OVERALL DIRECTION, WHAT OUR TRANSPORTATION PHILOSOPHY IS, WHAT OUR LONG TERM GOALS ARE AND HOW THESE PROJECTS UM ARE GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE. I LOOK FOR I FILED THIS HEARING
ORDER. I'M GLAD TO HAVE COMBINED IT WITH COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCILOR RIVERS DOCKETS TO SUPPORT A BROADER CONVERSATION TODAY. I HOPE THAT WE CAN GAIN MORE FLAHERTY FROM CITY OF BOSTON LEADERSHIP ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION PHILOSOPHY AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THE STATUS OF KEY PROJECTS AND THE PATH FORWARD TO DELIVERING SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT STREETS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS. AS CITY COUNCILORS, WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PARTNER WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADVANCE THE GOAL OF SAFETY ON OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HERE. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I WANT TO THANK UH, INTERIM CHIEF CHIEF NET GOVE AND BOB ADVISORY FOR JOINING US TODAY. UM, NICK GOVE IS THE INTERIM CHIEF OF STREETS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND MOHAMED IS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. I'M GOING TO GO TO OPENING STATEMENTS UM FROM MY COLLEAGUES UH, THAT ARE SPONSORS. SO UM, COUNCILOR LES BREADON YOU I'M SORRY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WAS RIGHT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE LOTS OF, UH LOTS OF ROAD USERS IN THE IN THE HOUSE TO, UH, LISTEN TO THIS
VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. UM, I FOUND DOCKET 0589 IN ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STREETS
PROJECTS. UH, IT IT CAME AS SORT OF A WAKE UP CALL RECENTLY WHEN WE LOST $327 MILLION CUT FROM THE
I-90 PROJECT AS PART OF A, UH, BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE AND THE MONEY WASN'T OBLIGATED. I THINK IN THIS CASE WE'RE LOOKING CITYWIDE UH, HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE IN JEOPARDY. UH, AS WE AS A CITY UH, IF WE USE THE CITY DO NOT MOVE FORWARD DECISIVELY AND OBLIGATE THESE FUNDS AND SHOW FORWARD
DIRECTION. WE HAVE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE PROCESS IS STALLED. AND WE ALSO, UM, FEEL THAT THIS
IS A MOMENT, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BUDGET SEASON AND UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WE CAN AND AND UH, FORCIBLY DELIVER FROM BOSTON THAT IN THIS MOMENT
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PARTNER WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE MBTA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, UTILIZE THE FUNDS AND USE THEM AS, UH AS
THEY WERE INTENDED. UH, AND AND IF WE DON'T USE THEM, WE'RE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEM. SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT AND AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ALL OF US ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT IT'S A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR MY DISTRICT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UM, NEXT WE'LL GO TO, UH, THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE OTHER DOCKET. UM, COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR AND TWO MINUTES. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES COMING OUT TODAY. UH, AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND FOR EVERYONE WHO'S SHOWN UP
HERE IN CITY HALL. I KNOW I FILED, UH, DOCKET ON THE 30 DAY REVIEW, UH, IN APRIL 2025. UH, AND SO IT'S BEEN A YEAR FOR
US TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT REVIEW MEANT AND WHAT WE WERE DOING ABOUT IT. AND HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB SINCE THAT REVIEW CAME
OUT AND SAID WE NEED A BETTER COMMUNITY PROCESS, UH, AROUND STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND INSTEAD WHAT WE'VE HAD IS NO PROCESS AND NO IMPROVEMENTS. UH, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I
SPEAK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT SIX WHO, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK, UH, YOU KNOW, WALK AROUND SAFELY AND RIDE THEIR BIKES SAFELY ON THE STREETS.
AND RIGHT NOW AS THEIR CITY COUNCILOR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM IN TERMS OF HOW TO HOW TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD, HOW TO GET SPEED HUMPS ON THEIR STREETS. UH, AND HOW TO ADDRESS, YOU
KNOW, AREAS WHERE THERE'S DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD GLEN INGRAM WHO DIED. UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN FRONT OF FOREST HILL STATION CROSSING THE STREET ON A GREEN LIGHT AND
IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, IT'S I THINK YOU KNOW, UH, THE MAJORITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS GO FORWARD. UH, AND THE ANSWER CAN'T BE THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
UH, SO YOU KNOW, I'M HERE. I'M I HOPE WE GET SOME ANSWERS AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UM, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR PEPEN WHO UH, IS THE CO-SPONSOR ON ALL THESE DOCKETS.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATES, PANELS ORGANIZERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY. YOUR VOICES, YOUR PERSISTENCE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SAFER STREETS ARE WHAT IS GOING TO
KEEP THIS CITY MOVING FORWARD. BUT I'M NOT JUST HERE AS A CITY COUNCILOR WITH SOMEONE HERE THAT STANDS WITH YOU. BEFORE I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL. I WORK FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS TEA FOR IN MAY IN THAT ROLE.
I SAW FIRSTHAND WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE COMMIT TO FOLD PEOPLE CENTERED TRANSPORTATION POLICY. AND I ALSO SAW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE PROGRESS STALLS SAFETY SUFFERS AND
COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT BEHIND. THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPED HOW I SHOW UP TODAY TO THIS BUILDING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY TRANSPORTATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B IT'S ABOUT SAFETY. IT'S ABOUT EQUITY.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER A PARENT FEELS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE LETTING THEIR CHILD WALK TO SCHOOL, WHETHER A SENIOR CAN CROSS THE STREET WITH CONFIDENCE, WHETHER A CYCLIST CAN RIDE WITHOUT FEAR AND WHETHER A PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDER
ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY THEY DESERVE. THAT'S WHY I MADE TRANSPORTATION ITS HIGH PRIORITY IN MY WORK ON THE COUNCIL AND WHY CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. SAFER STREETS DON'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
THEY HAPPEN BECAUSE WE CHOOSE THEM. THEY HAPPEN WHEN WE INVEST IN TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES LIKE SPEED BUMPS. THEY HAPPEN WHEN WE IMPROVE SIGNAGE AND VISIBILITY. THEY HAPPEN WHEN WE BUILD SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE CROSSWALKS
AND SIDEWALKS, AND THEY HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO TAKE ON LARGER PROJECTS REDESIGNING OUR STREETS SO THEY WORK FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST FOR CARS BUT FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, TRANSIT RIDERS AND
DRIVERS ALIKE FROM OUR SCHOOL ZONES TO OUR RESIDENTIAL STREETS TO OUR BUSIEST CORRIDORS. EVERY PART OF THE CITY SHOULD REFLECT THAT COMMITMENT. THAT IS WHY I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON BOTH DOCKETS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM TODAY. UM, TRANSPORTATION IS PROBABLY A TOPIC THAT I HEAR FROM THE MOST IN MY DISTRICT RESIDENTS CONSISTENTLY ASKING ME WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE UPDATE ON THE PROJECTS? WHERE ARE WE GETTING MORE SPEED
HUMPS WHEN OUR STREETS ARE GOING TO BE SAFER? SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM AND FOR EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT AREN'T CO-SPONSORS, WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET YOU HAVE A MINUTE. UM, NOT TWO MINUTES BECAUSE I
KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UM, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS WHEN WE GET TO, UM WHEN WE GET TO QUESTIONS. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE A MINUTE? THANK YOU. >> I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF AS
POSSIBLE. THIS THIS. HEARING IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS AN ISSUE I'VE WORKED ON FOR EIGHT YEARS TRYING TO KEEP OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS SAFE .
TRYING TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WE DID FROM 25 TO 20. I THINK IT SHOULD BE REDUCED EVEN FURTHER. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON, UM, TO PROVIDE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE FOR ALL PEOPLE ESPECIALLY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR SENIORS. WE NEED MORE TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL FROM THE BOSTON POLICE ENFORCING ALL RULES OF THE ROAD. BOSTON CAN'T BE THE WILD WEST. IT HAS TO BE A CITY WHERE
PEOPLE FOLLOW THE RULES AND RESPECT THE RULES AND THE RULES ARE ENFORCED CONSISTENTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> SO LAST YEAR.
>> IT WAS STATED WITH MY FORMER . LEAD SPONSORS. UM, I WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE FILED. THE HEARING. ORDER TO GET ANSWERS ON THE 30
DAY REVIEW. AND WE KNOW THAT CAME AFTER THE NEED FOR THE SAFETY SURGE INITIATIVE. AND JUST HEARING. FROM RESIDENTS EVERY. RESIDENT IF YOU'RE WALKING
BIKING IN A CAR ON A BUS YOU DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE ON THE CITY TO MAKE SURE AND WHAT DATA WE'VE COLLECTED. >> SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION MAKING SURE THAT UM, ALSO HEARING FROM THE RESIDENTS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO
SEE AND. >> MAKE SURE. THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. >> COUNCILOR MURPHY. UM, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR CULPEPER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, AND THANK YOU TO THE. PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY
. UM, DISTRICT SEVEN THE NUMBER OF STREETS IN MY DISTRICT AND NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION FROM COLUMBUS AVENUE WHERE REPAVING AND RESTORATION OF THE CENTER
COBBLESTONES I WOULD DO CONCRETE SQUARED NORTHAMPTON STREET FOLLOWING BOIS'S WORK THERE SMALLER BUT IMPORTANT STREETS LIKE WELLINGTON STREET, CLAREMONT PARK, GREENWICH PARK
AND THESE ARE NOT LARGE SCALE WE PROGRAMS THEIR BASIC MAINTENANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT RESIDENTS ARE DEALING WITH EVERY DAY. AND WHILE WE TALK ABOUT PLANNING FUTURE PROJECTS, WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT PROJECTS ALREADY UNDERWAY PARTICULARLY AROUND A BLUE HILL AVENUE WHICH IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE WHERE DESPITE THE CITY'S STATED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
CONSENSUS THAT BLUE HILL LEFT CENTER LANE MANY RESIDENTS AND WE JUST HAD THAT LARGE COMMUNITY MEETING. MANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THEY WERE NOT MEANINGFULLY . THANK YOU COUNCILOR FROM. >> THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU CHAIR. UH APPRECIATE IT. UH, AS A PARENT OF THREE YOUNG KIDS MY BIGGEST FEAR IS UH,
VEHICLES UH, AND THE WAY THEY'RE DRIVING LATELY, UH, EVEN PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, WE ONLY LET THE KIDS PLAY IN THE BACKYARD NOW BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF OF OF CARS COMING DOWN. SO, UH BUT I'M ALSO REALISTIC
ABOUT, UH, THE ROLE OF A CAR IN MY FAMILY'S DEPENDENCY ON TRYING TO GET TO EVERYTHING WITH THREE YOUNG KIDS AS WELL. SO NOT THAT ONE'S GOING TO GO AWAY. UH, WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW THIS CAN COEXIST IN A SAFER, BETTER
MODEL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANKS, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. UM, OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO. I KNOW THERE'S A PRESENTATION SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR ADMINISTRATION PANEL UH, WHICH
CONSISTS CONSIST OF UM SHE CHIEF GOVE AND UM DIRECTOR MISSOURI. SO UM GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. UM. WE'RE GOING TO. START OFF JUST BY TALKING ABOUT.
THE STREETS CABINETS MISSION AND VALUES. UM. >> WE DELIVER THE ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES THAT KEEP BOSTON MOVING. CLEAN. >> SAFE AND VIBRANT. WE BELIEVE IN GETTING THE
DETAILS RIGHT FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUTERS WHO RELY ON US IN THEIR DAILY LIVES . WE HOLD OURSELVES TO DIRECT AND THOROUGH ENGAGEMENT THROUGH CLEAR, STRAIGHTFORWARD
COMMUNICATION. WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE STREETS THAT WORK FOR ALL ROADWAY USERS. FROM A. >> VISIONING PERSPECTIVE,
BOSTON'S STREETS SHOULD BE SAFE ,EFFICIENT AND CONNECTED NOT CHAOTIC OR STRESSFUL. IN THE FIRST TERM WE MADE REAL PROGRESS BY MOVING. QUICKLY. >> TESTING IDEAS, LEARNING IN
REAL TIME AND DELIVERING FAST, AFFORDABLE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. WE WILL BUILD ON THAT PROGRESS WITH A SHIFT TO LASTING NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WILL. >> MOVE FROM TEMPORARY
INFRASTRUCTURE TO DURABLE, WELL-DESIGNED AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS SHIFT AWAY FROM A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MINDSET THAT PRIORITIZES SPEED OVER SPECIFICS.
WE'LL FOCUS ON USING A RANGE OF TOOLS AND OPTIONS TO FIND THE WIN WIN FOR DIFFERENT ROADWAY USERS. WILL IMPLEMENT A COORDINATED RATHER THAN SILOED APPROACH
INSTEAD OF PRIORITIZING NEW SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE OVER A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR. WE WILL LEAD WITH STREETS THAT ARE DUE FOR STATE OF GOOD REPAIR WORK AND EVALUATE THEM
FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WILL DEPLOY BETTER ENFORCEMENT, FOCUSING ON KEY HOTSPOTS TO KEEP ROADS, BIKE AND BUS LANES AND SIDEWALKS UNOBSTRUCTED.
THIS NEXT PHASE IS NOT ABOUT SLOWING DOWN ON PROGRESS. IT'S ABOUT GETTING THE DESIGN RIGHT AND AVOIDING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR RESIDENTS, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
BUSINESSES. WE'LL STRIVE FOR STREET DESIGNS THAT FEEL BETTER, WORK BETTER AND LAST LONGER BECAUSE THEY WERE DESIGNED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RESIDENTS,
BUSINESSES AND COMMUTERS WHO ARE USING THEM EVERY DAY. OUR PRIORITIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR. THIS INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, SAFE
STREETS STARTS WITH GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT SANITATION, STREET SWEEPING. FILLING POTHOLES, RESURFACING STREETS, FIXING STREETLIGHTS, REFRESHING PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND CLEAR CURBSIDE REGULATIONS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES. WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT PHYSICAL DESIGN CHANGES TO STREETS TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AND
MOTORISTS INCLUDING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DEFLECTION MEASURES, SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN KEY
CORRIDORS, WILL REDESIGN HIGH CRASH CORRIDORS AND BUILD NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY PROJECTS TO REDUCE CRASHES. SEVEN OF THESE PROJECTS WILL DISCUSS LATER IN THE IN. >> THE DECK.
THE SAFETY SURGE SPEED HUMPS THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM RAPIDLY CONSTRUCTED SPEED HUMPS ON HIGH PRIORITY STREETS ACROSS THE CITY. THE NEXT PHASE WILL REASSESS
THE CURRENT CRITERIA FOR SPEED HUMP ELIGIBILITY TO DETERMINE IF A NEIGHBORHOOD IS BETTER SERVED BY SPEED HUMPS VERSUS OTHER TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES . ONLY STREETS DEEMED ELIGIBLE
WILL BE CANDIDATES FOR SPEED HUMPS, SAFER INTERSECTIONS AND SIGNALS. INTERSECTIONS HELP CONNECT. PEOPLE FROM ONE ROUTE TO ANOTHER, BUT THEY ARE ALSO WHERE MOST CRASHES OCCUR.
WE ARE WORKING TO REDUCE THESE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE DRIVING, WALKING AND CYCLING AT INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT BOSTON. THROUGH BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
STATE OF GOOD REPAIR AN UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS RESURFACED OVER 105 MILES OF ROADWAY. WE FILLED OVER 27,000 POTHOLES.
WE'VE CONSTRUCTED 18 MILES OF BIKE LANES NEARLY DOUBLING THE EXISTING BIKE LANE NETWORK . WE'VE CONSTRUCTED OVER 6400 CURB RAMPS AND WE'VE INSTALLED
OVER 1400 SPEED HUMPS CITYWIDE . THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO RESURFACE ANOTHER 45 MILES OF, UH, ROADWAY AT LEAST WITH THE
GOAL OF CONSTRUCTING OVER 1800 ADA COMPLIANT RAMPS. THROUGH THE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL REFERENCE LATER IN THE DECK, WE'LL CONSTRUCT OVER TWO TWO
AND A HALF MILES OF NEW BIKE LANES ALONG WITH KEY NETWORK CONNECTIONS. AND NEXT MONTH WILL INSTALL OVER 100 NEW SPEED HUMPS AS WELL AS RETURN SPEED HUMPS TO ROADWAYS THAT WERE RESURFACED
LAST YEAR. THE PROJECTS I REFERENCED EARLIER THERE'S SEVEN PROJECTS HERE THESE ARE ALL NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY UH, AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. UH EIGHTH STREET AND CONGRESS
AND SLEEPER WHICH IS UNDERWAY. COMMONS HIGHWAY, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER UH HARRISON AVENUE INC BLOCK WHICH WILL GET UNDERWAY IN JULY. UH JONES AVE, UH LOWER ROXBURY
LOST VILLAGE AND THE LESS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. ALL OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR. FROM A PLANNING, ENGAGEMENT AND DESIGN PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE MOVED, UH, RUTHERFORD AVE AND SULLIVAN SQUARE A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN IN IN PLANNING FOR OVER TWO DECADES IS NOW MOVING TO THE 25% DESIGN SUBMISSION.
HYDE PARK AVE AND COLUMBIA ROAD . THOSE PLANNING EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR. WE'LL CONTINUE OUTREACH AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ON DOWNTOWN CROSSING. ANDREW SQUARE WOULD HAVE, UH,
THE BOYLSTON STREETS PROJECT AND THE FENWAY THE MAVERICK AND ROSLINDALE SQUARE SQUARE TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLANS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC GARDENS CROSSING PROJECT.
WITH THAT WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE. UH COUNCILORS HAVE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, OUR FIRST UM, ROUND IS
GOING TO BE SIX MINUTES. UM, SO, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREEDEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION . UM, I THINK THE STREETS, UM,
DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF REAL ESTATE ON YOUR PLATE. SO, UM, I WANT TO MY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS ARE FOCUSED ON THE GRANTS FOR, UM, FEDERAL GRANTS
IS SPECIFICALLY. I I THINK IT'S NOT BEYOND WE HAVE SEEN GRANTS WITHDRAWN AND, UH, WE JUST WANT TO I'D LOVE TO GET A SENSE OF THE STATUS OF OF
GRANTS WHERE WE'RE AT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER FOR THE FEDS TO CLAW BACK MONEY ONCE IT'S BEEN OBLIGATED AND I WAS HOW MANY ONGOING STREET MAJOR
STREET PROJECTS HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE MONEY HAS BEEN OBLIGATED AND IT'S. IT'S SORT OF. LOCKED DOWN SO THAT WE CAN USE IT GOING FORWARD.
SO COUNCIL WE CAN PROVIDE A KIND OF THOROUGH UPDATE OF ALL OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BACKGROUND. UH, AND I CAN GET INTO ANY SPECIFICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT IT IS A PRETTY DETAILED DISCUSSION. UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THE
PROJECTS FROM A FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE THAT HAVE BEEN EITHER PAUSED OR RESCINDED. UM, PROJECTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE HAVEN'T ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT YET. UM.
>> WHAT IF THERE'S SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT YOU'D LIKE ME TO TALK ABOUT? I'M HAPPY. >> TO DO THAT. WELL, I THINK ONE ONE PROJECT THAT LAST FUNDING RECENTLY WAS THE ONE IN THE FENWAY WHEN THOSE $8 MILLION WERE TAKEN. IT WAS A HIGH CRASH ZONE AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE WHY IT WAS WITHDRAWN. BUT WE DID LOSE $8 MILLION. >> FROM THAT. >> IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLOCATED. IT WASN'T LOST. UM I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHY IT WAS REALLOCATED AND AND WHY WAS IT?
SURE. >> COUNCIL I THINK I BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERRING TO. THE. >> UH, BOYLSTON STREET PROJECT IN THE FENWAY. YEAH. UH, WHICH IS A TIP FUNDED PROJECT. UM. >> WE HAVE NOT LOST THE FUNDS, BUT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PUSHED
OUT, UH, TO THE FEDERAL 2031, UH, SCHEDULE. UM. >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE, UH, SHIFTED AROUND BY THE MPO, UH, THIS MONTH. UM, THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS MOVED
TO THE OUT YEARS BUT WE HAVE NOT WE HAVE NOT LOST THE PROJECT. UH, WE DID IN FACT AS PART OF THIS MOVE UP A PROJECT WHICH. >> IS. THE UH, CAMBRIDGE STREET BRIDGE . UM. >> THE TIME TO BUILD THAT IS IS NOW THAT THE FOR MYSTIC WAY UH
,PROJECT IS WRAPPING UP. THAT'S A PROJECT WE'D LIKE TO COMPLETE IN ADVANCE. OF, UH, THE. RUTHERFORD AND SULLIVAN SQUARE. SO WE HAVE NOT LOST THAT FUNDING AND IT'S JUST BEEN REALLOCATED. TO THE. >> LATER YEARS. IT'S THE CAMBRIDGE STREET
BRIDGE. IS THAT THE ALLSTON BRIDGE OR THE. THE NO. THE OTHER ONE THERE'S TWO CAMPUSES. THIS IS THE CAMBRIDGE STREET BRIDGE IN CHARLESTOWN. YEAH. >> BECAUSE WE LOST THE FUNDING FOR THE UH 327 MILLION THE I-90
PROJECT EARLY ACTION ITEMS WAS THE CAMBRIDGE STREET BRIDGE IN ALLSTON, WHICH IS IN PRETTY BAD DISREPAIR OVER A FEDERAL HIGHWAY. UM, NOT OUR PROBLEM.
NOT THE CITY'S UM IT IMPACTS US BUT WE WE WEREN'T, UM, PARTY TO THAT. UM, HOW MANY HOW MANY FUNDERS
OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE WE HEARD FROM THAT OR CONCERNED ABOUT PROGRESS ON THESE PROJECTS AND GIVEN THE CURRENT NATIONAL CLIMATE ARE FOLKS UM IS THAT A
GENUINE CONCERN OR HOW MANY HAVE WE HEARD FROM? UH. >> FUNDERS DO YOU MEAN LIKE UH OTHER PARTNERING WITH OTHER. PARTNERS LIKE MASSDOT, MBTA, UM
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, ANY UM ANY OTHER UH FUNDERS AND PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH AND YOU KNOW, WANT TO SEE THIS PROGRESS.
THESE ARE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS THAT IF WE LOSE THEM MAYBE DECADES BEFORE WE GET THEM BACK. SURE. >> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH WITH MASSDOT AND THE MBTA ON. >> ON.
ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE AND PLANNING AND DESIGN. UM. >> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME WELL PUBLICIZED PROJECTS THAT HAVE THAT HAVE LOST FEDERAL FUNDING. UM. >> BUT WE ARE CONTINUE TO FOCUS. ON YOU KNOW. >> THE PROJECTS THAT ARE THAT ARE FUNDED. AND MOVING.
>> THROUGH THE PROCESS. UM, I THINK. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S CONCERN WHENEVER YOU KNOW, A PROJECT EITHER. HAS FUNDING. RESCINDED OR. DOESN'T MOVE. AHEAD IN THE GRANT PROCESS.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE. SURE THAT THE FUNDING THAT WE DO HAVE. >> AND THAT. >> IS AVAILABLE. >> TO US IS. >> MOVING FORWARD. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A LIKE A SCHEDULE OF UM WHERE WE'RE AT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS ?
WE HAVE A COMPLETE WE CAN PROVIDE A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN PROJECT BY PROJECT. OF ALL THE STATE AND. FEDERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE. YEAH THAT ARE FUNDED FOR YOU. UH, I WAS UH ONE ONE
PARTICULARLY SERIOUS CONCERN I HAVE IS WITH THE DELAY AND UH, FUNDING THAT WE'RE EXPECTING FOR THE GREEN LINE. UM, UH, IMPROVEMENTS HAVE COME OUT OF, UH, THE BRANCH REALIGNMENT.
UH, WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT WORK IN PREPARATION FOR GETTING NEW CARS. AND THE NEW CARS WILL WORK ON THE OLD EXISTING TRACK. SO, UM, I WAS WONDERING WHERE
HAVE WE HAVE WE WRITTEN? UH, WE HAD WE HEARD FROM THE MBTA ABOUT, UM, ANY CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT WHY WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD IN A TIMELY WAY WITH ANY OF THAT WORK?
YEAH WE ARE WE HAVE A MONTHLY STANDING. MEETING WITH THE MBTA ON. ON THAT PROJECT AND. WE YOU. >> KNOW, WE ARE WORKING. >> WITH THEM ON BOTH ADVANCING. >> THE BE IN EGLINTON PROJECTS THERE IF THEY. >> THEY'RE MOVING AHEAD WITH THAT. UM WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
. TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT UH. STREET UH AND NEIGHBORHOOD. SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THAT WORK. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE'RE ENGAGED. >> THE WAY WE ARE. >> BUT UH, THOSE PROJECTS CONTINUE. >> TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO, UM COUNCILOR WEBER NEXT. UM, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, SO IN TERMS OF, UH, THE 30 YEAR REVIEW, YOU KNOW, SORT OF SEEMED LIKE WE PAUSED THINGS WE WERE RAPIDLY PUTTING IN THE ,YOU KNOW, UH, BIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE, SPEED BUMPS, SAFETY THINGS AND IT SEEMED LIKE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SINCE UM. UH. . I GUESS YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE IS
WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROCESS NOW HOW DO I TALK TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT TO SEE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S ALREADY IN THE PLANNED OR
THEY WANT SOMETHING NEW LIKE WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT AFTER TODAY? UH, SPECIFIC TO IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS YOU. WANT ME TO.
WELL, I JUST I YOU KNOW SO I MEAN THERE THERE ARE CERTAIN PROJECTS, UH, YOU KNOW, EGGLESTON SQUARE THAT HAS BEEN PLANNED ESSENTIALLY OR WHATEVER
IT IS 60% OR UM UH, PLANNED. YOU KNOW, WHAT DO I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT EGGLESTON SQUARE? SURE. >> SO FOR THAT EXAMPLE THAT THAT PROJECT. UM. >> IS NEARING. >> I. BELIEVE THE DESIGN MILESTONE OF. OF 70%.
UH. >> CONSTRUCTION OF THE SQUARE IS NOT. CURRENTLY UH, FUNDED. THAT SAID, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT. UM. >> SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY . IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED .
>> AS PART OF THAT PLANNING EFFORT. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD UH, IN ADVANCE. >> AND AS PART OF. THE UH, WHITE STADIUM RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. WELL, SO I MEAN, AGAIN,
SPECIFICALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, BIKE LANES, SPEED HUMPS, CROSSWALKS LIKE WHAT GETS MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT DOESN'T. WE'RE GOING TO BE START RESTARTING SOME. ENGAGEMENT ON THAT OR. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. YOU KNOW.
WHAT WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED AS PART OF. THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT WE CAN PULL OUT. UH, TO COMPLETE AS PART OF. SOME STATE OF. GOOD REPAIR WORK. OKAY. >> UM, AND THEN IN TERMS
OF WHAT YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A DOZEN DIFFERENT STREETS THAT ARE BEING USES CUT THROUGH AS PEOPLE WANT SPEED BUMPS ON THEIR STREETS. AND SO UH AND I THINK MANY
OF THOSE ARE FOR REALLY YOU KNOW, THE THE IT COULD BE UH MADE A LOT BETTER WITH SPEED BUMPS ON THOSE STREETS. SO YOU KNOW, WHAT DO I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS? UH, UP UNTIL NOW WE'VE JUST
BEEN TELLING PEOPLE TO SIGN A PETITION. YOU KNOW, CIRCULATE A PETITION ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, GET EVERYONE ON BOARD AND THEN I'LL TAKE THAT. YOU KNOW, AS OF TODAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT
PETITION. SO WHAT DO I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS IN THAT SITUATION? SURE. >> SO AS I MENTIONED WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT OUR OUR SPRING PROGRAM. ,UH, SPEED HUMPS. INSTALLATIONS NEXT MONTH.
UM WE'RE HAPPY TO IF WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. UM, IF WE HAVEN'T IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY BUT. AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, STREETS THAT ARE NOT ON THAT SPRING PROGRAM. UM. >> AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE. >> GOING TO. >> BE WE'RE REDESIGNING THIS
PROGRAM. UM, AND. >> WE'LL BE BACK. WITH KIND OF WHAT. ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD, WHAT STREETS ARE ELIGIBLE? UH. >> BUT IN THE INTERIM YEAR PLEASE OBVIOUSLY SHARE OF THE. STREETS THAT YOU BELIEVE, YOU
KNOW, CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY. YEAH. >> OKAY. SO I MEAN, MAYBE THIS IS FOR YOU, MOHAMMED I DON'T KNOW, BUT ,UM. YEAH, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE I THINK THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE
THIS MORNING LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT THE WHOLE 30 DAY REVIEW PROCESS WAS YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY PROCESS AROUND THESE THINGS AND IT SEEMS LIKE
WE'RE AGAIN STARTING WITH THE LACK OF A COMMUNITY PROCESS TO ANNOUNCE STREET CHANGES AND HONESTLY LIKE I'LL TAKE I'LL YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE SOME
ENGAGEMENT AND YOU KNOW UH IMPERFECT AS IT IS JUST GET SOME SPEED BUMPS IN ON STREETS THAT NEED IT BUT I DON'T I'M NOT IT DOESN'T FILL ME WITH A LOT OF FAITH IN THIS PROCESS
THAT THE ONE THING TO TAKE OUT A THREE DAY REVIEW IS WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY PROCESS AND THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT NOT GETTING IT BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SURE ANYTHING EITHER OF YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT
THAT? I WILL SAY THAT AND I'LL. LET MOHAMMED. TAKE IT AFTER. >> BUT. I YOU. >> KNOW, THE. >> THE SPRING PROGRAM THAT WE ARE. MOVING AHEAD WITH NEXT MONTH. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES ALL OF THOSE LOCATIONS. ALL OF THOSE STREETS THAT
WE'RE. RECEIVING SPEED HUMPS. UM, THERE'S THERE'S BEEN. THOROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THOSE ON THOSE PROJECTS BUT.
YEAH, I MEAN I WOULD SAY. EXCUSE ME, COUNCILOR, WE. AS YOU KNOW, WE ENGAGE. ALL OF YOU. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ENGAGE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I MEAN THE 30 DAY REVIEW AS YOU SAID, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT UM,
YOU KNOW, MORE COMMUNITY PROCESS NECESSARILY FOR THE SAKE OF PROCESS. IT'S VERY WHAT WE LEARN FROM IT AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE TODAY
AND COUNCILORS, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAKEHOLDERS IS THAT BOSTON IS A UNIQUE CITY. IT'S A HISTORIC CITY AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WHEN WE ARE CHANGING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ACTUALLY JUST LOOK FOR UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROJECTS ARE MEETING, UM, YOU
KNOW, MEETING THE NEEDS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO WE IDENTIFY AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW AS POSSIBLE SO THAT AND YOU KNOW, TO THE UNIQUE SOLUTIONS FOR THAT TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE SOLUTIONS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS SO IT MAY
SEEM I YOU KNOW RESPECT OBVIOUSLY THAT IT FEELS UM. YOU KNOW THAT. >> IT THAT YOU KNOW APOLOGIZE THAT IT FELT THAT IT YOU KNOW TOOK SOME TIME SINCE LAST YEAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE MOVED VERY,
VERY FAST. WE MADE RAPID, RAPID PROGRESS AS AN ADMINISTRATION YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO MANY YEARS PRIOR. UM AND WE ARE JUST LEARNING AS WE ARE LEARNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW
,FINISHING SOMETHING UH, TO FINISH IT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY DONE REALLY WELL, UH, AND MEETING ALL THE NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YEAH. >> I JUST I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. I WON'T. ASK ANY QUESTIONS THIS ROUND. I HAVE ANOTHER ROUND.
I MEAN, I JUST I I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD A YEAR TO LIKE WHERE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN STOPPED FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. UH, AND UH, YOU KNOW, NOW'S THE
TIME TO COME OUT WITH THE PLAN AND I FEEL LIKE I FEEL LIKE WHAT WE'RE GETTING IS IS STILL VERY VAGUE. UH, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR IS THESE ARE THE WE'VE COME UP WITH A PLAN, A PROCESS AND
THESE ARE THE THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO GET SPEED BUMPS ON YOUR ROAD OR TO GET A BIKE LANE HERE OR TO GET, YOU KNOW, HYDE PARK AVE REDESIGN OR WHATEVER IT IS AND THEN WE CAN
PICK UP YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO US TO PICK THAT UP AND AND MAKE OUR CONSTITUENTS VOICES HEARD. BUT YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKE THAT ARENA DOESN'T EVEN EXIST. AND YOU KNOW, I THANK YOU FOR
COMING HERE AND FOR PRESENTING THAT I THINK IT'S IT'S A REALLY SHOW OF GOOD FAITH BUT IT'S UM YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE, YOU KNOW, COOKED. CAN I JUST ADDRESS YEAH.
>> YEAH ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN I'LL JUST ADDRESS IT BRIEFLY AND WE CAN MAYBE COME BACK TO IT LATER BUT I THINK UM AGAIN LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY LIKE BOSTON THAT IS YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPARED TO SURE SOME
EUROPEAN CITIES AND OTHERS YOU KNOW, NOT AS OLD BUT IT'S A HISTORIC CITY. IT'S OLD. THE ROADS ARE DESIGNED FOR MAYBE A DIFFERENT TIME. THE STREETS ARE DESIGNED FOR A DIFFERENT TIME. WE CAN'T DO A COOKIE LIKE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.
WE'RE NOT A GRID. IT MAKES THINGS MORE COMPLICATED FOR SURE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AGAIN LIKE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU'VE GOT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS, OTHERS WHO YOU KNOW JUST MOVED HERE.
ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ARE UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT FOR US AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT IT'S ABOUT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS FOR US AND IT'S NOT SORT OF LIKE OH YOU HIT THIS THRESHOLD THEN
THEREFORE YOU KNOW, TRIGGERS THIS THING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD NECESSARILY BE UM, YOU KNOW, BE FAIR TO THAT SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD OR TO ADVOCATES FOR THAT MATTER BECAUSE WE AGAIN WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING ALL VOICES AND FINDING THE BEST
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE CITY. THANK YOU COUNCIL THANK YOU CHAIR. UM SO I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TIME NOW. UM I. I FEEL VERY MIXED ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PROCESS UM IS ONE THAT IS UH IT HAS UM IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE CRASH OUT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS SHOWS AN UPWARD TREND IN FATALITIES
AND A FLATLINE REDUCTION IN CRASHES THAT SEEMS TO BE UM TO ME THE NEED FOR GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST THESE NUMBERS. BUT ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
ACTUALLY GO WITH THE DATA SO IT'S NOT SIMPLY ABOUT YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON HAS AN INKLING THAT ON THEIR STREET THEY NEED SAFETY. THERE ARE PLACES IN MY DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PASSED AWAY
AND THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T HASN'T BEEN YOU KNOW, THAT IMMEDIATE SORT OF SALVE FOR AND AND YOU KNOW UM SO IT'S LIKE I
,I SO APPRECIATE I'M LIKE LOOKING AROUND I SO APPRECIATE LIKE THE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS WHO WANT ACTION ON LIKE THEIR SPECIFIC STREET BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE LOOK AT THE DATA BECAUSE UM ,YOU KNOW, THERE WE WE WE'VE PROVEN THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BRINGS CERTAIN VOICES TO THE TABLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TIME TO BE HERE. AND I KNOW FROM LOOKING AT THE
CROWD THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TOOK OFF WORK TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, BUT THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE THAT LIKE DEEPLY NEED UM THEIR ROADS TO BE SLOWED DOWN THAT
AREN'T GOING TO HAVE TIME TO BE HERE AND AREN'T GOING TO HAVE TIME TO BE IN CITY HALL. SO I NOTICED THAT THE VISION ZERO CRASH DATA UM, WHICH IS VITAL INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR AGENCIES IN THE CITY
UM, HASN'T BEEN UPDATED. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S WE HAVE UP TO, UH, DECEMBER 31ST ONLINE. I JUST WANTED TO GET A COMMITMENT THAT THAT THAT WE COULD GET SORT OF UP TO NOW ON LINE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT DATA FOR US ALL TO LOOK AT. YES. >> COUNCIL. >> YES WE ARE WORKING. >> THROUGH THAT. UM AND I DID WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET HOW MUCH OF THIS SLOW DOWN OR YOU
KNOW THAT AS YOU KNOW SOME HAVE ALLUDED TO OR LIKE HOW MUCH OF SORT OF WHERE WE'RE AT NOW WITH AND HOW WE'RE PLANNING BECAUSE I HEAR SEEING YOUR SLIDES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BASIC CITY SERVICES. YOU'RE LIKE YOU KNOW WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE NUMBER ONE THINGS FIRST, UM, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS AND SORT OF THE
CITY'S VISION FOR THIS DRIVEN BY THE BUDGET AND HOW MUCH RESOURCES WE HAVE UPCOMING. YEAH I MEAN THE THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PRIORITY IS IS PART. >> OF OUR MISSION. I MEAN WE YOU KNOW, WE.
ARE WE. ARE FUNDED. TO COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS. UH, AGAIN WE HAVE SEVEN SEVEN SMALL PROJECTS MODERATE. SMALL TO. >> MODERATE PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION OR
MOVING. INTO CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR. AND YOU KNOW, WE. POTENTIALLY COULD SET ANOTHER RECORD YEAR AS FAR AS RESURFACING. SO YOU KNOW, WE. WE FEEL THESE ARE PRIORITIES
AND WE THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES. TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE OTHER. SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, UM. THAT WE'RE HEARING. UH DEMAND FOR. AND THERE I MEAN THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF UM ASKS IN MY DISTRICT I, I DO TRY TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE THINGS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR ESPECIALLY SPEED HUMPS, ESPECIALLY ROAD REPAVING
ESPECIALLY THE BASIC CITY SERVICES, THE BRICK REPAIRS UM ,SPECIFICALLY THERE HAVE BEEN UM THERE HAVE BEEN PLACES WHERE THERE'S BEEN A CRASH.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY LAST WEEK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO BE HAVING THIS HEARING BECAUSE LAST WEEK THE CONSTRUCTION MORATORIUM ENDED AND FINALLY WE CAN GET BACK TO WORK ON THE STREETS.
UM, I'M JUST SORT OF CURIOUS. UM, I KNOW THERE WAS TALK OF YOU KNOW, WE WE COLLABORATE AND WE TALK TO EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL ABOUT THEIR SPEED. UM, PRIORITIES. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN EVERYTHING
THAT I'VE ASKED FOR. UM, SO IF I IMAGINE I'M LOOKING AROUND AT ALL MY COLLEAGUES, I IMAGINE THAT THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO PUT THINGS ON THE AGENDA? SURE. >> AS I MENTIONED, WE YOU KNOW, WE ARE REWORKING THIS. PROGRAM. YOU KNOW. THE PREVIOUSLY THE PROGRAM
RELIED HEAVILY ON AN ALGORITHM BASED. APPROACH TO IDENTIFY. SPEED HUMP LOCATIONS. >> AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE CHANGING THIS PROGRAM IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT. WE ARE.
INSTALLING SPEED HUMPS ON THE STREETS THAT NEED THEM MOST. NOT EVERY STREET IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. IS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPEED HUMPS. SORRY AND I DON'T WANT TO. I JUST AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME LIKE I REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT SPEED HUMPS LAST YEAR WITH CONSTITUENTS IN BEACON HILL, SOMEONE FROM THE STREETS CABINET SAID YOU HAVE TO DO A ZONE SO YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE WE HAVE TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING NOW I, I IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING WE'RE GOING TO GO STREET BY STREET AND HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTRACTS. IS THAT CORRECT? UM NO WE WILL SO FOR EXAMPLE
THE SPEED HUMPS THAT WE'RE INSTALLING NEXT. MONTH WE'LL DO THAT ALL IN PROBABLY OVER A COUPLE. WEEKS TIME. UH FROM AN EFFICIENCY PERSPECTIVE. BUT YOU'RE NOT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PUT SPEED HUMPS ALL OVER A NEIGHBORHOOD IN ORDER TO BECAUSE THAT THAT WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE THERE ARE CASES WHERE WHERE THAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT APPROACH, BUT WE. DON'T THINK. >> THAT. THAT IS THE STANDARD. MOVING FORWARD.
OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL TO GET ON THE RECORD. UM, AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT THERE'S A MID-BLOCK CROSSWALK NEEDED OUTSIDE OF THE ROXBURY CROSSING STATION WHICH IS ON THE BORDER OF MINE AND MANY ARE CULPEPER
IS DISTRICT. UM THAT IS IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE PRIORITIZE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY OUTSIDE OF MBTA STATIONS AND OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN TWO DEATHS AT
THAT LOCATION. UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PRIORITIZED. I KNOW ON THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT YOU PRESENTED IN THIS IT WAS NOT THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. YES. >> AND THAT THAT IS A.
SMALLER PROJECT THAT WOULD BE CAPTURED UNDER ONE OF OUR ANNUAL PROGRAMS. NOT NOT A STANDALONE PROJECT. OKAY. >> AND RICARDO PETRON WILL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE ALSO GIVEN A LIST OF CROSSWALKS THAT NEED TO BE REPAINTED IN MY DISTRICT.
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS, OUTSIDE OF CHURCHES, OUTSIDE OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING UM THAT WE HAVE JUST LIKE THE PAINT AND THE SNOW AND THE ICE
AND THE HAS JUST UM REALLY WORN OUT ALL OF OUR CROSSWALKS ACROSS THE CITY. AND SO AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SMALL SCALE IMPROVEMENTS, I JUST THINK WE REALLY NEED TO IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SEE UM, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS COME TO COME TO FRUITION SOON. UM SO OKAY SO NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM UM, UH, COUNCILOR PEPEN.
YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF GALVIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THE LIST
OF PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AND THEIR PROJECT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT. AND WE WANT UPDATES. I'M NOT GOING TO LIST THE PROJECTS BECAUSE THE THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS MORE
OF A GENERAL QUESTION AND IT'S THAT I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THEY'RE ON THE LIST. BUT WE WANTED TO ASK ARE THERE BENCHMARKS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH OR BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH FOR EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS?
HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THAT? BECAUSE WHAT I GET IF I GET A QUESTION ABOUT HIGH PARK AVENUE, IF I GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE ROSIN OR SQUARE REDESIGN OF WOOD AVENUE COMMONS HIGHWAY, YOU NAME IT IT'S VERY
HARD FOR ME TO GIVE THEM AN ANSWER ON WHO THIS IS WHEN IT'S GOING TO GET DONE. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW . UM YOU CAN EXPECT SOME SOME TYPE OF UPDATE ON I DON'T KNOW, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR IT'S COMING
TO THE SITUATION WHERE I'M NOT ABLE TO GIVE ANYTHING. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT IS YOUR MECHANISM OF CALCULATING THE RIGHT. THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUR GOALS FOR EACH OF THESE PROJECTS. CAN YOU KIND OF BREAK THAT DOWN
FOR US? SURE. >> SO UH. ALL OF THE PROJECTS. THAT WE'VE. LISTED HERE WE. CAN PROVIDE UPDATES. >> AS FAR AS. UH STATUS IS CONCERNED. RIGHT. >> SO FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION OR.
MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE CAN PROVIDE UPDATES ON THOSE COMMENTS. HIGHWAY AS I. MENTIONED THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED UM THIS SUMMER. ON THE PLANNING AND DESIGN SIDE .
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE JUST . FUNDED FOR A PLANNING EFFORT. SOME ARE. FUNDED FOR BOTH THE PLANNING AND DESIGN. THEY'RE ALL IN. DIFFERENT PHASES. SOME ARE. >> COMING TO THE.
END, SOME ARE JUST YOU KNOW, KIND OF. GETTING STARTED. WE CAN. PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON ALL OF THOSE. WE DO. >> PLAN TO. UPDATE THE WEBSITE. UM TO PROVIDE KIND OF STATUS UPDATES. ON ON WHERE ALL. THESE PROJECTS.
SO THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH AND I'M GOING TO KEEP BRINGING UP THE HIGH BAR PROJECT BECAUSE IT THAT'S A PROJECT WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR. MANY YEARS.
AND WE'VE HAD COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WE'VE. HAD WE HAD AN IN-PERSON HEARING IN AN EVENING AT A SCHOOL THERE AND. THERE'S JUST. NO UPDATE YET. SO IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING
CONCRETE TO GIVE TO RESIDENTS OF LIKE HEY, AFTER SUCH AND. SUCH CONVERSATIONS THIS IS THE UPDATE FOR THIS PROJECT AND I I'M USING HYPERCARD AS AN EXAMPLE BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT FOR ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE
LISTED THERE AND EVEN FOR FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF WHERE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION ARISES FROM WHERE WE KEEP HAVING THE MEETINGS AND THE MEETINGS AND DESIGNS AND CONVERSATIONS BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THE THAT. >> NEXT STEP.
YEAH, IN THE PROCESS AND THAT'S THE SAME SITUATION FOR. UM THE SPEED HUMP PROGRAM AND I KNOW WE KEEP BRINGING IT UP AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE SPEED HUMPS ON EVERY STREET.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU IS WHEN YOU ARE ONE WHEN ARE YOU LOOKING AT REVAMPING THE PROGRAM KICKING THAT BACK OFF TO MAYBE THIS IS MORE FOR
MOHAMMED WHO DO YOU HAVE TWO WHO DO WE HAVE TO GO TO IN THE COMMUNITY TO TO SEE LIKE WHERE DO WE NEED THEM THE MOST BECAUSE I HAVE LIKE AN EXAMPLE GLENDALE ROAD CORNELL AND UM
BEECH STREET IN ROSLINDALE THOSE THREE STREETS ARE PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN THE CONNELLY SCHOOL AND THE PHOENIX AND UM THE PHOENIX SPEED SCHOOL RESIDENTS THERE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SPEED HUMPS ON THOSE THREE STREETS
FOR BEFORE I GOT INTO OFFICE, BUT ALL THE RESIDENTS ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY WANT THEM BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO TRACTION ON THAT. SO IF NOT THE RESIDENTS WHO WHAT'S THE PROCESS SIMILAR TO
COUNCILOR DURKIN'S OFFICE IS IT BY ZONES? IS IT ONE OFFS? I JUST WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW DO WE GET TO ACHIEVING GETTING. >> MORE SPEED HUMPS? I MEAN YOU START OFF BY SAYING THIS IS A MOHAMMED UH, QUESTION BUT THEN YOU TURN IT INTO A
NICK ACTUALLY ANSWER I WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU KNOW. SURE. SO ON THE IN THIS CASE BECAUSE I'M KNOW I'M FAMILIAR WITH THESE WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THEM WE KNOW WE'RE FAMILIAR WE KNOW THAT RESIDENTS ON THESE. STREETS ARE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
SPEED HUMPS. UM, BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO A CASE LIKE THIS THEN WE THEN DISCUSS WITH THE STREETS TEAM I'LL DISCUSS WITH CHIEF. YOU KNOW WHAT CHIEF GALVIN AND HIS, UH, PLANNERS AND AND
SORRY, UH, ENGINEERS AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT ALSO LIKE HOW DOES HOW TO HOW WOULD PUTTING IN SPEED HUMPS ON THOSE STREETS AND HOW MANY AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS IMPACT YOU KNOW, THE TRAVEL FOR THE REST
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. BUT YOU KNOW, CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. YEAH. >> AND I THINK I THINK EVALUATING. YOU KNOW. OUR SPEED. HUMPS THE. BEST TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE. FOR A PARTICULAR STREET.
YOU KNOW, ARE THINGS LIKE RAISE. CROSSWALKS AND AND BUMP OUTS AT INTERSECTIONS. ARE THOSE BETTER TREATMENTS. >> FOR A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT. SO WE WANT TO WE WANT TO EXPAND . UM THE TOOLS THAT ARE.
AVAILABLE TO. US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST. UM APPROACH FOR A. PARTICULAR STREET OR SET. OF STREETS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. OKAY OKAY OKAY.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO ASK A VERY DETAILED QUESTION BUT FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED ON THAT LIST, UM, WERE YOU PLANNING ON UPDATING THE WEBSITES FOR EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS? YES.
>> AND WHEN WOULD YOU WHEN DO YOU THINK WE COULD GET. >> AN UPDATE? HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK. THIS WEEK OKAY THANK YOU I'LL I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS BUT I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MY SECOND ROUND. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GRIFFIN
OKAY NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> I BELIEVE IT'S CRITICAL. WE FOCUS ON EFFORTS ON QUALITY
OF LIFE ISSUES PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT FIXING, FIXING SIDEWALKS, FIXING POTHOLES.
I HAVE A HEARING COMING UP ON POTHOLES AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED AS MANY CALLS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS I HAVE UM AS I EVER HAVE. UM.
>> CHIEF OF OF I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR. MANY YEARS TRYING TO GET RESIDENTIAL PARKING IN SOUTH BOSTON. WE'VE WE'VE WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION GOING ON. FOR YEARS NOW. THE PLAN IS READY I. KNOW IT'S READY.
YOU KNOW IT'S READY. IT'S JUST BEEN SITTING THERE UM ON ON THE SHELF COLLECTING DUST . WHEN WHEN. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO IT. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO FINALLY UM ,LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THEY
THEY CAN GET RESIDENT PARKING LIKE LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE. NO THANK YOU COUNCILOR. AND JUST FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE. FAMILIAR THAT. YOU'RE I BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERENCING THE EXPANSION
OF RESIDENT PERMIT PARKING IN SOUTH BOSTON UH, TO SEVEN DAYS A. >> WEEK FOR THE FOR THE. BASICALLY HALF THE. NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE IT. YOU KNOW. >> THE. MAYOR HAS COMMITTED TO DOING THIS. UH. >> WE ARE PLANNING TO DO IT AT THE START OF THE RESTART OF OUR .
UH OUR. EXPANSION WHICH HAS BEEN PAUSED SINCE. UM. >> THE PANDEMIC. UM, WE. >> HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT PROJECT, COUNCILOR. >> WE WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING IT MOVING GOING AHEAD. AND I'LL JUST ADD COUNCILOR TO THAT.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE LIKE LIKE CHIEF KIRBY JUST SAID WE'RE THE MAYOR IS COMMITTED TO IT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO IT. UH, THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD STILL BE DISRUPTIVE. AND WHEN YOU MAKE A MASSIVE
CHANGE WHETHER IT'S JUST EVEN CHANGING WHEN YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR STREET IS GOING TO BE CLEANED UP ON A SPECIFIC DAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UM, HAVING THE RIGHT PROCESS AND NOT JUST
ENGAGE BUT INFORM RESIDENTS SO THAT THE TRANSITION TO THIS EXPANSION ISN'T UM, YOU KNOW, IS AS. IS IS IS. NOT DISRUPTIVE TO THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE THE FEDERAL AND CITY AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS UM ADA COMPLIANCE UH. RAMPS I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WHAT, SIX SEVEN
YEARS MAYBE UM. HOW MUCH. PROGRESS HAVE WE MADE? HOW MUCH MORE DO WE HAVE TO DO? HOW MUCH OF WE SPENT? I BELIEVE WHAT. COMMITTED TO SPENDING IS IT.
$600 MILLION OR $500 MILLION? BUT CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN. >> ON THAT PLEASE? YES, COUNSELOR. SO I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE CONSENT DECREE. THAT THE CITY IS UNDER. TO CONSTRUCT ADA COMPLIANT CURB RAMPS. UM.
>> WE'VE CONSTRUCTED 6448 RAMPS . IN IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. UM. THIS YEAR WE'RE TRYING TO. GET TO 1800. UM, THAT'S A.
WE'VE BEEN AT I THINK 1617. AND 1800 FOR THIS YEAR. >> THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT UM, EXPANSION OF WORK. I THINK WE'RE. WE'RE ON TRACK. >> TO SPEND ALMOST $45 MILLION THIS YEAR ON. >> ON RAMP RECONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, WE VIEW THIS AS. PART OF OUR, UH, STATE OF GOOD REPAIR. UH. >> WE OBVIOUSLY COORDINATE. >> THAT WORK WITH. ROADWAY RESURFACING. UH, AT. >> THE SAME TIME. UM. >> FRANKLY, THIS IS THIS IS A PROJECT THAT THE CITY HAS
PRIORITIZED. BUT WILL. WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE US. UM, MORE THAN A DECADE TO COMPLETE. NOW I UNDERSTAND THANK YOU. I WAS WITH, UM COUNCILOR WEBER CAME. >> TO.
A COMMUNITY. MEETING WITH ME IN CHINATOWN. TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. RESIDENTS KEPT ASKING ME. >> ABOUT PHILLIPS SQUARE. AS YOU KNOW. THEY WANT TO SEE SOME ACTION
DONE ON PHILLIPS SQUARE. IT'S A IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, MANY, MANY SENIORS MOST THAT DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE
SUMMERTIME IT CAN REACH 100 DEGREES IN SOME OF THOSE APARTMENTS, PHILLIPS PHILLIPS SQUARE WILL BE A. CRITICAL AREA FOR PEOPLE TO TO GATHER UM WITH TREES WITH OPEN
SPACE. UM IS. THIS A PRIORITY OR IS. >> THIS SOMETHING. THAT THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR AND FIGHTING FOR AND FIGHTING FOR OR IS THIS OR IS THE
ADMINISTRATION JUST GOING TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF CHINATOWN, TREAT THEM WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT? SO THIS PROJECT HAS UM IS MOVING FORWARD.
UH THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN. IT'S BEEN VERY ENGAGED. UH THERE'S. >> BEEN A LOT OF WORK UM, ON SELECTION OF. >> A DESIGN UH, FOR THE. PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION UH, WE HAVE THE PROJECT MOSTLY FUNDED. UH, AND IT IS SOMETHING WE WE
ARE. PLANNING TO MOVE FORWARD. CAN I TELL THEM THIS WILL HAPPEN? WE'LL WE'LL DO THE WE'LL START THE CONSTRUCTION THE SUMMER. I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T PROCURED THE THE PROJECT YET BUT WE'LL
PROBABLY GET BACK TO YOU WITH. NO I KNOW THAT BUT I WOULD COUNCILOR WEBER FOR THE WHOLE CONVERSATION. EVERY PERSON ASKED ME AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS DONE? AND I SAID I'M GOING TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS I CAN, BUT
I ONLY CAN SAY THAT SO LONG. UM AND I'M GOING TO TELL THEM I'M GOING TO GET IT DONE THIS SUMMER. IT'S GOING TO STOP THIS SUMMER. I NEED YOU TO BE ON BOARD WITH THAT. UM, I JUST CAN'T KEEP BLOWING
PEOPLE OFF AND SAYING WE'LL GET WE'LL GET IT DONE. WE'LL GET IT DONE. I CAN'T TELL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN MY DISTRICT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO GET DONE. I WANT IT TO GET DONE THIS THIS
SUMMER AND THAT SHOULD BE THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. UM, ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH ME THIS SUMMER TO GET IT DONE? I'LL BE HERE ALL SUMMER. I'LL I'LL HELP YOU WITH THE PROJECT. I'LL GET DOWN THERE MYSELF.
BUT I NEED YOU, NICK ON BOARD BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T KEEP. WAITING AND DELAYING THIS PROJECT. WE'LL GET. >> YOU AN. UPDATE ON THE. STATUS OF THE PROJECT COUNSELOR. BUT AGAIN, THE PROJECT IS FUNDED. UH, I BELIEVE WE WE HAVE A
SELECTED DESIGN. UM. >> WE ARE DOING SOME KIND OF SPRUCE UP OF. THE OF THE CURRENT PLAZA IN ADVANCE. >> OF THE EVENTS. THIS SUMMER. UM, BUT I. WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON A SCHEDULE FOR. THE BRANCH AND I WOULD JUST
SAID WE HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY PROCESS WE HAD WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE DESIGN. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE DESIGN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEIR INPUT WAS IS REFLECTED IN THE FINAL DESIGN,
UH, CHOICE THAT WE HAD AND I WOULD SAY UM, IT'S NOT. DELAYED BECAUSE. >> WE'RE COMMITTING TO DOING IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR MURPHY. SO THREE YEARS AGO WE SHIFTED.
FROM THE SLOW STREETS. INITIATIVE TO THE SAFETY SURGE . INITIATIVE BECAUSE THEN THE ADMINISTRATION. SAID THAT THIS POLICY. WOULD PROVIDE A MORE. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
OF TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES, INCLUDING DESIGNATING SPEED. HUMPS AS PART OF THE STANDARD STREET DESIGN. UM AND THEN LAST. YEAR IN FEBRUARY.
>> 2025, WE ANNOUNCED. UM THE CITY WAS UNDERGOING A 30 DAY REVIEW OF THE TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS MADE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. AND THEN IN APRIL THE MEMO WAS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE
COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. COULD BE IMPROVED. UM, AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH. >> THE WELL. ATTENDED ROOM. BUT KNOWING. MYSELF AS AN AT LARGE COUNCILOR IF I'M. GETTING EMAILS CALLS.
ARE JUST OUT. IN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY. I CONSTANTLY HEAR THIS. RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO ASK LIKE WHAT. DOES AN ENHANCED, MORE EQUITABLE. MORE TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION. PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
>> SO I'M HOPING WE CAN KIND OF HAVE THAT ANSWER. I KNOW MANY OF MY. COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY ASKED. >> THAT QUESTION. ONE UM THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP YOU SAID SPEED HUMPS WILL GO
INTO HIGH PRIORITY. STREETS AND THEY HAVE TO. >> BE DEEMED ELIGIBLE. >> SO WHAT IS THAT PROCESS AND IS THAT ON THE WEBSITE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO RESIDENTS HOW. YOUR STREET BECOMES DEEMED ELIGIBLE AND THEN. >> WHAT STEPS CAN BE.
TAKEN TO BE PUT ON THE LIST AND THE TIMELINE. >> FOR. IT TO HAPPEN. SO WE HAVE NOT YET UPDATED THE WEBSITE WITH THE NEW PROCESS COUNCILOR BUT BUT. >> WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT. UM CAN YOU SHARE WHAT IT IS.
THE SO YOU KNOW AS I MENTIONED UH. YOU KNOW THE CITY. RAPIDLY CONSTRUCTED OVER. 1400 UH, SPEED HUMPS OVER THE LAST. SEVERAL YEARS AND YOU KNOW, WE FOCUSED.
ON ON MANY HIGH PRIORITY. STREETS THAT THAT NEEDED THEM UH, AND. AT THAT TIME. HOW DID YOU DEEM THEM HIGH PRIORITY? BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR THEM OR WHAT MADE THEM HIGH
PRIORITY THEN AND HOW WOULD THEY BE DIFFERENT. BE DEEMED ELIGIBLE NOW? SO THERE WAS THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS DONE AT THE TIME TO. DETERMINE WHICH STREETS. WERE UH. ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.
>> FOR SPEED HUMPS. UM AND THEN THEY WERE. PRIORITIZED UM, BY NEED AND THERE WAS A MAP AT THE TIME WHICH SHOWED UM. BUT WHAT MADE YOU ELIGIBLE?
UH, A. >> VARIETY OF FACTORS. UM. >> CRASH HISTORY. UH, STREET. DESIGN SPEEDS. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, NEAR A. SCHOOL WHAT SCHOOL ZONE, COMMUNITY CENTER.
ETC. THERE. >> WERE A. >> VARIETY OF FACTORS. >> AND CRITERIA THAT WENT INTO UM WHETHER A STREET WAS ELIGIBLE OR NOT. OBVIOUSLY THERE. >> WAS A. CONVERSATION WITH. PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CLASSIFICATION.
OF THE ROADWAY WAS ETC.. AND NOW WHAT IS THE. SHIFT TO BE DEEMED ELIGIBLE IN THE NEW. SO WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND LOOKING AT NOW
IS KIND OF MOVING AWAY FROM THAT LIKE ALGORITHM BASED APPROACH THAT WE. HAD UH. AND FIGURING OUT. ON ON. ON THE STREETS THAT WILL RESTRICT GETS SPEED HUMPS.
IS THAT THE BEST APPLICATION? IS A STREET A BETTER CANDIDATE FOR SOMETHING LIKE A RACE CROSSWALK OR BUMP OUTS OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF UH, TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE? I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT
COUNCILOR AND SO IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE SORT OF SIMILAR FACTORS THAT WE MAY HAVE USED IN THE PAST. >> BUT. THAT WE'RE ONLY BUT LIKE CHIEF GOVE SAID JUST YOU KNOW, UH, SORT OF AN AGNOSTIC ALGORITHM
WE WANT TO INCLUDE VOICES OF RESIDENTS, UH, STAKEHOLDERS ,YOU KNOW, GROUPS WHO ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. UM, YOU KNOW, MULTIMODAL
ADVOCATES, OBVIOUSLY ELECTED OFFICIALS SO THAT THE THE DATA IS ALSO INFORMED BY, YOU KNOW, THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE, UH, IN THOSE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WHAT ARE ALL OF THE CALMING MEASURES THAT CAN BE
USED? SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SPEED HUMPS, THERE'S RAISED CROSSWALKS UH THERE'S BUMP OUTS . UM FRANKLY RECONSTRUCTION OF STREETS. CHANGING THE.
>> DIRECTIONALITY IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PAVEMENT MARKINGS, SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS. IS THIS SHIFT BASED. ON DATA THAT CAME BACK SHOWING
THAT THE FIRST WAVE AND HOW WE IMPLEMENTED SPEED HUMPS ORIGINALLY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE? NO. >> WE BELIEVE THAT THE THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WAS EFFECTIVE.
UM, THAT SAID THERE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SPEED HUMPS THAT WERE EVALUATED. UM, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR THAT YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HAVE ROBUST FEEDBACK AND PROBABLY WEREN'T
UH, AS HIGH PRIORITY LOCATIONS AS OTHERS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ITERATING THE PROGRAM, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN PLACING THESE ASSETS IN THE PLACES THAT NEED
THEM MOST. UM, SO WHEN. I DRIVE THROUGH THIS. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY BUT ON WASHINGTON STREET, UM, I MEAN GAME BOULEVARD NEAR THE
WASHINGTON STREET INTERSECTION THERE IS A BLINKING CROSSWALK VERY EFFECTIVE. UM, HOW MANY BLINKING CROSSWALKS DO WE HAVE AROUND THE CITY? I THINK THEY ALL SHOULD BE
BLINKING BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THE CARS. ACTUALLY STOP ON THAT FOUR WAY SPEEDING HIGHWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE EVER GOING TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE PULL
CARS OVER FOR GOING 80 AND JUST SEE PEOPLE STRANDED WAITING TO GET ACROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY . BUT WHEN THE LIGHT BLINKS IT'S EFFECTIVE. I HAVE MANY OTHER PLACES I WOULD SAY TO PUT THEM ALSO, BUT
HOW MANY DO WE HAVE AROUND THE CITY AND IS THERE A INVESTMENT TO CONTINUE SPREADING THOSE? I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFFHAND COUNCIL BUT WE CAN GET IT FOR YOU. I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE
FIXED BUT PERMANENT UH, BLINKING LIGHTS. NOT LIKE THE SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS, RIGHT? >> NO, NOT WHEN THEY PUT LIKE A MOVING SIGN THAT WILL JUST TELL YOU YOUR SPEED OR IT'S AN ACTUAL BLINKING FIXED.
UM HUM. I HAVEN'T SEEN OTHERS. UH, THERE OTHERS AROUND THE CITY? HOW MANY ARE THERE? YEAH, WE HAVE MANY AND WE CAN GET YOU THE NUMBER OF WHAT THEY ARE. OKAY. >> AND THERE'S AN INVESTMENT TO CONTINUE THAT IS THE DATA
ALREADY SHOWING THEM. THAT THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE AN ALTERNATE TYPE OF UH ,TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE. WE USE THEM UH, IN SCHOOL ZONES ACROSS THE CITY.
THEY'RE THEY'RE EFFECTIVE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR CULPEPER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND CHIEF GROVES, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT DURING THE SNOWSTORMS AND HOW QUICKLY AND HOW RAPIDLY YOU AND YOUR TEAM MOVED TO, UH, RESPOND TO THOSE
REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CENTER BUS LANE, UM, WE GET A MUCH DIFFERENT RESPONSE AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CONSISTENT
ABOUT RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE CENTER RUNNING BUS LANE. YET IT REMAINS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE CURRENT DESIGN. UH, AND HERE'S MY QUESTION AT
WHAT POINT DOES THE 2000 UH, PETITION SIGNATURE THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS GATHERED AT UH THE REED AUDITORIUM IN GROVE HALL. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE CITY BEGIN TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE CENTER
RUNNING BUS LANE AND GIVE US ANOTHER DESIGN THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE A CENTER BUSSING CENTER RUNNING BUS LINE? I MEAN, I HEARD YOU SAY WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT WHEN
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT UM, BUMP LANE AND I HEARD MISTER MUHAMMAD SAY THAT IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PROCESS. AT WHAT POINT DOES IT REALLY SINK IN?
THAT COMMUNITY IS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT A CENTER BUS LANE AND IT AND THE CITY BEGAN TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR THAT CENTER RUNNING BUS LANE.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR. UM, SO YOU KNOW BLUE HILL HAVE UM IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF TRANSIT SAFETY AND PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS THE ENTIRE
CORRIDOR AND HAS FOR DECADES. I KNOW YOU. KNOW THAT UH, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. IT'S IT'S IT'S BEEN A LONG STANDING PRIORITY. UM, YOU KNOW, THE. MAYOR AND SECRETARY AND ANG
HAVE BEEN MEETING FREQUENTLY, UH, ON THIS PROJECT TO HELP KEEP PROGRESS MOVING. RIGHT. WE'RE WE'RE PLANNING TO CO-HOST ,UH, A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE MBTA. WHO WHO.
UM, IS OUR PARTNER IN THE PROJECT? UM. >> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ASKED THE MBTA TO CHECK IN WITH THE FTA ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE GRANT CONDITIONS. UM, AND WE ARE SCHEDULED TO
KIND OF RECONVENE WITH THE MBTA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. UM, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE ON THE PROJECT. BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE. UM. >> I THINK EVERYONE AGREES THAT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MY
REFERENCED ARE NEEDED ON BLUE HEALTH AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO WE WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. UM, AND AND DELIVER ON ON ALL
OF THOSE. IMPROVEMENTS SO WE. >> KNOW THAT $80 MILLION CAME DOWN RIGHT? THAT WAS A SURPRISE. NO ONE HERE KNEW ABOUT IT AND AND D7 UNTIL IT HIT THE NEWSPAPERS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT SORT OF BUSTLING WITH THAT $80 MILLION THERE WAS ONLY 30% DESIGN AND THE 30% DESIGN WAS ONLY OF THE CENTER BUS LANES
WITH NO MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION OR MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY . WHY DID THEY HAVE TO BEGIN WITH THE 30% CENTER BUS LANE AND NO
COMMUNITY INPUT WHATSOEVER? THERE WAS UH. UM COMMUNITY. THE CITY DID A. PRETTY NO NO TALKING ABOUT THE CITY. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MBTA. >> OH I'M SORRY OKAY. YEAH. UH, WE'LL GET TO THE CITY'S.
AND COUNCILOR CULPEPER. WE DID INVITE THE MBTA. THEY DID DECLINED. TO DEFERRING. UM, ARE WE GOING TO DO A DO UH, AS A SUMMER? THEY'RE NOT COMING.
BUT WE DO HAVE ENFORCEMENT WAYS TO BRING THEM HERE THOUGH. WE I MEAN, WE CAN'T JUST ACCEPT THE NOT COMING. THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THAT THEY COME HERE AND SO IF WE HAVE TO MOVE ANOTHER
WAY MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT. BUT LET ME FINISH WITH CHIEF GROVE. UM, TO GO FINISH YOUR QUESTION. I MEAN YOUR ANSWER. SURE. >> SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE CONTINUING THIS WORK WITH THE
TEAM. WE DID DO, UH, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT THAT'S DOCUMENTED OR DOCUMENTED IN A REPORT WE COMPLETED IN 23. THE BASIS OF THE $80 MILLION GRANT.
RIGHT. IT'S THE MTA'S GRANT. UM. >> IT IS BASED ON, UH, PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS. UH, AND YOU. KNOW, THE.
THE TEAM FEELS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE TRANSIT PRIORITY ON THAT CORRIDOR IS THROUGH CENTER RUNNING BUS LINES. BUT BUT WHAT AT WHAT POINT DOES THE MTA BEGIN TO AND THE
COMMUNITY IN OTHER WORDS HOW FAR WILL WE HAVE TO GO AND YOU KNOW AND ONE OF THE UH THE MEETINGS WE HAD WE HAD UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAYING
THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PROTEST ,WILLING TO LAY DOWN IN THE STREET. I MEAN, HOW FAR DO WE HAVE TO GO TO REALLY GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT A CENTER BUSTLING AND
THAT WE WANT OTHER DESIGNS? WELL, I THINK I THINK THE. COMMUNITY MEETING. THAT WE REFERENCED UM, IS I THINK A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
I THINK IF HYPOTHETICALLY ALSO IF THE IF THE PROJECT WAS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT STEP IN THAT WOULD. BE YOU KNOW, THE MBTA TAKING THE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY DESIGN
TO THE MPO AND ASKING THEM TO MOVE THAT TO THE LONG TERM PROJECT LIST. RIGHT. IF IF THE MPO VOTED TO DO THAT THAT WOULD KICK OFF A FORMAL 30 DAY COMMENT.
PERIOD WHICH WOULD BE A ROBUST PUBLIC PROCESS. UM LET ME JUST BODY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ABOUT THE AURORA AVENUE PROJECT. I CAME TO HEAR YOU OUT SO THAT
YOU CAN TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD DO. TO GATHER ROUND. SO THIS IS A FIRST. THIS PLAN IS TO KICK US OUT OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS PLAN ISN'T ACTUALLY FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT. WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE IT BETTER. UM. >> AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE A LOT OF YOU COMING FROM. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR BUSINESSES. YOU CAN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT
THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE GAINS AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES. I'VE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATE DESIGNS BECAUSE THE RFP WASN'T BASED OFF OF A
CENTER RUNNING BUSTLING. IT WAS ABOUT A DEDICATED BUSTLING. SO THEY WILL TELL YOU ONE THING OH WE HAD A COMMUNITY PROCESS BUT THEY DON'T TELL YOU THE DETAILS. >> AND IT WAS NOT FAIR. IT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT. NONE OF THIS IS FOR US.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IT AND FOR THE BUS LANE. THIS WASN'T. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR. OKAY. I GAVE YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE BECAUSE I WAS SPEAKING. I DIDN'T GET IN. ACCENT. COULD I JUST. FOR THE RECORD. NO, JUST THERE ARE THERE'S A
LOT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY. CAN I. JUST ASK ONE THING. WITH ME? >> SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. JUST ONE THING QUICKLY OR. BUT I CAN MOVE ON. YEAH. >> YOU YOU I GUESS YOU CAN RESPOND AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING TO TESTIFY OVER 40 PEOPLE. I CAN JUST I CAN TALK. OKAY. >> GO AHEAD. OKAY. >> IT'S OKAY. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UM.
>> NICK MOHAMMED, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY. UH, JUST TO EDUCATE ALL OF US WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DATA THAT WE'RE POURING OVER. WHERE IS THAT DATA COME FROM? WHAT DATA ARE WE USING?
SPECIFIC TO WITH WHAT COUNCILOR? WELL. >> YOU GOT THAT? I MEAN I GUESS SO, RIGHT? SO EXPLAIN TO ME MAYBE WHAT SOME WHERE WE PUT SPEED HUMPS. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? UH, TO WHERE WE'RE DECIDING WHERE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, DO UH,
SAFETY DESIGN RECONFIGURATIONS ETC.. UH, MAYBE EXPLAIN TO ME WHICH DATA IS HELPING US GUIDE WHICH PROCESS. SURE. SO YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF THE CAPITAL UM, UH, AND
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS I MENTIONED EARLIER. RIGHT. SO UH, SEVERAL OF THOSE AND FRANKLY MANY OF OUR OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS THEY ARE BASED
ON, YOU KNOW, THE DATA IN THE HIGH CRASH NETWORK, RIGHT? SO IF A QUARTER IS DEEMED, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CRASHES, RIGHT. THAT'S A PLACE THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON WE
USE A VERY SIMILAR SORT OF DATA FOR OUR INTERSECTIONS RIGHT. WE HAVE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE RATED FROM YOU KNOW WORST ON UP . UM WE HAVE CRASH DATA VEHICLE
SPEED SPEEDS THAT WE CAPTURE FROM UH SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS. UM YOU KNOW, FOR FOR BIKE FACILITIES WE DO BIKE COUNTS. UM, OBVIOUSLY OUR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER PROVIDES.
A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA FOR UH, ALL SORTS OF CORRIDOR WORK. SO YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PLANNING EFFORTS THAT DO. YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, DATA COLLECTION FOR SPECIFIC CORRIDORS, PROJECTS, INTERSECTIONS. >> SO IS IT MOSTLY CITY DATA COLLECTED MEAN WE'RE USING IS IT POLICE DATA? IS THE CRASH DATA COME FROM THE STATE FROM THE CITY? GREAT QUESTION. IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT'S FEDERAL STATE CITY POLICE EMS ALL OF THAT. GREAT. AWESOME. >> GOOD TO KNOW. UM, AS IT RELATES TO SPEED HUMPS WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOME LONG OVERDUE SPEED HUMPS AS THEY WERE THE NUMBER
ONE REQUEST IN THE LAST IN THE FIRST TERM MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE UH SINCE DIED DOWN A BIT I DON'T KNOW IF JUST PEOPLE SAY WELL THEY'RE JUST NOT HAPPENING OR IF PEOPLE HAVE SORT OF CHANGED THEIR MIND ABOUT UH,
WHETHER THEY WOULD WANT THEM ON THEIR STREET SPECIFICALLY. UM, BUT I STILL WOULD ADVOCATE UH, THERE IS GOOD TO IT THE ONES THAT ARE COMING AND HAPPY ARE COMING AND I WOULD STILL ADVOCATE THAT WE LOOK TO THE
COUNCILORS WHO ARE UH TO JUST TO GIVE TO 5 TO 10 STREETS A YEAR. UH, THAT WHEN YOU WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES ARE THE ONES THAT WHAT ARE THE CATHRO'S WHAT ARE THE PLACES THAT WE NEED? UM, ESPECIALLY THE DISTRICT
CITY COUNCILORS WHO ARE UM IN THE DISTRICT EACH AND EVERY DAY AND ARE VERY FAMILIAR GOING TO THOSE CIVICS. UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT. UM, YOU TOUCHED ON THE RESIDENCY PERMIT PARKING PROGRAM THAT IT HAS BEEN ON
PAUSE. UM, AND I BELIEVE COUNCILOR FLYNN ASKED TO IT BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS GOING TO COME BACK. . AND DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT? I WILL JUST SAY ONE THING AND
THEN CHIEF CULP CAN ANSWER I CAN EXPAND ON IT. I WOULD JUST LIKE I'VE HEARD THE THE WORD PAUSE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHETHER IT'S PROJECTS OR YOU KNOW, UH, OR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT, UM PROGRAM.
NOTHING IS ON UNPAUSE. WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE THE 30 DAY REPORT AND EVEN DURING OBVIOUSLY TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROCESS IS THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE THAT OUR YOU KNOW,
THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT UM TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL FOR. >> FOR. OUR STREETS WHICH IS THAT THEY'RE ALL WALKABLE, DRIVABLE, YOU KNOW, CYCLE UM, FOR ALL PEOPLE FOR ALL ROAD USERS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE SAFE AND
NICE AND THAT THEY'RE ALSO HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE GOAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD UM, IS ,YOU KNOW, PLEASANT TO WALK OR DRIVE OR BICYCLE.
I MEAN OUR BIKE UM, THE REASON YOU KNOW, IT MAY HAVE TAKEN LONGER THAN IN THE PAST IS WE HAD STAFF TURNOVER AND OTHER FACTORS, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO THAT I WOULD SAY THAT LED TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN SLOWER
THAN THE FIRST THREE YEARS. BUT NICK JONAS HEY, WHAT ABOUT THE NICK? THAT'S THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET TO MY OTHER QUESTION, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. THANK YOU. UM, UH. >> ON A MORE TECHNICAL. >> MATTER GETTING IN I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS COME IN.
WE HAVE, UH, THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD REDESIGN, WHICH IS A STATE PROJECT. UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COLUMBIA ROAD REDESIGN. I WOULD JUST ASK FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE IN, UM, WITHIN ONE ANOTHER IF WE WERE
TO HAVE. I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT MY DISTRICT OF DORCHESTER. IF YOU'RE DOING A COLUMBIA ROAD REDESIGN WITH THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD REDESIGN THAT IS ABSOLUTE CHAOS IN BETWEEN. RIGHT? SO THINKING ABOUT THE TIMING AND SEQUENCING OF THESE
PROJECTS AND HOW THEY WILL AFFECT EACH OTHER WHICH I KNOW YOU GUYS DO BUT I JUST WANT TO CALL THAT ONE OUT BECAUSE THAT'S TWO MAIN ARTERIES THAT COULD UNDERGO SOME SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN POTENTIALLY AROUND THE SAME TIME. UH AND I JUST WANT TO BE VERY
COGNIZANT OF THAT. UM, OTHERWISE I JUST WANT TO TOUCH UPON TWO THOUGHTS I HAVE I STILL THINK WE NEED A SEPARATE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WHETHER THAT RELIES AND RELIES ON THE BTD OR THE BOSTON
POLICE, I DON'T KNOW. UH, BUT I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IS IF THE POLICE ARE BUSY DEALING WITH OTHER ISSUES AND THE MINOR INFRACTION TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS OCCUR. DO WE HAVE A WAY THAT WE CAN
STILL ENFORCE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE I KNOW IF I WAS IF I WAS GIVEN THAT IF I WAS DEPUTIZED TO PULL ANYONE OVER RIGHT AND GIVE TICKETS, UH, WHICH I USED TO BE AND UH, I
WOULD I COULD PULL OVER TEN PEOPLE EVERY TIME I DRIVE INTO THE CITY. RIGHT. AND I THINK WE ALL SEE THAT AS WE AS WE GO AROUND. SO UH, THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THEN LASTLY JUST, UH, YOU GUYS CAN TOUCH UPON IT.
UM, BUT THE UH, A A UNIVERSAL UNIQUE COLOR CODE AROUND SCHOOL SAFETY TRAFFIC SAFETY SIGNS. MY THOUGHT THERE IS IF I'M IN HYDE, IF I LIVE IN HYDE PARK
AND I'M DRIVING THROUGH SOUTHIE AND I TYPICALLY DO NOT VISIT SOUTHIE, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE. RIGHT. AND YOU CAN SEE A SCHOOL ZONE SIGN BUT THOSE KIND OF BECOME IT'S A YELLOW SIGN, RIGHT?
UM, BUT IF WE IN BOSTON HAD A UNIVERSAL UNIQUE COLOR UM, I'LL JUST SAY PURPLE BECAUSE I WENT TO BOSTON LATIN. RIGHT. BUT LIKE WE'LL JUST SAY IT'S A PURPLE CAR. THAT WAY NO MATTER WHERE I GO I SEE PURPLE SIGNS I KNOW OKAY,
I'M IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I SHOULD I SHOULD SLOW MY ROLL RIGHT? UM, JUST AN IDEA. FIGURED IT'D BE A GOOD TIME TO THROW IT OUT THERE. UM, IF YOU GUYS HAVE TIME TO REACT. THANK YOU. JEFF. SURE. >> SO TO THE ENFORCEMENT, UM,
COMMENT COUNCILOR. YEAH. YOU KNOW, WE WORK REGULARLY WITH BPD. UM, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. I THINK THE THE WAY THE WAY
ESSENTIALLY IT'S DIVIDED RIGHT NOW IS THAT, YOU KNOW. BTD CAN ISSUE UM, YOU KNOW, A PARKING VIOLATION TO ANY VEHICLE THAT IS NOT MOVING. RIGHT?
SO A VEHICLE THAT IS DOUBLE PARKED, ILLEGALLY PARKED ETC.. UH, WE CAN OBVIOUSLY TOW AND IMPOUND VEHICLES BUT IF BUT IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND IT BECOMES A MOVING VIOLATION THAT
RESPONSIBILITY FALLS UH, WITH WITH THE POLICE. AND SO TO YOUR POINT AND IF THERE WAS A CREATION OF UM, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF TRACK OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, YOU'D
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ENTITY CAN ALSO, UH, ISSUE MOVING VIOLATIONS. AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BUNCH OF UM AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT UH ,LEGISLATION KICKING AROUND ON THIS.
AND JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON THE UM, YOU KNOW, THE BIG PROJECTS UH, IN YOUR IN DORCHESTER, UM, THE MORRISSEY AND COLUMBIA AND THE IMPACTS I THINK TO THAT POINT IT IT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THE
TIME AND THAT THOSE ARE STATE YOU KNOW SO DIFFERENT BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WHETHER IT'S BLUE HILL LAB OR ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S NOT JUST THE END RESULT THAT HAS AN IMPACT. IT'S YOU KNOW THE BIGGER THE
PROJECT THE LARGER OBVIOUSLY THE IMPACT ALSO OF CONSTRUCTION THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE END RESULT IS SOMETHING. PEOPLE FEEL REALLY, REALLY GOOD ABOUT AND IT'S A WIN WIN.
UH, BECAUSE GETTING THERE IS ALSO NOT EASY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD . UM WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR ERROL. UM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND SIX MINUTES. >> UH THANK YOU CHAIR. UH, THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. FOR BEING HERE.
UM, WHEN. YOU WHEN WE ARE INSTALLING, UH OR COMING UP WITH DESIGNED FOR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES. >> OR. STREETS. >> DO WE DO AN. ECONOMIC IMPACT TO UNDERSTAND
YOU KNOW HOW SAID DESIGN WILL IMPACT THE BUSINESSES AND DO WE GO BACK UH, TO ANY OF THE OTHER DESIGNS THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED LIKE LET'S SAY COLUMBUS HAVE TO SEE HOW UH,
THAT REDESIGN HAS IMPACTED UH, THOSE BUSINESSES OR EVEN. YOU KNOW. >> PROPERTY VALUE TAXES ETC.. SURE. >> SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION COUNCIL, WE DON'T YOU. KNOW, WE. >> DON'T NECESSARILY DO LIKE UH .
YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT OR CORRIDOR. UM, THAT SAID WE DO. WE DO TRY TO CAPTURE THOSE NEEDS PARTICULAR AROUND CURBSIDE DEMAND. UM.
>> YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR WHATEVER PROJECT THAT IS UM, WE DO YOU KNOW, DO POST PROJECT KIND OF EVALUATION.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT FRANKLY ACTUALLY WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW THE T ON COLUMBUS TRAM ON PHASE ONE. UM, BUT TO YOUR POINT THAT IT WE NEED TO DO MORE POST PROJECT . IMPLEMENTATION.
>> UH, ACROSS THE BOARD AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED UH, TO DO MORE OF IN. >> THE FUTURE. UH. >> GOOD TO HEAR. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE DEFINITELY SOMETHING. UH, JUST KNOWING HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE IN BLUE ALIVE
AND HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE POURED, YOU KNOW, THEIR LIFE SAVINGS AND THEIR TIME AND ENERGY. UH, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE A DECISION THAT CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, A REAL IMPACT ON ALL
THOSE BUSINESSES. UM, THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, PARKING. PROGRAM. >> UH, SOMETHING THAT I HEAR ABOUT OFTEN, UH, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING I
HAVEN'T HEARD FROM, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT ON YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE RESTARTED IF IT'S GOING TO BE RESTARTED. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY COLLABORATE UH, YOU KNOW, FLAHERTY ON ON
THE PROGRAM? SURE. >> UH, WE DID MENTION THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BUT OUR OUR OUR PLAN IS WE HAVE FORTUNATELY, UH, RESTORED OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT NUMBERS.
UM, OUR STAFF THAT DOES THAT WORK TO, UH TO HISTORIC LEVELS AND WE FEEL THAT WE CAN RESTART THE EXPANSION OF THAT PROGRAM. WE ARE PLANNING TO DO THAT. UM. >> THIS YEAR. BUT I'LL. LET MOHAMMAD KNOW.
I MEAN, JUST TO YOUR POINT, COUNSELOR, ABOUT UM, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY ANY CHANGE. UM, EVEN YOU KNOW, WITH RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT TOO, IT'S THE SAME THING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE JUST GET IT RIGHT WHEN WE WHEN WE
WHEN WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT IT WHETHER IT'S UH, YOU KNOW, ADDING SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST OR EVEN EXPANDING SOMETHING WHERE IT EXISTS SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WAS A SMOOTH TRANSITION ESSENTIALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BECAUSE OF BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS EXISTED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY FOR MANY, MANY DECADES. UH, WE CAN YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST IT THROUGHOUT IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
RIGHT? SO LIKE THERE'S A TRANSITION THAT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO THE SOUTH END IN WE'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESSES LAST YEAR WHO SAID LISTEN LIKE TRAFFIC IS YOU KNOW MOVING AS FAST AS THEY NEED TO IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE SO YOU KNOW, CAN THIS BE A 15 MINUTE ZONE FOR INSTANCE.
SO IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT DETAILS AND MAKING SURE UH WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL THE CONCERNS OF YOU KNOW, HOW PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED AND THEN WE'LL ROLL THEM UP. BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THEY'VE BEEN PAUSED AND NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED. THEY'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF BEING, UH, THOROUGHLY
VETTED. AWESOME. >> AND THAT AND THEN UM, WHEN IT COMES TO JUST FINDING UM DO YOU HAVE A TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT
OF FEDERAL FUNDS, UM, THAT HAVE UM, BEEN GIVEN BACK? UM, REGARDING ANY CAPITAL PROJECT? DO YOU HAVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT?
UH, WE HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AT THE START OF THE HEARING. UH, WE HAVE NOT GIVEN ANYTHING BACK. UH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME MONEY RESCINDED. UH, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UH
SOME FEDERAL FUNDS THAT UM WHILE THE GRANT HASN'T BEEN RESCINDED, WE HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT. AND SO IT'S THOSE FUNDS ARE KIND OF IN LIMBO.
UH, BUT UH UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRITTON ASKED THIS QUESTION EARLIER AND WE DO HAVE A VERY DETAILED DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS EVERY PROJECT THAT HAS STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING
AND WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT. YEAH. >> UM, THROUGH THE CHAIR I WOULD LOVE TO UH, SEE THAT THAT LIST AND IS IT COMMON THAT UH,
STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING IS PAIRED OR CAN YOU STILL RECEIVE STATE FUNDING ON AN INTERSECTION OR A THOROUGHFARE WITHOUT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS?
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE SEEK UM, OUTSIDE FUNDING FROM UM A VARIETY OBVIOUSLY OF STATE AND
FEDERAL GRANTS AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY FOR LARGER CAPITAL PROJECTS WE MAY TRY TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, PULL THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER.
BUT DEPENDING UPON WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM WE'RE WE'RE TARGETING, UM, NO, WE MAY JUST TARGET ONE PARTICULAR GRANT. SO WE HAVE YOU KNOW, UH,
INTERSECTION UH, GRANTS THAT MIGHT FUND A COUPLE DOZEN INTERSECTION PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH MASSDOT AT THE AT THE ELLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
RIGHT. THAT'S A STATE FUNDED GRANT PROJECT. AND QUIXOTIC AND LIKE TIME IS RUNNING LOW. UM. THERE THERE HAVE BEEN DESIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN SCALED BACK OR,
YOU KNOW, REMOVED. WHAT WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN THE REASON ON ALREADY INSTALLED? UH, YOU KNOW, BUT WHETHER IT'S
UH YOU KNOW, BUS LANES, BIKE LANES, UM TEMPORARY DESIGNS. WHAT HAS BEEN THE REASON FOR THE REMOVAL OF ANY PAST PROJECTS? SURE. >> UH, GREAT.
GREAT QUESTION. UM, THE CITY HAS NOT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT REMOVED ANY BIKE LANES. UH, WE WE HAVE REMOVED, UH, SOME SOME BUS LANES.
UM, THERE WERE THREE LOCATIONS. UH, ONE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS SUMMER STREET. UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T COME WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SERVICE FREQUENCY.
UH, COMPLIANCE WAS LOW. UH, ENFORCEMENT WAS VERY LIMITED. SO, YOU KNOW, WE YOU KNOW, BASED ON, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK, UH, WE DID WE DECIDED TO END
THAT PILOT THAT SAID IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF IF ENFORCEMENT OR CHANGES TO THE CORRIDOR WERE MADE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE COULD. BE EVALUATED. UM BOYLSTON STREET THIS WAS THE
UH, BUS LANE THAT WAS ADDED AS PART OF THE BIKE LANE PROJECT. UH, FROM CLARENDON TO ARLINGTON . THE POST IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION SHOWED THE FACILITY WASN'T DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT
TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS. UH, IT WAS CONTRIBUTING TO SOME CURBSIDE ACCESS AND CONGESTION. YOU KNOW, THE ANALYSIS I BELIEVE FOUND YOU KNOW, ONE MINUTE IN IN TIME SAVINGS PER
TRIP DURING THE AM PEAK. UH, BUT BUT NO IMPROVEMENT DURING THE PM. SO YOU. KNOW. >> WE WE CHOSE TO REMOVE THAT BECAUSE AS PART OF THAT POST PROJECT EVALUATION AND THEN THE LAST SECTION WAS UH LAST SUMMER
AS PART OF A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR RESURFACING PROJECT. UM, WE REMOVED A SHORT SECTION OF BUS LANE ON NORTH WASHINGTON STREET. UM. >> YOU KNOW, FRANKLY THAT DESIGN HAD CHALLENGES UH, FROM
FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION. UM, AND THERE WAS NOT A PLAN TO CARRY. UH. >> THE BUS LANE ON TO THE NORTH WASHINGTON STREET BRIDGE. SO, UH, WE MADE A DECISION TO. >> YOU KNOW. REMOVE THAT SECTION OF THE
BUSTLING UH, AGAIN AS PART OF A FUTURE, UH, PROJECT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN WE'RE IN DESIGN ON ON RUTHERFORD AVE THAT COULD BE EVALUATED IN THE FUTURE.
BUT AT THE TIME WE MADE THE DECISION TO REMOVE THAT SECTION . BUT AND BUT WE DID KEEP AN EXPAND UH, INBOUND THAT'S GOING OUT INTO THE CITY AND THEN GOING THROUGH A PROGRAM. WHERE WE DID WE KEPT THE
INBOUND SIDE. UH, EXPANDED IT UH, AS AS PART OF SOME INCREASED SERVICE DELIVERY, THE TEAM PLANS AS PART OF THEIR, UH, BETTER BUS NETWORK. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR ARROYO.
UM, OUR PLAN WAS TO, UM, TAKE SOME TESTIMONY OUT OF ORDER AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A SECOND ROUND. UM, I DO WANT TO JUST I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE. UM, WHILE I THINK NO BIKE LANES
HAVE BEEN REMOVED, THERE HAS BEEN PROTECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN REMOVED. SO I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO READ INTO THE RECORD. NO NO CLAPPING. I'M SORRY. UM, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT. LIKE I THAT HAS HAPPENED IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND IT YOU KNOW AND IT HASN'T JUST BEEN MARATHON RELATED. UM AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A POINT OF TENSION PARTICULARLY WITH MY
OFFICE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IN OUR DISTRICT THAT TRAVEL MULTIMODAL. UM I AM GOING TO LET THESE ADVOCATE SPEAK TO THAT EXPERIENCE BUT I JUST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT LIKE THAT
THAT ANSWER. ALSO BE READ INTO THE RECORD. SO UM WE'RE GOING TO GO TO TRISTAN THOMAS. TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL TIFFANY CARGILL.
UM THE BOSTON CYCLISTS UNION BENJAMIN SIEGEL BOSTON BETTER STREETS COALITION THIS IS THE ORDER ELIJAH EVANS BIKE NOT BOMBS AND BRANDON KEARNEY WALK MASKS AND YOU'RE EACH GOING TO
HAVE TWO MINUTES. UM SO SO LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU WANT TO START AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU'RE WITH. ALL RIGHT, I'M READY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS TRISTAN THOMAS. I WORK AS DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND LAW FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. ALSO KNOWN AS ACE. ACE IS A MEMBER BASED. NONPROFIT THAT. >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS HAS SERVED BOSTON'S BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES. EVERY MONTH WE HOST A TRANSIT RIDERS UNION WHERE RESIDENTS IN BOSTON DEMAND EQUITABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. ACE IS ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL
COALITION, A DIVERSE COALITION OF MORE THAN 60 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, MOBILITY, JUSTICE AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE MBTA AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE SAFE, ROBUSTLY FUNDED AND AFFORDABLE
FOR EVERYONE IN THE REGION. I TESTIFY TODAY ON BEHALF OF ACE AND TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS WE'VE HEARD LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, A 30 DAY REVIEW WAS INITIATED. IN APRIL 2025 A MEMO WAS PUT OUT. YET HERE WE ARE IN APRIL OF 2026 AND WE STILL HAVE NOT
RECEIVED MEANINGFUL UPDATES OR TIMELINES FOR THESE CRITICAL PROJECTS. SO I'M HERE TO ASK THE SIMPLE AND URGENT QUESTION WHY THE DELAY WHILE WE WAIT? PEOPLE ARE DYING.
JUST LAST MONTH SOMEONE WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH IN OUR STREETS. THAT IS THE REAL COST OF INACTION. WE'RE NOT JUST LOSING LIVES. WE'RE LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING OR REALLOCATING FEDERAL FUNDING
WHETHER THAT'S $8 MILLION IN FENWAY, $20 MILLION IN ROXBURY MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE THREATS AROUND THE COLUMBUS AND BLUE HILL AVE PROJECTS. WE'RE NOT HERE TO ASSIGN BLAME. WE'RE HERE TO DEMAND
ACCOUNTABILITY. SO WE HAVE THREE DEMANDS ARTICULATE A CONCRETE PLAN AND TIMELINE FOR ADVANCING PROJECTS THAT HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING AT RISK. WE NEED CONCRETE DATES AND MILESTONES THAT WE CAN MEASURE
AGAINST ESTABLISHED CLEAR METRICS FOR EVALUATING THESE PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY METRICS AROUND SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF BUS SERVICE. AND THESE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT TO EVERYONE SO WE
CAN UNDERSTAND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE. SO THERE'S NOT ARBITRARY OR WORSE POLITICAL. FINALLY, WE NEED TO HAVE EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY UH PLANNERS WERE TOLD TO CANCEL MEETINGS WITH THE MBTA ON
COLUMBUS APP. UH AND I'LL JUST LIKE TO END AND SAY WE CANNOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER 30 DAY REVIEW. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY NOW SO LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DATES AND THOSE COMMITMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU TIFFANY. MORNING.
>> COUNCILOR DURKAN OR AFTERNOON I SHOULD SAY AT THIS POINT, UH, BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN PROMISED SAFER STREETS, ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT AND A CITY THAT MOVES FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD A
CAR. OUR REALITY IS A PATTERN OF STALLED PROJECTS WITHHELD UPDATES AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LEFT IN THE DARK. EVERY DAY OF INACTION IS A DAY
THAT FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS OR GET TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PROJECT . IT'S A DAY A CYCLIST IS ENDANGERED A DAY A DISABLED RESIDENT IS STRANDED.
WE ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO STOP TREATING TRANSPARENCY AS OPTIONAL AND START TREATING MOBILITY JUSTICE AS THE URGENT OBLIGATION THAT IT IS. WE KNOW WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY LOOKS LIKE.
WE SEE THE PROOF IN CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND PLACES RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON. PROTECTED BIKE LANES SAVE LIVES. BUS PRIORITY MOVES THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY.
ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE OPENS UP THE CITY TO EVERYONE. WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND WE HAVE THE FUNDING NOW WE NEED THE WILL AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON
BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE BOSTON CYCLISTS UNION IS HERE TO ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND STRONGLY URGE THE CITY TO DO THE WORK TO REBUILD TRUST WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES AND START A COLLABORATIVE PATH FORWARD. DO WE WANT A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE? BOSTON IS OVERDUE ON THAT PROMISE. THE PAUSE ON BOSTON'S
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IS A REGIONAL CRISIS WITH A PRICE TAG. SAFE STREETS CAN'T WAIT. AND FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT WAIT WHEN PROJECTS STALLED
DOLLARS ARE FORFEITED, OPPORTUNITIES ARE LOST IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED SAFE STREETS MOST ARE LEFT BEHIND THE LONGEST. BOSTON'S NEIGHBORS, ADVOCATES AND RIDERS DESERVE MORE THAN PROMISES.
RESIDENTS DESERVE A CITY THAT SHOWS UP, FOLLOWS THROUGH AND BUILDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES MOBILITY JUSTICE POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU, BENJAMIN SIEGEL.
BOSTON BETTER STREETS COALITION . IS NOT THERE. >> OKAY, I TAKE. HIS PLACE. I HAVE. TO. GET TO. >> WORK NEGOTIATE YOU BUT. I'M WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THIS ORDER. BUT I'M ELIJAH EVANS HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILORS AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ELIJAH EVANS AND I SERVE AS THE CEO OF BIKE STOMP BOMBS AND I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN. I BIKES NOT BOMBS. WE WORK TO DISMANTLE MOBILITY
APARTHEID BY ENSURING EVERY BOSTONIAN HAS ACCESS TO DIGNIFIED AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION. TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THIS CRISIS. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE DISPARITY THE PER CAPITA INCOME
IN OUR COMMUNITIES OUR CORE COMMUNITIES LIKE ROXBURY IS 21,000 MATTAPAN 28,000 IS FAR BELOW THE CITY'S AVERAGE OF 44,000. THIS IS WHY RESIDENTS
DISPROPORTIONATELY RELY ON PUBLIC AND MICROMOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR. WE'RE DEEPLY. CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE CONTINUED PAUSE ON ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS. WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE RIDING MY BIKE FROM GROVE HALL TO UMASS BOSTON, THE LACK OF DEDICATED LANES ON STREETS LIKE COLUMBIA
ROAD MADE THE TRIP TERRIFYING A CONSTANT HIGH STAKES GAME OF AVOIDANCE. THAT STRESS AND DANGER IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING TO ELIMINATE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PAUSE
ARE MEASURED IN CRASHES, NOT QUARTERLY REPORTS. FOR INSTANCE, THE HYDE PARK AVENUE CORRIDOR A HIGH CRASH AREA SAW OVER 30 CAR ACCIDENTS AND NEARLY TEN PEDESTRIAN
INCIDENTS IN 2025 ALONE. THE BLUE HILL AVENUE REDESIGN, WHICH SERVES A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS, IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT MUST BE UNPAUSED IMMEDIATELY.
THIS ISN'T JUST PAINTING LINES. IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING SAFE AND PROTECTED INFRASTRUCTURE ALONGSIDE THE PLANNED CENTER RUNNING BUS LANE WHICH I SUPPORT BIKES UP ARM SUPPORTS
ENSURING ALL COMMUTERS CAN COMMUTE WITHOUT FEAR. OUR ADVOCACY ISN'T JUST TOP DOWN. OUR YOUTH APPRENTICES WHO SERVE AS LEADERS TODAY AND REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY ARE
ALREADY LEADING CHANGE BY TESTIFYING AND CO-CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR SAFER STREETS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. COUNCILORS WE ASK FOR TWO THINGS FIRST, I'M PROVIDING IMMEDIATE TRANSPARENCY AND A PATH FORWARD ON ALL POD
PROJECTS. SECOND, COMMIT TO PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN PROTECTED MICROMOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS ACTION WILL SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND FINALLY BUILD THE
SAFE AND INTERNET INTERCONNECTED BOSTON OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM BRENDAN KEARNEY ROCK MASS. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
SORRY JUST TO GIVE A HEADS UP. REGGIE RAMOS WILL BE AFTER THAT. GREAT. >> MY NAME IS BRENNAN CARNEY. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WALK MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE PEDESTRIAN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1990 AS WALK BOSTON. THANKS FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY.
SINCE 2015 VISION ZERO AND THE OVERARCHING GOAL BOSTON 2030 EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MAJOR GUIDEPOSTS FOR POLICY PRIORITIES RELATED TO SAFETY AND MOBILITY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE 30 DAY REVIEW PAUSE THREW A BIT OF A WRENCH IN THOSE.
STAFFING CHANGES. CHALLENGING FUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND RISING COSTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL HAVE ADDED A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. GO BOSTON 2030 WAS ONCE A LONG RANGE PLAN OF PROJECTS 2030 NOW SHOWS UP IN THE FIVE YEAR BUDGETS.
THERE'S A NEED FOR A RESET AND RECOMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND MOBILITY PRIORITIES FOR THE YEARS AHEAD. LET THE TALENTED STAFF ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR DO THE WORK TO PLAN SAFER STREETS. YOU'VE HEARD AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT MANY PROJECTS. I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF SPEED HUMPS. THEY WERE FIRST PILOTED THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD SLOW STREETS STARTING IN 2018, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE IF THEY CAN SLOW DOWN EXCESSIVE SPEEDERS. THE PILOT WAS A SUCCESS, A ROUSING SUCCESS AND LEARNINGS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SLOW STREETS
WERE INCORPORATED INTO WIDER TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAMS AS THE SAFETY SURGE IN FALL 2013 2023 SPEED HUMPS WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE A TOOL THAT PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS COULD USE BEYOND THE ZONES FOR TRAFFIC CALMING.
I PROUDLY STOOD ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCILORS AND STAFF WHEN THE SAFETY SURGE WAS ANNOUNCED. THERE WAS A GOAL OF 500 SPEED HUMPS PER YEAR. STREETSBLOG REPORTED MORE THAN 600 WERE ADDED IN 2024 BUT JUST A HANDFUL LAST YEAR.
IT REALLY IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE THIS SAFETY WORK STALLED SINCE BOSTON REALLY HAS BEEN A LEADER ON THIS. THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS SINCE 2015. FOLLOWING BOSTON'S LEAD TO IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN VISION ZERO
TRAFFIC CALMING EFFORTS. A SAFER BOSTON MEANS A SAFER MASSACHUSETTS. INJURY CRASHES INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS ROSE AGAIN LAST YEAR IN BOSTON TO 571, WITH AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR
LIVES WITH VEHICLES ON OUR STREETS LARGER THAN EVER BEFORE. WE NEED A RECOMMITMENT TO THAT VISION ZERO AS A PRIORITY IN BOSTON. I'M HOPEFUL SPEED HUMP PROGRAM CAN GET BACK TO WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE A WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PUBLIC WORKS AS
NORMAL ROAD RESURFACING EFFORTS AS A CHANCE TO ADD 24 OVER SEVEN TRAFFIC CALMING SINCE OTHERWISE SPEEDERS WILL GO EVEN FASTER ON NEWLY PAVED STREETS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU BRADLEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS REGGIE RAMOS. I AM THE. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS. I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON AND AS
WELL AS THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE SHOWING UP TODAY. I WANT I HAD A PREPARED, UH, COMMENT BUT I'M GOING OFF SCRIPT JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK PLAINLY BECAUSE
PLATITUDES AND REFRAINS LIKE WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS AND WE WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE WILL NO LONGER DO. WHAT IT HAS DONE IS MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN PLACE.
ONE OF THE. THINGS THAT I HEARD TODAY WAS NOTHING IS ON PAUSE. THAT IS I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING MORE INACCURATE AND DISINGENUOUS THAN THAT.
LET'S TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE BOYLSTON FENWAY PROJECT. WELL, WE CAN SAY THAT IT HAD BEEN FUNDING FOR THAT. THE 8 MILLION HAD BEEN FUNDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 31.
THIS IS $8 MILLION WE COULD HAVE USED TODAY BUT BECAUSE BOSTON DID NOT BECAUSE THE CITY OF BOSTON DID NOT SUBMIT A 25% DESIGN TO MASSDOT, THAT MONEY
IS PLANTED FIVE YEARS FROM NOW IN TRANSPORTATION AS I'M SURE THE PANEL KNOWS AND THIS AUGUST BODY KNOWS THERE IS SUCH A THING AS WE CALL TRANSPORTATION COST OVERRUNS FOR A PROJECT
THAT COST 5 MILLION TODAY WILL NOT COST US 5,000,005 YEARS HENCE. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT WE WANT TO ASK FOR THIS TO THIS COMMITTEE. I SINCERELY ASK THIS COMMITTEE
TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME BACK. THERE ARE MILESTONES THAT ARE HINGED ON US AVAILING OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE NEED. THEY NEED TO COME BACK WITH UPDATES.
WE HAVE BEEN CHASING THE CITY FOR UPDATES AND WHAT WE GET ARE PLATITUDES LIKE WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING IT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT'S BEEN LOST. COME ON LET'S GET REAL.
16 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PASSED AND WE NEED THE CITY TO GET ON A MOVE ON THEM TODAY. THANK YOU REGGIE, BUT ZACH I'LL COME. JOEY Z SORRY.
ZELDIN AND ALEX. ALEX. HELLO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MICHELLE GALCHEN. I LIVE WITH MY TWIN EIGHT YEAR OLDS IN ROSLINDALE. LET ME START. BY SAYING THIS I. CANNOT AFFORD TO BE HERE RIGHT
NOW. IT'S A WORK DAY AND MY KIDS ARE IN ON SPRING BREAK YET I AM HERE BECAUSE I FEAR THAT MY VOICE OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD. I'M ONE OF MANY PARENTS WHO
CAN'T BE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE CHOSEN BOSTON'S TRANSIT RICH NEIGHBORS TO RAISE OUR KIDS. MANY OF US CAN'T AFFORD A CAR ON TOP OF OUR RENT OR OUR MORTGAGE. THE SAD THING IS THESE SO-CALLED WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T REALLY SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS. WE HAVE TO PLAY FROGGER ACROSS ONE WAY SPEED TUNNELS, WIDE LANED CARS, SEWERS AND CAR CENTRIC INTERSECTIONS ON A DAILY BASIS TO WALK OR BIKE TO
SCHOOL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW THAT I MIGHT BE SPEAKING TO THE QUIET HERE. YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE WE'VE DISCUSSED
THESE SOLUTIONS AT YOUR PLANNING WORKSHOPS AND YOU WROTE THEM DOWN IN YOUR PLANS. WHAT KILLS US IS THAT YOU WON'T TAKE ACTION. IN MY FIVE YEARS IN ROSLINDALE
I HAVE SEEN SPEEDING CARS CRASH AND TURN OVER ON RESIDENTIAL SIDEWALKS. I'VE SEEN THEM CRASH INTO OUR BELOVED VILLAGE MONUMENT AND EVEN TAKE A BUILDING FACADE DOWN IN DALE VILLAGE.
WHEN AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WHEN ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN GETS HURT. PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT ONLY BLAME THOSE SPEEDING DRIVERS, WE WILL ALSO BLAME THE CITY STAFF WHO DESIGN THESE
STREETS FOR SPEED AND THE CITY LEADERSHIP WHO REFUSE TO SPEND OUR TAX MONEY TO REDESIGN THEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO WALK, WHO BIKE AND TAKE TRANSIT . WE CAN'T HAVE BOTH SPEED AND
SAFETY BECAUSE SPEED KILLS IF I'M HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING AT 20MPH, MY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL IS 80% AT 40MPH MY THE CHANCE
OF ME DYING IS 80%. SO WE DEMAND ACTION NOW. IT IS TIME THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON PUTS ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS AND BUILD A GREAT CITY THAT CLAIMS TO BE STARTING WITH ITS PUBLIC STREETS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, JOEY Z ZELDIN. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY OR GOOD AFTERNOON. >> I SHOULD SAY. UM MY NAME IS JOEY. ZELDIN AND I'M A RESIDENT BRIGHTON. UM, I'M CURRENTLY A GRAD
STUDENT AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND RIGHT AFTER THIS I'LL ACTUALLY BE GIVING MY FINAL PRESENTATION. UM, REGARDING, UH, CLEVELAND CIRCLE AND RESERVOIR STATIONS. GOOD LUCK. UM. WITH THAT GOOD LUCK. I THANK YOU.
UM, BUT AND IT'S APPROPRIATE TIMING BECAUSE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS FINAL PROJECT THAT I'M GIVING IS LITERALLY GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS DO, UM, IN ORDER TO
INCORPORATE MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS. UM, NONE OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TODAY COULD ACTUALLY FEASIBLY HAPPEN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE HOLD UPS HAPPENING WITH THE UM,
THE THE PROJECTS AND THE DELAYS . >> IN THE BUDGET. THE MORE URGENT MATTER AT HAND RIGHT NOW IS THAT IF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND FUNDING ARE NOT UTILIZED AND HANDLED APPROPRIATELY, OUR COMMUNITIES CANNOT THRIVE.
I'VE ONLY LIVED IN BOSTON FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS NOW, AND ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT OBSERVATIONS THAT I HAVE MADE IS THAT A LOT OF THE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IN URGENT DISREPAIR.
IN FACT. ALONG THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE CONSISTING OF KNOWN PHANTOM ROAD SOLDIERS FIELD ROAD AND NORTH BEACON STREET THAT I WALK ALONG REGULARLY. I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE SIDEWALKS WOULD BE UM, HORRIBLE
CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS OR OTHER IMPAIRMENTS TO WALK ON AND I MYSELF AM ABLE BODIED. AND SO I I THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN I'M SAYING THIS.
UM THERE ARE ALSO SIGNALS UM THAT THAT AREN'T THERE AND EVEN MORE SO I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE $8 MILLION THAT WAS LET GO TO WASTE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IN THIS POLITICAL
CLIMATE, WASTING $8 MILLION. IN FEDERAL FUNDING IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN JUST SIMPLY TAKE LIGHTLY. UM, THIS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY. HOSTILE TOWARDS. URBAN GOVERNMENTS AND BY
WASTING THAT MONEY UM, THAT WILL NOW MOST LIKELY HAVE TO COME FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON OR SOME OTHER. >> SOURCE. OF FUNDING AND LIKE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHOSE NAME I CAN'T REMEMBER UNFORTUNATELY HAD SAID UM, THAT FUNDING WILL NOW INCREASE.
UM AND THAT TAKES AWAY FROM OTHER PROJECTS. SO UM THANK YOU. >> SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND PLEASE LET'S GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM ALEX. ALEX. MY NAME IS ALEX.
I FIRST TESTIFIED. BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE OCTOBER. >> 6TH HYDE PARK HEARING WHERE THE CITY GOVERNMENT WAS COLLECTING COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE DECISION TO RESTART SIX YEARS OF OUTREACH AND PLANNING UPDATES. I HIGHLIGHTED THE CONTRADICTION
OF COUNCILOR DURKIN'S WARNING THAT WE HAD LIMITED FUNDS WITH THE EXORBITANT COSTS OF MAINTAINING CAR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY, THROWING AWAY YEARS OF PLANS AND LABOR. I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT HOW I DOCUMENT THE DYSFUNCTION. >> OF BOSTON ROAD PUBLISHED TO SOCIAL MEDIA. AS WELL. >> AS TAKE. DAMAGE TO TRAFFIC DEVICES TO
CITY HALL. I GAVE THE COUNCIL A POLICY SHEET ON STREET DESIGN. I'M GOING TO REITERATE SOME OF THOSE POINTS RIGHT NOW. RAISED CROSSWALKS AND SIDEWALK LEVEL ACTING AS SPEED BUMPS. ADDRESSING CURB FLOODING AND MISMATCHED CURB CUTS AND
SIDEWALKS AS AN ADDED BENEFIT. UH DRIVERS ARE CONDITIONED TO RESPECT NON RACE CROSSWALKS AND NOT BLOCK INTERSECTIONS. CREATE A BOUNTY PROGRAM FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND A FINING SCHEME THAT DOUBLES PER SUBSEQUENT INFRACTION. COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO
CANNOT PAY THESE FINES AND BOUNTIES CAN GO INTO A FUND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY UPDATES TO RANDOMIZE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PUSH IS COORDINATED BETWEEN BPD AND BTP AND STATE AGENCIES CREATE A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT ON BIKES TO GENERATE REVENUE CUT COSTS AS I
HAVE DEMONSTRATED FOR A FULL YEAR NOW HOW EFFECTIVE THE MODEL IS. MY COUNCILOR FITZGERALD TOLD ME IT WAS A TOUGH AS TO EXPECT AN OVERBURDENED POLICE FORCE TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS. I THINK THE STATEMENT IS UNREASONABLE WHEN CARS DOUBLE PARKED FIVE FEET AWAY FROM COPS
WHO DO NOTHING OR WHEN THE CITY CAN SEND 12 COPS CONFRONT ME FOR BRINGING LITTER TO CITY HALL. THE CITY SHOULD CREATE A RAPID BUS AND A MASS NETWORK ALONG WITH MICROMOBILITY NETWORK TO SEPARATE FUNCTIONAL TRANSIT FROM CARS. SCHOOL BUSSES CAN USE THESE
NETWORKS AND ALONG WITH A BIKE TO SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR DPS. THESE POLICIES CAN SLASH NEARLY 200 MILLION PERSON BUDGET. I HAVE JUST POSTED A VIDEO ON INSTAGRAM DOCUMENTING HOW BUSSES ARE PACKED UP AND CONGESTED ALONG MAJOR BUS WAYS ,ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES
LIKE DORCHESTER AND ROXBURY WHERE THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THE CITY HOLDS NEIGHBORHOODS HOSTAGE. SCHOOL KIDS ARE SCARED BY PACK BUSSES, PEDESTRIANS OR PEDESTRIANS WITH THE LIGHT OR MENACE BY DRIVERS. SENIORS HAVE TO WALK INTO THE ROAD BECAUSE CARS ARE IN THE
BUS STOPS AND BUSSES ON THE SAME ROUTE WIND UP RIGHT BEHIND EACH OTHER RATHER THAN FULLY COMPLETING THE BUS. THE BOYLSTON STREET BUS LANE AS A GREEN LINE SEES REPEATED SHUTDOWNS SUCH AS THOSE HAPPENING THIS WEEK. UH, THIS ADMINISTRATION GOT RID
OF IT IN FAVOR OF PARKING. I SEE DOUBLE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF BOYLSTON STREET WITH NO ENFORCEMENT AS POLICE LOITERING NEARBY AND BUSSES WEAVE IN TRAFFIC. AGAIN THIS FOOTAGE IS VISIBLE ON THE VIDEO I JUST POSTED AND HAD TO CANCEL IT. FINALLY THE CITY MUST PURSUE CONGESTION PRICING.
I WAS IN THE STATEHOUSE YESTERDAY RAISING THE IDEA TO VARIOUS LEGISLATORS USING THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE ON THE SIDE OF 93 TO SHOW A CAR WORSHIP ATTACKS ARE. MULTIPLE FRONTS. THANK YOU. OKAY, JOHN SAYLOR AND I AM
TRYING TO GET THROUGH THIS FIRST PAGE BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE FIVE PAGES OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY . SO I JUST WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO JUST DO A COUPLE MORE OF THESE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A SECOND ROUND.
SO JOHN SAYLOR, COLLEEN MAHONEY AND MONICA ALVAREZ. OKAY GO AHEAD. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JOHN SAYLOR. I'M A JAMAICA. PLAIN RESIDENT AND
COUNCILOR WEBBER'S DISTRICT. UM I. >> LIVE ON BOYNTON STREET, WHICH IS THE STREET THAT SEES A LOT OF FAST TRAFFIC IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF, UH, SPEED HUMPS. UH, IT HAS A PLAYGROUND ON IT. UM, LIKE OTHER COMMENTERS, I'M
TAKING TIME OUT OF WORK TO BE HERE, UM, FOR MY OWN BENEFIT FOR MY 11 MONTH OLD SON, FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE HERE. TO. >> UH, EXPRESS. A LOT OF SURPRISE ABOUT THE
NEWS ABOUT THE 30 MONTH PLAN OR SORRY, 30 DAY REVIEW PLAN. UM, I THINK THIS IS MAYBE AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION FOR AN
ADMINISTRATION WHEN A LANDSLIDE ELECTION LIKE THIS AND IMMEDIATELY ADOPT. UH, THE. POLICIES OF OF THEIR OPPONENT. UM. >> THAT IS FRANKLY QUITE SURPRISING.
UM. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE, UH, COUNCIL TO PRESS THE CITY ON THE REASON THE RATIONALE UNDERLYING THIS
CHANGED APPROACH. UM, AS. UH DIRECTOR GOVE SAID. UM, THE. SPEED HUMP PROGRAM HAD. AND I'M.
PARAPHRASING YOU BUT HAD NO INSTANCES OF MISPLACED SPEED BUMPS. OF THEIR REVIEW DID NOT FIND ANY INSTANCE WHERE A SPEED BUMP WAS INCORRECTLY PLACED. THE WORST THEY COULD SAY IS
THAT CERTAIN STREETS GOT. SPEED BUMPS BEFORE OTHER STREETS THAT HAD HIGHER PRIORITIES AND THE ABSENCE OF ANY EMPIRICAL DATA TO
SUPPORT THE CHANGE IS UH IT'S KIND OF SURPRISING TO ME. UM. >> AND I THINK THE COUNCIL. >> SHOULD. PRESS UH, THE CITY ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, COLLEEN MAHONEY.
COLIN. SORRY. IT'S OKAY. UM, MY NAME IS COLIN MAHONEY. I'M A RESIDENT OF JACKSON SQUARE. AS A. >> BOSTON RESIDENT, I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE ACCESS. >> TO THE. ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSIT AND BIKESHARE NETWORKS WE HAVE. BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS.
I CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE. >> A CAR SAVING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH I CAN INSTEAD SPEND IN MY COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY I'VE. >> BEEN DISHEARTENED BY THE INACTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THE. REMOVAL OF SEVERAL BUS LANES LAST YEAR AND REPORTING. >> FROM STREETSBLOG. MASSACHUSETTS THAT CITY
OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO STOP COMMUNICATING WITH THE MBTA ON CERTAIN PROJECTS WITHOUT DIRECT APPROVAL FROM ABOVE. PERHAPS MOST FRUSTRATINGLY IS THE APPARENT HALTING OF THE BLUE HILL AVENUE PROJECT. I VISIT THE MATTAPAN HEALTH
CENTER FOR HEALTH VISITS AND HAVE BEEN APPALLED AT THE CONDITIONS FOR TRANSIT AND PEDESTRIANS COMING FROM. >> WHERE. I LIVE NEAR COLUMBUS AVE WHERE BUS INFRASTRUCTURE CREATES SAFETY ISLANDS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CREATES A VISUAL SIGNAL TO
CARS TO SLOW DOWN. IT'S A COMPLETE 180 LOUISVILLE AVE IS A SIX LANE WIDE OPEN ROAD THAT'S DESIGNED LIKE A HIGHWAY, UH, WHERE DRIVERS ARE RECKLESS, PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS VIRTUALLY UNUSABLE AND THE AIR QUALITY IS
POOR. FROM IDLING VEHICLES, BUSSES GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC SLOWING THEM DOWN NOT JUST FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO USE THEM IN MATTAPAN AND DORCHESTER, BUT FOR THOSE WHO USE THE SAME ROUTES FURTHER DOWN THE LINE IN ROXBURY,
JAMAICA PLAIN, ROSLINDALE, FENWAY AND MISSION HILL. THIS PROMPTS MORE PEOPLE TO LOOK TO A CAR TO GET AROUND THE CITY, WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. THE FOUR MILE TRIP FROM MY. >> HOME. TO MATTAPAN SQUARE IS NEARLY 45 MINUTES.
THAT'S NEARLY AN HOUR AND A HALF TO. GO ROUND TRIP TO A RESTAURANT IN MATTAPAN. I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO MAKE THAT 15 MINUTE DRIVE, AND I WOULD FEAR FOR MY LIFE ON A BIKE WITH THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION. STREETSBLOG MASSACHUSETTS ALSO
RECENTLY REPORTED ON AN INTERNAL CITY POLL THAT SHOWED PLURALITY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN A CITY POWER POINT ON THE GO BOSTON 2030 PROJECT, THE
CITY REPORTED THAT 34% OF PEOPLE TRAVEL BY TRANSIT AND BIKING AND WALKING MAKES UP ANOTHER 16% FOR HALF OF OUR CITY. KNOWING THIS, INSTEAD OF RETURNING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAYOR, WE
SHOULD FOCUS ON INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, RESUME THE BLUE HILL PROJECT, RESTART REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE MBTA AND CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR TRANSIT AND BIKE PRIORITY PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
THANK YOU MONICA DELORES. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CREATE KADE CROCKFORD. IS MONICA HERE? OKAY I GUESS WE'LL JUST GO TO KADE CROCKFORD.
THANKS, CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KADE. I LIVE IN DORCHESTER. UM I WANT TO MAKE, UH, A NUMBER OF POINTS. NUMBER ONE. UM, SAFE STREETS ARE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE VPD IS NOT GOING TO. ENFORCE THE.
>> TRAFFIC LAWS OF THE CITY. SO LET'S STOP JOKING AND KIDDING OURSELVES. AND FRANKLY, IT IS HONESTLY PREFERABLE. THAT THEY DON'T. UH WE DON'T WANT COPS PULLING MORE PEOPLE OVER AND ENGAGING IN MORE UNNECESSARY
INTERACTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. WE NEED TO REDESIGN THE STREETS OF OUR CITY. OKAY? THAT IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. NUMBER TWO SAFE STREETS ARE A
RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUE. I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN MORE. WE'VE HEARD FROM ACE. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH WE'VE HEARD FROM BIKES NOT BOMBS. I LIVE IN DORCHESTER RIGHT OFF BLUE HILL AVE.
I RIDE THE 28 BUS EVERY SINGLE DAY. COUNCILOR CULPEPER, YOU ARE MY COUNCILOR AND I HAVE HEARD COUNCILORS SAY NOBODY RIDES THE BUS. LOTS OF PEOPLE RIDE THE BUS.
I RIDE THE BUS EVERY DAY. THAT IS HOW I GET TO WORK. THAT IS HOW MANY MANY PEOPLE GET TO WORK. IT IS HOW WORKING CLASS PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS CITY GET TO WORK. I AM ALWAYS. >> THE.
ONLY WHITE PERSON ON THE BUS JUST TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT WHO RIDES THE BUS IN THIS CITY . AND YOU KNOW I ALSO WANT TO. >> TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU KNOW, OH PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSE THE BLUE LAB PROJECT. THAT IS NOT TRUE. PEOPLE ARE SPLIT. IT IS A GENUINE DISAGREEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT PROJECT. YOU KNOW WHO SUPPORTS IT THOUGH?
YOUNG PEOPLE, THE. FUTURE OF THIS CITY AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. SO YOU KNOW WE'VE HEARD YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY. I WANT TO MAKE TWO MORE POINTS. ONE, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO EUROPE TO EXPERIENCE SAFE
STREETS. WE CAN BUILD THEM RIGHT HERE AND WE MUST UM I SUPPORT THE BLUE HILL PROJECT. IF WE GIVE $150 MILLION BACK TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, IT WILL BE A STAIN THAT WILL NOT
BE ERASED FROM ANY OF THE DECISION MAKERS IN THE CITY WHO ARE INVOLVED. AND MY FINAL POINT IS PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT TRAFFIC IF YOU DRIVE. YOU ARE TRAFFIC. THE ONLY.
WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE TRAFFIC IN THIS CITY IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS. PERIOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, JAYLEN. MOVE. >> CAT RAT ASK SORRY AND COLE
LEWIS AND THEN MAHALO UH ASLAM AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO UM COUNCILORS. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FOLLOW THAT. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. UM, HI.
MY NAME. IS GALEN MUSEUM. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. >> OF. THE MASTERS BICYCLE COALITION WHERE A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION . >> BUT I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND I'VE LIVED IN THE. CITY OF. AUSTIN SINCE 2003. SO I'VE. >> BEEN AROUND SINCE. BEFORE WE HAD BIKE LANES. UM, I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A
MAYOR WHO IN 2009 AFTER THE. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST BIKE. LANE SAID. >> THE CAR. IS NO. >> LONGER KING MAYOR BUT YOU KNOW STOOD THERE AND SAID THAT TO THE POPULACE IT WAS NOT POPULAR. NOBODY REALLY WAS PUSHING FOR THAT BIKE LANE WHO ARE CONSTITUENTS. IT WENT THROUGH A COLLEGE.
CAMPUS WHO WERE NONVOTERS. BUT YET WE HAD LEADERSHIP FROM THE. TOP WHO SAID WE MUST HAVE A PROGRESSIVE CITY IF WE'RE GOING. >> TO. MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE HE SAW AS WE ALL DO THE. EXISTENTIAL PROBLEMS. >> THAT WE SEE IN TERMS OF CONGESTION AND GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS THAT IS CHOKING OUR CITY AND KEEPING US FROM MOVING FORWARD. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP. UM, I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CITY SIGN ON DIVISION ZERO TO PUSH FORWARD WITH COMPLETE STREETS TO MOVE AHEAD. IN SOME OF THE MOST.
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND NOW WE ARE SEEING. >> AN ADMINISTRATION SLIP BACK ON ALL OF THOSE. WHAT WE ARE HEARING TODAY AND I. REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK FROM. BTD AND DPW, BUT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY IS BITS AND
PIECES OF PROJECTS. NOT VISION. WHAT WE ARE SEEKING. >> IS AN ACTUAL PROCESS. OF HOW. CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE. FORWARD THINKING NATURE OF. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THIS ADMINISTRATION? WE HAVE A MANDATE OF FOUR MORE YEARS WHICH SHOULD LET US.
GO INTO THE FUTURE. UM TRANSPORTATION HITS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION HITS CLIMATE, TRANSPORTATION HITS AFFORDABILITY. >> YOU ALL KNOW THIS. IT'S NOT ABOUT A POTHOLE. IT'S NOT ABOUT A BIKE LANE. IT IS ABOUT A VISION OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE CITY. SO QUICK. RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I MAY
HAVE. UM, I BELIEVE. >> THAT. THE COUNCIL CAN HELP. HERE. >> BUT THE ADMINISTRATION. SHOULD CALL. >> FOR AN. >> ADVISORY BOARD. THAT HELPS YOUR. TEAM DO ITS WORK. OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT MAYOR MENINO WAS ABLE. >> TO DO UNDER THE BIKE CZAR WITH MICHAEL FRIEDMAN. AND WE MOVED AMAZINGLY FAST AND
FORWARD. >> AND THAT PROGRESS. UM. >> I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO INFLUENCE THE SYSTEMIC. STRUCTURE OF CITY HALL WITH THIS ADVISORY. BOARD AND. >> IT SHOULD. >> INCLUDE MORE THAN JUST BIKERS OBVIOUSLY. EVERYBODY WHO DEPENDS ON THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE. >> NEED TO HAVE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY OF NOT JUST. TRANSPORTATION GOALS BUT HOW. TRANSPORTATION HITS OUR. CLIMATE GOALS. HOW IT HITS OUR SAFETY GOALS, HOW. >> HITS. ARE MODE. SHIFT GOALS, HOW IT HITS OUR. HOUSING GOALS. SO THIS IS. >> NOT. JUST A TRANSPORTATION HEARING. THIS IS A HOW ARE WE GOING TO
BE A PROGRESSIVE CITY HEARING. SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HOLDING IT HERE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. THEY COULD SHARE AND I APPRECIATE THE. >> WORK. CARRIED ESSEK AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COLE LEWIS AND THEN MARCUS UM. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU
FOR THE. OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS KATERINA TORRES. I'M A JP. RESIDENT AND I'M SPEAKING ON. BEHALF OF SHARED SPACES. >> A COALITION OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE BOSTON CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE RIDERS TRANSPORTATION. ACCESS GROUP, TRANSPORTATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS. WALK MASKS. BOSTON CYCLISTS UNION AND MASS BIKE. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON IMPROVING SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN
SHARED PUBLIC SPACES, ESPECIALLY. FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN NOVEMBER WE ORGANIZED A SITE VISIT ALONG HYDE PARK AVENUE WITH RESIDENTS, CITY STAFF AND COUNCILORS PÉPIN AND WORRELL TO BETTER UNDERSTAND REAL WORLD
CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND. WHAT WE SAW WAS DEEPLY CONCERNING. TRAFFIC SPEEDS REGULARLY. EXCEEDED THE POSTED 30MPH WITH SOME VEHICLES TRAVELING. OVER 40. THE ROADS WIDE MULTI-LANE
DESIGN ENCOURAGES SPEEDING AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING WHAT'S KNOWN AS A DOUBLE THREAT WHEN ONE CAR STOPS FOR A PEDESTRIAN BUT ANOTHER CAR SPEEDS PAST, PUTTING THAT PERSON AT SERIOUS RISK.
CROSSINGS ARE INCOMPLETE OR UNSAFE. SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS LACK BASIC ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES LIKE DETECTABLE. WARNING STRIPS AT KEY INTERSECTIONS, PARKED CARS BLACK VISIBILITY FORCING
PEDESTRIANS TO STEP INTO TRAFFIC JUST TO SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES. THERE ARE NO ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS AT SEVERAL CROSSINGS FOR CYCLISTS. THERE ARE NO BIKE LANES PUSHING PEOPLE ONTO SIDEWALKS AND CREATING CONFLICTS WITH
PEDESTRIANS. BUS STOPS ARE ALSO INACCESSIBLE ,SOMETIMES REQUIRING MULTIPLE CROSSINGS JUST TO REACH THEM SAFELY SAFELY. WE ALSO ATTEMPTED A FOLLOW UP VISIT TO HYDE PARK AVENUE AFTER A SNOWSTORM WITH A WHEELCHAIR
USER AND A DEAF BLIND PARTICIPANT. THEY COULD NOT ATTEND BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS WERE NOT CLEARED. THIS IS THE REALITY MANY RESIDENTS FACE. THIS CORRIDOR DOES NOT WORK FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, TRANSIT RIDERS OR DRIVERS.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY PAUSED AND UNDER EVALUATION ALONGSIDE THREE OTHERS AND FOUR MORE HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CAPITAL PLAN. MEANWHILE, HYDE PARK AVE IS NOT UNIQUE. ACROSS THE CITY. ,PEOPLE WITH. >> DISABILITIES, PEDESTRIANS,
CYCLISTS AND TRANSIT RIDERS ARE NAVIGATING STREETS WHERE THEY FEEL AND ARE UNSAFE EVERY DAY. WHILE LONG TERM REDESIGN IS ESSENTIAL. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT IMMEDIATE LOW COST INTERVENTIONS ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT REDUCE SPEEDS CAN SAVE LIVES RIGHT NOW. I URGE YOU TO MOVE HYDE PARK AVE AND OTHER PROJECTS FORWARD, PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND WORK WITH US TO DELIVER TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS. THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE PRINTED COPIES
OF OUR HYDE PARK AVE SITE VISIT FOR EVERYONE BUT I. WANT TO LEAVE THEM RIGHT THERE. WE CAN GET THEM. OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY COLE LEWIS, MAHA ISLAM AND I'M SORRY IF I GET MORE CRAZY ABOUT CUTTING PEOPLE OFF.
IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIST OF LIKE THREE MORE THREE MORE PAGES. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CONSISTENT. GO AHEAD. UH. >> THANK YOU TO THE. COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PUBLIC. COMMENTS TODAY. MY NAME IS COLE LEWIS. I'M HERE REPRESENTING. TRANSIT MATTERS. FOR A NONPROFIT.
THAT ADVOCATES FOR BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND MOBILITY. >> FOR BOSTON. AREA RESIDENTS. UM. >> I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE CITY. >> OF BOSTON'S. INACTION ON 16 STREETS PROJECTS CURRENTLY ON THE CITY'S CAPITAL PLAN UM PROJECTS THAT IF
COMPLETED WOULD HAVE A MASSIVE. IMPACT ON. BOSTONIANS SAFETY. AND MOBILITY. UM IT'S BEEN ENCOURAGING TO SEE PROGRESS ON THE RUTHERFORD AB REDESIGN AND FOUR. POINT SAFETY. IMPROVEMENTS IN. >> THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND WE'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE
CITY FOR THEIR WORK ON THOSE PLANS. WHILE CALLING ON THE CITY HALL TO PUSH FORWARD OTHER PROJECTS ACROSS BOSTON. ACROSS THESE PROJECTS, THERE'S BEEN A. NOTABLE LACK OF. TRANSPARENCY FROM BPD. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN.
COMPLETELY IN THE DARK ABOUT WHERE PROJECTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE GONE. WE'RE HERE TO ASK THE STREETS CABINET GIVE REAL UPDATES ON THESE STALLED PLANS. PROJECTS LIKE PHASE TWO OF THE COLUMBUS AFTER A MONTH STREET REDESIGN WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO
GO TO BID FOR CONTRACTOR IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ON PAUSE WITH NO EXPLANATION. IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST MONTHS THAT CHIEF GOVE ADDRESSED IT, CALLING FOR MAJOR DESIGN CHANGES. IN A LETTER TO THE MBTA UM ON
MANY OF THESE PROJECTS, BOSTON HAS BEEN GRANTED LARGE SUMS OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO MAKE BUS RIDERS COMMUTES MORE RELIABLE AND MAKE THE CITY STREETS SAFER. UH, HOLDING UP THESE PROJECTS PUT THEIR FUNDING AT RISK MONEY
WHICH THE PROJECT WHICH THE CITY MAY NOT GET BACK FOR DECADES. FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLANS IN BOTH ROSLINDALE AND MAVERICK SQUARE ARE FUNDED BY FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS THAT EXPIRE THIS YEAR.
BUT THE CITY HAS YET TO PUT OUT A REAL PLAN FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN. LASTLY, THE LACK OF LACK OF CONSENSUS HAS CONTINUALLY BEEN USED TO EXPLAIN DELAYS IN THESE PROJECTS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON THESE PROJECTS BUT UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A PROJECT LIKE THIS BUT IT CANNOT BE USED AS A REASON TO PAUSE PROJECTS INDEFINITELY OR TO LOSE FUNDING ENGAGING RESIDENTS AND ASKING FOR THEIR FEEDBACK JUST TO
DISAPPEAR AND NOT TAKE THAT FEEDBACK LOSES TRUST. WE NEED A CONCRETE PLAN ABOUT WHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WILL RESUME ON COLUMBUS AVE, HYDE PARK AVE, ROSLINDALE AND MAVERICK SQUARE, BLUE HILL AVE
AND BOYLSTON STREET JUST TO NAME A FEW. >> THANK YOU. MAHA ISLAM. HI THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UH MY NAME IS MAHA. I REPRESENT THE WALL STREET ALLIANCE.
UM I'M GOING TO UH A LOT HAS BEEN SAID SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ALL THE THINGS AMAZINGLY PEOPLE HAVE SAID. UH, WHAT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON IS I KNOW THANK YOU, CHIEF HALL, FOR YOUR VISION. UH, THOSE TYPES ARE REALLY
HELPFUL. AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT DATA AND VISION AND I THINK TALKING ABOUT THAT LET'S TALK ABOUT VISION ZERO WEBSITE . UM, CURRENTLY IT ONLY HAS DATA
TILL DECEMBER 2025. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND WE'RE TALK ABOUT VISION. WE SHOULD GET A MORE RECENT UPDATE ON THAT. HIGH CRASH NETWORK DATA IS TRAIN 21 AND HIGH CRASH
INTERSECTION IS 2017. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VISION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA. THESE ARE SOME BASIC THINGS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE LIKE YOU KNOW AS WE GOT A PRESS RELEASE
TODAY THERE'S MOVEMENT AROUND LIKE PROJECTS AND VISION. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE BASIC THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LIKE YOU KNOW UPDATE AND THEN MOVE ON TO THOSE BIGGER VISIONS OF HOW TO GET STUFF DONE.
AND PREVIOUSLY WE HAD GO BOSTON 2030. SO I THINK ONE OF OUR ASK IS LIKE WHEN ARE WE GETTING GO BOSTON 2030 DIVISION WHEN ARE WE GETTING AN UPDATE ON VISION
ZERO ACTION PLAN? UM BOTH OF THESE THINGS WILL INFORM A LOT OF THE BUDGET AND PRIORITIES AND GOALS UH, ESPECIALLY MOVING FORWARD NEXT WEEK IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.
SO I THINK FLAHERTY ON THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. UM, ONE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS COMMUNITY PROCESS THE 30 DAY SURGE. UH, THE 30 DAY REVIEW PROCESS A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE THE REPORT MENTIONED WAS NOT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM BUT LIKE A LACK OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO I GUESS ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS IS IN THE LAST YEAR WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE AND TRENT IN THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS? UM, AND IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO THAT PROCESS. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE GO
FROM THERE ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING LIKE A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE A LOT OF CONTENT JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN INTO. I THINK THAT IS. WHAT WE ASK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MAHA.
OKAY SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK UM NOW TO UH COUNCILOR QUESTIONS. WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET FOUR MINUTES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE TESTIMONY. UM SO BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO WAIVE YOUR TIME I'M SURE MANY
IN THE CROWD WOULD STILL I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. SO, UM, COUNCILOR, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON, YOUR FIRST. THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAVE, UH, BEEN HERE TO TESTIFY AND THOSE WHO ARE WAITING. UM.
>> A QUESTION ABOUT JUST JUST GENERAL PHILOSOPHY. I KNOW GOAL BOSTON 2030 UH, IS STILL BEING USED. UH, IS IT STILL BEING USED TO PROACTIVELY DICTATE STATE
STREET PROJECTS AND DECISIONS OR ARE WE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING NOW? I THINK IT WAS UH YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US I REMEMBER WHEN IT CAME OUT FIRST WE WERE VERY ENGAGED AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND UM ARE WE STILL USING IT
AND WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? YEAH. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR. UH, YES. I MEAN MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR UH, ARE
BASED ON ON THE 2030 BOSTON 2030 VISION. SO WE CONTINUE TO USE THAT THERE HAS BEEN WORK DONE UH, TO DO AN UPDATE TO THAT DOCUMENT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SOME
ENGAGEMENT ON THIS YEAR. UH, AND UPDATE THAT AS WE PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED DOING. UM, I WAS WONDERING, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF YOUR NEXT STEPS IN
TERMS OF REVISIONING REVISING THE GOAL 2030 OR UM, IS THAT REVIEW OR IS THAT ANTICIPATED TO BE READY THIS YEAR AND UH WHAT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD?
LIKE I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S ROAD USERS THAT UH, MICROMOBILITY DEVICES THAT MAYBE WE WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO 15 YEARS AGO BUT UM WHAT WHAT WHAT DOES IT LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES? YES IT IT WE ARE LOOKING TO UPDATE THE DOCUMENT THIS YEAR AND TO YOUR POINT, YES THERE'S THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES UH, SINCE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
YOU KNOW, THE THE INTRODUCTION OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF MICROMOBILITY DEVICES, YOU KNOW, WITH UH, MICRO MICROMOBILITY COMMISSION JUST WRAPPED UP AND PROVIDED A
REPORT ON THAT IN JANUARY. UM, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, THE THE EXPANSION OF UH, FOOD DELIVERY DURING THE PANDEMIC WHICH CONTINUES THERE'S THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF CHANGES UM, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, THE TRAFFIC PATTERN NOT JUST IN THE CITY BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAS HAS CHANGED AND HAS REMAIN CHANGED
,UM, SINCE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WE DO NEED TO UPDATE AS PART OF THAT WORK. AND AGAIN WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK BUT WE ARE WE HAVE SOME MORE TO DO AND WE WANT TO DO
SOME ENGAGEMENT ON WHAT THAT UPDATE LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR. SO AND JUST BACK TO THE VISION ZERO UM I KNOW UM THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ZERO FATALITIES AND UM
IS THE BPD COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THAT AND MAKING SURE WE CAN TRY AND CONTINUE TO TRY AND REACH THOSE GOALS OF ZERO FATALITIES BECAUSE. YES, WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO UH EFFICIENCY.
YES. AND UM AND ONE WAY ARE WE OPERATIONALIZING THAT COMMITMENT IN TERMS OF HOW HOW WE DO THINGS. SURE. >> SO THERE'S YOU KNOW, UH WE
HAVE UH, ENTIRE UM, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM, UH, THAT BUILDS OUT ON A LOT OF THAT PRIORITIZING SCHOOL ZONES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UH YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE DO UPDATES TO
SIGNAGE, PAVEMENT MARKINGS, ETC. THAT TEAM DOES WORK LIKE ON THE ALICENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT THAT'S MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION. SO YEAH, THAT THAT TEAM DOES A LOT OF WORK.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN PART OF THE THE DESIGN FOR UH, FENWAY BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE UH HIGH CRASH NETWORK. SO THOSE THAT TEAM YOU KNOW,
HAS HAS INPUT ON ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. YEAH. >> AND THEN THE ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE THE 90 THE 30 DAY REVIEW WAS PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WERE INADEQUATE.
UM WERE WONDERING JUST HOW THE CITY HAS CHANGED THEIR ENGAGEMENT POLICY AND MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT BUT HOW HAVE WE ADJUSTED OUR ENGAGEMENT POLICY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE UM
,REALLY COMMUNICATING BETTER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE COMMUNITY? SURE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR. >> UM COUNCIL PRESIDENT I THINK THERE ARE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT DEPENDS ON THE SCALE BUT FOR INSTANCE, I'LL TAKE A RUTHERFORD AVE AS A AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING
WE LAUNCHED RECENTLY AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IT'S A TRANSFORMATIVE IT WILL JUST TRANSFORM THAT CORRIDOR TO MAKE IT YOU KNOW, WALKABLE AND UH JUST MULTIMODAL UM THE ENGAGEMENT THERE IS TO WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY DEVELOPED ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING WE LEARNED IS THAT UM, INSTEAD OF SORT OF JUST LIKE US FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT IS IS TO ENGAGE COUNSELOR, YOU KNOW, GET DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, MEMBERS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO REALLY YOU KNOW, UM, WHO REPRESENT DIFFERENT UH, SORT OF PERSPECTIVES, UH, TOLD US WHAT WE THINK YOU KNOW, WE'D LOVE TO YOU IN THAT EXAMPLE MOVE VERY FAST. WE DON'T WANT TEN MEETINGS.
WE WANT YOU KNOW, THESE KINDS OF THINGS. HERE'S THE INFORMATION WE'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION THAT WE WANT TO ENGAGE ON AND BE INVOLVED IN. UM, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD
THREE, TWO TWO VERY GOOD UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS SO FAR THAT HAVE BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE AND WE HAVE UM, YOU KNOW, A FEW MORE COMING UP. THANK YOU. >> MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UM, COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, SO. UH, I THINK. AND I THINK WE WE SENT UH,
NICK, UH, A MEMO IN DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, WITH A BUNCH OF STREETS WHERE WE HAD TALKED TO. PEOPLE LIKE WHAT YOU SAID AND. MERENGUE AND. UH, ALLENDALE, BOYNTON, MYRTLE
ROCKWOOD, CASTLETON. AND SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE WILL BE GETTING SPEED BUMPS THIS, UH, THIS SPRING. BUT SO, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT DO
WE TELL FOLKS, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE, UH, THOSE STREETS UH ,IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS? YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT DO WE DO WITH YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK MONTHS TO WE DO WE HAVE TO PRESENT NEW DATA TO YOU OR UH HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL?
UH, JUST TO ANSWER PART OF YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILOR WHAT YOU SAID UM, ON ON THE LIST FOR THE SPRING. UM, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE REFERENCED SOME OF THESE MERENGUE. YEAH. >> WHAT YOU SAID RIDDLE UM,
ELVIN AND BROCKWAY OR ALL. OF THE THE SPRING PROGRAM. YEAH. >> WELL IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT WHAT DO WE DO GOING FORWARD AND THEN I GUESS, YOU KNOW, HOW IS OWENS INVOLVED? UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THE
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FEEDBACK FROM CONSTITUENTS HOW TO PRESENT IT TO YOU. YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW CAN WE PRESENT THAT TO YOU IN A EFFECTIVE MANNER OR AND OR WILL YOU BE TELLING US THAT AT SOME
POINT WHEN I GO DOWN. >> THE. ROAD AGAIN, I THINK YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING SOME CHANGES TO THIS PROGRAM AND WE WILL BE BACK. RIGHT.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. UM, I THINK IN THE INTERIM PLEASE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE US THE PLACES THAT YOU KNOW, YOU
KNOW, HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE IF THERE ARE PLACES OR STREETS IN THERE THERE THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T THINK ARE THE RIGHT FIT, I
THINK WE CAN WE CAN PROBABLY COMMUNICATE THAT PRETTY QUICKLY BUT ALSO WITH THAT COMMUNICATE WHAT MIGHT BE BETTER TREATMENTS FOR THOSE STREETS.
SO I THINK WHILE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS NEW PROCESS WE CAN HELP PARSE THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS. >> AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PASS ALONG OBVIOUSLY ALL THAT INFORMATION AS YOU KNOW AND WE CAN OUR GOAL OBVIOUSLY IS TO
GIVE YOU UM LIKE OKAY LIKE CHIEF GOVE SAID AND ANSWER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ABOUT OKAY YEAH WE WANT TO LOOK AT THIS AND WE THINK WE MIGHT MOVE FORWARD. UH BUT WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THE THE RIGHT DESIGN. UH OR IT COULD JUST BE WE DON'T
THINK THIS IS APPROPRIATE. UM, FOR SPEED HUMPS. OKAY. >> YEAH, I MEAN I I I HOPE WE IT'LL BE A CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH RATHER THAN I MEAN I THINK WHAT'S THE LAST YEAR AND YOU WERE NOT THE CHIEF THIS
WHOLE YEAR AND YOU ARE NOT IN THE POSITION. HE'S THE DIRECTOR. HE'S STILL NOT THE CHIEF. OKAY, SORRY. UH I APOLOGIZE DIRECTOR UH, WE'RE YOU KNOW, THERE WAS UH WE
HAD A CHIEF FRANKLIN HODGES THERE, SO I MEAN. OH, SORRY. >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MUHAMMAD. >> I'M CONFUSED. OKAY. UH. >> ANYWAY, UM, I EXPECT ALL MY TIME TO BE, UH. YEAH, YOU KNOW, REFUNDED TO ME, BUT, UM.
SO ANYWAY, I THINK IT SHOULD BE A CONVERSATION AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A LOT OF INPUT AND AND ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHERE THINGS ARE GOING BUT WE CAN ADVOCATE I GUESS SO JUST I'M GOING TO GO
DOWN A LIST BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED EGGLESTON SQUARE AND PIECES IS AS A BIKE LANE A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT AND EGGLESTON SQUARE. IN THE SQUARE SPECIFICALLY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, SCHOOL STREET GOING UP TO UH THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. YEAH. >> THE SCHOOL STREET UH, BIKE
LANE IS PART OF THE 75% DESIGN THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME. OKAY. >> AND THEN UH JP CENTER SO I'LL GIVE YOU JUST GIVE ME LIKE 30 MORE SECONDS. CHERRY ALREADY. PAUSED IT ACTUALLY. BUT I WILL.
YEAH GO I'LL. GO GO. >> AHEAD OKAY THANK YOU JP CENTER SOUTH ARE WE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT OR IS THAT IN LIMBO? UH THAT ONE WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON. OKAY.
THE STATUS. UH, THE HYDE PARK AVENUE YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S OPTION ONE. OPTION TWO ARE WE GOING WITH I MEAN I PREFER OPTION TO I, YOU
KNOW, BUT UM. YEAH, WE WERE REDUCES IT TO THREE LANES. UH, MAKES ROOM FOR BIKE LANES IS SOMETHING THAT BUT WHAT'S THE STATE I JUST YOU KNOW, LET'S GET THIS ALL OUT. YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT'S THE STATUS FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW,
DIRECTOR? SO SO, UH, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DONE A BUNCH OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON HYDE PARK AVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, RIGHT? THESE ARE THESE ARE SMALLER
INTERVENTIONS BUT WE HAVE DONE WORK THERE. WE'VE DONE SOME STATE OF GOOD REPAIR AND RESURFACING. WE'VE WE'VE EXPERIMENTED WITH SOME CAST IN PLACE ISLANDS AT CROSSINGS YOU KNOW AS PART
OF THE LARGER MULTIMODAL UM CORRIDOR PLANNING EFFORT AS PART OF SOME FUTURE RESURFACING . WE'D LIKE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THAT
PLANNING THAT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ELEMENTS THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT AS PART OF THAT, UH, STATE OF GOOD REPAIR. AND UM COUNCIL MEMBER IF THERE'S SORRY IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT US TO SEND
YOU. >> WELL, YEAH, I JUST I JUST WANTED TO FLAG UM, NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME. JUST, UH, MCBRIDE IN JAMAICA PLAIN. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I'D LIKE THAT TO MOVE FORWARD. UH, ESPECIALLY FOR ENGLISH HIGH
THE THEY THEY HAVE TROUBLE WITH DROP OFFS ON MCBRIDE AND THERE SHOULD BE A BIKE LANE THERE AND UH, AND I'M I YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH UH WITH BPD ON
LAGRANGE IN WEST ROXBURY AND THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME ISSUES THERE AND I HOPE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT FURTHER. AND THING THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WALK THIS WEEKEND IN UM HYDE PARK F. OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UM. >> I. ALMOST CALLED YOU THE CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO, UM SO COUNCILOR VAN, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANTED TO ASK SOME BUDGET RELATED QUESTIONS IF THAT'S OKAY. SO I KNOW THAT IN THE MULTI NEIGHBORHOOD SECTION THERE'S $13 MILLION FOR SAFETY. SEARCH. >> $6.2 MILLION FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND $35.8 MILLION FOR
STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENT DESIGNS. THOSE ARE. THOSE ARE. >> GREAT NUMBERS AND INVESTMENTS. WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW IS HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE AND HOW THOSE THAT MONEY'S ALLOCATED? UM WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR
DECIDING? ALL RIGHT WE'RE GOING TO USE SUCH AND SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THIS AREA AND THEN CAN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN FOR ME? SURE. >> UH, SO YOU KNOW A LARGE PORTION OF THAT MONEY IS IS
USED TO MAKE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF OTHER STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROJECTS. RIGHT. BUT THEY ALSO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, SMALL YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC
NEEDS FROM A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD OR A BUSINESS DISTRICT RIGHT. SO SOME SO FOR EXAMPLE THERE'S A PRIORITY CROSSWALK CROSSWALK REQUEST BUT THERE'S NO RAMPS. SO WE'VE GOT TO RECONSTRUCT
THAT PUT IN A CROSSWALK UH MAYBE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING AROUND UH A SCHOOL ZONE RIGHT? YEAH THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF SMALL INTERVENTIONS AND AGAIN THIS IS THIS IS DATA
DRIVEN. IT COMES FROM COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WE'RE ALWAYS YOU KNOW LOOKING AREAS IN THE YOU KNOW WHETHER WE'VE HAD A CRASH OR A KNOWN PLACE IN THE HIGH CRASH NETWORK.
YOU KNOW WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE WHAT PIECES THAT WE CAN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT'S SO LIKE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AROUND THAT IS WHAT'S BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION FROM COMMUNITY
CONCERNS. UM ELECTEDS AND GROUPS AS WELL THAT REPRESENT THOSE COMMUNITIES. CORRECT OKAY. WELL BOTH RIGHT. WE IDENTIFY STUFF WE WE BRING STUFF TO THE COMMUNITY. STUFF COMES OBVIOUSLY FROM
COUNSELORS STAKEHOLDERS ETC.. KNOW WE. >> WE PROACTIVELY OBVIOUSLY HAVE STAFF WHO ALSO IDENTIFY THESE THINGS. SO RIGHT THAT'S GREAT. OH AND S IS A BIG CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT. OKAY AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION DOES UM IS ON
THE ONLY TYPE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT BTD DOES OR THIS BTD HAVE ITS OWN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. PRODUCT TEAM WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN UM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
TEAM PER SE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE FOLKS IN OUR IN OUR COMMS TEAM WHO WHO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK BUT BUT ALL OF OUR PLANNERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS, RIGHT. PEOPLE WHO MANAGE THAT IS AN
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF THEIR JOB. RIGHT. AND AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, NO ONE KNOWS THEIR PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR PROJECT BETTER. UM, SO YES, THEY THEY DRIVE A
LOT OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ENGAGEMENTS. >> BUT WE ARE WORKING ON COUNSELOR IS UM HAVING A A PROCESS THAT'S THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT WE'VE GOT PRINCIPLES IN PLACE FOR YOU
KNOW, WHETHER IT'S STREETS FOR PLANNING OR YOU KNOW, OUR NOTES THAT ARE UM, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE THE SAME PRINCIPLES SO THAT EVERY PROJECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS AT LEAST CERTAIN CORE VALUES THAT ARE ALWAYS UH,
MET THAT ARE PART OF IT AND THAT ARE THAT FEEL THE SAME FOR FOR RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. >> SO AND I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. UM YOUR TEAM THE BTD TEAM HAS HAD STAFF MEMBERS COME OUT TO MY DISTRICT. I WAS.
ON WALL WATER STREET UM AND A STREET LIGHT WITH ALVA VALOR AT 730 IN THE MORNING THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION. AND HE WAS THERE AND HE WE SAW IMPLEMENT CHANGES IMPLEMENTED AND SO I DO HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. SO SHOUT OUT TO TO YOUR. TEAM FOR ENGAGING WHEN WE DO REACH OUT. UM I KNOW MY TIME IS LIMITED BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE A FEW SPECIFIC INTERSECTIONS IN MY
DISTRICT THAT I REALLY WANT TO BE PAID ATTENTION TO AND THEN A PLUG FOR SOMETHING ELSE HIGH PARK AVE AND CUMMINS HIGHWAY. VERY DANGEROUS. HIGH PARK AVON RIVER STREET. THERE'S A. >> LOT OF CONGESTION THERE THAT COULD BE CHANGED BY THE TIMING
OF LIGHTING THERE AND THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROPOSED SQUARES AND STREETS AREA. AND FOLKS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT UM HOW DEVELOPMENT CAN POTENTIALLY AFFECT THAT. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE AN
ISSUE OF WHY WE WON'T PASS SPORTS AND. >> STREETS IN THE FUTURE. SO I JUST KEEP IT AHEAD OF THAT AND THEN A SECOND PLUG SAFE WHERE TO SCHOOL I REALLY WANT TO PRIORITIZE THAT. I REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT HAS
MANY, MANY ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND THE I'M GOING TO PLUG IN THE GROUP SCHOOL THEY RECENTLY REACHED OUT WHERE THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION UM
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR ON THEIR STREET OVER IN HYDE PARK AND I KNOW THERE'S ONLY ONE SAFER AFTER SCHOOL PLANNER IN BTD SO AS LONG AS THEY GET AS MUCH SUPPORT AS THEY CAN THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL
BECAUSE THOSE STREETS ARE THE ONES THAT I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT. UM, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF FOUR YEAR OLDS GET KILLED IN MY DISTRICT SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FRANZEN UM . SO I'M GOING TO GO NOW. UM, I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T GIVE YOU GUYS A CHANCE TO RESPOND. TO SEPARATORS, BOLLARDS AND THE
REMOVAL OF PROTECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT POINT. SURE. >> SO IS IS PART OF OUR BETTER BUFFER PROGRAM THAT WE ROLLED OUT LAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO START MOVING AWAY FROM YOU KNOW TEMPORARY INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE LIKE FLEX POSTS AND ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON
AGAIN IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF UM, YOU KNOW, RESURFACING PROJECTS RIGHT TO TO COMPLETE THAT WORK. SO YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE DOING SOME WE'RE SURFACING
DOWNTOWN AND THEN THE WHARF DISTRICT HERE IN ADVANCE OF THE SUMMER EVENTS. CONGRESS STREET HAS HAD, YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MANY YEARS. WE PLAN TO PUT CASTS IN PLACE
UM, UH, IN THERE AS YOU KNOW, AS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THAT BIKE LANE. RIGHT. THAT'S THE TYPE OF TREATMENT THAT WE LOOK TO TO DO WITH ALL OF OUR BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE OVER TIME AS PART OF THAT WILL
LIKELY DO SOME STUFF ON MILK STREET AS WELL. BUT YOU KNOW WE ARE CAST IN PLACE HAS ARISEN UH, YOU KNOW TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS ALMOST
ON PAR FROM AN AFFORDABILITY STANDPOINT TO FLEX POST IS MUCH MORE RESILIENT AND CAN ACTUALLY BE CONSTRUCTED UM WITH. WITH SURPRISING SPEED.
SO OKAY. AND UM I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOME FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT HAVE PUSHED FOR. UM I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE DARTMOUTH STREET BIKE LANE BECAUSE IF CAST IN CONCRETE IS THE PRIOR YOU.
KNOW. >> IF THAT'S THE PRIORITY. ARE WE GOING TO PLAN TO. FINISH THE REST OF THAT CAST CONCRETE BIKE LANE? SURE. >> DARTMOUTH STREET WE JUST RESURFACED. WE NEEDED TO GET IN THERE TO DO
SOME WORK BEFORE THE MARATHON. THERE'S BEEN AS YOU KNOW. WHICH IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR RESURFACING IT. >> YEAH UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD YEAH THERE WAS SOME WELL ANYWAY THERE'S THERE'S SOME CONTINUED UTILITY WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THERE.
SO THIS RESURFACING WAS WAS TRULY TEMPORARY. UM AND YOU KNOW WE. WHAT WILL GO BACK IN SHORT TERM FOR AT LEAST THE SUMMER WILL BE WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE BUT IT
WILL GO IN PAINT UNTIL WE CAN. >> AND IT'S. JUST IMPORTANT THAT I GET THIS ON THE RECORD. UM, I RAN DURING A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A BERKELEY STREET BIKE LANE PROPOSED AND WE HEARD FIERCELY FROM PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT ON BERKELEY STREET AND THAT IS NOT PEOPLE IN THE BIKE COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE PEOPLE ON THOSE BLOCKS. UM, I MEAN I WAS LITERALLY SOMEONE SPIT ON MY FEET UM, AT
ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS. SO IT WAS A VERY TENSE SITUATION. UM, THE CITY THEN SAID OKAY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHERE SHOULD WE PUT THIS BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE? IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY
THAT THERE BE A CONNECTION TO THE ESPLANADE AND THAT CONNECTION FROM. >> THE SOUTH END TO THE BACK BAY. THAT WAS LIKE A CORE PRIORITY OF THE CITY. UM AND I WORKED DEEP COMMUNITY
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, TO GET EVERYONE ON BOARD AND SO I PUT MY OWN POLITICAL FUTURE ON THE LINE IN SOME WAYS AND I KNOW THAT'S. >> A. LITTLE DRAMATIC BUT. UM BUT LIKE I'VE BEEN WILLING
TO DO THAT HARD WORK BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT SAFETY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MY COMMUNITY AND VERY IMPORTANT TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND VERY IMPORTANT TO THE 12 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT TOUCHED MY DISTRICT AS WELL.
UM, THERE ARE PARENTS SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL HERE. THEY'RE USING BLUE BIKES. THEY'RE GETTING AROUND MULTIMODALITY AND I FEEL LIKE I MEAN I KNOW I'M ONLY 35 AND I
ONLY HAVE A CAT AND I HAVE NO. HUSBAND BUT UM BUT I FEEL LIKE THESE ARE MY KIDS IN SOME. WEIRD WAY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROTECTED. SO I JUST NEED TO PUT IT ON THE
RECORD THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF FINISHING THAT. UM, AND I KNOW THAT IT TAKES POLITICAL WILL AND COURAGE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME POSITION ON EVERY ISSUE. EVEN WHEN PEOPLE.
DISAGREE WITH YOU. UM, BUT FOR ME, UM, THESE ARE LIKE ISSUES OF CONSCIENCE IN A WAY AND UM, THEY'RE ISSUES OF JUST LIKE MORALITY IN MY OPINION AND UM AND I I'M NOT
FOR DOING THE EASY THING. EVER BECAUSE I. >> THINK. THAT AS A CITY COUNCILOR WE HAVE TO STEP FORWARD AND MAKE THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. UM, LIKE I WAS CHARGED WITH
LEADING AND I THINK THAT ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, WE'RE CHARGED WITH HAVING REALLY NUANCED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING UP THE CRASH DATA. THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING UP AND I JUST WANT TO RESPOND.
TO SOME. OF THE CONVERSATION. ABOUT PROCESS HERE AS WELL. UM, COMMUNITY PROCESS IS ALWAYS. FLAWED BECAUSE. CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED. >> TO COME TO THE CONVERSATION. AND CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE NOT UM,
THAT IS NOT THAT IS. A THAT'S A GOVERNMENT ISSUE. THAT'S A CIVIC PARTICIPATION ISSUE THAT WE HAVE NOT FOUND. >> A WAY TO GET TO THE ROOT OF. UM BUT WHAT I FIND. >> IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE THAT. >> ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THINGS COME TO MEETINGS WE BELIEVE
THEM LESS AND THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM. AND I. THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE AT THE CITY. UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD HEARINGS ON ISSUES THAT. >> ARE. SPICY AND WHEN WE GET PEOPLE TO COME AND WE MOTIVATE THEM, IT
JUST FEELS LIKE. THERE'S SOMETIMES THERE'S AND. THERE'S THIS COGNITIVE DISSONANCE OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND JUST. BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME. POSITION AS THE 12 PEOPLE THAT YOU.
TALKED TO LAST, THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT NOT THOUGHT OF AS AS AS LEGITIMATE AND THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT EITHER OF YOU CAN SOLVE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE. >> AS A CITY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE.
UM SO I KNOW I'VE GONE OVER I'M I'M SO SORRY. UM, SO I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNSELOR CULPEPER AND THEN COUNSELOR AROUND. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UH. CHIEF GROVE, LET ME GET TO THESE QUESTIONS QUICK SO I CAN GET THEM IN BEFORE I GET CUT OFF. UM, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SPECIFIC STREETS IN MY DISTRICT
THAT NEED ATTENTION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRY AND ANSWER THEM NOW UNLESS YOU HAVE ONE. YOU CAN PROVIDE IT BACK TO ME, UH, WHEN YOU GET BACK AND DO YOUR RESEARCH.
COLUMBUS AVENUE REPAVING AND COBBLESTONE RESTORATION CONCRETE SQUARE REPAVING
FOLLOWING 2025 WORK NORTHAMPTON STREET POST BWC EMERGENCY WORK MASSIVE IN THE SOUTH IN
WELLINGTON STREET, CLAREMONT PARK AND GREENWICH PARK. AND SO YOU DON'T NEED AN ANSWER. YOU MAY NOT HAVE THEM BUT WHEN YOU GET IT, WHEN YOU GET A
CHANCE SO I CAN GET BACK TO MY CONSTITUENTS. WE HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT. I TOLD THEM I WOULD ASK YOU THESE QUESTIONS TODAY SO I CAN GIVE THEM AN UPDATE ON WHAT TO EXPECT. WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH
THOSE COUNCIL. I WILL TELL YOU THAT COLUMBUS WE ARE DOING WORK ON AND WE DO WANT TO GET BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ON THAT OKAY. THANK YOU CHIEF. THE OTHER THING YOU MENTIONED
THAT THERE WAS A NEXT LEVEL MBTA REVIEW IF THERE'S NOT A UH ,CHANGE IN THE UH DESIGN THAT 30% WHAT'S THE NEXT LEVEL YOU MENTIONED?
SURE. >> SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED WITH WITH THE MTA IS A JOINT PUBLIC MEETING. UM, BUT LET'S. AND WHEN IS THAT WE. THAT THAT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED. OKAY. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE. UH, SEPARATE FROM THE MPO PROCESS. BUT WHAT I HAD REFERENCED EARLIER WAS HYPOTHETICALLY. >> WHAT'S THE MPO? UM, THE, UH, MESSAGES PLANNING ORGANIZATION THEY HATE.
THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT. YES. >> SO THEY THEY MANAGE THE, UH, TIFF PROCESS THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR. OKAY. >> THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO ASK YOU, UH, WAS REGARD TO
THE, UH, BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. NOW, YOU KNOW, ALONG BLUE HILL AVENUE THERE'S DOUBLE PARKING MOST OF THE TIME SOMETIMES
TRIPLE PARKING. SOME OF THE TIMES I SAW THE, UH ,BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT UH, BETWEEN MASS AV AND HEMINGWAY WHEN? EVENING.
SO I SAT THERE ONE NIGHT I JUST TOOK PICTURES AT 849 ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. THEY WERE OUT GIVING TICKETS BETWEEN HEMINGWAY AND MASS
AVENUE ON BOSTON STREET. THE BTD. HOW CAN WE GET THAT SAME KIND OF ENFORCEMENT. ON BLUE HILL AVENUE EVEN DURING THE DAY?
UH, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? SURE. SO WE DO DO ENFORCEMENT CITYWIDE. UM, WE YOU KNOW, OUR OUR ENFORCEMENT TEAMS WE COVER SIX
DAYS A WEEK AND WE'LL BE ENTERING OUR THIRD YEAR WITH, UH, WITH A SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT PILOT. SO AND WE EVEN HAVE AN OVERNIGHT TEAM. SO WE DO WE DO ENFORCEMENT, UM, ACROSS THE CITY YEAR ROUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DONE UM, TARGETED ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH BPD ON BLUE HILL LAB TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE DOUBLE PARKING ISSUES THAT YOU YOU'VE MENTIONED. UM.
>> AND YOU KNOW, WE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT THAT REGULAR EFFORT. AND SO LET ME JUST UM LOOK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY EVENINGS. UH, AND ON THE WEEKENDS BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES REALLY UH. DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL DOWN BLUE
HILL AVENUE. AND I JUST SAY LOOK, THE SAME THING YOU DO. UH, BETWEEN MASSLIVE AND HEMINGWAY ON BOARD STREET DO THAT ON BLUE HILL AVENUE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE. TRAFFIC FLOW. DOWN BLUE HILL. UH, AND WITHOUT ATTENDING BUS LANE FOR THE BUSSES TO GET DOWN BLUE HILL AVENUE. THANK YOU, CHIEF GROVE AND UH,
MOHAMMED, THANK YOU. FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CULPEPER. AND WHO KNOWS I MEAN THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. DURING A RED SOX GAME. THEY DO. PAY FOR ADDITIONAL.
DETAIL SO WE I'M OKAY OKAY OKAY. >> JUST MAKING SURE. UM, COUNCILOR ARROYO, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. UH THANK YOU. CHAIR. >> UH. >> A FEW QUESTIONS AROUND, UM. BLUE HILL AVE AND I I DO AGREE
WITH COUNCILOR CULPEPER JUST HAVING A DEDICATED, DEDICATED SCHEDULE TO, UH, DORCHESTER DISTRICT FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, UM ,IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ADVOCATED FOR UM, IN THE PAST
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE PUT UP THESE SIGNS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN A FORCE IN THOSE SIGNS THAT ARE ON THE STREET.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON TRANSIT RIDERS ALONG BLUE WHO LIVE LIKE WHERE IS THEIR FINAL DESTINATION? DO WE HAVE ANY DATA AROUND THAT?
YEAH WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME I THINK FAIRLY ROBUST DATA ON THAT COUNCILOR WE'RE WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE TO SHARE THAT. YEAH A LOT OF IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE MBTA BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT. YEAH WE'D LOVE LOVE TO SEE
THAT. UM AND THEN DO WE HAVE AN HOURLY BREAKDOWN BY DAY OF THE WEEK OF BUS PRIVATE VEHICLE VOLUME ON BLUE BLUE LAB. I'LL HAVE. >> TO CHECK THE SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN.
WELL. A SHORT ANSWER IS I DON'T KNOW. UM, BUT WE'LL WE'LL SEE WHAT UM WHAT TRAFFIC STUDY WHAT WHAT DATA WE DO HAVE FOR VEHICLE
VOLUMES OF THE VARIOUS TYPES ON BLUE HILL HAVE. UH AND. >> WE CAN WE CAN PROVIDE WHAT WHAT ANALYSIS WAS DONE AS PART OF THE CURRENT PLANNING AND DESIGN. ALL RIGHT. >> AND THEN HOPEFULLY UM, PART OF THAT DATA FOR VOLUME UH,
HOURLY BREAKDOWN BY DAY OF THE WEEK UM, IN HOUR OF TRAVEL SPEEDS FOR BUSSES AND PRIVATE VEHICLES ON BLUE THE HAVE. YEAH WELL WE'LL INCLUDE. THAT ALL RIGHT AND THEN DO WE
HAVE A CARB ANALYSIS UM FOR THE LAST. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF CURBSIDE PLANNING AS PART OF THE UM, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT FOR THE PROJECT. UM.
>> YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE TALKING WITH WITH COUNCIL CULPEPER ABOUT ENFORCEMENT A COUPLE MINUTES AGO, YOU KNOW, WE WE KNOW THE HOTSPOTS WHERE WE NEED MORE TURNOVER OR SHORT TERM
TURNOVER, UH, FOR PARKING, YOU KNOW, FOR SHORT TERM PICK UP AND. DROP OFF. UM, AND I THINK YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AS PART OF A FUTURE PROJECT THERE WE
THINK CHANGES TO THOSE CURBSIDE REGULATIONS THAT ENCOURAGE THAT TURNOVER UM WOULD HELP MOVE SOME OF THOSE VEHICLES THROUGH THERE. UH, IN A IN A BETTER FASHION.
OKAY. AND THEN UM I JUST WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK, UM, THAT OUR UH THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE AROUND THE FAIRMONT INDIGO LINE, I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE
ONLY COMMUNITIES THAT HAS EXPANDED RAIL UH, AND NEW STATIONS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, UH, TO INCREASE UH, TRANSIT JUSTICE AND REALLY FIGHT FOR IT IN, UH, IN A MAJOR WAY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE AND I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE WORK UH, THE COMMUNITY UH, NOT ONLY HAS DONE BUT CONTINUES TO DO
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE ONLY RAILS THAT WILL BE ELECTRIFIED. UM, AND THEN THE IN THE NEAR FUTURE UM AND I, I I SAY THAT
TO UH TO ALSO ASK HOW DOES RAIL UH YOU KNOW THE FAIRMONT INDIGO LINE PLAY INTO SPEED UM AND MOVING UH, PEOPLE TO A FINAL DESTINATION IN YOUR VIEW?
SURE. >> SO YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW COUNCIL THE YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE FAIRMONT LINE. YOU KNOW, WE. >> WE. BELIEVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THAT THAT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT UM, TRANSIT BENEFITS FOR CURRENT USERS BUT ALSO OPENS UP A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. FOR PEOPLE. >> TO GET PLACES FASTER. UM. THE YOU KNOW. >> THE. TRANSPORTATION THEY'RE USING NOW.
SO WE WE FULLY SUPPORT THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE THINK IT OPENS UP UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES TO SECTIONS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE NEVER HAD
THAT TYPE OF RELIABLE UH UM, TRANSIT OR AND SPEED. SO WE ARE WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE TEAM. ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN. AND THIS IS UH LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE AND IT'LL BE VERY
QUICK UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, WHETHER IT'S, UH, GREAT RACIAL INJUSTICE, UM, I THINK UM, AN IMPORTANT PART,
UH, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY AFFIRMING, UH, THE VOICES OF THOSE IN THAT COMMUNITY UH, WHETHER THEY HAVE ,YOU KNOW, PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE OR THE FUTURE, UH,
BECAUSE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OF THAT PROCESS OF OF RACIAL JUSTICE. AND OFTENTIMES I'LL JUST WANT TO END ON THIS IS THAT OUR
COMMUNITY FEELS HARMED BECAUSE OF PAST PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD TO US THIS IS A GOOD THING. UM, AND YET UH, IT ALWAYS NEVER FELT AS SUCH.
SO I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS THAT THAT WE ARE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR EARL. UM, SO I'M GOING. >> TO IF YOU HAVE. >> ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS.
IF NOT YOU BOTH ARE. FREE TO. GO AND. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE REST UM I DO IF I COULD. >> GET A COMMITMENT THOUGH THAT YOU'LL WATCH THE. >> REST OF THIS HEARING. I'LL STAY AS LONG AS I CAN STAY. I JUST NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK. OKAY? >> OKAY. >> YEAH, SAME I CAN. YEAH.
OKAY. >> PERFECT. OKAY. >> SO, UM SO I'M GOING TO. GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. EACH PERSON AGAIN HAS TWO MINUTES. UM MIMI RAMOS IS FIRST THEN SAM
FIST IN IS HE ASMAN HAYDEN SEAGER. SO I THINK. OKAY WELL WHOEVER'S NEXT THAT I JUST SAW SAM FIST IN.
THERE. OKAY. IZZY ASMAN HAYDEN SEAGER AND MATT LAWLOR THAT'S THE ORDER.
HELLO UH, IT'S SAM VINSON. UM, I LIVE IN AUSTIN. I'M NOT HERE REPRESENTING A SPECIFIC GROUP. I JUST WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WALK AROUND THE CITY A LOT. UM, WALKING IS MY MAIN FORM
OF TRANSPORTATION AND I'M NOT TAKING THE T UM, AND I HAVE A LOT OF NEAR MISSES THERE A LOT OF CARS AS PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT GO RIGHT THROUGH RED LIGHTS, UH, STOP SIGNS.
UM, AND I HATE THAT IT'S JUST DANGEROUS LIKE OTHER RESTAURANTS THAT ARE NEAR ME THAT I DON'T GO TO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION CALLED UNION SQUARE, UM, WHERE A LOT OF ICONIC BUSINESSES AND A
COMMUNITY CENTER ARE UM, SO LAST FALL I PUT UP THESE SIGNS THAT SAY HEY AUSTIN BRIGHTON, DO YOU HATE CROSSING THE STREET? TELL ME ABOUT IT. UM, AND I PUT THEM AT INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE IN KEY
LOCATIONS IN THE CITY THAT I THOUGHT WERE VERY DANGEROUS THAT MY FRIENDS HAVE TOLD ME THEY'VE BEEN IN DANGER AND WHERE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO CROSS THE STREET I MENTIONED UNION SQUARE YOU CAN
WAIT FOR FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO GET FROM ONE CORNER OF IT TO THE OPPOSITE CORNER. UM JUST BECAUSE OTHER ONE LANE OR SORRY ONE STREET HAS TWO NON
SYNCHED UH SIGNALS OR ONE SIGNAL DOES NOT GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO CROSS THE ENTIRE STREET AND WHEN CARS WANT TO SAVE A FEW SECONDS THEY UM CAN JUST SPEED THROUGH A LIGHT.
UM, BUT WHEN PEDESTRIANS DO IT, THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN GRAVE DANGER. I DO THAT A LOT TRYING TO GET ON THE GREEK STREET, UM, GREEN LINE PLATFORM. SO ANYWAY, I HAVE A PACKET WITH 14 PAGES OF RESPONSES.
IT'S ABOUT 150 OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO SAID HERE IS A PLACE I WALK REGULARLY AND I FEEL IN DANGER OR IN GREAT INCONVENIENCE. AND I THINK A LOT OF THE BLOWBACK AGAINST SAFE STREET
CHANGES ARE ABOUT PARKING OR SHAVING A FEW SECONDS OFF OF A CARS. UM UH LIKE YOU KNOW, TRIP UM BUT IT ADDS SO MUCH MORE TIME
YOU MISSED THAT BUS YOU RUN ACROSS TO GET TO THE GREEN LINE PLATFORM BECAUSE YOU SEE THE THE TRAIN IS COMING BUT ON COMMONWEALTH AVENUE THAT IS YOU KNOW, SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC CAR
TRAFFIC AND TWO LANES OF YOU KNOW, TRAIN TRAFFIC. SO YOU YOU. >> WANT. TO LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE AND THEN I'LL MAKE IT UM I'LL WE'LL SCAN IT AND WE'LL MAKE IT PART. >> OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. >> THANK YOU. UM, IZZY ASMAN HAYDEN SEEGER,
MATT LAWLER A NORA MURRAY THEY ARE BRUNO. IF YOU GUYS COULD MAKE A LINE JUST SO. >> BECAUSE WE GOT TO KEEP THIS GOTTA. KEEP IT MOVING AND BRENDAN KEARNEY I. THINK WE ALREADY HEARD FROM YOU.
OKAY OKAY. HAYDEN I GUESS YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE. OKAY. >> GO AHEAD. ACTUALLY HEY, I'VE HAD IT. I'M GONNA GIVE MY TIME TO MIKE. UH, OKAY. MIKE'S GOING TO GET FOUR MINUTES. OKAY. UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY FOR ME. >> GO AHEAD. MIKE.
UM, HI. MY NAME IS MIKE TAMAYO AND I'M A RESIDENT. IN THE SOUTH END. UM, MY WIFE AND I NAVIGATE THE STREETS OF BOSTON FIRST AND FOREMOST ON FOOT AS WELL AS ON TRANSIT AND ON BIKE.
I WANT TO SEE OUR CITY BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN NAVIGATE ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IN WAYS THAT ARE BOTH SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE. THE CITY'S. ABRUPT CHANGES IN STREETS POLICY OVER THE PAST 14 MONTHS, HOWEVER, HAVE TAKEN US FURTHER
FROM THAT HOPE. FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD LOVE FOR OUR STREET TO HAVE SPEED HUMPS. IT'S A QUIET SIDE STREET WITH MANY FAMILIES BUT CARS OCCASIONALLY SPEED THROUGH IT TO ACCESS THE MAIN ROAD AT THE
OTHER END THE CITY'S IDENTIFIED MY STREET AS ONE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM SPEED HUMPS ON ITS WEBSITE, BUT THE SPEED HUMP PROGRAM STALLED LAST YEAR AND I'M HEARING TODAY THAT IT WILL BE MUCH MORE RESTRICTED GOING FORWARD.
THIS NEWS WEBSITE SAYS TO REACH OUT TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON TO GET SPEED HUMPS WHICH I'VE DONE BUT I'VE SEEN NO MOVEMENT. THE BEST EXPLANATION I'VE RECEIVED FROM CITY OFFICIALS FOR STALLING SPEED ON PROGRAM IS THEY DON'T WANT TO SLOW CARS
DOWN THROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREETS, EVEN THOUGH DRIVING SLOWLY IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE PARTICULARLY WHEN KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND. I'VE HEARD TODAY THAT THERE WILL BE CERTAIN SPEED HUMPS THAT WILL ADVANCE, BUT NO
CRITERIA WERE PROVIDED AS TO HOW THE CITY WILL SELECT STREETS AND THE PROCESS I HEARD REMAINS OPAQUE TO COUNCILOR DURKIN'S POINT NOT HAVING DEFINED CRITERIA RESULTS IN AN AD HOC PROCESS THAT
FAVORS CERTAIN VOICES OVER OTHERS REGARDING BIKE LANES, THE CITY'S STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BARRIERS BETWEEN BIKE LANES AND CAR LANES MAKE THE STREET SAFER FOR EVERYONE WHETHER YOU'RE IN A CAR, ON
FOOT OR ON BIKE. BUT OVER THE PAST YEAR, RATHER THAN WORKING TO MAKE THE STREETS SAFER FOR ALL ROAD USERS, THE MOST VISIBLE CHANGES TO BIKE LANES IN THE CITY IS THE CITY'S REMOVAL OF BIKE LANE
SEPARATORS ACROSS MANY BIKE LANES UM LETTING CARS PARK IN THE LANE AND FORCING BIKERS TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF CARS ENDANGERING EVERYONE. THE PRIMARY EXPLANATION THE CITY HAS GIVEN FOR ITS CHANGE IN POLICY IS THAT IT WANTS TO
SEEK MORE COMMUNITY INPUT, BUT THESE CHANGES MAKE OUR CITY LESS SAFE HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT GIVING ANYONE A CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. WE'VE HEARD FOR OVER A YEAR HAVE AN INTEREST IN CASTING PLACE WHICH WOULD BE REALLY
GREAT BUT THUS FAR WE'VE SEEN FLEX BOATS REMOVED ALMOST EVERYWHERE AND CAST IN PLACE AND POINT ALMOST NOWHERE. I HOPE THE CITY GETS BACK TO WORK AND FINISHING WITH A PROMISING SPEED HUMPS IN SEPARATE EFFECTIVE BIKE LANES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT HEARING. THANK YOU SO MUCH MIKE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON UM PARKING MINIMUMS AS WELL. UM OKAY. WE ARE. >> GOING TO WELL OR LACK OF SUPPORT FOR PARKING MINIMUMS I SHOULD.
SAY MATT LAWLOR SURE. UM SO. THANKS VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS MATT LAWLOR. UM, I. SUBMITTED A LETTER ON. BEHALF OF WALKER BROS. DELL OF WHICH I'M A CO-FOUNDER UH, TO THE COMMITTEE EARLIER TODAY. SO I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH THE
POINTS IN THAT LETTER. OR COMMENTS. >> THAT WERE MADE BY OTHERS EARLIER. I GENERALLY SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP HERE AND. SUPPORTED ON PAUSING THE SITUATION HAVE SAID SO I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON THREE POINTS.
UM, FIRST IS THE NUMBER OF NEW BIKE LANES. AND SPEED HUMPS THAT WERE CITED HERE TODAY. UM ARE TOO LOW BY A FACTOR OF AT LEAST TEN. UM IF MY. MATH ISN'T WRONG UM I'VE BEEN
AROUND DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE LOWER THAN ANY YEAR OF THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION CERTAINLY FOR A NUMBER OF NEW LANES LIKE THE NEW LANES OF BIKE LANES. THOSE ARE WORDS I NEVER THOUGHT
I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IT IS DOING WORSE THAN THE WALSH ADMINISTRATION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. UM, SECOND, THE ARGUMENT THAT USES OUR NARROW OLD STREETS TO
DENY SAFETY TO VULNERABLE STREET USERS NEEDS TO BE RETIRED TODAY FOR GOOD. OUR NARROW OLD STREETS LARGELY PREDATE MOTOR VEHICLES,
ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN. IF THERE'S A SPACE CRUNCH THE UNWANTED PARTY GOERS ARE THE MOTOR VEHICLES NOT THE PEOPLE ON FOOT OR ON BIKES OR ON BUSSES.
THE STREETS WERE ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR THEM IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. AND FINALLY I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON THE EXCHANGE WITH RESPECT TO BURKE SORRY BEACH AND
GLENDORA STREETS AND ROSLINDALE BECAUSE WE HEARD ALL THE RESIDENTS ON THOSE STREETS WANT SPEED HUMPS. THAT IS NOT SURPRISING AT ALL. BUT SOMEHOW THAT IS STILL. NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE.
RIGHT. >> I DON'T KNOW EITHER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S NOT. OKAY, WHY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET SPEED HUMPS BUT SOMEHOW THEY WON'T AND THAT IS A PROBLEM. SO I HOPE THAT WE GET THERE SOMEDAY SOON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH MATT.
UM OKAY. AND NORA MURRAY I'M SORRY IF I'M SAYING THAT WRONG. BUT YEAH. BRUNO. AARON GREINER LEVY CHEN. THAT'S THE LIST. GO AHEAD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR DURKAN. AND THE. >> MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO DECIDED TO STICK AROUND. UH, MY NAME IS ANDREW MURRAY. I'M A. >> ROSLINDALE RESIDENT. UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF UP WITH MATT AND I FOUNDED. RESIDENTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS. UH. >> I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO WALKS BIKES AND RELIES ON TRANSIT EVERY DAY.
FOR MANY OF US, OUR SAFETY ON BOSTON STREETS DO NOT FEEL LIKE A PRIORITY. UH, WE HAVE KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS LIKE HYDE PARK AVENUE AND BLUE HILL AVENUE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING ACTIVELY HARMED BY SPEEDERS AND RECKLESS DRIVING.
UH, WHAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING ABOUT THIS ISN'T JUST THE DANGER. IT'S THE COMPLETE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND URGENCY. UM, PROJECTS ARE ANNOUNCED, ENGAGEMENT TAKES PLACE AND THEN THEY GO QUIET FOR MONTHS, EVEN YEARS.
UM, WITH. >> LITTLE FLAHERTY BEYOND A STATED NEED FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT FOR CONSENSUS. UH, HOW MUCH MORE. ENGAGEMENT CAN THE. >> CITY EXPECT FROM RESIDENTS? UM, IF THE HOURS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT INTO THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS UM AREN'T SUFFICIENT
AND HOW DOES CONSENSUS WHAT IS CONSENSUS MEAN, UH, WHEN IT'S BETWEEN PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING TO MOVE SAFELY AND WITH DIGNITY THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WHO ARE ASKING TO MAINTAIN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS? UM, WE HAVE RULES THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE NOT ENFORCED CARS, PARKING, CROSSWALKS, BUS LANES ,BIKE LANES WITH LITTLE CONSEQUENCE. IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT WHOSE SAFETY IS NEGOTIABLE UM, WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS INSTALLED TOO OFTEN IT FEELS
LIKE A HALF MEASURE. PAINT IS NOT PROTECTION MATERIALS THAT DRIVERS CAN RUN OVER LIKE THE NEWS EQUALS UH DO NOT KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND ACTUALLY ACTIVELY INVITE PEOPLE TO PARK OVER THEM. UH, MY QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE
CITY'S TRANSPORTATION PHILOSOPHY? WE SAY VISION ZERO IS STILL THE GOAL. UH, SO WHY AREN'T WE ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ARE UNACCEPTABLE IF
IT'S NOT VISION ZERO RESIDENTS DESERVE FLAHERTY ON WHAT LEVEL OF SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE. UM FINALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND I WISH THE COUNCILORS WERE STILL HERE UH,
ESPECIALLY ON COUNCIL CORRIDORS LIKE BLUE HILL AVENUE UH, THAT HAS TO INCLUDE THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BUS RIDERS ON THIS CORRIDORS ALONG WITH THE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS TO MOVE THROUGH THEM, NOT JUST THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING.
UH, WE CAN'T HAVE SAFE STREETS, STRONG BUSINESSES AND RELIABLE TRANSIT BUT ONLY IF WE PRIORITIZE HUMAN LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANDREW AND SORRY FOR GETTING YOUR NAME WRONG. . >> I CARE WHAT AARON. UH, BEAR.
OR BEER BRUNO LUCK. OKAY. >> GOT IT. AND AARON GREINER. LEVY CHEN. GAD BOY. OKAY. GO AHEAD. HI. >> MY NAME IS LEVI. I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT.
I'M A JUNIOR AND I'M ONE. >> OF. TWO CO-PRESIDENTS. >> OF THE URBANISM CLUB AT B.U. WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW WE ARE STUDENT GROUP FOCUSED ON URBAN ADVOCACY. AND EDUCATION AND. RECENTLY OUR. CLUB RELEASED A PETITION TO THIS STREET CAMPAIGN TO VOICE
THEIR CONCERNS AT OUR CAMPUSES. MAIN STREET. CALM AS WELL. OUR PETITION. URGES MAYOR WU TO UNPAUSE THE BILL IS PROTECTED BIKE LANE PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN COLLECTING DUST SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR
YEARS WHILE CYCLISTS LIKE MYSELF. >> RISKED. THEIR LIVES. >> JUST TRYING TO COMMUTE TO WORK OR SCHOOL DOWN COMBAT. OR SPEEDING AND CARS BLOCKING THE BIKE LANES ARE DAILY OCCURRENCE I HAVE PRINTED SOME OF OUR MANY TESTIMONIES FOR YOU ALL TO READ TODAY.
OUR PETITION CURRENTLY. SITS AT WELL OVER 160 SIGNATURES FROM ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE. THESE ARE STUDENTS AND FACULTY NON BU COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS BECAUSE 160 PLUS PEOPLE HAVE
RECOGNIZED THAT SAFE STREETS ARE AN IMMEDIATE NECESSITY. WE WANT THESE STREETS AND WE NEED THEM. YET MAYOR WU'S SILENCE. SURROUNDING BUILDING SAFE STREETS FOR US SIGNALS A COLD INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS OUR SAFETY. AS YOUNG PEOPLE WE. RELY A LOT.
>> MORE ON CYCLING, WALKING AND TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET IN AND AROUND THE CITY AS DO MANY OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT OWN CARS. WHEN I. >> INTERNED HERE AT CITY HALL LAST SUMMER, I ACTUALLY BIKED OUT OF OFFICE EVENTS IN JP IN MISSION HILL BECAUSE A
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PROVIDE A SAFE PATH FOR CYCLISTS. BUT IN COMING TO TODAY'S HEARING I TOOK THE T BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO. RISK MY NECK ON. CAMBRIDGE STREET OR KENMORE SQUARE. AS THE MAYOR, WU HAS BEEN STALLING ON IMPROVEMENTS TO
CYCLING, WALKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IT PUTS CITY RESIDENTS IN MORE DANGER THAN IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE PLANS FOR SAFE STREETS EXIST. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO BUILD THEM, WE KNOW WE. HAVE THE. >> MANPOWER TO CONSTRUCT IT.
AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE. WE'RE RISKING LOSING THE FUNDING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WE'RE RISKING LOSING PEOPLE'S LIVES. THE MAYOR, WHOSE SPRING CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE RELEASED THIS MORNING IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
MULTIPLE PROJECTS LIKE THE EAST CAMPUS PROJECTED BIKE LANES ARE STILL STALLED. I BELIEVE THAT A BAND-AID FIX OF RE PAVEMENTS OVER DEEPER ISSUE OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WON'T LAST FOREVER. SO THANK YOU COUNCILORS WEBER,
PIPPIN, DURKAN AND BREEDEN FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY CAN RESTART THESE SAFE STREET PROJECTS AS SOON AS WE CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU LEVI I'LL BE AT YOUR CLUB SOON. I LOVE BEING THERE. YEAH. UM. >> SO, UM. >> OKAY, NEXT. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SETH.
OH, YEAH. IF YOU LEAVE IT. >> THERE, WE'LL GET IT TO EVERYONE. SETH. >> GOOD BOY. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION. >> MY NAME IS SETH GAD. BOYS. I'M A TRANSPORTATION ATTORNEY AT CONSERVATION. >> LAW FOUNDATION. THANK YOU SO. MUCH FOR MAKING THIS SPACE FOR
THIS HEARING TODAY. ON MULTIPLE. CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION MATTERS. INCLUDING DOCKET 0588 DISCUSSING TRANSPORTATION. PHILOSOPHY THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS SET SEVERAL COMMENDABLE
TRANSPORTATION GOALS. ACROSS MULTIPLE PLANS. HOWEVER, RECENT CITY. ACTIONS AND BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE AT DIRECT ODDS WITH THESE GOALS. ADDITIONALLY. >> THESE GOALS ARE ALSO TO HIGH LEVEL FOR MEASURING PROGRESS.
A CLIMATE PLAN. GOAL TO REDUCE CAR DEPENDENCY. IS GOOD. ZERO FATALITIES ON ROADWAYS IS CRITICAL. AND HAS A 2030. DATE, BUT. GOALS ARE NOT SHORT TERM
TANGIBLE METRICS NUMBER OF BIKE LANE MILES ADDED NUMBER OF DE LIGHTED INTERSECTIONS AND ROAD DIETS. NUMBER OF ZONES DEDICATED TO DELIVERIES ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE WALKING ROLLING IN TRANSIT
SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE EVERY DAY. INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CHAOTIC TRAFFIC OPERATIONS DEGRADE OUR STREETS. AND COMPOUND. >> TO DRAMATICALLY UNDERMINED CLIMATE. SAFETY AND HEALTH GOALS.
WE NEED. CLEAR METRIC BASED LINKS BETWEEN. UH WE NEED CLEAR METRIC BASED LINKS THAT TIE PLANS TO BUDGETS COVERING INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT METRIC BASED LINKS BETWEEN GOALS. AND SPENDING. WE HAVE PHILOSOPHY WITHOUT ACTION OR ACTION WITHOUT DIRECTION LEADING TO EMPTY
PROMISES OR COSTLY INCONSISTENT DECISIONS. WE NEED A. MASTER PLAN. THAT COMMITS FUNDING. TO MEASURABLE YEAR BY YEAR OUTCOMES FOR CLEAR COMMUNITY DRIVEN STRATEGIES TO THE
ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE BE BOLD WITH YOUR BUDGET AND BE PROGRESSIVE WITH YOUR POWER TO THE COUNCIL. PLEASE LEGISLATE WHERE GAPS NEED TO BE FILLED OR CORRECTED AND LOOK TO OTHER MAJOR
METROPOLITAN CITIES FOR POLICIES THAT PRODUCE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES TO ALL IN GOVERNMENT PLEASE SEE US PLEASE USE US ADVOCATES AND RESIDENTS AS RESOURCES AND PARTNERS.
WE CAN MAKE MAJOR CHANGE TOGETHER AND SOONER THAN WE THINK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM TRAVON LONG THIRD MATTHIAS IRIS
ROMMEL ZACHARY YARROW ASTER FROM DORCHESTER AND DANIEL. UM KRAVETS. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE LIST. GO AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS UH TREVIN UH NOT
TRAYVON. SORRY. THANKS PARENTS. FOR GIVING ME THAT NAME. UH. >> I AM. >> A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN . UH, THANK YOU, BEN WEBER FOR ORGANIZING THIS. UH, I RIDE MY. BIKE EVERYWHERE. I RIDE. >> MY BIKE TO BRIGHTON. TO GET TO WORK.
I RIDE IT TO GET TO GROCERIES. I WRITE TO GET TO FRIENDS. HOUSES EVERYWHERE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY SAFETY. UH, COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU ASKED . ABOUT THE. CENTER SOUTH STREET'S, UH, TRANSPORTATION. ACTION PLAN.
IT WAS JUST REPORTED. BY STREETSBLOG MASS THAT THE. $0 IS. ALLOCATED TO IT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2027. SO IF THAT'S NOT A PAUSE. WHAT IS.
A PAUSE? THE STREET THAT. >> I GO TO TO SHOP, TO EAT. TO DRINK. TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. TO LIVE ON IS NOT GETTING THE INVESTMENT THAT IT.
SO DESPERATELY NEEDS. I FEEL UNSAFE ON THIS STREET. THE 39 BUS. IS STUCK IN TRAFFIC EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO.
DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PEOPLE ARE USING THIS STREET AS A WAY TO GET. AROUND JAMAICA WAY. NOT HAVE TO BE ON. WASHINGTON STREET THE CORRIDORS THAT CAN ACTUALLY SERVE TRAFFIC
AND SO THEY'RE CUTTING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND AFFECTING. MY LIVELIHOOD AND. >> THE LIVELIHOOD. OF ALL OF. MY NEIGHBORS JUST SO THAT THEY CAN GET. THROUGH JAMAICA PLAIN. CENTER AND SOUTH STREETS.
SHOULD BE THE HIGH. STREETS OF JAMAICA PLAIN. IT'S WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENS. IT'S WHERE WE GATHER AT. >> THE MONUMENT. IT'S WHERE WE. GO TO. >> THE LAUREN GUARINO HOUSE WHERE WE. WATCH MOVIES. >> ON THE LAWN. THIS IS A STREET.
FOR PEOPLE AND THE CITY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE PUTTING. THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT. >> AND. FUNDING TOWARDS IT THAT IT TRULY DOES DESERVE. AND SO. >> I. IMPLORE THE CITY TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE NEED. SAFE STREETS. SAFE STREETS. CANNOT WAIT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM NEXT. MATTHIAS THEN ASTOR. SORRY.
THEN ZACHARY YARROW, THEN ESTHER, THEN DANIEL KRULWICH. GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. >> HI. >> MY NAME IS MATTHIAS IRIS REMILLARD. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN SOMERVILLE BECAUSE LIVING ON HYDE PARK AVE AND COUNCILOR ARROYO
COUNCILOR WORLDS DISTRICT WAS SO DEEPLY UNPLEASANT AND DANGEROUS THAT I LEFT BOSTON BECAUSE SOMERVILLE IS ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING STREETS NICE AND LIVABLE ON A QUARTER OF THE BUDGET THAT BOSTON IS.
SO IT'S A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND. I'LL BEG YOU TO FORGIVE MY STRIDENT TONE, BUT I'VE JUST HAD TOO MANY EMPTY PROMISES GIVEN IN SO MANY MEETINGS LIKE
THIS AND I'VE EXPERIENCED TOO MUCH TRAFFIC VIOLENCE TRYING TO GET AROUND BOSTON ON MY BIKE, WHICH IS MY PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM ANGRY AND I AM TIRED OF RISKING MY LIFE TO TRAVEL FROM POINT A TO POINT B BECAUSE
THE CITY ADMINISTRATION DEEMS MY NON CAR OWNING LIFE UNIMPORTANT AND INCONVENIENT. I VOTED FOR MICHELLE WU TWICE AND I WAS HAPPY TO. I ASSISTED WITH THE CAMPAIGNS.
I PROMOTED HER TO ALL MY FRIENDS BECAUSE SHE WAS PROGRESSIVE. SHE WANTED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND SAFELY ON BIKES AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY ABOUT AND NOW I FEEL PROFOUNDLY
FOOLISH AND ANGRY THAT I VOTED FOR MAYOR WU IN THE LAST ELECTION. I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE VOTED FOR JOSH KRAFT BECAUSE SHE'S IMPLEMENTING HIS ANTI BIKE LANE AGENDA NOW ANYWAY, SO A YEAR
OF PAUSED BIKE LANE PROJECTS AND SILENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE MAYOR'S 11TH HOUR MEMO THIS MORNING ABOUT GOOD REPAIR PROJECT MAKING NO MENTION OF BIKES ANYWHERE IS ALSO NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I'M LEFT STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAYOR WU ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES SHE MADE AND IT'S NOT THE PROGRESSIVE VALUES SHE CLAIMED TO HAVE. AND IT'S NOT IMPROVING BOSTON AND BETTERING QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR RESIDENTS. IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ABOUT FUNDING BECAUSE SHE'S FRITTERING AWAY FEDERAL DOLLARS WITH INACTION AND IT REALLY DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE ABOUT THE LIVES OF HER CONSTITUENTS
BECAUSE SHE'S LETTING PEOPLE DIE ON HER STREETS WHILE SHE DOES NOTHING. SO WHAT WILL GET HER TO CARE ABOUT US? SO I'M ANGRILY BEGGING FOR THE CITY TO FIX HYDE PARK APP FOR
ONE FOR CONCRETE MILESTONES ON COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT FOR ACTIONABLE AND TANGIBLE GOALS AND A HIGH QUALITY PROTECTED MICROMOBILITY NETWORK. THANK YOU ZACHARY.
HI. >> UH I LAST TOOK. TIME OFF WORK TO. SPEAK HERE WHEN. >> THE CITY FAILED AT EQUITABLE SNOW REMOVAL AND I HOPE WE COULD KEEP THINGS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AFTER THAT. INSTEAD WE SAW MORE BIKE LANE PROTECTION REMOVED AND NOT
REPLACED. WE SAW 311 CONTINUE TO MARK STREETS. IT'S ALL CLEAR WHERE DRIVERS WERE PARKED AND UNPROTECTED BIKE LANES. SO BASICALLY INSTEAD OF PERMITTING THEM TO PARK IN BIKE LANES INSTEAD OF SHOVELING
OUT SPACES NOW THEY CAN JUST PARK JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO FIND LEGAL SAFE PARKING. I LIKE THAT I CAN WALK, THAT I CAN TAKE TRANSIT AND THAT I CAN BIKE TO SO MANY DESTINATIONS IN
THE BOSTON AREA. BUT WHERE CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE MOVED SWIFTLY WITH SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS OR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. MAYOR WHO HAS FROZEN SAFETY PROJECTS FOLLOWING PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST DEATHS IN PLACES
LIKE CAMBRIDGE STREET IN ALLSTON AND HYDE PARK AVE IN JP. AND JUST LAST WEEK WE HEARD A STUDENT WAS STRUCK NEAR A BOSTON SCHOOL IN AN AREA THAT THE ORIGINAL SAFETY SURGE ANNOUNCEMENT SAID WAS GOING TO GET SPEED BUMPS BEFORE THAT
PROJECT GOT PAUSED FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OF THE WORK JUST BEING FOCUSED ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. THE WORK OF BUILDING THESE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS HAS
STOPPED EVERYWHERE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CITY HAS JOINED JOSH CRAFT'S CAMPAIGN TO GET ME OFF MY FEET, OFF MY BIKE, OFF MY OFF THE BUS AND INTO MY CAR IF I WANT TO GET AROUND MUCH OF BOSTON.
SO I'M JOINING MY FELLOW VULNERABLE ROAD USERS IN CALLING FOR RESTARTING ALL THE POLIS PROJECTS. THE CITY HAS A LOT OF TRUST TO REBUILD SINCE A 30 DAY PAUSE
TURNED INTO OVER 400 DAYS. THAT MEANS ESPECIALLY ONES LIKE HYDE PARK HAVE THAT RESIDENTS TURNED OUT TIME AND AGAIN TO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A CITY MEETING WHERE RESIDENTS
WERE UNANIMOUS ON ANYTHING BUT THEY WERE UNANIMOUS ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR THAT. PROJECTS LIKE COLUMBUS HAVE PHASE TWO THAT THE MTA HAS SAID IS READY TO START WHEN THE CITY IS GOING TO LET THEM.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER US BUMP OUTS AND RACE CROSSINGS INSTEAD OF SPEED BUMPS OR ZIKA ZIPPERS AND CAST IN PLACE CURBS INSTEAD OF FLEX POST, I AM ALL FOR THAT. BUT GIVE US TIMELINES AND THEN DELIVER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH. ESTHER FROM DORCHESTER. OKAY. DANIEL CRUELLA WHICH OKAY.
SARAH FREEMAN. HARRY DOER, DORA STEVENS OR ASCII LIGHTEN YOU. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEXT.
HI EVERYONE. I'M SARAH FREEMAN FROM JP. UM LIKE MATT LAWLER SAID I DID SUBMIT UM WRITTEN COMMENTS SO
I'LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT AND I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID BEFORE ME. IN FACT IF YOU ADD UP THE THOUSANDS OF HOURS PEOPLE IN
THIS ROOM HAVE DEDICATED TOWARD TRYING TO GET SAFER STREETS, IT'S PRETTY HEARTBREAKING. THE WORK YOU'RE ASKING WHY A 30
DAY PAUSE IS LEAVE US IN LIMBO . A YEAR LATER WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM AND I
TRUST THAT WE WILL BE HEARING UPDATES ON ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE PAUSED ON HOW TO GET
A SPEED HUMP UM, RESTARTING DIALOG THAT HAS BROKEN SADLY UM REPLACE STUFF THE WE READ IN
THE GLOBE HAS LEFT UH, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT HOW DO WE TURN THIS INTO A POSITIVE ?
UM, I'M AFFILIATED WITH A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE HERE. UM, SO I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL, BUT, UM, I THINK WE
CAN LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES IF WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER AND REACH CONSENSUS. THE IT PROJECTS GET DONE AND WE
SHOULDN'T HAVE A FEW LOUD VOICES KILL A PROJECT OR, UH, LOOK. AT AN EMPTY BIKE LANE AND SAY NO ONE BIKES. LOOK AT THE PAUL DUDLEY WIPE PATH ON THE ESPLANADE OR LOOK
AT SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR. WHEN YOU BUILD A NEW PEOPLE USE IT. IS THAT MY TIME? YEAH. OH NO. IT'S OKAY SARAH. WE'LL WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN. I NOW KNOW. >> UM, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO ME.
UM. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER KNOWS HOW TO FIND ME. UH. >> HARRY. DOOR. HARRY DOOR. STEVEN SAWICKI AND THEN LIED TO YOU. OKAY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UH, MY NAME IS HARRY DORE. I'M AN ORDINARY CITIZEN LIVING IN ALLSTON. UH, I OWN ELECTRIC BIKE AND I'M A FREQUENT WRITER OF THE GREEN LINE. THE 66 AND THE 57. I MOVED TO BOSTON VERY RECENTLY
AND I CHOSE TO LIVE IN THIS CITY BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORIC WALKABILITY, ROBUST TRANSIT AND ACTIVELY EXPANDING BIKE NETWORK. I SAW HOW THE ADMINISTRATION PUSHED TO RAPIDLY EXPAND THE BIKE NETWORK AND SUPPORT
IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSIT. DURING HER FIRST TERM AND IN, IN AND IN A PRIMARY CAMPAIGN WHERE THE MAYOR'S LARGEST OPPONENT RAN AGAINST SAFE STREETS, I ALONG WITH TENS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER BOSTONIANS
VOTED FOR THEM. IN LIGHT OF ALL THAT, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR REPORTING ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION'S PIVOT TO PAUSING PROJECTS AND REMOVING BUS LANES AND SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTED
TO LEARN JUST TODAY THAT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET ZEROES OUT FUNDING FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO COME AVE WEST OF PACKARD'S CORNER, WHICH SHOULD GO RIGHT BY MY STREET
AND MAKE MY COMMUTE TO WORK BY BIKE MANY TIMES SAFER. THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR BREACH OF THE MAYOR'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES. WHILE THESE PROJECTS LANGUISH, FEDERAL FUNDS ARE AT RISK
OF BEING LOST. CARS CONTINUE TO POLLUTE AND ISOLATE OUR COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING INJURED AND DYING ON UNSAFE ROADS AND UNSAFE INTERSECTIONS. THIS IS NOT WHAT I VOTED FOR. I THANK THIS COMMITTEE FOR
CALLING THIS OVERSIGHT HEARING AND I CALL UPON THE MAYOR AND HER ADMINISTRATION TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS AND GET THIS CITY BUILDING SAFE STREETS AGAIN. YOU HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> HARRY. UM. STEPHEN SAWICKI.
HI. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS STEPHEN RISKY. I'M A PHYSICIST LIVING IN JP AND WORKING IN CAMBRIDGE. MY FAMILY AND I, WHICH INCLUDES OUR ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GET AROUND BOSTON PRIMARILY BY WALKING PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND BICYCLE. THE SAFE STREET PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR OUR LIVES HERE. I LIVE IN FOREST HILL STREET AND WHEN WE MOVED HERE OUR PARK ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL STREET HAD TRAFFIC CONSTANTLY EXCEEDING 50 MILES AN HOUR.
THE PROSPECT OF TAKING OUR DOG OUT OR STROLLING WITH OUR BABY BECAME A CONSTANT RISK. THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED BUMPS AS PART OF THE SEARCH WAS TRANSFORMATIVE. IT'S CRUCIAL TO WHY WE CAN ENJOY WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OUR FAMILY
TODAY. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT MAYOR WU HAS ALL BUT CEASED THIS PROGRAM DECIDING ALONG UH, WITH THE PEOPLE HERE THAT SAVING FRACTIONS OF A SECOND FOR RECKLESS DRIVERS IS A MORE
VALUE THAN THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND PARENTS LIKE ME BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THEIR BABIES. MR GOVE, YOU MENTIONED MOVING AWAY FROM ALGORITHMIC DECISIONS. THIS IS SEEM TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE MAYOR'S COLLABORATION
WITH GOOGLE TO AI OPTIMIZE INTERSECTIONS FOR HIGHER THROUGHPUT, WHICH IS STILL BEING ADVERTISED ON THE BOSTON WEBSITE. WHEN THE MAYOR STARTED THIS REVIEW LAST YEAR IT WAS ADVERTISED AS BEING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD CONSENSUS.
YET MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE ROLLBACKS WERE MADE WITHOUT A SINGLE MEETING CLAIM. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS BUT ANYONE WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD THE BEAT ONLY EVER RECEIVED A FORMAL LETTER BACK FROM MUHAMMAD.
PHYSICALLY GOING TO BDD AND TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THERE RESULTED IN THE SAME EXPERT STAFF WHO WERE REPORTEDLY VICTIMS OF THE SAME FATE BOXED OUT OF DOING THEIR OWN JOBS AS THE MAYOR TOOK CONTROL TO DELAY
PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY. AGAIN THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT A SINGLE MEETING. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY CONSENSUS HERE? MR GROVE, YOU MENTIONED ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE UNDER YOUR PREDECESSOR. THE NOTABLE WORD THERE IS PREDECESSOR.
YOUR JOB IMPLIED IN RECENT NEWS RECORDINGS WAS MAKING THE PEOPLE WHO CARRIED OUT THOSE PROJECTS SO MISERABLE THAT THEY QUIT. YOU TOUTED YOUR PLAN TO INSTALL MORE SPEED BUMPS THIS YEAR. IF I HEARD RIGHT, I THINK THE NUMBER WAS 100 THAT WOULD
AMOUNT TO TWO PER SQUARE MILE OF BOSTON. AND AS THE OTHER COMMENTER MACHIN MENTIONED ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES IN RECENT MEMORY. UM SIMILARLY WITH CROSSWALKS AND BUMP OUTS THIS SEEMS TO
HAVE BECOME ALMOST A RUNNING JOKE. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. WE NEVER SEE THEM IN BOSTON. UM, YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY CONFIRMED WHAT WE WERE ALL WORRIED ABOUT. WE REALLY ARE SAYING GUTTED AND LOSING OUR SAFE STREETS.
THANK YOU. UM, SO LISTEN, YOU AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO GIOVANNI ZOOM ZUNIGA. UM UZOMA OISHI.
UM, I THINK ELIJAH EVANS ISN'T HERE ANYMORE. PATRICIA O'CONNOR'S MATTHIAS I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM. OKAY, THAT'S THE LIST. IF YOU GUYS COULD GET IN LINE.
GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LIN CHEN. YOU AND I AM AN AUSTIN BRYANT RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BRIGHTON HOW COLLABORATIVE AUSTIN BRYAN IS
THE SECOND BIGGEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN BOSTON AND IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND THUS DEPENDS ON TRANSIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAVELING THROUGH AS WELL AS
FUTURE RESIDENTS. THIS WAS ALREADY UNDERSTOOD WHEN THE AUSTIN BRIGHTON MOBILITY PLAN WAS FINALIZED AND ADOPTED IN 2021 BY THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT AND I STAND HERE IN 2026 WITH ONLY A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTED UPON AND MANY OF THE VISIONS SEEMINGLY SHOWED IN THE FILING CABINET TO
THE PLANNERS, RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SPENT NEARLY THREE YEARS TO GATHER OPINIONS, DEVISE PROPOSALS AND ENVISION WHAT THE COMMUNITY
WANTS ONLY TO NOW HEAR THAT WE NEED TO GATHER MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO GET IT RIGHT. IT'S EVEN MORE DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT BOSTON MIGHT LOSE POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF FUNDING
TOWARDS THESE PROJECTS. THE TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY COMMITTEE OF THE ABC CONDUCTED A SURVEY REGARDING MOBILITY IN THE BRIGHTON CENTER LAST YEAR,
WHEN THE CITY HAD PROPOSED TO INSTALL A DEDICATED BUSTLING FOR THE 57 BUS ONE OF THE ROUTES WITH THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP IN THE CITY. YES, SLOWEST BUSSES IN THE
CITY. OUR SURVEY FOUND THAT MAJORITY . OF THE PEOPLE FREQUENTING BRIGHTON CENTER HAD DESIRES FOR SAFER CROSSWALKS, INCREASED BUS
SERVICES AND MICROMOBILITY OPTIONS. THE SAME THING FIVE YEARS AGO WITH NONE OF THE CHANGES, I URGE THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO NO LONGER SIT ON THE YEARS AND
DOLLARS SPENT ON STUDYING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACT TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER AND HEALTHIER BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT GREAT TRANSPORTATION CAN DO FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, I READ A BUNCH OF NAMES. OH, PERFECT. YOU'RE HERE. OKAY, SO WE'LL GO TO YOU AND THEN IF YOU ARE WAITING TO TESTIFY IF YOU COULD JUST STAND UP AND GET IN LINE. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
OH. >> YEP. YEAH. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. JUST SO. I WAS PRESSED FOR TIME AND, UH, I FAILED TO MENTION WASHINGTON STREET AND WEST ROXBURY TO, UH
,TO MR GROVE. IT IS IT LISTED IN MY MEMO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, I, UH OKAY. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. I SUPPORT THIS. FORM EXPLAINING TO DO I. SUPPORT WHAT THIS IS. OKAY. >> GO AHEAD. OKAY.
UM. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR DURKAN. SO I PUT OUT 17 COPIES PER THE THE CITY'S WEBSITE THEY SUGGESTED BRINGING COPIES FOR. YEAH. >> IF YOU LEAVE THEM RIGHT HERE, WE'LL. BE OVER HERE. YES. OKAY, GREAT.
OKAY. MAY IT PLEASE THE CITY COUNCIL? MY NAME IS PATRICIA CONNORS AND I'M A 72 YEAR OLD AVID CYCLIST . I LIVE IN WEST ROXBURY AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE WEST ROCKS
BIKES A STEERING COMMITTEE. CYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS AND I DARESAY MOST MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S RECONSTRUCTION OF CENTER STREET IN 2023.
THIS REDESIGN STRETCHING FROM THE HOLY NAME ROTARY TO LAGRANGE STREET, REDUCED TRAVEL LANES TO ONE IN EACH DIRECTION, ADDED A CENTER TURN LANE AND
INSTALLED BIKE LANES. BY MOST ACCOUNTS, THIS RECONSTRUCTION HAS ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES OF ENHANCING SAFETY, REDUCING SERIOUS CRASHES AND IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW.
HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL UPGRADES ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE TO DATE . PRESENTLY, MOTORISTS OFTEN PARK OFF THE CURB ILLEGALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF CENTER STREET
BLOCKS ALONG THE BIKE LANE, PARTICULARLY THOSE CLOSE TO TAKE OUT ENTERPRISES, THEREBY PREVENTING CYCLISTS FROM ENTERING THE BIKE LANE AT THESE SECTIONS OF THE BIKE LANE AND
FORCING THEM EITHER TO GET OFF THEIR BIKES TO WALK AROUND THE MOTOR VEHICLE OR TO TO TAKE THE LANE ON THE STREET. STREET INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO STOP THIS MOTOR
VEHICLE OBSTRUCTION SHOULD CONSIDER INCLUDING THE POSITIONING OF LARGE PLANTERS ALONGSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE BIKE LANE AT THE BEGINNING
OF EACH BLOCK, THUS PROVIDING A QUOTE GREEN BARRIER TO ILLEGAL AND OBSTRUCTIVE PARKING. OF NOTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINDSEY CHASE OF WEST ROXBURY
MAIN STREETS STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE PLACEMENT OF PLANTERS ON CENTER STREET AND THAT THEY SOFTEN LANDSCAPES I'M SORRY, SOFTEN HARD SCAPES, INTRODUCE
COLOR AND FOSTER A WELCOMING, WELL CARED FOR ATMOSPHERE IN ADDITION TO INCREASING STREET BEAUTIFICATION. THANK YOU. >> OKAY SORRY NO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THIS BECOMES PART OF THE PUBLIC.
OKAY THANK YOU CAITLIN AQUI. HI, I'M KATE VINICKY. UM. >> I'M A. >> COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN AUSTIN. BRIGHTON. UM, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER THREE. YEARS NOW.
UM, I REGULARLY. WALK DOWN. >> TO CATCH THE. BEE LINE. >> AND. I SEE THE. TRASH ALL. >> AROUND ME. I HOP OVER LARGE POOLS OF WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF BROKEN CURB CUTS. UM I CYCLE IN THE ROAD NEXT TO BIKE LANES FULL OF POTHOLES OR
GRAVEL. I WALK ON SIDEWALKS IN THE DARK, UNABLE TO TELL IF THE SLIGHT SHADOW IS A PILE OF LEAVES OR A HOLE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND ME REMINDS ME THAT I AM NOT WELCOME.
THE LIGHTS ON THESE ROADS ARE FOR CARS THAT PUDDLE AS I CROSS THE STREET REMINDS ME TO BE CAREFUL UM ENTERING A SPACE NOT MEANT FOR ME. THE TRASH SAYS NO ONE CARES.
YOU LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DON'T MATTER TODAY I WANT TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS STATUS QUO. I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT THE GREAT, UH, SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE BEEN SAYING.
UM, SPEED KILLS SPEED FORCES PEOPLE TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS TO RUN INTO THE TROLLEY LINES, UM, TO BLOCK OUR ACCESS TO PUBLIC
TRANSIT WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN DRIVERS ON COMMAS. WE DON'T WANT OR NEED A HIGHWAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ENFORCEMENT OF THE SPEED LIMIT IS NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH. WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE
DRIVERS SLOW DOWN TO THAT SPEED LIMIT SO THAT WE CAN CROSS TO GET TO THE TRAIN, TO GET TO THE LAUNDROMAT WHATEVER WE MAY NEED TO DO TO GO SEE OUR FRIENDS. ULTIMATELY I WANT TO RESUME ALL
OF THESE PAUSED PROJECTS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY AND I WANT SAFETY FOCUSED ENGINEERS AND LEADERS WHO WORK WITH COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT SAFE STREETS PROJECTS. WHEN RESIDENTS WALK OR ROLL
DOWN THE SIDEWALK OR BIKE LANE AND ACROSS THE STREET, WE SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND KNOW THAT OUR LIVES ARE VALUED AS MUCH AS THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PEOPLE IN CARS. THANKS. >> THANK YOU. ELIOT WIENER WEINER PERFECT.
HI MY NAME. >> IS ELI AND I LIVE IN ROSLINDALE. I WANT EVERYONE TO DROP THE IDEA THAT WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO STREET SAFETY. I'M A PARENT, I HAVE A FULL
TIME JOB AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH YOU. AND EVEN IF I DID, WHY DO I NEED TO ENGAGE WITH YOU IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THAT OUR STREETS SHOULD BE SAFE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SCARED
OF MY SON. BEING KILLED WHILE I'M WALKING HIM TO PRESCHOOL OR BIKING WITH HIM TO THE GROCERY STORE. DO I NEED TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY TO MAKE THE CASE FOR DRINK CLEAN DRINKING WATER THAT WHEN
I TURN ON THE KITCHEN SINK DRINKABLE WATER SHOULD COME OUT? THE CITY MAKES THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT ME HAVING TO ATTEND A MEETING ABOUT IT. WHEN I GO AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY FAMILY. I WANT US TO NOT DIE.
THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. IF THE COMMUNITY ISN'T OKAY WITH WHAT IT TAKES TO GUARANTEE THAT I DON'T REALLY CARE AND YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER. YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO ZERO TRAFFIC DEATHS. VISION ZERO THE WAYS TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT ARE NOT A MYSTERY. CITIES AROUND THE WORLD NEAR AND FAR HAVE ALREADY DONE A BETTER JOB AT IT THAN WE HAVE. COPY THEM. USE YOUR POWER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ELI. UM. SCOTT. KILLIAN KILCOYNE. SORRY. NO WORRIES. >> HI. I'M SCOTT KILCOYNE. UM. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS.
WE HAVE CONSENSUS. THE CITY HAS CONSENSUS. THEY KNOW EXACTLY. THEY SUPPRESS THE REPORT. UH, SURVEY LAST YEAR THAT SHOWED BIKE LANES AND SAFE STREETS PROJECTS ARE EXTREMELY
POPULAR AND THAT MOST OF THE, UH, RESISTANCE IS JUST FROM PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE IT. THE CITY HAS MAYOR WU HAS U-TURNED ON THE SAFE STREET
PROJECTS. SHE HAS, UH, HIDDEN AND SUPPRESSED THIS SURVEY. SHE IS HIDDEN AND SUPPRESSED. UH, EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT 30 DAY REVIEW AND WHO
ACTUALLY GOT INVOLVED IN THAT CONSENSUS BECAUSE TO ME AND TO EVERYONE ELSE AROUND IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THE CONSENSUS IS ONE BILLIONAIRE CHOOSING THAT WE
CAN'T HAVE SAFE STREETS ANYMORE BECAUSE HE DID NOT LIKE HAVING A BIKE LANE IN FRONT OF HIS MANSION DOWNTOWN. THAT IS NOT CONSENSUS. THE CONSENSUS SHOWS SAFE
STREETS ARE POPULAR AND NEED TO HAPPEN. THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DIE ON THE STREETS. THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THE OTHER BILLIONAIRE THAT RAN ON BIKE
LANES ARE TERRIBLE. WITH RUNNING OUT OF TOWN, SO HE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. LIKE THE CONSENSUS IS THAT BIKE LANES ARE GOOD AND WE WANT THEM
AND WE WANT YOU GUYS TO STOP PAUSING AND STOP LYING TO US. YOU SAID THERE WAS NO PAUSE. THEN WE HAVE THE COUNCIL TO ASK A SPECIFIC PROJECT. YOU SAID IT WITH 75% AND YOU'RE NOT WORKING ON IT ANYMORE.
THAT IS A PAUSE OR CANCELLATION. BUT YOU ALSO SAID NOTHING'S BEEN CANCELED. YOU KEEP SAYING THAT THERE ARE NO REMOVAL OF BIKE LANES. YOU REMOVED THE. FACILITY IF WE CAN'T USE THE
BIKE LANE BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE FLEX POST AND NOW CARS ARE PARKED IN IT. THAT IS A REMOVAL. DON'T LIE TO US. WE KNOW THE EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SCOTT. OKAY SO WE ARE MOVING TO
ONLINE. IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON AND YOU'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY TESTIFY ,SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. OKAY. ONE ONE LAST PERSON OR MORE PEOPLE.
OKAY. IF YOU ARE TESTIFYING, PLEASE GET IN LINE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, HI. >> MY NAME IS DANIEL FROM. JAMAICA PLAIN. BEEN IN. >> BOSTON RESIDENT FOR EIGHT YEARS. UM, I'M A DRIVER.
I'M A CYCLIST AND PEDESTRIAN. I THINK MOST OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE SOME COMBINATION OF THOSE THREE THINGS. UM, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT, UH, DRIVERS TAKE THE SPACE WE
GIVE THEM AND SPACE GIVEN TO DRIVERS TAKES AWAY FROM EVERYONE ELSE. AND IF YOU TAKE SPACE AWAY FROM ME AS A DRIVER, THAT GIVES ME SPACE AS A CYCLIST, RIGHT? UM, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT WHAT EVERYONE
HAS SAID TODAY IS IMPORTANT AND UH, I AM FRUSTRATED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. AND IF I HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET A SHOVEL I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADED. I DON'T WANT TO BE LA. I DON'T HAVE TO PAINT SIDEWALKS
FOR MYSELF. I WANT SAFE STREETS. THANK YOU. ARE YOU DANIEL CRAVAT? >> NO. OKAY. >> COULD YOU PLEASE SIGN IN? OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. PERFECT. YOU'RE NEXT. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED IN
YET, PLEASE SIGN IN. THANK YOU. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS DANIEL TUCKER. I'M A DORCHESTER RESIDENT. I RECEIVED A STATE E-BIKE VOUCHER. UH, LAST AUGUST. AND I. STARTED BACK COMMUTING TO
CAMBRIDGE AND QUITE FRANKLY IT CHANGED MY LIFE AND JUST YESTERDAY I LEARNED HOW MUCH IT'S CHANGED. MY HEALTH. UH, MY I HAD A HEART ATTACK 12 YEARS AGO.
MY CARDIAC FUNCTION IS BETTER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BECAUSE I RIDE MY BIKE VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE NOW. AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, I OWN A CAR. I BIKE, I TAKE THE T UM I
CHOOSE TO BIKE FOR MY HEALTH AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO ME BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE LONGER. I ALSO DON'T WANT TO DIE IN TRAFFIC RIGHT?
THE PROCESS DESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER IS NO PROCESS. I'M A MANAGER. A PROCESS INVOLVES STEPS. A PROCESS INVOLVES AN OUTLINE OF WHAT TO DO AND HOW THINGS WORK.
AND I'VE NOT HEARD THAT. WHY CAN'T I SEE THIS MASSIVE SPREADSHEET THAT THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED? I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT. IS IT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC? WHAT ARE THE MILESTONES? WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE GOALPOSTS
? THE SAME THING A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SPEED HUMPS. THEY'RE GREAT. I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENT THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT ANSWER. BUMP OUTS RAISE CROSSWALKS
BRILLIANT SOLUTIONS IN IN PLACES. BUT WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR THAT? HOW DO I AS A CITIZEN ADVOCATE FOR A SPECIFIC THING OTHER THAN
THROUGH THE ELECTED? UM IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ME AND AS THE PREVIOUS UH PREVIOUS SPEAKER ALSO SAID THE EXAMPLES ARE OUT THERE OTHER WORLD CLASS CITIES HAVE DONE IT.
PARIS HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE WORK IS THERE. THE PLANNERS KNOW MOHAMMED YOU KNOW WHAT CAN AND. >> SHOULD BE DONE. AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT. AND THIS 30 DAY PAUSE THAT HAS
TURNED TO 14 MONTHS IS NONSENSE. SO THANK YOU. MY TIME IS UP. I APPRECIATE THE THE COUNCIL'S CALLING THIS HEARING AND THE PRESENCE OF THE COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. >> AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED IN
YET JUST MAKE SURE YOU SIGN IN AND THEN WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ONLINE TESTIMONY. SO WE HAVE MOVED ON FROM PUBLIC TESTIMONY INDOORS. ERIC YOU ARE NEXT AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH MOLLY PHELPS ONLINE ALLEGRA COHEN KELLY MCGRATH KATHY MCCABE, LOUIS GRUNER, BEN CROWTHER, RICHARD MURPHY AND
THAT'S THE ORDER WE'RE GOING IN. SO. AND I HAD A GOAL TO GET US OUT HERE BY 530 AND I THINK WE JUST MIGHT DO IT.
SO. I'M READY. YES GO AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS ERIC HERON. I'M A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN. UM, I THINK IT'S, UH,
COUNCILOR DURKAN FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. IT'S ACTUALLY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND, UH, REALLY GLAD TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE TO OFFER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE, UM,
TO THE MAYOR SINCE SHE'S OBVIOUSLY DECIDED TO SEE THE ENTIRE, UH, CAMPAIGN ISSUE OF STREET SAFETY IN FAVOR OF, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT ALMOST
EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTED HER UM, UH, RAN ON. UH, AND INSTEAD SUGGEST THAT I DON'T ACTUALLY THINK IN HER WHAT APPEARS TO BE INEVITABLE CAMPAIGN, UH, FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR STATEWIDE
OFFICE OR WHATEVER, UM, GETTING PROJECTS DONE WHETHER EVEN IF THEY MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL ONES IS I THINK ULTIMATELY. UM IT IS IT'S THE ANSWER TO WHAT GETS YOU ELECTED. SO I JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT THIS APPROACH OF SIDELINING THINGS AND NOT REALLY HAVING ANY ANSWER TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR STREETS NOT DEALING WITH THE STREET SAFETY ISSUE WHATSOEVER.
IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A WINNING APPROACH NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE DOING. UM THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY AND I JUST I WANT TO ECHO ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT CAME BEFORE ME. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXCELLENT
THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID AND AND I CAN'T TOP THEM SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU ERIC. UM NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ALEGRIA COHEN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU. UM. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ALEX COHEN. I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN. UM, AND I WORRY EVERY DAY THAT MY HUSBAND IS GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR. UH, HE'S BEEN CUT OFF.
HE HAS BEEN ILL. HE HAS BEEN PHYSICALLY THREATENED BY DRIVERS ON HIS BIKE. UM, SOMEONE LITERALLY PUT THEIR CAR IN PARK ONCE AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO CHASE HIM. UM, THERE'S ONE CROSSWALK THAT
WE CONSISTENTLY ALMOST EAT TOGETHER EVERY SINGLE TIME WE GO THROUGH IT. UM, AND OKAY, THAT'S REALLY AWFUL, BUT THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT IT'S SUPER VALUABLE DATA THAT NOBODY IS ASKING FOR US.
US FOR. >> UM, SO RESIDENTS ARE EXPERTS IN HOW TO SURVIVE IN BOSTON. YOU SHOULD BE ASKING US ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE AUTOMATED TOOLS NOW LIKE CONVERSATIONAL SURVEYS, UH, THAT CAN TALK TO RESIDENTS
AT SCALE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS. UM, AND SO THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE NOT TO GET REAL TIME DATA FROM RESIDENTS. WHAT'S MORE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE DATA, SEE THE AGREEMENTS AND THE
DISAGREEMENTS AND HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW IT RESPONDS TO THOSE DATA. UM, AND THIS IS WELL WITHIN THE POWER OF A GOOD I-TEAM. I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS FOLKS IN THAT DEPARTMENT WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS KIND OF THING.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE NOT USING TECHNOLOGY TO PAINT A CLEARER AND MORE TRANSPARENT PICTURE OF TRANSIT SAFETY, UM, THEN YOU HAVEN'T REALLY REDESIGNED YOUR PROCESS IN ANY KIND OF MEANINGFUL WAY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU ALLEGRA. UM, KELLY MCGRATH AND THEN KATHY MCCABE. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS KELLY MCGRATH AND.
>> I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BRIGHT MAIN STREETS. AND I. >> AM HERE. REPRESENTING THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE WESTERN OUT CORRIDOR, NORTH BEACON STREET AND OTHER SMALL
BUSINESS DISTRICTS SINCE LATE 2024 APPROXIMATELY 150 PARKING SPACES WERE REMOVED FROM THIS CORRIDOR WITHOUT A COMPREHENSIVE MITIGATION PLAN. OVER THE PAST YEAR OUR BUSINESSES HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
ASKED OF THEM. THEY ORGANIZED. THEY MET WITH CITY STAFF, THEY PARTICIPATED IN WALKTHROUGHS AND PROVIDED DETAILED FEEDBACK AND SOLUTIONS.
AND YET NEARLY A YEAR LATER THERE'S STILL WAITING FOR ACTION. AND THAT TIME BUSINESSES HAVE REPORTED A 20 TO 25% LOSS IN BUSINESS.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST ONE BUSINESS A BLACK OWNED WOMAN BUSINESS THE HOUSE OF ARTS AND CRAFTS. OTHERS ARE NOW PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE PARKING JUST TO STAY OPEN.
THEY'RE ALSO FACING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. PARENTS ARE DROPPING OFF CHILDREN AND BIKE LANES. DELIVERIES AND RIDESHARE PICK UPS ARE HAPPENING AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND BUSSES CANNOT PROPERLY PULL OVER.
THIS IS NOT A THEORETICAL ISSUE. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE OR ANY OTHER SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS. WE'RE ASKING FOR EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ONE THAT WORKS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE KNOW THIS IS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE SECTIONS OF WESTERN AVE NEAR THE LAB WORKS BUILDING WHERE BIKE LANES AND PARKING COEXIST SUCCESSFULLY. THE MODEL WORKS AND IT PROVES THAT BALANCE IS ACHIEVABLE.
SO TODAY WE'RE ASKING FOR ACTION RESTORE LIMITED PARKING WHERE FEASIBLE. LOOK TO REOPEN OR RESTORE RESIDENTIAL PARKING ANALYSIS BASED ON THE REAL RESIDENTS
THAT LIVE IN THOSE SIDE STREETS . CREATE DESIGNATED LOADING AND DROPOFF ZONES. ADDRESS AMENDMENT. OH OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY.
UH, KATHY MCCABE, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. I THANK YOU. I'M KATHY MCCABE AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LONGFELLOW AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE PROJECTS, UM, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF ADVANCEMENT, UM, TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION. ONE IS THE SIGNALS AND SIDEWALK
PROJECT FOR SOUTH WALTER ROBERT UH, STREETS BY FALLON FIELD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE UNDERSTOOD THIS PROJECT WAS AT 95% DESIGN READY TO GO OUT FOR BID IN FALL OF 2025 BUT IT
DID NOT. UM, THE SIGNALS ARE OLD AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. SIDEWALKS ARE IN POOR CONDITION. THE SOUTH ROBERT INTERSECTION
HAS A DANGEROUS FEATURE. THE RIGHT TURN LANE FROM ROBERT ONTO SOUTH IS VIA A SLIP LANE THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE SIGNAL. INSTEAD THERE'S A STOP SIGN
WHERE DRIVER NONCOMPLIANCE HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO BE ONLY 60 TO 70% AND THIS IS A SLIP LANE THAT ONE NEEDS TO CROSS TO EVEN PRESS THE PEDESTRIAN BUTTON SO
THEY COULD CROSS THE STREET. WE NEED TO FIX THIS INTERSECTION AND GET THE STREETS AND SIGNALS PROJECT MOVING. THE SECOND PROJECT IS WALTER STREET SOUTH STREETS, SIDEWALKS
AND CROSSWALKS. LORNA HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THESE THESE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OVER A DECADE FOR SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS FROM BUZZY BROOK AND WALTER TO FALLON FIELD SOUTH STREET.
WE ORGANIZED THIS TRACK. WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT . UM, AND AFTER THAT WAS OVER A DECADE AGO WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS WANTED SLOWER SPEEDS,
SAFER WALKING AND BICYCLING CONDITIONS AND THE ABILITY TO SAFELY CROSS WALTER STREET AS WELL AS SAFELY WALKING ALONG WALTER STREET. SIDEWALKS ARE UNEVEN, PRONE TO
PUDDLING AND ICING. THEY ARE LARGELY NOT ADA COMPLIANT PERSON USING A WALKER WHEELCHAIR OR PUSHING A STROLLER CANNOT SAFELY TRAVEL ON THE SIDEWALKS.
BUMPY WITH TRIP FACTORS INCLUDING UTILITY CAPS, HEAVED ASPHALT AND CURBS SIDEWALKS. SIDEWALKS ARE POORLY LIT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE TRIP HAZARDS IN THE DUSK AND
EVENING. SO WE NEED TO LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENT. LORNA WANTS CONCRETE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE ADA HIGH. AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WALL WELD AND CENTER STREET.
WE SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS. WE'VE DONE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU. >> OKAY LUCAS IS NEXT AND THEN BEN CROWTHER. THANK YOU COUNCILORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM I WANT TO START BY SAYING I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE STALLING OF PROJECTS DESPITE THE CITY'S OWN DATA
SHOWING THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR. HOWEVER, I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON A FEW OTHER THINGS. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR TODAY THAT THE STREETS CABINET IS LOOKING TO FOLLOW GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES AND COORDINATE SAFETY WORK WITH REPAIR.
UM WE NEED MORE OF THIS IS THE DEFAULT. AS AN EXAMPLE THERE'S A NEW APARTMENT PROJECT IN JP THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ROCKVILLE CIRCLE, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO INDICATION THAT ANY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE DESPITE THE STREET BEING
EXTREMELY WIDE A DEAD END AND OPENING UP ON TO BUSY WASHINGTON STREET. IT'S ALSO GOOD TO HEAR THAT THE CABINET IS TRYING TO CONSIDER WHAT THE BEST TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ARE FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD. UM BUT THE CURRENT PROCESS NEEDS TO IMPROVE AND MY
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH RESIDENTS OF THE STONY BROOK NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY HAS BEEN ACTING AS IF SPEED HUMPS ARE ADEQUATE TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH RAT RUNNING DURING RUSH HOUR, WHICH RESIDENTS KNOW IS NOT TRUE. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO URGE YOU TO CONSIDER FLUSH STREETS AND
SHARED STREETS. MANY PARTS OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND JP ARE PERFECT CANDIDATES FOR THIS. THEY'RE VERY NARROW SIDEWALKS THAT ARE NOT ADA COMPLIANT AND ARE EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED BY TELEPHONE POLES, TREES AND
DRIVEWAY RAMPS. UH, MOST OF THESE STREETS ALSO HAVE VERY LOW TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND PEOPLE TYPICALLY WALK IN THE STREET ANYWAY. UM WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST YEAR, I JUST
DON'T TRUST THE CITY TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE THINGS. UM, HEARING THE CLAIM TODAY THAT NO PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PAUSED DOES NOT GIVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THE STREETS CABINET IS BEING ALLOWED TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH. UM I KNOW THAT THE TALENTED
STAFF AT BTD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO STOP WORKING ON CERTAIN SAFETY PROJECTS. UM, BARRIERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM BIKE LANES NOTABLY EN MASSE WITH NO PUBLIC PROCESS OR EXPLANATION. THE BEACON STREET BIKE LANES NEVER FINISHED CONSTRUCTION AT THE ARLINGTON STREET
INTERSECTION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO UPDATES ON THE PUBLIC GARDEN CROSSINGS AND OR SOUTH ACTION PLAN THE STATE STREET REDESIGN COLUMBUS HAVE BUS LANES EXTENSION. UH I THINK THAT ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT CHARLES STREET SOUTH AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS FOR AT
LEAST A YEAR. UH THE ONLY UPDATE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE SEEN HAS BEEN HAVING THEIR FUNDING CUT OR ELIMINATED BY THE MAYOR'S LATE THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL. UM, MAYOR BOO HAS BEEN COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR POLICY RECENTLY ON STREET
SAFETY AND AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHE ACTUALLY BELIEVES OR WHAT HER MOTIVATIONS ARE. UM, WE NEED REAL ACTIONS AND NOT WORDS TO REGAIN PUBLIC TRUST ON THIS STUFF AT THIS POINT. JUST LOOK ACROSS THE RIVER TO SEE WHAT KIND OF POLICY MEETS
THE REAL RESULTS. THANK YOU. BEN CROWTHER YOUR NEXT AND YOUR LAST. OH EVERYONE AND BANKER OUT THERE. I'M A RESIDENT UM THE ROSLINDALE WEST ROXBURY LINE ALONG CENTER STREET.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LONGFELLOW AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD. UM, WE'VE CHEERED THE STEPS. >> THAT THE CITY HAVE TAKEN TO IMPROVE SAFE STREETS. UNDER MAYOR ROOF'S. FIRST TERM. AND WE REALLY NEED MORE ACTION NOW.
UM, LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, I ALSO FEEL BETRAYED BY VOTING FOR MAYOR WU. UM, THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL PROGRESS SINCE MARCH OF 2025 UNSAFE STREETS. >> IS. INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC,
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ANY CLEAR EXPLANATION FOR THE LACK OF UPDATES. I'LL SPEAK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE REMAINS TO BE SO MUCH MORE TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLIST AND DRIVER SAFETY AND
THIS SEEMS LIKE THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE CITY. UM, AT THE INTERSECTION OF WALWORTH AND SOUTH STREET NEXT TO FALLON FIELD. UH, INSTALLED A NO RIGHT TURN ON A RED SIGN AFTER WE ASKED
THAT'S AN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR ADOPTED GUIDANCE IN 2023. UM, ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THEY INSTALLED IT, THEY TOOK IT DOWN WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. THERE'S CHILDREN THAT CROSS, UH ,TO THE PARK CONSTANTLY.
A PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST HAD BOTH BEEN HIT THERE IN 2024. WE SENT A LETTER IN 2020 DECEMBER 2025 WITH THE REQUEST FOR AN EXPLANATION AND RESPONSE THAT ONCE A QUICK FIX.
UH, WE WORKED WITH BPD AND PLANS FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NEARBY HULETT SOUTH. WALTER ROBERTS INTERSECTION WAS HIT THERE IN 2023. THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE PC.
UH, THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND SIGNAL UPGRADES. AND MARCH 2025. WE'VE ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON PROJECT TIMING AND STATUS. NO ANSWER. UH, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY AND INVESTING IN SAFE STREETS,
IT'S JUST IT'S COSTING LIVES AND IT'S COSTING BOSTON RESIDENTS MONEY. WHEN I MOVED HERE, UH, FROM LAGRANGE STREET IN WEST ROXBURY A LITTLE OVER A MILE AWAY. MY CAR INSURANCE RATES DOUBLED BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CRASHES IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO SOMETHING URGENTLY NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE OUR CITY STREETS SAFER FOR DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS. AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND BTV NEED TO RESUME THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN THIS HEARING. UH, ALL OF THESE DOCKETS WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PUBLIC ,UH, TESTIMONY. WE HAD OVER 47 PEOPLE TESTIFY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OVER BUT WE HAVE FOUGHT. WE HAD AT LEAST 47 PEOPLE TESTIFY. AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE TESTAMENT TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS WORK. AND SO, UH, THIS HEARING ON
DOCKET 02040588 AND 0589 IS ADJOURNED.