GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALLED TO ORDER TODAY'S MEETING OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. VIEWERS CAN WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON DOG GO FORWARD SLASH CITY DASH COUNCIL DASH TV.
AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELLPHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES. ALSO PURSUANT TO RULE 42 I REMIND ALL IN THIS CHAMBER THERE IS NO DEMONSTRATION OR PROOF OF APPROVAL OR
DISAPPROVAL FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PERMITTED. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BRAYDON, YOU'RE COUNCILOR COLORED AS A PART OF COUNCILOR DURKAN.
COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCIL FLYNN COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR PIPPIN. COUNCILOR SANTANA.
YEAH. COUNCILOR WHETHER YOU'RE IN COUNCILOR WORRELL QUORUM IS CORRECT. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY. REVEREND HEATHER KINCANNON FROM THEODORE PARKER CHURCH IN WEST ROXBURY INVITED BY COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AFTER THE INVOCATION WILL
RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO BRING THE THANK YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM SO GLAD TO INTRODUCE REVEREND HEATHER HEATHER CONCANNON FOR THIS WEEK'S INVOCATION. REVEREND CONCANNON HAS LIVED IN BOSTON SINCE 2006 AND SERVES AS
THE MINISTER AT THE THEODORE PARKER UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN WEST ROXBURY. PRIOR TO THEODORE PARKER CHURCH, REVEREND KINCANNON
SERVED FOR NEARLY A DECADE AS THE MINISTER OF FAITH FORMATION AT THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST AREA CHURCH IN SHERBORNE, MASSACHUSETTS. I HAD THE RIGHT BEFORE THAT SHE EARNED HER MASTER'S OF DIVINITY
DEGREE FROM ANDOVER NEWTON THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL, AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES AT SIMMONS COLLEGE HERE IN BOSTON. AS REVEREND KINCANNON HAS A
CERTIFICATE IN PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING AND BRINGS WITH HER A PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING MEANING MAKING FOR ALL AGES AS WELL AS A PASSION FOR RITUAL
AND WORSHIP. THROUGH HER MINISTRY, REVEREND KINCANNON IS COMMITTED TO CREATING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN GROW IN THEIR FAITH. AS A LIFELONG UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST, SHE KNOWS FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF THIS TRADITION TO SHAPE LIVES AND BUILD BELOVED COMMUNITIES. OUTSIDE OF CHURCH, REVEREND KINCANNON ENJOYS POTTERY
DIGGING IN THE GARDEN, GETTING OUTSIDE, PLAYING BOARD GAMES. I DON'T KNOW. ONE IN PARTICULAR. OKAY. I AM IN NEED SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR MY KIDS BUT AND ALSO AND SINGING.
SHE LIVES IN ROSLINDALE SO A CONSTITUENT OF CANCER EPIPENS WITH HER PARTNER JUST IN THEIR THREE KIDS, TWO CATS AND A
HOUSEMATE FAMILY THEY SHARE THEY SHARE THE HOUSE WITH. AND BY HER OWN ADMISSION AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF HOUSEPLANTS.
SO IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME REVEREND REVEREND HEATHER TODAY AND NOW LEAVE IT TO YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND THE INVITATION . COUNCILOR RUBBER AND AS COUNCILOR RUBBER MENTIONED I HAVE BEEN A BOSTON RESIDENT SINCE 2006 AND I LOVE THIS CITY . IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU
ALL TODAY AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. I AM AS COUNCILOR WEBER MENTIONED, A UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTER AND IN OUR TRADITION ONE OF OUR CORE
VALUES IS THAT OF INTERDEPENDENCE. WE KNOW THAT OUR LIVES AND OUR SURVIVAL AND OUR WELL-BEING IS FUNDAMENTALLY AND INEXTRICABLY LINKED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
WITH OUR EARTH AND THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE OF US AFFECTS THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM. WE KNOW THAT THE VERY AIR WE BREATHE HAS CIRCULATED THROUGHOUT OUR PLANET FOR MILLENNIA HAS BEEN CREATED BY
THE PLANT LIFE AROUND US AND BY THE OCEANS ORGANISMS. AND WE KNOW TOO THAT THE FOOD THAT WE EAT DEPENDS ON THE BEES AND THE BUTTERFLIES THAT GO FROM BLOSSOM TO BLOSSOM POLLINATING EACH PLANT THAT OUR
FOOD IS GROWN AND HARVESTED AND TRANSPORTED TO OUR CITY BY PEOPLE WE WILL LIKELY NEVER MEET AND WE KNOW THAT HARM DONE TO ONE AREA RIPPLES OUT AND EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE INITIAL
INJURY AND THAT CARETAKING IN ANY AREA AND OF REPAIR AND HEALING IN ANY AREA BENEFITS THE WHOLE PARKER PALMER, A QUAKER TEACHER AND WRITER, SAYS
THAT POLITICS IS THE ESSENTIAL AND ETERNAL HUMAN EFFORT TO CRAFT THE COMMON LIFE ON WHICH WE ALL DEPEND. AND I THINK SOMETIMES IN OUR WORLD WE FORGET THIS.
WE FORGET OUR INTERDEPENDENCE THAT WE ARE HERE FOR EACH OTHER AND WE ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE IN AN EFFORT TO CRAFT THAT COMMON LIFE HERE IN OUR CITY, THAT
COMMON LIFE ON WHICH WE ALL DEPEND. SO I INVITE US TO JOIN IN A SPIRIT OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER AND I INVITE US TO START BY
TAKING A BREATH TOGETHER SPIRIT OF LIFE DIVINE SPARK THAT FLOWS THROUGH ALL OF HUMANITY KNOWN
BY MANY NAMES AND ACROSS MANY TRADITIONS. TODAY WE TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND TO REMEMBER OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS.
WE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOT ISOLATED BEINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT COME TO THIS MOMENT SOLELY AS INDIVIDUALS BUT THAT WE ARE PART ALWAYS OF LARGER
ECOSYSTEMS FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES, SPIRIT OF LIFE HELP US TO REMEMBER THAT WE DEPEND ON
ONE ANOTHER, THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AFFECT THE WHOLE AND THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER THRIVE. HELP US TO TURN TOWARD
COMPASSION INSTEAD OF COMPETITION TOWARDS COOPERATION INSTEAD OF CONFLICT . HELP US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE INTERCONNECTED IN MORE WAYS
THAN WE CAN KNOW AND THAT THAT IS BOTH A MYSTERY AND A MIRACLE SPIRIT OF LIFE. MAY OUR ELECTED LEADERS SERVE AS STEWARDS OF OUR INTERDEPENDENCE.
MAY OUR ELECTED LEADERS HELP US TO CRAFT A COMMON LIFE THAT SERVES THE WHOLE AND MAY THEY SEEK TO BUILD A WORLD AND A CITY THAT HONORS OUR INTERDEPENDENCE A WORLD WHERE
WE TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER, A PLACE WHERE ALL ARE HELD WITH DIGNITY, COMPASSION AND IN COMMUNITY A CITY WHERE ALL MIGHT THRIVE.
MAY IT BE SO AND AMEN. WE WILL NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF AMERICA AND TO THE
REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, REVEREND PARKER, FOR THAT FOR REVEREND KINCANNON, FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL INVOCATION AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILOR WEBER FOR INVITING HER. IT IS TODAY WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS ONE FROM CANCER PREP N RECOGNIZING OUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND ONE FROM
COUNCILOR WEBER RECOGNIZING DANIELLE JOHNSON COUNSELOR BUT
THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND 5 MINUTES COME ON, IT'S YOUR DAY.
IT'S HERITAGE.
IT'S THE NEXT GRADE.
YOU'RE GOING THAT'S HOW TO
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE FRONT IN THE FRONT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT ,ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR TO CELEBRATE A GROUP OF UNSUNG
HEROES OUR DEDICATED SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN HONOR OF NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY WHICH WILL BE NEXT WEEK ON APRIL 22ND TO ALL OF THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS HERE IN BOSTON.
I WANT TO SAY THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THANK YOU. EVERY MORNING BEFORE THE SUN RISES YOU START YOUR DAY WITH A MISSION TO SAFELY TRANSPORT OUR MOST PRECIOUS CARGO OUR
CHILDREN IN EVERY AFTERNOON AFTER A LONG DAY YOU MAKE SURE THEY RETURN HOME JUST AS SAFELY. YOU ARE THE FIRST FRIENDLY FACE OUR STUDENTS SEE IN THE MORNING AND THE LAST ONE THEY SEE
BEFORE HEADED HOME RAIN OR SHINE THROUGH TRAFFIC SNOW STORMS AND EARLY MORNINGS YOU SHOW UP YOU DO SO WITH PATIENCE ,WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND WITH
A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY . WHAT YOU DO IS NOT EASY AND YET YOU DO IT WITH GRACE, WITH CARE AND WITH UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND A CITY LIKE BOSTON WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DIVERSE AND
SPREAD OUT AND COMPLICATED STREETS, YOUR ROLE IS EVEN MORE VITAL. YOU ARE THE CONNECTION THAT HELPS BRIDGE FAMILIES TO SCHOOLS THAT SUPPORTS WORK AND PARENTS AND THAT GIVES OUR STUDENTS A STABLE AND TRUSTED
ROUTINE EACH DAY YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST DRIVERS AS WELL YOU ARE PROTECTORS MENTORS SOMETIMES EVEN COUNSELORS. YOU KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE.
YOU OFFER A KIND WORD AND PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE DURING THE QUIET MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL I PERSONALLY TOOK THE BUS FOR SIX YEARS FROM
KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE AND I REMEMBER MR SIMPSON ON 95 HE WOULD ASK ME EVERY DAY IF I HAD A GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL AND IF MY MOM WASN'T AT THE CORNER OF MY BUS STOP HE WOULD GO OUT OF HIS
WAY TO DROP ME OFF IN FRONT OF MY BUILDING. SO THANK YOU MR SIMPSON. WE DON'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. SO TODAY WE'RE PAUSING TO MAKE IT CLEAR WE SEE YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU. WE VALUE MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOSTON COMMUNITY OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY OUR BOSTON CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO, THE MILES YOU DRIVE, THE EARLY ALARMS YOU SET AND THE CARE YOU GIVE YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS CITY MOVE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL EVERY SINGLE DAY HAPPY NATIONAL BUS
DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS AMANDA MARCELLUS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS UNION AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO THIS BODY. A SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU
MR PEPEN, FOR THIS GREAT HONOR. WE ARE PLEASED HONORED TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER STANDING BY ME AND THOSE 800 PLUS MORE WE CANNOT MAKE IT HERE.
WE APPRECIATE THIS. YOU ALWAYS GOT YOUR BACK AND STEPPED UP AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR THIS AGAIN, WE ARE HONORED WE LIKE YOU SAID WE TRANSPORT THE MOST PRECIOUS CARGO AND THOSE ARE OUR KIDS ON
THOSE BUSSES AND WE VALUE WHAT WE DO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.
SO ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT RICHARD LOUIJEUNE AND MYSELF WE WANT TO PRESENT THEM WITH A RESOLUTION DECLARING APRIL 22ND, 2025 AS SCHOOL BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PICTURE.
OH HOW CAN I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL? COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT PART.
I KNOW IT'S REALLY LUCKY EACH OTHER BECAUSE YOU GOT GUYS GUYS
PINNED DOWN IN FRONT.
YEAH IT WAS VERY LUCK FOR US.
THANK YOU. YEAH.
AND IT OH, WE'RE GOT TO GET TO IT TOO. OKAY MISS YOU HAVE BEEN MISS GOING TO WELL, THANK YOU FOR
COMING. MAKE YOUR OH OPEN SURE TO PASS
THANK YOU PHONE OKAY NOT BY A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S OKAY I LIKE A THAT AND I WON'T BE BACK VERY.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US SO THE BUS DRIVER IS AND FILM GOING MP LATINOS 18 A YEAR SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MS.
OLA YES I WILL MISS YOU IN MORE PLACES.
OKAY? OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION AND IT WILL BE DONE BY COUNCILOR WEBER FOR THE ONE AND ONLY DANIELLE
JOHNSON. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU TO OUR BUS DRIVERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING.
THANK YOU GUYS. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB. COUNCILOR PEPEN. OKAY, SO SO SO I'M UP HERE TO RECOGNIZE DANIELLE JOHNSON WHO
WE ALL KNOW AND ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH FIRST I GUESS THIS IS DANIELLE'S BIRTHDAY MONTH SO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YEAH. YEAH. SHE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH THAT. SHE GOT BORN BUT THE YOU WERE HERE TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE
WHICH RESULTED IN MASS LAWYERS WEEKLY RECOGNIZING HER AS AN UP AND COMING LAWYER YOU KNOW IN THE AREA FOR HER WORK AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING STABILITY THE UP AND COMING LAWYERS LIST HIGHLIGHTS ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE BAR FOR TEN YEARS OR LESS AND WHO HAVE ALREADY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES.
MASSACHUSETTS LAWYERS WEEKLY ALSO RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN PRO BONO WORK IN IT AND IN OTHER THINGS. BUT YOU KNOW THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO RECOGNIZE
DANIELLE IS IS A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR FOR SOMEONE WHOSE HASN'T HASN'T BEEN PRACTICING THAT LONG BECAUSE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS SOMEBODY WHO'S PRACTICE FOR 18 YEARS,
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ WHAT YOU YOU KNOW WHAT DANIELLE SAID WHEN THEY WHEN THEY ASKED HER ABOUT
HER WORK OR SORRY WHAT THEY WROTE THEY MASSACHUSETTS LAWYERS WEEKLY WROTE THAT AS AN ADVOCATE, ATTORNEY AND EDUCATOR COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ACCESS
TO JUSTICE DANIELLE JOHNSON'S WORK FOCUSES ON PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, ENSURING LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND SHAPING POLICY THAT PROTECTS VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS DANIELLE SPOKE ABOUT IN IN HER PROFILE IN MARCELLUS WEEKLY IS SOMETHING I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE HOW SHE SHINES IN THIS ROLE
WORKING ON ACCESS TO COUNCILOR HERE IN THE CITY. YOU KNOW, I FOUND NOT ONLY AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PROGRAM BUT SOMEBODY WHO KNEW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE AND WHOSE
PRIORITIES WERE IN THE PLACE WHERE SHE WANTED TO DO AS MUCH AS SHE COULD TO PROTECT VULNERABLE FOLKS IN BOSTON. AND YOU KNOW, I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH DANIELLE'S
ABILITY TO SORT OF BRING THAT PROGRAM TO TO BEING AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I, I THINK HER ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND I KNOW
WE'VE ALL BENEFITED HAVING SUCH A CAPABLE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY AND NOT JUST US ON THE COUNCIL. I THINK EVERYONE IN BOSTON HAS BENEFITED FROM THE GREAT WORK
THAT DANIELLE HAS DONE SO I JUST WANT TO THANK HER. I HAVE A RECOGNITION FOR HER BUT BEFORE THAT I THINK I'D LIKE TO CEDE THE FLOOR TO
DANIELLE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE FOR US WHATSOEVER. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. MADAM PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE
COUNCILOR WEBER AND OTTO, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME. THANK YOU TO MY PARTNER EMERSON PENA WHO IS HERE IN THE STANDS
AND I BELIEVE MY MOM IS WATCHING VIRTUALLY AS WELL SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT A DEEP APPRECIATION TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. YOU ALL EXEMPLIFY LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT. SO FOR THAT I THANK YOU. IT'S NOT EASY WORK BUT IT'S NECESSARY IN YOU ALL DAY TO DAY SHOW JUST WHAT GOOD LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE. TO MY COLLEAGUES AT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE OF HOUSING OF COURSE. THANK YOU. SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE I KNOW. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CHIEF SHEILA DILLON WHOSE LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND PUSH ME FORWARD.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. I'M A TRANSPLANT BUT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I'VE GROWN TO LOVE THIS CITY DEEPLY. I'M PROUD TO SERVE IT TO FIGHT FOR HOUSING STABILITY AND CALL IT HOME. OF COURSE AGAIN, A SPECIAL
THANKS TO PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE WHO KNOWS THE FIGHT IN THE HOUSING COURT. WELL AND CONTINUES TO ELEVATE HOUSING INEQUITIES AND OF COURSE TO MY COUNSELOR COUNSELOR WEBER TEAM WEST
ROXBURY. I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR TIRELESS WORK AND YES, I'LL BE CALLING ON ALL OF YOU TO JUST A HEADS UP. I TEACH ACCESS TO JUSTICE SO I WILL BE ASKING YOU ALL TO TO
GUEST LECTURE AT SOME POINT. COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE HAS ALREADY ALREADY DONE SO SO TO HER I SAY THANK YOU BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR BELIEF IN ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO AND
WILL KEEP WORKING. SO APPRECIATE THE HONOR. I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL MY
COLLEAGUES UP FOR A PHOTO. IT WAS EMERSON.
I KNOW ALWAYS RIGHT TO COLLEGE
ANY DAY NOW I'M SITTING AT THIS
POST. THANK YOU. CREATE PICTURES IMAGES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
YES, YES.
DO WE HAVE THANK YOU COUNSELOR WEBER FOR THAT PRESENTATION WE ARE NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF APRIL NINE,
2025. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. I OPPOSE ANY THE AYES HAVE IT THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL NINTH
MEETING ARE APPROVED BUT. OKAY. UH, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNCIL ORAL IS NOW PRESENT AND WITH US.
THANK YOU. AND THAT COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA IS NOW PRESIDENT WITH US. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR HONOR THE MAYOR.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 0880885 AND 0886. I CAN NUMBER 0885 MESSAGING ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT
OF $18 MILLION IN APPLYING FOR GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING.
THE GRANT WILL FUND HOUSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM. THE AWARD AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED FROM PRIOR YEAR'S DOCKET NUMBER
0886. MESSAGE IN AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $6 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 25 HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE PRODUCTION OF NEW AFFORDABLE
RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP HOUSING AND ALSO PROVIDE OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS. THE AWARD AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED FROM PRIOR YEAR'S THANK YOU
DOCKETS NUMBER 0885 AND 0886 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 08870887 MESSAGE
IN ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $4,149,200 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE USE
WORKS GRANT AWARDED BY THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A SUMMER AND SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROGRAM
THAT WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER EXPLORATION FOR LOW INCOME AT RISK YOUTH AGES 14 TO 25. THANK YOU.
DOCKET NUMBER 0887 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 08880889 DUNCAN
NUMBER 0888 MESSAGE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AN EXPANDING AMOUNT OF $4 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 25 HOUSING FOR PERSONS
WITH AIDS AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. THE GRANT WILL FUND SERVICES FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AIDS. THE AMOUNT THE AWARD AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED FROM PRIOR YEAR'S DOCKET NUMBER 0889. MR GENNARO AUTHORIZING THE CITY
OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $2 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 25 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE STREET OUTREACH EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTANCE AND
SHELTER SERVICES. THE AWARD AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED FROM PRIOR YEARS. THANK YOU. THESE DOCKETS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET NUMBER 208900890 MESSAGE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE IMMIGRANT
ADVANCEMENT FUND GRANT AWARDED BY THE BOSTON FOUNDATION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, EVENTS AND SMALL GRANTS THAT ENABLE IMMIGRANTS
TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC, CIVIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0890 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
CIVIL RIGHTS RACIAL EQUITY AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. MR. CLERK THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME OR NOT.
THE DOCKET 887. YES. UM, I. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO TO THE COMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE LABOR WORKFORCE IN
THE CONTEXT DEVELOPMENT BUT I THINK YOU SAYING IT TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE. YES IT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. I THIS GRANT IS ONE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY GONE TO THAT
COMMITTEE. I THINK THE OFFICE THAT IT HAS THROUGH HAS CHANGED IT BEFORE IT WAS A DIFFERENT OFFICE AND THIS YEAR IT WAS PLACE IN THE
IN THE LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE BUT THE CONTENT OF THE GRANT IS THE SAME WHICH IS WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO KEEP IT IN THAT IN THE STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
YEAH I MEAN THAT'S FINE I GUESS TO THE CHAIR I DID RESERVE UH I THINK SOME A HEARING FOR NEXT WEEK TOO BUT WHICH WHICH WHICH
CAN BE I CAN PASS THAT OFF SO WE'LL COORDINATE ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. OKAY THANK YOU. OKAY. DOCKET NUMBER ZERO BUT THANK YOU.
IT IS IT WAS A IT WAS A DISCUSSION POINT BECAUSE OF THE VERY REASONS THAT YOU THAT YOU RAISED AND BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCILOR WEBER. MR. CLERK, ARE WE ON DOCKET NUMBER 0891? YES.
OKAY. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 20891 DARK AND NUMBER 0891 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT
OF $180,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE HAZARDOUS MITIGATION PLAN. UPDATE 2026 FOR A GRANT AWARDED BY THE FEDERAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY PASS THROUGH THE
MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THE GRANT WILL FUND A SUSTAINED PRE-DISASTER NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM TO REDUCE
OVERALL RISK TO THE POPULATION AND STRUCTURES WHILE ALSO REDUCING RELIANCE ON FUNDING FROM ACTUAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0891 WILL BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 08920892 ON MESSAGE IN NOT AUTHORIZING THE
CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $137,753 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 FISCAL YEAR 26
RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND
ADMINISTRATION FOR SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER INCLUDING REASONABLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEALS AND TRAVEL EXPENSES. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. MR COOPER, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 0893 DARK IN NUMBER 0893 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT EXPEND THE AMOUNT
OF $120,000 IN FORM OF GRANT FOR THE CJP COMMUNITY SECURITY INITIATIVE AWARDED BY THE COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE GRANT WILL FUND THE INSTALLATION OF CCTV CAMERAS OUTSIDE THE JEWISH INSTITUTIONS TO BE MONITORED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN HOPES OF PROTECTING FAITH BASED
INSTITUTIONS. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0893 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE RECORD THIS NUMBER? 089490895.
DUNCAN NUMBER 80894A MESSAGE TRANSMITTING CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 OF. REGARDING T AND C RIGHT TO
ARREST FILE ON DOCKET NUMBER 0617 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 2025 AND DOCKET NUMBER 0895. MESSAGE TRANSMITTING CERTAIN INFORMATION IN THIS SECTION 17
OF REGARDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FILE ON DOCKET NUMBER 0775 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 2ND 2025 THANK
YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 08940895 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICES IN OTHERS BUT I DID WANT TO PAUSE. I KNOW WE HAD FOLKS HERE FROM TEXAS FOR HOUSING SO WE JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT THEM AND
EARLIER WE HAD KIDS HERE FROM THE GREW FROM THE MAD HUNT IN FROM THE GREENWOOD AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THEM AND THEIR VISIT TO CITY HALL. OKAY. MR. CLERK, WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND
OTHERS. WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 089620898. TALK TO THEM A0896 AND TO SEE FROM THE MAYOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JESSICA BULKLEY
AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE REVIEW BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING ON APRIL 24TH 2026 TALKING NUMBERS
0897 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR FOR AN END AND SAYING SOME GETTING NEWS TO A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND LEADERSHIP AND DOCKET NUMBER ZERO 890 NOTICE
RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER SIX OF THE ORDINANCES OF 1979 REGARDING ACTION TAKEN BY THE MAYOR AND PAPERS ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING
OF APRIL SECOND, 2025 THANK YOU THESE DOCKETS WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TO THE MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD FOR POSSIBLE ACTION.
MR CLERK WHEN YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 082220845 DUNCAN MEMBERS 082220824 ORDERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. DOCKET NUMBERS 0082520827
ORDERS FOR CAPITAL FUND CREDIT APPROPRIATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 082820830 ORDERS FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDING LOAN ORDERS AND LEASE PURCHASE
AGREEMENTS AND DOCKET NUMBERS 0831 THROUGH DOCKETS 0845 ORDERS AUTHORIZING LIMITS FOR DEPARTAMENTO REVOLVING FUNDS
INCLUDING LAW, TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE AND AND PERSONS CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND POLICE AND OTHER BUDGET RELATED DOCKETS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZES COUNCIL OUR
OTHER CHAIR THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED FY 26 BUDGET SEASON WITH A SERIES OF FOUR HEARINGS ON BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HELD ACROSS APRIL 14TH AND APRIL 15. THESE SESSIONS TIED TO DOCKETS NUMBER 082230833 OFFERED A DEEP
DIVE INTO THE INVESTMENTS CHALLENGES AND EQUITY GOALS SHAPING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF BOSTON'S YOUTH. FOR THE ADMINISTRATION WE HAD SUPERINTENDENT MARY SKIPPER,
CFO DAVID BLOOM, DR. LINDA CHEN, DR. SANDY PINA AND GOT TO THE END OF TOMORROW'S HEARING ONE ON DOCKET NUMBER 822308320830 HOLD ON MONDAY APRIL 14 AT 10 A.M. THE
COUNCIL DISCUSSED KEY FY 26 BUDGET PRIORITIES INCLUDING INCLUSION MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS ,BETTER EDUCATION SERVICES CURRICULUM AND POSTSECONDARY OUTCOMES.
COUNSELORS PRESENT INCLUDED VICE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL I MEAN VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. VICE CHAIR PEPEN CASAS BRAYDEN FLYNN WEBER FITZGERALD SANTANA MURPHY HERE AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. WE RECEIVED A LETTER BASKET FROM COUNCILOR DURKIN, KANSAS WHICH RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE EIGHT EIGHT $8 MILLION BILINGUAL FUNDING CUT WHICH WE
WERE TOLD WAS BECAUSE OF STAFF RECORDING AND SOUGHT FLAHERTY ON THE $10 MILLION ADEQUATE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND $4.5 MILLION FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNER SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION EMPHASIZED THAT
MULTILINGUAL SERVICES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND HIGHLIGHTED THE ROLLOUT OF NEW DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS INCLUDING CAPE VERDEAN AND SPANISH AT THE BLACKSTONE.
COUNCILORS ALSO PRESSED FOR MORE NATIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORTS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO UPPER SCHOOL BILINGUAL PROGRAM AND METRICS TO INCLUSION SUCCESS EARLY INDICATORS SHOWED
INCREASE K12K2 INCLUSION WITH STAFF TAILORED TO STUDENT NEEDS RATHER THAN A UNIVERSAL MOTTO. THE HEARING ALSO COVERED CURRICULUM INVESTMENTS LIKE STUDY SYNC AND ILLUSTRATIVE MAP.
NEW POST-SECONDARY TRACKING EFFORTS EXPANDED FINANCIAL LITERACY OFFICE OFFERINGS AND CONTINUE FUNDING FOR PARENT ESL WORLD CLASSES. CASAS UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE SITE COUNSELORS AND
SUSTAINED SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS EXITING ESL WELL SERVICES FOR HAVING TO ON DOCKET NUMBER 082220830 WHICH IS HELD ON MONDAY APRIL 14TH AT 2 P.M. THE COUNTIES DISCUSSED KEY
WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDED ARTS, MUSIC, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SCHOOLS, MEALS, ATHLETICS AND PROGRAM FOR UNHOUSED AND AT RISK STUDENTS. COUNTIES IN TENNIS INCLUDED
VICE CHAIR PEPEN, KANSAS FLYNN SANTANA MURPHY. DUNCAN MEJIA CASA PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE CARR COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AND WEBER COUNCILOR. BREADON SUBMITTED A LETTER
OF ABSENCE AT THE HEARING. WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS BEYOND ACADEMICS WITH WELLNESS, SAFETY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION AS CORE TO STUDENT SUCCESS. COUNSELORS RAISED CONCERNS
ABOUT FOOD WASTE, THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS AND ACCESS TO LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE. IN LIGHT OF RECENT FEDERAL CUTS. BP HAS CONFIRMED PLANS TO EXPAND IN-HOUSE FOOD PRODUCTION TO A PHASED OUT BUILDOUT OF THE
CENTRAL KITCHEN. THE COUNCIL ALSO EXAMINED STAFFING LEVEL FOR NURSES AND PSYCHOLOGISTS, THE AVAILABILITY OF AIDES AND EFFORTS TO SUPPORT STUDENT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.
BP HAS AFFIRMED THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE STAFFED WITH A FULL TIME NURSE AND CONTINUE TO TRIAGE FAMILY NEEDS THROUGH STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS UPDATES AND PROVIDING RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PROGRAM ACCESS TO SCHOOL LIBRARIES, EXPANSION OF ARTS AND MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND SUMMER AND WEEKEND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES COUNSELORS EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO TRACK STUDENT PARTICIPATION
IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND TO PRESERVE IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIPS. PARTNERSHIPS ARE AMID BUDGET CONSTRAINTS FOR HEARING NUMBER THREE ON DOCKET NUMBER
08222083232 HELD ON TUESDAY APRIL 15 AT 10 A.M. THE COUNCIL EXAMINED BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN FOCUSING ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES HUBS, SCHOOL EXPANSION, TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPORT FOR NEW ARRIVALS AND ON
HOW STUDENTS COUNSELORS IN TENNIS INCLUDED VICE CHAIR PEP IN CALIBRATING CALIBRATING CLASSIC FLYNN WEBER FITZGERALD SANTANA MURPHY COLLETTE IS A PARTNER HERE AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCIL DURKAN . QUESTIONS WERE RAISED AROUND THE USE OF MBA FUNDING EQUITY EQUITY IN SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION AND THE COMMUNITY IMPACT
OF CLOSURES. BP'S REPORTED $21 MILLION IN SAVINGS FROM RECENT AND UPCOMING CONSOLIDATIONS. 5200 STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND EXPLAIN HOW THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAYING INTO A
MULTI-LINGUAL ENGAGEMENT SHAPE TRANSITIONS BRAIN HIGH WAS PRAISED AS A RISING REGIONAL MODEL WITH INVESTMENTS IN SCIENCE LAB SCIENCE LABS, ARTS AND ATHLETICS WHILE COUNSELORS
ADVOCATED FOR MORE COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES AND COORDINATION WITH PARK FULFILLED READINESS. THE DISTRICT CONFIRMED $20 MILLION PLACEHOLDER IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL WHICH REQUIRES A FULL REBUILD AND
HIGHLIGHTED SHORT TERM REPAIRS AND NEW LEADERSHIP IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN TO MAINTAIN LEARNING CONDITIONS. THE WEST THE WEST ROXBURY COMPLEX REMAINS VACANT AND IS BEING MAINTAINED FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE USE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE
PLANS FOR IT FOR IT BECAUSE OF CAPITAL CONSTRAINTS. COUNCIL HAS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT UPDATES AND STUDENT CENTERED PLANNING THROUGHOUT ALL FACILITY CHANGES.
UPDATES WERE ALSO SHARED ON IMPROVE ATHLETIC TRANSPORTATION WITH 100% COVERAGE SINCE FEBRUARY. ONGOING AND FUTURE SAVINGS FROM THIS FROM THE ZOOM APP AND EXPLORATION OF BUS CAMERA PARTNERSHIPS.
COUNCIL REQUESTED MORE TRANSPARENCY ON STUDENT IMPACTS AND STAFF TRANSITIONS RELATED TO CLOSURES AND MERGERS. WE'RE HEARING NUMBER FOUR AND DOCKET NUMBER 082230833. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON
TUESDAY APRIL 15 AT 2 P.M. TO REVIEW THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL'S FY 26 BUDGET RELATED TO PARTNERSHIPS EXTERNAL FUNDS ,CENTRAL OFFICE OPERATIONS, CONTRACT AND STAFFING AND THE BPA TECHNOLOGY REVOLVING FUND
CAUSES IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED COUNCILORS FLYNN SANTANA, MURPHY DURKAN HERE COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE CASA FITZGERALD WEBER PRESIDENT AND VICE CHAIR PEPEN WHO THAT
THE END OF THE MEETING IN MY ABSENCE THIS HEARING SHIFTED THE CONVERSATION THAT DISTRICT WIDE OPERATIONS AND LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING COST COUNCIL HAS EXAMINED HOW BP HAS LEVERAGED MORE THAN 700
PARTNERSHIPS FROM GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE STUDENT INVESTMENT INCLUDING THE $5.7 MILLION PARTNERSHIP FUND AND THAT'S HOW
IMPACT IS TRACK EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED DISTRIBUTED. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO DISCUSSED REDUCTIONS TO CENTRAL OFFICE ROLES AND CONTRACTS WHILE ADDING 37 NEW SCHOOL BASED TEACHING POSITIONS TO A SPORT TO SUPPORT INCLUSIVE AND
MULTILINGUAL LEARNING. THE HEARING INCLUDED UPDATES ON THE TECH TECHNOLOGY REVOLVING FUND WHICH RECYCLES OLD DEVICES TO FIND NEW STUDENT LAPTOPS AND PLANS TO MITIGATE FEDERAL
FUNDING LOSSES POST ESSER CASES RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT CONTRACT COSTS EQUITY IN AND OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS WHICH TOTAL UP TO $50 MILLION ANNUALLY. TEACHER RETENTION AND SCHOOL
SAFETY AGREEMENTS WITH PPD SUPERINTENDENT, SKIPPER AND CFO BLOOM EMPHASIZED THE CONTINUED FOCUS ON REALLOCATING RESOURCES TOWARDS STUDENT FACING SUPPORTS, DEEPENING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENSURING FISCAL
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SUMMARY OF QUESTIONS IN HORRIFIES. WE STARTED HEARINGS ON BP'S IN NOVEMBER HAVE SEPARATE WORKING SESSION BEFORE THIS WEEK'S
SERIES OF APPEARANCE. DURING THAT PROCESS COUNCILOR SUBMITTED DOZENS OF OUR FILES. THESE INCLUDED REQUESTS FOR DATA ON INCLUSION INVESTMENTS, MULTILINGUAL AND IEP DEMOGRAPHICS, POST-SECONDARY
OUTCOME METRICS AND AFTER SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL AT SCHOOL LIBRARY READINESS. NOW ALL OF THESE ANSWERS ARE IN YOUR BUDGET FOLDERS ALONG WITH THE BUDGET BOOK. THEY WERE VERY USEFUL DURING
ALL THESE HEARINGS AND I HOPE ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE UTILIZED UTILIZE THEM. AND NEXT UP IN THE BUDGET PROCESS WE HAVE OVERVIEWS OF THE OPERATING BUDGET IN THE CAPITAL PLAN ON THURSDAY AND VIRTUAL TESTIMONY ON TUESDAY NIGHT. AND AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ON WAYS AND MEANS I RECOMMEND THAT THESE DOCKETS REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR AROUND THESE DOCKETS WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. WE ARE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
ME DOCKET NUMBER 08990899 COUNCIL OF S.A. FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF LGBT Q A TO AS PLUS ADVANCEMENT THE
JARGON AS IS COUNCIL'S INTENT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. BOSTON HAS LONG BEEN A CITY THAT LEADS WITH COMPASSION, PROGRESS AND JUSTICE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT TRUE EQUITY REQUIRES MORE THAN A SYMBOLIC SUPPORT. IT REQUIRES STRUCTURE, RESOURCES AND DEDICATED LEADERSHIP TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR LGBTQ.
IA2 PLUS COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY OUR BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS TRANS AND NON-BINARY NEIGHBORS WHO CONTINUE TO FACE SYSTEMATIC SYSTEMATIC DISPARITIES IN
HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND SAFETY. SO I SAY THAT I ALSO SAY THAT I WILL ALSO BE WITHDRAWING THIS ORDINANCE TODAY FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL AND I WILL BE REFILING AND AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING . I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM COMMUNICATING WITH MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M COMMUNICATING WITH THE
OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT AND THEN WE'RE ALSO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO I WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS AND WE'LL BE WITHDRAWING TODAY. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
MR CLAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE REDACT THE NUMBER 09000900 COUNCIL ON MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE CREATING A MUNICIPAL IDENTIFICATION CARD IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR HIS WORK IN THIS SPACE AND BASED ON OUR THAT WE HAD
PREVIOUSLY REGARDING THE UM THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS JUST READ INTO THE RECORD I BELIEVE COUNCILOR ANDERSON WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY HAS BEEN LEADING IN
THAT SPACE. SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE PAUSING AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS SOME RECOGNITION AND SOME SUPPORT
AROUND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA. SO I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE THIS ORDINANCE TO CREATE A MUNICIPAL
I.D. PROGRAM IN BOSTON. IT WAS SHAPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 45 LGBTQ IA2 PLUS ADVOCATES AND ROOTED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TRANS LATINA
MANY OF US WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH US FACING ONGOING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS ESPECIALLY UNDER THE CURRENT FEDERAL CLIMATE. THEY CALLED FOR A CITY I.D. AND WE SAW CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD UPON THEN FIRST OF ALL, OUR CURRENT MAYOR WHO WHO WAS A CITY COUNCILOR AT THE TIME WHEN SHE FIRST INTRODUCED IT. AND THEN COUNCILOR ARROYO
PICKED UP THE BATON IN 2022 WITH FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS TARGETING TRANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. AND ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMONWEALTH HAS ALREADY
TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS WITH THE FAMILY MOBILITY ACT, A STATE LEVEL PROGRESS STILL REMAINS INCOMPLETE. THE CITY HAS BOTH THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP IN AND CLOSE THE GAP.
BEYOND EXPANDING ACCESS AND DIGNITY. WE'RE ACTIVELY EXPLORING HOW A MUNICIPAL ID CAN SERVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS BY WORKING ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE IN CONVERSATION WITH PARTNERS LIKE MOLA AND LOOKING TO ENGAGE THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY HOW THIS ID COULD SUPPORT BROADER ACCESS TO SERVICES INCLUDING FOR OUR OUR
AND HOUSED RESIDENTS AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL INCLUSION BY ENCOURAGING ACCEPTANCE AT BANKS SHELTERS AND HEALTH CENTERS AS WE EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE CITY CAN DO.
WE'RE ALSO PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY TRUST BY ENSURING DATA PRIVACY AND PROTECTIONS ARE BUILT INTO THE DESIGN FROM THE START. AND JUST FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW MUNICIPAL ID PROGRAMS IN
NEW YORK, CHICAGO. OAKLAND. LOS ANGELES. TRENTON. WASHINGTON, D.C. PRINCETON, SAN FRANCISCO. NEW HAVEN AMONG OTHERS HAVE ALL
SEEN WIDESPREAD SUCCESS. THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN CHOOSE TO FILL THIS GAP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE MOMENT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TRANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE AT THE INTERSECTION OF BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO IN THEIR POWER TO CREATE CHAOS AND FEAR. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US HERE ON THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF SECURITY TO THOSE THAT WE LOVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MEJIA IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON FITZGERALD. SORRY. PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON CLAUDIA ZAPATA FITZGERALD.
PIPPIN SANTANA. WEBER WORLD. PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0900 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
MR. CLERK YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 09010901 COUNCIL'S LOUIJEUNE AND BREADON FOR THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR
A SPECIAL LAW RELATIVE TO ENACT WELL TO THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT COUNCILOR IN THE CITY BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO EVERYONE I WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY FOR THEIR WORK AND SHEPHERDING US TO GET THIS
DONE. I AM SEEKING SUSPENDING PASSAGE FOR THIS ORDINANCE. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN WHY IT FOR THIS PETITION. THIS ONE MORE PETITION DOES TWO
THINGS. IT WOULD WAIVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND TWO IT WOULD
ENSURE THAT WHOEVER IS ELECTED TO THE DISTRICT SEVEN SEAT IN NOVEMBER IS SEATED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE UPON CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION
RESULTS IN NOVEMBER. THIS HOMER PETITION MAY BE A MOOT POINT AS SOME OF YOU MAY EXPLAIN BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT THERE IS NOT A VACANCY IN THE
DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL SEAT AND THERE MAY NOT BE ONE BY THE DEADLINE OF MAY EIGHT. BUT THIS IS US BEING PROACTIVE AND PROVIDING CERTAINTY TO THE
RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND TO EVERYONE INVOLVED ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE FOR ELECTIONS WOULD BE. WE ARE MOVING WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY ON THIS HRP SO THAT WE
CAN ACTUALLY GIVE THE RESIDENTS OF D7 TIME AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO THAT AND ELECT THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE AND I WANT TO THANK RECLAIM ROXBURY. I WANT TO THANK SO MANY IN THE
ROXBURY COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK OUR MASS VOTE PEOPLE ARE USED TO DOING THE WORK OF EMPOWERING BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE ASKED US TO PUSH THIS FORWARD.
I HOPE WE CAN TAKE A VOTE TODAY IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO. THERE'S TIME ON THE CALENDAR FRIDAY FOR US TO CONVENE AND MEET ON THIS MATTER. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT TO NOTE THAT WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH COLLEAGUES WITH ELECTED IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHINA TYLER STATE SENATOR LUIS MIRANDA, STATE REP JOHN MORAN, STATE REP CHRIS LAUREL AND ALL IN
ALIGNMENT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE ASKED US TO REALLY PUSH THIS FORWARD TO GIVE CERTAINTY TO ROXBURY RESIDENTS AND TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF 87 THAT INCLUDES THE SOUTH END THAT INCLUDE INCLUDES PARTS OF FENWAY.
I WAS IN ROXBURY LAST NIGHT. I WAS IN ROXBURY ON SUNDAY AND TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL OVERALL FEELING AND SENSE WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD NOT BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS
OF DISTRICT SEVEN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOME OF PETITION THERE ARE TWO TABLES AND TWO COUNT THAT I PUT THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT THE CALENDAR WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS CALENDAR
POSSIBLE IF FOR EXAMPLE TODAY WE GOT NOTICE OF A VACANCY IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND EVEN WITH US MOVING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS ALLOWED UNDER THE CHARTER, THAT WOULD STILL MEAN
THAT THE PERSON WHO WOULD WIN A SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD NOT GET INTO THE C PRIOR TO EARLY TO MID AUGUST AND THEN THEY WOULD BE RUNNING FOR REELECTION AND
THEY WOULD BE RUNNING IN A GENERAL PRELIMINARY SEPTEMBER 9TH AND IN THE GENERAL NOVEMBER 4TH. THAT IS UNNECESSARY FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AT THIS POINT. WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY IN
DISTRICT SEVEN THEY ALREADY EXPERIENCED A LOW VOTER TURNOUT AND THAT IT BECOMES MORE EXPONENTIAL DURING A SPECIAL ELECTION. AND I WANT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES HERE BUT I THINK
THAT THE BEST THING FOR US TO DO TO SHOW LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY TO GIVE CERTAINTY TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN TO BE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH COMMUNITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE
ASSURANCE ON WHAT THE ELECTION SCHEDULE WOULD BE. MY HEART LITERALLY DROPS WHEN HEAR FROM RESIDENTS WHO SAY I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS AN ELECTION. I DIDN'T VOTE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HAPPENS EVEN MORE SO
WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN VOTING RIGHTS WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, WHO WAS A STUDENT OF DEMOCRACY AND NOW AS AN ELECTED A PRACTITIONER
OF DEMOCRACY, THIS IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE ARE BRINGING THE PEOPLE CLOSER TO DEMOCRACY. AND I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS OF REPRESENTATION WHICH IS WHY THIS FORMAL PETITION GOES OUT OF ITS WAY TO ENSURE THAT
WHOEVER WINS IN NOVEMBER WOULD ALSO BE SEATED. SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON CASTLE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I RISE TO ALSO THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND MADAM PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE FOR BRINGING THIS PETITION FORWARD. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO TO DO THIS. AS SHE SAID, THIS TAKES AWAY A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND TIMELINES, ETC. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FOR TURNOUT IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN
OFF YEARS WHEN THERE ISN'T A MAYORAL RACE, IT'S VERY, VERY LOW AND EVEN IN A MAYORAL ELECTION CYCLE IF THERE'S A IF
THERE'S A MAYORAL REELECTION AS WE HAVE THIS YEAR, THE TURNOUT IN DISTRICT SEVEN IS USUALLY 33%. BUT IF IT'S NOT IF IT'S A SPECIAL ELECTION, THE TURNOUT
IN THAT SCENARIO DROPS DOWN TO IS THERE NO 8%. IT'S A DRAMATIC DROP. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT FIRST OF ALL THERE'S NO VACANCY
AS A AS OF TODAY WE HAVE NO VACANCY. THERE'S A LARGE FIELD OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND THE COMMUNITY AS COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE
HAS ALREADY MENTIONED HAS EXPRESSED THE INTEREST AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE DISTRICT SEVEN
COMMUNITY WITH AN ADEQUATE TIME TO MEET AND MEET THEIR CANDIDATES A LARGE FIELD AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR DISTRICT SEVEN. I THINK THERE'S NO BENEFIT
OF SPEAKING PERSONALLY. I THINK THAT I AM DOING SKIPPING OR NOT HAVING A SPECIAL ELECTION ALLOWS THE CANDIDATES AND THE RESIDENTS TO REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
AS THEY PROBABLY DO ALREADY BUT TO REALLY GET INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR THE DISTRICT AND COME UP WITH THEIR CHOICE OF THE BEST CANDIDATE TO
REPRESENT THE DISTRICT SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE TO IN SUPPORT OF SUSPENDING THE POWERS OF THIS HOME RULE PETITION TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CASSIUS
CLAY AS A PATRICK CASSIDY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL FOR ALL AND I BELIEVE I WAS AFTER COUNCILOR MEJIA SO I WANT TO SEE MY TIME BE COUNCILOR MEJIA AS OKAY.
I'M SORRY. I LOVE THE ARIC AS A COLLEAGUE, AS A PARTNER TO WHOEVER I WAS. OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF FAIRNESS HERE. SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS FORM PETITION. UH, I THINK THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT FOR ME IN CANCELING THE SPECIAL ELECTION AND ALIGNING WITH THE REGULAR
ELECTION CYCLE IS ROOTED IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT DEMOCRACY TRULY REQUIRES. IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT CASTING BALLOTS. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IN CONVERSATION IN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED VISION.
IT'S ABOUT NEIGHBORS TALKING TO NEIGHBORS HAVING THE TIME TO MEET CANDIDATES AND FULLY ENGAGE IN A FULL AND THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
BOSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY THAT HAS A EXTREMELY DEEP CIVIC CULTURE. YOU REALLY HAVE TO SHOW UP AND WIN THE TRUST OF VOTERS.
YOU HAVE TO EARN IT AND CANDIDATES NEED TO SHOW UP IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, SPEAK EVERY SINGLE LANGUAGE AND BUILD REAL GRASSROOTS SUPPORT. WE DID THIS IN 2021.
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY VOTED FOR THAT. WE DID IT IN 2021 WITH THE MAYORAL ELECTION AND HAD THIS
BEEN PRODUCED IN 2023. I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT AND WE HAD THIS IN FRONT OF US TODAY AND I THINK THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THERE ARE BROADER CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AS A
COUNCIL ABOUT POTENTIALLY CHANGING THIS LAW AND I AM ALL HERE FOR THAT. IF THAT GETS PRODUCED AND PUT IN MY COMMITTEE I WILL HAPPILY CO-SPONSOR IT AND PASS IT EXPEDITIOUSLY BUT IT JUST
SIMPLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE FOUR ELECTIONS IN ONE YEAR POSTPONING THIS DECISION TO THE REGULAR ELECTION ALLOWS FOR A
FULLER, FAIRER DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE SUMMER PETITION AND WANT TO THANK THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS FOR PUTTING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS MOMENT IS ALL ABOUT. I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD
IN RISING IN SUPPORT OF THIS HOME RULE PETITION BECAUSE THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT SEVEN DESERVE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO CHOOSE WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM. RIGHT NOW WHAT DISTRICT SEVEN NEEDS IS MORE STABILITY.
WE MUST NOT ACT PREMATURELY OR UNDERMINE THE COMMUNITY'S RIGHT TO BE A PART OF THIS DECISION. THIS PETITION ENSURES THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS AND RESPECTS THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE. AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO WON BY ONE VOTE, I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO DO ANYTHING. AND THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING
TO EVEN THINK THAT WE CAN COMPARE DISTRICT EIGHT TO DISTRICT SEVEN UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IS TO ME I FEEL LIKE MORE OF A POLITICAL
PLAYBOOK HERE AND I THINK I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THIS WHOLE NOTION BECAUSE HERE ON THIS BODY I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT IN SUPPORTING WAIVING SPECIAL ELECTIONS BECAUSE SPECIAL
ELECTIONS ONLY FAVOR SPECIAL INTERESTS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER AND POLITICAL POWER BROKERS BEHIND THEM. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOT EVEN
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH WHETHER OR NOT OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IS GOING TO VACATE. SO I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO JUST PAUSE AND ALLOW DEMOCRACY TO PLAY OUT AND GIVE THE VOTERS
OF ROXBURY AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY VET THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE ARE POPPING OFF THE WOODWORKS IN THIS MOMENT TO RUSH THIS ELECTION IS TO FURTHER DISENFRANCHIZE DISTRICT
SEVEN. SO I AM GOING TO SAY FOR THE RECORD IF PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP FOR THE
PEOPLE AND NOT TAKE AWAY DISTRICT SEVEN'S ABILITY TO FULLY VET SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT THEM IN THE FUTURE. WE CANNOT COMPARE BEACON HILL
TO FORT HILL. WE CAN'T NOT IN THIS MOMENT. AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AS COLLEAGUES THERE'S 13 CITY
COUNCILORS AND I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN DISTRICTS TO REPRESENT BUT WE HAVE FOUR AT LARGE CITY COUNCILORS, RIGHT? WE CAN STAND IN THAT GAP BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
WE COULD DO IT. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP FOR ROXBURY IN A BIG WAY AND THAT IS THROUGH CONSTITUENT SERVICES THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER VOTES WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE AROUND THE BUDGET IF WE GET TO THAT POINT THAT WE ARE ENGAGING DISTRICT SEVEN. BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS PLAY THE THE THE RACE CARD AROUND THE VOTERS WHEN YOU CAN
DO THIS TO WHITE VOTERS AND YOU CAN DO IT TO BLACK VOTERS AND VICE VERSA, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT HISTORICALLY WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE A HARD TIME MOBILIZING TO GET OUT THE VOTE. THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN
DISTRICT EIGHT. AND SO IT IS NOT ABOUT POLICY. IT IS ABOUT DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PEPEN. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I BEGIN BY SAYING THIS THAT I DEEPLY RESPECT AND VALUE THE COMMUNITY OF ROXBURY AND THE ENTIRETY OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I KNOW HOW STRONG, VIBRANT AND RESILIENT THIS COMMUNITY IS
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE LEADERSHIP AND CARE. WHEN I WORKED FOR TWO YEARS FOR FORMER DISTRICT SEVEN CITY COUNCILOR TITO JACKSON WHO WAS ACTUALLY A PRODUCT OF A SPECIAL ACTION.
ROXBURY DESERVES REPRESENTATION NOT JUST ANY REPRESENTATION BUT BOLD, DEDICATED AND CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP THAT SPEAKS TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT IS WHY THIS DECISION TO
HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION OR NOT IS NOT EASY. SPECIAL ELECTION BY DESIGN IS MEANT TO FILL A VACANCY QUICKLY AND ENSURES THAT COMMUNITIES AREN'T LEFT WITHOUT A VOICE.
ON PAPER THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND OFTEN IT IS. BUT IN THIS CASE THE TIMING MATTERS. IF THERE WERE IF THERE WERE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION THERE
WOULD BE MORE THAN LIKELY TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION SOMETIME IN ABOUT LATE JULY OR AUGUST TO THEN HAVE THE CANDIDATES RUN AGAIN FOR THE SEPTEMBER PRELIMINARY ELECTION OR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. THE PROMISE OF A SPECIAL
ELECTION IT WOULD PROVIDE A DISTRICT SEVEN A VOICE SOONER. IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T WE WON'T ALLOW ANY COMMUNITY TO GO UNREPRESENTED. BUT THE CONS ARE THAT THE TIMELINE WOULD CREATE A
SITUATION WHERE A CANDIDATE MIGHT SERVE FOR JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HAVING TO CAMPAIGN AGAIN REDUCING THEIR ABILITY TO MEANINGFULLY SERVE DURING THAT TIME. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT RISK CREATING VOTER FATIGUE AND
CONFUSION PARTICULARLY IN A DISTRICT THAT RIGHT NOW DESERVES FLAHERTY AND FULL ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR LEADERSHIP PROCESS. I'VE BEEN WEIGHING THE PROS AND
CONS FOR HOW TO VOTE ON THIS. THE HOMER PETITION PUT FORTH THEY WOULD ALLOW THE CANDIDATE WHO WINS THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER TO TAKE THEIR SEAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND NOT WAIT UNTIL JANUARY AS
USUAL, SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE HERE. THERE'S FOUR AT LARGE CITY COUNCILORS AND EVEN I I YES I REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE. I CAN SHOW UP TO THE ROXBURY AS
WELL AND ALL OF US WE CAN DO THAT IN THIS TIME. MY DECISION TO NOT SUPPORT A SPECIAL ELECTION DOES NOT COME FROM A PLACE OF APATHY. IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF STRATEGY AND CARE. I WANT TO SEE THE RESIDENTS OF ROXBURY LET SOMEONE WHO IS
READY AND ABLE TO SERVE A LONG TERM SOMEONE CHOSEN THROUGH A CLEAR, ROBUST AND FAIR PROCESS NOT A RUSHED ONE. SO TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT OF DISTRICT SEVEN I HEAR YOU.
I SUPPORT YOU AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO AND ADVOCATES FOR THE RESOURCES POLICIES AND ATTENTION YOU DESERVE. WE WANT TO ENSURE YOUR CONCERNS ARE LIFTED AND ADDRESSED EVEN
WHILE THIS SEAT IS IN QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I THINK ALL OF US OR MOST OF US PUTTING OUR LIGHTS ON
SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING THIS IN COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A HEARING IN THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES OPEN TO DO THAT. SO RUSHING TO JUST HAVE ANOTHER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WHICH WOULD I ASSUME CIRCUMVENT THE NEED FOR ALL OF US TO BE ON BOARD TODAY. I THINK IT SPEAKS TO US NOT BEING ABLE TO REALLY TALK THROUGH IT.
I THINK IT ALSO BRINGS UP THE POINT WHICH I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT. I WAS SWORN IN BECAUSE OF A VOTE ON THE COUNCIL BACK THEN IN 21 WHERE THEY KNEW WHEN
BECAUSE THERE WAS LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MAYOR WALSH WOULD LEAVE BEFORE THAT MAGICAL 180 DAY AND MANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON THE COUNCIL WERE SIMILAR TO
WHAT WE'RE FEELING NOW. WILL IT BE RUSHED? SHOULD WE HAVE THE CURRENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO WAS THE ACTING MAYOR? LIKE THERE WAS LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS. PEOPLE HAD LOTS OF GOOD STRONG
COMPELLING ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES BUT AS WE SAW THAT HAPPENED THEN THE MAYOR DIDN'T LEAVE EARLY ENOUGH SO THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE A SPECIAL FOR
THAT MAYORAL TIME WAS MOOT AND IT MAY BE LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE SOMETHING WE DON'T EVEN NEED TO DEAL WITH. IF THE COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT SEVEN DOES NOT RESIGN BEFORE MAY 8TH AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING IT COULD THE SOONEST IT COULD HAPPEN IS THE FIFTH. SO THERE IS A SMALL WINDOW OF WHEN HER RESIGNATION MAY HAPPEN BEFORE THAT DEADLINE. BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO SAY I
RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE AND I'LL SHARE THE REASONS WHY I DO DISAGREE. AS AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR I AM COMPELLED TO ADDRESS THIS RECENT HOME RULE PETITION WHICH
SEEKS TO CANCEL A SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT SEVEN TO ME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MOVE WOULD DENY RESIDENTS OF ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, FENWAY AND THE SOUTH END THEIR RIGHTFUL
REPRESENTATION AT CITY HALL DISTRICT SEVEN BOSTON'S LARGEST BLACK COMMUNITY HAS HISTORICALLY FACED UNDER REPRESENTATION AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, DENYING THEM A
VOICE NOW ONLY PERPETUATES THIS INJUSTICE. TWO YEARS AGO WHEN COUNCILOR KENZIE BOURQUE RESIGNED, WE PROMPTLY HELD A SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
THERE WERE TWO CANDIDATES AND VOTERS IN BACK BAY BEACON HILL ,FENWAY, KENMORE WEST END IN THE MISSION HILL HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD THAT TIMELINE AS
WE KNOW MANY OF US WERE HERE. THE LETTER WENT TO THE CLERK IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL AND HER RESIGNATION WAS IN THE AT THE END OF APRIL. THE WINNER WHO IS OUR COLLEAGUE
NOW WAS SWORN IN AT THE END OF JULY. THAT'S FOUR MONTHS SOONER THAN WHAT A CANCELED SPECIAL ELECTION IF THERE IS NECESSARY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE I DO
AGREE THAT IF THE SPECIAL ELECTION IS CANCELED OR SHE LEAVES AFTER THE DATE WHEN WE CAN HOLD ONE MAKING SURE THAT WHOEVER WINS THE SPECIAL
ELECTION IS ALLOWED TO GET SWORN IN SOONER AFTER THE VOTES ARE CERTIFIED. CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST AND VOTER FATIGUE ARE VALID BUT NOT INSURMOUNTABLE. THEY ARE VERY SURMOUNTABLE. THE VALUE OF ENSURING THAT ALL
RESIDENTS HAVE REPRESENTATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT OUTWEIGHS THESE EXPENSES. THE TIMELINE OUTLINED BY MY COLLEAGUES ASSUMES VOTER CONFUSION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
STRAIN. BUT WHAT I HEAR FROM DISTRICT SEVEN IS DIFFERENT. THEY WANT THEIR VOICES AT THE TABLE NOW. THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT AND I DO JUST WANT TO SHARE THE MANY
HISTORICAL PRESIDENCIES WHEN OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT WHOSE JOB IS TO NOT ONLY HOLD THE GENERAL AND REGULAR ELECTIONS
EVERY YEAR BUT TO ALSO WHEN A NEED FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION HAPPENS THAT WE DO THAT TOO. DAN CULLINANE WAS ELECTED IN 2013 UNDER A SPECIAL ELECTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATIVE LINDA JOSEPHINE, A FOURIE DAN HUNT WON HIS SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2014 IN THE 13TH SUFFOLK DISTRICT AFTER THEN
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN J. WALSH RESIGNED TO BECOME THE MAYOR OF BOSTON. ADRIAN MORROW, ELECTED IN A 2015 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE FIRST SUFFOLK DISTRICT SUCCEEDING REPRESENTATIVE CARLO
BASIL WHO RESIGNED TO SERVE AS CHIEF SECRETARY AND GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER AS ADMINISTRATOR . JOHN MORAN SECURED THE NINTH SUFFOLK DISTRICT SEAT IN 2000.
IN A 2023 SPECIAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SANTIAGO WHO WENT ON TO HEAD THE NEWLY FORMED VETERANS OF THE STATE BILL MCGREGOR WON THE 10TH
SUFFOLK DISTRICT SEAT IN A 2023 SPECIAL ELECTION AFTER REPRESENTATIVE ED COPPINGER RESIGNED. LINDA ZERO FOUR WAS ELECTED IN A 2013 SPECIAL ELECTION TO THE
STATE SENATE SERVING FIRST SUFFOLK DISTRICT SUCCEEDING SENATOR JACK HARTE. NICK COLLINS WON A 2018 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE FIRST SUFFOLK
DISTRICT SENATE SEAT AFTER LINDA DORSEY BEFORE HE RESIGNED. I LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT. WAS THERE A LOT OF ELECTIONS? YES. DID IT STOP THE VOTERS AND THE
CANDIDATES TO GET THEIR VOICES OUT? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE IT DID. LYDIA EDWARDS WAS ELECTED ELECTED IN A 2022 SPECIAL ELECTION TO THE STATE SENATE FOR SUFFOLK AND MIDDLESEX
DISTRICT FOLLOWING SENATOR JOSEPH COREY'S RESIGNATION. NOW I'LL SPEAK TO THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS HERE ON THE COUNCIL. STEPHEN J.
MURPHY WAS ELECTED AT LARGE IN A 1993 SPECIAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF CHRISTOPHER ION ELA. JOHN TOBIN WON A 2001 SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT SIX AFTER
COUNCILOR TAMARA HENNIGAN VACATED THE SEAT. MATT O'MALLEY WAS ELECTED IN 2010 TO A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX. AFTER TOBIN'S RESIGNATION, TITO
JACKSON SECURE THE DISTRICT SEVEN SEAT IN A 2011 SPECIAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE EXPULSION OF COUNCILOR CHUCK TURNER. IT WAS OKAY FOR THE EXACT SAME
DISTRICT THEN GABRIELLA COLETTA ELECTED IN 2022. SPECIAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT ONE AFTER COUNCIL LYDIA EDWARDS MOVED ON TO THE STATE SENATE.
SHARON DURKIN IT WAS AN OFF YEAR YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION. IT ABSOLUTELY WAS AN OFF YEAR AND IT DIDN'T BACK UP.
BUT WHEN COLLEAGUES INTERRUPT OR SPEAK OUT I JUST WANT TO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT WAS AN OFF YEAR BECAUSE 2022, RIGHT? YEAH. SHARON DURKIN AS WE KNOW AND I
DO WANT TO SAY TOO AND I DID REACH OUT BUT COULDN'T SPEAK TO OUR COLLEAGUE WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT US EACH OTHER COLLEAGUES AND SO TO SPEAK WITH THE NAMES
IT IS I MEAN IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BUT IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE NOT AS PERSONAL AS NEEDED TO BUT I'M JUST SHARING FACTS. IT'S NOT ABOUT.
SO SHARON DURKIN WHO WON ON JULY 25TH, 2023, THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT EIGHT FOLLOWING COUNCILOR CANDICE BARKER RESIGNATION RESIGNATION.
SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY. AND IT'S THE JOB OF OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH AND ADMINISTER SPECIAL
ELECTIONS. IT'S ALSO TRUE BECAUSE OF MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. THERE IS A LONG LIST MANY HAVE I'VE SPOKE WITH MET WITH AND HAVE WATCHED THEM CAMPAIGN.
THERE ARE ALREADY A LOT OF GOOD STRONG CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PUT THEIR NAME OUT THERE AND TODAY AS WE KNOW PUT THEIR ACTUAL NAME ON THE BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION COMING UP IN THE FALL.
SO WE IT'S NOT AS THOUGH DISTRICT SEVEN IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD. MANY PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THAT THEY'RE ABLE AND WILLING TO REPRESENT DISTRICT SEVEN.
I HAVE FILED A RESOLUTION WHICH WILL COME UP LATER. SO IF YOU READ THAT YOU KNOW, I DO DISAGREE WITH RUSHING THIS SO I DO WANT TO BLOCK A SUSPENDED PATH BECAUSE I FEEL AS THOUGH WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ASK IF I CAN THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO FILED THIS WHY WE'RE SCHEDULING A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AND NOT
A HEARING TO DISCUSS IT MORE IN THE GOVERNMENT OPS COMMITTEE WHERE I ASSUME THIS WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CHAIR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE IF YOU WISH TO RESPOND.
YES. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. REP SORRY. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT NO ONE HERE IS ARGUING THAT SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE EXCUSE ME THAT HAVE BEEN
COUNCIL MURPHY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NO ONE WHO IS ARGUING THAT SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE A THING. IT'S THE TIMING OF IT. RIGHT. SO IF COUNCIL HAD RESIGNED AT A PRIOR DATE IN DECEMBER.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD BE QUESTIONING OR IN JANUARY AND WOULD BE QUESTIONING HAVING IT'S THE TIMING HERE AND THE RESOURCES AND WHAT BLACK AND BROWN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
HAVE BEEN SAYING AND WHAT MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO HAVE WORKED DEEPLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OFTEN BECAUSE WE ARE BLACK AND BROWN OURSELVES ARE SAYING ABOUT WHAT THIS TIME WOULD MEAN.
AND BECAUSE LIKE I STATED AND THIS IS GOOD WORDING THAT I GOT FROM MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR BREADON WE ARE TRYING TO WORK QUICKLY HERE SO THAT WE CAN SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS AND THAT IS WHY I SCHEDULED A
MEETING FOR FRIDAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. AND MY POINT ABOUT IT WAS JUST I WAS HOPING THAT WHICH YOU DID GET TO THANK YOU THAT SHE WAS
SPEAKING TO THE QUESTION THAT I HAD ABOUT WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO VOTE AND NOT JUST HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I BELIEVE JUST LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH A POSSIBLE ELECTION. WE SHOULDN'T RUSH THIS BODY
INTO DRAWING LINES THAT I DON'T BELIEVE NEED TO BE DRAWN AND THE TIMING ABSOLUTELY LIKE ALMOST TO THE DAY IF IT HAPPENS MATCHES WHAT WE DID ON THIS
BODY TWO YEARS AGO AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTS IN THE ENTIRE ALL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN DEFINITELY DO THIS AND THEY DESERVE THAT.
AND I ALSO AGREE THAT AS AN AT LARGE COUNCILOR AND ALL OF US WILLING AND ABLE BUT WE'RE I BELIEVE WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT ALL THE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON WHICH IS
SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS DONE. I'LL CONTINUE TO DO BUT IN THIS CASE I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING OUR SPENDING AND PASS THIS TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WAS WAS THAT NIGHT I SHOULD SAY I SHOULD GO TO COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT. I'M COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS OBJECTED TO THE HOME RULE PETITION SO SO I ADD SOMETHING
. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, COUNCILOR MURPHY, IS GO TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE COUNCIL MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I DON'T PEOPLE SAY YOU SHOULD
LET US VOTE, YOU SHOULDN'T. I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD HAVE LET A HEARING ORDER THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I FILED TWO MONTHS AGO TO HAVE THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT DOES RECEIVERSHIP
MEAN? WHAT ARE THESE SHORTCOMINGS? HOW DO WE SUPPORT YOU? SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT SECRETARY GALVIN IS SAYING HE DOESN'T THINK WE CAN HANDLE A SPECIAL ELECTION.
THAT HEARING ISN'T HAPPENING. THE ADMINISTRATION IS REFUSING TO SEND PEOPLE TO ANSWER WHAT I WOULD HOPE ALL OF US ON THIS BODY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT AND THOSE
IN CHARGE OF RECEIVERSHIP. SO I DO I WAS JUST GOING TO STAND TO SAY BECAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN A HEARING AND EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR VOICE BUT IT ALSO BREAKS
THE PROTOCOL OF ONCE SOMEONE BLOCKS IT DOES GET STOPPED. BUT I WAS STANDING TO ASK I WILL WAIT TO BLOCK IT IF NEEDED AGAIN BECAUSE I DO WANT EVERYONE VOICES TO BE HEARD. SO IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH
ME HOLDING THAT OR WITHDRAWING IT SO WE CAN FORMALLY THEN I WILL PUT IT BACK ON THE FLOOR. BUT I DO WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA SAID YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR BRENNAN FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT COUNCILOR BREADON AND PARTICULARLY COUNCILOR MCGHEE. I'LL JUST SENTIMENTS I GREW UP IN DISTRICT SEVEN, I GREW UP IN ALICE TAYLOR VALE APARTMENTS IN
MISSION HILL AND I JUST RECENTLY MOVED BACK TO DISTRICT SEVEN. SO I AM I AM A CONSTITUENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM A SUPPORTER. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS
OF WHAT'S BEING PUT FORWARD. I BELIEVE THAT ROXBURY AND DISTRICT SEVEN AND OTHER SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT DISTRICT DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT THEIR
CANDIDATES WE HAVE AS HOUSE OUR MURPHY MENTIONED THERE'S A LOT OF CANDIDATES ALREADY IN THE FIELD AND I THINK THAT DISTRICT SEVEN DESERVES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE TIME AND THE
THOUGHTFULNESS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THEIR CANDIDATES AND BE ABLE TO ELECT A COUNCILOR IF IF NECESSARY AND WHEN THE TIME COMES.
I ALREADY KNOW THAT MY AT-LARGE COUNCILORS HAVE STATED THIS BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICULARLY THE AT-LARGE COUNCILORS TO STEP UP IN PARTICULAR WITH CONSTITUENT SERVICES.
AGAIN, AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN I KNOW MY OFFICE WILL BE PART OF WHAT MAKE SURE THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR US MAKING SURE THAT DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS HAVE AN OFFICE THAT THEY CAN COME TO
AND GET RESOURCES FROM AND BE REPRESENTED SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE A BLOCK OF THIS AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WITHIN TO
PAUSE THE SPECIAL ELECTION AND GET DISTRICT SEVEN THE VOICE THAT THEY DESERVE AND THAT'S WHY I WILL BE VOTING WHEN THE TIME COMES IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. MR VICE CHAIR. I'M NOT GOING TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT A
OBJECTION HAS BEEN MADE SO I WANT TO RESPECT THE RULES. I WOULD ADD ONE BRIEF POINT IS I REPRESENT A LARGE PORTION
OF THE SOUTH AND ALONG WITH SEAN FITZGERALD AND I KNOW BOTH MYSELF AND JOHN DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE SOUTH END
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT ADVOCACY IN THE SOUTH END AND ROXBURY AS WELL. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON EXACTLY WHAT MY POINTS ARE
BECAUSE THERE'S A THERE'S BEEN AN OBJECTION AND WHEN THERE'S AN OBJECTION MADE THE RULES STATE THAT BASICALLY THE CONVERSATION IS THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD.
COUNCILOR MURPHY WITHDREW THE OBJECTION AND ALLOWED FOR FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THE MATTER. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL WILL LOOK IS FOR ELECTIONS IN THIS TIME FRAME COMING UP OVERKILL. IT PROBABLY IS RIGHT. DOES IT COST MONEY TO RUN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN WE'RE ON
A FISCALLY TIGHT BUDGET THIS YEAR AND THAT COULD BE MONEY SAVED? YES, PROBABLY. BUT I'VE GOT TO SAY I'VE HEARD THINGS PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE LET DEMOCRACY PLAY OUT AND IF
WE'RE GOING TO LET DEMOCRACY PLAY OUT THAT WOULD BE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW WHICH WOULD WHICH WE SHOULD LET PLAY OUT. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE
IT'S NOT THE RESIDENTS JOBS TO VET THE CANDIDATES BUT RATHER IT'S THE CANDIDATES JOB TO VET THE COMMUNITY SO WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO LET THE HARDEST WORKING CANDIDATES SEPARATE
THEMSELVES DURING THIS PROCESS TO GAIN THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST AND THEIR VOTE. AND SO WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT AND ALMOST SOME UNNECESSARY FREE STUFF GIVEN THE TIME FRAME, IT'S STILL THE TIME
FRAME ON THE BOOKS WE MAY GET THE RESULT THAT WE PROBABLY ALL PERSONALLY WANT WHICH IS SAY NO SPECIAL ELECTION JUST GIVEN HOW THIS PLAYS OUT NATURALLY. BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD THINGS THAT SAY PEOPLE SAY WELL IT'S
POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS JUST TO HAVE THIS TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION BUT I THINK CONVERSELY IT'S ALSO POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO SOMEBODY I DON'T KNOW WHO I DON'T CARE BUT IT'S POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS
ADVANTAGEOUS TO SOMEBODY TO NOT HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION AS WELL. THE POINT BEING IS WE HAVE RULES ON THE BOOKS. WE SHOULD LET THEM PLAY OUT. IT MAY BE MOST LIKELY THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE PASSED MAY 8TH ANYWAY AND THERE WON'T BE A SPECIAL BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE INSERTING OURSELVES INTO THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SORT OF SOME POLITICAL ADVENT ADVANTAGE TO SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE AND AGAIN I
HAVEN'T DONE THE MATH. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW BUT WE SHOULD JUST FOLLOW THE RULES ON THE BOOKS AND I THINK LASTLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE FAITH IN THE PEOPLE OF ROXBORO
IN DISTRICT SEVEN TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THESE ELECTIONS. AND I FEEL LIKE BY TAKING IT AWAY AND SAYING IT'S A DOWN YEAR AND PEOPLE DON'T COME OUT THAT IS NOT THAT IS UP FOR EACH DISTRICT AND EACH CONSTITUENT
TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION IF THEY WANT TO COME OUT DURING THAT. OUR JOB HERE IS TO PUT FORTH THE PROCESS THAT IS LAID OUT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE BERRY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. WE'RE HEARING FROM BOTH SIDES
REALLY WHAT WHAT THEY'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T WANT IT SOME PEOPLE SAY WE DO WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT LIKE THAT WE GO TO THE BOOKS AND WE FOLLOW THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND I THINK WE LET IT PLAY OUT AND AS
IT AS A NEIGHBOR, AS AN ABIDING ALSO ALWAYS HERE TO HELP AT ANY POINT WHERE THERE IS AN EMPTY SEAT AS AN ABIDING DISTRICT OUR OFFICE IS ALWAYS HERE TO HELP WITH FOLKS IN THAT DISTRICT AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL WE HAVE THE FLOOR TO CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR FEEDBACK THUS FAR AND I JUST WANT TO
KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE WAS NAMING ALL OF THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE A PATTERN THAT THE
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WON THOSE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN WHITE AND OR MALE. AND SO FURTHER PROVING MY POINT THAT OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF COLOR USUALLY ARE THE
DISADVANTAGE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT FOR ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE WHO IS TO BE MOST AT HOME IN REGARDS TO THIS
PARTICULAR RACE. WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS OF CANDIDATES THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO NOW IS LURKING IN THE BEHIND THE SCENES READY THAT I COME
THROUGH AT THIS LAST MOMENT WITH MUCH WITH MANY MORE RESOURCES AND OR YOU KNOW, JUST FAR MORE WELL-RESOURCED AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED AT THIS
POINT. SO I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT THAT USUALLY THE PEOPLE WHO TEND TO BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL RESOURCED, WELL CONNECTED AND
READY TO GO. AND AS SOMEONE WHO ONLY WON BY ONE VOTE, I WORKED VERY HARD FOR THAT VOTE AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR ME TO RUN ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY AND THAT COMMUNITY AND HAVE MY VOICE
HEARD SO I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE POWER OF WORKING HARD TO EARN THOSE VOTES. SO I DO APPRECIATE COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S POINT AROUND THE WORK THAT THE CANDIDATE NEEDS TO DO SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. AND I WILL REITERATE AGAIN THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY STEP TO THE SIDE AND
LET DISTRICT SEVEN LEAD AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF FOLKS FROM DISTRICT SEVEN WHO HAVE ASKED US TO DO JUST THAT. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO RESPOND TO A FEW POINTS THAT WERE MADE AS A PERSON WHO SPONSORED THIS AND THE PERSON WHO SPONSORED THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY.
IT IS YOU TO WORK IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BALANCING MULTIPLE JOBS, MULTIPLE THINGS
TO KNOW WHEN ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING A SPECIAL ELECTION AT THAT THAT IS OFF KILTER THAT IS IN THE SUMMER THAT IS HARD WORK
AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING VOTERS INTO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. OUR JOB IS TO BRING DEMOCRACY TO PEOPLE AND TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO BE SUPPORTING THAT WORK. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT'S NOT LOOKING AT ANY POLITICAL CARDS TO SEE WHAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. IT'S HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING THE VOTERS
OF DISTRICT SEVEN WHO DESERVE THE BEST REPRESENT ADDITIVE AND WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THE ROLE OF MONEY IN POLITICS AND WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THINGS OUTLINED BY MY FELLOW AT-LARGE COLLEAGUE
COUNCILOR MAKIYA THAT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT OFTEN GO IN TO WHO WINS IN A SPECIAL AND SO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO STATED VERY CLEARLY THAT
PERHAPS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIME FRAME OF THIS LAW THAT WE GET THIS CUT OFF A LOT OF THE SPECIALS OH THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT EXISTED FOR THIS SEAT THE PERSON WAS IN THE SEAT
THE DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL WAS IN THE SEAT BY MARCH SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE BUDGET. WHATEVER HAPPENS HERE SPECIAL
OR VACANCY OR WHATEVER A SPECIAL WOULD NOT PUT SOMEBODY IN THAT SEAT FOR THE BUDGET AND WE ARE NOT ACTING LIKE THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED OFF WITH I
THINK IT WAS A 12 TO 0 VOTE OF THIS COUNCIL IN 2021 TO WAIVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION BECAUSE OF TIMING BECAUSE WE ARE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT
A SPECIAL ELECTION THAT WOULD HAPPEN AT THE END OF JULY AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE SCHEDULED THE EARLIEST, EARLIEST AND WE ARE ALREADY PAST THAT BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE A VACANCY LEFT TODAY THAT THAT IS A DISSERVICE TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN SERVICED. THE ONLY THING THAT I CARE ABOUT HERE IS HOW WE ENGAGE
VOTERS IN DISTRICT SEVEN. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. IT IS A DISTRICT THAT DESERVES THE MOST ZEALOUS REPRESENTATION THAT DESERVES THE BEST DISTRICT COUNCILOR THAT THEY COULD
POSSIBLY GET AND WHAT GETS THEM THERE IS NOT A SPECIAL ACTION AND I AM SAYING THAT NOT BECAUSE THAT IS MY OPINION BUT THAT IS THE OPINION THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE I AM IN ROXBURY WAS
THERE LAST NIGHT AGAIN WAS THERE ALL WEEKEND ALONG WITH CONCILOR MEJIA HERE LISTENING TO WHAT COMMUNITY WANTED THIS IS NOT MY IDEA. THIS IS NOT COUNCILOR BRADEN'S IDEA.
THIS IS AN IDEA IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS TOO OFTEN FORGOTTEN BY THIS CITY AND BY THE POWERS THAT BE. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON BEHIND
THIS PETITION. AND SO TO OTHERS WHO HAVE SAID I THINK HAS BEEN HERE DID A GOOD JOB JUST IN DESCRIBING WHY THIS IS DISSIMILAR FROM 2000 TO 2023. BUT I AM ALSO VERY OPEN TO
HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO SAY THAT 180 DAY CUT OFF DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE YES HE HAS WEIGHED IN BUT WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME HE HAS WEIGHED IN IN
OPPOSING THIS JUST AS A MATTER OF RESOURCES AND OVERLAP IN THE TIME SCHEDULE. BUT WHAT MATTERS TO ME AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE THAT
THEY CAN GET AND THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION AGAIN, THIS MAY BE MOOT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PETITION AS LEADERSHIP FOR OUR CITY LEADERSHIP FOR ALL OF THOSE
INVOLVED TO KNOW WHAT THE ELECTION SCHEDULE WOULD BE. SO TAKE THAT UNCERTAINTY AWAY WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ACTING AGAIN EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET
CERTAINTY IN WHAT THE SCHEDULE WILL BE ACTING TO SLOW IT DOWN A BIT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DUNCAN. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING MY ELECTION SO MANY TIMES. I REALLY I REALLY WAS PROUD TO HAVE GOTTEN ELECTED IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION. I, I DO WANT TO SAY THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENCES THIS YEAR
THAN TWO YEARS AGO. ONE IS THAT THIS IS A MAYORAL YEAR SO WE EXPECTED THIS ELECTION TO HAVE A LOT THIS FALL ELECTION TO HAVE A LOT
HIGHER TURNOUT AND THEN TO OBVIOUSLY I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS AND HOW MY DISTRICT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON TODAY. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON IS I BELIEVE I WAS VERY MUCH ELECTED IN A LEGITIMATE FASHION ONE THAT IS
OFFERED BY THE CITY CHARTER. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS A DECISION TO MAKE SHOULD THERE BE A SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT SEVEN GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON MANY
PEOPLE HAVE SUSPECTED THAT THIS SEAT WOULD BECOME OPEN, MANY PEOPLE THERE WAS ENERGY. THERE ARE PEOPLE RUNNING. I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY ABOUT POLITICS.
I REALLY THINK THIS IS ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR ROXBURY AND DISTRICT SEVEN. SO WHEN I HEAR COLLEAGUES LIKE SENATOR WAS MIRANDA SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A
SPECIAL ELECTION TURNER TYLER DOESN'T WANT THERE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE DOES NOT WANT THERE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION CONCILOR MEJIA HERE DOES NOT WANT THERE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN
COUNCILOR SANTANA DOES NOT WANT THERE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION. WHEN I GO THROUGH THIS LIST AND I LOOK AT THE LEADERS WHO ARE SAYING THIS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR ROXBURY AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR DISTRICT SEVEN,
THOSE ARE PEOPLE I TRUST. THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT I VALUE THEIR OPINION AND SO I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANTING TO MAKE A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RACE THAT I RAN IN WHICH I
OBVIOUSLY WORKED REALLY HARD. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU SAW ME RUNNING AROUND THE CITY. MY DISTRICT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN DISTRICT SEVEN BUT I NEED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE SHARE THE ROXBURY STATION.
I WORK REALLY HARD UP UNTIL THE LINE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF ROXBURY CROSSING GET WHAT THEY NEED AND I AM IN A BETTER TO THIS DISTRICT. SO THAT'S WHY WHEN I HEAR REP
TRYING TO TAILOR AND REP AND SENATOR WAS MIRANDA SAY SOMETHING I WORK WITH THAT IMPRESSION HOW THERE ARE PEOPLE I LIKE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I TRUST AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE YOU KNOW I JUST BECAUSE MY
MY ELECTION HAS BEEN MENTIONED SO MANY TIMES I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT AND SAY WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE TODAY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO I DON'T KNOW WHAT DECISION I WOULD HAVE
MADE ABOUT MY RACE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE SEAT WAS OPEN AND I WAS INTERESTED TO SERVE SO I STEPPED FORWARD TO SERVE IN THAT SEAT AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO SERVE DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE ALL
OF YOU. BUT I DON'T THINK THIS HAS TO BE A FRAUGHT DECISION. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO ASK OURSELF IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS WHETHER WE THINK IT'S A GOOD DECISION IN AN INCREDIBLY HIGH TURNOUT ELECTION THIS FALL
WHETHER ROXBURY WOULD BE SERVED BETTER BY A LOWER TURNOUT ELECTION OR A HIGHER TURNOUT ELECTION AND WHETHER ROXBURY WOULD BE SERVED BETTER BY GETTING THE TURNOUT OF A
MAYORAL YEAR IN AND I I THINK OBVIOUSLY IT'S A DECISION THAT WE HAVE TO WEIGH. IT'S ONE THAT I HAVE WEIGHED WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT PERSONALLY.
I KNEW THAT LIKE THERE WOULD BE EYES ON ME IN THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF HOW I WAS ELECTED AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IF I HAD HAD TO RUN IN THE FALL I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.
I WOULD HAVE AND WORKED AND WORKED TO EARN THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND I THINK WHOEVER RUNS IN THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AND WORK AND WORK TO EARN THE SUPPORT OF THEIR DISTRICT.
WHETHER THAT IS IN A SPECIAL ELECTION OR THE FALL. AND SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT I AM WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I AM WITH SENATOR LIZ MIRANDA, I AM WITH REP TURNER TYLER I AM
WITH COUNCILOR MCKEE AND WITH HENRY SANTANA IN IN SAYING IF THOSE FOLKS ARE SAYING NO SPECIAL ELECTION I WILL BE SUPPORTING THEIR RECOMMENDATION
. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL WEBER COUNCILOR YOU GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I JUST I'M RAISING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME RULE PETITION.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO APPLAUD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILWOMAN HERE, COUNCILOR BREADON FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS. I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF HARD WORK THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE CALLED UPON IN THIS JOB. YOU KNOW, THEY KNEW THERE WAS A TAGLINE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE TREAT BEACON HILL THE SAME AS FORT HILL OR FORT HILL THE SAME AS BEACON HILL BUT YOU KNOW, I
THINK THAT'S EMPTY RHETORIC HERE. WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE FOLKS OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I THINK WE'VE SEEN BY THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS HOME
RULE PETITION DOES THAT ALSO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON SUGGESTION THAT WE'RE SORT OF SKIRTING THE RULES BY DOING THIS. THE CHARTER ALLOWS CALLS FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION BUT CLEARLY
YOU KNOW, AS PAST PRACTICE INDICATES AND HIS HOME RULE INDICATES WE HAVE THIS TOOL AT OUR DISPOSAL AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE DOING OUR DUTY IF WE JUST IGNORED, YOU KNOW, THAT
POSSIBILITY AND ALLOWED SOMETHING THAT ISN'T GOING TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS WON'T BE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY, MAY HURT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND ALL
THE OTHER REASONS WHY WE'VE HEARD. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FILERS FOR FOR GOING THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS AND DOING THE WORK AND BRINGING THIS BEFORE US WHICH I SUPPORT THE HOME RULE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TAKE A TIME TO PROVIDE SOME REMARKS I WANT TO DO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND ALSO
COUNCIL OF COUNCIL BRADING FOR WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ON THIS HONORABLE PETITION AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE INTENT. I DO WANT TO ALSO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THAT IN 2023 WE KNEW WHEN COUNCILS BOUGHT
RESIGNATION WAS TAKING PLACE. IN THIS CASE WE DON'T KNOW. WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF CANDIDATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER ELECTIONS IN MIND.
THAT WASN'T THE CASE THE LAST TIME. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE WAY THAT THIS WAS DONE FOR DISTRICT COUNCIL VACANCIES IS PROBABLY NOT THE IDEAL WAY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR ELECTIONS IN FIVE MONTHS AND ALL THE DISTRICT COUNCILS HERE KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE IT'S CONSTITUENTS WHO WON'T HAVE A DISTRICT
COUNCIL FOR THE START OF SCHOOL . THEY WON'T HAVE ANYONE TO REPRESENT THEM AT DEVELOPMENT HEARINGS, LICENSING HEARINGS AND MORE. AND I THINK THAT WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE A PLAN THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN ON HOW THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE ON THOSE TAX. BUT I LIKE TOO FOR WHATEVER
CHOICE WE MAKE TO BE STANDARD GOING FORWARD. RIGHT? I DON'T I WANT MORE CONSISTENCY IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AND I THINK THAT GOES INTO LOOKING TO CHANGING THIS CHARTER AND MAYBE IF SOMEONE IS
APPOINTED IF A VACANCY HAPPENS MAYBE IT'S A SPECIAL ELECTION WITHOUT A PRELIMINARY BUT IT'S A RANKED CHOICE VOTE OR IT'S JUST INCREASING, YOU KNOW, 180 DAYS TO 200 225 WHATEVER WE
AGREE ON. BUT I DON'T THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS CONTINUE KEEP CHANGING THE STANDARDS WITH ONE OFFS. I THINK WE JUST TO FIND A TIME AND A PLACE TO FIX THAT CHARTER
AMENDMENT FOR GOOD. SO WE'RE NOT COMING BACK TO THE COUNCILORS COUNCIL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THOSE ARE MY REMARKS CALIBRATED THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS AND THANK YOU MR CHAIR. I THINK IT'S REALLY VALUABLE TO
JUST TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE TIMELINE FOR A REGULAR FAIR ELECTION SCHEDULE AS OF NOW AS OF TODAY WE DO NOT HAVE A VACANCY SO THIS SORT OF WE'RE TALKING HYPOTHETICALLY HERE BUT
THE LAST DAY THAT WOULD TRIGGER A SPECIAL ELECTION IS MAY 8TH. SO IF OUR COLLEAGUE RESIGNED ON MAY 7TH AND WE HAD THE DEADLINE
FOR VOTE ON THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR NOMINATION WOULD BE MAY 23RD, THE DEADLINE FOR FILING NOMINATION PAPERS WOULD BE MAY 29TH. THIS THIS IS APART FROM THE
FACT THAT MANY OF THE CANDIDATES ARE ALREADY SIGNING AND DOING THIS PROCESS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND THEN THE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFICATION OF CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES
IS JUNE 12TH. THE DEADLINE FOR WITHDRAWS OR OBJECTIONS IS JUNE 17 AND THEN THE SPECIAL PRELIMINARY ELECTION BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO HAVE TWO WOULD BE THREE DATES,
THREE POSSIBLE DATES. WE'RE WORKING THE CALENDAR JULY 15TH, JULY 22ND TO JULY 29TH AND THEN THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION THE FINAL ELECTION COULD BE AUGUST 12TH AUGUST 19
THROUGH AUGUST 26. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING FOUR ELECTIONS IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT 12 WEEKS AT A COST OF $200,000
. AND I I THINK THAT THE POSITIONS ESPECIALLY THE POSITION OF SKIPPING OR NOT HAVING A SPECIAL ELECTION IS
SUPPORTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE BILL GALVIN AND HE'S CALLED THE PROSPECT OF A SPECIAL ELECTION A WASTE OF TIME AS WELL AS $200,000 AND AN INEFFECTIVE MOVE AT A TIME
WHEN OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS UNDER OPERATIONAL REVIEW BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DEPART OFFICE. SO IF SAY WE HAD THE FINAL
ELECTION ON AUGUST 26TH THOSE SAME CANDIDATES WOULD BE ON THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 9TH LIKE A WEEK OR
TWO LATER AND THEN THE FINAL ELECTION WOULD BE MAY MAY OR NOVEMBER 4TH. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE MOST LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE WAY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK ALL OUR ALL OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICTS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME CERTAINTY IN THE TIMETABLE OR
SOME FLAHERTY LIKE THE NOTION THAT THE PERSON WHO TAKES OFFICE ON 26TH OF AUGUST WILL ACTUALLY BE AN EFFECTIVE CITY
COUNCILOR IN THOSE FOUR IN THOSE TWO MONTHS BETWEEN YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S A PRELIMINARY CITY COUNCIL ELECTION AND THE FINAL GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND THEN THE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS, THEY WOULD BE THEY WOULD BE SWORN EXPEDITED, THERE'S TWO SWEARING IN IN NOVEMBER AND WE WOULD HAVE A SEATED CITY COUNCIL, A COUNCILOR FOR DISTRICT SEVEN IN
AN EXPEDITED FASHION. SO I STILL URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE IN SUPPORT OF THIS FORMAL PETITION . THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I DIDN'T OFFER MY OPINION YET
AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I STILL THINK THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO THAT IS AN INFORMAL HEARING. COUNCILOR MURPHY ASKED TO PLACE THIS IN COMMITTEE.
I THINK EVERYONE HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR SAY. MR CHAIR, CAN WE GO GO FORWARD WITH WHAT THE MEETING AND AND
THE DEBATE IF COUNCIL IF COUNCILOR MURPHY ALREADY ASKED FOR A SUSPENDED POWERS AND DEBATE SHE HAD TO SAY IT RIGHT . THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR WORDING IT THE WAY IT IS.
IT'S NOT THAT I'M TRYING TO BLOCK THE DEBATE IT'S THAT I'M ASKING THAT IT PROPERLY GOES INTO THE PROPER COMMITTEE AND THAT WE HOLD A HEARING SO THAT THIS CONVERSATION CONTINUES AND
THAT WE AS COLLEAGUES HAVE THE TIME TO TALK THAT THROUGH. SO I AM BLOCKING A SUSPENDED PASS OF THIS AND HOPING THAT WE CAN GET THE HEARING SCHEDULED SOON. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. DUNCAN NUMBER 0901 REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE READ DUNCAN NUMBER 0902 DUNCAN
NUMBER 0902 COUNCIL OF THE PANEL FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER TO ADOPT CHAPTER 270 OF THE ACTS OF 2024 REGARDING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND
THE TOWN. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN . MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0903 DUNCAN
NUMBER 0903 COUNCIL S.A. FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HOLD A POLICY BRIEFING ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPLEMENTATION IN IMPACTS IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON OF THE SHIELD LAW IN THE FALL KNOWN FORMALLY AS A MASSACHUSETTS ACT EXPANDING PROTECTIONS FOR REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA COUNSELORS AND ANY OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. TODAY I RISE TO INTRODUCE A HEARING ORDER CALLING FOR A POLICY BRIEFING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACTS
OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SHIELD LAW HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON FORMALLY TITLED AN ACT EXPANDING PROTECTIONS FOR REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE. THIS LAW PASSED IN 2020 TO WAS
A BOLD AND NECESSARY STEP IN THE FACE OF NATIONAL ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHTS. IT PROTECTS PROVIDERS, PATIENTS AND ANYONE ASSISTING WITH ACCESS TO CARE FROM CIVIL AND
CRIMINAL LIABILITY WHEN THAT CARE IS LEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS. AS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND HOME TO THE WORLD OVER KNOWN HEALTH CARE
INSTITUTIONS, BOSTON HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS ARE UPHOLDING THIS LAW. THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE OUR DEPARTMENTS FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO LICENSING BODIES ARE ALIGNED WITH A SHIELD LAW PROTECTIONS. THIS POLICY BRIEFING WILL GIVE US A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SHIELD LAW IS WORKING ON THE GROUND HERE IN BOSTON.
WHAT'S WORKING WELL? WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PROTECTING BOTH REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER GENDER AFFIRMING CARE? I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO A ROBUST CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS IDEA FOR A POLICY BRIEF OR FORWARD FOR AN UNFORTUNATELY TIMELY TABLET TOPIC AS MANY OF OUR OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEAR AND FAR CONTINUE TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND
ATTACKED FOR WHO THEY ARE OR THE KIND OF HEALTH CARE THEY NEED FROM GENDER AFFIRMING CARE TO OUR LIST OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE BOTH WHICH ARE OFTEN LIFESAVING. OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY GOES IN
TANDEM WITH OUR RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS. THIS BILL IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING BOTH AND I THINK IT'S FITTING TALK FOR A PLUG IN UPLIFTING H 86 AND 197 OR THE
MASSACHUSETTS LOCATION SHIELD ACT IN THE SAME BREATH. THIS ACT SIMILARLY CENTERS AROUND PROTECTING PEOPLE'S DATA PRIVACY AND WILL PREVENT THE ACCESS AND SALE OF PERSONAL
LOCATION DATA AND PRIVATE HEALTH CARE INFORMATION BY THIRD PARTIES WITHOUT CONSENT. THE LONGER WE GO WITHOUT EXPLICIT PROTECTIONS AGAINST THIS BEHAVIOR IN OUR STATE, THE MORE MALICIOUS ACTORS WITH THE INTENT TO HARM WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE UNOBSTRUCTED AND DANGEROUS ACCESS TO PATIENT LOCATION DATA INCLUDING THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN ,WHERE OR WHY SOMEONE WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT A CLINIC . NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED THIS
KIND OF UNADOPTED ACCESS TO ANOTHER HUMAN'S BEING PRIVACY. I SEE. I SEE THAT I THESE AS INHERENTLY TIED PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF BOSTON AND FOR ALL
PEOPLE SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING AND INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE AND SECURITY IN OUR STATE WHEN THEY CANNOT ACCESS IT OTHERWISE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE CHOICES WHEN THEY CAN PRIVATELY FREELY
MAKE THE DECISION THEY NEED TO MAKE TO KEEP THEMSELVES HEALTHY ,WHEN THEY FEEL SAFE IN THEIR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, WHEN THEY FEEL RESPECTED IN A FIRM FOR WHO THEY ARE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE AND WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN TO
UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THESE RIGHTS AS INTRINSIC TO ALL PEOPLE, WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND SEEING HOW WE CAN WORK TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE THESE PROTECTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS. OH, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. CAN I JUST ADD HOWSOEVER I SUSPECTED AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR WERE ALSO ADDED. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL GO BACK TO ADDING NAMES. MR. CLERK, PLEASE.
COUNCILORS BREADON CLAUDIA ZAPATA. DURKIN FITZGERALD. MURPHY. BEN WEBER. PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR PLEASE THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN. THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE ME? DOCKET NUMBER 0904090 FOR COUNCILOR PLAYING OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS CREATING AN
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPLIANCE ON THE BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMFORTABLY NEAR THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM FILING A HEARING ORDER
TODAY TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL WHILE BOSTON CITY COUNCILORS AND STAFF ARE
CURRENTLY REQUIRED TO COMPLETE MANDATORY CONFLICT OF INTEREST TRAINING ANNUALLY BY THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE ETHICS COMMISSION. THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES
OF LEGAL AND ETHICAL LAPSES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHICH HAVE UNDERMINED THE CREDIBILITY OF THE BODY.
I HAVE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING FIVE YEARS OF STATE AND FEDERAL TAX RETURNS FOR ALL COUNCILS AS WELL AS THE
STATEMENT OF INTEREST FINANCIAL INTEREST SUBMITTED ANNUALLY BY CITY COUNCILORS TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. THIS SHOULD ALSO BE SENT TO THE
MASSACHUSETTS STATE ETHICS COMMISSION AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL AS WE ARE PLACED IN POSITIONS OF PUBLIC TRUST AND SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THE HIGHEST
LEVEL OF ETHICAL STANDARDS AND INTEGRITY. THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR AN OUTSIDE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF NONAFFILIATED AND
RELEVANT EXPERTS THAT WILL REVIEW COUNCIL MATTERS TO RESTORE PUBLIC FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND CITY GOVERNMENT. THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD MAY
POSSIBLY MEET QUARTERLY. IT INCLUDE A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ENSURING MEMBERS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT RULES AND
REGULATIONS REVIEWING CONFLICT OF INTEREST MATTERS, IDENTIFYING AND INVESTIGATING ANY ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AND PROPOSING REFORMS TO PREVENT
FURTHER OFFENSES. THE OF THE BOARD MAY POTENTIALLY INCLUDE THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT OR A RETIRED MASSACHUSETTS OR FEDERAL JUDGE
. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAY BE FROM THE BOSTON MUNICIPAL RESEARCH BUREAU, A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR. A BOSTON RESIDENT.
ALTHOUGH THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST ETHICS REFORM IN JANUARY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION AND DISCUSS THE CREATION OF AN OVERSIGHT BOARD AGAIN MADE UP
OF NONAFFILIATED, RELEVANT AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO HELP RESTORE CREDIBILITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. THIS PARTY HAS LOST ITS CREDIBILITY.
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS LOST FAITH IN THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AND WE MUST ACT ACCORDINGLY. THE STATUS QUO. MY FRIENDS, IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, ADD COUNCILOR MURPHY. PLEASE. THAT HAS TO BE JERROLD. THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON RULES ADMINISTRATION. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 09050905 COUNCILOR WEBER OFF FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS
OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD
COUNCILOR PEPEN AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR PREPAREDNESS SO ADDED COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU ON THE FLOOR. OKAY. AS COUNCILOR DURKIN IS WATCHING, PLEASE COME BACK BUT
I MAY ADD HERS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE POSSIBILITY OPENING OF SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THIS. UM BUT SO I YEAH I'VE GOT TWO
TEENAGERS AT HOME AND I KNOW TOO WELL THE EXPERIENCE OF LOOKING UP AT THE DINNER TABLE AND TALKING TO SOMEONE WHOSE HEAD IS BURIED IN THEIR CELL PHONE. IT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS
INTERESTING A MONTH OR SO AGO I TOOK A TOUR OF ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL WITH SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AND PRINCIPAL CAITLIN MURPHY SAID TO YOU DO YOU SEE ANYTHING INTERESTING HERE?
AND IT WAS LOOKING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND I DID NOTICE KIDS WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND SHE SAID YEAH, WE WE'VE BANNED CELL PHONES IN THE SCHOOL AND IT HAS REALLY THIS YEAR YOU
KNOW, WE WE WE FINALLY GOT THE KIDS TO KIND OF BUY INTO IT AND AS A RESULT THERE'S MORE SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE AND IT'S OVERALL HAD A GOOD IMPACT
ON THE SCHOOL. SO YOU KNOW MY OFFICE AND I WE LOOKED AT YOU KNOW, CELL PHONE POLICIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU KNOW, WE FOUND SOME DISTURBING TRENDS.
PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THAT INCREASED USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TEENAGERS INCREASES ANXIETY, DEPRESSION INCREASED INCIDENCES OF EATING DISORDERS AND IN SCHOOLS USE OF CELL PHONES HAVE
BEEN LINKED WITH LOWER PERFORMANCE AND CYBERBULLYING. UM THE THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS DID A STUDY AND FOUND THAT REMOVING CELL PHONES
OR OR BANNING THEIR USE IN SCHOOLS RESULTED IN IMPROVED TEST SCORES ESPECIALLY FOR DISADVANTAGED AND LOWER SCORING STUDENTS RECENTLY THE LOS
ANGELES SCHOOL DISTRICT BANNED CELL PHONES THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AS OF JULY 1ST, 2026 WILL BE REQUIRING THAT ALL CELL PHONES BE PLACED IN
STORAGE CONTAINERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE WHILE THEY CAN BE USED IN EMERGENCIES THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE USED JUST IN THE DAILY COURSE OF EVENTS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS PROBABLY OUR LIVES BUT IT IMPACTS OUR KIDS EVEN MORE. UM, I KNOW WE HEARD FROM SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AT A
HEARING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ABOUT HOW YOU KNOW THE DISTRICT IS INTERESTED IN IN WORKING WITH EACH SCHOOL INDIVIDUALLY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S THE SOLUTION THAT WORKS AT THAT SCHOOL.
I KNOW IN THIS SPACE I THINK COUNCILOR DURKIN HAS ALREADY DONE SOME WORK. COUNCILOR SANTANA CONCILOR MEJIA HERE SO SAY THAT LATINA IN LOOKING AT THE IMPACT USE OF CELL PHONES IN OUR
SCHOOLS. SO I THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THIS BODY TO HAVE A HEARING SEE WHAT IMPACT SOCIAL MEDIA IS HAVING ON OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, COUNCILOR DURKIN, AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR UM I DON'T KNOW IF I WHATEVER HAS TO HAPPEN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BE GREAT. SO THANK YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A HEARING ON THIS IMPORTANT THANK YOU CASA OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS BEEN THE RULES AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE THAT THERE IS NO CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCILOR DURKIN IS SO ADDED
I'M GOING TO THE SECOND CO-SPONSOR WAS COUNCILOR PIPPIN . SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PEN. YOU GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO AN URGENT ISSUE
AFFECTING OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS BOSTON ALL OVER THE CITY I'VE HEARD FROM EDUCATORS AND PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS SHAPING OUR KIDS MENTAL ACADEMIC FOCUS AND SENSE OF SELF-WORTH.
AS A PARENT ESPECIALLY, WE NEED TO DO BETTER UNDERSTANDING BOTH THE HARMS AND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE MUST CENTER STUDENT VOICES IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS.
THIS HEARING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LISTEN, TO LEARN TO EXPLORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DIGITAL WORLD THAT WASN'T DESIGNED WITH THEM IN MIND. I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS
WELL TO BRING IN BEEPS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SITTING IN A MEETING LIKE THIS COUNCILOR MAGILL, COUNCILOR WEBER AND MYSELF WE HAVE RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGES FROM OUR FROM SMART OUR
CHILDREN IN OUR INNER EAR, IN OUR SIBLINGS SAYING THAT SCHOOLS ARE LOCKDOWN AND THE ONLY WAY WE THE ONLY REASON WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD TEXTS. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO ALSO
ASK TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION TO ALERTING PARENTS, ALERTING GUARDIANS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE CELL PHONES ARE USEFUL IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE BRINGING ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS INTO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THE LEAST DISTRACTION AS POSSIBLE IS HAPPENING IN A CLASSROOM BUT ALSO THE PROPER
COMMUNICATION IS HAPPENING WITH GUARDIANS AND PARENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY AS I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN AS RETURNING TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR AND I
WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE COUNCILOR WEBER FILE THIS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING ME AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR SOCIEDAD LATINA AND MY DISTRICT AND THE SHAW FOUNDATION WHICH ARE BOTH LOCATED IN DISTRICT D
HAD WORKED ON A TOOLKIT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY AND JUST DRIVING SORT OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE SHOULD DEAL WITH SOCIAL
MEDIA POLICY AND ALSO WHAT IMPACTS DOES IT HAVE ON STUDENT WELLNESS. SO SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND GRATEFUL TO COUNSELORS WEBER AND PEPEN FOR
THEIR LEADERSHIP HERE? I THINK FOR ME I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW OBTRUSIVE IT CAN BE ALSO HOW
CELL PHONE USAGE AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON KIDS. I KNOW OFTEN WHEN YOU HAVE A TINY CHILD THEY SORT OF TELL YOU OH ONLY THIS MUCH SCREEN TIME.
OBVIOUSLY PARENTS HAVE TROUBLE DOING THAT BUT BUT AS WE GET TO HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR OUR SCHOOLS HAVE RULES
AND THAT WE HAVE SORT OF SOME SORT OF WAY IN WHICH WE ARE PRIORITIZING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE. SO HAVING TOURED A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT POLICIES THERE'S NOT ONE POLICY. SO I THINK IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE AT THE CITY COUNCIL. SO FOR US TO HAVE AT THE CITY COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU COUNSELOR WEBER THANK YOU PAVAN AND WE WILL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION SOON.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING.
I MYSELF ALSO GET TEXT MESSAGES FROM TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHEN SOME THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THEIR SCHOOL AND I DO JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THEN
REPRESENTATIVE ED COPPINGER WHO I KNOW WAS WORKING ON SOMETHING AT THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE HE ALSO WAS FRUSTRATED ALONG WITH MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES UP AT THE STATE HOUSE THAT YOU WOULD
HEAR IT FROM THE MEDIA OR YOU WOULD HEAR IT SOMEONE TWEETS OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT CERTAIN SCHOOLS ARE LOCKED DOWN OR THERE IS AN INCIDENT. BUT BEING A PARENT AT THE SAME SCHOOL YOU'RE HEARING MAYBE A DAY OR TWO LATER AND IT MAY NOT
EVEN MATCH WHAT THE POLICE REPORT STATED. SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT TO LOVED ONES BUT AT THE SAME TIME
HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT WITH THE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE FOCUSED AND GETTING THE BEST EDUCATOR THAT THEY CAN GET? SO LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING AND ALSO TALKING
WITH REPRESENTATIVE COPPINGER AND FINDING OUT WHERE THAT WENT AT THE STATEHOUSE AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS POLICY AS STRONG AS WE CAN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHEROKEE NATION HAS CANCELED MEJIA BECAUSE OF ME HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WHAT I DON'T I WASN'T DID I GET THE ORDER ON IT? YEAH, BUT JUST IN CASE. OKAY, ALL RISE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS. AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE I WISH I WAS ONE OF YOUR ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS, BUT I'LL RIDE YOUR COATTAILS. I'LL SHOW UP TO THE HEARING AND
I'LL BE THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO JUST MY DAUGHTER IS CONSTANTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT TO
BE SAID THAT EVEN THE FACT THAT SHE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE SHE'S IN SCHOOL YOU WROTE THIS HEARING ORDER WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MIND
BECAUSE THE LACK OF ATTENTION THAT SHE IS PUTTING IN WHILE SHE'S IN CLASS REALLY IS COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON HER ACADEMICS. AND SO I ALSO WANT TO JUST
UPLIFT TO THAT. IT'S NOT JUST ALSO THE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES. THERE'S ALSO KNOW VIOLENCE AND ISSUES THAT SPILL OUT THAT'S HAPPENING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT
BRINGS INTO THE CLASSROOM AND AND SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL. AND THEN I JUST THINK THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A VERY DIFFERENT AGE AND I THINK THAT WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO BOTH HAVE
ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN A TIMELY FASHION WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR KIDS IS A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE. SO I WANT TO THANK MY MY COLLEAGUES AND ESPECIALLY THE
LEAD SPONSOR FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE CHAMBER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE CONVERSATION AND I WILL ASK SINCE I'M NOT THE ONE INVOLVED IN THE SCHEDULING OF THIS THAT
WE DO INVITE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THE PANEL. I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
ARE ALSO OUT HERE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA SITUATION. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ALL TO HELP YOU BRING SOME YOUNG PEOPLE INTO
THE MIX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST CAME TO PLENTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. PLEASE ADD MY NAME.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT I THINK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED IT AS WELL. IT'S A BALANCING AND BALANCING
BETWEEN YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS BUT ALSO ENSURING OUR PARENTS OR THE GUARDIAN ALSO IS AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AS COUNCILOR PEPEN
MENTIONED ABOUT AN INCIDENT. BUT I, I THOUGHT ABOUT PARENTS OR A GUARDIAN THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS DURING THEIR JOB TO A CELL PHONE AND YOU KNOW, THE
FORTUNATE FAMILIES DO HAVE ACCESS TO A CELL PHONE AND HAVE ACCESS TO THAT CELL PHONE AT THEIR PARTICULAR JOB DURING THE DAY. WELL, SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS
DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY TO HAVE THEIR CELL PHONE ON THEM DURING THE DAY AND OR TO CHECK IT THE ENTIRE DAY. THEY HAVE TO PUT IT PUT IT AWAY. SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT
THOSE FAMILIES OR GUARDIAN THEIR VOICES ARE ALSO HEARD IN ENSURING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION
RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT OTHER PARENTS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO A CELL PHONE AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR, WHERE ARE YOU? ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND
THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR INTRODUCING THIS HERE IN ORDER OUR STUDENTS ARE GROWING UP IN A WORLD WHERE IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO UNPLUG IN MANY OF MY CATS COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED THIS ALREADY FROM
FOCUS IN DISTRACTION AND ALSO CYBERBULLYING AND SOME OF OUR INCIDENTS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO ARISE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. I JUST ALSO WANT TO JUST THINK CASTLE WEBER FOR PRESENTING AND
TALKING ABOUT THE DATA AND THE STUDIES THAT SPEAK TO WHY WE NEED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS NOW. BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF MY PREDECESSOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
ANDREA CAMPBELL WHO'S BEEN LEADING IMPORTANT WORK IN THIS AT THE STATEHOUSE TIBET TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO THESE ISSUES TO THE STUDY THAT HER LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION STATEWIDE
ABOUT HOW WE PROTECT STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH AND ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE PLACE FOR FOCUS, SAFETY AND SUPPORT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA COVERS ANY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNSELOR WEBER FOR FIGHTING THIS AND THE AND THE CO-SPONSORS AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY HAS BEEN OUR YOUTH HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THIS FILING JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO MY OFFICE LAUNCHED
WHAT WE CALL SANTANA'S YOUTH FORCE AND IT'S A 13 PERSON BODY OF YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER TO INFORM OUR OFFICE ON YOUTH PRIORITIES AND IT'S BEING LED BY THREE OF OUR YOUTH
AMBASSADORS AND THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 40 LATINA AND DISTRICT GAY AND MISSION HEALTH. WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS VERY THIS VERY TOPIC AND THE IMPACT THAT SOCIAL
MEDIA HAS ON OUR STUDENTS AND HAS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND I WANT TO JUST ECHO WHAT COMES FROM RIGHT HERE THAT
I THINK HAVING YOUTH BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION I THINK WILL BE CRITICAL AND CRUCIAL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOUR OFFICE HOWEVER, TO DO JUST THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR AGAIN AS IS COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. JUST TO FOLLOW UP AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AND THEIR THAT THIS IS A BALANCING ACT.
I THINK WHEN THIS WAS DEBATED IN LOS ANGELES AND IN CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW ON THE THE OTHER SIDE OF OF OF BANS PEOPLE
ARGUED THAT YOU KNOW AS SOON AS THESE CELL PHONES TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY LIKE LAPTOPS AND THINGS THAT CELL PHONES
PROVIDED AN EDUCATIONAL AID THAT AND SOME STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ESPECIALLY FOLKS IN MARGINALIZED GROUPS, LGBTQ STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR BENEFITED FROM ACCESS TO SOCIAL
MEDIA AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION WE WILL HAVE TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WAY WAY YOU KNOW, ALL SIDES
OF THIS DEBATE AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AND AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO THAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. AWESOME. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS FILING AND FOR MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE MADE STATEMENTS. I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA USE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL AS ANYONE
ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR CASAS BREADON AND CLAUDIA ZAPATA FITZGERALD FLYNN MEJIA MURPHY SANTANA
WUERL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0905 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0906 STUCK
IN NUMBER 0906 COUNCILOR AS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ORDER REQUESTING CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER 17 F REGARDING STATE RECEIVERSHIP OF BOSTON'S ELECTION COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONVERSATION THE LONG CONVERSATION WE HAD
EARLIER SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR ANSWERS THAT WE DESERVE ON THIS BODY. I FILED SEVERAL WEEKS BACK AND TWO MONTHS AGO A HEARING ORDER ALONG WITH COUNSELOR FLYNN TO
CALL IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT AND ANY OTHER BODIES THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO REALLY GIVE US A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
IT MEANT WHEN THE SECRETARY GALVIN MADE HIS DECISION AFTER AUDITING OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT WHAT IT REALLY MEANT THAT WE WERE PUT INTO RECEIVERSHIP OR A RECEIVER WAS
ASSIGNED TO US. SO WHEN I HEAR OTHERS SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING ILL INFORMED DECISIONS I AGREE WITH THEM BECAUSE NONE OF US REALLY DO
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS UNDER RECEIVERSHIP EXACTLY FAR AND WHAT STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE BECAUSE OF THAT AND
WE DID FINALLY GET A HEARING ORDER SCHEDULE. IT WAS PUT IN TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH VACATION WEEK NEXT WEEK MANY HEARING
ORDER TIME SLOTS WERE OPEN. SO THIS WAS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 23RD AT 10 A.M. COUNCIL FLYNN AND I SENT
SEVERAL LETTERS TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR BUT ALSO SENT A DIRECT LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER AND OTHERS IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT TELLING THEM HOW WE WERE LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING HEARING AND INCLUDED QUESTIONS SO THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR AND JUST FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT NO ONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS AVAILABLE SO
THERE WON'T BE ANYONE AT THE APRIL 23RD MEETING AT 10 A.M.. TO ME THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. IT ALSO IS A PATTERN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CERTAIN COUNSELORS DOESN'T DON'T ATTEND
HEARINGS OR DON'T SEND THE PEOPLE WE WANT. SO PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY HAVE LIVES ,THEY HAVE SCHEDULES BUT WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL ALL WE NEED IS A 48 HOUR PERIOD TO INFORM THE
CITY DEPARTMENTS WHEN WE'D LIKE THEM TO COME INTO THE CHAMBER TO SPEAK WE GAVE THEM WEEKS TO BE AVAILABLE AND BE HERE TO ANSWER. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE STILL
HAVE THAT HEARING KNOWING IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ME TO HOLD THAT HEARING BEFORE TODAY WHEN THE ELECTION SEASON HAS STARTED AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY OF OR NOT A SPECIAL ELECTION COMING UP THIS YEAR. SO THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M HOPING TO ASK UNDER THIS ARE LISTED HERE. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DID FIND OUT BUT
DON'T HAVE REAL REASONS WHY. ONE OF THEM IS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH NOW IT FALLS UNDER THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
I STATE RECEIVERSHIP DETAILS OPERATIONAL FAILURES SO I DON'T NEED TO READ THROUGH ALL OF THEM. BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THESE ANSWERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT THAT WE
ALSO HOLD A HEARING AND HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION SHOW UP WHEN WE ASK THEM. THANK YOU AGAIN. I JUST LEANING NEAR THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK IF
WE'RE ABLE TO HOLD THIS HEARING BEFORE WE HOLD THE HEARING ON THE HOME RULE PETITION THAT WAS PLACED INTO COMMITTEE TODAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HAPPENING AT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT. SO IT PREPARES US TO WHAT THOROUGHLY INFORMED ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE
ELECTION DEPARTMENT. IT'S CRITICAL FOR CITY COUNCILORS AND CANDIDATES BUT ESPECIALLY TO RESIDENTS OF BOSTON TO HAVE FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY GALVIN WAS VERY CLEAR IN MY OPINION THAT HE DOESN'T THINK THAT A SPECIAL ELECTION COULD TAKE PLACE IN BOSTON FOR
THIS 87 SEAT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE CITY OF BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS EFFECTIVELY ABLE TO ADMINISTER VOTING ON THAT DAY. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THEM BUT
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS CITY COUNCILORS ESPECIALLY DISTRICT CITY COUNCILORS WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BASIC CITY SERVICES TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE ALL WANT TO FIND OUT WE ALL WANT TO HAVE A HEARING. WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE ELECTION
DEPARTMENT. AND MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD ASK IF THIS HEARING WOULD GO BEFORE THE HOME RULE PETITION. THANK YOU COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN TO EXPANSION OF THE ROLE AND COST OF THIS DOCKET ALL
OBVIOUSLY I. I JUST I COULD HAVE PASSED MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE ME DOCKET NUMBER 09070907 COUNCIL ON MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL NUMBER 148 AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A LIVABLE HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR UNTIL LATER MATTERS, MADAM. THANKS.
SO TODAY I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL NUMBER 148 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LIVABLE HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND THOSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS. HOME SHOULD BE A PLACE OF SAFETY, DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE BUT WITHOUT THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOAL REMAINS OUT OF REACH.
THIS BILL PROPOSES A GRANT OF UP TO $5,000 TO SUPPORT AND COVER ESSENTIAL HOME MODIFICATIONS LIKE ZERO STEP ENTRANCES, WIDER DOORWAYS, ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS AND
KITCHENS AND BACKUP GENERATORS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS EARNING UP TO 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND INCLUDES AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T FILE FEDERAL TAXES AND AREN'T COVERED BY OTHER PROGRAMS. IN BOSTON WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS EVERY DAY WHO ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO CARE FOR AGING PARENTS, DISABLED FAMILY
MEMBERS OR THEMSELVES OFTEN WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO MAKE THEIR HOMES LIVABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE A LIFELINE. LET US SAY A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT WE HERE IN BOSTON ARE READY TO BACK UP
POLICIES THAT HELP OUR RESIDENTS REMAIN SAFE, SUPPORTED AND AT HOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HERE. THE JARGON OF THIS KIND OF LINEA THE FLOOR. YEAH.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK THE LAWMAKER A QUESTION ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE CHAIR? YOU MAY KNOW YOU MAY NOT DO THE CHAIR. YOU MAY LIKE MADAM CHAIR.
I KNOW IT'S A GRANT THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY FOR THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. BUT DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THIS
WILL COST TAXPAYERS? AND WHAT WILL WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM?
AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THE STATE CAN'T AFFORD CAN AFFORD THIS PROBLEM, IF THE STATE CAN AFFORD IT THEN THEN I WOULD SUPPORT IT. BUT IF THE STATE IS HAVING
TROUBLE WITH THEIR WITH VARIOUS ISSUES, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT AS WELL. DO THE CHAIR BECAUSE OF ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY.
THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I THINK WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO SUPPORT THIS COUNCILOR. I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS
IN THE STATE AND IT WAS CAROL REPRESENTATIVE CAROL DOHERTY WHO CO-SPONSORED THIS BILL ALONGSIDE OTHER LEGISLATORS AND I AM I AM GOING TO A JUST OFFER
FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT THE PROPOSAL PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OR CAREGIVERS TO RECEIVE GRANTS UP TO 50 EXCUSE ME 5000 COVERING
UP TO 50% OF RETROFIT COSTS. AND IN TERMS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO THIS, I CAN'T COMFORTABLY
STATE TO YOU WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. THIS IS A RESOLUTION AND I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THIS IS TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR
SENIORS, THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND OR OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND OUR HOPE HERE IS THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING AN INITIATIVE
THAT WILL HELP CREATE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND THAT IS THOUGH THE RESOLUTION THAT I'M PUTTING
FORTH WITH THAT INTENTION AND NOT A BE THE QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST
US IS UP FOR THE DEBATE RIGHT NOW AT THE STATE HOUSE AND I'M JUST RISING IN SUPPORT OF THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THAT WILL BE THE
BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH A GRANT. I HOPE THAT IT IS HELPFUL. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU FROM HERE FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BY PROFESSION, A RETIRED ONE AT THIS POINT. BUT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION AT THE STATE HOUSE . IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT AS WE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION THAT FOLKS WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE AT HOME IN THEIR HOME AND AGE AND
PLACE THAT THEIR HOMES ARE ABLE TO BE RETROFITTED AND MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE WITH GRAB BARS AND RAMPS AND CHAIRLIFTS OR WHATEVER THEY NEED SO THAT THEY
CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE CARETAKERS TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND I WILL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BREADON. AND WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLERK, PRESENT COUNCILOR IS GREAT IN COURT AS A PARTNER
DURKIN FITZGERALD, SANTANA WEBER WERE ALL PLEAS OF THE CHAIR CASIMIR MCKEE AS EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0907 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I MR WILL
PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE AND I CAN MEMBER 0907 COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PILOT COUNCILOR CLOSE PARTNER YES. COUNCILOR DURKIN YES.
COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCIL FINANCE ANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES.
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES.
COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WU YES COUNCILOR WU YES. TALKING OF 0907 AS WE SEE 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0907 HAS BEEN
ADOPTED. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0908 DOCKET NUMBERS 0908 COUNCILOR MORELLO FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING THE MUSEUM
OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS COUNCIL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WANT A MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE RESOLUTION. IT'S A MINOR CHANGE TWEAKING
SOME LANGUAGE IN THE FIFTH WHEREAS IS THAT MOTION SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR? SAY I I'LL POST YOUR NAME GUYS HAVE IT. SUBSTITUTION IS ALLOWED. NEW DOCKET IS IN FRONT OF COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU. I LIKE TO ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS A ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR I'M SO ADDED YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND I LIKE TO SPEND THE RULES AND AD COUNTS OF DURKAN AS A THIRD ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSOR CATTERALL SEEKS TO SPEND THE ROSE THAT COMES WITH DURKAN AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCILOR DURKAN SO ADDED COUNCIL ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR? THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IS A VITAL PART OF BOSTON STORY.
IT SITS ON BEACON HILL AND STANDS AS A REMINDER OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS BLACK BOSTONIANS HAVE MADE TO OUR CITY FROM THE FIGHT TO END SLAVERY TO THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR EQUITY AND
JUSTICE. FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES IT'S PRESERVED THE LEGACIES OF ABOLITIONIST EDUCATORS, ENTREPRENEURS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO SHAPED BOSTON'S SOUL
FROM FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO THE STUDENTS WHO ONCE SAT INSIDE THE ABLE SMITH SCHOOL. THIS PLACE IS SACRED AND NOW IT'S UNDER ATTACK. EARLIER THIS MONTH THE MUSEUM
WAS TOLD IT NO LONGER SERVES THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES AND NEARLY $500,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING WAS STRIPPED
ALMOST ONE SIXTH OF ITS TOTAL BUDGET AT A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY IS CONTINUING TO NAVIGATE HOW WE ENGAGE WITH OUR PAST. THIS DECISION FEELS LIKE MORE THAN JUST A BUDGET CUT.
IT SENDS A MESSAGE. BUT HERE IN BOSTON WE KNOW BETTER. A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE ITS HARM. CHURCHES KEEP IN BLACK MEN AND WOMEN CHAINED AND OPPRESSED.
CAN'T FIND THE HELP IT NEEDS TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS THAT HARM PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEIR PAST POWER CAN'T SEE THE HOPE THEY MIGHT NEED TO SUMMON ONCE
AGAIN. SURE THIS IS ABOUT FUNDING BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORY SO WE CAN LEARN FROM IT. WE KNOW THAT PRESERVING BLACK HISTORY IS PRESERVING AMERICAN
HISTORY. WE KNOW OUR KIDS DESERVE TO LEARN SPACES THAT TELL THE FULL TRUTH. WE WON'T STAND BY WHILE INSTITUTIONS DOING THAT WORK ARE UNDERMINED.
THIS MUSEUM IS DOING THE WORK WITH EXHIBITS LIKE THE UPCOMING ONE AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND PROGRAMING THAT BRINGS THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS THROUGH ITS DOORS EVERY YEAR.
IT CONTINUES TO TEACH INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE US. THIS RESOLUTION REFLECTS OUR SHARED BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THIS HISTORY AND SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SAFEGUARD IT.
I RESPECT RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE HOUSE AND ANY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS THAT WANT TO STEP FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT THIS INSTITUTION CONTINUES TO THRIVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS EGREGIOUS THE FUNDING CUTS THAT THIS MUSEUM IS FACING. IT IS EGREGIOUS WHAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING STRIPPING OUR HISTORY BLACK HISTORY WHICH IS AMERICAN HISTORY FROM WEBSITES STORIES ABOUT WHO HARRIET TUBMAN IS ABOUT SURGING TO TRUTH. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT IS
UNACCEPTABLE. THE FUNDING CUTS THAT THE MUSEUM THAT WAS ALREADY DOING SO MUCH ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET IS FACING. SO I WANT TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF DR. NOELLE TRENT AT THE
MUSEUM AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT SHE DOES. OUR PARK RANGERS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO DO THE WORK OF SHARING THE TRAIL WITH RESIDENTS, WITH TOURISTS, WITH
EVERYONE WHO COMES WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY HAVE NOTHING. AND THAT MUSEUM IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY AND TO THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY TO LETTING BLACK PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY
HAVE A PLACE AND A HISTORY IN BEACON HILL. LAST TERM MY OFFICE ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR BUT THEN COUNCILOR BOK WHICH IS SERENDIPITOUS WE MET HER BECAUSE SHE LIVES IN BEACON
HILL, DID A FANTASTIC WALKING TOUR OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRAIL IN BEACON HILL AND JUST LAST MONTH IN FEBRUARY WHERE IN APRIL TWO MONTHS AGO WE DID A
PARTNERSHIP WE DID A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY ATTENDED AND I WILL NEVER FORGET A WOMAN FROM DORCHESTER WHO STOOD UP AND
SAID WITH TEARS IN HER EYES I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BLACK PEOPLE HAD A HISTORY OR A PLACE HERE IN BEACON HILL. AND SO THE MUSEUM IS DOING A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING PEOPLE
FROM OUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO BEACON HILL. SHARING THE RICH, RICH, RICH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY ON THE HILL. AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STAND WITH THE MUSEUM AND MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND THAT WE STAND STAUNCHLY AGAINST THESE CUTS AND THAT WE SUPPORT OUR PARK RANGERS AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK THAT I'LL BE DOING WITH
DR. NOELLE TRENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THE IMPORTANT HISTORY THAT THAT MUSEUM HOLDS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND I THINK BOTH OF YOU SAID IT
BEAUTIFULLY BUT IT'S WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND OR DOESN'T CARE THAT BLACK BOSTONIANS
BUILT BOSTON THAT THEY THAT ARE THAT BLACK HISTORY IS ETCHED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BRICK BY BRICK. THIS MUSEUM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THAT LEGACY. IT TELLS THE STORIES OF BLACK
BOSTONIANS WHO HAVE SHAPED OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY AND INVITES ALL TO RECKON WITH THAT. THAT IS TRUTH AND BEAUTY AND HORROR OF THAT HISTORY. BUT IT'S MORE THAN A FUNDING CUT.
IT'S A FAILURE TO UPHOLD OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE MEMORY OF BOSTON. AND I'M I'M SICK THAT I MEAN SEEING THE UPDATE.
IT REMINDED ME OF THE DAY AFTER SEEING THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN BEING REMOVED FROM TRAINING MATERIALS. IT'S JUST THIS DISGUSTING FEELING AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT WOODY WOODHOUSE, GENERAL ENOCH
WOODY WOODHOUSE WHO WE HONORED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH OR ACTUALLY BEFORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF A BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL. SO IT JUST SHOWS YOU SORT
OF EVERY SINGLE PIECE AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS POURED THEMSELVES INTO THIS OVER TIME. BUT I LIVE LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE BLACK HISTORY
TRAIL AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN BEACON HILL AROUND THE 250TH. SO JUST TO HAVE THIS IS HAVE THIS HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IS SO GUTTING AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT
THEM. SO I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FUNDRAISING THAT'S GOING ON TO TO BACK UP THE MUSEUM. SO WHAT AND I THINK WE CAN ALL
SHARE THAT AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM. BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A HUGE GAP AND WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN STEP UP. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONSIDER AGAIN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KENDRA FLYNN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR FOR SIX YEARS I WAS I WAS PROUD TO REPRESENT THIS MUSEUM IN MY DISTRICT.
I REPRESENTED A GREAT PORTION OF BEACON HILL AND LEARNED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FROM THIS MUSEUM ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR CITY AND COUNTRY. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE I SENT A LETTER IMMEDIATELY TO
SENATOR WARREN AND TO SENATOR MARKEY AND I SENT IT TO THE AND IT WAS ABOUT THE SAVING OUR INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES. AND I JUST WANTED TO READ A
LITTLE BIT TO YOU. I AM WRITING TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE MARCH 14TH EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETING
THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER INTENDS TO DISMANTLE THIS IMPORTANT AGENCY AND I URGE YOU TO SPEAK UP TO THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE
ADMINISTRATION AGAINST THE HARMFUL APPROACH THAT THIS WILL HURT OUR TREASURED MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES. IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE VITAL TO THE CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR NATION. MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN OUR COUNTRY.
THEY ARE PLACES WHERE IDEAS ARE EXCHANGED AND CULTURES ARE SHARED. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER THREATENS THE INVALUABLE ROLE MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES PLAY ACROSS THE NATION AND IN BOSTON.
HERE IN BOSTON WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE A MAJOR HUB OF HISTORY AND CULTURE IN ARTS AND SCIENCES. WE HAVE THE CHERISHED BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE ALSO HAVE INCREDIBLE DIGITAL PROGRAMS DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH PROGRAMS FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND OUTREACH TO
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY ON LIBRARY SERVICES. OUR WELL-LOVED INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS,
THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED GRANTS IN THE PAST TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS INFORMED FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ENGAGED DEVELOP A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
. I JOIN THESE INSTITUTIONS RESIDENTS OF MY CITY STATE AND FEDERAL COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THESE ATTACKS AND TO RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO URGE THE WHITE HOUSE TO FULLY
RESTORE AND PROTECT FUNDING FOR OUR MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES HERE IN BOSTON AND ACROSS THE NATION CAN'T CONTINUE TO THRIVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
SHARE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THE AGENCY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY MADE THE CUT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM UP IN BEACON HILL A PLACE AS I
MENTIONED THAT I REPRESENTED FOR SIX YEARS. AND WHEN I WAS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT I ALSO HAD A UM I ALSO BROUGHT CITY COUNCIL AND UM CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO THE MUSEUM FOR A TOUR AND A LUNCH AS WELL. SO GRATEFUL FOR THE MUSEUM THE INCREDIBLE ROLE THEY PLAYED NOT JUST IN OUR CITY BUT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UPLIFT THIS MUSEUM.
I DO A PERSONAL STORY. BACK IN 2005 MY SON WAS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HE NEEDED TO DO A REPORT ON THE BLACK HISTORY TRAIL WHICH STARTED AT THE MUSEUM.
BUT BACK IN 2005 THERE WERE NO SUCH THINGS AS SMARTPHONES. IF YOU HAD A PHONE IT WAS A FLIP PHONE OR NO SOCIAL MEDIA. SO HE NEEDED IN THAT CASE HIS MOM CAME ALONG WITH HIM AND
TOOK PICTURES AT EACH STOP AND THEN WROTE ABOUT IT. SO FOR ME IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING. ONE THING YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT I HAD LIVED IN THIS CITY ALL THIS TIME AND KNOWN IT WAS
THERE I GUESS BUT HAD NEVER REALLY TAKEN PART IN THE ENORMOUS IMPACT IT HAS AND THE INFORMATION THAT IT SHARES THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT. SO KNOWING THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS COULD BE SHUT
DOWN IN ANY WAY. IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING IT SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE LOOKING IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS
MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON ZAPATA FITZGERALD, FLYNN MCGUIRE. MURPHY SANTANA WEBER COUNCILORS
WORL LOUIJEUNE AND DURKIN'S EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER ZERO NINE IN ADOPTION OF DOCKET 0908 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I
MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBER 0908 COUNCIL BRIEF YES COUNCILOR BREADON YES.
COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER COUNCILOR COLLETTE IS A YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN.
COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE CALLED MEJIA YES. COUNCIL MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN. YES. COUNCILOR THE YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES.
COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR OH YES. LUCKY NUMBER 0908 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED. CAN WE ALSO PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR PIPPEN'S NAME TO THAT DOCKET? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION DAN DELANEY WHO'S HERE. HE DOES A LOT OF INCREDIBLE
WORK WITH THE MUSEUM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE MUSEUM. IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED AND NOTED. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 09090909
COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD
COUNCILOR BURTON AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR BRADING AND SO ADDED COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I RISE TODAY TO PRODUCE THIS OR PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY. MY COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE OF EAST
BOSTON OR IN MY COMMUNITY OF EAST BOSTON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS NOT AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT AND THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE IN 2025 IT IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL IS BOSTON IS
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. OUR RESIDENTS BREATHE IN CUMULATIVE IMPACTS FROM LOGAN AIRPORT. WE HAVE TUNNELS AND MAJOR
THROUGH WAYS MAJOR ROADWAYS AND THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS WITH LIMITED GREEN SPACE AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. FOR US CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T A FAR OFF THREAT IT IS THE NEXT
STORM, THE NEXT FLOOD AND THE NEXT AS THE ATTACK. THAT'S WHY EARTH DAY IS MORE THAN JUST A SYMBOL IT IS A CHANCE TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND IT'S A REMINDER
THAT OUR POLICIES MUST BE GUIDED BY EQUITY AND THAT THE VOICES OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES MUST BE FRONT AND CENTER IN EVERY CLIMATE CONVERSATION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ISSUE A CLEAR WARNING TODAY AS WE WORK
LOCALLY TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE AND JUST FUTURE WE ARE FACING AN ALARMING ROLLBACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THE DEREGULATORY PUSH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW IN THE 1980S
UNDER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY THREATENS TO UNDO DECADES OF PROGRESS GUTTING CLEAN AIR AND WATER RULES, WEAKENING CLIMATE ACTION AND ONCE AGAIN
PLACING PROFITS OVER PEOPLE IS UNACCEPTABLE. DEREGULATION MEANS MORE POPULATION IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE. IT MEANS MORE EXTREME WEATHER, MORE DISPLACEMENT AND MORE
HEALTH DISPARITIES. IT'S NOT JUST RECKLESS, IT IS IMMORAL. BOSTON MUST CONTINUE TO LEAD. WE MUST DOUBLE DOWN ON RESILIENCE, EQUITY AND COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.
EARTH DAY IS NOT JUST A CELEBRATION IT IS A CALL TO ACTION AND EAST BOSTON AND EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY IS COUNTING ON US TO ANSWER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR CAN I JUST CONCENTRATE ON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU COUNCILORS CARLOTA ZAPATA FOR INCLUDING ME IN THIS
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EARTH DAY I THINK I THINK WE ARE ALL OF A SUDDEN REALIZING JUST HOW PRECARIOUS LIFE IS ON THIS PLANET ESPECIALLY IN TIMES
OF GREAT POLITICAL UPHEAVAL WHEN OUR LEADERS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND IN IN CONGRESS SEEM TO JUST TURN THEIR BACK ON ALL ALSO ANY
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OUR DUTY TO STEWARDS, OUR BEAUTIFUL SMALL PLANET WE HAVE MANY, MANY FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS AS COUNTRIES THAT ARE PART
OF ALREADY MENTIONED CLIMATE CHANGES IS UPON US. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ARE IN THE FUTURE WE USED TO TALK ABOUT WE NEEDED THESE GOALS THAT TO BE HIT BY 2030 WELL 2035 YEARS AWAY AND IT'S COMING
FAST. RISING SEA LEVELS ARE A REALITY . COASTAL COMMUNITIES ARE BEING DISPLACED ALL AROUND THE WORLD. SOME SMALL ISLAND NATIONS ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR OFF THE MAP COMPLETELY.
WE'RE LOSING HABITAT AND WE ARE SEEING THE EXTINCTION OF MANY, MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS. THIS IS OUR EARTHLY HOME AND WE HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT IT AND PRESERVE IT.
IT IRONIC THAT THERE ARE TRIPS THAT A CERTAIN VERY RICH MAN IN WASHINGTON AT THE MOMENT WHO WANTS TO GO TO MARS TO SEARCH FOR WATER. WE HAVE OUR OUR LOVELY PLANET
IS 90% WATER AND WE'RE DESTROYING IT. WE'RE POLLUTING IT. WE'RE DUMPING TRASH INTO THE OCEANS AND WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THE BEAUTIFUL TREASURE THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S A VERY GRAVE CONCERN THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT SUCH AS NORWAY ARE BEING DEFUNDED AND THE RESEARCH CLIMATE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DEFUNDED AND INVESTMENT IN
ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY IS BEING DEFUNDED. AND I REALLY FEEL AS A MEMBER AS A PERSON WHO HAS MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY LOST THEIR HOME IN KATRINA WHEN IT HIT NEW
ORLEANS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN A VERY PRECARIOUS STATE AND WE ALL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUPPORT OURSELVES BUT ALSO
BE MINDFUL OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE. THIS IS A GLOBAL CHALLENGE THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TO ADDRESS GLOBALLY AS WELL AS LOCALLY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. KELLY CELEBRATED WHAT ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR FILING. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DUTY TO BE
GOOD STEWARDS HERE WHILE WE HERE ON THIS EARTH AND HOW THERE'S A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN ON OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR WORK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAKERS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THE
DISTRICT I REPRESENT ESPECIALLY IN CHINATOWN HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ASTHMA RATES IN IN NEW ENGLAND REALLY AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
BUT PART OF IT IS BECAUSE IT'S LOCATED IT'S LOCATED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY 9395 AND MASS PIKE BUT ALSO THE BUS TERMINAL OF A
SOUTH STATION AND THE TRAIN TERMINAL TRAIN STATION AS WELL. BUT I LIKE THOSE FACTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUES IMPACTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, ON THEIR HEALTH. BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS WITH CLEAN AIR, WITH SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND PART OF THAT IS ADDRESSING
THE ONGOING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS DURKIN FITZGERALD. FLYNN MCKIM. MURPHY. PATTON. SANTANA. WEBER WORRELL PLEASE HAVE A CHAIR. THAT WAS MY ATTEMPT TO SLOW
DOWN MR. CLERK BECAUSE I REALIZE I WAS GOING A LITTLE TOO FAST. OKAY COUNCILORS COLETTE ZAPATA AND BRAYDON SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET
NUMBER 0909 ALTHOUGH AN ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0909 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I AT ALL OPPOSING AID THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 09100910 COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF PAUL REVERE'S MIDNIGHT RIDE, THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES KATHERINE COLETTE AS A PATTY. YOU HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IF YOU WERE ASKING YOURSELF IS SHE GOING TO RECITE THE POEM, CONSIDER THIS YOUR ANSWER. LISTEN MY CHILDREN AND YOU
SHALL HEAR OF THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE ON THE 18TH OF APRIL IN 75. HARDLY A MAN IS NOW ALIVE REMEMBERS THAT FAMOUS DAY IN YEAR I WILL SPARE MY COLLEAGUES
FROM RECITING THE OTHER 135 LINES OF HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SAME POEM BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SPEAK MY SEVENTH GRADE HISTORY TEACHER'S NAME
MR EDWARD SUTTON WHO MADE ALL OF RECITE 138 LINES OF THIS POEM. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT TODAY I RISE TO HONOR A REVOLUTIONARY MOMENT THAT
ECHOES ACROSS TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES A RIDE THAT BEGAN IN BOSTON'S HISTORIC NORTH END CROSSED THE DARKENED CHARLES TO BOSTON'S FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHARLESTOWN.
THE MOMENT AND THE SUBSEQUENT POEM IS WOVEN LIKE I SAID, INTO EVERY CURRICULUM IN EVERY SEVENTH GRADE HISTORY CLASS. AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS OR WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
THERE ARE VARIATIONS OF HISTORY HERE BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO ON FRIDAY IS JUST CELEBRATE THIS REVOLUTIONARY MOMENT AND WHAT IT MEANT FOR OUR HISTORY. HIS MIDNIGHT RIDE ON APRIL 18TH
,70 1775 WAS NOT A SOLITARY ACT OF HEROISM BUT A COORDINATED WARNING CRY A CALL TO ARMS THAT SET THE COLONIES ON A PATH TOWARDS REVOLUTION. HIS LANTERNS IN OLD NORTH
CHURCH HIS LANDING IN CHARLESTOWN. HIS ALERT TO THE MILITIAS IN ALL OF THE CHARLESTOWN TAVERNS ALL WERE ACTS ROOTED IN RESISTANCE AND CAN ACT AS AN
INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF US TODAY HIS JOURNEY BEGAN ON OUR COBBLESTONES DRIVEN BY URGENCY AND AS BOSTON FACES MODERN STRUGGLES IN THE NATION STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE EQUITY
PAUL REVERE STORY REMINDS US THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN STEP FORWARD IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. BUT 250TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK IS MORE THAN JUST A COMMEMORATION. IT IS A RECOMMITMENT TO
LIBERTY, TO CIVIC DUTY AND REMEMBERING THAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT BUILT BY JUST THOSE IN POWER BUT BY THOSE WILLING TO ACT BOLDLY IN MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY. SO THE EVENTS THIS WEEK AND
THIS RESOLUTION CAN ACT AS A REMINDER THAT BOSTON'S IDENTITY AND THE NATION'S IDENTITY AS THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY IS NOT INHERITED. IT'S EARNED AGAIN AND AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE MANY EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CASTRO THAT IS A PART OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON.
I FEEL LIKE I'M A SURFER HERE. I DIDN'T WASN'T TAUGHT AMERICAN HISTORY BUT I HAVE I AM A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BRIGHTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE
OTHER GUY POOR WILLIAM DAWES JUNIOR ALL GOT TO NO GLORY AS IT SAYS PAUL REVERE WENT ONE WAY. HE WENT ACROSS TO CHARLESTON
BUT THE OTHER GUY THAT SET OFF ON MIDNIGHT RIDE WAS ON APRIL 18TH 1775. DR. JOSEPH WARREN LEARNED THROUGH THE AMERICAS BRITAIN, BOSTON'S REVOLUTIONARY
UNDERGROUND THAT BRITISH TROOPS WERE PREPARING TO CROSS THE CHARLES RIVER AND MARCHED TO LEXINGTON AND FEARING AN INTERCEPT BY THE BRITISH, WARREN HAD DEVISED A REDUNDANCY
PLAN TO WARN HANCOCK, HANCOCK AND ADAMS HE WOULD SEND TO ONE RIDER BY LAND AND ONE BY SEA. AND SO REVERE, I SUSPECT WENT BY SEA AND THE GUY DAWES WAS 30
YEAR OLD MILITIA MAN AND A LOYAL PATRIOT BUT UNLIKE UNLIKE REVERE HE WAS KNOWN AS A RABBLE ROUSER AND HIS WORK AS A TANNER
FREQUENTLY TOOK HIM OUT OF BOSTON SO HE WOULD BE SO HE WOULD BE A FAMILIAR FACE TO THE BRITISH MANNING THE CHECKPOINTS THE RECKONED HE BECAUSE THE
BACK BAY WAS LITERALLY AT BAY HE HAD TO GO THROUGH ROXBURY BROOKLINE AND TO BRIGHTON AND ACROSS AND OUT TO LEXINGTON BY THE INLAND ROUTE AND HE DID
THERE HE MANAGED TO GET THERE A HALF AN HOUR AFTER REVERE ARRIVED AND IN LEXINGTON. SO WE WILL BE HONORING DAWES ON
ON MONDAY MORNING ABOUT 1030 AT THE HILLS MEMORIAL THE FORMER HILL MEMORIAL CHURCH ON HARVARD OF IN ALLSTON ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HONAN BRANCH LIBRARY
JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE GUY THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT ANYMORE. THANK YOU THANK YOU COUNT CELEBRATE IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU AS LONG AS WE'RE RECOGNIZING
TEACHERS I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY A PROFESSOR OF MINE AT BRANDEIS DAVID HACKETT FISHER WROTE A BOOK CALLED PAUL REVERE'S RIDE. IT'S VERY GOOD IT RECOMMENDED IT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT PAUL
REVERE WASN'T JUST A GUY ON A HORSE WHO'S SOMEBODY WHO WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OF OF LIFE HERE IN BOSTON AT THE TIME. AND I DO REMEMBER DURING THE CLASS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT CASTING DECISIONS. THEY APPARENTLY ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER UP TO PLAY PAUL REVERE AT SOME POINT BUT THAT MOVIE NEVER GOT MADE PROBABLY YOU KNOW, FOR THE BEST. BUT YOU KNOW, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER, I RECOMMEND PROFESSOR FISHER'S BOOK.
I THINK THANK YOU LOT A LOT OF HISTORY LESSONS HERE. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE ADD
COUNSELORS BRAEDEN DURKIN FITZGERALD, FLYNN MARIA MURPHY, PAT SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNSELOR COLLETTE ZAPATA SUSPENSION
OF THE ROSE AND PAT AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 0910 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I WILL SAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER 0911 DUGAN
NUMBER 0911 COUNCILOR MURPHY OFFER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE PROMPT SCHEDULING OF A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE VACANCY IN DISTRICT SEVEN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
I KNOW MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED. THE CONTENT IS SIMILAR TO THE HOME RULE PETITION THAT WAS FILED EARLIER BUT I AM CALLING
FOR A RESOLUTION TO SCHEDULE AND BE PREPARED FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE SEVEN SEAT AS WE KNOW THE DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCILOR HAS PLEADED GUILTY
AND HAS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HER INTENTION TO RESIGN FROM THE POSITION THE RESIDENTS OF D SEVEN DESERVE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. WHILE THERE WILL BE AN INTERIM
PERIOD BEFORE A SPECIAL ELECTION CAN BE CONDUCTED, I FEEL IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE PREPARE FOR THAT AND SUPPORT OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO KNOW SINCE I FIRST FILED THIS THAT THERE WILL BE A HEARING THE RULE 11 HEARING WAS SCHEDULED BY THE JUDGE SO THERE IS A HEARING ON MAY 5TH AND
THAT IS THE DAY IT IS BELIEVED THAT A GUILTY PLEA WILL BE ENTERED. SO I DO BELIEVE AT THAT POINT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD AND SCHEDULE A SPECIAL ELECTION. I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HOME RULE PETITION THAT HAS BEEN PLACED INTO THE GOVERNMENT OPS COMMITTEE SO WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AT
THOSE HEARINGS IN THAT COMMITTEE BUT I'M ASKING FOR A SUSPENSION AND PASS NOW. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JUST JUST WANT TO STATE THAT BECAUSE THE CLERK AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT IN ORDER TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION AS IS CLEAR TO SECTION 15 EIGHT OF THE CHARTER, YOU
HAVE TO HAVE A NOTICE OF VACANCY. THAT'S WHAT TRIGGERS A SPECIAL ELECTION JUST SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YEAH.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AFTER A GUILTY PLEA IS ENTERED ON THE FIFTH FLOOR TO SAY THAT HAPPENS THAT WOULD NOT CREATE A VACANCY . CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND EVERYONE FEEL FREE.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE FROM READING THE CHUCK TURNER DECISION IS HE CONVICTED AND THE COUNCIL VOTED IT WAS LIKE 11 TO 1 OR 12 TO 1 TO REMOVE
HIM AND THEY SAID THAT WAS TOO EARLY. HE COULDN'T EITHER UNDER STATE LAW THE VACANCY IS IN CREATED UNTIL THE SENTENCING. I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SENTENCING WILL OCCUR ON MAY 5TH.
I THINK THAT MAY BE AS MUCH AS THREE MONTHS LATER. SO I JUST I JUST THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT. IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAS A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING THEY MAY BE RIGHT. I'M JUST THAT WHEN I WHEN I'M
THINKING OF IT MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION TO THE FILER BUT MY MY FEELING IS STATE LAW SORT OF KICKS SOMEONE OFF THE COUNCIL WHEN THEY'RE SENTENCED
AND THAT IN THE TURNER CASE THEY HAVE THE COUNCIL ACTED TOO SOON BECAUSE THEY ACTED RIGHT AFTER THE CONVICTION. THE VACANCY ISN'T EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE SENTENCING HAPPENS AND I THINK THAT'S A SEPARATE
PROCEEDING USUALLY THREE MONTHS LATER. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR IGNITES CONCENTRATED NEAR THE FLOOR. MADAM CHAIR, I WE'VE HAD A VERY, VERY EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE
ALREADY THIS AFTERNOON. I TEND TO AGREE WITH COUNCILOR WEBER. YOU KNOW THE THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION HAPPENING HERE
AND EVEN AT THE EARLIEST DATE AS I SAID THE EARLIEST DATE IF THE SENTENCING THE JUDGMENT IS IS GIVEN. I'M NOT A LAWYER. THANK YOU.
PARDON. BUT MAY 5TH IF IF IF AT ALL. MAY 5TH IS THE THE DATE AND THEN THERE HAS TO BE A SENTENCING PROCEDURE THAT KICKS IT PAST THE THE DAY THAT
TRIGGERS THE NEED FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION. SO I THINK THIS IS A MOOT THIS ISSUE IS MOOT AT THIS POINT AND I I THINK THIS IS I OBJECT. THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET. DOCKET NUMBER 0911 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE WHOLE MATTER. MR CLERK, WE ARE NOW THERE'S AN OBJECTION. IT'S SENT TO COMMITTEE.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE WE ARE NOW ON TO. COUNCILOR MURPHY, WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER WITH RESPECT TO ACTED AND WE SET A PRECEDENT FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING, THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT'S BEING BROUGHT BEFORE US THAT EVEN THOUGH COUNCILOR BREADON IS WANTING TO OBJECT TO GET A VOTE THAT WE STILL LET PEOPLE'S VOICES BE HEARD. SO I'M ASKING FOR THE SAME
GRACE THAT I GAVE WHEN YOUR HOME PETITION WAS PUT BEFORE HERE BECAUSE I COULD HAVE STOPPED THE CONVERSATION AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK. SO I'M ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SPEAK
ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. YOU WITHDREW YOUR OBJECTION. THERE'S BEEN NO WITHDRAWAL OF THE OBJECTION HERE. THANK YOU, MR CLERK. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO PERSONNEL
ORDERS, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A DOCKET OR TO OR A VOTE WHILE THEY WERE OUT OF CHAMBERS, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES. IS THAT A. IS THAT A MAYBE? YEP. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL. THE BAN COMES WITH ANY OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU. MAY I ADD MY NAME TO DOCKET NUMBER 0907?
MR CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 0907? YES. OKAY. COUNCILMAN WITH YOUR NAME HAS BEEN ADDED TO DOCKET NUMBER 0907. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A DOCKET OR CHANGE A VOTE NOW?
OKAY. OKAY. SO WE ARE NOW ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PERSONNEL ORDERS? PERSONNEL ORDERS DOCKING NUMBER 0912 COUNCIL OF LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCIL PEPEN DOCKET NUMBER 0913 COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR
CENTRAL STAFF AND COUNCILOR IN DOCKET NUMBER 0914 COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR CENTRAL STAFF. THANK YOU. THE CHAIRMANSHIP PASSAGE OF DOCKETS NUMBER 091220914 ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL CLOSE IN A THANK YOU. THE PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE PASSED. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS ALSO THANK YOU FOR LETTING CENTRAL STAFF KNOW IN ADVANCE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS ANY GREEN SHEETS
BOTH NOW. OKAY WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO LEAD FILES. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE TWO TWO LATE FILE MATTERS. I HAVE THREE.
OH, YOU DO HAVE A GREEN. OKAY, LET'S PAUSE ON MOVING TO LEAD FILES. THERE IS A GREEN SHEETS PULL.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER. COUNCILOR FLYNN, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE DOCKET OR TELL US MR QUICK, DO YOU HAVE THE DOCKET NUMBER? OKAY. HE DOES NOT HAVE THE DOCKET
NUMBER COVER FLYNN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THE DOCKET. THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING READY AT THAT TIME. 0687 PLEASE. 06871 TEN ARTS CULTURE
ENTERTAINMENT IT'S IN THE ARTS CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE. MR. CLERK LET'S GIVE THE CLERK SOME TIME TO FIND THAT DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0687 IT'S ON PAGE
ONE OF THE GREEN SHEET. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE IT, MR. CLERK? MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE OF ARTS CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM AND SPECIAL EVENTS DUNCAN AMBER
0687 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $350,000 A FORM OF GRANT FOR THE RED SOX AND PARKS PROGRAM
GRANT AWARDED BY THE BOSTON RED SOX TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE GRANT WILL FUND ARTS PROGRAMING, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARKS OPERATIONS ACROSS BOSTON.
THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION TO THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS ACCEPTED IN THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I MADE A COMMITMENT TO COUNCILOR DURKIN THAT I WOULD BRING THIS FORWARD THIS MORNING SO I WANT TO KEEP MY WORD ON THAT. BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, COUNCILOR DURKIN, DO YOU WANT
TO START OR DO YOU WANT ME TO START OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR OF ARTS AND CULTURE COUNSELOR FLYNN FOR HIS FIRST ACTION PULLING THIS FROM THE GREEN SHEETS. SO I THINK WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS GRANT ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR.
THIS IS A 350,000 GRANT THAT WILL FUND ARTS PROGRAMING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARK OPERATIONS. AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION. I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT WE'VE
GOTTEN A COUPLE OF LETTERS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED TO THE FORMER CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE AND. I JUST WANT TO READ SOME OF THE QUOTES FROM THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. THIS IS FROM I BELIEVE THE SO WE'VE GOTTEN SUPPORT LETTERS FROM THE FENWAY ALLIANCE WHICH IS THE DOES A LOT OF THE
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION STUFF AND THEN DOES A GREAT JOB AND ALSO THE FENWAY CIVIC ASSOCIATION SO ONE OF THE QUOTES IS WE BELIEVE IT TO BE A FAIR COMPENSATION
CONTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT FOR FENWAY RESIDENTS TOLERANCE OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT ARISE FROM BEING THE NEIGHBOR HOST TO 81 RED SOX GAMES AND 12 MAJOR CONCERTS PER YEAR. THESE EVENTS BRING WITH THEM
SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC NOISE, TRASH AND PEDESTRIAN CONGESTIONS DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL SEASONS. MOREOVER, THIS GRANT REPLACES FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN RECEIVING AS MITIGATION FOR THE
FENWAY PARK DEMONSTRATE AND PROJECT GRANT THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING WAS USED FOR BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS FOR OVER TEN YEARS IN THE FENWAY NEIGHBORHOOD BUT IT ENDED IN 2024 FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
LIMITED AVENUES FOR SUPPORTS FOR THE ARTS NO MAIN STREETS ORGANIZATION, NO LIBRARIES OR ABC. WE HAVE CENTERS, SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THESE DEDICATED FUNDS FUND A NECESSARY RESOURCE FOR OUR
HIGHLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THE GRANT LAST YEAR VALUED AT 325,000 WAS OBLIGATED AS FOLLOWS AND COULD BE A ROUGH
FRAMEWORK FOR THE SPEND DOWN FOR THIS YEAR'S GRANT AS WELL. 100 WAS GIVEN TO PARKS AND THAT PARKS MONEY WAS SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FOR THE BACK BAY
FUNDS 100 K FOR ARTS AND CULTURE AND THAT WAS FOR GRANT MONEY FOR THE FENWAY THAT AND THEN OR SORRY YEAH 100 K THEY
THEY DIDN'T SPEND $10 OF THAT BUT THEY SPENT 9 TO $9990 AND THEN 100,000 TO THE COMMUNITY LIKE I HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID 40,000 OF THAT WAS SPENT ON
LOVE YOUR BLOCK AND US WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THAT AND THEY PAID FOR THE TOOLS FOR THIS YEAR'S LOVE YOUR BOX CITYWIDE THEY MAY STILL HAVE SOME FUNDS LEFT FROM THAT THAT THEY'RE USING THIS
YEAR AND I'LL JUST SHARE THE 60 K THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE FENWAY NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT GRANT THAT WAS PART OF THE COMMUNITY MONEY . I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DECIDED WHERE THOSE FUNDS WERE
PUT AND FENWAY KENMORE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT GRANT GAVE TO MUDDY WATER INITIATIVE $10,000 CHARLES SKATE ALLIANCE $5,000 FENWAY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
FOR FENWAY CARES WHICH FUNDS THE FOOD INSECURE AND THE FENWAY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BOTH THE EAST FENWAY AND THE WEST FENWAY $35,000 AND THE KENMORE ASSOCIATION $10,000. MOST OF THESE ENDED UP BEING
PARKS RELATED AND OUR COMMUNITY WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PARKS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE FENWAY. SO I THINK THAT SORT OF ANSWERS ALL THE QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST TIME THIS WAS PULLED AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCILOR MICKEY WE BOTH HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS THESE RESOURCES AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND TALKING TO
ME ABOUT HOW YOU KNOW, HOW THIS WAS ALL YOU KNOW, HOW THEY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION. I THINK THEY GOT THAT INFORMATION AND ALSO AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR PULLING THIS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKAN FOR THAT UPDATE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CONCILOR MEJIA HERE
COUNCILOR MURPHY AS WELL. COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED WHAT THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR. I DO WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OTHER INFORMATION MAYBE IT
WASN'T COVERED. SOME OF IT WAS ACTUALLY THOUGH BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE VANESSA FROM MY TEAM THAT HELPED ME DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND SHE WORKED WITH
COUNCILOR DURKIN'S OFFICE. THIS IS A AS WE KNOW A $350,000 GRANT FROM THE RED SOX ARTS AND PARKS PROGRAM THAT AS COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED WE'LL FUND ARTS PROGRAMS,
COMMUNITY EVENTS, PARKS OPERATION WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS IN THE FENWAY FENWAY CAMERA AREA. IT'S THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS GRANT HAS COME BEFORE THIS LAST
YEAR THE SAME GRANT FOR 325,000 CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND WAS PASSED AS WELL. THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY AS COUNCILOR DURKAN HAS MENTIONED
THEY EXPRESSED STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS GRANT. THE FENWAY ALLIANCE ALLIANCE WHICH REPRESENTS 22 INSTITUTIONS IN THE AREA AS WELL AS THE FENWAY CIVIC ASSOCIATION HAVE PROVIDED
LETTERS OF SUPPORT. FENWAY IS A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD. IT HAS A POPULATION OF CLOSE TO 40,000 RESIDENTS IN AN AREA
OF 1.25 MILES AND IT'S HOME TO THE FENWAY PARK. THE NEIGHBORHOOD FACES UNDUE IMPACTS FROM 81 HOME GAMES AND 12 MAJOR CONCERTS. RESIDENTS DEAL WITH QUALITY
LIFE ISSUES TRAFFIC NOISE, TRASH, PEDESTRIAN CONGESTION DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL. THIS GRANT WILL GO TOWARDS COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR FENWAY
RESIDENTS INCLUDING REPLACING THE FUNDING THE FENWAY HAS BEEN RECEIVING AS A MITIGATION FOR THE FENWAY PARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THAT SOURCE OF FUNDING WAS USED FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS IN THE FENWAY NEIGHBORHOOD. HOWEVER, THAT ENDED IN 2024. AS COUNCILOR DEREK MENTIONED, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LIMITED AVENUES FOR SUPPORT FOR THE
ARTS. NO MAINSTREAM ORGANIZATION, NO LIBRARIES. BASICALLY I HAVE CENTERS. THESE DEDICATED FUNDS WILL PROVIDE A NECESSARY RESOURCE FOR A FENWAY AND HIGHLY
IMPACTED COMMUNITY. FOR THESE REASONS MY RECOMMENDATION IS AND ALONG WITH COUNCIL DURKAN IS FOR OUR COLLEAGUES TO PASS THIS GRANT TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FENWAY IN CANMORE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. WHEN I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. OKAY, SO COUNCILOR FLYNN SEEKS
PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER. I WROTE IT DOWN 068 OF DOCKET NUMBER 0687. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSING. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE AND DOCKET NUMBER 0687 COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR BREADON YES
COUNCIL CALL IT AS A VOTE COUNCILOR COLOR AS A PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR SAYING YES.
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES COUNCILOR BUT THEN COUNCILOR PIPPIN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA.
COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCIL YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR WU YES. TALKING NUMBERS 0687 AS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.
THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED. ARE THERE ANY MORE POLLS FROM THE GREEN SHEET? NO. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO LATE FILES. I'M INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT
THERE ARE TWO LATE FILE MATTERS AND THEY ARE TWO ONE ABSENCE LETTERS AND THE ME. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE TWO LATE FILE MATTERS INTO THE RECORD? FIRSTLY, FOUL MOUTHED COMMUNICATION FROM
COUNCILOR FERNANDES HANDS AND I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FIND YOU WELL. I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING. SINCERELY, COUNCILOR FERNANDO SANDERSON.
AND THE SECOND IS A COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL AH MURPHY AND COUNCILOR FLYNN. EMERGENCY REQUEST A RESCHEDULE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE
WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR GRAVE CONCERN REGARDING THE SCHEDULING OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2025, WHICH COINCIDES WITH GOOD FRIDAY SOLEMN AND
SIGNIFICANT DAY FOR CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE. SINCERELY COUNCIL OF PLANNING COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU. BOTH DOCKETS WILL BE PLACED ON FILE BUT AS THAT LAST ONE WAS ADDRESSED TO ME I'LL JUST STATE
THAT I AS A CHRISTIAN ALSO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT SOLEMN DAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WE ALSO HAVE A TIMELINE NEXT
WEEK IS AN EVEN BUSIER AND HARDER SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF FOR EVERYONE GIVEN THAT IT IS SCHOOL VACATION WEEK. I ON FRIDAY WE HAVE THE BJP FILING THAT I'M ON WITH
COUNCILOR WEBER WHO HAS BEEN OBSERVING PASSOVER. SO WE IT IS A WORKING DAY FOR US ON THE COUNCIL AND ALSO ON THE DOCKET ON THE HORMEL PETITION.
WE DID HEAR FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AND IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE ON THIS MATTER AND SO IF PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO COME IN ON
FRIDAY, THERE IS AN ABILITY TO WITHDRAW YOUR OBJECTION AND JUST ALLOW FOR THE VOTE. IF NOT, WE MEET ON FRIDAY. WE HAVE A HEARING ON FRIDAY TO
DO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL AND SO THAT I TAKE THE LETTER AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE IMPORTANT WORK AND THAT THE SCHEDULE GETS EVEN CRAZIER NEXT WEEK WITH PEOPLE AND SCHOOL VACATION AND
WE DON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING. I THIS IS A COMMUNICATION. I AM GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO KEEP IT BRIEF AND I BUT I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. JUST TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT NEXT WEEK I THINK THERE'S SIX OPENINGS FOR HEARINGS TO BE SCHEDULED.
MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY SO THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME NEXT WEEK. AND ALSO MY OBJECTION MEANT THAT IT WAS PLACED INTO THE GOVERNMENT OPS COMMITTEE AND IT
SEEMS AS THOUGH THE INTENTION FOR THE SPECIAL COUNCILOR MEETING ON FRIDAY IS TO CIRCUMVENT THE NEED TODAY. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT WHAT I GET FROM WHAT YOU JUST
SAID IS THERE IS NO INTENTION TO HOLD A HEARING IN GOVERNMENT OFFICE THAT YOU HOPE TO VOTE ON FRIDAY MORNING TO PASS THIS AND THAT THE INTENT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION IN THE
CORRECT COMMITTEE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE TODAY YOU WOULD NEED UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON THE FIRST DAY THAT SOMETHING'S BROUGHT IN FRONT OF THE BODY. BUT ON FRIDAY IT WON'T BE THE FIRST DAY.
SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT SO WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT THE INTENT OF THE MEETING ON FRIDAY IS. YOU DID A GREAT JOB COMES ON MURPHY THAT THAT'S IT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR BUT
COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM AT RESPECTFULLY ASKING MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE CLERK AS WELL NOT TO SCHEDULE SOMETHING ON GOOD FRIDAY AND PASSOVER AS WELL. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FAMILY
OBLIGATIONS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE MADE PLANS WITH THEIR FAMILY FOR. THEY'VE ASKED ME TO MENTION THIS TO THE TO THE BODY.
IT'S ALSO A DAY FOR QUESTIONS REALLY TO NOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN BE WITH THEIR FAMILY IN AND ATTEND STATIONS OF THE
CROSS. AND IT'S A IT'S A DAY REALLY NOT FOR POLITICS IN MY OPINION. I WILL BE HERE BUT IT'S IT'S
HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO BE HERE TO ENGAGE IN IN POLITICS AT THAT TIME. I JUST WANT TO BE HONEST AND UPFRONT WITH PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE DAY FOR
ME TO BE ENGAGED IN POLITICS WHEN I SHOULD BE DOING STATIONS OF THE CROSS WITH MY WITH MY COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH AND AS
YOU PROBABLY KNOW I HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY AT THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEVEN SEVEN YEARS ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. I HAVEN'T MISSED A MEETING BUT AND AGAIN I WON'T MISS THE
MEETING ON FRIDAY BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR PEOPLE THAT DO WANT TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH AND TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY.
IF WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER DAY I THINK THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE AND RESPECTFUL REQUEST FROM A COLLEAGUE THAT'S BEEN HERE EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, GENERAL FLYNN AND I
REALLY DO RESPECT YOU AND I RESPECT YOUR REQUEST. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM REQUESTING THAT WE HOLD THE HEARING HYBRID. THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM OUR RULES THAT IT'S EITHER ALL VIRTUAL OR ALL IN PERSON. SO I AM REQUESTING SO IF SOME PEOPLE ARE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY BE HERE BUT FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S MORE
APPROPRIATE TO ZOOM IN IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW IF THAT'S AN OPTION FOR US ON FRIDAY MORNING I WILL CONSIDER THAT REQUEST AND WHEN WILL WE KNOW BECAUSE TODAY'S WEDNESDAY SO WE DO NEED TO KNOW I WILL CONSIDER THAT REQUEST AND I WILL I WILL LET
YOU KNOW AS SOON AS I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE. BUT I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MY COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE THAT WE CAN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HOLD A COUNCIL MEETING HYBRID
MODEL OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY. THE CHAIR AGONIZES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
OH, MY LORD. I JUST I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AT THIS POINT. I JUST FEEL LIKE I DID MY FIRST COMMUNION SO GOD BE WITH ME.
I AND I'M ALSO A SINGLE MOM AND THERE'S NO SCHOOL INVITED. SO LIKE WE ALL GOT TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND I WILL BE SHOWING UP WHEREVER I NEED TO
BE BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT I AM REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE THE HYBRID MODEL OPTION SO I WANT TO KNOW
THAT I IF THAT IS AVAILABLE I WILL TAKE THAT OFFER AND I JUST WISH THAT WE CAN REALLY
UNDERSTAND THAT TO WE EVERYONE IS WATCHING US SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SUPER MINDFUL IN TERMS OF HOW WE PLAY WITH POLITICS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAN UP ABOVE.
I'M SURE HE'S NOT HAPPY WITH US RIGHT NOW AND I JUST THINK THAT GOOD FRIDAY IS A GOOD FRIDAY AND OFTENTIMES I LISTEN IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY ON GOOD
FRIDAYS WE'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO HAVE BAD TEMPERS OR OR SPEAK OUT OF YOU KNOW, ANGER OR EAT ANYTHING BUT FISH.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON GOOD FRIDAY AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD FRIDAY FOR US TO SHOW OUR MOST HUMBLE SELVES HOW TO SHOW UP
FOR EACH OTHER AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A BODY DESPITE OUR POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES. SO I AM HOPING THAT IF
PRESIDENT COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO HYBRID I'LL BE SHOWING UP BUT IF IT'S IN PERSON I'LL BE SHOWING UP EITHER WAY BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSELOR. MEJIA.
OKAY. NO MORE FILES WAS A LITTLE JOURNEY. OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE THERE IS ONE ADDITION TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONTENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I THINK THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE FOR
UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS COMING UP. CANDACE HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK OUR VERY OWN CANDACE ON CENTRAL STAFF MELISSA AND
COUNCILOR WEBBER'S OFFICE TOO AND COUNCILOR WEBBER'S OFFICE ON THE SAME DAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MELISSA AND TO BONNIE. OH AND ALSO IN MY OFFICE THAT SAME DAY FOR LEON.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM AND TO OUR NEWEST ATTORNEY ON CENTRAL STAFF MEGHAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. A LOT OF APRIL BIRTHDAYS I KNOW THAT IT'S PASSOVER SO I WANT TO
SAY HOG PESACH. SAMAK IS THAT RIGHT? COUNCILOR WEBER KIND OF OC WISHING PEACE AND JOY TO OUR JEWISH NEIGHBORS CELEBRATING PASSOVER I HOPE YOUR SEDERS WERE FILLED WITH TRADITION,
DELICIOUS FOOD AND THE BLESSING OF BEING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WE ARE IN HOLY WEEK THAT STARTED ON SUNDAY WITH PALM SUNDAY. I SAW SOME FOLKS IN THEIR PALMS AND THIS FRIDAY IS GOOD FRIDAY
WITH EASTER BEING ON SUNDAY I HOPE ALL WHO OBSERVE HAVE A GREAT CELEBRATION WITH FAMILIES WITH THEIR FAMILIES. EASTER IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY AND THIS SATURDAY WE
HAVE THE 26 POINT TRUE MARATHON BEING RUN BY THE PIONEERS. SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO WAKE UP WITH ME AT 6:30 A.M. TO CHEER ON THE PIONEERS FOR THEIR THEIR MARATHON BEFORE THE MARATHON
YOU CAN DO THAT PATRIOTS DAY IS ON MONDAY AND IT'S ALSO A MARATHON MONDAY. SO WE WISH A GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR MARATHONERS WHILE WE REMEMBER THE VERY SOLEMN DAY 12
YEARS AGO WHEN THIS CITY WAS UNDER ATTACK AND WHEN WE BECAME BOSTON STRONG AND JUST WANT TO JUST LIFT UP THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THAT TIME
THE GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE OUR VERY OWN MR. CLERK WILL BE THERE IS ON APRIL 27TH WHICH IS A SUNDAY AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO A LITTLE FUN FACT THIS YEAR AT THE GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY THEY
WILL BE HONORING HAITI BECAUSE HAITI WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO BE ALONGSIDE THE GREEKS AS THEY FOUGHT THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE FOR THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND HAITI
WAS ALSO THE FIRST COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE GREECE'S INDEPENDENCE FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. SO I WILL BE THERE JOYOUSLY AND JOYFULLY AS THEY HONOR THAT HISTORY. I SEE SOME RED LIGHTS ON THEM
AND GO TO MY COLLEAGUES NOW FOR ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS I SEE COMMISSIONER MACKEY FROM THE BLACK MEN AND BOYS COMMISSION IN THE HOUSE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY CLUB AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I'VE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THIS
EARLIER BUT ON FRIDAY NIGHT STARTING AT 5 P.M. IS THE REVOLUTION FROM REVOLUTION TO REVOLUTIONARY EVENING WHERE WE COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF PAUL REVERE'S
RIDE THAT STARTS AT FIVE. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY KIDS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING THEM AT THAT TIME. ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL SPEAKING PROGRAM STARTS AT 730 MR REVERE WILL BE GETTING ON A BOAT AND
ROWING ACROSS THE CHARLES RIVER TO CHARLESTOWN. HE'S GOING TO GO INTO CITY CITY SQUARE AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER SPEAKING PROGRAM IN CHARLESTOWN AND THEN AFTER THAT HE'S
GETTING ON HIS HORSE AND RIDING ALL THE WAY DOWN MAIN STREET GOING INTO VARIOUS TAVERNS AND SAYING THE BRITISH IS COMING. IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND
WELCOME EVERYBODY TO JOIN US IN BOTH THE NORTH AND IN CHARLESTOWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CUT IS A PART OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE AGAIN WE ARE DOING A BLOCK PARTY IN KENMORE
SQUARE THIS YEAR ON MARATHON MONDAY I DID SEND OUT PERSONAL INVITES TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES BUT ANYONE PLEASE JOIN US IN KENMORE SQUARE IF YOU'RE A COLLEAGUE THAT'S JOINING IN KENMORE SQUARE, PLEASE LET
ME KNOW AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL THE CREDENTIALS TO GO EVERYWHERE AND KENMORE SQUARE THAT YOU WANT TO GO. SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN. THE THE BLOCK PARTY IS GETTING
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN IT EVEN WAS LAST YEAR SO IT SHOULD BE REALLY, REALLY FUN AND I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THERE WAS A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL WHEREVER YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR TO THANK YOU A LITTLE LESS WELL KNOWN MARATHON TOMORROW AT THE JAMAICA POND AT 530 IS THE HALF HALF HALF HALF
HALF MARATHON IT'S LESS THAN A MILE I RAN LAST YEAR AND I PROUDLY DEFEATED ALL KIDS UNDER SIX YEARS OLD.
SO I'M HOPING TO MAINTAIN MY STREAK THIS YEAR. SO TOMORROW 530 AT THE POND AND I KNOW ON SATURDAY MORNING AT WEST ROXBURY HIGH AT 11:00 IS
PARKWAY IN MOTION'S EASTER EGG HUNT. I WAS THERE LAST YEAR. IT'S A HUGE GATHERING. ANYBODY ANY KIDS OR ADULTS WANT TO HUNT SOME EASTER EGGS? THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE. 11:00 AT THE WEST ROXBURY HIGH
MILLENNIUM PARK IN WEST ROXBURY. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER ANY MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, IT'S ONLY ONLY FAMILY.
ONLY COUNSELORS CAN SPEAK DURING BUT AFTER THIS. OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANYONE ON BEHALF
OF ANYONE WHO HAS PASSED OKAY. TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR DURKIN, BILL DE CROCE ON BEHALF
OF MYSELF JOHN DONALD MCLAUGHLIN ON BEHALF OF OUR CLERK CLERK JUSTICE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURNED TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN ON IN DIANELLA CHAMBER ON FRIDAY APRIL 18 THIS FRIDAY AT
9 A.M.. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, CENTRAL STAFF, THE CLERK AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER AND HER COOKIES ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT.
PLEASE SAY I I THE COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED