UH MY NAME IS BRIAN WORRELL CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 18TH 2025 IT IS 6:06 P.M. TODAY'S PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSION IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 0148 ORDER FOR A HEARING
TO DISCUSS BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FY 26 BUDGET AND ZERO DOCKET NUMBER 0325 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON'S FBI
26 BUDGET THESE MATTERS WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR BEN COUNCILOR BENJAMIN WEBER, JULIE MEJIA AND MYSELF AND WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE EIGHT,
2025 AND JUNE JANUARY SORRY JANUARY EIGHT, 2025 AND JANUARY 29, 2025 THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED
AT BOSTON.COM OF BACKSLASH CITY DAS COUNCILOR DAS TV AND BROADCAST ON EXPANDED CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND PIOS
CHANNEL 964. TODAY'S HEARING IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSIONS WE WILL BE HOLDING ON THE FOURTH IN FISCAL YEAR 26
BUDGET AND THE FY 26 BUDGET FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDIAN MINISTRATION WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE ONLY TO OBSERVE,
LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES TO GET THEM TO GIVE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF THIS PROCESS AND HOW WE GOT HERE. WE SET THE STAGE FOR THIS HEARING IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND BEGAN HOLDING WORKING
SESSIONS EARLIER THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS THE MAIN OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING THE BUDGET FOR BEPS. WE ALSO HELD THAT IN THAT HEARING WE TALKED ABOUT COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. ON FEBRUARY 27TH WE'LL BE JOINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE FY 25 BUDGET YEAR TO DATE AND TO
GIVE A BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE FY 26 BUDGET AFTER THIS THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN ADDITIONAL WORKING SESSION TO REVIEW PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR.
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE SUBMITTING THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET ON APRIL 9TH FOLLOWING WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SERIES OF ADDITIONAL HEARINGS AND WORKING SESSIONS. DPS WILL ALSO BE HOLDING
HEARINGS IN APRIL. WE WILL PLAN TO VOTE ON THE MAYOR'S BUDGET ON JUNE 4TH. SO TO CLARIFY ONCE MORE THE FOCUS OF THIS HEARING WILL BE TO HEAR AND DISCUSS PUBLIC
TESTIMONY REGARDING THE FY 26 BUDGET. TO THAT TO THAT END, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD YOU CAN GIVE
TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY. PLEASE SIGN UP ON THE SEAT NEAR THE ENTRANCE FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY.
YOU CAN SIGN UP BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT C W M AT BOSTON.COM OR ESSENTIAL STAFF
LIAISON KARISHMA CHAUHAN AND K AIR I H HMACH0UH AND AT BOSTON
DOT GOV AGAIN IS K AIR I AS H M.A.S.H 0UHA AND AT BOSTON.COM WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION RESIDENT AND LIMIT
YOUR COMMENTS TO A FEW MINUTES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS CAN BE HEARD. WRITTEN COMMENT MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL ASK THAT W
M BOSTON.COM WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD IN AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS PLEASE VISIT THE CITY COUNCIL'S
BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSTON.COM FACTS LAST COUNCIL DASH BUDGET . TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCIL FLYNN COUNCILOR BREADON AND ALSO
COUNCILOR HERE. WE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR PEPEN AND ALSO COUNCILOR WEBER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOW DO IS TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
FOR ANY OPENING STATEMENT. COUNCILOR FLYNN THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR EARLE. THE MAIN THEME THAT I WANT TO
DRIVE HOME IS THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER WE ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE ADMINISTRATION NEED TO FOCUS ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES AND KEEP
PROGRAMS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, OUR FUNDED AND DELIVERED EFFICIENTLY. WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SPENDING AND SEE WHERE WE CAN TIGHTEN OUR BELTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A
NOTE OF THE BEEPS. TRANSPORTATION WE ARE IN MID-FEBRUARY. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE EMAILS AND CALLS FROM NEIGHBORS REGARDING LATE BUSSES.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM STUDENT ATHLETES ABOUT NO SHOWS. GIVEN THAT WE SPEND $170 MILLION ON TRANSPORTATION WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IS
DELIVERING THE SERVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE. WE CAN'T CONTINUE NORMALIZING LATE BUSSES. OUR CHILDREN MISSING CLASSES AND GAMES. THE DISRUPTION FOR PARENTS AND
TEACHERS AS WELL. I LOOK FORWARD TO LISTENING CAREFULLY AND ENGAGING WITH NEIGHBORS ON WHAT KIND OF ISSUES AND SERVICES MATTER MOST TO YOU AND ENSURE THAT OUR
CITY SERVICES AND KEY PROGRAMS ARE NOT IMPACTED. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BRADING THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
SWITCH ME ON. OH, GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I WANT TO SAY VERY MUCH A GREAT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S COME OUT ON SUCH A
BITTERLY COLD NIGHT TO SPEAK TO SPEAK AND MAKE TESTIMONY AT THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
EVENING. BUT THIS BUDGET SEASON IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BUDGET SEASONS WE'VE HAD IN A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY HARD DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY
AND IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN DC IT'S VERY HARD TO PREDICT WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING TO LAND BUT WE AS A BODY TAKE THIS VERY
SERIOUSLY AND IN CONVERSATION WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES WHO GO TO WASHINGTON AND FOLKS AT THE
STATE HOUSE, I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND WAYS TO WEATHER THIS STORM THAT WE'RE IN SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SHOWING UP AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO
UPLIFT THE THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND THINGS THAT YOU WANT US TO FIGHT FOR BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS YOUR BUDGET, IT'S YOUR TAX DOLLARS AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE BETTER ABLE BUDGET ALLIANCE FOLKS HERE
WE'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FIGHTING FOR A PARTICIPATORY BUDGET. THE BUDGET IS A VALUE STATEMENT AND THE THINGS THAT WE FIGHT FOR SHOULD BE REFLECTIVE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMUNITY HAS ASKED
US TO DO. AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THE BUDGET SEASON FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, THE THE MY
HOPE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND THE POLITICAL COURAGE AND WILL TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IF WE DON'T SEE YOU HERE, IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU THEN IT'S
EASY FOR COLLEAGUES TO JUST SAY OH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST BUT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE NEED TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF. BUT THE BEST WAY FOR US TO DO THAT IS TO ORGANIZE BECAUSE AT
THE END OF THE DAY NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE UNLESS YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DRIVING THAT CHANGE. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO BE YOUR MICROPHONE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT US TO FIGHT FOR. AND SO I'M JUST LETTING IT BE KNOWN THAT I AM HERE FOR THAT WORK AND YOU HAVE MY FULL
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT US TO FIGHT FOR. AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE CHAIR FOR CREATING SPACE TO HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE THIS IS
HOW WE SHOULD BE DOING. BUSINESS IS CREATING A SPACE FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELVES WHAT YOU WANT US TO FIGHT FOR AND THEN THE REAL DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE LISTENING IS WHEN WE TAKE THOSE VOTES.
THAT'S WHAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE REALLY LISTENING TO YOU. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE OUTCOME OF THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILOR SANTANA AND COUNCILOR DURKIN HAS ALSO
JOINED US. COUNCILOR SANTANA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHAIR I'M CREATING THE SPACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY AND I'M IN MY FIRST TERM THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR NOW GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW AND LEARNING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO RESIDENTS . I KNOW I'VE ALREADY BEEN MEETING WITH MANY OF YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH MANY OF YOU ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR OUR FOR OUR
RESIDENTS NEEDS. MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ON THE PART OF CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN OUR YOUTH AND YOU KNOW, WE IN OUR OFFICE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF CREATING A YOUTH
COUNCIL, CREATING A CITYWIDE COALITION TO TO BE ABLE TO INFORM THIS WORK. SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY. I KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME. IT'S A COLD DAY, IT'S A MONDAY
OR TUESDAY NIGHT I SHOULD SAY. SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON. BUT ALSO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE TUNING IN VIRTUALLY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE TUNED IN BY SENDING IN LETTERS.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING ALL THAT INFORMATION AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE HAS JOINED US
COUNCIL DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR I'M HERE TO LISTEN FOR AS LONG AS I CAN AND LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE TAPE FOR THE PART OF THIS HEARING THAT I CAN'T
JOIN. BUT I KNOW I HAD SOME FOLKS IN MY OFFICE TODAY WHO ASKED HOW THEY COULD ADVOCATE FOR WHAT THEY NEED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND I SAID WE HAVE A HEARING TONIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE SHOWED UP TODAY AND AND THOSE WHO WILL BE SENDING IN THEIR COMMENTS LATER. BUT CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. GOOD EVENING AND GOOD YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS THIS EVENING SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY. THIS BUDGET IS OUR BUDGET AS A CITY. IT'S OUR COLLECTIVE VISION, IT'S OUR MORAL DOCUMENT. IT'S WHAT WE VALUE.
AND SO THE EARLIER IN THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU THE BETTER IT IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO INCORPORATE REALLY WHAT IT IS THAT RESIDENTS IN THE CITY ALL ACROSS OUR CITY REALLY CARE ABOUT.
AND AS AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO HEAR FROM EVERY RESIDENT, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO THIS HEARING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BUT I KNOW THAT IT WON'T BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM YOU.
BUT THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, FOR YOUR WORK IN MOVING THESE SESSIONS UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO BUILD A BUDGET YOU KNOW, TO RESPOND TO
A BUDGET THAT HOPEFULLY WORKS FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS JOINED US. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE OF THE BUDGET MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY WISELY.
AS A TEACHER FOR 24 YEARS I DO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO FUND PROPERLY BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE RESULTS. SO DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM
THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE PRIORITIZE. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE SPENDING $1.6 BILLION THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME THAT WE'RE GETTING BUSSES FOR
ATHLETICS. SO WE'RE OFFERING THE COURSES THE ARTS, THE ATHLETICS ALL OF THE PROGRAMING THAT OUR KIDS DESERVE. WE'RE A WORLD CLASS CITY AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD OFFER
A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST THE FEW WHO OFTEN SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU GOT A GOLDEN TICKET AND YOU GOT A SEAT AT ONE OF THE GOOD SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS BUDGET ALSO SUPPORTS THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND ALL THE STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE US TO UPLIFT GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON.
SO THANK YOU CHAIR THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO READ THE LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCIL PREP IN FEBRUARY 18, 2025 DEAR CHAIR
WHERE I AM MR COLLECTING COMMITTEE MEMBERS I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT I'M UNABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HEARING FOR DOCKETS NUMBER 0148 AND 0325A
PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSION REGARDING THE FY 26 BUDGET INCLUDING THE 26 BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET. MY STAFF WILL WATCH THE LIVE
STREAM AND REPORT BACK TO ME. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS UPON REVIEWING THE RECORDING AND MY STAFF'S NOTES PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT MY STAFF WITH ANY QUESTIONS QUESTIONS. SINCERELY ENRIQUE J.
PEPEN, BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE AND THEN A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR BENJAMIN WEBER FEBRUARY 18, 2025 TO THE CHAIR
BROWN WORLD COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS DEAR CHAIR WORO I REGRET TO REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S HEARING ON DOCKETS NUMBER 0148 AND 0325A
PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSION REGARDING THE FY 26 BUDGET TO DUE TO FAMILY OBLIGATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY STAFF WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AND I WILL WATCH THE RECORDING OF TODAY'S HEARING AND REVIEW THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. I ASK THAT YOU READ THIS ABSENCE LETTER AND TO THE RECORD SINCERELY BENJAMIN J. WEBER BOSSIER CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT SIX.
JUST WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND THANK THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON AND ALSO ONLINE TO JUST LEND THEIR VOICE TO THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND ALSO CENTRAL STAFF IN MY TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS HEARING TOGETHER AND DOING THE OUTREACH. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT FOR EVERY PROBLEM THE COMMUNITY AND THE
RESIDENTS HAVE THE SOLUTION AND THAT IS WHY WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE ANY BUDGET IS RELEASED THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY VOICE UPFRONT AND CENTERED.
SO WITH THAT SAY WE WILL BE NOW MOVING TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY STARTING WITH IN-PERSON TESTIMONY. SO WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED AND THE CALL TWO NAMES AT A TIME ONE PERSON CAN STAND HERE AND THEN THE OTHER PERSON
CAN STAND THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH. YOU'LL HAVE 3 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS BUT PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHERE YOU LIVE AND ANY GROUP AFFILIATION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH WENDY DICKENS AND THEN ABDI AND ANSARI WITH WHITAKER. OKAY.
THIS. YES. AND THEN WENDY WILL GO FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO TO HEIDI NEXT
FOR JOYCE. HI. HI. SO MY NAME IS WENDY DINKINS AND I WORK FOR JUSTICE FOR HOW YOU WANT TO PUT THE.
CAN YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW? OKAY. OKAY. NOW YOU MAKE ME NERVOUS. OKAY. HI. MY NAME IS WENDY DINKINS AND I WORK WITH JUSTICE FOR HOUSING.
I AM THE REENTRY DIRECTOR FOR REENTRY HOUSING FOR RETURNING CITIZENS. I MANAGE FOR PROPERTIES. I JUST STARTED A HOUSE FOR
TURNER CITIZENS WITH SOARIES. THIS BUDGET IS IMPORTANT TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. I SERVICE IN ONE OF MY HOUSES THAT HAD 12 GUYS.
I HAVE FOUR OF THEM THAT ARE LIFERS THAT DID OVER 30 YEARS. YOUNG YOUNGER GUYS IN MY OTHER HOUSE. I HAVE TWO WOMEN THAT ARE
LIFERS TOO. SO I DON'T JUST SERVICE MEN. I SERVICE THE WOMEN TO. I'M ALSO A RETURN TO CITIZEN THAT CHANGE HER LIFE AROUND.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THESE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. AUDIE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ALREADY WHITAKER.
I AM A CONVICTED FELON BUT I AM GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND I AM LIVING IN A STABLE HOUSING IN DORCHESTER.
I, I MADE A LOT OF BAD DECISIONS IN MY LIFE AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TREATMENT AND THERAPY HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.
I WAS ABLE TO BE HOUSED AND WHICH LED ME TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR JUSTICE FOR HOUSING AND IT IT WAS A PATHWAY TO MY
SUCCESS AS OF CURRENTLY I AM THE HOUSE MANAGER AT ONE OF MS. WENDY'S PROPERTIES AND THAT PROPERTY IS FOR RETURNING CITIZENS AND IT'S A IT'S A
NEWLY ACQUIRED PLACE BUT IT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AMONGST THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THE RETURNING CITIZENS AND AS WELL AS GIVE THEM
STABILITY WITH WITH THE HOUSING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. DONNIE LEE AND THEN WE HAVE DON IS NOT HERE. HE COULDN'T GET HERE. OKAY.
AND THEN A MR WILL'S A MARK. MARK WILSON AND MARCUS FOSTER. MR WILSON JUST AS FOR HOUSING NO, THAT'S NIA. THAT'S DR. NIA WILSON.
THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN LEE UNDERWOOD. YES.
GOOD JOB. I'M GOING TO BE MIND. READY? YES, PLEASE.
YES. I'M DR. NIA WILSON AND I RESIDE IN MATTAPAN. I'M A HOMEOWNER. I'M ALSO THE HANDS ON DEFENSE PROGRAM MANAGER AT JUSTICE FOR HOUSING. JUSTICE FOR HOUSING WE PROVIDE
LEGAL ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE BARRIERS TO OBTAINING HOUSING PUBLIC HOUSING DUE TO THEIR
CARY BACKGROUND SCREENINGS. TO DATE WE'VE HOUSED OVER 300 MEN AND WOMEN USING OUR HANDS ON DEFENSE MODEL. IN THE MODEL WE USE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY POLICY AND DATA TO
SHIFT THE NARRATIVE OF OUR CLIENTS AT THE APPELLANT LEVEL. WE HAVE OVERTURNED OVER 80 CASES WHERE A PERSON WAS DENIED PUBLIC HOUSING OR DENIED A SEXUALLY VOUCHER DUE TO A CARY
BACKGROUND SCREENING. WE USE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ADD INDIVIDUALS TO A PERSON'S LEASE WHO ARE RETURNING HOME ON PROBATION OR PAROLE OR LEAVING A HALFWAY HOUSE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE LANDLORD MEDIATION. WE COLLECT MITIGATING FACTORS AND CREATE AN ENTIRE PACKET AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE NARRATIVE IS DIFFERENT FROM
WHAT THEY SEE ON A JURY. WE PREVENTED NUMEROUS EVICTIONS DUE TO LEASED HOUSING HOUSE MEMBERS THEIR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. WE'VE WON EIGHT EVICTION CASES IN HOW AND HOUSING COURT.
WE ALSO WE'RE REALLY PROUD THAT WE TEACH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE HOW TO USE OUR MODEL. CURRENTLY WE ARE CREATING A NETWORK OF D MEMBERS SO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE CAN SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN OTHER COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. SINCE BEING FOUNDED EXCUSE
ME SINCE THE MODEL WAS FILED IN 2020 THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 300 MEN AND WOMEN LIKE LEA UNDERWOOD WHO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM. WHO WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN HOMELESS RIGHT NOW FOR IF NOT
WITH THE SUPPORT OF JUSTICE FOR HOUSING AND THIS HD MODEL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE WORK THE HARD AND TENACIOUS WORK THAT WE DO WITH JUSTICE FOR HOUSING. THANK YOU, LEE UNDERWOOD.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LEE UNDERWOOD. I LIVE IN SOUTH BOSTON CURRENTLY AT THE TIME. THREE YEARS AGO I WAS PREPARING
FOR RELEASE AFTER MANY DECADES AND PARAMOUNT IN MY PREPARATION WAS SEEKING HOUSING. I HAD EVERYTHING IN LINE WITH MY SUPPORTERS AND THE DAY THAT
I WAS RELEASED. I REMEMBER I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THOSE CONTACTS AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHONE BOOTH AND I
SEARCHED EVERYWHERE AND I COULDN'T FIND ONE AND BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND I GOT
MY APPLICATION IN AT BOSTON PUBLIC HOUSING AND SOME 18 MONTHS LATER THEY DENIED ME BECAUSE MY QUARRY. I APPEALED THAT DECISION AND
THEN THE HEARING THAT CAME UP SHORTLY LATER. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED SO I WAS DENIED ON THAT BASIS. SO THEN I WENT TO JUSTICE FOR
HOUSING. LUCKILY FOR THAT THEY TOOK THAT MY CASE AND BUILD IT AND GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE HERE AT
BOSTON PUBLIC HOUSING AND WE PURSUED IT AND CHRISTMAS I GOT MY HOUSING. IT CAME THROUGH AND I THINK MY
MY LUCKY STARS THAT THAT ALL OF THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE HOUSING ESPECIALLY THIS TIME
OF SEASON NO ONE WANTS TO BE HOMELESS AND SO WITH THAT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU.
WE HAVE DEVINE MCNEIL THEN JOSE LORENZO VAUGHAN PIECE.
MY NAME IS DEVINE MCNEIL. AFTER TWO EXCUSE ME AFTER 20 YEARS OF INCARCERATION AND COMING HOME IN 2020 I THOUGHT I
HAD MY LIFE TOGETHER. I DID EVERY PROGRAM THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OFFERED. I CAME HOME TO A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP AND MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO I LEFT AT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS OLD. EVERYTHING WAS WONDERFUL EXCEPT
WHEN THE COFFIN WAS PULLED OUT FROM UNDER ME AND MY RELATIONSHIP FAILED. I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. I WAS FORCED TO EITHER GOING TO A SHELTER OR MOVING WITH MY
AUNTIE WHO THE LAST I REMEMBER 30 YEARS AGO WAS SELLING HER BODY ON THE CORNER OF TALBOT AVE AND SPENCER STREET AS A DRUG ADDICT.
WHEN I CAME HOME AT THE 20 YEARS MY AUNTIE HAD HER OWN CONDO, HAD BEEN CLEAN FOR 30 SOME YEARS WHICH I HAD NO IDEA . WHEN I MOVED IN WITH HER.
IT WAS WONDERFUL. BUT THEN RULES AND REGULATIONS CAME. MY AUNTIE SUFFERED FROM MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, SHE
CAME ONE DAY AND SAYS NEPHEW, WE CAN EITHER COEXIST AND YOU EITHER DO WHAT I SAY AND I NEED YOU IN THE HOUSE BY 8:00 PM OR YOU CAN MOVE OUT.
I DECIDE TO MOVE OUT BUT AGAIN I HAD NO PLACE TO GO. I WAS FORCED TO GO INTO A ROOMING HOUSE. I MET LESLIE ROBERTS FOR HOUSING. SHE LOOKED ME IN MY FACE AND SAID IF I TRUST HER AND GIVE
HER A ONE YEAR THAT SHE WOULD HELP ME HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT. MENTALLY I CALL HER A LIAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS. I KNOW SHE WAS. HOW DID SHE TELL ME SHE CAN GET ME TO OWN MY OWN APARTMENT? I DID 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
I JUST GOT DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS. I JUST LOST MY LEADERSHIP AND SHE'S TELLING ME SHE'LL GIVE ME A HOUSE. 15 MONTHS LATER MY PHONE RANG.
IT WAS JUST FOR HOUSING. I'M IN MY SECOND APARTMENT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I ALSO HAVE MY OWN NONPROFIT WITH THE HELP OF THOSE FOR HOUSING BUT NOT ONLY THAT I
JUST SIGNED THE LEASE TO A 2000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING TO OPEN UP MY OWN BIKE SHOP. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SENSE OF JUSTICE FOR HOUSING SO YOU HEARD MY STORY.
I CAME HOME AND I MADE SOME MISTAKES AND I FEEL A LITTLE BIT BUT NOW MY LIFE IS IN ORDER AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR HELP AND ASSISTANCE. PEACE AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
JOSE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. YES. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOSE LORENZO. I TOO COME FROM JUSTICE FOR HOUSING. I STARTED AS A CLIENT. I SERVED A TEN YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE BUT REALLY SERVED MOST OF MY LIFE IN PRISON SINCE I WAS A JUVENILE. FAST FORWARD I WAS ABLE TO BE HOUSED AND PURSUED EVERYTHING
THAT YOU HEARD JUST NOW SAME SAME EXACT THING, SAME EXACT STORY. I NOW WORK AS A CASE MANAGER FOR JUSTICE FOR HOUSING AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE VERY COMMUNITY I COME FROM THE
VERY POPULATION I COME FROM WHICH IS THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED COMMUNITY. AND THE REASON WHY I HAVE TO SAY LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE THE TERM RETURN TO CITIZEN WOULD
MEAN THAT WE RETURN WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN WHICH WE DO NOT. WE DO NOT RETURN TO THOSE RIGHTS AND THE REASON WHY THE FUNDING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE
NOT ONLY OF THE MAIN MEAT AND BONDS OF THE PROGRAM WHICH IS PROVIDING HOUSING WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IS THE FIRST STEPPING STONE THAT WE ALL NEED TO COMBAT RECIDIVISM BUT ENOUGH TO
ENSURE THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE HOME. WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THESE OTHER PROGRAMS BECAUSE AS WE KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO INCARCERATION THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT. IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE
INCARCERATED. IT EFFECTS FAMILY, THE CHILDREN AND THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, THE COMMUNITY. AND SO NOW WE HAVE THESE WRAPAROUND PROGRAMS, THESE
SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S PROVIDING NOW A MEANS OF HOUSING FOR INNER CITY YOUTHS BETWEEN 18 TO 25 WHETHER
THAT'S PROVIDE SAFE HOMES AND PLACEMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR SEXUAL CRIME BACKGROUNDS. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE THERE'S NO SERVICES IN
THERE BUT YET THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO AND THEY NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE SUITABLE ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY CAN'T RECIDIVATE. SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS ALONG
WITH NOT JUST ABLE TO HOUSE PEOPLE. WE'VE WE'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB OF GETTING TO THAT POINT AND BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE.
AND WHAT WE NEED NOW IS TO BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE SERVICES, THE SUPPORT, THE ANCILLARY SERVICES, THE SUPPORT THE MAIN SERVICE WHICH IS HOUSING BUT EVERYTHING ELSE WHETHER THAT'S
EDUCATION, WHETHER THAT'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WHETHER THAT'S EMPLOYMENT. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GO HAND IN HAND WHEN COMES TO COMBAT AND RECIDIVISM AND FOR
THAT REASON WE NEED FURTHER FUNDING AND WE NEED IT TO BE ALL AROUND THE BOARD NOT JUST IN ONE PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
LESLIE CREDO AND THEN PATRICIA CONNORS. GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU CALPERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF AND OUR CONSTITUENTS FOR BEING
BRAVE AND SPEAKING THE TRUTH. I WANT TO SAY FIRST OF ALL, JUST AS FOR HOUSING, IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP FOR HOUSING. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE
SUBSIDIES SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS WE HAVE FOUR HAVE WE HAVE FOR REENTRY HOUSES ONE WE JUST CREATED OFFERS SORRY HOUSE
FOR SEX OFFENDERS WHICH NO ONE WAS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO. WE ALSO HAVE ALEXANDRA HOUSE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED. WE HAVE A WOMEN'S HEALTH AND A
MENTAL HEALTH WE HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES RAPID REHOUSING SORRY FOR THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RAPIDLY HOUSING
FOR YOUTH 18 TO 25. WE ALSO HAVE OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY WING WHERE WE HAVE HOUSED OVER 350 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH
EVICTION PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. AN APPEALS. I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE EARNED OUR PLACE IN THE STATE
BUDGET. WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO GIVE US ANYTHING. WE BELONG IN THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS THAT DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT IS HARD FOR US TO ASK LEGISLATORS TO FOR EARMARK ACTS OR AMENDMENTS. IT'S EASIER US TO HAVE A LINE
ITEM IN STATE BUDGET SO WE CAN DO OUR WORK HOLISTICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY. WE HAVE HOUSED ALL OVER 510 MEN AND WOMEN.
WE HAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OVER $5 MILLION IN REVENUE. WE HAVE A 2% RECIDIVISM RATE. WE ARE TWO PEOPLE WE SHOULD
RATE IN OUR PROGRAMS TO 2020. WE ALSO HAVE A WERE UNITED OVER 80 CHILDREN WHERE THEIR PARENTS
WERE IN CARS RATED DUE TO PARENTAL INCARCERATION. THEY WERE IN FOSTER CARE BECAUSE WE HAVE HOUSED THEM AND HOUSING AS A REQUIREMENT FOR DCF INVOLVEMENT.
WE HAVE REUNITED THOSE FAMILIES WITH THEIR CHILDREN. SO I CAN THAT JUST AS FOR HOUSING, WE'D LIKE THE GOVERNOR
TO TAKE OUR ORGANIZATION AS IT WORKS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. I THINK WE ADD VALUE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
AND PREVENT RECIDIVISM AND ALSO PROVIDING A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR THOSE RETURNING HOME FROM INCARCERATION AND ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PATRICIA. THANK YOU, CHAIR. WELL, WE'RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS PATRICIA AND I LIVE
IN WEST ROXBURY. TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR A CAPITAL BUDGET TO SUPPORT A SAFER WASHINGTON STREET IN WEST ROXBURY. ON JANUARY 7TH, 2025 OUT
OF SOUTHWEST BOSTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING CHIEF OF STREET'S JOSHUA FRANKLIN HODGE REPORTED IN RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION ABOUT MAKING THE FOUR LANE THRUWAY OF WASHINGTON
STREET SAFER. QUOTE WE DON'T HAVE A CAPITAL BUDGET SET ASIDE FOR WASHINGTON STREET. THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THERE AND QUOTE HE ON TO DESCRIBE
QUOTE A LACK OF CROSSWALKS IN WASHINGTON STREET AND THAT THE WASHINGTON STREET AND WEST ROXBURY PARKWAY IS AN INCREDIBLY LARGE INTERSECTION. CARS GOING INCREDIBLY FAST.
WASHINGTON STREET IS DESIGNED FOR SPEED. HOWEVER, HE NOTED QUOTE WE'RE STARTING AT THE OTHER END OF WASHINGTON STREET AT FOREST HILLS.
NOW GIVEN THE TRAGIC DEATH OF PEDESTRIAN GLEN INGRAM ON OCTOBER 17, 2024 ON HYDE PARK AVE AT FOREST HILLS, I UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S PRIORITY
OF MAKING THAT AREA SAFER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMMENSITY OF THE HERCULEAN TASK OF MAKING ALL OF BOSTON'S STREETS AS SAFE
AS POSSIBLE. BUT WEST ROXBURY IS WHERE I AND SOME 30,000 OTHER RESIDENTS THOUSANDS OF WHOM ARE SENIORS LIVE. AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE TO
MAKE WASHINGTON STREET AND WEST ROXBURY SAFER. RECENTLY I READ ABOUT THE CITY SOUTHWEST BOSTON TRANSIT ACTION PLAN FOR HYDE PARK, ROSLINDALE
IN WEST ROXBURY AND ON JANUARY 28TH, 2025, I ATTENDED ONE OF THE PLAN'S NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF HYDE PARK.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE ENERGY OF THE CITY PLANNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THAT ROOM. CITY COUNCILOR PEPEN WAS IN ATTENDANCE. THE PRESENTERS WERE UPBEAT,
ENTHUSIASTIC, HELPFUL AND GENUINELY INTERESTED IN WHAT THEIR AUDIENCE MEMBERS HAD TO SAY AND THE RESIDENTS WERE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE CITY PLANNERS LISTEN TO THEM. I NOTED THAT AMONG THESE PLANS
PROJECT GOALS WERE ONE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MORE FREQUENT AND RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TWO TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON
HYDE PARK. THE CHALLENGES INCLUDED ONE PEDESTRIANS CONCERN SUCH AS AGGRESSIVE DRIVING FOR SPEEDING DRIVERS, NOT YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS AND TO BICYCLISTS
CONCERNS OF STRESSFUL AND UNSAFE INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE CITY PRESENTED A COMMENT THAT QUOTE HYDE PARK EV IS BASICALLY A FREEWAY. SOME CARS CLOCKED IN AT 70
MILES PER HOUR AND QUOTE AS I LISTENED TO THIS PRESENTATION I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THIS SOUNDS LIKE WASHINGTON STREET IN WEST ROXBURY. ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERNS FOR
WASHINGTON STREET HOWEVER, INCLUDE THAT THE BEETHOVEN SCHOOL IN THE HOME IN THE SCHOOL WHERE I ATTENDED KINDERGARTEN A LONG TIME AGO
HOME TO 300 KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE STUDENTS SITS DIRECTLY ON WASHINGTON STREET. FURTHER CLOSE BY ON BOUNDARY ROAD ITS PARTNER SCHOOL THE ARM
BURGER IS HOME TO 600 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 TO 8. MOREOVER, AT A RECENT WEST ROXBURY CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, WEST ROXBURY POLICE CAPTAIN MICHAEL HEGARTY
REPORTED THAT MANY MORE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED ON WASHINGTON STREETS AND CENTER STREET IN WEST ROXBURY. PERHAPS THE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON CENTER STREET HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASED SAFETY THERE. FINALLY, ANOTHER FACTOR LEADING TO THE SPEEDS ON WASHINGTON STREET MAY BE THAT IT IS A CONNECTOR ROAD TO AND FROM ROUTE 128.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT CITY COUNCILOR BEN WEBER WHO'S KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON PLANNING FOR WASHINGTON STREET IS THAT TWO NEW CROSSWALKS ARE NOW SCHEDULED FOR WASHINGTON STREET BOTH AT BUS STOPS AND
THAT CURB RAMPS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AS THE FIRST STEP OF ADA COMPLIANCE. THIS IS PROGRESS. ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CALMING INTERVENTIONS FOR WASHINGTON STREET MIGHT A REDUCTION IN THE
SIZE OF THE MEDIAN STRIP ON WASHINGTON'S STREET A LEFTOVER FROM THE MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY WHEN TROLLEYS RAN DOWN THE CENTER OF WASHINGTON STREET. AN EVALUATION OF UNDERUTILIZED
PARKING SPACES ON THE SIDE OF WASHINGTON STREET THAT BORDERS THE STONY BROOK RESERVATION. THE NEED FOR QUOTE DAYLIGHTING AT ITS INTERSECTIONS TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS.
PODESTA RANTS AND CYCLISTS BY PROVIDING NO PARKING SPACES WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE INTERSECTION. FINALLY, AS AN AVID CYCLIST I WOULD ASK THE CITY TO CONSIDER
A SIDEWALK LEVEL SEPARATED BIKE LANES FOR WASHINGTON STREET. THESE LANES MAY BE FOUND ON SUMMER STREET IN SOUTH BOSTON AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE IS
CONSIDERING SIDEWALK LEVEL SEPARATED BIKE LANES FOR ITS NEWLY APPROVED, MUCH NARROWER. WASHINGTON STREET CONSTRUCTION IN BROOKLYN. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND
PLEASE CONSIDER CAPITAL BUDGET ITEM TO SUPPORT A SAFER WASHINGTON STREET IN WEST ROXBURY. THANK YOU TO EDWARD AND THEN
MICHAEL MICHAEL CAINE AT 1%. YES, WE ARE EITHER.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ED PARSONS AND I MOVED TO BOSTON IN 1975. I'VE LIVED THE FIRST READING FOR 18 YEARS.
IF I HAD $0.45 STREET JP AND I'D BEEN A PARTICIPANT IN THE BUILDING'S TENANT FACILITY MICHAEL MANN'S LINES OF HAD CANCER WITH MICHAEL CAINE HINDSIGHT ADVOCATE FOR I
BELIEVE WORK ME INCLUDED ADVOCATING FOR A PLACE FOR US ALL TO LIVE THIS AFFORDABLE. I'M AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING IN TWO CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND WITH AND LIVING AT A HOSPITAL BUILDING HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO
DO MY WORK ON BEHALF OF SUPPORT ENABLING AND POWERING COLLECTIVE FAMILY THROUGH THE EXPRESS ARTIST LANGUAGE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE CITY GIVES SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE
REQUESTS OF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO DO NOT HAVE A HOME OR A PLACE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, SAFE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ARE YOU TESTIFYING FOR MICHAEL ? YES, THAT ARE FROM HIM. BUT MY NAME IS JASON LEIGH. I WORK UNDER MICHAEL KATE AT THE MERCY LINES OF TENANTS AS A
TENANT ORGANIZER WE ARE A COALITION OF TENANT UNIONS AND AFFORDABLE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OR BY MASS HOUSING . I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF MANY OF THE TENANTS IN SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING ONE OF WHICH YOU'VE JUST HEARD FROM TONIGHT AND SOME OTHERS THAT YOU'LL HEAR FROM GOING FORWARD AND TO JOIN THEM IN URGING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM BEGAN AS A $5 MILLION PILOT PROGRAM UNDER MAYOR WALSH CREATED AT THE ASK OF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY COALITION OF WHICH THE MASSIVE LINES OF HUD TENANTS WAS A PART. ALONGSIDE THE BOSTON
HOMELESSNESS SOLIDARITY MEL KING AND OTHER HOUSING ADVOCATES I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THREE THINGS IN PARTICULAR WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
FIRST AN INCREASE IN FUNDING LAST YEAR THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF A VERY LONG SESSION VOTED TO INCREASE THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY TOTAL FUNDING BY OVER $1 MILLION AND
WE'RE HOPING THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE ITS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY IN THAT REGARD. SECOND, WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR BETTER MARKETING TO DEVELOPERS MANY OF WHOM DON'T KNOW THAT
THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM EVEN EXISTS BY PROMOTING BETTER MARKETING TO THOSE WHO SEEK TO DEVELOP DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE CAN ENSURE THE PRESERVATION, THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF A LONG TERM STOCK
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. FINALLY, WE ASK THAT A SHIFT IN FOCUS BE MOVED FROM TENANT BASED VOUCHERS TO PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS. IN ORDER TO CREATE THAT SORT
OF LONG TERM STOCK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST FOR NOT ONLY THIS GENERATION OF RENTERS BUT ALSO THOSE TO COME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THANKS ANDRE BROWN AND DOMINGO CITRON TWO CO-CHAIRS.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANDRE BROWN BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON AND GRADUATE OF BOSTON TECH. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR HAVING US HAVING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN WUERL AND PRESIDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NEW
SHERIFF IN TOWN THAT'S ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A.I.. I THINK BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS REALLY BRING THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BUILD THEIR OWN DATA SYSTEM, THEIR OWN A.I.. WE CAN DO IT HERE IN BOSTON, BE
THE FIRST TO DO IT IN THE NATION AND THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. SO I THINK WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT ABOUT A MONTH AGO WEEK HE WAS GOING TO BUILD A
SYSTEM FOR $500 BILLION WOULD OPEN A.I. AND SOFTBANK. AND THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER DEEP SIX SAID THEY COULD DO IT FOR $50 MILLION.
AND THEN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THE COMPANY THAT COULD DO IT FOR A HALF $1,000,000 500 BILLION. HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. SO THAT MEANS THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN LEARN AND
TEACH KIDS HOW TO LEARN ABOUT AND BUILD THEIR OWN A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM . AND WE NEED TO GET IT IN THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT
OF NORTHEASTERN WROTE THIS BOOK HOW TO BE ROBOT PROOF AND ONE OF THEM IS NO ABOUT A.I. HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT A.I. ALSO GET A DEGREE IN YOUR DISCIPLINE
. AND A.I. WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE WORLD WE KNOW IS ABOUT TO CHANGE. HUMANITY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE IN FIVE YEARS. THERE'S A REVOLUTION AND
MEDICINE THE WAY WE GET OUR MEDICINE. WE GOT TO STEP UP. WE CAN DO IT. BOSTON CAN BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION AND THE WORLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. DOMINGO OH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOMINGO.
I LIVE AT 65 MARTHA ROAD BETTER KNOWN AS AMY LOWELL APARTMENTS LOCATED IN THE WESTERN PART OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN WARREN AND ALL THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.
I AM A VIETNAM ERA VETERAN FORMERLY HOMELESS. I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE SLEEPING ON CONCRETE MATTRESSES .
JUST LIKE THE WEATHER IS OUT THERE. I SLEPT ON THAT ONE NIGHT. I SLEPT I FELL ASLEEP ON THE ICE. WOKE UP ABOUT THREE 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
I THOUGHT I WAS PARALYZED. I COULDN'T MOVE MY ARM. I KIND OF FIND OUT I SLID MY ARM OUT OF MY SLEEVE AND MY COAT WAS FROZEN TO THE ICE ON
THE GROUND. BUT I LOST MY COAT AND IT WAS FREEZING. ANYHOW, I'M A MEMBER LIFETIME MEMBER OF DAV BETTER KNOWN AS DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS.
SO LOCATED RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO JFK BUILDING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE DOCKET ZERO 3 TO 5 ASK YOU TO
PLEASE SUPPORT THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF VETERANS AND ELDERLY ABUSE. I AM RETIRED. I'M 72 YEARS OLD. THANK GOD I'M IN REMISSION FROM
CANCER. IF I GO BACK OUT THERE I MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK. BUT A LOT OF ELDER ABUSE ABOUT A VETERAN ABUSE LOT OF ANY KIND
OF ABUSE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. PLEASE CONSIDER US. WE NEED THIS. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
ALL OF YOU NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I SEE MICHAEL CAINE AS DO YOU STILL WANT TO TESTIFY, MICHAEL?
ALL RIGHT. FOR AND CALMING CALMING,
CALMING. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. MY NAME IS CARMEN ALLEN. I'M 100% DISABLED VETERAN. I JUST LOOK IN MY EYES.
I CAME HERE BECAUSE A YEAR AGO MY SON BECAME A QUAD AMPUTEE. HE HAD A 2% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. SO OF COURSE I IMMEDIATELY CAME
BACK TO BOSTON, THREATENED HIS LIFE AND HE'S ALIVE NOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOTHERS DO. I ON THE OTHER HAND COULDN'T
FIND ANY PLACE TO STAY. I WOUND UP STAYING AT COACH STREET WHICH IS THE VETERAN SHELTER. I WAS NOT A TYPICAL CLIENT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A CASE
MANAGER WAS AND I DIDN'T DO THINGS THE WAY THEY THEM. YOU KNOW, I HAD MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE, MY LICENSE. I DIDN'T DO THE DRUGS.
THEY NEEDED ME TO DO IT. I WENT THROUGH A LOT AND THEN I WENT TO A SCHOOL AND I STARTED WORKING FOR NATIONAL GRID AND THEY SAID WHO'S 65?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? THE PROBLEM IS THERE WAS NO HOUSING. MY INCOME WAS TOO LOW BUT IT WASN'T LOW ENOUGH TO GET A
VOUCHER SO I HAD TO PAY MARKET RENT. THE ONLY PLACE THAT OPENED ITS ARMS TO ME WAS THE FORBES BUILDING. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FOR A TWO
BEDROOM BECAUSE I ASSUMED I WOULD BE MOVING MY SON IN WITH HIS DIFFICULTIES AND FORTUNATELY I COULDN'T DO THAT. HE WAS REJECTED BY THE FORGE
BUILDING BECAUSE HE'S AN. SO HE STILL HAS TO STAY AT THE HOSPITAL. THE TRAGEDY OF THAT IS THEY JUST GAVE HIM PROSTHETIC LEGS BUT THEY WILL NOT KEEP HIM
PROSTHETIC HANDS SO THAT HE CAN MANIPULATE THE LEGS BECAUSE HE HAS NO PLACE TO STAY.
I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO MAKE A WAY TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET . I'M GOING TO CONTACT THE OTHER GROUP THAT WAS HERE EARLIER IN REFERENCE TO THAT WHICH I KNOW FOR HIM IS GOING TO BE AN
EXORBITANT AMOUNT LIKE A THOUSAND BUCKS A MONTH. HE JUST GOT DISABILITY UP 1300. SO THERE GOES THAT AND THEN
THERE'S ME 100% DISABLED VETERAN PAYING TWO THIRDS OF OUR INCOME TO BE HOUSED IN A TWO BEDROOM THAT I CAN'T SHARE
. SO THAT'S MY TESTIMONY. PLEASE EARMARK SOME MONEY TO HELP US IN OUR SITUATION. ALL OF US. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MICHAEL CAINE. THANK COUNSELOR. MICHAEL CAINE FROM THE MASTER ALLIANCE ATTORNEYS AND THE PEOPLE THAT I JUST SPOKE ARE
HELPING TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY WE NEED MORE CITY RENT SUBSIDIES. YOU ALL TOOK LEADERSHIP LAST YEAR AND ADDED $1,000,000 OVER
THE MAYOR'S VETO AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 400 PEOPLE TO GET PERMANENT HOUSING. BUT THE NEED IS VAST AS YOU ALL KNOW.
THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HOMELESS. MORE ARE GOING TO BE HOMELESS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO CUT VERY DEEPLY.
SECTION EIGHT OUT THE LAYING OFF ALL THE STAFF FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LITERALLY AND ALL THE STAFF FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS WHICH MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO START PLANNING
TO ZERO THAT OUT. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A CUTBACK THERE. ALL THE MORE NEED FOR CITY RENT SUBSIDIES TO MAKE UP WHAT IS BOUND TO BE A CUT IN SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS.
WE'RE FIGHTING TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE. WE NEED MORE FROM THE CITY REGULAR BUDGET. SO ONCE AGAIN WE'RE ASKING FOR THE $5 MILLION THAT WE SOUGHT LAST YEAR. WE'RE GETTING UPDATED NUMBERS
FROM THE CITY WHICH WE'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHEN WE GET THEM. BUT WHERE IT'S GOING EXACTLY. BUT IT COULD GO FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. IT COULD GO FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS LIKE CARMEN WAS AND EVEN FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE THAT ARE TARGETED WITH THE CITY MONEY. SO THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO SAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO
ONLINE TO TAKE TESTIMONY FROM
ZOOM STARTING WITH LISA. LISA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR MORELL
AND THE OTHER CITY COUNCILORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MOUNT HOPE CANTERBURY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M CALLING ABOUT A VERY, VERY SPECIFIC BUDGET REQUEST. SO PLEASE ALLOCATE FUNDING IN
THE FY 26 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET FOR MULTIMODAL TRAFFIC SAFETY AT ONE PARTICULAR VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION WHICH IS AT THE CORNER OF WALK HILL
STREET AND AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY. THIS IS RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF MATTAPAN AND EASTERN ROSLINDALE AND VERY
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF OVERHEAD TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS FACING EACH WAY ON BLACK HILL STREET. THIS SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE
ONES NOW FACING AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. PRESENTLY THE WALK HILL STREET SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE MOUNTED ON TWO LOW CORNER PEDESTALS.
THESE LIGHTS ARE HARD TO SEE ESPECIALLY BY DISTRACTED DRIVERS. THIS INTERSECTION HAS BEEN THE
SCENE OF COUNTLESS CRASHES MANY WITH INJURIES OVER MANY YEARS. THE DISTRICT 18 POLICE REPORTS
CAN VERIFY THIS VERY HIGH CRASH INTERSECTION AT THE BORDERS OF DISTRICTS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS IT IS THE CLOSEST CROSSWALK TO THE HAILEY
PILOT K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL. A ROUTE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING CENTER ONE BLOCK AWAY AND ALSO A ROUTE TO THE BOSTON NATURE CENTER'S PRESCHOOL AND CAMPS AND TRAILS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DENSE POCKET NEIGHBORHOODS ON BOTH SIDES OF AMERICAN LEGION USING THIS INTERSECTIONS AND IT'S ALSO A THRUWAY FOR MANY COMMUTERS FROM ELSEWHERE.
OVER 150 NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS OF HOUSING HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADDED AND ARE IN THE PIPELINE AROUND THIS INTERSECTION WHICH BRINGS MORE CARS, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLIST.
IN 2016 A RETIRED BOSTON POLICEMAN WAS KILLED IN THIS INTERSECTION WHEN HIS CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AND RIGHT AFTER THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S RAPID RESPONSE TEAM THAT COMES AFTER EVERY TRAFFIC FATALITY AND THEY CAME THEY STUDY THE INTERSECTION AND THEY QUICKLY
IDENTIFIED THAT THESE TRAFFIC SIGNALS WERE NOT THEY WERE DEFICIENT THAT THEY WERE LOW VISIBILITY SIDEWALK PEDESTAL MOUNTED AND THAT INSTEAD OF THE
MORE VISIBLE OVERHEAD SIGNAL HUNG OVER THE MIDDLE OF MOST INTERSECTIONS. SO WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT SAFETY ALONG THE AMERICAN LEGION CORRIDOR.
THIS PARTICULAR INTERSECTION IT IT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE PRIORITIZED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES ALONG. THERE ARE OTHER INTERSECTIONS.
BUT THIS ONE THIS ONE THAT'S IN A SCHOOL ZONE, IT JUST NEEDS THAT ATTENTION AND NEEDS THAT ONE SPECIFIC FIX. SO PLEASE PUT THAT IN THE FY 26 BUDGET.
THANK YOU.
CALL
NEXT PERSON. BARBARA. ALL RIGHT.
ISMAEL. BETSY.
ALL RIGHT. RICK. RICK.
THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS. THANK YOU. CLOSE.
THANK THE COUNCIL AND AND CHAIR ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO AM FROM THE MOUNT HOPE CANTERBURY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG
AMERICAN LEGION AND EASTERN ROSLINDALE AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I DO SAY AFTER LISTENING TO THE WORD JUSTICE FOR HOUSING, I
HOPE THAT IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SUPPORT. I'LL TRY TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR NOW. VERY IMPRESSIVE TESTIMONY.
AGAIN WHAT? LISTEN, I REPRESENTED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MAYBE 1500 RESIDENTS ALONG AMERICAN LEGION AND ADJACENT TO ANOTHER FEW THOUSAND NORTH OF US IN ANOTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IS WE ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY THAT ISN'T A PARK DESERT.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PARK FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AS DEFINED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. IF YOU REFER TO ONE OF THE MAPS
I INCLUDED IN THE EMAILS THAT ARE AROUND TORONTO COUNCILORS HAVE COME THE COUNCIL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE.
IT'S ABOUT A 1200 SQUARE FOOT CASTLE OWNED BY THE CITY AND A WOODED AND AT THE END OF A
DEAD END STREET A QUIET PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S IDEAL FOR A SMALL PARK WALK IN A WALKABLE PARK COULD
SET UP SOME PLAY SPACES AND BENCHES FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR PARENTS AND SMALL KIDS AND IT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS SO FAR
WITHOUT SUCCESS. WE ARE NOW AGAIN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THERE'S SOME ADJACENT EASEMENT THAT THOSE ARE ON TWO SIDES OF THE PROPERTY THAT
STONY BROOK CONDUIT IS UNDER IT SO IT'S NOT BUILDABLE. IT'S ABOUT 25 FEET WIDE THAT IT EXTENDS UP ABOUT 400 FEET LONG
UP TO THE PLANTED AVENUE WHICH IS ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH WOULD ADD A SECOND ENTRANCE AND I BELIEVE THEY WANT THAT SECOND ENTRANCE WITH THE FIRST BEING
THIS DEAD END STREET. SO THEY SORT OF MADE IT THE STATEMENT THAT THEY HAD VERY LITTLE MONEY FOR FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER SETTING ASIDE SOME AMOUNT SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE SOME MONEY TO PICK UP THESE EASEMENTS FROM THEIR USUALLY
OWNED BY THE ABUTTERS ON EITHER SIDE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OF THE PROPERTY. AT THE PARK ITSELF THERE'S NOT OTHERS.
ST MICHAEL'S CEMETERY IT'S A PIECE THEY CAN NEVER USE FOR ANYTHING AND THEY MAY EVEN GIVE IT I DON'T KNOW BUT PROBABLY NOT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE ARMY BASE US RESERVE BASE AND AMERICAN LEGION THE BACK OF IT AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF THIS 400 FOOT PIECE THAT GOES UP TO THE POINT
. SO IT'S A IT'S A RELATIVELY VERY SPECIFIC REQUEST SINCE THE CITY ALREADY OWNS THE PARCEL THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM RIGHT.
SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. IT'S JUST FOR THIS OTHER ACQUISITION. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE OPPORTUNITY AND ALSO THANK THE
COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR TRYING TO DEAL WITH ALL THIS NUMEROUS ALMOST UNSOLVABLE PROBLEMS IT FACES EVERY YEAR. IT'S ONE I'M REALLY PLEASED
WITH THE HARD WORK EVERYONE'S DOING. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ELLA VICTORIA. HOW CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH.
OKAY, GREAT. HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELISSA MALONE AND I WORK FOR YOU, WHICH IS YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION. ONE ISSUE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
CAN HELP WITH YOUTH JOBS. WHEN THE COMMUNITY VOTES ON WHETHER TO USE MONEY FOR JOBS IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. YOUTH JOBS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AFFORD WHAT THEY NEED WHETHER IT'S FOR RESPONSIBILITIES OR
JUST TO LIVE THEIR LIVES. THIS IS ALL CONNECTED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOO. FOR EXAMPLE, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I KNOW RELY ON THEIR YOUTH JOBS TO PAY RENT BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PORTABLE HOUSING
THEY REALLY NEED THOSE JOBS. YOUTH JOBS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE NEED MORE MONEY TO GO TOWARDS THEM WHICH IS WHAT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THE OVERALL CITY BUDGET CAN HELP WITH. RENT IS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE
AND PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES TO MAKE ROOM FOR WEALTHIER PEOPLE. I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS AND IT'S MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE TO AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE COST OF MORTGAGES AND INSURANCE IS
GOING UP AND IT'S GETTING TOUGHER FOR PEOPLE TO MANAGE. I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING ALWAYS MOVING BECAUSE RATE IS TOO HIGH. THAT'S WHY LAST YEAR WE ASKED FOR 37.6 FOR YOUTH JOBS AND
THIS YEAR WE STILL NEED MONEY FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND JOBS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, VICTORIA. HELLO. YES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU.
HELLO. MY NAME IS VICTORIA. I AM 16 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE LIVED IN BOSTON MY WHOLE LIFE. YOU'VE JOB IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE AND HAS BEEN FOR A WHILE. I WORKED IN A YOUTH JOB SINCE I
WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND IT'S HELPED ME BUILD COMMUNITY AND LEARN NEW EXPERIENCES. WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD I FRACTURED MY FOOT AND WAS SADLY UNABLE TO TAKE THE METER. MY MOM WORKS FULL TIME AND
TAKES CARE OF MY OTHER SIBLINGS SO IT WAS HARD TO RELY ON HER TO TAKE ME TO SCHOOL AND WORK. MY YOUTH JOB HELPED ME FINANCIALLY BY PROVIDING ME THE MEANS TO TAKE AN UBER TO AND FROM WORK.
ALSO PAY AND HELPED ME GO TO SCHOOL AND NOT AND NOT LET MY INJURY IMPACTS MY EDUCATION. MY JOB HAS TAUGHT ME AT A YOUNG AGE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING MONEY.
I BECAME MORE INDEPENDENT AND MORE FINANCIALLY MATURE OF HOW I SPENT MY MONEY. WITH THIS IN MIND IT IS SAD TO SEE THE CITY OF BOSTON IGNORE HOW HELPFUL NEW JOBS ARE EVERY
YEAR GROUPS REQUEST GROUPS REQUEST SCHOOL YEAR JOBS IN CITY DECIDES HOW MANY JOBS IN THE REQUEST IT WILL HONOR OUT OF THE 3685 REQUESTED COMMUNITY
JOBS THE CITY THE CITY ONLY HONORED 1123 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR COMMUNITY JOBS FOR THE SCHOOL WAS DECREASED BY 36% WHILE JOBS AT CITY AGENCIES
ROSE BY 37. THAT IS WHY I DEMAND THE CITY TO FUND YEAR ROUND JOBS FOR YOUTH IN BOSTON TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE PAY THAT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ABLE
TO PAY YEAR ROUND TO FOR YOU TO
SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU THANK YOU CALL TO
CALL THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS
LESLIE. HELLO?
YES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIR CHAIR MORRELL AND OUR CITY COUNCILORS FOR ALL THIS TIME. MY NAME IS LESLIE ADAM.
I AM THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN. WE ARE ONE OF THE NATION'S NATIONS OLDEST PARK AND ADVOCACY GROUPS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE CARE AND
MAINTAIN THE BOSTON COMMON, THE BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN AND THE COMMERCE MALL. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND OUR FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE
BOSTON CITY OF BOSTON, THE BOSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WE TRIED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BOSTON PARKS BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE WORK THAT
THEY TRIED TO DO AND THROUGH OUR AGREEMENT WE WE HELP SPEND AND INVEST IN THOSE THREE PARKS MORE THAN $2 MILLION TO IMPROVE
THE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL BOSTON PARKS USERS IN THOSE THREE PARKS AND FOR ALL THE VISITORS THAT COME TO THE TO THE BOSTON THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC PARKS.
WE ASKED LAST YEAR FOR A REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING OF A DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR. WE KNOW THAT THE CITY MADE GREAT INROADS AND POSTED A
PARKS ADMINISTRATOR ROLE FOR FRANKLIN PARK AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY TO PLEASE FUND THROUGH PARKS THE ADMINISTRATOR
ROLE FOR THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC PARKS AND TO ALSO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FRANKLIN PARK ADMINISTRATOR.
IT WILL BE CRUCIAL TO HAVE THIS PERSON WHO WILL I THINK MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE CARE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF OF THOSE HISTORIC PARKS.
WE HAVE THE BOSTON COMMON MASTER PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PERSONNEL AND
THERE'S NO NOT ENOUGH DIRECTION TO HAVE IMPACT THERE. AND THE BOSTON COMMON FOR EXAMPLE ALONG THE MAYOR'S WALK HELPS MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE
PASS THAT WAY EVERY DAY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY USED PARKS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE THINK THAT HAVING THIS ROLE WILL BE CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS AND THE
HEALTH OF THAT SPACE. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO CALL BUT BUT CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HELLO? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.
SORRY ABOUT THE TECH ISSUES. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILORS AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS COLE GIBSON ORGANIZED AND DIRECTOR FOR RECLAIM ROXBURY AND I'M TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION TO SHOW SUPPORT
FOR MORE FUNDING OF A FEW SPECIFIC PRIORITIES WE KNOW TO BE CRITICAL AT THIS TIME. FIRST WE JOIN OUR FELLOW ADVOCATES AT MASS ALLIANCE FOR HUD TENANTS IN THE CITY OR IN SUBSIDY COALITION IN CALLING
FOR AN INCREASE TO THE BUDGETS TO THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS. AS WE ENTER AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE PUNCTUATED BY A GROWING HOUSING CRISIS, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE NEEDS
OF THE THOUSANDS OF UNHOUSED AND NEAR HOMELESS FAMILIES IN OUR CITY. WE REQUEST AN INCREASE OF $5 MILLION IN LINE WITH WHAT THE COALITION IN MAY HAS ALREADY ASKED FOR EARLIER TONIGHT TO
THE CITY'S RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM TO ENSURE EXISTING VOUCHER USERS CAN STAY IN THEIR HOUSING AND MORE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE VOUCHER SUPPORT AS THE FIRST EVER
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS COMES TO ITS CONCLUSION WITH VOTING CLOSING LAST MONTH. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY AND THE OFFICE OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING ON SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THIS HISTORIC PROCESS AS WE
PREPARE TO SEE FUNDING DISPERSED TO THE PROJECTS SELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD UPON THIS SUCCESS BY INCREASING THE BUDGET ALLOTMENT FOR THE PROGRAM. WE ASKED TO THE BUDGET FOR THE
PARTIES PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM BE INCREASED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL $2 MILLION ALLOTMENT TO DEEPEN THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTED PROJECTS, EXPAND ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND POTENTIALLY
FUND MORE THAN FIVE PROJECTS ANNUALLY. FINALLY, WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE NEED TO REEXAMINE IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. EVERY YEAR LARGE LOCAL
NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY PAY ONLY A FRACTION OF WHAT THEY COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CITY'S BUDGET IN PILOT PAYMENTS BASED ON OUTDATED VALUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, NORTHEASTERN HAS
CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO MEET THE CITY'S CASH REQUEST FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THEY HAVE FALLEN SHORT BY $20 MILLION OR TWO THIRDS OF WHAT THE CITY REQUESTED. HOW MANY MORE AMAZING PROJECTS,
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES COULD WE BE FUNDING ACTIONS THAT BOSTONIANS FROM EVERY PART OF THE CITY DESPERATELY NEED? IF ONLY WE ASK THESE INSTITUTIONS TO DO MORE BY PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WE URGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO REEXAMINE THE EXECUTION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM AND REQUIRE LARGE LOCAL NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE FULL PAYMENTS INTO THE PROGRAM UNDER UPDATED VALUATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GINIA.
HI. GUESS YOU HEAR ME? YES. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. HI. I WILL LET YOU TALK ABOUT YOUTH JOBS AND HOW SUPPORTIVE ADVAN
BENEFIT ORGANIZERS YOU AND I DO. SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND HAVING A YOUTH JOB WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE MOM, YOU FROM BOSTON SHOULD
HAVE A YOUTH JOB. I FEEL LIKE HAVING A CORPORATE JOB IS NOT A GOOD JOB. IT'S NOT A GOOD JOB FOR YOU ESPECIALLY FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH. AND WE ARE UP EARLY FOR SCHOOL
AND IS NOT CARING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL SO LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE MORE MONEY INTO YOUTH JOBS BECAUSE THEY KEEP ON CUTTING
YOUTH JOBS AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO USE THAT IN THE YOUTH JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVING YOUTH JOBS. OH MY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, TANNER.
ALL RIGHT. PAMELA KING. HELLO? OH, YEAH. HELLO. YEAH, THIS IS HOW WE GOT IT. AND TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE'S ACADEMY WHICH HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF LAND AT THE CORNER OF WARREN STREET AND QUINCY STREET IN ROXBURY. WE'RE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF
OF THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES. IT PROVIDES SERVICES TO NOT ONLY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT TO RETURNING OR
FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE. THIS NEW BUILDING WILL HOUSE CLASSROOMS. COMMUNITY MEETING ROOMS ARE
RECORDING STUDIO AND CLASSROOMS . PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM RECEIVE A STIPEND FOOD VOUCHERS
AND 20 MEN AND 20 WOMEN ARE HOUSED THERE. THE REMAINING WILL GET BUS PASSES TO COME TO THE CLASSES WHEN THEY GRADUATE.
THEY WILL HAVE JOBS THAT PAY BETWEEN 60 AND $80,000 A YEAR WHILE THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES
PROVIDED TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELING, FINANCIAL LITERACY TO NAME JUST TWO OF THEM. IT IS A FACT THAT PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS EARN 1/10 OF WHAT THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS EARN. SO IF A WHITE MAN OR WOMAN
EARNS $1,000 THEN THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN EARNS 100. IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WEALTH GAP, THIS PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL.
IT HAS BEEN FEATURED ON TELEVISION AND IN GBH MAGAZINE. THE OWNER OF THIS NONPROFIT THE JET DIADEM AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR HAS BEEN OFFERED TO COME TO MONTREAL TO GO TO NEW ZEALAND. BUT HE FEELS A DEEP DESIRE TO PROVIDE TO THE CITY WHERE HE
GREW UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED TO HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
PAMELA KING, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
OH, OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, I AM HERE ALSO TO ASK THAT
THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY BE PLACED IN THE BUDGET FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHILE THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES COULD
WENT TO A LARGE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND COULD BARELY GET FIVE SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BOSTON WORKING AT THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEVERAL HUGE
DEVELOPERS MILLENNIUM PARTNERS ,NGOS, DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE WANTED TO CREATE PERMANENT JOBS WITH THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY AND THEY HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CITY
GOVERNMENT. WE NEED RIGHT NOW TO REALIZE THAT THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO TRAIN PEOPLE FOR LUCRATIVE CONSTRUCTION JOBS
IN TWO YEARS OR LESS AND THESE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WILL IMMEDIATELY CLOSE THE COLOR WEALTH GAP FOR AS A GRADUATE THEY WILL THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH IS WHAT TURN PEOPLE AWAY FROM CRIME. IT WOULD RETURN RETURNING CITIZENS. IT WOULD LOWER THE RECIDIVISM
RATE, THE FUNDING THE PEOPLE ACADEMY WOULD TAKE OFF THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTED NEEDS FOR FOOD STAMPS, HOUSING SECTION EIGHT HEALTH CARE AND MASSHEALTH.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO GRADUATE IN THESE LUCRATIVE CONSTRUCTION JOBS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT FOR THESE LIFE LIVING EXPENSES.
THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY GRADUATES WOULD HAVE INCOME TO PAY INCOME TAXES TO BE HOMEOWNERS AND PAY PROPERTY TAXES. AND WE FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE FEEL THAT AS ALSO AS A PART OF THAT THAT PEOPLE'S ACADEMY SHOULD BE CALLED ON TO HELP DEVELOP THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM AND MADISON PARK AND THAT THAT
SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RIGHT NOW WITH NO MORE DELAYS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR CHILDREN FROM DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL AND TO GIVE THEM LUCRATIVE JOBS UPON GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO PUT
THIS AS A PART OF THE BUDGET AFTER TEN YEARS OF ATTEMPTING TO GET THIS DONE, THE PEOPLE NEED THESE JOBS. THE CITY OF BOSTON NEEDS THESE PEOPLE TO WORK AND TO BE
CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS PAYING TAXES AND BUYING HOMES HERE. SO WE ASK THAT WE PLEAD THAT YOU ADD THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY, WE HAVE A COMPLETE BUDGET OF WHAT IT WOULD COST AND IT
WOULD THE COST OF PAYING THE WHITE STADIUM OWNERS $100 MILLION. THEY COULD BUILD TPA AND FUNDED FOR FIVE YEARS. SO WE ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THE
NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE FIRST AND NOT THE NEEDS OF A STADIUM OWNERS WHO ARE MILLIONAIRES. AND ONE OF THEM FATHER WHO OWNS A PROPERTY OVER WHERE THE
OF OUR EXCHANGE USED TO BE THEY COULD BUILD THAT THE STATE THEY COULD BUILD THE SOCCER STADIUM THERE. SO WHY COME AND TAKE AWAY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN
THE AREAS OF CONSTRUCTION WHEN WE NEED THE MONEY FROM THE BUDGET TO BUILD A TRADE SCHOOL FOR PEOPLE IN BOSTON PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO PETER SIMMONS,
ISABELLA DE PINA. HELLO. YES, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS ABOUT TO PLAY AND I'M AN ACTIVIST THAT I AM THAT I AM A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE. I HOPE THAT BOSTON CITY CAN'T
COMMIT TO FIND THE PEOPLE THE ACADEMY. IT CAN'T HELP OUR CHILDREN NOT TO GET MURDER OR TO GO TO PRISON IS FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO
INSTEAD OF BEING IN THIS DANGEROUS STREET IN BOSTON. THIS CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT BOSTON CAN PULL UP BUT BOSTON CITY CAN PARTNER UP WITH THE
PEOPLE'S ACADEMY AND IT WILL GIVE THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GOOD JOB AFTER TWO YEARS OF TRAINING AND THEY WILL
HAVE LIKE MY SISTER SAID, WE PAID 6060 TO 80000 PER YEAR WE SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE WEAK AND THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED AND THE POOR.
SO IT IS TIME TO STAND UP AT AND HELP THE PEOPLE THAT YOU
WORKED FOR AND GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU, VALERIE
, I CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. SO THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR WORRELL AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS VALERIE BURTON. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF RIVER STREET CIVIC ASSOCIATION. MY ADDRESS IS 64 IVANHOE STREET IN MATTAPAN. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF LITTLE
THINGS AT OUR CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS THE TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION OF RIVER STREET AND BLUE HILL AVENUE WHERE IT MEETS IN MATTAPAN AT 138.
THAT INTERSECTION IS ALWAYS BLOCKED WITH A NEW TRAFFIC IN THE NEW APARTMENT BUILDING WITH THE BUSSES COMING OUT. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CROSSWALK AND SOME BLINKING
LIGHTS THAT HELP THE PEDESTRIAN CROSS AND ALSO THE BUSSES COME OUT SAFELY. ALSO THERE ALONG RIVER STREET IN STANDISH STREET WE HAVE A BLIND SPOT WHERE WE NEED A
CROSSWALK AND A BLINKING LIGHT WHEN COMING DOWN THE STREET LEAVING MATTAPAN SQUARE ON TO THE LOWER MILLS AREA.
THERE'S A BLIND SPOT ALSO. WE ARE STILL AWAITING OUR STREET HUMPS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE
STAND FOR STREET A ONE WAY. IT'S A VERY NARROW CUT THROUGH TWO WAY STREET PRESENTLY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN ADD THAT TO YOUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
CHRISTIAN. HELLO. YES. THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN. I'M FROM ROXBURY AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I FEEL LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HAS BEEN A TOPIC FOR A WHILE NOW AND IT'S CLEAR THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED IT. AND LIKE EVEN FOR ME I'M TRYING
TO MOVE INTO A PART OF MY APARTMENT MYSELF AND LIKE MY COUSIN IS TOO. BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING
TO BE LIKE STABLE TO MOVE INTO A HOUSE LIKE THESE TIMES. WE WOULD WANT LIKE STABILITY FOR HOUSING AND ONE WAY WE CAN
DO THAT IS TO PUT MORE FUNDING INTO THAT. I HEARD SOME OTHER GROUPS AND I
THINK WE SHOULD PUT ABOUT LIKE 5 MILLION AT LEAST ON AND LIKE TEST THE WATERS.
WE AT I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL MOVE BACK IN TO IN-PERSON TESTIMONY IF THERE'S
ANYONE ONLINE PLEASE EMAIL KARISHMA SHAHEEN AT KKR. I AS H AM A DOT CH0UHA AND
BOSTON DOT GOV IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAMES CALLED SAY TWO NAMES AT A TIME
PLEASE GO TO BOTH MICROPHONES AND WE'LL START WITH ELIZA AND
THEN QUESTION KIND OF. HELLO GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ELIZA PRYDE. I AM IN JAMAICA PLAIN RESIDENT
AND I AM HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BETTER BUDGET ALLIANCE. THANKS FOR THE SHOUT OUT A COALITION OF OVER 30 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS FROM ALL NINE DISTRICTS WHO ARE WORKING TO
ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET MEETS THE NEEDS OF BOSTONIANS AND CENTERS RESIDENT DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING A BUDGET HEARING SO EARLY IN THE SEASON THIS TIME. I APPRECIATE THAT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR 1% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET TO BE DETERMINED VIA RESIDENTS DIRECTLY THROUGH THE NEW PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS.
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 46 MILLION IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET. OUR ASK HAS NOT CHANGED IN FIVE YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAYBE A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR BUT IN A MOMENT OF TURBULENCE WITH RISING PRICES AND RENTS AND FOLKS LOSING JOBS AND
INSTABILITY DUE TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THIS IS THE MOMENT WE THINK TO GO DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE AND SAY WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT IDEAS DO YOU NEED?
HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND THEN HAVE FOLKS VOTE ON THE IDEAS. PB IS A TOOL TO GIVE DECISION MAKING POWER TO RESIDENTS TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE CITY AND TO BUILD A BUDGET THAT BETTER
MEETS OUR NEEDS. IN THIS PILOT CYCLE I WITNESSED PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BACKGROUNDS, RACES, CULTURES DISCUSS THEIR NEEDS AND THEN WEIGH THE PROPOSALS TOGETHER AGAINST
EQUITY AND IMPACT CRITERIA. PEOPLE DID NOT COME IN THE ROOM WITH THE SAME BUDGET PRIORITIES BUT THEY LEFT AFTER LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THE PROCESS WAS PERFECT BUT MAKING A BUDGET INVOLVES HARD TRADEOFFS AND PUTTING IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED WAS REALLY POWERFUL TO WITNESS FOR THIS
REASON WE URGE YOU TO ADVOCATE BOLDLY THIS YEAR FOR MORE FUNDING FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. THE TIMING OF THE PB PROCESS WAS ALSO MEANT TO ELEVATE THE IDEAS THAT CAME UP THROUGH THE
PROCESS TO IMPACT THE OVERALL BUDGET. I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS AN IDEA SUBMISSION DASHBOARD IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED IT TO SEE ALL OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. YOU CAN SORT BY NEIGHBORHOOD,
YOU CAN SEARCH BY CATEGORY AND THIS COMING TUESDAY WE WILL KNOW WHICH OF THE FIVE PROPOSALS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND SO THERE WILL BE 11 LEFT THAT WERE PRIORITIZED BY RESIDENTS BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO
THE FINAL CUT. SO ENCOURAGE YOU HOPE YOU ALL WILL LOOK AT THOSE AND SEE IF THERE'S WAYS TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE BUDGET. AND FINALLY, MOST OF THESE
BUDGET HEARINGS LIKE TONIGHT INCLUDE ALL OF US GETTING UP AND ADVOCATING FOR ONE OR TWO AREAS OF INVESTMENTS IN OUR SHORT TIME WHICH ENDS UP PITTING OUR IDEAS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN A WAY EVEN THOUGH MANY
OF US I'M SURE SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S IDEAS. SO MY QUESTION FOR THIS BUDGET PROCESS IS MY QUESTIONS ARE ONE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO INCORPORATE THE IDEAS THAT CAME
UP THROUGH INTO YOUR AMENDMENTS TO HOW CAN WE INCREASE DIALOG BETWEEN PEOPLE IN THIS PROCESS AND PUT DECISIONS BACK TO RESIDENTS?
AND THREE HOW ARE YOU ALL PLANNING TO WORK THIS YEAR TOGETHER TO THEN NARROW DOWN YOUR AMENDMENTS AND THEN VOTE ON ON THOSE? SO CURIOUS FOR A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS SOME IDEAS THIS COULD YOU COULD FOR AN IDEA LIKE TAKE ALL THE AMENDMENTS AND THEN PUT IT BACK TO RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON WHICH ONES ARE OUR MOST POPULAR FROM RESIDENTS OR FACILITATING SOME
CONVERSATIONS WHERE FOLKS GET TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AS AS WE DID THROUGH PB THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT THE COPIES SOMEWHERE? YEAH WE COULD CHRIS WE CHRIS
GRAB A COPY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS GOOD. GOOD EVENING COUNCILORS. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN CONNIE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. I'VE WORKED IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT BOTH THE STATE LEVEL AND NOW AS DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT A
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION HERE IN BOSTON. I'M HERE BECAUSE BOSTON'S ABILITY TO PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO DISASTERS IS AT RISK. FOR YEARS BOSTON HAS RELIED TOO
HEAVILY ON FEDERAL FEMA GRANTS TO FUND OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. NOW WITH THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION CALLING TO ELIMINATE FEMA, WE ARE ALREADY
SEEING THE IMPACTS FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANTS ARE FROZEN AND FEMA JUST FIRED STAFF INCLUDING PERSONNEL IN CAMBRIDGE YESTERDAY WHO SUPPORT ALL OF NEW ENGLAND.
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT BOSTON HAS NOT INVESTED IN ITS OWN PREPAREDNESS. RIGHT NOW CITY FUNDING MAKES UP JUST 14% OF OPM'S BUDGET. THE REST 86% IS FEDERALLY
FUNDED THROUGH FEMA. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR AN OPERATION RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THIS CITY PREPARED. IF AND WHEN THESE FROZEN
FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS DISAPPEAR PERMANENTLY, DOES BOSTON HAVE A PLAN TO SUSTAIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT? RIGHT NOW THE ANSWER IS NO. BOSTON OEM DOES CRITICAL WORK BEHIND THE SCENES. THEY ARE NOT THE FIRST
RESPONDERS ON THE STREET. THEY ARE OUR CITIES. WORST CASE SCENARIO PLANNERS WHO AND WHO ENSURE THAT WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES US BOSTON'S RESPONSE IS COORDINATED AND EFFECTIVE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS UNCOORDINATED AND OEM WORKS TO PREVENT THAT EVERY DAY. BUT MOST OF ITS STAFF ARE ON TEMPORARY FEDERAL GRANTS.
THAT MEANS BOSTON'S PREPAREDNESS IS AT THE MERCY OF WASHINGTON'S POLITICS. AND IT'S NOT JUST STAFFING BOSTON'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, THE HUB FOR MANAGING CITYWIDE CRISIS IS RUN OUT OF A
STORAGE GARAGE ON BRAGDON STREET. IT IS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE, AN EMBARRASSMENT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY POSES A SERIOUS RISK WHEN THE NEXT DISASTER
STRIKES. THIS IS THE LOCATION WHERE AGENCY HEADS MUTUAL AID PARTNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE ALL OF YOU HERE CONVENE IN AN EMERGENCY.
YET IT LACKS THE SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS FOR THE JOB. LAST FALL, THANKS TO COUNSELOR SANTANA AND HIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE, A NUMBER OF COUNSELORS HERE HEARD FROM EMERGENCY MANAGERS ACROSS THE
CITY FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, HOSPITALS, UTILITY PARTNERS AND OEM. AND THE MESSAGE WAS VERY CLEAR BOSTON'S THREATS. BOSTON IS FACING A GROWING LIST
OF THREATS CYBER ATTACKS ON POWER, WATER COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. STORMS ARE INTENSIFYING AND WE ARE OVERDUE FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE WITH THE LAST MAJOR
HIT OVER 30 YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE MAJOR SECURITY CONCERNS WITH HIGH PROFILE EVENTS LIKE THE BOSTON MARATHON, AMERICA'S 2/50 THIS YEAR AND THE WORLD CUP AND SALE BOSTON IN 2026.
WE CANNOT ASSUME DISASTERS WILL BE MANAGEABLE. ONE MAJOR EVENT WILL EXPOSE A SIGNIFICANT CRACKS IN OUR SYSTEM. WE NEED ACTION NOW. I APPLAUD THE COUNCIL TO TAKE STEPS TO IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO
TAKE STEPS TO FIX THIS. FIRST BOSTON MUST INCREASE ITS CITY FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OUT OF ITS OPERATING BUDGET. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO RELY ON 14% OF CITY FUNDING. SECOND, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
STAFF MUST BE MOVED OFF OF FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS AND ON TO CITY FUNDED POSITIONS. THESE MISSION CRITICAL ROLES NEED STABILITY. THIRD, THE CITY MUST MOVE FORWARD WITH ALONG WITH THE
LONG OVERDUE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER. BECAUSE WHEN DISASTER STRIKES NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. NOT BUDGETS, NOT DEBATES ONLY LIVES, HOMES AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON HAS THE EXPERTISE. NOW IT HAS THE FUNDING. NOW IT NEEDS THE FUNDING STAFFING AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO THE JOB. THE LAST THING ANY OF US WANT IS TO BE BACK HERE AFTER THE NEXT DISASTER SCRATCHING OUR
HEADS WONDERING WHY WE DIDN'T MAKE THESE CHANGES WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ALEXA SANTANA AND THEN A MAYA FRENCH.
HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ALEXA. I'M 16 YEARS OLD. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M A YOUTH ORGANIZER AT YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER
UNION. TODAY I WANTED TO FOCUS ON PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THE BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. AND SO LIKE WHEN I THINK OF SAFETY OR WHEN I HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAFETY I THINK OF COMMUNITY AND I THINK OF HOW YOUTH OF COLOR IN BOSTON ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH TAKING CARE
OF LIKE YOUR PARENTS AND HAVING THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN ON YOU AND KEEPING YOUR FAMILIES FED. AND I FEEL LIKE THE BPR CONNECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR TO A
COMMUNITY LED WARM LINE THAT IS CONSENT BASED AND TAKES OUT THE FEAR THAT COMES WITH CONTACTING THE POLICE WHEN IT COMES TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I FEEL LIKE WE'VE SEEN LIKE TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW POLICE
RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND IT'S DISGUSTING FRANKLY. SO THIS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING GIVES A CONNECT FOR YOUTH OF COLOR TO CHOOSE HOW THEY
WANT THEIR HELP GIVEN TO THEM AND TO CHOOSE THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANT TO SEE. AND SO FOR THAT TODAY I'M HERE ASKING THAT 1% OF THE BUDGET GOES INTO PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THAT $2.6 MILLION
GOES INTO THE BOSTON PEOPLES RESPONSE. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT LAST YEAR YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION AS A COLLECTIVE TRIED TO STOP MAYOR WU'S BUDGET VETO
THAT ADDED $69 MILLION BACK INTO THE POLICE BUDGET. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE HERE TODAY. NOBODY ASKED FOR $69 MILLION FOR THE POLICE.
WE ALL HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES THAT CAN BE HELPED AND SOLVED THROUGH COMMUNITY LED RESPONSES . AND I FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE ARE HERE.
WE'RE TELLING YOU WHAT WE NEED AND IT NOW IT'S UP TO YOU TO USE YOUR POWER TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE KEEPING OUR CITY IN CRISIS AND KEEPING OUR PEOPLE IN CRISIS. THANK YOU.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FIRST. HELLO. MY NAME IS MAYA. I AM 16. I LIVE IN DORCHESTER. I'M WITH ALEXA AND WE ARE I'M
ALSO PART OF THE YOUTH JUSTICE POWER UNION. I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU ALLOCATE MONEY FOR HOUSING SO MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALREADY
TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING IS FOR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF REASONS. BUT I THINK THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT IT IS MAINLY
BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. YEAH, HAVING MONEY INTO THIS ISSUE IS REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE OF COLOR
IT IS A LOT MORE CHALLENGING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS CLOSER TO WORK CLOSER TO THE BUS STATION, CLOSER TO YOUR
FAMILY AND JUST ALL IN ALL YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT KEEPING YOUR FAMILY FED AND YOU WOULD JUST BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT
WHEN YOU GET HOME YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RAND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING KICKED OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AND YOU CAN LIVE COMFORTABLY IN YOUR HOUSE AND
IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING THAT AS A YOUNG PERSON EVEN I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING MY FAMILY STAY IN THE HOUSE THAT WE ARE IN THE APARTMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
I HAVE FIVE SIBLINGS SO THERE'S A LOT OF US AND I ALSO MY AUNT ALSO LIVES WITH THOSE SO HAVING A TIGHT APARTMENT AND HAVING A LOT OF MOUTHS TO FEED IS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE HARD FOR EVERYONE. AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE THINGS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT AND YEAH AND ALSO IT TAKES A MENTAL ON NOT ONLY THE ADULTS BUT ALSO THE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE.
UM ME I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LIKE HELPING MY MOM TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, HELPING MY MOM LIKE NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME BECAUSE I'M OLD ENOUGH FORTUNATELY TO HAVE A JOB.
UM, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF SO THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER CHILD. BUT I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT
THAT WE PUT FUNDING INTO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S ALSO WITH MENTAL ISSUES ALSO COMES WITH AND FAMILIES HOW SOME CHILDREN
MIGHT ALSO HAVE MENTAL DISABILITIES AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER TOLL THAT'S TAKEN UPON THAT FAMILY THAT THEY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. SO UM YEAH THANK YOU.
THANK YOU GEORGE LEE AND THEN ALEX EDWARDS.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GEORGE LEE. I'M AN ORGANIZER ALSO FOR YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION AND AS OUR GROUP HAS ASKED FOR MANY YEARS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR ITEMS SUCH AS PARTICIPATING FREE BUDGETING, YOUTH JOBS, HOUSING, THE BOSTON'S PEOPLE RESPONSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
LAST YEAR WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE LUCY BROWN PEACE INSTITUTE'S PUSH FOR SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS WHICH I HELPED GET PARTIALLY THROUGH AND SOME OF THE REASONS WE
ASKED FOR THIS ARE ONE IF YOU LOOK AT HOUSING, THE HOUSING BUDGET IS JUST INCREDIBLY SMALL COMPARED TO THE NEED YOU CONSTANTLY HEAR PEOPLE HERE BRING IT UP. WE CONSTANTLY HEAR IT AT OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND IN
OUTREACH AND IN SURVEYS THERE'S ONLY BETWEEN TEN AND $15 MILLION IN THE CITY BUDGET FOR CITY VOUCHERS AND RENTAL SUBSIDIES THERE'S ONLY LESS THAN $10 MILLION IN THE CITY BUDGET FOR BUILDING NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO INCREASE IN TERMS OF YOUTH JOBS. FOLKS KNOW THAT THE MAYOR STARTED BY HAVING A SUMMER JOBS GUARANTEE LAST YEAR FOR STUDENTS BUT THERE'S STILL
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS DON'T HAVE SUMMER JOBS OR SCHOOL YEAR JOBS LAST YEAR Y YO THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DEPARTMENT REALIZED THAT
ACTUALLY MORE JOBS ARE GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET THE JOBS TOO BUT WHAT IT SPEAKS TO IS A GAP OF HOW MANY BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ACTUALLY
HAVE ACCESS AND KNOW ABOUT THE JOBS AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE FUNDING TO REALLY MAKE SURE THEIR AVERAGE STUDENT CAN GET THOSE JOBS. AS FOR SCHOOL YEAR JOBS, THEY'VE ACTUALLY A LOT OF GROUPS ABOUT 70 GROUPS HAVE
ACTUALLY BEEN DEFUNDED THIS YEAR AN AVERAGE OF A 50% CUT TO THESE GROUPS. THERE'S 5000 JOBS THAT
ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO PROVIDE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE CITY DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THAT. ONLY ABOUT FUNDING FOR 2000 OF THOSE 5000.
SO WE NEED NOT JUST A SUMMER JOBS GUARANTEE BUT WE NEED A SCHOOL YEAR JOBS GUARANTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE 5000 YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GET JOBS AND THESE GROUPS DON'T GET CUT THE WAY THEY HAVE.
AND WE ALSO NEED THOSE JOBS TO BE PAYING LIVING WAGES 18 TO $24 AN HOUR. WE'RE STARTING TO GET THAT BY PUSHING AND PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE IN THE CITY BUDGET AND WE NEED FOR YEAR ROUND JOBS.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IT TOUCHES ON SO MANY ISSUES INCLUDING THE ONE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR WERE RESOURCES FOR INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY
INCARCERATED YOUTH RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH YOUTH JOBS . THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT RESIDENTS SUBMITTED. RESIDENTS DISCUSSED GOT ON THE BALLOT AND VOTED FOR AND IT'S WHY THE PBC BUDGET NEEDS TO GO
UP TO 1% THIS YEAR. AS YOU ALL KNOW ALSO YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER UNION HAS BEEN REALLY CONCERNED BY THE MASSIVE INCREASES TO THE POLICE BUDGET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF INCREASES LAST YEAR THAT COULD BE REVERSED THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR EXTRA MONEY WAS PUT IN FOR A PROMOTIONAL EXAM THAT'S A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS ALMOST THAT COULD BE TAKEN BACK AND GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY NOW THAT THAT INCREASE IS OVER, THERE'S EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE BUDGET EVEN THOUGH
THE PPD DIDN'T EVEN SPEND MONEY ON THAT DIDN'T EVEN SPEND IT ALL. THERE'S $20 MILLION GOING TO POLICING AND MANY A CAST AND MASS OF THAT WOULD BE VOUCHERS FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO
ACTUALLY GIVE YOU HOUSING INSTEAD OF POLICING THEM. THAT WOULD BE A WAY MORE THAN 2.6 MILLION THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR THE BOSTON PEOPLES RESPONSE. WHY WOULD WE DUMP 20 MILLION
INTO OVERTIME TO SUPPOSEDLY SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT WITH US A FALSE SOLUTION POLICE DON'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES. THE OTHER SOLUTIONS WE HAVE WOULD SO LOOKING TO THE
COUNCIL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR TO WITH THE CHAIR BRIAN EARL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW IN SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD YOU LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES WERE AND SOMETIMES IT WAS MORE OF A MATCH AND SOMETIMES YOU HAD OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WEREN'T EXACTLY THE SAME BUT YOU REALLY TOOK YOUR ROLE AS A LEADER
REALLY SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE YOU FOUGHT FOR THE COUNCIL BUDGET IN ALL THE PRIORITIES INCLUDING YOUR JOBS INCLUDING HOUSING AND SO FORTH.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WERE LOOKING TO SEE IF YOU REALLY FILE AMENDMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE. WE KNOW YOU FILED AMENDMENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR THE RENTAL
SUBSIDIES, COUNCILOR SANTANA AND HERE YOU FOUGHT FOR YOUTH JOBS IN YOUR INITIAL AMENDMENTS . WE KNOW WHAT COMES FROM HERE AND FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOUGHT FOR PB SO WE NEED TO SEE THAT PROOF AGAIN. DON'T JUST WAIT FOR SOMEONE
ELSE TO FILE IT. EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE FILING AMENDMENTS FOR PB FOR YOUTH JOBS OR MENTAL HEALTH FOR HOUSING FOR FAMILIES OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND THEN WE
NEED YOU TO PROTECT THOSE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE EIGHT OF Y'ALL REALLY STUCK IT THROUGH LAST YEAR HELPING MAKE SURE OTHER FOLKS STAYED HERE TILL MIDNIGHT TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SO FILE THOSE AMENDMENTS, TALK WITH US AND THEN ALSO STICK TO THEM BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO LET THOSE AMENDMENTS GO. BUT Y'ALL ARE WHO WE COUNT ON
TO MAKE SURE THEY GET ACROSS. I KNOW LIKE DOMINGO WAS HERE WHEN Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO VOTE ON THAT OVERRIDE LAST YEAR, RIGHT? THE PIECES WAS HERE BUT WE NEED Y'ALL TO AGAIN ALL OF YOU TALK
TO US, FILE THOSE AMENDMENTS AND THEN FIGHT TO PROTECT THEM. WE NEED THEM BADLY. THANK YOU. ALEX. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH JUST TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT I LOVE THAT WORK AND CELEBRATE THESE PROGRAMS.
THE AEW I THINK THE ADT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS. IF WE IF ANYONE OWN A HOUSE IN THE NINETIES WE KNOW WE TURN OUR BASEMENT INTO A PARTY OR
TWO EXTRA BEDROOM FOR OUR SIBLINGS TO LIVE OR OUR PARENTS TO LIVE SO THEY DO YOU GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT LEGALLY AND ALSO TO TURN A
SINGLE FAMILY INTO A MULTI FAMILY AND MAKE A LITTLE BIT MONEY HERE IN BOSTON AS AS THE PRICES GOES UP. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND THE NEXT THING IS SECTION EIGHT TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP. I THINK THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME. YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THIS AND
THE JOY THAT THEY HAVE AND THE TEARS THAT FALL ON THEIR FACE SIGNING THOSE CLOSING DOCUMENTS AND NEVER BELIEVING THAT THEY COULD OWN A HOME ON SECTION
EIGHT. SO AGAIN, PHENOMENAL JOB AFFORDABILITY DID ANOTHER DID A GREAT JOB WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND OF COURSE I HEARD EVERY ONE WE NEED MORE. BUT WHAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO WITH AFFORDABILITY? IT'S TEACHING US NOT TO NEED AFFORDABILITY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT. IT'S OKAY TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT I THINK WE NEED EDUCATION ON ON HOW NOT TO NEED
IT AS WELL FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT WON'T QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK WE HAVE TO UP OUR EDUCATION AND START TEACHING ON THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL FINANCES.
I THINK BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE FIRST STATE TO ALLOW PUBLIC EDUCATION. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET TO BEING BECOMING THE FIRST AGAIN ESPECIALLY IN TECH.
I AGREE 100% IN TECH. TECH IS MOVING FAST AND IS MOVING RIGHT BY US AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE THE SMARTEST THE BEST COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES HERE IN
BOSTON AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BE HERE. THEY NEED TO STAY A WHILE, MAKE US BETTER BEFORE THEY LEAVE.
SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SUMMER JOBS I AGREE AGAIN SOME SUMMER JOBS. I'M A PRODUCT OF SUMMER JOBS. I'M A PRODUCT. THE REASON WHY I HAVE THE CAREER I HAVE IS BECAUSE OF THE
CITY OF BOSTON WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE JOBS. I DON'T I DON'T REMEMBER A SUMMER I DID NOT HAVE A JOB AND I DO I DO KNOW MY FRIENDS THAT
DID NOT HAVE A JOB. THEY'RE NOT HERE WITH US TODAY . THEY ARE THE DEAD OR IN PRISON. THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH. SUMMER JOBS TOOK ME OFF THE STREETS. I WAS TOO BUSY TO GET IN
TROUBLE AND I WAS MAKING MONEY SO IT JUST I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR TROUBLE AND THEN I GRADUATE DORCHESTER HIGH AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK VERIZON FOR
A SUMMER AND THAT BLEW MY MIND. SO SUMMER JOBS REALLY PLAYED A HUGE PART IN MY LIFE SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THE FOR THE CHILDREN OF OF OF THE CITY OF BOSTON TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY
OUT OF TROUBLE STAY OFF THE STREETS, MAKE SOME MONEY SO THINK SUMMER JOBS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THE ELDERLY ESPECIALLY FOR
THOSE THAT WANT TO DOWNSIZE WE DON'T HAVE NO PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY THAT WANT TO DOWNSIZE AND STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR MAYBE THEY OWNED A HOME TWO
YEARS AGO OR A YEAR AGO BUT THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT BECAUSE THEY OWN A HOME THEY HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE PROGRAMS IN BOSTON AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE PROBABLY SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL AND IT'S SHAMELESS PLUG I HAVE TO DO THIS.
SORRY BUT DRINK'S ON ME. IT'S A IS A IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENJOY CELEBRATING OUTSIDE OF THEIR
HOME WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR DRINKS GETTING SPIKED. AND I THINK IT'S A REAL GOOD TECHNOLOGY THAT BOSTON SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK INTO AND SUPPORT
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR ME. THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR WE HAVE
JACQUELINE AND THEN JEFF AND THEN JOHN BALL.
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR GIRL AND ALL OF THE OTHER COUNSELORS THAT GAVE US YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND FOR EVERYONE THAT TESTIFIED EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY FOR SHOWING UP. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE FROM I REPRESENT DISTRICT FOUR. I'M A LONG TERM BOSTON RESIDENT. I WAS BORN IN DORCHESTER, RAISED IN DORCHESTER.
I'VE GRADUATED IN SCHOOLS ALL MY LIFE. I AM A SUCCESS STORY BUT ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST ME. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT HAVE BEEN LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY THE YOUTH. I APPRECIATE THE YOUTH COMING IN REPRESENTING THEMSELVES BUT THEY ARE SEVERELY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THESE
SPACES AND OVERREPRESENTED IN CARCERAL SETTINGS. SO NOT ONLY AM I A MOTHER, I'M A SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE. I DEAL WITH A LOT OF WRONGFUL
CONVICTION IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M A PASSIONATE REALTOR THAT CAME FROM HOUSING ADVOCACY. I'VE ADVOCATED MANY, MANY YEARS FOR OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY, OUR ELDERLY COMMUNITY AND HELPING
THEM GET HOUSING AND I'VE SEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF DISCRIMINATION. REAL ESTATE IS VERY UNREGULATED AND AS A REALTOR I WOULD KNOW THAT AND I SEE PEOPLE GETTING
DENIED BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE WHETHER THEY'RE TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD, WHETHER THEY HAVE CHILDREN, WHETHER THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME WITH SOCIAL SECURITY IF THEY'RE RETURNING CITIZENS AND VOUCHER HOLDERS
ARE ALSO GETTING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. AND I DO APPLAUD THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO CRACK DOWN ON THAT. BUT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH VOUCHERS AND I BELIEVE THAT THE YOUTH SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BOSTON YOUTH SHOULD
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE VOUCHERS FIRST, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE GRADUATING FROM BP SCHOOLS THAT HAVE JOBS. THOSE TWO CRITERIA SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY PUT THEM ON SOME TYPE OF PRIORITY LIST TO GET
HOUSING ONCE THEY TURN 18. THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTH THAT STUCK IN DOMESTIC SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE. THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUTH THAT
ARE COMING OUT OF FOSTER CARE THAT ARE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO BE ON THE STREETS AT 18. THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUTH THAT MAY BE FEEL PRESSURE TO HAVE A
CHILD SO THAT THEY CAN BE OFFERED EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND I WOULD KNOW BECAUSE I FALL BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES. I HAD TO LEARN HOUSING BECAUSE I HAD NO ONE TO ADVOCATE FOR
ME SO I HAD TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF AND NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM EVEN AS AN EMERGENCY PRIORITY. IT TOOK ME EIGHT YEARS TO GET SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN DORCHESTER AND THAT'S AS AN
EMERGENCY PRIORITY. SO WHAT DID I DO WITHIN THOSE EIGHT YEARS? I HOPPED AROUND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DID RENT ROOMS TO ME BUT IT WASN'T EASY.
IT STILL ISN'T. BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. SOMETIMES AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISN'T JUST VOUCHERS IT'S SUBSIDIZED HOUSING WHICH GOES OFF OF YOUR INCOME.
IT'S ALSO REPARATIONS IN THE FORM OF GIVING PROPERTY BACK THAT HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY TAKEN FROM FAMILIES BY EMINENT DOMAIN. A LOT OF BOSTONIANS ARE
SUFFERING WITH HOUSING INSECURITIES WHEN THE GENERATION BEFORE THEM OWNED PROPERTY THAT HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN FROM THEM. SO WE CAN PRIORITIZE GIVING THEM PROPERTY BACK, GIVING THEM
VOUCHERS AND ALSO INCENTIVIZING THEM TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE AVERAGE ONE BEDROOM IN BOSTON IF YOU'RE LUCKY, IS $2,000 AND THAT'S WITHOUT UTILITIES WITHOUT LAUNDRY,
WITHOUT GROCERIES. 2000 IF YOU'RE LUCKY. NOW AS A REALTOR I'M SUPPOSED TO ASK FOR THREE TIMES THE RENT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO QUALIFY FOR THAT APARTMENT.
SO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH $72,000 A YEAR. I DON'T KNOW ANY 18 YEAR OLD THAT'S MAKING THAT MUCH. SO WE ASK THAT YOU INVEST MORE
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO THERE'S A LACK OF MULTI UNIT OR MULTI BEDROOM UNITS BEING DEVELOPED. THERE'S A LOT OF ONE BEDROOMS AND STUDIOS BEING DEVELOPED SO
IT MIGHT BE EASY TO TELL A TO GET ROOMMATES BUT WE CAN'T EVEN FIND THREE FOUR OR FIVE BEDROOMS FOR THEM TO HOUSE IN. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU, JEFF. GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCILOR FOR FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS JEFF SOMALIAN AND I APPRECIATE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER
DEVELOPER AND THE FOUNDER OF KINGS AND MOSQUE KINGS WHICH IS A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO UPLIFTING BLACK AND BROWN MEN IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I'M HERE TODAY ON A CRITICAL
MANNER TO SPEAK FOR TARGETED FUNDING FOR RESOURCES THAT WILL EMPOWER BLACK AND BLACK BLACK MEN IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACHIEVE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUCCESSFULLY START AND SCALE THEIR BUSINESSES AS WELL. THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS MADE COMMENDABLE EFFORTS IN ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. BUT WE MUST WE MUST GO FURTHER. WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL IN ENSURING THAT BLACK MEN WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND THIS EFFORT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT JUST ABOUT CREATING PLACES TO LIVE BUT IT'S ALSO CREATING PATHWAYS FOR OWNERSHIP, GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND ECONOMIC ECONOMIC
MOBILITY. MANY BLACK MEN IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WANT TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS BUT LET THE AIR. I'M SORRY BUT THEY FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS INCLUDING
LACK OF ACCESS TO FINANCIAL EDUCATION ON CREDIT MORTGAGES AND HOME OWNERSHIP PREPARATION ALSO LIMITED AWARENESS AND
EXISTING DOWN PAYMENT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR IN THE CITY OF BOSTON I THINK THESE SYSTEM SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO BUSINESS FUNDING ARE PREVENTING BLACK MEN FROM LAUNCHING AND
SCALING THEIR VENTURES. I THINK THE CITY OF BOSTON MUST TAKE DELIBERATIVE ACTION TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS BY INVESTING INTO A PROGRAM THAT WILL EQUIP BLACK MEN AND PROVIDE THEM THE
RESOURCES, TRAINING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE CITY. WHAT I'M CALLING FOR TODAY IS A DEDICATED FUND TO HELP BLACK MEN QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE. THIS SHOULD. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE TAILORING A FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM. CREDIT COUNSELING AND MENTORSHIP ON HOW TO NAVIGATE
THE HOME BUYING PROCESS. ALSO THE CITY OF BOSTON HAD CREATED TO SCALE THE SCALE GRANT AND I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT AS
WELL BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE STARTUP FUND FUNDING AND ALSO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING. MANY BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS FAIL NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK TALENT
BUT BECAUSE THEY LACK ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND AFFORDABLE LOCATIONS TO OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS. BY PROVIDING ONGOING EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
ENSURE THAT BOSTON RESIDENTS PARTICULARLY BLACK MEN ON HOW TO APPLY FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THEM BOSTON CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO OVERLOOK
OVERLOOKING THESE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL FOR BLACK MEN. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN THIS SUCCESS AND INVEST IN AND I'M SORRY. INVESTING IN THEIR SUCCESS IS INVESTING IN THE SUCCESS OF THE
ENTIRE CITY. IT MEANS STRONGER FAMILIES, THRIVING BUSINESSES AND MORE EQUITABLE AND EQUITABLE BOSTON FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION. I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION BY
ALLOCATING FUNDS THAT ARE NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT ALSO EMPOWER BLACK MEN AND BLACK MEN TO BECOME BUSINESS OWNERS, WEALTH BUILDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AND CREATING A SOLUTION FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU JOHN. THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHILE I WAS STILL WORKING I WAS A MATH TEACHER FOR MANY YEARS. SOME OF IT IN THE VP'S BUDGET.
A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES ALL THE TIME. I'VE BEEN LISTENING FOR 2 HOURS MORE THAN 2 HOURS FOR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT MONEY NEEDED FOR
CRITICAL THINGS CRITICAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT. I'M TRYING TO KEEP A ROUGH TALLY OF ALL THESE. I THINK I'M UP TO ABOUT 70 MILLION OR SO.
SO I'M I'M JUST MAKING A REQUEST THAT NOT SOME WOULD NOT FUND. MEAN THIS CITY PROPOSES TO SPEND. MAYOR WE SAID WHATEVER IT TAKES
AND IT'S $108 MILLION AT THE MOMENT TO GIVE A PUBLIC SUBSIDY TO A BUNCH OF RICH SUBURBAN WOMEN WHO WANT TO BUILD A FOR PROFIT SOCCER COMPLEX IN OUR
PARK. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT IS I HATE TO SAY IT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE PARK THAT LOOK A LOT LIKE ME BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GENTRIFICATION
AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTY VALUE IS GOING TO GO UP AND ALL ANYTHING WE THINK ABOUT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO BE TEN TIMES WORSE BECAUSE OF THE GENTRIFICATION.
THE CITY OF DENVER I JUST SAW AROUND 3:00 TODAY IT CAME OUT ON THE INSIDE FOOTBALL WORLD NEWS. CITY OF DENVER IS GOING TO HAVE A NO. A WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER
TEAM IS GONNA BE 100% PAID FOR BY THE OWNERS OF THE TEAM. I BOSTON TAXPAYERS ARE NOT CHUMPS AND RUBES WHO ARE WILLING TO WHO SHOULD SUBSIDIZE
THAT KIND OF STUFF WHEN EVERYBODY HERE HAS SAID THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES OF FUNDING. ONE MORE THING. THEY'RE DESTROYING THE PARK AS
WE SPEAK. THEY'RE KNOCKING DOWN THE FENCES. THEY'RE CUTTING DOWN THE TREES THAT GENERATE OXYGEN SO THAT THE AIR IS A LITTLE BIT CLEANER IN OUR PART OF TOWN. THERE'S A LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS
PARK AND IT'S GONNA WE'RE GOING TO WIN THAT LAWSUIT AND THAT JUDGE IS GOING TO SAY STOP IT AND ALL THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR ALL THE TREES, THE NORTH WALL, THE WHITE STADIUM
THAT WAS KNOCKED THOSE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FIXED BY THE CITY. THEY GOT TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THEY'VE DONE. DON'T MAKE IT ANY WORSE. STOP FUNDING THAT STADIUM.
TELL THE MAYOR THERE'S NOT A BLANK CHECK FOR THAT. WE NEED A BLANK CHECK FOR THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT ALL EVENING THAT ARE SO LIKE I SAID, A
BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. THANK YOU, DAVID AND THERE IS A
LIVE SEVEN ONLINE IF YOU CAN UPDATE IT AND YOUR NAME. WE WILL CALL ON YOU AFTER DAVID . I ASSUME THAT DAVID WAS DAVID NORMAN.
NORMAN YES. YEAH, JUST A SEC.
UM, I CAME HERE TO TESTIFY. WELL, LET ME SAY FIRST MY NAME IS DAVID NORMAN. I'M A MEMBER OF THE MASS ALLIANCE OF GOD TENANTS.
I'M ON THE BOARD ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY COALITION AND I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF A BUILDING YOU'VE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT TODAY THE FORBES BUILDING IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR NINE YEARS TO KEEP OUR BUILDING AFFORDABLE.
MY BACKGROUND IS AROUND 77 YEARS OLD. I'VE HAD TWO HEART ATTACKS. I'VE HAD TWO FORMS OF CANCER AND BEFORE THE FORBES BUILDING
I WAS LIVING IN A 240 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENT WHICH COST ME $850.10 YEARS AGO. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS GETTING IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY MY RENT.
SO THE FORBES BUILDING CAME AS A GODSEND. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOUR OR WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING OUR STEERING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
FIGHTING FOR PROJECT BASED SUBSIDIES IN MY BUILDING. AS I SAID, IT'S A NINE YEAR FIGHT TO KEEP THE BUILDING AFFORDABLE FOR WHAT WAS ONCE
ALL ELDERLY DISABLED AND LOW INCOME TENANTS. DURING THAT TIME DURING THE TIME OF OUR FIGHT WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDING
THROUGH ATTRITION AND THEY'RE REPLACING THE UNITS THAT THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE WITH TENANTS THAT WILL WHO WHEN THEY FINALLY GET
AN AGREEMENT THEY SAY THEY CAN MOVE THEM OUT OR THEY GET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BUILDING COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED THAT POINT EXCEPT THEY CAN'T
STAY IN THE BUILDING. SO IF THOSE VOUCHERS OF THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE IF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MOVED OUT WERE
MOBILE VOUCHER PEOPLE PEOPLE HAD MOBILE VOUCHERS, THEN THOSE BUILDINGS, THOSE VOUCHERS WOULD LEAVE THE BUILDING.
SO I'M ADVOCATING WITH ALL MY VARIOUS GROUPS FOR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS AND THE CITY
OF BOSTON SHOULD ASK IS ARE MVP VOUCHERS BUT THE CITY OF BOSTON SHOULD SIMILARLY INCREASE FUNDING FOR PROJECT BASED CITY RENT SUBSIDY VOUCHERS.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IT'S SURPRISING I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT A SURPRISING NUMBER OF OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT SUCH VOUCHERS ARE AVAILABLE AND I KNOW THAT
THIS COULD BE THE CASE BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR BUILDING. IT TOOK NINE YEARS TO CONVINCE THE OWNER OF OUR BUILDING THAT THEY COULD GET THAT HE COULD
GET PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS THAT WOULD PAY HIM A PRETTY NIFTY INCOME. SO IN CONCLUSION, I'D JUST LIKE
TO SAY THAT OUR OUR BUILDING IS AT RISK AND IF WE LOSE OUR OUR APARTMENTS IT NOT ONLY GOES TO
CAUSE MORE DISRUPTION IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT INCREASES HOMELESSNESS BUT IT ALSO DEGRADES THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH
WE LIVE. THANK YOU. UM.
OKAY. NOW WE'LL GO ONLINE LIVE SEVEN
THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS FOR IPHONE SEVEN.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS ANY? YES, YES. I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT JEFF SIMEON HAD SAID. MY NAME IS OMAR REED.
EXCUSE ME. I'M A DEVELOPER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I GREW UP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON . MY COMPANY IS GREAT A CONSULTING GROUP AND I LIKE TO
SAY THAT WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INITIATIVE FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO FOR CITY JOBS
FOR THE YOUTH. AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT THAT OH YOU DON'T. OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AWESOME. NOW I JUST WANT TO GO TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR ANY CLOSING REMARKS STARTING WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC FOR TESTIMONY TO TESTIFY AND AND FOR THOSE THAT ALSO TESTIFIED OVER THE OVER THE ZOOM LINK OR SENT IN
WRITTEN TESTIMONY. THANK YOU YOUR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS WERE VALUED AND IT MAKES THE BUDGET PROCESS MUCH BETTER WITH YOUR INPUT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU. BEFORE I GO TO MY NEXT COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIDENTS WHO SUBMITTED PUBLIC WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR FOR TODAY WE HAVE
DIANE, LISA, ROBERT GREAT ASHMONT MAIN STREET GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. RICK, CHERYL COLE, LAVERNE AND CYNTHIA AND THIS WILL ALL BE SHARED WITH MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO TESTIFIED I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ARE YOUR MICROPHONE. WE HEAR YOUR DEMANDS. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE PATHWAYS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A JOB LITERALLY CAN SAVE A LIFE AND AND PARTICIPATORY BUDGET.
AND SO WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AT LEAST THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE WHAT I THINK
THAT WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION THIS YEAR CONSIDERING EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT
DEMOCRACY IS DEAD. I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OTHERWISE BY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE'S VOICES AND SHEPHERDING THIS PROCESS AND IN HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO TO
THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING THE TRUTH THAT THE THE OUTCOME WILL BE DETERMINED WHEN WE TAKE THOSE VOTES BECAUSE WE CAN
SPEAK VERY PROUDLY HERE WE CAN SAY LOTS OF THINGS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S HOW WE VOTE THAT REALLY DETERMINES WHERE OUR VALUES ARE. SO I'M HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR WORRELL. AND THANK YOU TO THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO TESTIFIED TODAY.
I THINK DOMINGOS I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHY I REMEMBERED YOU AND THE FLASHBACK TO BEING HERE TILL MIDDAY AND I REMEMBER YOU SITTING RIGHT THERE AND SO THANK YOU FOR STARTING AGAIN IN
THIS PROCESS WITH US AS WE WERE ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU FOR MORE OF THOSE VOUCHERS FOR OUR CITY. IT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE TRY TO HOUSE EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY RIGHT AND WE WORK BACKWARDS FROM THAT AS THE GOAL AND WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR BUDGET WHICH IS OUR MORAL DOCUMENT. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. THE BUDGET PROCESS IS NOT AN EASY ONE BUT IT'S ONE THAT REALLY DEMANDS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION AND OUR TIME BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE KIND OF CITY
THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN AND THE KIND OF VALUES THAT WE WANT TO ENSHRINE IN OUR BUDGET. AND I THINK YOUR ADVOCACY AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE UPLIFTING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT, RIGHT? I THINK MANY OF YOU ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE'RE ATTACKING THINGS LIKE UPLIFTING OUR BLACK MEN, UPLIFTING ISSUES OF EQUITY AND SO IF NOT US WHO AND SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE
AS WE WILL DO THE WORK ON THE COUNCIL TO UPLIFT YOUR PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. HAPPY TO BE HERE AND LISTEN
DIRECTLY FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME YOUR STORIES ARE ALWAYS HEARTWARMING AND JUST TRUE IN REMIND ME OF LIKE WHY WE DO THIS WORK AND IT IS TRUE THAT
WE FIND MONEY FOR THINGS WE WANT, RIGHT? AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS THERE AND THAT WE PUT IT WHERE IT BELONGS AND THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR THE THINGS THAT
MATTER MOST TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALONG. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT BUT YOU'LL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS SO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE,
KEEP US INFORMED AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING INTO THIS PROCESS KNOWING THAT WE'RE LIFTING UP YOUR VOICES SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO TESTIFY TAKING A LOT OF NOTES HERE AND EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TECHNOLOGY,
TECHNOLOGY, SOME OF JOBS, OEM INVESTING IN OUR OUR BLACK MALES HOUSING VOUCHERS WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THIS ALL IN THE CONSIDERATION CONSIDERATION BUT
ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE PROCESS. THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY PUBLIC TESTIMONY SESSIONS YOU
CAN ALSO TESTIFY AT EACH DEPARTMENT HEARING THAT STARTS IN APRIL. BUT YOU KNOW THIS PROCESS IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE RESIDENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR. I MEAN WE ALL COULD DO THOSE DO THAT IF YOU GUYS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ENGAGED WITH WITH US. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS AND TO THIS JOURNEY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON
AND WITH THAT THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 0148 AND 0325 IS
A GIANT