##VIDEO ID:ddbxJ-VB7b0##  THIS MEETING OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL VIEWERS CAN WATCH A COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON.  DOT GOV. FORGE CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONES AND I'LL TRY DEVICES. ALSO PURSUANT TO RULE 42 I REMIND ALL IN THIS CHAMBER THAT NO DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED. THANK YOU. MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLETTE AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR DURKAN.  COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YEAH.  COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCIL WHO'S IN HERE?  CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY.  COUNCILOR PIPPIN. COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR WEBER AND COUNCIL WERE A QUORUM.  I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT . WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO INVOCATION BUT BEFORE WE DO SO AND I KNOW THIS IS AHEAD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT SECTIONS BUT I WANT TO JUST CONGRATULATE OUR MAYOR ON THE BIRTH OF HER THIRD CHILD AND HER DAUGHTER. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MAYOR MICHELLE WU. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY FATHER PAOLO COMING FROM SACRED HEART PARISH INVITED BY COUNCILOR ZAPATA. COUNCILOR CUT AS A PARTY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND AFTER THAT WE WILL RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.  GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. AGAIN, JUST WANT TO ECHO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND GIVING A WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MAYOR ON THE BIRTH OF OUR DAUGHTER MIRA. IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME A FATHER PAOLO COMING HERE FROM SACRED HEART PARISH IN EAST BOSTON. HE WAS BORN IN ITALY AND AFTER SCHOOL HE JOINED THE CEMETERY OF THE FRATERNITY OF SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO. I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT IN ROME IN 2001 HE WAS AN ORDAINED DEACON AND ASSIGNED TO THE MISSION OF THE FRATERNITY IN TAIWAN. AFTER TEN YEARS IN TAIWAN HE HAD A SHORT VISIT BACK TO ITALY AND HE ARRIVED IN BOSTON AT THE BEGINNING OF 2012 AND TAUGHT MATH AT CRYSTAL REY HIGH SCHOOL IN DORCHESTER IN JUNE OF 2013. CARDINAL THEN CARDINAL SEAN O'MALLEY ENTRUSTED THE PASTORAL CARE OF SAINT CLEMENT PARISH IN MEDFORD IN SOMERVILLE WHERE HE TAUGHT MATH AND RELIGION AT SAINT CLEMENT HIGH SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS. AFTER THE PARISH CLOSED IN 2017, HE SERVED AS A VICAR AT THE BEVERLY AND LATER APPOINTED CHAPLAIN AT THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE IN THE SEAPORT DISTRICT IN BOSTON. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A FATHER JOIN US ON AUGUST 1ST, 2020 INCHES BOSTON AT THE SACRED HEART PARISH CHURCH CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE AND SACRED HEART IS MY FAMILY CHURCH. IT'S WHERE I WAS BAPTIZED. IT'S WHERE I RECEIVE FIRST COMMUNION. IT'S WHERE I WAS CONFIRMED AND I'M THRILLED TO SEE HOW THIS CHURCH COMMUNITY HAS THRIVED SINCE HIS ARRIVAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY HE'S CREATED A HOT MEAL SOUP KITCHEN AT THE CHURCH ONCE A MONTH AND THAT IS STILL ONGOING. IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS. FATHER PAUL IT RIGHT AND I JUST REALLY ADMIRE FATHER PAOLO. HE HAS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO ME AND SPIRITUAL MENTOR AND SO PLEASE WELCOME ME AND GIVING HIM A WARM WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE INVOCATION.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR INVITING MEJIA AGAIN. I CAME A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO GIVE THIS OPENING LOCATION TO YOU. A THANK YOU FOR HAVING MEJIA ONCE AGAIN TODAY 2025 JUST STARTED. THE NEW YEAR IS USUALLY CHARACTERIZED BY LOTS OF EXPECTATIONS AND NEW PLANS. I'M SURE YOU HAVE A LOT NEW PLANS.  YOUR AGENDA IS FULL. IF YOU COULD ATTACH A WORD TO A NEW YEAR I THINK THAT WOULD BE HOPE NO MATTER WHAT DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WE CAN ALL RELATE TO THE HOPEFUL FEELINGS OF A NEW BEGINNING 2035 FOR US CATHOLICS IS A HOLY YEAR A JUBILEE ESPECIALLY A YEAR OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ALSO A PUNISHMENT DUE TO SIN SO YEAR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ADVERSARIES A CONVERSION AND CONSENT WOULD BE A SOLIDARITY HOPE, JUSTICE COMMITMENT TO SERVE GOD WITH JOY AND IN PEACE OR BRIGHTER. SO SISTERS THE JUBILEE YEARS FOR US ABOVE ALL IN THE YEAR OF CHRIST BRINGS LIFE AND GRACE TO HUMANITY. POPE FRANCIS THE CHOSEN PILGRIM OF HOPE AS THE MOTTO FOR THIS WHOLE YEAR IS DOCUMENT PROCLAIMING THE UPCOMING JUBILEE OF 2025.  POPE FRANCIS WRITES EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THESE TWO HOPE OF EACH PERSON HOPE DWELLS AS WITH DESIRE AND EXPECTATION OF GOOD THINGS TO COME DESPITE OUR NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FUTURE MAY BRING. EVEN SO UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE MAY TIME AT TIMES GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTING FEELINGS RANGING FROM COMMON TRIES TO APPREHEND SINFULNESS FROM SERENITY TO ANXIETY, FROM FIRM CONVICTION TO AGITATION AND DOUBT. OFTEN WE COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO ARE DISCOURAGED, PESSIMISTIC AND CYNICAL ABOUT THE FUTURE AS IF NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY BRING THEM HAPPINESS FOR US ALL. MAY THE JUBILEE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE RENEWED HOPE GOD'S WORD I HOPE SAYS FIND REASONS FOR HOPE AS OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO HAD BEEN ELECTED HAVE COME HERE TO SHOW THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY FOR YOUR WORDS ADDICTION THAT THEIR HOPE IS NOT IN VAIN.  THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE HOPING FOR A BETTER FUTURE BECOME A REALITY HOPE FOR FOR US FOR EACH ONE OF US, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THIS HOPE TO BECOME A REALITY. PLEASE RISE AND SIT AND PRAY AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN TRADITION OR SIMPLY LISTEN RESPECTFULLY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN MAY A WITNESS OF THIS MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS ESTEEMED COUNCIL BEFORE A CITY 11 OUT OF 20 HOPE A HARBINGER OF NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH WHERE CITIZENS WILL DWELL IN JUSTICE AND HARMONY IN JOYFUL EXPECTATION OF FULFILLMENT OF THEIR PROMISES. MAYBE WE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REVEL LIVES SAY TO ALL OUR CITIZENS IN SO MANY WORDS HOPING THE LORD HOLD FIRM, TAKE HEART AND HOPE IN THE LORD MAY THE POWER OF HOPE FILL OUR DAYS AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH CONFIDENCE TO DO YOUR GRACIOUS WILL WE AS WE ASK FOR CHRIST OUR LORD AND NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT SAYS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. AS ZAPATA.  AND THANK YOU, FATHER SCHUMANN FOR REMINDING US THAT THIS IS THE YEAR OF JUBILEE. SO APPRECIATE YOUR INVOCATION,  MR. CLERK. DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE RECORD ? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNCIL ORAL IS A PRESENT AND NOW WITH US?  NO CONSULTATION AND COUNCILOR DURKIN IS NOT PRESENT AND WITH US ARE OKAY. WE ARE NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF JANUARY EIGHT, 2025. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSE ANY THE AYES HAVE IT THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 8TH MEETING OUR APPROVED WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR HONOR THE MAYOR MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0236 DUNCAN NUMBER 0236 MESSAGE UNITED FOR YOUR APPROVAL A NEW HOME RULE PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW RELATIVE TO AN ACT TO RELATIVE TO RESIDENTIAL TAX RELIEF IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0236 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 0237 AND 02380237 MESSAGE UNITED FOR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FROM THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $128,700 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE BOSTON POLICE. DETECTIVE BANON BUILDING SOCIETY FORENSIC GROUP DOCTOR NUMBER 0238 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FOR THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $128,700 TO COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COSTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE BOSTON POLICE DETECTIVE BENEVOLENCE SOCIETY FORENSIC GROUP THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT ARE OCTOBER FIRST 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH 2027. THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT INCLUDE A MARKET ADJUSTMENT TO BE BASE WAGES IN FISCAL YEAR 25 AS WELL AS BASE WAGE INCREASE OF 2% TO BE GIVEN IN JANUARY OF 2026 AND 2027 AND FLAT AMOUNTS OF $900 AND $800 TO BE ADDED TO ANNUAL SALARIES IN JANUARY 2026 AND 2027 AFTER THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON JANUARY 13, 2025.  THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0237 AND 0238 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0239 AND 0240.0239 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 TRAINING ACADEMY EARMARK AWARDED BY THE MASTER CHOOSE THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE GRANT WILL FUND THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AND TO FUND TRAINING INITIATIVES FOR THE BOSTON FIRE TRAINING ACADEMY TO ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT REMAINS CURRENT IN THE FIREFIGHTING SERVICES. DUNCAN EMBER 0240 MESSAGE YOU KNOW AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY OF BOSTON A DONATION FROM THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE OF RADIOLOGICAL SECURITY OF 2020 FOR A GMC SIERRA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CREW CAB PICKUP VALUED AT $60,233. THE TRUCK WILL BE USED AS A RADIOLOGICAL SECURITY AWARENESS AND RESPONSE SUPPORT TRUCK AND WILL ALLOW THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE THE SUSTAINMENT OF OUR AIR TRAINING PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, DOUGLAS. NUMBER 202390240. IT WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0241 DUNCAN EMMA 0241 MESSAGE IN ORDER TEMPORARILY EXTENDING URBAN RENEWAL PLANS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON UNTIL MARCH 31ST, 2027 OR PASSAGE OF A PROPOSED RELEVANT HOME LAW PETITION THANK YOU DUNCAN NUMBER 0241 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF OFFICERS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 024220248 DUNCAN EMS 0242 NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MIDORI MORIKAWA AS A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOMINATING PANEL EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.  DUNCAN NUMBER 0243 COMMUNICATION WAS FREE FROM COUNCIL OFFLINE REGARDING DISCREPANCIES IN THE 2024 BOSTON RETAINER REQUEST. DUNCAN EMMA 0244 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN REGARDING THE BOSTON CRIME LAB DIRECTOR DUNCAN 0245 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR BRADING REGARDING HER ABSENCE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 15, 2025 TALKING OF A0246 COMMUNICATION WAS FROM COUNCILOR BREEN REGARDING THE PASSAGE OF CHAPTER 360 OF THE ACTS OF 2020 FOR AN ACT INCREASING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PENALTIES WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS OF ORDINANCES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 2024220248 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.  WE'RE NOW ON TWO MATTERS RECENTLY. OH SEVEN OKAY APOLOGIES THERE ARE 24790248 APOLOGIES MR QUICK TALKING NUMBER 0247 COMMUNICATIONS WAS FROM KENSI BOOK ADMINISTRATOR THE BOSS AND HOUSING AUTHORITY REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE ELEVATOR SITUATION AT SEVERAL BOSTON HOUSING SITES IN DARK ZERO TWO FOR A NOTICE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK AND OF CORNERS OF CHAPTER SIX OF THE ORDINANCES OF 1979 REGARDING ACTION TAKEN BY THE MAYOR AND PAPERS ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING OF DECEMBER 4TH, 2024. THANK YOU MR. CLERK. THESE DOCKETS NOW DOCKET NUMBER 024220248 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE'RE NOW ON TO MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD MR CLERK WHEN YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 0112 AND 0113 DOCKET NUMBER 0112 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FROM THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $6,637,486 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IMPACT OF INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRANSDEV AND ITS BUS DRIVERS TALKING OF A0113 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN FISCAL YEAR 25 FROM THE RESERVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $6,637,486 TO COVER THE IMPACT OF FISCAL YEAR 25 COSTS CONTAINED COST ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRANSDEV AND ITS BUS DRIVERS ON THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR TRANSDEV. THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT IS JULY FIRST 2024 THROUGH JULY THROUGH JUNE 30TH 2028. THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT INCLUDE A MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT AN INCREASE FOR REGULAR WAGES AND AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WEEKLY HOURS FROM 31 TO 35. FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON JANUARY SIX, 2025.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS COUNCIL. RL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HELD A HEARING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH AT 10 A.M.. THE FIRST HEARING OF THE YEAR PANELISTS INCLUDED DIRECTOR OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT JAMES WILLIAMSON.  LEWIS MAIN TRAINING SENIOR ADVISOR AND LABOR OFFICE.  OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS. AND DANIEL ROSENGARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS WAS IN REGARD TO DOCKETS NUMBER 011212 AND 0113 AND DIRECTOR WILLIAMSON AND RENE RENE BUCCI, DIRECTOR OF LABOR RELATIONS FOR DOCKETS NUMBER 0114 AND 0115 WE WERE JOINED BY COUNCILOR COLLETTE ZAPATA, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR WEBER CLASSICAL AND COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIS LOUIJEUNE VICE CHAIR COUNSELOR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR BREADON EACH SUBMITTED LETTERS OF ABSENCE DOCKET NUMBER 01120113 FOCUSED ON THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS CONTRACT DIRECT DIRECTOR WILLIAMS HAS STATED THAT THE FIRST SET OF DOCKETS INCREASES BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET BY $6.6 MILLION AND REDUCES THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY EQUAL AMOUNT TO SUPPORT THE BUS DRIVERS CONTRACT DIRECTOR ROSENGARD STATED UAW US LOCAL EIGHT 7051 REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 888 SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING YELLOW BUS TRANSPORTATION TO 22,000 BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS UNDER THE CONTRACT BETWEEN BPC AND TRANSDEV TRANSDEV IS REIMBURSED FOR ALL UNIONIZED WAGE WAGES AND FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS ALONGSIDE PAYROLL TAXES AS APPROVED BY THE CITY, HE STATED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONTRACT INCLUDING THE LENGTH OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, WAGE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS TO HOURLY WAGES FROM $29.13 AN HOUR TO $33 AN HOUR WHICH IS RETROACTIVE TO JULY 20 JULY 1ST, 2024 WITH INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS OF THE CONTRACT A REDUCTION IN THE YEARS OF SERVICE OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS THAT BENEFITS FROM 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO 25 YEARS OF SERVICE A RETIREMENT SEVERANCE INCREASE OF $100 PER YEAR OF SERVICE DURING EACH YEAR OF THE CONTRACT AND AN INCREASE IN THE GUARANTEED WEEKLY HOURS BUS DRIVERS RECEIVE FROM 31 HOURS PER WEEK TO 35 HOURS PER WEEK EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO THE PERCENT INCREASE THE BUS DRIVE BASED WAGE WILL GO UP AND HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT IT IS A 13% BASE BASED WAGE INCREASE THE GUARANTEED MINIMUM HOURS PART OF THE CONTRACT WILL BE EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION OF BODIES OF LANGUAGE AROUND WORK AS DIRECTED BUT WORKER PROTECTIONS WHICH WAS A KEY OPERATION REFORM BE SOUGHT THROUGH THIS CONTRACT DIRECTOR ROSENGARD STATED WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT PROVISIONS OF THE DRIVERS CBA THE ADDITION OF WORK AS DIRECTED LANGUAGE IS ANTICIPATED TO IMPROVE BHP'S INTEREST AND ABILITY TO COVER ATHLETICS, FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITIES IN CASE WHEN THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE COVERED THROUGH EXISTING DRIVER BID AND ASSIGNMENT PROCESSES. THE WORK AS DIRECTED LANGUAGE IS NOT YET FINALIZED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE KEEPING THESE TWO DOCKETS IN COMMITTEE AS WE PUSH FOR BOTH PARTIES TO RESOLVE THAT LANGUAGE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO CAUCUS NUMBER 0114 AND 0115 WILL REDUCE THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY £400. OVERALL WE ONLY READ DOCKETS 0112 AND 0113 INTO THE OKAY SO LET'S JUST STOP THERE AND SAY I MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT DOCKET NUMBER 0112 AND 0113 STAY IN COMMITTEE OKAY THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 20112 AND 0113 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 0114 AND 0115 TALKING OF A0114 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FROM THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $421,318 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SEIU LOCAL 888 MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING DUNCAN NUMBER 0115 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FROM THE FLOOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $421,318 TO COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 25 CAUSE CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SEIU LOCAL 888 MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH 2027 THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACTS INCLUDE BASE WAGE INCREASES OF 2% TO BE GIVEN IN JANUARY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT TERM AND FLAT AMOUNTS OF $250 $500, $900 AND $800 BE ADDED TO ANNUAL SALARIES IN JANUARY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON JANUARY SIX, 2025. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS COUNCIL. RL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, THE COMMITTEE'S WAYS AND MEANS HOW TO HEAR IT ON MONDAY JANUARY 13TH AT 10 A.M. WE WERE JOINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION DANIEL ROSENGARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A POLICY DIRECTOR LABOR RELATIONS WE WERE JOINED BY COUNCILOR COLETTA ZAPATA COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR WEBER,  COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE VICE-CHAIR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR BREADON EACH SUBMITTED LETTERS OF ABSENCE DOCKETS NUMBERS 0114 AND 0115 WILL REDUCE TO RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $421,318 TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING TO FUND THE FY 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE SERVICES EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 88 MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING.  THE EXPECTED TERM OF THE CONTRACT IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH 2027. THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT INCLUDE BASE WAGE INCREASES OF 2% TO BE GIVEN IN JANUARY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. THE CONTRACTOR AND FLAT AMOUNTS OF 250 500 900 AND $800 TO BE ADDED TO ANNUAL SALARIES IN JANUARY JANUARY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR AFTER THE PRESENT INCREASE. OTHER PROVISIONS INCLUDE AN INCREASE TO ALL CALL PAY FROM $150 TO $300 AN INCREASE THAT A UNIFORM ALLOWANCE FROM $250 TO $375 AND UPDATES TO THE COMPENSATION GRADE APPEALS PROCESS AND UPDATES TO THE SICK LEAVE POLICY ALLOWING NEW EMPLOYEES TO USE THE CITY SICK LEAVE BENEFIT DURING THIS ROUND OF BARGAINING THE PARTIES REACHED TWO AGREEMENTS THAT COVERED THE FORM AFOREMENTIONED TERM WITH THE ESTIMATED COST OF $2.6 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS. IT'S MY RECOMMENDATION THAT DOCKETS NUMBER 0114 AND 01155 THE PAST THANK YOU MR CHAIR. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THESE MATTERS OKAY.  THE COUNCIL ARE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0114. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE WILL COVER AND DOCUMENT 011 FOR COUNCILOR A BRAIN CANCER KILLER AS OPPOSED TO A KILLER AS A FATHER. YES. COUNCILOR DURKIN?  COUNCILOR DURKIN YES. COUNCILOR FOR NANCY SANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR COUNCILOR WHO'S IN YES COUNCILOR WHO'S IN YES COUNCILOR ME HERE.  COUNCILOR ME HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES.  COUNCILOR PEPEN COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA YES.  COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR WORLD YES. COUNCILOR WORLD YES I CAN HAVE A0114 HAS RECEIVED 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 0114 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. IT IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0115 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY ADD I MR QUOTE WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON MEMBER 0115 COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA COUNCILOR ELISABETTA YES COUNCILOR DURKIN COUNCILOR DURKIN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANTOS AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR ME HERE.  COUNCILOR ME HERE YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNSELOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR S.A. YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR ZERO COUNCILOR WORLD YES. TALKING OF 0115 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AS DID GIVE NUMBER 0114 THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0115 HAS HAS PASSED MR CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER ZERO WHAT SO APOLOGIES.  THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND DOCKET NUMBER 0115 HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0116 DUGAN MEMBER 0116 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $860,169.70 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER GRANT AWARDED BY THE MASS HIGHER DEPARTMENT OF CAREER SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND COMPREHENSIVE CAREER SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO UNDEREMPLOYED JOB SEEKERS SUCH AS REVIEWING JOB POSTINGS, CAREER COUNSELING AND JOB COACHING EDUCATION SKILLS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WEBER, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. YESTERDAY THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELD A VIRTUAL HEARING ON THIS GRANT.  IN ATTENDANCE WERE COUNCILORS AARON MURPHY ET FLYNN MADAM PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR BRYANT WERE ALL AT THE HEARING. WE WERE JOINED BY JOSEPH LEAHY, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE WORKER EMPOWERMENT CABINET.  KATIE GALL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF GRANTS FOR WORKFORCE AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND NEAL SULLIVAN,  A MEMBER OF THE MASS HIGHER BOSTON WORKFORCE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BOSTON PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OR BOSTON PICK. WE LEARNED THAT THE ONE-STOP CAREER GRANT CAREER CENTER GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $860,169 IS $0.70 IS FROM A STATE LINE ITEM GIVEN TO THE CITIES OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPLEMENT FEDERAL FUNDING PROVIDED TO CAREER CENTERS AS OUTLINED IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT'S BEFORE ALL OF YOU TODAY. THIS WILL PRIMARILY FUND TO CAREER CENTERS WHICH WILL PROVIDE RECRUITMENT, CAREER COUNSELING, FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE THAT THAT WILL BE PROVIDED SPECIFICALLY TO THE MASS HIRED DOWNTOWN BOSTON ON FEDERAL STREET THAT CENTER WHICH IS MANAGED BY JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICES AND THE MASS HIRE BOSTON CAREER CENTER WHICH IS SLATED TO OPEN ON MALCOLM X BOULEVARD IN ROXBURY. IT WILL BE MANAGED BY ABCD OR ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  WE LEARNED IN THE HEARING THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 THE ARC CAREER CENTER SERVED OVER 15,000 JOB SEEKERS HELPING OVER 13,000 PEOPLE FIND JOBS. THIS INCLUDED OVER A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES,  OVER 9000 PEOPLE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND OVER APPROXIMATELY 270 VETERANS WITH THIS FUNDING OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR A FISCAL YEAR 25 WERE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL HELP OVER 14,000 JOBSEEKERS IN BOSTON AND PLACE OVER 12,000 PEOPLE INTO JOBS CLOSE TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ABOUT 9000 PEOPLE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND OVER AND OVER 260 VETERANS IN BOSTON WITH JOBS.  SO AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE OF LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I SEEK ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR WEBER, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FROM FINANCIAL PLANNING AT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE AS WELL FOR THE IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.  IT WAS AN INFORMATIVE HEARING AND I WAS GLAD TO KNOW ABOUT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO VETERANS ESPECIALLY HELPING VETERANS WITH TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE CRITICAL IN THIS CITY AND IN THIS COUNTRY.  AND THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL ENGAGED AND ENSURING THAT VETERANS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.  WE SEE A HIGH RATE NOW OF HOMELESSNESS FOR VETERANS ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY WOMEN VETERANS AS WELL. BUT IF WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK BUT RETURNING VETERANS WITH EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S SOMETHING I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO DOING. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR, THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0116. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSING NAY THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET AND DOCKET NUMBER 0116 HAS PASSED. OH, DOUBT THE VOTE. MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON NUMBER 0116 COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR CARLOS ZAPATA. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN YES.  COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANTOS AND COUNCIL FITZGERALD COUNCILOR SHOW YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE YES. THE REASON YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PREVENT COUNCIL SANTANA COUNCILOR S.A. US COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR WU YES. TALKING NUMBERS 0116 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.  THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER ZERO ONE THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 0116 IS PASSED. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0108 DUCK NUMBER 0108 MESSAGE UNITED FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO APPROPRIATE THE AMOUNT OF $110 MILLION FOR PURPOSES OF FUNDING THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. THE EXPENDITURES RELATED TO PROGRAM AT ONE TIME IN NATURE AND ARE ASSUMED TO BE A NON-RECURRING COSTS OF THE CITY THEREFORE ARE APPROPRIATED TO BE FUNDED WITH THE NON-RECURRING REVENUE FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2024. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRIAN MORRELL, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. BEFORE I READ THE COMMITTEE REPORT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WORK THE COUNCIL HAS DONE IN THE PAST YEAR ON THIS. I INTRODUCED THIS IDEA ALONG WITH MY CO-SPONSOR OF THIS FUND IN JUNE AND HERE IN ORDER AND WE HOLD HEARINGS ON THAT WHERE WE HEARD FROM HOUSING ADVOCATES . ADDITIONALLY, COUNCILOR SANTANA MADE HIS MAIDEN SPEECH ON THIS AND HAD A HEARING AND A WORKING SESSION ON THE MONTGOMERY MODEL . WE KNOW HOUSING IS A BASIC RIGHT AND WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT IN BOSTON. THE CITY'S CONSERVATIVE BUDGET BUDGET IN AND FISCAL STRENGTH NOT ONLY FROM THIS BUT ALSO PAST ADMINISTRATION GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR THIS INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR HOUSING PRODUCTION.  WE WERE JOINED BY AN ARRAY OF HOUSING ADVOCATES RISE CO-FOUNDER JIM GROSSMAN. MICHAEL CAINE GREATER BOSTON REAL ESTATE BOARD DB DVM RECLAIM ROXBURY LOU FENCE DIAZ AND I, CARLOS CASTILLO MAHER AND MANY MORE WHO HAVE JOINED US IN THIS CONVERSATION. WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP SAVES OUR RESIDENTS MONEY OVER THE LIFE OF THE MORTGAGE COMPARED TO RENTING AND OFFERS THEM HOUSING STABILITY THAT IS ENORMOUS. I'M HAPPY THAT WITHIN THIS PLAN WE HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY FOUR, 14, 2025 TO DISCUSS DOCKET NUMBER ZERO ONE OMB ASHLEY DROP AND BERGER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. SHEILA DILLON CHIEF OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON.  KENZIE BOURQUE ADMINISTRATIVE FOR BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. DEVIN CORK DEPUTY CHIEF OF PLANNING FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND REUBEN CANTOR, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON A SECOND P.A. DANIELLA MALONE MARGOT FOUNDER OF DB PARTNERS, TESTIFIED ON THE BENEFITS OF AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELORS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED COUNSELOR COLLETTE ZAPATA, COUNSELOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR WEBER, CASA SANTANA COUNSELOR DURKIN CASTLE FITZGERALD COUNSELOR FLYNN CASIMIR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE.  WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM VICE CHAIR PAPPIN AND A LETTER OF ABSENCE AS WELL AS QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILOR BREADON DEPUTY CHIEF KIRK EXPLAINED THAT THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND IS AN INVESTMENT TOOL WHERE THE CITY TAKES IN INVEST EQUITY OWNERSHIP AND HOUSING PROJECTS AIMING FOR A LOWER RETURN THAN PRIVATE INVESTORS TO MAKE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MORE FEASIBLE. THIS INITIATIVE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE CITY'S STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION ADDRESSES HIGH INTEREST RATES AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS WHILE REQUIRING 20% OF UNITS IN FUNDED PROJECTS TO BE INCOME RESTRICTED.  PROJECTS MUST BE SHOVEL READY AND ALIGN WITH THE CITY VALUES LIKE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS.  DEPUTY CHIEF QUIRK HIGHLIGHTED THE NATIONAL HOUSING MARKET CRISIS WITH MULTIFAMILY HOUSING STARTS AT HISTORIC LOWS AND RENTS RISING DUE TO LIMITED HOUSING PRODUCTION. THE FUND AIMS TO LOWER FINANCING COSTS AND STABILIZE RENTS TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY. ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK OUTLINED THREE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES STARTING WITH THE BUNKER HILL DEVELOPMENT WHICH INCLUDES 265 MIXED INCOME UNITS 58 OF WHICH ARE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE. SENIOR BUYS A COUNTER DETAIL THE SECOND STRATEGY USING THE FUND ALONGSIDE THE STATE'S MOMENTUM FUND TO SUPPORT LARGE SCALE RENTAL PROJECTS.  PRIORITIES INCLUDE PROJECTS WITH OVER 50 UNITS 20 20% AFFORDABILITY DIVERSE TEAMS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. PROPOSED TIMELINE SHOWS PROJECTS BEING EVALUATED AND FUNDS BEING DISPERSED THROUGH MASS HOUSING AS NEEDED. CHIEF DILLON INTRODUCED A HOMEOWNERSHIP PILOT FUNDED BY THE ACCELERATOR FOR LOW INTEREST CONSTRUCTION LOANS MANAGED BY A PRIVATE PARTNER. THESE LOANS WOULD BE PAID UPON UNIT SALES ALLOWING FUNDS TO RECYCLE QUICKLY AND ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE RFP WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE MONTH OR SOON. OVERALL CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO START WITHIN A YEAR WITH NEW UNITS AVAILABLE BY 2027 TO 2028. DANIELA THE OMEGA FOUNDER OF DBM PARTNERS, EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SHE SHARED DATA ON ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES. I'VE ADDED A SECTION INTO THE REPORT FOR COUNCIL RECOMMENDING AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS. AS PART OF THE SERIES OF HEARINGS THAT HAD BEEN HELD ON THE DEVELOPMENT FUND IN 2018 BOTH 2024 AND 2025 HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOUSING THE CHAIRS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPT THE VALUES AROUND THE TYPE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT SHOULD BE FUND FUNDED AS PART OF THIS ACCELERATOR FUND. THOSE VALUES WHICH SHOULD BE REVISITED TO STAY WITHIN THE COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS. PROJECTS FEATURING ONSITE AFFORDABILITY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. PROJECTS PROPOSED BY DEVELOPMENT THAT MATCH DIVERSITY OF BOSTON SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED.  DEVELOPMENT TEAMS WITH A TRACK RECORD OF COMPLYING WITH THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOBS POLICY POLICY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED.  PROJECTS THAT MEET THE GOALS OUTLINED IN THE BOSTON RESIDENTS POLICY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. CLIMATE RESILIENT PROJECTS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. PROJECTS WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED IN PROJECTS WITH GROUND FOR USE THAT MEETS COMMUNITY NEEDS SUCH AS DAYCARES PHARMACIES AND GROCERY STORES SHOULD BE PRIORITY PRIORITIZED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO FILE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACCELERATED FUND SPECIFICALLY ON HOW IT IS MEETING EACH OF THE ABOVE STANDARDS STARTING IN 2026 TO BE FILED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF EACH YEAR AND TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC ON THE WEBSITE OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT. A PAGE ON EACH OF THE ABOVE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE SHOULD INCLUDE THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN AND A LINK TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT'S PROJECT PAGE FOR EACH DEVELOPMENT AND AS CHAIR THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. AT THIS TIME MY RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS AUDIT OUGHT TO PASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR CHAIR.  THE CHAIR I CAN ASSIST CARLOS SANTANA AND WE'LL GO AROUND THE HORSESHOE. CARLOS SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, FOR HOSTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT HEARING. AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MIXED INCOME SOCIAL HOUSING WAS PART OF MY INAUGURAL SPEECH OF MY FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS HERE ON THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN AND VHA APARTMENTS, I OFTEN SAY THAT VHA APARTMENTS GAVE MY FAMILY AND I THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST STAY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT WE THRIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. BUT SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR VHA APARTMENTS AS WE'RE ACROSS THE CITY ARE INHUMANE. RIGHT. AND THIS MODEL FOCUSES ON MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.  BUT ONE AREA THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THIS WILL HAVE WITH OUR VHA RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK I WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT JOE MORROW SAID. YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS AN INVESTMENT.  THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IN OUR HOUSING AND AS YOU KNOW, AS OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AS OUR FAMILIES WATCH AS SENIORS ARE BEING PUSHED OUT HERE OUT OF THE CITY OF BOSTON THIS WILL BE THE IDEA OF MIXED INCOME SOCIAL HOUSING WILL BE A GREAT TOOL TO ADD TO THE TOOLBOX HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE AND WE EARN INTEREST ON THIS. SO AGAIN, THIS WILL BE I KNOW THIS IS A $110 MILLION ONE TIME PAYMENT BUT WE WILL ACCUMULATE INTEREST OVER TIME WHICH MAKES IT FOR A GREAT INVESTMENT AND IT SUPPORTS MIXED INCOME COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN VHA APARTMENTS I THINK IT'S VERY IDENTIFIABLE WHEN YOU CAN SEE YOU KNOW THESE ARE THE PROJECTS AND THESE ARE OTHER HOUSING IN THIS THIS IDEA OF THE MIXED INCOME SOCIAL HOUSING WILL ALLOW FOR ALL RESIDENTS DESPITE INCOME LEVELS, RACE, GENDER AND SO FORTH TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN ALL THRIVE AND RESPECT EACH OTHER AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT SO I MEAN IT'S REALLY REALLY AND ALL SUPPORT OF THIS I REALLY COMMEND COUNCIL AROUND THE MAKERS OF THIS FOR PUSHING THIS FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SANTANA, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL. I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HERE GENSLER. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK CARL SEVERAL FOR INVITING ME TO BE A CO-SPONSOR. ACTUALLY MANY OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS THAT YOU MENTIONED WERE AT MY REQUEST SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE OUT IN THESE STREETS IN THE TRENCHES DOING THE WORK AROUND HOUSING ADVOCACY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP COSIGN THE WORK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE ON THE COUNCIL. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THEM TO OCCUPY SPACE.  AND IN REGARDS TO THIS I JUST WANT TO LIKE BECAUSE I'M A PROCESS PERSON I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT THE DYNAMICS. WHEN I INITIALLY JOINED YOU AS A CO-SPONSOR IT WAS UNDER A VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE. I BELIEVE YOU HAD A VERY SPECIFIC VISION AND IT WAS A VERY TARGETED AND THAT I THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TACKED ON OR THEY TOOK YOUR IDEA AND THEY MORPHED INTO SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT ANYWAYS I ENDED UP STILL BEING THE CO-SPONSOR ALONGSIDE YOU THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY. SO BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT HOW WE UTILIZE OUR MICROPHONE AND HOW WE UTILIZE OUR VOICE. I AM A LITTLE BIT HESITANT IN TERMS OF JUST KIND OF THIS FEELS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY ALL OVER AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE I WAS ALREADY HERE LAST YEAR TRYING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN AND ASKING FOR US TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. I DON'T WANT US TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF JUST WRITING OUT BLANK CHECKS FOR MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN WE STILL HAVE YET TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. I DON'T KNOW THERE'S A BANK IN THIS WORLD THAT WILL JUST AUTOMATICALLY APPROVE A LOAN FOR $110 MILLION WITHOUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE DOCUMENTATION THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS QUALIFIED, WHO ARE THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITING THERE'S SOME ABOUT EQUITY THAT I HAVE ASKED ABOUT AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE RFP, I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN THOSE ANSWERS AT THIS POINT AND I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT UNSURE ABOUT THE TRANSPARENT KPIS AROUND THAT. I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS MOMENT IS ASKING US TO DO AND THAT IS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL AND MINDFUL OF HOW FOLKS ARE ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT OUR TAX DOLLARS AND AND SO I'VE ASKED YOU RESPECTFULLY I'VE I FILED A HEARING ORDER FOR TUESDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE COMMUNITY A MICROPHONE. AND WHILE I RESPECT THE URGENCY, I ALSO JUST WANT TO NAME THAT THIS PARTICULAR HEARING, THIS PARTICULAR APPROPRIATION WE'RE STILL WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY HOST THE HEARING THAT I HAVE LINED UP ON THE 21ST AND HONOR COMMUNITY VOICE AND GIVE PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO THOROUGHLY ASSESS AND HOLD OUR HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD.  BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING WELL, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS CHAMBER IS THAT WE GET PITTED AND THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY AND THAT IT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE IF WE DON'T VOTE AFFIRMATIVE EARLY ON BEHALF OF SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WILL IMPACT OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEN WE THEN BECOME THE BAD PERSON IN THE CHAMBER. AND AND IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT ME AND MY LIFE AND MY EXPERIENCE, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO PURCHASE A WHOLE OC. I BOUNCED FROM PLACE TO PLACE BECAUSE WE WERE TOO POOR TO STAY IN ONE PLACE LONG ENOUGH TO EVEN MAKE FRIENDS.  SO I UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE MOMENT. WHAT I AM STRUGGLING WITH IS THE PROCESS.  WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH IS HOW WE ARE SHOWING UP IN THIS CHAMBER AND HOW WE ARE UTILIZING AND AND CHOOSING WHAT WE BRING UP FOR A VOTE WHEN THERE'S STILL SO MANY THINGS THAT FEEL UNHEARD. I GOT A CALL FROM YOU ON MONDAY ADVISING ME ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR HEARING AND YOU ASKED ME ABOUT COMMUNITY VOICES. IT WAS ON MONDAY. THE HEARING WAS HAPPENING ON TUESDAY. IT DIDN'T GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO ORGANIZE AND I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT I HAVE A HEARING ON THE 21ST SLATED SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE TRANSPARENCY ASPECTS OF THIS PARTICULAR FUND. AND I ASKED RESPECTFULLY IF WE COULD HOLD OFF TAKING A VOTE ON THIS TODAY SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. AND SO I'M JUST I'M ASKING FOR US TO I'M PUTTING A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT WE POSTPONE CONSIDERATION FOR THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT HEARING AND THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 29 SO THAT WE CAN HOLD THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED HEARING ON THE 21ST ON DOCKET 0176 THERE IS STILL TIME TO VOTE ON THIS MATTER ON THE 29TH AND I THINK THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF REALLY CREATING SPACE FOR NOT JUST COMMUNITY VOICE BUT FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO REALLY FEEL HEARD THEN I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.  I DON'T WANT TO BLOCK THIS FOR THE SAKE OF BLOCKING IT.  I WANT US TO CONSIDER THE PROCESS AND HOW WE'RE SHOWING UP AND THE AND THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING WHEN WE'RE NOT ALLOWING US WE'RE NOT ALLOWING COLLEAGUES TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. YOU KNOW, I AM IN FULL SUPPORT BUT I'M ALSO STRUGGLING WITH THE DYNAMICS AND THE WAYS WE'RE GOING ABOUT GETTING THERE. I THINK I STILL FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ON IMPACT SO I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO SECOND MY MOTION. OKAY, THANK YOU.  CASM HERE IS THAT YES AT ALL OKAY.  THANK YOU. SO COUNCILMAN, HE HAS PUT A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN ON THE FLOOR. THAT MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED JUST FOR FULL FLAHERTY SAKE UNDER OUR RULES UNDER RULE 20 AND UNDER RULE 48 MOTION TO LAY ON THE TABLE MOTIONS TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN ARE NOT DEBATABLE. OKAY, BUT LET THIS BE THE LAST MOMENT THAT WE WILL ALLOW FOR FOLKS TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION JUST FOR FLAHERTY SAKE IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE NO DEBATE OR DISCUSSION ON ANY MOTION TO LAY ON THE TABLE ON ANY MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN.  SO IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THOSE MOTIONS I AM ALLOWING IT AT THIS MOMENT BRIEFLY AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO TO A VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT REQUIRES A MAJORITY A MAJORITY VOTE IF NOT WE'LL JUST GO TO VOTING ON THE MOTION WHICH WAS WHAT I WOULD PREFER WAS WHAT WE WILL BE DOING STRICTLY IN THE FUTURE.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZE CASUALTIES PART OF OUR POINT OF ORDER SO OUR COMMENTS NOW ARE STRICTLY ON THE MOTION RATHER THAN THE CONTENTS OF THE REPORT.  YES. AND I'M ALLOWING ANY ANY DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ON THIS MOTION BUT WILL NOT ALLOW IT IN THE FUTURE JUST FOR FLAHERTY SAKE SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT MOTIONS TO DEBATE TO A DATE CERTAIN TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN AND MOTION TO BE ON THE TABLE THOSE ARE NOT DEBATABLE.  SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT THIS COUNCIL UNDER MY LEADERSHIP WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION OR BE OPEN FOR DEBATE ON EITHER MOTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION IN THE PAST. I'M JUST SAYING IT PUBLICLY SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW. SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE YOU MAY DO SO NOW YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE IN THE FUTURE. SO CASUALTIES MATTER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AS WELL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. HE AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ROBUST, HEALTHY DIALOG AND WE HAVEN'T AGREED 100% ON THIS BUT WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE I'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE ON IT WHERE I FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY TO MOVE YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT THE URGENCY IN AND ABOUT THIS FUND YESTERDAY WE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS FROM THE CHARLESTOWN RESIDENTS ALLIANCE AND IF YOU WERE HERE AND YOU HEARD THEIR TESTIMONY, YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT ARE ABHORRENT. AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SENSE OF URGENCY HERE. WHY DO WE NEED TO PASS THIS ASAP? WE GET CALLS I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY AT-LARGE COLLEAGUES DO BUT WE GET CALLS FROM RESIDENTS LIVING IN THESE HOUSES THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 1940S FOR WORLD WAR TWO VETERANS. I THINK I DON'T WANT TO DO THE WRONG THING. THEY ARE THEY HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR PURPOSE. WE HAVE HAD GENERATIONS OF CHARLESTOWN FAMILIES LIVE THERE. MY CHARLESTOWN LIAISON ELAINE GREW UP THERE. I THINK HER PARENTS GREW UP THERE. IF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE INFESTED WITH COCKROACHES. THERE ARE AGE BACK ISSUES, THERE ARE SINKHOLES, THERE ARE BROKEN STOVES AND SO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE ARE RISING INTEREST RATES, THERE IS CONSTRUCTION COSTS WE'RE SEEING THIS NOT JUST IN BOSTON BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PROJECT STALLED AND SO FOLKS HAVE LEFT THIS DEVELOPMENT. THEY DON'T LIVE IN CHARLESTOWN ANYMORE. THEY'VE HAD TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE WAITING TO COME BACK SO THAT THE NEXT BUILDING WILL BE BUILT.  AND UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THESE MARKET FORCES, THESE LONG TERM MARKET FORCES PROJECT HAS OR PROGRESS HAS BEEN STALLED AND SO IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TEN YEARS OF DISCUSSION WITH THIS PROJECT. I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY AND HONORED TO WORK WITH THOSE RESIDENTS OF THE CHARLESTON RESIDENTS ALLIANCE TIARA BERNARD, MIMI, BETTY, PHIL,  TINA, JENNY, MONIQUE, CARLA, MANDY. KATHY, NOEMI AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND'S LARGEST HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO PUSH THIS FORWARD BECAUSE THEY DESERVE DIGNIFIED HOUSING AND WHAT THEY ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW IS NOT DIGNIFIED. AND SO I KINDLY ASKED MY COLLEAGUES PLEASE CENTER THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES AND MOVE THIS FORWARD. THEY DESERVE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THESE CONVERSATIONS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THERE'S THIS MODEL OF GOVERNANCE THAT LEGGETT MCCALL, THE DEVELOPER HAS IMPLEMENTED THAT IS A MODEL FOR THIS SORT OF DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD AND WE JUST NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND EVERY DAY, WEEK, MONTH THAT PASSES BY WE DON'T PUSH THIS FORWARD IS AN ACT OF CHOICE NEGLECT THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR NEED FOR DIGNIFIED HOUSING. SO PLEASE REJECT THIS MOTION AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD THEM THIS HOUSING THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL CUT AS A TO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTRE FLYNN BECAUSE THE PLAN IS IT ON THE MOTION YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK OKAY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR MADAME CHAIR. I KNOW OF THE FOCUS OF OUR DISCUSSION YESTERDAY WAS ON BUNKER HILL DEVELOPMENT OF OF THE $110 MILLION I WASN'T ABLE TO GET A COMPLETE ANSWER ON HOW MUCH WAS GOING TO BUNKER HILL.  I WANT TO ASK THE CHAIR IF YOU CAN GIVE ME AN EXACT NUMBER. I DID ASK THAT SEVERAL TIMES.  I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. DO THE CHAIR COUNT OVERALL IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND TO THE CHAIR TO COUNCILOR FLYNN AS STATED AT THE HEARING ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK LET US KNOW THERE'S A NEGOTIATION PROCESS, RIGHT? THAT THERE'S NO SET AMOUNT IS NO SET DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE NEGOTIATED BY PROJECT ON WHAT THE CITY WOULD BE INVESTING INTO THIS PROJECTS. SO THERE'S NO RIGHT THERE'S NO SET DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT'S GOING TO EACH PROJECT EVERY PROJECT WILL BE NEGOTIATED CASE BY CASE AND I THINK THAT WAS ON THE RECORD AND COMMUNICATED AND GIVEN TO YOU FOR AN ANSWER AT THE HEARING YESTERDAY. THANK THANK YOU COUNSELOR. I'LL LEAVE YOU FOR PROVIDING A QUESTION. I KNOW THAT YOUR LIGHT WAS ON. I'M GOING TO TURN LIGHT BACK ON AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO COME TO EARLE AND CATCH MEJIA. THEN WE MOVE FOR A VOTE ON THIS MOTION AND I A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO COUNCILOR COUNCILOR WE'RE ALL WE TALK FREQUENTLY IN THIS PARTY ABOUT SUPPORTING WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES OF COLOR AND DURING THE BOSTON JOBS POLICY IS RESPECTED. ARE WE ADVOCATING OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OF A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT AS IT RELATES TO THIS $110 MILLION TO THE CHAIR COUNCIL ARE ALL IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY GO TO THE CHAIR TO COUNCILOR FLYNN INSIDE OF THE REPORT THERE'S A LIST OF COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS WITH A TRACK RECORD OF COMPLYING WITH THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOB POLICY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE IN HERE PROJECTS PROPOSED BY DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT MATCHED THE DIVERSITY OF BOSTON SHIPPING SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED SO IT COMES TO THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOB POLICY AND THE DIVERSITY WOMEN ON MWB IS WE HAVE INCLUDED THAT INSIDE OF OUR RECOMMENDING ACTION ON WHAT SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN AS A CITY. BUT THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF A PLAY SUCH AS WAGES FOR WORKERS, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR WORKERS OR SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WOMEN OWNED WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED ARE THEY PART ARE THEY PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND SPECIFICALLY WILL PLAYS BE INCLUDED IN THIS $110 MILLION TO THE CHAIR COUNCIL? WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY I IT'S CASE BY CASE PROJECT BY PROJECT.  I DON'T HAVE A DEFINITE ANSWER FOR COUNCIL FULLY AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSELOR. I'LL CATCH OFFLINE IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.  I DON'T I DON'T FROM WHAT I GATHERED YESTERDAY THERE'D BE ABOUT $30 MILLION GOING TO BUNKER HILL DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK WE ALL SUPPORT THAT. I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT.  BUT THE REMAINING $80 MILLION IT'S PRETTY UNCLEAR WHERE THAT IS GOING.  I DID ADVOCATE AND I DO WANT TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY WOULD SUPPORT ME IN SUPPORTING RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING THAT HAVE TERRIBLE ELEVATOR SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE RUTH BARCLAY IN THE SOUTH END.  I WAS PUSHING FOR THAT YESTERDAY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM ADMINISTRATOR BOK AND FROM MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL THAT WE WOULD NOT USE THAT MONEY FOR SUPPORTING MAINTENANCE FOR ELEVATOR REPAIRS IN PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE CITY NOT JUST IN MY DISTRICT, ACROSS ACROSS THE CITY AND THERE WAS NO COMMITMENT FROM COUNCIL A FORMER COUNCILOR BOK OR MY COLLEAGUES WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING.  I REPRESENT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND I WANT TO BE CONSISTENT. I WANT TO BE FAIR TO EVERY RESIDENT LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING. I THINK I SUPPORT THE MONEY GOING TO THE BUNKER HILL PROJECT BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF COUNCILMAN HERE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A PERSON THAT ADVOCATED FOR MORE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY ACROSS THE CITY THAN COUNCILMEMBER HERE. I THINK WHAT SHE'S ASKED IN IS RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS BUT I'VE RESPECT ALSO FOR ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK SHE'S DONE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA.  COUNCILMAN JORDACHE, YOU'RE A LIGHT ON IS IT ON THIS MOTION AND THE TECHNICAL WORK HAS COME HERE. WE'LL WORK AS WE GO THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FOR A VOTE ON THIS MOTION AND THEN WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE DEBATE ON MOTIONS. THE CHAIR CAN I JUST COME FROM HERE? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT ON SORRY ON THESE SPECIFIC MOTIONS AS OUTLINED IN RULE 20 AND 48. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR BECAUSE I THIS PAST YEAR I ORGANIZED A TOUR DIANE TO LIVE TOUR AND I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES JOINED ME ON THAT TOUR LOOKING AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VHA RESIDENTS THAT WERE LIVING IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS AND I HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LOUDEST VOICES ON THIS COUNCIL. SO IN SUPPORT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE CITY IN TERMS OF THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY LIVE IN. SO WHAT I DON'T WANT IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME TO THINK THAT MY LITTLE DELAY TACTIC HERE IS AT THE COST OF THOSE FOLKS THAT I REPRESENT BECAUSE CHARLES TOWN KNOWS THAT I GO HARD FOR THEM AND THEY KNOW THAT IF I'M UP HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IT IS AN ISSUE OF PROCESS NOT WHETHER OR NOT THEY DESERVE A QUALITY OF LIFE. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO BE GASLIT AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO MISINTERPRET WHY I'M STANDING UP IN OPPOSITION. I AM STANDING UP IN OPPOSITION NOT IN THE MERIT OF THE SITUATION. I AM STANDING UP IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS A BODY. IF THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE I AM NOT ASKING FOR A SIX MONTH DELAY. I AM ASKING FOR A WEEK FOR US TO HAVE A HEARING IN WHICH WE CAN THEN IN GOOD CONSCIENCE COME BACK AND SAY WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO GET ALL OF THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO HERE IS TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEY ARE AND TY SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WHO NEED THIS WHAT WE NEED TO START DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE THE ONES THAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD. ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS AND YOU CAN GO WATCH THE TAPE BECAUSE I PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARINGS I ASK THE ADMINISTRATION ARE ABOUT METRICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT BLACK AND BROWN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THE LANGUAGE OF SHOULD THERE'S NO LANGUAGE OF MUST HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE HOLDING ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE WITH LANGUAGE THAT IS SO SOFT SHOULD EVERYONE SHOULD BE CORDIAL, EVERYONE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP BUT DOES IT MANDATE US TO KNOW SO IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY THEN WILL THAT LANGUAGE NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT NEEDS TO BE STRONGER.  THE CITY WILL NOT SHOULD PEOPLE CAN INTERPRET THINGS AS EVER THEY WANT. SO FOR THE SAKE OF THE EXERCISE THE HEARING WAS YESTERDAY.  THE REPORT WAS PRESENTED TODAY OUT OF THE FAIRNESS OF THE PROCESS WHICH IS WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS IN THE MATTER OF WHICH PEOPLE CAN RESTORE TRUST IN THIS BODY BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST US BECAUSE THE WAY WE SHOW UP IN THIS CHAMBER IS QUESTIONABLE.  I AM ASKING FOR A HEARING THAT IS ALREADY SCHEDULED THAT WILL ALREADY HAPPENED BEFORE WE'RE SLATED TO TAKE A VOTE.  I AM NOT ASKING US TO MAKE CHARLES TOWER WAIT AN ETERNITY . I'M ASKING FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP IN THIS BODY THAT SIGNALS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION TO US THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK. AND SO AGAIN, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS, I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE HEARING THAT IS ALREADY SLATED AND PUT AND PEOPLE ARE LINED UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DENYING THOSE FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND I CAN'T SIT COMFORTABLY WITH THAT. I CAN'T.  SO THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING US TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE HEARING THAT IS ALREADY SLATED ON THE 21ST. IT'S ALREADY BOOKED. PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SET UP TO SPEAK ALLOW DEMOCRACY TO TAKE PLACE NOW I WILL RESPECT THE PROCESS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VOTES THAT I TAKE IN THIS CHAMBER IMPACT THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I REPRESENT BUT I REPRESENT THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND NOT MY OWN INTERESTS. THANK YOU.  I SEE THERE ARE MULTIPLE LIGHTS ON. I AM ONLY GOING TO COUNT FITZGERALD. HE'S NOT SPOKEN ON THIS MOTION. WE'RE VOTING ON THIS MOTION AND THEN THAT WILL WELL IT WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR DEBATE.  SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN GERALD AND I'M MOVING TO A VOTE ON THIS MOTION . THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PRESENTED A POINT OF CLARIFICATION AS WELL BUT OKAY IT MAYBE IT'S TO THE SAME QUESTIONS ALL PLAY IT TAKES CARE OF IT BUT HEARING THE SAME TOPIC IN TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT THAT WAS AGAINST COUNCIL MAYBE SO TO THROW YOU TO THE CLERK IS THIS SOMETHING THIS HEARING THAT THE COUNCIL ME HAS SCHEDULED WITH THIS TOPIC ON IT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD IT ALREADY HAD A HEARING ON IN A DIFFERENT TOPIC IS THAT STILL ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH AND CAN THAT HEARING ACTUALLY HAPPEN IF IF IT WERE IF THIS MOTION WERE TO PASS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME TOPIC IN TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES I IN A I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE HEARING AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE HEARING IN COUNCIL RULES COMMITTEE. THAT'S THE ONLY HEARING THAT I KNOW OF IF YOU LOOK AT IT FOR NEXT WEEK IT IS LISTED ON THE COUNCILMAN. HE HAS POSTED IT AS WELL. THIS WOULD BE A SUBJECT THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABIDING BY ALL RULES. AND COUNCILOR MEJIA IF THIS DOES WORK AGAINST YOU, I APOLOGIZE. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE LIKE YOU ALWAYS SAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE PROCESS RIGHT. YEAH. SO I WAS UNDER THE UNDERTAKING THAT THIS IS THIS THE ALSO YOUR POINT OF CLARIFICATION YEAH THAT THERE WAS ONE DOCKET ON THIS AND THAT'S THIS ACCELERATOR THAT'S THE CELEBRATED FUN THAT WE HAVE THAT THAT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION AND THAT'S THE ONLY DOCKET THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT'S BEEN FILED ON THIS. THERE IS A THERE IS A HEARING SCHEDULED TO NEXT WEEK THAT PRESENTS THIS AS A TOPIC.  ALL RIGHT. IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TEXT. OKAY. WELL, WE'LL CLARIFY RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST GOING TO GO FORWARD AND MOVE IN VOTE TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION OF CLARIFICATION WHAT KIND OF WHAT IF CLARIFY POINT OF POINT OF CLARIFICATION YET. THANK YOU, MADAM FLYNN.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TO THE TO THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE IF THERE IS A DELAY OF ONE WEEK SO WE'RE ABLE TO LISTEN TO COUNCIL MEMBER HIS CONSTITUENTS MANY OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING ADVOCATES. IS THERE ANY IMPACT AT ALL AS IT RELATES TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE OF THE PROJECT?  WE CHAIR COUNCIL, OUR OWN MAYORS AND THANK YOU AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF COUNCIL FITZGERALD'S QUESTION ON YOU KNOW, CAN WE EVEN HAVE ANOTHER HEARING RIGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR FINE AND ANOTHER COMMITTEE WHEN IT WAS SUBMITTED WHEN THIS DOCK WAS SUBMITTED AND WAYS AND MEANS SO JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T AND I HAVE THE DOCKET IN MY COMMITTEE I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER HEARING SCHEDULED.  SO I THINK BEFORE I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF COUNCILOR MEJIA IS ABLE TO HAVE A HEARING ON A DOCKET THAT'S IN MY COMMITTEE.  I'M SURE I WILL CLARIFY. SO I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THERE WAS A DOCKET THAT WAS FILED THAT WAS AMENDED THAT PERHAPS PRESENTED RULE 15 ISSUES THAT WAS NOT WAS NOT CAUGHT.  SO THERE PROBABLY IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE SHOULD NOT MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANOTHER HEARING AND ANOTHER COMMITTEE ON THE SAME TOPIC WHEREAS PERHAPS A RULE 15 ISSUE THE AN AMENDMENT OF A DOCKET THAT WAS NOT COURT AND THEREFORE THERE IS THERE IS A HEARING ORDER THAT STATES THAT IT WILL DISCUSS ANOTHER TOPIC THAT IS ALREADY PART OF ANOTHER COMMITTEE.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR A POINT OF ORDER. SO LAST WEEK THERE WAS A DOCKET THAT I BELIEVE COUNCIL WORL AND COUNCIL OPINION IT'S ANDERSON SPONSORED WHICH WENT INTO POST AUDIT AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MEETINGS SCHEDULED THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT QUICKLY.  MANY TOPICS ARE IN THERE SO I THINK WE NEED TO CALL FOR A RECESS BECAUSE I KNOW WHITE STADIUM CONVERSATION IS IN THERE. IT ALSO WENT TO EDUCATION. THERE'S BLUE HILL AVENUE. THERE IS MANY QUESTIONS IT'S MADISON PARK HIGH SO THERE MAY BE MANY DOCKETS THAT NOW NEED TO BE QUESTIONED IF THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO THAT COMMITTEE LAST WEEK BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY HEARING SCHEDULED PEOPLE READY TO TALK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE TRANSPARENCY ON THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. SO I'M ASKING FOR A RECESS. THANK YOU.  THE CLERK IS ASKING FOR A RECESS AS WELL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT HE SAW THE DOCKET. AND SO IF THERE ARE ANY MORE 15 ISSUES THE CLERK WILL SETTLE DOWN AND THEREFORE WE WILL BE IN A BRIEF RECESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE  ON YOUR BACK AND THE CLERK AS WE ARE AND WE DISCUSSED WITH THE CLERK AND OUR COUNCILOR THE HEARING CAN STILL HAPPEN ON THE SEPARATE DOCKET AND IT WILL HAPPEN ON THE SEPARATE DOCKET WE HAVE BEFORE. SO THE MOTION AND SO COUNCILMAN, HE HAS PUT FORWARD A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND WE ARE GOING TO GO FOR A VOTE ON THAT MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS DOCKET. WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THAT DOCKET. IT REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE FOR IT TO FOR IT TO FOR US TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN MR CLERK, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION TO DO DO WE HAVE TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR COUNCILOR STANTON? IT'S JUST MY QUESTION.  YEAH. UM, WE WILL SEE IF WE IF HE RETURNS IT IS RUN AVAILABLE. AH, BUT HE'S QUITE HARD AS LONG AS LONG AS THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE WE CAN WE CAN WE CAN VOTE BUT WE DID JUST COME BACK FROM RECESS SO I DO WANT TO GIVE HIM THE COURTESY. HE MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE RETURNED FROM RECESS SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUE THE COURTESY OF RETURNING. HE IS BACK. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.  MADAM CLERK I. I DID ASK COUNCILOR I DID ASK THE CHAIR A SPECIFIC QUESTION. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK AND WE VOTE ON THIS NEXT WEEK? DOES THIS IMPACT THE CONSTRUCT SCHEDULE AT ALL? I DO. I DO WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO COUNCILOR MEJIA IN HER CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE THAT SHE'S ENGAGED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND THIS MEETING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RESPECT HER CONSTITUENTS IN HER MANY OF THEM A PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT.  SO I WANT TO ASK WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON ON SCHEDULING. THANK YOU MR CASTRO. YOU CAN ANSWER RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION AND THEN WE ARE MOVING THAT WAS NOT A POINT OF CLARIFICATION BUT CASTRO YOU MAY YOU MAY RESPOND TO THE CHAIR TO COUNCILOR FLYNN.  WE WE HAVE HOSTED FIVE HEARINGS. THEY ALL PUBLICLY NOTICED THAT GAVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TESTIFY. SO ALL OF OUR HEARINGS THIS YEAR IN LAST YEAR HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ORCHESTRA TALENT IN THE PUBLIC TO COME AND TESTIFY AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER COUNCIL HEARING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUBLICLY NOTICED IT AND GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND TESTIFY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE ARE MOVING TO A ROLL CALL VOTE, MR CLERK, THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HE HAS MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN WHICH WOULD BE JANUARY 29TH. PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE. THIS REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE ON THIS MOTION. THEN WE WILL MOVE TO THE WE DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS WE WILL MOVE TO THAT TO A DOCKET. MR CLERK, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE COUNCILOR BERRY OH OH YEAH.  I JUST WANT TO EXPLAINED APOLOGIES THAT A NO VOTE WILL NOT POSTPONE AND MEANS THAT WE WILL VOTE ON THIS DOCKET TODAY . A YES VOTE MEANS POSTPONE IT MR CLERK TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER ABSOLUTELY NOT.  COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PART NO. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN NO COUNCILOR FOR AN END TO SENATOR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO COUNCILOR FLYNN YES COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO COUNCILOR ME HERE I DON'T KNOW WITH YOU KNOW YOU SO SO WHICH WHICH ONE PRESENT DOUG COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN.  COUNCILOR SANTANA NO. COUNCILOR SANTANA NO.  COUNCILOR WEBER NO COUNCIL WEBER NO COUNCILOR WORRELL NO COUNCILOR WORRELL NO SEVEN VOTES IN A NEGATIVE TO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AT ONE PRESENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS MOTION HAS NOT SUCCEEDED.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ACTUALLY A VOTE ON THE DOCKET FROM HERE ON OUT IF THERE'S NO DEBATE ON MOTIONS JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. NO DEBATE ON MOTIONS HERE ON OUT RELATED TO MOTIONS SOLELY ON THE TABLE AND TO POSTPONE TO A DATE CERTAIN. SO IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION ON THE DOCKET OR IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD A MOTION, YOU MAY DO THAT. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE RIGHT BEFORE US IS COUNCILOR ROUSE MOTION TO PASS THE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN RECORD I'M SORRY THE CHAIR'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS COMMITTEE REPORT OUGHT TO PASS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN THANK YOU SO MUCH.  I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I THINK ANY ANY PROPOSAL THAT GETS PROJECTS ON STOCK IN OUR CITY IS A USEFUL THING AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MOVE FOR A VOTE ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES ON THIS. I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO INCLUDE IT AS PART OF THIS $110 MILLION MONEY FOR UPGRADES TO ELEVATORS IN THE VHA SYSTEM. AGAIN, I KNOW THERE'S PUSHBACK FROM ADMINISTRATOR KENZIE BOK AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME PUSHBACK HERE FROM CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT DON'T BELIEVE THE MONEY SHOULD GO INTO NEW ELEVATORS FOR VHA RESIDENTS FOR WHATEVER REASON IT MAY BE. BUT THEY DESERVE RESPECT. THEY DESERVE DIGNITY. MANY OF THE RESIDENTS MANY OF THEM ARE IN MY DISTRICT.  THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN THE ELEVATOR SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN. WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT IT WILL ALWAYS BE LIKE THAT UNLESS WE INVEST MONEY THROUGHOUT VHA FOR ELEVATOR SYSTEMS THE DEVELOPMENT IN CHUCK JOHNSTONE DESPERATELY NEEDS MONEY BUT SO DOES OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT BOSTON FOR THE ELEVATORS SYSTEM. THESE THESE BUILDINGS ARE OLD THESE ELEVATOR SYSTEMS ARE ALMOST OBSOLETE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX UP OUR ELEVATORS IN VHA. BUT IN THE MEANTIME RESIDENTS IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE SOMETIMES STUCK IN THEIR BUILDING. THERE'S ONE WOMAN IN THE SALT IN IT BOOTH BERKELEY THAT HAS CANCER AND SHE'S NOT ABLE TO GET TO HER CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GET DOWN THE ELEVATOR. SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN'T GET BACK UP WITH THEIR GROCERIES. SO I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES MANY ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT REPRESENT PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IF YOU'LL MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE IMPORTANT, THEY DESERVE SOME RESPECT. THEY DESERVE SOME DIGNITY AND LET'S NOT TURN OUR BACK ON THEM AGAIN. I KNOW THERE'S NOT SUPPORT FROM ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK BUT I HOPE THERE'S SUPPORT HERE FROM OUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRYMEN. HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR WHAT WE ARE CALLING AN EXERCISE IN DISCOURSE. THIS IS THE REAL WORK Y'ALL CASE YOU DON'T KNOW. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO QUESTION WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THOUGHTFUL . WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT DISRUPTIVE BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHAT GOOD ARE WE IF WE'RE NOT REALLY HERE FOR THE WORK? SO WHILE I. I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL LOVE THAT'S ABOUT ME. I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT TO YOU BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. BUT ANYWAYS I HAVEN'T I'M RISING UP TO JUST TO REALLY JUST BE REALLY SUPER EXPLICIT ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO SEE MOVING FORWARD AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES AROUND THE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT BLACK AND BROWN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS. SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE POLITICAL COURAGE NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT,  YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BECOMES MUST AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.  YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY GOING TO LOOK TO THE CHAIR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PROMISES THAT WE HAVE MADE TO THOSE FOLKS WHO WE'VE INVITED TO THIS CHAMBER WHO FOUGHT ON BEHALF OF AND IN SUPPORT OF OF THIS ACCELERATOR FUND AND THAT WE DO SO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE A MANDATE AND THAT MANDATE IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CENTERING EQUITY AND THAT WE'RE DOING SO IN WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES, WE'RE GOING TO I APPRECIATE THE REPORT ONCE A YEAR BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE THAN JUST A ONCE A YEAR CHECK IN. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PROTOCOL, A PROCEDURE OR SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT LOOKS AT THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR HOW YOU GO ABOUT THE RFP PROCESS, WHO GETS SELECTED, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY GET, WHY THEY GOT THAT AMOUNT. I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS STILL NEED TO BE UNPACKED AND I AND I'M LOOKING TO YOU AS THE CHAIR WAYS AND MEANS YOU HOLD THE MONEY BACK RIGHT?  SO I'M LOOKING TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT THAT WE'RE NOT JUST WRITING FREE CHECKS HERE AND THERE.  AND THEN WHAT I HAVE TO MAKE I THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO BE THE ONLY VOICE AND TO SPEAK UP ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM A WOMAN OF COLOR AND I AM TRYING TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I DON'T WANT TO BE LABELED AS DIFFICULT BUT THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT IF I DON'T SHOW UP AS I AM THEN WHAT I'M DOING IS TELLING EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S JUST LIKE ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE IN THIS CHAMBER AND I KNOW THIS THE WAY I SHOW UP MAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE HERE AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT. BUT WHAT I'M NOT GOING TO DO AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO WATER MYSELF DOWN BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DISRESPECT ME EITHER OR TO TRY TO MINIMIZE OR FLIP THE SCRIPT ON ME. SO IF I'M SHOWING UP AND I'M HOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE, I'M DOING IT BECAUSE THAT IS MY JOB AND I'M NOT DOING IT TO BE DIFFICULT.  I'M DOING IT BECAUSE IF I DON'T DO IT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE'RE A RUBBER STAMP. SO IF I'M GOING TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT STANDS UP WHEN WE'RE PUSHING THINGS THROUGH, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT STANDS UP AND THAT IS OKAY BECAUSE I CAME INTO THIS CHAMBER BY MYSELF WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF POLITICAL POWERBROKERS AND SO THAT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP UNAPOLOGETIC WITHOUT ANY FEAR TO SPEAK UP THE WAY THAT I DO WHETHER YOU GUYS WANT TO HEAR IT OR NOT, WHETHER YOU WANT TO HEAR IT OR NOT I AM ONE OF YOUR 13 COLLEAGUES WHETHER YOU WANT TO HEAR IT OR NOT. I REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT WE'RE SHOWING UP WHETHER YOU WANT TO HEAR IT OR NOT I AM GOING TO SAY IT.  I AM GOING TO SAY IT AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE IN SAYING IT NOT A THING BECAUSE I DON'T NEED THE TITLE TO DO THE WORK SO I WILL NEVER BE AFRAID OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING BUT THE MAN UP ABOVE PERIOD THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES WELL YOU HAVE FOR I THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO JUST THANK THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HELPING PUSH THE CREATION OF THIS FUND. I THINK THIS FUND HAS BEEN SHAPED BY THE COUNCIL AS I MENTIONED BEFORE COUNCIL, SAID TANNER ON THE PUSH ON SOCIAL HOUSING OUR FIGHT TO GET IN AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND TO THAT IT WAS THE ADVOCACY FROM THIS COUNCIL AND FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED SHAPE THIS FUND. AND I'M NOT ONLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING HOUSING PRODUCTION GOING BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS YOU POINTED OUT TO GET SOME OF THAT HOUSING WHEN WE'RE CREATING HOUSING PRODUCTION THAT IS EQUITY COMPONENT TO IT SO GETTING MORE DIVERSE TEAMS IN THERE. SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUND AND ALSO THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT WE'VE NOT ONLY FROM THE OWNERSHIP SIDE BUT ALSO WHEN WE'RE BUILDING THESE HOMES IN TERMS OF THE ELEVATORS AT VHA THERE'S $200 MILLION ON THE CAPITAL PLAN AND I DO I DO TOO HAVE BOSTON HOUSING SITES THAT HAVE ELEVATED THAT ARE DOWN. SO I AM HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT $200 MILLION THAT IS ALLOCATED ON THE CAPITAL PLAN TO BE USED FOR SOME OF THE ELEVATORS. BUT WHAT I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS FUND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN CHARLESTOWN IS WE'RE ABLE TO USE THIS FUND TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW BOSTON HOUSING SITE AND THIS IS A TOOL THAT POSSIBLY WE CAN USE ALL ACROSS THE CITY POSSIBLY THAT MARY ELLEN MCCORMICK POSSIBLY AT COMMERCE SQUARE APARTMENT. SO THIS TOOL WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD NEW BAYSIDE VHA SITES THAT HAVE BROKEN ELEVATORS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT LIVING AND DIGNIFIED PLACES THIS IS A TOOL THAT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE OUT A LOT OF PASTA SO THANK YOU AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THIS VOTE. THANK YOU.  I JUST WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THIS SUBSTANTIVELY BECAUSE I HAVE NOT I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED YESTERDAY BY THE HEARING THAT WE HAD TO HEAR FROM THE CHARLESTOWN RESIDENTS ALLIANCE TO LOOK AT THAT MODEL OF GOVERNANCE. RARELY DO WE SEE THAT. RARELY DO WE SEE THAT LEVEL OF RESIDENTS LITERALLY SITTING AT THE TABLE AND TELLING THE CITY WHAT THEY WANT. RARELY DO WE HEAR AND SEE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING BE ELEVATED TO BEING CO-EQUAL PARTNERS IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE HOUSING THAT THEY DESERVE, WHAT THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND SO I AM VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. WE NOT ONLY WHAT WE BE USING THIS MONEY WE'LL GET A RETURN OF 4 TO 6%. WE ARE BUILDING ALTERNATIVES TO WHAT THE MARKET CANNOT DO AND I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THIS. I WANT TO SEE MORE INNOVATION. I WANT TO SEE US LEANING INTO OUR FISCAL STRENGTH AS A CITY TO DO FOR THE LEAST AMONG US AND OUR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ARE THE LEAST AMONG US. AND SO I AM EXCITED TO VOTE YES ON THIS. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE AND I CAN MEMBER 0108 COUNCILOR BREEN COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON COUNCIL THE FITZGERALD YES. COUNCIL FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.  COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES. COUNCILOR OVERALL YES DUCK IN NUMBERS 0108 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. THAT COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND DOCKET NUMBER 0108 HAS PASSED. WE'RE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS ORDERED AND RESOLUTIONS MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 0249 DUCK NUMBER 0249 COUNCILOR WORRELL LAW FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF BOSTON CODE CHAPTER 18 DASH ONE POINT TO BE TO MAKE CERTIFICATES OF BIRTH AND DEATH FREE. THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WHILE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.  I LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL CLOUD AS A PARTY HAS ADDED AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND I LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES IN THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR ALSO SUSPEND THE RULES ADD COUNT MYSELF AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS SO ADDED COUNCIL ARE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW FAMILIES IN OUR CITY ARE BEING CHARGED FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS A BIRTH OR DEATH CERTIFICATE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THINGS LIKE A ROLE IN A CHILD IN SCHOOL STARTING A JOB OR SETTLING SETTLING A LOVED ONE'S AFFAIR. MY OFFICE HAVE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE PAID THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL COST TO A THIRD PARTY SERVICE JUST TO GET THEIR OWN RECORDS.  THOSE THIRD PARTY SERVICES ARE PROFITING PROFITING OFF OF THIS AND MY HOPE IS THAT BY PUBLICIZING THE NO COST OF THIS ASPECT WOULD HELP DECREASE THE USE OF THESE THIRD PARTY SERVICES. WAIVING THE FEE WILL ALSO BE HELPFUL FOR OUR RETURNING CITIZENS WHO MIGHT NEED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AS THEY COME HOME AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER EIGHT SENT A LETTER RECOMMENDING THE ABOLITION OF THE FEES USING ONE TO BE USING ONE OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AS A CASE STUDY. I'M GOING TO READ BRIEFLY FROM THAT LETTER THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION,  MATTHEW CAHILL AND THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION CHRISTOPHER ANTONELLO. AND BEFORE I READ THAT CASE STUDY I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR BRAEDEN. I KNOW SHE'S BEEN CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING TO GET MONEY TO THE FINANCE COMMISSION AND WERE ABLE TO DO SO IN THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, THE LETTER READS THE LATEST FIGURES SHOWS THAT 77% OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE LOW INCOME STUDENTS SHOULD NOT MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY LACK FUNDS TO OBTAIN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS OR ID WHETHER THAT JOB BE FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES OR TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. IT GOES ON TO RECOMMEND THAT THIS COST BARRIER BE REMOVED COMBINED THE FACTOR FOR OUR RETURNING CITIZENS AND THE HARDSHIP OFTEN ENCOUNTERED BY OUR STUDENT AND ALSO OUR RELATIVES DEALING WITH THE LOVED ONES IN DEBT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FEE SHOULD BE REMOVED ENTIRELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR BECAUSE AS A PAPER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR OUTING ME ON I THINK THAT THIS IS A NO BRAINER. IT PRIORITIZES ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THESE VITAL RECORDS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ACCESSING EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND FAMILY BENEFITS AND MORE REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO OBTAIN THEM IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD ENSURING THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND DUE TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE LEAD SPONSOR ON THIS TOO. I THINK THAT THERE AS WE PROGRESSED THE CONVERSATION AND I THINK IT WILL BE GOING THROUGH MY COMMITTEE BUT WE DO CAREFULLY CONSIDER SOME OF THE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE OTHERS POLICY AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW EITHER THROUGH MEANS TESTING OR ENSURING YOU CAN'T GET A MILLION BIRTH CERTIFICATES OR DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR FREE MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF QUALIFICATIONS TO THAT. BUT IN GENERAL I DO SUPPORT THIS THIS GOING FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS. AGAIN JUST WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.  THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLORS IPAD TWO I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED FOR THIS ORDINANCE MY OFFICE AND A LOT OF WORK FOR OUR FOLKS ARE RETURNING HOME FOR INCARCERATION ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF RECIDIVISM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLISTICALLY MEETING SIMPLE BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE FACE SUCH AS ACCESS TO IDS JUST A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND ACCESS TO OUR THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BUT IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO LOWER THE ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTACLES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND SO I THINK THIS ONE WAY OF US GETTING THERE SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A HEARING ON THIS. WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR SENIORS FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INDIGENT WHO WHERE THIS IS A BARRIER AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK ON THIS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE LEAD SPONSOR AND EVERYONE WHO IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THIS IS GOOD POLICY AND WORLD CLASS CITY LIKE BOSTON SHOULD NOT BE CHARGING FOR BIRTH OR DEATH CERTIFICATES AND WE DO HAVE SOME IDEAS THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT END UP COVERING THE COST AND REVENUE REVENUE GENERATING IDEAS AND I THINK WHEN YOU REFERENCED HOW MUCH WE RAISE HOW MUCH REVENUE GENERATED FROM THIS, IT'S FROM IT'S IT'S IT'S SMALL AND THIS WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN AND EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR CAN I JUST CATCH A PLANE HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR THIS IS AN ISSUE I'VE WORKED ON MY ENTIRE LIFE PRACTICALLY AS A PROBATION OFFICER AT SUFFOLK SUPERIOR COURT FOR EIGHT YEARS HELPING RETURNING CITIZENS ESPECIALLY AND GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. BUT THEY CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE WITHOUT A SIMPLE DOCUMENT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. MANY MEN MOSTLY MEN AND WOMEN COMING OUT OF JAIL ARE COMING OUT OF PRISON WILL REPORT TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, WITHOUT ANY DOCUMENTATION. OTHER THAN THEIR DISCHARGE PAPER. I WOULD OFTEN HAVE TO GO TO CITY HALL AS A PROBATION OFFICER WITH MY PROBATION AND WITH MY PROBATIONERS AND I WOULD HAVE TO AT TIMES PAY FOR THE FEE SO THAT THEY COULD GET A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. MANY MOST OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE THE FEE NECESSARY TO EVEN GET GET THE DOCUMENT.  THAT'S ONE OBSTACLE AND IT'S A MAJOR OBSTACLE THAT WE PLACE IN THE WAY OF RETURNING CITIZENS. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THEY ARE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY ARE OUR OUR NEIGHBORS. YES, THEY'VE MADE MISTAKES MANY TIMES HAVE MADE MISTAKES AND THEY I THINK THEY'VE WERE COMMITTED TO JAIL OR PRISON AND THEY'VE DONE THEIR TIME AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO COME BACK AND RAISE FAMILIES AND BE PRODUCTIVE BUT NOT HAVING ACCESS TO A PHYSICAL DOCUMENT LIKE A PARADE CERTIFICATE CAN SET SOMEONE BACK SIGNIFICA QUENTLY SO I'M GLAD THAT THE SPONSORS HAVE FILED THIS AND THIS IS SOMETHING I PROUDLY WILL SUPPORT AND IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF JAIL IN PRISON. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS DURKIN, FLYNN, MARIA MURPHY,  SANTANA WEBER THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER IS 0249 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 02500250 COUNCILOR DURKIN ON FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY AND IMPACT OF A SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX IN BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN.  COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND OUT COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. COUNCILOR COLLETTE IS A PARTNER SO ADDED THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY I RISE TO INTRODUCE A HEARING ORDER TO EXPLORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SWEETENED SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX OR SSP TEA IN BOSTON.  THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO ADDRESS TWO INTERCONNECTED CHALLENGES THE RISING BURDEN OF DIET RELATED DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE NEED TO IDENTIFY SUSTAINABLE REVENUE STREAMS TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND EQUITY FOCUSED PROGRAMS. BOSTON IS CELEBRATED FOR ITS HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS. DISTRICT DATA INCLUDES INSTITUTIONS LIKE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM, DANA-FARBER, BETH ISRAEL AND BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHO WORK DEEPLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO DELIVER A BOSTON WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE. BUT WE KNOW LIFE INSPECTOR SI VARIES DRASTICALLY BY AS MUCH AS 20 YEARS BETWEEN ROXBURY AND BACK BAY DUE IN PART TO CHRONIC ILLNESSES LIKE OBESITY,  DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE AND CONDITIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY ARE BORNE BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THESE HEALTH ISSUES AND OFFERING HIGH SUGAR CONTENT WITH NO NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS. WELL BEING AGGRESSIVELY MARKETED TO OUR YOUTH IN BOSTON OVER 70% OF ADOLESCENTS REPORT CONSUMING SODA REGULARLY WITH CONSUMPTION RATES HIGHEST AMONG COMMUNITIES ALREADY FACING HEALTH INEQUITIES A MODEST TAX ON SUGARY BEVERAGES MODELED ON A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN CITIES LIKE PHILADELPHIA AND SEATTLE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR EVERY 1% INCREASE IN THE PRICE THESE CITIES HAVE SEEN CONSUMPTION DROP APPROXIMATELY BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE THE MEDIAN CONSUMPTION DROPS BY VOLUME CLOSE TO 30% IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE INSTITUTION OF SUCH TAXES HERE IN BOSTON, 1 TO 2% PER OUNCE TAX COULD PREVENT MORE THAN 6000 CASES OF OBESITY REDUCE DIABETES BY 9% AND SAVE OVER $90 MILLION IN HEALTH CARE COSTS IN THE FIRST DECADE. THIS POTENTIAL REVENUE FOR THIS TAX ESTIMATED TO BE 20 TO $30 MILLION ANNUALLY COULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. THESE FUNDS COULD SUPPORT CRITICAL INITIATIVES LIKE FOOD LITERACY PROGRAMS AND YOUTH RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. WELL, ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT IMPERATIVE HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THAT'S TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS.  CRITICS MAY ARGUE THAT SUCH TAXES REGRESSIVE HOWEVER,  EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND REINVESTMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST. CITIES WITH SPEED CHEESE HAVE USED REVENUE TO FUND PRE-K EDUCATION, IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE HEALTHY FOODS AND AND THEY HAVE PROVED THESE POLICIES CAN WORK TO BENEFIT THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY HEALTH INEQUITIES. THIS IS NOT JUST A POLICY TO REGULATE SUGARY DRINKS. IT'S A STEP TOWARDS A HEALTHIER, MORE EQUITABLE BOSTON. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WE BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS IS JUST A HEARING ORDER TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS AND RESIDENTS TO SHAPE A POLICY THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED VALUES. I KNOW THERE WILL BE DEBATES AND I WELCOME THEM. THIS PROCESS REQUIRES TIME TO SOCIALIZE THE IDEA WITH THE STATE HOUSE, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN A DESIGN, A POLICY THAT'S FAIR, EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE.  BUT IT'S WORTH HAVING THE CONVERSATION. LET'S THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN FOOD LITERACY. HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS. I PUT OUT A SUBSTACK THIS WEEKEND AND I'VE HEARD FROM MANY BOSTONIANS WHO HAVE VARYING OPINIONS BUT ONE ONE CRITICAL CRITICAL THING THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THIS SPENT IN JUST ANY WAY THEY WANT. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO DO IT TO MAKE BOSTON HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONVERSATION SO I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONSIDER HERE AND I'M GOING TO GO TO YOUR CO-SPONSOR NEXT BUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T SAY IT AGAIN LIKE LAST WEEK AND I JUST HEARD THE CLOCK GO OFF FOR NEW MATTERS THE RULE OF 3 MINUTES CO-SPONSORS 2 MINUTES AND ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER AND RECOMMENDING FOR REFILLS THAT FOLKS STICK TO 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE SO THAT THEIR REAL WORK CAN HAPPEN IN THE WORKING SESSIONS AND IN THE HEARINGS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THAT AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I APPRECIATE THE REMINDER.  I'LL BE BRIEF. I AM THIS COMBINES TO TWO OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS WHICH IS HEALTH AND FOOD POLICY AND TAX REVENUES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO WHEN WHEN I SAW THIS GO THROUGH THE AGENDA I REACHED OUT TO TO COUNCILOR DURKAN TO ADD ME AS A SECOND CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY HOT TOPIC IN THE CITY AND HAS BEEN FOR QUITE QUITE A WHILE. I REMEMBER WHEN THEN FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA HAD PUT THIS IDEA OUT THERE AND IF PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT AND I APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN OR FOLKS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO PROVIDE THEIR PERSPECTIVES INCLUDING THE TEAMSTERS. I SPOKE TO THEM THIS MORNING AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION AND IT REALLY IS JUST A CONVERSATION. THIS IS A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS A FEASIBILITY IN THE IMPACT OF SOME SORT OF TAX LIKE THIS.  WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ALREADY AND THERE ANOTHER ECONOMIC ARGUMENT TO THIS AS WELL BUT THE IMPACT OF PREVENTABLE DISEASES LIKE DIABETES, HEART DISEASE AND OBESITY CONDITIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES THERE'S ALSO BEEN INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE IN CITIES LIKE PHILADELPHIA, OAKLAND AND SEATTLE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO AS MODELS OR OR LESSONS LEARNED. SO I DO LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING INTO THE FULL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS TAX CAREFULLY CONSIDERING CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND JUST IN GENERAL LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST WANTED TO HEAR AGAIN THE FLOOR THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAKERS FOR FILING THIS AS SOON AS I START I GOT REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I AM A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE.  I ACTUALLY STARTED MY CAREER IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SPACE AND SO I HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING SOME ORGANIZING AROUND ISSUES LIKE THIS NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT NATIONALLY AND IN THAT IN AND WHEN I STARTED I REACHED OUT TO SOME FOLKS THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT THEY ADVISED ME TO BE MINDFUL OF IS THAT IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR ALREADY AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE ALREADY FEEL UNDER ATTACK RIGHT LIKE AND PEOPLE ARE TELLING THEM WHAT THEY CAN EAT, WHAT THEY CAN DRINK, HOW THEY GET YOU KNOW. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE BEING MINDFUL OF NOT YOU KNOW, MINIMIZING HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEN THE OTHER CONCERN THAT WAS THAT BUBBLED UP TO THE TOP IS A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, A LOT OF THEM ARE LOCAL BODEGAS AND YOU KNOW, CORNER STORE FOLKS WHO ARE OPERATING BUSINESSES THEY ALREADY FEELING THE CRUNCH, ALREADY FEELING UNDER ATTACK. SO AS YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MODELING THE BEHAVIOR OF BEING BALANCED AND MAKING SURE THAT THE HEARING ORDER ARE LISTENING TO SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEIR ROLE AND AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AND THEN ALSO SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM FOLKS WHO ARE LOW INCOME WHO FEEL A PERSONAL ATTACK ON THEM. THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT I'VE HEARD FROM SOME FOLKS THAT THEY FEEL TARGETED BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOW INCOME. YOU'RE GOING TO RISE THERE THEIR ABILITY TO DRINK SODA. THEY JUST FEEL A LITTLE BIT TARGETED AND NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING BUT THAT'S JUST THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR JUST WOULDN'T BE WHO I AM IF I DIDN'T BRING IT TO THE CHAMBER. SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS BUT REALLY EXCITED FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH TO HAVE AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS HEARD AND WE COME UP WITH SOME VIABLE SOLUTIONS THAT EVERYBODY WINS. THAT'S THE GOAL IS FOR EVERYBODY TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ONE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME FOR PLENTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.  I ALSO HEARD THIS MORNING FROM TEAMSTERS 25 AND THEY WERE CLEARLY CLEARLY OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA. THERE'S MANY TEAMSTERS IN MY DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH BOSTON THAT HAVE CALLED ME THIS MORNING ABOUT THIS.  THE OTHER ASPECT I WANTED TO MAKE IS DURING DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CHALLENGING TIMES IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR ANOTHER TAX AND THEN IT WILL IMPACT IN MY OPINION IT WILL IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS . IT WILL ALSO IMPACT BUSINESSES. IT IMPACT THE DOWNTOWN AREA TOO . WE HAD A CONGESTION TAX COMING INTO THE DOWNTOWN.  BUT I GUESS MY POINT IS DURING CHALLENGING TIMES IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO ADD MORE TAXES. WE NEED TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS IN NOT HIT THEM WITH AS MANY TAXES AS WE HAVE BEEN. WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY DISCIPLINED AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU, MICHEL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS SANTANA WEBER WERE ALL PLEASE OF THE CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 0250 WILL BE VALID WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.  MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 0251 LUCKY NUMBER 0251 COUNCILOR DURKAN OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO INVESTIGATE THE USE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL OR BAN OF ALGORITHMIC PRICE SETTING IN THE BOSTON RENTAL HOUSING MARKET. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN HAS REJECTED YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILOR SANTANA AS A SECOND CO-SPONSOR. AND PURSUANT TO RULE 12 ADD COUNCILOR ADD YOU AS A THIRD. THANK YOU. YOU CAN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CANCEL S.A. ADDED AS A SECOND. AND COUNCILOR DURKAN SEEKS TO SUSPEND THE RULES ADD ME AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS I'M SO ADDED COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS IS A REFILE BUT I RISE TODAY TO RE-INTRODUCE THIS URGENT MATTER THAT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTING AFFORDABILITY AND FAIRNESS OF OUR CITY'S HOUSING MARKET. BUT SINCE WE LAST I LAST INTRODUCED THIS THE COMMONWEALTH'S AG HAS JOINED UP AS A PARTY WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND NINE OTHER STATES IN A CIVIL ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST REALPAGE, A LEADING MAKER OF RENTAL ALGORITHMIC PRICE SETTING SOFTWARE AND SIX OF THE NATION'S LARGEST LANDOWNERS. AND JUST THIS WEEK I HEARD FROM A TENANT THAT LIVES IN DISTRICT EIGHT WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY WERE TARGETED BY THIS PRICE SETTING SOFTWARE WHEN THEY LOOKED ONLINE AND THEY SAW THEIR SAME APARTMENT FOR $500 LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE NEGOTIATING AS FAR AS THEIR LEASE RENEWAL. SO I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT A LANDLORD IN MY DISTRICT IS USING THIS AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THAT THE AG SIGNING ON MEANS THAT WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO AND THIS COULD INVOLVE ESSENTIALLY YOUR LANDLORD DOING A CREDIT CHECK ON YOU AND DECIDING THAT BECAUSE YOUR CREDIT IS SO GOOD YOU COULD PAY MORE MONEY FOR YOUR RENT. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING AND THIS NEEDS TO BE BANNED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. HONESTLY, WHEN WE SAY LET THE MARKET TO DECIDE RENTS, THIS IS NOT LETTING THE MARKET DECIDE. THIS IS LETTING A PROGRAM DECIDE HOW MUCH RENT YOU CAN PAY.  ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. AND I'M EXCITED TO WORK ON IT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK, PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS COLETTE ZAPATA HERE. WEBER PLEASE THE NAME ON IT AND CANCEL OUT THIS DOCKET.  DOCKET NUMBER 0251 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  MR KARP, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0252 DUNCAN AMBER 0252 COUNCIL OFFLINE OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS EXPANDING THE URBAN TREE CANOPY IN DISTRICT TWO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FLYNN KANSAS OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU, MADAM MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD COUNCILOR DURKAN AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CASPER DURKAN IS ADDED AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  I WILL BE BRIEF. THIS IS A BRIEF FILE FROM LAST YEAR DISCUSSED STRATEGIES EXPANDING URBAN TREE CANOPY AND DISTRICT TWO WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THE AREAS WITH THE LEAST TREE COVERAGE SUCH AS SOUTH BOSTON, CHINATOWN VARIOUS PLACES IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON AS OF 2019 SOUTH BOSTON HAD 8% TREE COVERAGE CHINATOWN HAD 7% COMPARED TO CITYWIDE AVERAGE 27% HEALTHY URBAN TREE CANOPY IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY OF LIFE TREES NOT ONLY PROVIDE BEAUTIFICATION THEY ABSORB EXCESSIVE STORMWATER RUNOFF, FILTER POLLUTION PROVIDE SHADE COMBAT TO HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. WE SPECIALLY SEE THAT IN CHINATOWN AND BRING A HOST OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS DISTRICT TWO AND CHINATOWN. DOWNTOWN SOUTH BOSTON CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE TREE PLANTINGS INCREASING OUR TREE CANOPY SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO COMBAT HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH LOW COVERAGE IN DISTRICT TWO.  THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THANK YOU FOR THIS BRIEF. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT BRIEF IF YOU'RE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK YOU MAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR ADDING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. TREES OPEN SPACE AND THE STREET TREES AND URBAN CANOPY IS OUR THE LUNGS OF OUR CITY. SO I THINK AS WE THINK ABOUT THINGS IN OUR SPECIFIC DISTRICTS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN DISTRICT TWO MATTERS TO DISTRICT EIGHT AND WHAT HAPPENS AROUND OUR CITY AND HOW MANY TREES WE HAVE IT DEEPLY IMPACTS OUR HEALTH.  SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR FILING THIS. THANK YOU.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNTERFEITS JERROLD MEJIA. ZAPATA MURPHY SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE EITHER CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0252 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, RESILIENCY AND PARKS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 025320253 COUNCIL PLAIN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON'S OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES. THE JARGON IS CONSTITUTIONAL. FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SORRY NOW JIM I HAD COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CASPER MURPHY. SO ADDED COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS A REFILE FILE. THE OF BOSTON OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR VETERANS MILITARY FAMILIES CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE EARNED AND THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE AND PARTNERS TO EMPOWER AND SUPPORT VETERANS MILITARY FAMILIES.  WE HAVE A DIVERSE VETERANS COMMUNITY HERE IN BOSTON IN CRITICAL NEEDS THAT THEY DO THAT THEY WANT US TO FOCUS ON. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE THERE. WE SUPPORT ALL VETERANS.  WE SUPPORT ALL VETERANS ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT NEED GENDER SPECIFIC HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN VETERANS RESPECT HEALTH CARE FOR OUR LGBTQ VETERANS AS WELL HOUSING SERVICES FOR OUR HOMELESS VETERANS AS WE KNOW THAT THE LARGEST POPULATION OF HOMELESS VETERANS NOW IS WOMEN, VETERANS, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES PROUDLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY A FEW YEARS AGO THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO CUT VETERANS SERVICES. THIS WAS THE MOST DISAPPOINTING YEAR ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THAT WHEN THAT VOTE TOOK PLACE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ALWAYS STAND WITH OUR VETERANS. I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THIS HEARING TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER COUNSELOR MURPHY THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. THIS IS A REFILE SO I WAS GOING TO GO TO YOU IF I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LIGHT ON. BUT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YES, BUT LIKE IT WAS STATED LAST WEEK BY OTHER COLLEAGUES TO MANY WATCHING IT MAY BE NEW AND WAS NOT ON AND I WAS ADDED ON THE FLOOR AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SO I DO JUST WANT TO SPEAK IT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR FILING THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED I KNOW IN MY FIRST BUDGET CYCLE FOR BUDGETS AGO WAS HOW SMALL OUR BUDGET IS FOR THE VETERAN SERVICES. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED. SO I THINK THIS IS VERY TIMELY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING WITH COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER GOALS AND PRIORITIES IF WE CAN EXPAND IN ANY WAY IN SUPPORT GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. SO THANK YOU.  AS YOU KNOW, AS A DAUGHTER AND PROUD MOTHER OF A VETERAN, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO ARE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK TO THAT COUNCIL IS CLARE ZAPATA DURKAN FITZGERALD SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0253 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.  MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0254.0254 COUNCILOR OVERALL FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS LONG TERM CITY JOB VACANCIES THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES OR OUTCOMES ARE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AS A ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. CASA'S JOE ALSO ADDED CONTRARIANS AND I LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULE AND RULES AND ADD COUNCIL ME HERE AS A THIRD DIVISION COUNTER ALSO SUSPEND THE RULES WHEN IT COMES TO ME HE HAS A THIRD RAIL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTION SHE SO ADDED COUNCIL EARLIER THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THIS IS A REFILE AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT AS A BODY AND AS A CITY WE SHOULD HAVE AN ANNUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE JOB VACANCY JOB VACANCIES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AS OF APRIL 2024 WE HAD 2000 VACANCIES AND THAT WAS ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH. I THINK AS A CITY AND AS A BODY WE SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY REPURPOSE MAKE THOSE JOBS BETTER, CARE ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THOSE JOBS FOR FUTURE YEARS OR EVERY YEAR. OH SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON JOB VACANCIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GERALD. I SEE YOU TRYING TO MOVE IT ALONG LIKE YOU SAID AND LIKE I WANTED.  ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO ADD THEIR NAME? THE CHAIR MR QUICK PLEASE. THAT COUNCIL'S CLLR ZAPATA DURKAN MURPHY WEBER PLEASE. A CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0254 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0255 DUNCAN EMMA 0255 COUNCIL OF FLYNN ON THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS NEW CANCER PRESUMPTIONS ANNOUNCED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LAST WEEK THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OBVIOUSLY OF PRESIDENT BIDEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS THEY ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION OF SEVERAL TYPES OF CANCERS TO BE PRESUMPTIVE FOR SERVICE CONNECTION THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT VETERANS THAT WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THESE VARIOUS TYPES OF CANCERS. IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS AT THE VA SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE. IT MIGHT BE COMPENSATION, IT MIGHT BE EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS THE SIGNING OF THE PACK ACT BY PRESIDENT BIDEN IN 2020 TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO IN THE LOBBYING CONGRESS.  DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT EXPANDED BENEFITS TO OVER 3.5 MILLION U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS EXPOSED TO BURN PITS. AGENT ORANGE ARE THE TALKS TOXIC SUBSTANCE. WHILE SERVING OVERSEAS I WAS ALWAYS ALSO EXPOSED TO MANY OF THESE BURN PITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES PRIOR TO THE PACT ACT PASSAGE. MANY VETERANS LACK THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT THESE TOXIC EXPOSURES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT.  I'M CALLING FOR THIS HEARING TO DISCUSS THE NEW VA ANNOUNCEMENT HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY'S OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCE.  AS FOR OUR GULF WAR AND POST-9-11 VETERANS WHO WANT TO SEEK CARE THROUGH THE VA. ALSO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT OUR VIETNAM VETERANS TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF CANCERS THAT THEY WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE VA THAT THOSE TYPES OF CANCER NOW CAN BE FACTORED IN IN TERMS OF THEIR COMPENSATION AND MEDICAL CARE.  RETURNING VIETNAM VETERANS WERE NOT TREATED WITH RESPECT WHEN THEY CAME BACK HOME AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE ALWAYS UPDATE AND ENSURE THAT POLICIES THAT TAKE PLACE AT THE VA RESPECT OUR VIETNAM VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TOO. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHEN LAWS CHANGE AND WE GET NEW INFORMATION THAT OUR OFFICE OF VETERAN SERVICES MAY NEED TO ADJUST THEIR GOALS AND PRIORITIES. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND MAKING SURE THAT HIS TEAM OVER AT VETERAN SERVICES HAS ALL THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS DURKIN FITZGERALD. MCGWIRE. SANTANA WEBER.  WE'RE ALL PLEASED THAT THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER OH OH, I'M SORRY. GO TO A CO-SPONSOR ON THE DOCKET AND COUNCILOR MURPHY, CAN YOU ADD HER TO.  OKAY. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER ZERO TWO. DOCKET NUMBER 0255 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS MILITARY FAMILIES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 02560256 COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS DISCREPANCIES IN BOSTON'S 2024 DETAINER REQUESTS ,THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FOR ANY OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  MADAM CHAIR, I'M CALLING FOR THIS HEARING TO DISCUSS THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE NUMBER OF DETAINER REQUESTS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON.  LAST WEEK THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATED IN NEVADA TO THE CLERK AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IT HAD REJECTED 15 DETAINER REQUESTS THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND IN 2024 MEDIA REPORTS LATER INDICATED THAT ICE DISPUTED THAT CLAIM AND THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY 198 IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUESTS FAR HIGHER THAN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED. REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE CRIMINAL CHARGES ON THE DETAINER REQUEST INCLUDE VIOLENT AND SERIOUS CRIMES SUCH AS ARMED ROBBERY ASSAULT WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON, ASSAULT AND BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER ASSAULTS A MURDER POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF A LARGE CAPACITY WEAPON POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL, TRAFFICKING OF HEROIN AND INDECENT ASSAULT AND BATTERY IN OTHERS.  THERE WAS A LARGE DISCREPANCY IN THE NUMBERS OBVIOUSLY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS BODY IN THE PUBLIC EYE PROVIDED CLARIFICATION AND EXPLANATION OF THOSE DISCREPANCIES TO DISPEL ANY CONCERNS WHETHER WE SUPPORT ICE OR WE DON'T SUPPORT ICE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET ACCURATE INFORMATION.  IN MY OPINION WHEN SOMEONE COMMITS A CRIME REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS WE CAN'T STAND IN THE WAY OF JUSTICE FOR A VICTIM OR RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND SOCIETY.  THERE HAVE BEEN MEDIA REPORTS THAT THESE DISCREPANCIES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE USE OF A FAX MACHINE AND OR E-MAILS. I DON'T KNOW.  WE CAN'T PUT PUBLIC SAFETY AT RISK DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES. IT IS CRITICAL WE GET BOSTON POLICE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING VIOLENT AND SERIOUS OFFENSES. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT SENDING, SENDING AND RECEIVING A FAX REGARDING A DETAINER IS NOT THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY FOR FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF LOG SYSTEM WHERE WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY DETAINERS ARE ARE BEING RECEIVED BY BY AND FROM THE BOSTON POLICE. I ALSO SENT A LETTER TO COMMISSIONER COX ASKING IF HE WOULD MEET WITH THE ICE DIRECTOR HERE IN BOSTON TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.  I HOPE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE BOSTON POLICE WITH REGARD TO THESE NUMBERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR MURPHY THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0257 NUMBERS 0257 COUNCILOR FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS ACCESSIBILITY IN BOSTON CITY HALL.  THE CHAIR I CAN I JUST WANT TO FILL IN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION ON THE BOOK. I FILED THIS HEARING ON IT BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE MAKE ACCESSIBILITY A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL IN OUR CITY ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS PERSONS WITH JUST DISABILITIES. JUST LAST WEEK I TALKED AT THE COUNCIL ABOUT HOW OUR FRIEND MIKE THE 14TH CITY COUNCIL WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE CHAMBER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO THAT DOOR. WE KNOW THAT OVER THE YEARS BOSTON CITY HALL HAS MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ADA IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.  SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES INCLUDE A NEW ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE ON THE SECOND FLOOR A SLOPING PROMENADE AND CITY HALL PLAZA RENOVATION IN 2022 WHICH BEGAN UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAY OF WALSH.  IT WAS COMPLETED UNDER MAYOR WORLD. IT WAS ALSO THE INSTALLATION OF A VERTICAL LIFT AT THE CITY COUNCIL'S THIRD FLOOR ENTRANCE AT THE MEZZANINE LEVEL. I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE THAT LIST. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT LIST. HOWEVER THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY INSIDE THE BUILDING. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO LIMIT ACCESSIBILITY IN CERTAIN AREAS SUCH AS THE BROKEN ESCALATORS CONNECTING THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR AS WELL AS HALF FLOOR BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR AND CITY HALL LABEL THE THIRD FLOOR ON THE NORTH ELEVATOR.  AS WE ALL KNOW THESE ESCALATORS HAVE BEEN DOWN FOR SOME QUITE TIME MAYBE OVER A YEAR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REVIEW ACCESS WITHIN OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING TO ENSURE THOSE WITH DISABILITIES CAN FULLY ACCESS ALL SPORTS DEPARTMENTS MEETING ROOMS WHEN THEY VISIT CITY HALL RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS TELL ME IT MAY BE DIFFICULT AND CONFUSING FOR THEM SOMETIMES TO NAVIGATE CITY HALL WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN CITY SERVICES ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE TO REACH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.  THEY MAY COME IN FROM THE CITY HALL PLAZA OR CONGRESS STREET FROM THE GARAGE AREA AND USE A SOUTH ELEVATOR TO GO PAY A TICKET OR GET A BIRTH CERTIFICATE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OR VISIT ASSESSING ON THE ON THE THIRD FLOOR BUT WHAT THE ESCALATOR DOWN THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE STAIRS OR NAVIGATE THEIR WAY TO FIND THE NORTH ELEVATOR TO GET THE TAX COLLECTION DIVISION OR TAX ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR AND OR THE CITY OF BOSTON CREDIT UNION IN THAT KIND OF HALF FLOOR BETWEEN THE MEZZANINE AREA ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND THE SECOND FLOOR I KNOW I KNOW THIS ISSUE VERY WELL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING TO CITY HALL MAYBE 40 YEARS. IN NOVEMBER I REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONER SHELTON WHO MENTIONED THAT THE EXISTING ESCALATE IS HAVE BEEN FULLY DECOMMISSIONED AS THEY ARE BEYOND REPAIR NOT CODE COMPLIANT AND NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CITY IS WORKING TO REPLACE THESE ESCALATORS WITH NEW STAIRS IN A FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOUR STOP ELEVATOR. AND WHILE THE DESIGN PHASE IS ONGOING BUT THE TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION REMAINS UNCLEAR. I ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE SAFETY OF THE MAIN STAIRCASE ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND THE HEARING ALL THE SHORT LENGTH OF THE BRICKS AND THE REFLECTIVE SHINE MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE WALKING DOWN FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR TO THE THIRD FLOOR. AND WHILE THE CURRENT GUARDRAILS HELP I BELIEVE THE SAFETY OF THESE STAIRS NEED TO BE ENHANCED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM TRIPPING AND GETTING SERIOUS SERIOUSLY HURT.  BASICALLY THE AREA WHERE A LOT OF THE FUNCTIONS TAKE PLACE RIGHT BELOW THE FIFTH FLOOR WHERE WE CELEBRATED THREE KINGS DAY TWO WEEKS AGO. THAT'S THE AREA I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT FOR MANY SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THERE. HAVE WE EVER SEEN A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR ACTUALLY COME UP THAT LIFT? I HAVE BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THAT'S THE REASON WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S RESPECTFUL TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. I BELIEVE THOSE STAIRCASE THOSE STAIRS ARE UNSAFE. WHEN YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THOSE STAIRS IF YOU EVER FELT YOUR LIFE COULD BE OVER I'M NOT I'M NOT BEING DRAMATIC HERE BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S THAT SERIOUS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR MUST BE A PRIORITY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT CHIEF IRISH COMMISSIONER SHELTON COMMISSIONER MCCOSH ARE CONTINUING TO DO TO MAKE CITY HALL MORE ACCESSIBLE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN, FOR THIS THOUGHTFUL HEARING.  WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. I KNOW WHEN WE HAD A HEARING HERE IN THE CHAMBER ABOUT THE LIFT I SPOKE ON, MY AUNTIE COULD NOT COME TO MY SWEARING IN IN 2021 WE WERE OUTSIDE AS SOME OF US HERE REMEMBER AND THE COLD.  BEING SWORN IN OUTSIDE THE MEZZANINE THERE AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS SO SHE HAD TO MISS OUT ON THAT EVENT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET HER TO THAT LEVEL IN THE BUILDING. AND I'M STILL SHOCKED THAT YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS HERE WORKING IN CITY HALL AND I KNOW LONG BEFORE COMING THAT THOSE ESCALATORS ARE STILL NOT WORKING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE USING SOME OF OUR RAINY DAY FUND TO FIX THAT. I KNOW LIKE YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT FOR YEARS NOW WE'VE HAD BROKEN ESCALATORS IN ELEVATORS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING THE CITY'S BUILDING. IT SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT A LANDMARK AND IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT BUILDING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE AT ALL FLOORS FROM ALL DOORS, FROM ALL WAYS IN AND OUT AND THAT NO ONE FEELS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN ROOMS OR SPACES THAT THEY DON'T BELONG BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE YOU DON'T BELONG HERE IF WE'RE NOT MAKING SURE THAT YOU CAN EASILY GET THERE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REMEMBERING PEOPLE'S DIGNITY. PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS OR WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES DO NOT WANT TO MAKE A SCENE OR FEEL LIKE PEOPLE HAVE TO LIFT THEM IN ANY WAY. SO WE NEED TO DO BETTER. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT JUST HAVING THIS HEARING BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AND THAT THIS WORK GETS STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR THIS HEARING ORDER.  I KNOW THAT LAST WEEK I BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR WHICH I'VE PROVIDED A COMMUNICATION ABOUT BUT I BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR THE LANDMARKING OF CITY HALL SO I THINK THE COMMUNICATION THAT I OFFERED WHICH IS ON ALL OF YOUR DESKS SHARE IS THAT CITY HALL BECAME A LANDMARK ON MONDAY BUT I DID WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY COMMISSIONER SHELTON WHICH I KNOW COUNCILOR FLYNN MENTIONED AND COMMISSIONER MCCOSH I THINK THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BUILDING DESPITE ITS INTE YOU KNOW,  DESPITE ITS ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY AND IMPORTANCE ALSO MEETS THOSE NEEDS FOR EVERY SINGLE CITY WORKER AND EVERY PERSON WHO NEEDS TO ACCESS THIS BUILDING. AND I KNOW FROM SPEAKING WITH COMMISSIONER SHELTON AND CHIEF IRISH THAT THEY SHARE THESE GOALS AS WELL. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THIS HEARING AND ACTUALLY I LOOK OUT ON TO THAT. I KNOW COUNCILOR FLYNN LOOKS OUT TO FANEUIL HALL. I LOOK OUT TO THE CENTER OF OF OUR COURTYARD AND I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE 911 HAVE ACCESS AND WE'RE THINKING OF WAYS TO MAKE THIS BUILDING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. SO I APPRECIATE EVEN IN THE WAYS THAT WE'VE LANDMARKED THE BUILDING MAKING SURE THAT IT CAN LIVE UP TO ITS ORIGINAL USE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR ENGAGING THAT CONVERSATION AND EXCITED TO CELEBRATE CITY HALL'S A LANDMARK THIS SUMMER WHEN THE ARCHITECTURAL NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL CONFERENCE COMES TO BOSTON. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK TO THAT COUNCIL'S COURT AS OPPOSED TO DURKIN FITZGERALD HERE MURPHY SANTANA WEBER WORLD HIS OTHER CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0257 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES AND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY.  MR. CLERK PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 0258 AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR AND DOCKET NUMBER 0258 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. QUERY DOCKET NUMBER 0259 DUGAN NUMBER 0259 COUNCILOR FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF THE ELEVATORS AT THE VHA RUTH BARCLAY APARTMENTS THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KINDS OF FUN KIND OF FUN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I FILED A HEARING REGARDING AGING ELEVATOR SYSTEMS AT VHA IN NOVEMBER. I HELD A HEARING ON THIS ISSUE AND I'M SORRY MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WEREN'T HERE FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL HEARING AND WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS FROM THE SOUTH END ROSA BARCLAY THESE WERE HEART WRENCHING STORIES.  THEY TALKED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET GROCERIES, PICK UP MEDICATION, STAYING ACTIVE, GOING TO MEDICAL, FAMILY AND SOCIAL APARTMENTS. I MENTIONED A WOMAN THAT WAS UNABLE TO GET TO HER CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE ELEVATOR WAS BROKE . THEY TALKED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET UPSTAIRS AND USE THE BATHROOM AT TIME.  SO WE HAVE TO MAKE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IS NOW SEEN AS A PRIORITY.  IT'S A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE. IT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE AT ROOT BERKELEY AND THROUGHOUT VHA DEVELOPMENTS IN DECEMBER 2020 FULL OF RESIDENT RESIDENTS LET ME KNOW THAT THE ELEVATOR OUTAGES HAVE CONTINUED.  I VISITED THEM MANY TIMES. ONE RESIDENT MISSED AS I MENTIONED TO TWO CHEMOTHERAPY SESSIONS AS A RESULT OF THESE DOWN ELEVATORS.  CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT WAITING GETTING READY FOR YOUR CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENT, READY TO LEAVE YOUR APARTMENT AND THE ELEVATOR DOESN'T WORK AND RUTH BARCLAY WENT OUT OUTRAGED ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK RECENTLY COMMUNICATED THAT VHA IS WORKING TOWARDS AN ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PLAN TO INSTALL EIGHT NEW ELEVATORS AT RUTH BARCLAY AND HAS PUT IT OUT TO A BIT. THIS WAS JUST RECENT. WELL THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE VHA CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE TO COMMUNICATE THESE PLANS AND PROTOCOL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO RESIDENTS ENSURE THE RESIDENTS DO NOT MISS ANY CRITICAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS,  SCREENINGS, VISITS WITH THEIR FAMILY ELEVATOR ACCESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SENIORS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS HEARING WILL AGAIN WE'LL DISCUSS THE LATEST STATUS OF THE ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION AT RUTH BARCLAY APARTMENTS AND PLANS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO NEED TO GO TO CRITICAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DURING THESE ELEVATOR OUTAGES.  IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WE TALK ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT COULD BE A BETTER USE OF OUR TIME EFFORT AND MONEY THAN FOCUSING ON ADA ACCESSIBILITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, RESPECT MOST OF ALL FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND FINALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IF WE IF WE ARE NOT IN COMPLIANT WITH ADA RELATED ISSUES IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE WITH SUBJECTED TO FEDERAL LAW.  I'M ONLY GOING TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN I'M GOING TO SEND A LETTER FROM ME TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT RESIDENTS IN MANY OF OUR VHA DEVELOPMENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATOR SITUATION.  IT'S THAT SERIOUS OF AN ISSUE. IT'S LIFE AND DEATH.  WE CAN'T SIT BACK AND SAY WELL I'M NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND A PREVIOUS COLLEAGUE OF MINE. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSTITUENTS I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE RESIDENTS. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING TO THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.  THAT'S MY ONLY PRIORITY.  AN ELDERLY PERSON THAT WANTS TO VISIT HER FAMILY ON THANKSGIVING SHE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T GO DOWN THE ELEVATOR SYSTEM TO HER DAUGHTER WAS DOWN THERE WAITING FOR HER AND SHE COULDN'T VISIT TO GO OUT FOR DINNER BECAUSE THE ELEVATOR WASN'T BROKEN. ANOTHER WOMAN TOLD ME SHE WAS WAITING 4 HOURS FOR THE ELEVATOR TO TAKE HER TO APARTMENT. SHE HAD TO USE THE BATHROOM.  THERE WAS NO BATHROOM THERE.  IT'S ABOUT RESPECT. IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.  WE SEE A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHY ISN'T IT A PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS OF BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM? THEY MAY NOT HAVE POLITICAL SUPPORT. THEY MAY NOT SEND CHECKS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY MAY NOT BE GOING TO THESE FANCY COCKTAIL PARTIES BUT THEY DESERVE RESPECT. THEY DESERVE DIGNITY AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START SHOWING IT TO THEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLAIRE, PLEASE. I CAN JUST CUT AS A PARTNER FITZGERALD MARIA MURPHY SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE HAVE THE CHAIR.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 026040, THAT DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0259 WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TO NUMBER 02600260 COUNCILORS WERE ON PARADE AND ON FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE USE OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIRMAN AS HIS COUNCILOR ARE OUT.  I'M SORRY I HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS A REAL REFILE FROM LAST YEAR AND COUNCILOR BREADON AND THE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN LED THE WAY ON THIS IMPORTANT IMPORTANT ISSUE. SO WE'RE EAGER TO CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM AND WE WERE ASKED BY COUNCILOR BREADON TO REFILE THIS THE BATTERY BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN OUR ENERGY GRID AND SUPPORT OUR TRANSITION TO A NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY. BUT THEY ALSO RAISED SAFETY AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS WITH PROPOSED FACILITIES IN BRIGHTON AND POTENTIALLY DORCHESTER OR ROSLINDALE. WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION ON BEST PRACTICES ON SEEING IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE AS A CITY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING AS WE EXPAND OUR ENERGY GRID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK IS THAT COUNCILORS CUT AS A PARTY DURKAN MEJIA MURPHY SANTANA WEBER PLEASE OF THE CHAIR.  DOCKET NUMBER 0260 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, RESILIENCY AND PARKS. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE TO NUMBER 02610261 COUNCILOR WEBER FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS PROGRAMING NEEDS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. WEBER BE ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.  COUNCILOR WAS JO TOO SO ADDED AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES IN A COUNCIL ROLE AS A AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR CASTROL COUNCILOR WEBER SAYING SUSPEND THE RULES IN AREAS WHERE I WAS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR ALSO ADDED BECAUSE WHEREVER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH I THINK PROVIDING FOR OUR SENIORS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK WE WOULD EVER HAVE A DEBATE ON. I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS COUNCIL AGREES THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW HOW MANY RESOURCES WE CAN USE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR SENIORS, NOT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY NEARLY EVERY RESIDENT OF BOSTON REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LAND ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. LAST APRIL WE HELD A HEARING REVIEWING PROGRAMING AVAILABLE TO SENIORS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SINCE THEN A STRONG COMMISSIONER EMILY SHEA HAS SHARED A PLANNING REPORT ON THE NEED FOR EXPANDING PROGRAMING AND SPACES FOR ADULTS 60 AND OLDER IN BOSTON AS A REPORT STATES BY 2030 OVER 20% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION WILL BE 60 OR OLDER AND PROGRAMING AND SPACES TO GATHER WILL SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR SENIORS AS THEY AGE. YOU KNOW, I AM FILING THIS JUNE IN ORDER TO EXPLORE EXPANDING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO OLDER ADULTS ESPECIALLY IN WEST ROXBURY, REMOVING BARRIERS THAT OLDER ADULTS FACE WHEN ACCESSING THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND TO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A SENIOR CENTER IN WEST ROXBURY TO BEST SERVE THIS GROWING POPULATION.  I THINK ETHOS RUNS A GREAT POP UP AT THE ELKS LODGE IN WEST ROXBURY. I WAS THERE LAST WEEK WHEN I HEAR FROM THOSE AT THE ETHOS PROGRAM IT'S THEY TELL ME HOW BENEFICIAL THIS PROGRAM IS, HOW MUCH THEY RELY ON THIS PROGRAM TO DO ACTIVITIES LIKE CHAIR YOGA, YOU KNOW, AND AND OTHER THINGS. BUT ALSO JUST TO GATHER HAVE A SPACE TO MEET UP WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND THEIR FELLOW SENIORS.  YOU KNOW, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO MY PREDECESSOR KENDRA LORA HELD A HEARING ON AT THE SENIOR POP UP IN WEST ROXBURY THAT WAS CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS FLAHERTY AND MADAM PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT THEY DID HAVE AN ON SITE HEARING IN WEST ROXBURY TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING PROGRAMING AND SEE WHETHER A SENIOR CENTER IN WEST ROXBURY WOULD BE FEASIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND AS IS CUSTOMARY JODY ON THE FLOOR THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  COUNCIL MEMBER PUT IT ELOQUENTLY BUT JUST IN BRIEF THIS IS ALL PART OF TRYING TO KEEP FAMILIES IN THE CITY AS PARENTS AGE AND AS WE WELCOME NEW FAMILIES INTO THE CITY TO TRY AND KEEP THEM HERE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS THEY AGE THEY DO HAVE ACTIVITIES TO DO AND THINGS TO KEEP THEM ACTIVE AND AND ROOTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY RAISED THEIR FAMILIES. SO HAPPY TO TAKE PART IN THIS AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, FOR ADDING THANK YOU CHAIRMAN ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR?  YES. I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND OUT OF ME AS A ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR SENIORS HAVE MORE ACTIVITIES TO TO NOT ONLY DO BUT ALSO TO GET TO I THINK TRANSPORTATION IS ALSO A BIG PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. SO ANY WAY WE COULD PUT MORE AND MORE MONEY INTO EXPANDING THE HOURS, EXPANDING YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN YOU KNOW WHERE THEY CAN USE THAT TRANSPORTATION TO GO TO NOT JUST MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS,  MAYBE IT'S CITY EVENTS, MAYBE IT'S YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I HEAR THAT OUR SENIORS HAVE FOMO. THEY THEY WANT TO COME DOWN HERE TO THE FLAG RAISING IT TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING AT CITY HALL AND TO CONSCIOUS AS WELL. BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ANGELA YARDE WHO IS MY STRONG LIAISON WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME JUST DOING SENIOR LUNCHEONS AND ENGAGING THE SENIORS AND I JUST WANT TO JUST SHOUT OUT A FEW PEOPLE FROM DORCHESTER AND MATTAPAN DOING SENIOR WORK BARBER CRITCHLOW, MANLEY FORMAN,  CHARLIE SHILLINGFORD AND I KNOW I MISSED A FEW OTHER PEOPLE BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN MY DISTRICT DOING THIS WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME IS INCLUDED BECAUSE THAT COUNCIL IS CALLED AS OPPOSED TO DURKAN FLYNN HERE MURPHY SANTANA PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0261 WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.  MR QUOTE WOULD YOU PLEASE READ TALKING NUMBER 02620262 COUNCILOR DURKIN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A PARK TO ADMINISTER AREA FOR DOWNTOWN PARKS INCLUDING THE BOSTON COMMON PUBLIC GARDEN, COMMONWEALTH AVENUE MALL, COPLEY SQUARE AND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS PARK. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN.  COUNCILOR DURKAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO ADD YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS A SECOND OR AS A CO-SPONSOR AND I'D LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR CARLOTTA ZAPATA AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR. I AM ADDED AS A SECOND CO-SPONSOR I'LL ADD COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA OH SURE. OKAY. EARLIER THIS WEEK TEMPORARY FENCING WAS PLACED ALONG THE BEACON STREET MALL IN THE BOSTON COMMON DUE TO A WATER MAIN REHABILITATION PROJECT BY THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION. WHILE THE PROJECT IS NECESSARY, THE LACK OF PRIOR COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS HIGHLIGHTS A CRITICAL GAP IN OUR PARK MANAGEMENT. IF BOSTON HAD A DEDICATED DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE LED TO A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND COORDINATED EFFORT A PERSON MINISTRY ORDER WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS PROJECT WELL IN ADVANCE AND THAT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND DUE TO OUR ROUTES WERE CLEARLY MARKED BEFORE A MAIN THOROUGHFARE WAS BLOCKED OFF TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS.  THANK YOU TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN FOR THEIR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF THIS VITAL ROLE WHILE WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM TO ENSURE OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS ARE TREATED WITH CARE, THEY HAVE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR A DOWNTOWN PARKS ADMINISTRATOR THIS ISSUE UNDERSCORES WHY THE CREATION OF A PARKS ADMINISTRATOR IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE BOSTON COMMON MASTER PLAN WITH OVER 150 MILLION AND PROPOSED INVESTMENTS WE CANNOT IMPLEMENT THIS VISION WITHOUT SOMEONE SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO OVERSEEING THE OPERATION AND PROGRAMING OF OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS. A PARKS ADMINISTRATOR WOULD CENTRALIZE MANAGEMENT, ENSURE THAT OUR PARKS REMAIN CLEAN, SAFE AND CLIMATE RESILIENT.  THERE IS CURRENTLY A FRANKLIN PARK ADMINISTRATOR SO WE HAVE A MODEL ON WHICH THIS ROLE CAN FUNCTION. LAST YEAR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF THIS NEW POSITION AND I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT AGAIN WITH THIS REFILING.  WE MUST PRIORITIZE THIS ROLE TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF BOSTON'S DOWNTOWN PARKS WHICH ARE USED BY EVERYONE AND ARE FOR EVERYONE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PRESERVING GREENSPACE, IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING CLEAR COMMUNICATION, THOUGHTFUL PLANNING AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF EVERYONE WHO USES THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR HERE AND I WILL ADD COUNCILOR. WE WILL ADD COUNCILOR ZAPATA AS A THIRD LATER ON BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? OH, COUNCILWOMAN, ARE YOU LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS DOCKET? THE CHAIRMAN HAS A ON THE FLOOR . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  PLEASE ADD MY NAME. SOME OF THESE AREAS SOME OF THESE PARKS ARE ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT TWO, ESPECIALLY THE THE COPLEY SQUARE AREA ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BOSTON COMMON IS IN THE AREA I REPRESENT.  HOWEVER, I HAVE WORKED ON THESE ISSUES FOR SEVEN YEARS AS A DISTRICT CITY COUNCILOR. I KNOW THESE ISSUES VERY WELL.  I DO SUPPORT AN ADMINISTRATIVE FOR THESE AREAS. I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. BUT IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE OBVIOUSLY AT FRANKLIN PARK WHICH WE ALL SUPPORT. BUT IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO EXPAND THIS TO OTHER PARKS ACROSS THE CITY THAT MAY ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT THEY NEED AN ADMINISTRATOR AT VARIOUS PARKS WHETHER IT'S TO A COMBINED JURISDICTION WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO COMBINE A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS? I'M KIND OF THINKING OUT LOUD BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SAY ONLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS. GOOD PROPOSAL. I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER PARKS ACROSS THE CITY. CAN ALSO BENEFIT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THE GOOD THING IS THAT I'M VERY CONSISTENT. SO LIKE WHEN I DIDN'T SUPPORT OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO PASS LIKE I USUALLY I SHOW UP CONSISTENTLY IN OPPOSITION OF SLOWING THINGS DOWN. I JUST HAD AN AFTERTHOUGHT SO. BUT ANYWAYS, I AM I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.  I THINK I MENTIONED IN SOME HEARING OR MAYBE IN ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT IT WASN'T UNTIL I BECAME A CITYWIDE COUNCILOR THAT I ACTUALLY EVEN WENT TO A PARK THAT WAS IN I THINK IN THE NORTH END OF COLUMBUS PARK. I THINK IT'S CALLED BUT IN ITS STARTLING RIGHT THAT CITY KIDS NEVER VENTURE OUTSIDE OF THEIR BACKYARDS RIGHT SO WE DON'T REALLY GO TO THE BOSTON COMMONS. WE DON'T REALLY GO TO YOU KNOW ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE YOU KNOW, SPACES AND PLACES AND I THINK THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATOR IN THAT ROLE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN BRING IN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO SOME OF THESE PARKS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MAINTAINING THE GROUNDS. IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT LOW INCOME PEOPLE ALSO KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THEIR PARKS TOO, RIGHT? SO SOUTH BOSTON, CHARLESTOWN, DORCHESTER, ROXBURY, MATTAPAN THOSE ARE AREAS THAT NORMALLY DON'T VENTURE OUT OR I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF LIKE GROWING UP HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON I NEVER REALLY WENT DOWNTOWN UNLESS I WAS TO TELL THOSE MAYBE YOU PROBABLY KNOW TELL US BUT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS. IT'S A STORE.  BUT ALL OF THIS TO SAY IS THAT I THINK THAT WHATEVER WE DO WE ALWAYS SHOULD JUST REALLY SUPER BE MINDFUL OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THAT WE'RE UTILIZING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE. AND AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, I'M TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME PEOPLE, I'M TALKING ABOUT ROXBURY CHARLESTOWN, WEST ROXBURY. I'M TALKING ABOUT SPACES AND PLACES THAT NORMALLY DON'T GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE BUT THAT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.  I WOULD LOVE TO JUST ADD THAT AS A CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS FLYNN MEJIA.  MURPHY SANTANA WEBER THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0 TO 6 TWO WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, RESILIENCY AND PURPOSE. PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0263 DUNCAN EMMA 0263 COUNCILOR DURKAN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO EXPLORE THE CREATION OF A CITYWIDE MERCHANDISE LICENSING PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL DURKAN CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IT'S QUITE AN EXCITING IDEA AND I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN SO MUCH FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS WHO WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY BOSTON IS A WORLD CLASS CITY CELEBRATED FOR OUR RICH HISTORY, VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND ON MATCH CULTURAL LEGACY. YET MANY OF OUR SYMBOLS AND LOGOS THAT EMBODY BOSTON'S IDENTITY REMAIN ON LICENSE LEAVING ON TAPPED OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT THERE'S BEEN AN UPDATE SINCE I INTRODUCED THIS IDEA WE WE FOUND WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH. WE FOUND THAT BOSTON OBVIOUSLY CAN GENERATE REVENUE. NEW YORK CITY BRINGS IN OVER $24 MILLION ANNUALLY. BEYOND REVENUE INITIAL INITIATIVES GOAL IS TO FOSTER PRIDE AMONG OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CITY OF BOSTON OWNED BUSINESSES. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M ENGAGING WITH THE BLUE CLASSROOM SCHOOL AND MBA STUDENTS THERE WHO ARE UNDERTAKING A VOLUNTEER CONSULTING STUDY THIS SEMESTER TO HELP GUIDE THE POTENTIAL STRUCTURE OF THIS PROGRAM. THIS HEARING WILL ALLOW US TO HEAR FROM A BROAD SWATH OF STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE CITY TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND COST AND CONSIDER HOW WE BEST STRUCTURE THIS. I KNOW WE'VE GOT ABUNDANCE OF CREATIVITY IN THIS CITY SO CREATIVITY ISN'T THE PROBLEM.  LET'S SET UP THE STRUCTURE. LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO IT. AND I KNOW THERE'S LOT OF EXCITEMENT FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS AND I'VE BEGUN THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A HEARING AND EXCITED TO HAVE IT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD MCGUIRE SANTANA WEBER THIS.  DOCKET NUMBER. DOCKET NUMBER 0263 WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE. MR. CLERK CAN WE COME BACK TO 0264? OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0265 DUNCAN EVA 0265 COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SLATED FOR CLOSURE OR MERGER. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAD THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M ON THE RECORD THAT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE TO ADDRESS DECLINING ENROLLMENT, THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF SCHOOLS AND CHALLENGES OF AGING BUILDINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR DECADES HERE IN CITY OF BOSTON BUT ALSO THAT WE MUST ENSURE THAT IT'S A THOUGHTFUL CLOSURE MERGER AND NEW CONSTRUCTION PROCESS GOING FORWARD.  AND AS WE SPEAK, THE COMMUNITY AT THE DOVER SCHOOL IS PICKETING OUTSIDE THEIR SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY HEARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL BEING CHOSEN TO BE ONE THAT'S CLOSED BUT.  ONE THING THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE MIND OF MANY BUT I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN AND HAPPY THAT HE SIGNED ON TO THIS HEARING ORDER WITH ME. HE BROUGHT TO LIGHT SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND THIS IS THAT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE ONES THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PROPOSED THE CLOSURE IN MERGER OF SEVERAL SCHOOLS INCLUDING EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL, DOVER ELEMENTARY AND THE MARY LION PILOT SCHOOL AS PART OF THE LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN.  MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE HISTORY SPANNING WELL OVER A CENTURY AND CONTAIN SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS AND MEMORABILIA SUCH AS PLAQUES, PHOTOGRAPHS, DOCUMENTS AND MEMORIALS THAT REFLECT BOSTON'S RICH EDUCATIONAL HERITAGE. THE CLOSURE OF THESE SCHOOLS RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THESE HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS WHICH ARE VITAL TO MAINTAINING THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORICAL FABRIC AND HONORING THE LEGACY OF BOSTON'S EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. COUNCILOR FLYNN HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING SIGNIFICANT MEMORIALS INCLUDING THE WORLD WAR ONE MEMORIAL AT EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL WHICH HONORS VETERANS WHO SERVED IN BOTH WORLD WARS, UNDERSCORING THE NEED FOR A COMPREHEND OF PRESERVATION PLAN. AND I THINK THE CLERK WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I'VE INCLUDED THE ARCHIVIST HERE THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS FROM SCHOOLS UNDERGOING CLOSURE OR MERGER ARE CAREFULLY PRESERVED, TRANSPORTED AND STORED IN A MANNER THAT PREVENTS DETERIORATION AND ALLOWS FOR CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS AND EDUCATION ALL USE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING TO DISCUSS A PLAN AND INCLUDING THE CITY ARCHIVIST AND OTHERS INVOLVED.  I DO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL PROBABLY OVER A DECADE AGO WHEN THERE WERE CHANGES IN FIRE CODE LAWS THERE WAS A MASS OF REMOVING MANY TEACHERS PERSONAL BELONGINGS WHEN THEY HAD BROUGHT IN COUCHES OR CHAIRS OR FURNITURE TO BRIGHTEN UP THEIR CLASSROOMS. AND WE SAW THAT MANY BELONGINGS TRUCKLOADS OF PEOPLE'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS WERE BROUGHT TO THE KIMBALL RESOURCE CENTER AND THEN NO ONE KNEW WHERE THEY HAD GONE AFTER THAT AND MANY PEOPLE WERE PULLING UP. I WOULD SEE THEM ON DORCHESTER AVE IN TRUCKS JUST FILLING THEIR TRUCK WITH THESE BELONGINGS THAT HAD BELONGED TO SOMEONE. SO I KNOW FROM PAST SOMETIMES WE START TO MOVE THINGS BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES AGREE THAT WE NEED A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ARTIFACTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY ARE PRESERVED IN A PROPER WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU AS A CO-SPONSOR.  THE CLOSING OF THE EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL FORMERLY SOUTH BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT IS A HUGE LOSS TO THIS SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THE LAST REMAINING HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH.  A TRAGIC LOSS FOR THE MANY FAMILIES WHO ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM SOUTH BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL.  I ALSO TAUGHT THERE AS A SUBSTITUTE SCHOOLTEACHER AS WELL. THIS IS A SCHOOL WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION.  AND AS IT CLOSES IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR PEACE IN THE CITY TO PROVIDE CLEAR INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ON THEIR PLANS TRANSITIONS WHILE ALSO EXERCISING TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH BOSTON AND THE CITY REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE BUILDING. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL THE BUILDING HAS A LONG HISTORY. SOUTH BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL IS OVER A CENTURY OLD IN THE SCHOOL HAS PRODUCED MANY VETERANS SINCE ITS.  THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL WORLD WAR ONE MEMORIAL ON SITE AS WELL AS VETERANS RELATED IN OTHER MEMORABILIA IN THE BUILDING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY SOUTH BOSTON RESIDENTS REACHED OUT TO ME ASKING WHAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE MEMORABILIA INCLUDING MY FRIEND KEVIN CONROY WAS THE UNITED STATES MARINE INCLUDING THE PERKINS POST VETERANS PAT AND TIMMY MURPHY AND ALL OF THOSE GUYS PEOPLE DOWN IN MCDONOUGH POST REACHED OUT TO ME ASKING WHAT'S HAPPENED THE FITZGERALD POST THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS OF SOUTH BOSTON ALLIED WAR VETERANS TOMMY LYONS AND THE VIETNAM VETERANS. SOUTH BOSTON GRAD SOUTH BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN LYNCH AND MAY HAVE ASKED ME AS WELL.  IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S CRITICAL FOR THIS SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR TEACHERS OUR THE SCHOOL BUILDING THAT WE ALSO ARE INTENTIONAL AS COUNSELOR MURPHY MENTIONED, PRESERVE OUR MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS DEDICATED TO THE REMARKABLE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON AND ITS PEOPLE. MAYBE WE GET THE SOUTH BOSTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY INVOLVED.  THE PERKINS POST WANTS TO BE ACTIVE THE MAYBE BE CYF MAYBE BOB ELLISON AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED BUT ALSO LIKE TO KNOW THAT THERE IS THERE WAS A WONDERFUL THERE IS A WONDERFUL JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS JROTC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT EXCEL THAT I FIGHT LIKE TO KEEP OPEN FOR SEVEN YEARS EVERY US ADMINISTRATOR TRIED TO CLOSE THIS AND I KEPT FIGHTING WITH EVERYBODY TO KEEP IT OPEN. BUT YOU WON'T SEE A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS UP AT EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL OR ANYWHERE IN THE CITY THAN THE KIDS IN THE JROTC PROGRAM AND THAT LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND THEN LEARNING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARNING ABOUT HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION.  WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION ALSO TO ENSURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES AND THE JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAM. MOST OF THEM ARE NOT SOUTH BOSTON RESIDENTS. MOST OF THEM ARE KIDS ACROSS THE CITY AND THEY COME TO EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THIS JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAM.  THEY'RE NOT WEALTHY KIDS. THEY HAVE NO INFLUENCE.  THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP. BUT HERE WE ARE WE'RE CLOSING THEIR SCHOOL. WE'RE CLOSING THEIR SCHOOL AND WE'RE TAKING SOMETHING VERY MEANINGFUL AWAY FROM THEM AND THAT'S THE ROTC PROGRAM.  AND WHEN WE TURN OUR BACKS ON STUDENTS OF LIKE THAT, WE'RE HURTING A GENERATION OF BOSTON HANDS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS THE CHILD AND MEJIA FOR ALL. PLEASE OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0265 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.  MR. CLERK CAN WE PLEASE RETURN TO DOCKET 0 TO 6 FOR SORRY 0264? YEAH, OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT.  DUNCAN EMMA 026 FOR COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING STRATEGIES TO EXPAND HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS IN BOSTON. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. WE'RE FILING THIS THIS HEARING ORDER AND I I'D LIKE TO ADD YOURSELF AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR THE CHAIR SO ADDED AS THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. WE'RE FILING IS HERE IN ORDER TO REALLY EXPLORE THE WAYS THAT TO IT IT SAYS EXPAND HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WHO OUR WHO OUR HOMEOWNERS OUR ARE ABLE TO RETAIN THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH PEOPLE FACING FORECLOSURE AND YOU KNOW, JUST ADDS HAVE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF SUCCESSES RECENTLY IN PREVENTING SOME OF THOSE FORECLOSURES.  BUT WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS EVEN LAST TERM WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK HOLISTICALLY TO HELP PRESERVE HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT SOME NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MATTAPAN WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THIS PARTICULAR LOT OF BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOW WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T RETAIN THEIR HOMES EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE FACING FORECLOSURE OR THAT THEY HAVE OTHER BARRIERS. AND SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH LAND TRUST TO EXPLORE PROGRAMS THAT THAT THAT IDEAS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK THAT ARE PRETTY INNOVATIVE AND THAT ARE LIKE YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR FUND BUILDING ALTERNATIVES TO THE MARKET I THINK THAT'S WHY I THINK IMMEDIATELY AND TRUSTS DO INCREDIBLE WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO A MARKET THAT IS RESPONDING PURELY TO, YOU KNOW, PROFIT MODEL AND OFTENTIMES OUR OUR SENIORS ARE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO EITHER SELLING THEIR HOME BECAUSE THEY THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY IN THERE AND SO COMMUNITY INTERESTS HAVE WE'VE BEEN HAVING INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP KEEP OUR SENIORS PARTICULARLY IN THEIR HOME AND.  ALSO THINK ABOUT MORE COMMUNITY BASED MODELS FOR FOR FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. SO I'M EXCITED TO EXPLORE THIS AND AND TO HAVE FOLKS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES INITIATIVE AND OTHERS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES TO REALLY PRESERVE HOMEOWNERSHIP.  AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE PLANS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT HAS ACTUALLY ENVISIONED WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY INTEREST ON SOME OF THESE IDEAS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MEMORIALIZE THIS HERE AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED FOR THIS HERE IN ORDER SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM A BIG ADVOCATE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.  I TO HEAR FROM OUR SENIORS OFTENTIMES THEY OWN THESE, YOU KNOW, BIG OH THREE FAMILIES AND TWO FAMILIES IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND A LOT OF OUR SENIORS EVEN PARENTS HAVE A HOUSE THAT'S BUILT IN THE 1900S 1940S. SO THE ROOFS AND THE COST TO TO FIX ANY OF THOSE ITEMS HAVE HAVE GONE UP BUT YET THEIR INCOME HAS IT THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE IN A HOME SO THEY'RE NOT FACE WITH THAT QUESTION OF DO WE SELL OR YOU KNOW, DO WE JUST YOU KNOW, MAKE THOSE TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS AGAINST SELLING OR STAYING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX, YOU KNOW, THE ROOF OR THE FURNITURE OR YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER MAJOR TICKET ITEM IN THEIR HOME. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER FOR ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR CLARE CAN YOU PLEASE ADD CASA FITZGERALD CASA FLYNN CASAMANCE HERE CASA MURPHY CASA SANTANA COUNCIL WEBER.  THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0138 WILL REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 600264 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR AND APOLOGIES, MR PARKER. I HAVE TO TAKE THAT OUT OF ORDER. I KNOW THAT IT MESSES UP YOUR SYSTEM. MR QUINN, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0266 DUGAN NUMBER 0266 COUNCIL OF FLYNN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, TRAFFIC CALMING AND EXPANDING THE SAFETY SURGE PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR ANY OF THE FLOOR . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD COUNCILOR SANTANA AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR SANTANA SO ADDED IN MAY I SUSPEND THE RULE AND ADD COUNCIL FITZGERALD AS WELL AS COUNCILOR FLYNN TO SUSPEND THE RULES ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD OF THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND NO AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR JOE SO ADDED COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR THIS IS A HEARING TO DISCUSS MEASURES MEASURES THAT WOULD IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TRAFFIC CALMING IN THE POSSIBILITY EXPANDING THE SAFE SURGE PROGRAM IN BOSTON.  I CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THESE HEARINGS BECAUSE I BELIEVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES WE FACE. TRAGICALLY ON SUNDAY A PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ANDREW SQUARE.  I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS. IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. LAST YEAR A FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD WAS FATALLY STRUCK BY A TRUCK AT A STREET IN CONGRESS STREET IN THE FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD . AS OF OCTOBER 2024 THERE WERE 137 CRASHES. A PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES IN BOSTON LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THAT TRAGIC INCIDENT.  WE IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS MEASURES TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY AND SAFETY. I ADVOCATED FOR SPEED HUMPS TO SLOW SPEEDING CARS DOWN. THEY WERE PUT ON SLEEP HISTORY BUT I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PUT ON CONGRESS STREET AS WELL. WERE RAISE CROSSWALK OUTSIDE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AS WELL. THESE TRAGEDIES REMIND US OF THE WORK THAT WE MUST DO THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO TO REALIZE VISION ZERO IN TERMS OF THE TRAFFIC CALMING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS,  SLOWER SPEEDS, ENHANCED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT BY THE BOSTON POLICE.  I WAS ACTIVE IN RECOMMENDING THE REDUCTION OF THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. IN FACT I THINK IT SHOULD BE REDUCED AGAIN 25 MILES AN HOUR IN MY OPINION IS EXCESSIVE DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON. IT SHOULD BE 20 MILES AN HOUR.  IN 2018 I RECOMMENDED A 12 POINT PEDESTRIAN PLAN FOR SOUTH BOSTON INTO THE CITY WHICH FEATURED TRAFFIC CALMING INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE SPEED HUMPS RAISED CROSSWALKS, RAPID FLASH BEACONS WITH PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CURB EXTENSIONS AMONG OTHER THINGS. THAT SAME YEAR I ALSO CALLED FOR AND HELD A HEARING WHAT COUNCILOR FRANK BAKER TO ADVOCATE FOR REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANT WORK COUNCILOR BAKER HAS DONE AS WELL.  IN 2023 WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IMPLEMENTED THE SAFETY PROGRAM FOR THE CITY INSTALLED ZONES OF SPEED HUMPS ON ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY THE SPEED HUMPS PROGRAM IS ONLY BEING INSTALLED ON SIDE STREETS BUT NOT TWO MAIN STREETS. COMMERCIAL ROADS, HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS AND BUS ROUTES. I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE AREAS ARE EXACTLY WHERE OUR SPEED HUMPS ARE NEEDED.  WE HAVE RAISED CROSSWALKS, PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS, RAPID FLASH BEACONS AND CURB EXTENSIONS SHOULD BE GOING AS WELL.  OUR FOCUS NEEDS ALSO AS I MENTIONED TO BE SLOWING DOWN VEHICLES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAIN STREET COMMERCIAL ROADS, HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS, BUS ROUTES ARE OFTEN DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS. I KNOW MY PARENTS TELL ME ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THEM WALKING UP TO THE SOUTH BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM THEIR HOME. FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS AND WHEN THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WALKING UP ELM STREET A CAR A CAR WOULD GO RIGHT BY THEM JUST MISSING TWO ELDERLY ELDERLY PEOPLE. WE ALSO SEE THAT HAPPENING WHEN YOUNG YOUNG FAMILIES ARE IN THE CROSSWALK. LITTLE KIDS PEOPLE ARE JUST SO IMPATIENT THAT THEY HAVE TO GO 30 MILES AN HOUR UP ELM STREET AND TAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND IN JEOPARDY.  BUT I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.  IT CAN'T BE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH ACROSS THE CITY ANYMORE AND WITH THE ROAD DIET IN A BIKE LANE.  ELM STREET, AS I MENTIONED, IS ONE OF THE MOST NARROW ROADS IN THE CITY IN CARS AND COMMUTERS CONTINUE TO FLY THERE. SO RIGHT SIZING AS THEY CALL IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. TO BE CLEAR FOR THE WISE GUYS ON SOCIAL MEDIA I ADVOCATED FOR THE ROAD DIET AND A BIKE LANE DOWN DAY BOULEVARD SOUTH BOSTON. YEARS MY 12 POINT PLAN WE HAD CRASHES AND FATALITIES WITH PEOPLE SPEEDING IN CARS COMMUTING OFF THE HIGHWAY.  THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE COME OFF 93 AND USE THAT ROAD.  BUT IT HAS TO BE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH WITH EACH LOCATION AND SITUATION. THAT PARTICULAR ONE DOESN'T HINDER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS GETTING THROUGH A NARROW STREET OR HARM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.  IN CLOSING LAST YEAR I ALSO ASKED THE FIRE COMMISSIONER AND CITY COUNCIL HEARING ABOUT SPEED HUMPS AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE ON MAIN STREETS. AGAIN, I'M ASKING.  LET'S GET MORE SPEED HUMPS ON MANY OF THE MAIN STREETS IN BOSTON. SO I THINK WE NEED TO GET BETTER IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN A ROOM. LISTEN TO THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. LISTEN TO THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, EMS NOT JUST THE LEADERSHIP, THE RANK AND FILE WORKERS AND TALK AND LISTEN TO THEM ABOUT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES RAISED IN INFRASTRUCTURE ON MAIN STREETS, COMMERCIAL ROADS, HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS AND BUS ROUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. I WAS CASTRO SANTANA'S SECOND. WERE YOU SECOND OR THIRD? ARE YOU OKAY? OH, IT'S OKAY. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS FAR. OKAY. THANK YOU. BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS MEJIA MURPHY WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. DOCKET NUMBER 0266 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. MR A QUOTE WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT NUMBER 0267 DUNCAN NUMBER 0267 COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSPORT STATION FOR STUDENT ATHLETES. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY CANCER MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I GUESS TECHNICALLY IT'S A REFILED BUT NOT REALLY HAVE UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION AND ALSO I DO JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD NOT BECAUSE OF ANY LACK OF SUPPORT OR HARD WORK FROM THE CHAIR COUNCIL OF SANT SANTANA. WE DID HAVE A VERY HARD TIME LAST YEAR TRYING TO GET THIS HEARING SCHEDULED AND TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT. AND SO LATER IN THE YEAR WHEN COUNCIL AND FLYNN AND I HAD FILED A HEARING ORDER FOR A DIFFERENT RELATED TRANSPORTATION HEARING, WE DID COMBINED THE TWO DOCKETS. BUT AT THAT HEARING NO ONE FROM THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT CAME TO SPEAK AND WE HAD REACHED OUT TO SOME COACHES AND TEACHERS WHO THEN WERE ASKED NOT TO SPEAK. AND I UNDERSTAND AS MANY OF US HAVE ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THAT MANY TIMES THEY'RE ASKED NOT TO SPEAK UP BUT THEY DO CALL US AND WE DO GET THE INFORMATION AND THEY DO HOPE THAT WE USE OUR PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE HAVE THIS HEARING AND THAT WE SPEAK BECAUSE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WE GOT A CALL FROM A CONCERNED PARENT THAT THEIR JUNIOR DRIVER ON AN EVENING WITH A COLD WINTER NIGHT BECAUSE THE BUS DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR A HOCKEY GAME THAT WAS IN LOWELL WAS TRYING TO FIT HOCKEY BAGS AND CLASSMATES INTO HIS CAR TO DRIVE A LONG WAY WHICH WE KNOW ONE, IT'S ILLEGAL TO HAVE TO BE DRIVING YOUNG KIDS AND THERE'S A CERTAIN LIMIT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR LICENSE RIGHTFULLY SO FOR SAFETY REASONS FOR A LONG TIME. BUT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE PUT IN A BAD SITUATIONS OUR COACHES, OUR FAMILIES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS IT IN KNOWING THAT OUR BUS BUDGET WILL BE AT AROUND 184 MILLION UP OVER 10 MILLION FROM THE CURRENT YEAR AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT AS WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON BUSSES THAT,  WE'RE PRIORITIZING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES GETTING TO THEIR GAMES SAFELY TO MEET THE PRIORITIES ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENS AND I'M REALLY HOPING THE ADMINISTRATION DOES ALLOW THOSE WHO CAN GIVE THE DATA BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PROPER DATA WE CAN'T EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE CHANGES WE NEED TO TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS AREN'T STUCK AT SCHOOL TRYING TO GET TO FIELDS OR HOCKEY RINKS AND UNABLE TO DO WHAT FOR MANY OF THEM IS THE REASON THEY SHOWED UP AT SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM THAT WE DO THIS RIGHT FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU IN THIS TO MAKE SURE THE REFILE COUNCILOR PHONE WAS ORIGINALLY ON IT BUT I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULE AND ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD ON THEN COUNSELOR MURPHY SAID THIS HAS BEEN THE ROAD SIDE COUNCILOR REGRET AS A THIRD OF YOUR CO-SPONSORS IN HEARING NO OBJECTIONS BECAUSE OF JOE RUSSO AT A TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE ISSUE OF LATE OR MISSING BUSSES FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES IS NOT NO.  LAST YEAR SCHOOL BUS FAILED TO SHOW UP TO PICK UP ATHLETES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN APRIL THE SCHOOL BUS FAILED TO TRANSPORT THE BASEBALL TEAM IN SOUTH BOSTON'S EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL IN BOSTON. ABC CLAY AND MCCORMICK TO THE GAME. BUT HERE WE FAILED IN JAMAICA PLAIN IN OCTOBER EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS WAITED FOR AN HOUR FOR BOSTON SCHOOL BUS TO TAKE THEM TO PLAY AGAINST BRYANT BUT THE BUS NEVER CAME AND ACCORDING TO A MEDIA REPORT, ANOTHER BUS FAILED TO PICK UP EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES FOR GAME IN FALL RIVER RESIDENTS HAVE CONTACT TO ME AND OTHER CITY COUNCILS ABOUT NO SHOW BUSSES FREQUENTLY FOR BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY HOCKEY GAMES THEY HAD TO PACK ALL KIDS AND BAGS AND A NUMBER OF CARS AS COUNCILOR MURPHY MEANT MENTION IMAGINE WORKING SO HARD IN YOUR LIFE TRAINING ALL YEAR AND YOU CAN'T COMPETE BECAUSE THE BUS DOESN'T SHOW UP. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OUR STUDENTS AND ATHLETES OUR STUDENTS OUR ATHLETES DESERVE RESPECT.  IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT TO THEM. THE BUDGET, AS COUNSELOR MURPHY MENTIONED, GOING TO BE $184 MILLION SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO NORMALIZE LATE NO SHOW BUSSES. FINALLY SOME OF MY DISTRICT COUNCIL IS APPROACHED ME AND SAID ED, WE AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS BUT WE DON'T WANT TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT BP, US OR THE ADMINISTRATION MAD AT US. BUT WILL YOU ADVOCATE FOR US BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE KNOW IT'S A MAJOR CONCERN IN OUR DISTRICT AND THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING CALLS FROM CONCERNED PARENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SO I DO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR MY DISTRICT COUNSELORS THAT DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK UP BUT THEIR VOICE THEIR VOICE IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WAS GERARDI ON THE FLOOR? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS PROPOSAL HAVE REALLY SAID IT ALL BUT I JUST WANT TO SORT OF RECOMMEND TOO THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT FROM WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CONTACT ABOUT IT AND OF COURSE I KNOW WE JUST EARLIER VOTED ON RAISING THE GUARANTEED HOURS FOR BUSSES AS WELL AS THE SALARIES AND SO THIS IS AGAIN JUST KEEP IT HONEST AND SAY WELL WE HOPE THAT WE'LL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN IN GETTING KIDS TO THEIR GAMES ON TIME. SO THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WEBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A NEW INTERN, OUR OFFICE WHO PLAYS FOOTBALL AT PLAY AS ONE OF TWO PROUD PARENTS OF BALLET STUDENTS HERE I JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION HE PLAYED IN THE FOOTBALL.  WELL, OKAY, WELL, HERE I AM. I'M RIGHT NOW. SORRY. THREE BE A PROUD PARENTS. OKAY FOR ANYONE ELSE I FOR SIX OKAY AS PROUD PROUD BOSTON RESIDENTS AND PARENTS OF STUDENTS THEY KNOW WE ALL LOVE BALLET I JUST THOUGHT I'D POINT OUT THAT YOU PLAYED IN THE FOOTBALL GAME THIS YEAR WHERE THEY BEAT BOWLS. YOU KNOW.  I KNOW COUNCILOR FITZGERALD HAS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THAT BUT WE ASKED HIM HOW I ASKED HIM HOW THE FOOTBALL HOW THE BUSSES WERE FOR THE FOOTBALL SEASON AND HE SAID WELL THEY NEVER SHOWED UP FOR ANY OF OUR AWAY GAMES.  HE MENTIONED THAT HE THEY HAD TO TAKE UBERS FROM PLAY TO EAST BOSTON THANKFULLY AS THEY DID MAKE IT TO THE GAME AT WEST THE WEST ROXBURY HIGH TO DEFEAT SOUNDLY IN THAT GAME. BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS CAN MAKE IT TO THEIR SPORTING EVENTS. YOU KNOW, WE WHEN THE TRANSDEV HEARING WE TOO WE HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND I THINK OUR ATHLETES DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR GAMES.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES I BELIEVE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE, CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR HEARING ORDER BUT I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT I AM NOT ONE OF THE DISTRICT AND THAT YOU YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF I BECAUSE YOU LOOK OKAY BECAUSE I HAVE NO FEAR OF RETALIATION.  BUT ANYWAYS, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A ISSUE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO AN ATHLETE I BEPS THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE'VE HAD TO FIGURE THINGS OUT AND I THINK IT CAUSES A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON A LOT A LOT OF PARENTS AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE BUDGET SITUATION IN AND REALLY USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE, WHO DON'T HAVE A UBER APP BUT THEIR KIDS ARE STRANDED. SO I THINK THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN THINK OF OUTSIDE THE BOX. WHAT OTHER I KNOW THERE'S THIS ORGANIZATION CALLED HIDALGO'S TRANSPORTATION. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL AROUND BUT BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE FROM SPACE TO PLACE AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS THAT ARE STRANDED.  THANKS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY CLUB AS A PARTY OF SORTS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANKS TO THE MAKERS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING. I SPEAK ON THIS AS A FORMER DPS ATHLETE I HAD TO TAKE THE TRAIN HOME FROM PLACE, SAID PARK TO EAST BOSTON. THAT IS ALMOST AN HOUR AND A HALF LONG TREK AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MR SARKOZY SAID IT WAS MY SOFTBALL COACH WHO WOULD USUALLY DRIVE ME TO AQUARIUMS THAT I CAN GET ON THE BLUE LINE AND GO HOME TO EAST BOSTON.  BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF E-ZPASS IN KIDS YOUNG ADULTS THAT HAVE BEEN STRANDED UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATION ERRORS OR SCHEDULING ERRORS. WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.  I DID SAY THIS PUBLICLY AT THE HEARING AND I HAVE PUT OUT A STATEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY STATE SENATOR AND MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HAVE ALSO SENT A LETTER TO BIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SO I THINK COUNCILOR FLYNN AGAIN FOR SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT COUNCILORS IT'S ALL ON MY BEHALF. SO I APPRECIATE IT AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM BEEPS BASED ON THIS LETTER AND BASED ON CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THEM.  I AM A LITTLE WORRIED. I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOME OF THE DETAILS IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE DISCUSSED ON MONDAY GOING FROM 31 TO 35 MINIMUM AMOUNT OF HOURS WILL HELP THIS ISSUE. I REMAIN SKEPTICAL. I ASKED DAN ROSENGARD WHAT THE PLAN IS BETWEEN NOW AND JULY WHEN THAT CONTRACT KICKS IN AND THERE WASN'T REALLY AN ANSWER SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. SO I THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK. I KNOW IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AND I APPRECIATE AGAIN THE MAKER'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS.  THANKS. THANK YOU CAN TAKE THAT AS A PART OF WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT LARGE AND DISTRICT COUNCILORS FOR THE COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY ON THIS THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER OR WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR EQUIPPED PRESENT COUNCILOR ZAPATA HERE SANTANA WEBER WORLD IS AT THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0267 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE THE NUMBER 0268 DUNCAN NUMBER 0268 COUNCILOR IS MURPHY AND FLYNN FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS THE PLANS ON THE WAY TO DO FACILITIES WORK THIS SUMMER.  IT'S SEVERAL OF OUR BUILDINGS THAT MAY IMPACT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.  THIS IS MY FOURTH YEAR FILING THIS HEARING ORDER. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THOUGH AS MANY OF US I HOPE WE ALL KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THIS SUMMER ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES ARE NOW UNDER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND COMMISSIONER SHELTON OVERSEES THEM BECAUSE HE DID SHOW UP TO A HEARING WE HAD LAST MONTH ON THE LOOKING TO FIND OUT ANSWERS ON THE CONDEMNED POOL WHICH WE'RE STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT AND THANK YOU COUNSELOR WEBER FOR COMING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE POOL IN YOUR DISTRICT ALSO. BUT KNOWING GOING FORWARD THAT MANY OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEED NOT JUST REPAIRS IN THE WAY OF CENTERS BUT THE FAC AND OTHER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE TO CLOSE FOR THE SUMMER WHICH IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO THE WORK THAT MANY TIMES ADDITIONAL KATES OUR SUMMER CAMPS AND OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WHO GO TO SCHOOL DURING THE SUMMER DURING THE EXTENDED YEAR. SO I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH COMMISSIONER SHELTON THIS WEEK TO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THIS HEARING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS SO THAT IF THERE ARE ANY SCHOOLS OR PROGRAMS THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE EARLY OFTEN AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN B IF NEEDED FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES AND THE STAFF THAT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTED ALSO. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR CAN I JUST CATCH YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN? YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL. FREEPORT IS IN MY DISTRICT JOSEPH QUINCY SCHOOL, THE CONDON COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL AND NOT OPEN AND ARE IN NEED OF CRITICAL REPAIRS. WHAT ARE THESE THREE POOLS HAVE IN COMMON?  JOSIAH QUINCY SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN CHINATOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NEIGHBORHOOD THE CONDON SCHOOL AS WELL LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THE BLACKSTONE IS BETWEEN VILLA VICTORIA AND RUTH BERKELEY THE CATHEDRAL PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.  WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY KID IN THE CITY HAS ACCESS TO A SWIMMING POOL AND TWO SWIMMING LESSONS ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR.  WHEN I WAS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PARENT I HAD THE I HAD THE MONEY AND MY WIFE HAD THE MONEY TO SEND OUR KIDS TO PRIVATE LESSONS AT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC CLUB. WE PAID FOR IT.  WE WERE FORTUNATE A LOT OF A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THAT ACCESS.  MANY FAMILIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. THEY RELY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO PROVIDE SWIMMING LESSONS. BUT HOW COULD YOU PROVIDE SWIMMING LESSONS WHEN THE SWIMMING POOLS ARE CLOSED AGAIN? JOSIAH QUINCY SCHOOL YOUNG ASIAN STUDENTS THE CONVENT SCHOOL MOSTLY KIDS OF COLOR IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THE BLACKSTONE BETWEEN VILLA VICTORIA A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF LATINO KIDS AND BOTH BERKELEY CATHEDRAL MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SWIMMING LESSONS OPEN THESE PAWS TODAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER AS REFILE? OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE ADD COUNSELOR CLARA ZAPATA FITZGERALD MARIA SANTANA WEBER WUERL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKING NUMBER 0268 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES AND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE RECORD NUMBER 02690. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY IN THE PAST IT HAS GONE TO STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.  OKAY. THE CLERK'S OFFICE PUT IT IN CITY SERVICES BUT I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT IN STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULDN'T BE HAPPY. I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF IT WAS A POSSIBILITY. THANK YEAH. NO, IT'S A TURN OF PHRASE MR. CLERK COULD BE CASE PUT THAT DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0268 IN STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY ON DOCKET. OH, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBERS ARE 269 IN NUMBERS 0269 COUNCIL OF MURPHY OVER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES IN THE ASSESSING PROCESS.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO START JUST CLERICAL . I'D LIKE TO ADD COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL 402 SO ADDED COUNSELOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND RULE 12 AND HAD COUNCILOR WEBER COUNSELOR MURPHY TO SUSPEND THE RULES ADD COUNSELOR WEBER AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS.  COUNSELOR WEBER SO ADDED COUNSELOR MURPHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNSELOR FITZGERALD WHO REACHED OUT TO ME ON MONDAY AFTER A CONVERSATION WITH THE CLERK BECAUSE COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND WEBER HAD FILED A SIMILAR HEARING ORDER. MINE WAS FIRST SO WE I TALKED ABOUT JUST ADDING THEM ON TO THE ONE I ALREADY FILED. SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON. THREE OF US WILL WORK ON THIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNSELOR WEBBER'S OFFICE WHO BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AFTER YOU WERE AT A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT THERE IS A LOOMING DEADLINE DATE. SO THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WARHOL'S OFFICE FOR ALREADY GETTING THIS SCHEDULED ON THE CALENDAR SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS HEARING AND HOPEFULLY GET IT VOTED ON SO THAT IT CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER. THAT ALL BEING SAID, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE WHERE AFFORDABILITY REVENUE GENERATION AND EQUITABLE INVESTMENT INTERSECT WITH THE FUTURE OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LANDSCAPES.  THIS HEARING ORDER AIMS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING THE ASSESSING PROCESS AND ITS DIRECT IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL TAX BILLS.  I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF BEEN GETTING LOTS OF CALLS SINCE THIS CONVERSATION STARTED LAST YEAR BUT ESPECIALLY AFTER TAX BILLS HIT TWO WEEKS AGO TO RESIDENTS QUESTIONING THE DIFFERENCES. SO I'M HOPING FROM THIS HEARING THAT WE GET SOME ANSWERS ON ASSESSMENT VARIABILITY BY THE PROPERTY VALUES DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN NEARBY PARCELS. WHAT CAUSES CONSIDERABLE FLUCTUATION IN PROPERTY VALUES WITHIN SHORT TIME FRAMES? WHAT'S SPECIFIC CRITERIA AND METHODS ARE USED TO ESTABLISH A PROPERTY'S VALUE AND ARE THERE ALTERNATIVE METHODS THAT COULD PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE OR EQUITABLE ASSESSMENTS? I'M LOOKING FOR TRANSPARENCY IN RELIEF OPTIONS. THE CITY OFFERS EXEMPTIONS ABATEMENTS AND WE'RE HAVING HEARINGS ON THAT POTENTIALLY REBATES YET THE CRITERIA APPLICATION PROCESS AVAILABLE RELIEF IN TIMING NEED TO BE CLEARER. UNFORTUNATELY ONE THING I FOUND OUT WITH MANY SENIOR IS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO APPLY OR THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT APPLYING FOR SOME OF THESE EXEMPTIONS THAT THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR. SO ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND AND CAN ACCESS THESE RESOURCES IS CRUCIAL AND ALSO I THINK WE NEED AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF THE ASSESSING PROCESS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO PROPERTY VALUATIONS INCLUDING HOME IMPROVEMENT, SALES OF NEARBY PROPERTIES AND OTHER MARKET DYNAMICS ANALYZING EXISTING VALUATION METHODS TO IDENTIFY THEIR BENEFITS OR LIMITATIONS IN EXPLORING CREATIVE COMPREHENSION SOLUTIONS TO THE PROCESS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND WEBER FOR JOINING ME AND I HOPE ALL OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE AT THE HEARING TO ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SENDS THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO SOLVE THE RULE 15 ISSUE AS FLAGGED BY THE CLERK. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IT'S A MODEL FOR HOW WE SHOULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. CERTAINLY A LOT OF ATTENTION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT THE TAXES AND SO CONSTITUENTS WERE RIGHTLY MORE TUNED IN TO THEIR BILLS AS THEY HIT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. AND OF COURSE HAS GENERATED A LOT OF CALLS TO US, A LOT OF FOCUS WAS GIVEN TO THE TAX RATE, RIGHT? I MEAN YOUR TAXES ARE MADE UP OF TWO VARIABLES THE TAX RATE AND WHAT YOUR HOME IS VALUED AT AND WELL, A LOT OF THE PRESSING CONCERN HAS BEEN ABOUT THE TAX RATE.  I THINK NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THEIR HOME AND HOW THAT VALUE IS ACTUALLY ASSESSED.  WE'VE HAD MANY CALLS COME IN WHERE SOME CONSTITUENTS HAD SEEN THEIR HOMES INCREASE $700,000 OVER ONE YEAR WITHOUT HAVING DONE WORK NO SITING, NO NEW KITCHEN, NOTHING LIKE THAT. THINGS THAT TYPICALLY WOULD INCREASE THE VALUE OF ONE'S HOME.  AND SO WE'VE ALSO HAD A LOT OF CALLS COME IN WHERE A SIMILAR HOUSE ON THE SAME STREET IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WERE VALUED VERY DIFFERENTLY OR HAD A DIFFERENT INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.  AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN THOSE INCREASE SO DO YOUR TAXES AND SO PEOPLE IT'S STARTING TO SORT OF PIT NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR REALLY WHERE FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DID ON THE STREET AND SEEING HOW THEY FARE AND A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES HAVE COME UP IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND SO THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ON THE CALLS AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD ANSWER. I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER WHEN FOLKS CALL AND SAY WHY DID MINE GO UP 700,000 AND NEXT DOOR SIMILARLY ONLY WENT UP 10,000 AND THAT'S AFFECTING THE TAXES THAT WE HAVE TO PAY.  AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER VARIABLE IN THE EQUATION THE ASSESSMENT OF HOMES, HOW THAT OCCURS AND NOT TO MENTION THIS YEAR WAS A ONE OF THOSE SET FIVE YEAR REEVALUATIONS THAT THE CITY DOES THAT.  I THINK BOTH WE AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE DONE A POOR JOB AND SORT OF EXPLAINING WHERE WE LOOK AT A PAST FIVE YEAR AGGREGATE AND THAT DATA SET THEN SORT OF DETERMINES TRENDS AND IN THE VALUE OF ONE'S HOME THEN WHICH WAS APPLIED THIS YEAR AND COULD BE A REASON FOR SOME FOLKS SPIKE IN THEIR TAXES AND I THINK THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT KNOW THAT AND ASK QUESTIONS AND THAT I WHAT I HOPE THIS HEARING DOES AND I THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MURPHY FOR OUTING ME AS WELL AND COUNCILMEMBER FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL WHERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR. YEAH THANK YOU. I JUST TO REITERATE WHAT COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FITZGERALD HAVE SAID, MY OFFICE HAS ALSO RECEIVED CALLS FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASES IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS AND WE'VE HEARD PARTICULARLY FROM SENIORS WHO HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE INCREASES IN VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY.  AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A HEARING BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS WHAT WHAT DATA GOES IN AND WHAT THEY DO WITH IT ALSO HELP US ADVOCATE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT ASSESSMENTS, WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO SENIORS TO YOU TO LOWER THEIR TAXES AND AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS IS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE YOU HAVE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AND JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND THE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT CERTAIN THINGS GET PUT ON IN CERTAIN COMMITTEES, PARTICULARLY WITH MINES BECAUSE IT'S POST RIGHT.  SO THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED. RIGHT. SO IN THE INTEREST OF JUST THE EXERCISE HERE AND JUST SO THAT MY OWN EDUCATION MOVING FORWARD ANYTHING THAT DEALS WITH ANY BUDGETARY OR ANY ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED AFTER WE'VE APPROVED THINGS THEN TECHNICALLY THOSE ARE THINGS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONSIDERED IN MY COMMITTEE JUST FOR JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO LET THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION BUT JUST YOU JUST MADE ME THINK OF SOMETHING AND THEN I'M JUST CURIOUS. YEAH, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT SO SO BUT I NEED TO KNOW IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AT SOME POINT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IN THE DYNAMICS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE NOW FOR UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR A YEAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT TECHNICALLY UNDER THE EXPRESS UNDER THE EXPLANATION THAT YOU PROVIDED EARLIER THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD GO UNDER MY COMMITTEE. BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ASSESSMENTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY VALUED AND ASSESS TECHNICALLY IF THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, THIS POTENTIALLY COULD GO INTO MY COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED. IF THAT WAS IF THAT IS THE THE EXPLANATION YOU TRIED TO GIVE ME EARLIER, THEN I WANT TO QUESTION THE THIS PARTICULAR HEARING ORDER AND THE COMMITTEE IN WHICH YOU PLAN TO PUT IT IN JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND FOR FUTURE.  YEAH. SO I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT.  THIS IS DIRECTLY WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF WAYS AND MEANS. THAT ISN'T TO SAY THAT THERE ISN'T OVERLAP BETWEEN THE WORK OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES BUT THIS ONE TO ME FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE WORK OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS CLAUDIA ZAPATA FLYNN . PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 026900 AND COUNCILOR SANTANA AND COUNCILOR ROW AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 02700270 OF TO LET US APART FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER TO ADOPT THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT AS A LOCAL OPTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR ELLIS SECOND CO-SPONSOR AND SUSPEND RULE 12 AND ADD COUNCIL SANTANA AS THIRD COUNCIL ALSO ADDED COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTIZAN SUSPEND THE RULES AT COUNCILOR SANTANA AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS BECAUSE WITH SANTANA SO ADDED COUNCIL CLETA ZAPATA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. TODAY I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE IN ORDER TO ADOPT THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT AS A LOCAL OPTION HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY PREDECESSOR SENATOR LYDIA EDWARDS AS WELL AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDY VARGAS WHO HELPED SPONSOR THIS AND GET IT A PART OF THE TAX PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED LATE 2023. THIS POLICY ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS A CRISIS THAT CONTINUES TO DISPLACE OUR NEIGHBORS, FORCED FAMILIES OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LEAVE COUNTLESS RESIDENTS ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS. BOSTON'S HOUSING CHALLENGES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AS OF JANUARY 2025 THE AVERAGE RENT IN OUR CITY HAS SOARED TO $3,393 PER MONTH MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.  WHILE RENTAL UNIT AVAILABILITY HAS IMPROVED SLIGHTLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC.  IT REMAINS LIMITED AND THE COST OF MAINTAINING PROPERTIES WORSENED BY INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES HAS LEFT MANY LANDLORDS WITH NO REASON TO RAISE RENTS NO CHOICE BUT TO RAISE RENTS OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF AFFORDABILITY. THIS IS WHERE THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT COMES IN A TOOL CREATED UNDER AGAIN THE STATE'S 2023 TAX PACKAGE WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY OPTING INTO THE STATUTE. BOSTON WILL OFFER A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR LANDLORDS WHO PROVIDE YEAR ROUND RENTAL UNITS AT AFFORDABLE RATES TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR LESS. ELIGIBLE LANDLORDS WILL CAP RENT AT 30% OF A TENANT'S INCOME. ENSURING TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT MEETS FEDERAL HUD STANDARDS. THIS INITIATIVE HAS THREE CLEAR BENEFITS. IT REWARDS GOOD LANDLORDS ALREADY RENTING BELOW MARKET RENTS, OFFERING THEM FINANCIAL RELIEF TO OFFSET RISING COSTS.  AND MANY, MANY OF US OR SOME OF US MAY HAVE ANECDOTAL INSTANCES WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS LIVED IN THE CITY THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. THEY OWN THE PROPERTY AND THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR RENTS LOW SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY THERE. I IF SOMEBODY I'M NOT GOING TO NAME HER BUT SHE HAD SAID THAT SHE'S RENTING OUT HER THREE BEDROOM FOR ABOUT $1,000 PER MONTH AND I THINK IN THIS MOMENT WHAT SHE'S DOING DESERVES SOME SORT OF REWARD BECAUSE SHE'S HOUSING THIS FAMILY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE DISPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT.  IT ALSO INCENTIVIZES MORE LANDLORDS TO OFFER AFFORDABLE UNITS EXPANDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRIORITIZES HOUSING STABILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.  ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT CUTS TO THE CORE OF ECONOMIC AND RACIAL EQUITY HERE IN BOSTON BY ADOPTING THIS LOCAL OPTION BOSTON WILL LEAD THE WAY IN CREATING A HOUSING MARKET THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THE HIGHEST RENTS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THIS THOUGHTFUL AND INNOVATIVE POLICY TO LIFE PROVIDING BOTH IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ALIKE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR THE OUTCOMES OF RYAN'S LAW. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER FOR ARTEMIS AS THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.  I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF ADOPTING THE GOOD LANDLORD TAX ABATEMENT AS A LOCAL OPTION. I KNOW OF A FEW LANDLORDS THAT OFFER RENT FOR A TWO BEDROOM AT 1200 DOLLARS WITH UTILITIES INCLUDED.  AND I BELIEVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CAN HELP CENTRALIZE AND STABILIZE AFFORDABLE RENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON BY INCENTIVIZE SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALREADY OFFERING BELOW MARKET RENT. THIS NOT ONLY KEEPS RENTS MANAGEABLE BUT REDUCES THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES PREVENTING SMALL LANDLORDS FROM NEEDED TO RAISE RENTS TO COVER RISING COSTS. NOTABLY SMALL LANDLORDS WHO OWN 68% OF BOSTON'S RESIDENTIAL OR RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO EVICT TENANTS COMPARED TO LARGER PROPERTY OWNERS CONTRIBUTING TO HELP TO BOSTON'S HOUSING STABILITY BY OFFERING ABATEMENTS OR LIGHTING THE BURDEN ON THOSE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED IT MOST. SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SUPPORTED THE AVAILABILITY OF STABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GROWS.  LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CASTRO SANTANA, CARLOS SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR CLARISSA PEDRO FOR ADDING ME AS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR. AND I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT. YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY HELPS KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IN A CITY WHERE WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ITS PEOPLE. IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR LANDLORDS TO KEEP MORE AFFORDABLE RENTS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITY BEING RENTERS I THINK THAT REALLY ENSURES THAT SAVINGS GO STRAIGHT TO RENTERS AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT IT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL REGARDLESS OF PARTY ON THIS. THINKING ABOUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND HOW TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF OF THAT PRESSURE THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING. SO REALLY THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CASTRO IS DURKIN FITZGERALD FLYNN MCGUIRE. MURPHY WEBER, PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 0270 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.  MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBERS ARE 271 SO I CAN HAVE A20271 COUNCILOR FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF CONCURRENT TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, PEDESTRIAN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE FACE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN 2019 TWO PEDESTRIANS WERE STRUCK BY A VAN AT THE INTERSECTION OF BELCHER AND SUMMER STREET IN THE FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE SITE OF A CONCURRENT PEDESTRIAN FACING TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ONE OF THEM PASSED AWAY DUE TO HER INJURIES . AFTER THIS TRAGIC ACCIDENT I CALLED FOR AND HELD A CITY COUNCIL HEARING ON CONCURRENT PHASING PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SIGNALS. AS I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER TO HAVE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS BOTH HAVE A RIGHT TURN GREEN ARROW AND PEDESTRIAN WALK SIGN AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL YIELD TO THE PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK . THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.  LET ME BE MORE CLEAR AT THE CORNER OF BELCHER STREET AND SUMMER STREET THE PEDESTRIAN HAS THE CROSS HAS THE LIGHT THAT SAYS THEY CAN CROSS. THEY'RE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET. BUT WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN SUMMER STREET, THE VEHICLE COMING DOWN SOME HISTORY WILL ALSO TAKE THE RIGHT TURN LEGALLY.  IT'S A IT'S UNHEALTHY. IT'S UNSAFE AND IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS IN BOSTON. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE REVIEW THE PRACTICE OF CONCURRENT PEDESTRIAN PHASING TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT THE INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN BOSTON AS OUR CITY BECOMES MORE DEVELOPED AND DENSELY POPULATED. THE INCREASE IN VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEANS THAT MANY AREAS OF OUR STREETSCAPE NEED IMPROVEMENT AND CHANGE TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR ALL. I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TODAY TO REPLACE THIS UNSAFE CONCURRENT PHASING PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. I ASK YOU NOT TO BLOCK IT. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST IT PLEASE VOTE AGAINST IT.  BUT I NEED TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON TO LET THEM KNOW HOW UNSAFE THIS PRACTICE IS. I CAN'T ALLOW ONE MORE DAY TO GO BY WITHOUT DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE DUE DILIGENCE TO PROVIDE THE SAFE THE SAFEST CITY POSSIBLE. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY I'M WRONG ON THIS BUT I KNOW TRAFFIC SIGNALS PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYONE IN THIS BUILDING AND IT'S UNSAFE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. VOTE AGAINST THIS. IF YOU IF YOU BELIEVE I'M WRONG BUT GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENT OF BOSTON TO BE SAFE LET THE VOTE GO FORWARD.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS FALL GLEN INGRAM WAS A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN WAS KILLED IN FRONT OF THE FOREST HILL STATION CROSSING IN A CROSSWALK THAT WAS CONCURRENTLY WITH A GREEN LIGHT FOR A VTA BUS. YOU KNOW, WE HELD A VIGIL AND YOU KNOW, IN RESPONSE TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AROUND FOREST HILLS BUT YOU KNOW, SEEING THE HARM THAT THIS PRACTICE CAN HAVE YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE VOTED FOR IT TODAY. BUT SO I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, LAYING THAT OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES I THINK COUNCILOR DURKIN,  COUNCILOR SANTANA, COUNCILOR GERALD THE CHAIR AND I COUNCIL DURKAN.  ONE MOMENT SORRY THE CHAIR CONSIDER AND THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM PRESIDENT.  I JUST WANTED TO ASK THROUGH THE CHAIR WHAT WAS YOUR THE START OF THIS THINKING FOR YOU AND I JUST I JUST WANT TO GET AN IDEA OF OF LIKE HOW I SHOULD APPROACH THIS ISSUE AND I DO APPRECIATE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY. I JUST AND REALLY IT'S JUST MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THIS IS IS ASKING SORT OF WHAT MOVED HIM TO MOVE ON THIS ISSUE THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE POINT IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY.  THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR DEREK AND IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. IT'S IT'S AN ISSUE I'VE WORKED ON FOR SINCE 2017 2018 AND I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS I'VE HELD A HEARING ON THIS. BUT THE REAL ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IS WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN WAS KILLED DIRECTLY OR BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO AND I VOWED THAT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS, TO EDUCATE CITY OFFICIALS OF HOW UNSAFE THIS PRACTICE IS. AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT DISAGREE WITH ME AND I I RESPECT THAT BUT I, I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN AS A CITY COUNCILOR TO PROVIDE THE SAFEST STREETS AND SIDEWALKS FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.  I'M AFRAID MADAM MADAM CHAIR,  THAT IF WE DON'T IF WE DON'T IMPLEMENT THIS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER PEOPLE KILLED CROSSING THE STREET UNDER THE SAME SCENARIO AS THAT CONCURRENT JURISDICTION OF OF OF A VEHICLE IN A PEDESTRIAN. I THINK IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME IN MY OPINION.  BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE IF WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE AND LET THE CITY OF BOSTON KNOW THAT AS DISTRICT COUNCIL IS AS ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL IS WE'RE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TOO EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT AND RESIDENTS ARE ASKING US WE WANT SAFER COMMUNITIES, WE WANT SAFER STREETS AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO PROVIDE IT. YES, THE VEHICLE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTRA 1520 SECONDS OR 30 SECONDS BUT I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK. I'M WILLING TO INCONVENIENCE THE VEHICLE IF IT MEANS IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF THOSE CROSSING THE STREET AND WHEN THOSE THOSE THAT ARE CROSSING THE STREET. THOSE ARE OUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS. THOSE ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. I WAS TALKING ABOUT MY PARENTS EARLIER IN THE CROSSWALK. I SEE DOWN TO THE FLOODPLAIN AREA SO I SEE YOUNG FAMILIES CROSSING CROSSING IN THE CROSSWALK GOING TO GOING TO SCHOOL, TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. YOU ALL SEE IT ALL AND THE CARS WILL ZIP BY THEM TAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO CROSS THE CROSS THE CROSSWALK. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR, DIRECTLY FOR THAT QUESTION.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR, CAN IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU MAY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH THROUGH THE CHAIR JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO OFFER I WILL BE VOTING YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSIONATE ADVOCACY FOR THIS.  OBVIOUSLY I THINK I NEED TO LEARN MORE AS THE CHAIR OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. SO THROUGH THE CHAIR I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO EITHER WORKING SESSION OR A POLICY BRIEFING ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC AND IN MY COMMITTEE AND AND THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ADVOCACY THAT'S TAKING PLACE HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES I BELIEVE THE ORDER WAS WAS IT COUNCILOR SANTANA? COUNCILOR SANTANA COVERS ANY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND I RISE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL I, I PLAN TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. I, I KNOW THIS I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE INCIDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILOR I KNOW COUNCILOR WEBER JUST MENTIONED ,YOU KNOW, GLEN INGRAM AND HIS DISTRICT. THIS IS A CITY WIDE ISSUE AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY TO KEEP HAVING SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS IN ORDER FOR US TO PARTICULARLY WHEN SOMEONE IS DYING RIGHT AND IN ORDER FOR US TO FIX THIS POLICY FAILURE SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE. I THINK THIS IS A TIME TO BE TO ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY IN ORDER TO REALLY PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN AND I PLAN TO VOTE WAS A PART OF THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR. AND IT IS CONSTRUCTED AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR.  OH, IT WAS IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL CONCEPT. GERALD, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I IN SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. I THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR BEING SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. THERE'S PLENTY OF INSTANCES FROM DOWNTOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IF YOU LOOK AT STATE AND CONGRESS OR EVEN BACK IN DORCHESTER WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN GALVIN BOULEVARD . THE SAME CAN COME IN LIGHTS AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO THINK I'M GLAD TO GET OUT AHEAD OF THAT BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH HERE AS A BODY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY IN THIS SPECIFIC RESOLUTION COUNCILOR FLYNN CALLS OUT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT DORCHESTER AVENUE IN DORCHESTER STREET BOTH NAMED AFTER DORCHESTER AND I'LL BE IF I HAVE AN INTERSECTION BESMIRCH MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S GOOD NAME AND SO I'D LIKE TO GET THIS ONE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MAGUIRE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. I'M SORRY. I JUST I THINK THIS IS THE ORDER, SO I'M GOING TO JUST GO WITH THAT FROM HERE, OKAY? SINCE YOU GAVE IT UP I WAS LIKE, YEAH. COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN. I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS AS TO WHEN YOU START SAYING I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT I ALWAYS I'M LIKE HOW DO YA KNOW WHO SUPPORTS AND WHO DOESN'T BECAUSE I WALKED IN HERE THINKING EVERYTHING I KNEW EVEN TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT. BUT ANYWAYS BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE SUSPICION OF PEOPLE NOT SUPPORTING IT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST NAME THAT BUT I ALSO TO JUST SAY THAT LAST NIGHT I WAS AT A CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING IN WEST ROXBURY WITH COUNCILOR WEBER WHO ACTUALLY UPLIFTED YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE AND TALKED ABOUT YOUR WORK. SO I JUST WANTED TO I DON'T KNOW IF I VIOLATED THE RULES BY NAMING SOMEBODY SORRY BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT BE IN ALL SPACES AND PLACES AND YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES CONTRARY TO WHAT WE ALL MAY BELIEVE HERE THAT THAT YOUR YOUR LEADERSHIP EXTEND TO WEST ROXBURY IN TERMS OF YOUR ADVOCACY AROUND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND COUNCIL RUBBER WAS QUICK TO NAME YOUR WORK IN THE SPACE THE HEARING ORDER THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING TODAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO RISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR GIVING HIM HIS KUDOS BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THAT OFTEN. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MURPHY COMES FROM WHERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN. I DID JUST WANT TO RISE TO SAY MY FOURTH YEAR HERE ON THE COUNCIL THAT ANY TIME WE'VE HAD A TRANSPORTATION HEARING AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BROUGHT THIS UP AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND IT HAS FALLEN ON DEAF EARS AND IT'S NEVER BEEN CHANGED. SO I DO THINK AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HOPEFULLY WHEN WE VOTE HAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE OUT THERE KNOWS IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME COUNCILOR FLYNN HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC TRANSPORTATION CONCERN AND THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED YET. SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL CHANGE IT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKIN FOR WANTING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF HEARING AFTER THIS TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP US ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS PASSED BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION AS WE KNOW SOMETIMES IS NOT EVEN WORTH THE PAPER IT'S PRINTED ON. BUT IF WE ADVOCATE AFTER WE LEAVE THE CHAMBERS TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE, THEN OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE SAFER.  SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANKS, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR, FOR FLYING, FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I DON'T DRIVE, I DON'T BIKE. I WALK EVERYWHERE AND SO AM A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.  I WILL JUST SAY THOUGH THAT I SUPPORT THIS OBVIOUSLY THE SENIOR TRAFFIC ENGINEER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT WORKS THIS IS A NORTHERN RESIDENT AND I KNOW THAT HE IS VERY MUCH OPEN TO THIS IDEA. HE'S ACTUALLY HELPED ME IN THE PAST WITH KEENEY SQUARE IN THE NORTH END. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE RESISTANCE IS ON THIS BUT WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE GREAT CITY WORKERS IN THIS IN THIS CITY IS IS ALSO IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE BUT I THINK THAT THAT WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE GROUND DOING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY IS IS IMPORTANT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT PERSON IN. I'M NOT GOING NAME HIM BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET PERMISSION BUT I KNOW HE WORKS VERY HARD AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT HE DOES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AGAIN AURÉLIEN FLORA THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND I JUST WANT TO JUST RISE AND SAY SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATING ADVOCATING FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND AS A DISTRICT COUNCILOR ANY TIME YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE ISSUES GET BROUGHT UP IT'S ALWAYS FEELS GOOD TO GET THE SUPPORT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SOLVING SOMETHING FOR A RESIDENT AND INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND AS A DISTRICT CITY COUNCILOR I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUSH TO GET THINGS DONE SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? OKAY, I'LL BE BRIEF. THANK YOU, DR. FLYNN FOR ELEVATING THIS ISSUE. EVERYONE WHO DIES IN ANY OF REPRODUCTION WHO DIES THAT'S A PREVENTABLE DEATH. THAT'S A DEATH THAT CAN JUST BE PREVENTED. AND SO WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. MADE THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND INSTEAD OF BOSTON MAY WE DO THIS ON THEIR BEHALF. SO THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.  COUNCILOR FLYNN SEEKS A SUSPENSION ADOPTION. OH, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK, PLEASE SAID COUNCILORS AS A PARTY DURKAN FITZGERALD FLYNN O. FITZGERALD. MARIA MURPHY SANTANA.  WEBER WUERL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR CATCH OF FLYNN SEEKS SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKING NUMBER 0271 MR. CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKING NUMBER 0271 COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES.  COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ SANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES.  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.  COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE.  CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL YES COUNCILOR WU YES DUCK IN NUMBER 0271 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.  DOCKET NUMBER 0271 HAS BEEN ADOPTED BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A GREEN SHEETS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME OR FOR ANYTHING ON THEIR MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. MR. CLERK I KNOW THAT WE WANTED TO ADD COUNCILOR THAT COUNCILOR DURKAN SOUGHT TO SUSPEND THE RULES AT COUNCILOR ZAPATA AS THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR ON DOCKET NUMBER 026 TO JUST ONE. MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT NUMBER CORRECTLY.  YES.  SO COUNCILOR COLETTE IS ABOUT TO BE ADDED ON THAT DOCKET AS THIRD. OKAY, THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND THIS IS COUNCILOR ALCANTARA.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I LIKE TO FORMALLY OBJECT TO DOCKET NUMBER 02882 WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE PERCENTAGE TO REQUEST THAT IT BE PLACED BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.  OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT DOCKET ON THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN OBJECTED TO AND IS NOW ON MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. SO.  OKAY. OKAY.  THAT DOCKET ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS TRANSFERRED TO MOTIONS ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS. WHAT'S THE DOCKET NUMBER? CAN YOU READ THE DOCKET NUMBER 02820282. OKAY. THANK THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. COUNCILOR AROUND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I GUESS THE REGIONAL COUNCIL. MR COURT WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD TALKING NUMBER ZERO TO A TWO COUNCILOR. COUNCILORS WERE ALL ON THE SAME PANEL FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 20TH AS THE REVEREND DR. LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES OUR OUTCOMES ARE ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. THESE WORDS ARE FROM REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.  RESONATES DEEPLY WITH US HERE IN BOSTON, A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO STRIVE FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE. REVEREND DR. KING UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO NONVIOLENT ACTIVISM LED TO MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS SUCH AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS OF 1964 AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 TRANSFORMING AMERICA'S SOCIETY AND EXPANDING CIVIL LIBERTIES FOR MILLIONS. BOSTON HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN DR. KING'S LEGACY. IT WAS HERE THAT HE EARNED HIS PH.D. FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND MET HIS WIFE CORETTA SCOTT KING THE EMBRACE STATUE AT BOSTON COMMON STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO HIS ENDURING IMPACT AND OUR CITY'S CONNECTION TO HIS MISSION. YET THE CHALLENGES DR. KING CONFRONTED STILL PERSIST TODAY. RECENT REPORT HIGHLIGHT DISPARITIES IN BOSTON, UNDERSCORING THE NEED TO CONTINUE AND CONTINUE ACTION. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE NEED INITIATIVES LIKE RIZE THAT FOCUS ON ELIMINATING INEQUITIES IN OUR CITY BY USING DATA TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS WHERE REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NEEDED THE MOST. AS WE RECOGNIZE JANUARY 20TH 2025 HAS AS REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY IN BOSTON, LET US HONOR HIS LEGACY BY RECOMMITTING TO THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY. AND I'D LIKE TO SPEND THE ROSE TO REQUEST PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WORLD FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS RESOLUTION.  I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT ANY OF THE STUFF THAT YOU JUST CITED AND IN THE HISTORY BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR ME AND I THINK FOR FOR MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY BOSTON, I THINK AS WE'RE APPROACHING YOU KNOW, I'M OKAY DAY AND I'M OKAY WEEKEND THING I REALLY WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT'S WHERE YOU KNOW POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO JUST ALSO YOU YOU KNOW I THINK THINK DEEPER ABOUT SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WE CAN BE PUSHING SOME OF THE THINGS YOU KNOW ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT WE CAN BE DOING THAT WEEK AND THAT THAT WEEKEND THAT DAY IS FILLED WITH INTENTIONAL SERVICE. SO I THINK I THINK MANY OF US DO THAT AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK HOUSE TOMORROW FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND YOU KNOW ALSO I DO WANT TO MENTION I THINK ALSO AS WE'RE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO LIKE TO QUOTE MANY QUOTES FROM DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. I THINK YOU KNOW, I THINK BEING INTENTIONAL ALSO ABOUT READING IN THE FLOOR QUOTES AND TRYING TO NOT MISREPRESENT SOME OF THE SOME OF THE PHRASES AND WORDS THAT ARE BEING USED I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT. BUT YOU KNOW, REALLY ONE THING AGAIN COUNCILOR AS WELL I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ON THIS MATTER? THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WELFARE AND SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.  THERE ARE SO MANY STRUGGLES IN IDENTIFYING AND MAKING, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY WHO HADN'T MET SO MUCH A HOLIDAY IT DIDN'T IT DOESN'T COME EASY. THIS PAST SUNDAY WAS AT THE 12TH STREET BAPTIST 12TH BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THEIR ANNUAL INVOCATION OF DR. KING BECAUSE THAT WAS DR. KING'S CHURCH AND JUST THE SANITIZED MESSAGE THAT WE OFTEN GET ABOUT DR. KING WHEN HE WAS KILLED FIGHTING FOR ASSASSINATED, FIGHTING FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR SANITATION WORKERS, BLACK SANITATION WORKERS DOWN IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE AND THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND IS INEXTRICABLE WITH THE FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR VOTING RIGHTS.  AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENDORSE THAT MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T SANITIZE DR. KING AND WHAT HE WAS FIGHTING FOR AND THAT WE DO NOT DO IT. DR. KING OFTEN TALKED ABOUT AND OFTEN DEMONSTRATED WHO DIED AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 39 OF CHOOSING COURAGE OVER FEAR ESPECIALLY AND IN THIS YEAR. SO THANK YOU COUNSELS WORRELL AND SANTANA. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS CLAUDIA ZAPATA DURKAN FITZGERALD.  FLYNN MEJIA MURPHY WEBER PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. DOCKET NUMBER COUNSELORS WERE L AND SANTANA SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER IS 80282028 TO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I ALSO SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED.  I'LL MR QUICK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBER 0282. COUNSELOR BREADON COUNSELOR COLLETTE AS A PART OF COUNSELOR AS A PARTY YES. COUNSELOR DURKIN COUNSELOR DURKIN YES. COUNSELOR FERNANDEZ SANDERSON.  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES.  COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES.  COUNSELOR MEJIA. COUNSELOR MEJIA. YES. COUNSELOR MURPHY COUNSELOR MURPHY YES. COUNSELOR PIPPIN COUNSELOR SANTANA YES. COUNSELOR SANTANA YES. COUNSELOR WEBER YES. COUNSELOR WEBER YES. AND COUNSELOR YES. COUNSELOR WELL YES. TALKING NUMBER 02A2 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.  THANK YOU, DR. NUMBER 0282 HAS PASSED.  ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A DOCKET UNDER ZERO TWO UNDER OUR MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS.  OKAY. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS.  I KNOW THAT THERE WE HAVE THREE POLLS THAT I KNOW OF FROM GREEN SHEETS.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNSELOR THAT AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO CALL DOCKET ZERO ONE FOR THREE FROM THE GREEN SHEETS PLEASE.  UH, OKAY. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 0143. OKAY. CAN YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 0143 PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW ENACTED RELATIVE TO SENIOR HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. THANK YOU. AND ABSENT OBJECTION.  THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THOSE BEFORE THE BODY AND FOR DISCUSSION. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR IT IS ABOUT TO. THANK YOU. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE A NEW COPY.  THAT MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNSELOR CLUB IS A COPY ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS A HOME RULE PETITION ALLOWING FOR A SENIOR TAX ABATEMENT. THE ONLY SUBSTITUTION IS IN THE HEREBY ORDERED SO THAT IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO AMEND THIS HOME RULE PETITION WHICH MEANS THAT THEY CAN OF THE STATE HOUSE OUR COLLEAGUES AT THEIR OWN CAN AMEND IT SO I'LL PASS IT TO THE LEAD SPONSOR FOR ANY REMARKS THAT HE WANTS TO SAY ON THIS DOCKET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WHERE OUTCOMES WHERE I HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU COUNSELOR CARLITO ZAPATA FOR PULLING THIS OUT OF GREEN SHEETS.  THIS IS THE HOME RULE PETITION THAT I INTRODUCED LAST WEEK PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS. THIS PETITION RAISES THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT AND INCREASES THE INCOME AND ASSET THRESHOLDS SO THAT MANY MORE SENIORS CAN QUALIFY FOR RELIEF.  MANY OF OUR SENIORS HAVE PAID OFF THEIR MORTGAGE BUT LIVED OFF FIXED INCOMES AND ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE RISE IN PROPERTY TAXES AND A FEW OF OUR HEARING ORDERS HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT TODAY. THE SUBSTITUTION DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING FROM THIS WHOLE FUNERAL HOME RULE PETITION THAT PASSED THIS BODY IN 2022 WHICH I BELIEVE A FEW OF US VOTED ON HERE IN CHAMBERS.  IT SIMPLY ALLOWS THIS TO BE AMENDED AT THE STATE HOUSE RATHER THAN ADOPTED WITH PRECISE LANGUAGE. AND AGAIN, THIS MAKES IT MORE FOR SENIORS TO BE ELIGIBLE MORE SENIORS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOR THE SENIOR TAX CREDIT AND IT TRIPLES THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT YOU KNOW, WE HEAR FROM SO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THE RISE IN PROPERTY TAXES AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO GET SOMETHING PASSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GET THAT RELIEF TO OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST TO BE CLEAR CONTROL ISN'T THIS THE HEARING ORDER THAT I'M AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR ON WITH YOU FROM LAST WEEK? WHEN DID YOU MAKE THIS DECISION TO PULL IT FROM THE GREEN SHEETS AND ARE YOU ASKING FOR A VOTE OR JUST ASKING FOR A SUBSTITUTION SO WHEN THE HEARING HAPPENS WE HAVE THE NEW LANGUAGE TO THE CHAIR COUNSELOR WELL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY WE ARE WE ARE MOVING FOR A VOTE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT IN ON TIME WITH THROUGH THE HOUSE COUNCILOR WHERE I'LL FINISH SPEAKING AND THEN WE'RE DONE BECAUSE WHILE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SO ON JANUARY 17TH STATE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE INTRODUCING ALL THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO GET A PART OF THAT BIG FOLLOWING LEGISLATION THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED BY ALL STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND GET A HEARING DATE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THE SENIOR TAX CREDIT OR TAX EXEMPTION UP THERE TO HAVE IT HERE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS A HEARING AND THEN ALSO PASS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR OUR SENIORS. YES. SO MY FIRST QUESTION THAT'S WHY I INTERRUPTED WAS IS THIS THE SAME ONE THAT I'M AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR?  SO IS THERE A REASON WHY WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT WE I WASN'T INCLUDED IN THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT I'M JUST HEARING ABOUT IT NOW AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING CANTRELL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY COUNTER OR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR WHAT COUNTY COUNCIL ORAL HAS THE FLOOR AND THEN OKAY. AND AS AS THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR YOU KNOW IN ORDER TO YOU KNOW MOVE OUR JUST URGENTLY WE DECIDED TO BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE TODAY THANK YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR COUNCILOR MURPHY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER STATEMENT JUST TO BE CLEAR I HAD FILED A HEARING ORDER OF COMMERCIAL PETITION LAST WEEK THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE WITH THE SENIOR CAVO BUT MINE INCLUDED THE SENIORS AND MORE SO COUNCIL WERE ALL AND I DID SPEAK ABOUT NOT RULE 15 AND HIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD BOTH HEARINGS BUT I JOINED ON TO HIS HE JOINED ONTO MINE AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WERE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE THIS FORWARD SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY BUT HOPING THAT MY HEARING ALSO WHICH WAS INCLUDING THE CONVERSATION AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR OUR STUDENTS AT THE END OF THIS MEETING I'LL BE WISHING MY DAD PAPA JACQUES HIS 91ST BIRTHDAY YOU KNOW MY AUNTIE PEGGY WILL BE TURNING 85 SOON,  UNDERSTAND 100%. I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN MY FAMILY BE SURROUNDED BY STRONG SENIORS. WE HAVE LONG GENES IN OUR FAMILY WHICH THEN COMES WITH AGING PARENTS AND ALL OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IN THIS COUNCIL IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROLE HERE ON THE COUNCIL WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS ANY WAY WE CAN SO I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GO ON THE RECORD TO SAY THAT I FEEL THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ORIGINAL ALL SPONSORS THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE WE PULL HEARINGS FROM THE GREEN SHEETS TO GO FOR A VOTE. BUT I DO THINK AND THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR SPEAKING UP ABOUT PEOPLE'S VOICES YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO DO IT AND I APPRECIATE IT THOUGH BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD AND IT'S NOT JUST TO POLITICALLY BE ATTACHED TO SOMETHING.  IT'S IF WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON THINGS WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THINGS. SO I'M HOPING THAT GOING FORWARD WE WILL DO THAT AND I'M HOPING THAT MINE BECAUSE MAYBE I WOULD HAVE PULLED MINE AND IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME SUPPORT WE WOULD HAVE PUT MINE RIGHT UP THERE. YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT I ORIGINALLY FILED AND THERE CAN BE MANY CONVERSATIONS BUT A HEARING WOULD HAVE HAD IT SO HOPING THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MCKEE.  IT COMES FROM A HEARING ON THE FLOOR I'M IN DIVORCE COURT AND I GOT TO PICK MY PARENTS SO TERRIBLE CASE LAW WE NEED TO SEE TO THIS HALL BUT I JUST THINK THIS IS JUST IT'S IT'S 2025 AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND ANOTHER WAY. I'M TRYING REALLY HARD. I'M REALLY TRYING HARD TO LIKE SHOW UP HERE. ELLEN, YOU HAVE SEEN IT.  YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS BUT LIKE WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS COLLEAGUES. LIKE NO ONE LIKES SURPRISES.  I'VE SEEN THEM HAPPEN EVEN TODAY.  I GOT A CALL THIS MORNING OUT OF COURTESY ABOUT A HEARING ORDER THAT YOU AND I WERE CO-SPONSORING AND I FOUND OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE BRINGING IT UP FOR A VOTE. I KNOW AND I AM GLAD THAT I AM NOT PART OF THE COOL KIDS CLUB. I DON'T WANT TO BE I ACTUALLY LIKE THE WAY I ROLL. I'M INDEPENDENT.  I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ANYTHING HERE BUT AT A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO START DEMONSTRATING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DIFFERENT WAY OF DYNAMICS BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT BE HEARING ABOUT VOTES THAT ARE BEING TAKEN OUT AND I CAME OUT OF THE CHAIR OF GOVERNMENT OPS. I'M GOING TO ASSUME THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT HAD HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS. SO I JUST THINK LIKE OUT OF FAIRNESS I THINK THAT WE NEED TO START LEARNING HOW TO BE MORE, YOU KNOW, COURTESY TO EACH OTHER AND I'M NOT HERE TO DEFEND COUNSELOR MURPHY BECAUSE YOU COULD FIGHT YOUR OWN BATTLES. OKAY? I'M HERE TO FIGHT MY OWN I'VE GOT ENOUGH BATTLES TO FIGHT UP IN HERE SO I DON'T NEED EVERYBODY ELSE'S DRAMA AND DRAMA TO CARRY YOU ALONG WITH ME. BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE NEED TO START WE NEED AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LEADERSHIP COMES FROM AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IS RESPONSE OF ALL FOR THE WAY WE GOVERN HERE AND HOW WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER AS COLLEAGUES. BUT WHATEVER IT IS I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF LIKE A MEETING WITH THE COUNCILORS TOO SO WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT GROUP DYNAMICS COURTESY BECAUSE OTHERWISE IF WE DON'T GET AHEAD OF THIS WE HAVE A WHOLE YEAR AND THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WHERE EVERYBODY REALLY SHOWS THEIR FACE HERE. JUST SO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVEN'T THIS IS WHERE EVERYBODY REALLY SHOWS UP AND SO BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE I DON'T WANT TO SAY I'M THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ME, LORD WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING BUSINESS LIKE THIS LESS LIKE FIGURE THIS OUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF STANDARD PUT IN PLACE IF SOMETHING'S A GREEN SHEET IS GOING TO BE PULLED, THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN THEN WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THOSE THINGS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE WELL INFORMED BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY IN THIS ITERATION OF THIS PARTICULAR BODY IS THAT EVERYTHING COMES THROUGH HERE AND EVERYTHING GETS RAMMED DOWN OUR THROATS AND WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY HAD THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND HAVE HAD THEIR CONVERSATIONS AND I'VE HAD LITTLE NEGOTIATIONS AND EVERYBODY HAS A RATHER LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES WHEELING AND DEALING AND THEN THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE COOL KIDS CLUB WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT PUBLICLY.  THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY FOR US TO WORK AND IF PEOPLE DON'T TRUST US THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO QUESTION WHAT ARE OUR INTENTIONS HERE? SO I'M NOT BLOCKING IT. I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS. I REALLY CARE LESS WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.  I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT. I CARE ABOUT THE PROCESS.  I CARE ABOUT HOW WE SHOW UP. I CARE ABOUT HOW WE DEMONSTRATE. EVERYBODY SAYS COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP BUT OUT HERE LITERALLY TAKING EACH OTHER OUT AND IT'S EVIDENT BY THE WAY Y'ALL ARE MOVING SO LET'S STOP LIKE IT'S JUST JUST STOP. WE'RE ALL ADULTS HERE.  LIKE WE NEED TO JUST STOP AND YEAH, YEAH YOU CAN GET SICK OF ME ALL YOU WANT BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB. SO IF YOU'RE GETTING SICK OF ME, TAKE A TYLENOL. BUT I'M GOING TO STILL KEEP TALKING.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR I THINK IT WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE WHETHER HE HAD THE FLOOR SURE. YEAH, I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE FILER. I MEAN I THINK THIS IS A IS A GOOD IDEA AND THE POLICY IS GOOD AND SOLID. I JUST FOR FOR FLAHERTY SAKE UM I DO THINK THE MAYOR HAS INCLUDED SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN IN IN HER TAX PROPOSAL AND I JUST WONDER TO THE EXTENT THE FILER KNOWS AT THE STATE LEVEL WHAT IMPACT TO FILINGS ON THE SAME SUBJECT WOULD WOULD IT GET IN THE WAY OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. I'M JUST THAT'S MY QUESTION THANK YOU THROUGH CHAIR COUNCILOR WORRELL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY AS MENTIONED WE'RE TRYING TO GET UP GET IT UP THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE PASSED NOT KNOWING WHEN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WILL PASS AND WHAT FROM THE MAYORS PROPOSAL WILL BE ATTACHED IN A HOME RULE PETITION. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION BY ITSELF IT WOULD BE IT COULD GET THROUGH BOTH HOUSE AND THE SENATE.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR OFTENTIMES FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. THIS IS UNRELATED TO THIS DOCKET AND UNRELATED TO ANY ANY DOCKET BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED PREVIOUSLY IN THE PAST NOT NOT FROM ME BUT FROM OTHER COUNCILORS.  BUT YOUR POLICY, MADAM CHAIR, IS WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO BRING SOMETHING BEFORE BRING SOMETHING OUT FROM A GREEN SHEET THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY YOU PRIOR TO TO TODAY BUT FOR THE FOR THE REST OF THE BODY THIS IS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE WOULD FIND OUT ABOUT A PARTICULAR DOCKET. SO WE DON'T WE DON'T EVEN HAVE REALLY ACCESS TO LOOK AT THE DOCKET TO STUDY THE DOCKET AND TO MAKE A SPLIT DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SUPPORT OR NOT. SO MY MY REQUEST WOULD BE IF SOMEONE IS PLANNING TO TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE GREEN SHEET AND OUR POLICY IS TO GO TO THE COURT TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FIRST TO GIVE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT A HEADS UP FOR US. BUT COULD THAT ALSO BE ADDED TO THE OFFICIAL AGENDA SO CITY COUNCILORS CAN ALSO BE PREPARED IN SO WE CAN STUDY THE DOCKET, WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS, WE CAN BE PREPARED, WE CAN DO OUR INSTEAD OF MAKING A SPLIT SECOND DECISION ON A PARTICULAR MATTER THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.  BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU I HAVEN'T READ IT SINCE IT WAS JUST JUST ANNOUNCED A FEW MINUTES AGO AND THIS IS UNRELATED TO THIS DOCKET. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SO AND I SHOULD HAVE HAD A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE IF SOMEONE BROUGHT SOMETHING BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND ON A GREEN SHEET THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE AGENDA. I FAIL TO DO THAT.  I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT IT'S NO CRITICISM OF ANYBODY HERE. BUT MAYBE IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL MAYBE THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS WAS THE PRACTICE DURING YOUR PRESIDENCY. IT'S ALSO THE ONLY OTHER TERM THAT I'VE HAD IS MY SECOND TERM. THE ONLY OTHER TERM WHERE I'VE SEEN HOW THINGS GO AND IN THAT PROCESS GREEN SHEETS WERE JUST AND NO ONE EVER MADE AN ISSUE OF IT. THINGS WERE PULLED FROM THE GREEN SHEETS AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY ADVANCE NOTICE. NOW I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT SHOULD THERE BE A GREEN SHEETS POLL TO LET OUR OFFICE KNOW HONESTLY BE PRESENT FOR THAT FOR THE SAKE OF THE CLERK BECAUSE IT HELPS US IT HELPS TO KNOW WHAT'S BEING PULLED SO THAT HE'S NOT RATTLING AND FINDING DOCKETS.  AND SO I DO ASK FOLKS AS IN SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY UNTIL THE DAY OF THE MEETING. SOMETIMES THERE ARE GREEN SHEET POLLS THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT ME EVEN KNOWING AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO TREAD ON A COMMITTEE CHAIRS TOES. I DO ASK THAT AS SOON AS PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN THE GREEN SHEETS THAT THEY SHARE.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COMES FROM I FORGET THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE OC. I'M NOT I APOLOGIZE THAT DURKAN HAS SPOKEN ON THE MATTER BUT COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. YOU CAN SPEAK AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCILOR DURKAN. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. CAN YOU SAID YES WE CAN. YES. I WANT TO GO. YES THANK YOU SO AND I'VE TALKED TO SHARES ABOUT THIS ALSO THAT WHEN THE CHAIR AND THE PRESIDENT IS THE CHAIR WEDNESDAY MEETING IF THEY CALL ON SOMEONE WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO I DON'T THINK I'M BEING RUDE. DO YOU FEEL OFFENDED BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'D ALREADY BE 32ND PRIORITY BE DONE BUT I DO JUST WANT TO KIND OF REITERATE WHAT COUNCILOR FLYNN SAID.  SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING WHEN I SPEAK COUNCILOR FLYNN BECAUSE TWICE I HAVE STOOD UP AND I HAVE ASKED AND I APPRECIATE THE PROCEDURE THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT MICHELLE AND THE CLERK ARE AWARE BEFOREHAND BUT THAT WE ON THE COUNCIL AND I HAVE TO SHOUT IT OUT. ALI YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB FROM COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART OF THE OFFICE FOR SENDING EMAILS AND GIVING PEOPLE A HEADS UP.  I'VE SPOKEN DIRECTLY ABOUT THAT SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED.  SO JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M ASKING YOU NOW FOR A THIRD TIME CAN WE MAKE IT A PROCEDURE THAT IF WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE CENTRAL STAFF TO BE AWARE OF THE CLERK TO BE AWARE THAT THERE'S A GREEN SHEET BEING PULLED THAT WE'RE NOT I MEAN MEGAN HAD JUST WALKED AROUND I MEAN THE PUBLIC MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS BUT WE WERE GETTING A COPY OF THIS AS COUNCILOR ZAPATA WAS STANDING UP TO SPEAK ON IT. THAT'S WHY I SAID IS THIS EVEN THE ONE WE JUST FILED TOGETHER LAST WEEK BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE PULLED. SO I'M HOPING THAT GOING FORWARD THAT IT'S NOT JUST A COURTESY THAT IT COULD BE A POLICY THAT WE DO SO THAT WE'D ALSO LIKE COUNCILOR FLYNN SAID WE NEED TO BE PREPARED WHEN THESE IMPORTANT THINGS ARE ASKED TO BE VOTED ON. SO HOPING THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.  I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE LEADERSHIP OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK ONE THING THAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES IS WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND THAT CREATES A LOT OF TENSENESS BETWEEN US.  BUT I REALLY DO SEE OUR ROLE WITH EVERY SINGLE THING THAT'S PRESENTED HERE IS TO EVALUATE THE MERITS OF THAT INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL OR WHETHER IT IS GIVEN TO ME AT GAME TIME, WHETHER I WHETHER I HEAD WHETHER IT WAS FILED EARLIER AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO READ IT. I KNOW YOU KNOW EARLY IN MY TIME I HAD TO MOVE REALLY FAST ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES AND A COUPLE OF TIMES I FELT LIKE I ACTUALLY MADE THE WRONG CALL SO I UNDERSTAND FEELING OFF GUARD AND I THINK I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR FOR HIS STANCE ON JUST FEELING LIKE YOU KNOW, WE ALL DO CHOOSE HOW WE SHOW UP HERE AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL SEE IN THE NEW YEAR I'M ALSO TAKING LIKE A DIFFERENT TACT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS SEE US ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND I ON THE ISSUES THAT WE CAN SHARE, WE SHARE ON ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. WE WERE ALL ELECTED TO HAVE THOSE OPINIONS. SO I'LL JUST SAY ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TO GIVE TO REALLY RELIEVE RESIDENTS AND IF SENIORS OR YOUNG HOMEOWNERS LIKE I THINK OF THOSE CATEGORIES AS THE SAME WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR TAX BILLS AND SO I PLAN TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS TODAY. I DO HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS AS COUNCILOR WEBER JUST IN REGARDS TO LIKE HOW DOES IT ALL WORK?  BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TODAY THAT WE SEND A MESSAGE TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELIEVE OUR RESIDENTS SO I'M GOING TO VOTE YES BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY LIKE WE'VE ALL BEEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND I EMPATHIZE WITH EVERYONE WHO SPEAKS ON ISSUES AND CARES ABOUT THEM AND TAKES ON THOSE ISSUES OF THEIR OWN AND CAN FEEL LEFT OUT WHEN THERE CAN ONLY BE THREE SPONSORS. BUT I THINK WITH OUR VOTE WE CAN SAY WHAT WE THINK AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR POSITIONS AND I'M GOING TO VOTE YES. I THINK I'M OKAY WITH A VOTE TODAY BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TRYING TO BRING THIS BODY INTO A POSITIVE SPACE BECAUSE WE ALL REALLY DESERVE TO HAVE THAT SPACE AND RESIDENTS DESERVE US FOR THIS TO BE A POSITIVE SPACE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER,  COUNCIL MEMBER YOU ON THE FLOOR? YEAH. THANK YOU.  IT'S SO SO MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT YOU KNOW WE NEED I AM IN FAVOR OF THE MAYOR'S TAX PROPOSALS.  YOU KNOW, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STATE SENATE BLOCKED THIS PROPOSAL. YOU KNOW OUR PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE YOU KNOW, TEMPORARILY PROPERTY TAXES ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.  AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S PART OF THIS GROUP OF THINGS. MY CONCERN IS THAT BY PASSING THIS BY ITSELF WE WILL ALLOW THE STATE HOUSE TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND SORT OF OH, PAT WILL PASS THIS ONE INDIVIDUALLY AND LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE WHICH WILL THIS WILL HELP SOME SENIORS.  AND AGAIN, I COMPLETELY I THINK THIS IS A THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AND WELL-EXECUTED BUT JUST WHERE WE'RE SENDING THEM A GROUP OF PROPOSALS THAT WILL NOT JUST WILL ALLOW US TO SHIFT THE BURDEN OR COLLECT OR GIVE REBATES THAT BY GIVING THEM THIS OPTION OF LIKE WELL WHERE YOU CAN TAKE THIS ONE PIECE AND PASS IT, WE'RE SORT OF DEFEATING EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT'S JUST THAT'S MY CONCERN. I JUST I SO I, I IF IF THE FILER HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT MAYBE I'M JUST BEING PARANOID AND I WILL SAY ACCEPT THAT POSSIBILITY. THANK YOU. THANKS. THE CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND COUNCILOR AROUND YOU MAY YEAH DO THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCILOR WE HAVE PASSED THIS BEFORE AS A BODY IN 2022 AND AT THAT SAME TIME I THINK THAT THE THINKING WAS THE SAME TO ATTACH IT TO ANOTHER BILL TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.  HOWEVER THIS SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION IS STILL NOT ADOPTED BY HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE HOUSE RIGHT. SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY GET IT THROUGH AND GET THE RELIEF TO OUR SENIORS,  I DO FEEL THE BEST WAY TO GET GET IT ACROSS AND ADOPTED AND THIS RELIEF TO OUR SENIORS IS FOR IT TO PASS ALONG BECAUSE WE TRIED THAT STRATEGY IN 2022 AND THAT IS THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION.  THANK YOU IS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MEJIA ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.  FROM THE CHAIR TO THE FILER THERE'S ANOTHER PROCESS QUESTION HERE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS SO I'M TRACKING THIS CORRECTLY. THE GOAL IS TO GET IT OVER TO THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE THERE'S A DEADLINE. YES, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY JANUARY 17TH. IS THAT RIGHT? IS A FILING DATE.  BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A SECOND THERE ARE TWO THERE'S SUCH A NAME. THERE IS IT'S NOT THE FINAL DEADLINE. IT OH NO, IT'S NOT OKAY. OH, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY. COUNCILOR WORRELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY THAT IT'S NOT THE FINAL DEADLINE. OKAY. YEAH. THE IDEA AROUND THIS IS TO TRY TO GET THIS THROUGH THIS THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT OUR SENIORS RIGHT COULD GET RELIEF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YES, WE CAN WAIT. RIGHT. AND THAT RELIEF WILL COME A LOT LATER OR WE CAN MOVE NOW TO TRY TO GET RELIEF TO OUR SENIORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEN I THINK ALSO TO MARK ONE MOMENT MOSTLY SOCIALLY SPEAKING. YEAH, MOST MOST LEAD SPONSORS RIGHT. ARE IN CONTROL OF THEIR BILL. RIGHT. THEY DECIDE WHAT LANGUAGE WHAT CHANGES AND THEY WORK ON THE LANGUAGE IN THAT THIS IS NO NO DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE AND MOVING IT FORWARD.  SO I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADDRESS THAT.  THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND COUNTER MEJIA TO THE CHAIR I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING TO IT'S NOT EVEN A MATTER OF RESPONDING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE TIMELINE BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY EXCUSE ME WHAT I HEARD YOU BOTH WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY WAS IT THAT THE WE HAD A DEADLINE OF JANUARY 17TH BECAUSE OF THE FILING BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE ON IT IT HAD TO THE DEADLINE IS THE 17TH BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CONFUSING. I JUST SAW A CHASM.  HE HAS A FLOOR SO AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY BUT I JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AND TUNING IN UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS A DEADLINE THEN WE HAVE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND GETTING THIS OVER TO THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE THERE IS A DEADLINE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A NUMBER WHEN IT COMES TO HOME RULE PETITIONS WE CAN SEND THEM AT ANY MOMENT TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION SO WHAT'S THROWING ME OFF IS THE JANUARY 17TH DEADLINE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO NOT BECOME THE REASON WHY OUR SENIORS DON'T HAVE ANY RELIEF. SO IF THERE IS A DEADLINE AS YOU'VE STATED HERE, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES TO HOME PETITIONS THERE AREN'T ANY DEADLINES BECAUSE WE CAN SEND HOME MORE PETITIONS AT ANY MOMENT TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION AND MOVEMENT. SO THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR REASONING IS AND SO THAT WE GET IT ON THE RECORD AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IS IT AN OFFICIAL DEADLINE ON THE 17TH OR OR NOT BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUZZLE HERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR, YOU MAY WRITE TO THE CHAIR TO COUNCILOR ME HERE.  AS I STATED, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS IS TO ASSURE AND HEAR RIGHT THAT IN ORDER IN ORDER TO ASSURE HERE IN THE JANUARY 17TH ALL THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES ARE FILING THEIR LEGISLATION TO ASSURE A HEARING ON ALL THE LEGISLATION THAT THEY ARE FILING.  THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR REFLECTING ON THE FLOOR.  YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO THE TWO. THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE TO GET THIS UP HERE BEFORE JANUARY 17TH.  CAN YOU GIVE US A HISTORY OF OF OF THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT WAS THERE WAS THERE A HEARING ON IT AND WHAT CHANGES WITH THE AMENDED AMENDED VERSION YOU HAD ? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES WERE COUNCILOR WERE WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY DO THE CHAIR TO COUNCILOR FLYNN THIS IS THE SAME EXACT SENIOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT WE PASSED AS A BODY IN 2022. THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE CHANGED IS ALLOWING FOR THE STATE HOUSE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THIS EXEMPTION.  THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE CHANGED BUT IS THE SAME THING THAT WE PASSED AS A BODY IN 2022. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAROL FLYNN, WOULD YOU LIKE WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?  ARE YOU GOOD? I I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.  ARE THEY COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS DOCUMENT AND HAVE WE ASKED THE RELEVANT RIGHT QUESTIONS? WE ALL SUPPORT TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS BUT ARE WE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS IS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT GETTING OR WE'RE GOING TO MISS BASED ON NOT HAVING A HEARING OR VOTING ON IT WITHOUT ANY REALLY DISCUSSION OR THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY READ THE DOCUMENT? THAT'S THAT'S MY CONCERN.  THANK YOU. MR FLYNN, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? BUT MADAM CHAIR, WHAT WOULD THE CHAIR OF WAYS MEANS BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT IF HE WOULD LIKE TO HE MAY RESPOND WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY MOTION TO MOVE TO A VOTE ON THAT MOTION TO MOVE TO A VOTE POINT A POINT OF ORDER. IT'S A MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION THAT'S BEEN SECONDED CAN WE PLEASE DO MR QUINN MADAM CHAIR, CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS MATTER?  IT'S A IT'S A MOVE IT'S A CALL TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. IT IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE.  MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCUMENTS 0143 COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A FURTHER COUNCILOR ALLOWS A FURTHER YES . COUNCILOR DURKIN COUNCILOR DURKIN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES.  COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR ME HERE WITH MEJIA YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PEN COUNCILOR S.A. COUNCILOR SIR TIERNEY IS COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR YES. COUNCILOR YES. TALKING NUMBER 0143 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.  THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW MOVING.  ANYONE ELSE HAVE A GREEN SHEETS POLL?  OKAY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA COMES INTO ANY OTHER FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  MR COOK, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT NUMBER 0117 FOR THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. OKAY, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PAGE 13 DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCKET BEFORE YOU MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE REDACT A NUMBER 0117 INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUCK IN NUMBERS 0117 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $593,750 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 HAS MET HERE MY GRANT AWARDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE NEEDS OF THE AS IT IS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAMS AS SPECIFIED THE LINE ITEMS A3 20 4-0000 AND A3 20 4-0050 OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT THANK YOU I WANT TO ABSENT OBJECTION AND COUNTERPOINT IS OC NO OKAY ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY.  CASA SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.  THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL THE F Y 25 AT 524 CITY OF BOSTON GRANTS ADMINISTERED BY THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JUNE 11, 2020 FOR THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM THREE BIA F.D. STAFF MEMBERS KEVIN COYNE, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE JULIE BIRD AND DEVIN THE PROCUREMENT AND GRANTS MANAGER CARLA LYNCH. THOSE ARE GRANTS MANAGER WE ALSO WERE JOINED BY COUNSELORS MURPHY FLYNN AND FITZGERALD DURKIN WEBER AND CALLED US A PARTNER AND WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR PREVENT THE FAMILIES HAS A FILE ON EACH GRANT ADMINISTERED BY BFD AS WELL AS GRANTS TO GRAB TRANS PERSONS PREVIOUS YEARS DURING THE HEARING JULIE DEVIN PROCUREMENT AND GRANTS MANAGER TESTIFIED SPECIFICALLY ON THIS GRAND AND STATED THAT THIS GRANT WAS EARMARKED FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES AND IS REIMBURSABLE. THE CITY OF BOSTON RECEIVED THIS GRANT LAST YEAR AND ACTUALLY 24 AS WELL AND A LARGER AMOUNT WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE COMMONWEALTH BASED ON THE STATE'S BUDGET.  MCDEVITT INDICATED THAT IT'S ONLY USED FOR THE HAS MORE HAS BY RESPONSE TEAM RELATED EXPENSES AS ALSO FOR TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IN ORDER FOR THE TEAM TO DO THEIR JOB EFFICIENTLY, SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY WE OF THE ALSO PROVIDED THE COMMITTEE WITH APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ON THIS GRANT WHICH I HAVE REVIEWED AS A AS A CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND WHICH CONFIRMS AND ECHOES THE TESTIMONY THE COMMITTEE HEARD IN PERSON DURING THE HEARING AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I RECOMMEND MOVING THIS TARGET FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION AT THAT TIME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL WILL BE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 011702 PASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FLYNN CONTROLS PLENTY OF THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR AS WELL AS PUBLIC SAFETY . MADAM CHAIR, I KNOW THIS GRANT VERY WELL BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION MAYBE IT WON'T BE IMPLEMENTED. MAYBE IT WON'T. BUT AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF GRANT WE HAD PROFESSIONAL OUTSTANDING DEDICATED PEOPLE FROM THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT OFFERED TESTIMONY. THEY WERE MOSTLY FROM THE LEGAL TEAM, THEY WERE FROM THE FINANCE TEAM, THEY WERE FROM THE BUDGETING TEAM WONDERFUL OUTSTANDING PEOPLE. BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE THE BOSTON FIRE TEAM THAT IS ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THIS TYPE OF WORK THOSE SO THOSE ARE THE DETAILS I'D LIKE TO ASK A PARTICULAR PERSON ON THE GROUND THAT'S THAT'S DOING THE SPECIFIC WORK AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WHEN WE DO HAVE A HEARING GOING FORWARD IF WE CAN LEARN FROM NOT THE PERSON THAT'S WRITING THE GRANT THEY'RE OUTSTANDING NOT THE PERSON THAT'S LEGAL OR BUDGETING. THEY'RE ALSO OUTSTANDING.  I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE FROM THE PERSON THAT IS ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK, LISTENING TO THEM, ASKING THEM A SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WERE UNABLE TO BE ANSWERED AND THEY ONLY COULD BE ANSWERED.  IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. THEY ONLY COULD BE ANSWERED BY SOMEONE IN THAT PROGRAM.  SO THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION. MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? MADAM CHAIR? MIGHT MAKE MY QUESTION IS TO THE TO THE CHAIR. IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO GOING FORWARD?  COUNCILOR SANTANA TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY RESPOND IF YOU'D LIKE.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR HOW WE DID THE FIVE GRANTS TOGETHER WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT. I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THE RIGHT PERSON NOW THAT WE CAN INVITE THE RIGHT PERSONNEL FOR THAT THAT'S NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA, WHAT IS THE DOCKET NUMBER AGAIN? 200117. OKAY. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? HEY, CASTRO SANTANA MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0117. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSE THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER? NO. OKAY.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER, DO YOU HAVE A GREEN SHEETS?  OKAY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  I DO. I'M SORRY. ON BEHALF OF SO I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND RESILIENCE RESILIENCY AND PARKS COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE CHAIR IS NOT HERE CAN I PULL FROM THE GREEN SHEETS? DOCKET NUMBER 0110. THANK YOU. WITH OUR CONSENT UPON YEAH WITH WITH YOUR CONSENT TO PULL YEAH . YES. YES. OKAY.  COUNSELOR UH OH.  MR COURT COULD YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RESERVE AND PARKS TALKING NUMBER 0110 MESSAGE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON ACCEPTING SPEND THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE PARKLAND ACQUISITIONS AND RENOVATIONS FOR COMMUNITIES AWARDED BY THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.  THE GRANT WILL FUND THE PROSPECT OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN ACQUIRING AND DEVELOPING LAND FOR PARK AND OUTDOOR RECREATION PURPOSES. THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION, THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET IS COUNSELOR FLYNN IS THAT AN OBJECTION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. OKAY.  THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COUNCILOR WEBER IN THE FLOOR. YEAH, I JUST I BELIEVE I THINK MADAM PRESIDENT CAN CONFIRM THAT THE CHAIR HAD GIVEN NOTICE . YES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW THAT SHE WANTS TO POSE IS NOT JUST ME POLITICS OUT OF THIN AIR.  THIS IS A GRANT FOR RINGER PARK RENOVATIONS IN ALLSTON AND UM AND IN TERMS OF ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HOLD ON. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THE GRANT OF $500,000 SO WE CAN, UH UM WE CAN RENOVATE THE PARK AND BASED ON THE CHAIR'S SUGGESTION I RECOMMEND THAT THIS PASS AND I'M PUTTING UP FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WHEN YOU SAID IT'S FOR BEING A PARK. YEAH, I YES, YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  OH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK THE THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE A QUESTION WAS WHEN WHEN DID THE HEARING TAKE PLACE ON THE SOME ON THIS GRANT DO THE CHAIR VICE CHAIR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY. I DON'T BELIEVE IT SINCE THE GREEN SHEETS POLL I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A HEARING BUT COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU MAY RESPOND. YEAH, JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND. UM UH SO SO YEAH, I'VE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON UM,  DECEMBER 4TH BUT IF WE CAN HAVE A JUST A SHORT ONE MINUTE RECESS I COULD ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DEFINITIVELY BUT IF YOU IF YOU NEED IT WE ARE IN A BRIEF ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU .  WE ARE BACK FROM RECESS.  COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SURE.  SO JUST TO ANSWER AS I COUNT COUNCILOR FLYNN THERE WAS NOT A HEARING.  UH, I JUST I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL MEMO I THINK EVERYONE WAS PROVIDED WITH A MEMO ON THIS. UH, THE BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT APPLY FOR A $500,000 GRANT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS AS PARKLAND ACQUISITION RENOVATIONS FOR COMMUNITIES GRANT FOR PARK GRANT. IT'S AN ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM OF UP TO $500,000 FOR WHICH HELPS CITIES AND TOWNS BUILD AND ACQUIRE PARKS. RINGER PARK WAS SELECTED AS A RECIPIENT OF THE FULL $500,000 GRANT. THE GRANT WILL ENABLE THE PARK RENOVATION TO INCLUDE A NEW PLAY AREA, A NEW DOG RECREATION SPACE SPACE A FLEXIBLE FIELD SPACE, IMPROVED ENTRY AREAS,  ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS THROUGHOUT THE PARK AND WOODLAND RESTORATION AND A NEW ACCESSIBLE PATH. THIS PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED BY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND A $900,000 GIFT FROM THE HARVARD AUSTIN PUBLIC REALM FLEXIBLE FUND.  THE PARK GRANT REQUIRES THE CITY TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND IN ORDER.  I GUESS THAT CAME BEFORE US BUT I THINK THERE WAS A DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 31ST. BUT YOU KNOW, I, I SO I BELIEVE ACTION IS REQUIRED NOW THAT'S WHY I'M PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY I'LL APPROVE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL NOTE?  THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE VICE CHAIR HIS RESPONSE AND I KNOW HE'S FILLING FILLING AND I'M NOT GOING TO STAND IN THE WAY OF OF MONEY GOING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIX UP A PARK ALTHOUGH I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARTICULAR PROJECTS BEFORE I VOTE YES. BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FUNDING PROJECT. I'M VOTING YES BUT I DO LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M VOTING ON BEFORE THAT VOTE TAKES PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  COUNCILOR WEBER, VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RESILIENCY AND PARKS SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0110.  ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED WE WE'RE NOW ON TO LATE FILES I'M INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE FIVE LATE FILE MATTERS ONE SIX LATE FILE MATTERS ONE PERSONNEL ORDER ONE ABSENCE LETTER TO ABSENCE TWO ABSENCE LETTERS PERSONNEL ONE COUNCIL A COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILOR DURKAN AND TWO THERE ARE TWO COMMUNICATIONS. OKAY THERE ARE TWO COMMUNICATIONS AND ONE REPORT OF PUBLIC OFFICER AND OH YES, YES. OKAY THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THESE LATE FILE MATTER TO ADD THE PERSONNEL ORDER INTO RECORD. COUNCILOR FLYNN I DO. I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER MADAM KIRK FOR MADAM CLERK OR ME I MEAN I MADE FOR YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M SORRY. YES, I KNOW SOME I KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES SOME OF THEM HAVE HAVE LEFT BUT ONE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DID WANT TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BEFORE SOMEONE PUT IT INTO FOR FOR FOR A VOTE WHEN YOU'RE TAKING SOMETHING OUT OF A GREEN SHEET YOU USUALLY GIVE PEOPLE THE HOPEFULLY YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN READ ABOUT THE DOCUMENT.  AND COUNCILOR MEJIA I THINK WANTED TO AND COUNCILOR MURPHY AND OTHERS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND THEN SOMEONE WANTED TO GO RIGHT TO A VOTE. I THINK I THINK THAT'S A REASON WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE THOROUGH PROCESS OF OF OF HAVING THAT ON THE AGENDA. BUT IF PEOPLE TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF A GREEN SHEET WE SHOULD BE GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA CONSIDERATION AND RESPECT THAT WE CAN AT LEAST HEAR THEIR QUESTIONS OF THOUGHT. SO I'M TROUBLED BY THAT AND IT'S IT IT SHOWS WITH THE LACK OF WITH THE LACK OF ATTENDANCE HERE AND IF ONE PERSON LEAVES THIS ROOM NOW WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE BODY. I, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPECTFUL WHEN WE'RE TAKING THINGS OUT OF A GREEN SHEET, GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT IT BUT DON'T BUT THEN DON'T GO FOR IMMEDIATE VOTE IF PEOPLE STILL HAVE A QUESTION I BELIEVE COUNCIL ME HERE HAD A LIGHT ON BEFORE AND SHE WASN'T RECOGNIZED AND SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HER OPINION.  SHE CERTAINLY EARNED THAT AS A AS A AS A OUR PART CITY COUNCIL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. I WANT TO COME TO AROUND HE WAS RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS AND THERE WAS A BACK AND FORTH AND THEN HE MOVED. I CAN'T PREVENT MY COUNT MY COLLEAGUES FROM MOVING FOR A VOTE. I DO THINK IT IS BEST PRACTICE AS EARLY AS WHEN KNOWS THAT THEY WANT TO PULL SOMETHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS TO SEND IT TO ME. BUT THAT IS A BEST PRACTICE AND SOMETIMES I KNOW CHAIRS ARE MAKING DIFFERENT DECISIONS SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT BEFORE SO WE ARE NOW ON TO LATE FILES. I AM INFORMED BY THE CLERK THERE ARE FIVE FILE MATTERS ONE PERSONNEL ORDER TWO ACTIONS LETTERS, TWO COMMUNICATIONS AND ONE REPORT A PUBLIC OFFICER 65 SPECIFICALLY FOR ALL MATTERS COULD WE PLEASE READ THE PERSONNEL ORDER INTO THE RECORD BOOK? OKAY, COUNCILOR FLYNN, ARE YOU ABLE TO STAGE THAT WE HAVE QUORUM COUNCILOR FLYNN YES, WE ARE IN A BRIEF RECESS AND LIKELY DURING RECESS  YOU'RE NOW BACK IN SESSION.  MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE BE THE FIRST PERSON OF THE LATE FILE MATTER OF PERSONNEL ORDER INTO THE RECORD?  FIRSTLY FILE AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE CAN YOU ALSO PLEASE READ THE TWO ABSENCE LETTERS INTO THE RECORD FIRST ABSENCE LET DEAR MR CLERK I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING. A MEMBER OF MY STAFF WILL LISTEN IN AND TAKE NOTES ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR TANYA FERNANDES SECOND ABSENCE LETTER I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING AS I AM OUT OF THE COUNTRY GRIEVING A FAMILY DEATH A MEMBER OF MY STAFF WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING I REVIEW THE RECORDING WHEN I AM ABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING COUNCILOR ENRIQUE PEPEN THANK YOU. TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THIS MATTER TO THE AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING SAY I ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU.  THESE MATTERS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE AGENDA AND THEY HAVE BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD AND THEY'VE BEEN PLACED ON FILE. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE FORMAT OUT OF THE REPORT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS INTO THE RECORD OF THE REPORT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS INTO THE RECORDING OFFERED BY COUNCIL OF THE COUNCIL THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO IS IN ORDER OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT BOOTSIE LOUIJEUNE WHEREAS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025 THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW ON TWO OCCASIONS IN WHEREAS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REGULATIONS THE CITY COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE OPEN MEETING COMPLAINT AND RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT WITHIN 14 DAYS. GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 38 SECTION 23 B AND 940 C AND 20 9-5 AND. WHEREAS, TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REGULATIONS ATTACHED TO IT IS THE COMPLAINT PREFERENCE HEREIN NOW THEREFORE BE IN ORDER THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ADDRESS THE OPEN MEETING LAW COMPLAINT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THIS MATTER TO THE AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING PLEASE SAY I I WILL SAY NAY THANK YOU. THIS MATTER HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AGENDA. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE REFER THIS DOCKET TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT POINT FIVE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMFORTABLE AND COMFORTABLE ANY OTHER FLOOR?  YEAH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ON THAT ON THAT DOCKET IT'S CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT IT? I KNOW WE GOT SOMETHING AT THE MIDDLE OF THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. I DIDN'T I DIDN'T READ ANY OF IT.  IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS FIVE OR TEN PAGES BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ANY HIGHLIGHTS OF IT? SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WAS OR IS IS THE CITY COUNCIL GOING TO DISCUSS IT AT ALL IN A RULES COMMITTEE MEETING? I DON'T I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS THIS COMPLAINT SOMEONE SAID I'M HAPPY TO TALK A BIT ABOUT IT. IT'S A IT'S A COMPLAINT THAT WE RECEIVED ON MONDAY AND THERE ARE TWO THERE ARE TWO ALLEGATIONS MADE REGARDING OPEN MEETING VIOLATIONS, ONE REGARDING THE SIGNING OF A LETTER AND THE OTHER REGARDING THE CONDUCT THE CONDUCT TO HOW ROLL CALL VOTES ARE CONDUCTED. I LOOK BACK TRADITIONALLY ON HOW AND WE DID THIS WE LOOK BACK TRADITIONALLY EVEN UNDER YOUR PRESIDENCY ON HOW THESE MATTERS WERE HANDLED. THEY REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THEY RESPOND I'M HALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.  THIS DOCKET IS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT.  WE ARE NOW MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT TO LATE FILE MATTERS THAT YOU COMMUNICATIONS INTO THE RECORD FROM COUNCILOR AS CHAIRMAN DURKIN COMMUNICATION REGARDING DOCKET NUMBER 0127 AND THE OTHER COMMUNICATION OKAY THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR ON THE 17 FOUR SUBMITTED BY ONSLOW MURPHY THANK YOU WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THESE TWO LATE FILE COMMUNICATION INTO THE RECORD ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL OPPOSÉ NAY THE AYES HAVE IT THESE LIKE FILE HAVE BEEN ADDED INTO THE RECORD. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK COUNCILOR DURKIN YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON YOUR COMMUNICATION? THE CHAIR CAN I JUST CONSIDER CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR?  THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO FLAG FOR EVERYONE THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I NOW KNOW AS THE CHAIR OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION THAT I REVIEW SOME OF THE DATES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT AFTER LANDMARK IS SIGNED WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO VOTE ON IT. SO IT SEEMS THAT WITH CITY HALL WE ATTEMPTED TO VOTE ON IT LAST MEETING AND DIDN'T END UP GETTING A VOTE AND ON MONDAY IT BECAME A LANDMARK SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME.  SO I THINK ON MY END I'LL BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT JUST LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THE DATES AND JUST DOUBLE CHECKING THEM SEEMS LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I OBVIOUSLY HAVE A HANDLE ON THE LANDMARK PROCESS SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES. I JUST WANTED TO SEND A COMMUNICATION THAT THE CHAMBER WE'RE STANDING IN IS NOW LANDMARKED SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  OKAY, WE DO WE HANDLE ALL THE FILES MR QUICK GOES TO OH, THEY WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. THOSE TWO COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE PLACED ON FILE ALL THE FILES WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE THREE ADDITIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONSENT MIRANDA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I THINK YOU THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED.  WE ARE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS WE HAVE SOME CANCELED BIRTHDAYS MORE CHIRURGIE UPCOMING I THINK IS TODAY THE 15TH BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY OUR VERY OWN JOURNEY TO FLYNN HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY HER BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW LAUREN KAMI AND BAILEY NADINE VINE SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOSE JANUARY BIRTHDAYS THIS IS MLK WEEKEND COMING UP I KNOW THAT THE BASS PROGRAM IN ROXBURY SOUTH END IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL BASE MLK EVENT ON SATURDAY AND EMBRACES HAVING THEIR MLK REMEMBRANCE THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.  OKAY. OH THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUCHSURFING COMES OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR?  YEAH. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANT TO WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR RESOLUTION AND RECOGNIZE AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY I ALSO HAVE A RESOLUTION AS WELL MUCH AFTER THE FACT AND THIS WAS THIS WAS BEFORE MINE. BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL RESOLUTION IN THEIR IN THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL.  ONE ISSUE ONE POINT I DO WANT TO MAKE, MADAM CHAIR, IS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, RECOGNIZED HIS EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND HEROIC WORK IN THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE I ALWAYS RECOGNIZE AS WELL THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS FOR THEIR HEROIC WORK AND SERVICE INCLUDING OUR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WHO SERVED OUR NATION IN HARM'S WAY AND WHETHER IT'S WORLD WAR ONE OR WORLD WAR TWO WILLING TO DIE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THEN COMING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND STILL NOT RECEIVING THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS AS EVERYONE ELSE. SO I I ALSO THINK OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS ALSO BESIDES I CERTAINLY THINK OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BUT I ALSO THINK OF AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS FOR THEIR HEROIC SERVICE, THEIR SACRIFICE AND LEADERSHIP REALLY TOO IN BUILDING A BETTER COUNTRY AND A BUILDING A BETTER WORLD AS WELL . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANYONE WHO HAS PASSED AWAY, NOW IS THE TIME THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WEBER.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW I RISE TODAY IN HONOR OF CRAIG SIMS, THE BROTHER IN LAW OF CONSTITUENTS OF MINE IN WEST ROXBURY.  HE GREW UP IN BRIGHTON AND WAS A DEDICATED HOCKEY PLAYER. HE PLAYED FOR BRIGHTON YOUTH HOCKEY BEFORE PLAYING FOR DON BOSCO TECH AND LATER PLAYED IN COLLEGE AT AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE.  HE WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY HERE AND A DEDICATED COACH WITH THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.  HE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY AND HIS FAMILY WILL BE HIS FAMILY WILL BE HAVING A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE AT THE CORA PUB IN BRIGHTON ON FEBRUARY 1ST 3 P.M.. THEY ASK THAT ANY DONATIONS INSTEAD OF SENDING FLOWERS TO SEND DONATIONS TO THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION. THE 11 MARGOT ROAD IN BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I KNOW HIS FAMILY IS SUFFERING. I'M JUST RISING TO SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS COUNCILOR FLYNN THEN COUNCILOR FOR GERALDTON COUNCILOR SANTANA.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT IN ANDREW SQUARE OVER THE WEEKEND. HIS HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT THOUGHTS, PRAYERS AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A WONDERFUL WOMAN FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD.  MRS. ROONEY SHE WAS 92 YEARS OLD. SHE SHE RAISED 11 SONS.  SHE WAS A GRANDMOTHER TO 30 AND A GREAT GRANDMOTHER TO 13 CHILDREN AND I KNEW ALL OF HER SONS.  I PLAYED SPORTS WITH THEM. I KNOW COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND KNOW HER SONS KNOWS HER SONS AS WELL. PLAYED SPORTS WITH THEM AS WELL AND COUNCILOR MURPHY KNEW THEM AND THE FAMILY. BUT MRS. ROONEY WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN. SHE GAVE BACK TREMENDOUSLY TO THE COMMUNITY.  SHE WAS ACTIVE IN ST AUGUSTINE'S ST MONICA'S PARISH . SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SHE WORKED ON THE FOOD PANTRY. SHE WAS THERE FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN NEED. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM WHETHER IT WAS THE SOUTH BOSTON YOUTH HOCKEY, THE SOUTH BOSTON LITTLE LEAGUE. I ALWAYS LOVED GOING WITH MY PARENTS TO THE SIMON OF CYRENE BREAKFAST OVER IN VENEZIA AND DORCHESTER BECAUSE MRS. ROONEY WOULD BE THERE AND SIMON OF SYRIANS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. SHE SHE HELPED THEM FINANCIALLY BUT SHE VOLUNTEERED OUR TIME AND EFFORT TO SO MANY OTHER DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. HER FUNERAL MASS WAS TODAY. I TOOK MY PARENTS TO ST CECILIA'S CHURCH THIS MORNING FOR THE WEEK BUT MRS. ROONEY IS IN OUR PRAYERS.  SHE'S IN OUR THOUGHTS AND SHE REALLY IS A SYMBOL OF SOUTH BOSTON IN OUR COMMUNITY OF OF HARD WORK.  WATCHING OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR, RESPECTING EACH OTHER AND ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVING A KIND WORD AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ANYONE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN NEED. SO I REMEMBER MRS. MRS. ROONEY AND HER FAMILY TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR JODIE ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEND LOVE TO THE BARROWS FAMILY THE CONSTITUENTS IN D3 A STALWART FAMILY THAT REPRESENTS THE ALBUM'S CORNER COMMUNITY SO WELL AND HAVING LOST LOVED ONES TO CANCER AND BEING A PARENT MYSELF I CAN'T OFFER ANY WORDS INTO THE LOSS OF THEIR TWO YEAR OLD SON CHRISTIAN BARROWS JUST THE OTHER DAY AND REALLY JUST SENDING MY LOVE TO THAT FAMILY HAVING WORKED FOR JOHN FOR TWO YEARS AS WELL, I KNOW HOW MUCH HIS CHILDREN MEAN AS THEY ALL DO TO ALL OF US PARENTS AND SO MY THOUGHTS AND LOVE IS WITH THEM TODAY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR TO GERALD. I ALSO WANT TO UPLIFT THE BARROWS FAMILY IN THIS UNSPEAKABLE AND UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH AND MAY GOD KEEP THEM AND HOLD THEM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KASRA SANTANA CANCER CENTENNIAL ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I WANT TO UPLIFT ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES OR MY BEST FRIEND OR MY BEST FRIEND AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE GET UP BAD WHO'S YOU KNOW, HAD A SORT OF DEATH IN THE FAMILY OF HIS GRANDMA AND IS NOW TRAVELING AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE REACHED OUT TO HIM AND I KNOW THAT HE'S THROUGH HIM AND HIS FAMILY GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME. SO I WANT TO NAME THAT AND WISH MY CONDOLENCES TO HIM AND THE PAPA AND FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, SANTANA. AND THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING HIS GRANDMOTHER AND HER MEMORY.  OKAY. AS EVERYONE TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR BREADON RAYMOND ARTHUR ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR FLYNN, BARRY AND ENDEAVOR ON BEHALF OF COUNCILORS FLYNN AND FITZGERALD MARGARET C PEGG HON ROONEY PAN ROONEY ON BEHALF OF COUNCILORS PHILLIP FITZGERALD AND LOUIJEUNE CHRISTIAN BURROWS ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR EARL MARY JO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF KEITH GLOBE FATHER OF KATE GLOW FRIEND OF EMILY POLSTON ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL THE VICTIMS OF THE FIRES IN LOS ANGELES A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURN TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS. THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN THE DIANELLA CHAMBER IN TWO WEEKS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025 AT 12 NOON THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES TO CENTRAL STAFF THE CLERK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER. HAPPY MLK WEEKEND EVERYONE.  ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT PLEASE SAY I I THE COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED