##VIDEO ID:eWw62P-DEmo## E BOSTON CITY COUNCIL VIEWERS CAN WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON DOT DOT GOV. FORWARD SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV. AT THIS TIME I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BURY HERE COUNCIL COLETTA ZAPATA COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCIL FERNANDEZ SANDERSON COUNCIL FITZGERALD.  COUNCILOR FLYNN YEAH. COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE HERE.  COUNCIL ME HERE. YOU?  COUNCILOR MURPHY? YEAH. COUNCIL OF THE VENICE COUNCIL . SANTANA COUNCILOR WEBER AND COUNCIL WERE ALL HERE. THEY QUORUM IS PERFECT. THANK YOU.  I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE SIX CLERGY. FATHER SHERIDAN FROM CHARLESTOWN INVITED BY COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA COUNTY CLERK ZAPATA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR SO.  GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I AM THRILLED TO HAVE FATHER JOHN SHERRINGTON HERE WHO IS A FRIEND TO MANY. I ASKED IF HE HAD BEEN HERE BEFORE. HE SAID OH YEAH. SO HE IS NO STRANGER TO THIS CHAMBER AND HAS HELPED MY PREDECESSORS START OFF THIS MEETING OFF RIGHT. FATHER SHERIDAN JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM IS THE PASTOR OF THE CHARLESTOWN CATHOLIC COLLABORATIVE WHICH COMPRISES OF PARISHES OF ST FRANCIS DE SALES ST MARY ST CATHERINE AS WELL AS HARVEST ON THE VINE FOOD PANTRY IN SHEPHERD SCHOOL BOTH OF WHICH ARE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ST MARY'S ST CATHERINE, A NATIVE OF NEWTON. FATHER SHERIDAN HAILS FROM A FAMILY OF EIGHT BROTHERS AND SISTERS. HIS FATHER DENIS CAME FROM COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND WHILE HIS MOTHER ELIZABETH WAS BAPTIZED AT ST JOSEPH IN SOMERVILLE. FOR FATHER SHERIDAN THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONSTANT IN HIS LIFE. HE IS A PRODUCT OF MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES PARISH, THE NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ST JOHN'S SEMINARY IN BRIGHTON. FATHER SHERIDAN WAS ORDAINED AS A PRIEST IN 1990.  HE HAS SERVED AS A CURATE CHAPLAIN AND PASTOR IN THE VARIETY OF ASSIGNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE, INCLUDING THREE COLLABORATIVE. HIS PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT WAS BLESSED MOTHER OF MORNING STARR PARISH COMPRISING OF OUR LADY OF GRACE IN CHELSEA IN EVERETT AND THE ST MARY'S OF ASSUMPTION IN REVERE IN MALDEN. I BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS OF FATHER SHERIDAN AND WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE CHARLESTOWN COMMUNITY SINCE HIS ARRIVAL IN OUR BEAUTIFUL ONE SQUARE MILE. HIS SUPPORT PARTICULARLY OF HARVEST ON THE VINE A FOOD PANTRY THAT PROVIDES TWICE A MONTH FOOD DISTRIBUTION INTO CHARLESTOWN RESIDENTS IS PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO MY HEART . THE HARVEST ON THE VINE FOOD PANTRY IS DEDICATED TO HELPING ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. AND SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO TOM MCDONALD WHO FATHER JOHN WORKED WITH CLOSELY AND MANAGES THE PANTRY.  SO IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME FATHER JOHN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY AGAIN TO PROVIDE TODAY'S INVOCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.  IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. THIS AFTERNOON. EXCUSE ME MY FRIENDS. LET US PRAY WE STAND LESS A WEEK FROM ELECTIONS WITH CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN BITTER AND DIVISIVE IN A COUNTRY IN NEED OF HEALING, GRACE AND HOPE IN OUR CITY, IN OUR ARCHDIOCESE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAN CARDINAL O'MALLEY FOR HIS WISE AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR HIS WISE AND CARING MINISTRY. NOW HE MOVES ON TO HIS NEXT MISSION AND AS WE WELCOME ARCHBISHOP ELECT RICHARD HENNING AND ALL THAT HE WILL BRING AND IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL WE PRAY THAT WE WILL FIND YOU OUR LIGHT AND OUR HOPE A LOVING GOD. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE FOR AUTUMN AND THE SEASON TO COME CHANGES IN OUR MIDST CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES SURROUND US AND OUR CITY, OUR COMMONWEALTH, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD. CHANGE IS DIFFICULT FOR US.  IT MAKES US FEEL ANXIOUS. HELP US TO LEARN FROM NATURE HOW LIFE MUST CHANGE. GUIDE US THROUGH THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE LAND AROUND US. BLESS THE PASSAGE AND THE TRANSITIONS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES. HELP US TO LEARN TO FIND YOU IN THE MIDST OF THEM ALL. AND WHEN THESE CHANGES IN LIFE CAUSES PAIN AND ANGUISH, GUIDE US TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING.  MAY YOU SHARE OUR PEACE, JUSTICE AND MERCY UPON US ALL. HELP US TO SEE WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AND MAKE US WISE TO CERTAIN OF ALL THAT IS TRUE RIGHT AND GOOD FOR US ALL ESPECIALLY THE WEAK AND VULNERABLE IN OUR MIDST. MAY WE LET GO OF OUR FEARS AND DOUBTS WITH COURAGE AND LEAD US CLOSER TO YOU.  WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR NAME AND WE WILL NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF AMERICA.  I GET STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. THAT IS A PATTERN.  THANK YOU, FATHER SHERIDAN, FOR THAT INVOCATION.  MR. CLERK OKAY, WE HAVE EVERYONE HERE.  WE ARE NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. I WILL SAY NAY THAT I HAVE IT. BUT COUNSELOR FLYNN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON YOUR NAME?  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, I'M VOTING NAY BECAUSE I'M STILL WAITING FOR DOCUMENTS YOU REQUESTED FOR 17 F REGARDING TO BE H.A. AND THE POOR SERVICE OF THE ELEVATORS AND MANY BUILDINGS. I THINK THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL VHA RESIDENTS TO GET THIS INFORMATION INTO ENSURE THAT VHA RESIDENTS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.  THANK YOU MR. CLERK. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIVE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE MINUTES AND SO THAT DOES NOT COME WITH ANY SUBSTANTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGES.  THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2024. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I OPPOSING A THE AYES HAVE IT THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 25TH MEETING ARE APPROVED. WE'RE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR HONOR THE MAYOR. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS NUMBER 161321619 DOC NUMBER 1613 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FOR THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $881,479 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND ASK ME COUNCIL 93 AN AFFILIATE LOCAL 230 CAFETERIA WORKERS TALK NUMBER 1614 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ORDER FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $881,479 TO COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COSTS ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE ASK ME COUNCIL 93 AND AFFILIATE LOCAL 230 CAFETERIA WORKERS.  THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT IS SEPTEMBER 1ST 2023 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2027. THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT THE BASE WAGE INCREASES OF 2% IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, 2024, 2025 AND 2026 WITH AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL WAGE INCREASES OF $500 $250, $900 AND $800 PER EMPLOYEE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, 2024, 2025 AND 2026 FURTHER THAN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON OCTOBER 28TH 2020 FOR DOCKET NUMBER 1615 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FOR THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $457,886 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE LUNCH MONITORS ASK ME COUNCIL 93 DUCK NUMBER 1616 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $457,886 TO COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COSTS ITEM CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE LUNCH MONITORS ASK ME COUNCIL 93. THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT THE SEPTEMBER 1ST 2024 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2027 THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT INCLUDE STEP CHANGES IN SEPTEMBER 2023 BASE WAGE INCREASES OF 2% IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 FOR 2025 AND 2026 AN INCREASES OF $0.15 $0.60 AND $0.56 TO BE ADDED TO THE HOURLY WAGES IN SEPTEMBER 2024, 2025 AND 2026. WHILE THE NEW OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON OCTOBER 28TH 2024 NUMBER 1617 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR APPROVAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION FOR THE RESERVE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY $40,838 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASES CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND SEIU LOCAL 888 COORDINATOR'S UNION TALK NUMBER 1618 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,838 TO COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COST ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND THE SEIU LOCAL 88 COORDINATORS UNIT.  THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT SAID JULY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30TH 2024 IN JULY 1ST 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30TH 2027 THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACTS INCLUDE BASE WAGE INCREASES OF 2% IN OCTOBER OF 2023, 2024, 2025 AND 2026 AND FLAT AMOUNT ADDITIONS OF $500 $250 $900 AND $800 TO BE ADDED IN JANUARY OF 2024, 2025, 2026 AND 2027 FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ON OCTOBER 28, 2024 AND DOCKET NUMBER 1619 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR APPROVAL OF AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $1,515,000 AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COSTS OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE ROOF WINDOW AND DOOR REPLACEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS KEARNY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL O'DONNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CHADWICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. EVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GARDNER PILOT ACADEMY. LINDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MURPHY K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 161321619 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1620 DUNKIN NUMBER 1620 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER APPROPRIATING FROM THE EDWARD INGERSOLL BROWN FUND THE SUM OF $423,500 FOR PROJECTS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED ORDER . THE EDWARD INGERSOLL BROWN FUND COMMISSIONERS MET ON OCTOBER 15, 2024 AND VOTED TO APPROVE THESE PROJECTS.  THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1620 WE'LL BE AFRAID TO THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES AND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 1621 DOG NUMBER 1621 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF US TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND AN IN-KIND DONATION OF 1500 TURKEYS VALUED AT $75,000 DONATED BY STOP AND SHOP. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DONATION IS TO PROVIDE TURKEYS FOR THANKSGIVING TO FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU MR. CLERK AND I WANT TO THANK STOP AND SHOP FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION. THE CHAIRMAN WISHES TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1621. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I I'LL GO SAY NAY. THANK YOU, JACK. NUMBER 1621 HAS PASSED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1622 DOCKET NUMBER 1622 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $56,890.04 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 MUNICIPAL ROAD SAFETY GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PASS THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE GRANT WILL FUND HIGH VISIBILITY TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER OF MOTOR VEHICLE LAWS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPEEDING AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING DISTRACTED DRIVING, IMPAIRED DRIVING AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION AS WELL AS TRAFFIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 162 TO BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1623 THAT I CAN HAVE A ONE 6 TO 3 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT VARIOUS DONATED FURNITURE WITH THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $39,825 DONATED BY FURNITURE TRUST ORGANIZATION INC TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT . THE DONATION WILL SUPPORT THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S MISSION TO ENHANCE MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES, MAKING THEM MORE WELCOMING AND VIBRANT WHILE ALIGNING WITH THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE GOALS. THANK YOU MR. CLERK AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK FURNITURE TRUST ORGANIZATION FOR THIS DONATION OF FURNITURE TO THEIR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND TO THE CITY.  THE CHAIRMAN SUSPENSION AND PASTOR DUNCAN NUMBER 1623. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL IN A THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 163 HAS PASSED IS THE CORRECT NUMBER 164. NUMBER 1624A MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JESSICA BOATWRIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE REVIEW BOARD ALSO KNOWN AS BERTO FOR A TERM EXPIRING APRIL 24TH, 2026.  THANK YOU DOCTOR. NUMBER 1624 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION . MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 16225I NUMBER 1625 MESSAGE TRANS CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 OF PERTAINING TO INFORMATION ON RESIDENTIAL TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL FILED ON THE FILED UNDER NUMBER 1514 PRESENTED AT THE OCTOBER 10TH 2024 MEETING. THANK YOU DOUG NUMBER 1625 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.  WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1626 DARK NUMBER 1626 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK OF THE FILING BY THE BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGARDING REPORT AND DECISION APPLICATION OF FANEUIL GARDENS REDEVELOPMENT. CHAPTER 121 A PROJECT. THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 1626 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TWO MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCTOR NUMBER 1351 DUCK NUMBER 1351 ORDER FOR HEARING TO DISCUSS THE EXTENSION OF FREE MUSEUM PASSES EXCLUSIVELY FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION CARLOS SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1351 ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 TO DISCUSS THE EXTENSION OF FREE MUSEUM PASSES EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE LEAVE FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN.  WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY OUR COLLEAGUES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR BREADON . THE COMMITTEE INVITED A PANEL OF FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION ASHLEY ROTHENBERG, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. JAMES WILLIAMSON THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT. CARA LEO ORTEGA THE CHIEF OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND STEPHEN CHAN THE SENIOR ADVISOR FOR PARTNERSHIPS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO CHIEF ELIOT ORTEGA FOR JOINING US AND BEING PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND SHARING OPENING REMARKS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OTHER INVITED MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND AT THE REQUEST OF THE SPONSORS WHO WISH TO ASK QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE PERSONNEL. THE COMMITTEE ELECTED TO ADJOURN THE HEARING EARLY SO THAT WE COULD SCHEDULE AN ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL HEARING AT A TIME WHEN THE APPROPRIATE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE COMMITTEE ALSO INVITED TWO MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WHO JOINED US AND PROVIDED TESTIMONY AS A PARTICIPANT PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION IN THE ON THIS PILOT. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE CAROL PRADO, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. AND CHARLENE MORALES SMITH WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENT EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. I WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION AGAIN TO THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARING AS WELL AS FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN BOSTON. THE BOSTON SHAW DISEASE TEAM IS A FOUNDATIONAL INSTITUTION IN OUR CITY AND ONE THAT I AM PROUD TO HAVE VISITED MANY TIMES WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND AS A CHILD MYSELF. BEFORE JOINING THE COMMITTEE ALSO HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS CHAIR OF THE OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.  I WANT TO THANK THE PANELISTS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO PARTICIPATED IN MONDAY'S HEARING. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN FOR SPONSORING THIS HEARING IS MY RECOMMENDATION. I SHARE THAT A DOCKET SHOULD REMAIN IN COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME AND AGAIN I AM COMMITTED AS CHAIR TO WORKING WITH THE SPONSORS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO SCHEDULE AN ADDITIONAL HEARING WHERE WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1351 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKET NUMBER 1197? NUMBER 1197 AND SINCE AMENDING THE CITY OF BOSTON CODE ORDINANCE CHAPTER SEVEN, SECTION SEVEN REGULATING RESTRICTIONS ON PARK FRONTAGES. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR UNITED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COUNCIL AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  MADAM PRESIDENT, THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS HELD A HEARING ON MONDAY OCTOBER 28TH ON THIS ORDINANCE THAT AMENDS THE CITY OF BOSTON CODE CHAPTER SEVEN SECTION SEVEN REGULATING RESTRICTIONS ON PARK FRONTAGES. THIS ORDINANCE WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR DURKIN AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JULY 24TH OF THIS YEAR. DURING THE HEARING WE HEARD FROM LIZA MEYER WHO IS THE INTERIM PARKS COMMISSIONER DIANA FERNANDEZ.  PEOPLE FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND A LOCAL ARCHITECT INVOLVED IN THE TO CHARLES GATE PROPOSAL. WE ALSO RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM ADVOCATES BOTH IN FAVOR AND AGAINST THIS PROJECT. WE DISCUSSED THE CONTEXT AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. WE DISCUSSED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL WHICH SEEKS TO RESTRICT THE HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS ERECTED OR ALTERED ON LAND WHICH ABUTS ON HAS ENTRANCE TO AND IS WITHIN 100 FEET FROM PARKS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THIS SECTION OF THE CODE VERY SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBES THE BOUNDS TO WHICH THE RESTRICTIONS APPLY AND EXPLICITLY EXEMPTS CHARLES GATE WEST FROM SUCH RESTRICTIONS BUT ALSO PROTECTS ABUTTING AREAS FROM FUTURE SUBDIVISIONS.  SO I THINK AT THIS POINT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND SUBDIVISIONS AND DUE TO THE LEVEL OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND JUST SOME VARIOUS LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS. MY RECOMMENDATION AS CHAIR IS TO KEEP THIS IN THE IN THE COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1197 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR COURT COULD YOU PLEASE AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNCILOR DURKIN IS NOT PRESENT WITH THE BODY APOLOGIES SHE WAS CAME IN A WHILE AGO BUT IF YOU COULD UPDATE THAT ON THE RECORD YOU MR CORBETT, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1612 DOC NUMBER 161 TO MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL A HOME RULE PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURTS ENTITLED PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW ENACTED RELATIVE TO PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CONTRACT AS A PARTNER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR . THIS MATTER WAS ORIGINALLY SPONSORED BY MICHELLE WU AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 25TH 2020 FOR DOCKET 1612.  SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE THE LEGISLATION FOR THOSE LISTENING IN, IT IS A HOME RULE PETITION THAT SEEKS PERMISSION FROM THE STATE TO IF AND WHEN NECESSARY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS DIVERT FROM THE GENERAL LAWS WHEN SETTING A MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTUAL FACTOR FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ALLOWING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE TAX BURDEN SHIFTED FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THE PROPOSAL STATES THAT THE TEMPORARY DIVERSION WOULD ONLY BE NECESSARY IF THE STANDARD AND CURRENT MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL FACTOR WOULD RESULT IN RESIDENTIAL CLERK CLASS PROPERTIES BEARING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY THAN THE YEAR PRIOR.  THE TEMPORARY DIVERSION WOULD FOLLOW A THREE YEAR SCHEDULE STARTING IN FY 25 AND ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE OF UP TO 1.10 EXCUSE ME 181.5% IN THE FIRST YEAR UP TO 180% IN THE SECOND YEAR AND UP TO 178% IN THE FINAL YEAR AFTER WHICH THE CITY WILL RETURN TO THE CURRENTLY UTILIZED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM PROVIDED FOR IN THE GENERAL LAWS WHICH CAPS THE COMMERCIAL BURDEN AT 175% REGARDING THE MATTER OF SHIFTING THE COMMERCIAL BURDEN, THE COMMITTEE HAS HELD THREE HEARINGS IN A WORKING SESSION A PREVIOUS HOME RULE PETITION DOCKET 0642 WAS FILED ON APRIL THIRD, 2024 AND WAS PASSED THROUGH MAJORITY BY THIS COUNCIL ON JULY ON JUNE 5TH, 2020 FOR AFTER CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENTS. AN UPDATED HOME RULE PETITION THE CURRENT DOCKET 1612 WAS FILED WITH THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 27, 2024. THE COMMITTEE HELD THE HEARING TO DISCUSS THE DOCKET 161 TO ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2024 AND HEARD TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL FROM ASHLEY GROFF AND BERGER, OUR CFO AND TREASURER NICHOLAS ARIANO, THE COMMISSIONER OF ASSESSING AND MARTY WALLS, INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON MUNICIPAL RESEARCH BUREAU.  THE PANEL EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW HOME RULE PETITION WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS DESIGNED TO MODERATE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF POTENTIALLY REDUCING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUATIONS ON RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION LIMITS ARE STATUTORILY CAPPED LIMITING HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX LEVY CAN BE SHIFTED ACROSS CLASSES. THE PANELISTS HIGHLIGHTED THAT THIS PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE STABILITY FOR ALL TAXPAYERS WHILE SOFTENING THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS. THE ADMINISTRATION CLARIFIED THAT THE HOMEOWNER PETITION, IF PASSED, WOULD SIMPLY GRANT THE CITY OF BOSTON THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IF AND WHEN THEY CHOOSE EACH SPECIFIC ACTION SUCH AS SETTING THE TAX RATE,  DETERMINING THE RESIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AND PROVIDING DIRECT RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES WOULD INCLUDE FURTHER COLLABORATION AND PROCESS WITH AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF INCREASED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THE PETITION INCLUDES SPECIFIC MEASURES TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. THE FIRST PROVISION WOULD ALLOW THE CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION UP TO $30,000 AN INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE EXEMPTION OF 10,000 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES APPLY TO BUSINESS EQUIPMENT THAT IS NOT AFFIXED TO REAL ESTATE INCLUDING TABLES, CHAIRS, COMPUTERS,  BARBER CHAIRS, TVS ALL OF THAT. THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE PERSONAL EXCUSE ME THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FROM 10000 TO 30000 AIMS TO PROVIDE MORE SIGNIFICANT RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND WOULD POTENTIALLY EXEMPT ABOUT HALF OF THE CITY'S BUSINESSES FROM THESE TAXES. THE PETITION ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT SHOULD THE INCREASED TAX SHIFT BE IMPLEMENTED, THIS WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO EXPAND UP TO $15 MILLION TO PROVIDE DIRECT RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THIS SHIFT. THE ADMINISTRATION CLARIFIED THAT APART FROM THE ADDITIONAL SMALL BUSINESS PROVISIONS, THE NEW PROPOSAL WOULD REDUCE THE TIME FRAME OVER WHICH THE LEVY MAY BE ADJUSTED FROM FIVE YEARS TO THREE YEARS AND LOWERED THE MAXIMUM SHIFT CAPS.  THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S SPENDING AND THE NEED FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WERE DISCUSSED. THE ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF COST CONTROL AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET SEASON, INDICATING THAT THEY WILL WORK TO ENSURE COST GROWTH CONTINUES TO ALIGN WITH REVENUE GROWTH.  COUNCILORS QUESTIONED IF RATHER THAN SUBMITTING THIS COMPETITION THE CITY COULD REDIRECT FUNDING FROM OTHER PROGRAMS TOWARDS STABILIZING TAX RATES. DURING THIS TIME THE ADMINISTRATION TESTIFIED THAT THEY HAVE EXPLORED MANY OPTIONS BUT STATED THAT THERE IS NO LEGAL MECHANISM TO USE CITY RESOURCES OR RESERVES TO PROVIDE REBATES OR OFFSET PROPERTY TAXES. THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THE CITY WOULD NEED TO SEEK THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO AND THAT DOING SO POSES POTENTIAL CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES SIMILAR CITY COUNCILORS ASKED IF FINDING NEW REVENUE WOULD CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF TAX RESPONSIBILITY, THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT DIVERSIFYING REVENUE COULD POTENTIALLY LOWER RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAXES BUT COULD ALSO INTRODUCE RISKS AS OTHER REVENUE SOURCES ARE MORE TIED TO ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS. NEVERTHELESS, THE ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING A BALANCED SOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. THIS HOME RULE PETITION IS ONE SUCH MEASURE I BELIEVE THAT DOES THAT AS A CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS I RECOMMEND MOVING THIS LIST DOCKET FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION. AND SO AT THIS TIME MY RECOMMENDATION MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL WILL BE THAT THIS MATTER OUGHT TO PASS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU KINDLY CUT US UP AS A PARTNER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH THE COUNCIL . IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THE HEARINGS ARE WORKING SESSION SO THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN CONTRA FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  AS AN ELECTED BODY WE HAVE RUSHED THIS PROCESS TO PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON WITH AN UPDATE ON THE ADMINISTRATOR WARREN'S LATEST PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL TAX RATE BEYOND THE STATE LIMIT. I BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER HOW TIGHT DEADLINES ARE, WE CANNOT SIMPLY ADHERE TO THE VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY ONLY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'VE READ IN OTHER COUNCILORS NEWSLETTERS, I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MY POSITION HAS BEEN. I WROTE AN OP ED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AN 8% BUDGET INCREASE THIS YEAR WE SHOULD HAVE CUT SPENDING AND IMPLEMENTED A HIRING FREEZE, USED OUR BUDGET SURPLUS IN INTEREST ABOVE 1 BILLION IN REVIEW THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF OUR DEPARTMENT DEPENDANCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX I HAVE ALSO HELD A HEARING TO EXPLORE OTHER ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO HELP WITH REVENUE TO TRY TO AVOID AN INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES. BOSTON FACES LONG TERM FISCAL ISSUES. WE HAVE FALLING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES DUE TO REMOTE WORK POLICIES THAT STUDIES SHOW MAY COST US $500 MILLION PER YEAR. OUR BUDGET IS NOW OVER 70% RELIANT ON PROPERTY TAXES AND 50% OF OUR LAND IS ABSORBED BY LARGE NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM WHICH A NON TAXABLE ENTITIES THAT CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT IS SIMPLY CAN'T SUSTAINABLE FORMULA. THAT IS WHY LAST WEDNESDAY I ADVOCATED FOR A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON THE CITY'S REVENUE JUST I JUST AS I ADVOCATED FOR A COMMISSION IN MARCH ON THE ISSUE OF VACANT DOWNTOWN OFFICES AND FALLING COMMERCIAL VALUES IT WAS SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THIS BODY AT THE TIME. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT FORMING A COMMITTEE ON THIS ISSUE OF REVENUE BASED ON THIS RECOMMENDATION I MET IN TIMES OF GREAT CRISIS STRONG LEADERSHIP CAN NEVER BE ABOUT PRIDE OF AUTHORSHIP.  WE CAN'T LET IDEOLOGY CLOUD OUR JUDGMENT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. LEADERSHIP REQUIRES US TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, MEET WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND BE TOLERANT OF EACH OTHER'S VIEWS . IT REQUIRES US TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC AND WE CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.  IN CLOSING, IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE THIS DIVISIVE PITTING RESIDENTS AGAINST BUSINESSES OR PUBLIC DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO FISCAL WATCHDOG GROUPS AND EXPERTS TO COMPROMISE MONTHS AGO BEFORE WAITING UNTIL THE 11TH HOUR. WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE TO COMPROMISE BY CUTTING SPENDING AND TIGHTENING OUR BELTS AFTER AN 8% CITY BUDGET INCREASE MAY BE FREEZING HIRING WE'LL GET OUR SURPLUS AND ADDRESS THE LONG TERM ISSUES LIKE OUR DEPENDANCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX. OTHERWISE WE MAY BE BACK HERE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND JUST TO THE STATEMENT THAT THIS PROCESS WAS RUSHED, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE VERY STRONG AND POSITIVE LEADERSHIP OF CONTRA COSTA ZAPATA IN SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YESTERDAY DURING THE HEARING MARTY WALZ FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON MONTESSORI RESEARCH BUREAU ALSO MADE IT VERY CLEAR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS HAS NOT ONLY BEEN DELIBERATED HERE ON THIS BODY BUT IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS, THE NUMBER OF WORKING SESSIONS, THE CONVERSATIONS, THE FORMS THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO OR NOT TO PICK UP. SO THERE HAVE BEEN AMPLE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THIS AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS LEANED IN AND HAS HELPED US SOLVE OUR PROBLEM HERE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA COMES INTO ANY OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TODAY I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL ON PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION AS AN ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARDS BALANCING THE NEEDS OF BOSTON RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN A CHALLENGING ECONOMIC CLIMATE. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO ALLEVIATE THE IMPACT OF RISING PROPERTY VALUES ON OUR RESIDENTIAL TAX PAYERS WHETHER ANTICIPATED 9% INCREASE UNDER THIS PLAN COMPARED TO THE 14% SPIKE RESIDENTS WOULD WOULD OTHERWISE FACE THIS REDUCTION REPRESENTS SIGNIFICANT RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE OF BOSTON'S INCREASING COST OF LIVING.  EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES OUR COMMERCIAL SECTORS NEEDS PROVIDING TARGETED RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES. THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY BY RAISING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AND DEDICATING UP TO $50 MILLION ANNUALLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES RELIEF WE'RE OFFERING MIDDLE MEANINGFUL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES AND LESS THAN $5 MILLION IN REVENUE. THIS PROPOSAL IS MORE THAN A FISCAL ADJUSTMENT. IT REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINING AN EQUITABLE CITY THAT SUPPORTS BOTH RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.  I AM PROUD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS CAREFULLY CRAFTED PROPOSAL WAS WHICH ENSURES A FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF BOSTON'S TAX BURDEN WHILE SUPPORTING THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE MOST TO OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTY BY PEN COMES WITH A PEN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. TODAY I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENTIAL TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL. THIS PROPOSAL IS PARTICULARLY CRUCIAL FOR THE COMMUNITIES I REPRESENT A TYPE PARK MATTAPAN AND RISING UP WHERE MANY FAMILIES ARE ALREADY FEELING THE PRESSURE OF RISING HOUSING COST IN DISTRICT FIVE WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE IF NOT THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF BLACK AND LATINO HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THE ENTIRE CITY AND HAVE NUMEROUS FAMILY OWNED AND MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES VITAL TO OUR DISTRICT. FIVE ECONOMY AND CULTURAL VITALITY THE PROPOSED TAX RELIEF IS A MUCH NEEDED LIFELINE FOR RESIDENTS IN THIS SMALL BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHICH ARE NAVIGATING CHALLENGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.  SO WHY DO I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL ONE THAT PROTECTS RESIDENTS FROM A 28% TAX INCREASE SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY OWNED BY FAMILIES AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES GRADUALLY SHIFTING TAXES TO INCLUDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROTECT THESE BUSINESSES FROM RISING COST.  THREE WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE BETWEEN CITY BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR WE CONTINUE TO HAVE FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR THE CITY AND FIVE WE PROVIDE LONG TERM PLANNING.  I URGE MY FELLOW CITY COUNCILORS AND OUR STATE LEGISLATORS PARTICULARLY ONE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE RAUL CONSALVO HAS BEEN A LEADER FOR THIS WHO REPRESENTS HYDE PARK.  MY COLLEAGUES WHO DON'T AGREE WITH HOW THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WENT. WHY DID YOU EVEN VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT WAIT.  THIS ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT CALL BOSTON HOME.  TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE BOSTON ENSURING THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUES TO BE PLACES WHERE FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GIRARD. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. YESTERDAY WE HAD A HEARING ON THIS MATTER WHERE I CAST SOME CONCERN OVER WHICH WAY TO VOTE ON THIS.  IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THE 28% INCREASE THAT RESIDENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT SEEING THIS YEAR IS STILL COMING JUST BASED OVER SPREAD OUT OVER THREE YEARS. SO THE FEARS FOLKS HAVE STILL LOOMED AND WE WE ALLOW IT TO LOOM WHILE POTENTIALLY DOING IRREPARABLE HARM TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.  NOW ULTIMATELY THIS IS A VOTE FOR THE LABOR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR ELDERLY, FOR OUR FAMILIES AND REALLY IT'S FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE MADE THE ACTIVE DECISION TO COMMIT TO AND INVEST IN THIS CITY. AND FOR MANY THAT IS A LONG TERM MULTICHANNEL EMOTIONAL COMMITMENT VITAL TO THE SOUL OF THIS CITY.  WELL, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THIS PETITION WILL PASS TODAY.  I THINK AFTER THIS VOTE LET'S NOT ACT LIKE WE'VE CLEARED A MAJOR HURDLE BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAINLY STILL HURDLES IN THE FUTURE. AS WE SAID, THERE'S 28% IS STILL GOING TO TAKE EFFECT OVER THREE YEARS AND SO WE NEED TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW AS WE TRY TO MITIGATE THE HARM TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. WE ALSO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO STRUGGLE TO AFFORD THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES THEY'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. AND EVEN WITH TODAY'S CURRENT COMPROMISE WE'LL STILL STRUGGLE WITH OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. WELL, I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS HOME RULE PETITION TODAY I COMMIT TO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES WHETHER THAT'S INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION, THE ELDERLY EXEMPTION, VETERAN EXEMPTION AND LOOKING AT CUTTING SPENDING. YES, AS MUCH AS IT MAY OR MAY NOT CORRELATE TO WHAT THE TAX APPROPRIATION IS, WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT CUTTING WE HAVE TO DO IN THE FUTURE AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING IN. I FILED A HEARING A WHILE AGO THAT I'VE NOW SCHEDULING WITH COUNCILOR WHERE I WAS OFFICE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DIVERSIFY OUR TAX REVENUE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT HEARING AS BEING THE FIRST STEP IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS MULTIYEAR ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO KEEP FAMILIES HERE. AND SO I'LL END WITH THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THAT DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR PRESENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA FOR ALL OF HER WORK TO GET US TO THIS POINT I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO FOR A TAX CLASSIFICATION FOR A SHIFT.  I SUPPORTED THE INITIAL PROPOSAL STRONGLY IN THIS BODY AND I KNOW THAT THE GOALS HERE ARE TO PROTECT BOSTON RESIDENTS FROM A LOOMING AND SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING OUR NATION'S LEADING INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICES THAT MAKE BOSTON THE SAFEST MOST SKILLED AND BEST EDUCATED OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. THIS MODEST TEMPORARY MEASURE IS CRUCIAL AND STABILIZE RESIDENTIAL TAXES DURING A TIME WHEN OUR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SECTOR IS EXPERIENCING A TRANSFORMATIVE SHIFT. I JUST READ IT IN THE BBJ YESTERDAY IT DROPPED DURING THE HEARING THAT 11 BUILDINGS WERE GOING TO DROP 450 MILLION IN IN THEIR VALUATIONS.  THIS ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL IS PRAGMATIC BALANCE AND IT'S A COMPROMISE THAT REFLECTS THE INTERESTS OF OUR CITY IN TOTALITY. MAYOR WU SEEMS TO HAVE CUT THE GORDIAN KNOT WITH THE SUPPORT OF LABOR, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I SEE PEOPLE FROM MY SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL HERE AND MANY RESIDENTS I'VE HEARD FROM IT'S AUDIENCE CONSIDERATION OF THE TAX SHIFT OF THREE YEARS AND REDUCES THE CEILING OF COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL TAX RATIO ALSO WHILE SETTING ASIDE 45 MILLION AND RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. THIS STEP REFLECTS A CAREFUL AND BALANCED APPROACH AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. MOREOVER, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS OUTLINED THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS SUCH AS CUTTING CRITICAL CITY SERVICES, DRAINING RESERVES WOULD HAVE DESTABILIZING EFFECTS AND LAYOFFS OF CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS. AND IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A RESIDENT EVIL THE REASON WHY WE WANT CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS BECAUSE THEY'RE WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SPECIAL AND THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BE MAKING IT HARDER FOR CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS TO LIVE HERE AND WE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE LAYING OFF CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS IT SEEMS COUNTER TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE CITY. I CANNOT SUPPORT MEASURES THAT WOULD WORK TO WEAKEN THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY BY CUTTING ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WE RELY ON DAILY. BOSTON RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY GRAPPLING WITH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AND WITHOUT ACTION THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL TAX BILL COULD INCREASE BY 28% IN THE UPCOMING QUARTER ALONE AND THAT'S JUST AN AVERAGE PLACING AN IMMENSE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY. THIS TAX SHIFT PROVIDES THE STABILITY WE NEED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS DURING THIS TIME OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION WITH HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AS A CENTRAL CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE RESIDENTS WHILE ENSURING THE LONG TERM FISCAL HEALTH OF BOSTON.  I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL. IT'S THOUGHTFUL AND A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS WHILE ENSURING THAT BOSTON REMAINS STRONG IN EVERY DIMENSION FOR YEARS TO COME AND BOSTON COMPARED TO POORER CITIES ALSO RELIES DISPROPORTIONATELY TO AN EXTREME DEGREE ON PROPERTY TAXES TO GENERATE REVENUE THAT UNDERPIN OUR PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICES.  MULTIPLE MEANT MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS INCLUDING THIS ONE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR NEW MUNICIPAL REVENUE SOURCES THAT WOULD EASE THIS BURDEN AND I SHARE THIS GOAL. I HAVE SOME IDEAS AND I HOPE TO PROVIDE THOSE IN THE NEXT YEAR BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO WEATHER THIS STORM AND THIS IS ONE STEP IN A IN A GOOD DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKIN.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNCILOR JOHN DIFFERENT ENTITY ANDERSON IS NOW PRESENT AND WITH US THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER.  COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST I THINK YOU KNOW, IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THIS VOTE, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE RECEIVED DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND I PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE THEY BASED ON WHAT THEY WERE READING AND WHAT THEY HAD HEARD THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS THAT WE WERE RUSHING THROUGH A TAX INCREASE FOR RESIDENTS WHEN IN FACT I THINK THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. FIRST, AS WE HEARD FROM MARTY WALLS YESTERDAY, THIS PROCESS WAS NOT RUSHED. IT'S BEEN ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS. THERE HAVE BEEN WE'VE HAD THREE HEARINGS IN WORKING SESSION IN THIS BODY. THERE'S BEEN A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE STATE HOUSE. IT'S BEEN A PART OF A PUBLIC CONVERSATION FOR MONTHS.  SO I I DON'T THINK WE'VE RUSHED THIS.  SECOND OF ALL, THIS IS NOT A TAX INCREASE. WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT RESIDENTS TAXES FROM GOING UP BY 28% IN JANUARY THIRD. SO I DON'T SEE THIS AS HURTING COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. WHAT WE HEARD AT THE HEARING YESTERDAY WAS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS WHOSE VALUE IS GOING DOWN.  WILL MOST LIKELY SEE A DECREASE IN THEIR TAXES EVEN IF THIS PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH.  AND LASTLY FOR COMMERCIAL OR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND SPACES AND BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR VALUES ARE GOING TO BE TWO, THREE YEARS FROM NOW. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE WILL BE HURTING COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IF WE HAVE IF IF WE HAVE A TAX POLICY THAT REQUIRES PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES TO LEAVE THE CITY AND ALSO REQUIRES US TO CUT IMPORTANT SERVICES LIKE POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE CITY. AND SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALCANTARA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR COLETTA OF COLETTE AS A PARTNER FOR SHEPHERDING THIS PROCESS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTIES WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET US HERE.  THERE ARE TWO OBJECTIVES THAT THIS COMPROMISE WILL ACHIEVE. THE FIRST IS THAT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WILL SEE THEIR BILL RISE ABOUT 9% NOT OUT OF LINE WITH INCREASES OF THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE SECOND IS THAT MANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SEE AND SEE THEIR OVERALL TAX BILL DECREASE WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUES. AS THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS THE CITY REVENUES ARE STRONG.  THE CITY USES THE STANDARD FORMULA FOR TAXES AND IT'S THE SAME FORMULA FOR THE CITY HAS USED SINCE PROP TWO AND A HALF WAS INTRODUCED IN 1980. EVERY YEAR FROM 1980 ON HAS INCREASED THE TAX LEVY TWO AND A HALF PERCENT EACH YEAR. MAYOR WHITE 2.5% EVERY YEAR. MAYOR FLYNN 2.5% EVERY YEAR. MAYOR MENINO 2.5% EVERY YEAR. MAYOR WALSH 2.5% EVERY YEAR AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING AGAIN THIS YEAR. THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCUSSION FOR THE CITY'S FISCAL I BELIEVE IS A HEFTY ONE BUT IT'S A BASICALLY WILL WE EVER AND SHOULD WE EVER FORGO THE FULL 2.5% LEVY HIKE IF WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO TAKE THE FULL 2.5% LEVY HIKE LIKE NEARLY EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY DOES, THEN I'M WARY OF ADDING FURTHER REVENUES THE EXCISE TAXES THAT OUR CITY CITY COLLECTS IT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HEART OUR CARS, OUR DINNERS OUT OUR FLIGHTS AND OUR VISITORS WHO STAY IN HOTELS AND EVEN THOSE EXCISE TAXES WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 6% OF THE BUDGET AREN'T ENOUGH SCALE TO REALISTICALLY FORGO THE FULL POINT 5% LEVY. AS FOR PILOT, I DO BELIEVE OUR NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE CONTRIBUTE MORE.  HOWEVER, IT'S A VOLUNTARY PAYMENT AS OPPOSED TO A TAX.  ADDITIONALLY, WHILE WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S HEAVY RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAXES I LIKE TO POINT OUT IN FISCAL YEAR 2002 THE CITY RECEIVED 82% OF ITS REVENUE FROM STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE CITY RECEIVED 82% OF ITS REVENUE FROM STATE AND STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES.  THAT'S THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS 2323 YEARS LATER. IT'S JUST THAT THE CITY USED TO RECEIVE A LOT MORE STATE AID. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME OF MY ADVOCACY SHOULD BE PLACED ON RECEIVING MORE STATE AID.  FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE MORE THAN 100 HOURS OF BUDGET ISLANDS WE HELD ARE THE SIX WORKING SESSIONS. WHAT DOESN'T PUBLIC TESTIMONY? NONE OF THESE REVENUE CONVERSATIONS ARE A SURPRISE AND NONE OF THEM ARISE. MATTER OF FACT THIS BODY HAS FILED NUMEROUS HEARING ORDERS ON REVENUE AND DECLINING COMMERCIAL VALUES.  I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS CONGRESS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER VOTE FOR OR PUT UP AMENDMENTS TO REALLOCATE FUNDS IN THE BUDGET.  I'M PROUD TO BE CAST MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESPONSIBLE COMPROMISE ON TAXES. IT'S A SHORT TERM SOLUTION AND I BELIEVE AS A BODY WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON LONG TERM SOLUTIONS. THANK.  THANK YOU COUNT AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT WAYS AND MEANS PROCESS AND THROUGH REALLY SHINING A LIGHT ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU RAISE THAT ARE THAT ARE RELATED TO THE MATTER BEFORE US. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FERNANDA ANDERSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THE CITY OF BOSTON SUCCESSFULLY WEATHER THROUGH THE WORST YEARS OF PANDEMIC AND CAME OUT OF THE OTHER AND WITH STRONG FISCAL STANDING. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THE TRUE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE ONLY NOW STARTING TO TAKE EFFECT. WE NEED TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN CONTINUE TO RELY ON US TO PROVIDE THE CITY SERVICES THEY DESERVE AND HAVE COME TO EXPECT . THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ADVOCATED FOR BEST WAY OR AT LEAST HERE AS WE SEE IT AS SOME OF US HAVE BEEN CALLING IT A COMPROMISE TO MAINTAIN THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE WILL ULTIMATELY INVOLVE SHIFTING TAX BURDEN AWAY FROM HOMEOWNERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ELDERLY AND CASH POOR AND TOWARDS OTHER GROUPS.  THIS NEW HOME RULE PETITION AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED. I DO APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS REDUNDANT AND THIS HOMEOWNER PETITION EXPANDS THE AMOUNT OF PERSONAL TAX EXEMPTIONS FROM 10000 TO 30000. THIS MEANS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ALL THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT LIKE BARBERSHOPS AND HAIR SALONS CAN EXPECT MORE OF THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY AVOIDING AVOIDING SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD BROUGHT UP IN THE HEARING AND THE ORIGINAL HOME RULE PETITION THAT SAYS NONE OF US HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND WE CAN'T PREDICT THAT WHAT THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS WILL BRING WE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL. OF COURSE THIS IS A BIT CONCERNING FOR ME BECAUSE WHEN THE HOME RULE PETITION LAPSED AND SOME OF MY QUESTIONS WERE WHETHER OR NOT HOMEOWNERS COULD SEE A SPIKE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX AND WILL BE RIGHT BACK IN THE CHAMBER DEMANDING FOR SOMETHING OR AT LEAST FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IN ADDITION, SECTION THREE OF THE HOME RULE PETITION STATES THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE GRANTS AND PROGRAMING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTING THE RECLASSIFICATION.  AND THEN I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER WORK ON OUR ON OUR PART TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS DEPARTMENT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TO SUPPORT WITH THESE GRANTS FOR SPECIFICALLY SMALL BUSINESSES. AND WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CHIEF OF OAI THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE WORKED OUT A NONPROFIT. SO I FEEL REASSURED AS COUNCILOR MEJIA DISCOVERED DURING HER WORK ON COMMERCIAL VACANCIES, THE CITY OF BOSTON DOESN'T EVEN HAVE OR AT LEAST HAVE A WAY TO COUNT HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES OWE AT LEAST WE HAVE NOT INVESTED IN THE TOOLS OR STUDY TO DO SO IN MY DISTRICT.  WHAT I DID IS THEN TOOK A FULL INVENTORY OF ALL OF THE BUSINESSES AND THEN ACTUALLY DID A MORE GRASSROOTS WAY OF APPROACH OF ACTUALLY THEN ORGANIZING IT OR AGGREGATING THIS DATA BY BUSINESSES THAT NEEDED SIGNS, BUSINESSES THAT NEEDED BRANDING, BUSINESSES ITEMIZATION OR OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND FIGURE THAT OUT. SO I THINK IT ALL CAN BE DONE. THE ADMINISTRATION AGAIN HAS BEEN ADVOCATING THAT PLACING THIS BURDEN ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WILL WORK AGAIN AS IT DID IN 2004 BUT IT WAS A BIT DIFFERENT IN MY OPINION WITH BOSTON'S HISTORY COMPARED TO 2024. THE SEAPORT START IS STARTING TO GROW AND THE BIG DIG WAS WRAPPING UP IN 2024. WE HAVE A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUILD UP FROM NOTHING AND THERE ARE A FEW MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL UNLOCK AS MANY COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AS THE BIG DIG DID. SO BASICALLY HAVING BEEN IN A MORE CONTAGIOUS SITUATION WHERE AT THE BIG DIG AND DID LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, A LOT OF PROJECTS OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES CONSTRUCTION WENT UP IT PRESENTED I THINK A CUSHION FOR OUR ECONOMY BACK THEN BEING MAKING IT DIFFERENT FROM TODAY. SO I DO FEEL OBLIGED TO POINT OUT THAT OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR CARLOTTA ZAPATA FILED AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A SMALL COMMERCIAL TAX EXEMPTION AS A LOCAL OPTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I THINK HER ORDINANCE IS TERRIFIC AND ADDRESSES A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICY AND ANALYSIS HAVE IDENTIFIED AND ONE LAST THING THAT I'LL POINT OUT IS THAT HERE IN THE CITY WE DON'T ACTUALLY DO SORT OF LIKE WE DON'T HOLD A FORUM WHERE WE'RE DOING A FULL ANALYSIS OF OUR BUDGET IN ORDER FOR US TO PROJECT WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TOWARD IN TERMS OF ECONOMY.  AND SO THE STATE DOES WRITE AND THEN THEY GO AND THEY DUKE IT OUT AND THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BUDGET SHOULD BE OR WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO BUT THE CITY DOESN'T. AND I THINK THAT COUNCIL OVERALL HAS POINTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO FURTHER AUDITS IF NOT FILLED OUT METRICS FROM TO ACTUALLY ANALYZE BP'S BUDGET.  SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT IN A STATE OF THINGS I WILL BE VOTING VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OPTIONS OF MAYBE FURTHER AMENDING THING SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE HER ORDINANCE IN IT AS WELL.  FOR TODAY MY MY MY VOTE IS A YES. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE A WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR INTO THE CONVERSATION.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSECRATING NEAR THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR CANADA'S PARTNER FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND GUIDING THIS PROCESS. OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS IT HASN'T BEEN EASY. WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF SCRUTINY FROM THE PRESS AND FROM OUTSIDE AS AS WE MENTIONED, WE'VE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS AND IT CERTAINLY ISN'T FOR WANT OF ATTENTION.  YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO QUICK FIX TO INCREASING OUR REVENUE, CUTTING SPENDING AND IMPLEMENTING A HIRING FREEZE IS NOT NECESSARILY A SOLUTION AT THIS TIME WHEN WE HAVE THOUSAND I THINK WE HAVE HUNDREDS I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER BUT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF VACANT POSITIONS. WE DID SCRUTINIZE ALL THESE ISSUES DURING OUR BUDGET PROCESS WHEN WE WERE OFFERING AMENDMENTS AND THERE WAS NO REAL APPETITE FOR CUTTING POSITIONS IN ANY DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE CITY BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON CITY SERVICES. THE ISSUE ABOUT THE 8% INCREASE IN THE CITY BUDGET WAS DRIVEN IN MANY WAYS BY THE TRANSITION OF THE BPA INTO THE CITY INTO THE CITY TO BECOME THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT INCREASED OUR COSTS AND ADDED TO OUR BUDGET.  SO AND ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF PILOT AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, WE WILL WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO COME TO TO FIND AN AGREEMENT ON A WAY TO INCREASE PILOT CONTRIBUTIONS BOTH CASH AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.  THE PILOT PROGRAM AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM SO WE CAN'T JUST INSIST THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY PAY PAY A CERTAIN FIGURE.  BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE OUR INSTITUTIONS TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE FOR OUR SHARED VALUES TO BUILD A STRONG AND EQUITABLE CITY FOR ALL. AND AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN SO ARDUOUS OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS, I DO WANT TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO LEADERS AND PARTNERS IN THE LEGISLATURE FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH FOR THEIR PRUDENT ATTENTION TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN SPILKA.  HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN MARIANO. CHAIR AARON MIKOVITS AND CHAIR MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE SENATE COMMITTEES ON WAYS AND MEANS MEMBERS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON REVENUE.  AND THE BILL'S SPONSOR AND BOSTON DELEGATION MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE ROB CONSALVO, A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS BODY. I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THEIR DILIGENCE IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MEDIA ACADEMY AND FULLER. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE HEARING ALL THAT YOU HAD TO SHARE IN FASHION AND FORM AS I AM.  I'D LIKE TO USE MY TIME TO TRANSLATE AND JUST HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT PLAY HERE . SO FIRST LET ME JUST START OFF WITH I REALLY THE MORE WE NAVIGATE THE SPACE, THE MORE I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SUPER MINDFUL AND CAREFUL ABOUT CHARACTER ASSASSINATIONS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENS. THIS WHOLE NARRATIVE OF US VERSUS THEM IS REALLY ISN'T GETTING US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.  WHEN I HEAR WORDS LIKE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP IT HAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION THAT BECAUSE YOU SHOW UP DIFFERENTLY OR YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE OR YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S NOT POSITIVE AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF JUST EMBRACING PEOPLE AND HOW THEY SHOW UP IN WAYS THAT IN EMBRACES DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS AND DIFFERENT STYLES. RIGHT. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT CHARACTERIZING PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR AS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE REALLY ISN'T HELPFUL ESPECIALLY THIS BODY PARTICULARLY HAVING GONE THROUGH REDISTRICTING AND ALL THE DRAMA AND TRAUMA THAT THAT CAUSED. IT DOESN'T HELP US TO POINT FINGERS OR TO TALK ABOUT PROCESSES THAT WERE NOT DONE FAIRLY OR ALL OF THAT BECAUSE NOBODY WINS IN THAT FRAMEWORK AND I'M SPEAKING THAT AND OWNING THAT ON MY OWN BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES I GET UP IN HERE AND I'D BE OUT HERE THROWING DAGGERS TOO BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO SHOW UP IN A WAY THAT IS ALSO ACCOUNTABLE TO HOW I SHOW UP. AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD IN THIS CHAMBER TO BRING IN A DIFFERENT SENSE OF ENERGY AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SO THAT I'M NOT TRIGGERED BY THE THINGS THAT I HEAR IN THIS CHAMBER FROM EITHER SIDES OF THE AISLE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR JOB IS TO BE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO THE ADMINISTRATION. OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO ALL SIDES WHETHER WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM OR NOT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY AS A WHOLE AND AS A BODY OF 13 WHETHER YOU REPRESENT MY DISTRICT OR NOT, THE VOTES THAT YOU TAKE IMPACT THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I SERVE. AND SO I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO EITHER NEED TO HAVE A RETREAT OR SOME SORT OF STAGING UP IN HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH DURING REDISTRICTING.  I REJECT THAT. I DO NOT WANT THAT AND I WANT US ALL TO PUT BIG GIRL AND BOY PANTS ON AND DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT BEING PETTY. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I HAVE A REAL ISSUE WITH FEAR TACTICS THAT DRIVE ANXIETY FOR FOR OUR RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY OUR SENIORS WHO ARE ALREADY ON FIXED INCOMES HOLDING THIS PROCESS UP ANY FURTHER CREATES MORE TRAUMA FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AND I THINK THAT WE CANNOT PLAY POLITICS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND UTILIZING OUR PEOPLE AS POLITICAL PAWNS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR ANYONE. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR SENIORS AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO PURCHASED THEIR HOMES IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES WHEN THE WHITE FLIGHT OCCURRED AND PEOPLE WERE FLEEING THE CITY OUR ELDERS WHO ARE NOW TODAY ON FIXED INCOME STAYED HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, INCLUDING TAKING VOTES THAT WILL HELP THEM DO JUST THAT. NOW MY STRUGGLE IS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IS THAT I'M ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE TIMELINES THAT I'VE HEARD, I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'VE FILED HEARING ORDERS THAT HAVE NOT HAPPENED TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND IT FEELS LIKE TO ME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE PASS LEGISLATION HERE BECAUSE PUTTING US AGAINST THE WALL AND NOT GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY UNPACK THINGS THOROUGHLY . IT JUST FEELS A BIT ABRUPT AND I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING FROM THAT. AND THEN LASTLY IN WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING SINCE I ENTERED THIS CHAMBER IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PILOT PROGRAM WE CONTINUE TO GIVE HARVARD, B.U. ,NORTHEASTERN ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS A PASS. AND THE REASON WE GIVE THEM A PASS BECAUSE WE'RE CALLING IT VOLUNTARY AT SOME POINT THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY IF YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP PUTTING THAT BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. SO WE ARE POSITIONED TO UTILIZE WHATEVER LITTLE POLITICAL COURAGE WE HAVE IN THIS CHAMBER TO HOLD THOSE INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE.  AND UNTIL WE DO THAT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE IT'S THE EASIEST THING TO DO. AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY IN CHOOSING THIS PATH FORWARD IS THE PATH IT'S THE PATH TOWARDS LEAST RESISTANCE AND THAT IS DOING THIS IN THIS MANNER WAS REALLY STRATEGIC AND I UNDERSTAND MEETING THE MOMENT BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE REAL WORK IF WE CAN DO THIS RIGHT WILL BE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR AND I THINK NEXT YEAR THIS WHOLE SITUATION NEEDS TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THE SAME THING AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS THAT WE WANT ONLY TO THEN JUST SIT DOWN AND RUBBERSTAMP ANOTHER VOTE AND WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THAT. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR JOBS THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS NEXT YEAR AND THOSE DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BY THIS BODY. THE BUDGET THIS BODY APPROVES THE BUDGET, RIGHT? AND IF THIS BODY APPROVES THE BUDGET THEN WE SHOULD WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT THE BUDGET THAT WE DO APPROVE REFLECTS THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT US IN HERE WANT US TO FIGHT FOR.  IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR SO I'M SURE EVERYTHING'S GOING TO LOOK VERY DIFFERENT. I'M SURE NO ONE'S GOING TO WANT TO LIKE YOU KNOW, CAUSE RUCKUS AND I'M SURE EVERYONE WHO GOT A PASS THIS TIME AROUND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER NEXT TIME AROUND BECAUSE I KNOW HOW POLITICS WORKS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS. I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I'LL END WITH THIS IN 2020 I GOT THIS NOTEBOOK.  IT SAYS BREAK TRADITION. I WALKED INTO THIS CHAMBER AND SOMEBODY REMINDED ME YESTERDAY IT WAS CARRIED BY SOMEBODY. IT REMINDED ME YESTERDAY BECAUSE I SAID I WALKED INTO THIS CHAMBER BY MYSELF BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED MEJIA EXCEPT THE PEOPLE. BUT SHE REMINDED ME THAT I DIDN'T WALK IN HERE BY MYSELF.  THE PEOPLE PUT ME IN THE CITY AND FOR THAT I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HERE TO FIGHT FOR, NOT OUR SEATS. AND SO WITH THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY AND BREAK TRADITION BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP FUNCTIONING AS A BODY IN THIS MATTER.  WE CAN'T. AND IF I'M THE ONE WHO TO GET UP AND KEEP SAYING IT, I'M GOING TO KEEP SAYING IT. AND IF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, YOU PUT YOUR LITTLE EARPLUGS ON BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I GET PAID TO UTILIZE MY MOUTH TO SPEAK MY TRUTH AND BRING TRUTH TO POWER INTO THIS CHAMBER AND I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT TO ANYONE. SO WITH THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING THIS TO REST AND DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER. YOU HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES UTILIZING THEIR VOICE THAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO THE BEING THE MICROPHONE, NOT THE VOICE. AND SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S FEEDBACK.  JUST A QUICK NOTE AND THEN I REALLY WANT TO MOVE TO A VOTE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SEVEN MONTHS. I DO I JUST WANT SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP. I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE FACTS MATTER AND FACTUAL THAT IT HAS BEEN SEVEN MONTHS TALKING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND VARIATIONS OF IT. IT'S BEEN WIDELY PUBLICIZED.  THERE'S BEEN 44 PLUS NEWS MEDIA PUBLICATIONS ABOUT IT. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT BE MISLED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MORE PROCESSES COMING. THERE ARE THREE DOCKETS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE THIS BODY AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.  THE FIRST ONE ALREADY CAME BEFORE US LAST YEAR AND MANY OF US VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT WHICH IS SETTING THE TAX RATE AS WE DO EVERY YEAR.  IT'S ALSO SETTING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AT $30,000 AND THEN THE APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATION ORDER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS FUND. MOREOVER, I THINK YOU KNOW SOME OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN MY COMMITTEE REPORT. THESE LONG TERM CONVERSATIONS ARE NECESSARY.  IT RELATES TO PILOT. WE ARE WE ALREADY ARE LEADERS ON THIS ISSUE AND I EXPECT A LOT OF THIS LEADERSHIP TO CONTINUE THROUGH THIS BODY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAYOR WU. LONG TERM CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPENDING, BUDGETS, REVENUES THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN EVEN AFTER THIS VOTE TODAY AND I WELCOME THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I DO. AND THEN I THINK MY LAST POINT I THINK I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT THIS IS THE PROCESS. THIS IS DEMOCRACY.  THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN ELECTED TO DO AS CHAIR FOR ANY COMMITTEE. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR DISCUSSING AND CONSIDERING THE MERITS OF A PARTICULAR DOCUMENT OF A PARTICULAR DOCKET WHICH IS WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW. YESTERDAY DURING THE HEARING I WAS HEARING OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC AND THEN ANY OBJECTIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED BUT THE OBJECTIONS WERE NOT ON THE MERITS OF THIS PROPOSAL.  IT WAS ABOUT ANY PERCEIVED BUREAUCRATIC OR POLITICAL SLIGHTS.  AND SO FOR ME AS CHAIR I AM OBLIGATED TO REVIEW THE MERITS OF ANY PROPOSAL AND BECAUSE OF THAT I FELT LIKE WE HAD A FAIR PROPOSAL.  AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS AND I SAID IT YESTERDAY IF WE DO NOTHING RIGHT NOW WE HELP NO ONE. OUR JOB, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR OBLIGATION IS TO LEGISLATE AND TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO HELP RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. SO NOW I'M DOING MY JOB AND SIMPLY PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS, REPRESENT THEIR VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES AND VOTE. SO LET'S VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  COUNCILOR CUT AS A PARTNER AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, I'LL JUST SAY BRIEFLY YOU JUST WANT TO SUM UP AGAIN THAT YEAH, THERE'S BEEN LOT OF WORK DONE HERE TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE THIS COMPROMISE IS ONE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER NYA THE BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MASS AND YOUR ACTION COUNCIL EVERYBODY WORKING ON THE SAME BECAUSE WE AS A CITY WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM. IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE GET THE BALANCE RIGHT AND AS THE COUNCIL OR AND OTHERS SET IT SHORT TERM SOLUTION AS WE NAVIGATE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THE LONG TERM WORK. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY LEANING IN AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IN WAYS AND MEANS AND IN OTHER COMMITTEES ABOUT HOW WE STEWARD THE CITY. THAT IS OUR JOB. THAT IS THE JOB OF EACH COMMITTEE CHAIR IT'S THE JOB OF EACH COUNTY COUNCILOR TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION, TO DISAGREE AND FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WORK ON THE SAME TEAM TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SOME LONGER TERM ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH AND WE DO THAT AFTER THE BUDGET AND WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR HEARING ORDERS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONTINUED CONVERSATION.  SO IF NO ONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, I'D LIKE US TO MOVE TO A VOTE.  THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE TO A VOTE. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS IN THE SECTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 161 TO MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBER 1612. COUNCILOR BREADON.  YES. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART OF COUNCIL.  COLLETTE AS A PARTY, YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN.  COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDES SANDERSON COUNCIL FERNANDES SANDERSON YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN NO. COUNCILOR FLYNN NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE.  CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN YES. COUNCIL PIPPIN YES.  COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES.  COUNCILOR WEBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR WE'RE ALL YES. COUNCILOR ROLL.  YES. TALKING NUMBER 1612 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND ONE IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU. THE COURIER REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 1612 HAS PASSED. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CHAIR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADDITIONAL DOCKETS ON THIS TOPIC. MR. CLERK MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DOCKING NUMBER 1301 DUNCAN NUMBER 1301 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BY CYF SERVICES IN THE ALSTON BRIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES . YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. FIRST I WANT TO THANK ETHAN,  CANDACE AND MEGAN WHO WERE STACKING CHAIRS AT 1030 LAST NIGHT AT THE INN IN BRIGHTON AT THE JACKSON COMMUNITY CENTER. FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK IN HELPING US GET THROUGH A WONDERFUL OFFSITE HEARING LAST NIGHT.  I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON COMMUNITY WHO SHOWED UP IN FOR STANDING ROOM ONLY TO ADVOCATE FOR A MUCH NEEDED NEW COMMUNITY CENTER. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO SHOWED UP NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY CENTER THERE I THINK ALL OF US AGREE IS NEEDED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT I BELIEVE WE ALSO SHOWED UP I KNOW I DID TO SUPPORT COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON WHO HAS BEEN ADVOCATING SINCE 2019 PROBABLY BEFORE SHE EVEN RAN FOR COUNCIL . AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT 70 OVER 70 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SPOKE.  ALL SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY AND SO MANY SPOKE WHAT I KNOW ALL OF US BELIEVE. WE ALL HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER STORY. I KNOW I HAVE ONE. ANYONE WHO GREW UP HERE IN THE CITY HAS A COMMUNITY CENTER, HAS A COACH, HAS SOME PROGRAM THAT B C I F AND LOTS OF WAYS FELT THAT IT SAVED THEIR LIFE OR IT HELPED THEIR SISTER OR IT HELPED THEIR MOM AND THEY'RE STILL HEARING THOSE STORIES. I BELIEVE IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION. WE KNOW THAT THE POLITICAL WILL IS HERE ON THE COUNCIL . I KNOW THAT AS THE CHAIR OF STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY BUT ALSO AS AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND SOMEONE WHO TRULY BELIEVES IN COMMUNITY CENTERS AND DO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT OF DRIVING WAS WHAT COUNCIL AT TANYA FERNANDES ANDERSON SAID. AT ONE POINT SHE STEPPED OFF THE STAGE AND CUT THROUGH A BACK ROOM AND IT'S SOMETHING I NOTICED ALSO THIS BUILDING WHICH WAS THE JACKSON MAYOR AND THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL WHICH IS NOT A SCHOOL NOW HAS LOTS OF EMPTY ROOMS BUT JUST STACKS OF MUSIC INSTRUMENTS AND PAINT AND IT'S JUST SUCH AN EMPTY KIND OF SAD BUILDING NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO USE IT AS A SWING SPACE. WE KNOW THAT NEED TO DO BETTER AND WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER. I DO WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF ALSO FOR ALL THEY DID TO HELP YOU AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY SHOWED UP KNOWING THAT YOU'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND ALSO THE OTHER THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ALSO BRIGHT AND I WANT TO THANK THE STATE REPS AND SENATOR BROWN'S BURGER KEVIN HONAN AND MIKE MORAN'S OFFICE WHO WERE THERE TO STAND BEHIND US KNOWING THAT THIS IS A CITY BUILDING NEED THE CITY FUNDS. WE NEED THE COMMITMENT HERE ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET. I KNOW WHEN YOU WANTED I DID VOTE AGAINST THE CAPITAL CAPITAL BUDGET. I THINK MORE OF US NOW KNOW THAT WE OUR VOTE CAN MAKE THEM AND PUSH THEM TO MAKE THE DECISIONS WE NEED THEM TO DO SO THIS DOCKET WILL STAY IN COMMITTEE BUT I WILL PASS IT OFF TO COUNCILOR BRAYTON TO SPEAK. SO THANK YOU. COUNTY RATING YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I THINK LAST NIGHT WAS A REMARKABLE NIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THE BEST ESTIMATE OF ATTENDEES AND RESIDENTS WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND WAS 230 RESIDENTS WITH STANDING ROOM ONLY THERE WAS 30 PEOPLE WHO WERE STANDING OUT IN THE HALL. WE COULDN'T GET INTO THE ROOM AND WE HAD DOZENS OF OTHER LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM FOLKS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.  I THINK IT WAS VERY APPARENT LAST NIGHT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE JACKSON MANN COMMUNITY CENTER IS. WE ONLY HAVE ONE AND PEOPLE GET TIRED OF ME SAYING THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE AWESOME BRIGHTNESS THE SECOND LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY, A VERY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WAS DEMONSTRATED LAST NIGHT WE HAD PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND ALL AGES THERE WE HAD LITTLE KIDS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATION FROM YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND A LOVELY A WONDERFUL GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE BRAZILIAN WORKER CENTER WHO CAME TO BE THERE AND IT WAS JUST VERY MOVING. I THINK EVERYBODY WAS WAS.  EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY IT WAS RESPECTFUL.  IT WAS HEARTFELT AND I HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT ALL RIGHT, NEEDS A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER TO REPLACE THE BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED ON YOU UNUSABLE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED A STAND ALONE BY WAY OF COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ALLSTON BRIGHTON COMMUNITY IS VITALLY NEEDED AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS. ONE FACT THAT CAME OUT IN THE IN THE CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT LOOKING AT THE TIMELINES WAS YOU KNOW THERE'S BEEN THIS SORT OF HIATUS IN THE CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS AND THE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS SPACE OF TWO YEARS WHERE NOTHING'S HAPPENING AND THERE WAS NO MONEY ALLOCATED TO KEEP THE PROCESS MOVING. THIS IS FINANCIAL YEAR AND THE NEXT TIME THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE NEXT TIME THIS IS A NUMBER ON THE LIST IS 2026 TO 2029 NOT THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD. YOU KNOW WE CAN'T JUST KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS AN URGENT SITUATION FOR US AND BRIGHTON, I DO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF EVERYONE TURNED OUT LAST NIGHT.  IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT OF WORK TO REACH OUT TO OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY BE NOT NECESSARILY ENGAGED WITH CIVIC CITY BUSINESS TO GET THEM THERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK VERY SINCERELY ALL MY COLLEAGUES COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROSSI, COUNCILOR PEP AND COUNCILOR SANTANA, COUNCILOR MEJIA,  COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND CONTROL FLYNN FOR ATTENDING IN PERSON AND ALSO ALL OF THOSE FOLKS OTHER STAFF WHO OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO SENT LETTERS OF APOLOGY BUT ALSO VOICING THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON.  SO THANK YOU. THIS IS THE THIS FIGHT IS NOT OVER BUT I, I WILL PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BRAEDEN THE CHEROKEE NATION IS CARLOS SANTANA ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MY PRESIDENT.  OH, SORRY . YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR FOR FOR HOSTING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE HEARING AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR BRAIDED FOR SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING ORDER AS WELL TO CENTRAL STAFF FOR YOUR WORK TO ENABLE THE HEARING TO BE HELD IN THE COMMUNITY.  LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE HEARING AND ALSO BRING ALONGSIDE DISTRICT NINE COUNCILOR BREADON AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE MANY VOICES IN THE ROOM THAT WE'RE FALLING OR FAILING SHORT OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT NINE RESIDENTS AND AUSTIN BRIGHT AND PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMING AS SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ACROSS BOSTON I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT ALISON BRIGHTON STILL LACKS A DEDICATED BUSY LIFE CENTER ESPECIALLY IN A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON INVESTING IN ITS FUTURE. RESIDENTS DESERVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE SAME QUALITY OF PROGRAMING AND SAFE SPACES THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ENJOY AND THEY DESERVE A CLEAR COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY WITH TIMELINES AND FUNDING BENCHMARKS TO MAKE A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND UNION SQUARE EVERY REALITY. THE PETITION CIRCULATING AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENCY FELT BY THE COMMUNITY AND I STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF THESE EFFORTS. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT LONGER FOR SPACES AND RESOURCES THEY DESERVE. THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US TO PRIORITIZE THIS CENTER AND THE FY 26 CAPITAL BUDGET ENSURING WE BUILD A FUTURE WHERE EVERY BOSSA NEIGHBORHOOD HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME TO MEJIA COMES ME HEAR YOU ON THE FLOOR THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE THANK YOU, PRESIDENT AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR BREEDEN I AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER THE FIRST WAS INCREDIBLY IN ALL BY THE TURNOUT WHAT YOUR STAFF WAS ABLE TO DO AND ALSO THE THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT NINE REALLY CAME OUT IN DROVES TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE BACK HERE THAT THEY WANT THEIR CENTER NOW AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WAIT ANY FURTHER. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS WHAT I HEARD AND I THINK WE HEAR ON THE COUNCIL HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RALLY AROUND YOU NOW SO THAT WE CAN START MAKING SURE THAT THAT CENTER GETS INTO INTO PRODUCTION. AND I AND I THINK THAT I'M COMMITTED TO UTILIZE MY PLATFORM TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU TO DO JUST THAT. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE AGAIN, I FEEL VERY HOPEFUL CONSIDERING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE AT PLAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER IN AUSTIN AND BRIAN IS GOING TO FEEL AFFIRMED AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR TEAM WHO WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND I JUST PACKING UP THE PLACE BUT ALSO HELPING HELPING SOME OF US UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE AT PLAY TOO. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOUR TEAM IS A TOP PARTNER WITH OUR OFFICE AND WE HAVE GROWN TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND YOU AND I ARE THE LAST ONE STANDING FROM THE FIRST FROM OUR CLASS AND I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE MY COLLEAGUE AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ON THIS JOURNEY AND I THINK AS COUNSELOR TO SUPPORT THAT AND I WENT ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE LAST TERM WE WORKED ALONG SIDE RESIDENTS IN CHARLESTOWN TO HANDLE THE SITUATION WITH THE QUARRY POOL AND SO THOSE RESIDENTS ORGANIZED AND WERE THE ONES THAT WERE REALLY LEADING THE CHARGE AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ENERGY THAT I SAW LAST NIGHT AND I DON'T HAVE A I SAW SOMETHING BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR STORY BUT I DO HAVE ANOTHER STORY THAT I THINK IS WORTH BRINGING INTO THE SPACE IS THAT I WANT TO USE THE RESTROOM AND THERE WERE ONLY THERE WERE TWO STALLS ONE OF WHICH WAS A BABY BATHROOM AND IT AND I WAS REALLY TAKEN ABACK BY THE FACT THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO BATHROOMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR FOR EVERYONE TO USE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AWKWARD.  I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER SEEN THE LITTLE TOILET. IT'S A LITTLE YEAH.  YEAH, IT'S I THINK SOMEBODY FROM YOUR TEAM SHOULD TAKE A PHOTO OF IT AND POST IT SO THAT THEY CAN SEE WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IT'S A BABY BATHROOM.  BUT I WANT TO JUST ALSO NOTE THAT YESTERDAY AND THIS IS WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES. YOU KNOW, I ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M A SINGLE MOM AND ELISE, I HAD TO GET HER HOME IN AN UBER AND I HAD TO COORDINATE MAKING SURE SHE DID HER HOMEWORK AND TOOK A SHOWER WHILE I WAS OUT THERE DOING MY JOB. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT EVEN ANNALISE WAS ROOTING FOR YOU BECAUSE OF READING AND WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE KIDS, SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR BREADON COMES RIGHT IN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I REALLY DO WANT TO STAND AND MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY THANK YOU TO OUR CENTRAL STAFF. WE HAD A VERY BUSY DAY YESTERDAY. WE HAD A LONG HEARING IN THE MORNING AND ETHAN, CANDACE AND MEGAN PACKED UP AND RELOCATED TO ALLSTON BRIGHTON AND SET UP SET UP A HALL WITH CHAIRS AND MICROPHONES AND ALL OF IT IN SHORT ORDER AND NEVER A COMPLAINT, NEVER A CROSSWORD,  NEVER A FROWN. THEY WERE JUST SO THERE TO BE OF SERVICE AND TO DO A GREAT JOB AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE PROFESSIONALISM AND OF OUR WONDERFUL CENTRAL STAFF THAT THEY CAME OUT TO THE DISTRICT AND DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB LAST NIGHT AND IT'S VERY EASY FOR US TO JUST THIS DAY FUNCTION SO EFFECTIVELY AND ARE SO PROFESSIONAL BUT SOMETIMES IT ALL JUST SORT OF FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND. BUT I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF FOR THE AMAZING JOB THEY DID LAST NIGHT AND ALL THE OTHER FOLKS IN THE CENTRAL STAFF WHO DO AMAZING JOB EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCIL RATE AND LIKE REALLY GOOD JOB CENTRAL STAFF I WOULD CLAP FOR YOU BUT I CAN'T BUT CENTRAL STAFF DID AN AMAZING JOB AND IT'S IT'S A IT'S A CREDIT TO HOW COMMITTED THEY ARE TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY FOR US SO THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF THE CHAIR AND I JUST KIND OF AN ANDERSON YOU HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY COUNCIL GREAT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON JOB WELL DONE ON ADVOCATING FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND OF COURSE THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF BUT ALSO TO THE CHAIR OF SORRY COUNCILOR COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR YOUR EXECUTED PATIENCE YESTERDAY. IT TOOK A LOT AND WE WERE HERE ALMOST 11:00. WE ALL PITCHED IN AND CLEANED UP TOGETHER BUT ETHAN SHOUT OUT TO YOU STANDING THOSE FULL I DON'T KNOW FOUR OR 5 HOURS THE ENTIRE TIME STANDING UP BEHIND THAT CAMERA WE YESTERDAY WE SAW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A COUNCILOR THAT ADVOCATES FOR HER DISTRICT AND ORGANIZES ON A GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO TURN OUT THE COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS AND I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY I CONTINUE TO BE IN SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN ALL GO FORWARD TO SUPPORT YOU TO ENCOURAGE ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THAT CONSTRUCTION COST OR IN THE CAPITAL PLAN BEYOND DESIGN SO THAT WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE NEW FRIENDS THAT I'VE MET AND ALSO BRIGHTON CONSTITUENTS FOR SHOWING UP BUT ALSO TO ADVOCATING AND BEING SO KIND.  THANK YOU AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO RETHINK AND JUST HAVING A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES THANK YOUR STAFF BUT LITERALLY THE VIDEO THAT YOU STITCHED TOGETHER EVERY ADVOCACY SINCE 2021 OF CLIPS OF YOU SPEAKING ON THIS ISSUE WHOEVER ON YOUR TEAM TO THAT THAT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE THAT WAS THAT WAYNE OKAY THAT WAS WAYNE THAT I CAN'T CLAP AGAIN BUT THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE VIDEO AND NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER RECEIPT TO ADD TO THAT I THINK DISTRICT NINE HAS A ZEALOUS ADVOCATE AND THAT WAS ON DISPLAY YESTERDAY AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAME OUT YOUR STAFF AND YOU WRITE LIKE THAT'S THE STEADY BEAT TO GET CHANGE AND SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR IN THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER ONE AND 301 REMAINING COMMITTEE WE ARE NOW ON TO MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. MR CLAPPER PLEASE BE DUNCAN NUMBER 1627 DUNCAN NUMBER 1627 COUNCIL ON MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES AND JAIL BASED VOTING AND EMPOWER INCARCERATED COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA, CUSTOMER HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND I JUST BEFORE I BEGIN I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR TO THE SERIAL ORDER. THANK YOU. I'M SO ADDED COUNCILMAN , HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TODAY I RISE TO FILE THIS HEARING ORDER BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRACY ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHO SHOWS UP AT THE BALLOT BOX.  IT'S ALSO ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING THEIR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW THERE ARE OVER THERE ARE MORE THAN 600 ELIGIBLE VOTERS RESIDING IN NASHUA STREET JAIL AND THE SUFFOLK COUNTY HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS FACING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO CASTING THEIR BALLOTS. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE EITHER AWAITING TRIAL OR SERVING TIME FOR MISDEMEANORS MEANING THAT THEY STILL HAVE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE YET THEY ENCOUNTER A SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN LEAVES THEM BEHIND OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY, LACK OF VOTER EDUCATION AND LIMITED ACCESS TO ELECTION MATERIALS STAND IN THE WAY OF EXERCISING THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT ARE OUR INCARCERATED LOVED ONES DESPITE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE STILL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.  THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO THE CITY, TO THE TO THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS AS ANYONE ELSE AS A CITY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE SHOWING NOT JUST BOSTON BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT WE CAN EXPAND VOTING ACCESS AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THERE ARE ROUGHLY 450,000 PEOPLE IN LOCAL JAILS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND STILL RETAIN THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. OUR EFFORTS HERE CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO OTHER CITIES THAT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUT OF THE DEMOCRACY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.  I WANT TO EXTEND MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITIES TO UNLOCK DEMOCRACY FOR RAISING AWARENESS ON THIS ISSUE. TOO OFTEN INCARCERATED PEOPLE FEEL FORGOTTEN BUT YET THEY STILL HAVE RIGHTS RIGHTS THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PROTECT AND ENSURE ARE ACCESSIBLE. THE 2022 VOTES ACT MANDATES THAT WE IDENTIFY ELIGIBLE INCARCERATED VOTERS AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN VOTE. YET OUR SYSTEMS ARE NOT MEETING THAT STANDARD. WHETHER IT'S LACK OF TECHNOLOGY ,INADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES OR RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET THAT PREVENTS INCARCERATED LOVED ONES FROM RECEIVING ELECTION INFORMATION THE BARRIERS ARE REAL AND UNACCEPTABLE. TODAY WE ARE CALLING FOR ACROSS INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION.  THIS ISSUE REQUIRES ELECTION OFFICIALS, JAILS, ADVOCATES AND THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES TO WORK TOGETHER. AND YES, IF IT MEANS THAT THE SPECIAL LATE LEGISLATION IS NEEDED TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE VOTING PROCESS THEN LET'S JUST PURSUE IT. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STATE REP THEN NIKA AGUADO WHO MANY YEARS AGO WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR OFFICE IN CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE ALONGSIDE MY PASTOR HOBBS AND A COALITION OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AROUND THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.  SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE LAST GO ROUND WAS WE ADVOCATED FOR HAVING BALLOT BOXES RIGHT IN THE JAILS SO WHERE EVERY TIME WE WE WORK ON SOMETHING WE EDGE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO JUST THAT. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN YOU REVILING THIS. YOU MENTIONED THAT ADVOCATES WANT TO UPLIFT THEM EMPOWERING DESCENDANT COMMUNITIES TO UNLOCK DEMOCRACY PROJECT AFRICAN-AMERICAN COALITION COMMITTEE THE INCARCERATED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AT MTA NORFOLK THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING HARVARD AND THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY INITIATIVE DEMOCRACY BEHIND BARS COALITION HEALING OUR LAND AND INC. AND PASTOR HOBBS THE SENTENCING PROJECT AND LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AS CUSTOM HAVE STATED, JETBLUE'S VOTING IS CRUCIAL TO ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC ACCESS AND ENSURING THAT ALL ELIGIBLE CITIZENS INCLUDING INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL CAN EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT VOTE ARE THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED FOR A FELONY.  THE MINUTE THEIR SENTENCE IS DONE THEY ARE ABLE TO VOTE AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES IN JAIL BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN'T VOTE. AND SO THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE UPLIFTING THAT FACT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ESPECIALLY RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION. THIS HEARING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES SUCH AS A LACK OF BASIC TECHNOLOGY TO TO DETERMINE WHAT ELIGIBILITY INADEQUATE ACCESS TO VOTING INFORMATION DUE TO RESTRICTED RESOURCES WITHIN JAIL FACILITIES AND AND MORE.  WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY AND ONE THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THESE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES ESPECIALLY OUR BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS LGBT INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. STRAIGHTENING JOBS VOTING PROCESS IS NOT ONLY UPHOLDS VOTER RIGHTS BUT ALSO EMPOWERS INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND FOSTERING EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM. ON FRIDAY I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD SPENT SOME TIME IN JAIL WHO TOLD ME THAT YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR HIM BUT HE STILL DID IT. WENT AROUND THE JAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND KNEW THAT THEY COULD VOTE IN THIS ELECTION. AND SO IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WE HAD PEOPLE BEHIND THE WALL WHO ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK.  AND SO THIS IS ABOUT EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK WHO ARE IN JAIL CELLS TRYING TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE USE OUR TOOLS HERE AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO HELP THEM DO JUST THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FOR ME IS THAT YOUR LIGHT ON AGAIN? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ME . HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I NEGLECTED TO ADD SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNSELOR ANDERSON AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CASTLEMAN HE HAS TO SUSPEND THE RULES IN ARKANSAS FOR AN INDIAN AND A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COMES WITH AN INJURY. ANDERSON SO ADDED BECAUSE WE'RE AN INDIGENOUS AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS HEARING ORDER.  OUR CARCERAL SYSTEM IS JUST NOT SET UP FOR REFORM AND AS WE SEE WITH RESEARCH MOST OF THE MOST OF WHAT EXISTS CURRENTLY IN OUR PRISON SYSTEMS IS SPECIFIC IS PUNITIVE BUT NOT I MEAN IT'S IT'S MEANT TO BE IT'S PRISON BUT IT'S NOT MEANT TO REFORM. SO RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN YOU DO INVOLVE PEOPLE IN A RESEARCH BASE TYPES OF PROGRAMING LIKE SEEING FAMILY, LIKE BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY THAT IT LEADS TO MORE HEALING AND REFORM. I WANTED TO I WANT TO CAUTION US IN TERMS OF THIS CONVERSATION TOO OFTEN PEOPLE IN PRISON ARE EXPLOITED ESPECIALLY BY POLITICIANS THAT STAND UP OR CLAIM IN THE STATE LEVEL CITY LEVEL ALL LEVELS THAT CLAIM TO BE SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS OR FOLKS IN THE PRISON SYSTEM AND YET THEY SHOW UP JUST TO EXPLOIT SO THAT THEY CAN ADVANCE THEIR OWN POLITICAL RESUMES AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IN PRISON KNOW THAT THE ADVOCATES COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WORK WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE MY HUSBAND TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LEAD ON CASES, TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LEAD ON INITIATIVES SUCH AS THIS, TO BE ABLE TO WRITE GRANTS AND DO RESEARCH JUST TO BRING THE ADVOCATES TO THE FRONT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. SO IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST ABOUT THE ADVOCATES OUT HERE DOING THE WORK. IT'S ABOUT THE MANY BLACK AND BLACK AND BROWN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SYSTEM AND WITHIN THE CONFINEMENTS OF THE WALL DOING THE WORK AND ADVOCATING AND CALLING ON TO THE ADVOCATES AND THEN THE POLITICIANS STEP IN.  AND SO WE HAVE TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE THREAD LIGHT CAREFULLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WE REDUCED THEM TO JUST YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A THING FOR THEM. NO, THEY ARE THE LEADERS ON THIS. IT'S NOT THE POLITICIANS AND IT'S NOT THE ADVOCATES. IT'S THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WALLS DOING THIS AND SUFFERING. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FILING. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A PERSONAL ONE FOR ME AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME . THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NUMBER ONE 6 TO 7 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK IS THAT CONSCIOUS BRAEDON DURKIN FITZGERALD MURPHY PIPPIN SANTANA WEBER WORLD DOCTOR NUMBER ONE 6 TO 7 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 1628 DOC NUMBER ONE 6 TO 8 COUNCILOR AS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS THE FINAL REPAIRS NEEDED FOR THE POOL AT THE CONDON COMMUNITY CENTER AND SCHOOL TO REOPEN? THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.  UM, I GOT A CALL LAST WEEK FROM A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE.  OH, APOLOGIES. APOLOGIES YOUR MIKE IS NOW ON IT THAT THEIR CHILDREN WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE THEIR FALL PROGRAMING AND SWIMMING LESSONS AND WHEN I DUG A LITTLE DEEPER I FOUND OUT SOME INFORMATION AND IS WHY I FILED THIS HEARING ORDER TO ADDRESS THE FINAL REPAIRS NEEDED FOR THE POOL AT THE CONDO COMMUNITY CENTER.  AS MANY OF YOU KNOW EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN FILING HEARING ORDERS TO ADDRESS THAT OUR DCF POOLS ARE RUNNING AND THAT THEY'RE STAFF. TWO OF THE REASONS WHY MANY OF OUR POOLS SOMETIMES MORE THAN HALF DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL.  SOMETIMES IT'S THE MAINTENANCE THAT'S BEEN NEEDED. WE'VE HAD MANY HEARINGS ON THAT . SOMETIMES IT'S BEEN THE STAFFING WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB WITH OUR LIFEGUARDS STAFFING BUT IN THIS CASE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE CONDON POOL HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CONDON SCHOOL IS NOT ABLE TO USE IT SO THEIR GYM CLASS THEY CAN'T USE THE POOL DURING THE DAY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN IN THE AFTERNOON AND WEEKENDS THE POOL IS NOT OPEN FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO USE. SO THE CONDON COMMUNITY CENTER IN SCHOOL HAS UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS INCLUDING AN INSTALLATION OF A NEW LINER. BUT DESPITE THESE IMPROVEMENTS THE POOL REMAINS CLOSED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD LIMITING ACCESS TO A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE. IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE FINAL REPAIR WHICH TO ME SEEMS VERY MINIMAL CONSIDERING A NEW LINER AND A LOT OF MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT TO REPLACE THE CHLORINE PUMP WHICH WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL 40,000 IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BP'S FACILITIES DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATED WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT THE CONDON AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY'VE EXHAUSTED THEIR BUDGET AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FINAL REPAIRS SO THE POOL WILL REMAIN CLOSED THREATENING OBVIOUSLY THE FALL PROGRAMING IT'S TOO LATE BUT THREATENING THAT IN THE WINTER THERE WILL NOT BE SWIMMING LESSONS. THIS SITUATION IS UNACCEPTABLE AS IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY FINDS THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS TO REOPEN THE POOL.  THE CORNING COMMUNITY CENTER PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SWIMMING LESSONS IN THE FALL AND WINTER ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN SWIM SAFELY DURING SUMMER MONTHS. THE POOL POSES A SAFETY AND EQUITY ISSUE IN MY OPINION PARTICULARLY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE SURROUNDING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHO RELY ON THIS FACILITY FOR RECREATION AND SWIM SAFETY. SO I'M HOPING THAT AT THIS HEARING WE WILL FIND OUT WHY A SMALL FINAL REPAIR ISN'T ON HOLD AND THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS FUNDING IS RELEASED SO THAT THE POOL IS OPEN. AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO SWIMMING LESSONS AND THAT THEY'RE SAFE IN THE WATER DURING THE SUMMER. SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ATTENTION AND I'M HOPING THAT IT IS IN MY COMMITTEE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOLDING THOSE HEARINGS SOON SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THIS ANSWERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN CONSTABLE THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR AT ME AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THE CONDON SCHOOL, THE FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS ON THE SAME STREET THAT I LIVE ON AND THE CENTER ITSELF IS LOCATED DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.  MOST OF THE CHILDREN THAT LIVE THERE ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR.  IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COME UP WITH THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE CHILDREN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SWIM AND TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF WORKED ON FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH MAYOR JANEY AT THE TIME CITY COUNCILOR JANEY MEEHAN YMCA IN ENSURING THAT EVERY KID HAS ACCESS TO SWIMMING LESSONS IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE CITY TO COME UP WITH SO IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION, COMING UP WITH THE PLAN, WORKING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY IN A POSITIVE MANNER BUT IT'S ABOUT IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE THAT'S IMPACTING SO MANY FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCIL WHERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR.  I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCILORS FOR BRINGING THIS IT SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO AN ISSUE WE'RE HAVING AT THE HANNIGAN POOL WHERE THE POOL HAS BEEN RENOVATED BUT THE FILTRATION SYSTEM HASN'T BEEN FIXED AND THERE IS AN ISSUE BETWEEN WHETHER THIS IS CAPITAL BUDGET OR OPERATING OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE EXTRA WHATEVER IT IS 20, $30,000 TO HAVE THE POOL BE FUNCTIONAL. SO I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND JUST LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON THAT QUESTION THROUGH THIS THROUGH THIS HEARING ORDER. BUT AGAIN EERILY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE HANIGAN AND I HOPE WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T WE CAN GET THESE POOLS UP AND RUNNING.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COMES WITH ME ON THE FLOOR. SURE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL AND SEVERAL TIMES I'VE FILED HEARING ORDERS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE POOLS FACILITIES. THIS ONE WAS SPECIFIC TO THE CONDITION BUT MORE THAN HAPPY TO WHEN WE HAVE HOPEFULLY IN THE PAST SEVERAL HEARINGS I HAVE SPONSORED THEY DID NOT BRING THE CORRECT PEOPLE TO GET THE ANSWERS BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVEN CAME UP LAST NIGHT WHERE THERE'S THIS FINE LINE BETWEEN BP'S FUNDING, THESE FACILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC FACILITIES ON THE CITY SIDE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR POOLS, OUR RESOURCES ARE WORKING. SO I THINK TOGETHER IF WE WORK TOGETHER ON THIS WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE THAT WHOEVER HAS TO WRITE OUT THE CHECK THAT'S A SMALL AMOUNT IN A LOT OF MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTED AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE ALREADY THREE LIFEGUARDS READY TO GO AT THE CONDO AND I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE ALSO AT THE OTHER POOLS. SO IT'S NOT A LIFEGUARD ISSUE AT THIS POINT. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK GZ COUNCILORS BREADON DURKIN VERNON GRANDERSON. FITZGERALD PEPEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR AT THIS DOCKET THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES THAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE STAFF GOING THROUGH. I HEAR YOUR ADVOCACY I WILL AND BECAUSE IT IS YOUR FILING WE'VE HAD HEARINGS ON THIS DOCKET SIMILAR DOCKETS IN A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES BUT I WILL I WILL PUT THIS ONE IN STRONG WOMEN COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1629 PARKING NUMBER 1629 COUNCIL FOR PANEL FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING ON HEALTH ACCESS IN HYDE PARK, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL BUT THEN COMES WITH A PEN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR I'M SO ADDED COUNCIL BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THIS HEARING TO BRING LIGHT TO A GREAT MISSING PIECE IN SOUTHWEST BOSTON A MISSING RESOURCE IN HYDE PARK THIS LARGE COMMUNITY OF OVER 40,000 PEOPLE MUST TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEEK HEALTH CARE THAT FITS THEIR ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SPECIFIC NEEDS.  HYDE PARK, UNLIKE MOST BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS, DOES NOT HAVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER NEARBY LIKE THE GREATER ROSSDALE COMMUNITY MEDICAL AND DENTAL CENTER OR THE MATTAPAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.  THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS RESULTING FROM A RANGE OF FACTORS.  HYDE PARK AND ABUTTING MATTAPAN ARE IN THE TOP THREE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE. THE OTHER TOP THREE IS DORCHESTER, WHICH ALSO LOST CARNEY HOSPITAL. THE AVERAGE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN THE U.S. SERVES ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE. HYDE PARK ALONE HAS 40,000 PEOPLE. WE NEED THE CITY TO START DEVELOP IT AND BRAINSTORM A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. THIS WORK STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO BY ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS AND IT WAS AN INNOVATIVE IT WAS AN INNOVATIVE, OPEN MINDED AND COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND IT WAS PUT INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF FY 22 TO FY 26 TO DISCOVER HOW WE CAN BRING THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY INTO A CITY BUILDING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HOPE OUR HEALTH CENTER WORKS WORK GROUP THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW SPEARHEADED BY MARSHA JACKSON WHO IS A FIERCE LEADER IN HYDE PARK. THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FOR YEARS.  I THINK THAT IT'S TIME TO DO THIS. SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.  YOU KNOW, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY GROWING UP GOING TO THE BROOKSIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND JUST SEEING HOW VALUABLE IT IS TO HAVE A HEALTH CENTER THAT YOU CAN TRUST THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU KNOW YOUR DOCTOR THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR SERVICES. HYDE PARK DESERVES THIS AS WELL. THAT'S WHY FOR ME IT'S AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE THIS TODAY AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PAN.  AND THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME . I WANT TO ALSO SHOUT OUT MARCIA KIM JACKSON FOR SPEARHEADING THIS DISCUSSION AND YOUR PREDECESSOR THATCHER ARROYO WHO WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET ON ALLOCATION HERE AND AS A HYDE PARK RESIDENT, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING AND SEEING THROUGH AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ON THIS MATTER AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE. THAT COUNCIL IS BREADON ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MURPHY SANTANA WEBER ORAL PLEASE OTHER CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1629 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY . MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCTOR NUMBER 1630? I CAN NUMBER 1630 COUNCILORS WEBER AND SANTANA FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH 2024 AS ELECTION WORKER APPRECIATION WEEK NOVEMBER 4TH 2024 IS ELECTION HERO DAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR WEBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD MADAM PRESIDENT AS A THIRD SPONSOR AT COUNCILOR WEBER SEEKS TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS AND SO ADDED COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE BUT YOU KNOW, VOTING IS THE BEDROCK OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND WE CANNOT HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO DO THE HARD WORK OF STAFFING OUR POLLING LOCATIONS AND COUNTING BALLOTS. UNFORTUNATELY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ELECTION OFFICIALS AND POLL WORKERS HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK DUE TO RIGHT WING MISINFORMATION, YOU KNOW, OR STRAIGHT UP CALLING FOR FOR INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE. LAST WEEK THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GAVE UPDATES ON FOUR CASES INVOLVING INTERSTATE THREATS TO ELECTION OFFICIALS INCLUDING A DEATH THREAT AGAINST AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR SIMPLY RECRUITING POLL WATCHERS IN A RECENT POLL BY THE BRENNAN CENTER OF JUSTICE DATA REVEALED THAT MORE THAN A THIRD OF SURVEYED ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE EXPERIENCED THREATS HARASSMENT OR ABUSE THROUGH THEIR JOBS. AND IN 2020 FOR ALMOST 25% OF ELECTION OFFICIALS WILL BE WORKING IN THEIR FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THAT'S BECAUSE MANY POLL WORKERS DO NOT RETURN AFTER THE EXPERIENCE WORKING IN ONE ELECTION.  YOU KNOW THERE'S A TELEGRAM ACCOUNT THAT IS OPERATED BY THE PROUD BOYS I GUESS AND IT HAS CALLED FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS TO BE QUOTE ARRESTED, TRIED FOR TREASON AND HANGED AND CALL FOR THEIR SUPPORTERS TO QUOTE KEEP YOUR RIFLES BY YOUR SIDE.  SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD STAND AND RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK AND THE VITAL WORK PERFORMED BY OUR ELECTION WORKERS IN THE UPCOMING WEEK. NATIONAL ELECTION WORKER APPRECIATION WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2004 BY THE UNITED STATES ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION TO RECOGNIZE ELECTION WORKERS AS UNSUNG HEROES.  ELECTION HERO DAY WAS ESTABLISHED BY A NONPARTY PARTIZAN GROUP AS A NATIONAL CELEBRATION TO RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ELECTION OFFICIALS THEIR STAFF AND POLL WORKERS MAKE TO ENSURE A SAFE, SECURE VOTING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AMERICANS. THAT IS WHY I AM FILING THIS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE WORKING AT THE POLLS AND IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.  I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME AND DECLARE NOVEMBER 4TH AS ELECTION HERO DAY AND NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH NOVEMBER 9TH AS ELECTION WORKER APPRECIATION WEEK IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CARLOS SANTANA.  SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR FILING THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN AS AN ORIGINAL.  IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I STAND HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR BOSTON ELECTION AND POLL WORKERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS WORKED TIRELESSLY THROUGH LONG HOURS MANAGING OUR CITY'S 275 PRISONS AND SERVING OVER 435,000 VOTERS ACROSS BOSTON. THEIR DEDICATION NOT ONLY UPHOLDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE BUT REINFORCES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF MISINFORMATION AND PERSONAL RISK, BOSTON'S ELECTION WORKERS CONTINUE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES WITH REMARKABLE COMMITMENT ENSURING THAT EACH ELECTION IS SAFE, SECURE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL FOR ALL OF OUR ELIGIBLE VOTERS. THIS WEEK WE'RE HONORING THEIR UNWAVERING SERVICE AND FOUNDATION. THEY HELP BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUST IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS BY PROCLAIMING NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH NOVEMBER 9TH AS ELECTION WORK. AS ELECTION WORKER APPRECIATION WEEK AND NOVEMBER 4TH AS THE ELECTION ZERO DAY WE EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE AND REMIND OUR COMMUNITY OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THESE WORKERS PLAY IN PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA AND THANK YOU COUNSELOR WEBER FOR ADDING ME . I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU BOTH HAVE STATED OUR ELECTION WORKERS ARE REALLY THE ONES UPHOLDING DEMOCRACY.  NEVER HAVE THEIR WORK BEEN HAS THEIR WORK BEEN SO POLITICIZED AS IT HAS BECOME LATELY. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THEM.  THEY'RE CHEERING US ON AMIGO VOTE THEY GIVE US OUR I VOTE STICKERS.  THEY WAKE UP EARLY, THEY END THE DAY LATE AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UPLIFT THEM UPLIFT OUR DEPARTMENT HERE OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT LED BY COMMISSIONER TAVARES AND SABINO AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AHEAD OF THE ELECTION NEXT WEEK. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS FILING AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO CO-SPONSOR COUNCILORS WEBER, SANTANA AND LOUIJEUNE TO SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASS THROUGH DOCKET NUMBER OH WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS RATE IN DURKAN FERNANDA FITZGERALD FLYNN MEJIA MURPHY FABIEN WORL COUNCILORS WEBER,  SANTANA AND LOUIJEUNE TO EXPANSION OF THE ROAD AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1630 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I WILL SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. DOCKET NUMBER 1630 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 16311631 COUNCIL OF PLAYING FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SENATE 5210 BUILDING RESOURCES AND ACCESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2024 OR THE BRAVE ACT OF 2024. THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNTER FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. NOW CHAIR I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORT OF THE BRAVE ACT OF 2024 TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS . AS WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SEVERAL HOSPITALS LOCATED IN BOSTON VA HOSPITALS INCLUDING JAMAICA PLAIN, WEST ROXBURY OUTSIDE OF BOSTON CERTAINLY CERTAINLY BROCKTON. THIS IS A BILL THAT IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR JON TESTER IN THE US CONGRESS.  THE BRAVE ACT YES 52106 TO IMPROVE VETERAN CARE AND THREE MAIN AREAS ONE TO ENSURE WORKERS IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR VETERANS RECEIVE FAIR PAY AND HAVE PROPER WORKING CONDITIONS. NUMBER TWO TO ENSURE THE IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS CENTER'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS TO PROPER INFORMATION IN RURAL AND HIGH RISK AREAS.  AND LET ME JUST FOCUS ON RURAL AREAS FOR FOR A SECOND. CERTAINLY WE LIVE IN A LARGE CITY BUT A LOT OF VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DON'T HAVE THE ACT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL MEDICAL CARE LIKE WE DO HERE IN JAMAICA PLAIN IN WEST ROXBURY OR BROCKTON. VETERANS LIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN RURAL AREAS SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO SOMETIMES TAKE SOME THREE OR 4 HOURS TO ACCESS A NEARBY VA HOSPITAL. AND THREE ADDRESS PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO WOMEN VETERANS. BY CONDUCTING SURVEYS AND LISTENING SESSIONS TO GATHER INFORMATION BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES TO IMPROVE THE VA, THE ACT ALSO REQUIRES THE VA TO INCORPORATE RISK FACTORS SUCH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ASSESSMENT IN RISK MODELS.  JUST WANT TO FOCUS BRIEFLY ON WOMEN VETERANS. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT THIS BODY HAS DISCUSSED AND WORKED ON AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO ALSO THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP OF PATIENTS AT THE VA MEDICAL HOSPITAL ARE WOMEN VETERANS.  WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CARE AT THE MEDICAL HOSPITALS PROVIDE WOMEN VETERANS WITH THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT THEY EARNED. GENDER SPECIFIC MEDICAL CARE IS CRITICAL ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES IS ALSO CRITICAL FOR WOMEN VETERANS.  WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM ANYTHING THEY'VE EARNED THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS VETERANS HAVE SACRIFICED A NORMAL LIFE TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THIS COUNTRY IN RETURN WE MUST WORK AND ENSURE THAT VETERANS ARE RESPECTED. THIS ACT NOT ONLY ALLOWS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE VETERANS CENTERS NATIONWIDE, IT WILL ALSO IMPROVE CARE FOR WOMEN. VETERANS AS I MENTIONED, WILL EXPERIENCE A HOST OF ISSUES NOT THAT ARE NOT ADEQUATELY ACCOUNTED FOR AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE PAY FOR THOSE WHO WORK AND SERVE OUR VETERANS WHETHER IT'S HERE IN BOSTON ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLERK, PLEASE. THAT COUNTS AS BRAEDON DURKIN FUNNY AND JUNIOR SENATOR GERALD MURPHY. YOU MAY HEAR THAT BEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR CATCHER SO IN A SICK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1631 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL THE POLLS SAY NAY THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUMBER 1631 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCTOR NUMBER 163 TO DUCK NUMBER 163 TO COUNCILOR OF FLYNN OFFER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE 8560 THE IN VETERANS HOMELESSNESS ACT OF 2024 THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNTER FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING H.R. 8560 TO MAKE CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SUPPORT HOUSING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS THAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS HUD VASH THIS IS THIS BILL A BILL SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARK TAKANO. THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.  THEY HAVE JOINT INITIATIVES TO PUT AN END TO VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.  THIS BILL H.R. 8650 THE END VETERAN HOMELESS ACT WOULD PROVIDE CASE MANAGERS WHO WILL. SO WE FOCUS ON THE BETTERMENT AND ASSISTANCE OF OUR VETERANS. THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES FOR COSTS OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES INCLUDING VOUCHERS. THE BILL ALSO MAKES AMENDMENTS TO HUD VASH HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND BROADENS THE POPULATION OF VETERANS ELIGIBLE TO ACCESS THESE UNUSED VOUCHERS THAT COULD LEAD TO PERMANENT HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 20,000 HOMELESS VETERANS.  IT WILL FUND THE COST FOR THE LEASING OF VOUCHERS SUCH AS SECURITY DEPOSIT AND OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO RETENTION AND OF PARTICIPATING HOMEOWNERS TO IMPROVE STABILITY FOR OUR HOMELESS VETERANS AND ACCESSIBILITY TO THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE BACK INTO CIVILIAN LIFE. THE HUD VASH PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY ALREADY A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. MODERNIZING THE PROGRAM WILL HELP OUR COUNTRY GET CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR NEIGHBORS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO CITY HALL IS THE NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR VETERANS THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF ALLOWING VETERANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS DRUG TREATMENT TRAINING NOW AND OTHER SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES, MEDICAL CARE ALSO IT'S A PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE AS WELL. I ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM MONTHLY AT A UNIQUE PROGRAM WITH THE ST ANTHONY'S CHURCH RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON THEY HAVE A LUNCH AND A AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO HOMELESS VETERANS ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THEM AND IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS AT THIS FACILITY BUT IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT ALL VETERANS INCLUDING HOMELESS VETERANS ARE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REJOIN SOCIETY ACCESSING HOUSING, ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINTEGRATE BACK INTO THIS CITY AND INTO THIS COUNTRY. THEY'VE GIVEN SO MUCH AND THEY HAVE STRUGGLED A LOT. BUT THIS PROGRAM THE HUD VASH PROGRAM WILL HELP THEM WITH HOUSING AND HOPEFULLY GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET WITH AN APARTMENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN, FOR THIS FILING. AND I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO OBVIOUSLY EXTEND MY SUPPORT BUT ALSO SAY THAT THE STATE AND THE CITY GOVERNOR HEALEY HAS BEEN DOING GREAT WORK IN OUR EFFORTS HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON DURKAN FERNANDES ANDERSON FITZGERALD MEJIA MURPHY PIPPEN SANTANA WEBER WHIRL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR CONTROL FLUENCY EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1632 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I OTHER THAN OPPOSING NO THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUMBER 163 TO HAS BEEN ADOPTED.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON. OKAY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO GREEN CHEESE WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME OR ADD THEIR NAME TO A VOTE WHILE THEY WERE NOT IN CHAMBERS NOW? OKAY. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW MOVING ONTO GREEN SHEETS ALSO THANK YOU ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR LETTING CENTRAL STAFF KNOW IN ADVANCE ABOUT YOUR GREEN SHEETS POLLS. IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA CASTRO SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  MR COLLEAGUE, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL UP DOCKET NUMBER 15434 THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOCKET NUMBER 1543 IS ON PAGE 18 OF THE GREEN SHEETS.  MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THAT INTO THE DO YOU HAVE IT? I HAVE TO FIND IT AGAIN.  PAGE 18 PAGE 18 DOCKET NUMBER 1543 FROM THE CANADIAN PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE TALKING NUMBER 1543 MESSAGE IN HONOR OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $1,202,560.90 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND CRITICALLY NEEDED RESOURCES THAT EQUIP AND TRAIN EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO RECOGNIZE STANDARDS, ENHANCE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES,  FOSTER INTEROPERABILITY AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.  OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COUNCILOR SANTANA ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. GRANTS ADMINISTERED BY THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JUNE 11, 2020 FOR THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM THREE BFD STAFF.  KEVIN QUINN WAS A DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. JULIE DEVIN WAS A PROCUREMENT AND GRANTS MANAGER AND SHAUNA LYNCH WAS A BRANCH MANAGER. WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCILORS MURPHY, COUNCILOR FLAY AND COUNCIL OF FITZGERALD COUNCILOR DURKIN ALSO A WEBER AND COUNCILOR CALLING US ABOUT THE AND WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM THE HOUSE UP ON THE PANELISTS TESTIFYING ON EACH GRANT ADMINISTERED BY BFD AS WELL AS GRANT.  GRANT TRENDS VERSUS PREVIOUS YEARS BFD HAVE ALSO PROVIDED THE COMMITTEE WITH DETAIL AND INFORMATION ON THIS GRANT WHICH I HAVE REVIEWED AS A CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS A SAFE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT TOTALING OF ONE A LITTLE BIT OVER $1.2 MILLION WITH AN ADDITIONAL OVER $120,000 AND 256 $120,000 FROM THE BFD GRANT OPERATING FUNDS IS DEDICATED TO TRAINING WELLNESS AND INJURY PREVENTION FOR OUR BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS. TRAINING INCLUDES NFPA 1021 OFFICERS TRAINING FOR 74 CHIEF OFFICERS AND ENHANCING LEADERSHIP AND SAFETY ON THE JOB.  AND WHILE THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS A PEER LEVEL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROVIDING CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEALTH AND LADDERS INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE A CLINICAL DIRECTOR AND AN INJURY PREVENTION SPECIALIST ON BOARD TO LEAD PROGRAMS IN FIREFIGHTER NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AIMING TO REDUCE LINE OF DUTY INJURIES. 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 INFORMAL ACTION. AT THAT TIME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL WILL BE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 1543 ALL TO PASS. THANK YOU.  OKAY. THE DOCKET IS PROBABLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL . JUST WHEN I SEE SOME LIGHTS ON ARE THEY ON THIS DOCKET? ARE THEY GREEN? SHE'S BOTH THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE COMES MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I JUST AS A POINT OF ORDER TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND SO WE'RE JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS HERE WE'RE PULLING SOMETHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS UP FOR A VOTE ON A HEARING THAT WE HAD WITH BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT DOCKET OR IS THIS A NEW PRACTICE?  I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING THESE DAYS BECAUSE NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE A HEARING WE USUALLY BRING THE HEARING UP FOR A VOTE FOLLOWING THE HEARING NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE DOING THINGS I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LOGISTICS ARE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS BECAUSE I WASN'T AT THE HEARING AND IF I'M GOING TO BE VOTING FOR SOMETHING I NEED TO BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE, I'M NOT SURE AND JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I VOTE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, COUNCILOR SANTANA YOU MAY KNOW. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. MY HERE FOR THIS HEARING. I MEAN AS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AS WE GET A LOT OF GRANTS EVERY WEEK AND WHAT WE DID EARLIER YEAR IS THAT WE HAD A GRANT FOR THAT AND WE INVITED ALL OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE WENT OVER ALL THE GRANTS FOR THE YEAR AND IN THAT MEETING WE HAD SEVERAL COUNCILORS WHO SHOWED UP AND ASKED QUESTIONS AND WE WE DIDN'T WE DISCUSS EVERY SINGLE GRANT THAT WAY WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NECESSARY HOLDING GRANT FOR EVERY SINGLE WEEK. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY HOLD A HEARING FOR EVERY SINGLE GRANT THAT COMES THROUGH THIS BODY. SO THAT THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE DOING GOING THROUGH IT. THAT'S WHY WE'VE HEARD PROBABLY SIMILAR STATEMENTS FROM ME AND I KEEP REPEATING THAT JUST BECAUSE THAT'S IT IT'S MADE IT CONDENSED FORM JUST BECAUSE THERE'S MANY GRANTS THAT COME THROUGH THE BODY THAT YOU CAN'T JUDGE SANTANA CANCER FOR AN ENGINEERING ARE YOU LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING I'LL JUST SPEAK ON SPANISH. OKAY. CASTILLO SANTANA SIX PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1543 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL OPPOSE ANY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL DOCKET 02890290 AND 0291 FROM THE GREEN SHEETS PAGE ONE THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR INFORMING US OF THOSE POLLS AHEAD OF TIME. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THOSE DOCKETS IN FRONT OF CAN YOU PLEASE READ THEM INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE OF ARTS CULTURE AND DETAINMENT TOURISM AND SPECIAL EVENTS? DUNCAN NUMBER ZERO TWO WEEK NINE MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF NIGEL JACOBS TO THE BOSTON ART COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 20TH, 2028 DUNCAN AMBER 0290 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JAMES MASON TO THE BOSTON ART COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING ON DECEMBER 20TH 2028 IN DOCKET NUMBER 0291 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ABIGAIL NAUMANN TO THE BOSTON ART COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 20TH, 2028.  THANK YOU.  ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND THESE DOCKETS ARE PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KINDS OF FERNANDO ANDREA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM PRESIDENT. THESE THREE ORDERS FROM THE MAYOR FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TO THE ARTS BOSTON ARTS COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT BOARD OF VOLUNTEERS THAT APPROVES AND COMMISSIONS INNOVATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC ARTWORKS AROUND THE CITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTS AND CULTURE AND BOSTON ARTS AND CULTURE. AND I REALIZE THAT I HAD FILED A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY I THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH A MEETING WITH ADMINISTRATION YOU WILL AFTER READING THEIR RESUMES AND MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THERE ARE MAKING A REAL EFFORT TOWARD DIVERSIFYING OR INCREASING DIVERSITY ON APPOINTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS. SO I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF ABOUT THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPOINTED HERE. NIGEL JACOBS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE CO FOUNDER OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE NEW URBAN MECHANICS AND WAS NAMED A PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR IN 2011 BY GOVERNING MAGAZINE.  JAMES MASON IS THE ASSOCIATE PROVOST AT MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. PREVIOUS TO THIS HE TAUGHT AS A PROFESSOR OF FASHION DESIGN AND REPRESENTED THE FACULTY AND LIBRARIANS AS OF LOCAL CHAPTER OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE ASSOCIATION. HE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FASHION RETAIL AND RETAIL MANAGEMENT.  ABIGAIL NORMAN WORKED FOR 17 YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAW SCHOOL OF FINE AND APPLIED ARTS BOSTON ARTS AND EDUCATION ORGANIZATION INSPIRING LIGHT LIFELONG LEARNING AND CRAFT AND CREATIVITY ALL THESE THREE FOLKS OR THREE APPOINTMENTS WILL INCREASE DIVERSITY AS I MENTIONED AND OBVIOUSLY WITH EXTENSIVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE MAKING THEM QUALIFIED THE DOCKETS NAME AND MEANING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION WERE FILED IN MY COMMITTEE BACK IN FEBRUARY AND AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY BY MOVING THESE APPOINTMENTS THROUGH. AT THIS TIME I AM ASKING THAT WE ACCEPT THESE CONFIRMATIONS OF APPOINTMENT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILOR FOR THE INNOCENCE SEEKS A PASSAGE OF DOCKETS NUMBER 0280289 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THE START OF THIS PASS COMES WITH AN END TO ANDERSON'S ACCEPTANCE OF DOCKET NUMBER ZERO TWO THE O THE APPOINTMENT IS OKAY SO ON DOCKET NUMBER 0289 THAT APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED. COUNCILOR FOR INNOCENCE SEEKS CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0290. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL SAY NO THANK YOU. DOCKET 0290 THE APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED COUNCILOR FRONTAGE ANDERSON SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 20291 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I LOOPHOLE SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THE APPOINTMENT FOR DOCKET NUMBER 0291 IS CONFIRMED. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREETINGS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES? COUNSELOR FITZGERALD COMES WITH JOE.  DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL DOCKET NUMBER ONE 549 FROM PAGE 16 OF THE GREEN SHEETS. DOCKET NUMBER 15419. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING CENTRAL STAFF KNOW AHEAD OF TIME.  MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCKET IN FRONT OF YOU AND IF SO, COULD YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO A RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY DOCKET NUMBER 1549. MESSAGE GENERAL AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE LGB . Q MENTAL HEALTH PLAN AWARDED BY THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY PLAN OF MASSACHUSETTS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF LGBTQ PLUS ADVANCEMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO COMBAT COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS DISPARITIES AMONG THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION. THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS ACCEPTED AND THE DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COUNTS.  DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TO REPEAT THE CLERK'S WORDS RIGHT BACK TO ON THIS GRANT AS IT STATES IS A $10,000 GRANT FOR THE LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH PLAN.  WHAT ABOUT UNITEDHEALTHCARE COMMUNITY PLAN IN MASSACHUSETTS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE LGBTQ PLUS ADVANCEMENT? THE GRANT WOULD FUND COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS DISPARITIES AMONG THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD SEEKS ADOPTION SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1549 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I BY ALL THE POLLS SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS.  OKAY WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO LEAD FILES. I'M INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE NO LATE FILE MATTERS. GOOD JOB, EVERYONE.  WE WILL NOT TAKE A VOTE AT ANYTHING UNTIL THEY FILE TO THESE MATTERS. THEY DON'T BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING UP. OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS . PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS. I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EARLY VOTING ENDS THIS FRIDAY. THERE ARE EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE TODAY AND ON FRIDAY AT CITY HALL AND TOMORROW THERE ARE LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY INCLUDING AT THE MUNI IN HYDE PARK THIS WEEKEND ON NOVEMBER SECOND IS THE FIFTH ANNUAL HAITIAN-AMERICAN YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AWARDS. IT'S ALSO THAT SAME NIGHT IS A 40 YEARS OF FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS AT FLORIAN HALL. ELECTION DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY.  WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL GO OUT AND VOTE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE GETS OUT AND VOTE AND IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ON YOUR POLLING LOCATION YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION ONLINE.  AND IT'S ALSO THIS WEEKEND IS ALSO THE WANG YMCA LEGACY DINNER AT EMPIRE GARDEN. NOW IF OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE, NOW WAS THE TIME THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CATHERINE MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I INVITE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO THE VEEPS TRANSPORTATION HEARING WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK ON NOVEMBER 7TH. I CALLED TO POINT OF ORDER AT THE LAST MEETING TO REQUEST YOUR HELP ON GETTING THE DATA THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE 17 F THAT I FILED FOR PM BUS ARRIVAL DATA AND THAT INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO I, I BELIEVE TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL HEARING RULE 21 JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THE COUNCIL AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDENT MAY REMAND A RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR TO A SECTION 17 F REQUEST IF IN DETERMINATION OF THE PRESIDENT THE RESPONSE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST A SUBSEQUENT SUBSEQUENT RESPONSE SHALL BE DUE IN SEVEN DAYS. SO I AM ALSO ASKING BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM YOU OR YOUR OFFICE YET IF THESE ARE ANY UPDATE ON THAT INFORMATION AND DID WE REFILE BECAUSE THERE IS NO COUNCILOR MEETING NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 7TH HEARING. SO MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON IT AND WE CAN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AFTER THE HEARING IS AFTER THIS MEETING IS DONE. OKAY. WORKING ON IT WITH THEM DIRECT LIKE WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE'LL HAVE AT THE HEARING. I KNOW I WILL I WILL SPEAK TO EVIDENCE AND I'VE ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THERE'S INFORMATION THAT I GET ON MY END. THIS IS TIMELY ESPECIALLY WITH NO COUNCIL MEETING NEXT WEEK AND THAT'S WHY I ASK THERE IS THERE IS A THERE'S A COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT WE CAN ACT NEXT WEEK AFTER BUT I ASKED LAST WEEK FOR YOUR HELP YEAH AND I'M I'M TELLING YOU THAT I'M HELPING YOU AND WE CAN SPEAK AFTER THE MEETING. YOU CAN SPEAK AFTER THE MEETING. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA.  SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS WANT TO OFFER A REMINDER THAT I THOUGHT OF THAT AS ANNOUNCED DURING LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPLICATION PORTAL FOR VACANCIES ON THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY KNOWN AS OPEN BOARDS THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD AND THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT PANEL WENT LIVE LAST WEDNESDAY.  MY THANKS AGAIN TO CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON THAT INCLUDING SENDING OUT DETAILED INFORMATION YESTERDAY TO ALL THE COUNSELORS AND COUNSELOR STAFF. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT EMAIL FROM MICHELLE GOLDBERG IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE ITEMS FROM THAT EMAIL. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH AND COUNCILORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THE APPLICATION PORTAL THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND I ALSO PERSONALLY INVITE ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO APPLY. MY THANKS TO CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALSO PROVIDING GRAPHICS THAT WERE CREATED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE TO SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS LIST. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE YOUR OWN MATERIALS, CENTRAL STAFF WILL PROVIDE COUNSELORS WITH ALL ELIGIBLE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS BY DECEMBER TWO AND THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD A WORKING SESSION ON FRIDAY DECEMBER SIX AT 10 A.M. THE EMAIL FROM CENTRAL STAFF SENT TO EVERYONE HAS ALL THE DETAILS ON THAT AND THE REST OF THE PROCESS AS WELL AS ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS. PLEASE REACH OUT TO CENTRAL STAFF OR MY OFFICE OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS COUNCIL WHEREBY COUNCIL CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE KERLEY AND JP AND THE MADAM HUNTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CANCER PREPAREDNESS DISTRICT SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED IN THE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES. THE KERLEY IN THE MATTER HUNT RECEIVED THIS DISTINGUISHED STATUS AS A RESULT OF MEETING TEN NATIONAL STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE AREAS OF INCLUSION ADVOCACY AND RESPECT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE TWO SCHOOLS AND THEIR SCHOOL LEADERS FOR BECOMING NATIONAL BANNER SCHOOLS UNDER THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED SPORTS STANDARDS. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE JOHN MILLER WHO HAS COACHED SOCCER WITH PARKWAY YOUTH SOCCER IN WEST ROXBURY SINCE 1984 AND HE'S RETIRING AND I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN PARKWAY SOCCER. WITH THE SOCCER SEASON ENDING THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES? COUNSELOR I MEAN, HE HAS ME ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO RISE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT IS PARTIES WITH A PURPOSE IS GOING TO BE HOSTING ALONGSIDE THE GREATER MATTAPAN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AN EVENT TOMORROW FROM 3 TO 730 AT 1518 BLUE HILL AV IT IS A HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR THE KID ALSO COME THROUGH AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION CALLED BOSTON YOUTH ORGANIZING PROJECT AND LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT I AM SEEING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS BUT THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE ALSO HOSTING AN EVENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TOMORROW IN LET ME TELL YOU WHERE IT IS AND WHILE I WAIT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO LET ME SHUT UP AND KEEP FOCUSED HERE.  WELL I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS BUT THEY ARE ALSO HAVING A HALLOWEEN PARTY.  YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON MY INSTAGRAM TO GET THE DETAILS BUT I WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PHENIX WHO IS ORGANIZING IT ALONGSIDE BOSTON YOUTH ORGANIZING PROJECT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING A HALLOWEEN SHINDIG TOMORROW. THANK YOU.  AND WOULD ANYONE ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING HALLOWEEN HERE TOMORROW AT CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LOW KIDDOS.  WE START DECORATING AT 930. THEY'LL COME AT 1030 SO I HOPE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN COME. THEY ARE THE VERY CUTEST AND WE'LL HAVE CANDY FOR THEM BUT PLEASE BRING DECORATIONS AND CANDY. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN LAST YEAR TO GREET THE KIDS WHO ARE HERE IN DAYCARE AND I HOPE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN MAKE IT. AND LASTLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR 14TH COUNCILOR MIKE AS HE IS IN REHAB AND RECOVERY . SO JUST LIKE WE CONTINUE TO THINK OF YOU NOW SO WE WANT TO THANK COUNCIL WEBER FOR THE ADORABLE LUNCH AND LEARN THAT YOU HAD PRIOR TO THIS MEETING WITH THE MSSP ANGEL AND WITH POPS FROM THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT LUNCH AND LEARN AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO ESPECIALLY THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT LED BY DIRECTOR BRZEZINSKI THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK ON NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES AND JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THEM.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANYONE WHO HAS PASSED AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I STAND IN REMEMBRANCE OF GLEN DURKEE TODAY.  HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS HOMELESS AND FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE AND WAS AT THE CORNER OF CAMBRIDGE AND BOWDOIN STREET. I HAVE HIS PICTURE HERE. I KNOW A LOT OF US KNEW HIM.  OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE GATHERED EARLIER THIS MONTH TO HONOR HIM. HE PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 7TH AND THIS MONDAY OVER 100 NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED AT HIS CORNER TO HONOR HIS LIFE BRINGING FLOWERS, LETTERS AND CARDS.  AND I WANT TO THANK BENJAMIN NORTON AND THE COMMUNITY FOR ORGANIZING THIS. I SAW HIM ON THE DAILY AND THERE WERE DAYS WHERE HE WAS MISSING AND I WONDERED WHERE HE WAS AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I KIND OF WONDERED WHERE HE WAS AND OVER CHRISTMAS I KNOW PEOPLE WOULD BUY HIM GIFT CARDS AND PEOPLE REALLY TOOK CARE OF HIM. BUT HE ALSO REALLY TOOK CARE OF THE STREET. I WANT TO THANK HIM SO LONG FOR HIS POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND AND I THINK WHY I'M GETTING SO EMOTIONAL IS WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMICS PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT INCOMES, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED UNHOUSED CAN ALWAYS FEEL EMPATHY FOR EACH OTHER.  AND THIS WEEK IN DISTRICT EIGHT PEOPLE REALLY CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR HIM AND I THINK IT HONESTLY BROUGHT BACK A SENSE OF HUMANITY. WE GET KIND OF BEAT DOWN ON ISSUES OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE AND HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LIVE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE. AND GLENN WAS SOMEONE THAT I GOT TEXTS FROM NUMBERS I DON'T EVEN KNOW HONORING HIM AND REALLY CREATING SPACE FOR A CONVERSATION OF LIKE WE THOUGHT THIS ONE PERSON WAS JUST IMPORTANT TO US BUT HE WAS AN IMPORTANT TO AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL I HOPE WE CAN ALL HONOR HIM AND TAKE YOU KNOW, TAKE HIS MEMORY. HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WATCHED HIS BLOCK, CARED ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, INTERACTED WITH THE POLICE WHEN HE NEEDED TO TO SHARE WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT DIFFERENT INCIDENCES AND HIS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE FELT AND WE ARE REALLY GOING TO MISS HIM ON HIS CORNERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. CONSIDER HERE AND I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE UPLIFTING HIS NAME IN HIS MEMORY AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR HONORING HIM IN THIS SPACE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BUT THEN COMES WITH A PAINTING OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THIS IS MORE OF A CALL FOR A PRAYER ON FRIDAY NIGHT THERE WAS A VERY NASTY FIRE IN HIGH PARK AND THE FAMILY LOST THEIR HOUSE COMPLETELY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE MIDST OF A FIRE THAT'S ONE OF THE 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS CAUGHT IN THE FIRE AND HE'S FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW AT THE HOSPITAL. I WAS AT THE HOSPITAL THIS MORNING WITH THE MOM. SHE ASKED ME TO ASK EVERYONE HERE TO PRAY FOR HER AND HER SON. BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S STAFF ARE TAKING GOOD CARE OF HIM BUT HE'S DEFINITELY FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AT THIS MOMENT.  SO TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS YOUNG MAN . YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  WE'LL KEEP THAT FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS. THE CHAIRMAN WAS THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURNED TODAY SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS.  OH, AND LET ME READ SOME NAMES ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR DURKIN GLEN DURKEE ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR FLYNN, RON PERRY, SENIOR AMERICAN ATHLETE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF MARY QADIR OR ILIA ANJA DES PAUL A MOMENT OF SILENCE.  THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN THE CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER SIX, 2024 AT 12 NOON. HAPPY VOTING NEXT TUESDAY. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES CENTRAL STAFF THE CLERK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER. THANK YOU ELLEN. ALL IN FAVOR OF A GERMAN PLEASE SAY I THE COUNCIL WAS ADJOURNED A BABY MEAL BASICALLY