LAW. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I CALL TO ORDER TODAY'S MEETING OF BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. VIEWERS CAN WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON
YOUTUBE@BOSTON.GOV BACKSLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV. AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELLPHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
ALSO PURSUANT TO RULE 42 I REMIND ALL IN THIS CHAMBER THAT NO DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED. THANK YOU.
MR KERR, COULD YOU PLEASE, UH UH, TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. FOR ALL? NO.
COUNCILOR BREADON HERE. COUNCIL OF COLOR AS A PART OF COUNCIL CULPEPER HERE. COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD IF COUNCIL. FLYNN. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE HERE. COUNCIL ME HERE. COUNCILOR. MURPHY.
COUNCILOR. PIPPIN. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR. WEBER. AND COUNCILOR EARL. A QUORUM IS PRESENT. THANK YOU, MR SHERK. UM. MR.
UM. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THE DECORUM IS PRESENT. UH, NO. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY INVITED BY COUNCILOR UH LOUIJEUNE.
UH, REVEREND CAITLIN HALL GIVENS. UH COUNCILOR. UH LOUIJEUNE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOUR CLERGY AND FOLLOWING, UH, THE INVOCATION WE WILL, UH, HAVE THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME BACK INTO THIS CHAMBERS AND INTO THIS BODY. REVEREND CAITLIN GIVENS, UM,
WHO IS JUST, UH, A TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER HERE IN OUR CITY AND IN HER EAST BOSTON COMMUNITY. UH, SHE WAS HERE WITH US LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, MAY, UH, OBVIOUSLY ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH BUT IT'S
ALSO ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER, UH, HERITAGE MONTH. AND HAVING HER HERE, UH, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DIVERSITY AND THE GREATNESS OF OUR CITY. UM, AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO
HAVE YOU BACK HERE. I'M ALSO REALLY GRATEFUL BECAUSE COINCIDENTALLY YOU'VE JUST BEEN EVEN WHEN I'M POSTING ABOUT HEY, WE NEED PEOPLE TO CALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SUPPORT UH UH, EXTENDING
TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND I KNOW IF IT WOULD FOR ANY OTHER COMMUNITY YOU WOULD DO SO I WOULD GET MESSAGES SAYING HEY, I JUST SPENT 30 MINUTES OF MY MORNING MAKING THESE CALLS AND
WITH YOU IN THIS FIGHT AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT WORK OF SOLIDARITY BUILDING ACROSS IDENTITY MULTI MULTIRACIAL UH SOLIDARITY AND BUILDING THE JUST WORLD AND THE
JUST COUNTRY THAT WE WANT TO SEE YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT BOTH IN YOUR WORK AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER AND AS JUST AS A COMPASSIONATE PERSON HERE IN OUR CITY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AS SHE'S LIVED HERE IN BOSTON OVER 20 YEARS AND IS A PASTOR AT RESURRECTION CHURCH IN EAST
BOSTON. UH, GREAT REPRESENTATION OF BOSTON'S MULTICULTURALISM, UM, AND BILINGUAL. AND I HEARD YOU SPEAKING WITH ANNA SPANISH BEFORE WE STARTED UH, ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND
PASTOR I'VE, UH, MIXED WHITE AND LATINO CONGREGATION. SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANTS THAT WORSHIP TOGETHER AND ENGAGE STRATEGICALLY IN NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE ADVOCATING
FOR JUSTICE, SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL LEADERS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY. IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO BRING UP TO THE DAIS REVEREND CAITLIN
GIBBONS. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I WANT TO START BY JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS A
LOT CARRIED HERE IN THIS ROOM. THERE ARE DEADLINES. THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO YOU TO BE LISTENED TO AND BE ADVOCATED FOR. AND I WANT TO JUST HAVE US
ARRIVE HERE TOGETHER. LET'S JUST TAKE. >> A MOMENT TO PAUSE, TO BREATHE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. IT IS A DEMANDING JOB WITH SEAMLESSLY ENDING NEEDS AND YOU
ARE DOING IT IN UH, DIVIDED TIME AND EXHAUSTED TIME. I CONTINUE TO WITNESS SMALL AND STUBBORN FORMS OF HOPE.
I PASTOR A CHURCH IN EAST BOSTON THAT IS THIS JOYFUL MIXTURE OF AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANTS, AND MUCH OF OUR RECENT LIFE TOGETHER HAS
INVOLVED ACCOMPANYING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THROUGH SEASONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND FEAR. RECENTLY ONE OF THE PILLARS OF OUR CHURCH RAOUL HE IS A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A MINISTER
IN TRAINING WHO REGULARLY PREACHES AT OUR CHURCH. HE WENT TO UH, ROUTINE IMMIGRATION CHECK IN AND WAS DETAINED ON THE SPOT. I WAS WITH HIS WIFE OUTSIDE IN
THE WAITING ROOM. HIS KIDS WERE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO SCARED TO COME IN. THEY WERE WITH OTHER CHURCH FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEN THE MOMENT CAME THAT NO FAMILY
SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHERE I WALKED. WITH LILLIAN AS SHE WENT TO HER KIDS TO TELL HER THAT THEIR FATHER HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY AND
THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN. I WILL NEVER FORGET STANDING WITH THEM IN THE PARKING LOT. IT WAS RAINING AS THEY SHOOK
WITH THE GRIEF THERE THERE'S A 12 YEAR OLD, A 13 YEAR OLD, A ONE YEAR OLD IN HER ARMS ALL TRYING TO HOLD ONTO HOPE TOGETHER. AND WHAT FOLLOWED WAS
EXTRAORDINARY. OUR SMALL CHURCH ROSE IN LOVE AND IN ADVOCACY AND IN GENEROSITY. SO MEALS WERE SHOWING UP, GROCERIES, DIAPERS WERE QUIETLY DELIVERED.
PEOPLE WERE WATCHING KIDS RAISING FUNDS, ATTENDING COURT HEARINGS, SEARCHING FOR LEGAL SUPPORT, WRITING LETTERS, MAKING CALLS AND AS PEOPLE
OF FAITH WE WERE PRAYING LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND FOR THIS MINISTER IN TRAINING WHILE HE WAS DETAINED HE BEGAN MINISTERING TO THOSE AROUND HIM.
HE WAS PRAYING FOR MEN WHO FELT ABANDONED. HE WAS PREACHING HOPE INTO THE NIGHT WHEN THE MEN WOULD GATHER TO WORSHIP. HE WAS ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO HAD SPENT MONTHS THERE WAITING
IN UNCERTAINTY. IT WAS ASTONISHING TO WITNESS. IT WAS AMAZING TO BEHOLD LOVE TAKING SHAPE IN THE VERY PLACE WHERE LOVE IS NOT INTENDED TO
SURVIVE. PRISON IS A COLD HARD PLACE AND YET I HAVE SEEN COURAGE AND HOPE EMERGE FROM THERE.
SINCE THEN RAOUL HAS BEEN RELEASED AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO CARE FOR MEN IN DETAINMENT. WE HAVE SENT BOOKS AND WE SEND WE WRITE LETTERS. WE SEND MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN
BUY EXTRA CLOTHES BECAUSE IT'S LITERALLY COLD IN THERE. WE SEND MONEY SO THEY CAN BUY TOOTHPASTE SO THAT THEY CAN GET SMALL COMFORTS LIKE A RAMEN OR
A COKE TO GO WITH THEIR MEALS LIKE THESE HUGE LITTLE CELEBRATORY THINGS FOR THEM IN THIS BLEAK PLACE. WE'VE SENT CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO THEIR FAMILIES, WE'VE SHOWN UP AT COURT HEARINGS AND THE JUDGE
IS LIKE WHO ARE YOU? WE'RE LIKE THIS. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM MATTERS TO US. SMALL ACTS INVISIBLE ON THEIR
OWN AND YET TOGETHER THEY ARE. THEY FORM SOMETHING LIKE A STUBBORN LIGHT THAT REFUSES TO GO OUT. IN OUR HOME WE HAVE BLACKOUT
CURTAINS THAT TRY TO KEEP THE STREET LIGHTS OUT AT NIGHT AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE SLIVER OF A LIGHT THAT SNEAKS THROUGH THE
EDGE OF THE CURTAIN. IT'S LIKE THAT EVEN IN PLACES THAT ARE SHAPED BY FEAR AND GRIEF, EVEN WITHIN SYSTEMS THAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL FORGOTTEN
OR INVISIBLE, LIGHT KEEPS FINDING A WAY IN EVEN WHEN DARKNESS TRIES TO CLOSE IN COMPLETELY AND EVERYTHING OUT
SOMEHOW LIGHT STILL COMES THROUGH THE CRACKS A MEAL, A PRAYER, A RIDE TO COURT, A LAWYER OFFERING PRO-BONO HELP. AN 11 YEAR OLD OPENING UP A
BIRTHDAY GIFT THAT IS FROM HER FATHER. SOMEONE SAYING HYMAN YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN WHO PRAY. WE ARE WITH YOU KEN AS WE CARE
ABOUT YOU EMMANUEL. YOUR LIFE MATTERED. CHRISTIANS BELIEVE. THAT GOD. MOVES TOWARD PEOPLE IN DARKNESS
RATHER THAN AWAY FROM THEM, THAT NO PERSON IS DISPOSABLE AND THAT SOME OF THE CLEAREST SIGNS OF HOPE EMERGE PRECISELY
IN PLACES WHERE THE WORLD ONLY EXPECTS DESPAIR IN MERCY, IN PEACEMAKING, IN PEOPLE REFUSING TO ABANDON ONE ANOTHER IN
SUFFERING THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS AND THE DARKNESS HAS. NOT OVERCOME IT. I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE SEE
STRANGERS AS NEIGHBORS AND REAL FAMILY. I HAVE WATCHED OUR IMMIGRANTS LEAD US IN COURAGE AND FAITH.
I HAVE WATCHED FEAR LOOSEN ITS GRIP IN THE PRESENCE OF STEADY COMPASSION, THE KIND OF PEACE THAT ALLOWS YOUR SHOULDERS.
TO SLOWLY UNCLENCH SO THAT PEOPLE YOU CAN FINALLY BREATHE AGAIN. IT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL THING. IT FEELS LIKE GLIMPSING ANOTHER
WORLD BREAKING INTO THIS ONE NOT ONE THAT'S BUILT ON FEAR AND DIVISION OR WINNING AT ALL COSTS BUT ONE SHAPED BY MERCY, BY MUTUALITY, BY A STUBBORN CONVICTION THAT EVERY HUMAN
BEING BEARS DIGNITY. IT IS NOT CHARITY. IT'S NOT JUST DOING THE RIGHT THING. CHECK. IT'S SOMETHING DEEPER. IT IS A REFUSAL TO LET DARKNESS
HAVE THE FINAL WORD. IT IS A REFUSAL TO LET A PERSON DISAPPEAR. IT IS A DEFIANT ACT OF LOVE THAT SAYS I SEE YOU. YOU BELONG TO US.
YOUR LIFE IS PRECIOUS. THIS IS WHAT CHRISTIANS CALL THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT'S NOT SOMETHING FAR AWAY OR ABSTRACT. IT IS THE EMBODIED LOVE OF GOD IN ORDINARY PEOPLE ITS LIGHT
FINDING PLACES, FINDING ITS WAY INTO PLACES WHERE EVERYONE ASSUMED THAT ONLY DARKNESS COULD SURVIVE. IT IS WHAT COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE WHEN LOVE REFUSES TO SURRENDER
TO CYNICISM. AND PERHAPS THAT'S PART OF THE CALLING OF PUBLIC LIFE TO CONTINUE TO SEE ONE ANOTHER CLEARLY, TO RESIST THE
TEMPTATION TO REDUCE PEOPLE TO HEADLINES OR TO ISSUES, TO REMEMBER THE HUMANITY BEHIND THE DISAGREEMENT, TO HELP TO BUILD A CITY WHERE NO ONE IS
FORGOTTEN. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERY ACT OF CARE, EVERY TIME YOU ARE LISTENING, EVERY TIME YOU ARE TRYING TO COLLABORATE, EVERY
TIME YOU ARE TRYING TO CAREFULLY DELIBERATE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY THE WAY THAT YOU ARE WORKING TO BUILD OUR CITY TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO
SHOW UP. MAY YOU HAVE WISDOM AND COURAGE AND COMPASSION AS YOU LEAD. LET US PRAY.
GOD OF WISDOM AND MERCY WE PRAY FOR THE LEADERS GATHERED IN THIS HALL TODAY. WOULD YOU GRANT THEM FLAHERTY WHERE THERE IS CONFUSION, PEACE
WHERE THERE IS TENSION STEADINESS AMIDST ALL OF THE NOISE AND THE URGENCY OF THIS TIME? HELP THEM TO LISTEN WELL AND NOT JUST TO THE LOUDEST VOICES
BUT TO THE PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES BEYOND THEIR IMMEDIATE VIEW. MAY THEY REMEMBER THAT WISDOM
IS OFTEN FOUND NOT IN STANDING ALONE, BUT IN LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER AND SEEKING THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE. GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THIS CITY, THAT YOU WOULD STRENGTHEN ITS
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT ALL WHO ARE FEARFUL AND SUFFERING, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO KINDLE COURAGE AND COMPASSION AND HOPE AND BRING LIGHT IN EVERY CORNER
OF BOSTON. AMEN. AMEN. >> PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. OF THE. UNITED STATES OF. AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION
UNDER GOD. INDIVISIBLE WITH. >> LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. >> FOR ALL. THANK YOU REVEREND CAITLYN FOR YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
UM, I. WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS BUT WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMS WORKERS. UH. >> WE HAVE A WILL BE VOTING ON A RESOLUTION LATER IN THE THE
MEETING BUT IF WE INVITE OUR EMS WORKERS TO COME UP AND I THINK COUNCILOR PEPEN, YOU WERE THE LEAD SPONSOR AND OUR COLLEAGUES TO COME UP AND GET A PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE EMS WORKERS AND THEN WE'LL GO ON TO
PRESENTATIONS. WE GOT ANYBODY FROM YOU THAT. WANT UP. >> COME ON UP. JUST A PICTURE. YES. WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS AFTER
THIS. SO, UM. YEAH, RIGHT UP FRONT AND CENTER WILL BE RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF OUR EMS WORKERS IN A
RESOLUTION LATER. YEAH. >> I NEED A STOOL TO STAND OFF OF ITS TALL GUYS IN FRONT OF THE.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> SO. >> GOOD. UH, WE.
HAVE WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY. UM, COUNCILOR FLYNN IS RECOGNIZING THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. COUNCILOR FLYNN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP?
UM, WITH YOUR HONOREES AND THEN, UH, COUNCILOR CULPEPER IS ALSO GOING TO RECOGNIZE FOLLOWED COMMISSIONER RODNEY MARSHALL. SO COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU'RE UP
FIRST. IS THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY. OF THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. MANY OF THEM ARE HERE NOW AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THEM IF THEY'D PLEASE COME TO THE DAIS. PLEASE.
YEAH. >> YEAH. THANK YOU TO, UH, CAM AND JACK NI AND THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOSTON. DEBATE LEAGUE FOR THEIR
EXCEPTIONAL WORK. UM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. WE HAD A WONDERFUL RECEPTION THIS MORNING IN THE CURLY ROOM, BUT WE WANTED TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE.
BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. UM, SINCE 2005, THE DIVISIVE. DEBATE DEBATE LEAGUE. HAS EMPOWERED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS GREATER. BOSTON FOR THEIR TRANSFORMATIVE
,TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF. DEBATE PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR. COLLEGE CAREER. CIVIC LIFE. THROUGH THE. >> AFTER SCHOOL DEBATE DEBATE INSPIRED CLASSROOMS. AND RESOLVED PROBLEMS. THIS ORGANIZATION EQUIPS.
STUDENTS WITH. CRITICAL THINKING, RESEARCH. COMMUNICATION AND SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS. THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN. 30 SCHOOLS ACROSS.
>> THE REGION, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN. BOSTON PUBLIC. >> SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOME OF THE STUDENTS HERE UH, FROM UH BRIGHTON THEY'RE FROM THE SOUTH END. SOME OF THEM ATTEND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
WITH NEARLY 500 VOLUNTEERS. AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER. UM, JUDGING THE. DEBATE BETWEEN STUDENTS. BUT WHAT. >> I LOVE ABOUT THE DEBATE BETWEEN.
STUDENTS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH EACH OTHER AS A TEAM BUT I LOVE. >> HOW THEY SUPPORT EACH OTHER. AND IF ONE NEEDS A. LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT THE OTHER STUDENT REALLY ENCOURAGES. ENCOURAGES THEM.
OFFICES OFFERS POSITIVE WORDS. BUT THEY'RE WORKING. AS A TEAM AND I TRY TO. HIGHLIGHT THAT TO THEM. THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT IS. WORKING TOGETHER BRINGING OUT. THE BEST IN EACH OTHER. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THIS. EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE FOR WHAT THEY DO. NOT JUST SUPPORTING KIDS BUT. SUPPORTING SO MANY YOUTH ACROSS OUR COMMONWEALTH. BUT I'D LIKE. >> TO ASK HIM AND MAYBE ONE
OF THE YOUNG. PEOPLE IF YOU'D LIKE TO. COME UP HERE AND SAY A FEW WORDS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. WE'RE DELIGHTED AND HONORED TO
BE HERE. UM WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN BOSTON WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE CITY. UH, WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 20
YEARS AND BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OUR LONGEST AND DEEPEST PARTNER. WE RUN THREE PROGRAMS WHICH YOU MENTIONED AND ALL OF THEM ARE BUILT ON RIGOR. THEY'RE ALL ABOUT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP AS LEADERS TO
DEVELOP PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, TO LEARN HOW TO ARGUE WITH ONE ANOTHER. UM, GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE AND REASONING BUT ALSO IN COMMUNITY AS YOU TALKED ABOUT. CERTAINLY WE KNOW THE BENEFITS THE ACADEMIC BENEFITS OF THIS
PROGRAM. STUDENTS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AT HIGHER RATES. THEY ARE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE IMPROVING THEIR LITERACY SKILLS, THEIR ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS, THEIR SPANISH SPEAKING SKILLS BECAUSE WE DO
DEBATE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND WHAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF I WOULD SAY ANYWAY IS THE WAY THEY TREAT EACH OTHER COMMUNITY THE FACT THAT THEY ARE A PART OF A COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING.
UM IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT THIS SUMMER THIS COUNTRY WILL CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. DEBATE WAS A PART OF THAT DEBATE CONTINUES TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE DO IN THIS COMMUNITY
AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO IT WELL AND HOW TO DO THAT RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER AND SEEING ONE ANOTHER'S HUMANITY EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE. AND SO WE'RE JUST DELIGHTED TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, WE'RE NOT THE STARS. I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM THE STAFF BUT THE STARS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE BEHIND US AND I'M GOING TO CALL ONE UP ALANA LAFOREST WHO IS ACTUALLY A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AT BLR.
AND SHE'S GOING TO WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY ON A FULL DEBATE SCHOLARSHIP. SO SO SHE CAN SPEAK FOR US BETTER THAN ANYONE. SO UM.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MEMBERS AND UM PUBLIC. UM, I LIKE TO THINK, UM, THIS KIM FOR INVITING ME AS WELL AS CONSIDERED CLEAN. UM, AS MISS KIM SAID. I'M A. >> SENIOR AT BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY AS WELL AS A RISING
FRESHMAN AT WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY. UM AND A SEVEN YEAR LONG MEMBER OF THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE FAMILY. UM. >> BUT I THINK ABOUT THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. UM, OBVIOUSLY THE WORD FAMILY COMES TO MIND, BUT THE
COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE CURATED AS A AS A GROUP OF STUDENTS AS WELL AS A GROUP OF UM EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS AND COACHES HAS HONESTLY BEEN SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE REPLICATED OUTSIDE. UM, THE BOSTON LEAGUE IS A PART
OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR URBAN DEBATE LEAGUES, WHICH IS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT UM CITIES ACROSS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ACROSS THE NATION. RIGHT. WE HAVE DC AND BALTIMORE AND CALIFORNIA AND ALL OF THESE OTHER AMAZING LEAGUES THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH ACROSS UM FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HONESTLY I THINK IS WHAT MAKES US SO SPECIAL. THE ABILITY FOR US TO COLLABORATE ACROSS THE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH OTHER STUDENTS
AND OTHER FAMILIES TO SHARE THE GOOD WORD ABOUT DEBATE. RIGHT? I THINK THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY DEBATE HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SO INFLUENTIAL TO ME IS BECAUSE OF THIS EMPHASIS ON PERSUASION AND RESPECTFUL
DISCOURSE. I THINK THAT WHEN WE INVITE SPACES OF DISCOURSE AND OF SPACES OF UM INTERROGATION OR WHEN THE WHEN THE BEST POLICIES ARE FORMED, I THINK WATCHING EVEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO PROTECT, UM, OUR IMMIGRANTS AND ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE THE BEST, UM THE BEST PLAY POLITICIANS FOR OUR PEOPLE. I THINK THE COMMON QUESTION
THROUGHOUT ALL OF US HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESPECTFUL DISCOURSE AND SO LEARNING HOW TO REPLICATE THESE THINGS ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS LIKE US TO CONTINUE. GREAT. UM I WANT TO STUDY POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN
COLLEGE AND LIKELY END UP IN A IN A WAY THAT'S SIMILAR TO Y'ALL. AND I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE THESE SKILLS AND PRACTICE THESE WAYS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE. HONESTLY I'M. SO INDEBTED TO THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE FOR.
I'M THE BIGGEST ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUING TO FUND THE PROGRAM AND CONTINUING TO SUPPORT US BECAUSE THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE IS I IN MY OPINION THE BEST OUT OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE. SO I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR TO
MISS KIM. THANK YOU TO THE REST OF THE STAFF AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRACTICE AND DEBATE WITH ME ACROSS THE YEARS. I'M SO SAD THAT IT'S MY LAST YEAR TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE MY LAST YEAR
PART OF A PART OF THE BDL. AND SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TO FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH VOLUNTEERING OR THROUGH COACHING OR JUDGING OR JUST FINDING A WAY TO HELP SUPPORT
DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH BASED AND RESEARCH BASED ON EVIDENCE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> I WOULD ASK I WOULD ASK MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IF THEY. >> WOULD.
LIKE TO. >> COME UP FOR A PHOTO. AND AS THEY DO. >> THAT I DO. >> HAVE A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION UM TO. >> THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. >> THIS IS FROM ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. YOUR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING STUDENTS, UH. THROUGH THIS TRANSFORMATIVE
POWER OF DEBATE. DEDICATING TO. FOSTERING CRITICAL. THINKING, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION. >> AND. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. YOU CONTINUE. >> TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON STUDENTS. WE WISH. >> YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
AGAIN EVERYONE. >> YEAH. >> SECOND.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TAKING. WANTED TO. >> HAVE YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. SO WE DID A GREAT JOB. YEAH. WAIT. WHAT ARE WE DOING? OKAY. THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR SOMETHING. YEAH. >> I MIGHT NEED. A JOB FOR YOU. >> OKAY. OH. OH, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY HAD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. AND THANK YOU TO THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE. UH, COUNCILOR CULPEPER, UH, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION. I WELCOME YOU UP TO THE DAIS
AND YOUR HONORARY, UH, FIRE COMMISSIONER RODNEY MARSHALL IF
YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME BOSTON'S 45TH FIRE COMMISSIONER RODNEY MARSHALL TO THE CHAMBER TODAY.
COMMISSIONER MARSHALL IS A LONGTIME BOSTONIAN. BORN AND RAISED AND THE ONE AND ONLY GROWTH HALL DORCHESTER AND HAS SPENT THE LAST 35 YEARS
GIVING BACK TO THE VERY COMMUNITY THAT SHAPED HIM. HE JOINED THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1991, SERVING AT ENGINE 56 AND ROSE STEADILY
THROUGH THE RANKS. LIEUTENANT. CAPTAIN, DISTRICT CHIEF, DEPUTY DEPUTY CHIEF AND CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. HE EARNED TWO COMMISSIONER UNIT
CITATIONS ALONG THE WAY FOR ACTS OF EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE, SAVING MULTIPLE LIVES AND A SIX ALARM FIRE AND RESCUING INDIVIDUALS TRAPPED IN A
SEVERELY DAMAGED BUS. BEYOND HIS OWN HEROISM, COMMISSIONER MARCUS MARSHALL HAS WORKED TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS DESIGNING AND LAUNCHING THE DEPARTMENT'S KID CADET
PROGRAM TO CREATE NEW PATHWAYS FOR YOUNG INNER CITY RESIDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN FIREFIGHTING. IT WOULD BE LOST ON ME TO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS MOMENT IN
HISTORY. RODNEY MARSHALL SERVES AS THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST EVER BLACK COMMISSIONER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PROTECTING
RESIDENTS ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT ITS WORKFORCE REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITY IT SERVES. WELL, WE STILL HAVE PROGRESS TO MAKE.
THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER MARSHALL IS A SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE AND MUST BE CELEBRATED TODAY. I HAD THE CHANCE TO HEAR COMMISSIONER MARSHALL SPEAK
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO GROW UP IN DORCHESTER, SAY THE DOORS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN AND NOW HE SITS IN THAT SEAT. HE WANTS TO DO THE SAME FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION AND THAT MATTERS. KIDS RUNNING AROUND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK UP AND SEE THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE THERE TO PROTECT THEM AND THINGS.
THAT COULD BE USED SOMEDAY. AND WHEN A CHILD SEES SOMEONE THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE THEM WHO GREW UP ON THE SAME STREETS THEY DID WEARING THAT UNIFORM
AND LEADING THAT DEPARTMENT, IT CHANGES WHAT. >> THEY BELIEVE. IS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER. MARSHALL REPRESENTS NOT JUST A HISTORIC APPOINTMENT BUT A
SIGNAL TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN GROWTH HALL IN DORCHESTER AND ROXBURY, IN MATTAPAN AND HYDE PARK IN THE SOUTH END IN JAMAICA PLAIN. >> TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON.
THAT THE PATH IS OPEN AND THE FUTURE. BELONGS TO YOU. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, COMMISSIONER. THIS CHAMBER IS IN YOUR CORNER. AND BOSTON IS SO.
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU LEADING. THE BRAVEST OF ALL. THANK YOU, MR COMMISSIONER. AND LET ME JUST READ THIS CITATION THIS RESOLUTION.
STATEMENT AT THIS. CITY OF BOSTON AND CITY COUNCIL OFFICIAL RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY THE CITY COUNCILOR, THE CITY COUNCILORS
INCLUDING COUNCILOR MINYARD CULPEPER BID RESOLVED THAT THIS BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR OFFERS ITS CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRE. COMMISSIONER AND CHIEF RODNEY
MARSHALL IN RECOGNITION OF RODNEY MARSHALL AND HIS HISTORIC APPOINTMENT AS BOSTON'S FIRE. COMMISSIONER WHO BECAME THE FIRST BLACK FIRE. COMMISSION COMMISSIONER TO LEAD
THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS NEARLY. 350 YEAR HISTORY. A 35 YEAR VETERAN OF THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, COMMISSIONER MARCEAU HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL.
LEADERSHIP RISING THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREFIGHTER TO CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER INCLUDES LIFE SAVING HEROISM, A LASTING COMMITMENT TO
EXPANDING. OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S CADET PROGRAM. HIS APPOINTMENT REFLECTS A. DEDICATION TO. PUBLIC SERVICE AND CONTINUED. COMMITMENT TO. >> PROTECTING BOSTON. BE IT. >> FURTHER RESOLVED.
THAT'S THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS ITS BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS THAT THIS RESOLUTION BEING DULY. SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND ATTESTED TO A COPY THEY HAVE TRANSMITTED BY THE CLERK OF THE CITY OF BOSTON ,PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL ELIZABETH BREADON OFFERED BY
MINYARD CULPEPPER AND ITS COUNCIL COLLEAGUES MAY. >> 1ST 2026. GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LET ME JUST CORRECT THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T CARE. SAID IT'S. MAY 20TH, 2026. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING MEJIA. COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING MEJIA. UM, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE IN FRONT OF THIS, UH, ESTEEMED
BODY TODAY. AND, UM, IT'S FITTING THAT WE HAVE SOME YOUNG FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW MY STORY
,BUT LIKE I SAID, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I DIDN'T SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IT WAS NEVER SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO PURSUE. BUT I WOULD IN SAYING THAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU KEEP ALL YOUR
OPTIONS OPEN BECAUSE MY ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT IN MY LINE OF SIGHT BUT IT WAS A TRUE CALLING TO
ME WHEN I DID ACCEPT THIS JOB AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S A CALLING AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT RESONATES IN MY SOUL TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY
OF BOSTON AND UM, I WOULD JUST SAY LIKE I SAID, KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH WAY YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO TURN AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE I SAID, THAT'S
NOT ON YOUR RADAR BUT SOMETHING THAT'S MEANT FOR YOU IS GOING TO COME YOUR WAY AND GOD IS ALWAYS IN YOUR CORNER AND HE'S GOING TO GUIDE YOU TO THAT POINT. SO IN SAYING THAT
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU GUYS IN AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE STEM CAREERS AND YOU WILL BE A GUIDING LIGHT TO SOMEONE THAT'S COMING UP BEHIND YOU. THANK YOU.
WITH ALL. MY COLLEAGUES PLEASE JOIN US.
SINCE THIS IS. THIS THAT GIVES EACH ONE THANK YOU THANK YOU THAT COMES TO US THROUGH.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK. YOU AND. >> WE'RE SO. >> GOOD TO SEE. CONGRATULATIONS.
ON THE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CULPEPER AND CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO FIRE
COMMISSIONER RODNEY MARSHALL. FOR SAFETY I I'VE JOINED US. MR TRAYER, COULD YOU PLEASE AMEND THE THE ATTENDANCE TO
REFLECT THAT COUNCILORS WORRELL AND COUNCILOR SANTANA HAVE JOINED US? WE ARE NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF, UH, MAY 13 TO
2026. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 13TH MEETING ARE APPROVED. WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS
FROM OUR HONOR THE MAYOR. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET UH, 1030 AND 1031. DUGGAN NUMBER 1030 MESSAGING ON
AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO APPROPRIATE THE AMOUNT OF $47,120,292 FOR THE PURPOSES OF FUNDING THE SNOW AND WINTER MANAGEMENT APPROPRIATION TO
MEET OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE FISCAL PERIOD COMMENCING JULY 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH 2026. NUMBER 1031 MESSAGE IN ORDER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO APPROPRIATE THE AMOUNT OF $22,845,672 FOR PURPOSES OF FUNDING BOSTON PUBLIC. SCHOOLS TO MEET. OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE
FISCAL PERIOD COMMENCING JULY 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH 2026. THIS APPROPRIATION REQUEST WAS APPROVED BY THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE ON MAY 6TH, 2026 AND
IS INTENDED TO COVER PROJECTED DEFICITS. AND HEALTH INSURANCE. $18,087,750 AND UTILITY
SPENDING $4,757,922. THANK YOU DOCKETS 1030 AND 1031 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR TURNER, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 1032. DUNCAN NUMBER 1032 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $2,520,000 IN THE
FORM OF A GRANT. YOUTH WORKS GRANT AWARDED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WOULD FUND A SUMMER
AND SCHOOL YEAR JOBS PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER EXPLORATION FOR LOW INCOME AT RISK YOUTH AGES 14 THROUGH 25 YEARS OLD.
THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WORRELL COUNSELOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UH. THIS IS A $2.5 MILLION GRANT FOR YOUTH WORK TO SUPPORT. LOW INCOME. >> YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGED
14 TO 25 AND SKILL BUILDING INDUSTRY EXPOSURE AND MENTORSHIP IN BOTH SUMMER 2026 AND THE 2026 TO 2027 SCHOOL YEAR. THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SELECTED SIX
RECIPIENTS FOR THIS FUNDING INCLUDED ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UH THE THE BOSTON PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL, FRESH FLOWER FILMS, UH THE WENTWORTH INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITY AND YOUTH OPTIONS UNLIMITED. COLLECTIVELY THIS FUNDING WILL HELP THESE GROUPS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 690 FOR YOU WITH CAREER BUILDING AND MENTORSHIP
RESOURCES. I KNOW THIS IS A LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNT BUT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE YOUTH JOB PROGRAM IS. WE KNOW IT WORKS. UM WE JUST HEARD FROM UM THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH ON THIS
PROGRAM. UM AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO FUND THEM ALSO I'M ASKING FOR SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL WHILE SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND
PASSAGE OF DARKENED UH 1032. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I, UH, MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1032. COUNSELOR BRAIN. YES, COUNSELOR.
BREADON. YES, COUNSELOR. CARLOTA ZAPATA. COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. YES, COUNSELOR. DURKAN. COUNSELOR. DURKAN. YES, COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD. YES, COUNSELOR. THIS CHILD. YES, COUNSELOR. FLYNN. COUNSELOR.
FUNNIEST COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE. COUNSELOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNSELOR. MEJIA. COUNCILOR ME HERE. YES, COUNSELOR. MURPHY. >> COUNSELOR. >> MURPHY. YES, COUNSELOR. PIPPIN. COUNSELOR. PEN. YES, COUNSELOR. SANTANA. COUNSELOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR.
WEBER. COUNSELOR. WEBER. YES AND COUNSELOR. WORLD. YES. COUNSELOR. WORLD. YES. TALKING NUMBER 1032 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.
DOCKET 1032 HAS PASSED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1033. TALKING NUMBER 1033 MESSAGE NO . AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AN EXPENDED AMOUNT OF $178,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT THE REA FELLOWSHIP GRANT AWARDED BY THE BAR FOUNDATION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE GRANT WILL FUND A TWO YEAR PAID FELLOWSHIP THAT PROVIDES RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES. FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES WITH THE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE, MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. NEEDED TO. >> LAUNCH CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR. THANK YOU. >> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSTABLE RAEL, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. COUNSELOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE RAY FELLOWSHIP IS AN $178,000 GRANT INTENDED TO FUND A TWO YEAR PAID FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
WITH A PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT NEEDED TO LAUNCH CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR. THE CLIMATE ANALYTICS FELLOW WILL WORK WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT TO HELP SHAPE AND EXECUTE A RESEARCH AGENDA TO ANSWER EMERGING QUESTIONS IN CLIMATE POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION. I'M ASKING FOR SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL WILL SEEK SUSPENSION
OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET 1033. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY. THANK YOU. DOCKET 1033 HAS PASSED. MR TRUMP, COULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET 1034? TUCKER NUMBER 1034 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 IN THE
FORM OF A GRANT FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS FUND GRANT AWARDED BY THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF TOURISM. THE GRANT WOULD FUND THE CITY'S
PLAN TO ACTIVATE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH WATCH PARTIES TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY AND SPIRIT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. EACH WILL. >> FEATURE A. >> LIVE MATCH BROADCAST FAMILY AND YOUTH ORIENTED PROGRAMING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE AS FOOD VENDORS, WATCH PARTIES ,A TENTATIVE SPENDING MATCH UP FINALIZATION BALL WATCH PARTIES WILL BE HELD. >> ON THE. CITY OF BOSTON PROPERTY.
THE CITY PLANS TO HOST SIX WATCH PARTIES SUPPORTED BY THIS GRANT. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 1034 BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ARTS CULTURE AND TO MAKE A PARDON UM THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE
THE CHAIR UM THE COMMITTEE ON ARTS CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT TOURISM AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I MOVE, UH, FOR SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE OF THIS GRANT. THIS IS A TIME WHEN, UH, GRANT
FUNDING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY AND THIS, UH, IS MONEY ABOUT FREE MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE TO ACTIVATE NEIGHBORHOODS TO WATCH PARTIES. UM, THAT REALLY IS GOING TO HELP MAKE SURE SOME THAT I CARE
ABOUT DEEPLY THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE WORLD CUP AS IT COMES HERE. UM THEY'LL BE IT WILL FEATURE A LIVE MATCH BROADCAST. THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PROGRAMING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT UM, THEY ARE ALSO UH, GETTING SOME OF THE ECONOMIC UH ,REVENUE THAT IS UH THAT IS CREATED AS A RESULT OF THE WORLD CUP. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THESE WATCH PARTIES IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I LOOK FORWARD I KNOW THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE AS WELL FOR THE NUMBER OF GAMES THE BIGGEST ONE BEING HAITI VERSUS BRAZIL WHICH WILL BE UM, RIGHT.
UH WHICH WILL BE HERE UM AND OVER WHEN CAPE VERDE PLAYS IS GOING TO BE A WATCH PARTY LIKELY IN DORCHESTER. SO THERE'S A LOT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR PEOPLE TO BE CELEBRATING. AND I'M EXCITED THAT THESE GRANTS GET TO GO OUT THE DOOR
TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> UM, COUNCILOR DIVISION SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET UH NUMBER 1034. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. >> OPPOSED TO THE VOTE? UH, MR. UH, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET 1034. COUNCIL AGREED? YES. >> COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS OPPOSED
COUNCILOR CULPEPER. COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. >> YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. YES. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. SO YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. MEJIA.
ANSWER MEJIA. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR. THE PEN COUNCIL OF OPINIONS. COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES AND COUNCILOR WORRELL.
YES. COUNCILOR. OH YES. THE NUMBER 1034 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES AND THE AFFIRM. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 1034 HAS PASSED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 1035? DOCKET NUMBER 1035 MESSAGE ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $24,095 IN THE FORM OF A
GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE YES TO THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE CRIME LABORATORY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR FORENSIC EXAMINERS, CRIMINALIST AND LABORATORY PERSONNEL. THANK YOU.
DOCKET 1035 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1036. TUCKER NUMBER 1036 MESSAGE ON
AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND IN-KIND DONATION VALUED AT $428.67, REPRESENTING THE COST OF TABLING AT THE BOSTON PRIDE
FOR THE PEOPLE PRIDE FESTIVAL TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF. LGBTQ AID. TO AS PLUS ADVANCEMENT BY BOSTON PRIDE FOR THE PEOPLE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DONATION IS
TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026 BOSTON PRIDE FOR THE PEOPLE CELEBRATION. THIS TABLE WILL ENABLE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HELD. GBTC TWO TO AS PLUS ADVANCEMENT
TO PROMOTE CITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES AND DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS DURING. PRIDE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FRIEND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
OH THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. >> I DID YOU MR COUNCILMAN DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? NO, NO. UH, OKAY.
UM, THIS WILL THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO I SORRY, I'VE GOT THE WRONG CHAIR OF THE WRONG COMMITTEE HERE. UH. >> BEG YOUR PARDON? UM. THE CHAIR. I'M I'M RATHER CONFUSED.
IT'S. UM IT SAYS COUNCILOR FLYNN, BUT HE'S NOT THE CHAIR OF HUMAN SERVICES. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. CITY SERVICES? YES. >> IF IT WAS IF IT WAS. GOING IN THERE I WOULD.
YEAH, I WOULD MOVE. TO SUSPENDED PASS. JUST BECAUSE. >> IT'S A SMALL. AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT. IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY IT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE CHAIR UM THE THE HUMAN SERVICES. UH SORRY.
>> FOR THE CONFUSION, COUNCILOR MURPHY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UM. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILOR FLYNN. COULD HAVE. >> ALSO. SPOKEN ON IT. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND A PASS. >> I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES JOIN. >> ME IN VOTING IN. FAVOR OF THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY
SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET UH, DOCKET 1036. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. UH UH, MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON
DOCKET UH, 1036. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCIL AS OPPOSED COUNCIL. CULPEPER COUNCIL. KARL. POPPER. YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR. >> DURKAN. >> YES. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FISCAL.
YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNCILOR. MEJIA. COUNCILOR. MEJIA. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES. COUNCIL. THE PEN. YES. COUNCIL. OPINIONS?
COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. COUNSELOR. WEBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR EARL. YES. COUNCIL. WELL, YES. TALKING NUMBER 1036 AS WE RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.
>> UH, 1036 HAS PASSED. MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1037 A1041?
FOUR ZERO AND THE TABLE TO THIS 1041040. DUCK AND NUMBER 1037 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF VINEET GUPTA AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEMBER
OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2026. DUKKHA NUMBER 1038 MESSAGE IN ON FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF SUSAN KO GAGNE
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2026. DUCKY NUMBER 1039. MISS SAID YOU KNOW AND FOR THE CONFIRMATION THE APPOINTMENT
OF SUSAN CONVENIENT AS A MEMBER OF THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL LAND MY DISTRICT COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2026 AND NUMBER 1040 MESSAGE IN
ORDER FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KATHLEEN CONNOR AS A MEMBER OF THE BACK BAY ARCHITECTURAL DISTRICT COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
THANK YOU. DOCKET 01037 THROUGH 1040 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. MISTER CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 1041. TUCKER NUMBER 1041 MESSAGE TRANS MEANING CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 OF RELATIVE TO BPA STUDENT
ATHLETE SCHOOL TRANSFER POLICIES DUKKHA NUMBERS 0698 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 1ST 2026. THANK YOU.
DOCKET UH 10441041 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. UM. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET UH, 1042 THROUGH 1052. DOCKET NUMBER 1042 NOTICES SEE FROM THE MAYOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERICA CHAN AS A
MEMBER OF THE COMMEMORATION COMMISSION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. DOCTOR NUMBER 1043. NO. SO SEE FOR ME THE APPOINTMENT OF KATHERINE DAVIS WHEELER AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMEMORATION
COMMISSION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY NUMBER 1044. NOTICE THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR. THE APPOINTMENT OF KATE SALZMAN AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMEMORATIVE COMMEMORATION
COMMISSION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, TALKING ABOUT 1045 NOTICE OF RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER SIX OF THE ORDINANCES OF 1979 REGARDING ACTION TAKEN
BY THE MAYOR AND PAPERS ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON MAY 6TH, 2026. NUMBER 1046 COMMUNICATION WAS
RECEIVED FROM THE BOSTON AIR POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION REGARDING THE BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE REGULATIONS AND THE STATEMENTS OF FISCAL EFFECT AND SMALL
BUSINESS IMPACT REPORT NUMBER 1047 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM TIMOTHY SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON RETIREMENT BOARD, REGARDING A NOTICE OF A RETIREMENT BOARD
ELECTION FOR A VACANT SEAT FOR VACANT RETIREMENT BOARD SEATS STOCK NUMBER 1048 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR MURPHY REGARDING SELECTIVE BLOCKING
OF LATE FILED MATTERS AND DUCKING NUMBER 1049 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM AS MANY MANY CULPEPPER AND BRIAN WORRELL REGARDING THEIR ABSENCE
FROM THE MAY 15TH, 2026 BLUE HILL AVENUE BUS RIGHT ALONG TALKING ABOUT 1050 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN REGARDING A RECENT VIOLATION OF THE BOSTON
HOUSING AUTHORITY FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS BOARD. TALKING NUMBER 1051 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL WEBER REGARDING INITIAL THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR ON HOW
TO UM HOW THE AMENDMENT PROCESS WOULD WORK TALKING ABOUT 1052 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM MASSLIVE REGARDING TEMPORARY CLOSURES OF SUMMER STREET.
THANK YOU DOCKETS NUMBER 104 THROUGH TWO THROUGH 1052 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TO MASCOT MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD MR CHAIR COULD
YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS 0733 UH THROUGH 0747 THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER, THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS. SABRINA FIRST. OH, BEG YOUR PARDON, MR. CLERK.
DO YOU DO YOUR YOUR YOUR READING FIRST AND WILL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR. DOCKETS NUMBER 073330735 ORDERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 27
OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ALSO
KNOWN AS OPEN DOCKET NUMBER 073620737 ORDERS FOR CAPITAL FUND TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 07 3827 0740 FOR
US FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDING LOAN ORDERS AND LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND DUKKHA NUMBER 0747 MESSAGING ON APPROVING AN ORDER AUTHORIZING A LIMIT FOR THE BOSTON CENTERS
FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES REVOLVING FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, 2027 TO PAY SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEES AND TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO OPERATE THE CITY
HALL CHILDCARE. THIS REVOLVING FUND SHALL BE CREDITED WITH ANY AND ALL RECEIPTS UM TUITION PAID BY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN ENROLLED AT THE CENTER. RECEIPTS AND RESULTING
EXPENDITURES FROM THIS FUND SHALL NOT EXCEED $1,100,000. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER, THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT.
UH, LAST WEEK THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HELD TWO HEARINGS ONE WITH EIGHT STRONG, UH, BOSTON VETS AND THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS ALL UNDER THE HUMAN SERVICES CABINET AND ANOTHER HEARING WITH THE
ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. UH, THIS WEEK WE ALSO HELD HEARINGS WITH LEADERSHIP FROM THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, BOSTON CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
UH, WE HEARD ABOUT MORE PAINFUL CUTS UH, TO A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WE HOLD DEAR AND CALLS FOR RESTORATION UH, FOR THOSE UH THOSE THOSE CUTS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A TOOL TO DELIVER FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS. WE, UH, SPOKE WE HAD A WORKING SESSION TODAY WHERE WE, UH, THIS MORNING WHERE WE TALKED
ABOUT, UH, NEXT STEPS UM, IN TERMS OF TOOLS IN 2021, THE BOSTON VOTERS GAVE THE CITY COUNCIL THE POWER TO AMEND THE BUDGET GONE OVER THE DAYS WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL WENT THROUGH THE CHARADE OF REJECTING THE
BUDGET ONLY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER THE MAYOR REFILED INSTEAD, BOSTON RESIDENTS HANDED US A TOOL TO DO THE WORK AND DELIVER A BUDGET THAT BETTER REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
NOW WE AND UH, TALKING ABOUT JUST REJECTING THE BUDGET AGAIN . WHY? BECAUSE WE WANT THE MAYOR TO MAKE OUR JOBS EASIER FOR US. THE ARGUMENT IS THAT REJECTING THE BUDGET WOULD GIVE THE MAYOR
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LESS CONSERVATIVELY BUDGET REVENUE PULLED FROM RESERVES OR MOVE MONEY AROUND TO RESTORE VITAL PROGRAMS LIKE YOUTH JOBS. SHE WOULD HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO DO THIS, WHICH KEEPS US ON A
TIMELINE TO AMEND THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, THE MAYOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE WILL JUST RESUBMIT THE SAME BUDGET OR A SMALLER ONE BECAUSE STATE AID IS LESS THAN EXPECTED. WHY WOULD SHE RESUBMIT THE SAME
BUDGET? BECAUSE UNLIKE UNDER MENINO OR FLYNN OR WHITE, THE MAYOR DOESN'T NEED OUR SUPPORT IT IS OUR JOB. IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE
BUDGET TO AMEND IT AND OVERRIDE HER VETOES IF WE HAVE NINE VOTES. SO A REJECTION NOW WOULD BE A GESTURE JUST ONE WITH POTENTIALLY SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES AND THE HARD WORK WILL STILL REMAIN FOR US TO DO ONE WEEK FROM NOW. BUT LET'S SAY THE MAYOR DOES DECIDE TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET BY EITHER INCREASING REVENUE, DIPPING INTO RESERVES OR DIPPING INTO
FUNDS LIKE THE PARKING METER FUND. I DEEPLY RESPECT THE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE HELPED COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS AND I SHARE THE SAME GOAL RESTORE AS MUCH OF THE GRANT FUNDING AS POSSIBLE, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT
TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. I HEAR YOU AND I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT INVESTING IN THINGS LIKE YOUTH JOBS AND ACCESS TO COUNCIL ARE COST SAVINGS IN THE LONG RUN.
HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T JUST ADD MONEY TO THE BUDGET WITHOUT PUTTING OUR CITY IN A POTENTIALLY WORSE FINANCIAL SITUATION DIPPING INTO RESERVES TO PAY FOR RECURRING PROGRAMS OR ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING
REVENUE PROJECTIONS WOULD POSSIBLY ERODE OUR TRIPLE-A BOND RATING SOMETHING THE CITY HAS SPENT YEARS BUILDING TOWARD. FOR EXAMPLE, MOODY'S LOOKS FOR AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE
OF 30% OR MORE OF THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET IF WE APPROVE THE $70 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET, UH, THAT'S BEFORE US RIGHT NOW OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE $530 MILLION.
THAT'S 24%. INFLATING REVENUE AND SPENDING RESERVES FOR RECURRING PROGRAMS ARE EXACTLY WHY NEW YORK CITY AND SAN FRANCISCO HAD THEIR ECONOMIC OUTLOOKS DOWNGRADED BY THE RATING AGENCIES.
MOREOVER, ADDITIONAL FUNDS WOULD NOT GO TOWARD OUR PRIORITIES BUT WOULD MORE LIKELY GO TO ITEMS WE KNOW HAVE BEEN UNDER BUDGETED LIKE POLICE OVERTIME. SO EVEN IF THE BUDGET WAS
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED, WE WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO MOVE THESE FUNDS TO PAY FOR OUR PRIORITIES LIKE YOUTH JOBS ANYWAY AND WE WILL BE CALLING FOR LESS CONSERVATIVE REVENUE PROJECTIONS IN THE SAME MEETING
THAT THE MAYOR HAS FILED TWO SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ORDERS TO WITHDRAW $70 MILLION FROM RESERVES TO COVER THE FY 26 DEFICIT. DO YOU KNOW WHY WE HAVE A DEFICIT?
BECAUSE OUR PROJECTIONS OF OUR REVENUE AND OUR EXPENSES FOR FY 26 WERE OFF BY $70 MILLION AND I'M LIKE BUT YOU KNOW BUT UNLIKE MOST CITIES AND TOWNS, THE REASON WHY A $70 MILLION
DEFICIT ISN'T A CAUSE FOR MASS HYSTERIA IN BOSTON IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT YEARS BUDGETING CONSERVATIVELY, ALLOWING THE CITY TO HANDLE SHOCKS LIKE TERRIBLE WINTERS AND RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS WITHOUT
NEEDING MASS LAYOFFS OR TAX OVERRIDE. THE BUDGET IS $4.9 BILLION. OUR RESIDENTS ON FIXED INCOMES ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH RISING PROPERTY TAX BILLS.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO FILL UP THEIR GAS TANKS AND TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE. THIS BODY'S RESPONSE SHOULD NOT BE JUST INFLATE THE BUDGET SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO OUR JOBS TO REVIEW THE BUDGET AND MAKE THE HARD CHOICES TO MEET THE
MOMENT FROM WHERE I STAND THE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF US ARE ONE DO THE JOBS WE WERE ELECTED TO DO BY REVIEWING AND AMENDING THE BUDGET OR TO ABDICATE OUR DUTIES AND REQUEST THAT THE
MAYOR EITHER DO OUR JOBS FOR US OR WORSE ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT WILL HURT OUR BOND RATING, LOWER OUR RESERVES, INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN OPERATING DEFICIT OF THE FISCAL OR FISCAL
YEAR 2027 AND JUST KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON HARD CHOICES AND MAYBE MORTGAGE THE FUTURE OF THE KIDS WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY TRYING TO HELP FOR OUR OWN SHORT TERM POLITICAL GAIN. I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH
OPTION ONE. EITHER WAY, I HOPE WE CAN PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH JOBS, HOUSING VOUCHERS, THE EQUITY CABINET, SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS AND ACCESS TO COUNCIL RESTORE TO THE BUDGET.
THIS MORNING WE TALKED ABOUT CONVERSATIONS. THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS UH COMMITTEE HAS HAD WITH THE MAYOR. THIS AMENDMENT PROCESS IS A NEGOTIATION WITH THE MAYOR IN EVERY WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR IS
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND HER OFFICE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. UH, YOU CAN ASK OUR PRIOR CHAIRS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE FOR ME THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AGREE TO AS A BODY
. THE BUDGET IS IN OUR HANDS. WE SHOULDN'T GIVE UP CONTROL OF IT. THE DIFFICULT PART OF THE AMENDMENT PROCESS IS REACHING CONSENSUS ON WHERE WE WERE WILLING TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM
TO FUND AMENDMENTS REGARDLESS OF A REJECTION. I DO WANT TO REITERATE THE BUDGET ENDS WITH US WE MAKE THE DECISION AND IT'S OUR JOB TO DO THE HARD WORK REGARDLESS
OF WHICH ROAD WE TAKE, WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AS A GROUP AND FIGURE OUT WHETHER WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FINDING A WAY TO RESTORE THESE CUTS IN A WAY THAT PUTS THE CITY ON SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING FOR THE LONG RUN.
UH, FOR THOSE REASONS I RECOMMEND THAT THESE MATTERS STAY IN COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WIRRAL COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT .
AND, UM. FOR ME THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER THIS COUNCIL UM, WILL USE UM ALL THE TOOLS UH, THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US, UH, TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE'VE HEARD OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH AND A HALF WHEN THE MAYOR FILED THIS BUDGET, IT CAME BEFORE THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS
THAT THE CHAIR WAYS AND MEANS RAN, UH, MORE THAN A MONTH OF HEARINGS, TESTIMONY AND A WHOLE LOT OF RESIDENT FEEDBACK . THAT CAME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL HAD THE FULL RECORD OF WHAT THESE CUTS WOULD MEAN.
NOW WE HAD THAT RECORD THE AMENDMENT POWER WAS CREATED TO GET THIS COUNCIL MORE POWER NOT TO LIMIT NOT TO LIMIT US TO ONE
FORM OF POWER. BEFORE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REJECTING THE BUDGET WAS ONE OF THIS BODY'S TOOLS. THE AMENDMENT PROCESS ADDED POWER. IT DID NOT REPLACE IT.
RESIDENTS HAD BEEN CLEAR THEY DO NOT WANT FEWER NEW JOBS, LESS HOUSING SUPPORT OR CUTS TO FOOD JUSTICE. ARTS AND CULTURE VETERAN
SERVICES A STRONG OR THE COMPLETE DEFUNDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND WHILE SERVICES ARE BEING CUT, HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL
FACING DOUBLE DIGIT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY MORE AND GET LESS AND THAT IS A HARD MESSAGE TO DEFEND.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT FISCAL YEAR, BUT A DIFFICULT FISCAL YEAR CANNOT MEAN THE PUBLIC SPEAKS FOR A MONTH AND NOTHING CHANGES.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TOOLS THAT THIS COUNCIL SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE. THEY CAN AND SHOULD INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES TO BETTER REFLECT REALITY.
WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED REVENUE AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN $200 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. LAST YEAR THE FORECAST REVENUE
THAT WAS INSIDE OF THE BUDGET BOOK FOR FY 27 WAS $5.02 BILLION. WE ARE USUALLY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR ESTIMATE AND THIS YEAR WE
ARE ULTRA CONSERVATIVE AND WE CANNOT ADDRESS THAT REVENUE PROJECTION. THIS BODY CAN NOT ONLY THE MAYOR CAN. ANOTHER TOOL IS REINING IN AREAS THAT THE MAYOR CAN'T
OVERSPEND WITHOUT COUNCIL OVERSIGHT. THAT'S OVER TIME AND NO ONE WENT TO MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE NO TOOLS TO RESTRICT SPENDING IN THOSE AREAS BUT THE
MAYOR DOES. BUT WE HAVE A TOOL OUR VOTE REJECTING THIS BUDGET TODAY DOES NOT AND COLLABORATION IT GIVES THE MAYOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. NOW THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC, NOW THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM IS TO COME BACK WITH A BUDGET THAT BETTER RESPECTS ALL
OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. IF THE MAYOR CHOOSES NOT TO RESTORE THESE PRIORITIES, WE STILL HAVE THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND BY THE TIMELINE AND SCHEDULE THAT THE CHAIR LAID
OUT WE WILL STILL BE ON TIME BUT THIS POST GIVES US LEVERAGE BEFORE WE GET THERE. THE PUBLIC CAME HERE ASKING US TO USE OUR POWER TODAY. USING OUR POWER MEANS SENDING
THIS BUDGET BACK AND THAT'S IT FOR A STRONGER ONE THAT THAT REFLECTS THE TESTIMONIES, EMAILS, THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN DONE
THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. SO I LIKE TO AX THE SUSPENSION OF RULE 24 TO CALL FOR A VOTE TO REJECT THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> SO, COUNSELOR, UH, WE'RE WELL, UM, YOU'RE ASKING TO
SUSPEND RULE 24. UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCILMEMBER HERE. UM.
MR. CLERK, UH, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE UM, COUNSELOR OR ELSE MOTION TO,
UH, SUSPEND THE RULES AND, UH, PASS. UH. THIS IS JUST ASSISTANT. JUST TO SPEND RULE 24 AND, UH,
OVERRIDE THE, UH THE CHAIR. UH, SO IN ORDER TO PURSUANT ON RULE 24, WE CANNOT VOTE ON A MATTER WITHOUT 60 WITHIN 60 DAYS WITHOUT THE CHAIR'S CONSENT.
SO COUNCILOR WORRELL IS ASKING TO SUSPEND RULE 24 AND OVERRULE THE CHAIR'S CONSENT. SO, UH, MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON THE MOTION TO SUSPEND
RULE 24? OUR OUR. WE'RE TAKING WE'RE WE'RE TAKING A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO SUSPEND RULE 24.
AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES AND THEN WE'LL, UM IN ORDER TO UM. IN ORDER TO REJECT UM, THE
OVERALL AND OR NOT TO ORDER TO OVERTURN THE CONSENT OF THE CHAIR WE HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE OF NINE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY. COMES FROM HERE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. BEFORE WE. DIVE INTO THE LITTLE VOTING SITUATION HERE IS THAT I FEEL LIKE OFTENTIMES WE DON'T. >> REALLY GET AN. OPPORTUNITY TO TALK OPENLY AND
TRANSPARENTLY SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BECAUSE MOST LIKELY THIS VOTE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE YOU KNOW NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, AT WHAT POINT WILL THIS BODY START
DEMONSTRATING OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY SPEAK IT? COUNCILWOMAN FIRST THINGS FIRST. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO, UH, OVERRULE RULE 24. NO. >> NO, DON'T.
NO, THE ONLY THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS RULE 24 AND THEN WE THEN WE HAVE THE VOTE ON THE ON THE ON THE MATTER BECAUSE WE. WERE HERE PROTECTING. YOU. NO JUST. A RECESS. NO. >> MR. CLERK.
MR. EXCUSE ME PLEASE. NO, WE'RE NOT HAVING A RECESS. WE'VE GOT TO CLARIFY WITH OUR CENTRAL STAFF THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE.
THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE DOCKETS STAND REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. COUNCILOR WORRELL HAS HAS PROPOSED THAT WE SUSPEND RULE 24.
AND THAT WE BRING. THE UH DOCKET NUMBER. UH 0733 UP FOR A VOTE. AND WE. >> HAVEN'T GOT THERE YET. THE PROCEDURE IS WE HAVE THE
PROCEDURE IS WE HAVE TO OR WE
HAVE TO SUSPEND RULE 24.
AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK. TO IT. IT'S MY RULING IS. THE CHAIR IT'S IT'S IT'S MY. MICHELLE SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK WE CAN ON RULE 24 YEAH WE CAN
WE WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK. HOLD ON A SECOND. IT IS MY RULING AS CHAIR THAT THE MOTION TO SUSPEND RULE 24 IS PROPER. RIGHT. >> WE CAN DO IT ON RULE 24 APPLIES TO COMMITTEE REPORTS
GREEN SHEETS AND VOTES WITHIN 60 DAYS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE CHAIR INCLUDING FROM MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD RIGHT RULE 46 ALLOWS FOR ALL RULES BEYOND THE LISTED EXCEPTIONS
WITHIN THAT RULE TO BE SUSPENDED WITH A TWO THIRDS VOTE INCLUDING RULE 24. RIGHT. SO UH. I SO THE. SO LET ME GO BACK I'M GOING TO NEED MY OFFICIAL TRANSLATOR TO
HELP ME OUT. WHAT I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS AT WHAT POINT ARE WE ALLOWED TO DEBATE
WHY WE ARE SUPPORTING THE SUSPENSION WHEN. WE WHEN THAT MATTER ACTUALLY COMES UP RIGHT. BUT BUT THE NEXT NO BUT WE CAN DO IT NOW SO THAT WE ARE SO THAT EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING
UNDERSTANDS WHY WE'RE TAKING THE VOTE THAT WE'RE TAKING AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR MOTION THAT IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION. RIGHT NOW. IT WILL COME UP.
NO COME ON MICHELLE TELL HER. I'M DONE. THAT'S RIGHT. >> WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK.
OKAY. THANK YOU. >> WE CAN. THE MOTION THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW IS REAL 24 THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT AND. THAT'S THE. THAT'S THE. FOCUS OF THIS CONVERSATION. SO WE CAN DEBATE THAT.
YEP. >> AND THEN. GO ON TO THERE TO A VOTE ON THE RULE 24. SO COUNCILWOMAN HERE YOU HAVE. THANK YOU. SEE THIS IS WHY I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S PAYING ATTENTION TO UNDERSTAND HOW PROCEDURAL
TACTICS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING FULLY EXPRESS. AND SO AS IT RELATES TO. THIS PARTICULAR. DISCUSSION BECAUSE WHAT MY THE
CHAIR UM HAS TALKED ABOUT THE THE DANGERS OF US OF OF DOING ANYTHING ASIDE FROM THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IN 2021 WHEN THEN
MAYOR WU WAS A CITY COUNCILOR, SHE SAYS QUOTE UNQUOTE THE ADMINISTRATION. CHOOSES TO RUN OUT THE. CLOCK WITH IMPEDING FEARS OF LAYOFFS AND CUTS. AND OUR ROLE FIRST IS TO.
TELL THE TRUTH JUST BECAUSE SOME MIGHT. THINK IT IS UNLIKELY OR. HARD TO COME TO A BETTER. AGREEMENT THAN MOVING A PROVISIONAL BUDGET. TEMPORARILY DOES NOT MEAN IT'S
ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO. HIDE THAT OPTION. UNDER A VEIL OF FEAR. MONGERING WITH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FALSELY SUGGESTED TO CITY WORKERS THAT THEY WILL BE
LAID OFF IMMEDIATELY STARTING JULY 1ST. WHILE THE TIMING OF. >> THE VOTE. AND THE. >> SITUATION SHE'S. REFERRING TO IN THIS QUOTE IS DIFFERENT FROM TODAY, THE OVERARCHING THEMES ARE STILL THE SAME.
IN LATE. JUNE 2020. >> THEN COUNCILOR WU POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO VOTE DOWN THE OPERATING BUDGET JUST BECAUSE THE NARRATIVE BEING SPUN.
BY THE ADMINISTRATION. >> AND THE FEAR MONGERING. IN THAT. NARRATIVE. >> I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT THE VOTE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE. GIVES US THE. POWER THAT WE FOUGHT FOR AND
THAT IS TO HAVE A VOICE. IN THE BUDGET. MAKING PROCESS. AND SO THEREFORE. THE MOTION. TO ALLOW US TO REJECT THE BUDGET TODAY ALLOWS US.
>> TO DO OUR JOB WITHOUT. FEAR MONGERING. AND THEREFORE FOR ME, RIGHT, I WANT TO STAND UP IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILOR MORALES MOTION AND
I THINK WE SHOULD LET DEMOCRACY PLAY OUT. WE ONLY NEED NINE VOTES. FOR US TO BE ABLE. TO TO DO. THE PEOPLE'S WORK IN. THIS CHAMBER AND THEREFORE THIS IS WHY I'M.
RAISING UP. TO SPEAK FREELY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO OUR JOBS AND PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO HOW NARRATIVES . GET HIJACKED. THANK YOU COUNCIL FROM HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. UM THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> I DO WANT TO RISE TO SAY I SUPPORT THIS GOING FORWARD AND I ALSO REJECT THE NOTION FROM THE CHAIR THAT THIS IS THE EASY
WAY OUT OR THAT IN ANY WAY THIS IS NOT WANTING TO DO OUR WORK, OUR JOB. I SEE THAT AS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE THE PURPOSE OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS WE'VE GONE THROUGH MORE THAN HALF OF THEM IS TO HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENTS
DIRECTLY. WE'VE HEARD ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED FROM THE CUTS AND ALREADY ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR NEIGHBORS THEMSELVES, THEIR
COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILY. SO I BELIEVE THIS BODY NEEDS TO USE THE POWER THAT. WE DO HAVE. THE AMENDMENT PROCESS DID NOT TAKE AWAY POWER. IT'S JUST AN EXTRA ADDED LEVEL AND WE CAN ALWAYS WE HAVE TIME
WHERE A VOTE TODAY IS NOT GOING TO SAY WE MAY NOT COME. BACK BUT DO WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR SENIORS? DO WE WANT YOUTH JOBS? DO WE WANT OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED OR DO
WE WANT TO HAVE TO PULL FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THE ONLY THING WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IF WE ONLY USE OUR AMENDMENT POWER IS TAKE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WE ALREADY KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD FROM MOST
OF THEM ALREADY. THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO TAKE CUTS. SO I WANT MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT IF WE ONLY USE THE AMENDMENT PROCESS, IT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR
CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS AND AS OF TODAY I'M STILL NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE CHAIR ISN'T GOING TO ALLOW US TO CHOOSE WHICH DEPARTMENTS. IT COMES FROM. SO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THAT VOTE, ASK THE MAYOR
TO DO WHAT WE KNOW SHE CAN DO GIVE US A BETTER BUDGET THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH AND THEN WE WILL WORK ON AMENDMENTS. SO I AM STANDING IN SUPPORT. >> OF THAT VOTE. THANK YOU THANK YOU CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR UH DURKAN
COUNTRY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, IF I'M BELIEVING MY EARS RIGHT NOW THERE. >> ARE FOLKS. ADVOCATING FOR FISCAL. RESPONSIBILITY AND I THEY'RE
ALSO ADVOCATING IN MY OPINION FOR US TO NOT REALLY HARNESS THE POWER OF THE 21 2021 CHARTER AMENDMENT BOSTON VOTERS UNION I MEAN APPROVED QUESTION
ONE AMENDING THE CITY'S CHARTER AND GRANTING THE CITY COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET. WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS AND IT'S THE HISTORIC EXPANSION OF THIS BODY'S POWERS SHOULD BE FULLY UTILIZED. UH, I'M ALSO HEARING THERE IS SOME DISRESPECT FOR THE CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR ALL OF HIS WORK.
IT IS NOT EASY WORK. WE KNOW WE I'VE THIS IS MY THIRD BUDGET. UM, AND THIS IS NOT EASY WORK. I WILL OBVIOUSLY BE VOTING NO UH, TODAY AND I THINK, UM, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THAT WE STICK TOGETHER THAT WE HAVE UM, WE HAD A WORKING SESSION THIS MORNING. I THINK IT'S HARD FOR US TO GET INTO A PRODUCTIVE SPACE WHEN THESE ARE THE NARRATIVES THAT
ARE BEING THROWN. UM, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT I THINK THAT BOSTON RESIDENTS ARE ASKING US TO LEAD WITH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. THEY'RE ASKING US TO MAKE DECISIONS.
I I CAN SEE PLACES FOR CUTS AND I CAN SEE PLACES FOR RESTORATION. UM, I'M JUST ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH THAT IN MIND AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, CHAIR WEBER.
I'LL BE VOTING NO TO SUSPEND RULE 24. UM. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCIL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND. >> AND.
DURING THESE CHALLENGING. TIMES IN OUR CITY IN OUR COUNTRY WE MUST DEMONSTRATE FISCAL DISCIPLINE, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND TRANSPARENCY. ADDITIONALLY, I. >> BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET ON. >> THE. BACK OF. >> VETERANS MILITARY. FAMILIES CUTTING. SERVICES FOR VETERANS OF MILITARY FAMILIES. CUTTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS. FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHILE CUTS TO OUR SENIORS. PEOPLE OFTEN SAY A. BUDGET IS. ABOUT THE VALUES. >> IT'S A REFLECTION.
OF YOUR VALUES. AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH. >> THEM BUT I BUT THEN I SAY LET ME SEE THE BUDGET. AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE. . >> BUT I. HAVE TO GO ON RECORD AND.
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE. FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. AGAINST CUTS AND SERVICES. >> FOR OUR VETERANS AGAINST CUTS FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, CANCER SCREENING FOR
FIREFIGHTERS IN SENIORS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL. YES, WE'RE HERE. IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. EVERY CITY COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE
UP THEIR OWN MIND ON WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. BUT THE BOTTOM. LINE FOR ME. IS I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN IN THIS CITY
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE THAT HELP BUILD THIS CITY WHETHER IT'S OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR VETERANS, OUR OUR SENIORS, WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS UM THAT
THEY ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF GOVERNMENT IS LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, HEARING THEM AND
TRYING TO. MAKE YOUR. VOTE BASED ON WHAT YOU HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU HEAR READ I WAS IN ROXBURY OVER THE WEEKEND AT A VETERANS EVENT IN
PARK LISTENED TO RESIDENTS THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS AT WEST ROXBURY AT AN EVENT LISTENING TO RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH END ALL WEEKEND FIVE EVENTS IN
BOSTON COMMON LAST NIGHT AT A WALK. FOR RESIDENTS WANT BASIC CITY SERVICES. THEY WANT NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES . THEY WANT US TO ADDRESS QUALITY
OF LIFE ISSUES. THEY WANT US TO DEAL WITH THE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES OF CITY GOVERNMENT, FIXING POTHOLES, SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
FIGHTING FOR VETERANS, FIGHTING FOR THOSE WITHOUT A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT. I'M GOING TO BASE MY VOTE ON WHAT I'VE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR UH, FLYNN. UH, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM. >> I'LL REITERATE WHAT I SAID EARLIER AT THE WORKING SESSION THIS MORNING.
UM, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS ON SHAKY FISCAL GROUND AND THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE SEE UH, NOT JUST THIS THIS CURRENT YEAR OR UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR BUT EVEN IN FISCAL YEARS AHEAD OF US. SO EVEN LESS AND LESS, UH,
GROWTH AND LESS AND LESS REVENUE UH, ONLY MAKING THE DECISIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WHETHER WE AMEND AND WHAT DO WE PULL FROM EVEN HARDER AND HARDER IN THE FUTURE? UM, ONE REASON I WILL SUPPORT
TAKING THIS VOTE TO THE FLOOR IS BECAUSE IT IS OUR DUTY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN WE SEE THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON A LOT
OF DATA, STATISTICAL DATA. AND SO, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO SEE THAT AND WE HAVE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR THINGS ACTUALLY TURNING TO GET REALLY BAD BECAUSE OTHERWISE ALL WE'RE LEFT WITH GUYS IS THAT NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE $50 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING OVER TODAY AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT IT COULD BE
50 MILLION LESS. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT AMENDMENTS ABOUT WHAT TO PULL FROM WHAT WHEN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE FEELING THE STRAIN OF THESE OVERALL LESS REVENUE
GOING ON. I DON'T SEE A PLAN TO CHANGE WHAT HAS GOT US TO THIS POINT AND THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME WHETHER IT'S UH, HOW TO
CREATE NEW GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES, WHETHER IT'S TO CUT FROM BLOATED MIDDLE MANAGEMENT OR OVERLAPPING DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE CREATED OR WERE FILLED IN MORE UH, I THINK THERE'S
EFFICIENCIES THAT COULD BE HAD IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN REVENUE WAS DOWN YOU RIGHTSIZE THE COMPANY AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN AND THAT WILL THAT IF THAT FALLS ON US THAT'S OUR JOB.
BUT OUR DUTY IS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CITY THAT I LOVE AND GREW UP IN AND TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY IT'S TRENDING.
WE'RE NOT DOING. THAT AND IT IS OUR JOB TO APPLY PRESSURE TO HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME CHANGES WHERE WE CAN CHANGE THAT, WHERE WE WILL HAVE GROWTH AND WE WILL HAVE MONEY AND THE
ARGUMENTS WE CAN HAVE IS HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE WANT TO GIVE TO EACH DEPARTMENT? NOT HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE TO TAKE FROM EACH DEPARTMENT. SO UH WITH THAT I WELCOME THE VOTE ON THE FLOOR AND UH AND I
HOPE TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO FIND BETTER PLACES TO CUT THAN THE BUDGET WE WERE HANDED BECAUSE I THINK THE BUDGET WE WERE HANDED, UH, IS NOT THE BEST WORK AND WHERE TO CUT FROM AS WE SHOULD SEE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PEPEN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM. >> AND I. >> HATE TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID ON THE FLOOR ALREADY BY ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND IT'S THAT WE ARE IN A VERY
TOUGH FINANCIAL SITUATION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BECOME VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE MOVING FORWARD NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CITY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'VE ALREADY KNOW THE PRIORITIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ALREADY SEE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE HAD THEIR TAX INCREASED AND OUR SPENDING AND OUR COST OF MATERIALS AND EVERYTHING AND ACROSS THE CITY AND INCLUDING HEALTH CARE IT'S ONLY INCREASING.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TO NOTICE THAT IN THIS VERY SAME MEETING EARLIER TODAY, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE TO REQUEST TO SPEND ALMOST. $70 MILLION OUT OF RESERVES FOR
SNOW MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH CARE COSTS TWO THINGS THAT CAN POSSIBLY COME AGAIN IN YEARS TO COME. TODAY I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD VOTE TO REJECT THIS BUDGET. BECAUSE THAT IS.
NOT A PROPER SOLUTION. THE SOLUTION FOR US TO FIND. WAYS THAT WE CAN RESTORE YOUTH JOBS, RESTORE THE MOBILE GRANTS ,RESTORE IF IT'S HOUSING VOUCHERS. IT IS. >> TRULY THROUGH THE AMENDMENT.
PROCESS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO SAY WHERE. DO WE. >> WANT. TO PULL OUR MONEY FROM? WHERE DO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT REALLOCATING
BUDGET BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE THEY'RE HURTING WE'RE ALL HEARING IT FROM ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. AND IF WE REJECT THE BUDGET. IF WE REJECT WHAT'S RIGHT NOW FROM THE MAYOR, WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IS SEND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. SHE CAN LITERALLY RESPOND IN AN HOUR AND SAYS HERE'S THE SAME EXACT BUDGET DO. SOMETHING WITH IT. SHE DOESN'T HAVE SHE ONLY HAS SEVEN DAYS.
SO FOR US TO SAY. WE ARE JUST NOW GOING TO START AMENDING. >> THE PROCESS NOW THAT LOOKS IRRESPONSIBLE ON OUR BEHALF. WE NEED TO START TRULY DOING OUR JOBS. I CALL ON CHAIR WEBER TO END CENTRAL STAFF AND ALL OF OUR
OFFICES TO WORK TOGETHER. TO COME UP WITH AN AMENDMENT PACKAGE SO WE CAN HAVE AN ACTUAL TANGIBLE SOLUTION WITHOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO. APPLY PRESSURE WHEN WE HAVE
ALREADY LITERALLY GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THIS BUDGET. SO I CALL ON ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR OFFICES TO WORK TOGETHER. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT OUR
RESIDENTS DESERVE. WE ARE IN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION AND IF WE TRULY WANT TO RESTORE YOUTH JOBS, IF WE TRULY CARE ABOUT HOUSING. VOUCHERS. >> WE NEED TO STOP THE. FINGER POINTING.
WE NEED TO STOP. SAYING OH YOU GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT. NO, WE NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE NEED. >> TO. START WORKING. ON AMENDMENTS. WE NEED TO START MAKING SOME TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR PIPPEN CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CULPEPER COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, AMENDING RULE 24
TO REJECT THIS BUDGET IS NOT ABOUT REJECTING GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT DEMANDING A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT FORCE US TO CHOOSE BETWEEN VULNERABLE GROUPS,
NEIGHBORHOODS OR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. IT IS ABOUT SAYING CLEARLY THAT THE PUBLIC SPOKE, WE HEARD FROM THEM AND WE ARE WILLING TO ACT ACCORDINGLY. THIS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY OUR
POWER TO AMEND THE BUDGET. WE CAN NOT BE AFRAID IN THIS MOMENT. WE CANNOT ACCEPT A BUDGET THAT UNDERMINES THE LIVELIHOODS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF THESE BUDGET
HEARINGS WE HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS, ADVOCATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, WORKERS, FAMILY, SENIORS, YOUTH, SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. PEOPLE TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO COME TO CITY HALL BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEIR VOICES MATTER AND BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTY WOULD
LISTEN. AND WHAT WE HEARD CONSISTENTLY IS THAT THIS BUDGET IS FORCING IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES BETWEEN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. WE BEING ASKED TO CUT SENIOR PROGRAMING WHILE OLDER ADULTS ARE LIVING LONGER AND FACING RISING COSTS, WE'RE BEING ASKED
TO ACCEPT REDUCTION IN IMMIGRANT SERVICES, WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT, YOUTH PROGRAMING, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND EQUITY INITIATIVES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE RESIDENTS
ARE TELLING US THEY DEMAND THOSE SERVICES NEED TO BE INCREASED NOT DECREASE. THIS IS NOT A POSITION THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE ACCEPTING. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT
SIMPLY TO MOVE A BUDGET FORWARD BECAUSE IT ARRIVED BEFORE US. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EVALUATE WHETHER THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WE REPRESENT. AND I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND WHEN RESIDENTS REPEATEDLY COME BEFORE US TO SAY THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING CHILD CARE
,SENIOR SERVICES, COMMUNITY GRANTS, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES, PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE THOSE
CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. IF WE DO NOT, THEN WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO THE PUBLIC? ARE WE TELLING RESIDENTS THAT PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT CHANGES NOTHING THAT'S SHOWING
UP TO HEARINGS, TESTIFYING, ORGANIZING AND SPEAKING OUT HAS NO IMPACT ON THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS CHAMBER. AND ONE FINAL POINT, MADAM
PRESIDENT, THAT BOTHERS ME AND COUNCILOR PEPEN. REFERENCES REFERENCE AT $70 MILLION I JUST WANT TO READ THIS TO YOU. THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS APPROPRIATION ARE CONSIDERED
EXTRAORDINARILY ONE TIME IN NATURE AS NON-RECURRING COSTS OF THIS CITY. AND THIS IS WHAT BOTHERS ME ARE WE SAYING THAT SNOWSTORMS ARE
ONE TIME IN NATURE NON-RECURRING COSTS? CERTAINLY NOT. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO SNOW NEXT YEAR. HOW CAN WE SAY THAT NON-RECURRING COSTS ONE TIME IN
NATURE KNOWING THAT NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO SNOW? UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT. UM. >> I I.
>> FIRST. WANT TO JUST START OFF BY THANKING, UM, OUR, UH, CHAIR WAYS AND MEANS, UM, COUNCILOR WEBER, UM, FOR THE PROCESS THAT HE'S BEEN, UM, RUNNING. I KNOW THIS IS, UM, NOT AN EASY POSITION.
UM, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING UM ,UH, THIS MOTION, UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY. I THINK EVERYONE HAS SAID HOW MUCH UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY, WE'VE HEARD THE TESTIMONY.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL, UM, ABOUT OUR YOUTH JOBS, UM, AND YEAR ROUND JOBS, UM, FOR OUR YOUTH AND HOW I COULD NOT SUPPORT A BUDGET, UM, THAT DEFINES UM, $5.9 MILLION FROM
YOUTH JOBS. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE HAVE A JOB TO DO. UM, I THINK THERE ARE MANY COUNCILORS HERE WHO WEREN'T HERE UM, BACK WHEN THIS AMENDMENT POWER WAS GIVEN UM TO
THE COUNCIL, UM, WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS UM UM FOR WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY? I THINK IT IS OUR JOB RIGHT NOW, UM, TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS UM, PEOPLE AS COUNCILOR CULPEPER MENTIONED
WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME TO CITY HALL, UM, TO MEET US AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, AND WE SHOULD USE OUR AMENDMENT POWERS. UM, AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHAIR TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUTH JOBS
AND THE URBAN JOBS ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF A PACKAGE, UM, THAT WE UM, THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. SO I ENCOURAGE UM, MY COLLEAGUES UM, TO NOT VOTE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS. UM, I THINK AN AMENDING A PACKAGE OR AMENDING A BUDGET IS A FORM OF REJECTION. UM, WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS BUDGET AS IT IS DOESN'T, UH, MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY. UH, AND I AM ALSO IN SUPPORT,
AS I SAID, YOUTH JOBS, THE GRANT FUNDING, UM, HOUSING THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT IF WE GET NINE OF US TOGETHER, WE CAN PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER THAT WE CAN SEND BACK TO THE MAYOR. UM, THAT REFLECTS UM THE VALUES
OF OUR CITY. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ELECTED TO DO. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY RESIDENTS. I'M HEARING FROM THE YOUTH, UM ,THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AMEND THEY WANT TO SEE UM, SOME
OF THESE UM, CUTS RESTORED AND I THINK IT'S ON US ESPECIALLY IF WE GET NINE OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER THAT WE CAN SEND BACK TO THE MAYOR. I THINK THERE ARE POLITICAL GAMES BEING PLAYED HERE AND I'M
TIRED OF IT. I THINK WE ARE OUR POLITICIANS . I GET IT, WE GET IT. BUT REJECTING THE BUDGET DOES NOT MAKE MONEY MONEY MONEY JUST
UP HERE RIGHT? WE HAVE A JOB TO DO. I KNOW I WORK WITH ALL OF Y'ALL VERY CLOSELY. I KNOW HOW MUCH WE ALL CARE ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS. I KNOW HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUTH AND
I REALLY WISH THAT WE CAN PUT THE POLITICAL GAMES ASIDE AND REALLY WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE NINE PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK WITH THE CHAIR TO PUT THEM IN A PACKAGE TOGETHER THAT WE CAN SEND BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR SANTANA.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMEMBER HERE. YES. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD, YOU. KNOW, THE GLOBE. HAD AN OPINION PIECE FROM
COMMUNITY STATING AND ASKING US TO. ACTUALLY REJECT MAYOR WU'S BUDGET. THEREFORE IF WE ARE DOING OUR JOBS OF. LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT. >> US IN THESE CHAIRS, THEN WHAT. >> WE. ARE ULTIMATELY DOING IS
LISTENING TO THE. PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. AND DOING JUST THAT. AND I WANT TO BE REALLY. CLEAR ABOUT. OUR JOB. BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT. >> OF. RHETORIC ABOUT US KICKING DOWN
THE CAN, BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HAVE. POLITICAL COURAGE AND WILL TO. ACTUALLY DO OUR JOBS. WITHOUT FEAR. OF RETALIATION.
UH. >> AND MAKING SURE. THAT THE. NARRATIVE DOES. NOT GET. >> HIJACKED BECAUSE FOR. THOSE FOLKS. >> WHO. ARE PAYING. ATTENTION. >> WE'RE NOT LOSING. OUR ABILITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET. WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IS STRENGTHENING THE INTEGRITY OF THIS BODY BY DEMONSTRATING THAT WE CAN REJECT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, CONTINUE THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND FIGHT TO RESTORE THOSE JOBS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE
NOT. GOING TO DO. IS CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE YOUTH JOBS WITH PRIVATE. PARTNERSHIPS AND THINK. THAT WE. GOT TO. >> PASS ON THAT. JUST BE I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO
START REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW BUSINESS IS BEING DONE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY GET YOU. SO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO START. BEING REALLY HONEST ABOUT. >> THE POLITICS. THAT ARE BEING PLAYED AND. >> THE TACTICS THAT. PEOPLE ARE USING TO SPIN. >> THE.
TRUTH. >> THANK YOU COMES FROM HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> UM, I JUST WANT TO END THIS FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB. IF WE TAKE A VOTE TODAY, WE ARE
ALREADY AND KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK. WE WOULDN'T BE VOTING ON THIS UNTIL JUNE ANYWAY AND THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME AND I I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF BUT WHAT I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES
EARLIER IS ALL OF US ARE READY TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND PUT FORTH AMENDMENTS WHICH ARE DUE AT THE END OF TODAY AND CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THOSE THINGS. BUT HOW. DO WE FIND $5.9 MILLION.
>> TO. RESTORE YOUTH JOBS? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THAT FROM POLICE? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM WHEN WE WANT TO FULLY FUND VETERANS? IF WE DON'T ASK FOR THE MAYOR
TO SAY GIVE US A BUDGET WE CAN WORK WITH WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT A HIGH CREDIT RATING THAN WE ARE ABOUT SERVING THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. SO I THINK IT IS JUST A FALSE
NARRATIVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB. >> WE ARE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR. UH WORRELL. UH THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
AND 1010 OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE GOT UP AND SPOKE AND NOT ONE OF THEM SAID THIS WAS A GOOD BUDGET. SO WHAT DO WE LOSE IF WE REJECT
IT? UH. >> WE STILL WE. STILL HAVE. YOU KNOW. CROSSED OUR PLACE. WE STILL HAVE THE AMENDMENT PROCESS. WHERE THE WORKING SESSIONS
START ON MAY 28TH. THAT'S WHEN THE WORKING SESSIONS FOR THE AMENDMENT START. SO WE DON'T LOSE ANYTHING BY
REJECTING THIS BUDGET. THE OTHER THING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE GAIN. THE OTHER THING IS IF WE CAN'T REJECT THE BUDGET THAT WE ALL
DO NOT THINK IS A GOOD BUDGET. HOW DO WE GET TO NINE VOTES TO OVERRIDE THE MAYOR? NO. >> WE CAN'T GET TO SEVEN ON A BUDGET THAT WE DO NOT AGREE WITH.
NO ONE NO ONE HAS GOT UP AND SAID THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET BUT WE CAN'T GET TO NINE TO REJECT WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID EVERY EVERY TEN COUNT. ALL TEN COUNCILORS.
SAID THIS WAS NOT A GOOD BUDGET. WE CANNOT GET TO NINE TO VOTE DOWN WHAT WE ALL CONSIDERED NOT A GOOD BUDGET. HOW DO WE GET TO NINE FOR
OVERRIDING? UM WHEN IT COMES TO. CUTS WE. SEE A LOT OF CUTS WHETHER IT'S
OUR FOOD JUSTICE ECOSYSTEM NOT ONLY EXPERIENCING CUTS NOW ON THE CITY BUT ALSO WE SEEING PLACES. ACTUALLY CLOSE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF FEDERAL
CUTS. SO I JUST WANT TO LIKE WE WE NEED TO PUT OURSELVES IN THE BEST POSITION. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAYOR
WILL DO, BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS BUDGET BETTER AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THE MAYOR CAN HELP OUT IN
THAT PROCESS IS IF WE SEND IT BACK AND WE LOSE, WE DO NOT LOSE ANYTHING. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. WELL, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. LET'S. >> YES.
OKAY. UM, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE CONCLUSION YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'VE STARTED EVERY, UH, HEARING THAT I'VE ATTENDED HOW
DISAPPOINTED I AM. ON THE CUTS, ESPECIALLY THE CUTS THAT WE'VE SEEN. FOR OUR GRANTS. I WANT FULL RESTORATION OF THE CUTS THAT WE'VE SEEN. AND I WANT TO WORK. WITH THE CHAIR AND WITH THIS
BODY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR YOUTH, JOBS FOR ARTS FOR MOYA. AND WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET. WHAT IS HARD AND WHAT DO YOU
THINK IS BEING LOST IN CONVERSATION HERE IS THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO AMEND THE BUDGET, THE POWER THAT THE PEOPLE GAVE US. IN 2021. THE POWER THAT THE PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY GAVE US WAS
AMEND THE BUDGET. BUT IN ORDER TO AMEND THE BUDGET YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE A BALANCED BUDGET AND CUT FROM SOMEWHERE. THAT IS HARD WORK. THE REASON WHY IT IS HARD TO
EITHER GET TO SEVEN OR TO GET TO NINE IS BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE AND I YOU KNOW HOPEFULLY EVERYONE STAYS ALONG FOR THE PROCESS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS IT IS HARD TO GET CONSENSUS ON
WHERE TO PULL THE MONEY FROM. AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TEAM PLAYER IN THE PROCESS OF SAYING ALL RIGHT THESE ARE HARD DECISIONS BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT, IF WE CAN RALLY THE SEVEN VOTES, WE CAN
RALLY THE NINE VOTES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SO THAT SUCH THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CARE WITH THE MAYOR THAT THERE'S A WAR IN WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TO CARE WHAT THE MAYOR THINKS OR WHAT SHE DOES BECAUSE WE HAVE NINE VOTES TO OVERRIDE A VETO AND
THE REASON WHY AND BUT THIS IS THE TOOL THAT THE PEOPLE GAVE US. THE TOOL. >> THAT THE PEOPLE GAVE US WAS YES, AMEND THE BUDGET. HERE'S YOUR POWER ON THE. >> BUDGET. BUT THERE HAS TO BE A CUT FROM SOMEWHERE. AND SO I YOU KNOW BEFORE I KNEW
THAT THIS BUDGET WOULD BE THIS HAD THIS MANY CUTS TO OUR OUR COMMUNITIES TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I WAS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILANTHROPY BEFORE I KNEW THAT THERE WOULD EVEN BE THESE CUTS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES
,OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY AND THE DEVASTATION THAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH ICE THAT ALL OF US HAVE SEEN AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO AN AVENUE GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO TO DO THE WORK TOGETHER AND FIND THE WAYS THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER. BUT IT'S NOT THROUGH GOVERNMENT ALONE AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE AS COLLECTIVELY AS
A CITY SOLVE HARD PROBLEMS. MY FIRST HEARING ON THIS BODY WAS ABOUT THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO LEAN INTO ITS TRIPLE A BOND RATING TO DO THE WORK
OF BORROWING MORE MONEY TO GET THE SCHOOLS THAT OUR KIDS DESERVE. AND I'M NEVER GOING TO STOP WORKING ON THAT. I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS FOR US TO USE THE FISCAL STRENGTH IN OUR CITY TO HELP
OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND THERE HAVE BEEN THERE ARE THERE ARE MECHANISMS OF DOING THAT WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE STRENGTH OF OUR CITY. I THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT DO DIP INTO
RESERVES IN THIS WAY AND THEN YOU SEE THEM TAKE A HIT AND IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO DO BUSINESS. WE HAVE THIS MECHANISM I BELIEVE THE CHAIR YOU KNOW STATED IT. HE'S FOUND MORE MONEY THAN I
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND. TO RESTORE MAYBE TO RESTORE THESE CUTS AND SO WHAT THE HARD WORK IS GOING TO BE IN THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS IS WHETHER 7 OR 9 OF US CAN DO THE HARD WORK THAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON GAVE US TO DO TO AMEND THIS BUDGET.
AND I AM EAGER TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I WANT US TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. BECAUSE THAT. >> IS WHERE THE HARD WORK IS AND WHERE THE TRADE OFFS ARE AND IS A HARD WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A BODY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> UM, I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR WEBER. YOU IN THE NEXT LIGHT ON UM COACH WEBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . SURE. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, AGAIN I REALLY I MEAN, I
FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL HERE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A BETTER BUDGET. AND THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT. UM. YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF. UH. >> JUST VOTING TO REJECT NOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY I
CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT WHAT I CAN GAIN FROM THIS WHAT I GAINED BY STANDING AGAINST REJECTION OF THE BUDGET IS THAT I CAN TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I'M
STANDING UP FOR FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS THAT I CAN STAND BY. I'M NOT CALLING ON THE MAYOR TO DO SOMETHING I WOULD NOT WANT HER TO DO AND THAT I AM TAKING
THIS JOB THAT I AND THE DUTIES WE'VE BEEN HANDED SERIOUSLY AND I'M NOT USING THE BUDGET AS A TOOL. TO INCREASE MY POPULARITY. OKAY, SO WE ALL HAVE TOUGH
CHOICES TO MAKE. YOU MAKE A CUT FROM SOMEWHERE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE APPROVAL OF THAT BUT IF YOU CAN USE THAT CUT AND FUND YOUTH JOBS, I REALLY HOPE NINE OF US CAN COME TOGETHER AND DO MAKE
THE SACRIFICE WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE. YOU'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT AND FUND THE THINGS THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT. SO YOU KNOW, IT'S UH I THINK WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE
DOING. I WOULDN'T WANT THE IF THE MAYOR ON HER OWN WAS TRYING TO INCREASE REVENUES ARTIFICIALLY AND SPEND DOWN THE RESERVES, I HOPE WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO STOP HER FROM DOING THAT.
UH, I JUST ASKING HER TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO SEE IN OUR CITY. I WANT WE HAVE $4.9 BILLION. >> LET'S USE. >> IT TO. PROVIDE THE BENEFITS OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. THANK YOU. >> UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES UM,
COUNCILOR DURKAN AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. I JUST. >> WANTED TO SEE IF WE HAD CONSENSUS TO MOVE TO A VOTE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? UH, LET'S CONTINUE.
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU. >> UH, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY . THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. I WANT TO DO THE AMENDMENT WORK RIGHT. I WANT TO ROLL THE SLEEVES UP. I WANT TO GET INTO THE AMENDMENTS.
HOWEVER, I'M TAKING A LONG TERM VIEW HERE AND SAYING THAT IF WE DON'T PUT. >> THE. PRESSURE TO CHANGE THE UNDERLYING THINGS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS. THE AMENDMENT PROCESS IS. ONLY GOING TO GET HARDER IN
YEARS TO COME BECAUSE EVERY DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE ON LIFE SUPPORT AND PULLING FROM ONE MIGHT ACTUALLY KILL IT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BODY IS TASKED TO DO. WE HAVE TO PULL FROM ONE TO
GIVE BACK TO ANOTHER. AND SO I I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I ALSO THINK IT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO CHAIR WEBER AND HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB TOO. IT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
TO START OFF A FISCAL YEAR SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PULL FROM RESERVES. I UNDERSTAND AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR DO WE HAVE TO PULL. >> FROM RESERVES. >> FOR UNFORESEEN THINGS? SURE. BUT TO START OFF AND SAY SO THE REJECTION IS NOT TO SAY HEY, RAISE REVENUE OR PULL FROM
RESERVES ESSENTIALLY IT'S REALLY TO SAY FIX THE POLICIES THAT GOT US INTO THIS PLACE SO WE'RE NOT CONTINUING TO FALL FURTHER DOWN BECAUSE OTHERWISE ,YOU KNOW, WE'RE SHUFFLING THE
DECK CHAIRS AND I JUST UH I DON'T WANT TO BE CONTINUE AND GOING ON THIS SHIP IF THAT'S ALL DO THESE AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR SUBSEQUENT YEAR AFTER ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE VERY MINOR COMPARED TO THE OVERALL DAMAGE
DONE? SO UH JUST WANT TO THROW OUT THAT CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK THANK YOU. AND LONG BEFORE THIS DEBATE
STARTED I HAVE CONSISTENTLY. WORKED AND ADVOCATED FOR FISCAL DISCIPLINE, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY.
I INFORMED THE ADMINISTRATION FOUR YEARS AGO OF THE TOUGH ECONOMIC SITUATION BOSTON IS CURRENTLY FACE IS CURRENTLY FACING. SO THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO I
KEPT I KEPT THAT LOBBYING EFFORT. I CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT BOSTON'S ECONOMY
IS TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. WE HAVE TO AS COUNCILOR FITZGERALD MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN POLICY SO WE CAN
GET BOSTON BACK ON STRONG FINANCIAL GROUND AGAIN. BUT LET ME HIGHLIGHT ONE ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND YES, WE'LL ALL
PARTICIPATE IN THE AMENDMENT PROCESS. BUT WHEN WE PASSED THE AMENDMENT AT THE CITY COUNCIL IT GOES TO THE MAYOR.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE MAYOR IS GOING TO INCLUDE THAT . WE'VE HAD A DEBATE NOW SEVERAL YEARS OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PASSED DO THEY ACTUALLY
GET FUNDED AND IN PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS? WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT PEOPLE NO, I CALLED FOR AMENDMENT MONEY THAT WENT INTO
THE CRIME LAB. UH THE PEOPLE CALLED FOR OTHER AMENDMENTS BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE AMENDMENT MONEY ACTUALLY GO
INTO THIS THE THE BUDGET OR WAS IT IGNORED? I DO BELIEVE THE MAYOR HAS THE ABILITY TO IGNORE OUR REQUEST EVEN IF WE VOTED ON IT TO PUT
UH TO PUT MONEY IN A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT. UM. MADAM. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNCIL WHETHER DOES WHEN WE
PASS THE AMENDMENTS HERE IS. CONSISTENT. >> WITH ALL. DUE RESPECT, I'VE GIVEN A LOT OF WE REALLY NOT HAVE AN A VERY WIDE CONVERSATION. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A QUESTION. OKAY. UH, AND REALLY THE MATTER IN
FRONT OF US NOW IS WHETHER WE VOTE TO GO TO YOU KNOW. NOPE. >> I SUSPEND. 24 I RESPECT I'D LIKE I DO RESPECT FOR I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THEIR SAY AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. THANK YOU I I RESPECT THE
PROCESS UM BUT MY MY POINT IS I'M UNCERTAIN IF WE PASS THE AMENDMENT HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES THE MAYOR IS IS THE MAYOR GUARANTEED TO PUT IT
IN A IN THE PARTICULAR CITY DEPARTMENT? I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO IGNORE IT OR PLACE IT IN THERE. THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT FACTOR IN THERE FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE WILL VOTE HERE. THEY'LL VOTE YES OR THEY'LL VOTE NO. I THINK. >> YOU'RE MAKING. YOUR VOTE BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS .
I DO THINK REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU VOTE, I THINK COLLEAGUES SHOULD NOT BE. CRITICIZING AND CALLING OUT OTHERS FOR SAYING YOU'RE PLAYING POLITICS OR YOU'RE OR YOU YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR THE
MEDIA. LET PEOPLE VOTE YES. VOTE NO BASED ON WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THE CITY. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO QUESTION PEOPLE'S REASONING. EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN REASON.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR REASONS REASONS ARE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOT TO CAST DOUBT ON SOMEONE THAT MIGHT DISAGREE WITH YOU BASED BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S BASED ON
POLITICS THAT'S PROBABLY INACCURATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FLYNN. UM COUNCILOR HERE AND THEN COUNCILOR CULPEPER. YEAH. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU KNOW, IN THE WHOLE POPULARITY SITUATION I USED TO
WORK AT MTV SO I'VE BEEN POPULAR ANYWAYS, UM. SO YOU KNOW, I AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST THING THAT I SAY. AND Y'ALL SHOULD BE HAPPY. >> ABOUT THAT.
UM, IS THAT AND I'M SO GLAD I'M HOPING THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL THE THINGS. >> THAT PEOPLE. ARE SAYING. >> AND NOT REALLY SAYING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BOTTOM LINE IS IS THAT. THIS IS OUR JOB. OUR JOB IS TO.
DEMONSTRATE POLITICAL POWER, POLITICAL WILL AND COURAGE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TAKE DIFFICULT VOTES. NO ONE IS KICKING KICKING THE CAN DOWN. >> THE ROAD. WHAT WE. >> ARE DOING. >> IS AFFIRMING THE INTEGRITY OF THIS BODY BY DEMONSTRATING.
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PUSH BACK. PERIOD. WE NEED TO. REJECT THE BUDGET. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE. A RESUBMITTED BUDGET THAT IS AN. APPROPRIATE STARTING PLACE FOR OUR AMENDMENT PROCESS. IT IS.
UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT WE CAN FIX. ALL THE HARMS. CAUSED BY THE PROPOSED. BUDGET THROUGH AMENDMENTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION IN CUTS.
AND CHAIR WEBBER'S. MEMO STATES THAT HE EXPECTS TO REALISTICALLY FIND. MAYBE IF WE'RE LUCKY. ,11 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT UH THAT THE COUNCIL CAN BUILD CONSENSUS. SUPPORT FROM AND.
WE ALSO KNOW. THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT BEEN HAD WITH THE MAYOR. ABOUT WHAT SHE MIGHT FEEL. COMFORTABLE WITH THAT WE STILL HAVE YET TO, UH. LEARN ABOUT. BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION WAS.
>> A PRIVATE CONVERSATION. BUT ANYWAYS, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR. >> US TO RESTORE THE. CUTS AND LOOK. FOR ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS THE COUNCIL COULD MAKE AND WE CANNOT. FIX A. BUDGET THAT IS. BROKEN AT ITS CORE THROUGH.
BAND-AID AMENDMENTS. WE'RE CALLING ON THE ADMINISTRATION. TO MORE ACCURATELY PROJECT REVENUE AND RESTORE APPROXIMATELY. 20 MILLION IN CUTS THAT WOULD DEEPLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN A
RESUBMITTED. OPERATING BUDGET. AND I REALLY DO CALL ON MY. COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THIS BUDGET IN. ORDER FOR THAT TO BE. ABLE TO. HAPPEN AND THAT IS NOT KICKING
THE CAN DOWN THE LINE. THAT IS US DOING OUR. JOBS AND THAT IS TO BE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO THE ADMINISTRATION. AND WHILE PEOPLE MAY. HIDE UNDER OTHER GUISES.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS. THE REASON WHY THIS VOTE SOME FOLKS. >> DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET CALLED. OUT FOR IT. UM, COUNCILOR CULPEPER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS ONE WHO'S. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR DRAWING MY ATTENTION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS ONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING A
FIRST BUDGET DISCUSSION AND LISTENING TO WHAT'S BEEN SAID OVER TIME, ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IS WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS BUDGET
THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUTURE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE CITY? WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS BUDGET? WE'VE HEARD DISCUSSION AROUND REVENUE. ALL I HEARD IS AMENDMENT AMENDMENT AMENDMENT.
HOW ARE WE AMENDING THIS BUDGET TO DEAL WITH THE FUTURE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE CITY FROM A REAL PERSPECTIVE? AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE DISCUSSION AHEAD, THE DISCUSSION LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH WHEN WE PICK AND CHOOSE THE ISSUES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT GET THIS INVESTMENT THAT GET THEIR AMENDMENTS, THEN WE ALL LOSE.
WE CHOOSE CHILDREN OVER SENIORS HOUSING OVER BLACK BOYS AND BLACK MEN. WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE AMENDMENTS SOMEONE'S GOING TO LOSE AND WE STILL HAVEN'T
LOOKED AT THE FUTURE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE CITY. AND I THINK, MADAM CHAIRMAN, TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND LOOK
AT FISCAL POLICIES THAT WILL DEAL WITH THE FUTURE AND LOOK AT REVENUES THAT WILL DEAL WITH THE FUTURE AND COME TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THIS BUDGET ONE
THAT WILL REPRESENT A BRIGHTER AND HEALTHIER FUTURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BROWN. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, THE TOOL THAT WE RECEIVE
THROUGH OUR CHARTER AMENDMENT NEVER TOOK ANY OF OUR OTHER POWERS AWAY. THEY GAVE US AMENDMENT POWER. THEY DID NOT TAKE AWAY THE
POWER FOR US TO REJECT. ALSO WHEN WE ARE PULLING FROM LINE ITEMS A DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE MANDATED BY LAW TO PAY
WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, OVERTIME. OR EXECUTING A. COURT. >> WE ARE TECHNICALLY RAISING REVENUE. SO IF WE. >> PULL $4 MILLION AND WE HAVE TO PAY LEGAL SETTLEMENTS WE ARE
RAISING, WE HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET THAT MONEY TO PAY THOSE LEGAL SETTLEMENTS. ON TOP OF THAT, THIS PROCESS THIS YEAR HAS TURNED INTO US.
JUST PLUG IN THE HOLES FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THIS BODY HAS DONE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THAT
WAS THE INTENT OR THE POWERS THAT THE LEGISLATURE UH THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE JUST PLUGGING
BACK THE HOLES OF THE CUTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AFTER FOUR YEARS OF HARD WORK OF THIS BODY TO GET MORE FUNDING INTO YOU JOBS TO GET MORE MONEY AND TO
UM, CITY VOUCHERS TO GET MORE MONEY INTO OUR FOOD JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING ON THE WORK. SO JUST WANT TO REITERATE UH
ONE WE DO NOT GET OUR POWERS TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE WE RECEIVE NEW POWERS. TWO WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING FROM A LINE ITEM WHERE WE ARE MANDATORY OR BY LAW HAVE TO
SPEND, WE ARE THEN RAISING THAT REVENUE AND THIS PROCESS JUST CAN'T BE ABOUT US PLUGGING HOLES. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WORRELL UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEN UH I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO A VOTE
OF. YES AND NO THANK YOU. >> AND I MEAN I JUST IN TERMS OF I THINK COUNCIL RULES HIGHLIGHTED AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF EXECUTION COURTS POLICE OVERTIME IF WE INCREASE THE REVENUE THAT ON THE ON THE
REVENUE SIDE THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING TO GO AND WE'LL HAVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO FUND THINGS LIKE. >> YOUTH JOBS AND. >> WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. I'D ALSO YOU KNOW, JUST WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS I THINK UH,
YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE HEARING IT WAS TOLD BY THE MAYOR WE REJECT WE GET THE SAME BUDGET BILL AND AND I THINK FOR THE FISCAL REASONS I DON'T WANT TO SEE A LARGER BUDGET.
SO YOU KNOW, REJECTING IT IS TO ME IS IS WOULD JUST BE FOR SHOW . AND WHILE THAT MAY FEEL GOOD I DON'T THAT'S NOT UH WHY I'M
HERE AND I WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THAT MONEY UM ,AND, UH, SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS AND I, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE UH, AFTER THIS VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. >> YOU JUST REFERRED TO ME. >> SO I JUST WANT TO. THANK YOU SAID MY NAME. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY COUNSELOR. UM, COUNSELOR WILL SEEK SUSPENSION OF RULES. NO NO NO, HE I'M SAYING BECAUSE
HE REFERRED TO ME. I JUST WANT TO. >> OH. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LIGHT ON. YOUR SMILE I SAW YOU. UM, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO, UM, SEE IF I CAN SAY WHAT I SAID A
LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY. I THINK THAT COUNCIL REP UH, THE CHAIR MIGHT HAVE MISINTERPRETED WHAT I SAID. SO IF WE TAKE AWAY FROM EXECUTION THE COURT.
RIGHT, WE ARE TECHNICALLY INCREASING THE BUDGET SO REVENUE WILL HAVE TO GO UP FOR US TO COVER THE COSTS IN A
DEPARTMENT OR A LINE ITEM THAT HAS GONE OVER UM EVERY EVERY YEAR. RIGHT. UM, THE $4 MILLION. SO THAT IS TECHNICALLY WHEN YOU'RE PULLING FROM THERE
BECAUSE YOU OVERSPEND IN THAT DEPARTMENT OR THAT LINE ITEM. UM WE ARE WE ARE INCREASING. >> THE REVENUE. OR INCREASE IN THE BUDGET DO THAT CUT OR. THAT AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> UM, COUNCILOR WORRELL SEEKS SUSPENSION OF RULE 24. UH, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING A YES VOTE MEANS YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING RULE 24 TO ALLOW
THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A VOTE. YOU WERE NOT VOTING ON THE, UH ,BUDGET. UH, DOCKET NUMBER. UH, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THE BUDGET.
QUESTION YET. WE'RE JUST, UH, ASKING UH, DO YOU AS A YES VOTE MEANS THAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING RULE 24 TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE.
SO, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT, UH, A ROLL CALL VOTE? YES, A YES VOTE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING RULE 24. COUNCIL OF READING.
NO. COUNCIL OF NO. COUNCIL COLORED AS OPPOSED. COUNCIL. CULPEPER. YES. >> COUNCILOR. >> CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. >> DURKAN. >> NO. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. >> COUNCILOR. >> FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES.
COUNCIL ILLUSION. NO. COUNCIL ILLUSION. NO COUNCIL OF ME HERE. YES. >> COUNCIL. >> MEJIA. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. YES. >> COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES, COUNCILOR. THE PEN COUNCIL. THE PEN NO.
COUNCILOR SANTANA. UH. COUNCILOR SANTANA. NO. COUNCILOR WEBER. NO. COUNCILOR. WEAPON. NO. AND COUNCILOR. YES, COUNCILOR. WELL, YES.
SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND SIX VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE. THE MOTION FEELS. >> THE MOTION FAILS. THANK YOU.
UH. DOCKETS 70733 THROUGH 0747 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR CHAIR, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET 0591 AND 0696. TALKING OF A0591 ORDER FOR A HEARING. TO REVIEW FUNDING REIMBURSEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE OVERTIME DETAILS IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON DUKKHA NUMBER 0696 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING LEVELS. THANK YOU. >> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES UM COUNCILOR SANTANA, THE CHAIR OF, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HELD A HEARING YESTERDAY ON THESE TWO DOCKETS. THE MANAGER SPONSORED BY
COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD WERE JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES. UM, COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR WEBER AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY
ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION UM, FROM LISA O'BRIEN TO BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION. EXCUSE CHIEF. WE ANSWERED QUESTIONS REGARDING POLICE OVERTIME AND STAFFING LEVELS. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE PARIS AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN YESTERDAY'S HEARING. I KNOW THAT, UM, NOT ALL THE PANELISTS THAT, UM THE LEAD SPONSORS UM, WANTED THEIR WERE THERE SO I'D BE I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH UH UM THE LEAD
SPONSORS UM TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER DATE. THAT WE CAN GET UM, FOR THIS HEARING. UM, THANK. YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 0591 AND 0696 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE.
I THINK SO I'M ON. >> UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UM. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO RISE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT TOOK US A LONG TIME TO GET THESE SCHEDULES,
AND THE LEAD SPONSORS AGREED THAT WE COULD HOLD BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE IT EASIER. AND THE COMMISSIONER DID NOT SHOW UP. SO COMMISSIONER COX DID NOT SHOW UP TO OUR HEARING YESTERDAY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK LISA
O'BRIEN WHO WAS HERE AND WAS PUT IN A VERY I WOULD SAY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION EXPECTING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE. AND WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION
SAID WELL HE WAS HERE LAST WEEK THAT IS THE JOB AND THIS JUST ECHOES THAT THE AMENDMENT PROCESS WHERE WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS WITH ANY OF OUR AMENDMENTS OVER THESE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE EVER EVEN
BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THE REASON WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS HEARING AGAIN IS BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO NOT SHOW UP AND
ANSWER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT SPENDING REVENUE MONEY. AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE READY TO PULL FROM A DEPARTMENT WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN HAVE THE DEPARTMENT COME AND DEFEND WHY
THEY'RE SPENDING IT, I THINK WE'RE IN FOR A FEW, UM, TOUGH CONVERSATIONS COMING UP. THANK YOU. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES. UM, I'M ON TO CONSTRUCTION AND YOU THE YOUR NEXT COUNSELOR.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR SHARING THIS MEETING. COUNCIL SANTANA DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DID NOT SHOW UP. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WERE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER OR SOMEONE FROM THE COMMAND STAFF. LISA O'BRIEN SHOWED UP. SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB BUT I COULD NOT ASK ALL THE
QUESTIONS I NEEDED TO ASK BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE WASN'T A SWORN OFFICER THERE THAT WOULD HELP US HELP THIS PARTY MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ON THE CITY
BUDGET. COUNCILOR COLE PEPPER AND MAYBE IT WAS COUNCIL WERE ALL ALSO HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WHEN THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DIDN'T SHOW UP. THEY WANTED TO USE AND I AND I
SUPPORTED THEM. THEY WANTED TO USE THE SUMMONS PROCESS. UM BUT I DO THINK RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HEAR FROM THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER OR SOMEONE FROM THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM. ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS IT. RELATES TO MANNING LEVELS AS IT . RELATES TO OVERTIME, DOESN'T
OVERTIME RELATED ISSUES HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY IN THE CITY BUDGET AND HERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY TO ASK
THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ABOUT ABOUT FUNDING ABOUT OVERTIME AND THERE WASN'T A THERE WASN'T A REPRESENTATIVE HERE. THIS IS COMING FROM A PERSON THAT SUPPORTS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. DID NOT SHOW UP OR HAVE
SOMEONE. THAT COULD SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO CITY COUNCILORS. I DO WANT TO SAY AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, LISA O'BRIEN DID AN
OUTSTANDING JOB. I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR MURPHY SHE WAS PLACED IN A LOUSY POSITION TO ANSWER ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT . I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT.
I WOULD NOT DO THAT TO SOMEONE THAT WORKS FOR ME, FOR THEM. THROW THEM OUT THERE AND BE THE BE THE SPOKESMAN ON ON CRITICAL ISSUES BEFORE THE CITY
COUNCIL THAT'S LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON. A CITY BUDGET. BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS MEETING. COUNCILOR SANTANA RESCHEDULED AND AND HAVE THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER HERE. I DO THINK IT'S RESPECTFUL TO THE THIS BODY TO HAVE THE POLICE COMMISSIONER COME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I THINK THE RESIDENTS WANT THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, YES. >> SO I HAD MY LIGHT ON FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT SINCE I'M STILL TRYING TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE, I'LL JUST
WAIT. BUT WHILE I'M UP, I DO WANT TO KNOW, UH, FOR THE RECORD, THAT. IT'S HARD FOR US TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF DECISIONS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE. ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN. FRONT OF US.
AND I THINK. UH. >> COUNCILOR MURPHY'S CALL OUT OF. >> THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSIONER WASN'T. HERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS. >> THAT. HAVE GONE UNANSWERED AND I THINK THAT IF. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRUST US TO DO OUR JOBS, THAT WE NEED
ALL THE PROPER TOOLS AND INFORMATION, UH, TO MAKE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS. SO I JUST WANT TO RISE UH. TO NOTE THAT. THANK YOU. >> SO DOCKET 0591 AND 0696 WILL
REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. WE'RE NOW ON TO MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS A REMINDER THAT UNDER RULE 39 REMARKS ON NEW MATTERS NOT UP FOR A VOTE TODAY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE
MINUTES FOR THE LEAD SPONSOR AND TWO MINUTES FOR THE CO-SPONSORS. MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1053. TALKING ABOUT 1053
COUNCILOR CULPEPER FOR THE. FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A SPECIAL UH. REGARDING AN AGE WAIVER FOR THE MAXIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT FOR 4K AND REQUEST TO JOIN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. >> MR.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CULPEPER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM PRESIDENT, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO VOTE ON THE PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET.
YES. >> THANK YOU. TODAY AND FOLLOWING THIS HOME RULE PETITION ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENT, A RESIDENT FOR HENRIQUEZ TO WAIVE THE MAXIMUM
AGE REQUIREMENT FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. MR HENRY CASE IS A LIFELONG BOSTON RESIDENT. BORN AND RAISED IN ROXBURY WHO HAS DEDICATED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PROTECTING OTHERS FROM 200 7 TO 2 015 2015 HE SERVED THE 182ND
INFANTRY REGIMENT INCLUDING A DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN IN 2011 WHERE HE OPERATED IN HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENTS PROTECTING CIVILIAN PERSONNEL AND MILITARY ENGINEERS WORKING ON
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO HIS MILITARY SERVICE OVERSEAS, MR ENRIQUES HAS CONTINUED SERVING HIS COMMUNITY HERE AT HOME. HE WAS ACTIVATED DURING THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING
RESPONSE HAS WORKED IN CORRECTIONS AND HAS SUPPORTED PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS TO BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER'S BROWN ROUNDHOUSE PROGRAM AND THE MASS CASS AREA.
MR RICKARDS BRINGS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP, MATURITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT CAN STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY POLICING AND PUBLIC TRUST. HIS DEEP ROOTS IN BOSTON
COMBINED WITH YEARS OF MILITARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE, POSITIONED HIM TO BE AN ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE RESIDENTS HE WILL SERVE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT ON THIS HOME
RULE PETITION AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MR WEEKENDS CONTINUE WITH HIS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR. CO-CAPTAIN CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL FRIEND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR COLE PEPPER FOR GOING GOING TO BAT FOR MR ENRIQUEZ. UM, COUNCILOR CULPEPER
HIGHLIGHTED HIS EXCEPTIONAL RECORD. HIS WORK RECORD. UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, MR ENRIQUEZ HIS COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION
AND THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. WE HAVE TO BE A CITY THAT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR VETERANS ,TO OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. WE NEED TO. SUPPORT THEM. THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE FOR THIS COUNTRY AS WELL. UM, UM SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL AND I KNOW WE HAVE TO. >> GIVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY. WE POSSIBLY CAN IN THIS CITY TO
VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, COASTAL
REGION COUNCILMEMBER HERE. COUNCILOR. PEPEN. COUNCILOR. WEBER, COUNCILOR. WORRELL. UH, COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR MURPHY AND PLEASE THE
CHAIR COUNSELOR. UH, KIND OF CULPEPER. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET 1053. ALL IN FAVOR, UH. SAY I.
ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY TO THE VOTE. MR TRAYER, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1054. COUNCILOR BREADON? YES. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES.
COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A COUNCIL. CULPEPER. YES. >> COUNCILOR. >> CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCIL. FOR SHOW. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCIL. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNCILOR.
MEJIA. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES, COUNCILOR. PIPPIN. YES. COUNCIL. PIPPIN. YES, COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. >> COUNCILOR WEBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR MORRELL. YES.
COUNCIL. YES. TALKING IN THE 1053 AS WE RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 1053 HAS PASSED.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1054. STUCK IN LIMBO 105 FOR COUNCILOR FLYNN OR FOR THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW REGARDING NAC
RELATIVE TO 17 F REFORM. CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONGRESSMAN COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TRANSPARENCY IS A. CRITICAL PIECE OF MAINTAINING BOTH PUBLIC TRUST.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. BY DISPLAYING VALUES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OPENNESS PURSUANT TO RULE 17 ON THE COUNCIL, A FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION MAY BE
SUBMITTED BY A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. THESE REQUESTS. >> ARE USED TO OBTAIN. RECORDS, REPORTS. DATA OR OTHER INFORMATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION CITY DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT
THE COUNCIL'S OVERSIGHT AND LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. RULE 17 F HAS NOT BEEN AMENDED SINCE 1982 ACCORDING TO THE CITY CHARTER. THE ADMINISTRATION IS
RESPONSIBLE TO. ANSWER WRITTEN. QUESTIONS RELATING. TO AT A. MEETING TO BE. HELD NOT EARLIER THAN ONE WEEK. FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT. OF SAID QUESTIONS.
THERE IS NO TIME LINE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS OR DEADLINE FOR THE MAYOR TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE ONLY THAT THEY CAN BE SUMMONED AFTER SEVEN DAYS. AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS HOME RULE PETITION.
1217 F REQUESTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN HAVE BEEN UNANSWERED WITH THE EARLIEST 17TH ORDER FILED ON JANUARY 28TH. JANUARY 28TH, 2026.
OVER 100 DAYS AGO. WHILE THE. >> CITY. CHARTER INDICATES THAT THE. ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO ANSWER. 17 REQUEST. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. THERE ARE NO PARAMETERS ENFORCING THIS RULE BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUMMONSES. COUNCIL HAS FILED 17. REQUEST TO SEEK INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS THEY SERVE. IT'S CRITICAL. >> THAT COUNCIL HAS. ANY CONSTITUENTS. RECEIVE THE.
RELEVANT INFORMATION THEY HAVE REQUESTED. >> TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC HEALTH. CURRENTLY, THE. CITY COUNCIL CAN REQUEST THE PRESENCE OF THE MAYOR. TO ANSWER. >> A. 70 F IN PERSON AT. >> A COUNCIL MEETING IF THE
ORDER WAS. NOT ANSWERED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. AN ENFORCEMENT. MEASURE OF. WHICH THERE. >> IS NO KNOWN MODERN PRECEDENT. CONCERNS REMAIN THAT A 17 F NOW ONLY. CARRIES THE SAME.
WEIGHT AS A PUBLIC. RECORDS REQUEST. A 17. F MAY IN SOME CASES. FACILITATE A. >> MORE DIRECT OR. MEDIATED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION THAN A. PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. PARTICULARLY WHEN THE MATTER
INVOLVES. ACTIVE CITY. COUNCIL OVERSIGHT. AND THE FINAL ANALYSIS. FOR VALUES OF. DEMOCRACY TO HOLD. THEY MUST CONSISTENTLY BE. >> HELD DESPITE WHO WAS. >> IN POWER.
OR ANY POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS. WHETHER IT'S IN WASHINGTON. D.C. OR THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE MUST ALWAYS. PROMOTE VALUES. >> OF TRANSPARENCY. GOOD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY .
OPENNESS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC TRUST. AND FACILITATE. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHO IS THE MAYOR OR WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OR WHO IS THE GOVERNOR. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE.
TO THE RESIDENTS. OF THE CITY OF THE STATE. OF THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. >> MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. COUNCILOR.
FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. WEBER. COUNCILOR. WORRELL. AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBER HERE. BEG YOUR PARDON?
THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1054 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MISTER CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1055.
TALKING ABOUT 155 COUNCILORS MURPHY AND FLYNN. OH FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT FUNDING FOR BOSTON. FIREFIGHTER CANCER SCREENINGS,
HEALTH SCREENINGS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SAFETY HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 27. BUDGET VOTE. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD PLEASE. UH, HEARING AND SEEING OF NO OBJECTION. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD IS ADDED AS A THIRD.
SO LAST WEEK AFTER WE HAD A HEARING UM, ON MONDAY AT ABOUT 11 A.M. AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PRINTED, THE FIRE COMMISSIONER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE
HERE AND THEIR BUDGET OFFICE AND THEY SPOKE TO US ABOUT A CONCERNING GRANT THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN IN THE PAST AND THAT HAS FUNDED THE FIREFIGHTER CANCER SCREENINGS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORTS AND SAFETY HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMING. THAT GRANT IS FOR $1.2 MILLION THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THIS YEAR. SO THEY WERE UM CONCERNED THAT
THIS OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADVOCATING MYSELF AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD HAVE BEEN SAYING AND I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET TO SPEAK ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT SOME OF THIS MONEY WE DID SEE YESTERDAY THAT 150,000 OF THE 1.2 MILLION IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
FIREFIGHTERS DO HAVE CANCER SCREENINGS, WHICH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE SAW THE DATA AND WE DO KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY AFTER OUR FIREFIGHTERS GIVE THEIR LIFE
AND THEIR SERVICE AS FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE CITY, THEY HAVE A FIVE YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY AFTER RETIREMENT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT I BELIEVE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THESE
IMPORTANT SCREENINGS ARE FUNDED. THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE STILL SHORT $980,000 FROM THE GRANT SO HEALTH SCREENINGS AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS SAFETY
AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE STILL NOT FUNDED. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT VOTE TODAY TO ASK THE MAYOR TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET, BUT I WILL BE PUTTING FORTH AN
AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS GRANT ARE FUNDED. BUT I AM GOING TO PULL THIS HEARING NOW KNOWING THAT SOME OF IT WAS BUT I KNOW MYSELF
COUNCIL FLYNN AND COUNCIL FITZGERALD WILL BE ADVOCATING THROUGH I GUESS OUR ONLY TOOL NOW THE AMENDMENT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE OTHER HEALTH SCREENINGS THAT THEY NEED. SO THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU. UM DOCKET 1055 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. UM, MR TURNER, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1056?
TALKING OF THE 1056 COUNCIL WITH EARL AND CULPEPER FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO EXAMINE FISCAL YEAR 26 SNOW WINTER MANAGEMENT COSTS.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WU, COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> UH, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS THE MOST THE CITY HAS SPENT IN ONE YEAR ON SNOW WENT TO MANAGEMENT
HAS BEEN $28.5 MILLION AND THAT WAS BACK WHEN WE SAW 51.1IN OF SNOW IN 2022. ONE OF THE BIGGEST SNOW STORMS
OF THE CENTURY IN FY 26 THE CITY SPENT MORE THAN $28 MILLION ON SNOW AND WINTER MANAGEMENT JUST THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. THAT $28 MILLION DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE SECOND MAJOR SNOW STORM WE SAW THIS YEAR IN FEBRUARY, SO WE KNOW THIS NUMBER WILL BE MUCH HIGHER. IN FACT, WE JUST SAW EARLIER
THIS WEEK THAT THE MAYOR UM ADDED $47 MILLION TO SNOW, WENT TO MANAGEMENT THROUGH A ONE TIME FREE CASH PAYMENT. IF WE ARE INDEED SEEING THE COST OF SNOW IN WINTER,
MANAGEMENT RISE TO LEVELS EVEN BEYOND WHAT WE SPENT IN 2015 WE HAD A WINTER WITH NEARLY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A FAR MORE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAY TO
APPROACH SNOW AND WINTER MANAGEMENT IN OUR CITY AND I BELIEVE UH, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE UH, PRESENTED SOME IDEAS ALREADY. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE
RESULTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND I HOPE THIS HEARING CAN DIVE INTO THOSE WAYS. UH, SNOW AND WINTER MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE THREE ITEMS AT THE MAYOR CAN RUN RUN OVER BY ANY AMOUNT AND NOT HAVE TO COME
BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. SO WE SO JUST AS WE ARE LOOKING FOR LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND OVERTIME COSTS, WE NEED ALSO LOOK AT WINTER AND SNOW MANAGEMENT COSTS IF WE ARE
PAYING MORE THAN $1 MILLION PER INCH OF SNOW REMOVED WE HAVE SOME ROOF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. THANK YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU CONSTABLE. WELL, FOR ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS FACING BROADER FISCAL PRESSURES AND
ANTICIPATED BUDGET CUTS, BUDGET DEFICITS, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DRIVERS BEHIND THESE COSTS, EVALUATE WHETHER CURRENT SNOW REMOVAL STRATEGIES ARE OPERATING AS
EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAVING WITHOUT COMPROMISING PUBLIC SAFETY OR SERVICE DELIVERY. THIS HEARING IS NOT ABOUT QUESTIONING THE IMPORTANCE
OF SNOW REMOVAL OR THE HARD WORK OF OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. IT IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURING THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING USED EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.
RESIDENTS DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE COSTS ARE CALCULATED, HOW CONTRACTS AND OPERATIONS ARE MANAGED AND WHETHER REFORMS OR EFFICIENCIES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. FLYNN CULTURAL REGION COUNCILOR. MEJIA CONSTANT MURPHY, COUNCILOR.
UM COUNCILOR WEBER. AND PLEASE HAVE THE CHAIR. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1056 WILL BE REPAIRED. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON POST AUDIT.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1057. DUCKING IN THE 1057 COUNCILOR CULPEPER OF THE. FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING CANCER CAUSING
CHEMICALS IN BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. TURNED TURNOUT GEAR IN THE TRANSITION TO PHASE THREE REPLACEMENT UNIFORMS. THANK YOU. >> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CULPEPER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR COUNCILOR MURPHY. MURPHY IS A SECOND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND REQUEST SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AS A THIRD
ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY'S ADDED AS A SECOND AND SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR FLYNN IS ADDED AS A THIRD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD HAS DONE IN THE WORK ON THIS ISSUE. ALSO, MADAM PRESIDENT. TO NOTICE. EVERY DAY BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM
IMMEDIATE DANGER. BUT INCREASINGLY WE ARE LEARNING THAT MANY FIREFIGHTERS ALSO FACE LONG TERM DANGERS FROM THE VERY EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
STUDIES HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT FIREFIGHTERS EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER AND PFAS CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
AS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN AND TURNOUT GEAR AND PROTECTIVE UNIFORMS. MASSACHUSETTS HAS ALREADY TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD PHASING OUT FAST AND FIREFIGHTER PROTECTIVE GEAR AND DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BEGINNING THE TRANSITION TO SAFER ALTERNATIVES. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY EXPERTS AND FIREFIGHTER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT AS FAST FREE
TURNOUT GEAR BECOMES AVAILABLE ,DEPARTMENTS SHOULD MOVE AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD REPLACING LEGACY EQUIPMENT CONTAINING HARMFUL CHEMICALS. THIS HEARING IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS
DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL FIREFIGHTERS, NOT JUST IN THE MOMENT OF A FIRE EMERGENCY BUT FOR DECADES AFTERWARD. OUR FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD NEVER
HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PROTECTION FROM IMMEDIATE DANGER AND PROTECTION FROM LONG TERM ILLNESS. MADAM PRESIDENT, THEY DESERVE EQUIPMENT THAT KEEPS THEM SAFE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER FOR ADDING ME.
I KNOW WE ALSO SPOKE LAST WEEK ABOUT BEING ADDED TO THE FUNDING FOR THE CANCER SCREENINGS AND UM, WE BOTH AND MANY OF US CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T
JUST FUND OUR DEPARTMENTS BUT WE'RE MAKING SURE AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE BETTER EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN IT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
HEARING, FINDING OUT WHAT MORE WE CAN DO AND IF THERE'S EQUIPMENT UM, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO REPLACE IN SOME OF OUR FIREHOUSES STILL HAVE KITCHENS THAT AREN'T IN THE
PROPER PLACE AND CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS ARE NEAR OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHILE THEY'RE SLEEPING AND EATING. SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE SAFE, IT IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR THEM. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE AND ADVOCATING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER FEATURE RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. TO COUNCILOR CULPEPER FOR ADDING ME AND FOR LEADING ON
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS FACE SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED. RISK OF OCCUPATIONAL. CANCER, CARDIO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. TRAUMATIC STRESS AND EARLY
DEATH DUE TO. REPEATED EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS. CONDITIONS INCLUDING MY UNCLE DENIS WHO DIED AT A YOUNG AGE. HE WAS A BOSTON FIREFIGHTER. DECORATED VIETNAM VETERAN AND
HE DIED AT A YOUNG AGE. CRITICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO. FIREFIGHTERS GRANT INCLUDING. CANCER SCREENINGS, BODY SCANS WELLNESS SERVICES. HAVE ALREADY. IDENTIFIED HUNDREDS OF HIGH.
RISK CASES. AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. CONDITIONS THROUGH. EARLY DETECTION. BUT THIS BODY NEEDS TO BE. COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT
FUNDING IS IN THE CITY. >> BUDGET NOT. JUST THIS. >> YEAR BUT GOING FORWARD. FOR FIREFIGHTERS. AND THEIR FAMILIES. FOR A. >> HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. CANCER SCREENING.
WE MUST IDENTIFY. HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTERS. >> WITH A CONSISTENT. BUDGET OPTION. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. >> DUE TO WHO THE. MAYOR IS. WHO THE GOVERNOR IS OF THE PRESIDENT IS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT. >> THIS FUNDING. >> IS.
ALWAYS IN. THE BUDGET. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL CULPEPER. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, COUNCILOR MURPHY. FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY
DID AS WELL. THEY WORKED WITH. LOCAL 718 FIREFIGHTERS UNION. THEY WORKED. WITH THE PROFESSIONAL. FIREFIGHTERS OF MASSACHUSETTS
AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS WELL WITH ED KELLY. BUT THEY. >> ADVOCATED TO. ENSURE THAT MONEY WAS IN THE BUDGET AND THAT THERE WOULD BE PROGRAMS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, DANA FARBER AS WELL FOR THEIR
COMMITMENT TO BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS. I WANT. >> TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE UNION FOR THEIR. INCREDIBLE ROLE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. >> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR.
UH LOUIJEUNE. COUNCILOR MEJIA. PEPEN. COUNCILOR. WEBER. COUNCIL. ROWLAND, PLEASE. AT THE CHAIR. THANK YOU. DOCKET. UM, DOCKET 01057 REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. UH, MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 11058. DUKKHA NUMBER 1058 COUNCILOR ZERO AND CULPEPER
FOR. >> THE FOLLOWING. ORDER FOR A HEARING TO EXAMINE FISCAL YEAR 27 PROPERTY TAX RATES. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WORRELL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I JUST SPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILOR UM, HE HAS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTION COMES FROM HE IS ADDED AS A THIRD. THANK YOU. UH, WE FEEL THE CALLS FROM
HOMEOWNERS EVERY NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WHEN THE COUNCIL EXERCISES THE MAXIMUM POWER IT HAS TO SET THE HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL FACTOR AND THE HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
THE VOICES WE HEAR ARE CUT THE BUDGET. SO I HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH IN TAXES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BEGIN TO LINK THESE TWO CONVERSATIONS IN THE SPRING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THIS IS WHEN WE'RE LOCKING IN THE REVENUE. PROPERTY TAXES ACCOUNT FOR 73% OF THE CITY'S PROJECTED REVENUE IN FY 26.
THAT 73% OF REVENUE PIE IS EXPECTED TO RISE 2.5% IN FY 27. AND CONSIDERING THE DROP IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER
COULD AGAIN SEE A BIG HIKE IN THEIR BILL SPEND ABOUT A DOUBLE DIGIT TAX HIKE TWO YEARS IN A ROW AND MORE THAN A 5%. EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW.
WHAT I SEE NOTHING IN THE FY 27 BUDGET IS GOING TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT 11% OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS STATE AID IS FORECAST TO GO UP 3%
DESPITE THE FACT THAT 72% OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS PROPERTY TAXES IS FORECAST TO GO UP 2.5% OVERALL OUR BUDGET IS ONLY
GOING UP 2.1% SO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER MIGHT STILL SEE A BIG HIKE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL. BUT UNDER THE PROPOSED BUDGET THE CHILD MIGHT NOT HAVE A NEW
JOB OR THE ARTICLE TWO THERE MIGHT BE CUT AND ON TOP OF THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HIT AGAIN WITH THE BIG PROPERTY TAX BILL. WE KNOW THE CITY IN 2024 HAS ALREADY MADE SPRING PROJECTIONS
TO THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX BILL, FORECASTING THEM TO BE BETWEEN 10 TO 17% HIGHER. THAT NUMBER ENDED UP AT 10.5%.
SO LET'S HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ALL AT ONCE. I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME FOLKS HOPING, UM, THAT THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO RESULT IN A PROPERTY TAX CUT FOR THEM. I'M HERE TO TELL THEM IT'S
LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU HERE AND DISCUSS IT FURTHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CULPEPER. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WELL FOR HAVING ME AS AN ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSOR ON THIS HEARING ORDER AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. AS DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE AROUND THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 27 OPERATING BUDGET INCREASE
OF APPROXIMATELY 2.1%, RESIDENTS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED THAT OVERALL TAX IMPACTS ARE RISING AT A
SIMILARLY MONSTROUS RATE MIGHT AS RATE BUT THE BROADER REVENUE PICTURE IS MORE COMPLICATED, PARTICULARLY WHEN PROPERTY TAXES MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE CITY'S REVENUE REVENUE BASE AND ARE STILL EXPECTED TO GROW AT THE MAXIMUM LEVEL PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW. RESIDENTS DESERVE A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF HOW THOSE
NUMBERS INTERACT AND WHAT THEY MIGHT ULTIMATELY MEAN FOR HOMEOWNERS AND TAXPAYERS. THIS CONVERSATION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THAT THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE FISCAL
YEAR 27 BUDGET PROPOSES MORE THAN 20 MILLION AND REDUCTION TO PROGRAM THAT SERVICES RELIED UPON BY NONPROFITS, VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASSUMPTIONS AND PROTECTS PROJECTIONS DRIVING THOSE CHOICES. THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS HAVE A CLEAR AND HONEST UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE POLICY DECISIONS FLOWING FROM IT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UM THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK. UH, COUNCILOR BURRELL. >> AND CULPEPER FOR FILING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING ORDER. AND. >> UM, ADDING ME, UM, AS.
AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. RESIDENTS ACROSS BOSTON ARE CONTINUING. TO FEEL THE PRESSURE OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES. WHILE ALSO HEARING. THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REVENUE. TO FULLY FUND CRITICAL. SERVICES AND AVOID CUTS.
WE NEED. >> A REAL. CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY HOMEOWNERS. ARE CONTINUING TO SHOULDER SO MUCH OF THIS BURDEN. PART OF THAT CONVERSATION ALSO HAS TO. INCLUDE PILOT.
PAYMENT LIEU. OF TAXES. MORE THAN HALF OF BOSTON'S LAND IS TAX. EXEMPT. >> INCLUDING SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST. UNIVERSITIES, HOSPITALS AND. INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHILE RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES CONTINUE. PAYING HIGHER TAXES. MANY OF THESE. LARGE INSTITUTIONS. ARE STILL NOT MEETING. THEIR FULL. PILOT REQUESTS AND. MUCH OF. THAT IS COUNTED.
UM COMES THROUGH. COMMUNITY BENEFITS RATHER THAN DIRECT CASH. CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT CITY SERVICES. IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT.
WE NEED GREATER TRANSPARENCY ON THE FY 27 PROPERTY TAX PROJECTIONS AND A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT. HOW LARGE. TAX EXEMPT. INSTITUTIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE MORE. FAIRLY TO THE CITY. THAT THEY BENEFIT.
FROM EVERY DAY. AND I THINK THAT ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE. HAPPENING AND UH. GOOD TIMING BECAUSE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S. BUDGET AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION IF WE REALLY WANT TO RESTORE TRUST IN THIS BODY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. I SEE YOUR LIGHTS ON BUT IT'S ONLY THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR SPEAK ON THIS DOCKET.
IS THAT OKAY? UM, ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR. UH, DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. PEPEN. COUNCILOR.
SANTANA. CONSTABLE. WEBER. AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. THANK YOU. DOCKET 105 EACH WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET. 10591059 COUNCILOR MURPHY OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER REQUESTING CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 OF REGARDING NEW CITY POSITIONS
CREATED SINCE JANUARY 15TH, 2025. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I FILED A VERY SIMILAR 17
EFFORT BACK IN 2024. IT DID TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS AND A REFILE TO GET THE ANSWERS BACK IN JANUARY 15TH OF 2025. SO I'M ASKING FOR THE SAME INFORMATION BUT JUST STARTING
FROM THE POINT OF WHEN WE LAST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE OVER 300 NEW POSITIONS CREATED AS OF JANUARY 15TH, 2025. SO I WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION FROM THAT DATE TO TODAY.
SO THANK YOU. UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. COUNCILOR. MEJIA. COUNCILOR. PEPEN.
COUNCILOR. UH SANTANA. COUNCIL. WEBER. COUNCILOR AROUND AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. COUNCILOR MURPHY SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET 1059. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY. THANK YOU. DOCKET 1059 IS PASSED. MISTER CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1060.
LIKE A NUMBER 1060 COUNCIL IS PUT PEN AND FLYNN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. WEEK 2026. CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR PEPEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SUSPEND THE RULES. AND NOW COUNCILOR MURPHY AS I GO TO CO-SPONSOR. UH, HEARING AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, COUNCILOR MURPHY IS
ADDED AS A THIRD. THANK YOU. >> UM, THIS WEEK WE RECOGNIZE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK. KNOWN AS EMS. AND HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION OF BOSTON EMS PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY.
EVERY DAY TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THEY SHOW COURAGE, COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM UNDER
PRESSURE AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON SAFE AND HEALTHY. 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK I WAS ABLE TO JOIN EMS LAST FALL FOR RIGHT ALONG WITH THEM AND ACTUALLY RESPOND TO SOME CALLS. AND WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I WAS HOLDING TIGHT TO MY SEATBELT
AND NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS GOING TO WALK INTO INTO THE INTO IT WAS EITHER A HOUSE, AN APARTMENT BUILDING UM THE ADRENALINE WAS UP THERE AND THAT THE FACT THAT THESE EMS PROFESSIONALS DO THAT EVERY
SINGLE DAY IN OUR CITY UM I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT. THEY'RE THEY'RE HEROES IN THIS CITY AND JUST ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH I WANT TO THANK A SPECIFIC
PERSON. HIS NAME IS LIEUTENANT ED MCCARTHY WHO IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO A FIRE IN MY DISTRICT ON CUMMINGS HIGHWAY IN MATTAPAN.
SAVING FAMILIES FROM A FIRE RIGHT ON SCENE. MIND YOU, HE'S ON THE SCENE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVEN SHOWS UP AND HE RUNS INTO THE BUILDING, HE STARTS KNOCKING ON DOORS AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
HE'S ALERTING FAMILIES THAT WEREN'T AWARE YET AND FAMILIES AND KIDS WERE TO COME OUT AND HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE THEM. AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMES AND PUTS OUT THE FIRE AND DOES THEIR JOB AS WELL. SO THESE PEOPLE ARE LITERAL
HEROES WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON WEARING THE UNIFORMS OF THE VMS AND THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. SO TO THE EMS AND EVERYONE OF THAT DEPARTMENT TO CHIEF JULIE AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THIS WEEK WE HONOR YOU AND EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR. UH, PEPEN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PEPEN FOR INCLUDING ME. AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. NATIONAL E-M-S WEEK. IS FROM MAY 17TH. >> TO. MAY 23RD. THIS IS A WEEK. >> WHERE WE RECOGNIZE. >> AND CELEBRATE.
OUR EMS. PERSONNEL FOR THEIR HARD WORK. SERVICE. >> COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY FOR OUR. RESIDENTS, OUR. EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL INCLUDING PARAMEDICS, EMTS.
WORK ON THE FRONT LINE THAT. WITNESSED FIRST HAND AND RESPOND TO. ACCIDENTS, VIOLENCE, TRAUMA MAJOR INCIDENTS. THEY ARE DEDICATED WORKING WORKERS.
SOMETIMES TAKING OVERNIGHT SHIFTS. REMAINING CALM, ASSURING HI UNDER HIGHLY INTENSE STRESSFUL. SITUATIONS WHICH. CAN TAKE. >> A TOLL ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. WE SAW THIS ESPECIALLY.
>> DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WHERE A LOT. >> OF. OUR EMS WORKERS AND FIRST. RESPONDERS PROVIDED. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. TO BOSTON RESIDENTS. EVEN AT THE. RISK OF THEIR OWN HEALTH.
. >> AS THE COST. OF LIVING. INCREASES, IT. >> IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF. OUR EMS PERSONNEL TO STAY IN THE CITY. I KNOW THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR OUR EMS PERSONNEL IS TEMPORARILY
SUSPENDED FOR THREE YEARS, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE YEAR WHEN. THE SUSPENSION IS UP FOR RECONSIDERATION. BUT I DO BELIEVE IT IS CRITICAL
THAT WE PAY OUR EMS PERSONNEL A GOOD WAGE A FAMILY WAGE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE. TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUE TO HELP
PEOPLE. LAST YEAR WE CELEBRATED THE GROUNDBREAKING. FOR A. NEW EMS STATION. IN THE SOUTH. BOSTON WATERFRONT. SOMETHING THAT MYSELF. COUNCIL FLAHERTY. THEN COUNCIL.
WILL CONGRESSMAN LYNCH. SENATOR COLLINS WITH. ADVOCATED FOR THIS WITH. RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH BOSTON WATERFRONT AND THE FOUR POINT. NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH BOSTON
FOR YEARS ON NATIONAL EMS WEEK. I WANT TO HONOR AND SAY THANK YOU TO OUR EMS PERSONNEL. WE WELCOME CHIEF HOOLEY TODAY. AND HIS OUTSTANDING TEAM AS.
WELL FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM . AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR ALL. COUNCILOR PEPEN. MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE UNSUNG HEROES. I AGREE WITH THEM. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
INCREDIBLE. WORK THAT THE EMS. UM AFFILIATE AFFILIATION WITH THE BOSTON POLICE PATROLMEN ASSOCIATION. BUT THESE UNION. WORKERS DO A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR
THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. THEY DESERVE. OUR RESPECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. YOU THE COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL OF PEPEN
AND FLYNN FOR LETTING ME JOIN YOU ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION HONORING OUR EMS. JUST LAST MONTH WE HONORED OUR DISPATCH CALLERS WHO ARE OUR
EMS FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE WHO TAKE THE CALLS AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IT'S IMPORTANT AND I MYSELF HAVE GONE ON A RIDE ALONG WITH EMS ALSO WITH POLICE
AND FIRE AND DEFINITELY LEFT REALIZING HOW OUR EMS WORKERS ARE THERE AND STAY WITH THE FAMILIES AND SHOW SUCH CARE AND
LOVE AND RESPECT TO GET AFTER THE POLICE AND AFTER THE FIRE OFTENTIMES HAVE GONE. THEY HELP FAMILIES PACK UP THEIR BELONGINGS, GET THEM INTO THE AMBULANCE AND IF NEEDED TO GET THEM TO THE HOSPITAL AND
IT'S OFTEN ALMOST ALWAYS IN THEIR YOU KNOW, WORST DAYS. SO ANY CHANCE WE CAN TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EMS WORKERS BUT ALSO DO WANT TO CALL OUT JASON, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNION AND MILES AND ALL OF HIS TEAM WHO ADVOCATE AND TRY HARD TO GET THE YOU KNOW, THE PAY AND THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR CULPEPPER, COUNCILOR UH, DIRK AND FITZGERALD. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR.
SANTANA. COUNSELOR. WEBER. CULTURAL REALM. PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. COUNCILORS PEPEN, FLYNN AND MURPHY SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. ADOPTION OF DOCKET 1060.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSED . SAY NAY. THANK YOU. THE I HAVE A DOCKET 1060 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 1061. DOC NUMBER 1061 COUNCILOR THE PANEL FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ME AS BIKE MONTH. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY PEPEN COUNTRY.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MAY I ADD COUNCILOR DURKAN AS THE SECOND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND. CONSIDER CANCEL ADDED. MAY I SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD
YOURSELF COUNCILOR BRAEDEN AS THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS I CONTRIBUTED AND ADDED. THANK YOU THIS MONTH I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR'S BIKE MONTH
AND CELEBRATE MANY BENEFITS THAT BICYCLING BRINGS TO OUR CITY INCLUDING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES, CLEANER AIR AND STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THE
BLUE BIKES RIDE SHARE PROGRAM, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY TO BICYCLES FOR RESIDENTS AND COMMUTERS ACROSS BOSTON AND SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH THE ADDITION OF NEW STATIONS ACROSS MY DISTRICT AND
CITYWIDE MAKING IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL AND WORK WHILE HELPING REDUCE TRAFFIC AND NUMBER OF CARS ON OUR ROADS. UH THIS PAST I THINK IT WAS LIKE LAST WEEK IT WAS RIGHT TO
WORK DAY AND WE HAD A WE HAD DOZENS UPON DOZENS HUNDREDS OF BICYCLISTS RIDING FROM ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY INTO CITY HALL. UM IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL OCCASION ALSO AT MY AT MY DAUGHTER'S
SCHOOL THEY DO A FRIDAY BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY AND I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SHOUT OUT TO ALAN WRIGHT FOR MY DISTRICT FOR ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE BICYCLIST ADVOCATE. IT'S JUST IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WAY OF LIVING. UM I'M GLAD THAT OUR RESIDENTS
ARE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY SEE MORE BLUE BIKES ACROSS THE CITY AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO DO THE WORK IN THIS FIELD. THANK YOU. >> MADAM CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL DURKAN COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR PEPEN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. UM, AS SOMEONE WHO GETS AROUND SOMETIMES ON A BIKE, UM, I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE. DIFFICULT SOMETIMES WITH DOUBLE PARKING AND OTHER THINGS.
AND JUST THIS MORNING I SAW SOME BIKE ADVOCATES OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL ADVOCATING FOR SAFETY. AND SO, UM, THIS FIGHT CONTINUES AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
UM, I THINK THAT AS A CITY UM IT'S CLEAR THAT THE BIKES PROGRAM IS REALLY POPULAR. UH, BUT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING ON A BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE A SAFE ROUTE TO GET TO WHERE
THEY'RE GOING AND THAT REQUIRES WORK AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. SO I'M GRATEFUL TO BE THAT POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN MY DISTRICT. UM, AND ALSO UH TO CONTINUE UP
UM, TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT UM HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR STREETS MORE ACCESSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKAN. UM AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR UH ,PEPEN FOR INCLUDING ME AS A
THIRD CO-SPONSOR. UM, I COME FROM A DISTRICT. I REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT HAS UH UH, A VERY HIGH, UH, LEVEL OF BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT
ALSO UM BUT WE NEED MORE UH BUT ALSO MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T, UH, DON'T OWN A CAR. THEY RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT ON BICYCLES FOR GETTING AROUND.
UM, SO I I REALLY WANT TO CELEBRATE ALL THOSE WHO USE BICYCLES, UH, REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND UH, UH, IMPROVE, UH, PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. I, UM I HAD ONE AS A YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP I ONE OF MY ROOMMATES WAS WAS HIT IN A WITH BY A CAR IN A ALMOST WELL IT
WAS A CATASTROPHIC INJURY. SHE HAD A VERY SEVERE BRAIN INJURY AND DID RECOVER BUT SHE SHE WAS VERY, VERY DISABLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF HER LIFE. SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE
THAT THE BLUE BLADE PROGRAM IS OFFERING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO UM, TO RIDE A BICYCLE BUT ALSO WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE E-BIKES. UH, THOSE OF US WHO MAYBE ARE
NOT AS FIT AS WE USED TO BE CAN ACTUALLY STILL CONTINUE TO BE BICYCLISTS IN THE CITY. AND IT'S REALLY I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS UH UH, WHO HAD SORT OF GIVEN UP ON BEING BICYCLE RIDERS AND THEY'VE SAID THAT
IT'S REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THE E-BIKES, UH, TO GET AROUND, UH ,FOR RECREATION AND FOR UM NECESSARY TRAVEL IN THEIR IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PEPEN.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE COMES FROM MURPHY. COUNCILOR SANTANA. CONSTABLE WEBER.
UM THANK YOU. COUNCILORS PEPEN DURKAN AND BRENNAN SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES ADOPTION OF DOCKET 11061. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I.
WITHOUT THE VOTE. UH, MR TRAYER, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1061. . COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. >> COUNCILOR. >> BRAINIEST COUNCILOR CARLIN AS OPPOSED. COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. COUNCILOR CULPEPPER. YES.
COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. >> DURKAN. >> YES. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FISCAL. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNCILOR. MEJIA. COUNCILOR. MEJIA. YES. COUNCILOR.
MURPHY. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR 15. YES. THAT'S A PIN. YES, COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. AND SILVER? YES.
AND COUNCILOR EARLE TUCKER NUMBER 1061 HAS RECEIVED 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1061 HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1062. TALKING ABOUT 1062 COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING JUNE 2026 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSTANTINE I KNOW YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE
TO ADD COUNCILOR MEJIA AS A, UM ,ORIGINAL UH, CO-SPONSOR. UH, COUNCILMEMBER HERE. SO I ADDED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILOR KAPATID AS MY ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTIONS, COUNCILOR PEPEN IS ADDED AS A THIRD. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS A BLACK LATINO MAN WHO IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY FROM THE REPUBLIC I THINK THREE YEARS OLD IMMIGRANT HERITAGE
MONTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME. GROWING UP MY PARENTS ALWAYS REMINDED ME NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THIS MONTH IS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL TO THEM AND TO SO MANY FAMILIES JUST LIKE MINE. IT'S TIME TO HONOR THE
RESILIENCE, THE GRIT AND THE INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. TOO OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS THEY ONLY TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO. THEY TALK ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL
JOBS WE FILL, THE BUSINESSES WE OPEN AND THE WAYS WE DRIVE THE ECONOMY. AND YES, WE ARE THE BACKBONE OF BOSTON'S GROWTH. BUT THIS CITY DOESN'T JUST NEED OUR HANDS, IT NEEDS OUR HEARTS
. WE NEED OUR STORIES, OUR PERSPECTIVE, OUR TRADITIONS AND OUR CULTURES. WE DON'T JUST MAKE BOSTON WORK . WE MAKE BOSTON BOSTON.
YET DESPITE EVERYTHING WE POUR INTO THIS CITY, TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ESPECIALLY OUR LGBTQIA TO US PLUS AND IMMIGRANT SIBLINGS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN FEAR.
THEY FACE INTIMIDATION, MARGINALIZATION AND POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT TRIES TO TO MAKE THEM FEEL INVISIBLE. SOME VOICES WANT TO DISMISS OUR VALUE AND SAY IMMIGRANTS DON'T BELONG.
BUT LET ME BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR. WE BELONG HERE. THIS RESOLUTION IS MORE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LOOKING BACK AT OUR HISTORY. IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY AND SECURING
OUR FUTURE TOMORROW. IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE MUST CHERISH AND STAND UP FOR OUR DIVERSITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK UM PERSON FROM AI LABS FOR THEIR
INVALUABLE HOPE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE VOICES UM OF OUR RESIDENTS, UM AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE UPLIFTED AND THAT'S IN THIS RESOLUTION. UM AND I WANT TO THANK UM MY
CO-SPONSORS FOR JOINING ME AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUSPEND AND PASS THIS TODAY. UM THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM MEJIA. COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT .
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF RECOGNIZING JUNE 2026 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. BOSTON IS A CITY SHAPED BY
IMMIGRANTS. SO MANY FAMILIES INCLUDING MY OWN CAME HERE SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITY, STABILITY AND A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. GROWING UP WITH A MOM WHO IS I
KNOW FROM MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD I SAW FIRSTHAND THE SACRIFICES IMMIGRANT FAMILIES MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST TO SURVIVE WORK AND PROVIDE. THAT IS WHY THIS RECOGNITION MATTERS.
BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE MATCHED WITH ACTION AT A TIME WHEN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE UNDER ATTACK AND LIVING WITH FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY. WE ARE ALSO DISCUSSING CUTS
HERE IN BOSTON, INCLUDING ROUGHLY $1.8 MILLION IMPACTING IMMIGRANT GRANTS AND LEGAL SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ARE A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES NAVIGATING
HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS AND BASIC STABILITY. IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HONORING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ,WE MUST ALSO BE SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORTS THEY RELY ON.
UM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE PART OF OUR CITY. THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY, CULTURE, SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY DESERVE TO BE SUPPORTED NOT JUST IN WORDS BUT
THROUGH POLICY AND INVESTMENTS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NOT ONLY RESTORING THE CITY CUTS. UM, AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MAKING ON RELYING ON PHILANTHROPY, IT
IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT OUR OUR BUDGET IS A VALUE STATEMENT AND OUR IMMIGRANTS NEED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO RISE FULLY RESTORE THAT LINE ITEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THEM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSTRUCT PEPEN CASTRO, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA MAYOR, FOR ADDING ME AS A THIRD. YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THIS MONTH IS THAT IT ISN'T ONE SPECIFIC GROUP. IT'S A STORY OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STORY OF BOSTON. IT'S THE STORY OF THE FACT THAT
HERE JUST IN THIS CHAMBER WE HAVE DESCENDANTS OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS, OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS OF AND WE HAVE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS, A DOMINICAN IMMIGRANTS JUST IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I TRULY LOVE ABOUT THE WORK OF PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC GROUP AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO REMIND MYSELF AND
REMIND OTHERS THAT WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR A GROUP OF IMMIGRANTS RIGHT NOW TO RIGHT NOW IT'S ONE GROUP BUT NEXT WE DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE MAKE POLICY DECISIONS,
WHEN WE STAND IN OUR ON OUR ON OUR TWO FEET AND WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THAT NEED SUPPORT AND RESOURCES, THAT WE'RE DOING THAT KNOWING THAT THAT WAS ONCE OUR FAMILIES BEFORE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHOSE FAMILY IS
GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S WHY I AND I ALWAYS STAND PROUD WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THOSE WERE MY PARENTS MY PARENTS WHO DECIDED TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY AND START A HOME HERE IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON AND WELL, I ALWAYS SAY I AM VERY BLESSED THAT THEY CHOSE THE CITY OF BOSTON TO START A NEW HOME AND THAT'S WHY I STAND HERE IN SOLIDARITY ALWAYS WITH MY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY NO MATTER WHERE
YOU'RE FROM. KNOWING THAT I STAND HERE ADVOCATING FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS. UM, HAPPY IMMIGRANT HERITAGE
MONTH. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE. FOLKS WHO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY REMAINS ONE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND ONE THAT UPLIFTS ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF FOLKS UH, UNFORTUNATELY NOT AS MANY AS WE SHOULD BUT WHO ARE INDIGENOUS TO THIS LAND WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE IMMIGRANT STORY. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER
OF FOLKS WHO ARE DESCENDANTS OF FOLKS WHO WERE BROUGHT HERE VIA CHATTEL SLAVERY. AFRICAN AMERICANS THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE IMMIGRANT STORY. IF YOU DON'T FALL IN THOSE TWO CATEGORIES YOU HAVE AN
IMMIGRANT STORY TO THIS COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE YOU'RE WHITE OR BLACK AND NOT A DESCENDANT. FROM FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE OF THE
XENOPHOBIA THAT WE SEE THE HATRED THE RACISM IS SO HYPOCRITICAL IT IS COMPLETELY HYPOCRITICAL. HYPOCRITICAL. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I REALLY ENJOY THE FLAG RAISING
THAT WE HAVE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. DID IT ON FRIDAY FOR HAITI BECAUSE IT REMINDS US OF THAT STORY AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BOSTON REMAINS THAT BEACON AS WE FIGHT THESE
MULTI-LEVEL FIGHTS TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE REMEMBER OUR STORIES AND THAT THEY'RE ROOTED IN MAKING ROOM AND MAKING PLACE
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ESCAPING ALL SORTS OF UH OF OF UH OF HARM TO WANT TO FIND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES, THOSE WHO WANT TO GO HOME AND I
KNOW A NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES BUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE UH, ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN, UH, RAPE, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND MASTIC VIOLENCE PREVENT THEM FROM CALLING THEIR
. HOME COUNTRY HOME. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. HAPPY IMMIGRANT HAIR HERITAGE MONTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR ASIAN
COUNCILOR FRIEND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND UM. ,I RISE TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS BUT ALSO THAT SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS ACROSS BOSTON ACROSS GREATER BOSTON AS WELL. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY AND FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY CAME BACK UM, AND REALLY WEREN'T TREATED WITH RESPECT AS CITIZENS AS WELL.
SO UM, IMMIGRANTS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN IN BOSTON AND IN OUR NATION HELPING BUILD HELPING BUILD THIS CITY, HELPING BUILD THIS COUNTRY. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM
,FORMER MAYOR RAY FLYNN THAT STARTED THE OFFICIAL OFFICE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN SUPPORT OF UM IMMIGRATION IMMIGRANTS. IT WAS IT WAS A DIFFERENT NAME
BACK THEN BUT IT'S UM IT'S THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE I BELIEVE IT WAS BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ASPECT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. >> UM, AS AN IMMIGRANT, UM, I
AM VERY PLEASED. TO CELEBRATE AND JOIN YOU ALL IN CELEBRATING IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH. I CAME HERE, UM, 31 YEARS AGO.
UM, AND IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE COMING FROM A VERY. UM UH. YEAH, COMING FROM A COMING TO A VERY DIVERSE CITY, UH, AND
EXPERIENCING MORE FREEDOM AS A LGBT WOMAN, UH, AND JUST REALLY GETTING INTO THE INTO THE MIX WITH EVERYONE HERE IN BOSTON IS AN AMAZING CITY. IT'S A WELCOMING CITY.
IT'S A DIVERSE CITY AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR STRENGTHS. >> SO. UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO JOIN US, JOIN YOU ALL IN THIS, UH, IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH RESOLUTION. THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS FOR THIS.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? COUNCILOR CULPEPER, COUNCILOR DURKAN. FENSTER. FITZGERALD. COUNTRY. FLYNN. LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. UH, WEBER. AND PLEASE.
UH, I'M ON THERE. I'M ON THERE ALREADY. UH. THANK YOU. >> UM. WHERE ARE WE? COUNCILORS. >> UM, NO, I'M NOT ON THERE. COUNCILOR SANTANA MEJIA AND
PEPEN SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET 1066. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED TO THE 11062. UH. >> CITY COUNCILOR SANTANA MEJIA
AND PEPEN SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES OF ADOPTION OF DOCKET 1062. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY. THANK YOU.
DOCKET 01062 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1063? DUCKY NUMBER 1063 COUNCILORS FLYNN AND MURPHY OF THE
FOLLOWING RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MEMORIAL DAY AND HONORING OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES KLEINSCHMIDT. FLYNN.
COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR JOINING ME. THE MEMORIAL DAY IS OBSERVED ON THE LAST MONDAY OF MAY.
IT'S A SOLEMN DAY TO ONE OF THOSE THAT MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING IN THE U.S. MILITARY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR AND MAJOR GENERAL JOHN LOGAN, THE HEAD OF A UNION
VETERANS ORGANIZATION, ESTABLISHED DECORATION DAY. BY THE LATE 1860S MANY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHILE HOLDING THEIR OWN SPRINGTIME TRIBUTES TO FALLEN
SOLDIERS IN THE WAR DEAD. DECORATING THEIR GRAVES WITH FLOWERS. THE FIRST LARGE OBSERVANCE OF DECORATION DAY WAS HELD IN 1868 AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL
CEMETERY. DECORATION DAY CONTINUED TO BE OBSERVED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL AND IN 1968 THE US CONGRESS PASSED THE UNIFORM MONDAY HOLIDAY ACT WHICH ESTABLISHED MEMORIAL DAY
AS THE LAST MONDAY. THAT CHANGE WENT INTO EFFECT 1971, BUT ON MEMORIAL DAY WE WANT TO BE MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION AMERICAN MILITARY
PERSONNEL WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION WHILE SERVING IN UNIFORM. THAT THEIR BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
WE ESPECIALLY HONOR OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES GOLD STAR WIVES WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY AND
RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICE THAT GOLD STAR FAMILIES HAVE MADE FOR OUR COUNTRY. ON MEMORIAL DAY WE TRY TO AS A NATION SHARE SOME OF THAT PAIN
THAT GOLD STAR FAMILIES EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. IMAGINE 365 DAYS A YEAR EXPERIENCING THAT PAIN OF A LOVED ONE THAT WAS KILLED
SERVING OUR NATION. AND AS AMERICANS WE ONLY SHARE IN THAT PAIN ONE DAY. WE HAVE TO STAND WITH OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES NOT JUST ON
MEMORIAL DAY IN MY OPINION, BUT EVERY DAY. BOSTON HAS A NUMBER OF EVENTS ON MEMORIAL DAY. I WANTED TO TRY TO LIST AS MANY AS I AS I COULD.
UM SO PEOPLE COULD ATTEND. UM BUT ONE OF THEM IS THE WILLIAM CARTER POST, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST, WHICH IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POST IN MASSACHUSETTS ON BLUE HILL
AVENUE. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THAT POST . OTHER MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS INCLUDE A WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE SOUTH BOSTON VETERAN'S MEMORIAL, WHICH IS
MEDAL OF HONOR PARK AND AT THE PUERTO RICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL ON THE SOUTH END. THE CITY OF BOSTON'S VETERANS SERVICES AND VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY UH STILL SAFELY AND INDIVIDUALLY PLACING FLAGS AT OUR MILITARY CEMETERIES IN HONOR OF THOSE THAT MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT
COOKOUTS. IT'S NOT ABOUT PARTIES. IT'S NOT ABOUT A DAY OFF. IT'S ABOUT REMEMBERING, SHARING
THE PAIN, UNDERSTANDING THAT FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE ARE NEVER THE UH NEVER THE SAME. BUT THE COUNTRY IS BETTER.
THE COUNTRY. THROUGH THAT SACRIFICE WE HAVE A BETTER COUNTRY AND WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND UNDERSTAND AND
SHARE THAT PAIN ON MEMORIAL DAY AND STOP AND SAY A PRAYER EVEN IF IT'S A SILENT PRAYER TO OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND OUR WAR DEAD AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR. UH, FLYNN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MURPHY. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN . FOR YOUR. SERVICE BUT ALSO FOR YOUR. UM.
>> HISTORY THERE OF WHY WE CELEBRATE. IT HAS DEFINITELY BECOME A WEEKEND THAT PEOPLE THINK OF MAINLY OF THE KICKOFF TO SUMMER ABOUT. COOKOUTS. >> BEING WITH FAMILY AND.
UM, COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO ALWAYS REMINDS US AT MANY. >> OF THE. CITYWIDE MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS THAT I'LL BE ATTENDING THIS. WEEKEND AND HAVE EVERY YEAR SINCE. >> I BET ON THE COUNCIL THAT THIS IS A DAY TO. REMEMBER THOSE WHO. DID NOT JUST.
SIGN UP TO SERVE OUR. COUNTRY BUT THEN PAID THE ULTIMATE. SACRIFICE AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT. I DO WANT TO. ALSO SHOUT OUT ALL OF THE POSTS
AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT FLAGS AT THE GRAVES. I VISITED MY DAD'S GRAVE. HE IS BURIED DOWN AT ONE. NATIONAL CEMETERY. AND MY SON OF FORMER STUDENT OF MASS MARITIME.
THEY DO GO OVER AND PUT FLAGS THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE CEMETERY AND. >> I KNOW THEY'LL BE. >> DOWN AT CEDAR GROVE AND ALL OF THE CEMETERIES AROUND THE CITY ALSO. SO THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS . >> WHO GO OUT AND PAY RESPECT TO THOSE. WHO LOST THEIR. LIFE AND TO OUR GOLD STAR
FAMILIES. KNOW THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE. OUR VETERANS BUDGET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST IN THE CITY STILL. >> HAS A. $750,000 CUT AT THIS MOMENT. AND I'LL CONTINUE. >> ALSO TO ADVOCATE THAT. WE FULLY FUND AND HOPEFULLY.
SOMEONE WILL EVEN PUT IN AN AMENDMENT. >> TO PUT EVEN MORE MONEY THAN JUST. LEVEL FUNDING. OUR VETERANS DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEAD SPONSOR FOR BOTH HIS MILITARY SERVICE AND ALSO, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY. UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID ON THE CITY COUNCIL WAS UM .
TO, UH. ESTABLISH A HERO SQUARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FERNWOOD ROAD AND HUNTINGTON AVE AND MISSION HILL IN RECOGNITION OF NELSON
EDWARD YOUNG WHO WAS A PRIVATE UM HE I SPONSORED THIS WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN. UM, AND I KNOW, UM, THE MISSION HALL POST. UH, WE HONOR HIM EVERY YEAR UM, AT BRIGHAM CIRCLE.
UM, BUT IT'S THAT PARTICULARLY THAT CEREMONY WAS INCREDIBLY MOVING FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I FOUND ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO SEE
THIS, UM, THIS PERSON'S FAMILY COME FORWARD SO, SO MANY YEARS LATER. UM, HIS HE BEGAN ACTIVE DUTY ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 1948 TO SEE THE
GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOWED HIM SHOW UP, UH, FOR THIS UH, HERO SQUARE DEDICATION WAS INCREDIBLY MOVING TO ME AND IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE THAT, UH THE FOLKS THAT WERE AT THAT
CEREMONY UM, WERE FIRE AND POLICE AND FOLKS WHO ARE ALSO SERVING OUR CITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SO UM SO I THINK THIS UM HE ALSO ENLISTED WHEN HE WAS VERY, VERY YOUNG.
SO UM BUT TO HAVE YOU KNOW, SO MANY YEARS LATER SO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS COME FORWARD AND THIS WAS SO MEANINGFUL AND MOVING FOR THEM. IT JUST REMINDS US THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THOSE WHO
. FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THEY'RE THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THIS YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT WE DO TODAY TO SERVE AND TO BE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
AND SO UM SO I'M JUST GOING BACK TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THREE YEARS LATER, UM, THAT WAS STILL SUCH A MOVING CEREMONY AND SINCE THEN WE'VE REDEDICATED HERE ARE SQUARES AND BEACON HILL UM AND THERE'S
BEEN THERE'S MORE TO DO. I LOOK FORWARD TO HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIENDS AT THE MISSION HALL POST TOMORROW AND ON MONDAY AND UM, INCLUDING OUR, UH, WONDERFUL LEADER AND GENERAL WOODY WOODHOUSE. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COACH DURKAN. UM, AND JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE FOLKS, UM, FROM THE BRIGHTON ELKS WHO WILL BE DECORATING THE GRAVES AT EVERGREEN CEMETERY IN
PREPARATION FOR THE THE MEMORIAL DAY UM, REMEMBRANCES AT EVERGREEN CEMETERY IN BRIGHTON ON MONDAY MORNING. UM.
PROBABLY ON YOU COULD. SO COUNSELORS UM. ONE ZERO ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAMES 63063 ANYONE LIKE
TO ANY OTHER NAMES? COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. COUNSELOR. DURKAN. COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD. COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE CULTURE MEDIA COUNSELOR. PEPPER AND WEBER. CULTURAL REALM.
PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNSELORS FLYNN AND MURPHY SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF UH UH AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET 1063.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY I MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1063. COUNSELOR BREEN. YES, COUNSELOR. BREADON. YES. COUNCIL. COLLETTE AS A COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. COUNSELOR. CULPEPER.
YES. COUNSELOR. DURKAN. COUNSELOR. DURKAN. YES. COUNCIL. FITZGERALD. COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCIL. FLYNN. YES. COUNCIL. YES. COUNSELOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNSELOR.
MEJIA ON MEJIA. YES. COUNSELOR. MURPHY. COUNSELOR. MURPHY. YES, COUNSELOR. PIPPIN. YES, COUNSELOR. HAPPINESS COUNCIL SANTANA. COUNSELOR. WEAPON. COUNSELOR. WEBER. YES AND COUNSELOR. WORLD. YES. COUNSELOR.
OH, YES. TALKING OF A1063 AS WE SEEM 11 VOTES AND AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 1063 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1064?
TALKING OF A106 FOR COUNSELORS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE RESCISSION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARY INCREASES AND. >> THE. REDIRECTION OF SAVINGS TO
ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MURPHY COUNCIL. MURPHY, YOU HAVE. >> THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M FILING THIS. RESOLUTION TODAY WITH COUNCIL OF FLYNN AND.
CALLING FOR THE RESCISSION. IN 2019, THE BOSTON. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED. >> A SALARY INCREASE PACKAGE FOR. ELECTED OFFICIALS WHICH. RAISED THE MAYOR'S SALARY FROM. TWO OF.
207,000 TO 250,000. AND RAISED THE CITY COUNCIL SALARIES. >> IN THREE. INCREMENTS AND ENDED AT THE FINAL ONE AT ONE 125,000. WE GAVE OURSELVES A.
20.8% RAISE. WE'VE HAD ALL OF THE CONTRACTS COME BEFORE US IN ALL OF DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND I'M GOING TO REPEAT WHAT COUNCILOR FLYNN SAYS AT EVERY
CONTRACT HEARING WHAT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT IS THIS THE BEST WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE ALWAYS SEE IS WE'RE ONLY GIVING THEM 1.5 AND 2% RAISES AND WE
GAVE OURSELVES A 20% RAISE AND ALSO BACK IN 2022 MYSELF AND COUNCILOR FLYNN, WE'RE THE ONLY TWO CURRENTLY SERVING COUNCILORS WHO VOTED AGAINST THAT PACKAGE RAISE PACKAGE BACK
THEN. THESE SALARY INCREASES ARE NOW FULLY IN EFFECT AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS FACING DIFFICULT BUDGETARY DECISIONS IMPACTING ESSENTIAL CITY
SERVICES, FRONTLINE WORKERS AND VULNERABLE RESIDENTS PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, FUNDING GAPS IN SERVICE IMPACTS AFFECTING VETERANS SERVICES PUBLIC EDUCATION CLASSROOM SUPPORT
SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, OUR FIREFIGHTERS ,FIRST RESPONDERS, ARTS AND CULTURE THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THE RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE ASKED. TO ACCEPT.
REDUCTIONS TO CRITICAL SERVICES WHILE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES INCREASE DURING PERIODS OF FISCAL UNCERTAINTY, ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DEMONSTRATE
SHARED SACRIFICE, FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, RESCINDING THE SALARY INCREASES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE
CITY'S PRIORITY MUST BE PRESERVING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SUPPORTING OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS, PROTECTING VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.
ANY SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SALARY RESCINDING WOULD INCREASE SHOULD BE REDIRECTED TOWARDS PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES. SO I'M ASKING THAT MY
COLLEAGUES JOIN US TODAY IN VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU THANK. >> YOU I CALL ON COUNCILOR FOR THE SECOND CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THIS CITY WAS BUILT ON THE BACK OF MILITARY VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
BOSTON CUT THE VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY 15%. BOSTON CUT CANCER AND SCREENING CANCER SCREENING FOR
FIREFIGHTERS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS. I THINK THAT WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT. IF THAT'S HOW WE BALANCE THE BUDGET WITH ABANDONED OUR
SHARED VALUES AND SIMPLY LOST OUR WAY. THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT PETTY POLITICS OR SCAPEGOATING. THEY WANT POSITIVE LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW THIS FUNDING WOULD NOT CLOSE OUR BUDGET GAP. KNOW WHAT IT ADDRESS THE OUTRAGEOUS CUTS TO VETERANS AND FIREFIGHTERS BUT WHAT IT DOES
IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE PUT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON BEFORE OURSELVES. THE CITY MUST COME FIRST.
I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US BELIEVE WE. WORK HARD. IT'S NOT ABOUT US AS INDIVIDUALS. IT'S ABOUT US AS A BODY. CAN WE DO ANYTHING ELSE TO TRY
TO SAVE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN? FOR FIREFIGHTERS HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FOR HELPING THE
ELDERLY. IS THAT A LOT TO ASK FOR? TO GIVE UP A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE FEEL THE
PAIN AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED. I'D RATHER YOU VOTE NO AGAINST THIS THAN SAYING THIS IS
POLITICS BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT THE LAST THING ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT GOING TO BAT FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY DURING DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING TIMES. VOTE NO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE NO
BUT DON'T BLOCK IT. GIVE THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD TO BE RESPECTED AND THIS THIS THIS IS PART OF THE SOLUTION. RESIDENTS WANT TO KNOW THAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND THEY DON'T WANT A CITY COUNCIL JUST IGNORING THEM AND THINKING THAT THEY DON'T MATTER . RESIDENTS OF BOSTON MATTER. THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
THEY DESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEJIA COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS YOU KNOW. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE
OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE START PUTTING EACH OTHER AGAINST THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SERVE. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE NARRATIVE. SO BOSTON HERALD IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO ME KNOW THAT THAT
IS NOT THE CASE. UM SO I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ALL FOR BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND I
THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF I'M GOING TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I WANT TO ASK THE MAKERS IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO I I DON'T MIND WITH THIS IN MY SALARY AS LONG
AS THAT SALARY GOES TO SUPPORTING YOUTH JOBS THAT 380 WHATEVER THOUSAND DOLLARS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT Y'ALL MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT IT GOES TO. YOU RESTORING JOBS LIKE IF
WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE LET'S JUST GO ALL IN AND UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IF WE'RE ASKING WORKING FAMILIES AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO ABSORB CUTS, THEN ELECTED
LEADERS MUST BE PREPARED TO MAKE MEANINGFUL SACRIFICES TO ANY REDUCTION IN OUR PAY SHOULD NOT BECOME SOMETHING THAT IS
SYMBOLIC AND OR THEATRICAL UM POLITICAL UH POETRY HERE IT SHOULD BE A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN BOSTON'S YOUNG PEOPLE. AND LET'S BE CLEAR SALARY REDUCTIONS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH.
IF THIS COUNCIL IS SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING YOUTH WORKING FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQ COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, ELDERS, VETERANS AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS THAT WE MUST BE
WILLING TO EXPLORE ALSO MOVING AT LEAST 20 MILLION FROM PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING THESE DECISIONS. THEN WE NEED TO GO A LITTLE BIT
HARDER THAN JUST FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS. WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE POLITICAL. COURAGE THAT IT TAKES TO SAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE.
FROM THIS. TO GIVE TO THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S HAS TO BE AT THE CHOPPING TABLE, NOT JUST SOME.
THANK YOU COMES FROM HERE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY CULPEPER COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT. I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE SENTIMENT FROM THE SPONSORS OF THIS RESOLUTION A TIME WHEN
THE CITY IS FACING DIFFICULT FISCAL DECISIONS. MANY RESIDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES. IT'S ENTIRELY REASONABLE FOR PEOPLE TO ASK ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO DEMONSTRATE SHARED SACRIFICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. HOWEVER, I CAN ONLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION IF ANY SAVINGS RESULTING FROM RESCINDING SALARIES SALARY INCREASES FOR
ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TRULY AND DIRECTLY REDIRECTED TOWARD RESTORING THE VERY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES CURRENTLY FACING REDUCTIONS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS CANNOT SIMPLY BE SYMBOLIC WE ARE ASKING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO FORGO RAISES. THOSE SAVINGS SHOULD BE USED TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THESE CUTS.
THAT INCLUDES RESTORING REDUCTIONS TO YOUTH JOBS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHILE OF COURSE WE ALL WANT THE CUT TO BE RESTORED AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CUT
IN THE FIRST PLACE, MY PRIORITY WITH REDUCING MY SALARY IS TO MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY HAVE JOBS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT LUXURIES THEY ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
THAT YOUNG RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY RELY ON EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> JUST FOR THE RECORD, BACK WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE THE BODY
IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 13 TO 0. THE MAYOR OVERRODE IT AND THEN THE TWO PUT TWO BECAUSE THE TWO PROPONENTS OF THIS RESOLUTION SIDED WITH THE MAYOR IN HER OVERRIDING BUT STILL THIS
COUNCIL NINE OF US CAME TOGETHER TO OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S VETO AND I'D LOVE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO SEE HOW WE CAN BUILD AND GAIN NINE COUNCILORS TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I IT'S. >> NOT TO PASS. NO NO NO CROSSWALK. PLEASE CONSIDER CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO BELIEVE IF WE REVERTED
BACK TO THE OLD PAY THAT'S LIKE WHAT I STARTED WITH RIGHT WHEN I CAME ON TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I SERVED FOR SIX MONTHS. UM, I DO THINK WE'VE REVERTED BACK TO THAT PAY. I COULD I COULD PROBABLY SURVIVE THAT AND I COULD
PROBABLY DO THAT BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY, I HAVE A CAT AND I LIVE ALONE AND I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS AN ANTI-FAMILY MEASURE.
UM, I WANT FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL AND I THINK THAT UM, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT ARE JUST BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO JUST BROUGHT PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
IN THE LAST YEAR, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF COLLEAGUES THAT ARE LIVING VERY DIFFERENT LIVES THAN I AM. AND SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, I'M A SINGLE PERSON THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO CUT
BACK IN WAYS THAT FAMILIES CANNOT IN TERMS OF THEIR SAVINGS. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST THIS. UM, NOT IT REALLY ISN'T ABOUT ME. UM, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY HAVE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS.
IF I NEEDED TO GET A JOB I WOULD TRY TO DO IT. BUT FOR ME, UM, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THEY WHEN THEY RUN THAT UM THIS IS LIKE A
COMPETITIVE JOB THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SERVE IN. UH THE SECOND THING UM, IS WE HAD A COUNCIL COLLEAGUE THAT THERE WAS SOME CORRUPTION THAT TOOK PLACE ON THIS BODY.
I DO NOT WANT ANYONE, UH, THAT SERVES IN THIS BODY TO NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR LIFE AND TO GO TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY DARK AND NEGATIVE. SO. >> UM, I KNOW I SHOULD SAY THAT
A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY. UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE UM WE SERVE THE CITY I KNOW FOR ME, UM I'M UP YOU KNOW, I'M I'M WORKING FOR THE CITY.
LIKE FROM THE TIME I WAKE UP TO THE TIME I GO TO BED AND I THINK THAT WE ALL WORK THAT HARD EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE, UM I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE COULDN'T DO THIS OR WE
SHOULDN'T DO THIS. UM, I DO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE GIVING BACK A PORTION OF MY CITY COUNCIL BUDGET THIS TIME, UM, IN ORDER I'M NOT GOING TO USE IT ALL AND SO I'M GOING TO BE GIVING BACK AT
LEAST $25,000, UH, TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND HOPEFULLY THAT GOES INTO THE RESERVE FUNDS OR GOES WHERE GOES TOWARDS SNOW OR WHATEVER WHEREVER IT NEEDS TO GO. BUT UM, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK IT ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHES UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE. AND I DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WHO SERVE THE CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION BUT I THINK WE ALL WORK HARD.
UM, AND I THINK WE ALL DESERVE THE PAY THAT WE GET. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR WEBER, BUT YOU OKAY, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE? YES. >> I JUST ACCURACY AND FACTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ME SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAID
IT ACCURATELY. THIS PASSED THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY IN 2022. ORIGINALLY THE MAYOR VETOED IT AND THEN 99 CITY COUNCILORS. WILL DO.
OVER UH OVERRODE THE MAYOR'S VETO. I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT CORRECTLY. THANK YOU. I THINK ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME CONTEXT HERE. I'M JUST LOOKING UP SOME COST OF THE COST OF LIVING FINDINGS. A SINGLE.
ADULT NEEDS TO MAKE AROUND $125,000 DOLLARS DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO LIVE IN SUSTAINABLE COMFORT AND HOUSEHOLD AND HOUSEHOLDS REQUIRE UPWARDS
OF 162,000 TO AFFORD A TYPICAL STARTER HOME IN THE BOSTON AREA. SO WE LIVE IN A VERY HIGH COST CITY. MANY OF US ARE FROM OUR OUR. OUR HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH
DEPENDENTS AND UH YOU KNOW, I THINK I OBVIOUSLY RESPECT PEOPLE SENTIMENTS ON THIS BUT ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING ABOUT, UH, THE SALARY OF A CITY COUNCILOR.
UH, COUNCILOR, UH, FLYNN, I THANK YOU. AND NEXT AND THEN BACK TO COUNCIL FROM HERE. THANK YOU. I WASN'T PLANNING TO RISE THE SECOND TIME, BUT, UM. MADAM MADAM CHAIR, I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT DURING THE PAY RAISE I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO THIS THE PAY RAISE SITUATION. UM, I VOTED AGAINST THE PAY RAISE. UM, THAT INCREASED THE CITY COUNCIL SALARY SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM. EXCUSE ME. NO, NO. DOCTOR, PLEASE. >> PLEASE CONTINUE. OKAY. UM, I VOTED AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL. UM. >> PAY PAY INCREASE. THAT WAS BEFORE BEFORE THE BODY.
UM, MY MY MAIN POINT, MADAM CHAIR, AS I WAS AT CODEINE PARK OVER THE WEEKEND IN ROXBURY AND
BLACK RESIDENTS, BLACK VETERANS AND THAT I WAS A SOUTH BOSTON A MEDAL OF HONOR POC AS WELL OVER THE WEEKEND UM BUT THEY ASKED
ME THEY SAID HEY ED, WHY ARE YOU CUTTING THE VETERANS BUDGET ? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WELL, I THINK I THINK BUSINESSES NEED TO GET INVOLVED
AND SUPPORT. IS SUPPORT THE BUDGET AND PUT MONEY IN THERE FOR VETERANS. I'M WORKING ON THAT. BUT THEN ONE GENTLEMAN SAID TO ME BUT ED YOU YOU GUYS JUST GAVE YOURSELF A PAY RAISE.
WHAT ABOUT VETERANS THAT ARE WORKING AT A CAMP, A CAN OF SOUP THAT NEED TO EAT AND THERE THEY HAD THEIR FUNDING CUT AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THEM? MY POINT HERE IS CAN WE DEMONSTRATE AND CAN WE SHOW RESIDENTS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM? WE CARE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN THEIR LIVES? WILL THIS $5,000 PAY DECREASE MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT? PROBABLY NOT, BUT IT'S IT SETS AN EXAMPLE THAT WE'RE WILLING
TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN NEED INCLUDING OUR VETERANS, OUR SENIORS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. THEY ARE IN THAT RESPECT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM YES. I WANT EVERYONE THAT'S TUNING IN TO KNOW THAT WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT ALL OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND SO I JUST DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CITY COUNCILORS ARE UNWILLING TO
GIVE UP THEIR PAY BECAUSE THAT IS. >> WHAT. THE NEWS HEADLINES WILL BE. AND I AM NOT HERE FOR ANY OF THAT. SO I'M GOING TO RECLAIM MY
NARRATIVE AND BE HONEST ABOUT. THE THE. THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. UM TWO THINGS ONE, I'VE ALWAYS
HAD 2 TO 3 JOBS MY ENTIRE LIFE SO WORK IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AM IMMUNE TO. I AM ACTUALLY USED TO IT RIGHT ? I HAVE TWO HOUSEHOLDS NOW THAT
I'M LITERALLY HELPING TO SUPPORT MY OWN AND MY MOM AS YOU ALREADY KNOW HAS BEEN REALLY SICK AND I'VE HAD TO STEP UP AND SO FINANCIALLY THIS
IS NOT JUST ABOUT ME. THIS IS ABOUT THE LIFE OF EVERYONE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH IT. SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE. COUNCILOR DURKAN.
UPLIFTING THAT THIS IS ANTI-FAMILY BECAUSE AS A SINGLE MOM WHO DOESN'T GET A LICK OF CHILD SUPPORT, I DON'T GET A DIME. I DO IT ALL BY MYSELF.
RIGHT? I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IT SAYS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TUNING IN ABOUT HOW I VIEW MY UM MY
SERVICE DELIVERABLES. I EARN EVERY SINGLE PENNY THAT I GET. SO LET'S JUST BE HONEST. UM AND I THINK THAT I WANT TO I DID ASK A QUESTION IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT ME TO SUPPORT
THEIR RESOLUTION AND IF I'M GOING TO GIVE UP MY SALARY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS GET REALLOCATED TO YOUTH JOBS. AND SO IF WE'RE READY TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT THEN YOU CAN GET MY VOTE. BUT IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT COMMITMENT THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY NO. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERE.
WOULD ANYONE I'M GOING TO CALL ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME COUNCILOR CULPEPER. COUNCILORS FLYNN AND MURPHY SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
AND ADOPTION OF. RECEIVED. 106.2.1064 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. . >> UH. MR HOOK, COULD YOU PLEASE.
ASK FOR CLARIFICATION IF I CALL ANSWER I WOULD GUESS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE AND I I THINK. THAT'S YOU KNOW FROM HERE.
YEAH. >> SO MY QUESTION WAS TO THE MAKERS BEFORE I TAKE THIS. VOTE. . IF THEY ARE WILLING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT
WE'RE GIVING UP OF OUR SALARIES IS GOING TO BE PUT INTO YOUTH JOBS, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, THEN I NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ON. >> A. VOTE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT
I GET IN RETURN. UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN OF CONTROVERSY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? YES, I I DID. NOT AND I WASN'T. THAT'S NOT COUNCILOR MURPHY
COUNTRYMAN FLYNN JUST ONE OF YOU. I DON'T NEED BOTH OF YOU TO ANSWER THE QUESTION COMES FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN. YES. >> IT'S OKAY. OKAY, WELL, WE'LL CONSIDER OFFERING A COUNSELOR WHENEVER YOU YOU. YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON EARLIER AND.
>> SO IT'S OKAY. IT'S JUST HOLD ON. JUST HE HADN'T SPOKEN. AND I'M NOT, UH. EXCUSE ME. I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER. >> YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I.
I DON'T SUPPORT THIS. I WANT TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW COUNCILORS WHO ARE ALL VERY HARDWORKING AND HAVE. REAL, YOU. >> KNOW, EXPENSES TO DEAL WITH. WE ALL WE WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
UH AND SO MY MY MY JUST AND THE MAKERS CAN ANSWER THIS IN THEIR QUESTION BUT I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN TAKE THE MONEY AND GUARANTEE IT GOES SOMEWHERE TO COUNCILOR HIS UH, REQUEST AS GOOD AS THAT REQUEST IS I THINK
IT JUST GOES INTO THE GENERAL. FUND AND AND AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE. BUDGET BUT, UM. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO A VOTE. I JUST WANT TO ANSWER. CONSCIOUS COUNCIL MURPHY. IN THE HEARING.
UM, THE RESOLUTION DOES SAY THAT AND IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE ADDITIONAL LEGAL AND CONTRACTUAL HURDLES THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND I DID LIST ALL OF THEM AND
DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT WOULD ALL IF IT COULD GO TO YOUTH JOB SUPPORT THAT BUT JUST LIKE AMENDMENTS. IT'S A SUGGESTION. AND LIKE THE AMENDMENTS WE PUT FORWARD OFTENTIMES DON'T EVER
DO THE IMPACT WE HOPE FOR. BUT I WOULD PUT ALL OF IT TO YOUTH JOBS. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY THANK YOU AND I WILL MOVE
ON TO THE VOTE. COUNCILORS MURPHY MURPHY AND FLYNN SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 1064. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE
A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1064. COUNSELOR BRAIN. NO. COUNSELOR BRAID NO COUNSELOR COLOR AS A COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. COUNSELOR. CULPEPER. YES, COUNSELOR. DURKAN. COUNSELOR.
DURKAN. NO. COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD. COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD. NO. COUNSELOR. FLYNN. COUNCILOR. YES. COUNSELOR. COUNCIL. ILLUSION. NO. COUNSELOR. MEJIA. PRESIDENT. >> COUNSELOR.
UH, BECAUSE I. OH, NO. >> YOU HAVE TO SEE. OKAY. YEAH. YOU SEE YOU HAVE TO SAY. COUNSELOR MEJIA. NO.
COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY. YES, COUNSELOR. WE'VE BEEN. >> COUNSELOR THE PIN. >> NO. COUNSELOR SANTANA. COUNSELOR. >> SANTANA. >> NO. COUNSELOR. WEBER. COUNSELOR. WEBER. NO COUNSELOR. WORLD COUNSELOR.
WORLD NO. NINE VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE AND THREE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. DOCKET 1064 HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED.
MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1065. DUKKHA NUMBER 1065 COUNSELOR FLYNN. NOW FOR THE PHONE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON
DEBATE LEAGUE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN. COUNSELOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON WE HAD THE BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE COME TO THE.
CURLING ROOM BUT ALSO TO THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER FOR A CELEBRATION TO RECOGNIZE TO RECOGNIZE THIS OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION SINCE 2005, THE
BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE HAS EMPOWERED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR COLLEGE CAREER CIVIC LIFE THROUGH DEBATE, THROUGH
EDUCATION FOR WATTS, AFTER SCHOOL DEBATE DEBATE INSPIRED CLASSROOMS AND RESULT PROGRAMS THREE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THIS ORGANIZATION EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL THINKING,
RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION LEADERSHIP SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS BOSTON DEBATE LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 30 SCHOOLS ACROSS GREATER BOSTON
SERVING DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS ENSURING ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE, HIGH IMPACT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THEY HAVE OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS
AND MORE THAN 3000 STUDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO FOSTER CIVIL DISCOURSE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. I WAS PROUD TO BE A BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. DEBATE TEAM. UM FOR MANY YEARS THEY HAD THIS UM DEBATE COMPETITION AT SUFFOLK. UNIVERSITY WHERE THE STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF UM
QUESTION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO UM ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER. OBVIOUSLY THEY MAKE VALID ARGUMENTS WHY THEY SUPPORT A PROPOSAL, WHY THEY'RE AGAINST IT. BUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS
THEY WERE DEVELOPING CRITICAL LEARNING SKILLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THEY WERE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THEIR UM CLASSMATE AND THEY WERE WORKING AS A TEAM AND I
ENJOYED LISTENING TO THEM. I ENJOYED WATCHING THEM UM I ENJOYED LEARNING FROM THEM ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, OF OUR COUNTRY AND THOSE YOUNG
STUDENTS WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE DEBATE PROGRAM, WHETHER IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC. SCHOOL SYSTEM WE CAN'T GIVE UP ON THEM. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EVERY. OPPORTUNITY WE POSSIBLY CAN SO THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL AND
THEY ARE HAPPY IN THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? CANCER CANCER SIX. GERALD. >> CANCER. >> UM. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE COUNTRYMAN
HERE. COUNCIL. MURPHY. CONSTABLE. SANTANA. COUNCILOR PEPEN. COUNCILMAN WEBER. AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES ADOPTION OF DOCKET
1065. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OH, HELLO. >> MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1065. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCIL. BREADON. >> YES. COUNCIL AS OPPONENT COUNCILOR. CULPEPER.
COUNCILOR. DURKAN. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. YES. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. SHOW. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES, COUNCILOR. MEJIA. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR.
MURPHY. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES, COUNCILOR. PIN AS WE'VE BEEN. YES, COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. COUNCILOR WEBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL.
TURN. UH, DOCKET NUMBER 1065 HAS RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. DOCKET NUMBER 1065 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 1066. DUKKHA NUMBER 1066 COUNCIL OF OFF OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT COLA
AND INCREASING THE COLA BASE FOR RETIREES IN THE BOSTON RETIREMENT SYSTEM. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. >> COMES FROM HERE SO AND IT. RETIREES AND BOSTON RETIREMENT SYSTEM DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS THEIR LIVES TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY . OUR RETIREES DESERVE A RETIREMENT PACKAGE THAT PROVIDES A FAIR AND DIGNIFIED STANDARD OF LIVING AFTER YEARS
OF PUBLIC SERVICE, RETIREES HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INCREASE TO THEIR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IS COLA BASED SINCE 2021 AND CURRENTLY
RECEIVE AN ANNUAL COLA INCREASE OF ONLY 450. BUCKS. . WHICH HAS FAILED TO KEEP PACE WITH RISING LIVING EXPENSES. WE TALK ABOUT A HIGH COST
OF LIVING THE CITY IS 48% GREATER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. GROCERY PRICES ARE 2,029% HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY. HOUSING EXPENSES 127% GREATER UTILITY PRICES 24% COULD GO ON AND ON.
IT IS THEREFORE CRITICAL TO RAISE THE COLA BASE FOR IOWA CITY RETIREES SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT THEY SERVED AND HELP BUILD SALARY.
CITY RETIREES DESERVE AN INCREASE IN THEIR COLA BASE IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE. CITY AND A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN COST OF LIVING ACROSS THE CITY
IN THE STATE THESE CITY RETIREES MANY OF THEM MOST OF THEM ARE STILL LIVING IN THE CITY. THEY'RE BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET EVEN WITH THEIR RETIREMENT MONTHLY CHECK THAT COMES IN.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE. THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS. ARE THEY ASKING A LOT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A BUMP IN THEIR
RETIREMENT CHECK. TO THEY DESERVE IT. I THINK THEY DO. THEY WILL CITY EMPLOYEES DURING DIFFICULT TIMES IN THIS CITY.
BUT THERE'S WHETHER WAS IN THE 1960S IN THE 1970S, THE 1980S BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP ON THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. THEY SUPPORTED RESIDENTS OF BOSTON.
THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A LARGE SALARY, BUT THEY GAVE EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY COULD TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY WORKING ON THE WEEKENDS,
WORKING ON HOLIDAYS, SWEEPING THE STREET, HELPING THE ELDERLY COACH AND YOUTH SPORTS. FIXING FIXING BUILDINGS.
THEY WERE ASKING A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT. MAYBE THIS COUNCIL CAN PROVIDE IT TO THEM. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM MEJIA COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT I THINK.
IS WHAT BECOMES. >> OF LYNN USES IT'S. CHEAP THAT SORRY. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU TO COUNCIL SAM FOR ADDING ME TO THIS RESOLUTION. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE OUR RETIREES DESERVE TO
AGE WITH DIGNITY. AFTER DEDICATING YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE REALITY IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE AND MANY RETIRES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET
JUST TO KEEP UP WITH HOUSING, GROCERIES, UTILITIES, HEALTH CARE AND MANY OF THEM ARE ON FIXED INCOMES. A 450 ANNUAL INCREASE IS SIMPLY
NOT ENOUGH AS CITY EXPENSES UM BEGIN TO RISE, SUPPORTING A 3% COLA ADJUSTMENT AND AN INCREASE IN COLA BASE FROM 15,000 TO 18,000 IS A REASONABLE STEP
TOWARDS MAKING SURE RETIREES CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT THEY HOPE BUILD AND THEY UM AND I ALSO THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE HAVE TO COME BACK IN AND ASK FOR THIS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS JUST CHANGE THE AMOUNT ONCE AND FOR ALL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I JUST THINK THAT IT GETS
PLAYED AND IT DOES NOT PROVIDE OUR UM RETIREES WITH THE STABILITY THAT THEY UH, SO MUCH DESERVE ESPECIALLY AS THEY UM, CONTINUE TO HOPE TO AGE IN PLACE.
AND SO THEREFORE I'M HAPPY TO. UH, DO THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT . THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME, COUNCILOR? UH, CULPEPER.
COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. PEPEN CONSCIOUS INTERNAL COUNCILOR WEBER CONSTANT OR ROUND AND PLEASE UH THE CHAIR.
UH AND COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE COUNCILORS FLYNN UND MURPHY UH MAYOR HERE SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET 1066. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 1066. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES, COUNCILOR. BREADON. >> YES. COUNCILOR. COLORS ARE COUNCIL. CULPEPER. YES. COUNCIL. CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR.
DURKAN. COUNCIL. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. COUNCIL. FLYNN. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES, CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. IT'S MEJIA. YES. MEJIA. >> YES. >> COUNCILOR. >> MURPHY.
COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR. PIPPIN. YES. COUNCIL A PEN. YES. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES AND COUNCILOR. WORLD. YES. COUNCILOR. ORAL.
YES. IT ATTENDS. DOCKET NUMBER 1066 HAS. RECEIVED TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. DOCKET NUMBER 1066 HAS BEEN
ADOPTED. MR CHAIR, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 1067. AT THE. YEAH. >> AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR DURKAN, DOCKET NUMBER 1067 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU.
DOCKET 1067 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. WITHDRAWN. WE ARE NOW ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS. UH, MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PERSONNEL ORDERS? PERSONNEL LOWEST NUMBER 1068
COUNCILOR BREADON FOR COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE TALKING ABOUT 1069 COUNCIL BRIEFING FOR COUNCILOR. CULPEPER TALKING ABOUT 1070 COUNCILOR BREADON FOR
COUNCILOR CULPEPER TALKING ABOUT 1071 COUNCILOR BREADON FOR COUNCILOR CULPEPER TALKING ABOUT 107 TO COUNCILOR BREEN FOR COUNCILOR FLYNN. THANK YOU.
THE UH THE CHAIRMAN FOR PASSAGE OF THE PERSONNEL ORDERS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I, UH THE AYES HAVE IT. PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE PASSED. UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO GREEN
SHEETS, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A DOCKET THAT THEY MAY HAVE MISSED? PLEASE PUT YOUR LIGHT ON AND WE'LL MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. UH, COUNCILOR? UH WORRELL. YES. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UH, DOCKET NUMBER 106110621063. >> AND 1065. I LIKE TO ADD MY NAME. TO THOSE FOUR DOCKET. AND A VOTE. UM YES. SIX ONE ONCE.
UH 61626365. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR SANTANA. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME AND, UH, VOTE IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE TO 1063. THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD. WE'RE NOW ON TO GREEN SHEETS. IS ANYONE LOOKING TO PROVE, UH,
ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS ? UM, COUNCILOR? UM, COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE GREEN SHEETS? YES, MADAM CHAIR ON PAGE THREE
. DOC. >> UH, DOCKET 09190920 PLEASE. MR CHAIR, I WILL PASS. I HAVE TO, UM.
>> JUDGE. >> WHAT PAGE COUNCIL PAGE THREE. PAGE THREE IN THE DOCKET NUMBER. . >> THE DOCKET NUMBER
091909200920. COUNCILOR FLYNN, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES. UH. MR CLERK, COULD YOU READ THOSE
TWO DOCKETS INTO THE RECORD. FROM THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES DOC AND NUMBER 0919 MESSAGE IN AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACT FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO FIVE YEARS FOR THE PURCHASE OF BIODIESEL FUEL. AS THE. OCTANE AND NUMBER TWO HEATING OIL. THE CONTRACT TERM WOULD BEGIN IN 2026.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S PERMISSION TO ENTER A CONTRACT OF THIS TYPE FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN THREE YEARS, AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 12 OF CHAPTER 30 B OF THE GENERAL LAWS A TERM
LONGER THAN THREE YEARS WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS THE BEST PRICE ON PURCHASE OF BIODIESEL. YOU LSD. OCTANE AND NUMBER TWO HEATING
OIL BY ALLOWING THE CITY TO LOOK IN LOWER COSTS FOR A LONGER PERIOD. DUCKY NUMBER 0920 MESSAGE NINE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON
PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT FOR A. PERIOD OF UP TO FIVE YEARS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE HARBOR BOAT FUEL. THE CONTRACT TERM BEGAN IN 2026 . THE CITY COUNCIL'S.
PERMISSION TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT OF THIS TYPE FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN THREE YEARS, AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 12 OF CHAPTER 30 B OF THE GENERAL LAWS. THE TERM LONGER THAN THREE
YEARS WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS THE BEST PRICE ON PURCHASES OF HYPERVOLT FUEL BY ALLOWING. >> THE. CITY TO LOCK IN LOWER COSTS FOR A LONGER PERIOD. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION
OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND DOCKETS 0919 AND DOCKET 0920 ARE PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY. COUNCILOR FLYNN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD NORMALLY HAVE A HEARING ON THESE BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, UM, DUE TO THE CONTRACT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. WHAT I WOULD TRY TO DO, MADAM
CHAIR, IS SOMETIME IN THE SUMMER MAYBE HAVE A CITY COUNCIL HEARING JUST ON GENERAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THESE DOCKETS. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT, UM, FOR ME TO GO FORWARD.
UM, I. >> DO WANT TO BE. RESPECTFUL TO. >> THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PER THEIR. REQUEST THAT. WE MOVE ON THESE TODAY. . THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY OUT TO BID FOR TWO
CITYWIDE FUEL CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT CRITICAL OPERATIONS ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING VEHICLES INCLUDING DEPARTMENTS IN THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT,
PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION, THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT RELY ON FUEL EVERY DAY TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
TO RESIDENTS. THESE CONTRACTS COVER THE PURCHASE OF BOAT FUEL, DIESEL FUEL, GASOLINE AND NUMBER TWO HEATING OIL ALL OF WHICH ARE
NECESSARY TO KEEP CITY VEHICLES ,EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS RUNNING SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY YEAR ROUND. THE CITY WILL ENTER INTO AN
INITIAL THREE YEAR CONTRACT. TERM RUNNING FROM JULY 1ST 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH 2029. AS CHAIR OF THE CITY SERVICES
COMMITTEE, I AM SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE OPTION TO EXTEND THESE CONTRACTS FOR UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS. THIS FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT
AND NECESSARY AND NECESSARY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO. LOCK IN FAVORABLE. PRICING FOR A LONGER PERIOD WHEN MARKET CONDITIONS ARE BENEFICIAL, HELPING PROTECT
TAXPAYERS FROM THE RISING COSTS OF FUEL AND PROVIDING GREATER BUDGET CERTAINTY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY IS NOT OBLIGATED TO EXERCISE THESE EXTENSIONS.
WE WILL ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERM IF THE LOCKTON PRICING STRUCTURE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A CLEAR FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY
IF MARKET CONDITIONS IF MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGE AND BETTER PRICING IS AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE, THE CITY WILL SIMPLY REBID THE CONTRACTS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE RECEIVING THE BEST VALUE POSSIBLE.
THIS APPROACH BALANCES FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY, FLEXIBILITY WHILE ENSURING THAT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE THE FUEL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE
SERVING RESIDENTS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. AS CHAIR OF THE CITY SERVICES COMMITTEE, I'M SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THESE OFFER SO THE OPTION TO EXTEND THIS THREE YEAR CONTRACT FOR UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL.
ONE YEAR TERMS. AND MADAM CHAIR, UM, I'M REQUESTING A, UM SUSPEND UH, A VOTE ON THIS. YES. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITY
SERVICES MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF. WE'LL TAKE IT IN TWO SEPARATE. THERE'S TWO DOCKETS. FIRST OF ALL, WE'LL DO DOCKET 0919. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I DON'T VOTE.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 0919. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCIL. BREADON. YES. COUNSELOR. COLOR IS UPON COUNCILOR CULPEPER. COUNCILOR.
CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCIL. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR. MEJIA. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR.
MURPHY. COUNCIL. MURPHY. YES. COUNCIL. PUT PEN. COUNCILOR. PEN. YES, COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER. YES. COUNCILOR WEBB'S AND COUNCILOR MORRELL. YES. COUNCIL.
WELL, YES. TALKING ABOUT 0919 AS RECEIVED 11 VOTES TO CONFIRM IT. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 0919 HAS PASSED. UH, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU, UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN, CHAIR OF THE,
UH THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES SIX. UH, SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET 0920. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL?
VOTE. ROLL CALL. >> VOTE ON DUCHENE NUMBER 0920 COUNCIL. BREADON. YES, COUNCILOR. BRIGHTON. >> YES, COUNCILOR. CLEAR AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR COOPER. COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES.
COUNCILOR. THIS SHOW? YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN. YES. COUNCIL. YES. COUNCIL. LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCIL. MEJIA. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY. YES. COUNCIL. PEN.
COUNCIL THE PEN. YES. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBB'S AND COUNCILOR EARL. YES. COUNCILOR. WELL, YES. DOCKET NUMBER 0120 AS RECEIVED
11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. DOCKET 0920 HAS PASSED. UM, COUNCILOR WERE ORAL.
UM, YOU, UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WERE IN THE CHAIR IN THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UH, I'D LIKE TO PULL DOCKET
NUMBER 0762 FROM THE LABOR COMMITTEE. ON PAGE 15 OF THE GREEN SHEET. UM, MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET 0762?
OKAY. >> SEE YOU. WHAT PAGE IS THAT AGAIN? >> UH 15. DUNCAN NUMBER.
DOCKET NUMBER 0762. FROM THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DUCKY. NUMBER 0762 MESSAGING ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON
TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 IN FORM OF A GRANT VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE BETA PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY
THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND THE MOST DIFFICULT TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND RURAL THROUGH
FREE BASIC TAX RETURN PREPARATION FOR QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION, THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR IS ACCEPTED AND DOCKET 0762 IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY.
COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS A $250,000 GRANT THAT SUPPORTS THE CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES BOSTON TAX HELP COALITION IS PROVIDING FREE TAX
PREPARATION SERVICES TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS DURING TAX SEASON. THE BOSTON TAX HELP COALITION PRIMARILY SERVES HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOW OR MODERATE INCOMES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WITH
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, IMMIGRANT SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN ADDITION TO TAX PREPARATION ,THE PROGRAM CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH FINANCIAL GUIDANCE AND CREDIT BUILDING RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT LONG
TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY. I'M RECOMMENDING THAT DOCKET NUMBER 0762 ARE TO PASS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR WORRELL MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0762.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET UH, 0762. COUNCILOR BREADON? YES, COUNCILOR BREADON.
YES. COUNCIL AS OPPOSED. COUNCILOR CULPEPER. COUNCILOR. CULPEPPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. LOUIJEUNE.
YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. ANSWER MEJIA. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY. YES. COUNCILOR. PIPPIN. COUNCILOR DANIELS. COUNCIL. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEBER.
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL. YES. COUNCILOR. ROYAL. YES. TALKING NUMBER 0762. AS YOU SEE 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. >> MR.
DOCKET 0762 IS PASSED. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PULL
DOCKET. 09790979. >> AND WHAT PAGE IS THAT ON? I DON'T NEED IT. WE DON'T NEED IT. PLEASE. GOT IT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD. ALL GOOD. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ DOCKET 0979. FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOCKET NUMBER 0979 MESSAGE. YOU KNOW, I WAS RAISED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND
EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $49,476 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26 FIREFIGHTER SAFETY EQUIPMENT GRANT PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES TO
BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE PURCHASE OF THE NECESSARY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION STANDARDS AND ENHANCE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY. THANK YOU. >> ABSENT OBJECTION, THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR UH UM
COUNCILOR UH, SO SANTANA, THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOCKET 0979 IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY. COUNSELOR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, UM, CONDUCTED A HEARING ON MARCH 31ST TO REVIEW ALL FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANTS COMING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THIS PARTICULAR GRANT. THIS ROUND WOULD PROVIDE, UM,
THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO UPGRADE VITAL EQUIPMENT THAT ENHANCES SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY DURING THESE RESCUE OPERATIONS. THE ELEVATOR KITS AND PULL SYSTEMS WILL REDUCE UM
EXTRACTION TIME, UH, MINIMIZE ELEVATOR DAMAGE AND IMPROVE SAFETY FOR BOTH MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS WILL BETTER PROTECT RESPONDERS BY
IDENTIFYING HIDDEN DANGERS DURING MEDICAL CALLS, ENSURING SAFETY SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSES. HAVING HAD A PRODUCTIVE HEARING ON THIS ORDER AND OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANTS.
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I RECOMMEND MOVING THIS TALK FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION AT A TIME II RECOMMENDATION UM TO THE FULL
COUNCIL WILL BE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 0979 TO PASS. THANK YOU COUNCILOR SANTANA CONTRA SANTANA MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET. UH UH, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION. CERTAINLY.
>> UM CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTRY FRIEND. COUNCILOR FRIEND, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I STRONGLY SUPPORT, UM SUPPORT THIS DOCKET.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO. GOVERNOR GOVERNOR HALEY AND, UH ,LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DRISCOLL, YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS
OF BOSTON. WHAT THIS ALSO DOES IS SUPPORTS RESIDENTS THAT NEED CRITICAL ELEVATOR SERVICES AS WELL.
SAFETY IN OUR ELEVATORS CAN'T BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. WE NEED TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS IN BOSTON THAT NEED AN ELEVATOR TO
GO TO WORK OR TO GO TO THEIR APARTMENT, BUT THIS TYPE OF GRANT SUPPORTS THAT AND IT'S THESE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. IT'S THESE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES
THAT ARE ARE CRITICAL THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TO SUPPORT. BUT I'M GLAD WE HAD A FOCUS AND DISCUSSION ON HOW IMPORTANT
ELEVATOR SAFETY IS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. IN FACT. THE MASSACHUSETTS ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS BOARD SIGNED THE BOSTON
HOUSING AUTHORITY ALMOST $400,000 LAST WEEK. FOR POOR ELEVATORS AND VHA DEVELOPMENT AT ROOT BARCLAY. BUT THESE ARE THE ISSUES I'M
GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND PROVIDING RESIDENTS WORKERS WITH THE SAFEST ELEVATOR ACCESS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. UH, SANTANA SIX HAS BEEN SIX PASSAGE OF MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET 0979.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. WELCOME MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ, UH, TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON DOCKET 0979. COUNCILOR BREADON. YES. COUNCILOR BREADON.
YES. COUNCILOR COLOR AS A COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. COUNCILOR. CULPEPER. YES. COUNCILOR. DURKAN. COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD. YES. COUNCIL TO SHOW. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR. FLYNN. YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE.
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. YES. COUNCILOR. MEJIA. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. COUNCILOR. MURPHY. YES. COUNCIL. OPEN. COUNCILOR. OPINIONS. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YEAH. COUNCILOR. SANTANA. YES. COUNCILOR. WEAPON. YES, COUNCILOR.
WEBB'S IN. COUNCILOR. WORLD. YES, COUNCILOR. WHALE. YES, DUCKY. NUMBER 0979 AS WE SEE 11 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. >> DOCKET 0979 IS PASSED.
WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO LATE FUNDS. I'M INFORMED BY THE CHURCH THAT THERE, UH, ONE PERSON IN ORDER UH, ABSENT OBJECTION.
UH, THIS LATE FILE MATTER IS WILL BE ADDED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE LATE FILE MATTER. PERSONNEL TO COUNCILOR BREADON FOR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU. >> THE CHAIR MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF THE SLATE. FINE MATTER.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. THIS PERSONAL ORDER HAS PASSED. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA . THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE AGENDA THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> IS APPROVED. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE
FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS. DOES ANYONE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? UH, COUNCILOR PEPEN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YES. >> THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS MORE OF A THANK YOU . A PUBLIC THANK YOU TO
EVERSOURCE AND MIKE FITZGERALD SPECIFICALLY YESTERDAY, UM. OVER 55,000 HOMES WERE IMPACTED BY A MAJOR OUTAGE AND MY DISTRICT WAS THE MOST IMPACTED
AND, UM, EVERSOURCE STEPPED UP IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS CAUSED BY A MOTHER NATURE AND THEY JUST DID THEIR REALLY DUE DILIGENCE OF MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS WERE KEPT UP TO SPEED AND WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK POWER TO ALL THE HOMES. SO VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE
GOOD PARTNERS OUT THERE. UM AND WANTED TO JUST GIVE THEM. >> A SHOUT OUT. SO THANK YOU. . THANK YOU CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT. >> TO MY SISTER WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW. SHE IS UM MY PARENTS HAVE FOUR
GIRLS AND SHE IS THE SWEETEST, UM AND BEST HUMAN BEING THAT I KNOW. I JUST WANTED TO WISH HER A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND ALSO TOMORROW DAY WE GET SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM I THINK COUNCILMAN I MENTIONED
IT EARLIER BUT JUST FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, UH, MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE UM, JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. YEAH. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I DID MENTION, UM, ONE EVENT OR TWO EVENTS, I GUESS. AND THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH OBVIOUSLY. FOR AS WE AS WE GO INTO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ALL OF THE EVENTS HERE WITH ME BUT ONE ONE EVENT IN PARTICULAR IS THIS
SUNDAY UM 9:00 AT THE FITZGERALD POST WHICH IS A VFW POST IN SOUTH BOSTON, MY NEIGHBORHOOD. UM IT STARTS AT 930. AND WE LEAVE FROM THE FITZGERALD POST IN SOUTH
BOSTON. WE MATCH UP TO THE MEDAL OF HONOR PARK BUT THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND. I'M GOING TO TRY TO PUT SOME
OF THESE UPCOMING EVENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO MY COLLEAGUES CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT, BUT ALSO RESIDENTS CAN SEE WHERE THESE EVENTS ARE AT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UH TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH. ONE IS DON'T FORGET THAT MAY
26TH WE HAVE A PUBLIC TESTIMONY HERE AT 6 P.M. IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY TO, UH, DO ANOTHER PUSH TO GET US TO, UH, LISTEN,
UH, TO COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY DELIVER ON THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR. SO IT WILL BE HERE ON TUESDAY, UM, AT 6 P.M. AND YEAH, IN THE CHAMBER FOR THOSE WHO ARE
TUNING IN AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME BEFOREHAND AT 4 P.M. THE BETTER BUDGET ALLIANCE IS GOING TO BE DOWNSTAIRS IN CITY HALL PLAZA. RALLYING THE TROOPS UP.
AND SO IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT DISRUPTION YOU CAN JOIN THEM THERE AT FOUR. AND WHILE I'M UP I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE BACK THE NEXT TIME WE ARE BACK IN THIS CHAMBER IS
JUNE 3RD. KNOW AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE DOMINICAN MOTHERS UM OUT THERE UH HAPPY DOMINICAN MOTHERS DAY I KNOW WE JUST HAVE
AMERICAN ONE, BUT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TUNING IN THE DOMINICAN MOMS DO HAVE THEIR OWN DAY UH, IN THE. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BUT MANY OF THEM LIVE HERE SO AND
HAITIAN AND THERE'S ACTUALLY IN MEXICAN THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER MOTHERS CELEBRATING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. AND SO I JUST. >> WANT. TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK UM ALL THE MOTHERS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS
TO THIS COMMUNITY. UH, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. UM, AS YOU. CELEBRATE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND LOVE. UM A FEW UM HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR COLLEAGUE
COUNCILOR MURPHY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. UH, MEGAN CAVANAGH, BOTH OF YOU CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY . WE'RE ALSO WISHING AN EARLY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOAQUIM LAMAS OF CANCER SANTANA'S OFFICE AND CAROLINE O'NEILL OF CANCER MURPHY'S OFFICE. WE KNOW I'M MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS. DID I MISS YOU?
BUT BUT COUNCILOR. UH, SANTANA, ARE YOU PUTTING UP YOUR ARE YOU I DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. ARE YOU FEEL. KIND OF IN BETWEEN? SO THIS IS IT'S GOOD. UM, IT'S KIND OF AN IN BETWEEN. >> BOTH AND YOU'RE SORT OF IN
BETWEEN AND COUNCIL CONSCIOUS AND TYLER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND THEN WE'LL GO ON TO. >> LIKE TWO OF UM YEAH. SO UH I DO JUST WANT TO I MEAN ESPECIALLY AS COUNCILMAN HAD JUST UPLIFTED OUR DOMINICAN MOTHERS ONE TO MY MOM JUST UM,
HAD A BIRTHDAY THIS PAST MONDAY . UM, 2055. UM, I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT SHE'S BEEN BATTLING, UM, UH, CANCER FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND, UM, JUST BEING ABLE
TO SPEND TIME WITH HER, UM, AND MY FAMILY WAS, UM THIS WAS JUST AMAZING. UM, AS WE'RE HEADING INTO MEMORIALS, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NEXT WEEK, MAY 24TH, UM, MY OLDEST BROTHER UM
,WHO I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW PASSED AWAY IN 2016 DUE TO A CAR ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE TURNED, UM, 37 YEARS OLD. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I LIVED THROUGH HIM AND HIS SPIRIT AND
HIS DEDICATION, UM, TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND TO OUR BOSTON YOUTH. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO WISH HIM A HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERE DID YOU HAVE OH THE GOOD WE'RE MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS. UM, WOULD ANYONE ON BEHALF
OF COUNCILOR FLYNN WAR TO WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN JOHN BERNARD ARNOLD THE THIRD ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE
MR ROSCOE BAKER AND NEVER NEVER A DESIRE ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK. THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE
CITY ADJOURNS TODAY IT DOES SO. BEG YOUR PARDON, COUNCILOR UM COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE I MR LIGHT, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE MEMORIALS? I'M SORRY. IF I JUST.
PICK ON SOMEONE WHO HAS WHO'S PASSED THESE TWO PEOPLE. ONE IS UM YOU MENTIONED NORA DESIR WHO IS THE FATHER. >> OF. UH, SERGEANT. >> SHE JUST MADE SERGEANT LAST YEAR SERGEANT CAROLINE DESIR.
UM, IT WAS A VERY BIG LOSS. SHE'S THE ONLY CHILD AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SERGEANT IS THERE OUR CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF HER FATHER. HE WORKED, UH, FOR YEARS AND CONSTRUCTION AT DIMMICK BUSINESS.
UH, AND HE IS MIRED BY HIS WAS IN MY PARENTS COLLEGE FOR HIS DEDICATION, RELIABILITY AND TIRELESS WORK ETHIC. HE LEAVES BEHIND HIS WIFE ROSETTE UM AND HIS DAUGHTER. AS I MENTIONED, SERGEANT
KURLAND IS HERE ALONG WITH A HOST OF BELOVED, UH, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING AND THAT I. I TOLD THE FAMILY THAT I WAS GOING TO UPLIFT HIM. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UPLIFT NORA DESIR AND I
ALSO WANTED TO YOU MENTIONED HIM AS WELL ROSCOE BAKER, HE'S A FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROXBURY BOYS CLUB AND A MENTOR TO SO MANY. HE WAS VERY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UPLIFT THE MEMORY OF ROSCOE BAKER AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL DIVISION NO. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYONE ELSE ANYONE ELSE OKAY.
THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURNS TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE.
THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN THE IRON BLACK CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2026 AT 12 P.M. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES CENTRAL STAFF THAT
WORK AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER. ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE SAY I THE CONSULATE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.