THIS MEETING OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. YOU CAN WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON.COM FOR ITS LAST CITY COUNCIL DASH TV. AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE
AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONES 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. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS OPPOSED TO COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR PIPPIN. COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR WEBER AND COUNCILOR WORRELL QUORUM
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. I I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT . NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE CITY'S CLERGY PASTOR JEFFREY JUMP. THESE ARE KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS PASTOR KIKI.
HE IS A PROFOUND FIGURE WITHIN THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND WITHIN OUR CITY OF BOSTON. WE DIDN'T SEE HE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BOSTONIANS OF THE YEAR BY THE BOSTON GLOBE. BORN IN HAITI, HE MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A 20 AS AN
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT EARLY IN PATRICK HICKEY'S LIFE HE SHOWED HIS COMMITMENT TO OTHERS IN ADVOCACY BY ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENSE OF IMMIGRANTS IN 1993 WHICH MOBILIZED SUPPORT PATIENT RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
A GRADUATE OF BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GORDON COLLEGE PASTOR FLAVORTOWN FURTHERED IS THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION AT GORDON COURT CORNWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EARNING BOTH A MASTER OF DIVINITY AND A MASTER
OF THEOLOGY. AND AS OF LAST WEEKEND A DOCTORATE. SO HE IS NOW DR. KATHY ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. I'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU THESE
FLOWERS IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. PASTOR KIKI'S LEADERSHIP EXTENDS ACROSS MULTIPLE FRONTS. HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF TRUE
ALLIANCE CENTER CHAIR OF HAITIAN AMERICANS UNITED IN EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER OF GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION. HIS DEDICATION TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES IS ALSO EVIDENT THROUGH HIS ROLES IN VARIOUS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE GREATER BOSTON NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE CENTER AND MATTAPAN SQUARE. MAIN STREETS IN HIS MINISTRY, PASTOR KIKI IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO MISSIONARY WORK. REGULARLY TRAVELING TO PLACES
LIKE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THE BAHAMAS AND HAITI TO TEACH AND INSPIRE AT HOME HE IMPACTS LIVES THROUGH HIS RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS DISCUSSING SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TOPICS.
IT'S A JOY FOR ME TO HAVE HIM HERE. I KNOW SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES ALSO BRING HIM HERE TO GIVE AN INVOCATION. IT'S A JOY TO HAVE HIM HERE AS A LEADER HERE IN THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY. DURING MAY HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATING ALSO HIS
DOCTORATE. AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE MY ACTUAL FATHER HERE IN CHAMBERS. BUT TO HAVE MY SECOND FATHER HERE IN CHAMBERS IS JUST SUCH A BLESSING AND SUCH A JOY. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO PASS TO KIKI
AND AFTER THE INVOCATION WE WILL TOGETHER RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PACIFIQUE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO MY
DAUGHTER WITH THE ROSARY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO COME IN THIS A SPECIAL OCCASION THAT THE CELEBRATION OF A HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WHO ALWAYS STAYED WITH OUR HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND ALL THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN DIASPORA BUT ALSO STAND WITH HAITI.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. LET US STAND AS WE ARE ABOUT TO INVOKE THE NAME OF OUR MAKER, OUR CREATOR. LET US BOW OUR HEADS AS WELL IN
REVERENCE A GRACIOUS AND SOVEREIGN GOD. WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A GRATEFUL HEART AS WE GATHER IN THIS SACRED CHAMBER OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO HONOR YOUR NAME.
TO HONOR THE FATHER YOUR PROTECTION AND TO HONOR THE FATHER YOUR WISDOM TOWARD THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE THANK YOU ALL, LORD, FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY GRANTED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY ITS PRESIDENT TO UPLIFT A COMMUNITY WHOSE STORY IS ONE OF PERSEVERANCE AND HOPE AND
HISTORIC TRIUMPH AS WE CELEBRATE ELECTION HERITAGE MONTH WE INVITE YOUR DIVINE PRESENCE OVER THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY. WE REMEMBER THE COURAGE OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US
THOSE WHO SUED THE FLAG OF LIBERATION. WE FIT IN THE HEARTS AND FIRE IN THE BONES. WE THANK YOU FOR THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE INSTILLED IN THE HAITIAN PEOPLE. JUST AS A DECLARED IT TO
JOSHUA. JOSHUA ONE NINE. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE AFRAID FOR THE LORD. YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO THROUGH REVOLUTIONS,
EARTHQUAKES, MIGRATIONS AND HARDSHIP. YOUR HAND HAS SUSTAINED US. WE PRAISE YOU FOR THE COURAGE TO RISE AGAIN AND AGAIN ECHOING THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL PAUL.
WE ARE HARD PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE BUT NOT CRUSHED PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR. STRUCK DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED. SECOND COURAGE IN FOUR, EIGHT AND NINE WE LIFT UP THE VALUE
OF CONVICTION LORD. JUST AS YOU TAUGHT US THROUGH MICAH TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY BEFORE OUR GOD. MAY OUR HERITAGE ALWAYS BE LEFT WITH JUSTICE, UNITY AND
RIGHTEOUS PURSUIT DONE. HAITI IS THE ARENOT BLACK REPUBLIC, SAID THE ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS THAT SHE HAS TAUGHT THE WORLD THE DANGER OF SLAVERY AND THE VALUE OF LIBERTY.
MAY WE HONOR THAT PROPHETIC TRUTH TODAY BY CONTINUING TO STAND FOR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE? FINALLY, FATHER, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THE DOORS YOU CONTINUE TO OPEN
FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES AND THE RISING GENERATIONS AS IT IS WRITTEN IN REVELATION THREE IT I HAVE PLACED BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR THAT NO ONE CAN SHUT. WE RECEIVE THAT PROMISE TODAY.
BLESS THE DELIBERATIONS OF THIS COUNCIL MAY EVERY DECISION BE GUIDED BY WISDOM, COMPASSION AND EQUITY. MAY THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD
PREVAIL NOT JUST DURING THIS MONTH OF CELEBRATION BUT IN EVERY DAY THAT FOLLOWS. MAY YOUR PEACE REST UPON THIS CITY AND MAY YOUR JUSTICE WILL. UNLIKE AREVA YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
LIKE NEVER FILLED IN STREAM. IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE GOD OF JUSTICE HEALING AND HOPE. I PRAY. AMEN. AND THEN WE WILL NOW RECITE THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHICH IS MISSION I HEREBY
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR KIKI.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STEWARDSHIP HERE IN THE CITY AND HOW YOU LEAD AND YOUR PRAYER JUST BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU, MISS CHAMPION. PASCAGOULA. SOME OF THAT THING MAY BE UPSET
WITH OKAY, WE ARE GOING WE HAVE TO PRESENTATION TODAY AND I KNOW THAT THAT COUNCILOR SANTANA'S PRESENTERS ARE ON A TIME CRUNCH SO I'M GOING TO BRING UP COUNSELOR SANTANA WHO WILL BE HONORING
THOSE DOING THE WORK OF CANCER RESEARCH AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION FOR ME IN HONOR OF HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH. SO SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
IN 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE
SAM ANTHONY AND DR. MAVE EVERYONE TO COME UP HERE AS THEY COME UP. OH, TO BEGIN MY REMARKS. UM, WANT TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON
TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE WATCHING? THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RISE TODAY AND SPEAK ON AN ISSUE THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME AND
UNDOUBTEDLY TO SO MANY OF YOU AS WELL. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE WATCHED MY MOTHER THE STRONGEST PERSON I KNOW BATTLED CANCER WITH GRACE, COURAGE AND
UNWAVERING RESILIENCE. IT'S A JOURNEY THAT HAS FOREVER CHANGED ME AND IT'S ONE I KNOW IT'S NOT UNIQUE WHETHER IT'S A PARENT, A CHILD, A FRIEND OR EVEN OURSELVES.
CANCER TOUCHES EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY COMMUNITY AS A LARGE CITY COUNCILOR REPRESENTING EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR GREAT CITY. I CARRY THESE STORIES WITH ME EVERY DAY. BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC IS A
FACE, A NAME, A LIFE. AND TODAY I RISE NOT JUST AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL BUT AS A SON, A NEIGHBOR AND AN ADVOCATE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE URGENT NEED TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LIFESAVING CANCER RESEARCH. BOSTON IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN CANCER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. OUR CITY IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST HOSPITALS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND OUR
SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS AND FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE. LET ME JUST SHARE JUST ONE EXAMPLE. BETWEEN 2011 AND 2018 THE
DANA-FARBER HARVARD CANCER CENTER CAUGHT IT RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON AND HAS WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY HALF OF ALL FDA APPROVED CANCER TREATMENTS. THAT'S NOT JUST PROGRESS.
THAT'S HOPE. THAT'S LIVES SAVED. BUT THAT'S PROGRESS. IT'S NOW AT RISK. PROPOSED FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND THE NATIONAL
CANCER INSTITUTE WILL BE A DIRECT BLOW TO OUR CITY'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO TREATMENTS TO CURES AND TO SECOND CHANCES. THESE CUTS COULD HALT CLINICAL TRIALS, JEOPARDIZE JOBS AND
SLOW DOWN THE SCIENCE THAT SAVES LIVES. THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED A LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION THIS WEEK URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TO CUT FUNDING FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND TO
FULLY FUND THE AI AGE AND NCI. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT EARLIER TODAY THAT EARLIER TODAY THE COUNCIL WILL BE VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION AND IT WILL NOW BE
SENT TO THE YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WILL BE SENT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND BOTH TO OUR U.S. SENATORS. BUT THIS FIGHT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THE UNIQUE, UNIQUE RISK FACED BY OUR BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS DUE TO THEIR EXPOSURE ON THE JOB. FIREFIGHTERS HAVE A 9% HIGHER RISK OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER AND A 14 HIGHER 14% HIGHER RISK OF DYING FROM IT. THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR THE VERY ACT OF KEEPING US SAFE PUTS THEM AT RISK. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
LATER TODAY I'LL BE INTRODUCING WHY I'M PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 718 PRESIDENT SAM DILLON TO ANNOUNCE A FORTHCOMING HEARING ON OCCUPATIONAL
CANCER RISK AMONG OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND NOW THE CITY OF BOSTON AND HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN DO MORE TO SUPPORT THEIR PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.
I'M THANKFUL TO COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE WHO WILL BE COSPONSORING THIS HEARING ORDER WITH ME LATER TODAY. THIS ISN'T JUST POSITIVE POLICY .
THIS IS PERSONAL. IT'S ABOUT MY MOTHER. IT'S ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S. IT'S ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS, OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN BOSTON WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON US
SPEAKING OUT AND STEPPING UP. I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED TODAY BY TWO INCREDIBLE LEADERS IN THIS FIGHT. I'D LIKE TO NOW INVITE THEM TO THE DAIS AND TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
FIRST WE'LL HAVE DR. MAE O'BYRNE, A PRESIDENT, PHYSICIAN AND PROUD MEMBER OF A C R C I R SEIU WHO IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF PATIENT CARE AND RESEARCH
HERE IN BOSTON. AND SECOND, I'LL HAVE SAM DILLON AND THEN PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL SEVEN AND 718 REPRESENTING THE BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY EVERY DAY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THEM. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DR. MAEVE O'BYRNE. I'M A RESIDENT PHYSICIAN AT
UMASS CHAN MEDICAL CENTER AND A PROUD PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN FOR HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR S.A. FOR ORGANIZING THIS PRESENTATION AND TO THANK CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
LOUIJEUNE AS WELL AS THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. ADMITTEDLY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE SPOKEN AT A HEARING LIKE THIS AND WHEN I WAS DRAFTING MY REMARKS MY
INITIAL THOUGHT WAS TO CITE FACTS AND STATISTICS. I COULD TELL YOU THAT IN THE UNITED STATES OVER 1,777,000 PEOPLE ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
THAT WAS IN 2021 ALONE. BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY PATIENT WHO WE WILL CALL DANA.
DANA CAME TO MY PRIMARY CARE CLINIC ONE AFTERNOON AFTER FINDING OUT THAT HER MOTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER WERE BOTH DIAGNOSED WITH A TYPE OF HEREDITARY CANCER. DANA IS SITTING UNDER FLUORESCENT LIGHTS IN A GOWN
MADE OF PAPER ASKING A THOUSAND EXCELLENT QUESTIONS, ALL OF WHICH START WITH THE WORDS WHAT IF? IN HER LINE OF QUESTIONS SHE REFERS TO HER OWN BODY AS IN
HER WORDS A QUOTE TICKING TIME BOMB. AND HER PHRASING STICKS WITH ME EVEN TO THIS DAY. I KNOW AS A PHYSICIAN THAT DANA'S GENETIC CODE DRAMATICALLY INCREASES HER RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER IN
HER LIFETIME. BUT I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT OF CARRYING AROUND A THOUSAND WHAT IFS. I REASSURED HER THAT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ALONE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF RESEARCHERS
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK DISCOVERING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO TREAT AND PREVENT CANCER. I TOLD HER THAT WHATEVER CURVEBALLS LIFE THROWS HER WAY SHE WILL HAVE A WHOLE TEAM STANDING BESIDE HER.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEING PRESENTED IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY. I ASK YOU TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR THE LIFESAVING RESEARCH THAT GIVES HOPE TO PATIENTS LIKE DANA AND TO PATIENTS EVERYWHERE.
WITHOUT ANY OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY COUNCIL OF SANT'ANNA FOR INVITING US HERE TODAY TO TAKE ON THIS INCREDIBLY PRESSING AND IMPORTANT ISSUE. I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS
OF COUNCILOR SANTANA, WHAT HE JUST SAID. THIS IS PERSONAL. THIS FIGHT IS PERSONAL. THERE'S NOT A MEMBER IN THIS BUILDING TODAY WHO CAN'T SAY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PERSONALLY
IMPACTED BY A DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER ADDED TO THEMSELVES A FRIEND OR A LOVED ONE. AND COUNCILOR SANTANA, WHILE I NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE YOUR MOTHER IS INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF YOU FOR TAKING THIS FIGHT. THANK YOU. AS PRESIDENT OF BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 718 I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY
BROTHER AND SISTER FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER. WITHIN THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE SERVICE
AROUND THE WORLD, I'M JOINED BY FIREFIGHTER DAN RHATIGAN, A SECOND GENERATION BOSTON FIREFIGHTER, THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE BOSTON FIRE
CANCER FOUNDATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HIMSELF A PROUD SURVIVOR OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER. DAN WASN'T PRESENTED WITH THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS PRESENTED WITH A FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE AND HE TOOK CANCER ON THE WAY HE TAKES ON FIRES HEAD ON FULL SPEED, FULL TILT AND THEN KICK CANCER'S
NOT JUST ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY BUT FOR EVERY BOSTON FIREFIGHTER WHO CAME AFTER HIM WHO'S BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE WORK THAT DAN DOES THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION BENEFITS OUR
MEMBERS, BENEFITS OUR FAMILIES. AND TODAY COURTESY OF EARLY DETECTION CANCER AWARENESS AND EARLY INTERVENTION, THERE ARE BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE WORK
OF THAT FOUNDATION. THE STATISTICS INVOLVING OCCUPATIONAL CANCER IN THE FIRE SERVICE ARE SOBERING. AS YOU HEARD COUNCILOR SANTANA
SAY, BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS HAVE A 9% HIGHER RISK OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND A 14% HIGHER RISK OF DYING FROM THAT
DIAGNOSIS A 90% HIGHER CHANCE OF BRAIN CANCER AND AN 81% ELEVATED CHANCE OF RECEIVING A HODGKIN'S AND FORMER DIAGNOSIS.
TO DATE 75% OF LINE OF DUTY DEATHS WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE ACROSS THE INTERNATIONAL. THE NAMES THAT WE SADLY PUT ON OUR MEMORIAL WALL EACH AND EVERY YEAR 75% OF THOSE LINE
OF DUTY DEATHS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL CANCER. AS BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS, OUR JOB IS TO RISK OUR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS.
WE DON'T ACCEPT THIS DANGER. WE EMBRACE IT AND WE WEAR IT LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR. WE ALSO DON'T ACCEPT FAILURE AND WE DON'T ACCEPT LOSS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY ON BEHALF
OF LOCAL 718 WE HAVE FINISHED STANDING GRAVESIDE TO OUR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DUE TO OCCUPATIONAL CANCER FAR TOO
EARLY. ANOTHER STATISTIC I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A RETIRED BOSTON FIREFIGHTER
UPON RETIREMENT IS FIVE YEARS AND AN INCREDIBLE DRIVING FORCE OF THAT FIVE YEAR RETIREE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS OCCUPATIONAL CANCER. THE IMPACTS THAT THIS IS HAVING
ON FIREFIGHTERS ARE BRUTAL NOT JUST THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED AND NOT JUST THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE PASSING AWAY THEIR FAMILIES BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT AFTER THEIR LOSS .
AN EMPTY SEAT AT DINNER A PARENT NOT ATTENDING A BASEBALL GAME. SOMEONE WHO'S NOT THERE TO OPEN PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. THIS IS THE COLD REALITY
OF WHAT WE ARE FACING WITHIN LOCAL 718 AND WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE. I COMMEND THE WORK OF COUNSELOR SANTANA AND I COMMEND THIS HONORABLE BODY FOR BRINGING
THIS FIGHT OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND BRINGING IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF BOSTON
FIREFIGHTERS AND PREVENT THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS THAT THIS IS HAVING ON US AND OUR FAMILIES. WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE IT'S ALMOST BECOME A QUESTION OF NOT
IF BUT WHEN WILL I GET THAT PHONE CALL? WHEN WILL I BE DIAGNOSED? WHEN WILL ONE OF MY BROTHER OR SISTER FIREFIGHTERS WHO I HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE FOR TEN, 12,
25 YEARS WHEN WILL THEY BE DIAGNOSED? WELL, LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDERS WHICH CAN'T HAPPEN THERE'S NO POLITICS INSIDE OF A BURNING BUILDING.
JUST OUR MISSION THE MISSION TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT EACH OTHER AT ALL COSTS AND BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. ONCE AGAIN, I COMMEND THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR
RECOGNIZING OUR FIGHT AND JOINING US AS THE ALLIES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE INTO DESTROYING THE DEATH SENTENCE THAT HAS BECOME OCCUPATIONAL
CANCER WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE . IT HAS TO STOP AND THE BEGINNING OF THAT END STARTS TODAY BY HAVING THESE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS AND DOING THE WORK THAT MUST BE DONE. I THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR
OF ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY. THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US ON THIS FIGHT. WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU BY OUR SIDE. I APPRECIATE THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR
FAMILIES. THANK YOU. CAN MY COLLEAGUES PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE FOR A PERFECT PICTURE?
JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR SPEAKERS TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ME.
IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN SANTANA FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT THIS FIGHT IS PERSONAL FOR YOU. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR AND UPLIFT YOUR MOTHER AND EVERYONE HERE IN THE CITY WHO IS BATTLING CANCER.
TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK IN TAKING ON THIS JOB AND THE INCREASE OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER. SO WE WILL DO CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT WE CAN HERE. WHAT INSPIRES ME INSPIRING MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT WE ARE ALL FIGHTING MULTIPLE FIGHTS CARRYING HEAVINESS WITH US IN THIS MOMENT. THERE'S A LOT OF GRIEF AND THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
THAT WORK THAT WE'RE CARRYING PERSONALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY BUT WE'RE STILL HERE DOING THE WORK MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR. FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY AND A LOT OF THIS IS VERY PERSONAL. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SHINE A LIGHT ON THE TOUGH WORK THAT I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU ARE DOING IN CARING SO
MUCH GRIEF. IT IT'S A SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK DAN I WANT TO THANK DR. MARVEL AND I WANT TO THANK SAM AND TONY TONY COMING OFF OF A BIG VICTORY CAIR, SEIU IN
THEIR CONTRACTS. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE TONY ON THAT TOO. YOU KNOW ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH I'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR RESOLUTIONS BUT IT'S A
MONTH WE'RE SUPPOSED TO CELEBRATE AS PASTOR KIKI STATED WHO WE ARE AS THE FIRST FREE BLACK REPUBLIC IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, THE ONLY COUNTRY FOUNDED FROM A SLAVE REVOLT. AND HAITI IS AN SPIRALING IN
CHAOS RIGHT NOW AND UNCERTAINTY AND INSTABILITY AND I DON'T KNOW A PERSON WHO ISN'T WHO IS A HAITIAN PERSON WHO IS NOT AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN HAITI. IT'S IT'S IT'S BEEN REALLY
DIFFICULT AND SO A QUESTION WE OFTEN GET IS WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON, HOW CAN YOU CELEBRATE ? AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS WITH ALL THIS GOING ON, HOW CAN WE NOT HOW CAN WE FORGET WHO WE ARE?
HOW CAN WE ALLOW BAD ACTORS AND BAD PEOPLE TO ROB US OF OUR JOY INTO ROB US OF OUR STORY? WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AS A CITY. WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS EXPERIENCING
CANCER FOR OUR LOVED ONES, FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WE'RE UNDER ATTACK AND WE STAND UNITED IN THAT FIGHT. SO WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE WITH A LOT OF JOY CHAOS DANCE STUDIO WHICH WAS
FOUNDED IN FEBRUARY 2011 BY CINDY AUGUSTIN. SHE'S A PROFESSIONAL DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, A DANCE INSTRUCTOR AND DANCE AWARD RECIPIENT. SHE STUDIED HAITIAN FOLKLORE, HIP HOP AND JAZZ AT JOEL DONUT
TENT BELOW ÉCOLE THE DANCE IN PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI AFTER MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2009 TO CONTINUE HER DANCE STUDIES IN MODERN CONTEMPORARY AND BALLET AT PINE MANOR COLLEGE WHERE SHE GRADUATED
WITH A MINOR IN DANCE CALMS INDIA WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE DANCE ENSEMBLE THE PINE MANOR COLLEGE DANCE TEAM CAST DANCE STUDIOS A DYNAMIC AND INCLUSIVE DANCE ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA WITH AN
ADDITIONAL LOCATION IN TAUNTON ,MASSACHUSETTS. FOR OVER A DECADE THE STUDIO HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN CULTURAL EVENTS AND TOUCHING HEARTS WITH ITS PASSIONATE PERFORMANCES. DANCE STUDIO OFFERS A BROAD
RANGE OF DANCE CLASSES INCLUDING BALLET, HIP HOP, AFROBEATS, HAITIAN FOLKLORE, THE SURGICAL LYRICAL, CONTEMPORARY ZUMBA BELLY DANCING AND SOCIAL DANCES OPEN TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS.
THE STUDIO'S INCLUSIVE APPROACH ENSURES THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEIR LOVE FOR DANCE REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR EXPERIENCE. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR THEM FOR THIS SUNDAY
EVENING THEY'LL BE HAVING A SHOW AT THE STRAND THEATER AT 6:00 AM SURE. SURE. IF YOU WANTED TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS JUST ABOUT KISS DANCE STUDIO AND THEN WE WILL BE TREATED TO A WONDERFUL DANCE
PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS CARMEN INDIA AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF KEIRA'S DANCE STUDIO SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL AT THIS WONDERFUL PRESENTATION
PERFORMANCE THAT WE'RE HAVING AT THE STRAND THEATER ON SUNDAY. PERFECT DATE MAY 18, WHICH IS HAITIAN FLAG DAY AT 5 P.M.. THE SHOW IS TITLED GENESIS THE JOURNEY FROM HISPANIOLA TO
HAITI. SO IF YOU'VE NEVER IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE HAITIAN HISTORY IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SEE IT LIVE ON STAGE. THE STORY TAKES PLACE STARTING
FROM THE 14TH HUNDREDS BEFORE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ARRIVED IN HAITI WITH THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND WE END THE SHOW IN THE 1800S WITH THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION WHICH MADE HAITI THE FIRST
BLACK INDEPENDENT NATION.
SO THANK YOU.
OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT THAT HE DID YOU SEE THAT FELLOW AND HE DID YOU GLAD TO
SEE YOUR LITTLE GUY. DO YOU REALLY? OH, I DO. I DO NOT BECAUSE WE BOTH DO.
BY BENJAMIN. OH, NOW YOU WILL BE WILL BE. I KEEP FEELING WHAT THIS KEEPS
WITH ME AND I. I DON'T SAY THAT I LIVE IN I
KNOW I DID I KNOW I SAID I KNOW NOW LA LA LA LA LA LA THAT HAD
A LOT THAT AND THE DAY I DID BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK I BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GOT TO BE
COMPLETELY OBSESSED THAT HOPEFULLY HE DID IT WHY THAT
THAT QUICKLY KNOW YOU'RE NOT ONLY BACK TO BACK YOU KNOW LA LIBERTÉ YOU GOT THERE NO I
DON'T KNOW WHO I KNOW BECAUSE THAT DAY I ABOUT PEDRO I'VE KNOWN HIM A LONG MACEO WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE
TV MATCHES WHY DON'T THEY SAY THIS REALLY GOOD OR BAD? I LIKE OKAY BABY I SHALL WHAT?
DON'T TELL ME WHAT THEY SAID WHAT TO ME ALONE HE MATCHES AND
MATCHES RECORDED EVERY DAY AND I SAID I DON'T IF YOU GET TO
THANK YOU SO MUCH COULD PLEASE JOIN US AND MY COLLEAGUES COULD PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PHOTO AS WELL AS PARSLEY. KIKI WE HAVE OUR THE RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH THAT WE'LL BE INTRODUCING
LATER BUT WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU ALL COULD COME FORWARD AND WHOEVER MY FATHER IS TOO IF
YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD BUT DON'T WORRY.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ACROSS INDIA AND FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY THE WORDS OF THAT SONG WHAT WHEN HAITI IS FREE OH HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WILL
BE AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CARRY WITH US. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE AMEND THE RECORD TO REFLECT
THAT COUNCILORS COLETTE ZAPATA, BRAYDEN AND NARELLE ARE NOW PRESENTED WITH US. OKAY NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER
OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THEIR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF MAY SEVEN, 2025. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 7TH MEETING ARE APPROVED.
WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR HONOR. THE MAYOR MR COURT WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1051 DUNCAN NUMBER 01051 MESSAGE NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON
TO ACCEPT AN EXPENDITURE AMOUNT OF $23,860 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 FIREFIGHTERS SAFETY EQUIPMENT GRANT ROUND TWO AWARDED BY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT
OF FIRE SERVICES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE PROCUREMENT OF NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. FIREFIGHTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION STANDARDS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NUMBER 1051 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1052 DOCKET NUMBER 01052 MESSAGE DO NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 IN THE FORM OF A
GRANT FOR THE BTR PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE DONOR GROUP TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND FREE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING SERVICES TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME
BOSTON RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 105 TO BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 105331055 DUGAN NUMBER 1053 COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE REGARDING CITY
COUNCIL RULE 48 LUCKY NUMBER 1054 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM SCOTT FINCH THE ORDER TRANSMITTING A LIST OF FISCAL YEAR 25 REALLOCATIONS MADE BY
THE MAYOR PRIOR TO APRIL 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS DOCKET NUMBER 1055 COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILOR OF
FLYNN REGARDING DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY IN DOCKET NUMBER 1056 COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR CITY
COUNCIL ACTION ON THE DESIGNATION OF THE OLD NORTH CHURCH AND CAMPUS 193 SALEM STREET BOSTON, MASS. AS A LANDMARK IN EFFECT AFTER JUNE SIX, 2025 IF NOT ACTED
UPON. THANK THESE COMMUNICATION DOCKETS NUMBER 105321055 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR OUTCOMES WHERE ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I LIKE TO HAVE NUMBER 10541054
BE REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. OKAY MR. CLERK CAN WE PLEASE REFER DOCKET NUMBER 1054 TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS? THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN. COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU. HAPPY PRESERVATION MONTH AS THE CHAIR OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION, I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS DECISION TO DESIGNATE THE OLD NORTH CHURCH AND CAMPUS
IN THE NORTH END AS AN OFFICIAL BOSTON LANDMARK AS THE OLDEST STANDING CHURCH BUILDING IN OUR CITY AND ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC IN OUR NATION. OLD NORTH IS MORE THAN JUST BRICKS AND MORTAR. IT IS A LIVING SYMBOL OF OUR
COLLECTIVE IDENTITY AS BOSTONIANS AND AMERICANS. BUILT IN 1723 AND 1740, THIS HISTORIC CHURCH STOOD AT THE CENTER OF ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHEN TWO
LANTERNS AND ITS STEEPLE SIGNALED THE MOVEMENT OF BRITISH TROOPS TO THE SONS OF LIBERTY. ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 18, 1775 THIS IS IMMORTALIZED BY HENRY
WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW WAS PAUL REVERE'S RIDE AND ONE THAT CONTINUES TO RESONATE AS A POWERFUL EMBLEM OF LIBERTY AND RESISTANCE. AND I KNOW COUNCILOR CLAUDE AS A POTTER WE HONORED THAT JUST
LAST MONTH. GIVEN TODAY'S SOCIOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROTECTION OF THESE SYMBOLS AND OUR FOR OUR PROSPERITY IS EVEN MORE CONSEQUENTIAL. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OLD NORTH EXTENDS BEYOND THE BIRTH OF OUR
NATION. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE CULTURE TRADITION. A GEORGIAN GEM INSPIRED BY SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN AND A GROWING
COMMITMENT TO TELL A FULL INCLUSIVE STORY OF ALL WHO SHAPED IT. TODAY RESEARCHERS AND ADVOCATES ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRING FORWARD THE STORIES OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS MEMBERS WHO HAVE TOO LONG BEEN EXCLUDED FROM OUR
BROADER NARRATIVE OF OLD NORSE HISTORY. THIS DESIGNATION IS ABOUT PRESERVATION AND ENSURES THAT THE HISTORIC SITE WILL BE PROTECTED FROM DEMOLITION OR APPROPRIATE ALTERATION IN PERPETUITY.
AND IT AFFIRMS THAT WE AS A CITY VALUE OUR HERITAGE NOT JUST FOR ESTHETIC BEAUTY OR TOURISM VALUE BUT ALSO FOR THE TRUTH THAT HOLDS AND THE STORIES THAT IT INVITES US TO KEEP TELLING. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M A
STRONG PROPONENT OF A DYNAMIC AND CHANGING BOSTON TO FOSTER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WE NEED IN OUR CITY. BUT SOME THINGS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT CHANGE. THAT SAME FUTURE WILL BE FOR
NAUGHT IF WE DON'T APPLY THE SAME VIGOR TO PRESERVE LANDMARKS OF OBVIOUS VALUE. THIS LANDMARK. I'M SURPRISED THAT THIS IS NOT ALREADY A BOSTON. THAT'S WHY I AM PROUD AS THE
CHAIR AND WHAT'S ONE OF MY DEEPEST HONORS TO MOVE FOR THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION TO BE VOTED ON BEFORE THE ENTIRE BODY . I WANT TO COMMEND THE COOPERATION OF CHRISTCHURCH AND OLD NORTH ILLUMINATED FOR THEIR
STEWARDSHIP AND I APPLAUD THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR THE UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MAYOR FOR APPROVING THIS DESIGNATION. TODAY I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THIS BODY TO DO OUR PART AND ACTIVELY AFFIRMING THEIR
DECISION. AND I'D LIKE TO PASS IT TO YOU THAT MY DISTRICT COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AND I JUST HAVE TO CALL IT AS A PARTY OF THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU CHAIR. I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE OLD NORTH CHURCH UP AT THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION ON APRIL 22ND. I THINK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE OLD
NORTH CHURCH. IT IS ACTUALLY FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW. IT IS THE OLDEST STANDING CHURCH IN BOSTON. IT IS A RARE AND EXCEPTIONALLY PRESERVED EXAMPLE OF GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE. ITS STEEPLE REMAINS A DEFINING FEATURE OF THE NORTH AND
SKYLINE AND ITS ORIGINAL INTERIOR OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO COLONIAL ERA LIFE AND WORSHIP PRACTICES. TODAY IT'S EVOLVED INTO AN INCREDIBLE CIVIC ORGANIZATION
AND PROGRAMING AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY. IT'S NOW CALLED OLD NORTH ILLUMINATED. IT WAS FORMERLY OLD NORTH FOUNDATION. IT PROVIDES THE PUBLIC PROGRAMING SCHOOL VISITS EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND
ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS EACH YEAR. ITS ROLE IN CIVIC LIFE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WHILE REMAINING GROUNDED IN ITS DEEP AND AT TIMES CHALLENGING HISTORICAL ROOTS.
SO DESIGNATING IT AS A LANDMARK WILL ENSURE THAT WE HONOR AND PRESERVE OUR PAST SO THAT WE CAN BETTER INFORM THE CITIZENSHIP OF OUR FUTURE. AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS DESIGNATION AS A
LANDMARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP FUND COUNCIL FOR ANY OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON DOCKET 1055.
OKAY. THAT'S NOT A WE'RE STILL ON DOCKET NUMBER WHERE WE WENT TO. WE KIND OF SKIPPED AHEAD AND WENT TO 1056 SO I WILL CALL ON YOU RIGHT WHEN WE'RE DONE. IS ANYONE LOOKING ALSO SPEAKING
AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON DOCKET 1056? COUNCILOR DURKAN IF I'M CORRECT ,SEEKING PASSAGE OF THIS AS A LANDMARK. OKAY. COUNCILOR DURKAN SEEKS AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT TRANSPORTATION AND SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1056. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBER
1056. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY COUNCILOR WAS A OF PARTY YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANTOS AND
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILPERSON YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES.
COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN. COUNCILOR YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER. YES. AND COUNCILOR WORRELL.
COUNCILOR WU YES. TALKING NUMBER 1056 HAS RECEIVED 12 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, DUNCAN. NUMBER 1056 HAS PASSED. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAD THE FLOOR TO SPEAK ON DOCKET NUMBER 1055.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS A LETTER I SENT FROM MYSELF, THE BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER ABOUT CHALLENGES WE EXPERIENCED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF BOSTON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. THIS IS AN ISSUE I KNOW WELL, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR SEVEN YEARS. I KNOW THE DOWNTOWN AREA I WENT
TO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE. I SERVED AS A PROBATION OFFICER . MY SON WENT TO HEIGHTEN. MY SON WENT TO GRADE SCHOOL HERE IN THIS AREA AS WELL. I COME INTO THIS BUILDING EVERY
DAY AND SPEND A LOT OF DOWNTOWN TIME IN THE DOWNTOWN BOSTON AREA. THE DOWNTOWN BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS DECLINED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN MY OPINION. PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. HOWEVER, WE DID COME TOGETHER AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, AS A CITY TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING CRIME THE ONGOING PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES. WE CAME TOGETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAD SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES INCLUDING OPEN DRUG DEALING AND OPEN DRUG USE, VIOLENT CRIME, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY, INTO DETOX PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE MY WHOLE LIFE AS A PROBATION OFFICER HERE AT SUFFOLK SUPERIOR COURT
. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING DRUGS AND USING DRUGS FROM A CONSTANT ADVOCACY WE
HAVE WE'RE WORKING ON ENSURING THAT ANYONE THAT IS USING DRUGS OR SELLING DRUGS IN THE CITY IS NOW ARRESTED AND WE HAVE PROGRESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE IN POLICY NOT A CHANGE IN LAW BUT A CHANGE IN POLICY TO TO ARREST ANYONE THAT'S
SELLING DRUGS OR USING DRUGS. THIS MORNING FAST FORWARD THIS MORNING I ALONG WITH COUNCILOR DURKAN HELD A KIND OF A COFFEE HOUR MEETING IN THE
BOSTON COMMON AREA AND WE DISCUSS THESE ISSUES THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITH RESIDENTS AND WITH NEIGHBORS, WITH CIVIC GROUPS AND WITH THE
POLICE, WITH PRESENCE OF CITY OFFICIALS AS WELL IN. BEACON HILL. THE BACK BAY WAS PRESENT THE BAY VILLAGE, CHINATOWN, FORT
POINT AND IN OBVIOUSLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WHAT WE AGREED ON IS IT'S IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER. COUNCILOR MURPHY WAS THERE AS WELL.
WHAT WE AGREED ON IS WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES. I'M NOT GIVING UP ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY.
I LOVE THAT. I WAS ON A MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH THE BEACON HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THAT'S WHAT THE RESIDENTS WERE ASKING US IS WE
NEED MORE SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON IN THE BOSTON COMMON. IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT I'M COMMITTED TO DOING AS THE DISTRICT TWO CITY COUNCIL WORKING WITH EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. HEY, THANK YOU. THAT DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1055 IS PLACED ON FILE THAT THE TO REPLACE ON FILE AS WELL. I WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY ON DOCKET NUMBER 1053. REGARDING THE CITY COUNCIL RULE
48 AS YOU SEE I WROTE INQUIRY TO CORPORATION COUNCIL REGARDING RULE 48 WHICH STATES THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHALL AUTOMATICALLY REFER MATTER TO THE COUNCIL UPON A FELONY CONVICTION OF ANY MEMBER BY ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT.
AND AS THIS IS COMMUNICATION I WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY THIS SERVES AS A REFERRAL OF THE MATTER COUNT ASK THE CORPORATION COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN IN LIGHT OF THE TURNER DECISION WHICH
CAME AFTER RULE 48 WHICH BASICALLY STATED THAT UNDER CITY UNDER THE CITY CHARTER NEITHER ON THE CITY CHARTER OR UNDER STATE LAW DID THE CITY COUNCIL HAD THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE CHUCK TURNER FROM THE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. AND SO THAT IS CLEAR THAT IS A CLEAR PRECEDENT THAT IS THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OUR HIGHEST COURT IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS HAS STATED WHAT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S POWERS ARE AND ARE NOT IT DID I APPROVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S REMOVAL OF THE COUNCILOR AT ISSUE THEN FROM
COMMITTEES AND CONDONE THAT AND SO I WANTED TO HAVE THIS AS PART OF THE RECORD AS REFERRING TO THE COMMITTEE AS REFERRING IT TO THE COUNCIL AND ALSO MAKE
NOTE THAT A MONTH AGO THE COUNCILOR AT ISSUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN WAS REMOVED FROM ALL COMMITTEES. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, MR CLERK, DOCKET NUMBER 105321055 ARE
PLACED ON FILE AND DOCKET 1056 HAS PASSED 154080 SORRY YES OKAY 11054 HE'S PLACED ON FILE 10542 WAYS AND MEANS 1055 IS
PLACED ON FILE AND 1056 IS PASSED. OKAY WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET NUMBER 01442014 FOR THE COMMITTEE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON JANUARY 2025 NUMBER 0144
PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW REGARDING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON SUPPORTS THE REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET
OUGHT TO PASS AND A NEW DRAFT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR THE GOVERNMENT OPS COUNCIL COLETTE AS A PART OF THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU VICE CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAKERS OF THIS DOCKET COUNCILORS RUDY LOUIJEUNE, COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND COUNCILOR HENRY SANTANA. THIS WAS REFERRED TO ORIGINALLY TO THE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR BUT
AGAIN FORMALLY ON JANUARY 8TH 2025. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION AND THEN I'LL GO INTO THE SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS . AFTER A LENGTHY REVIEW PROCESS.
DOCKET ZERO ONE FOR FOUR IS A PROPOSED HOME RULE PETITION THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A SYSTEM IN WHICH VOTERS RANK CANDIDATES IN ORDER
OF PREFERENCE RATHER THAN SELECTING JUST ONE. VOTERS MAY RANK UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES INCLUDING RIDINGS FOR EACH CONTEST AND SINGLE WINNER ELECTIONS IF NO CANDIDATE RECEIVES MORE THAN
50% OF FIRST CHOICE VOTES. THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST VOTES IS ELIMINATED AND THEIR VOTES ARE REDISTRIBUTED TO THE NEXT HIGHEST RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT. THIS PROCESS CONTINUES IN
ROUNDS UNTIL ONE CANDIDATE EARNS A MAJORITY AND IS DECLARED THE WINNER AND MULTIPLE WHEN A MULTI WINNER CONTEST SUCH AS FOR AT LARGE CITY COUNCIL RACES A CANDIDATE
IS ELECTED UPON REACHING A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD AND SURPLUS VOTES ARE REDISTRIBUTED TO HELP DETERMINE THE REMAINING WINNERS. THIS METHOD ENSURES THAT THE WINNING CANDIDATES HAVE BROAD SUPPORT AND REFLECTS A MORE
REPRESENTATIVE ELECTORAL OUTCOME. THE HOME RULE PETITION ADDRESSES DEFINITIONS RELATED TO RECEIVE PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE PRELIMINARY GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
THE TABULATION PROCESS REPORTING RESULTS AND IMPLEMENTATION IF PASSED AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL. THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT RACV IN BOSTON WOULD BE PLACED BEFORE BOSTON VOTERS ON A FUTURE
ELECTION BALLOT IF APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS. RACV WOULD APPLY TO ALL GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR AND DISTRICT CITY COUNCILOR WHERE THERE ARE THREE
OR MORE CANDIDATES AS WELL AS TO ALL GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCILORS AT LARGE. THE LEGISLATION IS DESIGNED TO EFFECT ONLY IF THE BALLOT QUESTION IS APPROVED AND AT LEAST 365 DAYS HAVE PASSED
SINCE THAT DATE. ENSURING TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION UNDER SECTION ONE OF THE PROPOSED COMPETITION KEY TERMS RELATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF RACV ARE
DEFINED INCLUDING ACTIVE CANDIDATE REFERRING TO ANY CANDIDATE NOT ELIMINATED, WITHDRAWN OR DECEASED. RANKING WHICH DENOTES THE ORDER OF CANDIDATE PREFERENCES ON THE BALLOT ON A BALLOT THE ELECTION
THRESHOLD WHICH IS USED TO DETERMINE WINNERS IN MULTI SEAT CONTESTS. THIS SECTION ALSO DEFINES THE SEQUENCE OF ROUNDS USED DURING VOTE TABULATION AND OUTLINES
WHO QUALIFIES AS A WITHDRAWN OR DECEASED CANDIDATE UNDER STATE ELECTION LAW. IN SECTION TWO IT ADDRESSES THE USE OF RACV IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS MANDATING
THAT RACV RACV BE USED FOR ALL GENERAL AND SPECIAL SECTIONS FOR MAYOR AND DISTRICT CITY COUNCILORS. IF THERE ARE MORE OR IF THERE ARE THREE OR MORE CANDIDATES AND FOR ALL GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCILORS AT LARGE.
THIS SECTION SPECIFIES THAT GENERAL ELECTION BALLOTS WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO RANK UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES INCLUDING RIDINGS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE. IT ALSO PROPOSES TECHNICAL UPDATES TO EXISTING CITY
ELECTION LAWS TO ALIGN WITH THE RACV SYSTEM SUCH AS UPDATING THE NUMBER OF BLANK WRITE IN LINES AND CLARIFYING HOW VOTES FOR ELIMINATED CANDIDATES SHOULD BE COUNTED TO SUPPORT
THE SYSTEM. THIS SECTION UPDATES EXISTING LAW TO REQUIRE THAT BALLOTS PROVIDE BLANK WRITE IN SPACES EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF SEATS BEING SELECTED BEING ELECTED.
IT ALSO CLARIFIES THAT IN RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS THE NUMBER VOTES CREDITED TO A CANDIDATE WHO IS ELIMINATED WILL BE THE TOTAL THEY HELD IN THE LAST ROUND BEFORE ELIMINATION, PROVIDING A CONSISTENT RECORD OF CANDIDATE
PERFORMANCE ACROSS ROUNDS. SECTION THREE ADDRESSES THE USE OF RACV AND PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO ADVANCE FROM THE PRELIMINARY TO GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR AND
DISTRICT COUNCILOR FROM 2 TO 4. LANGUAGE IN THIS SECTION ALSO ENSURES THAT THE TOP FOUR VOTE GETTERS APPEAR ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT EVEN IN THE EVENT OF A TIE. REGARDING THE TABULATION
PROCESS, SECTION FOUR DETAILS THE PROCESS FOR TABULATING THE BALLOTS AS FOLLOWS IN SINGLE WIN A SINGLE WINNER CONTEST EACH BALLOT COUNTS FOR THE HIGHEST RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE
AND IF NO CANDIDATE HAS A MAJORITY THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST VOTES IS ELIMINATED IN SUCCESSIVE ROUNDS UNTIL A WINNER EMERGES. WHEREAS IN MULTI WINNER CONTESTS SUCH AS AT LARGE RACES
THE THRESHOLD FOR ELECTION IS CALCULATED BY DIVIDING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES BY FIVE. ROUNDING DOWN AND ADDING ONE. UNDER THIS SECTION CANDIDATES WHO SURPASS THAT THRESHOLD ARE
ELECTED AND THEIR SURPLUS VOTES ARE TRANSFERRED PROPORTIONALLY TO REMAINING CANDIDATES. IF NO MORE CANDIDATES REACH THE THRESHOLD THE LOWEST VOTE GETTERS ELIMINATED AND THEIR VOTES REDISTRIBUTED.
THE SECTION ALSO PROVIDES RULES FOR HOW BALLOTS ARE TREATED IN CASES OF UNDER VOTING OVERVOTING SKIPPED RANKINGS AND REPEATED RANKINGS. FINALLY THIS SECTION OUTLINES
HOW TIES ARE TO BE RESOLVED USING PREVIOUS ROUND TOTALS OR OTHER PROCEDURES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO REPORTING RESULTS, SECTION FIVE REQUIRES
THAT THE ELECTION COMMISSION MAKE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS INCLUDING ROUND BY ROUND BREAKDOWNS AVAILABLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE ON ELECTION NIGHT. THESE RESULTS MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED AS PRELIMINARY.
UNDER THIS SECTION THE COMMISSION IS ALSO REQUIRED TO PUBLISH PUBLISH FINAL CERTIFIED RESULTS THAT INCLUDE THE TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF VOTES EACH CANDIDATE RECEIVED IN EACH
ROUND AND REPORT HOW MANY BALLOTS BECAME INACTIVE IN EACH ROUND WITH EXPLANATIONS FOR THOSE OUTCOMES AND FINAL ANONYMOUS RESULTS MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE IN FORMATS THAT ALLOW
FOR PUBLIC VERIFICATION AND ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE NEW PROCEDURES REQUIRED BY THIS HOME RULE PETITION SECTION SIX GRANTS THE ELECTION COMMISSION AUTHORITY TO CREATE RULES AND
REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT IMPLEMENTATION OF RACV IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL UNLESS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS AT.
A FUTURE ELECTION DATE VIA BALLOT TWO AT A FUTURE ELECTION VIA A BALLOT QUESTION THAT WOULD ASK VOTERS WHETHER THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THE ACT TITLED AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE
VOTING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. IF THE QUESTION PASSES THE LAW WOULD TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY BUT APPLY ONLY TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OCCURRING AT LEAST 365 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE
VOTER APPROVAL. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE INFORMATION RECEIVED AT OUR HEARINGS AND WORKING SESSIONS BUT WE DID HOLD A HEARING ON
OCTOBER 10TH OF 2024 AND WE'VE HELD TWO WORKING SESSIONS SINCE THEN. IN TERMS OF SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS THERE WERE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT EMERGED THROUGH THIS ROBUST AND
EXTENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS AND I'LL GO SEQUENTIALLY THROUGH THROUGH THE DOCKET. SO FOLLOWING THE WORKING SESSIONS, THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS WERE MADE TO THIS DOCKET AS THE HOME RULE
PETITION AS AMENDED AS AMENDED. IT CHANGES THE TITLE OF THE PETITION FROM AN ACT RELATIVE TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON TO AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON THE HOME RULE AS AMENDED
UPDATES OUTDATED CITATIONS TO MATCH THE 1951 QUALIFICATION THE THIS HOME RULE PETITION AS AMENDED INSERTS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS UNDER SECTION ONE
TO CLARIFY WHEN OUR CV APPLIES . THIS IS REGULAR ELECTION SPECIAL ELECTION AND WRITE IN THE HOME RULE PETITION AS AMENDED STRIKES AND ASSERTS LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION TWO SUBSECTION D REMOVING OTHER AND
INSERTING NOT CONDUCTED BY RANKED CHOICE VOTING THE HOME OF PETITION AS AMENDED STRIKES AND INSERTS LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION FOUR SUBSECTION AND B AND D ENHANCING TABULATION
DETAIL REFINING SURPLUS TRANSFER DESCRIPTION AND ADDING TO THE STEP BY STEP TIEBREAK HIERARCHY AND I'LL READ THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT THROUGH FOR FLAHERTY PURPOSES AS
AMENDED SECTION FOUR B READS MULTI WINNER TABULATION IN ALL CONTESTS FOR CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE CONDUCTED BY RANKED CHOICE VOTING EACH BALLOT SHALL COUNT IN IN WHOLE OR IN PART
FOR THE HIGHEST RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE ON THAT BALLOT IN THE FIRST ROUND. EACH BALLOT SHALL COUNT AS ONE VOTE FOR ITS HIGHEST RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE AND THE ELECTION THRESHOLD SHALL BE DETERMINED BY DIVIDING THE
NUMBER OF VOTES CAST BY FIVE. ROUNDING DOWN TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER AND ADDING ONE TABULATION SHALL PROCEED IN THE ROUNDS AS FOLLOWING IN THE ROUNDS AS FOLLOWS IF THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CANDIDATES IS EQUAL
TO THE REMAINING NUMBER OF SEATS TO BE ELECTED, ALL ACTIVE CANDIDATES SHALL BE ELECTED IN THE TABULATION SHALL BE COMPLETE. IF AN ACTIVE CANDIDATE HAS A NUMBER OF VOTES THAT EQUALS OR
EXCEEDS THE ELECTION THRESHOLD, THE ACTIVE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST VOTES SHALL BE ELECTED IF THE ELECTED CANDIDATE HAS A NUMBER OF VOTES THAT EXCEEDS THE THRESHOLD THE EXCESS PART OF EACH VOTE RECEIVED BY THAT
CANDIDATE SHALL COUNT IN THE NEXT ROUND FOR THE BALLOT'S NEXT RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE IF NO ACTIVE CANDIDATE EQUALS OR EXCEEDS THE ELECTION THRESHOLD, THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST
VOTES SHALL BE DEFEATED AND A NEW ROUND SHALL BEGIN. THE EXCESS PART OF EACH VOTE RECEIVED BY THE CANDIDATE SHALL COUNT IN THE NEXT ROUND FOR THE CANDIDATE'S NEXT RANKED ACTIVE CANDIDATE I.E. THE VOTER'S
SECOND OR THIRD ETC. RANKED CANDIDATE THE VOTER'S SECOND, THIRD ETC. RANKED CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT ONCE THE TABULATION PROCESS HAS PROCEEDED THROUGH SUCCESSIVE ROUNDS SHOTS SUCH THAT EITHER THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CANDIDATES EQUALS THE
REMAINING NUMBER OF SEATS TO BE FILLED OR NO FURTHER VOTE TRANSFERS ARE POSSIBLE DUE TO EXHAUSTED BALLOTS OR THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL RANKED CANDIDATES. THE CONTEST SHALL BE CONCLUDED
AS A AS AMENDED. SECTION FOUR ALSO GOES INTO EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MATTER OF A TIE. I WON'T READ THAT ONE THROUGH THAT'S IN YOUR COMMITTEE REPORT THE PETITION AS AMENDED STRIKES AND INSERTS LANGUAGE
UNDER SECTION FIVE SUBSECTION A TO STATE THAT OFFICIAL ROUND UNOFFICIAL ROUND BY ROUND RESULTS MUST BE RELEASED ON ELECTION NIGHT CLEARLY MARKED PRELIMINARY WITH A BEST EFFORT
DEADLINE OF 11:59 P.M.. THE WHOLE REPETITION AS AMENDED INSERTS THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE UNDER A SECTION FIVE SUBSECTION B CLAUSE TWO TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO MAKE AVAILABLE
MATCH MACHINE READABLE FINAL DATA TO ENABLE INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION THE HOME RULE PETITION AS AMENDED IN SEARCH LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION SIX TO REQUIRE THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION TO ONE DESIGN EASY TO READ RC V BALLOTS TO PRINT CLEAR RANKING INSTRUCTIONS AND THREE CONDUCT A MULTILINGUAL VOTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT ALSO ADHERES TO CITY DISABILITY
POLICIES THE HOME REPETITION AS AMENDED IT CHANGES LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION SEVEN TO ENSURE THAT THAT THE PETITION IS ADOPTED AS WRITTEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CLERICAL OR NON
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. THE PETITION AS AMENDED INSERTS LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION EIGHT TO ENSURE FLAHERTY ON THE PASSAGE PROCESS FOR THE LEGISLATION AND THEN LAST THE
HOME RULE PETITION AS AMENDED IN SEARCH LANGUAGE WITHIN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION EIGHT TO CLARIFY THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT WILL FINALIZE THE SUMMARY AS AMENDED. I'LL READ THIS THROUGH THE
SECOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION EIGHT READS AS THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT SHALL PREPARE THE SUMMARY OF THE ELECTION WHICH SHALL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT ALONG WITH THE QUESTION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION SUBJECT TO ANY NECESSARY
CHANGES REQUIRED BY LAW AND SO AGAIN I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO THANK THE ACTIVISTS OF THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING COALITION. IT IS WITH A LOT OF PRIDE THAT
AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS I RECOMMEND MOVING THE LISTED DOCKET FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION AND AT THIS TIME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE
FULL COUNCIL WILL BE THAT THIS MATTER OUGHT TO PASS IN A NEW DRAFT AND I WOULD LOVE TO PASS IT TO THE DOCKETS LEAD SPONSOR FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. COUNCILOR GABRIELA CARLOTTA ZAPATA WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
YOUR OFFICE HAS DONE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT THE REVISIONS WERE MADE THAT IT WAS CLEAR. SO THANK YOU TO ELLIE AS WELL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID. JESSI FOR MY OFFICE AND JUST
WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE RAY JOYCE CHOICE BOSTON COALITION, SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS LEGISLATION WAS READY FOR US TODAY.
THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. IT'S AN EXCITING DAY FOR DEMOCRACY AND FOR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE WORK OF DEMOCRACY RANKED CHOICE VOTING MAKES OUR ELECTIONS BETTER BY ALLOWING
VOTERS TO REMAIN CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE AND NOW I LOVE IT WHEN BOSTON IS THE FIRST AT SOMETHING BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT AN AREA IN WHICH WE WOULD BE THE FIRST. THERE ARE MANY OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE AND USE RANKED CHOICE VOTING. DURING ONE OF OUR WORKING SESSIONS WE SAW HOW THEY USE IT IN SAN FRANCISCO AND USE IN NEW YORK, MINNEAPOLIS, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA.
SANTA FE. CAMBRIDGE. PORTLAND. BOULDER. EVANSTON. SEATTLE. SALT LAKE CITY AND IT'S ALSO USED INTERNATIONALLY AND HAS BEEN USED INTERNATIONALLY FOR CENTURIES IN PLACES LIKE
AUSTRALIA AND IN PLACES LIKE IRELAND WE KNOW RING TONES VOTING WORKS AND IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD VOTERS HAVE THE OPTION TO RANK CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE FOR A SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH HOWEVER
MANY CANDIDATES THERE ARE WE RANKED THINGS EVERY DAY IN LIFE WE WAKE YOU KNOW WHETHER WHAT KIND OF ICE CREAM WE WANT IF OUR PARTNER GOES TO THE STORE WE RANK OUR PREFERENCES FOR A MULTITUDE OF THINGS WHAT KIND
OF FOOD YOU WANT IF THEY RUN OUT OF THE FOOD THAT YOU YOU KNOW YOUR FIRST CHOICE YOU GET YOUR SECOND CHOICE AND YOUR THIRD CHOICE AND IT ENSURES THAT WHOEVER IS ELECTED ON THE CANDIDATE'S SIDE HAS THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF THE
ELECTORATE. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING WE ARE BUILDING A BETTER DEMOCRACY BY ELECTING CANDIDATES WHO ARE ABLE TO BUILD A BROAD MAJORITY OF SUPPORT WHO AND WHO ARE NOT
JUST SPEAKING TO THEIR BASE, WHO ARE NOT JUST SPEAKING TO EXTREMISTS BUT WHO ARE DOING THE WORK NECESSARY TO BUILD A BROAD COALITIONS AND TO REPRESENT EVERYONE IN A DISTRICT WITH OUR VOTERS CAN
SINCERELY RANK CANDIDATES AND KNOW THAT WHOEVER IS ELECTED IS HAS THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF VOTERS. I LIKE TO GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF LET'S SAY YOU HAVE FIVE PEOPLE RUNNING IN A RACE. THERE ARE FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOG LOVERS AND THERE'S SOMEONE WHO IS A CAT LOVER. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOG LOVERS END UP SPLITTING THEIR VOTE AMONG THE DIFFERENT DOG LOVERS AND YOU END UP GETTING THE CAT
LOVER WHO WINS WHEN IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THAT DISTRICT THAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THE TYPE OF DOG THEY PREFER A DOG AND SO GREAT CHOICE VOTING
IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD CONSENSUS AND THAT IT'S NOT JUST A WINNER TAKES ALL IF THE WINNER TAKES ALL AT 21% WHAT 30%? THAT'S NOT REALLY DOING THE WORK OF DEMOCRACY AND I KNOW
PEOPLE WILL SAY OH WHAT WE HAVE IT'S GOOD, IT'S WORKING IS FINE. I AGREE. I NOW WON MY FIRST ELECTION. I WON REELECTION WITHOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS IS BETTER AND GETS US CLOSER TO THE WORK
OF DEMOCRACY. I HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH THIS WHEN I WAS WORKING AS AN ATTORNEY WORKED ON MAINE'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL RACE THAT THE COUNTRY'S FIRST FEDERAL RACE THAT USE RANKED CHOICE
VOTING AND I REVIEWED THE BALLOTS AND IN REVIEWING THE BALLOTS I SAW WHAT I THINK IS THE INTUITION THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO RANK TO RANK. AND SO SURVEYS IN RACV
JURISDICTIONS INDICATE THAT VOTERS WERE ABLE TO CLEARLY AND EASILY UNDERSTAND IN 2020 AND 2022 85% OF ALASKAN VOTERS FOUND THE SIMPLE AND NEW YORK CITY'S 2021 PRIMARY 95%
OF VOTERS REPORTED THAT THE BALLOT WAS SIMPLE TO COMPLETE. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED CHANGE FOR BOSTON ELECTIONS? THE ONLY CHANGE TO THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION IS THE ADVANCED POOR CANDIDATES TO THE
GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL DISTRICT SEATS. WHEN VOTING IN THESE PRELIMINARY CONTESTS VOTERS WILL STILL PICK JUST ONE CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT AND FOR MAYOR.
FOUR AT LARGE VOTERS WILL STILL PICK UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES AND EIGHT WILL STILL ADVANCE. AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO RANK. IF THERE'S A CANDIDATE WHO HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN 50% OF THE
VOTE FOR THEIR DISTRICT OR FOR THE ENTIRE CITY DURING TODAY'S VOTING BECAUSE THE ELECTION DID WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS REFLECT THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTERS SUPPORT YOUR
SUPPORT. THAT CANDIDATE CAN ALSO THINK OF RACHEL AS VOTING LIKE INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING THE CHANGE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IS ONE THAT VOTERS WILL WILL BE
ABLE TO UNDERSTAND. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE NOW HAD THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT BEFORE US ON THIS WORKING SESSION TWICE THIS YEAR WE HAD A HEARING JUST ON THE ELECTIONS TWO WEEKS AGO
AND YESTERDAY THEY WERE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN WE KNOW LAST YEAR WAS A HIGH TURNOUT ELECTION, PRESIDENTIAL AND GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS CAN BE A HIGH TURNOUT ELECTION.
I PRAY FOR THE DAY WHEN WE AT THE CITY LEVEL GET A TURNOUT IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE GET AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL AND AT THE GUBERNATORIAL LEVEL. I PRAY FOR THAT DAY BECAUSE THAT WILL BE MEAN THAT WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF VOTER EDUCATION AND VOTER TURNOUT AT
LOCAL ELECTIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL HELP US GET THERE, THAT THIS WILL HELP US EDUCATE PEOPLE AND GET MORE PEOPLE MORE EXCITED ABOUT VOTING. SO OFTEN PEOPLE DON'T VOTE BECAUSE OH MY VOTE WON'T MATTER
WHEN YOU RANK CANDIDATES YOUR VOTE HAS A STRONGER CHANCE OF MATTERING AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT HAS TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. THERE'S A DESIGNEE THERE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
AND WE SEE IT NOW THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT THERE ARE GREATER INVESTMENT IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IN UPGRADED TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF BUILT IN TIME IN THIS HOME ON PETITION
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT THAT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT GETS IT RIGHT. AND LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS A POLICY ISSUE AND PEOPLE DON'T YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE NEW ARE OFTEN LOOKED AT WITH SOME SORT OF TREPIDATION MAYBE I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY IF I
DIDN'T HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WORKING ON A RANKED CHOICE ELECTION AND SEEING THAT VOTERS UNDERSTAND IT AND SEEING THAT IT CAN GET BETTER RESULTS. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU
KNOW, SOMETIMES WILL BE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS. BUT I REALLY DO ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT THIS AS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE SAW IN 2020 WHEN THIS WAS A STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURE THAT BOSTONIANS OVERWHELMINGLY
SUPPORTED IT AT 62% AND I BELIEVE WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE INCREDIBLE COALITION THAT ED SHUMAKER BUILT ALONGSIDE SO
MANY PEOPLE LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, MASS VOTE, JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL, VETERANS FOR ALL VOTERS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THAT YOU SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU KNOW ED CANNOT BE WITH US HERE TODAY BUT FOR THE
COALITION MEMBERS, DOUG AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THERE ARE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH THAT HAVE ENJOYED VOTING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS ARE EDUCATED AND THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE DOING THIS TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY STARTED VOTING STARTED IN 2020 AND CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONGER DEMOCRACY. I ALSO WANT TO OF COURSE THANK MY CO-SPONSORS COUNCILOR HERE
AND COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND REALLY BUILDING THIS MULTIRACIAL MULTI NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING. THEY WILL SPEAK TO THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE OF WHY THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE CITY, FOR DEMOCRACY AND I REALLY DO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS FORMAL PETITION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR VICE PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE PRESIDENT COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE TO BRING A LONG STANDING THIS
EFFORT TO THE FINISH LINE FOR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND MOVE FORWARD WITH A SHIFT THAT IS ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT OUR ELECTION SHOULD REFLECT THE
FULL VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITIES . IT IS A TIME MARKED BY DEEP MISTRUST RIGHT NOW WITHIN OUR INSTITUTIONS AND IT HAS BEEN. NOW MORE THAN EVER MORE URGENT TO GIVE VOTERS A PATHWAY TO
LEADERSHIP THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE. I REMEMBER IN 2021 WORKING ALONGSIDE RONALD BELL UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP WE WERE THE ONLY
MUNICIPALITY IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT SENT A RESOUNDING MESSAGE THAT WE WANT IT RANKED CHOICE VOTING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT WORK.
I WANT TO THANK OTHER LEADERS LIKE CHERYL CRAWFORD, DOUG CHAVEZ SIGNATURE SULLIVAN, RAHSAAN HALL, MARISOL SANTIAGO AND I WANT TO UPLIFT THOSE NAMES IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THERE IS A NARRATIVE THAT THIS
PARTICULAR EFFORT IS ROOTED IN IN JUST WHITE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL STANDARDS. BUT IN REALITY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO STANDS TO BENEFIT MOST, I WANT TO UPLIFT THOSE
PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN MARGINALIZED AND DIFFERENT DISENFRANCHIZED WHEN IT COMES TO OUR VOTE. SO I WANT TO THANK THOSE LEADERS OF COLOR WHO HAVE STOOD IN THE GAP IN SUPPORTING THIS
INITIATIVE, THIS GO ROUND RANKED CHOICE VOTING PUSHES BACK ON SYSTEMS THAT LIMIT THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OR ANOTHER AND INSTEAD PROVIDES A FULL MENU OF OPTIONS. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WE LIKE
OPTIONS WHICH THEY DESERVE. IT PROMOTES CONSENSUS NOT DIVISION. IT ENSURES THAT THE LEADERS WHO RISE TO REPRESENT US NOT JUST ARE THE LOUDEST OR THE BEST
FUNDED OKAY BUT THOSE WHO HAVE THE BROADEST AND THE DEEPEST SUPPORT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS HOW WE BUILD A GOVERNMENT THAT TRULY REFLECTS THE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE FOR HER STRONG LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND MY FELLOW CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR STANDING ALONGSIDE US IN THIS WORK. AND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE
CHAIR OF GOVERNMENT OPS KAZU CLAUDIA ZAPATA FOR SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. LET US BE CLEAR THIS IDEA DID NOT START WITH ANY ONE OF US. IT CAME FROM THE PEOPLE FROM
DAY ONE IN OUR OFFICE WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO A CORE GOVERNANCE MODEL MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WITH THE PEOPLE. TODAY IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WHEN WE STEP TO THE SIDE AND
LET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THE REALITIES AND DOING THE WORK LEAD THINGS CAN GET DONE. SO SHOUT OUT TO THE RANK CHOICE BOSTON COALITION AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING US
ACCOUNTABLE IN SERVING AS KEY PARTNERS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A ORGANIZATION CALLED THE ANNIE INSTITUTE AND THEY HAVE A CALL THAT SAYS THE
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEIR TRUE POWER. I'M GOING TO SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. THE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEIR TRUE POWER AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE THE
PEOPLE BACK THEIR POWER. AND SO I'M STANDING IN IN SOLIDARITY AND AND REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THIS COME UP FOR A VOTE AND LOOK FOR A FAVORABLE RESPONSE FROM ALL MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KIPP SANTANA CATHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRUCE
LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILMEMBER HERE FOR INCLUDING ME IN THIS. AND I WANT TO THANK CHAIR CARLOS A PART OF OUR CHAIRPERSON OF THE CHAPTER. I TAKE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS
TODAY. TODAY I'M PROUD TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS HOME RUN PETITION TO BRING RANKED CHOICE VOTING TO BOSTON VOTING CHOICE VOTING GIVES PEOPLE MORE VOICE, MORE CHOICE AND MORE CONFIDENCE
IN OUR ELECTIONS AND ALLOWS VOTERS TO FULLY EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCES WITHOUT FEAR OF WASTING THEIR VOTES AND HELPS ENSURE THAT THE CANDIDATES WHO WIN TRULY REFLECT THE DIVERSE VALUES AND
PRIORITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. FOR A CITY AS DYNAMIC AND DIVERSE AS BOSTON, WE SHOULD BE LEADING THE WAY ON ELECTORAL REFORM AND STRENGTHENING AND STRENGTHENS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
AND INCREASES OUR REPRESENTATION. ONCE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW REAL CHOICE VOTING WORKS THEY SEE HOW IT SIMPLIFIES OUR ELECTIONS, ENCOURAGES COALITION
BUILDING AND PROMOTING MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY. THIS ISN'T ABOUT FAVORING ONE GROUP OR PARTY. IT'S ABOUT MAKING OUR DEMOCRACY WORK BETTER FOR EVERYONE. I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR
OF THIS HOME RULE PETITION AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS. AND I KNOW THAT I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN EXTRA SHOUT OUT ALSO TO THE COALITION PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY AND TO THOSE
WHO ARE WATCHING FROM WATCHING US ONLINE. MY COUNCILMEMBER HERE SAID THIS CAME DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY AND I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH BOTH MY AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILORS IN DOING JUST THAT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCIL. THE OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
AND BEFORE I BEGIN, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT RESIDENTS HAVE ALSO ASKED US ABOUT AN ELECTED SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND WE HAVEN'T
TAKEN ANY ACTION ON AN ELECTED SCHOOL COMMITTEE. VOTERS CLEARLY SAID TO US TO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL YOU ACT
AND SUPPORT A SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE? THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
WE HAVE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON IN MY OPINION WANTING AN ELECTED SCHOOL COMMITTEE MORE THAN MORE THAN THEY WANT RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
I WAS WITH COUNCILOR SANTANA LAST NIGHT AT A COMMUNITY MEETING IN SOUTH BOSTON. THERE WAS 2025 PEOPLE THERE AND IF THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT
SUPPORTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING WITH ALL THE IF ALL THE ISSUES WE'RE FACING I DON'T BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON ARE ORIGINALLY ASKING US TO CHANGE
OUR VOTING SYSTEM. WHAT I HEAR IS IT. WHY DON'T YOU FIX PUBLIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY? I WAS AT THE BOSTON COMMON
TODAY. YET WE WANT MORE POLICE AND RESOURCE IS IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON. WHAT ABOUT RESIDENT PARK AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THE COST OF LIVING SUPPORTING
SMALL BUSINESSES. WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT US TO FOCUS ON IS DELIVERING BASIC CITY SERVICES AND ADDRESSING QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
WELL, ELECTIONS ARE BASIC CITY SERVICES AND WE KNOW AT THE LAST ELECTION THE ELECTION
DEPARTMENT DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB . WE KNOW THAT 5:00 THE BOSTON POLICE IN THEIR LIGHTS AND SIRENS HAD TO TAKE BALLOTS FROM
CITY HALL AND DRIVE THEM TO VOTING LOCATIONS IN MATTAPAN AND HYDE PARK AND SOUTH BOSTON . IT WAS SO BAD THAT RESIDENTS IN
THE SOUTH END ESPECIALLY ELDERLY PEOPLE HAD TO GO TO THE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I WENT WITH MY WIFE. THE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING IN THE POLLING LOCATION.
THEY WERE TELLING THE RESIDENTS THAT WANTED TO VOTE TO USE YOUR CELL PHONE LIGHT SO YOU COULD READ THE BALLOT.
SOME RESIDENTS, SOME WONDERFUL RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END ACTUALLY WENT HOME AND BROUGHT LAMPS INTO THE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL SO THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS
COULD READ THE BALLOT. POLLING WORKERS WARDENS WERE CALLING CITY HALL. THOSE CALLS WENT ON WENT UNANSWERED.
I CALLED PERSONALLY. I CALLED THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT FROM FROM THE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL, TALKED TO SECRETARY GALVIN. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE.
I CALLED THE SECRETARY. THEN I CALLED FOR A HEARING WITH COUNCIL MURPHY. I ADVOCATED FOR FOR A STATE
RECEIVER RECEIVERSHIP. I ASKED FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND CHANGES. I CAME TO THIS BUDGET MEETING ON THE ELECTION. LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE DEBATE.
ADVOCATED FOR MORE RESOURCES FOR THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT. MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES WEREN'T THERE AT THAT DEBATE AND THE
ELECTION DEPARTMENT PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS IMPLEMENTED. THEY DON'T BELIEVE NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SUCH A DRAMATIC
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO HOW PEOPLE VOTE. I LISTENED CLOSELY COUNCILOR COLETTA AND I THOUGHT YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB. I WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT
TIME EXPLAINING THAT PROCESS TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND FOR OUR DISTRICT OVER MANY OF THEM DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. MANY OF THEM LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING.
MANY OF THEM ARE SENIORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE EXPLAINING THAT ENTIRE PROCESS TO THEM IN SUCH A CLEAR WAY TO EXPLAIN IT IN ONE MINUTE SO
THAT THEY CAN COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. I DON'T WANT TO SET US UP FOR FAILURE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. IF WE VOTE TODAY TO IMPLEMENT
RANKED CHOICE VOTING YES, THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP. YES, PEOPLE WANT TO SUPPORT RANKED CHOICE VOTING. IT HELPS THEM POLITICALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON AND PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT THE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY ELECTED US TO DO.
WE KNOW THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO FAIL. THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT TOLD US IT'S GOING TO THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
LET ME CONTINUE. WE CANNOT NORMALIZE THE FAILURES THAT TOOK PLACE IN NOVEMBER IN THE BIGGEST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIME.
WE HAD CITYWIDE BALLOT SHORTAGES LONG DELAYS WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL BALLOTS, INCORRECT BALLOTS. ENGLISH SPEAKING ENGLISH SPEAKERS NEEDING TO USE CHINESE BALLOTS IN THE SOUTH END
NEIGHBORS VOTING BY FLASHLIGHT. AS I MENTIONED, POLL WORKERS WERE ABLE TO REACH THE ELECTION. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TO SEND SOMEONE TO CITY HALL.
IF THIS ISN'T A FAILURE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. HOW CAN WE ADD MORE COMPLEXITY TO THE BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT? ARE WE SETTING THEM UP FOR
FAILURE? THAT'S THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES RIGHT NOW. WE ARE ON THE POLICY SIDE.
THERE WERE DELAYS WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN ALASKA AND NEW YORK CITY. THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS MISTAKENLY INCLUDED 135 TEST BALLOTS AND THE RESULTS IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION EVEN BEFORE
REALIZING THE MISTAKE. MY FRIENDS, VOTING IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE. I REPRESENT THE LARGE IMMIGRANT
POPULATION ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AN OPTION TO RANK CANDIDATES AND ADD COMPLEXITY CAN POTENTIALLY CONFUSE RESIDENTS AND LEAD TO VOTER
ERROR. THIS CHANGE WILL BE HARMFUL TO THEM IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS WHEN RESIDENTS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
OUR ELECTION PROCESS. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS TO ADD CONFUSION WITH THE SYSTEM. IT IS ALSO CRITICAL THAT WE
MAINTAIN THE FAITH OF ALL NEIGHBORS IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND DEMOCRACY WITH THE PROCESS THAT ENHANCES PARTICIPATION.
LET'S FIX OUR CURRENT VOTING SYSTEM FIRST. LET'S NOT SET UP THE BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT FOR FAILURE. LET'S SUPPORT THEM.
I WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THAT ELECTION FROM LAST YEAR AND THE WAY I MOVE ON FROM THAT ELECTION FROM LAST YEAR IS TO FIX WHAT WHAT HAPPENED? FIX THE MANY PROBLEMS THAT WE
HAVE. WE CAN'T DOWNPLAY THAT. THAT'S NOT OUR JOB TO DOWNPLAY IT. OUR JOB IS TO FIX IT. TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. TO PROVIDE THE BEST ELECTION
DAY PROCESS THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS NOT THE ANSWER. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCIL THE OTHER FLOOR.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO START BY THANKING CHAIR CLAUDIA ZAPATA FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS A THOROUGH HEARINGS AND WORKING SESSIONS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
JUST LAST MONTH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARGUED THAT IF A SPECIAL ELECTION WAS TO HAPPEN IN DISTRICT SEVEN IT WOULD BE CONFUSING TO THE VOTERS. IT WOULD BE BURDENSOME AND EXPENSIVE TO THE ELECTION
DEPARTMENT EXCUSE ME THERE WOULD BE NO DISTURBANCES FROM THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR. THANK YOU. AND I DO THINK ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TAKING VOTES THAT WILL
CHANGE THE LAWS ESPECIALLY ONES THAT WILL CHANGE HOW WE VOTE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DIFFERENT OPINIONS ARE ABLE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK AND TAKE AS MUCH TIME
AS THEY NEED TO. THIS IS IMPORTANT. BUT I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR SOME REASON WE'RE NOT USING THE SAME ARGUMENTS TO OUR VOTERS.
SO THAT IS A BIT CONFUSING TO ME. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS SIMPLE, CLEAR AND ENSURES THAT EVERY VOTE COUNTS, ADDING RANKED CHOICE VOTING WOULD INTRODUCE UNNECESSARY COMPLEXITY TO THE PROCESS CONFUSING VOTERS AND
POTENTIALLY DISENFRANCHIZING THOSE ALREADY MARGINALIZED PARTICULARLY SENIORS IN RESIDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE ISN'T ENGLISH. AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE
WORKING TO MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE IN WHAT COUNCILOR FLYNN DID SPEAK TO. THANK YOU ON ALSO SUPPORTING OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT WHO NEEDS OUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW. I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A TIME
WHEN WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO NOT MAKE VOTING LESS ACCESSIBLE BUT IN MORE COMPLICATED. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL MOVE US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL GAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY ONE THING VERY CLEARLY BECAUSE WE HAD TWO SESSIONS AT LEAST WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND PEOPLE
CAN GO REVIEW THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER TAVARES STATED THAT IF RANKED CHOICE VOTING WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS WELL WILL BE READY AND ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE REFLECT THE RECORD OF WHAT WAS ACCURATELY STATED BY COMMISSIONER TAVARES ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING DID NOT EXPRESS AN OPINION AS TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING BUT IN THE WORK OF IMPLEMENTATION HER
DEPARTMENT WOULD BE READY TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING ARE MACHINES RIGHT NOW ARE ABLE TO DIRECTORIES VOTING WE NEED NEW MACHINES AND WITH AN UPGRADE WE CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST SOFTWARE. SO JUST JUST TO CORRECT THE
RECORD IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO DO AND WHAT THEY STATED AT THE MANY HEARINGS, MANY THAT I CHAIRED AND HAD THAN WE HAD DURING BUDGET WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE DISCOURSE TODAY ON CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF OF ELECTIONS AND MOVING TOWARDS THE USES USAGE
OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. AND ONE THING I WAS SORT OF LIKE CAUGHT WITH TODAY IS LIKE WHY DOES THIS CONVERSATION
MAKE ME SO AGITATED AND OR JUST LIKE FEEL LIKE WHY DO I FEEL SO LIKE UPSET ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION? AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE YOU
KNOW A YEAR SORRY TEN YEARS AGO TOMORROW I MOVED TO BOSTON TO WORK IN BOSTON ELECTIONS. I HAVE WORKED ON EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPAL ELECTION SINCE 2015
IN SOME CAPACITY NOW MYSELF TRYING TO GET REELECTED AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT I THINK I DISAGREE WITH THE CHANGE OF THE MENTALITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.
I DO THINK CONDORCET ELECTIONS ACTUALLY DO A GOOD JOB OF PICKING WHO WOULD THRIVE IN A HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON WHERE I DO THINK A LOT OF STRATEGIC
VOTING HAPPENS WHEN WE INTRODUCE RUNNING CHOICE VOTING. I ALSO AGREE WITH THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT
TWO I DO THINK HAVING GOTTEN SIGNATURES FROM FROM CONSTITUENTS JUST RECENTLY WHO SPEAK MULTIPLE LANGUAGES THE BARRIER TO ENTRY IN OUR
ELECTIONS PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS VERY HIGH AND ADDING ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO ENTRY IS JUST A DIFFICULT THING FOR ME TO STAND
BEHIND AND I HAVE VOTED IN SUPPORT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN OTHER ELECTIONS BEFORE SO I OFTEN HEAR IN THIS CONVERSATION BROUGHT UP OH BOSTON THE MAJORITY VOTED FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING THE MAJORITY
OF BOSTONIANS VOTED IN SUPPORT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN DIFFERENT ELECTIONS NOT THESE ELECTIONS. THIS IS IN MY OPINION A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ELECTION. WHILE I MAY SUPPORT IT IN
THEORY AND POTENTIALLY FOR FEDERAL OFFICES I'M SPECIFICALLY AGAINST OUR RACV IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FOR BODIES THAT HAVE MULTI-CANDIDATE OFFICES AND MULTI MEMBER AT-LARGE
CHARACTERISTICS CONCURRENTLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS PRETTY WELL. WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY ELECTION THAT GETS DOWN TO THE TOP
CANDIDATES AND THEN WE HAVE A FINAL ELECTION. I THINK THAT RACV IN THIS INSTANCE IS SOLVING FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE SOLVED FOR AND I'LL JUST SAY
THAT CURRENTLY I DON'T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH TRACK RECORD IN THE US TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECTS OF OUR CDD ON VOTER TURNOUT FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND THAT'S BEEN A CONSTANT THING THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN
PUSHED FORWARD IS THAT IT WOULD INCREASE PARTICIPATION THAT I DON'T THINK THAT EVIDENCE IS THERE IN FACT THIS PAST NOVEMBER NO MAJOR CITY WITH SOMEWHAT OR A SIMILAR STRUCTURE
OF ELECTIONS FROM OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTED BODY HAD OUR CB WASHINGTON DC DID RECENTLY ADOPT RACV BUT HASN'T HAD ANY ELECTIONS SINCE THEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TRACK RECORD OF HOW PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT CHANGES OR DOES NOT IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BEFORE MAKING BOSTON A GUINEA PIG FOR THIS
AND AGAIN I KNOW WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR BUT I'VE TALKED TO MY STATE HOUSE COLLEAGUES. I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO HAS TWO VERY IMPORTANT MEMBERS REPRESENTING PARTS OF MY
DISTRICT. THIS HAS NO FUTURE AT THE STATE HOUSE. IT DOESN'T HAVE A FUTURE AT THE STATE HOUSE. SO I'M NOT AGAINST US HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. OUR JOB IS TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION. BUT I THINK FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED ON EVERY SINGLE BOSTON ELECTION SINCE 2015, RAIN OR SHINE, I JUST I'M
WHOLLY AGAINST THIS. I HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS WHO REACH OUT TO ME IN SUPPORT. I HAVE A CONSTITUENT WHO'S HERE TODAY. I FEEL REALLY BAD HAVING A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION FROM
REALLY WELL MEANING SMART EDUCATED FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AND SO IT PAINS ME TO HAVE TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN WHETHER WE VOTE ON IT
TODAY OR NOT. BUT I NEED TO MAKE MY POSITION KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AT THE DOORS REQUESTING A VOTE FOR AN AT LARGE COUNCILOR AND I KNOW HOW COMPLICATED IT IS.
I KNOW HOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE GONE. I'VE KNOCKED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOORS IN BOSTON AND I KNOW WE ALL HAVE BUT
ME IN PARTICULAR I THERE'S NOT ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL THAT'S WORKED ON MORE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THAN ME BECAUSE THAT WAS MY JOB BEFORE I GOT HERE AND I'M AGAINST THIS SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO BACK AND CORRECT THE RECORD
THAT WAS CORRECTED BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES BUT I LISTENED CLOSELY AND CAREFULLY TO THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT AND TALKED
TO THEM AFTER I WAS AT EVERY SINGLE HEARING AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING .
WE KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE 2024 ELECTION ON WHAT HAPPENED BUT DISTRICT COUNCIL IS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE DISTRICT EXCUSE ME AND
I'M GOING TO ACT THIS FINAL WARNING ANY FURTHER DISTURBANCES WE WILL HAVE YOU REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBERS DISTRICT COUNCIL IS NOT WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2024 WE RECEIVED THE CALLS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT.
IT'S NOT GOOD TO CRITICIZE THE ADMINISTRATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS STANDING UP FOR OUR CONSTITUENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A
BALLOT. ONE WOMAN LEFT AFTER ONE HOUR WAITING IN LINE AND SHE SAID TO ME, ED, I HAVE TO GO HOME BECAUSE I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS
CHILD AT HOME. I NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MY CHILD. I RECEIVE CALLS FROM THE ELDERLY LIKE LIKE ALL MY
DISTRICT COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE AND PROBABLY AT LARGE AS WELL ELDERLY PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE FOR AN HOUR AND THEY SAID I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
I HAVE TO GET HOME PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WAITING IN LINE NOT FOR 5 MINUTES, NOT FOR 10
MINUTES FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WAITING FOR A BALLOT TO COME FROM DOWNTOWN BOSTON TO MATTAPAN. AND WE'RE AFRAID WE'RE AFRAID
TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THAT. WE KNOW THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND TO FIX IT BUT TO
DENY IT AND TO TO GLOSS OVER IT AS IF THERE'S NO PROBLEM AND LET'S GO ON TO SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER AND MORE PROGRESSIVE THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER. THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR US TO PROVIDE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP DURING DIFFICULT VOTES AND I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND IT GIVES EVERY CITY COUNCILOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WHETHER YOU'RE IN
FAVOR OF IT OR YOU'RE AGAINST IT. AND I'M GLAD NO ONE IS SHUTTING THE CONVERSATION DOWN DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO SPEAK ON PARTICULAR ISSUES AND LET RESIDENTS KNOW EXACTLY
WHERE WE STAND. WHETHER YOU SUPPORT SOMETHING OR YOU'RE AGAINST SOMETHING BUT NOT THAT YOU WANT TO END THE CONVERSATION IMMEDIATELY BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO MY
COLLEAGUES IF YOU HONESTLY THINK THE CITY OF BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING RIGHT NOW THEN THEN VOTE
FOR IT. BUT IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE CITY OF BOSTON IS UNABLE TO DO RANKED CHOICE VOTING AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024 THE ANSWER IS
PRETTY CLEAR IT'S EITHER POLITICS OR DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU MR CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. AND I TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS ROBUST OPPORTUNITY TO BE FULLY EXPRESSED. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TO DELIBERATE AND FIGHT
AND STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT PROUD TO SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO JUST LEVEL SET
JUST QUICKLY HERE AND SO AS SOMEONE IN THE NOW I'M GOING TO PULL A LITTLE BIT OF RANK IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE. SO I STARTED OFF MY CAREER WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE BUT THEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO WORK AT MTV IN 2000 AND I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TRYING TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR POWER. AND WHAT I HEARD ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IS THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL SEEN OR AFFIRMED OR REFLECTED IN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE RUNNING AND THAT WAS 25 YEARS AGO. AND SO WHILE I MAY HAVE MET A
LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, I'VE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE CAREER SINCE THEN TO ACTIVATING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR POWER.
AND I CAME BACK TO BOSTON AND I ESTABLISHED A VOLUNTEER LED INITIATIVE TO GET PEOPLE OF COLOR ENGAGED IN MUNICIPAL ACTIONS BECAUSE LOCAL POLITICS
MATTER TEN YEARS LATER THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT I HEARD ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WAS HAPPENING HERE LOCALLY RESIDENTS DID NOT FEEL THAT THEY WERE BEING SEEN HEARD.
ALL FIRMS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE RUNNING DID NOT REPRESENT THEM OR THEIR ISSUES. AND SO FOR ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY LITTLE ONE WILL WIN BECAUSE IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT ELECTION REALLY PROVED THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER-RESOURCED CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK INTO THIS CHAMBER AND REPRESENT FOLKS AND FOR THE THINGS THAT
YOU AND I AND EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO THIS CHAMBER FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO THE POTHOLES, THE VIOLENCE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS CHANGE WHEN
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS CHAMBER LIVE THE REALITIES AND FIGHT FOR IT. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK RANKED CHOICE GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE TRUST IN OUR
ELECTORAL PROCESS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THOSE WITH THE BIGGEST BANK USUALLY HAVE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN AND WIN.
THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR FOLKS WHO ARE OFTEN UNDERSEEN AND UNHEARD. AND SO I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS AN IMMIGRANT WHOSE LANGUAGE IS MY NATIVE LANGUAGES SPANISH AND WHO GREW UP WITH A MOM WHO NEVER EVEN MADE IT BEYOND THE
THIRD GRADE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO PICK THE PEOPLE THAT THEY LIKE. IT IS SIMPLE. IT IS SIMPLE AND TO THINK THAT
WE CAN'T THAT FEELS DISRESPECTFUL AND SO I WANT TO UPLIFT THAT PEOPLE CAN AND WILL
BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR POLITICAL WILL AND DECIDE WHO ARE THEIR TOP CHOICES. I THINK YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT
THAT WE CAN'T DO IT MAKES ME AS AN IMMIGRANT AND A NON ENGLISH SPEAKER FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PICK PEOPLE TO REPRESENT ME AND I WANT TO
REJECT THAT NOTION AND SO I JUST WANT TO AFFIRM THAT WE CAN DO THIS AND I KNOW THAT CHANGE IS REALLY SCARY FOR SOME FOLKS BUT WE'RE IN A MOMENT THAT
CHANGES WHAT THE CITY NEEDS. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS AS USUAL AND BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN LITERALLY DYING FOR.
SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO REAFFIRM MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND FOR ME IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY I LOVE MY JOB, I DON'T NEED IT TO DO THE
WORK. AND SO FOR ME THE VOTES THAT I TAKE ARE BECAUSE THOSE ARE MY VALUES NOT BECAUSE I'M GETTING ANY POLITICAL POINTS FROM ANYBODY. SO I WANT TO I WANT TO REJECT
THAT MOTION AND THAT NOTION THAT THIS IS POLITICAL THEATER BECAUSE IT'S NOT FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA THE RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAYDEN COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. AND THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATE. SO, UM, I STILL THINK COALITION I SEE A VERY FAMILIAR FACE BUT
LOOKING LIKE A SHOWBOAT. IT HAS BEEN WORKING THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS. EVERYWHERE HE GOES HE'S THERE WITH HIS CLIPBOARD TALKING ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ICE CREAM OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT TO
CHOOSE. I'M FROM NORTHERN IRELAND AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHARACTERIZES OUR POLITICS OR HISTORICALLY OUR POLITICS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS A DEEP SECTARIAN DIVIDE AND
POLARIZATION IN OUR ELECTORATE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS THEY HAD
A THING CALLED PROPORTIONAL LIKE CHOICE VOTING WHICH WE WE THEY CALL IT A SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE. IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT BUT NEARLY 3 MILLION VOTERS WENT TO
THE POLLS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND IN SCOTLAND IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS BOTH COMMON BOTH CONTESTS DEMONSTRATED THE PROMISE OF A SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES AS PROPORTIONAL
RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN NORTHERN IRELAND THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENT NATION CHOICE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAS HELPED TO BRIDGE SECTARIAN
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NATIONALISTS AND UNIONISTS WHILE IN SCOTLAND IS HOW TO ENSURE A FAIR REPRESENTATION BOTH JURISDICTIONS AFTER OFFERING CASE STUDIES ON HOW THE UNITED STATES WOULD BENEFIT
FROM PASSING SUCH A SUCH A LAW TO HAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND I THINK REALLY WHAT IT FORCES PEOPLE TO DO IS TO SORT OF THE MORE EXTREME ELEMENTS ON EITHER END OF OUR POLITICAL
SPECTRUM. IT FORCES EACH PARTY BECAUSE WE WORK IN A PARTY SYSTEM OVER THERE IN NORTHERN IRELAND SINN FEIN WON THE MOST SEATS AND
WILL BE ENTITLED TO A POST AS THE FIRST MINISTER AFTER WINNING 29% OF THE FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES NATIONALLY WHICH TRANSLATED INTO 2027 OUT OF 90 SEATS.
THE PARTY WAS ONCE THE POLITICAL WING OF A MILITANT PROVISIONAL IRA, A REPUBLICAN ARMY, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY . BUT IN THIS CAMPAIGN IT FOCUSED LAST ON THE QUESTIONS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY AND MORE
ON THE KITCHEN TABLES ISSUES LIKE THE COST OF LIVING AND THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT FOCUSING THE ISSUES AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US SHOULD BE AFRAID
OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE IF WE ARE REALLY RELATING TO THE BROADEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR ELECTORATE AND TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES REALLY MATTER TO THEM, WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
AND I THINK THE ISSUE THAT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A FIELD OF CANDIDATES AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU REALLY LIKE BECAUSE OF THEIR
WHATEVER POSITION THEY HOLD ON A CERTAIN ISSUE AND YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR THEM, YOU YOU THE NOTION OF THE WASTED VOTE IS VERY PREVALENT AND AND RANKED
CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM THAT'S WASTED VOTE YOU MAKE YOUR STATEMENT YOU VOTED THAT SOMEBODY THAT YOU LIKE AND YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE PARTICULAR ISSUES THEY STAND ON BUT IF YOU
HAVE IF YOU THEN RANK SOMEBODY AS YOUR SECOND CHOICE IF YOUR FIRST CHOICE DOESN'T MAKE IT, THEN YOUR SECOND CHOICE THAT YOU'RE THAT VOTE GETS TRANSFERRED TO SECOND CHOICE. AND I THINK THAT'S A WAY TO
REALLY KEEP MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED AND IT'S ALSO A WAY TO BUILD CONSENSUS ACROSS OUR POLITICAL BODY HERE IN THE CITY. BUT A NATIONALLY WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL IF WE HAD RANKED
CHOICE VOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE CIVIL DISCOURSE AND I THINK IT'S A WAY TO BUILD CONSENSUS AND TO REALLY LIFT UP THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL DISENFRANCHIZED AND ON THE
MARGINS OF OUR SOCIETY THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THE SYSTEM IN THIS PROCESS AND THAT THEY WILL FEEL EMPOWERED TO VOTE MORE AND AND REALLY HELP CHANGE
HOW WE DISCUSS POLITICS HERE AND REALLY GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THIS SORT OF BACK AND FORTH FIGHTING THAT WE SEE ACROSS COUNTRY. SO I AM OBVIOUSLY VOTING IN
FAVOR OF THIS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD A GOOD OPTION FOR US. I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT IT HAS TO GO TO THE BALLOTS. PEOPLE OF BOSTON GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO INTRODUCE IT NEXT WEEK.
WE HAVE A WE HAVE A WE HAVE A RUNWAY WE HAVE A TIMELINE THAT THIS WILL BE INTRODUCED ON SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND I FULLY ENDORSE THE NOTION THAT OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE RESOURCES.
THEY USED TO HAVE 30 PEOPLE THEY'RE DOWN TO 29 NOW AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT. THEY'RE NOT JUST DOING ORGANIZING ELECTIONS. THEY SUPERVISE THE SUPERVISOR, THE CENSUS. THEY DO A LOT OF WORK THAT IS
BEHIND THE SCENES ON THIS. SO I'M A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR ALSO FULLY FUNDING OUR OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN DO THIS JOB AND DO IT WELL . THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PEP IN
COUNCIL THE OTHER FLOOR. THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND FOR ME I AM ONE OF THE DISTRICT COUNCILORS THAT HAD SOME ISSUES IN MY DISTRICT. I WAS ACTUALLY OUT THERE WITH
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE HELPING VOTERS TELLING THEM TO NOT LEAVE THE LINE TO STAND STRONG AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT DOES NEED
HELP AND WE WE JUST HAD THEIR BUDGET HEARING WAS IT YESTERDAY TWO DAYS AGO WE LEARNED THAT THEY'RE GETTING READY TO IMPLEMENT NEW CHANGES AS WELL AND TO GIVE MORE INVESTMENT
INTO THE DEPARTMENT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPLORE AND CONSIDER RANKED CHOICE
VOTING I AM I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN MAKING THINGS FAIRER AND MAKING SURE THAT VOTERS IN OUR CITY AND EVEN ACROSS THE NATION JUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT THEY
IDENTIFY WITH. AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT I THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE HEAR FROM ORGANIZERS. SO I'M GOING TO READ IT SAYS THAT IT EMPOWERS VOTERS WITH
MORE CHOICE AND ELIMINATES THE FEAR OF WASTING YOUR VOTE AND IT ENSURES THAT WINNING CANDIDATES HAVE REAL MAJORITY SUPPORT. THIS MEANS MORE LEGITIMACY, MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE
COLLABORATION QUALITIES WE URGENTLY NEED IN OUR LEADERSHIP . WHEN I HEAR THESE THINGS I THINK ABOUT EVEN WHEN WHERE I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE LOOK AT
WE LOOK AT THE PRECINCTS IN THE WARDS AND VOTER TURNOUT WHICH ONES COME OUT OF VOTING MORE THIS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE THIS WILL MAKE ELECTIONS MORE BROADLY FAIRER. IT'S GOING TO MAKE US WORK EVEN
HARDER. IT'S GOING TO MAKE US REACH VOTERS WHERE THEY DON'T USUALLY REACH THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T USUALLY COME OUT OF WORK GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY OH YEAH, I MET THIS PERSON. I'M GOING TO CONSIDER THEM FOR
A VOTE. BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOOK TO RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE AND SAY I ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE AT THIS. I WAS AT BIG HIGH SCHOOL THIS MORNING IN A ROOM FILLED
OF STUDENTS OF HAITIAN, CAMBODIAN, DOMINICAN, A FILIPINO, SOMEONE FROM JORDAN AND SOMEONE FROM PAKISTAN AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ASKS ME DO YOU THINK I HAVE THE CHANCE OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE?
AND I SAID YOU DO. BUT I THINK ACTUALLY IS WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE OF A POSSIBILITY FOR THEM TO BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE DON'T COME FROM I MEAN THEY SAY TO THEMSELVES THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE BACKGROUND OR THE PEDIGREE
TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THIS A CONSIDERATION. COUNSELOR YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS WILL POTENTIALLY DIE IN
THE STATE HOUSE. I SAY LET'S GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO DEBATE IT. LET'S GIVE THEM THE SAY TO DO THAT. I SAY LISTEN, IF WE VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY WE KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
STATE HOUSE CAN HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT TO VOTE ON IT. LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO IT. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PEP IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNTS THE
OTHER FOUR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. WELL, IF EVERYONE THAT CAN VOTE IN THIS CITY ACTUALLY VOTED I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THERE WAS 100% FOLKS VOTING
THAT COULD. SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO STRESS THAT TO BE SEEN, TO FEEL HURT, TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD. VOTING IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL WE HAVE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHICH HOW THE ELECTION WORKS TO PLEASE COME OUT AND VOTE BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL SEEN TO BE HURT. BUT THERE IS A MAJORITY OF THE
CITY THAT IS OBVIOUSLY CHOSEN NOT TO VOTE RIGHT? WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM THE ELECTORAL PROCESS THAT IS THE CHOICE THAT THEY RANKED FIRST THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE.
AND SO I DISAGREE WITH CHANGING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS JUST TO APPEASE THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN IT. AND THEREFORE I LOOK TO THE VOTE. THANK YOU, JEFF. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR WEBER FOR IS NOW YOURS OKAY I GUESS I'M NOT GOING TO CALL IT ANOTHER COUNCILOR BUT YOU LOOKING AT THE SAME DATA I REACH A
DIFFERENT CONCLUSION. I RESPECTFULLY YOU KNOW I THINK WHEN WE WERE TALKING IN THE HEARING WITH THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WHEN MAYOR RAY FLYNN, YOU KNOW, WAS ELECTED IN
1983, 70% OF BOSTON TURNED OUT FOR THAT ELECTION IN THE LAST FEW MAYORAL ELECTIONS IT'S CLOSER TO 30% AND I THINK AS
COUNCIL WHERE L AND I WILL REVIEW SOME OF THE DATA WHILE 30% COME OUT TO VOTE, EVEN FEWER PEOPLE EVEN VOTE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY'RE VOTING FOR MAYOR AND THEY LEAVE THE REST BLANK.
THIS IS A WAY TO INCREASE PURCHASING PATIENT PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP. WE WANT THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO THAT.
AND WHILE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MAJORITY RULE IS NOT ALWAYS THE WAY TO GO, WE HAVE TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF EVERYONE HERE WHERE THE
VOTERS OF BOSTON ARE ENCOURAGING US TO USE A FORM OF VOTING FOR OUR OFFICE KNOW WE SHOULD WEIGH THAT AS A FACTOR. AND I DO LOOK AT THAT AS AS
ANOTHER REASON WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN COUNCIL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK SO MUCH. I KNOW IT WAS LONG WINDED SO I'LL BE SURE I THINK FOR THE
EXACT SAME REASONS THAT FOLKS ARE PROPOSED SAYING RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR BOSTON ARE THE REASONS AND THE FACTS THAT I'M BRINGING TO BE AGAINST IT.
I THINK IN THE 2021 PRIMARY RIGHT AFTER NEW YORK CITY PUT THIS FORWARD. LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES WERE LESS LIKELY TO USE RANKED
CHOICE VOTING LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES SHOWED LESS ENGAGEMENT WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THEIR FIRST NEW YORK CITY PRIMARY WHILE 90% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS USED IT TO PICK A NOMINEE FOR MAYOR, AN
ECONOMIC DIVIDE EMERGED BETWEEN THOSE WHO ADOPTED PRACTICE FULLY AND THOSE WHO DID NOT AND THE WEALTHIEST BOROUGHS WERE THE ONES IN THE FIRST ELECTION IN NEW YORK TO USE RANKED
CHOICE VOTING AND THERE ARE AND I I DON'T WANT TO GO AND CORRECT YOU KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES STATEMENTS BUT I THINK I SAID IT REALLY
WELL WHEN I SPOKE EARLIER WE WOULD BE THE FIRST ELECTION TO HAPPEN WITH A MULTI MEMBER DISTRICT MULTI MEMBER AT LARGE
DISTRICTS THAT NEW YORK HAS INSTALLED I MEAN WASHINGTON D.C. HAS INSTALLED THIS BUT HAS NOT YET HAD AN ELECTION AND THERE ARE A COUPLE EXAMPLES THAT WERE USED BY MY COLLEAGUES
THAT THAT IT'S NOT LIKE FOR LIKE THEY'RE NOT SIMILAR TO OUR ELECTION SO IT JUST WHILE OTHER PLACES HAVE USED IT WHILE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY FROM DIFFERENT PLACES WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
BOSTON IS UNIQUE AND OUR ELECTIONS ARE HISTORIC AND THE WAY THAT WE DO ELECTIONS HERE ARE HISTORIC AS WELL AND I. I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND WHY
PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A GOOD IDEA. I PERSONALLY HAVE WITNESSED A LOT OF REALLY LARGE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS WHERE THERE ARE 20 PEOPLE RUNNING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE
PEOPLE THEY LIKE AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THEIR ON THIS BODY. WE ARE NONPARTISAN. WE ARE ELECTED IN A NONPARTISAN MANNER SO THE THE THREAT OF NOT
BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE IN YOUR DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY OF LIKE THE OPTIONS YOU WANT TO CHOOSE I UNDERSTAND THAT PROBLEM AND I DO THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ARGUMENT FOR THAT PROBLEM TO BE
SOLVED THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM OR SOLVING HERE. SO I JUST THINK THERE'S LESS EVIDENCE TO PRODUCE THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR BOSTON. SO I WILL BE VOTING NO AND BUT I DO RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES.
THIS CONVERSATION IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. I PERSONALLY AM AGAINST ADVANCING IT TO THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE AGAIN, I ACTUALLY THINK
THERE ELECTIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HELPED BY THIS THAN OUR ELECTIONS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES TODAY AND THROUGH THIS WHOLE DEBATE PROCESS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY VOTE CAST IS EVER WASTED EVEN IF THE PERSON THE
CANDIDATE YOU VOTED FOR DOESN'T WIN THE ELECTION AND I DON'T BELIEVE YOU SHOULD GET A BACK UP PLAN IF YOUR FIRST CHOICE LOSES AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO WE VOTED FOR AND
STICK BY THEM AND OUR MY I TAKE IT RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE IF 20% OF THE PEOPLE COME OUT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT KIND OF A HIGH
TURNOUT NOWADAYS AND THERE'S SOME DISTRICTS WHO ARE LESS THAN 5%. SO I'M GOING TO FOCUS MORE ON ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE TO GET OUT AND LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.
BUT I DON'T WANT I WANT TO JUST BE CLEAR THAT ANY VOTE CAST SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED WASTED JUST BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE DIDN'T WIN. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE IS A PARTY
COUNCILOR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, VICE. JUST ONE QUICK FINAL CLARIFYING POINT. THE EARLIEST THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENT THIS IS
LIKELY 2028 2029 WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIGNATURE FROM THE MAYOR AND THEN GOING UP TO THE STATE HOUSE THE END OF THEIR LEGISLATION LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NEXT
YEAR AND THEN SIGNATURE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THEN FROM THERE IT GOES ON TO THE NEXT ELECTION BALLOT AND THEN DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 365 DAYS AFTER THAT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 2028, 2029 LIKELY. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME POINTS ABOUT SOME CITIES NOT ADOPTING THIS AND WANTING TO SEE IT HAPPEN. WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK? I'LL JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER JUST A FEW BRIEF REMARKS.
FIRST I WANT TO JUST THANK MADAM PRESIDENT. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE AND ALSO COUNCILOR, SAID TINA FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP. I ALSO WANT TO JUST THINK THE CHAIR FOR YOUR THOROUGH PROCESS
ON BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I DO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRATIC REFORMS AND I SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLE THAT VOTERS SHOULD HAVE MORE TO SAY WHO REPRESENTS THEM. IF OUR GOAL IS TO VOTER TURNOUT
A GOAL I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THEN I BELIEVE THIS ALONG WITH VOTER EDUCATION CLEAR OUTREACH AND OPERATIONAL READINESS WILL GET US THERE. I BELIEVE THAT THE STRUGGLES
OF THE PAST SHOULDN'T BE A REASON WE DON'T STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY AND PERCEIVED OBSTACLES IN THE FUTURE. IT SHOULDN'T STOP US FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING IN THE PRESENT. SO I BELIEVE THIS DOES THIS ALL
THIS DOES STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY BUT LET'S CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PROVEN TOOLS AN INCREASE IN VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER TURNOUT. WITH THAT THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE LOOKS FOR SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0144. MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE
ON DOCKET NUMBERS 014 FOR COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLETTE A PART OF COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTY? YES. COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN NO.
COUNCILOR FERNANDES AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD NO. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY KNOW COUNCILOR PIPPIN YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES.
AND COUNCILOR WORRELL. YES. COUNCILOR EARL YES. DUCKING NUMBER 0144 HAS RECEIVED EIGHT VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND FOUR IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU.
I KNOW IT'S A CELEBRATION, BUT PLEASE NOTE NO CLAPPING IN THE CHAMBER. SO THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND DOCKET NUMBER 0144 HAS PASSED AND A NEW DRAFT.
MR. CLERK, WE ARE NOW ON TO MATTERS WE JUST RECENTLY HEARD MR. CLERK PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 082220845 DUNCAN EMMA
0822 THROUGH 80824 ORDERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL AND FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS ALSO KNOWN AS OPEN DOCKET NUMBERS 082520827 ORDERS FOR A CAPITAL FUND CREDIT APPROPRIATIONS SO I CAN NUMBERS
082820830 ORDERS FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDING LOAN ORDERS AND LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS IN DOCKET NUMBERS 083120845 ORDERS AUTHORIZING
LIMITS FOR DEPARTMENTAL REVOLVING FUNDS INCLUDING LAW, TOURISM AND ARTS CULTURE ENVIRONMENT BOSTON CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY SCHOOLS AND
POLICE AND OTHER BUDGET RELATED DOCKETS. THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALSO. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO STAY IN CHAMBERS AT THE. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HAS HELD A ROBUST SERIES OF HEARINGS TIED TO DOCKET ZERO TAX NUMBER 082230830 AND DOCKET NUMBER 0838.
OFFERING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROPOSED EQUITY 26 INVESTMENTS AND PRIORITIES BEFORE WE JUMPED IN WE'VE CLOCKED 77 HOURS 43 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS ACROSS 35 PARENTS AND WORKING SESSIONS
SO FAR. A LOT OF GROUND COVERED AND MORE TO GO. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF MY TEAM CENTRAL STAFF COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THEIR
TEAMS IDR AND EVERYONE WHO IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES. ON THURSDAY MAY EIGHT AT 10 A.M. THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE 26 BUDGET FOR THE BOSTON
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO GO OVER INFECTIOUS DISEASE CHILD ADOLESCENT OR FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION WE'RE
COMMISSIONER OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BPA. DR. DAKOTA AND DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FISCAL COMPLIANCE FOR H.S. DIRECTOR VALDEZ
COUNSELORS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED COUNCILOR FLYNN, BREADON FITZGERALD AND MURPHY. AT THE HEARING BPA PRESENTED UPDATES ON COURT FOCUS AREAS INCLUDING MATERNAL AND INFANT
HEALTH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVES. THE HEARING ALSO COVERED BPA STRATEGIES TO CLOSE LIFE
EXPECTANCY GAPS ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND SUSTAIN CRITICAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS A MISSED SHIFT IN FEDERAL FUNDING THE ADMINISTRATION OUTLINED A
PROPOSED 3% INCREASE TO THE BUDGET DRIVEN BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. TARGETED BUREAU INCREASES AND INVESTMENTS IN TRAUMA RESPONSE AND MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. COUNSELORS RAISED QUESTIONS
ABOUT OUTREACH TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS HIV SUPPORT FOR ASIAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS FACING MENTAL HEALTH BARRIERS. STAFF SHORTAGES AND PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING PAY PARITY FOR CONTRACTED HEALTH EDUCATORS TO
BETTER SUSTAIN THEM AND THEIR WORK IN SUSTAINABILITY OF CRITICAL PROGRAMS LIKE THE MEN'S MENTAL INITIATIVES. AN ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVE
PUBLIC. CONCERNS WERE ALSO VOICED ABOUT GENTRIFICATION, IMPACT ON HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THE FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. POST CARNEY HOSPITAL CLOSURE.
IN RESPONSE BPC EMPHASIZED ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH CENTERS, STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND THE CITY'S PROACTIVE MEASURE TO PREPARE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS.
THE COMMISSION COMMITTED TO ENHANCING DATA TRANSPARENCY, EXPANDING CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE AND MAINTAINING SERVICES DESPITE FEDERAL FUNDING UNCERTAINTIES. THE HEARING CONCLUDED WITH
FOLLOW UP REQUESTS FOR STAFFING DATA BUT THE BREAKDOWNS FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND CONTINUED COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC HEALTH INEQUITIES IN BOSTON'S MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS ON
THURSDAY, MAY 8TH AT 2 P.M.. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE FBI 26 BUDGET FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO GO OVER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, RECOVERY SERVICES AND HOMELESS
SERVICES PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION WHERE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BPC DR. OJUKWU AND DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FISCAL COMPLIANCE
AT BPC DIRECTOR VALDES AND EMS CHIEF JULIE LEAD COUNSELORS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED CASSIUS FLYNN, BRAEDON FITZGERALD MURPHY COLETTE AS A PARTNER HERE COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
COUNCILOR PEPEN RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCIL SANTANA. THE HEARING FOCUSED ON BOSTON'S RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS, MENTAL HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
COUNCIL STRESSED THE NEED FOR TARGETED RECOVERY SERVICES THAT BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DETOX AND PERMANENT HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS. THE CITY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE TRAINING AND HARM
REDUCTION INITIATIVES. HOWEVER, GAP POSSESSED AND RESOURCES FOR DO DIAGNOSIS CARE, MASS HEALTH, COVID TREATMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PATHWAYS. EMS LEADERS TALKED ABOUT
RESPONSE TIMES AND ISSUES CAUSING THEM PROMPTING COUNCILORS TO PUSH FOR MORE PARAMEDIC PARAMEDIC UNITS IN EAST BOSTON AND CHARLESTOWN. CONCERNS WERE ALSO RAISED ABOUT
PRIVATE FACILITIES USING EMS FOR NON-EMERGENCY TRANSFERS PULLING RESOURCES FROM FROM CRITICAL CALLS, WORKFORCE RETENTION ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN EMS WAS
ANOTHER FOCUS WITH CALLS FOR BETTER TRACKING AND SUPPORT OF IT. TESTIMONY STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION. BUT BOSTON PEOPLE'S RESPONSE A NON-POLICE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION MODEL WITH THE
CITY HAS FACED CHALLENGES IN FINDING A PARTNER TO SCALE THE PROGRAM. ON MONDAY, MAY 12 AT 10 A.M. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE NY 26 BUDGET FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT PRESENTING
ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION WITH CHIEF OF PLANNING CHIEF CHEN IS THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BPA DIRECTOR BOHEMIANS AND DIRECTOR CHIEF
OF PLANNING AND DEPUTY CHIEF COURT COUNCILORS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED COUNCILORS FLYNN MURPHY, FITZGERALD DURKAN HERE IT AS A PARTNER COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. WE RECEIVED LETTERS OF ABSENCE
FROM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE COUNCILOR PEPEN AND BREADON. DURING THE HEARING COUNCILORS PRESSED THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ON HOUSING PRODUCTION AFFORDABILITY STRATEGIES AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. COUNCILORS EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR HYPERLOCAL IMAGES TO REFLECT BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD INCOME GAPS WHILE THE DEPARTMENT NOTED CHALLENGES IN BRIDGING FINANCIAL GAPS FOR
AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT STILL REQUIRE SUBSIDIES. DISCUSSIONS DIDN'T FOCUS ON INCLUSION ON REZONING AND DEVELOPER PROFITS, CLIMATE RESILIENCY WAS A KEY FOCUS WITH
UPDATES ON PROJECTS LIKE THE CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD AND LONG WHARF FLOOD BARRIERS. THE DEPARTMENT OUTLINED HOW THEY WERE WORKING TO SECURE FUNDING FROM CITY CAPITAL, FEDERAL RESOURCES AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION FUNDS. IN DISCUSSING THE DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK FAMILIES CONCERNS BASED ON THE INCREASED PRODUCTION OF SMALL RENTAL UNITS WHILE FAMILY SIZE AFFORDABLE HOMES REMAIN IN
SHORT SUPPLY, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ECONOMIC DRIVERS FAVORING SMALLER UNITS BUT REITERATED THE COMMITMENT COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING LARGER FAMILY SIZE
UNITS AND PUBLIC LAND DEALS AND STRATEGIC REZONINGS ON COMMERCIAL DISPLACEMENT COUNCILORS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SMALL IMMIGRANT OWNED BUSINESSES BEING PUSHED OUT. AS NEIGHBORHOOD SQUARES GET
DEVELOPED REDEVELOPED AND CALL FOR BETTER ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE COMMUNITIES. ON MONDAY MAY 12 AT 2 P.M. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE FBI 26 BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
COMPLIANCE AND WORKER PROTECTIONS LAW AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT REVOLVING FUND PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION WHERE WERE COOPERATION COUNCIL CEDARBAUM
CHIEF OF STAFF AND POLICY AT THE LAW DEPARTMENT DENNING SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR LIVING WAGE AND WAITSTAFF THE OFFICE OF LABOR COMPLIANCE AND WORKER PROTECTIONS DIRECTOR
MITCHELL AND DEPUTY CHIEF FOR THE OFFICE OF LABOR CLIENT AND WORKER PROTECTIONS DEPUTY CHIEF SUGARMAN BRAZIL COUNSEL'S IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED CONSTANCE
FLYNN FITZGERALD, COLETTE ZAPATA HERE BREADON AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR WEBER . THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED UPDATES ON HOW THE OFFICE OF LABOR COMPLIANCE ENFORCES
LABOR STANDARDS LIKE THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOB POLICY, LIVING WAGE, PREVAILING WAGE AND WAGE STAFF ORDINANCES. KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE EXPANSION OF COMPLIANCE MONITORING.
THE SUCCESS OF THEIR NEW REAL TIME DASHBOARD FOR TRACKING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY METRICS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS THROUGH MULTILINGUAL SAFETY TRAININGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IMMIGRANT WORKS WORKER CENTERS, THE LAW
DEPARTMENT OF OVERVIEW ITS ROLE IN ADVISING CITY DEPARTMENTS DEFENDING THE CITY IN LITIGATION. MANAGING PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS IN LEADING LEGAL RESPONSES TO
FEDERAL ACTIONS AFFECTING BOSTON RESIDENTS COUNSEL'S RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BJP ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY AROUND HIRING STANDARDS, CONTRACTOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE USE OF COMPLIANCE DATA IN
PROCUREMENT DECISIONS. THEY ALSO PRESSED THE LAW DEPARTMENT ON STAFFING CHALLENGES DIVERSITY IN OUTSIDE COUNCILOR CONTRACTS AND THE STRAIN OF MANAGING HIGH VOLUMES OF LAWSUITS AND PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS.
CONCERNS WERE VOICED VOICED ABOUT ENSURING ADEQUATE LEGAL SUPPORT FOR FAIR HOUSING IMPROVEMENT ORDINANCE AND FOR ITS ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND MAINTAINING A STRONG FOCUS ON WORKER PROTECTIONS AMID RISING
FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HAS ADVOCATED FOR BETTER COORDINATION WITH THE EQUITY CABINET TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY IN CITY CONTRAST. IN RESPONSE THE ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE BJP DASHBOARD TO INCLUDE TRADE SPECIFIC DATA AND DEVELOPING SIMILAR TO THE WASTE THAT A LIVING WAGE COMPLIANT. THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS BUT AFFIRMED THAT
THE PROPOSED NY 26 BUDGET ALLOWS FOR STRATEGIC HIRES. THE MINISTRATION AGREED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DATA ON PENDING LAWSUITS. DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC LEGAL CASES AND EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY
OUTSIDE LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS. BOTH DEPARTMENTS EMPHASIZED ONGOING EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ENSURE BOSTON POLICIES REFLECT PROTECT
COMMUNITY NEEDS. ON TUESDAY, MAY 13TH AT 10 A.M. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE FBI 26 BUDGET FOR THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT WHERE THE COMMISSIONER CHIEF BURKE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES CHIEF MARSHAL CHIEF OF OPERATION FULFILL SERVICES CHIEF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND
AND FOR BUDGET DEPUTY COMMISSIONER COIN DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT OFFICER MICHAEL GASKINS AND COUNSELORS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED COUNCILORS
FLYNN MURPHY, BREADON FITZGERALD, WEBER DURKIN LED AS A PARTNER AND THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE COUNT COUNSELOR PEPEN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSED THEIR BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING
YEAR WHICH IS INCREASING BY 1.3%. THEY ALSO OUTLINED THE EIGHT ACTIVE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT TOTAL A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION. THEY REPORTED THAT THE FIRE CADET PROGRAM IS MOVING EIGHT
WOMEN TO THE ACADEMY WHICH WILL INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS FROM 28 TO 36. THEY DETAILED HOW THE NEW CADET PROGRAM IS BEST APPROVED AS THE BEST APPROVED WAY TO DIVERSIFY
THE RANK AND FILE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED NEW FIRE BOATS, NEW ENGINES AND LADDERS THEY RECENTLY OPENED ENGINE 17 AND THE DESIGN OF ENGINE THREE A STUDY OF ENGINE EIGHT
BUILDING AND MULTIPLE REPAIRS AT OTHER STATIONS AS WELL AS UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS AT 155 LIVERMORE COUNCIL QUESTION CENTERED ON IMPROVEMENTS TO FIREFIGHTERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH WORK LIFE BALANCE TRACKING AND WORKING TO DIVERSIFY THE HIGHER RANKS OF THE FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTERS. OVERALL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN THE RECENT
FISCAL YEAR SPIKES IN OVERTIME WHICH ROSE FROM 36 MILLION AND BY 23 TO 46 MILLION AND THAT BY 24 BUT IS ON PACE TO DECREASE TO 40 MILLION BY 25 THROUGH THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS.
THIS IS A STARK CONTRAST FROM THAT FY 12 TO FY 21 WHEN FIRE OVERTIME WAS ALWAYS BETWEEN $18 MILLION AND $28 MILLION.
ON TUESDAY MAY 13 AT 2 P.M. COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TO REVIEW THE FY 26 BUDGET FOR PEOPLE OPERATIONS IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION WITH CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER AND
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CHIEF LAWRENCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERNANDEZ COMMISSIONER OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER TAVARES COMMISSIONER OF CITY
RECORDS COMMISSIONER CHANG AND HEAD ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF VOTERS ASSISTANT REGISTRARS MONTE COUNCILORS AND ATTENDEES INCLUDED COUNCILORS FLYNN,
BREADON AND FITZGERALD WEBER MEJIA CARLETTA ZAPATA, VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE COUNCILOR PEPEN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE. THE PEOPLE OPERATIONS CABINET DETAILED EFFORTS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE CITY'S
WORKFORCE DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE NEW CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY CHANGES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO HIRE LOWER WAGE WORKERS INCREASE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
REWORKING JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR HIGH VACANCY JOBS AND STREAMLINING THE HIRING PROCESS. THEY HOPE TO IMPLEMENT A NEW APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM IN THE COMING YEAR. ELECTION DEPARTMENT REITERATED
THE CHANGES IT HAS MADE AFTER THE 2024 ELECTION AND DESCRIBED HOW THE $750,000 MIDYEAR TRANSFER FOR THE MAYOR'S ALLOCATION WAS DONE IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR AN RFP TO PUT OUT A
BID FOR NEW MACHINES. COUNCILORS ASKED ABOUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT THE FAIR CHANCE ACT'S CREATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY POSITION RESIDENCY WAIVER AND IF THEY GRANTED MORE
LIBERALLY FOR THE CITY'S TOP EARNERS EXTENDING SOME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BENEFITS LIKE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT TO EMPLOYEES HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL AS RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY BENEFITS
WHICH ARE SORTED OUT ON THE STATE LEVEL. IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTIONS A NEED FOR MORE STAFF TRUCKS AND COMMUNICATION WERE DISCUSSED AS WAS THE EXPANSION OF THE STUDENT POLL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AND AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS I RECOMMEND THAT THESE DOCKETS REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SLOWLY INCHING OUR WAY THERE BUT THE HEARINGS BUDGET HEARINGS HAVE BEEN REALLY INFORMATIVE BOTH
JUST ON THE BUDGET AND ON THE OPERATIONS OF WHAT OUR CITY IS DOING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THE CHAIR AND FOR SHEPHERDING US THROUGH THIS. YET AGAIN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PLINY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS. THE IMPORTANT JOB HE'S DOING IMPORTANT ROLE HE'S PLAYING ON ON THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I JUST WANT TO ADD I KNOW IT
WASN'T MENTIONED BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS I BROUGHT UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM THAT WAS TESTIFYING TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER THAT WAS
PRESENT IS WHAT IS THE POLICY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY COUNCIL STAFF CITY EMPLOYEES AS IT RELATES TO TIME AND ATTENDANCE?
I THINK ENSURING THAT WE TRACK OUR TIME IN ATTENDANCE ESPECIALLY DURING AN ELECTION YEAR IS CRITICAL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE
RESIDENTS WITH A FULL DAY OF WORK AND THAT WE'RE NOT USING ANY TIME FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.
THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO MAYBE HAVE A HEARING ORDER IN. I ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH WRITTEN GUIDELINES FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ON WHAT'S EXPECTED
OF THEM IF THEY WANT TO TAKE A DAY OFF TO DO CAMPAIGNING. AND IS THERE A LIMITED NUMBER OF HOURS A PERSON IS ABLE TO TAKE TO CAMPAIGN FOR SOMEONE?
FOR EXAMPLE, CAN YOU TAKE THREE WEEKS OFF? CAN YOU TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF? CAN YOU TAKE ONE MONTH OFF TO GO CAMPAIGN FOR A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE? I WOULD LIKE ALL OF US TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT THE RULES ARE SO WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES AND PROTECTING THE BODY. WE'RE PROTECTING THE CITY BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT RESIDENTS DO GET A FAIR.
AN EMPLOYEE THAT DOES THEIR JOB THAT GIVES OVER 40 HOURS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. I DO THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.
DOCKETS NUMBER 082220845 REMAINING COMMITTEE WE ARE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. JUST A REMINDER THAT THESE SPONSORS HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK ON A DOCKET AND CO-SPONSORS AND OTHER
COLLEAGUES HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK ON A DOCKET. THANK YOU NEAL FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. APPRECIATE YOU MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1057 DUGAN NUMBER 1057
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ME AS HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH IN MAY 18TH AS HAITIAN FLAG DAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAD TUSKEGEE DO THE
INVOCATION. WE HAD A PERFORMANCE FROM KASDAN'S STUDIO AND I THINK REALLY SORT OF SHOWED THE BALANCE OF WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS RIGHT NOW. AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
SAY HAPPY HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH TO EVERYONE. IT REALLY HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH STARTED HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE FIRST PERSON TO RAISE THE HAITIAN FLAG HERE ON CITY HALL WAS A FORMER
POLICE OFFICER EVE DAN BRAVO, HIS BROTHER HIM AND HIS BROTHER WERE BOTH VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR. HIS OLDER BROTHER WAS THE FIRST HAITIAN POLICE OFFICER TO BE HIRED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON AND
HE WAS THE SECOND. HIS BROTHER DIED OF CANCER AND HE DIED ACTUALLY WAS KILLED IN HAITI AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE MY LOVE AND RESPECT TO THE DANVILLE
FAMILY AND TO THE UN TO THE PEOPLE ON HIS SHOULDERS. I STAND HERE AS THE FIRST HAITIAN ON THE BUS THAT HAITIAN-AMERICAN IN THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL BUT ON THE SHOULDERS OF OTHER HAITIAN ELECTEDS IN THE COMMONWEALTH SUCH AS MARIE SAINT FLEUR WHO I
INTERNED FOR WAS THE FIRST HAITIAN-AMERICAN ELECTED IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND LEONARD WAS AN A FOR A FORMER STATE SENATOR. AND SO IT'S A IT'S A MOMENT OF JUBILEE FOR ME TO COME IN
CHAIR AND AND TO CELEBRATE MY CULTURE ALTHOUGH I WAS VERY MUCH BORN HERE AND IN A LOT OF SPACES WHEN YOU HEAR ME SPEAK CREOLE YOU ALL CAN'T TELL BUT I SPEAK WITH AN AMERICAN ACCENT.
I THINK MY FATHER WHO IS HERE FOR ALL HE DID FOR ME AND MY SISTERS AND WE'RE YOUNGER TO MAKE SURE THAT HAITIAN CULTURE THAT WE KNEW WHO WE WERE AND WHERE WE CAME FROM AND THAT WE KNEW HOW TO READ, SPEAK AND WRITE CREOLE. I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS AS I
STATED EARLIER A MOMENT OF DIFFICULTY BOTH FOR THOSE WHO ARE BACK HOME IN HAITI RIGHT NOW WITH THE GANGS KILLING PEOPLE IN PORT AU PRINCE, KILLING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL, IT'S A VERY
HEAVY MOMENT IF YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY INTERACT OR INTERACT WITH HAITIAN RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, JUST KNOW THAT IS DIFFICULT TO COME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO ISN'T EXPERIENCING A PERSONAL LOSS
RIGHT NOW IN HAITI IN WAYS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP THIS FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT. BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY TRAGIC RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO HOLD SPACE FOR THAT. AND I ALSO WANTED TO HOLD SPACE
FOR THE PERSONAL LOSS THAT WE SEE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT FEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND I ALSO WRITE MULTIPLE LEVELS OF PAIN COMES WITH THE
PAIN AND I LAST NIGHT WERE IN HIGH PARK TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS AFTER THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THE FIVE YEAR OLD LENS ARTHUR JOSEPH AND I
WAS WITH HIS PARENTS LAST NIGHT AND IT'S JUST AN IMMEASURABLE PAIN AND LAST WEEK LAST THURSDAY ANOTHER 14 YEAR OLD HAITIAN-AMERICAN HIGH PARK
RESIDENT DIED IN HIS SLEEP AND THAT FAMILY IS FACING IMMEASURABLE PAIN. SO WHEN I SAID AT THE BEGINNING WE'RE HOLDING SPACE FOR BOTH JUBILEE AND A LOT OF PAIN I
SHARE WITH YOU MY PERSON I KNOW THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN PAIN AND AND JOY THAT THEY'RE BALANCING HOW TO FIGURE OUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY ACTIVELY ACTIVELY FEEL SO I THAT WON'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE
FACT THAT I AM SO PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WORK EVERY DAY TO SEE TRUE AND REAL LIBERATION IN THE CITY IN THE COUNTRY OF HAITI. I'M GLAD THAT WE WILL BE
RAISING THE FLAG ON FRIDAY SO PLEASE JOIN US AT NOON WHEN WE RAISE THE HAITIAN FLAG ON CITY HALL AND WHEN WE'RE HONORING HAITIAN-AMERICANS IN THE TRADES AND HOPEFULLY I WILL SEE YOU ON
SUNDAY FOR THE HAITIAN-AMERICAN UNITY PARADE LED BY PASTOR KIKI AND HAITIAN-AMERICANS UNITED AS WE GO DOWN TO HILL AVENUE IN CELEBRATION OF THE SECOND
LARGEST DIASPORA PER CAPITA A HAITIAN-AMERICAN DIASPORA HERE AND THE THIRD LARGEST BY THE NUMBERS, BOSTON IS OUR HOME. WE LOVE IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY AND IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS CHILDREN'S IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IT'S A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION EVEN AS THERE'S
TREMENDOUS PAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR PEPEN CARROLL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I JUST WANT TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I REPRESENT A BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT HAITIAN COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY DAY I GET TO SEE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY NOT ONLY MY DISTRICT IT JUST IT JUST STARTED TO REALLY WORK
CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I JUST FEEL VERY THANKFUL I'M GETTING TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR MADAM PRESIDENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS MAKING SURE THAT IN THESE
TOUGH TIMES AT A FEDERAL LEVEL OR NATIONAL LEVEL NOT JUST HERE IN BOSTON THAT WE JUST THAT THEY HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THEM, THAT BOSTON IS THEIR HOME, THAT BOSTON IS WELCOMING TO EVERYBODY.
SO I JUST WANT TO STAND UP AND SHOW MY SOLIDARITY IN PARTNERSHIP TO THEM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THEIR BEAUTIFUL CULTURE THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA.
COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND HOW WELL YOU REPRESENT YOUR
PEOPLE. IT IS SEEN AND DEEPLY FELT AND APPRECIATED AND I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST ENTERED THE SCENE
RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WE SHARE AN ISLAND THE ISLAND I USED TO CALL ESPANOL AND SO YOU EDUCATED ME WAS WHICH IS THE ISLAND OF KISKA YEAH. AND WAS REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW
THAT I HAD SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND WHO WAS GOING TO COME INTO THIS CHAMBER TO FIGHT COLLECTIVELY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE. RIGHT? AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THIS MOMENT I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT AROUND THE PAIN THAT IS THAT HAITI IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT DOMINICAN COMMUNITY HAS TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY STEP BY STEP ALONGSIDE HAITI. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS A AFRO-LATINOS ALWAYS CLAIM MY BLACK ROOTS EVEN BEFORE I WAS A POLITICIAN I'VE ALWAYS SAID YOU ARE MY BROTHER, YOU
ARE MY SISTER. AND SO I WANTED TO JUST CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND HOW MUCH JOY YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTO THIS CHAMBER IN
CELEBRATION OF YOUR PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SO I SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT LUIS LOUIJEUNE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY FOR THEIR CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION WHETHER IT'S AROUND INDEPENDENCE LIBERATION HERE IN BOSTON OR
SPIRITUAL LEADERS THEY'RE ALSO OUR CIVIC LEADERS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR IMMIGRATION LEADERS JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SACRIFICE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU THIS
SUNDAY. ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR CLEARY CAN YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR BRAIDING COUNCILOR CLETA ZAPATA COUNCILOR DURKIN CASA
FITZGERALD JUSTICE HERE CASA CASA MURPHY CASA PEPEN CASA SANTANA CASTLE WEBER AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR. COUNCILOR YEAH, I'M GONNA DEAL
WITH THAT COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE SEEKS SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 1057 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I THE AYES HAVE IT.
THANK YOU, DUNCAN NUMBER 105 HAS BEEN ADOPTED OUT MOVED TO GO TO A BRIEF RECESS. NO, I JUST WANT MY DAY. OH, SORRY. AND MR. CLERK, YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR FLYNN ANYTHING YOU
CAN MOVE TO GO TO A BRIEF
RECESS.
THANK YOU,
MR WE ARE BACK IN SESSION JUST FOR A REMINDER AND THIS IS A FINAL REMINDER FOR THAT I MEAN IF THERE IS NO SPEAKING IN CHAMBERS UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A WARNING, THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKING
WE'LL HAVE TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE FRONT CHAMBERS. I ALSO JUST WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD, MR. CLERK. I DIDN'T SPEAK I SHOULD HAVE SAID I SOUGHT SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE. THAT'S WHY I WAS PUTTING MY LOT ON 41057 SO I WAS SEEKING
SUSPENSION OF PASSAGE. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR FOR MOVING FOR IT. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 10581058 COUNCILOR ALERT AS A FOLLOW UP
TO THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE SIX PER DAY IN THE REVIEW OF COASTAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS BY AMENDING ARTICLE 25 A RESILIENCE REVIEW AND IN THE ZONING CODE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR CODE AS THE PARTY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M SEEKING SUBSTITUTION OF THE ORIGINAL DOCKET TO CHANGE IT TO A FORMAT FOR TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING CODE RATHER THAN AN ORDINANCE THAT MOTION SECONDED
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL SAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MOTION FOR SUBSTITUTION IS ALLOWED THE DOCKET DOES EVERYONE HAVE THE NEW ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF THEM? YES.
OKAY, GREAT. COUNCILOR COLETTE IS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR AND YOU MAKE IT TO NEW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES. I FIRST WANT TO THANK RESIDENTS OF HARBOR TOWERS WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION NORMAN MIZER, MATT RUBINS, JOANNE HAYES RYANS AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK FOLKS FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION RICH MCGINNIS, LISA HARRINGTON WHO HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH MY OFFICE INCLUDING MY CHIEF OF STAFF TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THAT
WE FACED WITH HARBOR TOWERS SIMPLY JUST TRYING TO FORTIFY THEIR PROPERTY FROM COASTAL FLOODING DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND SO FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW HARBOR TOWERS IS DIRECTLY
ON THE WATERFRONT, IT'S AN OLD URBAN RENEWAL PROCESS OR EXCUSE ME OLD URBAN RENEWAL PARCEL AND THE PROCESS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH WAS JUST MIND BOGGLING AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
PUSHING THIS THROUGH. WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHICH COMMITTEE IT'LL GO THROUGH BUT LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE RESIDENTS THERE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE FROM A FIRSTHAND PERSPECTIVE.
SO I RISE TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE BECOMING MORE URGENT BY THE DAY HOW WE PREPARE BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ESCALATING IMPACTS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE SPECIFICALLY HOW WE REMOVE UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM PROTECTING
THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES FROM COASTAL FLOODING. THE ZONING AMENDMENT IS ABOUT URGENCY, EFFICIENCY AND EQUITY . ARTICLE 25 OF THE ZONING CODE GOVERNS RESILIENCE DESIGN REVIEW A CRITICAL PROCESS FOR
ENSURING HOW NEW DEVELOPMENT AND RETROFITS IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND IMPACTS OF CLIMATE EVENTS LIKE STORM SURGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE. RIGHT NOW THE PROCESS ISN'T
WORKING AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT SHOULD, ESPECIALLY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. LET ME BREAK DOWN ONE OF THE CORE OBSTACLES LAND DISPOSITION
AGREEMENTS OR ELDERS AND ELDERS IS A LEGAL CONTRACT THAT THE CITY ENTERS INTO WHEN IT TRANSFERS PUBLIC LAND TO A PRIVATE OR NONPROFIT ENTITY. THESE AGREEMENTS INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS
THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS, OPEN SPACE PROTECTIONS AND SPECIFIC DESIGN CRITERIA. IN PLACES LIKE CHARLESTOWN, THE NORTH END AND THE WHARF DISTRICT, WE HAVE MANY SUCH PARCELS STILL GOVERNED BY
ELDERS ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHIN URBAN RENEWAL AREAS. HERE'S THE PROBLEM WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER UNDER AN ELDER TRIES TO MAKE RESILIENCE UPGRADES SAY RAISING MECHANICAL SYSTEMS OR FLOOD PROOFING A
GROUND FLOOR THEY GO THROUGH PLANNING AN TO GET APPROVAL AND THEN ONLY AT THE END DOES LEGAL FLAG THE COMPLIANCE ISSUE WITHIN THE ELDER. THAT MEANS THAT THE ENTIRE
PROCESS STARTS OVER COSTING TIME, MONEY AND MOMENTUM. THIS ARTICLE TWO ARTICLE. THIS AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 25 A FIX IS THAT IT ESTABLISHES A RESILIENCE REVIEW COUNCIL A
COORDINATED BODY MADE UP OF PLANNING URBAN DESIGN, LEGAL AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS INSTEAD OF WORKING IN SILOS. THEY REVIEW ELDER GOVERNANCE PROPERTIES TOGETHER AND UPFRONT BEFORE A HOMEOWNER OR DEVELOPER
GETS THE PERMANENT STAGE. THIS WILL CREATE A CLEAR, PREDICTABLE AND EFFICIENT PROCESS. WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS WHEN THE NEXT STORM COULD BE ONE THAT DISPLACES HUNDREDS OR DAMAGES
MILLIONS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE CERTAINLY CAN'T ALLOW OUR OWN LEGAL AND ZONING PROCESSES TO BE BARRIERS TO CLIMATE JUSTICE. THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF THANK YOU CONSTRUCTIVE AS A PART OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.
I'LL DO WHATEVER I POSSIBLY CAN TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT IT AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE HARBOR TOWERS COMMUNITY. I PROUDLY REPRESENTED THEM FOR SIX YEARS. I KNOW THE NEIGHBORS WELL HAVE
A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. THEY'RE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR COLETTA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M JEALOUS THAT SHE REPRESENTS THE HARBOR TOWERS BECAUSE THEY
ARE SUCH WONDERFUL WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND I MISS REPRESENTING THEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR I CAN I JUST KIND OF A PENNY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE
SEA LEVEL RISING IS REAL AND IT'S HAPPENING AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF SITTING DOWN WITH KRISTINA SCHLEGEL WHO IS ACTUALLY MY FRONT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND SHE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE FOR THE ENTIRE
STATE. AND JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE SERIOUS CONCERNS WE HAVE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE IN BOSTON. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST A FLOODING MEETING.
YES, WE DO HAVE FLOODING CONCERNS EVEN IN ROSLYN THOUGH WE HAD THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION COME OUT AND HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN THAT THERE IS AN AMAZING TOOL COST TO CALL THE BOSTON INUNDATION MODEL THAT
YOU CAN USE OF. YOU'RE CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY FLOODING CONCERNS IN YOUR AREA. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO ANYONE HEARING, I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THE INUNDATION DISTRICT.
IT'S A DOCUMENTARY BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT BARTLET COULD POTENTIALLY SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BUT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON SEA LEVEL RISING. SO THIS IS WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK SAID COUNCILORS
BREADON FITZGERALD FLYNN MCGEER MURPHY PITT. BEN PLEASE OF THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER. OH, OKAY. AND COUNCIL ORAL I DOCKET
DOCKING NUMBER 1058 WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND I WANTED TO ALSO SAY COUNCILOR COLETTE IS ABOUT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME HOW
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THIS IS. SO I JUST WANTED TO ELEVATE AND THANK YOU FOR FILING THIS. OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE BE TALKING NUMBER 1059 SO I CAN NUMBER 1059 COUNCIL OFFLINE OFF OF THE FILING ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING A ROAD SAFETY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION . THANK YOU. SORRY. SORRY. CONTINUE TO REGULATE THE USE OF BICYCLES, BICYCLES, MOTORIZED BICYCLES AND
MOTORIZED SCOOTERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU THE CHAIR AND I JUST KIND OF A FUN KIND OF VOLUNTEER THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
ACROSS BOSTON THE CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF BICYCLE LANES AND CONDENSING EXISTING ROADWAYS IN THE
RECENTLY PUBLISHED CITY TRANSPORTATION REVIEW CONDUCTED BY SUPERINTENDENT BRILL AND NINE PAGE MEMO REGARDING STREET DESIGN CHANGES INDICATED THE
CITY WAS HEAVY HANDED IN RECENT YEARS IN ITS COMMUNICATION WITH NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HEARD CONSISTENT FEEDBACK THAT THE PROJECT COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WERE
INADEQUATE, THAT DECISIONS SEEMED PREDETERMINED AND THAT PROCESSES TOO OFTEN DID NOT ACHIEVE CONSENSUS CONTRIBUTING
TO A LOSS OF COMMUNITY TRUST, HE SAID. AND I AGREE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IN DISTRICT TWO IN PARTICULAR THE IMPACT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTING FASHION AND CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLE LANES LACK KAIKOHE OF INEFFECTIVE DESIGN. THERE'S NO FORESIGHT OF A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
CAUSING SAFETY TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION ISSUES. THAT'S WHY I RECENTLY CALLED FOR A HEARING ON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WITH ARTICLE 80 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS THE
CITY HAS NOW PLANNED FOR MULTIPLE BIKE LANES TO NOWHERE THAT LACK ANY CONNECTION TO A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK AND ABRUPTLY NEAR DANGEROUS
INTERSECTIONS, THERE'S ONE THAT WILL BE RANDOMLY STUCK ON DORCHESTER AVENUE IN FRONT OF A HOTEL PROJECT NEXT TO DOUGHBOY DONUTS LEADING INTO A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AT A STREET.
THERE'S ANOTHER THAT WAS DECIDED AFTER THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND DURING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION REVIEW IN FRONT OF IMRAN'S RESTAURANT ON WEST BROADWAY IN SOUTH
BOSTON THAT COMES IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE CITY'S SOUTH BOSTON TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN WHICH THE BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE BPD BOTH SAID WOULD NOT
INCLUDE BIKE LANES ON BROADWAY . WE HAVE SEEN CYCLING RELATED COLLISIONS AND CRASHES INCREASE INCLUDING MANY INCIDENTS THAT
GO UNDOCUMENTED DUE TO A LACK OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR BICYCLES, ELECTRIC AND MOTORIZED BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS. NEIGHBORS ESPECIALLY OUR
SENIORS WHO WALK AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD CONSIST ONLY BRING UP THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT ON THESE TWO WHEELED VEHICLES OPERATING ON SIDEWALKS, RUNNING RED LIGHTS GOING THE WRONG WAY,
CAUSING CYCLISTS THAT ALSO DO NOT FOLLOW TRAFFIC RULES. THEY FEEL UNSAFE TO WALK THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT IS WHY IN FEBRUARY I ALSO CALLED FOR A HEARING WHICH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE ADDED THEIR NAME TO THAT WOULD DISCUSS REQUIRING ALL MICROMOBILITY DEVICES TO BE LICENSED REGISTERED AND
INSURED. I'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS FROM OTHER NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESSES ABOUT COMMUNITY PROCESS ON HOW THE REMOVAL OF VEHICLE TRAVEL LANE IN CERTAIN HIGH TRAFFIC
CORRIDORS AND COMMERCIAL AREAS HAVE IMPACTED TRUCK DELIVERIES THE LOADING OF GOODS AND SERVICES, RIDESHARE PICKUPS AND DROP OFFS AS WELL AS THE IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES WITH THE
LOSS OF PARKING SPOTS. AGAIN WE'VE REMOVED OVER NINE PARKING SPOTS ON BOYLSTON STREET LAST YEAR. THEY MAY NOT SAY PUBLIC IT
PUBLICLY BUT I ALSO HEARD PRIVATELY FROM FIRST RESPONDERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR A BETTER AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTING BIKE LANES IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS
INCLUDING ON CAMBRIDGE STREET BEHIND US AS WE DECREASE THE ROAD SPACE FOR CARS TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. WE HAVE A GENERAL HOSPITAL WE NEED A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND
COMMUNITY DRIVEN APPROACH TO DEVELOPING SAFE BICYCLE LANES THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ENGINEERING EXPERTISE AND ADVICE SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, DATA IN A LEGITIMATE AND
THOROUGH PUBLIC PROCESS WHICH RELIES ON THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THIS KNOWLEDGE AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FROM RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.
I'M FILING THIS ORDINANCE TODAY ON ESTABLISHING A ROAD SAFETY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BETTER REGULATE THE USE OF BICYCLES E-BIKES MOTORIZED
BICYCLES, MOTORIZED SCOOTERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BOSTON CAN NO LONGER BE THE WILD WEST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. I RECOGNIZE THIS COMES WITH PAIN BECAUSE OF A PENNY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION TO COUNCILOR FLYNN THROUGH THE THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO WHEN YOU SAY THE WORDS REGULATE THE USE OF BICYCLES, I
SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. BUT CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT ARE YOU FORESEEING FOR IBM BECAUSE THERE'S A WIDE POPULATION
OF PEOPLE THAT USE BICYCLES. SO I'M THINKING LIKE THERE'S EVEN CHILDREN THAT USE BICYCLE . THERE'S PEOPLE THAT USE BICYCLES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY USING IT AS THEIR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO ARE YOU ENVISIONING THAT GOING TO BE REGULATED TOO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. ALSO YOU DIRECTED YOUR QUESTION TO THE CHAIR ABOUT THE FEATURES DIRECTED THROUGH THE CHAIR AS WELL.
COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY THANK. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. QUESTION THANK YOU COUNCIL CHAIRMAN FOR THAT QUESTION. IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
IT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING TO CONSIDER. I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR BICYCLES TO BE REGISTERED TO BE INSURED
AS WELL. I DO THINK THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED IN SOME SENSE. I DO SEE BICYCLES INVOLVED IN COLLISIONS IN AT TIMES.
I DO SEE AN UNREPORTED COLLISIONS WITH BICYCLES AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR EXCHANGING PAPERS WHEN SOMEONE ON A BICYCLE OR AN E-BIKE OR A MOPED DOESN'T HAVE ANY
IDENTIFICATION IN TERMS OF A WAY TO DESCRIBE WHO THEY ARE. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND TO
DISCUSS THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION IN A HEARING AND I'D LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE PROS AND CONS ABOUT WHY BICYCLES SHOULD BE REGULATED OR NOT REGULATED.
I HAVE AN OPEN MIND BUT I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE RULES OF THE ROAD. TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS CRITICAL. I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY
AT THE BOSTON COMMON WITH RESIDENTS. BOSTON CAN NO LONGER BE THE WILD WEST. WE HAVE TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS IN THE CITY REGARDLESS OF IF
IT'S A VEHICLE, IF IT'S A BICYCLE, IT'S AN E-BIKE, A SCOOTER, AN ELECTRIC BIKE. WE NEED TO PROVIDE A SAFER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, MICHEL.
THANK. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. BUT THEN YOU MAY RESPOND TO THE CHAIR IF YOU IF YOU LIKE. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR RESPONDING TO THAT. I FULLY SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT
BOSTON IS THE WILD WEST WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY RECENTLY IN MY DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF IN OFFICE WHERE IT CONTINUES TO GET THAT.
SO I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO WORKING ON TRANSPORTATION SAFETY, MAKING SURE THAT DRIVERS ARE THERE NOT VIOLATING THE LAW ACROSS OUR CITY. BUT IN REGARDS TO REGULATING
THE USE OF BICYCLE SPECIFIC I'M STILL IN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT THIS SO I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE BUT IF YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO HAVING A HEARING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD I COULD SUPPORT THAT.
AND THIS FRIDAY IS BIKE TO WORK DAY IN THE CITY. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG COALITION OF BICYCLE RIDERS IN ON THE DOWNTOWN SIDE OF THE PLAZA. SO MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO ENGAGE WITH
FOLKS AND SEE WHERE THEY STAND. BUT YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN AND THEN COMES FROM HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.
ANYONE WHO LIVES IN BOSTON CAN ATTEST TO THE HUGE PROBLEM OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK CAUSES TO RESIDENTS FROM TIME LOST IN WAITING IN TRAFFIC TO ASTHMA AND CARDIOVASCULAR ILLNESS.
BUT WHAT MY COLLEAGUE PROPOSES TODAY IS PAUSING DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO RELY ON A VEHICLE TO MOVE AROUND TOWN. WE KNOW THAT BIKE LANES HAVE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES
IN BOSTON. DATA RELEASED JUST LAST WEEK FOR 2024 SHOWS A 30% REDUCTION. LET ME REPEAT THAT 30% OF ALL VEHICLE IS MOVING ACROSS THE
MASSIVE BRIDGE DURING THE MORNING RUSH WERE PEOPLE ON BICYCLES. THAT'S UP FROM 20% TWO YEARS AGO IN DESERT TO SUMMER STREETS ON EVEN MORE DRASTIC CHANGE THE
RATE DOUBLED FROM 5 TO 10%. AND WHAT CHANGE? BOSTON STRENGTHEN OUR BICYCLE NETWORK. WE INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS AND COMMUTERS TO MAKE A CHOICE NOT TO BRING THEIR CARS INTO THE CITY.
NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CREATE A COMMISSION THAT PROPOSES TO PAUSE ALL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS? ACTUALLY READING 11 1204 AND
THAT'S ONE. THE FIRST IS ENSURE THAT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL BICYCLE INS IN THE CITY UNLESS AND UNTIL A MASTER PLAN
IS DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSION AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION. THIS IS KIND OF TURNING BACK TIME IN TRANSPORTATION IN THE
CITY AND AS OUR CHIEF OF STREETS STATED BEFORE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECENTLY, IT IS A GEOMETRY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE NOT GETTING ANY BIGGER. IF WE WANT BOSTON TO GROW BY
ADDING MORE RESIDENTS AND CREATING MORE JOBS, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE BY FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS THAT FIRST GOT US
INTO THIS POSITION. THIS RESPECTFULLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT AND I DO
THINK THERE WAS RECENTLY A SOMEONE HEAD THAT I THAT I KNEW BY A BUY ON A BIKE AND I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON
SAFETY. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH OUR STREETS SAFELY. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. THIS TO ME IS JUST TOO BROAD
SCALE AND IT'S NOT DETAILED ENOUGH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR. CAN I JUST COME TO MEJIA BECAUSE WE HEAR YOU ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I AM GOING TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT THIS IS AN
ORDINANCE THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY BE HAVING A HEARING ON. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SUSPENDING AND PASSING AND DELIBERATING ON THIS TODAY BUT THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH WE
GO ABOUT DOING BUSINESS HERE SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT TODAY. BUT GETTING RIGHT TO SAY THAT I I THINK LAST YEAR WHEN THERE
WAS THE THE INCIDENT AND WHERE YOU SAID B BIAS WAS MURDERED, WE HOSTED AN EMERGENCY TOWN HALL AROUND THE MOPEDS AND JUST KIND OF LIKE THE FRENZY THAT
WAS HAPPENING IN OUR STREETS AND CONCEPT OF BEING IN COUNCIL, FLYNN JOINED MY OFFICE IN IN SHEPHERDING A CITYWIDE TASK FORCE THAT RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT QUALITY OF LIFE
ISSUES. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. AND SO I'M TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MORE FORMAL STRUCTURE FOR FOLKS TO HAVE A
PATHWAY TO BE HEARD. AND I ALSO HONOR THE TASK FORCE AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN PARTNERSHIP AND IDENTIFYING A COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH TO DEALING
WITH THESE ISSUES. SO I'M HOPING THAT ONCE WE HAVE THE FIRST HEARING WE CAN INVITE SOME OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR
OFFICES. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND THEN YOU KNOW, I WAS KNOCKED OFF OF A BIKE WHEN I WAS A KID
AND SOMEONE LITERALLY KICKED A GERMAN SHEPHERD ON ME IN IN THE SEVENTIES AND I'VE SHARED THIS STORY IN THE PAST AND SO I HAVE A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO BIKE SO I
DON'T REALLY RIDE THEM MUCH. BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT I DON'T APPRECIATE PEOPLE WHO DO. I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A
AN ENERGY THAT IS MANIFESTING IN THIS CITY WHERE IT'S PEOPLE VERSUS BIKES AND AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY START CONVENING
COLLABORATIVELY AND AND AND TAKING OWNERSHIP OF OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THE PEDESTRIAN PROBLEM WHILE ALSO LOOKING AT IT FROM A PLACE THAT
COMMUNITIES USUALLY HAVE THE BEST SOLUTIONS. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT I KNOW MY TIME WENT OVER. I ALSO JUST WANT TO NAME THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE
HABIT OF PENALIZING. IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR TO EVEN HAVE A BIKE LET ALONE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIKE AND THEN HAVE TO REGISTER IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FINANCIAL COST COULD BE AND I WANT TO BE SUPER MINDFUL THAT BIKES ARE SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE AN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE
BUSINESS OF PENALIZING LITTLE KIDS TO RIDE THEIR BIKES IN THE HOOD. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCILOR WEBER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A VOTE OR NOT. I WILL FIND OUT. THAT'S FINE. BUT I DO WANT TO RISE TO JUST SAY THAT MOST OF OR A LOT
OF OUR CONVERSATIONS HERE ON THIS COUNCIL SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE HAVE BEEN AROUND ROAD SAFETY AND WE'VE HAD TRAGEDY AFTER TRAGEDY AND I THINK EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE CITY AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CARS
ARE RESPONSIBLE. PODESTA FRIENDS ARE RESPONSIBLE ALSO FOR MAKING SURE THEY CROSS IN THE CROSSWALK AND ALSO ARE BEING SAFE AROUND THE ROADS AND
THE STREETS AND OUR PEOPLE ON BICYCLES ARE SO WE SHARE THE ROAD AND I DO THINK WE SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE IN CARS AND THOSE WALKING THOSE ON BIKES. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD
IDEA AT ALL TO ESTABLISH A ROAD SAFETY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION. I THINK IT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY LOOK
AT THE HOW DO WE MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER WITHOUT PENALIZING ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE HOW THEY GET ALONG. MANY BIKERS ALSO RIDE DRIVE
THEIR CARS. SO I THINK HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT AND. I ALSO THINK HAVING A COMMISSION THAT IS REALLY LOOKING OUT WE HAVE MANY HEARINGS AND I KNOW IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE CHAIR DOESN'T WANT TO SCHEDULE THEM.
WE HAVE FULL CALENDAR WITH BUDGET HEARINGS BUT WE HAVE MANY HEARINGS IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ON THESE EXACT ISSUES ABOUT WANTING TO GET THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IN
FRONT OF US THE SAFETY TO PART OF DEPARTMENTS IN FRONT OF US ON HOW CAN WE ENSURE AND HOW CAN WE LIFT UP THE VOICES THAT ALL OF US HEAR ACROSS THE CITY NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT YOU'RE IN AND IF YOU'RE AN AT-LARGE COUNCILOR?
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD TALKS ABOUT SAFETY ON THE ROADS PARKING ISSUES, CROSSWALKS ALL OF THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR FILING THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
ALONGSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION ON MAKING OUR ROAD SAFER FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
I JOINED COUNCILOR PEPEN IN BEING CONCERNED ABOUT REQUIRING CHILDREN TO REGISTER OR HAVE THEIR BIKES REGISTERED. I DID HAVE A QUESTION AS WE AS WE WHEN WE HAVE A HEARING ON
THIS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AND I DON'T KNOW IF IF THE FILER WANTS ANSWER NOW WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THE CHAIR. JUST I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT
THE IMPACT ON BLUE BIKES AND YOU KNOW IT TALKS ABOUT REGISTRATION PEOPLE NEED TO REGISTER IF THAT'S GOING TO IF THERE'S I HAVE I ADMIT I HAVEN'T READ EVERY WORD OF THIS. SO YOU KNOW, IF IT HASN'T BEEN
ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING FORWARD WE NEED TO NOT PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM USING A BLUE BIKE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T REGISTERED IT JUST IN A SECTION 11 DASH 12.05 IS THERE'S ANY
PERSON OPERATING A BICYCLE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES A BLUE BIKE. SO ANYWAY I'M JUST GOING TO I I I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE FILER IF HE WANTS TO ANSWER THAT NOW OR WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT AT THE
HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CATCH A PLANE YOU HAVE TO FLY. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN I RESPECT RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK WHAT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER AND TO HAVE A CIVIL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN
IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR ROADS, OUR SIDEWALKS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IS TAKING PLACE NOW IS NOT WORKING. I'M OPEN TO IDEAS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES AND MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE EXCELLENT IDEAS. SOME IDEAS ARE BETTER THAN BETTER THAN WHAT I PROPOSED. I WELCOME THOSE COMMENTS IT MAKES FOR A BETTER DISCUSSION AND MAKES FOR A ROBUST
DISCUSSION. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED TO CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS IS I'M NOT GOING TO SIT BACK AND AND ALLOW BOSTON TO CONTINUE TO BE THE WILD WEST. I ASKED ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE
POLICE COMMISSIONER IN CHIEF FRANKLIN HODGE TO ADDRESS MOTORBIKES, E-BIKES SCOOTERS THAT WERE THAT WERE RUNNING RUNNING AMOK THROUGHOUT THE
CITY OF BOSTON AND TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF REGULATION ENFORCEMENT ON THEM. UM THE COMMISSIONER RESPONDED WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THAT AND I'M THANKFUL THAT THEY
THEY TOOK MY RECOMMENDATIONS THIS IS AN ISSUE FOCUSED ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT BOSTON IS NOT SAFE FOR MANY PEOPLE WALKING
ACROSS THE STREET FOR FOR DIFFERENT REASONS IN SOUTH BOSTON I STILL SEE PEOPLE DRIVING 4050 MILES AN HOUR TO A
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ELDERLY PEOPLE SUCH AS SUCH AS MY PARENTS MIGHT BE IN A CROSSWALK, SOMEONE MIGHT DRIVE
BY THEM GOING 40 MILES AN HOUR. I ALSO SEE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WALKING TOWARDS THE SOUTH LIBRARY GOING GOING INTO THE WALKING ON ON THE
CORNER OF EL AND BROADWAY AND THE PERSON WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET IN THE CROSSWALK AND SOMEONE WILL GO BY THEM 4050 MILES AN HOUR. I SEE PARENTS THEIR LITTLE KIDS
TO SCHOOL. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS CRITICAL . I REALIZE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
MOST OF OR MANY OF THEM ARE WORKING 16 HOURS A DAY. BUT I'VE WORKED AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT FROM OUR
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CRITICAL PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ENFORCING THE CURRENT RULES OF THE ROAD INCLUDING THE THE SPEED LIMIT.
I WORK TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT THAT'S AT 25 MILES AN HOUR NOW I THINK IT SHOULD BE FROM 25 MILES AN HOUR TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE WITH
ME BUT GOING 25 MILES AN HOUR DOWN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS EXCESSIVE IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE TO DO WE POSSIBLY CAN
TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE ON CROSSING IN OUR CROSSWALKS IN OUR SIDEWALKS. AND IF THIS COMMISSION IS THE ANSWER THEN THEN LET'S BEGIN. IF IT'S NOT THE ANSWER, MAYBE
THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN TAKE FROM IT THAT WE CAN LEARN AND IMPLEMENT THEM INTO POLICY AND IN THE CITY. BUT THE STATUS QUO I KNOW IS NO
LONGER AN ANSWER. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS USUALLY ARE THE BEST FROM RESIDENTS.
COUNCILOR MEJIA AND COUNCILOR PEPPER AND THEY WERE LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AND MYSELF ON ZOOM WITH RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY COUNCIL HERE. THOSE RESIDENTS HAD GREAT RECOMMENDS OPTIONS.
SOME OF THEM WERE BETTER THAN THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE ALL MADE AND WHEN I LISTENED TO THE RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ADVOCATED FOR AS IT RELATES TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, I
SAID TO MYSELF WOW, THAT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION. I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT. BUT WHEN YOU LISTEN TO RESIDENTS AND YOU LISTEN YOU LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS, YOU GET A BETTER AND A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE AND AND AND WHAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT OR YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE AND SO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR HERE
COUNCILOR PEPEN FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CLAUDIA ZAPATA. I'VE ALSO BEEN VERY LEANING ON
TIME HERE BECAUSE ABOUT I KNOW YOU HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS SO BUT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GET BETTER AT KEEPING TIME. THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE ACTING AS CONSUL CARLOS ZAPATA. THANK YOU, CONSUL PRESIDENT. I CAN APPRECIATE THAT. ONE QUICK THING JUST BECAUSE
THIS IS GOING TO COME HOPEFULLY TO MY COMMITTEE, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT PREEMPTION ISSUES. THE STATE AND CITY CREATE CERTAIN REGULATIONS AROUND
BIKES AND MOPEDS. FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, THE STATE ESTABLISHES LAWS FOR OPERATIONS OF BIKES ON MOPEDS SO LICENSING REGISTRATION AND GENERAL TRAFFIC ISSUES AND THEN
THE CITY IS MORE AROUND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT AND WITH WITH NUANCED AND TAILORED REGS FOR OUR CITY. BUT IT'S MORE AROUND THE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO THESE CONVERSATIONS. I DO KNOW THAT SENATOR BROWNSBURG HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS. WE GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE HOUSE WHO HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT THIS AND NOT JUST HIM BUT OTHERS. SO I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HOPEFULLY INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN ALIGN WITH WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND POTENTIALLY LEARN FROM THEM IN THIS AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU THAT YOUR ORGANIZERS CONSIDERING HOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION AND I KNOW THAT WHILE MY APPROACH MIGHT DIFFER FROM MY COLLEAGUE FROM
DISTRICT TWO, I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT MY MY APPROACH IS ACTUALLY DIFFERING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS VERY BUILDING RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE PATCHES OF BOLLARDS AND BIKE LANES THAT ARE
DISAPPEARING FROM MY DISTRICT RIGHT RIGHT NOW WITH NO PUBLIC PROCESS AND THAT'S WHERE MY ANGER IS COMING FROM ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I HAVE A LOT OF DOUBLE PARKED
CARS BECAUSE BOLLARDS ARE JUST MISSING AND I'M REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MY OWN BUILDING. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON MY STREET WHO RELY ON THE BIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE TO GET TO WORK AND THEY'RE BEING PUT IN DANGER BY NOT HAVING PROTECTION. I'M REALLY UPSET. I'M LIKE MET I MEAN I CAN TELL
YOU I HAD A MEETING WITH A CONSTITUENT AND I WAS LIKE MOVED TO TEARS ABOUT JUST HOW UNSAFE THEY FEEL GETTING TO WORK AND ESPECIALLY DURING
NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK WEEK IT JUST FEELS LIKE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION FEELS JUST VERY OUTDATED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MY CONSTITUENCY.
AND I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW HOW FRAUGHT IT IS. I KNOW TRAFFIC, I KNOW ALL THESE THINGS AND I DO WANT TO COME TO A SOLUTION AND SO MAYBE THAT MEANS ME AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT TWO HAVING A TALK
OFFLINE ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS BUT PEOPLE BEING UNSAFE ON THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE BEING HIT RECENTLY IN MY DISTRICT I JUST IT MAKES
ME REALLY, REALLY UPSET AND I I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH HOW UPSET I AM ABOUT IT OTHER THAN TO SAY TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WE NEED A CONNECTED BIKE NETWORK IN THE CITY THAT MOVES
PEOPLE AROUND WHERE THEY ARE NOT IN PERIL AND I DO THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION IN THIS BODY SHOULD REFLECT THE SEVERITY OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE LIKE THIS IS SERIOUS, THIS
IS PEOPLE'S LIVES. I KNOW I HAVE FELT LESS SAFE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAN I HAVE EVER FELT ON A BIKE. SO LET'S LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE WILLING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? YEAH.
OH, MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR MURPHY THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1059 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE BE DARK IN NUMBER 1060 DARK NUMBER 1060 COUNCILORS WERE ALL AND COLETTE AS A OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE CODIFYING THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY THANK YOU THE TRACK AND I THIS COMES ACROSS AS A PATTERN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THE GERAGOS COMES FORWARD WHILE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR SORRY CO-SPONSOR IS COMFORTABLE AS A ONE THANK
YOU MADAM PRESIDENT I TWO MOTION FOR A SUBSTITUTION AND THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS IT SECONDED SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THE MOTION NO SUBSTITUTE SAY I I
OBVIOUSLY NAY GUYS HAVE IT. THE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE IS BEFORE THE BODY. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I ALSO LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS THE ORIGINAL THIRD CO-SPONSOR
COUNCILOR OR ELSE WE SUSPEND THE RULES ADD MYSELF AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING HAVING NO OBJECTIONS AND SO ADDED COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULE IN THAT COUNCIL. HE HAS A FOURTH DIVISION I KNOW I CAN'T DO THAT BUT IF I COULD
I WOULD ADD COUNCIL ME HERE. THIS ORDINANCE IS A REAL REFILE FROM LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE HELD A HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE. WE HEARD FROM CHIEF GARCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS WELL AS THE CIO FROM PITTSBURGH, SOUTH BEND AND CAMBRIDGE WHO SHARED BEST PRACTICES ON HOW CODIFYING THE IT DEPARTMENT STRENGTHENS SERVICES, SERVICE
DELIVERY AND DATA GOVERNANCE THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO STREAMLINE THIS ORDINANCE TO REFLECT BOSTON'S UNIQUENESS WHILE ADDRESSING THE GAPS IDENTIFIED IN OUR CITYWIDE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT BY
CODIFYING THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE FUTURE PROOFING BOSTON'S ABILITY TO MANAGE DATA, DELIVER SERVICES AND STAY RESPONSIVE REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN OFFICE.
TECHNOLOGY IS THE BACKBONE OF MODERN GOVERNMENT IS HOW WE REACH RESIDENTS, DELIVER SERVICES AND MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS THAT TELL US WHERE WE'RE FALLING SHORT AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER. GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY REQUIRES GOOD
TECHNOLOGIES STEWARDSHIP. AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS A FORMALIZATION OF A MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH QUASI INDEPENDENT AGENCIES. THESE EMPLOYEES ARE CRITICAL TO
IMPROVING DATA ACCESS AND ALIGNMENT ACROSS ALL ENTITIES THAT SERVE BOSTON RESIDENTS ENSURING WE BREAK DOWN SILOS AND MAXIMIZE TRANSPARENCY. THIS ORDINANCE AIMS TO IMPROVE
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, INCREASE DEPARTMENT TOE COLLABORATION AND KEEP ALL CITY EMPLOYEES UPSKILLED AND WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE NEED TO DO OUR JOBS WELL WHEN I THINK ABOUT DO
IT AND HOW THEY CAN BEST HELP OUR CITY, I KEEP THINKING BACK TO THAT BUDGET HEARING AND CHIEF GARCES TALKING ABOUT THE NEW PERMANENT PROCESS THEY'RE WORKING ON. IT WILL MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR THE PERSON APPLYING FOR CITY DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF PROGRESS THAT I THINK THE DO IT DO IT TEAM CAN IMPRINT ON OUR CITY AND THIS FORWARDNESS FURTHER FURTHERS THAT GOAL. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR
OF GOVERNMENT OPS JAY COLLETTE AS A PARTNER HER TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS ORDINANCE AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHIEF GARCES ,KARI JORDAN ALIYAH AND THE WHOLE ENTIRE DO IT TEAM FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND I
RESPECTFULLY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A SUSPENSION. OTHER RULES AND PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU KATSUHIRO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONSTRUCTION AS A PARTY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE MAKER OF THIS COUNCIL HERO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP. I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND MY STAFF AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR BREADON WHO WERE
ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS ON A HEARING ORDER THAT I HAD LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY AND FROM THERE WE REALIZED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE
UPDATED AND AND JUST HOW VITAL OUR TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN THIS CITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS DEPEND ON. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS. THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE POWER AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO JUST MAKE THINGS RUN BETTER, RUN MORE EFFECTIVELY AND GIVE DEPARTMENTS THE AUTHORITY THAT
THEY NEED. DO IT RIGHT NOW IS SIMPLY EXISTING THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. WHILE YOU KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THINK THAT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS
SPECIAL BECAUSE IT'S WORK IS IT'S LIKE AN OCTOPUS LIKE DO IT CAN NOW HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND IT'S
JUST IT'S AMAZING. SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT COUNCILMAN RALPH FOR WORK. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN US IN PASSING THIS TODAY CHIEF GARCES WHO'S DOING AN
INCREDIBLE JOB. AND OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE KERRY JORDAN WHO USED TO WORK HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO CANCER AWARDS COUNCILS WHERE OUTCOMES AS OPPOSED TO A KIND OF CODE AS
OPPOSED TO I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES CARE ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT THE WORK OF THIS OFFICE AND CODIFY DO IT HERE IN THE CITY AND WE LOST OUR VERY OWN KERRY TO DO IT BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE
HE'S DOING REALLY GREAT WORK THERE AS WE WORK TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AS WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, APPLY FOR PERMITS ONLINE. THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT DO IT
DOES OR HELPS WITH AND I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN CODIFYING THEIR OFFICE. JUST ONE NOTE TO THE MAKERS THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MOTION SUBSTITUTE
BUT JUST TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF SOME OF THE NAMES IN THE TITLE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THIS. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF I'VE SUPPORTED AND WORKED ON FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGAGED AND THE DO
IT MISSION AND ENSURING RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE AS OUR
IMMIGRANTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES THROUGH INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY THAT'S CRITICAL AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE
RESIDENTS THAT REALLY DON'T AT TIMES HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT WHETHER THEY'RE IN PUBLIC HOUSING OR THERE ARE OUR SENIORS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. BUT PROVIDING THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE CITY GOVERNMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IS CRITICAL. MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED KERRY JORDAN AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE KERRY
WHO'S DEDICATED WONDERFUL PROFESSIONAL CITY EMPLOYEE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO DISREGARD THE SPELLING IS CORRECT SO WE'RE FINE WITH THE VERSION THAT
COMES OR I'LL FILE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TIMES ARE BAD AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS. IT'S REALLY I'M DELIGHTED TO BE DOING THIS. THIS IS PAST DUE.
I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF DO IT IS YOU KNOW, IT'S LONG PAST THE TIME WHEN WE WERE JUST USING IT AS A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. IT MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION
SYSTEMS TO JUST DO THE DAY TO DAY THINGS THIS THIS DEPARTMENT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT AND SUPPORTING ALL OF US AT THE DEPARTMENT ALL ALL OF THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES ACROSS ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING RIGHT IN THIS MOMENT IS THE THREAT OF CYBERSECURITY. CYBERSECURITY THREATS AND DO IT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE STEP IT UP AND SUPPORT
CODIFYING THEM, MAKE THEM THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT AND GIVE THEM THE MONETARY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HAVE THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO
PROTECT US AS BEST WE CAN FROM CYBER CYBERSECURITY THREATS AND I'M REALLY EXCITED. I THINK THEY'RE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK AND I WILL BE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO VOTE IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS ONE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CANCER BRITAIN IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK ACCUSED COUNCILORS
BREADON FITZGERALD. FLYNN MEJIA MURPHY, PIP SANTANA ,WEBER COUNCILORS WORL BREADON AND LOUIJEUNE EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION PASSAGE
OF DOCKET NUMBER 1060 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL OPPOSE ANY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1061 OH OH
COUNCILOR ROONEY HERE YOU HAVE A POINT OF ORDER SO OKAY, WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? I THOUGHT COUNCILOR WORRALL COLETTA AND LOUIJEUNE AND THEN YOU SAID BREADON, I APOLOGIZE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR
THE RECORD AND THE STENOGRAPHER AND EVERYBODY WHO'S LISTENING THAT THE I'M SORRY I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU NO, BUT I JUST HEARD IT INCORRECTLY SO THANK YOU. THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT IS SUSTAINED BECAUSE IT IS CORRECT I BELIEVE I DID SAY COUNCILOR BREADON APOLOGIES IT TO THE HEAD AND NOT THE HEART. THAT'S CANCER ORAL CANCER COVID ZAPATA AND COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE
SAT SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1061. SO MR. CLERK, DID YOU GET THAT CORRECTION? THANK YOU. GET THAT YOU GOT MEJIA. OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ TALKING NUMBER 1061 DUNCAN
NUMBER 01061. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE AND BRAIN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW REGARDING AN ACT TO THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT COUNCILOR IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
. THANK YOU, MR CLERK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MR. CHAIR SO THIS IS A FORMAL PETITION THAT IS THE SECOND PART OF THE PETITION THAT WE FILED A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT'S REASSURING THAT WHOEVER IS ELECTED IF THERE'S A VACANCY IN A DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT THAT
THAT PERSON IS SEATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE ELECTIONS ARE CERTIFIED IN NOVEMBER. I'M NOT BEING SUSPENDED IN 2000 BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING WITH THE STATE HOUSE IN TERMS OF HOW THIS MOVES FORWARD AND THE THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE. BUT THIS IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE
AND THAT WE HAVE THIS IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO PASS THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET WHOEVER IS ELECTED IN THE EVENT OF A VACANCY SEE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR WOULD
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WITH ANYONE ELSE? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
I DO. I DO WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER AS IT RELATES TO THE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT SEVEN SEAT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS CITY
COUNCILORS DURING THESE CRITICAL AND CHALLENGING TIMES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO REGAIN THE PUBLIC TRUST WITH BOSTON RESIDENTS. I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE LOST TO A
SERIES OF ETHICAL CHALLENGES AND LEGAL LAPSES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL CITY COUNCILORS.
THIS PROCESS BEGINS IN MY OPINION WHAT ETHICS, ETHICS REFORM. ACCOUNTABILITY. TRANSPARENCY WORK ETHIC THROUGH POSITIVE LEADERSHIP I WANT TO
CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS REFORM PACKAGE INCLUDING HAVING ALL CITY COUNCILORS RELEASED STATE AND FEDERAL TAX RETURNS FOR THE
LAST FIVE YEARS. RELEASE AND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTEREST FORM TO BOTH THE STATE AND THE PUBLIC. IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION TO PROVIDE ENHANCED TRAINING FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES AND CURRENT STAFF AS WELL. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR
DOCKET BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO WEIGH IN PUBLICLY ON ON THIS THIS POTENTIAL FOR A VACANT VACANCY IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ESTABLISHING A BOSTON CITY COUNCIL OVERSIGHT COMMISSION MADE UP OF OUTSIDE AND RELEVANT EXPERTS MAYBE A STANDALONE ETHICS COMMITTEE THAT WAS VOTED
DOWN HIRING A AN ATTORNEY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE BODY IN MAY IT IN MY OPINION NOW IS THE TIME FOR POSITIVE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REGAIN OUR CREDIBILITY WITH THE PUBLIC. THANK MR CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR GOT
THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I THINK WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING HERE IS THAT WE AMEND THE HOME RULE PETITION THAT IS ALREADY UP AT THE STATE HOUSE IN THE
EVENT THAT AS WE DID IN THE IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION A FEW YEARS AGO A MAYOR WAS SWORN IN
ONCE HER VOTES WERE CERTIFIED AND SHE TOOK OFFICE IN NOVEMBER RATHER THAN BE SWORN IN IN JANUARY BECAUSE OF THE VACANCY IN THIS MOMENT DISTRICT SEVEN IS IN THE MIDST OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
THERE'S MANY, MANY CANDIDATES WHO ARE IN MEETING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS WITH FUTURE CONSTITUENTS, TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND
YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE A ROBUST AND THOROUGH REVIEW AND VETTING OF ALL THE CANDIDATES AND THE DISTRICT SEVEN WILL CHOOSE THEIR BEST CANDIDATE TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THIS IS JUST THIS IS JUST A SORT OF AN AMENDMENT TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT WHOMEVER GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER TO REPRESENT DISTRICT SEVEN WILL
BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR SEAT WHEREAS THE REST OF US, IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE REELECTED WILL BE SWORN IN AGAIN AND IN JANUARY. SO IT'S A VERY SMALL THING AND IT'S JUST REALLY TO ENSURE THAT
THE THE THAT THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SEVEN WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR AT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU CHAIR LOOK FORWARD TO
THIS HEARING. I WILL DO MY HOMEWORK LIKE I DID WHEN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE WAS FILED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF LOOKING BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT IF I COULD THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE DISTRICT TO COUNCILOR ASK IS IT TRUE THAT WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED FOR DISTRICT TWO THERE WAS A VACANCY WITH COUNCIL COUNCILOR
LENIHAN BUT YOU WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SEAT EARLY IF I COULD THROUGH THE CHAIR ASKING TO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU MAY RESPOND
IF YOU LIKE SO THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ASKING THE QUESTION. YES, THE DISTRICT CITY
COUNCIL RESIGNED I BELIEVE AND I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN HE RESIGNED IN OCTOBER SO THE SEAT WAS VACANT BASICALLY FROM OCTOBER TO
JANUARY. I WASN'T SWORN IN AND I WASN'T SWORN IN EARLY. I WAS SWORN IN WITH EVERYBODY ELSE I GUESS I GUESS MAYBE
MAYBE COULD COULD WE AMEND THE PROPOSAL AND MAKE IT A GENERIC A GENERIC PROPOSAL WHERE IF ANY
SEAT IS VACANT THAT A CITY COUNCIL CAN CAN GET SWORN IN EARLY IF IF A PERSON RESIGNS INSTEAD OF MAKING IT SPECIFIC
TOWARDS DISTRICT SEVEN, MAYBE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. A CITY COUNCILOR MAY RESIGN AND IN THE SUMMERTIME MAYBE OR IN THE FALL AND THE SEAT MIGHT BE
VACANT BUT MAYBE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TO FORESEE THAT TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE HAPPENING. TAKE ACTION NOW AND MAYBE
COLLECTIVELY COMBINE THEM. SO ANY TYPE OF VACANT VACANCY FOR WHATEVER REASON AND IF A CITY COUNCILOR RESIGNS MAYBE HAVING A EARLY SWORN IN
CEREMONY FOR THAT COUNCILOR JUST A THOUGHT. THINK MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLAME. YOU FORGET THE FLOOR AND SO AS WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE HERE KNOW
THAT IT IS DIFFERENT AND I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC IS ALWAYS CLEAR BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME BECAUSE I DID GET SWORN IN EARLY WHEN COUNCILOR WU VACATED HER SEAT TO BE SWORN IN EARLY BECAUSE
MAYOR WALSH HAD VACATED HIS SEAT. SO IT IS COMPLICATED AND THE AT LARGE COUNCILORS DO HAVE DIFFERENT RULES WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY COMES TO VACANCIES BUT ALSO SWEARING IN YOU HAVE
TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT ON THE CALENDAR. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROCESS BEFORE WE CHANGE ANY CHARGES
AND I DO AGREE THAT MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE A ONE OFF AND I KNOW WE OBVIOUSLY CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES DURING THE HEARING AND ALSO WHEN WE VOTE ON THE COMMITTEE REPORT. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER. COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AS VICE CHAIR AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAKER FOR TAKING THIS NECESSARY STEP IN CORRECTING WHAT COULD
BE PERCEIVED AS AN ARCHAIC RULE THE GOOD THING ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORKING .
WHAT WORKED IN 1907 MAY NOT WORK IN 2025 OR EVEN BEYOND THIS IS I JUST WANT REMIND FOLKS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE DID FOR MAYOR AND 2021 BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO A CONVERSATION.
I PRESUME THIS WILL BE IN MY COMMITTEE AND SO I HOPE FOR AN EXPEDITIOUS HEARING. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON. CASSIE HAD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I KNOW FOR MORE DETAILED CONVERSATION WHEN WE WHEN WE IT GOES TO COMMITTEE AND THAT WE
WILL TRY TO EXPEDITE THIS THIS PROCESS YOU KNOW EVERY EVERY EVERY CYCLE WE DO SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND AND IN IN IN THE INSTANCE OF WHEN COUNCILOR MURPHY JOINED THE
COUNCIL SHE CAME IN SIXTH PUT THE PERSON WHO CAME IN FIFTH DIDN'T DECLINE TO TAKE THE POSITION AS CITY COUNCILOR AND SHE CAME IN AT THE END AS ONE AND SHE CAME IN SIXTH SO WE
HAVE THIS SORT OF ALMOST BESPOKE SORT OF APPROACH TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN EVERY DIFFERENT INSTANCE. SO I THINK THAT WE CAN THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO AND I
THINK WE SHOULD DO IT IN A TIMELY WAY SO THAT WHOMEVER GETS ELECTED FROM DISTRICT SEVEN WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A SEAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH WITH THE ASSENT OF THE OF THE FOLKS AT THE STATE HOUSE.
OBVIOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? YES. AND I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT SOMETHING JUST SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS HOMER PETITION WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN FOR ANY
VACANCY FOR THIS YEAR. SO I THINK THERE WAS A COUNCILOR FLYNN MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT GENERALLY THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT DISTRICT SEVEN. IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT ANY ANY DISTRICT, ANY VACANCY. THIS YEAR IF ONE WERE TO ARISE. SO IT'S VERY GENERAL IT'S
GENERALLY WRITTEN BUT IT'S APPLICABLE TO THIS YEAR AND I DO THINK THAT THERE IS PROBABLY OPPORTUNITY NOT SURE IF IT'S NOW BUT FOR THAT LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT A CHANGE TO STATE LAW I THINK IT WOULD BE
TRICKY FOR SOME OF THE REASON THAT COUNCILOR BREADON MENTIONED BUT LIKE HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A VACANCY THIS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS? I'M OPEN TO THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A HARDER
AND LONGER ONE TO HAVE AND TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE MAY HAVE FOR THIS YEAR. I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BUT IT IS JUST GENERALLY WRITTEN AND IT IS NOT APPLICABLE JUST TO ONE DISTRICT. JUST SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PRESIDENT
IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSITIVE LEADERSHIP AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. BUT I DO AGREE I THINK WE HAVE TO TACKLE THE SITUATION NOW AND
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE LARGER CONVERSATION. ON IF REFORM IS NEEDED. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME AND MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR CLAIRE ZAPATA COUNCILOR DURKAN
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FLYNN CASIMIR HERE CASTLE MURPHY CASTLE SANTANA CASTLE WEBER PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR DUNCAN NUMBER 100 COUNCILOR PEPEN SORRY.
DUNCAN NUMBER 1061 WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MR. CLERK COMPLETELY DARK AT NUMBER 1062 DUNCAN NUMBER 1062 COUNCIL OF S.A. FOR THE
FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING OCCUPATIONAL CANCER RISK FOR BOSTON FIRE FIGHTERS AND PROGRAMS THE CITY OF BOSTON OFFERS OR COULD OFFER
TO PROVIDE FOR PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA CASA SANTANA GIVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
AND I'M SORRY I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN. I'M BATTLING A MIGRAINE. I'M STANDING UP AND SITTING DOWN. IT'S JUST A LOT FOR ME. BUT I TALKED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT I DID EARLIER
ABOUT THIS SO WE'LL SPEND TOO MUCH TIME. BUT I DO WANT TO ADD COUNSELOR AT FLYNN AND WOULD LIKE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU COUNSELOR FLYNN IZZO ADDED COUNSELOR SANTANA SUSPEND THE RULES ADD MYSELF AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS I'M SO ADDED COUNSELOR SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN THAT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME SPOKE ABOUT MY FAMILY'S
SITUATION WITH CANCER AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING A HEARING ORDER A HEARING ABOUT IT AND BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS HERE ON
OUR RESIDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR SENIORS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I WON'T SPEAK MORE ABOUT IT BUT ALLOW MY CO-SPONSORS TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY MAY WANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR S.A. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN. GENERAL FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR INCLUDING ME. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING SAM DILLON AND THE TEAM FROM LOCAL 718 BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS. WE HAD AN EXCELLENT HEARING ACTUALLY SERVE SEVERAL HEARINGS
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. COUNSELOR SANTANA THAT YOU KNEW SHE HAD AND THEY WERE THEY WERE ON THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. FIREFIGHTERS OFTEN EXPERIENCE AS COUNSELOR SANTANA WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE SAM DILLON WAS TALKING ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS CANCER,
HEART RELATED DISEASES. THEY HAVE A LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY EXPECTANCY DUE TO DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS THEY SERVE AND WITH THE EXPOSURE OF TOXIC MATERIALS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOREVER
CHEMICALS STAY WITH THEM. WE WE LEARNED THAT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF YEARS WHEN A FIREFIGHTER RETIRES IS AT THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE.
BUT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF YEARS A FIREFIGHTER LIVES IS FIVE YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY PROGRAMS AND FUNDING
FOR THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING OCCUPATIONAL CANCERS AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE, RAISE AWARENESS AND COURAGE PREVENTIVE CARE DETECTION IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATE
INTERVENTION AND TO HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS. I WANT TO AGAIN SAY THANK YOU TO WELL CALL 718 AND SAY THANK YOU TO JOE FINN WHO IS THE
FORMER FIRE COMMISSIONER FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK HE HAS DONE SAM DILLON AND PATTY KELLY AS WELL AND THIS ISSUE IS ALSO PERSONAL TO ME IS MY MY UNCLE
DENNIS FLYNN WHO IS A DECORATED VIETNAM VETERAN WAS A BOSTON FIREFIGHTER AND HE DIED IN AN EARLY AGE DUE TO HEART DISEASE. SO I THINK I THINK OF MY UNCLE
DENNIS AS WELL EVERY TIME I GO BY A FIRE STATION OR I SEE A FIREFIGHTER I THINK OF THE THE SHORT NUMBER OF YEARS HE LIVED. BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS HE
MADE AS A AS A VIETNAM VETERAN, AS A BOSTON FIREFIGHTER, AS A AS A HUSBAND, AS A FATHER, AS A GRANDFATHER, AS AN UNCLE AND AS A VETERANS ADVOCATE AND ONE WONDERFUL PERSON.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN AND I ALSO WAS ONE OF THE ENCOUNTERS SANTANA FOR FILING THIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT HEARING. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HIT SO HARD BUT IT DID WHEN WE HAD THE
HEARING AND WE HAD FOLKS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUES BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND THE INCREASE OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER AND JUST TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT
FIREFIGHTERS KNOWINGLY SIGNED UP TO DO THIS WORK KNOWING THAT IT WILL INCREASE BY I BELIEVE THEIR STAT WAS 9% THEIR IN THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING CANCER AND YET THEY STILL SIGNED UP TO DO THIS JOB. THEIR NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS
RIGHT NOW PEOPLE WHO I CALL FRIENDS WHO ARE BATTLING CANCER HERE ON OUR AIR FORCE AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
DOING WHAT IT NEEDS OF IS WE'RE MOVING FAST FROM AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET DOWN TO ZERO AS MUCH FAST AS POSSIBLE FROM THE GEAR AND
WHATEVER ELSE THE RESEARCH TELLS US TO DO THAT WE THAT WE TAKE THOSE STEPS BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CANCER RATING HAS A RATING OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO COUNSELOR
SANTANA FOR SHARING HIS IS A STORY ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF US AND FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTERS WHO TURN UP EVERY DAY TO WORK KNOWING THAT WHAT THE JOB
ENTAILS IN TERMS OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND DANGERS. I THINK THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE MISSING IN THIS CONVERSATION IS TO JUST HIGHLIGHT JUST HOW DISGRACEFUL IT IS THE ABSOLUTE DISGRACE AND
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN THE TRUMP REGIME AT THE MOMENT IS SLASHING FUNDING FOR NICHE CDC, THE EPA WHICH FOCUSES ON
FOREVER CHEMICALS AND ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS IN IN IN IN JOBS THEY'RE ALSO SLASHING
THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF ALL OF THAT IN BOSTON BECAUSE WE
ARE SORT OF THE FLAGSHIP FOR HEALTH AND AND HEALTH RESEARCH IN THE NATION AND I FEEL THAT IT'S WHEN WE WANT TO SUPPORT
OUR ALL THOSE WHO ARE DEALING WITH CANCER AND ESPECIALLY OCCUPATIONAL CANCERS WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT TO
PROTEST WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF OUR HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL. SO I'M JUST SAYING I'M JUST
SAYING AND IT MAKES ME VERY SAD AS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL THAT A LOT OF THE GAINS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST DECADES AND OVER THE LAST HALF CENTURY ARE ALL FOR NOTHING BECAUSE
RESEARCHERS WHO ARE RESEARCHING CANCER TREATMENTS, ETC. ARE HAVING THEIR THEIR GROUND SLASHED AND STOPPED. RIGHT. AND THAT STOPS THE WHOLE THING. PATIENTS WILL BE SEEING THAT
THEIR EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOLS WILL BE ABANDONED AND THEY'LL BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER HELP. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN TURN THIS SHIP AROUND AND IT JUST IS VERY
DISTRESSING AT THIS MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE LIVES THAT COULD BE SAVED IF WE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BREADON IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON DURKAN FITZGERALD HERE MURPHY THE BEN WEBER WORLD
COUNCILOR THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1062 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE READ
DOCKET NUMBER 1063 DUCKY NUMBER 1063 COUNCIL OF CLEAN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION'S HEALTH OF ASIAN RESIDENTS IN
BOSTON REPORT THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PHONE CATCHER FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ADD COUNCILOR MURPHY AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR?
COUNCILOR MURPHY SO OUT IN CALIFORNIA THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LAST WEEK THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION PUBLISHED THE FIRST HEALTH OF ASIAN RESIDENTS IN BOSTON. THE REPORT PROVIDES INFORMATION
AND DATA ON THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF ASIAN RESIDENTS IN BOSTON AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF CHINATOWN RESIDENTS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR.
OJUKWU TAKUTO FOR DOING THIS. I APPRECIATE HER WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH ME AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HER TEAM FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO INCLUDE
THE HEALTH OF CHINATOWN RESIDENTS THAT WAS EXCLUDED EXCLUDED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT DR. OJUKWU TO WORK WITH ME TO INCLUDE THAT HEALTH DATA FOR
CHINATOWN RESIDENTS. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO REVIEW IT AND TO STUDY IT. ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU IN THE REPORT, 66,000 ASIANS
LIVE IN BOSTON NOW AND THE ASIAN COMMUNITY MAKES UP 10% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. CHINATOWN HAS THE HIGHEST POPULATION ASIAN RESIDENTS WITH
46% IDENTIFYING AS ASIAN FOLLOWED BY ALLSTON AND BRIGHTON ROXBURY. I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S A LOT IN CHARLESTON AS WELL.
THE REPORT DELVES INTO MANY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INCLUDING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE, CHRONIC DISEASE MORTALITY RATES.
WHILE MUCH OF THE DATA REPORTED FAVORABLY FOR ASIAN RESIDENTS, AREAS THAT REQUIRE ATTENTION INCLUDE IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, EXPANDING MENTAL
HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, FOCUSING ON SUCH CANCERS AS LIVER IN LUNG CANCER SCREENING
FOR WOMEN FOR EXAMINATION AS WELL AS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE. 96% OF ASIAN ADULTS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE ON PAR WITH BOSTON AS A WHOLE.
BUT ONLY 65% OF THE RESIDENTS REPORTED HAVING A REGULAR DOCTOR COMPARED TO 83% OF THE NON-ASIAN POPULATION. THERE IS LESS ACCESS TO
CONSISTENT MEDICAL CARE AND LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS SOMETHING COUNCILOR MEJIA HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR. THAT'S CRITICAL IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.
THE REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH A PERCENTAGE OF ASIAN ADULTS 61% REPORT THAT THEY WOULD SEEK THERAPY OR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IF NEEDED COMPARED TO THEIR NON ASIAN
COUNTERPARTS 74%. THE REPORT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE LOWER REPORTED RATES COULD BE DUE TO SUCH FACTORS AS CULTURAL STIGMA WHICH LEADS TO
UNDERREPORTING OF SYMPTOMS. HAVING WORKED WITH CHINATOWN RESIDENTS FOR SO LONG THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR YOUTH FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS
AND SENIORS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION CONTINUE TO OUTREACH AND INVEST IN RESOURCES IN THE AME IN THE
ASIAN COMMUNITY INCLUDING LANGUAGE ACCESS TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS WHO MAY NEED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CAN SEEK AND CAN SEEK THAT ACCESS. I'D BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION
THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS REPORT IN 2019 WHICH FOCUSED ON INEQUITIES EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION FROM VEHICLES
IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE REPORT STATED IN DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION AIRPORT POLLUTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS
,ASIAN-AMERICANS AND LATINO RESIDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS. THEY FOUND THAT CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IN BOSTON IS THE MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREA AND THE CITY AND IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
MYSELF AND THEN CITY COUNCIL WERE AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS RELEASED THEIR REPORT THAT WAS WHERE JOSIAH QUINCY SCHOOL
CURRENTLY STANDS. THE NEW SCHOOL CHINATOWN RESIDENTS INCLUDING CHILDREN AND ELDERLY SUFFER FROM HIGH ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AS WELL.
I HOPE TO DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT WITH THE TEAM AT BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF WORK AND COLLABORATION WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE
ASIAN COMMUNITY. AGAIN, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. OJUKWU TOO FOR WORKING WITH ME OVER THE LAST YEAR TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR JOINING AS IS COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU CONSTABLE FLYNN FOR YOUR ADVOCACY IN THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY. BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF OUR AGENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK
I KNOW SHE SPOKE ABOUT IT AT OUR BUDGET HEARING THAT SHE HAS COMMISSIONED THIS REPORT AND THAT IT HAD COME OUT. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ON THE DATA THAT THEY FOUND AND I DO BELIEVE
THAT WITHOUT THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PUSH POLICY THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF OUR AGENTS. I KNOW COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU WENT INTO DETAIL. THANK YOU ON THE DISPARITIES
THAT OUR AGENTS ACROSS THE CITY FACE IN HEALTH ISSUES. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND CO-SPONSORING IT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK
ON THIS MATTER? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR CLARE BECAUSE THAT COUNCIL IS BRAEDON CLARE AS A PARTNER DURKIN FITZGERALD MEJIA BUT THEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD
PLEASE OF THE CHAIR ARE THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1063 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY. MR. CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE BE
TALKING NUMBER 1064? DUNCAN NUMBER 106 FOR COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR THE FOLLOWING SECOND ORDER REQUESTING CERTAIN INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 17 OF REGARDING DISCLOSURE OF INDIVIDUAL
RECEIPTS OF CITY FUNDED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO ESCROW SINCE 2021. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. JUST FILING AGAIN WITH MORE CLARIFICATION ON SOME OF THE
INFORMATION THAN I HAD SAID BEFORE. I DID NOT GET RETURNED IN THE FIRST FILING. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON BECAUSE
THEY'RE WAITING YOU HAVE THE FLOOR NORMALLY THERE'S NO SPEAKING ON 17TH. MADAM CHAIR, I FEEL THAT THIS IS REDUNDANT. THE THE THE THE AS THE CHAIR
OF HOUSING HAVE REVIEWED ALL THIS MATERIAL THAT WAS SENT BACK. THERE ARE LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 100 PAGES OF OF A MATERIAL SENT BACK WITH REGARD
TO THESE QUESTIONS AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME LEGALITY ISSUES OF LEGALITY WITH REGARD TO INFORMATION THAT THEY COULD NOT DISCLOSE.
UM AND I FEEL THIS IS A REDUNDANT 17 IF AT THIS POINT I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT UM, YOU KNOW THAT WE PERUSE THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IS VERY VALUABLE AND I'D ALSO
LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND THE BOSTON HOMELESS CENTER AND THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO DISCOURAGE APPLICANTS. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS
TO PURSUE THE HOMEOWNERSHIP DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING IN THE BOSTON HOME CENTER AND THROUGH THE BE HERE J FROM AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO
TO BOSTON DR. BACKSLASH HOME CENTER FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOMEOWNERSHIP ISSUES AND HUGELY IMPORTANT IN ALLSTON BRIGHTON THIS IS A VERY VALUABLE PROGRAM FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALLSTON
BRIGHTON WHICH HAS THE LOWEST HOMEOWNERSHIP ALLSTON HAS THE LOWEST HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THE CITY WAS ALONG WITH MISSION HILL AND THIS THIS PROGRAM IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE AND IF IF
IF THE LEGAL OPINION IS THAT IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO SHARE PEOPLE'S RECIPIENTS FULL NAME THE GRANT AMOUNT TO DATE OF DISPERSAL AND THE PROGRAM
UNDER WHICH THE GRANT WAS AND THE PROPERTY THE PROPERTY THAT WAS BOUGHT WITH THE GRANT ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRANT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT PEOPLE'S PRIVACY IN THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WE ARE IN A QUICK FIVE MINUTE
RECESS
. WE ARE BACK IN SESSION SO THERE WERE LIGHTS ON FOR 17 HOURS USUALLY DISCOURAGE CONVERSATION
ON 17 APP BUT THERE IS NO RULE THAT STATES THAT ONLY THE FILER BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A 17 APP ALTHOUGH IT'S USUALLY DISCOURAGED BECAUSE 17 APPS GO FORWARD WITH IT USUALLY WITH NO ISSUE BUT EVEN AT TIMES LAST
TERM THERE WAS A POINT OF ORDER YOU CAN SPEAKER'S POINT OF ORDER WANT TO SPEAK POINT OF ORDER WHEN WE WENT INTO RECESS I SPOKE WITH YOU AND YOU DID SAY YOU WOULD COME BACK AND TALK TO ME BEFORE THE RECESS ENDED BUT YOU WENT RIGHT INTO
THE COUNCIL. OH, I WAS HERE AND YOU DIDN'T I DIDN'T SEE YOU COME TO ME. I DIDN'T I SAW YOU AT THE DOOR AND THEN OH COME RIGHT. OKAY.
WE ARE WE ARE IN A BRIEF RECESS
SO YOU CAN TO
ME IN SESSION AND SO I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT 17 APPS USUALLY TYPICALLY DISCOURAGED BUT I DO REMEMBER RECALL FROM MY FIRST TERM DISCOURAGED BUT NOT DISALLOWED THERE WERE
LIGHTS ON TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE SPEAKING ON THE 17TH YOU MAY DO SO. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN. COUNSELOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR YEAH.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WASN'T REALLY GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS. I DO KNOW THAT ON 17 F FCU TO KIND OF ALMOST A GUARANTEE THAT
IT'LL BE APPROVED BUT THERE'S REALLY NO DISCUSSION. BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION MADAM CHAIR AND I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL BUT GOING FORWARD WILL THERE BE DISCUSSIONS ON 17
APPS IF A COLLEAGUE WANTS TO DISCUSS IT OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSIONS GOING FORWARD JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE BUT HISTORICALLY THERE'S
ALWAYS BEEN NO VERY LIMITED OR NO DISCUSSIONS ON 17 APPS. BUT IF IF IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN EVENTUALLY ON IT. THANK YOU.
SO IT IS DISCOURAGED BY IT. THERE'S NO RULE AGAINST IT. DURING MY FIRST TERM WHEN YOU WERE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, 17 APPS USUALLY DID GO THROUGH ROUTINELY BUT THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON 17 APPS THAT WERE
AT ISSUE AND WERE A SO WHERE I SAW LIGHTS GO ON ON AN ISSUE I ALLOW THAT I WENT I WENT INTO A BRIEF RECESS TO CONFIRM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LIMITED PARTICIPATION ON ADDITIONAL
SPEAKING ON SOMETHING AS IT IS JUST HIGHLY DISCOURAGED SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE FLOW OF THE MEETING BUT WHERE THERE ARE STRONG OPINIONS ON A 17 APP WHERE THERE USUALLY GOES
THROUGH IN WHERE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IS GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AND THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON IT. I WILL ALLOW FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT MATTER. AND SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU MAY DO SO
NOW. YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I RESPECTFULLY ASK A QUESTION TO COUNCILOR MURPHY? YOU MAY THROUGH THE CHAIR YOU MAY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE REQUEST THAT SHE'S REALLY ASKING ABOUT BUT JUST FOR JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT'S
LISTENING ALSO AND FOR COLLEAGUES THAT MAY NOT HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE REQUEST IS AND I KNOW WHAT'S IT'S IN THE AGENDA TOO. BUT COUNCILOR MURPHY CAN, YOU
GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEKING THE CHAIR TO THE CHAIR CATHERINE MURPHY WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. YOU MAY I ORIGINALLY FILED THIS
ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS I'M ASKING NOW AND THIS WAS A LATE RESPONSE BUT WE DID I DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE. WE ALL RECEIVE IT AND THERE WERE LOTS OF PAGES WITH NUMBERS
AND THEN I GUESS THE PROGRAMS WHICH PROGRAM THEY GOT MONEY FOR BUT IT WASN'T IN ANY WAY THAT IT KIND OF GAVE US INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP WITH DATA BECAUSE I WAS ASKING
WE ONLY THEY ONLY INCLUDED AGGREGATE NUMERICAL DATA WITHOUT IDENTIFY ANY OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED. SO THAT'S WHY I WENT BACK AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CLAIRE ABOUT IT AND WE DID DISAGREE
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD OR SHOULD IN OR LEGALLY HAS TO GIVE US THIS INFORMATION. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT SHOULD BE ON THEM TO COME BACK TO ME IN THIS SECOND REQUEST IF
THEY FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S NOT LEGAL BECAUSE I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION AND CLAIRE KNOWS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR OPINION NOW THAT IT'S NOT LEGAL TO SHARE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT I WAS ASKING FOR.
THANK YOU AND COUSIN MURPHY I JUST I PULLED UP THEIR RESPONSE . SO I'VE TALKED TO LEGAL I'VE TALKED TO THEM AND IT JUST SAY THAT RECORD CUSTODIANS MUST WEIGH THE PRIVACY INTEREST OF INDIVIDUALS AGAINST A PUBLIC INTEREST IN DISCLOSURE AND THE
VERY SPECIFIC DATA THAT YOU ASK FOR IS NOT DATA THAT HAVE EVER TURNED OVER. AND WHILE THERE MAY BE WHEN THERE ARE GRANTS TURNED OVER FOR A BUSINESS, THE PRIVACY INTEREST HERE MY UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW I'M READING THIS BOTH AS A COUNSELOR, AS AN ATTORNEY IS THAT THEY'RE SAYING THAT THERE ARE PRIVACY INTEREST IN TURNING OVER. SO IT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT THEY'VE ALREADY DENIED THAT IS BEFORE THE BODY AGAIN ARE
CONCERNED. MURPHY WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CHAIR YOU MAY IT WAS DEFINITELY A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH IDR. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR RECIPIENTS
OF LOW INCOME LOTTERIES ARE PUBLIC RECORDS. PEOPLE GET THEM ALL THE TIME THE MEDIA LOVES TO SHARE WHO HAS OR WHO HASN'T RECEIVED IT. REMEMBER THERE WAS A WHOLE
MEDIA EXPOSÉ AND SHEILA AND SHE DYLAN HAD TO BE INTERVIEWED ON THE AMOUNT OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVE LOW THESE LOW INCOME LOTTERIES AT A BUILDING SO IT ISN'T TRUE AND I KNOW THE
MAYOR HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCES CELEBRATING THE RECIPIENTS. I KNOW PEOPLE USE THEM IN CAMPAIGN MAILERS CELEBRATING THAT WE HAVE HELPED ADVOCATE FOR RESIDENTS AND IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO CONTINUE TO
DO AND FOR THIS INFORMATION I WAS ASKING AND I WANTED TO BE SPECIFIC TO SEE WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS WERE RECEIVING THIS THESE GRANTS WERE WE BEING EQUITABLE WHERE WE'RE MAKING
SURE THAT WE WERE DOING ALL OR I'M DOING ALL I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY ARE AWARE OF THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THEM AND THE INFORMATION I WAS
ASKING I WAS JUST ASKING FOR CLEAN CLEAR INFORMATION THAT IS LEGALLY I BELIEVE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET. SO THIS ASSUMPTION THAT IT'S NEGATIVE OR THAT I'M SOMEHOW
TRYING TO STEER PEOPLE AWAY FROM TAKING PART I VOTED YES TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I'VE NEVER VOTED AGAINST ANY EXPANSION OF HOMEOWNERSHIP OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE CITY
SO I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD THERE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ASSUMPTION THAT I'M TRYING TO ASK FOR INFORMATION TO SOMEHOW STOP PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO APPLY. WE WERE AT THE BUDGET HEARING
THAT COUNCIL WERE ALL CHAIRED IN DISTRICT AND THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS THERE WHO WAS VERY WILLING TO SHARE IN THANKING US THAT SHE IS A HOMEOWNER NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE OF OUR ADVOCACY
HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND I THINK THIS INFORMATION LIKE WE DO WITH LOTTERIES WHEN PEOPLE WIN LOW MORTGAGES, TWO LOTTERIES AT DIFFERENT APARTMENTS THAT GO UP
ACROSS THE CITY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE ASK FOR INFORMATION THEY GIVE US THE INFORMATION WE NEED. I NEVER STOP OTHERS COUNCIL MAYOR HERE RECENTLY ASKED FOR NO INFORMATION ON
CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE CARDS RIGHT. IT'S LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO QUESTION WHAT SHE WANTS THE INFORMATION FOR. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO WAIT AND WE CAN USE DIFFERENT AVENUES BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AS
COLLEAGUES, WE SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES AND IF OUR IF PEOPLE USE THE INFORMATION IN A WAY WE DON'T LIKE GOING FORWARD, THEN YOU CAN BUTTON IT TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT I WOULD WANT TO USE IT IN ANY NEGATIVE WAY.
I DON'T I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT MY INTENT. IT NEVER HAS BEEN. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILOR MURPHY, JUST SO I CAN CLARIFY LOOKING AT YOUR 17 IT ASKS FOR RECIPIENTS FULL NAME GRANT UP RECEIVED DATE OF DISBURSEMENT SO IS THAT IS
THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ADDRESS WHICH CLAIRE AND I DID SPEAK ABOUT I MEAN THE DEEDS ARE PUBLIC. ANYONE CAN JUST TYPE IN ANYONE'S NAME AND SEE WHERE THEY LIVE AND IF THERE IS A
MORTGAGE ATTACK. SO I MEAN MY OFFICE COULD DO THAT WORK IF NEEDED BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PUBLIC AND THEY NEED CITY FUNDS ARE GIVEN OUT LIKE I'VE REFERENCED LAST TIME WHEN I
FIRST FILED IT LIKE SPACE GRANTS AND OTHER AWARDEES ARE SHARED BECAUSE WHEN YOU RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDS IT HAS TO BE PUBLIC INFORMATION NOT SHARED. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALCANTARA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND YOU? THIS THIS IS A HARD ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I AM A HOME
OWNERSHIP ADVOCATE AND DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IS ONE OF THE REAL WAYS ON HOW TO HELP LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY BUY HERE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE REAL
ESTATE MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS I DO HAVE CONCERNS ON SHARING PEOPLE'S INFORMATION.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU MENTIONED WHETHER THEY'RE COMING HERE TO TESTIFY GOING IN FRONT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU KNOW THEY'RE DOING THAT WILLINGLY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VOLUNTARILY COMING IN WANTING TO SHARE
THEIR STORIES. SO I JUST YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNING UP AND THERE ARE SOME
REAL PRIVACY CONCERNS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SHARED WITH US AROUND RELEASING ALL THAT INFORMATION. SO I THINK THIS THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE AND
TRYING TO PROMOTE IT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO ADD ANY MORE BARRIERS AROUND PRIVATE PRIVACY CONCERNS AROUND THIS OR EVEN TRYING TO ATTACH
ANY STIGMAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE JARGON IS KIND OF FUNNY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS A BODY IF RESIDENTS RECEIVE
PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE CITY IF THAT IF THOSE PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC SPACE GRANTS. SOMEONE MENTIONED THE COUNCIL METHOD MENTIONED SPACECRAFT TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES. I THINK WE ALL SUPPORT ABOUT BUT DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO RECEIVE SPACE GRANTS? I THINK THEY DO.
I THINK THE CITY DID COME UP WITH A LIST OF WHO RECEIVE SPACE GRANTS. THE NAMES IN THE NAME OF THE THE BUSINESS IT IS TAXPAYER MONEY.
DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO WHO RECEIVED GRANTS TO HELP FOR A FOR A MORTGAGE OR FOR OR FOR HOME OWNERSHIP? I THINK THEY DO.
I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW IF IT'S PUBLIC FUNDS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS ARE SPENT APPROPRIATELY AND THE PUBLIC
HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN WHEN SOMEONE DOES RECEIVE THIS OF GRANT HOW MUCH IT WAS FOR WHO WAS GIVEN TO WHAT
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE IMPACTED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT, THAT WE ARE BEING ABOVE BOARD THE THAT WE ARE
BEING ETHICAL, WE ARE PROVIDING POSITIVE LEADERSHIP. I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS A CRITICAL ROLE THAT WE PLAY HERE IN THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY IS SPENT.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BREADON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MS.. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND YOU KNOW, AS ANYONE WHO LOOKED AT THE AMOUNT
OF INFORMATION THAT IS ACTUALLY BEEN GIVEN THIS YEAR, DETAILS OF THE AWARD, THE INTEREST SUBSIDY AMOUNT, THE PROPERTY ZIP CODE, WHETHER IT OR NOT AS A BEACH OR A BEACH BOSTON BEACH
C PROGRAM AND WHAT IS IT? IS IT A ONE BOSTON ONE PLUS BOSTON MORTGAGE PROGRAM? IT'S THERE'S 28 PAGES.
IT'S SOMETHING LIKE ALMOST A THOUSAND A THOUSAND CASES IN THIS PACKET. AND I REALLY DO FEEL THAT FOLKS
WHO WORK HARD SAVE FOR THEIR DOWN PAYMENT GET SOME DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. THERE'S NUMBERS HERE. GET SOME DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYBODY'S BUSINESS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A MORTGAGE THAT THAT THIS BECOMES PUBLIC RECORD. I THINK GIVING PEOPLE'S NAMES
THE FULL NAME THE GRANT AMOUNT RECEIVED THE GRANT AMOUNT RECEIVED AS YOU KNOW IF THIS IS PUBLIC MONEY IT'S IT'S ALL HERE IDENTIFYING THE DATE OF DISBURSEMENT THE PROGRAM UNDER THE GRANT WHICH THE GRANT
WAS AWARDED THAT'S IN HERE THE PROPERTY ADDRESS ASSOCIATED AROUND THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM A SPACECRAFT THIS IS SOMEBODY'S DOMICILE. THIS IS WHERE SOMEBODY RAISES THEIR FAMILY. THIS IS WHERE SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS TO STAY AND LIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. THEY COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GET A HOME FOR LESS THAN THEY'D PAY IN BOSTON. I THINK THIS IS A GROSS AND A GROSS INFRINGEMENT ON THEIR
PRIVACY AND ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT FOLKS ARE UNSATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS AND IN WHAT I'M BRINGING UP MY MY QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK
PROBLEMATIC QUESTIONS PROGRAMMATIC QUESTIONS THAT THE WAYS AND MEANS HEARING FINANCIAL YEAR 26 THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUDGET HEARING ON MAY
19TH 2025 AND ALSO IF YOU'RE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE OF A RECORDS DEPARTMENT YOU CAN SUBMIT AN APPEAL TO A DENIAL OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS TO THE SUPERVISOR OF RECORDS AT
BOSTON, AT THE PUBLIC RECORDS DIVISION AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS BY CALLING 6177272832 AND WE HAVE A
PROCESS I THINK I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION, THE DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND VHA HAVE GIVEN US AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND I THINK GOING THIS EXTRA STEP TO FIND
PEOPLE'S IDENTIFY AS INDIVIDUALS BY THEIR ADDRESS AND THEIR FULL NAME IS A STEP TOO FAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR HERE, YOU'RE ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND
MY BELOVED COLLEAGUES, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE. I THINK THIS IS WE'VE HAD A LONG DEBATE IN REGARDS TO THIS.
I THINK I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, STIGMATIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY YOU KNOW, APPLYING FOR I DON'T KNOW. I JUST FEEL LIKE A LITTLE WEIRD AROUND THERE BUT LIKE I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT
PRIVACY. I ALSO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT THE PATTERN THAT I KNOW
COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS NAMED IN REGARDS TO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC HEARING HOURS 17 REQUESTS THAT SOMETIMES GETS WE GET BITS AND PIECES OF INFORMATION HERE AND THERE SO THAT'S A LONGER
STRUCTURAL CONVERSATION I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE POTENTIALLY JUST INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND FORTH ALMOST 17 STANDPOINT IS THAT MAYBE WE COULD JUST DO A DEEPER DIVE IN AN AUDIT IN
TERMS OF THE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AROUND ALL GRANT GIVING AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THE CITY ALLOCATES WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH NONPROFITS, WHETHER
THAT BE THROUGH THE SPACE GRANT YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR HOUSING SUPPORTS MAYBE WE COULD JUST DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND I'M GOING TO RISE
AGAIN TO SAY THAT'S WHY I AM TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS COULD LIVE UNDER THE PREVIEW OF SUCH AN ENTITY. AND SO I THINK IN THE INTEREST
OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE PUT A BUTTON ON THIS, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE MAYBE JUST PIVOT AND CREATE ANOTHER SPACE TO HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION
THROUGH MAYBE POTENTIALLY A HEARING ORDER THAT COMES FROM MURPHY COULD FILE FOR A UNDER A POST AUDIT LENS SO THAT I CAN YOU KNOW HELP SUPPORT AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN
EXPEDITED HEARING IF THAT'S AGREEABLE WITH YOU, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WILLING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? OKAY.
MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT OUR ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE 17TH ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBER 106 FOR
COUNCIL LIBRARY NO COUNCILOR BREADON NO COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS OPPOSED NO COUNCILOR AS PART AND NO COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN NO COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE NO. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE
CONCILOR MEJIA HERE PRESENT COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR NO. COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR SANTANA NO.
COUNCILOR WEBER NO COUNCIL WITH A NO AND COUNCILOR WORRELL NO COUNCILOR WORRELL NO. OKAY THIS 17 F ORDER HAS NOT PASSED. NOPE. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1065 ON
RECORD. OH. COUNCILOR WEBER, WE'VE READ THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. OKAY. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ AS NUMBER 10651066 DOCKET
NUMBER 1065 COUNCILOR WEBER FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION DESIGNATING A HERO SQUARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF STRATFORD TO CANADA STREETS IN WEST ROXBURY IN RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM RODDIE AND TUCKER
NUMBER 1066 COUNCILOR WEBER FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION DESIGNATING A HERO SQUARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF STRATFORD AND KENNETH STREETS IN WEST ROXBURY IN RECOGNITION
OF THOMAS WRITING THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. SEE WHY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK. I KNOW THERE'S A LARGE POWER
OUTAGE ACROSS THE CITY NEARLY 25,000 BUILDINGS AFFECTED, PEOPLE STUCK IN ELEVATORS AND MAYBE TRAFFIC LIGHTS UP HERE. I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE
WE'RE HELPING OUR CONSTITUENTS . I JUST YOU KNOW, THIS IS TO SET UP A HERO SQUARE IN STRATFORD AND CHEMISTRY IN WEST ROXBURY TO RECOGNIZE ONE FAMILY'S
INCREDIBLE SACRIFICE. TWO BROTHERS DIED IN WORLD WAR TWO WILLIAM ANDREW RODDY, 21,
DIED WHEN THE USS BAR WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO FROM A GERMAN SUBMARINE OFF THE NORTH COAST OF AFRICA IN MAY 1944.
HIS OLDER BROTHER THOMAS RODDY ,25, WAS KILLED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 1942 WHEN HIS SHIP IN THE PACIFIC, THE USS JUNEAU WAS
SUNK AT THE NAVAL BATTLE GUADALCANAL, THE USS JUNEAU WAS AS WELL KNOWN. IT'S ON THAT SHIP WHERE THE
FIVE SULLIVAN BROTHERS WHO ALL DIED IN THE SINKING OF THAT SHIP. IN ADDITION THERE WERE APPARENTLY AROUND 100 OFFICERS
OR MILITARY MEMBERS, NAVY SEAMEN WHO SURVIVED THE SINKING BUT WERE LEFT IN THE WATER FOR EIGHT DAYS AND ONLY TEN OF THEM SURVIVED.
THE FACT THAT THOMAS RIDING IS OF BELL'S GRAD AND A B.C. STUDENT WHO DROPPED OUT TO GO FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY OR TO WAS THERE, YOU KNOW, IN THAT WE
COULD PLAY SOME ROLE IN RECOGNIZING HIS SACRIFICE AT THIS HERO SQUARE. YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST A TRIBUTE TO TO THAT FAMILY FOR WHAT THEY
SACRIFICED FOR US. SOME OF THEIR RELATIVES STILL LIVE IN WEST ROXBURY. I LOOK FORWARD TO GATHERING WITH THEM THE HERO SQUARE. I INVITE ALL MY COLLEAGUES IF
WE CAN GET THIS SET UP AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APOLOGIZE TO I I GUESS I WOULD LIKE BOTH OF THESE
RESOLUTIONS TO TO PASS IF THAT'S HOW THIS USUALLY WORKS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT YES. YOU'RE SEEKING SUSPENSION OF PASSAGE ON BOTH OF THE DOCKETS. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT PASSAGE TODAY. THANK VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK UNDER THESE DOCKETS? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR ANY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT MATTER BEFORE
THE BODY. INCREDIBLE SACRIFICES FROM THIS FAMILY WEST ROXBURY, AS COUNCILOR WEBER KNOWS, HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED
GREATLY TO THIS NATION AND THE U.S. MILITARY. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR WEBER FOR RECOGNIZING THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY THE THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY
HAVE MADE TO OUR TO OUR NATION. THERE WAS A SOUTH BOSTON GENTLEMAN ON THAT SHIP AS WELL, THE USS JUNO MARTIN F MCDONAGH
. THEY NAMED THE VETERANS POST AFTER HIM ON WEST BROADWAY AND COUNCILOR WEBER IS EXACTLY RIGHT ABOUT THE USS THE SULLIVANS. THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL NAVY SHIP
THE USS THE SULLIVANS THAT'S STATIONED IN FLORIDA AS WELL. BUT I KNOW CONSUL WEBER, THIS WILL BE A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND THE FAMILY WILL RESPECT THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. YES, I WANT TO UPLIFT AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR WEBER FOR DOING BOTH OF THESE. I'M HERO SQUARE DESIGNATIONS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND ALSO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IT THERE THERE IS AN AEROSPACE POWER OUTAGE AFFECTING A LOT OF THE CITY INCLUDING THE BOWLING AND SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS. IT APPEARS THAT IT MAY BE
RESOLVED BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE COUNSELORS WHO URGENTLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR DISTRICTS AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY. SO OKAY, WE WILL TAKE EACH DOCKET ONE BY ONE. OH, WOULD ANYONE ELSE?
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DOCKET 1065 WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK, PLEASE? THAT COUNTS WAS BREADON COLLETTE ZAPATA DURKIN
FITZGERALD, FLYNN MEJIA MURPHY BUT BEN SANTANA WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COUNSELOR WEBER. SO YOU JUST MENTIONED AN ADOPTION OF DOCK NUMBER 1065
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I ALSO SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. DOCKET NUMBER 1065 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO DOCKET NUMBER 1066? MR. CLERK TO THE COUNCIL'S
BRAYDEN ZAPATA. DURKIN FITZGERALD. FLYNN MCGUIRE. MURPHY PIPPIN SANTANA WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNCIL WEBBER'S EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 1066 ALL THOSE
IN FAVOR SAY I THE POSTING A THINK OF THE DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1066 HAS BEEN ADOPTED MR. CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1067 DOCK NUMBER
1067 COUNCIL S.A. FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TO CUT LIFESAVING CANCER RESEARCH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA KAISER
CENTENNIAL OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WON'T SPEAK ON ALL ON THIS BECAUSE I SPOKE A LOT OF DURING THE PRESENTATION. BUT I DO WANT TO ADD I WOULD
LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR DURKIN AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR TO THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKIN. AND SO ADDED COUNCILOR SYDNEY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND AND
PASS THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECORDING OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILORS SANTANA AND DURKIN SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND ADOPTION OF DOCKET NUMBER 1067.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ OUT THE NUMBER 1068 DIANE AMBER 1068 COUNCIL DISCIPLINE AND COUNCILOR IS MURPHY AND FLYNN OFF OF THE FINE
RESOLUTION AND SUPPORT OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND A COUNCIL VOTE ON THE STATUS OF COUNCIL TANYA FERNANDES SANDERSON THANK YOU. THE CHAIR AGONIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY GOVERNOR MURPHY ON THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. SO I DID FILE THIS LAST WEEK AS A LATE FILE BECAUSE WE DID THINGS DID CHANGE AFTER THE 10 A.M. REQUIREMENT TO FILE ANYTHING AND IT WAS BLOCKED
WHICH THAT'S OKAY AND HERE WE ARE. SO LIKE I SAID I WAS GOING TO FILE IT AGAIN THIS WEEK ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA SO EVERY DAY CONSTITUENTS ASKED ME WHY IS SHE STILL THERE JUST THIS
MORNING AT THE COFFEE HOUR THAT COUNCILOR DURKAN AND FLYNN HOSTED UP AT THE PUBLIC GARDEN. I MEAN THE BOSTON COMMON TO PEOPLE THERE ASKED ME AGAIN THIS MORNING AND THEY'RE REFERRING TO THE DISTRICT SEVEN
COUNCILOR WHO RECENTLY PLED GUILTY TO FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES. LEGALLY SHE REMAINS IN OFFICE UNTIL SENTENCING BUT MORALLY THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL
CONSTRAINTS THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT'S DECISION IN TURNER VERSUS CITY OF BOSTON CLARIFIED THAT THE COUNCIL LACKS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE A MEMBER BEFORE SENTENCING RULE 48 MANDATES THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO REFER SUCH MATTERS TO THE COUNCIL UPON A FELONY CONVICTION BUT IT DOESN'T GRANT REMOVAL POWERS IN RESPONSE TO OUR RESOLUTION, THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS CITED RULE 48 IN THE TURN A DECISION ASSERTING THAT THE COUNCIL LACKS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE A MEMBER BEFORE SENTENCING. WHILE I AGREE THIS IS LEGALLY ACCURATE IT MISSES THE END
ESSENCE OF MY PROPOSAL. THIS PROPOSAL RESOLUTION DOESN'T SEEK TO ENFORCE A LEGAL REMOVAL BUT TO EXPRESS OUR COLLECTIVE MORAL STANCE BY LEANING ON LEGAL TECHNICALITIES.
THE COUNCIL RISKS APPEARING EVASIVE, AVOIDING A CLEAR POSITION ON AN ISSUE THAT DEEPLY CONCERNS OUR CONSTITUENTS. HOWEVER, THIS ISN'T ABOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY. IT'S ABOUT MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY. WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF OUR OFFICE AND THE TRUST OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. REMAINING SILENT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE.
THE RESOLUTION I FILED ALONG WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN ISN'T ABOUT FORCING ANYONE OUT. IT'S ABOUT TAKING A STAND. WE PASSED NON-BINDING RESOLUTIONS ON VARIOUS ISSUES
ALL THE TIME ON INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS, NATIONAL POLICIES, HISTORICAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNCIL HAS PREVIOUSLY PASSED RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN
RIGHTS EFFORTS EVEN THOUGH WE LACK THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE SUCH MATTERS. THESE ACTIONS, WHILE SYMBOLIC, REFLECT OUR COLLECTIVE VALUES AND OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE.
SO WHY HESITATE NOW WHEN THE ISSUE IS WITHIN OUR CHAMBER? THE DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCILOR CONTINUES CONTINUED PRESENCE UNDERMINES PUBLIC TRUST AND DISTRACTS FROM OUR WORK.
HER DISTRICT DESERVES EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION AND THE CITY DESERVES A COUNCIL THAT LEADS WITH INTEGRITY. SOME ARGUE THAT TAKING A VOTE IS DIVISIVE OR PREMATURE BUT LEADERSHIP ISN'T ABOUT WAITING
FOR THE COURTS. IT'S ABOUT RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS. BY VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN THIS STAND. LET'S SHOW THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON THAT WE HEAR THEM. WE RESPECT THEM AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT'S
RIGHT, NOT JUST WHAT'S LEGALLY REQUIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES JACLYN. CAROLYN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS
BODY TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP ETHICS, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY. I THINK THE STATUS QUO IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. WE NEED TO SHOW TO THE
RESIDENTS OF BOSTON THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE ETHICAL CHALLENGES THIS BODY FACES AND WE MUST
RISE TO THE OCCASION AND ENSURE THAT ETHICS WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND THAT WE WILL ADDRESS ISSUES THAT COME ALONG EVEN IF THEY ARE
CONTROVERSIAL. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER AS AS A BODY AND PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN
LACKING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE OF OUR INACTION ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE THING
VERY CLEAR THE 40 A EMAIL THAT I WROTE ASKING GUIDANCE FROM CORPORATION COUNCILOR WAS IN NO WAY SPARKED BY ANYBODY'S FILING AS A PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNCIL I ACT ON WHAT I BELIEVE MY AUTHORITY IS AND SHOULD BE
AND UNDER RULE 48 IT STATES THAT I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REFER SOMETHING AUTOMATICALLY THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYBODY'S RESOLUTION FILING. THAT WAS ME IN MY CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THIS BODY SEEKING
COUNCILOR AND GUIDANCE ON A RULE THAT PRECEDED A LEGAL DECISION THAT THEN TOOK A LOT OF THE POWER OR MEANING OUR SUBSTANCE OUT OF RULE 48 THAT IS MERELY NOW BECOME A PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT THAT
PERHAPS SHOULD BE REVISITED. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THAT WAS ME ACTING IN MY CAPACITY AS A PRESIDENT NOT IN RESPONSE TO ANYBODY'S FILING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT WAS REFERRED TO THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL REMOVED COUNCILOR FERNANDO ANDERSON FROM COMMITTEES DID THAT UPON NOTICE OF HER INTENT TO PLEAD
GUILTY MORE THAN A MONTH AGO IN DECEMBER AS A PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL I STATED WHAT I BELIEVED WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS BODY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THIS BODY I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC
INTEREST IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE PUBLIC TRUST IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE MAKING SURE THAT VOTERS AND RESIDENTS BELIEVE IN US IN OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS WORK THAT I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE COUNCILOR TO RESIGN SAID THAT CLEARLY EMPHATICALLY AND I REPEATED THAT SUCH AS THE LEADER OF THIS BODY WHO KNOWS THAT RESIDENTS WANT TO FILL IN POTHOLES,
CLEANING STREETS, DOING ALL OF THAT. SO I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE NOT PLAYING POLITICS AND THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTRACTORS BY THE END OF THE
FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS THAT I'VE GONE ON RECORD ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. YOU CAN LOOK UP MY STANCE IN MANY PUBLICATIONS AND SO I
THINK I WOULD HOPE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I WHEN I YOU KNOW, I'M SPEAKING ON THIS NOW THAT I'VE ALREADY GONE PUBLIC, I'VE ALREADY MADE MY STANCE ON THIS AND EVERYBODY
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WHETHER AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING I THINK IT'S UP TO YOU AND THE DISTRICTS THAT YOU REPRESENT OR WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU.
I'M NOT HERE TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO AND I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THIS AND WHAT THEY HAVE SAID IS THAT IN
PAST YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ACRIMONY ON THIS BODY AND THEY WANT ME TO DO THE WORK. THEY WANT ME TO FIX OUR POTHOLES. THEY WANT ME TO FIX OUR
STREETS. THEY WANT ME TO PASS LEGISLATION AND POLICY THAT EXPANDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WANT ME TO USE OUR LEGISLATIVE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT I REVERE SO MUCH
WITHIN THIS CHAMBER TO FURTHER THE WORK OF PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT BETTERS OUR COMMUNITIES THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ALREADY HAVE LEGAL GUIDANCE ON THIS. THIS IS A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION.
THIS WON'T ALLOW US OR ENABLE US TO REMOVE OUR COLLEAGUE. I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. IT URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION TO
FORMALLY ADDRESS THE MATTER AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. I DO THINK THAT USING A
RESOLUTION IN THIS CHAMBER IS WHAT SOME WOULD CALL AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF OUR POWER HERE. I JUST DON'T AGREE THAT THIS IS
THIS IS THE CORRECT VEHICLE TO DO THIS. AND SO I AGAIN, I'VE ALREADY GONE ON RECORD ON THIS ISSUE AND I RESPECTFULLY SAY THIS THAT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT
THIS IS A GOOD USE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL TIME AND RESOURCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN TALK ABOUT AS A PARTNER AND THANK YOU I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAME THE SAME DAY THAT I CAME OUT. YOU ALSO CAME OUT AND MADE A STATEMENT VERY CLEAR STATEMENT SAYING WHERE YOU STOOD AND I
WAS AGAIN PRESIDENT OF THIS BODY MADE THAT STATEMENT VERY CLEAR. REMEMBER FRIDAY WE HAD AN ELECTIONS HEARING MEETING. IT WAS DECEMBER AND I MADE A STATEMENT SO AND IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE JUST SAY THAT EVERYONE IS EMPOWERED TO DO WHAT THEY WANT AND IT EXEMPLIFY LEADERSHIP AS YOU SO CHOOSE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES OPERATING HAS A RIGHT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS. I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION OF MANY
OF MY CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES AND THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS. I THINK THE POTHOLES NEED
FIXING. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL PROCESS IS TAKING ITS COURSE AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE
OUR DIRECTION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME. AND I FEEL THAT AT THIS MOMENT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT WE ARE SENT HERE TO DO AND
AND IF IF IF THAT'S NOT SEEMS APPROPRIATE AND WE FEEL THAT WE NEED FURTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION, THEN WE SHOULD WE SHOULD SEND THIS TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE WHOLE OR SOMETHING. BUT I REALLY FEEL AT THIS POINT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WAY TOO LONG. THANK YOU. HAS A RATING IS THAT A ARE YOU ARE YOU SEEKING SUSPENSION IN ADOPTION? IT WAS AT AN OBJECTION. I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT'S AN
OBJECTION. IT'S AN OBJECTION TO DOCKET NUMBER 1068. THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE WHOLE. OKAY.
I BELIEVE WE ARE MOVING ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO A MATTER OR ASK FOR A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ON A VOTE IF YOU
WERE OUT OF CHAMBERS AT A TIME THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR WEBCAMS ARE WE ON THE FLOOR? UH, I APOLOGIZE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO DOCKET NUMBER 1058.
MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE I KIND OF ORBIT A DOCKING NUMBER 1058 TWO. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PERSONNEL ORDERS? DOCKING NUMBER 1069 PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCILOR ALLUSION AND
TOKEN NUMBER 1070 COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNSELOR MURPHY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIRMANSHIP PASSAGE OF DOCKETS NUMBER ONE DOCKETS NUMBER 106931070.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I ALSO SAY NAY. THANK YOU. THE PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE PASSED. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS ?
NO. NO. OKAY. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO LEAD FILES. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE COURT THAT THERE ARE THREE LATE FILE MATTERS TWO PERSONNEL ORDERS AND ONE ABSENCE LETTER.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE ALL THE FILED MATTER? CAN YOU PLEASE BE THE TWO PERSONNEL LATE FILED MATTERS INTO THE RECORD? FIRSTLY FROM THE PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND SECONDLY FAR MATTER PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING THESE
FILE MATTERS SAY I AM OPPOSING A THE AYES HAVE IT. THESE MATTERS ARE ADDED TO THE RECORD ALL IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE PERSONNEL ORDERS I I ALL OPPOSE ANY THE AYES HAVE IT.
THIS DOCKET IS PASSED AND MR QUOTE COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE LEAD FILE ABSOLUTE LETTER INTO THE RECORD THIRDLY FOR PERHAPS THIS LETTER FROM COUNCILOR AT TANYA FEENEY IN
THE SENSE AND DEAR COLLEAGUES I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FINDS YOU WELL IN WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING AS I AM STILL ATTENDING TO AN ONGOING
FAMILY MEDICAL MATTER THAT REQUIRES MY CARE AND ATTENTION . THANK YOU COUNCILOR. FINANCE MINISTER THANK YOU. THIS LATE FILE AND LETTER WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.
WE'RE 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 CONSENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.
I THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS BIRTHDAY RUMORS BIRTHDAY IS
TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLMAR AND COUNSELOR SANTANA'S OFFICE MEGAN CAVANAUGH AND COUNSELOR MURPHY CELEBRATE NEXT WEEK MAY 20TH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNSELOR MURPHY AND TO OUR OWN COUNSELOR
RIGHT THERE. I DIDN'T SEE YOU, MEGAN CAVANAUGH GEMINI'S RIGHT ON TAURUS. OKAY, THIS IS MAY 21ST. I'M A SENIOR GEMINI, SO I'M ALWAYS OKAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE TAURUS IS ALSO I STATED BEFORE BUT WE'RE RAISING THE FLAG ON FRIDAY AT NOON AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.
THERE'S ALSO THE HAITIAN UNITY PARADE ON SUNDAY AT NEW 1230 IN MATTAPAN SQUARE. AH THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN GERALD COUNCILMAN JODY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO MY SON MAC. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND EAT CAKE WITH HIM TONIGHT. HE TURNED SIX AND I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. THANK YOU FOR SOME HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAC'S MAC MAC'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAC MAC HAPPY
BIRTHDAY. OKAY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO RISE TO SAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY HEARING ORDERS THAT I HAVE FILED THAT HAVE JUST I WOULD SAY DIED IN
COMMITTEE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN HEARD. AND A COUNCIL COLLEAGUE RIGHTFULLY SO USED THE WORD HOUNDED WHEN SHE SAID THAT COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS HOUNDED OUR OFFICE TO TRY TO GET A
HEARING SCHEDULED AND I RESPECT THE STRONG WORD BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I DID HAVE TO DO AND I'VE SAID TO MY STAFF ALSO THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY AND WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WHICH I
AGREE WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES WE SHOULD BE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS DELIVERING ON THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED AND I SPEND SO MUCH TIME JUST TRYING TO GET HEARING ORDERS SCHEDULED.
BUT ON MARCH 5TH OF 2020 50616A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS AND ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE FILING AND ADOPTION OF COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS WAS FILED AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED.
SO I'M RISING IN HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THERE AND WE HAVE TO DO OKAY SO THAT WE CAN. IT'S THE REVIEW OF CURRENT PRACTICES ESTABLISHMENT OF CLAIRE GUIDELINES AND PROMOTION OF CONSENT IS SOMETHING THAT I ALSO AGREE SO
I DO WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT AS WE PASS MANY RESOLUTIONS AND I DO AGREE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO THEIR COLLEAGUES WHEN THEY SEE IT POP UP ON MONDAY AT NOON IF YOU DISAGREE IF YOU WANT TO
BLOCK, IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO FORWARD THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS BODY STRONGER WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO BECAUSE WE DO BLOCK THAT STRENGTH. I BELIEVE IN THIS BODY AND SO I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I GET THAT ON THE RECORD THAT NOT JUST THIS HEARING ORDER BUT MY LONG LIST OF HEARING ORDERS IN MY OFFICE THAT WE'RE STILL JUST TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF DEPARTMENT HEADS OR US AS A
BODY AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES. THANK YOU AND I BELIEVE THAT MY OFFICE HAS YOU WROTE DATE IN AUGUST I BELIEVE WE HAVE A DATE FOR THAT HEARING ORDER THAT IS IN MY COMMITTEE. SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS CLEAR THERE.
THE CHAIR RECORDED THIS COUNT OFFLINE. YOU HAD THE FLOOR. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND ALSO JUST A REMINDER THAT FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS I ALLOWED THIS IS ABOUT ANNOUNCEMENTS. YES. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
WHEN SOMEONE DOES BLOCK A HEARING ORDER OR COUNCIL OFFLINE THIS IS FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND SO IT BECOMES OFFLINE. WE ARE MOVING ON. I'M SORRY IF IT'S NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT WE ARE MOVING ON.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT IN THEIR DISTRICT OR IN THE CITY? NO. OKAY. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO UPLIFT ANY
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SEE THE NAME OF THE 14 YEAR OLD WHO DIED IN HIS SLEEP IN HYDE PARK . HIS FAMILY IS TRAUMATIZED AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPLIFT HIM AND THE
NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS MARVIN OLIVIA CASSIUS. MY FATHER KNOWS THE FAMILY FROM CHURCH OF SAINT CARMEL SAN
ANGELO'S IN MATTAPAN SQUARE IN THE WHOLE PARISH THERE IS DISTRAUGHT AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UPLIFTING THE CASSIUS FAMILY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COME CELEBRATE AND CONSECRATE AND
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I'D LIKE TO REMEMBER MICHAEL WHITLOW. HE'S A RESIDENT FORMER RESIDENT OF JUST PAST THIS WEEK AND A RESIDENT OF BRIGHTON, A LONG
TIME RESIDENT MUCH BELOVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A LONG BATTLE WITH DIABETES AND IT PASSED PEACEFULLY IN HIS OWN BED AND
JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE AND NORINE WHITLOW AND GIVE HER THE STRENGTH AS SHE GOES FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BREADON.
HIS NAME IS MICHAEL LITTLER. MICHAEL. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PARTNER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO SPEAK CHRISTIAN MAYO'S NAME INTO THESE CHAMBERS .
HE IS A FORMER CLASSMATE OF MINE UNFORTUNATELY PASSED UNEXPECTEDLY THIS PAST WEEKEND AND SO I'M SENDING LOVE TO HIS MOM DENISE AND THE ENTIRE MALE FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLETTE AS A PART
OF THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN. COUNCILOR DURKAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HI. I'D LIKE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF FATHER JAMES DORAN WHO WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED IN A BICYCLE ACCIDENT
EARLIER THIS WEEK AND HE'S WITH THE THE OBLATE VIRGIN MARY WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FENWAY . THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILOR AND COUNCILOR DEPENDING ON THE FLOOR. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE MY PRAYERS AND WARM WITH WARM JUST HUGS TO THE FAMILY TO THE BHUTTO FAMILY.
HER NAME IS O'MEARA BHUTTO. SHE'S THE MOM OF TWO DIRECTOR 311 ERKKI BHUTTO AND SHE WAS ALSO HER WAS A CLASSMATE OF MINE IN HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. SO JUST DEEP CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
THANK YOU. TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR DURKIN FATHER JAMES DORAN ON BEHALF
OF COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA, PETER BALDASSARE, CHRISTIAN J. MAYO ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL BEEN A MIRROR WIDOW ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL VILLAGE GERALD
CHARLENE ROBERTS HAYDEN DA HAYDEN'S MOTHER ON BEHALF OF MYSELF DANIEL ANGE CLAIRSVILLE I'M A HALF OF ALL ALSO MYSELF MARVIN OLIVER
CASSIUS AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ALL THE PASSING OF DAVID'S MOTHER OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE ALSO MARY AND ALSO MARY LOU CRONAN ON BEHALF
OF THE ENTIRE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AND OUR BELOVED COUNCILOR BRAYDEN MICHAEL HITLER, A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE
COUNCIL ADJOURNED TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS. THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN THE DIANELLA CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST, 2025 AT 12 NOON. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES TO CENTRAL STAFF.
WELCOME BACK ELLEN. WE MISSED YOU. THE CLERK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER ALL IN FAVOR OF GENTLEMEN, PLEASE SAY THAT THE COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED