>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THE OPEN MEETING LAW REQUIRES THAT I NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THIS MEETING IS RECORDED. THEREFORE BE AWARE THAT AN AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS BEING MADE BY BOSTON
CITY TV, A PART OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, HOSTS OF CABLE COMMUNICATION. IT'S BEING BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL 26, CHANNEL 1313, CHANNEL 962 AS WELL AS YOUTUBE WHERE OUR RECORDING WILL STAY.
WITH THAT I WILL HAND IT OVER TO OUR BOARD CHAIR, WESLEY IRELAND. >> THANK YOU, ANDREA.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING'S MEETING. ROLL CALL TO ORDER. WE START OFF WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
I'LL START WITH MYSELF. AND WHEN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME, YOUR ROLE AND WHICH AREA AND A VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF YOURSELF. AGAIN, I'M WES IRELAND.
I'M THE CHAIR, AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST MEETING AS CHAIR. I AM A WHITE MALE. I HAVE A GREEN SHIRT ON. AND I'M USING TWO INTERPRETERS
FOR THIS EVENING, I COMMUNICATE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND THEY WILL BE COMMUNICATING IN ENGLISH WHILE HEY INTERPRET. PLEASE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I WILL CALL THEM AS I SEE THEM.
I OLIVIA. >> I LIVE IN THE NORTH END. >> YES. >> HI, I'M OLIVIA RICHARD.
I LIVE IN BRIGHTON. AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I AM A WHITE FEMALE WITH
GLASSES, SHORT BROWN HAIR, AND I'M WEARING A PURPLE JACKET TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, OLIVIA. CARL. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> I'M NAME IS CARL RICHARDSON. I'M A MIDDLE AGED CAUCASIAN MALE, MID 50s. I LIVE IN BRIGHTON. I IDENTIFY AS A DEAF-BLIND
MEMBER OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT COLOR SHIRT I'M WEARING. SO YOU GUYS WILL JUST HAVE TO I HAVE SALT AND PEPPER HAIR.
>> THANK YOU, CARL. I THINK YOU'RE WEARING A NAVY VEST. >> THANK YOU.
>> CHARLIE, PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHARLIE KIM. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE NORTH END. I'M ON THE ADVISORY BOARD AS A MEMBER WHO ADVOCATES FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. I AM A PARENT WITH A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES. I'M WEARING A BLUE HOODIE, A BLACK RIMMED GLASSES, BLACK HAIR
AND ASIAN DUDE. MAN. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHARLIE. PAUL? >> I'M PAUL CARON. I LIVE IN THE WEST END.
I SERVE AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH DUE TO FAMILY MEMBERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND I'M WEARING A BLUE SHIRT, BLACK GLASSES.
GRAYING SHORT HAIR. I'M A WHITE CAUCASIAN MALE AND I WORK AS SUPERVISOR AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON ALSO. THANK YOU.
>> RICHARD. PLEASE PROCEED. >> THANKS. RICHARD GLOVE SKI, MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I'M WEARING A SPORT JACKET, SHIRT, NO GLASSES. CANNED SAY I'M DUDE.
GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. AND PAULETTE? >> THANK YOU.
PAULETTE DURRETT. I'M A RESIDENT OF BOSTON, A BLACK WOMAN WITH GLASSES AND BLACK VEST ON.
>> THANK YOU, PAULETTE. ZAHRA. >> I'M A WHITE WOMAN WITH GLASSES WEARING A PINK SHIRT. I AM I'M. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE]
I AM A BOARD MEMBER. >> JERRY, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS ANDREA. PUT HER INTRODUCTION IN THE CHAT. APOLOGIZING FOR BEING SICK. THIS IS ZARI FROM SOUTH BOSTON.
I'M A WHEELCHAIR USER. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. JERRY.
WOULD YOU MIND GOING NEXT? >> YES, THANK YOU, WES, AND I'M SORRY FOR BEING A FEW MINUTES LATE TO THE MEETING. I JUST FINISHED UP WORK.
MY NAME S JERRY BOYD. I AM A CAUCASIAN MALE WITH SALT AND PEPPER HAIR AND GLASSES, AND I AM A PROUD BOARD MEMBER, AND I AM FROM WEST ROXBURY
NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON. >> THANK YOU, JERRY. LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE
WITH US. AM I MISSING SOMEONE? ELIZABETH, GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HELLO, THIS IS ELIZABETH DEAN CLOUGHER. I'M A BOARD MEMBER. I LIVE IN DORCHESTER.
I'M A CAUCASIAN WOMAN WITH GRAY HAIR, GLASSES, AND I'M WEARING A RED AND WHITE HOODIE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ELIZABETH. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE MEMBERS THAT ARE ONLINE TONIGHT. IF I HAVE MISSED SOMEONE, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. IF NOT, I WILL INTRODUCE
COMMISSIONER MCKOSH. >> HI, EVERYBODY. KRISTEN MCKOSH, I'M DISABILITY COMMISSIONER. I AM A WOMAN WITH BLOND HAIR AND GLASSES AND I'M SITTING IN THE
BACKGROUND OF CITY HALL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THE NEXT ITEM APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING?
FOR JANUARY. MOVE TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FOR THE MONTH OF JAN JANUARY. >> THANK YOU, PAUL. WHO WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION? >> THIS IS JERRY.
I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. >> ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HANDS OR PUSH THE RAISED HAND FEATURE
ON ZOOM.
>> I BELIEVE THE MOTION PASSED. JANUARY MEETING MINUTES AS READ AND WRITTEN. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO OUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING FROM
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WITH ARTICLE 80, FOR PUBLIC OUCH R REET. PLEASE GO AHEAD APPEARED PROCEED.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN THIS EVENING. I'M KRISTIANYA LACHIU SA, I'M THE DEPUTY HERE T THE CLINIC, A
CAUCASIAN WOMAN WITH DARK BROWN HAIR AND TODAY I'M WEARING A WHITE AND GREEN STRIPED SWEATER AND I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE MOLLY. WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF? >> THANK YOU. HI, EVERYONE.
I'M JOIN I LIVE IN SUMMERVILLE. I RECENTLY AM A SOUTH ASIAN NONBINARY ERSON, AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US HERE. >> I'M HAPPY TO -- ACTUALLY IF YOU WOULD SHARE THE SLIDE, ANDREA, THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL O MUCH FOR HAVING US TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN UPDATE TO OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE -- SPECIFICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS ARTICLE D.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS ARTICLE 80 IS A SECTION OF OUR ZONING CODE THAT SETS THE RULES FOR HOW WE AS CITY STAFF WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS REVIEW NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT WAY HAT THE CITY AND RESIDENTS HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE BUILDINGS THAT COME TO OUR CITY, AND WHAT THE CITY REALLY LOOKS LIKE AND FEELS L LIKE. GO TO OUR NEXT SLIDE.
SO ARTICLE E WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN 1996. WE CAN ALL AGREE A OUPLE OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT DATE. SO WE HAVE HEARD CLEARLY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM DEVELOPERS AND CITY STAFF THAT OUR CURRENT PROCESS FOR
PROJECTS DOESN'T WORK.ENT SO THE MAYOR HAS CHARGED US -- SORRY, SOMEONE JUMPED IN UNMUTED. LET ME CONTINUE.
THE MAYOR HAS CHARGED US WITH UPDATING THE WAY IN WHICH COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPERS AND THE CITY WORK TOGETHER TO SHAPE BUILDINGS THAT COME TO OUR CITY. THAT IS WHEN WE SAY -- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NEXT SLIDE. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS TO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DEVELOPERS AND CITY STAFF ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING WELL AND WHAT ISN'T ABOUT OUR CURRENT PROCESS.
THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES AND DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH, LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES ACROSS HE U.S. AND CANADA, AND WE ALSO HAVE EEN LOOKING WE DID LOTS OF
CONVERSATIONS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WE SHARED SOME IDEAS WITH E THINK WE COULD DO TO MAKE THE PROCESS WORK BETTER. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. BACK IN SEPTEMBER WE RELEASED WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR ACTION PLAN THAT LAYS OUT OUR MOST
RECENT DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE THINK WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROCESS. OVER THE FALL AS WELL WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, DISABILITY COMMISSION WITH THE NEWS AND VIEWS EPISODE
AND WE ATTENDED ONE OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DAYS WHICH WERE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM YOU ALL. REALLY APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT. SO NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO NEXT PHASE OF THE WORK WHICH IS HOW DO WE TAKE THE IDEAS AND CHANGES
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AND PUT THEM INTO REALITY. IF YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE. SO THERE ARE THREE BIG CHANGES THAT WE HEARD AS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO GET RIGHT AND MAKE
CHANGES ON. THE FIRST IS ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. SO AS WE'RE SHAPING NEW BUILDINGS ACROSS THE CITY, WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND SPEND TIME IN THE CITY,
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DIVERSIFY INPUT INTO DEVELOPMENT. WE WANT TO HAVE NEW AND EXPANDED WAYS TO HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO WEIGH IN AND SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK WITH US, AND DEVELOPERS.
THE SECOND IDEA IS AROUND HAVING CLEAR AND PREDICTABLE EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE ASK FOR DEVELOPERS TO DO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING MITIGATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THOSE
MEAN ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SURROUNDING AREA SO THIS MIGHT BE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR STREETS OR SIDEWALKS, MAYBE ADDING PROGRAMS FOR NEW STREET TREES. CURRENTLY THIS IS A PROCESS THAT IS ENTIRELY NEGOTIATED AND WE
THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING MORE PREDICTABLE AROUND WHAT WE CAN ASK FOR FROM DEVELOPERS. THE THIRD ONE IS COORDINATOR VIEW IS HOW DO WE AS CITY STAFF WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH DEVELOPERS AND WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. SO ESPECIALLY UPDATING OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY CLEAR IN THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GIVING, REALLY CLEAR IN HOW COMMUNITY INPUT IS USED, AND MAKING SURE
WE'RE MORE TIMELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THOSE ARE VERY BRIEF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT THE PROPOSED HANGES ARE. NEXT SLIDE. SO I WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT WHAT SPECIFIC CHANGES AROUND HOW WE WANT -- HOW WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO ENGAGEMENT FOR THESE PROJECTS. WE HAVE THREE SPECIFIC IDEAS. THE FIRST ONE WHICH I MENTIONED
BEFORE IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE NEW ENGAGEMENT METHODS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT AND EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN APPEARED SHARE FEEDBACK WITH US INCLUDING DIGITAL, IN PERSON AND PRINTED OUT OPTIONS.
THE SECOND ONE IS BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT THE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS OF DEVELOPERS IN TERMS OF THE EARLY ENGAGEMENT THAT THEY DO AT THE BEGINNING F THE PROCESS TO HELP SHAPE THE BASICS OF THE IDEA OF THE NEW BUILDING, SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE, WHAT
SIZE, WHAT TYPE OF BUILDING IS IT? IS IT FOR HOUSING? IS IT FOR COMMERCIAL USES? THAT TYPE OF THING. THEN THE THIRD ONE IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO UPDATE OUR ADVISORY GROUP STRUCTURE.
CURRENTLY THOSE ARE CALLED IMPACT ADVISORY GROUPS. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS WE REPLACE THEM WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY TEAM. THIS IS A STRUCTURE THAT WILL BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH HOW WE BRING PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER REPRESENT THE
DIVERSITY AND MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES ACROSS BOSTON. NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC NEW ENGAGEMENT METHODS THAT
WE'RE HOPING AND THINKING ABOUT TRYING OUT AND TRYING TO ALLOW, AGAIN, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THESE PROJECTS AND SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK WITH US. FORP PRINT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE HAVING FIRES OR
INFOGRAPHIC NEARBY PROJECT, HAVING SIGNAGE RIGHT OUT FRONT OF A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT IF YOU'RE WALKING OR ROLLING BY YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING IS PROPOSED FOR THIS LOCATION. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LOTS OF ONLINE OR DIGITAL
OPTIONS SO THINGS LIKE ONLINE SURVEY, HAVING QUICK POLLS, QUICK SURVEYS THAT POP UP DURING ZOOM MEETINGS HOPEFULLY NOT TOO CUMBERSOME FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE US
THEIR FEEDBACK THEN POTENTIALLY OPENING A HOTLINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN CALL IN AND I WILLS SEND TO A PRE-RECORDED VOICE MESSAGE WHERE THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT A PROJECT, THEN BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION OR THEIR FEEDBACK WITH US. THEN A COUPLE OF IN-PERSON
OPTIONS AS WELL INCLUDED A GUIDED TOUR OR SITE WALK, INFORMATION IN LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS OR OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY HAVING A REVISIONING WORKSHOP WHERE THERE'S IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS
AROUND THESE POTENTIAL PROPOSALS THEN TABLING OR HAVING POP-UPS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS OR AT OCAL OTHER AREAS. AGAIN, GOING WHERE PEOPLE ALREADY ARE. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE HEARD PEOPLE ASK FOR AND THAT
WE'RE PROPOSING TO TRY OUT. NEXT SLIDE. SO IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE
UPCOMING CHANGE TO OUR PROCESS, I ASKED FOR YOUR ADVICE AND SUPPORT. WE ARE GOING TO BE SETTING UP SOME FOCUS GROUPS IN APRIL, AND DURING THE FOCUS GROUPS THE IDEA IS THAT WE WILL SHARE SOME OF THE NEW ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS.
WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR PROCESS AND SO WE WANT TO TEST OUT THOSE MATERIALS WITH PEOPLE BEFORE WE PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE SO WE CAN KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY GETTING IT RIGHT. WE'LL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO TWEAK THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THERE'S NO WAY WILL WE GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT HAVING THESE FOCUS GROUPS BEFORE WE LAUNCH THINGS WILL HELP US REALLY UPAND MAKE SURE THEY WORK AS ELL AS THEY CAN. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY
SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, HOPEFULLY GET OUT THE WORD TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW TO HELP US. WE'LL USE SOME OF OUR DRAFT MATERIALS AND GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK. I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL. AFTER I'M DONE YOU'RE WELCOME TO
WRITE IN THE CHAT OR RAISE YOUR HANDS AND SHARE OVER THE VOICE. MY THREE QUESTIONS ARE, ONE, WHAT IS THE BEST FOCUS GROUP YOU HAVE ATTENDED AND WHAT MADE IT WORK WELL. ON THE FLIP SIDE, WHAT WAS THE
WORST AND WHAT MADE IT NOT WORK WELL? THOSE TWO QUESTIONS ARE REALLY TRYING TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW CAN WE BE MOST THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE IN THE WAYS WE PUT THOSE FOCUS GROUPS TOGETHER. WE WANT TO HEAR A LOT OF
PEOPLE'S DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES AND WE KNOW THERE'S MORE FOR US TO LEARN IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE A TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE SPACE. I KNOW TO HELP GUIDE OUR WORK AS WE SHAPE UP THAT MATERIAL.
THEN MY THIRD QUESTION IS, BASED ON THE LAST SLIDE OF THE WHOLE LIST OF DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENT METHODS FROM DIGITAL AND ONLINE AND IN PERSON AND PRINT VERSIONS, WHICH OF THOSE METHODS DO YOU THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT
FOR US TO SPEND TIME ON? TO TALK THROUGH DURING OUR FOCUS GROUPS. WHICH OTHER IDEAS DO YOU THINK HAVE THE MOST FEEDBACK TO GIVE TO US. WE HAVE JUST O HEAR A LITTLE WHAT WE'RE THINKING WE'RE ORIGINALLY THINKING OF SHARING
SOME OF OUR NEW SURVEY QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDING WE'RE USING IS REALLY CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, AND GOING THROUGH OUR SITE WALK. THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE WALKING PEOPLE AROUND EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE HOLD
SITE WALKS REALLY WORKS WELLS FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES. WE'RE OPEN TO TALK THROUGH ANY OF THE POTENTIAL OPTIONS WE SHARED IN THE LAST SLIDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDREA. >> I WILL LEAVE THIS SLIDE UP
SINCE THERE'S MORE THINGS TO REMEMBER AND WE'LL DROP YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT. I SEE WES IS BACK. IF YOU WANT TO CALL ON FOLKS FOR QUESTIONS?
>> SURE. IF YOU COULD STOP SHARING THE SCREEN THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANKS. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
BOARD? I SEE RICHARD. RICHARD HAS HIS HAND UP. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, WES. NICE TO MEET YOU, KRISTIANYA, THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. NOT EXACTLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT, BUT OTHERS
PROBABLY DISAGREE WITH ME BUT I'M CHAGRINED TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE WHETHER IT WILL AFFECT YOUR EFFORTS. YOU MENTIONED DIVERSITY FOR EXAMPLE.
I'M FEARFUL THAT THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE DISREGARDED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION. I'M NOT SURE I HAVE SEEN THAT YET BUT I'M WORRIED IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. MY QUESTION IS DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE WHETHER THAT MAY IMPACT
YOUR EFFORTS OR NOT? IF SO, WONDERING HOW -- WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT IT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. YEAH, VERY GOOD POINT.
I WOULD SAY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON S OF COURSE REALLY CHALLENGING AND BUT IT'S SEPARATE FROM THE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE IN BOSTON. ONE WAY IS HOW DO WE CHANGE FROM
THE WORDING WE USE BUT I WILL SAY THE INTENTION OF BRINGING IN MORE VOICES, PEOPLE WITH MANY DIFFERENT AR LIFE EXPERIENCES AD PERSPECTIVES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK OF
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW IS DONE AND DONE WELL. SO I WOULD SAY THE OVER ALL GOAL OF DIVERSIFYING OUR EFFORTS AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE IN IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. WE'RE DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT WORK. THE WORDING MIGHT JUST SLIGHTLY
SHIFT. >> I DOUBT THERE'S ANYONE THAT DISAGREES WITH THAT. WOULD OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT IT. FAIRLY WIDE RANGING WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
THAT IS SOMETHING ANY OF US WILL BE UPSET BY IT. >> GOOD POINT. LOTS OF UNKNOWNS AHEAD OF US. I APPRECIATE BEING HERE AND PUSHING FORWARD THE GOOD WORK.
>> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS WES. I AM GOING TO RECOGNIZE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HANDS UP. I SEE CHARLES FIRST, AND THEN
PAULETTE. CHARLES AND PAULETTE. CHARLES? >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. FIRST I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND I HAVE ANSWERS. THE FIRST QUESTION IS OU
MENTIONED IT'S ALSO IN THE SLIDE CAN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU CONSIDER COM CITY DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE PEERS TO BOSTON AND THOSE COLLABORATIONS S YOU'RE DOING
COMPARISONS? >> DEFINITELY. I WILL ALSO SHARE LINKS TO TWO REPORTS IN THE CHAT. YOU'RE WELCOME TO READ THOSE OVER MORE IN DEPTH. DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ON HOW THE PEER
CITIES WERE CHOSEN? >> SURE. SO WE HAVE CITIES INITIALLY. WE TOUR CHOSE CITIES THAT ARE
ACTUALLY ON SLIGHTLY TRAJECTORY ON BOSTON AND THOSE THAT ARE COMPATIBLE. WE HAVE CITIES LIKE BALTIMORE THAT ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE TO BOSTON. THEN AN EXAMPLE FROM CANADA THAT
WE REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PRACTICES ARE HAPPENING FROM IN TERMS OF ALLOTMENT, OTHER EXPERIMENTAL THINGS AS WELL. THEN CITIES THAT ARE -- WE HAVE
PHILADELPHIA AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO, WENT THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES IN HOW NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STRUCTURED AND IT HAS A BIGGER POPULATION SIZE TO BOSTON. ALONG ITH THAT WE HAVE TORONTO, WHICH IS ALSO A MUCH BIGGER CITY.
MORE DIVERSE. AND AGAIN, IT WAS TO KIND OF COMPARE DIFFERENT TRAJECTORIES OF CITIES AND POSSIBLY THE KIND OF TRAJECTORY ALSO BOSTON COULD BE PICKING UP ON BECAUSE IT HAS
-- WE'RE IN FOR A POPULATION INCREASE ABOUT 20% OR SO IN THE NEXT DECADE SO WE WANTED TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT MIGHT BE COMING OUR WEAR AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR, I
WILL REPEAT TO THE FOCUS GROUPS THAT HAVE ATTENDED SPECIFICALLY CONDUCTED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I HAVE HAD OTHER COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS BUT I THINK THIS IS MORE RELEVANT ON THAT. THE MOST I HAVE ATTENDED ARE DURING THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CAPITAL PLANNING FOCUS GROUPS. SO THERE WERE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND THERE WAS WIDE -- I HAVE THEY DID SPECIFICALLY GO INTOAND NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND ALL THAT.
I THINK PART OF I WOULDN'T SAY YOU ASKED WHAT THE WORST FOCUS GROUP IS. I THINK THERE'S CHALLENGES AND THERE'S EXCESSES. THE WAY THEY WERE ADMINISTERED
OR PRESENTED ND THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND FEEDBACK THAT WAS REQUESTED WAS GREAT. THE PRESENTERS AND ALL THAT. I THINK THE PART THAT IS CHALLENGING COMING AND PERSPECTIVES, ONES A A PARENT IN
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALSO AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY. THERE'S A GAP R AT LEAST A PERCEIVED GAP BETWEEN THE FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS AND THE FEEDBACK I WAS GIVEN TO WHERE THE PLAN
AND EXECUTION AND DISCUSSION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING NEXT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A GAP THERE BECAUSE THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT I HEAR THAT IS COMING UP IN THE FEEDBACK THAT COMES BACK IS WHAT IS THAT PLAN OR WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN TO ME, RIGHT, AS A PARENT OR AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THE NEXT YEAR, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE WORKED ON IN THE WHOLE
PLANNING PHASE OF COMMUNICATION IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING BUT THAT'S THE PART. THE DATA COLLECTION I HAVE NOT HEARD -- I HAVE HEARD FEEDBACK, THE ENGAGEMENT AND NUMEROUS
OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE FEEDBACK THAT I HEAR AGAIN IS MORE HOW DID YOU GET TO THESE CONCLUSIONS, RIGHT, AND ALL THE DATA, ALL THE RESEARCH.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S HELPFUL. >> DEFINITELY HELPFUL. WE REALLY PREDICTER THAT FEEDBACK. I THINK WE HAVE HEARD A LOT SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT FEEDBACK GROUPS ARE OR SHARING BACK HOW FEEDBACK WE HAVE HEARD AND HOW
IT HAS IMPACTED THE PROJECT OR THE INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. SO THAT BEING MORE CLEAR THAT COMMUNICATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO AND FOCUS ON AS PART OF THIS WORK SO APPRECIATE YOU ELEVATING
THAT. >> THIS IS WES. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PAULETTE. >> THANK YOU. >> THEN I SEE COMMISSIONER MCKOSH'S HAND IS RAISED AND I
HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL. FILL WE'LL GO WITH PAUL LET. PAULETTE.>> I HAVE FEEDBACK FROT FOCUS GROUPS. ONE WAS ABOUT EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS.
FOLKS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE DECISIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEING PRESENTED AS AN IDEA, THAT THEIR OPINIONS DIDN'T COUNT. SO EARLIER HEY ENGAGE IN A
PROJECT THE BETTER OFF I THINK IT WILL BE. THE OTHER STATEMENT THAT I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING IS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THEM AND THEY MEAN THE PLANNERS.
I THINK THAT MORE TRANSPARENT THE PROCEEDS IS THE BETTER IT WILL BE IN OUTCOME AND HOW PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT THE PROJECT. THOSE ARE TWO PIECES OF FEEDBACK THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THAT. REALLY HELPFUL. I THINK THOSE TWO PIECES OF FEEDBACK DEFINITELY ARE CONNECTED WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING AND WHAT WE'RE HOPEFULLY MOVING TOWARD BEING MORE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR PROCESS, GOING BACK TO CHARLIE'S POINT
HOW DO WE HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE EARLIER ENGAGEMENT DEFINITELY A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. I THINK TO YOUR SECOND POINT ABOUT HOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PLANNERS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HE COMMUNITY
IMPACTS. THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL, HAVING MORE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE CAN HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL IMPACTS AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THOSE ARE MANAGED OR
MITIGATED OR AVOIDED WHEREVER POSSIBLE. HOPEFULLY WE KEEP MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
>> COMMISSIONER MCKOSH? >> THANK YOU, WES. THANK YOU, KRISTIANYA. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. I DO WANT OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO KNOW AS YOU CAN IMAGINE DEVELOPMENT IN BOSTON IS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED.
THERE'S SO MANY PIECES TO IT FROM BEFORE A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND TO GETTING OCCUPANCY PERMITS. SO THERE ARE MANY STEPS ALONG THE WAY IN THIS PROCESS, AND THIS PIECE IS HELPFUL TO GET YOUR INPUT EARLY ON WHEN THEY
ARE THING ABOUT THINGS, YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON PROJECTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO START DOING THAT. DEVELOPMENT AFFECTS EVERYBODY BUT PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TERMS OF OPEN SPACE, ACCESS ON SIDEWALKS, A
WHOLE NUMBER OF FACTORS. SO OUR STAFF IS INVOLVED VERY DEPARTMENT.H THE PLANNING ACCESS TO WORKS AT THE BEGINNING FROM SCOPING SESSIONS WHERE PEOPLE FIRST THINK OF AN IDEA THEY WANT TO BUILD AND THEY LAY
OUT THEIR IDEAS, OKAY, THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS BUT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS AND THIS AND THIS. OUR STAFF IS INVOLVED ALONG THE WAY TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC ACCESS CONCERNS. THE SECOND POINT I WANT TO MAKE
IS TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLE FOR ALL STAFF AND THE PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST WHICH IS PART OF THE PROCESS. THIS IS BASICALLY A SUMMARY OF ALL THE ACCESSABILITY POINTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT'S VERY EASY TO REVIEW THESE DEVELOPMENTS QUICKLY BY LOOKING AT THE CHECKLIST. IT'S USUALLY TEN PAGES, BUT TEN PAGES OF PARAGRAPHS.
IT ULLS OUT ALL THE VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT CAL CONNECTIONS, WHERE ARE THE ELEVATORS, THE RAMBLES, IT TALKS ABOUT ACCESSIBLE BEDROOMS. TALKS ABOUT GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCES, WHAT THEY WILL BE USED FOR, WHAT THE ACCESS IS LIKE. SO IT'S PRETTY DETAILED AND IT'S
REALLY EASY TO GIVE YOUR OPINIONS IF YOU JUST READ THIS SUMMARY. THE DOCUMENTS THAT COME OUT ON SOME OF THE PLANNING PROJECTS ARE LIKE 300 PAGES. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ 300 PAGES TO UNDERSTAND THE POINTS THAT MAY E RELEVANT TO YOU. YOU CAN READ THE SUMMARIES.
I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEND YOU THOSE CHECKLISTS IF THERE'S A CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUT I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN SING THE CHECKLIST. IT WILL REALLY GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON THINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING TO YOU. OTHER THAN THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY READING
AND DOING FEEDBACK LIVE BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WE HOPE MOVING FORWARD YOU'LL DO THAT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS WES. I'M THINKING ABOUT THE THIRD BULLET. WHICH ENGAGEMENT METHODS WERE THE MOST CRUCIAL, AND WHAT WE'RE
SPENDING TIME ON. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS IN PERSON. REMOTE AND IN PRINT. FOR THE DIGITAL ALSO.
WERE THERE ANY EFFORTS MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ENGAGEMENT? WERE THERE SOME THINGS SHOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA GIVING INDIVIDUALS THE ABILITY TO RESPOND ON SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORMS? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. YES. DEFINITELY. WE DO NOT LIST IT ON ONE OF THE
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT METHODS BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE BIN AS PART OF THE PROJECT AND WILL PLAN TO CONTINUE TO SHARE OUT INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECTS TO GET FEEDBACK. I THINK WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL
DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT POPS UP ON THEIR PHONE OR COMPUTER, SO IT'S AN EASIER WAY TO REACH PEOPLE IN MANY CASES. IT CAN BE MADE MORE ENGAGING THAT JUST A NORMAL WRITTEN THING THAT MIGHT BE ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE THINKING ABOUT INCLUDING. A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR YOU AND ANYONE IN THE GROUP. >> THE DEMOGRAPHICS HERE IN BOSTON JUST STRONGLY INCLUDE
THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEMOG DEMOGRAPHICS. >> DEFINITELY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND WE APPRECIATE IT. >> WHILE WE TRANSITION THIS IS ANDREA, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ABOUT THOSE FOCUS GROUPS THAT KRISTIANYA MENTIONED HAPPENING IN APRIL WHERE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO REALLY DIG INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS LIKE, HEY, IF WE MAKE A SITE VISIT, YOU KNOW, PART OF EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE 80 PROJECT HOW CO-WE MAKE SURE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NEW ENGAGEMENT IS AS ACCESSIBLE ASY POSSIBLE. >> THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING US JOIN YOU THIS EVENING. REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND THE CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A GOOD'KING A GOOD EVENING.
>> NEXT ON HE AGENDA IS THE CHAIR'S REPORT. >> I WAS GOING TO NEED A MINUTE.
I NEED TO PULL MY NOTES UP. FIRST OF ALL I DO WANT TO SAY FOUR, FIVE ITEMS, FIRST CONGRATULATIONS TO CITY HALL FOR BEING NAMED THE NEWEST HISTORIC LANDMARK HERE IN BOSTON. MAYBE GOOD NEWS FOR SOME PEOPLE.
OTHER PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT CITY HALL IS ONE OF THE UGLIEST BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD. BUT THAT MEANS THAT THE BUILDING WILL BE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
CITY COUNCILOR SHANNON DURR KEN SHARES THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THIS NEWS. EXTEND GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER MCKOSH AND ANOTHER COMMISSIONER,
COMMISSIONER AMY SHELTON, AND THEIR TEAMS, WHOSE STEWARDSHIP AND ADVOCACY HAVE ENSURED THIS DESIGNATION REFLECT BOTH A HISTORY AND THE COMMITMENT TO
ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION. SO THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE FUTURE COMMITMENTS TOE ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY MEASURES WITHIN THE BUILDING, AND ENSURING THEY
REMAIN INCLUSIVE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. TAX SEASON. SO AS YOU KNOW IT'S ALREADY TAX SEASON. IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE
BIG NEWS, FOR PET PARENTS, STARTING THIS YEAR, HE IRS IS GOING TO ALLOW DEDUCTIONS FOR PETS' EXPENSES. WHILE YOUR FURRY FRIENDS CAN'T
BE CLAIMED AS A DEPENDENT, YOU CAN WRITE OFF CERTAIN COSTS UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS SERVICE ANIMALS, BUSINESS USE, INCOME GENERATING
ACTIVITIES, AND FOR FOSTERING ANIMALS. FOR ANY OF THOSE WITH DISABILITIES THAT RELY ON SERVICE DOGS, IF YOUR DOG, YOUR CERTIFIED SERVICE ANIMAL, IS
DIAGNOSED WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION EXPENSES LIKE VETERINARY CARE, FOOD AND TRAINING CAN BE DEDUCTIBLE AS MEED CAL EXPEBSES. JUST BE SURE IT'S FOR A PROFESSIONAL. IT'S A DEVICE TO DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OF THESE PET RELATED REDUCTIONS. NEXT ITEM IS I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT'S HANG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES. AS YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT THINGS ARE MOVING VERY FAST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SUMMARIZE SEVERAL THINGS IN WHAT'S
ACTUALLY RAPIDLY SHIFTING LANDSCAPE AS WE ENTER THE FOURTH WEEK WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT. REGARDING THE CHANGES, THE CURRENT PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY ISSUED OVER 200 EXECUTIVE OR ORDERS, AND ALL OF THEM ARE
STRAIGHT OUT OF PROJECT 2025. SOME OF THEM ARE HELD UP IN COURT. THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS CHANGES AFFECTING DISABILITY
RELATED ISSUES. EDUCATION AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS. SOME OF THE THINGS ARE SOME ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE ACTUALLY REMOVED THE ACCESSABILITY PAGE. FEATURES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
OFTEN THERE WERE EXECUTIVE ORDERS WITH THE EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY. EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVE TERMINATED FEDERAL DEI PROGRAMS, TERMINATED
NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH, AND EXPANDED ANTI-DEIA TASKS TO -- ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
JUSTICES ARE THERE ARE SOME RIGHTS -- THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARE FROZEN THAT IMPACT THE ROLE IN PROTECTING AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND FORCING THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND SECTION 4 OF THE REHAB ACT. U.S. ACCESS BOARD MEETING ITH -- THE ACTIVE BOARD'S ANNUAL MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED WITH SOME SPECULATION ABOUT THE
CANCELLATION WHICH COULD AFFECT FEDERAL ACCESS STANDARDS, AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. ALSO, AMERICAN FILINGS INTERPRETED AND RESOURCE VERSUS BEEN REMOVED.
PEOPLE WERE FIRED AND RESOURCES REGARDING DISABLED CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WERE DELETED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE. DEVELOPING A FUNDING FREEZE AND
PROGRAM REVIEWS. THE FEDERAL PAYMENT SYSTEM FREEZE HAS ACTUALLY AFFECTED, IMPACTED MEDICAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS WITH ONGOING VIEWS FOR POTENTIAL DEFUNDING FOR VERY
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AN APPEALS JUDGE YESTERDAY ACTUALLY ORDERED AN UNFREEZE AND THAT THESE FUNDS MUST RESUME. LASTLY, THERE'S A CALL TO
ACTION, A CALL TO ACTION FOR CITIZENS URGED TO CALL OR WRITE THEIR CONGRESS PEOPLE AND THEIR STATE LEGISLATORS TO DVOCATE FOR DISABILITY PROTECTIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND MEDICAID. A LOT IS GOING ON. I'M GOING TO STOP HERE, AND SHIFT TO THE LAST SECTION OF THE REPORT. I WANT TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR
THOUGHTS? I SEE RICHARD. GO AHEAD. >> HANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'M WONDERING IF IT'S NOT YOU'VE COMPILED PRETTY GOOD LIST OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THAT'S AFFECTING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE OR NOT, BUT I FOR ONE WOULD ASK YOU TO
CIRCULATE IT TO THE FLOOR AND I WOULD ASK THE COMMISSIONER IF SHE'S TRACKING THIS TOO, AND SHE KNOWS SOMETHING MORE COMPREHENSIVE I DON'T KNOW, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ON TOP OF.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE BECAUSE HAS WHATIS HAPPENING THERE -- NO.
>> RICHARD, I'M NOT SURE IF YOUR VOICE CUT OUT FOR SOME REASON. >> OH. OKAY. I WAS SAYING THAT YOU MADE AN IMPORTANT PRESENTATION. I ADOPT KNOW IF IT'S COMPREHENSIVE OR NOT. THE COMMISSIONER HAS MORE DETAIL
TO ADD. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BEHOORVE US TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE INDEX OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR ROLE TO KNOW THAT.
WHAT WE DO OR SAY ABOUT IT, I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE WE TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT, MAYBE WE DON'T. I THINK WE AT LEAST SHOULD TRACK AS WELL AS WE CAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S LIKE DRINKING
FROM A FIRE HOSE WHAT'S HAPPENING HAT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. >> YES.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO READ. IT'S DIFFICULT TO READ AND FIND RELIABLE RESOURCES. I'M FEELING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT -- SOMETHING HA-HA TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO STAY ON TOP
OF IT, LIKE YOU SAID, AND I'M SURE THAT COMMISSIONER MCKOSH HAS ADDITIONAL THINGS TO ADD TO THIS LIST. SO CHARLIE, I THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THEN I WANT TO
ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO ADD AS WELL. GO AHEAD, CHARLIE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SUBMITTED YOUR THOUGHTS EARLIER SO WE CAN READ THEM.
I THINK IN PUTTING OME THOUGHT INTO THIS, IT'S INCUMBENT ON US AS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS ND AS LEADERS THAT WE DO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE ON THESE
THINGS, MEANING WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF VERY DISTINGUISHED EXPERTS ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD AN THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSION HAS ACCESS TO EXPERTS THAT I THINK FOR INSTANCE WE
HAVE MR. PLOT SKI, ESTEEMED ATTORNEY, WHO COULD POTENTIALLY EXPLAIN SOME OF THESE THINGS. I WANT TO SPECIFIC DIRECTLY SPECIFICALLY TO THIS I IDEA.
WE NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE SIDES, RIGHT, FULLY EDUCATE NOT ONLY US BUT THEN ALSO THE GROUPS HAT WE'RE REPRESENTING IN ORDER BEFORE WE GIVE ANY OPINIONS OR EVEN SOME
OF THE THINGS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY CAREFUL ON HOW WE SAY THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T -- IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT OUTCOMES. WE ARE ONLY GETTING SMIP YETS FROM THE NEWS. I WANT TO TAKE SOMETHING VERY
SPECIFIC, BEING VERY CAREFUL. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING PULLED DIRECTLY FROM THE DOCUMENT FOR PROJECT 2025, CORRECT? SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO EDUCATION,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IDEA. I THINK IF PEOPLE DO MAKE COMMENTS THEY SHOULD EITHER REACH OUT TO LEGAL RESOURCES, OTHER RESOURCES LIKE THE PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, PEOPLE WITHIN
BPS, THERE GENERAL COUNCIL THERE TO ASK WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN BECAUSE IF WE JUST SAY IT'S COMING FROM A PROJECT 2025 EVEN WITHOUT READING IT, IT'S ONLY 40 PAGES AND IT'S FILLED WITH
FOOTNOTES. THE WHOLE PLAN IS THERE. YOU CAN PULL FROM THAT, RIGHT? YOU ARE ABLE TO ASK VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT TIE BACK SO YOU CAN ADVOCATE, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THE DIFFERENCE
THAT I BELIEVE IN ADVOCACY VERSUS -- I APOLOGIZE -- IN ORDER TO REPRESENT AND SPEAK TO THE PARENTS SPECIFICALLY ON SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING
AND GETTING ALL OF THE INFORMATION SO THAT WHEN THEY DO GO ADVOCATE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING GO SPEAK TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. BEFORE THEY DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE GIVING THEIR
PERSONAL OPINIONS AND HOW THEY FEEL BUT ALSO WILL HAVE THE PROPER BACKGROUND, RIGHT, AND FOUNDATION O SUBSTANTIATE THESE THINGS. MY POINT IS WE DECIDE HOW TO GO THROUGH IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKING THE EXPERTS, RIGHT, WHAT IS THIS? I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THE LEGAL IMPACT. IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADA, AND IDEA, RIGHT? I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FIRST AND FOREMOST BEFORE GOING INTO THE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY OF, HEY, SOMETHING COULD BE AFFECTED. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
IDEA, ENFORCEMENT OF IDEA, IS TYPICALLY STATED FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, NOT AN ATTORNEY, PARENTS ARE THE FIRST LINE ON THE ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE ADA, WHICH IS CIVIL RIGHTS. THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE. THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE WHERE PEOPLE GET HUNG UP AND AGENCIES OING SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT PROCEDURES, LEGAL REMEDIES, ALL THOSE THINGS, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO START WITH THAT BASIS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING
FOR AND REPRESENTING SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE TO BEGIN OR SAYING WHAT IS GOING ON. I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT AS I TRY TO BE AS NEUTRAL AS POSSIBLE ON ALL THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND
IT'S VERY CHARGED. >> YES. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT, CHARLIE. I'M TRYING TO BE AS NEUTRAL AS POSSIBLE IN RESPECT OF THE FACT PREVENTING -- WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I DOUBLE CHECKED MY SOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION IS ACCURATE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. COMMISSIONER MCKOSH.
>> YES, THANKS, WES. THANK YOU, CHARLIE. I THINK IN GENERAL EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO TAKE A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T HAVE TO
WAIT TOO LONG. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE FIRST TWO, THREE WEEKS, IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AMONG MANY OTHER GROUPS. SO FORTUNATELY OUR OFFICE DOES NOT GET FEDERAL FUNDING.
MANY DEPARTMENTS DO, WE DO NOT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON DOING OUR WORK. NOTHING WE DO IS CHANGING. I DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT OF THE CITY OVER ALL BUT IT WON'T IMPACT OUR BUDGET, WON'T IMPACT OUR WORK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS DOING ADVOCACY. THE ACTIVISM. >> THANK YOU. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND ATTITUDE.
>> A LOT OF ACTIVISTS, ADVOCATES THIS AFTERNOON BY NATIONAL GROUPS, THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. I WOULD SAY IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED PLEASE REACH OUT TO
COMMUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CHILD -- ADVISORY COUNCIL. THINGS LIKE THAT. WE'RE REALLY JUST FOCUSING ON OUR WORKS. TRYING O UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN OUT THERE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRYING AS A DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF DEIDISFAVOREDABILITY IS NOT ALWAYS INCLUDED IN DEI, THAT WAS NAMED, SOMETIMES IT'S THE
DEI DISABILITY. SO FAR WE HAVE ONLY SEEN ACCESSIBILITY EXPLICITLY MENTIONED. IT HAPPEN BEEN. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY, MANY IMPACTS TO COME.
MY ATTITUDE IS FOCUS ON GETTING OUR WORK ONE, CONTINUING MOVING FORWARD AND ADDRESS THINGS AS THEY COME UP.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OKAY THEN, SO I GUESS THE LAST REMARKS I WOULD HAVE AS BOARD CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OUR
WONDERFUL MEETING YEAR AFTER YEAR WHILE JUGGLING WITH MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE INCLUDING A TODDLER NOW 4.5, AND AN ALMOST 18 MONTH OLD.
I DO HAVE TWO SENIORS THAT I'M PROUD OF. FIRST OF ALL FOR SETTING UP OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EVERY MONTH, WHICH WAS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THESE MEETINGS.
INTEREST FROM OUR BOARD AND FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH DIFFERENT GUEST SPEAKERS WHO COULD COME AND GIVE US PRESENTATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ANDREA PATTON FOR DOING AN AMAZING JOB
WITH ALL THE PLANNING LOGISTICS. SHE HAS BEEN AMAZING. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE NARROWED TO ONE INSTEAD OF TWO
PRESENTATIONS FOR THESE MEETINGS INVOLVING MORE ACTIONS FROM OUR BOARD AND FROM THE COMMUNITY DURING THESE MEETINGS. THE ECOND STATEMENT, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE TO YOU, THE ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
IT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND IGNED BY MAYOR W U, IN DECEMBER OF 2022. THERE ARE PROBLEMS AHEAD WITH
PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING THE ORDINANCE, DISABILITY COMMISSION STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO GET MANY PLACES AND PUBLIC SPACING, TELEVISIONS, IN COMPLIANCE.
I PLAN TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND I FOUND SOME KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP.
HOPEFULLY THIS CAN WE CAN GET OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO PASS THE STATEWIDE CASHING BILL. AS WE ALL ARE AMBASSADORS FOR
THE LOCAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY, I REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS AND IMPACT OF VITAL CHANGES.
LASTLY I HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT UP FIVE, OF FORWARD THINKING. ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY. ONE PARTICULAR COMPANY THAT ON
MARKETS AR TO INCLUDE CAPTIONING FEATURES. SO APPARENTLY THERE'S A GROWING NUMBER OF THESE COMPANIES WORKING ON THIS FEET YOU'RE.
I HOPE THIS INNOVATION AND FORWARD THINKING STAYS ACTIVE IN FUTURE MEETING DISCUSSIONS. ESPECIALLY IN FUTURE CHAIR'S MARKET EPORT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A NOTE ON
THE TOPIC SO WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER WHAT IS A TECH INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX ERA. AND WE'RE SEEING EXPANSION OF
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE, RIGHT? SO THERE WILL BE MANY TYPES OF AI, AND A.I. INITIATIVES. A.I. NEEDS TO BE SAFE AND
TRUSTWORTHY. INCLUSIVITY IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PRODUCTS THE COMPANIES SHOULD HAVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS OTHER FACILITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN FINDING WHICH RECOGNITION AND FOR. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE OWNERS WHO ARE DEAF.
THEY HIRE DEAF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITIES AND ULTURAL ACCURACY. THAT IS ALL MY CHAIR'S REPORT
AND I THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MCKOSH, I BELIEVE YOU'RE NEXT ON THE AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU.
GLO THANKS, WES. THANK YOU FOR THAT, WES. THAT HITS HOME WITH ALL OF US. WE TALK ABOUT JUST PLANNING, WE
MUST HAVE AUTHENTIC ONES. IT'S IRREPLACEABLE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE CERTAIN DISABILITIES THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY WE DO. I APPRECIATE THOSE REMARKS. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF SCARY THINGS IN OUR FUTURE. ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS
ON, THOUGH, IS -- [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] ACCURATE INFORMATION RELATED TO TRUTH AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE CITY WEBSITE FOR THINGS THAT THE CITY IS WORKING
ON. WE HAVE TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S REAL OR NOT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, PROCESS INFORMATION AND WE KNOW EVERY STATEMENT OUT THERE SN'T TRUE.
IT'S A CONCERN THAT YOU. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- THANK YOU, WES. YOU DID A GREAT JOB AS CHAIR FOR THE LAST THREE EARS.
I WILL SEE YOU. SO MY REPORT. I DID WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WE HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE FOR THE CITY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 11 AT
THE MGM MUSIC HALL. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED IF THAT DATE CHANGES. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE DATE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. WE ALSO SECURED A DATE FORROUS DISABILITY COMMUNITY FORUM, OUR ANNUAL EVENT TO HEAR FEEDBACK
FROM RESIDENTS AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. IT WILL BE THURSDAY, MAY 8. IT WILL BE A HYBRID EVENT. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] ARE INVITED TO CO-HOST THIS. I WILL BE WRITING UP AN ANNUAL
REPORT APPEARED WILL GET THAT OUT TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE THE EVENT SO YOU CAN ADD IN ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO. WE WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING. SPEAK A LITTLE MORE THIS YEAR ABOUT WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE
AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED. ANOTHER DATE IS ADA AND IT IS AT CITY HALL PLAZA. WE'LL JOIN OTHER DISABILITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER. WE DO THIS ON THE 20th, 25th AND 30th ANNIVERSARIES. THIS YEAR WE WILL GATHER JULY 23, APPROXIMATELY 11:00 TO 2:00.
WE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER. WHAT THE PLAN IS NOW IS TO DO A FLAG RAISING AT THE PLAZA THEN INVITE PEOPLE TO JOIN FOR A MARCH TO BOSTON COMMONS IN A RALLY AT THE MEMORIAL. THERE WILL BE -- OUR INFORMATION
THERE WE TRY TO CONNECT WITH RESOURCES. WE DON'T WANT TO TOTALLY DELETE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE WON'T HAVE STAFF OF AGENCIES ATTEND TO GIVE. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] WE'LL HAVE INFORMATION WE CAN
HAND OUT ON TABLES. AS THEY SEE THE GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO RALLY AND MARCH AND TALK ABOUT DEFENDING IDEA, ADA, TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THEY
AREN'T GOING TO STAND FOR IT BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, I WANT TO ENTION SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR ACTIVE
BOARD MEMBERS. LAST MONTH I SPOKE ABOUT THE DISABILITY CODA. THESE ARE MONTHLY MEETINGS AND THEY COME FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE. THERE ARE MANY TOWNS LOCAL TO
BOSTON WHERE YOU HAVE P.R. ADVISORS AND WORK ON A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO ATTEND. SOMETIMES PATRICIA ATTENDS. COLLEEN, IF YOU'RE HERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS,
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TOPICS THEY WORK ON? >> YES. I THINK YOU CAN HEAR ME. SO LIKE COMMISSIONER SAID, THE CODA STATEWIDE COALITION BRINGS TOGETHER YOUR PEERS. THESE ARE DISABILITY ADVOCATES
WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE MAYORS, PARTICIPANTS FROM CAMBRIDGE AND SUMMERVILLE AND ATHENS COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE SEE HERE IN BOSTON TOO, THINGS LIKE
RECYCLING AND OTHER HOT BUTTON ISSUES. IT ISN'T EXACTLY THE SAME MATCH AS YOU GUYS. YOU'RE SUCH GREAT AMBASSADORS TO THE CITY I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME NEXT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5th. THE MEETINGS ARE ON ZOOM. IT WILL BE GREAT IF SOMEBODY
COULD EMAIL ME TO LET ME THOUGH THEY CAN ATTEND AND MAKING GOING FORWARD OU CAN ROTATE AND THINGS. >> THAT'S GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU, COLLEEN. SO WE WILL EMAIL THE LINK TO
CODA AFTER THIS MEETING. WE HOPE YOU CAN ATTEND. ALSO DOING AN OUTREACH TOUR AT LIBRARY BRANCHES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE'S BEGINNING THE 27th IN BRIGHTON.
THIS IS JUST TRYING TO REACH RESIDENT WHO DON'T COME OUT, RESIDENTS WHO MAY BE BUSY WITH FAMILIES OR WORKING AND MAYBE NOT EVEN I GUESS DISABILITIES.
[AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] SEE WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. COLLEEN WILL BE HITTING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE'LL GET THE FLYER OUT TO YOU SOON. ONE FINAL INITIATIVE YOU CAN GET
INVOLVED IN IS PARTS PA POWER BUDGETING. AS A CITY HAS AN OFFICE OF PARTICIPATORY BUNCHING LAUNCHED HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTEDM AREAS A GREATER SAY. SO WE HOPE PEOPLE WHO WERE
DISABLED, PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, NEVER HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE. NOW WE ALL DO. IF YOU CLICK ON THAT LINK YOU CAN VOTE AND GIVE YOU SAY ON HOW THE ITY SHOULD SPEND $2 MILLION
IN FUNDING. LOOK AT THE WORKINGS OF THE CITY. HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY, HOW WE DECIDE PRIORITIES AND IT ACTUALLY GIVES YOU A REAL SAY IN DISCUSSION OF THIS MONEY. WE HOPE YOU WILL LOG ON AND VOTE
AND IT'S OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 15, JUST A FEW MORE DAYS. NEXT SLIDE. THEN I DO WANT TO MENTION IT'S TAX SEASON.
THE BOSTON TAX COALITION IS UP APPEARED AT IT AGAIN. THEY PROVIDE FREE TAX. [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE]
THEY ARE AVAILABLE REMOTELY AND IN PRESENCE. INCLUDING EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. THIS IS AVAILABLE IN A NUMBER OF LANGUAGES AND YOU CAN FIND OUT
ABOUT IT. ALSO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOUNDATIONS INCLUDING OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH DEBT, INC., WHICH HAS DESIGNATED
LOW VISION, COMBINATIONS EVERY SUNDAY. CHILD COMMUNITY CENTER. MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER DAN WHO HAS SPOKEN AT THIS MEETING BEFORE. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT THE TAX HELP COALITION? >> GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I'LL SEND YOU A REQUEST TO UNMUTE. >> OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.
YEAH, THIS YEAR IS PRETTY EXCITING BECAUSE WE HAVE IN THE PAST WORKED SPECIFICALLY WITH PILOT PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND BUT NOW IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. AS YOU SAID, THE GENERAL TAX PROGRAM INDIVIDUALS BY LOCATION WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
SUNDAY IS THE SPECIFIC ONE CHARGED WITH COMMUNITY CENTER BUT SPECIFIC DISABILITY COMMUNITY. AS SCHEDULING TRACKS WE WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO BE AT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS F YOU HAVE ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OR PLACES TO GIVE INFORMATION TO ACTIONER THAT IS HAPPENING I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
YOUR INFORMATION. HERE I AM AT THE OFFICE. SO THANK YOU. >> IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. >> IT WILL BE GREAT IF SOME BOARD MEMBERS COULD SPREAD THIS
INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY. JUST LET ME KNOW. THE CITY HAS A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT ND THEY WORK ON ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THIS IS JUST ONE WAY THAT PEOPLE
CAN RETAIN FINANCIAL WELLNESS AND LOOK TO THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY. I THINK THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> SHE HAS HER HAND RAISED. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT -- [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] I WANTED TO JUST SEE IF THERE'S
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAY CONCERNED THAT USUALLY THESE EVENTS HAPPEN DURING THE WORKDAY.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WITH MANY OF US, KIND OF.
[AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] SO YOU KNOW, EVEN THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT WORKING DURING THE WEEK HAVE TAKEN A DAY OFF, SO I
JUST WONDER IF YOU EVER CONSIDER HAVING THESE EVENTS SATURDAY OR SUNDAY WHERE MORE PEOPLE CAN COME. >> THANK YOU, ZARI, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
MY DEBRIEF -- WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE MONTH, TIME OF DAY. THIS IS A GROUP EVENT THIS YEAR. IT'S SET IN TONE, SO TO SPEAK. IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO
DO A MARCH ON THE WEEKEND IN THE STREETS OF BOSTON, SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A MARCH AND RALLY. IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR THE CITY LOGISTICALLY TO DO IT DURING THE WEEK. I GENERALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE
EVENTS DURING A FEW WEEKS IN JULY AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT TOGETHER -- LOOK AT THAT BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT THAT. IT'S FROM THE 20th THROUGH THE
26th. SO THANK YOU. >> THIS IS WES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE COMMISSIONER?
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS REPORT FROM
PATRICIA MENDEZ. . >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M PATRICIA MENDEZ. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS FOR THE DISABILITY COMMISSION. I HAVE A BRIEF ARCHITECTURAL
ACTION TO REPORT TODAY. MORE OF A REPORT IS A LITTLE HOMEWORK FOR YOU ALL. I'M GOING TO PREVIEW A PROJECT THAT THE ACTUAL PROJECT PRESENTATION WILL HAPPEN NEXT
MONTH AT OUR MONTHLY MEETING. BUT MORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU IS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PULL IT UP, JUST ONE OF MINE.
I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS PLANNING A PROJECT IN OLSON, BRIGHTON, IN THE AREA OF BEACON
YARDS. THANK YOU, ANDREA. I'M SHOWING YOU THE SLIDE OF AUSTIN AND ON THE RIGHT GOING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE THE RIVER, THEN THE AREA OF THE
PROJECT IS AROUND THE MASS PIKE ON THAT CURVE. THE PROJECT IS BASICALLY STRAIGHTENING THAT CURVE. SO IN THIS SLIDE I'M SHOWING YOU TWO LINKS.
THE FIRST ONE ON TOP IS THE PREDICT WEBSITE, THE NEXT LINK IS A SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT FACT SHEET. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND EXPLORE THIS PROJECT AND COME
WITH QUESTIONS FOR NEXT MONTH. SO NEXT MONTH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PRESENTER OF THE PROJECT TO GIVE YOU ALL OF THE DETAILS AND TO ACTUALLY PRESENT THE PROJECT. BUT I'M GIVING YOU THIS PREVIEW TODAY.
THEN I'M GOING TO SHARE THE SLIDES WITH YOU ALL. AS I SAY THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS SINCE 2020 ON REVITALIZATION OF THE UPPER
OLSON NEIGHBORHOOD BY DEVELOPING THE BEACON YARDS AREA WHICH IS CURRENTLY BOUNDED BY ASHFORD STREET, CAME BRIDGE STREET, THE BU BRIDGE, THE CAMBRIDGE AND
FRANKLIN STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THE MASS PIKE AND THE CHARLES RIVER. THIS AIMS TO IMPROVE OPEN SPACE BY STREAMING THE MASS PIKE ADDING TRANSIT CONNECTION
ON THE COMMUTER RAIL AND LOCAL BUS SERVICES AND REPLACING OTHER AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. CITY REPRESENTATIVES ARE LOOKING FORWARD FOR FEEDBACK FROM DISABILITY COMMUNITY FOR THE LOCATION AND DESIGN OF EXISTING
AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THE PROJECT PAGE AND PREPARE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE CITY DURING THE PRESENTATION NEXT MONTH.
AND THAT IS THE END OF MY ASK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THIS IS WES NOW.
DOES ANYONE HAVE COMMENT OR A QUESTION FOR PATRICIA?
THIS IS WES AGAIN. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. IT TALKS ABOUT THE COMMUTER R
RAIL. WHICH LINES OF THE PURPLE LINE WILL BE IMPACTED? >> I THINK IT'S JUST -- I THINK IT'S THE WORCESTER LINE. I WOULD LIKE TO DOUBLE CHECK AND
IT WOULD BE DEFINITELY A QUESTION FOR THE PREPTERS NEXT MONTH. I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG. >> HI, THAT IS THE LINE BETWEEN
BOSTON LANDING AND LANDSDOWNE STREET. I BELIEVE THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO ADD A STATION IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO STATIONS ON THE FRAMINGHAM ONE.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I SEE ANDREA HAS PUT THE LINK AND INFORMATION OF THIS PROJECT IN THE CHAT, AND IN FACT SHE HAS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO PATRICIA'S REPORT? THANK YOU, PATRICIA. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> KAY, WE'LL MOVE ALONG. ON OUR AGENDA THE NEXT ITEM IS ANNOUNCEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS OR DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE? EEM NOT SEEING ANY. GOT QUITE QUIET. NEXT IS OLD BUSINESS. DO WE HAVE ANY OLD BUSINESS THAT
WE NEED TO TAKE UP THIS EVENING? OKAY. THEN THE NEXT ITEM MOVING ALONG, DO WE HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS? ANYBODY NEED TO OPEN ANY NEW
BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ELECTIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH APPEARED EXPLAIN THE PROCESS AND THEN THERE'S JUST A FEW PROCEDURES WE NEED TO DO. FIRST OF ALL I'M GOING TO REPEAT THE NAMES OF THE NOMINATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED LAST MONTH AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK FOR
ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THREE TIMES. THEN SOMEONE, NOT ME, BECAUSE I'M THE CHAIR, SOMEONE SHOULD
MAKE A MOTION TO VOTE. THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. RIGHT NOW ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED?
>> WES, THIS IS CARL. >> GO AHEAD, CARL. >> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM ALL THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS I SERVE ON YOU CAN RUN THE ELECTION FOR THE VICE-CHAIR, THE SECRETARY ND
THE TREASURER BUT PROBABLY VICE-CHAIR OR SOMEBODY ELMS HAS THE RUN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR NAME. >> THANK YOU, CARL. THIS IS ANDREA. I THINK WES IS JUST REFERRING TO SOMEONE ELSE MAKING A MOTION TO
START THE VOTE. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WHATEVER. >> YES. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN FOR ME IS A
CHAIR TO CALL THE VOTES. I'M CLEAR ON THAT. OTHER THAN ME.
SO WHAT WE HAVE, THEN, IS JERRY WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR CH CHAIR. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THREE TIMES NOW ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL NOMINEES FROM THE
FLOOR FOR THIS POSITION OF CH CHAIR? SO AGAIN ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR?
AND AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME, I ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS. >> I MOVE BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
>> OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE.
>> OKAY, GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS, JERRY! ON YOUR NEW EMPLOYMENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL LISTEN TO EVERYONE FOR
THEIR CONFIDENCE IN ME. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE -- BE RIGHT BACK.
SORRY. LIKE I TOLD YOU I HAVE A FOUR AND A HALF-YEAR-OLD I WAS GETTING DISTRACTED BY. OKAY. OLIVIA IS NOMINEE FOR VICE
VICE-CHAIR. AND I'LL ASK ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR OKAY, FOR THE SECOND IME LET ME ASK YOU, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR
THE POSITION OF VICE-CHAIR? AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION OF VICE-CHAIR? >> I MOVE THAT E CLOSE THE NOMINATION PROCESS AND VOTE BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR OLIVIA FOR THE POSITION OF VICE-CHAIR. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, CARL. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED?
SEEING NONE, CONGRATULATIONS, OLIVIA! >> THANK YOU!
>> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE NOMINEE FOR TREASURER. THAT IS PAUL. MAUL BEEN NOMINATED FOR POSITION OF TREASURER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES
FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE ROLE OF TREASURER? SECOND TIME NOW LET ME ASK YOU, ARE THERE ANY OTHER N NOMINATIOS FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION
OF TREASURER? THE THIRD TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES FOR THE POSITION OF TREASURER THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FLOOR? >> THIS IS CARL. I MOVE THAT WE CLOSED NOMINATION
PROCESS AND APPROVE ALL PAUL FOR TREASURER BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. >> ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED?
OKAY, SEEING NONE, CONGRATULATIONS, PAUL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS VICE-CHAIR FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TREASURER'S ROLE. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. NEXT THE FINAL POSITION IS FOR SECRETARY. WE HAVE TARA HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THIS POSITION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION
OF SECRETARY? FOR HE SECOND TIME, LET ME ASK ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION OF SECRETARY?
FOR THE THIRD TIME ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION OF SECRETARY? >> THIS IS CARL. I VOTE THAT WE CLOSE THE NOMINATION PROCESS AND VOTE FOR TARA BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR
THE POSITION F SECRETARY. >> OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? ANYONE? NO? SEEING NONE, THAT PASSES.
TARA IS THE NEW SECRETARY. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE'LL BE SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE. NOW ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS THAT THERE ARE TIME LIMITS. >> HI, EVERYONE. >> I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO ANDREA. PLEASE REMIND PEOPLE OF THE
RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, WES. I'M GOING TO PULL UP A SLIDE AS WELL REAL QUICK. YOU MAY AVE NOTICED YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF ON YOUR OWN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE USE
THE HAND FUNCTION MENTIONED IN THE CHAT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO THEN I CAN GIVE YOU UNMUTE -- I REQUEST THAT YOU UNMUTE SO YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF. WE ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF BEFORE SPEAKING AND WE DO LIMIT
PUBLIC COMMENT TO TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, ANDREA. THIS IS WES. SO WE'RE OPEN FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT HAS INPUT OR COMMENT?
>> WES, THIS IS ANDREA. I'M NOT SEEING ANY D. M'S TO ME
OR ANY OTHER NOTES IN THE CHAT. >> THIS IS CARL.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? >> YES. YOU CAN. >> ALL RIGHT, I SO MOVE MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> THIS IS PAUL. I SECOND. >> THIS IS JERRY.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE I KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE IN THE CHAT AND THROUGHOUT THE MEETING BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK WES FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND JUST REAL I THINK YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, WES, AND I HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
BUT YOU KNOW, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND IT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED I'M SURE. AND I APPRECIATE THE ENACT
YOU'LL BE STAYING ON TO ALWAYS ADVOCATE AND LEND A HELPING HAND WHEN YOU CAN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'M HAPPY TO -- GLAD WE'LL BE
WORKING TOGETHER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JERRY. REALLY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >> NOW I CAN -- NOW WE CAN
ADJOURN. [LAUGHTER] >> YES. OKAY, I WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE MEETING AT 7:15. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. BYE-BYE! >> THANK YOU. TAKE CARE, EVERYONE.