FOR  FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS GABRIELA CLAUDIA ZAPATA DISTRICT ONE CITY COUNCILOR AND I'M CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND TODAY'S MAY 29, 2024. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON LOGAN CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCASTED ON ITS CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FILES CHANNEL NINE SIX FOR ATTENDANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER TWO OF THE ACTS OF 2021 MODIFYING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND RELIEVING PUBLIC BODIES OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC BODIES CONDUCT ITS MEETING IN A PUBLIC PLACE THAT IS OPEN AND PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CONDUCTING THIS HEARING REMOTELY. THIS ENABLES THE CITY COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES WHILE ENSURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO ITS DELIBERATIONS THROUGH ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE MEANS. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C C C DOT G O BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON MEGAN CAVANAUGH AT MEGHAN EMIG AND DOT K V AND HGH AT BOSTON.COM FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.  TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 0645 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THIS WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS JULIA MEJIA, JONATHAN ANDREWS ANDERSON AND BRIAN MORRELL AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 3RD, 2024. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR AT FLYNN COUNCILOR JULIE MEJIA, COUNCILOR BRIAN MORRELL FLAGGING ANY COUNCILORS THAT MAY STILL BE IN THE ATTENDING THE ATTENDEES SECTION RATHER THAN PANELISTS FOR CENTRAL STAFF IN THE EVENT THAT THERE FOR NOW GO TO OPENING REMARKS. I'LL START WITH THE LEAD SPONSORS AND THEN GO TO MY COLLEAGUES. SO WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT OVER TO THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR JULIAN HERE FOR ANY OPENING REMARKS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLETTA SUPPORTER TWO THANK YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME HOSTING A HEARING COORDINATING ONE AND WE HAD A DOUBLE HEADER THIS MORNING. WE STARTED OFF WITH THE HIRING FIRING AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES WITHIN BP AND BP SO NEEDLESS TO SAY WE WERE JUGGLING A LOT. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH US AND THANKING YOU FOR COORDINATING THIS ALONGSIDE US.  AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILOR RURAL AND COUNCILOR ANDERSON FOR JOINING US ON THIS JOURNEY. I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS WAS NOT MY BRIGHT IDEA. THIS WAS ACTUALLY COUNCILOR CAMPBELL IN 2019 FILED AN ORDINANCE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO BRING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.  MY HOPE IS IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WORK FROM A PROACTIVE PERSPECTIVE, NOT A REACTIVE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE ALWAYS COMING FROM SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED. MY HOPE IS IS THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE PRACTICE OF LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT OUR CITY IS BEING EFFICIENT.  IT'S BEEN RESPONSIVE AND IT IS WORKING ALONGSIDE THOSE THAT WE SERVE. SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PANELISTS THAT ARE LINED UP TO SPEAK AND I WANT TO BE SUPER MINDFUL OF THE LIMITED TIME THAT WE HAVE TO TO BE TOGETHER. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP AND LET'S GET TO WORK.  THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERE. IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE.  SHOUT OUT TO DORSEY FOR NAVIGATING TO HEARINGS TODAY. IT'S NOT EASY. I'LL PASS IT OVER TO THE OTHER SPONSOR, COUNCILOR BRIAN MORRELL.  THANK YOU, CHAIR AND JUST WANT TO THANK THE FIRST FOREMOST COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR CODING ME TO BE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND THEN TO ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL FOR HER WORK IN THIS SPACE. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.  I SEE MY GOOD FRIEND I.G. SHAPIRO IN COUNCIL DECARO HERE IN THE ROOM AND ALSO LEWIS AND LISA HERE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT I KNOW WHEN YOU LINE UP THESE THREE GENTLEMEN IN THE ROOM WHAT'S GOING TO BE A ROBUST FULL OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION CONVERSATION SO THANK YOU, CHAIR I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. TOWNS AND RURAL COUNCILOR ED FLYNN.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND OUR PANEL. MR SHAPIRO, COUNCIL OF DECORAH . I'M TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . I'M JUST SCANNING FOR ANYBODY ELSE.  WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR BURTON. COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU JUST ENTERED. ARE YOU OKAY FOR YOUR OPENING REMARKS?  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. GOOD TO SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES THERE. COUNCILOR DECATUR, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU.  THANKS FOR THAT AND THANK YOU TO A CUSTOMER HERE FOR BRINGING THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BURTON I'LL GO AND JUST GIVE A BRIEF OPENING REMARK. WHEN I WHEN CONCILOR MEJIA HERE INTRODUCED ON THE FLOOR I IMMEDIATELY WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME FROM SOME FOLKS INCLUDING EJ SHAPIRO.  WE'D LOVE TO LEARN FROM YOU AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ROLE IS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR INTERACTIONS ARE WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I DON'T THINK THAT I DO THINK THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALWAYS WELCOMED IN IN THIS CITY AND IN INSTANCES WHERE THE CITY HAS HAD TO PAY FOR LEGAL FEES AND CONTRACTING OUT FOR ATTORNEY'S UNDERSTANDING WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME COST SAVING HERE IS ALSO A FINANCIAL CONVERSATION AND SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO LEARN AND BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY. SO THIS IS A HEARING AND SO IS A FACT FINDING MISSION.  WE'RE HERE TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. AND SO WITH THAT, THE AGENDA JUST GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST PANEL GO AHEAD AND WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.  WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND PANEL THAT WILL GIVE TESTIMONY AND WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. AND SO COUNCILMAN , HERE I HAVE FOR THE FIRST PANEL WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY TO BE JOINED BY OUR AUDITOR STATE AUDITOR DIANE DIANA, DESIGNER LEO.  WE HAVE HER HERE ON THE FIRST PANEL SO WE'LL HAVE HER GO FIRST IF SHE IS READY. AND THEN I HAVE COUNCILOR DE CARA AND THEN INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, ALEX DOS SANTOS WE HAVE IG OF THE COMMONWEALTH. JEFFREY SHAPIRO THEN LOUIS ELISA AND THEN FATIMA.  DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT TO YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA? NO, BUT THAT'S THE ORDER THAT YOU WANT TO GO IN AND I AM GOING TO I THINK WE HAD STATE AUDITOR THERE'S A FIRST AND THEN I BELIEVE LARRY RIGHT. COUNCILOR DECARO.  THEN LOUIS ELISA THEN I G SHAPIRO.  OKAY. THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME . WITH THAT I KNOW THAT SHE'S VERY BUSY AND WE'RE AGAIN, WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE HER HERE. BUT STATE AUDITOR DYAD IS LEO.  THE FLOOR IS YOURS FOR ANY TESTIMONY THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. COLETTA IS A PARTNER.  IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU TODAY AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY VIRTUALLY.  I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU TODAY. I AM YOUR STATE AUDITOR FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CHAIRWOMAN, TO VICE CHAIR WEBER AND ALL HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU TODAY. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE AND FIGHTING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND IN SIMPLY JOINING THIS MEETING TODAY AND MY ROLE AS STATE AUDITOR TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK THIS IS A REALLY CREATIVE PROPOSAL THAT UPLIFTS THE CONVERSATION THAT ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE HAD SURROUNDING WAYS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY,  ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. AND I KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE SHARE MY PASSION AROUND THESE ISSUES AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THESE FRONTS.  IN OUR OFFICE'S WORK ON THESE FRONTS WE ARE SEEKING TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF OUR FAMILY BACKGROUND, OUR BANK BALANCE OR ZIP CODE HAS ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AND ANY INFORMATION SURROUNDING THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN STATE GOVERNMENT. OUR TEAM PERFORMS AUDITS THAT TRACK THE PERFORMANCE OF STATE VENDORS, AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN STREAMLINE WORK, SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY AND IDENTIFY MISSPENDING AND THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE I BELIEVE WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT THROUGH PROACTIVE AND INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT. WE HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY DON'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE IN WAYS THAT IT IS INTENDED TO OPERATE AND AND ALL RESIDENTS DESERVE A GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE BEING LISTENED TO. WE'VE SEEN SIMILAR OFFICES ESTABLISHED IN CITIES ACROSS THE NATION INCLUDING NEW YORK, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE JUST TO NAME A FEW AND A BOSTON OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AS OUTLINED IN THIS ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE AN EXPANSIVE SCOPE BRINGING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF CHECKS AND BALANCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING. MY TEAM IN THE STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CONSISTENTLY INVESTIGATES AND AUDITS INSTANCES IN WHICH GOVERNMENT RESOURCES OR FUNDS ARE BEING LOST, STOLEN OR MISUSED AGENCIES.  WE INVESTIGATE INSTANCES WHERE AGENCIES AREN'T EFFECTIVELY SERVING RESIDENTS OR CONTRACTORS AREN'T MEETING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE DO THIS ROUTINELY AND PROACTIVELY. SO I BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION PROVIDING THAT SAME CONSISTENT AND PROACTIVE RESOURCE TO THE CITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SOME OF THE POTENTIAL DARKER AREAS OF GOVERNMENT AND HELP IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL MISMANAGEMENT AND WASTE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS SUCH AS YOURSELVES BOLSTERING EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND I BELIEVE THAT CAN STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. AUDITOR DISALVO, ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.  NEXT UP WE WILL GO TO COUNCILOR LARRY TAKHAR WAS A FORMER CITY COUNCILOR AND ALSO CHAIR OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AUDIT COMMITTEE THE CHICAGO REPORT. THANK YOU CHAIR COLLECT AS A PARTNER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL . IT'S A DISTINCT HONOR TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS BODY ON WHICH I SERVE FOR TEN YEARS. ALAS MANY YEARS AGO AND I DO SO IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I ALSO COME AS A SOME SORT OF AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORIAN AND WILL COMMENT ON THE VARIOUS MECHANISMS WHICH HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER MORE THAN 100 YEARS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT RUNS SMOOTHLY. AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY IT WAS GREAT CONCERN THAT THE CITY WAS RUNNING AMOK.  MAJOR REFORMS WERE INSTITUTED. REMEMBER THIS IS THE PROGRESSIVE ERA THEODORE ROOSEVELT WITH THE BULLY PULPIT IN THE WHITE HOUSE. AND ONE OF THEM WAS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WENT FROM A BICAMERAL BODY OF 75 ON WHAT THEY CALLED THE COMMON COUNCIL AND 13 ON THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN IT WAS CONSOLIDATED TO NINE COUNCILORS AT LARGE. THAT BEING THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BRING ABOUT MORE EFFICIENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THERE'D BE SOME ARE THEY BEEN SOME OF THE COUNCILORS HAD DONE A LITTLE TIME AS A GUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THEY HOPED THAT THAT WOULD ALSO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AT THAT TIME AGAIN FIRST DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY THERE WAS CREATED A BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR REMEMBER A FINANCE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR STILL IN PLACE TO THIS DAY WITH VERY SIGNIFICANT POWERS TO REVIEW CONTRACTS. AMONG THOSE WHO SERVED ON THE FINANCE COMMISSION WAS A RELATIVELY OBSCURE LAWYER FROM ROXBURY NAMED EDWARD W BROOK AND HE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR VOLPI IN 1961 MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON ON THE PHONE WHO MAY REMEMBER THAT ERA AND HE DID SUCH A GOOD JOB CHAIRING THE FINANCE COMMISSION THAT HE WAS ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH, REELECTED IN A LANDSLIDE AND THEN SERVED 12 YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE AND THE FINANCE COMMISSION GETS A SMALL BUDGET WHICH COUNCIL WILL RULE PROBABLY AS HAD BEFORE HIM. THEY HAVE A SMALL STAFF AND THEY REVIEW CONTRACTS. THEN IN THE FIFTIES AND AGAIN I'VE READ ABOUT THIS I DON'T REMEMBER I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL THEN THE CITY HAD TO DO AN EXTRAORDINARY FINANCIAL REORGANIZATION AND THEY HAD TO GO AND GET SOME SPECIAL LEGISLATION FROM THE STATE REMEMBERING THIS IS BEFORE THE HOME RULE AMENDMENT PASSED IN 1966 AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE LEGISLATURE THERE WAS A REORGANIZATION TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. AND FOR MANY YEARS THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WAS REFERRED TO AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS NOW REPORT TO HIM OR TO HER THAT AGAIN THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO TROUBLES AT THE TIME.  NOW THE IG MR SHAPIRO, WHO I MUST SUBMIT I'VE NEVER MET CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF HIS OFFICE MORE THAN I CAN. BUT I REMEMBER THE TIMES AND THERE WAS WHAT WAS CALLED THE MBM SCANDAL.  TWO STATE SENATORS WENT TO JAIL ,A THIRD EXITED PUBLIC LIFE PERHAPS LITTLE PRECIPITOUSLY. IT WAS CHAIRED BY J. WILLIAM WARD WHO I KNEW FORMER PRESIDENT OF AMHERST COLLEGE, A NATIVE OF DORCHESTER, GRADUATE OF LATIN SCHOOL WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN DISTINGUISHED HISTORIAN . AND THAT RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE COUNCIL THAT ROLE WAS FIRST FILLED BY JOSEPH PARISI WHO USED TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS WE THEN CALLED HIM OF THE MUNICIPAL RESEARCH BUREAU. WHEN I SAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL GREAT GUY SOUTH BOSTON NATIVE AND THE JOB WAS TO REVIEW CONTRACTS AND CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND MR SHAPIRO ARE GENERAL SUPERIOR OF THAT IS MORE OFFICIAL TITLE. I CAN CERTAINLY DESCRIBE THAT MUCH BETTER THAN I. AND THEN LET'S FAST FORWARD TO WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY LOST A MAJOR COURT CASE CALLED THE TREYGER DECISION AND WAS FORCED TO PAY BACK ABOUT $80 MILLION OVER 40 YEARS AGO. SO YOU CAN DO THE MATH AS TO HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE TODAY TO A PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE OVER ASSESSED.  THIS WAS BEFORE THE CLASSIFICATION AMENDMENT AND BEFORE TWO AND A HALF. WHAT WAS NASA'S AREA FOR THE CITY TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO PAY THOSE COURT DECISIONS WAS A SPECIAL ACT TO THE LEGISLATURE WHICH I THINK WAS PASSED IN 82. IT COULD HAVE BEEN 83. IT GAVE BOSTON CERTAIN NEW POWERS TO TAX AND DIRECTED THAT THEY BE THE ONES THAT WERE USED TO PAY THESE COURT CASES AND THEY CREATED AS PART OF THE BILL LITTLE MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO AN AUDIT COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE CITY HAD NEVER HAD AN AUDIT . AND I WAS ASKED BY MAYOR WHITE TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND I'VE BEEN ON IT EVER SINCE AND I'VE BEEN CHAIRING IT FOR SOME TIME. I THINK I SOMETIMES SUGGEST WAS MY LAST FAVORITE MAYOR KEVIN WHITE. AND THERE WERE A FEW WHEN MY TEN YEARS ON THE COUNCIL THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETS QUARTERLY AND MANY MANY SAY THIS YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE MORE OFTEN THAN QUARTERLY WITH THE OUTSIDE AUDITORS CURRENTLY KPMG AND WHEN THE FIRST AUDIT OCCURRED THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME WAS HOG AND BIG GRUFF GUY HAD BEEN IN BUFFALO USED TO SMOKE A PIPE AND HE WAS AMAZED THAT THERE WERE BASICALLY NO RECORDS AT CITY HALL. THERE WERE PILES OF PAPER THAT THEY HAD TO REVIEW. NOW OUR CITY AUDIT RECEIVES AWARDS BASICALLY EVERY YEAR AS WELL AS THE TOP CITY AUDITS IN THE COUNTRY.  AND AS ALL THE COUNCILORS KNOW, WE HAVE A TRIPLE-A BOND RATING SOMETHING WE COULDN'T HAVE EVEN READ ABOUT BACK IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN I WAS THERE WHICH HELPS THE CITY BECAUSE IT MEANS BORROWING COSTS LESS AND IT'S IT'S A MUCH BETTER SHAPE.  BOSTON IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN OTHER LARGE CITIES AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO THAT SPECIAL ACT FILES ON THE ANNUAL REPORT USUALLY IN FEBRUARY, SOMETIMES MARCH WITH THE COUNCIL . SURE. SOME OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS HAVE PERUSED IT VIGOROUSLY TO TELL THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE MAY RECOMMENDATIONS. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE MATTER BEFORE THE COUNCIL BECAUSE OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT LAYERS, I THINK IT'S UNNECESSARY TO CREATE A NEW POSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE MECHANISMS IN PLACE WHICH ARE WORKING MY OPINION RELATIVELY WELL OR ELSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT TRIPLE-A BOND RATING. OUR ITEM WOULDN'T GET AN AWARD ALMOST EVERY YEAR FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. BUT NOTWITHSTANDING THAT STATEMENT, I RESPECT OUR DEMOCRACY AND I RESPECT ANY MEMBER OR ANY MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO PROPOSE AN IDEA THEY BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR FROM ALL IN THIS MATTER.  THANK YOU, MR CORA, AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR OR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONTEXT THAT IS SO NECESSARY FOR THIS CONVERSATION. I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR AT LARGE AARON MURPHY. EXCUSE ME . I'M SO SORRY . IT WAS COUNCILOR OF DISTRICT SEVEN TANYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND THEN COUNCILOR AT LARGE AARON MURPHY. WITH RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE AG FROM THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HAS A HARD STOP AND SO WE'LL GO TO MR DESANTIS FIRST FOR HIS TESTIMONY AND THEN I'LL GO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY OPENING STATEMENTS IF THEY HAVE ANY. MR DESANTIS, YOU HAVE THE FOURTH.  WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HAPPY TO STAY ON UNTIL TILL THREE. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.  I COMMEND YOU ALL AS A CITY FOR INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION AND TAKING THE TIME TO EVALUATE IT.  I WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY ROLE HERE. I'M THE AG FOR THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA SO WE ARE NOT CREATED VIA ORDINANCE OR CITY CHARTER. WE ARE WE EXIST. OUR ENABLING AUTHORITY IS VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT WE CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND INSPECTIONS OF ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE MAYOR'S AUTHORITY AND ENTITIES OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONTRACTING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS OR OTHERWISE RECEIVING A BENEFIT FROM THE CITY OR A FINANCIAL OR FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY. OUR INVESTIGATIONS SPAN THE SUBSTANTIVE AREA OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS IS VERY DIVERSE. WE DO INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE THEFT OF TIME, TIME KEEPING ISSUES. WE HAVE A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT HERE WHICH ALSO WE FIELD COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST CATALOG OF CONTRACT INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE ORIENTED TOWARD ALLEGATIONS OF OVERBILLING OR FALSE BILLING AND OTHER VILE WHAT MAY BE VIOLATION OF A OF A CITY CONTRACT. THOSE INVESTIGATIONS SOMETIMES YIELD SOMETIMES YIELD ACTIONABLE EVIDENCE THAT WOULD LEAD TO DISBARMENT LITIGATION IN SOME CONTEXTS CONTRACT TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION.  AND WE HAVE A HISTORY IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS IN THE AREA OF IN OUR CITY WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST MINORITY BUSINESS CATALOG AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM CITY CONTRACTORS IN THE AREA OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. IF THERE IS A MISREPRESENT IN THERE WE HAVE CONDUCTED INVESTIGATIONS AND HELD COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE SETTING LIKE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION AS WELL AND THEN WE DO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL. SO WE HAVE PRIMARILY PARTNERED WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WE FREQUENTLY PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AROUND THE STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL WHEN THE CASE REQUIRES IT.  OUR INVESTIGATORS WORK TOGETHER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE A LOT OF THAT WORK HAS RESULTED IN PROSECUTIONS OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ABUSED THE PUBLIC TRUST EMBEZZLED,  MISAPPROPRIATED AND OUR INVESTIGATIONS HAVE YIELDED A NUMBER YOU KNOW, RESTITUTION AND OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES.  I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY ONE QUICK THING NOT TO TAKE UP MUCH TIME BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING AREAS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN INTO OVER THE YEARS IS IT'S IS REALLY ABOUT JUST TRANSPARENCY. AND SO FROM TIME TO TIME THERE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE PAPER HERE THAT ARE RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT A DEPARTMENT OR A PRACTICE OR A DECISION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MADE.  AND OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH TRYING TO NOT NECESSARILY INVESTIGATE AN ALLEGATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ARRESTING SOMEONE OR CHARGING SOMEONE OR TAKING DISCIPLINARY ACTION BUT JUST TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A MUCH MORE CLEAN EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALONG WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT MAY BE NECESSARY.  AND THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH AND KNOW REALLY WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IS IMPROVING THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND WE LOOK AT THAT AS OUR PRIMARY MISSION SO ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO IS IS ABOUT MAKING THE REST OF THE GOVERNMENT MUCH MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND MUCH MORE TRUSTWORTHY TO THE PUBLIC. I'D BE HAPPY TO I'LL STICK AROUND FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS IT MAY RELATE TO OUR DAY TO DAY OPERATION BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SANTOS I'M SURE WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I CERTAINLY DO. BUT I WILL HOLD AND RESERVE MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND THEN BE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE 3 P.M. CUT OFF TIME. I'LL GO TO MY DISTRICT COLLEAGUE OR DISTRICT SEVEN COLLEAGUE COUNSELOR ANDERSON FOR ANY OPENING REMARKS SHE MAY HAVE.  MADAM CHAIR, I APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING THIS HEARING AND TO THE LEAD SPONSOR, OUR COUNCILOR MEJIA CO-SPONSOR OF COUNCIL WILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU ON THIS HEARING AND HOPING FOR A ROBUST CONVERSATION.  QUESTIONS READY AND ON DECK WHATEVER IS MY TURN.  I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS TIME BUT JUST READY FOR THE QUESTIONS IN THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR AT LARGE AARON MURPHY . THANK YOU ALL WAIVE ANY OPENING STATEMENTS BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND I ALSO HAVE MY QUESTIONS READY WHEN IT'S TIME TO THANK YOU AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN LOUIS A ALYSSA THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF GARRISON TROTTER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE, MR LISA. THE FLOOR IS YOURS FOR ANY JUST ONE.  GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, CHAIR WHEN WE COME OUT OF THE PARTY BE READING AND THINKING TO HEAR YOUR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT FORWARD.  UNFORTUNATELY, I SPENT 50 YEARS IN GOVERNMENT ON CITY, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CITY STATE SAID TO A GOOD PART OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT SERVICE WAS AN INDUSTRY THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO CHARLES WILSON.  CONCERNS ABOUT 32 YEARS IN THE CITY COUNCIL DID ABOUT THREE THOSE YEARS MORE THAN THE POST AUDIT AND SO I BECAME AWARE WHEN AN IMPORTANT AUDIT IN THE POST AUDIT PROCESS.  WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT ON ME REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION ALTHOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WAS THE SOLEMN ISSUE THAT'S COME BEFORE US AND THE LEGISLATORS INVOLVED, THIS AUDIENCE IS A SEPARATE I DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF REAL PLACE ABOUT BOSTON BECAUSE I'M IN NEW YORK CITY YEAR WAS THE 10TH PRIMARY HERE IN BOSTON FOR THE LAST 54 YEARS BUT THE HISTORY THAT I'VE STUDIED THE BOSTON HAS BEEN ONE OF CHANGE AS RELATES TO PERCEPTION AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE POWER OF THE CITY WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK. AND SO THE CONCERNS OF MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND THOSE THAT I'VE SOLD AND WORKED FOR LOOK HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT WORKS WELL IN WHAT WORKS ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC WHO WE HAVE IN PLACE TO SERVE, WHETHER APPOINTED OR ELECTED. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HERE TO SHOW THE CITY THAT WE ARE MAKING GOOD USE OF THEIR RESOURCES AND NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR ABSENCE TO TO IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS POSITION AND WE'VE ENABLED SOME I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING IN THE CITY COUNCIL TO COME THAT I'M NOT ONE OF THESE CLASSMATES LIKE THAT TO DEBATE IS GIVING YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE BOSTON HAS GONE THROUGH A VERY CHALLENGING PERIOD. THROW BACK TO SITUATION THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN NOW WITH THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IN WHITE STADIUM THAT WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WE WERE ALL GREAT NEEDS ON SORT OF RAN AMOK IS A DANGER WITH LIBERALIZATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND RESOURCES AND GAVE AWAY A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL PARK BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE RECEIVED SOME BENEFITS FROM MAKING THIS LOBBY BAILABLE WITHIN OF WAS A LOW COST WHO MET THE OUTCOMES OF HISTORICALLY AND CONTINUED TO FOLLOW US. WE THINK THAT WE ARE ALSO NOW ABOUT WHAT THE OUTCOMES WOULD BE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND I GUESS THAT THEY HAD A STRONG ENERGY TO CHALLENGE WHETHER OR NOT TO COMMIT THESE DEALS FROM JAIL. WE MIGHT BE IN A BETTER SITUATION THAN NEGOTIATING HOW WE MOVING FORWARD NOW BUT THERE'S PRESUMPTION IS THAT HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL BEEN VERY EFFECTIVELY DEMONSTRATED FOR ME ONE AS A WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THE MOST CHOOSES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN SERVING EVERYBODY'S ENVIRONMENT AFFAIRS AND THEN AS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, THE SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL , YOU 50% BECAME MORE CLEAR IN STARK REALITY FOR ME THERE WAS AN INSPECTOR GENERAL AND SAID HE WAS THE POINT IN WOULD THE US REPRESENTATIVE TOMATO THAT FOR YEARS THIS HAD A SINGLE AND THE REASON WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE ROAD LOGS YOU WILL THEY PLAY IN PROCESS OF UTILIZING PUBLIC FUNDS IS THAT USING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY WHICH WE OFTEN DO FOR PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT MUST TAKE PLACE THEY ALSO SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN CLEAR THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND SO WHILE WE ALL KNOW THAT WE COME TO THESE OFFICES WE GET A LOT TO IMPLEMENT SO THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING SO THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC SOMETIMES AND THIS INVOLVED AND SOMETIMES WE GO TO STRAIGHT IN THE ROLE OF INDEPENDENT PERSON INDEPENDENT COUNCILOR WE COULD LOOK AT THIS PROCESS AND POINT OUT WHAT YOU MAY BE DOING THIS WAY OR WE HAVE MADE A MISTAKE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PERCEPTION IS REALITY AND FOR A LOT OF THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE NOT UTILIZING THE RESOURCES PROPERLY OBJECTIVELY ALTHOUGH THE EMISSIONS AND THE RESOURCES IS ONE THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE TRUST OF PUBLIC THE PUBLIC TRUST OF THOSE APPOINTED AND ELECTED POSITIONS AND WE DO A LOT TO HELP THEM BECOME POLITICAL SOCIETY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TRUST IN THE IN THE IN THE PERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE WITH IN OUR BEST INTERESTS IS NECESSARY FOR US TO BE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE PAYING TAXES, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE NOT IN THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON. I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A PERSON IN THE POSITION NOW JUNE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE THE POINT BEING DOWN CORPORATION IS HAVING MANY CHALLENGES THAT HAS COME UP OVER THE MANY YEARS AND ALSO THE PERCEPTION THAT SOME THINGS THAT WILL HOST THE DONORS SO THAT THINGS WE'VE DONE COULD BE DONE IN A BETTER WAY MADE SENSE AND ARE EXAMINING THE CENTER STAGE IN PHILADELPHIA. I WILL WORK WITH ANYONE ANYBODY FROM WILL TO DO IT ALL THE WAY TO GO TO SLEEP AND THE REST OF THE WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING UTILIZED HAS BEEN FOR CONTROL OF SERVICES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN SELL TO LOTS AND PEOPLE BUT WITH SOMEONE WE HAVE TO OVERSEE THE PROCESS BUT WE DON'T HAVE ASK THE QUESTION WHAT WAS IT HOW IT WAS DONE?  YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO SAY WHAT YOU'RE DOING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN A DIFFERENT WAY IN ALL THE CITIZENS OF YOUR COMMUNITY, ALL THE CITIZENS YOUR CITY THE SAME OPPORTUNITY YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY TO TAKE PLACE. YOU WANT THERE TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY IN HOW PRODUCE AND PUT TOGETHER WITH HOW THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC IN AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY AND THEN WAYS THAT WITH INDEPENDENT BECAUSE PART OF WHAT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED SAYS THE MAYOR GETS TO QUOTE GUIDE YOU IN PHILADELPHIA IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER HERE IN ORDER TO GUIDE YOU AND THAT MAY HAVE SOME CONCERN FOR ME THE TERMS THAT WE SERVE IN CONTROL WITH REGARD TO THE MILL. I MEAN THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT UNTIL THE PUT INTO LEGISLATION WORKS.  BUT I THINK THAT A PROCESS THAT'S INDEPENDENT I KNOW THAT WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING TO SEE MORE IS YOU KNOW IS IN PLACE IN AND PLACES IRRESPECTIVE OF THE TIME OF THE PRESIDENT THAT WE APPOINTED FOR SIX YEARS OR IN A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT YOU CLOSED. IT'S A CHANGE ADMINISTRATIONS YOU DON'T GET THE CHANCE BECAUSE THE ISSUE FALLS TO BE CLEAR THAT THE ALGAE SHE OR HE IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC IN TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SINCERELY HONESTY OF THE PROCESS IS BEING MAINTAINED REGARDLESS WHO IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. SO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LEGISLATURE ONE I THINK HAVE BEEN SINCE TWO I THINK THAT'S MORE THAN NEEDED. I THINK THE HISTORY OF BOSTON WITH ALL THESE CHALLENGES I WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE LITANY OF THESE ALL THE CONSORTIUM I'LL JUST ALWAYS LOOK WITH GREAT INTEREST AS A CITY PLANNER, AS A DESIGNER, AS SOMEONE WHO'S COME IN IN A LOT OF THE SERVICES AS I WAKE UP MORNING STARTLED ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT IS NOT OPEN IN TERMS OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE GOING FORWARD AND NO ONE EVER QUESTIONED HOW AND WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE AND WHERE IT TOOK PLACE. AND SO AS A CONTRACTOR WE DID NOT AND WE THE PUBLIC DON'T HEAR ABOUT UNTIL THE SAME PROCESS AS IT IS. SO THAT'S BEEN RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY IT BUILDS THE CONTRACTORS WILL NOT SEE THE NOW AND AGAIN IT'S YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE FIVE TIMES MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING BASICALLY SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. A NOTE TO THE TEAM ABOUT THIS IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON FEMALE THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PROJECT WAS THAT THOSE WHO SAYING THAT THE AUGUSTA WE DIDN'T GO SORRY MOST OR THAT IT WAS NOT EFFICIENT FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC LODGING WAS BE ABLE TO GIVE US DIRECTION AND TO AND TO HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO SAY SOME OF THE DEALT WITH JUST BALANCE SOME OF THE PERSONAL RESOLVE DEALT WITH PROBLEMS I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNCILOR TO GET FAVORABLY UPON AN INDEPENDENT CASE AND WHAT THEY FEEL THEY HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO BUT IS NOT SAY TO GIVE THE CONFIDENCE TO THE PUBLIC THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU LOOKING AFTER THEIR BOTH INTERESTS AND THAT THE PERSON WHO IN THAT POSITION WOULD BE INDEPENDENT CLEAR IT FAILED IN HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR JOB ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS NOT BE HERE FOR THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT CONFIDENCE IN GOING FORWARD AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE TO PAY THAT.  THANK YOU, MR LEITER.  AT LEAST EXCUSE ME IS THAT HOW LISA CORRECT. OKAY, DOCTOR, I HEARD IT STORMS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NOW WILL GO TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, MR JEFFREY SHAPIRO, WHO'S CHAIR OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON.  CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? TERRIFIC. YES, SIR.  CHAIR COLETTE IS ABOUT A VICE CHAIR WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. GOOD DAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE TODAY REGARDING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK CONCILOR MEJIA HERE AND CO-SPONSORS WORRELL AND FOUR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE FORWARD.  AND THANK YOU TO THE OTHER DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS. MY NAME IS JEFFREY SHAPIRO AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS THE FIFTH INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.  I AM A YEAR AND A HALF INTO A FIVE YEAR TERM. I MAY STAND FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR ONE ADDITIONAL TERM AS THE POSITION HAS A TEN YEAR STATUTORY MAXIMUM TENURE. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE STATE AUDITOR. SINCE MY APPOINTMENT I HAVE LED AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY AND MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FOR A CAUSE WHICH REQUIRES A PUBLIC LETTER AND FILING. AS A PROFESSIONAL I HAVE OVER 33 YEARS OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE. I HAVE SERVED IN VARIOUS LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL ROLES INCLUDING IN THE MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND IN THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. MOST RECENTLY SERVING AS FIRST DEPUTY COMPTROLLER FOR UNDER THREE COMPTROLLERS. I HAVE ALSO SERVED AS A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT ROLE ON CAPITOL HILL AND ON BEACON HILL . CREATED IN 1981, THE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. AS FORMER COUNCILOR DECARO SHARED A LITTLE BIT IS THE FIRST STATEWIDE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO A SERIES OF CORRUPTION SCANDALS RELATED TO PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION MOST NOTABLY THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UMASS BOSTON HARVARD CAMPUS IN WHICH PUBLIC OFFICIALS WERE INDICTED AND CONVICTED.  IN THOSE DAYS ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION WERE ADDRESSED BY CREATING A SO-CALLED BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF A SINGLE MATTER AND THEN DISBANDED.  THE WARD COMMISSION IN ITS WISDOM RECOMMENDED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE SEVENTIES THAT A STATEWIDE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BE ESTABLISHED WITH AUTHORITY ACROSS STATE AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TO ALWAYS BE LOOKING TO MITIGATE AND ELIMINATE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE. THE MASS OIG IS AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AGENCY THAT PROMOTES GOOD GOVERNMENT BY PREVENTING AND DETECTING FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY. SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE THE PUBLIC'S WATCHDOG OVER ALL PUBLIC FUNDS AND ASSETS USED IN THE COMMONWEALTH AT THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL LEVEL.  IN ADDITION TO ITS INVESTIGATORY AND COMPLIANCE WORK FOR WHICH WE ARE MOST WELL KNOWN, THE OFFICE OPERATES AN EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH ITS OIG ACADEMY.  WE ESTIMATE THAT THE OIG HAS OVERSIGHT OF 120 BILLION IN MUNICIPAL AND STATE SPENDING AND OVERSEES THE WORK OF OVER 300,000 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PLUS THE WORK OF CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, VENDORS AND NOT FOR PROFIT RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS. CURRENTLY THE OFFICE HAS A BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION AND A STAFF OF ABOUT 90 EMPLOYEES. OUR ENABLING STATUTE MS. GENERAL LA CHAPTER 12 A GIVES US BROAD AUTHORITY OVER STATE AND MUNICIPAL SPENDING WHICH WE WOULD NOT CEDE SHOULD A CITY OF BOSTON OIG BE CREATED . SOME EXAMPLES OF PAST WORK AT THE MASS OIG HAS DONE IN OR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BOSTON INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT AN INVESTIGATION INTO POST-RETIREMENT EARNINGS BY ALLEGATIONS BY A FORMER BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HEADMASTER TESTIFYING AT THE RESTITUTION HEARING OF A FORMER CEO WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING FUNDS FROM A BOSTON HOMELESS SHELTER.  AND A REVIEW AND REPORT ON PRACTICES AT THE FORMER BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY INCLUDING THE VERY BAD DEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON WITH REGARD TO THE BOSTON RED SOX JERSEY STREET EVENT DATE EASEMENT TRANSACTION.  TO NAME JUST A FEW. THE OIG IS ALSO OFTEN WRITTEN INTO LEGISLATION TO REVIEW REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE CITY AND HAS A ROLE IN APPROVING THE CITY'S USE OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK METHOD. SHOULD IT SHOULD THE CITY SEEK TO USE THAT PROCESS?  THE MASSACHUSETTS OIG IS A UNIQUE MODEL. WHILE THERE ARE 11 OTHER STATEWIDE INSPECTORS GENERALS OFFICES IN THE COUNTRY AND MANY OTHER STATE HAVE AGENCY SPECIFIC IGS WHICH IS THE FEDERAL MODEL OR COUNTY OR JURISDICTIONAL I.D. IG'S OFFICES. MASSACHUSETTS IS UNIQUE IN THAT IN THAT ITS IG HAS JURISDICTION AUTHORITY FOR ALL STATE AGENCIES AND ALL MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS.  CONVERSELY, THE STATE IG'S OFFICE IS IN NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, VIRGINIA, PENNSYLVANIA, LOUISIANA AND GEORGIA ARE GENERALLY LIMITED TO STATE LEVEL OVERSIGHT. AND IN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS THERE ARE AGENCY SPECIFIC IG'S OFFICES RATHER THAN A STATEWIDE TYPE.  IN BALTIMORE CITY HAS A VERY EFFECTIVE CITY IG.  OTHER CITIES LIKE ATLANTA, DALLAS AND MIAMI-DADE HAVE NEWER CITY IG'S OFFICES EACH OF WHICH HAS HAD CHALLENGES GETTING ESTABLISHED BASED UPON THE UNIQUE STATUTE AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CREATED THE MASSO OIG AND MY STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES. I HAVE LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS STRONG AND RESULTS ORIENTED AS OUR TEAM IS. I BELIEVE THERE IS SPACE FOR A BOSTON OIG. AS YOU MAY KNOW THIS IS A CHANGE IN POSITION FROM MY PREDECESSORS POSITION WHEN THIS PROPOSAL WAS LAST CONSIDERED IN 2019. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, AT LEAST TWO BIG CAVEATS TO THAT BELIEF. ONE THAT THE AUTHORITY AND MANDATE OF THE MASS OIG WOULD UNCHANGED SHOULD THIS PROPOSAL BE ADOPTED. AND TWO THE DETAILS ARE CRITICAL TO AVOID DUPLICATION AND OVERLAPPING AGENCIES WHICH WOULD BE A WASTE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.  I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DUPLICATION AND WASTE WITH WHAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ACTUAL DETAILS.  SHOULD AN OIG FOR BOSTON BE CREATED BEFORE ESTABLISHING A NEW ENTITY? THE COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER IF THERE ARE EXISTING AGENCIES IN THE CITY THAT PERFORM A SIMILAR FUNCTION AND IF THEY COULD FILL THIS ROLE.  FOR EXAMPLE THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMITTEE IN 1909 AS FORMER COUNSELOR TO CHRIS SHARED THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE CREATED THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION PER ITS WEBSITE. THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION ALSO KNOWN AS INCOME IS AN INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG AGENCY CREATED TO MONITOR ANY AND ALL BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE PURPOSE OF THE FIN COMM IS TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYERS,  RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON HAVE AN ADVOCATE FOR HONEST AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS IN THE CITY. INCOME, IN MY OPINION IS ABLY LED BY MR MATT KEHOE AS A FIVE MEMBER BOARD. ALL BOSTON RESIDENTS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS AND HAD AN FBI 2023 BUDGET OF A LITTLE OVER 320,000 AND A STAFF OF THREE.  MY CONCERN IS NOT THAT MR CAHILL ABOUT MR CAHILL'S LEADERSHIP THE WORK OF THE AGENCY OR ITS COMMISSION MEMBERS.  IN FACT QUITE THE CONTRARY AS I BELIEVE THAT MR CAHILL AND HIS TEAM DO AN IMPRESSIVE JOB WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS AGENCY IS CHARGED WITH MANY OF THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE ENVISIONED BY THE NEW CITYWIDE OIG BUT IN MY VIEW DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDS POOLS OR PUBLIC EXPOSURE NECESSARY TO DO SO. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE CREATING A CITYWIDE OIG WILL BE DUPLICATIVE OF THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION WITH ADEQUATE FUNDING AND STRENGTHENING OF ITS STATUTE. THE BEST THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION MIGHT BE ABLE TO FULFILL THE ROLE CONTEMPLATED IN THIS PROPOSAL. IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE ALREADY DOING PARTS OF WHAT THE PROPOSAL IDENTIFIES AND IT WOULD BE LESS CONFUSING FOR THE PUBLIC THAN HAVING SIMILAR ENTITIES FULFILLING SIMILAR ROLES.  AND WOULD WE GET BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES? LET ME FURTHER EXPLAIN THE BOSTON OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPORT FORENSIC.  THE PROBLEM WITH CREATING A CITY AGENCY WITHOUT CLEAR GUIDELINES AND OVERLAPPING WITH OTHER AGENCIES IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OPAQUE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE IN 2020. AS YOU KNOW, OPEC'S MISSION IS FOCUSED ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITS ROLE THE ROLE OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY AND THE INTERPLAY WITH OP ED AND THE COMMONWEALTH'S POLICE OFFICERS STANDARDS IN TRAINING POST COMMISSION ARE PERCEIVED AS BEING AT BEST BY MANY.  OP-ED WITH A STAFF OF ABOUT EIGHT AND A BUDGET OF 1.4 MILLION SHOWS ON ITS WEBSITE DASHBOARD TOOL 148 COMPLAINTS. YET NO DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THIS POINT. MY POINT IN RAISING THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TO CRITICIZE THE OP ED THE WORK OF THE STAFF OR THE MEMBERS OF ITS THREE BOARDS OR THE NEWLY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MR AMANDO CAVALLARO BUT RATHER TO TO ILLUMINATE THE CAUTIONARY TALE OF CREATING BY ORDINANCE AN AGENCY WITH OVERLAPPING JURISDICTION WITH OTHER CITY AND STATE AGENCIES. IN MY ROLE AS STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WASTING RESOURCES SHOULD A CITY OIG BE CREATED WITHOUT CLARIFYING THE ROLES OF IT AND FUNCTION AND ENSURING THAT THE CITY AND STATE OFFICES ARE COMPLEMENTARY AND NOT ESTABLISHED TO BE IN CONFLICT.  A BOSTON CITY WIDE OAG I BELIEVE MATTER.  FURTHERMORE I OF PARTICULAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES PROCESS WITH THE APPOINTMENT REMOVAL AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND I BELIEVE MR ELIAS MENTIONED SOME OF THESE POINTS IN HIS TESTIMONY. THE REMOVAL AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE BUDGET FOR THE OIG ARE AMONG MY CONCERNS.  SPECIFICALLY THE PROPOSAL ESTABLISHES THAT THE MAYOR IS THE SINGLE APPOINTMENT. THE TERM IS COTERMINOUS WITH THAT OF THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR MAY SOLELY REMOVE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FROM OFFICE.  WHILE I HAVE CERTAINLY GREAT RESPECT FOR MY COLLEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IS A DIFFERENT METHOD HOW ONE WOULD BE CREATED AND APPEARS TO BE SUBJECT TO THE TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.  THESE FACTORS IN MY OPINION ALL UNDERMINE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE PROPOSED CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THUS UNDERMINES ITS ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE STATED OBJECTIVES IN CREATING AN OIG. I KNOW THAT THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES REFERENCES TO THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL AND ITS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN SECTION TWO POINT 16.12. THUS THE COUNCIL THAT DRAFTED THIS ORDINANCE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAT THE AIG PLAYS IN THIS SPACE. I SUGGEST THAT THE SPONSORS OF THE ORDINANCE CONTACT THE AIG LEADERSHIP TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AIG'S MODEL OIG LEGISLATION OF WHICH I PROVIDED A COPY TO THE COMMITTEE. WHILE I AM A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL AND I HOLD THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CERTIFICATION, I AM NOT HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THEM.  I DO BELIEVE THAT THE AIG AND ITS GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE IS A CRITICAL RESOURCE TO ENSURE THAT A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALIGNS WITH THE STANDARDS TO WARRANT SUCH OFFICE BEING CALLED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND ITS LEADER AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. ADDITIONALLY, I POINT TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE'S INSPECTOR GENERAL A GOOD EXAMPLE OF STRONG ENABLING LANGUAGE THAT EMBODIES THE PRINCIPLES I MENTIONED. BALTIMORE HAS A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 586,000. THE BALTIMORE IG IS FUNDED AT 2.3 MILLION AND HAS A STAFF OF EIGHT. SHE IS CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND PROMOTING EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY IN CITY GOVERNMENT. SHE SERVES A SIX YEAR TERM AND IS APPOINTED BY AN ADVISORY BOARD OF 11 MEMBERS. I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A COPY OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE CHARTER TO THE COMMITTEE AS INSPECTOR AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT WITH THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER THEY LEAD ENABLING LANGUAGE MUST LAY OUT QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND STAFF.  THE OIG MUST HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COMPEL DOCUMENT PRODUCTION AND AGENCY HEADS MUST BE REQUIRED TO COOPERATE WITH THE OFFICE.  INVESTIGATIONS MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL COMPLETION.  THE LANGUAGE SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE INFORMATION THAT COULD BE PERTINENT TO THE OIG WORK AND SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL MUST HAVE A TERM THAT IS NOT COTERMINOUS WITH ITS APPOINTING AUTHORITY AND MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FOR CAUSE. THESE ARE KEY PRINCIPLES OF A TRUE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE . UNFORTUNATELY MANY JURISDICTIONS SEEK TO CREATE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IN NAME ONLY WITHOUT THE PROPER FUNDING INDEPENDENCE AND LACKING THE TOOLS I JUST MENTIONED.  AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE MUST BE ROOTED AND TRANSPARENT AND FAIR DEALING. IT PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE. ULTIMATELY HAVING A STRONG INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HELPS TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE.  SHOULD A CITY OIG BE CREATED IT OUGHT NOT DUPLICATE THE EXTENSIVE PROACTIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE STATEWIDE OIG THROUGH ITS OIG ACADEMY. THOUGH I DO THINK THAT THE CITY WOULD BE POSITIONED WELL TO REQUIRE THOSE IT OVERSEES SHOULD THERE BE A CITY I.G. TO ATTEND A MASS OIG ACADEMY COURSES AND EARN AND MAINTAIN THE CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED BY THE MASS OIG? IT WOULD LIKELY BE DUPLICATIVE IN WASTEFUL TO CREATE AN OVERLAPPING EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INFRASTRUCTURE. IN CONCLUSION, I DO NOT TESTIFIED BEFORE YOU TODAY IN OPPOSITION AND TO THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF A CITY WIDE INSPECTOR GENERAL.  BUT TO ME DETAILS MATTER. I DO NOT THINK THIS PROPOSAL MEETS THE MOMENT. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE DOES NOT CREATE AN IG OR AN OIG THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE IG. I BELIEVE THAT CREATING AN OIG IN NAME ONLY SENDS THE ABSOLUTE WRONG MESSAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CREATION OF A CITY OIG WITH THE EXISTING PENCOM COULD BE PERCEIVED AS WASTEFUL AND TIME SHOULD BE SPENT CONSIDERING WAYS TO STRENGTHEN AND BETTER RESOURCED DEFEND COME FIRST. I AM WARY OF CREATING THE OIG FIRST AND WORRYING ABOUT THE DETAILS LATER WHICH IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE. IN THE EXAMPLE I SHARED WITH OP ED BOSTON POLICE AND POST WITH REGARD TO CONFUSION WITH OVERLAPPING JURISDICTION OVER POLICE RELATED COMPLAINTS WITH THE PROPER STATUTORY FRAMEWORK AND THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESOURCES A CITY OIG CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WAY GOVERNMENT WORKS. BUT THE CITY SHOULD FIRST TAKE A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE AGENCIES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO ENHANCE THEIR MISSIONS TO FULFILL THIS ROLE. CHAIR CARLETTA ZIMBARDO, WITH YOUR PERMISSION INCONSISTENT WITH THE COMMITTEE'S PRACTICES AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I AM HAPPY TO REMAIN AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WERE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMITTEE MAY HAVE AND AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR THAT KINDNESS TO INVITE ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU IG SHAPIRO FOR THOSE INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPELLING COMMENTS CLEAR THAT YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER HERE FOR ENSURING THAT YOU WERE HERE A PART OF THIS. THIS HEARING TODAY I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAS QUESTIONS MOVING FORWARD WILL GO TO THE PIMA AL-ISLAM AND THEN MOVE TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE.  AND THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COLUMBUS IF I DON'T COUNCIL CHAIRMAN BILL AND OTHER COUNSELS AND EVEN SLIGHTLY SO I'M I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNCILOR . THE REASON THAT I WAS AGREED TO AND WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY IS THAT I REMEMBER ORIGINALLY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 19 AND THEN COUNCILOR ANDREA CAMPBELL I PRESENTED AND PROPOSED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CHAIR AT THE TIME. IT WAS DURING WHEN THE CITY WAS BEING ROCKED BY BY SOME PRETTY BIG SCANDALS INTERNALLY FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE IN POSITIONS THAT OF GREAT POWER OVER THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON INCLUDING THOSE WHO RUN BUSINESSES. ONE OF THE REASONS AND THE VERY MATTAPAN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL WAS FORMED BECAUSE THAT MINE UNIT MY COMMUNITY MATTAPAN WAS NOT ALSO CONSIDERED AND WE DID NOT SEE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION IN PUBLIC SERVICES AND SPECIFICALLY NOW AS THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST REASONS THAT WE ESTABLISHED THROUGH OUR COUNCIL . IT IS EXCLUSIVE ONLY TO THOSE WHO RESIDE WITHIN GREATER MATTAPAN AND DO NOT HOLD ANY ELECTED OFFICES.  WE ARE CONSIDERED A VERY TRANSPARENT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND THAT WE HOLD ELECTIONS AND THAT THAT ARE TRANSPARENT. WE HAVE OPEN BYLAWS AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT ARE PUBLICLY HELD AND PUBLICLY VIEWED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AND WITH ALL THE LISTENING TODAY TO ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO KNOW AND HAVE BEEN AROUND IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND IN PRIVATE PRACTICE FAR LONGER THAN I HAVE FOR SURE. BUT AS A RESIDENT IN THE CITY, THE ONE THING THAT AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS MY COMMUNITY WE HAVE ABOUT 20,000 LOCALLY WITHIN GREATER MATTAPAN IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT THERE ARE PRACTICES WITHIN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT REGULAR CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN AND QUITE FRANKLY EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON AND TO HONE IN ON NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM, NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY OR TALENT, NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR CHARACTER BUT JUST SHEERLY BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF WORK THAT IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, TO DO A RIGOROUS EXAMINATION OF DIFFERENT PROCESSES. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BACK IN 2019 I BELIEVE THE THEN MAYOR WALSH HAD GONE AND THE CITY OF BOSTON HAD WON AN AWARD FOR THE WHICH CREATED WHAT WAS CALLED AN OFFICER RESILIENCY.  AND ONE OF THE PURPOSES THAT THE OFFICE WAS SUPPOSED DO WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AND LOOK AT EACH OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE, TO IMPROVE THE DAILY FUNCTIONS, TO IMPROVE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND TO IMPROVE FOR EQUITY.  UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE AS A PERSON IS REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BUT SPECIFICALLY CERTAIN ONES THAT HAVE BEEN GREAT AND GREAT A GREAT CAUSE CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS. FOR EXAMPLE IN THE OSD THE WAY IN WHICH THE DAILY FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERNAL INTERNAL SECTION IN THIS DEPARTMENT WHERE IT FUNCTIONS IS THAT IT'S VERY IT'S VERY OLD FASHIONED. IT IS NOT A TECHNOLOGY WISE IT'S NOT EVEN UP TO DATE. I WAS PREPARING FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE. WE DON'T EVEN MATCH THE TECHNOLOGY OF NEARBY TOWN. THE CITY HAS HAS MORE AND BETTER UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES WE HAVE IN THE CITY.  YOU WOULD THINK THAT ONE OF THEM COULD GO AND HELP US OUT CONSIDERING THEIR NONPROFIT STATUS BUT NEVER MIND THAT. BUT WHAT HAS COME WHEN IS BEGINNING PERSISTED IN MY COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT THERE WE DON'T SEE AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR TRANSPARENCY ACROSS ALL DECISIONS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THAT IN THE DAY I WILL THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING THERE CAN BE A HEARING WHERE AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN DENIED.  THERE HAVE BEEN CASES A RECENT TO WHICH I WAS MADE AWARE OF ONE OR TWO IN WHICH THEY WERE DENIED MORNING THAT THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS BUT SOMEONE HAD GONE TO 1010 MASSIVE COUNTER AND ACTUALLY HAD BEEN GOTTEN IN RECEIVED A PERMIT FOR CONSTRUCTION.  THE REASON BEING THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANISM TO GO IN HALT ANY CHANGES TO PERMITTING UNTIL THE RESULTS OF THE HEARING TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DATABASE BECAUSE THE PERSON AT THE FRONT DESK HE OR SHE CAN ONLY GO BY WHAT IS INSIDE OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THERE IS NO TIME TO UPDATE. THERE IS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THAT SYSTEM AND THAT IS WHY IT IS THE SYSTEMS THAT RUN IT,  RUN THE SYSTEM, RUN THE CITY AND MY DAILY JOB TO WHICH I TOOK MY DAY OFF IN ORDER TO BE HERE.  I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER. I MAKE ENTERPRISE HOMELESS SOFTWARE FOR A VERY LARGE HOSPITAL WHICH WAS SHOWN IN MEETINGS. BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS OVER 25 YEARS OF MAKING SYSTEMS IS THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN ORDER TO HAVE ANYONE WHETHER YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE OR A RESIDENT OR A STUDENT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CITY TESTS CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE VISIBLY. CHECKS AND BALANCES.  BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY FALL PREY TO, YOU KNOW, LACK OF JUST NOT CARING APATHY AND EVEN WHEN NOT BELIEVING THAT SOMEBODY WILL ACTUALLY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO AND SOMEONE WHOSE PARENTS FATHER WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE FROM 30 YEARS HE HELD A VERY HIGH STANDARD AND HE MADE THE POINT TO NEVER ALLOW ANY OF HIS CHILDREN TO BE HIRED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO SHOW ANY FORM OF NEPOTISM AND THERE COULD BE POSSIBLY CONCERN. BUT THAT'S MY FAMILY'S THE WAY IT WAS DONE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO WILL GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AS A CITY COUNCIL TO DO THAT.  THEY GIVE UP THEIR WHOLE SELVES AND THEIR TIME AND THEIR ENERGY AND THEIR HEARTS IN ORDER TO GO AND CREATE LOOPHOLES AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS FOR A DAY TO DAY. BUT I DO PLEAD WITH YOU THAT ON SOME LEVEL REGARDLESS IF IT IS ,YOU KNOW, FOR INCOME GETTING THE MONEY THAT IT DESERVES AND NEEDS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION REGARDLESS OF WHO IS LOOKING AGAIN AT THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCY IF IT STILL IS OPERATIONAL AND CAN BE MADE BETTER BUT NOT DUPLICATIVE IF THERE IS SOME WAY IN WHICH THERE THIS HEARING AFTER TODAY THAT THERE IS A RIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THERE YOU KNOW YOU REPORT BACK TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE WERE DOING WE DON'T CONSIDER IT TO BE WASTED MONEY TO ACTUALLY COME BACK AND EXPECT RESULTS.  THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING. YOU KNOW, MEASURE TWICE.  YOU KNOW, YOU'LL ONLY HAVE TO CUT ONCE OR AT LEAST YOU WANT TO THROW OUT THE PIECE OF WORK. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND I APPRECIATE LISTENING TO OTHERS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  AND NOW WE WILL GO TO QUESTIONS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AGAIN IT'S PAST 4:00 SO THANK YOU FOR BEING SO GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME. I JUST HAVE JUST I WILL GO TO THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR JULIEN HERE AND WE'LL GO TO THE CO-SPONSORS. BRIAN ROWE TWO ENTREPRENEURS ANDERSON IF THEY ARE ON THE CALL AND THEN COUNCILOR ED FLYNN. COUNCILOR BOURDON AND THEN COUNCILOR MURPHY AND THEN MYSELF. THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS COUNCILMAN . HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLETTA ZAPATA AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY TESTIFIED. I THINK IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO REEVALUATE HOW WE ARE FUNCTIONING AND WORK COLLECTIVELY ACROSS ALL OF OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND OUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN FIX A SYSTEM RIGHT?  AND I THINK EVERY PERSON THAT SPOKE HAS PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT TO HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS BETTER FOR EVERYONE HERE.  SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO START OFF WITH SOME SINCERE GRATITUDE BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO SAY THIS IS NOT WORKING AND WE GOT TO FIX IT AND THEN TO YOU KNOW, PUT OURSELVES OUT THERE AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR FOR HELPING US GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN UNPACK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHO OVERSEES THE OVERSEER AND I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE IN THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT I BELIEVE IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.  BOSTON IS THE LARGEST MUNICIPALITY AND WE HAVE THE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIG BUDGET. WE HAVE A LOT TO OVERSEE.  AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS FOR US IT'S MAKING A CASE IN TERMS OF BEING A COMPLEMENT TO NOT A REPLACEMENT OF SO I G SHAPIRO I JUST REALLY WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO HELP SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL. BUT LOCALIZE IT WITH A VERY SPECIFIC LENS TO THE BOSTON EXPERIENCE. AND WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO FROM A CHECKS AND BALANCES TO REALLY JUGGLE IT ALL WHEN THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS DEALING WITH THAT THE ONLY TIME WE WOULD GET YOU INVOLVED IS IF WE HAD TO ACTIVELY PURSUE IT. THERE'S NOT LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROACTIVE LIKE LET'S GET AHEAD OF SOMETHING. IT ALWAYS COMES IN AS A RESULT OF A REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION.  AND SO I'M CURIOUS AS YOU CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE IN FAVOR AND THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE NOT AND THEN I WAS LIKE OH MY GOD, I GOT REALLY EXCITED AND THEN I WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE BUT IF YOU COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AN END AND ALSO AG DE SANTIS FROM PHILADELPHIA TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY PIECE IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOT OF WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. I DO.  SHAPIRO WAS AROUND INVESTIGATION AROUND FINANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT. THAT WAS PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY AND EFFICIENCIES. BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS FROM A PLACE OF WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW,  AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE.  WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO HELP US THINK THROUGH HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THAT PART OF OF OF THE WORK THAT'S WE.  SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR THE COMMENTS I IT JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR DIFFERENT FROM IN 2019 WHEN THERE WAS TESTIMONY FROM THE OFFICE THAT I NOW I'M FORTUNATE TO LEAD I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT BUT I WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT THAT I DON'T THINK THAT NAMING AN OFFICE OPPOSITE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND NAMING SOMEBODY INSPECTOR GENERAL ULTIMATELY MAKES THAT AN OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NOR THAT PERSON AND AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. AND YOU KNOW THE LIST IS LONG OF JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE DONE THAT AND SO IN MY TESTIMONY I TRIED TO GIVE SOME CAUTIONARY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND I DO THINK THAT'S WASTEFUL AND I DO THINK THAT WOULD BE AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME. ON THE OTHER SIDE TO THE POINT THAT YOU RAISED, COUNCILOR , I DO BELIEVE THAT WHILE I HAVE A UNIQUE AUTHORITY TO BE ACROSS ALL THE COMMONWEALTH AND ACROSS ALL 351 CITIES AND TOWNS AND I DO THINK THAT THE MATTERS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IN THE CITY ARE SIGNIFICANT.  I GAVE A SHORT LIST I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T LIST WHAT WE MAY BE DOING NOW BECAUSE OUR STATUTE ME TO HAVE THAT TO BE CONFIDENTIAL. BUT YOU KNOW SUFFICE TO SAY YOU KNOW MY MIND IS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND YOU KNOW THE CITY OF BOSTON AS YOU SAID IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE REAL ESTATE THAT I HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. SO I AM MINDFUL AND I AM EVER THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT PIECE IT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SAID IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING.  SO I JUST SORT OF LEAVE IT THERE. WHAT I DO THINK SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION IS IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT THIS OFFICE AND THIS INDIVIDUAL TO BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ WORDS THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF WHAT WE DO RESTORING WHAT I OFTEN SAY WHEN I GIVE PUBLIC SPEECHES IS ONE OF MY CORE RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO THOSE THAT HAVE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT.  IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE BELIEF THAT THAT AS WELL THAT IS WELL PLACED TRUST. AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LOST TRUST IN GOVERNMENT I AM BUT YOU KNOW ONE TOOL IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN START TO RESTORE THEIR TRUST. SO I DO THINK THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE DO THAT WE ARE DOING THAT. ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE ARE PIECES ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. THERE ARE PIECES WHICH IN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WHEN I WORKED THERE COMPTROLLER SHAQ CREATED THE SEE THROUGH TOOL WHICH IS THE PROBABLY THE MOST ADVANCED PAYROLL SYSTEM IN PROBABLY THE COUNTRY I WOULD IMAGINE. AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT DISPLAYS PAYROLL INFORMATION THAT COMES THE MONDAY AFTER PAYROLL ISSUES. IF MEMORY SERVES ME . SO IT'S UPDATED EVERY TWO WEEKS. THERE ARE MANY STATES THAT THEY PUT THEIR PAYROLL UP ON JANUARY 1ST FOR THE PAST YEAR AND IT KIND OF TELLS YOU NOTHING.  SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS THE COMMITTEE AND I'LL WRAP UP I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. IS IT ROOTING OUT FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE?  IS IT TRANSPARENCY? IS IT ENSURING THAT CONTRACTS ARE FAIR? THAT THERE'S A FAIR OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION FROM YOUR VENDORS? THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS AND IT MIGHT BE ALL OF THEM BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU IDENTIFY THEM AND YOU PROVIDE THE RESOURCES SO THAT AN OFFICE CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS INSTEAD OF GETTING STUCK.  AND I DO FEEL LIKE WE STILL PROVIDE SERVICES BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS IT WOULD BE NAIVE OF ME TO SUGGEST THAT WE WOULD BE THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN. ON THE OTHER SIDE WE ARE UNIQUE AND I DO THINK THAT WE DO A YOU KNOW IT'S FOR OTHERS TO SAY. BUT I DO THINK THE TEAM HERE WORKS REALLY HARD AND PRODUCES RESULTS.  ABSOLUTELY. AND I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT.  AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPLIMENT TO NOT IN COMPETITION OF EXISTING AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HAVING A HEARING SO THAT WE CAN REALLY UNPACK ALL OF THESE THINGS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD. SO WE TRUST TO RESTORE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. NOW I HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE BECAUSE I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO GO AND I HAVE TO HIDE STOPS. BUT FOR A STATE AUDITOR DESIGNEE WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO BE INVITED TO CITY DEPARTMENTS TO COLLABORATE AND DO AN AUDIT. CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS PROCESS CAN WORK AND EXPAND ON IT AND EXPLAIN HOW NEEDING AN INVITATION MAY LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO WORK WITHIN OUR CITY HERE? BRIDGEWATER SO ESSENTIALLY COUNCILOR MEJIA IT WOULD JUST NEED TO BE THE CITY ELECTED OFFICIAL SUPPORTING THAT IN A VOTE SIGNED OFF BY THE MAYOR REQUESTING THAT I INVESTIGATE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CERTAIN AREAS OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS EJ SHAPIRO WAS TALKING ABOUT . HE DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO UNDER HIS STATUTE GO INTO CITIES AND TOWNS WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION BEING GRANTED.  THAT'S PART OF HIS GOVERNING STATUTE OUR GOVERNING STATUTE IN THE OFFICE OF STATE AUDITOR ACTUALLY PROHIBITS US FROM TAKING ACTION TO AUDIT OR INVESTIGATE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WITHOUT THEIR EXPRESS PERMISSION.  AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DO GET REQUESTS CONSTANTLY FROM FOLKS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH WHO ASK ME TO ENGAGE IN AN AUDIT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CITY AND TOWN. BOSTON IS NOT AN EXCEPTION BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THESE REQUESTS ABOUT. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT COUNCILOR MEJIA, THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO CREATE THIS OFFICE, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I, I CONTRARY TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY MY COLLEAGUES WHO I VERY MUCH RESPECT. HELLO EVERYBODY. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPOSAL MEETS THIS MOMENT. I BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE TIME FOR BOLD AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND ACTION TO RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW I AM WORKING TO AUDIT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW. NOT EVERYBODY IS THRILLED ABOUT THAT BUT GUESS WHAT A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE THAN AREN'T THRILLED ABOUT THAT. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I AM IN EVERY DAY WORKING COMMUNITIES, WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES TALKING TO FOLKS WHO HAVE FELT DISENFRANCHIZED ISOLATED FROM THE PROCESS OF LIKE THEIR VOICES DON'T MATTER. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY HAVE SOME SOME ACCESS POTENTIALLY TO WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT OF BEACON HILL IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE NOT THE POLITICIANS. HOW IS RIGHT AND I VIEW THIS VERY MUCH AS BEING SOMETHING AKIN TO THAT EFFORT IN THE WAY THAT IT IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHIZED FROM THE SYSTEM AND STATE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY JUST WANT ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT THAT THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT SEEKS TO DO JUST THAT. AND YOU KNOW, I I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE INTO THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL. BUT I DO TRUST THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS THE WHEREWITHAL AND THE CAPACITY AND INTELLIGENCE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS INDEPENDENCE IMPLEMENTED INTO IT IF NEED BE BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMITTEE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THE LANGUAGE OF THIS.  I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE IG IG SANDERS IS ON HIS CALL RIGHT NOW AS WELL. COMING UP NEXT.  I LOVE THE COMMENTS FROM IT AND DOES I THINK THAT YOU KNOW HE ALONGSIDE OF OTHERS LIKE HIM WHERE THIS IS WORKING CAN BE A GREAT RESOURCE TO LOOK AT HOW THEY HAVE DRAFTED THEIR LANGUAGE AND USE THAT AS A RESOURCE. SO CERTAINLY THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE PROPOSAL AS NEED BE AND THAT IS WHAT THIS COMMITTEE HEARING IS ALL ABOUT. BUT THIS ISSUE, THIS PROPOSAL, THIS IDEA, THIS CREATIVE SOLUTION, I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY MEETS THE MOMENT AND I THINK THAT TO PREVENT DUPLICATIVE SERVICES WHAT WE NEED TO ENSURE IS JUST SOME COMMUNICATION EXISTS. I CAN SAY THAT AS MUCH AS OUR OFFICE AND THE IG'S OFFICE WORK HAND-IN-HAND TO SERVE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY THE POTENTIAL FOR DUPLICATION OF SERVICES QUITE OFTEN ACTUALLY I WILL GO TO AUDIT A STATE ENTITY ONLY TO HEAR THAT THE IG IS POTENTIALLY ALREADY IN THAT AGENCY DOING SOME WORK AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THAT CAN BE DUPLICATIVE IF IT IS NOT REMEDIED BY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO AGAIN HAVE A PARTNER IN THE IG AND IN HIS OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE COMMUNICATIONS. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,  CERTAINLY THE WAY TO PREVENT DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IG SHAPIRO IS TRYING TO GO IN AND LOOK AT SOMETHING AND ANALYZE SOMETHING THAT ANY LOCAL IG THAT IS CREATED ON THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL THAT YOU KNOW, JUST SOME OVERSIGHT FROM THIS COUNCIL BE PROVIDED AND FROM CITY OFFICIALS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE KEY TO PREVENTING DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS WHICH IS TOTALLY POSSIBLE, CERTAINLY DOABLE. I THINK VERY EASY TO INCORPORATE INTO THIS PROPOSAL AND I THINK IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT IDEA. I THINK THAT ABSOLUTELY IT MEETS THE MOMENT IT WILL INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN AND RE-INSTILL THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN SOME CASES HOPEFULLY COMPLETELY SO COMPLIMENTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS PROPOSAL. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING HARD ON THIS AND I HOPE THAT IT PASSES AT THE END OF THE DAY. THANKS. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO HAVE I'M GOING TO HAVE A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY FOR IG DESANTIS BEFORE HE MOVES AWAY FROM US. BUT I WANTED TO JUST UNDERSCORE SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT ALL AS WE KNOW ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL THAT THE SAME RIGHTS AND I FEEL LIKE FOR ME TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND HONEST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE ANY OTHER WAY EVEN PRIOR TO BECOMING A POLITICIAN I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO WAS WHO. RIGHT. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS OFFICE AND WHAT I THINK ABOUT REALLY CREATING PATHWAYS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A DIRECT CONTACT, AN OFFICE, A PERSON DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS THAT CAN HELP PROVIDE US SOME INSIGHT INVESTIGATION THAT IS HOW WE RESTORE TRUST AND JUST I.G. SHAPIRO LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU EXIST IN THIS WORLD. I WOULD LOVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN TAKE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND LOCALIZE IT IN BOSTON BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES MORE FAMILIAR TO THE 700,000 CONSTITUENT THAT WE ARE INTERFACING WITH EVERY DAY.  AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO SEE THIS AS A COMPLEMENT, NOT AS A COMPETITION.  AND AND AND I WANT TO ASK THAT THIS QUESTION NOW TO IG FROM PHILLY.  DESANTIS CAN YOU SHARE HOW YOUR OFFICE INTERFACES WITH THE STATE GENERAL INSPECTORS OFFICE IF AT ALL AND HOW HOW DO YOU GUYS COMPLEMENT AND COLLABORATE AND WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA IN TERMS OF INTERACTING AND WORKING AROUND THESE ISSUES? YOU'RE THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN.  SO FIRST ON ON THE ISSUE OF DUPLICATION OF DUTIES,  RIGHT. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STATE AUDITOR'S COMMENTS IN THIS AREA. RIGHT. BECAUSE FOR ANY INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY OR AUDITING AGENCY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE OVERLAP WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES DEPENDING ON THE ISSUE, THE CONDUCT THAT ISSUE OR THE THE NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATION. AND WHAT WE FOUND IN PRACTICE IS YES, WE WANT SOME LANGUAGE THAT SORT OF MAKES OUR LANES CLEAR BUT A LOT OF THAT HAS TO BE WORKED OUT ON THE FLY THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WORKED OUT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE, OUR PARTNERS LOCALLY AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL. BUT I ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT WHEN THIS ISSUE OF OVERLAP COMES UP IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS A BAD RIGHT PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE YOU YOU KNOW IT'S COMMON IN IN IN ANY AREA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. RIGHT. ONE SINGLE INCIDENT MIGHT GIVE JURISDICTIONAL GROUND TO THE FBI, THE ATF, YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES, STATE AUTHORITIES THERE MIGHT BE ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSE TO TURN TO OR REGULATORY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DONE SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PARALLEL INVESTIGATIONS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS REGARDLESS AND SOMETIMES AS A MATTER OF , YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT ALL ALLEGATIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED, YOU WANT SOME COVERAGE, SOME OVERLAP IN AN INVESTIGATIVE CONTEXT WITH REGARD TO THE STATE HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AS I.G.  SHAPIRO MENTIONED THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, HIS OFFICE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN I WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT SAME JURISDICTION OR AUTHORITY OVER MUNICIPALITIES SO THEY ARE VERY FOCUSED ON STATE PROGRAMS, STATE EMPLOYEES, STATE AGENCIES AND THE LIKE. WE DO HAVE WE DO COOPERATE WITH THEM FREQUENTLY IN CASES THAT COVER BOTH AGENTS BUT WE HAVE A MUTUAL INTEREST IN RIGHTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CASES THAT INVOLVE BOTH STATE, LOCAL AND EVEN FEDERAL FUNDS AT SOME LEVEL AND SO WE ALL HAVE A SHARED INTEREST IN SOME OF IT IN AN INVESTIGATION OR AN AUDIT THERE.  BUT LOCALLY MOST OF OUR OVERLAP IS WITH RESPECT TO AUDITS AND FOR THAT REASON WE HERE AT THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE CITY WE DO NOT CONDUCT AUDITS WE IN IN MOST IGS AG OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND AS THE AIG DESCRIBES IT YOU'RE REALLY SEEING THREE FUNCTIONS OF AUDITING INSPECTIONS WHICH IS MORE OF A PROCESS ORIENTED INVESTIGATION . RIGHT. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MS.. AL-SALAM WAS DISCUSSING.  RIGHT. INVESTIGATING A CITY'S PROCESS OF ACHIEVING SOME OUTCOME FOR ITS CITIZENRY. AND THEN THERE ARE THE INVESTIGATIVE THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK WHICH IS FOCUSED ON ASSESSING THE TRUTH OF AN ALLEGATION OR AN INCIDENT OF SOME KIND. RIGHT. SO ALL OF THAT WORK SORT OF FEEDS ITSELF DIFFERENTLY BUT IT'S RELATED.  BUT HERE IN PHILADELPHIA BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGENCY WE HAVE A LOCAL CONTROLLER HERE WHO'S LOCALLY ELECTED AND HAS PRIMARY AUDIT RESPONSIBILITY, WE WORK WITH THEM ON AN AD HOC BASIS WHEN NECESSARY BUT WE DON'T DO AUDITS SO THAT REASON WELL WE SHARE INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH ON THE INVESTIGATIVE SIDE. SO MAYBE THERE ARE SOME YOU KNOW, LIMITING SCOPE ISSUES THAT THAT YOU ALL CAN WORK THROUGH TO THAT EFFECT. RIGHT. BECAUSE I HEAR THERE'S A ROBUST AUDITING AGENCY THERE LOCALLY.  BUT I WONDER TO WHAT EXTENT IS THAT AGENCY FIELDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE, ABOUT INCIDENTS, ABOUT POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND HOW MANY RESOURCES DO THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE THINGS IN AN INVESTIGATIVE WAY WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN YOUR SORT OF AUDIT WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING MUCH MORE BROADLY AT A PROGRAM OR A DEPARTMENT.  AND SO THAT'S BEEN A GOOD LEVEL OF SEPARATION FOR US AND IT'S HELPED US WORK A LITTLE BIT MORE COLLABORATIVELY WITH THAT WITH LESS OVERLAP IN THAT AREA. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, YOU DID THAT AND AND MORE. AND I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT I HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES AND PEOPLE HAVE STOPS. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN . AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY. AND I DID IT TO SAY JUST WHILE WE HAVE YOU IMMEDIATELY UPON HEARING THAT YOUR DAUGHTER REGULATORY AUTHORITY COMES FROM AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, I WAS THINKING WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THE MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE THAT AUTHORITY SO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT I THINK THEORETICALLY IS YES. RIGHT.  AND THE ANSWER AND NOT TO GET INTO SPECIFICS BUT RIGHT. PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL KINDS OF STUFF. RIGHT. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN IN A IN SITUATIONS GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAYOR OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, WE I WOULD CONSIDER US TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.  THE QUESTION IS WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT INFORMATION RIGHT.  MOST OF THE IGS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND A VERY BROAD ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE RIGHT.  THERE'S A LOT OF SUBSTANTIVE THINGS THAT WE CAN INVESTIGATE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE IS A LOT. SO THERE'S YOU'RE GOING TO THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE GAMUT OF DIFFERENT ALLEGATIONS HERE COMBINED WITH SOME LEVEL OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION, IF YOU WILL, RIGHT OVER THE PART OF THE PROGRAM OR THE PERSON AT ISSUE ARE THEY RELATED TO THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA? BUT WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE AN ACTION SO WE CAN'T FIRE ANYONE UNILATERALLY . WE CAN'T FIND ANYONE UNILATERALLY. WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. SO IF WE DO, YOU KNOW IF WE ARE IN A POSITION TO INVESTIGATE OUR OUR OWN APPOINTING AUTHORITY, IT REALLY WOULD BE IT REALLY WOULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US TO FOLLOW THAT UNLESS THERE WAS A CRIMINAL ISSUE IN WHICH CASE WE WOULD BRING IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PURSUE IT AND THAT TRACK. BUT ADMINISTRATIVELY IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO DO THAT WHEN YOU CAN MAYBE EVEN DIRECTLY IN A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR SAY HEY, THIS CAME UP WE RECOMMEND X, Y, Z.  IF THEY GO WITH IT, THEY GO WITH IT. IF THEY IF THEY IF IF NOT SO BE IT. BUT YOU KNOW REALLY AT ANY LEVEL AT SOME POINT FOR ANY INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF CONFLICT. YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S AN INTERMEDIARY BOARD THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS AT THAT LEVEL. BUT IF IT'S CRIMINAL, THEN WE WOULD FEEL EMPOWERED TO BRING THAT TO OUR AUTHORITIES HERE AS WITHIN OUR MISSION AND WITHIN OUR ENABLING AUTHORITY.  OKAY. AND SO GENERALLY YOU YOU DON'T HAVE THE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS THAT YOU NEED.  YOU BRING IT TO FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. OKAY.  AND SO YOU BUT IT'S RESULTED IN THE PROSECUTION PROSECUTION OF OF VARIOUS ENTITIES OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON NOT THE MAYOR OF COURSE. RIGHT BUT YES WE HAVE DONE THIS AND OTHER IN CASES OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS. YES, WE HAVE PURSUED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS JOINTLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.  RIGHT. AND YOUR TIME HAS BEEN VALUABLE . HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE AND WHAT'S YOUR YEARLY BUDGET? WE HAVE ABOUT 23. OUR YEARLY BUDGET IS 2.1 MILLION AND THERE'S ABOUT 35,000 CITY EMPLOYEES HERE IN PHILADELPHIA VERY MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO GO?  OH, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING THOUGH. I'M KIND OF A I'M I'M KIND OF ENJOYING THIS SO I'M HAPPY TO HELP. WHAT TIME ARE YOU ALL FINISHING UP FOUR BY YEAH, FIVE IT'S LOOKING LIKE NOW SO I'M GIVING YOU THE OUT OF NEXT THERE I'LL STAY FOR ANOTHER FEW MINUTES PERHAPS TWO IF IF I CAN BE HELPFUL TO THE REST OF YOUR COUNCILORS I'M I'M I'M INTERESTED AND I'M ENJOYING THIS CONVERSATION. SO WE HAVE SOME SISTER CITY LOVE HERE SO WE LOVE THAT.  SO OKAY, GREAT. I'M I MISSED BROTHERLY LOVE THERE, JOE SO LET'S JUST LET'S MOVE ON. OKAY, GREAT. NEXT WE HAVE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE I THINK WHO IS HERE FIRST I APOLOGIZE SOUNDS OVERALL WHO IS THE OTHER LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  MADAM CHAIR, APOLOGIES.  I THINK COUNCIL WERE ALWAYS HERE FIRST. BUT DID YOU CALL ME FIRST? I DID AND I APOLOGIZE IF I HAVE THAT WRONG. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR IF YOU WOULD IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO DOOR K0 YOU ARE MUTING WHAT DO YOU WANT? DO DO DO YOU HAVE A HARD STOP? NO IT'S FINE AS A SISTER REALLY LOUD OH THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  MADAM AUDITOR, VERY NICE TO SEE YOU HERE EVERYONE ELSE TO THE PANELISTS, MY VERY OWN CONSTITUENTS AND EXPERTS ON THE GROUND I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE OTHER HAND AND AND ONE SPECIFIC FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THE TO THE INSPECTOR IN TERMS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL SHAPIRO ARE THERE ANY RULES OR GUIDELINES PROCEDURES OR PROTOCOLS THAT YOU FEEL CONSTRAINED BY THAT COULD IMPROVE OR THAT COULD BE IMPROVED UPON REVISING OUR ORDINANCE HERE?  BUT WAS THAT A QUESTION TO ME OR TO THE AUDITOR I'M SORRY I CAN REPEAT IT WAS TO YOU ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTOOD THE PLEASURE IT JUST WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS. I MEAN I THINK THE INITIAL PIECE I DIDN'T DO A LINE BY LINE ON THE ON THE ORDINANCE I DID READ IT CLOSELY.  I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT I SEE IS I DON'T BELIEVE IT TO BE INDEPENDENT.  AND SO I THINK THAT THE IDEA THAT ONE I MEAN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITY IS AS I WRITE REPORTS I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE RANGE OF TOOLS THAT I HAVE AND THAT I USE BUT I WRITE REPORTS ALL THE TIME. NOBODY GETS TO EDIT THEM. NOBODY GETS TO KNOW ABOUT THEM BEFORE I'M DONE WITH THEM. TO ME THAT IS SIGNIFICANT A TOOL AS I HAVE. SO IF I WERE IN THIS ROLE THAT YOU'RE ENVISIONING I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THAT HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY IN ANOTHER OFFICE GET TO LOOK AT WHAT I'M WRITING. DO THEY GET TO GET A DRAFT? DO THEY GET TO EDIT IT? DO THEY GET TO STOP ME FROM WRITING? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT BUT I DO SEE THAT A CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS INDEPENDENCE AND THAT'S ONE THAT I THINK IS AN ISSUE FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IF YOU DO YOU KNOW RESPECTFULLY COUNCILOR , IF YOU IF YOU LOOK ACROSS AND DO A GOOGLE SEARCH, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COMES UP. THERE'S A LIVE ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN ATLANTA IN THEIR CITY IG'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT YOU CAN'T DO AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS THREATENING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT WHAT SHE CAN DO. SO YOU KNOW, I GIVE IT AS A CAUTIONARY TALE. I DON'T HAVE THAT ONCE I'M APPOINTED I RUN AN OFFICE IF I IF I GIVE CAUSE TO THE APPOINTEES ONE OF WHOM IS ON THIS CALL WITH ME THE AUDITOR IS ONE OF THE THREE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THAT APPOINT ME IF THEY BELIEVE THAT I HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF CAUSE THEY CAN SEEK TO HAVE ME REMOVED AND IT'S DONE PUBLICLY IN A LETTER THAT'S FILED WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE CLERK. SO I YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY WHAT I THINK NOT NOT APPROVING OF A REPORT THAT I PUT OUT DOESN'T RISE TO CAUSE AND I THINK THAT INDEPENDENCE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. LINE BY LINE I'M HAPPY AND I OFFERED IN MY LETTER TO MADAM CHAIR THAT THROUGH THE AIG THEY HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT DOES THIS AND I'D ALSO BE INTERESTED IN SPENDING MORE TIME AND I'VE ALSO SAID THAT WITH THE SPONSOR CONCILOR MEJIA HERE I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU WITH COUNCILOR WORRALL OR AS ONE OF THE CO-SPONSORS WITH YOU AS WELL. COUNCILOR , I HOPE YOUR QUESTION. YEAH, NO IT DOES I I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU FEEL THAT IT'S NOT INDEPENDENT AND YOU'RE OFFERING YOUR SUPPORT AND I THINK THAT,  YOU KNOW, THAT CONVERSATION WOULD BE HELPFUL EITHER WAY WHETHER WE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOUR YOU OFFER OR NOT THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE SAYING LOOK, WE SHOULD GO LINE BY LINE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ONE, WE CAN MAKE IT TOTALLY INDEPENDENT SO THAT ACTUALLY IT'S NOT COUNTER-INTUITIVE OR CONFLICTING WITH THE ACTUAL PURPOSE BUT ALSO THERE THAT WE COMB THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT'S EFFECTIVE. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.  THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND SO TO THE WAY THIS IS A WE ARE STILL WITH US OR DID I THINK THAT SHE HAD TO JUMP OFF? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO LET ME REALIGN MY QUESTIONS AND AND SO I GUESS MORE TO THE THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHETHER MR LISA OR FATIMA, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A MAJOR CHALLENGE IS THAT WE COULD FACE ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF OUR GENERAL INSPECTOR GENERAL IN MASS AND HOW IN SORRY CAPACITY AND AND OF COURSE HOW DO YOU SEE IT IN TERMS OF OVERCOMING THAT ASPECT ,OVERCOMING IT IF YOU DON'T MIND THE TWO BE OF TWO I WILL ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH BY JEFFREY SHAPIRO AND WITH ALL THE WAY DOWN I THINK I BRIEFLY WHAT'S THE WHERE WE THINK I DIDN'T I SAID WHEN YOU OUT MOVE PRECISELY BUT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID I WAS SAYING WE TALKED ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE AIG AND HOW THEY PROBABLY ARE SELECTED AND ALSO WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISIONS ON THIS PROCESS AND WHETHER THEY THEY BE COTERMINOUS WITH THE MATTER ALL THESE ISSUES OF CREDIBILITY ARE THERE AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH FOR GOVERNORS AND TO PRESIDENTS AND COUPLE OF MAYORS, THE IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE OF AIG IS CRITICAL IN NO CITY I'VE EVER BEEN IN QUITE A FEW CITIES I GO WITH THAT SOLUTION BUT I IN OTHER ISSUES BUT I MEAN THE ISSUE OF INDEPENDENCE IS CRITICAL TO COUNTRIES IN IN THE POSITION OF CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POSITION . AND SO I CAME UP THROUGH A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS AND I HAD TO SAY LAST NIGHT HERE SO I KEEP BE VERY CLEAR BUT I THINK OF THE PROCESS WHERE I LOOKED AT YOU KNOW, THE PARTITION BUT MISSOURI IT STARTED OFF WITH THREE TOWERS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE ZOO ONE THAT ONE I LOOK TO FOUND AND 78 WHEN I CAME TO THE STATE WE WERE LOOKING AT $3.6 BILLION FOR THE PEARL HARBOR TUNNEL AND IT FINALLY ENDED UP $20 BILLION THERE A LOT ISSUES THAT I HAVE IN TERMS OF CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC TO SAY WHO'S WATCHING THE STORM SO I'LL RUN MY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS WITH THAT AIG ON ITS APPROVAL BECAUSE IT'S WILLING TO HIT IT ON THE HEAD THAT IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A CREDIBLE POSITION, THAT PERSON MUST BE ABLE TO SAY I'M HERE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND I CAN MAKE MY REPORTS AND DO MY INVESTIGATIONS WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE. AND IF THERE'S IF THERE'S CALLS AND THERE'S NEW CHALLENGES, THEN THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS THAT DEFINES WHAT THE CAUSE THE CHALLENGES ARE OF ANY TIME. BUT I KNOW THAT THIS CITY HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER WASN'T JUST IMMENSE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR SANTOS. HOW DOES BASICALLY HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE COLLABORATE WITH STATEMENT LIKE MUNICIPAL AGENCIES OR COMPREHENSIVE OVERSIGHT AND APOLOGIES IF THIS HAS BEEN ASKED ALREADY?  WELL, FOR ONE WE YOU KNOW, WE ACTIVELY CULTIVATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ALL OVER THE CITY LARGELY BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF FIELDING COMPLAINTS AND A LOT OF TIMES COMPLAINTS ARE NOT WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION . SO WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE INFORMATION AROUND, MAKE SURE THAT COMPLAINANTS ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT AGENCIES.  WE ALSO I'M ALSO IN A LOT OF REGULAR MEETINGS WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HERE IN PHILADELPHIA AT THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEVEL. SO WE PERIODICALLY GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING, TALK ABOUT TRENDS THAT WE MAY BE SEEING IN THE CASE WORK WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER TO ADDRESS ISSUES REALLY JUST ARE THERE SPECIFIC MECHANISMS THAT ACTUALLY WOULD PRECLUDE ANY TYPE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCES THAT YOU IMPLEMENT SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR YOUR YOUR INDEPENDENCE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCES JUST REALLY THAT HAS TO I THINK THE MAIN OPERATIONAL THING THAT WE DO WHICH IS ALSO IN OUR ENABLING AUTHORITY AND IT IS IN YOUR LEGISLATION TO SOME EXTENT IS MAXIMUM CONFIDENTIALITY, RIGHT? WE UNLESS AND UNTIL WE HAVE SUBSTANTIATED AN ALLEGATION OR WHEN WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION THAT IS WE'RE PRESENTING EVIDENCE WITH SOME WITH SOME FORCE TO SUGGEST THAT ACTION IS NEEDED. WE DO NOT DISCUSS OPEN INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND BRIEF THEM ON WHERE WE ARE IN AN INVESTIGATION. CERTAINLY THEY DON'T THEY DON'T CONTROL THE WAY IN WHICH WE CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS.  SO IT'S REALLY JUST ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNICATION IS JUST AT THE END WHEN WE HAVE THE ACTIVITY SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT'S ACTIONABLE SO THAT THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS IS FREE OF ANY KIND OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE WHATSOEVER. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU ARE YOU ABLE TO QUANTIFY OR PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF FINANCIAL IMPACT SAVINGS OR RECOVERIES THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS ACHIEVED? SURE.  SO EVERY YEAR WE PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT IN THE ANNUAL REPORT WE TRY TO QUANTIFY OUR OFFICE'S ACTIVITIES AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND SO ON A BUDGET OF SO I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AS I'VE BEEN THE IG HERE FOR FOUR YEARS BUT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS ALTOGETHER AND WE RUN A BUDGET ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1.5 TO 2.1 AND WE CALCULATE OUR SAVINGS TO BE GENERALLY ON THE LOW END DOUBLE THAT ON THE HIGH END TRIPLED AND NOW THERE'S A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO QUANTIFYING A SAVINGS, RIGHT?  WE ARE YOU KNOW IN ADDITION TO ACTUAL MONEY THAT WE COLLECT RIGHT YOU CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO ORDERS OF RESTITUTION SETTLED OR LITIGATION THAT HAS YIELDED ACTUAL DOLLARS BACK TO THE CITY THAT WAS THE RESULT OF OUR INVESTIGATION. BUT WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF PLUGGING GAPS, PREVENTING LEAKAGE, PREVENTING WASTE THAT WE TRY TO ARTICULATE AS QUANTIFIABLE SAVINGS FOR OUR ACTIVITIES AND WE PUBLISH ALL THIS IN AN ANNUAL REPORT EACH YEAR AND YOU OR HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE SCOPE OF YOUR JURISDICTION AND WHAT POWERS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR AN EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE JURISDICTION PRIMARILY,  RIGHT? IT'S THERE'S GENERALLY A BROAD SUBSTANTIVE JURISDICTION FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE MISCONDUCT EVEN SO THAT REALLY COVERS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS PROGRAMS AND WITHIN THE CITY WITHIN THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH OR THOSE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH.  THAT'S OUR PRIMARY ARTICULATION OF JURISDICTION.  ESSENTIALLY IF THE CITY CAN DO SOMETHING ON THE BASIS OF INFORMED ACTION UNILATERALLY, IF THE CITY CAN UNILATERALLY DO SOMETHING ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION THAT WE DEVELOP, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO HAVE JURISDICTION. RIGHT? THAT'S SO THAT'S OUR PURPOSE TO DEVELOP INFORMATION TO ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES TO YOUR AUTHORITY AT ALL?  YES, CERTAINLY ONE, WE DO HAVE SUBPOENA POWER SO WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA POWER WHICH IS I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN ANY AG'S OFFICE IF AN IG DOESN'T HAVE SUBPOENA POWER, THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG OBSTACLE. SO THAT'S THE MAIN THING COOPERATION OF THE AGENCIES COOPERATE AND OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO WHAT DOCUMENTS THEY'RE PROVIDING, WHAT PERSONS THEIR FURNITURE, THEIR PRODUCING FOR INTERVIEWS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. ANGIE SHAPIRO MENTIONED ATLANTA . I THINK A LOT OF THE A LOT OF THE DISCOURSE THERE THAT YOU SEE AN IG'S OFFICE THERE AND ELSEWHERE IS AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHERE MY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO GO.  I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW HAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC AND CITY OFFICIALS HERE? HMM.  SO WE'RE KIND OF AN INSTITUTION HERE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE EXECUTIVE ORDER WE'RE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AGENCY. WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EIGHTIES AND SO WE ARE VERY MUCH INGRAINED AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE WE CONSIDER OURSELVES EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SMALL THE PUBLIC HAS ALWAYS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO US.  YOU KNOW, WE WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE ALWAYS COMMENTING ON NEGATIVE THINGS BUT WE'VE BEEN RELIED UPON A LOT OVER THE YEARS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT PERHAPS THE PUBLIC IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY OF THE ANSWERS COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OR ELSEWHERE. AND SO WE'VE REALLY, YOU KNOW, BEEN A PART OF THAT FOR A VERY ,VERY LONG TIME EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ONLY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AGENCY AND WE'RE NOT CODIFIED IN AN ORDINANCE WHERE THE CHARTER HAVE YOU ALREADY ANSWERED HOW YOU'RE FUNDED?  WE JUST WE'RE A GENERAL FUND GENERAL WE HAVE ABOUT 2.1 MILLION APPROPRIATION YEARLY FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.  AWESOME. MADAM CHAIR, DO I HAVE ANY TALK AT ALL ABOUT HAVE I ABUSED MY MY STAY ON THIS FLOOR? I HAVE I HAVE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN SO GENEROUS. I FELT IT. I WASN'T LOOKING AT THE CLOCK.  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.  THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SANDERS AND AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE QUESTIONS AND WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR AROUND FOR THE RECORD WAS HERE FIRST AND SO I APPRECIATE HIS GRACE AND PATIENCE. COUNCILOR WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THANK YOU CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS.  AND NOW WHEN YOU DO GO LAST,  YOU KNOW IT KNOCKS OFF A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WAS ON YOU LAST.  BUT I DO WANT TO THANK GIGI SHAPIRO WHO WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN REACHING OUT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE WARREN ON WANTING TO GET INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BE MORE PUBLIC FACING AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED WITH HIS OFFICE. I THINK MR LISA WAS THERE. WE HAD A AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION AT PRINCE HALL. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT WHEN IT WHEN IT WAS BUT I G SHAPIRO HAD BEEN WANTING TO PUT ACTION BEHIND HIS HIS INTENTIONS ARE WANTING TO GET MORE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT HIS OUTFIT IS ACTUALLY DOES THE POWERS AND WHAT COMPLAINTS CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS CAN BRING TO THE ART. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO AIG, MAJOR SHAPIRO, FOR THAT IN WORKING WITH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE MORRELL AND MYSELF, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR IS AIG, DESANTIS IS YOU SAID HE HAD 23 STAFF MEMBERS. WHAT'S WHAT'S LIKE THE BREAKDOWN OF POSITION TITLES AND ROLES? IS IT YOU KNOW I KNOW I KNOW YOU HAVE ADMIN AND INVESTIGATORS LAWYERS LIKE YOU DO GIVE ME LIKE A JUST A GENERAL BREAKDOWN OF HOW THIS OFFICE IS MADE UP.  YES. SO I'M AN ATTORNEY BY BY TRADE, BY TRAINING. WE HAVE TWO OTHER ATTORNEYS HERE AT THE I'D LIKE THE DEPUTY LEVEL. WE DO HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF BUT THE BULK OF OUR OFFICE IS INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL EITHER READ AS AN INVESTIGATOR WRITER OR AN ANALYST AN INVESTIGATOR BEING MORE FIELD ORIENTED,  DOING INTERVIEWS, COLLECTING EVIDENCE MORE DIRECTLY AND THE ANALYSTS WORKING MORE TO PIECE THINGS TOGETHER WITH RESULTS FROM A RESEARCH PAPERWORK PERSPECTIVE IF THERE ARE A LOT OF DATA THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, THE ANALYSTS ARE INVOLVED IN THOSE TYPES OF TASKS THAT WE ALSO MAY I ADD WE HAVE TWO DETAILED POLICE OFFICERS HERE SO WE HAVE TO PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DETAIL TO A DETECTIVE AND A LIEUTENANT HERE. SO FROM TIME TO TIME WE DO GET SOME IMMEDIATE RESPONSE RESPONDER TYPE COMPLAINTS THAT WE RELY VERY HEAVILY OUR OFFICERS FOR ALSO TO HELP US NAVIGATE CRIMINAL AS THEY COME UP AND THEN HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU GUYS GET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND THEN WE GET TO ATTORNEYS AGAIN GET YOU TO GIVE A BREAKDOWN AND HAVING BEEN INVESTIGATED BUT HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE WHICH ONE RISES TO THE TOP TO BE INVESTIGATED?  SO I DON'T OFFHAND I'M GOING TO ESTIMATE ABOUT IT'S AROUND WE WE HOVER AROUND 200 CASES INVESTIGATIONS OPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SPEAK TO THE COMPLAINT VOLUME JUST OFFHAND BUT IT'S IT'S MORE THAN THAT OBVIOUSLY AND WE DO DO A LOT OF TRIAGING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COMES THROUGH. RIGHT. BUT WE DO HAVE INTERNAL PROCESS TO HELP US MAKE SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES AND DECISIONS THAT ARE BASED ON THINGS LIKE ONE HOW CREDIBLE IS THE ALLEGATION OR HOW MUCH DO WE YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED HERE ? HOW DO WE HAVE A PERSON TO FOLLOW UP WITH? IS IT INVESTIGATIVE ALL TO SOME EXTENT? RIGHT. BASED ON WHAT'S COME THROUGH IMPACT ON THE CITY? RIGHT. WE DO WANT TO DEVOTE OUR RESOURCES TO CASES THAT HAVE A MUCH DEEPER IMPACT WHETHER IT BE FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE. CERTAINLY CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS MORE QUICKLY AND MORE THOROUGHLY THAN ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND OF COURSE A JURISDICTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND SOME OTHER SORT OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.  RIGHT. SOMETIMES WE GET A COMPLAINT AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE SPEAKING TO A SERIOUS ISSUE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO US BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO ACCEPT CONFIDENTIAL COMPLAINTS.  THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION SOMETIMES COMMUNICATED FOR US TO ACTUALLY BUILD A GOOD INVESTIGATIVE PLAN. SO ALL OF THAT TOGETHER WE DO WITH OUR OUR OFFICE'S LEADERSHIP DOES EVERY WEEK AS CASES COME THROUGH.  ALL RIGHT. AND I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. MOST OF MY OTHER QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED ALREADY.  WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR.  YOU'RE BACK MY TIME. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I, I WILL SEEING THAT WE'VE HAD SOME COLLEAGUES JUMP OFF I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEEN ASKED BUT HOPEFULLY DIVING INTO SPECIFICALLY WHAT A PATHWAY FOR BOSTON LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD SIMILAR TO COUNCIL WORLDS QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF FOR JUDITH SANTOS FOR I G SHAPIRO HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU TYPICALLY GET ON A YEARLY BASIS? ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IF YOU HAVE NUMBERS FOR BOSTON IN PARTICULAR AND THEN WHAT YOU HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS YOU'VE DONE I KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S VERY SENSITIVE INFORMATION. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ELABORATE WHAT I WHAT I CAN TELL YOU I DON'T HAVE INFORMATION BROKEN OUT SPECIFICALLY FOR BOSTON AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN BREAK IT OUT THAT WAY BUT I WILL CERTAINLY MAKE AN INQUIRY.  WE DID JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA WE PUT OUT AN ANNUAL REPORT WE JUST PUT OUT OUR CALENDAR YEAR 2023 REPORT AND WE I THINK WE HAD 3100 COMPLAINTS. I THINK IS THE NUMBER THAT STANDS UP. BUT I WILL I WILL VERIFY THAT AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK TO SEE WHERE THOSE COME FROM.  WE DON'T TABULATE HOW MANY WE KEEP OPEN AT A TIME.  WE THINK THAT THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE KEEP PROTECTED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS. SO I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT PIECE. I DID SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME BOSTON MATTERS THAT WE'VE DONE AND I COULD CERTAINLY GO MORE EXTENSIVELY AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. I WAS YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO,  YOU KNOW, DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IF THAT'S HELPFUL.  THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND I DO THINK THAT SO JUST TO CLARIFY 100 ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH JUST ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH ON OUR MAIN WE HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOTLINES BUT OUR MAIN TYPE OF COMPLAINT LINE WE ALSO DO SOME OTHERS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSPORTATION MATTERS AND THAT COMES IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT NUMBER IS BAKED INTO THAT NUMBER BUT I'LL I'LL I'LL TAKE A LOOK AND WE'LL CERTAINLY, MADAM CHAIR FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE MISINFORMATION ON THAT. OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU HAD A THIRD YOU HAVE A NUMBER EMPLOYEES NINE EMPLOYEES THAT OVERSEES 300,000 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. IS THAT RIGHT?  WE BELIEVE THAT BETWEEN STATE AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES OUR CALCULATION BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE POLICIES AND OTHER KINDS OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SO OUR FOLKS HAVE CALCULATED THAT THAT'S ABOUT 300,000 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND THEY SPEND ACROSS STATE AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDING BREATHS THAT GO OUT TO NONPROFITS IS THAT $120 BILLION? OKAY. COULD YOU US ABOUT ON AVERAGE HOW MANY CASES YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE FOR YOU YEAR WE GIVE TIME WE DON'T WE DON'T BREAK IT OUT LIKE THAT FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS. OUR CASES VARY SOME ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN MULTIPLES SOME ARE SMALLER AND PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE SO WE DON'T WE DON'T PUBLICLY WOULD POLICE WHAT CASELOAD LOOK LIKE BUT I WILL I WILL INQUIRE ABOUT IF THERE'S SOME BOSTON SPECIFIC KINDS OF INFORMATION THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.  I JUST DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL ONLY BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO TO UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE AND EXACTLY WHAT THE NEED IS HERE IN BOSTON. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE THIS AUDIT, THIS BOSTON FINANCIAL COMMISSION IS AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE AND THINKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF WORKFLOW.  RIGHT. LOOK, YOU ARE AT THE TOP YOUR AUTHORITY THAT LIVES IN CHAPTER 12 A SUPERSEDES WHAT THE CITY OF BOSTON DOES.  AND SO IN MY MIND YOU'RE HERE AND STATE AUDITOR'S HERE AND ON ONE LATERAL LINE IS THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION WHICH DEALS WITH THE FINANCES AND AUDIT THAT ASPECT OF IT. BUT THEN SIMILAR TO AIG TO CENTERS IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PHILLY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LATERAL ENTITY THAT DEALS WITH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS FRAUD, WASTE,  ABUSE AND IT IT WOULD NOT BE REDUNDANT TO OR MAY BE REDUNDANT. WHAT YOU DO ARE REPETITIVE BUT AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE AUDITOR THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A FINANCIAL ENTITY THAT WORKS THROUGH SOME OF THE AUDITING AND I WISH WE STILL HAD COUNCILOR TO CARRY ON HERE BUT I AM PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU WOULD BE OPEN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OF AN OIG AT THE BOSTON LEVEL AS LONG AS YOUR YOUR AUTHORITY IS NOT UNDERMINED IN ANY WAY AND SO I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW TOO I MEAN THIS MAY BE FOR WORKING SESSION FORWARD BUT IF WE CAN PUT TO PUT THIS ON OUR TO DO LIST TO COMB THROUGH THE LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT SORT OF THE THE RED LINES ARE FOR YOU, HOW WOULD YOU WOULD SEE SOME THINGS THAT WOULD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY UNDERMINED YOUR AUTHORITY GOING THROUGH THAT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RED LINES THROUGH HERE, WHAT COULD STAY WHAT WE MAY NEED TO ADD IN HERE I REMEMBER YOU TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE FOR PROTECTING WHISTLEBLOWERS AND ALL OF THAT. SO IF WE COULD PUT THAT ON OUR TO DO LIST MOVING FORWARD FOR THE WORKING SESSION JUST HEAR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE AND THEN ALSO STRIKES FROM FROM THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. I DO FEEL LIKE THERE IS A PATHWAY AGAIN JUST LITERALLY WE HAVE THIS FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD NARROW WHAT I DO TO STAND CENTERS DOES DOWN IN PHILLY AND THEN WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO WORK THROUGH INSTANCES WHERE WE FEEL LIKE THERE COULDN'T BE ANY OVERLAPPING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ARTICULATE OUT OF WORKING SESSION MOVING FORWARD. AND SO I AM I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE OPEN TO IT JUST IN GENERAL BEFORE I MOVE TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AGAIN AND WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND PANEL TOO SO I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR TIME.  SO I'M JUST GOING THROUGH MY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.  I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME . UH, I'LL GO TO COUNCILOR MEJIA. I APOLOGIZE.  COUNCILOR BREADON HAS JOINED US AGAIN. SHE HAD TO GO AWAY TO ACTUALLY BACK AND SO I'LL I'LL PASS IT TO HER AND THEN WE CAN GO FOR SECOND ROUND IF THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I HAD TO BE OPPOSED AND READ A STORY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UP STREET.  SO I'M BACK AND I'M SORRY I MISSED I PROBABLY MISSED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.  I THINK MY CURIOSITY IS JUST ABOUT HOW IT INTERSECTS WITH THE WORK OF CENTCOM. I KNOW THE CENTCOM USED TO HAVE A 12 STAFF. I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT STAGE IN THEIR HISTORY THAT WAS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 100 YEARS AT THIS STAGE AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WORKING WITH THREE STAFF ON A BUDGET OF JUST OVER $300,000. SO THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY UNDER RESOURCED BUT WHEN THEY DO GO WHEN THEY DO ENGAGE IN INVESTIGATIONS THEY DO A VERY THOROUGH JOB AND YOU KNOW AND A LOT OF US I KNOW BUT BECAUSE MATT KEHOE CAME AND VISITED WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED WAY BACK IN 2020 BEFORE COVID HIT, WE HAD A SIT DOWN CONVERSATION AND I THINK A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY NOT EVEN KNOW OF THEIR WORK. SO I THINK IT'S WORTH IT. IT'S WORTH A CONVERSATION TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE WORK OF CENTCOM AND THEY'RE UNDER THEIR BOARD THAT DO SUCH GREAT WORK ON A ON ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET ACTUALLY. SO I ANYWAY, I'M SORRY I MISSED SO MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION BUT I'M HAPPY TO I'M HAPPY JUST TO CATCH UP WITH YOU THE THE TIP AFTERWARDS AND YOU CAN CELEBRATE AND CONSOLE MEJIA. THANK YOU CHAIR AND I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER IG FROM CHICAGO COMING IN AND SHE'LL COME IN AND OUT OF THAT ALSO WILL HAVE A HEART STOP AND I'M GLAD THAT IG THE CENTERS HAVE STAYED ENGAGED AND I'M INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGED BY IG. SHAPIRO HERE ON THE STATE LEVEL REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN COMMUNITY AND REALLY WORKING AT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU EXIST AND THE WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE DOES. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU AROUND MY WAY ONE DAY. OKAY. BUT MATT FOR FOR FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS DIALOG I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT TO COUNCILOR COLLECTORS POINT IN TERMS OF A PATH FORWARD I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND AS WE CONTINUE TO DIVE IN I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN NOT THE ALARM AROUND LIKE SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED. LET'S BRING IN THIS THAT'S THAT WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE IDEAS THEY ALWAYS I MEAN AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION FROM WHEN I STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT IT LIKE OH MY GOD, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT AUDIT IS LIKE THE IRS. IT'S LIKE NO. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS I D SHAPIRO WHAT WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK IN TERMS OF JUST REALLY TURNING THAT NARRATIVE INTO SOMETHING THAT'S PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE AND IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE YOU'RE THE STATE BUT HEARING THEM ON THE LOCAL MUNICIPAL LEVEL THINGS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY DO AS PART OF ONE OF OUR FUNCTIONS AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF THE WHOLE IDEA AROUND AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS. YES. BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN RESTORE TRUST IN CITY GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY AROUND DECISION MAKING PROCESSES THAT HAPPEN AS LOUIS MENTIONED EARLIER, A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE BEING DONE TO US WITHOUT US AND THERE'S REALLY NO FORMAL SPACE OR PLACE FOR COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR TO HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT EVEN AGAINST THE CITY COUNCILORS. RIGHT. IT'S NOT JUST THE ADMINISTRATION I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO HOLD EVERY ALL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE INCLUDING THE COUNCIL . AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT DOES NOT BEGIN AND END WITH AN AUDIT OR REPORT.  BUT WHAT OTHER FUNCTIONS CAN YOU THINK OF AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT WHAT THIS POTENTIALLY COULD BE HERE IN BOSTON THAT REALLY GETS AT RESTORING TRUST SPECIFICALLY AROUND DECISION MAKING PROCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN FLAWED AND OR BROKEN?  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INSPIRED ME TO RESUSCITATE THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE THAT COULD BE EITHER EITHER IG'S CAN OR BOTH OF YOU HAVE TIME TO CHIME IN ON OTHER FUNCTIONALITIES.  I DO CENTER'S DID YOU WANT TO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE SIDE OR GO AHEAD SO YOU'RE IN THE HOME FIELD INITIATE THAT SO I THINK THE STARTING POINT THAT I TAKE OF THERE ARE A LOT OF A LOT OF ELEMENTS IN THERE COUNCIL SO I'LL TRY TO DO IT AS QUICKLY AS I CAN MINDFUL OF THE TIME THE FIRST POINT THAT'S THERE IS SINCE I TOOK OFFICE 19 MONTHS AGO I BELIEVE THAT IF PEOPLE THINK OF US AS THE INVESTIGATIVE AND THE COMPLIANCE AGENCY WE'VE LOST WE'VE LOST ALREADY. SO AS COUNCILOR WE'RE ALL GRACIOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU.  I REACHED OUT TO HE AND HIS BROTHER. I READ A STORY IN THE GLOBE ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO OPEN A STOREFRONT TO MAKE A SMALL CITY HALL IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WALKING DISTANCE FOR THOSE THAT CAN WALK OR RUN FROM THE REAL CITY HALL. BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, EONS AWAY FOR A HUNDRED OTHER REASONS THAT AREN'T FOR TODAY'S CONVERSATION.  AND I WENT AND I MET WITH THEM AND AFTER I DID THAT THEY INVITED ME TO PRESENT AT A TOWN HALL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND I THINK EDUCATION TRAINING ,KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, BUSINESS CONTINUITY ARE KEY THINGS. SO I TRY TO SPEND 60% OF MY TIME ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND 40% ON COMPLIANCE AND INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE THERE ARE NEFARIOUS PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE SERIOUS AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. SO THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO DO.  THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS THAT ONE OF OUR VISIONS WE HAVE A DIVISION THAT'S CREATED SEPARATELY BY STATUTE TO LOOK AT THE SECRETARIAT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. IT'S STATUTE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN THAT PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE THAT SECRETARIAT AND IT'S CHILD AGENCIES ALL OF THE HUMAN SERVICES AREAS IS TO HELP THEM BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFICIENT SO OUR FOLKS WE CAN DO AUDITS, WE CAN DO INVESTIGATION IF WE CAN DO WE ALSO SIT WITH THEM AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO THE FORMS FOR THE CLIENTS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SERVE. WE JUST DID A HUGE PROJECT ABOUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR SOMEBODY THAT MAY HAVE A DISABILITY THAT IS USED TO HAVING GONE INTO A REGIONAL OFFICE AND NOW IT'S AN ONLINE SERVICE SO YOU CAN'T SIT NEXT TO SOMEBODY AND HELP THEM FILL OUT THE FORM. THERE'S SO MANY OTHER KINDS OF THINGS AND THE SECRETARY WALSH'S CREDIT AND THE MEMBERS OF HER TEAM THEY'RE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE THINGS THAT WE DO BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE DO THAT I WOULD SAY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT THAT GOT YOUR KIND OF MENTALITY OF THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE DO WE REPORT WITH THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER. SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN YOU CAN CERTAINLY USE ME AS A RESOURCE YOU CAN USE OUR OFFICE. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE OUR GENERAL COUNCILOR SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE. YOU'RE CREATING SOMETHING THAT'S FOR YOU.  AND SO I CERTAINLY RESPECT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNSELORS THAT YOU KNOW WANT TO LISTEN BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME TO WRITE IT AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S YOUR PIECE OF IT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE TO TRIAGE. WE'RE A PLACE THAT ALL KINDS OF THINGS COME IN. YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS WE READ WE CALL IT A REDIRECT TO AN AGENCY AND THAT'S WHAT MY MY COLLEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA TALKED A LOT ABOUT DOING. YOU KNOW, WE'RE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE FEEL ASKING A QUESTION AND SO WE DO IT. WE DO A LOT OF THAT KIND OF WORK AS WELL. I GUESS LASTLY JUST IN THIS IN THIS SPACE I WOULD SAY THAT I'M YOU KNOW WHAT WE WORK ON YOU KNOW, WE'RE EVER REEVALUATED.  WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES EVEN IF OUR RESOURCES ARE LARGER THAN SOME IT'S ALL RELATIVE. AND SO I THINK THAT THE OTHER QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED IS THINK WHAT WOULD THE OFFICE DO? I THINK PART OF IT IS I TRY TO GET OUT. I TRY TO BE AROUND. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY HAS BEEN GOOD WORK BUT I HAVE LOTS OF PLACES. I MEAN IF I YOU KNOW AND I THINK THAT'S THE PIECE OF IT I THINK I AM IN CONCEPT I'M RIGHT AGAIN JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT THAT WOULD BE A BAD GOVERNMENT.  I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE A COMPLEMENT AND I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. THERE WAS ANOTHER ENTITY THEY CAN DO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND IN SOME WAY YOU GET YOU KNOW, SORT OF DOUBLE VALUE BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE STRUCTURED BUT LIKE LIKE MY COLLEAGUE THE AUDITOR SAID AND AND MY COLLEAGUE UNTIL OFTEN IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE TOO. YOU KNOW, EVEN YOU OVERLAP YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING. WE HAVE MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH OTHER AGENCIES. THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TOOLS BECAUSE THE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO BE CONFIDENTIAL BUT THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF LATITUDE ON HOW WE CAN WORK BECAUSE TO ME MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER, YOU KNOW, IS NOT HAVING MY AGENCY WASTE RESOURCES EITHER.  SO I HOPE THAT HELPS COME BACK TO ME . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW DISSENT AS YOU NEED TO I KNOW YOU STAYED HERE LONGER AND I GOT ANOTHER ID COMING FROM CHICAGO. YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP THE BIGGEST CITY THAT ME AND ALL DO I HAVE TO LEAVE IN ORDER FOR I KNOW YOU COULD STAND THIS EVENING. YOU COULD STAY. GIVE ME A SHOT. MAY I? I'LL SAY ONE MORE THOUGHT TO YOUR QUESTION AND THEN I'LL I'LL RUN. BUT THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME AND I CAN ALWAYS IF IF YOU KNOW I REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECT IN WHATEVER FORM SO I FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT ANY TIME. A COUPLE THOUGHTS ON THINGS THAT WE DO BESIDES FOR LIKE THESE. GOTCHA INCIDENTS OR WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE ON THE BACK END AFTER SOMETHING HAS ALREADY OCCURRED ONE EDUCATION EDUCATION AWARENESS RIGHT BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY BUT PROBABLY MORE SO WE DIRECT THOSE EFFORTS TO THE WORKFORCE RIGHT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE THE WORKFORCE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE AND A RESOURCE TO TO TO GO TO IF THEY FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUT IN A COMPROMISED SITUATION, IF THEY'VE COME ACROSS SOMETHING THAT'S THEY WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT OR IS OTHERWISE QUESTIONED.  SO EDUCATION AND CULTURE WITHIN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IS WORKFORCE ARE REALLY WE DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND THAT TRY TO CULTIVATE THAT REGULARLY AS AS IS SHAPIRO MENTIONED OF ALSO WE LIKE THE IDEA OF CLEANING OUR OWN HOUSE SO TYPICALLY IN MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION RIGHT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CASES THAT ARE BEING MADE NOTHING HAPPENS . THERE'S NO REAL THERE'S NO THERE'S NO CONTEXT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY GETS INDICTED OR THERE'S A BIG SCANDAL THAT HAPPENS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT IF WE AS A CITY ARE THERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS OR OUR STATE PARTNERS, WE ARE AT LEAST ABLE TO SAY WE WE KNEW ABOUT THIS.  WE'RE PART OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN THAT TOOK CARE OF AND WE'RE POLICING OUR OWN SELF AND I THINK THE PUBLIC LIKES THAT SORT OF INTERNAL SELF RESPONSE TO THE CONCEPT OF SELF RESPONSIBILITY SELF-GOVERNANCE RATHER THAN WAITING FOR SOME OUTSIDE ACTOR TO COME IN AND ESSENTIALLY UNILATERALLY DO SOMETHING WITHOUT YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY PUTS OUR GOVERNMENTS IN A MORE ADVERSARIAL POSITION.  AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE ONE MORE THING WHICH IS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND I THINK THAT'S RELEVANT TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE.  THE CITY IS VERY COMPLICATED RIGHT?  THERE ARE MANY, MANY PROCESSES AND PEOPLE AND UNITS THAT ARE OFF INTO A CORNER AND ARE VERY ISOLATED AND YOU KNOW, WE THINK OF IT AS A BIG MACHINE HELPING THE PUBLIC NAVIGATE THAT BUT ALSO HELPING OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION NAVIGATE THAT WE THINK IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP IN PHILADELPHIA THAT ARE REALLY JUST NOBODY REALLY IN GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS HOW TO ANSWER EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE ISSUE OR THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG INTO THE ORGANIZATION VERY, VERY DEEPLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING NOT ONE LEVEL DOWN TO LEVELS DOWN BUT LIKE FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN LEVELS DOWN IN THE ORGANIZATION AND.  SO WE HAVE I THINK DONE A LOT TO HELP BUT AT LEAST IN OUR OPINION IMPROVE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. RECENTLY THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF OUR OFFICE OF HOMELESS SERVICES HERE HAS BEEN UNDER UNDER A LOT OF STRAIN AND THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATIONALLY VERY CHALLENGED AND A LOT OF THAT HAS PLAYED OUT IN THE PAPER HERE AND THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF SORT OF CRITICAL ARTICLES OF THIS DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE COME ACROSS IN THE PAPER.  WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION HERE WHO'S ALSO SORT OF JUST GETTING THEIR FEET WET, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AND SO WE STEPPED INTO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT ANYTHING NO ONE'S IN HANDCUFFS, NO ONE'S DISCIPLINE AND RIGHT THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT AND AN ACTUAL OUTCOME.  BUT WE ORIENTED OURSELVES TO THIS PROJECT JUST TO TELL STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. SO WE PRODUCED A REPORT THAT WE RELEASED A FEW MONTHS BACK JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PRESS AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAY YES, WE'VE INVESTIGATED THIS CHARGE AND THAT'S CORRECT AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING CHANGED HERE.  THIS OTHER ISSUE IS SORT OF A RED HERRING AND THAT MAYBE SO GIVING GUIDANCE AND SOME CONSTRUCT SOME SOME STRUCTURE TO A CONVERSATION THAT'S PLAYING OUT IN THE PRESS OUT IN THE PRESS OR OTHERWISE I THINK HAS BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE FOR US IN A SPACE THAT'S NOT NOT YOU KNOW, IF YOU WILL. BUT ANYWAYS I SEE MY MY COLLEAGUE FROM CHICAGO HERE A LOT.  BUT ANYHOW THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND AS I SAID CONTACT ME ANY TIME. REALLY APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. IT'S REALLY, REALLY GREAT.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I SAID YOU GOT TO BE GOT A BIGGER FISH OVER HERE. SO I.  I KNOW COUNCILOR COLLETTE, I KNOW YOU. IT'S MY TIME. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR TWO COMMUNITY PANELISTS HAVE BEEN HERE AND THEY'RE THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING ALL OF THIS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I WRAPPED UP MY LINE OF QUESTIONS FOR THIS ROUND THAT I REALLY CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO FOR THESE TWO LEADERS IN PARTICULAR TO, YOU KNOW, JUST SHARE ANY LAST WORDS OF WISDOM OR THINGS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE US DO DIFFERENTLY AS WE CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THIS THIS IS GOING TO GO INTO WORKING SESSIONS. THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR THE END OF THE CONVERSATION BUT YOU GUYS ARE SO CRUCIAL TO THIS PROCESS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE SOME SPACE FOR FOR YOU TO TO REACT TO ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED SO FAR. THANK YOU, MR ASLAM AND MR YOUNG FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THE ONE THING I'LL JUST END IN SAYING I REALLY DO APPRECIATE OUR JEWISH HEAR REMARKS AND I DO DO SAMSON REMARKS ABOUT IN AND HE IS ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE. THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I BELIEVE RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN NOR DO WE WANT TO SEE ANYONE WHO WORKS IN PUBLIC SERVICE BEING DISPARAGED IN NEWS OR ANYTHING ELSE. WE DON'T NEED IT. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT. WE WANT TO SEE PROGRESS AND THE CITY HAS SO MANY RESOURCES, SO MANY AT ITS FINGERTIPS NOW WE WANT YOU TO PULL ALL THE LEATHERS ALL OF THEM DON'T HOLD BACK AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR A LONG TIME. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHO HAVE DONE SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC OUTSIDE OF BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR A VERY LONG TIME. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INTERVENTION. I MAY REACH OUT TO YOU. I JUST. SHAPIRO THE JAM AND SEE HOLDS MONTHLY MEETINGS AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR LISA.  I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO THANK INSPECTOR JERUSALEM SUPERIOR.  COMING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ANY TALKS NOW THAT THEY CAN START TRYING TO TRUST TO GET IN AND CLOSE THAT GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO GOVERNING IN THOSE WHO ARE BEING GOVERNED. IS THAT SO IMPORTANT? I WANT TO THANK ALL RESPECTED THE CENTERS FOR BEING IN PHILADELPHIA IF IT TAKES THEM OUT.  AND I'D SAY IT'S JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO MY ASSOCIATION OTHERS THAT SAY WE'RE WORKING ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN ALL CITIES BUT PARTICULARLY IN THOSE THAT HAVE A LOT OF STRONG POLITICS AND A LOT OF CHANGE THAT IS TAKING PLACE.  THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. ONE REASON THAT HE HAD THE THANK HIM PLEASE AN IDEA OF HIS DREAM WOULD HAVE BEEN BOSTON. NEW YORK CITY HAS AN ELECTRICITY AND AN INSPECTOR GENERAL ANYWHERE IN THAT DISCUSSION WOULD BE QUITE EXCITING BOOKS YOU GUYS CAN PUT IT TOGETHER AND I'LL READ IT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. AS WE TRANSITION TO THE NEXT PANEL, EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO STAY. YOU MIGHT GET PUT TO AN ATTENDEE RATHER THAN A PANELIST WHILE WE HAVE HER WE ARE VERY HONORED TO HAVE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, DEBORAH WINSBERG.  I HOPE I SAID THAT PITTSBURGH SAID THAT CORRECTLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THEN FOR ESSENTIAL STAFF AS SHE'S PROVIDING HER TESTIMONY WE CAN HAVE THE TWO DIANE'S DIANE VALLEY DIANE WILKERSON IF THEY'RE STILL ON LARRY RADIN AND MARLON SOLOMON BE MOVED TO THIS PARTICULAR PANEL. BUT FOR NOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS DEBORAH PITTSBURGH. I'M INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE SAVE CHICAGO.  THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INVITATION FOR LOTS OF REASONS NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT I AM A PROUD NATIVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH SO MASSACHUSETTS IS HOME SWEET HOME AND I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO WORK WITH BOTH A.G. SHAPIRO AND AG DESANTIS. SO I'M HONORED TO BE IN THEIR COMPANY AS WELL. I WILL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR OFFICE AND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT AND THEN I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT'S HELPFUL TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THE CITY OF CHICAGO, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN AGENCY WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT.  I THINK OF OUR POSITIONING WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT BEING REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE WORK TO BUILD PUBLIC LEGITIMACY AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS DRIVEN BY THE CITY NOT IMPOSED UPON IT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WORK IS BAKED IN, NOT BOLTED ON TO CITY OPERATIONS AND THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS OPERATION BEING BEING A COMPONENT OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE MISSION OF OUR OFFICE IS TO PROMOTE ECONOMY EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY IN THE OPERATIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND WE GO ABOUT OUR WORK IN THREE SORT OF CHANNELS WE DO MIT BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS. WE DO PROGRAM AND POLICY WORK WITH A KEY TOWARD EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND EQUITY AND THEN FINALLY WE DO TRANSPARENCY WORK MOTIVATED BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BELONGS TO THE GOVERNED. THAT WORK IS DESIGNED TO SHINE A LIGHT INTO THE WINDOWLESS ROOMS OF CITY GOVERNMENT ACROSS THOSE THREE CHANNELS OF WORK WE HAVE STAFF IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRACTICE AREAS MUCH LIKE I DO SHAPIRO AND THE SANTOS WE HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF OF 124 PEOPLE. WE HAVE TWO DETAILED CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS OUR JURISDICTION INCLUDES CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES,  VENDORS, CONTRACTORS, LICENSEES, APPLICANTS, LOBBYISTS, ETC. WE HAVE WE RECEIVE ABOUT 2000 INTAKES PER QUARTER ON AVERAGE APPROXIMATELY 8000 TAKES A YEAR. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND USUALLY HAVE ABOUT 200 OPEN MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS KIND OF AT ANY ONE TIME AND I THINK IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION WE RECEIVE IS ENORMOUS 20 INTAKES QUARTER IS A LOT.  THAT'S A GOOD NEWS STORY. WE ONLY KNOW WHAT PEOPLE TELL US AND AS WE SEE THAT NUMBER GO UP WE I TAKE THAT TO BE A SIGN THAT MORE AND MORE CHICAGOANS ARE AWARE OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND WHERE TO FIND US. I THINK THAT IS THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR GOVERNMENT LEGITIMACY AND THIS EFFORT TO FOSTER PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. IT'S CERTAINLY BODES FOR A NEED TO THOUGHTFULLY TRIAGE OUR WORK AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. I'LL JUST UNDERSCORE THAT HERE. I THINK IN ANY SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A NEED FOR AN OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AGENCY, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE MORE WORK THAT NEEDS DOING THAN IS LIKELY TO GET DONE. AND SO THEN I THINK HOW TO PRIORITIZE THAT WORK IS A CRITICAL FEATURE OF THE WORK AND I WILL SAY THAT HERE IN CHICAGO THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THAT IS IS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO OPERATES AT A TREMENDOUS DEFICIT OF LEGITIMACY WITH ITS RESIDENTS. WE WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE FOR MANY DECADES, MANY GENERATIONS NO THE CITY HAS NOT GIVEN ANYONE ANY REASON TO TO GIVE THE CITY THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.  AND SO OPERATING AGAINST THAT BACKDROP WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE OUR WORK TO TO DEVOTE OUR RESOURCES TO THOSE THINGS WHERE WE GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PAY DOWN THE DEFICIT OF LEGITIMACY THE FASTEST. THOSE ARE SOMETIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS THE THE PROBLEMS WHERE THERE IS THE LARGEST DOLLAR AMOUNT AT ISSUE SOMETIMES THOSE ARE MUCH SMALLER THINGS. SOMETIMES THOSE ARE THE DAY TO DAY INTERACTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.  THE EXAMPLE THAT I OFTEN THINK OF HERE IS THAT IF WE HAVE BUILDING INSPECTORS WHO ARE SOLICITING $50 BRIBES THAT IS A VERY LOW DOLLAR THRESHOLD. NO PROSECUTOR IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS IS GOING TO CHARGE THAT CASE AS A CRIME. HOWEVER, FOR THE CHICAGOAN WHO CAN'T BE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR BUILDING IS SAFE FOR THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS SOLICITED A $50 BRIBE THAT HAS AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON LEGITIMACY AND GOES TO DEGRADE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT I THINK IN A REALLY SIGNIFICANT WAY. AND SO I TRY TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS SORT OF THE NORTH STAR OF ALL OF US PRIORITIZING OUR WORK AS WE DO SO SO I'M CONSCIOUS OF THE TIME I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR A WHILE SO I DO WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR TWO TO SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ABOUT OUR OFFICE'S OPERATIONS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE ACTORS FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES COME IN AND SHOW JUST HOW HOW MUCH WE COULD BE DOING BETTER AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOR THE WORK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO HEAR YOU'RE WORKING OVER IN CHICAGO IF IT'S OKAY TO THE CHAIR I THINK BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT MAYBE WE'LL JUST HAVE QUESTIONS FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THEN GO INTO OTHER FOLKS TO YOUR TESTIMONY OR I'LL DEFER TO THE SPONSOR IN YOUR PREFERENCE. THANK YOU. CHAIR I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT COUNCILOR ANDERSON HAS LOGGED ON WITH HER PHONE AND JUST NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED TO A PANELIST.  IT HASN'T BEEN DONE SO AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE IG FOR BRINGING IT LITERALLY TO THIS SPACE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO AND I'LL DEFER BACK TO YOU TO ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW TIME IS SHORT AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING HER TO BE HERE. OKAY.  IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT I'LL GO TO TWO QUESTIONS AND FOUR CENTRAL STAFF TO ELEVATE COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FROM HER PHONE.  UM, COUNCILOR MEJIA I'LL GO TO YOU FIRST AND THEN COUNCILOR ANDERSON,  COUNCILOR BURTON AND THEN MYSELF.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING WITH US. IT DOES DEFINITELY PROVIDE A LOT OF CONTEXT AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT WE CAN BE DOING MORE WHAT HOW WE SHOULD MOVE THROUGH THIS. THIS IS JUST A PROPOSAL AT THIS MOMENT SO THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE.  AND SO YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY HELPFUL. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS IN CHICAGO THAT HAPPENS WHEN SELECTING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. IS IT APPOINTED? IS IT ELECTED?  HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT HOW DID YOU GET ABOUT GETTING THIS SEAT SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE I LOST A BET. THIS ISN'T IT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE OFFICE IS SO CRITICAL AND THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE IG IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF STRUCTURAL INDEPENDENCE THE WAY THIS WORKS HERE AND WE'VE MADE SOME RECENT CHANGES TO THE RULES WE HAVE A THERE'S A SEARCH COMMITTEE THAT IS THAT IS SELECTED SO SOME MEMBERS ARE SELECTED BY THE MAYOR, SOME MEMBERS ARE SELECTED BY THE ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL . THAT COMMITTEE ENGAGES A SEARCH FIRM.  THE SEARCH FIRM IDENTIFIES APPLICANTS. THE COMMITTEE SELECTS NAMES, SENDS A NAME TO THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR NOMINATES THAT PERSON FOR CONFIRMATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL . SO THERE IT IS. THERE IS INTENDED TO BE SOME SORT OF CHECKS AND BALANCES BUILT INTO THAT PROCESS. THEN ONCE CONFIRMED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SERVES A FOUR YEAR TERM REMOVABLE ONLY FOR CAUSE BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE RECENTLY LEGISLATED A TERM LIMIT OF TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS WHICH I THINK IS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH THEY REALLY CRITICAL INDEPENDENCE MEASURE AS WELL. THAT'S IMPORTANT.  YOU KNOW I'VE HEARD THROUGH SOME YOU KNOW SPEAKING WITH FOLKS ABOUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OUR POSITION SHOULD BE ELECTED INSTEAD OF APPOINTED AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU'VE YOU KNOW, HAVE SEEN THIS POSITION, YOU KNOW THE COMPOSITION DIFFERENTLY.  WHAT WOULD BE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I THINK THERE ARE THERE ARE TRADEOFFS WITH ANY OF THESE APPROACHES. I WILL SAY I THINK THAT THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE STRIKES A ROUGHLY APPROPRIATE BALANCE IN TERMS OF THOSE TRADEOFFS.  SO WE HAVE THIS APPOINTMENT PROCESS. WE HAVE A PROTECTED TERM.  THAT TERM IS STAGGERED INTENTIONALLY STAGGERED WITH THE TERM OF THE APPOINTING MAYOR AND APOLOGIES I SHOULD'VE SAID THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO THE IDEA IS THAT A NEW MAYOR CANNOT SIMPLY COME IN AND BRING IN AN INSPECTOR GENERAL OF CHOICE BASICALLY I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT.  YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS IF WE ARE DOING OUR JOBS RIGHT, NOBODY IS HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY ALL THE TIME.  I OFTEN SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNERS ELSEWHERE IN CITY GOVERNMENT. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IF IF FOLKS IN CITY HALL FEEL ENTIRELY WARM AND FUZZY ABOUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING IT RIGHT. OUR WORK IS NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS POLITICALLY POPULAR EITHER IN A PUBLIC FACING WAY. AND SO I HAVE I WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS AROUND AN ELECTED POSITION. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN AN APPOINTED POSITION TO BUILD IN AS MANY INDEPENDENCE PROTECTIONS AS POSSIBLE. TERM PROTECTION I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK A THOUGHTFUL SELECTION PROCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I LOVE THAT NOW I HAVE A QUESTION AND I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY EXPANDED YOUR OFFICE JURISDICTION TO INCLUDE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE LOBBYING CAMPAIGN FINANCE AS WELL AS CONDUCT AUDITS OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S OPERATIONS.  IS THAT TRUE? AND IF SO, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW, THEIR ABILITY TO EXPAND THAT CAPACITY FOR YOUR OFFICE? CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODIC ITERATIVE EXPANSIONS OF OUR JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY AMONG THE MOST NOTABLE RECENT ONES BUT RECENT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO HAS BEEN AN EXPANSION OF OUR AUTHORITY OVER THE CITY COUNCIL ITSELF.  AS YOU SAY, WE NOW HAVE AUTHORITY BOTH TO INVESTIGATE MISCONDUCT BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO DO PERFORMANCE AUDITS OF CITY COUNCIL OPERATIONS.  SOME OF THOSE OTHER EXPANSIONS OF AUTHORITY THAT YOU MENTIONED INCLUDING AROUND LOBBYING AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE.  THOSE HAVE TO DO WITH BOTH OUR WORK AND THE WORK OF THE CITY'S BOARD OF ETHICS WITH WHOM WE WORK CLOSELY. BUT THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN THERE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AN EXPANSION OVER TIME AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS AT WORK THERE. ONE IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONSOLIDATION OF OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY IN THE CITY. THERE USED TO BE A SEPARATE LEGISLATIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSEEING OUR CITY COUNCIL THAT PROVED TO BE AN INEFFECTIVE MODEL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS AND SO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS CLOSED AND THEIR AUTHORITY WAS SORT OF ROLLED INTO OURS. THE OTHER IS THAT I THINK THERE IS A RISING TIDE WHEN WE ARE DOING EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WORK THAT AS THAT WORK TAKES ON A SORT OF AIR OF INEVITABILITY THERE IS I THINK MORE APPETITE FOR IT AND MORE KIND OF ACCEPTANCE OF IT. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT AS WE SEE THAT AUTHORITY EXPAND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD THAT'S A GOOD THING. NOW CERTAINLY THE THE THAT CONFERRAL OF AUTHORITY MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ACTUAL OPERATIONAL ABILITY TO GET THE WORK DONE AND SO AUTHORITY ON PAPER IS ONE THING OPERATIONAL ABILITY TO GET IT DONE IS ANOTHER CERTAINLY WORTH BEING MINDFUL OF THE FACT THERE'S AN EXPRESSION IN OVERSIGHT THAT THE APPEARANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS WORSE THAN NONE AT ALL FROM A FROM A LEGITIMACY AND PUBLIC TRUST PERSPECTIVE MUCH TO BE AVOIDED IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS KIND OF AN APPEARANCE OF A WATCHDOG WHICH IS A PAPER TIGER, YOU KNOW? YEAH, NO I APPRECIATE THAT.  I KNOW WE HAVE YOU FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND WE HAVE A FEW COLLEAGUES LINED UP THAT I'M JUST GOING TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION AS I CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THIS CONVERSATION. THIS WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY COMMUNITY VOICE AND A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS NOT FEELING HEARD OR SEEN IN A LOT OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES WHETHER IT'S DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATORY BUDGET, YOU KNOW HOW WE'RE SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS LIKE ALL THINGS THAT DEAL WITH REAL VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY AND OFTENTIMES YOU KNOW, YOU CAN YOU COULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO REELECT SOMEONE EVERY TWO YEARS BUT THERE'S REALLY NO REAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESIDENTS TO HOLD THEIR OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE OR YOU KNOW, OR REALLY FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES ARE BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AROUND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO THEM. MOST PEOPLE CARE ABOUT POTHOLES . PEOPLE CARE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. PEOPLE CARE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR OFFICIALS ARE LISTENING TO THEM AND SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT ANY INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THIS POSITION I'M I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT FINANCIAL AND AUDIT AND WASTE AND CORRUPTION AND I THINK THAT THAT THAT YES, THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION BUT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MORE GOING BACK TO THE RESTORING TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND JUST VERY SIMILAR TO CHICAGO BOSTON HAS LAYERS AND LAYERS OF DISTRUST AND I FOR ONE EVEN THOUGH I WORK IN GOVERNMENT I STILL DON'T TRUST GOVERNMENT.  YOU KNOW. WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK AN OFFICE LIKE THIS CAN PLAY IN REPAIRING THAT TRUST FOR THE BASIC NUTS AND BOLTS OF OF GOVERNMENT?  I THINK ALL THAT IS SO IMPORTANT I WILL SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ROLE OF AN IG AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL SPECIFICALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THAT SO IMPORTANT IS HOW CLOSE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CITY GOVERNMENT IS TO PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES FOR EXACTLY THE REASONS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THE POTHOLES GET FILLED AND WHETHER THE SNOW GETS SHOVELED AND WHETHER THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON AND WHETHER THE LIBRARIES ARE OPEN AT HOURS THEY CAN THEY CAN ACCESS THAT'S A CITY GOVERNMENT QUESTION CITY GOVERNMENT IS SORT OF THE FIRST LINE IN PEOPLE'S DAY TO DAY LIVES. THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT WORK WELL AND TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT. I THINK YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FOR FEEDBACK AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION THEN I'M GOING TO MIX MIX A COUPLE OF METAPHORS HERE. BUT BUT YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT I TALKED ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT CHICAGO HAS NOT GIVEN ANYONE ANY REASON TO GIVE THE CITY THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THAT IS THAT ANYWHERE IN CITY GOVERNMENT WHERE SOMETHING IS HAPPENING OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW,  PEOPLE ARE LEFT TO ASSUME THE WORST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM ANY REASON NOT TO FOR DECADES FOR GENERATIONS AND SO ANY PUBLIC POLICY CONVERSATION WHICH WE SUCCESSFULLY SHOVE OUT INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY OUT INTO PUBLIC VIEW IS A BETTER ONE. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THERE IS A SAYING THAT I OFTEN DRAW UPON WHICH IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO RIGHT WRONGS SHINE THE LIGHT OF TRUTH UPON THEM. I THINK THAT IS A PROFOUND TRUTH IN THE WORK THAT WE DO. BUT ANY ANY OPERATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT WHICH WE RENDER MORE VISIBLE, LESS MYSTERIOUS TO THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON CITY GOVERNMENT WE HAVE IMPROVED BY VIRTUE OF DOING THAT AND SO THAT REALLY DOES MOTIVATE OUR TRANSPARENCY WORK. WE DO DATA TRANSPARENCY, WE DO SORT OF PROCESS TRANSPARENCY. WE DO WORK ON BUDGET TRANSPARENCY EXACTLY AS YOU SAY. SO PEOPLE HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHERE THE MANY MANY, MANY DOLLARS IN THE CITY BUDGET GO. I THINK ALL OF THAT IS VITAL NOW WE HAVE TO SORT OF WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE TO BE DOING THAT TRANSPARENCY WORK WHILE WE ARE HOLDING BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING THE RULES. I THINK THAT FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS AN OVERSIGHT ENTITY SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, AS I SAY, KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND THEY'RE AWARE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. WE CAN DO TRANSPARENCY WORK IN SECRET AND FOR HOLDING BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING THE RULES AND NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT THEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY TREE HAS SORT OF FALLEN IN THE FOREST AND THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO HEAR IT. I OFTEN SAY THAT WE WILL GO ANYWHERE. WE'RE INVITED IN SOME PLACES WE'RE NOT TO TALK ABOUT OUR WORK AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO LISTEN TO CHICAGOANS, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW CITY GOVERNMENT BEST TO TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT, WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON.  THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF YOUR TIME AND MY COLLEAGUE SO CHAIR, I'M GLAD THAT I'M YIELDING THE TIME THAT I KNOW I DON'T HAVE LEFT AS YOU HAVE COME IN HERE COUNCILOR ATHANASIUS SAID I THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. MY APOLOGIES. I AM IN TRANSITION.  INSPECTOR GENERAL WINSBERG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOU. IT WAS LIKE READING A BOOK.  HOPEFULLY WE GET MORE OUT OF YOU WITH THESE QUESTIONS.  I CAN I REALLY HAVING AN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR POINTS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING IT ABOUT BUDGET OR POLICY OR PROGRAMMATIC I'M SURE I GUESS THE IT LEADS ME TO THE QUESTION ABOUT METRICS OR BENCHMARKS AND IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THIRD PARTY COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY REFERENCE CERTAIN DATA POINTS, ARE WE DOING A GOOD JOB? AND THERE'S ONE THERE'S A COMPONENT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND INSPECTION BUT THEN THERE'S THESE AUDITS BUT THEN YOU KNOW, TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL IS THE COLLABORATION OR THE SYNERGY OF NETWORKING OR A PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS OR THAT THE CITY IS ACTUALLY ABIDING BY THE CERTAIN POLICIES THAT THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE OR THAT THEY INTEND TO. AND SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS IS THERE DO YOU DO THAT IN CHICAGO OR WHERE DO YOU SEE IF NOT WHERE DO YOU SEE THE POSSIBILITIES OF THAT? I'M NOT SURE THIS ENTIRELY ANSWERS THE QUESTION BUT I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS IN THIS WORK, HOW WE MEASURE PROGRESS, WHERE THE ARC OF MISCONDUCT AND CORRUPTION AND MISTRUST IN CITY GOVERNMENT IS SUCH A LONG ONE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BEND IT BACK RIGHT AWAY.  THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OF THE SCALE THAT WE FIX IN YOU KNOW, IN THE TIME FRAME OF AN ELECTION CYCLE OR A TERM OR A CAREER FOR THAT MATTER.  AND SO I WORRY ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN THERE IS NO FINISH LINE IN SIGHT IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND THE MILE MARKERS. IT'S REALLY HARD TO KIND OF BENCHMARK SUCCESS. BUT I WILL SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THAT. WE DO HAVE A REGULAR PRACTICE OF FOLLOWING UP ON RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MAKE TO CITY DEPARTMENTS SO WE WILL IN OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK WE WILL ISSUE FINDINGS ACCOMPANIED BY RECOMMENDATIONS. WE SEND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE REQUIRED BY THE LAW TO RESPOND IN WRITING WE PUBLISH THAT WHOLE THING FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, RESPONSES AND THEN SOME PERIOD OF TIME LATER USUALLY ABOUT A YEAR WE WILL GO BACK TO THAT CITY DEPARTMENT AND SAY LIKE DID YOU DO THE THINGS YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO AND THEN WE PUBLISH WHAT AMOUNTS TO SORT OF A REPORT CARD ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE LARGER QUESTION OF ARE WE MAKING ANY PROGRESS IN TERMS OF LEGITIMACY AND PUBLIC TRUST . I DO THINK I DO TAKE ARE RISING NUMBER OF INTAKES AS A GOOD SIGN IN A SLIGHTLY PARADOXICAL WAY I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GETTING MORE WE ARE HEARING FROM CHICAGOANS MORE BECAUSE MORE THINGS ARE GOING WRONG.  PLENTY OF THINGS ARE GOING WRONG BUT THAT IS NOT NEW HERE. I TAKE IT TO MEAN I TAKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING MORE INTAKES. WE ARE HEARING FROM MORE CHICAGOANS TO MEAN THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO US BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OPERATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO AND THEY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OF THEIR DOING SO. SO I TAKE THAT TO BE GOOD NEWS . IT IS BY NO MEANS A PERFECT MATCH METRIC OF SUCCESS. I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE CENTRAL CHALLENGE IN THE OVERSIGHT WORK.  SURE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.  YOU KNOW YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK THAT'S THE RESPONSE THERE AND BY NO MEANS IMPLYING THAT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE I'M ASKING FOR THE METRICS TO PROVE YOUR EFFICIENCY RATHER WITH THE CITY FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF THESE SENTIMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OR COMMUNICATION AND I COULD TOTALLY SEE HOW OF COURSE YOU'VE NOW ENGAGED INCREASED NUMBERS BECAUSE YOU'RE TRANSPARENT, BECAUSE YOU'RE COMMUNICATING AND THEREFORE OBVIOUSLY MORE USE OF YOUR SERVICE.  AND SO IN EVERY SERVICES SO I, I CAN I CAN SEE WHERE IT'S NOT NOT AN INDICATION OF YOU KNOW MORE FAILURES RATHER NOW THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATED WE ARE AVAILABLE AND FOLKS OBVIOUSLY ARE MORE ENGAGED WHICH IS AWESOME.  BUT MY I WAS HERE IN IN BOSTON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU YOU SEEM TO BE VERY SUPERWOMAN AND PROBABLY DID SOME RESEARCH BEFORE ATTENDING THIS HEARING TODAY AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH RESEARCH YOU'VE DONE IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE GOT GOING ON HERE IN BOSTON BUT JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IN TERMS OF AGAIN LIKE THE SYNERGY OF , YOU KNOW, MORE COHESIVE PARTNERSHIPS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WE'RE NOT JUST DOING A THING JUST TO COMPLAIN BUT THAT ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA THAT WE ARE APPLYING IT WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET BETTER RESULTS FOR FUTURE. SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS GREAT CONSIDERING WHATEVER YOU'VE RESEARCHED WE HAVE THE BUDGETING, WE HAVE OTHER GREAT POLICIES HAPPENING IN BOSTON. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO ENSURE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION FOR A SIMILAR OFFICE IN BOSTON? BECAUSE JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE READ UP ON YEAH I, I APOLOGIZE FOR MISUNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION.  I YOU KNOW I ALWAYS THINK EVERYTHING IS ABOUT US SO YOU KNOW IT'S DEFINITELY A CLARIFICATION. OUR DAY WAS GREAT. I THINK I AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS MAY NOT BE A PERFECT ANSWER I THINK THAT IT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE OF THE SITUATION WHICH BOSTON FINDS ITSELF IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF KIND OF PLAYERS IN THE FIELD THERE ARE A LOT OF ENTITIES DOING SIMILAR UNRELATED WORK AND EVEN WHEN THERE IS LOTS OF WORK TO GO AROUND A CROWDED LANDSCAPE CAN BE A CHALLENGING ONE TO DO GOOD WORK THAT IS MEANINGFULLY KIND OF MOVING THE BALL FORWARD. WE VERY MUCH HAVE THAT SITUATION HERE AS WELL PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICING SPHERE WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF ACRONYMS, LOTS OF LOTS OF ENTITIES ON THE ON THE FIELD . I HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHO PLAY SOCCER. I OFTEN THINK THAT YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG, WHEN THEY'RE TODDLERS AND THEY START TO PLAY SOCCER, EVERYBODY CHASES THE BALL AROUND THE FIELD AND IT'LL MAKE VERY MUCH PROGRESS AS THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OLDER AND THEY LEARN TO PLAY THEIR POSITIONS, THEY MOVE THE BALL FURTHER DOWN THE FIELD. I THINK THAT THAT'S THE THAT'S THE LESSON FOR SYNERGIES AMONG PARTNERS IN IN THIS KIND OF WORK IS THAT IF EVERYBODY PLAYS THEIR POSITION EVERYBODY PLAYS TO THEIR INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHS, THEN WE WE MAKE MORE PROGRESS. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF OF WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT GOOD PIPELINES OF INFORMATION, THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THIS WORK CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. THERE ABSOLUTELY MUST BE A ROBUST PIPELINE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT INTO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT WORK. THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WHAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE. AND SO I THINK I GUESS I WOULD JUST ADD THOSE TWO THINGS ONE TO SAY A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPERATION VITALLY IMPORTANT, EASY TO UNDERESTIMATE, VITALLY IMPORTANT.  AND THEN I THINK AS AS YOU ALL THINK ABOUT SETTING UP A NEW ENTITY WHICH WOULD OPERATE EITHER SORT OF ALONG SIDE OR ADJACENT TO OTHER ENTITIES CHARGED WITH RELATED DUTIES THINKING THROUGH OF THE MANY THINGS THAT THERE ARE TO DO WHICH TASKS, WHICH OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS IS BEST SUITED BEST CONSTRUCTED TO DO IS I THINK IMPORTANT TO MAXIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING MEANINGFUL RESULTS.  APPRECIATE THAT, MADAM CHAIR.  LAST QUESTION IF I MAY. OF COURSE. GO AHEAD.  THANK YOU. AND INSPECTOR WEISBURD, WHAT ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR PITFALLS OR COMMON MISTAKES THAT BOSTON SHOULD AVOID WHEN ESTABLISHING THIS OFFICE? OH, WE'VE YOU KNOW AND I'M SURE WE'VE MADE THEM ALL. I THINK I THINK IT'S SETTING UP INADEQUATE INDEPENDENCE PROTECTIONS IS AN IMPORTANT MISTAKE TO AVOID AND I THINK ONES THAT OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH SOMEWHAT EARLY IN THEIR JOURNEY IS WITH THE MUNICIPAL I.G. CLEAR RULES AND PRACTICES AROUND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DECISION MAKING . I THINK THOSE ARE VITAL AND EASY MISTAKE TO MAKE AT THE OUTSET WOULD BE TO KIND OF UNDER BUILD THOSE PROTECTIONS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE. THE OTHER THING I WILL SAY WHICH HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE EARLY OPERATIONS OF THE ENTITY AND LESS TO DO WITH SETTING IT UP IS THAT THE HARDEST PART OF THIS JOB BY A LOT IS MANAGING THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IT INVOLVES OTHER ACTORS AND CITY GOVERNMENT ARE BOTH PARTNERS IN AND SUBJECT OF OUR WORK. WE ALL HAVE TO BE PULLING IN THE DIRECTION OF A GOVERNMENT WHICH MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE ONE CHICAGOANS DESERVE. IF WE ARE NOT DOING THAT WE'VE ALREADY LOST. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE CAN AND MUST KIND OF COOPERATE ON. HOWEVER, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE ALSO ARE SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM OTHER FOLKS IN CITY GOVERNMENT IN A VERY ADVERSARIAL WAY IN OTHER SETTINGS AND SO CALIBRATING THAT RELATIONSHIP APPROPRIATELY IS IN MY MIND THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE OF THE PERSON IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SEAT. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT YET A RESIDENCY OR ADJUNCT POSITION SOMEWHERE IS WAITING FOR YOU REALLY REALLY ENJOYED YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE QUESTIONS. I SO APPRECIATE THAT AND DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME. I AS HERE KNOWS I STILL HAVE A617 AREA CODE ON MY CELL PHONE SO THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. YOU'RE YOU'RE DEFINITELY A PROFESSOR OF SOME KIND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.  GREAT. WE WILL MOVE TO COUNCILOR BREDA . THANK YOU.  AND BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN.  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT. I LOVE YOUR ANALOGY ABOUT THE LITTLE KIDS PLAYING SOCCER. THEY FOLLOW THE BALL AROUND THE OF THOSE LITTLE SWARM OF BEES. IT'S A WONDERFUL WE TALK ABOUT THAT OFTEN WHEN WE REMEMBER OUR NEPHEWS PLAYING SOCCER WAY BACK WHEN AND IT EXPRESSES THE SENTIMENT. EXACTLY. I'M THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUBPOENA POWER AND WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO DO YOU HAVE TO DO CRIMINAL REFERRALS AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS?  THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IS CERTAINLY A FEATURE WHICH WHICH CAN DISTINGUISH AMONG IGS IS HOW MUCH AND HOW THIS POWER IS CALIBRATED. SO WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA AUTHORITY ISSUED ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS IN ANY INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED UNDER OUR JURISDICTION. WE ALSO HAVE BROAD AUTHORITY TO SHARE INFORMATION AND WORK WITH VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS OFFICES.  SO SOMETIMES WE MAKE CRIMINAL REFERRALS.  OTHER TIMES WE WE STAY ON IN CRIMINAL CASES AS THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY AND WE WORK WITH EITHER OUR STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE IN COOK COUNTY OR THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND SO AGAIN, SOMETIMES THAT IS A REFERRAL. THAT'S A HANDOFF. OTHER TIMES WE FUNCTION IN THE CAPACITY OF THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY FOR THOSE PROSECUTIONS.  IT DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND KIND OF THE FACTS OF EACH CASE. BUT I THINK THAT VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOTH OF THOSE PIECES OF AUTHORITY SUBPOENA AUTHORITY WHICH WE CAN EXERCISE IN IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL AND THEN BROAD AUTHORITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH AND COLLABORATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES AND SO YOU HAVE A YOU HAVE A BIG STAFF AT 120 PERSONNEL AND THEN YOU HAVE POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.  AND AND WHAT WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO THEY DO? THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER OF REALLY IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS. SOME OF THEM ARE SORT OF MECHANICAL AND SOME OF THEM ARE SORT OF ATMOSPHERIC. I WOULD SAY THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS THAT THEY PROVIDE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY SUBORDINATE FOR 16 YEARS AND COUNTING BEEN WE'RE GETTING ACCESS MARLIN AND PUT ON YOUR CELL PHONE YOU THANK YOU SORRY THEY BRING ACCESS TO VARIOUS KINDS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION YOU KNOW THAT WE CAN USE IN THE COURSE OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS THEY'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL INVESTIGATORS.  THEY'RE TRAINED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SO THEY'RE VERY WE HAVE THEM ASSIGNED AS INVESTIGATORS.  THEY'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL INVESTIGATORS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE. WE DEVOTE A LOT OF OUR OVERSIGHT ATTENTION TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR LOTS OF REASONS AND IT'S INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TO HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT. SO BOTH BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY CAN DO BY VIRTUE OF BEING POLICE OFFICERS AND BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY KNOW BY VIRTUE OF THEIR BEING POLICE OFFICERS, THEY'RE A TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE ASSET TO THE POLICE.  BUT I'M ALSO I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE I THINK ONE OF THE I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE OFFICE LIKE I KNOW OUR THIN COLUMN IS AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND FUNDED BY THE CITY. BUT THE CITY HAS NO DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF THAT ORGANIZATION . WOULD THEY HAVE SUBPOENA POWER AND THEY CAN INVESTIGATE ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE CITY.  SO THE INDEPENDENCE IS REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, AT THE OUTSET LIKE THERE'S POLITICAL INTERFERENCE LIKE YOU SAY YOU HAVE TO DO THIS STANCE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT.  DO YOU ARE YOU EVER SUBJECT TO POLITICAL INTERFERENCE OR DO YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM TO OUT?  I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS NEVER AN ISSUE AND THE AND THAT THIS GOES PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME. IT DOESN'T GO PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME AND WE HAVE IN FACT IN IN RECENT CASES WE HAVE PROSECUTED PEOPLE FOR OBSTRUCTING WITH OR INTERFERING WITH OIG INVESTIGATIONS. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SET REALLY CLEAR,  REALLY RIGOROUS RULES AND THEN TO ENFORCE THEM LIKE WE MEAN IT . WE'VE HAD GOOD RULES ON THE BOOKS FOR A LONG TIME. OUR OFFICE HAS FRANKLY HISTORICALLY DONE LESS THAN IT SHOULD HAVE IN ENFORCING THE OBSTRUCTION RULES NOWADAY. WE NOW ENFORCE THOSE PRETTY SERIOUSLY. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I MEAN I THINK CANDIDLY YES, WE SOMETIMES SEE SITUATIONS WHERE OTHER OTHER ACTORS, OTHER CITY ACTORS MAKE SOME ATTEMPT TO TO OBSTRUCT OR TO INTERFERE WITH OUR WORK. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE PRETTY GOOD ALTHOUGH IMPERFECT CERTAINLY RULES ON THE BOOKS AND WE ARE NOW IN THE BUSINESS OF ENFORCING THEM SERIOUSLY. SO IS THERE ANYTHING ON YOUR BOOKS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO CHANGE OR IMPROVE?  YES.  ONE ISSUE THAT WE COME ACROSS FREQUENTLY HAS TO DO WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS CAN KEEP INFORMATION FROM US.  THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR MOST POINTEDLY THE QUESTION OF WHETHER CITY DEPARTMENTS CAN ASSERT PRIVILEGE CAN ASSERT ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE TO LIMIT THEIR DISCLOSURE TO AN INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A IS A PRESSING ONE. THIS IS A QUESTION UNDER MUCH DISCUSSION OF THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE THIS BATTLE HAS BEEN FOUGHT ALREADY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL I WOULD SAY WHERE THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION OUTLINING INSPECTOR GENERAL POWERS AT THE FEDERAL FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES HAS BEEN CLARIFIED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT PRIVILEGE MAY NOT BE USED TO TO NARROW THE DUTY TO COOPERATE. WE WILL BE WELL-SERVED BY AT SOME POINT HAVING OUR RULES MORE CLEARLY ALIGNED WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARD ON THAT POINT . ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HOME TRANSPARENCY PIECE AND AN INSPECTOR GENERAL SHAPIRO TALKED ABOUT THE LENGTHS THAT THEY DO A LOT OF EDUCATION. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR OUTREACH TO THE POPULACE OF CHICAGO AND HOW YOU INCREASE GOVERNMENT TRUST AND CITIZENRY TRUST IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?  ABSOLUTELY WE DO. WE DO A COMBINATION OF VARIETY OF THINGS COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT BUT NO ONE KIND OF OUTREACH IS LIKELY TO REACH EVERYONE WHO WE WANT TO REACH.  SO WE DO A GREAT DEAL OF DIGITAL OUTREACH. WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA PRESENCE THAT'S OF COURSE A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED BECAUSE SOME OF OUR WORK IS VERY MUCH UNDER AN INVESTIGATIVE CONE OF SILENCE AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF BALANCING TO DO BETWEEN THE THINGS WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT AT ALL AND THE THINGS THAT WE SHOT FROM THE ROOFTOPS. BUT BUT WE WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA PRESENCE.  WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE HAD SIGNS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON BUSSES AND TRAINS WITH CONTACT INFORMATION AND QR CODES. WE ALSO DO A GREAT DEAL OF IN-PERSON OUTREACH AND THIS IS I THINK THIS IS JUST ABOUT SHOWING UP.  WE WE LITERALLY SHOW UP WITH A TABLE AND BROCHURES AT FARMER'S MARKETS AND WARD NIGHTS AND TOWN HALLS AND SUBWAY PLATFORMS AND ALL OF THE OTHER PLACES WHERE CHICAGOANS AGGREGATE. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW AND THEN THEN WE ALSO SAY WE MAP THOSE EFFORTS. CHICAGO IS VERY MUCH A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, CITY SERVICES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY RESIDENTS VERY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY THAN OTHERS. AND SO WE TRY TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF OF SPREADING OUR OUTREACH AROUND GEOGRAPHICALLY SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF THESE DIFFERENT DIGITAL TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND AN IN-PERSON OUTREACH EVENTS. WE CAN MAP THEM.  WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DISTRIBUTING THEM APPROPRIATELY GEOGRAPHICALLY.  THANK YOU. AND MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE IT IN FOR TIME OUT OF TIME. OKAY. YOU CAN DO FIVE. TWO MORE QUESTIONS OR TWO MORE QUESTIONS. OKAY.  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT YOU KNOW DO YOU HAVE A ILLINOIS INSPECTOR GENERAL? WE DO.  WE WE HAVE WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE MANY COLLEAGUES SO WE HAVE A WE HAVE A STATE OF ILLINOIS INSPECTOR GENERAL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STATE AGENCIES WHICH HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THEN THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SISTER AGENCIES OF THE CITY WHICH HAVE THEIR OWN INSPECTORS GENERAL. SO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS ITS OWN INSPECTOR GENERAL CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO. THIS COLUMN PARK DISTRICTS ETC.. BACK TO THE CROWDED SOCCER FIELD. SO SO YES WE HAVE MANY LAYERS OF OVERSIGHT MANY MANY IG ENTITIES KIND OF IN THE ORBIT I CAN SEE COMES FROM A HE IS I JUST GO OH YEAH AND TOO BAD YOU GOT THE QUESTION BUT THERE'S A FEW GROUPS ON THAT LIST THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER TO BE MORE AND MORE DILIGENT INSPECTION OF . SO AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN EQUIVALENT AGENTS. WELL ASSUME YOU DO IN SOME OF THAT ASSORTMENT OF OTHER AGENCIES YOU DON'T HAVE A SORT OF A CENTCOM SORT OF A FINANCE COMMISSION ENTITY THAT DOES A SIMILAR SORT OF I.G.  WORK. WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A THING. COM ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY WORTH NOTING THAT THE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AUDITING AND FINANCIAL AUDITING I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ONE TO MAKE. SO WE DO PERFORMANCE AUDITING. WE DO NOT DO ANY FINANCIAL ORDERING SO WE DON'T SEE THE CITY'S BOOKS.  THERE IS A CITY ENTITY WHICH IS AT LEAST NOMINALLY CHARGED WITH DOING THAT.  WE DON'T FRANKLY HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF OPERATIONAL OVERLAP WITH THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T DO FINANCIAL AUDITING. SO A PERFORMANCE AUDIT AUDITING CAN YOU GIVE ME A LIKE JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ME WHAT SORT OF EXAMPLES OF PERFORMANCE AUDITING DO YOU DO PERFORMANCE AUDITING THAT WE DO IS IS YELLOW BOOK COMPLIANT AND IT IS REALLY GUIDED BY RISK ASSESSMENTS AROUND EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. SO IN OUR PERFORMANCE AUDITS WE ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER OPERATIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD, WHETHER THERE IS WASTE INVOLVED AND WHETHER WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES EQUITABLY TO CHICAGOANS. YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.  I THINK I RUN OUT OF TIME SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR BURTON, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I DO WANT TO I WANT TO CONFIRM BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS COMPELLING YOU'RE ENABLING LEGISLATION. YOU LIVE WITHIN CITY STATUTES STATE STATUTE, CITY ORDINANCE, CITY ORDINANCE. OKAY. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE RULES AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, HOLDING CITY ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY BREAK THE RULES. WHAT ARE THOSE RULES? BECAUSE I YOU TALKED ABOUT YELLOW BOOK COMPLIANT IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON THAT I WOULD HATE FOR US TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD WHERE THIS IS UTILIZED AND WEAPONIZED FOR ART FOR ANY INSTANCE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGED OR AND OR THEY DON'T DISAGREE OR, THEY DON'T AGREE ON A CERTAIN THING AND SO WHAT ARE THOSE RULES AND WHERE DO THEY LIVE?  WANT TO JUST REFERENCE THEM? I'M HAPPY TO JUST LOOK THEM UP MYSELF ON GOOGLE. YEAH, AND HERE'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO THE YELLOW BOOK IS IS AUDITING STANDARDS. THOSE ARE RULES THAT THOSE ARE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS THAT WE COMPLY WITH IN TERMS OF THE RULES TO WHICH WE HOLD CITY ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.  IT DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ON WHICH POPULATION UNDER OUR JURISDICTION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL CITY ALL CITY EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS ARE SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S ETHICS ORDINANCE. SO THAT IS ONE SET OF RULES NON OFFICIAL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL RULES AND THEN DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS ALSO HAVE VARIOUS DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC SET OF POLICIES. SO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS LOOK AT POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF SOME COLLECTION OF THOSE STANDARDS. THE ETHICS ORDINANCE, THE PERSONNEL RULES, VARIOUS DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC POLICIES ARE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OBVIOUSLY ARE TARGETED AT POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF EITHER STATE OR FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW. OKAY.  THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WITHIN YOUR ENABLING LEGISLATION, DO YOU HAVE OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY AMENDMENTS ABOUT PROTECTING AGAINST RETALIATION FOR THE EVENT THAT SOMEBODY OKAY. YES.  HAS THAT BEEN EFFECTIVE? WELL, I THINK I I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I HESITATE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE HAVE I THINK THERE ARE WIDESPREAD AND FRANKLY WELL-FOUNDED FEARS ABOUT RETALIATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT HERE WE HAVE BOTH WITHIN OIG AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORDINANCE AND WITHIN THE CITY'S ETHICS ORDINANCE THERE IS WHAT AMOUNTS TO WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION THAT HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS.  IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO RETALIATE AGAINST SOMEONE FOR MAKING A COMPLAINT TO US AS WELL AS TO RETALIATE AGAINST THEM, AGAINST SOMEONE FOR COOPERATING IN AN IG INVESTIGATION. THOSE RULES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. AGAIN, WE HAVE RECENTLY I THINK TAKEN A MUCH MORE SERIOUS APPROACH TO ENFORCING THOSE RULES. I CAN'T SAY THAT THAT HAS ELIMINATED FEARS ABOUT RETALIATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT. I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT'S A THAT'S A SLOW SHIFT TO TURN AROUND AS WELL.  BUT BUT I BUT WE DO HAVE RULES ON THE BOOKS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST RETALIATION AND THAT'S THAT'S INCREDIBLE THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS AND YOU SHAPIRO MENTIONED THEM EARLIER. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK TO AND HOPE TO REPLICATE HERE IN BOSTON. YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWER, PLEASE. YOUR ANSWERS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE. SO THAT'S IT FOR ME . UH, I THINK COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU GOT YOUR HAND UP EARLIER FOR JUST THANK YOU, CHAIR AND I KNOW THAT YOUR TIME IS LIMITED AND WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE PANELISTS TO GO AND I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND EVERYONE'S PATIENCE.  BUT I'M REALLY CURIOUS AND I KNOW COUNCIL AND I BOTH REALLY LIT UP WHEN YOU NAMED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IN OUR MIND WE BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE ENTITY INCLUDING THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN AUDITING DIVISION LIKE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST THE THE BLACK HOLE. THAT'S WHAT WE GO TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR MONEY WENT. BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS WHEN DO YOU ALL DO YOU HAVE ANY ROLE WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ? DO YOU HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THEM OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT A DIFFERENT ENTITY AND DO YOU AT ANY POINT INTERFACE WITH THEM AND IN SOME WAYS TO LEVER MORE POWER IT'S A DIFFERENT ENTITY. SO THERE IS AN INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE SCHOOLS. THEY DO NOT FALL UNDER OUR KIND OF JURISDICTIONAL UMBRELLA. NOW WE CERTAINLY DO INTERFACE WITH THAT OFFICE.  WE CERTAINLY DO WORK TOGETHER AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE JURISDICTIONAL LANDSCAPES COLLIDE HERE WHERE WE HAVE LIKE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG OR THERE'S SOME SORT OF PROGRAMMATIC DEFICIT THAT INVOLVES THE CITY ON THE SCHOOLS. SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH WITH ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES AND OUR OUR ORDINANCE ALSO PROVIDES VERY CLEAR AUTHORITY FOR INFORMATION SHARING KIND OF ALONGSIDE OUR CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE WE HAVE EXPLICIT AUTHORITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH OTHER INSPECTORS GENERAL THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO, I WILL SAY IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT COMES UNDER WHICH OVERSIGHT UMBRELLA THE INTERESTS TO BALANCE HERE. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR CONSOLIDATED OVERSIGHT BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME. THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGE IN CONSISTENCY.  THAT'S A GOOD THING. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OPERATIONALLY SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT AND SO YOU KNOW, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A VERY DIFFERENT OPERATION THAN FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND SANITATION. AND AND THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR SUBJECT MATTER FOCUSED OVERSIGHT ENTITIES.  I THINK I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT BALANCE TO STRIKE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.  AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS IS THE GOAL AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO THINK THAT THAT THERE IS REALLY NO NEED THE CITY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE OVERSIGHT BODY OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS OVERSIGHT,  THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING OR, NOT WORKING FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SERVE. AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION TO YOU SINCE YOU HAVE ALL THE BEST ANSWERS HERE IS WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE THAT SAYS OH, THERE IS NO NEED? THAT'S WHAT THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL IS THERE FOR IS TO BE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THE ADMINISTRATION.  WHAT WHAT POTENTIAL POWERS OR YOU KNOW, FUNCTIONS YOU HAVE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL . I THINK THAT THIS SORT OF GOES BACK TO THE INDEPENDENCE WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF IG WORK.  WE CANNOT EXPECT INSTITUTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY POLICE THEMSELVES AND SO THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITY I THINK IS CRITICAL. I YOU THE SAYING YOU SHOULD DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING PEOPLE SHOULD DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING PEOPLE SHOULD GOVERN LIKE SOMEBODY IS.  I THINK IT IS IT IS TO EVERYONE'S ADVANTAGE TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY IN CITY GOVERNMENT WATCHING AND WATCHING HOW THINGS GO. AND I THINK IF WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE HAVE SOLVED ALL THE MISCONDUCT PROBLEMS AND ALL THERE IS FOR US TO DO IS THE KIND OF TRANSPARENCY WORK THEN WE WILL HAVE WON. I WILL SAY I DON'T THAT ON THE IMMEDIATE HORIZON. I DON'T SEE OURSELVES WORKING OURSELVES OUT OF OUT OF BUSINESS ANY TIME SOON. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I KNOW COUNCILOR COLETTA COUNCIL AGREED HAS HER HAND UP AGAIN.  I KNOW AT THE START CELEBRATING IT'S A QUICK ONE. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT. THE ADMIN THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION . UM, IN IN IN IN BOSTON WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT BUT IT HAS BEEN AN OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PAST. BUT THAT SORT OF MEANT THAT TITLE HAS SORT OF SLIPPED AWAY AND IN CHICAGO DO HAVE THAT SORT OF OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT TYPE ROLE BUT YOU KNOW THAT'S A SORT OF A FUNCTION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT. BUT YOU WOULD ALSO BE OVERSEEING YEAH AS WELL. WE HAD A AN OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT WHICH IS WHICH YOU KNOW IS UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR THEY ARE THEY COME UNDER OUR OVERSIGHT JURISDICTION AS WELL. OKAY. THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF TENTACLES HERE THAT THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON SPEAK VERY INTERESTING. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. WE SUPER APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME BACK TO YOUR TO YOUR HOME. WE WILL WE WILL OPEN UP THE DOORS WITH I WITH WITH OPEN ARMS.  I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION AGAIN AND I WILL JUST SAY VERY QUICKLY OVERSIGHT IS A TEAM SPORT AND WE WE HAVE VERY PRODUCTIVE, VERY FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER CITIES AND WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP TALK ANY TIME AS YOU ALL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR HAVING ME . AND WE DO HAVE COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE LAURIE RADWAN, DIANE VALLEY AND MARLON SOLOMON, COUNCILOR MEJIA WHATEVER YOUR PREFERRED ORDER IS, WE CAN WE CAN GO FROM THERE. LET'S LET'S DO DAN BAILEY AND THEN LAURIE AND MARLIN ARE COMING IN TOGETHER AS A TEAM SO THEY'LL THEY'LL GO TOGETHER TO END THE OFF. WELCOME DIANE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, GABRIELLA.  AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS CALL. I MUST SAY AM OVERWHELMED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS HEARING. I THINK IT'S IN THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED THAT THESE OTHER INSPECTOR GENERALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INFORM HOW EFFECTIVE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CAN BE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR CITY.  AND I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND INDEPENDENCE AND FAIRNESS AND HONESTY AND THEN IT SENSE AND I ALSO HEARD THAT THERE IS NO HARM REDUNDANCY THAT IN FACT IT IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND THAT IT'S A TEAM SPORT. SO I FOR THIS MOMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND UPLIFTED THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT OUR CITY OF BOSTON COULD SERVE OUR PEOPLE IN A MORE FRUITFUL WAY AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO REALLY TAKE THIS AND RUN WITH IT BECAUSE OUR CITY NEEDS THIS . WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON AND WE DON'T HAVE THE OVERSIGHT THAT WE NEED THAT OTHER CITIES ARE BENEFITING BY. SO THANK YOU,  COUNCILOR GABRIELLA FOR HOSTING US AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND TANIA AND FERNANDO SANDERSON AND WUERL FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE AND I HOPE THAT ALL TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT WE CAN CONGRATULATE YOU AND CELEBRATE TOGETHER. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. DIANE FROM CHARLESTOWN RESIDENT ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE LORI REDLAND AND MARLON SOLOMON.  GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE SOME SLIDES I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO POST THEM. ETHAN WAS GOING TO DO IT IF THAT STOPPED.  OH WOW. AWESOME. SO WE'RE HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE. I'LL WALK UP SOME OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY IS A GOOD SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HEARD SO FAR AND MY FRIEND DIANE REALLY SAID IT WELL THAT THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT. SO THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS AND TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR ZAPOTEC FOR HOLDING THE HEARING.  NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF PRINCIPLES OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ONE OF THEM IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE ARE GOING TO BE USING EXAMPLES FROM ONE OF THE CITY AGENCIES WITH GRAVITY AND RESPECT BECAUSE THE TOPIC REALLY INVITES SOME INSIGHTS AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COULD BE BETTER.  SO IT ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES IN PART MEASURABLE OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE PUBLICLY MONITORED ALONG WITH THE DATA TO SUPPORT THESE OUTCOMES AND THE BPD IN ITS SQUARES AND STREETS INITIATIVE HAS PUT TOGETHER AN ENGAGEMENT TEMPLATE TO THEIR CREDIT BUT IT'S ALL PROCESS AND THERE'S NOT ANY OUTCOME MEASURES THAT WE CAN REALLY GAUGE THE SUCCESS OF THEIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH.  WE'VE PUT FORTH OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT FORTH A REVISION THAT THEY WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD CONSIDER BUT IT'S NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO HAVING AN IG WHO ENCOURAGES MEASURABLE OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE MONITORED COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS REGARD. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.  EFFICIENCY IS A IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IG AND COALITION MEMBERS THE PRINTED PRESS JOURNALISTS HAVE DESCRIBED THE ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE FOR SQUARES AND STREETS AS UNHELPFUL OR WORSE AND THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN STAFFED AT TIMES BY 7 TO 10 PLANNERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALONG WITH A LOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.  AND WE COULD SAY THAT THESE ATTENDEES TIME WAS NOT SPENT IN THE MOST FRUITFUL WELL WAY AND IN A SENSE THE CITY HAS BEEN WASTEFUL RESOURCES SO THIS KIND OF WASTE COULD BE QUANTIFIED BY AN IG AND THE IG COULD SUPPORT EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE WASTE IN TERMS OF COMMUTING JUDGMENT.  NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO EQUITY EQUITY IS FAIRNESS AND IT IS IN VERY IMPORTANT TO AN AUDIT FUNCTION. THE IG CAN ASSURE METRICS THAT ARE MONITORED AND MAINTAINED AND AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS WHO ARE IGS FROM DIFFERENT CITIES HAVE EXPLAINED LIFTING UP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THEN THOUGHT THROUGH AND THESE ARE THE METRICS OF WHO'S BEEN ENGAGED IN ROSLINDALE AS OF MAY 24 AND SCORES OF STREETS. SO ALTHOUGH OVER 25.20 4.5% LATIN X THE LATIN X PARTICIPATION HAS ONLY BEEN 6%. WE'RE 19 TO 20% AFRICAN-AMERICAN BLACK AND YET THE PARTICIPATION IN SQUARES AND STREETS ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN AROUND 4.2%. OUR ROSLINDALE COMMUNITIES 47.4% WHITE AND YET THE WHITE PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN 86%. THESE ARE DISTURBING AND IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR CITY TO REACH OUT AND ENGAGE THE PEOPLE WHO COMPRISE OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO AN IG ROLE COULD HAVE ONGOING METRICS LIKE THESE SHOULD BE MONITORED.  SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS MADE, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AND THEN FOLLOWED THROUGH SO THAT WE REALLY IN SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS REZONING OUR COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED TO IN ITS.  AND NOW MARLON IS GOING TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT EQUITY.  MARLON YOU MAY STILL BE UNMUTE OH WE LOST MARLON IT NO NO NO I'M HERE. I'M HERE. I JUST SO GUYS I APOLOGIZE. I WAS IN A LOCATION FOR THE MOST PART BUT I HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER PIECE THAT STARTS AT FIVE. SO NOW ON MY CAR SO THAT'S APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BUT YEAH AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE TO USE SO YEAH FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW MY NAME IS MARLON SOLOMON I'M FOUNDATION ENGINEER THAT'S MY CULTURE INITIATIVE LOCAL NONPROFIT HERE IN BOSTON DO A LOT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE WORKING ON. THOSE ARE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES.  I'M ALSO ON THE COMMUNITY EFFORT FORTIFIED PARK AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT TEST OUT, PROVIDE TESTIMONY AND SUPPORT AND ORDINANCE 0645 ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT UNDERSTANDING OUR SHARED HISTORY AND INFRASTRUCTURE LEGACY THAT CONTINUES TO CREATE INEQUITY AND WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY IN THE SERVICES RENDERED BY OUR CITY WILL BE PROBABLY THE MOST THE PRIMARY MANDATE OF OUR POST THIS POST OFFICE THE IG IS THE KEY INFRASTRUCTURE STEP TO A MORE EQUITABLE LANDSCAPE WELL PEOPLE OF BOSTON CAN SHARE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD OUR WORK WITH. ECI ALLOWS US TO WRITE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUITY, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF LOTS AND LOTS OF CULTURAL DATA AND SHE CHALLENGES THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF OUR STREETS. BUT TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN PARTICULAR WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'RE SCARED OF THE STREETS OWNING INITIATIVE THAT I'VE ALREADY SHARED SOME DATA ON WHICH IS HAVING MAJOR COMMUNICATION ISSUES WITH THE ENTITIES THAT WE LIVE IN. IF WE ORGANIZE IN AN EFFECTIVE TAX VALUE STANDARD. ON BEHALF OF ALL BOSTONIANS, I ONLY BEING HEARD AND RESPONDED TO BY SOME BOSTONIANS AS LAURIE'S DATA SHOWS SO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THINK OF DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN BOSTON AND YOU KNOW, FINDING WAYS TO COMMUNICATE THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR PRIORITY IN BOSTON AND WE FEEL LIKE WHAT ARE THE MORE EFFECTIVE AND LESS WASTEFUL WAYS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE I'M JUST TRYING TO HAVE A FIRST IS A VISUAL TALK ABOUT WHERE IT IS THAT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THIS A LOT OF DISCUSSION IS THE MULTICULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AS THE IGNORANCE OF SOME OF THE HISTORICAL EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES THAT I THINK WERE SPOKEN TO EARLIER IN REGARDS TO THE LACK OF TRUST THAT THE COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS. THE ARTS TEAM, THE WAY WE INTERACT WITH GOVERNMENT IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR PARTICULARLY APATHY, WHATEVER WE SAY, WHATEVER YOU DO AS A COW THESE ARE BIG BARRIERS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN ANY MOVEMENT FORWARD BECAUSE GETTING THE TAX DOLLARS MONEY BEING SPENT PROPERLY COMMUNITY EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, MAKING AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND PROVIDING SUPPORTS BETTER ACCESS WILL OBVIOUSLY EXIST WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES YOU KNOW IN REGARD TO GOVERNMENT SERVICE. SO BOSTON HAS A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SCENE FOR DECADES YOU KNOW LIKE A COUNCIL OF HIGHWAYS THROUGH THAT STOP TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISM . YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN HOW THE LAST ZONING EFFORTS WERE DONE. THESE ARE ACTUALLY USED BOARDED OR NOT PROPERLY REFERENCED DURING THE INITIAL SQUARES IN STREETS ROLLED OUT THE SQUARE SEEM ALL OUT ACTUALLY AT SOME HICCUPS AROUND SOMETHING. IT WAS LIKE A FEW DAYS LATER WE WANTED TO RESPONSE ALL THESE THINGS RIGHT AND ALSO MAKING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF RESEARCH GRANTEES NOT HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD AND THEY'RE LIKE THE ONES THAT WERE HERE BEFORE THE BPA EMPLOYEES WITH MUCH OF WHICH ARE ON MY PART COMMENTS WHEN THE YOUNG OR INEXPERIENCED OR TRANSPLANTS NOT REALLY FROM BOSTON SO THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH WHICH ALREADY STARTS A PROCESS OF MISTRUST WHICH MAKES IT HIGHER HIGHER PRESSURE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE AND GET THINGS ACTUALLY. AND THEN FINALLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE DISPARITIES THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT NOW MORE USER FRIENDLY PLATFORMS ONLINE REACH FOR MORE SUITABLE TO THE LIFESTYLES THAT EXIST IN THESE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.  YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, PEOPLE ARE WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK, PAY RENT, DO OTHER THINGS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MEETINGS AT CERTAIN TIMES, YOU KNOW WHERE PEOPLE COULD BE TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS OR WHATEVER THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM.  AND THEN ALSO THE KIND OF ONLINE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT REQUIRE A LEVEL OF ONLINE LITERACY THAT NOW BASICALLY SERVES AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH OR MAYBE THEY'RE ELDERLY ARE NOT YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING A LOT OF HOW TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGIES.  AND THEN I THINK SOME OF THE I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHICH WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY SOME OF THE OTHER IGS THAT THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS MAKES IT VERY CONFUSING FOR US TO KNOW WHO TO TALK TO. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE TO KNOW TO GET SOMETHING DONE. SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND I TRY TO RUSH THIS LITTLE QUAINT BITE.  SO THIS IS THESE ARE SCREENSHOTS FROM THE FROM DIGGING INSIDE THE BPP A WEBSITE.  THESE I MEAN IT HAS ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION THERE BUT YOU HAVE TO DIG FOR IT. IT'S NOT LIKE JUST BE ACCESSIBLE.  YOU HAVE TO GET AN EMAIL. YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR CALENDAR WHICH YOU KNOW I USE CALENDAR AND I KNOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH HOW DO I USE THIS? AND IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY.  SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT NOW FACE THAT THIS IS YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, VERY GOOD IF YOU LOOK AT IT BUT ONLY A CERTAIN PEOPLE IN A CERTAIN KIND OF SILO WOULD RESPOND TO THIS NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.  FINALLY AND I THINK THIS ONE IS PROBABLY SAYS THIS IS THE REASONING ON PLATFORM ROLE THAT IS THAT DESCRIBING THE STREETS AS USING TO ENGAGE TO GET PEOPLE'S VISION OF WHAT THEIR COMMUNITIES WOULD EVENTUALLY LOOK LIKE. I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER.  THIS LOOKS LIKE CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN SOFTWARE AND I HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GET MY MIND AROUND IT. WELL I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH EFFORT INTO IT. I WANT IT TO BE LIKE AN AVERAGE USER BUT THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE TRACE AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURAL THINGS AND I DON'T GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED BACK TO YOU KNOW, TO THAT TO CITY HALL OR WHEREVER. SO WHAT THE IG CAN DO AND WE MENTIONED SOME OF THESE THINGS ESTABLISH CLEAR METRICS OF SUCCESS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? I LOOK AT IT LORI'S DATA THAT SHE PRESENTED THAT TO ME DOES NOT REPRESENT EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE DRASTICALLY AFFECTED BY THESE CHANGES AS MANY THINGS ARE INCLUDING OVER AND OTHER THINGS YOU KNOW, MODEST UNDERSERVED MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES ARE USUALLY THE ONES THAT GET BUMPED. YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT AND THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF TIME FOR EDUCATION TO GET. SO WHAT ARE THE CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS WRANGLING AND VALUATION?  IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM OR REGULAR REVIEW AND OUTREACH EFFECTIVE AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE DONE. I WAS ACTUALLY GLAD TO SEE THE CHICAGO.  MENTIONED SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.  AND THEN OF COURSE IF YOU WOULD CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALSO OF COURSE VERY IMPORTANT THAT I'D BE IN CHARGE OF TO ENSURE THAT THEY THESE ADJUSTED STRATEGIES ARE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT AS FAR AS LONG TERM GOALS AND I'M SORRY TO KEEP ON THAT LONG BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GET ALL WHAT I WROTE DOWN THERE BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INEFFICIENCIES AND LIKE I SAID MULTIPLE PRONGS OF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES DEALING WITH A LOT OF OVERLAP.  THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE STREAMLINING EVEN IF IT'S JUST A MESSAGING. SO WE'RE NOT GETTING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT MESSAGES FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND THEN WE NOW HAVE TO DECIPHER I THINK ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING AND I THINK FROM CHICAGO I'D SAY THIS AGAIN FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE COMMUNITY INPUT BOARD OR MY PART OR LIKE MY WEAPONIZATION, LORI'S ORGANIZATION SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY HAVE A FOLLOWING ALREADY HAVE A LOOP PEOPLE THAT WHERE WE ARE SERVING RATHER THAN TRYING TO DIRECTLY GO DIRECTLY WE SHOULD BE DOING A LONG TERM STRATEGY WHERE THESE HIGH TARGET IS GOING TO BE THERE IN 20, 30, 4000 YEARS. WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT LONG TERM WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE WE ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING ESTABLISHED NOT LIKE COMING OUT EVERY TIME WE ROLL OUT A NEW PROGRAM TO NOW COME UP WITH A NEW WAY OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC. AND THEN FINALLY I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO EVALUATE WHAT THE CEOS ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY YOU KNOW, THAT WHATEVER RESOURCES OR SUPPORT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THING WE HOSTED AND I BELIEVE UP TO DATE I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE BUT UP TODAY WE HAD A MEETING WE ORGANIZE A MEETING OUR COMMUNITY BOARD AND SOME OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE CITY AND WE HAD CHIEF JOHNSON FROM BBVA AND WE HAD MAYOR WU THERE YOU HAD ABOUT 300 PEOPLE AND WE HAD A SECOND ONE OUT OF 140 SOMETHING PEOPLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THE VISIONING SESSIONS OR ANYTHING HAS GARNERED THAT AMOUNT OF OH OH PEOPLE RIGHT AT ONE PLACE DURING OUR BUSY OFTEN TIMES AND I THINK THESE ARE THE KIND OF PROBES THAT I THINK YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT SAYING WELL MAYBE THIS IS THE WAY TO GO RATHER THAN TRYING TO DO A CENTRAL YOU KNOW FROM THE CENTER SORT OF APPROACH.  SO WE ARE READY WE'RE READY TO GO. WE HAVE PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT TO DO IT . SO EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WILL COME DOWN THE FUTURE AND YOU KNOW, YEARS AHEAD BEFORE MAYBE THIS ACTUALLY GETS ACTUALIZED, WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH IT NOW ONLY JUST WORK IT OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS FOR OUR COMMUNITY SHAKE UP.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH MARLON FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION AND LORI AS WELL. I'LL PASS IT OVER TO THEM HERE FOR ANY KIND OF SUGGESTION. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DID LOSE CALIFORNIA CITIZEN WHO HAD TO JUMP TO A NEXT COMMITMENT. BUT SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD COME BACK IF WE WERE SMART ENOUGH SO THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT Y'ALL DOING A WHOLE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TRYING TO HIJACK MY I.G. SITUATION HERE.  BUT SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TRYING TO USE ALL YOUR LOVERS TO GET YOUR VOICES HEARD. SO SO SO THANK YOU. BUT I AM AND LAURIE AND MARLON I KNOW THIS PROBABLY WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU ALL, BUT I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE Y'ALL TO TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WITHOUT GOING INTO YOUR VERY SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT YOU WANT TO UTILIZE THIS ONE WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY DONE WITH THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BUT I WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT AND I WANT MS. VALUE FOR YOU TO ALSO COME BACK INTO THE MIX AND. ELISA I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE STILL HERE. YOU PROBABLY DON'T YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT EVEN HERE. YOU JUST GOT YOUR YOUR CAMERA ON. LET ME TURN ON YOUR CAMERA LEWIS IF YOU'RE STILL HERE BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THIS WORK I YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT FOR US YES, EFFICIENCY,  ACCOUNTABILITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE INTEGRITY OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.  I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT IN TERMS OF AN ARE AN OFFICE OF I.G.  WHAT TYPES OF OF I WOULDN'T SAY REPORTS BUT WHAT HOW DO YOU ENVISION LIKE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHAT ROLE WOULD THE COMMUNITY PLAY IN IDENTIFYING WHO IS SELECTED THE FUNCTIONS THAT THEY WILL HAVE KIND OF LIKE IF YOU CAN WALK ME THROUGH WHAT AN OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL LIKE WHAT? WELL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU BECAUSE JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA IS IS THAT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS A ROLE IN ITS COMMUNITY CENTER THAT YOU KNOW, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMEONE WHO GETS APPOINTED BUT THERE IS A ROLE FOR A COMMUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE TO HAVE OVERSIGHT, TO GUIDE AND TO HELP OVERSEE.  AND SO THIS GOES BACK TO WHO OVERSEES THE OVERSEERS RIGHT?  I THINK THAT AN INDEPENDENT BODY OF COMMUNITY ADVISORS CAN PLAY THAT ROLE. BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW DO YOU ENVISION A MAKE UP LIKE THAT? WHAT WHAT WOULD BE SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES AND AND THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO CONSIDER?  WELL, I'LL JUMP IN FIRST IF YOU LIKE AND I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE HEARING FROM MY OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS BUT WHAT I HEARD TODAY IS THE KIND OF RAPPORT THAT AS A CITIZEN I WOULD LIKE TO BE ENGAGED IN WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A LEGITIMATE CONVERSATION AND HAVE PEOPLE LISTEN TO NEW IDEAS AND ACTUALLY BE ENGAGED IN DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND DOING SOMETHING BETTER AND DOING SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. NOTHING'S PERFECT BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN BOSTON IS NOT WORKING AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL HEARS EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD. SO JUST HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD GIVE US A PLATFORM FOR WHERE WE WOULD BE HEARD AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER MECHANISM TO INFLUENCE WHATEVER AGENCY IT IS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW WHICH ONE IS MY FAVORITE TO BE HEARD FROM THAT WE COULD MAYBE BREAK THIS CYCLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR DECADES AND ACTUALLY LAUNCH BOSTON INTO A BETTER BOSTON WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY ABOUT LIVING HERE.  I KNOW THAT SHARON DURKAN SAID THAT SHE WAS GOING OFF TO COPENHAGEN AND COPENHAGEN IS UNESCO'S CITY AND PEOPLE ARE HAPPY AND IF YOU POOR PEOPLE NOW YOU WILL KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT HAPPY. SO TO BE HEARD IS ONE WAY TO BE HAPPY.  SO I'LL PASS THIS ON TO THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT I APPLAUD YOU FOR HAVING THIS HEARING TODAY CONDUCTING IT THE WAY IT WAS. IT'S INFORMATIVE.  I REALLY TIME THE RESPECT OF THE COUNCIL WENT UP CONSIDERABLY AND I HOPE THIS IS THE KIND OF GOVERNANCE THAT WE CAN SEE MORE OF . ALL RIGHT, LARRY AND MARLON Y'ALL UP NEXT. MARLON, WE'D LIKE TO GO FIRST OR SHALL I? YEAH.  SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IN CHOOSING THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS THE ADVISORY PANEL IS AND I'VE HEARD IT REPEATED BY PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN ROMER AND OTHERS THAT WE REALLY KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES THE BEST. SO WHEN YOU'RE CHOOSING SELECTING PEOPLE FOR THE PANELS AND THE OVERSIGHT BOARD DEPENDING ON THE TASK AT HAND KNOWING YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOW ANY GIVEN POLICY PROCEDURE CHANGE IS GOING TO AFFECT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN REALLY OFFER YOU THAT. SO I THINK IT'S NOT EVEN NECESSARILY YEARS OF TIME IN ANY GIVEN RESIDENCE IT'S HOW ACTIVE ARE YOU IN COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE YOUR AFFINITY GROUPS, HOW WELL YOU KNOW FOLKS THAT YOU CAN GO TO AND SAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE CHANGE THIS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR BUSINESS? AND THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE AND COUNCILOR OVER HERE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU GO ABOUT SELECTING PEOPLE IN KEY MARLON I MIGHT SAY THAT SELECTION OF PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY THAT REPRESENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT YOU KNOW,  AN INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE STRUCTURE IN WHICH THAT THAT SYSTEM MEETS AND SHARES INFORMATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT AS I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR RULE AND Q JEMISON WE ORGANIZE LIBRARY. YOU GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE? YOU WERE THERE AS WELL.  WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AT THE TIME AND EFFORT TO ORGANIZE PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN IT IN IN THE KIND OF FREQUENCY THAT WE GET THE RESULTS THAT WE NEED.  SO WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGAGED IN A COMMUNITY.  SO OVER SELECTING THESE PEOPLE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ARE GIVING US THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED.  BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE CAN SELECT ALL THE BEST PEOPLE BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP GET THOSE INFORMATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I SHOULD NOT BUT YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS PROCESS I DO I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT ELECTED VERSUS WAYNE SAID AND HOW THAT GOES AND I DON'T HAVE ANY DEFINITIVE ANSWERS TO IT BUT I DO THINK THAT WHAT YOU DESCRIBED ALL THE CHECKS AND BALANCES, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF START ONCE THEY GET STARTED BEFORE YOU REALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID ON THE FLY WITH PHILADELPHIA IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOCATION ON A FLIGHT OF CITIZENS OUT BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT OBVIOUSLY THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE AIG NOW IS NOT IT'S NOT REALLY THAT WE GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON SOMETHING VERY INDEPENDENT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT FATIMA IS STILL WITH US BUT I KNOW THAT SHE HAS BEEN A REALLY STRONG VOICE IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND AND I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHO OVERSEES THE OVERSEER. I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY KEY TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE AND I ALSO WANT TO NAME THAT THE FINANCE COMMISSION THEY HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC ROLE TO PLAY IN THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT AN I.G . WOULD DO. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOR THE PERFORMANCE AND ALSO THE THE PROGRAMING AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT, THERE IS REALLY NO BODY THAT I AND LITERALLY NOBODY THAT LIKE NOBODY BUT LIKE THERE'S NOT A FORMAL SPACE BODY. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN TO THAT REALLY HELPS US WITH THE BALANCE OF THAT AND I'M GOING TO YOU KNOW I KNOW COUNCIL IS ON DECK TO ASK QUESTIONS BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DIDN'T PROPOSE THIS WITH THE GOAL OF SAYING THIS COMMISSION IS NOT DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS NOT DOING IT.  THE SCHAPIRO IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. IT IS ABOUT WHAT IS THIS MOMENT CALLING US TO DO AND HOW CAN WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE LEVERS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL? HOW CAN WE WORK WITH THE FINANCE COMMISSION?  MAYBE DO WE GIVE THEM MORE POWERS, MAYBE WE GIVE THEM MORE MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET SO THAT THEY THEY COULD BE A PART OF THIS OVERALL TRANSPARENCY WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SO IT'S NOT IN IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT IT'S IN COMPLIMENT OF AND I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO PASS LEGISLATION HERE IS THAT PEOPLE GET INTO THEIR HEADS THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OF DOING WORK AND I FEEL LIKE I DON'T I DIDN'T COME HERE TO PLAY OUR OLD PLAYBOOK RIGHT? I'M HERE TO TRY TO UPDATE SYSTEMS TO MEET THE 21ST CENTURY AND SOME OF THAT REQUIRES US REALLY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL GET FROM THIS DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. IS THAT REALLY IS HOW DO WE MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND DOING SO WITH HONEST REFLECTION. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR PROVIDING SOME INSIGHT COUNCILOR AND I KNOW I'VE TAKEN UP A LOT MORE TIME THAN COUNCILOR CLETA WILL PROBABLY I MADE UP FOR THE LAST TIME THAT YOU GOT MORE TIME THAN ME . SO JUST SO YOU KNOW I'LL BE BACK.  NO TROUBLE. I THINK YOU GOT SOMETHING HERE ,COUNSELOR BREADON AND IF YOU HAVE ANY, WE CAN USE THIS GUY'S CLOSING REMARKS.  YOU KNOW, MASTER, I COME INTO THIS HEARING THIS AFTERNOON KNOWING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE AND COME BACK AGAIN AND JUST WITH A LISTENING MODE JUST TO LEARN MORE BECAUSE I'M I DO FEEL THAT WE WE NEED MORE MORE TEETH, MORE OVERSIGHT IN CERTAIN SECTORS AND YOU KNOW, TO MODERNIZE OUR SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WE WE WORK WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT BUT IT'S MY TIME TO INNOVATE AND CHANGE AND SO I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PANEL THE PANELS THANK YOU,  COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR YOUR CHOICE OF FOLKS TO COME IN AND TALK WITH US. AND I THINK I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORKING SESSION BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT MORE DETAILS TO GET INTO TO AS AS THE AG FROM IG FROM CHICAGO SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT. WE CAN SORT OF FLY IT AND FIX IT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO TRY AND COME OUT OF THE BOX WITH A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN THAT THAT WILL WORK AND THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ALL THE POTENTIAL PITFALLS AND AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DRAW ON EXPERIENCE OF ALL THESE OTHER AMAZING PEOPLE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS IDEA TO DO DUE DILIGENCE ON HOW TO MAKE IT MAKE SURE IT WORKS.  YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HERE THIS AFTERNOON.  YOUR VOICE IS SO IMPORTANT IN THIS.  I AM YOU KNOW I THINK COMMUNITY THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THAT THAT'S WHERE I SPRUNG FROM I THINK YOUR CONCERN YOUR CONCERN ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT IS OR IS WORKING FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES THAT'S HOW YOU END UP ON JOBS LIKE THIS. SO BE CAREFUL.  SO I KNOW I'M SEEN MY BATTERIES RUNNING LOW ON MY IPAD AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME AND THANK YOU COUNSELOR COLLECTORS OF THAT MATTER FOR SHARING THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT DOUBLE BARREL MEDIUM. NO BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. I LOOK REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A REALLY ROBUST WORKING WORKING SESSIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN WE CAN WE CAN WORK THIS THROUGH.  YEAH. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN, JUST EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE MAKERS THE CO-SPONSOR AG CAMPBELL FOR HER WISDOM AND PROPOSING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN 2019 AND I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A PATHWAY FORWARD WHERE I AM CONCERNED OF COURSE IS GOING TO BE DUPLICATIVE EFFORTS BUT WHERE I'M CONCERNED IS IS WHERE IT WASTES TAXPAYER DOLLARS.  SO I DO WANT TO AVOID THAT AS BEST AS I CAN. I THINK THAT WE OWE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. AND SO FIGURING OUT A WAY TO TO ENACT THIS WITHOUT WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND NOT WASTING IT BUT BUT DUPLICATING EFFORTS AND I THINK THAT THERE IS THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO. I THINK THERE'S ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION. I WAS ALREADY LOOKING UP CHICAGOS MUNICIPAL CODE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN MIRROR WHAT WE CAN TAKE, WHAT WE CAN WORK WITH AND THEN ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM IG SHAPIRO ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR ABOUT HIS CASELOAD AND AVERAGE INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAPPENED PER YEAR AND WHAT HE'S CONSIDERING IN TERMS OF ADDITIONS OR SUBTRACTIONS FROM THIS LANGUAGE.  SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT ROBUST CONVERSATION.  I DON'T KNOW IF WE STILL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY BUT WE DO WANT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR FOR PEOPLE. GREAT. SO I THINK WE HAVE MATT CAHILL HAS BEEN ON THAT JUST ADDRESS HAS BEEN ON FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON. THIS COMMISSION SO IF WE CAN ELEVATE HIM TO PANELS THAT WOULD BE GREAT AND WE ALSO HAVE RICHARD IVANOVA ON SO MATTHEW, YOU CAN GO FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HEAD WE'LL BRING IT OVER TO RICHARD, OUR NOAH GOOD AFTERNOON.  GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CAHILL. WE CAN HEAR YOU AND ALSO SEE YOU THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME'S MATT KALE. I'VE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FINANCE COMMISSION FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS NOW. BEEN HERE FOR A TOTAL OF 26 YEARS. I STARTED AS AN ANALYST WITH KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF TREPIDATION WHAT THE JOB WAS. I WORKED IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY WORKING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.  THE CLIENT CONSULTANTS AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS JOB.  JEFF CARMODY WAS THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME. HE WAS AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVANT AND AN EXCELLENT MENTOR TO ME THE REASON I STAYED ON WAS BECAUSE HE WAS HERE. HE REALLY CARED ABOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON AND OUR WAS FUNCTIONING FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE FINANCE COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG AGENCY WITH A MISSION TO REPORT FRAUD ,WASTE AND ABUSE. WE HAVE WE ARE WE DO DERIVE OUR FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON COFFERS THE OFTEN THE OFFICE DOES HAVE SUBPOENA POWERS AS WELL WHICH IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE VERY RARELY USE THEM BECAUSE JUST THE THREAT OF A SUBPOENA GENERALLY IS ENOUGH TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. AND I DO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE TODAY ABOUT COLLECTING DATA FROM DIFFERENT CITY AGENCIES. WE DO HAVE THOSE BATTLES OURSELVES BUT GENERALLY IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER BUT WE DO GET THEM. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND IT AND I SYMPATHIZE BY GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT AS TO WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEN SOME OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS.  SO ON A DAILY BASIS WE REVIEW ALL THE AND ADVERTISE CONTRACTS THE CITY OF BOSTON PUTS OUT LAST YEAR THAT TOTALED 597 CONTRACTS WERE VALUE ABOUT $800 MILLION. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND WE HAD A STAFF OF THREE HERE AND I INCLUDE MYSELF IN THAT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR THIS TO WORK. WELL WE ALSO WE REVIEW CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN REJECTED FOR VARIOUS REASONS. WE CONTACT ORIGINATING DEPARTMENTS TO OFFER RESOURCES TO HELP EMPLOYEES GET THEIR JOBS DONE PROPERLY AND WELL THAT THEY CAN ALSO RECEIVE FOR THE INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS. WE OFFER ANONYMITY TO ANYBODY WHO IS OFFERING YOU COMPLAIN TO US BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY REPERCUSSIONS GOING BACK TO THIS WEEK ALONE WE PROBABLY HAD THREE COMPLAINTS FROM EMPLOYEES . SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD TO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE UNFOUNDED. WE'LL RESEARCH SOME SOMETIMES. OKAY WE'LL HAVE SOME BACKGROUND TO THEM ALL CONTACTED DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THOSE GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN A VERY LOCAL LEVEL. THEY DON'T REQUIRE REPORTS. THEY REQUIRE CORRECTION.  SO ONE OF OUR BIGGEST MOTIVATIONS HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNMENTS OPERATING COMPLETELY AND CLEAN AND TRANSPARENT WE CAN DO THAT WITH A PHONE CALL THAT'S FANTASTIC. WE ALSO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WE HAVE LAUNCHED OUR OWN WEBSITE THIS YEAR WHICH I PERSONALLY PAID FOR TO MAINTAIN IN EVENTS THAT CAN BE FOUND AT BOSTON PINKHAM DOT COM FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT OUR ADMIN AND DOM ACTUALLY POST TO IT AND TAKES CARE OF COURSE SO WE DO IT ALL IN-HOUSE RESPONDING TO COMES OVER HERE TO DISCUSS PROACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS SO JUST A FEW EXAMPLES WE WERE GREAT WE WANT THE OLYMPICS TO A GARAGE SALE FEW YEARS AGO AND THE NRA WAS TRYING TO TAKE PROPERTY AT THE TIME WE TOLD THEM WE NEEDED TO PUT OUT A BID THEY KIND OF QUIET US A LITTLE BIT. WE DID A INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BUILDING HAD BEEN APPRAISED AS A PARKING GARAGE BETWEEN 25 AND $40 MILLION WHEN CLEARLY WHAT WAS GOING TO GO UP WAS A HIGH RISE. WE GAVE TESTIMONY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT POINT SAYING THAT AFTER DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE VALUES THE PROPERTIES WERE IN THAT AREA IN THE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS DURING THAT THE RESTRICTIONS THE PROPERTY WOULD BE WORTH OVER $100 MILLION WHICH TO BE OUR REAL TIME TOTAL WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT TESTED AND TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF YOUR COUNCIL SAY THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE BUILDING SOLD FOR $151 MILLION THAT LOT ALL THAT MONEY GOES BACK TO THE CITY COFFERS AGAIN ARE $330,000 BUDGET WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT AT THAT POINT. ADDITIONALLY WE INVESTIGATED A AN AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACT. THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT THEY PUT IT OUT AS A $1.2 MILLION CONTRACT AND REQUIRING A GENERAL CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION.  AFTER LOOKING INTO IT WE FOUND OUT THE CONTRACT WAS ACTUALLY AN ESTIMATED $11.2 MILLION CONTRACT AND WERE FINE ELECTRICIANS CERTIFICATION AND WE CALLED UP THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THEY SUPPORTED OUR FINDINGS THE ORIGINAL BIG CAME AND OVER MILLION $9 MILLION THE SECOND BID AS A RESULT CAME IN AT 7 MILLION SAYING $2 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. THOSE ARE ALL PROACTIVE REPORTS IF WE PUT TOGETHER A THIRD THING YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT THE PAYMENTS TO VENDORS. WE GET COMPLAINED TO VENDORS ALL THE TIME. THE CITY IS NOT PAYING THE CONTRACT ON TIME.  WE FOUND THROUGH ONE OF THE PAPERS THAT THE CITY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS ACTUALLY USING ANOTHER VENDOR CONTRACT AND CHARGING 15% FEE TO PAY A FIRST VENDOR SO THAT WE WOULDN'T FIND OUT THEY WEREN'T PAYING YOUR BILLS IN A TIMELY MANNER.  WE PUT THAT OUT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE THAT WAS FOUND. THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS IN CHARGE DIDN'T GO ON TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON.  WE ALSO GOT ADDITIONAL LEGAL AUTHORITIES ASKING US FOR OUR NOTES AND OUR FINDINGS WHICH WE PLANNED OFF.  WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SHARE DATA. THAT'S WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT DOES. I THINK ANY TIME ANYBODY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS WANTS INFORMATION WE WORK FOR THE PUBLIC. THAT INFORMATION IS PUBLIC.  THAT IS WHY WE EXIST. WE WILL INVESTIGATE AND REPORT AND WHATEVER BUT THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE UTILIZE IN OUR JOBS HERE IS THE MEDIA WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING PLAY RELEASED REPORTS TO THE MEDIA AND WE WILL HAVE THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY IN THE PUBLIC REALM AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND THEN THE TAX THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE TAXPAYERS HERE HAVE TO REALIZE THE MONEY NOT COMING OUT OF BE THROUGH THIS IS THEIR MONEY THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING THAT WE ARE SPENDING IT WITH CAUTION AND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE BEST PRICES TO GET THE PRODUCTS THEY NEED FOR THEIR CITY TO SURVIVE. WELL, TO ADDRESS ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP DURING THIS HEARING WE THOUGHT WE KNEW ABOUT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDIT WE HAVE THERE WERE A SMALL AGENCY ALMOST EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO FINANCES IN THE CITY.  SO WHEN WE DO PERFORMANCE AUDITING WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS WHAT THIS COST THE TAXPAYERS. BUT I THINK JUST TO KIND OF CLOSE ON THIS, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE DISCUSSING THAT WE WORK WITH THEM. I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO LET OTHER AGENCIES KNOW WE ARE NOT A LEGAL ENTITY. IF SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ILLEGAL WE HAND IT OFF TO THE POLICE. IF WE FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS FURTHER GOING ON THAT NEEDS FURTHER RESIGNATION. WE INTERRUPTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. ANYBODY WORKING IN THE STRATEGIC CITY SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING AND I FEEL THAT YOU BET A FEW SAMPLES OF WHAT WE DO. WE ARE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.  I CAN HONESTLY SAY WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT THE CITY AND SOMETIMES FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE WE HAVE 19,000 EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND OF ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS WE COMPLETE ON EMPLOYEES DOING THE WRONG THING A VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE UNTRUE. MOST PEOPLE JUST WANT TO COME TO THE CITY, WORK HARD, DO THEIR JOB, COLLECT THEIR PAYCHECK AND GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE FINDING THAT'S TRUE. BUT THE ONES THAT YOU KNOW, THE CREAM RISES TO THE TOP HOPEFULLY THE GOOD ONES ARE MAKING THE CITY WORK WELL AND THE BAD ONES ARE GETTING PRESS. SO WHEN I WORK FOR THE PRESS RELEASE WE'RE OUT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY OPERATES AS HIGHLY FUNCTIONING BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE TAXPAYERS.  THANK YOU MR CAHILL, FOR YOUR VERY TESTIMONY. JUST A QUICK QUESTION SO THERE WERE THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMITTEE'S ROLE AND WHAT YOU DO AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU DO NOT INVESTIGATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL AS PROGRAM AND POLICY WORK IDENTIFYING A FISH INEFFICIENCIES.  IT'S JUST STRICTLY TO FINANCIAL AUDITING. NO, THAT WOULD BE INCORRECT. WE ACTUALLY DO INVESTIGATING EVERY OVERSIGHT OVER EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE BUT MOST OF LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IT COMES DOWN TO FINANCIAL BECAUSE YOU ARE UTILIZING TAXPAYER FEDERAL FUNDING. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING INTO WE REQUESTED INFORMATION ON ESSER FUNDING. WE ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY FILING A COMPLAINT THAT SOMEONE USING A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY BOSTON WAS NOT BEING UTILIZED THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. SO THAT WOULD COME DOWN TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE ARE MEETING NOTES, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN KIND OF OBSERVING THE BIKE LANES WHEN THEY GO IN ON THE 20 CARS TO PUT THEM IN HOW THEY'RE OPERATING. THAT'S POLICY ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON IT. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S WRONG OR RIGHT BUT I THINK IT DESERVES SOME INSPECTION SO WE WILL WHEN WE TAKE NOTES, WE TAKE SOME VIDEO, WE WATCH IT. WE'RE WATCHING TO SEE HOW EVOLVES. SO THAT'S A POLICY ISSUE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING OVER ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THERE'S SOME INVESTIGATIONS AND IN BIKE LANES AND ALL OF THAT AND EXTRA FUNDING AND SO YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS I THINK FOR SOME OF THE THE LARGER SCANDALS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THINKING ABOUT THE BRIBERY CASE THAT HAPPENED IN THE DPD, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE WAS EVENTUALLY CHARGED I MEAN WHAT WAS THE BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION ROLE IN THAT IF ANY? SO WE DID NOT GO DIRECTLY IN THAT AND GENERALLY SPEAKING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS IF ANOTHER AGENCY IS PICKED UP AN INVESTIGATION AND IT BECOMES IT BECOMES THEIR INVESTIGATION IF THEY ASK US TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HELP, ONE INVESTIGATION WILL GIVE IT TO THEM. BUT THE WE THE PERSON IS THE LEAD ON THAT WILL TAKE IT AND RUN WITH IT. WE HAVE A SITUATIONS WHERE WE RUN INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER AGENCIES.  WE BELIEVE IN INFORMATION SHARING. IT'S NOT ABOUT GIVING THE CREDIT HERE, IT'S ABOUT GETTING THINGS TO OPERATE WELL SO YOU KNOW IF SOME OTHER AGENCY PRODUCES A REPORT AND THAT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM OR THE PERSON IS PUT ON CHARGES, WE DON'T GET THE CREDIT FOR THAT AS LONG AS WE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HELPING OUT BY WILL YEAH. OKAY. AND WHAT IS THE OKAY AT WHAT POINT LIKE WHAT ARE YOUR DECISIONS HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLE OF A POTENTIAL NEW ENTITY WOULD BE FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OR POLICY AND PROGRAM WORK, YOU KNOW THERE'S THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT EXPAND ING YOUR ROLE AND I APOLOGIZE BUT I YOU KNOW, I AND MAYBE JUST BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVEN'T TALKED I DON'T REALLY I REALLY SEE IN THE CITY BOSTON FINANCE COMMISSION'S WORK BEING PUT OUT THERE AND SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND MEET YOU VIRTUALLY.  BUT I GUESS WHAT AT WHAT POINT DO YOU GET INVOLVED LIKE HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT US FOR FUNDS AND BIKE LANES AND ALL OF THAT RATHER THAN SOME OF THESE OTHER LARGER SCANDALS THAT THE CITY BOSTON HAS SEEN? SO THE DECISION ESSENTIALLY COMES DOWN TO ME SO WE PRIORITIZE WE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION. WE DON'T ADVERTISE CONTRACTS SOME OF THE OTHER CONTRACTS IN REVIEW. SO SOMETIMES IT'S GENERATED FROM A NEWS STORY YOU MIGHT SEE THE DAY THEY WILL PUT IT ON SOMETHING PRESS THAT THE ANGLE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS THE CITY BOSTON THAN THE STORY ITSELF IS IN THE NEWSPAPER. SO SOMETIMES WE'LL PICK UP ON THAT TO BE HONEST PRIORITIZING COMES DOWN TO A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE IS IT IS CAN WE MAKE A QUICK, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVE POLICY? IT MAY NOT BE WORKING WELL OR SAVE MONEY WITH TAXPAYERS. THOSE BECOME A PRIORITY TO GET SOMETHING DONE QUICKLY. THERE ARE ALSO LONG TERM THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT STATE POLICIES TO SEE OVER TIME HOW THEY'RE AFFECTING TAXPAYERS, HOW MUCH THEY'RE COSTING. SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.  IT BECOMES A COMMON SENSE APPROACH WHICH WHICH SOUNDS VERY NORMAL BUT UNFORTUNATELY GOVERNMENT IS NOT REALLY BIG ON COMMON SENSE. A LOT OF TIMES.  SO WE WE WILL START PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FOR INFORMATION AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS ASKING FOR THAT INFORMATION TO AFFECT THE CHANGE BECAUSE SOMEONE GOES TO WORK AND SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES YOU TO DO THE RESEARCH PROJECT, WRITE A REPORT. I KNOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IN MEXICO THE BOSTON SCHOOL FILIBUSTER INVITATION ISSUE RECENTLY THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TAKEN OUT IN ACTUALLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYING THEY GOT THIS HEAD OUT WRONG AND THEY RESTRICTED THE AMOUNT OF VISITORS WHO ARE COMING IN BECAUSE THEY PUT THIS LANGUAGE WITHIN THE BILL THAT SAID SOMEONE HAD TO HAVE A CRIMINAL WAS SO MANY DIFFERENT CONTRACTS OF SO MANY DIFFERENT SIZED CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND NOBODY ELSE COULD HAVE BEAT THAT CONTRACT. SO WE CHECKED INTO THAT AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ALLOWED THE CONCERNS WERE THAT IF THEY STOPPED THE CONTRACT AT THAT POINT THERE WOULD BE NO BUS SERVICES FOR THE YEAR. AND REALLY WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO IS THEY PUT THE CONTRACT OUT SOONER. SO WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES LIKE THIS THERE CAN BE CORRECTIONS THAT CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY WITHOUT AFFECTING THE CAN SORT OF THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WHAT IS YOUR ENABLING LEGISLATION AND WHAT IS YOUR ENABLING LEGISLATION MINING LEGISLATION THERE SIR? YEAH WHERE I STAND ON IT. NO. SO WHERE BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIND IN THE BOSTON MUNICIPAL CODE RIGHT NOW IT'S ON IT'S IN THE IT'S IN STATE LEGISLATION. IT'S STATE LEGISLATION. OKAY AND HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE PER YEAR? ABOUT 100,022. OKAY. AND WHAT IS YOUR STAFF LOOK LIKE?  I HAVE ONE ADMIN AND DOMINIC MATHIS AND INVESTIGATING IN MY GOVERNMENT. OKAY. AND HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT THAN THE CITY AUDITOR? SO WE YOU KNOW THE AUDITOR IS MAINLY FOCUSED JUST ON FINANCES. WE FOCUS ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES WHETHER IT BE YOU KNOW HIRING IT COULD ADMINISTRATIVE IT COULD BE HOW THEY'RE PUTTING IN PAPER WE HAD DATING REPORTS ON HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON THE CONTRACTS SO WE HAVE A VERY WIDE RANGE OF WHAT WE LOOK AT THE ONLY THING THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM A STANDPOINT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO I THINK THE AUDITOR REALLY FOCUSES ON THE FINANCIALS BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS ALL ADD UP. WE FOCUS ON COMMON SENSE. YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND WE PROTECT THE TAXPAYER PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON FROM BEING TERRORIZED IF THEY HAVE SOME PROBLEM WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT. WE OPERATE ON A LEVEL THAT'S OF WAY GRANDER THAN WHAT THE AUDITOR WOULD BE LOOKING AT. OKAY.  HOW MANY REPORTS DO YOU SEND OUT PER YEAR? IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR.  SO WE DO CONTRACTS. SOME OF THE CONTRACTS ARE BY MEDIA REPORTS ON THEM. SO I THINK LAST YEAR PROBABLY FIVE LONG TERM FOR A LONG TERM CONTRACT OF REPORTS OUT OF THE LAW AND WE ALSO ON FISCAL YEAR WE'LL DO THE REPORT SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT THE REPORTS THAT ARE MENTIONED ON OUR WEBSITE IT MUST INCLUDE COMCAST AND YOU CAN TAKE THE LAST TWO YEARS OF ANNUAL REPORTS OVER BECAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW I ONLY HAVE ONE FROM 2002 SO 2020 AND THEN 2023 AND WE JUST STARTED PUTTING IT TOGETHER. SO WHERE YOU KNOW THE MEETING MINUTES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL START GOING ON THERE AS WE GO FORWARD. BUT I CAN I CAN PRESENT THAT TO GO OVER THE ANNUAL REPORTS AND ANY OF THE REPORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MANY QUESTIONS YOU NEED I CAN CERTAINLY COME OVER AND TALK TO OKAY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CAHILL, CALL FROM HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INDULGING ME . I HAD A FLURRY OF QUESTIONS. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.  LIKE A GOOD CHAIR, COUNSELOR. LET'S WRAP THAT. IT'S ONLY FAIR. BUT WAIT, MR CAHILL. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS TOO. SO YOU MENTIONED HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS POSITION I'VE BEEN IN WITH THE FINANCE COMMISSION FOR 26 YEARS BUT I WAS WORKING AS AN ANALYST WHEN I FIRST CAME IN AND I TOOK OVER AS DIRECTOR IN 2009 AND I SAW ALMOST ALMOST 1213 YEARS RIGHT YOU SO LONG TIME BEGAN A LONG TIME LONG TIME.  AND SO I WILL SAY JUST FOR A TRANSPARENCY'S SAKE IS THAT I DO REMEMBER YOU STOPPED BY MY OFFICE WHEN I FIRST WAS ELECTED VERY SIMILAR TO HOW INTERACTED WITH COUNCILOR BREEDEN I THINK YOU CAME IN AND YOU GAVE ME A CARD.  YOU LET ME KNOW EITHER YOU EXIST IN THIS WORLD AND I WAS LIKE YES. AND THEN CORBETT CAME AND YOU KNOW, WE NEVER HAD TO INTERACT SO I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DO REMEMBER THE BRIEF INTERACTION AND ENCOUNTER THAT ARE OFFICE HAD WITH YOU. BUT I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE THAT WAS SUCH A QUICK INTERACTION AND HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE CITY,  WE'VE NEVER I DON'T I DON'T EVER REMEMBER SEEING YOU OR INTERACTING WITH YOU IN A OFFICIAL CAPACITY LIKE A HEARING OR OR ANY OTHER FORMAL WAY REALLY WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY COULD LOOK LIKE. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT ABOUT THAT LIKE YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE AN OFFICE THAT HAS DONE A LOT IN THE CITY BUT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF SUNSHINE.  YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR BODY OF WORK PER SAY . AND COUNCILOR COLLETTI, I THINK THAT YES, I UNDERSTAND THE WAY THAT THESE HEARINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE YOU KNOW, THE FIRST HEARING THAT WE HAVE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT INTRODUCES A HEARING AND THEN WE TRANSITION INTO WORKING SESSIONS AND I FEEL LIKE THIS HEARING HAS REALLY UNCOVERED A LOT AND I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED HERE CAN TRANSLATE SO YOU KNOW, THE WORKING SESSIONS BUT MY I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR INTERACTION WITH YOU KNOW, WITH CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LIKE YOU KNOW, WHO ARE YOU REPORTING TO?  YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE KEPT ABREAST OF THAT WORK AND YEAH, WHO OVERSEES THE OVERSEER HERE WITHIN THIS OUR OVERSIGHT IS THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.  THEY'RE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. THEY COME ON THE SORT OF FIVE YEAR TERMS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY GO A LITTLE EARLIER. THEY HAVE SOME PERSONAL ISSUES THEY NEED TO GET OFF OF THE MOST THAT ARE THE 1 TO 5 YEARS WE ARE OBLIGATED UNDER OUR CHARTER TO HAVE ONE MEETING A YEAR. WE HAVE ABOUT ONE A MONTH. USUALLY SOMEONE GET CANCELED BECAUSE OF ISSUES TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLE TOGETHER BUT SO ANYWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND NINE MEETINGS A YEAR BEING PUBLIC WE WE WILL BRING WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT THROUGH TO OUR MEMBERS . THEY'RE ALL CITIZENS RESIDENTS, THE CITY THEY WILL GIVE US DIRECTION AS TO WHERE THEY THINK WE SHOULD BE GOING. SEVERAL OF THEM ARE LAWYERS OR THE LAWYERS WILL GIVE US THEIR OPINION. SOME OF THEM ARE BUSINESS OWNERS AND WE HAVE THEIR OPINIONS. IT'S NOT ALL DONE JUST WITH MY I WILL BRING THINGS TO THEM BUT I DO APPRECIATE SAYING WELL THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF BOSTON TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.  THE THE AS FAR AS THE CONTRACTS GO THAT'S JUST DAY TO DAY.  SO IF THE CONTRACTS COME IN THOSE GET OUT THE DOOR QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A 340 WINDOW TO GET THEM OUT. BUT AS FAR AS LONG TERM REPORTING INVESTIGATIONS, THOSE ARE ALL APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION MEMBERS AND THEY ARE UPDATED EVERY MONTH AT THE MONTHLY MEETINGS. OKAY.  ALL RIGHT. SO I THINK AND YOU I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S SOMEONE THAT I KNOW THAT WAS APPOINTED CHERISE PERRY.  SHE'S A LAWYER AND RESIDENT SOMEONE WHO I HAVE HIGH REGARD AND RESPECT FOR.  SO I'M HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THAT APPOINTMENT WAS MADE I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR WORK AND THE INTERACTIONS THE FACT THAT IT GETS APPOINTED BY THE STATE FEELS A LITTLE BIT DISCONNECTED TO US EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BOSTON RESIDENTS.  I THINK THAT THAT'S GREAT BUT IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. AND WERE YOU NOMINATED OR WERE YOU APPOINTED?  I WAS APPOINTED BY LOOKING TO GO BACK HOME ON YOUR COLLEGE JUST AND THEY THE GOOD THING ABOUT THEM BEING APPOINTED IS THAT THERE THERE IS A THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SPACE BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT. SO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY WARY OF IS THAT SOMEONE ISN'T GOING TO TRY TO USE THE AGENCY AS A TOOL TO GET EVEN OR TO GET INFORMATION.  I DO THINK THAT THIS GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF FREEDOM FROM THAT NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF IT.  BUT THE OTHER PIECE THE OTHER THING THAT WE WOULD ADJUST EARLIER IS WHEN YOU'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT US I NOTICE SOME OF THE YOU KNOW, WE DID SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS ON TO OUR RESEARCH INTO THE OTHER IG'S OFFICES AND SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES AND THEY HAVE PR PEOPLE ATTACHED TO THEM WHICH YOU KNOW IT'S PR IS IMPORTANT BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THE NATURE OF THE JOB. OUR JOB IS TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY AND TO MAKE SURE GOVERNMENT OPERATES WELL. NO, NO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT YOU BECAUSE I ACTUALLY GOOGLE WE GOT SOMETHING OUT OF IT. THERE WAS NO I ACTUALLY GOOGLED THEM AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND THEM TO BE HONEST. BUT IT WASN'T THERE WAS NO PR THERE BUT I'M JUST JUST IT'S I UNDERSTAND THE THE AUTONOMY AND YOU KNOW, WRITING UNDERNEATH THE RADAR WHICH I THINK HAS A LOT OF VALUE TO YOUR WORK I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TUNING IN MANY PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE EVEN HAVE SUCH A GREAT AND THAT THERE IS SO THIS IS THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL MOMENT.  THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW NOW YOU KNOW THERE IS SUCH A THING CALLED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE COMMISSION EXCUSE ME IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT HAS FIVE APPOINTED MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE BOSTON RESIDENTS AND YOU KNOW, WITH A SMALL BUDGET AND A SMALL STAFF THAT IS MAKING THAT ALL YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING PUT TO GOOD USE. YES.  SO I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO COME FOR THE RECORD AND HELP US HEAR ALL OF THAT AND I THINK IT'S GREAT AND I THINK THE REASON WHY I KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION IS THAT THIS IS NOT IN COMPETITION OR IN PLACE OF THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE DOLLARS AND OUR EFFICIENCY. IT IS ALSO RESTORING TRUST IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THAT REQUIRES HAVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN A TIMELY FASHION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE. SO TO HAVE TWO COUNCILORS RIGHT ONE THAT WAS A CHIEF OF STAFF FOR A PREVIOUS COUNCILOR AND A COUNCILOR WHO MET YOU FOUR YEARS AGO ASKING YOU A 101 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION AND YOUR WORK.  SHAME ON US FOR NOT KNOWING HALF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCOVERED TODAY AND IT GOES AGAIN TO DEMONSTRATE WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TO BEGIN WITH RIGHT IT REALLY AND YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN LATE FORMER COUNCILOR LARRY DECARO, HE IS THE CHAIR OF AN AUDIT COMMITTEE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW THAT IS YOU KNOW, SHAME ON US AGAIN, RIGHT? WE HAVE ALL OF THESE AND THERE'S THERE'S A FEW EMPTY SEATS THAT ARE UP FOR GRABS IN THAT COMMITTEE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT HAD I DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND STARTED DIGGING INTO GETTING MYSELF PREPARED FOR THIS PARTICULAR HEARING RIGHT. SO I JUST DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW THE WAY WE'RE FUNCTIONING AND THAT THIS IS NOT TO YOU THIS IS JUST OVERALL WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IS THIS I DON'T THINK THAT WE WE WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES IN PLACE AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND SHARING ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'RE YOUR COMMISSION IS DOING. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT A COMPLEMENT LOOKS LIKE. YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS SUCH AN OFFICE IN WOULD YOU YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU BE THE PERSON THAT GETS APPOINTED TO BE I MEAN LIKE YOU NEED YOU NEED MORE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL KIT I'M GOING TO ASSUME ABLE TO DO WORK RIGHT?  LIKE I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND AS MANY PATHWAYS TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND THAT WHEN I SAY WORK THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR YOU KNOW, OUR RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT AND WHETHER IT IT MEANS EXPANDING YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR REACH AND REFURBISHED STRING IT TO HAVE A DIFFERENT NAME WITH DIFFERENT POWERS SO BE IT.  I'M NOT TRYING TO REPLACE I'M TRYING TO ENHANCE AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION THINKING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT YOUR COMMISSION IS DOING ITS WORK OR THAT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS UNNECESSARY NOR IS THE STATE IG UNNECESSARY. LIKE I REALLY WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.  ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT RIGHT NOW AS AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN WHO'S NOW ON THE INSIDE I FEEL AS THOUGH WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP AND MEET THE MOMENT AND BE AS TRANSPARENT WITH NOT JUST OUR MONEY BUT WITH OUR PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO REALLY BE ABLE TO DELIVER FOR FOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.  AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROLE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. CONTINUE TO ALL I ALSO CLETA JUST BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD A MARATHON OF HEARINGS I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD ANYONE ELSE HOSTAGE AND I KNOW COUNCILOR REID IN IS ON DECK. GO AHEAD.  COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU'RE ON MUTE TALKING TO MYSELF AGAIN.  NICE PERSON. YES. THE FINANCE IS EMPOWERED BY THE CITY CHARTER SECTION 43 SO IT IS AND THAT'S BEEN IN A YOU KNOW, IN EXISTENCE I THINK SINCE THE EARLY 1900S. SO IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME.  I THINK I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MATTHEW OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND ABOUT ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AND VERY OFTEN THE ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME IS THAT THEY DO A OF A LOT OF WORK ON VERY, VERY, VERY SLIM BUDGET. SO IF ANYTHING YOU KNOW IT'S BUDGET SEASON. I REALLY THINK THAT GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO BE ADEQUATELY RESOURCED.  I LOOK BACK AND IN 20 1970 THEY HAD 1970 THEY HAD EIGHT PEOPLE AND IN 1980 I THINK THEY HAD NINE EIGHT PEOPLE. IT'S FAR FROM THEN DROPPED DOWN IN 1992 FOR PEOPLE AND THAT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH AT THAT LEVEL AND A VERY MODEST BUDGET OF LIKE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT THREE JUST OVER 300,000 WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY A PITTANCE GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY HAVE . SO YOU KNOW, I FEEL THANK YOU, MATTHEW, FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK AND YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT YOU KNOW, AS WE AS WE EXPLORE THESE THESE THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, I DON'T WANT TO NEGATE THE WORK THAT THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE THE FINANCE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DOING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.  WE HAVE A CHAIRMAN RETIRING. VICTORIA WAS ALSO A CITY COUNCILOR WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR COMMISSION AND AS MENTIONED PATRICE PATRICE I'M SORRY CHERISE PERRY WAS ALSO GOING TO TESTIFY BUT UNFORTUNATELY MORE WORK ON THE JOBS AS WELL SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO STICK AROUND NOW WE APPRECIATE IT. I THINK WE SHOULD TO COUNCILOR BRENNAN'S POINT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE A SECOND WELL AT LEAST FOR US MATT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO COUNCILOR FRIEDAN'S POINT. IT IS BUDGET SEASON AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND I THINK HEARING FROM YOU TODAY REALLY HELPS PROVIDE A LOT OF INSIGHT ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY THAT WE MAYBE YOU CAN GET YOU A WHOLE PRESS TEAM TO ABOUT YOU OR YOU KNOW LIKE SO IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A HEARING FOR US TO HEAR ALL THAT BUT I, I I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU SPENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. COUNCILOR COLETTA, YOU HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING CHAIR.  I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU BEFORE YOU PUT MY MIKE ON MUTE HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU PROVIDED BUT ALSO JUST THE GRACE IN TERMS OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GO OVER AND YOU REALLY ALLOWED THIS HEARING TO PLAY OUT THE WAY THAT IT DID. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT YOU PUT FORTH IN SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IT'S BEEN A ROBUST CONVERSATION. I'VE LEARNED A LOT REALLY HAVE HAVE MORE TO LEARN. I JUST I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME, THEIR ADVOCACY, THEIR ENERGY.  I KNOW THAT I AM HUNGRY AND WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. SO IN THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL PUBLIC TESTIMONY I THINK I WILL MOVE TO TWO CLOSES HEARING. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO AND I AM I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE IS A LANE HERE TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING IN PARTNERSHIP SUPPLEMENTING THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DOING. SO I'M GOING TO COME HERE COUNSELOR BREADON FOR STICKING OUT FOR HOURS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF. THIS HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THAN ---------  HEARING TO ORDER. MY NAME IS JULIA MEJIA. I'M AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY. TODAY IS MAY 29TH, 2024 AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER TWO OF THE ACTS OF 2023 MODIFYING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND RELIEVING PUBLIC BODIES OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC BODIES CONDUCT ITS MEETING IN A PUBLIC PLACE THAT IS OPEN AND PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY WILL BE CONDUCTING THIS HEARING VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM . THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED AND IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON DARK SPLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCASTED UNACCOMPANIED.  CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FILES CHANNEL 964 WRITTEN TESTIMONIES MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C CC DOT G A T A AT BOSTON DARKO AND WILL BE MADE PART OF RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED AN ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND HAVE NOT DONE SO PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON SHANE PAC AT SHANE PAC AT BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE ZOOM LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0585 IN ORDER FOR A HEARING TO AUDIT THE CITY'S OF BOSTON'S HIRING, FIRING AND PROMOTIONAL POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES THIS LETTER WAS SPONSORED BY MYSELF COUNCILOR JULIA MEJIA AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 24TH 2020. FOR TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL OF COURSE COUNCILOR BLAND WHO'S ALWAYS ON TIME AND READY TO GO. LOVE TO SEE YOU HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING AND I'LL CONTINUE TO CALL MY COLLEAGUES AS THEY ARRIVE. TODAY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PANEL WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. AND BEFORE I DO SO, LET ME JUST LEVEL SET HERE THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY GET THINGS ON THE RECORD AND TO AS AS A COMMITTEE. MY HOPE IS IS THAT WE'LL BE LISTENING TO EACH OTHER IDENTIFYING PRESSURE, YOU KNOW, PAIN POINTS IN WHICH WE NEED TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER. BUT ULTIMATELY MY GOAL IS TO HAVE A SOLUTION FOCUSED CONVERSATION THAT IS REALLY CENTERING THE POLICIES, THE PROTOCOLS AND THE PROCEDURES AND NOT PEOPLE IN INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS.  I JUST WANT TO BE KNOW THIS FOR THE RECORD THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS AND CENTER THIS CONVERSATION ON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY AND SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GROUND RULES HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO TODAY WE HAVE WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TO DIFFERENT PANELS. WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING FIRST ON EPS WHICH WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FRANCIS CANTY WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOINED BY OUR COMMUNITY PANELIST EDITH BAZILE WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BLACK ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AS WELL AS LIA SARINA WHO IS A ELEMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. SO I'M GOING TO FOCUS THOSE TWO PANELISTS SO THAT WE CAN FIRST START OFF WITH BIPS AND THEN I'LL TRANSITION AND INTRODUCE THE BPD PANEL WHEN WE GET THERE. SO IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING EVERYTHING MOVING AND ON TIME I AM GOING TO I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY OUR VERY OWN LAWYER AND OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR WEBER WHO HAS ALSO JOINED US FOR THIS HEARING. I'LL CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES AS THEY ARRIVE BUT WANTED TO JUST KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT WE WILL BE WAIVING OPENING REMARKS SO THAT WE CAN DIVE RIGHT INTO THE PANEL. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO SUPERINTENDENT , THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR MEJIA AND WE WILL KEEP OUR COMMENTS BRIEF SO THAT WE CAN GET INTO QUESTIONS. BUT WE JUST YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. WE ALWAYS WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND UPS THE PROGRESS BUT TO ALSO HEAR PEOPLE'S REALITY AND EXPERIENCE SO WE CAN STRENGTHEN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO I'M JOINED BY FRANCIS CANTY WHO'S OUR CHIEF OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN BPC. SO SHE'S A FEW REMARKS AS WELL . I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT AS THE LEADER OF OUR DISTRICT I AM PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR STAFF ARE ABLE TO WORK FREE FROM BIAS IN FREE FROM RETALIATION, WHERE THEY GET THE TRAINING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WHERE WE ALL COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS AND THAT INCLUDES OUR DISTRICT, OUR SCHOOLS AND ALL THAT WORK IN THEM. I THINK AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY MANY TIMES, OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK IS REALLY AT THE FRONT OF ALL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND BHP'S AND THAT BEGINS WITH HIRING A WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND IN THE CITY THAT WE SERVE. THIS IS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR US AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MAJORITY OF OUR 11,000 EMPLOYEES IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT'S ROUGHLY AROUND 56% AND I'M PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING. WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WORKING TOGETHER. I BELIEVE WE CAN EVEN ACCELERATE THAT MORE.  YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY OF OUR WORKFORCE IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE BEGIN THE DEEPER, YOU KNOW, OFFICE OF MULTILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL WORK WITH OUR BILINGUAL AND EDUCATION GOALS. I THINK THIS IS REALLY YOU KNOW, THE WORK AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING IS A TESTIMONY TO CHIEF CANTY, TO SHAWN MARTIN AND TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE WORKING IN THE SPECIFIC AREAS TO DIVERSIFY OUR STAFF AND THAT'S RECRUITMENT. BUT THAT'S ALSO THE ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT PIECE THE SUPPORT, THE RETENTION AND THE ADVANCEMENT. AND SO IT'S IT'S ALL OF THOSE WORKING.  WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE TO BE REALLY VIGILANT AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS WORK AND THAT MEANS CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE DATA ON EDUCATIONAL, ON EDUCATION RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AND THEN ALSO INCLUDE STAFF DISCIPLINE THAT INCLUDES PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. ALL OF THESE MATTER TO OUR EMPLOYEES COLOR AS THEY DO TO THE BROADER ORGANIZATION. SO WE NEED TO BE REALLY LASER ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MONITORING THAT DATA.  JUST IN CLOSING BEFORE I PASS IT QUICKLY TO CHIEF CANTY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WE BELIEVE ARE YIELDING BETTER RESULTS WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSIFYING OUR WORKFORCE.  WE'VE GONE TO A PROCESS WHERE WE GUARANTEEING INTERVIEWS FOR ANY QUALIFIED DIVERSE TEACHER CANDIDATE WHO APPLIES TO AN OPEN POSITION. WE'RE ALSO GUARANTEEING AT LEAST THREE INTERVIEWS TO ANY PROVISIONAL TEACHER OF COLOR WHO RECEIVES A NON-RENEWAL LETTER BUT WHO RECEIVED A PROFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF ON THEIR ON THEIR ANNUAL AVAIL AND MEETS THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS SUCH AS CERTIFICATION FOR THAT POSITION. AND WE'RE INVESTING IN MANY NEW LICENSURE PATHWAYS INCLUDING AT THE PARISH LEVEL AND AT THE TEACHER LEVEL TO SUPPORT ANY AND ALL INDIVIDUALS IN PARTICULAR EDUCATORS OF COLOR WHO WANT TO BECOME TEACHERS OR WHO WANT TO JUST CONTINUE TO GROW. SO IT'S JUST A FEW THINGS.  FRANCIS WE'LL TALK MORE BUT YOU KNOW, JUST TO REITERATE YOU KNOW, JUST TO REITERATE THIS IS OF TOP CONCERN TO US SO WE DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND NOW FRANCIS.  GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THAT MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL . IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON THIS MORNING AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR IN OUR IN OUR EMPLOYEES. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE SOME ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME DIVIDENDS SO FAR AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH. I AM HERE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT TAX PROCESSES AND WITH RESPECT TO HIRING OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU MAY HAVE BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT WORK THAT FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECENTLY GOT AT WE RECENTLY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECENTLY AWARDED THE BPF TEACHER QUALITY GRANT AND THAT GRANT IS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN WE CAN BRING IN MORE TEACHERS WHO ARE MULTILINGUAL.  THAT IS A DIRECT INVESTMENT THAT THE DISTRICT IS MAKING AND WE ARE PROUD OF THAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. IT IS A GRANT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR BUT THEY SAW FIT TO GRANT THAT BACKGROUND. WE ARE WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO RETAIN AND HIRE EDUCATORS OF COLOR. THAT IS A BUT MOST IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE MAKING THOSE STRIDES IN EVERY ASPECT SO THAT WE CAN AND AGAIN I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROCESSES AND OUR PROCEDURES THAT YOU MAY HAVE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.  I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO DO GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT ON TIME AND AND MOVING THINGS ALONG AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HOW EFFICIENT YOU WERE WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO DIVE IN IS THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR ANDERSON AND COUNCILOR BREEDEN. SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS, I WOULD LOVE TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TWO PANELISTS TO HAVE THEIR OPENING REMARKS AND THEN WE COULD BRING THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO I'LL GO FIRST TO EDITH. EDITH, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COUNCILOR ME HERE AND OTHER COUNCILORS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROCESS DURING BOSTON'S COURT ORDERED DESEGREGATION AND REFUSE TO HIRE BLACK TEACHERS. SO JUDGE GARRITY ORDERED US TO HIRE BLACK EDUCATORS. THE GARRITY ORDER IS STILL IN EFFECT YET BOSTON STEADILY FALLS SHORT OF THE COMPLIANCE. THIS YEAR THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK TEACHERS DECLINED FURTHER. WHY SHOULD WE CARE? BECAUSE THE PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES BY H.R. RESULTS AND PATE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVES, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND LAWSUITS THAT COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.  FURTHERMORE, THE LACK OF EQUITY IN THE PROCESS HAS LED TO A LOSS OF TALENT IN THE DISTRICT IN OPPORTUNITY GAPS THAT HAVE NOT BUDGED BE WILLING TO SHARE MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW POWER HOLDING AND CENTERING WHITENESS IN DECISION MAKING SHOWS IN OUR PROCESS. BLACK LEADERS AND TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO GO ALONG TO GET ALONG. ACROSS ETHNIC LINGUISTIC POPULATIONS WHILE FACING DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT IN OUR ROTATED OUT OF THE DISTRICT DUE TO HOSTILE AND STRESSFUL WORKING CONDITIONS IT IS WORSE FOR BLACK MALES.  WE KNOW THAT THE JOHN HOPKINS RESEARCH CAN PROVE BLACK TEACHERS FOSTER A GROWTH MINDSET AND STRENGTHEN STUDENTS SELF EFFICACY RAISING MATH AND READING SCORES. REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM BY 60%. PROMOTING ACCESS TO AP COURSES, GRADUATION COLLEGE ENTRY AND VOCATIONAL PURSUIT. HOWEVER, BLACK EDUCATORS ARE THE LAST HIRED AND SUBJECT TO PREMATURE DISMISSAL WHEN THERE ARE BUDGET CUTS.  THEY REPORT INCIDENTS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, WORKPLACE BULLYING AND RETALIATION THAT DISRUPTS THE LONGEVITY AND BPP'S EQUITY COMPLAINTS LACK THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS AND MOST OFTEN END IN A FINDING OF QUOTE INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND THE POOR BLACK AND BROWN CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS STATE WHEN THEY ALERT THE DISTRICT TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THEY ARE SILENCED, CENSORED,  OSTRACIZED OR SHUT OUT OF MEETINGS, INFORMATION THEY PROVIDE IS REJECTED. IN THE AGE OUR PROCESS MAY BE WEAPONIZED PLACING THEM ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE LEADING TO NDAS AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT ONCE LEADER WROTE A MEMO TO THE SUPERINTENDENT INCOMING SUPERINTENDENT EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING A PATTERN OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING PRIMARILY BLACK AND BROWN CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS AND CONVEYED THAT WHILE INVESTIGATIVE MEETINGS AND PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE ARE CERTAINLY A NECESSARY PART OF H.R. PRACTICE, THE PATTERNS WARRANTED IN INVESTIGATING IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT'S INTERESTS INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE LEADER'S DILIGENCE. THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION TERMINATED HIM EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THEN THE LEADER'S BODY OF EQUITY WORK WAS SYSTEMATICALLY DISMANTLED.  THE RACIAL EQUITY PLANNING TOO WAS ABANDONED. THE RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT COMMITTEE ELIMINATED WHICH I WAS A PART OF RACIAL EQUITY DASHBOARD ABOLISHED COMMUNITY EQUITY ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS,  SUSPENDED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVES, ABANDONED AND THE PLAN FOR NINE EQUITY COACHES SCRAPPED.  PUBLIC PROTESTS FROM FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY WERE IGNORED.  MEANWHILE, THERE'S BEEN NO ACTION BY THIS ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY INVESTIGATE DISCRIMINATION CONCERNS INVOLVING BLACK AND BROWN CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS FROM OUR GROUP RETIRED BLACK AND BROWN EDUCATORS. A FEW WEEKS AGO THIS ADMINISTRATION CUT SEVERAL BLACK AND BROWN LONG TIME CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS IN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT UNIT WITHOUT NOTIFYING OR ENGAGING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY. AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY PROTESTS WERE IGNORED. HONORABLE COUNSELORS THE POOL OF EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AND THE EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY IS A VERY CLOSE COMMUNITY. BP SAYS REMOVAL OF BLACK AND BROWN LEADERS CAST A SHADOW ON BP AS AS UNWELCOMING TO BLACK EDUCATORS AND CREATES GAPS IN THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN DIVERSE POOL OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED, INNOVATIVE LEADERS.  THERE IS AN IMPACT ON SCHOOL STAFF IN OUR BLACK LATINO MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL WHO REMAIN IN STUBBORN GAPS IN ATTENDANCE UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS. THE RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT COMMITTEE A DIVERSE GROUP OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY USED THE RACIAL EQUITY PLANNING TO TO ASSESS EQUITABLE LITERACY ON THE HEELS OF RELEASING OUR FINDINGS.  THE SUPERINTENDENT DISBANDED OUR COMMITTEE. BP SAYS RECENT REPORT SHOWS NO GAINS IN LITERACY.  SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE WHO TRAILED FAR BEHIND US NOW OUTPACE US. BP'S INCLUSION PLAN LACKS AN EQUITY FOCUS AND WHAT WORKED IN THE PAST SUCH AS FULL TIME INCLUSION FACILITATORS READING SPECIALIST AND LIBRARY SCIENCE AT EVERY SCHOOL. THIS ADMINISTRATION CUT LIBRARIANS WE DON'T HAVE READING SPECIALISTS IN EVERY SCHOOL WHILE INVESTING $30 MILLION IN SURVEILLANCE. BP HAS SEVERELY CUT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT POSITIONS CRITICAL TO BUILDING COLLABORATIVE TRUST AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EQUITY LENS.  BP HAS ADS NO JOB TITLES WITH LIMITED DIRECT IMPACT ON THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF SCHOOLS OR CLASSROOM PRACTICE WHILE STAFF SUFFER BUDGET CUTS IN STAFF OVERWORKED PUSHING OUT BIPOC LEADERS WITH EXPERIENCED INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN A LENS OF RACIAL EQUITY STALLED DISTRICT PROGRESS AND EFFECTIVELY SERVING THE NEEDS OF BLACK LATINO MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES INSTEAD OF BUILDING CAPACITY FOR HIGH QUALITY IN DISTRICT PROGRAMING . WITH INCLUSION DONE RIGHT, BP SPENDS $43 MILLION IN OUT OF PLACEMENT IN AND OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS. THE MEL KING ACADEMIES FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE MCKINLEY SCHOOLS SERIOUS PRIMARILY BLACK MALE STUDENTS WHO ARE GREETED DAILY WITH METAL DETECTORS, CAMERAS AND RANDOM SEARCHES. THE ENROLLMENT HAS DECLINED BY TWO THIRDS IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS AROUND 80% ACADEMIC FAILURE. THREE WAVES, COMMITMENT OR DROPOUT HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY THAN GRADUATION. IF THE RACIAL EQUITY PLANNING TO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES AND OTHER EQUITY INITIATIVES OR EMBEDDED IN A PLAN FOR INNOVATIVE RESTRUCTURING OF THESE SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF JUST THE NAME CHANGE AND A NEW LEADER CHOSEN WITH NO STAFF, NO STUDENT, FAMILY OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.  THESE SCHOOLS MAY BE PROGRESSING TOWARD SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT INSTEAD OF DECLINING. BP'S IS NOW AT A CROSSROADS. THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DEFINING A VISION AND CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR OUR STUDENTS FUTURE. THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DEVELOPING EVIDENCE BASED MODELS OF PRACTICE WITHIN AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF EQUITY, INCLUSION AND COLLABORATION THAT LEADS THE ACADEMIC GROWTH AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. EQUITY MUST BE AN ACTION BASED THROUGH LINE NOT MERE RHETORIC . BP'S MUST RESUSCITATE ITS EQUITY TOOLS, BUILD WORKPLACE JUSTICE, LAUNCH AUTHENTIC INVESTIGATE ACTIONS OF WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION, AUDIT AND OVERHAUL H.R. PRACTICES AND POLICIES TO ENSURE A FAIR NONDISCRIMINATORY PROCESS IN HIRING, RETENTION, PROMOTION AND EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE.  IN CLOSING, BP MUST LIVE UP TO ITS HISTORY OF PURSUING EXCELLENCE WITH A FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND OUTCOMES THAT CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ALL OF BP'S HARDWORKING, DEDICATED ,HIGHLY QUALIFIED, RESULTS DRIVEN WORKFORCE. IS VALUE AND RESPECTED IN AN INCLUSIVE ANTIRACIST WORKPLACE ? THANK YOU. THANK YOU EDITH.  I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE 30 MINUTES WITH SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AND I HAVE FOUR COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE SHOWN UP AND I'M REALLY EXCITED . AND WITH ME FIVE AND SO LEAH,  DO YOU MIND IF WE DO A ROUND OF QUESTIONS AND THEN COME BACK TO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE TIME HERE? I'M GOING TO GIVE EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES 5 MINUTES, NOT SEVEN AND WE GOT A LITTLE TIMER HERE JUST SO THAT WE CAN GET THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS AND I KNOW THAT FRANCES IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY AFTER SUPERINTENDENT WRIGHT.  ALL RIGHT. WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSON FROM AS AFTER YOU LEAVE. SUPERINTENDENT , JUST TO CONFIRM.  NO, I THINK COMPANY I BELIEVE THAT WE LET YOU KNOW IT WAS 11:00. OKAY FOR YOU BOTH.  YOU OKAY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO SINCE YOU BOTH HAVE TO LEAVE AT 11, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.  SO I'M GOING TO COUNCILOR FLYNN JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE YOUR 5 MINUTES. BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M GIVING YOU . BUT COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES AND THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . I'M HERE AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AND THE OTHERS ON THE PIANO AS WELL.  SO AGAIN, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR SPONSORING CHAIRING THIS HEARING. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SHOULD BE PRIORITIES IN OUR CITY'S HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES.  AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UPHOLD THESE PRINCIPLES.  I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION FOR FOR EDITH EIGHT OF THE CAN YOU JUST TELL ME ABOUT THE FEDERAL DECREE IN TERMS OF TEACHERS THAT PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS OF COLOR THAT SHOULD BE HIRED UNDER THIS DECREE AND WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?  I'M NOT ALL THAT FAMILIAR WITH THAT BUT JUST WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. SURE. SO I WAS ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS AND THE DECREE BASICALLY STATES THAT BP MUST ABIDE BY IT AND SUSTAIN A WORKFORCE OF 25% BLACK TEACHERS. THE NUMBER O AND BP HAS NEVER REACHED THAT HAS NOT REACHED THAT IN ABOUT TEN YEARS I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS IS 10%. OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT IS A LOW NUMBER AND WE HAVE HIGH REPRESENTATION THAT IN THAT IN THAT STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC POPULATION RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 1069 BLACK TEACHERS AND THAT'S 22.67% WHICH IS UNDER THE 25% REQUIREMENT OF THE GARRITY ORDER AND THAT IS A DROP FROM ABOUT 23% IN NOVEMBER. SO THIS FIGURE OF THE 22.67% IS AS OF APRIL 1ST. AND SO WHAT MY ARGUMENT IS IS THAT NUMBER IS DECLINING BECAUSE OF TEACHERS BEING PUSHED OUT, NOT SUPPORTED, NOT PROVIDING THAT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED SPECIFICALLY BLACK TEACHERS. SO RETENTION IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.  TEACHERS ARE HIRED BUT THEY ARE NOT BLACK TEACHERS THE HIRED NOT RETAINED. SAME FOR BILINGUAL TEACHERS.  WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BILINGUAL TEACHERS. WE NEED MORE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT FIGURE IN ORDER TO REPRESENT OUR STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS THAT THANK YOU AND COULD I ALSO ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT THE SAME QUESTION AND I KNOW CERTAINLY THANK YOU COUNSELOR FLYNN I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY THAT SO DO RESPECT ALL DUE RESPECT, EDITH. WE DO ON OCTOBER TWO IN OCTOBER TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHEN WE REPORTED OUT.  THIS IS VERY NORMAL PRACTICE IN HUMAN CAPITAL DEPARTMENTS.  SO I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK FRANCIS TO SUPPLY WHAT WE HAVE PUBLISHED IN STAND BEHIND IN TERMS OF OUR DATA.  YES. OKAY. YES. WELL, LET ME START OUT BY YOU KNOW, GIVING YOU GUYS THE DATA POINT AS IT RELATES TO THE DISTRICT AND HOW THE DISTRICT PLAYS IN RESPECT TO EVERYTHING ELSE. SO FOR THE D.C. YEARLY PUBLISHES HOW THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DOES IN REFERENCE TO OTHER DISTRICTS FOR THE YEAR 2322 BIPS EMPLOYS 5.6 OF THE TEACHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. BP'S HAS 21% OF 21% OF BLACK EDUCATORS ARE FROM BP. SO THAT'S ONE POINT DATA I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND. THE OTHER ONE WE'LL START WITH LAST YEAR WE HAD THE HIGHEST LEVEL RETENTION OF SCHOOL YEAR OF COLOR FOR MY FROM THE YEAR 28 2018 TO THE OVER WHICH IS THE OVERALL GUARANTEE RATE THAT WE THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING. WE INCREASED FROM 38.8% TO 42.1%. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT STATED WE TRACK OUR DATA FROM OCTOBER TO OCTOBER JUST SO WE CAN HAVE A TRUE DATASET OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT AND WE YOU IT'S IT'S WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT IN THE DATA THAT WE PROVIDE AND OUR DATA SHOWS AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT OUR DISTRICT WE HAVE 23.1 EDUCATORS THAT ARE BLACK, 12.1% THAT ARE THAT ARE LAGGING ADS AND 6.6 EDUCATORS ARE OF ASIAN DESCENT AND THAT'S A TOTAL OF 4829.  THOSE ARE DATA SET THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AND THOSE ARE THE DATASET THAT WE HAVE IN FACT PUBLISHED.  SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE DATA POINT WHAT WORKS AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DATA SET THE DISTRICT PUBLISHED DATA EVERY OCTOBER AND THAT IS THE DATA THAT WE GENERALLY PUBLISH AND THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.  RIGHT. AND I WOULD JUST OH, THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT IS COUNCILWOMAN IS IN TALKED TO ALL BUT SINCE 2019 WE'VE INCREASED A PERCENT 4% FOR BLACK EDUCATORS.  IT WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE GREAT BARBARA FIELDS WAS WORKING WITHIN HUMAN CAPITAL THAT WE AT SOME POINT HIT THE NUMBER OF 25 BUT THIS IS A NUMBER THAT I THINK I'VE SAID PUBLICLY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM HITTING LIKE 25% WITH THE GARRITY ORDER IS SOMETHING YEAR TO YEAR WE SHOULD BE STRIVING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PRACTICES TO NOT ONLY HIRE AND RECRUIT BLACK EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM BUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND STAY. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT . I JUST WANT TO KNOW AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS POTENTIALLY YOU HAVE ALSO INCLUDED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND I THINK THE ORDER PROHIBITS FROM INCLUDING GUIDANCE COUNSELORS IN YOUR DATA. SO I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT THE DATA THAT YOU'RE SHARING WITH US HERE TODAY. AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IS NOT PART OF THE ORDER. AND THEN I ALSO KNOW THAT I BELIEVE DURING THE BIPS HEARINGS THAT WE HAD YOU TO SHARE SOME DEMOGRAPHICS ABOUT THE TOP TEN SALARIES DURING 2025 I THINK FOUR WERE WHITE, THREE WERE BLACK, TWO WERE LATIN AND ONE WAS ASIAN. HOWEVER, THE THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE THE TOP TEN EARNERS AND BIPS SPECIFIC EMPHASIZES ON EDUCATORS. SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DISCREPANCY THERE WITH SOME OF THE DATA.  SO I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE MY COLLEAGUES ANOTHER ROUND OF OPPORTUNITIES AND AS I GET INFORMATION AND WE'RE SHARING INFORMATION. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO KIND OF LIKE CLARIFY WHO YOU'RE INCLUDING IN THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S AT PLAY HERE.  SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO GO NEXT TO I BELIEVE COUNCILOR WHETHER YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT COUNCILOR EXCUSE ME SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER HAS A HEART STOP AT 11 SO I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS ARE DEFERRED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY PANELISTS WILL BE HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THANK YOU. YES. AS THANKS CHAIR. SO YEAH, AS A SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AS A AS AN EMPLOYMENT LAWYER HERE IN BOSTON AS A PARENT I HAVE HEARD STORIES ABOUT TEACHERS OF COLOR BEING TARGETED AT A HIGHER RATE. YOU KNOW THAT LONG BEFORE YOU TOOK THIS POSITION. I JUST YOU KNOW, IN BOSTON THIS BEING AN ISSUE SO I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN NECESSARILY WORSE UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND I HOPE THEY'RE GETTING BETTER. DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS ON DISCIPLINES LIKE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHOSE GETTING SUSPENDED AND WHO'S BEING PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, STUFF LIKE THAT? YOU'RE ON YOU KNOW, SORRY ABOUT THAT.  SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY RELATIVE TO THIS. ONE IS WE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AS PART OF THE MINT'S REPORT IS PART OF A COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE ON THE SCHOOL SIDE THAT WE COULD TRACK THIS DATA PREVIOUSLY.  THERE WASN'T AN EASY WAY TO BE ABLE TO TRACK AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL INVESTIGATED WORRIES THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND TO TRACK THEM BY RACE, GENDER AND OTHER CATEGORY. WE HAVE SINCE MADE A CHANGE WHICH CHIEF CANTY CAN EXPLAIN THAT ALLOWS US NOW TO HAVE THAT DATA TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW IT. THIS OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE SOMETHING JUST AS IT WOULD WITH ANY INVESTIGATORY, ANY LEADERS, TEACHERS, ANY STAFF THAT WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BREAKING DOWN AND AUDITING ON A REGULAR BASIS RELATIVE TO RACE GENDER IN OTHER CATEGORIES. SO FOR FRIENDS, JUST YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT LUBRIZOL. YES. SO WE MADE AN INVESTMENT IN A PRODUCT CALLED LABOR SONG MAPS THAT ENABLES US TO TRACK HOW WHO THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE THAT ARE BEING DISCIPLINED IN THE LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE. IT USED TO BE THE CASE THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO TRACK THAT BUT THE DISTRICT HAS MADE SOME INVESTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN IN FACT TRACK THAT INFORMATION AND WE DO IN FACT PERIODICALLY LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THE TRENDS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH OUR OUR PRACTICE AND THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADHERING TO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVE THAT THE DISTRICT HAVE. AND SO WE HAVE MADE THOSE INVESTMENTS. YES, I THINK AND SO WHEN DID YOU START HAVING THE ABILITY TO MONITOR THAT THAT START THAT STARTED THIS FALL?  WE STARTED WE WERE ABLE TO START DOING THAT. IT CAME OUT AS PART OF THE REPORT WE DID WITH THE MINUTES THAT WHAT WERE ARE LIKE WATER WERE THE BARRIERS OR LIABILITY AREAS FOR US AND THE DATA TRACKING WAS ONE OF THEM. SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT.  IT ALSO ALLOWS US YOU KNOW AS PART OF NOT JUST THE DISCIPLINE PIECE BUT WHO ACTUALLY GETS PUT FORWARD FOR AN INVESTIGATORY PERIOD WHETHER THAT INVESTIGATORY YIELDS DISCIPLINE OR NOT. SO WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TWICE A YEAR TO REVIEWING DATA, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE ALSO AS A DISTRICT CAN ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR PRACTICE IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE DATA SHOWING. OKAY.  DO YOU JUST IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF OF TEACHERS OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE THE LOWER NUMBERS TO OR YOU KNOW, IS IT IS A DISCIPLINE OR IS IT AN INABILITY TO HIRE PEOPLE? WHAT'S THE. OH, YOU MEAN SPECIFICALLY THE 23.1%? YEAH. YEAH. SO I MEAN I THINK THIS IS IT'S A LOT OF THINGS IT'S IT'S A IT'S ON THE RECRUITMENT AND THE HIRING SIDE MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE ACCESSING AND PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP EDUCATORS OF COLOR GET TO US AND US TO THEM. IT'S ALSO ON THE HIRING SIDE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THAT PROCESS SIMPLE. YOU KNOW WHERE A LOT OF OUR AGE KIDS OF COLOR WILL ASK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTED IN THE DISTRICT MAKING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE WHEN WE HAVE EDUCATORS OF COLOR, IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS LIKE OUR AFFINITY WORK, OUR ALUMNA GROUP, OUR OUR PIPELINE WORK OF GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW OUR MENTORING.  IT'S ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE JUST GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE EDUCATED WITH COLOR FEEL SUPPORTED AND THEREFORE WANT TO STAY IN INVEST IN DPS BECAUSE INVESTING IN THEM. SO IT'S NOT LIKE ONE THING BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY HAVING KIND OF THAT OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.  ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION. THANK YOU CHAIR. I JUST I'M HEARING ABOUT NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND WHAT IS THE POLICY FOR WHEN SOMEONE IS TERMINATED I GUESS YOU KNOW, DO WE REQUIRE THEM TO SIGN CONFIDENTIALITY NONDISCLOSURE? I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S NOT ON THIS. IT'S NOT IN THAT WAY. THERE'S GENERALLY LIKE IF THERE'S A SEPARATION THEY CAN BE A SEPARATION AGREEMENT BUT WE DON'T RESTRICT PEOPLE FROM SEEING IT. AND IF THERE'S AN INVESTIGATOR AGREE WITH A REPORT, THEIR REPORT IS ALWAYS PROVIDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL AS TO THE LAWYER. OKAY.  OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I THINK THAT'S MY 5 MINUTES. I WANT TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES SPACE. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR WEBER. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A SECOND ROUND SO JUST KEEP PEOPLE ON DECK.  I'M GOING TO MOVE NOW TO COUNSELOR BREEDEN THEN I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNSELOR WORRELL HAS JOINED US SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO COUNSELOR BREEDEN FOLLOWED BY COUNSELOR ANDERSEN AND THEN COUNCILOR OVERALL, COUNSELOR BREEDEN, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.  GOOD TO SEE YOU. HELP US DIG INTO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT I KNOW FROM YOU KNOW, HAVE FAMILY LIAISONS AND FOLKS WHO WORK AS PARA PROFESSIONALS.  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE THE PIPELINE SUPERINTENDENT . YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT THERE. SOME PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WORKING IN THOSE JOBS ARE ACTUALLY TEACHERS IN THEIR NATIVE PLACE WHERE THEY CAME TO CAME FROM YOU KNOW, WE WERE TEACHERS IN GUATEMALA OR WHATEVER. SO THEY'RE BILINGUAL AND THEY'RE SO WHAT WHAT'S YOUR PATHWAY SOMEBODY TO HELP ADVANCE AND PROMOTE THOSE THOSE ALL THAT GREAT HUMAN TALENT THAT WE HAVE. IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU AND HE'S GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A GRANT A FEDERAL GRANT, A LARGE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED.  BUT I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THIS QUESTION AND COMMENT BECAUSE THE PIPELINE HE'S WORKING WITH ST STEPHEN'S WORKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE WHO'S IN THE PIPELINE GOES ALL THE WAY FROM PARENTS TO PARAPROFESSIONALS TO TEACHERS ALL OF WHOM ARE LOOKING TO KIND OF TAKE THAT NEXT ADVANCEMENT. SO WE'RE INVESTING IN ALL LEVELS BUT THE PEERS IN PARTICULAR AND OUR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY COME WITH SUCH RICHNESS OF LANGUAGE. THAT'S IT. THOSE ARE TWO GROUPS THAT WE WANT TO DEEPLY INVEST IN. GIGANTE. YES.  ONE OF THE ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE RECENTLY HAVE EMBARKED ON IS A $5 MILLION GRANT THAT WAS JUST GIVEN TO US BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION . AND THAT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT PROGRAM WILL DO IS YOU'LL START OFF AS A PARENT WHERE WE'RE RECRUITING PAIRS WITH WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE BEEPS ON SYSTEM AND WE'RE WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE ON TO GET THEM INTO SOME COLLEGE COURSES FROM THE COLLEGE COURSES WE CAN THEN DO A RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND THAT RESIDENCY PROGRAM WILL WILL BASICALLY WE WILL MAKE THEM WE WILL PUT THEM IN SOME OF OUR OUR VARIOUS SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AGREED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND THAT THEY WILL GET THE TRAINING AND THE TUTELAGE THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME BE EDUCATORS. AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT WE OUR HOPE IS TO SUBSIDIZE SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THEIR THEIR LIVING WAGES WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT ON THAT PROGRAM. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW IT'S THE PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON MULTI-LANGUAGE LEARNERS SPEAKERS SO THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING BPC EDUCATORS SO THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM AND THE DISTRICT IS IN THE DISTRICT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE BOTH HAVE PUT SOME MONEY BEHIND THIS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE WHO WANT TO HAVE THE CHANCE AND THE ABILITY TO BECOME EDUCATORS IN THE SYSTEM. SO I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM SOME SCHOOL LEADERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULTIES IT IS FOR PARIS TO TAKE THEIR EXAM LIKE TO SUPPORT TO I THINK THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF A TESTING CENTER THAT'S CLOSE BY LIKE THIS WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. HOW DO WE FIX THAT PROBLEM? ARE THEY ABLE TO GO LOCALLY LIKE WE USED TO HAVE TO GO TO MASS DARTMOUTH OR SOMEWHERE CRAZY TO DO AN EXAM THAT WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY OF THOSE FOLKS ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN THE CITY . SO WE DO HAVE OUR PROPOSAL WHICH WHICH WE DO OURSELVES DO LIKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS LIKE WE HAVE AVAILABLE THAT WE ARE OFFERING ON OUR PARENTS THAT THEY CAN TAKE THOSE THEY CAN TAKE THOSE EXACT EXAM HERE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE HELP THEM WITH WHAT GETTING PREPARED FOR THAT TEST. SO LIKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAVE OBVIOUSLY WE WE'VE INVEST IN THOSE THINGS AND WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THOSE EFFORTS. YEAH. JUST TO GIVE A SENSE ON THE INTEL BECAUSE THE INTEL IS HARD PARTICULARLY FOR FOR ANY OF OUR PEERS OR TEACHERS WHO ARE ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. WE PUT A LOT BEHIND THIS. THE MOST RECENT DATA WE HAD 262 OF OUR EDUCATORS TAKE THE INTEL IN.  WE HAD A 74% PASSAGE RATE WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN AND I THINK THIS REALLY GOES TO THE WORK THAT OUR SEED WHICH IS OUR RECRUITMENT CULTIVATION AND DIVERSITY UNIT IS DOING TO OFFER THESE KINDS OF , YOU KNOW, BARRIER BREAKING PROGRAMS AND WE DO HAVE A TARGET DO WE HAVE A DO HAVE A GOAL OF IT? WE'VE GOT $5 MILLION. WONDERFUL. AND MANY, MANY, MANY NEW NEW PARTNERS ARE GOING TO YOU KNOW ,DO WE HAVE OUTCOME MEASURES ON THAT ONE? YES, OF COURSE.  SO THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS SET UP IS THEY COME IN COHORTS SO EACH YEAR THERE'S A COHORT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD COME THROUGH THIS THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND THE GRANT ALLOWS FOR 515 COHORTS TO DO IT EACH YEAR. IT'S SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO START WITH 15.  OF COURSE OUR INTENT IS LIKE TO CONTINUOUSLY SEE THIS PROGRAM ROLL OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT IS REALLY INTERESTED IN AND MAKING THAT INVESTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW, IN AN IDEAL WORLD WE WANT TO HAVE LIMITLESS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM LIKE INITIALLY IT IS STARTING OFF WITH 15.17 HOW MANY FORWARD I THINK THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ENGLISH. ENGLISH IS NOT THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK AT HOME NECESSARILY. SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK SO.  MADAM CHAIR. YES. YES. BECAUSE I STILL HAVE TWO MORE COLLEAGUES TO GO AND I WANT TO JUST POINT OUT JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THAT THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR I BELIEVE OVER FIVE YEARS AT THIS POINT AND IT WAS STARTED BY SOME OF THE LEADERS OF COLOR WHO WERE PUSHED OUT. YOU'RE SAYING NO, NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY A TYPICAL ONE. YEAH, IT'S IT'S LOOK AT EVERYONE. YES. THIS IS A GRANT THAT THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY WE WE JUST GOT THIS GRANT LAST YEAR AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS GRANT AS WE SPEAK. I KNOW BECAUSE I JUST REMEMBER WHEN MY TIME AND DOING ADVOCACY WORK THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT ST STEPHEN'S WE HAD BEEN WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRENDA CASILLAS AND AND MAYBE I'M CONFUSING ALL OF THIS BUT IT'S IT SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO SOMETHING ELSE BUT THAT'S ALL GOOD. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO COUNCILOR ANDERSON FOR 5 MINUTES THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR WILL. WELL IF HE'S STILL HERE AND THEN I AM GOING TO LOSE SOME TIME BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS TOO. YOU ARE AND BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER NOT ASK A QUESTION HERE. SO COUNCILOR ANDERSON, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES.  SHE.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY MY QUESTIONS WILL FOCUS FIRST OFF FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.  HOPEFULLY THERE'S ENOUGH TIME THEN MORE FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCIL MEMBERS.  QUESTION YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A PERIODIC TABLE, A PERIODIC REVIEW SORRY OF DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES AND DISCIPLINARY DEMOGRAPHICS.  HOW OFTEN DOES BEEPS DO TO THOSE REVIEWS? EXACTLY RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. THE QUESTION SO WE WE'VE COMMITTED TO DOING THEM TWICE A YEAR.  ONE IS SORT OF A LOOK BACK FROM THE HIRING THAT CURRENT HIRING SEASON BUT FROM A TIME PERSPECTIVE MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT YOU WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATORS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.  SO THEY'RE COLLECTING THE DATA RIGHT NOW FOR THE ONE FOR FOR THIS YEAR FOR THE SECOND ONE. THIS CAME OUT OF , YOU KNOW, SEVERAL COMMITMENTS THAT WE MADE BASED ON SOME OF THOSE YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE REPORT HAD. AND YES, THANK YOU. AT WHAT POINT IN THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS DO YOU ASK FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM OUR APPLICANTS?  WE WE GENERALLY ACCEPT THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB APPLICATION. YOU GET TO SELECT WHAT YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS IS AS YOU'RE APPLYING FOR THE POSITION AND IS THAT SO ON THE APPLICATION INITIAL PROCESS IS THAT THE INFORMATION YOU USE OR DO YOU ASK AT ANY OTHER POINT AND WE WE WE GENERALLY ACCEPT THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB AND ALSO THERE'S YOUR RESUME THAT'S ALSO PROVIDED BUT WE DO ASK THEM AT THE ONSET LIKE THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES WE COLLECT THAT INFORMATION AND SOMETIMES IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL DATA POINT WE WILL YOU KNOW, WE WILL DO REACH OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THOSE DATA. THANK YOU. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS DISCLOSED AHEAD OF TIME IF WE NEEDED TO DO A MAJOR A MAJOR DATA DATA POINT OR THAT WE NEEDED TO DO ADDITIONAL FACT FINDING OF COURSE WE WOULD GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES THAT NOTICE BEFORE WE GET ON WE WOULD DO THAT MAJOR DATA SELECTION. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. I NOTICE THE BEEPS HAS A PAGE ON AN EMPLOYEE, RIGHT? MOST BUT MOST OF THE INFORMATION THERE IS FROM 2017 AND IS THERE AN APP? IS IT UPDATED REGULARLY OR WHEN IS THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE GOING TO UPDATE IT? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING SOME OF THOSE INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THEY ARE CURRENT. WE WE WE HAVE STARTED TO UPDATE THAT INFORMATION IN THE MOMENT DO HAVE IT COMPLETED WE'LL HAVE WILL BE ABLE TO PUBLISH THAT AGAIN BUT SOME OF THAT WORK HAS BEGUN. IT JUST HASN'T BEEN PUBLISHED AND UNDERSTOOD BY IT HAS BEGUN IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR THIS YEAR.  I WOULD I WOULD IN THE FALL SOME OF THAT WORK STARTED IN THE FALL PART OF THE TO THE WALL STILL DON'T TAKE WHAT WE REPORT. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT EMBARKED ON TO TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR PRACTICES AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN FACT LOOK AT AND SAID THANK YOU.  OUR MEETING LAST NIGHT ARE OFFICE ACTUALLY HELD YOU KNOW ONE OF OUR BUDGET REGULAR BUDGETS WORKSHOPS AND THERE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT YOU KNOW HOW THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE DATA AND STUDIES THAT CITY COMMISSIONS OR COLLABORATION BETWEEN EQUITY DEPARTMENTS AND MAYBE THIRD PARTY COMPANIES THAT WORK ON EQUITY TO OR AT LEAST TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF ALL OF THIS DATA TO ANALYZE PROBLEMS IN HERE FOR EXAMPLE, AS HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION. HOW ARE YOU USING I GUESS DATA ? IT'S ALREADY BEEN COMPILED ABOUT THE STATUS OF OUR WORKFORCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS SO SO I MEAN SO WHAT I WILL SAY LIKE I DON'T KNOW LIKE WHICH PARTICULAR ONES BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT HUMAN CAPITAL IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT WHAT THE CITY'S PRODUCING.  IN ADDITION, I THINK WE'VE HAD JUST A LOT OF INTERNAL AUDITING THAT'S HAPPENED BRINGING IN EITHER OUTSIDE AUDITS OR OURSELVES. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS. THERE'S LIKE MULTIPLE PLACES THAT WE'VE INCLUDED. THIS ONE WAS LIKE A RETRAINING RELATIVE TO DISCIPLINE CIRCULATORS RELATIVE TO INVESTIGATORY CIRCULARS, PLACES WHERE BIAS COULD LIVE OR DOES LIVE AND THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  SO WE REVAMPED OUR TRAINING FOR OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AND SUPERVISORS THAT CAME OUT OF LOOKING AT KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SHINWELL REPORT AS WELL AS OTHER DATA SETS THE COMMITMENT TO THE TWICE PERIODIC THE CHANGE WITHIN THE DATABASE OF US BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY TRACK AT A SCHOOL LEVEL WHEREBY THIS WOULD BE WORK WITH OUR ANTI-RACIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT'S HAPPENING HERE CENTRALLY WORKING ON A MACRO AND A MICROAGGRESSION POLICY THAT CAME OUT OF A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM OUR OWN STAFF AROUND FEELING THAT WHEN THINGS WOULD COME OUT OF OR FINDINGS WOULD COME OUT OF EQUITY THAT THEY THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ANY KIND OF MACRO OR MICRO-AGGRESSION THAT WAS HAPPENING. SO I THINK WE'RE JUST WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. COUNCILOR ANDERSON BASED ON THE VOLUME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S COMING BUT I WOULD LOVE MORE COHESIVELY TO WORK TOGETHER CITY AND DISTRICT ON WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A PRETTY IMPORTANT TOPIC. THANK YOU SKIPPER. AND I GUESS SORRY , SORRY , SORRY I WASN'T ANSWERED. WE REALLY WE REALLY I UNDERSTAND BUT JUST A COURTESY OF ME CLOSING WOULD BE WOULD APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW MY TIME WAS UP MADAM CHAIR SO IF I COULD JUST BE ALLOWED 30 SECONDS I'D APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THEN WE WE'RE NOT HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION.  GO AHEAD. I APPRECIATE IT.  SO THE SUPERINTENDENT I THINK THERE YOU KNOW, YOU SPOKE A LOT ABOUT COLLECTING OF INFORMATION STILL THAT DOES THE POINTS THAT I STATED AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL IT'S BEYOND WORKING WITH US OF COURSE WORKING WITH US BUT LOOKING AT EXACTLY WHAT THIRD PARTY OR IS IT OUTSIDE AUDITS THAT IS CONSOLIDATING IT BEYOND THE AUDITS, BEYOND THE COLLECTING OF INFORMATION IS WHERE TRYING TO GET BUT I'LL PICK UP AFTER THIS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR ANDERSON. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DID SAY THAT WE MIGHT POTENTIALLY GIVEN TIME THAT WE WILL DO ANOTHER LAST ROUND WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SO APPRECIATE YOUR GRACE. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD I'M GOING TO SET MY TIMER ON JUST SO I'VE GOT A MODEL BEHAVIOR FOR EVERYBODY HERE.  SO I'M GOING TO ASK JUST A VERY FEW QUESTIONS HERE. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE THE TONE TONE AND THE CULTURE AROUND RETALIATION AND WHISTLEBLOWING AND PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEIR JOBS ARE AT RISK.  SO CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE GENERAL YOU KNOW, PRACTICE AROUND SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ARE FACING ANY TYPE OF , YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THEY THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, SPEAK AGAINST OR ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF IN CERTAIN INSTANCES FOR CHILDREN AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT THEY IN FEEL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I HEAR A LOT OF FOLKS ARE AFRAID TO COME HERE AND TESTIFY BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND I REALLY WANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE RECORD IF YOU COULD JUST REALLY MAKE IT CLEAR TO FOLKS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH, YOU KNOW, ATTACKS ON PEOPLE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, CAN YOU JUST CLEAR THE RECORD US AROUND RETALIATION PRACTICES? SURE, ABSOLUTELY.  I MEAN WITHOUT WITHOUT WITH GREAT EMPHASIS WE DO NOT UPHOLD A CULTURE THAT ALLOWS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM FOR RETALIATION. I THINK WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES OF WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNION WHERE THERE'S BEEN ISSUES AND SOMETHING'S BEEN REPORTED AND I WAS FOLLOWING UP ON THAT AND BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN WE'RE REALLY MAKING CLEAR THAT STAFF NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD WHEN THEY HAVE CONCERNS. SO I CAN'T YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN ON FRANCIS'S SIDE WITH OHC I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO MAKE NO THAT'S THAT'S FINE YOU ARE ENOUGH FOR FOR FOR THE STATEMENT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M JUST CURIOUS YOU KNOW FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE CORE OR NCAA FILINGS OF DISCRIMINATION REPORTED IN THE MEDIA AS WELL AS A DOCUMENT FILED BY THE 15 RETIREES OF COLOR. WHAT DO YOU SAY IS HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT TO GENERATE THESE COMPLAINTS AND SO AGAIN, WE CAN'T SPEAK ON ANYTHING INDIVIDUAL. WHAT I WILL JUST SAY IN GENERAL MORE ABOUT THE CULTURE I'M GOING ALONG WITH THE LINE OF THE CULTURE AND THE CLIMATE WITHIN IT. YEAH, SO I THINK YOU KNOW MCAD IS THERE FOR A REASON RIGHT? THAT IS THE PLACE THAT IF AN EDUCATOR FEELS OR A STAFF MEMBER FEELS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND BEEN THE VICTIM OF BIAS THAT THEY SHOULD THEREFORE OR LIKE FILE AND SO IN THAT CASE WE COOPERATE ENTIRELY WITH MCAD BECAUSE WE LIKE THE EMPLOYEE WANT TO GET TO THE TRUTH OF THAT SO I THINK THAT YOU KNOW MCAD IN MY PAST AND YOU KNOW AS A SUPERINTENDENT AND BEING HERE IN THE DISTRICT THAT WAS ALWAYS AN AVENUE. SO I THINK YOU KNOW THAT PLAYS ITSELF OUT. YEAH THAT'S FINE ONLY JUST BECAUSE THE TIME IS TICKING AND I HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES LEFT AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WE CAN JUST TRANSITION TO ANOTHER QUESTION HERE. I'M JUST CURIOUS AROUND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND DIVERSITY THAT IT'S BEEN AN ACTING MANAGER FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. IF I'M IF I'M THAT YOU KNOW,  I'M JUST CURIOUS WILL THERE BE A NATIONAL SEARCH?  WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT? IT'S NOT HE'S NOT IN THE ACTIVE CAPACITY.  MR MARION IS THE DIRECTOR. HE'S THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SO THAT TRANSITION HAS BEEN HE'S NO LONGER IN AN ACTING ROLE IS THAT YES, THAT TRANSITION DIDN'T HAPPEN MAYBE I BELIEVE QUITE A FEW MAYBE EVEN LIKE IN THE FALL I BELIEVE THAT TRANSITION WAS MADE. SO I'M THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT ARE THE PATHWAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE FOR A BLACK EDUCATOR ? HERE'S HOW ARE WE GOING TO END THE REVOLVING DOOR FROM RECRUITMENT TO EVALUATION TO EXIT AND WHAT IS THE RETENTION STRATEGY AND HOW CAN NONPROFITS LIKE RITE BOSTON HELP? AND I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE EXIT INTERVIEWS BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY WHEN WE KNOW BETTER WE BETTER AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE AS TO WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT AND THEN THAT WILL THAT WILL END MY TIME. YES.  SO THAT IS ONE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE. COUNSELOR, BECAUSE FOR A WHILE WE WERE NOT YOU KNOW, THAT DATABASE THAT DATA POINT WAS NOT BEING GATHERED AND WE HAVE MADE YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED WITH WE'VE WORKED WITH WE PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION SO RIGHT AS OF THE I BELIEVE AS OF THE SPRING WE FINALLY SET A A PROCESS OF HOW TO HAVE EDUCATORS AS THEY'RE LEAVING THE DISTRICT AND BE PART OF OUR PART. OKAY. THANK YOU.  I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE A WE HAVE 5 MINUTES LEFT. I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES BY A SHOW OF HANDS THEY CAN EACH ASK ONE LAST QUESTION JUST TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SO WHOEVER PUTS THEIR HAND UP FIRST WILL GO FIRST AND THREE TO ONE COUNSELOR BREEDEN THEN COUNSELOR WEBER I DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE CONSTABLE WEBER SINCE HE'S THE LABOR LAWYER HE PROBABLY HAS SOME ONGOING COUNCILOR WHATEVER AND THEN COUNCILOR AND WE STILL AN EXTRA MINUTE GO. YEAH, YEAH, I GUESS SO. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AMJAD COMPLAINTS ARE PENDING AGAINST BP'S FILE BY TEACHERS? WE CERTAINLY CAN.  I MEAN WE CERTAINLY CAN PULL THAT DATA BUT YOU KNOW WE FOR THE MOST AT IT THAT'S FINE BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE SPENT? I WILL ACTUALLY GO AHEAD, COUNCILOR . NO, NO, I BEING CHAIR OF THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE AS A DISTRICT SPENT ON LAWSUITS?  I MEAN THIS IS DATA WE WOULD HAVE TO GATHER BECAUSE THE MEDIA WERE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE MCAD QUESTION. IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO EBB AND FLOW RIGHT TIME BUT WE CAN LOOK AT LIKE A FIVE YEAR AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS A TREND. OKAY, GREAT. I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR THE RECORD. YEAH I WOULD JUST SAY I MEAN I FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS TO NOT TO HAVE ABJECT COMPLAINTS, YOU KNOW, WORK THAT OUT IN H.R OR YOU KNOW, WHATEVER MAKES HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT YOUR GO TO DISPUTE RESOLUTION PEOPLE BUT.  OKAY. YEAH. SORRY . I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COUNSELOR AGREED AND YOU DO HAVE TIME AND THEN COUNSELOR ANDERSON OR COUNSELOR FLYNN I'M GIVING YOU ALL EACH AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT RAISE YOUR HAND COUNCILOR I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY IN AND IN HANDLING DISCIPLINE AND COMPLIANCE. I KNOW I'M JUST READING THROUGH YOUR NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY AND THEN I'LL LET THE AREAS OF OFFICE OF EQUITY TOUCHES YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE ROLE IN OFFICE OF EQUITY AND THEY HANDLE YOU KNOW, DO THEY HANDLE A COMPLAINT BEFORE WE GET TO THE LEVEL OF AN EMPLOYEE HAVING TO GO TO ADVOCATE? YES, EQUITY IS SOMETIMES OUR FIRST OUR FIRST LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES INITIALLY COME AND FILE A COMPLAINT.  THEY ARE YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S IF IT'S SEX BASED TITLE NINE THOSE COMPLAINTS USUALLY GO TO EQUITY. OKAY THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO NEXT TO COUNSELOR ANDERSON. I SEE YOUR HAND UP. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR BREEDEN.  SORRY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER ROUND WITH THE COMMUNITY PANELISTS SO JUST KNOW THAT THE MAPES HEARING HAS NOT ENDED BUT OUR TIME WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER TEAM HAS. SO ANDERSON, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IS THERE A REASON WHY THE TEAM IS ALSO LEAVING ONE HOUR SEEMS JUST LIKE NOT EVEN AN HOUR LIKE 20 MINUTES 30 MINUTES OF QUESTIONING SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.  NO, I UNDERSTAND AND I HEAR YOUR CONCERN. HOWEVER, WE WERE ONLY GRANTED AN HOUR WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT . I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION AND THIS WAS PROBABLY A MISCOMMUNICATION ON OUR END HERE I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST SOMEONE FROM HER TEAM STAY AFTER HER DEPARTURE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.  SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.  OKAY. THANK YOU.  CHAIR SUPERINTENDENT , IN YOUR VIEW, HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE CURRENT POLICIES IN PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION?  I THINK THAT ONE OF THE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THIS. I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME STEPS BUT I THINK THAT FIRST OF ALL MAKING SURE OUR 119 SCHOOLS WHICH FUNCTION AS THE DISTRICT THAT EVERYBODY IS TRAINED IN HAS THE SAME SPIRIT IN INVESTMENT IN THIS AREA IS CRITICAL. SO THAT'S INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOL LEADERS IN ANY OF OUR SUPERVISORS.  I KNOW THAT MEANS IMPROVEMENTS AND I'M SORRY I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT. I THINK THE I THINK THE OF THE MACRO AND MICRO ARE SUPERINTENDENT I WANTED TO COMPLETE THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION AND I APOLOGIZE THIS HAS TO BE THIS WAY. I JUST DON'T WANT IN HERE TO SAY I ASK TWO QUESTIONS. SECOND PART OF THAT IS A SPECIFIC AREA OF NEED IMPROVEMENTS.  SURE. SO I THINK IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY THE MACRO AND MICROAGGRESSION POLICY. I THINK THAT PIECE HAS BEEN MISSING WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIAS BASED ON THE EQUITY SIDE. I ALSO THINK THE US DEVELOPING THE FIRMER CRITERIA ON OUR PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVES AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IN COMMON WHY SOMEBODY WOULD BE PUT ON LEAVE WHAT THAT PROCESS IS. AND THEN I THINK THIRD JUST CONTINUING TO DO REINFORCEMENT IN TRAINING AROUND THE IN THE ENTIRE DISCIPLINE CIRCULAR IN INVESTIGATORY WHAT IS EMPLOYEE RIGHTS YOU KNOW WITHIN THAT I THINK THAT CAN STAND UP FOR IMPROVEMENT AND AS WE CHANGE PERSONNEL CONTINUE TO BE RETRAINED YEAR TO YEAR THESE ARE ALL MORE SYSTEMS BASED ISSUES. YEAH.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR ANDERSON I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE AT TIME BUT I WANT TO GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS. SUPERINTENDENT , JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A HEARING. IT WILL REMAIN IN MY COMMITTEE AND I WILL BE BRINGING THIS BACK UP BECAUSE I TO MY COLLEAGUES GOING THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE THAT WE NEED TO UNPACK AND IN ORDER FOR US TO GET THIS RIGHT, EVERYONE HAS TO BE AT THE TABLE AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR GRACE AND YOU AND EXTENDING AN HOUR TO BE WITH US. BUT I WANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT AN HOUR IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THIS ISSUE. SO WE WILL HOLDING A SECOND HEARING RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN SO THAT WE CAN START REALLY LEVEL SETTING AND SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS SO I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD AND TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE WILL BE KEEPING THIS IN COMMITTEE AND BRINGING THE SUPERINTENDENT BACK WILLINGLY BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WANTS TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THIS PROCESS. SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO ALLOW THE SUPERINTENDENT TO SHARE ANY CLOSING REMARKS THAT YOU HAVE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON.  SURE. I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.  INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TOPIC. I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE TO ANY OF THE COUNSELORS THAT WANT TO HAVE FOR THE QUESTIONS ANSWER OR FOR THE DATA.  HAPPY TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT AS WELL AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT . I'M GOING TO TRANSITION NOW IN THE SAKE OF JUST REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THINGS ON TRACK BECAUSE WE HAVE A SECOND PANEL AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW HEART STOPS THAT WE NEED TO ADHERE TO.  SO I'M GOING TO GO TO LEAH.  ARE YOU STILL HERE I HOPE YES.  DO WE HAVE I AM STILL HERE. OKAY.  BYE. ALL RIGHT. YOU NOW HAVE FLOOR AND MY COLLEAGUES THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.  ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE AND MY NAME IS LEO. SERENA AND I HAVE SERVED AS THE ELEMENTARY ACT FOR THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND PREVIOUS TO THAT I WAS A SECOND GRADE TEACHER AND DPS FOR SEVEN YEARS AND A FORMER STUDENT OVER MY TEN YEARS AND CPS I HAVE NOTICED VERY LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREA OF HIRING, FIRING AND PROMOTING OF EDUCATORS OF COLOR AND DPS.  I HAVE SAT IN THE WORK IN MANY LEVELS AS AN EDUCATOR IN HIRING COMMITTEES TO A RECRUITMENT FELLOW FOR OUR CITY DEPARTMENT AND NOW AS A UNION AS A MEMBER OF THE HIRING TEAM ON THE SCHOOL LEVEL I HAVE ASKED AND BEEN SILENCED AS THE ONLY EDUCATOR OF COLOR ON THE COMMITTEE AND BY THE TOP DOWN APPROACH AND IGNORING OF WILL SAY COUNCIL PROCEDURES I OFTEN FIND INTERVIEWS WHERE I BELIEVE DEGREES WERE GLORIFIED OVER COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE AND RELATABILITY. NOW AS A UNION REP I FIELD MANY PHONE CALLS ABOUT THEIR EITHER NOT BEING A SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR THE PERSONAL SUBCOMMITTEE NOT HIRING FIRING THE PERSONAL SUBCOMMITTEE FOR HIRING. I ACTUALLY BEING VALID OR TAKING PLACE ONE OF THE CLAUSES IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT COUNCILOR BY LAWS IS THAT IF A MEMBER RUNS FOR SCHOOLS BY COUNCIL AND DOES NOT WIN BUT REPRESENTS THE IDENTITY OF THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENT BODY, THEY CAN BE PLACED IN A SCHOOL STATE COUNCIL THUS GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE HIRING COMMITTEE.  ONE WOULD THINK THIS WOULD SUPPORT THE EDGE THE SUPPORT EDUCATORS OF COLOR PEOPLE IN HIRING BUT THESE RULES ARE OFTEN DISREGARDED IN HIRING IS INSTEAD LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE SCHOOL LEADER AND THEIR CHOSEN FEW PRESS EVEN WHEN EDUCATORS WANT A DIVERSE CANDIDATE AND ARE SEEKING EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES WHO SUPPORT AND REPRESENT THEIR STUDENTS, THEIR VOICES ARE OFTEN IGNORED AS A RECRUITMENT VALUE. I NOTICE THAT EVEN WITH DIVERSE FELLOWS WHO SCREEN DIVERSE CANDIDATES AND COLLABORATED WITH AFFINITY GROUPS LIKE ALANA FOR RECRUITING EVENTS AND STRATEGICALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK IN ORDER TO ATTRACT CANDIDATES WHO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. BP'S AUTONOMY AND HIRING REMAINED THE BARRIER THE RCD DEPARTMENT HAS HAD MANY LEADERSHIP CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS BUT WHAT HAS REMAINED CONSISTENT IN THE LEADERS LIKE RASHAAN MARTIN HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO CREATING A SAFE PLACE FOR EDUCATED COLOR. HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOUND THAT EVEN WHEN CANDIDATES ANSWER THE STRATEGIC EQUITY QUESTIONS WITH PASSING SCORES AND MET THEIR RECRUITMENT TEAM'S BENCHMARKS, THEY WERE OFTEN AT THE TOP CANDIDATE SCHOOL LEADERS WERE CHOOSING INSTEAD THE RECRUITMENT TEAM OFTEN WERE LEFT WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE OUR ROLES TRULY WERE WHEN PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE HIRED TO SUPPORT THE RECRUITMENT BUT OUR OPINIONS WERE ACTUALLY NOT LISTENED TO DURING THE HIRING PROCESS WHEN ACTUALITY PUTTING THE OWNERSHIP ON US MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR TO DO THE EXTRA WORK WAS NOT FAIR ESPECIALLY WHEN THE THROUGHLINE LACKED FOLLOW THROUGH. NOW AS A UNION LEADER WHO VISITS MANY SCHOOLS I'M STILL IN SHOCK.  I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT SO MANY SCHOOL BUILDINGS YOU STILL SEE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHAT I FIND IS THAT IS OFTEN THOSE FOR COLOR WHO ARE CRYING OUT FOR SUPPORT FROM ME OR THE DISTRICT WHO CANNOT BE RETAINED. IT IS THESE EDUCATORS WHO ARE WORKING UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS WHERE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY SUCCUMBING TO MACRO AGGRESSIONS GIVEN UNFAIR EVALUATION LABEL, GIVEN HAVING A CASELOAD AND ASKED TO BE THE FACE OF DIVERSITY. IT IS THESE EDUCATORS WHO ARE UNSUPPORTED AND IGNORED AND EVEN WITH ADVOCACY GIVEN NO LEEWAY AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND NO LEEWAY IN SUPPORTING OR PUT AND WE STILL PUT POLICY BEFORE PEOPLE FOR INSTANCE WHEN PROFICIENT EDUCATORS HAVE ASKED TO MOVE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING TOO MUCH RACISM IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT HAS HELD FAST TO THEIR OWN RULE THAT EDUCATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE AFTER JULY 1ST UNTIL THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WHICH MEANS THAT IF AN EDUCATOR DOES NOT FIND A JOB ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER OPEN JOBS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY AND DEALING WITH RACIAL BATTLE FATIGUE IN THEIR BUILDING THEY EITHER HAVE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT OR STAY UNHAPPY. THIS LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR EDUCATORS ESPECIALLY OUR EDUCATORS OF COLOR IS QUITE FRANKLY I MEAN THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF TIMES WHERE I HAVE ASKED THE OFFICE OF HUMAN CAPITAL TO MOVE AN EDUCATOR BECAUSE THEY WERE UNHAPPY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE AN EDUCATOR OF COLOR IN A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOW FURTHERMORE,  SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS WERE DUE FOR EDUCATORS ON A ONE YEAR PLAN ON MAY 15 I FILED TEN GREAT GRIEVANCES IN THE PAST WEEK OVER EDUCATOR OF COLORS OF ANXIETY OVER EDUCATORS EVALUATIONS AT WHICH EIGHT OF THEM WERE EDUCATORS OF COLOR . IN 2019 THE BTU HAD AN INTENSE AGE AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION A, B, C AS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS WHICH FOUND THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN MY NEXT TWO EDUCATORS WERE 49.3% AT THE BEAT TO EDUCATORS WITH NEGATIVE EVALUATION READINGS 1.5 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE AMOUNT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATIN X EDUCATORS GIVEN THEIR MOUNTAIN OF GRIEVANCES, I FOUND EDUCATED FOR COLOR THIS WEEK, IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS NOT CHANGED.  IN FACT, CPS HAS AN ARBITRARY RULE THAT IF AN EDUCATOR RECEIVES A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AT ANY POINT IN THEIR THIRD YEAR THEY HAVE TO TAKE A YEAR BREAK IN SERVICE. SO IF AN EDUCATOR CAN RECEIVE A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OR SECOND YEAR OR EVEN THEIR FOURTH OR FIFTH YEAR BUT JUST NOT IN THEIR THIRD IF THEY RECEIVE IT IN THEIR THIRD YEAR THEY'RE TOLD TO LEAVE INSTEAD OF OFFERING COACHING,  MENTORING OR SUPPORT. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THIS SUPPORTS RETENTION OR PROMOTION . FURTHERMORE, BP HAS BEEN ASKING BP'S EDUCATORS TO BECOME DUAL LICENSE AND SOMETIMES TRIPLE LICENSE TO SUPPORT THE INCLUSION MODEL. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY ASKED FOR MORE SUPPORT IN STAFFING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE VAST NEEDS AND OUR STUDENTS BUT INSTEAD BP HAS CONTINUED TO BURNOUT EDUCATORS ASKING ADDING TO THE LACK OF RETENTION FOR EDUCATORS AND PARTICULARLY EDUCATORS OF COLOR. WHEN I LAST CHECKED WE HAD 337 EDUCATORS ON EMERGENCY LICENSE AND 66% OF THOSE EDUCATORS WERE EDUCATORS OF COLOR.  YET THE DISTRICT IS STILL ASKING EDUCATORS TO BECOME DUAL CERTIFIED.  WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 1942 POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY REQUIRING TWO LICENSES EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE A SINGLE TEACHER SCHOOLS IN POSITION ASKING TO SERVE TWO POSITIONS I MEAN TWO LICENSES OR A SPLIT POSITION AND 81 MORE EDUCATORS WERE ASKED TO GET AN ADDITIONAL LICENSE NEXT YEAR WE HAVE ABOUT 7000 ACTIVE TEAM MEMBERS.  SO IF WE TAKE OUT PARAPROFESSIONALS, ABA SUBSTITUTE SPECIAL AS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 25 2500 EDUCATORS SO IT'S ABOUT 2000 OF THEM ARE BEING ASKED TO HOLD TWO LICENSES. THAT ONLY LEAVES ABOUT 500 OF THEM WITH ONE AND WE'RE STILL WONDERING WHY WE CAN'T RETAIN EDUCATORS OF COLOR ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE INTELS ARE HUGE BARRIERS FOR EDUCATORS OF COLOR. WE WILL NEVER TOUCH THE SURFACE OF CHANGE WHEN WE FEED INTO THESE RACIST SYSTEM BECAUSE EDUCATORS OF COLOR BACK AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE BEYOND FEED INTO THEM WE EXCEED THEM AS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT IS ACTING FOR EDUCATORS TO HAVE TO LICENSORS.  LASTLY, AS A UNION LEADER IN THE LAST TWO SCHOOL YEARS I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY TRACKING THE DATA AND HAVE SEEN AND I HAVE RECEIVED 26 DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS OF THESE SIX DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS 16 OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOR EDUCATORS OF COLOR AND EIGHT OF THESE EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED. SIX OF THEM BLACK EDUCATORS. NINE OF THESE 26 EDUCATORS DECIDED TO RESIGN INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE GRUELING DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS. SIX OF THEM WERE EDUCATORS OF COLOR, FOUR OF THE REMAINING AND RECEIVED ANOTHER FORM OF DISCIPLINE WHEN SPEAKING OF THESE 26 EDUCATORS I AM ONLY SPEAKING OF EDUCATORS WHO WERE THREATENED WITH SUSPENSION OR HIGHER.  THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE EDUCATORS WHO RECEIVED AN INVESTIGATION MEETINGS THAT DID NOT LEAD TO ANY OTHER FORM OF DISCIPLINE BECAUSE YOU CAN RECEIVE WARNINGS OR REPRIMANDS AND SO FORTH AND THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THOSE FOR ME TO TRACK ALONE. THERE ARE NO SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR COACHING, LEARNING AND RESTORATIVE CONVERSATION. EDUCATORS OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DISCIPLINED AND I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD SORRY I ALREADY SAID THAT. HOWEVER, I DO ENCOURAGE THE OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS TO TRACK THESE INVESTIGATION MEETINGS. TODAY WAS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THAT. HOWEVER, I DID NOT ACTUALLY HEAR THE NUMBERS OF THAT AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD WITH US. I ENCOURAGE YOU UTILIZE THE DATA AND ACTUALLY TRACK IT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THIS HARM AT GREATER LEVELS.  I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO UTILIZE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ON THE STAFF LEVEL.  THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN SAY WHERE I RESTORATIVE DISTRICT AND WONDER WHY IT ISN'T WORKING WITH STUDENTS IF WE'RE NOT PRACTICING IT OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY BRINGING EDUCATORS BIASED.  TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE TONE DELIVERY, STRICTNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM THEN WE ARE NOT DISRUPTING PATTERNS OF ABUSE AND BARRIERS TO CHANGE.  AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH EDUCATORS PARTICULARLY EDUCATORS OF COLOR WHO MENTIONED THE TRAUMA THAT THIS BEARS ON THEM THE LETTERS THAT THEY GET ASKING THEM TO GO TO INVESTIGATION MEETINGS REMINDS THEM OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND IT IS IT'S TRIGGERING AND IS TRAUMATIC. SO WE HAVE WORK TO DO AND THE DATA IS CLEAR AND IT'S BEEN CLEAR WE NEED TO CREATE SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES THAT ARE EMOTIONALLY SAFE FOR EDUCATORS TO THRIVE IN FOR WHEN OUR EDUCATORS THRIVE, OUR STUDENTS THRIVE IN ORDER TO DO SO. I ENCOURAGE GROUPS TO REVIEW THEIR HIRING PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL LEVEL HIRING HAPPENS THROUGH THOUGHTFUL SHARED GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ALLOW EDUCATORS MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE SCHOOLS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND ENCOURAGE CPS TO HOLD SCHOOL LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO CREATING SCHOOLS THAT EDUCATORS FEEL SAFE. ALONG THOSE LINES, I ALSO DO STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO APPEAL DECISIONS MADE BY THE OFFICE OF EQUITY OR TO HAVE A JOINT PROBLEM SOLVING CONVERSATION. WHEN EQUITY DENIES A COMPLAINT I KNOW THAT SOMEONE ASKED EARLIER ABOUT THE TOPIC OF EQUITY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES WHEN EDUCATORS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OF EQUITY AND IT'S GONE NOWHERE ARE THEY FEELING UNHEARD? WHERE DO THEY GO NEXT? WHERE DO WE CLOSE THE LOOP AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED TIME? NOTHING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CHIEF OF EQUITY AND STRATEGY POSITION STILL APPEARS TO BE UNFILLED ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF OTHER POSITIONS EMPTIED AND REFILLED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT SINCE THIS ONE HAS BEEN EMPTIED. EVALUATIONS NEED TO BE CHECKED AND THROWN OUT FOR BIASES AND EVERY YEAR BPF NEEDS TO POST HOW MANY EDUCATORS OF COLOR RECEIVE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SUPPORT THEM.  EPS ALSO NEEDS TO STOP THE PRACTICE OF ASKING EDUCATORS TO DO A LICENSE AND START MAKING IT KNOWN TO PRINCIPALS THAT THEY CAN RECOMMEND EDUCATORS FOR EARLY PERMANENCY. YOU DO NOT TECHNICALLY BECOME PERMANENT UNTIL YOUR FOURTH YEAR IN TEACHING BUT AT ANY POINT IN TIME AN EDUCATOR CAN RECOMMEND AND SORRY A SCHOOL LEADER CAN RECOMMEND AN EDUCATOR TO BECOME PERMANENT AND THEY SHOULD DO SO WHEN THEY HAVE A PROFICIENT EDUCATOR OF COLOR. WE ALSO NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKES ON THE SCHOOL LEVELS. I CAN NAME THE SCHOOLS WHERE I KNOW THAT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN HARDER SO EPS CANTU EPS CHANGES THE INVESTIGATION DISCIPLINARY SYSTEMS AND REALLY MODEL SYSTEMS AFTER RESTORATIVE CHANGE INCENTIVE THOSE MORE IN MOST IMPACTED I CAN SEE A WORLD WHERE TEACHERS ARE INVESTED IN CHANGE INSTEAD OF BURNT OUT BY THE SYSTEM. EPS ALSO NEEDS TO BRING BACK MENTORING PROGRAMS LIKE WE OFTEN MIAC WHERE STRONG LEADERS OF COLOR SUPPORTED LEADERS OF COLOR IN LEADERSHIP AND AND THESE PROGRAMS NEED TO BE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED APPROPRIATELY. THERE ARE SYSTEMS OF CHANGE THAT NEED TO HAPPEN OR CHANGE OR STOPPED AND IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THINGS WE NEED TO DO THAT AND INVEST THE TIME TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE. SORRY I STUTTERED SO MANY TIMES MY COMPUTER DIED AND I WAS READING OFF MY PHONE NOW.  THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE AT A CONFERENCE ARE DOING OTHER THINGS AND YOU STILL MANAGE TO TAKE SOME TIME TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THIS IS WHY THIS COMMITTEE WAS CREATED . IT'S GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY AND IT'S LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND DATA IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND SO IS INFORMATION. RIGHT? SO THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEEPS . IT REALLY IS ABOUT A DEEPER DIVE INTO KIND OF AUDITING WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT AND SHARING INFORMATION IN WAYS THAT CAN INFORM OUR THINKING. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE NUMBERS THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ON THE RECORD AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILOR FLYNN FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR WEBER, THEN COUNCILOR BREDON AND THEN COUNCILOR ANDERSON FOR YOUR ROUND OF QUESTIONS.  SO COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND 5 MINUTES IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR TWO PANELIST THANK YOU COUNCILOR HERE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ER IMPORTANT WORK ON THIS ISSUE. I OPENED UP AND ASKED A QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.  I JUST WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP A LITTLE MORE ON THE QUESTION THAT I PREVIOUSLY ASKED BUT UM SO SO FAR THE FEDERAL DECREE EIGHT INTO DOES THE CITY OF BOSTON JUST KEEP US KEEP TRACK EVERY YEAR OF EXACTLY HOW MANY TEACHERS AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEACHERS ARE HIRED INTO THEIR COMPARE THE RESULTS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND IF IT'S AN INCREASE WHY DID IT INCREASE? IT AVOIDS A DECREASE. WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES THAT PREVENTED AN INCREASE TO HIRING MORE MEN MEN OF COLOR OR PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO INTO THE TEAM? THANK YOU COSMOPOLITAN PLAN FOR YOUR QUESTION AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE DISTRICT PROBLEMATICALLY YOU'RE CLEAR INCLUDES GUIDANCE COUNSELORS THE GARY ORDER THE DECREE SPECIFICALLY LOOKS AT GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AS NOT STUDENT FACING IN CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND THEY'RE MORE ADMINISTRATOR AND SO WHILE THE ORDER REQUIRES A AN ANNUAL COUNT OF BLACK TEACHERS, IT IS INFLATED BY BEPS AND WHEN IT GOES TO ONE IS REPORTED TO THE BUT PURSUANT TO THE ACTUAL ORDER THEY HAVE TO BREAK OUT WHO FOR EXAMPLE IS A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WHO WAS AN ITINERANT WHICH COULD BE A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO'S NOT A CLASSROOM TEACHER. AND SO THERE THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE FLAHERTY IN HOW THE DISTRICT REPORTED BECAUSE THEY ROUTINELY INCLUDE NON STUDENT FACING STAFF AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AND AND I'M SORRY THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER TEAM HAD TO LEAVE.  WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MORE INTERACTIVE CONVERSATION. THE NUMBERS THAT I'VE GOTTEN I'VE GOTTEN FROM THE LEADER WHO ACTUALLY COLLECTS THIS DATA AND THE DATA HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDER 25% AND THEY JUST NEEDS TO BE HONESTY IN REPORTING THE DATA AROUND THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. WHY TEACHERS LEAD IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT DOES EXIT INTERVIEWS IT'S ONLY WITH THOSE TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS WHAT LAYER IS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A MIDDLE GROUND IN TERMS OF THE COACHING, THE SUPPORT RESPONDING TO EQUITY AND DISCRIMINATE ACTION COMPLAINTS AND SO THAT THAT THAT PIECE OF AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS A DISTRICT DOING TO CREATE AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUPPORT TO RETAIN TEACHERS BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S ABOUT MONEY WHEN A TEACHER IS ONBOARDED TO THE DISTRICT INVEST IN THAT TEACHER AND THEN WE END UP LOSING EVEN A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO OTHER DISTRICTS AND SO THE HAVING A NEW TEACHER REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, COACHING, ONBOARDING THEM AND THAT'S A COSTLY PROCESS. SO THE DISTRICT REALLY DOES NEED TO ADDRESS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN HIRING AND TENSION BECAUSE WE HAVE A TURNOVER AND LATE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND IF A TEACHER IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND THEY'RE NOT SUSTAINED THEY COULD BE JUST LET GO FOR NO REASON AND SO THAT THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH HONORING BLACK TEACHERS IN PARTICULAR WHO ARE FACING SITUATIONS IN HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT WHO ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND SHOULD BE RETAINED . I HOPE THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YES IT DOES.  THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. AND MOVING ON NEXT TO COUNCILOR WEBER AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR SANTANA.  COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. CHAIR THANK YOU. CHAIR SO I GUESS MY QUESTION TO THE TWO REMAINING PANELISTS ARE YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ADDRESS TO ADDRESS THIS? DO YOU THINK THIS IS COMING OR IS ARE THESE SCHOOL LEADERS WHO ARE I LIKE WHERE SHOULD WE START? YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK SCHOOL LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISPARATE NUMBERS ON DISCIPLINE AND IS THERE ARE SOME DIRECTIONS COMING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT ? YOU KNOW, I JUST I DON'T THINK YOU NECESSARILY KNOW THE ANSWER BUT YOU KNOW, WHERE SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AND SOUNDS, YOU KNOW, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT TO THE BOTH OF YOU.  I THINK ACCOUNTABILITY HAS TO START AT THE TOP. I DO THINK THAT SOME OF THE DIRECTION FOR WHAT WE HOLD INVESTIGATION MEETINGS FOR WE'VE SEEN MORE INVESTIGATION MEANS IN THE UNION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAN WE EVER DID BEFORE AND SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH FEAR OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.  BUT THAT IS THE DIRECTION AND COMING FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS THERE ARE OFTEN TIMES WHEN SCHOOL LEADERS DO NOT WANT TO HOLD AN INVESTIGATION MEETING BUT THE OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS IS TELLING THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO OVER THINGS THAT COULD JUST BE A CONVERSATION AND I KNOW THERE ARE LEGAL LINES THERE TOO BUT AT WHAT POINT DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE? SO I THINK THAT KIND OF ABILITY COMES FROM THE TOP.  YEAH, BUT I GUESS YOU HAD SAID THAT YOU KNOW WHICH SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO YOU KNOW ARE GOING TO RESULT IN MORE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE I GUESS CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHERE THE PROBLEM ARE WHO ARE SAVVIER THAN OTHERS? THERE ARE SOME SCHOOL LEADERS WHO ARE GOING TO LISTEN IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THERE ARE ALSO SOME SCHOOL LEADERS WHO, YOU KNOW, DO HAVE INHERENT BIASES THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH AND ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.  IT'S ALL POLITICS UNFORTUNATELY . OKAY. AND THEN I GUESS I IN YOUR NUMBERS DID YOU HAVE LIKE THE NUMBER THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF PEOPLE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE? NO.  OKAY. I DIDN'T CAN YOU FIGURE THAT OUT AT SOME POINT OR I WERE TOO I WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. OKAY WHERE THERE ARE OTHERS PROBABLY BUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE I WOULD I WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. OKAY.  AND I GUESS IS IS THERE ANY LITIGATION ABOUT THIS? I KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT IT BUT I, I IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THERE'S A CLASS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CLASS POTENTIAL CLASS CASE FOR DISCRIMINATION OR YOU KNOW HAVE YOU HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THAT HAVE THERE BEEN CASES IN THE PAST? I JUST I DON'T KNOW TO BE HONEST THE BITS YOU JUST PASSED A RESOLUTION AT OUR BOARD TO START COLLECTING RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR MEMBERS LAST YEAR.  SO THIS IS NEW TO US AS WELL.  OKAY, LET'S SEE. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION . I KNOW WE HAVE A SECOND PANEL. I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOUR CHAIR BUT THANKS A LOT. I APPRECIATE IT. AND CERTAINLY WE HEARD THAT THEY'RE JUST BEGINNING TO TRACK THIS INFORMATION THIS YEAR. I GUESS SO.  I MEAN I THINK EITHER WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DATA OR THAT YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT DATA AND IF YOU'RE HAVING ANY TROUBLE, LET US KNOW AND YEAH,  WE WE'LL ASK FOR IT NOW. SO THANKS.  YEAH. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR THE ORAL QUESTIONS HERE AND I THINK JANE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT WHO'S OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON FOR THIS PARTICULAR HEARING WILL BE TAKING NOTES AND MAKING SURE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE OUTSTANDING GET OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ALSO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO COUNCILOR BREDON FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR ANDERSON AND THEN COUNCILOR SANTANA.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU ALL. I'D LIKE TO DIVE INTO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY A LITTLE MORE. IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING TO HEAR THAT THE OFFICE IN THE ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU GO WITH THE COMPLAINT ABOUT DISCRIMINATION IS NOT LISTENING OR TURNING A DEAF EAR.  CAN YOU CAN YOU EITHER ONE OF YOU BOTH SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE? BUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY?  WELL, I THINK THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE LACK OF CLEAR POLICIES ON HOW TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. SO IF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY DOESN'T SEE A FLAMING CLEAR SPECIFIC PHRASE WITHIN A POLICY THAT DENOTES THAT THERE IS DISCRIMINATION ACTION BECAUSE OF THAT THEY'LL SAY WELL THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.  SO IT IS A PRACTICE OF LOOKING AT INCIDENTS. I JUST SPOKE WITH A TEACHER WHO HAD A PROBLEM FOR EXAMPLE A BLACK MALE TEACHER IS AT A MEETING WITH THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND IS ROUTINELY SHUT DOWN IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE 100% COMPLIANCE IN HIS EYES IS AT A PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT MEETING AND IS RAISING HIS HAND REPEATEDLY AND IS SHUT DOWN NOT ALLOWED TO ASK A QUESTION AND IS NOT ENGAGED BUT ALSO IN FRONT OF HIS COLLEAGUES IS HUMILIATED AND TOLD THAT HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO ASK THE QUESTION.  AND SO WE HAVE A REPEATED PATTERN OF THIS.  THIS INDIVIDUAL MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND WE KNOW THAT IN THESE MEETINGS THE PARTICULAR PERSON THAT RUNS THE MEETINGS HAS THIS PATTERN OF SHUTTING DOWN BLACK VOICES. EVERYONE KNOWS IT AND THE COMPLAINT WAS LOOKED AT VERY QUICKLY DISMISSED WITH INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A REPEATED PATTERN WITH THE LEADER, THE STAFF LEADER, TWO WHITE STAFF LEADERS WHO SHUT DOWN BLACK VOICES AND SO WHEN WHEN THE COMPLAINTS ARE MADE THERE'S NO MOVEMENT AND THE BLACK AND BROWN LEADERS OR TEACHERS ARE LEFT WITH MAKING MCAD COMPLAINTS ENGAGING IN LAWSUIT . I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO LOOK AT THE FISCAL COST OF PUTTING ADMINISTRATORS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR TEACHERS FOR MINOR THINGS AND THEN THE INDIVIDUALS SO THE DISTRICT THEY PREVAIL IN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND IT'S VERY COSTLY. IT MAY SHOW UP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON RECORDS AS OF THIS PERSON WAS THE HIGHEST PAID BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THERE ARE HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE AND THEY'RE NOT SO THIS CALLS FOR NOT ONLY LOOKING AT SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE PRACTICES AND HOW OUR LEADERS AND TEACHERS ARE ENGAGED AND INCLUDED BUT IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE EQUITY POLICIES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY TEETH IN IT. NOW I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE STATEMENT IN EQUITY POLICIES CURRENTLY ARE NOT EVEN BEING HONORED AND ALL A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE JUST DISMISSED. SO IT'S NOT AN EITHER OR IS ABOUT THEM. IT'S LOOKING AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CIRCULARS AROUND EQUITY AND PROTOCOLS PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING LEADERS IN TEACHERS BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW DISPATCH REALLY AND HARSHLY DISCIPLINE IS APPLIED TO BLACK AND BROWN EDUCATORS. I SUPPORTED. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY DOESN'T MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHAT THE DISCIPLINE IS OR ISN'T.  THEY DECIDE WHETHER THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OR NOT AND THEN THEY TRANSFER IT OVER TO EITHER THE SCHOOL LEADER, THE OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS MAKES THE DECISION AND I DON'T FULLY TRUST THAT THAT OFFICE HAS THE EQUITY LENS TO MAKE THAT DECISION OR THAT THEY ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY TIME UP NOW YOU STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BELIEVE IT OR NOT. WELL BELIEVE IT OR NOT I'M ALSO REALLY INTERESTED IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO PRACTICE THAT IN A YOU KNOW AND THEN IN A POST YOU KNOW, WE JUST IT'S IT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT ANTI RACISM AND AND HAVING A RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN PLACE SO THAT APPLIES TO STOP AS WELL AS AS YOU SAID EARLIER SOME WORK BEST PRACTICE PRACTICE IT AS A STAFF BUT ALSO TO APPLY THOSE PRACTICES TO OUR CLASSROOMS AND AND ARE STILL COMMUNITIES WHAT I'M CONCERNED THAT WE SEEM TO BE DISMANTLING THOSE SCHOOLS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT UP IN THE AND THE THEORY YEAH ANY COMMENT ON THAT MADAM MADAM CHAIR WE HAVE THE CLOCK UP HERE GO AHEAD.  YOU MAY HAVE TO YOU CAN ANSWER. YEAH I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT EDUCATORS COME TO ME AFTER AND IT'S LIKE YEAH I MESSED UP ABOUT WHERE'S MY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION?  I ADMITTEDLY MESSED UP AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF EDUCATORS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUPERHEROES ALL DAY 24 SEVEN AND THAT'S HAVE ANY FLAWS BUT WE'RE ALL HUMAN AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES AND SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST THINGS AND I'M LIKE THIS COULD BE A CONVERSATION AND YOU KNOW AN EDUCATOR LAST WEEK WHO WAS LATE TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING USED TO BEING BACK TO MATERNITY LEAVE AND I'M AN INVESTIGATION MEETING WHERE THEY JUST HAD A BABY. THEY'RE TRYING TO LEARN AT A PUMP. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE. WHY IS THIS AN INVESTIGATION MEETING? I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT NEEDS A RESTORATIVE CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT JUST NEEDS HUMANITY BUT THINGS LIKE THAT AND I'M LIKE THIS COULD REALLY JUST BE A CONVERSATION BUT WE FORGOT HOW TO DO THAT. SO THAT COMES FROM THE TOP LIKE BUT WE HAVE RULES THAT SAY YOU HAVE TO SIGN IN EVERY DAY SO YOU DIDN'T SIGN IN FIVE TIMES AND NOW ALL ARE TELLING YOU YOU HAVE TO RUN AN INVESTIGATION MEETING.  IT'S JUST SILLY, YOU KNOW?  THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSELOR BREEDEN AND I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO COUNSELOR ANDERSON. BUT BEFORE I DO, I THINK YOU SAID SOMETHING EARLIER IN YOUR COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO HOW WE INTERACT WITH SYSTEMS AND OFTENTIMES IT DOES FEEL A BIT PUNITIVE. RIGHT? THE TONE AND WE'RE ALWAYS BEING TOLD BELIEFS BASICALLY. RIGHT. PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR NO MATTER HOW WE SHOW UP IN THIS WORLD THERE'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE WITH THAT. SO I REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID IN TERMS OF HOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND THE CULTURE NEEDS TO START EVOLVING TO THE REALITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THESE SPACES, RIGHT? WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MORPH US TO FIT IN BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST BE PERIOD YOU KNOW?  SO COUNSELOR ANDERSON, I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU AND THEN FOLLOW MY CULTURES AND TEN AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION COUNSELOR ANDERSON YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY LIMBS ARE JUST NOT AS FAST AND PRESSING THE UNMUTE I HIGHLY IDIOT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AROUND THIS A VERY VERY VERY IMPRESSED AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THE HARD WORK AND THE HARD WORK. MY QUESTION IS FOR THE FOLKS OBVIOUSLY BE TO YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, THE HEARING ORDER MENTIONS IN IS THAT 2019 STUDY THAT FOUND THAT OLDER AND MINORITY TEACHERS EXPERIENCED A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF RECEIVING NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RATINGS. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IF YOU HAVE SEEN PROGRESS ON THAT IN THE FIVE YEARS SINCE AND WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY NEW DATA ON THE SUBJECT.  WE DO NOT HAVE ANY NEW DATA BECAUSE THEN WE FILED A CHARGE AND WE JUST LOST THAT CASE IN 2021. I CAN SEND IT OVER IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE. AND THEN I DID ASK FOR THE RACIAL DATA BUT ASK BROADLY. BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW SOME OF MY THESE QUESTIONS ARE FOR BEEPS BUT I THINK TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES IF YOU COULD SUPPORT BEING WITH US IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF HOW HAS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS IMPACTED TEACHER MORALE PARTICULARLY AMONG OF COURSE OLDER MINORITY TEACHERS, I THINK WE TAKE IT VERY PERSONAL, RIGHT? LIKE THIS IS HARD WORK. MOST EDUCATORS GET IN BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. SO IT YOU TAKE IT HARD. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH AN EDUCATOR WHO GOT A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AND IT'S LIKE WHAT DO I DO? SHE'S A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AND YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO TELL HER THAT THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOU AND WE ONLY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.  RIGHT? LIKE THERE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN IMPROVE ON AS MY 10TH YEAR TEACHER BUT WE TAKE IT REALLY HARD AND WE START TO DOUBT OURSELVES AND WONDER WHY. AND I THINK ESPECIALLY IN A WORLD THAT EXPECTS PERFECTION AND AND YOU KNOW AS A WHEN MY THIRD YEAR AS A PROVISIONAL EDUCATOR I HAD RECEIVED RECEIVED ALL PROFICIENT AND EXEMPLARY BUT THEN RECEIVED A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE BECAUSE I SENT AN EMAIL THAT MY PRINCIPAL DID NOT THINK WAS PROFESSIONAL AND SO I GOT TO NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. I ALMOST HAD TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT.  BUT YOU KNOW THE UNION AND FIGHT FOR ME AND SO FORTH BUT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ACTUALLY DO NOT MEAN ANYTHING ABOUT HOW I INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND I SEE THINGS LIKE THAT OFTEN WHERE EDUCATORS AND PARTICULARLY EDUCATORS OF COLOR WILL HAVE A PROFICIENT EVALUATION AND MEETING THE CURRICULUM AND STANDARDS AND TEACHING OUR STUDENTS BUT THEN WILL HAVE A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND THAT TO ME JUST SCREAMS BIASES AND THEY TAKE THAT REALLY HARD BECAUSE HOW DO YOU FIX THAT? HOW DO YOU FIX THE WAY YOU LIVE LIKE THE WAY YOU ARE?  LIKE WHAT COUNCILMAN HILL IS JUST SAYING AND THAT IS A HARD BALANCE AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP WITH AND STRUGGLE EVERY DAY ABOUT WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BE YOURSELF AND BE AUTHENTIC OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT ON ANYONE. AND I ADD TO THAT. SURE. ONCE I BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT WITH THIS 5 MINUTES. I'M SO SORRY . YOU KNOW WHAT, COUNSELOR ANDERSON? I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LECTURE AND TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN EXTRA MINUTE JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD STUDENT TODAY.  YOU APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL HAVE AN APPLE FOR YOU TOMORROW.  EDITH SORRY . GO AHEAD. JUST QUICKLY THAT I MENTIONED THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT UNIT. THOSE WERE OLDER EDUCATORS WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE. I THINK THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS TOWARDS THE END OF YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU'VE HAD 20 OR MORE YEARS IS PARTICULARLY DISHEARTENING BUT ALSO THE DISTRICT LOSES INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BONDS AND STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT'S LOST AND THEN THEY ON BOARD SOMEONE NEW WHO DOESN'T HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. I THINK IT STALLS AND PARALYZES PROGRESS AND SO NOW WE'RE IN A PHASE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ACTIVE AND STRONG FAMILY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR BPF ON THE TEACHER SIDE WE LOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO MENTOR YOUNGER TEACHERS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITHIN A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY WHERE AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER CAN HELP A YOUNG TEACHER ON BOARD UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE HOW TO GET SUPPLIES, SUPPORT, ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT. INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY IS REALLY, REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO SALVAGE, TO HONOR AND TO SUSTAIN.  SO THAT IS CONTINUOUS PROGRESS WITHOUT GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE SKILLS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY PERFORMANCE THAT IMPACT OUR STUDENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  JUST A COMMENT IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIR. I.  I REALLY GET IT LIKE I HEAR YOU BOTH TALKING. I WORKED FOR VP'S FOR ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS BUT THEN I SAID OH, LET ME TRY THIS POWER THING. MAYBE I'LL GO GET MY MASTER'S OR SOMETHING IN EDUCATION.  MAYBE I'LL TURN TO THAT. THIS WAS YEARS AGO I QUIT AFTER THREE WEEKS AND SO TO THAT I SAY YOU TEACHERS AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATORS YOU GUYS ARE GUARDIAN ANGELS IN MY OPINION I'VE SEEN YOU WORK. I WAS AGAIN IN POWER FOR THREE WEEKS BUT IN THOSE IN MY OBSERVATION MY GOD I THOUGHT I WAS PATIENT BUT IN THE WAY THAT EDUCATORS REALLY DEDICATE AS YOU SAID, YOUR HEART, YOUR OWN MONEY AND YOUR TIME, I COULD HAVE DONATED ALL THE BOOKS WHEN MY KIDS AGED OUT I DONATED OVER 200 BOOKS TO TWO SCHOOLS BECAUSE MY KIDS AGE OUT AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE LITTLE KIDS AT HOME. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.  I COULD BRING PAPER TOWELS, I COULD DO IT. IT DOES. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TEACHERS ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN WITH ALL SORTS OF DIVERSITY AND TRAUMA AND ISSUES AND GREATNESS . BUT THEN YOU'RE NOT ONLY THE SOCIAL WORKER YOU THE THERAPIST, YOU'RE THE DOCTOR. YOU'RE THE TIME MANAGER, YOU ARE EVERYTHING AND I JUST WANTED TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO PATRONIZE YOU. I DON'T WANT TO TOKENIZE YOU. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO INVEST IN AND I THINK THAT THIS INHERENTLY RACIST SYSTEM AND PRACTICES IS PREDATING THIS ADMINISTRATION IS IT IS PREDATING MARY SKIPPER OR IT'S PREDATING MARIO AND THEY'RE HORRIBLE THEY'RE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO OUR PEOPLE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.  I DO APPRECIATE MADAM CHAIR FOR INTENTIONALLY SAYING LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW AS YOU SAID, HOW ARE WE IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE THINGS SO WE CAN BUILD THAT CONTINUITY SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE LIKE NO WAY SHOULD ANYBODY CHANGE THEIR CULTURE. I ACTUALLY COME UP TO YOU AND BE LIKE YO WORD UP LIKE HOW'S YOUR DAY? I SHOULD SAY WHATEVER I WANT TO SAY AS LONG AS I AM JUST BEING IF I'M BEING POLITE, IF I'M BEING KIND, I'M BEING COURTEOUS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK HOWEVER I WANT TO TALK AND I SHOULD BE A BIT MY ACCENT SHOULD CHANGE AND I SHOULD SAY IT IN WHATEVER WAY I AM COMFORTABLE.  IN FACT I SHOULD LAUGH LOUDLY. I SHOULD BE BOLD, I SHOULD BE BRIGHT, I SHOULD BE COLORFUL, I SHOULD BE ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT IMPLICATE THE DIFFERENT SUPPOSEDLY QUOTE UNQUOTE BLIND SPOTS.  MADAM CHAIR, I JUST LOOKED AT THE SCREEN. I SEE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  AND YOU COUNCILOR ANDERSON, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND YOUR FLOOR WAS THEN SOUTH. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO COUNCILOR SANTANA.  YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING NOW.  SO SANTANA, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK I'LL NEED THE 5 MINUTES. I'VE BEEN VERY INTRIGUED WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I'M SORRY I'M COMING IN AND I KNOW YOU HAVE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT BUT I'M OVER THE LAST FEW QUESTIONS.  I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE KNOW OUR TEACHERS ARE FACING IN PARTICULAR ARE BLACK AND BROWN TEACHERS AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS. BUT YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR STAFF TO RETAIN OUR WORKFORCE.  CAN YOU SPEAK TO MORE TO THAT IN MORE DETAIL PLEASE?  I'D LIKE TO SAY AT ONE TIME BP HAS HAD NEW TEACHER DEVELOPERS . THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO HIRE NINE EQUITY COACHES AND SO THE QUESTION IS WHERE THE SCHOOL SUPPORT OR A NEW TEACHER.  WE KNOW THAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN TEACHERS ARE GENERALLY PLACED IN UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR AND THEY TEND TO NOT HAVE SPORTS THAT ARE NEEDED. MANY SCHOOLS HAVE LONG TERM SO AS OPPOSED TO ESPECIALLY SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING AS THAT AND MAYBE WORKING OUTSIDE OF THEIR LICENSURE AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE HIGH ACHIEVING WHO HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW SCHOOLS ARE STAFFED. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE PLACING OUR KNOW PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN TEACHERS AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A PARTNER THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM ON THE GROUND IN THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS.  THE ISOLATION THAT OCCURS WITH MANY OF OUR NO TEACHERS CAUSES THEM TO START OFF STRUGGLING AND YOU KNOW, EVEN DETERMINING WHERE THEY GET SUPPLIES OR YOU KNOW, WHO THEY GO TO TO IMPLEMENT THIS PARTICULAR CURRICULUM, HOW AM I GOING TO GET PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT? YES, WE TALKED ABOUT TEACHERS SPENDING MONEY FOR MATERIALS AND AND THERE COULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO GET THESE RESOURCES.  AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT TEACHERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREER, HOW THEY'RE SUPPORTED AND IF THE FIRST TIME YOU ARE FACED WITH A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION BUT YOU HAVEN'T HAD COACHING, YOU HAVEN'T HAD MENTORING, YOU HAVEN'T HAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IT'S HARD AND WE'RE NOT RETAINING OUR OUR BLACK TEACHERS HAVE TEACHERS OF COLOR AND AND SO THIS REALLY HAS TO DO WITH OUR BEST PRACTICES IN TERMS OF HONORING THE DIGNITY OF OUR TEACHERS AND EQUITABLY AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE SUSTAINED BUT ALSO HAVING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO HOW DO WE RETAIN OUR TEACHERS, OUR RETENTION, OUR DATA IS IS MORE TROUBLING THAN THE HIRING BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE EITHER EXITING BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION OF NOT HAVING THEIR ISSUES ADDRESSED IN A PROACTIVE WAY. THEY'RE NOT THEY DON'T FEEL VALUED OR THEY'RE OVERTLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND THEY FACE HOSTILE SCHOOL OR WORK ENVIRONMENTS. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD THE PETTINESS OF ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE TONE. I DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOU SAID THAT BEFORE I'M TARGETING YOUR ART SO IT CALLS FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURE OF SUPPORT THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TRAIN SO THAT WE ERADICATE ANTI-BLACKNESS, WE ERADICATE TEACHER ISOLATION AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS REVOLVING DOOR ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK TEACHERS IF WE CANNOT MEET A COURT ORDER THAT HAS A COMPLIANCE ATTACHED TO IT OVER A PERIOD OF DECADE THAT REALLY SAYS SOMETHING THAT WE WE ARE TRYING TO ENFORCE A COURT ORDER BUT CAN'T MEET THOSE STANDARDS AND THE DISTRICT HAS TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE NUMBERS. SO I WOULD SAY THAT YES, THIS HAS BEEN AN INTRACTABLE PROBLEM . IT'S BEEN A PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION BUT POST-PANDEMIC YOU KNOW, TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE FIELD IN GENERAL WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR TALENTED BLACK AND BROWN TEACHERS WHO COME INTO THIS FIELD WITH THE PASSION AND DEDICATION BECAUSE FOR US IT IS A REFLECTION OF I DIDN'T GET WHAT I NEEDED. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DISTRICT AND BE THE TEACHER THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AND SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FACTORS. IT'S NOT A JOB, IT'S A MISSION AND THAT'S WHY I CONTINUE TO BE HERE. AFTER SERVING THE DISTRICT FOR 32 YEARS ADVOCATING FOR NO TEACHERS WHO ARE A STRUGGLING TO STAY IN BOSTON. WELL NO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU FOR THAT TYPE OF ANSWER AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR SERVICE.  I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND I BACK ON THAT. I THINK I THINK MY TIME MAY BE UP.  NO, IT'S OKAY, LEAH, YOU CAN FINISH. I THINK OUT OF RESPECT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO BE FULLY EXPRESSED SO YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT. PLEASE, JUST QUICKLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO OUR CONTRACT PROPOSALS THIS YEAR REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING THINGS THAT WILL HELP EDUCATORS OF COLOR BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE DISTRICT IS DOING ENOUGH AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ASKING IS FOR MORE FELLOWS AND SPECIALISTS IN THE DEPARTMENT AND ONE THING WE HEAR OFTEN IS THAT OUR EDUCATORS ON LONG WAIT LIST PARENTAL SUPPORT AND THE NTD DEPARTMENT IS NOT FAST ENOUGH. A LOT OF OUR COACHES ARE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.  OUR BILINGUAL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE NOT FUNDED EVEN THOUGH THEY DO TWICE THE WORK AND HAVE TO DO TEST IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING TO MAINTAIN OUR EDUCATORS WHO SPEAK MULTI LANGUAGES AND SO I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORTS TO SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS AND VALUE AND MHL SUPPORT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN THEM DOES BUT IT'S ABOUT THE DISTRICT ACTUALLY PUTTING THEIR SUPPORTS THEIR AND EVEN MY CORE SUPPORTS FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THE DISTRICT HAS TO BE WILLING TO FUND THOSE THINGS IF THEY WANT TO RETAIN EDUCATORS. THANK YOU.  I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU AND COUNSELOR SANTANA, REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS. I WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE A HARD STOP TO TRANSITION ON TO THE OTHER PANEL, BUT I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD AGAIN THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION.  IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS IN COMMITTEE. WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING A CONVERSATION. I STILL THINK THAT THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT UNANSWERED AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE DISTRICT TO GET THINGS ON THE RECORD, MEASURE THAT DATA AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GROW AND AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE ONCE A YEAR WHEN WE'RE HAVING A BUDGET SEASON THAT WE GET TO SEE BIPS THINK THAT IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT WE HAVE TO BE IN CONSTANT RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND HAVING THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS SO I JUST WANT TO THANK BPF AND OUR PEEPS ADVOCATES COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP AND BRINGING AND BRINGING THE TRUTH TO THE SPACE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION CROSSBREEDING I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP SO I'LL LET YOU SAY ONE MORE THING AND THEN I'M GOING TO TRANSITION OVER TO THE B PD.  MADAM CHAIR, I WAS WONDERING IF WE HAD ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR BIPS BUT I AM WILLING TO TAKE A FEW BEEPS HEARING I MEAN EXCUSE ME PUBLIC TESTIMONY. I SEE. JORDAN, IF YOU ARE HERE FOR A PUBLIC TESTIMONY YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND I SEE JORDAN CLARK AND ERIKA.  SO LET'S UPGRADE ERIKA AND JORDAN TO PANELISTS AND WE'LL EACH GIVE YOU 2 MINUTES AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER BEEPS I NEED TO SEE NICHOLAS SO THOSE THREE WILL DO AND THEN WE'LL TRANSITION OVER TO BPD. THANK YOU FOR THAT FLAG COUNSELOR BREEDEN. I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. SO JORDAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND SCHOOL MINUTES THEN FOLLOWED BY ERIKA. ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL SPEAK VERY QUICKLY. HI JORDAN. HE KIDMAN'S PRONOUNS.  I'M A ETHICISTS AND DATA SCIENTIST WHO'S CURRENTLY I RECENTLY FINISHED PROJECT AT MIT AIMED AT REDUCING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IN BOSTON USING EDUCATIONAL ARCHIVE DATA. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS A DISABLED GAY BLACK CIS MAN AND A FORMER BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER WITH OVER FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I WAS TERMINATED FROM A ROLE THAT I LOVED AS AN EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER IN THE OFFICE OF MULTILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AT THE CITY OF EMPLOYEE DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER DUE TO CHRONIC CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND GENERATIONAL POVERTY. I FELT COMPELLED TO SHARE MY STORY.  I RELY ON A TRAIN SERVICE DOG PROVIDES TACTILE STIMULATION WITH MAJOR LIFE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS SLEEP ARE AFFECTED BY MY DISABILITY. I HOPE I CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME AS THIS IS JUST THE PREFERENCE TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC AT HAND. I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED BIAS AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND WAS RETALIATED AGAINST FOR SEEKING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. RESPECTFULLY I DISAGREE WITH SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER ON THE CLIMATE OF PEACE. AS A BLACK MAN I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE I SEE WHAT YOU DO OR RATHER DON'T DO AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE HOSTILE AND TOXIC CLIMATE WITHIN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.  DESPITE INFORMING SEVERAL DEPUTY CHIEFS INCLUDING CHIEF CANTY WHO WAS HERE AND SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISPARATE TREATMENT MY MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERED. I EXPERIENCED REOCCURRING NIGHTMARES WHERE I WAS FELT WHERE I WAS A SLAVE ON THE PLANTATION. MY DIRECTOR RETALIATED AGAINST ME PLACING ME ON FALSE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. SOUNDS LIKE A PATTERN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN CHIEF CANTOR'S OFFICE OF HUMAN CAPITAL DID I NEED A LICENSE TO GUIDE MY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER AS A TREATING PHYSICIAN BECAUSE IT HAS YET TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENT DEFINING A TREATING PHYSICIAN DESPITE THE OFFICE OF EQUITY DESIGNATING THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL AS A TREATING PHYSICIAN FOR THEIR OFFICE. I'VE YET TO RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN POLICY SUBSTANTIATING THAT DISPARATE TREATMENT ME . I'M ALMOST DONE I PROMISE. THE LACK OF CLEAR POLICIES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS EXEMPLIFIES A SYSTEM NOT DESIGNED TO BE INCLUSIVE OR INTERSECTING MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES.  I WAS ILLEGALLY TERMINATED WHILE IN THE MIDST OF AN ADA INTERACTIVE PROCESS THAT LASTED OVER 44 DAYS DURING WHICH THEY DID NOT. THEY WERE UNABLE THEY DID NOT ACT IN GOOD FAITH. I WAS GOOD FAITH. I WAS DENIED ACCESS TO REASONABLE WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDING THE RELOCATION OF MY SEAT BY MY DIRECTOR.  MOREOVER, THE LACK OF POLICIES TARGETED MY SHOW FOR EMPLOYEES WITH SERVICE ANIMALS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS ALLEGATIONS THAT MY SERVICE DOG GROWLING AND BARKING AT A COLLEAGUE. THIS BIAS TRIGGERED MY DISABILITY LEADING TO MY IMMEDIATE REMOVAL AND DENIAL OF WORKPLACE ACCESS WITHOUT AN INVESTIGATION. AS A RESULT I WAS FORCED TO IT KNOWINGLY VIOLATE THE LAW AND PROVIDE PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION AT THEIR DEMAND.  THE ABSENCE OF POLICIES LED TO THIS UNFAIR AND POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL TREATMENT MAKING ME BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE NO MEASURES TO ADDRESS THEM AND OUR CONCERNS AND I'LL JUST END WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY LITERALLY SAID THAT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WAS AN OPTION AND THAT I WAS NOT ALLOWED THAT THE CLAIM AGAINST ME WAS ANONYMOUS AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE HOW THIS COULD AFFECT MY ABILITY TO SHOW UP PHYSICALLY IN THE OFFICE. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS FIRED BECAUSE I DID I REFUSED TO GO INTO THE OFFICE WHERE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AND SO I END WITH THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COUNSELOR ME FOR A CREATING THE SPACE FOR ME THIS FEELS AND I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO AND SHOULD BE DOING BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND I WILL SEEK LEGAL COUNCILOR OR LEGAL ACTION NOT BECAUSE I WANT MONEY BUT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE AND I BELIEVE THAT MY STORY CAN BE A LESSON FOR OTHERS THAT AND ULTIMATELY BENEFIT THE STUDENTS WHICH IS WHY WE DO THE WORK WE DO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR THE SPACE AND I DO HOPE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU HOLDING THE SECOND ONE AND I WILL BE THERE TO LISTEN IN AND PLAY MY PART AND THANK YOU JORDAN THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE UNDER THESE CONSTRAINED ENDS AND TIMERS AND WE'RE OPERATING UNDER A VERY DIFFERENT CULTURE IN TERMS OF EVEN HAVING THESE HEARINGS. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE SEE YOU, WE AFFIRM YOU AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO FEEL WHOLE IN EVERY SPACE THAT WE'RE IN. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VULNERABILITY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO MUCH OF YOURSELF WITH US AND KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION FOR THE SAKE OF A CONVERSATION THIS IS REALLY ABOUT US REALLY FIGURING HOW WE CAN REPAIR THIS HARM SO OTHER FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.  SO THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.  I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH TWO MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONIES BEFORE WE TRANSITION OVER TO THE PPD HEARING. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO NEXT TO ERIKA.  YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND THE FLOOR AND I PROMISE YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS HEARING.  THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PANEL PANEL AND THANK YOU TO JORDAN FOR SHARING YOUR TRUTH THIS MORNING I WANT TO THANK COUNSELOR ME FOR MAKING THIS FACE TO THE HEARING TODAY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNSELOR BREADON FOR HER TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.  MY NAME IS ERIKA HERMAN AND I SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF GARDNER POT ACADEMY FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DID TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AN AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY HUB SCHOOL COMMITTED TO RACIAL EQUITY,  GENDER DIVERSITY, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE. WE EMPOWERED OUR FAMILIES PARTICULARLY OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AS TRUE COLLABORATORS IN THE WORK I RECOGNIZED TODAY IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS BUT FEEL COMPELLED TO PROVIDE A CASE EXAMPLE FOR COUNSELORS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RETALIATION THAT EXISTS IN OUR CURRENT CULTURE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES PARTICULARLY FOR OUR LEADERS OF COLOR WOMEN AND THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 40 I CAN ATTEST THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THE PRACTICE OF BP'S IN THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS FOR PRINCIPALS SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE MEN'S REPORT. I DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT MY COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND FAMILY VOICE WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF THE EPA COMMUNITY DECADES WOULD INITIATE SUDDEN ATTACKS ON MY PERFORMANCE AND CHARACTER. ONE DAY I WAS ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS OUR EQUITY GOALS WITH AN EXEMPLARY RATING ON MY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND THEN SUDDENLY AFTER SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTION OF THE GRADE RECONFIGURING PROCESS, BP WENT ON A FISHING EXPEDITION TO FIND FAULT IN MY PERFORMANCE MY SUPERVISOR PARTNERED WITH SOME EDUCATORS WHO WENT BEHIND THE BACKS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MANY OF THEIR COLLEAGUES AIMING TO DISMANTLE THE EXTENSIVE WORK WE WERE DOING AROUND RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY. I REPORTED FEELING HARASSED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST TO THE OFFICE OF EQUITY. BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS PLACED ON IMMEDIATE PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WHERE I REMAINED FOR SIX MONTHS LANGUISHING IN SILENCE.  THERE WAS NOTHING FAIR OR IMPARTIAL ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE PROCESS AND IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT ABOUT THE TRUTH. THE INVESTIGATORY MEETINGS LED BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE ARE DEHUMANIZING AND IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU ARE GUILTY BEFORE ANY INVESTIGATION TAKES PLACE. THE DISTRICT I DEDICATED MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER DID NOT PROTECT MY RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE AND DID NOT EVEN DISPLAY AN ETHIC OF CARE TO SEE HOW I WAS DOING AFTER REPORTING EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, BP HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TARNISH MY REPUTATION AND TO PERSONALLY TRY TO DESTROY ME . THE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLICLY HUMILIATED ME BY WRITING A FAMILY LETTER TO FAMILIES THAT CONTAIN MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUTH WHICH WAS THEN SHARED VERY PUBLICLY ACROSS MULTIPLE MEDIA OUTLETS. THE CHIEF OF STAFF VIOLATED MY RIGHTS TO CONFIDENTIALITY BY READING THE CONTENTS OF A FABRICATED AND BEST A REPORT AT A FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING AND BP WENT SO FAR AS TO LOBBY FAMILIES TO FILE CRIMINAL REPORTS AGAINST ME . THEY CREATED THEIR OWN RUMORS AND LIES TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS.  AS PART OF MY APPEAL I SHARED WITH SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AN 80 PAGE REPORT THAT IS NOW PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD THAT SHARES THE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY. I SHARED MY TRUTH PUBLICLY AND IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS I WAS RETALIATED AGAINST AGAIN AND WAS OFFICIALLY TERMINATED FROM BP'S EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WORKPLACE BULLYING AND MOBBING SOUNDS LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN MOVIES UNTIL YOU LIVE IT AND IT HAPPENS TO YOU. THE CULTURE THE CURRENT CULTURE OF BP'S IS THIS IS IF YOU CHALLENGE THIS ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES YOU WILL TARGETED AND YOU WILL FACE RETALIATION. THEY WILL MANUFACTURER CASE AGAINST YOU AND THEY WILL GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TARNISH YOUR REPUTATION.  THANK YOU, ERIKA. I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED LIKE A MINUTE AGO BUT I KNOW THAT THIS I WANT TO BE IF YOU COULD BECAUSE WE HAVE HEART STOPS FOR THE SECOND PANEL, PLEASE. YES. I WANT TO CLOSE THE ONE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED ABOUT THE ABUSIVE PRACTICES OF PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF EMPLOYEES UNPAID LEAVE WENT FROM 1.2 MILLION IN 2019 TO 2.7 MILLION IN 2022 ACCORDING TO DATA OBTAINED FROM LEGAL ADVISOR LISA MACKEY.  I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY ASKING WHEN WILL WE REALIZE AS A SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE MATTER AND HUMAN LIVES ARE NOT DISPOSABLE ? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY TRUTH. THANK YOU ERIKA.  OKAY. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO NICHOLAS AIR AND YOU DEFINITELY ONLY HAVE 2 MINUTES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TRANSITION OVER TO THE BPP BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME HARD STOPS AND AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A SECOND HEARING SO THERE WILL BE MORE TIME FOR FOLKS TO REALLY UNPACK AND ASK QUESTIONS . NICOLE NICHOLAS I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN UPGRADED.  YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES OF IT.  GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NICHOLAS LUCAS AND THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR AT THE GARDNER PILOT ACADEMY ON YEAR FOUR AND A FORMER PARENT OVER THE YEARS AND A VICTIM OF THE RACISM, DISCRIMINATORY HIRING AND FIGHTING PRACTICES OF BP AS A SERGEANT EDDIE I WITNESS AS ME I WILL BE TERMINATED FOR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND OUR DISMANTLED LEADERSHIP TEAM AS A GPA BOARD MEMBER I HOPE EMISSIONS AMBITION CLOSE TO MY HEART TODAY I SHARE WITH YOU THE STORY A TEAR WELL IN SCHOOL THAT ONCE STOOD AS A SANCTUARY FOR OUR BOSTON COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY FOR OUR UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY FROM ITS INCEPTION. GARNETT BY PILOT ACADEMY HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY MEMORY. I WAS IT WAS THERE WHEN MY OLDEST SAMUEL CHAYA TOOK THE FIRST STEP INTO EDUCATION IN 2015 WHEN I RETURNED FOR MY INTERVIEW AS A FAMILY COORDINATOR FOR AN IMMEDIATE SENSE OF BELONGING OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ALONGSIDE DEDICATED, COMMITTED, PASSIONATE AND DEVOTED LEADERS FROM FROM THEM A MISSION WAS MORE THAN WORK. IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE AND LIVING TESTIMONY A LIVING TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF LOCATION GPA TO STRIVE TO BE COMPREHENSIVE IN SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY NOTABLY ,75% OF OUR POPULATION HAVE LATINO ORIGIN 83% OR TWO THEY IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR ACROSS ITALY, 60% SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH 75 QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY . OVER THE PAST WE SAID I'M SORRY ABOUT EQUITY AND JUSTICE WHERE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR INITIATIVE COLLABORATED WITH OVER 30 PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENT AND FAMILY OFFERING FREE ADULT LEARNING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON INSTRUCTIONAL AUDIO AND BENJAMIN LEARNING ENGLISH TEACHING CAREER CRITICAL SKILLS EYE TO EYE PROVIDE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MORAL OR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM. HOWEVER OUR BELOVED SCHOOL NOW FACE A CRISIS DISMANTLING BEGAN WE ARE LACKING UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY WITH SERVING TARGETING OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT A STUDENT WITH THIS ABILITY SALSA AND EQUITY COMMITMENT WE LIVE IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION SILENCE SUPERINTENDENT MY RISK KEEPER THE SYSTEM ALLOW A DISRUPTIVE FORCE TO INFILTRATE OUR HOME FIRST THAT THE PART THAT THREATENS THE VERY ESSENCE OF DEBATE OUR PRINCIPAL AND OTHER TEAM MEMBER HAVE BEEN EITHER RESIGN OR HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT FROM GPA LOSING ALL THE CRITICAL PEOPLE WHO MADE OUR MODEL TRY BP HAVE BPA HIJACKED OUR GOVERNING BOARD WHERE PARTNERS AND FAMILY HAVE BEEN SILENCED THEY BYPASS THE ENTIRE PRINCIPAL HIDING PROCESS IGNORING ALL BY LAW AND THIS POLICY THERE IS A DIRECT RESTORATIVE APPROACH ON MISCONDUCT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AFTER A SCHOOL PROGRAM AND ENRICHMENT LIKE AND EMBRACE A LIFELINE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS FACE A DEFICIT OF $210,000 ON ACADEMIC DEMEANOR JUST ALMOST THEIR OWN FREE NONDISCRIMINATORY HIDING AND FINING POLICY OBESE GREATLY IMPACT OUR STUDENT AND FAMILY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING OUR FAMILY LIVING IN POVERTY OUR UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY AND MARGINALIZED FAMILY BP ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHIZED AND SILENT AND DISENFRANCHIZED AND SILENCE OUR COMMUNITY OF COLOR BY PARTICULARLY OUR FAMILY WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH.  EVEN WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES RALLY AND SAVE TBAS SUPERINTEND AMERICA KEEPER MAJOR WOULD IGNORE OUR POLICE NEVER ONE BASED ON A GPA IN PERSON THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF THIS YEAR BP AS ONE ADVOCATE FOR THE PATIENT HAS BECOME AN OPPRESSOR A SYSTEM THAT DISREGARD COMMUNITY NEEDS AND LACK SENSITIVITY TO OUR STUDENT NARRATIVE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICHOLAS. I JUST WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO HOLD A HEARING WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH TO UNPACK. BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO STAYED HERE THROUGH OUT THE ENTIRE BEPS PROCESS AND YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT GOING TO END WITH THIS PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THE TESTIMONIES OF OUR PANELISTS THIS MORNING. BUT I DO HAVE TO IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSITIONING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY AS CLOSE TO TIME AS POSSIBLE, I'M GOING TO NEED TO TRANSITION OVER TO THE BPT BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE THAT OFFICERS PARTICULARLY OFFICERS OF COLOR ARE FACING AS WELL,  PARTICULARLY AROUND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES. SO I'M GOING TO TRANSITION THANK ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS HERE. THANK YOU.  AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH WE HAVE COMMISSIONER COX WHO IS GOING TO BE JOINING US AND AS WELL AS SOPHIA HALL WHO HAS A HEART STOP AT 1230. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH I'M NOT SURE IF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE JUST YET SO I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH SOPHIA HALL WHO IS WITH LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND HAS BEEN WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR OFFICE AND AROUND THESE ISSUES. SO SOPHIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR TIME. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A 5 MINUTES AND THE FLOOR AND I'M GOING TO CREATE SOME SPACE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HONOR OUR TIME WITH YOU AND HOPEFULLY COMMISSIONER COX IS ON HIS WAY OR SOMEONE CAN FLAG IF HE'S HERE SO THAT I CAN NOTICE. OKAY, SOPHIA, YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES AND THE FLOOR THAT OKAY, YOU'RE ON MUTE IF YOU'RE SPEAKING.  OKAY THANK YOU LET ME I APPRECIATE THIS AND I APPRECIATE CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW ? YES. YOU'RE LIKE ME A THUMBS UP IF YOU CAN HEAR ME . WE CAN HEAR YOU. BUT YOU'RE LAGGING A LITTLE BIT. BUT THERE WE GO NOW WE CAN SEE YOU. OKAY, LET'S SEE. LET'S PLEASE LET ME KNOW. OH, INTERRUPT IF IT ISN'T YOU IT'S NOT AUDIO IF YOU DON'T HEAR.  OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE FLOOR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A LONGSTANDING ISSUE AND I HAVE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PERSONALLY WHO WILL SPEAK TO THE MORE DIRECT ISSUES RELATED TO THE CURRENT PROMOTIONAL PROCESS AT BPD.  BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE DO A BIT OF STAGE SETTING FIRST AND I HOPE THAT MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE ALLOWS ME TO DO THAT FOR MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TODAY MY NAME IS ATTORNEYS WILL BE A HALL.  I AM THE DEPUTY LITIGATION DIRECTOR AT LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS PREVIOUSLY BILLED AS A LAWYERS COMMITTEE. WE'RE A 55 YEAR OLD LEGAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS WHO EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION.  I'M GOING TO SUBMIT THIS TESTIMONY IN WRITING AS WELL BUT WANT TO GO OVER SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW I'D LIKE TO SET THE STAGE.  SO FOR THE PAST DECADE THAT I HAVE SERVED LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND AS YOU HEARD, THAT'S ONLY A FRACTION OF THE TIME THAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN THIS FIGHT AND BEEN IN EXISTENCE. THE DEMAND TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL LACK OF DIVERSITY AMONG ALL STUDENTS PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES HAS BEEN BRUSHED ASIDE BY SO THREE LET'S ALL ATTORNEY HOW CAN YOU GO OFF CAMERA SO THAT WE CAN CLEAR YOU WITNESS YOUR INTERNET IS BREAKING UP SO IF YOU GO OFF CAMERA IT MIGHT BE BETTER IT NOPE NOPE. OKAY SONY HALL THERE WE HAVE LOST OUR ATTORNEY.  THANK GOODNESS. WE HAVE TWO MORE ON DECK THOUGH JUST IN CASE. BUT WHILE WE I THINK WE HAVE LOST MISS HALL.  OKAY. THERE WE GO.  YOU'RE BACK. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES MULTIPLE YEARS POST COVID. I STILL DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET IT BUT CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW? YES. BUT IF YOU GO OFF CAMERA WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO KEEP YOU LONGER BECAUSE THAT THERE WE GO . OKAY. AND APOLOGIES AGAIN. HOPEFULLY YOU WERE ABLE TO HEAR MY REMARKS BUT I'LL BRIEFLY START FROM THE TOP AGAIN JUST INTRODUCING MYSELF. MY NAME IS ATTORNEY SOPHIA HALL. I'M THE DEPUTY LITIGATION DIRECTOR OF LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, A 55 YEAR OLD CIVIL RIGHTS LAW FIRM BASED RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON, AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND BASED DISCRIMINATION ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS FOR THE PAST DECADE THAT I HAVE SERVED AT LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A FRACTION OF THE TIME THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE.  THE DEMAND TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL LACK OF DIVERSITY IN BOSTON'S PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES HAS BEEN BRUSHED ASIDE BY CITY LEADERSHIP AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS OF CITY LEADERSHIP.  AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS THAT JOIN ME TODAY PARTICULARLY THOSE COMMITTED MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, MA'AM LEO THE CAPE VERDE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION AND OTHER KEY AFFINITY GROUPS HAVE CARRIED THIS FIGHT AND THIS BURDEN OF THIS ISSUE FAR LONGER THAN ME . TO BE CLEAR, THE FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SENDS THE RESOUNDING MESSAGE AT THIS CITY DOES NOT CARE TO SEE ITS BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN GROW TO PROTECT AND SERVE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT CARE TO SEE ITS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS REFLECTED BACK IN THIS HONORABLE PROFESSION THAT THIS CITY DOES NOT CARE TO ELEVATE ITS BLACK AND BROWN OFFICERS WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR SENIORITY WHILE RISKING THEIR LIVES FOR US AND THAT THIS CITY DOES NOT CARE TO KEEP ITS PROMISE TO BE COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN IN ITS SERVICE TO ITS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS NEVER CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT DECADES LONG MISTRUST AND TENSION.  IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT IN AN ERA WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE CALLING OUT FOR POLICE REFORM, BUILDING TRUST AND LEGITIMACY IS THE FIRST PILLAR OF THOSE REFORM EFFORTS AND THAT STARTS WITH SEEING PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES REFLECTED BACK STATISTICALLY,  SINCE 2011 PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE CONSTITUTED MORE THAN 50% OF BOSTON'S POPULATION. YET BPD HAS FAILED TO KEEP PACE WITH THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS. THE TRENDS AND IT'S INCREASINGLY OUT OF STEP WITH THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION OF THIS CITY. THAT GAP ONLY WIDENS WHEN YOU LOOK BACK TO THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS SPECIFICALLY OF THE SPECIALIZED UNITS OF BPD AND THOSE ELEVATED RACE.  LCR HAS SUED BPD A COUPLE OF TIMES BY YEARS BUT OFTEN TO OBTAIN UP TO DATE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND THE STATISTICS THAT RARELY SHOW MEANINGFUL PROGRESS WITH BIPOC OFFICERS. TYPICALLY WE SEE STATISTICS FOR BIPOC OFFICERS HOVERING NEAR ABOUT A THIRD OF THE FORCE AND THAT MAKES UP A COMPOSITION OF BLACKS AND LATINOS AND ASIANS WHICH RARELY MAKE THE 10% THRESHOLD THE BARRIERS TO DIVERSITY. THEY'RE CLEAR AND THEY'RE OFTEN CREATED BY THE CITY WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEM. FOR YEARS THE HAS AGGRESSIVELY FOUGHT LEGAL EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY THE POLICE WHILE ALSO MAKING PUBLIC PROMISES OF INCLUSION AND EQUITY. THE CITY HAS REPEATEDLY STOOD STEADFAST IN ITS CHALLENGING OF FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS AROUND DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES SUCH AS THE PROMOTIONAL EXAMS IN CASES LIKE SMITH V CITY OF BOSTON.  THE FEDERAL CHALLENGE TO THE LONG DISCRIMINATORY AND SCIENTIFICALLY UNRELIABLE DRUG HAIR TEST THAT WAS LITIGATED FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS IN JONES V CITY OF BOSTON. I PERSONALLY HAVE APPEALED COUNTLESS BPD BYPASS DECISIONS BARRING APPLICANTS OF COLOR FROM ENTERING THE POLICE FORCE BECAUSE OF STALE AND UNREASONABLE CLAIMS THAT ARE NOT SIMILARLY HELD AGAINST THEIR WHITE RECRUITS.  SIMILARLY LCR HAS BROUGHT CASES WHERE THE COURTS HAVE FOUND THAT BPD HAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST RECRUITS OF COLOR IN THE ACADEMY AS IS OFTEN TRUE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE KEY TO THE PATH FORWARD HERE. BPD SHOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE THE PAST HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN LEGAL LIABILITY FURTHER, AS THIS CITY FAILS TO KEEP ITS PROMISES OF PRIORITIZING DIVERSITY REAL SCRUTINY SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THESE PRACTICES THAT ARE NEITHER UNIFORMLY APPLIED OR FAIR.  FURTHERMORE, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE CALLING ON BPD TO HAVE A MORE INSTITUTION ANALYZE SYSTEM FOR HOW THEY HANDLE HIRING PROMOTIONS AND DISCIPLINE. WHILE IT DOES HAVE POLICIES IT ALSO HAS ISSUES BUT WE DON'T SEE ANY POLICIES ANY POLICIES OR PRACTICES WHEN IT GOES TO.  SPECIFICALLY THE BYPASS PROCESS . SORRY I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE YOU HAVE A MINUTE LEFT TO IF YOU WANT TO WRAP UP SO THAT WE CAN TRANSITION AND WE KNOW THAT YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL 1230 WITH US AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR QUESTIONS.  UNDERSTOOD. I'LL WRAP UP QUICKLY.  OKAY.  FURTHER, AS THE CITY FAILS TO KEEP ITS PROMISES OR PRIORITIZING DIVERSITY AGAIN REAL SCRUTINY SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THESE PRACTICES SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT ARE NOT UNIFORMLY APPLIED OR FAIR. HOW MANY MORE YEARS WILL WE BE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BOSTON'S POLICE DEPARTMENT FAILING TO REFLECT THE RESIDENTS IT SERVES? I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION MORE BROADLY AND SPECIFICALLY THE INFORMATION THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SHARE ABOUT THE UPCOMING PROMOTIONAL EXAM. THE DIRECT PATH LINE THAT THIS CITY CAN USE TO ACTUALLY RECOMMIT ITSELF TO A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.  THANK YOU, SOPHIA. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER COX'S HERE WITH US AS WELL AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY AND I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CREATING SPACE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO BE WITH US . WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. IT MEANS A LOT TO THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN TO SEE YOU HERE AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT MISS HALL HAS A HEART STOP AT 1230 BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OPENING REMARKS AND THEN WE COULD DO A LITTLE BIT OF Q&A AND IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR HEART STOP IS SO THAT WE CAN MANAGE OUR EXPECTATIONS ACCORDINGLY. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SO I HAVE A FEW PEOPLE FROM MY TEAM HERE THAT I COULD CERTAINLY ANSWER MORE IN AND I WILL BE BRIEF BUT LET ME JUST START OFF BY SAYING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM. I JOINED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BACK IN 1889. AND AND AT SOME POINT TOOK A PROMOTIONAL EXAM PRETTY EARLY ON IN MY CAREER ACTUALLY THREE YEARS INTO MY CAREER AND DIDN'T GET PROMOTED FOR ALMOST ANOTHER THREE YEARS AFTER THAT FACT. AND BUT THE FACT IS THAT I ACTUALLY DID STUDY AND DID TAKE THE EXAM AND DID PASS THE EXAM. AND ALTHOUGH THE MEMORY I'LL WORK VERY HARD TO ACTUALLY TRY TO PUT IN PLACE YOU KNOW CERTAINLY ISSUES TO REFLECT THAT MAKING US AS A DEPARTMENT UNDERSTAND ITS DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT. OTHER PEOPLE WERE PROMOTED THAT AT THAT TIME. BUT THE POINT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY TO YOU IS IS THAT I AM YOU KNOW, MY POSITION HERE AS COMMISSIONER IS PROBABLY IF MY MOTHER WAS ALIVE I DREAM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND OR FATHOM BACK WHEN I FIRST STARTED. AND I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. I BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES BOTH FOR OUR PERSONNEL THAT ARE HERE. NOW YOU HAVE PROBABLY SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WHICH WE WILL PROBABLY ANSWER. WE WENT THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WITH IN OUR COUNCIL MEETING. SO I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT BUT THE POINT IS I ACTUALLY AM IN A POSITION TO ACTUALLY DO STUFF AND WHEN YOU SAY NOT DIVERSE WE ARE MORE DIVERSE AT OUR LEADERSHIP THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR DEPARTMENT. AND I DON'T THINK WE COULD BE ANY MORE DIVERSE THAN WHAT WE ARE IS FROM A LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE. I THINK THE HOPE OF OF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF COLOR LOOKING OUT AND SEEING A DIVERSE COMMAND STAFF AND THAT THE HEAD OF AN AGENCY THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM THAT'S ACTUALLY FROM THE SAME CITY, YOU KNOW AND I GREW UP IN ROXBURY LIVED IN DORCHESTER FOR A GREAT PERIOD OF TIME.  I THINK THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF HOPE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE. OUR BIGGEST BARRIER RIGHT NOW IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE DO AND THE HOPE WE PROVIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE PROVIDE AND THAT IS A NOBLE PROFESSION.  AND THE FACT IS PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME ON THAT JOB BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES TRAPPED IN THE HISTORY OF SOME OF THE NEGATIVE HISTORY POLICING HAS HAD NOT JUST IN BOSTON BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND SO WE MOVE PAST SOME OF THAT STUFF BUT WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE CHANGE THE CULTURE TO ADDRESS ALL THAT WE NEED TO IN THIS CITY TO MAKE US THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY.  WE HAVE STRATEGIES TO DO THAT. AND ACTUALLY HAVING PROMOTION EXAMS MORE OFTEN IS A STRATEGY THAT WE WILL USE BOTH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO CIVIL SERVICE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE WE SHOULD BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY GOES FOR A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, MORE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS HOPE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BOTH REFLECTIVE OF THIS SOCIETY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY GET IN THESE POSITIONS UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, THE WORK IT NEEDS YOU THEY NEED TO DO WHEN THEY GET THERE. SO I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BELABOR THIS TOO LONG. I DO KNOW HISTORY IS IMPORTANT SO UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT THE HISTORY IS IS ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE ACTUALLY AT A POINT IN HISTORY WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS MULTIPLE LAYERS AND STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE HOPE TO THE CITY AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. AND SO SO I DID WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND START OFF WITH THAT. LISA BRIAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT OUR WAIT A MINUTE WAIT A MINUTE THERE. COMMISSIONER I DON'T KNOW BE TRYING TO FACILITATE MY HEARING HERE GOES. WE GOT TO WE GOT TO ORDER HERE. OKAY. I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT A ZOOM KING SO I APOLOGIZE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW I GOT THIS BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME BUT I WANT TO JUST FOR THE RECORD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOU FOR A LIMITED TIME. AND LISA, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE SIGNED UP TO BE HERE WITH US FOR THE DURATION OF OUR HEARING. BUT COMMISSIONER, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE WITH YOU IN PARTICULAR?  SO AS WAS GOING TO BE LIKE 1230 BUT BUT YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW,  HOW ABOUT WE GOING TO LIKE TAKE YOU TO A YOU KNOW, OC?  AND SO YOU CAN'T TAKE IT NO MORE NO NO NO NO I YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE BEING LATE TO MY NEXT THING SO I APPRECIATE WE STARTED A LITTLE LATER SO I'M TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW MINDFUL OF YOUR PROCESS HERE AND YOU KNOW AND I APPRECIATE IT AND THEN I JUST I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT AT THIS POINT YES, I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MAKING TOWARDS DIVERSITY.  BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE TWO CAPTAINS OF COLOR AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE.  AND SO REALLY EXCITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INCREASE THAT NUMBER. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO LARRY ELLISON WHO IS ALSO PART OF OUR PANEL. AND LARRY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 5 MINUTES TO KIND OF JUST SET THE STAGE AND THEN I'M GOING TO TRANSITION INTO QUESTIONS WHILE WE STILL HAVE ATTORNEY HALL WITH US. SO LARRY, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. I THANK YOU MUCH AND I WON'T BE I WON'T NEED THE WHOLE 5 MINUTES. YOU'LL JUST KIND OF BLOCK HISTORIC EVENT TO BOSTON MARATHON. THIS HAS BEEN A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT BUT WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE FINISH LINE. I WAS HERE BEFORE THIS COUNCIL OVER NINE YEARS AGO AS PRESIDENT OF FAMILIES AND SADLY SO HAS MANY OF MY PREDECESSORS FOR ME TO ADDRESS THE SAME MATTER WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. BOSTON HAS A DEEP HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH RACE OR INSTANT BUSSING CAUSING EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES. I HIGHLIGHT THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT MATTERS. MOVING BOSTON FOR.  REGRETFULLY BOSTON IS NOT DOING SO WELL IN ALL OF THESE AREAS WHICH ONCE AGAIN BRINGS US HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE EMPLOYMENT IN BOSTON THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. REPRESENTATION MATTERS HISTORICALLY THE ONLY REAL PROGRESS MADE IN HIRING PROMOTIONS AND FAIR TREATMENT OF LOSSES OF COLOR HAVE BEEN THROUGH COURT ACTION AND THE TITLE SEVEN GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONSENT DECREE OF THE SEVENTIES WHICH FORCED BP TO BEGIN TO DIVERSIFY ITS RANKS AT THE SCIENCE LEVEL AS WELL AS EXCITING NEW RECRUITS.  THAT ORDER LASTED INTO THE EARLY EIGHTIES WHEN IT EXPIRED . SO DID THE PROGRESS. REPRESENTATION MATTERS ON AVERAGE THESE LAWSUITS TAKE OVER TEN YEARS TO BE RESOLVED. THE DRAG HERE TESTS THE UNJUST TERMINATIONS OF MOTION TO THE SENATE AND MOST RECENTLY THE $40 MILLION IN STATE COURT SETTLEMENT. MOST DECIDED STATEWIDE WHICH THE PRESIDING JUDGE IN HIS DECISIONS STATED THAT THIS DISCRIMINATION HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR OVER 50 YEARS 50 YEARS. JUST THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND WHEN THE CAREER SPAN OF ITS AVERAGE POLICE OFFICER 32 YEARS. SO EVEN THOUGH I SPENT 41 YEARS WITH THE BPD, IT STARTED BEFORE I GOT HERE AND IT CONTINUES TO THE PRESENT DAY. THERE IS A FINANCIAL COST TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT IS IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND BROKE. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP SUPPORTING TAXPAYER FUNDED DISCRIMINATION AS SUPPORTS AS THE COURTS HAVE AFFIRMED. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU TOOK AN OATH TO DO SO. TODAY YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AS WELL AS MOVE THE CITY FORWARD IN ITS ACTIONS TOWARDS A DIVERSE CPD IN SUPERVISORY RANKS. ONE IN PARTICULAR I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS SERGEANT SARAH DAWSON WHO CURRENTLY IS ELIGIBLE TO BE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN WITH THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT ONE BLACK FEMALE IN THAT POSITION.  OVER 75%. I KNOW BPD WILL TELL YOU THAT YES SHE HAS AN OPEN IAB CASE THAT IS OVER FIVE YEARS OLD AND YOUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE WHY SO LONG WITH NO RESOLUTION AND I KNOW WHY AND I THINK YOU DO AS WELL. IT'S AN EXCUSE, NOT A SOLUTION . BOSTON POLICE WILL PLOT THEIR MANY PROGRESS STATING THAT THE LAST TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE FOLLOWED ONE DENNIS WHITE. A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SO ANYONE PUT HIM IN THE CAR AT ONE A BLACK. LOOK HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET HERE. AND EVEN WITH THAT CLEARLY THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEMS PERSIST AND YOU HAVE THE POLITICS EFFECT CHANGE FOR THIS BODY BUT YOU CONTROL THE PURSE. I COULD GO ON AND ON WITH EXAMPLES. I THINK IT'S FAIRLY CLEAR THAT THIS WILL NOT CHANGE THE COURSE OF ACTION OF THIS FIGHT. REPRESENTATION MATTERS. SO I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YOU GOING TO FUND AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES?  YOU HAVE THE POWER TO EFFECT THE CHANGE. THE REAL QUESTION IS DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE WILL? I WANT TO TAKE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL FLYNN AS WELL AS COUNCILOR VIN WEBER WHO IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WHO WAS PART OF THE STOP THE LAWSUITS THAT WERE TAKEN AGAINST THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. AS WELL AS YOURSELF COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORT AND TIME IN ADDRESSING THESE. WHEN I FIRST MET YOU YOU AND I HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SAME MATTER AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN TODAY AND YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE TALKS AND I GREW UP DOWN THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER AND I PASSED THE TIPPING RIGHT AND IF WE HAD TO ADHERE TO THE STRICT GUIDELINES, THE FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ST CLAIR REPORT WHICH WALLY BENNETT, A BLACK MAN WAS ACCUSED OF MURDERING CHARLES STEWART WIFE AND UNBORN CHILD IN THAT MATTER THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT AND SAID THAT THEY RECOMMENDED NO ONE BELOW THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT BE PROMOTED TO THE COMMAND STAFF.  AT THE TIME THERE WAS ONLY ONE BLACK SITE. SO WE ARE NOW CONTINUING WITH A POLICY THAT ON ITS SURFACE WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED COMMISSIONER FOX TO BE THE POLICE COMMISSIONER TODAY BECAUSE THE CIVIL SERVICE RANK DECIDED NOT TO NEED GOT QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS POLICIES PUT IN PLACE THAT PUT US AT A DISADVANTAGE AND WE MUST NOT ALLOW THAT TO CONTINUE. I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL AS AN OBLIGATION AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LARRY. AND I WANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT COUNCILOR WEBER AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME VIABLE SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN REPAIR OR AT LEAST IT'S A BAND-AID BUT AT THE VERY LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PUT A PAUSE ON THE TEST THAT IS SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER.  YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING OUR BUDGET HEARINGS AND OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS NOW, COMMISSIONER COX AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KIND OF OPEN IT UP WITH THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION TO YOU IN REGARDS TO UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER RIGHT NOW AND IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO AWAY WITH THE TEST AND SEPTEMBER, WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION BE TO TO A PROPOSAL LIKE THAT? SO YOU REALLY TALK ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE ITSELF OR ACTUALLY WHAT WITHOUT REALLY WENT BEYOND THE PROMOTIONAL EXAM THAT IS SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER WHERE RIGHT NOW THERE IS A LIST OF FOLKS THAT COULD BE PROMOTED WITHOUT THE EXAM AND THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PUT A PAUSE AND AT THE VERY LEAST I THINK IT COSTS LIKE $1.8 MILLION TO ADMINISTER THAT. SO WE ARE LOOKING RIGHT NOW FOR DIFFERENT SPACES AND PLACES THAT WE CAN TRIM THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO OTHER THINGS AND WE THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD BE A WIN WIN OPPORTUNITY HERE ONE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AND ALSO TO GIVE SOME FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE UP THE LADDER IF YOU WILL. SO IF YOU COULD REACT TO THAT THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I GUESS IF YOU SEPARATE IT THIS IS ONE SMALL ISSUE THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE A GOOD WAY TO TO TO, YOU KNOW, BRING COMMON GROUND. BUT THE REALITY IS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY AM I LEADING THE DEPARTMENT BUT THERE'S A STRATEGY INVOLVED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AROUND CULTURE CHANGE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. AND THE FACT IS IS THAT EXAM IS PART OF THE STRATEGY GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS THAT SINCE IT'S HAPPENED THERE HAVE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OFFICES BUT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF OFFICES THAT ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE EXAM THAT WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THAT OLD PREVIOUS ONE. SECONDLY, I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY AND THIS IMPORTANT YOU LEARN FROM IT BUT THE FACT IS WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT DAY AND THE FACT IS I WANT OFFICERS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT IN GENERAL IN READING THINGS IN GENERAL WE'RE ASKING I THINK ADDITIONAL THINGS AROUND COMMUNITY POLICING AND SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY DO IN PRACTICE TODAY AND THE EXAM PROCESS IS ONE WAY THAT YOU ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE IN AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE BACK AND FOCUSED ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.  SO I HAVE MY JOB HERE IS ACTUALLY TO LEAD A DEPARTMENT IN THE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON ONE AREA THIS EXAM IS PART OF A BIGGER STRATEGY OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. YOU KNOW, THE BOTH DEVELOPED ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE JOB . THEY SHOW THEM A PATHWAY OF WHICH YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ONLY A JOB BUT A CAREER FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND OTHER MULTIPLE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AND THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND. SO IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS BUT THE FACT IS THAT PROVIDING THIS EXAM GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS THE STRATEGY WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS CULTURE WITHIN OUR ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHICH IS NOTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC THING AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME AND I AND I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ALL HERE BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT STRATEGY IS POSTED SOMEWHERE AND THAT ALL OFFICERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT WITH THE STRATEGY. SO SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS AND I HATE TO SAY THIS AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE SOUND CONDESCENDING AT ALL IS THAT, YOU KNOW, POLICE OFFICERS REALLY NEED TO BE REALLY GOOD AT THEIR JOB AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. AND THEN EACH LEVEL THAT YOU GO UP THEY HAVE TO KNOW MORE AND GET MORE RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF DEVELOPMENT. MY JOB IS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE IN A SENSE IS TO HIRE YOU GO THAT WAY BY THE FACT IS IS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER AND SO YOU KNOW PUTTING OUT THERE RANDOM EXAM NUMBER ONE WE'RE REQUIRED TO CIVIL SERVICE REQUIRES YOU TO DO IT EVERY TWO YEARS AND THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S APPROPRIATE HAVING FREQUENT EXAMS, KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED AND STUDYING, KEEPS PEOPLE ENGAGED IN ACTUALLY DEVELOPING THEMSELVES.  THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS TO WHY YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE FREQUENT EXAMS THAT ARE THAT ARE GOOD BOTH FOR THE INDIVIDUAL IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT THE FACT IS THIS IS NOT A BAD THING. IT'S JUST BEING PRESENTED AS A BAD THING AND FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO PARTICULARLY AROUND CULTURE CHANGE AND ALL OF THAT THAT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO IMPACT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT YEAH AND KNOW ME HOLDING THAT IS NOT REALLY IN THE STRATEGY THAT THAT I, I WANT TO BE SUPER RESPECTFUL OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LINE OF FOLKS WHO WERE BEFORE ME BUT AS THE CHAIR I JUST WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY JUST GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. I KNOW ATTORNEY HALL THAT YOU HAVE A HEART STOP IN 2 MINUTES BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU WANTED TO CHIME IN IN THE NEXT 2 MINUTES WHILE WE STILL HAVE YOU AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THEN COUNCILOR WEBER COUNCILOR I APPRECIATE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK IT'S CHALLENGING AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND CERTAINLY FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE STARTED FROM TWO DIFFERENT PLATFORMS YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO VERY SELFISHLY STATE THAT I LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SERVE OUR DEMAND IS THAT DIVERSITY IS IN FACT A TRUE PRIORITY AND PRIORITIES MEAN THAT THEY TRUMP SOME OF YOUR OTHER INTERESTS. THAT'S HOW I DEFINE THAT TERM HERE IN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TO HEAR THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE THE LEADERSHIP BEING MORE DIVERSE THAN IT IS NOW. THAT'S FALSE. THAT'S FALSE GIVEN THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS EXISTING TEST AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS TEST PROVIDES BUT ALSO MORE BROADLY IT'S FALSE BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE DIVERSITY IN SPECIALIZED UNITS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IN DIVERSITY OVER THE LAST HALF DECADE.  WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO SEE A BIPOC POPULATION THAT HAS INCREASED BY EVEN 4%. THAT'S A PROBLEM AND IT IS A PROBLEM MORE LARGELY THEN HOW PEOPLE VIEW POLICE OR HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERALLY MORALE EXISTS BECAUSE IF OUR POPULATION WHICH HAS BEEN MORE BIPOC OR PEOPLE OF COLOR ORIENTED STATISTICALLY SINCE 2011 SINCE THEY HAVE INCREASED PAST 50% THE VIEWPOINTS THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE MORALE THAT YOU HAVE TO SHIFT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS PREDOMINANTLY GOING TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THAT DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE MATTERS THAT IN FACT MATTERS MORE SO BECAUSE OF THE SHIFTING DYNAMICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY. SO IF WE DON'T PRIORITIZE DIVERSITY THEN WE ARE NOT TALKING TO THE MASSES, NOT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE OR EVEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. AND SO I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR THINGS LIKE ONLY 15 OUT OF THE 80 OFFICERS ON THIS RECENT TEST THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTED ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE JUST GIVE OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE.  I CAN'T SEE A STRATEGY THAT WOULD NOT PRIORITIZE THAT MOVE GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TEST IN A VERY SHORT SPAN OF TIME A ONE YEAR DELAY WILL NOT CHANGE AN OVERALL STRATEGY FOR HAVING REGULAR ONGOING TESTS BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRIORITY THAT DIVERSITY SHOULD TAKE IN THE HIRING AND PROMOTION PROCESSES OF BPD AND IT ALLOWS US TO IN FACT BELIEVE THAT THE CITY DOES MAKE THAT PRIORITY.  THANK YOU ATTORNEY GOAL AND JUST LIKE AN ATTORNEY RIGHT ON TIME.  1231 WITH A LITTLE FEW SECONDS TO SPARE I AM GOING TO IN THE END JUST BEING REALLY RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME. COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 5 MINUTES TO PUT YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO COUNCILOR WEBER.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER COX FOR BEING HERE AND THAT IS A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMISSIONER SINCE HE STARTED.  AND WHAT I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND KNOW LARRY ELLISON FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE LARRY IN MEMORY AND CONSIDER LARRY SOMEONE I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR AS WELL.  THE COMMISSIONER I'M I'M A LITTLE UNCERTAIN BUT I WAS JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW THE DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE EXAM WOULD BE HELD AND NOT BE HELD BUT IS IT'S A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM. IS THAT ADMINISTERED IS THAT MANAGED ORGANIZED BY THE STATE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT?  SO I BELIEVE WE'RE DOING AT LEAST THAT. COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE SO SO THE CITY OF BOSTON OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ADMINISTERING THE EXAM. WE HAVE A DELEGATE NATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE ALLOWING US TO ADMINISTER OUR OWN CIVIL SERVICE EXAM WHICH WE RECEIVED EARLY ON IN THE IN JANUARY WE RECEIVED APPROVAL TO HOST OUR OWN EXAM RATHER THAN TAKE PART IN A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM THAT'S OFFERED THROUGH THE STATE. OKAY.  OKAY. SO SO I JUST WANT TO BE CERTAIN ON WHAT THE WHAT THE LATTER IS OR WHAT THE ROLE IS IS THE IS THE CITY REQUIRED TO HAVE THE EXAM OR DOES THE CITY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE THE HAVE THE EXAM OR NOT TO HAVE THE EXAM. WELL WELL WHEN WE ISSUE A CERTIFIED LIST THE LIST IS GOOD FOR TWO YEARS FOR CIVIL SERVICE LAW.  AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS THE MANY TIMES WE'VE ASKED FOR APPROVAL TO EXTEND OUR CERTIFICATION BEYOND THE TWO YEAR LIMIT THIS YEAR WHEN WE DID ASK TO EXTEND THE YEAR BEYOND THE TWO YEAR LIMIT CIVIL SERVICE DID ASK US FOR A COMMITMENT TO HAVE ANOTHER EXAM RATHER THAN WAIT MORE THAN WELL ACTUALLY IT'S NOW FOUR YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD THE LAST CIVIL SERVICE EXAM A PROMOTIONAL EXAM WHICH WAS HOSTED IN AUGUST OF 2028. OKAY COMMISSIONER ONE ONE QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU IS WHEN WHEN YOU PICK SOMEONE FROM YOUR COMMAND STAFF AND THAT THAT IS A SERGEANT THAT'S A LIEUTENANT AND THAT PERSON GOES ON THE COMMAND STAFF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NUMBER OF LIEUTENANTS OR SERGEANTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE DEPARTMENT IS THAT DECREASED BY ONE BECAUSE A SERGEANT IS NOW ON THE COMMAND STAFF OR A LIEUTENANT IS NOW ON THE COMMAND STEP THEREFORE THAT PERSON'S NOT COUNTED TOWARDS TOWARDS THE NUMBERS.  YES AND NO. THEY'RE STILL YOU KNOW, THEIR CIVIL SERVICE RANK IS I THINK IS STILL SITTING THERE. BUT THE FACT IS IS THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THAT.  RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE CIVIL SERVICE CAPTAIN THEY WERE IT IN YOUR PERSONAL COLLEGE AND YOU WOULD NO LONGER BE REFLECTED IN OUR NUMBERS AS FAR AS THAT POSITION. OKAY. SO THE SO THE QUESTION WHAT THE UPCOMING EXAM I WOULD ASSUME THAT A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AS WELL STUDYING LEARNING ABOUT THEIR JOB, LEARNING ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LEARNING ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING, STUDYING, STUDYING QUESTIONS.  CERTAINLY THAT HELPS THEM BECOME BETTER POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL. BUT BUT THESE POLICE OFFICERS ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EXAM. IS THAT CORRECT, COMMISSIONER?  THEY ARE AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE ALREADY PURCHASED ALL THE BOOKS WHICH I'M NOT SURE THE COST BUT THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT. YES.  SO THEY'RE STUDYING CRIMINAL THE STUDYING CRIMINAL LAW RULES AND REGULATIONS AND OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.  WHAT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ,COMMISSIONER, TO TO THOSE OFFICERS IF THERE WASN'T AN EXAM OR THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT AND IN REALLY THE THE ONES THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE IMPACTED THE MOST ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS ON THE JOB THAT ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO TAKE AN EXAM. THEY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED SO BUT I DON'T KNOW THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT HAVING PURCHASED BOOKS, STARTED STUDYING AND WOULD PROBABLY LEAD TO OTHER LITIGATION WHO KNOWS? BUT I'M SURE YEAH RIGHT BUT BUT GO AHEAD. YOU CAN FINISH THAT THOUGHT. OH OKAY. OKAY YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU.  I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAYBE HE'S TESTIFYING DOWN DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT BUT A POLICE OFFICER A DECORATED POLICE OFFICER WHO I KNOW IS TESTIFYING IS ERIC SCHMIDT AS WELL.  BUT BUT COMMISSIONER, MY QUESTION IS IF THE EXAM DIDN'T TAKE PLACE, COMMISSIONER AND THEN SAY IT TOOK PLACE A YEAR LATER, DOES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S PROJECTED ADVANCEMENT IN TERMS OF MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THAT PARTICULAR PERSON TO BECOME TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT RANK BECAUSE OF THEY SKIPPED THEY SKIPPED THE EXAM AND NOW THEREFORE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE NEXT TESTING CYCLE. I'M JUST TRYING TO I'M JUST TRYING TO GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS.  THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY CERTAINLY FOR MORE RECENT PROMOTERS TO ACTUALLY TAKE THIS EXAM AND ACTUALLY BE PROMOTED EVEN FASTER IF WE GIVE AN EXAM RIGHT NOW VERSUS WAITING.  OKAY. COUNCILOR FLYNN I'M SORRY BUT IN THE INTEREST OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RESPECTING OUR COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR QUESTIONS IN AND I WANT TO JUST KNOW FOR THE RECORD BEFORE WE MOVE ON HERE IS A MISSILE. BRIAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR A FORMAL REQUEST FOR ANY TYPE OF COMMUNICATION OR DOCUMENT BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND FOR THE BPD TO COMMIT THAT THE BPD WILL HOST AN EXAM IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION AROUND ANY ANY OF THOSE COMMITMENTS AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE POTENTIALLY PURCHASED BOOKS BUT THEY HAVE NOT PAID FOR OR REGISTERED FOR THE EXAM. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE CLEAR ON THAT AND THEN I'M ALSO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THIS SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN THERE'S NEVER BEEN A TWO YEAR RULE AROUND EXAMS SOMETIMES THAT'S BEEN FOUR PLUS YEARS. SO IF YOU COULD JUST PROVIDE SOME FLAHERTY AROUND THAT AND YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THAT YOU EXTEND IT.  AND THEN LASTLY AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO JUST TO CLEAR UP A POINT HERE THAT THE LAST TIME THAT THERE WAS AN EXAM WAS I BELIEVE IT WENT PAST FIVE YEARS. SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE SEEMS TO BE A RUSH HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE THINGS CLEARED UP BEFORE WE'RE MOVING ON TO COUNCIL , HOWEVER. SO CAN YOU ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE POINTS PLEASE? SO I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWS OUR INTENTION WITH CIVIL SERVICE TO AN ANTICIPATED EXAM DATE OF SEPTEMBER OF 2024.  I DO HAVE A DELEGATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BY CIVIL SERVICE THAT AUTHORIZES US TO ADMINISTER OUR OWN PROMOTIONAL EXAM FOR THE RANKS OF SERGEANT LIEUTENANT AND CAPTAIN AS FAR AS THE PAYMENT OF THE REGISTRATION OF THE EXAM, THE THE FEE THAT THAT CHARGE IS $150 PER CANDIDATE AND THAT GOES TO THE EXAM ADMINISTRATOR WHO WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE ANY COMPONENT.  I KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS BUT THE QUESTION IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT PAID NO ONE HAS PAID NO, THEY WILL THEY THEY THEY WILL PAY THE ADMINISTRATOR WHEN THE ANY COMPONENT COMMENCES WHEN THEY START THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIQUE MODEL THEY WILL BE TOLD TO YOU KNOW YOU YOU KNOW, PAY THE FEE TO THE EXAM ADMINISTRATOR WITH RESPECT TO CLEARLY THE LIST THE LIST ITSELF THE CERTIFIED LIST THAT COMES OUT THROUGH CIVIL SERVICE IS GOOD FOR TWO YEARS AND ONCE YOU COME UPON THAT TWO YEAR MARK YOU DO HAVE TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION OF THAT LIST TO CARRY IT FURTHER THAN THE TWO YEARS THAT HAS BEEN DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OUR LAST EXAM WAS IN AUGUST OF 2020. HOWEVER IT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER OF 2019 WAS POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE OF 2020 AS A RESULT OF SOME ISSUE WITH THE BOOK THAT WAS ON THE READING LIST AND THEN IT WAS FURTHER POSTPONED IN AUGUST OF 2020 BECAUSE OF COVID BECAUSE OF COVID SO THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE DELAY. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT FOR SOME FLAHERTY AS WELL IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE HAVING AN EXAM IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024 THAT'S SLATED RIGHT NOW THAT THE THE EXISTING LIST WILL STILL BE CERTIFIED AND STILL BE OUT THERE PROBABLY MOST LIKELY A YEAR FROM NOW IN MAY AND JUNE. WE WILL NOT PROBABLY HAVE NEW LISTS UNTIL MAY OF JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.  SO WE WILL STILL BE PROMOTING OFF THOSE LIST. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, LISA.  AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT WE ARE IN THE HEARING YOU KNOW THE BUDGET SEASON RIGHT NOW AND WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEVERAGE HERE IN REGARDS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE APPROVED THAT LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET FOR THE TEST. SO I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY FIND A SOLUTION HERE THAT EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY'RE WINNING AND THAT EVERYBODY WALKS AWAY WITH A SENSE OF WE WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING FOR OFFICERS OF COLOR AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD SO I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR WEBER WHO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY PATIENT WAITING HIS TURN. SO COUNCIL WEBER YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES AND I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR AT LARGE MURPHY SO COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND 5 MINUTES OKAY, THANK YOU. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND I'M SURE I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONER COX. I MEAN LIKE WHY ARE WE TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT EXAMS?  IT'S BECAUSE IN THE PAST IN EVERY EXAM THERE'S BEEN AN ADVERSE IMPACT YOU KNOW ON ON OFFICERS OF COLOR INCLUDING IN THE ONE CASE THE CITY ONE IN THE YOU KNOW THE FIRST LOPEZ CASE, THE CITY ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT ON OFFICERS OF COLOR IN THAT CASE THAT WE JUST YEAH AND THEN THAT IS CLEARLY THE SAME THINGS HAPPENING FROM THE MOST RECENT EXAM AND ONE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT IS TO SIMPLY WAIT A YEAR FOR MOST OFFICERS WHO SCORED 89 AND 88 ON THE TEST AND YOU KNOW THAT WOULD AT LEAST ALLOW SOME OF COLOR TO BE PROMOTED, YOU KNOW, AND NOT REQUIRING YOU TO PICK AND CHOOSE PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR RACE AND AND ALLOW WE'LL HAVE A GROUP OF SERGEANTS WHO EVENTUALLY WILL BE SHOOTING FOR PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT AND CAPTAIN AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE SO SMALL AND ONE OF THE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THESE TESTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY RESULTED IN THIS KIND OF ADVERSE IMPACT JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, IN THE IN THE IN THE WITNESSES IN CASE WE HAD JUDGE YOUNG LOOKED AT THE EXAM AND YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE IS DOES THIS EXAM MEASURE YOU KNOW THE THE THE SKILL THIS IT'S THE KNOWLEDGE OF SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR THESE DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND THEY THEY DON'T YOU KNOW IN FOR THE BECAUSE THEY WELL THE WRITTEN TESTS MAY MEASURE SOME KNOWLEDGE YOU KNOW MEASURES NONE OF THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED YOU KNOW ORAL COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS THIS KIND OF THING AND YOU KNOW AND SO THAT'S NOT HAPPENING BUT IN ADDITION WHEN YOU'RE USING A TEST AS A DISTRICT RANK ORDER DEVICE AND YOU'RE RANKING PEOPLE BY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE POINT SCORERS, YOU'RE PUTTING A GREATER BURDEN ON THE TEST WHICH ALREADY DOESN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD AT IT AND THAT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF DISPARATE IMPACT AND ADVERSE IMPACT ON OFFICERS OF COLOR. AND SO YOU KNOW, TWO THINGS TO THAT POINT. ONE IS EVEN MY KIDS IN SCHOOL THEY DON'T GET STREET RANK ORDER. THEY HAVE AN A OR B WHICH IS THREE POINTS. RIGHT. SO YOU COULD USE A THREE POINT IT'S CALLED BANDING AND USE THAT AND THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE PEOPLE GIVE YOU MORE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM AND ALLOW YOU TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE ACTUALLY BE GOOD AT JOB AND NOT JUST GOOD AT TEST TAKING. AND ANOTHER THING AND THIS IS BROUGHT UP IN OUR CASE IF YOU WENT TO THE RED SOX YOU KNOW AND YOU GAVE EVERYONE YOU KNOW OR YOU'RE IN STANDS IN THE DUGOUT A TEST ON BASEBALL HISTORY AND RULES THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY TELL YOU WHO TO BRING UP TO THAT LEAD OFF FOR THE RED SOX. YOU KNOW, YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE GOOD AT THAT JOB AND NOT JUST GOOD TEST TAKING AND SO YOU HAVE TOOLS LIKE BANDING WAITING A YEAR ON THE TEST AND NOT USING THESE THESE KINDS OF EXAMS. ANOTHER THING WHICH CAME OUT IN THE STATE CASE WAS FOR THESE WRITTEN EXAMS THE ADVERSE IMPACT YOU CAN DECREASE IT BY HAVING JUST HALF AS MANY QUESTIONS. YOU DON'T NEED 80 QUESTIONS ON THE WRITTEN MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST THEY FOUND AN ADVERSE IMPACT BETWEEN BETWEEN GROUPS WAS REDUCED BY JUST HAVING A SMALLER NUMBER OF QUESTIONS PARTLY THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE YOU KNOW PRESUMABLY NO WHITE OFFICERS JUST HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION AND TAKING TESTS AND YOU GO INTO THAT YOU KNOW WITH THAT AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS WE TALKED ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE I REALLY THOUGHT JUDGE WILKINS IN THE STATE EXAM YOU KNOW, HE SAID THAT RICCIARDI WAS ARGUING THAT CIVIL SERVICE LAW TIES ITS HANDS. OKAY. CIVIL SERVICE REQUIRES THAT THE NAMES OF CANDIDATES BE ARRANGED ON A LIST IN THE ORDER OF THEIR MARKS ON AN EXAM. I WILKINS SAID THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A WRITTEN MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST. FOR ONE THING AN EXAMINATION MAY BE ORAL WRITTEN OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. IT MAY OCCUR IN MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST IN ANOTHER STANDARD ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY THE EXPERTS AT THE CITY'S USE ASSESSMENT CENTERS IN BOXES MARK PRESS CONFERENCES. MOREOVER, A MARK DOES NOT NEED TO BE A SPECIFIC NUMBER ON THE TEST THE IT BE THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ACADEMIC LETTER GRADE WHICH BANS GROUPS OF NUMERICAL SCORES INTO A SINGLE GRADE AND EACH TIME YOU'RE NOT BOUND BY CIVIL SERVICE TO TO I KNOW COMMISSIONER BILL EVANS SAID HE WAS AN 8020 GUY. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BOUND BY THE CONSISTENT PRACTICE IN PPD TO USE THESE TYPES OF EXAMS FOR PROMOTIONS. IT'S SHOWN AND IT'S SHOWN RIGHT NOW IN THE TEST FOR USING THAT YOU'RE GETTING YOU'VE GOT YOU'VE GOT ADVERSE IMPACT THERE'S THERE'S NO DISPUTE YOU SAW THE LETTER FROM THE LECTERN WAS REWRITTEN THE NUMBERS ARE CLEAR YOU JUST HEAR THE PPD IS GOING TO HAVE TO JUSTIFY THAT WHETHER THEY CAN DO THAT OR NOT THAT THAT'S ANOTHER THING.  SO YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY YOU SHOULD THIS IS AN EASY WAY TO GET TO IT.  THE LAT THIS THE CITY HAS GOTTEN PERMISSION TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIODS BETWEEN EXAMS BY WAY MORE THAN GIVEN EXAM 2820 1420 20 YOU KNOW THOSE ARE THE LAST EXAMS SO I THINK ANOTHER YEAR TO GIVE YOU FOUR YEARS ON THIS LIST. YOU KNOW I I'M PRETTY SURE ALREADY WE WANT TO ADD ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NUMBERS WHICH YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION THANK YOU CHAIR SORRY SIR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE A LAWYER IN THE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT KNOWS EMPLOYMENT LAW AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR HARD WORK IN THIS SPACE. COUNSELOR WEBER, YOU ARE A TRUSTED VOICE IN IN THIS ARENA AND SO I KNOW THAT THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. SO SO THANK YOU FOR BREAKING IT DOWN THE WAY THAT YOU DID. WHAT YOU GOING TO THAT'S THE QUESTION. IS THERE A QUESTION THERE? NO, NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO JUST I MEAN REALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OFFICERS WHO SCORED 80 1988 ON THE EXAM. THIS IS AND AND ALL THE EXPERTS AGREED THE DIFFERENCE IN SCORES IS NOT RELATED TO INTELLIGENCE AND IN FACT ON USE ON THESE KINDS OF EXAMS WITH 1.21.8 IT'S NOT RELATED TO YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM AS A SERGEANT LIEUTENANT AS A CAPTAIN. SO KEEP THOSE I HOPE YOU KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND AND TEXTURE. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR WEBER, I'M CURIOUS,  COMMISSIONER COX, HOW MANY EXAMS HAVE YOU TAKEN?  ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE I TOOK THE ONE AND THEN I ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO SCHOOL UNDERGRAD MANAGEMENT IN THE MBA AND THEN A MASTER'S OF JUSTICE AND ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF HONORARY DEGREES NOW BUT I'VE ACTUALLY DONE A TON OF CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. I ACTUALLY FILED THAT DEVELOPMENT REALLY WAS ABOUT HOW YOU STAYED INVOLVED IN YOUR FIELD IN THE PROFESSION AND SO I'VE GOT A TON OF CERTIFICATES I WAS ALWAYS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ACTUALLY NOT ONLY POLICE WORK BUT PATH TO SUCCESS IN THAT.  I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON A JOB PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN EXAM TO START TO, YOU KNOW, MENTOR FOLKS ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS IS ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT ASSESSMENT.  WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ASSESSMENT PORTION ON THIS EXAM SEVEN OF THE WHAT HE COUNCILOR WEBER WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT AND SO AND I I'M NOT TRYING TO YOU KNOW BE DIFFICULT BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTING CHANGE IN CULTURE IS NOT EASY AND WHEN I SAY IS PART OF WHAT I'M DOING HERE THIS IS A PART OF THAT HAVING A DEPARTMENT ENGAGED IN AN EXAM, HAVING A DEPARTMENT ENGAGED IN STUDY AND HAVING THE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON THE SAME ISSUES IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ONE DEPARTMENT AND UNDERSTANDS OUR MISSION AROUND COMMUNITY POLICING AND PROFESSIONALISM AND ALL THAT IT TAKES INVOLVED. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE OLDER HISTORY AND I AND I AND I'VE GOTTEN BACK MY HEAD TRUST ME I KNOW OUR HISTORY IN THAT WAY BUT I ALSO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE ,THE FUTURE AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE AND ALL THE THE NEW GENERATION OF OFFICERS THAT ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO TAKE AN EXAM AND I DON'T WANT TO NOT INCLUDE THEM. I BELIEVE IN DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION SO I'M NOT WILLING TO NOT INCLUDE A GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR I MEAN I DO KNOW BUT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.  I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT GOES ON TODAY AND SO IT IS A PART OF WHAT IT IS THAT I'M TRYING TO DO. YEAH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.  THIS IS REALLY ABOUT YOUR LEGACY TOO, RIGHT? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SEIZE THIS MOMENT. AND YOU KNOW, I WANT TO NOTE THAT I KNOW A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE MASTERS DEGREES.  SOME ARE EVEN DOCTORS AND AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE WHERE WE ARE IDENTIFYING WHAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T THINK A TEST IS THE ONLY A WAY TO DETERMINE THAT. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS ARE DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DOING PROGRAMS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT QUALITIES THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO MEASURE THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE IN POSITIONS OF BEING ABLE TO STEP UP THE LADDER. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN FOR US TO TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AND LISA, MAYBE YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ME BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE 10 TO 12 SERGEANT DETECTIVE SPOTS THAT ARE STILL UNFILLED.  WE HAVE EIGHT TO 18 TO 20 SERGEANT SPOTS THAT ARE STILL ON OPEN. WE HAVE FOUR LIEUTENANT POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN. AND WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGET SEASON IN PARTICULAR EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE CAN WE IDENTIFY SPACES AND PLACES AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE POSITIONS SPILLS THAT WE CAN'T WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT WHERE CAN WE WORK, WHAT CAN WE YOU KNOW, MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS HERE AND YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM A TEST I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD JUST TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER PATHWAYS TOWARDS DIVERSIFYING THE THE LEADERSHIP ? WELL, WHEN YOU SAY LEADERSHIP, I THINK I'VE ALREADY DESCRIBED IT THAT AT NO TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS THOSE ARE APPOINTEES I'M TALKING ABOUT I KNOW LET ME LET ME STEP BACK. THERE ARE NO HIGHER LEADERS THAN WHAT I JUST NAMED. WE CONTROL THE DIRECTION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLICY AND IN EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT IN OUR HISTORY IF WE GO BACK IN HISTORY IF YOU WENT TO THE 1950S AND SOMEONE SAID WELL NO, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SUPERS AND DEPUTIES, THEY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED YOU AND SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY RUN THE PLACE? IT SEEMS NOW THAT OUT OF THEIR ACTION PEOPLE IN COLOR THAT NOW WE'RE BEING DIMINISHED. THEY SAY NO, NO, WE HAVE TO GO DOWN TO A LOWER RANK TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T COUNT. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO COUNT THE COMMISSIONER GOES THE SUPERINTENDENT COUNTS DEPUTIES COUNT. THEY ACTUALLY ARE THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR DEPARTMENT PEER RIGHT. AND THEN THERE'S RANKS BELOW THEM THE MIDDLE RANKS THAT THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AND THAT BUT IT BEGINS BY MAKING SURE WE GET OFFICERS AT THE BOTTOM RANK AND THEN WE GET WE HAVE TO GET MORE PEOPLE TAKING THIS EXAM AND ACTUALLY SHOW THEM A PATHWAY TO HOW THEY DO IT STUDY AND BE SUCCESSFUL. I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, HELP IN THE MENTORING OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PATHWAY TO THIS AND THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND THAT'S YOU.  IT CAN HAPPEN THERE'S NO DOUBT. YEAH. CAN YOU READ LIKE YOU'RE PROJECTING THE BADNESS ON SOMETHING THAT HASN'T EVEN HAPPENED YET? I HAVE HOPE AND FAITH IN THE OFFICERS THAT TAKE THAT EXAM. I HAVE HOPE AND FAITH IN THEIR ABILITIES AND THEIR ACTUALLY GRIT AND WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, STUDY AND I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER HOPE BUT FOR THE FACT IS I KNOW THAT THEY CARE AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE CARE AND THEY'RE PASSIONATE THEY ARE IT TENDS TO SHOW UP AND I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE AT TIME. BUT AND THEN I ALSO KNOW THAT COUNSELOR MURPHY IS ON DECK FOR QUESTIONS. SO I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU NEXT, COUNSELOR MURPHY BUT I JUST WANT COMMISSIONER COX TO FINISH THIS THOUGHT RIGHT HERE. BUT IF YOU COULD JUST TALK TO US HOW YOU PRIORITIZE THESE PEOPLE WITH DEGREES AND AND FOCUSES ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAN YOU KIND OF LIKE UNPACK THAT?  THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. BUT THE PROCESS ITSELF I MEAN WE WOULD ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PUBLICIZE THE YOU KNOW HOW THEY THEY DO IT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE ASSESSMENT CENTER AND THAT PORTION OF IT. BUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IT IS IS WHEN YOU REQUIRE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU DO EXAMS EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS THAT'S QUITE A PROFESSIONAL EXCEPT DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO WHO ASPIRE TO BE BOSSES WILL START TO READ. THEY GET THE MOST UPGRADED BOOKS, THEY GET THE MOST UPGRADED BEST PRACTICES, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IT ACTUALLY ENGAGES A WHOLE DEPARTMENT IN THAT ACTUALLY NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE IN WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT THE BEST PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.  WHEN YOU GO BACK IN TIME, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT AND SO NEVER MIND THE MEMORY LOSS THAT YOU HAVE FROM YOU TOOK THE EXAM YEARS AGO NOW WE WANT TO PROMOTE YOU AND THAT WE'RE WE WANT TO MAKE ESPECIALLY IMPLEMENT IT SO THERE'S A LOT WE'RE DOING AROUND DEVELOPMENT IT BEGINS KIND OF LIKE WITH THAT EXAM THERE'S OTHER THINGS COMING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCREDITATION AND STUFF IN THE FUTURE AS FAR AS REQUIREMENTS FOR YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AND WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND HOW WE NEED TO DO IT YEAH IT'S A MULTILAYERED THING THAT WE'RE DOING ALL AT ONCE AND THIS IS THAT WHEN YOU TAKE IT SINGULARLY APART IT'S STARTS TO IT STARTS TO WATER DOWN WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND IT'S JUST NOT EASY IN THIS ORGANIZATION.  IT'S NOT EASY SO IT'S NOT AND WE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND THE LAST THING AND THEN I'LL DEFINITELY MOVE ON TO COUNSELOR MURPHY WHO'S BEEN SO PATIENT IS THAT THE TIMING OF THE TEST? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS DURING THE SUMMER WHERE WE HAD THE MOST ACTIVITY. IT JUST REALLY IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT GIVING OFFICERS A FAIR SHAKE, I THINK SEPTEMBER REALLY PUTS SOME FOLKS AT A DISADVANTAGE AND THAT'S JUST THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD. YOU KNOW, I I'M NOT IN THE FORCE.  I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT LIFE SO I REALLY CAN'T CONFIRM OR DENY THAT. BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD. BUT COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. NO THANK YOU CHAIR FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON DO YOU KNOW THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED IF THIS DECISION OF ENDING THE LIST AND NOT EXTENDING THE CURRENT LIST AND ALSO HOW MANY WOMEN WERE PROMOTED FROM THE CURRENT TEST?  SO THE CURRENT ONE CURRENTLY I THINK WE HAVE AND LISA O'BRIEN CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M MISTAKEN WE'VE PROMOTED 1616 YEP 16 WOMEN FROM THE 2020 TEST. YES. CORRECT. YEAH.  SO HOW MANY WERE ON THE LIST ARE WOMEN DO WE KNOW I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT TO COUNT SO I DON'T HAVE THAT READILY READILY AVAILABLE. OKAY.  AND HOW MANY WOULD BE IMPACTED IF WE ENDED THIS LIST? I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THAT TO YOU AS.  WELL, OKAY. NO, I'D APPRECIATE THAT. AND WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND BY THE WAY, THE EXAM IS NOT ENDING THAT LIST. I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. IT'S IT JUST YOU KNOW, WAS ALREADY MENTIONED UNTIL THE EXAM GOES, IT WILL STILL BE PULLING OFF THIS LIST FOR ANOTHER YEAR.  YES. YES.  I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT IF PROMOTIONAL EXAM HAPPENS IN SEPTEMBER THAT YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THIS LIST FOR THREE YEARS. IT MIGHT EVEN BE MORE BY THEN AND THEY'VE INVESTED YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE BUYING BOOKS AND STUDYING WHICH I DO APPRECIATE LIKE HOW DO WE STUDY AND BE SUCCESSFUL?  I DO HAVE TO SAY I HAVE SEEN SOME POLICE OFFICERS WITH FLASH CARDS AND I SAID THEY MUST BE STUDYING FOR AN EXAM, IT MUST BE COMING UP. BUT WHAT DO WE SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT. WHO DID HAVE A GOOD SCORE HAVE BEEN WAITING AND I KNOW DURING THE BUDGET HEARING WE TALKED ABOUT AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT I THINK COUNCILOR HERE WHERE THERE ARE UNFILLED POSITIONS YOU KNOW, AT THE HIGHER RANKS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO BE PROMOTED AND WE'RE NOT PROMOTING THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND SO I MEAN I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S FAIR BUT I DO UNDERSTAND FOR STAFFING REASONS THAT IF YOU PROMOTE THEN YOU'RE LOSE A BODY DOWN BELOW. BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING AND THEN FEEL THEY'RE KIND OF THROWN BACK IN AND SPENDING, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF MORE DOLLARS ON BOOKS AND TIME AND TESTING?  AND SO THAT'S A VERY FAIR QUESTION AND I'LL SAY THIS THAT EVERY EXAM YOU KNOW, MOST THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE PROMOTED. RIGHT. IT'S A COMPETITIVE EXAM. SO USUALLY IT'S THE TOP OF THE LIST WHETHER IT'S ASSESSMENT OR A REGULAR STRAIGHT SCORE. USUALLY THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, GET PROMOTED OFF OF THAT WHEN THERE ARE OPENINGS YOU KNOW,  WE'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULFILL OUR PATROLMAN'S RANKS RIGHT NOW WHICH IS IMPACTED A FEW THINGS WHERE BUT THE FACT IS WE NEED STRONG SUPERVISION BUT REGARDLESS THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE AND SO YOU HAVE TO GO AND I HAVE SAID IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S A GOOD BECAUSE IT'S A BALANCING ACT WHERE GAP BETWEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE STRONG SUPERVISION BUT ALSO MAKING SURE WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO THE JOB DIRECTLY AND SINCE WE'RE PULLING FROM THE SAME GROUP AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KNOW PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED BUT THE FACT IS EVERY EXAM OF YOU KNOW, IN THE HISTORY OF EVERY POLICE, YOU KNOW, EXAM THAT I AM AWARE OF , THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET PROMOTED BECAUSE IT'S IT'S COMPETITIVE EXAM.  THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS. NOT EVERYONE WHO TAKES IT WILL BE PROMOTED BUT YEAH BUT SO IS IT TRUE TO SAY YOU ANNOUNCE A TEST AND YOU'RE GOING TO PROMOTE HOW LONG ARE WE PROMOTING FROM THE OLD LIST AND HOW DOES THAT REFLECT ON OFFICERS NOW STUDYING AND WANTING TO GET PROMOTED?  WELL IT'S IT'S BAD POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN AND SO I GUESS THE FACT IS IS THAT WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE ALWAYS RETIRING. YOU KNOW CERTAINLY YOU KNOW THAT I CAN'T PREDICT SOME OF THEM ARE MANDATORY BUT THE OTHERS WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL AFTER THEY DO AND THERE'S BEEN A FAIR NUMBER EACH YEAR THAT HAVE GONE AND THEY MAY MAYBE KEEP THEIR POSITIONS AND THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS OF WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO BACKFILL OR AT LEAST FILL FROM THAT.  AND SO IF AT RETIREMENTS RETIREMENT WORKS JUST TO CLARIFY THOSE SOME OF THESE POSITIONS ARE OPEN BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE SLASH WILLING TO FILL RIGHT NOW TO YOU INCLUDING THOSE ON THE LIST OF OPENING BECAUSE THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPEN WELL I CAN ONLY COUNT THE OPEN POSITIONS BECAUSE CAN'T PROJECT OUT ON WHEN SOMEONE'S IN A SEAT THEY'RE IN THE SEAT YOU KNOW AND SO UNTIL PEOPLE LEAVE THE ONLY THING I CAN COUNT ARE OPEN POSITIONS. WHAT I CAN SAY THAT YOU KNOW, PRETTY REGULARLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RETIRING,  YOU KNOW, AND THEY CREATE A BACK I MEAN A VOID OF SPOTS.  AND SO I GUESS YOUR POINT IS IS THAT YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT IMPACT A PERSON IF WE PROMOTE OFF OF THE OLD EXAM STUDY AND FORTH, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THEM? I WOULD SAY BY THE TIME THAT WE GET IT GRADED OR WHATEVER IT'S A DIFFERENT PERIOD OUT IN THE FUTURE AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RETIRED OR CHOOSE TO NOW YOU KNOW, RETIRE IT'S FAIRLY I'M FAIRLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE'LL BE MORE OPENINGS BASED OFF OUR PREVIOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN RETIRED.  I KNOW I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS AND IS IT FAIR TO SAY BECAUSE I'VE ADVOCATED OR SPOKEN TO PEOPLE ABOUT PROMOTIONS AND BEING TOLD THAT THEIR ADVICE TO THEM IS JUST BY THE BOOKS AND START STUDYING? IS THAT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE I MEAN BUT IS THAT THE BEST ADVICE WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT THE BOOKS, WHO HAVE ALREADY STUDIED, WHO HAVE ALREADY SCORED A NUMBER THAT SHOULD GET THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WE'RE NOT LIKE YOU SAID NOT EVERYONE GETS PROMOTED BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID SCORE WELL ON THE TEST AND WHO'S TO SAY THEY'RE AT A TIME IN THEIR LIFE RIGHT NOW TO PUT ALL THAT ENERGY BACK INTO STUDY AND IT PROBABLY WAS A LOT OF WORK TO COMPLETE WHAT DID THEN?  NO, I HEAR YOU SO YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THE INVESTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF. THE INVESTMENT THEY MADE IN THEMSELVES BACK IN 2019 PROBABLY WHEN THEY HAD TO BUY IT OR OR YOU KNOW I PROBABLY THE LATEST IS 2020 WHEN THEY INVESTED INTO THAT EXAM I WOULD SAY THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE. THIS IS 2024. THERE'S A DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP. WE'RE ALMOST LIVING IN A DIFFERENT WORLD AND THE FACT IS IS THAT I WHEN I FIRST CAME PEOPLE ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE EXAM AND I ALWAYS GIVE THE ADVICE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PREPARE AS THOUGH YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER EXAM BECAUSE IT'S THAT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES. RIGHT. AND IT'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY OUT OF TAKING ANOTHER EXAM AND IT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DO WELL, STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE ENGAGED IN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY DEVELOP THEMSELVES BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE DOESN'T GO AWAY LIKE NO BUT TESTING THAT KNOWLEDGE AS A TEACHER I KNOW YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE IT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. YOU CAN GO BACK AND REMEMBER ONE OTHER THING BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME POINTS OR SOME WAY TO MARK OFF THAT THE CLASS THAT TOOK THE TEST IN 2020 WE ALWAYS GOING TO REMEMBER THAT THEY STUDIED AND TOOK THIS TEST DURING COVID AND WE KNOW A LOT OF THE TENSIONS GOING ON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME. SO THEY WERE HAVING EXTREME STRESS ON THE JOB. AT THE SAME TIME THE WORLD IS IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. THEY STUDIED DESPITE IT ALL AND DID WELL WILL THAT BE ANY WAY LIKE WE SAW IF YOU COULD STAND AS WE HAVE BUT THE WRITTEN POLICIES THERE THEY WERE WRITTEN DOWN ON SPECIFIC PROMOTION CRITERIA PROCEDURES YOU COULD SHARE WITH ME THE COUNCIL AND IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO HONOR THAT GROUP THAT TOOK THE TEST RIGHT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ON THE COUNCIL ALL OF THESE FIRST RESPONDERS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO WERE WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WHEN OTHERS WERE IN CONTINUE MANY STILL CONTINUING TO WORK FROM HOME IN THE CITY.  WHILE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WORK FROM HOME IF THEY IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT NONE OF YOU DO WHAT I'M SAYING OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WE OF THE COUNCIL HAVE ADVOCATED FOR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE POLICE. THE POLICE NEVER HAD THAT LUXURY, RIGHT? NO. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THINKING YOU FOR THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO THIS IS THE PROMOTION EXAM. I CALLED IT AN INVESTMENT IN THEMSELVES.  IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THEMSELVES REGARDLESS AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOT EVERYONE WILL BE PROMOTED. THAT'S JUST THE REALITY ABOUT HOW IT WORKS. BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT BATCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW ELIGIBLE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HONOR THAT.  I AM YOU KNOW, I CAME IN AUGUST 15TH OF 2022 AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH CULTURE. THIS IS A PART OF THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS AN EXAM A WHILE AGO BUT I'M NOT A HISTORY REVISIONIST.  I CAN'T UNDO YOU KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD WENT ON THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE OFFICERS HERE NOW THEY HAVE HOPE TO HAVE EXPECTATIONS AND WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED BOTH THE EXPECTATION THERE WILL BE AN EXAM AND ALSO YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE TO YOU KNOW BETTER STILL ON THE OLD THIS PROVIDED SOME HOPE THAT WE WILL STILL BE CONTINUING TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF OF THAT UNTIL THAT NEW TEST IS GIVEN AND WE'RE ABLE TO PULL FROM THAT LIST SO I THINK WE'VE PROVIDED BOTH AND WE'VE DONE IT IN A PRETTY HONEST WAY AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL I CAN PROBABLY SAY ABOUT YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE OFFICERS AND EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THIS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MURPHY, I KNOW I GAVE YOU EXTRA TIME JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO LOOK THROUGH BACK THE TAPE AND YOU DID.  I APPRECIATE YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA. I DO. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE SUPER MINDFUL THAT WE YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT,  YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED AS YOU KNOW, I'M JUST BEING OUT A MONTH HERE IN FEBRUARY AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO TODAY. RIGHT. SO AND YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT THERE ARE OPENINGS AND PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE HAVEN'T THEM.  AND I THINK SOME OF THIS AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TEST IS DEFINITELY A PROCEDURAL THING AND IT'S PART OF THE PRACTICE, I THINK THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE COME TO A COMPROMISE IN WHICH FOLKS FEEL LIKE OUR WORDS MATCH OUR ACTIONS AND YOU KNOW, FOR ME I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GIVE PEOPLE HOPE BUT I THINK WE ARE AT A POINT IN THIS PROCESS HERE ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT I HEARD LARRY TALK ABOUT 50 YEARS AND HERE WE ARE STILL ONLY WITH TWO CAPTAINS OF COLOR AND YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE LONGER WE DELAY THE,  LONGER WE DENY PEOPLE OF OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO REALLY ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT THEY THEY CAN'T BE WHAT THEY CAN'T SEE. AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHERE THIS ENERGY IS REALLY COMING FROM AS IT RELATES TO THIS WORK.  AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS DATA AND IT'S NOT JUST HISTORICAL ANTIDOTES HERE THAT WE WE ARE SHARING AND YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TEST AND HOW HOW IS THAT IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS TEST SO THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT? YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IN THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE URGENCY IN THE WHY NOW AND YOU KNOW WHY NOT WAIT LIKE WHAT'S UP WITH THIS TEST?  IT'S JUST WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW CIVIL SERVICE GUIDELINES THAT THAT THE LIST IS GOOD FOR TWO YEARS. WE DO HAVE AN EXTENSION AND APPROVAL FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE LIST. WE HAD TO PROVIDE OUR INTENTION OF HAVING PROMOTIONAL EXAM THIS TIME WHEN WE WROTE THE LETTER TO CIVIL SERVICE REQUESTING THE EXTENSION.  BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THE THE ISSUES THAT WERE AROUND THE 2008 EXAM AND IN 14 AND 2020 WE HAD AN ASSESSMENT CENTER AS PART OF THE EXAM. SO THE WRITTEN PORTION WAS WAY BLESSED. SO THE ASSESSMENT PORTION WAS WEIGHTED MORE AND AS YOU MOVED UP IN RANKS THE WRITTEN TEST WAS EVEN WEIGHTED LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS RATE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ASSESSMENT CENTER IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU BEGIN TO MANAGE AND LEAD AT THE DISTRICTS THAT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE THAT YOU KNOW YOUR SCENARIOS YOU KNOW HOW TO WRITE ACCURATELY AND CORRECTLY AND TRULY BE A LEADER BUT YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE DELEGATION AGREEMENTS THE WEIGHTS IN THE TEST THAT YOU KNOW AS A SERGEANT THE WRITTEN PORTION IS HEAVIER THAN LIEUTENANT CAPTAIN BUT I BUT I REALLY THINK THAT YOU KNOW, AS YOU GO THROUGH THE RANKS YOUR SCENARIOS ARE MORE JOB RELATED NOT THE POLICY PROCEDURES AND CRIMINAL LAW ETC. AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT. I ALSO THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION WITH COVID IN 2020, IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO MAYBE EVEN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN THEY WERE IN 2020 BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THAT POINT IN TIME . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO AND THIS IS ONE LAST QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR TIME AND HOW IMPORTANT IT HAS BEEN FOR YOU TO BE HERE WITH US. I DO. WE HAVE ONE MORE PANELIST BUT BEFORE WE WRAP UP WITH YOU AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY GENEROUS I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU INTEND TO BRING IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INTO YOUR UPCOMING PROMOTION OR PRACTICES. MORE SPECIFICALLY, HAVE YOU MADE ANY INTENTION AND ANY INTENTION TO PROMOTE YOU KNOW, THERE'S TEN PEOPLE TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE . HOW ARE YOU DECIDING WHO YOU'RE GOING TO PROMOTE FROM A GROUP?  WHAT'S YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS MODEL IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING WITH US SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ARE YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES HERE? YEAH. AND SO YOU KNOW YOU KNOW FIRST THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN ANY LEADERSHIP THING BUT IT CAN'T BE TAKEN IN IN VACUUMS. YOU CAN'T LOOK TO ONE GROUP, RIGHT? AND SO OUR COMMAND STAFF IS HIGHLY DIVERSE.  WE'VE SPENT A TON OF TRYING TO RECRUIT AND BRING IN NEW OFFICERS THAT ARE DIVERSE WITHIN THE ACADEMY. RIGHT. SO THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT PROBABLY THOSE YOUNGER OFFICERS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE UP THE RANKS THAN SOME OF YOUR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH YOU LONGER. RIGHT. SO THAT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT WELL, IF THEY WILL IF WE HAVE EXAMS MORE FREQUENTLY. ABSOLUTELY.  AND SO THE FACT IS IS THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S MULTILAYERED.  YOU KNOW, IT STARTS AT THE TOP. IT STARTS AT THE BOTTOM. IT STARTS AND WHAT SHE EMPHASIZED IT STARTS AND HOW YOU YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR HOW WE POLICE IT STARTS TO EDUCATION. IT STARTS WITH MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT EXAM PROCESSES ARE IMPORTANT. I LOVE THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS EXAM IS NEW. WHAT WHY THAT MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW ENGAGED AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT IS HOW YOU START TO GET CULTURE CHANGE.  I UNDERSTAND HISTORY AND ALL THAT WHATEVER BUT THE FACT IS TODAY THIS IS WHAT'S NEEDED TO ACTUALLY HELP, YOU KNOW,  FURTHER THE CULTURE CHANGE IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE AT OUR DEPARTMENT AND MAKE IT THE BEST IN NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY BUT THE WORLD.  AND SO IF YOU ATTACK IT FROM ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL SPACE, OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO LOOK WEAK IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE CAPTAIN, RIGHT? OH, YOU HAVE ZERO CAPTAINS. BUT THE FACT IS WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS THE MOST EVER BEFORE THE HIGHEST OH WELL YOU SAY WELL YOU DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW YOU KNOW A SERGEANT. SO WHAT WE HAVE YOU KNOW DEPUTIES OR WE HAVE WHATEVER WE ARE WORKING IN SPACES AS LONG AS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE IN EVERY SPACE THAT'S THE POINT. AND SO WE KNOW WHERE WE BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET THE FEEDERS TO THOSE THINGS INVOLVED AND ONE OF THOSE ARE GETTING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE EXAM, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S OLD THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE EXAM IS THE KEY AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE THESE EXAMS AND THEN USING ASSESSMENT CENTERS THAT MAKES YOU AT THE END HOPEFULLY IT'S MORE REFLECTIVE OF AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. RIGHT. AND IT'S HOPE FOR EVERYBODY. SO NO ONE FEELS LEFT OUT. YEP. CAN GIVE UP HOPE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE LEFT HERE Y'ALL. AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE OFFERED US IN THIS DISCUSSION AND AS I MENTIONED TO THE BP'S TEAM I'LL MENTION TO BP THAT THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY HEARINGS. THIS WILL BE STAYING IN MY COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO PICK BACK UP. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THESE WRONGS AND I WANT TO START WITH OUR NEXT WE HAVE ONE MORE PANELIST THAT'S GOING TO SPEAK AND THAT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. SO COUNSELOR WEBER, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONER, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY PIECE. YEAH, I DID. YEAH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUST YOU KNOW YOU'RE SITTING ON A TEST NOW. I THINK WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, 225 OFFICERS OF COLOR TOOK THE SERGEANT'S EXAM AND ABOUT 15 WILL HAVE BEEN PROMOTED. YOU KNOW, UP TILL NOW. SO YOU KNOW, YOU YOU YOU HAVE JURISDICTION OVER HOW THIS TEST IS ADMINISTERED NOW. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING HERE THAT WOULD MAKE AN IMPACT FOR OFFICERS WHO TOOK THAT TEST AND IT DID WELL AND YOU KNOW, 8980 SO THANKS I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR TIME.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO LARRY, I WANT TO YOU'VE BEEN REALLY PATIENT AND QUIETLY THERE SITTING SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY ANY LAST REMARKS BEFORE WE TRANSITION TO OSCAR AND THE REST OF OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY? WELL, FIRST I AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.  I THINK YOU KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY NOT MUCH AS FAR AS ANY OPTIMISM THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE. I THINK SOME PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF CHANGE IT MAY BE LOOK GOOD LIKE YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD OVER MANY EVERY POLICE COMMISSIONER PRIOR TO COMMISSIONER COX TALKED ABOUT THE COMMAND STAFF BEING THE MOST DIVERSE AND THAT'S YOU KNOW, SUBJECTIVE. THAT'S YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT GLASS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE HALF EMPTY, HALF FULL BUT YOU DON'T GET THE FEET AS LIKE I SAID THE OPPORTUNITY NOW IS THERE EVEN THIS CURRENT EXAM THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW HAS AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON IT. WE CAN'T SEE INTO THE FUTURE BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE WASTED IF WE DIDN'T TAKE THIS CHANCE TO PUT MORE PEOPLE IN POSITION SO HE COULD SAY AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN SAY THEY HAVE A MOST DIVERSE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOT JUST THEIR COMMAND STAFF. THANK YOU, LARRY, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR YOUR LIFETIME LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, PEOPLE ARE HOPING FOR A COMMITMENT AND IF YOU DON'T COMMIT TO NOT TAKING YOU KNOW, TO NOT ADMINISTERING THE TEST, I'M WONDERING IF YOU WOULD IF YOU'RE SOME FOLKS WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO EVERY TWO YEARS I'M DOING THAT. IS THAT WHAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY PEOPLE I THINK SOME FLAHERTY AROUND THAT. I BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW EXAM SHOULD BE WAY MORE OFTEN THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN GENERAL AND SO AND I'M COMMITTED TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.  RIGHT. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOU ARE CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY AS OF NOW TO DIVERSIFY YOUR SUPERVISORY RANKS IF YOU COULD THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO JUST THAT. BUT WE'RE OPTING NOT TO JUST FOR THE RECORD FOR THE RECORD SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE WE'VE BEEN PROMOTING PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN HIRING PEOPLE ALL DIVERSE IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE CITY AND WHAT PEOPLE LOOK LIKE AND GENDER AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.  SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEGATIVE COMES FROM BUT THE FACT IS IS WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING D-I SINCE WE GOT HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.  ONLY 15 PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO THE SERGEANT RANKS OUT OF THE 80 RIGHT. IS THAT FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT IS A NUMBER THAT'S OUT THERE? BUT THE FACT IS YOU ARE TRYING TO REDUCE AND LOOK AT ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT OF IT AND AND I KNOW SOMEONE MADE MENTION TO IT BEFORE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP MATTERS AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REFLECTIVE OF THE CITY WHILE ALSO PROVIDING HOPE TO EVERYONE THAT WORKS HERE AND THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS STEP. WHAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS AND DEPUTIES ARE RESPONDING TO RADIO CALLS AND PEOPLE WHEN THEY LIKE WHEN THEY CALL TO ASK TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR, WALK INTO A STATION . WHO ARE THOSE FRONT LINE SUPERVISORS? WELL, CERTAINLY THE THE FRONT LINE PEOPLE ARE POLICE OFFICERS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE RECRUIT A DIVERSE CLASS WHICH THE LAST TWO CLASSES HAVE BEEN HIGHLY DIVERSE ARE HOW WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT THAT AND THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY SEES TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.  AND THEN SECONDLY, YOU CAN'T PROMOTE FROM SERGEANT UNLESS YOU HAVE A POOL OF PEOPLE OFFICERS TO PULL FROM AND SO WE ARE EMPHASIZING WE STARTED AT THE TOP WE'RE EMPHASIZING THE BOTTOM AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WORK IN THE MIDDLE. IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ALL AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE EACH ONE PULLS FROM SOMEPLACE.  AND SO STRATEGICALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING I WOULD PROBABLY DO IT AS I DID AT THE TOP BOTTOM AND THEN AS THEY INCREASE YOU PULL FROM THOSE TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS GO ON. I HEAR YOU THIS IS NOT AN OLD ISSUE BUT THE FACT IS TOTALLY COMMITTED TO IT. BUT WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE LEADER AT A TIME AND AND I'M DOING THE BEST THAT I'M TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. BUT WHAT WE HAVE AND THE CONDITIONS THAT WE ARE AND I HEAR ALL OF THESE THINGS YOU KNOW PERSPECTIVE IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS A HOPEFUL PLACE BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A PATH TO SUCCESS AND THAT THAT THEY CAN BE RESILIENT AND OVERCOME ALMOST ANYTHING. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT WAY THAT I WAS ENCOURAGED BY LARRY WHO WAS ON THIS PHONE CALL TO TO STUDY AND TAKE THAT EXAM WHICH I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE BUT FOR HIS ENCOURAGEMENT I DID TAKE IT AND I DID PASS IT. I ACTUALLY DID WELL ON IT AND BECAUSE IT WAS AN ASSESSMENT THAT I DID QUITE WELL ON THE ORAL EXAM AND THE FACT IS AS I WAS YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW LUCKY AND WHATEVER THAT I HAD THE MENTORSHIP OF SOMEBODY LIKE LARRY I WAS SENT TO IT WHO ASKED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT AND I TOOK IT AND THEN I DID THE STUDY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER I NEEDED TO ACTUALLY BE PROMOTED. AND SO WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE STUFF THAT WE NEED THEM TO BE GOOD ON THIS JOB IS ON THAT EXAM AS WELL SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE . ALL RIGHT. JUST FOR THE RECORD WE DO HAVE A 2 P.M. HEARING AND I STILL NEED TO DO PUBLIC TESTIMONY SO I'M GOING TO AND THIS PORTION OF OUR HEARING AND I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND OSCAR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE I KNOW I'M GOING TO I'M SORRY TO TELL YOU YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONDENSE AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO NEXT TO SHANE. I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO ANTHONY ORTIZ THEN FOLLOWED BY MR CALDERON, THEN OCTAVIA,  PAUL, GEORGE, RICK AND MOJO.  OKAY OSCAR SO SORRY I HAD YOU HERE FOREVER AND I'M ONLY GIVING YOU 2 MINUTES BECAUSE I HAVE A HEARING AT TWO AND WE NEED TO TRANSITION SORRY AND THANK YOU.  NO WORRIES. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?  GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL COMMISSIONER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT. MY NAME'S OSCAR GUERRERO. I'VE BEEN ON THE DEPARTMENT FOR TEN YEARS PROUDLY SERVING.  I KNOW WE WILL HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK SO I'LL KIND OF KEEP IT BRIEF.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH COUNCIL HERE ABOUT EXTENSIVELY ARE THAT BARRIERS FOR EXAMPLE OF I.D. ARE INTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND THE PRACTICE OF , YOU KNOW, NOT CLOSING OUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER AND OFTENTIMES SEEING OFFERS, YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SORT OF WEAPONIZED AGAINST OFFICERS WHO ARE TRYING TO CLIMB THE RANKS.  YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME. I HAVE A LOT THAT I WOULD THAT I WOULD HAVE DISCUSSED IN 7 MINUTES BUT I DON'T WANT TO MONOPOLIZE THE TIME. SO I DIDN'T IT THERE JUST WE NEED IT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT PIECE AT SOME POINT AND ALSO TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF GRADES . YOU KNOW WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY ALSO EMBARRASSING TO THE PUBLIC.  THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION DOWN. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TEST, YOU KNOW WITH AN ORAL PORTION THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH COUNCILOR MEJIA ABOUT IT BEING A SUBJECTIVE PORTION, WE SHOULD ALL NOT JUST GET OUR OWN EMAIL GRADE BREAKDOWN SO THAT IT SAYS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 29 OF THE 29 POINTS OF THE 32 FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND YOU KNOW 40% 40 POINTS FOR THE ASSESSMENTS THEN ARE THE TOTAL IT SHOULD BE A BREAKDOWN WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT EVERYBODY SCORED BECAUSE LOGICALLY IF YOU CAN'T IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES AND REGS AND YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT IN PERSON SO YOU KNOW WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. BUT THAT BEING SAID OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THAT AND I'LL LET EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE A CHANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU OFFICER IT I DID GIVE YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE JUST SO YOU KNOW AND I COULD HAVE GIVEN YOU MORE BUT I GOT A WHOLE LIST OF FOLKS HERE SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU. ARE YOU A CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND AND HOW YOU ARE ALWAYS INFORMING ME OF THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO BE WELL AWARE OF . SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT. I'M A MOVE ON NEXT TO ANTHONY ORTIZ.  YOU NOW HAVE 2 MINUTES ON THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS BRIEF. I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT TO THE POINT THOUGH. MY NAME IS ANTHONY ORTIZ.  I'M A HISPANIC RETIRED BOSTON POLICE DETECTIVE. A LOT OF 32 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN THE BOSTON POLICE FORCE TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENTS. SUFFOLK COUNTY SHOWS THE BOND IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD I TOOK THE 2002 MORTAL EXAM IN MY SCHOOL WHICH IS REACHED IN 2014 WHEN I WAS WAS FOR A MAN WITH OVER 20 OFFICERS AND DESPITE MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT THAT TIME AS AN OFFICER DETECTIVE DESPITE HAVING THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE ENTIRE BACK I WAS NOT SELECTED TOOK MOTION THIS OBVIOUSLY COST ME SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS UP UNTIL RETIREMENT WHEN I RETIRED IN JANUARY OF 2023.  THIS HAS OPENED UP WOUNDS DOING THIS BUT I'M VERY GLAD TO DO IT AND HOPEFULLY HELP SOMEONE OUT AND I DID GO THROUGH IMMENSE EMOTIONAL STRESS AND DEPRESSION ,EMBARRASSMENT, THE PRESENCE OF MY FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WHAT HAPPENED THAT AND MY SUPERVISORS NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT MY JOB PERFORMANCE. I HAD BEEN AN EXEMPLARY EXAMPLE CAREER EMPLOYEE WITH TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND.  I HAD NO COMPLAINTS AGAINST ME AND ADDITIONALLY I LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAD SIGNED ACCEPTANCE FOR PROMOTION AT LEAST TWO OTHER TIMES IF NOT MORE PRIOR TO THIS 2015 PROMOTION AND I WAS NEVER CHOSEN FOR ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS.  THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE END OF MY STORY AND I HOPE EVERYONE THE BEST OF LUCK AND THOSE EXAMS AND HOPEFULLY THINGS CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANTHONY . THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD RIGHT.  BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.  SO SO THANK YOU FOR DOING JUST THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO RIGHT THE WRONGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  I'M GOING TO GO TO MR CALDERON. YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. YOU'RE ALL GOOD MORNING. IS IT CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?  YEP. AND IT'S AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELL, WE STARTED NOW A LITTLE EARLIER BUT MY NAME IS ERIC SCHMIDT.  I'M A 19 YEAR VETERAN OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER.  PREVIOUSLY I WAS A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND I HAD BEEN A SWORN MEMBER OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 17 YEARS. CURRENTLY I'M A DETECTIVE BUT MORE THAN THAT I'M A HUSBAND, A FATHER AND I ALSO GREW UP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I HAVE OBTAINED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE EMERITUS DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND I RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS CITATIONS,  COMMENDATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS FOR MY SERVICE AS A POLICE OFFICER.  RELUCTANTLY I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY AND TO GIVE A VOICE TO WHAT I FEEL IS RIGHT NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR MY COLLEAGUES. I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY STRONG CONCERNS OVER THE PROMOTIONAL EXAM ANNOUNCED BEFORE JULY 2020 THAT GENERATED A PROMOTIONAL LIST IN AUGUST OF 2021.  THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS CURRENTLY THINKING OF PROMOTING SERGEANTS OFF THIS LIST.  I HAVE SPENT OVER $20,000 WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUTTING IN A GREAT EFFORT TO ATTAIN MY MASTER'S DEGREE AND HELP TO RAISE THREE CHILDREN ALL WHILE STUDYING TO ENHANCE MY CHANCES OF BEING PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. FURTHERMORE, I ALSO SPENT WELL OVER $1,000 IN STUDY MATERIALS AND TUTORING FOR THE ORAL BOARD PORTION OF THIS EXAM.  PLEASE LET ME LET ME REMIND YOU ALL THIS WAS DONE DURING THE COVID YEARS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE ALL MY RESPONSIBILITIES BUT I IN OTHER OFFICES ENDURED THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD AND TOTAL. I SPENT TWO YEARS STUDYING AND TAKING WALK COURSES FOR THE WEST. THIS LAST SERGEANT'S EXAM UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS AS A BOSTON POLICE OFFICER I HAVE ONLY BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS EXAM TWO TIMES DURING MY TIME AS A POLICE OFFICER I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS HIGH RISK CALLS AND EXPOSURES. I HAVE ALWAYS PERFORMED MY JOB WITH A SENSE OF DEDICATION FROM NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT FROM MY FAMILY.  THIS WAS HIGHLIGHTED WHEN I LEFT WHERE I WAS FOR MY WEDDING ,MISSED MY WEDDING REHEARSAL AND RESPONDED TO WATERTOWN, MASS.  AS A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON POLICE SWAT TEAM. THIS WAS TO ASSIST MY COLLEAGUES AND SEARCH FOR THE OTHER MARATHON BOMBER.  THIS WAS SUBSEQUENT TO RESPONDING TO THE SECOND BLAST SITE ON 415 2013 AND EVACUATED IN THE AREA ASSISTING IN SECURING THE AREA. I AM A DEDICATED, HARDWORKING BOSTON POLICE OFFICER.  ONE SPECIFIC CREDIBLE ANSWER THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN WAS IN DISTRICT SEVEN IN OCTOBER OF 2016.  THIS INCIDENT WAS A SHOOTING IN WHICH TWO POLICE OFFICERS WERE GRAVELY WOUNDED AND PINNED DOWN UNDER GUNFIRE AND MYSELF AN OFFICER LENIN ORTIZ IN ADDITION TO OTHER OFFICERS WHO ASSISTED IN RESCUING THE WOUNDED OFFICERS SAVED THE TWO OFFICERS LIVES THAT NIGHT.  TWO BOSTON POLICE OFFICERS LIVES WERE SAVED AND THEIR PREMATURE FUNERAL WAS PREVENTED BY THE ACTIONS OF MYSELF AND THESE OTHER BRAVE OFFICERS.  THE TWO WOUNDED OFFICERS WERE UNABLE TO RETURN TO DUTY AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND WERE FORCED TO RETIRE FROM THE INJURIES.  MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT THIS TIME WITH TWINS AT I NOT SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT THESE TWINS WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THEIR FATHER BUT I RETURNED TO WORK. I RETURNED TO WORK WITH A MOTIVATION TO SEE MYSELF GET PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND BECOME A LEADER AND A MENTOR TO THE YOUNGER OFFICERS COMING ON THE JOB.  I NOW FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN THIS IS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE INDICATIONS THAT DESPITE BEING NEXT UP FOR SERGEANT TRAINING I AM POSSIBLY GOING TO BE GOING TO DIE IN THE CURRENT SERGEANT CELESTE GIVEN THE FACT THAT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW EXAM COMING THIS SEPTEMBER INSTEAD OF STAYING WITH THE CURRENT EXAMINATION, YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT I AM AN OFFICER WHO SEES THE VALUE IN COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY DURING MY TIME SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT B2I WAS BEFRIENDED BY NUMEROUS OFFICERS FROM NUMEROUS CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS SPEAKING ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND INTRODUCING ME TO THEIR CUSTOMS AND WAYS. I FELT A GROWTH AND EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. I'M SORRY I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE TESTIMONY IS 2 MINUTES. I LET YOU GO ON A LITTLE BIT LONGER. WE DO HAVE A LIST OF OTHER FOLKS THAT I WANT TO SIGN UP SO I JUST WANT TO BE COURTEOUS AND I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF YOUR OF YOUR STORY AND AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING SO MUCH OF YOURSELF TO THE SPACE. BUT IF WE COULD IF YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO OC THANK YOU VERY MUCH THIS IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY WILL RESULT IN AN EXAMINATION STAYING IN PLACE AND POSTPONE ANY EXAM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU SEE THE VALUE IN PROMOTING A DIVERSE AND SEASONED POOL OF OFFICERS FROM THE 8988 AND 87 AS WILL RESULT IN THE MOST DIVERSE GROUPS OF PROMOTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY AND WILL RESULT IN THE MOST PROMOTIONS OF WOMAN IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE BOSTON POLICE PATROLMEN'S ASSOCIATION ,THE DETECTIVES BUNNELL VENICE BUNNELL EVENTS SOCIETY AND THE POLICE AFFINITY GROUPS FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  THEM THANK YOU ERIC AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW WELL REGARDED AND I RESPECT THAT YOU ARE BY YOUR COLLEAGUES PARTICULARLY YOUR COLLEAGUES OF COLOR AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND LENDING YOUR VOICE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT ALLYSHIP LOOKS LIKE AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE HERE AND TO SHED LIGHT. IT MEANS A LOT.  TRUST ME THOSE WHO ARE TUNING IN KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOUR TESTIMONY WAS TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN THIS SPACE RIGHT NOW. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND ALSO TO APOLOGIZE FOR RUSHING YOU. BUT WE HAVE A HARD STOP BECAUSE I HAVE TO GIVE THE CENTRAL STAFF A BREAK BECAUSE WE HAVE A 2:00 HEARING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR.  SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, MADAM COUNCILOR . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE'RE MOVING ON NEXT TO MR JOSEPH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ON DECK MR PAUL JOSEPH OCTAVIUS, RICK AND MOJO. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S YOUR YOUR GOVERNMENT NAME BUT THAT'S THE NAME THAT'S ON HERE RIGHT NOW. SO IF YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT NAME YOU MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE IT SO I CAN ADDRESS YOU APPROPRIATELY SO RICK MR JOSEPH OCTAVIUS IF WE CAN LET THEM IN THAT WOULD BE GREAT.  AND AGAIN FELLAS WE ONLY HAVE 2 MINUTES EACH, OKAY? AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND TRUST ME WE WILL BE HOLDING A SECOND HEARING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO UNPACK.  SO MR JOSEPH, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND 2 MINUTES IN HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?  YES, WE CAN. THANK YOU. 2 MINUTES. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?  YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO AS YOU KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW I'M PAUL. I'M A RETIRED SERGEANT CONNECTED BY THE BOSTON POLICE. BEN WEBER KNOWS ME VERY WELL. I WAS ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS ON THE SMITH CASE AND WHICH WAS USED FOR THE THE THE TATUM CASE WHICH AND ALSO I DID WORK AS THE PRESIDENT OF MANLEY ON THE DRUG HEAD. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE LARRY I WAS AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR AT SOME POINT. I HAVE A LAW DEGREE FROM STANFORD LAW THAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING YOUR METHOD OF METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR ME AND MARIA I PASSED THE BAR AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS AND WITH THAT SAID, WHAT DID THE FAMILY WANT? MA'AM? WE WANT TO DELAY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW PROMOTION EXAM SO THAT MORE PEOPLE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE ON THE PRESENT LIST CAN BE PROMOTED. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENTLY THINKS IS IS A MAGIC BULLET TO GIVE ANY PROMOTIONAL EXAM, THERE ARE NOT THERE ARE NOT THOUGH ALL THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IT ALL ALL OF IT HAS SHOWN THAT WHITE MILT ENDS UP ON TOP AND THEN AFTER THAT THERE'S A GROUP OF BLACK WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE MIDDLE AND WE NEED TO GET TO THOSE FOLKS AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE MAGICAL THINKING YOU WANT BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE FACTS RIGHT UNTIL WE CHANGE THE TEST AND HAVE IT HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, COMPONENTS THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE. AND AND SO THE NOTION THAT THE TIMING OF THE TEST I CAN TELL YOU THE NOTION THAT STARTING FROM TO IN CAPTAINS DON'T MATTER IS SIMPLY FALSE.  RIGHT? THEY DO MATTER. THEY DO THE DAY TO DAY WORK.  IT HAPPENS IN THE STATION. THE COMMAND STAFF HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT COMMISSIONER CLARKE GRADUATED FROM NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MILTON ACADEMY, WENT TO PROVIDENCE COLLEGE AND HE HE TOOK THE PROMOTIONAL EXAM JUST LIKE I DID. I GOT IN ON MY FIRST TRY TO WRITE AND YOU KNOW HE GOT THE SERGEANT WENT TO THE COMMAND STAFF DECADES AGO AND SO HIS HIS EXPERIENCE AS A RANK AND FILE OFFICER WHO WHO WAS GIVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES. RIGHT. AND SO I I TO GIVE A QUICK EXAMPLE WITH WITH ALL MY LAW DEGREES AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT I BUT OVER 20 IS I APPLIED IN FACT I STOOD IN FRONT OF HIM HE INTERVIEWED ME TWICE WITH SERGEANT DETECTIVE SPOT AND BOTH TIMES I WAS REJECTED RIGHT BY HIM NEVER BEEN SUSPENDED, NEVER HAD AN WRITTEN REPRIMAND, NOTHING LIKE THAT RIGHT BUT EXEMPLARY MY WHOLE CAREER. SO AGAIN IF YOU NEED IT THEY NEED SOME IDEAS WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOU CAN YOU CAN IMPLEMENT THE THE RETIRED OFFICERS AND DETAILED SYSTEM WHICH ALL I CAN GUARANTEE YOU MORE OFFICERS WILL RETIRE WHO ARE WHO HAVE ABILITY TO RETIRE AND OPEN UP MORE OF BOSSES OF COLOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR JOSEPH TELL MARIE THAT I SAID HELLO AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.  YEAH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL BE GOOD.  THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO I BELIEVE RICK AND THEN OCTAVIUS AND THEN MOJO RICK IF YOU ARE STILL WITH US HE'S UNDER ATTENDEES SO WE NEED TO UPGRADE RICK THEN OCTAVIUS OKAY, OKAY. RICK OKAY, WHAT ELSE CAN GO ON MUTE? RICK YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND THE FLOOR. THANK RICK ARE YOU STILL WITH US?  OH YES.  RICK YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. YES, MA'AM. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS IN 2015 I WAS ACTUALLY ON A GROUP WITH TONY ORTIZ, SARAH DORSEY WHO WAS ALSO MENTIONED IN METRONOMES MEETING AND WE DIDN'T GET PROMOTED. WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO FIND OUT WHY WE ACTUALLY GOT LEGAL COUNCILOR . AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GOT FROM A MEETING THAT WE WERE IN WAS I WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T DO A LOT WE DON'T HAVE A REVIEW SYSTEM THAT WOULD DO THAT AND MY SUPERVISOR AT THE TIME WAS BRUCE SMITH WAS A SERGEANT. DETECTIVES AND I HAVE BEEN UNDER HIS COMMAND SINCE 2012 SO WE GET THESE THINGS AND THIS PROMOTIONS WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND PEOPLE CAN BE PASSED OVER IN WAYS THAT AREN'T FAIR THAT TODAY WE DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY UNDER COX ADMINISTRATION BY DOING SENIORITY AS FAR AS I KNOW. BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY BYPASSED AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT SO GOOD AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY . THANK YOU, RICK. AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP REITERATING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO TELL OUR STORY BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS, NUMBER ONE. BUT ALSO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET THINGS ON THE RECORD. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO DO JUST THAT AND THANK YOU.  OKAY, OCTAVIUS, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR IN A VERY INTERESTING ZOOM ICON THERE. SO GREAT.  WHICH IS THAT CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. LET ME YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU OKAY. QUICKLY, COUNCILMAN . HEY, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR REFERENCE TO MY PERSONAL SIDE THE PERSONAL SIDE OF THOSE OF MY CONTENTION WITH THE BOXING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF BOSTON, PARTICULARLY THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH HERE. WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU TO GET PEOPLE HEARD WILL THERE BE A PUBLIC TESTIMONY AFTER THE HILL AND FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE CREATION? YES THERE IS OR YOU CAN USE THAT SPACE TOO TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THE SIGN UP FOR THAT THAT WHAT I ALREADY HAD IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. SO I WILL I WILL MENTION THIS AND I'LL SHUT UP TO MY BROTHER LARRY ELLISON AND MY SISTER CYNTHIA HALL.  WE'VE WORKED ON CIVIL SERVICE ISSUES BEFORE BUT REALLY QUICKLY I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PERSON, A BEHAVIORAL, A CULTURAL TWIN FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS A FIVE THE EXTENSION ONCE AS TO HOW PEOPLE ACT IN ALL OF THE ALL OF THE CORRUPTION MASSES.  AS THAT HAPPENS THE LAWS DEPARTMENT SAID I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE FOUR YEARS AND IT STILL HASN'T REALLY CAUGHT ON THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO COME EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THERE ARE SOME SOME SEPARATION AS IN TERMS OF HOW THINGS MANIFEST AND HOW THINGS ARE ACTUALLY THERE ARE A LOT MORE STIMULI SO YOU COULD KIND OF ALMOST KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE IF YOU STARTED TO INCLUDE THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY THE BOSTON SOCIETY FALCONS AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR TESTIMONIES HAVE BEEN HEARINGS LIKE THIS.  SO AS I SAID, PERFECT PURPOSE,  BEHAVIORAL AND CULTURAL CHOICE BETWEEN BOSTON CROSSFIRE AND BOSTON POLICE. SO YOU MAY WANT TO SERIOUSLY FAN THAT BUT I'LL HOLD ON TO THAT TILL AFTER THE NEXT HEARING AND KIND OF REVISIT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO DO TO TALK TO BOSTON.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  I DO APPRECIATE THAT. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HOST IT WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BALKANS AND JEFF, WHEN WE PASSED THE FAIR CHANCE ACT WHICH REALLY LOOKED AT NEPOTISM AND FAVORITISM AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES, UNFORTUNATELY WHILE WE ESTABLISHED THE FAIR CHANCE ACT WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON IT ONLY PERTAINS TO NON UNION WORKERS SO THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO DO. OCTAVIUS IN THAT SPACE AND I'M HOPING THAT THROUGH THESE CHANNELS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE POTENTIALLY COULD DO WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REALLY ONCE AND FOR ALL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.  AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU LOGGING IN TOO TO SHARE YOUR STORY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE AND WE WELCOME IT AND APPRECIATE IT AND YES, 2:00 MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HEARING THAT I'M HOSTING BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO MO JOE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN UPGRADE TO PANELIST MODULE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR YOUR LEGIT NAME ADDRESS MOJO IS YOUR LEGITIMATE HI. HI. HOW YOU DOING?  GOOD. I'M MARTIN JOSEPH. I WAS JUST LISTENING.  I'M LISTENING IN. I KNOW I KNOW INTENTIONS ARE SPEAKING BUT SINCE I'M ASKED I WILL PUT MY LITTLE $0.02. IT'S OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YES. YES, I WILL. I'M SORRY THAT I WOULD THANK YOU. WHAT?  AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, GO ON AHEAD. OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.  JUST IN MY I CAME ON IN 1986 AND I DIDN'T TAKE AN EXAM OR TWO AND THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF MY BROTHER TOLD ME TAKE THE EXAM. TAKE THE EXAM. I'M A SERGEANT DETECTIVE NOW ANY MINUTE I'LL RETIRE. YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY PUT MY PAPERWORK IN TO LEAVE BEFORE AND I HAD TO, YOU KNOW, PULL THE PAPERS. BUT I'LL TELL YOU THE ONLY THING IS I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS. I THINK IT WAS TWO TWO NAMES AGO HE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT LIKE THE TRANSPARENCY LIKE WHAT IS THE CRITERIA? THE LAST EXAM WE HAD IT SEEMED LIKE THE LIST WAS GOING TO DIE AND IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE JUST BEFORE THIS LIST THAT'S ACTIVE NOW WAS CERTIFIED ALMOST LIKE I'M I'M NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED BUT IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF EXAMS OVER MY CAREER. I'VE BEEN ON MY 38TH YEAR RIGHT NOW AND I'VE SEEN IT APPEARS AS THOUGH MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WERE GIVEN A HEADS UP HEY, IT DIDN'T DO WELL ON THIS EXAM.  YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU ON THIS OLD EXAM AND THE BOAT GOT LOADED LIKE DOZENS OF NAMES GOT GOT PROMOTED THE LAST MINUTE. SO WHAT IS THE CRITERIA OF LAST MINUTE PROMOTIONS? AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE REACHED ON THE EXAM THE LIST DIES. I KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE DIED ON THIS. I DIED ON THE HOSPITAL FOR MANY TIMES BUT AND ALSO TO TAKE AN EXAM DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WELL FIRST OF ALL LESS THAN SIX MONTHS. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IN OUR PAST PRACTICE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, NEVER LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND A SUMMERTIME IS THE WORST TIME ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, ORDERING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON LATELY BY POLICE OFFICERS BEING ORDERED. IT'S KIND OF TOUGH FOR SOMEONE NOT ONLY TO GIVE THEM SACRIFICE IN THEIR TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THAT'S WHEN THEIR KIDS ARE OFF USUALLY THEY COULD TAKE TRIPS BUT ALSO TOO YOU HAVE TO NOW HAVE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU'LL WORK AND GET THE AUDIT SO IT'S LESS TIME TO STUDY. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I FIND TOUGH AND JUST THE LAST THING I'M JUST GOING TO PLUG ON THIS IS IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN I SEEM EXAMS AND THIS WAS JUST BEFORE WHEN THE CONSENT DECREE WAS WHEN THEY GOT RIP WHEN THEY GOT RID OF THE CONSENT DECREE THERE WERE NOT MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE EXAM TWO EXAMS AND THEY HIRED THEY PROMOTED EVERYONE ONE ON THE LIST ALMOST TO THE LIST EXHAUSTION AND THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE LIST. IT WAS JUST LIKE LESS THAN A DOZEN PROBABLY SIX. AND I REMEMBER SEEING THIS AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I WANTED TO TAKE THE EXAM. I WAS INTERESTED BUT THAT'S WHEN MY BROTHER, YOU KNOW, CAME ON A JOB. HE CAME ON THREE YEARS AFTER ME AND HE RETIRED BEFORE ME LEFT MEJIA.  BUT AT ANY RATE I THAT'S ABOUT IT. I'VE JUST SEEN THE WAY THE LIST IS ACTIVE AND THEN NEXT MINUTE ONCE THEY REACH PEOPLE OF COLOR IT'S NOT I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION IS DOING,  YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S WE HAVE TO LOOK AND SAY ALL RIGHT, HE WANTS TO MAKE THE CHANGE BECAUSE THE WAY THE THING WAS GOING BEFORE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TWO YEARS AND IT I'VE SEEN EXAMS GO ON OVER FIVE YEARS AND HE WANTS TO BRING IT BACK BUT NOW IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE DAMAGE IS DONE AND NOW CHANGES ARE TO BE MADE TO MAKE IT RIGHT AGAIN. BUT THAT HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU COME TO AS THE COURT SAY HOW DO YOU REMEDY SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE THE PROPER REMEDY FOR SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE BEEN NOT WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IT'S HOW DO YOU MAKE SOMEONE WHOLE? THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S IT. I MEAN I'M SORRY FOR BRINGING THE SIDES. I GUESS I HAD NO TO MAKE IT. LOOK, I LOVE HOSTING HEARINGS BECAUSE WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE FULLY EXPRESS EVEN FOLKS WHO WEREN'T READY OR PREPARED TO SPEAK HAVE SO MUCH TO SHARE . AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU LENDING YOUR VOICE AND OFFERING PERSPECTIVE SO NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.  I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO SO. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO JUST THAT AND I AS FOR THOSE WHO WHO ARE STILL TUNING IN, I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMMISSIONER COX WAS NOT SLATED TO BE HERE BUT HE KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE HERE AND TO PARTICIPATE.  SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP FOR SHOWING UP AND IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. IT IS REALLY DEEPLY APPRECIATED AND I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE BEING ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS SEEN AND AFFIRMED AND HEARD SO MODULE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I ALSO WOULD JUST LIKE TO END WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE AND SINCE COMMISSIONER COX KEEPS TALKING ABOUT IT LET'S JUST THIS NOTE THAT I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS PARTICULAR HEARING IN COMMITTEE.  WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER HEARING SOON BECAUSE I STILL THINK THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT TO UNCOVER AND THERE'S MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AT THIS POINT THAT WE HAVE AND I WILL BRING BACK SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY REALLY COME BACK WITH SOME SENSE OF DIRECTION AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.  SO IN THE INTEREST OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE 8 MINUTES TO TRANSITION INTO OUR NEXT HEARING, I WANTED TO JUST THANK EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU CENTRAL STAFF THIS WAS A MARATHON. THIS WAS A LONG ONE. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT US AND I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF. THEY WILL SAY THIS WAS OUR FIRST HEARING, OUR COORDINATING AND WE HAVE A DOUBLEHEADER TODAY SO WE HAVE ONE AT TWO. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ANDERSON FOR HER HARD WORK AND PUTTING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND INTO THIS SPACE. WITH ALL THAT SAID SHANE, THIS HEARING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU