GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I HOPE OR AT LEAST COUNCILOR YOU AS TO WATCH THIS COUNCIL MEETING LIVE ON YOUTUBE AT BOSTON.COM FOR CLASS CITY COUNCIL DASH TV. AT THIS TIME I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM? COUNCILOR BREADON YOU'RE COUNCIL COLETTA. COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  IF COUNCILOR FLYNN. IF COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE HEAR COUNCIL ME HEAR, HEAR. COUNCILOR COUNCILOR PEPEN COUNCIL SANTANA COUNCILOR WEBER HERE AND COUNCILOR WORRELL COUNCIL DURKAN QUORUMS.  THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A FORM IS PRESENT. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY COUNCILOR STEPHEN DONOHUE INVITED BY COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNTERFEIT JOB. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM WITH YOUR GUEST? A REMINDER ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND GUESTS ARRIVE AT THE TIME OF INVOCATION AND AFTER THE INVOCATION PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR EVERY RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE COSMO GERALD, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOX MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TODAY PASS TO STEPHEN DONOHUE. HE'S BEEN A PASTOR AT CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NIPPON SIT LOCATED IN PORT NORFOLK NEIGHBORHOOD OF DORCHESTER FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS AND HIS SERMONS ARE USUALLY GIVEN IN ENGLISH AND TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH. PASTOR DONOHUE HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING THE BUILDING AVAILABLE TO ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS GROUPS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS IN ADDICTION. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING A 12 STEP PROGRAM ON TUESDAY NIGHTS. PASTOR DONNIE, YOU HOST BIBLE STUDY AND HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE THE BOSTON POLICE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. PASTOR DONNIE WAS ALSO OFFERED A SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN FOUR YEARS OR OLDER DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE WORSHIP WORSHIP SERVICE. PASTOR ALSO VISITS THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GETTING IN TROUBLE IN SCHOOL TO TRY AND ACT AS A MENTOR AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY IN DORCHESTER. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE HIM HERE TODAY TO SAY PRAYERS WITH US. PASS IT ON TO THE DECIDUOUS. THANKS.  I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IF WE COULD JUST STAND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I'M HERE TO PRAY FOR YOU AND WITH YOU. SO I JUST TO INTRODUCE THAT FATHER, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US. AND LORD, I JUST ASK FOR WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ALL OF US. HELP US NOT TO LEAN ON OUR OWN, UNDERSTAND IN ALL OUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND YOU WILL DIRECT PATH.  THERE'S A LOT BEFORE THEM. THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN LORD I JUST AGAIN I ASK THAT WE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND YOU WILL DIRECT PATH IN JESUS NAME AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.  I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH YOU SEE AS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU AGAIN, PASTOR, FOR PRAYING FOR AND WITH US.  HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE. I SEE A LOT OF THE FESTIVE GREEN AND COUNSELOR MURPHY AND COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNSELOR BREADON AND JOE WHO HELPED US RAISE THE FLAG. WE HAVE A STRONG ITALIAN-AMERICAN AND COMMUNITY HERE THAT IS REALLY UNDERGIRDS THE VITALITY OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HERE. I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR BRAYDON HAD INVITED CONSUL GENERAL SHAYLA FITZGERALD TO HERE FOR A PRESENTATION BUT SHE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE TSA THAT T TISHA WHICH IS A PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM YESTERDAY.  LEO VARADKAR IN THERE CURRENTLY TAKING HIM TO THE AIRPORT WHICH IS WHY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT SENDS HER WISHES.  WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A STRONG IRISH BAND THAT STANDS AGAINST OPPRESSION AND, STANDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND LIBERATION AND HE REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THAT AND THE BENEVOLENCE OF SAINT PATRICK, THE PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND. SO HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE IS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A CITY THAT WELCOMES ALL OF OUR IMMIGRANTS OUR IRISH IMMIGRANTS AND OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM. SO WITH THAT I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILOR FLYNN WHO HAS A BRIEF PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  AS THE DISTRICT TO CITY COUNCIL I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND REALLY THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE AS A NEIGHBOR IS THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON AND THE INCREDIBLE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN THEIR OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SOUTHEND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AND I LOVE GOING OVER THERE. BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE ON THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR FOUNDING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON.  YOU WORK HAS HELPED MORE THAN 6 MILLION ANIMALS IN NEED. WE COMMEND YOUR COMPASSION AND ADVOCACY FOR ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON AS WELL AS YOUR SERVICE PROVIDING CRITICAL RESOURCES TO RESIDENTS WHO CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON ANIMAL RESCUE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.  THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY PLAY BUT AS WE ALL KNOW THAT DOGS AND CATS AND ANIMALS THEY ARE OUR PETS BUT THEY ARE OUR MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING COMFORT AND FRIENDSHIP TO SO MANY PEOPLE. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THANK THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON ,AN ORGANIZATION WITH A DEEP HISTORY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED IN 1899 BY ANNA HARRIS SMITH, A SOCIAL WORKER FROM DORCHESTER WHO SAW THE NEED FOR ACTION AFTER SEEING THE CRUEL MISTREATMENT OF THE CITY'S WORKING HORSES AND STRAY DOG CATS, STRAY DOGS AND CATS. SHE RECOGNIZED THAT PEOPLE ESPECIALLY CHILDREN ARE BEING DESENSITIZED TO THIS CRUELTY AND NEGLECT AND BOTH AND BELIEVE THAT WHILE GETTING DOGS AND CATS OFF THE STREET IS WORSE WORK WORTH DOING THE TEACHING OF THOUGHTFUL KINDNESS IS THE WORK THAT CHANGES FAMILIES COMMUNITIES AND THE NATION. IT IS MORE THAN APPROPRIATE THAT OUR ANNIVERSARY IS CELEBRATED IN MARCH WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. ANNA HARRIS SMITH WAS A STRONG FORWARD THINKING WOMAN THAT WANTED TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY 1899 AT THE PARK STREET CHURCH RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON AND WE WERE INCORPORATED THIS DAY 125 YEARS AGO. THE FIRST ANIMAL SHELTER WAS BUILT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ON CARVER STREET. NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE. WE'VE BEEN IN OUR CURRENT HOME AT TEN CHANDLER STREET IN THE SOUTH END FOR 65 YEARS AND I PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN DEDHAM IN 1907 AS A SANCTUARY FOR THE WORKING HORSES. WE HAVE ANOTHER ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER THERE AS WELL AS THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING PET CEMETERY. WE BEGAN SERVING CAPE COD IN 1921 AND WE HAVE A SHELTER THERE IN BREWSTER.  OVER THE LAST 125 YEARS WE HAVE HELPED WELL OVER 6 MILLION ANIMALS. WE HAVE GREATLY INVOLVED OVER THE YEARS BUT WE HAVE STAYED TRUE TO ANNA'S VISION OF OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ANIMAL WELFARE. WE PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE GREATER BOSTON COMMUNITY AND ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP KEEP PETS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF SHELTERS.  INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ABCD ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOSTON SENIOR HOME CARE THE NEW ENGLAND CENTER HOME FOR VETERANS BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE BASE. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND STAYING TRUE TO ANNA'S VISION OF CREATING A MORE COMPASSIONATE AND KINDER CITY WHILE WE REFLECT ON 125 YEARS OF AMAZING WORK. WE ALSO LOOK AHEAD OF HOW ARROW CAN FURTHER SERVE COMMUNITIES IN BOSTON AND BEYOND AND HELP KEEP PETS OUT OF SHELTERS AND IN HOMES WHERE THEY BELONG. TODAY WE CELEBRATE BY DAY OF SERVICE AND A HARRIS SMITH DAY OF SERVICE. WE'LL BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE SERVE OFFERING A VARIETY OF WELLNESS SERVICES. WE'LL HAVE LOW COST VETERINARY CARE IN ROXBURY WITH ABCD. WE'LL BE HOSTED AT THE FRANKLIN PARK ZOO OFFERING THE FRANKLIN PARK COMMUNITY LOW COST SPAY NEUTER SERVICES AND ALSO HOSTING CHILDREN AT OUR DEDHAM CAMPUS TO PROVIDE CARE AND COMFORT FOR THE ANIMALS THAT WE SERVE. WE HAVE GROWN FOR OVER 100 STAFF AND 1200 VOLUNTEERS. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE LAST HUNDRED 25 YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  BUT I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO COME UP FOR A PHOTO PLEASE.  YEAH, WE CAN DO IT ON HERE. DO IT HERE. IT'S BETTER.  I THINK THAT'S PART YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN.  MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE UPDATE THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT COUNCILOR TANYA FINAN JUNIOR SENATOR JOINED US.  NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF MARCH SIX, 2020 FOR ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I WAS OPPOSED TO YOUR NAME. I HAVE IT. THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING ARE APPROVED. WE ARE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR THE MAYOR. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT? NUMBER 0503 STUCK IN NUMBERS 0503 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING MESSAGE IN ORDER OF AN APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,277,047 FROM FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS REVENUES FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROJECTS . AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY OF BOSTON COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE THANK YOU DOCKET NUMBER 0503 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY PRESERVE ON COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE WITH US FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEFF SANCHEZ. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE ALSO HAVE MY FRIEND THE LORD MAYOR OF WEST ROXBURY, RICHARD GORMLEY.  AND WE ALSO HAVE WITH HIS FATHER JOE WHO IS WHO GAVE THE PRAYER OUTSIDE WHEN WE WERE RAISING THE IRISH FLAG. SO FATHER JOE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY AND AND WE ALSO HAVE A VISITOR FROM ECUADOR WHO IS OUTSIDE AND I INVITED HIM TO COME IN AND HE CAME ONE THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO CITY HALL AND SEEING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING CASA FLYNN I BELIEVE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER PRESENTATION TO LORD MAYOR? MR. CLERK, CAN WE PAUSE? I APOLOGIZE AND WE'LL DO ANOTHER PRESENTATION ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE LORD MAYOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND IT WAS WONDERFUL BEING WITH COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL AND CITY WORKERS FOR TODAY'S FLAG RAISING AS WE CELEBRATED ST PATRICK'S DAY. BUT ON THIS ST PATRICK'S DAY WE ALSO WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK. SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE LORD MAYOR OF WEST ROXBURY BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN HONOR FATHER JOE WHITE FOR ALL HIS WORK IN HELPING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT GREATER BOSTON ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL CHALLENGES. SO FATHER, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION TO THE LORD MAYOR OF WEST ROXBURY WHICH HE GORMLEY THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VIETNAM VETERAN ON YOUR SELECTION AS THE 2024 CHIEF MARSHAL OF THE ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE ROSCOMMON IRELAND. CONGRATULATIONS, MR MAYOR.  THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT ROSSI AND COUNCILOR MURPHY AND ALL THE OTHER CITY COUNCILORS OUT THERE. THE PUBLIC REALLY APPRECIATE THE GREAT JOB YOU'RE DOING FOR THIS GREAT CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS.  THANK YOU AND HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY TO EVERYBODY. LET'S GATHER.  YEAH. CAN WE DO ONE MORE PHOTO AND FATHER JOE, COULD YOU JOIN US TO  SAY TRAVEL? SO AS LONG AS YOUR STUFF WILL.  THANK YOU, FATHER JOE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR BROUGHT ME AN OIL PAINTING THAT HE PAINTED HIMSELF.  SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU'RE A MAN OF MANY TALENTS.  OKAY, MR. CLERK, MY APOLOGIES. CAN WE CONTINUE WITH DOCKET NUMBER 00504? SO MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 05040504 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $44,100 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE BOSTON VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.  PASS THROUGH THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE GRANT WILL FUND BPD.  ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT WITH RELEVANT CRIME DATA REPORTING AND IF AVAILABLE ASSIGN A BPD REPRESENTATIVE TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE VIP PLANNING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE . THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 80504 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0505 DUGAN NUMBER 0505 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER APPROVING THE RECEIPT OF A PRESERVATION RESTRICTION ON THE FOWLER CLARK FARM FOR 87 NORFOLK STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02126 THE FOWLER CLOCK FARM HAS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE TO THE CITY AND THE OWNER. FOWLER FOWLER CLARK LLC HAS CONVEYED A HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESTRICTION ON THE EXTERIOR FEATURES OF THE BUILDING'S AND SITE TO HISTORIC BOSTON INC. A LOCAL CHARITABLE CORPORATION.  THANK YOU MR. CLERK.  DOCKET NUMBER 0505 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. MR. CLERK WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS. MR. CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0506 DUCKING THEM A0506 NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY CLERK IN ACCORDANCE OF CHAPTER SIX OF THE ORDINANCES OF 1979 RELATIVE TO ACTION TAKEN BY THE MAYOR AND PAPERS ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0506 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 0376037903800382 THROUGH 03830384 AND 0386 TOGETHER. OKAY DUNCAN NUMBER 0376 THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2020 FOR DUNCAN NUMBER 0376. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $2,232,152 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE SEA NUTRITION SERVICE PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND NUTRITION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET OUGHT TO PASS DOCKET NUMBER 0379. THE COMMITTEE AND STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRING ON FEBRUARY 28, 2024 DR. NUMBER 0379. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $1,038,243 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FIRST FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE THE SUPPORT OF SERVICES AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED TO THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND HOME BASED SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMEND THE DOCKET TO PASS TALKING NUMBER 0380. THE COMMITTEE AND STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2020 FOR NUMBER 0380. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $530,999 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE E FAMILY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND CAREGIVERS SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET TO PASS DOC AND EMBER 038 TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2020 FOR NUMBERS NUMBER 0382 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZES AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $461,143 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE ADMINISTRATION AWARDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED TO THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE COSTS OF FOUR ADMINISTRATION OF THE TITLE THREE PROGRAMS SUBMITTING A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOC IN ORDER TO PASS DOCKET NUMBER 0383 THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2024 DOCKET NUMBER 0383. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $177,271 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE H FUND COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE LONG TERM SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SUBMIT A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET ARE TO PASS DOCKET NUMBER 038 FOR THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2020 FOR DOCKET NUMBER 0384. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 IN THE FORM GRANT FOR THE EIGHT STRONG UNIVERSAL FUND AWARDED BY THE DONOR GROUP TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR ALL OLDER ADULTS IN BOSTON . SUBMIT A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET OR TWO PASS AND DOCKET NUMBER 0386. THE COMMITTEE AND STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WHICH WAS REFERRED ON FEBRUARY 28TH 2024 NUMBER 0386. MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $84,058 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 TITLE THREE D DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION.  THE GRANT WILL FUND SERVICES THAT ASSIST OLDER ADULTS IN BOSTON TO PREVENT ILLNESS AND MANAGE CHRONIC CONDITIONS. SUBMITS A REPORT RECOMMENDING THAT THE DOCKET OUGHT THE BEST . THANK YOU MR. CLERK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, CLARKE FOR READING ALL THAT YOU WILL. I WILL NOT REPEAT THAT.  THAT IS A LOT. SO WE HAD SEVEN GRANTS THAT CAME THROUGH THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK AND THEY TOTALED OVER $4.5 MILLION FROM FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES AND THEY WILL COVER A PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2024 TO THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR FOR 2024. IN THESE PROPOSED GRANTS FUND A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR SENIORS INCLUDING NUTRITION PROGRAMS,  CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND HEALTH AND PROMOTION. WE HELD A HEARING ON THURSDAY MARCH SEVEN AND I WAS JOINED BY MY VICE CHAIR COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AND WE RECEIVED AN ABSOLUTE LETTER FROM COUNSELOR WEBER, EMILY SHEA, THE STRONG COMMISSIONER AND MYLES GARRITY, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND FROM THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION AND MELISSA CARLSON WHO IS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMING AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR OUR SENIORS.  WE'RE HERE TO HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON RECEIVES GRANTS OF THIS KIND AS A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED TWO AREA AGENCY ON AGING ON AGING UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. THE ADMINISTRATION TESTIFIED AS TO THE CITY SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES TIED TO THIS GRANT FUNDING INCLUDING WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS OVER 60 YEARS OLD IN BOSTON EVERY FOUR YEARS. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION GATHERED IS USED TO CREATE THE AREA PLAN WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO A STATEWIDE PLAN FOR OLDER PEOPLE.  THIS ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS FUNDED THROUGH THE TITLE THREE FUNDING IN EMPHASIZED THE CAREFUL MONITORING OF GRANT SPENDING TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS RECEIVE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO FULFILL THEIR COMMITMENTS TO OUR AGING POPULATION HERE IN BOSTON. THE ADMINISTRATION ELABORATED ON THE GRANT FUNDING SOURCES EXPLAINING THAT TITLE THREE IS A SECTION OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT THAT ENCOMPASSES VARIOUS FUNDING CATEGORIES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO AREA AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE FUNDING CATEGORIES AND TO INCLUDE TITLE THREE A WHICH COVERS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES TITLE THREE FEE WHICH COVERS WHICH ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY IN LOCAL NEEDS WITHIN SPECIFIED CATEGORIES EMPHASIZING SUPPORTS THAT ARE NEEDED. WE HAD MANY GOOD QUESTIONS FROM OUR COUNCILORS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE FUNDS WOULD BE USED AND ALSO CONCERNS THAT WE HEAR AS COUNCILORS OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF WHAT OUR SENIORS NEED. THE COMMITTEE AND THE ADMINISTRATION EXPRESSED FUTURE AND CONTINUED OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR OUR AGING RESIDENTS LIKE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PREVENT AND AVOID SCAMS, SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AFFORDABLE FOOD AND LIVING OPTIONS IN THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING SHUTTLE SERVICE TO GROCERY STORES. THANK YOU TO MY COUNCILORS WHO BROUGHT UP A LOT OF THOSE NECESSARY SERVICES WE NEED TO EXPAND FOR OUR SENIORS. COUNCIL HAS ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE GRANTS AND APPRECIATION OF THE WORK OF THE STRONG COMMISSION. I AM ASKING THAT THESE SEVEN GRANTS THAT WE OUGHT TO PASS TODAY. SO I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES JOIN US IN PASSING THEM TODAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MURPHY THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMAN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS TO ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND THE PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0376 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0376 HAS PASSED AND WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH ONE BY ONE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0379 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY ON ALL OPPOSING.  THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0379 AS PASSED. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0380 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON TALKING NUMBER 0380 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0382 OTHER IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE SAY NAY.  THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0382 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEK THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0383 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE SAY NAY. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0383 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0384 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I SHALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0384 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SEEKS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0386 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALEPPO SAY NAY. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON DOCKET NUMBER 0386 IS PASSED WE ARE NOW ON TO MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. MR CLERK PLEASE RE DOCKET NUMBER 01770177 IN ORDER FOR A HEARING RECLAIMING THE REGGIE LEWIS TRACK AND ATHLETIC CENTER FOR A BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETES. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION COUNSELOR SANTANA COUNSELOR SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS PAST MONDAY. OH, EXCUSE ME THIS PAST MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 FOR THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 0177. I'M ENTITLED ORDER FOR A HEARING ON RECLAIMING DIRECTOR LOUIS TRACK AND ATHLETIC CENTER FOR OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETES AS CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION INCLUDING THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR COUNSELOR JULIA MEJIA THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR ERINN MURPHY AND ALSO THE CO-SPONSORS COUNSELOR BEN WEBER AND COUNSELOR TANYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AS WELL AS OUR COLLEAGUES COUNSELOR JOHN FITZGERALD HOUSE BRIAN MORROW AND COUNSELOR SHARON DURKIN.  WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNSELOR J.J. COLETTA AS CHAIR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS WHO JOINED US FROM ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE REGGIE LEWIS AND ATHLETIC CENTER JACKIE JACKSON SCOTT, INTERIM PRESIDENT OF ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  MICHAEL TURNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REGGIE LEWIS TRACK AND ATHLETIC CENTER. JORDAN SMOCK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MULTI ROSA INTERIM EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT. WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY TED TABLEAU SCOTT WHO SERVES AS THE TRACK AND FIELD COACH FOR THE BOSTON UNITED TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY CLUB COACH LOST WAS ALL WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH INSIGHTS INTO THE NEEDS OF TRACK TEAMS AND HIS TEAM'S USAGE OF THE REGGIE LEWIS COACH LEWIS SCOTT ALSO MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE NEED MORE FACILITIES FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO JOINED US TO TESTIFY AND PROVIDE A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE INCLUDING A CURRENT BPI TRACK COACH AND A FORMER ATHLETE.  I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SPONSORS HAD ASKED FOR THE PANEL TO INCLUDE THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF TAKE BOSTON ACADEMY. INVITATIONS WERE SENT TO THOSE STAFF MEMBERS BUT THEY DID NOT ATTEND THE HEARING. UNFORTUNATELY THAT UNFORTUNATELY THAT DID LIMIT SOME OF THE TOPICS WE WERE ABLE TO EXPLORE DURING THE HEARING. BUT I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PANEL FOR MAKING USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST 2 HOURS OF DIGGING DEEPER INTO THE OPERATIONS OF THE REGGIE LEWIS AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NEEDS FOR TRACK FACILITIES TO SERVE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. SOME OF MY MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM THE HEARING WERE THAT AS THE ONLY STATEWIDE FACILITY FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TRACK, THE REGGIE SERVES FOR ALL STUDENTS NOT JUST FOR BPL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDES OUTSIDE OF BOSTON THOSE WHO COME FROM IT FOR INVITATION OR TRACK MEETS AND OTHER EVENTS. VIPS DOES USE THE FACILITY MORE THAN OTHERS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE TIME OF DAY AVAILABLE FOR OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETES TO PRACTICE JUST DON'T BEGIN TO MEET WHAT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES NEED AND DESERVE. WE NEED MORE FACILITIES LIKE THE REGGIE LEWIS AND WE NEED TO BE INVESTING MORE IN OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. I ALSO TOOK AWAY THAT THE BUDGET ITSELF IS AT RISK. WE NEED AND WE KNOW WE NEED MORE FACILITIES.  BUT 20 MILLION IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS THREATENING THE USABILITY OF THIS ONE FACILITY THAT WE DO HAVE AND BECAUSE THE STATE VERY SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS HOW MUCH REVENUE FROM THE TICKET SALES AND PUBLIC MEMBERSHIP, THE VENUE IS ALLOWED TO MAKE USE FOR FOR MAINTENANCE. THERE'S REALLY NO WAY FOR THE BUDGET TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING MAINTENANCE BACKLOG AS A STATEWIDE FACILITY. IT'S NOT THE CITY OF BOSTON'S PLACE TO FILL THAT GAP BUT I AM INTERESTED IN HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THE FACILITY IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND CONTINUES TO SERVE OUR BOSTON STUDENTS. THIS WAS CERTAINLY A STARTING POINT NOT THE END.  I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE ACTION. AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION I RECOMMEND THAT THIS TARGET SHOULD BE MADE IN COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SANTANA.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU CHAIR YOU HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS HEARING. IT WAS LIMITED. IF YOU ATTENDED YOU KNEW THAT AVERY IS STILL THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS. DID NOT ATTEND AND A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS ALL OF THEM REALLY ARE AROUND HOW DO WE ON THE COUNCIL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STUDENT ATHLETES? SO I KNOW THIS DOCKET WILL STAY IN COMMITTEE HOPEFULLY WHEN WE HOLD ANOTHER HEARING OR IF WE NEED TO FILE ANOTHER HEARING ORDER SEPARATE MORE DIRECT TOWARDS WHAT YOU KNOW THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS IS DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS.  I HOPE THAT THEY DO ATTEND SO THAT WE ON THE COUNCIL CAN GET THE ANSWERS WE NEED ESPECIALLY HEADING INTO BUDGET SEASON WITH THE $1.7 BILLION BUDGET. THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO COME IN FRONT OF US TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO OR WHO WERE HERE AT THIS COUNCIL HEARING WANT TO ADVOCATE AND EXPAND THE ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES ACROSS THE SYSTEM. IT'S NOT EQUITABLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. SO I'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.  SO THANK YOU CARLTON THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER, COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR BRINGING THIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS FROM THE REGGIE LEWIS CENTER FOR COMING AND TESTIFYING. I FEEL LIKE THE HEARING CLARIFIED SOMETHING WHICH WAS NOT THAT THE THE CENTER WAS SORT OF GIVING PREFERENCE TO TEAMS FROM THE SUBURBS. IT WAS THAT THERE'S SUCH A DEMAND FOR A FACILITY LIKE THIS THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TRACK MEETS WHICH TAKES THEY RUN TO TRACK NEEDS A DAY THROUGHOUT THE INDOOR TRACK SEASON STARTING AT 4:00 SO YOU CAN YOU KNOW, DO THE MATH AND THERE'S SUCH A DEMAND FOR TEAMS BOTH IN BOSTON OUTSIDE OF BOSTON FOR THE FACILITY THAT THEY CAN ONLY ALLOWED A FEW HOURS FOR TRACK PRACTICE EVERY DAY AND SO IT'S NOT THAT THE REGGIE LEWIS IS YEAH I THINK DOING ANYTHING WRONG IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE NEED MORE FACILITIES FOR OUR KIDS AND AS COUNCILOR MCGEE HAS POINTED OUT AT THE HEARING, YOU KNOW OUR UNIVERSITIES, THEIR INDOOR TRACKS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY THERE'S A NEW FACILITY AT THE NEW BALANCE CENTER. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THOSE FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE ACCESS FOR TRACK TEAMS IN THE REGION, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TRACK ATHLETES HERE IN BOSTON. SO THANK YOU THINGS COUNCIL WHEREVER THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN, I CAN ASSURE FLYNN YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS AND THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE REGGIE LEWIS CENTER TRACK CENTER IS A CRITICAL ASSET IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN THE HEART OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN REGARDLESS IF IT'S A CITY PROPERTY OR A STATE PROPERTY IT SHOULD GET THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL RESOURCES SO ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES CAN PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS IN TRACK AND FIELD IN A FACILITY THAT'S STATE OF THE ART.  SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY FINANCIAL RESOURCES ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE REGGIE GOMES TRACK EVEN THOUGH IT'S A STATE AGENCY WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES WITH THE BEST FACILITIES AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0177 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE I WE'RE NOW ON TO DOCKET NUMBER 0413 THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR OKAY MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 00413.0413 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF LAST YEAR'S YOUTH SUMMER JOBS PROGRAMS AND PREPARE FOR THIS SUMMER.  THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUNSELOR MURPHY YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PRESIDENT WE HAD A GREAT HEARING JUST YESTERDAY MAYBE THE DAY BEFORE ON OUR YOUTH SUMMER JOBS. WE HAD RASHAD COPE AND ALISON VINATIERI WHO IS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITY.  AS ALL OF US KNOW WE ARE OFFERING OVER 9000 PAID JOBS THIS SUMMER TO OUR YOUTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ALISON AND HER TEAM ON HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING ALL OF THIS TEENAGERS, YOUNG ADULTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND ON MARCH 23RD I WILL JUST LIKE TO SHOUT OUT THEY ARE HAVING A JOB FAIR. ONE OF THE THINGS WE I LEARNED TWO YEARS AGO AND I HAD THIS HEARING AGAIN LAST YEAR IS THAT FOR MANY STUDENTS IT'S THE ONBOARDING PROCESS THEY ARE WORKING ON UPDATING THAT AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR APPLICATION AND PROCESS MORE STREAMLINED SO THAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE UPLOAD DOCUMENTS AND GET THE PROPER PAPERWORK IN SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THESE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES THEY'VE EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS AND NOT JUST CITY DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE GRANT PARTNERSHIPS AND STUDENTS HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMER JOBS. SO I KNOW MANY OF US IN OUR OFFICE ARE ALSO TAKING SOME OF THESE YOUTH SUMMER STUDENTS INTO OUR OFFICES TO WORK TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR MURPHY AND I DO WANT TO AGAIN HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU MENTIONED ON MARCH 23RD THE JOB FAIR TO TELL ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW IN YOUR DISTRICTS, YOUR NEIGHBORS 14 YEARS AND UP THAT KIDS IN OUR CITY CAN GET JOBS THAT CAN HELP THEM LEARN AND EARN THAT CAN GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO.  AND SO IF YOU KNOW FOLKS WHO WANT TO HAVE SUMMER INTERNSHIP WANT TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES IN YOUR DISTRICT TO BECOME PARTNERS WITH SUCCESS LINK I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND US THAT SUCCESS LINK IS SUCH A GREAT OPTION FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALSO OUR EMPLOYERS.  SO DOCKET NUMBER 0413 WILL REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER 01700170 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING STREET FOOD ENTERPRISES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL COURT WOULD BE INSERTING CHAPTER 17 SECTION 22 PERMITTING AND REGULATION OF NON-MOTORIZED STREET FOOD CARTS. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET HEARING WAS NOT HELD ON THIS DOCKET IN A JOB OR MAIN IN COMMITTEE. I SEE COUNCILOR COLETTE I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE OF THE LETTER YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY. I'M COUNCIL PRESIDENT SO WE DO NOT HAVE A HEARING ON THIS. I'M IN DEEP CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO BUILD UP A PILOT PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN GATHER DATA AND FIGURE OUT LESSONS LEARNED SO THAT ULTIMATELY THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL BE THE BEST THAT IT POSSIBLY CAN BE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AND TO BE CONTINUED. THANKS EVERYBODY.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLETTA, WE'RE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE RE DOCKET NUMBER 05070507 COUNCIL FLYNN OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE RESOURCES FOR THE BOSTON POLICE CRIME LABORATORY.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR , YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  THIS IS A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE STAFFING SHORTAGE AT THE BOSTON POLICE CRIME LAB AS WELL AS WAYS TO ENSURE THAT THE CRIME LAB HAS APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. AND AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR THE CRIME LAB IN 2018, THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS BE TESTED WITHIN 30 DAYS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT EVIDENCE IS QUICKLY PROCESSED AND CAN HELP BRING JUSTICE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS. HOWEVER, IN THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY IT FOUND THAT HALF OF THE KITS WERE NOT TESTED WITHIN A 30 DAY WINDOW BY THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME LAB. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT THE LAB RECEIVED 186 SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS IN FBI 23 BETWEEN JUNE 2022 AND JUNE 20, 23 IN 93 OF WHICH IT DID NOT MANAGE TO TEST WITHIN 30 DAYS AND FBI 22 IF FAILED TO TEST 39 OF THE 144 KITS WITHIN 30 DAYS AND 24 OF THE 123 KITS IN FY 21 BY COMPARISON THE STATE POLICE CRIME LAB TESTED 96% OF THE 714 KITS IT RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS AND FBI 23 THE CAUSE OF THIS DELAY FOR THE BPD BPD CRIME LAB IS LISTED AS STAFFING SHORTAGE AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THEIR REPORT SINCE IT'S STARTED ITS ANNUAL REPORTING IN 2020, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS AND EVIDENCE EVIDENCE FROM MOST SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS BE PROCESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND.  WE NEED TO EXAMINE THE CAUSES OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGE WHETHER IT'S RELATED TO COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS,  RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, LACK OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES OR OTHER ISSUES.  I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION.  IT'S CRITICAL WE ADDRESS THIS SITUATION AND PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR ANYONE THAT'S A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CLERK. DO YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN ON THIS. PLEASE ADD MY NAME LAST YEAR AND MAY OR JUNE WE DID HOLD A PUBLIC SAFETY HEARING WHERE WE DID REVIEW A GRANT TOTALING $53,000 FOR DNA TESTING AWARDED BY THE DOJ ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE LEARNED THAT THIS GRANT WILL FUND CRIME LAB STAFF FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS INNOCENCE AND CONVICTION INTEGRITY PROJECT AND SO I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT GRANT TO SUPPLEMENT THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS HEARING AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS HAS ON SOME OF OUR STAFFING CAPACITY AND HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON EXPECTS TO FILL THIS GAP. BUT RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME WHEN WE HAD THIS HEARING, I REMEMBER THAT AN INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN A COLD CASE WAS APPREHENDED BECAUSE OF THE CRIME LAB. THIS INDIVIDUAL WAGED SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH END IN CHARLESTOWN IN THE EARLY 20 TENS AND IT WAS DUE TO THE CRIME LABS WORK AND THE DETECTIVES OF GRABBING A DRINK THAT HE WAS DRINKING IN NEW YORK AND SUBMITTING IT TO THE CRIME LAB THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESEMBLANCE OF JUSTICE FOR THOSE VICTIMS. AND SO AGAIN JUST WANT TO UPLIFT HOW IMPORTANT THAT THEIR ROLE IS IN THE CITY AND SIGN MY NAME AND JUST UNDERSTAND MY SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT PARTICULAR LAB AND FUNCTION OF THE PPD DESERVES AS MANY RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COLETTE IS ANYONE THAT WAS LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA DURKIN,  FERNANDA ANDERSON FITZGERALD, MARIA MURPHY PREVENT, SANTANA WEBER PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 0507 IT WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  MR. CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0508. I CAN HAVE A0508 COUNCILOR FITZGERALD LAW FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE OPTION TO EXPAND ACCESS OF HANDICAPPED PARKING PLACARDS TO THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT COULD YOU PLEASE ADD MY FELLOW YOUNG FATHERS COUNCIL PEPEN AND COUNCILOR WORRELL AS WELL AS CO-SPONSORS TO THE BILL PLEASE AND THANK YOU IF YOU'VE HEARD ME WHEN ONE MOMENT I GET THE ORDER AGAIN WEBER AND MORROW I'M SORRY IT HAPPENED AND WE'RE ALL SO FIT. NO OFFENSE TO THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY OLDER FATHERS. NO, I LOVE I LOVE IT. I LOVE THE DADS AND THE MEN STANDING UP FOR A WOMAN DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. SO SNAPS FOR THAT COUNCILOR HAVE BEEN SO ADDED COUNCILOR FITZGERALD SINCE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO AD COUNCIL OUR ROLE AS AN ORIGINAL THIRD CO-SPONSOR SEEING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR MORELLA SO ADDED COUNTERED FITZGERALD YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE AND WILL AGAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY HAS TO BE BUILT AROUND FAMILIES AND FROM THAT EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT. BUT I'M SURE YOU'VE ALSO SEEN EVEN TODAY THE REPORT FROM THE GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT PREDICTS ONE IN FOUR YOUNG ADULTS WILL PLAN TO LEAVE THE CITY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THAT'S CURRENT AND POTENTIAL FAMILIES WALKING AWAY FROM MY CITY. AND WHILE THE ISSUES FOR THAT MAY WEIGH HEAVIER ON THE COST OF HOUSING, THE COST OF QUALITY OF SCHOOL COST AND QUALITY OF SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SAFETY THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON IN THIS COUNCIL REGARDLESS SOMETIMES IT'S SHOWING CARE ON A VERY GRANULAR LEVEL LETTING OUR CITY KNOW WE UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE DAY TO DAY CHALLENGES SOME PEOPLE FACE AND THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM THERE AS WELL. SO WHEN MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT WITH OUR FIRST CHILD WHAT WOULD BECOME A ú10 SIX OUNCE CHILD A NEWBORN IT CAME WITH SOME SOME SEVERELY DEBILITATING EFFECTS ESPECIALLY IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER AND IN THE RECOVERY PHASE POST-BIRTH WALKING WAS DIFFICULT. MOBILITY IN GENERAL STRAINED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SAFETY CONCERNS AND A HOST OF OTHERS.  AND I REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN MY WIFE WELL INTO PREGNANCY SAID AT THE TIME AND PROBABLY SLIGHTLY MORE COLORFUL LANGUAGE THAT SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARK IN HANDICAPPED SPOTS GIVEN HER CONDITION. NOW YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT OUT AND THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR SECOND CHILD OR THIRD CHILD AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A TWO YEAR OLD OUT OF THE CAR WHILE DEALING WITH BEING PREGNANT AND IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER AND THE EFFECTS THAT COME WITH THAT.  SO HERE WE ARE TODAY TO PUT TOGETHER A HEARING ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO HANDICAPPED OF HANDICAPPED PARKING TO PEOPLE IN THEIR THIRD TRIMESTER AND SIX MONTHS POST-BIRTH TO WORK WITH AGE STRONG AND THE DISABILITY COMMISSION FROM THE INCEPTION OF THIS IDEA AND TO SHOW THOSE DEALING WITH PREGNANCY ESPECIALLY ARE WOMEN WHO MAKE HISTORY EVERY DAY NOT JUST THIS MONTH THAT BOSTON CARES FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU.  AWESOME. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR EPIPEN. COUNSELOR EPIPEN, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW, AS A FATHER OF TWO AND KNOWING WHAT MY WIFE WENT THROUGH DURING PREGNANCY, IT'S TOUGH HOW WOMEN GO THROUGH FROM THIS FIRST TRIMESTER EVEN AFTER BIRTH IS TOUGH.  I REMEMBER AFTER OUR SECOND CHILD MY WIFE HAD A C-SECTION AND THE THING IS WHEN YOU ARE IN OUR AGE AND YOU TRY IN YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER FROM YOU WHEN YOU'RE RECOVERING AFTER THAT BIRTH, THAT TAKES A WHILE TO AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARKING ESPECIALLY IN THE HANDICAPPED SECTION IS IS AVAILABLE TO SOMEONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS. SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO STAND WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THIS BRING THIS TO THE TABLE, MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BRETT BROWN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CASTROL OIL CUSTOMER WELL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AROUND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AS WELL AND AS A NEW DAD I'M DEFINITELY IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS. YOU ARE DEFINITELY IN MY CAR WHEN WE WERE DRIVING AT TARGET MEAN ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AS WELL IN CHELSEA WE ALWAYS SAY WHY CAN I GET PRIORITY PARKING BUT JUST LIKE COUNSELOR PEP AND SAID YOU KNOW A LOT OF A LOT OF OUR PREGNANT PERSONS GET C-SECTIONS SO MAKING SURE THAT WE EXTEND PRIORITY PARKING ALSO TO THOSE POSTPARTUM IS IS IDEAL SO LOOKING FOR THIS HEARING AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO MORE FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MEJIA COMES FROM MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THE MORE DAYS GO BY THE HAPPIER I AM TO SEE ALL OF US LOVE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER. I JUST IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES REALLY STANDING UP FOR OTHERS.  YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO SEE MEN REALLY CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING JUST THAT AND I'LL JUST RISE. YOU KNOW, I HAD GESTATIONAL DIABETES WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH ELISE AND AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT WHOLE SERIES OF LIKE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF I HAD ACCESS TO EASIER PARKING AND THEN I ALSO HAD A C-SECTION. AND I THINK THAT THESE LITTLE THINGS CAN REALLY ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE STRESSORS AS YOU'RE NAVIGATING CHILDBIRTH AND EVEN POST BEYOND. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING TO SUPPORT ALONGSIDE YOU ALL WHAT CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THE HEARING I WANT TO FILL THIS UP WITH MAMAS HERE AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SORT OF STUFF THAT AS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH OUR WORK HERE ON THE COUNCIL IS REALLY RECOGNIZING THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO US TO DO AND THIS HEARING TO JUST DOES THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS ARE MY HERE. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOUR FRIEND ANDRADE IS ENCOUNTERING ANDRE ANDERSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND HAPPY RAMADAN AND EVERYONE OF RAMADAN CUPS FOR AN INGENIOUS THANK YOU.  I'M ONLY GOING TO GO TO HEARING IF ALL THE MEN THAT ARE FOLLOWING THIS WHERE THE WAITING AND I'LL I'LL COME TO THE HEARING AND I'LL BE CONVINCED. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S SIMPLE. IT'S SMART AND ALL OF WHAT COUNCILOR MEJIA SAID ANYTHING TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR CLERK, PLEASE. THAT COMES FROM BREADON COLETTA DURKIN FINANCIAL ANDERSEN RIGHT. FERNANDO ANDERSON YES. FLYNN MARIA MURPHY PAT BENNETT OH IT'S ALREADY ADDED SANTANA WEBER PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0508 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.  MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0509 DUNCAN NUMBER 0509 COUNCILOR AS WEBER AND PEPEN OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW PROGRAMING AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MR CLERK.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD MADAM PRESIDENT AS A AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR WEBER SEEK SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. ADD COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE AS AN ORIGINAL THIRD CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE ALSO ADDED COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. THANK YOU.  WEST ROXBURY ALONG WITH CHINATOWN AND BAY VILLAGE HAS LONG HAD AMONG THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS THAN ANY OTHER BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD LAST YEAR THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES HOSTED HEARINGS SPONSORED BY MY PREDECESSOR TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR A SENIOR CENTER IN WEST ROXBURY DURING THAT LASTED OVER 2 HOURS WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THAT HEARING SHOWCASED THE NEED AND DESIRE OF SENIORS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND IN MY DISTRICT TO HAVE A PLACE TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER SENIORS AS A CITY I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD IT ARE ARE ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE AND TO HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LIVE THE FULLEST LIVES THEIR FULLEST LIVES WHILE CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE SIMILAR TO THEM IN AGE. THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL TO ME AT THE TIME MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO BOSTON IN 2008 MY FATHER IN LAW BLAISE MARCELLA, A FORMER JESUIT PRIEST, WAS LIVING IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA WHERE MY WIFE GREW UP AND WORKING AS A AS A CARPENTER AND PAINTER AS HE AGED INTO HIS LATE SEVENTIES HE WAS UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY CONTINUE TO WORK.  HE ALSO COULD NOT PAY HIS RENT SO WE MOVED FROM MY WIFE AND I AND OUR NEWBORN SON FROM ROSSENDALE TO JAMAICA PLAIN AND TO A THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT SO BLAZ COULD MOVE FROM VIRGINIA AND MOVE IN WITH US. I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW HARD IT WAS FOR BLAZ TO LEAVE THE HOME IN THE TOWN HE HAD SPENT OVER 40 YEARS AND TO RELOCATE TO BOSTON. ME , MY WIFE, OUR NEWBORN SON AND BLAZ SQUEEZED INTO THE APARTMENT AT THE TOP OF CRANSTON STREET BUT SOON AFTER HE MOVED IN BLAZ REALLY BEGAN TO STRUGGLE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S.  WE CONTINUED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS BECAME TOO MUCH FOR US AND HE SPENT THE LAST YEAR OR SO OF HIS LIFE AT THE SHERRILL HOUSE NEARBY TO THE END MY FATHER IN LAW WAS AN AVID AND SERIOUS READER WHO ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING BY THOMAS MANN OR THOMAS MERTON BY HIS BY HIS SIDE. BUT THE STRESS OF HAVING TO LEAVE HIS HOME AND TOLL IT TOOK ON HIM STAYS WITH ME TO THIS DAY THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT SENIORS DO BETTER WHEN WE CAN KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOMES AND INDEPENDENT.  A 2019 STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY FOUND THAT SENIORS WHO INTERACTED WITH PEOPLE BEYOND THEIR USUAL CIRCLES WERE LIKELY TO HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY POSITIVE MOODS AND FEWER NEGATIVE FEELINGS. AND WE KNOW THAT LONELINESS IS AN ISSUE THAT WAS EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC A TIME WHEN SENIORS IN PARTICULAR EXPERIENCED LESS SOCIAL CONTACT. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL BE SENIORS BY 2030 AND I ASSUME EVERYONE HERE WILL BE SENIORS AT SOME POINT.  OUR SENIORS BUILT THIS CITY INTO A SPECIAL PLACE THAT IT IS TODAY AND WE OWE IT TO THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN AGE WITH DIGNITY AND JOY. WE SHOULD HOLD A HEARING TO ENSURE THAT SENIOR PROGRAMING IS EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT BOSTON AND THAT THE PROGRAMING IS AVAILABLE ON A CONTINUING BASIS AND NOT SUBJECT TO THE PREVAILING WINDS OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.  I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS FOR FILING THIS HEARING ORDER WITH ME TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SCHEDULING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING. I'D ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FILED A VERY SIMILAR ORDER FOR LOOKING INTO A SENIOR CENTER IN IN ROXBURY AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND, YOU KNOW, SENIOR PROGRAMING SENIOR SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY. SO THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK COUNCILOR WEBER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT SIX. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW, I. I I HAVE A LOT OF DEMANDS FROM RESIDENTS AND ALL THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR SENIOR PROGRAMING AND SPECIFICALLY IN HYDE PARK WHERE WE HAVE TWO AMAZING NEW FACILITIES COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ONE WHICH IS THE PRIDE AND THE OTHER WHICH IS A 12 A ONE RIVER STREET. BOTH OF THEM ARE SENIOR LIVING HOMES.  AND WHAT I'M REALIZING IS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF SERVICES AND PEOPLE NEED IT AS COUNCILOR WEBER MENTIONED VERY WELL IS THAT SENIORS DO BETTER HEALTH WISE WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO MINGLE AND SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE. AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT IS BY FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS. I ALSO JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO TWO RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT WHO STEP UP ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. ONE OF THEM IS MS. BARBARA CRITCHLOW WHO DOES THE TUESDAY AND THURSDAYS OVER AT THE MUTUAL OF COMMUNITY CENTER FOR SENIORS ACROSS NOT JUST MATTAPAN BUT FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. AND ALSO TO MICHELLE CONSALVO WHO DOES THE ETHERS PROGRAM WHICH DOES AMAZING JOB AGAIN NOT ONLY IN HYDE PARK BUT ACROSS THE CITY. SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE OUT DOING GOOD WORK OUT THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EXPANDING THAT SERVICE FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CASTRO PEP AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE BECAUSE WITH MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS HEARING ORDER.  AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING. SO PLEASE ADD MY NAME. I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT A FEW THINGS THAT DURING COVID IT WAS REALLY FIRST TIME THAT I SAW THE IMPACT OF AGING WITH MY OWN MOM. AND DURING THAT TIME I ALSO NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW, ISOLATION FOR SENIORS WAS ON THE RISE AND THEIR IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO START TARGETING. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PROGRAMING AND WE THINK ABOUT POST-COVID, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF ART THERAPY SESSIONS THE CITY MAINLY FOR JUST GENERAL PUBLIC BUT WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT WHEN WE STARTED DOING IT WITH SENIORS IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER. AND I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMING LOOKS LIKE, I THINK THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO INCLUDE NOT JUST AGE STRONG BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ARTS AND CULTURE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVEN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE NEED TO START REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND FIGURING OUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ,FIGURING OUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT SENIORS SO THAT IT DOESN'T JUST FALL ON AGE STRONG. I THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY LIES. SO AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT YOU'RE HEARING ORDER AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO INVITE REALLY THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE LITTLE POCKETS OF DOLLARS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE INVITING THOSE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF PROGRAMING. THANK YOU. CASTRO MAY HEAR THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CASTRO FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS HEARING ORDER FORWARD. IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE IMPACTING MY DISTRICT AS WELL.  I HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF SENIORS IN THE CITY IN ONE ONE AREA I DID WANT TO STRESS IS WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SENIORS WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY SENIORS MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND THAT'S AN ADDED ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. MANY OF MY SENIORS IN DISTRICT TWO SPECIFICALLY SPEAK CANTONESE.  MANY OF THEM SPEAK SPANISH AS WELL EITHER COPING WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION. ACCESS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THIS DISCUSSION AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT MANY SENIORS ARE GOING WITHOUT NUTRITIONAL FOOD AS WELL AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO GET THE CITY OF BOSTON OFFICE OF FOOD ACCESS INVOLVED AND ENGAGED BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOOD AND THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR A CITY GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT OR A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CASTRO RAUL CASTRO, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR.  AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY A STRONG LIAISON ANGELA YARD. HER AND I WE GO OUT TO ALL THE SENIOR PUBLIC HOUSING SITES ON A YEARLY BASIS AND WE HEAR FROM OUR SENIORS MAYBE LIKE TWICE A YEAR AND YOU KNOW, WE HEAR YOU KNOW, THEY NEED MORE PROGRAMING BUT THE OTHER THING THAT THEY SPEAK ABOUT IS TRANSPORTATION. SO I THINK PART OF THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IF WE DO SET UP THE PROGRAM AND IT'S LIKE HOW DO OUR SENIORS GET THERE IF WE'VE BEEN HAVING A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH A STRONG ON TRANSPORTATION AND LONG WAIT WAIT FOR A TAXI ALLIANCE AND SOME OF THE RIDESHARE COMPANIES TO ESTABLISH A CONCIERGE SERVICE AND ALSO TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THE TAXI VOUCHERS A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO USE FOR OUR SENIORS BECAUSE NOT ONLY GEN Z IS HAVE FOMO BUT OUR SENIORS ALSO TOO HAVE FOMO AND THEY HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SEAPORT, THEY HEAR ABOUT THE BACK BAY AND THEY WANT OUT SO YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF MINGLE WITH EVERYONE ELSE AS WELL. SO JUST KIND OF THINKING THAT AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A STRONGER BIG SHOUT OUT FOR PARTNERING WITH MY BROTHER PRINCE HALL AND I FOR DOING OUR FIRST SENIOR LOVE AND LAUGHTER VALENTINE LUNCHEON AT PRINCE HALL. SO BIG SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER SHEA, TYISHA, OLIVE, ALICIA AND THE WHOLE TEAM DOWN THERE FOR DOING SUCH AMAZING STUFF AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BARBARA CRITCHLOW, MARILYN FOREMAN, SHIRLEY SHILLINGFORD,  DORCHESTER BAY EDC AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I GOT TO SEE KELSEY FITZGERALD BUST A MOVE AT AND HALL ONE OF OUR SENIOR EVENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO POURS INTO OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. CANTOR FITZGERALD WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHOW US THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CANTOR FITZGERALD. THERE'LL BE A HEARING ON THAT AND COUNCILOR WE'RE OUT. WHAT DOES FOMO MEAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT HIP AS YOU ARE?  I WASN'T AS HEAD OF MIND.  I WASN'T AS HIP WAS MY STAFF EITHER. SO FEAR OF MISSING OUT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR COLLETTE IT COMES WITH A LOT OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE I KNOW THAT I'M ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CITY BUT I JUST WANT TO RISE AND LEND A HAND AND WHATEVER KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE AND EAST BOSTON WE ARE NOW THE BENEFICIARIES OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW FACILITY THAT OPENED UP LAST YEAR THAT TOOK 15 YEARS TO BUILD AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY PREDECESSOR SHALOM MARTINO FOR REALLY GETTING IT OFF OF THE GROUND AND THE WOMEN THAT HELPED PUSH THIS FORWARD THERE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU ALL COULD BE THINKING ABOUT SURPLUS LAND WHERE THE EAST BOSTON SENIOR CENTER IS NOW IT USED TO BE A CITY OWNED LIBRARY AND SO THINKING ABOUT HOW TO REPURPOSE IT AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MONEY FROM MASSPORT QUITE FRANKLY AND WE SAW THAT THROUGH ONE OF THEIR GRANTS THIS YEAR. SO PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT I'M ALWAYS HERE TO HELP. WE CAN MAYBE TRY TO GET SAL BACK HERE IN THE CHAMBER FOR YOUR HEARING ORDER AS WELL AS COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON'S HEARING ORDER WHICH JUST WANTED TO RISE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND PLEASE COUNT ME AS A PARTNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR IN COUNCIL BREADON AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I ALSO WE HAVE A PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A A SENIOR CENTER DESIGNATED SENIOR CENTER IN ALLSTON BRIGHTON IN A FORMER CITY OWNED FIREHOUSE.  THE VERONICA SMITH USED TO BE A FIREHOUSE SO A AND IT'S BEEN REPURPOSED TO MAKE AN INCREDIBLE SPACE FOR OUR SENIOR CENTER AND THEN DOWN ON THE BASEMENT LEVEL WE HAVE THE HERITAGE MUSEUM, THE PRIDE AND AUSTIN HERITAGE MUSEUM.  I THINK REALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF SENIORS THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE RECENTLY RETIRED MAYBE IN THEIR SIXTIES THE WHOLE WAY UP TO PEOPLE WHO ARE 100. SO YOU'RE ALMOST TALKING THREE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND I THINK I THINK HAVING A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT WHAT SORT OF SERVICES AND AND AND WHAT SORT OF SEEING SEEING OUR SENIORS AS AN ASSET IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I THINK ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS I SEE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH WE SEE IT ACROSS THE CITY IS THAT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN RENTING FROM A HOMEOWNER IN MAYBE A TWO OR THREE FAMILY HOME AND THE HOMEOWNER BECOMES A SENIOR AND MAYBE NEEDS TO GO INTO A DIFFERENT HOUSING SITUATION, MAYBE SELL THEIR HOME AND GO INTO ASSISTED LIVING OR WHATEVER.  THE SENIOR WHO LIVES IN THE APARTMENT UPSTAIRS JUST MAYBE RENT WITH THEM AFFORDABLY RENTED FROM THEM FOR 30 YEARS OR 40 YEARS ALL OF A SUDDEN IS FINDING THAT THEY HAVE TO GO INTO THE HOUSING MARKET AND LOOK FOR HOUSING. SO THERE'S MANY, MANY ASPECTS TO THIS AND I REALLY DO FEEL THAT THIS WEEK WE ARE SORT OF REMEMBERING THAT IT'S FOUR YEARS SINCE WE WERE TOLD TO GO HOME OF THIS BUILDING AND GO WORK FROM HOME WHEN COVID HIT AND COVID WAS A VERY, VERY BIG DISRUPTOR. SO I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT WHEN WE SORT OF HIT THE RESET BUTTON, LOOK AT ALL OUR ASSETS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO AGING POPULATION TO SEE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT THEM AS BEST WE CAN ACROSS ALL SORT OF SECTORS HOUSING, SOCIAL CARE, FOOD ACCESS, ALL OF IT. SO THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR BREADON AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR ADDING ME AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ENERGY ON THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT OUR SENIORS VERY HAPPY THAT DURING ARPA A MY OFFICE WAS ABLE TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT AND GET AN ALLOCATION FOR SENIOR PROGRAMING TO REALLY COMBAT THE LONELINESS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO INCLUDING COUNCILOR WEBER.  THE THE LEAD SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTED.  SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMISSIONER SHEA ABOUT WHETHER THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED. OUR COMING UP ON BUDGET WHICH WILL ALSO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE THAT ADVOCACY AND I JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER SHEA BECAUSE SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST ASIAN COMMISSIONERS THAT IN THE COUNTRY AND SHE REALIZES THE CHALLENGES OF WANTING TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN TRYING TO REALLY CENTER THE WORK OF EQUITY AND SHOUT OUT TO RONALD LAMMY, A RESIDENT I THINK A COUNCILOR FOR AN INDIGENOUS AND INDIGENOUS DISTRICT SEVEN WHO WAS ALWAYS UPLIFTING THE NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS PARTICULARLY OUR BLACK SENIORS. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR AND THE CO-SPONSOR ON THIS. WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN HARD FOR SOME OF OUR SENIORS ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE SOME OF THE CUTS COMING ON THE STATE LEVEL. SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO HERE IN OUR BUDGET TO UPLIFT THE NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS WHETHER THEY BE IN WEST ROXBURY OR ROXBURY, THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU.  DOCKET NUMBER 05090 WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA FERNANDES , ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MARIA MURPHY SANTANA WORRELL THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0509 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0510 DUNCAN EMMA 0510 COUNCILORS MICKEY AND WEBER OFFER FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING FOR CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE,  COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR WEBER FOR JOINING ME ON THIS JOURNEY. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU.  SO BEFORE I EVEN GET INTO THE HEARING, WHAT I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT OF HOW I ENDED UP HERE. SO DURING COVID I USED TO DO THESE INSTAGRAM LIVES WHERE I USED TO JUST POP UP AND I THINK COUNCILOR AROUND YOU USED TO POP UP TO MY INSTAGRAM LIVES ALL THE TIME AND IT WAS DURING THAT TIME THAT I CAME ACROSS A CONSTITUENT WHO WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND HAD SHARED WITH ME HER STRUGGLE AROUND BEING ABLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON WHILE ALSO TRYING TO MAINTAIN HER HOUSING HERE AND I WAS SUPER INSPIRED BY THAT STORY AND THAT WE CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL TO MEET WITH THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY THEN ADMINISTRATOR CATE WHO HELPED US UNDERSTAND AND KIND OF SOME OF THE LEGALITIES AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS FACING AS A RESULT OF HER HOUSING SITUATION AND AND THIS INDIVIDUAL ENDED UP GOING FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A BUMP IN HER SALARY BUT THE SALARY THAT SHE WAS EARNING STILL WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  AND DURING ONE OF MY BUDGET ADVOCACIES THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR ANDERSON WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL LINE ITEM AND AN INCREASE FOR THE BOSTON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK WHICH IS ONE OF THE LOWEST PAID IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONS FOR WORKERS AND THEY ACTUALLY ARE THE ONES THAT DO MOST OF THE WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT.  THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS REALLY THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HOW WE ENDED UP HERE WITH HAVING A HEARING ORDER AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PUTTING A FINANCIAL STRAIN ON OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THEIR WAGES DOES NOT MATCH THE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE CITY THAT WE HAVE BECOME. AND SO BECAUSE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO I'M REALLY SUPER INSPIRED TO SEE THIS INDIVIDUAL GROW IN HER CAREER AND TO SEE THEM SITTING IN A NEW SPACE AND NOW MAKING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP HER HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT I'M STILL ABLE TO ADVOCATE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER BOSTON EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STILL FEELING THAT CRUNCH. IN FACT ROUGHLY ACCORDING TO DATA FROM 20 TO 2022 EMPLOYEES EARNING REPORT FINDS THAT ROUGHLY 7500 INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY PAYROLL ARE EARNING LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR. THAT'S A LOT, RIGHT? AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT OUR OFFICE DURING 2022 WE ADVOCATE IT FOR DURING THE OPERA FUNDING FOR A A BUDGET OF $750,000 TO SUPPORT HOUSING STIPENDS FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.  AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE OUT IN 2023 AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ALMOST ALL OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED UP WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO ARE WORKING HERE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET AND TO MAKE THEIR RENT PAYMENTS WHICH GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY NOW AS A COUNCIL TO REALLY DIVE DEEPER INTO WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING OR WHETHER IT IS LOOKING AT EXISTING STOCK, WHETHER IT'S LOOKING AT SUPPLEMENTAL SUBSIDIES LIKE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS WHO GET HOUSING STIPENDS PERHAPS WE CAN CREATE SOME SORT OF PATHWAY SO THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER CITIES IN NEW YORK RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE TRADE UNIONS AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE UPON THAT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE DEEPLY CARES ABOUT. BUT I THINK THAT FOR ME I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO JUST REALLY SEIZE THE MOMENT TO REALLY IF WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE RESIDENTS ,WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AND WHETHER THAT IS INCREASING THEIR WAGES WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH THE HOUSING THOSE TWO THINGS GO HAND IN HAND AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW AS A BODY WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO DO JUST THAT . THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HERE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE DRAFT BOARD CONCILOR MEJIA HERE FOR HAVING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE.  UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CITY WORKERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LIVING WAGE ORDINANCE THAT LAGS OTHER CITIES IN PAYING A MINIMUM WAGE . I THINK IT'S CURRENTLY AROUND $17.50 AN HOUR AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT INCREASING THAT AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT. BUT IT'S NOT JUST WORKERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING NOW. IT'S WORKERS WHO DON'T WORK HERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BCF 911 OPERATORS THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ARE ALL STRUGGLING TO FILL THEIR WORKFORCE AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM YOU KNOW, HIRE THE PEOPLE THAT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY RELY ON. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE COST OF HOUSING IN BOSTON IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND DUE TO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS TOO MANY WORKERS HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR JOBS AND AFFORDING TO LIVE HERE. UM AND I THINK THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO THE EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.  WORKFORCE HOUSING LAWS ARE NOT NEW. IT SKI TOWNS BUILT WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE 1970S SO WORKERS COULD AFFORD TO LIVE IN PLACES LIKE ASPEN, COLORADO IN 2008 NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSED A STATEWIDE WORKFORCE HOUSING LAW AND AS COUNCILWOMAN HERE ALLUDED TO JUST LAST WEEK, NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCED THAT DUE TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IN NEW YORK AND THE INABILITY TO KEEP WORKERS IN THE CITY THEY WERE PARTNERING WITH TRADE UNIONS AND THE TRADE UNIONS HAD PLEDGED TO TO CONTRIBUTE $100 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AROUND 80% OF THE THE AMA OR THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE AN EFFECTIVE WORKFORCE WHO COULD AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY. AND WE SHOULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO DOING THE SAME HERE.  SO AGAIN THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA.  COUNCILOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I WANT TO TRY TO TAKE THE SPONSORS FROM PUTTING PARTIES HERE IN ORDER. JUST YESTERDAY I HOSTED A COUPLE OF DOZEN COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR A BUDGET PRIORITY SUMMIT. ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT CAME UP DURING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WAS HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN BOSTON.  AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR TEACHERS, IT'S OUR BOSTON PUBLIC BOSTON POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDERS.  IT'S OUR BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WORKERS. IT'S OUR STREET REPAIRS, CREWS FIXING OUR POTHOLES AND MAKING OUR STREETS AND STREETS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS, SENIORS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH DISABILITIES.  I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. EVERYONE DESERVES A HOME AND FOR FAR TOO MANY OF OUR DEDICATED CITY WORKERS WHO KEEP BOSTON RUNNING, WHO KEEP US SAFE, WHO EDUCATE OUR WHO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN LIVING HERE IN BOSTON IS SIMPLY NOT AFFORDABLE. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS BODY WORKING ALONGSIDE COLLEAGUES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING HOUSING IS ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL BOSTONIANS AND PARTICULARLY OUR CITY WORKERS. THE CHALLENGE IS ALWAYS HOW WE CAN. THE CHALLENGE IS HOW WE CAN FIND THE FUNDS TO INVEST IN THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS. I APPRECIATE THE SPONSORS FOR NOTING SOME OF THE WAYS OTHER CITIES HAVE FUNDED WORKFORCE HOUSING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THIS HEARING TO EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS FURTHER AND TO FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT CAN WORK HERE IN BOSTON AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN MY INAUGURAL COUNCIL SPEECH I CALLED FOR A HEARING TO EXPLORE MIXED INCOME SOCIAL HOUSING, SOCIAL HOUSING AS I FINANCING STRATEGIES STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING MUNICIPAL HOUSING NO ONE TOOL WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS BUT IT COULD BE ONE OF THE PIECE OF HOW WE COULD FIND WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR BOSTON CITY WORKERS. I HOPE THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME THE CO-SPONSORS FOR THIS HEARING ORDER COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE COUNCILOR BRITTON WITH WHEN THE HOUSING COMMITTEE HOLDS THE HEARING IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE SPONSORS AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME. THANK YOU COUNCILOR SANTANA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN.  COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR FOR THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.  OUR CITY EMPLOYEES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN BOSTON. THEY ARE LOW WAGE WORKERS.  MANY OF THEM ARE. MANY OF THEM ARE. MANY OF THEM RECEIVE A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY WAGE LEAVE IN THE FAMILY WAGE DOESN'T ENABLE THEM TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND IN FACT SOME OF THEM HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY DUE TO RESIDENCY IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY HAVE A WORK IN A JOB MAKING $30,000 A YEAR, $40,000 A YEAR AND THEN EXPECT SOMEONE TO BUY A HOUSE OR TO RENT AN APARTMENT ON THAT ON THAT SALARY? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE BUT TO THE CITY WORKERS THERE THEY ARE HERE EVERY DAY.  THEY'RE WORKING SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. THEY'RE CLEANING OUR STREETS,  THEY'RE SUPPORTING OUR ELDERLY, HELPING OUR YOUTH, MAKING BOSTON MOVE FORWARD, NOT LOOKING FOR CREDIT BUT THEY LOVE THEIR JOB. THEY LOVE THIS CITY AND THEY WANT TO GIVE BACK. BUT IT'S ALSO UP TO US AS CITY LEADERS TO GO TO BAT FOR THEM AND ENSURE THAT BOSTON IS A PLACE FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS FOR MIDDLE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AS WELL THAT ARE CITY EMPLOYEES. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR THIS IMPORTANT HEARING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE ADD MY NAME.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR COLLECTIVE COUNCILOR CLAUDIA FLORE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND I JUST RISE TO THANK THE MAKERS OF COUNCIL MEJIA I REMEMBER YOU BRINGING THIS UP DURING THE ARPA CONVERSATIONS AND IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST FORAYS INTO BEING CITY COUNCILOR AND TRYING TO GET CREATIVE WITH SOME OF THIS TRANSFORMATIVE MONEY THAT WE WERE OVERSEEING AND I REMEMBER YOU BRINGING IT UP AND BEING LIKE HUH, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE IDEA. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH SEEING THAT THERE ARE A FEW STAFFERS WHO ARE ON THIS COUNCIL AND BEFORE WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET ALLOCATION OUR BOSSES COULD PAY US WHAT WE WHAT THEY COULD AND SOME OF US INCLUDING MYSELF HAD TO GET A SECOND JOB TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RENT.  I KNOW THAT I HAVE STUDENT LOANS. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY GROCERIES. I MEAN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING ACUTELY FELT BY SO MANY BOSTONIANS INCLUDING CITY WORKERS AND GOING OUT AND BEING IN THE FIELD TALKING TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES, TALKING TO FOLKS WHO ARE PART OF EMS. THEY LOVE THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THEY WANT TO SERVE THE CITY OF BOSTON. BUT THEY SAY WE JUST CANNOT STAY HERE AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SUPER CREATIVE. THE CITY HAS PUT OUT AN 80 NEW PROGRAM AND THEY'RE INCENTIVIZING LANDLORDS TO BUILD OUT AND TO THE BASEMENTS AND ATTICS AND EXTRA SPACE.  CAN WE INCENTIVIZE THEM TO BRING IN CITY WORKERS? CAN WE LAYER THIS INTO THE ARTICLE 80 PROCESS TO HAVE SOME SET ASIDE UNITS? SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND COME HERE REALLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND COUNCILOR WEBER THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAYTON COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING I'M ASSUMING IT'S COMING TO HOUSING . YES. YOU KNOW THE AH, INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT UP TO THAT. THAT'S 17% PLUS 3% VOUCHERS. YOU KNOW WE SPEND SO MUCH EFFORT TRYING TO SQUEEZE THAT EXTRA LITTLE BIT OF AFFORDABILITY OUT OF OUR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.  BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO USE A BROAD BRUSH FOR A FULL COURT PRESS ON EVERYTHING TO SEE WHAT WHAT POTENTIAL SPACES WE CAN EXPAND OUR SOCIAL HOUSING AND OUR MIXED INCOME HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY SO THAT CITY WORKERS AND MIDDLE INCOME LOW INCOME WORKERS CAN AFFORD TO STAY AND CONTRIBUTE ALL THEIR MANY TALENTS TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.  THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HEARING ORDER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING WHEN IT COMES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WHERE OUTCOMES ARE REAL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU TO THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS. THANK YOU FOR CASTING MEJIA. IF ALWAYS CHAMPION THAT PEOPLE OF POLICY AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE RIGHT? I'M DEEPLY COMMITTED TO EXPANDING HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES NOT JUST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO FOR OUR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN BOSTON, ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT I PUSHED FORWARD LAST YEAR WAS A CITYWIDE VOUCHER HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FIRST GENERATION HOMEBUYERS WITH VITAL SUPPORT OFFERING VOUCHERS TOWARD THEIR MORTGAGE FOR UP TO 30 YEARS, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN STATED COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF TIMES HERE ON THIS BODY THAT THE JOURNEY DOESN'T END THERE WITH THE AVERAGE RENT IN BOSTON AND AVERAGE COST OF HOUSING FAR EXCEEDING NATIONAL AVERAGES AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BECOME AN INCREASINGLY CHALLENGE AND IT'S A CALL FOR ACTION FOR US TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUE OF HOUSING NEEDS FOR OUR CITIES WORKFORCE. BUT ONE THING I JUST WANT TO BRING INTO THE CONVERSATION IS THAT WHILE WE'RE TACKLING THIS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND OUR CITY'S WORKFORCE RIGHT?  SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR INCOME LEVELS, THEIR HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR HOUSING NEEDS SO THAT WHEN WE'RE READY TO BUILD THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, MAKING THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO INTEND TO ADDRESS. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR , IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER ? I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I KNOW LIKE A COUNCILOR COLETTA SAID YOU LED ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL DURING ARPA. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND I'M GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREEING.  OUR CITY EMPLOYEES MANY OF THEM ARE JUST NOT PAID ENOUGH.  ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON WE SHOULD BE THE EXAMPLE SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT OUR BUS MONITORS RIGHT? THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHETHER IT BE PARKS OR PUBLIC WORKS OUR TEACHERS, EVERYONE WHO NEED TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE THAT HOUSING CAN BE A REALITY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THAT WE CAN IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS HEARING. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IT BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE PAYING OUR WORKERS ENOUGH SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO RENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HERE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER.  WEBER IS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING IT WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASED COUNCILORS BRAEDEN COLETTA FRED AND JACINTA GERALD FLYNN MURPHY THAT BEN SANTANA WORLD AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0510 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0511 DOCTOR NUMBER 0511 COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING ON A CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIVE CITYWIDE STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.  THANK YOU MR. CLERK. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BREADON. THIS HEARING ORDER REALLY WAS BIRTHED AFTER THE WE'VE DISBANDED THE SAW THE STREET OUTREACH ADVOCACY AND RESPONSE PROGRAM AND THERE IS A VOID THAT WE ARE WORKING TO FILL FELL ON THE CITY LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO STREET OUTREACH AND GANG INTERVENTION WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GENERALLY YOUTH VIOLENCE AND HOW WE ARE WORKING ON THAT THIS THIS CONVERSATION IS REALLY GOING TO BE TAILORED TO A POST-ASSAD WORLD HOW WE DEVELOPING STRATEGIES, WORKING IN TANDEM OR SUPPORTING NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK AND WHAT I ALSO HOPE TO DO HERE TOO IS TO BRING IN PHILANTHROPY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE HAVE WE HAVE PHILANTHROPIC PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS HERE THE BOSTON FOUNDATION, THE BAR FOUNDATION THAT FUND A LOT OF THIS EARLY INTERVENTION GANG INTERVENTION WORK.  BUT WE NEED TO SORT OF REALLY SEE IF WE AS A CITY AND PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY ARE REALLY FUNDING THE RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS, THE RIGHT NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK AND WHERE WE'RE NOT. WE MUST ADJUST OUR STRATEGY TO HAVE COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION. I'M ACTUALLY NOT SAYING THAT THIS WORK THE WORK OF PSAS WHICH WAS PART OF THE CITY OF BOSTON I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO RETURN TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. I JUST WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT AND BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT WHERE THAT WORK IS GOING TO LIVE. SO THIS HEARING ORDER SEEKS TO REBUILD AND ENHANCE OUR APPROACH TO SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORTS BY FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS AND CROSS-SECTOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN OUR PURSUIT FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE VITAL ROLE OF THE PHILANTHROPIC AND NONPROFIT SECTOR IS VITAL IN PROVIDING THESE NECESSARY RESOURCES, EXPERTISE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEMENT PUBLIC EFFORTS. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES I'VE SAID THIS A LOT IN THE CONTEXT OF OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THERE TO REALLY EXPAND THAT OFFICE WHICH NOW IS ABLE TO GIVE GRANTS TO NONPROFITS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK ON THE GROUND ARE THE EXPERTS AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE THE ONES WHO THEMSELVES OR FORMER MEMBERS OF GANGS OR RETURNING CITIZENS WERE BEHIND THE WALL.  AND SO I WANT US TO BE MORE STRATEGIC WITH WHO WE'RE SUPPORTING AND WHOSE WORK WE'RE UPLIFTING. WE HAVE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT SCALES UP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SCALES UP COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND I WANT TO UPLIFT THEM. I WANT TO THANK ISAAC PABLO AND I WANT TO THANK CHIEF MASSO FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO REALLY TRY TO REIMAGINE WHAT THIS WORK LOOKS LIKE IN A POST-ASSAD WORLD.  IT REALLY DOING THE WORK OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE THAT ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT FINANCIALLY FROM EITHER THE CITY OR PHILANTHROPY AND WHO WE'RE UNDER INVESTING IN BECAUSE OFTENTIMES TOO OFTEN THE FOLKS THEMSELVES WHO ARE FORMERLY GETTING INVOLVED OR JUSTICE INVOLVED WHO AREN'T RECEIVING THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE WORK OF GETTING INTERVENTION AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LASER FOCUSED ON THAT.  SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS HEARING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD WHAT I SHOULD BE GETTING COUNCILOR OVERALL AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. AND HEARING NO OBJECTION COUNCILOR WORRELL IS ADDED CONSTABLE WORRELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO MADAM PRESIDENT IF ADDED ME AS ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE FLOOR IN FY 24 WE DEDICATED $4.5 MILLION TOWARDS VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, PREVENTION AND TRAUMA RECOVERY TO THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE EVALUATE THE INITIATIVES CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVE IN HAVING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. MY OFFICE HAS MET WITH COUNTLESS VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS AND RESEARCHERS FROM HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS TO CITY SERVICES AND NONPROFITS AND ONE FACT IS CONSISTENTLY HIGHLIGHTED OUR FAILURE TO WORK TOGETHER LEAVES OUR COMMUNITIES AT RISK.  OUR PLANNING FOR A FUTURE RESPONSE TO REFLECT THIS BY WORKING TO TRANSCEND TRADITIONAL SILOS AND CREATE A UNIFIED APPROACH, WE WILL CRY CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND THAT ENGAGES COMMERCIAL, PHILANTHROPIC AND PHILANTHROPIC, NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTORS ALIKE.  MOREOVER, WE CAN'T SIMPLY ADDRESS SYMPTOMS. WE MUST DELVE DEEPER INTO THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND MAKE AN TARGETED INVESTMENT IN HUMAN CAPITAL. THIS INCLUDES MONITORING VITAL DATA SOURCES LIKE 311 CALLS AND IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZE COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED.  WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO BE REACTIONARY. WE MUST WORK TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BY ADDRESSING UNDERLYING UNDERLYING CAUSES.  WE MUST INVEST IN PROACTIVE STRATEGIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE LONG FACED DISINVESTMENT AND WE MUST BUILD UPON THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. BY DOING THIS WE CAN FOSTER ENVIRONMENTS THAT OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT. THIS HEARING IS PIVOTAL AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TO ESTABLISH A CITYWIDE STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT LEAVES NO ONE BEHIND. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR WERE OUR COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE LEAD SPONSORS LOUISE FOSTER, THE CO-SPONSOR.  IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PREVENTION I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND RACISM AND WE HAVE A REPORT HOST MAYOR WALSH DECLARING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS FROM BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION IN WHICH YOU WILL FIND THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS HOW RACISM AND SELF INSTRUCT AND STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION PROPELS THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE WHEN WE CONTINUE TO DENSELY POPULATED POVERTY OR ARDUOUS SITUATIONS TRAINING OF SITUATIONS IN ONE AREA THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE UNDERGROUND YOU HAVE YOUTH AND THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AND MAKE IT TO RESORT TO SEX AND DRUG MARKET.  AND SO WE HAVE TO AS A CITY LOOK AT POST DECLARING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT WE KNOW IS EVIDENCE BASE IN ORDER FOR US TO TO INVEST IN THEM IN ORDER FOR US TO ACTUALLY BE PREVENTATIVE IN VIOLENCE NOW AS FAR AS INTERVENE AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE THIS HEARING ORDER AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SPONSORS IN TERMS OF SERVICE COORDINATION AS COUNCILOR MEJIA ALWAYS KNOWS THAT THIS CITY IS RESOURCE RICH AND COORDINATION POOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT STRUCTURES MECHANISMS TO WHICH WE CAN STREAMLINE SERVICES IN A WAY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE READILY AVAILABLE OBVIOUSLY IN USER FRIENDLY FOR DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.  SO JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS OR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR A CERTAIN POPULATION IT MAY THIS LEVEL OF OR BLANKET APPROACH MAY NOT BE CONDUCIVE FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS SUCH AS FOR EXAMPLE BLACK GAY BOYS IN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES.  AND SO WE HAVE TO THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND THINK DEEPLY ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH THIS TOPIC. AND I'M VERY INTERESTED CONSIDERING OBVIOUSLY MY BACKGROUND IN AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER I WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN WHICH SINCE YOU DO HAVE SPACE CONSIDER ADAM HE IS A THIRD CO-SPONSOR AT NO PRESSURE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  MADAM PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU CONSIDER ASKING COUNCILOR FERNANDES AND IS THAT THE REASON CO-SPONSOR I JUST GET OUT OF INCARCERATED THAT I ADD SORRY . I BEG YOUR PARDON PLEASE ADD COUNCILOR FOR AN END ANDERSON AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR HAVING NO OBJECTION,  COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON IS ADDED AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR . CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE COULD YOU GET CAN I GET AT IT TO THE DISTRICT?  NO, NO, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE FILED THINGS THAT EVERYONE DEEPLY CARES ABOUT I THINK YOU KNOW EVERYONE RAISING THEIR HAND IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEN ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARING AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE DOLLARS IF WE CAN ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE DOLLARS SO THAT WE CAN MEET THIS MOMENT, I THINK THAT THAT IS WHEN WE'RE REALLY SHOWING UP FOR FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND DOING JUST THAT SO SO I'LL JUST SAY REALLY QUICK YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I USED TO DO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT WORK AT THE HEIGHT OF THE VIOLENCE IN THE LATE MID EIGHTIES NINETIES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND YOU KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY AND RESOURCES BEING POURED INTO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, YOUTH JOBS, FAITH ENGAGEMENT IT WAS LIKE TO THIS POINT TO THE THE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE FILED THIS HEARING WHAT IT WAS A REALLY A CONCERTED EFFORT AT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAYED IN HELPING TO REDUCE VIOLENCE. AND I THINK THAT THAT LEVEL OF COORDINATION IS REALLY WHAT IS NEEDED MORE HERE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND THEN I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GETTING PAID BIG BUCKS BUT OFTENTIMES THAT RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT WE'RE NOT SEEING BUT THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE OTHER SMALL LA MOM AND POP OR EVEN GROUPS THAT ARE VOLUNTEERS. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A5I WOULDN'T SAY THREE BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. I THINK THAT THERE IS A SPACE FOR US TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW CAN WE AS YOU KNOW DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE REALLY LOOKING AT THESE SMALLER GROUPS. I THINK ABOUT THE DARRELL SLIM WINNERS VOICES OF LIBERATION.  IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BUT BEFORE THEN HE WAS DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH GANG MEMBERS RIGHT . AND HE IS LIKE THE NIPSEY HUSSLE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE BOND MCNEIL THERE'S SOUL MATE, THERE'S STEVE PINA, THERE'S JOSEPH BENNETT. THERE'S SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO ARE ACTUALLY STANDING IN THE GAP AND WORKING TOWARDS REDUCING VIOLENCE BUT YET THEY ARE NEVER REFLECTED IN OUR BUDGETS AND I THINK THAT IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT MEETING THIS MOMENT THEN I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPACE FOR THEM AT THE TABLE AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT COORDINATING AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND THE LAST THING THAT I'LL JUST ENCOURAGE US TO TO THINK ABOUT AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE ADVOCATED FOR MORE JOBS SUCCESSFULLY UNDER COUNCILOR THEN LAURA'S LEADERSHIP.  I KNOW THAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES I KNOW COUNCILOR ANDERSON HAS WORKED CREATIVELY AT FIGURING OUT OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE. I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT IS LIKE IDENTIFYING TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ALL RALLY AROUND.  SO WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR BUDGET SEASON MAYBE IT IS AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING ON THIS BUT I'LL JUST SPEAK ON IT MAYBE THERE THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEDICATED POSITION THAT IS ESTABLISHED TO KIND OF BE THE PERSON THAT MAKES SURE THAT THE COORDINATION IS HAPPENING. I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM BEING COLLABORATIVE.  WHAT DOES CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION LOOKS LIKE?  I'M HOPING WILL UNPACK THAT IN THE HEARING BUT ULTIMATELY AT THE ENDS OF IT ALL WE NEED TO WALK OUT OF THAT HEARING WHERE HERE'S THREE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MEET THE MOMENT AND HERE'S THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT TO ALLOCATE THAT WE CAN FIGHT FOR DURING THE BUDGET, HE SAID. THAT'S THE LEVEL OF ORGANIZING THAT I'D LIKE US TO DO AS WE CONTINUE TO FILE HEARING ORDERS AND PARTICIPATE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A CUSTOMER HERE WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO CANADA?  COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR MEJIA CONSTABLE MURPHY, COUNCILOR PEPPER AND COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR WEBER AND PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THANK YOU. DOCKET 015110, HANG ON.  UM, COUNCILOR WHICH I HAVE TO ASK FOR ALL IN FAVOR.  OKAY. THANK YOU.  DOCKET 0511 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ A DOCKET NUMBER 0513. OH, SORRY TO DOCKET NUMBER 0512.0512 COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE SHATTUCK HOUSING PROPOSAL TO PRIORITIZE RACIAL EQUITY.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON, COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON.  YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  BEFORE I SPEAK ON THIS DOCKET,  I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S KIND OF HARD STAYING UP LATE AND WAKING UP EARLY AND WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO I FORGOT TO WEAR GREEN BUT I HAVE MY OUTFIT FOR THE 17TH. IT'S READY.  SO ON DOCKET 051 TO ROXBURY SHARES 54% OF ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.  BOSTON ROXBURY ALSO SHARES THE MOST LOW THRESHOLD HOUSING THE MOST HIGHEST RATE OF RECIDIVISM HIGHEST NON PROFIT OR AT LEAST AN AMOUNT MORE THAN WE NEED AND FURTHER DAMPENING OUR ECONOMY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT RELIEF OF A REVITALIZATION OF ROXBURY THAT REALLY CREATES THRIVING BUSINESS DISTRICTS, THAT CREATES HOUSING ECOSYSTEMS WITH AMENITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN A HOLISTIC SENSE ALL OF THIS MAKES SENSE AND WE MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE BOSTON FOUNDATION, WITH COMMUNITY WITH NORTHEASTERN B.U. AND HARVARD AND ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT FUTURE PROJECTS AND HOW WE CAN REVITALIZE SPACES BUT ALSO CREATE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY OFFERS US AN ABILITY TO LIQUIDATE OUR ASSETS AND BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH IN ORDER TO DO THIS, I THINK THAT BOSTON AS A WHOLE AND WE'VE HEARD OUR MAYOR SAY THIS THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS SHOULD SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVICES OR HOUSING AND SO SAME FOR ROXBURY AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON.  WE BELIEVE THAT THE REST OF BOSTON SHOULD SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THIS IS ALL EVIDENCE BASED. THIS IS NOT IN MY OPINION AND SO THE STATE HAS PROPOSED TO BUILD TO REBUILD THE SHATTUCK BUT ALSO TO BUILD HOUSING IN ROXBURY IN IN D SEVEN AND SO WE D SEVEN AS YOU KNOW I'M SORRY FRANKLIN PARK AS YOU KNOW IS IN GROVE HALL WHICH PEOPLE WILL ARGUE THAT THE IN ABUTS MATTAPAN OR PART OF IT IS IN MATTAPAN BUT TECHNICALLY IT'S GROVE HALL AND FOLKS ARE VERY SENTIMENTAL ABOUT THIS TERRITORY AND BUT IT IS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND SO TO THESE ISSUES WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK BMC THE STATE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS COME TO THIS CHAMBER AND HAVE AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION IN WHICH WE CAN BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND, MORE TRANSPARENT IN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THIS AND EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? HOW MANY UNITS IS IT 200? IS IT 400? IS IT 800? AND IF SO CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR DISTRICT SEVEN? AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ME TAKING A CERTAIN POSITION EITHER OR. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS.  BMC ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER PARCELS IN ROXBURY BECAUSE WE DO SHARE THE MOST AMOUNT OF PARCELS BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THAT THIS BLIGHT SITUATION THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE 400 BETWEEN M SHOULD BE PDA PARCELS OF MORE THAN 400 PARCELS AVAILABLE OR BLIGHT IN ROXBURY . IT'S DUE TO HISTORIC RACIAL HARMS THEREFORE TO REDRESS THEM WE HAVE TO LOOK AT RISKS CONCILIATORY OR REPARATIONS CONNECTED TYPES OF SOLUTIONS AND SO NOT JUST BUILDING IN SILOS OR JUST RANDOMLY PUTTING HOUSING OR THINGS IN ROXBURY AND NOT SO THAT ROXBURY RESIDENTS AS I'M HEARING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS NOT FEEL LIKE IT'S THE DUMPING GROUND FOR EVERYTHING THAT THAT'S FOR POVERTY, EVERYTHING THAT IS POOR SERVICE, EVERYTHING THAT IS DOES NOT ADD TO OUR ECONOMY. AND SO I'M OFFERING MY COLLEAGUES TO COME TO THIS HEARING.  I KNOW THAT I HAVE NEIGHBORS COUNCILOR WEBER AND COUNCILOR WUERL WHO ARE MY NEIGHBORS IN FRANKLIN PARK AND QUITE SURE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE IMPACT TO THEIR DISTRICT. SO WELCOMING YOU TO THIS CONVERSATION AND LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN TO A TRANSPARENT PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILPERSON ANGIE ANDERSON IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE RECOGNIZES THIS COUNCIL WEBCAST WHEREBY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR FOR INTRODUCING THIS HEARING ORDER YOU KNOW THE SHATTUCK WAS ONE OF THE IS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I WAS ASKED MOST FREQUENTLY ABOUT WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S SOMETHING I MOST FREQUENTLY AND CONTACTED ABOUT RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW I IT TERMS OF DISTRICT SIX I THINK YOU KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE MIGHT CONSTITUENTS LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED I HAVE TAKEN WALKING A WALKING TOUR OF THE CURRENT FACILITIES AND HAVE SEEN THE NEEDLES THAT THAT LITTER THE PARK NEAR THE FACILITY UM YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS HAVE RAISED THEIR VOICES ACROSS BOTH DISTRICT SIX AND COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND COUNCILOR RAILS DISTRICTS AS A RESULT OF THE PLANS SUBMITTED BY THE BMC.  THAT PLAN WAS PULLED IN DECEMBER OF I THINK WE WERE EXPECTING A NEW PLAN TO BE PROPOSED NEXT MONTH.  UM YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW PLAN WILL LOOK LIKE BUT I AGREE THAT WE MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CHOOSE TO PLACE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.  YOU KNOW I, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE IT'S CRITICAL THAT ANY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ACTUALLY USE AN EFFECTIVE MODEL. THE GOAL SHOULD NOT BE TO PUT AS MUCH IN THAT SPACE AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THE GOAL SHOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING MODEL THAT SERVES BOTH THOSE WHO WILL LIVE THERE AND WILL MITIGATE EFFECTS ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.  YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY ADDICTION IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND IT'S NOT BOSTON'S ISSUE ALONE TO SHOULDER YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PLAN YOU KNOW, IF IT INCLUDES THE SHATTUCK SITE ALSO AS A TREATMENT FACILITIES AND OTHER LOCATIONS INCLUDING MUNICIPALITY IS OUTSIDE THE CITY SO UM YOU KNOW I, I URGE THE CITY THAT IF THEY ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING ISSUES OF ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS TO LOOK BEYOND JUST BOSTON AND TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AROUND BOSTON THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE CARRYING THEIR LOAD WITH RESPECT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON ON THIS ISSUE AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ANDREW ANDERSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER.  I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD RENOVATE THE SHELTER. WE SHOULD PROVIDE SERVICES.  I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I'M SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH DUAL DIAGNOSIS CLIENTS FOR YEARS SEVEN YEARS TO BE EXACT.  AND SO IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NAME THAT AND NOT FURTHER PROPEL STIGMAS AROUND THIS ISSUE. SO I SUPPORT SERVICES, I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I SUPPORT THIS LEVEL OF LOW THRESHOLD OR NOT OR PERMANENT HOUSING. HOWEVER, I THINK WHERE I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING WHERE WE PRACTICALLY LOOK WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE IN A PRACTICAL MANNER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WHAT MAKES SENSE SO THAT THERE IS NOT A DISINVESTMENT OR IN A WAY THAT WE IMPACT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE DISTRICT.  THANK YOU. AND JUST SORRY JUST TO ADD I, I PERSONALLY LIVE AROUND IN ONE NINE MILE RADIUS AROUND MY HOME AROUND EIGHT HALFWAY HOMES JUST WHERE I LIVE. SO IT'S WHICH IS VERY, VERY CLOSE TO FRANKLIN PARK AS WELL. SO I HEAR YOUR NEIGHBORS LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU COUNCILMAN . INGENIOUS. AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS HIGHLIGHTING THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING OUR HOUSING CRISIS. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.  AND BECAUSE OF WEBER YOU HIGHLIGHTED HOW AGAIN STATEWIDE THIS IS AN OPIOID CRISIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND BOSTON CAN PLAY A ROLE BUT OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES NEED TO BE PLAYING A ROLE AS WELL AND FOR ALSO UPLIFTING THAT THE STATE WITH I THINK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BMC WILL BE PROPOSING HAS BEEN LISTENING I THINK TO A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM COMMUNITY AND HAS WILL BE SHARING A NEW PROPOSAL WITH US SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY ANDERSON AND ALSO YOUR WORK COUNCILOR WEBER IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA FITZGERALD.  FLYNN MCGWIRE MURPHY. BEN SANTANA. WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 0512 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY . MR. CLERK PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0513 NUMBERS 0513 COUNCIL OF MURPHY OFFER THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING DISCUSS THE SERVICES THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS OUR COMMUNITIES.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS WE KNOW THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS THE FIRST FREE LIBRARY IN THE UNITED STATES.  THE BUILDING WAS A FORMER SCHOOLHOUSE WHICH WAS LOCATED ON MASON STREET THAT WAS OPENED ON MARCH 20TH 1854 AND IN 1870 WHICH COUNCIL IS VERY PROUD OF THE LIBRARY BRANCH THE FIRST BRANCH IN THE COUNTRY WAS OPENED IN EAST BOSTON. WE NOW HAVE 26 BRANCH LIBRARIES ACROSS THE CITY.  LIBRARIES ARE GREAT EQUALIZERS IN OUR SOCIETY THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES REGARDLESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND. RACE, ETHNICITY OR GENDER. THIS PROMOTES SOCIAL EQUITY AND HELPS TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. LIBRARIES ALSO PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE THEY COLLECT, PRESERVE AND MAKE AVAILABLE MATERIALS THAT DOCUMENT THE HISTORY,  CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS.  THE LIBRARY SERVES NEARLY 4 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR AND MILLIONS MORE ONLINE.  THE BPR BELIEVES IN LIFELONG LEARNING FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES.  FOR ADULT LEARNERS THEY OFFER MANY RESOURCES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR DEGREE. A CERTIFICATION HAS IMMIGRANT INFORMATION CORNERS AT ALL 26 LOCATION AND PROVIDE COST FREE ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES KNOWN AS ESL WHILE PROGRAMS ARE LIBRARIES ARE EXTRAORDINARY PLACES AT ANY GIVEN TIME YOU'LL SEE THEM FULL OF FAMILIES SENIORS, STUDENTS THERE'S ART, COMMUNITY EVENTS, MUSIC, INTERNET, DIGITAL DOWNLOADING AND STREAMING COPYING SERVICES AND SO MUCH MORE. WE SAW THROUGH COVID MANY PEOPLE NEEDED TO USE THE LIBRARY TO ACCESS THE INTERNET FOR ALL OF THE ONLINE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO USE PUBLIC LIBRARIES MAKE CITIES STRONGER THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND PLAYING ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON . BECAUSE OF THIS IMPORTANCE AND THE SUPPORT THEY GIVE ON EDUCATION PROMOTING LIFELONG LEARNING AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH GROWTH THERE ARE ALSO VITAL COMMUNITY SPACES.  WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE NEW LIBRARIES THAT ARE BEING OPEN ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ARE COMMUNITY ROOMS THAT ARE BEING USED BY THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST FOR LIBRARY SERVICES.  THIS BEING SAID, I HOPE WE HOLD A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EACH LIBRARY BRANCH DOES OFFER SEEING HOW WE CAN EXPAND THESE SERVICES AND OUTREACH TO ALL WITH THE FOCUS ON OUR SENIORS AND RESIDENTS AND OUR HOUSING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS HEARING AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN FINDING OUT WHAT OUR LIBRARY RESOURCES ARE AND BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON COMES UPON US HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE AND ACCESS MORE SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN BECAUSE I MEAN HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE. MADAM PRESIDENT, I REMEMBER I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING OR A BUDGET HEARING. YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE LIBRARY IS REALLY WAS LIKE YOUR BABYSITTER LIKE THAT'S WHERE YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME.  AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME BEING A CITY KID TOO. THAT WAS THE CASE. SO I THINK COUNSELOR MURPHY, AS YOU CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, THINK THROUGH WHAT THIS HEARING ORDER IS ABOUT, I'D LOVE TO JUST ADVOCATE THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE HOURS OF OPERATION. THERE ARE CERTAIN LIBRARIES THAT ARE OPEN ON WEEKENDS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY AND THAT IN OTHERS.  SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT EQUITY AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT PROGRAMING IS ONE. BUT I ALSO THINK THE HOURS OF OPERATION IS SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING INTO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT CONVERSATION. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT AS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND I ALSO THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE HOSTING AND ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER THE GUEST LIST FOR THE HEARINGS, I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME USERS OF THE LIBRARY BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION TOO TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW ENGLISH AND TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF LIKE LANGUAGE ACCESS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN REALLY DEEPLY CHAMPIONING HERE ON THE COUNCIL . SO I THINK YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES THE ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE AUDITED. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNT FROM HERE AND THANK YOU FOR FOR HIGHLIGHTING BELOW OUR MOST PUBLIC LIBRARIANS THOSE WERE THOSE WERE MY BABYSITTERS GROWING UP AND I GET SOMETIMES YOU'RE EMOTIONAL THINKING ABOUT IT BUT OUR LIBRARIES ARE VERY SPECIAL PLACES TO PUT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES INTO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALSO GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT YOU DID. YOU FILED A HEARING ORDER LAST YEAR VERY SIMILAR ON SPECIFIC ABOUT YOUTH AND HOW OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN BE DOING MORE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT LEADERSHIP AS WELL COMES FROM HERE. I ADORE OUR LIBRARIES. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME THE LIBRARY SYSTEM IN BOSTON IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY RESIDENTS INCLUDING OUR YOUNG FAMILIES, SENIORS ESPECIALLY ENJOY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS WELL. I DO KNOW THAT IN CHINATOWN THAT WE DO HAVE SOME BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS THAT ARE IN IN CHINESE. IT'S A VERY IT'S VERY LIMITED BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT WE DO THAT WE DO HAVE ENOUGH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AS WELL IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. THIS IS A TEMPORARY LIBRARY WE ARE GETTING A NEW LIBRARY BUILT IN CHINATOWN WHICH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. I ALSO KNOW AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED THAT THE TIMES IN THE DAYS OF LIBRARIES ARE NOT CONSISTENT AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CONSISTENT RULE OR AT LEAST CONSIDERATE I SHOULD SAY AT LEAST A CONSISTENT DAY AND TIME FOR ALL THE LIBRARIES SUCH AS CHINATOWN IS NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS IN MANY, MANY LIBRARIES ARE OPEN ON SATURDAYS.  LIBRARIES ARE A PLACE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AND ENSURES THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AND TREATED FAIRLY TREATED WITH RESPECT IN LIBRARIES. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND I'M ALSO WANT TO ADVOCATE AS WELL FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE SOUTH AND I KNOW IT'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SOME CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW ON COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON EXACTLY WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME COMPROMISE GOING FORWARD AND I KNOW WHEN IT IS DONE THAT THAT LIBRARY WILL BE EXCEPTIONAL AND IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM VILLA VICTORIA WHICH I WHICH I REPRESENT WITH THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS AND CANTONESE SPEAKING RESIDENTS IN THE HIGH RISE THAT IS LOCATED THERE AS WELL. SO LIBRARIES BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER THE RICH AND THE POOR ALL ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION THAT CAN MADAM CHAIR THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING BOOKS IN OTHER LANGUAGES AND HOW IMPORTANT LIBRARIES ARE AS FREE PLACE FOR OUR IMMIGRANTS AND OUR LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN CENTRAL IN WELCOMING OUR IMMIGRANTS AND OUR MIGRANTS HERE AND SO I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT THEM FOR THAT AS WELL.  THEY'RE JUST GREAT THAT COMES RIGHT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. MURPHY FOR BRINGING THIS HEARING ORDER FORWARD. I HAVE TO DO I HAVE TO SAY YOU WERE THERE AT THE REOPENING OF THE OAK SQUARE BRANCH LIBRARY JUST ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE . THE CUT THE RIBBON AT 4:00 BETWEEN 4:00 AND 8:00 1100 PEOPLE CAME INTO THAT LIBRARY AND WE HAD AN OPEN DAY ON THE SATURDAY AND ANOTHER THOUSAND PEOPLE TURNED UP AND THEY WERE WE DON'T HAVE A PARKING LOT. SO MOST PEOPLE WERE WALKING. THEY'RE COMING ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. SO IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLY WELL YOU SMALL LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS THREATENED WITH CLOSURE WAY BACK IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST SORT OF CIVIC THINGS THAT I GOT INVOLVED IN WHEN I CAME TO BRIGHTON WAS TRYING TO SAVE THE STILL SQUARE LIBRARY AND AT THE TIME MAYOR MENINO WAS PROPOSING TO CLOSE FIVE BRANCH LIBRARIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING YOURS NOR NOR MILLS AND THE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS WAS ORGANIZED WITH THE FRIENDS GROUPS AND OAK SQUARE WAS REALLY ACTIVE IN THAT CAMPAIGN. WE SAVED OUR LIBRARY. WE ALSO SAVED FIVE OTHER AND WE GOT A NEW LIBRARY IN ORIENTALE IT'S UH ORIENT HEIGHTS WAS ON THE LIST AS WELL SO IT WAS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES . THERE WAS A HEARING AT THE COPLEY SQUARE AND I'M GOING TO TALK ON AN EVERY DISPOSITION. DOUGLAS THERE WAS A HEARING AT COPLEY SQUARE AND THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN COME IN TO TESTIFY SHE WAS A TEENAGER AND SHE STOOD UP. THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE WHEN SHE SPOKE.  SHE SAID THAT HER BRANCH LIBRARY WAS ONE OF THE SAFE PLACES THAT SHE COULD GO TO. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO HER FOR HER TO GO HOME AFTER SCHOOL, TO BE IN HER HOME.  IT WASN'T SAFE AND SHE WENT TO A BRANCH LIBRARY. SO IN BRANCH WERE REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS SAFE SPACES FOR CHILDREN YOUNG PEOPLE WE OFFER TUTORING THIS VOLUNTEER AS A TUTOR AFTER SCHOOL WE HAVE OUR BRANCH OUR FRIENDS GROUPS RAISE A LOT OF MONEY.  WE HAVE A FUNKY AUCTION EVERY YEAR AND WE RAISE SOME MONEY EXTRA MONEY FOR PROGRAMING. SO WE BRING IN SCIENCE AND WE BRING IN READING PROGRAMS AND WE BRING IN MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES. SO I REALLY DO WANT TO SHOW THAT FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT OUR FRENCH GROUPS ARE DOING AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE VALUE OF OUR LIBRARIES AND HOW WE MIGHT EXPAND ON THAT AND GET GET APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK WE DO AND EXPAND THE WORK WE DO TO BENEFIT MORE OF OUR CITIZENS IN BOSTON AND RESIDENTS IN BOSTON. YEAH, THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR BRAYTON ALSO GOING TO TAKE THIS OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES ARE GREAT ARE CENTRAL LIBRARY PUBLIC LIBRARIES AMAZING MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL I LIKE LIVED IN THAT BASEMENT AND IT'S STILL ONGOING. THEY HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT THEY OFFER THAT THEY DO NOT OFFER BUT THEY HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR COLLEGE FIND SCHOLARSHIPS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ONGOING. SO I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY.  DAVID LEONARD WAS LEADING THAT BUT LITERALLY THE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ARE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR UP? UH, CONSIDER CAN YOU LOOK SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? CONSIDER CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT THIS IS A GREAT I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS HEARING PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE WEST END LIBRARY IS BECOMING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WE'RE ALL REALLY ABOUT BUT WITHIN THE LIBRARY THAT WILL MEET A POINT OF TRANSITION AND I WANT TO GET SOME SOME ANSWERS AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN PLAN FOR A TEMPORARY LIBRARY AT THE SITE AND I KNOW THERE'S MORE NEED FOR A CONVERSATION AROUND ALL OF OUR BOOKS I MEAN SORRY BPL FACILITIES BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT WHEN THERE IS WORK BEING DONE AND WHAT WHAT TEMPORARY LIBRARIES LOOK LIKE AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. SO AND I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUES.  YEAH, THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT WORK DONE TODAY. I JUST DON'T HAVE A VOICE SO TRYING TO SAVE IT AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN. BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS AND THANKS FOR SPONSORING IT. THANK YOU.  COUNCILOR DURKIN, IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA DURKIN AND ANDREW ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN HERE BUT BEN'S AT DANA WEBER WORLD AND PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR THANK YOU DUNCAN NUMBER 0513 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES INNOVATION.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT TO NUMBER 0514 NUMBER 0514 COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION TO EXPLORE A NEED FOR A SENIOR RECREATIONAL CENTER IN ROXBURY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON FOR AN ANDREW ANDERSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  THIS IS ACTUALLY A REFILE. LAST YEAR WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO SURVEY THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT SEVEN AND PARTICULARLY AND BECAUSE AGAIN ONCE AGAIN WITH THE PARCELS AVAILABLE WE OBVIOUSLY DISCOVERED A HUGE NEED FOR A SENIOR RECREATIONAL BEYOND JUST PROGRAMING WE BELIEVE THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED A FACILITY THAT OFFERS A MORE HOLISTIC FACILITY WITH MAYBE GARDENS WHERE SENIORS CAN PLANT AN OUTDOOR EXERCISE SPACE,  MAYBE IT'S INDOOR GARDENING AS COUNCILOR AMARO PROMOTED EARLIER THIS YEAR. BUT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY I'VE ALREADY CONNECTED WITH VHA LOOKING AT OUR HOUSING IN VHA HOUSING IN ROXBURY AND PARTICULARLY WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS WITH SENIORS AND OUR COLLEAGUE OR PREVIOUS COLLEAGUE BOK AT BOK IS ACTUALLY PARTNERING WITH OUR OFFICE AS WELL TO CREATE CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES OR PROGRAMING WITHIN THE HOUSING IN ROXBURY AS WELL AS IN D SEVEN. AS A COUNSELOR I DO A WEEKLY TOUR SO EVERY SINGLE WEEK ON FRIDAY I VISIT A DIFFERENT SENIOR HOME AND SO FROM THERE I SIT WITH THEM ABOUT TWO OR 3 HOURS. IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE WEEK. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS BECAUSE I GET TO RELAX. I GET TO ENJOY AN AMAZING LUNCH AND WE GET TO ALL TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS AND WE TREAT IT LIKE A FOCUS GROUP WHERE THEY TELL ME ABOUT FACILITY NEEDS WHERE THEY ARE LIVING BUT AS WELL AS THEIR OWN PERSONAL NEEDS. AND FROM THERE WE COLLECT NOTES AND WE BRING IT BACK AND BRAINSTORM WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A CAPSTONE HOPEFULLY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE FOR SENIORS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT THE INCOME AND SO THE AVERAGE INCOME FOR SENIORS IN ROXBURY IS $19,000. SO IT'S IT'S MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, CREATING THIS FACILITY. BUT ALSO WE HAVE A LOT OF BLIGHTED BUILDINGS BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY UTILIZED. SO MAYBE LOOKING INTO THOSE AND EVEN THIS IS A CHURCH CALLED THE ZION CHURCH AND NOT NECESSARILY CREATING THIS AS THE SPACE BUT NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS LOOKED AT IT AND CREATED A RENDERING. WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THE CITY PARTNERED OR MAYBE PURCHASED THE BUILDING TO REPURPOSE IT. SO LOOKING FORWARD HAPPY TO COLLABORATE, HAPPY TO MERGE IT AGAIN, THIS IS A REVIVAL SO WORKED ON THIS LAST YEAR BUT HAPPY TO JOIN IT IN ONE HEARING AND DO THIS WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. CALLS FOR AN END TO ANDERSON.  JUST TO BE CLEAR YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THIS GO TO COMMITTEE.  YES, SURE. OKAY. YOU YOU WANT YOU WANT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE IT HERE AS A RESOLUTION BUT YOU WANT IT IN COMMITTEE. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON COLETTA, DURKIN FITZGERALD, FLYNN, MARIA MURPHY, BEN SANTANA, WEBER WORLD PLEASE HAVE A CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 0514 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 0515 DUNCAN EMMA 0515 COUNCIL A WEBINAR FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SON POEM AS A POWERFUL TOOL TO IGNITE CHANGE THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CANCER WEBER CASSEL WEBER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.  YOU KNOW I'VE GIVEN MY MAIDEN SPEECH NOW I'M GOING TO GIVE MY MAIDEN POETRY READING AND I URGE MY FELLOW FRESHMEN TO JOIN ME IN RECITING POETRY ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR THAT POETRY DANCERS SO ASSERTING LIVES IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND WHEN I WAS ELECTED SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO CALLED MY OFFICE TO CONGRATULATE ME AND MY STAFF.  SERIOUS KINDNESS IS REFLECTIVE OF A POEM SHE WROTE ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO THE SUN POEM WHICH I WILL NOW READ ARE YOU GREATER THAN THE SUN THAT SHINES ON EVERYONE BLACK, BROWN, YELLOW,  RED WHITE.  THE SUN DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.  SARAH EXPLAIN TO MY STAFF THAT THE SUN POEM HAS BEEN CELEBRATED AS A CALL TO ALL OF US TO PUT ASIDE OUR BIASES AND RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S SHARED HUMANITY. SARAH ASKED WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING YOUR BIAS? SHE ANSWERED HER OWN QUESTION. YOU ARE.  THE POEM CALLS ON US TO LOOK WITHIN OURSELVES AND REALIZE THAT ONLY WE CAN BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THIS WORLD.  THE POEM CHALLENGES US TO LOOK BEYOND OUR DIFFERENCES WHICH IS BECOMING HARDER TO DO WHEN WE APPEAR TO BE A NATION DIVIDED ESPECIALLY WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH. SARAH'S POEM GROUNDS US AND INSPIRES US TO WORK TOGETHER IN SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES AND CALLS FOR A CITY THAT IS WELCOMING TO ALL RACES,  CLASSES, CREEDS AND ETHNICITIES . MADAM PRESIDENT SAID DURING OUR MEETING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY DAY THAT WE WANT NOT AN OLD BOSTON OR A NEW BOSTON BUT A TRUE BOSTON AND NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THIS POEM BUT EIGHT YEARS LATER SHE FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT WORLD UNITY INCORPORATED WHICH IS BASED IN JAMAICA PLAIN IN WHICH SHE USES THE SUN POEM TO INSPIRE CHANGE AND PROMOTE EQUALITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION VALUES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHICH I FEAR WILL BE UNDER EVEN STRONGER ATTACKS AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2018.  THIS BODY PASSED A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SONG POEM AND IT DID SO AGAIN IN 2023. I LIKE TO SPIN SUSPEND THE RULES AND ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES JOIN ME IN ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SARAH WORLD UNITY INCORPORATED AND THE SONG POEM.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILOR WEBER, I WANT TO THANK SARAH FOR ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT WE HEAR THAT POEM AND ARE REMINDED OF THE POWER OF WORKING IN LIVING AND TOGETHER AND LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON CALLENDER, DURKIN FITZGERALD, FLYNN HERE MURPHY PIP BEN SANTANA ORAL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNCIL WHOEVER ISSUES SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSWORD OF DOCKET NUMBER 0515. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE ALL OPPOSING NAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NUMBER 0515 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE RE DOCKET NUMBER 0516 DUNCAN EMMA 0516 COUNCILORS FLYNN AND WERE ALL OFFERED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE 1250 DASH SENATE 799 AN ACT TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, MAY I SUSPEND RULE 12 IN OUR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD?  SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTION, COUNCILOR FLYNN SEEKS TO ADD COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD IS SO ADDED MR COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  APOLOGIES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  LAST THURSDAY WE HELD AN IMPORTANT HEARING HERE ON THE COUNCIL ON THE IMPACT OF FOR PROFIT URGENT CARE CENTERS ON NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.  WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH CARE EQUITY, HOW OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR PARTICULARLY BLACK AND LATIN EXPRESS RESIDENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED HEALTH INEQUITIES THAT LEAD TO DIMINISHED HEALTH OUTCOMES AND LIFE EXPECTANCY AND THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY EXASPERATED THESE INEQUITIES. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THAT WAS THE QUESTION WE ASKED MICHAEL CURRY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AND CEO OF MASQUE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. HE MENTIONED THE LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATION ON AN ACT TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY WHICH IS AT THE HOUSE.  THIS IS LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE BUD WILLIAMS, REPRESENTATIVE JUDITH GARCIA, SENATOR PIANO AND SENATOR LUIS MIRANDA. IT IS A BILL THAT SEEKS TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY BY STANDARDS USING HEALTH EQUITY DATA. INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE.  PRIORITIZING EQUITY IN MASSACHUSETTS.  IT PROPOSES TO CREATE A CABINET LEVEL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EQUITY REQUIRE THE USE OF STANDARDIZED HEALTH EQUITY METRICS ACROSS PROVIDER AND PAYER ORGANIZATIONS. EXPAND ACCESS TO METER TO MASS HEALTH REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. ADDRESS THE COST BURDENS OF MEDICATION FOR CONDITIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. REQUIRES PROVIDERS TO MEET OR EXCEED NATIONAL STANDARDS AND PROVIDING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE CARE . AND MORE. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR SEVEN YEARS. I STARTED WORKING ON THIS WITH COUNCILOR JANEY AS WELL.  THIS BILL IS THE WORK OF HEALTH EQUITY COMPACT, A COALITION OF 80 LEADERS OF COLOR WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING HEALTH INEQUITIES IN THE BARRIERS THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES IN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN SUSPEND AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION TODAY SO THAT WE CAN SEND OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PRIORITIZE HEALTH CARE EQUITY ENSURING THAT ALL RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS LIVE HEALTHY AND VIBRANT LIVES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLYNN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN RAUL CASTRO. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR ALLOWING ME TO CO-SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION. BLACK AND LATINO FOLKS FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DYING AT A HIGHER RATE OF CANCER, OF HEART DISEASE, OF DIABETES,  OF HOMICIDE AND ALL OF THESE CAN BE PREVENTED WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.  LIFE EXPECTANCY ON BLUE HILL ARE 1515 YEARS LESS THAN ON BEACON HILL.  AND THESE JUST AREN'T STATISTICS. THEY REPRESENT THE LIVES OF MY NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND HOW THESE DISPARITIES ROB OUR COMMUNITIES OF THEIR LOVED ONES PREMATURELY. WE CAN'T TURN A BLIND EYE TO SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES THAT LEAD TO SUCH DEVASTATING OUTCOMES. IT'S TIME FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES HEAD ON TO DEMAND COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND WELL-BEING. THE ACT TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY BILL CHAMPIONED BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS GARCIA SENATOR PIANO AND SENATOR MIRANDA IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY. IT PROPOSES VITAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS STANDARDIZING HEALTH EQUITY DATA, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE AND PRIORITIZING PRIORITIZING EQUITY ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS BY CREATING A CABINET LEVEL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ADDRESSING MEDICATION COSTS AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CARE.  THIS BILL OFFERS HOPE FOR HEALTHIER LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. AND AS BOSTON CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY, I STRONGLY ARE AT THE STATE LEGISLATOR TO PROMPTLY PASS THIS BILL AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SIT DOWN WITH MICHAEL CURRY TO DIVE IN DEEPER INTO HIS ADVOCACY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM MORE CLOSELY ON GETTING HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTH EQUITY ZONES AND INVESTMENTS SET UP HERE ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CASTRO IS ANYONE I WAS LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK STATE REPRESENTATIVE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEFF SANCHEZ WHO IS HERE AND THANKFUL THAT THE COUNCIL IS TAKING UP THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAMES? OH, CASTRO MURPHY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THE OTHER SPONSORS. OFTENTIMES WE HAVE EXPERTS COME IN AT HEARINGS AND WE ASK THEM WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SUPPORT SO THANK YOU BECAUSE THEY DID REFERENCE THIS BILL THAT'S UP AT THE STATE HOUSE. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SHOWING THAT HERE ON THE COUNCIL WHERE WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PASSES AND WE WORK WITH OUR STATE COLLEAGUES TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE I WAS LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE? SORRY . SORRY . COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR. I BEG YOUR PARDON? NO, IT'S FINE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M A PHYSICAL THERAPIST. I WORKED IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN BRITAIN AND THE IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FREE AT THE POINT OF DELIVERY WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1947 AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. SO WE HAVE THIS LONG TIME AND IN 19 IN THE 1980S WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE IN SOCIOLOGY WE HAD A WE HAD TO READ THIS THING CALLED THE BLACK REPORT AND IT WAS WRITTEN TO HIGHLIGHT THE INEQUITIES IN HEALTH CARE AND AND WE ARE STILL TALKING HERE IN THE UNITED WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE I THINK HEALTH CARE IS MORE THAN JUST BEING ABLE TO GO TO A CLINIC AND GET GET JUST GET YOU TAKE CARE OF IT IF YOU'RE SICK. HEALTH CARE, THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE SO, SO IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT'S OUR BUSINESS EVERY DAY WE DEAL WITH THINGS THAT IMPACT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH LIKE ACCESS TO EDUCATION PARTS ,CLEAN WATER, GOOD QUALITY HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING,  CARE OF OUR ELDERS ALL THE STRESSORS IN LIFE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ILL HEALTH AND AND AND IMPACT OUR WELLNESS. SO I REALLY WANT TO LIFT OFF THIS THIS SUPPORT FOR THIS OR THIS LEGISLATION AT THE STATE HOUSE I WORD THIS BUTTON HERE IT SAYS HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE NOT FOR PROFIT LIKE I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS ON MAKING OUR HEALTH CARE WORK FOR PEOPLE AND AND SET THE PROFIT MOTIVE IS IS CORRUPTING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND I THINK WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO BASICS AND SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WHERE THEY'RE HAPPENING AND WE'RE DOING THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR AND CITY COUNCILORS SO I APPRECIATE THIS AND YOU KNOW IT'S A IT'S A RALLYING CALL. IT'S REALLY TIME TO TO KEEP AT IT AND KEEP GOING BECAUSE WITH A LOT OF WORK TO DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BRITTON, I'M GLAD YOU PUT ON YOUR BACK BECAUSE I AGREE WITH 1,000% WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU STATED. COUNCILWOMAN, HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND WE'RE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE Y'ALL. LET'S SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE BEFORE FIVE TODAY. YES, I'M FAMOUS LAST WORDS. NO, NO, WE ARE GOING.  BUT NO, I WANTED TO JUST RISE AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR FILING THIS RESOLUTION. JUST WANT TO ADD MY NAME AND THE DAY THAT YOU ALL HAD THE HEARING I WAS IBM'S KORNER WITH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. I'M A HANDS ON LEARNER. I LIKE TO SEE THINGS AND UNDERSTAND THEM AND REALLY BE IN THE WEEDS OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND SO IN MY CONVERSATION WHEN I WENT TO DO THE VISIT THERE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE THREAT OF THESE PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, COMPANIES COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS A MY MOM GOES TO A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER I WENT TO AND STILL GO TO A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. MY DAUGHTER GOES TO A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.  I THINK THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS TO THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO CENTER THE SUPPORTS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE PROVIDING SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TIME OR WON'T GO TO A HOSPITAL.  AND SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK COUNCILOR BRITTON,  YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT DETERMINES EVERYTHING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN SCHOOL,  YOU KNOW HOW YOU SHOW UP AT WORK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CENTERED IN HAVING A QUALITY HEALTH CARE ROBUST SYSTEM THAT REALLY LOOKS AT THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL AND I THINK HEALTH CARE IS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING. SO REALLY THANK YOU FOR LIFTING THAT UP AND AMPLIFY MY NAME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CASTRO MAY HERE IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR CLERK, PLEASE. THAT COUNTRY'S GREAT IN COLETTA DURKIN ANDERSON HERE MURPHY PIPPIN SANTANA WEBER PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNCILORS FLYNN WHORL AND FITZGERALD SINCE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0516 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE SAY ANY DOUBT THE VOTE?  NO DOUBT THE VOTE.  MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE ON DOCKET NUMBERS 0516 COUNCILOR BRIEF YES.  COUNCILOR BREADON YES. COUNCILOR COLOR YES. COUNCILOR COLETTA YES.  COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YES. COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON COUNCILOR FERNANDES HENDERSON YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. CONCILOR MEJIA HERE.  CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YES. COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES. COUNCILOR PEPEN COUNCILOR PEPEN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCIL WEBER YES.  RUSSELL WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR WU YES. COUNCILOR WU YES TALKING NUMBER 0516 HAS RECEIVED A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 0516 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. COUNCILOR DURKAN DID YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT YOU RECOGNIZED BECAUSE OF DURKAN CONSIDER GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY NAME 2050905 1005 1105 12 YEAH I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU MR. CLERK WERE YOU ABLE TO GATHER THAT? YES. THANK YOU MR. CLERK AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR DURKAN WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO PERSONNEL ORDERS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE FIRST PERSONNEL ORDER? READ THE PERSONNEL ORDERS 0517 COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE PERSONNEL ORDER DOCKET NUMBER 0518 COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCILOR MURPHY PERSONNEL ORDER DOCKET NUMBER 0519 COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR CONCILOR MEJIA HERE PERSONNEL ORDER AND DUNCAN MEMBER 0520 COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR COUNCILOR PEPEN PERSONNEL THANK YOU. THE CHAIR MOVES TO PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 051720520 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE BEEN PASSED. COUNCILOR MURPHY JUST WAITING FOR GREEN SHEETS NOW WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS AS ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THE PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE PASSED.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS. IS ANYONE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. I LOOKED ON PAGE 15 TO PULL DOCKETS 04630464 AND 0465 PLEASE.  MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THOSE DOCKET NUMBERS FOR GOOD?  ABSENT OBJECTION, THESE DOCKETS ARE PULLED FROM COMMITTEE COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU ALL APOLOGIES.  THE COURT HAS TO READ THEM. OKAY. MR. CLERK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FROM THE COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES STUCK IN NUMBERS 0463 MESSAGE YOU NO NO AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $1,525,380.77 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 24 NUTRITION SERVICES INCENTIVE PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSIONS NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS MEALS TO HOMES OF OLDER ADULTS AND AND AT CONGREGATE SITES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON DARK IN NUMBERS 0464 MESSAGE YOU NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $187,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE EAST BOSTON FOUNDATION FUND TWO AWARDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EIGHT STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND EIGHT STRONG COMMISSIONS, OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE EAST. BOSTON'S SENIOR CENTER AND DOCTOR NUMBER 0465 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $180,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE CREATIVE AGING PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE GUIDED HELL'S ASSISTED LIVING TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE H STRONG COMMISSION. THE GRANT WILL FUND BRINGING ARTS PROGRAMING TO OLDER ADULTS IN BOSTON.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU CLARK FOR READING THOSE.  SO EARLIER WE DID HAVE MANY GRANTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE AGE STRONG COMMISSION. WE DID HAVE A HEARING LAST WEEK. THESE WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AND WE SPOKE TO EMILY SHEA, THE COMMISSIONER ABOUT NUTRITION SERVICES. I KNOW THAT TODAY WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE EAST BOSTON SENIOR CENTER, ONE OF THESE GRANTS WILL GO TO HELP THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT THERE AND THE THIRD GRANT IS TO BRING ARTS IN MORE PROGRAMING TO OLDER ADULTS. I KNOW THAT WE ALL ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS SO I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD PASS EACH OF THESE GRANTS TODAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF THE FOUR AFOREMENTIONED DOCKETS SO EACH ONE SEPARATELY MISSED 4630463 MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE FOR DOCKET NUMBER 0463 THE CHAIR SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0463 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED THE CHAIR EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0464 ALL ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY THAT IS HABIT THIS DOCKET IS PASSED SIX FIVE THE CHAIR THE CHAIR SEES SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0465 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT THIS DOCKET IS PASSED.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS ? WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO LATE FILES.  I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE ONE THAT THERE IS ONE LATE FILE MATTER WHICH IS A PERSONNEL ORDER. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD THIS MATTER TO THE AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THE LATE FILE MATTER SAY I OPPOSED OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE LEGAL MATTERS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE DELETE BROWN MATTER HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AGENDA. MR CLERK PLEASE READ THE MATTER INTO THE RECORD PERSONNEL ORDER FROM COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE LISTING OF CENTRAL STAFF AND COUNCIL STAFF EMPLOYEES THANK YOU. THE CHAIR MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF THIS LAY BROWN MATTER.  ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE ALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU.  THIS PERSONAL ORDER HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS.  I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR VERY OWN STENOGRAPHER ELLEN FRITSCH.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HER BIRTHDAY IS ACTUALLY ON SUNDAY ST PATRICK'S DAY AND SHE'S ALSO ON A BOARD MEMBER OF THE PARADE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE SO YOU'LL SEE HER IN SOUTH BOSTON ON SUNDAY A VERY LUCKY AND IT'S JUST BIRTHDAY SO THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU STENOGRAPHER YOU'RE GREAT. WE ADORE YOU. I HOPE YOU WROTE THAT IN. GOT THAT INTO THE RECORD BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?  OKAY, WE'LL START AND WE'LL JUST GO AROUND IN A HORSESHOE. OKAY. SO WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND JUST A DOVETAILING WITH WHAT COUNCILOR MURPHY BROUGHT UP WITH REGARD TO LIBRARIES. THERE'S A WONDERFUL EVENT AT THE WEST ROXBURY BRANCH LIBRARY ON SATURDAY AT 245 MOTHERS OUT FRONT AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUP WILL BE HOSTING A MEETING TO TEACH KIDS AND PARENTS HOW TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT KIDS CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  YOU KNOW, AS WE GO FORWARD AND I HOPE EVERYONE COMES OUT ESPECIALLY THOSE IN WEST ROXBURY TO THE LIBRARY ON SATURDAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. WHOEVER THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CATCH UP A PEN COMES WITH A PEN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO WISH A HAPPY 74TH BIRTHDAY TO STEVEN CHUCK HE IS THE FATHER OF MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND ALL. YOU KNOW I LOVE MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND MY STAFF SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR BRUNSWICK.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR PIPPIN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAD . THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR MURPHY. COUSIN MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED US BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE IRISH FLAG RAISING. IT WAS WONDERFUL AND TO THE ELLIOTT SCHOOL KINDERGARTNERS WHO CAME DOWN FROM HANOVER STREET AND SANG A GREAT SONG FOR US. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNSELOR FLYNN BECAUSE THIS WEEKEND YOU'LL BE HOSTING A MILLION PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT A LONG THREE AND A HALF MILE ROUTE THE ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE ROUTE WHICH IS HOSTED BY THE ALLIED WAR VETERANS. THIS IS THE LARGEST GATHERING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND HIS COLLEAGUES TO SOUTH BOSTON ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.  IT'S NO EASY FEAT. I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH RANDY GREELEY ON THE PARADE COMMITTEE BUT ALSO WITH CAPTAIN BOYLE. THE BOSTON POLICE, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS AND ALSO THE LICENSING BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL DAY BUT ALSO A SAFE DAY FOR THOSE WATCHING AND ALSO TO THE SOUTH BOSTON COMMUNITY. SO HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE. I WILL BE THERE WITH YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN.  COUNCILOR FUNNY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT NOT NOT NECESSARILY AN UPCOMING EVENT BUT AN EVENT DATE THAT JUST PASSED. BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS FOR ME SOPHIA, VANESSA, MELISSA AND LAURA. BUT IT WAS NATIONAL EQUAL PAY DAY ON MARCH 12TH AND THIS STATE SYMBOLIZES HOW FAR INTO THE WOMAN MUST WORK TO EARN WHAT MEN EARNED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DAY FALLS ON A TUESDAY ANNUALLY AS IT REPRESENTS HOW FAR INTO THE WORKWEEK WOMEN MUST WORK TO EARN WHAT MEN EARNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK.  WE STILL HAVE A WAGE GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.  U.S. CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS THAT WOMEN WHO WORK FULL TIME EARN $0.84 ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO MEN.  SO IT MAKES WORK WORK TOGETHER TO NARROW THE GAP TO ENSURE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS ACCESS TO GOOD QUALITY CHILDCARE AS WELL CONTINUE TO WORK TO INCREASE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN HIGH DEMAND FIELDS, CREATE WORKSPACES THAT MAKE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES AVAILABLE. LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS, WORKING ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA STATEMENT FOR ME . THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FRIEND ANDREA ANDERSON CONSERVING ENERGY. ANDERSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AM ACTUALLY TOMORROW AT 6 P.M. WE ARE HAVING A YOUTH LISTENING SESSION A COLLABORATION BETWEEN POWER CORP'S AND IPCC ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF BOSTON'S CULTURAL CENTER AND TYPICALLY THE DE SEVEN IS BECOMING SORT OF LIKE THE DISTRICT OF LISTENING SESSIONS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM FROM VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS TO SENIORS TO SCHOOL TOURS AND TOMORROW WE GET TO LISTEN FROM OUR FROM OUR YOUTH ALONG WITH OUR SEXUAL PARTNERS. WE HAVE HOMEWORK HEROES A PROGRAM WE CALL HOMEWORK HEROES WHERE WE PAY YOUTH FOR ACT TWO TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK THROUGH SUCCESS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND AMAZING. SO IF YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE AROUND TOMORROW AT 6 P.M. I SPEAK THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSELOR FOR ENGINEERS IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ORAL CANCER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT AND I JUST WANTED TO STAND AND JUST WISH MY MOM WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM. I LOVE YOU AND WHICH MANY MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR MOM . THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR DURKIN.  COMMANDER, CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR PRESIDENT WE HAVE AN EXCITING WEEKEND AHEAD AND IT JUST MADE ME COUNSELOR MURPHY'S COMMENTS JUST MADE ME THINK ABOUT WE ARE IN A LOT OF ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY ON MISSION HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND STUDENTS LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND JUST WANTED TO FLAG I HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN MY DISTRICT FROM THE WEST END TO MISSION I'M URGING I CONSIDER SITUATIONS TO PARTY RESPONSIBLY AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK QUALITY OF LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT. I HAVE I KNOW THAT THE CITYWIDE PROBLEM PROPERTY TASK FORCE WAS MEETING IN ADVANCE OF THIS WEEKEND AND THAT I IN MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AND WITH THEIR STAFF TO NOT JUST CURB QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES BUT ALSO PREVENTION AND IN THE IN THIS TIME LOUD NOISES YOU KNOW RESPECTING USING YOUR QUIET VOICE WHILE YOU'RE OUTSIDE. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THAT WE CAN DO TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS WHEN YOU'RE COMING HOME FROM A LATE NIGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO URGE ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I HAVE WHO WHO ARE YOUNG AND WANT TO HAVE FUN THIS WEEKEND TO RESPECT THEIR NEIGHBORS AND PARTY RESPONSIBLY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKIN, CAN SOMEONE REMIND US OF THE CONTROVERSY THAT MAYBE COMES OVER WHAT TIME THE PARADE STARTS ON SUNDAY OR L.A. NOON. IT STARTS AT NOON AT THE BROADWAY STATION. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. NOON SUNDAY BROADWAY T STOP AND IS AT ANDREWS STATION. SO YOU'RE WALKING SHOES ON.  AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SHOUT OUT TO MY SISTER. SHE'S OUR OLDER SISTER. SHE IS FIERCE LIKE NO ONE ELSE I KNOW I'M ON MONDAY IS HER BIRTHDAY SO A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A SISTER WHO I LOVE VERY DEARLY.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR COUNCILOR NICOLETTA FILOMENA LOW PRIORITY FOR COUNCILOR FLYNN CLARE CRONIN, CONSTANCE L FOR RUSI, MICHAEL O'CONNOR, RETIRED FIREFIGHTER GAEL AND CONROY, GERRY BURKE FOR CASPER FITZGERALD MARY JO ADDIS PICASSO WEBER JUDY COLE COLLAGEN A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE.  THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURN TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS.  THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN THE IRON CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 20TH 2024 AT 12 NOON. AGAIN HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY HAPPY CELEBRATIONS WERE IRISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, CENTRAL STAFF, THE CLERK AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND OUR BIRTHDAY GIRL THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT.  PLEASE SAY THE COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.  YES