##VIDEO ID:0fJmaFhUJBY## . GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.  FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JOHN FITZGERALD DISTRICT THREE CITY COUNCIL . I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY . TODAY IS OCTOBER 10TH, 2020 FOR THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON DOT GOV BACKSLASH CITY. DASH COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON ESPHENI E CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FILES CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C C C DOT HEALTH AT BOSTON DOT GOV. LET'S GO V AND WE'LL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. I THINK WE'LL TAKE IT OUT A LITTLE BIT AT THE BEGINNING ACTUALLY ON THIS ONE AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY'RE SIGNED UP AND THEY WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY, PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON KARISHMA JAHAN AT KARISHMA JAHAN AT BOSTON.COM DOT GOV THAT'S KKR I S H M A DOT C H 0UHAN AT BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.  TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 1001 ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING THE LGBT IQ PLUS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS HENRY SANTANA,  ELIZABETH BREADON AND GABRIELA COLETTA ZAPATA AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 12TH, 2024. TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF THEIR ARRIVAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNSELOR MARIA DATO AT THE REST WE JUST HAD A VERY LONG VERY LONG HEARING PRIOR TO THIS AND I KNOW THAT FOLKS HAVE SOME OTHER EVENTS TO GET TO TONIGHT SO I WILL ALLOW THE LEAD SPONSOR TO HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS IF HE MAY. BUT OTHERWISE IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THE BODY WE'LL JUST KEEP MOVING. SO CARLOS SANTANA FOR US THANK YOU CHAIR AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE OUR OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND TO DISCUSS THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. IT'S ALSO GREAT THAT MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ON THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN OUR YOUTH AND IT COVERS ALL ASPECTS AND I'M REALLY LOOKING YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. ANOTHER ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES ON THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN OUR HOUSING AND YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOKING AT THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THEN I'VE ALSO BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT HOUSING OR LOOKING AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION AND MY LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IS REALLY HURTING AND IN THIS AREA. SO I REALLY WANT TO BE I REALLY WANT TO FILE THIS ALONGSIDE WITH MY CO-SPONSORS WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL OF RATE AND COUNCILOR . SO TO DO THAT AS A PARTNER FOR FOR BEING AND FOR JOINING ME IN THIS BUT I'M HERE TO LISTEN FROM FROM OUR FROM OUR PANELISTS FROM YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE, FROM YOUR EXPERTISE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ON THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO REALLY, REALLY INVEST IN THIS ISSUE. AND AGAIN, EVERYONE EVERYONE DESERVES A HOME AND I'LL BE FIGHTING FOR THAT ACTUALLY FOR OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY. SO VERY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND YOUR PATIENCE ON ON YOU KNOW I KNOW THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT TWO IS 242 SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY THANK YOU MR CHAIR THANK YOU COUNCILOR SAY IT AGAIN. I KNOW BECAUSE THIS HEARING IS CENTERED AROUND THE YOUTH AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TIME OFF OR MAYBE OUT OF SCHOOL TO BE HERE TODAY. I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS GET THE FIRST VOICE AND SO IN TURNING IT OVER TO TESTIMONY WHERE MY FOLKS HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE FIRST PANEL AND THEN ON TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE SECOND PANEL IF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO EVERYBODY. SO WE'LL START WITH YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN 2 MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HI, MY NAME IS BRIANNA MINI. I'M 27 YEARS OLD AND I WAS BORN IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT BUT GREW UP IN BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS. I'VE BEEN ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS ALL OVER BOSTON BRIEFLY TO SHARE A BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS. I WAS ADOPTED AT AGE THREE AND AFTER THAT I GREW UP WITH MY ADOPTIVE MOM. I HAD A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH HER SO DCF HAD HALF CUSTODY OF ME.  I WAS IN ANOTHER GROUP HOME SINCE AGE 12 BY THE AGE OF 17 I WAS ENROLLED IN A PRE INDEPENDENT LIVING IN NEWTON, MASS.  I FOUND MYSELF OUT OF DCF CUSTODY AT AGE 18 AND I WAS ON THE STREETS FOR YEARS HAVING TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO TO SURVIVE AND MAKE MONEY. THE COLD NIGHTS WERE THE WORST ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THE COPS FLASHING LIGHTS AND ASKING YOU TO LEAVE. WHERE WAS I SUPPOSED TO GO?  I GOT PREGNANT AT THE AGE OF 20 AND I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF FAMILY SHELTERS UNTIL THE AGE OF 23.  DURING THAT TIME I WAS AT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT BREAK TIME. BREAK TIME IS A PROGRAM THAT TAKES YOUNG ADULTS OFF THE STREETS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO OFFER EMPLOYMENT FOR UP TO THREE YEARS AFTER THAT SHORTLY AFTER THAT WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I GOT MY SECTION EIGHT BREAK TIME HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF RESOURCES,  HELPED ME GET MY G.E.D. AND I GOT PAID TO GET MY G.E.D. THROUGH THEM.  I WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YOUNG PERSON IN THE PROGRAM TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.  I WAS THE REASON THEY STARTED IT WHEN I WAS PREGNANT. I'M DOING BETTER NOW WITH MY CHILDREN AND WE HAVE A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS AND HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A JOKE. IT'S A BIG THING AROUND THE WHOLE CITY. A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BUT BREAK TIME DOES GIVE YOU THAT RESOURCES. SORRY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO ADVOCATE AROUND THE WORLD. HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE ECONOMY AND INFLATION ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW AND IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ONCE HAD A LIFE OF THEIR OWN ARE NOW BOUND TO THE STREETS. WE NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT STARTS HERE. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I APPRECIATE IT. HI. MY NAME'S ABDULMUTALLAB HASSAN I'M AN IMMIGRANT. WE WENT TO MAKE TO EXACT GOOD MY NAME'S ABDULMUTALLAB HASSAN I'M AN IMMIGRANT FROM SOMALIA. I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 2016 AND I BECAME HOMELESS AND 2021 AFTER I GOT A PHYSICAL WITH MY FAMILY AND BREAK TIME HAS HELPED ME A LOT. I HAVE A LOT OF MENTAL ISSUES. I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF THEY HADN'T WORKED WITH ME AND TAUGHT ME THINGS LIKE HOW TO SPEAK UP AND YOU KNOW, I I'M THANKFUL FOR THEM AND I'M THANKFUL FOR A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER TO BECAUSE THEY THEY WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT HOUSED ME WHEN I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.  UH, I TRY I DON'T HAVE TO LIST THE NAMES SO I'M GOING TO GO ON BEHALF OF ONE OF THE YOUTH WHO HAD TO STEP AWAY.  SO. HI. THIS IS FOR THE YOUTH WHO HAD TO STEP AWAY AND GET BACK TO A MEETING. MY NAME IS NOVA AND I'VE BEEN AND I AM A LGBTQ CU HOMELESS YOUTH. I CAN SAY THAT STAYING IN MASS HAS BEEN VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHERE I'M FROM IN TENNESSEE. IN MASS THEY HAVE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMELESS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY LGBTQ.  HOWEVER WHEN I'M IN THE YOUTH BASED SHELTERS I DON'T ALWAYS I MEAN WHEN I'M NOT IN A YOUTH BASED SHELTER I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL SAFE BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT STATES. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE WE'RE ACCEPTED OR WHERE WE'RE NOT.  THE SHELTERS THAT WE GET DIRECTED TO ARE NOT AGE FOCUSED OR OPEN TO FOR TOO LONG. SO THAT LEAVES US TO OTHER SHELTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARY AND OFTEN WE ARE AFRAID OF BEING HURT OR HATED WHICH LEADS US TO FEELING HOPELESS. SOME OF US END UP WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION OR SOME OF US JUST GO THROUGH IT WITH OUR ATTEMPTS. SOME OF US JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HARMED. WE JUST WANT A SAFE PLACE WHERE WE CAN SLEEP AND GET THE REST THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR HOUSING.  THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.  HI. SO MY NAME IS LEVI. I'M FROM ARKANSAS AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. I LEFT MY PARENTS WHENEVER I WAS 15 BECAUSE THEY WERE ABUSIVE. I WENT TO FOSTER CARE AND THEN I'VE RECENTLY LEFT FOSTER CARE NOW THAT I'M 18 TO COME HERE BECAUSE IN ARKANSAS THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY BAD LEGISLATION THAT MADE EVERYTHING DANGEROUS FOR ME . I COULDN'T GO TO COLLEGE, I COULDN'T GO TO THE STORE. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT HAVING SOME SORT OF SOMETHING GOING ON. AND SO I YOU KNOW, WHENEVER I FOUND OUT THAT I WASN'T GONNA HAVE ANY PLACE LEFT TO LIVE IN ARKANSAS, I DECIDED OKAY, I'M GOING TO SPEND LESS MY MONEY BY TRAIN TICKET TO BOSTON AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW AND IT'S BETTER BUT IT'S STILL DANGEROUS. IT'S STILL SCARY. I STILL SLEPT IN A PARK AND WOKE UP VERY PALE AND BLUE ONE DAY AND EVERY SINGLE MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO HAVE A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP TONIGHT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE IN A BED OR ON A MAT IN THE FLOOR AND WHENEVER I GO TO WALK TO BRIDGE IN THE MORNING TO GO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT, I HAVE TO PASS BY, YOU KNOW, NEEDLES AND BLADES AND KNIVES AND PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW WHO ARE SAFE OR NOT. AND THE ONLY PEOPLE I HAVE IN MY LIFE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP BUT CAN'T EVEN HELP THEMSELVES AND SO THE THING IS IS THAT IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP CAN'T HELP AND THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HELP DON'T WANT TO HELP AND THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP CAN'T. AND SO IF YOU CAN'T HELP IT'S UP TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHETHER THEY'RE ON THIS BOARD OR IN A HOUSE OR WHETHER OR NOT HOMELESSNESS OR LGBTQ PROBLEMS ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTING THEM OR NOT. IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A HUMAN RACE TO ALL TREAT EACH OTHER AS YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS LIKE WE ARE AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE AND THAT GOES FOR IN BOSTON, FOR AN ARKANSAS, FOR ALL ACROSS THE WORLD FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.  THANK YOU.  HI. MY NAME'S ALIYAH. I'M FROM CALIFORNIA ORIGINALLY AND I CAME OUT TO BOSTON AROUND LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO AND THROUGH MY TIME IN BOSTON I'VE BEEN STAYING AT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WOMEN'S ONLY SHELTER.  I ONLY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A WOMAN'S ONLY SHELTER BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT I FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED IS NOT ONLY LIKE THE EASE OF GETTING INTO THE SHELTERS THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO BUT ALSO LIKE THE SAFETY AND HOW IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE A HOME TO CALL OUR OWN WHY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BE HARASSED FOR BEING 19 AND IN A SHELTER I SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO I CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE SHELTER AND IT'S LIKE A CRUDE THING TO HAVE TO SAY IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE BUT IT'S A SAD TRUTH THAT NEEDS TO BE REALIZED. I FEEL LIKE AND THE ONLY TIME I TRULY FEEL LIKE I AM SAFE I CAN TAKE A NAP. I CAN CLOSE MY EYES AND NOT BE UNSAFE IS IN THESE YOUTH BASED SHELTERS WHERE FOR EXAMPLE I SAY I SPENT A LOT OF MY TIME AT BRIDGE WHEN I'M NOT IN THE WOMEN'S SHELTER BECAUSE I FEEL SAFEST AT BRIDGE MAINLY BECAUSE IT IS A YOUTH BASED SHELTER BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY LIKE LGBTQ BASED ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.  I DON'T THINK THAT PUTTING PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND LGBT MATTERS IN AN LGBT SAFE SPACE WILL GET US INTO A POSITION WHERE YOUTH CAN COME IN AND GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CAN'T PREACH WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND IF YOU'RE IF YOU CAN'T SIT AND RUN AN LGBT BASED ANYTHING WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCES AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO BE LGBT IN AMERICA BUT NOT ONLY TO BE LGBT IN AMERICA, TO BE 19, TO BE LGBT, TO BE A WOMAN AND TO BE BLACK BUT ALSO TO BE HOMELESS AND TO NOT HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN ESCAPE THE THREATS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS CONSTANTLY NOT EVEN JUST A PERSON BUT ALSO THE NEEDLES YOU CAN WALK BY AND YOU CAN GET SOMETHING IN YOUR FOOT AND YOU'RE DONE FOR AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING TO LIKE YOU ASK FOR THAT YOU DIDN'T HEAR YOU'RE ABSTAINING. YOU'RE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM IT AND I THINK ALSO ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT IS LIKE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF GETTING INTO THESE SHELTERS FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF THE SHELTERS ARE NOT WILLING TO LET PEOPLE IN IF THEY'RE LIKE 18 OR 19 THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE TOO YOUNG TO BE IN THE SHELTERS BUT THEY'RE OFTEN THE ONLY ONES OPEN LIKE THE 24 HOUR SHELTERS WON'T ACCEPT SOMETIMES 18 YEAR OLDS WHICH LEAVES THE 18 YEAR OLDS SLEEPING ON THE STREET AND NOW THEY'RE OPEN TO ATTACKERS.  I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY LOOKED AT OR TOUCHED ON AND ALSO I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO BE GRATEFUL THAT THEY EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ASK TO BE IN THIS POSITION. HALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS POSITION ARE IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED . BUT YEAH, THAT'S MY PIECE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF THAT CONCLUDES THE YOUTH TESTIMONY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU EVEN SOME OF FOLKS WHO HAVE JUST BEEN HERE JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND PRESENT IN FRONT OF THIS BODY TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THAT AND TELL YOUR STORY IS REMARKABLE AND POWERFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT.  I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S PANELISTS TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADVOCATES WE HAVE SHAPLEY BROOKS IF I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MASS COMMISSION ON LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH CONNOR STONE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BREAK TIME. AIDEN SIGUEN CASS ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF Y TU Y NETWORK AND ELI PERRY, OUTREACH SPECIALIST FOR BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER. SO I TURN IT OVER TO THE PANEL. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY PRESENTATION TO GIVE I WILL JUST GO DOWN THE LINE AND FOLKS CAN ACT BUT I TURN IT OVER TO YOU ALL RIGHT? YEAH. YOU READY?  YEAH, I CAN I CAN DEFINITELY START SO HAVING THE DUAL ROLE THAT I HAVE CAN YOU HEAR ME ? OH, I'M SORRY AGAIN. MY NAME IS ELI. SORRY ABOUT THAT.  SO I HAVE A DUAL ROLE AT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS. I AM A RECOVERY SPECIALIST SLASH CASE MANAGER AND I DO A LOT WITH OUTREACH TOO. THAT'S PROBABLY WHY I WAS INTRODUCED LIKE THAT.  BUT I JUST WANT TO START WITH BRIDGE IS A GREAT SPACE FOR ANYBODY, RIGHT? WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE WORLD. WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR STATE. BUT ONE THING THAT REMAINS TRUE FOR EVERYONE IS THAT WHEN THEY COME TO BRIDGE AND THEY ENTER THE FLOOR THAT I'M WORKING ON IS THAT THEY FEEL WELCOMED RIGHT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LGBT LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY THEY AND WE ARE NOT SUPPORTED IN THE WAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE SUPPORT AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD COUNTLESS CLIENTS COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT I'M HOMELESS OR YOU KNOW, WHEN I DID GO TO THE SHELTER I DIDN'T FEEL WELCOME OR I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AND THAT'S REALLY UP TO US WHO HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE THESE ENVIRONMENTS AND THESE SAFE SPACES.  SO I FEEL LIKE IF IF WE AT BRIDGE HAD A BIT MORE SUPPORT OUR RESOURCES TO EXTEND AND OPEN UP ANOTHER OR BE ABLE TO PARTNER AND CREATE A WHERE IT'S JUST LGBT LGBTQ PLUS BASED THAT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF CLIENTS WHO ARE NOT CLINGING TO THESE SHELTERS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL WANTED OR THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG AND THEY CAN HAVE A SPACE WHERE THEY THEY CAN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TO GET THE HOUSING AND HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET THE FUNDING FOR HOUSING AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT WE COULD DO IF WE HAD MORE INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.  YEAH, AND I'LL SAY THAT FOR NOW AND THEN IF ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE TO SAY PERHAPS STEP UP, JUMP IN AGAIN. SO ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE OVER NOW I SHOULD PLAY BROOKS I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH. THANK YOU FOR THIS HEARING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I JUST HAVE A FEW POINTS AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO THE NEXT COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH WE PUT OUT A REPORT EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT IS WHAT WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO DO AND HOMELESSNESS IS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR OUR CORE AREAS THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT.  AND MY GOAL HERE TODAY IS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON HOW WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE CAME TO ESPECIALLY IN OUR 2025 REPORT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TRANSITION TO AGE YOUTH AND THOSE ARE YOUTH ANYWHERE BETWEEN 18 AND 22, RIGHT? THAT'S THAT TRANSITION IN AGE AND I WOULD SAY I WOULD ARGUE IT'S EVEN A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN THAT. MY SON IS 21 AND STILL CALLS ME TO MAKE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT FOR HIM SO THAT IS DEFINITELY WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.  BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MANY TRANSITION AGE YOUTH HAVE INTERFACED WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY THOSE AGENCIES OUR DCF DM H D WISE DEEDS AND OR I'M AND I WOULD SAY THAT MANY OF THE MANY OF BIPOC LGBTQ YOUTH AS WELL AS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKING HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL BARRIERS ACCESS TO RESOURCES ADVOCACY ON THEIR BEHALF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THEIR MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES LGBTQ YOUTH ARE FACING ARE FACING OR CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THERE IS SIMULTANEOUSLY NOT ENOUGH HOUSING AND.  THE LACK OF THE RENT CAP IN MASSACHUSETTS IS IS IS AN IS AN ISSUE.  THE ASTRONOMICAL COST OF HOUSING IN THE BOSTON CITY LIMITS I KNOW THAT WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT BUT FOR A YOUTH A YOUNG PERSON IT IS SIGNIFICANT AT THE HEART OF RIGHT EVEN IN A CO-OP HOUSING SITUATION TO KEEP UP WITH THAT ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO ALERT US TO IS THE BALANCE OF STATE OR YOUR OF CARE. THEY DON'T REALLY COMMUNICATE.  SO WHEN A YOUNG PERSON GOES TO A SHELTER ON ONE SIDE OF BOSTON AND THEY SIGN INTO A SHELTER AND THEN THEY GO INTO A ANOTHER SHELTER ON ANOTHER SIDE OF BOSTON, THEY CAN BE TAKEN OFF THE LIST AND SO THAT THAT DOES NOT GIVE THEM THE ACCESS TO THE VOUCHERS THAT THEY NEED. AND SO THAT IS AN ISSUE AND THAT'S A THAT'S A MONEY ISSUE. THAT'S NOT A THAT'S NOT A REAL ISSUE. IT'S A MONEY ISSUE JUST PEOPLE WANTING TO RESERVE THEIR RESOURCES OR PRESERVE THEIR RESOURCES. ANOTHER THING I'LL SAY IS THERE'S A LACK OF PREPARATION FOR YOUTH COMING OUT OF SYSTEMS OF CARE AND DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING DEDICATED AND AWARDED TO THESE AGENCIES WHICH ALSO MEANS THERE'S A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE'S A LACK OF VISION AND THERE'S A LACK OF EXECUTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SPEAK HEAVILY ON IN OUR REPORT.  THE LACK OF PREPARATION INCLUDES CHANGES IN DOCUMENTATION IN FOR LGBTQ YOUTH SPECIFICALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GET AN I.D. THAT HAS YOUR CORRECT PRONOUNS LISTED THERE ARE YOU YOU'RE CORRECT GENDER EXCUSE ME LISTED THERE IS IMPORTANT SO WE THINK ABOUT THAT DUAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT BETWEEN DCF IN THE U.S. I HAVE A THOUSAND OTHER POINTS BUT ALSO I WANT TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO MY OTHER PANELISTS HERE. BUT I THINK WHEN WE THINK OF HOW THIS COMES ABOUT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS EACH OF OUR YOUTH ARE TOUCHING SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME AND FOR LGBTQ SPECIFICALLY NOT HAVING THE AMOUNT OF PROGRAMS,  NOT HAVING THE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION AND I'M AND I MEAN ACROSS STATE SYSTEMS WE ARE ONLY ONE AGENCY WE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO AGENCIES AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AREN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWED AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AND GIVE MORE INFORMATION SOON. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP ALL THE TIME HERE AND YOU WANT TO GO OKAY, YEAH.  SO AIDEN SIGUEN THANK YOU COUNSELOR SANTANA, BRAYDEN AND COLETTA ZAPATA FOR SPONSORING THIS HEARING.  WELL, I RECOGNIZE THAT LGBTQ YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS A FAR LARGER ISSUE THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION CAN ADDRESS ALONE BRINGING MORE PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THIS OFTEN OVERLOOKED ISSUE AND POPULATION IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING THIS AGAIN, MY NAME IS AGENCY SEQUIN AND I AM THE GUEST ADVOCACY DIRECTOR AT WHY DO I HARVARD SQUARE A SEASONAL OVERNIGHT SHELTER THAT SERVES UP TO 27 YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN 18 AND 24 YEARS OLD NIGHTLY IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DINNER AND BREAKFAST, WE OFFER REGULAR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AIMED AT CREATING SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS OUTSIDE OF OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS.  WHAT MAKES OUR MODEL UNIQUE IS THAT IS THE POPULATION WE SERVE AND OUR LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE. WHY DO I HARVARD SQUARE IS THE NATION'S FIRST STUDENT RUN YOUNG ADULT HOMELESS SHELTER ARE USED TO USE MODEL EMPOWERS YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH COLLECTIVE SUPPORT ALLOWING GUESTS AND STUDENTS STAFF TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP THROUGH SHARED UNDERSTANDING TRANSFORMING EMPATHY INTO A BRIDGE OF TRUST. TO PREFACE BEFORE SHARING SOME STATISTICS ABOUT OUR GUESTS IN THE PAST TWO SEASONS THAT'S THE SUMMER AND WINTER I WANT TO INFORM THE COMMITTEE THAT THESE NUMBERS MERELY DESCRIBE OUR SHELTER AND CANNOT IN THEIR CURRENT STATE BE MAPPED ON TO THE GREATER POPULATION IN BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE. THAT SAID, AT LEAST 36% OF GUESTS WHO COMPLETED INTAKE DID NOT IDENTIFY AS STRAIGHT AND AT LEAST 20% DID NOT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS CISGENDER.  THESE NUMBERS INCLUDE THOSE WHO DECLINED TO ANSWER AND EXCLUDE THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE DIVULGING SAID INFORMATION BUT STILL HIGHLIGHT THE DIVERSE SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS AND GENDER IDENTITIES OF THE YOUNG ADULTS STAYING AT Y TO Y. AS THE DIRECTOR OF GUEST ADVOCACY, I LOOKED AT BOTH THE FEEDBACK GIVEN DIRECTLY TO STAFF IN WEEKLY MEETINGS AND EXIT SURVEYS TO BUILD THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONY FOR THIS HEARING.  WHEN ASKED FOR THINGS THAT WHY SHE WHY DOES WELL.  MANY GUESTS WHO STAYED WITH US MENTIONED THE ENVIRONMENT OF INCLUSION NONJUDGMENTAL AND MUTUAL RESPECT. OTHER GUESTS EMPHASIZED THAT BEING AMONG PEERS THEIR AGE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SAFETY.  IN THIS WAY WHY DO I STRIVE TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER IN SPITE OF DIFFERENCES INSTEAD OF CATERING TO ONE SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC IN THIS AGE GROUP? ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN ASKED FOR PLACES WHERE WIDE AWAKE COULD IMPROVE, GUESTS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION AT THE LACK OF AVAILABLE BEDS EACH NIGHT AND RESOURCES DURING THE DAY A FRUSTRATION THAT IS HARD TO HEAR WITH THEIR CAP OF 27 SEASONAL BEDS EXISTING LARGELY FOR REASONS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL OUR ALLIED PROGRAMS YOUTH ON FIRE MORE THAN WORDS BRIDGING THE PRIVILEGED TO NAME A FEW HELP COVER THE NEED YEAR ROUND. BUT EVIDENTLY THE GREATER BOSTON COMMUNITY IS STILL FAILING THIS POPULATION.  TO END I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE GUIDING FRAMEWORK HELD SINCE THE INCEPTION OF WHITE AWAY POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. THIS THIS CONCEPT ENCAPSULATES THE FOSTERING OF IMPORTANT SKILLS AND ENCOURAGING THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS FRAMEWORK FURTHER OUTREACH TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES SHOULD BE A PRIORITY OF THIS COMMITTEE IN SPITE OF AND DUE TO THE BARRIERS THAT SUCH OUTREACH PRESENTS.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH PANEL FOR THAT TESTIMONY. APPRECIATE IT. SO ONE MORE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. GO AHEAD. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS CONNOR SCHOEN AND THE CO FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE OF BREAK TIME. TWO OF OUR INCREDIBLE ASSOCIATES ARE PRESENT AND EARLIER SHARING THEIR STORY AND TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY.  I STARTED BREAK TIME WHEN I WAS 19 WHICH IS SEVEN YEARS AGO AND I WAS IN MY OWN PROCESS OF COMING OUT WHEN I LEARNED THAT 40% OF YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ PLUS IT'S AN ISSUE THAT MATTERS IMMENSELY TO ME AND TO EVERYONE ON THIS PANEL AND AN ISSUE THAT'S DISPROPORTION TO AFFECTING OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BREAK TIME'S MODEL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, WE WORK TO EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE JOB AND FINANCIAL SECURITY THEY NEED TO ATTAIN HOUSING SECURITY. SO AS YOU HEAR ABOUT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, WHY DO I AND OTHER PROGRAMS WE ARE THE PARTNER THAT WORKS ON THE JOB AND FINANCIAL SIDE TO REALLY PROVIDE THAT WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO SUCCEED JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR MODEL WE HAVE A THREE PART MODEL THAT STARTS WITH THREE WEEKS OF JOB TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING THAT'S CALLED THE LAUNCH PAD THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE TO SUCCEED. THEN WE HAVE A THREE MONTH JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM CALLED LIFT OFF. WE ACTUALLY PAY YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK AT WORKFORCE PARTNERS ALL ACROSS THE CITY FROM HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS TO EARLY EDUCATION. AS BRIANNA MENTIONED, WE ALSO HAVE PAID GED PLACEMENTS WHERE YOU CAN WORK TO GET YOUR HIGH OR YOUR HIGH. YOU CAN COMPLETE THE HIGH SCHOOL PREGNANCY TEST AND GET PAID $20 AN HOUR TO DO THAT. SO LIFT OFF THAT THREE MONTH PERIOD IS WHERE YOU GET PAID TO EITHER WORK OR DO AN EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT. AND THEN FINALLY STABLE ORBIT IS THREE YEARS OF CONTINUED WRAPAROUND SUPPORT INCLUDING $100 A MONTH FOR THREE YEARS TO ALL OF OUR ALUMNI AND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS PAID OPPORTUNITIES TO TO TO TESTIFY TO SHARE YOUR STORY, TO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFERENT FLIGHT BOOSTER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. WE ALSO MATCH SAVINGS THAT PEOPLE PUT ASIDE AND WE PROVIDE CREDIT COUNSELING. SO AGAIN, BREAK TIMES FOCUS IS REALLY ON THE JOB AND FINANCIAL SIDE. WE WORK WITH ABOUT 300 YOUNG PEOPLE A YEAR AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON.  WE'RE BASED CURRENTLY BY NORTH STATION JUST LIKE A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM HERE BUT WE ACTUALLY JUST PURCHASED A BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON AND WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.  WE'RE CALLING IT THE HUB FOR SOLVING YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS AND ALL OF YOU TO COME CHECK IT OUT ONCE WE DO OUR GROUNDBREAKING ON NOVEMBER 14TH BASICALLY IT WILL HAVE SPACE FOR OUR STAFF. IT WILL HAVE SPACE FOR ALL OF OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMING AND CASE MANAGEMENT. WE'LL A RESOURCE HUB FLOOR WHERE WE HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS, SHOWERS, DONATED FOOD AND CLOTHING AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SUPPORTS SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BOTH IN BREAK TIME'S PROGRAM AND THOSE INTERESTED CAN ACCESS SOME THINGS THAT CAN HELP THEM RIGHT AWAY EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THE SKILLS THAT WE COACH ARE THINGS THAT HELP YOU FOR THE LONG TERM, WE WANT YOU TO LEAVE WITH SOMETHING THAT'S HELPFUL TODAY AND THEN THE REST OF THE BUILDING WILL BE LEASING OUT TO PARTNERS USE TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN OTHER WAYS. WE ACTUALLY WANT TO USE THE BASEMENT SPACE FOR SHELTER SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE'RE HOPING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITY AND WITH WITH OTHER PARTNERS AND HOPE TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH ALL OF YOU MORE ABOUT THAT PROJECT. TO CONCLUDE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE TIME I HAVE.  SO FIRST FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE GREAT TIME THAT'S WORKING TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE BUT ISN'T A DIRECT HOUSING OR SHELTER PROVIDER IT'S VERY HARD TO NAVIGATE THE CITY FUNDING BECAUSE THERE'S SORT OF WE SORT OF STRETCH ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THEREFORE IT'S REALLY HARD TO GATHER THE FUNDING WE NEED TO DO OUR WORK AND THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL AS A FLEXIBLE SOURCE OF FUNDING. I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED. I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO INVEST OR ANOTHER WAY TO INVEST DIRECTLY IN SOLVING YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS.  THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL COMPREHENSIVE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS IN THE TYPES OF SERVICES YOUNG PEOPLE NEED IN REAL QUICK CITY AGENCIES SHOULD BE MAKING DIRECT REFERRALS TO BREAK TIME SO IF YOU GO TO BREAK TIME DOT ORG SLASH YOUTH VERY EASY LINK YOU CAN EITHER REFER OR APPLY TO BREAK TIME'S PROGRAM AND SO I WANT EVERYONE ACROSS THE CITY TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT IT. SO FOR ANY AGENCIES YOU WORK WITH MAKE SURE THAT LINK IS BOOKMARKED AND IF ANYONE IS CURIOUS TO SEE OUR WORK IN PERSON LEARN MORE. ALWAYS HAPPY TO GIVE A TOUR SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PANEL AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE SCREAMING THAT'S BY FAR THE LEAST SCREAMING THAT'S OCCURRED IN THESE DAYS SO WE'RE VERY ACCUSTOMED TO THAT.  I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS. WE'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES EACH FOR QUESTIONING AND THAT'S QUESTION AND ANSWERS FROM YOU GUYS AND WE WILL START WITH COUNSELOR SANTANA AS A SPONSOR YOU ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND PROVIDING A TESTIMONY AND I ACTUALLY DON'T REALLY APPRECIATED YOU YOUR TESTIMONY. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF RIGHT AWAY YOUR CO-FOUNDER SAM GREENBERG AND I OR SAM GREENBERG AND I KNOW HIM VERY WELL AND I REMEMBER WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR PHILIPS BROOKS HOUSE ASSOCIATION. SO WHEN I FIRST OPENED I WAS THERE. MY BROTHER WAS ALSO WORKING THERE SO I'M A BIG FAN OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I'M GOING TO START WITH DIRECTOR BROOKS. I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR TESTIMONY.  YOU KNOW THE COMMISSION AND 525 REPORT IS FOCUSED ON STATE LEVEL POLICIES THOUGH IT DOES REFERENCE SOME OF THE ITEMS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT BOSTON IS ACTUALLY DOING WELL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. WHAT ARE YOUR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON TO BETTER ADDRESS THE LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS?  THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WOULD SAY I THINK CONNOR HAS GIVEN A COUPLE RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE RESOURCES ALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES. I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT ADVOCACY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, ESPECIALLY AROUND I SAID WITH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND BOSTON THE FACT THAT TO ME I THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN READILY CHANGE BUT THAT YOU CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF THE CAUSES OF CONTINUUM OF CARE OF THE BALANCE OF STATE. WHY IS IT THAT A YOUTH CAN GO TO CAMBRIDGE MAYBE KNOW WHY DO Y AND THEN THEY GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY AND THEN TAKE IT? THAT'S AN ISSUE. THAT'S ONE RECOMMENDATION I THINK THE CITY OF BOSTON IS IS DOING IS WHAT YOU CAN WRITE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.  BUT I THINK IT'S ADVOCATING ON A ON A ON A HIGHER LEVEL WITH THE STATE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FUNDING CAN COME TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.  YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR DUAL DIAGNOSES, RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PROGRAMING WITHIN BOSTON IS MORE OF A WRAPAROUND FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THIS KIND OF LIKE ONE STOP SHOP IN MANY PLACES I'M THANKFUL FOR PLACES LIKE BREAK TIME AND EVEN EVEN RIGHT AWAY HAS EXPANDED ITS PROGRAMING SO THAT'S GREAT WORK. GREAT FOR THAT.  WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. BUT I THINK AS FAR AS SOME OF THIS, THE SHELTERS IN THE CITY NEED TO BE DEDICATED LGBTQ YOUTH AND NEED TO BE TRAINED SPECIFICALLY AROUND TRANS IDENTIFIED YOUTH AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AND I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT I CAN COME UP WITH.  WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. I'M GOING TO ASK TWO MORE QUESTIONS. I WAS GOING TO BRING BOTH OF THEM INTO THE RECORD. I KNOW MY TIME WILL PROBABLY BE VERY SOON. SO FOR ANY OF THE PANELISTS HERE WHEN I FIRST DISCUSS ENDING HOMELESSNESS THEY OFTEN EXPLAIN THAT THAT WOULD MEAN MAKING HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, QUOTE UNQUOTE RARE BRIEF, NOT REOCCURRING. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO MAKE LGBTQ YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS RARE BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON? SO THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR FOR L.A. YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW, WHENEVER SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR FLOOR THEY FEEL WELCOME THAT THEY FEEL LOVED LOT. YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.  WHAT ACTUALLY GOES INTO THAT SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALSO LEARN OF HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE THINGS, IMPLEMENT THAT FEELING AND AND ALL OF OUR SPACES. SO YEAH, I THINK IT JUST STARTS WITH EVERYBODY BEING OPEN TO ACCEPTING THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND. SO ANYBODY THAT WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR I'M NOT LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY YOU KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH. BUT THE THING IS IS THAT ONCE YOU'RE HERE I WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PART OF THIS FAMILY ON THIS BIG FAMILY THAT EXTENDS TO WHY TO WHY THAT EXTENDS TO BREAK TIME BECAUSE WE'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED AND WE ALL RUN ACROSS EACH OTHER AT SOME POINT. SO TO TAKE SOMEONE OFF THE STREET AND TO CONNECT THEM TO US AND ALL THESE OTHER RESOURCES IS REALLY MORE THAN WHAT I CAN ASK FOR ABSOLUTELY.  LIKE IT'S MY OTHER QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF SORRY SHARE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO MAKE LGBTQ YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS RARE BRIEF AND REOCCURRING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON? YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO START WITH THAT QUESTION. SO ANOTHER TERM WE USED TO REFER TO THAT'S CALLED FUNCTIONAL ZERO YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS. SO IDEA THAT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THAT NO ONE IS EVER SPENDING A NIGHT ON THE STREET BUT IT'S RARE BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING WHEN IT HAPPENS IT'S THE SORT OF FRAMEWORK WE USE THAT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS COINED IS FUNCTIONAL ZERO SO THAT'S SAYING WE CARE A LOT ABOUT A BREAK TIME AND TRYING TO BE PART OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THE CITY CAN DO THAT I WOULD EMPHASIZE IS AGAIN FLEXIBLE ALL POOLS OF FUNDING THAT SUPPORT WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO.  THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I'VE HAD OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS IS BREAK TIME IS GROWING FROM AN IDEA TO AN ORGANIZATION WITH 40 FULL TIME STAFF AND A $6 MILLION ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET IS THIS CITY HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR US. YOU KNOW PEOPLE ASK YOU KNOW WE'RE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  WE SERVE THE CITY BY SOME PEOPLE THINK THE CITY PEOPLE GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR LIKE SUPPORTING BREAK TIME. BUT FRANKLY WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED PROBABLY UNDER 2% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON AND I SAY THAT NOT AS A CRITIQUE BUT MORE TO ILLUMINATE THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITH HOW CITY FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BREAK TIME. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR A SLICE OF FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE WAGES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR JOB PLACEMENTS WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER OFFICE FOR SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE THAT FIT A CERTAIN IDENTITY CATEGORY. THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER OFFICE AND IT'S LIKE TRYING TO GATHER A BUNCH OF PENNIES FROM COUCH CUSHIONS AND THEN SOMEHOW PAY FOR AN INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE BUT IMPORTANT MODEL. SO THE YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS WE NEED A FLEXIBLE FOR FUNDING THAT ORGANIZES MISSIONS CAN TAP IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES BECAUSE WHEN FUNDING IS OVERLY RESTRICTED IT DOESN'T ALLOW OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATIVELY SOLVE YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS AND EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE OF YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS, AS YOU SAW WITH THE YOUTH SPEAKERS TODAY IS DIFFERENT. AND SO IF OUR FUNDING ISN'T BUILT IN A WAY THAT'S FLEXIBLE AND CAN BE USED IN DIFFERENT WAYS SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE'RE NOT GOING TO END YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS WITH A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL. SO THE EXAMPLE THAT I CAN GIVE AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THE BEST FUNDING BREAK TIME HAS EVER RECEIVED HAS BEEN FROM THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS A RANGE OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN USE TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE.  WELL WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE GRANTS WE'VE RECEIVED FROM FROM OTHER PROGRAMS AND THERE'S SOME NEWER GRANTS THAT WE JUST GOT SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE. BUT IN THE PAST HISTORICALLY OTHER FUNDING WE'VE GOT IT'S BEEN SO RESTRICTED THAT WE CAN'T HOLISTICALLY SUPPORT THAT YOUNG PERSON SO FUNDS LIKE THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND WHICH ALREADY EXIST I THINK SHOULD BE EXPANDED OR IF THE CITY WOULD CONSIDER CREATING A SEPARATE FUND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS AS AS IT'S FLEXIBLE FUNDING I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MOST NEEDED. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU MR CHAIRMAN. OH ABSOLUTELY. AS THE SPONSOR WILL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO ALSO CAME FOR TESTIMONY.  I LEARNED A LOT AND I ALSO KNOW THAT TOMORROW'S NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY AND SO IT'S A TIME FOR US TO REALLY CELEBRATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYONE. CONNOR QUESTION FOR YOU AND TALK ABOUT FLEXIBLE FUNDS TO SUPPORT WRAPAROUND SERVICES.  CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION? WHAT WOULD THAT ALLOW YOU TO DO IN THE LIVES OF THAT YOUNG PERSON?  YEAH, SO AGAIN, JUST AS A REMINDER TO EVERYONE TIME'S MISSION IS AROUND PROVIDING JOB AND FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY. SO ONE OF THE ISSUES WE RUN INTO IS YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE A FEDERAL FUNDING AS AN EXAMPLE WITH HUD AND THAT TRICKLES DOWN INTO STATE AND CITY.  IT'S USUALLY EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOUSING. IT'S VERY LIMITED SUPPORT FOR WRAPAROUND SUPPORT.  SO IF YOU'RE A HOUSING PROVIDER YOU CAN USE SOME OF THAT FOR HOUSING. BUT HOUSING IS NEVER SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES SO THE SERVICES BREAK TIME PROVIDES IN TERMS OF JOB TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENTS, MATCH SAVINGS PROGRAM, CREDIT COUNSELING ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN HOUSING ARE FUNDED THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING. SO WHAT'S DIFFICULT IS WE HAVE TO GO TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR A MUCH BROADER AUDIENCE LIKE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR EVERYONE AND THEY'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY AS GEARED TOWARDS YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO FOR EXAMPLE TO GET A YOUNG PERSON STABLE AT A JOB COST A VERY DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF MONEY IF THEY'RE HOMELESS VERSUS NOT HOMELESS.  SO IF I GO TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING PER YOUNG PERSON IS PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS TO STABILIZE A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS 10 TO $15000 SO THAT COST DIFFERENCE IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO DO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THE YOUNG PERSON SUCCESSFUL AND IF WE JUST HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO DO A LITTLE BIT, IT'S NOT GOING TO PERMANENTLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND IT CREATES WHAT WE CALL IT BREAK TIME THE CYCLE OF YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS WHERE THERE'S NEVER QUITE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO KEEP THAT JOB, NOT QUITE ENOUGH EMPLOYMENT TO KEEP THAT HOUSING.  AND SO A MORE A LARGER INVESTMENT FOR A YOUNG PERSON IS NEEDED THROUGH MORE FLEXIBLE FUNDING MODELS. THANK YOU AND CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT I KNOW BRETT KIM HAS A MODEL OF OF GIVING IT A PARTICIPANT I FORGET WHAT THE ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATES STIPENDS EVEN AFTER YOU KNOW ONCE THEY'RE EMPLOYED. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ABOUT THAT AND WHAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE I I'M A BIG FAN OF WHAT YOU KNOW TAKING THE PATERNALISM OUT OF POLICY AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH STIPENDS, THROUGH MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A BASIC INCOME AND HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO. HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO FUND THAT THAT WORK THAT YOU DO? YEAH. SO IN EACH PART OF OUR PROGRAM ALL ASSOCIATES ARE PAID. SO AT THE BEGINNING DURING LAUNCHPAD THE THREE WEEKS OF TRAINING YOU GET A TRAINING STIPEND THAT'S ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO $20 AN HOUR IN IN LIFT OFF WHICH IS THE THREE MONTH JOB PLACEMENT YOU'RE ACTUALLY PAID WAGES OF $20 AN HOUR AND WE MET ANY SAVINGS YOU PUT ASIDE. FINALLY IN STABLE ORBIT THE THREE YEARS OF CONTINUED WRAPAROUND LONG TERM SUPPORT WE PROVIDE $100 A MONTH FOR THE FULL THREE YEARS. SO IT'S $3,600 OVER THE THREE YEARS AND WE FUND THAT PREDOMINANTLY ACTUALLY EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING.  AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT A LOT OF PROGRAMS THERE ONLY MET FOR SAY LIKE THE FIRST YEAR A YOUNG PERSON IS WITH YOU AND SO YOU CAN'T GET FUNDING AGAIN TO SUPPORT THEM IN THAT SECOND OR THAT THIRD YEAR. BUT WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS THAT AH WE JUST HAD A FIRST GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMPLETE THE FULL THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE STARTED THIS IN OCTOBER OF 2021 AND THE IMPACT THE DELTA THAT THAT HAS HAD ON OUTCOMES IS TREMENDOUS BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO A PLACE OF STABILITY AND THREE MONTHS AND THREE WEEKS IT'S THAT LONG TERM SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED AND THAT'S WHY FUNDS LIKE THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND, ANOTHER FLEXIBLE FUNDING MODEL ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATIVELY ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND WE KNOW THAT OUR STABLE ORBIT OUR THREE YEAR PROGRAM WORKS AND WE'D LOVE FOR GOVERNMENT TO BE A PARTNER IN MAKING IT SUSTAINABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BREADON THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO TESTIFIED ALREADY I'M FAMILIAR WITH BREAK TIME. I THINK YOU DID A PRESENTATION FOR US A FEW PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I'M ALSO BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS THAT WAS AT THE AT THE OPENING RIBBON CUTTING AT THE THE HOME IN IN BRIGHTON FOR ONLY RECENTLY VERY VERY EXCITING I'M I THINK YOU'RE GETTING TO YOU KNOW THE NEED FOR FLEXIBLE FUNDING I THINK SO MANY OF THE GRANTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR ARE NOT UNRESTRICTED. THEY'RE VERY RESTRICTIVE IN THEIR TARGETED PIECE SO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR SET OF NEEDS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MEET AND A MULTIFACETED PACKAGE.  SO I THINK THAT TAKES IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK IN TERMS OF SOURCES OF OF FUNDING LIKE WHERE DO YOU MANAGE TO GET YOUR FUNDING FOR YOUR FUNDING FROM? YEAH.  SO MOST OF OUR FUNDING IS PHILANTHROPIC SO THROUGH FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WE GET SOME STATE FUNDING. WE HAVE A STATE EARMARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PARTNER BAGLEY.  WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND A FEW OTHER AGENCIES ON THE CITY LEVEL.  WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL. WE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH MOLA WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE OFFICE OF BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT, THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND AND A FEW OTHERS. AND SO I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT BEEN THAT NO ONE SOURCE OF FUNDING REALLY IS BIG ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE PICTURE OF ALL THE NEEDS OF A YOUNG PERSON AND IT'S REALLY HARD AND REALLY EXPENSIVE FRANKLY FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE TO TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER ALL OF THESE SMALLER GRANTS. SO IF IT IS THROUGH THE YOUTH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU PUT AN EXTRA THREE OR $4 MILLION IN THAT FUND THAT'S A FUND THAT SUPPORTS BRIDGE, IT SUPPORTS BREAK TIME I DON'T KNOW IF IT SUPPORTS RIGHT AWAY BUT I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING 25 OR $30,000 FROM THAT FUND RIGHT NOW. IF WE WERE GETTING 150,000 EVEN THAT WOULD HAVE SUCH A BIG IMPACT BECAUSE THAT FUND CAN BE USED FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN ATTAINING THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS, IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOALS. AND SO THAT'S THE KIND OF FUNDING THAT'S WORKED FOR US. WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE OTHER FUNDING WE GET. BUT HAVING ONE CENTRALIZED SOURCE FOR BIGGER GRANTS THAT SUPPORT MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.  AND I THINK THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION FOR MISS BROOKS. THE YOU KNOW THIS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE LIKE I THINK IT'S REALLY ALMOST BIZARRE THAT WE EXPECT KIDS TO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE IT AND THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK OUT INTO THE WORLD NONE OF THE REST OF US WALKED OUT OF THE WORLD AT 18 AND WE'RE SELF-SUPPORTING AND KNEW HOW THINGS WORKED. I THINK IT'S REALLY.  IS THERE ANY SENSE AT THE STATE LEVEL OF OTHER MODELS, OTHER WAYS OF DOING THIS AND WAS MORE TRANSITIONAL?  IT'S NOT SUCH A HARD STOP AND ON YOUR GO GET OUT AND DO IT YOURSELF. IS THERE ANY ANY OTHER MODELS OUT THERE THAT THAT WOULD OFFER A BETTER PATH?  ABSOLUTELY. THE STATE OF GEORGIA. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I'VE WORKED IN FOR SEPARATE STATES AND DCF OFFICES AS WELL AS HAVING LIVED EXPERIENCE ON MEDICAID. SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE THE FUNDING NOT THE FUNDING BUT WHERE THE PROGRAMING IS AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. AND THERE ARE OTHER MODELS SPECIFICALLY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ONE THAT IS LGBTQ FOCUSED THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPACTFUL AND POWERFUL. BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A IT'S YORK I ALSO THINK IT'S A THERE ARE IT'S A MULTILEVEL ISSUE RIGHT?  IT IS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE FOSTER CARE AT 18. THEY HAVE UNTIL THEY'RE 22 THEY CAN THEY CAN SEND BACK INTO FOSTER CARE BUT IT IS THE TREATMENT THAT THEY RECEIVE WHILE THEY'RE THERE. SO WHEN I SAY IT'S A MULTIFACETED ISSUE, IT REALLY,  REALLY IS. THEY CAN THEY CAN LEAVE FOSTER CARE AT 18 BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE OH, I CAN GO TO BREAK TIME AND I CAN GET RESOURCES FROM SOMEONE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN ONCE THEY COME BACK INTO CARE AND THEY CAN EITHER BE DENIED OR THEY CAN BE KICKED OUT BECAUSE THEIR WORKER DOESN'T LIKE THEM, LIKE THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT THEIR WORKER TOLD THEM TO DO WHICH MOST 19, 20, 21 YEAR OLDS DON'T. AND SO I THINK IT'S LIKE IT'S A MULTIFACETED ISSUE FOR SURE. MM HMM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR HERE CONSTANTLY. HE'S DONE IT. MOVE ON TO COUNCILOR WHETHER.  OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. HELLO. UM, SO I HAD A QUESTION IN TERMS OF STARTING A SHELTER MAKING A NEW SHELTER, WHAT ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES HERE IN BOSTON TO DOING THAT? CAN ANYONE ANSWER?  DO YOU WANT TO START? YEAH.  UM, I MEAN, UH, I DID NOT START RIGHT AWAY, BUT I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LIKE SOME OF THE LOGISTICAL DIFFICULTIES LIKE I THINK PRIMARILY AT LEAST IN MY MIND ONE DIFFICULTY THAT LIKE WHY DO I ADDRESSES BY BEING A STUDENT RUN SHELTER IS HONESTLY THE COST OF STAFF UM BECAUSE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR WE HAVE VERY FEW FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS SUPPORTING A PRIMARILY VOLUNTEER BASED STUDENT STAFF AND SO I THINK I HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH MONEY THAT SAVES.  IT MIGHT TAKE ME A SECOND TO PULL THAT UP BUT JUST THAT INITIAL HURDLE AS WELL AS TRAINING AND MAINTAINING A STAFF OF ANY AMOUNT OF SIZE AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPETENT ON THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUTH SPECIFICALLY UM IT IT'S A LARGE TOLL AND LIKE IT TAKES SOMEONE THAT I THINK EITHER IS WILLING TO PUT IN A LOT OF TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF THIS AGE DEMOGRAPHIC AND OR SOMEONE THAT'S ALREADY WORKED IN OR HAS EXPERIENCED THIS TO KIND OF BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE I DON'T KNOW. YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST ALSO I WHO DO YOU NEED TO GET PERMITS FOR YOU KNOW THAT KIND OF THING I'M JUST I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH. YEAH SO ZONING IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE HURDLE I ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT TRYING TO DO THINGS DOWNTOWN WHERE BREAK TIMES NEW BUILDING IS WE HAVE OUR BASEMENT SPACE IS ABOUT 4500 SQUARE FEET AND ALREADY HAS TWO SHOWERS IN IT WHICH IS REALLY UNIQUE AND IT HAS A KITCHEN IN IT SO IT ACTUALLY NOT BE THAT EXPENSIVE TO RENOVATE INTO SHELTER RELATIVE TO OTHER SPACES BUT IT WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING TO REZONE FOR SHELTER USE UNLESS WE HAVE SOME CREATIVE PARTNER WHICH SHIP WITH THE CITY TO MAKE THAT EASIER.  SETTING ZONING IS THE NUMBER ONE HURDLE AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT NOW LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF YOU KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT LIKE LET'S SPEED THAT ALONG SO IT'S MUCH MORE EASY. AND THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS YOU KNOW, TO AIDEN'S POINT CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY RUN IN REAL TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPERTS IN PROVIDING JOB AND FINANCIAL SECURITY AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE'RE NOT EXPERTS IN PROVIDING SHELTER SO WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE SPACE WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SPACE. BUT HAVING THE OPERATIONAL PARTNER, WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER ORGANIZATION HERE OR SOMEONE ELSE TO ACTUALLY RUN IT IS A IS A HURDLE FROM FOR US TO MAKING IT HAPPEN.  OKAY YEAH IT'S A DO YOU HAVE TO GO BEFORE YOU NEED CITY IF YOU HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE BPD OR SOMETHING TO OPEN TO OPEN A NEW SHELTER SPACE YOU KNOW DO YOU DO YOU HAVE A ZONING VARIANCE IT IS A SPECIALTY IN THE STATE. THE STATE YEAH.  HELPS WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY? WELL I DON'T I DON'T WORK FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES BUT YES. SO THE STATE DEFINITELY CAN ASSIST AND ARE WILLING IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH HLC THEY ARE LIKE WE WE ONE NEED A SPACE WE NEED SOME PEOPLE AND YOU TELL US WHERE AND WHO WANTS TO DO IT AND WE'LL PUT AND WE'LL HELP PUT THAT TOGETHER. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT BEFORE THAT. BUT ON THE CITY LEVEL THERE IS SPECIAL A SPECIAL ZONING VARIANCE FOR SHELTER.  SO I THINK IT'S I GUESS THEIR INSPECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT I KNOW YOU Y'ALL ARE BETTER EXPERTS OF THE CITY THAN ME BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THERE. SO IF IF THE STATE'S ON BOARD AND THE CITY'S ON BOARD IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN MITIGATE HOW MUCH THE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLE IS BACK UP THE PROCESS THAT WOULD BE GREAT.  AND THEN I KNOW THERE'S A SECOND PANEL THERE'S SOME INFORMATION SOMEWHERE FROM BEEPS BUT MY QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW,  PEOPLE WHO NEED SHELTER, ARE YOU SEEING KIDS FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YOU KNOW, DO YOU CARE TO TALK ABOUT THAT?  YEAH, THE OUTREACH DEPARTMENT AT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS . I KNOW THAT THE SUPERVISOR SHAMIKA SHE LEADS A LOT OF EVENTS AND SHE JUST RECENTLY NOT TOO LONG AGO WAS THAT MADISON PARK HIGH AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ONE OF THE BIGGER SCHOOLS IN BOSTON AND SHE WAS ADVOCATING FOR OUR SHELTER LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY KNEW ANYONE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, SCARED TO COME OUT BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS AROUND THEM BEING YOUNG AND INSECURE AND ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS SPEAK UP SO JUST ADVOCATING AND GETTING OUT THERE IN THE SCHOOLS AND MAKING OURSELVES VISIBLE IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO TO GET EVEN MORE.  YEAH BECAUSE WE HEARING PEOPLE WE'VE WE'VE HEARD STATISTICS IT'S SOMETHING LIKE OVER 5000 KIDS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS JUST IN THE LAST YEAR. UH, AND YOU KNOW I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE SEEING. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING TO YEAH, I CAN SAY LIKE WHY DO I DEFINITELY WORKS WITH STUDENTS LIKE ON I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS ON HOW MANY EXACTLY BUT A LOT OF THEM A LOT COME TO US LIKE LIKE TOWARDS THE END STAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL WE START ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME AT THE AGE OF 18 AND SO THERE'S LIKE A VERY SMALL LIKE OVERLAP WITH THAT AGE DEMOGRAPHIC OF USUALLY SENIORS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST BEEN IN SCHOOL FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.  AND SO I'VE I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH VERY DIFFERENT REFERRALS FROM DPS LIKE COUNSELORS IN OUR LOTTERY SYSTEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR THANKS COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR PEPPERED THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO START BY THANKING THE SPONSORS OF THIS HEARING BECAUSE IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND ONE THAT YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE IN THIS CHAMBER. SO ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE PANELISTS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY WAS VERY, VERY UM NOT REFRESHING BUT IT'S JUST REWARDING TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND TO GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES.  MY FIRST QUESTION IS A LITTLE BIT I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK A BIT.  I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY IS IT THAT WHY IS THE PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS YOUTH IN TERMS OF WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ SO HIGH ARE THEY HOMELESS BY THEMSELVES OR ARE THEY HOMELESS WITH THEIR FAMILIES? IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING KICKED OUT OF HOME?  I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THE CORE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE DEFINITELY FITS.  YOU DEFINITELY SAID IT THEY'RE BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BUT ALSO I THINK IT'S AND I'M GOING TO VERY QUICKLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHEN I SAY THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BUT THEY MAY BE IN FOSTER CARE. THEY MAY BE IN DBAS AND ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS IT HAS BECOME JUST KIND OF LIKE AN EVER FLOWING FACET TO HOMELESSNESS IF THAT MAKES SENSE. IT'S IT IS QUITE LITERALLY PEOPLE GOING FROM CARE TO HOMELESSNESS AND GETTING KICKED OUT OF YOUR HOUSE IN GENERAL IS TRAUMATIZING.  CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING KICKED OUT OF YOUR HOME FROM A YOUNG AGE IS PROBABLY EVEN MORE TRAUMATIZING BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DEPEND ON AND ON THAT HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TESTIMONY YOU SAID YOU WORKED ON HELPING YOUTH GET JOBS OR JUST UNDERSTAND HOW A CAREER OR A CAREER PATH IS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT WITH LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND TO ANY SPECIFIC SOCIAL SERVICE IN REGARDS TO I'M A BIG MENTAL HEALTH PROPONENT SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS DO IN THAT TYPE OF WORK AS WELL. YEAH, I BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER IS WE HAVE DIFFERENT FLOORS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS SO WE HAVE ABOUT SIX FLOORS AT OUR MAIN FACILITY. THE SIXTH FLOOR IS RAPID REHOUSING. THE FIFTH FLOOR IS EDUCATION AND JOB SECURITY. THE FOURTH FLOOR IS AN INTAKE SO ANYONE THAT'S COMING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME INTO A BRIDGE THEY WOULD GO UP THERE. THIRD FLOOR IS A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. THE SECOND FLOOR IS THE DAY PROGRAMS LAST WELCOME CENTER WHICH IS THE OVERNIGHT SHELTER AND THEN THE FIRST FLOOR IT'S JUST LIKE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU COME IN THEY GREET YOU AND EVERYTHING. SO I'M SORRY THAT INITIAL QUESTION AGAIN ONE MORE TIME DO YOU THINK IS THERE ARE SPECIFIC RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH? SO FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH WE ASK ON THE FOURTH FLOOR WHERE THEY DO INTAKE WE HAVE THERAPY. WE JUST RECENTLY HIRED EVEN MORE THERAPISTS BECAUSE THERE WAS LIKE A SLIGHT DROUGHT FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT NOW WE JUST RECENTLY HIRED SOME NEW ONES THAT WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REFER MORE CLIENTS TO THERAPY WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE WE SEE SO MANY TIMES THAT THEY'RE SEVERELY AFFECTED BY THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH IN THE PAST THAT THEY'RE STILL TRAUMATIZED BY IT BUT THEY DON'T THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. SO IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO REFER A CLIENT WHO'S COMING IN OR WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE WHO WAS A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT THERAPY. BUT ONCE THEY YOU KNOW, OPENED UP AND GOT TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE AND FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN TO RECEIVING THERAPY AND MENTAL HEALTH HEALTH SERVICES WHETHER WE HAVE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE INMATES OR FIND OUTSIDE SOURCE THAT CAN HELP US WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE.  OKAY, THANK YOU. BUT I CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THIS JUST WITHIN OUR SPACE EVERY SINGLE WEEK WE HAVE A CLINIC WITH BOSTON HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS LIKE FAMILY TEAM AND THEY HAVE LICENSED THERAPISTS THAT COMES IN AND SPEAKS WITH OUR GUESTS AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ALSO COMES IN ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICES I GUESS ARE DEFINITELY INVESTED IN LIKE THIS AGE POPULATION AND I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT A STRONG PROVIDER WOULD BE BOSTON HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS FAMILY TEAM.  OKAY. YEAH. AGAIN JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING. THIS HAS BEEN VERY OCCASIONAL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO TO KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE FOR ANYONE THAT MAY NEED RESOURCES. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CONTINUE TAKING NOTES AND LEARNING A LITTLE A LOT MORE. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR.  AND FINALLY WE ARE ON TO COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA AND MY APOLOGIES TO COUNSELOR WEBER PEPEN AND TO BAN FOR NOT IDENTIFYING YOU GUYS WHEN YOU FIRST SAT DOWN BUT YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY HERE NOW COUNSELOR TO YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH. WE HAD A HEARING BEFORE THIS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD SOME SUSTENANCE TO BE ABLE TO ASK SOME SOME GREAT QUESTIONS AND BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO IT JUST IT IT REALLY DOES BREAK MY HEART TO THINK ABOUT IT. I'VE BEEN TRYING NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I CAN ONLY SYMPATHIZE BUT KIDS THAT ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN KICKED OUT FOR WHO THEY ARE AND WE LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS, RIGHT. AND THIS IS THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE HERE CLEARLY BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. BUT TO THINK NATIONWIDE WHAT KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH, EVERYONE DESERVES A SAFE AND STABLE HOME AND THEY DESERVE TO FEEL LOVED IN THAT HOME AND THAT'S THAT'S MY GUIDING LIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, I ENLIST NING TO MY COLLEAGUES QUESTIONS. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND I'LL USE THE TERM GAPS. WHAT ARE THE GAPS? WHAT CAN WE BE DOING? I THINK I CAN SUMMARIZE IT IN YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT AREN'T WE DOING AS A COUNCIL , AS A CITY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING? WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION HERE BUT KNOWING THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT CAN WE BE DOING BETTER BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A CRISIS AND WE'RE DOING IT FOR THESE KIDS AND I THINK ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS LOST A HOME BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE IS ONE TOO MANY. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR ANY INITIAL THOUGHTS.  YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO START. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.  I'LL START BY SAYING I HAVE HAD I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE TO WORK WITH THAN THE FOLKS THAT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE CITY FROM MOLIERE TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO OFFICES ALL AROUND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.  WE ARE SO PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY WANT TO SOLVE IT.  AND SO THE ISSUE AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS CERTAINLY NOT BUY AND CERTAINLY NOT CARE. WE ALL WANT TO GET THIS DONE FOR ME IT COMES DOWN TO FUNDING WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY HAVE TO SOLVE AND NO ONE IN THIS ROOM HAS FULL CONTROL OVER.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT NEEDS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND SHELTER NEEDS. IF WE DON'T HAVE A FLEXIBLE POOL OF FUNDING THAT CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THESE THINGS IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDING TO POINT TO WHEN AN ORGANIZATION COMES TO ONE OF YOUR OFFICES OR COMES TO ONE OF YOU CITY COUNCILORS, THEN WE JUST CAN'T COLLECTIVELY SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE GAP AGAIN, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE HERE THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH AT THE CITY AND I WISH WE ALL TOGETHER HAD A FLEXIBLE POOL OF FUNDING THAT WE COULD PULL FROM TO CREATIVELY SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS SO THAT ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE SHARING WE CAN ALL SAY YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FUNDING. SO I THINK IT STARTS WITH THE BUDGET. I THINK THE CITY BUDGET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICY DOCUMENT THAT YOU ALL PRODUCE.  AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT NEXT BUDGET YEAR OR EVEN CREATIVE USES OF REMAINING ARPA FUNDS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN COMMITTED TO CERTAIN USES. THAT'S REALLY FOR ME WHERE THE GAP IS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO EVERYONE HERE WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH I WOULD SAY ALSO THAT GRAY AREA WHERE WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO CONNECT A CLIENT WITH HOUSING BUT YOU KNOW HAVING THEM SUSTAIN THAT HOUSING IS LIKE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I SEE.  SO I FEEL LIKE MORE EMPHASIS OR TRAINING IN THAT AREA WHETHER IT'S HOW TO KEEP A JOB PROFESSIONAL WHICH I KNOW TIME DOES AND EVERYTHING BUT LIKE FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE POPULATION THAT WE WORK WITH IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TO REPLACE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD YOU'RE OKAY. OKAY. WELL I APPRECIATE THOSE ANSWERS AND I REALLY DO. USUALLY I DON'T LIKE THE PREMISE OF THE QUESTION I'M ABOUT TO ASK BUT IN THIS INSTANCE IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT WE SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR. SO IT'S THE MAGIC WAND QUESTION IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND AND YOU HAD ALL THE FUNDING IN THE WORLD AND SOME OF THESE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED, WHAT WOULD BE THE MODEL SERVICE THAT WE HAVE FOR FOLKS IN THE MODEL HOME OR WHATEVER IT IS? I WOULD LOVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND TO SPEAK.  I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING PINE STREET THIS SUMMER AS PART OF THE WHY DO I STAFF WAS TRYING TO SEE JUST MORE OF THE LANDSCAPE ACROSS BOSTON AND THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH REPRESENTATIVES FOR CONTACTING DIFFERENT LANDLORDS AS WELL AS DIFFERENT HOUSING PROJECTS AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT HUMAN CONNECTION AND LINK WITH JUST LIKE IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS FOR LIKE GETTING PEOPLE INTO LONG TERM HOUSING ARE LIKE GREAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS WE HEARD FROM TESTIMONY AND JUST ACROSS THE PANEL, THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE SERVE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING TO THOSE LARGER SHELTERS. THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE WELCOMED OR SAFE IN THOSE PLACES. AND SO BY NOT STAYING AT THOSE PLACES THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE TYPE OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WHERE THOSE LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.  SO MY MAGIC WAND WOULD BE TO LIKE HAVE A BRANCH OF ONE OF THOSE LARGER, MORE ESTABLISHED MORE ESTABLISHED SHELTERS THAT COULD UTILIZE THE LIKE PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES THERE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION JUST THINKING ABOUT FUNDING AND THE NEED FOR FLEXIBLE FUNDING.  WHERE IS PHILANTHROPY IN THIS SPACE AND ALSO WHERE IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH THEIR SOCIAL GIVING PROGRAMS? ARE THERE ANYWHERE? YEAH SO WE I MEAN OVER 85% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM PHILANTHROPY FROM FOUNDATIONS,  FROM CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS, FROM INDIVIDUALS. SO I'M THEY ARE CURRENTLY THE FLEXIBLE FUNDING POOL TO SUPPORT THIS WORK SO BUT IT ONLY GOES SO FAR AND THERE'S THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH OF IT AND IT'S ONLY RELIABLE FOR SO LONG AND SO WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DIVERSIFY OUR REVENUE AND HAVE MORE FROM GOVERNMENT. THAT'S A BIG GOAL OF OURS AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR PLAN FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS. SO SO WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT WE DO AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY TO BE A BIGGER PART OF SUPPORTING OUR WORK.  AND JUST TO QUICKLY REFERENCE THE LAST QUESTION, ONE THING I'LL ADD IS THAT WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE VERY TIME SERVES I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT 18 TO 24 YEAR OLDS. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD STATE THAT SINCE WE EACH KIND OF WORK WITH DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND HONESTLY IN AN IDEAL WORLD WITH A MAGIC ONE WE COULD SUSTAIN OUR PROGRAMS TO BE PREVENTED.  IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKED ME LIKE IF YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS WERE JUST FUNCTIONAL ZERO JUST BREAK TIME SO I HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY.  BUT THAT ROLE WOULD BE COMPLETELY PREVENTATIVE PREVENTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM REACHING HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING JOB AND FINANCIAL SECURITY.  AND SO IF I THINK WE CAN IF WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT AND SUSTAIN THIS WORK TO BE A PREVENTATIVE MECHANISM, THAT'S MY MAGIC WAND SPELL THAT I WOULD CAST. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THAT MY TIME. THANK YOU CHAIR MOST OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED TO THE QUESTIONS OF MY MY COLLEAGUES.  BUT ONE THING I WAS WONDERING IS FOR THE FOLKS THAT TESTIFIED TODAY RIGHT. A LOT OF THEM WERE OUT OF STATE AND I'VE GONE TO BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS BEFORE TOO AND THEY HAD FOLKS PRESENT THERE AND THEY WERE OUT OF STATE.  IS THERE IS THERE LIKE A IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT BOSTON THAT WOULD ATTRACT IS IT THE THE ATMOSPHERE OR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND THE WELCOMING THAT AS WE ARE AS A CITY IN THE STATE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE ATTRACTED OR IS THAT JUST SORT OF A THEME THAT MAYBE I'VE PICKED UP ON THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SUSTAINABLE?  IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE LIKE WELL JOHN, YOU JUST SAW A LOT OF OUT OF STATE PEOPLE BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT IS A TREND WHERE IF YOU LIVE IN THE SOUTH AND YOU GET KICKED OUT, YOU'RE SAYING TO YOURSELF WELL, I KNOW WHERE I HAVE TO GO.  YEAH, I THINK THERE IS A PATTERN WITH THAT. IT'S USUALLY BETWEEN BOSTON AND NEW YORK. SO I'VE SEEN BECAUSE I ASK CLIENTS I'M LIKE WELL WHY DID YOU COME UP HERE? AND THEY'RE LIKE WELL I DON'T KNOW. I WAS THINKING ABOUT NEW YORK SO I HEAR IN NEW YORK A LOT AND I JUST THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA OR THROUGH THEIR OWN PERSONAL SPACE OF SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE BUT I KNOW THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE BOSTON BECAUSE IT IS SAFER REALISTICALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LGBTQ PLUS FOR ME RIGHT IN MY LIVED EXPERIENCE I CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET IN BOSTON AND EXPRESS MYSELF THE WAY THAT I WANT TO RIGHT CLIENTS THAT I HAVE. I HAVE TWO CLIENTS FROM TENNESSEE, YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE LGBT, LGBTQ PLUS SOMEWHERE IN THAT SPECTRUM AND THEN THEY CAME SAID THEIR HOUSE WITH GUNS AND YOU KNOW BECAUSE THAT'S ALLOWED YOU KNOW OPEN CARRY IN CERTAIN STATES.  SO IT'S JUST IT'S VERY SCARY FOR THEM NOT TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT DAY IS GOING TO BE LIKE OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE NEXT DAY WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT THREATS FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR LIFESTYLE. GRANTED BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS THE STATE AS A WHOLE IS THIS WAY OR THAT WAY BUT WHEN YOU COME TO BOSTON IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE FREE AND I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT I DON'T I JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION BUT THEY KNOW THAT AND IT'S ENOUGH FOR ME TO SEE THE PATTERN TOO THAT YOU NOTICED AND THEY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAYBE BE THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE. YEAH, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND IT'S A IT'S A SHAME THAT THOSE WHO BUT IT'S GREAT THAT THOSE FLEEING FROM THEIR HOUSES THAT THEY'RE YOU KNOW THEY HAVE TO LEAVE WILL COME HERE BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFE. IT'S A SHAME THAT WE CAN'T SHOW THOSE CAUSING THEM TO FLEE TO COME UP HERE AND SAY IT'S NOT THAT BAD GUYS.  RIGHT. YEAH. SO WITH THAT I THANK THIS PANEL VERY MUCH. YOU GUYS ARE RELIEVED AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TESTIMONY AND WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PANEL. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING YOUR EDUCATION WITH US. THANK WITH THAT WE WILL CALL UP PANEL NUMBER TWO TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION,  PEDRO CRUZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ADVANCEMENT. KATIE CAHILL HOLLOWAY, ACTING DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND UEHARA BAUTISTA, SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DIVISION AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. IF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE THEY WELCOME TO JOIN US UP FRONT AND I KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL FROM DPS COULD NOT MAKE IT WITH US TODAY DUE TO AN ILLNESS SO THERE WILL NOT BE A FOLKS FROM PBS PANEL WELCOME.  HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE PROVIDING YOUR TIME. I THINK WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT THESE THE YOUTH ON THE STREET ARE FEELING AND WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE AS A CITY ARE DOING AND OF COURSE HOW WE CAN. I THINK A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION THERE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE GAPS IN SERVICE AND WE KNOW WHETHER FROM JUST REGULAR OLD OVERALL HOMELESSNESS ADDICTION, YOUTH HOMELESSNESS THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A GAP THAT MIGHT CAUSE US TO KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN THE HAMSTER WHEEL OF RIGHT. WE CAN GET THEM TO A CERTAIN PART AND NOT OVER THE HUMP. SO WE'D LOVE TO LEARN WHAT WE ARE DOING AND AND HOW WE CAN HELP ADDRESS THOSE GAPS AS WELL. SO I DON'T KNOW IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. LADIES FIRST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO IF YOU GUYS HAVE A CERTAIN ORDER TO GO FIRST? OUR FIRST QUESTION I THOUGHT YOU HAD A HARD STOP. NO, NO, I CAN GO FIRST. HEY, NO, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, SIR. YEAH, I SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE SPACE AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO KIND OF START OFF BY JUST REALLY START OFF BY SHARING THE VISION OF THE OF MY OFFICE.  SO IT'S ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OR SO WE ARE BRAND NEW INTO AND CITY HALL AND REALLY OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'VE COINED THE THREE LEVELS OF EUPHORIC WHICH IS THE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SPACES CREATED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHETHER THAT'S LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, YOUTH WORKERS WHICH IS ADULTS THAT WORK IN THOSE SPACES AND AND CREATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEN YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES. SO ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO IS TO REALLY SUPPORT THOSE THREE LEVELS OF YOUTH WORK AND REALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT DOES YOUR WORK LOOK LIKE THROUGH CITY HALL? SO IN TERMS OF THIS SPECIFIC POPULATION, THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THAT IS THROUGH MULTIPLE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE. THE FIRST ONE IS OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL SO WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT REVAMPING THAT PROGRAM AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL REPRESENT A MUCH LARGER POPULATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUSIVE WITH THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WERE SELECTED ONLINE AND AGAIN THAT THEY REPRESENT A MUCH LARGER POPULATION ON THE SECOND IS THROUGH OUR YOUTH LEAD THE CHANGE WHICH IS THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM THAT WE OVERSEE IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN THE NATION. WE'RE GOING ON THE 10TH YEAR AND WE'RE AGAIN MAKING SURE THAT WE GET TO ANY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE LGBTQ POPULATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM. THE THIRD INITIATIVE OUR SHARE IS OUR YOUTH FLYING. WE ACTUALLY JUST LAUNCHED THIS OVER THIS SUMMER AND WE I KNOW WE ON CITY HALL HAVE HEARD HOW CITY HALL IS RESOURCE RICH CONNECTION POOR. SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN CITY HALL AND ACROSS THE CITY BUT IT'S DIFFICULT ENOUGH FOR AN ADULT TO NAVIGATE THAT. AND WHO DO I TALK TO?  WHERE DO I GO TO? SO THAT FEAR IS AMPLIFIED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO WE CREATE AND WHAT WE CALL THE YOUTH LINE WHICH IS THAT MY TEAM IDENTIFIED OVER 400 RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE CREATED AN ONLINE DASHBOARD THAT'S REALLY USER FRIENDLY TO USE AND JUST KIND OF FILTER THE RESOURCES USE THEM FOR AND WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY FACE AND SO IN CASE THEY DON'T WANT TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY THEY CAN COME TO OUR DESK AT THE TOBIN COMMUNITY CENTER AND GET DIRECT CONNECTION. THAT'S A RESOURCES THROUGH MY TEAM. WE ALSO HAVE THE MAYOR'S YOUTH SUMMIT WHICH WAS THE FIRST ONE WE DID THE FIRST ONE LAST YEAR AFTER 20 YEARS WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SPACE WAS GOING TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY.  AND WE ALSO HAD OVER 20 EVENTS THAT WE DID LEADING UP TO THE SUMMIT THAT WEEK. WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SPACES CREATED AROUND THE CITY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THE OTHER ONE I WOULD SHARE IS OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES WHICH IS HOW WE SUPPORT ADULTS IN THE FIELD. SO WE MAKE WE IDENTIFY PROFESSIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM OCTOBER TO JUNE LAST SEASON WE DID OVER 30 WE JUST LAUNCHED THIS NEXT SERIES AND WE WORK CLOSELY AGAIN WITH THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING PROPER TRAINING TO THE ADULTS IN THE FIELD THAT WORK WITH LGBT Q YOUTH AND AGAIN WE MAKE THIS CHAIN AN ACCESSIBLE AND COMPLETELY FREE TO ORGANIZATIONS. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WOULD MENTION ON OUR END IS THE YOUTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW LAUNCH WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH AND IT'S GOING TO BE FOCUS ON THE 14 TO 25 YEAR OLD POPULATION SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL, WHEN THEY'RE NOT AT WORK AND WE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SURVEY BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US RAW DATA AROUND WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND WE'RE DESIGNING IT IN A WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILTER THE RESULTS AND BE ABLE TO TELL THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ AND BASED ON WHAT IT IS THAT LGBTQ NEED AND THE SAME IS GOING TO APPLY FOR ALL THE OTHER OFFICES IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT, BLACK WOMEN ADVANCEMENT.  BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT ARE THE QUESTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE THAT WE'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND THAT WE ALSO GET IT OUT TO THAT COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PEDRO.  NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KATIE CAHILL HOLLOWAY. I USE THE SHE HER SERIES AND I SERVE AS ACTING DIRECTOR FOR THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DIVISION AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. AND WITH ME TODAY IS TARA BATTISTA WHO IS A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE INITIATIVE TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON. AND WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON THE WORK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. COUNCILORS TATIANA AND BRAYDEN AND CLAUDIA ZAPATA AND FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE TO FULL ATTENTION AND ALSO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY FOR SCHEDULING THE HEARING. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THOSE THAT ARE NOT HERE AS WELL FOR THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT THAT YOU LEND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING WORKING TO ASSIST OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS IN OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.  SO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS WORKED REALLY INTENTIONALLY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF RISING TO THE CHALLENGE WHICH IS BOSTON'S PLAN TO PREVENT AND YOUNG ADULT HOMELESSNESS. AND THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 THE PLAN FOCUSES ON INCLUSIVITY AND CENTERS ON CREATING SAFE, STABLE AND AFFIRMING HOUSING FOR ALL YOUTH PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE GROUPS SUCH AS LGBTQ+ YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATE.  EMMA WHICH WAS ABLE TO COMPETE FOR SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES THROUGH HUD'S HOMELESS DEMONSTRATION GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AND BOSTON WAS SELECTED AS A COMMUNITY IN EARLY 2019 AND SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE RECEIVED ANNUAL RENEWAL THAT FUNDING TOTALING NEARLY $10 MILLION. THE WAGE TO P PORTFOLIO SUPPORTS A VARIETY OF HOUSING RESOURCES AND YOUTH AND FORM SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE LONG TERM STABILIZATION IN HOUSING.  EMMA WHICH PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS INCLUDING BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS JRA AND ISAC AND THIS RESOURCE REPRESENTS OVER 2.9 MILLION ANNUALLY IN FUNDING AND PROVIDES HOUSING IN AFFIRMING SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 320 VULNERABLE YOUTH EACH YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ALLOCATED 2030 FUNDS TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT YOUNG BOSTONIANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR WHICH WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL. THESE CITY INVESTMENTS INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A YOUTH FLEX FUND TO COVER ONE TIME HOUSING RELATED COSTS TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL BARRIERS ARE MINIMIZED FOR ALL YOUTH PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM MARGINALIZED BACKGROUNDS.  THIS FUNDING HAS ALSO CREATED A YOUTH PEER HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE TAILORED SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACCESS HOUSING AND SERVICES AND IT EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PEER CONNECTIONS AND FOSTERING TRUST AND UNDERSTAND ADDING. ALSO WE CREATED WITH THIS FUNDING A YOUTH LIAISON POSITION TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF YOUTH AT LARGER SHELTERS SUCH AS 112 SOUTHAMPTON IN WOOD SMULLEN TO FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF LGBT HQ PLUS AMONG THE BROADER POPULATION. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH VOICE IN DESIGNING RESOURCES AND SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT THEM AND WHICH HAS CREATED THE BOSTON S.O.S. YOUTH COUNCIL WHICH IS THE CIC AND IT'S AN ADVISORY COUNCIL OF YOUTH WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS INCLUDING LGBTQ PLUS VOICES TO GUIDE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ENSURE THAT SERVICES ARE EQUITABLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUTH. AND AS A RESULT OF THESE INVESTMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, EMMA WHICH HAS TRACKED A STEADY DECREASE IN THE YOUTH POPULATION EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE ANNUAL POINT IN TIME COUNT WHEN THE CITY INITIATED RISING TO THE CHALLENGE IN 2019 THE NUMBER OF YOUTH IDENTIFIED AS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WAS 157 AND IN 2024 THAT NUMBER HAD DROPPED TO 132 WHICH IS A DECREASE OF ABOUT 60%.  ADDITIONALLY, 621 YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOUSED OUT OF SHELTERS OR OFF THE STREET SINCE THE INITIATION OF THE PLAN AND TO DATE ONLY 6% OF THOSE YOUTH RETURNED TO HOMELESSNESS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN. WE RECOGNIZE, HOWEVER, THAT ONE YOUNG PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY IS ONE TOO MANY AND THAT CERTAIN SUBGROUPS SUCH AS LGBTQ PLUS ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK. SO WE CONTINUE TO COMPETE FOR RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE SAFE HOUSING AND TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES. LAST YEAR AS PART OF THIS ANNUAL CONTINUUM OF CARE APPLICATION TO HUD, WE WERE AWARDED A PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING WITH AN ON RAMP TO RAPID REHOUSING TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TO LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS SPONSORED BY VICTORY PROGRAMS AND THIS PROGRAM IS SLATED TO START OPERATIONS LATER THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND IT WILL SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 12 LGBTQ YOUTH PLUS YOUTH IN ACCESSING HOUSING. AND THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE WORK THAT MAUI IS DOING TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE MARGINALIZED AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND SUPPORT AND ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M PART OF THAT.  I DO HEAR ABOUT THIS. I USE THE SHE PRONOUNS AND I OVERSEE AND WORK WITH ALL THE PROVIDERS IN ALL THESE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE CITY AND YOU KNOW, HEARING ALL THAT CHALLENGES SUCCESSES THAT YOUNG YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH ARE FACING IS PART OF MY WORK AND WHAT I, YOU KNOW, STRIVE TO DO EVERY DAY TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO HELP YOUTH OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.  GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND AS A FORMER MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL ALUM AND FORMER EMCEE OF THE THE MAYOR'S YOUTH SUMMIT, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S BACK. I THINK THEY STOPPED IT AFTER EMCEED IT AND WITH GOOD REASON. GOOD.  SO I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S BACK WITH A FRESH FACE. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE 3 MINUTES EACH FOR THE REST OF US HERE AS IT GETS LATER IN THE DAY I WILL START WITH THE SPONSORED CONTENT SANTANA FOR JUST SECOND. THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND I APPRECIATE OUR PANELISTS BEING HERE REALLY GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. I'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT.  KATIE YOU KNOW I MEAN YOU I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR STATEMENT.  CAN YOU SPEAK MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU DO?  AT THE END YOU SPOKE DIRECTLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHETHER I'M FOR LGBTQ COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING I THINK YOUR MOST YOUR WAS TALKING ABOUT JUST HOUSING IN GENERAL FOR OUR YOUTH RIGHT NOW I MEAN I ALL OF US HERE GOING BECAUSE RIGHT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND EVERYONE DESERVES IT AND ALL OUR YOUTH DESERVE IT. WE'RE SEEING NUMBERS WITH OUR LGBTQ HOMELESS COMMUNITY LIKE ALARMING RATES.  RIGHT. SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH BPF SPECIFICALLY AND IN YOUR OFFICE WITH VIPS AND IN THE HOMELESSNESS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH OUR LGBTQ RIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS? SURE.  I'M PROBABLY GOING TO LET TARA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THIS BUT I KNOW FOR BIPS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED LIAISONS IN EACH OF THE SCHOOLS THAT YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY IN THEIR FAMILIES CAN APPROACH TO GET CONNECTED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING OR TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING. BUT YOU MIGHT NOTICE I WANT TO BE CLEAR I MEAN I, I GOT I CURVEBALL ALL OF OUR YOUTH BUT FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON OUR LGBTQ YOUTH AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR BPA AS POPULATION THERE IF WE ARE DOING ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY SPECIFICALLY FOR LGBTQ PLUS IN BPA I'M NOT 100% SURE WE ARE SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF BPA STUDENTS THAT ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS.  THERE ARE I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS WITH ME TODAY. I DID PULL A REPORT THOUGH THAT IS SHOWED IT WAS APPROXIMATELY IN FISCAL YEAR IN LAST YEAR AROUND 39 YOUTH ACCESSED OUR BP'S RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM THROUGH THE BE BP'S PEER NAVIGATION PROGRAM THAT I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OF OF THOSE 39 HOW MANY WERE LGBTQ PLUS AND THEY ALSO DO SELF CERTIFY THAT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE I DO SUBMIT AFTER BUT I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH IRA.  MY LAST QUESTION HERE YOU KNOW ,WE HEARD FROM OUR FIRST PANELIST I MEAN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THE NEED FOR I MEAN FOR MUCH MORE SHELTER.  CAN CAN ANY OF YOU SPEAK TO YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN, MAKING THAT A POSSIBILITY OF OF CREATING THIS, YOU KNOW, MORE SHELTER FOR OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND AND YOU KNOW, OUR SAFE SPACES WELL, NOT JUST NECESSARILY HOUSING BUT CREATING SAFE SPACES. CAN WE WHAT ARE WE DOING ON THAT FRONT? OH, I KNOW FOR ME I CAN SPEAK TO IS ONE OF THE SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SINCE I TOOK LEADERSHIP OF THE OFFICE IS REALLY UP WITH THIS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THE IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT, RIGHT? WE WE COLLECT IDEAS AND CERTIFY THEM EVERY YEAR BUT IMPLEMENTATION TAKES MORE THAN A YEAR.  ONE THING I COULD DO AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU MORE INFORMATION ON BUT I'M 100% SURE THAT ONE OF OUR WINNERS IN THE LAST TWO THREE YEARS THE MONEY WAS ALLOCATED TOWARDS A SHELTER. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS LGBTQ SPECIFIC BUT I KNOW THAT WE DID FUND TOYS ON YOUTH SHELTERS IN BOSTON BUT BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO COME TO YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION AND AGAIN AND I THINK JUST THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM ALONE IS A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED INTO ACTUAL WHAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILMEMBER.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM, SO I GUESS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET LIKE WHAT WE ARE WOULD WE SEE THE FUNDING THAT YOU'RE USING TO HELP LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH?  SO YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY WONDERING ABOUT THE THE CITY INVESTMENTS? YES. YEAH. SO I THINK IT IS UNDER THE HOUSING 2030 LINE ITEM AND IT'S THE YOUTH FLEX FUND. IT'S THE UM THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 679 I'LL SAY SIX RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS AND ALSO THE BIPS YOUTH NAVIGATOR A, B C YOUTH NAVIGATOR AS WELL AND THESE ARE THESE TWO POSITIONS OR PROGRAMS SERVE AS POINT PLACES FOR YOUTH TO GO IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR TO GET ASSESSED TO BE PUT IN A POOL OF HOUSING PROGRAMS. OKAY.  AND I GUESS SO I MEAN ONE CONCERN WHEN PEOPLE GO INTO SHELTER IS THAT WE WE DON'T PLAN FOR LONGER TERM AND GET THEM INTO HOUSING THAT THEY CAN STAY IN LONGER TERM. AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE LENGTH OF STAYS IN SHELTERS, IT'S JUST PEOPLE SPEND YEARS AND SO I GUESS WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR PEOPLE WHO GO WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE THINGS AND MAYBE THE RAPID REHOUSING DEALS WITH THIS BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GET PEOPLE INTO YOU KNOW, SOME SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT ONCE THEY GO INTO SHELTER? SURE. I CAN SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH. THEY'RE NOT A LOT THERE IS VERY MINIMAL. WE DO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 240 ISH RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS AND A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AS WELL TO EXIT YOUTH OUT OF SHELTERS QUICKLY. BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH IT'S THEY'RE STILL THERE'S STILL SOME NEED FOR FOR THAT. MM HMM. AND THEN WOULD THEY BE GOING AND HOW WOULD THEY BE PAYING FOR HOUSING?  THEY GET SECTION EIGHT CITY HOUSING VOUCHER. DO WE DO WE HAVE HOUSING THAT WE PROVIDE OR DO WE ARE WE GETTING THEM INTO SOME PRIVATE HOUSING? SURE. SO THE RAPID REHOUSING TERM WORKS AS SHORT TERM AND MEDIUM TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE SO THEY SO I WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FUNDED FOR THESE PROGRAM AND THEY PROVIDE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE CASE MANAGEMENT. BUT IT IS LIKE I SAID SHORT TERM 24 MONTHS. OKAY. AND IS THAT IS THAT RAFT IS THAT THE SERVICE? NO, IT'S NOT RAFT.  THERE ARE SOME CITY FUNDED RAPID PROGRAMS THAT YOU HIRE IS TALKING ABOUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME HUD FUNDED ONES AND RAPID REHOUSING YOU KNOW, IS MEANT TO BE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM. SO RENTAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE PROVIDED FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS AND THEN ONGOING SERVICES FOR ANOTHER SIX. AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS ENROLLED IN RAPID REHOUSING, WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IS THAT CASE IS LOOKING TO PLAN FOR LIKE OKAY WHAT COMES AFTER RAPID AND A LOT OF THE TIMES THEY'LL BE APPLYING TO DIFFERENT WAIT LISTS IF THERE IS A DISABILITY THAT'S INVOLVED THEN THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSITION TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S ALSO THE HOPE THAT IF YOU'RE IN RAPID REHOUSING AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE RIGHT TIME AND YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR INCOME YOU KNOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU CAN SUSTAIN IT MIGHT BE SHARED HOUSING, YOU MIGHT HAVE ROOMMATES BUT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE WITH YOUR HOUSING. OKAY. AND JUST LAST QUESTION OF THE CASE MANAGER WHO WHO'S THE CASE MANAGER WORK FOR WHERE THEY PLAY IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING?  NO, NO. SO THESE WOULD BE WITH THE YOUTH SPECIFIC PROVIDERS SO LIKE BRIDGE CASE MANAGEMENT. SO WHEN WE FUND A RAPID PROGRAM THERE IS ASSISTANCE THERE FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THEN ALSO DOLLARS TO PROVIDE THAT CASE MANAGEMENT. OKAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  COUNCILOR CLAUDE ESPADA. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.  IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I HAD A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS FOR BEEPS SO MAYBE I CAN SEND THEM IN SINCE NO, NO, NO ONE ONE'S HEAR FROM BEEPS. RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. A LOT OF QUESTIONS ARE FOR THEM. I DO JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOLS HOMELESS LIAISON WHO DOES THE LORD'S WORK? MY MOTHER NINA GET A LETTER AND SHE HAS REALLY INFORMED ME OF OF WHAT SOME OF THE GAPS ARE AND WHICH IS WHY I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.  BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU ALL RIGHT NOW OR SORRY FOR EXCUSE ME . I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.  I'M SORRY IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. PLEASE EXCUSE ME SO TALKING ABOUT HOUSING IN PARTICULAR SO THE CITY OF BOSTON UH, THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS A BRAND NEW THING THAT WAS FUNDED. DO YOU OVERSEE THAT PROGRAM AT ALL? I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT SETS ASIDE SOME OF THESE VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING THROUGH HOMELESSNESS.  DOES ANY OF THAT COME THROUGH YOUR SHOP AT ALL OR IS THAT JUST SOLELY B B H IS THIS I THINK IT IT'S WOULD BE RIGHT IS A FEATURE OR IS IT HIGHER GROUND?  NO, IT IS THROUGH THAT ONE IS FOR YOU THE FOSTER YOUTH TO FOSTER INDEPENDENCE AND IT IS FOR YOUTH THAT HAVE SOME FOSTER CARE INVOLVEMENT AND THAT ARE EXITING THAT SYSTEM. THEY ARE ASSISTED THROUGH A, B, C, D FOR HOUSING NAVIGATION AND HOUSING SERVICES. OKAY I DO THINK THAT AND THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I THINK THE ONE THAT I'M REFERENCING IS DIFFERENT SO I MIGHT SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR RJ WHERE THIS IS LIKE A SET ASIDE PART OF MONEY FOR FAMILIES AND BEEPS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH HOMELESSNESS BUT THEN AT WHAT POINT ARE THESE KIDS HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THEIR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY'VE KICKED THEM OUT OF THEIR WHO THEY ARE AND RIGHT AND WHO THEY LOVE WHICH I THINK IS AWFUL.  SO I'D BE CURIOUS UNDERSTAND HOW THEY APPROACH THAT. I THINK MAYBE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CONVERSATION PEDRO, YOU ARE ENGAGED WITH YOUTH ALL THE TIME. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT SORT OF TRAINING YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON SEEING THAT KIDS COME TO YOU IN A IN A THIRD SPACE WHERE THEY SHOULD FEEL LOVED AND SAFE AND I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION OF MARTHA RIVERA WHEN SHE IS HIRING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, HOW DO I KNOW THAT THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR EXISTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN CITY OF BOSTON STAFF ARE NOT GOING TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR BIASES?  RIGHT. EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND THEN IF A KID IS COMING TO THEM IN CRISIS, WHAT TOOLS DO THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED?  SO CURIOUS, YOU KNOW WHAT TRAINING YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THE CITY. YEAH, NO FOR SURE.  THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY YOU ACTUALLY BEFORE I EVEN TOOK ON THIS STRONG LEADERSHIP I'VE TAKEN NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OFF FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO DIFFERENT OTHER EVERYTHING FROM WORKING WITH TRAUMA YOUTH TO ALSO LGBT YOUTH. AND WE'VE ALSO WE'VE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES THAT WE LAUNCHED LAST YEAR WHICH INCLUDED WORKING WITH LGBTQ HOMELESS YOUTH AND WORKING WITH LGBTQ YOUTH. SO ME AND MY TEAM I'VE MADE SURE THAT THE PROFESSIONALS INVOLVEMENT WASN'T ONLY EXTENDED TO PARTNERS BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY TEAM WAS ALSO WELL EQUIPPED AS LONG AS I'M AS WELL AS WITH MYSELF AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT SINCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED AND AND I'LL GIVE YOU EVEN A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE'VE HELD MY OFFICE AND THEIR OFFICE HAS HELD BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB LAUNCH WHAT WE CALL SULLY, WHICH IS THE STATE OF OUR LGBTQ YOUTH AND IT'S AN ONGOING MONTHLY MEETING OF LGBTQ FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS THAT GATHER UP TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY. AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I JOINED THERE WAS REALLY CALL MYSELF OUT BECAUSE I AM A STRAIGHT IDENTIFY MALE IN THIS ROOM AND I MADE SURE THAT THAT WHEN WE TYPED IN THE OFFICE OF LGBTQ ADVANCEMENT AS OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE I CONTINUOUSLY CHECK MYSELF IN THE SPACES AND I'M WALKING INTO MAKE SURE THAT IF I'M NOT THE EXPERT THAT WE BRING IN THE EXPERTS TO REALLY TALK TO TO REALLY LEAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT MYSELF AND MY TEAM AND OTHERS ARE EQUIPPED THEN AND AGAIN AND WE ARE WE'RE EXTENDING THOSE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NOW NOT JUST TO ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS BUT EVEN CITY OFFICIALS AND AND CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE OVER THE SUMMER BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT WE TAKE IN A LOT OF INTERNS IN THE SUMMER AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CITY HALL THAT NEVER REALLY BEEN TRAINED TO WORK WITH A YOUNG PERSON. SO WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED THOSE SERVICES AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AS WELL. YEAH, AND ONE WOULD HOPE THAT ALL CITY WORKERS WOULD HAVE THE SAME SORT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SELF-AWARENESS THAT YOU HAVE. BUT I THINK WE CAN FAIRLY SAY THAT SOME DON'T AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK CONTINUOUS EDUCATION ON THAT WOULD BE WOULD BE USEFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR OUTLINING THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. AND WITH THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS WE ALSO DID TAKE TESTIMONY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS HEARING AND SO WE'LL FOREGO CLOSING REMARKS IN THE EVENT THAT IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHAMBER HERE AND WE ALL HAVE OTHER THINGS TO ATTEND TO AND GET BACK TO THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. SO I THANK THE PANELS FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK IN THIS IN THIS FIELD AND THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1001 IS ADJOURNED . THANK YOU COUNSELORS --------- ##VIDEO ID:NRqccOlH1dI##  FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS GABRIELA COLETTA ZAPATA. DISTRICT ONE CITY COUNCILOR AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. TODAY'S OCTOBER 10TH, 2024.  THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED AND IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON DARK OF FORWARD SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT TCC DOT GEO AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPRINKLE IN SOME PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN BETWEEN.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON MEGAN CAVANAUGH AT MEGHAN NEG AND DOT CAVANAUGH KAVI AND AG AT BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE LINK IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. THERE'S ALSO A SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE DOOR. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0996 HOME RULE PETITION FOR A SPECIAL ACT REGARDING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS LOUIJEUNE MEJIA AND AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 12TH, 2024. TODAY I AM JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT MADAME LOUIJEUNE. COUNCILOR AARON MURPHY,  COUNCILOR JULIE MEJIA AND COUNCILOR HENRY SANTANA.  I'LL GO TO THE LEAD SPONSORS FIRST FOR ANY OPENING REMARKS THEY HAVE AND THEN I WILL OUTLINE THE AGENDA AT COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE. THANK YOU CHAIR COLETTA AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. TODAY A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HONORED TO BE PRESENTING THIS HOMEOWNER PETITION ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE COUNCILOR SANTANA BOTH AT LARGE COLLEAGUES AND A GROUP OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE. BUT REALLY THIS IS A HOME RULE PETITION THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD BUT IT IS ONE DELIVERED TO US BY THE PEOPLE.  AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE COALITION INVOLVED IN AN UPLIFTING RATE WHO IS VOTING. IT IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION FOR OUR CITY AND ONE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE LEFT UP TO OUR VOTE. VOTERS.  VOTING IS AT THE CORE OF DEMOCRACY BUT IT IS NOT INFALLIBLE AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS. OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM CAN BE VULNERABLE IF IT IS NOT NURTURED AND STRENGTHENED.  WE ARE IN A PROJECT OF DEMOCRACY BUILDING AND TOWARDS VOTING DOES JUST THAT.  TODAY I ASK THAT WE CONSIDER METHODS THAT WILL MAKE OUR ELECTIONS MORE FAIR, INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL BOSTON RESIDENTS. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING? IT'S SIMPLE IT'S A SYSTEM WHERE VOTERS CAN PICK MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE. INSTEAD OF JUST VOTING FOR ONE CANDIDATE, THEY'RE RANKING THEIR CHOICES FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND SO ON. WHAT WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THEIR VOTE ALWAYS COUNTS EVEN IF THEIR FAVORITE CANDIDATE DOESN'T WIN. AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THAT MATTERS. RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT VOTING SYSTEM LIMITS VOTERS TO SELECTING JUST ONE CANDIDATE WHICH CAN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FORCED TO MAKE A TOUGH CHOICE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MANY STRONG CANDIDATES WITH RANKED TREES VOTING. YOU CAN VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU TRULY SUPPORT WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT SPOILERS OR THAT YOU'LL LOSE YOUR VOICE IF YOU DON'T WIN RACHEL'S VOTING ENCOURAGES A BROADER, MORE POSITIVE CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT.  CANDIDATES WILL NEED TO APPEAL TO A WIDER RANGE OF VOTERS TO EARN THOSE SECOND, THIRD AND EVEN FOURTH CHOICE RANKINGS. THIS LEADS TO MORE FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THE COMMUNITY AND LESS ON NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING OR ANY MUDSLINGING BEYOND THE MECHANICS CHOICE. VOTING IS ABOUT FAIRNESS IN MANY CITIES WHERE IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED SUCH AS MAINE, ALASKA AND EVEN RIGHT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IN EAST HAMPTON AND CAMBRIDGE. RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAS ALLOWED MORE VOICES TO BE HEARD, MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES TO WIN AND A GREATER EMPOWERMENT AMONG VOTERS. IT ENSURES THAT WINNER IS THAT THE WINNER IS SOMEONE WHO HAS THE BROAD SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY WHICH OVERALL LEADS TO MORE TRUST IN ELECTIONS. BY ADOPTING CHANGES VOTING WE CAN ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS REFLECT OUR TRUE VALUES. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROPOSAL BUILDS ON SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE HERE IN BOSTON. AS VOTERS IN 2020 WHAT MATTERS AS A WHOLE ENDED UP NOT VOTING ON THE STATEWIDE RCP PROPOSAL. 62% OF BOSTON VOTERS SUPPORTED IT. THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY ARE READY FOR THIS CHANGE AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S A LAWYER AND I WORKED ON A ARRANGE TWIST VOTING RECOUNT IN MAINE WHERE ARRANGEMENTS VOTING DID HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THAT DISTRICT IN MAINE I KNOW THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CANDIDATE THAT HAS THE MAJORITY OF SUPPORT OF VOTERS IS THE CANDIDATE THAT WINS WITHOUT US HAVING TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THE SPOILER EFFECT RANGERS VOTING OFFERS A MORE INCLUSIVE, TRANSPARENT WAY TO ELECT OUR LEADERS AND EMPOWERS VOTERS TO FULLY EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCES. ENCOURAGES POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING . ENSURE THAT THE CANDIDATE WITH THE BROADER SUPPORT THE CANDIDATES WITH THE BROADER SUPPORT ARE ELECTED.  I'M CONFIDENT THIS CHANGE WILL BENEFIT BOSTON. I'M CONFIDENT IN THE ABILITIES OF OUR FABULOUS ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND EXCITED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR PANELISTS TODAY.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR JULIE MEJIA . GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT? I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS CHAMBER WITH THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO REALLY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MOMENT IN TIME REQUIRES BOSTON TO BE A LITTLE BIT BOLDER AND A LITTLE BIT MORE INNOVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTION AND DEMOCRACY MAKING PROCESS AS SOMEONE WHO WON BY ONE VOTE. A VERY TRAUMATIC RECOUNT. WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HAVE CANDIDATES WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES AND A LITTLE BIT ON THE MARGINS THAT WHEN YOU RUN A CAMPAIGN WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES YOU NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU CAN GET AND THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY EXPAND THAT PIE AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO REALLY ARE SEEKING REPRESENTATION. SO I'M HERE TODAY NOT ONLY AS ONE OF THE CO-SPONSORS BUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY UNPACK THE FACTS AND THE MYTHS AND SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MOMENT REQUIRES US TO THINK A LITTLE BIT BOLDER AND BE A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA.  GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR CONVENING US TODAY AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR ON THE LEAD SPONSORS COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILMEMBER HERE AND GOOD MORNING TO OUR ENTIRE AUDIENCE HERE. I SEE MANY RESIDENTS I SEE MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS.  I SEE IS BOSTON IN THE HOUSE HERE. SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.  YOU KNOW, THIS INITIATIVE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN OUR DEMOCRACY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS RANKED CHOICE VOTING EMPOWERS VOTERS TO FULLY EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCES BY ALLOWING THEM TO RANK CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF CHOICE FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEM TRANSITIONING FROM OUR CURRENT TOP TWO SYSTEM TO A TOP FOUR SYSTEM CAN BETTER REFLECT BROADER COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND CONSENSUS. WHILE NEW SYSTEMS CAN BRING UNCERTAINTY EASE AS VOTERS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING. IT'S A PLAY TO SIMPLY THE VOTING PROCESS WILL BECOME CLEANER. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN STRONG SUPPORT IN RANKED CHOICE VOTING. AS A COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED AND A CITY COUNCIL ARE DEDICATED TO FOSTERING DEMOCRACY AND FAIR REPRESENTATION, I SAY I'M FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF IMPLEMENTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON AND I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR PANELISTS TODAY TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR ERIN MURPHY, WEBER PIPPIN AND THEN FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M GOING TO WAIVE MY OPENING REMARKS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND PANELISTS SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR WEBER.  SURE. THANK THANK YOU. I JUST BRIEFLY YOU KNOW ANYTHING THAT IMPROVES VOTER TURNOUT AND LETS PEOPLE THINK YOU KNOW OR LETS PEOPLE HAVE MORE OF A VOICE IN HOW WE WE WORK AS A GOVERNING BODY I SUPPORT AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM THE PANELISTS AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THEM TOO.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, COUNCILOR PIPPIN.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. FOR ME IT'S AN HONOR TO BE AT THIS HEARING TODAY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN NOT SHY OF BEING A FAN OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I WENT TO A VERY GREAT EVENT EARLIER IN THE YEAR WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO RANK EMPANADAS AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS BRILLIANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT DO YOU LIKE CHICKEN OR BEEF OR DO EVERYONE DOES EVERYONE LIKE HAM AND CHEESE? AND IT'S ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHICH IS THE ONE THAT PEOPLE AGREE WITH THE MOST. AND ONE OF THE TALKING POINTS AND STATS THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF DOING RESEARCH ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THAT IT ENCOURAGES CANDIDATES TO KNOCK ON DOORS THAT YOU THINK THEY MIGHT NOT VOTE FOR YOU BUT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO TALK TO SOMEONE THAT MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT MINDSET AND CONVINCE THEM THAT YOU YOU GUYS CAN WORK TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT THAT IS REALLY NECESSARY IN A DEMOCRACY AND IN A CITY LIKE BOSTON WHERE WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAN DECIDE ON A CANDIDATE THAT WE THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CONSENSUS ON AND WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH.  WHICH IS WHY I'M A FAN OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I'M HERE TO LEARN MORE HERE TO ASK HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK WITH OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND TO ALSO HEAR FROM OUR FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES THAT ARE IN THE ROOM. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING MEJIA. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PEPPER AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. VERY HAPPY TO BE AT A DAY TO DISCUSS THIS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I CERTAINLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM THE PANEL AND EDUCATING US ON THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  AND AS MY COLLEAGUES COME IN I WILL RECOGNIZE THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ANY OPENING STATEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE. I DO JUST WANT TO SAY I HAVE I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROPOSAL AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.  I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOUR WORK, WHAT CITY RESOURCES WE NEED TO INVEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SUCCESSFUL. AND THEN ON THE FLIP SIDE WHAT AN ADEQUATE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR VOTERS WILL LOOK LIKE TO EMPOWER THEM IN THIS PROCESS. I THINK THAT THAT THAT SECOND PART IS IS KEY BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT VOTERS ARE CONFUSED AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE BALLOT BOX AND SO MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AVOID THAT AND TO LOOK AT THE MERITS OF THIS PROPOSAL AND THEN BE VERY HONEST ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PATHWAY FORWARD FOR THIS PROPOSAL. SO FOR TODAY'S HEARING WE'LL START WITH OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.  QUESTIONS FROM MY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL BE FOR 6 MINUTES EACH AND I DO HAVE THE CLOCK. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THAT WANT TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY SO WE'LL BE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT THAT. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT WE'LL TAKE TESTIMONY FROM AN ADVOCACY PANEL AND THEN OUR COLLEAGUES MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE 4 MINUTES EACH TO ASK QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK AGAIN TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WITH AN ADJOURNMENT I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF AMBITIOUS BUT WITH AN ADJOURNMENT AT 1230 OR 1:00 SO AGAIN I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ORGANIZING WORKERS FOR THIS UPCOMING ELECTIONS SO I KNOW IT IS A BUSY TIME SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU HAVE A 12 P.M. HEART STOP ANITA. I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT CAN STILL STAY TO LISTEN TO THE ADVOCACY PANEL. SO AT THAT I'LL PASS THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU AND AT YOUR DISCRETION WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST WITH AN OPENING STATEMENT? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MADAM PRESIDENT. LOUIJEUNE COUNCILOR HERE CHAIR CLINTON SUPPORTER AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS YOU NATIVE TAVARES. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.  I'M JOINED BY MY HEAD REGISTRAR SABINA CAMOZZI AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS DOCKET NUMBER 0996 THE HOME RULE PETITION FOR SPECIAL ACTS REGARDING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON. CURRENTLY OUR MAIN FOCUS AT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH STATE ELECTION. EVERYONE IS WORKING HARD TO ENSURE EVERY EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY FROM IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 19TH TO VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT COLLECTION WHICH IS ALREADY UNDERWAY THROUGH ELECTION DAY AND THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE AFTERWARD. WE ARE CURRENTLY PROCESSING AND SENDING OVER 92,000 ABSENTEE AND VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS, TRAINING AND STAFFING OVER 1800 POLL WORKERS TO SERVE ACROSS 25 EARLY VOTING SITES WHICH PROVIDE 54 DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE AND 275 ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS. AS WELL AS COORDINATING THE DELIVERY AND RETURN OF ELECTION MATERIALS TO EACH SITE, WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY IN CONDUCTING OUR ELECTIONS ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPECTED HIGH TURNOUT FOR THIS CRITICAL ELECTION. THIS DOES MEAN MORE WORK TO MEET OUR GOALS WHILE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE COMMONWEALTH.  IF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS ADOPTED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR CURRENT OPERATION. BASED ON INITIAL FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE EXPECT HIGHER COSTS IN AREAS OF PROGRAMING AND BALLOT PRINTING AS WELL AS EXTENDED TIME FOR COUNTING BALLOTS AND CERTIFYING THE ELECTION. WE WOULD ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER INVESTING IN NEWER MODEL VOTING VOTING EQUIPMENT TO REDUCE THE PROCESSING TIME FOR EACH BALLOT. BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING VOTING ONE BIG ADVANTAGE IS THAT IT CAN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE ELECTIONS. THE FOCUS ON ELECTIONS SHOULD BE PLACED ON ENSURING THAT EVERY VOTER HAS ACCESS AND THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED AND ELECTION RESULTS SHOULD NOT BE SHOULD BE PRODUCED WITH PRECISION AND ACCURACY WITHOUT SETTING A SPECIFIC TIME FOR WHEN ELECTION RESULTS ARE POSTED.  WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT TO DISCUSS THEM IN FULL UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. SIMILARLY WE HAVE DISCUSSED COSTS AND PROCEDURE CHANGES WITH OUR EQUIPMENT VENDORS BUT WE WILL NOT KNOW THE TRUE COST AND CERTIFICATION DETAILS UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE MOST RECENT AND UP TO DATE REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FROM THE CITY AND THE COMMONWEALTH AND WILL EXPLORE CHANGES TO PROCEDURES IF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SABINO DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING TESTIMONY? NO, I'M JUST HERE TO LISTEN IN AND TAKE NOTES AND TRY TO HELP. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO MY COLLEAGUES. I JUST WANT TO RECALL HAVE WE BEEN JOINED BY ANYONE? NO, I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL RIGHT. I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD REACHED OUT AS WELL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO READ THEIR RESPONSE. MICHELLE TOSS TO SONARI WHO IS THE GENERAL COUNCILOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ELECTIONS DIVISION.  SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO PREPARATIONS FOR THE ELECTION.  SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THIS OFFICE HAS NO POSITION ON THE CITY OF BOSTON'S PROPOSAL FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THE NORMAL COURSE.  WE WOULD BE ASKED TO REVIEW LEGISLATION WHEN IT IS SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE.  WE ALSO INVITED TANYA FORD FROM THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO PREPARATIONS FOR THE ELECTIONS.  AT THIS TIME I WILL PASS IT OVER TO THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE 6 MINUTES STARTING WITH COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND REGISTRAR FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THE ELECTION IS FOR HIS UPCOMING AND IT'S TAKING A LOT OF YOUR TIME BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND THE COALITION BEHIND THIS. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I HAVE FOUR BUCKETS OF QUESTIONS ONE ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AND FEASIBILITY. THE NEXT ABOUT VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, MANAGING POTENTIAL ISSUES AND THEN COST AND RESOURCES. COMMISSIONER, YOU SPOKE TO A FEW OF THEM. I WANT TO START WITH VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BECAUSE EVERY ELECTION CYCLE ESPECIALLY AT OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ESPECIALLY IN PRIMARIES WE HEAR ABOUT YOU KNOW, WE THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE COULD BE DOING AROUND VOTER EDUCATION AND AROUND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND.  AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED ON A RING VOTING RACE, I KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES A WORD CONFUSION IS THROWN OUT THERE. BUT WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THE BALLOTS, VOTERS REALLY UNDERSTAND PRETTY CLEARLY HOW RANKED CHOICE VOTING WORKS. AND SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RESOURCES WILL NEED TO NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, BOTH WITHOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING HOW DO WE IMPROVE ON VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE GREAT CHOICE VOTING, WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE RESOURCES WOULD LOOK LIKE AND REQUIRE?  THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. IN TERMS OF VOTER OUTREACH I THINK DIRECT REACHING THE VOTERS IS ONE HUGE WAY TO A HUGE SUCCESS I WOULD SAY AREA FOR US I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS HAS MOVED TOWARDS DIRECTLY REACHING VOTERS THROUGH MAILERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS WHETHER IT IS THROUGH REPRESENTING OR ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS AND IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING. I THINK THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REACH VOTERS AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND ASSISTING VOTERS ARE ARE WELL-TRAINED AND THAT WE'RE PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS IN EVERY SINGLE POLLING LOCATION TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IF THERE IS A BARRIER WITH COMMUNICATION THAT THERE IS SOMEONE THERE WHO CAN EFFECTIVELY ASSIST THE VOTER BECAUSE SOMETIMES MAILERS ARE OVERLOOKED.  WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO SEND THINGS TO EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD BUT THEY'RE OVERLOOKED FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE WELL TRAINED AND WELL VERSED ON THE PROCEDURES. HAVE YOU SEEN AN UPTICK IN VOTER TURNOUT AS A RESULT OF THE EFFORTS OF YOUR OFFICE? I THINK WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK IN VOTER TURNOUT WITH THE COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING VOTE BY MAIL AND ELECTION DAY VOTING IN GENERAL . I CAN'T SAY IT IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE MAIL.  OKAY. DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S THE VOTER EDUCATION WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING? COULD YOU COULD CONTINUE SHOULD BOSTON IMPLEMENT A RIGOROUS VOTING SYSTEM?  YES. OKAY. AWESOME QUESTION ABOUT COSTUME RESEARCH IS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AND I KNOW THAT THE ADVOCATE PANEL WILL SPEAK TO THIS LATER.  I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO OTHER CITIES THAT HAVING TO IS VOTING AND YOU REACHED OUT TO THE VENDORS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WITH A LOT OF A LOT OF PLACES THAT IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IT REALLY WILL JUST BE LIKE A SOFTWARE IN SOME SITUATIONS THE SOFTWARE UPDATE OR IT'S TURNING ON A SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITY WHICH WOULD WHICH MEANS THAT COST COULD BE THE COST FOR MAYBE ADDING THAT SOFTWARE BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVING TO PURCHASE A COMPLETELY NEW NEW HARDWARE. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COST INVOLVED? AGAIN, UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE FULL DETAILS OF THE COMMUNICATION WE REALLY CAN'T SPEAK. HOWEVER, IN JUST OUR INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR VENDOR IF WE MOVED IN THIS DIRECTION I WOULD RECOMMEND GOING TO ENTIRELY NEW VOTING MACHINES TO SPEED UP THE PROCESSING TIME FOR THE BALLOTS. WE DON'T WANT ANY BOTTLENECK AT ANY PRECINCT AND MOVING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESSING TIME FOR EACH BALLOT. IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE BALLOT LAYOUT THE BALLOT PROCESSING TIME. CURRENTLY WITH THE VOTING MACHINE THAT WE HAVE IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 3535 TO 45 SECONDS TO PROCESS EACH BALLOT. IF WE MOVE TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING IT WILL TAKE ABOUT ONE MINUTE PER BALLOT. SO WE DO NEED TO MOVE TO OUR MOST RECENT MODEL VOTING EQUIPMENT WHICH COULD TAKE COST ALMOST $2 MILLION. OKAY. AND IS THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE LOOKING FOR THAT UPGRADE TO THAT VOTING EQUIPMENT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. BUT FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION OF RANGE WITH VOTING SO FINE WITH THE VOTING HARDWARE AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS BUT VOTING WOULD ADD THAT LAYER ON. THAT'S CORRECT.  OKAY. QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU CURRENTLY HANDLE VOTER COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONFUSION OR WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP AT THE POLLS LIKE WHAT IS WHAT IS THE PROCESS? I GUESS FIRST FOR WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP AT THE POLLS AND SECOND WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE VOTING PROCESS.  WE DON'T GET MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE VOTING PROCESS TO BE HONEST. HOWEVER, WE DO GET PHONE CALLS FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NEED UNASSISTED ASSISTANCE UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS AND OFTENTIMES IT'S MORE A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND WE DO HAVE A PHONE BANK IN OUR OFFICE IN ADDITION TO STAFFING ALL OF THE PRECINCTS WITH THE REQUIRED LANGUAGES BASED ON DEMOGRAPHIC. WE STAFF A PHONE BANK IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT ON ELECTION DAY AND WE THE VOTERS CAN GET AMPLE WORKERS LIKE CAN DIAL INTO THAT PHONE BANK. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS AS WELL TO JUST ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, ADDITIONAL PHONE NUMBERS THAT ARE POLL WORKERS CAN CALL FOR LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. AND OUR POLL WORKERS SOMETIMES IF THEY ARE IF A VOTER IS ASKING ABOUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A PARTICULAR PROCESS BUT POLL WORKERS ARE EMPOWERED TO EXPLAIN A MATTER TO A VOTER. IS THAT RIGHT?  THAT IS CORRECT. THEY ARE TRAINED BEFORE EVERY SINGLE ELECTION ON HOW TO ASSIST A VOTER THE PROPER WAY TO ASSIST A VOTER MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS TWO PEOPLE ASSISTING A VOTER SO THAT THERE'S NEVER ANY COMPLAINT FROM THE VOTER'S SIDE THAT THEY WERE INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY BUT JUST SOLELY RECEIVED INSTRUCTION. THANK YOU.  AND THEN ARE THERE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH ELECTION EQUIPMENT OR VOTE COUNTING DURING THE LIKE ONCE THE ELECTION THE ELECTION IS HAPPENING? THAT IS CORRECT. WE DO HAVE OVER TEAMS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH DISTRICT.  IF SOMETHING COMES UP THERE ARE CONTINGENCY PLANS. WE HAVE A HAND COUNT COMPARTMENT FOR OUR VOTING MACHINES IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE HAND COUNT COMPARTMENT UNTIL ANYTHING IS RESOLVED AND THEN ONCE THE ISSUE WITH THE MACHINE IS RESOLVED BY OUR OVER TEAMS THEN IT'S FULLY FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU. ONE OF THE TIMES I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. ALSO WE NEED MORE POLL WORKERS SO PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO BE POLL WORKERS TO HELP OUT OF THE ELECTION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. I'M HERE.  YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.  SO WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AND AROUND MODERNIZING. RIGHT. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THIS MOMENT AS 2024 TO REALLY THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO THE FUNCTION OF HOW WE VOTE LOOKS LIKE. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS.  WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT DID AN UPGRADE IN OUR ELECTION?  YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S MACHINES LIKE WHEN WAS THE LAST ARE WE WORKING FROM THINGS FROM THE 1990S ARE WE IN 2000 WHERE ARE WE WITH OUR OWN ABILITY TO BE MORE MODERN?  ALL OF OUR VOTING EQUIPMENT WERE WAS UPDATED IN 2019 SO WE MOVED TO THE MORE RECENT MODEL WHICH IS THE IMAGE CAST PRECINCT TABULATOR. OKAY SO WE WERE WE'RE READING THE MOMENT WE'RE MORE MODERN. OKAY. I LIKE THAT. NOW MY QUESTION IS CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE FOLKS I ALWAYS THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT INFORMATION IS POWER AND IT'S ALSO A PRIVILEGE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THINGS AND A LOT PEOPLE STILL NEED TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. SO FOR THE RECORD CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND LIKE I'M AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND RIGHT NOW WHEN WHEN WE RUN THERE YOU KNOW, MAYBE 21 PEOPLE ARE IN THE ELECTION IN THE PRIMARY YOU WILL IT'LL BE DOWN TO EIGHT AND THEN FROM THE EIGHT FOUR MOVE ON. RIGHT. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.  FOUR WIN FOR WIN. YEAH FOUR WIN. SO I SHOULD KNOW THAT BUT I THINK I'M STILL TRAUMATIZED BY THE FACT THAT I BARELY GOT IN HERE. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST KIND OF HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION WHAT HOW HOW IS THE THE AT LARGE SIMILAR TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE DISTRICT. CAN YOU SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT?  I CAN KIND OF SEE A CORRELATION WITH THAT. HOWEVER IT'S ALSO SIMILAR TO THE PLURALITY VOTING FOR DISTRICT COUNCILORS EXCEPT FOR THE THERE ARE FOUR SEATS FOR THE AT-LARGE CANDIDATES AS WELL AND YOU GET FOUR CHOICES WHICH IS WHY IT REQUIRES THAT EXTRA EXPLANATION ON THE BALLOT AS WELL THAT YOU CAN VOTE UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE AT-LARGE RACE. SO WOULD IT JUST BE A MATTER OF JUST ADDING THAT LANGUAGE ON THE DISTRICT SIDE OF THINGS SO THAT YOU ARE EDUCATING FOLKS? WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD THAT CLEAR INSTRUCTION ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS.  YES. AND WOULD THAT COST EXTRA INK? THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN PRINTING COSTS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE LAYOUT OF THE BALLOT WILL CHANGE NOT ONLY WILL THE INSTRUCTION CHANGE BUT THE LAYOUT OF THE BALLOT WILL CHANGE. WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE MOVED TO A PORTRAIT STYLE BALLOT WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE DOUBLE SIDED AS WELL WHICH WITH ONE SET OF RACES ON ONE SIDE AND ANOTHER ONE ON THE BACK.  AND SO WHAT WHAT WHAT WOULD BE THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THAT CHANGE?  WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHAT THE ESTIMATED COSTS WOULD WOULD BE FOR THAT CHANGE UNLESS WE FULLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT CAN VARY FROM ELECTION TO ELECTION DEPENDING ON HOW MANY CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING. OKAY.  AND WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OUR BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING? WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED? WHAT THINGS CAN YOU SHARE WITH US?  AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD TOO MANY DETAILED CONVERSATIONS.  I DID SPEAK TO EAST HAMPTON BUT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LARGER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO BOSTON BECAUSE WE HAVE WE ARE UNIQUE IN OUR SIZE, OUR DEMOGRAPHICS. SO THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE EXPERIENCE HERE THAT THESE SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES DO NOT EXPERIENCE. I'M GOING TO ASK A HISTORICAL QUESTION AND I THINK I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD BE THE BEST TO ANSWER IT AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE YOU JUST I PROBABLY ARE THE GENIE IN THE BOTTLE WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THINGS THAT DEAL WITH ELECTIONS AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN I THINK THE CITY WAS ONCE UPON A TIME ALL AT LARGE AND THEN IT MOVED TO DISTRICT WAS IT WAS IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES I BELIEVE WE WENT TO BOURNE THEN.  YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY WELL BUT DO YOU KNOW DO YOU FROM A YOU WERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU WERE WORKING HERE THEN BUT WHAT DO YOU IF ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT WHEN THAT TRANSITION HAPPENED WHEN WE WENT FROM ALL AT LARGE THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE THEN, RIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND IT WAS IN THE EIGHTIES AND WE WEREN'T AS DIGITALLY SAVVY SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN SHARE HERE ABOUT BIG BOLD CHANGES THAT THE CITY MADE. ONCE UPON A TIME AND THEY MANAGED TO DO SO SUCCESSFULLY I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT BUT WE CAN GO TO SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE RECENT WITH THE PRECINCT REPRICING THAT WAS A BIG CHANGE IN THE CITY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN OVER 100 YEARS AND WE DID DO A DECENT JOB WITH GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE VOTERS THAT WERE AFFECTED.  YEAH. SO THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT WITH THE PROPER RESOURCES BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO IF WE DO THIS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FUND IT RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT IF THIS IS WHAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IS THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE MAGNITUDE IS IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND STAFFING SO THAT WE CAN HELP SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS. AND I THINK THAT IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU'VE MANAGED TO DO SOMETHING SUCCESSFULLY ONCE EVEN WHAT WE JUST THINK BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT THAT WAS AN EMOTIONAL PROCESS AND ALSO A VERY TAXING ONE. BUT WE DID IT AND SO WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT PROCESS?  IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THAT COUNCILOR SARGEANT I'LL ADD TO THAT I WILL SAY IN THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HOW WE CONDUCT ELECTIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF PROCEDURES AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVERTISED AND RAN A CAMPAIGN FOR EACH ONE FROM IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING TO 2016 2016 WHERE WE HIRED AN ADVERTISING FIRM TO HELP WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS IS TO VOTE BY MAIL IN 2020 AND WE DISTRICT IN I THINK WE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IF YOU ASK ME OF ACTUALLY INFORMING RESIDENTS AND VOTERS OF ALL OF THE CHANGES.  SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THE SAME APPROACH WITH THIS SHOULD IT BE IMPLEMENTED. YEAH. SO I'M I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA. I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR FLYNN ,COUNCILOR SANTANA AND THEN COUNCILOR MURPHY.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN ON FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOR GREAT QUESTIONS. MY UNDERSTANDING, COMMISSIONER, IS HOW YOU CAN YOU'RE NOT IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC NUMBERS BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR GATHERING DATA IN TERMS OF PRICING.  CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT NEW MACHINES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PURCHASED IN ORDER A FRENCH WAS WAITING LIST TO BE ADOPTED HERE. CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ABOUT THE GENERAL EXPENSES OF LIKE ONE TIME COSTS VERSUS YOU KNOW, COSTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR? SO LIKE THE MACHINES WILL BE A ONE TIME COST, RIGHT? SO CAN YOU YES. AND THEN CAN YOU SPEAK TO MORE OF YOURS LIKE I KNOW YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE ACTUAL BALLOT ITSELF THAT WOULD BE A LONG TERM COST OF EVERY YEAR RIGHT.  DEPENDING ON HOW MANY CANDIDATES THERE ARE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER EXPENSES THAT WERE THAT WERE MISSING HERE?  AGAIN, WE CAN'T WE WON'T HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF THE EXPENSES UNTIL ALL OF THE PROCEDURES, ALL THE DETAILS OF IMPLEMENTATION ARE IRONED OUT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE FACTORED IN WITH IMPLEMENTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS IS ONE OF THEM. HOW WE ADJUDICATE ANY BALLOTS THAT COME BACK FROM THE PRECINCTS WILL BE ANOTHER THING TO FACTOR IN AS IT STANDS WHEN WE HAVE WRITE IN BALLOTS AND HAND COUNT BALLOTS RIGHT NOW THE POLL WORKERS CAN TALLY THOSE BALLOTS HAVE TO TALLY IT AT THE PRECINCT IN OUR CLERKS BOOKS AND RETURN THE CLERKS BOOKS TO THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAND COUNT BALLOTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED TO THE MACHINE. IT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADJUDICATION ADJUDICATION PROCESS WHERE THOSE BALLOTS HAVE TO COME WE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE IF WE WOULD ESTABLISH A FULL TIME BOARD. WE HAVE SOME PART TIME MEMBERS RIGHT NOW A FULL TIME BOARD TO TAKE DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION TO GO THROUGH EACH HAND COUNT VOTE ON WHAT THE INTENT OF THE VOTER WAS TO PREPARE A CLEAN BALLOT SO THAT IT CAN BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE VOTING MACHINE IN ORDER FOR THE ALGORITHM TO BE BURNED TO DETERMINE WHO THE WINNER IS. SO THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE IRONED OUT BEFORE WE DETERMINE FOR COSTS THAT COULD LEAD TO INCREASE WORK INCREASE OVER TIME FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO AGAIN THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO DIVE INTO THE ACTUAL COST OF IMPLEMENTATION SO ABSOLUTELY. I'M COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER, IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS YOU YOU TOUCHED ON A POSITIVE THING IN BRINGING CHOICE VOTING RIGHTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND YOU MENTIONED LAST ELECTIONS.  I THINK SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING. CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO WHAT SPECIAL ELECTIONS, HOW MUCH THEY COST AND THEN YOU KNOW, I THINK I GUESS FOR THE AUDIENCE HOW WOULD RANKED CHOICE VOTING ACTUALLY STOPS SPECIAL ELECTIONS FROM HAPPENING IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO?  NOT NECESSARILY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN PREVENT SPECIAL ELECTIONS FROM HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY'RE TRIGGERED BY IT COULD BE A RESIGNATION. THEY COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT TRIGGER A SPECIAL ELECTION. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD IMPACT YOU. YOU MENTIONED THERE WILL BE LESS OR FEWER ELECTIONS.  WELL, OKAY. SO OUT OF THE MUNICIPALITY THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE THE MUNICIPALITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS . THEY DO NOT REQUIRE A PRELIMINARY ELECTION. THEY ONLY HAVE ONE ELECTION WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING SO THERE IS NO PRELIM.  OKAY. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I GUESS WHAT SPECIAL I MEAN THE WAY I INTERPRETED IT WAS THAT,  YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RESIGN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION RIGHT NOW UNDER OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW A SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH FRANCHISE VOTING BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE VOTES FROM OTHER CANDIDATE.  WOULD THAT BE THE WAY I MEAN RIGHT NOW IN AT LARGE LEVEL RIGHT. IF ONE OF US WHOEVER WANTS TO RESIGN THE FIFTH PLACE WINNER WOULD COME UP AND FINISH THE TERM WOULD THAT HAPPEN WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING WITH OR WITH DISTRICT COUNCILORS GIVEN THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DETERMINED BY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.  RIGHT. AND THEN I THINK ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES THAT THAT THAT YOU HAVE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT BY IMPLEMENTING RIGHT CHOICE VOTING OUTSIDE OF PRICING AND MORE INVESTMENTS POTENTIALLY?  YOU KNOW, I THINK POTENTIALLY INVESTING IN MORE STAFF FOR YOU AND OVER TIME ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT TO DATE YET? DO YOU TOUCH ON EVERYTHING? I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN ONES. SO I MEAN YES. OKAY, GREAT.  WELL NO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THAT'S ALL FOR MY QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA,  COUNSELOR MURPHY AND THEN COUNSELOR WEBER. THANK YOU, CHAIR.  THANK YOU. SOME OF THE THESE QUESTIONS YOU'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON BUT WHAT PLANS FOR VOTER EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF YOU MENTIONED LIKE IMPLEMENTING THE FLIERS AND THE MAILERS WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SUCCESSFULLY WOULD YOU THINK WOULD BE NEEDED NOT JUST FOR THE VOTERS BUT THINKING ALSO FOR OUR POLL WORKERS AND YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO TRAIN OUR POLL WORKERS IN ADVANCE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST HELD LIKE LARGE COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT TO TO RESIDENTS. WE WILL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WE'RE INCREASING AS WELL AND IT'S FUN AND VIDEOS JUST VIDEOS INSTRUCTING VOTERS AND JUST DEMONSTRATING WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHEN YOU SEND OUT THE FLIERS AND MAILERS ARE YOU SENDING IT ONLY TO REGISTERED VOTERS? ARE ALL RESIDENTS.  WE ARE SENDING IT TO REGISTERED VOTERS RIGHT JUST THINKING HOW YOU KNOW IN SOME PRECINCTS WE HAVE LESS THAN 10% TURNOUT BUT I THINK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IF THEY VOTE OR NOT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET THIS EDUCATION, THIS INFORMATION. SO THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING. RIGHT. SO WHY ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THOSE BIGGER LIKE COMMUNITY MEETINGS? LIKE HOW LONG WOULD YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IF YOU WERE DOING, YOU KNOW, GOING AROUND TO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHOWING UP AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS MANY AND HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOUR YOUR OFFICE FOR YOU TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB EDUCATING THE VOTERS ON THIS NEW PROCESS? I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE TIME FRAME AT THE MOMENT. AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE TO JUST COME UP WITH A VERY STRATEGIC PLAN TO TARGET EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TARGET EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD WE DO. THERE'S TIMES WHERE WE MAY TO DIRECTLY TO VOTERS DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHERE WE TARGET THE HOUSEHOLD AND THIS PROBABLY WOULD BE AN INSTANCE WHERE WE WOULD TARGET THE HOUSEHOLD AS WELL AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOR ANYONE WHO'S NOT REGISTERED TO REGISTER AS WELL. OKAY.  COUNSELOR SANTANA TOUCHED ON THE COST AND IMPLICATIONS WHEN YOU ALREADY MENTIONED IT WOULD BE ABOUT 2 MILLION IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE VOTING MACHINES THE COST OF THE NEW BALLOT ALSO SO ANY OTHER COSTS THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE BIG TICKET COSTS OTHER THAN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH NOT OF MOMENT.  YEAH OKAY. ALSO MANY CONCERNS ON MONITORING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS YOU KNOW BEING ABLE TO ACCURATELY COUNT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT NO . YOU FEEL CONFIDENT? YES. YES I OUR VENDOR IS ACCUSTOMED TO THIS VOTING MECHANISM.  I THINK IT WOULD BE SIMILAR SIMILAR PROCESS TO WHAT WE DO NOW TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE VOTER, EVERY SINGLE VOTE IS COUNTED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, JEFF. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR WEBER THANK YOU, CHAIR.  I GUESS SO IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE BALLOT, WHO DETERMINES WHAT THE BALLOT LOOKS LIKE?  WE IMPLEMENT THIS THAT WOULD BE BETWEEN US AND OUR EQUIPMENT VENDOR WHO HAS EXPERIENCE FORMATTING THESE BALLOTS AND FOLLOWING REGULATIONS FROM.  THE STATE OKAY. AND THEN JUST A DUMB QUESTION WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU IF YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE RANKING CANDIDATES? HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THAT? I MEAN YOU'RE NOT JUST WRITING A NUMBER OF YOU FILLING IN CIRCLES AND JUST WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE CONSIDERING WE I'VE NEVER VOTED ON A RANKED CHOICE VOTING BALLOT. I'VE ONLY SEEN SAMPLES I WOULD ENVISION THE RACE WITH THE CANDIDATE AND THEN A NUMBER OF OVALS BESIDE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE.  SO NOW RATHER THAN HAVING JUST ONE OVAL THAT THEY COULD WOULD FILL THEY WOULD HAVE OVALS WITH NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FOUR AND THEN THEY WOULD RANK THEIR CHOICES ACCORDINGLY.  OKAY. SO SABINO, IS IT YOU JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S LIKE FILLING UP YOUR SATS WHEN YOU DID SATS AND CAST SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME VEIN CANDIDATE BUNCH OF CARS WITH OVALS NEXT TO THEM AND YOU JUST HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT COLUMN FOR HOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AND I GUESS SO IN TERMS OF OUTREACH I MEAN I IMAGINE MOST OF THE EDUCATION WOULD OCCUR AT THE POLLING STATION ON ELECTION DAY BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG ABOUT THAT. WHAT KIND OF STAFFING DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD NEED AT A POLLING STATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE NOW? WOULD THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED AT THE POLLING LOCATION?  I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO RUN A CAMPAIGN BEFORE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED JUST TO BRING VOTERS UP TO SPEED AND THE RESIDENTS UP TO SPEED ON THIS DIFFERENT VOTING PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO STAFFING THE CURRENT POLL WORKERS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE WOULD STILL STAFF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT WE STAFF WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE WARDEN A CLERK FOR INSPECTORS AND INTERPRETERS AT EVERY SINGLE PRECINCT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY WELL TRAINED ON THE NEW VOTING PROCESS BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT WE WOULD RUN A CAMPAIGN WELL IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY. OKAY. I MEAN I, I JUST I THINK DESPITE YOUR BEST INTENTIONS AND PEOPLE WILL BE EDUCATED, THEY'LL STILL HAVE QUESTIONS,  YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST FEW TIMES GOING THROUGH THIS LIKE HOW DOES THIS WORK? SO IT KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT NEED SOMEBODY THERE TO YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO WANT TO KNOW BEFORE THEY FILL THIS OUT THAT THEIR VOTES ARE GOING TO BE COUNTED.  AND SO YOU SAID IT'S A NEW ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WOULD THOSE SPEED UP THE THE TIME THAT YOU SAID YOU KNOW, YOU THINK WITH THE OLD MACHINES WOULD TAKE A MINUTE OR SO WOULD THE NEW MACHINES TAKE LESS TIME? YES, THEY WOULD.  OKAY. AND I GUESS SO YOU SAID THERE WOULD BE COST SAVINGS DUE TO PRELIMINARIES FOR EXAMPLE IN THE I THINK IN THE DISTRICTS IF YOU RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN TWO YOU HAVE THREE YOU HAVE A PRELIMINARY. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF THIS IF WE IF THIS GETS ENACTED THEN YOU'LL NEED FIVE PEOPLE TO HAVE A PRELIMINARY IN A DISTRICT RACE IF YOU HAVE FOUR IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN FOUR THAT YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING YEAH YES. OKAY AND THEN SO WHAT KINDS OF COST SAVINGS WOULD WE HAVE? I AM I'M ASSUMING THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST SOME PRELIMINARY IS THAT WOULD NOT THAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNDER A RANKED CHOICE VOTING CAN YOU ESTIMATE THAT LIKE IF WE IN A DISTRICT RACE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD A PRELIMINARY THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE WHAT THE COST SAVINGS ARE? WELL THAT THAT WOULD ALL DEPEND BECAUSE THERE COULD BE ONE DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A RACE BUT ANOTHER DISTRICT THAT DOES FOR EXAMPLE WAS AT LAST YEAR'S ELECTION WE HAD A RACE IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DISTRICTS SO THAT WOULD ALL DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ELECTION IF IT'S A MAYORAL ELECTION, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE THE DISTRICT RACES WE STILL HAVE A CITYWIDE ELECTION BUT ME BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A CITYWIDE OFFICE AS WELL AS AT-LARGE CANDIDATES. WELL NO SO I JUST USING THE LAST ELECTION I THINK MOST OF THE DISTRICT PRELIMINARIES WERE THREE AND FOUR. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S DISTRICT WERE FOUR. AND SO IF THERE WAS IF YOU WENT FROM THREE OR FOUR PRELIMINARIES 2 TO 1, WOULD THAT WOULD THERE BE A COST SAVINGS THERE? YES, THERE WAS BE OKAY.  AND IS IS THAT IN LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF DIE CAN YOU ESTIMATE WHAT THAT WOULD BE YOU JUST LOOKING AT THE LAST ELECTION I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SABINE FOR NUMBERS CAN YOU. YEAH I MEAN BASED UPON THE NUMBERS THAT WE CAN GATHER IT COST ROUGHLY $1,000,000 TO RUN A CITYWIDE ELECTION BUT THAT'S NOT INCLUDING ALL THE CHARGEBACKS THAT WE GET FROM OTHER AGENCIES THAT DO ASSIST US LIKE POLICE AND SCHOOLS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO THERE IS A HUGE SAVINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE IF THERE IS NO PRELIMINARY INCLUDING OUR STAFF AS WELL. THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORK THESE EXTRA GRUELING HOURS TO MAIL OUT BALLOTS AND PROCESS ALL THOSE BALLOTS AND GET THEM ALL COUNTED IN CENTRAL TABULATION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.  YEAH, IT CERTAINLY I MEAN WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR ELECTION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP EASE THEIR BURDEN WOULD BE GREAT TOO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER.  I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR RESPECTING THE CLOCK. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILOR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR LIZ BRERETON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  SO SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ASKING A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS TAKING THEM OFF MY LIST HERE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE RANKED CHOICE VOTING WOULD LEAD TO SOME POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS. WE WOULD NEED NEW MACHINES WHICH WOULD COST MONEY BUT ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A BETTER SYSTEM.  AS A COMMISSIONER WHAT DO YOU DO FOR TO FORESEE MORE BENEFITS OR MORE OBSTACLES BY USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVELY IT WOULD DEFINITELY INCREASE THE WORKLOAD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. COULD IT BE A POTENTIAL VALUE FOR THE VOTERS?  PERHAPS. BUT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IN ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS IT WOULD DEFINITELY CREATE A CHALLENGE FOR US. OKAY.  OKAY. NOW LET'S PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE WORKLOAD AND EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF TIMING.  I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS MORE OF A SUBLIMINAL QUESTION WOULD IT CHANGE THE TIME IN THE PERSON HAS TO SAY DO YOU WANT TO BE A CANDIDATE?  WOULD IT CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES A DISTRICT COUNCILOR NEEDS TO OBTAIN IN ORDER TO GET ON THE BALLOT?  FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE HOME RULE PETITION IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT DOES NOT SPEAK TO ANY OF THAT SO I IMAGINE THAT ALL OF THAT WOULD REMAIN INTACT.  OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.  HONESTLY THE QUESTION THAT I HAD BEEN COUNCILOR WHERE WERE YOU BEAT ME TO THEM SO I WANT TO GIVE BACK MY TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.  COUNCILOR PIPPEN, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND THEN COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THANK YOU, CHAD. JUST TWO COMMENTS BEFORE I GET INTO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. I DO FEEL THAT PANEL ONE IN TALKING TO ADMINISTRATION IS A LITTLE BIT PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE WE SHOULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT IF IT READ BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS A GOOD OR BAD THING OVERALL. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ALSO JUST A QUESTION. WE DON'T HAVE A PANEL ON ANYBODY THAT IS IT SEEMS IS A PRO RANKED CHOICE VOTING PANEL IN PANEL TWO. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE REPRESENTING THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BY ANY MEANS. RIGHT OR NO ONE HAS OFFERED TO COME. I JUST USUALLY LIKE TO HEAR BOTH SIDES RIGHT IN IT TO REALLY MAKE SOMEONE WHO'S ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. I USUALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ASK AND FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE LAST QUESTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SHOW JUST REALLY QUICK. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY COALITION THAT IS ORGANIZING AGAINST THIS QUESTION BUT ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. NO GREAT GREAT POINT AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEP.  YEP.  COMMISSION ON AVERAGE RATE HOW MANY INCIDENTS OF VOTERS REGISTERING A COMPLAINT HAPPEN IN AN ELECTION OR AND MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE A SAME OR DIFFERENT QUESTION HOW MANY BALLOTS ARE DISCOUNTED ON AVERAGE BECAUSE OF NOT PROPERLY FILLED OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?  BALLOTS ARE NOT TYPICALLY DISCOUNTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FILLED OUT PROPERLY. THE ONLY BALLOT THAT IS TYPICALLY DISCOUNTED WOULD BE A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AND THAT IS TYPICALLY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE THEY WOULD THEN CAST A PROVISIONAL BALLOT. IT WOULD COME BACK TO OUR OFFICE. WE WOULD FURTHER RESEARCH THAT BALLOT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON WAS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD DETERMINE IF THE BALLOT COUNTS OR NOT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY INCIDENTS OF WHERE A BALLOT IS NOT PROPERLY FILLED OUT BY AN IDENTIFIED VOTER. THAT IS FOR ANY REASON I MEAN HOW DOES THAT SO IF THERE IS LET'S GIVE A SCENARIO IF IT'S THE OUTLIER RACE PERHAPS THERE'S A CITYWIDE ELECTION SOMEONE OVER VOTES THE AT-LARGE RACE BECAUSE THEY SELECTED FIVE CANDIDATES RATHER THAN FOUR WE WOULD HAVE TO ASSIGN A BLANK TO ALL THE WRITE IN CANDIDATES BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE VOTER WAS OR WHO THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES WERE. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THAT BALLOT WOULD BE COUNTED.  OKAY, SO IT'S ONLY IT'S ONLY TO LITERALLY BE THIS PIECE OF SPECIFIC RACE ON THAT BALLOT IF IT WAS FOR SOME REASON, YOU KNOW, FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS NOT FILLED IN PROPERLY, THAT'S A MISTAKE. OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW. I JUST ADD TO THAT PLEASE. IF A VOTER IS AT A PRECINCT AND VOTING THE MACHINE WILL REJECT THAT BALLOT AS AN OVERVOTE. THAT VOTER WILL THEN HAVE A CHANCE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL BALLOT SO THEY WILL SPOIL THAT BALLOT AND HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THAT BALLOT CORRECTLY. OKAY. SO THERE IS THREE CHANCES THAT THAT VOTER CAN HAVE BEFORE THAT BALLOT GETS THE COMMISSIONER SAID BLANKED OUT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SO IF THEY FILLED OUT INCORRECTLY THREE TIMES THEY LOSE ONE COUNT NO MATTER WHAT THE THIRD ONE WOULD COUNT NO MATTER WHAT EVEN IF OVER COUNTED OR ANY FACTS.  CORRECT. OKAY. AND I GUESS HOW WOULD IT COUNT IT?  IT WOULD BE A BLANK FOR THAT RACE, THE BLANK FOR THE VOTER. IT BECOMES A BLANK.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE RACES ARE COUNTED AND I JUST WANT TO ADD THE MODERNIZATION THAT'S THE VALUE OF OUR NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT NOW IS THAT IT HAS A LARGE DISPLAY SCREEN AND IT BEEPS AND INFORMS THE VOTER THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BALLOT. YEP. GREAT.  OBVIOUSLY I JUST THINK WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INCREASE. I JUST WAS WONDERING WHAT THE AVERAGE WAS NOW OF COMPLAINTS SAYING MY VOTE YOU KNOW MY VOTING COUNTER FOR WHATEVER REASON IT WAS YOU KNOW, NOT PROPERLY COUNTED BY THE MACHINE AND THE POTENTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF MORE INCIDENCES OCCURRING.  I JUST WONDER WHAT THE DELTA MIGHT BE OVER TIME. WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER BUT THANK YOU.  I GUESS ALSO IN ANY CHANGE TO TECHNOLOGY OR LAYOUT AS WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS HOW THIS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, THERE'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT HURDLES TO OVERCOME. WE JUST LOOK AT ZOOM ON OUR BUSSING OUR SCHOOL BUSSES AND THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BUMPY ROAD RIGHT WHEN A NEW TECHNOLOGY IS IMPLEMENTED INTO SOMETHING I JUST WONDER IN AN ELECTION IS THAT LIKE HOW DO WE INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY INTO AN ELECTION BECAUSE IF THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF LIKE THE THE BUMPINESS AND THE AND THE HURDLES AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT IMPLEMENTING NEW TECHNOLOGY, AN ELECTION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART, RIGHT? I MEAN TO GET RACE HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE MISTAKES IN NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW LAYOUTS TO APPAREL AND WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO VOTERS COMING IN THAT FIRST TIME? YOU KNOW, SO I WOULD SAY FOR EVERY ELECTION EVERYTHING IS JUST WELL AS WELL TESTED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE ANYTHING IS DEPLOYED AT A PRECINCT.  WE HAVE HAD TIMES WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT WE DID HAVE AN EVENT WHERE WE SET UP THESE MACHINES SO VOTERS COULD VOTE ON A MOCK BALLOT AND THEN JUST TEST THE NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT ALTOGETHER . WE DEFINITELY WOULDN'T WOULD WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS MAYBE DURING AN AUDITOR ELECTION.  IT'S USUALLY THE EASIEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT ANY NEW TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS BECAUSE IT JUST MINIMIZES THE CHANCE OF ANYTHING GOING GOING WRONG OR HELPS US TO HAVE A SMALLER POOL TO WORK WITH IF WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS ANYTHING.  OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.  THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD, COUNSELOR FLYNN AND BRUNE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  THANK YOU TO THE PANEL.  I, I BELIEVE THE PROPOSAL FOR A RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS COMPLICATED, EXPENSIVE.  I THINK THERE'LL BE DELAYS IN ACTUALLY THE PERSON WITH THE MOST VOTES MAY OR MAY NOT WIN. SO I AM I AM SOMEWHAT TROUBLED BY THAT. I ALSO THINK IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO RUN AS A SLATE TO RUN AS A BLOC.  YOU KNOW THE TOP THE TOP VOTE GETTER IN THE PRELIMINARY COULD REALLY WORK WITH THREE OR FOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE FINAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND IN RUN THAT SLATE IN WIN IS THAT IS THAT A POSSIBILITY, SABINO I ASSUME SO COMMISSIONER IS THAT A POSSIBILITY AT ALL? WE REALLY CAN'T SPEAK TO THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES NOT BUT DO YOU SEE WHAT POINT IS IF IF IF THE TOP VOTE GETTER IN THE PROGRAM PRELIMINARY WANTS TO WORK WITH THE PERSON THAT FINISHED FIFTH AND SIX THEN THE TOP VOTE GETTER MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THE PERSON THAT FINISHED FOURTH FIFTH AND SIX INTO THE TOP FOUR DO YOU DO YOU SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM?  THAT'S A POSSIBILITY BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW CANDIDATES COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER TO RUN A CAMPAIGN JUST PURELY THE ADMINISTRATOR TIVE PROCESS OF OH JUST ADMINISTRATIVE. OKAY NO I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD TAKE TIME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT TO COUNT THE VOTES. IT'S A MORE COMPLICATED SYSTEM IN TERMS OF COUNTING. IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY YES,  IT'S A FEED THE BALLOT INTO THE INTO THE INTO THE VOTING VOTING BOOTH THERE TO COUNT IT NOW IT TAKES 30 SECONDS WITH THE RANKED CHOICE AND IT COULD TAKE OVER A MINUTE.  CORRECT. OKAY.  WE WOULD BESIDES IT TAKING A LONGER PROCESS, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? ARE WE WOULD IT PRESENT ON ELECTION NIGHT IN TERMS OF COUNTING VOTES OR I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE DO COUNT THE VOTES THE MAIL IN BALLOTS WE COUNT THEM ACTUALLY BEFORE ELECTION DAY. SO YOU KNOW THE RESULTS SOMETIMES A WEEK BEFORE FROM THE MAIL IN BALLOTS. IS THAT ACCURATE?  THAT IS NOT ACCURATE. WE CANNOT LOOK AT OR RELEASE RESULTS UNTIL AFTER 8 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. WE DO ADVANCE PROCESSES MEANING WE'VE CHECKED IN THOSE VOTERS, WE'VE RUN IT THROUGH THE VOTING MACHINE BUT THE RESULTS ITSELF ARE UNKNOWN UNTIL AFTER 8 P.M.. BUT YOU DO COUNT THEM BEFORE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY. IS THAT ACCURATE? WE START DEPOSITING THEM YES.  DID THAT HAPPEN THIS TIME IN SEPTEMBER? YES IT IT OKAY.  WERE THERE ANY ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO THIS COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? ARE YOU EXPECTING ANY ISSUES IN TERMS OF COUNTING THE BALLOTS? NO.  SO WE DON'T KNOW DID WE HAVE ANY ISSUES COUNTING THE BALLOTS IN SEPTEMBER? NO. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT THE LEGAL COUNCILOR AND THE CHIEF POLICY PERSON WERE AT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT ON ELECTION NIGHT?  I REPORT TO THE CHIEF COUNCILOR THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS UNDER SYSTEM THAT IS THE CABINET.  BUT IS THAT IS THAT NORMAL THAT THEY COME EVERY ELECTION NIGHT? YES IT IS. WHAT TIME DO THEY USUALLY ARRIVE LATER ON IN THE EVENING JUST TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS. SO NO, HE USUALLY CHECKS IN EARLY IN THE MORNING AT 6 A.M. POPS HIS HEAD AND CHECKS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY AND THEN HE ALSO COMES BACK AT THE END OF THE EVENING. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS NOT ONLY FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT BUT FROM OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL WHO ARE IN OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THEY ARE ASSISTING WITH OUR PHONE BANK. WE DO PUT OUT A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE CITY TO HELP MAN OUR PHONE BANKS.  THEY HELP ANSWER ALL OF OUR PHONE CALLS THAT COME FROM EVERY SINGLE PRECINCT AND THIS ELECTION IS A CRITICAL ONE. WE DO NEED TO INCREASE OUR VOLUME OF VOLUNTEERS SO THAT SO THAT'S THE LEGAL THAT IS IN CHARGE OF THAT OPERATION. WE DO USE A LOT OF FOLKS ON THEIR TEAM BECAUSE WE DO FALL UNDER THEIR CABINET.  YES. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF POLICY PERSON ON ELECTION NIGHT? I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE.  I KNOW THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT ELECTION RESULTS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE LOOKS AT THE ELECTION RESULTS. GOVERNOR, I ECHO WHAT THE COMMISSION SAID. WHAT IS IT? I ECHO WHAT THE COMMISSIONER SAID. WHAT WAS THE ANSWER? AS WE KNOW THE ANSWER WAS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS OPERATION IS. HE WAS STILL LOOKING AT RESULTS . HE WAS HE WAS LOOKING AT WHAT RESULTS PRINTED RESULTS.  SO AT THE END OF THE NIGHT ONCE WE CLOSE OUT A PRECINCT FROM CENTRAL TIME WE ARE REQUIRED TO POST THE RESULTS FROM THE CENTRAL TIME JUST AS WE WOULD AT THE PRECINCT ON ELECTION NIGHT. SO FOR ANYONE WHO'S RUN A CAMPAIGN YOU KNOW THAT THE POLL WORKERS PRINT THE RESULTS TAPE AND THEY POST IT ON THE WALL. WE HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE BALLOTS THAT ARE PROCESSED DURING CENTRAL TABULATION. WE PRINT THOSE RESULTS AND THOSE RESULTS ARE AT OUR FRONT COUNTER FOR VIEWING BY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FLYNN I SABINO IF YOU CAN I'VE JUST GOTTEN WORD THAT FOLKS CAN ALMOST HEAR YOU SO WHEN YOU DO SPEAK IF YOU CAN SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT MORE I APPRECIATE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR BUT WE'LL GO TO COUNSELOR BURTON AND THEN COUNSELOR DURKIN FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH THIS MORNING. I I APOLOGIZE FOR MY MY LATENESS. I HAD A CONFLICT SO REPLACING THE VOTING MACHINES IS ABOUT $2 MILLION TO ACCOMMODATE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE WE DO MUNICIPAL AND FEDERAL AND STATE ELECTIONS WHICH KNOWS OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE ELECTIONS ARE NOT RANKED CHOICE VOTING. DO YOU NEED TWO SEPARATE TYPES OF MACHINES OR WILL THE ONE MACHINE BE ABLE TO DO IT ALL?  THE ONE MACHINE WOULD DO BOTH.  AND THEN IN TERMS OF PRELIMINARY TURNOUT IN IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SKIP HAVING A PRELIMINARY ELECTION IF THERE WAS A LOT OF CANDIDATES THE BALLOT SAY SEVEN OR EIGHT OR AND YOU WOULD YOU WOULD THAT AND IF THERE WAS ONLY FOUR YOU COULD GO STRAIGHT TO A GENERAL AND YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE A PRELIMINARY OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? I'M JUST FIGURING OUT IN TERMS OF THE RANKED CHOICE SYSTEM I BELIEVE ALL OF THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE HOME RULE PETITION BUT MY UNDERSTANDING OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THAT IN MOST MOST MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED IT THEY DON'T HAVE A PRE PRELIMINARY AT ALL. IT'S JUST THAT ONE ELECTION TO RANK THE CHOICES SO AND THAT THAT REPRESENTS FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT WHAT SORT OF SCALE OF SAVINGS WOULD WE MAKE?  BUT AS YOU SAID IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS IT 1 MILLION PER YEAR FOR A PRELIMINARY 1 MILLION FOR A GENERAL OR SO YOU'D SAVE ABOUT $1,000,000 IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A PRELIMINARY CUT. OKAY.  ALSO JUST IN TERMS OF LOGISTICS, I APOLOGIZE MY MY COLLEAGUES HAVE PROBABLY ASKED A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF LOGISTICS AND AND TRAINING. I THINK ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. THIS IS A IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S BEEN USED IN OTHER OTHER CITIES IN OTHER OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER STATES. BUT DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT SORT OF LEVEL OF EDUCATION WE NEED TO DO IT IN ADVANCE OF OF SWITCHING TO THIS SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH AS FAMILIAR AS POSSIBLE WITH THE PROCESS AND IN TERMS OF MAYBE BOLSTERING YOUR CAPACITY TO DO THAT EDUCATION WHAT ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT ISSUE?  WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DEVISE A VERY STRATEGIC VOTER OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT AND VOTER IS INFORMED AS WELL AS TRAINING OUR ELECTION DAY STAFF ON THE METHOD FOR VOTING SO THAT THEY CAN ASSIST FOLKS WHO MAY FOR SOME REASON NOT RECEIVE WHATEVER CAMPAIGN WE'RE ADVERTISING IF THEY MISS IT THERE'S STILL SOMEONE THERE ON ELECTION DAY THAT CAN EXPLAIN THE PROCESS TO THE VOTER. MM HMM. VERY GOOD. AND I THINK I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE FOR THIS MORNING THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR BURTON, COUNCILOR DURKIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE WHO FILED THIS. I I'VE ALREADY BEEN QUOTED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I DEFINITELY SUPPORTED THE INITIAL BALLOT QUESTION THAT WAS MORE TIED TO STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS. BUT I HAD FOR ME LOCAL ELECTIONS.  I DIDN'T HEAR LIKE A SOLID CASE MADE FOR WHY OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE FLAWED AND AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED AD PROCESS. I ALSO HAVE REVERENCE FOR THE HISTORY OF BOSTON ELECTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND I THINK THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND CITY OF BOSTON ELECTIONS HAVE HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT AND THEY'VE HAD I DO FIND IN MY DISTRICT,  YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE AND WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST VOTER PERCENTAGES THE CITY. SO I THINK FROM A POSITION OF WANTING MORE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN IN VOTING AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED, I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I JUST I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS HOW THIS WOULD WORK AND OBVIOUSLY IF THIS HOME RULE POSITION WERE TO MOVE TO THE STATE AT LEAST ON MY END BASED ON TALKING TO LEGISLATORS, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON THIS BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO HERE. I, I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M SOMEONE WHO WORKED IN ELECTIONS BEFORE BECOMING A CITY COUNCILOR SO I TAKE ANY CHANGES TO ELECTIONS REALLY SERIOUSLY. SO SALVINO I KNOW WE HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE I WAS THE CHAIR OF MY WARD COMMITTEE.  CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT KIND OF BURDEN THIS PUTS ON THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND LIKE WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES YOU WOULD NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS?  I THINK COMMISSIONERS ALREADY TOUCHED ON THIS IN REGARDS TO RESOURCES NEEDED. WE NEED TO SEE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOME RULE PETITION BEFORE WE CAN MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS OF THE ACTUAL COSTS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED AND I THINK OUR ELECTIONS RIGHT NOW I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY MUCH TO BE DESIRED IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE, GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED. BUT I GUESS FOR ME THE THE AND I'M AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE ADVOCATES AND MORE FOLKS THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR THIS AND I'VE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT THAT SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.  AND I THINK I GUESS FOR ME THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE SUPPORTED A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WAS ABOUT AT LEAST FOR ME IT WAS ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND PARTIZAN ELECTIONS OBVIOUSLY WE ARE LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL IS NONPARTISAN . SO I THINK I GUESS I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A FULLY FORMED AT LEAST A PARTIALLY FORMED OPINION ON THIS ISSUE. SO AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO DAY IN, DAY OUT TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION.  SO I GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL AND I'LL YIELD BACK FOR THE NEXT PANEL.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKIN, I'M GIVING MYSELF 6 MINUTES AND THEN I THINK WE'LL GO TO A SECOND ROUND. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. WE'LL DO THAT IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL.  I DO HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS JUST GIVEN THE UM THE BREATH OF YOUR TESTIMONY. SO THANK YOU TO SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.  YOU DID SAY THAT THE SO WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN NEW VOTING MACHINES IN 2019 AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I GET ANY OF THIS WRONG I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND THEN THAT IT COULD ALMOST IT COULD COST ALMOST $2 MILLION AND I KNOW WE SHOULDN'T REALLY BE SPEAKING IN HYPOTHETICALS. SO A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WILL BE ABOUT ACTUAL EXPENDITURES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS JUST TO TRY TO FORECAST OUT WHAT THIS WOULD TAKE IN TERMS OF BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS, HOW MUCH TO DELAY DISINVESTMENT IN 2019 COST AND WOULD THOSE BE THE MACHINES THAT WE REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD? THOSE MACHINES WERE ABOUT $1.7 MILLION TO REPLACE AND YES,  THEY WOULD BE THE ONES REPLACED . WOULD WE SEE ANY OF THAT MONEY COME BACK TO THE CITY OF BOSTON IN ANY WAY? WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SELL THEM TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES LIKE HOW DOES THAT WORK? I THINK THAT MAY INCLUDE A TRADE IN VALUE IN WE JUST SWITCHED THE AQ VOTE AND WENT OVER TO THE PRECINCT TABULATOR. THERE WAS SOME MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE NEW MACHINES AND THE SAME PROCESS THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN HERE. OKAY. CAN I JUST ADD TO THAT AS WELL? THESE MACHINES ARE NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION THEY STOPPED PRODUCTION THE MACHINES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN 2022 SO THE USEFUL LIFE OF THEM IS GOING TO COME TO AN END WITHIN THE NEXT 5 TO 7 YEARS ANYWAY. SO THAT INVESTMENT IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMING ON THE TABLE REAL SOON ANYWAY AND ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO REPHRASE WHAT I SAID.  SO WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY TRADE IN VALUE FOR THE MACHINE IS PROBABLY GOING TO ALSO BE THE DEPEND ON THE VENDORS. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY PUT THIS OUT TO BID AS THERE IS MORE THAN ONE EQUIPMENT VENDOR WHO'S OUR CURRENT VENDOR LHC ASSOCIATES VENDOR ALL RIGHT. UH I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT DATA SECURITY BUT I'LL WAIT FOR THAT.  CAN YOU JUST REITERATE EVERY STATE THE PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO HAND COUNTING BALLOTS YOU HAD MENTIONED IF THIS WERE IF THIS WERE TO BE ENACTED WHAT THAT PROCESS MIGHT MEAN GOING FROM PART TIME COMMISSIONERS TO FULL TIME. YOU HAD SAID IT BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE MY NOTES CORRECT. SO RIGHT NOW THE WAY WE HANDLE HAND COUNT BALLOTS IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE RECORDED AT THE PRECINCT.  SO IF THE VOTER IF A MAIL IN BALLOT LET'S SAY WENT TO THE PRECINCT AND THERE WAS A TEAR AND FOR SOME REASON THE MACHINE COULDN'T ACCEPT THAT BALLOT THAT BALLOT WOULD HAVE TO BE HAND-COUNTED AND THE POLL WORKER WOULD RECORD THE HAND COUNT BALLOTS IN OUR CLERK'S BOOK THAT PROCESS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE WITH FRENCH CHOICE VOTING WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S SPECIAL LEGISLATION OR IF THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE US PERMISSION TO ACTUALLY KEEP THOSE BALLOTS SEPARATE AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND THEN WE THEN ESTABLISH A BOARD OR A BODY TO ACT. IT'S MOST LIKELY THE BOARD SIMILAR TO A RECOUNT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH INDIVIDUAL BALLOT AND REMARK A NEW BALLOT. SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH BALLOT. WE RECORD THE VOTE ON A CLEAN BALLOT SO THAT BALLOT CAN THEN BE FED THROUGH A MACHINE. SO IN ORDER TO ADMINISTRATIVELY IN ORDER TO DO THIS BASICALLY WE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE TO HAVE THE SPECIAL LEGISLATION BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO KEEP THOSE BALLOTS SEPARATE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.  AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE CITY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO ESTABLISH A BOARD POTENTIALLY WE DO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER ON BOARD. I KNOW WE HAVE AN ELECTIONS BOARD. WE'LL HAVE AN ELECTION. IT COULD BE A IT'S TYPICALLY THE ELECTIONS BOARD AND I THINK THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT IN CAMBRIDGE AS WELL. THE ELECTIONS BOARD WHICH IS MADE UP OF TWO DEMOCRATS AND TWO REPUBLICANS WOULD GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE BALLOT RIGHT NOW TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PART TIME MEMBERS. SO WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO RELOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF BOARD AND WILL WE NEED ANY SPECIAL PERMISSIONS TO RESTRUCTURE IT THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE INTERNAL NOT FROM STATE, NO.  OKAY. THANK YOU.  YOU DID MENTION SABINO THAT A PRELIMINARY ELECTION I THOUGHT YOU JUST SAID CITYWIDE ELECTION. FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME . IT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION. AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED POLICE DETAILS.  FOLKS WERE THERE FOR 12 PLUS HOURS A DAY. WHAT DOES THAT POLICE DETAIL COST THE CITY? OH, NO. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST MAYBE TO TO ASK THAT SO WE GET THE RIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT AND THEN ALSO THE TRAININGS YOU ALL COME HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS AND OTHER VARIOUS SPACES IN THE CITY TO TRAIN POLL WORKERS AND ELECTION WORKERS WHO ARE VERY DEDICATED TO THE CITY. AND I THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE 12 HOURS A DAY AND THEY FACE A LOT OF OF OF THINGS FROM THE PUBLIC. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. HOW MUCH STAFF TIME DOES THAT TAKE FOR YOU FOR FULL TIME STAFF TO TRAIN FOLKS IN THE ELECTION? SO NOT PUTTING IN TERMS OF MONEY BUT I THINK LIKE STAFF TIME WOW THEY ARE USUALLY WORKING OVERTIME ANYWHERE FROM JUNE THROUGH ELECTION DAY WE CONDUCT OVER 45 TRAININGS BEFORE EVERY ELECTION TO TRAIN 8000 PLUS POLL WORKERS.  AND DO YOU FORESEE IF THIS WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED HOW WOULD THAT TRAINING STRUCTURE CHANGE IF IT WOULD AT ALL?  IT WOULD DEFINITELY CHANGE.  WE'VE RESTRUCTURED TRAINING ALTOGETHER SINCE COVID. WE DO A LOT OF MORE A LOT MORE HANDS ON TRAINING FOR OUR CHIEF ELECTION OFFICERS AND INCORPORATE SOME ONLINE TRAININGS FOR INSPECTORS AND FOLKS WHO HAVE A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE.  I THINK WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING EVERYONE IN FOR A HANDS ON TRAINING FOR THAT ELECTION JUST SO THAT THEY CAN TEST OUT THE NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE BEST WAY TO INSTRUCT VOTERS IS IF YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS FOR YOURSELF AND NOT RELY ON AN ONLINE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.  I RESERVE MY QUESTION TO THE SECOND ROUND. I WILL BE RESPECTFUL MY COLLEAGUES TIME AND GO BACK TO THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE AND THEN TO FOLKS WHO HAVE COME IN BECAUSE OF LOUIJEUNE YOU'RE THE FOURTH AND I'LL GIVE 3 MINUTES. THANK YOU.  OH, I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILOR . WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS IN THIS MOMENT? OKAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THE PANEL TO BEING HERE IN THE COALITION THAT HAS BEEN BUILT TO PUSH RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  I'M ALWAYS FOR ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY AND INCREASE VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER TURNOUT.  A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WAS LISTENING IN THE BACK HAVE ASKED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE HAD AROUND OPERATION THE COST. BUT ONE THING THAT I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS YET IS EDUCATION WHAT WOULD A EDUCATOR AN INITIATIVE JUST TO LET VOTERS KNOW LOOK LIKE AROUND THE CHANGE AND IT'S A RANKED CHOICE VOTING AGAIN I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND STRATEGICALLY PLAN FOR THAT. IT WOULD REQUIRE I WOULD SAY A VARIETY OF THINGS AND NOT JUST ONE FORM OF EDUCATION NOT JUST ONE MAILER. IT COULD BE A MAILER COMMUNITY MEETINGS, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, JUST A VARIETY OF THINGS TO TARGET VOTERS AND BRING THEM UP TO SPEED. YES. AND YEAH, LIKE I SAID, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE ALREADY HAD SO I YIELD BACK MY TIME AND WAIT FOR THE SECOND PANEL. THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . EARL OKAY, I'LL GO TO COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE THANK YOU. I'M REALLY EAGER TO GET TO THE NEXT PANEL AND I KNOW YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THE ELECTION ARE COMING. YOU SAID THAT YOU PURCHASED THIS EQUIPMENT IN 2019. I THINK ANSWER MEJIA HAD ASKED THAT AND THEN JUST A REALLY GREAT QUESTION ABOUT WHEN ABOUT AND THAT DISCOVERY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET NEW MACHINES ANYWAY BUT PRIOR TO 2019 WHEN WAS THE LAST PURCHASE OF MACHINES 2002 I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S NOT CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY.  THOSE MACHINES DEFINITELY NEEDED TO BE TESTED, RIGHT? DEFINITELY.  OKAY. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. ELECTIONS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY, TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND SO NOW I THINK WE ALL HAVE A SABINO STORY SO WE THANK YOU FOR FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND COMMISSIONER, GOOD LUCK WITH THE UPCOMING ELECTION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEJIA I THINK YOU BOTH HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART I I THINK YOU HAD JUST COME ON RIGHT, COMMISSIONER WHEN I WON BY ONE VOTE AND YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT BEING TRAUMATIC AND PEOPLE THINK IT'S FUNNY BUT IT WAS A REAL GRUELING PROCESS IN TERMS OF COUNTING AND WHAT WE NOTICED AND EVEN COUNTING THOSE BALLOTS JUST THE VOTING PATTERNS OF THE CITY VOTERS WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I DISCOVERED THAT PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR AT THE GARRISON ALSO VOTED FOR ME OR PEOPLE WHO IT WAS JUST LIKE A SUCH A ODD COMBINATION OF OF FOLKS IN TERMS OF LIKE THEIR CHOICES. SO I THINK I LEARNED A LOT IN THAT PROCESS AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING WHAT DEMOCRACY REALLY LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WHEN I RAN IN 2019 DURING THE PRIMARY I WAS ONLY A THOUSAND VOTES SHY OF EARNING ONE OF THE TOP FOUR SEATS AND WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT GAP IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I REMEMBER IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO HEAR THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WHEN THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY HAD ALL OF THE BALLOTS I GOT A CALL FROM THEN MAYOR WALSH SAYING TO ME , HEY, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE WINNER BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PRECINCTS THAT YOU WON IN THE PRIMARY HAVEN'T STILL COME IN AND YOU ALREADY HAD LIKE 200 VOTES WHICH MADE ME FEEL LIKE OH YEAH, I GOT THIS RIGHT AND BY THE END OF THE NIGHT I ONLY REALLY LITERALLY HAD ONE BY 12 VOTES AND I CLAIMED VICTORY WITH JUST 12 VOTES. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE THE STORY PUBLICLY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN MANY WAYS I AM THE POSTER CHILD FOR WHAT THE STORY IS ALL ABOUT. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS BECAUSE EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULD NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO BE IN THIS CHAMBER RIGHT NOW FIGHTING FOR MORE DEMOCRACY.  AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHY FOR FOR ME WHY I SIGNED ON AS A CO-SPONSOR BECAUSE I THINK THAT STORY REALLY RESONATES WITH A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WOULD NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THIS SEAT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR YOU GET TO PICK YOUR TOP FOUR AND AND I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M SUCH A BIG CHAMPION OF THIS WORK. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT IN 2021 WHEN THE BALLOT INITIATIVE WAS OUT WE NOTICED THAT BOSTON VOTERS OUT OF ALL OF THE CITIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, BOSTON HAD THE HIGHEST TURNOUT IN SUPPORT FOR A RANKED CHOICE VOTING WHICH SAYS TO ME AGAIN FOR US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHO OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE AND WHAT THEY WANT THEY FOUGHT FOR AND WE WERE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TURNOUT AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT PUBLICLY TO RON BELL WHO WORKED ON THAT COALITION THEN AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD A STRONG TURNOUT IN BOSTON FOR CHOICE THEN AND I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO WHAT THE APPETITE SHOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US. NOW MY QUESTION IS ABOUT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES WE THINK THE BURDEN IS SO HEAVY ON THE CITY. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF BEING CREATIVE AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR US TO PARTNER WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK TO HELP US WITH THE EDUCATION PIECE AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT THE IMAGE CAST PRESENT MACHINES ARE VERY CAPABLE OF SCANNING RATE BALLOTS AND ARE USED AND RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN FACT, CAMBRIDGE USES THE IMAGE CARDS PRECINCT MACHINES AND SO DO LARGER JURISDICTIONS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND EVERY CITY IN THE BAY AREA.  SO I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE ARE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO A QUESTION ABOUT THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE IMAGE CAST THAT'S USED IN OTHER CITIES.  THE IMAGE CAST THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE COULD WORK FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING. IT WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN THE PROCESSING TIME WHICH WE'VE SEEN IN A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES.  IT COULD ESSENTIALLY LEAD TO A BOTTLENECK FOR BUSIER ELECTIONS AT THE PRECINCT. IT WOULD TAKE ONE MINUTE PER BALLOT. WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IS UPGRADE TO A NEWER VERSION OF THE IMAGE CAST TO SLOW IT DOWN, TO SPEED IT UP AND BRING IT DOWN TO ABOUT 15 SECONDS PROCESSING TIME RATHER THAN ONE MINUTE PER BALLOT.  AND WE DO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN UPLIFTING ANY MESSAGING FROM OUR DEPARTMENT. SO WE TRY TO LEVERAGE NOW AS A SPEAKS WHOEVER WE CAN, WHETHER IT'S MEMBERS OF OUR EDC WHERE WE HAVE MASS VOTE AND MASS VOTER TABLE AS PART OF OUR ON OUR ELECTION ADVISORY COUNCIL TO LEVERAGE THEM TO ASSIST WITH WHETHER IT'S RECRUITING POLL WORKERS OR JUST UPLIFTING SOME OF OUR MESSAGING. WE TRY TO LEVERAGE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY EMBRACE THAT IN THIS PROCESS. YEAH, SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE OH WELL MY TIME IS UP THANK YOU AND JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR THE CITY HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW PROCUREMENT LAWS UH, WITH ANY PURCHASE OVER $10,000. COUNSELOR SANTANA THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I I'M EAGER TO HEAR FROM OUR NEXT PANEL SO I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION. FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU OFF I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMISSION AS WE KNOW FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA COUNCILOR MURPHY. I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU. AND HOW ABOUT THIS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WANT TO PUT YOUR LIGHT ON? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER THANKS.  I HAD ONE QUESTION IT COMES HERE JUST MENTIONED AND WE SAW IN CAMBRIDGE WHENEVER THEY DO A RECOUNT THERE'S ALWAYS YOU KNOW ,THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT.  WOULD YOU EXPECT IF WE IF WE HAD THE RIGHT CHOICE BALLOTS THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE OR LESS VOTES THAT ARE MISCOUNTED NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER.  WE CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THAT AT THE MOMENT. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT THE DETAILS OF A RECOUNT WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS MADE CLEAR FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AND HOW SOMEONE WOULD BE ABLE TO FILE FOR HOW SOMEONE WOULD FILE FOR A RECOUNT AND HOW WE WOULD CONDUCT A RECOUNT AS WELL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW SOMEONE CAN FILE AND REQUEST A HAND COUNT OR A RECOUNT BY MACHINE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE. WE HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE HOW OTHER MUNICIPALITIES MANAGE IT. IF IT'S A HAND, THERE'S STILL ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HAND COUNT EVERY BALLOT OR IF THEY'RE A IF IT'S STRICTLY A MACHINE COUNT. OKAY. YEAH, BUT IT'S WITH THE CURRENT MACHINES OR THE NEW MACHINE. YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT NEW MACHINES. THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE RANKED CHOICE BALLOT THAT WOULD LEAD TO MORE MISCOUNT.  IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE I DON'T THINK SO. OKAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN. THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. CAN YOU TELL ME AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED THIS AT THE BEGINNING WHAT CITIES ARE TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT HAVE RANKED VOTING EAST HAMPTON WHICH HAS FIVE PRECINCTS AND CAMBRIDGE WHICH HAS ABOUT 39? OKAY.  AND IF THIS WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN BOSTON, WOULD IT BE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE EVEN YEAR ELECTIONS STATE REPS, STATE SENATORS OR ARE WE JUST STARTING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ? THIS WOULD BE FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ONLY JUST MINUTES BY DISTRICT COUNCIL AND AT LARGE ALL DOESN'T MAKE NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE RULE PETITION CALLS FOR CALLS FOR BALLOT?  I BELIEVE SO. OKAY.  WITH I DON'T KNOW MAYBE IN MY OPINION WITHOUT LARGE THE FIELD IS NARROWED DOWN FROM WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS 2 TO 8 I BELIEVE. RIGHT FOUR AND THEN THE EIGHT WOULD GO INTO THE FINAL ELECTION.  ISN'T THAT BASICALLY SOMEONE RANKED CHOICE VOTING THERE IN A WAY I WOULD SAY YOUR CHOOSE THEM FROM YOUR SENSE YOU GET FOUR CHOICES YOU'RE CHOOSING YOUR TOP FOUR AND VOTE FOR THE DIFFERENCE B FOR DISTRICTS CITY COUNCIL HOW HOW WOULD THAT LOGISTICALLY WORK?  I AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING THAT WAS IN THE WHOLE RURAL POSITION BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ ON THE IN THE HOME RULE PETITION IT WOULD ADVANCE RATHER THAN THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES. OH INTO NOVEMBER INTO NOVEMBER CORRECT.  OKAY. WHAT WOULD IT DO FOR THE PRELIMINARY?  WOULD IT NARROW IT DOWN? WOULD IT NARROW IT DOWN TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CANDIDATES?  SO PRELIM IS THE PROCESS FOR NARROWING DOWN. YEAH. OR THEN THE THEN THE FINAL ACTION YOU WOULD HAVE FOR NOT NOT TO CORRECT.  OKAY.  AND MAYBE SABINO OR COMMISSIONER BUT IN DISTRICT COUNCIL RACES PROBABLY FOR THE MOST PART OVER THE LAST 2030 YEARS AND THEY REALLY HAVEN'T THEY'VE REALLY BEEN ONLY A HANDFUL OF CANDIDATES HAVE RUN FOR DISTRICT COUNCIL . SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TWO CANDIDATES, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THREE CANDIDATES. DOES THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT?  I'M JUST I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD ON THAT.  IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CANDIDATES THERE, WOULDN'T THE PRELIM WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY OR YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A PRELIMINARY YOU'D GO RIGHT TO THE FINAL.  YEAH, KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO NOW. SO IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CANDIDATES TO RUN IN A DISTRICT RACE, THERE WOULD BE NO PRELIM FOR THAT DISTRICT.  OKAY, SO YOU'D YOU'D VOTE FOR AT-LARGE AND THE PRELIMINARY AND THERE WOULD BE NOTHING AND THE THERE'D BE NOTHING FOR DISTRICT TO VOTE FOR IN THE PRELIMINARY WHEN YOU WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE VOTING BOOTH BASICALLY. OKAY.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. YES.  OKAY. I DO HAVE JUST A FEW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A HARD STOP AT 12. YOU DID HAVE I APOLOGIZE COUNCILOR DURKIN. OH, PLEASE. SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU. OH, NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO CONTINUE ALONG THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING. SO RIGHT NOW, LIKE IN THE CURRENT ESCAPE YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE LIKE THREE CANDIDATES AT LEAST TWO FOR THERE TO BE A PRELIM AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR THERE TO BE A PRELIM SO JUST IN IN THE PAST ELECTIONS HOW HAVE YOU SEEN A LOT OF DISTRICT RACES THAT HAVE FIVE CANDIDATES OPEN RACES I'M SORRY IF THERE'S NO INCUMBENT RUNNING. YES, WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THOSE. AND SO THEN IN IN A RACE WITH TWO OR THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD GO IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION YOU WOULD RANK EVEN IF THERE'S ONLY TWO CANDIDATES YOU WOULD RANK ONE IN TWO CURRENTLY YES OR NO WITH REAL CHOICE VOTING YOU WOULD RANK 1 TO 3 IF THERE WERE THREE CANDIDATES.  AND I THINK FOR ME THAT THE ISSUE IS JUST LIKE OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU GET TO THE VERY END OF AN ELECTION YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR THE OTHER PERSON IN ANY WAY. THEY'RE NOT YOUR SECOND CHOICE. THEY'RE NOT YOUR THIRD CHOICE LIKE YOU HAVE ONE CHOICE BECAUSE YOU YOU'VE BEEN PART OF IT. YOU'VE BEEN YOU KNOW, PART OF PART OF THAT CAMPAIGN. YOU MAY NOT YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS I JUST I'M FOLLOWING ALONG WITH COUNCILOR FUNDS QUESTIONING THAT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS KIND OF CREATING OF IT'S CREATING LIKE ALMOST LIKE A FALSE CHOICE OF LIKE 1 TO 3 WHERE TWO AND THREE MAY NOT BE YOUR CHOICE I WOULD SAY SO YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN YOU READING THROUGH THAT AND SHOWING THAT I WOULD ALL OF THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOME RULE PETITION. SO I DON'T WANT TO TRY AND KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE WHOLE PETITION WAS. BUT ALL OF THAT IS DETAILED IN A HOLDING REPETITION.  OKAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKIN, I HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS.  UH, YOU SAID YOU USUALLY SEND OUT A MAILER.  HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAILER COST ? THE MAILER YOU SHOULD BE YOUR COST. THIS IS THE EARLY VOTING MAILER . YEAH, IT'S ABOUT $30,000 TO PRINT AND 120,000 FOR POST-LUNCH BUT 150. WELL, IT'S ABOUT 120 HUNDRED $30,000 TO HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ? 213,000 213,000 HUNDRED 13,000. OKAY. WE HAVE OVER 400,000 REGISTERED VOTERS RIGHT.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO YOU FORESEE ANY ACTUALLY NO. THIS QUESTION WAS ALREADY ASKED SO I WON'T EVEN GO THERE. LET'S SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IN YEAR ROUND AND HOW MUCH IS EMPLOYED DURING ELECTION SEASON AND I GUESS WHAT'S THAT COST BREAKDOWN I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO KIND OF I BELIEVE THIS 32 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND OBVIOUSLY DURING PEAK TIMES OF THE YEAR WHICH IS ELECTIONS WE DO INCREASE OUR STAFF WITH PART TIME STAFF AS WELL AS BRINGING IN POLL WORKERS TO HELP AND ASSIST WITH PROCESS AND THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.  I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE WORKLOAD THERE'S AT LEAST 20 PART TIME STAFF IN THERE IN POLL WORKERS, 20 PART TIME STAFF. OKAY. AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED ABOUT WHAT THE INCREASED STAFFING MAY BE IF THIS WERE TO GO THROUGH. SO THAT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT THAT INCREASE MIGHT BE. DO YOU HAVE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU BUT WHAT THAT COST BREAKDOWN IS CAN WE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT? OKAY, GREAT. I'LL ASK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE AND THEN THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION AND THEN WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY JUST IN TERMS OF DATA SECURITY. I MEAN WE SEE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY MORE FREQUENTLY THESE DAYS.  MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT VOTING MACHINES AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH SO THANK YOU. HOW VULNERABLE ARE WE TO THESE POTENTIAL ATTACKS? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE NEW VOTING MACHINES AND WHAT ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THIS INTEGRITY OF THIS PROCESS? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD CHANGE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? AND THE ANSWER CAN ALSO BE NO. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WOULD CHANGE. OKAY I JUST WANT TO ADD I'M MACHINES AND NOT ONLINE SO EVERYTHING IS OFFLINE SO THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ANY WEB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. OKAY SO THEY ARE SAFEGUARDED SO TO SPEAK AGAINST ANY SORT OF CYBER. SO YOU NEED TO GET INTO THE MACHINE TO GET ACCESS TO THE MACHINE. EXCELLENT.  WELL THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO KNOW AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GREAT.  THAT'S IT FOR FOR MY QUESTIONS. JUST LOOKING AROUND WE HAVE OUR COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU.  I HAVE A QUESTION. DO WE PRINT IN HOUSE OR NO WE DO NOT. RITTENHOUSE OKAY IN TO FOLLOW UP BUT COUNCILOR DURKAN WAS SAYING AS AN AT LARGE COUNCILOR I'M WELL AWARE OF THE FOUR VOTES AND AS IT STANDS NOW YOU YOU HAVE FOUR VOTES YOU CAN USE NON YOU CAN VOTE FOR 1 TO 3 OR FOUR AND THERE IS NO PENALTY IF YOU VOTE FOR MORE THAN FOUR. OBVIOUSLY THE BALLOT IS NOT PROPER BUT WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT WOULD YOU HAVE TO WHAT LIKE WOULD YOU BE PENALIZED? ARE YOU FORCED TO USE MORE THAN ONE VOTE? COULD YOU STILL JUST USE ONE IN A RANKED CHOICE VOTING OR WOULD THE BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS READ DIFFERENTLY AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT STATES IN THE HOME RULE PETITION YOU COULD JUST USE ONE.  AND WOULD THIS INCLUDE MAYORAL RACES ALSO NOT JUST THE CITY COUNCIL , CORRECT? YES. SO YOU STILL CAN JUST USE ONE AND NOT BE PENALIZED? THAT'S CORRECT.  OKAY. SO YOU STILL COULD. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR QUESTIONING OF THE ADMINISTRATION. PANEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, THIS IS A BUSY TIME. I WILL RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT ONE OF YOU STAY TO LISTEN AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE CAN STAY TILL 12. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WE BOTH HAVE AN ON OFF SITE MEETING THAT WE HAVE TO SEND TO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU COMMIT TO REVIEWING THE ENTIRETY OF THE HEARING? YES. OKAY.  ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. WELL, BECAUSE WE'LL TEST YOU ON IT I'M SURE.  THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU OKAY? WE'RE NOW GOING TO TRANSITION TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  YOU FOLKS ARE DISMISSED I GUESS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALSO IF YOU HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY SIGN IN SHEET TWO AND THREE PLEASE RETURN IT BECAUSE WE NEED IT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE NAMES.  I AM GOING TO GO TO THIS FIRST PAGE OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE ON ZOOM.  WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP SO PLEASE KEEP IT TO 2 MINUTES. WE'LL START WITH ZACHARY AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING YOUR NAME WRONG ZACHARY KENNARD JARON CHANG MALAYSIA FULLER STATON.  ANN SETON, MARY STAN CLINTON,  LOU FIEDLER. WE'LL START THERE. OKAY.  YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. PLEASE BE SURE TO STATE YOUR NAME, NEIGHBORHOOD AND ORGANIZATION OR ANY ASSOCIATED AFFILIATION. SO ZACHARY AND JEROME OKAY,  WE'LL GO WE'LL COME BACK TO THEM. JEROME DO WE HAVE MALAYSIA MALAYSIA?  HI, I'M MALAYSIA FULLER STATING I'M A ROXBURY RESIDENT.  YEAH. SO I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME RULE PETITION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING I I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING TO SPEAK SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.  I THINK THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY FROM SITTING IN YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS HEARING WAS THAT UM IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE UM I THINK THIS HEARING PROVES THAT THERE'S YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO BE HAD FOR FLAHERTY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RANKED CHOICE VOTING I THINK UM FOLKS ARE NOT FULLY CLEAR WHAT IT WHAT IT WOULD MEAN AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE WHICH IS YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE COALITION PANEL YET AND IT HASN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET. UM BUT I THINK TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT I YOU KNOW HEARD THAT YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONCERN ME ABOUT LIKE THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT UM WHEN YOU KNOW THE PART OF THE REASON THAT WE WANT THIS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IS IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE. SO THE CONCERNS ABOUT YOU KNOW, IF THERE AREN'T YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ALLEVIATE BY YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT LIKE NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO VOTE NO MATTER WHAT SO LIKE NO ONE CAN IF THERE ARE 17 CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT AND YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR ONE OR YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR TWO LIKE THEY CAN'T STOP YOU FROM ONLY VOTING FOR ONE OR TWO. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THIS LIKE FOR MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE I'M JUST A REGULAR PERSON, I DON'T YOU KNOW, I'M NOT PAID TO DO THIS. YOU KNOW I'M A COMMUNITY CONCERN COMMUNITY MEMBER AND WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE THEY SEEM TO HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF CHOOSING THE PEOPLE PUTTING THE PEOPLE THEY LIKE IN ORDER LIKE YOU KNOW, YOU LIKE THIS PERSON BEST YOU MAYBE LIKE THIS PERSON A LITTLE LESS SO YOU PUT THEM TWO OR THREE OR WHATEVER. I THINK THAT THERE'S I WOULD SAY IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE CONFUSION IN THIS ROOM THAT I'VE HEARD IN ANY OTHER ROOM WITH AVERAGE VOTERS.  SO THAT'S MY TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ZACH OR JEROME WITH US? DARREN SO IT'S JERRY ZACH JARED AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING YOUR NAME WRONG. I'M SO SORRY , ZACH. YOU'RE UP FIRST FOR 2 MINUTES. I'M SURE.  OKAY.  SORRY . I THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER PANEL FIRST. HELLO, EVERYONE. HI.  MY NAME IS ZACHARY KENNARD. I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTION WARDEN FOR A LITTLE BIT AND PRIOR TO THAT I WAS A ELECTION JUDGE. I'VE WORKED AS A POLL WORKER IN 20 DIFFERENT ELECTION DAYS. I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS BILL. ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION SORRY I'M OUT OF BREATH. I DIDN'T KNOW WAS RIGHT NOW WAS THAT THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN AND I THINK QUITE RIGHTLY ABOUT LIKE ARE WE GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED? ARE WE GOING TO GET INCREASED TURNOUT? THERE WAS AN ACADEMIC STUDY RELEASED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR OF 2024 ANALYZING 60 DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM 2019 TILL NOW. IT SHOWED AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF VOTER TURNOUT OF 17% IN ALL THOSE JURISDICTIONS.  SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS MY FIRST THING I FORGOT MY SECOND THING HOW MUCH HELP I GOT. ONE MINUTE CALL.  I THINK I'LL JUST STOP THERE. THAT'S FINE BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A POLL WORKER FOR THE CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AFTER EVERYBODY'S TESTIMONY TO ADD TO ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE JARED.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR NAJARIAN.  I'M A DORCHESTER RESIDENT IN COUNCILOR FITZGERALD DISTRICT.  ACTUALLY A MENTOR ONCE TOLD ME THAT ELECTIONS AT THEIR BEST ARE AN EXERCISE IN CIVIC AND POLITICAL EDUCATION AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CANDIDATES AND COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AS THEY SET A DARK COURSE FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 4 YEARS. AND WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS TO BE HONEST IT FELT A LITTLE FOREIGN TO ME . IT'S NOT MY EXPERIENCE WITH ELECTIONS AND I IMAGINE IT'S NOT MANY OF US. YOU KNOW, AS A VOTER I'VE OFTEN FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE A MEANINGFUL CHOICE OR A CANDIDATE THAT REFLECTED MY VALUES OR MY ASPIRATION FOR MY COMMUNITY AS A CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER INCLUDING TO MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY, I KNOW THE STRUCTURE OF OUR ELECTIONS CREATE POLITICAL PRESSURE THAT OFTEN FORCE CANDIDATES TO FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE OR TO CREATE FALSE DISTINCTIONS AS OPPOSED TO LIFTING EACH OTHER UP AND FOCUSING ON WHERE WE FIND COMMON GROUND. AS A CO-FOUNDER OF JEN UNITY, A BOSTON CIVIC LEADERSHIP NONPROFIT COMMITTED TO HEALING OUR CIVIC CULTURE WITH NEARLY 300 MEMBERS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS RACE, CLASS I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN FEELING THIS WAY THIS PETITION IS A STEP TOWARDS ELECTIONS THAT LIVE UP TO OUR IDEALS.  BY ALLOWING FOUR CANDIDATES TO ADVANCE THE GENERAL ELECTION, VOTERS WILL HAVE MORE CHOICES BY RANKING OUR PREFERENCES VOTERS WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR VOTE ISN'T WASTED IF THEIR FIRST CANDIDATE OR FIRST CHOICE DOESN'T WIN. BOTH CHANGES WILL HELP CANDIDATES TO FOCUS ON WHERE THEY HAVE COMMON GROUND AND ENGAGE IN APPEAL TO ALL VOTERS. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS A COMMUNAL PROCESS WHERE WE COME TOGETHER, LISTEN DEEPLY TO EACH OTHER AND BUILD CONSTRUCTIVELY TOWARDS A BETTER BOSTON FOR EVERYONE. I APPLAUD THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR ADVANCING THIS MEASURE AND I HOPE THAT THE FULL COUNCIL DOES THE SAME. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE MARY SIN CLINTON, LOU FIEDLER AND THEN MARTHA MARTHA CARD. CHERI.  YEAH. OKAY.  OKAY.  HELLO. WHERE'S THE MICROPHONE? OH, THERE IT IS. HI MY NAME IS MARY STEPHEN CLANTON NICKNAME MARSHA. I AM A DORCHESTER RESIDENT AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING MEASURE.  THE REASON THAT I REALLY BECAME PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS THAT I'VE AS A VOTER IN MANY ELECTIONS NOT SO MUCH THE BOSTON ONES BUT IN THE NATIONAL AND EVEN STATE ELECTIONS I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES CANDIDATES ARE REALLY DISCOURAGED FROM RUNNING BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SPOILERS AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A ANTIDEMOCRATIC DEMOCRACY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD THAT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T RUN BECAUSE YOU WILL JUST THROW THE ELECTION TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT WE DON'T WANT.  SO BASICALLY THEN A VERY FEW PEOPLE END UP IN CONTROL OF THE ELECTION AND SO I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE I WANT EVERYONE WHO THINKS THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING TO THE JOB TO BE ABLE TO RUN AND NOT BE DISCOURAGED AND FOR ME AND OTHER VOTERS WHO SOMETIMES VOTE FOR LONG SHOT CANDIDATES NOT TO HAVE TO FEEL THAT WE'RE WASTING OUR VOTES THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.  NEXT UP WE HAVE LOU FINN FOR AND THEN MARTHA AND ANDY.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME . I'M LOU FINN FOR I'M FROM DORCHESTER AND I'M WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MASSACHUSETTS ACTION FOR JUSTICE. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT EACH OF THE COUNCILORS WERE ASKING TODAY THAT YOU WERE REALLY DELVING INTO THIS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I APPRECIATED THE THOUGHTFULNESS IN THE IN THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS COUNCILORS ASKED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.  IT'S HARD FOR ME NOT TO DIGRESS A BIT. I REMEMBERING THE FIRST TIME I EVER TESTIFIED AT A BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HEARING WAS IN 1972. SO IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND THERE'S BEEN MANY TRIPS HERE SINCE THEN BUT WE'RE ON RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  I THINK IT CAN IT CAN LEAD TO MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES BASED ON RACE AND CLASS RUNNING FOR OFFICE IF YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF A SYSTEM AND THAT'S A PLUS, I THINK IT CAN MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING TO VOTERS BECAUSE IT'S JUST THEIR VOTERS WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THEIR FIRST CHOICE AND THEIR SECOND CHOICE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CHALLENGING FOR CANDIDATES BUT IN A GOOD WAY THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THEY TALK TO THAT I MIGHT NOT BE THEIR FIRST CHOICE BUT COULD I BE THEIR SECOND CHOICE AND I THINK THAT JUST COULD ENCOURAGE EVEN REACHING HARDER TO LISTEN TO AND CONNECT TO PEOPLE ON THE PART OF THE CANDIDATE AND ALSO ON THE PART OF THE THE VOTERS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT NOT JUST I KNOW I WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS PERSON. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND LISTEN MORE ABOUT WHERE THE OTHER CANDIDATES STAND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE THEIR VOTE MIGHT END UP GOING TO THAT PERSON AS THEIR SECOND CHOICE. I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR THE GOOD . THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTION THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE SPOILER EFFECT AND HOW THAT COULD THAT COULD THAT INFLUENCE IN THE OUTCOMES OF CERTAIN ELECTIONS AND WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING IT'S LESS LIKELY TO FOR THAT KIND OF OUTCOME TO COME.  SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE SOME POINTS AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS. I KNOW IT'S A BIG CHANGE FOR THE CITY. OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL PROBABLY LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER LOCALITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE THIS CAMBRIDGE HAS THEIR OWN VERSION. I KNOW IT'S A PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.  IT'S EVEN A GOES FURTHER THAN THIS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF WAYS.  BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THIS IN COUNTRY AS PART OF YOUR EVALUATION. THANKS FOR LETTING ME AND THANKS THANKS TO YOU TOO. THANKS TO YOU TODAY.  THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE MARTHA FROM JAMAICA PLAIN PROGRESSIVE'S ANY FROM NEW BAY AND THEN WE'LL GO TO KAYE IF YOU WANT TO QUEUE UP.  GOOD MORNING. RESPECTED CITY COUNCILMAN MEMBERS.  MY NAME IS MARTHA CARR CHER AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE JAMAICA PLAIN. PROGRESSIVES WERE A GROUP WITH 100 ACTIVE MEMBERS. WE HAVE A MAILING LIST OF AROUND 3000 AND WE ENDORSED RANKED CHOICE VOTING EIGHT YEARS AGO.  THE WE HAVE A RECENT EXAMPLE OF WHY AGAIN WE THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS IS SO IMPORTANT. I'M IN 2023 THERE WAS A SPECIAL STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION IN THE 10TH SUFFOLK AND REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER HAD RESIGNED HIS SEAT AND THERE WERE THREE CANDIDATES WHO LAUNCHED CAMPAIGNS TO PROVIDED ALMOST IDENTICAL ANSWERS ON THE PROGRESSIVE MASS QUESTIONNAIRE . A THIRD DID NOT DO THE QUESTIONNAIRE HERE AND HE WAS SUPPORTED BY POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER OFFICER UNIONS DID NOT AGREE WITH RENT CONTROL ON WAS WIDELY PERCEIVED ON BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE.  WE WERE NOT SURPRISED WHEN THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION WAS THAT THE TWO PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES RECEIVED RESPECTIVELY 31.5% AND 24.2% OF THE VOTE. OBVIOUSLY ADDED TOGETHER GREATER THAN 50% OF THE VOTES.  BUT THE MORE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE WON 44.3% OF THE VOTE . SO THIS ELECTION FOR FOR US AND WE'RE SHARING THIS WITH YOU DEMONSTRATES THE WEAKNESS OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.  YOU KNOW, HERE A COMMUNITY WITH SHARED VALUES IS PENALIZED WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE CANDIDATES RUNNING THEY SPLIT THE VOTE AND A CANDIDATE WITH LESS THAN 50% OF THE VOTE CAN WIN.  THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING WHILE OUR VALUES ARE PROGRESSIVE. THE POINTS FROM THIS EXAMPLE EQUALLY WELL TO MORE CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUENCIES WHERE A LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE CAN PULL VOTES FROM A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE BRINGING ABOUT A SPLITTING OF THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE RANKED CHOICE VOTING ENSURES THAT A MAJORITY OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE WINNING CANDIDATE IT ELIMINATES SPLITTING IT, DECREASE IS NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING AS CANDIDATES STRIVE TO WIN THE SECOND AND THIRD CHOICE VOTE AND SO WE STRONGLY URGE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO ENDORSE THE HOME RULE PETITION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE ANY EAST BOSTON RESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I THINK OF . I DO JUST WANT TO SAY AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE HER TESTIMONY IN SPANISH ALTHOUGH I NEGLECTED TO DRAW MY COLLEAGUE'S ATTENTION TO THE FOLDER THAT'S IN THEIR INBOXES SO BY MEGAN CAVANAUGH THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR WHICH INCLUDES ANY TESTIMONY I BELIEVE IN ENGLISH. SO ANY YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. THANK YOU.  MY NUMBER IS AN ELDERLY LOVER SO WHATEVER THEY KNOW WE'RE BUSY. NOT SO NEITHER BUT ON MY HEART IS BOSTON NEIGHBOR UNITED FOR A BRACE BOSTON PARDON MY LOVE BUT THE DISFIGURING ME THE MINUTE THEY WERE CATHOLICS BRENNAN IN NO WAY I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ON CIVIC MUCH ABOUT 20 ARE THERE IS BOSTON YOUR TROVE WHAT DRAWS YOU THERE THERE'S AN ANNUAL ELECTORAL NOT ADDRESSED I'M HAPPY POINT THE RANKED CHOICE BODY FOR CANCER THAT I'M OKAY ON OR DEMOCRATIC OR NONE THAT PERMITTED IT AND THERE REPRESENT ASSUMING AUTHENTICATE THE INVESTOR MONEY THAT IS GETTING MY PREDECESSOR AM NESTOR OF FREEDOM AIRPORT YOU COME ORGANIZATION BUT I STEP PARALLEL TOP COLLATERAL RANKING CHOICE VOTING AND LET'S EXTEND THEM ON MONEY PILOT THE BOSTON CUOMO DEFENSE SO THAT THE TRANSFORMATION SOCIAL YEAH LIMBO THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT MARCUS TO REFORM ELECTORAL ESSENTIAL BUT AMPLIFI CARLA BUZZARD AND NESTOR RESIDENT LATINOS EVEN SETTING IN THE INVESTORS YOU THAT ALBERTO POORER THAN THE PREFERENCE YET PERMITTED HERE BUT THAT THE PROCESS OF PREFERENCE YES AND MULTIPLE CANDIDATES SAY WOULD KILL US BOTH AT THE LONG RESIDENT THE LATINO HANGING IS BOSTONIAN OR TRUSTWORTHY WHICH US IN THE PROCESS OF THE THOUGH MY DECISION THIS IS AMPLIFICATION IS BETTER BUT ON THE STROKE OF MONEY THAT BUT IF PERMIT THE CANISTER UNNECESSARY A PROPOSITION IS COMING EL CENTRO DEL ESCENARIO EL GOBIERNO LOCAL LOOK AT POLITICAL MY INCLUSIVE LIVING AND MOISTER POLICY ON THE OVERSIGHT LAM POLICY ONLY APPLICATION THE RANKING CHOICE VOTING FOR THAT THE FERTILIZER COALITION INTER DIVERSE GROUP OF COMMUNITARIAN SCAB ORGAN LA JUSTICIA SOCIAL NOWHERE CORRECT LATERAL FORMATION SOCIAL SUPPORT OF THOSE SICK WHEN THE SICK CAPACITY THE EARLY LOCALES BUT I COULD ADD CAN BE ON LEVITATION WELL DELBERT THE UNIVERSAL OBJECTIVE PHILOSOPHY OF PERMIT THE MONEY THAT IS A CAN ACCOMMODATE IS POTENTIALLY REPRESENTATIVE KAREN DUNCAN DIRECTAMENTE THE NO WAY APPEAR FOR MY MENTAL IMPLEMENTATION TO SOME POORER THAN THE PREFERENCE YET THE CUATRO CARMONA ROMANTICIZE HELPED DELIVER A LETTER MACIAS SOCIAL IT PROMOVER LIKE THAT AND MISTRUST YOU THAT MAY THE UNTIL COMPLETION DELLA BOSCA LATINAS L FOR MENTAL REPRESENTATION DIVERSITY WILL EFFECT ELMO FOR MENTAL COMPROMISED CIVIC LITERACY ON THE COALITION HERE LA POLIO THIS HALLUCINATORY HERE THAT FOR LACK OF MONEY THAT A MOBILE CONSECO THE LESS TO THAT AIRPORT YET IS TO REFORM ELECTORAL COMMONPASS SO CRITICAL AS ACL ACCURACY ON THE ON PHOTO THE HOST OF PROPER OPERATOR THAT THEY BOSTON WHICH I GUESS YES THANK YOU ANY NEXT STEP WE HAVE BILL KING AND JOSH DANIELS SPEAK NOW GO AHEAD I'M BILL KING OF BRIGHTON. I'M WRITING IN SUPPORT OF THIS . I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER WITH VOTER CHOICE MASSACHUSETTS RANKED CHOICE PASS AND RANKED THE VOTE AND CANVASING IN PERSON MAKING PHONE CALLS AND CONTRIBUTING TO THIS COURSE TO IMPROVE OUR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.  SINCE 2017 I HAVE FOUND THAT MOST VOTERS APPROVE OF BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS MORE OF THEIR OPINIONS ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY'RE SHOWN A SAMPLE BALLOT WITH FOR THEIR SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES RANKED CHOICE VOTING OBVIOUSLY REDUCE THE CHANCES SPOILER CANDIDATES SPLITTING THE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY CURRENTLY A THREE WAY RACE CAN BE WON BY ONLY 34%. THERE HAVE BEEN AND ARE SPOILER CANDIDATES SUPPORTED BY OPPOSITION. THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. CONVENTIONS USE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF VOTING UNTIL A MAJORITY DECISION IS REACHED.  IN FACT THE US CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO DETERMINE THE WINNER BY A MAJORITY OF OVER 50% WITH THE CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE WINNER ELECTIONS MELODY WHENEVER ELECTIONS RANKED CHOICE VOTING WILL BE AN EVEN BIGGER HELP WE HAVE VOTE FOR UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES AT SOME OF US VOTE FOR LESS THAN FOUR CANDIDATES ABOARD VOTE TO NOT HURT THE CHANCES OF OUR FIRST CHOICE CANDIDATE THIS BILL RESOLVES THE PROBLEM BY ALLOWING US TO RANK IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE AS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR MORE CHOICE AND MAJORITY RULE WITH MINORITY VOICES STILL REPRESENTED AND STILL REPRESENTED WITH TRUE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JOSH DANIELS STEPHEN VIGNETTE AND THEN MAUREEN WHITE . THANK YOU. THANK YOU MY NAME IS JOSH DANIELS I'M GOING TO BE ON THE ADVOCATE PANEL SO I'LL DEFER MY REMARKS TO THEN IF THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD THANK YOU.  STEPHEN PINA AND THEN MAUREEN WHITE AND STEPHEN PINA HAD AN APPOINTMENT HERE TO STEP UP SO YOU WON'T BE TESTIFYING TODAY. MAUREEN YOU'RE UP.  GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HELLO. THANKS FOR HAVING THIS HEARING. I'M MAUREEN WHITE. I'M AN EAST BOSTON RESIDENT. I'M ACTUALLY NOT HERE AS PART OF ANY COALITION OR ORGANIZATION. I'M HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, A CITIZEN WHO FEELS SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE MORNING OFF SIT THROUGH THIS HEARING. I REALLY THINK IN A DEMOCRACY OUR PROCESS FOR HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT DECISIONS WE MAKE. AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER PROCESS THEY MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.  FRANKLY, THE IDEA THAT IN ONE OF THE LARGEST DEMOCRACIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WE HAVE TO CONSIDER VOTING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT OUR FIRST CHOICE BECAUSE THEY MIGHT SPOIL THE ELECTION OR SPLIT THE VOTE IS RIDICULOUS . THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO DO MENTAL GYMNASTICS BEFORE VOTING TO THINK WELL I'D LIKE TO VOTE FOR THIS CANDIDATE BUT SHE'S A WOMAN. JUST HOW SEXIST IS THE REST OF THE ELECTORATE? SHOULD I VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE SO I DON'T THROW AWAY MY VOTE SO THAT I DON'T END UP WITH MY LEAST FAVORITE CANDIDATE?  THAT IS ABSURD. TO BE FRANK, WE CAN DO BETTER.  WE SHOULD DO BETTER AND TO BE HONEST RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS ACTUALLY QUITE INTUITIVE TO VOTERS. IT IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN IF MY BROTHER'S GOING TO THE STORE, HE SAYS YOU WANT ME TO GRAB YOU A DRINK? I SAY I'D LIKE A COKE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE COKE GRAB ME A PEPSI IF THEY'RE OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE I'LL SETTLE FOR A ROOT BEER BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPRITE OR A 7UP RIGHT.  I VOLUNTEERED AT A POLLING PLACE DURING THE BALLOT INITIATIVE IN 2020. VOTERS UNDERSTAND THIS IT TOOK 30 SECONDS TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM WHEN THEY WERE GOING INTO THE POLLS AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THAT SOUNDS LIKE A NO BRAINER. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT I THINK THAT IF COVID HADN'T INTERRUPTED EDUCATION EFFORTS AROUND THAT BALLOT INITIATIVE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PASSED. SO PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING FOR THIS. WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY YOU WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT UNLESS YOU WERE WORRIED THAT A BETTER SYSTEM WOULD VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, MAUREEN. NEXT UP WE HAVE A FEW.  I'M SORRY IF I'M SAYING YOUR NAME WRONG FROM BRIGHTON.  HI EVERYONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES. MY NAME IS A FEW FEUERSTEIN. I AM ALSO NOT PART COMING HERE AS PART OF I AM PART OF RANKED CHOICE BOSTON BUT I'M NOT PART OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TODAY I'M COMING HERE AS A CITIZEN AS WELL AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MYSELF AND TO REPRESENT MY FAMILY THE FEUERSTEIN FAMILY I HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVIST FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME PRETTY MUCH SINCE I WAS ABLE TO VOTE. THE REASON WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GETTING THE THE MAJORITY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE AS THEY ARE A DIVERSE SET OF PEOPLE FROM MANY RACES FOR MANY CLASSES TO HAVE THEIR VOICE BE HEARD AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER SYSTEM FOR THAT THAN RANKED CHOICE VOTING. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY AND THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS FOR PRETTY MUCH EVER. I WANTED TO SPEAK JUST BRIEFLY ON MYSELF AND MY BACKGROUND. MY GRANDFATHER'S AARON FEUERSTEIN OF MALDEN MILLS. HE'S FAMOUS FOR PAYING OFF HIS WORKERS WHEN FACTORY BURNED DOWN. MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT STORY BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS INSTILLED IN ME FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE IS THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE FROM EVERY SINGLE ECONOMIC CLASS WHOEVER THEY MIGHT BE. MY GRANDFATHER WHEN HE USED TO BE THE CEO OF MALDEN MILLS WOULD SPEAK TO HE WOULD HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WITH HIS OFFICE. EVERYONE WOULD COME IN AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANTED IF THEY HAD AN IDEA, DIDN'T MATTER WHO THEY WERE THEY COULD VOICE THAT OPINION TO HIM AND THAT CREATED A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE LOVED AT THAT COMPANY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS INSTILLED VERY DEEPLY IN ME FROM A YOUNG AGE AND IT'S A BIG REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY. THIS IDEA OF HEARING EVERYONE OUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MAJORITY ACTUALLY WANTS AND NOT ALLOWING VOTE SPLITTING TO DETER THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEIR VOICE BE HEARD IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHY I'M CURRENTLY HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME . PLEASE URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS BODY FOR YOUR MONEY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.  IF YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT THE END OF THIS HEARING I UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS ONLINE.  WE ARE NOW IN THE INTEREST OF TIME GOING TO MOVE TO THE SECOND PANEL. SO I WILL INVITE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS DOWN. PLEASE TAKE A SEAT BEHIND.  ONE OF THESE FOUR CHAIRS IF WE NEED TO GET MORE CHAIRS WE WILL I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO ADD SCHUMAKER WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RUNNING TOWARDS VOTING BOSTON, MARY SOLA SANTIAGO FROM MASS VOTE RAHSAAN FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS JOSH DANIELS FROM FAIRVOTE WHO IS A LEGAL ADVISER VICTORIA PELLETIER WHO IS A CITY COUNCILWOMAN FROM PORTLAND AND GREG DENNIS WHO'S THE POLICY DIRECTOR OF VOTER CHOICE MASSACHUSETTS AND I WANT TO SHARE YOU I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OKAY.  THANK ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR ADVOCACY. WE'LL FIRST GO TO ED SHUMAKER AND THEN LEAVE IT TO YOUR DISCRETION ON WHO WANTS TO SPEAK AFTERWARDS. ED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . MY NAME IS ED SHUMAKER. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RANKED CHOICE BOSTON TODAY. I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS MY OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOP FOUR RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.  OUR KV IS IT INVIGORATING FRESH BREATH AIR OUR DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY DESPERATELY NEEDS BOSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN BOLDLY COMMITTED TO PROGRESS IN DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE LAST DECADE TO ELECT A RECORD DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION. WE MUST ENSURE THAT THESE ADVANCES ARE PERMANENT. FOR ADMINISTRATIONS TO COME IF NEW LEADERSHIP TOOK OVER THAT DIDN'T VALUE EQUITY AND FAIRNESS, THIS VITAL PROGRESS WOULD BE UNDER THREAT. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE'VE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES, WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ASSEMBLE A DYNAMIC COALITION. WE'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND A WHOLE LOT OF PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE READY BRING ABOUT THIS CHANGE. OUR COALITION INCLUDES OVER 50 ORGANIZATIONS ALL SHARING THE BELIEF THAT OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM SHOULD REFLECT THE VIBRANT TAPESTRY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. FROM THE GET GO WE RECOGNIZE THAT CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. IT TAKES TEAMWORK. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH AN ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING GRASSROOT GROUPS TO END LOCAL CIVIC LEADERS UNITED BY THE COMMON GOAL OF MAKING OUR ELECTIONS MORE INCLUSIVE. THIS COALITION IS LIKE THE AVENGERS OF DEMOCRACY AND TRUST ME , WE'RE READY TO ASSEMBLE. WE'VE HOSTED 5050 COMMUNITY FORUMS WHERE RESIDENTS COULD SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS JUST PICTURE IT, ENGAGE CITIZENS COFFEE IN HAND DISCUSSING HOW TO MAKE MAKE VOTING LESS OF A HEADACHE AND MORE OF A CELEBRATION. THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED HAS BEEN INVALUABLE HELPING US TO TAILOR OUR ADVOCACY TO ENSURE IT RESONATES WITH OUR DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS. RECOGNIZING THAT GRASSROOTS SUPPORT IS THE SECRET SAUCE TO ANY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. WE'VE RALLIED OUR OUR MEMBERS TO HIT THE STREETS LITERALLY FROM DOOR TO DOOR CANVASING TO ENTHUSIASTIC SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. OUR COALITION HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT MOBILIZING THE MASSES.  THE ENTHUSIASM HAS BEEN CONTAGIOUS AND IT'S CLEAR BOSTON RESIDENTS ARE READY FOR THIS CHANGE. WE'VE MADE IT A POINT TO ENGAGE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CVE. WE PRESENTED THEM WITH COMPELLING DATA AND REAL LIFE STORIES DEMONSTRATING THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF OUR CVE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.  IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY AND WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS REFORM AND ALSO HOW THIS REFORM CAN ELEVATE REPRESENTATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION HERE IN BOSTON. AT THE HEART OF OUR COALITION'S MISSION IS A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION. OUR CVS ISN'T JUST A NEW FANCY TERM IT'S A GAME CHANGER THAT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD ALLOWING MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE. IT'S TIME TO DISMANTLE THE BARRIERS THAT KEEP UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES ON THE SIDELINE IN OUR CVS AS A FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. THE COALITION WE'VE BUILT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A LONG FRUITFUL JOURNEY. TOGETHER WE ENVISION BOSTON A BOSTON WHERE OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM TRULY REFLECTS OUR VIBRANT TAPESTRY AND OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. OUR CV ISN'T JUST A REFORM A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. IN CONCLUSION, LET'S NOT BEAT AROUND THE BUSH. I URGE YOU THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOP FOUR RANKED CHOICE VOTING. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO ENHANCE OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS, EMPOWER COMMUNITIES AND INJECT SOME MUCH NEEDED LIFE INTO OUR DEMOCRACY. WITH THE COALITION WE'VE BUILT AND THE ENTHUSIASM AND ENTHUSIASM WE'VE GENERATED, WE CAN MAKE BOSTON A BEACON OF EQUITABLE GOVERNANCE AND REPRESENTATION.  TO SUMMARIZE WITH OUR CV WE LOCK IN THE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS BOSTON HAS MADE ON REPRESENTATION. MORE CHOICE FOR A LARGER AND VERY DIVERSE VOTER TURNOUT IN A GENERAL ELECTIONS. OUR CV IS A HAS PROVEN TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT IN ODD YEAR ELECTIONS AND WILL LEAD TO MORE CONSTRUCTIVE POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.  THANK YOU ED AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON MAKING TODAY A REALITY. MITCH WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT ? AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  HELLO MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL NICE TO SEE YOU. MY NAME IS VICTORIA PELLETIER AND I AM THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER AT REPRESENT WOMEN WHICH IS A RESEARCH ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS THAT WOMEN FACE IN POLITICS.  I AM ALSO IN PUBLIC OFFICE AS THE SECOND BLACK WOMAN ELECTED TO THE PORTLAND, MAINE CITY COUNCIL AND I MADE THE LONG AND EXHAUSTING TREK ALL THE WAY FROM PORTLAND, MAINE HERE TO BOSTON. IT WAS ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF AND JUST KIDDING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND MY COLLEAGUES THAT REPRESENT WOMEN ACTUALLY SENT A LOT OF YOU A WRITTEN TESTIMONY WITH OUR RESEARCH AND OUR DATA. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THAT WITH EACH OF YOU AT ANY TIME WITH OUR RESEARCH TEAM. BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS ON HOW RANKED CHOICE VOTING DOES IMPACT IT AFFECTS WOMEN HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE. WOMEN HOLD 53% OF CITY COUNCIL SEATS IN JURISDICTIONS WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND 12 OUT OF THE 32 MAYORAL SEATS HAVE BEEN ELECTED WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND CURRENTLY 55% OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL SEATS ARE HELD BY WOMEN. JANET MILLS, MAINE'S FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR, WAS ELECTED THROUGH CHOICE VOTING IN THE COUNCIL THAT I AM CURRENTLY SERVING ON. WE ARE WOMEN LED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE THAT WE HAVE EVER BEEN AND AGAIN THAT'S IN PORTLAND,  MAINE AND I HEARD A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT'S NOT FROM THE CLERK. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND I THINK I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT REAL IN THIS SPACE JUST ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO ANOTHER RACV IS BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE AND IT IS BETTER FOR DEMOCRACY VOTERS WHO WERE ONCE APATHETIC OR UNENGAGED NOW FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE AT THE POLLS BECAUSE THEY CAN ACTUALLY RANK THEIR CANDIDATES BY PREFERENCE. SO THEY'RE NO LONGER STUCK CHOOSING ONE OPTION FROM LIMITED CANDIDATES WHO MAY NOT REPRESENT THEIR BEST INTERESTS. AND I DID HEAR SOME CONCERNS AS WELL THAT VOTERS WON'T UNDERSTAND RANKED CHOICE VOTING WHICH I DO THINK IT'S A VALID CONCERN. IT'S NEW. IT'S DIFFERENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT I DO DISAGREE WITH THAT. OUR CONSTITUENCIES ARE VERY INTELLIGENT IN AND KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND IT'S ON US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO FOSTER THAT VOTER EMPOWERMENT. SO I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A CORRELATION BETWEEN RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING IT. BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LACK OF INTENTIONAL OUTREACH FROM GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHETHER RISC-V EXISTS OR NOT. AND I CAN SAY THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN THAT RAN ON A PLATFORM ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY WITH GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HEAR IN SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME . SO THE EXISTENCE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING NARROWS THE GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT BY ALLOWING VOTERS FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND WE PRACTICE A LOT IN MAINE AS WELL.  IT COMES UP EVERY YEAR AT ELECTION TIME. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RIGHT CHOICE VOTING I NEED A REFRESHER. WE DO HOLIDAY THEMED SAMPLE BALLOTS. WE HAVE HAD IT FOR YEARS AND WE STILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY FEELS PREPARED WHEN THEY GO TO THE BALLOT BOX. SO THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME CONVERSATION. WE HAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  LET'S NEVER TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN. WE DO TALK ABOUT IT EVERY ELECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENCIES FEEL CONFIDENT WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE BALLOT.  AND I WILL SAY AS WELL THE EXISTENCE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M NOW GETTING EVERY RESULT THAT I WANT. THERE ARE TIMES THAT MY FIRST CHOICE DID NOT WIN THE ELECTION THERE AT TIMES THAT MY SECOND CHOICE NOT WIN THE ELECTION AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED.  BUT AS DISAPPOINTING AS IT WAS I FOUND COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT WHOEVER WON GOT THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES AND IT WAS TRULY REFLECTIVE OF THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. I KNOW THAT VOTES WEREN'T WASTED. I KNOW THAT VOTES WEREN'T SPLIT AND AS A POLICYMAKER AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER KNOWING THAT YOUR VOTE REALLY COUNTS AND BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY. SO I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH SAYING ON BEHALF OF REPRESENT WOMEN AND ALSO MYSELF AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WE ARE GLAD TO SUPPORT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN BOSTON. WE'RE HAPPY TO PRESENT OUR RESEARCH TO YOU AT ANY TIME YOU SHOULD DO A TASK FORCE. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY PERSPECTIVE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN A CITY IN A STATE WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING HOW THAT WORKS WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE SPIRIT OF A BETTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY FOR ALL. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.  WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE. HAPPY TO SEE THE CITY TO CITY PARTNERSHIP.  GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM PRESIDENT, TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE IN THE COUNCIL MY NAME IS RAHSAAN HALL. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO. THANK YOU OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. I AM ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE RANKED CHOICE BOSTON COALITION. WAIT YOUR TURN. I'M SURE THERE ARE SEVERAL OF YOU WHO HAVE HEARD THAT WHEN THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE WAIT YOUR TURN BECAUSE IF YOU GO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DISTRACT FROM THE CANDIDATE THAT HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF WINNING.  WAIT YOUR TURN BECAUSE IF YOU GO NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ENOUGH VOTES BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.  WAIT YOUR TURN RANKED CHOICE VOTING DOES AWAY WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S INAPPROPRIATE AND IT'S UNNECESSARY. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT I'LL SAY TODAY IS GOING TO BRING MUCH ILLUMINATION BEYOND WHAT ANYONE ELSE HAS SAID FROM EITHER PANEL OR FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO HAVE TESTIFIED. BUT WHAT I WILL ADD MY VOICE TO IS THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND PARTICULARLY VOTING RIGHTS LAW. FROM MY TIME AT THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS BEING INVOLVED IN ELECTION PROTECTION INITIATIVES, BEING INVOLVED IN THE REDISTRICTING OF THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF A DISTRICT THAT SAW ITS FIRST BLACK WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO CONGRESS INVOLVED IN THE REDISTRICTING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON 12 YEARS AGO INVOLVED IN LAWSUITS THAT CHALLENGED THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE OF THE STATE, LAWSUITS THAT HELD STATE UNITS STATE AGENCIES TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO DO MORE VOTER REGISTRATION OF POOR PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO WERE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS.  AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN ENSURING THAT ACCESS TO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXPANDED AND NEVER DECREASED THE DATA IS CLEAR THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING INCREASES PARTICIPATION FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE BUT HAVE VERY GOOD AND VALUABLE PLATFORMS AND IDEAS TO BRING TO THE PUBLIC. THE DATA IS CLEAR THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING INCREASES VOTER PARTICIPATION PARTICULARLY FROM SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION WHO HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE UNENGAGED AND UNINTERESTED BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE CANDIDATES THAT EITHER LOOK LIKE THEM OR REPRESENT THEIR IDEAS AND THEIR VALUES.  THE DATA IS CLEAR THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON ARE IN FAVOR OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. NOW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED EARLIER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS CONFUSING. IT'S NOT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO ELEVATE THE INTELLECT OF OUR RESIDENTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE BOX AND THEY CAN STILL FIGURE OUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE HAVE GONE INTO A COMMUNITY WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT LINGUISTIC BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT AND WE'VE DONE SAMPLES OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN ROXBURY. WE'VE DONE IT WITH PARIS.  JAMAICAN PATTY'S YOU WANT A BEEF PATTY? YOU WANT A CHICKEN PATTY? WE'VE GONE TO EAST BOSTON AND WE'VE DONE IT WITH EMPANADAS BEEF, CHICKEN, VEGGIE SHRIMP. THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD HOW TO RANK YOUR CHOICE. THERE WERE QUESTIONS.  THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I GET PENALIZED FOR NOT VOTING FOR A PARTICULAR FLAVOR OF EMPANADA. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT CLEARLY AND WHAT WAS ALSO CLEAR IS THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WENT OR WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE ONE THAT WON. WE'RE NOT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT WHAT WON HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.  AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION, TO INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND TO CHANGE THE TENOR AND TONE OF OUR POLITICS, WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.  IF A CANDIDATE IS TRYING TO GET THE SECOND OR THIRD CHOICE VOTE OF A VOTER THAT RHETORIC DIRECTED AT SOMEONE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERED THEIR OPPONENT WOULD LIKELY BE TURNED DOWN. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE THINGS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE ALIENATE PEOPLE. LASTLY, I'LL JUST REITERATE THIS NOTION OF ELECTABILITY PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A SYSTEM THAT DOES FAVORS PEOPLE PARTICIPATING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ELECTABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GET THE VOTES.  AND SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER SPLITTING THEIR VOTE WASTING THEIR VOTE, THROWING AWAY THEIR VOTE. LET'S NOT TELL PEOPLE TO WAIT THEIR TURN. THANK YOU, ROSANNE CASH. GREAT.  THANK YOU. THANKS FOR HAVING ME . MY NAME IS JOSH DANIELS.  I AM FROM UTAH WHERE I SERVED AS THE ELECTED COUNTY CLERK IN THE SECOND LARGEST COUNTY IN OUR COUNTY. UTAH COUNTY WAS THE FIRST TO IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS FOR CITIES THAT WOULD CHOOSE TO USE RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS AND WE BEGAN THAT PROCESS IN 2019, REPEATED IT IN 2021 AND THEN 2023. BUT I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR PERSONALLY OF HAVING CAST MY FIRST ADULT VOTE HERE IN BOSTON WHEN I WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS. I LIVE FOR A TIME IN HYDE PARK AND CAST THE FIRST BALLOT IN A IN A VOTING BOOTH AS AN ADULT IN THE 18TH WARD. SO IT'S A REAL HONOR TO BE BACK HERE DISCUSSING THE ELECTION SYSTEMS IN BOSTON. I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TWO MAIN THINGS SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS AND THEN CONSIDERATIONS FOR VOTERS SPECIFICALLY THE LARGEST CITY IN UTAH, SALT LAKE CITY USED RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS AND THEY USE THE EXACT SAME VENDOR SYSTEM THAT YOU USE HERE IN BOSTON, THE DOMINION VOTING SYSTEM AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY BY A LOT OF OTHER SIMILAR CITIES LIKE SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO AND SOME OF THOSE IN THE BAY AREA OF CALIFORNIA USE THE SAME VENDOR SYSTEM THAT YOU USE AND YOU HAD A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE IN UTILIZING RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS WITH THAT SYSTEM.  SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP OR THE TIMING OF RESULTS IN OUR EXPERIENCE THE TIMING OF RESULTS WERE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER RESULTS. IT'S REALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION OF WHEN YOU PRODUCE YOUR EXPORT AND WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO REPORT RESULTS. OF COURSE RESULTS ARE NEVER FINAL UNTIL THEY'RE ACTUALLY FINAL AND THEY'RE ALWAYS UNOFFICIAL AND PRELIMINARY ON ELECTION NIGHT AND THAT'S NO DIFFERENT WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING EVEN THOUGH THERE'S THAT PROCESS OF DETERMINING HOW THE RANKING LEADS TO THOSE THAT ARE THE WINNERS OR THOSE THAT ARE AHEAD.  BUT IN OUR EXPERIENCE WE REPORTED THOSE PRELIMINARY RANKED RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT AND SUBSEQUENT TO THAT FOR OTHER INTERIM REPORTING OF RESULTS AND WE USE THE SAME SYSTEMS PROCESSES, AUDIT PROCEDURES AS WE DID FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF BALLOTING WHEN WE DID RING CHOICE, THE BALLOT DESIGN YOU KNOW, TOOK A FEW MORE STEPS BECAUSE THAT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT IT WASN'T A SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE.  BUT THEN WHAT WE DID WAS SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON VOTER ENGAGE MIT AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS WE DID WAS WE TOOK RANKED CHOICE BALLOTS TO AN ASSISTED LIVING CENTER AND WE HANDED THEM OUT AND WE GAVE ZERO INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND ZERO EDUCATION AND WE SIMPLY SAID HEY, HERE'S SOME BALLOTS THAT WE'RE TESTING. GO AHEAD AND FILL THESE OUT.  AND THEN WE JUST WALKED AROUND AND TRIED TO LISTEN AND DISCERN WHAT CONCERNS, IF ANY WOULD POP UP. AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT JUST THE BALLOT ITSELF IS INTUITIVE BY DESIGN AND THAT VOTERS HAD AN INTUITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE IDEA OF SELECTING RANKINGS AND THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE PROBLEM OR ERROR RATE THAT CAME WITH THAT POPULATION AND SO WE FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS WE WOULD SHARE RANKED CHOICE BALLOTS IN SIMILAR FASHION WITH OTHER TYPES OF GROUPS AND CONSTITUENCIES THE SAME THING WAS REPEATED WHICH WAS IT'S INTUITIVE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND.  WE ALSO DID SOME EXIT POLLING OF VOTERS THAT HAD PARTICIPATED IN RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS AND OVER 80% REPORTED THAT THEY LIKED IT, THAT THEY FOUND IT EASY TO USE AND THAT THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE USING IT AND THAT'S BEEN REPEATED IN JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHEN VOTERS EXPERIENCE RANKED CHOICE BALLOTING THEY LIKE IT A MAJORITY ALWAYS REPORTS THAT THEY FAVOR IT, THAT THEY THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE IT AND THAT SORT OF THING. NOW LET ME DWELL ON ONE REALLY IMPORTANT FEATURE AND THAT IS THE REDUCTION IN BULLET VOTING . SO THERE'S A STRATEGIC ADVICE VANTAGE FOR VOTERS TO NOT USE ALL OF THEIR VOTES IN A BLOCK PLURALITY SYSTEM LIKE YOU USE IN YOUR AT LARGE ELECTIONS. WE HAD SIMILAR AT LARGE ELECTIONS IN UTAH WITH MULTIPLE WINNERS AND WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE YEAR OVER YEAR DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF BULLET OR BLANK OR UNDERVOTES AND THE INSTANCES OF THAT. SO I KNOW THAT IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR RECENT 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR THE AT-LARGE SEATS, YOUR BLANK VOTES OR UNDERVOTES ARE BULLET VOTES IF YOU WILL WAS ALMOST 30%. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT YEAR OVER YEAR FOUR TWO DIFFERENT CITIES THAT WE STUDIED THE DECREASE IN BULLET VOTING UNDER RANKED CHOICE VOTING FROM THE PLURALITY BLOCK SYSTEM WAS FOUR AND A HALF TIMES SO LIKE 450% REDUCTION IN THOSE INSTANCES OF VOTERS DISENFRANCHIZING THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE SORT OF NATURAL STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE THAT I THINK IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN A BLOCK PLURALITY ELECTION WHICH IS COMMONLY USED FOR THESE AT LARGE SEATS IN UTAH AS WELL.  SO I THINK CONSIDERING THAT TYPE OF A POINT FOR VOTER EXPERIENCE THERE'S A LOT TO BE GAINED BY USING RANKED BALLOTING. SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE I'D LOVE TO ANSWER THOSE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP WE HAVE MARISOL.  YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR MAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE AS WELL AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS I'M THE POLICY AND ORGANIZING DIRECTOR OF MASS VOTE CHERYL CLYBURN CRAWFORD IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CO-CHAIR OF CHOICE BOSTON AS WELL AND A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON ELECTION COMMISSION. AS STATED EARLIER AND WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATEWIDE COORDINATORS WITH ALSO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NICK SPALDING WHO'S ALSO AN ELECTION COMMISSIONER AS WELL AND OUR GOAL THROUGH THE DEMOCRACY HUBS IS ESSENTIALLY 50 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NONPARTISAN YEAR ROUND EDUCATION THROUGH ISSUE ADVOCACY AND ALSO WITH VOTING AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT EDUCATION HERE TODAY AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THE AGREEMENT THAT LIKE YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS AND A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS COALITION AND WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS COALITION IN SPEARHEADING THESE EFFORTS.  I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THAT THIS THIS TYPE OF VOTING SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY QUITE FRIENDLY TO COMMUNITIES AND IN PARTICULAR A MASS VOTER FOCUSES IN DISENFRANCHIZED HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.  WE'VE WE'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, THAT WORK OF SITTING AND REALLY REALIZING LIKE WOW, THIS IS A LOT MORE SIMPLE THAN PEOPLE OFTEN TALK ABOUT AND AS BEING PART OF THE RANK THE EMPANADAS YOU KNOW, ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS JUST LIKE IF WE TALK ABOUT EVEN SPORTS YOU KNOW LIKE IN OUR COUNTRY AS A YOU KNOW, BIG BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL FAN MYSELF LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE AND WHO'S GOING TO CLINCH THE EAST LIKE YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE TOP THREE HERE'S OUR TOP FOUR. RIGHT? SO IT'S IT FEELS VERY INTUITIVE IN THAT WAY AND I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY BY FAR AND LARGE HAS EXPRESSED THAT WHICH HAS BEEN AMAZING. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE REALLY LIKE EXCITED ABOUT IS THE DATA. THE DATA IS AMAZING WHERE THESE ARE WHERE THIS POLICY IS IN PLACE. IT'S SHOWING THAT IT'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED TO DO RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S ALSO LIKE A BIG PLUS FOR BOSTON AT THE HOUR OF IMPLEMENTATION THAT WE COULD SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS WORKING . THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S ESSENTIALLY COMPLETELY NEW UNDER TERMS OF CHANGE AND CHANGING ELECTORAL SYSTEMS. I DO AGREE AS COUNCILWOMAN HE HAS SAID EARLIER THAT YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE THINKING FORWARD WHERE IN 2024 WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TON OF PEOPLE POWER AND EXPERTISE YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ALSO IN THIS ROOM IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEDICATED AS RAHSAAN HAS STATED, YOU KNOW, TO MAKING SURE THAT ELECTED ELECTORAL PROCESSES ARE INCLUSIVE, THAT WE'RE UPLIFTING CIVIL RIGHTS, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON FEELS ACCESS TO A BALLOT RIGHT CAN BE ACTUALLY IN THE BOOTH CONFIDENTLY EXERCISING THAT RIGHT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO ACTUALLY EXERCISE. AND SO I THINK IT'S SIMPLE FOR US BOLD WE'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THIS WORK. WE'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BEING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COALITION AND THE CITY OF BOSTON IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR EDUCATION, OUR ENGAGEMENT WORK CONTINUES STRONG AND YEAH, THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER, SOMETHING THAT'S SHOWING THAT IS ACTUALLY BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE WHICH IS ANOTHER BIG GOAL FOR MASS CIVIL RIGHT. IT'S SEEING ACTIVATION NOT JUST REGISTRATION BUT PARTICIPATE IN AND I THINK THAT'S THE ROLE THAT WE ALL AGREE WE WANT TO BE HONEST IN A BETTER MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL NOW GO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR QUESTIONS. MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE 4 MINUTES FOR THEIR QUESTIONING. I'LL START WITH THE LEAD CO-SPONSOR.  THAT'S LUCIA FOR THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THIS PANEL. I'M JUST HERE JUST JUST FEELING SO PRIVILEGED THAT WE GET TO DO THIS WORK OF DEMOCRACY BUILDING AND YOU ALL SPOKE TO IT IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES AND SO I CAN HERE SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU ALL TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY ALL DAY BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT, RIGHT? I FOREVER TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE IN THIS PROJECT OF DEMOCRACY AND YOU BOTH EXEMPLIFY IT. I THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THAT FORWARD THINKING APPROACH ABOUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT SO I'M SORT OF LIKE GEEKING OUT AND JUST LIKE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ESTEEMED PANEL BEFORE US. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND ANYONE CAN ADDRESS THIS QUESTION MAYBE YOU JOSH BUT IT COULD REALLY GO TO ANYONE.  HOW DOES RACHEL IS VOTING AND SUPPORT FOR RACHEL'S VOTING VARY AMONG LIKE POLITICAL ALIGNMENT?  SO LIKE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, IF ANYBODY SORT OF HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF LIKE HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING OR THEIR RESULTS ON ELECTIONS, I'LL START WITH WITH MY THOUGHTS IN TERMS OF A PARTIZAN OPINION ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I THINK OVER THE YEARS IT'S BEEN MIXED. I THINK THE GREATER OPPOSITION IF YOU WILL TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THOSE THAT DON'T WANT A CHANGE TO A SYSTEM OR RULE SET THAT MAYBE PRODUCED THE RESULTS THEY WANTED AND IF THEY PERCEIVED THAT IT WOULD PRODUCE DIFFERENT RESULTS THAT THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS OF THAT.  AND HONESTLY IT'S USUALLY INCUMBENT POWER THAT IS AFRAID OF BEING DISRUPTED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ALTHOUGH WHAT WE SEE ACTUALLY IN RESULTS IS THAT THE OUTCOME OF RANK CHOICE ELECTIONS AREN'T SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT IN A PARTIZAN SENSE OR EVEN IN A POWER DYNAMIC BETWEEN INCUMBENT POWERS AND NOT INCUMBENT POWERS. AND SO THE ACTUAL IMPACT IS VERY LOW AND SO IT'S REALLY MORE OF A PERCEPTION PROBLEM AND I THINK IT'S CHANGED OVER THE YEARS. SO OUR EXPERIENCE IN UTAH IS THAT OUR REPUBLICAN PARTY USED RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR 20 YEARS IN THEIR NOMINATING CONVENTIONS AND WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT AND THERE'S BEEN SOME RECENT OPPOSITION TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING THAT COMES FROM REPUBLICANS SIMPLY BECAUSE IN ONE STATE THAT WAS USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN A VERY PURPLE DISTRICT REPUBLICAN LOST AND IT'S LIKE WELL IT'S A SWING DISTRICT SOMETIMES REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO LOSE, SOME HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE AND I DON'T THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING MAKES A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THAT REGARD. SO I THINK PERCEPTION IS REALLY JUST ABOUT POWER AND YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE IN POWER OR ARE NOT IN POWER OR HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK WILL OR WON'T HELP THEM TO WIN. BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL PARTIZAN IMPACT, IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE DATA AND YOU STUDY THE RESULTS OF FREE CHOICE ELECTIONS, THERE ISN'T A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN IN THE OUTCOME IN TERMS OF POWER I THINK IT HAS A LOT MORE TO DO WITH THE WAY THAT IT ALLOWS VOTERS TO BE MORE EXPRESSIVE ABOUT THEIR PREFERENCES. THANK YOU. I MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR COUNCILOR PELLETIER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. I THINK HAVING YOU BOTH AS A PRACTITIONER AND AS AN ELECTED IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND YOUR TESTIMONY WAS REALLY POWERFUL. I WORKED ON THE FIRST FEDERAL THE CONGRESSIONAL SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN MAINE WHEN WE FIRST USED THAT RACV THERE. I WANT YOU TO IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT OR ANYONE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BALLOT EXHAUSTION, HOW YOU ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WHERE A VOTER'S CHOICE MAY NOT BE IN THE FINAL ROUNDS BECAUSE THEY RANK FEWER CANDIDATES. AND HOW SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND WHAT LIKE WHAT THAT MEANS ON SORT OF THEIR VOTE OR THE VALUE OF THEIR VOTE AND HOW SOON HOW MUCH DO YOU SEE THAT AND HOW WOULD DESIGN OF A BALLOT IMPACT SORT OF HOW THE OUTCOMES THERE ? THANK YOU. I THINK FOR HER I CAN SPEAK FOR PORTLAND IN BALLOT EXHAUSTION WHICH I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN AS IT RELATES TO CHOICE VOTING. I THINK OVERALL THERE'S JUST VOTER APATHY AND LACK OF VOTER ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST FEELING EXHAUSTED PRIOR TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF LIKE A WINNER TAKE ALL ELECTION. AND SO WHAT I HAVE SEEN ACTUALLY IS NOW THAT WE DO HAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I HAVE SEEN MORE ENGAGEMENT AT THE POLLS. I HAVE SEEN MORE INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY WANTING TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MORE OC BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE OPTIONS AND ARE ABLE TO RANK THEIR PREFERENCES IN ORDER. SO I FEEL LIKE FOR FOR ME IN IN PORTLAND IT'S ALL BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THE OPPOSITE WHERE I THINK BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING. PEOPLE AREN'T FEELING SO UNHEARD BY THE PROCESS OF VOTING AND SAY WELL AT LEAST I CAN GO IN AND I CAN RANK MY TOP THREE OR I CAN RANK MY TOP TWO AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NOW HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES THAT DON'T SEE MY BEST INTEREST.  AND I THINK WITH THE CONVERSATION AROUND EXHAUSTION WITH THE CONVERSATION AROUND JUST VOTING IN GENERAL, I THINK A LOT OF THAT AS WELL FALLS ON MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REALLY HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS OF SAYING IS IS THERE ANY CHOICE VOTING OR ARE YOU JUST EXHAUSTED BY THE PROCESS? ARE YOU JUST TIRED BY YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT WHO'S ON THE BALLOT? ARE THEY REPRESENTING MY INTEREST OR ARE THEY NOT?  AND SO I ALWAYS TRY TO STEER IT BACK TO AT THE VERY LEAST YOU KNOW, THAT THIS ELECTION WILL BE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND AT THE VERY LEAST WHEN YOU GO TO THE BALLOT YOU AT LEAST KNOW NOW THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE AN ORDER OF PREFERENCE AND YOU'RE NOT LEFT WITH CHOICES THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T IDENTIFY WITH. SO YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF EXHAUSTION AS IT RELATES TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I THINK IT'S MORE JUST WITH THE OVERALL PROCESS THE OVERALL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE NOT HEARD. AND I DO THINK WITH HAVING READ CHOICE VOTING IN PORTLAND IT HAS REALLY BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE NOT FELT LIKE THEIR VOICE WOULD BE HEARD TO NOW BEING ABLE TO GO IN AND SAY WELL AT LEAST I KNOW THAT I HAVE OPTIONS AND I'M NOT LIMITED TO AGAIN TO CANDIDATES THAT MAY NOT REPRESENT MY BEST INTEREST.  ALSO JUST TO ADD UP CURRENTLY OUR SYSTEM SORT OF SOMETIMES INCENTIVIZE OR YOU MIGHT BE BENEFIT FROM BULLET VOTING WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING IF YOU BULLET VOTED AND THE PERSON THAT YOU VOTED FOR GOT ELIMINATED IN SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS. ESSENTIALLY YOUR YOUR BALLOT WOULD BE EXHAUSTED.  BUT I THINK THAT AS VOTERS BECOME MORE FAMILIAR, I THINK THAT SORT OF GO AWAY AS PEOPLE WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE BECAUSE THEN THEY'LL UNDERSTAND THAT I'M ESSENTIALLY EXHAUSTING MY OWN BALLOT IF THE PERSON I SUPPORT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH SUPPORT AND GETS ELIMINATED THAT THAT'S MY TIME I'LL SAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR HERE.  THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING IN THE HEAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED THE IN THESE TIMES. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHEN MR HALL WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WAITING YOUR TURN THAT WAS ME IN 2019 THERE WERE TWO LATINAS THAT WERE THINKING OF RUNNING AT THE TIME AND I WAS THE LEAST PALATABLE AND I WAS PEOPLE LITERALLY TRIED TO COUNCILOR ME OUT OF RUNNING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT ME TO IMPACT THE OUTCOME AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE NAME RECOGNITION AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL MACHINE BEHIND ME AND I SAID IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL GOING TO RUN WITH HEART AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I AMPLIFIED AND IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT RUNNING TO WIN. I ALWAYS SAID I WOULD RATHER LOSE AND UPLIFT MY PEOPLE THAN WIN AND NEGLECT US, RIGHT? SO IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT WINNING THE ELECTION. IT FELT FOR ME FAR MORE THAN JUST THAT AND IT REALLY GOES TO SHOW THIS WHOLE WAIT YOUR TURN BECAUSE HAD I WAITED THEN DEMOCRACY AND THE 15 PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT I'VE PASSED WOULD HAVE WAITED. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT REPRESENTATION IS ALL ABOUT AND THIS WHOLE IDEA OF WHAT IS PALATABLE AND ELECTABLE IS ALSO I FIND OFFENSIVE BECAUSE I COME INTO THIS CHAMBER AS I AM ALL THE TIME WITH ALL OF MY IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND THE CHIP THAT I HAVE ON MY SHOULDER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE PEDIGREES AND THE DEGREES TO BE IN THIS SPACE BUT I STILL SHOW UP AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME IS BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY TO SAY I CAN THROW MY NAME IN THE HAT AND PUT MY NAME ON THAT BALLOT AND KNOW THAT THIS EXERCISE IS TO INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VOTE WHETHER I WIN OR NOT. RIGHT. SO I SEE THIS AS NOT JUST YES, IT'S INCREASING REPRESENTATION BUT I THINK IT ALSO GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF HOPE AND TO HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR VOTE DID MATTER WHETHER THEIR CANDIDATE OF CHOICE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE TOP BUT THEY WENT OUT TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY WHO THEY THOUGHT HAD A CHANCE AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT IS ON MY HEART WHEN I HEAR YOU ALL SPEAK. AND WHAT WORRIES ME ABOUT THE NARRATIVE AND I FIND IT TO BE A BIT OFFENSIVE IS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO VOTE AND THIS WHOLE IDEA OF PEOPLE BEING CONFUSED RIGHT. I THINK THAT THAT IS A BIT STEREOTYPICAL BECAUSE WHAT IT SAYS IS IS THAT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO VOTE. MY MOM NEVER MADE IT BEYOND THE THIRD GRADE AND SHE'S A SUPER VOTER. SHE STRUGGLES WITH READING AND WRITING BUT SHE KNOWS WHO SHE WANTS TO PICK AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO HELP HER GO THROUGH THE SITUATION. BUT MY MOM IS A SUPER VOTER SO THIS WHOLE IDEA OF IT BEING COMPLICATED, I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER TACTIC TO DELAY.  SO WITH THAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US TO HELP PUT PEOPLE AT EASE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT POWER HOARDING, IT'S ABOUT POWER SHARING AND CAN YOU HELP US? ARTICLE LIKE THAT IN A WAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES WHO MIGHT BE ON THE FENCE COULD JUMP ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SAY LET'S GIVE DEMOCRACY A TRY HERE.  SO FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THAT YOU WERE WHO I HAD IN MIND WHEN I MADE THOSE REMARKS EXPLICITLY BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THAT LANDS WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT AND I'VE SEEN IT AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE HERE DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU WERE TOLD TO WAIT AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WAIT BUT THEY DIDN'T WIN EITHER BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HERE AND COULD HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP I DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN. SO WE'RE FORTUNATE AND THANKFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU COUNCILOR ME TO BE IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE CAMPAIGNING EVEN NOT JUST AS HOW I WOULD HAVE YOU HAVE GOVERNED BUT HOW YOU HAVE CAMPAIGNED.  AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO BRING INTO THE CONVERSATION IS THAT THIS SHIFTS FUNDAMENTALLY THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAMPAIGN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT LIFTING UP THE THINGS THAT ARE VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT AND TRYING TO REACH ACROSS AND REACH AS MANY PEOPLE WITH GOOD IDEAS AS OPPOSED TO VILIFYING THE OPPONENTS.  I THINK TO YOUR QUESTION OR REQUEST FOR, YOU KNOW, WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT KIND OF ELIMINATES OR PUTS TO BED THIS SENSE OF CONFUSION.  AND I THINK THE EXAMPLES PARTICULARLY THE JOSH GAVE AROUND TAKING A BALLOT INTO A ROOM AND LETTING PEOPLE FIGURE IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY FIGURED IT OUT. I THINK THE INDIVIDUAL ANECDOTES THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT FIRST AND KNOW WHAT THEY WANT IN THE AS THE ALTERNATIVE MAKES PERFECT SENSE I SAY THIS TO MY DETRIMENT I'M FROM DENVER, COLORADO. I'M A NUGGETS FAN FIRST BUT YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE CELTICS ARE PLAYING AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT PLAYING THE NUGGETS I'M ROOTING FOR THE CELTICS SO AND I THINK IT'S THAT SIMPLE I THINK THE THE THE EMPANADA EXAMPLE THAT WE GAVE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE THE JAMAICAN PATTIES RIGHT WILL TAKE IT TO WHAT PEOPLE KNOW YOU KNOW IF PEOPLE LIKE WHISKEY WE CAN GO JAMESON'S WE CAN GO UNCLE NEAR BUT THERE ARE PRACTICAL EXAMPLES THAT THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT AND USE BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO TO POINT TO THE EXAMPLES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE IT WORKS AND PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF THE POLLING LOCATION SAYING I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS AND DEMOCRACY IS FAILING THEM.  THANK YOU. CAN I ADD SOMETHING VERY BRIEFLY ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO ALSO THINK ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT ACROSS THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, LET ALONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY EVERY BALLOT CAN SORT OF LOOK DIFFERENT.  WE HAVE ARROWS, WE HAVE CIRCLES, WE HAVE BILINGUAL BALLOTS IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES AND IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES WE STILL DON'T.  SO THE FACT THAT A VOTER'S EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE WALKING INTO THE INTO THE BOOTH IS REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY TRUE ABOUT LIKE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ACCESS TO EDUCATION ABOUT UNDERSTANDING BALLOTS THE CITY OF BOSTON MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE PROVIDE WRITE BALLOTS ON THE WEBSITE BELIEVE IT USED TO BE THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION AND SO THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING AS WELL THAT LIKE IF YOU ARE A NEW VOTER OR A NEWLY REGISTERED VOTER OR COMING FROM ANOTHER PLACE OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY,  YOU'RE COMING WITH YOUR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCE TO THE VOTING SYSTEM AS WELL. AND SO THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT WE CAN'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE'S LIKE ABILITY TO STEP INTO OUR PROCESS RIGHT OR THIS PROCESS WE NEED TO BE MAKING, YOU KNOW, SPACE FOR MORE. I OFTEN TELL FOLKS I'M PUERTO RICAN, YOU KNOW, I MY PARTICULAR COUNTRY, MY FAMILY HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST VOTING POPULATIONS LIKE FORGIVE ME VOTING.  SO MY FELLOW WE HAVE A HIGH VOTING PERCENTAGE TERMS OF PARTICIPATION ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY . RIGHT. AND WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT DESIGN THAT WE HAVE ELECTION DAY AS A HOLIDAY PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED VOTE. SO THERE'S REASONS AND IT'S ALSO CELEBRATED AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND THE POWER OF THEIR VOTE. AND SO IF THIS IS GOING TO OPEN DOORS FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY STEP INTO A PROCESS THAT FEELS LESS COMPLEX ABOUT HOW DO I CHOOSE AND MORE ABOUT LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THESE DECISIONS MYSELF AFTER MEETING THE CANDIDATES OR GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHERE THEIR ISSUES ARE, THEN WE'RE ALREADY ALSO WINNING IN THAT IN THAT WAY IT'S LESS IT'S LESS MYSTERY IN TERMS OF LIKE THIS WAY OUR WAY VERSUS UNDERSTANDING THAT IS INTUITIVE ABOUT THIS PERSON SPOKE TO MY ISSUES THIS PERSON WAS ACTUALLY YOU KNOW, MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME REALLY LISTENED TO ME . RIGHT. ALL THE QUALITIES AND THE VALUES THAT PEOPLE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY'RE VOTING AND SO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT AND I THINK READING CHOICE ALSO MAKES THAT BETTER BASED OFF THE EXPERIENCES THAT SOME FOLKS ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF LIKE REMOVING BARRIERS AND MAKING THINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE. SO THERE IS THAT PERSPECTIVE I THINK YOU CAN ALSO FOR UPLIFTING THE STORY OF YOUR MOM BECAUSE YES, I THINK THERE'S MANY STORIES LIKE HERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE TOO. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. FOUND SOMETHING HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO COUNSELOR SANTANA AND THEN COUNSELOR WEBER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR FOR BEING HERE. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN MAINE SO I HAVE A I WENT TO FABRIC MAINE NOT IN PORTLAND BUT I REALLY LOVE MAINE SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TABLE HERE TO SEE AND REPRESENTATION OUT THERE AS WELL. I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK WE'RE TRYING I THINK YOU KNOW WAIT YOUR TURN I THINK REALLY RESONATED WITH ME WHEN I RAN I CHALLENGED FOREIGN COMMENT AT THE TIME AND THAT WAS THAT'S THE MESSAGE I GOT WHERE YOU'RE TIRED AND IT'S NOT YOUR TIME. THERE'S FOREIGN COMMENTS IN THERE. YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT THE VOTE. YOU KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER DOMINICAN IN THERE WHERE WE'RE BOTH HERE. SO THAT'S YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR TURN WAS NOT WAS NOT IN MY HEART.  I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT INCUMBENCY. I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON I THINK A COUPLE OF YOU TOUCHED ON HOW THIS IS IMPACT OF DIFFERENT RACES AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE YOU DON'T CANDIDATES WANT TO RUN OR RESIDENTS WANT TO RUN, THEY SEE AN INCUMBENT AND IT'S LIKE THERE'S IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO WIN. HOW DOES RING CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE I GUESS GIVE LESS OF A CHANCE FOR HER TO COME INTO IT TO MAINTAIN HER SEE OR TO REALLY CHALLENGE THEM I THINK. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT WHERE ANYONE CAN LOOK AT MAYBE CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AND IF THERE'S I DON'T MEAN TO DRAG OUT THE QUESTION ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES OF OF A PLACE WHERE WOULD HAVE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN AN INCUMBENT HAS BEEN TAKEN TAKEN DOWN SO THE DATA THAT IS OUT THERE SHOWS THAT OUR CVI DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE.  IT'S A HARD THING TO ELIMINATE BUT WHAT IT DOES IT MAKES YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR MORE VOTES.  THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT IF A POPULAR INCUMBENT IF YOU'RE A POPULAR INCUMBENT YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM WINNING. YOU ACTUALLY WILL PROBABLY GET MORE VOTES BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET SECOND AND THIRD VOTES FROM OTHER PEOPLE.  AND WITH OUR PROPOSAL ADVANCING THE TOP FOUR FOR DISTRICT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT WOULD ELIMINATE AN ATTACK VECTOR ESSENTIALLY LIKE IF YOU HAD LIKE A WELL-FUNDED OPPOSITION THAT WAS TRYING TO PUT TWO CANDIDATES TO FINISH AHEAD OF YOU THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE BUT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ADVANCE FOR CANDIDATES TO FINISH AHEAD OF AN INCUMBENT.  SO THAT'S NO I APPRECIATE THAT'S ONE TO APPRECIATE THAT FLAHERTY. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS SO I'M GOING TO ASK THEM AND YOU YOU GUYS WE BOTH CAN ANSWER OR JOSH, I KNOW YOU YOU TOUCHED ON AND I THINK AS WELL THE IDEA THAT THE BULLET VOTING RATE HAS INCREASE AND I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S JUST CHRIS I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WHY HAS IT ACTUALLY DECREASED AND I THINK I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE VOTING I THINK THEY REALLY COMES FROM FOR THE INCUMBENTS AND FROM CANDIDATES. RIGHT. PUSHING LIKE THAT NARRATIVE TO TO RESIDENTS AND TO VOTERS IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FROM MY EXPERIENCE VOTERS SAYING I ONLY WANT I ONLY WANT TO VOTE FOR ONE PERSON. SO WHY HAS THAT DECREASED IT? DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO DIRECTLY WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING OR ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT THAT'S BEEN DONE AND LIKE THAT LIKE SO I THINK THAT THE REASON THAT IT DECREASES IS TWOFOLD. NUMBER ONE, THERE'S NO STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE TO BULLET VOTE IN RANKED CHOICE VOTING LIKE THERE IS IN THE BLOC PLURALITY SYSTEM AND THEN TO YOUR POINT THEREFORE OUR CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS ARE LESS INCLINED TO ENCOURAGE THAT STRATEGY AMONGST THEIR SUPPORTERS. SO I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THE STRATEGY IS NOT PROMOTED, IT'S USED LESS.  THE OTHER THING THOUGH IS THAT WHEN VOTERS SEE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RANK ALL THE NAMES ON THE BALLOT, THEY ACTUALLY TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND THEY ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THE CANDIDATES AND FORMULATE OPINIONS AND THEN THEY UTILIZE ALL THEIR RANKS WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE ONE BOX SO TO SPEAK OR BUBBLE NEXT TO EIGHT NAMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO JUST SAY OH I'M JUST GOING TO PICK THE NAME I WANT OR OH I KNOW THESE TWO NAMES. I'LL PICK THESE TWO NAMES I'M DONE. THE RANKED BALLOT ITSELF REALLY INVITES THE VOTER TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THEIR VOTE AND TO FORMULATE OPINIONS ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES WHICH INCREASES ENGAGEMENT OF THOSE VOTERS WITH THOSE CANDIDATES I'VE SEEN CANDIDATES REPORT TO ME THAT THEY'VE HAD FAR MORE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH VOTERS IN ELECTIONS WHERE THEY WERE MAYBE A NOT SO WELL KNOWN CANDIDATE.  THEY WERE A NEWCOMER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WELL, ARE YOU MY THIRD OR FOURTH OR FIFTH OR SIXTH CHOICE CANDIDATE WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF COOL THAT THAT THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES CANDIDATES ESPECIALLY NEW CANDIDATES, THEY GET IGNORED IF THEY'RE NOT WELL KNOWN ALREADY. SO GREAT.  THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE THE EXPERTISE OF THIS PANEL.  I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME BUT THAT'S I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING LATE SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR . THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. I AM BEING COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE A 2 P.M. HEARING AFTER THIS SO I'M TRYING TO BE AS RESPECTFUL AS POSSIBLE BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT THERE'S SOME MORE BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO LATER ON . OKAY. AS COUNCILOR WEBER AND THEN COUNCILOR CATHY SHERRY JUST FOLLOWING UP THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK THE COUNCILOR FROM PORTLAND, YOU KNOW HOW THE EXPERIENCE IN THE BALLOT BOX IS CHANGED FOR YOU AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN PORTLAND WITH FRANCHISE VOTING.  THANK YOU SO MUCH ALSO FRYEBURG YOU SAID OH MY GOD I WAS JUST AT THE FRYEBURG FAIR I GO EVERY YEAR SO I LOVE THAT. I LOVE SEEING ANOTHER MAINER IN THIS IN THIS PLACE SO OKAY WELL I WILL GIVE THAT TITLE TO YOU SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S CHANGED AT THE BALLOT BOX, I MEAN I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE VOTER ENGAGEMENT FROM THE VOTER SIDE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE NOW THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES THAT THEY CAN RANK. SO VOTER EDUCATION HAS PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE INSPIRED TO ACTUALLY GO AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD KNOWING AGAIN THAT THEY'RE NOT STUCK BETWEEN AGAIN TWO CANDIDATES TWO OF THE SAME CANDIDATES THAT AREN'T REFLECTING THEIR BEST INTERESTS . AND SO THERE IS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THE SPECIFIC DATA FOR THIS BUT SINCE WE HAVE HAD RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN MAINE, MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS AT LEAST IN PORTLAND THAT I'VE SEEN ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO THE BALLOT AND THAT HAPPENED IN MY RACE WHEN I WAS RUNNING I WAS IN A TWO PERSON RACE BUT WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE RANKED CHOICE VOTING REALLY CAME INTO PLAY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO EITHER STOPPED VOTING OR HAD IT VOTED BEFORE WERE ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THE BALLOTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.  THEY FELT LIKE CANDIDATES THEN REFLECTED THEIR ISSUES. THERE WERE MORE WOMEN, THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THEY FELT LIKE THEY IDENTIFIED MORE WITH WHO WAS RUNNING BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THEN I THINK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT SPEAKING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND HELPING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES CAMPAIGN, THERE WAS A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS POSSIBLE AND THERE WAS ALSO A GREATER RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR US TO KEEP THE ELECTION PROCESS AND THE CAMPAIGN PROCESS AS CIVIL AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU REALLY WANT IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE FIRST PLACE VOTES, THE SECOND PLACE AND THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH, THOSE VOTES ARE STILL SO IMPORTANT. AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK I HEARD THAT THERE WAS CONCERN AROUND COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGNING AND I ACTUALLY DISAGREE. I THINK THAT THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING IN PORTLAND FOR US TO SEE INDIVIDUALS BEING ABLE TO RUN ON A SLATE, PEOPLE WHO ARE WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE BODIED BEING ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD LIKE NEVER BEFORE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGNING. SO WE'VE SEEN QUITE A CHANGE AGAIN IN PORTLAND. OUR COUNCIL AS I SAID IS THE MOST DIVERSE THAT IT'S EVER BEEN. WE HAVE THE MOST WOMEN THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT I THINK HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK PORTLAND OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE THIS REALLY GREAT VOTING SYSTEM THAT YOU KNOW IS SLOWLY I THINK KIND OF GETTING MORE AND MORE POPULAR AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT BEING PRIVILEGED IN MAINE TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO HAVE IT AND USE IT FOR YEARS I DO SEE MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS FEELING LIKE THEY CAN MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD IN WANTING TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP AND VOTE THAN THAN BEFORE. OKAY. I THINK THANK I GUESS YOU'RE MR SHOEMAKER SO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE 2020 BALLOT QUESTION WERE YOU WORKING ON THAT?  I I WASN'T ON THAT CAMPAIGN. I'VE BEEN ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR VOTER CHOICE MASSACHUSETTS SINCE 2016 AND I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING HERE AND THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR THAT ELECTION BUT THERE WAS A 60 OVER 60% OF BOSTON SUPPORTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THE BALLOT QUESTION CORRECT IS IS THERE ANY LIKE THAT WAS A STATEWIDE QUESTION HERE IS THE MUNICIPALS OR ANY I MEAN SHOULD WE USE THAT AS A GUIDING, YOU KNOW, TO GUIDE US HERE AS TO PEOPLE WANT IN BOSTON OR FOR SURE I MEAN IT DEFINITELY DEMONSTRATES AN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE RIGHT IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS AGAIN TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS PASSING IT, THE MAYOR SIGNING OFF ON IT AND IT GOING TO THE STATEHOUSE ISN'T THE END OF THE ROAD AS THEY GO THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE AND THEN ULTIMATELY BACK BEFORE THE PEOPLE.  SO ESSENTIALLY THIS THIS JUST GIVES THE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ELECTORAL REFORM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR PEPEN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PANELISTS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY. IT'S REALLY AN HONOR WHENEVER WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE SET OF SPEAKERS BECAUSE WHEN I SAY DIVERSE I MEAN JUST WHERE ARE YOU GUYS COMING FROM PROFESSIONALLY? IT'S VERY REFRESHING TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVES ON THIS MATTER.  COUNCILORS GOOD TO SEE THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT IT ONLY TOOK YOU AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET HERE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES ME AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET FROM HYDE PARK TO CITY HALL BUT I ACTUALLY GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES APRIL FOURNIER IN CHICAGO AND MEET AND LEARN ABOUT THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING IN PORTLAND.  MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THIS OR IF YOU COULD HELP ME GET IT WHAT IT'S LIKE. WHAT HAS THE TURNOUT BEEN SINCE REAGAN WAS BORN? IT HAS BEEN USED IN PORTLAND, MAINE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE OR HAS IT BEEN STEADY?  I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT INFORMATION FOR YOU THE NUMBER BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET IT FOR YOU. BUT I WILL SAY JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON VOTING DAY AND MY EXPERIENCE BEING A COUNSELOR IN PORTLAND, WE'RE A VERY SMALL, MIGHTY POLITICALLY ACTIVE CITY SO PEOPLE LIKE TO GO OUT AND THEY LIKE TO VOTE AND I THINK WITH THE EXISTENCE OF CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE FOR MY ELECTION JUST PERSONALLY I WAS VERY MUCH CAMPAIGNING AND RUNNING IN A IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE YOUNGER PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE THAT FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T BEING HEARD BY GOVERNMENT. THAT WAS KIND OF MY MY CREW AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR ME HAD AND VOTED IN YEARS OR ARE VOTING AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND SO THAT FELT REALLY GREAT. AND SIMILARLY WITH COUNCILOR FOURNIER WHO'S A FRIEND OF MINE I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL WITH APRIL HER RACE SHE ACTUALLY DID HAVE AN UPSET IN OUR SEAT IN AN INCUMBENT IN HER RACE AS WELL. SHE RAN DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB, NEVER HELD OFFICE BEFORE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REALLY INSPIRED BY SEEING A WOMAN A WOMAN OF COLOR, SEEING SOMEBODY THAT AGAIN REALLY REFLECTED THEIR INTEREST. AND SO IN A TIME AS WELL WHERE SHE COULDN'T DO DOORS BECAUSE OF COVID 19 AND REALLY HAD TO MAKE HER PRESENCE KNOWN IN OTHER WAYS, PEOPLE WERE TURNING OUT TO THE POLLS LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY FELT SO MUCH RELIEF THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RATE HER AND NOT HAVE TO SAY OKAY, WELL I HAVE TO CHOOSE AGAIN BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OR TWO CANDIDATES AND SO I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS TO SAY LIKE HERE'S THE INCREASE PERCENTAGEWISE BUT I CAN SAY THAT WHEN I GO TO THE POLLS WHEN IT IS VOTING DAY, PEOPLE FEELING LIKE OKAY, HOW AM I RANKING HAVING CONVERSATIONS? THAT'S VERY COMMON OF SAYING LIKE WHERE ARE YOU RANKING THIS PERSON? I'M MAKING THEM TWO ARE YOU DOING THREE? AM I DOING FOUR? SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING VERY OFTEN AND I FEEL LIKE WITH THAT THERE'S A LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT AND A LEVEL OF POSITIVITY THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE AT THE VERY LEAST THEY KNOW THEIR VOTES ARE GOING TO BE COUNTED. THEY KNOW THAT VOTE IS NOT GOING TO BE SPLIT, THAT VOTE IS NOT GOING TO BE WASTED AND THEY KNOW EVEN IF IT'S NOT THEIR FIRST OR SECOND CHOICE IT IS GOING TO BE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN REFLECTED A LOT IN PORTLAND.  AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND WITH MY TESTIMONY SUBMITTED A LOT OF DATA AND RESEARCH PART OF THAT IS A NEW STUDY THAT SHOWED ACTUALLY USING RIGHT BOSTON AS A BOSTON DATA AS A NON RECEIVE CITY COMPARING THE TURNOUT WITH NON NAQVI CITIES IN OUR RACV CITIES IT SHOWED AN AVERAGE OF 17% INCREASE WHICH IS I THINK YOU KNOW WE ONLY HAVE LIKE WHAT 13% SOMETIMES SHOW UP SO THAT WOULD BE AN AMAZING INCREASE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S REFRESHING TO HEAR THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT NEW PEOPLE SHOW UP TO VOTE.  THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO THE THINGS THE COUNCILOR MADE HIS POINT WE ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING IN DIFFERENT VOICES INTO INTO THE VOTING POLLS. MY LAST QUESTION OBVIOUSLY I HAVE 20 SECONDS LEFT IS THIS REGARDING CAMPAIGN MONEY CAMPAIGN FINANCING, OBVIOUSLY IT'S IT COSTS LOT OF MONEY TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND USUALLY USUALLY THE PERSON WITH THE MOST MONEY WINS.  WHAT HAS ASKED THE POPULATION IN REGARDS TO THE CANDIDATES THAT GET ELECTED BECAUSE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS IS THE CASE THAT THE PERSON WITH THE MOST MONEY WINS OR DOES DOESN'T ALLOW THERE TO BE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR SOMEONE WITH LESS RESOURCES TO POTENTIALLY PULL AN UPSET?  YES SO IT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING DECREASES THE INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY IN ELECTIONS ALSO ADVANCING WHAT CANDIDATES FIXING THE I MEAN MOVING SORT OF THE CONTEST TO BE MORE IN THE GENERAL ALSO HELPS CANDIDATES WHO MIGHT HAVE LESS FUNDS SPEND IT ON THE GENERAL INSTEAD OF SORT OF SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY JUST TRYING TO GET PAST THE PRELIMINARY YOU'RE ABLE TO SAVE AND USE UTILIZE MOST OF THOSE FUNDS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION SO IT HELPS WITH THAT.  YEAH. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I DO JUST WANT TO MENTION ED DID PROVIDE US WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION AND IT IS IN THE FOLDER THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS BECAUSE MY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS HAD TO DO WITH THIS VERY POINT IS THAT STATISTIC THAT YOU REFERENCED IS NOT IN THE MATERIALS THAT YOU PROVIDED US THAT WE CAN REVIEW.  YES. IS GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  THANK YOU, CHAIR.  I FEEL LIKE MY LINE OF QUESTIONING IS GOING TO BE A BIT MORE CHALLENGING AS WE DON'T HAVE OF ANOTHER SIDE TO LISTEN. I FEEL LIKE I SORT OF HAVE TO PLAY THE ROLE OF THE OTHER PANEL AND AND I DO THAT AT POLITICAL PERIL SO WHY DON'T WE JUST GET RIGHT AND I'VE GOT A LIST OF CONCERNS THAT I WANT TO JUST THROW TO YOU GUYS. I KNOW WE GET A SHORT TIME BUT I THINK MY BIGGEST FEAR OVERALL IS THAT IT PRODUCES MEDIOCRITY ,RIGHT WHERE OKAY, THE PERSON YOU WANT DIDN'T WIN OR THE PERSON WITH THE MOST VOTES DOESN'T WIN AND YOU GET THAT SECOND, THIRD, MAYBE FOURTH PERSON DOWN THE LINE AND ACROSS THE BOARD. YES, THEY HAVE THE BROAD COALITION OF EVERYBODY SORT OF GOING FOR THEM.  BUT IN TERMS OF INSPIRING THE VOTER TURNOUT OR VOTER PARTICIPATION, EVERYONE'S KIND OF LIKE OKAY, LIKE THAT'S THE PERSON WE'RE WITH NOW AND DOES THAT ACTUALLY TURN THEM OFF IN THE LONG I'VE HEARD SOME DATA OR OTHERWISE AND I APPRECIATE THAT BUT STILL A CONCERN I'D LIKE TO VOICE SORT OF THE CAMEL IS A HORSE BY COMMITTEE YOU KNOW WATERED DOWN.  ARE WE GETTING THE BEST LEADER OUT OF THE GROUP FOR THE ELECTION?  AND I HEARD YOU SAID MORE IT ENCOURAGES MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES TO RUN. THAT'S GREAT.  THE CURRENT SYSTEM HAS PRODUCED THE MOST DIVERSE COUNCIL IN HISTORY SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH RIGHT LIKE WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE END GOAL? I THINK THE CURRENT PRODUCT SHOWS THAT IT CAN WORK RIGHT AND WE CAN HAVE A DIVERSE BODY AS WE DO TODAY UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND I WONDER IF IF EVERYONE VOTED JUST SAY FOR THE SAKE WE HAD 100% TURNOUT ALL THE TIME WOULD THE NEED FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING STILL HAVE COME UP AND I DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRE QUESTION. I JUST I JUST POSE IT I'LL GIVE 2 MINUTES TO RESPOND I'M SORRY AND THEN SAID BEFORE CITY ELECTIONS ARE NONPARTISAN SO ISN'T IT ALREADY RANKED CHOICE WE JUST START DIGGING AS DEEP DOWN THE VOTER POLL TO PULL PEOPLE UP AND I MIGHT ANOTHER CONCERN BEING I CAN SEE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RUNNING AS A SLATE STUFF BUT RIGHT IN TO GET A BUNCH OF LIKE THIS IS WHY I COULD SEE THERE'S SOME WAY TO MANIPULATE EVERY ELECTION NO MATTER WHAT RULES WE PUT IN SOMEONE'S TO COME UP WITH A WAY AND HERE I SEE IT AS LIKE WELL IF WE JUST GET A BUNCH OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE AND SAY WELL RANK THEM 12345 THAT WILL OUTWEIGH THE ONE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE AND AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPRESENTED BUT THEN THEY'LL CATCH ON THE OTHER SIDE CATCHES ON AND SAY WELL WE GOT PUT SEVEN PEOPLE UP AND EVERYONE JUST RANK THEM ONE THROUGH SEVEN SO THAT NO ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE CAN GO AND NOW WE'VE GOT YOU KNOW, 1820 PEOPLE RUNNING IN EVERY ELECTION SO YOU CAN SORT OF OUTWEIGH THE OTHER AGAIN I'M JUST THINKING OF THIS NOW SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME . RIGHT. AND THEN AT SOME POINT LIKE HISTORY ITSELF, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK. IT'S GOING TO SAY THIS IS GETTING TOO DILUTED, TOO CONFUSING.  LET'S JUST TAKE THE TOP TWO AND WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY RIGHT.  THOSE ARE MY LIST OF CONCERNS I KNOW YOU CAN ANSWER ALL NOW BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD THEM. I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN JUST BEFORE I THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ALSO THESE QUESTIONS THEY'RE VALID I THINK BEING ABLE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS IS AS VALID HAPPENS IN MAINE AS WELL. SO I APPRECIATE IT. I'M JUST GOING TO I THINK JUST THE ONE PART THAT I WAS JOTTING DOWN AND THEN I'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE KIND OF DIVE IN BUT I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED ARE WE GETTING THE BEST LEADER OR IS IT MAYOR? AND I THINK WELL, I WOULD PROBABLY ARGUE THAT WITH A WINNER TAKE ALL ELECTION AS WELL LIKE ARE WE GETTING THE BEST LEADERS AT MAYOR? IS IT SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN AN INCUMBENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND ISN'T REALLY PRODUCING RESULTS ANYMORE? IS IT SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN COMFORTABLE IN THAT SEAT FOR YEARS AND KNOWS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ELECTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND SO I THINK MY RESPONSE IS WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING AT LEAST WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO RUN THAT COULDN'T RUN BEFORE AND AGAIN WE HAVE HAD ELECTIONS WHERE THEY'RE NOT MY FAVORITE CANDIDATE WHETHER THEY ARE A LEADER OR NOT I KNOW I'M NOT EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE COUNCILOR IN MY COUNCIL BODY BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT ARGUMENT OF ARE WE GETTING THE BEST LEADER OR NOT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS SPECIFIC TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING OR IF IT'S JUST IN GENERAL ARE WE GETTING THE BEST LEADER? I THINK IF WE ARE OPENING UP THE PLAYING FIELD TO ALLOW MORE INDIVIDUALS TO RUN AND I ALSO THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SUBJECTIVE AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT YOU THINK IS A GREAT LEADER AND WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT LEADER COULD BE DIFFERENT.  SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS REALLY LIKE A REAL CHOICE VOTING THING AND I THINK THAT THAT ARGUMENT COULD ALSO BE PLACED ON A WINNER TAKE ALL ELECTION. ARE THEY ACTUALLY DOING A GREAT JOB? ARE THEY A GREAT LEADER OR ARE THEY JUST COMFORTABLE IN THIS SEAT YOU KNOW, NOT BEING CHALLENGED BECAUSE OF THE WINNER TAKE ALL SYSTEM SO I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT POINT BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.  I THINK IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION AROUND DIVERSITY, YES, THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY BUT HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET THIS AND HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? AND AS WE LOOK AT THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY AS PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REMAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOW. SO I THINK JUST BECAUSE IT'S GOOD NOW THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT HURDLES TO GET HERE AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO STAY THIS WAY I THINK THIS PROCESS OF CREATING A BROADER FIELD AND MORE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY BELIEVE REPRESENT THEIR INTEREST AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT IS THE MOST ELECTABLE OR THE ONE THAT THEY'LL HOLD THEIR NOSE AND VOTE FOR OR THE ONE THAT HAS MORE BACKING AND SUPPORT AND HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING HAVING RANKED CHOICE VOTING ENSURES THAT WE GET A MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND DIVERSE BODY OF GOVERNANCE.  I THINK IN REGARDS TO GAMING THE SYSTEM RIGHT GETTING A SLATE OF CANDIDATES TO RUN AND RANKING THEM ONE THROUGH SEVEN SURE SOMEBODY COULD DO THAT BUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THAT WOULD TAKE TO ACTUALLY DISRUPT THE SYSTEM IS AKIN TO THE NARRATIVE THAT'S USED ABOUT VOTER FRAUD BY IDENTIFICATION OR MISIDENTIFICATION MEANING SENDING A BUS LOAD OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO THE POLLING LOCATION TO VOTE AS SOMEONE ELSE ONE THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED TO THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM LIKE THAT IS NOT THE JUICE IS NOT WORTH THE SQUEEZE. AND SO I THINK PULLING TOGETHER THE AMOUNT OF CANDIDATES AND MANIFESTING THE CAMPAIGN PLATFORM TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE AND REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT ONE THROUGH SEVEN SLATE IS GOING TO BE OUTWEIGHED BY THE LEGITIMATE CANDIDATE WHO ARE RUNNING SO WE CAN CREATE ALL KIND OF NOT CONSPIRACY THEORIES BUT OF POTENTIAL THREATS TO GAME THE SYSTEM BUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN JUST DOESN'T RESONATE WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT A NORMAL ELECTION THE RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN A NORMAL ELECTION AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY BE RUNNING AND JUST TO TACK ON I'M SORRY , GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN YOU BROUGHT UP TOWARDS THE END THERE ABOUT THE IDEA OF IT INCENTIVIZING MORE CANDIDATES TO RUN AS A STRATEGIC THING. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IS THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION IS WHEN YOU FIRST SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THAT CHOSE TO RUN AND THAT PRELIMINARY ELECTION UNDER THIS SYSTEM WOULD WOULD NOT BE A RANKED SYSTEM. SO YOU'RE STILL JUST VOTING FOR TWO OR FOUR NAMES IN THIS CASE AND SO WHETHER OR NOT MORE CANDIDATES RAN BECAUSE OF A STRATEGY YOU WOULDN'T BE RANKING THEM ANY WAY IN THE PRELIMINARY YOU WOULD ONLY SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN THE GENERAL WHERE YOU WOULD RANK THOSE. SO PRESUMABLY LET'S SAY EIGHT IS THE LIMIT ON THE AT LARGE. SO IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T THINK THAT WHETHER OR NOT IT SEEMS TO INCENTIVIZE MORE CANDIDATES RUNNING THE STRATEGY THAT YOU WERE IMPLYING COULD BE EMPLOYED WOULDN'T WORK ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT RANKING IN THE PRELIMINARY SO YOU DON'T NEED A TEAM OF SEVEN TO SORT OF OUTNUMBER THE ONE OF THE OTHER ONE. BUT I THINK THAT THE NOTION THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHICH IS THAT YOU CHANGE THE SYSTEM, YOU CHANGE THE RULES, IT CHANGES THE INCENTIVES AND THE STRATEGIES THAT WILL BE USED BY AND YOU WERE KIND OF IMPLYING TWO FACTIONS WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I THINK RANKED CHOICE HELP SOLVE WHICH IS THAT ONE OF THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN OUR SYSTEM IN AMERICA WHETHER IT'S THE CITY SYSTEM OR NOT IS IT TENDS TO REWARD POLARIZATION AND POLARIZATION HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM. AND SO I THINK THE ACTUAL NATURE OF A RANKED CHOICE ELECTION DISINCENTIVIZES POLARIZATION BECAUSE YOU YOU GAIN LESS FROM THAT TOXIC TRIBALISM WHERE YOU HAVE THESE TWO FACTIONS COMPETING BECAUSE THE WINNER IS THE WINNER THAT IS REWARDED BY CREATING A COALITION AND WHICH I THINK GOES TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION WHICH IS OH WILL DO WE END UP WITH A COALITION OF MEDIA PRETTY WELL IN MY EXPERIENCE SEEING OUTCOMES OF RACES.  GENERALLY SPEAKING THE CANDIDATE WHO WAS IN FIRST PLACE AFTER JUST COUNTING THE FIRST CHOICE ELECTIONS WHICH WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO A PLURALITY SYSTEM THAT CANDIDATE STILL TENDS TO WIN EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON'T AND WHEN THEY DON'T IT'S BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR CANDIDATE TENDS TO BE MORE POLARIZING AND THERE'S A COALITION IN OPPOSITION TO THAT CANDIDATE AND SO GENERALLY YOU DON'T NECESSARILY END UP WITH MEDIOCRITY BUT WHAT YOU DO END UP WITH IS A CHECK ON THE INCENTIVE TO BE POLARIZED AND TRIBAL UNCIVIL BECAUSE THOSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE THE MOST POLARIZING EVEN IF THEY'RE QUITE POPULAR LET'S SAY 42% REALLY LIKE THEM. YOU'RE GOING TO ALSO END UP WITH ABOUT 53% THAT DON'T. AND SO YOU HAVE A COALITION THAT'LL OUST THE MOST POLARIZING TYPE FOLKS AND YOU KNOW, THE WINNER TENDS TO BE STILL A LEADER OF A COALITION. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS IT INCENTIVIZES A COALITION MENTALITY ABOUT HOW YOU CAMPAIGN WHICH CHANGES THE NATURE OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU TEND TO FOCUS MORE ON ISSUES AND GENUINE DIFFERENCES AND LESS ON TEARING DOWN THE OTHER CANDIDATES BECAUSE YOU'RE REWARDED BY BUILDING A COALITION YOU'RE NOT REWARDED BY SIMPLY KNOCKING DOWN ALL OF YOUR OPPONENTS WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE THE REAL CHALLENGES IN AMERICAN POLITICS . WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. I APPRECIATE THE EDUCATION AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO TACK ON AS WELL DEMOCRACY YOU WOULD STILL PREVAIL IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE PLURALITY AND THE BEGINNING AND THE OUTCOME THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME WOULD NEED TO BE A MAJORITY. SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IT'S GOING TO BE AN OUTCOME THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS WANTED TO AND I THANK YOU ALL. THANKS TO YOU SEEING THAT WE DON'T HAVE COUNCILOR BRENNAN WITH US. I'LL DIVE INTO MY QUESTIONING. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT IN MUNICIPALITIES SO I APPRECIATE YOU ELABORATING ON THAT. YOU DID MENTION ONE OF MY QUESTIONS HAD TO DO WITH BUILDING WHICH WE KNOW IS A POLITICAL STRATEGY BECAUSE I I CUT MY TEETH IN THIS WORLD ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND SO IMMEDIATELY MY SPIDEY SENSES WENT TO THE BULLET. AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THE PLURALITY OF VOTERS ARE SORRY THE PLURALITY OF CANDIDATES IS IMPORTANT.  CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY FROM MY NOTES I KNOW I CAN LISTEN BACK BUT SOME OF MY SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS HAS TO DO WITH YOUR ANSWER. YEP. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT I'M CALLING BULLET VOTING IS WHERE A VOTER VOTES FOR FEWER CANDIDATES THAN THEY ARE PERMITTED TO VOTE FOR AND THAT CAN ALSO APPLY IN RANKED CHOICE VOTING WHERE THEY RANK FEWER CANDIDATES THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO RANK BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT AN AT LARGE ELECTION RIGHT NOW WHERE FOUR WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION YOU GET TO VOTE FOR FOUR NAMES. SO WHAT YOU LOOK AT IS YOU SAY WELL ARE VOTERS ACTUALLY CHOOSING FOUR NAMES OR THEY SOMETIMES CHOOSING LESS THAN FOUR AND CERTAINLY SOME VOTERS SAY I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO THE WORK OF LEARNING ABOUT EIGHT CANDIDATES. I KNOW THESE TWO. I WANT THEM TO VOTE FOR THOSE TWO. CERTAINLY THAT HAPPENS BUT THERE IS A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE FOR SOME CANDIDATES TO SAY HEY ,JUST VOTE FOR MY NAME OR JUST VOTE FOR ME AND SUSIE BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF YOU VOTE FOR FOUR NAMES IT'S POSSIBLE ONE OF MY OTHER OPPONENTS MIGHT GET MORE VOTES BECAUSE YOU LIKED THEM AS WELL. AND SO THERE'S THIS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE TO VOTE FOR LESS THAN FOUR CANDIDATES AND IN THE LAST ELECTION IN BOSTON FOR THE AT LARGE SEATS, THE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT WENT UNUTILIZED THAT COULD HAVE BEEN UTILIZED WAS LIKE 29.9% BASICALLY ALMOST A THIRD OF THE VOTES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAST. THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.  AND WHAT WE SAW IN UTAH WHERE WE HAVE SIMILAR ELECTIONS LIKE THAT WHERE YOU HAVE AT LARGE YOU MIGHT HAVE THREE WINNERS. WE CALCULATED THE NUMBER OF THOSE BLANK VOTES YEAR OVER YEAR COMPARED TO A YEAR WHEN THEY USED RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND WHEN THEY DID RANKED CHOICE VOTING THE NUMBER OF THOSE UNUSED BALLOTS SO TO SPEAK REDUCED BY FOUR AND A HALF TIMES 450%.  AND INTERESTINGLY WE HAD ONE CITY THAT THEY USED RANKED CHOICE VOTING FIRST AND THEN DIDN'T AND WE HAD ONE THAT DIDN'T AND THEN DID.  AND SO WE CAN COMPARE THE EFFECT KIND OF BOTH WAYS BEFORE AND AFTER AND I JUST THINK THAT IT'S REALLY DRAMATIC A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THAT IN THAT BOARD VOTING WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU'RE ELIMINATING A STRATEGIC INCENTIVE FOR VOTERS TO DISENFRANCHIZE THEMSELVES. AND SO THAT THAT'S I THINK THAT'S THAT'S AN AMAZING ADVANTAGE TO TO THE RANKED CHOICE BALLOTING AND I THINK WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IN BOSTON PROBABLY IS A SIMILAR EFFECT MAYBE A FOUR TIME DECREASE FROM 30% MAYBE MAYBE DOWN TO ONLY TEN. AND WHAT THAT WOULD INDICATE IS PEOPLE HAD RANKED LET'S SAY FEWER THAN FOUR BECAUSE YOU WOULD WANT TO RANK AT LEAST FOUR POTENTIALLY ALL EIGHT. RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT FLAHERTY. IT'S IT'S HELP TO ANSWER SOME OF MY QUESTIONS. IT IS A PREVALENT POLITICAL STRATEGY IN BOSTON. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS. I'M SAYING THE LOUD PART OR THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD AND SO IT IS NOT FULLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. SO TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS A DECREASE IN SOME OF THE UNUSED BALLOTS I THINK IS COMPELLING FOR ME AND JUST KNOW THAT TOO THIS PANEL WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE POLITICAL MINDS HERE AND SO I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO ASK AND IT IS NOT TO BE TOUGH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THESE ARE JUST REAL CONCERNS THAT I HAVE UNDERSTANDING KIND OF BOTH SIDES OF THIS WORLD. BUT THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS OUR GOAL AND YOU HAVE TO REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS POSSIBLE AND UNDERSTAND THE FUNDRAISING ASPECT OF IT. YOU ONLY HAVE YOU ON A CAMPAIGN YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME, MONEY, RESOURCES, VOLUNTEERS THAT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING AND SO TO REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS YOU CAN YOU NEED MORE OF THOSE THOSE RESOURCES UNLESS I KNOW THAT YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS UNLESS THERE IS SOME COALITION BUILDING WHICH I THINK IS THE POINT OF THIS AND I THINK I WANT TO BE CLEAR I'M A HUGE STACEY ABRAMS FAN. I THINK EXPANDING THE ELECTORATE AND DEMOCRACY IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.  I AM JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS POSSIBLE AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THESE FUNDRAISING NETWORKS LIKE WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IF YOU'VE SEEN ANYTHING, WHAT HAS THE WHAT HAS THOSE IMPACTS BEEN ON THOSE FOLKS?  I CAN ANSWER THAT BUT I HOPE THAT MY IS THERE IS THERE A CHALLENGE THAT YOU'VE SEEN OR IS THERE NO CHALLENGE AT ALL OF FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE YEAH, I MEAN I USE THESE NETWORKS. YEAH. SO FOLKS THAT HAVE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT PERHAPS MAYBE LESS MONEY I'M THINKING ABOUT A CANDIDATE LIKE AN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL LIKE COUNCILOR JULIAN HERE WHO HAS THE PROPORTION OF DOLLARS PER VOTES I'M SURE YOU'VE DONE THIS CALCULATION AFTERWARDS HOW MANY VOTES A PERSON GOT VERSUS HOW MUCH THEY RAISED AND SPENT IT SHOWED THAT SHE HAD A LOT OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT AND IT TOOK A LOT LESS DOLLARS TO GET HER VOTES OUT AS COMPARED TO SOME OTHER CANDIDATES. SO YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS COALITION SUPPORT, GRASSROOTS SUPPORT.  WE'RE DEFINITELY SORT OF YOU COULD SWAP THAT OUT WITH HAVING A LOT OF MONEY WHERE YOU CAN HIRE FIELD ORGANIZERS I'M SURE COUNCILMEMBER HE UTILIZED A LARGE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER SUPPORTERS AS WELL, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I MEAN MONEY DOES HELP IN ELECTIONS OBVIOUSLY AS WE KNOW. BUT LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY IT DECREASES THE IMPACT IN THE ROLE OF THE MONEY IN THE ELECTIONS BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO REACH MORE VOTERS AND AND WORK HARDER TO DO THAT . SO I THINK ANOTHER POINT TO MAKE IS THAT A LOT OF TIMES CANDIDATES LAMENT THE ENGAGEMENT OF VOTERS BECAUSE FROM THE CANDIDATE PERSPECTIVE YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY REACHING THE VOTERS AND YOU SORT OF WISH THE VOTERS WOULD TRY TO REACH YOU. YOU KNOW, I'VE RUN FOR OFFICE AND IT'S LIKE WELL, THE VOTER SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS, SHOULDN'T THEY BE CALLING ME TO ASK YOU? IT'S LIKE NO, YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND TALK TO THEM.  BUT IN RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS SOME EXAMPLES AND CANDIDATES I'VE TALKED TO WERE ACTUALLY SURPRISED BY THE DEGREE TO WHICH VOTERS ACTUALLY DID REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THE VOTER NOW SEES THEIR ROLE AS NOT JUST PICKING A COUPLE NAMES BUT RATHER FORMULATING OPINIONS ABOUT ALL EIGHT CANDIDATES. AND SO FOR CANDIDATES THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY,  SIMPLY YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, YOUR YOU KNOW, THIN MAYBE COVERAGE BY THE MEDIA OR YOUR WEBSITE BECOMES A LURE FOR THE VOTERS TO COME ENGAGE WITH YOU AND LEARN ABOUT YOU BECAUSE THE VOTER NOW FEELS MORE RESPONSIBLE THAT THEY HAVE TO FORMULATE AN OPINION ABOUT ALL A CANDIDATES AND EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE TO RANK ALL THE CANDIDATES, A LOT OF VOTERS JUST THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LOOKING AT THAT BALLOT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO RANK ALL EIGHT AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE ACT OF VOTING AND SO I THINK FOR THOSE CANDIDATES THAT ARE UNABLE TO REACH ALL THE VOTERS, THEY ARE LIKELY TO GET MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM VOTERS WHO VIEW THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RANK ALL EIGHT TO FORMULATE AN OPINION ABOUT YOU AS A CANDIDATE. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A COUNTERFACTUAL WAY TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE THE UPSIDE OF RANKED CHOICE BALLOTING WHERE YEAH, IT IS HARD TO TO REACH EVERYBODY IN BOSTON BUT YOU KNOW MAYBE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE VOTERS NOW THINK ABOUT THEIR THEIR VOTE DIFFERENTLY YEAH CAN I CAN I JUST ADD SOMETHING VERY BRIEFLY HERE TOO? YES.  NO SECRET THAT I'VE WORKED ON A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS AND IN SPECIFICALLY FIRST TIME CANDIDATES, WOMEN OF COLOR. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND I UNDERSTAND ALSO WHAT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE AND FOR FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING THEIR OUT AND WANT TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE SO IT'S IT'S VALID. RIGHT. BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE'VE SEEN CANDIDATES THAT RAISED THE MOST MONEY.  THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS RACES WHERE THE PERCEIVED FRONT RUNNER HAD TWICE THE AMOUNT OF COMMITTEE FUNDS AND DID NOT WIN OR DID NOT IMPACT OR REACH THE VOTERS IN THE WAYS THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD. SO JUST PIGGYBACKING A LITTLE BIT OFF WHAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE HEARING FROM JOSHUA BUT ALSO AGAIN BACK TO FUNDRAISING AND THE REACH HOW WE TALK ABOUT REACHING VOTERS IN THE WAYS THAT WE CHOOSE TO REACH VOTERS IN WAYS THAT WE WANT TO ENGAGE VOTERS AND I THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT OUR BE IS THIS CONCEPT RIGHT THAT LIKE BACK TO HOW VOTERS THINK I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE AND IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S ONLY LIKE TWO PEOPLE, RIGHT AND WHAT THEY'RE HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T CHOOSE FOR THEY CAN'T REALLY GO IN THAT BOOTH AND VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR AND I THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING ALLOWS THE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE MORE PARTICIPATORY.  SO I THINK YOUR RESPONSE AND SORT OF WHAT ED SAID LIKE THE RETURN OF HOW WE'RE USING OR HOW CANDIDATES ARE USING THOSE DOLLARS ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE IT CAN BE USED DIFFERENTLY AND IT COULD CREATE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES AND DEPENDING AGAIN BACK TO THE CANDIDATE BACK TO THEIR PLATFORM AND BLOCK AND BACK TO THE WAY THEY'RE ALSO ENGAGING WITH THE VOTERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS.  SO I STILL SEE IT AS AND I GUESS LASTLY I SAID I WAS GOING TO BE BRIEF ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT SOMEBODY BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS ALSO WHAT WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED AND I APPRECIATED ROSANNE SAYING LIKE CONSPIRACIES RIGHT OR THESE THEORIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT ELITES OR FUNDING OR ALL THESE THINGS AT THE END OF THE DAY AGAIN WE'RE SAYING THAT IF THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS MORE PARTICIPATORY,  THAT CANDIDATES HAVE BETTER EXPERIENCES QUITE FRANKLY I'M BIASED.  WOMEN WILL HAVE BETTER EXPERIENCES. YOU KNOW, AND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT WE CAN BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS MOMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THERE IS MOMENTUM, THERE IS ENGAGEMENT AROUND THIS.  I SEE THE EFFORTS OF LIKE EXPANDING EDUCATION ON RCP LIKE IT'S HERE SO I THINK EVERYBODY JUST BENEFITS FROM IT AND AND I THINK THE VOTERS ALSO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTY WITH FUNDRAISING AND WILL RESPOND, YOU KNOW, TO CANDIDATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK THAT MIGHT HAVE LESS ACCESS TO THE BIGGER ACCOUNTS AND THEIR COMMITTEES BUT ARE ACTUALLY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. YEAH AND I THAT'S A WELL TAKEN POINT. I SAW THAT FIRSTHAND IN 2017 WHEN I WAS A CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR A CANDIDATE WHO WAS OUT FUNDRAISE 3 TO 1 AND THE VOTERS AT THE END OF THE DAY IN MY OPINION MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT AND IN MY MIND TO ME BECAUSE OF THAT AND OTHER EXAMPLES WE DO HAVE A MAJORITY ON THE COUNCIL HERE. THERE ARE YOU KNOW IT IS IT IS WORKING ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT CV WOULD MAKE IT BETTER. I THINK I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT POINT.  I DO I KNOW THAT I'M BEING I'M UTILIZING MORE OF MY TIME. I'M SO SORRY . I DO JUST WANT TO SAY BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE CONVERSATIONS THERE'S GOING TO BE WORKING SESSIONS AND SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SAY WELL YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT THAT WAS AN ISSUE OR YOU HAD CONCERNS ABOUT IT. I AM GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO SEE SOME SAFEGUARDS IN TO THIS STRATEGIC STRAWMAN CANDIDATE FRAMEWORK OR WHAT I WHAT I THINK COULD BE 20 VERSUS 20 WHERE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING UP CANDIDATES AS PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY.  I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AT SOME POINT MAYBE ASSUAGING MY FEARS IN A PURPLE DISTRICT WHERE THERE THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY A SWING IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE REALLY WOULDN'T EXPECT WHERE FOLKS SEE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT REFLECTS THEM IN THEIR VALUES RATHER THAN SOMEBODY WHO IS GOOD AT MAKING FRIENDS WHO ARE WITHIN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING. I GUESS LIKE I FEEL LIKE A QUESTION TO YOU WOULD BE HOW HAVE YOU SEEN LOYALTY TO CANDIDATES TRANSLATE TO LOYALTY TO OTHER CANDIDATES LIKE DOES THIS COALITION BUILDING ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN PRACTICE RATHER THAN THEORY?  YEAH, IN MY EXPERIENCE IT DOES. THE COALITION BUILDING HAPPENS . BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT SOMETIMES THE COALITIONS AREN'T WHAT THE CANDIDATES THINK AND THERE'S MORE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AMONG VOTERS. WHAT I FIND IS THAT VOTERS TEND TO HAVE STRONG PREFERENCES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR TOP TWO LET'S SAY AND THEN THEY START TO FORMULATE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT OPINIONS ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE. AND EVEN IF THOSE TOP TWO CANDIDATES THAT THEY LIKE ARE PART OF A SLATE I'VE TALKED TO MANY, MANY VOTERS AND SEEN MANY, MANY VOTING PATTERNS THAT SEEM TO DEFY WHAT POLITICAL INSIDERS MIGHT TRY TO PREDICT ABOUT VOTER BEHAVIOR BASED ON SLATES AND AND TEAMING UP AND COALITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO THE POLITICAL STRATEGIST IN ME IS LIKE WHY AREN'T THESE VOTERS DOING WHAT WE POLITICAL STRATEGISTS THINK THEY OUGHT TO DO? AND THEN THE DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE IN ME SAYS GEE, THIS BEAUTIFUL IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD HOPE, RIGHT IS THAT THE VOTERS FORMULATE THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I SEE ACTUALLY HAPPENING.  SO I DON'T KNOW THAT. AND THEN TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT THERE COULD BE NEW STRATEGIES EMERGE ABOUT RECRUITING CANDIDATES TO RUN TO SOMEHOW WATER DOWN THE FIELD AGAIN, JUST RECALL THAT FOR THIS SYSTEM IN YOUR PRELIMINARY ELECTION YOU'RE STILL JUST VOTING FOR FOUR NAMES AND SO THERE'S NO INCENTIVE OR ADVANTAGE FOR ONE FACTION TO HAVE MORE CANDIDATES FROM THAT FACTION. IT'S ALWAYS ADVANTAGE AT ADVANTAGEOUS JUST TO TRY TO RECRUIT FAKE CANDIDATES FOR THE OTHER SIDE BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO DO. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT IN THEORY I RARELY SEE IT ACTUALLY WORK OUT AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IN OTHER WORDS WHAT WHAT I'M IMPLYING IS THAT ONE FACTION TRIES TO USE THE PLURALITY SYSTEM WHICH YOU'LL STILL HAVE PLURALITY IN YOUR PRELIMINARY ELECTION. YOU USE THE PLURALITY SYSTEM TO CREATE THE SPOILER EFFECT FOR YOUR OPPONENT AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WHAT I SEE HAPPEN IS THAT THE SPOILER CANDIDATE TENDS TO NOT BE DISINGENUOUS. THEY TEND TO BE REAL.  SO I MEAN THE COMMON EXAMPLE IS A LIBERTARIAN IN A RED STATE THAT IS STILL FAIRLY COMPETITIVE AND YOU HAVE A THREE WAY RACE BETWEEN LET'S SAY A REPUBLICAN, A LIBERTARIAN AND A DEMOCRAT. AND SO YOU HAVE A SPOILER EFFECT WHERE THE LIBERTARIAN DRAWS RIGHT WING ORIENTED VOTERS FROM THE REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRAT WINS. THE OPPOSITE HAPPENS IN BLUE STATES WITH GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES, RIGHT? THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES.  BUT THIS IDEA OF THE SPOILER ONLY WORKS I THINK WHEN YOUR CANDIDATE THAT'S THE SPOILER IS TRULY SUPPORTED AND RUNNING FOR THEIR OWN REASONS IT RARELY WORKS THAT ONE SIDE RECRUITS A SPOILER TO TRY TO UNDERMINE THEIR OPPONENT AND IN THE CASE OF CHOICE VOTING IN BOTH CASES RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELIMINATES THE SPOILER EFFECT AND DISINCENTIVE RISES THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. SO I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT AND WHO RUNS FOR OFFICE. THOSE PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO PUT THEIR NAME AND REPUTATION ON THE LINE. THEY STUFF TO PAY A FILING FEE. THEY STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND CAMPAIGN.  THERE WAS AN ACTUAL EXAMPLE OF THIS IN UTAH WHERE IN ONE CITY ADVOCATES WHO DID NOT LIKE RANKED CHOICE VOTING THEY RECRUITED A BUNCH OF ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES TO RUN TO TRY TO DILUTE THE FIELD JUST TO CREATE CHAOS.  AND LARGELY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THOSE CANDIDATES WERE IGNORED BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GENUINE CANDIDATES WHO DIDN'T RUN ELECTION. YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T RUNNING A REAL CAMPAIGN AND THEY LARGELY GOT IGNORED AND THE RACE CAME DOWN TO WHO YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COME DOWN TO. THERE WAS KIND OF A TOP THREE COMPETING OPTION HAPPENING AND LARGELY THAT'S WHERE THE VOTES LIED AND IT DIDN'T THE STRATEGY SORT OF DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND DIDN'T DIDN'T LAND THE RIGHT WAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.  AND I KNOW IT'S A SHARED GOAL OF ALL OF US JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS HAS INTEGRITY AND IT'S BEING UTILIZED IN A WAY THAT'S NOT TAKING IT OR BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF FOR ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO DO. MY COLLEAGUES HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANT TO ASK THE PANEL BUT OUR CONSTITUTION THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ASKING SUCH GREAT QUESTIONS. I THINK YOU ALL EXPLAINED IT. I THINK THIS THE I THINK IN THE PLURALITY SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THERE'S MORE GAMING THAT CAN HAPPEN RIGHT IN THIS SYSTEM. IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE MAJORITY PREFERENCE OF VOTERS AND THAT WINNING OUT EVERY TIME IS GOING TO ACTUALLY PREVENT GAMESMANSHIP.  IT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ELECTING CANDIDATES THAT REFLECT THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTER THE GAMING THAT HAS SOMETIMES I THINK FOLKS MAY BE REFERRING TO A LITTLE BIT IS AMONG THE CANDIDATES BUT I ACTUALLY SEE THIS AS DECREASING THAT HAPPENING COMPLETE LIKE YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE IT COMPLETELY BUT JUST SIGNIFICANTLY LESS IN OUR RACV MODEL WE DO RETAIN A PRIMARY AND ON THE PREVIOUS PANEL THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW IN SOME RCP MODELS THERE IS NO LONGER A PRIMARY. IF ANYBODY COULD TALK TO THE COMPARISON BETWEEN RACV AREAS WHERE THERE IS A PRIMARY AND RACV WHERE THERE ISN'T A PRIMARY I'D LOVE TO BECAUSE THIS IS THE UTAH EXAMPLE IN UTAH A LOT OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSE TO USE RANKED CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES THAT PRELIMINARY ELECTION THAT YOU ALL HAVE. WHAT SOMETIMES CALLED A PRIMARY RIGHT? AND THAT'S BECAUSE SO LET'S SAY IN THE EXAMPLE HERE IN BOSTON IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EIGHT A LIMIT OF EIGHT TOTAL CANDIDATES FOR THE AT-LARGE SEATS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, WOULD YOU HAVE A PRELIMINARY ELECTION IF ONLY EIGHT CANDIDATES FILED FOR OFFICE?  AND THE ANSWER IS YOU WOULDN'T RIGHT IN BOSTON YOU WOULDN'T. SO YOU WOULD SAVE SOME MONEY. NOW YOU'RE NOT PREDICTING THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS AVOID THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION. YOU'RE ANTICIPATING THAT YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE A PRELIMINARY ELECTION, MAYBE 12 TO 16 CANDIDATES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  SO I THINK THAT BASIC SEE IT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT AIMING TO SAY WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE THE GENERAL ELECTION AS MANY CANDIDATES AS WANT TO RUN CAN RUN. MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE 12 IN THE GENERAL ELECTION YOU'RE STILL ANTICIPATING HAVING THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION TO LIMIT YOUR TOTAL CANDIDATES TO EIGHT IN THE IN THE AT LARGE IN YOUR GENERAL.  I THINK THAT'S WISE AND THAT'S A GOOD GOOD STRATEGY. I THINK MORE THAN EIGHT CANDIDATES FROM A RANKING PERSPECTIVE I DON'T KNOW THAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT RANKING 12 OR 14 OR 16. SO I LIKE THAT YOU'RE SAYING LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE TOTAL CANDIDATES TO EIGHT IN THE GENERAL IF THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T NEED THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION, GREAT. BUT OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO PLAN ON HAVING IT. SO I THINK THAT'S A ACTUALLY REALLY WISE COMPROMISE IF YOU WILL. SO SOME OF OUR TIME RIGHT NOW LIKE LAST YEAR THERE WEREN'T WE DIDN'T HAVE A PRELIMINARY IN THE AT-LARGE RACE BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF CAN'T SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE YES IT'S A NOVEL SYSTEM BUT AT THE SAME TIME A LOT OF THINGS ARE JUST GOING TO WILL JUST FEEL THE SAME RIGHT YEAH YEAH I MEAN I THINK FOR SMALLER CITIES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO SAY WHY ARE WE HAVING A PRELIMINARY ELECTION SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE CANDIDATES FROM 4 TO 2 LIKE WE COULD JUST HAVE FOUR IN THE GENERAL AND YOU COULD RANK THEM RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE REASON SOME CITIES USE RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN A GENERAL ELECTION AS A STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR A PRELIMINARY ELECTION.  I COULD SEE WHERE THAT DOESN'T MAKE AS MUCH SENSE FOR BOSTON BUT IF IT HAPPENS GREAT YOU SAVE SOME MONEY. BUT OKAY. I JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT WE THREW A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY LANDED ON THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING REFORM DOES INCLUDE JUST WHOLESALE GETTING RID OF THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION.  BUT IN ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH VOTERS ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC LEADERS, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH UNANIMOUS THAT FOLKS WANTED TO MAINTAIN THE PRELIMINARY AND I MEAN I AGREED WITH THEM AS WELL. I LIKE MAYBE I'M A LITTLE OLD SCHOOL BUT I DO LIKE THE PRELIMINARY THAT WE HAVE HERE. I THINK ADVANCING THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY VOTERS ARE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY SO YEAH BIG THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO BE DONE BY 2:00 TO GIVE OUR CENTRAL STAFF ENOUGH TIME TO PREP FOR THE NEXT HEARING. AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND I WILL RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO ABIDE BY THE TIME. AND THEN FOR FOLKS ON ZOOM WHO WANT TO GIVE TESTIMONY, WE WILL START YOUR TESTIMONY BY 152 AND ON TIME. THANK YOU.  THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL LISTEN WILL BE IMPORTANT TO THIS AFTERNOON SO YOU KNOW IT'S SO FUNNY AND I'VE NEVER REALLY DONE THE RESEARCH TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE SPENT TO GET A VOTE SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT DATA EXISTS THEN I'D LOVE TO SEE IT AND SHARE IT PUBLICLY BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A REALLY GREAT STORY TO TELL THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WELL RESOURCED TO RUN A CAMPAIGN.  I THINK THAT THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE PUBLIC AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS BUT SEND IT OVER MY WAY NOT JUST ME JUST IN GENERAL. I JUST THINK THAT IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT DEMOCRACY CAN WORK IF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR THAT VOTE, YOU KNOW, GO OUT TO THE STREETS, KNOCK ON THOSE DOORS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT EASY TO GET HERE. AND I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS I KEEP REFLECTING ON THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE NOTION OF PARTICIPATION IS IS WHAT GETS PEOPLE OUT. AND I THINK THAT WHETHER YOUR CANDIDATE IS GOING TO WIN OR NOT, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO VOTE IS A GOOD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE TO A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, I THINK AND I THINK THAT WE ARE AT A MOMENT IN TIME THAT WE HAVE TO START THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT ELECTIONS ARE ALL ABOUT. MY LAST CYCLE I DECIDED TO RUN WITHOUT POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS. I DIDN'T WANT TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS SO I DECIDED I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO ENDORSE ME AND I WASN'T GOING TO ENDORSE ANYONE. I ALSO OUGHT NOT TO ASK FOR A UNION FOR ALL THE UNION SUPPORTS I PICKED AND CHOOSE THE UNIONS THAT BEST REPRESENTED MY VALUES AND SO THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS POLITICAL SUICIDE. AND I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I HAD ALL OF THAT SUPPORT IN 2021 I WAS ONLY FOUR OR 500 VOTES FROM BEING THE TOP VOTE GETTER.  BUT WHEN I WENT WITHOUT ALL OF THAT SUPPORT I STILL CAME THE TOP THREE WITH THE LEAST RESOURCES STILL IN TERMS OF FUNDING. SO I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT THAT PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDE WHO GETS INTO THESE SEATS NOT DOLLARS. AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSCORE THAT IT'S PEOPLE NOT POLITICAL MACHINES THAT GET INTO THESE SEATS, NOT POLITICAL MACHINES.  AND I THINK THAT THE MORE WE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY, THE MORE WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WHETHER PEOPLE BELIEVE I HAVE A BALL IS THAT THE WORD OR NOT I'M HERE AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE ME OUT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PUT MEJIA AND THAT IS WHAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING DOES. IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMEWHAT DISRUPTIVE TO SHOW UP AND REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT IT'S PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT OFTEN MAKES IT HARDER TO COME IN HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS MOUTH.  AND I THINK THAT PART OF THE EQUATION IS WHAT GETS PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THEN THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T TALK LIKE THEM WHO DON'T SHOW UP LIKE THEM AND WHO PUSH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD I'M TOO AGGRESSIVE, I'M ASSERTIVE SOMETIMES EVEN A BULLY JUST BECAUSE I FIGHT FOR MY PEOPLE AND THOSE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT PRIVILEGE AND IT IS ABOUT LABELING WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO SERVE AND THAT IS WHY I'M GOING ALL OUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR HOME RULE PETITION BECAUSE IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE GAME WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT WHO IS REFEREEING IT.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR ON THE HILL DOES ANYBODY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COUNSELOR WEBER SHOULD WE YEAH, I JUST AGAIN THANK YOU EVERYONE JUST YOU'RE MY ATTORNEY BRAIN TRYING TO THINK OF LIKE YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU KNOW SOMETHING A SCENARIO WHERE SOMEBODY FINISHES A THREE PERSON RACE SOMEBODY FINISHES THIRD COULD WIN THE RACE YOU COULD WIN CORRECT. UNDER UNDER THIS PROPOSAL IF THERE WERE THREE CANDIDATES AND THEY FINISHED THIRD THE NO BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE ELIMINATED. BUT YEAH, IF THERE WERE FOUR OR THAT PERSON WHO COMES IN FOURTH ONCE THEIR ELIMINATED IF PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY THAT VOTED FOR THAT CANDIDATE MAYBE CHOSE NUMBER THREE AS THEIR SECOND CHOICE THERE IS A THEORETIC A WAY IN WHICH THAT THIRD PLACE PERSON COULD LEAPFROG THE SECOND PLACE PERSON IF THE SECOND PLACE PERSON HAD A SIMILAR EFFECT WHERE ALL OF THOSE SECOND CHOICE WERE FOR THIS PERSON THEN YEAH ESSENTIALLY YOU WOULD BUILD A COALITION BEHIND CANDIDATE THIRD PLACE TO REALLY ULTIMATELY BE THE WINNER.  OKAY BUT SO THAT'S AGAIN LIKE IF YOU HAVE TWO CANDIDATES WHO ARE VERY POLARIZING AND YOU'VE GOT TO YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY FINISHES THIRD OUT OF FOUR WHO IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO THE WORK AND GET PEOPLE TOGETHER, I DON'T KNOW IS THAT HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO SOMEBODY WHO'S LIKE WELL, THE SYSTEM YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AN ELECTION BETWEEN VANILLA ICE CREAM BURNT ALMOND FUDGE CHOCOLATE AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE, RIGHT. IN OTHER WORDS, THREE TYPES OF CHOCOLATE, ONE TYPE OF VANILLA. AND IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTORATE AND THE ELECTORATE SAYS, YOU KNOW, HEY, 55% OF THESE PEOPLE WANT SOME KIND OF CHOCOLATE BUT 45% WANT VANILLA.  OKAY. SO IF YOU IF YOU HAVE THREE FLAVORS OF CHOCOLATE AND THREE STYLES OF CHOCOLATE AND ONLY ONE STYLE OF VANILLA, OF COURSE VANILLA COMES IN FIRST WITH 45% BUT 55% OF THE PEOPLE WANT CHOCOLATE AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PREFERENCES ABOUT WHAT VERSION OF CHOCOLATE BUT THEY'RE ULTIMATELY GOING TO COALESCE BEHIND THE MOST FAVORED VERSION OF THE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SO THAT IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ICE CREAM FOR THE GROUP TO SHARE IT'S GOING TO BE THE 55% COALITION BEHIND CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM AS OPPOSED TO THE 45% MINORITY OR PLURALITY OF THE VANILLA. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SORT OF WHAT YOU CALL VOTE SPLITTING.  RIGHT. OKAY. NOW I'M HUNGRY SHARE.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  ALL RIGHT, COUNCILOR BREADON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I APOLOGIZE I HAVE TO STEP OUT FOR ANOTHER MEETING SO I OFTEN YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTIQUE AROUND YOUR BALLOT POSITION PLACED ON THE BALLOT. HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY ANY ANY IMPACTS OF WHERE YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE ALL LOVE TO BE TOP OF THE NUMBER ONE ON THE BALLOT BUT JUST AS THERE HAD BEEN ANY RESEARCH INTO HOW THAT IMPACTS RANK CHOICE YOU KNOW I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BUT I WILL SAY THE CITY OF AUSTIN CURRENTLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN CURRENTLY YOU KNOW WE DO IT WITH THE BINGO MACHINE TO DETERMINE THE BALLOT ORDER.  YEAH BUT THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO LOOK INTO. YEAH.  UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE HAS AN ANSWER FOR THAT. I MEAN LIKE HEAR ME OKAY HERE WE GO.  SO FOR PORTLAND, FOR MAINE WE DO ABIDE BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER OF LAST NAME. SO I WAS LOST ON THE BALLOT. IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON ME . YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S STILL PEOPLE WILL GO IN KNOWING HOW THEY WANT TO RANK FOR THE MOST PART. SO SEEING WHERE THEY ARE IN THE BALLOT DEPENDING ON THEIR LAST NAME IT'S STILL KIND OF LIKE GOING ONE BY ONE AND SAYING OKAY FOR SECOND THIRD SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC DATA ON THAT OTHER THAN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT.  YEAH, I THINK ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME SEEMS LIKE A RATIONAL WAY TO GO IN THE SUPER AND THEN YOU KNOW I'M STILL TRYING TO IF YOU IF YOU'VE SEVEN OR EIGHT CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR A POSITION LIKE NOT A NOT A LARGE BUT A DISTRICT SEAT AND WOULD BE A PRELIMINARY RANK CHOICE THAT WOULD WINDOW THE FIELD DOWN TO THE LAST FOUR AND YOU WOULD HAVE YOU WOULD HAVE YOU WOULD HAVE A PRELIMINARY AND THE LAST FOUR IS THAT CORRECT? WOULD YOU JUST KEEP THEM ALL IN AND JUST GO GO THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH TO REMEMBER AND DO IT THAT WAY?  YOU KNOW SO THE PRELIMINARY WOULD BE PLURALITY SIMILAR THAT WE HAVE NOW INSTEAD OF ADVANCING TWO CANDIDATES IT WOULD ADVANCE FOUR CANDIDATES AND THE AT-LARGE WOULD STILL ADVANCE THE TOP EIGHT AND THEN RANK UP TO FOUR FOR MAYOR DISTRICT AND AT-LARGE COUNCIL . SO THE VOTERS ARE NEVER RANKING MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE. OKAY. UM YEAH. KEEPS EVERYBODY ON THEIR TOES THEN THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH NOVEMBER.  THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. AND ALSO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL BECAUSE IT SHIFTS AGAIN LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT REALLY SHIFTS THE CONTEST MORE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IN IN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE THAT TURN OUT IN THE PRELIMINARY WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO PEOPLE THAT TURN OUT IN THE GENERAL IS OFTEN A WEALTHIER WHITER DEMOGRAPHIC WHO TURNS OUT AND THEN SORT OF SELECTS THE FINAL CHOICES FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. SO ADVANCING THE TOP FOUR WOULD ESSENTIALLY GIVE THE GENERAL GENERAL VOTERS GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS MORE OF A SAY IN WHO THEY WANT ESSENTIALLY AND FOCUSING ON ISSUES RATHER THAN YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO THE WEEDS AND NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING. YEAH THAT STUFF YEAH YEAH I MEAN IT CHANGES THE FOCUS AWAY LIKE DO I LIKE THIS PERSON? I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A FACTOR WHEN YOU'RE DECIDING WHO TO VOTE FOR BUT IT REALLY PUTS THE EMPHASIS MORE BACK ON ISSUES RATHER THAN LIKE PERSONAL ATTACKS AND YOU KNOW ALL THAT GOOD STUFF FUN STUFF.  YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JOSH, DO YOU HAVE A 30 MINUTE ANSWER HERE? OH, EXCUSE ME . 33 WILL BE WITHIN 30 MINUTES BUT YES, 30 SECONDS, 30 SECONDS. ONE OF THE THINGS CANDIDATES IN UTAH REPORTED REALLY LIKING ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING WAS THAT WHEN RANKED CHOICE VOTING FACILITATED THE ELIMINATION THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION AND THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A DISTRICT ELECTION HERE WHERE IF ONLY FOUR CANDIDATES FILED TO RUN FOR OFFICE THERE WOULD BE NO PRELIMINARY ELECTION AND CANDIDATES LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY SAVED MONEY THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO CAMPAIGN DURING THAT PRELIMINARY CYCLE AND THEY COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, WORK TOWARDS THE NOVEMBER CYCLE WHEN TWO ADS POINT MORE VOTERS OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY. AND SO A LOT OF CANDIDATES LIKED THAT AND THEY FELT LIKE IT MAYBE SAVED THEM SOME MONEY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN A CAMPAIGN EARLIER IN THE YEAR . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION. SO UNDERSTANDING THAT NEXT STEPS IF THIS WERE TO PASS COUNCIL WOULD THEN BE SIGNED BY THE MAYOR. WHAT IS THAT WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS LOOK LIKE AT THE STATE HOUSE? DO YOU HAVE A SPONSOR? DO YOU HAVE A COALITION ALREADY UP THERE? YES. SO WE HAVE WHO'S GOING TO BE FILING IT IS GOING TO BE SAM MONTANO AND CHRIS WORRELL, THE REPRESENTATIVES.  WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT AS WELL. BUT IT WOULD GO TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ELECTION LAW BEFORE.  IT GETS A VOTE AND THEN SENT TO THE THE MAYOR NOT THE MAYOR THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WHICH WOULD THEN PUT IT BEFORE THE VOTERS.  HOPEFULLY IF EVERYTHING HAPPENS THE WAY WE HOPE IT WILL THE 2025 MAYORAL ELECTION THIS WILL BE A NON-BINDING, NON-BINDING REFERENDUM THAT GETS ADDED TO IT BUT WOULD TRIGGER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING. OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN I APOLOGIZE. ONE LAST LEGAL QUESTION WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORRIED THAT THIS CONFLICTS WITH THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN ELECTIONS, RIGHT? NO, NO IT'S NOT IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH STATE STATE ELECTIONS. OKAY, THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT FOR ME . DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON LINE? OKAY, THEY'RE GONE. WE ALSO HAVE DOUG CHAVEZ WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY. DOUG STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR AFFILIATION AND YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. DOUG CHAVEZ I REPRESENT MYSELF THE CHAVEZ GROUP. I'LL BE QUICK.  I WANT TO THANK MADAM PRESIDENT FOR SUPPORT COUNCILOR ME COUNCILOR S.A. AND THE OTHER CITY COUNCILORS WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT INCREASING INCREASINGLY DIVERSITY OF CANDIDATES OF COLOR AND WOMEN YOU KNOW, TO RUN FOR OFFICE.  THIS DOES NOT JUST THAT BUT ALSO PARTICIPATION.  I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL JUNKIES LIKE ME IN OTHER CITIES WHO ONCE RANKED CHOICE WAS IMPLEMENTED. THEY WERE ACTUALLY AND LEARNED ABOUT IT. THEY WERE EXCITED TO VOTE. SO WE'RE ALL ABOUT IN MASSACHUSETTS ABOUT INCREASING DEMOCRACY, MAKING THINGS FAIRER PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY LOOK TO MASSACHUSETTS WHEN WE WERE LEADING THE WAY IN AND MARRIAGE EQUALITY, HEALTH CARE REFORM.  SO A LOT OF HONESTLY WE'RE SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE NOT YET IMPLEMENTED RANKED CHOICE AND I IMPLORE I URGE ALL THE CITY COUNCILS ON WHICH THEY WORK HERE WHO ARE ON THE FENCE TO JUST LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENT ,TO JUST LOOK AT THE DATA IT INCREASES WHAT IS NOT GOOD ABOUT INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATION THERE'S NOTHING BAD ABOUT THIS AND I WOULD JUST URGE YOU TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND WHICH WAS IF THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOU WORRYING ABOUT NOT GETTING REELECTED THEN THERE'S A BIGGER PROBLEMS REGARDLESS OF THIS VOTING SYSTEM WE HAVE. IF YOU'RE A STRONG LEADER OF YOUR STRONG ELECTED WHO REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER THE SYSTEM WE'RE IN THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING A DEMOCRAT EITHER A REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENT, A MODERATE THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE SPECTRUM SUPPORT THIS.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING LATINO, BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN OR ANY ETHNICITY. THIS IS ABOUT EVERYONE ABOUT INCREASING DOES NOT BY BEING MALE OR FEMALE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANY GENDER IDENTITY, ANY IDENTITY. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING IT FAIRER FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR.  SO PLEASE, WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING YOU TO MAKE THIS INTO EFFECT BY JUST GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO GO TO A STATE HOUSE.  PLEASE GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS OF BOSTON TO VOTE FOR IT.  I URGE YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING YES AND URGE THE MAYOR TO ALSO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU.  NEXT UP WE HAVE DAVID RENO COUNSELORS AND WILL FERRELL IS HERE. I WILL BE BRIEF.  I AM IN FAVOR OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.  I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE POINT THOUGH THAT I THINK MAY GET LOST IF YOU HAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THE THIRD PERSON AND THE TOP TWO PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE A MAJORITY THEIR NUMBERS ARE NOT SUBTRACTED FROM BUT CAN ONLY BE ADDED TO. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE THIRD PERSON THE THIRD PERSON IS ELIMINATED. THOSE VOTES ARE THE SECOND OR THIRD ARE COUNTED BUT THE FIRST TWO DO NOT LOSE ANY VOTES. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU THINK YOU TAKE ONE VOTE AWAY YOU'RE TAKING OTHER VOTES AWAY.  I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT IF THIS CAN MAKE A BETTER DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC I'M IN FAVOR OF IT SOMEWHERE WHERE IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER STUDY CIVICS IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN WAS THAT IDEA DONE? HOW CAN A CITIZEN WHO HAS MANY PROBLEMS OF THEIR LIFE LIKE NOT BEING THE RIGHT HEIGHT TO TESTIFY POSSIBLY MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION IF HE OR SHE CANNOT JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRELIMINARY VOTE AND A PRIMARY VOTE OR A CONGRESSIONAL VOTE OR PRESIDENTIAL VOTE. I HAVE BEEN A VETERAN OF RUNNING OF BEING A ELECTION WORKER FOR 20 PLUS YEARS AND WE FIRST CAN INCREASE ELECTIONS. I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF IT. BEN FRANKLIN WHO DO THE OPPOSITE OF MYSELF HE CAME FROM BOSTON WENT TO PHILADELPHIA. I HAVE COME FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO COME HERE WAS ASKED BY THE WIFE OF THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.  WELL, DR. FRANKLIN, DO WE HAVE A MONARCHY OR REPUBLIC?  I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY KNOW HIS QUOTES BEFORE THOSE WHO DON'T HE SAID QUOTE A REPUBLIC MADAM . AND THEN THE MOST FAMOUS PREGNANT BY WORDS IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.  I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY HEARING ME TO PONDER THOSE FIVE WORDS IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.  I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTEREST. THANK YOU, DAVID. NEXT UP WE HAVE JOHNNY MCGINNIS . GREETINGS, PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE SHARES HERE AND SHARES ZAPATA. I'M JOHNNY MACKENZIE, THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. AND ALSO GREETINGS TO THOSE CITY COUNCILORS THAT ARE PRESENT NOW AS WELL.  WE ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTING TOP FOUR RANKED CHOICE VOTING WITH OVER 10,000 EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ACTIVELY VOTE.  WE BELIEVE OUR CV IS A VITAL STEP TOWARD ENSURING THAT EVERY VOICE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IS HEARD AND VALUED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.  AS EDUCATORS OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  RACV ALLOWS US TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT THE FEAR WASTING OUR VOTES AND MORE LIKELY GRADUATING STUDENTS MIGHT EVEN RANKED THEIR OPTION AS THEY DO TO CHOOSE WHAT COLLEGE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS YOU KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CHOOSE A TOPPINGS FOR YOUR ICE CREAM THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THERE AND I'M CUTTING THIS SHORT BECAUSE OF THE TIME I'M AWARE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS NEED LEADERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES WE FACE.  RACV OPENS THE DOOR FOR GRASSROOTS CANDIDATES TO SHINE AND HAVE A FAIR SHOT AGAINST MORE ESTABLISHED FIGURES. WE WANT OUR ELECTED LEADERS WHO LISTEN TO OUR NEEDS ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AT THE BE TO YOU. WE ARE COMMITTED TO STANDING UP FOR THE NEEDS OF EDUCATORS ALONG WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS REPETITIVELY. AND WHAT I'M SAYING HERE WE SERVE RACV ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH OUR MISSION BY HELPING US ELECT OFFICIALS DEDICATED TO DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND PROMOTING POLICIES THAT SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND LASTLY, WE URGE THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS ELECTORAL REFORM AND JOIN US IN CREATING A SAFER, HEALTHIER AND MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR EVERYONE IN OUR BELOVED CITY. THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION IS THE LARGEST SINGLE LOCAL UNION IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS SO THE IMPACT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAS A SIGNIFICANT IT IS SIGNIFICANT FROM LABOR AS WELL . THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKING AT THE TIME IT'S 159 I APOLOGIZE WE DO HAVE TO CLOSE THIS HEARING DOWN TO FOLKS. WE'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT IT VIA WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK THE PANEL AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, THE LEAD SPONSORS.  WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE CLOSING REMARKS. THIS IS GOING TO A WORKING SESSION AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE A DATE OF OF COURSE, BUT THIS WAS IN COMMITTEE AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS. SO GIVEN THAT THIS HEARING ON DOCKET 0996 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYBODY