##VIDEO ID:K3CokAe2wl4##  FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS HENRY SANTANA CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION . TODAY'S OCTOBER 3RD, 2024.  THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DOT GOV SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCASTED ON THE INFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES CHANNEL 964 BRAIN COMMONS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT KSI EDUCATION AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE A PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER OF WHICH IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPECIFY.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON.  SHANE PAC SHANE PAC BOSTON DARK FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.  TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 0197. ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WITH A FOCUS OF ON GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHY LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILORS GABRIELLA COLELLA SAPULPA AND TONYA BECAUSE FOR TONYA FERNANDES ANDERSON AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 24, 2020 FOR. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRUCE HEALEY JOHN WHO IS THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR AARON MURPHY COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON AND COUNCILOR JULIAN MEJIA. WE ALSO A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR JOHN DIFFERENT ANDERSON WHO WAS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.  I WILL READ HER LETTER INTO THE RECORD.  DEAR MR CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS AFTERNOON'S HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 0197A HEARING TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHERE THEY FOCUS ON GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. A MEMBER OF MY STAFF WILL BE LISTENING IN, TAKING NOTES AND FOLLOWING UP AS NECESSARY.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. COUNCILOR TANIA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON.  BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO JUST ASK FOLKS TO PLEASE SILENCE OUR PHONES AND DEVICES . I LIKE NOW TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PANELISTS THE COMMITTEE OF THE PANELISTS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THEN I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR THE LEAD SPONSORS, ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS AND OUR COLLEAGUES TO PROVIDE OPENING REMARKS IF DESIRED. WITH US HERE TODAY WE HAVE MANDY SAVITZ, FORMER PROFESSOR AT HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.  JODY FENN, SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY WHILE JUVENAL GONZALEZ IS STUDENT DEVELOPMENT COUNSELOR AT NEW MISSION AND O'BRIEN ANDREA AND CARDINAL IN CANONICAL MODELING SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL.  GREAT.  I'D LIKE TO HAND THE FLOOR OVER NOW TO THE LEAD SPONSOR AND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR FOR OPENING REMARKS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT GLEN LOUIJEUNE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL COULD ME . THIS IS A HEARING ORDER THAT I FILED AS LAST TERM THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A HEARING ON BUT IT'S A TOPIC THAT MATTERS A GREAT AMOUNT TO ME AND THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL ABOUT AND AND SO SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG KIDS.  OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR OUR YOUNG KIDS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRIAGING THE NEWS THAT THEY'RE COMING INTO THE SCHOOL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOU ALL DO THAT. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.  I THINK I WAS TALKING TO MRS. E BEFORE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS DEEPLY TO ME AS A DAUGHTER OF PARENTS WHO DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE AND WHO WENT TO SCHOOL TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MY FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WHO I KNOW SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS THE IS THE TERM THAT WE'RE USING. AND SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY SCHOOL COUNSELOR MS. SYLVESTER BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS OFTEN HAVE CASELOADS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MANAGE. AND SO I WANT TO HAVE THIS HEARING BECAUSE WE HAVE BOTH PRACTITIONERS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN BOOKS AND WHO HAVE STUDIED THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO THANK YOU MAN YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME. I KNOW TODAY IS ROSH HASHANAH.  HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN YOUR COMING FREE FROM SYNAGOGUE. SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.  WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ALL THE SCHOOL SUPPORT THAT THEY CAN IN ORDER TO EXCEL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR STUDENT POPULATIONS LOW INCOME FOLKS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WHO NEED AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN GIVE THEM. AND SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT US GETTING THIS RIGHT. I KNOW BP HAS THIS A VENN DIAGRAM OR IS IT A VENN DIAGRAM IF THERE ARE THREE WELL THE GUYS CAN TELL ME OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, GOOD.  THAT REALLY I THINK DOES AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF TELLING US THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR, THE SOCIAL WORKER, THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND HOW THEY OVERLAP.  AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO YOUR WORK THAN THE JUST THAT CAN FIT ON THIS VENN DIAGRAM. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION HOW YOU TELL US CAN INFORM HOW WE ADVOCATE FOR WHAT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE MY CO-SPONSORS AND BEEPS I KNOW CAITLIN TODAY'S YOU'RE PRETTY NEW AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS HERE IN THE CITY OF I BASED PUBLIC SCHOOL. SO WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM AND THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE JUST SHOW UP IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHS AND CAREER PATHS THAT THEY THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T EVEN DREAM UP. SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT JOHN. MOVING TO OUR SECOND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR COLETTE. I SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANTANA AND THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSOR. MADAM PRESIDENT, I APOLOGIZE THAT I WAS LATE. WE HAD A HEARING EARLIER THAT WENT OVER SO I HAD TO EAT SOMETHING BUT SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT BRIEF AND JUST SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN GETTING YOU THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS. OF COURSE I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT MY OWN. I DIDN'T COUNSELOR ATLANTA ACADEMY COUNSELOR GLEASON WHO SAW SOMETHING IN ME BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE DID AND SO HE HELPED SET UP VARIOUS LEADERSHIP COURSES FOR ME AND AND REALLY THANK HIM FOR THAT AND APPRECIATE HIM. SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND JUST SUPPORT THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR, BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT THE I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT SOME OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE HAD HARD STOPS DUE TO FAMILY COMMITMENTS. WITH THAT SAID AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TO MAKE OPENING REMARKS IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED WITH OPENING REMARKS FROM OUR FIRST PANEL. COUNSELOR. ERIN MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HEARING. IT'S A IT SAYS TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. I KNOW THAT I'M THE LEAD SPONSOR WAS JUST FOCUSING ON LIKE COLLEGE READINESS. I KNOW AS A FORMER TEACHER ELEMENTARY LEVEL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS THEIR ROLE IS THE IEP TESTING, MAKING SURE THEY'RE AT THE IEP MEETINGS. WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND A SOCIAL WORKER AND ALL OF THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND SUPPORTS THAT WE'RE GIVING OR NEED TO GIVE. I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT ROLE AND WHO IS YOU KNOW, TRAINED AND PREPARED TO OFFER THE NEEDS WE KNOW ARE ABUNDANT IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IT'S VERY DIFFERENT. A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR IS MOSTLY HELPING WITH COURSE SELECTION IF IT'S COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, ALL OF THOSE OTHER NEEDS. SO JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE HOPING THAT AFTER THIS CONVERSATION WE AS A BODY LEAVE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT YOU KNOW, SUPPORTS THAT SO MANY GIVE AND WE KNOW THAT OUR LUNCH MONITORS AND NURSES AND SECRETARIES ARE GIVING SO MUCH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ALSO. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ON THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT ESPECIALLY GOING INTO HEARINGS WITH THE WAYS AND MEANS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE READY FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE ABOUT SUPPORTING WHICH THE ONE THING WE CAN DO IS ADVOCATE WITH FINANCES AND RESOURCES TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCIL IS GREAT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MR CHAIR. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND ALL FOLKS OF THE HEART STOP, I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS VERY BRIEF.  JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MUCH MORE ABOUT THE THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND IN BIPS AND LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE.  THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN JULIE MAY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW THAT SONG LAST NIGHT A DEEJAY SAVED MY LIFE, RIGHT? OLD SCHOOL SPENDING HERE. BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. LIKE SHE LITTLE LITERALLY SET ME ON A PATH AND I DO SEE A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF THE ROLE. IT'S NOT JUST TO GUIDE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE OR CAREER. I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO REALLY ALSO ADDRESSES SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONCERNS OF OUR STUDENTS AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL INTERSECTION OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU IN THIS ERA. THIS WAS LIKE IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN THAT HAPPENED TO ME BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WHEN I USED TO SKIP A LOT OF SCHOOL I HAVE AFTER DROPPING OUT GOING BACK AND ONE DAY MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I WAS PLAYING HOOKY AND WORKING AND SHE BROUGHT ME BACK TO SCHOOL AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT AND THOSE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS THAT I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES GETS LOST IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU MAKE.  AND SO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL ON THE ONSET JUST TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND I'M VERY CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT THE INTERSECTION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU ALL SO THAT WE CAN FIGHT FOR THAT AND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR. I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AT THIS TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNSELOR SHARON DURKAN AND ALSO COUNSELOR JOHN FITZGERALD . COUNSELOR DURKIN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PRESENCE HERE TODAY AND I APPRECIATE THIS PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR FOCUSING ON SCHOOL COUNSELORS.  I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND I THINK THE WORK OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND BP'S STAFF IS JUST SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT TOO AS WE THINK OF HOW WE WANT TO INFLUENCE FUNDING AND EVERYTHING. SO I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO LEARN MORE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU PANEL FOR BEING HERE AND THIS TIME I APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PANEL AND THE CONVERSATION AND TO LEARNING MORE. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE . THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR OUR FIRST PANEL TODAY WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PANELISTS FOR THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY. I'D LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN PLEASE PROCEED WITH OPENING REMARKS.  I'D JUST KINDLY ASK THAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION YOU PLEASE LIMIT YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS TO 5 MINUTES PER PANELIST PARTICULARLY AS I KNOW SOME OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE HEART STOPS IN ORDER TO ATTEND FAMILY MATTERS.  IF YOU HAVE A PREFERRED ORDER OF SPEAK PLEASE PROCEED AND WE CAN JUST START FROM ONE END SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON.  MY NAME IS VALERIE GONZALEZ AND I'M A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT THE JOHN D O'BRIEN SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE,  ALSO MY ALMA MATER. I'VE WORKED AT THE O'BRIAN FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS BUT THIS HAPPENS TO BE MY 13TH YEAR AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT NEW MISSION HIGH SCHOOL IN HYDE PARK FOR THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF MY CAREER. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB AND ROLE AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE BEST JOB IN EDUCATION AND IN A SCHOOL BUILDING. I'M OBVIOUSLY A BIT BIASED BECAUSE THAT IS THE ROLE IN WHICH I SIT IN AND ACTING EACH AND EVERY DAY. BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT MANY PEOPLE ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE WENT TO AND GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR PERHAPS HAVE AN ANTIQUATED UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELORS DO OR ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.  FIRSTLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE NO LONGER CALLED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE FORMAL TITLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR SINCE AT LEAST 2017 AS DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION AS EARLY AS 2002. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE LIKE COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING, SCHEDULE CHANGES, ETC. WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOCUS ON THREE PRIMARY DOMAINS OR AREAS INCLUDING ACADEMIC COUNSELING. SO THIS CAN INCLUDE OBVIOUSLY SCHEDULE CHANGES BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COURSE PLACEMENT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE IN COLLEGE AND ACCESS LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM . COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IS ANOTHER DOMAIN AREA. SO COLLEGE COUNSELING BUILDING COLLEGE LIST READING COLLEGE ESSAYS, WRITING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND MORE AND ALSO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELING. SO ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT THERAPISTS WE ARE THE PRIMARY STAFF MEMBERS WHO STUDENTS COME TO FOR ACADEMIC CONCERNS COLLEGE AND CAREER QUESTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.  AS TIER ONE EDUCATORS MANY STUDENT CONCERNS STUDENT CONCERNS COME TO US FIRST AND DEPENDING ON THE NEED AND LEVEL OF CONCERN WE MAY REFER TO A SOCIAL WORKER, TO A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, TO AN ADMINISTRATOR WHO CAN PROVIDE MORE CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT. I ALSO THINK WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT SOCIAL WORKERS, OUR ROLES DO SOMETIMES OVERLAP. BUT THERE ARE MANY MANY UNIQUE AND KEY DIFFERENCES MANY OF WHICH I'VE OUTLINED AND WILL OUTLINE HERE TODAY AT THE O'BRYANT FOR EXAMPLE, I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND OFTENTIMES COLLABORATE WITH AND CONSULT ON OUR SHARED STUDENT CASES AND WE OFTEN HAVE MEETINGS WHERE WE TAG TEAM IN THE STUDENT AT THE SAME WE'RE BOTH MEETING WITH THE STUDENT AT THE SAME TIME. HOWEVER, I DON'T PROVIDE THERAPY DURING MY COUNSELING SESSIONS AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS DO NOT PROVIDE ACADEMIC OR COLLEGE COUNSELING SUPPORT IN THEIR SESSIONS WITH STUDENTS. TO ME THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.  FINALLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN IDEA THAT I READ ABOUT IN DR. MINDY SAVAGE'S ROHMER'S BOOK AND I PROMISE I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY . BUT HER BOOK IS ENTITLED FULFILLING THE PROMISE REIMAGINED IN SCHOOL COUNSELING TO ADVANCE STUDENT SUCCESS. AND I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU ALL READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. IN HER BOOK, DR. SAVAGE ROMER REFERS TO THE ACADEMIC HOME OR THE NOTION THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS SERVE AS THE ACADEMIC HOME FOR STUDENTS MUCH LIKE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS SERVE AS THE MEDICAL HOME FOR THEIR PATIENTS AT SCHOOL.  STUDENTS SEE THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS FIRST FOR MORE INTENSE OR SPECIALIZED CARE LIKE THERAPY. PERHAPS SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAN REFER TO A SOCIAL WORKER,  ADMINISTRATIVE PSYCHOLOGIST, ETC. MUCH LIKE A PCP WILL REFER TO A SPECIALIST LIKE A CARDIOLOGIST, AN ONCOLOGIST AND OB-GYN, OB-GYN AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THE PCP IS STILL THE PRIMARY CONTACT THE ONE WHO COORDINATES THE SERVICES AND THE ONE AND THE ONE THE PATIENT AND THE ONE THE PATIENT HAVE THE PRIMARY CONTACT WITH AS WELL AS A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH A SCHOOL COUNSELOR. THE IDEA OF THE ACADEMIC HOME IS VERY SIMILAR. WE FOLLOW AND TRACK THE STUDENTS AND I'M SPEAKING FROM A HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I'VE ONLY WORKED IN A HIGH SCHOOL BUT WE FOLLOW AND TRACK THE STUDENT UP UNTIL GRADUATION. BUT ALONG THE RIDE THEY MAY SEE OTHER EDUCATORS AND OTHER CLINICIANS OR SPECIALIST WHO ALSO HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY. I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE AND PROPONENT FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROFESSION. WE ARE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS TOGETHER. THE ROLE IS VERY MULTIFACETED AND WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN A MYRIAD OF STUDENT FACING AND NON STUDENT FACING TASKS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL FROM SCHEDULING AND COURSE PLACEMENT.  PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL PREVIEW DAYS ORIENTING NEW STUDENTS AT THE O'BRIEN WE'RE GETTING NEW STUDENTS IN OCTOBER AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHY BUT THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER CONVERSATION.  PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTING SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENTS I DID THREE IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ALONE WITH MY SOCIAL WORK COLLEAGUES . COLLEGE COUNSELING, WRITING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION,  RESUMé SUPPORT, SUMMER PLANNING AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL EDUCATORS POLITICIANS AND STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE SOMETIMES EVEN STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO. BUT MY GOAL IS TO HELP THEM FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO LIFE. THANK YOU.  GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL . MY NAME IS ANDREA ENCARNACION MARTIN AND I'M A PROUD SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, MANY OF WHOM ARE WRAPPING UP THEIR SCHOOL DAY IN THE NEXT HOUR. I SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 2004. IN THE PAST 20 YEARS A JOURNEY THAT I BEGAN IN TWO YEARS AT ANOTHER COURSE TO COLLEGE AND NOW FEELS I'VE COUNSELED,  COACHED AND LISTENED WITH AN OPEN HEART AND MIND TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT'S TRULY BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FABULOUS. THEY ARE RESILIENT, INSPIRING,  FUNNY, INTELLIGENT AND PASSIONATE. I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM ALONG THE WAY AND I'M FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME . AS MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, I CAME BEFORE YOU IN FEBRUARY OF 2023 WHEN I WAS NAMED THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR. I WAS RECOGNIZED BEFORE THE COUNCIL BY COUNSELOR CALATA AND PRESIDENT RUDY LOUIJEUNE.  BOSTON HAS HAD TWO SCHOOL COUNSELORS OF THE YEAR IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS JESSICA DESCARTES WHO'S AT BOSTON TECH . AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT AMONG MY EXCELLENT COLLEAGUES WE WILL HAVE MORE. AND AFTER THE SELECTION AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS RECOGNITION I HAD SEVERAL FORMER STUDENTS WHO REACHED OUT TO ME AND SHARE THEIR WORDS OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE. ONE SHARED YOU ARE THE ONE YOU THE. YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS I AM AN EDUCATOR TODAY.  I WAS GOING THROUGH SO MUCH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I REMEMBER THAT YOUR OFFICE WAS A SAFE SPACE. I VIVIDLY REMEMBER FEELING LIKE IT WAS THE END OF MY WORLD SOMETIMES ON MY WAY TO YOUR OFFICE AND THEN WALKING OUT FEELING BETTER, FINISHING BELLS . SOMEHOW WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ME TO GO TO COLLEGE AND YOUR BELIEF THAT I COULD SUCCEED MEANT SO MUCH TO ME . YOUR EMPATHY AND DEDICATION WAS UPLIFTING AND INSPIRING ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE THAT COMING FROM ANY OF MY TEACHERS. YOU WERE SUCH AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL.  I SHARE THIS TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT AS WELL AS THE DETAILS OF WHAT WE DO AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS. THE JOY OF BEING A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS THAT NO DAY IS EVER THE SAME. STUDENTS COME BY TO SHARE THEIR JOYS. I GOT INTO COLLEGE OR I COOKED ON THAT SPANISH TEST TODAY. THEY ALL SHARE PERSONAL STORIES WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO HELP A FRIEND OR SUPPORT A FAMILY MEMBER. THEY COME INTO OUR OFFICE IN TEARS, OVERWHELMED BY THE WORLD OR CHALLENGES THEY FACE. THEY COME TO US TO PLAN THEIR POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS AND SET GOALS FOR THE NEXT TERM IN THEIR ACADEMIC LIFE. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE COME TO LEARN IN THIS ROLE IS THAT COLLABORATION AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE VILLAGE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDING MY OWN PERSONAL VILLAGE. I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL CAN CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SO WHENEVER A YOUNG PERSON MENTIONS AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE THAT THEY DREAM OF , I THINK ABOUT HOW I CAN CONNECT TO THEM BE IT THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE THAT I AM AWARE OF . SCHOLARSHIP JOB OPPORTUNITY OR MENTOR IN THAT SPACE. HELPING THEM TO SEE THEIR WORLD IS SMALLER THAN WE MAY THINK THROUGH CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKING. FILLS ME WITH JOY. THEY ARE NOT ALONE. WE NEED MORE COUNSELORS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND SHOULD START IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.  SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY . WE ARE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR MANY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.  WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES AND WE ALSO WORK WITH ADMINISTRATORS OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, CAREGIVERS AND OF COURSE OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE EDUCATION SPACE AND WE ARE A TIER ONE SUPPORT THAT EVERYONE THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES.  BEING A PARENT DURING THE PANDEMIC I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW CHALLENGING IT WAS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO THRIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THEY LOGGED ON TO THEIR COMPUTER AND PEERED THROUGH A SCREEN TO LEARN. ONE OF MY OWN CHILDREN STRUGGLED ONLINE.  SHE DID NOT WANT TO PUT HER CAMERA ON AND HER TEACHER WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER. BUT SHE IS A YOUNG PERSON WHO NEEDED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS FIRST. SO HOW IS SHE GOING TO DO THIS ON THE SCREEN WITH TEACHERS THAT SHE HAD NEVER MET IN PERSON?  AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE AFTERSHOCKS OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WE SEE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES.  TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN FRONT OF US.  BUT WE NEED MORE. YES, ACADEMIC RIGOR AND DEMONSTRATING KNOWLEDGE AND MCUS ARE PART OF THE CURRICULUM. STILL, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP TO ACCESS THE WHOLE CHILD. WHEN THEN WHEN THEN THEY CAN LEARN AND THRIVE.  IN THE WORDS OF THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TOTAL EDUCATION SYSTEM SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP STUDENTS FORM HEALTHY GOALS, MINDSETS AND BEHAVIORS.  WITH THE AID OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, STUDENTS LEARN TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION SKILLS TO PRACTICE PERSEVERANCE TO DEVELOP TIME MANAGEMENT AND STUDY SKILLS AND TO LEARN SELF-MOTIVATION AND SELF-DIRECTION HABITS. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE NOT ONLY NICE TO HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS WE ARE NECESSARY.  THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING MEJIA TODAY. MY NAME IS JODY DAN AND I'M A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY WHICH IS A NONSELECTIVE LOTTERY BASED INCLUSION SCHOOL OF 430 STUDENTS WHERE 34% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE AN IEP CLOSER TO 50% OF OUR STUDENTS IF YOU CONSIDER THOSE ARE THE 504 PLAN AND 17% ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. I'M ALSO PART OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FACULTY SENATE AND HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EIGHT YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT I WAS AN EDUCATION ADVISOR FOR A FEDERAL COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM WHICH IS WHERE WE MET WHERE I PARTNERED WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I HAVE WORKED IN OR WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 21 YEARS. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE A VASTLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCE IN SCHOOLS. WE HAVE A 360 DEGREE VIEW OF HOW A SCHOOL OPERATES.  WE ARE TEACHERS WHO GIVE LESSONS TO CLASSROOMS FULL OF STUDENTS THEREBY NEEDING TO UTILIZE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, PROVIDE ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND TRACK GROWTH. WE ARE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS WHO COMFORT STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE STRESSED OVER THEIR CHEMISTRY GRADE OR BECAUSE THEY ARE UNHOUSED.  WE ARE ADMINISTRATORS WHO PUSH FOR ADDITIONAL AP CLASSES AND HELP DESIGN SCHOOLWIDE SYSTEMS. WE ARE PARENT LIAISONS WHO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A WEEK LONG COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM AT STATE AND THEN COMFORT FAMILIES UNTIL THEIR CHILD RETURNS.  AND WE'RE CAREER COUNSELORS WHO HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.  EVEN AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL THERE ARE FEW INDIVIDUALS AT A SCHOOL WHO CAN STEP INTO OUR ROLES. YET WE ARE OFTEN CALLED TO STEP INTO THEIRS BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERTISE AND SKILL.  SCHOOL COUNSELORS PARTICULARLY THOSE AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS HAVE A DISTINCTLY ACADEMIC FOCUS TO THEIR WORK. MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS GO HAND IN HAND. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE NARRATIVE POST-PANDEMIC HAS CENTERED AROUND HOW MENTAL HEALTH HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND TEST SCORES ARE DOWN, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES ARE DECLINING AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAS BEEN AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. NOT MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT HOW ACADEMIC SUCCESS IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH WHEN STUDENTS FEEL SUCCESSFUL AND CAPABLE AT SCHOOL THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVES. THEY COME TO SCHOOL MORE.  THEY FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND STAFF. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING STUDENTS ACCESS CLASSES THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN FIND PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND ALONG THE WAY DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AS HUMAN BEINGS.  THROUGH SCHOOL WE HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR PURPOSE AND ULTIMATELY HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP POSITIVE SELF EFFICACY AND IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH. I AM LUCKY IN THAT AT BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY WE HAVE THREE SCHOOL COUNSELORS 147 AT GRADE 7814 GRADES NINE AND TEN AND I SUPPORT STUDENTS IN 11 AND 12. I'M ABLE TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH MY STUDENTS AND KNOW ALMOST ALL 170 OF THEM PRETTY WELL. HOWEVER, WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT BGA I WAS THE ONLY COUNSELOR FOR GRADES NINE THROUGH 12. OVER 300 STUDENTS WERE ON MY CASELOAD AND I TAUGHT E CLASS PERIODS A WEEK DELIVERING COLLEGE AND CAREER LESSONS TO FOUR GRADES WAS IMPOSSIBLE.  RUNNING GROUPS MANAGING ATTENDANCE AND STUDENT CHECK INS MOSTLY TOOK A BACKSEAT TO SCHEDULE CHANGES, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND TEACHING. THREE YEARS AGO WE ADDED A COUNSELOR FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE AND TEN. NOW THAT I HAVE HALF THE CASELOAD AND ONE LESS CLASS. EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LESSONS AND ADVISORIES CAREER LESSONS AND CLASSES AND IF SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK IN WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING WE CAN NOW CONFIDENTLY STATE THAT WITH AN ADDITIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR EVERY STUDENT IS SERVED AND OUR DATA REFLECTS THIS. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OUR DAILY ATTENDANCE RATE HAS INCREASED 1% EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 89%. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS DECLINING TOO DECREASING BY THREE AND 5% EACH YEAR AND ONLY 89 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING VERSUS 150 LAST YEAR. THIS DATA PROVES THAT A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM WORKS. IN ADDITION TO BEING A EDUCATOR ,I'M ALSO A PARENT. MY CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOLS RANGING FROM TURNAROUND SCHOOLS TO EXAM SCHOOLS. BOTH OF MY CHILDREN HAD ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AT THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS YET NONE OF MY CHILDREN HAD A SCHOOL COUNSELOR. MY OLDEST NOW AT AN EXAM SCHOOL. STILL STRUGGLES WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING AND TIME MANAGEMENT AND HE DOESN'T LET ME HELP HIM WITH THAT BECAUSE NOBODY LISTENS TO THEIR MOTHER.  MY YOUNGEST WHO ATTENDS A PILOT SCHOOL HAS STRONGER STUDENT HABITS BUT WILL NOT STEP OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE AND PREFERS TO COME STRAIGHT HOME RATHER THAN JOIN A CLUB OR RUN FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT OR HEAVEN FORBID STAY FOR HOMEWORK CLUB. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IF THEY HAD A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT THE YOUNGER GRADES THEY MIGHT BE IN DIFFERENT PLACES ALONG THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PULL CRUMPLED PAPERS FROM MY EIGHTH GRADERS BACK OR WORRY THAT MY SEVENTH GRADER IS LONELY.  MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS PROGRAMS OR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THEM GROW . MAYBE NOW THAT THEY ARE IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS THEY WILL. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE. WE HAVE OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF SCHOOLS IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER STAFF PERSON DOES WHEN GIVEN REASONABLE CASELOADS UTILIZED APPROPRIATELY AND VALUED AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE.  WE CAN AFFECT CHANGE. WE DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND I'M ONLY DO WE NEED MORE OF US? WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTED AND DEVELOPED THE SAME WAY THAT TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSES ARE. WE NEED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. CAREER OPPORTUNITY IS BEYOND JUST CHANGING SCHOOLS OR BECOMING A SCHOOL LEADER. MENTORSHIPS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND CONFERENCES AND EVEN PRESENT AT THEM.  WE NEED MORE OF US AND WE NEED MORE. THANK YOU TO GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL . MY NAME IS MANDY SAVITZ ROEMER AND I AM A BOSTON RESIDENT AND BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT. I'M ALSO A FACULTY MEMBER AT THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION WHERE I TEACH RESEARCH AND WRITE ABOUT SCHOOL COUNSELING. SO THIS PLEASES ME VERY MUCH AND NOT JUST BECAUSE VAL DIVINO PROMOTED MY BOOK BUT I READ ABOUT I WRITE ABOUT AND I WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALL REGARDING SCHOOL COUNSELING AND STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS.  FINALLY, I'M A FORMER BPF SCHOOL COUNSELOR HAVING STARTED MY CAREER BRIGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO I'M HERE TODAY SPECIFICALLY TO TESTIFY TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THE KEY ROLE THEY PLAY IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE SCHOOL THEY ATTEND, HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY COUNSELING SUPPORTS HERE IN BOSTON JUST AS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH HOW SCHOOLS CAN ADDRESS AND ADAPT TO THE THREATS TO MENTAL HEALTH THAT ARE FACING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.  THESE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS HAVE ONLY BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE ACADEMIC CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC. THE INCREASING RACIALIZED VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN OUR SOCIETY AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CLIMATE. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HAS LEFT MANY SCHOOL LEADERS AND EDUCATORS SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS WONDERING HOW ON TOP OF THE EXISTING PRESSURES ALREADY FACING SCHOOLS CAN WE RESPOND TO THIS NEW REALITY? FORTUNATELY, MOST SCHOOLS NOT ALL IN THE CITY OF BOSTON HAVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS ON THEIR FACULTIES WHO AS FRONTLINE STAFF AND TRAINING IN COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE WELL-POISED TO HELP.  FOR MY WORK NATIONALLY I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE LEADING THIS WORK. THEY ARE UTILIZING SCREENING TOOLS SUCH AS THE SCIENCE OF SUICIDE PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. THEY PROVIDE CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL LEVEL INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS EVERYTHING FROM REDUCING STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH TO PROVIDING STUDENTS COPING SKILLS AND HEALTHY MINDSET AND HOW TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS. THEY COLLABORATE WITH TEACHERS AND THEY LEAD THE WAY IN IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE CLASSROOM INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS TRAUMA SENSITIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND IN MANY DISTRICTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE CENTRALLY INVOLVED IN REFERRING STUDENTS TO OUTSIDE PROVIDERS AND SCHOOL BASED SOCIAL WORKERS FOR INTENSIVE ONE ON ONE COUNSELING. AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLE EXCUSE ME EXAMPLES OF HOW SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO ADDRESS STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SHIFT TO THIS MORE MODERN VISION OF SCHOOL COUNSELING.  I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE SYSTEMIC FEATURES THAT ARE NEEDED TO BRING OUR PROFESSIONALS INTO THE NEXT CENTURY AND AN ABSENCE OF DEDICATING RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS SHIFT HAPPEN.  INDEED, THERE ARE POCKETS OF THIS NEW VISIONING HAPPENING IN BOSTON. YOU'VE HEARD IT TODAY BUT NOT SYSTEMATICALLY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. MY WORK IN BOSTON WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN SERVICE TO ESTABLISHING STRONGER SYSTEMS, REVEALS THAT COUNSELORS IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE STUCK IN AN OUTDATED MODEL OF GUIDANCE COUNSELING NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO REALIZE THE NEW VISION BUT BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A GENUINE INTENSIVE INVESTMENT IN COUNSELING REFORM. I'M DELIGHTED THE DISTRICT HAS RECENTLY INVESTED IN AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELING CAITLIN GILLIGAN,  WHO I KNOW IS READY AND POISED TO LEAD THIS WORK AND THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARDS REALIZING THE TRANSFORMED SCHOOL COUNSELOR IDENTITY THAT APPEARS IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE GIVEN THE REALITIES OF THEIR LIVES TODAY.  OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE A MODERN CONCEPTION OF SCHOOL COUNSELING NOT THE ONE THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1960S THAT ONLY EMPHASIZED VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND WASN'T DEALING WITH GENDER IDENTITY RACIALIZED VIOLENCE, DEALING WITH PRESSURES OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS. THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ROLE AND FOR US TO EXPECT PROFESSIONALS TO CONTINUE WITH THAT ROLE IS NOT FAIR TO YOUNG PEOPLE OR THEIR FAMILIES. THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR CONTINUES TO PROVIDE POST-SECONDARY READINESS COUNSELING ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. THAT MEANS TALKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FUTURE AND WHY THEY SEE THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT MEANS TALKING WITH STUDENTS AND FINDING OUT WHY THEY'RE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL AND GOING AND GETTING THEM WHEN NEEDED AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE RATHER THAN PROVIDING DIRECT TREATMENT OR THERAPY A ROLE THAT'S BEST MET BY COMMUNITY BASED THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THEY ENGAGE IN SHORT TERM SOLUTION FOCUSED COUNSELING THAT HELPS STUDENTS MANAGE MENTAL HEALTH STRESSORS SO THEY CAN THRIVE IN SCHOOLS.  BUT THEY NEED THE TIME AND THE TRAINING TO ENGAGE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUTH ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY AND HOW TO MANAGE THE RANGE OF FEELINGS THAT THEY TEND TO EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. HOWEVER, BRINGING THIS VISION TO BOSTON WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT TARGETED ACTION AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO LEVERAGE COUNSELORS IN THESE NEW WAYS. THERE MUST BE FUNDING DEDICATED TO COUNSELING IN BOSTON THAT SUPPORTS THEIR LEADERSHIP. THESE ROLE CHANGES AND ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMIC SUPPORTS THAT WE KNOW WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN SHORT, THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE A SYSTEMIC INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL COUNSELING. THIS INCLUDES STAFFING THAT REDUCES CASELOADS.  TRAINING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SCHOOL LEADERS. RELIEF FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES SUCH AS TEST PROCTORING CLASS COVERAGE AND LUNCHROOM DUTIES AND GUIDANCE FOR OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO CHAMPION THIS NEW VISION OF SCHOOL COUNSELING. I THANK YOU CITY COUNCILORS FOR TAKING UP THIS ISSUE ONE THAT IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE FOR INITIATING THIS. YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT ALL STUDENTS IN BOSTON SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IN TERMS OF STUDENT SUPPORT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THEIR FUTURE AND I BELIEVE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED ALSO BY COUNCILOR ERICA PEMBERTON AND COUNCILOR AL FLYNN.  I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCILORS, TO MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL TO UM TO ASK QUESTIONS. I DO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I THINK WE HAVE A HARD STOP FOR TWO OF OUR PANELISTS AT 3 P.M. OR I'M OKAY TILL 330. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T WANT. YOU KNOW, DO HAVE HEART STOPS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MOVE FORWARD. WRAP UP. I'D LIKE TO NOW INVITE THE LEAD SPONSOR AND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS TO BEGIN WITH A ROUND OF QUESTIONS FOR THE PANEL AND THEN I WILL TURN ON THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL.  WITH THAT COUNCIL PRESENTLY WE HAVE THE FLOOR FOR OUR FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR YOUR VALUABLE TESTIMONY. IT IS VERY CLEAR I THINK I GET IT THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC CHART THAT BP HAS PRODUCED BUT SO MUCH OF YOUR WORK I THINK VAL AS YOU WERE MENTIONING GOES BEYOND WHAT WE CAN EVEN SYNTHESIZE EYES IN THESE CIRCLES HERE REALLY PROVIDING A MAP FOR HOW SCHOOL COUNCILS WORK WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS MANDATED FROM WHAT YOU SAID TIME AND TRAINING ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE TIME BEING. HOW DO WE REDUCE THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TO STUDENT AND STUDENT TO KIND OF CLUSTER RATIO SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH WAS TO SPEND WITH OUR KIDS AND THE SECOND BEING AND I THINK THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS TO JODY THAT HOW DO WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE SUPPORTING AND HOW DO YOU SUPPORT FOLKS WITH WITH TRAINING? HOW ARE WE SUCCESSFULLY DOING THAT? AND RIGHT NOW I KNOW THAT THE RECOMMENDED RATIO IS TO 50 STUDENTS PER GUIDANCE COUNSELOR HOW ARE WE DOING RIGHT NOW ACROSS BP'S? AND THEN SECOND IS HOW CLOSE TO THIS ACADEMIC HOME MODEL ARE WE AS A CITY AND IF THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU THINK ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AT THAT AND IF WHETHER YOU AS GUIDANCE COUNSELORS I TAKE FROM YOUR TESTIMONIES THAT YOU AGREE WITH THIS IDEA OF BEING THE ACADEMIC HOME AND IT MAKES SENSE IT'S HOW WITHOUT THE LANGUAGE IT'S HOW I DESCRIBED MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. IT'S ABOUT MY MY SCHOOL COUNSELOR SORRY THE NEW LANGUAGE BUT THAT POINT OF TRIAGE, THAT PC IP THAT IS HELPING YOU IDENTIFY WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT MORE SUPPORT YOU CAN GIVE. SO HOW CLOSE ARE WE HOW HOW HOW WELL ARE WE DOING WITH THAT? AND THEN ON THE TIME ON THE TIME PART HOW ARE WE MISSING THE MARK?  ARE WE MEETING THE MARK WHEN IT COMES TO THE RATIO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OUT, GO FOR IT SO I'LL TAKE A STAB AT ANSWERING THAT. SO I PREVIOUS WORK THAT NEW MISSION HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I WAS ONE COUNSELOR IN A SCHOOL THAT STARTED AROUND 20 TO 50 STUDENTS BUT BY THE TIME I LEFT IT WAS CLOSER TO FOUR OR 500 STUDENTS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WAS GROWING.  BUT I DO KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'M ALSO PART OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR FACULTY SENATE AND THE GROUP THAT I'M A PART OF . WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH SUPER CASELLI OUT THE TOWN THE PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT AND SHE MADE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD BE THEY WOULD HIRE MORE COUNSELORS AND I BELIEVE TWO SCHOOL YEARS AGO THEY HIRED CLOSE TO 30 SCHOOL COUNSELORS. AND SO I'M AT A THE O'BRYANT NOW FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I STARTED THERE WE HAD FIVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND I HAD A CASELOAD OF 320.  WE WENT UP TO EIGHT SCHOOL COUNSELORS DUE TO BUDGET CUTS. WE'RE NOW BACK DOWN TO SEVEN. MY CASELOAD THIS YEAR IS 230 STUDENTS SO IT DOES FIT WITHIN THAT. ASK A SUGGESTION. SO AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL, RIGHT? IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL LEADER AND WHETHER THE SCHOOL LEADER WANTS TO INVEST IN A SCHOOL COUNSELOR VERSUS A SOCIAL WORKER. THEY REALLY SHOULD INVEST IN BOTH.  BUT I WILL SAY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS WE ARE DEFINITELY GETTING CLOSER.  I ALSO KNOW THAT IN OUR CONTRACT THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AROUND THE RATIO AND IT'S LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE RIGHT? SO FOR EXAMPLE IF THERE ARE 100 SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 48,000 STUDENTS, WHAT IS THAT AVERAGE? AND I THINK THERE'S LANGUAGE AROUND CONTRACT THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WELL. BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE ARE MOVING CLOSER TO THAT. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD TO THAT YEAH, I DO THINK IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON THE SCHOOL TOO. AND SO HERE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE.  ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO IS AT THE HOLLAND FORMERLY THE JEREMIAH BURKE WAS ONE OF TWO SCHOOL COUNSELORS. ONE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS MOVED INTO A NEW ROLE AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR WAS NOT REPLACED. SO MY COLLEAGUE NOW HAS A CASELOAD OF 400 OR SO STUDENTS THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. BUT I THINK THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT HE NOW IS CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING STUDENTS ACROSS GRADES SEVEN THROUGH 12 AND THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND ACADEMIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS ARE SO DIFFERENT FROM GRADE SEVEN THAN THEY ARE TO GRADE 12. THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO RELY ON OUTSIDE PARTNERS AND THAT IS A STOPGAP MEASURE. IT'S A BAND-AID BECAUSE OUTSIDE PARTNERS THEY ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND A VERY BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO OFTEN THEY ARE BEHOLDEN TO THEIR ORGANIZATION AND SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING FOR ONE PERSON TO PROVIDE ALL THE CLASSROOM INTERVENTIONS TIER ONE SUPPORTS CHECK INS, ACADEMIC PLANNING MAP TESTING YOU KNOW, SEATS COLLEGE APPLICATIONS FOR FOR ALL THOSE STUDENTS JUST LIKE IT LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING THAT MAY BE SLIGHTLY UNPOPULAR AND THAT IS THE CASELOAD IS IMPORTANT BUT PUTTING MORE COUNSELORS IN AN OUTDATED ROLE IS NOT GOING TO YIELD VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS IF YOU PUT MORE COUNSELORS INTO SCHOOLS WHERE THE PRINCIPALS ARE NOT LETTING THEM DO THEIR JOBS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE BETTER FOR STUDENTS. SO THE CASELOAD IS IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE AND THEY NEED TO BE LOW BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT A CERTAIN NUMBER IS GOING TO BE LINKED. THAT IS FAR TOO MANY. WHAT JODY JUST DESCRIBED.  IT'S ALSO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE MORE WORK THAN YOU CAN DO BESIDES BECOMING BURNED OUT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO IT. THE THINGS THAT ARE YOU'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ARE THE PRIORITY AND SO COUNSELORS ARE NOT ALWAYS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING TRANSITION CLASSES FOR THE INCOMING SEVENTH GRADERS OR THE PREVENTION PROGRAMING THAT WE KNOW HELPS IDENTIFY STUDENTS AT RISK. THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE THINGS THAT GET COUNTED. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR CLASSES, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY FILE THEIR APPLICATIONS. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THE DISTRICT GETS CLOSER TO THE CASELOAD. THE QUESTION BECOMES AROUND TRAINING AND ALSO DISTRICT LEADERSHIP. CAN THE COUNSELORS GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED IN THEIR SCHOOLS? MANY OF THE COUNSELORS TOLD ME WHEN WE DID OUR STUDY THAT YES, THERE IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS THE TIME AND IN SOME CASES THE PERMISSION TO ATTEND.  SO I THINK THAT THE THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF IS IT RATIO, IS IT TRAINING IT'S IT'S BOTH. IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT ALL NEW TEACHERS FROM THE DISTRICT RECEIVE A NEW TEACHER DEVELOPER AND A COACH TO HELP THEM GROW INTO THEIR ROLE AS A NEW TEACHER.  SCHOOL COUNSELORS DO NOT RECEIVE THAT. THANK YOU. I A DEMO QUESTION BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES AFTER I GET ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION AS TO WHAT IS THEIR WHAT IS THEIR REQUIREMENT FOR COUNSELORS SCHOOL COUNSELORS FOR PRE SEVENTH GRADE AT BIPS? I THINK THIS IS ALSO TO YOUR COMMENT, JODY, THAT IF YOUR CHILDREN HAD ACCESS TO A COUNSELOR EARLIER IN THE ACADEMIC CAREER, DOES ANYONE IS ANYONE AWARE IF NOT ALL AT THE NEXT PANEL IN TERMS OF MOST OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS?  SOME DO BUT MOST DON'T. THEY MAY HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS OR OTHER STAFF.  I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A STATE THERE'S NO STATE POLICY ON THIS AND SO IT REALLY IS LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  I'LL ASK MY QUESTIONS ON THE SECOND ROUND.  THANK YOU, PRESIDENT REGION COUNSELOR CLASS IF I THOUGHT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AMAZING TESTIMONY AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY SHOUT OUT TO EAST ZONE.  MS. IZZY I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.  I THINK I THINK I UNDERSTOOD WHEN YOU SAID I COOKED ON MY CHEMISTRY TEST.  I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH LINGO AND GEN Z IS LIKE GOES OVER MY HEAD BUT I THINK I UNDERSTOOD THAT AND IT SPEAKS TO HOW COMFORTABLE THE STUDENTS ARE WITH YOU. YOU HAVE TO CREATE A HOME WITHIN A HOME AND THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME AND BROUGHT ME BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL AND AND FEELING VERY WELCOMED INTO OUR OUR THEN GUIDANCE COUNSELORS OFFICE NOW SCHOOL COUNSELORS OFFICE.  SO UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE A HARD STOP I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.  TWO QUESTIONS BECAUSE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE REALLY FOR BEEPS BUT YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT TRAINING FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH GENDER IDENTITY SHIFTS. WHAT DOES THAT TRAINING LOOK LIKE FOR YOU ALL AND HOW DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOUR ROLE CAN BEST SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE YOUNG ADULT BUT THEIR FAMILIES AND WHAT CAN WE BE DOING BETTER AS A DISTRICT?  I I WOULD SAY THAT OUR PROFESSION DEVELOPMENT SOMETIMES IS ON OUR OWN.  YOU KNOW, WE I THINK ALL OF US ARE ON THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNCIL ASSOCIATION SO WE CAN GET PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THAT ORGANIZATION WHEN THEY HAVE IT WE DO HAVE SCHOOL LIKE DISTRICT WIDE PD THAT'S COMING UP THIS THIS MONTH BUT YEAH IN TERMS OF IN TERMS OF THAT TOPIC I WOULD SAY I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FORMAL YOU KNOW FROM FROM THE DISTRICT I WOULD SAY FROM THE DISTRICT I WOULD SAY SOME OF THAT DEFINITELY IS MUCH MORE THROUGH OUR OWN AVENUES OF SEEKING OUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT COME UP IN AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND WANTING TO BE YOU KNOW, TO DEVELOP AND BE ABLE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT WE WORK WITH.  I THINK THAT I CAN JUST SAY I THINK THE TRAINING THAT IS NEEDED IS REALLY FOR COUNSELORS TO UNDERSTAND FIRST WHAT ARE THE POLICIES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL. I THINK MOST SCHOOLS DISTRICTS HAVE POLICY WRITTEN AROUND CHANGING NAMES GOING BY DIFFERENT GENDERS.  I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE TELLING A COUNSELOR WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN BODY, IN THEIR OWN SKIN AND BEING ABLE TO EXPLORE THOSE TOPICS. WE LIVE IN A STATE WHERE THAT'S STILL ALLOWED AND I THINK IT'S I THINK THE TRAINING IS REALLY ABOUT ENSURING THAT COUNSELORS ARE FOLLOWING THE ETHICS OF THE PROFESSION. BUT I THINK I WOULD ECHO WHAT ANDREW IS SAYING IN TERMS OF IT COMING MORE FROM THE NATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL. IT'S CLEAR WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOME WORK ON ON THE DISTRICT LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE OUR YOUNG ADULTS FEEL COMFORTABLE IN COMING TO YOU AND KNOWING HOW TO FULLY ADDRESS ADDRESS THAT WHEN IT COMES ACROSS YOUR YOUR YOUR DOORSTEP.  THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS JUST OUTLINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRINCIPALS.  I UNDERSTAND IT'S IT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP AND IT VARIES SCHOOL OBVIOUSLY SO NOT ONE EXPERIENCES AND INDICATIVE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS BUT DO YOU RECEIVE LIKE A GUIDING BENCHMARKS OF SUCCESS FROM YOUR PRINCIPALS? LIKE HOW DO YOU SET HOW DO YOU SET A ROADMAP FOR YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR PRINCIPALS AND ARE THEY EVEN INVOLVED IN THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THIS IS JUST MY, YOU KNOW, EDIFICATION.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DO YOUR JOB BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WITH THE RELATIONSHIP USUALLY IS WITH THE PRINCIPAL. I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION HAVING HAD REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY OF THE PRINCIPALS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH. BUT IN MY TESTIMONY I TALKED ABOUT JUST UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE AND EVEN THOUGH I'VE HAD REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY SCHOOL LEADERS, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY HAD A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE ROLE WAS RIGHT. AND YOU WOULD SEE THAT IN WHAT YOU WERE TASKED OR ASKED TO DO. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT THAT IS PROBABLY OUTSIDE OF DIRECTLY WORKING WITH STUDENTS. THE RELATION THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRINCE IS PROBABLY THE MOST RELATIONSHIP THAT A SCHOOL COUNSELOR CAN HAVE WITH A COLLEAGUE IN THEIR BUILDING BECAUSE THE PRINCIPAL SETS THE TONE AND THE TENOR, THE SCHOOL AND THE PRIORITIES RIGHT? AND SO AT MY PREVIOUS SCHOOL I WOULD HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS SINCE I WAS ONLY COUNSELOR HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH MY PRINCIPAL AROUND MY ROLE AND SORT OF EXPECTATIONS AND JUST CHECK INS WHETHER IT WAS SENIOR MEETINGS, WHATEVER IT WAS AT MY CURRENT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A JOINT MEETING SO WE'RE A SCHOOL OF CLOSE TO 1500 STUDENTS, EIGHT ADMINISTRATORS, SEVEN SCHOOL COUNSELORS, FOUR SOCIAL WORKERS. AND SO IN THOSE JOINT MEETINGS IT'S A JOINT MEETING THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM ADMINISTRATIVE BODY OF THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELING TEAM BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO TEAMS THAT ARE REALLY SET PRIORITIES OPERATIONAL GOALS, TESTING THE SCHEDULE AND ALL OF THAT.  AND SO WE HAVE THOSE BI MONTHLY MEETINGS IN ORDER TO SORT OF TALK ABOUT A SORT OF A SCOPE AND SEQUENCE A CALENDAR FOR WHAT THE YEAR IS LOOKING LIKE WHENEVER WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS WE BRING IT TO THOSE JOINT MEETINGS. AND SO I THINK HAVING THOSE SYSTEMS IN PLACE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TO OUR ROLE. BUT AGAIN I THINK I STILL FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S THERE'S AGAIN A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE AND I THINK AND I'VE TALKED TO YOU KNOW, MANY DOCTORS HAVE IT'S MORE ABOUT THIS AROUND JUST TRAINING FOR SCHOOL LEADERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW RIGHT AND THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. AND I THINK JUST LIKE WE NEED TRAINING SCHOOL LEADERS NEED TRAINING AROUND THE ROLES IN THEIR BUILDING. RIGHT. AND IT STARTS WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS THINKING YOU'RE GREAT. THEN YOU'RE COUNSELOR. I LIKE TO NOW HAVE THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES AND ORDER OF ARRIVAL BE MINDFUL OF THE PAST ARE HARD STOP SOME OF OUR PENALTIES HAVE AND WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND PANEL FROM THE ADMINISTRATION I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO LIMIT THEIR TIME OF INITIAL QUESTIONS AND THE RESPONSES FOR MY PARENTS A . 4 MINUTES FOR COUNSELORS INCLUDING PANELISTS RESPONSES.  NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNSELOR ERINN MURPHY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND MANDY, YOU TOUCHED ON IT THAT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL IN THE THREE OF YOU ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVE YOU KNOW SOCIAL WORKERS SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SO ALL I ALWAYS ADVOCATE THE STRONG FOUNDATION IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT THAT WE NEED TO GET MORE SUPPORTS INTO OUR YOUNGER GRADES SO THAT THEY'RE MORE EQUIPPED WHEN THEY COME UP THIS IDEA THAT THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO NEED A SCHOOL COUNSELOR ONCE THEY HIT HIGH SCHOOL ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW AND IT WAS YOU KNOW, WHEN THE FIRST OPENING COMMENTS THAT YOUR JOB ISN'T JUST TO HELP FELLOW COLLEGE OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SO MUCH MORE SO I THINK PART OF THIS CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD IS ALSO NOT JUST LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE CASE LOADS OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BUT ALSO PRIORITIZING. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST INVESTING IN BUT IT'S ALWAYS A PRIORITY. RIGHT? IF IF WE'RE PRIORITIZE DOING THINGS THEN IT WILL HAPPEN. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT THERE AND JUST KNOWING FROM MY PAST LIFE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A FULL CASELOAD AND THEN YOU ARE PULLED WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS OR SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED AND SO MANY TIMES IF IT WAS A SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OR A SCHOOL THERAPIST ,SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY DELIVERING ON IEP SERVICES THAT ,THERE WAS THIS KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SCHOOL NURSE YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING BUT YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING SO AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT THOUGH TOO MANY THAT IT WOULDN'T JUST BE THE THE CASELOAD RIGHT. IT'S KIND OF THIS UNDERSTANDING AT EVERY LEVEL OF WHAT YOUR EXPERTISE IS WHY WE'VE INVESTED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN OUR BUILDING.  AND THEN I THINK THAT ALONG WITH THAT COMES THE RESPECT OF YOUR SCHEDULE AS IS IMPORTANT I WAS LIKE A CLASSROOM PERSON SCHEDULE SO NO NEED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. YEAH BUT JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND THIS QUESTION ALSO COULD BE TWO BEEPS ADD THEM BUT KNOWING THAT YOU'RE AT THERE EVERY DAY WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS, HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU THINK THE $454 MILLION IN ESSER FUNDS WHICH WE KNOW WERE NOT JUST TO INVEST IN ACADEMIC SETBACKS BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND WHAT I WAS HEARING COMING OFF OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR WHEN SCHOOL SITE COUNCILS WERE MEETING TO SET THIS SCHOOL YEAR'S BUDGET AND SEE WHICH YOU KNOW WHICH POSITIONS WE'RE GOING TO STAY WHICH WERE BEING CUT MANY TIMES IT WAS WHAT PARENTS AND FAMILY FELT LIKE WE'RE CUTTING THE BUDGET WHEN IT WAS WE WERE INVESTING IN THESE WONDERFUL SUPPORTS AND MANY OF THEM MAY HAVE BEEN ACTUAL SCHOOL THERAPISTS.  THEY COULD HAVE BEEN WHAT YOU KNOW, THE MUSIC TEACHER OR SPECIAL ART PROGRAM OTHER THINGS THAT WERE HELPING THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO NOW KNOWING NOW THAT THAT'S GONE, DO YOU THINK BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM THE RECENT MCAT SCORES THAT ACADEMICALLY THAT INVESTMENT FOR THE ACADEMIC SETBACKS DID NOT HELP THAT WAY HOW DO YOU FEEL IT'S SUPPORTED THEIR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS I THINK OUR STUDENTS WERE AFFECTED MORE WITH THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SETBACKS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WITH BEING REMOTE YOU KNOW, ALMOST A FULL YEAR LONGER THAN MOST OTHER STUDENTS OR KIDS WHO WERE IN MEDICAL OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND LIKE BACK IN PERSON SO MUCH SOONER.  I DO WANT TO JUST APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT HAS TO EXCUSE MYSELF FOR TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR HAVING THIS HEARING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING MEJIA AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, GIVE A A I CAN SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT.  I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO SOON TO TELL QUITE HONESTLY. WE USED SOME OF OUR ESSER FUNDS TO FUND TWO SOCIAL WORK POSITIONS AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SOCIAL WORK POSITIONS. WHAT WE'VE DONE IN LIEU THAT IS TRY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING AND TO SPEND MORE OF OUR TIME IN THE SCHOOL DAY. IMPLEMENTING TIER ONE SUPPORTS SO FAR THE DATA IS SHOWING THAT WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS SORT OF LEADING THIS THAT LESS STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SERVE THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS THROUGH THESE TIER ONE AND TIER TWO INTERVENTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT THE LACK OF TWO SOCIAL WORKERS WILL LOOK LIKE UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR.  THANK YOU.  I'LL JUST ECHO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELORS.  I PLACE GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ALSO SETS YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO THEN TAKE OF THE SERVICES IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BUT THEY THEY'RE COMFORTABLE THEY THEY FEEL THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SCHOOL IS A PLACE TO LET AN ADULT KNOW IF THEY'RE SAFE AT HOME IF THERE ENOUGH FOOD AT HOME, IF THEIR HOUSING IS INSECURE AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT WITH TEACHERS. BUT COUNSELORS ARE PARTICULARLY ATTUNED TO IDENTIFYING IT AND MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR LIZ BREADON, YOU'LL HAVE THE FLOOR . THANK YOU. AND THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS WONDERFUL TESTIMONY YOU MENTIONED AND I REALLY DO RESONATE WITH THE NOTION THAT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS DIRECTLY IT'S A TWO WAY STREET BETWEEN YOUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND YOUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IMPACTS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS 14 AND I WAS A GREAT DAY STUDENT UNTIL THAT HAPPENED AND THEN MY MY MY GRADES JUST WENT THROUGH THE FLOOR AND IT REALLY DID KNOCK YOUR CONFIDENCE I THINK I SPENT THE REST OF MY ADULT LIFE TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT. BUT ANYWAY, YOU MENTIONED SYSTEMIC FEATURES TO MOVE FORWARD TO A 21ST CENTURY MODEL OF SCHOOL COUNSELING. CAN YOU FLAG UP WHAT THOSE PARTICULAR FEATURES MIGHT LOOK LIKE? SURE. I CAN GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONE IS A STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL. SO RIGHT NOW OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS BECAUSE THEY WORK ACROSS ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND CAREER COLLEGE READINESS THEY HAVE THEY WORK WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AT DISTRICT. THEY'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE DISTRICTS THAT OVERSEE HOUSING ETC. AND SO FOR STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE THE DISTRICT MEANS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO CAN SUPPORT PRINCIPALS FOR EXAMPLE WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE COUNSELOR'S EVALUATION. SO COUNSELOR EVALUATIONS ARE OFTEN DONE BY SCHOOL LEADERS WHO'VE NEVER BEEN COUNSELORS. STRONGER LEADERSHIP AT THE DISTRICT WOULD MEAN THAT SOMEONE COULD COME OUT AND HELP THAT PRINCIPAL DO AN APPROPRIATE EVALUATION AND SOME MORE LEADERSHIP MEANS THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CAN USE DATA TO GIVE DATA TO COUNSELORS IDENTIFYING ATTENDANCE ISSUES, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MARKERS AND SO THAT THERE'S A ROBUST SORT OF DATA TRANSFER HAPPENING. AND THEN I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M SEEING IS THAT MANY DISTRICTS HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO'S OVERSEEING SCHOOL COUNSELING. THEY HAVE SPECIALISTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELING SPECIALIST, A MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIALIST AND A HIGH SCHOOL SPECIALIST WHO CAN GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND ACT AS COACHES . THE DISTRICT INVESTED A LOT IN LITERACY COACHES AND MATH COACHES.  COUNSELORS HAVE BENEFIT FROM COACHES BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE ALSO BUILDING AT THEIR SCHOOLS. AND SO I THINK THE SYSTEMIC PIECES INCLUDE HAVING SOME REAL GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL LEADERS AROUND HOW COUNSELORS SHOULD SPEND THEIR TIME THAT DOES REQUIRE EDUCATING THEM BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES MAKING SURE THAT THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE HAVE BASED SOCIAL WORKERS. THESE ARE HUGE ASSETS IN OUR CITIES BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW THOSE SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER. ARE WE SHARING DATA? ARE WE MEETING REGULARLY AND THAT ALL TAKES TIME.  ALL THESE THINGS TAKE TIME AND TIME IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AS YOU HEARD TODAY.  BUT I THINK IT'S NOT JUST TIME TO BE PRESIDENT. IT'S TIME TO BUILD A COHERENT SYSTEM SO THAT STUDENTS ENTER SCHOOLS AND KNOW THAT THERE IS A COHERENT SET OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTEGRATED AND CONNECTED SUPPORTING ME . AND I THINK THAT'S HARD FOR COUNSELORS TO BUILD WHILE ALSO RESPONDING TO ALL THESE THINGS AND THEIR SCHOOL LEADERS CAN'T BUILD IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IT. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE DISTRICT WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE TIME AND ATTENTION MUCH LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER KINDS OF INITIATIVES LIKE THE ARTS EXPANSION WORK OR OTHER INITIATIVES AT THE CITY LEVEL.  AND YOU MENTIONED TIER ONE SUPPORTS. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LISTENING, WHAT TIER ONE SUPPORT SHOULD LOOK LIKE? YEAH, SO TIER ONE SUPPORTS ARE REALLY FOR EVERY STUDENT SO EVERY STUDENT HAS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT OUR SCHOOL SO YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW IT'S ACCESS TO ALL EVERYONE GETS THAT SAME THING WHEREAS TIER TWO IT MIGHT BE LIKE GROUPS OR YOU KNOW KIND OF A SMALLER NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAVE THAT SERVICES AND THEN TIER THREE YOU KNOW IT'S ONE ON ONE LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE A THEY MIGHT BE ON AN IEP, THEY MIGHT HAVE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PULLED OUT. SO THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT YOU CAN ADD ON FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN. BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF YOU KNOW WHEN WE SAY IN TIER ONE WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES, IT'S EVERY STUDENT HAS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR. FIRST OF ALL, SHOULD LIKE IN OUR SCHOOL WE HAVE TO REFER STUDENTS TO TO SEE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS.  SO THAT'S YOU KNOW ANOTHER TIER IT'S NOT YOU KNOW EVERYONE HAS THE SAME ACCESS TO THAT IF WE GO INTO INTO CLASSROOMS THAT WOULD BE TIER ONE. SO EVERYONE IS GETTING THOSE SERVICES, EVERYONE'S GETTING THAT SUPPORT.  VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MY TIME IS UP THIS TIME. I'M TELLING YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR HOUSEHOLD JULIA, OVER HERE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND I WANTED TO JUST SAY TWO THINGS REALLY QUICK.  CATHY KAREN WAS MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. I MENTIONED IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO SHE IS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HER NAME BECAUSE OF HER I'M HERE LIKE LITERALLY GOOD.  SHE REDIRECTED MY ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE, RIGHT? AND SO AND SHE SPENT SOME TIME AT BRIGHTON AND HAVING WORKED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT BEFORE I WALKED INTO THIS SPACE HERE AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON CASE MANAGEMENT AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE SHOWING UP TO SCHOOLS AND SO BRIGHTON IS ONE OF THE SITES MADISON PARK THE BURKE AND CHARLESTOWN. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT HIGH SCHOOLS I THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS AND THINKING ABOUT THE CASE LOADS THERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF ENROLLMENT BUT.  THE NEED FOR THE FOR GUIDANCE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.  SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I SEE YOU I KNOW IT'S BRIGHTON. I KNOW THE DEMO I WAS THAT KID SO I GUESS I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS THERE.  THAT'S THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU WROTE THE BOOK. IT IS QUITE HONESTLY IT IS THE WHOLE INTRO IS ABOUT EVERYTHING I DID WRONG IT BRIGHT NIGHT AND AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE IN THIS CHAMBER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE LIVING REALITIES AND OR DOING THE WORK ARE THE BEST TO INFORM US AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. AND THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO CALLED FOR THIS HEARING WATER BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE EXPERTS. SO SO THANK YOU ALL AS DON'T GET JEALOUS BUT IT'S ABOUT THEM RIGHT NOW SO I AM CURIOUS AND IF WE COULD JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BECAUSE TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, WE'VE ALSO SEEN A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEY'RE CARRYING THAT THAT TRAUMA IN THEIR BACKPACKS. RIGHT. SO I WANT TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT AROUND KIND OF LIKE HOW ARE WE CLOSING BOTH THE ACADEMIC NEEDS BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE CULTURAL COMPETENCIES OR THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF ACCLIMATING TO A NEW COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTS THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH HOSTILITY TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS. AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN LEAN INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS?  WELL, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I AM JUST YESTERDAY I WAS TALKING WITH STUDENTS FINANCIAL AID IS KIND OF A BIG THING RIGHT NOW AT MY SCHOOL AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER, YOU KNOW, POST-SECONDARY PLANNING. SO I'M WORKING WITH ONE OF MY STUDENTS YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW, JUST THE WORRY ABOUT HOW SHE'S GOING TO HOW HER FAMILY'S GOING TO HELP YOU KNOW, HELP HER TO COLLEGE AND HOW SHE'S GOING TO FIND THAT MONEY. SO WE HAVE LIKE THE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WE WE HAVE A COLLEGE ADVISING FELLOW THAT'S ALSO BEING TRAINED IN WORKING WITH US ON FINANCIAL AID. AND SO I THINK THE PIECE TOO LIKE I ALWAYS THINK OF RELATIONSHIPS SO YOU WANT TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.  YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES. WE HAVE TALKING POINTS THAT YOU KNOW, WE USE OFTEN TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES IN YOU KNOW, FAMILIES IN WHEN WE CAN TO TO WORK WITH YOU KNOW, TO WORK WITH THEM AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S LIKE ONE OF THE RECENT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE COMING YOUR BACKPACKS I WAS SUCH A VISUAL FOR ME BUT WE CARRY SO MUCH OF THAT WE WERE TRAVELING FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY AND JUST THE JOURNEY HERE WHEN THEY ARRIVE INTO OUR SCHOOLS. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF . I THINK THE THING THAT I WOULD. SORRY . NO, GO AHEAD. YEAH, I THINK THE THING I REMIND HER OF IS THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CARRYING WHETHER THEY'VE RECENTLY IMMIGRATED HERE OR THEY EXPERIENCED A FORM OF TRAUMA THEIR COMMUNITY AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT IT IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE OR SOMETHING. BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING I'VE SEEN MORE NATIONALLY IS THAT COUNSELORS ARE DEPLOYING THEIR TEACHERS TO KIND OF FIND AND IDENTIFY STUDENTS SO AN EXAMPLE THAT I LIKE TO SHARE IS SOME COUNSELORS IN CALIFORNIA FOLLOWING THE WILDFIRES GAVE ALL THEIR TEACHERS SENTENCE STEMS TO IDENTIFY WHICH FAMILIES WERE NOW WITHOUT HOMES OR WHO WERE WHO WOKE UP TO A FIRE. SOME OF IT IS THE COUNSELORS GIVING OTHER STAFF TOOLS LIKE TRAUMA SENSITIVE PRACTICES AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS.  YOUR COUNSELORS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TRAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH AND YET THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE DIRECT SERVICE TO STUDENTS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. SO SOMETIMES YOUR COUNSELORS ARE PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS. MAYBE IT'S EDUCATING TEACHERS THAT WHEN THEY SEE A CHILD WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN IT IS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE BLOWING OFF A CLASS IT MAY BE BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGN OF DEPRESSION AND OTHER FORMS OF TRAUMA.  SO I THINK PART OF IT IS ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNSELORS IN THE SCHOOLS HAVE TIME TO TALK TO TEACHERS AND ALSO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS. MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WALKING OUT OVER PROTESTS REGARDING ISRAEL AND GAZA AND PALESTINE AND MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE WALKING OUT IN SERVICE TO AND I THINK THAT COUNSELORS ARE WELL POSITIONED TO BRING KIDS TOGETHER.  TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU HAVE HEALTHY DISCOURSE NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW I KNOW THAT MY TIME IS UP AND I'LL JUST AND FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS IS THAT IT'S ALL IN TERMS OF TRAININGS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN KIDS HAVE THEIR HEAD DOWN BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH INSTEAD OF SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU IS MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT.  LIKE CREATING SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DISCLOSING BUT I HAVE NO MORE TIME LEFT SO I WILL SHUT UP NOW.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR SHARON AGAIN YOU HAVE FOR THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR AND THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.  AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE I WERE LIKE THERE'S THIS ONE MEMORY THAT HAD THAT KEPT COMING TO MIND WHEN YOU ALL WERE SPEAKING AND I REMEMBER I WAS HAVING BREAKFAST ALONE. IT WAS MY FIRST WEEKEND AT SMITH COLLEGE AND I LOOKED ACROSS THE BREAKFAST ROOM AND SAW THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENT GOING THROUGH THE BOOKLET OF YOU KNOW WHAT CLASSES THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND I REALIZED I HAD NO ONE IN MY FAMILY WHO COULD HELP ME WITH THAT AND IT YOU KNOW, THAT JOURNEY IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AT SO MANY LEVELS IS HELPING PROVIDE THAT ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO FOLKS WHO HAVE NO ONE IN THEIR FAMILY THAT THEY CAN TALK TO ABOUT THESE THINGS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND I THINK FROM THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU'VE HAD WHAT I'M NOTICING IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT YOUR ROLE IS IN THE SCHOOL AND WHAT THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS AND HOW THE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT ROLE IS CORE TO BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ROLE IS EFFECTIVE, IS EFFICIENT AND IS IS AND AND HAS THE WEIGHT THAT IT SHOULD CARRY AND AND THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF ALL THAT GOES INTO THAT AND ALL OF THAT IS BEING ASKED OF YOU SO IF I IF IF YOU WERE TO TELL AHEAD OF SCHOOL WHAT YOUR ROLE IS WHAT WHAT WOULD THAT ANSWER BE OF LIKE WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AND HOW CAN YOU SUM THAT DOWN INTO SOMETHING?  AND CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT THOSE CONFLICTS ARE THAT HAPPEN AROUND WHAT THE ROLE IS AND AND HOW THAT HAPPENS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL?  LET ME TAKE YOU KNOW THINK YOU'VE START TO LIVE IT YOU'RE LIVING IT. I THINK I WOULD SHARE THAT OUR ROLE IS TO FIND ALL OF THE GAPS IN A SCHOOL AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO FILL THOSE GAPS. AND I THINK AGAIN THIS GOES BACK TO SORT OF WE WE SEE THE SCHOOL IN FROM FROM REALLY LIKE A SORT OF THE TOP DOWN HOLISTIC YOU KNOW, 360 LENS WE SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE IN A CLASSROOM. WE SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE DISCIPLINARIAN SIDE. WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN ACCOUNTING SO WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SCHOOL AND WE CAN IDENTIFY ALL OF THE PLACES WITHIN THOSE SYSTEMS WHERE SOMETHING SHOULD CHANGE TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE EFFICIENT IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS.  SO I THINK IF I WAS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING TO MY PRINCIPAL IT IT WOULD BE THAT AND THEN TO THEN MAYBE SAY PLEASE GIVE US LIKE THE SPACE AND THE OPPORTUNITY, THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO HELP FILL THOSE HOLES.  I MEAN I THINK I ALWAYS REMIND SCHOOL LEADERS THAT COUNSELORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND POST-SECONDARY AND THEY'RE VERY COMPREHENSIVE IN WHAT THEY DO AND THAT MEANS THEY'RE WORKING WITH STUDENTS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY AGENCIES. THEY ARE THE HUB OF THE WHEEL. THEY'RE THE HUB OF THE WORLD WITH MANY SPOKES.  I LIKE ANALOGIES AND IN MANY WAYS THEY NEED TO HAVE THE TIME TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. I WOULD SAY COUNSELORS ARE REALLY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTS THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO THRIVE AND TO BENEFIT FROM THE HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND FROM THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. SO I WOULD SUGGEST AND IN TERMS OF BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE SCHOOL, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE WAY THAT BEPS OPERATES RIGHT NOW GIVES SCHOOL COUNSELORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AS NEEDED TO DELIVER FOR STUDENTS ? IT COULD BE BETTER.  I THINK THAT YOU KNOW YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE ROLES IS DEFINITELY A FACTOR IN THAT. SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE DO OR WE CAN DO OR WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND NOT OPERATING UNDER YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT COULD BETTER ,YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THAT. BUT I THINK THAT'S THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF IT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE YOU KNOW ON THE SAME PAGE UNDERSTANDING I HAD A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY TIME'S UP THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, CHAIR NANCY, I WAS JUST YOU HAD SOME CRITIQUES OF THE BOSTON SCHOOL AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS WITH WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND STUFF RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T WE CAN'T DO IT IF IT'S STILL WE'RE USING THE CURRENT FORMAT THIS THIS PAGE REALLY BE THE SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT TEAM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS BUT IS IT JUST SORT OF SHOWS THE VENN DIAGRAM OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR SOCIAL WORKER SCHOOLS? IS THIS IS THIS THE FORMAT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR IS IT MORE JUST THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR PIECE IN AND OF ITSELF? NO, I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD. I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE NEED A CONSTELLATION OF SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S NOT JUST COUNSELORS.  WE NEED ALL OF THIS. IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN SCHOOLS UNDERSTANDS THIS AND THAT THERE'S TIME AND TRAINING AND SPACE TO DELIVER THIS.  SO THIS IS THERE'S NOT A I DON'T HAVE A CRITIQUE OF THIS AND MY CRITIQUE IS MORE ABOUT ATTENDING TO THE SYSTEMIC FEATURES, NOT THESE AMAZING COUNSELORS AND THAT'S IT. YEAH. YOU PUT IT MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID BUT YES, THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST TRYING TO AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS ISN'T YOU KNOW BECAUSE AS I'M LOOKING AT THIS I'M SAYING THIS ISN'T BAD RIGHT NOW. IT'S GREAT.  SO AT THE SAME TIME I GUESS TO ONE OF THE EX REMEMBER FROM HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE THE COOL COUNSELOR THAT YOU WANT RIGHT LIKE AND LIKE SOMETIMES THAT WOULD HONEST TO GOD THOUGH RIGHT AND SO WHEN YOU HAD THAT PERSON YOU WERE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO SEE YOUR COUNSELOR TO SEEK ADVICE AND SOMETIMES YOU KNOW IF THE PERSON IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT SORT OF I DON'T KNOW OVERLAP OR COMMONALITIES WITH THEM, YOU WERE LESS LIKELY TO SEEK THEM OUT.  HOW DO YOU FIND THE PEOPLE THAT WILL ATTRACT THEY PLAY I MEAN IT'S IT'S HARD RIGHT? YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A GOOD PAIR, GIVE OFF A GOOD VIBE.  THEY HAVE TO COOK AND GET RIGHT WHATEVER I MEAN TO BUT YOU KNOW LIKE I DON'T REALLY EXPECT AN ACTUAL ANSWER OUT OF THIS BUT IT'S JUST SORT OF LIKE THE THE TALENT YOU'RE ACTUALLY TOUCHING ON. I THINK AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WHICH IS I THINK YEAH YEAH, YEAH VERY, VERY POIGNANT RECRUITING AND RETAINING HIGH QUALITY COUNSELORS HAPPENS I MEAN THERE ARE NINE SCHOOL COUNSELING GRADUATE PROGRAMS JUST IN THE CITY AND JUST OUTSIDE THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF A PIPELINE.  IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE WOMEN WHICH WE NEED TO CHANGE. WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY THE PROFESSIONAL PIPELINE. BUT THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR HERE. I THINK THE RETAINING THEM INCLUDES HAVING STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. I'M SURE MANY OF US CAN TALK ABOUT WORKING AND BEING THE COOL COUNSELOR BUT THERE WERE OTHER COUNSELORS WHO WEREN'T PULLING THEIR WEIGHT BUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES WERE NOT VERY STRONG.  SO HOW ARE WE EVALUATING COUNSELORS? HOW ARE WE GIVING THEM SUPPORT TO GET BETTER BEFORE WE ARE EVALUATED THEM OUT? SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT.  WE WANT ALL THE COUNSELORS TO BE THE COOL ONE THAT THEY ALL WANT BUT IN THEORY YEAH RIGHT. YEAH. AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT COOL TO GO TO YOUR COUNSELOR TO LIKE ASK FOR A BE ABLE TO ASK FOR HELP. SO I THINK IT'S DEVELOPING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE GET GO. WE HAVE AN ORIENTATION AT OUR SCHOOL A LOT OF THE COUNSELORS ARE ARE VOLUNTEERING OR VOLUNTEER WORKING IN THOSE SPACES IN THE SUMMERTIME IN BEING PROACTIVE GETTING OUT OF OUR OFFICES.  WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR STUDENTS TO COME TO US. WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT TO THEM AND YOU KNOW, SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND ALL THAT. SO I THINK IT'S BEING PROACTIVE THAT YOU KNOW, GETTING TO KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WE ALWAYS HAVE WE ALWAYS HAVE FOOD IN OUR OFFICES TOO. SO THAT'S I ALWAYS HAVE THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO DRAW THEM IN,  YOU KNOW? SO THAT'S GREAT. I AM NOT THE COOL COUNSELOR BUT I AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPORTANT LIKE THIS IDEA OF LIKE WHAT IS COOL, RIGHT? AND I THINK YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES LIKE THE COOL COUNSELOR IS THE PERSON WHO LETS THEM HANG OUT IN THEIR OFFICE AND DOESN'T SEND THEM TO CLASS.  I DON'T DO THAT. I HOLD MY STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE. I MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO CLASS. I WILL KICK THEM OUT OF MY OFFICE IN A VERY LOVING WAY WITH SNACKS TO GET THEM TO GO BACK TO CLASS AND THEY STILL COME BACK BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I AM THERE. THEY KNOW THAT I LOVE THEM AND THEY KNOW THAT I HAVE THEIR BACK NO MATTER WHAT. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ALSO PART OF IT TOO LIKE HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS EVEN IF KIDS DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM? YEAH, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL TO ME . THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE THE FOURTH YOU THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOUR THE SPONSORS OF THIS HEARING. THIS IS VERY PERSONAL AND IMPORTANT TOPIC TO ME . I VERY BIG BENEFICIARY OF MY GUIDANCE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT THE O'BRYANT SHOUT OUT TO MS. SPONTANEOUS I UNDERSTAND I'M RETIRED EVER SINCE THEN BUT SHE REALLY PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY ACADEMIC SUCCESS.  I WANTED TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT I EXPERIENCED AS A COUNSELOR AND IS THAT I VISITED THE GROUP SCHOOL IN HYDE PARK AMAZING SCHOOL BUT THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS OFFICE WAS A SUPPLY CLOSET AND PART OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PART OF COUNSELING AND PART OF GETTING RESOURCES. IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GETTING IT IN THE SPACE AND I WENT IN AND THERE WAS A STUDENT THERE AND IT'S A SMALL CLOSET WITH NO WINDOWS AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF CRAYONS AND PAPERS AND COPY WITH TEARS ON THE WALL.  MY QUESTION IS WHO DETERMINES THE SPACE WHERE YOU WORK OUT BECAUSE THAT IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT YOU PROVIDE.  SO MY MY I'M FROM HYDE PARK AND MY SON ACTUALLY JUST GRADUATED FROM THE GROUP IN SIXTH GRADE. THEY DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND SO AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT THIS SPACE THAT IS OCCUPIED THERE IT WAS EITHER THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER OR MAYBE THEY ALSO OUTSOURCE WITH HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERING.  YES. AND SO IF IT'S SOMEONE FROM THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS, THEY'RE SOMEONE WHO'S COMING IN. HIS SCHOOL'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO DESIGNATE AN ENTIRE SPACE FOR THEM IF THEY'RE ONLY THERE ONE OR TWO DAYS A WEEK. IF IT'S A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER. MS. NICHOLSON NICHOLSON SHE I KNOW WAS PULLED IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND IS OFTEN DEALING WITH STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIOR ISSUES OR YOU KNOW, STUDENT WHO NEED TO BE PULLED FROM A CLASSROOM ETC. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THERE IS A NEED FOR HER TO OCCUPY A SPACE BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR THERE WHO WAS THERE EVERY DAY THAT SPACE MIGHT BE SET UP IN A WAY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, COMFORTING AND WARM AND FEELS SUPPORTIVE TO STUDENTS AND NOT JUST A SUPPLY CLOSET RIGHT.  THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE LEATHER GOT THERE WAS THAT SHE WAS DEFINITELY DOING SOME SORT OF HELP WITH WITH THE STUDENT. SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING AND I ONLY KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE WENT TO THE GROUP SO GOOD STUFF BUT YOU MAY WALK INTO OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE THE COUNSELORS ARE IN A SUPPLY CLOSET OR IN A BASEMENT AND THAT DECISION IN A HALLWAY OFTEN IT'S A DECISION MADE BY THE SCHOOL LEADER BASED ON THE SPACE THEY HAVE. SO IT MAY BE A SPACE CONSTRICTION BUT THE VALUE THAT A SCHOOL LEADER PLACES ON COUNSELING IT VERY MUCH IS GOING TO COME FROM THE VALUE THE DISTRICT PUTS ON COUNSELING AND THE CITY PUTS ON COUNSELING. SO I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND THAT ELSEWHERE BESIDES THE GURU AND THAT'S PART OF A LARGER ECOSYSTEM OF VALUING THE COUNSELING. THANK YOU. MY LAST QUESTION IS REGARDING THE VIOLENCE WORK THAT IS DONE IN THE CITY WORKING WITH YOU KNOW, ISAAC DIABLO FROM THE MAYOR'S FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND PPD OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S INCIDENTS OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHERE YOU KNOW, MY MY FRIEND IS A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE AND I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY AND ACT LIKE EVERYTHING'S OKAY . I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE DON'T CREATE SPACE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND MAYBE THE THE BEST TEAM OR THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE ADMINISTRATION TO TALK ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED LOCALLY OR AFFECTED A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL WHERE YOU GUYS COULD STEP IN AND HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION IN THE SCHOOL TO COPE WITH IT.  YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN I THINK OUR PRINCIPAL HE DEFINITELY CREATED SPACE FOR US TO DO THAT. THERE'S A GOOD CONNECTION OUR WE HAVE A HEAD OF GUIDANCE IN OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING AT OUR SCHOOL AND SHE SITS ON THAT ADMINISTRATION TEAM SO SHE DEFINITELY PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE HAVE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER TOO THAT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH US TOO AS PART OF OUR TEAM.  AND YEAH, I THINK ANY TIME THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP WE WE KIND OF COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO HELP SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AS WE SEE IT HAPPENING. YEAH, WELL THANK YOU. MY TIME IS UP. I THINK ALL THE WORK YOU DO.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR FLYNN, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR?  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. I'M ALSO FORTUNATE THAT OUR SON GRADUATED FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL LAST YEAR AND HAD EXCELLENT COUNSELORS AS WELL. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.  IS THERE A STANDARD IN BEEPS FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TO STUDENT OR DOES IT DEPEND ON THE GRADE OR DOES IT DEPEND ON THE SCHOOL?  I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SPECIFIC STANDARD. THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I'M NOT 100% SURE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO MISSPEAK.  SO BUT THE NATIONAL RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED AVERAGE IS 1 TO 250. OKAY. SO IT'S RECOMMENDED NATIONALLY FOR AS A FOR THE PROFESSION. OKAY.  IN I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF OF OF THEIR STUDENTS BUT ARE THEY ALSO PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO STUDENTS?  SO WE PROVIDE SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS FOR SOLUTION FOCUSED COUNSELING SO USUALLY THAT MIGHT MEAN, YOU KNOW, CHECK INS FOR YOU KNOW, WEEKLY CHECK INS FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS, YOU KNOW, HELPING STUDENTS TO OVERCOME SOMETHING THAT A SITUATION NON OF STUDENTS NEED MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE WE WILL REFER THEM FOR MORE EXTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO A SOCIAL WORKER. OKAY.  A COUPLE OF YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND ACTUALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES AS WELL IN SEXUAL ASSAULT SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS WELL . IS THIS SOMETHING WE ARE ALSO SEEING IN IN YOUR CLASSES, IN YOUR SCHOOLS?  YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN IT COMES UP AND AGAIN I THINK WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, OUR NURSES. ACTUALLY I WAS JUST I HAVE AN INTERN THAT I'M WORKING WITH. WE JUST WERE GOING OVER TODAY HAD A FILE OF 51. SO GIVING HER THAT INFORMATION . AND SO YEAH, I MEAN WE DEFINITELY DEAL WITH IT. WE WORK WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY AND THE STUDENTS WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING LIKE THAT.  YEAH. I MEAN I THINK OFTENTIMES BECAUSE COUNSELORS HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS THEY WILL THEN TELL A COUNSELOR IF THEY ARE IN AN ABUSIVE SITUATION AND IF THEY ARE A WITNESS TO AN ABUSIVE SITUATION AND IT'S THOSE TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEN ENABLE THE COUNSELOR TO FILE AND GET SOCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS IF THEY KNOW THEM, IF THEY KNOW THE STUDENT AND MOSTLY COUNSELORS FORM THOSE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND THEN IT DOESN'T END THERE. I THINK THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT STUDENTS GET MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IN THIS ROOM AND COLLEGE COUNSELING HERE AND THEN CHOOSE CLASSES OVER HERE.  THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, I WORKED WITH A YOUNG WOMAN AT BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL WHO CAME INTO THE SCHOOL UNDOCUMENTED. SHE HER MOM WAS A DRUG ADDICT AND I EVENTUALLY FOUND A 51 A SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE HOME,  THEN WANTED TO PURSUE COLLEGE AND WE WORKED ON HER DOCUMENTATION AND THEN WE PLANTED COLLEGE PLANNING AND SHE'S A NURSE TODAY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY ONE OF THOSE THINGS I WOULD SAY IS WHAT THE COUNSELOR DOES.  IT'S THE TOTALITY OF IT. IT'S THE BUILDING, THE RELATIONSHIPS TO FILL IN THE GAPS. I THINK AS JODI SAID SO ELOQUENTLY, THANK YOU AND MY FINAL QUESTION I REPRESENT A LARGE COMMUNITY WHERE CANTONESE IS SPOKEN IN SPANISH BUT MOSTLY CANTONESE.  DO WE HAVE WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS SUPPORT FROM THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND THAT GUIDANCE COUNSELOR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THAT CHILD OR THE CHILD'S PARENT DUE TO LANGUAGE CHALLENGES. WELL WE DO HAVE SOME SUPPORTS WE HAVE USE LINES BRIDGE THAT YOU CAN USE TO CALL THE FAMILY AND THEY TRANSLATE RIGHT THERE ON THE ON THE LINE WITH THE FAMILY AND LIKE I SAID I THINK EARLIER TALKING POINTS WHICH TRANSLATE LIKE IT'S A TEXT AND SENT TO A FAMILY AND IT'S BEEN SENT AND THE FAMILY'S NATIVE LANGUAGE SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE IN THAT WAY TOO AND AGAIN SOME PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF THAT MIGHT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE THAT THE FAMILY SPEAKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THE NEW COUNSELOR I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER NOW BACK TO THE LEAD SPONSOR. I THINK HIS OFFER UP FOR ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL. BUT COUNCIL PRESIDENT AGAIN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. I THINK I HAVE TWO MAIN QUESTIONS. ONE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN LIKE I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF LEARNING FOR BOTH ME AND MY COLLEAGUES BUT SOMEONE WHO SPOKE TALKED ABOUT SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENTS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS DONE LIKE LET ME BACK UP A BIT.  I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH AND SOME WAYS WE'D LIKE YOU KNOW, OKAY YOU DO THIS AND THESE ARE THIS IS WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW.  THIS IS IN THE PURVIEW OF SOCIAL WORKERS. THIS IS THE PURVIEW OF AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN CUT IT SO CLEANLY BUT SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENTS IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS DONE HABITUALLY BY OUR GUIDANCE BY SCHOOL COUNSELORS? IS THAT DONE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS?  AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES MAYBE IT'S THE TEACHER THAT'S SEEING THE THE THE THE WARNING SIGNS OR MAYBE IT'S SOMEONE ELSE THE FAMILY'S ON. BUT HOW DOES THAT HOW DOES THAT WORK AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ESPECIALLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER WAS SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE. HOW ARE WE GETTING OUR KIDS TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE COMING OVER TO OUR SCHOOL? IS THERE A FRAMEWORK FOR THAT?  SO I MEAN OUR SCHOOL WE HAVE WE HAVE THE S.O.S. PROGRAMING SO WE DO SIGNS OF SUICIDE. WE GO INTO OUR SEVENTH GRADE CLASSROOMS, EVERY SINGLE STUDENT'S TIER ONE EVERYBODY GETS THAT AND THEN OUR 10TH GRADE TOO WE GO INTO THEIR HOME ROOMS AND WE DO IT.  THE COUNSELORS WORK WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER. WE KIND OF ALL WORK TOGETHER AND THEN WE DO A SCREENING AND AFTER THE SCREENING WE STRATEGIZE WHO'S GOING TO SEE WHO. SO IF THERE'S DEPENDING ON HOW THEY ANSWER THAT SCREENING, WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE THE SOCIAL WORKERS OUR CLINICIANS WORK WITH THEM. WE CALL A PARENT IF THERE'S YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A LITTLE BIT NOT AS SEVERE AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO BREAK FREE FROM DEPRESSION. THAT'S A MODEL THAT WE USE IN OUR EIGHTH GRADE. SO ACTUALLY OUR HEALTH TEACHERS ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS ON THAT AND THEY TALK WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT HOW TO SEE THE SIGNS FOR YOURSELF OR FRIENDS OR FAMILY IN TERMS OF DEPRESSION.  SO AND WE ALSO DO THE BIOMASS WHICH I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHICH I THINK WE DO 11TH GRADE IN NINTH GRADE. SO THE OTHER CLASSES TOO IN WHICH IS YOU KNOW, ANOTHER SCREENER TO GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW STUDENTS ARE FEELING ACTUALLY OUR SOCIAL WORKER IS REALLY TAKE ON THAT IN THAT'S IN THAT'S DONE YOU KNOW USUALLY DOING DURING OUR HOMEROOM PERIOD AND STUDENTS ARE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AND THEN WE FOLLOW UP WITH ANY STUDENTS THAT THAT NEED FOLLOW UP WE HAVE A VERY SIMILAR PROCESS ALTHOUGH OUR WE ALSO USE SIGNS OF SUICIDE AND VIOLENCE AS A SCREENING INDICATOR WE ACTUALLY DELIVER IT TO ALL STUDENTS ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS THROUGHOUT. SO BY MS. WE ACTUALLY THERE'S A WINDOW THAT IT'S CALLED BY MS. BY MS. I DON'T KNOW THAT STANDS FOR BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION BIOMASS YEAH, YEAH.  BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION SOMETHING SOMEONE FROM BPC WILL KNOW AND SO WE DELIVER THAT TO ALL STUDENTS IN OCTOBER THROUGH THE BIOMASS WINDOW AND THEN IN NOVEMBER WE DELIVER THE SCIENCE OF SUICIDE CURRICULUM TO ALL STUDENTS. BUT WHEREAS BEALS HAS 2500 STUDENTS, WE ONLY HAVE 430 SO IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO DELIVER THE SAME INTERVENTION TO ALL GRADE LEVELS EACH YEAR. GREAT SCHOOLS DO VALLEY IS ON ZOOM AND WANTED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS BUT YEAH SORRY SO YEAH BECAUSE THIS MIGHT DIFFER VERY MUCH BY THE COOL YEAH YEAH HERE'S YEAH LISTEN YOU KNOW YEAH YOU KNOW YEAH I DO HAVE A SECOND QUESTION AND THAT'S WITH RESPECT TO WE WE DIDN'T TALK A LOT ABOUT SORT OF THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PART BUT JUST LIKE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A SPOKEN THE THREE SPOTS ARE BEING ERODED ON ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COLLEGE AND CAREER COLLEGE AND CAREER AND I SEE LIKE BOSTON WHERE THERE'S SO MANY RESOURCES AND COLLEGE BEING ONE OF THEM I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE WITHOUT MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR REALLY TELLING ME ABOUT HOW I CAN GET RESOURCES TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE AND ALL OF THAT.  BUT THE SECOND ONE NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE SO DO YOU FEEL AS COUNSELORS THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT THERE'S ENOUGH COORDINATION HAPPENING KNOWING ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EITHER IN THE TRADES OR GETTING A JOB AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? LIKE DO WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH BEING DONE ON THAT END TO HELP YOU GUIDE THE STUDENTS AS TO WHAT'S POSSIBLE POST COLLEGE WHAT POST-HIGH SCHOOL? THAT'S MY SECOND QUESTION BUT VAL, IF YOU WANTED TO ANSWER THE FIRST ONE I, I CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME ? YES.  OH GREAT. SO I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO JOIN ON ZOOM AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE THAT I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY AND I CAN ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS BUT PLEASE BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT MENTIONED THE SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT EARLIER DURING MY TESTIMONY. YEAH. SO SO YES SO WE TO THE OTHER WHAT THE OTHER PANELIST MENTIONED WE ALSO DO AT THE O'BRYANT WHAT I WAS MENTIONING WAS A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL PROTOCOL THAT IS IN ONE OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS CIRCULAR SO THEY'RE SUPERVISING THE CIRCULARS FOR VARIOUS ISSUES THAT A COUNSELOR OR STAFF MEMBER MAY ENCOUNTER.  AND I'LL GIVE YOU JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT HAPPENED JUST THIS SCHOOL YEAR.  ONE OF THE ENGLISH TEACHERS SENT ME AN EMAIL BECAUSE ONE OF HIS STUDENTS WROTE ABOUT HARMING HERSELF IN HER COLLEGE ESSAY. AND SO BECAUSE THERE IS A PROTOCOL THE PROTOCOL SAYS THAT IT MUST BE EITHER A LICENSED SCHOOL COUNSELOR, A SOCIAL WORKER, A NURSE, A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND SO IN SCHOOL PEOPLE HAVE TO CONDUCT A SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT. SO IT'S A SET OF QUESTIONS, GUIDELINES THAT THE TWO ADULTS UM ASK A STUDENT AROUND PROTECTIVE FACTORS UM AND ULTIMATELY ASKING THEM IF THEY HAVE A PLAN AND INTENT TO HARM THEMSELVES.  RIGHT. AND DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY SAY DURING THAT INTERVIEW YOU THEN HAVE TO CALL THE BEST TEAM OBVIOUSLY CALL THE PARENTS OR ASK THAT THE PARENTS BRING THAT CHILD TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND SO AGAIN AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS COME RIGHT TO US BECAUSE THERE'S OFTEN THAT TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP IN THIS CASE IT WAS IN THE FORM OF A COLLEGE ESSAY AND THE TEACHER WASN'T SURE HOW TO ADDRESS IT.  AND SO THE TEACHER OBVIOUSLY HAD A RELATION WITH ME . I HAD A RELATION WITH THE STUDENT AND SO I CALL THAT PARENT I LET THEM KNOW YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR PARENT PERMISSION TO CONDUCT A SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT BUT AGAIN THERE IS A PROTOCOL FOR IT. UM I THINK AGAIN EVERY SCHOOL DOES IT DIFFERENTLY EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE CIRCULAR AND THERE'S A PROTOCOL FOR IT. BUT AS A LICENSED SCHOOL COUNSELOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ANOTHER LICENSE PROFESSIONAL IN MANY CASES A SOCIAL WORKER, NURSE ETC. A SCHOOL COUNSELOR CAN CONDUCT A SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT. SO THE WAY OUR SCHOOL IS SET UP OFTENTIMES THEY COME TO US AND WE'LL CONNECT WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER OR OTHER CLINICIANS TO CONDUCT THAT RISK ASSESSMENT.  THANK YOU. THAT I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A FOLLOW UP QUESTION BUT I CAN ALSO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION AS WELL. YES, SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS.  YEAH. SO I WANTED TO ANSWER THAT TOO BECAUSE COLLEGE COUNSELING IS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB. EARLIER IN MY TESTIMONY I TALKED ABOUT THE THREE DOMAINS ACADEMIC COUNSELING, COLLEGE AND CAREER AND THEN MENTAL HEALTH COURSE COUNSELING IS MY FAVORITE PART. UM, I ACTUALLY WROTE MY TESTIMONY LAST NIGHT AFTER I FINISHED A WESTBRIDGE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION CLASS WHICH IS A NATIONAL AMAZING SCHOLARSHIP FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP OF SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY. BUT I THINK THERE'S DISTRICT PD RIGHT THERE FOR COLLEGE COUNSELING.  THERE IS A NATIONAL PD THAT WE ATTEND I THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS KIND OF LIKE BECAUSE NOT ALL SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE NECESSARILY DOING COLLEGE COUNSELING RIGHT? ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. WE PARTNER WITH THE COLLEGE ADVISING COURSE OF MOST HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE A COLLEGE ADVISOR AND THAT'S A IT'S WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? IT'S AN AMERICORPS ROLE. SO THERE ARE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE RECENTLY OUT OF COLLEGE WHO HELP SUPPORT IT. BUT BUT AGAIN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT COLLEGE COUNSELING,  THERE'S CURRICULUM BEHIND IT, RIGHT? SO IN THE JUNIOR YEAR WITH YOUR CLASSROOM LESSONS AROUND BUILDING A COLLEGE LIST, MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE, YOU KNOW, A REACH REACH GOALS WHICH ARE SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET INTO MATCH ALL SCHOOLS THAT WE THINK THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING INTO AND SAFETY SCHOOLS RIGHT RIGHT SO THERE'S LESSONS AROUND IT. THERE'S LESSONS AROUND THE COLLEGE ESSAY. THERE'S LESSONS AROUND FINANCIAL AID LITERACY SO NOT FINANCIAL LITERACY BUT FINANCIAL AID LITERACY. SO WHEN STUDENTS APPLY TO COLLEGE THEY'RE ALSO APPLYING TO FINANCIAL AID. SO AGAIN IT'S A LOT RIGHT? AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO KNOW AND I THINK TV AROUND IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB AND I WISH THERE WERE MORE PD BECAUSE I THINK WHEN I TALK TO SOME OF MY COUNSELING COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE CITY NOT EVERYONE IS AS WELL INFORMED AROUND COLLEGE COUNSELING. I THINK AGAIN IT'S BECAUSE HOW DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE SET UP BUT BUT THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.  I HAVE TO STEP OUT SO I JUST WOULD LOVE TO RESPOND VERY QUICKLY. I'M SO SORRY TO LEAVE BUT ONE THING I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SINCE COUNSELOR FITZGERALD NOTICED SOME OF MY CRITIQUES THAT THE DISTRICT HAS INVESTED IN THE MY CAP AND THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WORK LED BY MARCIA INES MITCHELL WHO HAS DONE JUST A SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE JOB WITH THIS. AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE STRENGTHS YOU RAISE. THEY KNOW TALKING ABOUT YOU. YES, THAT'S A HUGE STRENGTH AND ASSET IN THE DISTRICT AND SHE'S PROVIDING PORTANT LEADERSHIP IN THAT DOMAIN AND I SUSPECT THAT THESE TWO WILL SAY THE SAME. AND I THINK JUST TO NOTE THAT THAT WE NEED TO BUILD ON THOSE SUCCESSES AND BUILD ON THAT LEADERSHIP AND SHOW THAT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH AND IN THE OTHER DOMAINS JUST AS MARCIA HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IN COLLEGE AND CAREER BECAUSE YOUR QUESTION IS ALSO ABOUT THE CAREER PIECE AND THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, THE TRADES AND THE APPRENTICESHIPS AND THAT IS A GROWING AREA RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE SHE'S BEEN PARTICULARLY STRESSED ACCESS SUCCESSFUL.  THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE REST. JONATHAN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO OUR FIRST PANELIST UNLESS THERE'S ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL ,WE GOT TO MOVE ON. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS AS WE TRANSITION TO TO OUR SECOND PANEL. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY A CENTRAL STAFF THAT WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED UP AND WAITING FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HEARING AND I'D LIKE TO JUST INVITE THEM TO TESTIFY NOW AS WE TRANSITION INTO BOTH PANELS.  SO I LIKE TO CALL UP THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH AND WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE COME DOWN TO ONE OF THE TWO PODIUMS. I'M GOING TO SAY YOUR NAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND ORGANIZATION.  PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES. I THINK I HAVE HERE MIKE STONE ON THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT FOSTER THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.  MY NAME IS MEG STONE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT BOSTON AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR ABILITY IMPACT ABUSE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN PART OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN BEPS SINCE 2010 AND I AM VERY CLEAR THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS WORK THROUGH A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. IMPACT BOSTON EDUCATE STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY, INTERNET SAFETY AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.  WE ARE PROUD TO WORK WITH SCHOOL PARTNERS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED AND PURSUE INDEPENDENTLY LIVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MUST ALSO BE SAFE.  FEDERAL DATA SHOW THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FACE RISKS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THOSE WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND MANY WERE THE HARDEST HIT BY THE LEARNING DISRUPTIONS OF THE PANDEMIC.  I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS TAKING TIME TO PRIORITIZE THE ISSUE OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELING. AND I'M HERE TODAY AS ONE OF MANY VOICES TO UPLIFT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND REALITIES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. THE STUDENTS WE REACH NEED MORE REPETITION AND REINFORCEMENT OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING CONCEPTS. THEY NEED INFORMATION PRESENTED IN MORE GRADUATE AND CONCRETE FORMATS.  MANY LEARN BY ROLE PLAYS BY CONCRETE EXPERIENCE AND WITH THIS THEY ARE ABLE TO INTERNALIZE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND SELF-ADVOCACY STRATEGIES OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF COLLABORATING WITH TEACHERS STRIVE COMMUNITY CONNECTION FACILITATORS AND ESPECIALLY SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE SAFETY SKILLS THAT THEY NEED. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE UNIQUELY HELPFUL.  THEY CAN ADDRESS EVERYTHING FROM SOCIAL SKILLS AT WORK TO THE LASTING IMPACT OF PAST TRAUMA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LINK BETWEEN PRACTICAL FUTURE PLANNING AND ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH IS AT TIME. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE A DAN GOLDSBERRY ON ZOOM.  YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES.  HELLO, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME ? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT. IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO CONNECT . MY NAME IS DAN GOLDSBERRY AND I'M A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR GRADES 1011 AND 12 AT THE NEWLY RENAMED RUTH BATSON ACADEMY IN DORCHESTER. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO'S SCHEDULED TODAY'S HEARING.  SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN BOSTON OFTEN FEEL LEFT OUT OF IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF OUR DISTRICT.  SO IT IS AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE TIRELESS WORK WE DO EACH DAY. WHEN WE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AFTER THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, BP HAS RIGHTLY DECIDED TO ENSURE EVERY BP SCHOOL HAD A SOCIAL WORKER. SADLY AT PRESENT THERE ARE DOZENS OF SCHOOLS WITHOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS. I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR TEN YEARS. I CAN ATTEST TO THE CRITICAL NEED FOR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN THE MIDDLE GRADE. HOWEVER, WHEN BP HAS CLOSED THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, NO COUNSELING POSITIONS WERE ADDED TO THE K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOLS WHICH ABSORBED MANY OF THESE VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE ACCORDING TO DATA PROVIDED BY THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. AS OF THIS PAST SUMMER OUT OF 25 K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOLS IN THE CITY, ONLY THREE HAD LICENSED SCHOOL COUNSELORS. THAT MEANS THAT MORE THAN 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CITY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS CRITICAL SUPPORT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, SCHOOLS IN BOSTON INCLUDING MAINE UTILIZE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS SUPPORT OR NTFS MOST MOST OF ALL I THINK WE LOST. NOW OKAY SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR SECOND PANEL. THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR FIRST PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR TESTIFYING TESTIFYING FOR OUR SECOND PANEL TODAY. WE HAVE THE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WITH US HERE TODAY. WE HAVE DR. TED LOMBARDI, A SECONDARY SUPERINTENDENT FOR COLLEGE CAREER AND LIFE READINESS FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THEN WE HAVE COREY MCCARTHY WHO IS THE CHIEF OF STUDENTS FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. SO YOU'LL HAVE THE FLOOR AND WE'LL PROVIDE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, JUNIOR LEADER. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR AND THANK YOU FOR YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL BEFORE US.  IT'S A GROUP OF COUNSELORS THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH QUITE A BIT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. I WILL TAKE A REALLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TODAY JUST TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY EXCITING THAT WE'VE DONE TO TRY TO AFFORD THE COUNSELING WORK THAT HAPPENS IN BPC OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE FIRST PANEL. SO WHEN I CAME INTO THIS ROLE A COUPLE OF YEARS WE ADDED THIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCHOOL COUNSELING POSITION WHICH IS NOW OCCUPIED BY CAITLIN GILLIGAN WHO STARTED WITH US THIS SUMMER.  THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR US WHO IS ALWAYS A GUIDANCE DIRECTOR, A POSITION THAT EXISTED THAT DID A LOT OF THE SORT OF MECHANICAL SUPPORT GRADUATION DIPLOMAS, TRANSCRIPTS, THAT SORT OF THING THAT STILL EXISTS. WE ADDED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION.  WE'VE ALSO ADDED AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOCUSED ON THE MCAP WORK THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER AND AS WAS REFERENCED AS WELL MARCIA AND AS MITCHELL HAS DONE A TON OF WORK WITH OUR COUNSELORS HISTORICALLY AND MANY REALMS. SO WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO UP OUR SUPPORTS CENTRALLY FOR THE WORK THAT OUR COUNSELORS DO. PART OF THE DIRECTOR POSITION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHING THIS DISTRICT WIDE PD FOR COUNSELORS THAT HAS EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED YOU KNOW EARLY ON WHEN I MET WITH THE COUNSELOR FACULTY SENATE AND OTHERS AS A HUGE GAP FOR OUR COUNSELORS THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAD LOCAL RELEVANT PD TO GO TO AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE YOU KNOW, ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT WHERE WE WERE AND WE'VE WE'VE MADE SOME SOME REAL POSITIVE STEPS. WE DO ALSO THROUGH A GRANT FOR A PROJECT PROVIDE A FIVE YEAR GRANT. WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVERY NEW COUNSELOR A MENTOR. LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR AND GOING FORWARD AGAIN TO ADDRESS A NEED THAT WAS ELEVATED EARLIER. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE FOR FOR OUR COUNSELORS. AND THEN FINALLY JUST IN TERMS OF THE SORT OF ROLE FLAHERTY ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK WITH OUR SCHOOL LEADERS ON, YOU KNOW, QUITE FREQUENTLY AND IT'S SOME OF AGAIN SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE HEAD OF SCHOOL COUNSELING IS DOING, SOME OF THE WORK THAT I DO IN MY WORK WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS DO AGAIN PULLING COUNSELORS OUT OF THE BUILDING FOR DISTRICT WIDE PD IS SOMETHING NEW AND THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF THE RESISTANCE THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE FELT IN BEING TO LEAVE THE BUILDINGS. AND AGAIN MOST OF OUR PRINCIPALS COME FROM A TEACHING BACKGROUND, FROM A COUNSELING BACKGROUND AND I THINK THEY DO NEED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT ROLE IS SO PERFECTLY UNDERSTOOD AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING.  THE LAST THING I'LL ADDRESS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION FROM COUNSELOR FLYNN EARLIER THE THE THERE'S AN ELEMENT IN THE UNION CONTRACT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT IS A 3 TO 1 RATIO AS A BASELINE THAT IS THAT IS PART OF THE BTU CONTRACT.  WE ARE THANKFULLY WELL AHEAD OF THAT. WE DO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT RATIO IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW . HELLO YOU FOR HAVING ME ONCE AGAIN MY NAME IS COREY MCCARTHY. I'M THE CHIEF OF SUPPORT IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WANT START WITH SOME GIVE ME SOME GRATITUDE AND BE THANKFUL FOR OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS. YOU KNOW VAL DAVINA AND I, WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE WE WERE BOTH AT NEW MISSION.  I THINK WE BOTH SEEN WHAT WOULD IT TAKES AND TO REALLY TO HAVE THIS SORT OF ALL IN EFFORT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. BUT THERE'S THERE'S ALSO A FEW THINGS HERE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, HERE TOO WE'RE NOT GOING PLAY ANY DEFENSE HERE. I THINK THESE ARE OUR COLLEAGUES. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM.  WE ARE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A LARGER PART OF THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE.  BUT I THINK TO TELL THE THE LARGER STORY OF THE ECOSYSTEM IS TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT IS MADE UP OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND I AND I THINK YOU KNOW EVEN FOLKS THEY WERE WATCHING AT HOME AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK, WE HAVE HEALTH SERVICES, WE HAVE ATHLETICS, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, WE HAVE THE COUNSELING INTERVENTION CENTER WHICH DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR A LOT OF TIER THREE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AS WELL AS ANTI THE ANTI-BULLYING WORK. WE ALSO HAVE SOME SUBSETS WORK WITH INTENT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST AS INVOLVED. WE ALSO HAVE COMPONENT WHERE WE'RE BUILDING AROUND PEER MEDIATION TO SORT OF MITIGATE SOME SOME INTERNAL ISSUES IN SCHOOLS.  WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS WHERE WE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC GAPS. SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE DO TOUCH UPON AND MULTIPLE AREAS THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK WITH AND WE WE WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM AND THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO REALLY, REALLY SUPPORT THE ENTIRE BODY OF WORK WITH OUR WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.  I THINK YOU KNOW, TO BORROW A PHRASE FROM THE WIRE THAT I CASTLE USE, ALL THE PIECES MATTER AND I THINK THE GRAPHIC THAT WE SHARED AND YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY OUR PLAN WAS TO COME AND LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC BUT I THINK THAT GRAPHIC IS PRETTY CLEAR AND I THINK AS A UNIT, AS A TEAM, AS A DISTRICT, I THINK HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AND REMODEL AND IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE 21ST CENTURY THINGS THAT WE COULD WE COULD USE TO ENGAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A CAPACITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. I THINK IN THINKING ABOUT THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL WORK AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR MANY PARTNERS IN THIS WORK. YOU KNOW WE HAVE LOOKED AS A TEAM AT SOME OF THE GAPS AND HOW WE CAN FILL THOSE GAPS AND YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL AS A UNIT NOT ONLY BEYOND LIKE SUPPORTING STUDIES OF MENTAL HEALTH IS TO DO TWO THINGS RIGHT CHANGE THE CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR STUDENTS LIKE IT'S ONGOING, IT'S CHANGING. SOME KIDS NEED MORE. EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE. FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS WE LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS, WE EVALUATE THEM TO SEE HOW WE COULD HELP IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER PIECES TO REMOVE BARRIERS.  YOU KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE THAT WE ARE PROUD OF WE CREATED IN SUPPORT AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER WITH WITH VAL AND SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE DISTRICT. WE BUILT THE OPPORTUNITY LAB AND I KNOW HOW AWESOME HE HAS SEEN IT IN PERSON. I IMPLORE YOU GUYS TO COME SEE US DO SATURDAY FROM 10 TO 2. YOU KNOW WE ARE WE THERE WITH COLLEGE COACHES WITH STUDENTS WHO CAN YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE ALL WEEKEND. SO IN UNISON WE ARE SAYING HEY LIKE WHERE THERE'S GAPS WE'RE GOING TO FILL THEM AND WHERE THERE'S GAPS THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AND WE ARE HELPING STUDENTS THAT DAY WITH COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, COLLEGE ESSAYS, POTENTIALLY SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID. YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICES WORKED WITH SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO HAVE MULTIPLE COLLEGE TOURS. YOU KNOW, STUDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH THEIR STUDENTS WHO SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES, WHO SEE AND UNDERSTAND AND IT MEANS DIFFERENT FOR OUR KIDS WHEN THEY KNOW YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY GO TO COLLEGE. BUT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT LIKE HEY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THREE MEALS A DAY LIKE UNLIMITED PIZZA, UNLIMITED PASTA, YOU KNOW, ARE OR HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE YOUR OWN ROOM FOR THE FIRST TIME? RIGHT. THOSE THOSE ARE TWO THINGS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT GET YOU THERE. BUT WHAT MAKES YOU STAY IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF COME ACROSS COLLABORATE ACROSS COLLABORATIVE WORK AND CROSS-FUNCTIONAL WORK. SO BY DOING SO THIS SORT OUR OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HELPED AND SUPPORTED IN COLLABORATION AND REPRESENTING THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE'VE HAD WE COMPLETED 75 APPLICATIONS LAST YEAR THE TUITION FREE COLLEGE WE COMPLETED THOSE OVER 30 WITH OUR STUDENTS 100 123 STUDENTS COMPLETED A COLLEGE ESSAY FOR OUR COLLEGE ESSAY NIGHT WE HAD FULL FULL FOR FULL COLLEGE TOURS TO HBCU TOURS A STATE COLLEGE TOUR AS WELL AS TOURING TO RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL THING OF ALL THE PIECES MATTER WOW SAY WHILE STATING AND SAYING LIKE HEY WHEN A STUDENT IS SUCCESSFUL AS ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN A STUDENT FEELS SUCCESSFUL, THEY'RE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND SORT OF ABILITY TO GREAT ABOUT THEMSELVES GREATLY IMPROVES. THEY BECOME MORE CONFIDENT THEY SPEAK OUT MORE AND WE TRY TO REALLY ELEVATE THOSE THINGS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THEY COULD TASTE SUCCESS AND SORT OF TAKE THAT WITH THEM LONG TERM ALSO, YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE OUR I MENTIONED THE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITH THIS TO SUPPORT BUT WE WE DO TAKE A PERSONAL AROUND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS LIKE WHEN YOU COME TO SCHOOL YOU KNOW I DON'T I DON'T WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE KILLING OUR PEOPLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO WALK IN A BUILDING AND THEN BE HIT WITH A RULE IS ALL CULTURAL LIKE.  WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF A BUILDING? WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF GOING TO SCHOOL?  YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PART OF OUR ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORKS CLOSELY WITH CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.  YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT AS SOON AS BEING THERE BUT STAYING THERE, YOU KNOW AND I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE BRILLIANT CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY VALUE OUR COWORKERS ,I THINK IT'S ON US RIGHT TO SAY TO TO BE EXACTLY WHAT THE GRAPHIC SAYS. RIGHT. AND TO CONTINUOUSLY WORK ON THAT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY COULD BENEFIT FROM AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR NOT ONLY OUR TEAM IS TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND AND OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS FOR DOING THAT. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE THIS IS THERE'S A LARGER LESSON TO BE LEARNED BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, THIS IS WHAT GOT US THERE. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE AND HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A SELF-REPORTING TOOL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, RIGHT? THEY TELL US RIGHT AND TALKING TO OUR FAMILIES AND HELPING OUR FAMILIES SEE YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SIGNS ARE OUR SOCIAL WORK TEAM IS SUPER STRONG IN DOING THAT BUT WE COULD DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME WEEKEND PROGRAMING OUR SUNDAY PROGRAM THIS YEAR IS OFFERING TUTORING ON A SUNDAY. THE ONLY THING HAPPENED IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW SPORTS WELLNESS STRESS LAB YOGA IT IS HAPPENING 617 SUNDAY FREE ADVERTISING YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A BOOK BUT IT IS A IT IS A PROGRAM YOU GUYS CAN COME AND SEE.  WE ALSO HAVE A STUDENT SUPPORT HOTLINE. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOUR STUDENT HAS A PROBLEM. CALL THE HOTLINE. WE WILL TRIAGE AND SUPPORT YOU AS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. AND FINALLY TO THE QUESTION AROUND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE TALK WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES. WE WE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS GET INVOLVED BUT DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS GET INVOLVED. WE STAY CONNECTED. I THINK ALL THE PIECES MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. AS WITH OUR FIRST PANEL, I LIKE TO NOW INVITE THE LEAD SPONSOR AND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS TO BEGIN WITH A ROUND OF QUESTIONS FOR THE PANEL AND THEN I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES IN OF ARRIVAL OF ARRIVAL WITH THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE,  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO COREY AND TO TED FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS. FIRST QUESTION IS WE HAVE DISTRICT WIDE SOCIAL WORKERS.  IT'S A MODEL THAT WE USE BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME FOR A DISTRICT WIDE COUNCIL SCHOOL COUNSELOR. WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHY HAVE WE MADE A DECISION THAT DISTRICT WIDE SOCIAL WORKERS AND NOT AND NOT DISTRICT WIDE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS I'LL LET COREY TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORK PIECE FROM MAYBE THIS IS APPLICABLE TO BOTH. I MEAN A LOT OF THE STAFFING AT SCHOOL IS REALLY IS SCHOOL BASED AND IT'S BASED AROUND STUDENT AID AND FUNDING AND THE DECISIONS THAT SCHOOLS MAKE.  YOU KNOW, FROM OUR END I MEAN I WORK IN THE OFFICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS SO I MEAN IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THERE ARE COUNSELORS AND ALL OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO HAVE COUNSELORS IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND RECOGNIZE THE SORT OF SHIFT THAT'S HAPPENED WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND AND THAT OUR GRADES HAVE SHIFTED IN TERMS OF HAVING, YOU KNOW, MORE STUDENTS AND CREATES MORE NOW 7 TO 12 HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAS CHANGED THE NEED AS WELL.  SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF THERE'S IF IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND LONG TERM IT WOULD BE SUPER VALUABLE. THERE'S CERTAINLY NO ARGUMENT HERE BUT THE THE ELEMENT OF FUNDING REALLY COMES FROM SCHOOL LEVEL BASED ON WHAT IT'S ALLOTTED THROUGH STUDENT WEIGHTED FUNDING OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THESE LARGER INITIATIVES LIKE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND COUNSELORS THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH DR. KELLY'S WITH THE NINTH GRADE COUNSELORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.  YEAH, GO AHEAD ON OUR DISTRICT OUR DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS SUPPORT AND HELP OUR SCHOOL BASED SOCIAL WORKERS BUILD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WHILE PROVIDING SOME SUPPORTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEY MAKE SOME HIGHER LEVEL DECISIONS THAT THAT SOMETIMES MAY EITHER TRICKLE UP OR TRICKLE DOWN. I THINK HAVING OUR DISTRICT OUR DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS ALLOWS US TO REALLY, REALLY BALANCED STUDENT SUCCESS TEAMS THAT WE HAVE AND REALLY MAINTENANCE SOME OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE DO FACE IN OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CRISIS RESPONSE RESPOND TO THE THE GREATEST NEEDS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THAT ARE MORE IMMEDIATE OFTENTIMES AND OFTENTIMES LIKE AFTER THE BELL RINGS AT THE END OF THE DAY. YEAH. AND WE DO HAVE A REGIONAL MODEL . SO I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S A TONS OF ALIGNMENT THERE'S TONS OF ALIGNMENT HERE.  THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT AND YOU STRIKE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT THE OTHER PANEL TALKED ABOUT IT OR FEAR OF MINE IS WE WERE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH GOOD IN TERMS OF EXPANSION WITH THE ASTER FUNDS AND AGAIN I'M NOT TRYING TO PREACH FOR A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL BUT I WORRY ABOUT WHAT WE IF THE DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND I WORRY ABOUT WHAT WE LOSE WHEN THOSE DECISIONS IF PEOPLE ARE MAKING TRADE OFF BETWEEN HAVING A LIBRARY AND AND MAKING SURE OR MAKING SURE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND I KNOW IT IT MIGHT BE PREMATURE AND I THINK SOMEONE ALLUDED TO THAT THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO SEE I THINK IT WAS JODI WHAT THE IMPACT OF YOU KNOW REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL WORKERS OR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COUNSELORS BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN AS A DISTRICT GET AHEAD OF OF THAT? I MEAN I CARE ABOUT THE MUSIC, I CARE ABOUT THE ARTS. I CARE ABOUT I WANT A LIBRARIAN IN EVERY SCHOOL BUT SPECIFICALLY AROUND SCHOOL COUNSELORS. HOW DO WE GET AHEAD OF WHAT WE MAY SEE AS A RESULT OF THE NO LONGER HAVING? ESSER THERE'S AN ARTICLE THIS MORNING IN WGBH THAT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR BPL STUDENTS HAS SHRUNK EVEN AS NEEDS REMAIN HIGH. AND I PROMISE I DID NOT. I WAS LIKE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS HEARING. I WAS LIKE OH BUT THEY'RE WRITING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T THAT WE CONTINUE TO WRAP OUR KIDS WITH ALL THIS SUPPORT AND I CORY POINT NOTED THAT SUPPORT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT EVEN HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL DAY AND WHAT WE PROVIDE OUR KIDS IN A BUILDING IN A SCHOOL DAY HOW ARE WE SORT OF TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THE END OF ESSER MEANS FOR HOW WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL TO SCHOOL WORKERS IT'S I'M SORRY EXCUSE ME IT'S THE MOST NON PERFECT ALGORITHM.  YOU KNOW, I THINK AS SOME OF OUR FUNDS SUNSET RIGHT IT'S YOU CAN'T NEGOTIATE PRIORITIZING THE GREATEST NEEDS OF CHILDREN RIGHT.  AND I THINK IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO MY HOPE IS THAT EVERYBODY RIGHT WE GET MORE BUT WE GET MORE AND MORE QUALITY AND MORE WITH MORE QUALITY WE GET MORE TRAINING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.  BUT AS FAR AS LIKE WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR WHEN ACA SUNSETS, I THINK IT HAS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH FROM FROM LEADERSHIP. RIGHT. AND THEN SORT OF PULLING IN AND SURVEYING THE FOLKS WHO EVERYONE'S RIGHT AND NOT JUST YOU KNOW, A TOP DOWN SITUATION AND I HOPE THAT AS WE AS ACA SUNSETS WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BEFORE THE IMPACTED RIGHT. LIKE YOU DON'T WANT FIND OUT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. YOU WANT TO KNOW ARE YOU WANT TO HEAR LIKE HEY, WHAT WHERE CAN WE GROW AND WHERE CAN WE PULL FROM AND HOW CAN WE SORT OF MEASURE IMPACT FROM THERE. SO I THINK IF THAT APPROACH IS IS YOU KNOW, WE'RE APPROACHING THAT RIGHT NOW AND I'M HOPEFULLY THE APPROACH WE TAKE IS ONE THAT IS FAIR, ONE IS ONE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND IS ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAY WE ARE WHEN WE WHEN WE WANT TO MAKE A DECISION. I AGREE.  AND THEN JUST A LAST QUESTION, DR. LOMBARDI. YOU USE DATA THAT WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN THE AND THEN WHAT THE ACA RECOMMENDS OF 250 TO 1 WHAT WHERE ARE WE?  SO THE LAST DATA I HAVE IS FROM THE END OF LAST SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S 100% CURRENTLY BUT IF YOU JUST DO HIGH SCHOOL GRADES WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT 160 TO 1. WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS THAT WE'RE AHEAD OF THE UNION LIKE GIVE YOU CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 300 TO 1 BUT YEAH WE WERE AT ABOUT 160 TO 1 BUT THAT IS A DISTRICT WIDE AVERAGE SO TO THE POINT THAT SOME OF THE COUNSELORS MADE EARLIER AND THIS IS PART OF THE SORT OF SCHOOL BASED STAFFING ISSUE THAT EXISTS IS THAT THERE'S THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THAT RATIO IS HIGHER. THE CONTRACT SPEAKS TO A DISTRICT WIDE AVERAGE THAT IS THAT IS THE DISTRICT WIDE AVERAGE AND AS OF THE END OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES ASK QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCIL SUPPORTER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU BOTH. APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY AND YOUR WORK. SO FIRST JUST TO TOUCH UPON THE QUESTION THAT I HAD EARLIER ABOUT COORDINATION WITH PRINCIPALS AND JUST PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS, I'M ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT THE BENCHMARKS OF SUCCESS ARE RIGHT?  HOW CAN WE MANAGE EXPECTATIONS OR SET EXPECTATIONS FOR OURSELVES SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HITTING OUR GOALS OR WE'RE NOT? SO I GUESS MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO WE MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS?  IS THERE A STANDARDIZED SCHOOL LEVEL EVALUATION TOOLS OR METRICS THAT ARE USED SO THAT PRINCIPALS CAN THEN GO TO THEIR COUNSELORS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE ROAD MAP IS?  I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, COUNSELOR. I THINK THE THE ANSWER IS REALLY EMBEDDED IN SOMETHING THAT JODY SAID EARLIER AND THAT OUR COUNSELORS ARE REALLY SORT OF THE CONNECTORS OF A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS AT SCHOOL LEVEL. RIGHT. SO THE REAL METRICS OF COUNSELOR SUCCESS ARE SCHOOL SUCCESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS FROM OUR END IN THE SECONDARY OFFICE IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT HAPPENS IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OFFICE IT'S MOSTLY PROGRAMMATIC IN NATURE, RIGHT? IT'S AP AND I, B AND C D PATHWAYS EARLY COLLEGE INNOVATION PATHWAYS,  POSTSECONDARY PARTNERSHIPS THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT LIVE IN THE OFFICE PLUS THE IDEA OF SCHOOL COUNSELING AND THE REASON THAT THAT IS SO IS THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PROGRAMING HAS TO GO THROUGH OUR COUNSELORS IN ORDER TO REACH STUDENTS.  RIGHT. IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT WE CAN WE WERE TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SCHOOL LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION OF WHATEVER WE COULD PLAN IN THE MOST WONDERFUL PROGRAMING ON EARTH IF WE CAN'T GET IT TO OUR STUDENTS MOSTLY THROUGH OUR COUNSELORS THAT IT'S REALLY IRRELEVANT. SO WHILE THERE ISN'T THERE ISN'T A YOU KNOW, A SORT OF MICRO METRIC OF WHAT WHAT SCHOOL COUNSELING SUCCESSES IN A GIVEN SCHOOL ESPECIALLY AGAIN GIVEN THE DIFFERENT SIZE DEMOGRAPHICS TYPES OF OUR SCHOOLS WE LOOK AT IT AS A REAL CENTRAL FUNCTION OF THE SCHOOL AND THAT SCHOOL SUCCESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS IS IS COUNSELOR SUCCESS.  YEAH AND I THINK THE GOES TO CONCLUSIONS POINT LIKE ONE I THINK IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SORT OF MODEL OR SOLUTION I GUESS IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE THERE ANY POLICIES THAT ARE IN THAT ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COUNSELORS, PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS PARENTS? IS THERE LIKE A STANDARDIZED MODEL?  I MEAN I WOULD SAY WHAT WE HAVE STANDARDIZED AT THIS POINT IS IS OUR YEARLY PD THAT HAPPENS LOCALLY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. THERE'S NO THERE AREN'T POLICIES I THINK IN THE WAY THAT YOU THAT YOU'RE SORT OF ASKING AROUND HOW COMMUNICATION IS HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF SORT OF THINGS THAT ARE CONTRACTUAL.  BUT AGAIN TO THE POINT THAT WERE MADE EARLIER COUNSELORS ARE SORT OF PART TEACHER PART ADMINISTRATOR AT THAT THEY SERVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ROLES . SO IN SCHOOLS WHERE IT OPERATES WELL IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOLKS THAT ARE LEADING THE SCHOOL. SO THAT IS THAT IS HOPEFULLY MORE AND MORE THE NORM. I SEE THAT IMPROVING THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I WOULD ALSO SAY JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT PART OF THE STRUGGLE FOR ALL STAFF BUT COUNSELORS INCLUDED IS THAT STAFF HAVE BEEN PULLED IN A MILLION DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS A TON OF COVID ABSENCES STUDENTS COMING BACK TO IN-PERSON SCHOOLING WITH A WHOLE SET OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CONCERNS AND ISSUES SO THAT THE WORLD THAT COUNSELORS AND ALL OTHER SCHOOL STAFF SERVE HAS REALLY CHANGED QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. SO TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO ARRIVE THAT ANY SORT OF METRIC IN POLICY WE ARE IN A DEEP LEARNING PHASE ABOUT HOW TO HOW TO WORK WITH STUDENTS IN THE POST-COVID WORLD AND HOW TO STAFF OUR SCHOOLS IN A WAY THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THINGS THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT PRE 2020 AND AND AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ROLE IS TIED HEAVILY TO SCHOOL FUNCTIONING AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IT LIKE WHETHER IT'S OUR REPORTING YOU KNOW MADISON WILL OFTEN INITIALLY FINANCIAL AID THAT SCHOOLS OFFER AP THOUGH THE WHOLE NINE THERE ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO THAT I THINK TO YOUR POINT I THINK THE LARGER PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND MANAGE TO EVALUATE IS HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THOSE INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PRESENT A MODEL THAT REFLECTS THE THE VERY GRAPHIC THAT WE SHOWED YOU TODAY. AND WHILE THAT IS HAPPENING, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS SORT OF THIS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT APPROACH.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK MY MY LAST QUESTION IS JUST CENTERED AROUND VARIOUS POPULATIONS.  ARE THERE ANY STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING TO ENSURE COUNSELING SERVICES ARE EQUITABLE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE FOR ALL STUDENTS? THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION.  YEAH. SO CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS IS A CORE TENET OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN BP'S SO COUNSELOR IS CERTAINLY INCLUDED IN THAT ONE SPECIFIC ELEMENT. IT WAS MENTIONED SOME OF THE TRANSLATION SERVICES THAT EXIST NOW AND THAT'S THAT'S AN AREA WHERE OUR OFFICE OF FAMILY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS REALLY STEPPED IN AND HELPED. SO THOSE ARE THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT OUR COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS ARE USING TO COMMUNICATE IN HOME LANGUAGES WITH FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO OFFER HOLISTIC SUPPORTS WHERE THEY CAN COMMUNICATE IN A IN A NATIVE LANGUAGE EVEN IF THEY DON'T SPEAK IT THEMSELVES. SO IT'S A IT'S A CENTRAL TENET OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO THAT WE ARE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE IN AND OUR NATURE COUNSELOR IS CERTAINLY INCLUDED IN THAT. YEAH. AND I THINK WE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CULTURAL BEING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE IS WE SHOULD ALSO TALK ABOUT CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, OUR STUDENTS FURTHEST AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE FROM GOING TO COLLEGE OR INTO THE WORKFORCE AND AND THE RESPONSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE MORE ON TOP OF MORE RIGHT. EVEN IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING GOOD WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING BETTER.  WE'RE DOING SOME OF THE BETTER WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING GREAT AND FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEN SITTING WITH THEM AND TALKING AND AND BEING AROUND THEM ENOUGH TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WHERE THEY IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS AND INSTEAD OF US ARE SAYING LIKE HEY, JUST BECAUSE YOU JUST CAME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T GO HERE. NO, THIS IS JUST THIS IS THE RESOURCE.  AND I THINK OFTENTIMES AS A WHOLE WE WE NEED TO HELP OUR STUDENTS RATIONALIZE WHAT OPPORTUNITY LOOKS LIKE AND TO CONSTANTLY REDEFINE IT FOR THEM ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, SOME YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR STUDENTS YOU KNOW, JUST TWO QUICK THINGS. YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR STUDENTS SHE DID NOT SHE SHE'S PROBABLY I THINK SHE IS A LEVEL ONE KNOW MELLOW LEARNER AND SHE CAME TO THE OPPORTUNITY LAB. SHE JUST SHE HAD A PAPER IN HER HAND TO SAY HEY, I DON'T SPEAK I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IS HAVE SOMEBODY THERE AND THEY SPENT TIME WITH HER FILLING OUT HER COLLEGE APPLICATION AND THEN GIVEN THE INFORMATION WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO DO WHEN SHE GOES BACK AND THEN GIVE HER THE OTHER PIECE AROUND CONTACTING AND COMMUNICATION AND TO HOW TO GET SUPPORT. BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SPECTRUM YOU HAVE YOU KNOW, WE WE HAD ANOTHER STUDENT WHO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO PUT YOU KNOW HE WAS SHOT THE MONTH BEFORE AND CAME IN AND AND SAID A NAME HEY, I NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE. AND THE RESPONSE WASN'T HEY, YOU CAN'T GO. LET'S LET'S ALL WORK UNTIL AND EXHAUST EVERY SINGLE RESOURCE TO GET YOU GO. AND I THINK THE MENTALITY IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW THAT THAT WE DO HAVE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE STUDENTS WHO ARE FURTHEST AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE AND I THINK THAT YEAH, I DO THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY RIGHT? WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND I PSYCHOLOGIST WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL AND I GRADUATED ALMOST 15 YEARS AGO SO JUST THANK YOU EAST BOSTON IS GETTING A NEW BOSTON INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMERS ACADEMY AND SO BUILDING OUT THAT PROGRAM AND BEING SUPER RESPONSIVE TO THEM IS IMPORTANT TO ME SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR LEAD SPONSORS FOR THEIR ANSWERING QUESTIONS. I'D LIKE TO NOW HAND THE FLOOR OVER TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO LIMIT THE TIME OF YOUR INITIAL CLASSROOMS AND RESPONSES FROM OUR PANELISTS TO 5 MINUTES PER COUNSELOR INCLUDING PANELISTS RESPONSES NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN THANK YOU SO I AM I FOLLOW YOUR WORK SO I SHOW UP TO YOUR EVENTS. I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO NAME THAT THERE WAS A HEARING THAT I HOSTED A FEW YEARS AND THERE WAS A PARTICIPANT WHO TESTIFIED AND SHE WAS REALLY NERVOUS. I FORGET CHEDDAR CHEDDAR CHEATER, CHEATER.  MS. CHEATER. AND SHE WAS ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTION AROUND THE ATHLETICS SITUATION AND WHAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DID WITH HER WHICH GOES TO SPEAK THAT THE WORK THAT YOU DO GOES BEYOND JUST STUDENT SUPPORTS IS THAT YOU IDENTIFY OUTSIDE AND SAW SOMETHING IN HER AND THE VALUE AND INSTEAD OF ISOLATING HER WHICH IS WHAT MOST OFTENTIMES HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO BE DISRUPTIVE YOU EMBRACED HER AND CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY AND BECAUSE OF THAT SHE HAS GONE ON TO PRODUCE A AMAZING PROGRAM FOR OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT ROUGH AROUND THOSE EDGES. AND SO I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THIS CONVERSATION, IT REALLY IS A LABOR OF LOVE AND IT REQUIRES AN ABILITY TO REALLY SEE BEYOND JUST THE BEHAVIOR OF SOMEONE AND HOW THEY'RE SHOWING UP. SO I SAW THAT IN YOU A FEW YEARS AGO AND I HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS OF HOW YOU CHANNELED THAT ENERGY. SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE OFTENTIMES OUR KIDS ARE WALKING INTO SPACES AND PLACES THAT ARE NOT READY TO RECEIVE THEM AND NOT ALL YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TRAIN PEOPLE, YOU CAN GO TO WHATEVER COLLEGE YOU WANT TO GO TO BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE ABILITY TO REALLY SEE KIDS, THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THEN IT TRICKLES DOWN TO HOW YOUR OTHER TEAM SHOWS UP. SO I JUST WANTED TO NAME THAT. THANK YOU SO REALLY QUICK.  I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STUDENTS I'M ALWAYS GOING TO TALK ABOUT RECENT ARRIVALS, RIGHT? I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.  THERE WAS A LOT OF STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH IN MY FAMILY. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT MY SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND MY MOM WAS TOO AFRAID TO REPORT IT TO ANYONE. AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT KIND OF LIKE THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING YOUR FRONT LINE STAFF AND HOW ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDDOS? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. OKAY, SO OUR IS A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS IS SUPPORT RIGHT? AND I THINK THE MEDIAN AND TOOL IS AS I MENTIONED EARLIER LIKE EVERYONE'S PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY RIGHT.  YOU KNOW I CAN'T BE I SWEAR I TAKE MY OWN ADVICE BUT LIKE I CAN'T BE GOOD AT MY JOB UNLESS I HAVE MY IS LIKE A YOU KNOW, A FOOTBALL TERM OR A CHECK DOWN. RIGHT LIKE LIKE WHEN A QUARTERBACK CAN'T THROW THE 20 YARD PASS HOW COULD I CHECK THIS THIS THIS THIS THING DOWN AND I THINK FOR US IN OUR INSTITUTE OF SUPPORT YOU KNOW WE REALLY DO THE CHECK DOWN WORK WELL, YOU KNOW I THINK WE HAVE AN A AND THEN WE DO OUR SORT OF LIKE HANDOFFS WELL WITH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE DISTRICT WHETHER IT'S TED'S TEAM, WHETHER IT'S THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, WHETHER IT'S TO THE OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS WE WE HAND OFF AND CHECK DOWN VERY WELL AND I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT BUT I THINK SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE IS JUST LIKE THE OVER COMMUNICATION AND THE FEEDBACK LOOPS.  OUR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK JET PARENTS AND KIDS HERE YOU KNOW SHE IS CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH HER ASSISTANT DIRECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE GETTING INFORMATION AND GIVING SUPPORT TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE SOCIAL WORKERS THEN GET THAT INFORMATION AND SUPPORT AND STRATEGIES TO OUR TO OUR SCHOOL BASED TEAMS AND OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I GOT ONE MORE QUESTION TO GET IT. GOOD BECAUSE I GOT 30. I SEE. I SEE THAT CLOCK. TALK TO ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS. WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? SO IT ENTAILS A LOT BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS A LOT BUT THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGE ADVISING.  THERE'S A LOT OF THE WORK IS BASED AROUND THE MASCOT STANDARDS WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES. SO THAT'S THE REALLY BASIS OF THE WORK TO HIT ALL ELEMENTS OF OF WHAT THEY SEE ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'VE DONE THAT IN IT'S USUALLY ABOUT FIVE SESSIONS PER YEAR THAT ARE OFFERED ON A BI MONTHLY BASIS FOR THEM BUT IT DOES TYPICALLY I SAW THE CLOCK GOING SO I WAS WAITING FOR THE BEAT. IT DOES TYPICALLY RESIDE MOSTLY IN OF THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ELEMENTS AND THAT IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE VENN DIAGRAM THE PIECE THAT THEY HOLD SOLELY AND DOESN'T OVERLAP WITH OUR SCHOOL SITES AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS. YEAH SO MY TIME IS UP SO I'M JUST CURIOUS I THINK IT WAS MANDY THAT TALKED ABOUT US GETTING TO THE 21ST CENTURY SITUATION HERE. SO IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE NOT ASKED THAT QUESTION I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS BP'S DOING TO GET TO THE 21ST CENTURY AND IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTION THEN WITHDRAW IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO ASK YOU TO DO IT.  I CAN JUST WATCH THE TAPE. I WOULD JUST SAY SIMPLY THAT WHAT WHAT DR. SAVAGE TRUMP IS TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY THE MASK OF STANDARDS AND THAT AND THAT WE HIT THOSE AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.  SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S STILL MISSING. IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S STILL THERE'S SOMETHING SYSTEMIC SOMETHING THERE'S SOMETHING NOT CLICKING HERE. YEAH. I THINK WHAT'S MISSING IS IS THAT THIS IS ONLY OUR SECOND YEAR OF HAVING A FULL OF HAVING THIS SYSTEM IN PLACE.  ALL RIGHT. SO NOT ALL COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN TO ALL SESSIONS. THIS IS STILL IN THE EARLY PHASES. SO I THINK WHAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE EARLIER THAT WE'RE EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THIS ON RIGHT ON THE TRACKS.  WE ARE COMPLETELY IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER AROUND THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE'RE OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS. WE'RE JUST NOT AROUND THE FIRST TURN IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR FOR ALLOWING ME TO GO.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR FLYNN 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE. YOU MENTIONED THE STUDENT RATIO 250 TO 1 WAS AN WAS THAT ACCURATE? THE UNION CONTRACT IS 300 TO 1 FOR HIGH SCHOOLS, 400 TO 1 FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THEN 250 TO 1 IS THE THE ASK A NATIONAL RECOMMENDATION OC DOES EVERY SCHOOL HAVE A COUNSELOR? EVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS A COUNSELOR BUT DOES NOT MEET THE RATIO BECAUSE THE RATIO CONTRACTUALLY IS A DISTRICT AVERAGE SO THAT WAS THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS I WAS REFERRING TO EARLIER THAT ON A ON A DISTRICT LEVEL OUR AVERAGE IS 160 TO 1 BUT SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWED TO STAFF AND THIS IS SORT OF WHERE THE VENN DIAGRAM COMES IN SCHOOLS STAFF THEMSELVES BASED ON WHAT THEY FEEL IS THEIR NEED SO SOME OF THE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS MIGHT HAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS BUT HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER AND A SCHOOL PSYCH OR MULTIPLE SOCIAL WORKERS. BUT THERE'S SOME SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE A COUNSELOR. THERE ARE THERE ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE COUNSELORS. YES. IS THAT IS THAT A CHALLENGE? IS THAT A IS THAT A CONCERN? BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, A COUNSELOR I DO THINK I THINK HAVING A COUNSELOR AT EVERY SCHOOL WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT. IT DOESN'T TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST. IT'S IN IN THE WORK THAT I DO IN THE OFFICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS. I DON'T I DON'T HEAR THAT A LOT BECAUSE I DON'T WORK WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DIRECTLY BUT PERSONALLY DO I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO HAVE COUNSELORS IN OUR SCHOOLS?  YEAH, OF COURSE.  OKAY. I HEARD TESTIMONY EARLIER FROM ONE OF THE ONE OF THE COUNSELORS BUT DO THE COUNSELORS ALSO PROVIDE OTHER DUTIES OR FILL IN AT THE CAFETERIA OR FILL IN AT THE ONE OF THE TEACHERS IS I'LL TAKE ONE AND FILL IN THE ROOM. DO THEY ALSO DO OTHER DUTIES AS AS NECESSARY BASED ON THE ATTENDANCE FOR THE PERSONNEL THAT DAY?  THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO WHEN THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO THAT I'M SURE IN SOME SCHOOLS MORE THAN OTHERS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF ABSENCES BECAUSE OF COVID WHERE EVEN OUR CLUSTER SUBS AND OTHER SUB STRUCTURES IN THE DISTRICT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COVER IN THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY.  SO SCHOOL STAFF ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TO DO MORE THAN THEY HAVE IN RECENT YEARS. COUNSELORS CERTAINLY INCLUDED IN THAT BUT NOT NOT SOLELY THEM WHEN A COUNSELOR IS OUT FOR FOR VACATION THE COUNSELORS ALL FOR SICK OR PERSONAL DAY WHO FILLS IN FOR THAT COUNCIL IT WOULD REALLY DEPEND ON THE SCHOOL SCHOOLS THAT ARE MULTIPLE COUNSELORS IF THERE WAS A NEED BUT IF IT'S IF IT'S A SCHOOL WHICH HAS ONE COUNSELOR AT THE SCHOOL WITH ONE COUNSELOR. SO A COUPLE OF SCENARIOS. ONE IS IF THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FROM THAT COUNSELOR THEY WOULD JUST SIMPLY RESCHEDULE THEM STUDENT MEETINGS FOR ANOTHER DAY IF THERE WERE IMMEDIATE STUDENT SUPPORTS NEEDED THAT'S LIKELY WHERE THE OTHER SUPPORT STAFF THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WOULD STEP IN MOST LIKELY SOCIAL WORKERS IF THERE WAS A REAL IMMEDIATE PARTICULARLY A MENTAL HEALTH NEED THERE WOULD BE OTHER OTHER SERVICES WITHIN THE SCHOOL WHETHER IT'S PARTNERS OR SOCIAL WORKERS TO ADDRESS THAT WHO CERTIFIES GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, WHO CERTIFIES THE COUNSELORS. THERE'S A THEY ARE DC LICENSED JUST IN THE SAME WAY THAT A TEACHER IS JUST A DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PATH. DO WE HAVE COUNSELORS IN THERE THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED? THERE ARE SOME COUNSELORS THAT ARE THERE. THEY'RE MOST LIKELY IN THE EITHER WAIVER PROCESS OR THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING CERTIFIED IF THEY'RE NOT SORT OF OKAY, CAN THEY PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SO THERE'S A THERE'S A LIMIT. RIGHT. SO THE TIER ONE PIECE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IS SORT OF ALL STUDENTS, RIGHT? SO COUNSELORS MEET WITH STUDENTS.  STUDENTS WILL SAY THINGS WHETHER IT'S TO A TEACHER OR TO A COUNSELOR. SO THERE'S THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF I WOULDN'T CALL IT COUNSELING BUT SCREENING THAT IS PART OF WHAT THEY DO. AND THERE IS THERE ARE SET SCREENERS THAT ARE COUNSELORS USE AND INITIALLY DURING THE CONVERSATION IF A STUDENT BRINGS UP CONCERNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OBVIOUSLY THE COUNSELORS AND I TALKED TO THAT SORT OF BUT THEY THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING THOUGH.  RIGHT. THAT WOULD GET ESCALATED AND COREY WOULD WANT TO TALK TO CERTAINLY OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE LICENSED TO DO THAT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. BUT BUT BUT THE THE COUNSELORS AND ON THE SCHOOL THERE THEY PROVIDE A THEY HAVE THEY PROVIDE A PORTION OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORK AROUND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT I THINK THERE IS A DISTINCT THIS IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN SUPPORT AND AND THE ACTUAL THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT THAT MENTAL SUPPORT THAT FOLKS NEED. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE INTERSECTION HAPPENS AND SORT OF LIKE HANDOFF AND CHECK DOWN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WILL OCCUR. I THINK WHAT COUNSELORS DO GREAT IN THIS SITUATION IS TO IS TO PRESENT AND UNDERSTAND AND ASSESS THE EARLY SORT OF ANALYSIS OF WHAT STUDENTS NEED AND THEN THEY SERVE AS THE MEDIUM TO TALK TO WHETHER IT'S GET IT TO THE SCHOOLS, TO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, SCHOOL PSYCHIATRIST ELEVATED TO THE ADMIN OR OR A POSSIBLY AN OUTSIDE PARTNER.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR.  AND AGAIN THANK YOU FOR OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS.  I WILL NOW UNLESS THERE'S ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR ME FROM ANYONE I'M NOT GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU AS FINAL STATEMENTS FOR FROM OUR COUNSELORS HERE. I'M STARTING WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR CALLS PRESIDENT REGION THANK YOU THANK YOU MR JAY AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. IT TAKES ALL OF THE PARTS MATTER. THAT'S AN ELOQUENT WAY OF ENDING THAT YOU GAVE A QUOTES FROM THE WIRE. YEAH, I KNOW ALL THE PIECES MATTER. I WAS A STUDENT OF THE WIRE. I WATCHED IT AND I FORGOT THE QUOTE BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I ALSO, YOU KNOW, MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE COUNSELORS AND THERE WERE COUNSELORS HERE I MISSED A COUNSELOR A COUNSELOR JOKE MOMENT SO BUT I'M HOPING BUT THIS LIKE AGAIN IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ME I THINK WE HEARD FROM THE COUNSELORS HERE ABOUT THAT WHAT MATTERS IT'S GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU, DOCTOR LOMBARDI, THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN MORE HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE SUPPORTING OUR KIDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE BACK SUCH A STELLAR SUPPORT TO OUR KIDS. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WHAT SOME OF THE COUNSELORS MENTIONED THAT ACADEMIC NOT ONLY IS ACADEMIC SUCCESS CONTINUED UPON MENTAL HEALTH. THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE AND I THINK OUR OUR COUNSELORS MATTER A LOT FOR ME MY COUNSELOR WAS REVOLUTIONARY AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHO WHO'VE BEEN IN BP AS WE'VE JUST COME INTO BP'S KNOWING THAT COUNSELORS CAN REALLY BE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE TOOL WHERE KIDS ARE COMING FROM BACKGROUNDS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE COLLEGE AS A CAREER PATH OR DON'T KNOW COLLEGE AS A POSSIBILITY OR CAREER DOORS CAREER PATHWAYS THAT OUR COUNSELORS ARE DOING THAT WORK OF LIKE THEY CALL THEMSELVES, RIGHT? THEY ARE THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS THE EQUIVALENT OF ALL RIGHT, HOW DO I REDIRECT REDIRECTING TO MORE SERVICES THAT'S CAN SUPPORT YOU IN WAYS THAT YOU NEED MORE HOLISTICALLY ? I THINK WE HEARD IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE NEED THE DESIRE AMONG MY COLLEAGUES FOR US TO BE DOING DISTRICT WIDE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT THE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL KNOWING THAT ANSWER IS GOING TO PRESENT CHALLENGE FUNDING CHALLENGES FOR OUR SCHOOLS. BUT I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE OUR KIDS READY FOR FOR POST-SECONDARY LIFE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. CUSTOMER HERE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR THIS. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONVERSATION AND WHEN IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE WE KNOW BUDGET SEASON IS LITERALLY UPON US. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS HELP INFORM HOPEFULLY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER TEAM AROUND WHAT ARE THE INVESTMENTS WE SHOULD BE MAKING? RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT AS A GRADUATE AND AS A MOM AND AS A BPC AGITATOR HAVING WORKED, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPACE FROM A VERY DIFFERENT LENS WORKING ALONGSIDE EMILIO OH MY GOD, I FORGET HIS LAST NAME BUT HE WAS A PART OF TOMMY CHANG'S TEAM SO THAT WAS LIKE THREE SUPERINTENDENTS AGO WHEN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING BECAME A THING. WE WERE WORKING AS PARENTS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING TRAUMA INFORMED CLASSROOMS AND YOU KNOW, REALLY SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN THEIR LITTLE BACKPACKS. AND SO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE WATCHED THIS JOURNEY EVOLVE AND I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BOTTOM LINE REALLY IS IS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN IN TERMS OF STUDENT OUTCOMES. AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE PUZZLE IS STUDENT SUPPORTS IS MAKING SURE THAT THE FRONT LINE WORKERS, IF YOU WILL, THOSE SOCIAL WORKERS THE GAP, THE SOCIAL THE SCHOOL NURSES IS RIGHT.  THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO USUALLY ARE THE CASE MANAGERS TOO, RIGHT? THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DEPLOY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRIAGE THE TRAUMA THAT WALKS THROUGH THE CLASSROOM.  AND I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE INVESTMENTS IN THOSE SPACES AND PLACES. AND SO I THINK THIS CONVERSATION REALLY LENDS ITSELF TO THAT AND IN TERMS OF BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE THE TRAINING CURRICULUM RIGHT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GAPS ARE BECAUSE BP IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SCHOOL AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST INSTITUTE WHERE THE WAIVERS FOR THE OLDEST. YEAH, WELL FIRST OF ALL WERE THE OLDEST MIND I SEASONED WITH A SEASONED RIGHT AND AND AND BECAUSE WE ARE WE SHOULD BE RIGHT WITH ALL OF THESE UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE SURROUNDING US WE SHOULD BE THE BEST AT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND I'D LOVE TO SEE BP'S REALLY LEANING INTO AND WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK FOR BE YOU GETTING HARVARD LIKE I'M SURE YOU DO THAT BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN TERMS OF STUDENT SUPPORT SO THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH WHATEVER LITTLE DIMES IN PENNIES ARE LEFT OVER. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S WAYS FOR US TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL AND RESOURCEFUL WITH ALL THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP SUPPORT YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA.  AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PANELISTS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER ATTENDEES AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TODAY'S HEARING. THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 0197 IS ADJOURNED.  CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? I'M SO SORRY . IS THAT LAW?  DID I BREAK THE LAW? BUT OH, SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ALL OF YOU SUPPORT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SAY THAT WE SAY THAT SUPER LOUD BUT I REALIZE WE DIDN'T ANSWER A QUESTION AROUND HOW WE PULLED THE THINGS TOGETHER. RIGHT. TO GET TOWARDS THE COMPETENCY WAS IMPROVEMENT. WE REALLY, REALLY DO HAVE TO MANAGE THE INTERSECTIONS OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO UNEARTH ON EARTH TODAY. RIGHT. AND WHILE UNDERSTANDING OUR KIDS DESERVE MORE RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK AT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO START THE SCHOOL YEAR. THEY'RE A YOUNG MAN CAME TO ME THE OTHER DAY AND I SAID TO YOU I SAID TO HIM WHY DO YOU LOOK SO HAPPY?  HE WAS LIKE BECAUSE I COULD START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH A SO IMAGINE A KIDS WHO GET A'S ALL YEAR HOW THEY FEEL. OUR JOB IS TO REALLY REALLY GET THAT FEELING TO GO ALL YEAR AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND THEN POINT TO OUR SELF AND SAY HEY WE GOT TO DO BETTER WHILE YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGING FROM THE FOLKS WHO SUPPORT US FROM CLOSE AND AFAR THAT WE COULD GET THIS DONE. SO I JUST WANT TO LIFT THAT AND REALLY BE GRACIOUS TO OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THEN OUR STAFF, OUR NURSES, OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND ALL OTHER FOLKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  DID WE GET THAT ON CAMERA? I HOPE SO. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. THAT WAS PART OF THE VISION.  OH --------- ##VIDEO ID:XXucM00HDbg##  FORMAL GAVEL BANK.  THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. 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 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. RESILIENCY IN PARKS. TODAY IS OCTOBER 3RD, 2020 FOR THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON TALK OF FORWARD SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIRESTONE CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT TCC SKIP AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON I AM HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY FOLKS HERE IN THE CHAMBER.  PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON SHANE PAC AT SHANE S.H. EIGHT AND E BACKPACK AC AT BOSTON DUCO FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.  TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 0190. ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING IMPLEMENTING COASTAL RESILIENCE STRATEGIES FOR BOSTON'S WATERFRONT.  THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY MYSELF AND COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 24TH 2024. TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR FLYNN,  COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD I'LL GO TO THEM BEFORE MY OPENING STATEMENT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY WANTED TO HELP SET THE STAGE AND PROVIDE THAT OPENING STATEMENT. SO I'LL GO TO MY CO-SPONSOR FIRST AND THEN COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR MURPHY.  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YEAH. VERY QUICKLY. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE. I'VE WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU IN SOME CAPACITY BEFORE SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE A BUNCH OF FRIENDS IN FRONT OF US LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION.  AS YOU KNOW, DORCHESTER HAS OVER SEVEN PLUS MILES OF COASTLINE AND SO THE RESILIENCY IS A VERY IMPORTANT TO DISTRICT THREE AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE FUTURE. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING SOME QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU GUYS SEE AS THE FUTURE OF THAT TODAY.  SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING NOT ONLY AS CHAIR BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM FOR BEING HERE THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND SARA FROM THE FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE AS WELL ON SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE IS A THREAT.  IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPACTING MY DISTRICT AND OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL SINCE I REPRESENT PART OF THE SENSE I REPRESENT PART OF THE WHARF DISTRICT IN SOUTH BOSTON WATERFRONT THE FORT POINT AREA AS WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IN THE WHARF DISTRICT WE ARE ALREADY AFFECTED BY FLOODING AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WE SAW THE EFFECT OF SEA LEVEL RISE DURING THE STORMS AND YEARS PASSED IN RECENTLY WITH THE FLOOD SHUT DOWN SECTIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPSTERS WILL LITERALLY FLOATING DOWN THE STREET. WE NEED TO TAKE CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.  THERE HAS BEEN FUNDING THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS ALLOCATED INTO THE RECENT BUDGETS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THIS IN FORT POINT AND IN THE SOUTH BOSTON WATERFRONT.  I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND TO LEARN MORE AND TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS ALONG THE WATERFRONT IN THE BPA REGARDING RESILIENCY MEASURES ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL RISE. SO I'M GLAD THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL IS ACTIVELY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL . THEY ARE ENGAGED AND THEY'RE WELCOMING AND THEY'RE PROVIDING EXCELLENT INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS. I'M HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS DRAFT REPORT AND SEE HOW THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL CAN BE A PARTNER IN HELPING THE WHARF DISTRICT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AS WELL, COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS WHO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ALL THE NEIGHBORS AND LIKE COUNCILOR FLYNN MENTIONED THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL AND OTHERS WHO ARE.  I'M AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR SO I KNOW I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE. I FOR MY WHOLE LIFE HAVE BEEN DRIVING FROM YOU KNOW, SPONSORED UP MORRISSEY BOULEVARD OFTEN TIMES STOPPED WHEN I WAS TRYING DROPPED MY SONS OFF AT HIGH SCHOOL OR WE KNOW THAT THE IMPACTS ARE COMING WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE INEVITABLE. IT'S NOT IF WE KNOW IT'S WHEN AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MANY OF YOU HERE OR IF ALL OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK HAPPEN SOME OF YOU EVEN SPENDING A LOT OF YOUR OWN MONEY ON INVESTING ON HOW DO WE SAVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT TO UPLIFT THAT ,YOU KNOW, PROTECTING OUR HISTORIC AND TREASURED WATERFRONT IS VITAL AND IMPORTANT FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO IF YOU LIVE IN HYDE PARK, WEST ROXBURY, YOU KNOW, NOT RIGHT ALONG THE COAST THAT IT AFFECTS YOU ALSO. SO I'M HERE TO LISTEN AND FIND OUT HOW TO BE MORE OF AN ALLY IN SUPPORTING WHATEVER WE CAN DO AS A CITY AND SUPPORTING THOSE PRIVATE ENTITIES WHO ARE ALSO PUSHING FOR GREAT CHANGE TO SAVE OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY WE DID RECEIVE AN ABSENCE LETTER FROM MY COLLEAGUE LIZ BRERETON AND ALSO AN ABSENCE LETTER FROM COUNCILOR PEPEN. SO JUST WANT TO RESPECT THAT AND GET THROUGH THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE IN TERMS OF MY OPENING STATEMENTS I WILL YOU KNOW I COULD SPEAK MY BEST AND SO I WILL RESIST THE URGE TO TALK FOREVER.  I DID HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT I THINK HELPS FRAME THE CONVERSATION AND LEVEL SETS FOR ALL OF US. SO JUST FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO TO BE INVOLVED THIS TIMELY CONVERSATION. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE COMING OFF THE HEELS OF A DEVASTATING REMINDER OF WHY WE MUST APPROACH THIS CONVERSATION WITH URGENCY.  THE SOUTH AND APPALACHIA IS REELING FROM HURRICANE HELENE HURT HISTORIC STORM SEVERITY, STORM SURGE AND INLAND FLOODING HAS WASHED AWAY ENTIRE TOWNS WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LIFE. SO WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND THANK FEMA OFFICIALS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO RECOVER AS THEY ARE ONGOING.  AS CITY COUNCILORS WE ARE THE CLOSEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND SO MANY OF US HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WE'RE AT THE GROCERY STORE OR ON THE TRAIN ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ON ANY GIVEN TOPIC. I HAD A RESIDENT APPROACH ME IN THE CEREAL AISLE THIS PAST SUNDAY TO ASK WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO PROTECT US WHEN NOT IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO BOSTON. BOSTON IS EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'RE WITNESSING STRONGER STORMS, HIGHER FREQUENCY COASTAL FLOODING AND HOTTER DAYS. THESE CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED EVENTS THREATEN OUR COMMUNITIES, OPEN SPACES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDINGS,  SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE DEFINING ISSUE OF OUR TIME AND IT SEEKS TO DISPLACE THOUSANDS IN VULNERABLE AREAS. MY DISTRICT IS VERY MUCH A COASTAL DISTRICT.  I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE MOST COASTLINE I THINK THAT GOES TO COUNCILOR FLYNN. WE MIGHT HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AT SOME POINT BUT JUST SOME CONTEXT FOR LISTENING IN THIS WAS MY MY MAIDEN SPEECH.  JUST BECAUSE THIS WILL IMPACT MIGHT IMPACT MY DISTRICT QUITE A BIT.  I BELIEVE WE'LL BE WE WILL BE HIT FIRST AND WORST IN ADDITION TO COUNCIL FLYNN'S DISTRICT IN COUNCIL FITZGERALD DISTRICT IT'S ABOUT IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS SINCE WE HELD THAT HEARING WITH THEN-CHIEF MARY I'M A WHITE HAMMOND AND THEN CHIEF JAMIESON WHERE WE ALL AGREED THAT WE HAD TO MOVE BEYOND A PARTIAL BI PARTIAL APPROACH TO CLIMATE RESILIENCY TO FORTIFY THE COASTLINE, TO MEET THE SEA AND PROTECT THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THAT STAND TO BE DISPLACED. IF WE DIDN'T ACT WITH URGENCY IN THAT HEARING WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CLIMATE READY BOSTON AND IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCES AS AN OBSTACLE TO TACKLING WHAT FOLKS CALLED BOSTON'S NEXT BIG DIG AND SUBSEQUENT WORKING SESSIONS. WE IDENTIFIED NEXT STEPS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AS WORKING TOWARDS BETTER COORDINATION WITHIN CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS BETTER COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.  THERE WAS A DISCUSSION FOR A NEED OF THE OFFICE OF THE WATERFRONT OR OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE OR ONE PERSON TO SOLELY OVERSEE ALL WATERFRONT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION WORK AT THE CITY LEVEL FAST FORWARD TO TODAY I'M THRILLED TO SAY AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS THERE WAS A RESET AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CREATION OF OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP AND RESTRUCTURING OF NOW CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER BRIAN SWEAT AND A FRIEND TO MANY AND NOT A STRANGER TO US. CHRIS OSGOOD IS LEADING THAT OFFICE AND WE'RE SO THRILLED ABOUT THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT YOUR WORK.  SO THAT IS A GOAL OF THIS WORKING SESSION IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND THE PUBLIC TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS NEW OFFICE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BESIDE IT EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR COHESIVE DEPARTMENTAL EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING COASTAL AND STORMWATER CHALLENGES. AND IT'LL ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DISCUSS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS AND RESOURCES IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE OR SIMILAR CLIMATE EMERGENCY SITUATION. THEN WE'LL GO TO OUR FABULOUS NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE ALL HERE TODAY.  WE HAVE AN ALL STAR LINEUP FOLLOWING THIS PANEL AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. I THINK WHAT I'LL DO NOW IS JUST INTRODUCE YOU ALL AND THEN PASS IT OVER TO YOUR DISCRETION. YOU DO HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARED FOR US. SO FIRST WE HAVE BRIAN SWETT WHO'S CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER. CHRIS OSGOOD SENIOR ADVISOR WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT. YOU'RE NOW THE DIRECTOR OF RESILIENCE.  MATTHEW KEARNEY DEPUTY CHIEF OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.  CATHERINE MACLEAN THE SENIOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT MANAGER.  JOHN SULLIVAN WHO'S THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION.  WE DID ALSO INVITE KATE ENGLISH WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT TODAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE RICH MCGINNIS WHO WAS A LONG TIME WATERFRONT PLANNER, IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET IT WRONG SHORT SO RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY COASTAL RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY AND OUR CITY OF BOSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT BEAUTIFUL AND I APOLOGIZE IF I GOT ANY OF THAT WRONG PLEASE CORRECT ME BUT NOW I WILL PASS IT OVER TO YOU AT YOUR DISCRETION.  WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR CLAIRE ZAPATA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CUSTOMERS GERALD COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR MURPHY, REALLY APPRECIATE NOT JUST YOUR INTEREST BUT YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND AS YOU SAID COUNCILOR , QUITE AS A FATHER OF AN ALL STAR SET OF STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AND I THINK REALLY REFLECTS THE FACT THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE IT IS GOING TO BE AN ALL THE CITY EFFORT CITY CITY COUNCIL , CITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT 15 TO 20 MINUTES. WE ARE GOING TO WALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE BROAD CONTEXT TO YOUR POINT A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE ITSELF, OUR STRATEGIES FOR COASTAL RESILIENCE AND TO DO THAT WE HAVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT SO FOLKS IN THE ROOM ARE AWARE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE CHRIS MCGUINNESS, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CLIMATE AND COASTAL RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY AND TWO MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM ARE HERE AS A WITNESS HERE AND MATTER.  SO WE HAVE JOHN SULLIVAN FROM THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION, THE CHIEF ENGINEER IN OVER MY SHOULDER, HENRY VITALE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION, OUR CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER BRIAN SWEAT COUNTY MCCANDLESS OUR SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE, ALSO JOINED BY NATALIE RODRIGUEZ FROM THE TEAM AND MATT KEARNEY, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO I'LL TURN FIRST OVER TO BRIAN AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE QUESTIONS, THE CONVERSATION THAT IS THAT COME UP IN THE TESTIMONY TO FOLLOW.  THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. CHAIR ON SETTING THE TABLE I THINK THE I, I HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE SINCE YOUR FIRST HEARING. I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I HEARD ONE IS SAY THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS FIT FOR PURPOSE TO MEET THIS MOMENT AND I THINK WE HAVE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE. BUT YOU'RE SEEING A GREAT DEAL OF PARTNERSHIP AMONGST THE CABINET AND AMONGST OTHER CABINET CHIEFS AND OTHER CABINET IN DELIVERING BOTH FRAMING AND DELIVERING AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WHEN I WAS ENTERING FOR THE MAYORS IS HEY, LET'S ORGANIZE OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN ALL OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH BUT THEY'RE ORGANIZED TO DELIVER ON WHAT IS THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO BOSTON THIS CENTURY. RIGHT? AND IF WE DON'T SOLVE THIS EVERYTHING ELSE BECOMES A WHOLE LOT HARDER. SO I THINK WE ARE EXCITED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.  YOU MENTIONED PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT EMPHASIS THROUGHOUT OUR PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION.  IS THIS INHERENTLY AS A PUBLIC PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP? IT'S BOTH WITHIN CITY HALL BUT YOU KNOW, AS FOLKS IN THIS ROOM KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR COASTLINE IS NOT OWNED BY THE CITY. IT IS PRIVATE SECTOR. IT IS THE STATE AND SOME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO INHERENTLY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PUBLIC PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP ALSO PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR. AND THEN YOU KNOW, AS WAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE SOME PHENOMENAL NGOS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENDING YEARS WORKING ON THIS AND HAVING THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES AND PLANS WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING BUT THEN SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF MIND FROM OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGE NECESSARY ON OUR WATERFRONT GOING FORWARD. AND THEN LASTLY I THINK YOU GUYS WILL BE EXCITED TO HEAR SOME OF OUR PROGRESS ON IDENTIFYING FUNDING AND PURSUING FUNDING TO BEGIN THE WORK AND START THOSE PROJECTS. AND YOU KNOW THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DIRECTLY IN CONTROL OF IN THE CITY THAT ARE NOW SPURRING ATTENTION AS WELL AS BIG PICTURE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, PROGRESS WITH THE ARMY CORPS AND OTHERS. SO WITH THAT I'M JUST TO SORT OF FRAME HOW WE THINK ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND THE BROADER CLIMATE PRIORITIES. I WOULD JUST TOUCH ON SORT OF THESE ARE THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE MOMENT.  ONE ALL OF OUR WORK IS REALLY CENTERED ON CLIMATE JUSTICE AND FOR US THAT MEANS BOTH RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEED TO SET THE TABLE FRANKLY IN TERMS OF HEARING FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BUT IN PARTICULAR ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, OUR LOW INCOME AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN BOSTON THAT FROM A CULTURE RESILIENCE PERSPECTIVE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AND DISPROPORTIONATELY VULNERABLE. SO ALL OF OUR WORK HAS TO ADDRESS INJUSTICE AND IT BRINGS ABOUT THAT SENSE OF DESIRE TO SET THE TABLE CORRECTLY AS WELL AS AN URGENCY TO BRING SOLUTIONS. THIS INJUSTICE THAT IS LEFT UNADDRESSED IS JUST FURTHER INJUSTICE AND IT SITS WITHIN THAT CONTEXT OF DECARBONIZATION AND ENERGY TRANSITION. WE'RE FINDING MORE THINGS AT THAT STAR BUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR ENERGY GRID IS RESILIENT TO EVENTS LIKE COASTAL STORMS AND THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN A WAY THAT ALSO SETS OURSELVES UP TO BE DECARBONIZED.  SO BRIEFLY IN TERMS OF SETTING A TABLE ON CLIMATE RISK AND PLANS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THE RISKS THEMSELVES OBVIOUSLY THE BIG FOUR CLIMATE RISKS WE'RE SEEING THAT ARE MAKING THESE STORMS WORSE THAN COASTAL RESIDENTS WORSE.  ONE IS EXTREME TEMPERATURES. WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, EXTREME HEAT WAVES. WE'RE ALSO SEEING COLD SNAPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER WHEN THE POLAR VORTEX IS UPON US AND IN ENGLAND AND IN BOSTON THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO HEAT WAVES AND DROUGHTS IN BOSTON WE HAD TO EXTREME HEAT WAVES THIS SUMMER AND FORTUNATELY WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND FAIRLY QUICKLY WITH REMOTE COOLING CENTERS AND BRING IN COOLING APPARATUS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE THAT TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING EFFORT TO DO THAT. EXTREME PRECIPITATION WE'VE SEEN THESE FLOODING EVENTS AND YOU KNOW, AS FOLKS HAVE YOU KNOW AND AS YOU NOTED CHAIR THE HORRIBLE HURRICANE THAT HIT FLORIDA AND THE MOST DANGER TOTAL LOSS OF LIFE WAS ACTUALLY THE VOLUME OF RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN CAROLINA.  IT WAS NOT THE WINDS ON THE SHORELINE AND WE'RE SEEING MORE EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS THAT ARE HARD TO YOU KNOW, HARD TO HANDLE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH BOSTONIANS TO COMMISSION OTHERS ON HOW WE DO THAT IN BOSTON.  SEA LEVEL RISE IS MAKING IT HARDER AND WORSE SO THAT YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE STORM IS MORE DANGEROUS AND MORE CHALLENGING AND THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO STORMWATER FLOODING AND THEN COASTAL STORMS THEMSELVES ARE GETTING LARGER AND THEY ARE GETTING STRONGER AND THE SIZE OF THESE STORMS MEAN THAT BROADER SWATHS OF IMPACTED AND CHALLENGES THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ABILITY WHEN THE IMPACTED AREA IS SO LARGE THAT THERE IS LESS TO CALL ON IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY SUPPORT FROM PLACES THAT AREN'T HIT. SO THAT'S SORT OF THE QUAD OF OF COASTAL I'M SORRY THE PART OF CLIMATE CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US THAT ARE EXACERBATING THE STORMS GOING FORWARD.  SO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY FOR FOLKS JUST TO SET THE TABLE AND I HAPPEN TO BE IN CITY HALL DURING MY FIRST TOUR WHEN SANDY WAS THE NEAR-MISS THAT IT WAS. AND JUST TO REMIND FOLKS IT WAS NOT A NEAR MISS BY A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES. IT WAS A NEAR MISS BY A FEW HOURS. SO SANDY WAS SO LARGE IT WAS ALMOST A THOUSAND MILES ACROSS AT THE OUTSET IN THE GULF THAT WHEN IT HIT IN NEW YORK IF IT HADN'T HIT AT OUR HIGH TIDE 5 HOURS EARLIER, WE WOULD HAVE HAD A 1% STORM EVENT. SO WE WOULD HAD EXTENSIVE FLOODING IN ALL OF THE DISTRICTS THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY A CITY COUNCIL WAS HERE TODAY.  THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS THE FLOODING WE DID HAVE YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT WAS AT A RELATIVELY LOW TIDE. THAT WAS THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT THIS STORM HIT.  IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WE'VE MISSED 100 YEAR STORM EVENTS AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN TIMES BY HOURS. SO WE ARE IT IS DEFINITELY WHEN NOT IN IT YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT RISK TO THESE TYPES OF STORMS. I THINK THIS IS YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT MAP AND PICTURE. I WANT TO ADD TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS BUT THIS IS THE COLORED AREAS OR THE AREAS THAT IN A 1% STORM ARE THE AREAS WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT FLOODWATER. SO THIS ALLOWS US TO SORT OF REITERATE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES BOSTON SO AT RISK TO COASTAL FLOODING IS THAT ONE SIXTH OF THE LAND OF BOSTON IS ACTUALLY MANMADE FILLED TIDELANDS AND THIS WAS BUILT AT A TIME WHERE THE SEA LEVELS WERE LOWER WHERE THERE WASN'T IN ANTICIPATION OF THEM INCREASING AND BECAUSE OF THAT SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF RESIDENTIAL DENSITY COMMERCIAL DENSITY OF OUR DOWNTOWN, OUR SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE ARE AT RISK OF FLOODING. SO FOR US ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS FOR US IN THE CITY AND IN ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THIS IS NOT SOLELY A COASTAL ISSUE AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN SAY OH WE'LL JUST STEP BACK A BLOCK RIGHT? AND YOU KNOW AND THE LAND IS HIGHER A BLOCK AWAY. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR COAST TO PROTECT OUR INLAND RISK BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE OPPORTUNITY SORT OF , YOU KNOW, GET HIGHER UP AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED FLOODING SINCE 2012 REGULARLY BOTH FROM STORM EVENTS AND YOU KNOW, FOLKS MAY REMEMBER TWO WEEKENDS AGO OUR SEASONAL HIGH TIDE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PICTURES AND STORIES OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THE CHARCOALS AND KNEE DEEP IN WATER AND THAT SUNNY DAY FLOODING THAT SORT OF , YOU KNOW, PREDICTED SEASONAL HIGH TIME OUR WINTER EVENTS TO EXACERBATE THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IN BOSTON. WE ANTICIPATE FLOODING EVENTS MORE OFTEN IN THE WINTERTIME BASED ON THE SHAPE OF OUR HARBOR AND WHERE WE'RE LOCATED THAT MAKES IT HARDER IN TERMS OF DRAINAGE BECAUSE THAT IS THE TIME WHEN OUR STORMWATER SYSTEM IS MOST IMPACTED BY SNOW AND ICE AND SO THAT THAT TENDS TO EXACERBATE THE CHALLENGES AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW PICTURES OF RECENT STORMS THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S WAY OF LIFE.  SO WE HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE NEAR MISS AND THE GOOD FORTUNE OF THE NEAR MISSES OF SANDY TO NOT WAIT AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT BOSTON HAS DONE WITHOUT BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY A STORM TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING BETTER PREPARED. SO THIS IS A SAMPLING. ALL OF THESE ARE PUBLIC OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING EFFORTS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE SINCE 2012 AND WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS MAPPED OUT CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING OPTIONS FOR ALL 47 MILES OF OUR SHORELINE. SO WE KNOW SOME OPTIONS AND WHAT SUCCESSES. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AGAIN WE HAVE IN BOSTON IS THAT WE ONLY DIRECTLY OWN AND CONTROL 16% OF THAT SHORELINE. SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WORK WITH THE STATE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM ON WHAT THEIR SOLUTIONS ARE. BUT WE'VE MAPPED THAT UP AND WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SCIENCE AND REALLY GOOD PREDICTIONS AND TARGETING WHERE WE NEED TO GO AS A CITY AND WE HAVE BEGUN THE WORK RIGHT? AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN SAYING OKAY YOU GUYS WE HAVE TO SPEND TIME PLANNING TO KNOW WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE AND TO HAVE THE RIGHT DESIGN PARAMETERS ON THIS WORK. BUT WE'VE BEGUN THE PROJECTS FOCUSING.  I'LL JUST TAKE A QUICK SAMPLING. THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN TO THE PHENOMENAL LANGONE PARK. IF YOU'RE SITTING ON THOSE BENCHES YOU KNOW YOU MAY NOT REALIZE YOU'RE SITTING ON PART OF THE CITY OF BOSTON SCULPTURE SO IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLOSING THE CRITICAL PATHWAY ON THE NORTH END THOSE BENCHES THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THOSE BENCHES CAN BE CLOSED WITH YOU KNOW, WITH AN ANCHOR FENCE TYPE APPROACH IN A COMMENT IN A STORM EVENT AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PROTECT THE SHORELINE BEHIND IT WORK LIKE A NUBIAN SQUARE AND PUTTING IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS THAT THERE'S LESS STORMWATER THAT OUR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO MAINTAIN IN A STORM OF INTERFERE DEAL WITH IN A STORM EVENT AND THEN MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE OUR GREENWAY DEPLOYABLE AND HOPEFULLY FOLKS GOT TO PARTICIPATE OR SEE THE NEWS COVERAGE ON ON THE NATION'S FIRST CITYWIDE DEPLOYABLE STAGE IN BOSTON LAST FRIDAY THE THE AQUIFER THAT WE PUT UP AT THE BOSTON GREENWAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF US BEING ABLE TO CLOSE AN EXISTING FLIGHT PATH THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FOR THE COMMUNITIES BEHIND AND THEN YOU KNOW ON HIGHLIGHT AND THIS TO ME STILL IS A SURPRISE BUT WE'RE THE ONLY CITY WE'RE AWARE OF THAT HAS COASTAL FLOOD RESILIENCE OVERLAY DISTRICT IN OUR ZONING LOOKING OUT TO A FUTURE STORM EVENT SO EVERY BUILDING EVERY MAJOR BUILDING APARTMENT THAT'S BUILT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT IS IN OUR PROJECTED FLOODPLAIN AND WE'VE DEFINED THAT AS 20, 70, 40 INCHES OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND THE 1% STORM THAT HAPPENS AT THAT TIME HAS TO BE BUILT FOR THAT STORM HAS TO BE BUILT TO BE RESILIENT TO THAT STORM. AND THE RATIONALE THERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR MAJOR BUILDINGS NEED TO BE RESILIENT AND USEFUL AND FUNCTIONING FOR THEIR FULL USEFUL LIFE AND WE KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE CHANGING, THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THRIVE IN NATURE DESIGNED FOR THE END OF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION. WE ARE AS FAR AS WE KNOW WE'RE THE ONLY CITY IN TERMS OF THAT'S ORDAINED THIS ENZYME. THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT HAVE GUIDELINES THAT START THE CONVERSATION IN BOSTON WE DON'T WANT MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR FLOOD ZONES AND IN OUR FLOOD DISTRICTS THAT AREN'T PREPARED. AND SO THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR MAJOR PROJECTS AND WITH THAT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO AS YOU NOTED, YOU KNOW AND HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND I ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS CREATING A CENTRALIZED LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE RESILIENCE WRIT LARGE AT THE ISLAND COAST RESILIENCE BEING ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES WITH THE CREATION OF AN OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE.  SO I'LL TURN OVER TO ITS DIRECTOR CHRIS AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU AS WELL. SO AS THE CHIEF NOTED THERE ARE THREE BROAD CLIMATE RISKS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON. ONE IS COASTAL FLOODING WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE FOCUS OF TODAY'S HEARING. WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON EXTREME HEAT AND INCREASED STORM WATER AND AS THE CHIEF OUTLINE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT WORK PROJECTS, PLANS, POLICIES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THESE RISKS.  JUST TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE COASTAL FLOODING RISK AS COUNCILOR FLYNN NOTED IN HIS OPENING COMMENTS, WE ARE A CITY WHICH IS SEEING SOME DEGREE OF SUNNY DAY FLOODING IN SOME PLACES. I WAS JUST TO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A GO. I'M LOOKING TO THE AUDIENCE TO CONFIRM THAT THE STILL LIVING LAB DID AN EVENT AT THE END OF LONG WHARF IN RECOGNITION THAT DURING KING TIDES THAT END OF LONG WHARF IS SEEN SUNNY DAY FLOODING THAT'S FLOODING AN OUR IN OUR CITY THERE IN PLACES IN EAST BOSTON IN OTHER PLACES ALONG OUR COASTLINE WHERE THERE'S INUNDATION EVEN WITHOUT A MAJOR STORM COMING IN WE ARE A CITY THAT IS LOOKING AT BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY AND THE 2070S, ABOUT 40 INCHES A SEA LEVEL RISE. SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK WHICH WE NEED TO BE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THRIVING GOING FORWARD. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ALREADY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION AS CHIEF SWETT MENTIONED, THE INTEREST HERE WITH THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING AND DOING THREE THINGS ONE INTERNALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COORDINATED AND ALIGNED ON THIS WORK ITSELF THAT WE AS A CITY ARE SUPPORTING THE GREAT EFFORTS BY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BY OUR STREETS CABINET, BY OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BY OUR BOTTLE OF BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS RISK. SECOND, TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE, EVERY ADVOCATE, EVERY PARTNER, EVERY COUNSELOR, EVERY CONSTITUENT THAT THERE IS A PLACE THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN GO AND UNDERSTAND WHAT CITY PLANS ARE, WHAT OUR PROGRESS IS AGAINST THOSE PLANS AND HOW TO GET ENGAGED AS A PARTNER. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THAT CONTENT ALREADY AT BOSTON DOUGLASS CLIMATE RESILIENCE WHICH IS A SORT OF CENTRAL HUB FOR THE CITY'S WORK ONLINE AND HAPPY TO GO TO ANY COMMUNITY MEETING AND TALK MORE ABOUT THIS IN GREATER DEPTH. AND THE THIRD ELEMENT OF THE OFFICE IS REALLY A LEAD A SET OF KEY PROJECTS. PART OF THAT IS AROUND WORK IN COASTAL RESILIENCE. PART OF THAT IS AROUND EXTREME HEAT AND PART OF THAT IS WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS AT THE SPEED THAT WE NEED TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE STRATEGY ON COASTAL FLOODING BEFORE TURNING OVER TO MATT AND KATE AND JOHN TO DIVE MORE SPECIFICALLY INTO IT OUR COASTAL FLOODING STRATEGY ESSENTIALLY LOOKS AT THREE DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME BUT FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT TIME HORIZONS. THE FIRST IS REALLY A SET OF WORK FOCUSED ON TODAY'S STORMS WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION BY OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THIS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PLANS IN PLACE AND THAT WE'RE PREPARING OURSELVES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH WHAT THEY NEED IN ADVANCE OF A STORM THROUGH A STORM AND AFTER ONE THE SECOND SET OF WORK WHICH KATE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT IS WORK WE ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE NEAR-TERM BY PASS THE EXISTING CITY OF BOSTON. THESE ARE PLACES WHICH ALL OF US KNOW WELL PLACES THAT HAVE SEEN FLOODING ALREADY AND THAT AS CHIEF SWETT SHOWED ON AN EARLIER SLIDE, WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE A DEGREE OF INUNDATION AND A MAJOR STORM BOTH THIS DECADE AND NEXT. AND THEN THE THIRD STRATEGY THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON AND I'LL TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THIS AT THE END IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO REALLY LOOK AT WORK OVER THE COURSE OF REALLY THE NEXT DECADE AND IN TIME AFTER THAT TO PROVIDE LONGER TERM RESILIENCE PROTECTION FOR ALL 47 MILES OF BOSTON'S COASTLINE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE OFFICE AND RISK MANAGEMENT MATT CARNEGIE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR WORK IN THIS STRATEGY.  AWESOME. THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE ARE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND TO ENSURE THAT BOSTON'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS ROBUST AND ADAPTABLE TO A CHANGING CLIMATE LANDSCAPE. WE MEET IN REGULARLY SHARED DATA AND INSIGHTS FROM CLIMATE MODELING AND THE LONG TERM RESILIENCE PLANNING EFFORTS TO HELP INFORM REAL TIME RESPONSE AND UPDATE PROTOCOLS. AND WE CAN REALLY BOIL THAT DOWN TO THREE MAIN FOCUS AREAS SO WE HAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT'S OUR WORK IN THE PUBLIC ENSURING THAT THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATION WILL INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE PRODUCE ARE GETTING IN THE HANDS OF RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR RISKS AND SOME OF THE STEPS THAT THEY CAN TAKE TO STAY SAFE DURING EMERGENCIES AND ALSO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM MADE BY THE CITY.  WE ALSO DO A LOT OF OPERATIONAL PLANNING SO CREATING DETAILED AND ACTIONABLE PLANS FOR CITYWIDE OPERATIONS TO RESPOND TO EXTREME EVENTS AND OTHER HAZARDS OUR GOAL THERE IS REALLY JUST TO ENSURE THAT CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE WELL COORDINATED AND PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF SOME OF THESE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND THEN THE FINAL BUCKET BEING THAT CITYWIDE COORDINATION. SO WHAT OUR ROLE IS REALLY BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER, CONVENING FOLKS TO MAKE ALL DEPARTMENTS AWARE OF WHAT THOSE RISKS ARE IN THE EVENT OF AN EXTREME WEATHER EVENT OR WHATEVER THAT HAZARD MAY BE AND FACILITATE THAT COLLABORATION ACROSS THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS TO HELP STREAMLINE THE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE FOCUSED EMERGENCIES.  WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED IN THAT AREA ON THE REAL TIME COMMUNICATION AND RESOURCE SHARING TO MAXIMIZE EFFECTIVENESS DURING A CRISIS.  NEXT SLIDE AND THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS KIND OF A QUICK SNAPSHOT AT THE ROBUST AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MATERIAL THAT OUR OFFICE HAS PUT TOGETHER.  SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE ARE KIND OF ONE QAEDAS BASED ON THE VARIOUS HAZARDS AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS. THESE ARE ALSO DONE IN A PRESENTATION FORMAT. SO IF WE'RE GOING AND SPEAKING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION GRAPHICS AND WE CAN PUSH OUT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AS NEEDED AND THEN JUST TO KIND OF DIVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO THE OPERATIONAL COORDINATION PIECE, THERE'S JUST A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCT THERE ON THE LEFT AND THEN ONE OF OUR DASHBOARDS THAT WE UTILIZE IN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND THE GOAL THERE IS REALLY JUST HOW ARE WE TAKING IN DATA THAT'S COMING TO US FROM A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND SOURCES AND BOILING IT DOWN TO YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS WHERE DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND GETTING REALLY SPECIFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD VULNERABILITIES AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE ADEQUATE RESOURCES AT HAND TO TO RESPOND TO THOSE SO SOME OF US WILL UTILIZE THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AS FLOOD PATHWAYS AND RISK TIMING TO HELP ENHANCE OUR RESPONSE TIMES AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THOSE VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.  I KNOW DURING DEPLOYMENTS DAY WE LOOKED AT THE THE ONE OVER IN EAST BOSTON THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN CONCERT WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WE WOULD HAVE MADE THE CALL ON WHEN THAT WOULD NEED TO GO UP AND THEN THE COLLABORATION HERE ENHANCES THE CITY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND SWIFTLY TO EMERGENCIES WHILE SUPPORTING THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE. THESE WORK ON TRANSFORMING THE CITY'S COASTLINE FOR THE LONG TERM PROJECTION. AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KAT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PROJECTS.  THANK YOU, MA'AM. EVERYONE HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.  SO I'M GOING TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE PLANNING WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE THE PLANNING PLANS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.  SO BUILDING OFF OF THE 2016 CLIMATE READY BOSTON REPORT WHICH WAS THE CITY WIDE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT STAFF AND THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CLIMATE READY BOSTON TEAM NOW PART OF THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL COASTAL RESILIENCE PLANS FOR EACH OF BOSTON'S FIVE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND SO THESE PLANS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE NOW TAKING TO BUILD THE PROJECTS IN CRITICAL AREAS THAT ARE AT RISK OF COASTAL FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. IN THESE PLANS WE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE TYPES OF COASTAL FLOOD RISK AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THESE TOGETHER. SO SPEAKING ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE STORM SURGE AND WAVE ACTION AND EROSION AND WE ALSO LOOKED AT HOW FLOODING ENTERS A COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT IS WHAT WE CALL FRINGE FLOODING MEANING IT IS ISOLATED ALONG THE WATERFRONT OR FLOOD PATHWAYS WHICH HAVE BEEN MENTIONED A FEW TIMES WHICH IS WHEN WATER ENTERS THROUGH LOW LYING SECTIONS OF THE WATERFRONT AND CAN REACH INLAND PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE TYPICALLY NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACTS OF FLOODING.  IN EACH OF THESE PLANS WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY HAD A SET OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PLAN. SO THE FIRST IS ANALYZING THE FLOOD RISK IN A GIVEN LOCATION AND UNDERSTANDING THE TIMING OF THAT FLOOD RISK AND HOW THAT EVOLVES BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT 50 YEARS. WE HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NONPROFIT PARTNERS,  OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE ARE KEY PRIORITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS AND HOW WE CAN MEET MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES WITH THESE PROJECTS. WE THEN DEVELOPED CONCEPTUAL COASTAL RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD PROVIDE MULTIPLE BENEFITS BY AT ITS CORE PREVENT FLOODING FROM IMPACTING THESE COMMUNITIES.  THEN IN EACH PLAN IT OUTLINES A IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP THAT ESSENTIALLY SHOWS THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND IN 2070 WHEN THESE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED BASED ON THE URGENCY OF FLOOD RISK AND HOW THAT CHANGES OVER TIME AND NEXT STEPS FOR ADVANCING EACH PROJECT IN ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.  AS HAS BEEN SAID, PLANNING IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP IN A SERIES OF ACTIONS TO BRING THESE CONCEPTS INTO CONSTRUCTION. SO WE'VE FINISHED PLANNING AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER SEVERAL YEARS NOW TO ADVANCE THESE PRIORITY PROJECTS INTO THE NEXT STAGES OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING AND PERMITTING AND EVEN SOME INTO CONSTRUCTION. SO THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON ACROSS THE CITY TO DESIGN AND PERMIT THESE PROJECTS TO BLOCK KEY FLOOD PATHS OPEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR PLANS.  THESE PROJECTS ARE PREDOMINANTLY BEING LED BY THREE CITY DEPARTMENTS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE. IT'S ALSO BEEN NOTED THAT MOST OF THE BOSTON COASTLINE IS NOT OWNED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO YOU KNOW, BRING THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE PRIORITIES WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITY INTO REALITY.  SO I'M GOING TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES JUST FOR THE PURPOSES OF TIME.  BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST THE RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DOING ACROSS EACH NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IN DORCHESTER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF TINIAN BEACH AND PARTNERING WITH THE STATE ON THE REDESIGN OF MORRISSEY BOULEVARD IN 2022 WE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REOPENED MCCONNELL PARK THAT HAD RESILIENCE FEATURES EMBEDDED INTO THE PARK'S DESIGN IN SOUTH BOSTON AND REALLY KIND OF SPANNING SOUTH BOSTON AND DORCHESTER. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF MOAKLEY PARK AND MOAKLEY PARK CONNECTORS WHICH ARE THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE PARK ITSELF AS WELL AS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING WORK FOR THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL AND THE AND OFFLINE MARINE PARK IN 2019 THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ALSO OPENED MARTIN'S PARK IN THE SEAPORT WHICH SIMILARLY HAD RESILIENCE FEATURES EMBEDDED INTO THE PLAY STRUCTURES WITHIN THE PARK IN THE DOWNTOWN AND NORTH END. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF LONG WHARF WHICH HAS BEEN NOTED AS BEING ONE OF THE LOWEST ELEVATIONS IN THE CITY AND IN 2020 THE PARK DEPARTMENT REOPENED LINCOLN PARK AND POPULAR PLAYGROUND WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT HAS WORKED WITH THE HARBOR LOCK TO PREVENT FLOODING BUT ALSO CREATE BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY.  AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL SOON BE LAUNCHING A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING PROJECT FOR THE CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD BUILDING OFF OF THE WORK OF THE PLANNING PROJECT THAT FINISHED IN 2022 AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS JUST RECENTLY FINISHED PERMITTING RYAN PLAYGROUND AND IS PREPARING TO GO OUT TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT SOON AND THEN IN EAST BOSTON WE WELCOME PIERCE PARK PHASE TWO BY MASSPORT IN 2023. SO JUST LAST YEAR AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF LOUIS MALL AND CARLTON WHARF BORDER STREET AND BENNINGTON STREET AND FREDERICKS PARK WHICH SPANS THE BOUNDARIES OF BOSTON AND THE CITY OF REVERE.  SO TO WRAP UP THESE PLANS AND PROJECTS ARE BEING ADVANCED TO CREATE A WATERFRONT THAT REDUCES COASTAL FLOOD RISK BUT THAT ALSO ENHANCES CONNECTIVITY ,ACCESSIBILITY, RECREATION AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH AROUND THE CITY SO THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED DURING STORMS BUT ARE ALSO ABLE TO ENJOY BOSTON'S WATERFRONT ON THE DAYS WHEN THE SUN IS STILL SHINING.  AND WITH THAT I WILL PASS IT OVER TO JOHN.  THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.  THE BOSS OF WATER SEWER HAS BEEN WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY ON ALL OF ITS COASTAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND THIS LITTLE CHART MAY HELP THE CITY WILL BUILD THE BARRIERS TO KEEP THE OCEAN FROM COMING IN ON US. BUT THAT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DISCHARGE THE WATER WHICH DISCHARGES BY GRAVITY TO MOST OF THE CITY IT'S BY GRAVITY WITH A HIGH TIDE WE CAN'T DISCHARGE.  AND THIS LITTLE DIAGRAM DEPICTS IF THE FLOOD BARRIER WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS IN PLACE WITH THE SUPER HIGH TIDE WHY THE WATER CAN'T FLOW BY GRAVITY OUT INTO THE OCEAN. THERE ARE AREAS OF YOU ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE THAT WILL BE HIGH ENOUGH THAT BY SIMPLY BEING THE HIGHER ELEVATION THE WATER CAN FLOW BUT THE OTHER TWO WATER WILL BE STORED. SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE'RE FACING IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY IF THERE'S A HIGH TIDE AND THE BARRIERS ARE IN PLACE HOW DO WE MOVE THIS WATER? THE SIMPLE ANSWER FOR MOST PEOPLE IS PUMPING WELL YOU HAVE 230 OUTFALLS AND SO YOU CAN'T BUILD 230 PUMP STATIONS BUILDING SOME OF THESE PUMP STATIONS ARE ENORMOUSLY LARGE TO TAKE KIND OF THIS KIND OF RAINFALL AND ANOTHER JUST FUN FACT IS WE DON'T OWN ANY LAND SO WE NEED TO FIND PLACES TO DO IT. SO WE DECIDED TO PUT OUT A CONCEPTUAL PLAN LOOKING AT WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IF ALL THE BARRIERS WERE IN PLACE AND WE HAD TO BUILD PUMP STATIONS OR STORAGE STORAGES.  ANOTHER GREAT SPOT TO DO IT.  THIS IS PART OF OUR STUDY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WE SHOW THE AREAS THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO OUR PARTICULAR OUTFALLS. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE OUTFALLS, THE LITTLE DOTS AND THESE ARE ALL PLACES THAT WE'D HAVE TO PUMP OR FIND A WAY TO GET THE WATER OUT OF THE CITY.  75% OF THE CITY IS PROTECTED FROM THE COASTAL PROBLEMS BUT NOT FROM INCREASED RAINFALL PROBLEMS.  BUT WE JUST STUDIED THE FIRST PHASE WAS THE COASTAL WHAT WILL WE DO ON THE COAST? THAT'S THE 25% AND WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE CONCEPTS IN THE STUDY SHOWING WHERE WE COULD BUILD THINGS, WHERE WE COULD DO STORAGE. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THE COMMISSION DOES IS WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ENERGY INTENSIVE PUMPS.  THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO STORE THE WATER, WAIT FOR THE NEXT LOW TIDE AND LET GRAVITY DO ITS WORK. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THAT WAS A KEY FOCUS AS WE GO FORWARD. ALSO ANYTHING PUMPING IS MECHANICAL. ANYTHING MECHANICAL CAN FAIL GRAVITY DOESN'T FAIL US SO IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING WITH GRAVITY THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BE.  IN THE STUDY YOU'LL SEE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCEPTS WE HAVE IS USING THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL IT'S ALREADY BUILT. IT'S A NATURAL TANK AT LOW TIDE IT CAN HOLD 100 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER IN THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL IF WE CAN BUILD A STORM SURGE BARRIER DOWN BY THE NORTHERN AVENUE BRIDGE. THIS CONCEPT HERE IS WE WERE TYING INTO BOTH FEDERAL PIECES OF PROPERTY OUTSIDE THE RED SECTION. WE'VE ALSO STUDIED CLOSELY HOW WE COULD COMBINE A FLOOD BARRIER WITH A NEW BRIDGE ALL IN ONE BECAUSE THESE THINGS WON'T BE USED THAT OFTEN.  THESE WILL BE USED DURING EXTREME EVENTS. THE CHANNEL WILL OPERATE AS IT DOES TODAY. THERE'LL BE NO CHANGES. THE ONLY CHANGE WOULD BE IS WHEN A BIG STORM IS COMING AT LOW TIDE. WE WOULD SHUT THESE GATES AND THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL WOULD ACT KIND OF LIKE WHAT A DRY DOCK LOOKS LIKE BE EMPTY AS IT IS EVERY DAY IN LOW TIDE WE CAN DISCHARGE OUR TEN YEAR STORM EVENT WITH NO PUMPING INTO THAT CHANNEL FOR 10% OF THE CITY. WE PROTECT A HUGE AREA IN SOUTH BOSTON DOWNTOWN WE PROTECT THE TED WILLIAMS TUNNEL.  WE PROTECT THE MASS TURNPIKE. WE PROTECT AMTRAK AND GET TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING WE DO. WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THESE THINGS. SO IF WE DO GET A STORM BIGGER THAN WHAT WE CAN HANDLE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER CONCEPTS THE COMMISSION USES AT ALL TIMES. THIS BARRIER WOULD HAVE PUMPS IN IT. SO AS THIS BATHTUB IS FILLING UP WE'D BE ABLE TO TURN ON PUMPS AND AND PUMP AGAINST THE TIDE.  IN THE REPORT WE SHOW A BUNCH OF CONCEPTS ABOUT 70% OF THE AREA THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT.  WE TOOK A QUICK CONCEPTUAL STUDY. WE WERE LOOKING FOR SPOTS WHERE COULD WE DO SOMETHING, HOW BIG IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AND THIS WAS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND ALL ENTITIES THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING TO BUILD SOMEWHERE. THESE WERE OUR SUGGESTIONS AND THESE ARE CONCEPTS NOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY UPSET WITH THE CONCEPTS OF WHAT WE MIGHT DO IN A PARK. AGAIN THESE THINGS WOULD BE USED ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT WOULD BE TO SAVE THE RESIDENTS FROM FLOODING BY TEMPORARILY STORING WATER IN PLACES THAT THE CITY OR THE STATE MAY OWN. AND THEN WE WOULD RESTORE IT IF THEY GOT WE HAD TO DO A CLEAN UP WE WILL DO A CLEAN UP AFTERWARDS.  THE OTHER KEY ONE IS THE DORCHESTER BAY BASIN WHICH IRONICALLY HOLDS AT LOW TIDE 100 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER AND WE WOULD HAVE A CONCEPT OF THE HIGHLANDS BEHIND DORCHESTER COULD FLOW BY GRAVITY AS I SHOWED ON THE FIRST SLIDE AND LOW LYING AREAS COULD FLOW INTO DORCHESTER BAY BASED EXCUSE ME FINALLY THE LAST SLIDE I WANTED TO SHOW YOU AS WE KEEP ON A WEBSITE A SPOT CALLED THE RESILIENCE HUB AND THAT'S A ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO LOOK AT OUR CONCEPTS BUT THEY CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AND THERE'S A LINK TO CLIMATE READY BOSTON SO CLIMATE READY BOSTON AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES THE CITY'S BEEN DOING CAN BE CLICKED ON. YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR DISCHARGE ANALYSIS.  WE HAVE FLOOD MODELING SO YOU CAN LOOK IN YOUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER ANY STORMS YOU PREDICT YOU WANT TO TAKE A A STORM A HURRICANE COMING IN. YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE TROPICAL STORM AND THUNDERSTORM . YOU CAN INPUT THOSE AND IT'LL SHOW YOU HOW DEEP THE WATER WOULD BE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.  AND THEN WE HAVE THE FULL REPORT ACCESS TO THE FULL REPORT SO THAT'S AVAILABLE EITHER ON BW SEA DOT ORG BY PUTTING IN COASTAL FLOODING OR WE HAVE A DIRECT LINK TO IT BWC STORM VIEWER DOT COM AND WE HAVEN'T STOPPED THERE SO THAT'S THE FIRST PHASE THAT WE DID. WE'RE AWAITING THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS EVALUATION OF EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS THE LATE 1990S AFTER OUR DEVASTATING RAINFALL EVENTS IN 96 WE INSTALLED TEN RAIN GAUGES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  OUR RAIN GAUGES MEASURE WATER IN FIVE MINUTE INCREMENTS. THE NORMAL ONE IS 15 BUT THE RAINFALL INTENSITY IN 5 MINUTES COULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE FLOODING AND IF YOU'RE ONLY MEASURING IN 15 MINUTES YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.  THAT IS UPDATED ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE'RE JUST DOING THAT DATA COLLECTION THROUGHOUT THE CITY WE HAVE INSTALLED 60 SENSORS IN OUR SEWERS AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT TO 120 SENSORS. WHAT THAT DOES IS OUR SOURCE REPORT TO US EACH DAY HOW THEY FEEL. IT SHOWS US HOW MUCH SEWERAGE YOUR WATER RAINWATER IS IN EACH PARTICULAR PIPE AND WE CAN COMPARE THAT TO OUR WHAT TRONIC COMPUTER MODELS.  COMPUTER MODELS ARE JUST A MATHEMATICAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE THINK MIGHT HAPPEN. THESE SENSORS ARE TELLING US WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THAT WILL HELP US IDENTIFY AREAS THAT WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FLOODING.  WE'RE COMPLETING A TWO YEAR STUDY ON UPDATING OUR COMPUTER MODELS ABOUT STORM DRAIN AND THAT THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE'RE UPGRADING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH BOSTON WE'RE ABOUT 50% TRUE CHANGING THE COMBINED SEWER PIPES OVER TWO NEW SEPARATE SYSTEMS AND SANITARY SYSTEMS WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ONE IN EAST BOSTON TO COMPLETE THE SEPARATION OF EAST BOSTON THAT'S A $150 MILLION PROJECT OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS WILL REDO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO UPDATE OUR MODELS AGAIN BECAUSE THE MODELS ONLY EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PHYSICAL PIPES WE HAVE WE HAVE A PHASE FOUR COMING OUT. IT'S COMING PHASE TWO RATHER ON THIS RESILIENCE HUB ISSUE IN JANUARY WE INTEND TO REVIEW WHAT WE DID ALREADY IN THE COASTAL FINISH THE OTHER 30% THAT WE DIDN'T DO AT THE BEGINNING AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THE INLAND FLOODING IF YOU NOTICED IN ASHEVILLE THE MAJOR PROBLEM THEY HAD THERE 1200 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL THEY GOT WIPED OUT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF RAIN HITTING THE RAIN YOU DON'T NEED TIDAL PROBLEMS.  YOU DON'T NEED RIVER PROBLEMS. IT'S JUST THE VOLUME OF RAINFALL WE CAN'T HANDLE 14 INCHES OF RAIN. WE JUST CAN'T.  OUR DESIGN STORM IS A TEN YEAR DESIGN STORM.  WE BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE SIX INCHES OF RAIN OVER 24 HOURS WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THERE'S ALWAYS LOCALIZED PROBLEMS WHEN WE GET TO WHAT THIS STUDY IN THE STUDY WILL TAKE US ABOUT TWO YEARS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE IT MIGHT FLOOD INLAND AS WELL AS THE COAST AND WE WILL STOP THEN DEVELOPING DESIGNS TO PROTECT IT WHERE WE CAN STORE WATER. WE WE HAVE CONCEPTS OF STORING WATER IN THE GEORGE WRIGHT GOLF COURSE IN THE ARBORETUM PLACES THAT ARE PUBLIC ENTITIES WILL KEEP IT OUT OF THE CELLARS TILL THE STORM PASSES AND WE CAN RELEASE THE WATER. SO THESE ARE ALL ONGOING DESIGNS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. IN ADDITION, SINCE 1990 WE'VE BEEN MAKING EVERYONE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS TO HOLD THE FIRST INCH TWO INCH AND A QUARTER OF RAINFALL SO THAT FIRST ENTRY IN THE QUARTER IS INFILTRATING INTO THE GROUND AS IT CONTINUES TO RAIN. NOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US ON 14 INCHES BUT IT LETS US CONTINUE TO PREPARE AS THESE STORMS BEGIN AS WE OUTLINE WHERE WE NEED TO GO.  ALL THE DATA WE WILL HAVE WILL ALSO INFORM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WHAT STREETS MAY BE FLOODED WHERE EMS, FIRE POLICE NEED TO BE DIVERTED IF THERE'S GOING TO BE FLOODING AND WILL WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF PREDICTIVE MODELS WITH THE DATA AND WE INTEND TO USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IF SCENARIOS ON OF THIS.  SO THAT'S WHAT I HAD IS EQUIPPED AND I'M PREPARED TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND I LOOK IN DISTRICT THREE THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN SO BEFORE PASSING IT BACK TO CHIEF SWETT CLOSES, I WANT TO JUST TOUCH ON THE THIRD OF OUR THREE MAJOR COASTAL RESILIENCE STRATEGIES. SO MADIGAN TALKED ABOUT OUR FIRST ONE WHICH IS ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO SOME OF THE NEAR-TERM STORMS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR COASTLINE, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE WE ARE SEEING FLOODING NOW OR WOULD EXPECT FLOODING LATER THIS DECADE OR INTO THE EARLY 2030S AND WITH A SERIES OF DESIGNS TO THINK ABOUT COUNCIL MURPHY'S OPENING COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT ONLY SORT OF REDUCING THE RISK BUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS WATERFRONT THAT WE TREASURE REMAIN WHICH IS A GREAT ASSET FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON THROUGH DESIGNS LIKE WHAT BRIAN MENTIONED THE BEGINNING LINCOLN PARK AND THE SORT OF COORDINATION AS JOHN TOUCHED ON TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE DO THIS WORK ON OUR COAST WE'RE ALSO BEING MINDFUL OF HOW WE CAN ADDRESS STORMWATER AND HEAT RELATED ISSUES AS OUR THIRD PRINCIPLE STRATEGY IS THE LONG TERM COLLABORATION.  THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BRINGS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE AND FEDERAL FINANCING TO BE ABLE TO DO LARGER SCALE COASTAL RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.  NOW WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF WHAT'S CALLED A COASTAL A COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY. THIS IS A SIX YEAR STUDY THAT WILL CONCLUDE IN THE SPRING OF 2028. OVER THE PREVIOUS FEW YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING AN ANALYSIS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON TO UNDERSTAND ESSENTIALLY THE RISK TO OUR CITY IF WE DO NOT TAKE STEPS TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THIS LONGER TERM INFRASTRUCTURE COULD LOOK LIKE THAT WILL RESULT IN A REPORT TO CONGRESS IN THE SPRING OF 2028 AND THEN UNLOCK OUR ABILITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON PROJECTS IN THE 2030S AND BEYOND. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF SWETT IN THE ALL OF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND THE TESTIMONY FROM OUR PARTNERS. GREAT AND NOT JUST AT THE BUT PART OF THE REASON WE HAD A GREAT VISIT FROM THE GENERAL FROM THE ARMY CORPS THIS SUMMER THAT'S OVERSEEING THE STUDY. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR STUDIES THAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY AND PART OF THEIR EXCITEMENT ABOUT WORKING WITH US IS HOW READY THE BOSTON COMMUNITY IS. AND MY BOSTON COMMUNITY I MEAN NOT ONLY CITY GOVERNMENT BUT OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AS WELL AS OUR NONPROFITS AND OUR PRIVATE SECTOR COMMUNITY TO DO THE WORK. YOU KNOW AND OBVIOUSLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO FUND PROJECTS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND AND ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE IN FACT ARE BEHIND. SO THE WORK COUNCIL FUND THAT YOU MENTIONED FROM THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL , THE WORK OF OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS BRINGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR OWNERS OF OUR WATERFRONT TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS OUR PREFERRED SOLUTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD AND THOSE BECOME FUND READY SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT WE CAN THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH. SO THAT RELATIONSHIP IS GREAT. THE ANALOGY I USE FOR THE TASK IN FRONT OF US YOU KNOW AND AND SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU KNOW IN THE YOU KNOW UNTIL THE MID EIGHTIES LATE 1980S THE BOSTON HARBOR WASN'T SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAME TO BOSTON TO SEEK OUT ACCESS TO BECAUSE YOU KNOW ,IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED HARBORS IN THE COUNTRY AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH EMBRACING OUR WATERFRONT OR ARE WE ACTUALLY YOU KNOW, IS THE DEVELOPMENT PULSE OF THE CITY FURTHER AWAY FROM OUR WATERFRONT AND WE WERE TOLD IT COULDN'T BE DONE WE WERE TOLD IT WANTED IT WAS TECHNOLOGICALLY GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING TO CLEAN UP THE BOSTON HARBOR TOO WAS GOING TO BREAK THE BANK. THERE WAS NO WAY THAT IT COULD BE AFFORDED.  WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. RIGHT. YOU KNOW AND THIS IS SO IN MY MIND, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE THE WORK OF THE NAVY RAY AND THE CREATION OF NEW GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE CREATING OUR OWN NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, THE PHENOMENAL WORK OF CLEANING UP THE HARBOR. THERE ARE VERY FEW FOLKS IN BOSTON AND CERTAINLY FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN BORN IN THE LAST 30 YEARS THAT CAN'T IMAGINE COMING TO THE WATERFRONT AND THE HARBOR NOW INSTEAD OF BEING, YOU KNOW, A NEGATIVE ATTRACTION IS A MAGNET FOR BUSINESS IN BOSTON AND A MAGNET FOR ENJOYMENT. AND WE'RE A CITY THAT IS EMBRACING ITS WATER IN WAYS THAT YOU KNOW, HONESTLY PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE DREAMED OF IN THE LATE 1970S AND EIGHTIES THAT WE'D HAVE THIS ORDER OF MAGNITUDE THE YOU KNOW, THE ISLAND AND I REMEMBER A CLEANUP COST BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR. IT STARTED BETWEEN FOUR AND $6 BILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS UNLEASHED BETWEEN 40 AND $100 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ASSETS AND VALUE.  SO A PHENOMENAL HORROR LIVE FOR THAT CLEAN UP LET ALONE, YOU KNOW, THE VITALITY AND LIFE OF THE CITY GOING FORWARD. SO WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN RIGHT.  AND FOR ME THIS IS THE BOSTON HARBOR CLEANUP. TAKE TWO. SO YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TALK ABOUT PROGRESS. WE WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. RIGHT. TALKING ABOUT PROGRESS TO DELIVER A BOSTON WATERFRONT THAT IS PROTECTED THAT IS ENJOYABLE TO PROTECT THIS YOU KNOW, PHENOMENAL ASSET THAT IS NOW THE PULSE THE BEATING HEART OF THE CITY IS OUR YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO THAT WATERFRONT AND ALL THE ENJOYMENT AND ECONOMIC VITALITY AND ACTIVITY THAT IT PROVIDES.  SO WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. THIS IS NOT AN INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM. THIS WILL BE YOU KNOW, IN THE BS IN TERMS OF HOW WE FIX IT. THIS WILL COST US BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THIS OVER THE NEXT 25 OR 30 YEARS. BUT WE'VE PROVEN WE CAN DO THE BIG THINGS BEFORE AGAIN, IT DIDN'T BREAK THE BANK RIGHT?  WE HAVE VERY AND WE HAVE VERY REASONABLE WATER RATES AND WATER SEWER RATES. WE KNOW HOW TO LIKE LOOK AT THESE OVER TIME TO SAY HOW DO WE AMORTIZE THOSE COSTS, HOW TO DO IT FAIRLY.  BUT I AM I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE AND OPTIMISTIC SO WITH THAT I THINK WE WILL OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND YOUR WORK. I LOVE A GOOD SO WHAT A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US AND BASICALLY CHALLENGING US AND SAYING THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN IF WE ALL LEAN IN AND WORK TOGETHER. SO APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR TAKE ON THAT. I'LL GO TO MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE MY QUESTIONS OF FIRST GO TO THE CO-SPONSOR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND I THINK WE'LL BE VERY LAX WITH TIMING IN THIS HEARING SO QUICK TAKE AS MUCH TIME AND YEAH THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THIS JOB IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU GET TO COME EVERY DAY AND LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO MAKING THIS CITY AND THIS IS THE STUFF THAT RIGHT YOU DON'T YOU DON'T REALLY HEAR ABOUT IN SCHOOL GROWING UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST I MEAN JOHN EVEN YOU TALKING ABOUT JUST USING GRAVITY AND KNOW THE THINGS THAT LIKE EVERY DAY WE TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY OVERALL THINKING OF THIS THIS DISTRICT WIDE WATERFRONT APPROACH AND HAVING TO THIS COASTAL RESILIENCY IN THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE PARTIAL BY PARCEL IS AS CLASSIC FABULOUS BY THAT SAID YET GIVEN SOMETIMES IMPLEMENTATION CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS OR THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THERE IS MONEY ISSUES AT TIMES OF FUNDING HOW DO WE MAKE THIS A UNITED APPROACH OR I GUESS ANOTHER WAY TO ASK IS HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE THE NEED, THE NEED VERSUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MORE RESILIENT RIGHT.  LIKE WE KNOW THERE MIGHT BE AREAS THAT NEED IT MORE BUT RIGHT NOW THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING OVER THIS WAY THAT LIKE IS READY TO GO NOW AND SO WHAT IS OUR APPROACH TO THAT JUST HAPPY TO START OTHERS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HEAR FIRST I THINK WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW TO EXACTLY YOUR POINT HOW TO GROW FROM PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF MY PARCEL TO PROJECTS THAT ARE ACROSS MULTIPLE PARCELS AND IN ORDER FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL THAT IS THE WORK AROUND HAVE TO DO AND TO THINK ABOUT THREE PROJECTS THAT THAT KAT IDENTIFIED THAT I THINK ARE REALLY ILLUSTRATIVE OF US AND THE SORT OF COORDINATION WE'RE GOING TO NEED ONE OF THE PROJECT AND BENNINGTON STREET WHICH IN ORDER FOR US TO CLOSE THAT FLOOD PATH A FLOOD PATH THAT IMPACTS THE BLUE LINE AND FLIGHT PATH THAT IMPACTS OFF OF TOWNS IT'S ABOUT COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE CITY OF REVERE FURTHER DOWN THE COASTLINE IS A MAJOR FLOOD PATH AND BORDER STREET A HUGE FOCUS OF WORK BEING LED BY A HUGE PLACE OF INVESTMENT THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN ORDER FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT FLOOD PATH WHICH IMPACTS THE PRINCIPAL SUPERMARKET WITHIN EAST BOSTON AS WELL AS THE BLUE LINE AS WELL AS REALLY THRIVING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICT IT'S ABOUT COLLABORATION ACROSS EIGHT PROPERTY OWNERS AND FOR US TO DO WORK THAT'S JUST SORT OF JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM THAT TO CLOSE A FLOOD PATH AT LEWIS STREET AND CARLTON MORPH IT'S ABOUT COLLABORATION BETWEEN MASSPORT AND THE CITY OF BOSTON. EACH OF THESE SORT OF DISTRICT SCALE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LEVEL OF COORDINATION ACROSS PROPERTY OWNERS AND WORK WHICH WE ARE I THINK WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON AND I THINK THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK.  AS WE DO THIS WORK WE ARE VERY FOCUSED PARTICULARLY WITH OUR FUNDING RIGHT NOW ON PURSUING THOSE PLACES OR INVESTING IN THOSE PLACES WHERE IF WE FAIL TO ACT THEY WILL HAVE THE MOST CONSEQUENCE FOR FOR PEOPLE THEIR LIVES, THEIR PROPERTY. SO THAT IS WHY AREAS LIKE WATER STREET, LIKE BENNINGTON STREET, LIKE THE LEWIS STREET CRAFT WHARF WORK LIKE TENNIS AND BEACH ARE TOP PRIORITIES FOR FOR US IN THE CITY BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT YEAH SO TO REITERATE ONE WE ARE TAKING A RISK BASED APPROACH THAT IS TIME BOUND SO WE'RE LOOKING OUT AT 2030 FLOOD PATHS AND SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED THE FASTEST AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ONES THAT WE DIRECTLY HAVE CONTROL OVER WHICH PREDOMINANTLY ARE CITY PARKS SOME OF THEM ARE OUR BOSTON PLANNING PARCELS AS WELL AS VENDORS ARE RAISING THE COLLABORATIVE PRESSURE WITH THE OWNERS OF ONES THAT WE DON'T OWN TO SAY YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PART OF OUR SOLUTION HOW DO WE WORK WITH YOU? I DO WANT TO REITERATE WITH FIRST WE APPROPRIATELY LEVERAGE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT WHEREVER POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO DO THEIR SHARE BUT WE ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SOLUTIONS THAT BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS NEEDS. SO WHERE IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR CONTROLLING A PARCEL ON THE WATERFRONT THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE BROADER NEIGHBORHOOD? WE ARE ACTIVELY DEVELOPING A PLAN B IF THAT REDEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE TIME NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT OKAY, IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS WELL, THOSE ARE SOMETHING WE DO BEHIND THAT PRIVATE PARCEL. IS THERE ANOTHER SOLUTION THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE IF WE LOSE FAITH AT THAT TIMELINE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS MOVING FORWARD IS INVESTMENT? SO WE'RE ALWAYS DOING THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING ON OUR SHORELINE . AND THEN SECONDLY, I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THE THE CREATION OBVIOUSLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OVER THE SUMMER IS A CREATION OF BOSTON PLANNING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS OUT OF THE MAYOR'S DRIVE TO SOLVE A BUNCH OF CHALLENGES THAT THE ONE IN BAD TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE INTO EVERY PLANNING EFFORT WE'RE DOING ACROSS CITY TO SAY THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING TO BE TRADED AGAINST FOR OTHER YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES IS THAT EVERY DEVELOPMENT WE BUILD NOT ONLY HAS TO BE RESILIENCE INTO AND OF ITSELF BUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL CITY'S RESILIENCE AND SO THAT'S JUST PART OF OUR ETHOS NOW.  AND A FINAL ISSUE THAT WE WOULD BE WATCHING MORRISSEY BOULEVARD IS TALKING ABOUT A WHOLE NEW DESIGN.  ONE OF OUR CONCEPTS IS USING OUR GATES AT THE PETE'S BRIDGE SO THAT WE COULD CONTROL THE WATER ALL WE NEED TO DO NOW WE DON'T NEED TO BUILD IT NOW. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER BUILDS WON'T PROHIBIT US FROM BUILDING IN THE FUTURE. NOW IF THE PARTICULAR FOUNDATION OF THAT BRIDGE IS SUCH THAT THEY WANT TO BUILD WITH THE POINTED EDGE ETC. WE NEED FLAT EDGES WE WILL TALK AND DISCUSS. WE HAVE 96 INCH PIPES THAT NEED TO BE LAID DOWN. MORRISSEY BOULEVARD THEY DON'T NEED TO GO IN NOW. YOU CAN BUILD THEM ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE SO YOU DON'T THE MONEY AND HAVE A DEAD ASSET LAYING THERE. YOU JUST MAKE SURE THE PATH IS OPEN, MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY BLOCKS THAT PATH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DISRUPT THINGS.  SO WE WATCH CLOSELY WHEN THEY DO DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT AND MAKE SURE I CONCEPTS CAN FIT IN IN THE FUTURE. IN THE FUTURE MIGHT JUST BE 1520 YEARS. OF COURSE THE WAY MORRISSEY BOULEVARD IS GOING IN 1520 YEARS WE'LL BE DOING IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO PRETEND TO WATCH CLOSELY NOW DON'T LET ANYBODY BUILD SOMETHING THAT PROHIBITS YOU FROM TAKING ACTION IN 1520 YEARS. I THINK I DON'T THINK THERE'S A RIGHT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. IT WAS MORE LIKE PHILOSOPHICALLY DO WE JUST YOU KNOW, WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES MAYBE WE DO JUMP AT IT AND THINGS I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD GO IN WITH A CERTAIN PHILOSOPHY OF HOW TO APPROACH IT.  SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. JOHN YOU ACTUALLY LED ME INTO MY NEXT QUESTION WHICH IS SORT OF ABOUT THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD REDESIGN AND I KNOW MR OSGOOD, YOU AND I SERVE ON THAT COMMISSION WHICH IS GREAT. SO I'M GLAD TO MAKE SURE YOUR EXPERTISE IS IN THE ROOM WHEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY TRAFFIC BUT THE RESILIENCY AS WELL BUT IN THE IN THE WATER AND SEWAGE ON AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A DISTRICT THREE CONSTITUENT AS I KNEW THAT BY THE WAY GOING IN SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND GIVE YOU SOFTBALL QUESTIONS HERE BUT I DO HAVE TO DROP OUT THE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BRIDGES AT THE LEEDS BRIDGE RIGHT ON MALIBU AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PUT THE COASTAL RESILIENCY UP IN CLOSING THOSE TO BE ABLE TO BLOCK IT OFF AND STUFF. BUT THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF THE WATER QUALITY IN THE BAY ITSELF RIGHT.  AND THE RUNOFF ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM ROHNERT PARK AND THE HIGHWAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT IS YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THE RED FLAG BEACHES ON THAT THAT LIST EVERY SUMMER TINIAN AND MALIBU AND SO TO BRING THAT AMENITY BACK TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY VISIT AND OR COOL OFF IF THEY WANT TO GIVEN THE RISING TEMPS IS CLOSING THAT IS CLOSING OFF THE BAY FOR RESILIENCY DOES THAT HOW DO WE HOW DO WE CLEAN THAT UP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T IT HAS A VERY UNDER THE BEACH BRIDGE IS A VERY THIN MARGIN TOO TO ACTUALLY FLUSH OUT AND THAT'S WHY THE DAY IS AS POLLUTED AS IT IS. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN I THINK I'M GOING OUTSIDE MY EXPERTISE HERE BUT WITH THE RUNOFF AND WITH NO WAY TO FLUSH IT OUT THAT'S WHY IT IS THE WAY IT IS.  DOES CLOSING IT HELP AND IS THERE A WAY TO OPEN IT UP?  HOW DO WE CLEAN IT MORE SO WE WOULD BILL GATES WE WOULD ONLY CLOSE THEM WHEN THERE'S AN ANNOYING STORM COMING SO THEY WOULD BE OPEN I'D SAY 98% OF THE TIME. SO THE NATURAL FORCES AT WORK THERE TODAY WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK THE IT HAS CLOSED AND IF YOU NOTICE A LOT OF SEDIMENT IS UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGES IS FIVE OR SIX OPENINGS THAT ARE FILLED UP WITH SAND AND BUT THAT KEEPS KEEPS AN INCREASED VELOCITY WHICH IS GOOD MOVING THE SEDIMENT FURTHER OUT, THE DRAINAGE THAT GOES IN THERE I'D SAY GOOD 90% OF IT IS HIGHWAY DRAINAGE, BUS, WATER, SEWER BYPASSES. THERE'S AN O FALL RIGHT AT THE DORCHESTER YACHT CLUB YOU'LL SEE A VERY LARGE ONE THAT'S ONLY USED IN EXTREME STORMS.  SO THERE'S NO FLOW OUT OF THAT THING EXCEPT IN EXTREME STORMS . WE ACTUALLY DISCHARGE OVER BY THE SEVEN HILL YACHT CLUB INTO THE LARGER BAY AREA SO THAT POLLUTION THAT YOU SEE INSIDE THAT AREA OF MALIBU BEACH ISN'T COMING FROM BOSTON WATER SEWER TANNING IS ANOTHER STORY. THAT'S ANOTHER TIME WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ONE BUT WE ARE PURSUING IT'S NOT WE PURSUE THAT EVERY YEAR WE RALLY AROUND IT. WE FIND ANOTHER ILLEGAL CONNECTION SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM SOMEONE TIED IN A NEW BATHROOM IN THIS HOUR THERE'S A BROKEN PIPE SOMEWHERE AND THAT'S A CONSTANT ONGOING THING TO CLEAN UP THAT DAY. IT'S CONTAMINATED SOIL AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE YACHT CLUB ITSELF.  WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO CLEAN THAT UP? WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT USING THE NATURAL EMBAYMENT FOR THE ONE TIME THE STORM IS GOING UP THAT HAS TO BE PURSUED FURTHER WITH THE OUTCOME IT UP WITH THE COASTAL DREDGING THEY'RE DOING DREDGING OUT THERE. ADDITIONALLY THAT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THIS RESILIENCE ISSUE THAT WE'RE STUDYING. WE'RE STUDYING WHEN IT RAINS HARD WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT?  AND THE KEY IS KEEP IT OUT OF PEOPLE'S CELLS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THAT COUNCIL CUT IS ABOUT IT AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE TOOK A WALK DOWN TO THE END AND WE SPOKE FROM FOLKS FROM PORT NORFOLK AND SORT OF THEIR CONCERNS. THEY BROUGHT UP THIS THIS QUESTION AND I ASKED YOU SO I'M SURE IT'S BEING THOUGHT ABOUT BUT IN THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE RIGHT YOU HAVE THE DOORS AT BEADS BRIDGE AND YOU CLOSE IT FOR THE BUILD UP OF THE WATER. BUT WATER WATER HAS GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE. RIGHT. AND SO PORT NORFOLK ALREADY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING IS GO AND THAT'S GREAT. YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE MORRISSEY FROM BEING FLOODED OVER. BUT GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO DO GOING TO PUSH THE WATER DOWN TO PORT NORFOLK AND SO IN THINKING ABOUT THE SEQUENCING OF THIS STUFF, HOW DOES THAT MAKE SURE PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE PROTECTED? AND MATT, I GOT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE UP THERE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN PROTECT THEIR HOMES IN CASE OF FLOODING?  A RESILIENCY OUT TO US CLOSING GATES AT THE BEADS BRIDGE WOULD HAVE A NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT ON THE LEVEL OF SEA ON PORT NORFOLK. WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT THAT. WE'RE TALKING YOU KNOW, LESS THAN A QUARTER OF AN INCH. THE OCEAN IS AN ENORMOUS PLACE IF YOU JUST WALK OFF THAT WATER IT'S A SMALL BLOCKING LIGHT. WELL, I KNOW THAT WASN'T A DEEP DIVE BUT IT IS THERE'S A LOT OF AREA THAT THAT WATER WOULD BACK UP ON AND IT WOULD NOT IMPACT PORT NORFOLK. WE'VE SPOKEN AT LENGTH WITH THE PEOPLE IN PORT NORFOLK WE'VE BEEN DOWN PORT NORFOLK BUT WE DO IT ALL OVER INFRASTRUCTURE.  WE KNOW TINIAN IS ANOTHER ISSUE OF POLLUTION. WE'RE CHASING IT AND SO THE IMPACT OF THE FLOODING WON'T HURT THEM. YEAH THEY WON'T HURT THEM. JUST TO ADD ONE THING I JUST CONCERNED WITH CREDIT TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN RICHMOND GET US AND HIS TEAM THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WAS WAS ANALYZED AS PART OF THE REDESIGN FOR TINIAN BEACH WHETHER WORK AT TINIAN WOULD HAVE HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT RESIDENTS OF PORT NORFOLK WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WRONG TO TALK TO YOU JUST SAID THAT THE OCEAN'S INFINITE THE WATER IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, COME UP NO MATTER WHAT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT.  BUT WHEN WE'RE ANALYZING TINIAN BEACH AND OTHER PROJECTS LIKE MALIBU WE'LL HAVE TO DO FLOOD RISK MODELING AND IMPACTS TO SEE YOU KNOW, IF WE DO SOMETHING AT ONE LOCATION DOES IT IMPACT IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD? BUT AGAIN IT'S INFINITE OCEAN. IT'S GOING TO COME NO MATTER WHAT AND HIT ALL THESE AREAS THAT ARE LOW LYING. YEAH, I GUESS THE GOOD THING HERE IS I DO BELIEVE THAT MANY PARTS OF DORCHESTER IN ALONG ITS COAST ARE RIPE FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW WITH WITH BAY CITY WITH THE BUT WITH EVEN THOUGH THE PUBLIC OWNED LAND MORRISSEY BOULEVARD AND DOWN AT THE END OF PORT NORFOLK AND OTHER REGIONS SO I THINK THERE'LL BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO TO SEE THIS SOONER THAN LATER IS THE HOPE AND THAT'D BE GREAT THAT THE FOLLOW UP FOR YOU IS WHAT LIKE FOR INSTANCE IF I'M TALKING TO THE FOLKS IN PORT NORFOLK AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FLOODING, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A BEACH OR IF IT'S A NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT, THEY STILL GET FLOODED ANYWAY. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS AND MAYBE YOU KNOW SHOUT OUT THE WEBSITE OR INSTAGRAM HANDLE THAT COULD THAT FOLKS CAN LOOK UP AT BUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT I COULD TELL FOLKS TO DO TO MAKE THEIR HOMES RESILIENT TO COASTAL FLOODING PERSONALLY YEAH I THINK THERE WE GO. THANK YOU COUNSELOR. SO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WE HAVE A PAGE ON FLOODING AND WITH THAT INCLUDES A WHOLE LIST OF JUST OVERALL GENERAL PREPAREDNESS TIPS FOR RESIDENTS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PAGE IN THERE FOR HOMEOWNERS SPECIFICALLY. SO IT'S UNDER THE I'M TRYING TO SCROLL UNDER A RELATED FLOOD CONTENT.  THERE'S A BUILDING FLOOD RESILIENCY SECTION AND IT KIND OF DIVES INTO FLOOD INSURANCE. SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT AFFECTS HOMEOWNERS PREMIUMS AND THEN SOME OF THE RESILIENCE ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE SO YOU KNOW, ELEVATING YOUR HOME, RAISING THE MECHANICALS WITHIN YOUR BASEMENT, FILLING IN YOUR BASEMENT, INSTALLING FLOOD VENTS IT KIND OF DIVES INTO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN TAKE AS A HOMEOWNER AND THEN OPENS UP SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORK THE CITY IS DOING IF THEY WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND WAYS IN WHICH THAT THEY CAN KIND OF LEVERAGE OR TAP INTO THEM.  GREAT. WHAT'S THE DID YOU SAY THE INSTAGRAM HANDLE FOR ANYONE WATCHING?  I COULDN'T READ IT. I KNOW IT'S IN THE IT'S ON THIS PAPER. OH, JUST FOR THE TWITTERS AT ALERT BOSTON IS IT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PAGE AND THAT'LL GET YOU THERE I'M NOT SURE BUT I'VE GOT THE BOSS IN THE GOV SLASH DEPARTMENT SLASH THANK YOU TREVOR IF I COULD ALSO I LIKE COUNCILOR CHERYL JUST THIS WAS LAST FRIDAY DEPLOYABLE DAY SO IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT HOMEOWNERS CAN DO RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FLOOD DEPLOYMENTS AT SCALE. SO I DON'T WANT FOLKS THINKING THIS IS JUST A SOLUTION FOR A BIG COMMERCIAL BUILDING.  YOU KNOW WE HAVE VENDORS OUT THERE THAT HAVE SOLUTIONS TO YOU KNOW, TO BLOCK YOUR FRONT DOOR RIGHT AND PUT A FLOOD BARRIER IN THE FRONT DOOR THAT BUYS YOU A COUPLE OF FEET OF WATER PROTECTION TO BLOCK THE WINDOWS. SO THE DEPLOYABLE STATE WEBSITE IS STILL UP WITH ALL THE VENDORS THAT WE'RE AT THE REAL RESOURCE FAIR YOU KNOW PICTURES OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WHEN I'VE GOT A PHONE TO COULD BE OF THE WEBSITE BUT THAT'LL BE UP FOR A WHILE AND IS A CENTRAL SOURCE FOR SORT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW GOTCHA THAT DEPLOYABLE THAT'S THAT YOU ALSO DEVELOPED GUIDELINES ON HOW TO ADOPT AND RETROFIT EVERY BUILDING TYPOLOGY IN THESE FUTURE FLOOD PLAINS SO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TRIPLE DECKERS MID-RISE YOU KNOW HIGH RISES SO IN THAT SOURCE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THEIR HOME. THEY CAN GO TO THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND AND MAKE, YOU KNOW, JUDGMENT CALLS ON ELEVATING THEIR MECHANICALS OR OTHER THINGS. SO THOSE ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND ALSO YOU CAN LOOK UP WHERE YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED. IS IT IN A FUTURE FLOOD PLAIN AND THEN TO THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE RETROFIT SUGGESTIONS?  GREAT. THANK YOU. GET OVER MY QUESTIONS. I WANT I SAY YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF YOU TO COMING ON CLOSE TO 20 YEARS NOW RICH AND CHRIS AND OTHERS AND SO I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND YOU'VE THIS IS PLANNING FOR THIS STUFF IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT OR EVEN OVER A DECADE. IT TAKES DECADES. RIGHT. AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR THAT LONG. SO JUST A SINCERE APPRECIATION BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN THE TIME COMES AND IT WILL COME THAT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD WILL LOOK TO BOSTON AND SAY WOW, LOOK HOW PREPARED THEY WERE AND WE SHOULD REALLY WE REALLY SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM AS THEY SHOULD ALWAYS. BUT SO THANK YOU FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEAS AND REALLY TRYING TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTATION. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  GREAT QUESTIONS COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND WILSON SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO WANT TO JUST UNDERSCORE THIS POINT BECAUSE I WILL CIRCLE BACK TO IT ABOUT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RETROFITS AND ADAPTATION FOR HOMEOWNERS AND WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON COULD ASSIST WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT FOLKS ARE BARELY MAKING IT EVEN IF THEY ARE HOMEOWNERS. SO I WILL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT. BUT FOR NOW I WILL JUST SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR AT LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESIDENT WE LOUIJEUNE AND WE ALSO RECEIVED AN ABSENCE LETTER FROM HENRY SANTANA.  HE DID MENTION IN HIS ABSENCE A LETTER THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR HE HELD AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POLICY BRIEFING. ONE OF THE TOPICS WE COVERED WAS HURRICANE AND SEVERE STORM PREPAREDNESS. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT AND THANK THEM FOR HIS ABSENCE LETTER.  COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU NOW HAVE THE FORUM.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM THAT IS HERE. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK JOHN RICH AND CHRIS ESPECIALLY FOR MANY YEARS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSION OF WISDOM AND WORK AS WELL FOR THE CITY. I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZED HENRY IN THE WATER AND SEWER TEAM FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON ESPECIALLY DURING A DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE A STORM OR A MAJOR INCIDENT.  WATER AND SEWER IS ALWAYS PROVIDING THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION AND IN CHIEF. YOU ARE RIGHT. I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE KID IN SOUTH BOSTON WHEN WE COULDN'T COULDN'T SWIM IN THE BOSTON HARBOR WAS POLLUTED AND IN THE MID EIGHTIES AND A MAYOR FLYNN AND GOVERNOR DUKAKIS AND WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE FEDERAL MONEY TO CLEAN UP BOSTON HARBOR MAJOR.  MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS HAVE PROBABLY THE NICEST HARBOR NOW IN THE COUNTRY MY OPINION AND A WALKWAY PATHWAY THAT'S ACCESSIBLE NOW TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY MY CLOSE FRIEND VIVIEN LEIGH ALSO FOR FOR HER WORK LET ME ASK A LET ME ASK ONE ONE COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I GUESS WOLF DISTRICT CLIMATE RESILIENCE MODEL ADVANCING CLIMATE READY DESIGN CONCEPT TO ENGINEERING DESIGN I BELIEVE IS AN EXCELLENT MODEL.  NOT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE ADVANTAGE BUT HOW WILL THE CITY WORK WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SOUTH BOSTON TO IMPLEMENT COASTAL RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS IN TIME BUT ALSO FACTORING IN PRIVATE PROPERTY RELATED ISSUES ? SO I'M HAPPY TO START AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD I THINK THERE IS I AGREE THAT RECOGNITION OF GROUPS LIKE THE WHARF DISTRICT FOR THEIR PROACTIVE EFFORTS IS A VERY GOOD THING TO CALL OUT. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK WHICH IS BEING DONE BY THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SAME SORT OF DISTRICT SCALE PLANNING THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE RISKS OF FLOOD PATHS. AND I THINK ONE OF OUR PRINCIPAL EXAMPLES OF THIS RIGHT NOW IS ONE I'LL TURN OVER TO CABINET I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE WORK AT BORDER STREET IN EAST BOSTON. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE WHARF DISTRICT ITSELF IS ONE PART OF A BROADER FLOOD PATH AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR US TO EXPAND A NEAR TERM PLAN CENTERED ON LONG WHARF THAT WILL HELP PROTECT THE WHARF HISTORIC HELP PROTECT SECTIONS OF THE NORTH END HELPS SUPPORT THE LONG TERM PLANNING FOR THE AQUARIUM AND GREAT ASSETS LIKE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS PARK TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN A DESIGN THAT ADDRESSES THE NEAR-TERM RISK AND IS LITERALLY FOUNDATIONAL FOR SOME OF THE LONGER TERM TRANSFORMATION OF OUR COASTLINE THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I'LL TURN OVER TO CAT WHO CAN GIVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE WORK AT PORT STREET YET OTHER THINGS.  YES. SO FOR THE RESILIENT BORDERS YOU WATERFRONT PROJECT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE INITIATED LAST FALL AND OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. THIS IS AN INTERESTING PROJECT IN THAT IT IS WORKING ACROSS ABOUT 7 TO 8 PRIVATELY OWNED PARCELS ALONG THE WATERFRONT IN EAST BOSTON WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE FLOOD PATHWAY THAT WILL NOT JUST PUT THE RESIDENTS AND THE HOMEOWNERS IMMEDIATELY ON THE WATERFRONT AT RISK BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT LARGE BEHIND IT.  THIS IS AN AREA WHERE YOU KNOW, UNLIKE THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL THERE IS NOT A BODY THAT CONVENES THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TO THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES ON A DISTRICT SCALE. SO THAT'S WHERE THE CITY HAS STEPPED IN TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, OUR KIND OF REALLY FIRST MAJOR EFFORT AT DEVELOPING A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IN WHICH THE CITY IS WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RISK IS ACROSS THEIR DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND WHAT KINDS OF STRATEGIES THE PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THEIR PROPERTIES THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT BROADER NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION. SO YOU SPOKE REALLY WELL ABOUT WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PRECLUDING FUTURE OPTIONS.  SO IN THIS IT'S THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE REDEVELOPING JUST THE WATERFRONT TO KEEP THESE PROPERTIES SAFE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT OR WITHOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR WHATEVER PLANS THEY MAY HAVE FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL PARCELS ON THE WATERFRONT. AND YOU KNOW, SO FAR IT'S BEEN I THINK GOING VERY SUCCESSFULLY IN TERMS OF GETTING EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT HOW DOES THIS SEEM ACROSS THESE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT VARY FROM INDUSTRIAL TO COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL TO TRY TO INCREASE CONNECTIVITY ALONG THE WATERFRONT IN THIS AREA, CLEAN UP THE AREA AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT. SO WE ARE ENTERING INTO THE PROJECT HAVING JUST FINISHED ALL OF OUR TECHNICAL SITE INVESTIGATIONS WITH EACH PROPERTY OWNER AND WE'RE HOPING TO SCALE THAT UP IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TOO. I WOULD JUST EMPHASIZE COUNCILMAN , YOU MENTIONED THE WORKED AS A COUNCIL THAT WAS AN EXISTING GROUP THAT CAME TO US WITH THIS SO THAT WAS AWESOME, RIGHT? WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT WANT TO PRIORITIZE THIS.  SARAH MCCAMMON AND HER HARBOURFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE IS A GREAT COMMUNITY. WE SPENT WHAT, 3 HOURS 4 HOURS TALKING WITH YOUR GROUP. MY SECOND WEEK ON THE JOB ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR CONVENING YOU KNOW, THESE THESE DISTRICT SCALE APPROACHES WE WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE OF THAT AND WE WILL CREATE THOSE GROUPS WHERE THEY DON'T EXIST IN CERTAIN FLOOD PATHS. BUT YOU KNOW, FOR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS SAYING HOW DO I ENGAGE WITH THE CITY?  I THINK THE WORK DISTRICT COUNCIL WAS A GREAT MODEL TO SAY YOU CAN LEAVE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THE PROCESS AND WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU AND JUST ANOTHER QUESTION WATER QUALITY.  10% OF OUR COMBINED SEWER WATER COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS INTO THE CHANNEL REDUCING WATER QUALITY IF WE RETAIN STORMWATER IN THE CHANNEL DURING STORMS, HOW WILL THE QUALITY BE IMPROVED?  WHAT THAT WHAT THAT VOLUME FIRST OF ALL THE VOLUME IS COMING DOWN QUITE A BIT.  WE'RE JUST FINISHING UP A MAJOR JOB UP IN UPPER ROXBURY THAT USED TO PUT COMBINED SEWAGE IN THERE THAT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE YEAR IN SOUTH BOSTON WE'RE COMPLETING THE SEPARATION PROJECT.  IF YOU NOTICE DRIVING THROUGH THE STREETS THERE WE SLOWED THE TRAFFIC DOWN QUITE A BIT. WE'RE PUTTING ALL NEW PIPES INTO THE WATER WILL BE SEPARATE. THE SEWAGE WILL NOT OVERFLOW INTO THE CHANNEL FROM THE SOUTH BOSTON SIDE HOWEVER THERE ARE COMBINED SEWERS THAT WE JUST CAN'T SEPARATE. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THEM THE WHOLE SOUTH END. WE TREAT THE WATER ONE OF THE BIG STORMS WE TREAT IT WITH AN MWI TRAIN FACILITY DOWN IN MALDEN STREET AND THEN WE PUMP IT OUT OF THE CHANNEL SO THE WATER QUALITY IS GETTING MUCH BETTER. THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO WE'RE GOING TO BE HOLDING THE WATER FOR A PERIOD OF MAYBE 12 HOURS. THE WATER IS HELD ANYWAY AT HIGH TIDE THE CHANNEL DOES NOT FLOW OUT AT HIGH TIDE AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE WATER FLOWING IN AS WE'RE DISCHARGING THIS COMBINED SEWER. THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EXCEPT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW OF SEPARATING THE COMBINED SOURCE. SO IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER THE WATER QUALITY BUT WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT EVEN SUGGESTING WE'RE ELIMINATING ALL COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS BECAUSE IT RAINS REALLY, REALLY HARD AND THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED TO TAKE IT ALL. SO OUR IDEA IS TO MOVE IT TEMPORARILY INTO THE WATER. IT'S ALL APPROVED BY THE EPA. WE HAVE A FEDERAL PERMIT ALLOWS US TO DO IT BUT WE REDUCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE ANY COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW.  SO WE'RE DOING THAT TOWARDS THE CITY. THANK YOU, JOHN.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILMAN , THANK YOU. YOUR PRESENTATION A FEW QUESTIONS. FIRST I WILL SAY AS ALL THIS ED SO BORN IN 1970 I DID LEARN TO SWIM AT 10 A.M. BEACH WHEN YOU CAME OUT AND THERE WAS THAT LACK LIKE OIL UNDER YOUR NECK SO VERY HAPPY AND A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, EMBRACING THAT WORD COASTAL CITY.  WHEN I WAS GROWING UP WE WEREN'T AND RECENTLY WAS OVER AT UMASS WITH CONGRESSMAN LYNCH ABOUT SOME THE INVESTMENTS THEY'RE DOING THERE AND WHEN YOU THINK OF YOU KNOW A COASTAL COLLEGE THAT WASN'T USING THE OCEAN AS A CLASSROOM THAT DOES NOW AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COURAGEOUS SAILING JUST ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE IN THIS BODY FOR, YOU KNOW, WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING AND SAILING AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS. RIGHT. SO OUR COAST IS AN ASSET BUT THEN OBVIOUSLY IT'S SCARY IN A TIME LIKE THIS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PREPARED AND I APPRECIATE IT WHEN YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PUBLIC PUBLIC PRIVATE BECAUSE WE HAVE BOSTON THE CITY WE HAVE THE STATE, WE HAVE THE FEDS, WE HAVE ALL OF THE PRIVATELY OWNED BUILDINGS ALONG THE COAST AND ON DEPLORABLE DAY AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT THE YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES HOMEOWNERS HAVE RIGHT.  WHAT ABOUT RENTERS? LIKE WHAT ABOUT COMMERCIAL SPACE AND A BUILDING LIKE WHAT REQUIREMENT DO WE AS A GOVERNMENT HAVE LIKE SO WE CAN TELL HOMEOWNERS THESE ARE GOOD THINGS BUT WHAT ARE WE MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING IN OUR OWN BUILDINGS ALONG THE COAST OR INLAND TOO BECAUSE WE SEE IF WE GET MORE THAN A FEW INCHES OF RAIN IT'S GOING TO NOT JUST BE HITTING THE COAST, IT'S GOING TO GO IN FARTHER. SO WE HAVE ANY ANSWERS ON THAT. HAPPY TO START NOW WE'VE SUFFERED THAT I THINK FOR CITY BUILDINGS AND CITY ASSETS IT IS SOMETHING WITH A LOT OF CREDIT TO OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIVISION AND OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES DEPARTMENT THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING AND IMPLEMENTING SO THE WE HAVE THE PRESS CONFERENCE FOR DEPLOYABLE DAY SORT OF ADJACENT THE CITY HALL DEPLOYABLE SIMILARLY AT THE CURRENTLY THERE IS A DEPLOYABLE EXIST THERE AS WE ARE RETROFITTING AND INVESTING IN BUILDINGS WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE.  PART OF WHAT WE CAN ALSO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT WE MAKE IT AS EASY AND CLEAR AS POSSIBLE ABOUT RESOURCES THAT EXISTS AND TO A POINT THAT RICH RAISED EARLIER THAT WE'VE GOT WE HAVE GUIDANCE FOR FOR BUILDING OWNERS, FOR RENTERS THAT REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF BUILDING THEY LIVE IN OR WHERE WITHIN THAT BUILDING THAT THEY LIVE THAT WE HAVE GUIDANCE TO HELP THEM BE SAFE AND SOME OF THAT IS AS MATT REFERENCED YOU CAN FIND ON THE ON THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT WEBSITE.  ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH CERTAINLY DID COME UP WITH DEPLOYMENT IS THINK ABOUT TO YOUR POINT COUNCILOR , IS THERE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT THAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING TO TO RENTERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS ACROSS THE CITY AS WE DO THIS LONG TERM TRANSFORMATION, A NEAR NEAR-TERM TRANSFORMATION OF OUR COASTLINE? SO THAT'S SOMETHING SOMETHING WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO TO DIVING INTO FURTHER AS WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND MAKE OUR PROCESSES AS SIMPLE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.  AND I IMAGINE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AHEAD WE'LL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.  THANK YOU. ON THAT ON THE NOTE, PLEASE.  YEAH, IF I COULD I GUESS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE STARTING TO DO IS PROVIDING A LOT MORE INFORMATION TO FOLKS ABOUT STORMS AS THEY COME.  RIGHT. AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE HISTORY OF BOSTON WE'RE PRETTY GOOD WITH THE SECOND SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON, RIGHT? THE FIRST SNOW STORM WAS LIKE OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BACK OUT OF IT. WE HAVE THAT MINDSET. IT'S LIKE RIDING A BIKE AND HERE'S WHERE MY SNOW SHOVEL IS. HERE WAS MY SALT IS I DON'T PARK ON THESE STREETS. WE NEED TO GET THAT SAME MINDSET FOR COASTAL STORMS AND FOR PRECIP EVENTS. SO THE CITY HAS A WEBSITE THE ALERTS WEBSITE WHERE WE WILL SEND OUT NOW YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE EXPECTED HIGH TIDE AND HERE ARE THE AREAS OF BOSTON WHERE WE ANTICIPATE FLOODING EITHER FOR YOUR BUILDING OR FOR YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BOSTON SYSTEM THIS PAST YEAR WE SENT OUT A NOTICE SAYING DON'T PARK ON THIS STREET DURING AN EVENT BECAUSE YOUR CAR IS GOING TO GET FLOODED.  RIGHT. AND SO I THINK PART OF THIS IS EMPOWERING FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND TO REACH OUT TO US AND JOIN OUR ALERT SYSTEMS AND THEN SAY WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING SO THAT YOU CAN BETTER PREPARE YOURSELF IN AN IMMEDIATE STORM IN ADDITION TO PROTECTING YOUR BUILDING, IT IMPACTS HOW WE GET TO WORK WHERE WE PARTNER CAR YOU KNOW WHAT THE DAY IS LIKE.  THANK YOU ON THE AND IT'S LISTED HERE AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT LIKE THE THREE CONCURRENT STRATEGIES WE HAVE YOU KNOW IF WE HAVE A STORM TONIGHT WHAT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS YOU KNOW BEYOND THAT CAN YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE'RE BALANCING THAT AND WHAT IF A BIG STORM DOES COME AND IS IT GOING AND IF WE RUN OUT OF MONEY YOU'RE TALK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS.  I MEAN IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO INVEST IN. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.  YOU KNOW, WE DID THE BIG DIG. YOU KNOW, WE WE CAN DO THIS BUT HOW MUCH BUT IT HAS TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT AND A BUY IN AND NOT JUST IN BOSTON WHERE IT HAS TO BE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL FUNDING TOO. SO WHAT'S THE PLAN AND WHAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT IS SOMETHING BIG COME SOONER THAN WE EXPECTED? DO WE HAVE PLANS FOR THAT ALSO THAT BE STARTING AS PEOPLE GO FOR IT AS AS SHE MENTIONED, WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING OUR DOLLARS ON THE CAPITAL SIDE ON THOSE PLACES THAT WHERE THERE IS THE MOST URGENT NEED TO INVEST THOSE PLACES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF OF EXPERIENCING COASTAL FLOODING. AND SO THOSE ARE MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT THAT CAT WENT THROUGH AND AND REALLY THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INVESTMENT HAS BEEN ABOUT A COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL . SO IT WAS TWO CAPITAL BUDGETS AGO WHEN WE ALLOCATED MORE MONEY THAN ANY POINT IN TIME IN THE CITY'S HISTORY TOWARDS COAST RESILIENCE PROJECTS. YOU'LL SEE IN THIS LAST APPROVED CAPITAL BUDGET A $75 MILLION CLIMATE RESILIENCE RESERVE WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS A POOL OF FUNDING DESIGNED TO ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WILL HELP US INVEST IN THESE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS ALONG OUR COASTLINE TO ADDRESS THESE AREAS OF MOST SIGNIFICANT RISK IN THE NEAR TERM. THAT IS HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS KEY SET OF PROJECTS IN THE SLIGHTLY LONGER TERM IT IS THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAT WE SEE AS A REALLY IMPORTANT PATH TO UNLOCK WHAT IS LIKELY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OR BILLIONS OVER TIME TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFORM OUR COASTLINE MORE FULLY AND AS PART OF THAT AND WITH CREDIT TO SECRETARY TEPPER AND CHIEF HOFFER, THERE IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AT THE STATE LEVEL AS PART OF THE RESILIENT MASS EFFORT TO THINK ABOUT ADDITIONAL FINANCING TOOLS THAT WE MAY NEED AS A COMMONWEALTH OR BE ABLE TO EMPOWER SPECIALTIES TO USE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FUND THE WORK THAT IS THAT IS NECESSARY ALONG OUR COASTLINE. ALL OF THAT IS HAPPENING IN PARALLEL TO THE REALLY GREAT WORK BY OEM AND A VARIETY OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE WHAT'S THE NEAR-TERM PLANNING PREPAREDNESS WORK THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AND WITH CREDIT TO OEM, THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVED SEVERAL FEMA GRANTS RECENTLY THAT ARE HELPING ACCELERATE OUR NATURAL HAZARD PREPAREDNESS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND DO WE FEEL LIKE WE YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THAT FOREFRONT TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION FOR THOSE? YEAH I CAN I CAN JUMP IN HERE. YEAH SO WE FORTUNATELY JUST RECEIVED THE 2024 REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC PLANNING GRANT SO WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK. SO THAT'LL BE COMING COMING YOUR WAY AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO SO THAT'S 2.3 MILLION FOCUSED ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY SO THAT'S LOOKING AT BUILDING UP PROGRAMING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR RESIDENTS, MAKING THEM AWARE OF THEIR RISKS AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO INVESTING IN PROGRAMS IN WHICH WE CAN HELP SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND AND TAKE ON SOME OF THIS WORK MAKING THEM AWARE OF , YOU KNOW, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PIECE TO HELP RENTERS OR HOMEOWNERS AND THEN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THERE ALIGNING WITH THE OPERATIONAL PLANNING.  SO AS THESE NEW FLOOD BARRIERS COME ON BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD DEPLOYABLE STAY WHERE THERE WAS A HOST OF PRIVATE PARTNERS AS WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THEM COME ON, HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THE CITY? SO WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHEN THOSE ARE GOING UP AND WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AND DOING TRAININGS ON ON THAT END AND I THINK ON FOR FOR OUR PIECE AS WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR PLANNING WHERE WE'RE JUST DRIVING HOME THE CULTURE OF KIND OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN THE SENSE THAT WE CAN'T READ OUR PLANS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS IN BOSTON. WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FORWARD.  SO OFTENTIMES WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND WORK CAREFUL AND TABLETOP EXERCISES AND BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE DEVASTATING FLOODING IN VERMONT OR NEW YORK CITY WITH THE FLASH FLOODING THAT IS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT IF BUT WHEN AND MAKING THEM NOT GOING TO GET COMPLACENT IN THAT SENSE. SO WE TAKE THAT APPROACH WITH ALL OF OUR OUR PLANNING AND THEN SO IT'S GREAT TO THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF KIND OF RESILIENCY TO KIND OF SPEARHEAD THAT WORK IN THAT SENSE AND COUNCILOR WE HAVE BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN WITH EVERYBODY ABOUT OUR PURSUIT OF STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS SO WE HAVE A SPECIFIC TAB ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE EXACT STATE AS WELL APPLIED FOR HAS BEEN FUNDED HAS BEEN ALLOCATED. WE'RE GETTING LOTS OF QUESTIONS OBVIOUSLY FROM FOLKS SAYING OH WE HEARD YOU BEFORE. IT'S GOING TO ADD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHAT HAPPENED TO IT AND SO WE HAVE A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE RELATED GRANTS REGARDLESS OF WHERE CABINET IS LEANING, IT SO THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO SPACE. THANK YOU. AND I WILL SAY ON THE EDUCATION PIECE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN I PULLED IN TO THE HORSESHOE I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFETY BARRIERS FOR US BECAUSE IT WAS IN FRONT OF LIKE THE GLASS WINDOW AND THEN I REALIZED OH BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I WALKED ACROSS IT WAS AT THE TRAIN STATION THE BLUE LINE I'M LIKE OH THESE ARE FLOOD BARRIERS. AND THEN THEY WERE GONE AND LIKE AGAIN THEY'LL COME BACK IF NEEDED WHERE OTHER HAVE ACROSS THE CITY HAVE WE PUT THOSE STATIONS IN TO BE PREPARED TO PUT THOSE BARRIERS OVER THOSE JUST A FEW TO SHOW EXAMPLES SO THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE PUBLIC SITES CITY OWNED SITES WHERE THEY EXIST THE CROWLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, THE MARYLAND GREENWAY AND IT'S BOSTON AND CITY HALL. THERE ARE ALSO AT LEAST 20 ADDITIONAL SITES OR 20 SITES ACROSS THE CITY, SOME OF WHICH ARE PLACES TO YOUR POINT LIKE THE MTA HAD HOUSES FOR THE AQUARIUM. OTHERS ARE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED PROACTIVELY BY PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS LIKE TWO FIVE STATE STREET DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM FROM THE AQUARIUM.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOLKS TO DO AND WE WAS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR US TO GET OUT ON FRIDAY DEPLOYABLE DEBRIS WITH A LOT OF GOOD WORK BY MATT AND BY NATHALIA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE DEPLOYABLE FLOOD WALLS OF THE CITY DOES NOT YET SORT OF KNOW UP TO SORT OF REGISTER THOSE WITH THE CITY WHICH THEY CAN DO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. BOSTON DOT GOV DEPLOYABLE STASH DAY BY DOING THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OEM IS PROACTIVELY SENDING OUT ALERTS TO THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS IN ADVANCE OF MAJOR STORMS SO THAT THEY CAN LET US KNOW WHEN THEY'RE DEPLOYED WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO KNOW SO THAT IF THEY ARE ARRIVING ON SCENE THEY CAN KNOW THE VARIOUS OR IF YOU HAVE A TOOL AND YOU DON'T KNOW TO PUT IT UP.  YEAH, EXACTLY. GREAT. SO YOU'LL HAVE THEM ALL REGISTERED. OH, THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY CONCLUSION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.  I KNOW WE HELD YOU HAD A WORKING SESSION LAST TERM ON THIS AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO CONTINUE GOING AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I THINK I HEARD YOU, CHIEF SWETT TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS NOT THE CITY'S INTENT TO HAVE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS BE THE ONES OR IS IT IT WAS IT WAS OKAY, BUT YOU DRESSED BILL FOR IT. YOU INTENDED FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE THE FOREFRONT IN THEIR PARCELS IN RESPONDING TO ISSUES OF FLOODING AND NEEDING TO BUILD OUT A STRONGER STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE EXAMPLES I GUESS OF IT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FALL IN THE CATEGORY OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL AS WELL. I WAS IN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THEIR ABILITY TO BE RESOURCED AND TO WORK TOGETHER ON CREATING A PLAN. WHAT DOES THAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW THE CITY PLANS IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOW RESOURCE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO PLAN AND HOW DOES THAT LIKE DOESN'T ISN'T IT DEPENDENT ON YOU ON THE CITY DEVELOPING AN OVERALL PLAN FOR THAT AND FOR OTHERS TO THEN FOLLOW? YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO DESCRIBE SOME OF THE PROCESS. I'LL USE THE WORK DISTRICT COUNCIL AS EXAMPLE THEY TOOK THE CITY PLANNING EFFORT WHICH HAD COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND SET DESIGN PARAMETERS IN THAT AREA AND FOUND STATE FUNDING. THEY APPLIED FOR STATE FUNDING TO TAKE IT THAT NEXT STEP AND SAID OKAY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN TERMS OF DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS OUR DISTRICT? ONE OF THE REALLY VALUABLE BENEFITS OF THAT TYPE OF AN APPROACH IS THEY WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEIR COMBINED SOLUTIONS ACROSS THEIR DISTRICT AND DEAL POTENTIALLY NOT JUST ONLY WITH COASTAL FLOODING BUT AS JOHN HAD MENTIONED PRECEPT BEHIND THOSE COASTAL WALLS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLAN THAT'S UP ON THEIR WEBSITE THEY CONTEMPLATE ACTUALLY DOING STORMWATER CONTROLS AND A STORMWATER TANK NEAR THE BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL AND SAYING OKAY WELL IF WE DO THIS WORK ON THE COAST DO WE ACTUALLY CREATE CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY STORE, YOU KNOW, PRECIP THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM ELSEWHERE IN BOSTON?  SO IT ALLOWS YOU TO SAY YOU KNOW, THE BEST, MOST EFFICIENT, MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION YOU KNOW, MIGHT NOT BE ENTIRELY ON ONE PASS OR ANOTHER POSSIBLE WITH IT BUT AS A COMBINED SOLUTION AND YOU KNOW YOUR PROTECTION YOU MIGHT BE FUNDING ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY.  SO I THINK THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATION I WAS AMAZINGLY HEARTENED BY HOW COLLABORATIVE GROUP WAS. I MEAN THIS WAS A YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GROUP OF DIFFERENT OWNERS THAT ON DIFFERENT ISSUES HAVE SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND THIS WAS A UNIFORMLY SUPPORTED IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AND THEN THE OUTCOME AND OUTCOME OF WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.  I THINK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AGAIN ONE OF THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING AND CHRIS CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS IS THE READINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE PROJECTS BECAUSE THE LAST TIME A FEDERAL WANTS TO DO IS SORT OF YOU KNOW, BLESSING APPROACH AND THEN IT'S CONTENTIOUS AND THINGS WIND UP IN COURT AND THERE'S SO THAT READINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY THEY KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS WE HAVE THE PLANS READY TO GO. THIS IS OUR PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY CRITICAL TO US MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO DO IT BUT AGAIN TO REITERATE AGAIN WHERE YOU STARTED FROM WE ARE NOT AT ALL BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE IS A SCUTTLEBUTT IN THE DISCOURSE WE'RE NOT PUTTING RELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD SOLUTIONS TO COASTAL RESILIENCE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PLAN B BUT WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THIS MOMENT 30% OF OUR SHORELINE IS OWNED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO IT BEHOOVES US TO SAY WHAT CAN YOU DO IN YOUR TIME IF YOU HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT ANYWAYS TO HELP PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND THEN IF THAT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE A PLAN B THANK YOU HAVE SOME 47 MILES OF COASTAL LAND HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THE TRANSFORMATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL YOU TALK ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING.  HOW MUCH OF THAT HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF COASTAL FLOODING AND BUILD OUT CITYWIDE PLAN? SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT PLAN OVERALL I THINK WE'VE HAD A DUAL APPROACH. ONE, WE'VE HAD PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN READY TO GO LIKE FOUR POINT CHANNEL BERM LIKE SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS WHERE WE HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECT RELATED GRANT APPLICATIONS IN THE SYSTEM.  AND THEN I'LL TURN OVER CHRIS TO TALK MORE BROADLY ABOUT THE ARMY CORPS AS YOU KNOW MET A STUDY, YOU KNOW OF OUR COASTAL SOLUTIONS. SO THE ARMY CORPS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS WILL BE WORKING WITH US TO DO A SERIES OF PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THAT LONGER TERM TRANSFORMATION WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THEIR FEDERAL INVESTMENT WOULD BE. I THINK IN THE NEAR TERM. AND RICHARD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD TO THIS. I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING ALONG THE FOUR POINT CHANNEL IS A PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT CHIEFS WANT MENTIONED ABOUT HOW THE CITY CAN THINK ABOUT A INVESTING IN A CRITICAL PIECE OF FLOOD PROTECTION FOR THE FOUR POINT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CAN THEN BE ENHANCED OR AUGMENTED BY PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT. BUT WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN A KEY RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THE CITY IS LEADING IN A IN A DESIGN OF A ELEVATED BERM IMPROVE HARBOR WALK IN THAT STRETCH THERE WAS $10 MILLION IN THE CITY'S BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WHICH WE BE EXPECTED TO BE MATCHED BY $10 MILLION OF FEMA FUNDING AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE IN PLACE FOR THEN TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN IN THE NEAR TERM AND THE LONG TERM AND IF SOMETHING DEVELOPMENT COMES ALONG I CAN POTENTIALLY SORT OF BUILD ON TOP OF OR AROUND THE BRIDGE. ANYTHING YOU WOULD ADD? YEAH, THAT'S ACCURATE.  THANK YOU. THANKS. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU SAID FEMA WHICH MAKES ME NERVOUS WHEN THEY ANNOUNCE AN $8 BILLION SHORTFALL ON ADDRESSING THE BIDS THEIR OUTSTANDING EXPENDITURES AND YOU HAVE A HURRICANE IN APPALACHIA. WHAT ARE YOU ABLE TO RESPOND TO? I JUST THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME NERVOUS. AND SO I THAT'S I THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PROVIDED US WITH A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PREPARE AHEAD. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT WE'RE REALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT RATHER THAN RELYING I MEAN WE SHOULD RELY ON FEMA ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF EMERGENCIES THAT ARE UNPREDICTABLE.  BUT I'M AFRAID TO BE ON THE FRONT END. I THINK IT IS A GREAT POINT TO RAISE AND I THINK IT WAS VERY VALUABLE THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR THE MAYOR HOSTED ADMINISTRATOR CRISWELL HERE AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO A TOUR OF SOME OF THE SITES THAT FEMA IS CONNECTED WITH WHICH INCLUDES FOUR POINT CHANNEL MOBILE PARK, A SECTION OF EAST BOSTON BY LOUIS STREET AND CALLED WHARF ANTHONY AND BEACH AND THERE IS AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION WITH FEMA REGION ONE AROUND EXACTLY THIS THIS ISSUE AND THEY THEY ARE GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER FOR US GOING FORWARD TO SOMETHING WHICH WAS CHIEF SWETT MENTIONED OUR ABILITY THOUGH TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS REQUIRES US TO HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE ALL FEEL GREAT ABOUT AND THAT ARE READY TO GO. AND SO GETTING THOSE DESIGNS RIGHT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS UNDERSTANDING WHAT IMPLEMENTATION WILL LOOK LIKE,  PROPERTY ACCESS, THOSE SORTS OF SORT OF REAL NITTY GRITTY THINGS LIKE THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ARE FOCUSED ON NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE IN GETTING FEDERAL FUNDING SO WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.  AND I'D SAY JUST AS A IT'S A GREAT QUESTION TO ANSWER AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST SORT OF POST-KATRINA POST-SANDY ENVIRONMENT PRE THAT FEMA WAS PREDOMINANTLY JUST FUNDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE. RIGHT. AND YOU HAD TO BE HIT BY AND REBUILDING AFTER A MAJOR EVENT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IS A GROWING VERY POSITIVELY ATTENTION TO PRE-DISASTER RESILIENCY INFRASTRUCTURE BEING PUT INTO PLACE. AND SO A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FEMA'S BUDGET CHALLENGES ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO WITH DISASTER RESPONSE BECAUSE WE ARE EXPERIENCING MORE AND MORE COSTLY DISASTERS WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO IN AND THEN GO BACK TO CONGRESS TO GET MORE MONEY IN THE IN THE SILVER LINING OF THAT DEFICIT IS THAT IT MOTIVATES THEM TO ACTUALLY PUT IN MORE CAPITAL DOLLARS UP FRONT TO SAY WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO PROTECT AGAINST THESE COSTLY DISASTERS SO THAT THEY ARE LESS THREATENING SO THAT THEY ARE LESS COSTLY WHEN THEY DO IT AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THUS FAR REDUCTIONS IN THEIR MOTIVATION. I SAY WE NEED TO GET PRE-DISASTER CAPITAL FUNDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. AND I THINK YOU KNOW, NOT PUNTING JUST TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE WHICH I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING. WE ALSO IN THE CITY COUNCIL NEED TO MAKE SURE AND I THINK WE HAVE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING A BETTER JOB ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR OF INVESTING OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT.  MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY ONE SHORT QUESTION ON ONE LAST QUESTION. OKAY.  I THINK BECAUSE ROGER WAS ASKING QUESTIONS EARLIER ABOUT MERCY BOULEVARD AND I KNOW IF YOU THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO NOW UMASS TOGETHER WITH BPA PUT TOGETHER MONEY AND IT WAS LIKE $1,000,000 STUDY TO STUDY MORRISSEY BOULEVARD DE BOULEVARD ALL THE CIRCLE ALL OF THAT WHAT HAVE WE IS THAT IS THAT STUDY BEEN COMPLETED?  WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THAT? HOW IS THAT FEEDING INTO ONGOING? THERE'S ALWAYS A STUDY ITSELF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE WHEN WE YOU KNOW WHEN WHAT ARE WE WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? ARE WE STILL STUDYING? ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE IT WAS A IT WAS A $1.1 MILLION STUDY WITH $5,000 FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR THEN THE EPA AND $600,000 FROM MASTER ESSENTIALLY JUST TO STUDY THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD CORRIDOR ALL THE WAY FROM THE PONDS THAT CIRCLE UP TO THE CIRCLE THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF MANAGED THROUGH THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD COMMISSION WHICH COUNCILOR FITZGERALD SITS ON. WE'VE HAD LEAST SIX COMMISSION MEETINGS TO DATE. THE EXPECTATION IS THAT COME THIS DECEMBER THE THERE WILL BE A 15% DESIGN SO SOME SAY A SORT OF ADVANCED CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR WHAT THE TRANSFORMATION OF MORRISSEY BOULEVARD WILL LOOK LIKE THAT WOULD BE SORT OF REVIEWED AND AND VOTED ON BY THE MORRISSEY BOULEVARD COMMISSION.  THE THEN CRITICAL NEXT STEP IS HOW WE IDENTIFY FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT WORK FORWARD AND FROM A PURE RESILIENCE STANDPOINT THE SECTION BETWEEN FREEPORT BOULEVARD AND BIANCULLI BOULEVARD IS THE IS A VERY CRITICAL SECTION FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE REPORTED I'M SORRY WE'RE BEING COY. IT'S SORT OF LIKE OKAY, OKAY. AND TO THAT END THERE HAS BEEN I THINK A NUMBER OF GOOD PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. HAVE YOU TO AGREE TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COMMISSION? THANK YOU. YEAH, I WOULD WANT TO LEARN MORE ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT EXPANSION IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS LIKE THE TRAPPED 91 BUT WE ALSO PURCHASED BAY CITY SO HOW HOW IS THAT ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND THEN IF A HAD A LONGER QUESTION THAT THIS GAVE ME I GUESS I'M MORE OF A COMMENT YOU KNOW THERE ARE THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T WELL RESOURCED AND ABLE TO REALLY PLAN ESPECIALLY IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE OFTEN WEATHERED ON WHAT EAST BOSTON AND THEN UPON SIT DOWN IN FROM DORCHESTER NOT HAVE IN HYDE PARK SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR WHAT THE CITY IS DOING PROACTIVELY TO DO THE WORK OF EQUITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT AND HELPING NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN ALONGSIDE THE CITY. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS THAT DEMONSTRATION THE OTHER DAY THAT I THINK THAT COUNCILOR TOOK PART OF WITH THE MAYOR BUT HOW ARE WE ALSO EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER AND PLAN FOR FOR COASTAL PLANNING FOR THE RESOURCE FAIR? OH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT'S A TO SEVERAL PIECES ONE I THINK THERE IS AS AS CATALYST ON AND WITH GREAT SUPPORT TO YOUR POINT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL INVESTMENT IN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT THAT OUTREACH FROM COORDINATING THERE IN PLACES LIKE WATER STREET THESE BOSTON OR BETTING STREET OR OTHER AREAS ALONG OUR COASTLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING PROACTIVE OUTREACH ABOUT WHAT THE DESIGN OF OUR OUR COASTLINE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND PUTTING IN PLACE PLANS AND EVENTUAL CAPITAL PROJECTS TO TRANSFORM THAT COASTLINE. COUPLING THAT LONG TERM WORK WITH NEAR-TERM EFFORTS AS YOU SAW THIS PAST FRIDAY WITH THE PORTABLES DE FAIRE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS THERE OR AT IAMS READY BOSTON EVENT I THINK WAS SEPTEMBER 14 AND SORT OF IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING CRITICAL INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CHANNELS. I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY A HUGE FOCUS FOR US GOING FORWARD ACROSS ALL THREE OF THESE AREAS. THE NEAR-TERM ARE THE SORT OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORK, THE NEAR CLOSING OF THEIR SHORT FLIGHT PATHS AS WELL AS THIS LONG TERM COLLABORATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'LL START REALLY COMMENT. BUT LAST WE HAD A HEARING LAST YEAR AND READING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I THINK WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE AND I LOVE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE TOPIC OF ANOTHER HEARING. WHAT IF YOU KNOW YOU WANT ANY IDEAS BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE AND I KNOW I BISWAS WHERE YOU GUYS ARE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT HEARING FOR US TO SEE THE DIFFERENT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AND ONE I THINK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK.  SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. COUNT LOUIJEUNE THAT'S A GREAT POINT. ALL THESE NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS SPEAK TOGETHER IN THIS ECOSYSTEM SO I WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH COUNCILOR BREADON AS WELL WHO SPONSORED THAT HEARING TO MAKE THAT THAT CONVERSATION HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I AM I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS KNOWING THAT I AM IN DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU AND AND A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY WORKED ON TOGETHER HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT ORGANIZING MY QUESTIONS UH, I REALIZE IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE SHORT SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS NEAR-TERM.  OKAY, GO TO YOU AND THEN CHRIS RUNNING US OUT IN THE LONGER TERM IMPLEMENTATION CHRIS AND OUR CHIEF AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR BOSTON WATER. YOU ARE ABOUT $350 MILLION SO BUT I'LL START WITH MATT MCADAMS FINANCE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE OPERATIONALLY OOZING THE DEPLORABLES I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE THERE ON FRIDAY AND TO WITNESS THE UH THE FLOOD WALL THAT WAS ERECTED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TALKING WITH THEM. THESE ARE GREAT GUYS THE FOREMEN IT SAID THAT THEY SAID THAT IT TOOK THEM 3 HOURS TO GET THAT UP AND SO JUST THINKING ABOUT OPERATIONALIZING THAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO SEE THESE THESE WATER WEATHER PATTERNS STARTING TO BECOME YOU KNOW, URGENT AND AND SEEING THAT IT COULD BE IT COULD HAVE DISASTROUS IMPACTS ON OUR CITY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES DO WE NEED MORE MORE STAFFING FOR THAT IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK BROADLY TO THAT? YEAH, SO SO THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION. IN ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO WE MAKE SURE WE HEAVILY INVOLVED THE DEPARTMENTS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE CARRYING OUT THAT WORK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT OPERATIONAL NEED LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT TIME MEANS AND THERE'S KIND OF A TRADEOFF THERE WHERE YOU KNOW, IF YOU ONLY NEED A FEW HOURS TO PUT IT UP WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST. HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A TRADEOFF WHERE IF THERE IT NEEDS TO BE 4872 HOURS OUT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE STAFFING THAT THERE MAY JUST BE LESS RELIABLE CONFIDENCE IN THAT FORECAST AT THAT TIME. SO WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTANDING THAT ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE IS WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WITH SOME OF THE YOU KNOW, POSTING SIGNAGE THEY NEED AT LEAST 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE NOTICE FOR THAT'S WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THE TRADE OFF, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS OUR YOU KNOW, POLICE FIRE, EMS PARTNERS THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW RIGHT WHEN THAT FLOOD BARRIERS UP AND THEN THEY CAN KIND OF ADAPT AS NEEDED KIND OF AS WE CONTINUE THIS WORK. ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES I THINK THAT THAT OUR OFFICERS FACES IS THAT WE'RE HEAVILY RELIANT ON GRANT FUNDS.  SO WE ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED OUT OF THE U.S. GRANT URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE WHICH IS A TERRORISM FOCUSED GRANT. AND NOW AS WE SHIFT THROUGH THE MAYOR'S VISION TO HAVE OEM KIND OF LEADING IN THIS BASED ON THAT SHORT TERM RESPONSE TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, WE FIND THAT WE KIND OF ARE A PUSH AND PULL WITH A LOT OF THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE HAVE FOR PERSONNEL THAT NEED TO BE TIED TO TERRORISM. SO ONE OF OUR KIND OF EFFORTS AND LONG TERM STRATEGIES HOW ARE WE WORKING TO SHIFT THESE STAFF OFF OF THE GRANT, GETTING THEM ONTO THE OPERATING BUDGET TO KIND OF ENSURE THAT WE CAN FULLY COMMIT TO DOING THIS WORK AND NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF WIGGLE ROOM OR NEED TO PUT THINGS ON PAUSE DUE TO CONSTRAINTS THERE. AND THEN ON THE OTHER END, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS THAT A MAJOR HURRICANE OR LARGE STORM, WHERE ARE WE CONVENING FOLKS? SO THAT WOULD BE AT THE CITY'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE I KNOW OUR PREVIOUS CHIEF SHE MADE THAT FOR AND ALWAYS SAID WAS THAT THERE'S A HUMBLE SPACE THAT'S PUTTING IT VERY NICELY.  IT WOULD NOT MEET THE NEED.  YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE WOULD MAKE IT WORK BUT IT'S NOT THE MODERN SPACE THAT THE CITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO CONVENE ALL OF THE DECISION MAKERS AND OPERATIONAL FOLKS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND WE FIND THAT FOLKS OFTEN ARE DISPLACED THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN THEIR OWN COMMAND CENTERS WHICH MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING. SO AS WE LOOK FORWARD WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT, HOW ARE WE YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND A SPACE THAT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST FOR THE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS BUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER MAJOR EVENTS THAT WE HAVE UPCOMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WITH, YOU KNOW, 2026 WITH WORLD CUP TALL SHIPS RETURNING TO BOSTON.  SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF BIG EVENTS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ADEQUATE SPACE FOR THOSE EVENTS IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, THAT FLASH FLOOD THAT MIGHT OCCUR OVERNIGHT OR THE EXTREME HEAT WAVE AS WELL THAT IT'S A SUITABLE SPACE FOR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. DO YOU NEED A NEW COMMAND CENTER FACILITY? YES.  YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY LET'S SAY WE NEED A NEW COMMAND CENTER FACILITY OR WE'RE HAPPY TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER TOUR FOR FOLKS IF YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT. YOU HAVEN'T HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN THERE.  WE MAKE IT WORK BUT IT'S WE HAVE OUTGROWN IT VERY MUCH SO THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD SAY I THINK YOUR QUESTION COUNSELOR IS ON AS WELL ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THOSE TEMPORARY FLOOD DEPLOYED WELLS AND HOW DO WE SORT OF MANAGE THAT STAFFING AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION BECAUSE GO AT AT SCALE RIGHT THERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE BOTH WHERE'S THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE DEPLOYING AND YOU SAW SORT OF WHERE THAT STORED IN OUR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT SHOULD BE AS CLOSE TO WHERE IT'S BEING UTILIZED AS POSSIBLE. SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND PLACES TO STORE THIS, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO THE FIELD, CLOSE TO THE FLOOD PATHWAY AND THEN WHERE IS THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT COMING FROM? RIGHT. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH IT OVER TIME AS WE BUILD UP ITS CAPACITY THE SAME WAY WE DO SNOWSTORMS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A MIX OF CITY HALL STAFF, YOU KNOW, BASED ON DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO CAN SAY THIS IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY, GET THIS INSTALLED NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT FOLKS WITH MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN THAT 24 TO 48 HOURS BEFORE AN EVENT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT ANY SLIDE. WE ALSO DO YOU KNOW AND I THINK WHAT WAS MENTIONED WE HAD CONTINGENCY TO THOSE FORECASTS SO THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WE WOULD MUCH RATHER INSTALL SOMETHING AND NOT HAVE IT ACTUALLY BE NECESSARY THAN MISS A TIME WHERE IT WAS NEEDED AND NOT HAVE IT INSTALLED. AND SO THAT APPROACH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE STAFFING AVAILABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ELABORATING ON THAT. IF THERE'S ANY SIGN UP SHEET FOR VOLUNTEER SIGN ME UP. I'M READY FOR ONE MORE QUESTION FOR MATT JUST TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC, THANK YOU FOR OUTLINING ALL OF THAT. WHAT IS YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN LOOK LIKE SEEING THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND WHAT WE SAW WITH THE 911 OUTAGE THERE WAS A PROLIFERATION OF MISINFORMATION PUT OUT ONLINE AND A LOT OF A LOT OF THE COORDINATION IS DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC BUY BUY IN . AND SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO GET OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS TO LET THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A HURRICANE EAST BOSTON YOU GO TO EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL OR YOU GO TO THE BRADLEY, YOU GO TO HIGH, HIGH GROUND. CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE ON WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND IF IT'S OKAY JUST TO GIVE A FRIENDLY ENCOURAGEMENT TO GO OUT TO THESE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.  SO THE FIRST THE PLUG THERE IS TO HAVE RESIDENTS SIGN UP FOR THE CITY'S EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. SO THAT'S ALERT BOSTON WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PAGE.  THE MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO JUST YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE BAD ACTORS OR FOLKS JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO DELAY THE RESPONSE BY JUST PUTTING OUT INFORMATION SAYING, YOU KNOW, HELP SCAMMING OR YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUT FALSE NARRATIVES AROUND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING. SO WHEN IT COMES TO AN EMERGENCY, WE ENSURE THAT THERE'S A UNIFIED VOICE. SO IT'S ALWAYS COMING FROM THE CITY'S MAIN PAGE. IT'S ALWAYS BEING AMPLIFIED ON THE CITIES YOU KNOW, BOSTON OUR GOV SITE AND ENSURING THAT FOLKS ARE UTILIZING REPUTABLE SITES WHEN KIND OF SOURCING THEIR INFORMATION AND THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE WHOLE LIST OF YOU KNOW, TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FOR RESIDENTS IN THE EVENT IF THEY WANT TO BE MORE PREPARED IN TERMS OF GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR KYRAN OWENS IS HEAVILY INVOLVED AND I KNOW I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I SPEAK SPEAK WITH FOLKS THAT THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW GREAT HE IS. BUT WE'RE ALWAYS EAGER TO FIND MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE EVENTS TO GO TO WHETHER THEY'RE LED ON OURS OR JUST KIND OF INVITED BY PARTNER DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES THAT ARE HOSTING THEIR OWN. SO IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR OEM TO TABLE OUT AND SPEAK TO CERTAIN HAZARDS WITHIN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WE'RE HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU AND SHOUT OUT TO KYRAN FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. I INVITE YOU TO EAST BOSTON DRAWS DOWN YOU AND YOU AND KIRAN. I'M PRETTY SURE HE'S ALREADY BEEN THERE THOUGH. SPEAKING OF TABLING, I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE KATHRYN AT MY EAST BOSTON CLEANUP TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT RESILIENT BORDER THREE TO HAVE A VERY ON THE GROUND BOOTS ON THE GROUND APPROACH TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH . THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S A GOOD TRANSITION TO YOU AND YOUR WORK. I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ELABORATE ON BORDER STREET AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BRING IN PRIVATE PARTNERS AND PUBLIC PARTNERS THAT WHILE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING I KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME CHALLENGES AS IT RELATES TO THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT AREAS WITHIN THE DESIGNATED PORT AREA AND WHILE EAST BOSTON'S HISTORY IS ROOTED IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, IT IS AN ARCHAIC USE OF THAT LAND AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR US GIVEN PLAYING SPOTS IN THE RED ZONE TO TO FORTIFY THAT AREA. AND SO COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REGULATORY ISSUES MAYBE CHRIS, YOU CAN ELABORATE ON IT AS WELL BUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE WITHIN THE EPA STILL THERE AND WHAT OUR PARTNERSHIP IS WITH CGM IN THE EPA TO RECTIFY THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.  IT'S A GREAT ONE AND DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE IN THIS PART OF EAST BOSTON AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE OTHER DESIGNATED PORT AREAS. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY IS A STATE REGULATION IN OVER CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COMMONWEALTH THAT REQUIRES THAT THE LAND USE IN THESE AREAS ARE USED FOR WATER DEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL USES. SO LIKE YOU SAID THIS PART OF EAST BOSTON WHERE THE BORDER TO WATERFRONT IS HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE WATERFRONT HAS BECOME VERY RESIDENTIAL AND SO THE THE AREA DOES NOT SUPPORT WATER DEPENDENT USES THE WAY IT USED TO. I THINK THIS IS A BIG REASON WHY THE CITY HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEP TO BRINGING THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TOGETHER THIS AREA TO ADVANCE COASTAL RESILIENCE ON THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE AS A RESULT OF THE EPA IN THIS AREA LAND VALUES ARE VERY LOW AND THEREFORE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOBILIZE TO BUILD THIS KIND OF VERY EXPENSIVE RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE THEMSELVES.  SO THE WAY THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS PROJECT WITH THEM IS AGAIN WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON JUST THE WATERFRONT OF THIS AREA AND WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS AREA WE WANT TO BE TRYING TO BRING IN THESE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO DURING THE TABLING EVENT AND MANY OTHER OUTREACH EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY BENEFITS WE CAN ADD OPEN SPACE, PUBLIC ACCESS, TREE CANOPY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP FLOODING OUT FOR TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THE EPA WILL LIKELY STILL BE IN PLACE BY THE TIME THAT WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS OR WITH THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY APPROACHING IT AS WHAT CAN WE DESIGN THAT IS COMPLIANT WITH THE DESIGNATED PORT AREA FROM A RESILIENCE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND HOW CAN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE POTENTIALLY BE ADAPTED INTO A LONGER TERM VISION THAT SUPPORTS WHAT THESE PROPERTY OWNERS AND WHAT THE EAST BOSTON COMMUNITY MORE BROADLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE SHOULD THE EPA BOUNDARY IN THIS AREA BE LIFTED IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO ADD ON THAT PLEASE FEEL FREE TO THE ONLY OTHER BIT THAT I WOULD ADD IS SORT OF LESS BORDER STREET AND MORE SORT OF IN GENERAL AND YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WHO CAN SPEAK MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS THAT WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN. YOU KNOW OF TRANSFORMATION OF THE REGULATORY PROCESS AND I THINK IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS AND AGAIN I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE STATE WHO IS REALLY MEETING ON THIS ONE IS TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE JUST SIMPLY IN THE TIMELINE IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT WE ARE MAKING THAT AS A TIMELINE THAT MATCHES THE URGENCY THAT WE ALL FEEL WITHOUT CUTTING CORNERS ON THE IMPORTANT PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK WHICH WE ALL WANT THINK ABOUT DOING ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE GOOD REGULATORY PERMITTING PROCESSES FOR WORK ON THE SECOND IS TO THINK ABOUT IF THERE IS AN UPDATE TO REGULATION ITSELF THAT CONTINUES TO SORT OF SUPPORT AND PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESS AND TO THE POINT THAT YOU SWEAT IS SORT OF THE THIS THE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SORT OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF THE BOSTON HARBOR BUT ALSO ALLOWS US TO DO WORK ALONG OUR 47 MILES OF COASTLINE OF THE SORT OF TYPE OF WORK. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE IN FRONT OF US ABOUT HOW TO THINK ABOUT REGULATORY REFORM. A LOT OF NOW KNOWLEDGEABLE FOLKS WHO I THINK WILL BE ON THE PANEL FOLLOWING US ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE. BUT I THINK AN AREA OF COLLABORATION THE COUNCIL OR WITH THE COUNCIL GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU AND THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT SEGWAY INTO JUST A GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT CHALLENGES.  THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE CREATION OF THIS OFFICE IS NECESSARY AND URGENT AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO. SO IN YOUR OPINION WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCING AND THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, ALL OF THAT. COULD YOU JUST EXPAND ON WHAT YOU THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT YOUR OFFICE COULD DO TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES OR ADDRESS THEM RATHER HAPPY TO START OTHERS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD IN MY MIND THERE ARE FIVE AREAS WE'RE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON WITH US TOO. YOU JUST MENTIONED ONE IS FINANCING AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WITH GREAT CREDIT TO THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE MAYOR AND TO COST RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND STAFF TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS. THE SECOND IS AROUND REGULATORY REGULATION. THE THIRD IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THE WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS AND WITH A LOT OF CREDIT TO CHIEF TRENIN AND OLIVER GARCIA, OUR GREEN NEW DEAL DIRECTOR AND ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER, WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A $10 MILLION GRANT FROM NOAH TO HELP BUILD A GREEN JOBS PIPELINE A PORTION OF WHICH IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON BUILDING THAT PIPELINE INTO THE CAREERS AROUND COASTAL RESILIENCE. SO A LOT OF WORK TO THINK ABOUT . WE WOULD USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK WORKFORCE AND THE CITY'S OWN OBJECTIVES AROUND PROCUREMENT.  THE FOURTH AREA THAT IS A FOCUS FOR US AND THESE ARE TOUCHED ON IS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE HOW WE THINK ABOUT BUILDING COASTAL RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE ON A COASTLINE THAT IS OWNED BY MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS. SOME OF THAT IS I THINK WE'VE SEEN REALLY GOOD PROGRESS IN COLLABORATION ALREADY. SOME OF THE MODELS THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE YET TO SORT OF FULLY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT BUT A BIG FOCUS FOR US GOING FORWARD AND THE FIFTH AREA OF FOCUS IS REALLY AROUND ESSENTIALLY CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION AND ONE THERE IS A A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE CAN BE APPROACHING SOME OF THE FINANCING GAP CHALLENGES TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION OR MATERIALS THAT WE COULD USE AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAN THE CITY IN THIS REGION TO BE THINKING UP WHAT THESE ARE IN TWO DAYS AGO THERE WAS A HUGE EVENT IN SOUTH BOSTON WATERFRONT AROUND A LOW CARBON CARBON CONCRETE COMPANY LAST LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A AN EVENT OVER THE CAMBRIDGE INNOVATION CENTER OF EIGHT. YOU START UPS IN THIS AREA WERE THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE TECH AND NEW KIND OF TECH PRODUCTS TO HELP ACCELERATE THIS WORK. WE AS A CITY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE SUPPORTING COMPANIES THAT WANT TO TEST NEW IDEAS AND THEN UPON EVALUATING THEM REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW WE ACTUALLY SCALE THOSE UP IN THE WORK THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD AND BEYOND OUR COASTLINE TO THE NATION OR THE WORLD BEYOND. SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE FIVE BROAD AREAS I THINK WE'RE FOCUSED ON. THANK YOU. YEAH, I AGREE WITH THOSE CERTAINLY I'D JUST ADD SORT OF TWO OTHER SPINS ONE BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS ACTIVITY IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH GOVERNMENT BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THE PRIVATE CITIZENS AND YOU KNOW AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS DON'T FEEL CO-OWNERSHIP OF THIS BUT THIS IS INHERENTLY LIKE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND CERTAINLY IN THE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WE NEED FOLKS TO LISTEN TO OUR ADVICE. WE NEED FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO US WITH THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS WE NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BECAUSE WE CAN ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS MUCH FASTER TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS IN THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH OTHER TYPES OF STORMS.  IT'S YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T SOME BIG SOLUTION. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IN PLACE BY MID-CENTURY IN BOSTON HARBOR BARRIER THEN OKAY, WE'RE DONE RESOLVED THE GOVERNMENT SOLVED IT FOR US. THAT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR US HERE IN BOSTON. SO I THINK PART OF THIS IS IN KEEPING THE ATTENTION ON THIS. YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE ARE LOTS OF PRESSURES ON THE HERE AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THIS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND THAT'S HARD, RIGHT, FOR THIS TO BE ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY FORWARD THAT WASN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT BEFORE SANDY. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IN A REAL WAY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF LIKE PARTNERSHIP AND READINESS.  AND THEN THE SECOND IS ABOUT MINDSET AND THE URGENCY OF THAT MINDSET. WE HAVE SPENT DECADES AND A LOT OF THE REGULATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TO CHAPTER 91 OR DPA OR A LOT OF OUR COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS WERE TO SLOW DOWN OR PREVENT BAD DEVELOPMENT FROM HAPPENING ON OUR SHORELINE.  WE NOW NEED TO SPIN IT ON HIS HEAD AND SAY WE NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROTECT EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST INVESTED IN THE CLEAN HARBOR DELIVERED BY A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT MINDSET. OUR OUR COAST WHICH WE HAD LARGELY IN BOSTON, YOU KNOW, IS IS MANMADE LINES FROM FILLED TIDELANDS AND IT WAS ABOUT HOW MUCH GOLD WE HAD AT THE TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RETHINK HOW WE DO THAT AND SO IT'S NOT JUST REGULATORY GOVERNANCE. THOSE ARE BARRIERS BUT IS THIS MINDSET TO SAY WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH THE RIGHT PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT LOCATIONS AND CREATE MOMENTUM AND MAKE THOSE PROJECTS EASIER TO GET DONE? THANK YOU CHIEF.  JUST EXPANDING ON ONE OF THE THE UMBRELLAS THAT YOU MENTIONED AS A CHALLENGE THE FINANCING GAP AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC FUNDS AND YOU KNOW AND THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ALREADY GONE OR SOUGHT OUT RATHER AND THEN TALKING ABOUT INNOVATION IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY INNOVATIVE ABOUT SOME OF THE FINANCING STRUCTURES AND SO TOO TO HELP WITH THIS AND ASSIST WITH THIS I HAD FOUR NORTHEASTERN CO-OP STUDENTS SHOUT OUT TO MOLLY MARGARET SHEEN AND HOPE I THINK OUR LISTENING AND THAT HELPED US ASSEMBLE A ROAD MAP IN SETTING UP A BOSTON WATERFRONT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. AND SO WHAT THEY DID WAS DEFINE PARAMETERS OF THE BID OPERATION. THEY PROVIDED A LIST OF AFFECTED LANDOWNERS.  THEY PROVIDED A BUDGET FORMULA, AN INITIAL DRAFT OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS STATE APPROVAL AND THEN ALSO AN OUTREACH POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK ON THAT.  THERE'S ALSO BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A MUNICIPAL CLIMATE BANK, ALL OF THAT IF WE WERE TO GET THAT FUNDING RIGHT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS AND IT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK AND THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN IS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU AND I KNOW YOU LIVE THIS AND BREATHE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TALKING ABOUT THE RETROFITS AND ADAPTATIONS ARE GOING BACK TO THAT AND I WILL BE COMING BACK TO THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE WERE TO EVEN GET THIS FUNDING THROUGH THE BID RIGHT, IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THAT'S WHERE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS COME IN.  DO YOU FORESEE THAT FUNDING TO HELP SMALLER PROPERTY OWNERS RIGHT KIND OF FILL THAT GAP A LITTLE BIT WITH ADAPTATION AND WE HAVE TO SEE FRAUD CITYWIDE IN ARTICLE 25 OF THE ZONING CODE IN EAST BOSTON THAT MEANT THAT WE'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT PLAN IS BOSTON HAS RECOMMENDED IN TERMS OF HEIGHT. BUT IF WE'RE BUILDING UP THAT ALSO MEANS THAT WE NEED ACCESSIBLE CITY RETROFITS. DO SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT TOO? SO DO YOU FORESEE IT HELPING WITH THAT? CAN YOU EXPAND ON ANY OTHER FINANCING CREATIVE IDEAS THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR THAT YOU'RE EXPLORING RIGHT NOW? I'M HAPPY TO START OTHERS OUT AND RICH IN PARTICULAR ON THE ON THE MARINE PARK EXAMPLE BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT OF THE TEAM TO THINK ABOUT WHAT A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR RESILIENCE COULD LOOK LIKE AS A AS A METHOD OF PROVIDING TO YOUR POINT WHETHER IT IS FUNDING FOR THE CAPITAL, FUNDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CLASSROOMS IN THE DISTRICT OR FUNDING FOR RETROFITS. I THINK THE THERE IS A STEP WITH A LOT OF GOOD WORK BY THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN THE FLYNN MARINE PARK WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS A ALMOST A VERSION OF THAT WHERE THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE SOME UPFRONT CAPITAL THAT LEASEHOLDERS WITHIN THE FLYNN MARINE PARK WOULD THEN PROVIDE SORT OF A DEGREE OF REIMBURSEMENT TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HELP PAY FOR SOME OF THE COASTAL RESILIENCE INFRASTRUCTURE GOING FORWARD. BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO ADD THE MARINE PARK SIDE I APOLOGIZE IS THAT IS THAT THE STACK OR IS THAT THE RESILIENCE FUND IN THE MARINE PARK WORKS BECAUSE WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE PROVIDE LONG TERM LEASES TO THE DEVELOPMENTS AND IN THOSE LEASES WE REQUIRE THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE THEIR FAIR SHARE FOR NON WATER DEPENDENT USES TO REFUND US THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WORKS FOR THE MARINE PARK BECAUSE IT'S ALL UNDER ONE OWNERSHIP BUT IT'S A BIT LIKE STRUCTURE BUT ONLY APPLIES BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC PROPERTY.  OKAY THANK YOU. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YEAH I MEAN IN A HIGH LEVEL I THINK WE WANT TO BRING THE SAME LEVEL OF CREATIVITY AROUND AND FUNDING TO RESILIENCE AT ALL SCALES AS WE HAVE BROUGHT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY ELECTRIFICATION AND PART ONE OF THE MODELS WITHIN MERCEDES THAT HAVE WORKED WHAT ARE THE TAX CREDITS OF US WILL BE ENCOURAGING OUR STATE PARTNERS TO SAY LET'S CARVE OUT SPECIFIC FUNDING SCHEMES FOR THIS. WHAT IS THE REVENUE THAT CAN UNDERWRITE THAT? WE NEED PROGRAMS THAT DO THAT RIGHT THAT SPREAD OUT THE COSTS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE AND THAT YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE WHO OWN A PARTICULAR PROPERTY ARE BENEFITING FROM IT.  SO I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE THERE.  I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO GET READY WE NEED TO FIND WAYS OF INSURANCE COMPANIES GIVING RECOGNITION TO THE WORK THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING. SO NOW IF YOU'RE DOING YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE BUYING HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, YOU KNOW YOU GET DISCOUNT IF YOU HAVE AN ALARM SYSTEM, WHY DON'T YOU GET A DISCOUNT IF YOU HAVE A FLOOD BARRIER AND YOU'RE IN A FLOOD ZONE RIGHT.  AND IT'S LIKE AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF YOU KNOW, OF RESPONSIVENESS HASN'T YET BEEN BUILT IN THE INDUSTRY. CHRIS AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON THE MUNICIPAL BOND MARKET IN THE INSURANCE MARKET, IN THE FINANCE MARKET THEY ARE CATCHING ON RIGHT TO BE HONEST WITH THE NUANCE AND THE LEVEL OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT RISK MANAGEMENT MEANS AND THEN HOW TO APPROPRIATELY INCENTIVIZE IT FINANCIALLY. SO THAT'S WHERE MY HEADSPACE IS LIKE WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ELECTRIFICATION THAT'S WORKED IN TERMS OF FINANCING AND THEN WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS OF COST REDUCTION THAT YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING ON THE SIDE OF INSURANCE OR FINANCE BECAUSE OF LOWER THE RISK AND HOW WE CREATE THAT MODEL THAT WORKS. BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE DONE ON. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF YOU ON THE NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS AND OTHERS. WE WANT THE BEST FOLKS POSSIBLE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS.  IT HASN'T BEEN FIGURED OUT ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY EITHER. WE'RE JUST KIND OF LIKE WHO ELSE IS OUR THE ANSWER ISN'T IN THE U.S. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL AT THE STATE OF THE ART OF TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DO THIS AGAIN SHORT OF THIS STORM.  RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AVAILABLE AFTER A MAJOR EVENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET PREPARED BEFORE.  AWESOME. WELL, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AGAIN DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. I HAD MENTIONED DURING THE DEPLORABLES DAY THAT I WAS WITH THE CLIMATE AVENGERS AND IT MADE ME HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE JUST BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS ON DISPLAY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE ARE GOING TO BE A MODEL MUNICIPALITY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE. WE ALREADY ARE AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL FOR THIS ILLUSTRIOUS PANEL. OKAY.  YEP.  THANK YOU AGAIN GUYS. JUST AT THE MENTION OF JOBS JUST FROM THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT LIKE RIGHT WHERE LIFE SCIENCES WE'RE TRYING TO TRAIN OUR KIDS FOR THAT SECTOR AND ALL ITS DIFFERENT YOU KNOW THE SECTORS WITHIN LIFE SCIENCES BUT DO WE HAVE A NUMBER THAT WE CAN PUT I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT JOBS CREATE I'M THINKING CONSTRUCTION AND UNION JOBS SPECIFICALLY BUT OF COURSE THIS MANY OF THE JOBS CREATED THROUGH THIS STUFF DO WE HAVE ANY SORT OF NUMBER ON THAT? SO THROUGH THE NOAH GRANT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THAT'S ACTUALLY THE ONGOING WORK IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS TO SIZE EXACTLY HOW MANY JOBS WILL BE CREATED AND ALSO TO THINK ABOUT NOT JUST CAREER PATHS BUT BUT BUSINESS FORMATION AROUND THIS WORK SO WE WILL HAVE A ANSWER TO YOU ON THAT EITHER BY THE END OF THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT. AND THAT ANALYSIS IS ONGOING. IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. YEAH NO IT'S GREAT. JUST WANTED TO I I'D ASSUMED PREDOMINANTLY UNION JOBS AT LEAST IN THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE OF THIS STUFF I THINK ALL CAREER SETS UP RIGHT ANALYSIS BUT YEAH IT'S A BROAD CATEGORY TO COUNSELOR RIGHT IT FALLS INTO CLIMATE ZONES IS EVERYTHING FROM TREE MAINTENANCE TO STORMWATER SOIL MAINTENANCE AND YOU KNOW SO THERE'S A LOT OF IT'S NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF THEM ASSOCIATED WITH COASTAL RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. GOTCHA. WELL I GUESS HAD TREES UNDER THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS.  THANK YOU. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD LET'S CONNECT OFFLINE ABOUT THE $150 MILLION PROJECT. I AM COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE PANELS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 HOURS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM YOU. I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN SO MUCH. IF I CAN ASK THAT SOME OF YOU STAY TO HEAR THEIR TESTIMONY.  I KNOW EVERYONE'S BUSY BUT JUST DESCRIBE TO FOR THINKING WISE COUNCILOR DRINKING WOULD SAY YOU WERE DISMISSED.  WAS THE AVENGERS NICE?  OKAY AS THEY ARE GETTING UP AND POTENTIALLY JOINING US IN THE GALLERY WE'LL HAVE KATHY ABBOTT WHO'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BOSTON HARBOR NOW COME UP JOE CHRISTO STONE LIVING LAB JULIA CARLTON MCKAY FROM CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION. WE ALSO HAVE THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED IN THE HOUSE SAVE THE HARBOR, SAVE THE BAY AND.  CHARLIE SIDOTI I APOLOGIZE IF I SAID YOUR LAST NAME WRONG WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INSURE CORPORATION?  AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  PLEASE BE PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL ALSO HAVE YOU UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOLLOWING THEIR THEIR OPENING REMARKS AS WELL AS OH, WHO'S ON THE PANEL . THANK YOU FOR JUST A NOTE TOO. WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY FOLKS FROM THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.  WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I KNOW THE NEW WING AND AQUARIUM IS COMING THROUGH AND YEAH, OKAY.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'M WONDERING IF ANYBODY HAS OPENING REMARKS ALREADY PREPARED. OKAY, KATHY ABBOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'LL START WITH YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK IN BOSTON HARBOR NOW I'LL START WITH YOU GO TO JOE AND THEN GO INTO ORDER MOVING FORWARD. TERRIFIC. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.  MY NAME IS KATHY ABBOTT. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BOSTON HARBOR NOW WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THAT BOSTON IS PROTECTED FROM CLIMATE IMPACTS. WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AT THIS CRITICAL ISSUE ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE AND AT THIS CRITICAL TIME INCLUDING WAYS TO FUND THIS IMPORTANT AND ONGOING WORK. WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION FOR CREATING A NEW OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE A CRITICAL STEP AND A CAUSE FOR HOPE. THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT BROUGHT MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE STORMS TO BOSTON'S WATERFRONT AS WELL AS INLAND NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD PATHWAYS. EACH NEW FLOOD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT COASTAL PROTECTIONS TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AND BOTH THE BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. BOSTON HARBOR NOW WORKS CLOSELY AS PART OF THE STORM LIVING LAB TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT NATURE BASED APPROACHES SUCH AS LIVING SHORELINES, OFFSHORE REEFS AND LIVING SEAWALLS THAT CAN PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS ALONG WITH FLOOD PROTECTION. WE ALSO CO-CHAIR AND STAFF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCY WORKING GROUP FOR THE GREEN RIBBON COMMISSION WHERE WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO IDENTIFY PRIVATE FINANCING COUPLED WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES TO PROTECT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DISTRICT WIDE USING BERMS, SEAWALLS, BULKHEADS, REVETMENT PAIRED WITH DEPLOYABLE OUR CURRENT PERMITTING STRUCTURE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE OR ALLOW MANY OF THE VITAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE MEASURES THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO OR THREE. SO WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO STREAMLINE STATE PERMITTING PROCESSES TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT TO OBTAIN THE MANY NECESSARY PERMITS TO IMPLEMENT THESE CLIMATE RESILIENCY MEASURES INCLUDING THE NEW MORE NATURE BASED WITH MORE CO-BENEFITS.  BOSTON HARBOR NOW STANDS AT THE READY TO ENGAGE TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHILE SUPPORTING CITY OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT CLIMATE READY PLANS.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR GROWING PARTNERSHIP. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, KATHY JOE.  MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING AND HAVING US HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JOE CHRISTO AND I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A STORM LIVING LAB.  THE LAB IS A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOSTON HARBOR NOW UMASS BOSTON AND PARTNERS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE COMMONWEALTH'S EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, THE COMMONWEALTH'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION AND THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER OF 2020 TO EXPLORE RESEARCH, EXPLORE RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATE HOW NATURE BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE CAN HELP VULNERABLE COASTAL REGIONS IN NEW ENGLAND BEYOND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND BECOME MORE RESILIENT. THE LAB APPRECIATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AT THIS HEARING TODAY AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY COUNCILOR CLAIRE ZAPATA, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD,  COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE,  COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AS WELL AS ALL OF THE CLIMATE LEADERS FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO ARE HERE AS WELL. MY WORK IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE BEGAN 12 YEARS AGO IN 2012 DURING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO AND DISASTER RECOVERY FOLLOWING HURRICANE SANDY. IT WAS A HEARTBREAKING TIME. AS COUNCILOR COLLETTE IS A PART OF A NOTED.  WE ARE SEEING SIMILAR HEARTBREAK PLAY ONCE AGAIN ON NATIONAL NEWS WITH COVERAGE OF HURRICANE HELENE. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THAT HURRICANE. WHEN I CAME HOME TO BOSTON IN 2017 I BEGAN WORKING ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE UNDER MAYOR WALSH AND CONTINUED TO DO SO UNDER MAYOR JANEY AND MAYOR WU UNTIL JOINING THE SULLIVAN LAB IN 2022. I MENTIONED MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND TO ILLUSTRATE THAT I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT LINKING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS,  EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND LONG TERM CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING IS AND I AM SO GLAD TO SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I ALSO MENTIONED MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND TO NOTE THAT I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CLIMATE LEADERS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AND CONTINUE TO DO SO IN MY ROLE TO STORM LIVING LAB AND I THINK THEY ARE THE BEST CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROFESSIONALS I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED GROUP FOCUSED ON THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CITY. LAST MONTH MY COLLEAGUE LINDA R.L. AND I WROTE AN OP ED THAT WAS PUBLISHED FROM BANKER AND TRADESMAN TITLED WHY BOSTON'S NEW CLIMATE OFFICE IS A BIG DEAL.  IN IT WE WROTE THAT THE CREATION OF THE NEW OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE BUILDS ON THE SUCCESSFUL PLANNING THROUGH CLIMATE READY BOSTON AND IS A KEY COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AS THE THREAT IS WORSENING. WE ALSO WROTE TO THE NEW OFFICE AND THE COMMONWEALTH'S OFFICE OF CLIMATE INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE LED BY CLIMATE CHIEF MELISSA OFFER ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW CITIES AND STATES CAN MARSHAL A TRUE ALL OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THIS ENORMOUS CHALLENGE BECAUSE ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE WILL TAKE IN ALL OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL OF SOCIETY APPROACH THROUGH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMPREHENSIVE RESILIENCE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUILDING SOCIAL RESILIENCE, STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS AND FOCUSING ON NATURE BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION. WE CAN PREPARE OUR AMAZING CITY AND REGION FOR THE SHORT AND LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE STONE LIVING LAB IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON THIS WORK. AS ALWAYS HERE AS A RESOURCE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND THANKS AGAIN . THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILOR COLETTE ZAPATA AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL . THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.  MY NAME IS JULIA CARLTON MCKAY AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AT THE CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION. CLIFF APPLAUDS THE CITY'S AMBITIOUS CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING EFFORTS TO DATE. IT IS NOW TO FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION. MAKING BOSTON CLIMATE READY WILL COST BILLIONS. THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY WILL HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON RESILIENCE AS THE DESIGN DECISIONS WE MAKE.  ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF REGIONAL RESILIENCE STRATEGIES WILL NECESSITATE COORDINATION BETWEEN PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS WITH THIS FRONT OF MIND. WE URGE THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO PRIORITIZE TWO TASKS AS THEY IMPLEMENT BOSTON'S COASTAL RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS.  FIRST WE ASKED THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO CREATE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD TO TRACK IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS OF CLIMATE READY BOSTON INCLUDING PROJECT FUNDING STRATEGIES AND TIMELINES. DUE TO THE ENORMOUS COST OF PROTECTING BOSTON'S COASTAL NEIGHBORHOODS, A MULTITUDE OF FUNDING AND FINANCING STRATEGIES WILL BE REQUIRED. THIS HAS EQUITY IMPLICATIONS AS RELYING TOO MUCH ON PRIVATE DOLLARS WILL RESULT IN LOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC WATERFRONT ACCESS AND WILL PUT NEIGHBORHOODS AT RISK IF RESILIENCE PROJECTS ARE DELAYED DUE TO MARKET FLUCTUATIONS.  SIMILARLY, PRIORITIZING THE MOST PHYSICALLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE CITY MAY RESULT IN DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES WITH LESS CAPACITY TO ADAPT AND RECOVER FOLLOWING A MAJOR STORM. A PUBLIC IMPLEMENTATION DASHBOARD WOULD ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS FUNDING AND PRIORITIZATION DECISIONS ARE MADE IN ADVANCE OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS. SECOND, WE ASK THAT THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO CONVENE COORDINATION MEETINGS WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND OTHER KEY PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS. MANY CLIMATE READY BOSTON PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE AN ALL OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH REQUIRING A VENUE FOR SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WILL BY DESIGN CHANGE THE FLOOD BOUNDARIES.  IT WILL BE CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE READY BOSTON PROJECTS RELATE TO OTHER PLANNED REGIONAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS. IN ORDER TO ASSESS CHANGING NEEDS AND PRIORITIES WE ARE EAGER TO HELP USHER BOSTON TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE AND ARE EXCITED TO GET TO WORK IF WE COORDINATE EFFECTIVELY WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS VITAL TASK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JASON RANDALL. I LEAD POLICY PROJECTS AT SAVE THE HARBOR SAVE THE BAY AND I'M HERE WITH OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRIS MANCINI. WHY DOES IT TAKE COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER AND FITZGERALD AS WELL AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILORS FLYNN AND MURPHY FOR HOSTING THIS HEARING AS MANAGERS OF THE METROPOLITAN BEACHES COMMISSION FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE SAVE THE HARBOR SAVE THE BAY RECENTLY CONDUCTED A SERIES OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS WHERE WE WENT IN PERSON TO COMMUNITIES FROM THE HEART TO THE END TASK IT INCLUDING EAST BOSTON SOUTHEAST IN DORCHESTER FOCUSING ON CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ALONG OUR METROPOLITAN BEACHES AND OUR GOAL OVER THE NEXT MONTHS IS TO TAKE THIS FEEDBACK AND CREATE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN PROTECT OUR COAST WHILE PRESERVING ACCESS TO THESE VERY VALUED AND SPECTACULAR NATURAL RESOURCES. WE KNOW THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND ONE OF THE CONSISTENT TAKEAWAYS WE HEARD FROM EACH WORKSHOP WAS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE TRANSCENDS PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL BOUNDARIES AND SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THE PANEL HERE TODAY TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE NEED TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY CONSIDERING THAT THE CITY DOES NOT OWN THE MAJORITY OF THE COASTLINE.  WE BELIEVE THAT A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES, STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE CITY CGM, DCR, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BOSTON WATER AND SEWER AND A PLANNING DEPARTMENT JUST TO NAME A FEW NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND AS WAS MENTIONED, SAVE THE HARBOR WAS AN INTEGRAL PART IN HELPING LEAD THE BOSTON HARBOR CLEANUP A REGIONAL EFFORT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CREATION OF THE MWI RAY TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY AND OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREATMENT PLANT AT DEER ISLAND. AND AS A RESULT WE ARE HOME TO ONE OF THE GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL TURNAROUND STORIES IN THE WORLD. AND CHIEF SO YOU KIND OF STOLE MY PUNCH LINE BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN AND WE KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE HARBOR WIDE COLLABORATION.  AND TO THAT END WE ENCOURAGE AND RECOMMEND A STRATEGY TO CREATE AN M W R A STYLE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY CAPABLE OF DESIGNING, BUILDING AND FUNDING BOSTON HARBOR COASTAL RESILIENCY SYSTEMS TO PROTECT ALL THE MUNICIPAL CITIES THAT FLOOD THROUGHOUT THE BOSTON HARBOR. WITH THE CITY LEADING THIS EFFORT, I WANT TO COMMEND SOME OF THE CITY'S EXISTING PROJECTS INCLUDING THE COLLABORATIVE REDESIGN OF TINIAN BEACH WHICH WE SEE AS A BLUEPRINT THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PUBLIC BEACHES IN OUR REGION A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BOSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE DCR TO ADDRESS FLOODING PATHWAYS IN DORCHESTER AND REVITALIZE A VALUABLE WATERFRONT PARK AND BEACH. WE ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT THE MOAKLEY PARK VISION PLAN THAT PROTECTS SOUTH BOSTON ALONG THE CLEANEST URBAN BEACHES IN THE COUNTRY.  SAVE THE HARBOR HAS A UNIQUE NETWORK OF TRUST WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.  MANY OF OUR FAVORITES WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY INCLUDING TAC BOSTON HARBOR, NOW CLF, THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THE HARBOURFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. AND THIS REALLY ALLOWS FOR THE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT IS NEEDED TO GUIDE CLEMENT'S CLIMATE RESILIENCY WORK AND AS MENTIONED GET PROJECTS SHOVEL READY SO WE'RE READY FOR THOSE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE READY TO SUPPORT AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS AND LINK EXISTING AND FUTURE PROJECTS SO WE CAN RESPOND TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE ON A HOLISTIC HARBOR WIDE BASIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHARLIE, BEFORE WE GO TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR CALL TO ACTION ARE SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH WITH YOUR TESTIMONY I'M GOING TO GO TO CARL ALEXANDER WHO IS FROM THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED WHO'S ON ZOOM. IF YOU CAN HEAR US. OH, THERE YOU ARE. WE CAN SEE YOU. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU.  ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, GO RIGHT AHEAD. OKAY, GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARL ALEXANDER AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE GREENWAYS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION. MANY THANKS TO THE CHAIR, COUNCILOR POTTER AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ALSO TO THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FINALLY, RESILIENCE FOR ALL YOUR IMPORTANT WORK ON THIS MATTER. I'D LIKE TO USE MY TIME TO SHARE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN PROGRESS AS IT RELATES TO THE REGIONAL COORDINATION AND STRATEGY NECESSARY FOR ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE OF THE FLOODING. SINCE 2018 WE HAVE HELPED TO CONVENE 21 MUNICIPALITIES, STATE AGENCIES AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE RESILIENT MYSTIC COLLABORATIVE WHICH TO DATE HAS COLLECTIVELY SECURED NEARLY $100 MILLION TOWARDS FLOOD RESILIENCE INTERVENTIONS NORTH OF THE DOWNTOWN AS IT RELATES TO PROTECTING FROM COASTAL FLOODING. THE AMELIA EARHART DAM ON THE MYSTIC RIVER AND THE CHARLES RIVER RIVER DAM ARE CERTAINLY THE MOST PERTINENT AS SEA LEVELS RISE, LARGE STORM EVENTS WILL TOP THE DAMS THAT THEIR EXISTING HEIGHTS IN THE AREAS OF AN IMPACT WOULD REALLY BE CATASTROPHIC AS INTERVENTIONS TO THE DAM AND SEVEN SEVEN OTHER CRITICAL KEEP FLOOD PATHWAYS ARE MADE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND OVER $60 BILLION IN REAL ESTATE VALUE WILL BE PROTECTED. BUT WE WE CERTAINLY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK REALLY DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES SO THAT OUR SOUTH AND SOUTH OF THE DAMS AS WELL. THESE PROJECTS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN DROUGHTS AND COASTAL FLOODING IN THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING HAS BEEN PLACED TOWARDS THE RAISING OF THE AMELIA EARHART DAM AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN BY DCR.  THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ARE CURRENTLY RAISING THE CHARLES RIVER DAM AS WELL AS THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE. THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN HAS HAD A KEY IRON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCATING FOR THESE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ESPECIALLY ENSURING INCREASED AND INCLUSIVE OPEN SPACE AND CONTINUED AFFORDABLE LIVING OPPORTUNITIES JUST FOR A NEW TAKE AWAY. WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY COLLECTIVELY IN SOLVING THESE ISSUES SO JUST A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT. WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START. THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BEING A DEDICATED PARTNER. WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY ONE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RESILIENCY COLLABORATIVE AND OUR EXPERIENCE TOWARD SIMILAR EFFORTS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE HARBOR AND THE REGION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARL.  AND THEN THE SPIRIT OF SOLUTIONS. CHARLIE WE WILL GO TO YOU NOW. MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS CHARLIE SIDOTI.  I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENSURE WE ARE A NONPROFIT FOOD INNOVATION HUB. OUR SOLE MISSION IS TO SUPPORT INSURANCE INNOVATION NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BEFORE I GET INTO THE TESTIMONY I WANT TO EXPRESS SINCERE SYMPATHIES TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HELENE AND NOTE THAT MOST MANY IF NOT MOST OF THE PEOPLE AFFECTED ARE UNDER-INSURED OR UNINSURED.  AND THIS IS GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT EVEN WITH ROBUST DISASTER RELIEF THEIR ABILITY AND THE SPEED AT WHICH THEY CAN RECOVER FROM THE RECENT CATASTROPHES.  WE BELIEVE THAT INSURANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT AND QUICKEST WAYS TO FLOOD IN CAPITAL INTO A COMMUNITY FOLLOWING A DISASTER.  WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF INSURANCE TO CAPTURE THE VALUE OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT THE PREVIOUS PANEL TALKED ABOUT IN THE INSURANCE MARKET TO PROVIDE BENEFITS THAT CAN USED TO BE HELP TO FINANCE THE PROJECTS BUT IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING EFFICIENTLY EFFECTIVELY IN THOSE ROLES. OUR CLIMATE CHANGE IS DISRUPTING INSURANCE MARKETS NOW. IT'S RESULTING IN INCREASED PRICES LIMITED ACCESS TO INSURANCE AND LARGE AND GROWING PROTECTION GAPS. PROTECTION GAPS ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPECTED LOSSES AND INSURED LOSSES THOSE THAT IS WHAT IS LANDS ON THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUALS AND ENTERPRISES THAT LIVE IN THE CITY.  EVEN ABSENT CATASTROPHES A INEFFICIENTLY FUNCTIONING INSURANCE MARKET THREATENS PROPERTY VALUES AND ECONOMIC STABILITY BECAUSE INSURANCE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FACILITATING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTING THE CITY'S TAX BASE.  INSURANCE THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY INVESTS LESS IN INNOVATION THAN ALMOST EVERY OTHER SECTOR AND WHERE THEY DO DO INNOVATION IT IS OFTEN FOCUSED AT PROTECTING THEIR OWN BALANCE SHEETS AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE YEAR CONTRACTS UNLIKE LONG TERM MORTGAGES THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE PRICES AND EXIT MARKETS AND YOU'RE SEEING THEM DO THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE VULNERABLE CITIES LIKE BOSTON SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT INSURANCE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY AND UPTAKE ARE NOT A GIVEN AND SHOULD INCORPORATE A INSURABILITY PLANNING FOCUS.  IN ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT THE LAST PANEL TALKED ABOUT INSURER INSURE ABILITY OF THE CITY IS PART OF THE RESILIENCE STRATEGY OR SHOULD BE CHIEF SWED TALKED VERY ELOQUENTLY ABOUT ADAPTATION INVESTING RENTS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEE STABLE INSURANCE MARKETS OR THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE CAPTURED IN THE INSURANCE MARKETS. INSURABILITY IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN RESILIENCE FACTORS LIKE CAPITAL AVAILABILITY, CORPORATE RISK APPETITES, DEMAND FOR RISK CAPITAL IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, THE REST OF THE WORLD EVEN AND IN THE USE OF ADVANCED MODELS WE HEARD THE LAST COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY USE MODELS TO DO PLANNING THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ALSO USE MODELS THERE IS OFTEN DIFFICULTY TRANSLATING KIND OF THE DIFFERENT MODELS THAT ARE BEING USED ALL OF THOSE WHICH CAN CAUSE INSURABILITY CRISIS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT CITY LEADERS WHO ARE DRIVING A BOLD HAPPENED ADAPTATION AGENDA LIKE WE HEARD FROM THE LAST PANEL ARE VERY WELL POSITIONED TO SHAPE INSURANCE MARKETS AND AND DRIVE THE INSURANCE INNOVATION THAT WILL HELP CAPTURE THE VALUE OF ALL THE ADAPTATION INVESTMENTS THAT WERE WE HEARD FOR THE LAST 2 HOURS. THERE ARE MANY MANY LEVERS TO DRIVE INSURANCE INNOVATION BEYOND FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE NFIB THAT WILL REIMAGINE HOW INSURANCE IS BEING DELIVERED. NEW PRODUCTS LIKE MICRO INSURANCE AND PARAMETRIC INSURANCE CAN FILL SOME GAPS.  THERE ARE ALSO INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING CATASTROPHE INSURANCE THAT AREN'T BEING USED. THINGS LIKE GROUP PURCHASE OF INSURER CATASTROPHE INSURANCE BY EMPLOYERS EVEN BY THE CITY OF BOSTON. THERE ARE ALSO A NEED FOR INNOVATIVE CAPITAL STACKS THAT ARE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND THAT CAN FUND LOSSES OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND END AND CORE AND LEGAL STRUCTURES LIKE RECIPROCAL AND MUTUALS THAT COLLECTIVELY PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTION AND NEW CAPITAL STACKS CAN REALLY REIMAGINE INSURANCE AND AND FOCUS THE DELIVERY OF INSURANCE ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST WHO CAN AFFORD INSURANCE. INSURANCE INNOVATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS MIGHT BE LED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.  IT MIGHT BE LED BY THE INDUSTRY CORPORATES.  IT MIGHT JUST HAPPEN BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT A LOCALLY LED INNOVATION INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON ENSURE GRANTS WILL MAKE THE CITY MORE RESILIENT. IT WILL ALSO CREATE THE JOBS THE THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE AND AND ENSURE IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON THESE THINGS . AND WE ARE FROM BOSTON. WE ARE LOCATED IN BOSTON AND WE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN HAVE BOSTON TO BE THE CENTER FOR INSURANCE INNOVATION RELATED TO THESE CLIMATE ISSUES AND BOSTON IS AN AMAZING CITY. IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD FOR JUST INNOVATION IN GENERAL AND WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND ALL THE OTHER NONPROFITS AND ANYBODY ELSE INTERESTED IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHARLIE. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.  I WILL NOW GO TO MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND THEN GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND ADVOCATE. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT THE COMMON THEME AMONGST EVERYONE WAS ABOUT HOW THIS IS ALL COORDINATED ON A MASS SCALE, RIGHT? WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I KNOW YOU GUYS ALL SPOKE TO THE NEED AND I CAN'T SYNTHESIZE IT ALL AT THE MOMENT BUT IF ANYONE COULD YOU COULD TRY AND GIVE ME ONE SUGGESTION OF HOW THAT COULD BETTER WORK OR JUST FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM NOW THAT ARE SORT OF SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THESE FIELDS AND THINGS THAT YOU MAY THAT HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST OR HAVEN'T WORKED IN THE PAST OR YOU KNOW, CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE GOING FORWARD OR GAPS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN CONNECTION OF OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? ANYTHING OF THAT SORT. BUT I'M REALLY PUTTING IT ON YOU GUYS TO COME UP WITH THE ANSWER. IT'S A REALLY GOOD AND IMPORTANT QUESTION. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND I CAN SAY FIRSTHAND THAT THE WORST TIME FOR AGENCIES TO BE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER IS AFTER A DISASTER. I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE.  AND SO THE VERY FACT THAT YOU HAVE A TEAM LIKE YOU HAD TODAY SITTING AT THE TABLE TOGETHER WHERE YOU HAD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR LONG TERM CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ALREADY WELL LINKED UP. I KNOW FROM MY TIME AT THE CITY THERE'S A MONTHLY CROSS-AGENCY CLIMATE RESILIENCE TASK FORCE. I STARTED IT IN 2019 THAT MEETS EVERY MONTH TO ACTUALLY DO EXACTLY THAT ACROSS THE DIFFERENT CHANNELS AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO SILOS GOING ON. AND SO THE VERY FACT THAT YOU HAVE THAT HAPPENING NOW I THINK IS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND IMPORTANT STEP AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS KIND OF ARTICULATED THIS TO THAT CONNECTION TO OUR TEAMS, TO OUR NETWORK OF YOU KNOW, NONPROFITS AND ADVOCATES AND DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AND I SEE THAT HAPPENING REALLY WELL. ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANOTHER AREA OF CONNECTION THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I CAN'T REFERENCE BRIAN OR CHRIS MENTIONED IS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE BECAUSE OF THIS MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.  IT REALLY TAKES NOT JUST MATRIX MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE CITY ON THOSE CAPITAL NEEDS AND THOSE HUGE DOLLARS BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE I THINK INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE AND THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL. AND SO AND I BUT I THINK WITH THE TEAM THAT WE THAT YOU HAVE HERE THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THAT THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS BEGUN TO REALLY LEAD ON, I THINK THE POTENTIAL IS THERE TO DO THAT IN SOME REALLY EXCITING WAYS AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE IT HISTORICALLY.  I THINK YOU'RE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION ACROSS TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT.  ALONG WITH THAT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE QUITE A BUILD A CAPACITY BUILDING.  I KNOW MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF INSURANCE AND THEN PEOPLE IN THE INSURANCE SECTOR OFTEN DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ENGINEERING OR THE YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY AROUND LIKE THINGS LIKE NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES.  YOU CAN CERTAINLY PUT ME IN THE CATEGORY OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND INSURANCE.  THAT IS ALL I HAVE. I THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY.  THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE STATE AND EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT AND ENTITY THAT IS IN THIS VERY COMPLICATED BUT ESSENTIAL MATTER IN TERMS OF US JUST BEING ABLE TO STILL WALK AROUND HERE IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU ALL YOU COUNCIL FITZGERALD COUNCIL MURPHY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND STAYING THROUGH THE FIRST PANEL WHICH YOU'VE SAID WAS GREAT PANEL TALKING ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AND I OFTEN THINK OF LIKE YOU KNOW, THESE NONPROFITS LIKE YOU'RE THE WARRIORS, THE ACTIVISTS YOU CARE AND WHATEVER THE TOPIC OF IS IF IT'S HOMELESSNESS BUT IN THIS CASE CLIMATE CHANGE WE NEED FOR REAL CHANGE TO HAPPEN, RIGHT? AND FOR THIS TO WORK WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO KNOW MORE THAN MOST ABOUT THE ISSUE AND SHARE THAT WITH US.  AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE WHARF DISTRICT COUNCIL I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THEIR MEETINGS OR WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT IT WHAT I GET FROM IT IS THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THEY AS A GROUP CARE ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THEY CARE ABOUT. THEY CARE ABOUT THE WHOLE COAST. THEY CARE ABOUT WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THE WHOLE CITY IF AND WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN.  BUT WHAT CAN THEY DO? AND THEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER IN IT TALKS TO THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, ALONG ALL OF THOSE MILES OF COAST WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE HOME. WE HAVE A PUBLIC BUILDING.  WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES ALONG THE COAST SO YOU CAN INVEST AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MILLIONS IN SOME, YOU KNOW, FLOOD PROTECTION. BUT IF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CAN'T OR CHOOSES NOT TO BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION HAVE WITH THE INSURANCE LIKE PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WHAT IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HOLDING OUT JUST BECAUSE THEN WILL WE STEP IN AND DO IT AND THEN HOW DO WE REIMBURSE THOSE WHO STEPPED UP AND DID IT THEMSELVES? I MEAN IT'S MANY QUESTIONS AT ONCE. THERE.  BUT YOU KNOW AND THAT IDEA OBVIOUSLY OF LIKE PAY NOW OR PAY MORE LATER. RIGHT SO THE INSURANCE IS GREAT BUT LIKE YOU HIGHLIGHTED MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OR MAYBE HAVE THE YOU KNOW THE FINANCES TO INVEST IN INSURANCE AND INSURANCE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED WHEN THE CATASTROPHE HAPPENS. ALL RIGHT. SO ALL OF THE FRONT END THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT IT'S VERY POSSIBLE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT TEN YEAR PLAN THAT THERE IS A STORM THAT WIPES OUT A LOT OF OUR COASTLINE. SO IF YOU COULD JUST TOUCH ON ANY OF THOSE THOUGHTS I HAD NO SPECIFIC QUESTION BUT YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND WORKING WITH NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT CARE SO MUCH ABOUT LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE THEY'RE SPOT BUT THE WHOLE THE WHOLE BIGGER PICTURE.  YEAH, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A REALLY INTERESTING MEETING OF THE WORK DISTRICT COUNCIL THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT USING THEM AS AN EXAMPLE AND TO BE ABLE TO EXTRAPOLATE THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT ONE PARTICULAR REGION ALL THE WAY AROUND THE HARBOR. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ALL WORK ON IN THE NONPROFITS SIDE AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKS ON AND THE PANEL PREVIOUS PANEL BROUGHT IT UP IS THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDUCATING THE CITIZENS, GETTING EVERYBODY AWARE AND READY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK GIGI MENTIONED IN OPENING THE SESSION IN THE LAST FEW DAYS SINCE THAT SINCE THE STORM AND THE IMPACTS ON ASHEVILLE I'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WALK UP TO ME AND SAY KEITH, I KNOW YOU WORK IN CLIMATE AND WE KNOW THAT IT COULD IT COULD BE US. SO WE'VE ALREADY I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB UNDER THE LEADERSHIP EARLY ON OF PREVIOUS MAYORS AND THE GREEN RIBBON COMMISSION AND OTHER THINGS OF OF BEGINNING TO CREATE A LEVEL OF AWARENESS.  WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO BE TO SURVIVE WHAT'S TO ADDRESS EFFECTIVELY WHAT'S COMING INCLUDING THE MORE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE NATURE BASED WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND BUILD THAT AWARENESS AND OWNERSHIP SO THAT WHEN OUR CELL PHONE SYSTEM DIES THAT OUR EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT THE PEOPLE KNOW THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHY IT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT TO DO THAT SOCIAL RESILIENCY I THINK THE NONPROFITS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE REALLY ,REALLY CRITICAL AND I DON'T THINK WE TALK ABOUT IT NEARLY ENOUGH BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS THE YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS YOU RAISE ARE CERTAINLY LIKE A LOT OF THE HARDEST QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED KIND OF ITERATIONS TO ANSWER OVER TIME.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE AND THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IS HOW CAN YOU YOU KNOW, I WORK WITH ACTUARIES A LOT AND VERY COMPLICATED MODELS THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAN'T AND SHOULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND. BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS CAN BE BOILED DOWN INTO WHAT WE LIKE TO THINK OF AS THIS TOTAL COST OF RISK THAT IS THE COST OF INVESTMENTS IN ADAPTATION AND THE COST OF INVESTMENTS IN RISK TRANSFER. THE COST OF RECOVERY AND THERE IS ALWAYS TRADEOFFS. YOU INVEST HERE, THERE'S BENEFITS HERE AND WE THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE KIND OF IN A SCENARIO BASED WAY TO SAY YOU KNOW, HERE'S A DO NOTHING SCENARIO HERE. HERE'S IF YOU INVEST IN ADAPTATION, HERE'S YOUR IF YOU INVEST IN RISK TRANSFER AND PRESENT THIS IN KIND OF SIMPLE NUMBERS THAT SAY THIS IS THE BENEFITS OVER TIME, THIS IS HOW IN THIS BASICALLY TWO THINGS WE WILL WE FOCUS ON THAT WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT IS ADAPTATION IS BENDING THE COST CURVE DOWN WHICH IS CRUCIAL. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT BENDING THAT COST CURVE BUT YOU CAN'T ALSO LET THE THE BOTTOM PIECE BE A LARGE UNINSURED WHERE THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GET HIT WITH A HUGE BILL AT SOME POINT. SO CLOSING THE PROTECTION GAP IS PART OF OR FIGURING OUT HOW YOU ARE FUNDING KIND OF THE IMPACTS THAT ARE INEVITABLY GOING TO COME THROUGH. BUT WE WANT TO KIND OF BOIL THAT TOTAL COST AND THE TRADEOFFS DOWN INTO LIKE ONE OR TWO NUMBERS THAT THEN CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO LIKE OTHER DASHBOARDS THAT ARE USED BY POLICYMAKERS BUT EVEN INDIVIDUALS.  MADAM CHAIR TALKED ABOUT THE WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE COST OF THE HOME ADAPTATIONS THAT KIND OF FLOW THROUGH TO INDIVIDUAL WELLS. THOSE SHOULD BE PAIRED WITH LIKE SOME SORT OF BENEFITS IN CURRENT INSURANCE MARKETS WHICH IS YOU KNOW, CHIEF SWETT WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT. SO IT'S IT'S NOT JUST AN INNOVATION CHALLENGE BUT IT'S ALSO A COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE TO EVERYBODY WHO'S MAKING A DECISION ALONG THE WAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY.  I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BRINGING UP THE WORK DISTRICT COUNCIL . I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE MARK MARGULIES. MARGULIES I HOPE I'M PRONOUNCING YOUR NAME CORRECTLY AT THE WORKING SESSION LAST NOVEMBER WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HIS WORK AND THE FUNDING THAT HE GOT FROM THE STATE THANKS TO WAYS AND MEANS CHAIRMAN ERIC AARON MARKOWITZ AND A SIMILAR MODEL BEING USED AT THE NORTHERN CLIMATE ALLIANCE HEADED BY SHELDON GRECO WHO WAS ALSO INVITED HERE TODAY BUT COULDN'T MAKE IT.  AND THEN SIMILAR TO THAT JILL FORWARD VALDEZ WHO IS THE BOSTON WATERFRONT INITIATIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE BAR FOUNDATION WAS ALSO INVITED HERE TODAY, WAS GOING TO GIVE TESTIMONY BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT DUE TO BEREAVEMENT. SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER AND I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER WORK AND HER LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND IN THE PHILANTHROPIC SPACE AS WELL.  A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND JUST GRATITUDE AGAIN FOR YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IN YOUR WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE CLIMATE DASHBOARD COMING FROM FROM CLARKE JUST TO TRACK PROGRESS OF CLIMATE READY IMPLEMENTATION THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD FOR US TO TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND SEEING THAT AS COUNSELORS ON ANY GIVEN DAY. WE ARE EXPERTS ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE, EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TRANSPORTATION. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND SO I APPRECIATE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. MY ASK TO ALL OF YOU I GUESS SEEING THAT WE NEED TO DEPEND ON ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE WHEN CAN WE LOOP YOU IN RIGHT. WHEN WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT AND I KNOW THAT WHEN I WANT TO ANALYZE THE MERITS OF LARGE SCALE ENGINEERING AS I DID WITH FLATLEY IN CHARLESTOWN, I WENT TO STONE LIVING LAB AND I WAS LIKE CAN YOU DOUBLE CHECK THEIR WORK AND PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PROTECT SULLIVAN SQUARE AS COUNCILORS, WHEN CAN WE COME TO YOU WHEN THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OR ANYTHING HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT?  AND THEN ON THE FLIP SIDE JUST ASKING YOU TO COME TO US TO ENGAGE WITH US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR DISTRICT SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST UTILIZE YOUR EXPERTISE. SO I GUESS THAT'S A BROAD QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU WHEN CAN WE COME TO YOU TO UTILIZE YOUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE ANY TIME. I MEAN I, I THINK GARY KNOWS THAT I MEAN BOSTON HARBOR NOW WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ACCESSIBILITY AND RESILIENCY IN THE COURSE OF RESPONDING TO THOSE. BUT WE ARE WE'RE DOING THAT CONSTANTLY AND HAPPY TO DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOU OR IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND WOULD WELCOME THAT REALLY AND I THINK YOU KNOW, WE ARE A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION LIKE SAVE THE HARBOR, SAVE THE BAY AND CLF SO WE WORK THROUGH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY TO CONNECT WITH FOLKS LOCALLY BUT ARE ALWAYS HAPPY AND ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT AND TO DO THAT WELL, WE JUST WE'RE WRAPPING UP A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY SEE A REAL NEED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE THAT GOES BEYOND PARTS OF MY PERSONAL AND EVEN NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.  SO I THINK PULLING US IN AT ANY TIME THAT YOU FEEL THAT THAT LARGER PERSPECTIVE IS NEEDED OR THAT ADDITIONAL THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS LOCALLY WE WILL BE THERE. THANK YOU. AGREED WITH KATHY.  YEAH, I WOULD SAY EARLY AND OFTEN I THINK AS YOU HAVE SO NICELY POINTED OUT, NONE OF US ARE EXPERTS IN EVERY SINGLE FACET THAT IS REQUIRED TO GET THIS DONE AND SO THE MORE WE CAN ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER AND SHARE OUR EXPERTISE, THE BETTER EQUIPPED I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS EMERGING SITUATIONS AND THESE WILL BE EMERGING SITUATIONS, RIGHT? WE'LL BE DEALING WITH UNFORESEEN EVENTS HAPPENING. I MEAN IT'S PREDICTABLE THAT THEY WILL HAPPEN BUT EXACTLY WHEN IS UNCERTAIN SO AS WE CAN HAVE NICE TIMELINES FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IN THE NEAR TERM IN THE MID-TERM, IN THE LONG TERM OUR TIMELINES MAY GET UPENDED BY NATURE SO THE MORE WE CAN KIND OF GET FAMILIAR WITH EACH OTHER'S EXPERTISE THE BETTER. EXCELLENT.  YEAH. I WANTED TO ADD TO THE QUESTION WHEN YOU REACH OUT I THINK RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME. I HAVE MY BUSINESS CARDS I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU AND I THINK JUST TO YOUR POINT ABOUT KEEPING EACH OTHER ALL IN THE LOOP, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD KIND OF ACTION ITEM FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING KIND OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR DISTRICT SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN CONNECT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WE HAVE THERE AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER A TIME WHEN THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP US IN THE LONG TERM. SO I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD JUST ADD I WOULD SAY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING PEOPLE SAID EARLY ON OFTEN IS GREAT. WE SPECIFICALLY ARE LOOKING FOR ADAPTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE THAT ARE CALCULATING SOME SORT OF RISK REDUCING BENEFIT THAT MAYBE AREN'T BEING CAPTURED IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE PROJECTS THAT CHALLENGE THE INDUSTRY BOTH CORPORATE AND STARTUP INSURANCE INNOVATORS TO FIND WAYS TO CAPTURE THE VALUE. SO WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT IS THE PRODUCT THE PIPELINE OF ADAPTATION PROJECTS. CARL YOU TURNED YOUR VIDEO ON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE? HI. SO FROM THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHEDS PERSPECTIVE YOU KNOW CERTAINLY FROM THE GRASS TOPS STAYING INVOLVED IN OUR RESILIENCE THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BUT A STOP WOULD BE FANTASTIC AND SHARE LEARNINGS BETWEEN BETWEEN EACH OTHER NOT JUST USING THE EXPERTISE OR THE WORK OF MIRROR AND THEN FROM THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, RIGHT CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND ALSO OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT REMAINS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS EFFORT IN THIS WORK. IT'S STUFF THAT WE LOVE TO DO EACH AND EVERY DAY AND BRINGS US THE MOST JOY. SO YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT HAVING YOU KNOW, YOUR CHARLES FAMILY IS ON A WINNING RIBBON CUTTING FOR A HEAP ROOFING PROJECT THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCANDAL RIGHT NOW SEPARATE BY RACE EVER TOPIC BUT I THINK JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND CONTINUING TO BE A RESOURCE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO. THANK YOU CARL. AND I THINK THAT THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT CENTERING FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED AND ENGAGING THEM FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS IS A QUESTION THAT CHRIS AND I WERE DISCUSSING YESTERDAY IN PREPARATION FOR THIS HEARING HOW DO WE GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE? HOW DO WE LET FOLKS KNOW THAT ARE IN THE FLOOD ZONE THAT ARE IN BASEMENT LEVEL UNITS THAT MAYBE WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS? THEY WORK AN OVERNIGHT SHIFT. THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO A TABLING EVENT OR THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW ABOUT IT. WHAT CAN THE CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE DOING BETTER TO ENGAGE THESE COMMUNITIES?  SO DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR TRICKS ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN SPACE?  I'D SAY YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE CHANNELS IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, BUILDING NETWORKS OF SOCIAL RESILIENCE JUST LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THESE CITY AGENCIES TO BE CONNECTED BEFORE A MAJOR EVENT LIKE THEY ARE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT NETWORK OF COMMUNITY SOCIAL RESILIENCE IN PLACE BEFORE THOSE EVENTS TOO, YOU KNOW, FOR FOLLOWING THE HURRICANE SANDY, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT FARED BEST WERE OFTEN THE ONES THAT HAD THOSE STRONG, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL RESILIENCE NETWORKS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SLEEP ON THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S COUCH ON A HIGHER PART OF STATEN ISLAND OR QUEENS, YOU KNOW, FOR TWO WEEKS. SO THOSE THINGS REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I THINK THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING IT AND REALLY FANTASTIC WAYS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND MULTIPLE TIMES OF DAY.  BUT YEAH, SORT OF ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT MULTIPLE CHANNELS AND VARIOUS APPROACHES . WE JUST ISSUED THE FOURTH POINT REPORT BASED ON SOME COMMUNITY AND REALLY DEEP PIECE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK THAT WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH THE BSA AND THE BSL WITH THE FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND WITH THE CITY AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF GETTING PEOPLE GENUINELY INVOLVED AND OVER TIME AND REALLY GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INPUT AND TO SEE THAT INPUT TAKE SOME SHAPE AND HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY I THINK IS PLANNING TO USE SOME OF THAT MODEL AND SOME OF THAT WORK NOW ACROSS THE CITY AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE. SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT IT.  I THINK I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. I'LL GO TO CHARLIE FIRST YOU HAD MENTIONED THE IDEA OF GROUP BUYING IN CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.  THAT SOUNDS FASCINATING TO YOU. JUST TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY WHICH IS A LARGE BULK BUY AND SO IT'S IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR IT MAYBE FROM A CLIMATE RESILIENCE ASPECT OF INSURANCE AND I'M WITH COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT INSURANCE. WELL, NOT NOT NOTHING BUT CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE ON THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS A FASCINATING POINT.  I WANTED YOU TO DIVE DEEPER. YEAH, WE WE BELIEVE THAT GROUP PURCHASE OF INSURANCE IS ONE WAY THAT PEOPLE OFTEN LOOK TO THE REGULATORY REGIME OF CANADA. YOU KNOW HOW INSURANCE IS REGULATED TO CAPTURE FORCE OR DISCOUNTS TO HAPPEN. BUT ANOTHER WAY IS YOU KNOW, GROUP PURCHASE PROVIDES KIND OF THE BUYING POWER LEVERAGE OF THE ENTITY DOING THE GROUP PURCHASE AND YOU CAN BACK THAT UP WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF RISK POOLING THAT CAN HELP BOTH CAPTURE YOU KNOW, THE VALUE OF THE INVESTMENTS IN ADAPTATION BUT ALSO TRANSLATE KIND OF WHAT WHAT I HEARD THIS MORNING WAS A COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT TO MAKE THE CITY OF BOSTON MORE RESILIENT YET THAT DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS KIND OF SELLING PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T INSURE THE CITY OF BOSTON OVER A LONG PERIODS OF TIME THEY INSURE ONE LOCATION FOR ONE YEAR SO THEIR WHOLE KIND OF MENTAL YOU KNOW,  MAP IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE APPROACH BUT GROUP PURCHASE OF INSURANCE YOU CAN USE THE BUYING POWER OF THE CITY BUT IT COULD ALSO BE LIKE LARGE EMPLOYERS SAYING HEY, WE'RE GOING TO BUY CATASTROPHE INSURANCE AND IT COULD START WITH LIKE MICRO INSURANCE FOR RENTERS THAT REALLY ADDRESSES A VULNERABLE POPULATION WITH A LITTLE BIT OF INSURANCE THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. BUT IS POTENTIALLY A HUGE MARKET THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING AFTER. SOME STARTUPS ARE DOING THINGS BUT YOU CAN LEVERAGE THE KIND OF BUYING POWER TO JUST JUST LIKE YOU KNOW, GET YOUR MEDICARE.  THEY'RE BUYING INSULIN IN BULK. IT DRIVES THE PRICE DOWN AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITH INSURANCE AND CATASTROPHE INSURANCE IN PARTICULAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE ABOUT A MILLION MORE QUESTIONS. WE CAN TAKE THIS OFFLINE. YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR OPERATING ON THAT. UM, I ALWAYS LIKE TO START ON A HIGH NOTE AND ON A HIGH NOTE AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF HEAVY TOPICS HERE,  RIGHT? THE CLIMATE CRISIS, THE CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS OF ALL OF THAT HURRICANE HELENE BUT REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE INTENTIONALITY AND CENTERING UM, FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED FROM ALL OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT EVERYBODY HERE I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE EQUITY LENS THAT YOU BRING TO THIS WORK. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT.  IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY IS HOPEFUL FOR IN THE FUTURE THROUGH THIS WORK THIS IT IS LIKE I SAID VERY HEAVY AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO END ON A HIGH NOTE IF ANYBODY COULD TALK ABOUT GLIMMER OF LIGHT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS AS WE TRY TO COMBAT AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, I WILL JUST SAY JUST FROM MY PERSONAL I'VE BEEN IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY 35 PLUS YEARS.  THERE'S THERE'S NEVER BEEN THE LEVEL OF INTEREST WHICH REALLY HAS INCREASED OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS ON THESE ISSUES FROM THE EQUITY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE A INSIDE THE INDUSTRY KIND OF DISCUSSION AND FEELS LIKE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IT HAS SPILLED OVER TO HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER WITH GROUPS LIKE THESE AND THE FACT THAT I'M HERE TODAY SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL I WOULD ECHO THAT AND JUST SAY YEAH, THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION AND INNOVATION AND CARE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN BOSTON EVERY DAY I THINK BOSTON IS A REAL LEADER ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT NOT ONLY THIS CITY AND REGION BUT BUT OTHER OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND WORLD AS WELL.  AND SORT OF BUILDING ON THAT, I THINK YOU YOU TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE THE HEARING TWO YEARS AGO AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND WHERE WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO AND YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW AND YOU LOOK AT THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP THAT'S BEEN ASSEMBLED AT THE CITY LEVEL WE LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE GROUP THAT'S BEEN ASSEMBLED AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ALL OF AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE'RE ALL DOING. YEAH, IT FEELS AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I DO THINK THAT WE ARE THERE'S A LOT OF REASON TO HAVE HOPE AND FOR US TO BE REALLY BE CONTINUING SORT OF SET THE STANDARD AND DO THE WORK AND GETTING IT DONE IN TIME. WE HOPE YOU CAN KNOCK ON MY CALL. YOU PUT YOUR VIDEO ON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD TO THAT? YEAH, YOU KNOW I THINK JUST LIKE INVESTING IS VERY CLICHE BUT INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE I THINK ALSO REQUIRES A LOT OF YOU YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS FROM OFF THE CLIMATE I WAS THERE WAS FROM BELLA SO LIKE INVESTING IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING FOR YOU TO LEARN ABOUT THESE ITEMS EARLY AND OFTEN IS THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE OURSELVES FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO GET THIS DONE. SO I THINK VERY OPTIMISTIC AND I THINK INVESTING IN EDUCATION IS REALLY KEY AWESOME AND I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR FUTURE CONVERSATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE CURRICULUM AND I HELP SPONSOR TO TRY TO GET THE YOUTH INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN THIS BECAUSE THEY WILL ULTIMATELY SAVE US FROM OURSELVES AND WE'LL BE THE STEWARDS OF ALL OF THIS LAND AND HOPEFULLY COME UP WITH SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT WE IMPLEMENT MOVING FORWARD. SO EVERYONE'S INVITED TO THAT CONVERSATION. IT'S TBD RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK. YOU ALL ARE DISMISSED I GUESS FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT WANT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND IF YOU'RE IF YOU JUST USE THIS AS SIGN UP, JUST LET ME KNOW. JUST WALK ME OFF. BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. WE HAVE DAVID LOPEZ SIGNED UP MIKE TRAVIS I THINK FROM THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM EVEN THOUGH THEY I THINK THEY LEFT KATHERINE RADFORD FRIENDS OF DOROTHY PARK BOSTON SHOULD HAVE MUSEUM LEFT IN ZOE AND THEN ALSO CHRIS MANCINI FROM SEATTLE HARVARD SAVE THE BAY FOR YOUR GOOD OKAY AND SARA MCCAMMOND FROM THE HARBOURFRONT ALLIANCE BASED ON THAT DOES ANYBODY WANT TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY ON OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE A SARAH MCCAMMON COMING AND CHRIS MANZINI POTENTIALLY OH, YOU CAN YOU CAN USE THAT OVER YEAH, I APOLOGIZE YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR THAT CHRIS I THAT JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ORGANIZATION . HEY, CHRIS MANCINI SAVE THE HARBOR. SAVE THE DAY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.  I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING BUT I JUST THOUGHT I'D ANSWER YOUR LAST QUESTION. YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT GIVES ME A GLIMMER OF HOPE WAS ACTUALLY THIS HEARING.  AND WHENEVER I START TO KIND OF STRESS ABOUT HOW BIG THIS ISSUE IS LIKE I'M GOING TO THINK BACK TO THE SLIDE FROM THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS THE MOST SIMPLE SLIDE. IT WAS A WHITE SIDE WITH THREE LINES OF BLACK TEXT AND IT WAS WHAT DO WE DO IMMEDIATELY WHAT WE DO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHAT DO WE DO LONG TERM AND REORGANIZING THIS DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, WE CALLED FOR YOU KNOW, THIS THIS STATEWIDE AGENCY IN MID-FEBRUARY SALE AGENCY. I MEAN IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE YOU'VE ALMOST DONE IT HERE IN THE CITY. BOSTON'S BEEN A LEADER ON THIS. YOU'RE CONTINUING TO BE A LEADER. IT'S LIKE THAT'S LIKE ALL BUT DONE. YOU KNOW WE'RE MISSING THE STATE.  BUT BUT THAT'S HOW IT'S SO GRATIFYING TO SHOW UP AT A HEARING AND HEAR THE WORDS SPOKEN BY THE ADVOCATES AND AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, REFLECTED IN THE ACTIONS AND IN THE WORDS ON THE PANEL. SO YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS LEADING. THEY'RE NOT PUTTING EVERYTHING YOU'RE NOT GOING PAST THE WHITE. SO YOU'RE LOOKING MAKING THOSE CROSS COLLABORATIONS. IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING AND IT'S A BIG ISSUE AND IT FREAKS US ALL OUT AND THAT SLIDE IS GOING TO BE STUCK IN MY HEAD GOING OKAY, THEY WERE THEY'VE GOT IT. THEY'VE GOT A SYSTEM AND YOU'VE GOT REALLY SMART PEOPLE WORKING ON IT.  SO WE'RE EXCITED TO PARTNER HOWEVER AGAIN AND AND HELP OUT BECAUSE WE ALL CARE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRIS. SARAH SURE.  THANK YOU AND I HOPE I READ MY SCRIBBLE BUT I WROTE DOWN THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MY NAME IS SARAH MCCAMMON. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARBOURFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND I'M ALSO PART OF THE FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND AGAIN, COUNCILOR COLLETTE ZAPATA AND COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, THANK YOU FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT CRITICAL DOCKET. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR MURPHY AND CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE FOR ALSO BEING A PART OF THE HEARING.  THE HARBOURFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE BRINGS TOGETHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE BOSTON HARBOR AND WE REPRESENT RESIDENTS AND RAISING THEIR VOICES ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WATERFRONT AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE IN DISTRICTS ONE, TWO AND THREE AND SO THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL CONVENING TODAY AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY BEING PART OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LIVE ON AND BY WATER CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND AND COASTAL RAPID ADAPTATION IS JUST CRITICAL TO OUR SURVIVAL AS YOU ALL KNOW. SO WELL.  AND THIS WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL POINT HERE AND WE NOW HAVE A CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER OF THE CITY. WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND WE HAVE THIS TIME WHEN EVERYTHING'S COMING TOGETHER AND WE YOU BROUGHT TOGETHER A PANEL THAT IS ADDRESSING PIECES THAT WEREN'T IN THE FIRST CLIMATE READY PLANS AND WITH THAT I'M PARTICULARLY THINKING OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND THEN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSES AND TO HAVE THIS WHOLE GROUP TOGETHER FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS JUST FEELING VERY BLESSED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND YOURSELVES TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH I'M VERY EXCITED AND I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING ALSO AND THE DRISCOLL ADMINISTRATION CESIUM COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMING OUT WITH MESSAGES THAT'S RESILIENT COASTS ALL THESE INITIATIVES AGAIN ARE COMING TOGETHER AT A REALLY CRITICAL TIME AND SO I'M I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME BUT IT'S ALSO AN URGENT TIME. YOU KNOW THE EARLY MILESTONES AND CLIMATE READY WE'RE 2025 THAT'S NEXT YEAR WE HAVE A BIG DEADLINE OF 2030 AND YOU KNOW,  FOR SOME OF US 2070 WILL BE HERE RIGHT BEFORE WE KNOW IT FOR OTHER US MAYBE NOT BUT JUST KNOW I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT SENSE OF URGENCY AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT AS WE LOOK AT A LOT OF THESE LARGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED DORCHESTER BAY CITY FOR 25 MEDFORD YOU HAVE THE CHANNEL SIDE PROJECT YOU HAVE IN PLANNING THE RESERVE CHANNEL 31 ACRES I MEAN I'M SORRY 42 ACRES YOU HAVE THE GILLETTE THAT'S JUST STARTING THEIR FOR 31 ACRES. THESE ARE ALL WATERFRONT PROJECTS AND I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION AND WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY A LOT SMARTER ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN TERMS OF MEETING THE CITY'S NEEDS FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO RESILIENCY AND PROTECTING THOSE BY THE WATER AND THOSE RIGHT BEYOND THE WATER IN THE INNER NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNSTREAM.  SO LOTS LOT LOTS GOING ON AND AS PART OF THE HARBOURFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS URGENT. WE NEED TO BE DOING THIS AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HEARING TODAY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, SARA, AND FOR YOUR CONVENING POWER AND BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M CHECKING IN WITH SHANE FOR ANYBODY ONLINE TO BUTTRESS YOUR . ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT CONCLUDES THIS HEARING I KNOW THAT I FOR 1 A.M. READY TO EAT SOMETHING SO I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S BEEN 3 HOURS SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM FOR BEING HERE AND LISTENING TO US.  THIS WILL STAY IN COMMITTEE AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYBODY