##VIDEO ID:Wgh0jHI2zBw## COUNCILOR NICOLETTA ZAPATA COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCIL FERNANDEZ SANDERSON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE HERE.  CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY.  COUNCILOR PIPPIN.  COUNCILOR SANTANA. COUNCIL . WHETHER YOU'RE IN COUNCIL , WE'RE ALL HERE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S CLERGY PASTOR SAMUEL FROM LEON DE JUDA. INVITED BY COUNCIL PUT BEN AFTER THE INVOCATION. WE WILL RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AS WITH ANY OTHER PRESIDENT.  GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.  TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING TO ALL MR PASTOR SAM ACEVEDO MR ACEVEDO AS A PASTOR FOR SOCIAL AT THE CONGREGATION LEON THE HOLIDAY AND IN BOSTON.  IN ADDITION TO HIS TRADITIONAL PASTORAL DUTIES, PASTOR SAM SERVES AS EXECUTIVE MINISTER OVERSEEING MIRACLE MILE MINISTRIES, A COLLABORATIVE OF CHURCHES DEVOTED TO SUSTAINED DELIBERATE STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO THE MIRACLE MILE. THE ROUGHLY TWO SQUARE MILE IN THE SOUTH END OF BOSTON PASTOR SAM ALSO SERVES AS THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE BOSTON HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER, AN ORGANIZATION THAT ENABLES AT RISK LATINO AND OTHER FIRST GENERATION YOUTH TO GAIN ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND BECOME LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. HE WAS THE ORGANIZATION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PASTOR SAM ALSO SERVED AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING CO-CHAIRS OF THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S OPPORTUNITY AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP TASK FORCE. PREVIOUSLY PASTOR SAM SERVED ON THE 2020 EXAM SCHOOL WORKING GROUP IN BOTH THE 2015 AND 2018 BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH COMMITTEE AND IT IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND HE IS SOMEONE THAT I REALLY ADMIRE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY SOMEONE THAT'S ALWAYS DOING SUCH AMAZING WORK MAKING SURE THAT HIS UPLIFT IN OUR VOICES ANYWHERE NOT JUST IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD CITY BUT WITH THE ENTIRE CITY OF BOSTON. MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO MR PASTORE SOMEONE ACEVEDO AND THEN SHOULD WE SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNSELOR KEVIN PRAY MARCUS CAPITAL OF O.C. MARK CHAPTER 12 BASICALLY LISTENING TO YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TAKE TO YOU KNOW, VERSUS 30 AND 31 FAMILIAR WORDS NO MATTER WHAT YOUR TRADITION AND MORALS AND SIGNAL TO THE US CONTINUE TO CORAZON THE CONTROL THAT TO ULTIMATE THE CONTROL THAT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL TO SPREAD TO US IS A SET OF PRINCIPLES AMONG COMMUNITY. YES I UNDERSTAND MONTE ARMADAS ARE TO GROW FROM WHAT THEY ME SMALL MY OTTOMAN DOMINION TO MAJOR CASTLES LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART WITH ALL YOUR SOUL WITH ALL YOUR MIND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH THE SECOND IS THIS LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF THERE'S NO COMMANDMENT GREATER THREE DAYS.  HEAVENLY FATHER THIS INSTITUTION THIS IS THIS ILLUSTRIOUS GATHERING OF MEN AND WOMEN LEADERS OF THIS CITY HAVE WELCOMED YOU INTO THIS ROOM, INTO THIS BUILDING, INTO CITY.  YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL GOD AND YOU'RE SO HUMBLE AND YOU GO WHERE YOU WILL.  SO WOULD YOU SMILE? WOULD YOUR SHINE YOUR COUNTENANCE ON THIS BUILDING AND ON EVERYONE WHO LABORS HERE WILL YOU FILL THIS PLACE STARTING TODAY WITH YOUR PRESENT AND WHEREVER YOU GO WHATEVER YOU DO FILL IT WITH YOUR LOVE EVERY CONVERSATION, EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY PLAN, EVERY PROJECT, EVERY DREAM MEET YOUR LOVE SATURATE THE WALLS THE CONCRETE WALLS OF THIS BUILDING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE PLANT AROUND THE STATEMENTS FURTHER LORD THAT THESE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN MAY LOVE YOU WITH ALL THEIR HEART,  WITH ALL THEIR MIND, WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, WITH ALL THEIR STRENGTH AND MAY THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER JUST AS WELL MAY YOUR LOVE SATURATE EVERYTHING THEY DO AND DEFINE WHAT THIS CITY IS ABOUT THE FEELING OF NUMBER EQUALS.  I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE WILL NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. APPLY ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC RELIGIOUS STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.  THANK YOU, PASTOR SAMUEL ACEVEDO FOR THOSE WORDS WE APPRECIATE THEM. WE'RE NOW ON TWO PRESENTATIONS. TODAY WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE COUNSELOR WORRELL HOSTING A PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING BOSTON READERS YOUTH BUT VOLUNTEER CAST ORAL YOU NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND 5 MINUTES.  GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.  AS A DORCHESTER KID I GREW UP WATCHING THE BOSTON GREATEST PLAY FOR 50 YEARS TO BE MORE THAN JUST A FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING ORGANIZATION.  THEY'VE BEEN A SOURCE OF PRIDE COMMUNITY IN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUTH IN THE CITY. TODAY WE NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THEIR FIVE DECADE LONG LEGACY BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ATHLETES.  LAST YEAR THE BOSTON LADY RAIDERS MADE US REALLY PROUD WHEN THEY WON THE DIVISION CHAIR NATIONAL CHIP IN FLORIDA . LET'S GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SOME OF THE CHEERLEADERS IN THE CROWD TODAY . THAT VICTORY IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE RAIDERS FAMILY CONTINUE TO THRIVE BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. TODAY WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE WILSON BROTHERS DENNIS AND THE LATE HARRY WILSON WHO FOUNDED THE RAIDERS IN 1974. THE FIELD AT AROUND BAY PARK IS WHERE THEY USED TO CLEAR BROKEN GLASS BEFORE GAMES AND THIS IS WHY WE NAMED THAT FIELD AFTER THE WILSON'S.  IT NOW STANDS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE TIRELESS DEDICATION TO CREATING A SAFE SUPPORTIVE SPACE FOR BOSTON YOUTHS AS WE HONOR THIS MILESTONE. WE GIVE THANKS TO THE MEMBERS, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO MADE THE BOSTON RAIDERS WHAT THEY ARE TODAY. CO-FOUNDER DENNIS WILSON YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS VISION NOTICE ORGANIZATION INTO WHAT IT IS NOW TO THE BOSTON RAIDERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT THOMPSON VICE PRESIDENT TAYLOR TREASURER AFFAIRS SECRETARY BATTALIONS INTO THE FOOTBALL COORDINATOR WILLIAMS ASSISTANT FOOTBALL CORONATED KING CHAIR COORDINATOR JACKSON AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER CAROL MIDDLETON AND ALL THE OTHERS ON THE TEAM INCLUDING THE PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP THE RAIDERS RUNNING. YOU ALL EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKES THIS TEAM SO SPECIAL . HERE'S TO THE RAIDERS 50 YEARS STRONG AND TO MANY MORE DECADES OF EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH AND BUILDING PRIDE A FUTURES COME ON UP IN ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON RAIDERS YOUTHFUL PUNCHIER ORGANIZATION.  WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US FOR OUR 50 YEAR, 68 YEARS OF SERVICE.  WE'RE TRULY A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED A TON OF THINGS THAT ARE DEDICATED TOWARDS YOUTH AND FOLLOWING THE LIVES OF OUR ARE OUR FOUNDERS. WE WE DON'T SEEK TO RECREATE WHAT THEY DID. WE WE SEEK TO STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS TO DO BETTER AND BIGGER THINGS AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO MY CHEER COORDINATOR.  HI, MY NAME IS TEQUILA KING. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M A FORMER CHEERLEADER OF THE BOSTON RAIDERS AND TODAY I'M THE CHAIR COORDINATOR.  SO THIS IS EXCITING. IT'S KIND OF HISTORICAL FOR ME OF I WANT TO THANK COACH DENNIS AND COACH HARRY WHO'S NO LONGER HERE BUT THEY A BIG IMPACT ON MY LIFE AS A YOUNG ADULT TODAY. SO THANK YOU.  WOW.  I FIRST WANT TO THANK COUNSELOR WORRELL FOR RESPECTING AND VALUING WHAT MY BROTHER AND I HAVE DONE.  I WANT TO DO A SPECIAL BECAUSE I KNOW EASIEST SPIRITUALLY IT WAS A VISION OF MY BROTHER HOWARD WHO WAS IN THE THIRD. HE CAME TO ME AND SAID I GOT AN IDEA I WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. I WANT TO ORGANIZE AND ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT'S FOR FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING PROGRAM TO HELP THE INNER CITY GIRLS AND INNER CITY BOYS TO BE BETTER BOYS AND BE BETTER GIRLS AND BE BETTER MEN AND BE BETTER WOMEN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNSELORS . OKAY. THAT HE DID ALLOWING US TO BE HONORED.  THIS ALL COULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY BROTHER'S VISION.  BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEER COACHES A LABOR OF LOVE. BUT THESE VOLUNTEER COACHES THAT AGAIN AS OF AUGUST 1ST ALL THE WAY TO WE WENT TO FLORIDA OKAY THE FIVE TIMES TO BEAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONS THEY THE SUPPORTIVE PARENTS ALSO THE CHEERLEADING COACHES AND COORDINATORS AND TEAM MOMS. IT TAKES SO MANY PEOPLE TO DO FOR THESE YOUNG FOLKS AND IT PAYS DIVIDENDS.  THE THE WE'VE LOST SOME IT BUT SOME HAVE GONE ON TO PLAY IN THE NFL SOME HAVE GONE ON TV PLAY IN THE NBA. THE GIFTED YOUNG MEN.  AND I WANT TO SAY WE'VE TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES IN A POSITIVE WAY AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE YOUTH PROGRAMS SHOULD BE ABOUT WHETHER HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, TENNIS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING CHARACTERS ABOUT INSTILLING POSITIVE THINGS IN YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG LADIES SO THEY CAN BE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COMMUNITY LIKE MR FITZPATRICK, MR FITZGERALD, MR WORRELL AND MANY OF YOU SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE.  SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE WAS RUGBY RATED IN ORDER FOR US TO REACH OUT AND HELP MORE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG LADIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WE BECAME THE BOSTON RAIDERS SO 50 YEARS STRONG AGAIN WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT SO MANY COMMITTED CONTRIBUTING PEOPLE. AND AGAIN MY BROTHER I AGAIN I WISH HE WAS HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRIBUTE TO THE FIELD AT ROMNEY PARK FRANKLIN FIELD COMEDY BLUE HILL QUITE AN HONOR TO THE FAMILY. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO HONOR HIS LOVELY WIFE LINDA WILSON, LINDA MUMFORD WILSON AND MY LOVELY WIFE GLADYS WILSON BECAUSE BEHIND THE SCENES AS FOLKS KNOW IT'S PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THE SCENES YOUNG SCREAMING FOR THE KIDS TO WIN IN BLOCK AND TACKLE. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AND HE DID IT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYONE. APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS SPECIAL THANKS, COUNCILOR . WELL, KEEP DOING THE GOOD THINGS YOU'RE DOING, MY BROTHER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, LAST THING FORMER RAIDER I'M VERY HONORED TO SAY MY SON WHO NOW WORKS WITH YOU GUYS MAKING THE CITY A BETTER PLACE FORMER RAIDER TYREKE WILSON.  I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM TOO SO THAT WE DID YOU YOU CONTINUE A LOVING FRIENDSHIP SO I'M PROUD OF YOU EVERYBODY CHEERLEADERS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPROMPTU.  WHO ARE WE? LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.  SHOW THAT RAIDER LOVE SHOWING THAT RAIDER SPIRIT WHO WE AND WE GOT WHAT KIND OF PRIDE WHAT KIND OF SPIRIT WHAT KIND OF POWER REALLY WHAT KIND OF LOVE WHAT KIND OF STATE RAIDER WHAT KIND OF POWER?  WHAT KIND OF WIN? WE GOT HARD WORK.  WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS AND LAST AND NOT LEAST WHAT KIND OF FAMILY. THERE YOU GO FOR LIFE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FACT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COME UP FOR A PICTURE AND THE ENTIRE REST OF FAMILY AS WELL TO THE POINT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.  HEY, HOW YOU DOING, JUNIOR COUNSELOR?  YOU'RE FORGIVEN. THANK YOU.  THANKS FOR HAVING ME . THANK YOU.  I GET TO DEFINITELY GET EVERYBODY TO CHECK OUT THIS GOOD THAT TAKES UP TO THIS GOOD TIME. THIS IS YOUR PRE-SHOW.  THESE HAVE YOU GOT IT? OH, YOU GO RIGHT IS GOOD JUST IN CASE JANEY FOR THAT. OH YEAH.  YES.  READY LOVE SEAT YOU GOT YOU READY TO DO EVERYTHING THEY SAY THEY DO LIKE HE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER SO WE TO GET THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANKS AGAIN WE ABSOLUTELY GREAT KNOW YOU KNOW WELL THEY ALL THEY ALL YOU KNOW I'M SO YOU PEOPLE WAS A BLAST AND THAT'S MY STAFF HAVE YOU GOT TO GROUND UP AROUND THAT OKAY WE ARE NOW ON TO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALEPPO OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING ARE APPROVED.  WE'RE NOW ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR HONOR THE MAYOR.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1385I CAN NUMBER 1385 MESSAGE UNITED FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $7 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A GRANT THE GRANT PAYMENT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. COLLECT A TREASURER. THIS GRANT PAYMENT IS MADE FROM THE CORAL CORONAVIRUS STATE AND FEDERAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND IN THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 9901 OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ALSO KNOWN AS ARP OF 2021. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1385 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.  MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1386.1386 MESSAGING ON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE MBA DIGITAL EQUITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO PASS THROUGH THE MASSACHUSETTS TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY.  THE GRANT WILL FUND SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH WHO CANNOT AFFORD BROADBAND SERVICE AND OR INTERNET CONNECTED DEVICES OR LACK THE DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS NEEDED TO UTILIZE THE INTERNET. THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 1386 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CITY SERVICES AND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY. MR CLERK CAN REPLACE DOCKET NUMBER 1385. IN BOSTON'S COVID 19 RECOVERY COMMITTEE.  THANK YOU MR CLERK. WHEN YOU COULD WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1387 DOCKET NUMBER 1387 MESSAGE ON ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $106,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23 FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY GRANT AWARDED BY THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND CRITICALLY NEEDED RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ENABLE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON INNOVATIONS THAT IMPROVE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THANK YOU DOCTOR. NUMBER 1387 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WE ARE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 138 AND 1389 DOC NUMBER 1388 NOTICES SEE FROM THE MAYOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS GILL AS A EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND DOCK NUMBER 1389. NOTICES FROM THE MAYOR THE APPOINTMENT OF BRIDGET CONLEY AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL 888 AFL CIO HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR A TERM EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 THANK YOU. DOCKET NUMBER 13881389 WILL BE PLACED ON FILE.  WE ARE NOW ON TO MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKETS NUMBER 0100010111051108116911271275 AND 1277 DARK NUMBERS 0100 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT. EXCUSE ME EXPAND A GRANT FROM THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,562,297 FOR THE COSTS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. I CAN HAVE A0101 MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $7,501,200 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY DIVISION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND A PORTION OF THE DESIGN COSTS FOR THE SULLIVAN SQUARE RUTHERFORD AVENUE PROJECT NUMBER 1105 MESSAGE AND ARE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $25 MILLION IN ANY INTEREST ACCRUED THEREON RECEIVED IN THE FORM OF ANNUAL $2,500,000 PAYMENTS AND HELD IN AN INTEREST BEARING ESCROW FUND UNTIL DESIGNATED FOR USE BY THE CITY FOR THE SULLIVAN SQUARE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT NUMBER 110A MESSAGE IN NOT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $38,000 IN THE FORM OF GRANT FOR THE H.S. FISCAL YEAR 24TH SURVEY AND PLANNING GRANT PHASE TWO AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PASS THROUGH THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE GRANT WILL FUND PHASE TWO OF THE EAST BOSTON SURVEY UPDATE THE AIM OF PHASE TWO IS TO PRODUCE NEW AND UPDATED INVENTORY FORMS FOR PROPERTIES IN EAST BOSTON'S ORIENT HEIGHTS AREA LIKE NUMBER 1169 MESSAGE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $539,256 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE MASS VIP CHARGING STATIONS AWARDED BY THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT APPEARS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND 60 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM PUBLIC ACCESS CHARGING PROGRAM NUMBER 1275 MESSAGE IN ORDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND FROM THE BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,382,932.66 COSTS RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS TO FINANCIAL CENTER THE VICTOR SIMPSON PARCEL 1501 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE 1397 TO 1305 BLUE HILL AVENUE BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER NEW INPATIENT BUILDING 1350 BOYLSTON STREET 76 STONY ROAD SEAPORT SQUARE NORTHERN AVENUE BRIDGE 745 ATLANTIC AVENUE 370 THROUGH 380 HARRISON AVENUE BOSTON UNIVERSITY CENTER DENTAL SCHOOL BOSTON LANDING 780 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD TO 89 WALK HILL STREET ALLSTON YARD BUILDING A 61 TO 83 BRAINTREE STREET AND BELVEDERE STREET STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT LUCKY NUMBER 1 TO 77 MESSER GENNARO AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $1,800,000 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE RECONNECT TEN COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE GRANT WILL FUND THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FEASIBILITY OF RECONNECTING THE CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS BISECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 90. THANK YOU MR. CLERK AND THANK YOU FOR THAT JUDICIOUS READING . THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I ALWAYS GET A TASTE AT THE IS PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF HOW HARD IT IS TO BE CLERK SO CLERK THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024 TO DISCUSS DOCKET 010001011105110811691275 AND 1277. WE WERE JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROSIE LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILORS WHEN MURPHY FITZGERALD WERE OUT AND WEBER AN ABSENCE LETTER WAS PROVIDED BY COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON. THE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM DOROTHY CLARKE, ASSISTANT SURVEY DIRECTOR AT THE ENVIRONMENT ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE CABINET. TASHA ROGERS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION FINANCE AT THE OPEN ENVIRONMENT ENERGY AND OPEN SPACE CABINET AND VINEET GUPTA DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING AT THE OFFICE OF STS WHO ALL PROVIDED TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. MS. CLARKE STATED THE DOCKET 118 IS A GRANT PROVIDED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORIC COMMISSION WHICH IS ONE OF MANY THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE SURVEY OF VARIOUS BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS FUNDING WILL SPECIFICALLY BE USED FOR THE SURVEY OF ORIENT HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD OF EAST BOSTON TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA PARTICULARLY HISTORIC PROPERTIES INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTATION.  MR GUPTA DISCUSSED ROCKETS 0100 AND ROCKETS 0175 STATING THAT THESE GRANTS ARE FROM THE BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM FUNDS PAID BY DEVELOPERS AS PART OF MITIGATION. THIS FUNDING IS TYPICALLY DISTRIBUTED FOR TWO SPECIFIC PROJECTS ADJACENT OR NEARBY TO THE DEVELOPMENT. THESE GRANTS WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS TO FINANCIAL CENTER AT THE VICTOR SIMPSON'S PARCEL 1501 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE 1395 AND 1305 BLUE HILL AVENUE B ID SEE NEW INPATIENT BUILDING 1350 BOYLSTON STREET 76 STONY ROAD SEAPORT SQUARE NORTHERN AVENUE BRIDGE 745 ATLANTIC AV 372 380 HARRISON AVENUE BOSTON UNIVERSITY DENTAL CENTER BOSTON LANDING 780 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD TO 89 WALK HILL STREET ALSTON'S YARD BUILDING 61 TO 83 BRAINTREE STREET AND BELVEDERE A STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT.  IT WAS NOTED HOW MUCH OF THIS FUNDING DIDN'T BECOME AVAILABLE UNTIL A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WAS GRANTED TO THE DEVELOPER. MR GUPTA ALSO DISCUSSED DOCKETS 121 AND 1105 STATING THAT THESE GRANTS WILL FUND A PORTION OF THE DESIGN COSTS FOR THE SULLIVAN SQUARE RUTHERFORD AVENUE PROJECT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHARLESTOWN. THE CORRIDOR HAS BEEN DEEMED TO BE IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND IS SLATED FOR A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH STATE FUNDS.  7 MILLION OF THESE GRANTS WILL BE USED TO TAKE THE PROJECT FROM CONCEPT DESIGN TO THE FINAL DESIGN BY SPRING 2025. MR GUPTA DISCUSSED DOCKETS 1169 STATING THAT THIS IS A STATE GRANT WHICH WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 60 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRICAL VEHICLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM. THESE CHARGING STATIONS WILL BE PLACED THROUGHOUT BOSTON.  MR GUPTA NOTED THAT THE CITY HAS MET WITH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WHEN IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS FOR NEW CHARGING STATION.  THESE CHARGES WILL BE PLACED ON STREET AND MUNICIPAL LOTS INSTALLATION OF THESE CHARGING STATIONS WILL BEGIN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. MR GUPTA DISCUSSED DOCKET 1277 STATING THAT THIS GRANT IS FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WHICH WILL FUND THE ASSESSMENT OF FEASIBILITY OF RECONNECTING CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH HAS BEEN BISECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF I-90. HE STATED THAT THE CITY WILL MATCH 20% OF THIS GRANT. WITH THIS FUNDING THE CITY WILL CONDUCT A STUDY TO CONSTRUCT NEW GREENSPACE ON A PARCEL BETWEEN CHINATOWN AND THE SOUTH END. THE STUDY WILL EXAMINE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS AND STREETS IN CHINATOWN, ESPECIALLY PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.  AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR OF PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION, I RECOMMEND THAT MOVING THE LISTED DOCUMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION AT THIS TIME I RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL IS THAT THESE MATTERS OUGHT TO PASS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN AND CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION . IF NO ONE IS LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER ON THESE MATTERS WE WILL MOVE TO A VOTE. THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION SEES ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 0100 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY TAKING THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 0100 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE EXCEPTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSENGER DOCKET NUMBER 0101 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ALL OPPOSE ANY THINKING THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 0101 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1105 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I AM OPPOSING A THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 1105 IS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSPORTATION SEE THE SENTENCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1108. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND DOCKET NUMBER 1108 IS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION SEE THE SENTENCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1169 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. I ALL OPPOSE ANY TAKING THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 1169 IS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1275 ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ALL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 1275 HAS PASSED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND PATTERN OF DOCKET NUMBER 1 TO 7 SEVEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. I ALSO SAY NAY.  THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE REPORT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DOCKET NUMBER 1277 HAS PASSED. WE ARE NOW ON TWO MOTIONS ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS.  MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1390 DOCKET NUMBER 1390 COUNCILOR FOR AN END TO SAY IN THE CENTER FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE REFORMING THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL . THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDO ANDERSON. COUNCILOR , YOU HAVE A FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UNDER THE FACILITY OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL DISTRIBUTES GENERAL OPERATING GRANTS ANNUALLY THROUGH THE PCC. ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MCC ON THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE GRANT OF THE GRANT PROGRAM AND PROVIDES FINAL APPROVAL OF SELECTED GRANTEES. CURRENTLY THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES THE COUNCIL REQUIRES IT TO BE COMPOSED OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15 TO 21 MEMBERS WITH AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM EACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT. AND WHILE THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE SEEKS TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE MORE FREQUENTLY STRUGGLES TO REACH A QUORUM WITH SUCH A LARGE GROUP . WE NEED A CULTURAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE DESIGNED WITH ARTISTS IN MIND. MOST ARTISTS IN BOSTON NEED A FULL TIME JOB TO SUPPORT THEIR PASSION AND SO IT'S A BIG ASK OF LOCAL ARTISTS TO FIND TIME BETWEEN WORKING AND CREATING TO ALSO HELP ADMINISTRATE AND ADMINISTER ORGANIZATIONAL GRANTS. THE GRANTS THAT THE CULTURAL THE COUNCIL HELPS ADMINISTER ARE IMPORTANT TO BOSTON'S ARTS COMMUNITY BUT WE'RE GETTING IN OUR WAY IN OUR AND IT'S IN OUR OWN WAY.  BY STRUCTURING A CULTURAL COUNCIL THAT CAN'T EVEN REACHED A QUORUM.  SO THAT IS WHY I FILED THIS ORDINANCE TO REVISE CULTURAL COUNCIL IN THIS ORDINANCE WILL NOW BE COMPOSED OF BETWEEN SEVEN AND 11 MEMBERS WITH A FOCUS ON EQUITABLE REFORM EQUITY EQUITABLY REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THE NEW COUNCIL WILL ALSO HAVE GREATER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM MOSAIC TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET THESE GRANTS INTO THE HANDS OF ARTISTS. THESE ARE SMALL CHANGES ON PAPER BUT HAVE BIG IMPACTS ON THE ARTISTS COMMUNITY IN BOSTON. I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HOLDING A HEARING ON THIS SOON SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH REFORMING THE COUNCIL TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE WITH COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TIMES HAVE BEEN ENGINEERS AND I THINK OF IT AS FILING TO REFORM THE BCC TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A QUORUM SO ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD?  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ INNOCENT INNOCENT FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I ALSO REPRESENT A LARGE ARTIST COMMUNITY AND I THINK THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINED BY COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ INNOCENT IS EXCELLENT.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR . I'LL GET THE FLOOR. YEAH. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M ALSO WANT TO JUST GET UP AND THANK COUNCILOR . OPINION IS INNOCENT FOR YOUR VISION IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS REFORM WILL ENABLE TO ENABLE US TO STRATEGICALLY ALLOCATE GRANTS THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY AND CREATIVITY OF BOSTON'S CULTURAL SECTOR. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALWAYS BEING A CHAMPION FOR THE ARTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I ALSO WANT TO RISE AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE. SHE IS THE RESIDENT ARTIST HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT BECAUSE YOU BRING SO MUCH OF YOURSELF AND CREATIVITY IS PART OF INNOVATION AND SO IT ALSO RELATES TO POLICY. SO THE MORE CREATIVE WE CAN BE THE MORE RISK TAKING THAT WE CAN DO, THE MORE WHOLE WE CAN ALL BE SAFE. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THINGS ALONG QUICKLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME IS A QUIET PLEASE THAT CONCERNS BRAYDEN DURKIN FITZGERALD.  FLYNN MEJIA. MURPHY. PATTON. SANTANA, WEBER WERE ALL PLEASE OUT OF CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 1390 WE REFER TO THE OH THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON YOU GOT THE FLOOR.  MADAM PRESIDENT THIS THIS IS A SMALL CHANGE AND I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD JUST MOVE TO SUSPENSION AND PASS HERE CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT HERE. OKAY.  COUNTY COUNCILOR FERNANDO ANDERSON SEEKS SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1390.  ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I I MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE AND WAIT. JUST ONE.  WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL VOTE, MR CLERK.  JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IF SOMEONE IS IF YOU WANT TO IT TO GO TO COMMITTEE YOU CAN OBJECT BECAUSE IT'S AN ORDINANCE OR WE CAN JUST DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY, MR CLERK, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE ROLL CALL VOTE AND DOCKET NUMBER 1390 COUNCIL BRIEFING SAYS PRESENT COUNCILOR GREEN AND PRESENT COUNCILOR LETTERS OF COUNCILOR DURKIN PRESENT COUNCILOR DURKAN PRESENT COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON YES. COUNCILOR SENSE ANSWERED YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR FLYNN YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE YES. COUNCILOR ME HERE.  COUNCILOR ME HERE YES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR MURPHY YES.  COUNCILOR BULLPEN COUNCILOR OF OPEN YES. COUNCILOR SANTANA YES.  COUNCILOR SANTANA YES. COUNCILOR WEBER YES. COUNCILOR OF WEBER YES AND COUNCILOR WORLD YES. COUNCILOR WELL YES.  TEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO PRESIDENT AND ONE ABSENTEE THANK YOU DOCKET NUMBER 139 DOCKET NUMBER 1390 HAS PASSED COMES FROM HERE YOU GIVE HERE YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON. IS THAT NO.  OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1391 DOCKET NUMBER 1391 COUNCILOR FOR ANANDA SANDERSON FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS A HOLISTIC VISION FOR DISTRICT SEVEN IN ORDER TO REDRESS HISTORICAL RACIAL HARM AND TO UPHOLD DISTRICT SO AND CONSTITUENTS CIVIL RIGHTS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNTERPOINT ANDERSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR COUNCILOR HERE AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CASM HE ADDED, COMES WITH AN INTERVENTION. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS DISTRICT SEVEN'S HEARING ORDER AS YOU MOST OF YOU KNOW IN DISTRICT SEVEN WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND RESIDENTS CAPTURE THE FULL SCOPE AND BREADTH OF THE INEQUITIES IMPACTING OUR DISTRICT. DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUNDS WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT SEVEN DISPARITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY, HOUSING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND MORE ALL TO TO REACH THE GOAL OF REDRESSING HISTORIC RACIAL HARMS OR ITS CIVIL RIGHTS. FOR TOO LONG THESE ISSUES DISCRETELY EXISTING IN THEIR SILOS. BUT WE MUST BREAK DOWN THESE SILOS AND VIEW OUR COMMUNITY HOLISTICALLY IN ORDER FOR US TO TRULY CREATE THE DISTRICT SEVEN THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US.  ONE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF DISPLACEMENT.  ONE WHERE SMALL BUSINESS SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE AND PROVIDE THE AMENITIES OF OUR RESIDENTS NEED. ONE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN BE MORE BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY. AND WHERE WE PRIORITIZE TIES TO HEALTH, WELLNESS AND HAPPINESS OF ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.  I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY PROVIDED THAT WE OBTAIN THE RIGHT RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND COORDINATION.  THE PROCESS OF HOW WEAK WE CAME TO FILE THIS HEARING ORDER STARTED WITH THE ROXBURY SUCH A MASSIVE PLAN ROXBURY STRATEGIC MASTER PLAN CULMINATED THREE YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DESIGNED A PLAN TO CREATE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF ROXBURY IN A HOLISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE MANNER. THE FINAL PLAN WAS INTRODUCED IN JANUARY OF 2004 BY MAYOR TO THE LATE MAYOR TOM MENINO AND WAS MEANT TO SERVE AS A NEIGHBORS GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. WHILE HERE WE ARE 20 YEARS LATER AND THE TIME HAS COME TO STANDING THINKING HOLISTICALLY CREATIVELY AND INTENTIONALLY ABOUT THE NEXT 20 YEARS INVOLVING DISTRICTS VISION USING WHAT WE LEARN FROM OUR PAST TWO DECADES. WE MAY YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS NOT A HEARING ORDER BUT A MULTIPLE BREAKING IT DOWN TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS. THIS CONVERSATION IS TOO BIG AND TOO IMPORTANT TO TRY TO SQUEEZE IT ALL IN ONE BLOCK. SO WE INTEND TO HOLD MULTIPLE HEARINGS IN ORDER TO WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS STAKEHOLDERS TO UNPACK THESE SILOS AND WITH THE GOALS OF PRODUCING A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY VISION . WHAT I'VE DONE IS IN THOSE COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR ACTION RESEARCH WITH MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES AND RESOURCES THE COMMUNITY IS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THESE STUDIES ON THESE DIFFERENT AREAS WHETHER AND IN TERMS OF BEST PRACTICES TO REDRESS RACIAL HARMS AND SO WE'VE I'VE CREATED THE ACTION PLAN THE DISTRICT SEVEN ACTION PLAN. IN THERE THERE'S THERE ARE SEVEN DOMAINS IN EACH DOMAIN. OF COURSE PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OR THE GAPS OF IN THE DISTRICT. WE'VE DONE AN ACID MAPPING AND UNDERSTOOD NOW WHAT EXACTLY THE DISTRICT PRESENTS AND OR DOESN'T PRESENT. AND SO NOW IT'S COME A TIME FOR US TO TAKE A FULL INVENTORY OF WHERE WE ARE. THEN WE PRESENTED OF ROXBURY STATE OF SOUTH BEND AND THE STATE OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT SEVEN SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GO ITEM BY ITEM TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY HOW THE CITY HAS MET THE NEEDS OF DISTRICT SEVEN. AND SO WE COMPILE THAT WITH MY OFFICE WORK WITH THE POLICIES AND SO WE THEN WENT BACK TO BE YOU AND WE ASKED THEM TO DO A FULL METRICS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT I AS A COUNCILOR IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF DISTRICT SEVEN. AND SO WHAT I WILL DO AFTER THESE HEARINGS IS HOPEFULLY HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK AND HOPEFULLY WITH YOUR SUPPORT GET INTO A CONVERSATION WHERE WE CAN TALK WITH ADMINISTRATION AND STAKEHOLDERS AND THESE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO COMB THROUGH ALL OF THIS WORK AND PROVIDE TO YOU END OF YEAR REPORT OF WHAT DISTRICTS AT THE STATE OF DISTRICT SEVEN. SO THIS WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENCHMARKS THAT ARE STILL NEEDED TO MEET THE GAPS OR TO REDRESS RACIAL HARMS. TRULY CIVIL RIGHTS NECESSITY AND LONG OVERDUE AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PUT US ON THE TRAJECTORY FOR US TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WORK TOWARD A BETTER DISTRICT SEVEN AND ONE HOPEFULLY EXEMPLARY FOR ALL OF BOSTON. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LIKELY TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAD THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR ANDERSON AND HER LEADERSHIP IN OFFERING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REDRESS HISTORICAL RACIAL HARMS AND UPHOLD THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE ROXBURY, THE SOUTH END AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF DORCHESTER AREAS THAT HAVE FACED MANY YEARS OF SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT AND OFTEN WHAT I HAVE SEEN AS STRAIGHT OUT JUST NEGLECT AND SINCE HER TIME ON THE COUNCIL COUNCILOR ANDERSON WHEN SHE WAS THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS CAME HERE WITH A VISION OF REALLY ROOTING RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL OF OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESSES.  AND I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR HEARING ORDER IN TERMS OF JUST LOOKING AT SETTING THE VISION REALLY CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE THE WORK AND MODEL IT NOT JUST IN DISTRICT SEVEN BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD CASE STUDY, IF YOU WILL, OR A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER DISTRICTS TO SEE WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR AGAIN REALLY BEING INNOVATIVE IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE APPROACHING THE WORK.  THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION NOT JUST TO CORRECT THE PASSENGER NOTICES BUT TO BUILD UPON A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE. WE KNOW THAT THE DISPARITIES IN THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN ROXBURY IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT OF BLACK BAY AND BLACK AND BROWN BUSINESS OWNERS FACE MANY BARRIERS ACCESSING CAPITAL AND IT IS FOR A TIME THAT WE ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES BY FOCUSING ON HOUSING, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.  WE ARE COMMITTED TO BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE IMPACTED DISTRICT SEVEN AND IN TURN THE ENTIRE CITY AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT ROXBURY IS LITERALLY THE HEART OF BOSTON.  IT'S LIKE RIGHT TAP IN THE MIDDLE. NOW ALL YOU DISTRICT COUNCILS DON'T GET JEALOUS BUT IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT ROXBURY GROVE HALL NUBIAN SQUARE IS LIKE THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. IT IS WHERE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER. IT IS LITERALLY THE HEART OF THE CITY AND A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID AROUND THE ARTERY I THINK IT WAS BACK THEN YOU WILL UTILIZE THAT AS A SYMBOL AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES, I THINK THAT ROXBURY IS D7 IN PARTICULAR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MODEL FOR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE'RE REPAIRING THE HARM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING YOU ON ALL OF THOSE HEARINGS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY OF THEM. BUT WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THIS WHOLE IDEA IS THAT MY THINKING IS IS THAT WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER AND THE EXPECTATION IS IS THAT THESE HUMANS ARE GOING TO COME OUT WITH HERE'S WHERE WE ARE, HERE'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND HERE IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET US THERE AND THEN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT. AND I THINK THAT THIS 2.0 VERSION OF THE NEXT 20 YEARS IS GOING TO SET US IN THAT DIRECTION.  SO I SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU ON THIS JOURNEY . THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? THERE'S A CLERIC WHO SAID COUNCILORS BRAEDEN DURKAN FITZGERALD. FLYNN MURPHY BIG BAND SANTANA WEBER WORLD PEACE OTHER CHAIR DUNCAN NUMBER 1391 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS RACIAL EQUITY AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER 1392 DOC NUMBER 139 TO COUNCIL ZERO FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BOSTON'S NO. 225 LIQUOR LICENSES. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALCANTARA HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I LIKE TO ADD COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. I AM SO ADDED COUNCILOR WHILE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND I ALSO LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCIL HERE AS INDIVIDUAL CO-SPONSORED COUNCIL WORLDS AND EXPAND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILMAN HE HAS THE THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILMAN HE ALSO ADDED IT WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST INTRODUCED THIS HOME RULE PETITION AND THE PRIDE I HAD WHEN IT GAINED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL ON THE PRIOR COUNCIL AND NOW CLOSER REALITY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE HOME RULE PETITION AND THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE ON THE STATE'S BILL. BOSTON HAS NOW HAS 225 NEW LIQUOR LICENSES A TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN, EAST, BOSTON, HYDE PARK AND MORE. IF THESE RESTAURANTS HAD TO BUY THESE LIQUOR LICENSES ON THE PRIVATE MARKET, IT COULD COST THEM $600,000. BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS MAKE IT AFFORDABLE. I WANTED TO THANK YOU THANK YOU TO SPEAKER MARIANO AND LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. BRETT MORAN, SENATOR BROWN BURGER REP RYAN SENATOR COLLINS. BRETT FERGUSON, SENATOR MIRANDA AND SENATOR TOM TARR FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORT AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND OF COURSE SHOUT OUT TO MY LITTLE BROTHER REP FOR GETTING THIS IMPLEMENTED IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PASSING THE POLICY IN MY OFFICE IS ALREADY GETTING CALLS ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK. TAKE OUT BUSINESSES SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR DECADES ARE ENTERING NEW TERRITORY TERRITORY IF THEY APPLY FOR A LICENSE. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. WE NEED TO CREATE A ROBUST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION MAKING SURE EVERY ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS AND EVERY WOULD BE RESTAURANTEUR KNOWS ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. THE SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO ASSIST ENTREPRENEURS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND AS THEY CONVERT THEIR TAKE OUT RESTAURANT TO A SIT DOWN RESTAURANT.  THE WORK AHEAD WILL BE KEY AND I KNOW THE OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS AND LICENSES ALREADY STARTED MOVING ON THIS BUT I BELIEVE IT'S CRUCIAL FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE PART OF THAT PLANNING PROCESS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES GET WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AND WHAT THEY DESERVE.  THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT LICENSES. IT'S ABOUT CREATING LASTING ECONOMIC IMPACT AND BRINGING LONG OVERDUE GROWTH TO OUR MAIN STREETS AND BUSINESS CORNERS.  I LOOK FORWARD TO HOLDING A HEARING AND DISCUSSING NEXT STEPS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS . I WAS GLAD TO CO-SPONSOR LAST TERM AND TO PUSH THIS FORWARD.  IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN IT HAPPENED. SO I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE LEADERS OF THE STATE HOUSE WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN AND I THINK WHEN THIS SLIDE WHEN WE SAW THIS LEGISLATION SIMILAR LEGISLATION GO THROUGH IN 2014, THERE WERE THERE WERE SOME PITFALLS BECAUSE THERE WASN'T THAT PREP WORK DONE IN NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MATTAPAN.  AND SO DOING THIS PREP WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND ALSO WORKING AND HAND IN HAND WITH OUR MAIN STREETS I THINK IS REALLY KEY TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND THAT THEY CAN REALLY MEET BUSINESSES WHERE THEY ARE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPAND THEIR BUSINESSES AND REALLY ABOUT THE ECONOMIC VITALITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAD THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CO-SPONSOR THIS HEARING ORDER ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR MIRO AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND I JUST WANT TO REALLY SHOUT OUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, BOTH OF YOU IN THE STATE HOUSE WHEN YOU WERE GOING THERE, YOU KNOW, AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AND JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT EFFORT WAS REALLY DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US HERE BECAUSE YOU GUYS REALLY DID THE MANTLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT SPACE AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOU OVERALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK THAT YOU DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SENATE INCLUDING YOUR LITTLE BROTHER CHRIS MORALES WHO PUSHED THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THROUGH.  THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AWAITED OPPORTUNITY FOR BOSTON, PARTICULARLY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MATTAPAN AND THE BLUE LAB CORRIDOR THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN OVERLOOKED WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS WITH THE CREATION OF THESE 225 NEW LIQUOR LICENSES, WE NOW HAVE A REAL CHANCE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BUILD WEALTH ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.  THIS MOMENT CALLS FOR US TO BE MINDFUL AND INTENTIONAL IN HOW WE DISTRIBUTE THESE LICENSES. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THESE THAT WE CREATE REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY STRUGGLING TO HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.  I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE IN ALL LANGUAGES AND ATTENDING SESSIONS AT TIMES THAT ARE CONVENIENT. AND FOR OUR ENTREPRENEURS AND PROVIDING TARGETED OUTREACH TO THE BUSINESSES THAT NEED THIS SUPPORT THE MOST AND I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THAT DURING THE ADVOCACY PIECE OF THIS WORK. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP IS THAT WE WERE SUPER INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT HISPANIC LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES WERE ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION SO WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR NETWORK TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS AT STAKE AND A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS WAS AND FOLLOWING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION REALLY GOT THEM ON BOARD WITH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY FIGHT FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT. SO I JUST AM REALLY EXCITED FOR WHAT THIS OPPORTUNITY MEANS FOR FOLKS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. AND I THINK THAT IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY AND THESE 225 LICENSES THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO APPLY THE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND AND WITH THAT I'LL JUST SAY SOMETHING REALLY QUICK IN SPANISH BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ALONG IT OUT OF OUR OWN LIVES TO GO WITH THIS AND GO LISTEN TO THE LEGAL CAPITAL.  I DON'T KNOW ANY LEGAL ETHICAL IS ALL I COULD TELL YOU THAT NO LOCOMOTION BASED ON A PARTICULAR MP IN THAT PROCESS TO COME UP WITH AN APPLICABLE LEGAL YOU COME UP WITH SOME NEGOCIO SO STUPID I CAN THE I LOVE REPRESENTANTE BECAUSE THEY HAD RURAL PARTS TO PAN OUT AND YET THEY LOOK AT IT AS BEING THE PRECEDENT THAT THE CONSELHO CASA LOUIJEUNE BOARD SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING IN THAT CAPACITY THAT SO THEY WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN DO EVEN MORE SO WHAT I LOOK AT THE AND THE EL PROCESO IF I'M THINKING LIKE I FIND A SINGLE OPPORTUNITY THAT I CAN ACCESS I BARELY SENSE YES . GARCIA THANK YOU. CORETTA COMES IN HERE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WANT TO STAND IN JUST SUPPORT OF WHAT COUNCILOR WE'RE ALL AND COLLEAGUES ARE DOING IN REGARDS TO THE EXPANSION OF THE LIQUOR LICENSES IN BOSTON BECAUSE JUST KNOWING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO START WITH SOMETHING IN THE CHAMBERS TO PUSH FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO TO ADVOCATE FOR IT BUT TO SEE INTO FRUITION IS VERY DIFFICULT. SO I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS COUNCILOR WORRELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THIS SINCE I MET YOU AND SOMEONE THAT SHARES YOU KNOW MATTAPAN IS DIVIDED INTO INTO BOTH OF OUR DISTRICTS SO BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONSISTENTLY HEAR FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY WANT MORE SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS WHERE THEY BE ABLE TO ENJOY A DRINK AT NIGHT AFTER WORK NOT HAVE TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT ACTUALLY SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS. THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO THIS CHANGE AND IT'S NOT JUST MAP AND IT'S THE ENTIRE CITY.  IT'S BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BRING IN MORE RESOURCES, BRINGING MORE REVENUE BUT TO JUST EVEN CREATE MORE STORAGE SPACES. THE THIRD SPACE IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW OUR LOCATIONS WHERE COMMUNITY COMES TO GATHER AND TO CELEBRATE AND I'M A BIG FAN OF THAT SO I JUST I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE INFO SESSIONS ARE GOING AND AS COUNCILMAN HAS SAID MAKING SURE THAT ALL COACHES ARE INVITED AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN ALL LANGUAGES. SO I'M JUST AGAIN JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO ON THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS BREADON DURKIN, FERNANDO ANDERSON FITZGERALD.  FLYNN MURPHY THE BAND SANTANA WEBER THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1392 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 1393 DOCKET NUMBER 1393 IS WERE ALL IN MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET THANK YOU THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TO OUR OUTCOMES ARE YOU UP FOR THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT DID SUSPEND THE RULE THROUGH 12 AND ADD COUNCILOR WEBER AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CONTROLS EXPANSION OF THE RULES ADD COUNSELOR WEBER AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTION COUNSELOR WEBER SO ADDED COUNCILOR I HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. WE DO NOT NEED TO LOOK TOO FAR TO KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITH BOTH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS DOCKET WE'LL START THE PROCESS FOR THE COUNCIL TO OFFICIALLY ADVOCATE FOR THE FBI 26 SCHOOL BUDGET LAST YEAR AS A COUNCIL WE TOOK AN EARLIER THAN USUAL LOOK AT BP'S $1.6 BILLION BUDGET THAT INCLUDED COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY OR WORK WORKING SESSION IN MARCH WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MORE HEARINGS IN APRIL AND MAY THIS YEAR. WE WANT TO GET TO WORK EVEN EARLIER SO THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES CAN BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. I'M PROPOSING THAT WE BEGAN PUBLIC TESTIMONY HEARINGS AND WORKED SESSIONS BEFORE THE SUPERINTEND IT EVEN PROVIDES SCHOOL COMMITTEE WITH THE BUDGET ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF FEBRUARY WE WILL OFFICIALLY BEGAN IN NOVEMBER AND THIS DOCKET WILL KICK OFF THAT PROCESS AND ALSO A BIT OF PROMISING NEWS IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO OUR REQUEST THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR TO GET AN ACTUAL BP BUDGET BOOK AS OPPOSED TO A COMPILATION OF SPREADSHEETS AND POWERPOINT POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO SUCCESS ONCE THEY'RE DOWN WITH THEIR TIME AT BP'S AND I HOPE THIS PROCESS CAN MOVE US A LITTLE CLOSER TO THAT REALITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES TO MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS WHEN COUNCILOR ARISE I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING WITH BP'S EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE I OFTEN FEEL WE ARE AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND SO BY DOING THIS WE ARE LITERALLY CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS.  AND SO THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE.  RIGHT. AND GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE IN THAT PROCESS. RIGHT? SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND FURTHERMORE THAT WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT'S PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS WHO ARE EITHER DOING THE WORK AND OR LIVING THE REALITIES GIVING THEM A PLATFORM TO BE FULLY EXPRESSED AND I THINK AND I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC AND SO I REALLY AM EXCITED ABOUT NOT WAITING UNTIL THE FINAL STAGES AND AND BEING MORE PROACTIVE AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND ENSURING THAT THE RIGHT POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE AND THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ANYONE A PASS EVERY YEAR WE PASSED THE BUDGET AND THEN HERE THE SAME ISSUES, THE SAME CHALLENGES, THE SAME GAPS, THE SAME OLD STORY. THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES ARE THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US AND MAYBE THEIR OUTFITS BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.  I THINK THAT NEEDS TO STOP NOW AND WE CAN'T KEEP EXPECTING THE SAME CYCLE. WE WERE ONLY ENGAGED WITH THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS JUST BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON AND THEN GET EXPECT IT TO SIMPLY PASS IT WITHOUT ADDRESSING ANY REAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF THE HEARING ORDERS THAT WE FILE AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION WHICH IS GREAT, THAT REALLY DOESN'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. SO I THINK THAT THESE HEARINGS SHOULD BE IN YOUR COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL FIND OUT. I'M SURE BY THE END OF THE SPEECH. BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO WORK PROACTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET TRULY REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. I'M GOING TO ASSUME IT'S GOING TO BE IN YOUR COMMITTEE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RUBBER STAMPING A BUDGET WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUES WE KNOW EXIST AND WE KNOW AND WE OWE IT TO OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS TO BE DEEPLY ENGAGED RIGHT FROM THE START TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 26 BUDGET ISN'T ANOTHER CYCLE, ISN'T JUST ANOTHER ROUND OF POWERPOINTS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING MY TIME HERE ON THE COUNCIL EVERY TIME I HOSTED A HEARING DIDN'T WANT POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE IT'S JUST THE DOG AND PONY SHOW AND WE JUST KEEP MOVING THINGS ALONG.  SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS PROCESS AND YOUR VISION FOR WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WILL REALLY CHANGE AND STEP IT UP A NOTCH. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING THE HEARINGS MORE IMPORTANTLY DOING SO IN COMMUNITY AND CREATING A PLATFORM WHERE WE CAN HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.  THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILORS WERE ILL AND HERE FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN THIS AS A AS A SPONSOR.  YOU KNOW, THE BP'S IS PART OF THE ONE MAIN REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY THE CLOSURE OF MY KIDS SCHOOL IN JAMAICA PLAIN LED ME TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT BP'S AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TRY TO FIND THE ANSWERS AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME TO GET INVOLVED LOCALLY.  YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS WHERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE BUDGET TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR NOT JUST KIDS BUT FAMILIES ALL ACROSS BOSTON IN PARTICULAR. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT BP IS DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, KIDS WHO NEED HELP, KIDS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, KIDS WITH LEARNING ISSUES, KIDS WHO YOU KNOW ARE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES AND ARE BEING BUSSED BACK INTO THE CITY FROM A SHELTER OUTSIDE THE CITY AND WE'RE NOT LETTING PEOPLE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT BY THEM. AND I THINK LOOKING AT THE BUDGET WILL HELP US DO THAT SO I JUST WANT TO AGAIN WANT TO THANK THEM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS ISSUE WHICH YOU KNOW, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GIVE THEM ANSWERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRITTON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WORRELL FOR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE BEFORE US. I'M DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO BUDGET BOOKS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WHAT SO OFTEN WHAT THE MONEY GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OF WHAT THE MONEY IS SPENT ON. I ALSO THINK THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS REALLY,  REALLY VERY ESSENTIAL IN PROMOTING PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR PART AND KEEPS ONE THIRD OF THE CITY BUDGET IT GOES TO SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND WE WANT TO REALLY AIM HIGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE EXPAND ON OUR SCHOOLS. I, I REALLY FEEL THAT WE YOU LAST YEAR THROUGH YOUR INITIATIVE OF ASKING FOR AN EARLIER CONVERSATION WITH BEPS SET A MARKER AND I REALLY APPLAUD YOU FOR TRYING TO PUSH IT EVEN EARLIER IN THE CYCLE BECAUSE WE REALLY IT'S SUCH A HUGE BUDGET AND IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE THE SOONER WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON ON ON MATERIALS AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OF HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND PRIORITIZE IS IS GOING TO HELP US AND YOU KNOW DELIBERATIONS AND ALSO HELP HOLD BP ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THEY'RE OUTCOMES AND HOW THEY SPEND CITY MONEY. I REALLY DO ALSO WOULD ADD TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MASTER FACILITIES PLAN AND NOT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AS WELL AS JUST THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND GETTING INTO THE WEEDS WITH BP'S THANK YOU.  THANK YOU THE JARGON AS IS COUNCILOR SANTANA YOU HAVE TO PLAY.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. AS CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE I WANT TO JUST THANK COUNCILOR AROUND HERE AT WEBER THEIR LEADERSHIP IN INTRODUCING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING ORDER. IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET EARLY ENOUGH TO MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR STUDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE FOR DEEPENING WORK ON THE BUDGET IN ADDITION TO THE OPERATING BUDGET AND FOR CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION SET BY PREVIOUS CHAIRS INCLUDING COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON YOUR EFFORTS HAVE HELPED US EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO EXERCISE GREATER OVERSIGHT AND ADVOCACY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES OF OUR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SANTANA IS ANYONE ELSE I'D MISSPEAK ON THIS MATTER. I ALSO TO THANK AND I'M GRATEFUL AND HOPEFUL FOR THIS FILING. I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MORE DIGGING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE BUDGET BOOK. I KNOW THAT SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAS A SIMILAR REQUEST SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE HEARINGS AND TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUDGET EARLIER ON, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR QUITE PLEASED COUNCILORS BRAEDON DURKIN.  FERNANDA ANDERSON FITZGERALD. FLYNN. MURPHY PIPPEN. SANTANA PLEASE THE CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 1393 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1394 DOG NUMBER 139 FOR COUNCILOR FERNANDA SANDERSON OFF OF THE FILING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE. ITS GOALS VISION ENCOMPASSES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND RECOVERY . THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR NANJIANI'S AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.  MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO ADD YOU MADAM PRESIDENT CONSTITUTION AS THE ORIGINAL COUNCILOR PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE SO ADDED CASA GRANDE ENGINEERS AND YOU HAVE THIS FLOOR. THANK YOU.  LAST YEAR BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH FOUND THAT THAT THE OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSE RATE WAS OVER 9% HIGHER THAN IT WAS DURING THE PRE-PANDEMIC PEAK IN 2016. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON HAS INCREASED BY 10.6% ACCORDING TO BOSTON'S ANNUAL HOMELESS CENSUS . WHILE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND HOMELESSNESS EXIST IN ALL CORNERS OF CITY OF BOSTON, NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE CLEVELAND SQUARE EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATE RACE OF BOTH THIS PROBLEM DEMANDS NOT ONLY URGENCY IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BUT ALSO DEMANDS THE CREATION OF A HOLISTIC PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEED FOR BOTH LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND THOSE LIVING WITHOUT SHELTER EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. WE'VE SEEN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES AND EVEN OTHER COUNTRIES TACKLE THIS ISSUE WITH RESOUNDING SUCCESS. LISBON PORTUGAL, FOR EXAMPLE, SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED THE OPIOID CRISIS BY DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS, INCREASING ACCESS TO SERVICES AND PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES PSYCHIATRIC AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. SIMILARLY, THE NEWMARKET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PLAN TITLED RECOVERY BOSTON WOULD BUILD A TEMPORARY RECOVERY CAMPUS WITH A PATHWAY TOWARDS PERMANENT HOUSING AND LONG TERM SOBRIETY FOR PARTICIPANTS. THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE A HOLISTIC MOVE TO SQUARE AND REALLY WHAT THE WORK THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO IS MEET WITH THE TASK FORCE AND BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DELINEATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES TO ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE HOLISTIC, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN BE MONITORED OR MEASURED AND THEN CONVERSATIONS AROUND CREATING A PLAN HAS TAKEN PLACE. I'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH DR. DAKOTA, THE COMMISSIONER FOR BPC AND SHE HAS ENSURED ME THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATOR AND OTHER TYPES OF MATERIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE EMPLOYED TO ASSIST NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE. BUT NONETHELESS THERE THERE THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE THERE'S A NEED FOR A PARTICULARLY COMPREHENSIVE MEASURABLE PLAN AND ALSO PERHAPS A FACILITY OR SOME SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHERE TO CHECK IN AND MONITOR WHETHER OR NOT SERVICES ARE ACTUALLY BEING IMPLEMENTED AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CO-SPONSORING.  THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE AS THEY WORK ON ISSUES OF RACIAL JUSTICE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING . WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, BUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TOGETHER ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING TO CONTINUE THE WORK. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FOR ANY OTHER FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK A QUESTION TO COUNCILOR FOR AN END AS ANDERSON, YOU MAY.  WOULD THIS DISCUSSION INCLUDE SAFE INJECTION SITES?  DO THAT CHAIR COUNCILMAN ANDREW ANDERSON IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION, YOU MAY. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR ASKING.  I THINK THAT IT SHOULD INCLUDE ALL BEST PRACTICES AND FROM THERE THEN A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE. IT'S JUST IT'S A CONVERSATION SO EXPECT ALL TYPES OF , YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK OR OPINIONS OR BEST PRACTICES TO BE DISCUSSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BREADON FITZGERALD DURKIN MAKIYA, PAT BENN SANTANA WEBER WORLD THERE'S DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1394 WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, RACIAL EQUITY AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 1395? DUGAN NUMBER 1395 COUNCIL OF LAYING OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CAPTURE AND COUNTERCLAIM YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I'M FILING THIS HEARING ORDER TODAY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.  DUE TO THE RISING COST OF HOUSING, IT'S MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY AND TO LIVE IN THE CITY INCLUDING RECRUITING ESPECIALLY LOW WAGE WORKERS.  WHEN THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1976, THE REQUIREMENT WAS INTENDED SO THAT CITY EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE IN TO ENSURE WORKING FAMILIES REMAINED IN BOSTON. I ALSO SUPPORT THAT. I RESPECT THAT. WE ALSO WE ALSO SHOULD HAVE A STAKE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALL DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE BOSTON THE BEST CITY IT CAN BE. NOW WITH RISING HOUSING COST RENT EXPENSES, THIS HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR OUR YOUNGER AND LOWER WAGE EMPLOYEES. WITH THE AVERAGE SALARY IS $79,000, ONE WORKER MENTIONED TO ME THAT SHE WORKS AT ONE OF THE LIBRARIES IN BOSTON. SHE MAKES $50,000 A YEAR. SHE'S REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE CITY.  I HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE OF A HOUSE IS $960,000 FOR A SINGLE ADULT HOUSE TO MAKE OVER $124,000 A YEAR TO LIVE COMFORTABLY IN THE CITY.  A FAMILY OF FOUR HAS TO MAKE ABOUT $300,000. THOSE ARE EYE POPPING NUMBERS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.  A GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY THIS YEAR FOUND THAT 25% OF ADULTS AGE 20 TO 30 ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE BOSTON IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. MANY OF THEM ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES ALSO JUST UNABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY. THIS HAS RAISED QUESTIONS FOR SOME RESIDENTS ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT RESIDENCY HAS ON RETAINING THE TALENT HERE IN BOSTON.  WE HAVE SEEN CHALLENGES OF EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCLUDING AT THE BOSTON POLICE CRIME LAB WHERE IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HIRE CRIME ANALYSTS BASED ON THEIR RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.  AS BOSTON CONTINUES TO RANK AS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO LIVE, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY'S RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT. ITS IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT AND TO ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.  THE REALITY NOW IS THAT MANY OF OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES IN WORKING FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO AFFORD NEARLY $1 MILLION FOR A HOME OR TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY WITH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING.  AGAIN, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES HOW CAN A WORKER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON MAKING $50,000 A YEAR HOW CAN THEY AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY? WE MAKE $150,000 A YEAR AND WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY . BUT IT'S DIFFICULT. IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ESPECIALLY LOW WAGE WORKERS. GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY OR MAYBE EVEN JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR STRUGGLES ARE. LISTEN TO THEM AND MAYBE THAT HELPS US DEVELOP BETTER POLICY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MILLER.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO THE CHAMBER. WE FILED THE HEARING ORDER.  IT WAS A REFERRAL FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING. I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LOOK AT ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING AS IT RELATES TO OUR WORKFORCE. I KNOW COUNCILOR , I'M PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING AND DOING A LOT OF THINKING AROUND HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE WAGES OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES DURING THE UPPER CONVERSATION. WE CREATED A RENTAL RELIEF FUND OF $750,000 TO SUPPORT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF ADVOCACY AND LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO UNPACKING THIS FURTHER. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY BE SUPER MINDFUL AND CAREFUL IN TERMS OF HOW WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE EVERYTHING AS IT RELATES TO POLICY SOMETIMES WE HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.  SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOW CREATING FURTHER RACIAL DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITHIN THE HALLS OF OUR CITY HALL HERE.  RIGHT? SO I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE MINDFUL . I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN STEP UP FOR FOLKS IN WAYS THAT DON'T JUST FURTHER DISPLACE US. SO I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WHO ARE FEELING THE CRUNCH AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THEIR JOBS AND END UP WORKING 2 TO 3 JUST SO THEY CAN STAY HERE. SO I THINK ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE A PART OF THE DIALOG AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CENTERING ON MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN SITUATIONS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE IN.  AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIALOG AND BEING SUPER MINDFUL OF WHERE IT TAKES US.  THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD OH THE CHAIR I CAN.  THIS IS COUNCIL AROUND TIMES WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. AND JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION FORWARD.  THE CITY OF BOSTON THE JOB RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT AS STATED BY COUNCILOR FLYNN WAS INTRODUCED UNDER MAYOR KEVIN WHITE IN THE 1970S AND WAS PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE TRULY INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. WHILE THIS POLICY HAS BEEN UPHELD AND ADJUSTED BY VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS OVER THE YEARS WE CANNOT IGNORE THE REALITY THAT LIVING IN BOSTON HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR MANY ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNGER EMPLOYEES AND THOSE IN LOWER WAGE ROLES. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE WE ARE ALREADY DOING SO MUCH TO KEEP JOBS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS AS SEEN THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THE BOSTON RESIDENTS JOBS POLICY. BUT IT'S TIME, I BELIEVE TO EXPLORE AREAS WHERE WE MAY NEED ONE TIME EXEMPTIONS. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF COMPLETELY LIFTING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.  BOSTON JOBS I BELIEVE SHOULD BE FOR A BOSTON RESIDENT BUT WE DO NEED TO BE REALISTIC AND EXPLORE WHERE STRATEGIC EXEMPTIONS FOR CRITICAL ROLES CAN HELP FILL VACANCIES AND KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND CHAMPIONED THE EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY HOUSING RELIEF PROGRAM LAST YEAR AND ALSO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING BUT THE EMERGENCY HOUSING RELIEF PROGRAM LAST YEAR PROVIDED UP TO $10,000 IN HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE FUNDS PROGRAM.  THESE ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED MORE OF . INVESTMENTS THAT CAN HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO STAY IN THE CITY THEY SERVE AND THE COUNCIL IS CONTINUALLY INVESTING IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, HOUSING VOUCHERS, RENTAL VOUCHERS THAT MAKE IT EASIER AND EASIER FOR BOSTONIANS TO LIVE AND BUY A HOME IN BOSTON DURING THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. WE ALL PUSHED FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP VOUCHERS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES AND WE NEED TO KEEP DRIVING DRIVING THIS FORWARD. OUR GOAL SHOULD BE CLEAR BOSTON JOBS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS AND WE WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN TO CONTINUE SUPPORT AND SMART INVESTMENTS. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE. THAT COUNCILORS BRAYDEN FINCH FERNANDES ANDERSON FITZGERALD MURPHY PITT BENN. PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR.  OH, AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE AND CANCEL MEJIA.  DOCKET NUMBER 1395 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1396. Q NUMBER 1396 COUNCIL OF SPIN OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING HERO SQUARES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM FILING THIS HEARING TODAY TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A HERO SQUARE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO DOES A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING THIS MESSAGE AS WELL. WE HAVE A LARGE VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILY POPULATION IN BOSTON. THIS HEARING WILL GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW TO GET A HERO SQUARE ESTABLISHED.  MANY RESIDENTS MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS AND WE HOPE TO RAISE AWARENESS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE FOR OUR COUNTRY. THOSE THAT MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION.  OVER THE WEEKEND WE WERE AT THE MEDAL OF HONOR PARK IN SOUTH BOSTON AND WE CELEBRATED THE REDEDICATION OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL. IN TALKING TO THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES THAT LOST THEIR SONS 40 YEARS AGO OVER 40 YEARS AGO, THE PAIN ON THE PAIN TALKING TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES IS STILL THERE.  WE ALWAYS WANT TO REMEMBER OUR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE CITY AND HERO SQUARES IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT FOR ALL IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU,  COUNSELOR FLYNN FOR THIS FILING. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND JOE CONNELLY IN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DOES GREAT WORK WITH OUR HERO SQUARES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORGANIZATION KILLED IN ACTION HONORING THOSE WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AND WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKS ON A HERO SQUARES BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME TO THAT COUNCIL IS BRAEDON FINNEGAN DURKIN FRIEND AND JOIN US IN FITZGERALD AND HEAR MURPHY PIPPEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE OUT OF THE CHAIR. DOCKET NUMBER 1396 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS MILITARY FAMILIES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REDACT NUMBER 1397 DUCK NUMBER 1397 COUNCILORS WEBER AND MEJIA FOR THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS LONG TERM VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER. COUNCILOR WEBER. HE HAD THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, I AM SURE THAT WE ALL WALK BY A STOREFRONT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR A LONG TIME. YOU REMEMBER WHAT USED TO BE THERE? WE WONDER WHY NOTHING ELSE IS COMING IN THERE. WE WONDER WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. UM, HERE IN THE CITY WE HAVE THE SPACE GRANT WHICH THE CITY HAS SPENT $9 MILLION GETTING NEW BUSINESSES INTO INTO SPACES EMPTY STOREFRONTS LIKE THIS AND YOU KNOW OUR THE MAYOR'S PLAN WITH ARPA DOLLARS IS GOING TO PUT A MILLION MORE DOLLARS INTO THAT PROGRAM TO HELP STARTUP BUSINESSES.  UM, BUT THE THE ISSUE HERE ARE SPACES THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY LEFT VACANT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN WHERE WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH COVID AND PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD SPACES YOU KNOW IN ALL OF THE PLACES WHERE WE LIVE THERE WAS A IT WAS A PAPER BY A HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL FELLOW RECENTLY WHICH LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS WILL KEEP 5 TO 10% OF THEIR SPACES OPEN FOR AS A JUST HOPING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY SORT OF A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WHERE THEY SAY WELL MAYBE STARBUCKS WILL COME IN, THEY'LL PAY MORE RENT THAN I CAN GET FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS AND SO THEY KEEP THOSE SPACES OPEN HOPING FOR A NATIONAL CHAIN OR BIG SPENDER TO COME IN. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES CAN'T GET OFF THE GROUND, CAN'T EVEN GET IN THE SPACE AND WE ENDED UP WITH LARGE PORTIONS OF OUR MAIN STREETS, YOU KNOW, WITH NOTHING THERE. UM, SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TURN TO THIS ISSUE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. UM, YOU KNOW ONE THING IS TO COME UP WITH AN INVENTORY OF COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OPEN FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS MORE THAN A YEAR IT LETS US KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING A RED FLAG WILL BE RAISED THE CITY WE CAN CONTACT THE LANDLORD, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.  SOMETIMES THE LANDLORDS THEY DON'T EVEN THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH THIS HAPPENING IN JAMAICA PLAIN THERE'S A LANDLORD FORMER 7-ELEVEN SPACE WHO APPARENTLY LIVES IN FLORIDA, DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE OF THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING. WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE TO THE LANDLORDS SAY PLEASE, YOU KNOW, LET'S HELP YOU. WE CAN HELP YOU FIND SOMEBODY TO FILL THAT SPACE. ANOTHER THING WE CAN LOOK AT IT'S IT'S A VACANCY TAX CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, D.C. HAVE A VACANCY TAX AND SPACES ARE KEPT OPEN LONG TERM. THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT DOING THIS FOR NEW YORK CITY.  THAT'S THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL FELLOW IN IN HER WISDOM FOUND THAT THE VACANCY TAXES DO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF TIME SPACES ARE EMPTY AND DOES REDUCE RENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING TO DO IT IT DOES COME WITH DOWNSIDES. IT CREATES MORE TURNOVER, MORE STRESS ON COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS. WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WE HAVE A LOT OF STRESS RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS AND YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE PROPER TO DO THAT NOW BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT . SO UM I, I, I WOULD JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND SO I'D LIKE TO AND AGAIN I KNOW COUNCIL COUNCILOR MEJIA HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND I SAY I THANK HER FOR JOINING ME IN CONTINUING TO TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND BACK TO YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. THE CHAIRMAN HAS JUST COME FROM HERE BECAUSE WE HEAR YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER FOR ADDING ME AS A CO-SPONSOR IN THIS HEARING AND LONG TERM THINKING COMMERCIAL SPACES IN BOSTON.  I FEEL LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE ALREADY AND I'M GOING TO SAY I'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT BUT THIS IS A REOCCURRING CONVERSATION THAT WE SAW ESPECIALLY DURING COVID AND WE WORKED ALONGSIDE DARYL WITHERS AND JACOB AND A FEW OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS. WE HELD A SERIES OF TOWN HALLS ,HOSTED A HEARING, WORKED ALONGSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION,  DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THE INVENTORY, THE TRACKING. SO I THINK THAT WITH COVID EVERYTHING IS JUST A BLUR. BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU NOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CARRY THE MANTLE TO BRING IT TO THE FINISH LINE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE OUT OF COVID AND WE CAN FOCUS NOW ON OTHER THINGS. I THINK THAT THIS IS A TIMELY CONVERSATION TO BE HAVING.  WE FILED THE HEARING ORDER BACK IN 2021 AND DURING THAT HEARING WE LEARNED THAT HOW VACANCIES HARM BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS MANY LANDLORDS HAD GONE OVER A YEAR WITHOUT RENT WHILE SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY THOSE OWNED BY WOMEN AND IMMIGRANTS WERE STILL AND STILL ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE SPACES. CREATIVE INITIATIVES LIKE POP UPS AND ART IN ART INSTALLATIONS ARE A TEMPORARY FIXES SO WE NEED SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP SMALL BUSINESSES REMAIN IN THESE SPACES LONG TERM AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE WERE NAVIGATING THIS CONVERSATION IT FEELS LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PARTICULARLY DORCHESTER, ROXBURY, MATTAPAN,  EAST BOSTON, HYDE PARK WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU SEE STOREFRONTS CLOSE, IT FEELS LIKE A DESERT. IT FEELS LIKE COMMERCIAL GENTRIFICATION IF YOU WILL, RIGHT? IT FEELS LIKE DESOLATE.  AND SO I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES AND INCENTIVIZING LANDLORDS TO RENT THEIR PROPERTIES WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES. I THINK THAT THOSE TWO THINGS NEED TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING ALL VOICES TO THE TABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE. BUT I THINK HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN 2021 AND DOING SOME WORK WITH SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE COLLABORATED WITH, I THINK THAT WE'RE IN THE MOMENT ESPECIALLY NOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT RACIAL EQUITY AS LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS. I THINK THAT THE INVENTORY COULD REALLY POINT TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE AND SOME WHO HAVE NOT AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO BALANCING THAT SHEET AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR WEBER FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU ON THIS HEARING . THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR PITMAN AND COUNSELOR BREADON PENNING AT THE CLUB. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT COUNSELOR WEBER HAS BROUGHT THIS THE TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS LITERALLY HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT AS WE SPEAK. UM, IN ROGERS SQUARE THERE'S BEEN AN EMPTY STOREFRONT UM,  THAT WAS LEASED BY PETCO AND I DON'T MIND DROPPING NAMES HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE A BIG CORPORATION. UM, AND THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WEREN'T DOING SO WELL SO THEY LEFT AND THAT'S BEEN VACANT NOW FOR THE PAST I WANT TO SAY 3 TO 4 YEARS AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AND DEAD CENTER OF ROSLINDALE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PARK AND THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT I'VE HAD POTENTIALS LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS TELL ME OH I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN UP AN ART STUDIO THERE. I THINK WE SHOULD OPEN UP A NEW COFFEE SHOP THERE. I THINK WE SHOULD OPEN UP A NEW THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WOULD WANT TO DO LIKE A FITNESS CLASS THERE AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BECAUSE THEY WERE HOLDING ON TO THAT LEASE AND WITH NO ESCAPE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN OTHER OTHER IN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD . AND I ALSO REPRESENT THREE MAIN STREETS CORRIDORS MAIN MATTAPAN, MATTAPAN SQUARE, CLEARY SQUARE AND WE'RE ALL STILL SQUARE AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE THEY'RE THE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF MY DISTRICT. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KEEP IT RUNNING AND WHENEVER I SEE AN EMPTY STOREFRONT I SEE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.  SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M AN ALLY TO YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER AND TO COUNCILOR MEJIA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRADING COUNCILOR BRAYTON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE MAKERS FOR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE BEFORE US LONG TERM VACANCIES OF COMMERCIAL SPACES IN OUR MAIN STREETS AREAS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS A BLIGHT AND MANY YEARS AGO COUNCILMAN MATT O'MALLEY DID PROPOSE A VACANCY TAX AND IT DIDN'T EVER GET ESTABLISHED. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PROBLEM ABSENTEE LANDLORDS ARE LAND BANKING COMMERCIAL SPACES ALONG OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND THIS HAS A VERY NEGATIVE EFFECT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND JUST MAKES THE LOCAL BUSINESS AREAS VERY UNATTRACTIVE FOR OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES. I'M IN JUST A CASE IN POINT. WARREN HALL IN BRIGHTON CENTER HAD A HAD A ROW OF SMALL BUSINESS SHOPFRONTS VACANT FOR AS LONG AS TEN YEARS. THERE WAS AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD FROM NEW YORK THE BUSINESS STOREFRONTS WERE NOT BEING KEPT UP AND IT REALLY WAS IT REALLY BLIGHTED THE AREA AND IT MADE THE PLACE LOOK LIKE THE TWILIGHT ZONE AFTER DARK. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WARREN HALL IS NOW BACK IN LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND THAT WE'RE ALSO GREAT.  THE CDC IS WORKING WITH ANOTHER DEVELOPER TO RESTORE THE SHOPFRONTS AND TO REHABILITATE THE 33 RESIDENCES RESIDENTIAL UNITS ABOVE THE ABOVE AND WITHIN THE ABOVE THE SHOPFRONT ABOVE THE SHOPFRONTS. UM WE'VE WE ON A RECENT SMALL BUSINESS WALK IN ALSTON WITH COUNCILOR SANTANA WE MET A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHOSE LANDLORD WAS HAD JACKED UP THE RENT BY 40% ALMOST TO THE POINT OF NOT MAKING HER BUSINESS VIABLE PUTTING AN INCREDIBLE STRAIN ON OUR ON OUR BOTTOM LINE AND THIS SORT OF ACTION BY I WOULD SAY PREDATORY LANDLORDS IS DESIGNED TO DISPLACE SMALL BUSINESSES AND AGAIN HOLD THAT LAND BANK THAT SPACE SO THAT THEY GET A BETTER OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES ALONG I THINK IN THE CONTEXT OF SQUARES AND STREETS I THINK I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE OF SQUARES AND STREETS PROGRAM BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR DISPLACEMENT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN A IN IN OUR IN OUR MAIN STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE NEED TO PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF OUR SMALL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES AND ALSO PREVENT THESE AREAS BECOME BLIGHTED BY VACANCIES IN OUR SHOPFRONTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S A RANGE.  THANK YOU GUYS ARE GREAT IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WORRELL THEN DURKAN AND WEBER.  THANK YOU MADAM KATSURA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER AND CUSTOMER HERE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD ALSO THANK YOU CONCILOR MEJIA HERE FOR YOUR PAST ADVOCACY FOR COMMERCIAL SPACES AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS IN MY DISTRICT ALONE WE'VE SEEN CLOSURES IN PLACES LIKE COMMERCE SQUARE FROM THE OLD SUBWAY CITIZENS BANK AND POPEYE'S ALL SHEDDING THEIR DOORS LEAVING AT LEAST FIVE COMMERCIAL VACANCIES IN ONE BUSINESS DISTRICT. I'M HAPPY TO SEE MORE INVESTMENTS IN SPACE GRANTS THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDING AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO STRATEGIZE TO SEE FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SPACE QUEENS AS A PERMANENT PART OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET AND INVESTMENTS AND GRANTS GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THESE COMMERCIAL VACANCIES. SO I LOVE THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR. THERE ARE SO MANY BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT AND SO MANY BUSINESS STREETS ON NEWBURY STREET ALONE THERE ARE 300 LOCAL BUSINESSES CAMBRIDGE STREET, CAUSEWAY STREET, CHARLES STREET, KENMORE SQUARE ,TREMONT STREET AND BOYLSTON STREET IN THE FENWAY AND BOYLSTON STREET IN THE BACK BAY. AND I THINK WHEN I TALK TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND FOLKS WHO DO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, THEY TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING. THEY'LL YOU KNOW, SHOW THEIR YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ONE VACANCY LIKE TEN TIMES IN A WEEK AND THEY'RE ALL WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET THEIR VACANCIES FILLED ON NEWBURY STREET MOST YOU MAY SEE A SIGN UP THAT SAYS OH CALL THIS NUMBER BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE A PLAN. IT'S ALREADY BEING BUILT OUT.  SO I THINK FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH COUNCILOR WEBER AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE IS SO NEEDED AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE OF VACANCIES IS SO NEEDED BUT JUST FLAGGING YOU KNOW, EVEN VACANCIES THAT LOOK LIKE VACANCIES OFTENTIMES ARE GOING THROUGH A VERY LONG ARDUOUS PERMITTING PROCESSES. WE HAD A BUSINESS ON CHARLES STREET RECENTLY WHO'S JUST BEEN REALLY PUT THROUGH THE RINGER. SO AS MUCH AS WE TALK ABOUT VACANCIES AND SMALL BUSINESS HOPE YOU ALSO FOCUS ON THOSE ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING BUILT OUT AND ALL OF THE STEPS AND LACK OF COORDINATION AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WITHIN CITY DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO CUT SOME OF THAT RED TAPE FOR BUSINESSES THAT REALLY ARE TRYING TO OPEN AND TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO AND AND LANDLORDS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET THE RIGHT FIT IN THEIR SPACES.  BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. I ALSO WANT TO YOU KNOW, I THINK IN TERMS OF SMALL BUSINESS TALKING ABOUT GETTING FOLKS TO FOCUS ON CONDEMN BUILDINGS AND GETTING THEM BACK UP TO.  THERE'S A COUPLE OF THOSE IN MY DISTRICT THAT I'VE JUST BEEN PARTICULARLY BLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY AND BOTH MISSION HILL AND THERE'S ONE IN THE BACK BAY THAT HAVE JUST TAKEN UP A LOT OF MY TIME AND THEN MOVING ON TO HOW WE CAN SUPPORT MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS I I'M TRYING ALL I CAN THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO CREATE SPACES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT AND I THINK THAT MERITS SOME CONVERSATION AS WELL. SO THERE'S SO MANY WAYS WE CAN HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND I THINK THIS IS THIS IS A I THINK THE SPACE PROGRAM HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIONAL BUT I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT VACANCIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE I GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON HOW WE CAN WHAT AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FILL THOSE SPACES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. THANK YOU. CONSIDER AGAIN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMEMBER YEAH THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND OUT HAVE COUNCIL PIPPIN AS A AS A THIRD SPONSOR. COUNCILOR WARBURTON SUSPENDED RULES AGAINST JAPAN AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR BUT THEN ALSO ADDED WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I JUST WANT TO THANK THE SPONSORS ON THIS. I THINK OUR MEDIA SAID IT WELL. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGING IN AGAIN TO HOPEFULLY GET SOME SORT OF ACTION AND CREATIVITY. SO I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE PRETTY ELOQUENTLY ON WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE THE OTHER NAME MR. CLERK PLEASED COUNCILORS BRAYDEN DURKAN FERNANDES ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MURPHY, SANTANA WEBER WERE ALL PLEASE OUT OF CHAIR DUNCAN NUMBER 1397 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES AND DEAR MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DUNCAN NUMBER 1398 DUCK NUMBER 1398 COUNCIL SETTING OFF OF THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PAST SUCCESSES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUTH JOBS OFFERED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CARLOS SANTANA HAS GIVEN SANTANA THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COUNCILOR MARIA AS A SECOND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND ASKED TO SUSPEND FOR 12 AND I COUNCILOR FOR DENNIS ANDERSON AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR . HE IS ADDED AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CARLOS SANTANA SIX SUSPEND THE RULES ADD COUNSELOR FERNANDO AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT ANDRE ANDERSON SO ADDED COUNCILOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. TODAY INTRODUCING A HEARING ORDER TO DISCUSS THE EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUTH JOBS OFFERED BY THE CITY OF BOSTON.  AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, PROVIDING MEANINGFUL WORK MEANINGFUL WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT OFFERING A PAYCHECK. IT'S ABOUT EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS EXPOSURE AND MENTORSHIP THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. THIS SUMMER I OFFICE WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THREE TALENTED INTERNS DARLENE UNI AND SORAYA. THEY EACH CAME TO US WITH CLEAR GOALS TO GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, LEARN REAL WORLD JOB SKILLS AND CONNECT AS EXPERIENCED TO THE EDUCATION. UNI IN PARTICULAR WAS INSPIRED BY OUR OFFICE COMMITMENTS TO BOSTON'S YOUTH AND THE STRIDES WE'VE MADE IN EDUCATION.  DARLENE JOINED AND JOINED TO GAIN VALUABLE ON THE JOB TRAINING AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BOSTON'S POLITICS. EAGER TO INSPIRE FELLOW YOUTH AND PROMOTE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES FOR LASTING CHANGE. SORAYA FOCUS ON HONORING HER COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.  EXCITED TO LEARN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SHARE IDEAS, LEAD PROJECTS AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS. SKILLS THAT SHE WILL SERVE THAT WILL SERVE HER WELL IN A FUTURE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.  THESE EXPERIENCES ARE WHY THE MAYOR'S YOUTH JOB WHICH PROMISED EVERY STUDENT A SUMMER JOB IS SO VITAL. IN 2023 THE CITY INVESTED DEARLY $19 MILLION IN YOUTH JOBS PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THESE LIVE TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DELIVERING ON THE TEAM ON THAT PROMISE ESPECIALLY FOR OUR MOST MARGINALIZED YOUTH. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS PRIORITIZED YOUTH, I WILL HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COMMITMENTS THEY MADE.  OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, GROW AND SUCCEED. THIS HEARING ORDER WILL ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONCILOR MEJIA HERE. COUNCILOR MEJIA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK COUNSELOR SANTANA FOR INCLUDING ME IN THE SAME ORDER. WE WERE READY TO REVIEW THE SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE EXISTING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH JOB GUARANTEE INITIATIVE.  IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR POLICIES PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH. AS A CO-SPONSOR I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE LAST BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. THEY ARE CLEAR HERE GROUND JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL NOT JUST FOR GAMING EXPERIENCE BUT TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH JOBS, IT IS CLEAR THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE. TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND CONSISTENT EMPLOYMENT. THIS HEARING IS ABOUT PUSHING FORWARD, CLOSING THOSE GAPS AND ENSURING THAT BOSTON YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL YEAR ROUND JOBS THAT SUPPORT THEM BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. AND YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I USED TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY IN THE NINETIES AND I WAS ALSO ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT HAD 2 TO 3 JOBS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, RIGHT BECAUSE I HAD TO.  AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THIS CHAMBER AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.  WHAT I'VE SEEN AND WHAT I'VE SOMETIMES OBSERVED IS THAT IT BECOMES POLITICAL. BUT FOR OFTENTIMES FOR THESE PEOPLE IT REALLY IS ABOUT THEIR SURVIVAL. AND THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED TO US AS A COUNCIL WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING AROUND THE BUDGET AND AROUND JOBS AND ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT LITERALLY SAVES LIVES.  AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE POLITICS OF THE POLITICS AND WE FORGET THE IMPACT THAT THESE JOBS WILL HAVE ON YOUNG PEOPLE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS HEARING ORDER. AND I ALSO WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS SHE'S JUST HAD A JOB FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SUMMER AND SHE STILL OWES ME A LOT OF MONEY AND NOW SHE'S TRYING TO GET A JOB LIKE A YEAR ROUND JOB SO THAT SHE CAN PAY ME BACK AND SHE GOT EYELASHES THAT SHE NEEDS TO DO AND HER LITTLE NAILS ALL THIS I'M LIKE GIRL, PLEASE. RIGHT. AND SO I JUST THINK THAT THE BASIC NEEDS THAT'S FOR SOME OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE BASIC NEEDS ARE REALLY ABOUT PAYING FOR RENT, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE. RIGHT. WHILE MY DAUGHTER HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF ONLY HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT HER EYELASHES AT THIS POINT THERE ARE KIDS RIGHT NOW WHO NEED TO WORK TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS AND I KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE A JOB MADE IN MY LIFE. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THESE CONVERSATIONS AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO STAND UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR KIDS. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNSELOR SANTANA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. YOU RAN ON A PLATFORM OF REALLY SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU'RE CREATING SPACE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE HEARD. SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR THIS WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU AND HAVING THESE HEARINGS AND REALLY FIGURING OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO DELIVER ON THOSE PROMISES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  MEJIA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FERNANDA ANDERSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSELOR SANTANA FOR FILING THIS AND FOR ADDING ME AS A CO-SPONSOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE HEARING. I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID JUST THAT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOWS THAT STUDENTS THAT STUDY JUST A MINIMUM OF 15 HOURS A WEEK PERFORM BETTER THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS. SOMETHING THE DISCIPLINE OF HAVING TO TIME MANAGE AND DO ALL OF THAT BUT JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING TO MEET THE NEEDS AT HOME OR HAVING TO HELP A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT OR GUARDIAN IS CUMBERSOME IN ADDITION TO ALREADY EXISTING STRESSORS WHETHER IT BE BULLYING OR ISSUES THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A SCHOOL OR JUST MEETING THEIR ACADEMIC NEEDS IN ITSELF IS CUMBERSOME. BUT THEN TO ADD ON THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES IS A LOT FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO IF WE CAN FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT, THAT WE CAN MEET BOTH THAT CAN ONE DAY CAN MEET ACADEMIC SUCCESS. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE OPPOSITE THE SAME WE IN THE SUMMER WE DID OUR SUMMER CIVIC YOUTH AMBASSADORS WHERE WE LAUNCHED THE APP AND THE STUDENTS WOULD GO OUT AND ACTUALLY LAUNCH CONSTITUENTS ONTO THE APP TEACHING THEM ABOUT TEACHING ACQUISITIONS ABOUT CIVICS AND THEN DURING SCHOOL YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH SUCCESS LINK AND WE HIRE AN INTERN TO THEN SUPPORT THEM WITH HOMEWORK HELP WHILE THEY ARE GETTING PAID FOR THIS AND LEARNING CIVICS AS WELL. SO ALL OF THAT COMBINED ARE JUST SMALL LITTLE PILOTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT HERE AS EXAMPLES OF WHAT SHOULD OR HOW TO SET PRECEDENTS FOR THE FUTURE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.  THANK YOU GUYS. OPINION JENSEN IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER ? I'LL JUST SAY THAT FOR ME TO I THINK COUNCILOR AROUND COUNSELOR ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR? THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD INTO YOUR CO-SPONSORS FOR LEADING ON THIS IMPORTANT WORK.  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT. REMEMBER MY FIRST JOB WAS AT THE GAP. I REMEMBER GETTING OFF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUS ON A FRIDAY AND A THURSDAY TO GO TO GO WORK AT THE GAP OVER THERE AND THE ATRIUM MALL NO LONGER EXISTS BUT THAT WAS MY FIRST JOB. BUT OVER THE YEARS HERE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE HAD A PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH AT LEAST 18 TO 20 INTERNS OVER THE YEARS. THIS SUMMER MY OFFICE HAD SIX INTERNS AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALEXANDRA, HADIA, AMADI, HANNAH NEWMAN AND THE DNC FOR ALL THEIR WORK AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES LIKE THESE AND I'M ALREADY PLANNING TO BRING MORE INTERNS INTO MY OFFICE THIS FALL. BIG SHOUT OUT TO CRYSTAL RAE THEY HAVE A GREAT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE'S JOBS STUDENTS GO OUT TO WORK IN THE FIELD INSIDE A CORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION OR HERE IN CITY HALL ONE DAY OUT OF THE WEEK. INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH IS ESSENTIAL AND DURING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, YOU KNOW MY OFFICE FOUGHT HARD FOR YOUTH JOBS TO CONTINUE CONTINUE ADVOCACY.  THE COUNCIL SECURED MILLIONS FOR PROGRAMS LIKE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING TO ENSURE OUR YOUTH HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.  AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. THAT WAS A THROWBACK TO THE ATRIUM SO I WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS THAT YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES I HAD MY FIRST JOB AS SOON AS I COULD WHEN I WAS 14 AND THAT WAS THANKS TO PICK AT BEING PRESIDENT AT MY SCHOOL AND WAS ABLE TO WORK AT MY TOWN AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE ARE LIKE WHEN KIDS ARE OPENING THEIR FIRST PAYCHECK AND THE JOY THAT THAT BRINGS THEM AND THE SENSE OF AFFIRMATION TO THE SENSE OF LIKE WHAT COUNTS FOR AN INJURY. ANDERSON WAS SAYING THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT THEY GET. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN FURTHER SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY NAVIGATE THE WORKFORCE. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASED COUNCILORS BREADON DURKAN FITZGERALD. FLYNN. MURPHY PITT. BEN WEBER WHILE PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR DOCKET NUMBER 1397 DOCKET NUMBER 1398 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 1399 DOCKET NUMBER 1399. COUNCILOR MURPHY OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW THE PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS FOR THE TERMINATION OF CITY APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MURPHY. COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  SO IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT A LONG STANDING MEMBER OF THE BOSTON ZONING COMMISSION WHO WAS RECENTLY TERMINATED FROM THEIR POSITION WAS NOT FORMALLY NOTIFIED OF THEIR DISMISSAL, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF THE CURRENT PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATING CITY APPOINTEES. THE CITY COUNCIL AS WE KNOW HAS AUTHORITY TO APPROVE APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A DEFINED ROLE IN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE REMOVAL OR TERMINATION OF SUCH APPOINTEES PRIOR TO THE END OF THEIR TERMS . THERE IS A NEED TO REVIEW AND POTENTIALLY REVISE THE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFYING AND HANDLING THE TERMINATION OF CITY APPOINTEES TO ENSURE THAT SUCH ACTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT IN A MANNER THAT RESPECTS THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH THE APPOINTEES. BUT ALSO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE ESTABLISH AND A TRANSPARENT PROCESS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A HEARING TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR THE TERMINATION OF APPOINTEES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN ANY POTENTIAL AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.  AND I DO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS HEARING IS IN WAY EXCLUSIVE TO THE BOSTON ZONING COMMISSION. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE APPROVE APPOINTEES ON OUR WEEKLY COUNCIL AGENDA THAT WE ARE NOT INADVERTENTLY TERMINATING OTHER MEMBERS UNKNOWINGLY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS HEARING.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS CONSIDER CAN YOU GET THE FLOOR? THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ASK THROUGH THE CHAIR IS THERE A SPECIFIC PERSON THAT HAS BEEN TERMINATED? WELL, I THINK I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE TERM TERMINATED BECAUSE THE WAY AS CHAIR OF PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE ARE APPOINTED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN WE OBVIOUSLY THE APPOINTEES ARE SENT TO US VIA LETTER. AND THOSE APPOINTEES ARE SENT TO US VIA A LETTER FOR AN ESTABLISHED TERM.  AND WHEN THAT TERM IS UPDATED AND WHEN WE VOTE ON THEM WE ESTABLISH THEM FOR A SPECIFIC TERM.  SO NO ONE IS BEING TERMINATED. THEY ARE JUST NOT BEING REAPPOINTED.  SO THROUGH THE CHAIR CAN I ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON WHAT SHE MEANS TERMINATION MEANS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THAT? I JUST WANT TO SAY HERE AT THE HEARING WE CAN BE CLEAR ON ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY . SOME ARE TERMINATED. WE HAVE MANY THAT HAVE GONE PAST THEIR TERM AS WE KNOW BECAUSE MANY TIMES WE CAN'T FILL POSITIONS. SO WE'RE THERE WAITING TO STEP DOWN IN OTHER CASES. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING TO DISCUSS ALL OF THOSE. SO IT'S CLEAR FOR EVERYONE.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN IS THAT I HEAR YOUR POINT. I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT THIS IS A POLITICAL IT'S A IT'S AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE. SO QUERY WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL SHOULD EVEN BE HAVING A HEARING ON. BUT I THINK THAT AT THE YOU KNOW WHETHER IT BE AT A HEARING OR THROUGH SOME OTHER MECHANISM THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION THE FLAHERTY OF WILL BE PROBABLY ON DISPLAY EITHER AT THE HEARING OR PRIOR TO THAT. BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK. SO I THINK I THINK THAT I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD STATING THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WE RECEIVE APPOINTMENTS EVERY MEETING WE HAVE HEARINGS ON THOSE APPOINTMENTS. THOSE PEOPLE APPEAR THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE ZONING COMMISSION AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD THOSE APPOINTMENTS THOSE ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL INTERACTS WITH APPOINTMENTS.  AND I THINK THE PERSON THAT WAS CHOSEN IN PLACE OF THIS PERSON WAS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND SO DID THE COLLEAGUES THAT ATTENDED THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FOR JODY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE FOR PEOPLE COMING ON AND OFF OF THESE COMMISSIONS AND APPOINTEES. AND IT'S NOT JUST A POLITICAL COURTESY BUT IT'S ALSO COMMON COURTESY WHEN SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED THIS LONG AND DONE A GREAT JOB NO MATTER WHAT BORDER WHOEVER THEY ARE THAT ON THAT THEY'RE NOT UNCEREMONIOUSLY REJECTED OR COMMUNICATED WITH AT THE END OF THEIR SERVICE.  THEY'VE GIVEN UP THEIR TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR LIVES TO TO TRY AND PLAY A ROLE IN THIS CITY TO MAKE IT BETTER. AND SO IF THERE'S SOME STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE WE CAN PUT AROUND THAT THAT ALLOWS THAT RESPECT TO BE GIVEN AT THE END OF THE TIME. I THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND JUST TO ANSWER COUNCILOR DURKIN'S QUESTION WHO THE PERSON MENTIONED WAS THAT WAS UNNAMED. IT WAS J. HURLEY.  I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION BUT IT WAS J. HURLEY FROM THE ZONING COMMISSION WHO'S AN OUTSTANDING LEADER IN THE CITY MAYBE FOR 40 YEARS AND WHETHER IT'S SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT WHETHER IT'S SUPPORTING BUSINESSES BUT PROVIDING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE BUILDING TRADES AND TO A DECENT WAGE. THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN NO ONE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE CITY THAN J.  HURLEY AND MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN J. HURLEY. SO I AND HE'S MY NEIGHBOR SO I FELT LIKE I GOT TO KNOW A DUTY REALLY TO STAND UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS IMPORTANT WORK. MAYBE FOR 40 YEARS IN THIS CITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO J AND THE BUILDING TRADES FOR THE FOR REALLY HELPING BUILD THIS CITY DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. BUT WHEN WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH AND IN THE CITY YOU NEED THAT EXPERTISE AND THE KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERIENCE FROM SOMEONE LIKE JAY HURLEY OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND HOW BOSTON'S ECONOMY WORKS SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JAY AND THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE CHAIR AGAIN, THIS COMES FROM HERE AGAIN THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND JUST BECAUSE WE'VE NAMED THE INDIVIDUAL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HEARING ORDER IS ABOUT JUST OVERALL THE CHAIR JUST MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A GENERAL AND WE'RE NOT DOING ADVOCACY ON ONE SPECIFIC SITUATION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD PRACTICE. I ALSO JUST WOULD LIKE TO NAME THAT. FOR ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT RECOGNIZE THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER COUNCILOR ANDERSON OR COUNCILOR BREADON.  I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS BUT I BELIEVE AND I MAY HAVE BEEN A CO-SPONSOR IT WAS YOU COUNCILOR ANDERSON, OF COURSE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE A HEARING ORDER ON DECK IN REGARDS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND APPOINTMENTS AND REALLY DOING AN AUDIT AROUND KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.  SO IN THE INTEREST OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE UTILIZING OUR PLATFORM BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THIS IS IS A PLATFORM ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HOST HEARINGS THAT WE DO SO IN WAYS THAT HONOR THE WAY THE BODY FUNCTIONS AND THAT WE'RE NOT UTILIZING, YOU KNOW, HEARINGS IF IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION IF IT'S SOMETHING GENERAL THAT I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE FILED. AND SO I AM NOT RISING TO ASK WHY AM I WRITING TO ASK THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE MAKER IS THIS AN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION OR GENERAL PLEASE THINK WOW ONE MOMENT THROUGH THIS THROUGH THE CHAIR I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE AND I CONCUR THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE TIME OF THIS COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL HEARING OR AN INDIVIDUAL TERMINATION DECISION ESPECIALLY WHERE IT'S AN APPOINTMENT.  AND SO I TAKE THIS AS A GENERAL HEARING IN THE WAY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT COMES FROM HERE. COUNCILOR MURPHY I CAN TURN YOUR MIKE ON AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU AND EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE IT AS A GENERAL MEANING BECAUSE I DID SAY SO I WILL REPEAT WHAT I SAID THIS HEARING IS IN NO WAY EXCLUSIVE TO SO I DID CLEARLY STATE THAT AND LIKE MOST THINGS COME TO OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT SOMETHING HAPPENS, IT COMES TO OUR ATTENTION WE BRING FORWARD HEARING ORDERS ALL THE TIME. IT MIGHT BE BUSSES NOT SHOWING UP ON TIME. IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT BRING ATTENTION TO THINGS WE NEED EMPTY STOREFRONTS MAKE WANT TO FILE HEARING ORDERS ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS SO THERE'S SOMETHING DID HAPPEN WHICH BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE APPROVING APPOINTEES WITHOUT IT BEING VERY CLEAR.  AND THAT FALLS ON US TOO. LIKE I CLEARLY STATED, THE RIGHTS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE RESPECT OF THE MAYOR IN HER ALSO HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE TO YOU THAT THEY HAVE A BIG ROLE IN MAKING SURE WHEN THEY APPOINT PEOPLE THEY NEED TO APPOINT PEOPLE THAT THEY TRUST AND THAT THEY WANT ON THESE BOARDS AND I'M NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO TAKE THAT POWER AWAY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. SO I HAVE SAID IT SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THIS IS IN NO WAY EXCLUSIVE TO ONE PERSON. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT AND TERMINATION OF CITY APPOINTEES AND NOT JUST THE TERMINATION WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED CONFUSION IN THE NAMING OF THE DOCKET. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS NITPICK.  I THINK I WAS CLEAR ON WHAT I WANT. I WAS JUST CLARIFYING BECAUSE EVERY TIME I ON SOMETHING IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE SAID NO, BUT COUNCILOR MEJIA I'M JUST CLARIFYING THE QUESTION THAT SOME OF MY COUNCILORS AND MYSELF HAD ASKED. IT'S ABOUT THAT YOU CARE ABOUT MORE THAN THE TERMINATION YOU'VE SAID IT YOU SAID SEVERAL TIMES WE'VE TALKED MORE ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT THAN THE TERMINATION.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROL FOR AN ENGINEER AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MURPHY IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, HAPPY TO HAPPEN. YOU'RE HEARING WHEN YOU HOLD IT AND YOU JUST COMBINE IT TWO FOR ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I THINK COUNCILOR MURPHY WAS CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL PERSON. IT ABOUT THE PROCESS. I THOUGHT SHE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.  I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT OFF TOPIC ABOUT THIS BUT IT'S CLEARLY ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW PEOPLE ARE TERMINATED AND IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL BEING TERMINATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? OKAY. EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN SO I'M ONLY GOING TO GIVE YOU A VERY BRIEF TIME BECAUSE YOU'VE SPOKEN ALREADY BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SPEAK NOW. SO I'M JUST. THANK YOU, CHAIR I'M JUST TAKING ISSUE WITH THE TERM TERMINATION BECAUSE THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OBVIOUSLY AS MUCH INTEREST AS THE APPOINTEES THAT COME THROUGH THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AS I DO TO WHAT'S BEING OFFERED NOW. SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS BRAEDEN FINNEY, ANGIE ANDERSON FITZGERALD, FLYNN WORRELL THIS DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 1399 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. MR. CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKER NUMBER 400 DOCKET NUMBER 1400 COUNCILORS INTENT AND BREAKING OFF WITH THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024 AS BY SEXUALITY VISIBILITY DAY THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL SANTANA CASA SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND RULE 12 AND ADD COUNCILOR DURKAN AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR CASA SANTANA SUSPENSION OF THE RULES ADD COUNCILOR DURKAN AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS COUNCILOR DURKAN AND SO ADDED COUNCILOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.  TODAY I'M PROUD TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILOR GREETED AND COUNCILOR DURKAN IN INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 AS BACHELET BISEXUALITY VISIBILITY DAY. THIS DAY IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE LIVES, EXPERIENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BISEXUAL PLUS PEOPLE WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND PREJUDICE THEY FACE BY SEXUALITY. VISIBILITY DAY HAS CELEBRATED SINCE 1999 ORIGINATING FROM THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THREE ACTIVISTS WENDY CURRIE, MICHAEL AND GRAVEN WILBUR WHO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BISEXUAL PLUS COMMUNITY. IT'S FITTING THAT WE NOW MARK ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS BISEXUAL PLUS BY BORROWED ROMANTIC PANSEXUAL FLUID OR OTHER IDENTITIES WITHIN THE BYPASS SPECTRUM. EMBOSSED IN WE MUST TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE STIGMA THAT STILL EXISTS.  BISEXUAL PLUS PEOPLE FACE HIGHER RATES OF DISCRIMINATION AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. MANY ARE LESS LIKELY TO COME OUT TO FAMILY OR FRIENDS DUE TO THE SOCIAL MISUNDERSTANDING.  WE ALSO KNOW THAT BISEXUAL PLUS YOUTH FACE SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES WITH NEARLY 40% OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH IDENTIFYING AS BISEXUAL.  AND TOO OFTEN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE LACK VISIBLE ROLE MODELS. AS WE RECOGNIZE BISEXUALITY VISIBILITY DAY WE COMMIT TO ENSURING THAT ALL BISEXUAL PLUS INDIVIDUALS ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES WHO FACE COMPOUNDED ARE SEEN VALUED AND SUPPORTED.  IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE WORK TO CREATE SPACES WHERE BISEXUAL PLUS PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES FULLY AND WHERE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED. I URGE ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING EQUITABLE RIGHTS, TREATMENT AND HEALTH FOR BOSTON'S BISEXUAL PLUS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAID AND COUNCILOR BREADON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR INCLUDING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. COUNCILOR SANTANA IS ALREADY,  YOU KNOW, REFERRED TO THE HISTORY OF BISECT.  SHE'LL BISEXUAL DAY. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO IDENTIFY AS BISEXUAL AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PREJUDICES AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE.  BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY BUT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE BE IN THAT ALPHABET THE CELEBRATION OF DIVERSE BISEXUALITY IN PARTICULAR WAS CONCEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE PREJUDICE AND MARGINALIZATION OF BISEXUAL PEOPLE IN BOTH THE STREET AND LGBT COMMUNITIES. I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO IDENTIFY AS BISEXUAL. THEY MAY BE IN SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS AND HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BUT THEIR PRIMARY IDENTITY IS THAT OF BUT BEING BISEXUAL AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY ON SEPTEMBER 23RD TO CELEBRATE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND AS MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO IDENTIFY AS BISEXUAL AND TO TRY AND WORK TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND TO PROMOTE A BETTER AWARENESS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR RIGHT IN THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN CONSIDER CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR SANTANA AND BRAYDON FOR ADDING ME TO THIS HEARING OR TO ADDING ME TO THIS TO CELEBRATING BISEXUAL VISIBILITY DAY. MANY OF YOU KNOW MY SISTER TORI IS AN INCREDIBLE MEMBER OF THE PANSEXUAL COMMUNITY BUT IT WAS A SORRY PANSEXUAL WHOLE COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF TIMES IN THE COMMUNITIES BISEXUALITY AND PANSEXUAL ARE LUMPED TOGETHER THROUGH THE FIVE PLUS AND I I THINK THERE IS A CONVERSATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BUT BISEXUALITY PANSEXUALITY AND SEXUALLY FLUID AND SIMPLY NOT DOING LABELS ARE ALL WAYS THAT PEOPLE DESCRIBE AND INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST ATTRACTED TO MEN OR WOMEN. SOME MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY THINK PANSEXUALITY IS A CLEAR LABEL FOR THEM AND IDENTIFY WITH THE BISEXUAL LABEL BISEXUAL ACTIVIST ROBIN OAKES PUT IT BY SAYING I CALL MYSELF BISEXUAL BECAUSE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE IN MYSELF THE POTENTIAL TO BE ATTRACTED ROMANTICALLY AND OR SEXUALLY TO PEOPLE OF MORE THAN ONE SEX OR GENDER NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SAME WAY AND NOT NECESSARILY TO THE SAME DEGREE. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS TAKING ACTION ON THIS BECAUSE CELEBRATING DIVERSE VOICES MEANS UNDERSTANDING HOW PEOPLE REALLY TRULY WANT TO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AND BEING ABLE TO CREATE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE SEEN IN THIS CHAMBER IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR SANTANA AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR BREADON AND LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WANT TO THANK THE SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND VISIBILITY TO THE COUNCIL ? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNCILORS FERNANDA ANDERSON FITZGERALD, FLYNN AND MCKIM MURPHY BUT BEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE GATHER CHAIR COUNCILORS SANTANA, BREADON AND DURKIN C SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1400 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED NAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUMBER 1400 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER 14011401 COUNCIL WITH MEJIA AND SANTANA FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LATINO HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MEJIA MEJIA. YOU HAD THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND I LIKE TO SUSPEND ALL 12 AND ADD COUNCILOR BEING AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR COUNCILMAN HE IS EXPANSION OF THE RULES ADD COUNCILOR PIT BAN AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. SEEING AND HEARING OBJECTIONS COMES ABOUT PENNIES SO ADDED CONCILOR MEJIA HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. TODAY WE PROBABLY RECOGNIZE LATINO HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON CELEBRATED REALLY FROM SEPTEMBER THE 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER THE 15TH THIS MONTH ALLOWS US TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS LATINOS HAVE MADE BOTH TO OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY.  SINCE 1980, LATINOS HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR 92% OF BOSTON'S POPULATION GROWTH.  NOW MAKING UP 20% OF OUR CITY AND OVER 130 RESIDENTS THAT WE KNOW OF LATINOS ARE LEADERS IN BUSINESS CULTURE AND CIVIC LIFE STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES AND DRIVING OUR ECONOMIC OUR ECONOMY FORWARD. FROM ARTS AND MUSIC TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES, OUR IMPACT IS UNDENIABLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE CITY OF BOSTON.  LATINO HERITAGE MONTH IS MORE THAN JUST A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE.  IT'S A RECOGNITION OF THE RESILIENCY AND STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS LONG FOUGHT FOR EQUITY JUSTICE AND REPRESENTATION. TODAY WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTION OF LATINO LEADERS PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY CAN THRIVE. AND I JUST WOULD LOVE TO JUST REALLY QUICK THANK THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY THAT WHEN THEY CAME TO THE CITY OF BOSTON REALLY LAID DOWN THE FOUNDATION FOR OTHER LATINOS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND BE FULLY EXPRESSED. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WHEN I FIRST LANDED IN BOSTON I DID NOT WANT TO SPEAK SPANISH.  I DID NOT WANT TO BE LATINO. I DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED AS ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I DID NOT BELONG. AND SO TO BE A CITY COUNCILOR OR TO BE IN THIS CHAMBER TO CELEBRATE LATINO HERITAGE MONTH MEANS THE WORLD TO ME UNDERSTANDING HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR US TO EVEN GET HERE, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DEMONSTRATE AND CONTINUE TO GROW. I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE LATINO HERITAGE MONTH SOME PEOPLE SAY HISPANICS AND PEOPLE SAY LATIN, THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY LATIN TEAM LISTEN ALL OF THIS BECAUSE MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP BECAUSE WE PUT AN X ON A FLIER SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT EVERYONE'S LIKE WHY? THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN. WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FEEL INCLUDED. WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO NAVIGATE A WHOLE NEW WORLD. SO ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE WHETHER YOU'RE THE NEXT OR YOU'RE AN E OR YOU'RE A HISPANIC OR YOU IDENTIFY HOWEVER YOU DO IF YOU SETUBAL ESPANOL IN OR SPANGLISH I FEEL A LITTLE BETTER IF I'M LUCKY. RIGHT? SO LET IT GO Y'ALL. SECONDLY, WE ALL CAME HERE MANY OF US WITH A SUITCASE FULL OF DREAMS AND LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND NAVIGATING THE AMERICAN SYSTEM. I THINK IS ALSO A PART OF CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BECAUSE WE COME HERE AND THE LANGUAGE BARRIER HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR HIS RELENTLESS ADVOCACY AROUND LANGUAGE ACCESS AND IN SUPPORTING OUR AS OUR SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATION.  SO COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN YOUR LANGUAGE ACCESS WORK AND BECAUSE IT IS LATINO HISPANIC LINE CLINICS 19 HERITAGE MONTH AN IMPORTANT THE GATEWAY KNOW THEM ARE GOING TO GET THE MOST ALVARADO LIGHT AND MEDAL I LIVE IN EAST BANNER A THREE SUPER OR GO YOURSELF A LITTLE ECONOMIC LEGACY.  THEY NEED MORE STRESSED HISPANIC SIBLING AND THEY CAN STAY HOME ETHAN AND CROCKETT CROCKETT MARIA POTGIETER AND LATINA BUT I GET COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON BY YOUR GATE AND ALSO THROUGH TRADE STATE BANK POLICY I GASOL A THEY SUPPORTER OH ALMOST YULARA PARA THERE WAS A PRESIDENT THAT COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE GAVE I THOUGHT I COULD I THAT I SEE NOW BUT I CELEBRATE BUT THE MORE I KEEP THE SARAJEVO YOUR SUPEREGO YOUR PSYCHE LAILA THEY ESCAPE THAT WILL BE MORE GOLD MEDALS IN MY LAST DAY I D E I FEEL AS INDIGENOUS SO MORE UNACCOMPANIED AKI THAN IN MORE MONEY THAN YOU KNOW POLICE SAY THEY REPRESENT HERE I'M SPEAKING SPANISH AND ENGLISH NOW BECAUSE I FORGOT TO SAY THIS IN ENGLISH WE HAVE OVER 21 LATINO COUNTRIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON 21 AND THAT GOES TO SHOW THE LEVEL OF LIGHT CULTURE AND DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS HERE. OUR OFFICE IS GOING TO HOST A SERIES OF LATINO HERITAGE HISPANIC HERITAGE, LATIN EXCELLENT TEAM SERIES OF ACTIVITIES OVER THIS MONTH. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US AND I LEAVE THE REST TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA. COUNSELOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. MY HERE TODAY I'M HONORED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES OR EVEN BEFORE I BEGIN I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I WILL BE USING HISPANIC AND LATIN ACTS. BUT FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO IDENTIFIES AS SUCH, I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL INCLUDED IN THIS. SO TODAY I'M HONORED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES COUNSELOR MARIA PEPEN INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING HISPANIC AND LATIN HERITAGE MONTH AND THE CITY OF BOSTON FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15 AS A PROUD DOMINICAN AND ONE OF THREE DOMINICANS SERVING ON THE COUNCIL . IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO CELEBRATE THE RICH CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITIES TO BOSTON, TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE WORLD. HISPANIC AND MY HERITAGE MONTH REMINDS US OF THE ENDURING IMPACT HISPANICS AND MY NEXT INDIVIDUAL HAVE HAD ACROSS EVERY FIELD FROM THE ARTS AND THE SCIENCES TO GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES. WE REFLECT ON OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORIES, THE TRIUMPHS OF OUR ANCESTORS AND THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY.  HERE IN BOSTON THE HISPANIC AND MY NEXT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF OUR CITY'S GROWTH SINCE THE 1980S OUR POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY OVER 250% AND TODAY HISPANIC AND NINE INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP 20% OF BOSTON'S RESIDENTS.  BEYOND THE NUMBERS THOUGH, WE ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THIS CITY. AS BUSINESS OWNERS, WORKERS, ENTREPRENEURS WE CONTRIBUTE TO BOSTON'S THRIVING ECONOMY.  AS ARTISTS, EDUCATORS AND LEADERS. WE ENRICH THE VIBRANT, DIVERSE CULTURE THAT DEFINES OUR CITY. THIS MONTH IS NOT JUST A TIME TO HONOR OUR PAST BUT TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CONTINUE BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. I STAND WITH MY FELLOW HISPANIC AND MY NEXT LEADERS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONTRIBUTE THEIR TALENTS AND THRIVE IN A CITY THAT VALUES DIVERSITY AS ONE OF ITS GREATEST STRENGTHS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES KINDS OF EPIPEN. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. YOU KNOW, AS A DOMINICAN-AMERICAN SON OF TWO HARDWORKING LATINO IMMIGRANTS THIS MONTH REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST HONORING OUR HERITAGE. IT'S ABOUT HONORING THE SACRIFICE SWEAT AND THE TEARS THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOT JUST THIS CITY BUT THE COUNTRY. BUT HONORING THE COURAGE AND THE BRAVERY THAT IT TOOK FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES TO PACK UP AND LEAVE THEIR COUNTRIES AND HER IN HOPES OF A BETTER LIFE FOR ME THIS MONTH IS ALSO ABOUT THANKING MY FAMILY FOR KEEPING OUR TRADITIONS ALIVE BUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER OUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.  WE'RE ALL ONE FAMILY WITH SHARED STORIES.  AND YES, I KEPT MY FAMILY COME FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BUT AS COUNCILOR MEJIA SAID THE PUERTO RICANS I LOVE THE WAY HERE IN BOSTON MR CUTE LOCAL ONE. NOW WE HAVE DOMINICANS HERE, WE HAVE MEXICANOS, SALVADORANS AND IRANIANS, PANAMANIANS AND WE JUST NOTICING THAT WE'RE ALL JUST HERE TO MAKE THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUE HONORING OUR FAMILY AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE ANY TYPE OF HERITAGE THIS MONTH IS HISPANIC AND LATINO HERITAGE. AND I'M I FEEL THIS SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE ME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY WITH WHAT ANY IMMIGRANT GROUP GOES THROUGH.  AND I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT IT TOOK FOR THEM KNOWING THAT FOR SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR MY PARENTS IT TOOK THEM A LOT TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE TO LEAVE A DEGREE BEHIND AND BECOME CAN WORK AS A AS A LAUNDROMAT WORKER HERE AND TO CLEAN HEALTH CARE CENTERS.  AND THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL.  THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT LORI BONO IN LATINO CULTURE.  I ALSO AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THEY WERE NAMED AS ONE OF THE TOP 100 LATINOS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.  SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. NOW THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO MENTION MYSELF BUT I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THAT. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES NOT JUST MY LATINO BROTHERS AND SISTERS BUT EVERYONE IN THIS IN THIS CHAMBER TO MAKE THEM CONTINUE TO MOVE AND ELEVATE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL. HAPPY HISPANIC LATINO HERITAGE MONTH.  THANK YOU GUYS. BEN AND YES, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING AMPLIFY LATIN ACTS RECOGNIZING YOU ALL AS THE TOP LEADERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY. I KNOW BUT YOU ALL ARE HERE AND YOU'RE DOING THE WORK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE. SO PLEASE STATUS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL AND MEJIA AND COUNCILOR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR SANTANA AS WELL AND ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR MEJIA FOR THE WORK SHE'S DONE SINCE SHE STARTED ON LANGUAGE ACCESS,  COMMUNICATION ACCESS SUPPORTING OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND IT'S BEEN AN OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING LEADER AS WELL.  ON LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS AND JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY THANK YOU. THEY ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT MANY OF US INCLUDING COUNCILOR PEPEN AND COUNCILMAN MURPHY AND OTHERS IN THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO HAVE BEEN OVER TO THE PUERTO RICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL IN THE SOUTH AND MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.  AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE PUERTO RICAN VETERANS FOR THE ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION AND SACRIFICES THEY'VE MADE TO OUR NATION AND AT TIMES THEY'RE NOT TREATED WITH RESPECT, THEY'RE NOT TREATED WITH DIGNITY. BUT HERE THEY ARE LAYING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR FOR OUR NATION AND THEY COME BACK FROM SERVICE IN THE WAR AND PEOPLE AT TIMES DON'T EVEN THINK THEY'RE AMERICANS REALLY WHICH IS WHICH IS PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS.  BUT BUT I KNOW THE SACRIFICES OF THESE PUERTO RICAN VETERANS BECAUSE I KNOW THEM AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THEM AND TO TALK TO THEM FREQUENTLY AND CALL THEM CALL THEM FRIENDS AND WHETHER IT'S TONY OR HYMIE OR ANY OF THESE GUYS AND CARMEN WHO'S AN ADVOCATE IN THE BILL VICTORIA FOR VETERANS FAMILIES. BUT THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY HAS CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO OUR CITY, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED AND THEY'VE NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTED GREATLY, THEY'VE SACRIFICED FOR OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY AND I'M PROUD TO JOIN MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES TODAY TO RECOGNIZE LATINO LATINO MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS COUNCILOR FOR NANJIANI'S AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND YOU YOUR OPPORTUNITY.  GRACIAS.  CONCERT HALL MAHI CONCERT BEING HELD IN SANTANA COMO CONCERT HALL THERE IS LITTLE THING LOCATED LIVE I'M TIRED OF BEING PRESENT AMUSES ME THROUGH THE JAWS KNOWS THAT I'M INTO THE WHEN I'M A OUTSIDE IN THE MOOD I MUST PERFORM THAT THE CONNECTOR CON LA CULTURA THE LATINA FOR SAID IMMIGRANT THEY ALREADY MUST GO AND I SEE THEM LUCKY E SO A SINCERE I MEAN DO NOT GO TO IRAQ BE ANY TROUBLE AT OUR SCHOOL IN QUESTION PRAY I DO THEM KNOW THROUGH E E FOR MY COMMUNITY DAQUI K THIS BOYS PRODUCING ENTONCES MUCHOS FELICIDAD AC GLAD OKAY SO ESPERANZA PERCHLORATES YOU WERE HOMELESS UNTIL THIS TRIP IT'S ON LA COMUNIDAD LATINA GRACIAS GARCIA'S COUCHSURFING ANGIE ANDERSON WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I'LL JUST SAY THAT IN THE U.S. BUT OKAY. YOU'LL PUT ALL BUT OUR ESPANOL COMO AC AND PROBLEM OPERA AND THE I KNOW SO I SO I SAID ONE DAY I HOPE TO SPEAK SPANISH FLUENTLY LIKE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR FERNANDO INNOCENT BUT THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY BUT I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT ALL OF OUR HISPANIC AND LYNETTE'S RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN , HE STARTED OFF BY TALKING ABOUT WHO THAT DEBT IS OWED TO AND HOW THE DEBT IS OWED TO OUR BORICUA COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. ONE OF MY FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE PLACES IN THIS CITY IS VICTORIA BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IT ACTUALLY TELLS THE STORY OF HOW YOU CAN CREATE AND BUILD INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND HOW DEVELOPMENT CAN INCORPORATE PEOPLE'S HOMELANDS. WE HAD THE BREE BACK THEN WHICH FOLKS TRAVELING TO PUERTO RICO TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO DO DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT INCORPORATED PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY. SO JUST I WANT TO ECHO THE PROPS TO THE BODY COMMUNITY, THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY HERE . ONE IS THAT ALL OF THE NATIONS THAT MAKE UP THE HISPANIC IN ONLINE COMMUNITY I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TODAY TO OUR CHILEAN COMMUNITY AS IT IS CHILEAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AND THE FLAG WAS RAISED HERE LAST WEEK BUT I WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE CHILEAN COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE THAT WE ALL KNOW HERE ON THE COUNCIL , THE LAND SULTAN, THE LION'S FAMILY PAMELA AND CAROL, CAROLINA LYONS BUT REALLY JUST A GREAT SHOUT OUT TO OUR LATINO COMMUNITY FROM EAST BOSTON TO ROSLINDALE.  I KNOW OF COUNTER-CULTURE THERE'S A PART OF US HERE SHE WOULD ECHO THE STRENGTH OF THE COLOMBIAN COMMUNITY THE VENEZUELAN COMMUNITY, THE SALVADORIAN COMMUNITY, ALL THE HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITY LEADERS IN EAST BOSTON. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UPLIFT ALL OF THE LEADERS IN OUR IN OUR ENTIRE CITY. SO IF ANYONE ELSE IF NO ONE ELSE IS LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER AS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK PLEASE ADD COUNSELORS BRAYDEN DURKIN, FERNANDO ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MURPHY WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR COUNSELORS COUNSELORS MARIA SANTANA AND PEP BAND SIX SUSPENSION OF THE RULES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER ONE FOR ZERO ONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I ALL THOSE OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. DOCKET NUMBER 1401 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ DOCKET NUMBER 140 TO GO NUMBER 140 TO COUNCILOR THE FRONT END TO SAY IN THE CENTER FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION CELEBRATING CABRAL AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF GUINEA AND CABO VERDE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ENTREPRENEUR ANDREW ANDERSON COMING FOR AN ENGINEER SITTING ON THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  IN JANUARY DON'T FORGET TO YOU CONTAIN MULTITUDES, MADAM PRESIDENT EXACTLY 100 YEARS AGO TOMORROW ONE OF MY PERSONAL HEROES WAS BORN.  I MEAN CABRAL WAS A POET, A PAN-AFRICANIST AND A LEADER AND ANTI-COLONIAL MOVEMENT IN AFRICA BORN IN GUINEA-BISSAU TO PARENTS CAPTURED THE ANOS CABRAL EMERGED AS A TOWERING FIGURE IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST COLONIALISM AND IMPERIALISM,  DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO THE LIBERATION OF GUINEA-BISSAU AND COVERED FROM PORTUGUESE COLONIAL RULE. CABRAL FOUNDED THE AFRICAN PARTY FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF GUINEA AND CAPE VERDE AS YOU SAY IN 1956 WHICH WOULD LATER BECOME THE VANGUARD OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE IN BOTH COUNTRIES BUT TO SPEAK SOLELY TO WHAT CABRAL DID, DOES DOES AN INJUSTICE TO HIS GREAT LEGACY AND IMPACT BECAUSE IT IS HIS CONVICTIONS, HIS WORLDWIDE ,HIS WORLD VIEWS AND HIS LEADERSHIP THAT DEFINED WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON AND INSPIRED COUNTLESS ADVOCATES IN ALL THOSE WHO DREAM OF A WORLD WHERE WE ALL HAVE THE LIBERTY OF SELF-DETERMINATION. CABRAL LED WITH THE VALUES OF SELF LIBERATION, NATIONALISM AND PAN-AFRICANISM CONVICTIONS WHICH HE REFERRED TO AS A RETURN TO THE SOURCE. I I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU LISTENING TO READ UP ON CABRAL AND LEARN ABOUT HIS LIFE AND LEGACY IN THE MEANTIME I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE WHICH I THINK SUMS UP HIS WORLDVIEW AND THE VALUES I STRUGGLE TO EMBODY. THANKS TO HIS LEADERSHIP CABRAL CALLS ON ALL OF US TO ALWAYS QUOTE ALWAYS BE BEAR IN MIND THAT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR IDEAS FOR THE THINGS IN ANYONE'S HEAD. THEY ARE FIGHTING TO WIN MATERIAL BENEFITS, TO LIVE BETTER IN PEACE, TO SEE THEIR LIVES GO FORWARD AND GUARANTEE THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEIR BEING. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE FORWARD TO SPENDING PASSANT PRIOR TO THAT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE CAPE VERDE AND COMMUNITY OF GUINEA-BISSAU ONE OTHER COUNTRY THAT SPEAKS CREOLE A SIMILAR CREOLE TO CAPE VERDE IS CURACAO ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER ATMOSPHERE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW UNTIL GUINEA-BISSAU CAPE VERDE SHARES THIS IN BROTHERHOOD AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THOSE FOLKS LISTENING AT HOME BUT NOT TO LOOK OVER THE AUDIENCE AT ALL BEING YOURSELF YOU MUST MARKET CABRAL UPON ALL SAMPLES OF AMILCAR CABRAL I MEAN WHAT HE SAID WHO MIGHT HAVE SAID TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND THEIR OPENERS SIMPLY ON ME INCLUDE THE FULLNESS AFRICA ANYBODY BUT MOSTLY BACARDI BERNAL'S LIBERAL SONG THE PORTUGUESE IS NO SPACE ANTHEM VIVA SAMPLING FOOTPRINT GOD THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ANGIE ANDERSON AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT REVOLUTIONARY WORK OF AMILCAR CABRAL. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME? IT'S A CLERK WHO'S HAD COUNCILORS BREADON MARIA MURPHY PEP BEN SANTANA WEBER WORLD PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR CASTRO SUPPORTED JANSEN'S EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1402 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I PUBLIC POLICY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. NUMBER 1402 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NUMBER 1403 DOCKET NUMBER 1403 COUNCILOR ORAL LAW FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS BABY SAFETY MONTH TO PROMOTE INFANT SAFETY AND INJURY PREVENTION IN BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ALCANTARA.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS A YOUNG FATHER WITH THE TILER ELIAS, I UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT BABIES SAFETY IS FROM BABY PROOFING THE HOME TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT KEEPING OUR YOUNG TODDLERS SAFE THIS SEPTEMBER WE RECOGNIZE BABY SAFETY MONTH.  WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SPREAD THE WORD ON THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF INJURY PREVENTION AND SAFE PRACTICES CAMPAIGNS WITH REPORTS INDICATING THAT NINE OUT OF TEN CAR SEATS IN BOSTON ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.  IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE FREE CAR SEAT INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION SERVICES OFFERED BY BOSTON EMS AND THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONS ARE GREAT STEPS. BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL,  BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND SAFE KIDS MASSACHUSETTS AMONG OTHERS ALSO PROVIDE PROGRAM FOCUS ON INFANT SAFETY OFTEN WORKSHOPS ON CAR SEAT SAFETY, BABY PROOFING AND INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAMS LIKE THESE ALONG WITH COMMITMENT TO SAFE STREETS AND HEALTH CARE ACCESSIBILITY ARE ESSENTIAL ENSURE OUR CITY'S YOUNGEST RESIDENTS GROW UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.  WE'D LIKE TO SUSPEND AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THE CHAIR OF CANADA'S COUNCIL PET BANK COMES WITH A PENNY ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT COUNCILMAN EARLE BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. OBVIOUSLY FATHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL KIDS, THREE AND ONE YEAR OLDS AND BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY WIFE OBVIOUSLY NOT BECAUSE SHE'S NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE'S THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN BUT LAST YEAR SHE WAS WORKING AT CHC, THE CAMBRIDGE HEALTH COALITION THINK LIONS ALLIANCE WHEN SHE WAS WITH HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND SHE WORKED ON A PILOT THAT I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE I KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CAR SEAT AND FOR MANY FAMILIES, LOW INCOME FAMILIES IT IS VERY HARD TO PAY FOR A CAR SEAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CAR SEAT AND THAT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD OF THE CHILD AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHAT THEY DO IN THE PILOT IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION IN PART TO BE ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES PAY FOR THEM OR DONATE ON CAR SEATS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S PART OF THE SAFETY OF A BRAND NAME OF AN INFANT. AND I THINK THAT ONE ONCE WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY WIFE BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO FOR US TO TO WORK ON THIS AND BRING NEW IDEAS TO THE TABLE.  SO SHOUT OUT TO YOU AND UM BUT THANK YOU COUNCILMAN , FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMES FROM HERE COMES FROM HERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  AND I JUST WANT TO RISE TO THANK COUNCILOR BURRELL. I REMEMBER I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS YOUR MAIDEN SPEECH BUT UM OR AT LEAST I REMEMBER IT TO BE. BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENT AROUND CRADLE TO CAREER LIKE YOU HAVE ALWAYS EVEN BEFORE YOU BECAME A DAD HAVE REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE ONES. RIGHT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT RECOGNIZING THIS IN THIS RESOLUTION AND LEADING IN THE SPACE REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HOW CONSISTENT YOU'VE BEEN WITH THAT NARRATIVE AND THAT THE BRAND IS HOW I SEE THAT'S YOUR BRAND.  BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MODELING REALLY GREAT BEHAVIOR FOR OTHER YOUNG DADS TO RECOGNIZE WHAT ADVOCACY LOOKS LIKE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE SPACE AND I PLEASE I'M YOUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER HERE.  WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME MR. CLERK TO THAT COUNCILORS BREADON DIRK AND FERNANDO ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MARIA MURPHY BUT BEN SANTANA WEBER PLEASE HAVE A CHAIR COUNCILOR AROUND THE DISPOSITION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER ONE FOR ZERO THREE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I THOSE OPPOSING A THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER 1.03 HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE DR. NUMBER 1.0 FOR DUNCAN? NUMBER 140 FOR COUNCILORS WORRELL AND LOUIJEUNE FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 17 THROUGH THE 23RD AS NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL WEEK IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CANTOR. I'LL CONSIDER ALL YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 17 TO THE 23RD AS NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL WEEK AND THE CITY OF BOSTON AS WE COMMEMORATE THE SIGNING OF THE US CONSTITUTION WE ARE REMINDED OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES THAT UPHOLD OUR DEMOCRACY FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.  THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION WHICH PREDATES THE US CONSTITUTION CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON OF THESE VALUES AND SERVES AS THE OLDEST FUNCTIONING WRITTEN CONSTITUTION IN THE WORLD AS A CITY THAT PLAYS SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, IT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE DOCUMENTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONSTITUTION IMPACT ON OUR DAILY LIVES, HOW TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENSURE THAT THE IDEALS OF DEMOCRACY REMAIN AT THE CORE OF OUR SOCIETY.  LOOKING FORWARD TO SUSPENDING AND PASSING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR RL AND THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME AS A CO-SPONSOR.  YOU KNOW I THINK ABOUT HOW FOUNDATIONAL OUR CONSTITUTIONS ARE TO UNDERSTANDING THIS DEMOCRACY AND I THINK ABOUT THE WORDS WE THE PEOPLE AND OUR OBLIGATION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO DO THE WORK OF CREATING A MORE PERFECT UNION AND THAT'S WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY AS WE ENGAGE IN THIS PROJECT OF DEMOCRACY, AS WE FIGHT AGAINST LIES THAT ARE TOLD ABOUT US AS WE FIGHT TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY BELONG HERE, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS ABILITY TO OUTLINE SOME CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. WE KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUTION DIDN'T EVEN FULLY ENVISION THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE TODAY. AND IT'S YOU KNOW, A STATEMENT OF ENSLAVED BLACK FOLKS HERE BEING 3/5 OF A SLAVE. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO AS WE ENGAGE IN THIS PROJECT OF BUILDING THE MORE PERFECT DEMOCRACY AND THERE'S NO ONE WHO IS IN WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS AND IT IS US WE THE PEOPLE US BOTH HERE AND OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS AND THE OUR CONSTITUTION HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO ENUMERATE RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY GOES BEYOND WHAT OUR NATIONAL CONSULATE WHAT OUR U.S. CONSTITUTION DOES. SO MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I KEEP MANY CONSTITUTIONS IN MY OFFICE SO IF ANYBODY EVER WANTS ONE THEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO DURING HALLOWEEN IS TO GIVE OUT POCKET CONSTITUTIONS TO OUR YOUNG KIDS IN LIEU OF CANDY. THEY DON'T LIKE ME THAT MUCH BUT THEIR PARENTS LOVE IT. SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR OUT FOR THIS AND I HOPE EVERYONE CAN TAKE THE MOMENT TO REFLECT ON WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND TO ALL OF US AS A COUNTRY AS WE CONTINUE IN THIS WORK OF BUILDING A MORE PERFECT UNION. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNCIL FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME AND THANK YOU TO THE BAKER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.  I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE ONE IMPORTANT FACT AS WE DISCUSS THIS AND THINK ABOUT IT. BUT LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE AMERICAN SOLDIER THAT PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE IN HER LIFE IN THE LINE FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR FREEDOM AND FOR OUR CONSTITUTION SO THAT WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHTS HERE TODAY TO PRACTICE SO MANY OF THE RIGHTS THAT WERE IN OUR CONSTITUTION. SO THE AMERICAN SOLDIER THAT PAID THE SUPREMES SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION WE REMEMBER YOU TODAY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNT CHAPLAIN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE COUNCILOR IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAME?  MR. CLERK PLEASED COUNCILORS BREADON DURKIN, FERNANDES ANDERSON FITZGERALD FLYNN MCGHEE M MURPHY THE BAND SANTANA WEBER COUNCILORS WORRELL AND LOUIJEUNE EXPANSION OF THE RULES AND OF DOCKET NUMBER 1404 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I OTHERS OPPOSING A THANK YOU DOCTOR NUMBER ONE FOR ZERO FOUR HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS.  IS ANYONE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS? OH, COUNCILOR BREADON WHAT'S THIS ABOUT GREEN SHEETS OR I HAVE NO IDEA. PRESIDENT OF GA TO DOCKET NUMBER 1390 COUNCILOR FERNANDES AND OFFERED TO THE AUDIENCE FOR FORMING THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL . I VOTED PRESENT BECAUSE IT WAS UNFAMILIAR. I HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE DOCKET BUT I FAMILIARIZED MYSELF WITH IT AND I'D LIKE TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE THAT THANK YOU MR. CLERK COUNTY WOULD YOU RECORD COUNCILOR BREADON AS BEING THE AFFIRMATIVE ON DOCKET NUMBER 1390 THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES AS COUNCILOR DURKAN COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO DO THE SAME. I'D LIKE TO CHANGE MY VOTE TO YES. THANK YOU MR. CLERK.  CAN YOU PLEASE THANK YOU.  AND I KNOW THAT'S THAT'S OFTEN THE DIFFICULTY WITH SUSPENDING PASSING ORDINANCES.  JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE UP TO DATE AND UP TO SPEED ON IT. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GENERALLY DON'T LOVE TO DO BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS UP TO DATE AND SOMETIMES CONFUSION CAN HAPPEN BUT I JUST I THINK YOU'VE NOW MADE YOUR VOTE CLEAR SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DID HAVE SOMETHING TO PULL FROM THE GREEN SHEETS.  I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT COUNCILOR SANTANA IS THAT A GREEN SHEETS POLL AS WELL? OKAY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO GREEN SHEETS.  MR OC COUNCILOR DURKAN WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOMETHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO CALL DOCKET 1336 FROM THE GREEN SHEETS PAGE OH SORRY IT'S PAGE 14 WHAT NUMBER SORRY 1336 OH OKAY. SORRY MR. QUIRK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE DOCKET INTO THE RECORD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND NUMBER 1336 COMMUNICATION BY THE CITY CLERK FROM THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION ON THE DESIGNATION OF THE PETITION AND NUMBER TWO FOR 3.11 THE WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON HOUSE 17 HIGHLAND PARK STREET, ROXBURY, MASS.  02119 IN EFFECT AFTER OCTOBER NINE, 2024 IF NOT ACTED UPON THANK YOU. ABSENT OBJECTION THE MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS EXCEPT IN THE DOCKET IS PROBABLY BEFORE THE BODY THEY CONSIDER GOING TO THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AS THE CHAIR OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN A NATIONAL LANDMARK SINCE 1965 AND IT'S BEEN A PENDING LANDMARK FOR A WHILE. THE WILLIAM LORD GARRISON HOUSE ALSO KNOWN AS ROCKLEDGE IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK HOUSE LOCATED AT 125 HIGHLAND STREET IN ROXBURY HIGHLAND SECTION OF BOSTON PROBABLY BUILT IN THE 1840 OR 50 YEARS. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT LONGTIME IT IS A SIGNIFICANT LONG TIME HOME OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON WHO LIVED UNTIL 79, ONE OF THE MOST HIGH PROFILE ABOLITIONIST ABOLITION ACTIVIST IN THE 19TH CENTURY IN THE UNITED STATES. HE PUBLISHED THE LIBERATOR, THE PRINCIPAL ORGAN OF THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT AND SPOKE FOR IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES DESPITE SIGNIFICANT LETTER ALTERED CREATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE INSTITUTIONAL USES, THE BUILDING HAS RETAINED MUCH OF ITS 19TH CENTURY FABRIC SO IT DESERVES TO BE A BOSTON LANDMARK.  I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL VOTE IN SUPPORT OF IT TODAY. THANK YOU.  MAKE IT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKIN, I CAN ASSURE DURKIN SEEKS PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1336 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I SUPPOSE IN THE EYES HAVE IT THIS DOCKET HAS PASSED. IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA, KAISER SANTANA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM. SCUSE ME . THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MR CLEGG, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ID NUMBER 1171 FOR THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. DOCKET NUMBER 1171 IS ON PAGE 18 OF THE GREEN CHEESE.  MR QUICK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE DOCKET INTO THE RECORD BUT TARGETING HIM 1171 IT'S ON PAGE 18 RIGHT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOCKET NUMBER 1171 MESSAGE YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $260,031.75 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT WILL FUND AND SUPPORT THE INSTALLATION OF SEAL ALARMS AND TRAINING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNSELOR SANTANA WITH THE ABSENT OBJECTION FROM THE BODY THE DOCKET NUMBER DOCKET NUMBER 1171 IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY COUNT OF SANTANA.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.  THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON GRANTS ADMINISTERED BY THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JUNE 11, 2024 AS CHAIR I WAS JOINED BY COLLEAGUES COUNCILOR MURPHY COUNCILOR FLYNN,  COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, COUNCILOR DURKIN,  COUNCILOR WEBER, COUNCILOR CLARISSA POTTER AND THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCIL . BUT THEN THE COMMITTEE HEARD DETAILED TESTIMONY FROM THREE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS KEVIN COYNE, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE JULIE BYRNE DEVON PROCUREMENT GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND SHAUNA LYNCH WHO WAS THE GRANTS MANAGER IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING ON EACH GRANT THAT THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS THE PENALTIES EXPLAIN HOW THE GRANTS FIT TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER ALONG WITH OTHER NON GRANT FUNDING SOURCES BY DISCUSSING ALL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANTS TOGETHER THE COMMITTEE HEARD A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON OUR GRANT AND CITY FUNDED SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL GRANT, THE POLICE ALSO DISCUSSED HOW GRANTS TO BE TO THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE COMPARED FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK TO EXPAND ITS APPLICATION FOR COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY SERVICES ARE APPROPRIATELY FUNDED. IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSING THIS PARTICULAR GRANT DURING THE HEARING, THE COMMITTEE HAS ALSO RECEIVED DETAILED WRITTEN INFORMATION ON THIS SPECIFIC BRAND WHICH I HAVE REVIEWED AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  THIS GRANT OF 260,031 31 AND $0.75 WILL FUND TWO PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND TO THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON THE DANGERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE.  THE GRANT FUNDS 75% OF THE PROGRAM WITH A 25% MATCH FROM THE CITY BUDGET. THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BOSTON HOUSEHOLDS WITH WORK IN CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND BFD FOCUS ON FOCUSES EFFORTS ON THE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE HIGHEST RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE INCLUDING SENIORS HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN, LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH A PRIMARY LANGUAGE. OTHER THAN ENGLISH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONSIDERS DATA ON FIRE CALLS AND CLIMATE AND WEATHER IMPACTS IN DETERMINING HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE MOST AT RISK. THIS GRANT SPECIFICALLY FUNDS PERSONNEL COSTS RELATED TO BFD FIREFIGHTERS ASSIGNED TO THE INSTALLATION OF COMBINATION SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.  THE TEXT IS THEMSELVES REFRIGERATOR MAGNET STICKERS,  SIGNAGE AND OTHER GIVEAWAY EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRANSLATION COSTS TO ENSURE ALL MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL CITY REQUIRED LANGUAGES.  EDUCATION IS A CORE ASPECT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION WHICH IS WHY BFD RE-ACTIVATED ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION UNIT IN 2017. WE'VE SEEN THE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS OF THE BFD EDUCATIONAL WORK WITH A 73% INCREASE IN PRESENTATIONS AND 60% INCREASE IN TOTAL AUDIENCE EDUCATED AS PART OF ITS EDUCATION WORK AND TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE OF THE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THIS GRANT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS TO ENSURE RESIDENTS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SERVED AND BOSTON'S LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS POLICY IS CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED.  AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I RECOMMEND MOVING THIS DOCKET FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND A FORMAL ACTION AT THAT TIME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL WILL BE THAT DOCKET NUMBER 11712 PASSED. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SANTANA, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILOR SANTANA, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE MOVES FOR PASSAGE OF DOCKET NUMBER 1171. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I'LL OPPOSE ANY THANK YOU. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THIS DOCKET IS PASSED.  IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO PULL ANYTHING FROM THE GREEN SHEETS ? WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO LATE FILES.  I AM INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE 666 LATE FILE MATTERS. MR CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE FILE MATTERS INTO THE RECORD? CAN OKAY I AM IN FOR MEDICAL THERE ARE SIX LATE FILE MATTERS WHAT HOW MANY PERSONNEL ORDERS ? TWO PERSONNEL TWO PERSONNEL ORDERS HAVE ABSENCE ONE ABSENCE LETTER ORDERED BY COUNCILOR , ONE ORDER BY COUNCILOR DURKIN.  TWO MAYORS. OKAY.  CAN WE TAKE THE EVERYTHING BUT THE ORDER CAN WE WILL TAKE A VOTE TO ADD EVERYTHING BY THE ORDER TO THE AGENDA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THE LETHAL MATTER SAY I ALL OF US SAY NAY. THANK YOU. THE LETHAL MATTERS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE AGENDA, MR CLERK,  WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE BOARD MATTERS SAVE THE ORDER INTO THE RECORD.  YEAH. NOT THAT ONE. THE OTHER ONE TO ME FIRST FILE MANNER IS AN ABSENCE LETTER FROM CITY COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS OPPOSED TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. LOUISIANA COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT IT WILL BE ABSENT FROM TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.  MY STAFF WILL BE LISTENING IN AND REVIEWING THE RECORDINGS SINCERELY COUNCIL COLORS UPON FIRST PERSONNEL ORDER COUNCIL LOUIJEUNE FOR A CENTRAL STAFF SECOND PERSONNEL ORDER ALSO FROM COUNCIL ILLUSION FOR CENTRAL STAFF YOU LET THEM?  OH YES WE WILL PLACE THOSE MATTERS ON FILE THE THE TWO PERSONNEL ORDERS IN THE LETTER OF ABSENCE OH OKAY.  ALSO WE NOW MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE TWO PERSONNEL MATTERS ALL OF OUR ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I L OPPOSING THE AYES HAVE IT. THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED AND THE LETTER OF ABSENCE WILL BE PLACED ON FILE FOR FLEET FILE MATTER ORDER FROM HERE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THEY HEREBY TRANSMIT FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FISCAL YEAR 25 FESTIVALS AND PROJECTS AWARDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL . THANK YOU. THAT DOCKET WILL BE PLACED ON FILE SO THAT THAT WHICH WAS OKAY.  ALL RIGHT THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ARTS, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM AND SPECIAL EVENTS.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON, COUNCILOR FERNANDO ANDERSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS GRANT WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AN ART INSTALLATION CELEBRATING THE GENERATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS TO THE NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON COUNCILOR CARLO ZAPATA'S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE ARTIST TO CREATE A PHOTO GALLERY TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE NORTH END'S MOST INFLUENTIAL RESIDENTS, OLDEST RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO BOSTON'S NORTH END FOR GENERATIONS.  THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF BOSTON CITY COUNCIL GABRIELLA COLETTA THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHO WILL SELECT THE STORIES TOLD BY THE COMMUNITY ART INSTALLATION BECAUSE OF THE LOW DOLLAR AMOUNT THIS GRANT I MOVE TO SUSPEND AND PASS THE RULES AND ACCEPT THE DOCKET.  THANK YOU. CATCHER FRENCH ANDERSON TO SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND PASSAGE OF THIS DOCKET ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PASSED. MR CLERK, ARE WE NOW ON TO THAT? WE HAVE ONE ONE MORE LEAF CAN YOU PLEASE READ THAT MATTER INTO THE RECORD FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR I TRANSMIT HERE AND FOR YOUR APPROVAL AN ORDER REGARDING THE EMPLOYMENT OF JESSICA CARLOS OF 47 OF BOSTON AS A MEMBER OF THE HIGHLAND PARK ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR A TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH 2027. THANK YOU. THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION . MR CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE LATE FILE HEARING ORDER INTO THE RECORD OFFERED BY AS DURKIN AND SANTANA ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS INADEQUATE DELIVERY SERVICES BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WITHIN MISSION HILL AND OTHER BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CONNECTING COMMUNITIES FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AND CONDUCTING COMMERCE WHEREAS GIVEN THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF MISSION HILL RECEIVE THE POSTAL SERVICE THERE THEY ARE ENTITLED UNDER FEDERAL LAW AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION IS HEREBY NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE THE FILING AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS ORDER AND BE IT ORDERED THAT THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE THE CITY COUNCIL HOLD AN EMERGENCY HEARING TO ADDRESS THE DETERIORATION OF THE USPS SERVICES IN MISSION HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFY THE REASONS FOR THE INACCURATE INADEQUACY OF SERVICE AND DEVELOP ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO RESTORE RESTORE FULL POSTAL SERVICES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION LANGUAGE TO THE MAKERS PURSUANT TO RULE 46 IT'S AN URGENT ISSUE THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE COUNCILOR IS AWARE THAT WE VOTE TO ACCEPT THIS LATE FILE MATTERS TO ALL THOSE IN IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE MATTER SAY I FOLLOW ALL THE POLLS SAY NAY THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS DOCKET IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE BODY.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DURKIN. COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD COUNCILOR BEN WEBER. COUNCILOR DURKIN SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO ADD COUNCILOR WEBB AS A THIRD ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCILOR WEBER SO ADDED COUNCILOR DURKIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MADAM PRESIDENT AND MY FELLOW COUNCILORS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL ISSUE FACING THE DAILY LIVES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE MISSION HALL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE A CORNERSTONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND A VITAL PUBLIC GOOD HAS FAILED TO MEET ITS MANDATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE USPS POST OFFICE AT 1575 TREMONT STREET IN MISSION HILL WAS SLATED FOR CLOSURE EARLIER THIS SUMMER. I WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH OUR U.S. SENATOR ED MARKEY AND WINGATE COMPANIES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE POTENTIAL CLOSURE GET A LEASE SIGNED AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE POST OFFICE OPEN.  BUT HOWEVER, NOW THE RESIDENTS OF MISSION HILL ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION IN POSTAL SERVICE AND THIS ISN'T JUST AN INCONVENIENCE.  IT'S A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW AND A THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING.  THE UNITED STATES CODE CLEARLY STATES THAT THE POSTAL SERVICE SHALL PROVIDE PROMPT, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT SERVICES TO ALL PATRONS IN ALL AREAS AND SHALL RENDER POSTAL SERVICES TO ALL COMMUNITIES. YET FOR MANY IN MISSION HILL THIS PROMISE RINGS HOLLOW. LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THESE REAL WORLD IMPLICATIONS OF THE SERVICE FAILURE RESIDENTS ARE MISSING CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDING LEGAL AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS.  SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS ARE NOT RECEIVING VITAL MEDICATIONS ON TIME. AND AFTER FILING THIS EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND HEARING ORDER,  I HEARD FROM COUNCILOR TONYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND HEARD FROM COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON THAT THIS ISN'T JUST HAPPENING IN MISSION HILL. IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CONSIDERING THE TIME OF YEAR WE'RE IN IN AN ERA WHERE VOTE BY MAIL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY PREVALENT WITH UP TO HALF OF OUR ELECTORATE CHOOSING TO VOTE BY THIS METHOD, UNRELIABLE POSTAL SERVICE THREATENS THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.  WE CANNOT ALLOW POSTAL INEFFICIENCIES TO BECOME A FORM OF VOTER AND VOTER SUPPRESSION. THAT'S WHY ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR SANTANA AND WEBER WE HAVE FILED THIS HEARING ORDER FOR AN EMERGENCY HEARING. WE UNDERSTAND AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE SERVICE FAILURES HEAR DIRECTLY FROM AFFECTED CONSTITUENTS AND BUSINESSES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DEVELOP ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO RESTORE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES AND IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE. I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS HEARING ORDER. LET'S SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT BOSTON STANDS UNITED IN DEMANDING EXCELLENCE FROM THE USPS.  OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN PROMPT, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT SERVICES WHICH ARE PROMISE UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND I NEED TO SHOUT OUT MERKLEY AND AGAIN FROM SENATOR MARKEY'S TEAM WHO HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE WARRIOR. GETTING BACK TO CONSTITUENTS AND HELPING US IN OUR OFFICE REALLY DRAW THE ATTENTION THAT IS NEEDED AT THE LEVEL.  BUT WE REALLY NEED ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND U.S. SENATORS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE WITH US. THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'LL BEFORE. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SANTANA ACCOMPLISHMENT AND I YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR DURKIN DURKIN FOR FILING THIS HEARING ORDER.  FOR MONTHS NOW I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM MANY RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF MISSION HILL, ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN AND BRIGHTON ABOUT THE CRITICAL SHORTCOMINGS OF POSTAL SERVICES ESPECIALLY THE SEVERELY DELAYED DELIVERY OF MAIL OR MAIL NEVER GETTING DELIVERED AT ALL. THE LACK OF ACCESS TO RELIABLE SERVICES FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES HAS BEEN MORE THAN JUST AN INCONVENIENCE.  IT'S BEEN A HARDSHIP FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO RELY ON THE TIMELY DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE MEDICATIONS, LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND FINANCIAL PAPERWORK. AS WE KNOW, FEDERAL LAW MANDATES THAT USPS PROVIDE PROMPT AND RELIABLE SERVICE TO ALL COMMUNITIES. YET THE REALITY ON THE GROUND IN MISSION HILL SUGGESTS THAT WE ARE FAR FROM THAT. WITH THE INCREASE IN MAIL IN VOTING PARTICULARLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC POSTAL SERVICE'S INTERRUPTIONS THREATEN NOT ONLY OUR ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES BUT ALSO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.  THIS IS AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY. WE CANNOT ALLOW CERTAIN COMMUNITIES TO BE UNDERSERVED WHILE OTHERS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE RELIABLE POSTAL SERVICES. OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER AND WE ARE HERE TO DEMAND ANSWERS AND ACTION TO RESTORE FULL SERVICE TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HANNA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.  I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR DURKIN AND SENATOR MARKEY FOR PUSHING SO HARD ON THIS ISSUE AND AS COUNCILOR SANTANA JUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENTERING OR WE'RE IN AN ELECTION SEASON AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE VOTING MAIL. WE NEED EVERY VOTE TO COUNT ME TO MAKE SURE OUR POSTAL SERVICE IS WORKING CORRECTLY.  I REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT THE BACK COMMISSION HILL AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING IRREGULAR DELIVERY OF THEIR MAIL SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS HERE BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE BODY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO RISE TO REITERATE THE POINTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY MADE. FOR MONTHS NOW GOING ON A YEAR OR PROBABLY MORE WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS IN DISTRICT SEVEN PARTICULARLY ROXBURY.  SPECIFIC TO THE POST OFFICE IN GROVE HALL SOMETIMES NOT RECEIVING MAIL FOR TWO WEEKS. MY WHERE I LIVE DIRECTLY BEING IMPACTED.  SO WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL MEDICATION.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE LEGAL DOCUMENTS BUT ALSO LIKE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IT CAN HAVE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A FAMILY'S DEALING WITH AND WHAT THEY'RE WAITING AND RELYING ON THAT MAIL. SO WE'VE CONTACTED THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S TEAM FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THIS. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HEARING TO HOPEFULLY DISCUSSING ALTHOUGH NOT UNDER A PREVIEW OR JURISDICTION BUT HOPEFULLY DISCUSSING POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO CONTINUE OR TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES BRADING COMES FORWARD AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU TO CONSIDER DURKAN AND SANTANA AND WEBER FOR OFFERING THIS HEARING ORDER . JUST TO PUT YOU ON THE RECORD WE HAVE WE HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES OVER THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS MAYBE LONGER WITH THE POST OFFICE AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON THE AUSTIN POST OFFICE WAS CLOSED VERY SUDDENLY IN THE END OF 2019 DUE TO STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS OF THE BUILDING AND ALL OUR EFFORTS TO TRY AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION A POST OFFICE IN AUSTIN WHERE WE'RE ALL FOR NOTHING BECAUSE WE WE ENDED UP NOT HAVING A POST OFFICE WE STILL DON'T HAVE A POST OFFICE IN AUSTIN AND MORE RECENTLY EVEN THOUGH THAT SITE WILL BE DEVELOPED AND WE WILL GET A NEW OFFICE WHEN THE WHEN A NEW DEVELOPMENT IS BUILT BUT MORE RECENTLY WE HAVE FOUND MANY MANY IN INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS FROM CONSTITUENTS REGARDING DELAYED OR ABSENT POSTAL SERVICE LETTERS NOT BEING DELIVERED FOR NOT RECEIVING MAIL FOR WEEKS AND IT IS RAISING CONCERN ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SEEM TO BE MORE IMPACTED THAN OTHERS BUT AGAIN I REALLY WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE AND GET AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF POSTAL SERVICE ACROSS THE CITY BUT ALSO IN RELATION TO OUR POSTAL SERVICE AND ALSO IN BRIGHTON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK A QUESTION TO THE MAKER?  YOU MAY. I JUST WANTED TO ASK IS DID WE DO ANY OUTREACH TO THE UNION REPRESENTING THESE WORKERS TO SEE WHAT IF ANY ISSUE OUTSTANDING ISSUE IS IMPACTING THE DELIVERY OF MAIL TO THE CHAIR COUNCILOR DURKAN IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND YOU MAY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILWOMAN. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I DID VISIT THE POST OFFICE AND TRIED TO TALK TO THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE BUT I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE UNION REPRESENTATIVES BUT I WILL DO THAT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?  I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THIS ISSUE AS THAT LARGE COUNCILOR . OBVIOUSLY YOU HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ABOUT THIS AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL SENATE OFFICES HAVE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE IN TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER TO THE ISSUES. I THINK IN PART DUE TO LISA'S VOICE AND ALL OF THE SPACE THAT THE USPS THAT THEY ALL THE DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THEY LEASE FROM AND THE COMPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH THAT.  BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION. MR. CLERK IS ANYONE ELSE LOOKING TO ADD THEIR NAME? IT'S A COLLECTIVE THAT COMES WAS BROUGHT IN FOR AN INJURY ANDERSON FITZGERALD MEJIA PIPPEN WORL PLEASE ADD THE CHAIR THIS DOCKET WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PILOT AGREEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS . OKAY.  AND MR. CLERK THOSE ARE ALL THE FINAL MATTERS.  WE'VE GOT A LOVELY GUY, MAURICE OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT THERE ARE FOUR ADDITIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA . THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WEBER BECAUSE WHERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I OBJECT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SPECIFICALLY DOCKET NUMBER 1419 AND I ALSO OBJECT TO THE SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE OF THAT FILING. OKAY, SO WE WILL BE REMOVING DOCKET NUMBER 1419 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA PURSUANT TO RULE 16. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. PURSUANT TO RULE 16 AND WILL BE ADDED TO MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS. THERE'S ALSO NO OBJECTION TO THE SUSPENSION AND PASSAGE.  SO IF IT CONTINUES IT WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE THE SPONSOR. HOWEVER, IF HE'D LIKE TO SPEAK COULD SPEAK ON THIS MATTER AND THEN IT WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CAROLYN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS MY DOCKET THAT I SPONSORED 1419 THIS IS THE FIRST I'M HEARING OF ANY OBJECTION FROM COUNCILOR WEBER. I WISH HE HAD THE COMMON COURTESY TO COME TO ME BEFORE AND ASK ME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF CATCHING ME OFF GUARD AT ALL AT THE LAST SECOND AND NOT LISTENING TO MY EXPLANATION, I THINK I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY I SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU COUNCILOR WHETHER YOU PREVENTED ME FROM DOING THAT.  THIS IS THIS IS A CAN I DISCUSS WHY IT'S YOUR ORDER? YOU MAY SORRY IT'S YOUR RESOLUTION.  THIS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIVES LOST IN THOSE HELD HOSTAGE FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER SEVEN TERRORIST ATTACK ON ISRAEL THIS OCTOBER 7TH, 2024 MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK BY HAMAS ON ISRAEL.  OVER 1000 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED THAT DAY.  251 CIVILIANS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS WERE ALSO TAKEN AS HOSTAGE INCLUDING AMERICANS.  I FILED THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN HONOR THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST THAT DAY AND REMEMBER ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.  WE CONDEMN THE HORRIFIC ACTS OF TERROR THAT HAMAS HAS INFLICTED ON THAT DAY OCTOBER 7TH AND CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. NOT SURE WHAT'S SO CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THAT COUNCILOR , WHETHER THAT'S A FEAR OF RESOLUTION. WHAT ARE YOU OBJECTING ABOUT?  YEAH, MAY I ANSWER AFTER INSTANCE IF YOU IF YOU LIKE, YOU MAY ANSWER THROUGH THE CHAIR. IF NOT YOU UNDERSTAND NO REQUIREMENT BUT YOU MAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE. OKAY.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. AND SO YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH COUNSELOR FLYNN THIS DOCKET RELATES TO AN IMPORTANT MATTER THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE BEFORE THE WHOLE BODY RATHER THAN VOTING IN SILENCE, THE DOCTOR PROPOSES RAISING THE ISRAELI FLAG ON CITY HALL PLAZA ON OCTOBER 7TH TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE HORRIBLE ATTACK BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH. I DO NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF ALL JEWISH PEOPLE IN BOSTON BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS MY OFFICE HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED BEFOREHAND AND I WAS ALSO SURPRISED TO SPEAK TO A PROMINENT JEWISH ORGANIZATION THIS MORNING WHICH WAS ALSO NOT CONSULTED AND SUGGESTED THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WERE NOT CONSULTED ON PUTTING THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MOURN AND HONOR THE LOSS OF LIVES. I CONDEMN HAMAS'S ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH BUT IT WARRANTS DISCUSSION OF THE BEST WAY TO DO SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH LEADERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO SOON AFTER A SHOOTING IN NEWTOWN AT A RALLY FOR ISRAEL AND WITH TEMPERATURES EXTREMELY HIGH, THIS MOVE SEEMS MORE ABOUT INFLAMING PASSIONS ON BOTH SIDES THAN ABOUT HEALING. AS WE APPROACH THE ANNIVERSARY THE HORRIBLE MASSACRE OF OCTOBER 7TH I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER TO CALL FOR PEACE. I DON'T THINK TURNING CITY HALL PLAZA INTO A FLASH POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING ON BOTH SIDES WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TO MOVE FORWARD CONSTRUCTIVELY WE NEED MORE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION . I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING IN THAT DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL , MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ASK THAT THIS MATTER BE SENT TO COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ON THIS MATTER.  IT WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. I WILL ALLOW YOU A SHORT MOMENT TO RESPOND.  AND THEN THIS IS BEING REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OR VERY BRIEF MOMENT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. MADAM CHAIR, IT MAY TAKE ME MORE THAN A BRIEF MOMENT TO TO SPEAK ABOUT THE THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCILOR WEBER MADE.  YOU MAY PROCEED.  COUNCILOR WEBER, DURING THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION WE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION WE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE HORRIFIC ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH.  THIS PARTY DIDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE IT.  THERE'S NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT ABOUT THIS ABOUT RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 7TH.  I I WAS. COUNCIL WHETHER YOU WOULD HAVE COME TO ME AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ME INSTEAD OF DOING JOIN THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCILOR WEBER FOR YOUR VERY SOMBER WORDS AND FOR EXPRESSING WHAT YOU FEEL AND WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS BOTH A CITY COUNCILOR AND AS A JEWISH RESIDENT IN OUR CITY. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND OUR CITY AND NOT FOR ISSUE BASED ANNOUNCEMENTS. OH, I'M SORRY . OH, APOLOGIES. OKAY. SO THAT WAS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DURKAN, IS THAT THE COUNCILOR FINANCIAL CONDITION YOU HAD? OKAY. SORRY I WAS JUMPING THE GUN SO THAT WAS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. NOW WE HAVE THE REMAINING ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA . THE QUESTION NOW COMES ON APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. I BEG YOU TO CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. THANK YOU. OKAY.  WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS.  THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT THERE'S SOME DELICIOUS LUNCH FOR LUNCH AND LEARN AND TODAY IS MY TURN. SO PLEASE JOIN US IN THE KIRBY ROOM FOR COUNCIL TO FACE LUNCH AND LEARN WITH SOME FOOD FROM CAESAREA. THANKS. THANK YOU. I'D ALSO LIKE TO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME BIRTHDAYS WE HAVE UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS.  GABRIELLE WAITER KEVIN O'SULLIVAN AND OUR VERY OWN COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD. RIGHT. WELL, RIGHT. DID WE GET IT WRONG? OKAY. I WAS ABOUT TO SAY TOO MANY VIRGOS ALREADY. OH, TECHNICALLY NOT TOO MANY SAID THAT. FORGET HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY. I BELIEVE IT'S NEXT WEEK, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY WE THERE ARE SOME UPCOMING EVENTS. THE BAY VILLAGE BLOCK PARTY IS TOMORROW AT 630 THIS SATURDAY THE SICKLE CELL WALK AT 10 A.M. IN FRANKLIN PARK. REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THOSE SUFFERING FROM SICKLE CELL AND LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL THERE'S A HARRIS QUARRY DEDICATION FOR CURTIS W HERON IN ROXBURY.  THERE'S A ROSLINDALE PORCH FEST IN THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY IN THE SOUTH BOSTON STREET BEST ON SATURDAY. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILORS SANTANA PEPEN AND HERE FOR COLLABORATING WITH MY OFFICE IN PLANNING THE CITY COUNCIL'S HISPANIC ONLINE NEXT MONTH CELEBRATION THAT'S GOING TO BE ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16TH. THERE IS NO COUNCIL MEETING THAT DAY BUT WE WILL BE HERE AT NOON CELEBRATING OUR HISPANIC AND LATIN ACTS LEADERS ARE PINATAS THAT I USE MY DAD HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON SO I HOPE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN ATTEND AND THAT ALL OF OUR LATIN X AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS ARE ABLE TO COME OUT FOR THAT EVENT AND THEN I SEE COUNCILOR SANTANA, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON AND OTHER COLLEAGUES SO I'LL START WITH YOU BECAUSE I JUST SAW YOUR LIGHT FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO AROUND THIS WAY BECAUSE OF SANTANA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, AS WE MENTIONED TWO THINGS TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS I DID WANT TO ADD TO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER AND NEXT TO MEJIA WE COULD HAVE HAD WHO TURNED 2028 YESTERDAY AND JUST WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST HAPPY BIRTHDAY. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR SO I ALSO WANT TO RAISE THIS THIS WEEKEND. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW OR MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY SISTERS MY NUMBER ONE BEST FRIEND IN THIS WORLD KISHORE SANTANA AND HER BIRTHDAY IS THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND AND SHE SAYS WITH AN INCREDIBLE ROCK TO ME AND MY FAMILY AND I JUST WANT TO WISH HER A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  AND SHE IS ALSO A CITY HALL A CITY HALL EMPLOYEE. SO REALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KISHORE AND I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU.  AND IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, YOUR BIRTHDAY IS ACTUALLY NEXT WEDNESDAY WHEN WE WILL HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING. SO WE'LL JUST SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU THEN AT THE MEETING. SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL ABOUT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUNCILOR PEPEN . I'LL JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO BRUCE BROSNAN FROM MY OFFICE.  THIS IS HIS LAST WEEK BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ON RECORD FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU. YAY! BRUCE SAID THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL RATE INCOMES ARE GREAT AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. I WANT TO WISH MY MY SWEETHEART MY, UH MY PARTNER IN LIFE MY SPOUSE MARY MCCARTHY A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SHE HAD IS CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH. SHE IS A TRUE VIRGO AND KEEPS ME IN LINE AND KEEPS ME IS A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT TO ME IN THIS WORK. SO I WANT TO WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARRY THE CHAIR ORGANIZERS CONSIDER CAN CONSIDER CAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR ? I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE MISSION HALL ROAD RACES SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH AND THE REASON I'M SAYING IT OUT LOUD IS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY HONORS COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S DAD AND I'M A CO-CHAIR ALONGSIDE HIM FOR THE ROAD RACE . SO IT'S KIND OF A EVEN THOUGH IT'S MY DISTRICT, IT'S DEFINITELY COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S DISTRICT AS WELL BECAUSE THE PARK THAT THE ROAD RACE ENDS IN IS NAMED AFTER HIS DAD SO WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE IT IS EARLY. IT'S SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH AT 8 A.M. BUT WILL BE THERE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE OUT WATER AND IT'S A REALLY HEALTHY FIVE CASE. SO IF ANYONE'S TRYING TO OR SORRY THERE'S THERE'S MULTIPLE RACES BUT IT'S A REALLY HILLY RACE SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IF YOU ARE NOT PARTICIPATING OR VOLUNTEERING I HOPE YOU'LL RUN IN IT. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET IN SHAPE SO LET'S SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY, WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO MEMORIALS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANYONE WHO HAS PASSED, NOW IS THE MOMENT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A WONDERFUL MAN THAT RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF SOUTH BOSTON ROBERT J. CLEM CAMPBELL, A PROUD MARINE.  CLEM CAME TO LIVE IN SOUTH BOSTON FROM ROXBURY AND THEN HE MARRIED MIMI RYAN WHEN MIMI PASSED IN 1985 YEARS LATER HE MET ANOTHER WONDERFUL SOUTH BOSTON WOMAN EILEEN MA AND HAD TWO SONS CLEM WORK FOR THE BOSTON FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AN OUTSTANDING JOB STARTED ON D STREET NEAR NEAR MY HOME, THEN WORKED IN THE MARINE UNIT UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT AND THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS A KIND MAN GREAT NEIGHBOR, A GENTLE GIANT. HE'LL BE MISSED. CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE EILEEN. HIS SONS AND HIS FAMILY INCLUDING ELLEN FRITCH WHOSE STEPFATHER WAS MR CAMPBELL. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN AND MY CONDOLENCES TO OUR STENOGRAPHER AND HER FAMILY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ? AM I MISSING A LIGHT?  OKAY.  TODAY WE WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR DURKIN THOMAS WELDON ON BEHALF OF COUNSELOR FLYNN, ROBERT J.  CLEM CAMPBELL, RETIRED BOSTON FIREFIGHTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE CHAIR MOVES THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL ADJOURN TODAY IT DOES SO IN MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS.  THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN DIANELLA CHAMBER ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH,  2024 AT NOON. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES CENTRAL STAFF, THE CLERK AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL STENOGRAPHER ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT. PLEASE SAY II THE COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED FOR