##VIDEO ID:aAX1XK6YbVg## .  FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS BRIAN. WE'RE OUR DISTRICT FOUR CITY COUNCILOR AND AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. TODAY'S OCTOBER 22ND, 2020 FOR DETROIT IS HERE AND IS BEING RECORDED IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON.COM.  BACKSLASH CITY DASH COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON INFINITI CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT THE IWM AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MAY OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. INDIVIDUALS BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON PLEASE ADDING NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRY TO THE CHAMBER.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON SHANE PAC SHANE AS H ANNIE DOT POLICY AT BOSTON.COM FOR THE LINK. YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 1303 WANTED TO INCREASE VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS BRIAN WHERE L CASSEL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 28, 2020 FOR I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY THANKS TO OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE HOUSE WHO PASSED AND SIGNED THE HERO ACT WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST. THIS ORDER TODAY WOULD BE FOR FY 20 FIT FY 26 AND FISCAL YEAR GOING FORWARD TO ALLOW THE CITY TO ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE ITS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS AS WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO THE STATE HOUSE TO GIVE ANOTHER GREATER TAX RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON. BUT FOR NOW THEY HAVE GIVEN US THIS MAGNITUDE WHICH I BELIEVE WE SHOULD OPT INTO. WE ARE WE ARE IN A FISCALLY STRONG POSITION AS A CITY AND I BELIEVE WE ARE IN A STRONG ENOUGH POSITION TO GIVE THIS TYPE OF RELIEF TO VETERANS. I KNOW IN THE PAST THAT THE CITY HAS STRUGGLED TO DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THE STATE GRANTS. WE'RE ALLOWED TO GET THE CITY VETERANS JUST TO TO GIVE MONEY DIRECTLY INTO THE POCKETS OF DISABLED ENTRANTS IN THE CITY TO A MECHANISM THAT ALREADY WORKS. BOSTON IS A WALK IN THE CITY FOR ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND BEING THE FIRST CITY TO OPT INTO THIS GREATER TAX RELIEF WE ARE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT BOSTON CARES FOR ITS VETERANS. TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND ORDER ARRIVAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND ALSO COUNCIL WEBRE. I'D TO READ INTO THE RECORD A LETTER YESTERDAY FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN. I'M WRITING TO INFORM ME THAT THAT DUE TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH TOMORROW'S BOSTON CITY COUNCIL WAYS AND MEANS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1303 ORDER TO INCREASE VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION I WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARING AND WILL RECUSE MYSELF FROM A VOTE OF ANY OR ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER AT THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL AS COMMUNICATING WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND A MASSACHUSETTS STATE ETHICS COMMISSION ON THE LETTER. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS ASKING FROM SAINT COUNTY SANTANA COUNCILOR MURPHY AND COUNCILOR PEPEN.  I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR ANY OPENING REMARKS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE DISCLOSURES THANK YOU COUNCILOR RL AND THANK YOU FOR THIS FILING. I'M HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR.  I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE US FOR THEIR WORK. I KNOW THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NECESSITIES AND DO BOTH THIS TAX EXEMPTION AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T GO TOO MUCH OF A TAX BURDEN. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND WAYS TO BRING DOWN COSTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND PARTICULARLY OUR VETERANS LIKE YOU. COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO AND EVERYONE WHO SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS FILE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND TO GETTING THIS PASSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  COUNCIL WEBSITE CLOSURES.  THANK YOU.  AND THANK YOU TO THE FILERS YOU KNOW COUNSELORS FOR AND MADAM PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO.  WE JUST SAW EACH OTHER THIS MORNING AT AN EVENT FOR VETERANS AND TALKING TO VETERANS IN BOSTON AND ACROSS BOSTON THEY NEED HELP. PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES NEED HELP WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, HOME COSTS AND THIS IS ONE GREAT WAY TO TRY TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS HERE IN BOSTON AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE TODAY'S PANELISTS TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER MARINELLO.  COMMISSIONER OF ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO, COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS SERVICES. THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.  GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE CHAIR MORRELL AND COUNCILOR WEBER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ON THE CONTINUE TO HELP OUT OUR VETERANS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND TAKING THE NEEDS TO THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT . I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT CERTAIN THAT WE DO HAVE COMING UP AS WE APPROACH VETERANS DAY WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 11TH. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON SOME OF THESE EVENTS BUT BEFORE I DO THAT I I DO THAT I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR VETERANS BENEFITS SPECIALIST. THESE ARE THE STAFF MEMBERS ON OUR TEAM THAT ACTUALLY GO AND TAKE CARE OF THE BENEFITS AND TALK TO OUR VETERANS TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL BENEFITS THAT THEY'VE EARNED AND DESERVE.  THEY THIS WEEK ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE YEARLY TRAINING THAT'S BEING PROVIDED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES IN THE STATE. THEY'RE RECEIVING UPDATES AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO ON BEHALF OF OUR VETERANS AND ALSO THEIR FAMILIES. ALL OUR VOICES ARE ACCREDITED TO ALSO PROCESS VA CLAIMS. I URGE ALL OF MY VETERANS OUT THERE ALL OF MY FELLOW VETERANS OUT THERE TO USE A CREDIT IT CLAIMS AGENTS. AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE AND WE CALL THEM CLEAN SHARKS THAT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WILL PROCESS AND HELP YOU PROCESS YOUR CLAIM FOR A FEE THAT FEE. YOU'VE EARNED THAT FEE BELONGS TO YOU, THE VETERAN AND YOUR FAMILY. SO PLEASE GO SEE A VETERAN ACCREDITED OFFICE EITHER HERE IN BOSTON OR IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO RECOGNIZE THE WHOLE STAFF AT VETERANS SERVICES. THEY ARE THE FOREFRONT FOREFRONT ENSURING THEY'RE ALL OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. QUALITY OF LIFE ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND ARE RECOGNIZED AND HONORED FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY HAVE MADE.  I CANNOT BE ANY PROUDER OF THEM AND HOW THEIR PASSION GUIDES THEIR WORK.  WE HAVE A FULL PLATE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND ON VETERANS DAY. SO LET ME QUICKLY HERE GET STARTED.  FIRST I WANT TO QUICKLY SPEAK ABOUT THE TWO HERO SQUARE DEDICATIONS.  THE HERO SQUARES ALLOW US TO PAY TRIBUTE AND HONOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND WERE KILLED IN ACTION. SO THESE HERO SQUARES ARE VERY VISIBLE AND PERMANENT WAY FOR US TO SHOW OUR RESPECT AND RECOGNIZE THOSE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU CAN VIEW THESE SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE HAVE OVER 1200 OF THEM. THEY ARE BLACK SIGNS WITH GOLD OVER THE GOLD BORDER AND THE NAME HAS GOLD LETTERING.  THERE IS ALSO A GOLD STAR ON IT. THAT GOLD STAR IS VERY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THAT GOLD STAR IS A SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN SERVICE MEMBER. WE HERE IN BOSTON ARE VERY UNIQUE IN THAT WE CREATE A BIO PLAQUE THAT TELLS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT HERO AND THEIR FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR ALL THEIR RESPONSIVE WORK ON GENERATING, INSTALLING AND CARING FOR THESE HERO SQUARES.  SO THIS WEEKEND ON OCTOBER 26 WE HAVE A HERO SQUARE FOR MAX HERSKOVITZ. MAX WAS KILLED IN ACTION BY AN ENEMY SHOW ON JULY 23RD, 1980 IN WORLD WAR ONE. THE LOCATION OF THIS HERO SQUARE IS GOING TO BE ON THE THIRD STREET AND HANCOCK STREET THAT CORNER RIGHT BEHIND THE STATE HOUSE UP JUST UP THE HILL. THAT'S GOING TO BE AT 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY. ON NOVEMBER 10TH, THE DAY BEFORE VETERANS DAY WE ARE GOING TO BE HONORING AND RECOGNIZING RENALDO, SAYS TITO, HIS HERO SQUARE IS GOING TO BE LOCATED ON BLUE HILL AVENUE AND QUINCY STREET IN ROXBURY. THAT IS GOING TO BE AT 10 A.M.. RENALDO WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON DECEMBER 14TH, 1944. THAT WAS WORLD WAR TWO. SOME OF THE OTHER CEREMONIES THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED FOR AND LEADING UP TO VETERANS DAY IS GOING TO BE OUR ARMY.  WE KICK ON OUR KICKOFF CEREMONY. THIS CEREMONY IS GOING TO BE TO HIGHLIGHT THE ARMY'S DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO ALLOW THE BOSTON COMMUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ARMY.  THE KICK OFF CEREMONY IS GOING TO BE HERE AT CITY HALL PLAZA WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FLAG RAISING AND RAISE THE U.S. ARMY FLAG. THAT'S GOING TO BE AGAIN IS GOING TO BE ON OCTOBER 28TH. IT'S GOING TO START AT 10 A.M. AT CITY HALL PLAZA ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH IS WHERE WE GOING TO HAVE OUR VETERANS DAY PARADE? IT'S GOING TO START AS IT HAS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON COPLEY SQUARE BY THE BY THE LIBRARY 700 BOYLSTON STREET IF YOU NEED TO PUT IT IN YOUR GPS AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE ALL THE WAY HERE TO CITY HALL PLAZA. THIS YEAR'S GRAND MARSHAL IS GOING TO BE STATE SENATOR LYDIA EDWARDS. LYDIA ALSO SERVED HERE IN THIS CHAMBER AS A CITY COUNCILOR . THIS YEAR'S THEME IS LEGACY OF LOYALTY AND SERVICE WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE DEDICATION TO HONORING THOSE WHO MADE PERSONAL SACRIFICES IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE. SO SENATOR EDWARDS ALONG WITH ALL OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES EMBODIES THAT COMMITMENT IN OUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY. ON VETERANS DAY NOVEMBER 11TH WE HAVE THREE CEREMONIES THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE AT VFW FITZGERALD POST IN SOUTH BOSTON. THE ADDRESS IS 715 EAST FOURTH STREET. THE POST WE ARE GOING TO ASSEMBLE THERE AT 9:00 GOING TO MARCH TO SAINT BRIDGET'S CHURCH WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MASS AT 10 A.M. FOLLOWED BY BRUNCH.  THE POST WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE CHELSEA SOLDIERS HOME SO THEY LOOK AT THINGS LIKE HATS, SOCKS, SCARVES, TOILETRIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE A SERVICE AT THE GENERAL EDWARD OLD GORDON PARK AT NUBIAN SQUARE. THAT'S GOING TO BE PARTNERED WITH BETWEEN MYSELF, OUR HAYWOOD AND HAYWOOD FINNELL TRIAD VETERANS LEAGUE. THAT IS GOING TO START AT 10:30 A.M. ON VETERANS DAY ON NUBIAN SQUARE RIGHT THERE AT GORDON PARK AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HOLDING THIS VETERANS DAY EVENT AT GORDON PARKS. SO I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.  THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE THE PUERTO RICAN VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL EVENT OR VETERAN'S DAY EVENT AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AT 1:00. THERE ARE 14 ON THE WASHINGTON STREET. THE SITE OF THE PUERTO RICAN MONUMENT. THE VERY FIRST ONE THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE COUNTRY. SO OUR WEBSITE HAS AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF ALL OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.  WE ALSO UPDATE OUR WEB SITES REGULARLY.  SO PLEASE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS OR ANYTHING THAT WE DO WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON VETERANS SERVICES YOU CAN GO TO WW W DOT GOV SLASH VETERANS. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE EVENTS IS THAT IT'S A WAY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO PROMOTE OUR PROGRAMS, OUR SERVICES AND OUR BENEFITS AND IT ALSO ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE VA AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES TO DO THE SAME. LIKE US CANCER WEBRE SAID EARLIER WE ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED AT TOWN HALL.  IT WAS HOSTED BY THE BOSTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL MCGREGOR AND SAM MONTANO. AND THERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS SERVICES FOR THE STATE JOHN SANTIAGO WHO DISCUSSED AND ALSO TOOK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HERO ACT. THE HERO ACT WHAT IT STANDS FOR IS HONORING, EMPOWERING AND RECOGNIZING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. THIS ACT WAS RECENTLY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR HEALEY. THE ACT INCLUDES OVER 30 SPENDING AND POLICY INITIATIVES TAX CREDITS AND STATUES CHANGES ORGANIZED INTO FOUR BUCKETS. THE BUCKETS ARE BENEFIT EXPANSION EXPANSION, COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND GREATER REPRESENTATION. MODERNIZATION OF VETERANS SERVICES AND HONORING AND RECOGNIZING OUR VETERANS.  RIGHT NOW THAT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE EXPANSION OF OUR SERVICES IN THE STATE IN OVER 20 YEARS. SO IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION YOU COULD ALSO GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO GET MORE INFORMATION. BUT HERE IN OUR OFFICE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE WORKING AND ARE ABOUT TO RELEASE A FACT SHEET ON THOSE FOUR BUCKETS OF THE HERE OUT VERY SOON AND HOW IT PERTAINS TO OUR CITY'S VETERANS. SO HERE TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EXPANDING VETERANS PROPERTY EXEMPTION EXEMPTIONS. SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER NICK ANELLO WHO WILL SPEAK ON THE TAX EXEMPTION . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES FOR THE FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  COUNCILORS RO AND PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE.  SO SORRY LOUIJEUNE AND COUNCILOR WEBER FOR HAVING MEJIA TODAY.  REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU PUT FORWARD THIS PROPOSAL AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL THAT HELPS OUT A CONSTITUENCY THAT I THINK CAN REALLY USE THE HELP. THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO YOUR PROPOSAL. I CAN HAPPILY REPORT THAT ONE OF THEM WE ACTUALLY ALREADY DO THROUGH A DIFFERENT LAW.  SO ONE OF THEM IS DOUBLING AN EXEMPTION AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER LAW THAT COVERS THAT THAT ALREADY DOUBLES EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AS WELL AS OUR SENIORS.  AND THEN THE SECOND PART WHICH IS THE NEW PART CREATES A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH. WE PUT IT FORWARD A WHILE AGO WE TRIED TO DO AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THAT FOR ALL OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS INCLUDING OUR SENIORS BUT THAT HAS BEEN HELD UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE PORTION RIGHT NOW FOR VETERANS THAT'S IN THIS LAW AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME BACK AND GET THE SENIOR ONE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK HAVING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TIED TO INFLATION JUST REALLY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND MAKES IT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY COME BACK TO REACH IT FOR DOLLAR AMOUNTS. SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE GREAT SUGGESTIONS AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT THEM ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION.  AWESOME. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOYCE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  QUESTION AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO COMMISSIONER IRONY. C YEAH, I DO THAT INTENTIONALLY JUST SO THAT YOU FELT BETTER. THE PLEASE SAY IT FOR ME OR ANELLO BUT I.  MARINELLO THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. I THINK.  BUT THE LAST NAME LIKE LOUIJEUNE SO COMMISSIONER ERIN ALO AND COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO. COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO CAN YOU PLEASE SEND LIKE THERE'S A NUMBER OF EVENTS IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OUT SO THAT WE COULD HAVE IT ON THE COUNCIL WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE AS THAT WE COULD YOU KNOW I WROTE DOWN SOME BUT I KNOW I DIDN'T CATCH EVERYTHING SO I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THOSE EVENTS. YOU SAID THERE ARE HOW MANY VETERANS BENEFITS SPECIALISTS ARE THERE ARE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOR VETERANS OUR VETERANS SPECIALIST. OKAY. AND IS THAT MEETING THE NEED THAT YOU SEE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON? YES, I KNOW THERE THERE WILL BE VERY MUCH ABOUT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THEIR THEIR SCOPE OF WORK ACTUALLY HAVE EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT TO INCLUDE THE VA BENEFITS. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THEY NOW ARE ACCREDITED TO DO SO. GREAT. AWESOME. AND I IMAGINE YOU UNDERLINE THE NEED TO SEEK ACCREDITED ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT IS I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS HERE THAT CAN OFTEN BE PREYED UPON IF THEY GO TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR WHO ARE YOU KNOW,  CHARGING THEM AN ARM AND A LEG FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY ACCESS THAT THEY COULD INADVERTENTLY GET FOR FREE. CORRECT. OKAY. THAT IS CORRECT. SO I HOPE THAT FOLKS LISTEN AND USE YOUR OFFICE AS A RESOURCE. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF JOE CONNOLLY AND KILLED IN ACTION ALONG WITH YOUR INCREDIBLE OFFICE IN THE HARRIS SQUARE DEDICATIONS AND KNOW THAT THEY WERE RECENTLY OUT LAST SATURDAY CLEANING SOME OF THE SOME OF THE HEADSTONES AT ONE OF THE CEMETERIES HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT WE ALREADY OFFER THAT EXEMPTION AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE COLA ADJUSTMENT UNDER THIS COMPETITION. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION.  JUST THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SANDY WHEN I WAS SAY THANK YOU BUT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JOE CONNOLLY AND HIS TEAM AT THE K PROJECT HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS TO ENSURING THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE VETERANS THAT ARE THERE THAT WERE ALSO KILLED IN ACTION. THEY ARE GOING TO BE JOINING US. WE ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT THE EPA WHICH IS AN ACCOUNTING AGENCY IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO VISIT BOSTON TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN IDENTIFYING THE VETERANS THE OVER 81,000 SERVICE MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT RETURNED HOME. SO SO BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK OF OUR PARTNERS AND JOE CONNOLLY AND THE K PROJECT, WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DO IN RECOGNIZING OUR FORMER HEROES. THAT'S AWESOME. I MEAN EVERY FOR EVERY VETERAN THIS VETERANS BIRTHDAY CARD PROJECT GOES OUT AND PUTS A FLOWER ON THEIR TROOPS ON THEIR TOMBSTONE AND IT'S I JUST THINK THAT'S JUST IT'S SO TOUCHING AND I THINK IT'S JUST A WAY TO REMEMBER PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN THEY WERE 20 BEFORE YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY WERE ABLE TO START A FAMILY BEFORE AND THEY SACRIFICED EVERYTHING SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THEIR MEMORY EVEN IN THAT SMALLEST OF WAYS. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. SO GLAD THAT WE'RE IMMORTAL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.  COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO IN TERMS OF THE THE VETERAN BENEFITS SPECIALISTS DO DO WE HAVE ANY ARE THERE OPENINGS?  THEY STILL HAVEN'T MOVED. LAST WE TALKED TO IN THE BUDGET PROCESS YOU WERE IN THE PROCESSES FOR THE VETERANS BENEFITS SPECIALIST. WE HAVE ALL THE POSITIONS BUILT. OKAY. UNFORTUNATELY YES I AGREE.  AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE HEARD SOMETHING THIS MORNING AT THE TOWN HALL ABOUT LICENSE PLATES AND RECOGNIZING FEMALE VETERANS. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO IS THERE SAID SHE SHE'S TIRED OF GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND SOMEBODY'S THINKING HER HUSBAND FOR HIS SERVICE FOR WHERE IT WAS, YOU KNOW HER. IS THERE A I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LICENSE PLATES. I THINK THAT'S A STATE ISSUE. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY? I DON'T KNOW MAYBE THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING TO SUPPORT FEMALE VETERANS? WELL, WHAT WE COULD DO IS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND ENSURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD NOT JUST IN HERE IN THE CITY BUT ALSO IN THE STATE HOUSE. AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING ACTIVE WOMEN VETERANS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT THAT DO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AS YOU SEE THIS MORNING AT POST 76 WHERE WE HAD A TOWN HALL BUT JUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND ENSURE THAT THOSE BILLS THAT POSITIVELY AFFECT OUR WOMEN VETERANS ARE SEEN AND HEARD BY BY THOSE REPRESENTATIVES AND STATE SENATORS UP IN THE STATE HOUSE.  OKAY. AND THEN I GUESS SO IN TERMS OF THE HERO ACT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TO RAISE THE THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AND SO BUT DOUBLING IT ARE WE THERE'S STILL ROOM THAT WE CAN GROW THE EXEMPTION UNDER THE HERO ACT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THERE A LIMIT A DOLLAR ON THE HERO ACT IS BASICALLY STATES FOR IT JUST TO DOUBLE IT IT DOESN'T REALLY EXPAND MORE ON IT OR WOULD YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT ONE YET SO THERE THERE ARE TWO PROVISIONS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE IN THE IN THE KEROUAC'S SO 22 I IS THE FIRST VERSION THAT LETS US JUST THE THE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT SO IT'S THE COLA ADJUSTMENT SO THAT APPLIES TO THE BASE AND THEN THERE'S THE SECOND SECTION IS 22 J THAT TALKS ABOUT DOUBLING BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WE ACTUALLY ALREADY DO AND THE STATUTE THAT WE DO IT UNDER NOW ALLOWS US TO ALSO DO IT FOR OUR SENIOR EXEMPTIONS. SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE PASS 22 BECAUSE I SOMETIMES YOU PASS MULTIPLE LAWS TO DO THE SAME THING THAT CAN CREATE WEIRD CONFLICT. SO SINCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO AND THAT WE WE ALREADY APPLY TO ONE UPSIDE OF THAT IS THAT IT'S IN EFFECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AS WELL AS FISCAL YEAR 24 WHEREAS THE COLA ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF TIMING AND BECAUSE OF WHEN THE STATUTE WAS PASSED THAT THE STATE HOUSE WOULD BE IN EFFECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 WE HAVE THE ONE THAT'S WORTH MORE IN EFFECT NOW AND IT JUST DOUBLES THE MAXIMUM EXEMPTION LEVEL THAT WE HAVE AND IT GETS TIED TO TAX INCREASES AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE APPLY AUTOMATICALLY IN DEPARTMENT SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO FLOW THE DIFFERENT ALLOCATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S WHEN YOU GET THE EXEMPTION LEVEL YOU GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY PROVIDE TO YOU AND THEN THE COOL ADJUSTMENT WILL BE THE SAME THING ONCE WE HOPEFULLY HAVE IT PASSED AND CAN GO INTO EFFECT THEN IT'LL BE SOMETHING AUTOMATICALLY THAT MY DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERY YEAR AND SO IS IT IS THE FOUR IT'S A $400 EXEMPTION AND THEN WE WE DOUBLE TO 800. YES SO THERE ARE THERE RANGES THERE ARE ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VETERANS EXEMPTIONS AND THEY'RE THEY'RE TIED TO DISABILITIES AND THEN WE ALSO ACTUALLY HAVE EXEMPTIONS FOR ACTIVE DUTY NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE RESERVES THAT GET FULL PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS. SO WE HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMS TIED TO SERVICE MEMBERS FOR THE ONES THAT WOULD BE GETTING THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND THAT CURRENTLY GET THE DOUBLING THEY RANGE FROM $400 IS THE BASE AMOUNT TO 1500 DOLLARS AND IT IS TIED TO DIFFERENT CLAUSES AND DIFFERENT DISABILITY LEVELS . OKAY. AND THEN IN TERMS I GUESS THE COLA NUMBERS CAN YOU KNOW MAYBE YOU MENTIONED THEM BUT WHAT WHAT IS THE BASE AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AS A AS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION I DON'T HAVE THE FULL SCHEDULE IN FRONT OF ME. IT PEGS IT TO SOME NATIONAL INFLATION STANDARDS AND THEN SO YOU GET INCREMENTAL AMOUNTS EVERY YEAR ON YOUR EXEMPTION THAT VARY WITH THE INFLATION SCHEDULE. OKAY.  OKAY. WELL I GUESS MAYBE WE COULD GET THE SCHEDULE AT SOME POINT BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. AND AGAIN TO THE THE FILERS, I THINK THIS IS GREAT TO FOCUS ON THIS AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WEBER, I KNOW THAT THE STATE REIMBURSES THE CITY FOR SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS UNDER IS THIS ONE IS THIS THE SAME CASE SCENARIO LIKE WOULD THE STATE BE REIMBURSING US FOR ANY OF THE EXEMPTIONS?  SO THAT'S THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. SO FOR ANY OF THESE IMPLEMENTED CHANGES WE DON'T GET REIMBURSEMENT SO THAT'S A COST THAT THE CITY CHOOSES TO CARRY ON ITS OWN.  SO LIKE THE DOUBLING THAT AGAIN WE ALREADY IMPLEMENT THAT'S A CITY COST. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE GET STATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR.  WE GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE ON LIKE UNDERLYING BASE AMOUNTS. IT CHANGES WITH THE EXEMPTION AND IT CHANGES WITH THE YEAR IT'S NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATED LIKE A LOT OF TAX LAWS, SOME EXEMPTIONS SO WE DO GET SOME MONEY BACK IN CONNECTION WITH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. BUT THE PARTS THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TODAY AND THE DOUBLING THAT WE ALREADY IMPLEMENT WE DON'T GET REIMBURSED FOR THOSE EXTRA AMOUNTS THAT WE'VE CHOSEN TO PROVIDE.  AND THEN YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU TOOK A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND YOU HEAR ADVOCATING FOR IT BECAUSE WE ARE IN A GOOD FISCALLY STRONG POSITION TO TAKE ON THESE EXEMPTIONS.  YES SIR. SO CURRENTLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 WE GRANTED IN TOTAL 1156 EXEMPTIONS RELATED TO THE VETERAN'S EXEMPTION SPECIFICALLY AND THE TOTAL COST OF THE CITY OF THAT PROGRAM WAS JUST OVER $1.1 MILLION. AGAIN THAT ALREADY INCLUDES THE DOUBLING AMOUNT AND THOSE EXEMPTIONS AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE HIGHER COST ITEM OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THE COLA ADJUSTMENTS SINCE THEY'RE ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS AND SINCE THEY'RE TIED TO INFLATION AND IN GENERAL INFLATION IS REASONABLE THAT WE CAN WE CAN SUPPORT IT POSSIBLY AND THEN A COMMISSION IN SAN SANTIAGO TO SHOUT OUT TO YOUR TEAM THAT'S DOING AMAZING WORK AND ALSO SHOUT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES. YOU KNOW I KNOW YOU MENTIONED HEYWOOD BUT ALSO MEREDITH TOO. IT WAS DOING A GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY.  HOW ARE WE GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO LET OUR VETERANS KNOW THAT THIS EXEMPTION IS OUT THERE AND HOW WE CONNECTED THEM TO THE ACCREDITED CLAIM AGENT ARE WE SENDING OUT LIKE A LIST AND IF WE DO HAVE A LIST I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT LIST SO I COULD COMMUNICATE THAT OUT AS WELL. WE TRY TO USE EVERY AVENUE THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. THE BIGGEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE OUTREACH IS ACTUALLY GETTING OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO THEM JUST LIKE TODAY EARLY TODAY AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FLEXIBILITY IN MOVING THE HEARING TO 3:00 BECAUSE I WAS AT THAT TOWN HALL AND MY BIGGEST SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY PARTICULAR IS HANGING AROUND NOT JUST LEADING ONE OF THE EVENTS IS OVER BUT ALSO HANGING THEM ON TO TALK TO THEM TO GET MORE IN DEPTH IN CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR WEBER MENTIONED ONE OF THE WOMEN VETERANS TODAY THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE LICENSE PLATE THAT WAS MARRIED TO IT THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT IT AND SO SO TALKING TO HER, TALKING TO HEYWOOD FINNELL BEING ACTIVE IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY I'M A MEMBER OF THE VFW, THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE DERBY AND TALKING TO THEM AS WELL AT THE MEETINGS OR I WAS JUST GETTING TO TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THEM AND TALKING TO NOT JUST THE VETERANS COMMUNITY BUT EVERYBODY THAT I COULD REACH OUT TO BECAUSE IF IF YOU'RE NOT THE VETERAN YOU MAY KNOW A VETERINARIAN OR YOU MAY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS A VETERAN. SO JUST JUST GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE AND BEING ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE TAX EXEMPTION, ABOUT THE THE MANY DIFFERENT PROVISIONS OF THE HERO ACT OF THE STATE AND THE PACT ACT THAT JOE BIDEN, THE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE SO ANY DIFFERENT INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT I COULD WORK ON TO ENSURE THAT THE WORD GETS OUT TO TO ALL OUR VETERANS THAT CALL BOSTON HOME TO ALL THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WAS HAVING THESE EVENTS GOING TO THESE EVENTS THAT'S DEFINITELY HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL . I TALKED ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO SO ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD THAT I HAVE TO TO AMPLIFY THIS PROGRAMS TO THE TO WHAT THE CITY DOES, WHAT THE STATE DOES AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES IS ALWAYS A PLUS. AND IF I COULD JUST REACH ONE PERSON I KNOW I REACHED ONE PERSON THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO REACH BEFORE AND I'M SURE THAT INDIVIDUAL PASSED IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE AS WELL. AWESOME. AND COMMISSIONER ERIN AIELLO IS EVERYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING IS IT AUTOMATIC OPT IN TO THE COLA LIKE WOULD THAT JUST BE AUTOMATICALLY NOW PLACE OR IS THAT WILL BE WILL THAT BE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR THE FOR THE HOMEOWNER SO HOPEFULLY ONCE WE GET THIS PASSED IT IS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN BUILD THAT IN AUTOMATICALLY SO IT CAN BE A NEED FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY SEPARATELY FOR THIS TYPE OF EXEMPTION. JUST TO BE CLEAR FOR ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING PEOPLE DO NEED TO FILE APPLICATIONS EVERY YEAR BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KIND OF GIVE YOU ONCE AND THEN SAID KEEP APPLYING. WE NEED TO GET A NEW APPLICATION EVERY YEAR. THE PROCESS FOR THAT AND ALSO I SHOULD HAVE KEEP THAT ANYONE WHO HAS QUESTIONS AND THINKS THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOMETHING THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT IS TO CALL MY TAXPAYER REFERRAL AND ASSISTANCE CENTER AND SO MY STAFF THERE IS GREAT AND THEY CAN KIND OF WALK PEOPLE THROUGH ALL THE OPTIONS AND FIGURE OUT WHICH EXEMPTION KIND OF GETS THEM THE MOST MONEY BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS ARE HONESTLY THERE TO BE USED.  SO WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN KIND OF LIKE TRYING TO SHIFT SOMEBODY TO THE WRONG PROGRAM OR IF YOU FILL OUT THE WRONG APPLICATION THAT MEANS YOU GET NOTHING. WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KIND OF SCARE PEOPLE AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE NEED BECAUSE OF THE STATE TO SCARE PEOPLE INTO THE PROGRAM THAT GETS THEM THE LARGEST BENEFIT. SO MY STAFF DOWN THERE IS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL IN THEIR PHONE NUMBER OF 6176354287. WE ALSO SEND OUT INFORMATION EVERY YEAR IN THE THIRD QUARTER TAX BILL TO EVERY PROPERTY IN THE CITY WHERE WITH YOUR BILL THERE'S ANOTHER SHEET OF PAPER THAT KIND OF TALKS ABOUT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND DETAILS THEM AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO APPLY.  SO IT TALKS ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION, THE SENIOR EXEMPTIONS, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON OFFER. AWESOME. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING OF READING THE HERO ACT, THIS COVERS ALL VETERANS YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE DISABLED OR IT'S ALL VETERANS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THE THE CAN RECEIVE THE TAX EXEMPTION AND GET THE COLA EXEMPTION SO THE COLA EXEMPTIONS APPLY TO THE EXEMPTION PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY EXIST. OKAY. AND SO THOSE ARE LIMITED TO VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. YEAH. OKAY.  AND SO IT IS LIMITED TO THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SO THAT THE COLA ADJUSTMENT IS IT'S NOT REALLY CREATING A NEW CATEGORY OF EXEMPTION, IT'S JUST TWEAKING THE PROCESS THAT RIGHT THERE. OKAY AWESOME. AND YEAH, SPEAKING ON THAT COMMISSIONER KNOWING THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU KNOW WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF DISABLED VETERANS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOW DO WE WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF , YOU KNOW, THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN WITH THEM. I JUST EARLY TODAY SAM DYLAN WAS AT THE EVENT THAT WE WERE THAT WE WERE AT THE TOWN HALL SO I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT TRYING TO TALK TO THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SAME THING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, JUST JUST MAINTAINING AND KEEPING THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN TO GO OVER ANY CHANGES OR UPDATES OF ANY PROGRAMS THAT ALL OF THE VETERANS ARE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AWESOME.  THANK YOU GUYS I'M A CHECK IT WAS WITH OFF THAT'S OKAY AWESOME NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHY THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THAT RECOMMENDED CHANGE IN LANGUAGE AND IN THIS IN THIS ORDINANCE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS PASSED.  BUT WITH THAT SAID HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1303 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH --------- ##VIDEO ID:KXhFDVShzuI##  FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS HENRY SANTANA CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. TODAY IS OCTOBER TWO, 2024. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED AND IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DOT GOV SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON OXFORD ENERGY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT THE TOP HE P.S. BOSTON DARK LOVE AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS . PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING.  INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY IN PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE . IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON. RON COBB. RON COBB.  COBB BOSTON.COM FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 1205. ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS WAYS TO PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY SUPPORT AND ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES RELATED TO THE CRISIS IN CARS.  THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS ED FLYNN, TANYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND HENRY SANTANA AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON AUGUST SEVEN, 2024. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR ED FLYNN FROM DISTRICT DISTRICT TWO WHO'S THE LEAD CO-SPONSOR THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FROM DISTRICT SEVEN WHO IS A CO-SPONSOR. WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR ENRIQUE PEMBERTON AND FROM COUNCILOR BRIAN MORROW.  BEFORE BEGIN I'D LIKE TO JUST ASK FOLKS TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR PHONES AND DEVICES.  WE HAVE A LOT OF PANELS AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY TO HERE TODAY SO IN THE INTEREST OF PROVIDING ALL MY COLLEAGUES MORE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO OFFER THE LEAD SPONSOR AND THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR TO SHARE OPENING REMARKS AND THEN WE WILL WE WILL PROCEED WITH OUR FIRST PANEL.  COUNCILOR EFLIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING.  I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS WITH ME . I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN WORK IN THIS AREA AS WELL CODING CITY COUNCILOR FRANK BAKER PREVIOUS TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY IN 2014, THE OPIATE CRISIS SPREAD TO MANILA CASS AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING ANDREW SQUARE IN SOUTH BOSTON. THE SOUTH NUBIAN SQUARE IN ROXBURY, BOSTON COMMON DOWNTOWN AND CROSSING DORCHESTER AS WELL . COPLEY SQUARE.  THESE ISSUES HAVE CONTINUED IN SURROUNDING AREAS THAT I HIGHLIGHTED AND ACROSS THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO ALSO AFTER THE REMOVAL OF THE TENTS LAST YEAR WHICH OCCURRED DUE TO THE OPEN DRUG DEALING, DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULTS,  TRAFFICKING OF WOMAN. I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM MANY WHO LIVE AND WORK IN ANDREW SQUARE IN THE SOUTH END AND DORCHESTER DOWNTOWN BOSTON, BEACON HILL, BACK BAY ABOUT OPEN DRUG MARKETS HAPPENING IN MANY PLACES ACROSS THE CITY.  TO BE CANDID AND THIS PUBLIC HERE AS WELL MANY PARENTS HAVE SAID TO ME THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR CHILDREN.  THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY. WE ALSO HAVE SENIORS HERE AS WELL THAT WILL TESTIFY. THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.  I MET WITH RESIDENTS I MET WITH PARENTS TAKING THEIR LITTLE KIDS TO SCHOOL, WALKING THROUGH THE SOUTH END, WALKING THROUGH ROXBURY, WALKING THROUGH DORCHESTER OR COPLEY SQUARE OR BEACON HILL.  THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. I SERVED AS A PROBATION OFFICER AND WORKED WITH MANY INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM INTO RECOVERY SERVICES AT LONG ISLAND. I UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE GET PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES INTO TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CITY DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE SERIOUS IN MAINTAINING A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE REST OF INDIVIDUALS COMMITTING ILLEGAL ACTS, ACTS OF VIOLENCE THOSE ENGAGED IN DRUG GUN TRAFFICKING, INDIVIDUALS ASSAULTING OTHERS. WE MUST ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL SAFE IN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS RESPECTED. WE ALSO HAVE AND IN THIS AUDIENCE HERE WELL RESPECTED COACHES, YOUTH COACHES THAT ARE MENTORING KIDS, TEACHING THEM HOW TO PLAY BASEBALL, TEACH THEM HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL.  THEY CAN'T USE SOME OF THESE PARKS BECAUSE THESE PARKS UNFORTUNATELY ARE SPREAD WITH NEEDLES.  THE ONGOING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND MASSIVE CHAOS IS BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.  IT REQUIRES THE RESOURCES AT THE CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.  WE NEED FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AND AROUND MASSIVE CHAOS, DRUG DEALING, VIOLENCE, OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES MUST BE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC SPACES ZERO TOLERANCE. AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED A COORDINATED RESPONSE WITH CITY AND STATE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BETTER PLAN A NEW PLAN, A TREATMENT FIRST APPROACH TO HELP PUT THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY . THEY NEED DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES. THEY WORK ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BE EN MASSE AND CHAOS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY.  IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND STREET OUTREACH TEAMS TO ADMIT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES INTO DETOX FOLLOWED BY DRUG TREATMENT AND CARE. THEY MAY NOT WANT TO GO IN THERE BUT BEING IN A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM IS THE BEST THING FOR THEM.  THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT MASSIVE CHAOS AND THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITIES THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED CONTINUES TO HARM RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, OUR ECONOMY. AT THE SAME TIME THE STATUS QUO IS NOT AN OPTION. WE MUST PROVIDE POSITIVE LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE THIS EMERGENCY THIS CRISIS. AT TODAY'S HEARING WE HAVE INVITED MANY OF OUR EXPERTS INCLUDING CITY PARTNERS, NONPROFIT BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES IN MANAGING THE SPILL OVER AT MASS AND CASS. I HOPE THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN SHARE IDEAS EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFY, IMPROVE UPON THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE SURROUNDING THESE COMMUNITIES.  WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT INVOLVES ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.  I THINK WE ALL ADMIT THAT THERE IS NOT A A LONG TERM PLAN ON HOW TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW TO DEAL WITH GETTING PEOPLE INTO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THIS HAS ESCALATED.  EVEN WHEN THE TENTS WERE REMOVED THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE PROBLEM WAS SPREAD OUT NOT JUST A MASSIVE CHAOS BUT OTHER AREAS THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED. IT'S OKAY TO ADMIT FAILURE BUT LET'S ADMIT FAILURE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WORKS FOR RESIDENTS THAT WORKS FOR THE BUSINESSES, THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THE DRUG SUBSTANCE USE RELATED ISSUES AND PROVIDE THE CRITICAL LEADERSHIP THAT IS NEEDED EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE UNPOPULAR, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR. WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ A.ND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR. GOOD MORNING TO ALL THE PANELISTS AND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.  WE HOPE TO GET TO THIS CONVERSATION IN A TIMELY FASHION SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE YOU WAIT. WE KNOW THAT THOSE CHAIRS ARE SUPER UNCOMFORTABLE. JUST A TIP THE CHAIRS ARE TO THE RIGHT A MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE ONES THAT YOU'RE SITTING AT RIGHT NOW.  AND WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH, YOU KNOW, MULTIFACETED ISSUES OR OUR INTERSECTIONALITY IS THAT WE DIFFER ON HOW TO ADDRESS. SO I AM VERY EXCITED FOR THIS CONVERSATION AS THE CHAIR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE AND OF COURSE TO LEAD SPONSOR TO HOLDING THIS CONVERSATION AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES IT IS GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL , THE ADMINISTRATION, THE COMMUNITY,  THOSE UNHOUSED OF ALL PEOPLE IMPACTED TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PROPERLY ASSESS IT. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS FISCAL LACK OF MONEY TO REALLY INVEST IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR BEST PRACTICES HAVE SHOWN US THAT CAN ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BUT TODAY I'M VERY INTERESTED IN FRAMING THIS CONVERSATION IN A WAY WHERE WE SORT OF ASSESS,  YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION, THE CURRENT SITUATION, HOW IT'S ESCALATED, HOW IT'S TRICKLE DOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS MOVING SQUARE PARTS ALL PARTS OF ROXBURY AT THIS POINT AS WELL AS THE SERVICES THAT ARE GOING INTO THE TASK FORCE. PARTNERSHIP OR COLLABORATIONS WITH DO NEWMARKET SQUARE OTHER TYPES OF WORK PROGRAMS SUCH AS NEWMARKET SQUARE'S WORK PROGRAM BUT AS WELL AS SORT OF ASSESSING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES AND HOW WE'RE BUILDING CONTINUITY OF SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE WRAPAROUND SERVICES IS THAT WORKING? IS THAT NOT WORKING? I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA IN TERMS OF THOSE IMPACTED AROUND THE SQUARE AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN BOTH APPRECIATE EACH OTHER'S FEEDBACK HERE AND GET CLOSER TO THE SOLUTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES . AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PANELISTS THE COMMITTEE INVITED TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT DIANE HUMPHRIES WHO'S THE BUREAU FIELD SERVICES WITH THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. KELLY YOUNG, THE DIRECTOR OF THE COORDINATOR'S RESPONSE TEAM.  DR. RIZZO LOGICAL TO COMMISSIONER OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND THEN AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF RECOVERY SERVICES FOR THE POLICE WHO WE WHO ARE HERE TODAY. I'D LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS. I'D JUST KINDLY ASK THAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR CONCERNS, QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION BY YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS TO 5 MINUTES PER PANELISTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU CAN GO ON AT ANY ONE TIME YOU'D LIKE. GOOD MORNING DAN HUMPHREYS I'M A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT . IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF BUREAU FIELD SERVICES AND I'D LIKE THE TIMES WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. I HOPE I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF SO WE CAN GET RIGHT INTO IT. BUT I'M READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND I FEEL LIKE THE KEY TO SUCCESS HERE IS COMMUNICATION, OPENNESS,  TRANSPARENCY AND JUST BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.  THANK YOU. HI. HI. I'M KELLY YOUNG AND I'M THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM.  I COME TO THE CITY WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL SERVICES.  THE BULK OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE FIELD HANDS ON EXPERIENCE.  SO ALTHOUGH I AM NEW TO THIS ROLE I AM CERTAINLY NOT NEW TO ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU.  GOOD MORNING EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY.  SO GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS DR. PATHOLOGIC TWO AND AS MENTIONED AND THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON I'M JOINED HERE BY MY COLLEAGUE. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT SHE'S JOINING US TODAY. SHE'S THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE RECOVERY SERVICES BUREAU AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE FORE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND I'LL HOLD MY COMMENTS AS WE KIND OF GO BACK THROUGH TO MAKE OUR OPENING STATEMENTS.  HI, GOOD MORNING. LIKE YOU ALREADY MENTIONED, MY NAME IS CHICO CARDENAS. I AM THE INTERIM BUREAU DIRECTOR FOR RECOVERY SERVICES AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION FOR CLOSE TO 14 YEARS. GREAT. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR POWERS TO BE HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY OPENING STATEMENTS OR PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU WANT TO I'LL JUST PLAY THIS AS THIS WILL BE YOUR TIME TO YOU ALL HAVE OPENING STATEMENTS. YEAH KNOW SO I DO HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.  SO AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND CHAIR SANTANA FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY. YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST YEAR SINCE THE REMOVAL OF THE ENCAMPMENT ON ATKINSON STREET IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS BY SUSTAINING A PUBLIC HEALTH AND FORM RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.  I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST WORKING IN THE MASS AND CLASS AREA. WE'RE REALLY WORKING CITYWIDE AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF OUR CITYWIDE EFFORTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE FROM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM AND MANY OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS.  JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THAT PROGRESS. OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN IF YOU COMPARE THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE HERE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING AND WE CERTAINLY HAD AN INCREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS AND THERE IS LESS VISIBLE CROWDING. BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RESIDENT CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD AND WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT TODAY ARE VERY REAL AND MANY CHALLENGES REMAIN AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOU TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES. JUST TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH,  IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING BOSTON A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE FOR EVERYONE BUT IT CERTAINLY REQUIRES BOTH A SHORT TERM AND A LONG TERM VISION. THE SHORT TERM IS THAT THOSE WORKING ALONGSIDE COORDINATED RESPONSE AND BPD AND OUR RECOVERY SERVICE BUREAU ARE CERTAINLY PUTTING PEOPLE IN,  GIVING THEM ACCESS TO TREATMENT SERVICES, TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND SHELTER. BUT WE HAVE TO THINK LONG TERM. WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS BROKEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED IS A MUCH STRONGER CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND WHO ARE UNSHELTERED AND THAT WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING. I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS AGAIN ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH AND A LITTLE BIT OF A FEW UPDATES IN REGARDS TO THE MASS AND CASE AREA I MENTIONED ALREADY THAT THERE IS LESS VISIBLE CROWDING IN THE AREA WITH THAT VISIBLE DECREASE IN VISIBLE CROWDING OUR OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE MOVED TO A CITY WIDE APPROACH. AGAIN WE'RE FOCUSED IN ON REGULAR ROUTES AND RESPONDING TO URGENT SITUATIONS AROUND THE CITY. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS CITY COUNCILORS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE TWO SHELTERS IN THE MASS AND CASS AREA WHICH ARE THE LARGEST ADULT SHELTERS IN THE ENTIRE REGION AND WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT AS A CITY. 112 AND WOODS WAS MULLEN. THOSE SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY. THOSE SHELTERS ARE HOUSING NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ON A NIGHTLY BASIS WE SHELTER MORE THAN 600 INDIVIDUALS AND SOME OF THAT CAPACITY HAS INCREASED OR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHELTERING IS INCREASED BECAUSE OF RECENT MIGRANT ARRIVALS. THIS IS A CHALLENGE FOR US BECAUSE THESE ARE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WHO SPILL OVER INTO THE MASSIVE CASS AREA INTO THE CONNECTOR AND INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE ENGAGEMENT CENTER IS STILL CLOSED. IT'S AN IMPORTANT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE IS STILL IMPORTANT RESEARCH BECAUSE WE'RE USING IT FOR OVERFLOW FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE RECEIVING SERVICES AND SHELTER IN 112 THERE YOU KNOW NOW SOME OF THEM ARE NOW SLEEPING IN THE ENGAGEMENT CENTER SINCE COUNSELOR FERNANDES ANDERSON MENTIONED NUBIAN SQUARE. AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN MULTIPLE AREAS AROUND THE CITY, NOT JUST IN MASS AND CASS AND I THINK THAT THERE IS AN EXAMPLE IN NUBIAN SQUARE WITH THE NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE THAT NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.  WE KNOW THAT IT HAS ARISEN AS AN AREA OF CONCERN WITH INCREASED CONGREGATION OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OPEN DRUG USE. SO THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION CO-LEADS THE NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE. IT'S FOCUSED ON OUTREACH TREATMENT, NAVIGATION AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION, DECREASING SUBSTANCE USE, STIGMA AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA AND WHAT ROLE THEY HAVE TO PLAY IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS. I THINK WE NEED MORE CAPACITY ON THE GROUND. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE FUNDED A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS RECENTLY METRO BOSTON LIVE TORCHLIGHT RECOVERY COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC, HARVARD STREET, OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE DOING HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE AREA AND REALLY TRYING TO COORDINATE THAT RESPONSE IN A BETTER WAY IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY SHOWS THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MASS AND CASTE BUT WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND OUR CITY SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION OUR LOW THRESHOLD SHELTER PROGRAM BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A GREAT SUCCESS STORY THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING TOLD NATIONALLY BY SEE THE CITY THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS REALLY WORK EXTENSIVELY TO PLACE PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN LOW THRESHOLD SPACES.  OVER THE PAST YEAR AS YOU KNOW WE HAD 727 WHICH WAS A SPACE WE ENDED UP CLOSING THAT BECAUSE OF IT WAS MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY BUT WE'VE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT AND WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD SUPPORT WITH THE ENVISION HOTEL WITH SMALL IN THE FRIENDS FLOOR PINE STREET SHELTER AND WE HAVE ABOUT 180 BEDS AT THIS TIME THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IS SYRINGE SERVICES AND NEEDLE PICK UP. AGAIN, I THINK THAT WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY THOUGH THE THE COMMUNITY SYRINGE REDEMPTION PROGRAM ENDED. WE HAVE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES USED TO PICK UP NEEDLES AROUND THE CITY INCLUDING A HOPE OUR SHARP DISPOSAL KIOSKS, OUR OUTREACH TEAMS, OUR MOBILE SHARPS TEAM AND OUR EXPANDED NEWMARKET PARTNERSHIP. JUST TO SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THOSE PARTICULAR STRATEGIES. SO OUR FULLY STAFFED MOBILE SHARPS TEAM PICKS UP BOTH SHARPS AND PARAPHERNALIA AROUND THE CITY RESPONDING TO 311 CALLS. I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD TO SAY AS A CITY THAT WE RAPIDLY RESPOND TO 311 REQUESTS FOR FOUR SHARPS PICKUP WITH A MEDIAN RESPONSE TIME OF 45 MINUTES. I THINK THAT THAT REALLY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM AND OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT. SECONDLY, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SUE SULLIVAN IN REGARDS TO THE NEWMARKET BACK TO WORK CREW WHICH IS AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOW EXPANDED EXPANDED THEIR WORK INTO ANDREW SQUARE SOUTH IN WORCESTER SQUARE, NUBIAN SQUARE AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE CITY AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, EFFORT THAT REALLY IS A SEVEN DAY A WEEK INITIATIVE.  SO LASTLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OFTENTIMES WE DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE DOING THE WORK AND A LOT OF THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGH OUR OUTREACH TEAMS. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO RECOVERY SERVICES AND OUR HOMELESS SERVICES STAFF FOR MANAGING THESE SHELTERS THAT I MENTIONED THAT IS VERY COMPLICATED WORK, VERY DIFFICULT TOUGH JOBS AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL SORT OF JOIN TOGETHER AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO THANK YOU AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AS IS DIRECTOR CARDENAS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. HMM.  IS THAT RIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PIGGYBACK IF THAT'S OKAY.  ABSOLUTELY. SO SINCE I HAVE BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM, I HAVE DIRECTED OUR OUTREACH LIAISONS TO VISIT NUBIAN SQUARE AND GROVE HALL FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK AND THROUGH THAT INITIATIVE IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CONNECTING 12 PEOPLE TO SERVICES AND WE WERE ABLE TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN THREE ENCAMPMENTS IN JUST THOSE TWO AREAS. YOU KNOW, I, I BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE BEST DETERRENT AND I AM EXPANDING OUR TEAM. THEY WILL BE RECEIVING DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION TRAINING SO WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY PARTNER WITH THE BOSTON POLICE . IT'S YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL HELP US TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY CARE AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A PERSON'S PARTICIPATION IN A TREATMENT PLAN ALONG WITH SERVICES WITHOUT SENTENCES.  SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING AND MAYOR WU HAS CHALLENGED US TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO MOTIVATE DISENGAGED SUBSTANCE USERS IN CONGREGATE OUTDOOR USE. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THOSE STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTING THEM. AWESOME.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ALSO HAVE WITH. OKAY GREAT.  BEFORE YOU SEND IT OVER TO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS, I DO WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON SOMETHING THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED. AS YOU KNOW I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A FEW WEEKS AGO TO TOUR THAT IN CONCERT WITH THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO HAVE A WALK THROUGH WITH WITH MY COLLEAGUE PARTNER ANDERSON AROUND THE BE GRANT AND SEE THOSE IMPACTS. SO YOU KNOW I WE ARE WE WE KNOW THERE'S WORK BEING DONE. I DO WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE ON THE INCREDIBLE WORK BEING DONE BY THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS CONVERSATION ALSO THERE'S A LOT STILL GOING ON. WE'RE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM RESIDENTS YOU KNOW, OF OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER APPROACHES WE CAN BE TAKING. SO WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR YOUR OPENING QUESTIONS. I'M SORRY . I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR AT LARGE CONCILOR MEJIA HERE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS AS RIGHT KNOW.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I DO KNOW DR. OJUKWU TOO. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S IMPROVING OVER MASS AND CASS AND PEOPLE ARE NOT CONGREGATING THERE BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS SUMMER ESPECIALLY ON MELANIE ACCOUNTS AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER THERE WAS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN AND AROUND MELANIE ACROSS.  I TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENT CULLINANE SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS AND EVENTUALLY THEY PUT UP THOSE STRUCTURES SO PEOPLE COULDN'T LITERALLY STAND OR SIT ON THE SIDEWALK.  FOLKS SORRY WE WEREN'T GOING TO BREAK FREE .  I'M JUST READING A BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE JUNE 14, 2020 FOR OPIATE DEATHS IN BOSTON ROSE LAST YEAR DESPITE A STATEWIDE DECLINE AMID THE ENCOURAGING DECLINE IN OPIATE RELATED DEATHS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS.  IN 2023 THERE WAS ONE SIGNIFICANT EXCEPTION THE CITY OF BOSTON WHICH RECORDED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS IN SEVEN YEARS ACCORDING TO NEWLY RELEASED STATE DATA. IT'S IT'S NOT A IT'S IT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF ANYBODY. IT'S TERRIBLE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S REALITY AND THESE AREN'T WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MASS IN CASS OR THE SOUTH END IN ROXBURY IN DORCHESTER IT'S HAPPENING IT'S SPREAD OUT IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY. BEACON HILL IS IMPACTED. THE BOSTON COMMON IS IMPACTED. ANDREW SQUARE WHERE I LIVE ALSO HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ONGOING DRUG DEALING ACTIVITY, NEEDLES BEING DISCARDED RECKLESSLY.  SO DR. OJUKWU, TO MY QUESTION IS JUST READING STUDIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT SEEMS LIKE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF RECOVERY ARE NOW MOVING AWAY FROM SAFE INJECTION SITES TO GETTING PEOPLE MORE INTO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS, INTO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS EVEN IN CANADA WHERE IT'S A VERY PROGRESSIVE AREA COUNTRY WHERE THE HARM REDUCTION INTERVENTION IN SERVICES.  THEY HAVE SHIFTED THEIR FOCUS TO RECOVERY TREATMENT FIRST INITIATIVES AND APPROACHES IS IS THAT WHERE THE CITY OF BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION IS GOING WELL WHAT'S THE DIRECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR YOUR COMMENTS.  IF BEFORE I GET TO THAT QUESTION, IF I COULD GO BACK TO THE DATA BECAUSE I THINK YOU SPOKE TO A VERY IMPORTANT DATA POINT THAT WAS VERY CONCERNING THAT THE STATE ACTUALLY HAD A DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM 22 FOR 2022 TO 2023 WHEREAS WE HAD AN INCREASE OF 12% WHERE THEY HAD A DECREASE OF 10%. WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO IS BECAUSE WE ARE SO FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE OF OVERDOSES WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT OUR DATA FROM JANUARY TO APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND COMPARED IT TO LAST YEAR SO WE CAN GET UPDATED DATA SO WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND ACTUALLY WE SAW A 33% DECREASE IN OVERDOSES DURING THAT TIME ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON WITH A MORE THAN 50% DECREASE IN PARTICULAR POPULATIONS BLACK AND LATINX INDIVIDUALS. SO THAT DATA IS DELAYED. THE DATA THAT YOU YOU READ AND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE MEDIA. SO I JUST WANT TO SO KNOW WHO SO YOUR YOUR DATA WAS OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. OKAY. YEAH THE DATA I HAD WAS WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AND IT'S IT'S IT'S OLDER DATA SO YES UP TO THE PRESENT YEAH SO OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS ALTHOUGH DEATHS HAVE DECLINED IN MASSACHUSETTS, OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE DECLINED IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE GONE UP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WELL SO THAT WENT THROUGH 2003. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 2004.  SO THE MOST RECENT DATA IS THAT OVERDOSES HAVE DECLINED AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A NATIONAL TREND. IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK THINGS ARE HAPPENING. BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET TO YOUR YOUR QUESTION ABOUT NO, I KNOW BUT I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO SAY THAT OVERDOSE DEATHS HAPPEN HAVE INCREASED IN BOSTON WHILE THEY DECREASED ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS THAT THAT SO THAT WE CAN RESPECTIVELY THE THE STATS AND TRY TO MAKE CHANGES TO IT BUT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE ACCURATE STATS IT WAS VERY CONCERNING AS YOU SAY VERY CONCERNING BUT WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF THE DATA AND WE'LL GET MORE DATA TO YOU AS WE FOLLOW IT UP EVERY SINGLE MONTH IN REGARDS TO OUR STRATEGY, WHAT THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE TAKEN IS THAT THERE ISN'T ONE ANSWER AND THERE ISN'T ONE ANSWER FOR ANY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.  SO CERTAINLY WE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE RECOVERY . WE HAVE RECOVERY PATHWAYS AND I'M GOING TO LET DIRECTOR CARDENAS TALK ABOUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND WHO ARE CHALLENGED WHEN THEY GET INTO DETOX AND THEN FOLLOWING FROM DETOX WHEN THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PLACE TO GO AFTER DETOX. AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN OUR SYSTEM. THERE'S A TRAJECTORY THAT ISN'T REALLY AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY WORKING ON SO OUR STRATEGY IS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT TO OFFER THEM THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY'S JOURNEY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME. SO ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE . JACOB DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YEAH.  SO I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PAST PROGRAMS.  MY PAST PROGRAM IS A ONE STOP SHOP. IT'S AN ACCESS TO CARE PROGRAM WHERE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS CAN WALK IN, CAN CALL, CAN ACCESS WHATEVER WHATEVER LEVEL OF CARE THEY THINK THEY NEED CRITERIA FOR WHEN THEY WALK INTO OUR CENTER ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A DETOX OR MAYBE SOMEONE LIKE BPD OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY MAYBE A SUGGESTION THEY GO TO DETOX. WE DO ASSESS THE MOVIE, SCREEN THEM, MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET CRITERIA FOR THAT LEVEL OF CARE AND IF THEY DON'T MEET CRITERIA WE LOOK FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF CARE WITHIN RECOVERY SERVICES WE HAVE A RANGE OF SERVICES. WE HAVE ENTIRE RESIDENTIAL LEVEL OF CARE IN MATTAPAN WHICH IS OUR THIRD CAMPUS AND WE HAVE A PROGRAM THERE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO IDENTIFY WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THEY CAN GO THERE UP TO ONE YEAR SO IT'S A 6 TO 12 MONTH PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THEN DOWN THE HILL WE HAVE OUR TRANSITIONS PROGRAM WHICH IS A TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM SO IT'S A POST DETOX PROGRAM FOR MEN AND WOMEN.  WE HAVE UP TO 60 BEDS THERE THAT WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY TO STABILIZE THEM POST DETOX BUT WE CAN ALSO HELP THEM GET INTO LONG TERM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR OUTREACH WORKERS, OUR RED SHIRTS, THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THEY COVER THROUGHOUT THE DOCTOR YOU MENTIONED WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT THEY COVER AND WHEN THEY ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WE ALSO WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALS, HEALTH CENTERS. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAMS OR CENTERS THAT OFFER MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WHERE ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS OFFER SERVICES AT OUR FINLAND, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES ACROSS FROM BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.  AND AT THAT CENTER WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY TO START THEM ON MEDICATIONS AT THAT THE FORM OF TREATMENT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR BUT WE ALSO CONNECT THEM TO OTHER THINGS LIKE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, COUNSELING AND MEDICAL SERVICES. AND SO FOR US RATE DEPENDENT ON THE LEVEL OF CARE THE PERSON'S LOOKING FOR, WE ALSO WORK WITH PARTNERS UNTIL WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THE CONTINUUM AND THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE ACROSS THE CITY WHERE OUR LOOKING SO MONTHLY SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE AND USUALLY MYSELF AS WELL AS ONE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS WE MEET WITH THE CITY AS WELL MONTHLY AND WE TROUBLESHOOT, WE COORDINATE, WE TALK A LOT AROUND WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED AND WE ALSO LOOK FOR WAYS TO FORMULATE NEW RELATIONSHIPS IN PARTNERSHIP. SO WE DO IT AND WE ARE AWARE RIGHT, THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK THAT WE COULD BE DOING. BUT I DO FEEL THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION TO COLLABORATE AND TALK AROUND WHAT'S WORKING AND BRING NEW PARTNERS TO THE TABLE ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAT WE DON'T OFFER. THANK THANK YOU COUNSELOR FLYNN COUNSELOR FOR US AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU CHAIR THAT'S LOGICAL TOO. I I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH. OUR LONG TERM PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIC OUTLOOK AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU ARE ON THINGS AND IF YOU IF YOU FOUND BARRIERS ALONG THE WAY WITH THE SHORT TERM AS WELL AS THINKING IT'S MOVING OR TRANSITIONING INTO THE LONG TERM STRATEGIES,  I THINK THAT YES, WE LIKE EVERY CITY IS CHALLENGED BY THAT LONG TERM PIECE.  I THINK IT AS JAKE AND DIRECTOR CARDENAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE SUCCESS IN REFERRING PEOPLE TO DETOX AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING INTO DETOX BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THAT ISN'T ALWAYS SO CLEAR AND ISN'T ALWAYS SO STANDARDIZED MEANING THAT EVERYBODY'S GETTING, YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD.  I THINK ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT I THINK TALKS ABOUT THE CONTINUUM AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO DIFFERENTLY IS THINKING ABOUT OUR OUR LOW THRESHOLD SHELTERING PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE STREET WHO ARE REFERRED INTO LOW THRESHOLD HOUSING WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET ACCESS TO SERVICES AND THE GOAL THERE IS THEN TO HOPEFULLY GET THEM TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND GET THEM TO PLACES WHERE THEY CAN GO AND THEN DO MORE WORK AND GET INVOLVED IN THEIR GET BACK INVOLVED IN LIFE AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE HOUSED IN OUR LOW THRESHOLD SPACES 52 OF THEM SO ALMOST HALF OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ON THE PATH TO GETTING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SO THEY HAVE A HOUSING RESOURCE IN HAND.  BUT AGAIN IF YOU LOOK AT LOW THRESHOLD SHELTERS AND THOSE SPACES IT'S EXPENSIVE AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE AND WE'RE WORKING TO GET PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN THAT PATHWAY BECAUSE IT IS A CHANGE FOR FOLKS TO GO INTO A SYSTEM WHERE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BEING OFFERED YOU KNOW, SERVICES EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN STILL BECAUSE IT'S LOW THRESHOLD USE.  SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON REALLY DILIGENTLY SINCE JANUARY OF 2022 WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS WORK, IT DOES FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THE SHORT TERM STRATEGIES IN TERMS OF SERVICES TO STIGMATIZATION, OUTREACH OR CONNECTING FOLKS TO CASE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES BUT THE NOT JUST MOVING OR TRANSITIONING FOLKS EXPANDING LOCAL HOUSING STOCK BUT THEN ALSO AS YOU SAID, PEOPLE GETTING INTERESTED IN AND ACTUALLY ADJUSTING TO THIS IDEA THAT THIS IS THE PATHWAY TO RECOVERY . I GUESS I YOU KNOW, I WONDER IF THAT IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE GAPS IN TERMS WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR SHORT TERM STRATEGIES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS OR BEST PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED CONSIDERING YOU KNOW, OTHER PLACES AND IF AND IF THERE ARE ANY RIGHT. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SO I WILL I WILL WEIGH IN BUT I'M SURE OTHERS ALSO HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, I SPEAK AS A DOCTOR HERE AND I KNOW THE EVIDENCE BASE BEHIND OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES AND I DON'T THINK THAT I CAN BE IN THIS SPACE AND NOT SAY THAT THIS IS A STRATEGY THAT DOES WORK FOR SOME PEOPLE AND IT'S A STRATEGY WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE PRODUCED SOME SUCCESS IN NEW YORK CITY WITH ON POINT NYC WHICH WE'VE VISITED THE STATE IS SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT . YOU KNOW WE'RE WAITING FOR LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO MOVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FORWARD AND I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO TREAD CAUTIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS BEST AND HOW MANY SITES WOULD WORK BEST . I THINK THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE ARE EVALUATING. AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN,  THIS IS ME SPEAKING TO THE EVIDENCE BASE AS A PHYSICIAN AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IS PART OF WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO THE PICTURE. BUT GOING BACK TO COUNCILOR FLYNN'S QUESTION, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND WE CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE PATHWAY THAT WE THINK IS MISSING AND THAT WE NEED TO FIX. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT THAT WE NEED TO TAKE AND ONE OF THEM IS MAKING SURE THAT THAT CONTINUUM ONCE PEOPLE ARE IN DETOX IS SMOOTH. HOW DO PEOPLE GO FROM DETOX AND DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT LIKE KNOW THINK CC AND TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUUM? THIS ISN'T QUITE CONNECTED. YES. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED AFTER COVID THERE WAS A LOT OF TURNOVER IN A LOT OF THESE FACILITIES.  SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PARKS HAS BEEN WORKING ON IS REESTABLISH NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CC. SO THERE'S CSF IS A CLINICAL STABILIZATION UNIT. IT'S STAFFED BY NURSING WHICH IS A BIG PIECE WHERE WE NEED NURSES AND WE ALSO NEED A LOT OF OTHER STAFF LIKE CASE MANAGERS AND CLINICIANS TO HELP ALSO STABILIZE SOMEONE, INTRODUCE THEM TO GROUPS, MAYBE POTENTIALLY EVEN MEDICATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. AND SO AFTER THIS SEASON ALSO WORKING WITH THEM ON A TEST WHICH IS THE TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM, MOST PEOPLE WANT TO SEE US SO THEY CAN STAY THERE ANYWHERE FROM 14 DAYS TO 30 DAYS DEPENDING ON THEIR INSURANCE AND THEN THEY CAN GO TO TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM IN UP TO 90 DAYS. AND SO REALLY REESTABLISHING THOSE CONNECTIONS, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WHAT THEY QUALIFY FOR I FIND THAT MOST OFTEN PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS THE NEXT LEVEL OF CARE.  AND THEN FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS STABLE HOUSING OR HAS ACCESS TO FAMILY MEMBERS OR A PLACE TO STAY AND LIVE ALSO CONNECTING THEM PERHAPS TO OUTPATIENT COUNSELING. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOUND IS WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND THEY MAYBE HAVE OTHER SUPPORTS LIKE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AND MAYBE ACCESS TO A CLINICIAN THAT THEY CAN MEET WITH, THEY'RE ALSO VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OUTPATIENT COUNSELING. SO WE HAVE A SATELLITE LOCATION . WE PARTNER UP WITH THE SOUTH BOSTON COLLABORATIVE CENTER SO SORRY . I'M SORRY WE'RE JUST GOING TOO MUCH INTO DETAIL AND IT MAY BE GOOD FOR FOLKS TO HEAR BUT WE'RE LIMITED ON TIME. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT QUESTION NO PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE THE DETAILS CONSIDERING AND THIS IS FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY PREDICT ONE FORMULA AND PARTICULARLY TO WORK FOR THIS PERSON OR THAT PERSON BASED ON CULTURE OR DEMOGRAPHICS, BACKGROUND MODALITY, WHATEVER WHEN YOU THINK OF THE DIFFERENT MODALITIES AND YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER THIS, YOU KNOW, AMAZING OUTLOOK PLAN THAT AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO THIS OR PHASES TO THIS AND AGAIN NOT USING ONE PARTICULAR FORMULA FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAVE YOU OR DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IS DOING QUALITY CONTROL OF SOME SORT TO ASSESS YOUR EFFECTIVENESS IN TERMS OF CONTINUUM OF SERVICE BUT ALSO JUST SORT OF WRAP AROUND IS THIS TRULY HAPPENING IN A WRAPAROUND MODEL SO OUT WAY IN THERE AND JUST SAY THAT WE CERTAINLY HAVE MONITORING EVALUATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS TO OCCUR WITHIN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND CERTAINLY WITHIN THE WORK AND RECOVERY SERVICES BUREAU WE DO HAVE THAT. I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE IS THE LONGER TERM FOLLOW UP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS A STATEWIDE SYSTEM AND . PEOPLE ARE GOING IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS SO IT'S TOUGH TO KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL PERSON X WAS IN GETTING THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRAJECTORY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT EVERYBODY FACES BUT WE'RE WORKING ON SOME OF THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS OR AS MANY PARTNERS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE DO KNOW HOW WELL PEOPLE DO AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF WHAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON. BUT WE HAVE MADE SOME STRIDES ON I GUESS GOING BACK TO MY QUESTION ABOUT GAPS IN TERMS OF THE SHORT TERM STRATEGIES, ARE THERE STRATEGIES THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT THAT YOU ARE NOT IMPLEMENTING CURRENTLY? SO I MENTIONED ONE THAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH OVERDOSE PREVENTION.  I THINK THAT SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS A TEAM REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHO'S OUT THERE AND SO WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT DOING ANOTHER INDIVIDUALIZED SURVEY SO REALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE ONE ON ONE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST BEFORE BUT WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY DONE IT RECENTLY. I THINK THAT'S KEY BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. IT GETS US TO UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHO THAT PERSON IS, WHAT HAVE THEIR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS BEEN, WHAT HAS GOTTEN THEM THERE AND THEN WHAT WILL MOVE THEM FORWARD.  THE BEAUTY OF BEING HERE IN BOSTON IS THAT OUR PROBLEM ISN'T THOUSANDFOLD YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.  THEREFORE WE HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH AND SAID OKAY, WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED LEVEL AND UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES.  AND SO WHEN YOU ASK WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T WE'VE DONE SOME OF THAT. YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT DATA IN THE PAST. WE NEED TO AMPLIFY THAT PARTICULARLY NOW THAT THE ENCAMPMENTS NO LONGER EXIST AND AS PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF SPREAD IN OTHER PLACES YOU KNOW, AROUND THE CITY BY THE HUNDREDS BUT THEN THE NUMBERS CHANGE BECAUSE NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING IN. WELL, CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO BOSTON. I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS THAT WE HAVE SERVICES THAT OTHER OTHER ADJACENT CITIES DO NOT HAVE. SO CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE PEOPLE BUT THERE ARE ALSO BOSTON RESIDENTS WHO ARE OUT THERE AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO IS WHO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WE'RE ACTUALLY DEVISING OR DEVELOPING A SURVEY RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTING SOON SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION WHO ARE OUT ON THE STREET. THERE ARE POLICY EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY OR PLANNING ON WORKING ON TO EXPAND THE BEDS.  YOU MENTIONED THAT AFTER 30 DAY RIGHT TREATMENT RIGHT THEN WHERE DO THEY GO AND IF THEY'RE ON HOUSING AND OUR AT RISK AND PERPETUATING CYCLE SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT SOME OF THAT IS UNDER THE STATE'S UMBRELLA BECAUSE PAYING FOR IT BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT OR HOW WE CAN GET PEOPLE FROM DETOX TO MAYBE YOU KNOW, TO SEE US AS AND THEN IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE COULD OFFER SPACES FOR WHO ARE DONE WITH DETOX IN RECOVERY AND A SPACE THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM FOLKS WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING ALSO BECAUSE I THINK THAT ALSO CAN CAUSE A CHALLENGE. SO WE'VE BEEN THINKING ALL OF THIS THROUGH. I THINK AGAIN THE CHALLENGE IS STAFFING THE CHALLENGES FUNDING AND THE CHALLENGE IS ACTUALLY SPACE FOR US A CITY TO TACKLE THIS BEYOND WHAT THE STATE THE CITY WOULD SAY, WHAT THE STATE IS DOING.  THANK YOU.  I HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR SECOND ROUND. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR FOR THAT ANDERSON, I'LL I'LL TURN OVER THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FOR AN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNSELOR TO LET ME HEAR YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES. THANK YOU.  WON'T PUT THE CLOCK ON. YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN CLOCK SO I CAN SEE VISUALLY HOW MUCH TIME I GOT LEFT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR HOSTING AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY.  AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE THE MIGUEL'S DE LA ROSA WHO HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES HERE ADVOCATING EVEN WELL BEFORE THIS BECAME NEWS AND HAS BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM IN OUR COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING.  SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU THE MIGOS FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS SPACE AND FOR HOW YOU CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP. IN FACT ONE OF MY FACEBOOK MEMORIES POPPED UP FROM 2020 WHEN YOU ORGANIZED A RALLY BY I FORGET WHERE IT WAS IN THE SOUTH SOMEWHERE AND I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER WITH ME AND I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT THE LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE JUST CONTINUES TO PERCOLATE AND THERE'S THE TENSION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMUNITY WANTS, WHAT THE ADVOCATES ARE ASKING FOR, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING. IT IS IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TACKLE THIS FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND IT FEELS LIKE WE MOVE AND WE MOVE FORWARD AND THEN WE GO BACK AND I JUST I THINK THERE IS A LOT I ALWAYS TRY TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT MORE RESOURCES READY TO EQUIP YOU ALL WITH THE TOOLS YOU NEED. WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE WITH COMPASSION, RIGHT. I THINK THAT THERE'S A TENSION HERE, A LOT OF FRUSTRATION THAT WE HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS THAT.  YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE OPEN DRUG MARKET THAT THAT YOU SEE.  SO THERE'S THAT NARRATIVE THERE AND I GUESS THAT FOR ME AS I CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE CALLING THIS A CRISIS, YOU KNOW, AT MASS IN CARS. BUT REALLY THIS IS A CRISIS ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON AND I THINK IT'S NOT JUST ISOLATED IN ONE PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN SILENCE AND WE ARE LOSING LOVED ONES TO OVERDOSES THAT ARE NOT BEING REPORTED. AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND MASS AND CARS. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO THAT POINT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AND SEEING AS WE'RE MOVING TO THE BACK BAY WHERE WE'RE MOVING TO NUBIAN SQUARE WHERE WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS EGGLESTON SQUARE, CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AS THIS CONTINUES TO SPILL THROUGHOUT THE CITY? SO COUNCILWOMAN HERE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OR YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF THE WORK.  SO I THINK EVERYONE KIND OF NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE STARTED A KIND OF A NEW PHASE, NEW DEPLOYMENT DOWN IN THE MADISON CASS AREA. IT BECAME VERY CLEAR AMONGST THE TEAM THAT CONGREGATE DRUG USE WAS BECOMING A BARRIER TO A LOT OF THINGS DOWN THERE.  IT WAS A BARRIER TO OUR OUTREACH FOLKS RECOVERY SERVICES.  WE JUST NEEDED TO REALLY CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE. SO WE STARTED TO FOCUS DIRECTLY ON DISCOVERING THAT DRUG USE. ONE OF OUR CONCERNS IMMEDIATELY WAS IS THIS GOING TO DISPLACE PEOPLE INTO THE SURROUNDING AREAS SO WE IMMEDIATELY REDEPLOY OUR OFFICERS INTO AREAS WE PRIORITIZE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THEIR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR LEADING UP FROM CASS TO WEST COTTAGE. THE NUBIAN SQUARE AREA REALLOCATED OFFICERS INTO THOSE AREAS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND TO FOCUS ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN THAT AREA. GOING BACK TO A YEAR AGO WHEN THE ENCAMPMENT WAS IN PLACE TO NOW IN EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST 30 DAYS OBVIOUSLY THE WORK IS ONGOING. WE SEE CLEAR PROGRESS FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO. NOW WE ARE COMMUNICATING AND COORDINATING WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE CRT TO HAVE A BROADER DEPLOYMENT CITYWIDE FOCUSED ON AREAS WHERE WE'RE HEARING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY NUMBER ONE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, WE'RE INCREASING VISIBILITY,  INCREASING OUR DEPLOYMENTS AND PATROLS FOCUSING ON QUALITY OF LIFE BUT COORDINATING THESE EFFORTS WITH THE OUTREACH FOLKS AND STREET OUTREACH RECOVERY SERVICES OUR HOUSING PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE AREAS THAT WE'RE DOING OUR INCREASE ENFORCEMENT VISIBILITY AREN'T CREATING OBSTACLES TO OUTREACH.  SO WE'VE INCREASED OUR COMMUNICATION. WE'RE COORDINATING OUR DEPLOYMENTS, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THESE AREAS THAT WE ARE WE ARE HEARING PEOPLE HAVE THEIR CONCERNS AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE FOCUSING. YEAH. SO I ALSO WANT TO UPLIFT TO THAT. SO MY DAUGHTER PLAYS AT CLOVER PARK AND YOU KNOW RECENTLY THERE'S ALSO BEEN THAT SPILLOVER TO THE SOUTH BAY AND AT TARGET IN PARTICULAR NOW THEY HAVE A SIGN THAT YOU HAVE TO IN ORDER FOR YOU TO COME IN TO TARGET YOU HAVE TO COME IN WITH AN ADULT. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS KIND OF FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE WHAT ARE WE DOING AROUND HELPING TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO BEING EXPOSED TO THIS VISUALLY AND ALSO JUST LIKE MENTALLY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION?  SO I CAN SPEAK I'LL SPEAK JUST TO AN EXAMPLE IN NUBIAN SQUARE WHERE WE HAVE NOTICED AN UPTICK IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON SHELTERS, WHO ARE ON THE STREET WHO ARE OPENLY USING WE HAVE FUNDED RECENTLY BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE'VE NOTED THAT THERE ARE YOUNGER AND YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE AND YOUNG PEOPLE PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE WALKING AND SORT OF SEEING THIS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE FOCUSED IN ON IS REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING DIFFERENTLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING THEM IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION? BUT I DO THINK THAT WHAT WHAT BPD WAS SAYING IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS ABOUT YOU KNOW,  COMPASSIONATELY FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MOVE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULDN'T BE CONGREGATING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING PEOPLE ARE SEEING NOT APPROPRIATE SO DOING THAT BUT THEN ALSO REALIZING THAT SUPPORTS NEED TO BE BUILT FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE AS WELL AS OLDER PEOPLE. YEAH YEAH. I THINK COUNCILOR SANTELLI PUT IT AT 6 MINUTES NOT SEVEN I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE ALL THAT TIME ALREADY WASTED BUT BUT I SAY SIX IT DID SAY SIX SO I KNEW I HAD AN EXTRA MINUTE BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO MANAGE MY TIME HERE SO I GOT AN EXTRA MINUTE BUT I, I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY SAY I GOT AN EXTRA MINUTE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS I REALLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THINK THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITHOUT THE DIVISIVENESS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THIS DIALOG.  IT IS THE SENSE OF PITTING PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS AND NOBODY'S WINNING IF WE CONTINUE TO DIG OUR HEELS IN OUR CAMPS AND I THINK THAT WHAT THIS TIME IS CALLING FOR US TO DO IS TO REALLY FIND A MIDDLE GROUND IN WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE'S GOING TO WIN BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE WANT TO SEE US AS A COUNCIL PRODUCING RESULTS BECAUSE LEON RIVERA ON TWITTER IT'S CONSTANT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS NEGLECTING THIS. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS THAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS WORK YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND WE COULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO DO X, Y AND Z. BUT WHAT INDIVIDUAL SOULS ARE GOING TO DO THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LIMITATIONS AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT IN THIS CHAMBER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS AND THE ONLY WAY WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET AT THIS IS IF EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THIS THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT JUST HERE IN THE COUNCIL OR AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION OR WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE BUSINESS OWNERS IS THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO THEIR PART. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S TASK FORCE AND THERE'S ALL OF THESE THINGS BUT I JUST I JUST DON'T SEE THAT MANIFEST ING IN TO DELIVERABLES LIKE HOW ARE WE I KNOW YOU CAME HERE WITH DATA BUT LIKE WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE THOSE?  YOU KNOW PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS. HOW HAVE YOU INCORPORATED COMMUNITY VOICE THE BUSINESS VOICE THE RESIDENTS HOW HAVE YOU GRAPPLED WITH THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS AND DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT EVERYONE FEELS SEEN AND I'M GLAD TO SEE MINISTER RANDY HERE BECAUSE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING DEEP WORK AND NUBIAN SQUARE AND IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT MODEL. SO DAY WHEN I TALK ABOUT EVERYONE BEING ACCOUNTABLE THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN THAT HOLISTIC STRATEGY WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE AND I'M WONDERING IF HE'S A PART OF YOUR TABLE. HE IS HE KNOWS WHERE HE IS. SO WE ALL YOU KNOW SO BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION CO-LEADS AND COO ESTABLISHED THE NUBIAN SQUARE TASK FORCE. THAT TORCH LIGHT IS A MAJOR PARTNER IN AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN IN THE LAST YEAR A SCALE UP OF ACTIVITIES TO REALLY COORDINATE WHAT IS THEY'RE DOING SO THAT THEY KNOW OKAY, HERE'S NALOXONE SO WE NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT NALOXONE.  WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE TO RECOVERY . WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS OUR WHAT IS OUR WHAT ARE OUR OUTCOMES ON A ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN TERMS OF WHO GOES TO RECOVERY AND LET'S BRING NEW PARTNERS TO THE TABLE. LET'S PARTNER WITH THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHILE WE'RE DOING ALL THIS WORK. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A MODEL THAT'S WORKING BUT IT NEEDS MORE RESOURCES. I THINK WE NEED TO PUT MORE EFFORT AND ENERGY INTO THAT AND CERTAINLY IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NUBIAN, IT'S ABOUT PLACES AROUND THE CITY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.  I THINK A COUNCILWOMAN HERE I ALSO WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE ERIN MURPHY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE'LL HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. AND SO I WAS LATE I WAS AT THE SCHOOL ON THE MOVE AWARD THIS MORNING AND SHOUT OUT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MATTER HUNT FOR WINNING IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS DOING GREAT WORK. SO SORRY I'M A LITTLE LATE BUT SUCH AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT WAY BEFORE I GOT HERE BUT FROM THE THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THIS CRISIS AS LIKE THREE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDERS. THERE'S THOSE STRUGGLING THAT WE SAW ON ATKINS STREET YOU KNOW, WE SEE NOW STILL IN THAT AREA WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN GROUPS ACROSS THE CITY NOW AND THAT TO ME IS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY SEPARATE SPECIFIC KIND OF CONVERSATION.  AND THANK YOU TO PETER BARBUTO, THE GARVIN FOUNDATION KNOW THERE'S MANY NONPROFITS HERE WHO WORK DIRECTLY IN THE RECOVERY MENTAL HEALTH SPACE THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW THAT THAT STRUGGLE DOWN THERE ISN'T SOLELY EVER GOING TO BE SOLVED THROUGH THE POLICE OR THAT'S ONE RIGHT? AND THEN THERE'S THE BUSINESSES WHO NOT JUST DOWN IN MASS INCARCERATION. ANDREW SQUARE AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN THE RESIDENTS KNOWING THAT THIS MORE IS ABOUT TO ME LIKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY GETTING A LOT OF CALLS AND CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH END CLIFFORD PARK, YOU KNOW THEY'VE BEEN DEALING AND STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR A LONG TIME. THEY STILL FEEL YOUR LOVE. THEY'RE STRUGGLING BUT MANY NEW NEIGHBORS ARE I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME SEEING WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE IN ANDREW SQUARE. IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR THEM FOR A WHILE AND A LOT OF WHAT WE HEAR. SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS YOU KNOW THAT IT'S POLITICAL.  I GOT A CALL ON SUNDAY MORNING FROM A RESIDENT WHO WAS UPSET THEY HAD IT WAS 8 A.M. SO NO TRAFFIC, NO PEDESTRIANS BUT HAD ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AT THE ROTARY NEAR ST MONICA'S NEAR ANDREW SQUARE. THERE AND MOORE WAS PULLED OVER AND GOT A TICKET AND WHILE THEY WERE WRITING OUT THE TICKET THERE WAS FIVE PEOPLE YOU KNOW OPEN DRUG USE AND USING AND SELLING DRUGS. SO HE WAS HAVING I GUESS A CONVERSATION LIKE WHY AM I, YOU KNOW, GETTING A TICKET FOR ROLLING THROUGH LIKE BUT WE'RE HAVING THIS LIKE THIS IS THE ISSUE THIS IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY THIS IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS REALLY HAVE. AND THE ANSWER AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL WE'RE TOLD TO IGNORE IT OR WE'RE TOLD IF WE DO ARREST PEOPLE THEN THEY GET TOO CAUGHT AMONG THE DEA. YOU KNOW, THE JUDGES JUST SEND THEM BACK OUT SO WONDERING WHAT IS IS OUR FOCUS STILL THERE AND WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DA'S OFFICE IN THE COURTS TO TRY TO FIND BETTER ANSWERS FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO HONESTLY I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME THOSE QUESTIONS.  I MEAN THAT WAS ONE EXAMPLE BUT I KNOW WE ALL GET CALLS LIKE THAT TRYING TO BALANCE AND NOT SAYING THAT ANYONE SHOULD EVER ROLL THROUGH ANY STOP SIGN.  BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE ARE WE FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES AND I HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN MCGANN A LOT ABOUT LIKE DRUG COURT AND THE SUPPORTS YOU WOULD GET WHEN YOU WENT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, JUDGE COFFEE AND OTHERS THAT THEY IT DID GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO THEN BE SET UP WITH SUPPORTS AND NOW WITH WE'RE JUST SKIPPING THAT ALL TOGETHER AND KIND OF IGNORING IT.  I THINK WE'RE GETTING INTO LIKE JUST A MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. SO IF ANYONE HAS THOUGHTS OR HEAR I'LL JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY SO . I'M THE NEW DIRECTOR. WE CAME IN LATE SO I'M TELLING YOU SO I AM RESHAPING CRT TO A MORE OF A FOCUS TO TERRANCE MODEL YOU KNOW, HAVING CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE PD WHICH I DO ON A REGULAR BASIS USUALLY MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY AND USING A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER DIFFERENT MODALITIES PARTNERING WITH BPD, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMEONE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN PATHWAY OF RECOVERY. SO WE'RE HAVING A LOOK AT THAT AND WE WILL BE DOING DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION TRAINING AS WE INCREASE OUR OUTREACH HOPING TO WORK MORE WITH JUDGE COFFEY. SHE HAS CREATED A WONDERFUL PILOT PROGRAM THAT SIMPLIFIES THE PROCESS FOR COURT MANDATED TREATMENT.  SO WE ARE HAVING A LOOK AT THAT AND AT CRT.  THANK YOU SO AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW IS BASICALLY THE HAVE DIFFERENT MEASURES OF CRIME.  YOU HAVE STATS AND HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL RIGHT.  YEAH. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THOSE MATCH IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON AND COORDINATED OUR RESPONSE.  WE'RE SEEING DIFFERENCES. WE SEE IT IN THE STATS AND WE ARE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT SOME OF OUR RECENT DEPLOYMENTS. WE NEED TO SPREAD THAT OUT MORE SO THOSE PLACES THAT WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE IS EVERYWHERE. SO WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON NOT WE'RE NOT TELLING OUR OFFICERS NOT TO ARREST PEOPLE FOR OPEN DRUG USE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING. SO THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK WITH THAT INTERACTION AND WE CAN WE CAN TALK LATER IF YOU WANT TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH THAT PERSON.  BUT WE WANT TO SPREAD OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN CERTAIN AREAS SO WE CAN SEE THAT FORWARD PROGRESS EVERYWHERE.  WE JUST YESTERDAY HAD A WORKING SESSION BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ON THE COUNCIL ABOUT POLICE STAFFING OVER TIME NOT HAVING POLICE OFFICERS AND A BIG PERCENTAGE OF THE OVER TIME SPENT ON THE ON THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM THE MASS AND CARS AND AS WE WERE TALKING TODAY ABOUT HOW IT'S NOT JUST ICE NOT THAT IT EVER WAS JUST ISOLATED BUT WE DO SEE POCKETS ACROSS LIKE FUNDING WISE LIKE HOW ARE WE IN STAFFING WISE, HOW WERE WE ABLE TO EXPAND THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING IN THOSE POCKETS TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE WE TALK ALL THE TIME THAT WE'RE ALREADY PULLING SPECIAL UNITS TO DO YOU KNOW THERE ARE 20 TOURS AT DIFFERENT STATE LIKE ARE WE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT THAT EXPANSION?  SURE. SO IN ABOUT THE LAST 30 DAYS PEOPLE CAN CLEARLY SEE A CHANGE DOWN IN MASS IN CASE WE DO NOT ADD ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO GET THAT DONE. ALL WE DID WAS CHANGE THE WAY WE COORDINATE AND SUPERVISOR THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE DID. WE ADDED A LAYER OF COORDINATION AND SUPERVISING BECAUSE AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THAT'S THE INTERSECTION OF THREE DISTRICTS ON THREE DIFFERENT AREAS OPERATING ON THREE DIFFERENT CHANNELS. SO IT'S A IT'S A SOMETIMES IT'S A COORDINATION SO WE DO NOT INCREASE DEPLOYMENTS TO THE AREA TO DO THAT. SO IN SOME CASES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FOCUSING ON PUTTING MORE FOLKS OVER AT NUBIAN SQUARE. A LOT OF THAT IS ON DUTY PERSONNEL. IT'S NOT SUPPLEMENTAL PATROLS. IT'S NOT STREET OUTREACH.  IT'S IT'S FOR PATROLMEN ON THAT DAY. IT'S UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS FROM THE DISTRICT. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ADDING A LAYER OF COORDINATION WHERE WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS. SO IN THAT AREA THERE'S BEEN NO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR EXPENDITURES MADE.  OKAY. THANK YOU, JIM. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MURPHY.  I JUST HAVEN'T ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROSIE LOUIJEUNE.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND 7 MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL OF THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THAT AREA. I GUESS MY QUESTION THAT I HAD AND INDULGE ME I APOLOGIZE IF THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED AND ANSWERED AND IF SO YOU CAN SAY YOU CAN SAY THAT BUT WITH TO WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE MASSACHUSETTS AREA BOTH FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT AND FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, HOW IS THAT INFORMED YOUR WORK IN THE WORK ON THOSE SUFFERING WITH THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION ACROSS THE CITY IN OTHER AREAS OUTSIDE OF MASS AND HAS MAYBE I CAN START WITH JUST THE PUBLIC HEALTH PIECE AND OF COURSE WE COULD TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT I WAS SPEAKING TO WITH COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCILORS WAS THIS IDEA OF REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHO PEOPLE ARE WHAT THEIR CHALLENGES ARE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE CAN DO AND DO SUCCESSFULLY HERE IN BOSTON GIVEN THE SIZE OF OUR PROBLEM OF OUR CHALLENGES,  WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING PEOPLE FROM THE MASS AND CASS AREA FROM AS AREA FROM AS THEY AS WE BROUGHT DOWN THE ENCAMPMENTS AND MOVE PEOPLE INTO LOW THRESHOLD SHELTER SPACES WHICH HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH THOUGH IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE AND MAINTAINING THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR US AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY SO NOT JUST YOU KNOW, BEING IN ONE PLACE OBVIOUSLY AND NOT JUST HAVING STATIC PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO BUT GETTING OUT THERE AND AGAIN MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR CHALLENGES ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH SERVICES, GIVING THEM OPTIONS IN TRAJECTORIES THAT THEY CAN GO ON AND CONTINUING TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT ONE TIME. IT'S NOT GOING BE THE SECOND TIME. IT MAY BE THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME. I THINK THE OTHER STRATEGY THAT I WANT TO MENTION IN TERMS OF THIS COORDINATED RESPONSE I THINK THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO TALK ACROSS OUR INSTITUTIONS AND TO COORDINATE ACROSS INSTITUTIONS HAVING BEEN AROUND A LITTLE BIT BEFORE SOME OF THIS STARTED. I DO THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MUCH DEEPER PARTNERSHIP THAT'S BEEN CREATED AND I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED IN WORKING IN THE MASS AND KARST AREA WITH THE ENCAMPMENTS AND IN MOVING PEOPLE FROM THE ENCAMPMENTS. DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO? SURE.  I THINK WE WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE SEE CLEAR PROGRESS.  AGAIN, WE LOOK BACK TO WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO WITH A PERMANENT ENCAMPMENT.  I MEAN WE ALL KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON DOWN THERE THAT NO ONE WOULD SAY THAT WAS A GOOD THING FOR ANYONE. RIGHT. IT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.  I THINK THE COORDINATION THAT TOOK PLACE A YEAR AFTER THE ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE WAS PUT IN PLACE WE HAVE NOT MADE ONE SINGLE ARREST UNDER THE ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE DURING THE FOUR DAYS OF THE CAMP AND A POLICE OFFICER DIDN'T EVEN PLACE A FINGER ON A TENT. RIGHT. THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. AND NOW WHERE WE ARE NOW LIKE WITH THE MASS AND CHAOS WAS REALLY PRIORITIZED.  WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DISPLACEMENT. WE WANT TO USE THAT COORDINATION AND CONTROL IN THESE OTHER POCKETS. THE CRTC IS REORGANIZING TO SPREAD OUT CITYWIDE FOCUS ON PUTTING VISIBILITY IN LOCATIONS WHERE WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS WHETHER IT'S ACTUAL MEASURABLE STATS OR THE FEELING OF SAFETY RIGHT BECAUSE THE STEP LIKE WE CAN TALK ABOUT STATS ALL DAY IN THE MASS AND GAS AREA. OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 27% LIKE ROBBERIES ARE DOWN 25. THE LIST GOES ON BUT IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE THERE DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, RIGHT? SO THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE NOW IS TO CONTINUE THE COORDINATION. WE SEE CLEAR PROGRESS IN THE MOUNTAIN CASTLE AREA AND THE OTHER PLACES THAT WE'VE ADJUSTED OUR DEPLOYMENTS. WE'RE STARTING TO GET POSITIVE FEEDBACK. WE'RE NOT DOING A VICTORY LAP BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. THE WORK IS ONGOING.  WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT WE DO SEE WHERE WE WORK TOGETHER AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND MAKE DEPLOYMENTS BASED ON THAT TOTAL PACKAGE AND NOBODY DOES IT BY THEMSELVES. WE SEE EVIDENCE OF CLEAR PROGRESS AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT. THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION BACK TO YOU. DR. OJUKWU, DO YOU STATED THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED THAT WAS DONE BETTER IS INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT ,RIGHT? THAT THAT'S THE STRATEGY AND I AGREE. BUT IF THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING AT THE MASSACRES AREA THEY'RE LIKE WELL IF THERE'S INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, IF THAT'S A SUCCESS MODEL, WHY ARE WE STILL SEEING PEOPLE IN THE AREA WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY'RE RECEIVING THE SERVICES THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, PREVENT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING? SO WHAT WOULD HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT? SO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS A CHRONIC ILLNESS VERY DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS AND NOT EVERYBODY WANTS THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE NECESSARILY OFFERING.  NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO DETOX. NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO A DAY SPACE. THIS IS A CHALLENGE AND I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE NOT JUST HERE IN BOSTON. THIS IS A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, NATIONWIDE. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO A SUBSTANCE AND THEY KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO AND GET THE SUBSTANCE AND THAT IS IT. YOU KNOW, THEY AREN'T READY YET TO SAY NO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE. SO IT IS MUCH INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT THAT YOU CAN PUT IN THERE. WE CAPTURE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WAY BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST NOT READY FOR SERVICES YET. AND SO THAT'S MY RESPONSE.  ARE YOU SEEING NEW PEOPLE AND NEW INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS ILLNESS COMING TO THE AREA OR IS IT MORE SO?  ARE YOU SEEING A STEADY STREAM OF NEW PEOPLE OR IS IT THE PEOPLE HABITUAL FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WHO HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE? I THINK IT'S A MIX AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO COMMENT BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE OBVIOUSLY ALSO HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. I THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CERTAINLY ARE NEW TO THE AREA BUT THEN THERE ARE CERTAINLY PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND WHO ARE TRANSIENTLY ENGAGED IN SERVICES BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY AS I SAID, READY TO COMPLETELY LEAVE THE AREA OR COMPLETELY MOVE ON TO, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICES THEY MAY BE PROVIDING FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY . OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'M I'M ASSUMING IT'S SUPER DONE AND IT'S THE SAME FOR YOU TOO. I MEAN THERE'S A NUMBER OF ANECDOTES THAT I GET FROM MY FOLKS DOWN THERE AFTER OUR SHIFT IN DEPLOYMENTS ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO THAT SECOND WEEKEND IT RAINED AND I SENT THE TROOPS OUT THERE SAID FIND EVERYBODY. WHERE IS EVERYBODY? WE FOUND ONE POCKET OF EIGHT PEOPLE UNDER UNDER THE BRIDGE EN MASSE AND THAT'S IT. EVERYONE ELSE WAS OFF THE STREET IN SOME SORT OF SHELTER OR HOUSING SETTING.  THERE WAS NO ONE OUT THERE. THANK YOU. MY TIME IS GOING TO RUN OUT BUT I WOULD JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF THE BEST TEAM I KNOW I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE BUT MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO WANT TO JUST FURTHER JUST ANNOUNCE MY SUPPORT FOR THE RESPONSE MODEL. I THINK IT'S A GREAT ONE AND ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT SUE SULLIVAN AND HER TEAM ARE DOING REALLY TO GET PEOPLE A SENSE OF DIGNITY THROUGH WORK AND IT'S A MODEL THAT I WANT TO SEE US WORK ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR FERNANDA ANDERSON IN NUBIAN SQUARE IS LOOKING INTO THAT. I THINK IT'S JUST WE NEED WE NEED MORE MODELS WHERE WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE GET MORE GROUNDED AND ROOTED IN DIGNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE PANELISTS WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S DOING THAT WAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PRESIDENT I WILL NOW I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP CLAUSES FROM AROUND I WON'T TAKE UP THE 7 MINUTES BUT I'LL STILL TIE MYSELF AND I WILL DO A QUICK SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO THE TWO NEXT. SO I'M VERY QUICKLY DIRECTOR YOUNG I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON I'M A COORDINATOR RESPONSE CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OVERALL AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO BE ON THE GROUND WITH YOU WITH YOUR TEAM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW ,YOU'RE BRINGING SOME CHANGES. YOU WANT TO EXPAND YOUR TEAM AND YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE YOUR APPROACH. CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE MADE AND THEN WHAT CAN RESIDENTS AND US EXPECT FROM THIS CHANGE? WELL, SURE. SO I AM SHIFTING CRT TO RESPOND CITYWIDE AND AS I SPOKE EARLIER THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT MODALITIES FOR OUTREACH SO WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH TO MORE OF A CO RESPONSE MODEL AND WE WILL RESPOND WITH POLICE WHEN APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE ARE FINDING THAT A LOT OF THE POPULATION ARE UNMOTIVATED AND DISENGAGED. WE HAVE WE'RE SUCH A RESOURCE RICH CITY SO LOOKING AT THAT AND SEEING HOW WE CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE IN THEIR OWN RECOVERY , I TEND TO READ THE SIGNAL THAT GETS HEARD INDICATES A REPORT OF AN EMERGENCY IN THIS BUILDING IN MYANMAR. EVACUATION SIGNAL SOUNDS AFTER THIS MASS GRAVE REASONS AND THERE IS A BETTER WAY AND WE NEED TO FOR WHAT THE REPORT IS WE ARE BACK IN SESSION I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE HAD TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING DUE TO A FIRE ALARM BUT WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR WE HAVE A LIST OF INVITED PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND I WANT TO THANK OUR FIRST PANELISTS EARLIER TODAY THAT THAT WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS A VARIETY OF RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATION TO EXPERIENCE IMPACTS RELATED TO THE MATTER AT HAND. WE HAVE A SECOND COMMUNITY PANEL COMING UP BUT THERE ARE MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HEAR FROM THEN WE CAN HOST ON OUR PANELS TODAY TO HEAR MORE VOICES. THE COMMITTEE HAS INVITED A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SOME EXTENDED PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE AT THIS TIME AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR SECOND PANEL.  SO THE INVITED SO FOR THE INVITED SPEAKERS WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 5 MINUTES. I'LL HAVE THE CLOCK RIGHT BEHIND ME WITH 5 MINUTES. SO FIRST UP WE HAVE LYNDA SO BLOCKY FROM THE ANDREW SQUARE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND LYNDA IS COMING DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO CALL PETER BARB TRUDEAU THE PRESIDENCY OF GAVIN HOUSE AND THEN WE WILL HAVE KAREN THE FRAZIER ON ZOOM FROM THE SAME FRANCIS HOUSE SO TO GO HERE WITH DO I GO HERE THAT'S MY NAME FIRST TIME. NO, NO, NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU LINDA FOR BEING HERE WITH US. YOU'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.  MY NAME IS LINDSEY BLAKEY. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SANDERS SQUARE AND THE PRESIDENT INNER SQUARE ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUED AND GROWING PROBLEMS IN THE SQUARE. CAN WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HERE?  OH, I'M SORRY . IS THAT BETTER THAN SORRY ? THANK YOU DO I GET MY ROLE BACK? YEAH. HOW WOULD THAT LOOK?  GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LINDSEY BLAKEY. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ANDREW SQUARE AND THE PRESIDENT OF ANDREW SQUARE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUED AND GROWING PROBLEMS IN ANDREW SQUARE FROM THE HOMELESS AND ADDICTS.  NOT TOO LONG AGO THE CRT WHO WE ABSOLUTELY ULTIMATELY RESPECT GAVE OUT SOME STATISTICS STATING THAT ACTIVITY DOWN AT MASS IN CASS WAS DOWN BY 60% AND THAT IS A FOCUS ON MASS AND CASS AS COUNCILOR MEJIA SAID AND THAT IS AN AMAZING NUMBER BUT THE PROBLEM BEING IS THAT THE 60% NOW IS INFILTRATED DEEPER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.  WE HAVE PEOPLE ON OUR STAIRS USING DRUGS TRYING TO GET INTO OUR HALLS IN THE BACKYARDS, BREAKING INTO GARAGES, TAKING MORE PACKAGES, LEAVING MORE LITTER AND FOOD ALL AROUND OUR HOMES SO THAT 60% IS NOW OFF MASS. CASS HAS MADE A QUALITY OF LIFE IN AND AROUND ANDREW SQUARE AND I'M SURE THE SOUTH END AND THE ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS EVEN LOWER THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN. IT IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE JUST MOVING A PROBLEM. WE ARE NOT SOLVING IT JUST LIKE THE PLACEMENT OF PEOPLE INTO THE ROUND HOUSE ALL WE DID WAS PUT THE ILLEGAL USE OF DRUGS OFF THE STREETS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.  NOTHING ELSE CHANGED. I UNDERSTAND THAT SAFE INJECTION SITES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO TRY TO CURB DRUG ADDICTION. WE SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO CURB THE OPIOID CRISIS RAVAGING THIS AREA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND STATE. BUT INJECTION SITES ARE NOT THE ANSWER. CANADA CALIFORNIA, AUSTRALIA ARE CLOSING DOWN INJECTION SITES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WORKING WITH THESE SITES WE ARE CONDONING AND ENABLING THIS INJECTION TO CONTINUE LET ALONE WE'RE ALLOWING AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TO TAKE PLACE IN A BUILDING THAT IS PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS WHO ARE ABIDING BY THE LAW.  IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN THE REPORT BY DAVID STONE AND I IMPLORE THAT YOU DO YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RETURN OF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS MINIMAL.  LONG TERM REHAB IS WHAT IS NEEDED. WE CAN'T WE CAN'T CREATE WE CAN'T TREAT AN ADDICTION FOR 30 DAYS AND RELEASE THE PERSON AND EXPECT EVERYTHING TO BE OKAY FOR THEM TO CONTINUE WITHOUT CONSTANT SUPPORT. WE ARE UP AGAINST A VERY POWERFUL MONSTER. IT WILL TAKE EVEN MORE POWERFUL TO ELIMINATE THIS MONSTER. THE PLANS FOR LONG ISLAND ARE STILL SIX SEVEN YEARS AWAY AND IN THE MEANTIME WE MAY LOSE MANY PEOPLE IN THE STREETS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON OUT THERE IS SOMEBODY SOMEBODY WE NEED A PROGRAM NOW BECAUSE AS I STAND HERE AND TALK. LIVES ARE BEING LOST AND SHAME ON US FOR ALLOWING IT. THE SAYING IS YOU NEED TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE YOU GO INTO A PROGRAM. BUT WHY CAN'T WE PRECIPITATE ROCK BOTTOM? WE SHOULD BE ARRESTING ILLEGAL DRUG USE AND PROSTITUTION AND PUTTING THESE PEOPLE IN LONG TERM LOCKUP PROGRAMS AND GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE.  RIGHT NOW WE CONTINUE TO HELP THEM IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL CONTINUED ADDICTION AND EVENTUALLY DEATH. I'LL TELL YOU MY FRIEND LINDA WHO BURIED HER DAUGHTER SOON AFTER BURIED HER DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND WHO WAS THE FATHER OF HER TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS AND 20 YEARS LATER BURIED BOTH THOSE GRANDDAUGHTERS DUE TO ADDICTION. MY COUSIN RHONDA WHO WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL ON A MONDAY, WENT UP TO THE CLINIC ON TUESDAY, GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR KLONOPIN.  A ROTTEN SOLD HER PRESCRIPTIONS AND WAS DEAD IN THE HALLWAY AT MARY ELLEN MCCORMICK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON FRIDAY. THIS YOUNG LADY HAD A THREE YEAR OLD SON BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE DRUG OWNS THEM. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE HAS BEEN LONG TERM PROBLEMS FOR MANY OF THESE LOVED ONES. THE PARENTS WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY HAD THEM INVOLVED. YOU CAN'T HAVE A REVOLVING DOOR WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE ADDICTION. THE DRUG IS SO POWERFUL PEOPLE GIVE UP THEIR CHILDREN WOMEN GIVE THEM SELVES. MEN BECOME THIEVES. IT'S A VICIOUS, VICIOUS CYCLE AND WE ARE CONDONING IT. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ALLOWING TO CONTINUE AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING. WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL WORK IF WE DON'T TRY. BUT FROM THE STATISTICS THE INJECTION SITE PLACES ARE FAILING MISERABLY. THERE ARE PROGRAMS LIKE STONY STABILIZATION IN SPRINGFIELD WHICH HAS A VERY HIGH RECOVERY RATE. WHY DO WE NOT INSTITUTING PROGRAMS THAT WORK? I'M SORRY I HAVE TO GO TO MY NEXT PAGE.  WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A CRISIS THAT HAS PLAGUED US FOR GENERATIONS.  IT'S PARTICULARLY PARTICULARLY STRONG AND IN ANDREW SQUARE AREA BECAUSE OF THE OVERFLOW. WE DON'T BLAME THIS ADMINISTRATION BUT IT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROBLEM NOW AND WE WE ASK THAT YOU WE PASSIONATELY STRIVE WITH YOU TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS. WE ARE YOUR PARTNERS. WE ARE REQUESTING A PIVOT TO ADD SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT . WE NEED RECOVERY CAMPUSES IN BOSTON AND ACROSS THE STATE RECOVERY CAMPUSES WITH LONG TERM RESIDENTIAL ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO PREPARE FOLKS FOR THE ADDICTION FOR THE FUTURE OUT OF ADDICTION. AND LASTLY, I'M GOING TO SAY WE AS A CIVILIZED SOCIETY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE CHOICES FOR THOSE WHO PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING SO AND WE ARE FAILING MISERABLY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, LINDA. NEXT UP WE HAVE PETER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. SURE. THANK YOU TO THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL . MY NAME IS PETER BARBUTO AND I AM THE PRESIDENT CEO GAVIN FOUNDATION. I'M QUITE SURE YOU ALL KNOW MY PREDECESSOR JOHN MCGANN WHO WAS HERE GAVIN FOR 31 YEARS WHEN HE RETIRED THIS SUMMER. JOHN WAS RECOGNIZED AS RIGHT HERE BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN JULY FOR HIS RELENTLESS DEDICATION TO OUR MISSION. I FEEL INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO BE CHOSEN TO BE YOUR SUCCESSOR TO GAVIN. HE'S BEEN A FRIEND FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMEONE I CONSIDER A MENTOR. THE FOLKS AT GAVIN ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOWED ME A BETTER WAY OF LIFE WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE A PERSON IN A LONG TERM RECOVERY FROM OPIOID USE DISORDER. I WAS A RESIDENT GAVIN FOUNDATION AND 2006.  GAVIN HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FOR OVER 60 YEARS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. WE OPERATE AN INPATIENT FACILITY.  GAVIN QUINCY PROVIDES DETOX AND STABILIZATION SERVICES.  WE HAVE FOUR RECOVERY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS ALL FOUR IN BOSTON AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 110 RESIDENTS IN THEM TODAY. WE HAVE A PEER RECOVERY CENTER IN SOUTH BOSTON LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM HOUSE AND CASS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK STAFFED WITH OVER 20 RECOVERY COACHES AND RECOVERY NAVIGATORS WHO PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION TO ITS PARTICIPANTS. AND WE HAVE AN OUTPATIENT SITE AS WELL AS WELL AS MANY OTHER MOBILE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES . IN 2024 WE'LL PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH WITHIN OUR CONTINUUM.  NONE OF THIS MAKES US EXPERTS IN ANY WAY. SUBSTANCE USE IS AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING DISEASE TO COMBAT AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY ALREADY AND THERE IS NO LINEAR PATH THAT ANYONE CAN TAKE TO ENSURE IT'S PERMANENTLY ERADICATED.  BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS FACILITATED THOUSANDS OF TREATMENT EPISODES OVER THE PAST 15 PLUS YEARS, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THIS POPULATION AND WHAT PRECIPITATES SOMEONE WANTING TO RECEIVE HELP ADDICTION SUBSTANCE MISUSE CAUSES IRRATIONAL THINKING AND THEREFORE IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR. WE DON'T HAVE A DRINKING OR DRUGGING PROBLEM.  WE HAVE A THINKING PROBLEM.  ADDICTION NONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCES AND LINGERING AROUND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MASON CARSON, ANDREW, ANDREW, ANDREW SQUARE ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE. THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE. THEY'VE LOST ALL POWER TO CHOOSE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL CONTINUE TO MAKE ALL OF THEIR CHOICES FOR THEM. VERY SELDOM DO WE HEAR OF PEOPLE WAKING UP ONE DAY AND JUST DECIDING TODAY'S THE DAY I'M GOING TO CHANGE.  THERE ARE SOME LIFE CHANGING INTERVENTION THAT IS THE CATALYST.  THE TREATMENT PROCESS STARTS BY A SEPARATION FROM SUBSTANCES WHICH YOU HEARD TODAY. WITH DETOX HOWEVER PAINFUL THAT MAY BE FOLLOWED BY A VERY LONG AND ARDUOUS TREATMENT PROCESS OF RETRAINING THESE INDIVIDUALS HOW TO THINK.  THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ALL OF THE SUPPORTING AGENCIES THUS FAR REALLY HAVE BEEN COMMENDABLE.  THIS IS REALLY HARD WORK AND A LOT OF INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE PEOPLE HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK IN MASS AND CAST AND SOME OF THEM ARE ON OUR FIRST PANEL. GAVIN WE CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY SOLUTIONS IN THE FUTURE THAT COME FROM MEETINGS LIKE THIS. IN THE PAST FOLKS FROM THE HEALTH COMMISSION SPA AND PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE CALLED TO ALERT US OF ANY SWEEPS THAT MAY BE OCCURRING.  SO WE WE KEEP SOME OF OUR BEDS OPEN AT OUR INPATIENT SITE IN QUINCY TO STREAMLINE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY KIND OF TREATMENT RIGHT.  NOT ALL OF THOSE BEDS WERE USED . IN OUR EXPERIENCE WE SEE BUT FOR TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY FIRST TYPE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT USE DRUGS . I SPENT THE PAST 12 YEARS OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE WORKING IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD ON A NATIONAL SCALE. MASSACHUSETTS HAS ONE OF IF NOT THE VERY BEST TREATMENT SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.  THERE IS ACCESS. I REALIZE THAT MY THOUGHTS ON THIS MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL BUT I'M A BELIEVER IN SECTION 35. I'VE SEEN IT USED THOUSANDS OF TIMES AND IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION.  I WAS A DRUG USER DURING THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.  TREATMENT WAS OFFERED AND YOU WERE EITHER GOING WILLINGLY OR UNWILLINGLY.  BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT THE THOUGHT OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS AND THOSE WHO YOU KNOW AS SOMEONE WHO USED DRUGS. IT'S WARPED THE THINKING PROCESS IS NOT OKAY. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE FOLKS IN MASH AND KASS ARE THINKING RIGHT. SO WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEM AS PROVIDERS.  THEY LIVE IN TENTS AND LINGER IN DANGEROUS PLACES. AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE. THESE FOLKS THINK IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO BE THERE BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT.  IF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THEN THAT PROCESS SHOULD PLAY OUT. AGENCIES LIKE GAVIN AND OTHER AND OTHERS PARTNER WITH THE COURTS TO BE OF ASSISTANCE WHERE APPROPRIATE.  COUNCILOR FLYNN KNOWS THAT IN HIS PREVIOUS LIFE BUT THIS IS NOT THE WORST OPTION INCARCERATION CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL INTERRUPTION OF LETHAL CONSEQUENCES THAT DRUG USE PRESENTS. FINDING OUT THE BENEFITS OF RECOVERY WHILE INCARCERATED IS NOT UNCOMMON. IN SUMMARY, THIS GROUP NEEDS TREATMENT AND THAT TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE LONG AND ARDUOUS AND THE COMMONWEALTH HAS THOSE OPTIONS RIGHT HERE AND THOSE OPTIONS PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS A LONG TERM CASE MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION.  WE'VE SEEN MANY FOLKS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE AT MASS AND CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CONTINUUM. WE HAVE A GAVIN AND WE'VE MANAGE THEIR MEDICATION AND WE'VE INTRODUCED THEM TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM TO FIND JOBS AND OVER TIME WE'VE ASSISTED THEM WITH HOUSING. NONE OF THIS IS AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS.  SECOND TYPE OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE THE PEOPLE THAT SELL DRUGS AND THEY NEED TO BE PROSECUTED AND IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN ASSISTING THE CUSTOMER BASE WE WOULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATE THESE PEOPLE INDIRECTLY. THE THIRD TYPE OF PERSON DOWN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THEY MAKE VERY SPECIAL PLACES FOR THOSE PEOPLE . THE FOURTH TYPE OF PERSON ARE PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND WE NEED A SIMILAR SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS WITH THE HELP OF COUNTLESS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THE DAMAGE SYSTEM AND THE MANY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO CONDUCT THIS WORK.  IN CLOSING, I'M A SPORTS GUY.  ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. I LOVE COACH BELICHICK AND OTHER INCREDIBLE LEADERS THAT WE SEE. ONE OF THE QUOTES THAT I BRING TO TEAM MEETINGS ALL THE TIME THAT I FEEL IS APPROPRIATE HERE IS WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES WHERE EITHER COACHING IT OVER ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.  THE RESPONSE TO MASS AND CASTS HAS BEEN COMMENDABLE BUT MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE PUT OUR FOOT DOWN AND STOP ALLOWING THIS BEHAVIOR TO CONTINUE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE COACHING IT AND TEACHING IT. I LOVE THIS POPULATION.  WE'VE DEDICATED OUR LIVES WORK TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO THEM BUT THEY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE NEED CONSEQUENCES AND THOSE CONSEQUENCES GENERALLY DRIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGE. IT REQUIRES THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TRIAL COURTS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. GAVIN WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE TO BE A PART OF THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE MANY DEDICATED PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU PETER.  NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE KAREN FRAZIER WHO'S GOING TO BE ON ZOOM FOLLOWED BY AT A CAMERA AND WAS IN PERSON AND I WILL MOVE ON FROM THERE.  SO KAREN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.  WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KAREN FRAZIER AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ST FRANCIS HOUSE. WE ARE THE CITY OF BOSTON'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF DAY SHELTER AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. I WANT TO THANK COUNSELORS FLYNN FERNANDEZ, ANDERSON AND SANTANA FOR HOLDING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING.  IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE ENCAMPMENT AT MASS AND CASTLE WAS REMOVED AND THE CITY IS CERTAINLY TO BE COMMENDED ON THE APPROACH TAKEN TO THE DISMANTLING OF THE TENTS ENSURING THAT EVERY PERSON HAD ACCESS TO A SHELTER BED AND A PATHWAY TO TREATMENT AND HOUSING WHILE THIS EFFORT WAS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN MEETING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ENCAMPMENTS AND FOR THOSE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. MORE STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE BY TOO MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LANGUISH IN THE AREA AND ACROSS THE CITY IN NEED OF ACCESS TO A FULL CONTINUUM OF CLINICAL TREATMENT FOR A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. POST-TREATMENT RECOVERY SUPPORTS AND HOUSING WITH ONSITE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. WE ALL KNOW THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE TREATMENT IS THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE. FOR 40 YEARS SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH HAS ENGAGED HOMELESS ADULTS MANY WITH ACTIVE ADDICTION TO CREATE A PATH TO RECOVERY EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS SINCE THE CLOSING OF LONG ISLAND, THE RISE IN OPIOID AND FENTANYL USE DEATHS AND THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH HAS INCREASED ITS CONTINUUM OF RECOVERY ORIENTED SERVICES IN OUR EXPERIENCE. WHAT WORKS AND WHAT IS NEEDED IS TO SCALE A SYSTEM THAT ENSURES SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF CARE STARTING WITH HARM REDUCTION SERVICES AND LOW THRESHOLD SHELTERS. ACCESS TO DETOX AND CLINICAL TREATMENT, TRANSITIONAL CARE AND STABILIZED PATIENT AND ULTIMATELY PERMANENT HOUSING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THIS SYSTEM OF CARE NEEDS THE POLITICAL WILL AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THERE IS ENOUGH CAPACITY CITY FOR SOMEONE TO MOVE UNIMPEDED THROUGH THE SYSTEM WITHIN OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AT SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE WE HAVE CREATED A SMALL SUCH ECOSYSTEM OF CARE IN ORDER TO MEET SOMEONE WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEY.  WE DEPLOYED THREE HARM REDUCTION SPECIALISTS AND TWO ACCESS CLINICIANS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH AND ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH ACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE AND UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. IN THE LAST YEAR WE SERVED 502 INDIVIDUALS REDUCING THE HARM THEY CAUSED TO THEMSELVES AND TO OTHERS. AND MOST RECENTLY WE OBTAINED A LICENSE FROM THE STATE TO PROVIDE ONSITE DATA TREATMENT AND INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THERAPY FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PROVIDING THIS SERVICE.  243 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED AND ANOTHER 1260 INDIVIDUALS FREQUENTED OUR PEER RUN RECOVERY SUPPORT CENTER FOR HELP MAINTAINING THEIR RECOVERY . WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT EVEN SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR YEARS AND FEELS HOPELESS CAN AND WILL ENGAGE IN SERVICES IF THOSE SERVICES ARE OFFERED WITH MINIMAL BARRIERS AND THERE IS THE REAL PROMISE OF ULTIMATELY OBTAINING A PERMANENT PLACE TO LIVE. IN JANUARY OF 22 THIS PART OF THE CITY'S EFFORT TO ESTABLISH LOW THRESHOLD SHELTERS FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE MASS AND CASTLE ENCAMPMENT SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE ESTABLISHED THE WILL AS IT WOULD SMALL AND SHELTER A HARM REDUCTION SHELTER FOR 24 WOMEN. AND WE'VE OPERATED THIS PROGRAM UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 22 WHEN VICTORY PROGRAMS TOOK TOOK IT OVER. DURING THOSE INITIAL NINE MONTHS, SAINT FRANCIS HAS SERVED 58 WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR AN AVERAGE OF 4.4 YEARS BY PROVIDING SAFETY, STABILITY AND SERVICES. 50% ENGAGED IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT.  53% WERE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND 50% WERE GETTING MEDICAL CARE TO MEET THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS.  AND BECAUSE OF THE STABILITY THE SHELTER OFFERED, 67% WERE CONNECTED TO A HOUSING RESOURCE BY CREATING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SERVICES . BUT THOSE THAT ARE CONGREGATING AT MASS IN CARS AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY, MANY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES WHEN BARRIERS LIKE TRANSPORTATION ARE REMOVED. FOR EXAMPLE, FROM JULY 22 TO JUNE OF 24 THE CITY PROVIDED A VAN TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE OUT OF THE AREA. AND TODAY SERVICE PROGRAMS LIKE SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THIS SERVICE 633 PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE RECOVERY ROUTE AS IT WAS KNOWN AND THEY CAME TO SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE. AND WHILE NEARLY ALL TOOK ADVANTAGE OF GETTING A MEAL, TAKING A SHOWER AND GETTING CLEAN CLOTHES. 25% USED OUR RECOVERY SUPPORT CENTER AND AN ADDITIONAL 20% ENGAGED IN CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED THIS PAST JUNE AND NO CONTINUUM WAS COMPLETE WITHOUT THE REAL PROMISE OF PERMANENT HOUSING WITH ONSITE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH CURRENTLY OPERATES TWO LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN WITH 102 UNITS AND ANOTHER 226 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DEVELOPMENT. 118 TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THOSE COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.  HOWEVER MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT THE SITING OF NEW PERMANENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY AND IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. AND FINALLY SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS NEED TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN ROBUST CONTINUANCE TARGETING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. ANY SCALED RESPONSE MUST TAKE A REGIONAL APPROACH.  OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS NEED TO JOIN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND FOLLOW OUR LEAD OF CREATING COMPASSIONATE, COORDINATED CARE. SUMMARY CHALLENGES TO SCALING THIS COMPETITIVE WAGES FOR OUR WORKFORCE TRANSPORTS AND SERVICES TO GET PEOPLE TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. CITING A LOW THRESHOLD SHELTER AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ONE HANDOFFS THEY'RE GOOD BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK. WE NEED A CONTINUITY OF CASE MANAGEMENT OF CARE CARE COORDINATORS TO FOLLOW PEOPLE FROM SHELTER TO HOUSING. WE SHOULD INTRODUCE CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT THERAPY TO PROVIDE PEOPLE FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.  WE NEED MORE INVESTMENTS AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE STATE'S ACCESS TO RECOVERY PROGRAM. AND YES, WE NEED TO EXPAND DRUG COURTS.  AND FINALLY YES. AYE AYE AYE.  ARREST THE DRUG DEALER BUT NOT THE ADDICT.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAREN. NEXT UP WE HAVE THE CAMERA AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THAT ALL OF THIS AND DAVID STONE. SO ED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU, CHAIR SANTANA AND THANK YOU COUNSELOR FLYNN AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TO DISCUSS THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.  AM I ALLOWED ENOUGH OR SHOULD I LEAN OVER? ALL RIGHT. SO MY NAME'S ED CAMERON. I'M A SENIOR DIRECTOR AT THE PINE STREET INN AND I OVERSEE OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM AND JUST AS A BIT OF A PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND I KNOW THIS IS THIS IS PROBABLY WELL KNOWN TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON PINE STREET SINCE 1986 HAS HAD TWO OUTREACH FANS THAT HAVE GONE OUT ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON EACH NIGHT THAT IS AND HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE STATE. NOW IT'S UHC AND WE HAVE DAYTIME PROGRAMS AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON IN TERMS OF OUR DAYTIME CAPACITY AND WE'VE EXPANDED THAT TO INCLUDE OUR ABILITY TO COVER ALL THE PARTS OF BOSTON IN TERMS OF COVERAGE AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CRT ON THAT ON A WEEKLY AND DAILY BASIS AS WELL AS PROVIDING HOUSING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE. EACH YEAR WE ARE ABLE TO HOUSE ABOUT 90 FOLKS OFF OF THE STREETS AND HOUSING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OF ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. SO WE DO SEE SUCCESS AND AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID EARLIER IN THEIR TESTIMONY THIS THIS IS A LONG ROAD TO.  THERE'S A LOT OF MISERY OUT THERE, VERY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE DRUG SCENE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN TERMS OF THE POWER OF THE ADDICTION. AND YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN IN THE MASS CASS AREA ON A DAILY AND NIGHTLY BASIS. WE ARE AND WE'RE NOT IN THE HEART OF MASS CASS NEAR ATKINS AND STREET BECAUSE THAT IS SERVED BY SEVERAL OTHER PROVIDERS INCLUDING BPC. BUT WE ARE IN ANDREWS SQUARE EDWARD EDWARD EVERETT SQUARE NUBIAN NEWMARKET AND YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON WE ARE SEEING SIMILAR NUMBERS TO PAST YEARS BUT IT IS VERY DYNAMIC AND YOU KNOW OUR STAFF CALL IT SORT OF POP UP POP UP SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE NUMEROUS IN CERTAIN AREAS AND LESS NUMEROUS IN OTHERS. JUST LAST NIGHT WE ONLY SAW TWO PEOPLE AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WHICH IS TYPICALLY BEEN A BUSY SPOT FOR US OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO WE ONLY SAW TWO PEOPLE THERE BUT WE SAW 29 PEOPLE AT DOWNTOWN CROSSING, 23 AT SOUTH STATION AND 17 AT NUBIAN. SO YOU KNOW WHERE OUR ABILITY AT NIGHT TO BE OUT IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS CAN HELP US IDENTIFY WHO'S IN NEED, TRACK PEOPLE ACROSS DIFFERENT AREAS AND PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. SO YOU KNOW, I SEE I SEE THE GAPS AROUND JUST THE NEED FOR CONTINUED COORDINATION SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE JUST A SINGULAR FOCUS FOR EACH AGENCY OR PROGRAM OR DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE LOTS OF WAYS THAT WE CONNECT ON A WEEKLY AND TACTICAL BASIS AND ALSO ALSO STRATEGICALLY CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, MORE HOUSING RESOURCES AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES PARTICULARLY POST DETOX IN WORKING ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ANGLE AND SECTION 35 AND DRUG COURTS AND AND TREATING ADDICTION AND CERTAINLY CRIMINALIZING DRUG DEALING IS IMPORTANT AND ALSO JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE TACTICAL WHERE WE AT PINE STREET ARE PART OF NUMEROUS MEETINGS NUBIAN EAST BOSTON AND BACK BAY AND BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MASS CASS THERE'S A WEEKLY MEETING AS WELL BUT CONTINUING JUST TO KIND OF TIGHTEN THOSE CONNECTIONS. POLICE ARE OFTEN INVOLVED THERE AS WELL IN A IN A SUPPORTIVE WAY AND I THINK WE ARE WE ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS AS WAS ASKED EARLIER IN DISCUSSING THERE ARE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN, YOU KNOW, INTO THE STREETS FROM OUTSIDE OF BOSTON BUT ALSO BOSTONIANS AS WELL AND AND THEN PEOPLE DISAPPEARING. SO I THINK THE FOCUS WITH MASS CASTS AROUND THE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT IS REALLY WHAT IS MOST NEEDED. AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PLAY OUR PART AND APPRECIATE THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND AND THE CITY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO JONATHAN ALVES WHO'S ON ZOOM AND THEN WE HAVE DAVID STONE LEVEL UP NEXT.  SO JONATHAN, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES . HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.  THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I'M ON THE TRAIN TO NEW YORK CITY RIGHT NOW FOR BUSINESS BUT HOPEFULLY I'M COMING THROUGH AND THERE'S NOT TOO MANY AUDIO ISSUES.  SO I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNSELOR FLYNN FOR CALLING THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING. I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNSELOR MURPHY FOR HER SUPPORT FITZGERALD TANYA FERNANDEZ FOR HER SUPPORT.  THIS IS A SUPER CRITICAL ISSUE. MY NAME IS JONATHAN ELLIS.  I AM A TEN YEAR RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH END OF BOSTON. I AM A MEMBER OF THE BLACKSTONE THE FRANKLIN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SOUTH END BUSINESS ALLIANCE AND A RECENT FATHER TO AN EIGHT MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY TO EXPLAIN AND I'VE BEEN INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO THIS ISSUE ON A RESIDENT LEVEL FOR TEN YEARS. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY TO EXCLAIM THAT THE CONDITIONS AT MASS IN CASS AND BEYOND REMAIN INHUMANE AND OUT OF CONTROL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED THAT INCLUDES THE PEOPLE SUFFERING, THAT INCLUDES THE RESIDENTS, THAT INCLUDES THE BUSINESSES I HAVE PERSONALLY PICKED UP HUNDREDS OF NEEDLES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN SOUTHEND PARKS. I AM PERSONALLY CONCERNED THAT NEEDLES AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS EXIST IN PARKS IN NEIGHBORHOODS . BEING A NEW FATHER I'M EVEN MORE CONCERNED.  I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE LITTLE SUCCESS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS HAS BEEN DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THE EFFORTS OF DISTRICT FOUR POLICE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CAPTAIN SWEENEY.  NOW MOST OF US KNOW AND AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT A POLICE ISSUE. THE POLICE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR US THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE.  THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES ELECTED OFFICIALS.  IT REQUIRES THE CITY OF BOSTON TO SUPPORT AND EXECUTE IT. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING THE POLICY OF MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IS NOT WORKING. NOW WE HAVE EXAMPLES AND WE HAVE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN ORGANICALLY DEVELOPED AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL TO HELP ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THINGS LIKE RECOVER BOSTON MANDATED TREATMENT PROTOCOLS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY WORKED IN OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE PORTUGAL WHO IS A SIMILAR SIZE TO THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM LIKE THIS COMING OUT OF THE DICTATORSHIP ERA. I CHALLENGE THE CITY.  I CHALLENGE OUR MAYOR. I CHALLENGE OUR CITY COUNCILORS . I CHALLENGE OUR STATE TO START IMPLORING MORE MANDATED TREATMENT PROTOCOLS WHILE DOING SO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT RESOURCES ON THE GROUND WITH OUR POLICE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JONATHAN.  NEXT UP WE HAVE DAVID STORM FROM THE OF YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH DAVID BEING HERE YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.  MY NAME IS DAVID STONE. I'M A 28 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH END. I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STONE FRANKLIN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. ALTHOUGH THE OPINIONS HERE ARE STRICTLY MY OWN, I APPRECIATE THIS CHANCE YOUR OFFERED US TO RELATE RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE SINCE THE CLEARANCE OF THE ATKINSON STREET ENCAMPMENT AND THE DRUG SCENE EXACTLY 12 MONTHS AGO. I THINK THAT WAS A NECESSARY ACTION AND I THINK WE MOSTLY ALL AGREE ON THAT BUT IT'S ONE THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HAS RESULTED IN MANY PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS DISPERSING DEEPER INTO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING MY OWN BLOCK OF EAST BROOKLINE STREET WHICH IS A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM MASS AND CARS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY I SEE PEOPLE COME ON TO MY STREET SPECIFICALLY TO USE DRUGS USUALLY MAKING A BEELINE FOR AN UNDERUTILIZED PARKING GARAGE THAT'S BECOME KNOWN AS A PIT STOP, A PLACE TO TAKE A BREAK OR SHUFFLING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS HOW MANY PEOPLE APPEAR TO EXIST NOW THAT SPENDING ALL DAY ON ATKINSON STREET IS NO LONGER AN OPTION MORE OFTEN THAN NOT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THESE STOPOVERS INVOLVE USING DRUGS. CONSEQUENTLY THE AREA ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE IS LITTERED WITH DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ABANDONED CLOTHING, REMNANTS OF STOLEN PACKAGES AND SOMETIMES HUMAN WASTE AND IS BECOMING A PUBLIC NUISANCE. MOST MORNINGS WALKING MY DOGS I PASS EVIDENCE OF MORE DRUG USE THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.  USUALLY IT'S ORANGE NEEDLE CAPS THAT WEREN'T THERE THE EVENING BEFORE OR IT'S A PINK PLASTIC TUBE FOR STERILE SOLUTION.  BUT SINCE LAST YEAR THERE ARE NOW INCREASINGLY ALSO TIMES WHEN THE EVIDENCE IS A HUMAN BEING LYING FLAT ON HIS BACK OR ON HIS FACE ON THE HARRISON AVENUE SIDEWALK IN SOME COMBINATION OF SLEEP OR OVER SEDATION. IT DIDN'T USED TO BE THIS WAY AS RECENTLY AS TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO VISIBLE DRUG USE WAS A RARE SIGHT ON MY STREET AND SOMEONE SLEEPING ROUGH WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKING ON THE CORNER. NOW EVERYONE JUST WALKS ON BY INCLUDING ME QUITE FRANKLY MUCH OF THE TIME. BUT REALISTICALLY WHAT CAN WE DO? CONTACTING 9311 IS INEFFECTIVE SINCE PEOPLE WILL BE LONG GONE WHEN OUTREACH SHOWS UP. AND MOST LIKELY AS WE HEARD EARLIER TODAY FROM SOME OF THE EXPERT PANELISTS WILL LIKELY DECLINE HELP ANYWAY AND WE'VE MADE A SOCIETAL DECISION NOT TO TREAT PUBLIC DRUG USE OR SLEEPING ROUGH AS SITUATIONS THAT JUSTIFY IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION. NOW I HAVE A PRIVILEGED LIFE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WHATEVER PROBLEMS DRUG USE CAUSES ME OR MY NEIGHBORS CAN'T REMOTELY BE EQUATED TO WHAT'S BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOSE ADDICTED TO THEM. BUT LET'S NOT PRETEND TO TOLERATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF ONGOING DRUG USE AND THE PROPERTY CRIME AND DISORDER THAT INEVITABLY AND ALWAYS GOES ALONG WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF DRUG USE ISN'T HARMING COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS.  AS THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS NEXT STEPS EN MASSE IN CASH. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OTHER CITIES FACING THESE SAME CHALLENGES HAVE BEGUN TO CHANGE THEIR APPROACH AND THIS IS MAYBE MY MOST IMPORTANT POINT I WANT TO GET ACROSS. THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT ON THE WEST COAST AND IN CANADA AWAY FROM THE UNQUESTIONED PRIMACY OF THE HARM REDUCTION PHILOSOPHY AND TOWARD WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED INTERVENTION FIRST MODEL. IN MAY, FOR EXAMPLE, SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED ENDORSED AND VOTERS PASSED A BALLOT MEASURE REQUIRING THAT ADDICTED HOMELESS PERSONS ENTER DRUG TREATMENT WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT. OR ELSE FORFEIT THEIR CITY FUNDED HOUSING AND CASH BENEFITS.  IN SEPTEMBER, THE BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL JOINED ALONG LIST OF OTHER CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ENACTING MUCH STRICTER ANTI ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCES AND POLICIES INCLUDING TO REQUIRE THAT PEOPLE ENTER SHELTER WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE. AND A FEW WEEKS AGO THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PASSED IT QUOTE UNQUOTE STAY OUT OF DRUG AREAS ORDINANCE.  UNDER THIS LAW A DRUG A JUDGE CAN BAN PEOPLE CHARGED WITH PROPERTY DESTRUCTION, CRIMINAL TRESPASS OR SIMILAR CRIMES LIKE THAT FROM ENTERING A SPECIFIC PART OF THE CITY. IF THE JUDGE THINKS THAT THAT CRIME OR THAT ALLEGED CRIME WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERSON'S DRUG USE UP IN CANADA, SIMILAR THINGS ARE HAPPENING. THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO JUST ANNOUNCED A BAN ON ANY NEW SUPERVISED DRUG CONSUMPTION SITES GOING FORWARD IN THE CLOSURE OF ABOUT HALF THE EXISTING SITES DUE TO THE PERCEIVED CRIME PROBLEMS IN A PUBLIC POLICY PIVOT AWAY FROM HARM REDUCTION UP THERE. IN MAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA JOINED OREGON IN DECRIMINALIZING PUBLIC USE OF FENTANYL AND OTHER HARD DRUGS AFTER THEIR DECRIMINALIZATION EXPERIMENT LED TO AN EXPLOSION OF IN-YOUR-FACE PUBLIC DRUG USE AND PROVED THE IMPOSSIBILITY LEGALLY AND PRACTICALLY OF PRESERVING ANY LIMITS ON DRUG USE UNDER DECRIMINALIZATION.  AND LAST MONTH THE PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF INVOLUNTARY CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH CO-OCCURRING ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS, SAYING HIS PROVINCE WOULD ADD HUNDREDS OF MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AND SECURE AWARDS. THAT'S A PRETTY REMARKABLE CHANGE CONSIDERING THAT NOWHERE IN THE WORLD HAS GONE FARTHER IN EMBRACING HARM REDUCTION UP TO NOW THAN BRITISH COLUMBIA. AND THE PREMIER IN QUESTION USED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE B.C. CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. I MENTION THESE THINGS NOT TO ENDORSE EVERY CONCEPT BUT TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE COUNCIL THAT MANY OF BOSTON'S PEERS CITIES, CITIES THAT JUST LIKE BOSTON HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. CITIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT VAST RESOURCES TO BEAR.  CITIES THAT ARE POLITICALLY PROGRESSIVE JUST LIKE WE MIGHT WISH TO THINK OF OURSELVES HAVE DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND FOCUS ON PROACTIVE INTERVENTION TO MORE EFFECTIVELY END THE INTERRELATED CRISES OF DRUG USE AND HOMELESSNESS. I SUGGEST WE DO THE SAME HERE IN BOSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAVID. I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR INVITED PUBLIC SUPPORT AND I'M NOT GOING TO BEFORE WE GO ON TO OUR SECOND PANEL, I AM GOING TO TAKE FOUR INDIVIDUALS FROM THE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED TO WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THESE 2 MINUTES. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH KATHERINE KENNEDY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THE EXTRA COPIES WHO WHO DO I GIVE EXTRA COPIES TO? I'M SORRY . I'M SUPPOSED TO BRING 15 COPIES OF WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING. OH, YEAH. OH, THANK YOU SO YOU COULD YOU CAN START NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU.  HI. MY NAME IS KATHERINE KENNEDY AND I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF BEACON HILL AND I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF TWO.  ONE OF THEM IS WITH ME TODAY. HE'S SIX MONTHS OLD SO I.  TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I'M THRILLED THAT THE CITY IS TAKING THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF FAMILIES SERIOUSLY AND HAS RECENTLY TAKEN POSITIVE STEPS TO MAKE THE BOSTON COMMON SAFER . BUT I FEAR THAT BOSTON AND THE SURROUNDING REGION IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION THAT HAS LED TO THIS CRISIS BY NOT HAVING A THOUGHTFUL PLAN.  THE CITY JUST KEEPS MOVING THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF SOLVING IT. I BELIEVED IN BEACON HILL FOR A DECADE PRIOR TO THIS YEAR. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BOSTON COMMON OR CAMBRIDGE STREET OR THE ESPLANADE GET THIS OVERRUN WITH DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OR FOLKS IN CRISIS.  I CARRY A SHARPS CONTAINER FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MY DIAPER BAG. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SAFETY INCIDENTS RECENTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INVOLVE CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. AS A MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THIS IS VERY SCARY. AVERAGE CITIZENS INCLUDING CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY NEED THEIR HOMES AND PUBLIC SPACES TO BE SAFE AND FOLKS WITH COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE ADDICTION NEED HIGH SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTS WITH GUARDRAILS.  LETTING THESE TWO POPULATIONS MIX IS FAILING BOTH GROUPS. THE CITY KEEPS TAKING TALKING ABOUT LOW TOUCH SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE FACING ADDICTION FOR EXAMPLE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES THAT HAVE NO REQUIREMENT FOR SOBRIETY AND PLACING THEM IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS NEXT TO FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. SOLUTIONS LIKE THIS JUST INVITE DRUG DEALERS SEX WORK THEFT GANG ACTIVITY AND GANG ACTIVITY INTO NEW PLACES.  THEY DO NOT SEPARATE DEALERS FROM USERS AND THEY FORCE REGULAR SITTERS CITIZENS INCLUDING FAMILIES AND THE ELDERLY TO BE IN THE CROSSFIRE. IN MY OPINION THESE LOW TOUCH SOLUTIONS ARE A MISTAKE THAT PUTS EVERYONE AT RISK. I BEG YOU CHOOSE SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP VULNERABLE PEOPLE AWAY FROM POTENTIAL DANGER.  SAFETY SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, CATHERINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.  NEXT UP WE WILL HAVE JOHN STEWART WAGON.  WELL, I WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE MANGOES ROSA.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.  YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES LEFT.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FOR THE MANGOES THE ROSA LOVE EXCUSE ME LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF BOSTON AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON MANGOES POPCORN PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999. I'M ALSO A MEMBER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE SALT IN ROXBURY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS WHO CAME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THIS HUMAN HEALTH CRISIS. I BELIEVE AT ONE POINT WE WERE THE FIRST GROUP TO IDENTIFY AS A HUMAN HEALTH CRISIS.  I'M ALSO PART OF THE FRIENDS OF CLIFFORD PARK. THIS PARK IS IS ONE OF OUR OUR TRUE GEMS WITHIN THAT SECTION OF THE CITY WHERE FAMILIES COME TO ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. BUT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WE SEE THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WE GIVE THEM THEIR APPLAUSE. WITHOUT THEM THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE EVEN BIGGER OF AN ISSUE. SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M NOT HERE TO BASH ANYBODY BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK SOME SOME TRUTH TO REALITY.  TODAY WHAT I NOTICED WAS THE INCONSISTENCY FROM THE CITY'S BEHALF AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THERE WAS A PANEL HERE. THEY'RE GONE. WE THE COMMUNITY WHO COME HERE TO TO GIVE OUR TESTIMONIES AND BRING SOME OF OUR CONCERNS TO THE CITY COUNCIL . WE'RE HERE TO SIT AND WAIT THROUGH TODAY'S EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW.  THAT IS VERY TROUBLING BECAUSE AGAIN THE GALLEY IS EMPTY AND WE THE COMMUNITY THIS BABY BEHIND ME LIKE I SAID TO THE MOM, I'M DEFINITELY ECHOING WHAT SHE'S SAYING BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I GOT INVOLVED OVER TEN YEARS AGO WHEN KIDS THAT I MENTOR COULDN'T USE THE PARK SAFELY.  IT WAS BEING PUSHED ASIDE THAT IT WAS A MYTH BY CITY STAFF THAT'S ON PUBLIC RECORD MASS AND CAST DOES NOT HAVE THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE TODAY. IT MANIFESTED FROM STATEMENTS LIKE THAT BEING MADE TEN YEARS AGO BY THE CITY.  WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL . THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE GREAT. THEY ACTUALLY ARE EMPLOYED BY US SO I UNDERSTAND THEIR RESUMES BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLINE AND THAT'S WHAT WE GET WHEN WE HEAR A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION'S REGURGITATED FROM COMMUNITY MEETING TO COMMUNITY MEETING TO COMMUNITY MEETING TO COMMUNITY MEETING TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING FOLKS WHO ARE HERE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED THEY WILL TELL YOU IT'S THE SAME INPUT THAT'S BEEN BEING GIVEN BY DEPARTMENTS FOR YEARS NOW. THERE'S BEEN PLANS PUT TOGETHER BY THE COMMUNITY. LIKE JONATHAN SAID, THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP AND BRING BACK A LIFE INTO A COMMUNITY THAT'S DYING LIKE OUR FAMILIES CAN'T GO FOOD SHOP AND WE HAD A STABBING LAST NIGHT WHEN THE POLICE TELL US THE AREA IS SAFE. BUT THEN WE HAD A STABBING LAST NIGHT A GUY GET HIT OFF A MOTORCYCLE BLOCKS AWAY MASS AND CASH IS NOT JUST MASS AND CASH A SPEAR IS A SQUARE. IT'S ASHMONT STATION, IT'S RUGGLES IT'S IT'S FRANKLIN FIELD. IT'S FRANKLIN PARK. IT'S THE BLACK COMMUNITY.  I SURVIVED IT. WE HAVE T SHIRTS CALLED SURVIVE IN THE EIGHTIES.  WE DID USE THE POLICE AND COURT SYSTEMS TO PUT PEOPLE IN PLACES TO TO HELP WITH JUST LIFESTYLES, RIGHT? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE AS RESPECTFUL AS I CAN BECAUSE THE FRUSTRATION COMES WHEN TWO SEASONS IN A ROW WE NO LONGER CAN FULLY OPERATE AS A PROGRAM BECAUSE MASS AND CHAOS HAS OVERWHELMED THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE HERE TO ASK WHAT IS THE CITY COUNCIL GOING TO DO? WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE A YEAR AGO WHICH WAS.  IT FANNED OUT. IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THROWING WATER MIXED WITH OIL ON A FIRE AND DIDN'T EXPECT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME OUT AND PUT IT OFF A TESLA ON THE HIGHWAY. LET'S USE THAT EVEN BETTER SO YOU CAN HAVE A GRAPHIC OF HOW Y'ALL ARE KILLING US. IF WE CAN PUT AN ORDINANCE TO BAN TENTS AND WE GOT LAWS THAT PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM OPENING USE OF DRUGS, THE DRUG DEALER HAS A HAS AN ADDICTION TO BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THEM AT ONE POINT AND I LOVE THE THRILL OF EVADING THE POLICE FIRST AND FOREMOST. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE RE-ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO HELP FOLKS WHO HAVE THAT ADDICTION. SO IT'S NO ONE'S WINNING.  BUT IF THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS ACTUALLY PUT THINGS INTO PLAY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE WE MAKE OUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL. I HAVE TO TELL MY DAUGHTER SCHOOL IS GOOD FOR HER. AT THE SAME TIME I TELL HER A NEEDLE THE DOCTOR HER AND AGAIN I HOPE THIS CHILD HERE NEVER GETS PICKED BY A NEEDLE BECAUSE THAT IS THE REALITY OF HER SLIDING DOWN. IT OR HE SLIDING DOWN A SLIDE IN OUR PARKS.  SO I'LL END BY SAYING THIS THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE CONTROL IT IS NO MORE ASKING PROVIDERS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE GRANT WRITING SKILLS ARE GREAT. THEY GET MILLIONS.  WE HAVE A NEW SHATTUCK HOSPITAL COMING TO NEW AND NOT NEW INDUSTRY WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES COMING TO THE AREA SUCH AS THE PREP HIGH SCHOOL WHO'S GOING TO BE DEAD SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THOSE CHILDREN? SO THE LIST GOES ON. SO I'LL SAY WE APPRECIATE THE HEARING BUT LET'S PUT IT AT A REASONABLE TIME. WE'RE WORKING PEOPLE CAN ATTEND. WE HAD ONE IN THE SOUTH END AT THE MECHANIC SCHOOL THAT WAS AT 6:00 AT NIGHT. PEOPLE CAN ATTEND TEN 10:00 IN THE MORNING IS NOT FOR THE COMMUNITY.  SO FOR FUTURE MEETINGS PLEASE KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOMINGOS. APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.  GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARLA MURPHY SMITH. I'M A RESIDENT OF SHIRLEY STREET WHERE MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR CLOSE TO 100 YEARS AND A NEIGHBOR TO CLIFFORD PARK. IT'S LITERALLY 50 STEPS FROM MY HOUSE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH END ROXBURY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND ALSO THE FRIENDS OF CLIFFORD PARK.  I DON'T GET A TOUR OF MASS IN CASE I HAVE TO MOVE THROUGH IT EVERY DAY. IT'S CALLED MY COMMUTE TO WORK . I TESTIFIED AT THE INVITATION OF ERIN MURPHY JUST ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ON THIS TOPIC AND VIRTUALLY NOTHING HAS CHANGED MY FAMILY, MY STREET OR MY PARK. THERE IS WORK GOING ON BUT IT CONCENTRATES PEOPLE INTO CLIFFORD PARK AND INTO NEWMARKET TRAIN STATION WHICH I NEVER USE AS A RESULT. IT CONCENTRATES PEOPLE INTO SOUTH BAY SHOPPING AREA.  SO WHILE THERE MAY BE FEWER PEOPLE CONGREGATING AT MASS IN CARS THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE JUST AS MANY AS THERE EVER WERE IN THE MILE AROUND IT. THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLOSING OF THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE JUST PASSED AND THE CENTERING OF THOSE SERVICES IN THIS AREA IS THE DIRECT AND PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO CLIFFORD PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHERE NEEDLES DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND USED CONDOMS LITTER THE GROUND ALONG WITH BLOOD, URINE, FECES, VOMIT ,TRASH, FOOD WASTE AND SO ON. IN 2019 THERE WERE MEETINGS ABOUT REHAB IN CLIFFORD PARK. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GARVEY PARK IN DORCHESTER, THAT PARK WAS NOT ONLY PLANNED BUT COMPLETED AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.  I KNOW BECAUSE MY PARENTS LIVE ON THAT STREET. EVERY KID SHOULD HAVE A PARK LIKE THAT. CLIFFORD HAS HAD ITS PLANS SCRAPPED OVER AND OVER. THE CHILDREN WHO WERE PROMISED TO PARK WHEN THEY WERE IN KINDERGARTEN JUST STARTED THE FIFTH GRADE. THE MASON SCHOOL ONLY GOES TO THE FIFTH GRADE. LET'S BE REAL. THE UNSPOKEN REASON NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN CLIFFORD IS BECAUSE MASS IN CASH HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED. DOZENS OF OTHER PARKS HAVE BEEN REHABBED.  IT'S ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN WITNESSED AND RECORDED.  CLIFFORD INCLUDE DRUG USE, DRUG SALES, KNIFE FIGHTS, ALTERCATIONS WITH PASSERS BY PARTIAL AND FULL NUDITY, PROSTITUTION AND FULL BLOWN SEX ACTS. WHILE THE POLICE WATCHED THE PARK AS A LAWLESS NO MAN'S LAND AND ALL THE CITY DOES IS POST ANOTHER SIGN BUT NOT ENFORCE THE WORDS WRITTEN RIGHT ON IT.  THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE URGENCY TO REMEDIATE THE SITUATION. WE AREN'T EVEN ABLE TO GET ROUTINE POLICE PRESENCE TO DETER THESE ACTIVITIES.  THE ONLY WAY CLIFFORD PARK IS GOING TO GET BETTER IS IF SOMEONE HAS THE COURAGE TO PUT A HALT TO THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET THAT HAS BEEN PERCOLATING AT MASS F AND MELANIA BOULEVARD SINCE THE CLOSING OF THE BRIDGE. CLIFFORD PARK IS ITSELF A VICTIM OF THE OPIOID CRISIS. BUT UNLIKE INDIVIDUALS IT CAN'T BE URGED INTO TREATMENT OR SECTION 35. IT'S THE ULTIMATE VICTIM OF A SYSTEM THAT HAS FAILED THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY YET AGAIN.  IN THE NINETIES THIS COMMUNITY WAS TORN APART BY THE WAR ON DRUGS WHERE LARGE SCALE ARREST AND INCARCERATION WAS THE NORM. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF RECOVERY, NO MENTION OF TREATMENT AND THAT METHOD WAS INEFFECTIVE. BUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS NOW ALSO THE TONE HAS CHANGED WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAT ADDICTION IS A DISEASE NOT A MORAL FAILING. BUT AGAIN THIS ISSUE IS CENTERED IN A MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY AND THAT COMMUNITY BEARS THE BURDEN OF SOCIETY'S PERCEPTION OF WHO IS TO BLAME. WE ARE VICTIMS TOO.  ALL CONVERSATIONS ARE CENTERED ON THE USER COMMUNITY ADMITTING THAT THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE IMPACTED BY EVERY SINGLE DECISION THE CITY MAKES. THIS IS HOW CLIPPER PARK HAS COME TO BE IN THE STATE IT IS IN TODAY MASS AND CAST DOES NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM. NEIGHBORS HAVE NO RECOURSE AND NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN THEIR PROPERTY IS STOLEN AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT LIKE BIKES OR PATIO CUSHIONS OR THE VEHICLES ARE DAMAGED OR BROKEN INTO AND THEN THEIR INSURANCE PREMIUMS INCREASE AS A RESULT.  NO ONE THINKS OF THAT OR OF US. SHOPPING IS NOW CUSTOMER HOSTILE DUE TO RETAIL THEFT. FENCES WRAP AROUND EVERYTHING.  YOU CAN'T USE A RESTROOM IN SOUTH BAY MOST HOURS OF THE DAY HEALTH AND BEAUTY ITEMS ARE IN A SEPARATE GATED SECTION OF STOP AND SHOP ARE UNDER LOCK AND KEY AT TARGET. OUR PARK IS NO LONGER THE WELCOMING GREEN SPACE IT WAS.  HOW MUCH MORE IS ROXBURY GOING TO BE ASKED TO SHOULDER SO MORE AFFLUENT ZIP CODES CAN PRETEND THIS IS NOT ALSO THEIR PROBLEM . WHAT HAPPENED TO ONE BOSTON? IS THAT JUST A CONVENIENT HASHTAG?  WHAT'S BEING NORMALIZED FOR ROXBURY KIDS? THE DRUG USERS HAVE MORE RIGHTS TO THE PARK THAN THEY DO. THAT ACTIONS HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY DOESN'T EXIST. THIS PRIMARILY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE USED AS BOSTON'S DUMPING GROUND FOR THINGS OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T WANT AND HAVE THE POLITICAL CAPITAL AND CLOUT TO SHUT IT DOWN. THIS IS NOT EQUITY FOCUSED OR PUBLIC HEALTH LED. NOR IS THERE RESIDENTIAL EQUITY LOCATION EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY EXERCISE EQUITY ACCESS EQUITY OR ANY OTHER KIND OF EQUITY. IN SHORT, IT'S NOT FAIR DECENTRALIZATION OF SERVICES WOULD BE A GOOD START IN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IF ADDICTION DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE THEN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES DON'T EITHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, CAN YOU JUST PLEASE.  YEP, YEP, YEP. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT?  SO AT THE SAME TIME ALSO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SECOND PANEL SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK I PANEL TO COME ON AND SIT DOWN AND I'M GOING TO COME TO THE CHAMBER TO THE TO THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AND AS THEY'RE COMING UP IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO IS HERE TO TESTIFY PLEASE COME TO THE FLOOR AS WELL.  ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SECOND SET OF PANELISTS INVITED BY THE COMMITTEE TO TESTIFY ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS.  I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE WITH THE RECESS AND HAVING TO RESHUFFLE . I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. SO THE COMMITTEE INVITED SUSAN SULLIVAN WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEWMARKET BID.  SHERYL SANDBERG WAS THE CHIEF OPERATING OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK.  RYAN LEMING VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF EDENS. AND THEN ON ZOOM WE HAVE KATHY HART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MATERIAL AID AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM AND STEVE FOX FROM THE SOUTH END FORUM FOR THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, I'D LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS. I KIND OF ADDS THAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR COUNCILORS QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION THAT YOU PLEASE LIMIT YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS TO 5 MINUTES PER PREPAREDNESS. WITH THAT ANY OF YOU ARE OPEN TO START. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.  KICK IT OFF. I'M GOING TO KICK IT OFF WITH THE GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HAVING US AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. I'M RYAN LEEMING. I'M VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT AT EDENS WE'RE THE OWNERS OF SHOPPING BY SOUTH BAY SHOPPING CENTER AND I WANTED TO THANK TO THE LAST PUBLIC TESTIMONY I HEARD BECAUSE SHE SUMMED UP A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO SAY.  OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. IT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CLOSE OF THE BRIDGE. I THINK THE ENCAMPMENT ORDER IN THE LAST YEAR AS YOU HEARD TODAY HAS REALLY DISPERSED THE ISSUE I THINK AS AN A BUTTER TO MASS AND CLASS. THE SHOPPING CENTER HAS SEEN A NEGATIVE IMPACT JUST SIMPLY SINCE THE ENCAMPMENT ORDER IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN LOITERING. WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN ALTERCATIONS CRIME AS A RESULT, SOME VIOLENCE WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN PEOPLE LOOKING FOR REFUGE, LOOKING TO HIDE OR EVADE TO MAYBE SIMPLY JUST SLEEP JUST FINE REST MAYBE DRUG USE, ALL TYPES OF OTHER THINGS AS A RESULT OF A LOT OF THAT WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE HOW WE OPERATE OUR PROPERTY. EDENS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PRIDES OURSELF ON ENRICHING COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR PLACES. WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DO THAT AT SOUTH BAY. WE'VE HAD TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT LESS COMFORTABLE. WE'VE HAD TO DO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REMOVE FURNITURE YOU KNOW SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REMOVE POWER OUTLETS, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REMOVE ACCESS TO WATER PARTNER WITH OUR RETAIL PARTNERS TO LOCK BATHROOMS. AS YOU HEARD FROM THE LAST TESTIMONY PARTNER TO IN SOME CASES AS A SUGGESTION OF THE CITY AND OUR RETAIL PARTNERS INSTITUTE OUT UNACCOMPANIED MINOR POLICIES. NOW AGAIN THAT'S NOT A DIRECT CORRELATION TO SPECIFICALLY MASS AND CASTRO OBVIOUSLY OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE RETAIL WORLD THAT CAUSED US TO DO THAT BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE'VE HAD TO DO AT OUR PROPERTY AND AS A RESULT OF A LOT OF THAT WE AS THE PROPERTY OWNER HAVE INCREASED OUR SPENDING AT THE PROPERTY BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY AND THAT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN OPERATING COSTS. WE'LL TAKE AS MUCH OVER TIME AS THE PEOPLE GIVE US. RIGHT. WHAT'S IT LIKE? IT'S LIKE WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO TRY TO ENRICH COMMUNITY, TO TRY TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. BUT WE'RE NOT EXPERTS IN THAT FIELD.  YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EXPERTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH. I THINK WE KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BUT WE'RE NOT EXPERTS.  WE'RE TRYING TO OPERATE A SAFE COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE SHOPPING ENVIRONMENT, DINING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE TO DO SO.  I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE SAID A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I COULD ECHO BUT IN THE INTEREST OF SUE EVERYONE ELSE TIME UP HERE. I'M HAPPY TO STOP THERE.  IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN AND WE'VE STEPPED UP AND WE'VE ENHANCED A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY WITH OUR RETAIL PARTNERS AND TRY TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS. SO WE'RE HERE TO CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS HELP WHERE WE CAN BUT IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE OUT THERE FOR SURE. SO THANK YOU KIM SO I'M TO SULLIVAN I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE NEWMARKET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK IN NEWMARKET NOW FOR 40 YEARS 30 YEARS AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUSINESSES ASSOCIATION AND NOW THE BID.  FIRST OF ALL I NEED TO SAY HOW MUCH I ADMIRE THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS THE EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF THE NEWMARKET AREA AND AREA AROUND IT FOR NOT NOT TWO YEARS, NOT FIVE YEARS BUT 1012 YEARS THEY HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF BEING AT GROUND ZERO OF OUR OF THE OPIOID AND ADDICTION OPIOID ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT EVERYONE EVERYWHERE ELSE DOESN'T HAVE THE ISSUES AND AND PROBLEMS BUT WE ARE AT GROUND ZERO AND THE FACT THAT THESE THESE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ON THEIR DOORSTEP FOR OVER TEN YEARS IS COMMENDABLE THAT THEY THE RESILIENCY THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO I SO APPRECIATE THAT NOT TO REHASH EVERYTHING BECAUSE A LOT'S BEEN TODAY IS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO REHASH PAST I JUST WANT TO SEE SHOW WHERE WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE AND AS YOU KNOW TEN YEARS AGO THE BRIDGE TO LONG ISLAND WAS CLOSED THE OPIOID AND FENTANYL EXPLOSION IN THE AREA AND NATIONWIDE EVERYTHING HAPPENED AND WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE CONNECTOR AND ON MILL NEAR CASS AND ALL AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY BAD AND THEN IT CONTINUED IT CONTINUED FOR YEARS UNTIL IT GOT EVEN WORSE IN 2020 AND 2021 WHEN WE HAD 175 200 TENTS ON ATKINSON STREET, SOUTHAMPTON STREET ALL THROUGH OUR FOOD PROCESSING BUSINESSES NEWMARKET SQUARE OKAY SO THEN I GIVE MAYOR WU A LOT OF CREDIT WHEN SHE CAME IN IN 2022 AND ONE OF HER FIRST ACTS WAS TO TAKE ALL THOSE TENTS DOWN THAT WASN'T THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE CAME BACK AND BY A YEAR FROM THEN WE THEN HAD ANOTHER 175 200 PEOPLE CAMPED OUT ON ATKINSON STREET AND THAT LED US TO LAST NOVEMBER WHERE THROUGH A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE POLICE PUBLIC HEALTH NEWMARKET, OTHER PARTNERS, ALL THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS THEY CAME THEY BROUGHT ABOUT THE NO TENT ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND IT WASN'T JUST BUILDING NEAR CARS, IT WAS ALL OVER THE CITY.  AND TO BE HONEST THAT HAS WORKED.  I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WOULD SAY THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING IN DIFFERENT SPACES AND TRYING TO FIND OTHER LOCATIONS. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN TENTS AND THE SQUALOR AND ALL WE HAD DOWN THERE AND ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. IT'S JUST WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INHUMANE THAT'S INHUMANE. OKAY. SO TODAY YOU HAVE ALMOST NO ENCAMPMENTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ANYWHERE THEY'LL POP UP THEY GET TAKEN CARE OF . OKAY. BUT I DIDN'T MEAN THAT AGAIN THIS SUMMER WE DIDN'T END UP HAVING A HUNDRED PEOPLE 125 PEOPLE ON MILL NEAR CASS NOT CAMPING OUT BUT CONGREGATING.  MOST OF THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE THROUGH THIS SUMMER HAVE PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO STAY. 75% OF THEM WERE JUST COMING DOWN BECAUSE THEY THEY COULD AND THEY AND YOU KNOW NEEDED A PLACE TO BE IN LATE AUGUST, THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID WE'RE CHANGING UP WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE CONGREGATE ANYMORE.  WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT DOWN AND THE POLICE CHANGED IT AND DEPUTY HUMPHREYS TALKED ABOUT THE INITIATIVE THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND THAT IS TO KEEP PEOPLE MOVING MOVING TO DIFFERENT AREAS, YES, BUT TO KEEP PEOPLE MOVING.  AND WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEWMARKET INCREASED DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE OF THIS.  NOW THAT'S NOT TRUE NECESSARILY IN OTHER PLACES IT'S TRUE OF US. IT HAS IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND FOR THAT REASON I HAVE ASKED THAT THE THE CITY AND THE POLICE CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WHILE ALL IS IS PUSHING PEOPLE AROUND IT, IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET GREATER CHANCES INTO RECOVERY . IT ALLOWS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE IN SMALLER GROUPS HERE AND THERE AND EVERYWHERE AND NOT IN LIKE GROUPS OF 20 OR 30 OR 50.  NOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY AND BY THE WAY, JUST FOR FOR CONTEXT, NEWMARKET DOES ALL OF THE THE STREET CLEAN UP IN ALL OF NEWMARKET AREA AND SINCE AUGUST WE HAVE ALSO DO ALL THE TRASH NOT ALL BUT A GOOD PORTION OF THE TRASH AND NEEDLE PICK UPS IN ANDREW SQUARE A LARGE PART OF THE SOUTH IN RAMSEY FIELD AND NUBIAN SQUARE AS WELL AS WE DO A LOT IN PER SQUARE WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS INITIATIVE A NUMBER OF OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING US SAW AN UPTICK. BUT IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS THE NEEDLE PICK UP NUMBERS IN ALL AREAS SURROUNDING NEWMARKET HAVE DECREASED BY ALMOST 50%. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY HERE NOW IS ALL THAT'S BEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED OKAY ENFORCEMENT AND ALL IS A MULTIPLE WE NEED A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE CITY IS WORKING ON THAT AS YOU KNOW, WE CAME OUT WITH RECOVERY BOSTON LAST YEAR NEWMARKET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN THE SOUTH END FORUM BROUGHT THIS OUT. IT IS A LONG TERM RECOVERY CAMPUS MODEL AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY TO TRY TO GET THAT INTO FRUITION.  IT'S A SIMILAR MODEL TO WHAT LONG ISLAND WAS MEANT TO BE WHICH NEWMARKET BROUGHT TO MAYOR WALSH BACK IN 2016. WE NEED THAT RECOVERY CAMPUS.  WE DON'T NEED IT SIX YEARS FROM NOW. WE NEED IT NOW. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT TODAY. WE NEED THAT.  WE NEED AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT BY POLICE AND WE ALSO NEED AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID WE NEED TO HAVE MANDATORY RECOVERY IN LIEU OF JAIL SENTENCING. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN AND NOT A NOT AN ULTIMATUM BUT THERE HAS BE CONSEQUENCES AND THERE HAS TO BE A REASON FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T VOLUNTARILY GO INTO RECOVERY TO GO INTO RECOVERY . AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT OH, MANDATORY RECOVERY DOESN'T WORK. IT ONLY WORKS 50% OF THE TIME. WELL, I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE 50% OF THE TIME MORE SO THAN NOBODY SAID AT THE TIME, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET TODAY . THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU.  GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHERYL SHAWN DECK. I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK WHERE I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED FOR OVER A DECADE. I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNSELS FLYNN AND SANTANA FOR PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TODAY'S TESTIMONY. THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK OR RFP IS THE LARGEST HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION IN NEW ENGLAND AND AMONG THE LARGEST FOOD BANKS IN THE COUNTRY. WE OPERATE IN NINE COUNTIES AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND OVER 190 CITIES AND TOWNS IS THE FOOD BANK FEEDING EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS GBP DISTRIBUTES THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY 90 MILLION HEALTHY MEALS ANNUALLY THROUGH A NETWORK OF OUR 600 DEDICATED FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT INCLUDE FOOD PANTRIES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION, MOBILE MARKETS AT THE K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS COLLEGES, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND SENIOR CENTERS AND ABOUT 100 OF THOSE PARTNERS OUT OF THE 600 ARE WITHIN THE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.  OUR PRIORITY IS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY THE EMPLOYEES AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE PARTNERS WHO COME TO THE FOOD BANK DAILY. MANY OF THEM START WORK BEFORE SUNRISE TO DELIVER PICK UP OR SORT FOOD THAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO FEED OVER 600,000 PEOPLE A MONTH ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.  IN RECENT YEARS NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT TODAY THROUGH ALL OF THIS TESTIMONY HAVE DISRUPTED OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE AND FULFILL OUR MISSION TO END HUNGER IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. WE HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE. OUR BUILDING IN THE FREE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT WE DISTRIBUTE THESE ARE FUNDS THAT WE COULD HAVE USED TO PURCHASE FOOD FOR OUR NEIGHBORS FACING FOOD INSECURITY HERE IN BOSTON AND ACROSS THE REGION. HOWEVER, SAFETY INCIDENTS IMPACTING OUR FACILITY AND OPERATION HAVE BECOME LESS FREQUENT IN RECENT MONTHS. AS YOU HEARD FROM THE TESTIMONY AND FROM SUE SULLIVAN AS WE MONITOR THIS SITUATION DAILY,  WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND LESS ON SECURITY THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO ENCAMPMENTS IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA AND THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE CURRENTLY OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC IN OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SOUTH BAY AND ATKINSON.  WE KNOW THAT MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO CHANGES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY. WE SUPPORT THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF MAYOR WU'S TEAM THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AT THE NEWMARKET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVEMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AROUND OUR BUILDING. THEY'VE ADDED A SHUTTLE SERVICE AND THEY DO HAVE ADDITIONAL PRIVATE SECURITY ON TOP OF THE SECURITY THAT WE HAVE AT OUR BUILDING 24 SEVEN THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S PURSUIT OF A SUSTAINABLE PLAN TO ENSURE STABILITY AND SAFETY IN OUR GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE TESTIMONY THIS AFTERNOON.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHEN I'M ABOUT TO RESUME, I KNOW WE'RE JOINED BOTH BY CITY FIGHTING COPS. WE HEARD THE FOX FIVE MINUTE.  GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN. GREAT.  FIRST OF ALL, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF.  I'M STEVE FOX. I CHAIR THE SOUTH BEND FORUM WHICH IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN THE SOUTH BEND ON ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  I ALSO CHAIR THE TEN YEAR OLD WORKING GROUP ON ADDICTION RECOVERY AND HOMELESSNESS WHICH HAS BEEN KIND OF THE THE VEHICLE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS USED TO GATHER AND TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE ON AN ONGOING BASIS WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THE MASS INCARCERATION AREA. SO I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. I DO WANT TO REALLY TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE. I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL BASED ON TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE A LOT.  THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE COME TO THIS FORUM AND HAVE COME TO THIS DISCUSSION FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. EVER SINCE THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE WENT OUT, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND TO DEAL WITH THE ONGOING ADDICTION HOMELESSNESS IN AND RECOVERY CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING. SO I I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT A LOT OF THE COMMENTARY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE BY SEVERAL OF THE VERY GOOD SPEAKERS THAT HAVE ALREADY OFFERED THEIR THOUGHTS. BUT I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON FOUR OR FIVE IDEAS THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE KEY TAKEAWAYS AS PART OF MY CONTRIBUTION TO THIS TO THIS HEARING. THE FIRST IS THAT YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE REALLY ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN SEE OUR WAY FORWARD TO CONCENTRATING MORE ON A RECOVERY MODALITY RATHER THAN A HARM REDUCTION ONE.  WHEN WE CAME TO THIS ISSUE TEN YEARS AGO HARM REDUCTION AND HOUSING WERE THE KEY ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO GET MANAGED AND THEY HAVE BEEN MANAGED. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS. BUT WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING HAS BEEN A CONCENTRATION ON RECOVERY AND ON RECOVERY PROGRAMS.  AND EVEN TODAY YOU CAN TALK TO OUTREACH WORKERS OR YOU CAN TALK TO NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WILL TAKE THEM TWO, THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR DAYS TO TRY TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE SPACE OR A PROGRAM FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO ENTER RECOVERY TO GET INTO AND THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE.  THAT KIND OF TAKES ME TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN TERMS OF THE MASS INCARCERATION ATKINSON AREA. I KNOW SUE SULLIVAN WHO'S MY WHO'S BEEN MY PARTNER IN ALL OF THIS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS TALKED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS GONE ON AT ATKINSON STREET AND THERE'S NO QUESTION IN ANYBODY'S MIND BUT THAT ATKINSON STREET WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDED TO GET ADDRESSED AND THE TENT ORDINANCE WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WAS USED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD THING.  BUT WHAT WE PREDICTED BEFORE THE TENTS WERE REMOVED WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH IS THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ACTIVITY AND THE DRUG DEALING AND THE USE AND THE ENCAMPMENTS HAVE MIGRATED FROM NEWMARKET INTO SOUTH END ROXBURY, NORTH CHESTER, SOUTH BOSTON. WHAT WE KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ACTUALLY HAPPENED.  AND SO IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT WHILE WE RECOGNIZED WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN WAS IN TERMS OF CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOVERY WAS NOT ADDRESSED JUST REMOVING THE TENTS AND PLACING FIXED POSTS AT NEWMARKET DROVE EVERYBODY INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT'S WHAT WE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SOUTH END AND ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I THAT I'VE MENTIONED ARE NOW SEEING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS THE ACTIVITY WE'RE SEEING IN THE SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, FAR AND AWAY THE MOST ACTIVE AREA BECAUSE IT'S A GREEN SPACE IS IS ENORMOUS. I MEAN WE'VE WE'VE SEEN ENCAMPMENT TENTS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS IN THE SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR THAT WE NEVER SAW PRIOR TO THE TENTS OF THE TENT REMOVAL SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ADDRESS WHERE PEOPLE WERE MOVING. AND SO I I WANT TO MAKE MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DISSIPATION OF PEOPLE INTO THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOW THAT HAS BECOME A CRISIS FOR ALL OF US. SO MOVING PEOPLE FROM ATKINSON MAY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND MAY HAVE HELPED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEMS THAT THE NEWMARKET BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS HAS SEEN BUT IT SURE HASN'T HELPED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SECOND ISSUE WHEN WHEN ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF STRATEGIES OR INITIATIVES,  WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE TABLE AND THE CRT WHICH IS THE INTERNAL TEAM THE COMBINED RESPONSE TEAM MEETS ON A ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THERE IS NO COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE AT THAT. WE'VE ASKED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIKE SUSAN SULLIVAN OR MYSELF OR OTHERS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TO SPEAK AND TO TALK ABOUT OUR CONCERNS AND TO OFFER OUR IDEAS. WE HAD TO DO THAT WHEN SUE AND I PROPOSED RECOVER BOSTON IN TERMS OF PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A RECOVERY MODALITY THAT WAS IN ANTICIPATION OF LONG ISLAND. AND I'LL JUST MAKE ONE MENTION OF LONG ISLAND WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED THUS FAR. WE'RE NOT FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT ANY PROGRESS BEING MADE IN TERMS OF THE LONG ISLAND FACILITY. WE DON'T SEE ANY EFFORT TO SHORE UP THE BUILDINGS TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BUILDINGS TO ACTUALLY BECOME USABLE. WE KNOW WE'RE WAITING FOR JUST THE FINAL INK TO DRY ON THE QUINCY SUIT. IN TERMS OF THE BRIDGE REBUILD. WE'RE NOT SEEING STAGING IN TERMS OF CREATING THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO RECREATE THE BRIDGE. SO IT FEELS AS THOUGH LONG ISLAND IS IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION AND THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF MOVING US FORWARD AND SO THAT'S WHY RECOVERY BOSTON AS A TREATMENT RECOVERY MODALITY IS SO IMPORTANT. SO I KNOW I'VE TAKEN UP A LOT OF TIME BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH FOLKS.  BUT IN SOME WE HAVE BEEN DOING BAND-AIDS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS AND EVERY YEAR WE COME TOGETHER AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS CRISIS AND WE FAIL TO FINALLY EMBRACE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE LONG TERM ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING FOR THE PAST DECADE. I'M HOPING THAT THIS HEARING WILL BE THE LINCHPIN FOR ALLOWING US TO MOVE US INTO A MODALITY WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY WILLING TO DEDICATE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS RATHER THAN AS A BAND-AID.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEVE.  AS WE HEARD NOW 5 MINUTES.  WELL. THANKS FOR HAVING ME . MY NAME'S KATHY HURD.  I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE MATERIAL AID AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM OR MATT.  I'VE BEEN OFFERING SUPPORT TO LEARNING FROM AND ORGANIZING ALONGSIDE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS IN GREATER BOSTON SINCE 2006. THANKS TO COUNSELOR HERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND FLYNN AND THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS SANTANA.  WE OFFER LOBERO DROP IN SPACE FOR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENGAGE IN OUTREACH AND SWEEP SUPPORT AND ORGANIZE ALONGSIDE OUR MEMBERS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS AND NEEDS AND FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE. EVERY DAY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM SYSTEMS FAILURE AND MANY OF THE POLICY CHOICES INCLUDING THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY FOLKS IN THIS ROOM AND ARE FORCED TO MOVE BETWEEN CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.  AS MANY FOLKS HAVE NOTED IN THIS HEARING, PEOPLE ARE BEING SHUFFLED ALONG.  I WOULD COUNTER TO STATEMENT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO BE FORCED TO MOVE ALONG ALL DAY. PEOPLE ARE USING DRUGS IN MORE CHAOTIC WAYS IN ORDER TO STAY UP TO BE ABLE TO MOVE. PEOPLE ARE GETTING LESS SLEEP I THINK WE WOULD ALL ARGUE THAT SLEEP IS IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND IT IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO BEHAVE IN MORE ERRATIC WAYS AND I THINK A LOT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED ARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR AND NOT PEOPLE AND THAT BEHAVIOR IS BECAUSE OF HARMFUL POLICY AND PRACTICES.  AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED, YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THE HAPHAZARD CLOSURE OF LONG ISLAND AND NEARLY ONE YEAR SINCE THE CAMPING BAN AND TO REMIND THE COUNCIL WHICH THIS COUNCIL COSIGNED AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD ARE THE EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP SPANNING THREE MAYORAL ADMINISTRATIONS CHOOSING TO INVEST IN THESE CARCERAL STRATEGIES THAT REALLY JUST SORT OF LIKE YES, WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD ALL HAVE AN URGENCY AND BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PEOPLE SURVIVING ON THE STREET. BUT THESE POLICIES HAVE JUST SORT OF I'VE HEARD OTHER FOLKS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS HEARING IT'S BEEN THE ILLUSION OF A RESOLUTION RIGHT.  PEOPLE ARE MOVED FROM ONE BLOCK TO THE NEXT A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SITE IS POPPED UP BUT THERE'S NO PERMANENT HOUSING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT. PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING TO SURVIVE EVERY DAY AND THEIR SAFETY IS DECREASED AND HAVING TO FIGHT FOR THAT SURVIVAL AND BEING AND CONSISTENT CRISIS. I THINK SOMETHING I JUST WANT TO NOTE IS THE PREMISE OF THIS HEARING IS FRAUGHT AS IT FOCUSES ON THE CUMULATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE CITY CREATED HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND THE IMPACTS ON UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES BUT NOT IN THE IMPACT THAT THESE POLICIES ARE HAVING ON NOW AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE LIKE TO BE VERY CLEAR THE MOST IMPACTED PEOPLE. I WANT TO PUSH BACK A BIT ON WHAT I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SHARE OF THAT FOLKS OR SERVICE RESISTANT WE ARE ALL UNIQUE BEINGS AND THERE'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH. SERVICE IS DON'T NECESSARILY MEET EVERYONE'S NEEDS RIGHT AND WHAT IS INCREASINGLY TRUE IN BOSTON AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OF THE STRATEGY OF THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM IS THAT THEY'RE MOVING PEOPLE ALONG IN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A STRATEGIC DIVESTMENT FROM SPECIFIC SERVICES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE IN BOTH WORKING FOR PEOPLE AND ALSO JUST LIKE MEETING THE BROADER COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, RIGHT OF LIKE THE ENGAGEMENT CENTER HAD BATHROOMS PEOPLE WERE NOT HAVING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM IN THE STREET RIGHT.  I JUST THINK IF THIS MEETING WAS CONFIGURED IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND IF WE HAD A DIFFERENT APPROACH, WE WERE LISTENING TO UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS WHO SHOULD BE LEADING THIS CONVERSATION. WE WOULD BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE.  I WANT TO SAY CONTRARY TO THE MISINFORMED AND BIASED OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, PEOPLE DO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM. IT'S PERHAPS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO THEM AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING THE BEST CHOICES WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.  PEOPLE SUPPORT EACH OTHER. PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO EVEN MORE OVERDOSE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE BE BEING PUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, PUSHED INTO ALLEYS THAT FOLKS HAVE SHARED. PEOPLE ARE SHARING, THEY'RE SEEING FOLKS ON THE SIDEWALKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY HADN'T BEFORE BECAUSE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PUSHED INTO THE MARSTON CATS AREA IN THE FIRST PLACE AND KETTLED WHERE CONFLICT INCREASED, JUST PUSHING PEOPLE OUT ISN'T A SOLUTION.  I THINK SOMETHING THIS HEARING TO REAFFIRM IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE ARE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT CRIMINALIZATION AND COERCION DO NOT SOLVE HOMELESSNESS OR CHAOTIC SUBSTANCE USE OR ANY SORT OF SUBSTANCE USE AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND CAUSE HARM MOST NOTABLY TO PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.  AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT THIS HEARING ORDER ALSO MAKES CLEAR TO ME AND I THINK PERHAPS OTHER FOLKS HAVE SHARED AND MAYBE NOT THINKING ABOUT IT IN THIS WAY IS THAT DECENTRALIZATION IS INEFFECTIVE. I THINK WE DO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN THE US AND KATHY AREA BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO CENTRALIZED RIGHT IT IS OUR CITY AND REGION SAFETY NET HOSPITAL BOSTON HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS IS NOT MOVING THE CITIES TO SHELTERS.  ONE OF THEM A RETROFITTED SIGN BUILDING RIGHT LIKE WE ARE NOT FINDING OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THESE AND AS DR. OJUKWU PUT YOU SHARED LIKE PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO COME FOR SERVICES . I WAS AM AND YOU KNOW IT WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED AND I THINK IT'S EGREGIOUS TO LEARN THAT THEY WOULD RESTORATION IS GOING TO CHOOSE TO ONCE AGAIN DOUBLE DOWN ON CRIMINALIZATION THROUGH THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TEAM. BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS BODY WILL LEARN FROM WHAT I VIEW AS A GRAVE MISTAKE OF AUTHORIZING THE CAMPING BAN AND TAKE IT UPON THE BODY AT THE COUNCIL AS A BODY TO REALLY CONSIDER IN A MEANINGFUL WAY EVIDENCE BASED SOLUTION THAT MANY PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND THUS WOULD THEN MEET THE BROADER NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY DR. OJUKWU WHO IS TO REMIND EVERYONE THE CITY HAS APPOINTED PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER.  I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO SHARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES AND THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY USING MOST OF WHICH FALL UNDER COERCION OR CRIMINALIZATION AND THE IMPACTS THEY ARE HAVING ON UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.  AS THE HEARING LETTER NOTES YOU KNOW THE TENTS ARE GONE BUT PEOPLE REMAIN AND I THINK WHILE SURVIVING IN A TENT IS BY NO MEANS ANYONE'S IDEAL LIVING SITUATION CONTINUES FIVE UNINTERRUPTED YEARS. I'LL WRAP UP THE LAST FEW THINGS. YES. THANK YOU.  YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SHELTER FOR FOLKS.  RIGHT. AND DOESN'T MEET THEIR NEEDS.  THINGS AS SIMPLE AS LIKE WE ARE DIVESTING FROM THINGS THAT SUPPORT EVERYONE. THE SIDEWALKS BEING BLOCKED OFF. WELL IT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT AND IT'S PUSHING PEOPLE TO WALK IN THE STREET. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE BEING HIT BY CARS LIKE THIS. WE NEED TO RETHINK THE APPROACH WE HAVE AND I HOPE THIS BODY YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF COSIGNING ON FURTHER POLICY THAT WILL HARM COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING ALL OF US BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AND JUST HAVE A FEAR OF GETTING ANOTHER YEAR AS STEVE SAID LIKE WE COME YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THAT THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVIDENCE BASED SOLUTIONS AND WHAT PEOPLE SELF-IDENTIFIED NEEDS ARE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CASSIE AND THANK YOU FOR OUR PANELISTS HERE. I'M ALSO SORRY I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO HALF AS LONG AS WANT TO MOVE THINGS ALONG GIVEN THAT THERE'S ANOTHER HEARING AFTER THIS ONE. SO WITH THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN,  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND MR CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR GIVING EVERYBODY A FAIR AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON. WHETHER WHETHER WE AGREE WITH PEOPLE I DISAGREE WITH THEM. BUT YOU'VE BEEN VERY FAIR AND GIVING EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU . I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION FOR STEVE FOX. I BELIEVE STEVE IS STILL ON. ON VIDEO. STEVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.  STEVE, TELL US THE IMPACT THAT THIS CRISIS IS HAVING ON RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, THEIR FAMILY.  WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS AND HOW IS IT IMPACTING THEM?  A THANK YOU COUNSELOR.  YOU KNOW, I COULD ACTUALLY START BY BY REFERRING EVERYBODY TO THE FRONT PAGE OF TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE. AND I THINK THEY THEY HAD A CHART A COUPLE OF CHARTS AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT TALKED ABOUT THE THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE CITY WITH THE MOST PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES AND WITH THE MOST PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED IT WITH ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS AND THE TWO TOP COLLISION INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY FROM 2014 TO TODAY ARE MASSIVE CARS. AND THE SECOND BY IS MESS AND ALBANY RIGHT SIDE BY SIDE. SO THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE JUST IN TERMS OF PEOPLE FEELING SAFE AND PEOPLE FEELING LIKE IT'S OKAY TO BE ABLE TO CROSS THE STREET AND TO TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.  I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS I REFERRED TO BEFORE, THE SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM AREA FOR US ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS BOTH WITH ENCAMPMENTS AS WELL AS NEEDLE DETRITUS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE CLEARLY IN NEED OF RESOURCES, WHO ARE WHO ARE WHO ARE HANGING OUT IN THE ENTRY COUNTRY. AM I STILL ON? YES.  STEVE, YOU STILL ON? OKAY. THANKS.  CONTRARY TO TO TO THE STATISTICS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, I'M GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT NEEDLES,  ABOUT DETRITUS WITHIN OUR PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. SO WHAT THAT TELLS YOU IS THAT THERE'S MORE MIGRATION OF ACTIVITY INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, INTO THE PARKS, INTO SMALL POCKET POCKET PARKS THAT TYPICALLY USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, RELATIVE SAFE AND FREE OF LOTS OF DRUG DEALING AND ACTIVITY.  SO I'M SEEING AN UPTICK IN TERMS OF COMMENTARY FROM NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT ACTIVITY THAT HAS MIGRATED FROM THE MASS IN CASS AREA INTO THE SOUTH END.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEVEN. MAYBE I'LL ASK A QUESTION TO RYAN.  I LIVE JUST DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT FROM SOUTH BAY MALL AND INTO STATION INTO SQUARE IN SOUTH BOSTON. I ALSO NOTICED THE THE LARGE DRUG TRAFFICKING IN AND OUT OF THE SOUTH BAY MALL AREA, THE ANDREW STATION AREA AND THE SQUARE AREA. BUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT YOU'RE SPENDING LITERALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON PUBLIC SAFETY ON SECURITY RELATED ISSUES.  IS THERE IS THERE A POINT THAT YOUR BOSS THAT'S THE CEO ADDS UP THE FIGURES OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENDING ON PUBLIC SAFETY?  IS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY TAKE THIS FOR SO LONG AND THEN AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER CLOSING BECAUSE OF OUR PROFIT MARGIN IS NOT THERE. WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH ON SECURITY.  WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR STAFF WERE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS SAFETY AS WELL. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT.  OH, THERE WE GO. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T GET INTO THAT IN MY OPENING REMARKS BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.  GIVEN EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN UP THERE AROUND THE SOUTH BAY PROPERTY, I THINK ALL EYES ARE ALREADY ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND ON THAT SPENDING AND ON THOSE BUDGET LINE ITEMS AND YOU KNOW, NOT TO SAY YOU KNOW WE ARE BOSTON BASED COMPANY BUT NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S IT AT THIS EXTREME YET.  BUT THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF YOU KNOW MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO INVEST IN SOUTH BAY UNTIL SOME OF THESE THINGS GET FIXED UNTIL WE CAN KIND OF CLEAR THIS HURDLE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, TRY TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, WORK WITH OUR RETAIL PARTNERS, DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT OUR PROPERTY.  BUT UNTIL THERE'S A BIGGER BANNER STEP OR A BIG SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MAYBE WE WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT ON HOLD WHETHER THROUGH YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENTS SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ETC. THOSE THINGS DO COME UP.  THAT'S THE TRUTH. THOSE THINGS ARE SAID.  BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAINTAIN A LOT OF OUR RETAILERS. I THINK A LOT OF OUR RETAILERS HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS. I THINK THEY GET IT. I THINK THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, BLIND TO OPERATING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. BUT THIS IS A NEW CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN ALL THE THINGS I MENTIONED. SO WE'RE NOT THERE YET BUT THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED. YOU KNOW, THAT IS BEING FOUGHT ABOUT AND IT'S A VERY REAL TOPIC OF THE CONVERSATION. YOUR COMPANY HAS BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE CITY OF BOSTON, TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON TO YOU. YOU HIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE.  YOU ENABLE THEM TO HAVE A JOB SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY WITH A WITH A GOOD WAGE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES THERE. ARE THEY CONCERNED ABOUT COMING TO WORK AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR SAFETY? YEAH, 100%. WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME FROM OUR RETAILERS THAT THEY HAVE STAFFING ISSUES SOMETIMES THEY'RE UNABLE TO FILL POSITIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK IN SOUTH BAY BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION, THE SAFETY. AGAIN, NOT JUST MASS AND CASH RELATED OBVIOUSLY BUT YEAH AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM OUR RETAILERS. THOSE LIVE CLOSE BY THOSE THAT SHOP AT SOUTH BAY REGULARLY. YOU KNOW THEY'VE DEFINITELY SEEN A TURNOVER OF STORES. YOU KNOW THE NEW EXPANSION WHAT WE CALL DISTRICT HAVE IT'S BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. THERE'S HOUSING, THERE'S RESTAURANTS. IT'S MEANT TO BE A LOT YOU KNOW IT WAS MEANT TO BE A LIVELY PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY COME. WE'VE SHIED AWAY FROM CONTINUED CONTINUING TO INVEST IN LARGE SCALE EVENTS JUST BECAUSE OF THIS.  RIGHT. WE BASICALLY SAID NO MORE EVENTS AT SOUTH BAY, NO MORE LARGE EVENTS NO MORE. WHETHER IT'S OCTOBER FEST OR WHATEVER NONPROFIT SPONSORSHIPS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THOSE BIG TYPE OF , YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY GATHERING EVENTS THAT OUR COMPANY IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WE WE DON'T DO THEM AT SOUTH BAY ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS. SO ABSOLUTELY ON THE STAFFING WE DEFINITELY HEAR THAT WE HAVE SEEN SOME CLOSURES AND SOME TURNOVER. I THINK AGAIN NOT ALL RELATED TO MASS IN CARS BUT THIS DOESN'T HELP. IT DOESN'T HELP US IN SORT OF A LONG TERM VISION TO CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THAT IN THAT PROPERTY AND CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. REALLY THE COMMUNITY.  SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  MAYBE I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND IT'S ON IT'S RELATED TO WHAT WE JUST WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.  YOU HAVE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS ALSO IN AND AROUND THE SOUTH BAY MALL THAT GO TO SOUTH BAY FOR FOOD FOR FOR FOOD SHOPPING. THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT THEY CAN GET TO. THEY DON'T MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION UNFORTUNATELY.  ARE YOU ALSO HEARING FROM CUSTOMERS AS WELL ABOUT THEM FEELING SOMEWHAT UNSAFE WHEN THEY COME TO THE MALL TO DO THEIR SHOPPING SO THAT THEY CAN PUT SOME FOOD ON THE TABLE?  WHAT ARE THE CUSTOMERS SAYING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.  THEY'RE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING. I THINK YOU KNOW THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE BEFORE OUR PANEL I THINK SUMMED UP A LOT OF WHAT THE PERCEPTION OR WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS FOR CUSTOMERS COMING TO SOUTH BAY A DIFFERENT TIMES WHICH IS YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN AND THE CHILD HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, IT'S SOMETIMES A CHORE TO GET INTO A BATHROOM AT SOME OF THESE STORES JUST BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. SO OUR RETAILERS HAVE CHOSEN TO SECURE THEM, RIGHT. SO IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE. IT'S NOT AS APPROACHABLE, NOT AS EXCESSIVE. ALL A DEFINITE UPTICK. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED THERE LAST NIGHT THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF . THE INDIVIDUAL IS FINE AND RECOVERING BUT THAT WAS THAT STOP AND SHOP AND YOU KNOW THE UPTICK IN ALTERCATIONS AND JUST WHETHER IT'S JUST VERBAL OR IT ESCALATES. IS THERE SO THERE'S DEFINITELY UNSAFE OR A FEELING OR A PERCEPTION OF A MORE UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT AS A RESULT AND CUSTOMERS DEFINITELY FEEL FEEL THAT. I THINK I HEAR FROM FOLKS FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN DORCHESTER THAT HAVE LIVED THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO SOUTH BAY BECAUSE IT IS SO CONVENIENT AND IT'S SO WELL LOCATED AND THEY GO AND THEY KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SIGNING UP FOR IN A WAY AND THEY TRY TO GET IN AND GET OUT, GET WHAT THEY NEED AND MOVE ON. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR US, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T HANGING OUT.  THEY'RE NOT DWELLING. THEY'RE NOT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GATHERING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THANK YOU. I, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE PANELISTS BUT I JUST I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE THE CRITICAL ROLE BUSINESSES PLAY IN AND AROUND THAT AREA. THEY HIRE THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THEY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT I BELIEVE OVER THE SUMMER I AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW I REPRESENT A LARGE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE LARGEST ASIAN COMMUNITY IN BOSTON. MANY OF THE CHINESE RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT UNFORTUNATE WHEN THERE IS A WHEN THERE IS A DEATH THEY USE THE FUNERAL HOME RIGHT NEAR RIGHT IN ROXBURY RIGHT OFF AMMONIA CAST THERE IS A ASIAN OWNED FUNERAL HOME AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW.  RESIDENTS EXPRESSED TO ME THEIR CONCERN OVER THE SUMMERTIME ABOUT USING THAT FUNERAL HOME ABOUT VISITING A LOVED ONE THAT UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY ASKING ME IS IT A SAFE AREA BEHIND BEHIND MELANIA CARS BUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER I GUESS MY POINT IS WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TO RESIDENTS CERTAINLY AND TO BUSINESSES AS WELL BECAUSE BUSINESSES ARE THE PROBLEM. BUSINESSES ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION IN PROVIDING QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SUPPORT SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. I LOVE THAT AREA AND ROXBURY BUT AFTER THAT MELANIA CASE CLOSED DOWN A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WENT FROM MELANIA CHAOS INTO THAT ROXBURY AREA RIGHT WHERE SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION IS AS WELL . THANK YOU, MR MR. CHAIRMAN.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN. I DO HAVE FEW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERING COUNCILMAN FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. I DO LIVE VERY TO THE SOUTH PAY MALL ABOUT 5 MINUTES BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY OTHER PANELISTS AND ALSO ON A ZOOM IF YOU WILL, WHOEVER WANTS TO CHIME IN ABOUT OUR WORKERS. RIGHT. WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING. RIGHT. YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW THE SAFETY OF THAT. YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN TO OUR BUSINESSES BUT ALSO OUR WORKERS AND ALSO YOU TOUCHED ON IT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO MORE ABOUT THAT? WHAT HAS LEADERSHIP HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO EITHER TRAIN OR TO TRY TO AVOID CERTAIN SITUATIONS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN TO OUR WORKERS? YEAH. SO DO YOU WANT TO START? SURE. SO AT THE FOOD BANK I THINK WE HAVE INVESTED IN A SECURITY COMPANY 24 SEVEN WE ALSO PROVIDE QUARTERLY UPDATES TO THE TEAM. YOU KNOW FOLKS HAVE CONTACT AT US BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT THE SOUTH BAY PLAZA. WE CONTINUE TO SAY BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND UTILIZE THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM THAT THE NEWMARKET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAD SET UP THAT TAKES FOLKS FROM OUR BUILDING TO ANDREW'S BUT IT IS JUST CREATING THAT AWARENESS.  WE TRAIN THEM ON THE 311 AND THE USE OF THE 311 HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WELL AS HAVING THAT PHONE NUMBER FOR THE SECURITY THAT WE HIRE 24 SEVEN FOR THE TEAM. SURE.  AND JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP FOR THE FULL BACK. DO YOU DO ANY YOUTH PROGRAMING THAT YOU THAT YOU YOU DO HAVE TO BE 16 YEARS OLD TO VOLUNTEER AT THE FOOD BANK SO ANYONE UNDER 16 WE YOU KNOW DON'T DON'T CONSIDER 16 YEAR OLDS ARE YOU? THEY ARE SO THEY ARE DO YOU HAVE TO DO ANY SPECIFIC OUTREACH WHEN WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE YOUTH COMING IN? WE WE DO THE SAME OUTREACH THE VOLUNTEERS AS WE DO WITH OUR WITH OUR TEAM SO THAT SECURITY IS THERE. WE HAVE FREE PARKING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR FRONT DOOR. YOU GET AN ESCORT TO THE FRONT DOOR AND WE TRY TO YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED WE LOOK AT PEOPLE SAFETY BUILDING SAFETY AND FOOD SAFETY AND WE WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE MISSION.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO TO ADD ON TO AS CHERYL WAS SAYING AS AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BID, I REPRESENT 650 PROPERTY OWNERS,  575 BUSINESSES AND 20,000 EMPLOYEES AND SEVERAL THOUSAND RESIDENTS.  AND YOU KNOW, I GET ON A DAILY BASIS ALL THE CALLS, EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN WE HAVE OUR ROUND THE CLOCK SECURITY THAT IS IS RESPONDING TO ON AVERAGE 200 300 CALLS A DAY. OKAY AND FROM FROM ALL OF THIS SO TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE ISSUES, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT ALL DAY EVERY DAY HAVE BUT I GUESS WHAT I GUESS WHAT MY THING IS AND AND AND MORALE IS ONE OF MY RESIDENTS AND EDENS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY STAKEHOLDERS IN WING WING FOLKS FUNERAL HOME IS ANOTHER AND AS WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE PROBLEM IS THAT IF WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE FROM ONE AREA OR ANOTHER THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM IN TO THEY TRY THE CITIES TRYING TO GET THEM INTO DIFFERENT PLACES BUT WHERE DO THEY GO UNLESS YOU ENSURE THEY CAN NO LONGER BE ON THE STREET? I, I YOU KNOW WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS NOW FOR TEN YEARS AND I THINK EVERYBODY SAYS WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE IT. BUT PEOPLE SAY HOW YOU KNOW IF YOU TALK TO STEVE FOX AND I AND OTHERS WHO WERE TODAY WE NEED THE LONG TERM RECOVERY CAMPUS.  WE NEED IT NOW. I'M YOU KNOW I KNOW THIS ISN'T YOUR QUESTION PER SE, BUT I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE IN A HEARING ROOM AND I SO APPRECIATE THE TWO OF YOU BEING HERE AND AND HAVING US ON THIS PANEL AND ALL. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT. EVERYONE SHOULD BE HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST US.  IT'S DENVER, IT'S SEATTLE, IT'S PORTLAND, IT'S BALTIMORE, IT'S SAN FRANCISCO AND I DON'T WANT TO POINT FINGERS AND SAY WE'RE BETTER THAN THEY ARE OR WE DO THIS BETTER.  THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE DOING THAT ARE GOOD BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO NEED TO BE DONE AND I DON'T WANT TO GO ON BUT I JUST I RECOVER BOSTON YOU KNOW, EVERY CAMPUS WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING IT SO ABSOLUTELY.  AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE ON THE COUNCIL VOTE. YEAH, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY CITY OR COUNTY IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY ON THE ZOOM WE WRAP UP. I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR MANY HOURS FOR IT BUT JUST WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE FIRST COUNCIL OF PLANNING THAN ANY OF OUR PANELISTS RIGHT NOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GETS INTO THE RECORD. I DO. I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY I KNOW ANDY BRAND OF THE SOUTH END WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY AND WANT TO WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A COUPLE OF MINUTES IF THAT'S OKAY. YEAH THAT'S WE JUST HAVE IT IN IF WE CAN JUST PUT IT IN AND ANDY WHO IS WAITING WHO HAS BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY TO TESTIFY WE WANT TO GET THEM UP AND GOING RIGHT NOW.  OKAY. THANK YOU.  ALL RIGHT SO I'LL KEEP TO MY 2 MINUTES AND I SUPPORTED LAST YEAR'S EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE CAN BUT AT THE TIME WARNED THAT WITHOUT A TREATMENT PLAN SUCH AS RECOVER BOSTON WE WOULD SIMPLY MOVE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN DRUG USE PACKAGE THEFT, PUBLIC DEPRECATION, NEEDLES AND ,OTHER BIOHAZARDS. IT'S WORSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN . I'VE BEEN FINE WHEN ADDICTS TORE APART MY GARBAGE I LEFT OVERNIGHT AND TWICE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE GARBAGE OUT AT 5:45 A.M. BECAUSE ADDICTS WERE ON MY STOOP AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO ASK THEM TO LEAVE SO I JUST WAIT. I JUST HELD THE GARBAGE AND WAITED FOR THE NEXT PICKUP. I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE SHORT AND LONG TERM ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES SHORT TERM INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE AND YOU KNOW BIKE PATROLS ARE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE AND AGGRESSIVELY ENFORCE THE LAWS AGAINST DRUG ACTIVITY TRESPASS SAY PACKAGE THEFT AND OTHER MINOR CRIMES.  LONGER TERM PLEASE AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORTS SENATOR COLLINS AND MICKEY AND MAYBE VALIDATE ITS PLAN TO CONVERT A DECOMMISSIONED SHIP INTO A FLOATING HOSPITAL. THAT SHIP COULD BE USED TO HOUSE RECOVER BOSTON AND PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO THOSE BATTLING ADDICTION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. IT WOULD CREATE A SUPERIOR, A SECURE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR RECOVERY , REDUCE THE STRAIN ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. IT WOULD COST LESS THAN HALF THAT OF LONG ISLAND BRIDGE AND WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE MONEY FROM THE OPIATE SETTLEMENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN WEEKS NOT YEARS SEVERAL WEST COAST CITIES HAVE MOVED FROM A HOUSING FIRST TO A TREATMENT FIRST APPROACH THEY RECOGNIZE LONG TERM RECOVERY AND STABILITY REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS RECOVER BOSTON WILL ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS GET THE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT TO OVERCOME THEIR CHALLENGES LEADING TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND RESTORE A SENSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TESTIFY ON ZOOM.  IF YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, UNMUTE YOURSELF AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE 2 MINUTES.  CAN YOU HEAR ME ? SORRY . YEP, WE CAN HEAR YOU.  PERFECT. PERFECT PERFECT.  OKAY, YOU CAN HEAR ME BUT CAN YOU SEE ME . OKAY, THERE WE GO. AM I CORRECT?  WE CAN WE CAN HEAR YOU SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD. WE CAN'T SEE YOU BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU ALL RIGHT. DON'T KNOW WHY.  OH, WE CAN SEE YOU NOW. OKAY, PERFECT. I WAS THERE EARLIER IN PERSON BUT THE EVACUATION. ALL RIGHT.  I WON'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME. I'LL JUST GET STRAIGHT TO IT.  MY NAME'S APRIL CARMINE AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE LEATHER DISTRICT FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE LEATHER DISTRICT FOR 20 YEARS AND WE HAVE A SON WHO ATTENDS A SCHOOL. I AM TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS TO EXPRESS OUR GROWING CONCERN REGARDING THE LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE WITNESSING AN ALARMING RISE IN DRUG ADDICTION DIRTY NEEDLES DRUG DEALING, THEFT AND VIOLENT INCIDENTS LIKE STABBINGS, THE ENFORCEMENT CONSEQUENCES OF THE FORMER MAYOR MARTY WALSH'S DECISION TO DEMOLISH THE LONG BRIDGE WITHOUT A REBUILD AND WITH IT THE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICE CENTER HAVE LEFT MANY PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS STRUGGLING TO FIND ADEQUATE TREATMENT OPTIONS WITHOUT A PROPER SUPPORT. THEY HAVE RETURNED TO THE CITY AND FACED OVERWHELMING TEMPTATIONS TO USE AGAIN WHILE DRUG DEALERS HAVE PREYED ON THEIR VULNERABILITY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, MAYOR WU'S DECISION TO DISMANTLE THE MASS AND CASTLE ENCAMPMENTS WHILE WELL-INTENTIONED, HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE.  IT HAS ONLY SPREAD THE PROBLEM INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AS A MOTHER AND INFURIATES ME TO SEE ADDICTS SHOOTING UP IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.  I HAVE VIDEO OF PROOF OF THAT HAPPENING AS I WALK MY 12 YEAR OLD SON TO SCHOOL I FIND MYSELF TAKING COUNTLESS PHOTOS OF DIRTY NEEDLES AND REPORT IT TO 311. IT'S BEEN A GREAT TOOL TO USE BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DO THAT? I AM ANGERED NOT JUST BY WHAT I WITNESS BUT BY THE LACK OF REAL ACTION FROM THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THIS ISSUE WE NEED MORE POLICING.  WE NEED OFFICERS WHO CAN ARREST AND CONFISCATE DRUGS FROM DEALERS WHO ARE THE ONES WHO ARE SUSTAINING THIS CRISIS.  DEALERS MUST FACE PROSECUTION WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE INCLUDING HEFTY BAIL SENTENCES. NEWMARK NO CASH BAIL. AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED MORE TREATMENT CENTERS FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS CRUISE SHIP IDEA AND I AM ALL FOR IT IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, DO IT.  BUT NONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS. THE CURRENT NUMBERS OF OFFICERS IS INSIGNIFICANT TO MEET THIS URGENT NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO TACKLE THE DRUG EFFECTIVELY EVERY DAY MY NEIGHBORS AND I RECEIVE CITIZEN APP ALERTS ABOUT STABBINGS AND THEFTS IN OUR AREA WE FREQUENTLY CALL 911 FOR ISSUES RANGING FROM CAR BREAK INS TO FINDING ADDICTS ON OUR DOORSTEPS. I'M SURE IF THEY'VE OVERDOSED SOME YELL AT US AS THEY GO THROUGH DRUG INDUCED EPISODES. WE ARE EMPATHETIC BUT THIS IS NOT A LIVABLE SITUATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE DETERIORATING. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO WALK DOGS, TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO THE PARK OR JUST GO FOR A WALK ON OUR OWN THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I RECENTLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE POLICE OFFICER AFTER MAKING THE 911 CALL HE A TROUBLING STORY A FRIEND OF HIS ORIGINALLY FROM BOSTON BUT NOW A TRAINED OFFICER IN GEORGIA WANTED TO RETURN HOME AND SERVE HIS CITY. HOWEVER DUE TO THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT HE WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY UNTIL HE MET THAT REQUIREMENT. THIS POLICY IS A THIRD WE HAVE QUALIFIED EAGER OFFICERS WHO WANT TO SERVE AND WE'RE TURNING THEM AWAY.  BOSTON POLICE HIRING PROCEDURES MUST BE REFORMED.  WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PASS OVER GOOD CANDIDATES WHEN WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF MORE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR ANY CITY AND YET BOSTON FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING INTO CHAOS. I FEEL FOR THE SAFETY FOR MY SON, MY HUSBAND, MY NEIGHBORS IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.  THIS CANNOT BECOME OUR NEW NORMAL IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT NOW THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND LIVES BE LOST. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS AND YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER. I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE THE MEETING ACTION TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY BY HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS.  THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.  I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MY DISTRICT COUNCILOR COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR HIS TIRELESS ADVOCACY ON THIS CRUCIAL ISSUE. HE HAS ALWAYS RESPONDED WHEN WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WALKTHROUGHS HE ATTENDS WITH US AND HEARING OUR CONCERNS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HAVE HIM BACK ON ON VIRTUAL I KNOW YOU WERE IN HERE IN PERSON EARLIER SO I APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND YOUR PATIENCE. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED UP FOR TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY IF YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPECIFY CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YEP, WE CAN HEAR YOU OKAY. BUT YOU CAN'T SEE ME AND I DON'T HAVE ANY VOICE SEE BUT WE JUST HAD YOU UP, OKAY? I FIGURED IT UP AND I SEE STEVE FOX IS SMILING SO THAT'S GOOD.  HE HE AND I KNOW EACH OTHER QUITE WELL SO I.  I HAVE LOST WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO HERE AND BECAUSE YOU COVERED ME. OH, NO.  OH, THERE IT IS.  THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE CONDUCTING THE HEARING. I APPRECIATE IT. I AM IN COUNCILOR FLYNN'S DISTRICT AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK JACOB THE BELLECOURT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR AN END FERNANDEZ COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ENERSON FOR HIS HELP IN PREPARING FOR THIS VERY QUICKLY 27 THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. MAYOR MENINO REDUCED TRAFFIC TO ONE LANE AND RESTRICTED ITS USE. THEN IN 2014, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, MAYOR WALSH CLOSED THE BRIDGE WITH NO PLAN OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE FALLOUT FROM THAT. SO THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE HAS KNOWN NEEDED REPAIRS FOR 17 YEARS IN THE AUGUST ISH SEVENTH AUGUST 16TH ISSUE OF THE BOSTON GUARDIAN THERE WAS AN ARTICLE TITLED COUNCIL TO ADDRESS WOO'S DRUG FAILURES AND THERE WAS THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN TERMS OF LARGE SCALE DRUG REHABILITATION PLANS, THE ONLY RELIEF ON THE HORIZON IS THE REOPENING OF THE LONG ISLAND CAMPUS. OOPS SORRY . THIS PAST SPRING THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY POSITIVE DETERMINATION FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR THE REQUIRED CHAPTER 91 LICENSE. THIS WAS THE LAST ISSUE IN CONTENTION FOR THE REPAIR OF THE BRIDGE. HOWEVER, THE HEARING OFFICER HAS NOT YET ISSUED THE PERMIT AFTER THAT ONCE THAT PERMIT IS ISSUED THE COAST GUARD WILL HAVE TO ISSUE ITS PERMIT. APPARENTLY THE POSTCARD HAS ALREADY GIVEN ITS VERBAL APPROVAL SO TWEAK TWO QUESTIONS ON THE TABLE AND I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER NOW WHO WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE HEARING OFFICER TO DETERMINE WHEN THE CHAPTER 91 PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED AND TWO WHO WILL WORK WITH THE COAST GUARD TO URGE THEM TO PLACE A HIGH ON THEIR PERMIT? THE QUESTION OF HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REPAIR THE BRIDGE? THE STANDARD ANSWER IS 5 TO 7 YEARS. THAT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 24 TO 26 YEARS WITH A KNOWN SERIOUS PROBLEM OF THAT BRIDGE AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, IF THE ONLY RELIEF IS THE REOPENING OF THE LONG ISLAND CAMPUS THEN THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE TIMEFRAME. IS JACOB STILL THERE? HE THEY ARE NOT IN THE CHAMBER RIGHT NOW BUT I WILL MAKE SURE TO PASS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM. NO, NO WHAT WHAT I ASKED HIM TO DO WITH I HAD MY HANDOUTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE HANDED THEM OUT BUT I INCLUDED A PICTURE OF A CABLE STATE BRIDGE OVER THE PENOBSCOT RIVER IN MAINE.  IT WAS DESIGNED AND COMPLETE IN FEWER THAN FOUR YEARS THIS IS A CABLE STATE BRIDGE DESIGN AND COMPLETED IN FEWER THAN FOUR YEARS. THE DESIGN OF THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED YEARS AGO SO THE DESIGN IS ALREADY DONE. THE BRIDGE SUPPORTS REMAIN THERE HENCE THAT REDUCES THE CHALLENGE OF REPAIRING THE BRIDGE. A NEW DECK NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED ONCE THE PERMITS ARE DONE AN RFP COULD BE QUICKLY ISSUED. THE CITY COULD HAS SOME WAYS THAT IT CAN ACCELERATE THE REBUILDING THE REPAIR OF THAT BRIDGE. THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH TWO FIRMS ONE WORKING FROM THE EAST EACH SIDE WHICH IS WHAT MAINE DID TO PUT UP THEIR CABLE STATE BRIDGE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND UNDERSTAND THERE'S WAS FEWER THAN FOUR YEARS FROM DESIGN TO BUILDING THE DESIGN OF THIS BRIDGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE CITY ALSO COULD INCLUDE A CARROT, A STICK INTO THE CONTRACT AND THERE ARE OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO ACCELERATE REPAIR TO KEEP IT UNDER TWO YEARS AND I REALLY BELIEVE THEY CAN BE IT CAN BE DONE UNDER TWO YEARS. THE THE BRIDGE WAS CLOSE BUT I THINK IF WE COULD JUST TO MATCH UP SO I DO WANT TO YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH UP IF WE CAN JUST THE TWO MAIN TYPES IF YOU CAN JUST FINISH UP WITH YEAH I'LL GO OVER REAL FAST THANK THE CLOSE AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STATE WHAT ROLE DOES THE STATE HAVE IN THE REPAIR OF THE BRIDGE AFTER 17 YEARS? HOW MUCH IS THE ABSENCE OF THE LONG ISLAND REBUILD REHABILITATION FACILITY COST THE CITY IN LIVES AND DOLLARS FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD IT'S COST A LOT OF MONEY. HOW MUCH MORE WILL IT COST IF THE BRIDGE WOULD TAKE 5 TO 7 YEARS WITH BOSTON CANNOT GO WITHOUT ANOTHER FACILITY FOR THAT LONG IF THE BEST RELIEF IS THE REOPENING OF THE LONG ISLAND CAMPUS THEN THE CITY SHOULD NOT SPENT ANY MORE ENERGY, TIME OR MONEY ON ALTERNATIVES IN MY OPINION BOSTON NEEDS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THE BRIDGE OPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO DESIGNATE A LEAD PERSON MUCH LIKE A PHILIP NG WHOSE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO GET THE BRIDGE OPERATIONAL AND THE STATE MUST COME TO THE TABLE. ONE LAST MY LAST COMMENT IS IF ANYBODY IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ROUGH SLEEPERS IT IT IT GIVES YOU AN EDUCATION OF WHAT HOMELESS IS AND ADDICTION IS DR. JIM O'CONNELL KNEW THE ABSTRACT TRUTHS ABOUT AMERICAN HOMELESSNESS THAT IS THE DIRTY DIARIES FORM OF POVERTY THAT IT CONSIGNS PEOPLE TO APPALLING MISERIES AND THEM WELL BEFORE THEIR TIME. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. THANK YOU, STEVE. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE DID RECEIVE THE PICTURE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR JUST HAVING THAT OVER WITH THAT I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF ALL OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY PEOPLE WHO CAME IN TESTIFIED OUR PANELISTS I DO WANT TO JUST TURN IT OVER BACK TO THE LEAD SPONSOR FOR CLOSING REMARKS.  COUNCILOR FRIEND, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND THANK YOU MR CHAIR FOR CHAIRING THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD INCLUDING RESIDENTS INCLUDING BUSINESSES, PEOPLE IN THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY AS WELL.  WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR CRISIS FACING THE IMPACT IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN AND AROUND MASS AND CHAOS INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY THE SOUTH END IN ROXBURY AND DORCHESTER IN SOUTH BOSTON BUT ALSO THE COPLEY AREA AND BACK BAY OR DOWNTOWN BOSTON IN BOSTON COMMON AS WELL OTHER AREAS NEAR THE BOSTON GARDEN.  BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE HERE TO PLACE BLAME ON ANYBODY BUT WE ARE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE A SERIOUS CRISIS AND WE'RE ALL WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRISIS, TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE POLICE ON THE STREET. I THINK WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IN MY OPINION FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT TAKES PLACE.  CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HAS TO BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION WHERE PEOPLE CONVICTED OF A CRIME ARE SENTENCED TO PRISON RESIDENTS PAY AND BUSINESS BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL A HUGE PROPERTY TAXES AND THEY DESERVE TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S SAFE AND HEALTHY AND SAME WITH BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO RESIDENTS BUT THEY WANT TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THEIR IN THEIR STAFF AS WELL. MY FINAL POINT AND IN CONCLUSION IS IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.  NO ONE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS. IT'S ABOUT LISTENING,  COMPROMISE AND WORKING TOGETHER IN ENSURING WE PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES WE CAN AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN ALL OF OUR PANELISTS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TODAY'S HEARING AND SPECIFICALLY THANK COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR ANDERSON SPONSORING THIS HEARING AND INCLUDING ME AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THIS HEARING I'M DELIGHTED NUMBER 1205 IS A GIANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU