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BostonCC_05042022_2022-0587

Speaker 1: 05870587 counsel as Lara and Fernandes, Sanderson offered the following order for a hearing to discuss the impact of inequitable housing code enforcement. In Boston's proactive rental inspection program. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes counsel. Our counsel over at U of the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you to Counselor Fernandez Anderson for co-sponsoring this matter with me. We all know that asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that's responsible for about 1.8 million annual emergency department visits in the U.S.. It's also the leading cause of childhood morbidity. It is a preexisting condition that we have seen exacerbate COVID 19, increasing the risk of hospitalization and death disproportionately for black and brown people in the city of Boston. And housing has been shown and housing quality in particular has been shown to be critical determinants of asthma, particularly for children with more. Excuse me. With more than 44% of the risk of childhood asthma diagnosis being attributed to exposure at home. In 2013, the city of Boston passed the Proactive Rental Inspection Ordinance, which implemented a proactive rental inspection program that requires owners of all nonexempt units to undergo inspection every five years. Last month, Harvard released a ten year study of our housing code enforcement, specifically for reported asthma triggers, which showed a 17% longer median response time, 14% higher probability of cases being overdue, and a 54.4% lower probability of repair in neighborhoods that have the lowest proportion of white residents in the city. We know that renters typically are slow to report this type of incident for fear of retaliation. And so we can expect that the number of people that are living in private rental units and are being exposed to asthma triggers are much more significant than what we see here. I believe that there's really an urgent need to strengthen code enforcement systems and programs like Breathe Easy at Home and the proactive rental inspection program if we want to protect the health and safety of our tenants, particularly in the city's most marginalized communities. As the chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, I'm committing to ensuring that our constituents not only have access to ample affordable housing, but that the places that they call home are also safe and healthy. I'm calling this hearing because our current interventions have proven to be plagued by the same systemic racism that we see in all of our city agencies. And I think that a policy failure is going to require a policy solution, and I hope that we can get to one here. Thank you, President, for. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Lara. Um. The chair recognizes Counselor Fernandez Anderson. Counsel Fernandez Anderson, you have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you. Counsel President. Thank you, counselor, for for inviting me and ask and inviting me to partner with you in this. So I guess, just to reiterate not what, which, what hasn't been said, right? So you put that so eloquently. In short, I think if you live in a predominantly black neighborhood because of the intersection between like, you know, systemic racism and class inequality, that neighborhood is more likely to be poor working class. So then obviously predominantly white neighborhoods than they are predominately white neighborhood counterpart. And I think because of this, to reiterate the example documented here, though, we could just as easily discuss other examples. Obviously asthma and other conditions that come with lack of inspections in in these communities obviously impact the communities disproportionately in a negative way. So thank you again and I look forward to hearing with you. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Fernandez innocent. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Constitution. Constitution? You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this talk. But also to say that one of the reasons why it's incredibly important to have is doing inspections is because people are so afraid already to withhold rent when it is their right, when they're not being provided an apartment. That is up to standards. We see it time and time again. People are paying for for apartments that are not quality. Right. But they feel like if they don't pay the rent, even though they're not getting heat or even though they're, you know, living in subpar conditions, that they're still required to pay rent. When they're not they are required. They are able to withhold rent. And the more we get ESD out there to inspect the apartments, the more people will feel empowered that they can actually withhold that rent that they can. And so I think it's important that we have see out there also so that our neighborhoods, our people in our neighborhoods feel like they can take ownership, even if they're just renting. What's coming out of their pocket and what's coming out of their pocket meets the value of what they're getting. So just right in support. And I think this is a really important conversation. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel. Again, the chair recognizes counsel role council. Will you have the floor? Speaker 3: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you to the Makers counsel Laura and Anderson Hirono to point to some staggering data around preparing items that are health hazards have received pictures of unhealthy living living situation from rodents, cockroaches and mold. As a city, I believe that we should be looking towards a more proactive enforcement does not that does that rely on tenant reports? For example, in 2003, the Greensboro City Council enacted their own certificate of occupancy ordinance and required mandatory inspections for essentially all rental housing. And after they enacted their ordinance, they saw that code violations dropped by 77% in eight years and that the city was able to bring more than 8700 properties up to a minimum minimum standard over the course of four years. I'm looking forward to working with the makers of ESD to ensure that the resources that we are able to enforce and strengthen the policies on inspection repair. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. And you want your name? Absolutely. The chair recognizes counselor Brad and counsel Brad and U of the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. I also want to thank the makers for this very important hearing order. And it also dovetails very nicely with some work our office has been doing on the issue of scofflaw landlords who do not keep their properties up to code and deferred maintenance and etc. without. And usually the code enforcement finds is just a cost of doing business. So we're working on that. The other issue that we are addressing in this context with regard to that issue is looking at the capacity of our Inspectional Services Department and making sure that they have the technology to actually be more effective in enforcing the codes . And and my understanding is being that, you know, they have been using basically a paper and pencil and paper, a pen and a paper approach, and that they do that the addition of added technology such as iPads, so they can do a field report in the field and have photographs and log. The conditions will expedite and be much more effective in enforcement. So always with any of these questions, I echo your concerns. Mr. President, we when we bring in new rules, new mandates, it's really important to ensure that our Inspection Services Department is equipped and has the it has the appropriate level of personnel to be able to be an effective enforcers of the code. So thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Speaker 4: And please have my name tag incarcerated. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel, I'm here. Speaker 6: So thank you, Mr. President. So I just want to rise and support and thank the leadership of the Housing Committee for spearheading this council a lot of for your and relentless leadership and all things that deal with housing. I really do appreciate and love how you lead in this space as well as council. Fernandez Anderson I'm really looking forward to the work and not only just having the conversation but really putting in the systems that are going to help support your vision. So please add my name. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel me here. Anyone else like to speak or add their name? I will. I will. I want to say thank you to the makers of this important hearing. I also want to highlight what counsel were all mentioned. The important role pest control plays in healthy living in apartments especially. But they contribute significantly to a decline in our public health our our our health for our children. So dealing with pest control is also a critical role. I know several of my councilors have mentioned that, but that's an important and important subject. And I just want to thank all the councils for the important work they're doing on this. If you'd like to add if you'd like to add your name, please raise your hand. Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Arroyo. Councilor. Councilor Braden Councilor Fire Council, whose own council may hear Councilor Murphy Council roll. Please add the chair. Docket 0587 will be assigned to the Committee on City Services, Innovation Technology. Mr. Clarke, please read Docket. Speaker 1: 05880588 counsel as Lara. Amanda Sanderson offered the following in order for a hearing to discuss the Malcolm X Park renovation.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to discuss the impact of inequitable housing code enforcement and Boston's proactive rental inspection program.

BostonCC

BostonCC_05042022_2022-0592

Speaker 1: I can have a059 to counsel as me here. Laura in Arroyo offered the following resolution, recognizing November 20th through December 20th, 2022, as National Survivors of Homicide Awareness Month. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. And before I even read this, I just wanted to acknowledge counsel, morale and counsel of Baker for bringing the Lucy Brown Peace Institute here a few weeks ago. So I really do appreciate your support for Tina and her team. So thank you for bringing them into the space. And I would also like to thank my co-sponsors, council, Elida and Arroyo. I know this resolution will be recognizing and Awareness Month all the way in November, but we frankly need to be recognizing survivors of homicide 365 days a year. We use the word, quote unquote, resilient in a lot of political spaces, perhaps sometimes too much. But it's hard to think of another word to describe the families and loved ones of those who have survived homicide. That kind of loss, this pain that sticks to you like no other. And as we have recently seen in recent events that have happened with the graves of our young loved ones in our cemetery in Roslindale, that pain and trauma can renew itself over and over again. And I think that too often we lose a loved one to homicide. That's that's the initial wave of support. People send you meals, reach out words of encouragement, refer you to trauma services. But what happens after that? What happens during that first birthday or holiday season without them? Who is there for the families in that time of need? And I think that's why we need a time like Survivors of Homicide Awareness Month, because there isn't a moment in time when the grieving stops, when you finally move on, especially when you have lost someone to homicide, as I have. This Sunday, I will be walking in the 26th annual Mothers Day Walk for Peace as a city councilor, but more importantly, as a mom, I need to be there not only to show my support, but because I know that we can't just keep having the same conversations around violence in our community. Something has to give. So that by this time next year, the 27th Annual Mothers Day's Walk for Peace can be a place where we can celebrate the fact that we realized our potential as a city and make major systemic changes to how we address the violence in our communities. I really hope that we can get to this point. And before I move to suspend the rules and ask my colleagues to speak, you know, I met so Tina was my neighbor. And when I started my career in the nonprofit sector, her son Louis was gunned down on Geneva not too far from where I live. And that was 20 something years ago. And we keep having the same conversation around violence. And I think that what we have lost touch is, is with the folks who have to continue to carry on. My niece. Lost the the father of her son to violence. In my first year here as a city councilor. And his tomb was one of the ones that were. Uh, one of the ones that were messed with. And it was my daughter. Who told me about it. And I think that when we think about survivors and we think about the pain and the trauma, all of those things need to be taken into consideration. If we're really serious about this work here in the city of Boston, I just feel like everything here is so political and it just gets tiring and people are tired of it. And I think that. You know, we all are responsible and we all have to be held accountable to what we're going to do if we're really serious about restoring the harm that so many are experiencing here in the city of Boston. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. The chair recognizes council borough council ora. You have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, President Flynn, and thank you to Councilor for asking me to co-sponsor this resolution for including me in this resolution. And Councilor Arroyo, our other co-sponsor. I became a homicide survivor for the first time when I was 11, when my oldest brother, who was 25 at the time, was murdered. I didn't know at the time that I would become a survivor another dozen times over in in my life, all of my colleagues, if not most of the folks here have are either survivors themselves or know and love survivors and their families who they either work with or are in their communities. And so I feel like this resolution is an ode to that strength and that resilience and the commitment to keep going from homicide survivors. And for me, it's really a commitment to the ongoing fight against gun violence. As a member of the trauma response team. I spend most of my time responding to victims and survivors of penetrating wounds in my neighborhood. I then became a street worker and did violence prevention and intervention work in Mattapan first and then in Lower Roxbury in the South End? And so to say that I have spent most of my adult and professional life. In the midst and trying to manage and fight for and advocate for not just our young people who are victims, but their their friends and families in our communities would be an understatement. There are things happening in my district currently that, you know, the folks in our community are really feeling the weight of, including this issue that we've been seeing at the cemeteries, one of which is a constituent of ours. And our office has been working really closely to support. And so, you know, when I think about survivors of homicide, I like to think about my mom who lost her, you know, lost her first child and how she dedicated her life maybe for the possible next ten years to finding my brother's murderer who wasn't arrested when my brother was shot. And that is the kind of tenacity that I see in all of our people, in all of our pain, all the pieces of the people and the constituents of the city of Boston. Who have to carry the weight of surviving homicide. So I'm really excited and happy to support this resolution, and I hope that we can continue to honor honoring survivors by making the policy decisions that are ultimately going to create safe communities for all of us. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor. Laura. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Council of Arroyo. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. President Flynn. I think counselor here and Counselor Laura for raising this with me. I had a murder hit very close to my home. Michelle Nova, the pizza delivery man who was murdered in High Park. I was the father at the time with my partner, and so I was there for the direct impact of that. And for the years after that, that's actually how I became very aware of the services that the city offers and where they're good and where they're poor. I got to meet Courtney Gray at that time. I have to give him some praise in this moment as somebody who is excellent at dealing with trauma. And the reality is they only have the resources at that point for folks who don't know. Rochelle Nova was a pizza delivery man who had taken a shift and that night was murdered over essentially $50 and. When that happens, there's obviously a lot of trauma, residual trauma, a lot of lifelong obvious pain and harm. And what the city was able to offer, which I think is certainly better than nothing, was a week essentially of Courtney Gray and sort of the trauma response team services. They got a week of that, and it was incumbent upon myself and people close to this family to basically ask them as many questions as we could to figure out how do you guide somebody through? Unspeakable loss and trauma, just the deepest, worst destabilizing thing that can happen to someone. And with his guidance and his ability to be somebody I can check in with regularly. There was healing there and there were things that were in play. But there's still that loss. There's still that trauma. There is still residual. Every holiday is very different. Every birthday is very different. Every moment that would bring joy. Generally, whether it's a graduation or a marriage proposal or however that is going, there is harm and loss and missing. And so to think about the families in Boston and in the state and in the country experience that I think Homicide Awareness Month is or is is the least of what we can do. I think focusing resources towards dealing with that trauma that families are feeling in those moments. And I would just also note that this was a case where they were able to arrest the folks who did this and bring them through a judicial process. But we know that in Boston, especially, many families have never had that closure. Many families have had to experience the feeling of not knowing who did this to their loved one. And so as we do this, you know, I just want to highlight that there are services that we have offered that I can testify, frankly, work really well, and we need to expand that action and that practice and make that more accessible. The other thing I will just mention here, too, is that people don't often think about this, but when people are die unexpectedly about to do murder or homicide, there is a cost that a family must now carry that is unexpected, and often times it is devastating to have someone who has just lost someone. And their first request is for money or for help securing money because they are stressed and worried about how they are going to properly honor their their loved one because they don't have the resources to do so in this time of trauma need. And I know that the city does do some very small allocations in the budget to help with those things. But I think that is something that I would like to see focused on in the budget as well, because it is heartbreaking to see families that do not have the resources to make it day to day, have to all of a sudden figure out how to get into debt or how to borrow money from other people so that they can honor their loved one while also going through such trauma. And so these are the kinds of wrap around things that I think we really have to focus on as a city and figure out how to address, because homicide is awful and terrible and there are all these sort of butterfly effects and ways in which we can be helpful and I can speak to that personally. And so thank you for lifting this up. I see all of those who have suffered this harm, and my thoughts and prayers, frankly, are with you all of the time, but especially now. So thank you, President Flynn and the council. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. The chair recognizes counsel for Charity Council, Florida U of the Fall. Thank you, Mr. President. Please add my name. And as the lead sponsor, it stated It really is a year round. A year round diet for four families. I lost my cousin back in 1994. 28 years has gone by. We think about it. The whole family thinks about them all the time. And one of the things we do think about is if the Boston of today, the Boston that supports strongly supports, arduously, supports our LGBTQ community, if that was the situation in 1994, we probably wouldn't have not have lost our cousin. And so that's constantly reminding me of of his passing, but also for those that are in this chamber or those that have lost a loved one, that I understand that and that we do think about our loved ones every day and wish that we could have that moment every day like something he had just alluded to. So please add my name and encourage others to join as well. Thank you, counsel. Clarity. Those wishing to add the name, please raise your hand. Mr. Kirk, please add Counselor Arroyo. Counselor Board Counselor and Counselor Fernandez Anderson. Counselor Baker, Counselor. Clarity. Counselor. Illusion. Counselor Murphy, counsel. We're all employees. That the chair. Councilors. Consoles me here. Laura and Arroyo. Now seeking suspension of rules and adoption of Docket 0592. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I oppose any. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. Mr. Clerk, please read docket. Speaker 1: 05930593. Counsel of Flynn offer the following resolution Recognizing the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution Recognizing November 20-December 20, 2022 as National Survivors of Homicide Awareness Month. On motion of Councilors Mejia, Lara and Arroyo, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

BostonCC

BostonCC_05042022_2022-0593

Speaker 1: 05930593. Counsel of Flynn offer the following resolution Recognizing the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The chair now recognizes. Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel. Royal counsel, royal counselor Fernando Fernandez Anderson as an original co-sponsor. Speaker 2: Seeing no objection, she is now added. Speaker 0: Thank you. Many, many know that I represent the largest AAPI community in Boston. Mostly in Chinatown, but also in the South End in itself, Boston as well. Outside of my district, we have a vibrant Vietnamese community that's in council, a baker's district. Um, and Councilor Braden also has a large Korean community as well. And council has a large AAPI community, as do other councilors. There's a large Cambodian community outside of Boston, up and up in Lowell. Um, over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend. The Asian Jade Banquet, which is a celebration of Asian police officers throughout New England. And they came together and talked about the important role of Asian and Asian-American police officers that play in our cities and towns. And they do an exceptional job. But I always come back to. A story that I have said several times. But when the Chinese community first came to the United States. They helped build the United States, literally with the transcontinental railroad. And Chinese laborers along with Irish laborers. Connected the East Coast and in the West Coast, and they connected up a bit outside of Salt Lake City. And there's this there's a famous photo of kind of a ribbon cutting ceremony completing completing the railroad. And there's about 200 people in one of these old photos. And of the 200 people, there's not one Asian person in the photo, even though they practically built and built the railroad. And after that, after completing the railroad, what did the U.S. government do? We enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act. What Chip scored in Chinese from coming to the United States was the first time that the United States intentionally excluded an ethnic an ethnic group from coming in here. We also during the during World War Two, we imprisoned Japanese Americans, mostly out in the West Coast, in California, in some other some other states as well, even though they were born here. Um. During this pandemic. We actually held the first public town hall meeting on COVID 19 in the country. And there was a Josiah Quincy School, and there was a young woman. She was a student at the Boston Latin at Boston Latin Academy. And this was in January 2020. And. COVID really didn't hit this part of the United States yet. But we we knew it was coming. And this student got on the train heading to school when she got on the train. She walked into the train and all the other people on the train got off the train. Because they associated her with with COVID 19. She was a young kid, probably 16 to 17 years old, telling telling me that story at this at this town hall. And then I thought to myself, you know, we're going to see a lot of anti-Asian racism in this country. anti-Asian hate hate crimes. That have happened here in the city of Boston, not just with the AAPI community, with immigrants, with communities of color as well, LGBTQ as Council of Clarity, as I mentioned also, um, and these, these hate crimes against immigrants continue to this day. I was at a hearing the other night and an elderly Asian woman was visiting Boston. I think she lived in Somerville. She was probably 80 years old. She got punched in the head by a young guy, probably, probably 20 years old, just just because she was Asian. But what I but what I want to do as we celebrate AAPI. Certainly we have to deal with the discrimination and the hate crimes, but also to celebrate the important role the Asian community has played in the United States, the contributions and the sacrifices that they made for our city and for our country. So I'm proud to partner with Counselor Fernandez Anderson. But I also want to say to my colleagues, I know you, you have also supported the AAPI community, not just today or this month, but for all of the year. So I want to recognize my colleagues for the tremendous work they do in this field. And I also want to recognize our first mayor of the city of Boston, Mayor Malveaux, who with have partnered on this resolution many times before. But I just want to say thank you to the mayor for her important work as well. So thank you. Mr.. Thank you also for giving me the opportunity to speak. Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilor Flynn. The Chair now recognizes Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 4: Thank you. Uh, Councilor. Sorry, President Flynn, for filing this resolution. And I just wanted to take a moment to just, you know, sort of now go by the formalities and just express my sentiment around this. When I arrived to the United States and did not and I was looking for a job to save money so that I can bring my brother or sister. And I would save every little bit. And I didn't have a green card, so I would I found a way and there was a few friends in Cambridge that I met some Bengalis and and other Nepalese friends that had hooked me up with some jobs and we would all work together. And of course, the joke was that immigrants that we work two or three jobs and sometimes we're called, you know, people would say, are you Jamaican if you work more than three jobs, right. So we all share this culture of working hard and being disciplined and putting out, you know, a lot of work because of our, you know, ethics or work ethics in terms of being disciplined in putting out work. But I a lot of my friends also share the sentiment. And as you know, Muslims being highly Asian or Asian Pacific Islanders share this expression that or the sentiment that. Because where because they work very hard and because they are disciplined or humble in the way that they ask for recognition that they are not recognized as human beings for the work that they put out. And not to repeat everything that often has said. But I was really happy that you mentioned all of the different historic contributions to the United States and building this country, but also all of the hardships that people have gone through. And I think that a lot of the times we human as human beings, we're not very good with the unknown. So we wait for this paradigm shift to take us to, oh, wait, it's wrong to discriminate against LGBTQ. Ah, oh, wait, it's wrong to be. To discriminate against blacks. Oh, it's wrong to be this way or that way. So I think that we should try to get into the culture of being open and understanding that there are nuances. As and as Counselor Laura has mentioned, we're not a monolith. So that's not to any and that's to every group. Everybody. There's nuances and culture and differences and music and food and everybody's different. And I think what happens is we we tend to clump up people in one category or one bucket Asians, that's it. But there's so much beauty and diversity and language and culture that comes with the different type that different Asians and Asian Pacific Islanders . I'm so happy to partner with you in this and thank you so much, so much for your work. But not just because you're not just because you represent a lot of Asians, but because you're you are a very kind man. Castle Flynn. And I really just appreciate you for taking the time and not it's not about faults for you. It's like this. These are people I represent and I'm going to do that to the best of my ability with heart and passion. And I appreciate you for that. Speaker 2: Thank you. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Would anyone else like to speak? Seeing no one. Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clarke. Please add. Councilor Baker. Councilor. Councilor Braden. Councilor Flaherty. Councilor Lara. Councilor. Legion. Councilor here. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Allen. Please add my name. Councilor Flynn seeks suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0593. All those in favor say I am opposed. Say the ayes have it. Docket 0593 has been adopted. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Royal. Mr. Clarke, will you please read 20594 police. Speaker 1: Numbers 059 for council and me here or for the following resolution in support of Senate 2671 An act relative to forfeiture reform and Senate 2105 enact relative to civil asset forfeiture data reporting.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. Councilor Arroyo in the Chair. On motion of Councilor Flynn, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

BostonCC

BostonCC_05042022_2022-0594

Speaker 1: Numbers 059 for council and me here or for the following resolution in support of Senate 2671 An act relative to forfeiture reform and Senate 2105 enact relative to civil asset forfeiture data reporting. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel may hear you over the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to suspend Rule 12 and add Counselor Arroyo and Laura as original co-sponsors. Speaker 0: Hearing no objection. Counselor Arroyo and Counsel Laura are so out of it. Speaker 6: Thank you. In March, the Committee on Government Accountability and Transparency and Accessibility held its maiden hearing on Docket 0200 in order for a hearing on government accountability, transparency and accountability towards surveillance equipment. We learned a lot regarding the purchasing of the cell site simulator and how it's used and what the process is in regards to civil asset forfeiture dollars are in how they're used. We also walked away with a greater sense of knowledge about the current state of civil asset forfeiture across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. According to the Institute of Justice. Massachusetts earns an F for its civil forfeiture laws with the lowest bar to forfeiture, poor protections for the innocent and a large profit incentives. We have to do better. Fortunately, there is legislation at the state level that seeks to make an impact. An act relative to forfeiture reform will require the attorney general, each district attorney and each police department to file an annual report with the Executive Office of Administration and Finance and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means detailing all assets moneys proceeds from the assets seized pursuant to the Section. An Act relative to the relative to civil asset forfeiture data reporting will require the State Treasurer to establish and maintain a case tracking system and searchable public website. That includes, among other things, name of the law enforcement agency that seized the property, date of the seizure type of property, seize estimated value of the seizure, the outcome of the suspect's arrest and more. These are small changes that will by no means fix everything wrong with our civil asset forfeiture policies. But they are a start in the right direction that has a positive impact on the state of government accountability, transparency and accessibility. I'd like to thank Alex MATTHEWS for bringing these these pieces of legislation to our attention, as well as Fatima Muhammad Muhammad and Kate Crawford for their tireless work in seeking transparency and accountability. I move that we suspend the rules and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Counsel Arroyo. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, President Flynn. At civil asset forfeiture in Massachusetts has the. Is the sole one in the entire country with 50 states where the only one in which you can seize assets just on the basis of probable cause, which is the lowest form and the lowest bar. And so, you know, civil asset forfeiture has a number of issues, including the fact that we can seize assets when there was no charges brought. We can seize assets even in cases that end up dismissed or where a jury ultimately finds them not guilty. And in the state that has occurred in multiple jurisdictions, this doesn't address that. This doesn't change the bar. This also doesn't create any restrictions on where and how that money is used. The only thing that this does is create transparency in the data of what assets are seized, when they are seized, and what cases are they seized and how they are spent. But it doesn't in any way, shape or form impact the bar to seize them or the process to seize them. Nor does it change in any way the decision making and the processes that allow that money to be spent in whatever way they they need to spend it. Obviously, those are reforms that I would support and look forward to seeing happen, but this doesn't do that. What this does is it says when and where we are seizing assets, when and how we are seizing assets should be transparent to the public. We should be able to see those things. We should be able to know what cases they come from. We should be able to know how they are spent. We should be able to know ultimately what the outcome of those charges, if there are charges are. And I think that transparency is a good thing for the Commonwealth, especially in light of the fact that we are the only state that allows those seizures at a probable cause standard. And so with that, I have I'm happy to sponsor this and look forward to seeing appropriate action and support of Senate Bill 2671. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Arroyo. The Chair recognizes counsel avira counsel Lara U of the fore. Speaker 7: Thank you, President Flynn, and thank you to my co-sponsors. I have very little to say for two reasons. One, because my colleagues have outlined the importance of this bill and this resolution so very clearly. And two, because I have been out since seven in the morning and I'm running out of steam. I am incredibly supportive of this matter. When we held our hearing on the purchase of the cell site simulator by the Boston Police Department. I had all of these questions and it became very obvious that there was policy changes that needed to happen at the state level in terms of what we could do to reform civil asset forfeiture. And so I'm excited to support this resolution. I'm excited to support this bill. And my counsel mentioned, I hope that it's gathering this data and having the information is only going to give us everything that we need to make sure that further reform comes down the line. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Laura, the chair recognizes counsel. Florida counsel. Florida, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to the sponsors, and I appreciate the clarification from our colleague, Counsel Arroyo. Those are just the questions that I had. And I guess the question for the chair of the makers, would they consider having a hearing as opposed to sort of a suspension, an adoption, so we can kind of break that down? I know the way it works now is that the the procedures divided, I believe, have go to the law enforcement agency and the other half goes to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. I think that's the way that it was always broken down. I've made efforts on this floor to try to have those funds or at least have treatment or recovery, be it sort of the third leg of that school, particularly at school, and particularly in instances where there was a it was a result of a drug forfeiture. But and they would resist it vehemently. Clearly, Boston police had their thoughts and ideas as to where they wanted to spend their forfeiture money. The district attorney's office thought that they had their ideas, but we always were pushing from this body to get treatment and recovery into that equation if we're going to seize those assets. And as a result of of the case involved drugs and alcohol, we felt that it should go to treatment or recovery. So I would love an opportunity to bring the appropriate parties down and have that discussion in terms of clearly how the forfeiture happens and the mindset behind it, but whether or not it makes sense to potentially maybe inject treatment or recovery into that equation once again. But again, that's just for the makers. I do appreciate the clarification and I look forward to see whether or not hearing makes appropriate sense. Thank you counsel far to just want to respond to counsel clarity counsel here counsel Flaherty asked if. As the original sponsor, would you consider a hearing order, not a resolution. Just want to recognize you. Counsel me here. Speaker 6: So I don't I solo I have my co-sponsors to help to weigh in. You know, the fact of the matter is that this is something that's happening in the Senate. Right. And this is a resolution on the council floor in support of it. Right. That's one. And number two. We did have a hearing in regards to this conversation. So I do think that I just want to honor that that conversation is still being held in my committee. So there might be opportunities in the future to unpack specifically what you're talking about. But I just want to be really clear that this is a resolution in support of something that is at the House right now. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Councilman here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. Mr. Kirk. Please add Councilor Bullock. Councilor Braydon. Console illusion. Councilmember here is seeking suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 0594. All those in favor say aye. Aye, aye. Opposing. The ayes have it. The docket has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 05950595.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution in Support of S.2671 An Act Relative to Forfeiture Reform and S.2105 An Act Relative to Civil Asset Forfeiture Data Reporting. President Flynn in the Chair. On motion of Councilor Mejia, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Arroyo and Lara as a co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Mejia, Arroyo and Lara, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

BostonCC

BostonCC_05042022_2022-0595

Speaker 0: All those in favor say aye. Aye, aye. Opposing. The ayes have it. The docket has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 05950595. Speaker 1: Council of Louisiana for the following resolution recognizing me as Haitian Heritage Month. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Constitution. Constitution? You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. I am very excited to be writing today in recognition of May as Asian Heritage Month. Actually, Boston is the first place where we started celebrating Haitian Heritage Month in 1998, and it's because of the number of events that happen in the month of May that, you know, that are relative to Haitian history, that it became a whole month, including the most. For me, the most important Haitian holiday is our Independence Day, which is on January 1st. What Haiti was able to do when a 13 year slave revolt, the only the only republic born out of a slave revolt. That is the most important holiday. But the most celebrated holiday in Haiti is actually May 18th, and it is still a holiday celebrated around the world, in Haiti communities. It's our Flag Day, where we honor Captain Flynn for creating the Haitian flag by essentially tearing up the French flag and creating something new from that which is symbolic of everything that Haiti has represented and continues to represent. You know, so much of the hate story of Haiti, as we know, you know, there's a lot of pride, but there's also, you know, a lot of pain. I'm not thinking just about the seven months in which, you know, I was running for city council. You know, the things that came up in the assassination of our president. An additional earthquake after continued trauma from the first earthquake that happened in 2010, you know, dodging hurricanes and really and with the political instability in the country, a lot of it being the result of American foreign policy. So there's just so much there. And I think, too, about just growing up as a as a young Haitian woman in this city. You know, when I was in elementary school, we didn't have a Haitian Heritage Month, and I was in a school, an elementary school with a large Haitian population. But I was not an English language learners class, but I was noticeably Haitian. And my father, who was at the school every day, he's supposed to be here, but he's running late because that's what we do. We really he I couldn't hide the fact that I was Haitian. Right. He was always in the school is a very thick Haitian accent when he speaks. And in my classroom, there were other students who were Haitian. But, you know, sometimes they didn't always mention it because they made fun of the Haitian or the Haitian English language learners. And as a result of that, they made fun of me in my classroom. And I think about how confusing that was as a young elementary student, not knowing why it was worth making fun of people trying to learn English or why it was worth making fun of people who had dark skin. And so when I now as a full adult and now as a Boston city counselor, go into classrooms and go into elementary school rooms, I always remember that little girl who was in those classrooms and who wanted to see someone say. It is more than okay to be proud of who you are and of where you come from. And so I'm really happy that I had this opportunity. My father, who just wanted. Speaker 4: To to other. Speaker 5: Haitian Heritage Month and to also, you know, honor my dad, who is one of the reasons why I am able to stand here as a very proud Haitian person. He made sure that my sister and I were reading Haitian Creole, we're speaking it, which is a thing that a lot of people can do. If you weren't born in Haiti. And so he made me even though it wasn't cool for your dad to make you someone carry your pride, he made me carry the pride of this flag everywhere that I went. And so building on that, we had this whole month where I doing a lot of really awesome programing on the USS Constitution Museum in Charleston, actually has original letters from Toussaint Louverture, where he, the Haitian freedom fighter who is the cause and the reason for our freedom, and really showed the example to the world of what enslaved people can be and become and how we could break off the shackles of slavery. We are having the Haitian Flag Day parade on on May 15. We'll also this council has actually had a breakfast honoring our Haitian Flag Day every year. And for the first time since we have a Haitian American city councilor, I will be hosting it. My announcement for the week, I'm just putting it here, is that I invite all of you to that breakfast happening here next Friday at 10:30 a.m.. I also just want to also recognize the number of Haitians working here in city hall, including my cousin Charlene, who is here. I just there's so many of us here, and I think it's important. I always say that the third largest Haitian diaspora is in Boston that is cognizable. It is here in the city of in in city hall and in our hospitals, in our schools, everywhere we are. And so I'm just so grateful that I now have this ability to do this, to be a representative for my people. And I know that this hearing was also filed last year by any society George and Andre Campbell. So many people here have, you know. We represent communities that are vibrant Asian communities. I think of Council Valley, think of Castro Arroyo. I know that we have many friends here and I just am so grateful for the work that we do not only to, you know, go to Asian communities when they need, you know, when it's time to get a vote or, you know, to say that I'm a good friend, but to really do the real work of being in deep partnership with communities that are often struggling. Right. We have folks coming here from the border. We have folks who are being displaced by fires. We have Haitian nonprofits that are running on shoestring budgets. We have a diaspora here that is in deep, deep need of having a place where we can be centered and anchored in our culture when things happen. So I just thank you all for your commitment to the Haitian community here. I'm into the work that we are going to do together. I'm just going to say this a little bit. Bill Bascom Gabriel Castillo because you've spent considerably more education and I've been to Boston look in L.A. City Hall young film one to excuse me Le Couteur by La Avenue minute. Speaker 4: Corner toot toot. Speaker 5: Kutumela. What do you miss here when talking with you about this? Are your men and women taking liberty to Kariobangi Newport Tabla and looking to get these women on wharf? It no communication. What can you do that well somebody's awesome their kids may poop I love it really scares me if you poo I'm pretty junior so I just want to say thank you to everyone and thank you to my council colleagues. I hope to see you all next Friday at the breakfast and thank you for the work that you do for me and my people. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Council, John. And on behalf of the body, we also want to welcome you out here. We're proud we're proud to have you here as well. Welcome. The chair recognizes counsel. Have clarity. Counsel clarity. View of the floor. Please add my name to this resolution as the very first sponsor of that breakfast that passed that are working within our mind to see it back in the day passed it on to former counsel Rob Consalvo, who passed it on to former counsel to McCarthy, who passed it on to our colleague Ricardo Arroyo, who obviously passed it on to our first Haitian-American here and roots in Louisiana. So I appreciate the on to come along to that breakfast, but also to her dad. We may want to cook him up with Kerry because he came in a little late after for a speech. So we may able to get him the full tape working through central staff so that he didn't miss the he didn't miss all the action. All right. Thank you, Mr. President. Great, great recommendation, counsel. Clarity. Thank you. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo, Counsel Arroyo of the fall. Speaker 2: Thank you, Counselor. Louisiana. You know, the country of Haiti is really a beacon for the world in the way in which they were formed in a slave revolt successfully. And much of the trauma and harm that Haiti has experienced has been the result of foreign policy, frankly, from places like the United States of America, which at the time were slave owning and had slave owning leadership that saw Haiti as an existential crisis. And so there's many different ways in which I think we can raise our voice to ensure that we are. We're leaving them, frankly, of the harm that has been done in all of our names. And I know one of the ways in which we can do so as well is pushing for the repayment from France to Haiti, for the debt in which they have incurred upon Haiti, which it was fully paid, which was for themselves. Haiti, upon their liberation, was imposed a debt from France where they were to pay for their own freedom, and that should be returned tonight. And I'd raise my voice to that. And I will say that as we have the privilege and the benefit of a large Haitian population here in Boston, I believe that the district with the most members of the Haitian diaspora in the city of Boston, the breadth of service that has come from that, the culture and in the ways in which they have lifted up our small businesses have joined in and been parts of our community and making them better and in bringing in soccer leagues and doing all of these different things that have created a better day to day for all members of our city. I'm grateful to them. I'm grateful for their spirit, for their resilience and for their pride and where they come from, both from a historic way, from a personal way, from their homeland, but also in the ways in which they uphold their culture and their tradition so proudly for all the rest of us who are members of different diasporas to see. And so I'm very grateful to counsel Louis Gen for raising this. I am in full throated support of this, so please add my name and I'm grateful to our Haitian community here in Boston for all that they do and for the country of Haiti, for all they have done for other countries like the one that my parents come from, who have also grappled with colonialism and with imperialism, and in that specific case, the the ultimate sin of of slavery. And so thank you for for that. And thank you to all Haitians for uplifting their country here at home. So thank you, Counselor. Speaker 0: Flynn Thank you, counsel. While the chair recognizes counsel to counsel. COUNSEL Larry, you have the foster. Speaker 7: Okay. Thank you, President Flynn. I think Counselor Fernandez Anderson was before me, but she very graciously gave me her spot. I wanted to rise in support of this and to thank Counselor Lujan for filing it. I've said this before and I want to say this again that black people all across the diaspora in this entire world, all the people of Haiti, a great debt and that we are where we are now because of their fervor and because of their fight for liberation. And I also want to stand because I think it's incredibly important to publicly show support as a woman from the Dominican Republic. I think that. You know, what we have seen happening on the Dominican and Haitian border in the past few years has been unconscionable. And I think that as people of the Dominican diaspora here in the United States, we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with the Haitian people. And with your permission, I would like to speak in Spanish to the Baron in terms of for your resolution that they need the assets of Mr. Mario a mr. Patrimonial is also a story. Is that resolution the lack of seclusion for you in the Dominican at the end, rather that they are saying in solidarity that it's a las personas, the idea of establishment of those eating with straw. So thank you for filing this and please add my name. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Ira. The chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez innocent. Counsel Fernandez innocent. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Well, we just going to make this multicultural, whatever, because I'm both so I'm. I'm publisher. Is your comment separate on power, Robert, not hold back, huh? Well, that well, they're massive for everything that you do for our Rosa. I always say when I met your dad, I told him, I said, you know, you carry all manageable, fancy, suitable, fancy and manageable control. But she but he was like, okay, you know, it doesn't matter. You're speaking it. We understand. Let's go. So I really I really love you, dad, and appreciate you watching this. And during the campaign, I would tell the people the same thing. I'll be like, hey, you're my cousins because y'all left covered right. West Africa went and it being or Cuba as well being one of the first islands to land. So literally, we eat your food. Thank you for your zouk. I know cassava is not Haitian, but still it's your culture and thank you for your food. Keep word being that it's a very new civilization or in terms of post-colonial. We didn't have TV, we didn't have music. We have a lot. So we benefit from your culture and we dance your music and your food and your traditions, or rather what you left behind. So messy for being here, for being president. But I also think that, you know, I literally just watched the documentary again because I love watching it again and again and again to remind me that how we have the strength to be able to fight. But I have great respect for the Haitian people, for their strength, for just a story and how they really showed the world and being the only one to fight a colonial colonialism. So shout out to Toussaint Louverture, as you said, and thank you so much for being here. And I would hope that in the way that I treat you, in the way that I interact with you is exemplary in how I respect you and love you. So I'm good to you for that reason because you are a priority for me. Thank you. Love you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Fernandez Anderson, the chair recognizes. Counsel me here, counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 6: I am so incredibly happy to have our first and I hope will not be our last Haitian representation here on the city council. So thank you, Counsel Louisiana, for everything that you do, not only to just amplify the voices of our people, but to also continue to fight as hard as you do. Thank you. I just wanted to share the same sentiments as counsel. A lot of you know, I always talk about being an Afro Latina and reclaiming my black roots. Right. I think that Dominicans really struggle with recognizing that we share the island of. Yeah. And that this is an opportunity for us to really as Dominicans to really lean into this conversation that we're here because of you. And I think that's really hard for a lot of Dominicans to to digest that. I actually met your dad even before I was even thinking of running and when I was advocating a deep collaboration with the Haitian community during the earthquake, because there was a lot of tension with Dominicans and Haitians here in the city of Boston. And I think that this solidarity needs to just be here on this council floor. But we need to work in collaboration and bring our communities together to recognize that we need each other and we need to continue to fight for one another. And I do so in the spirit alongside you, Councilor Lucian, for this day and every day. Thank you. And please sign my name. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. The chair recognizes counsel Braden. Counsel Braden. Thank you. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, counsel Louisiana, for this celebration of Haitian Heritage Month. You know, you've met my nephew, Jamin, and he's a very tall, handsome black man who came from Port au Prince as a very little child. His mom is from Haiti, and she's married to my brother in law, Henry McCarthy. And they live in New Orleans. And my association with that family and by extension, the Haitian community is limited in many, many ways. But I just one thing that impresses me is the incredible tenacity, perseverance and courage of the Haitian people in the in the in the face of so many recurrent and sequential challenges, natural disasters, political strife and political unrest over the last year of the history of the over the history of the nation. And I'm very honored to consider you a friend and colleague on the Boston City Council, the first Haitian woman you walk in, you following in the path of a few other very strong and remarkable Haitian women in politics in Boston. And I'm so honored to have you as a friend and colleague. So I wish all the folks in the Haitian diaspora here in Boston a very happy celebration of Haitian Heritage Month. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. The chair recognizes counsel. Earl. Counsel Earl. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you to counsel Louis Gen for bringing this to the floor. I'm in support of this resolution, and I just want to. Let's also add that, you know, just like the Haitian community, you know, setting the example of being resilient fighters and preserving through all the turmoil that they have gone through, you know, you know, Counsel Louis Jean brings that fighting spirit to the city council. And I'm a big fan of the culture, just like Councilor Tang and Anderson has said, you know, typically these that Copa music. And I'm looking forward to celebrating the culture on Haitian Flag Day. And I also know what it's like to have very prideful parents, me being a West Indian, it's one thing that, you know, your parents are always happy for you when you're, you know, doing doing the smallest thing sometimes or, you know, even to this height, you know, recognizing your culture. And it. Jamaicans also have a slogan that says, out of many, we are one. So it's in that collaborative effort that I look like to be united with the Haitian community in my district to kind of move things forward. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel world. The chair recognizes Constitution. Constitution? You have the. Speaker 5: Floor. Yeah. Sorry, I'm not going to take that. I just want to say thank you to all my colleagues for your kind words. Sometimes we sit here, we pass these resolutions, and we're like, What is it doing right? I just want to say that I will. I tell people that no city council is recognizing Haitian Heritage Month. We passed a unanimous resolution. So God willing. Right. And they just stood up. It just the joy for folks who for so long have been excluded, who are downtrodden, who have been forced to. When you go into this resiliency. Well, and I just think that like these small, they seem small. But it really does matter to a lot of people. You know, when I was in Kansas and Anderson was here recognizing, you know, and fighting for it as a holiday, what that when I looked around at, you know, the Muslim folks in this room and how much that meant to them, it's the same thing. So I just am so honored to have all of you speak so, so, so nicely about the Haitian community here and hope that that also translate to the work that we have to do. So thank you, Ms.. Champion. KIMBALL And the benediction. May God bless everyone. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselors and anyone else I'd like to speak. I would like to add that I'm also proud to. Sign on to this because of the incredible contributions and sacrifices of the Haitian and Haitian American community here in greater Boston is with the constitution several months ago out in front of the federal building where we will be protesting in support of fair immigration for for the Haitian community that came to here came to the United States during the earthquake in 2010, 2010. And I was only I was about 80 miles away from that earthquake when it when it hit. No. And I was part of the I was part of the. Relief team. But I just wanted to say the the resilience of the Haitian community here in our country is exceptional and they are tremendous tremendously to Boston answered into the United States. So happy to sign on as well. Anyone else like to sign on? Please raise your hand. Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Baker. Council Councilor. Bar Council Operating Council. Flowery. Also our council here. Council. Murphy Council. We're all in the chair. Um. Constitution is seeking suspension of the rolls and adoption of dockets. 0595. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed saying the ayes have it. The docket has passed. We arrived too late. Files. I am informed by the correct that there are zero eight files. Since we are onto green shoots, anyone wishing to remove a matter from the green sheets may do so at this time. The consent agenda. We're now moving on to the consent agenda. I have informed by the clerk that there is one addition to the consent agenda agenda.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution recognizing May as Haitian Heritage Month. On motion of Councilor Louijuene, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04272022_2022-0464

Speaker 1: the deficiencies in the priority categories for which the City of Boston may be invited to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future. Submits a report recommending that or ought to pass docket number 0464 the Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred on April six, 2020 to docket number 0464 message in order for your approval, a revised order authorizing the city of Boston to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority this MSSP, a statement of interest for its accelerated repair program for the following schools. Ailey Pilot School Curley K through High School Lowell Building Burke High School Anderson K through 12 Inclusion School, Upper Campus, Lawrenceburg High School and English High School submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Fernandez Anderson, chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Council. Fernandez Anderson, you have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. On Tuesday the 19th, the committee held a hearing on the two dockets. And I'd like to thank my council colleagues, President Flynn, Castlebar Constitution and Council, for joining me in this discussion and also the attendees from the administration, from and included and in discussion. Mr. Bloom, Deputy CFO and four whips, gave an overview of MSW, MSC MBA, stating that an estate agency that provides additional funding to local districts to be able to conduct facility improvements and construct new school buildings. He stated that there are two main programs operating by the SBA, and the core program supports projects covering extensive repairs, renovations , additions, renovations and new school constructions. And the Accelerate program. HRP supports projects covering repair replacements in roofs, windows and doors and boilers in an otherwise structurally sound facility. Mr. Bloom also discussed the city's relationship with the MBA program and stating that BP has approved approximately 206 million reimbursements for. SBA says 2015, which helped fund 31 schools projects. It was explained that the two dockets present authorization to submit supplies for two corps projects. Docket 0463 and the correction in the previous approved area, salaries for six schools for docket 0464. Regarding next steps, MST VA will review SRO EIS over summer in fall 2022, leading to decision in late 2020 to early winter 2023. Following with BP would return to the Council for a funding authorizations. As a chair of the Ways and Means to which the following were referred. The docket 0463 and I. And on the schools that the clerk has already listed, I recommend that I submit this report and recommend that these dockets ought to pass. Speaker 1: Thank you. Counsel Fernandez Anderson, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, seeks acceptance of the committee report. Passage of Docket 0463. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The docket is passed. Counsel Fernandez Anderson, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passes passage of Docket 0464. All those in favor say aye. Opposed Nay. The ayes have it. The docket is passed. We're unsure matters recently heard for possible action. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 048020482 Docket 0483 in docket 048420486 together. Duncan. Emma 048030482 orders for the fiscal year 23 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations for the school department and for other post-employment benefits.

Mayor Order

The message and order, to which was referred on April 6, 2022, Docket #0464, for your approval a revised Order authorizing the City of Boston to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Statement of Interest for its Accelerated Repair Program for the following schools: Haley Pilot School, Curley K-8 School Lower Building, Burke High School, Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper Campus, Ohrenberger School and English High School, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04272022_2022-0545

Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Fernandes. Anderson I could 04802.0482.0483 in docket 04842.2.80486 will remain in committee motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Clark, please. 3.0545.0545. Councilors Brayden and Lucien offered the following ordinance, providing for remote participation in meetings of public bodies. The chair recognizes counsel. Braden. Counsel. Braden, do you have the floor? Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend the rules and to add counselor here. As an original co-sponsor, please. Speaker 1: Counsel Braden six suspension of the rules and to add counsel me here as the third original co-sponsor seeing here no objections counsel me here is added to the third as the original co-sponsor counsel rating of the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you. I offer this remote participation ordinance today as an amended refile of an issued an initiative led one year ago by our departing colleague, Senator Edwards. We're going to miss you, Governor Baker. And the legislature, as extensions of provisions for remote hearings and meetings by public bodies are set to expire within 80 days. And there are no law which will take state action to amend the open meeting law to allow for hybrid meetings for public from members of public bodies. It is it is within our ability to provide for remote participation for members of the public to observe the proceedings of public business, whether through livestream or for real time observation or via Zoom for public testimony. I want to acknowledge and appreciate the coalition of advocates who have kept this issue at the forefront, including the ACLU, Common Cause, Mass Public Interest Research Group, the Disability Law Group and the Boston Center for Independent Living. Remote Participation is not simply about safety or convenience in the midst of a pandemic, but about about maintaining equitable and meaningful access to public processes. We cannot simply retreat from pandemic provisions which have been in place for the past 25 months and are set to expire in less than three months. I want to express that I am less concerned. I am I am less concerned for the concerns preparedness for July 15th, but that but for what many of other public body bodies across the city, the zoning board of Appeals licensing and the BPA and more. We know this. We know from experience and talking all across our city that community participation in these public meetings increased during the pandemic was the opportunity for remote access. And I think that's something we need to continue. I believe that this is also timely and what's the budget season so that the council can engage in a conversation with property management and do it to identify city hall meeting spaces that need equipment investments for tech set out. We do not want implementation to be a burden for any particular city body and hope to engage their chairs to discuss capacity support then they need in order to standardize the practice by providing of providing for remote participation . I also want to appreciate the incredible work that our central staff does in supporting our city council, in doing their work and all through the tour, through the pandemic, they very quickly and efficiently pivoted to support us in doing remote hearings and meetings and is greatly appreciated. So this is about setting a standard for how we continue to engage people with disabilities, seniors, people with limited access to transportation, and people with work and family obligations who would otherwise be unable to attend a meeting in person. And I look forward to to advancing and to advancing this as in our city, working together. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, counsel. The chair recognizes Council on Inclusion Council agenda. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank Councilor Braden for keeping this issue alive and well. Thank you to Senator Edwards also for bringing this up. We know that this is more than just about convenience. It's it's about being very intentional in creating a democratic process that is accessible to more of our residents. We should always be thinking about how do we bring city hall out of city hall and bring it to people? And remote participation is one way that we can ensure that we've seen firsthand how remote participation, as Councilor Brayton mentioned, has boosted civic engagement at all levels throughout our city. And so we have a responsibility to to continue that and not to roll it away. Remote participation in meetings has been a key element in bringing down longstanding barriers to access who gets access to who in City Hall. And we know that access is transactional and it is important that we keep the doors. Even if there are virtual doors at City Hall open to our residents. It also allows a lot of our important constituencies to fully participate in the policymaking process. We're talking about people with disabilities. People of limited access to transportation are low income workers. And residents, seniors, people working multiple jobs and having to hustle just to survive. Maybe they can hop on to a zoom. And people who have family responsibilities, we also on the council have been very taken advantage of the fact that some parts of our process have been virtual, allowing us to multitask and attend multiple meetings at a time. You know, some of our virtual access still, there's a lot to build upon there, as Councilor Braden said. So staff is in an incredible job here of making it accessible and also ensuring that we maintain community space. But there are also different departments in the city that we have to work in partnership with them to increase how they're how they're allowing the public to access those virtual spaces, including the PDA, their important community functions that are turned off even in the virtual space that I think are important for a community gathering to really mimic what it's like to be in person. So I also want to thank the incredible advocates who have been working on this issue ACLU, Common Cause, Disability Law Center and others that were mentioned by Council. Braden We should really take what we've learned during the pandemic, which was, of course, an unfortunate continues to be an unfortunate event, but , you know, build on the strength that we were able to. And one of them is virtual participation, access to democracy, really bring it to the people. So thank you, Councilor Brady and I look forward to working with you and custom here on this on this effort. Speaker 1: Thank you. Conclusion The chair recognizes counsel. Here, hear counsel. Here you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my colleagues, Counselor Bruton and Louisiana, for having me as a co-sponsor. And I also want to give a shout out to Senator Edwards. I remember when I first started working here, and one of the things that I was asked on the campaign trail is what would be my first hearing ? And I said, I'm going to do a hearing on public hearings, not really understanding kind of the fact of the matter is that most people really deeply want to be engaged but just didn't have access. And oftentimes we would host hearings at times that were inconvenient for people who were most impacted. So along the way, I made commitments about we're going to make it open and we're going to do all of this amazing work to make sure that the power of the people and the voices of the people are uplifted. And here we are. When we started working here in 2020, we were set to, you know, we had like 12 hearing orders in one session. Thank you to Jacob Blake for his leadership in that space. And then we had to go remote. COVID came and really created an opportunity for us to really show what is possible in terms of creating space for people to really participate. And I think that for us in that journey, we've learned that we can do this and we have an opportunity to continue to engage folks in this process. After we filed that hearing order. We went right into into the world of virtual reality, and we made it happen. And that experience was shocking to all of us. But we but it was also a teachable moment, because as soon as we made that transition to virtual events, we began to see a crowd of people who had never been engaged with the council before. We were able to meet people who otherwise wouldn't be able to be in direct community with the city, either because of language barriers, accessibility concerns, or simply just because they didn't have the time to come down to City Hall. Through this ordinance, we have an opportunity to keep the channels of communication open so that more voices and more people can be heard and centered in the process. As the Chair of the Committee on Government Accountability and Transparency and Accessibility. Part of my job is to ensure that people who have never been part of the process are centered in this work. I see this ordinance as a tool that can help us achieve those goals of accountability, transparency and accessibility. And this is our moment to create a gold standard for our community collaboration in the city of Boston. I look forward to the work and to collaborating alongside my colleagues. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Counsel me here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name as as a sponsor to this? Please add Councilor Bullock. Please add Councilor Ferdinand as Anderson, Counsel of Charity Council, Novara Councilor Baker. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please. With withdraw that one. Please add Councilor Murphy council overall and please at the chair. Dark at zero five, four or five will be somebody assigned to the Committee on Government Operations for the for the next docket, which is docket 0546. I would like to ask Counselor Edwards to to stay in here as the as the chair. Speaker 4: Mr. Kirk, would you please read the docket number 0546.

Council Ordinance

Ordinance Providing for Remote Participation in Meetings of Public Bodies. On motion of Councilors Breadon and Louijeune, rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Mejia as a co-sponsor.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04272022_2022-0546

Speaker 4: Mr. Kirk, would you please read the docket number 0546. Speaker 1: Counsel of Counsel as Flynn and Larry offer the following. Order for a hearing to discuss increasing access to swimming lessons in awareness of water safety. Speaker 4: Councilor Flynn, you have the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Madam Chair. May I suspend Rule 12 and add Councilor Fernandez Anderson as an original co-sponsor. Speaker 4: Seeing no objections? Councilor Fernandez Anderson is added as a third co-sponsor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Thank you to my colleagues, Counsel Fernandez innocent and counsel Lara as well. This hearing order would be to address the important role that swimming can play in our city. Our city is surrounded by the ocean. And. 60 60% of the of the young people that drowned across across the country are communities of color. Many of them many of them don't have access to swimming lessons. So this this hearing a lot of, too, would be to address the important role swimming plays in our city and to encourage us to encourage cyf to provide free or reduced swimming lessons to children across Boston. Children with disabilities and children. Children of color. But but all children to make sure that they have access to swimming lessons. It's a critical it's a critical aspect of of life in Boston. As I mentioned, we're surrounded by the oceans. We also have many pools across the city that are shut down right now for various reasons. This would be a tremendous opportunity for us to run the budget process to address those issues as well. We also need more lifeguards across the city. It's important to train young people about first aid, but also about about the important role swimming plays in our society, in our city. So I'm excited about this hearing water. It's a public health issue. It's also a public safety issue as well. And all kids in Boston should have access to free swimming lessons and glad to partner with Council Fernandez Anderson and Council Elvira on on this hearing. I want to thank you. Speaker 4: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel there. Thank you, Chair. Speaker 2: And thank you to President Flynn for continuing to be a champion on this work and this issue and. Speaker 6: To Councilor Fernandez Anderson for co-sponsoring this matter. Speaker 4: With us. Speaker 2: There's been a lot of recent discussion about pool closures in the city, and it's really been centered around pool usage. And I believe that we're really having the wrong conversation. I don't think that we can look at pool usage in a vacuum without asking why. Speaker 4: Why do some. Speaker 2: People take advantage of public pools and why and why others don't? And I think that the answer to that. Speaker 6: Lies in a historical policy failure that's going to take a policy solution. Speaker 4: To fix. Speaker 2: According to the Center for Disease Control. Black children drown at a rate of almost three times that of white and Latino children. And the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that black children made up 25%. Speaker 4: Of drownings all across the state. Speaker 2: Even though they're only 9% of the child population in Massachusetts. Speaker 6: These kind of racial disparities in swimming traced back to segregation. Speaker 2: Ultimately, when black people weren't allowed to swim in public or private pools and. Speaker 6: Even some beaches, and they. Speaker 4: Persisted today. So I think that access, knowledge and. Speaker 2: Safety are all driving factors in pool usage. And if we want to ensure that all communities are benefiting from our city facilities, we have to tackle the root causes behind the decline in usage. I am a black woman and I. Speaker 4: Don't know how to swim. Speaker 2: Don't worry, I'm working on it. But I have the privilege of raising a little boy. Speaker 6: Who loves the water almost as much as he loves his momma. Speaker 4: And I wish that every parent and child in Boston could share in that joy. Speaker 2: Regardless of their race or neighborhood. Speaker 4: And increasing access to swim lessons. Speaker 2: And awareness on water safety is one way that we can move the needle towards equity and truly work to democratize access to recreation in the city of Boston. Speaker 4: Thank you. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Fernandes Anderson. Speaker 6: I know how to swim. So most of you know that I was born and raised up to the age of ten in a West African country. It's an archipelago of ten islands. And I always talk about, you know, if you don't know, this was a used as a port for transatlantic trade, slave trade. So it deeply connects with the fact that we come from a land of abundance and swimming and fish and oceans. Right. And we can't swim here or our children swim can't swim less than other populations. So I, of course, strongly encourage everyone to support this. And as well as I think there's an opportunity here for us to also include other communities such as. So now that I'm all grown and you see me cover my goods and stuff, right? I cannot swim in public pools because I have to cover my body. And so as a muslim woman, we would have to have non coed swimming days. And so I would like to open up the floor to discuss in how that way of and they've been very helpful. But I think there has been some sort of, you know, bureaucratic issues in terms of scheduling women only swimming days. So I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to be all inclusive in how we include communities of color, in teaching swimming lessons, love to swim sometimes with you so I can give you some lessons and include women only swimming as well with the Islamic community included. Thank you so much. Speaker 4: Does anyone wish to speak on this matter? Anyone else? Does anyone wish to add their name? The clerk could please add. Counselor Baker. Counselor Bok. Counselor Braden. Counselor Flaherty. Counselor the region. Counselor Murphy and counselor while. Docket 0546 will be assigned to the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0547 Duncan m0547 Council's Louisianan. Worrell offered the following order for a hearing to utilize American Rescue Plan Act, Federal and State COVID Recovery Funds to create housing options for returning citizens.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to discuss Increasing Access to Swimming Lessons and Awareness of Water Safety. On motion of Councilors Flynn and Lara, rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Fernandes Anderson as a co-sponsor.

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BostonCC_04272022_2022-0547

Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0547 Duncan m0547 Council's Louisianan. Worrell offered the following order for a hearing to utilize American Rescue Plan Act, Federal and State COVID Recovery Funds to create housing options for returning citizens. The Chair recognizes the Council of Illusion Constitution. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to ask to suspend Rule 12 to add as their co-sponsor, Councilor Bok. Speaker 1: Seeing and hearing no objection. Counselor Bok is added as the original co-sponsor. Speaker 2: Thank you. So this talk really grew out of hearing that we had a two weeks ago regarding returning citizens and had the office of returning citizens here and advocates here who themselves are formerly incarcerated folks who were talking about some of the hurdles and challenges they face upon reentry. This is also a national reentry week. And so thinking about how we can be use the ARPA money towards equitable recovery. We had a really great hearing that was really led by our advocates and the Office of Returning Citizens, and that was a hearing order co-sponsored by Castro and Councilor Fernandez Anderson, who will also hopefully be teaching me how to swim. But what we're trying to do here is really think about, you know, how we can be using our Opra money to help those who are often forgotten and who it is too easy to forget when we are talking about housing, you know, we are as a city council, a body that cares deeply about housing being a human right. But we also need to think about housing as being healing for populations who have not had the luxury of stability, of of having a place to call home. And there's already really great work that we heard from happening. Leslie Cradle Leads, an organization called Justice for Housing that celebrated a report that was issued last week called Far from Home that really detailed the the issues that formerly incarcerated and justice involved folks face when it comes to finding stable housing. She's been working very creatively with the Boston Housing Authority on getting vouchers for formerly incarcerated folks, and they've run a really successful pilot. So this is about supporting and creating that work that's already being done by those who are really centered in this issue. And so I want to thank my council colleagues who were there. I think, you know, council was someone who mentioned that we should roll this into this the discussion about ARPA money. So really happy to do that. I'm really happy to engage in conversations that, you know, Mr. President, you were involved in as well. So just grateful to for my colleague, council colleagues and the ideas that really came out of that hearing that were really led by the folks who know what it's like to be housing place, housing instability. So really grateful that we can have this conversation as part of that for recovery. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Jan, the chair recognizes council, world council. Overall, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you to my co-sponsor council. Council. And this is a continuation of the returning citizens hearing, which, if you haven't seen yet, is probably one of the most powerful hearings that I have been since on this council. And it's important that we create stability and help protect the focus of individuals while they're trying to reestablish themselves in society. How can we expect an individual to focus on workforce development, job hunting, or their job when they're worried about a place to stay? As we are making investments with ARPA dollars, providing stability and investing in people should be our top priorities. There are plenty of barriers when it comes to housing for returning citizens. Therefore, I believe that it's important that we explore what more can we do to make this transition back home smooth. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, counsel. We're all the chair recognizes counsel. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you so much, Councilor Flynn. And thank you to Councilors Lujan. And we're all for including me on this and for the hearing. That's Bonds as Counselor Allegiance and this conversation, as I've mentioned before. You know, our real hope on the ARPA side is we're going to have a hearing on Tuesday, the third next week at 2:00 to kind of do an initial intro of what the administration's proposing for the 350 million. And then my intention as the committee chair is to have a series of hearings focused on kind of like policy areas in which we might spend the ARPA dollars and really want to put council proposals alongside administration proposals and also really get into the weeds. And one of the things that came up in the in the returning citizens hearing is that we're all very excited about the idea of spending a bunch of money on housing. But it really matters that this population be able to access some of that housing, and that's not something that's going to happen by accident . There needs to be a real program design. And so I think that this is it's absolutely an appropriate conversation for us to have in the COVID Recovery Committee. And I want to make sure we're having it on the front end, not after we've already authorized housing funds. And then we find out that none of them are eligible for help in the folks. I will just say personally that I went and spoke with the with a whole group of returning citizens as part of the office's work last year. And everybody's questions were about housing. I mean, and it's just like with any population, we know it's the fundamental us. Stability. And that's really what we're seeking. So looking forward to this conversation and to putting it side by side in the larger housing conversation for all of us. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 1: Thank you, Counsel. Bork, the chair recognizes Counselor Baker. Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for saying my name on. And I appreciate people thinking about ARPA money in the way that we should be building assets with ARPA money. I'm actually involved in a project that I think is in Brian's district itself, already a design building, which would be the first floor, would all be job training, and then the subsequent three floors would be set aside for returning citizens. I believe we need to build these projects. These projects. We have to be ready for them. There's a project. On on on that's being talked about that is ready with some city infusion we could get the thing built but we also have to think about it more than just housing because the returning citizen is going to need more than just that key into the door. They're going to need support where to go to find a job, how to how to do this. How to do that. Because you've been incarcerated, you come out, you have to almost relearn how to get on your bike again. So it's it's it's more than just a discussion around housing. But I'm thrilled that we're having the conversation about using ARPA money for real purposes that will be able to point to and I think we have to be urgent about this because it's all going to be gone soon. So. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Baker. Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Baker, the chair recognizes Councilor Flaherty, council fire statement. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Please add my name. Thanks to the makers, the original sponsors. Quick housekeeping note the last. Whereas the Z typo says by providing through the makers, through the chair to the makers, it should say by not providing. And then lastly, when we have the hearing, just want to make sure that we're sensitive to obviously returning citizens, but we're sensitive to particularly residents in public housing. I'm more of alma residents, children and seniors, and that we're raising the issue of of sorry type offenses when we're thinking about placing individuals in housing and that we just give thought and concern to, again, those most vulnerable residents and be judicious around sort of the supportive housing, giving folks a second chance, but being cognizant of not putting a sort of a sorry situation next to a young family or an elderly. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Counsel. Clarity, please. That counsel filed his name. And before I continue, just want to ask. Consultation through with counsel for charities. Question about that. Probably an update that we might have to file at some at some point. So. But for the sake of. The last year has been that. By providing. I do think it should read through the chair to make as it should read. Um. By not providing I think if that's. I think that was the intention. So um, and if they would make that change and I in training on that thank you counsel clarity for bringing that to our attention and thank you. Counsel. So you will provide an update, I guess, an updated version. Thank you. Counsel again and thank you. Counsel. Clarity. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Please. Please let me know what anyone else like to add their name. Please. Mr. Grant. Pleased Councilor Braden. Councilor. Councilor me here. Councilor Murphy. And please add the chair. And talking 0547. What we refer to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Mr. Cork, please. RE Docket 0548, please. Duncan Number 0548.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to utilize American Rescue Plan Act federal and state COVID recovery funds to create housing options for returning citizens. On motion of Councilor Louijeune moved for substitution On motion of Councilors Louijeune and Worrell, rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Bok as a co-sponsor.

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BostonCC_04272022_2022-0554

Speaker 1: Aye, opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0554 Talking number 0554 Council of Flynn offer the following employment for temporary employees. The suspension of the rules of passage of docket 0554. All those in favor say aye. Aye, aye. Opposing. Nay, the ayes have it. The docket has passed. We're up to late files. I am informed by the caucus that there are two way file matters. The late file matters include a letter of absence from Council at Royal. And a communication from counsel. Royal DeLay file. Matter should be on everyone's desk. We will need to take a vote to add these items into the agenda. All those in favor of adding the late file matter into the agenda say thank you. The late file matter has been added to the agenda. Speaker 0: They don't have a. Speaker 1: We're in a very free society. We're back in session. Thank you. Now we're moving on to late files. I'm informed by the clerk that we have several late files, a letter of absence from Counsel Arroyo, a communication from Counsel Arroyo. These late file matters now should be on everyone's desk. We will take a vote to add these items into the agenda. All those in favor of adding the late file matter into the agenda say I thank you. Delayed file matters have been added to the agenda. Mr. Quirk, please read the first Slate file matter into the agenda, which is the letter of absence from Counsel Royal from the Office of City Council. Ricardo Arroyo. Dear Council President Flynn. Please be advised I will not be in attendance of the Boston City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Ana E. Calderon, Charles Levin, Melissa Lo, Sophia Wang, Vanessa Woo in City Council, effective April 23, 2022.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0484

Speaker 1: Such funds will be transferred and credited to the Capital Grant Fund from revenue received from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure Enhanced Enhancement Trust Fund filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 11th, 2022. Dark and amber zero 44 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to enter into one or more leases, lease purchase or installment sales agreements in fiscal year 2023 in amount not to exceed $36 million. These funds are to be used by various city departments for the acquisition of equipment in furtherance of their respective governmental functions. The list of equipment includes computer equipment, hardware and software. Motor vehicles and trailers. Ambulances. Firefighting equipment. Office equipment. Telecommunications equipment. Photocopying equipment. Medical equipment. School and educational equipment. School busses, parking meters. Street lighting, installation, traffic signal equipment and equipment functionally related to and components of the foregoing. Filed in the office of the City Clerk on April 11, 2022. So I could number 0485 message in order approving an appropriation of $550,370,000 for the acquisition of interest in land or acquisition of assets or the landscaping, alteration, remediation, rehabilitation, improvement of public land, the construction reconstruction, rehabilitation improvement alteration, remodeling, enlargement, demolition removal or extraordinary repairs of public buildings, facilities, assets, works, or infrastructure for the cost of feasibility

Mayor Order

Councilor Fernandes Anderson called Docket #0484, message and order, referred on April 13, 2022 Docket #0484, authorizing the City of Boston to enter into one or more leases, lease-purchase or installment sales agreements in Fiscal Year 2023 in an amount not to exceed Thirty Six Million Dollars ($36,000,000.00). These funds are to be used by various City departments for the acquisition of equipment in furtherance of their respective governmental functions. The list of equipment includes: computer equipment (hardware and software), motor vehicles and trailers, ambulances, firefighting equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment, photocopying equipment, medical equipment, school and educational equipment, school buses, parking meters, street lighting installation, traffic signal equipment and equipment functionally related to, and components of the foregoing, from the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the order was read a second time and again passed; yeas 13.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0485

Speaker 1: So I could number 0485 message in order approving an appropriation of $550,370,000 for the acquisition of interest in land or acquisition of assets or the landscaping, alteration, remediation, rehabilitation, improvement of public land, the construction reconstruction, rehabilitation improvement alteration, remodeling, enlargement, demolition removal or extraordinary repairs of public buildings, facilities, assets, works, or infrastructure for the cost of feasibility studies or engineering or architectural services for plans and specifications. For the development, design, purchase and installation of computer hardware and software and computer assisted integrated financial management and accounting systems. And any and all costs, incidental or related to the above described projects for the purposes of various city departments, including Boston Center for Youth and Families, Department of Innovation and Technology, Environment, Failure, Neighborhood Development, Office of Arts and Culture, Parks and Recreation. Police, Property Management, Public Works and Transportation Departments. Boston Public Library. Boston Redevelopment Authority and Public Health Commission. Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 11th, 2022.

Mayor Order

Councilor Fernandes Anderson called Docket #00485, message and order, referred on April 13, 2022 Docket #0488, approving an appropriation of Five Hundred Fifty Million Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($550,370,000.00) for the acquisition of interests in land or the acquisition of assets, or the landscaping, alteration, remediation, rehabilitation improvement of public land, the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, demolition, removal or extraordinary repairs of public buildings, facilities, assets, works or infrastructure; for the cost of feasibility studies or engineering or architectural services for plans and specifications; for the development, design, purchase and installation of computer hardware or software and computer-assisted integrated financial management and accounting systems; and any and all cost incidental or related to the above described projects; for the purposes of various city departments included Boston Center for Youth and Families, Department of Innovation and Technology, Environment, Fire, Neig

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0486

Speaker 1: Docket number 0486 message on order approving an appropriation of $138,535,000 for the acquisition of interest in land or the acquisition of assets or the landscaping, alteration, remediation, rehabilitation and improvement of public land. The Construction Reconstruction. Rehabilitation Improvement Alteration. Remodeling, Enlargement, Demolition Removal or extra ordinary repairs of public buildings, facilities, assets, works, or infrastructure for the cost of feasibility studies or engineering or architectural services for plans and specifications for the development, design, purchase and installation of computer hardware or software and computer assisted integrated financial management and accounting systems and any and all costs incidental related to the above described projects for the purposes of the Boston Public Schools. Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 11, 2022. Docket number 0487 message in order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2023 to support the maintenance and repair of Boston Public School facilities, including custodial and utility costs

Mayor Order

Councilor Fernandes Anderson called Docket #0486, message and order, referred on April 13, 2022 Docket #0486, approving an appropriation One Hundred Thirty Eight Million Five Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($138,535,000.00) for the acquisition of interests in land or the acquisition of assets, or the landscaping, alteration, remediation, rehabilitation, or improvement of public land, the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, demolition, removal or extraordinary repairs of public buildings, facilities, assets, works or infrastructure; for the cost of feasibility studies or engineering or architectural services for plans and specifications; for the development, design, purchase and installation of computer hardware or software and computer-assisted integrated financial management and accounting systems; and any and all cost incidental or related to the above described projects; for the purposes of the Boston Public Schools, from the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On mot

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0503

Speaker 1: Docket number 0503 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept, accept and expend the amount of $394,500,000 in the form of a grant awarded by the United States Department of Treasury to be administered by the city of Boston. Chief Financial Officer. Collector. Treasurer. This grant payment is made from the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery from the fund so far in the Treasury of the United States, established by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 A are paid. Pursuant to the requirements of the AARP, the grant payment would fund COVID 19 response and recovery efforts and accelerate a Green New Deal for Boston, the once in a generation transformative investments to address the systemic health and economic challenges in the areas of affordable housing, economic opportunity and inclusion. Behavioral health, climate and mobility. Arts and culture and early childhood and early childhood. Dr. Number 0504 Message In order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $40 million in the form of a grant awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the City of Boston as Chief Financial

Mayor Order

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Forty Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($349,500,000.00) in the form of a grant, awarded by the United States Department of Treasury, to be administered by the City of Boston’s Chief Financial Officer/Collector Treasurer. This grant payment is made from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) in the Treasury of the United States established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Pursuant to the requirements of the ARPA, the grant payment would fund COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and accelerate a Green New Deal for Boston through once-in-a-generation, transformative investments that address the systemic health and economic challenges in the areas of affordable housing, economic opportunity and inclusion, behavioral health, climate and mobility, arts and culture and early childhood. Councilor Baker offered a motion to Amend Docket #0503 by reducing the Mayor's Office of Housing by $5,000,000.00 and adding $5,000,000.00 for the

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0504

Speaker 1: Behavioral health, climate and mobility. Arts and culture and early childhood and early childhood. Dr. Number 0504 Message In order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $40 million in the form of a grant awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the City of Boston as Chief Financial Officer. Collect a Treasurer. This grant payment is made from the coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. C o. F. R. F. In the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 RPA. Pursuant to the requirements of the RPA, the grant payment will fund provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such state, territory and tribal government due to the COVID 19 Public Health Emergency relative to revenues collected in the most fiscal in the most recent full fiscal year of the state. Territorial tribal government prior to the emergency. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Court. Docket 05030504 referred to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Mr. Clarke, please read Docket 05050505.

Mayor Order

Om the message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the City of Boston’s Chief Financial Officer/Collector Treasurer. This grant payment is made from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) in the Treasury of the United States established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Pursuant to the requirements of ARPA, the grant payment would fund provisions of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such State, territory, or Tribal government due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the State, territory or Tribal government prior to the emergency, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12.

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BostonCC_04132022_2022-0313

Speaker 1: 0313.0313 The Committee and Community on the Community Preservation Act two, which was referred to a March 2nd 2022 docket number 0313 message in order for an appropriation amount in the amount of $27,205,854 for fiscal year 2022. Community Preservation Fund Revenues for Community Preservation Projects at the recommendation of the City of Boston, Community Preservation Committee submits a report recommending the order ought to pass. Speaker 0: Thank you. The Chair recognizes counsel clarity. Chair of the Committee on Community Preservation Act. Counsel Clarity of the Floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. In accordance with General Laws, Chapter 44 BE The Community Preservation Committee recommended a total of 52 projects for consideration for the allowable uses of the community housing, open space and historic preservation. Of the approximately 27 plus million appropriation, 14,000,660 and 159,000 are being recommended for ten affordable housing projects. $6,141,357 recommended for 25 historic preservation projects and $6,404,338 recommended for 17 open space and recreation projects. This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michel Will, referred to the committee on March the second. As previously discussed at the last council meeting, the committee held a hearing on April 5th for public comment was taken and members of the administration provided testimony on all 52 projects. With that said, I am happy to report that the 52 recommended projects support and align with the objectives of the CPA and the priorities of this Council. And I know that is referenced in the opening prayer as we are in Holy Week. The prayers of the ministers and pastors in the congregation of a lot of churches were answered by the CPA this week, so congratulations to them and the other recipients of the many in much needed causes. And this was also a call to other organizations and groups and churches out there to take a long, hard look at CPA . Get the word out there also to my district and colleagues. If there are things in your district, if you are driving by something and you think it could be a good fit, that's kind of how this thing works. It's you get to introduce folks to CPA and introduce the CPA to the different organizations around the city. And as mentioned through the chair, it's an opportunity to kind of bring people and organizations together. So with that, as the chair, I recommend or could 0313 ought to pass then and that will be the full owner will be $27,205,854 from fiscal year 2022. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel. Before we take a vote on this, does any council wish to speak? The chair recognizes. Councilman here. Councilman here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilor Flynn. And thank you to the chair. I just, um. I'm really excited to see all of these investments. The only thing that I just want to point out that in the affordable housing line, most of those projects are just earmarked to Dorchester, Roxbury on Jamaica Plain, which is great. I'm glad to see more affordable housing, but I think as we continue to move through these conversations in the future, I would love to see affordable housing being spread across the entire city so that we're looking at affordability across other spaces and places. I just want to want to name that and something for us to continue to hold ourselves accountable to that. Affordability should be across the entire city, not just in concentrated areas. That's it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes council block. Council, block. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Just as vice chair of the committee, I wanted to say add my support to the chair on approving the slate and also say that I really appreciated how much the administration came to also answer our questions, kind of about how CPR is being administered, how we measure the questions of equity, geographic distribution, how we make sure that the historic preservation program in particular supports the parts of our community that have amazing historic assets but don't necessarily have a endowment or a board or whatever organized around them. And I just as somebody who fought for EPA back in 2016, it's just really great to see it sort of coming in to that maturity and also to see the administration recognizing that it's still a work in progress in terms of how it puts all those things together. So I know I saw a docket go into Councilor Flaherty's committee today about the administrative budget for the year ahead. And so I think some of the conversations we started there will get to continue, but just really excited about this slate today. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel book the chair recognizes counsel Baker. Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. I just have a quick question through the chair to the the other chair over here. I guess, does a 27 million does that deplete what we have in EPA now or do we start at a zero balance for 23 counsel? Speaker 0: Clarity on the floor. Speaker 4: Here, and I'll refer that one obviously to counsel because I think that they hold back, but then it's going to continue. It's a revolving door. Speaker 3: So not necessarily depleted. This probably similar to what we do with the um. Speaker 4: Yeah, there's a statutory hold back, but through the chair to counsel. Speaker 0: Counsel to counsel blocking of the floor. Speaker 5: Yeah. I would just say so there, there is a bit of a residual but it's not huge. But then we get a whole bunch more in like July 1st. So the. Wait at the CPA. For anybody watching at home. If you are thinking about applying for a CPA project, it's a rolling application process. So you and your group could submit an application today. If you go on the CPA website, there's actually a whole bunch of info sessions coming up in April and May, and I think the deadline for actually filing is all the way in August and then through the fall they work with projects around like viability and making you qualify for CPA. And then it's really the winter where we get this slate of projects and then voting in the spring. So it's kind of a year long process. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you, Counsel Bork. Thank you. Counsel Baker The chair recognizes Constitution Council and you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. And I want to echo something. Katzenbach said the administration really did a great job with their presentation in terms of allocation of CPA funding. I also just want to echo something, Counselor Flaherty said. When we're out and about, looking at, you know, what can need upgrades, I want us to pay particular attention to our immigrant communities. When we look at the distribution of who receive these funds, I don't see a lot of representation from immigrant congregations, from folks who may not have access to City Hall in ways that others do. So just a plug for us do be a lot more intentional about reaching out to communities that may not know about TPA or may not have access to folks who know about CPA. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. Again, the chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez Anderson. Counsel Fernandez Anderson. You have the floor. Speaker 6: I guess just piggybacking off of my colleague sister occlusion. I think that, you know it's it's it's they did an amazing work presenting thank you to the chair and councilor Fox presented presentation and questions as well engagement it really I learned a lot from the presentation I think piggybacking off of Councilor Allusion, it's just really eye opening to see that access is everything. So everything that is getting preserved or rehabilitated and we'll probably see that in the budget as well, is about people who have access, people who are directly connected, people who know councilors, people who are politically connected as well. So if we continue that way in this city that we continue to rehabilitate and fix and put capital funds or preservation funds into projects that stakeholders or activists or people are of affluent communities. Even with the budget at the Tory budget process, with the community, we noticed that it was about 70% white and affluent communities, therefore empowerment , therefore knowledge and navigating of resources. So if we continue in this way, I would like to set precedent to at least to be if this is educational moment, an aha moment, whatever. Like let's get to the point where we actually put our money where our mouth is and actually start changing this thing. Because I heard one comment in there that was very offensive, extremely offensive. And to just like to even today, I can I'm still emotional about it about and I'm not going to call out names or anything like that. But it was about and it was a public thing. I guess I can talk about it. It was about Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, not wanting or not caring about fancy stuff. And so what the hell does that mean? We do care. We do want that stuff. The thing is, is that we're so poor, we want to eat. We're just so busy, we're just so poor that we are so busy to just advocate on getting housing and food. So, of course, we're not our first focus is not get beautifying and fancy stuff. So I just to go back and I don't want to get sidetracked here, but I want to open up and encourage everyone in moving forward with any types of programs or any types of funds or any type of capital that we really open up our mind to look at how we're redistributing funds and how are people connected and how people get money because it really seems lopsided. And it really, as I said, it really seems like it goes to affluent communities because they are more connected and know how to advocate and understand how to reach this money. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Fernandez innocent. Anyone else like to speak on this? The chair recognizes Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden, you have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. I also want to. This is a great program. Um, we're still ironing out some of the kinks is fairly new. It's, it's putting a huge amount of money into projects that wouldn't necessarily be funded otherwise. I do share my colleague's concern about the geographic spread of of the allocation across the city. But part of that is I know from my experience and also in Brighton, I have a list of the back of my paper here of things that possibly would be eligible for some EPA money. But very often it is. You need community groups, you need people who are volunteers, your historic society or your neighborhood groups to really dig in and do the work to prepare these presentations. So I hope that we can ensure that community groups all across the city or our neighborhoods that need support, technical support and guidance. I know that the EPA has that technical support and guidance to help, but that people will be emboldened to sort of think about their neighborhood and and ask for help to prepare a presentation for CPA funds going forward. So it's a great program. I hope that we can expand the reach and and the distribution of funds going forward. And thank you for all the work that's been done so far. It's incredible, incredible group of folks that review all the applications and and present the ones for approval. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel Brain. Um, I would like to add that, you know, just want to say thank you to counsel, clarity, counsel and a former counselor counselor. Campbell Those three were really instrumental in bringing CPA two to Boston. So I want to recognize counsel by our counsel, clarity and counsel, former counsel Campbell bringing this to bringing us to the city. It's an incredible program, as everybody mentioned. Just. Just as just as a follow up to Councilor Braden's comment. In my district, I host a list. I host a session which each each neighborhood in my district on CPR itself, just try to encourage neighborhood associations to attend and to complete the application. So there's an important role for for us to play as well in the CPA staff will attend a meeting if we do ask them to attend. So let's all try to work together in bringing this program throughout the entire city. But let's also use our district city councils as well, because they have great contacts with neighborhood associations, community leaders and in the CPA will will gladly assist us in some of these outreach information sessions. So I just wanted to mention that in case it's helpful, anybody else like to speak on this matter. So thank you. Councilor Flaherty, the chair of the Committee on Community Preservation Acts. Councilor Farrelly seeks acceptance of the Committee report passage of Docket 0313. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say no. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. At this time. The chair recognizes counsel of our counsel. Our I apologize for not calling on you. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, President Flynn. And I don't think that this will impact the vote at all. I unfortunately missed this hearing. And so I wasn't there for the process. But I because I missed the hearing, I set up a one on one meeting with the dean to ask these these questions ultimately. And so our office is hoping to. Look over the eligibility and create a list of eligible organizations and schools that didn't have access to these resources so that we can send a letter to those offices. I wanted to offer that to my colleagues because it's just we know it became it was evident to me as well as it became evident to everybody else that having access and knowing about the fund was a barrier to it. And so obviously that's gonna take some time to comb through the entire district and see, like, organizations or schools that are eligible. But our hope is that by sending kind of like a mail in letter and maybe doing some phone banking to like make calls to people to just let them know and having some of the community meetings that you just mentioned that it would increase. Access and just knowledge of the CPA program. I know that there are still going to be barriers because it is a grant. And although you don't have to be a grant writer to write it, you still have to have some sort of knowledge like council and said to put it together. But I think that letting people know about it is a good first step so we can actually ultimately see what the what the need is for more technical assistance and make sure that they, Dean and the CPA office, has all of the resources that they need to run the program effectively. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Lara. One final comment, Councilman. Here. Speaker 2: Yes. I'm here for all of that comes with a lot of and you know, I'm in my, what, 28 months here on the council. And the more that I am in this building, the more I realize the access of accessibility and who has it and who doesn't. So I really do think as we continue to move forward, all of these conversations are going to need to be led through an equity lens, as my colleague Fernandes Anderson says all the time. And I think that while I am voting yes and moving this along this time, I do believe that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to city resources, because the haves and the have nots continue to persist. And I think there's 13 members of this body and we all have a responsibility and making sure that we're serving all of our our all of our constituents. And right now, this as the end and as doled out does not really, truly reflect equity. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel here. Matters recently heard. Matters recently heard the possible action. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket. Speaker 1: 01990199 order for a hearing on State Receivership for Boston Public Schools.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022, Docket #0313, for an appropriation order in the amount of Twenty Seven Million Two Hundred and Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Dollars ($27,205,854.00) from Fiscal Year 2022 community preservation fund revenues for community preservation projects at the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed.

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Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. Thank you, Constitution. Any other final final question. Final thoughts at 0199 will remain in in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0187, please. Speaker 1: 0187 Petition for a special law enacted relative to reorganization of the Boston School Committee. Speaker 0: Thank. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel Arroyo. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Committee on Government Operations held the hearing on Monday, April 11th, on docket number 0187 petition for a special law regarding an act relative to recognize h b organization of the Boston School Committee, which was sponsored by myself and counselor Julian here. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for attending Counselor Brady and Counselor Louis Jahn. Counselor Flynn, Counselor Murphy, Counsel of Clarity and Counselor Zero. This home rule petition would establish a transition from a fully appointed school committee to a fully elected school committee in the city of Boston as it's currently written. The legislation takes in takes a phased in approach to that transition, doing it over time so that not the all the elections are not at the scene at all. Those seats are not filled by election. At the same time, in the future they would be on the ballot the same time, but it phases in that approach. This hearing was an opportunity for counselors to refresh our memories of the hearing held last year and for new councilors to hear from residents and advocates and share their thoughts. At the hearing, the committee heard from parents, teachers and students at Boston Public Schools who voiced their concerns about the current state of the appointed school committee. Committee also heard from several advocates who outlined the history of Boston's decision to establish an appointed school committee highlighting the deep inequities this created. There was also a conversation about national models of school committees where they've been either hybrid or appointed and or elected. There was further discussion on the proposed phased in approach and process, as well as how this would play out with the current superintendent search and potential state receivership activity. That good initial conversation. I'm going to recommend that this docket remain in committee for a series of working sessions, the first of which will be tomorrow. And it'd be great for counselors if you do attend to come sort of with your ideas for what this could look like or what it should look like. The goal here is to have multiple working sessions, the first one to sort of collect from councilors what they would like this to look like ideally, and then to work to find a collaborative sort of way to get this done in a way that helps everybody see what they want to see out of this as much as possible. So that's tomorrow and I look forward to seeing folks there. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Rail. Would any other council like to speak on this matter that she recognizes? Councilman here. Councilman, here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you to my co-sponsor, Councilman Arroyo. I want to thank all the amazing advocates who helped us get here to this historic point, the U.S.A. Coalition, the Boston Educational Equity Coalition, former elected school committee members, students, teachers and families and so many others. You all help to ensure that this hearing was not only productive, but it also centered community expertize. As I said during the hearing. We received a mandate from the people to return to an elected school committee in the city of Boston. And there will be times in the future just to discuss specifically how that would work. But this hearing was meant for us to focus on the why. And I think our panelists and members did do that perfectly in terms of identifying what our why is. So I just want to thank Counselor Arroyo for his leadership and the entire crew that worked alongside our office, hosting a series of community conversations and native languages. It's important for people to understand what's at stake. So our office, alongside Consuelo Arroyo and the Coalition, hosted a series of community conversations and thank you to Casa Luzon for co-hosting with us, the Haitian Creole. We did one in Spanish only, and we're looking to do one in Chinese Mandarin in the near future. And the goal really is, is to help ensure that people understand what's at stake and to inform our thinking. So I just want to say thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, councilman. Here what any other council would like to speak on this matter at this time? Thank you. Do you want the one? I wanted to highlight that I am in favor of an elected school committee. And I think it's important for residents to have a voice in the future of the Boston schools. I am concerned about the timing of this. And I've mentioned this at the hearing, the working session. So I guess my question maybe to counsel Royal. One of the things I highlighted is what impact this would have on the search for the superintendent. Of the Boston Public School System. I know we've discussed this at length. But are we able to? Get a sense of what this what the search committee thinks of this this proposal at this time, if it has any effect at all on how we select who was selecting as a superintendent, I just am curious about that. So if you have any comments. Not to put you on the spot. Council Royal. But just wanted to ask you that question. Speaker 3: Happy to answer that. I have not spoken with the search committee on the superintendent search. I recognize sort of the fact that we are in the beginning of a new mayor's term, even though this process is about 30 years in the works and is something that has happened even or started under the previous administration or maybe two administrations ago, depending on how you keep track of it. So I would just say that part of my consideration in the way that the doctor was originally written is the fact that this is phased in so that we don't immediately just take everybody who's on the school committee and say out with all of you and move forward in that way. It phases in the elected approach so that you're not looking at a fully elected school committee until 2026, and it's working in stages to get to there. So you get some of the new elected seats every municipal election up until the 2025 municipal election. Obviously, all of these things can be discussed in a working session and sort of ironed out with folks. But the idea here was how do we do this in a responsible way? You know, voters haven't voted for a school committee in 30 years. So you have to get the education that that's actually the thing on the ballot. Then you have to have all of these sort of races planned out in terms of making sure that all of the the actual infrastructural things are ready to go. And so all of those things, I think we should take into account all those things I think we should talk about in a working session to directly answer whether or not I've been told that makes any difference in the current superintendent search. I have not been told that it does, but I also have not spoken to the search committee, so I couldn't speak to that one way or the other. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Royall, and thank you for your leadership on this issue and for an informative hearing. 0187 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0259. Speaker 1: So I can number 0259 An ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinance Chapter 15, Section ten and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act.

Council Home Rule Petition

Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee.

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Speaker 1: So I can number 0259 An ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinance Chapter 15, Section ten and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act. Speaker 0: The Chair recognizes Council Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you. We have a hearing. Mr.. Thank you, Mr.. Chair. The Committee on Government Operations had a working session on Tuesday, April 12th, on docket 0259, an ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances Chapter 15, Section ten, and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, which was sponsored by Councilor Julie McGee and myself. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for attending Councilor Julie me here, Councilor Rosie Lui, Jen, Councilor Candelaria, Councilor Kenzie Bok and Councilor Ed Flynn. I also like to thank Chief Solis Rivera, Chair McKenna and the Human Rights Commission and get Abby and the advocates for the purpose and councilor flying with you to remember those ongoing attacks . Now, this ordinance would amend existing language in the Boston City Code and establish a chief diversity officer who would provide oversight over the city's nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action policies. This ordinance would also require regular updates on progress made regarding diverse hiring and promotions and require that the Chief Diversity Officer work with officers to make sure that there are fair hiring practices in place for family members of current employees. During the working session, the committee heard language suggestions on and speaking to collective bargaining agreements, which would not be subject to this ordinance at all. All collective bargaining agreements supersede this. There was further discussion regarding the duties of the Chief Diversity Officer and the language suggestions on how covered employees would receive a promotion, upgrade or reclassification. The committee is working to get information on the city's current job posting policies while we wait to receive those specific language amendments from from multiple parties that we discuss at the working session, I'm going to recommend that this remains in committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Royal. The Chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my co-sponsor counsel for chairing such a great working session. We received a lot of great feedback from the administration and from our advocates and our colleagues here. So I'm the counsel and that we feel like we are really moving this work forward and making the ordinance stronger to best fit and serve our city workers. And a special shout out to Councilor Bark for a lot of great ideas that you shared in that space. Really do appreciate you. And one thing that I will just say is that I also want to uplift a lot of the workers that reached out to our office over the summer talking about the issues that they were experiencing. And it was because of their courage and their leadership that we are here in this moment addressing this issue. So I just want to uplift the workers who who literally came out of the shadows to talk about the discrepancies in in promotional practices here in the city of Boston. And I'm hoping that we can move this along quickly so that we can take it up for a vote of. Okay, thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, councilman here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Talk of 0259 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0265, please. Speaker 1: 0265 In order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand a grant funded through the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery fund. C o. F. R f. In the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a r awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury.

Council Ordinance

On the message and Ordinance, referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0259, Amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section X and Establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, the committee submitted a report recommending the Ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the Ordinance was passed in a new draft.

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Speaker 1: 0265 In order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand a grant funded through the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery fund. C o. F. R f. In the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a r awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Recognizes Council Bach, Chair of the Committee on Boston COVID 19 Recovery Council. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you so much, Mr. President. Last night we had a great hearing on the potential of utilizing ARPA funds to support the Dorchester Field House was sponsored by a Councilor Baker and I want to thank colleagues for joining councilors Murphy, Flaherty, Louis Flynn, Worrell, Edwards and Fernando Sanderson and also to councilman here for sending a letter in support. It was you know, it's it's great to have colleagues in these chairs, but it was even better to have the young people here last night. And it was really, I think, inspiring to see what it looks like when young people are involved in a planning process. And then they actually get to talk about it and talk about the way that they have seen their agency reflected. So I think that was a real highlight for us here from the Youth Advisory Board panel, as well as being joined by the Martin Richard Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester. So we heard extensive presentations from Bob Scannell, Dutch Joyce, Kevin de Blair. And then, as I mentioned, that youth advisory board and also heard from Mr. Bill Richard and a large number of community testifiers. So, um, the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, in partnership with the Martin Richard Foundation, is proposing a field house that is designed to be adjacent to the depth. The McCormick Clay School is on a ground lease from land. One of the subjects of the the conversation was about making it deeply accessible to students. So they've been working on an MBA to make sure that both every student there gets access as a member of the club, and also that during the day it could actually be used as an extension of the school facilities. So I think we had a really robust, exciting conversation. And I also just want to, as chair, say that, you know, what Councilor Baker was modeling last night is that if councilors have proposals that they want to have considered obesity, the American rescue plan funds sort of. In concert with us looking at the proposals that are coming across the transom today from the mayor, that I encourage folks to file a docket and that my intention is to hold hearings on kind of some of the subject matter areas that the mayor's made proposals on and to co notice that with dockets from counselors that are related to this subject area. So I think, you know, this has to be for us to spend these one time funds in the best possible way. It has to be a collective conversation between the council and the mayor. And I think we had a very good go at that last night. So I just really want to thank everybody who testified we were here until 8 p.m., but it was just about the most cheerful till 8 p.m. hearing I've been a part of. And I think the students who are here in the chamber were taking photos and investigating the space after 8 p.m. and yeah, and I think some of them are probably coming for our seats before too long. So with that, Mr. Chairman, because we're continuing to consider the American Rescue Plan funds, I would ask that this docket remain in committee and also would obviously defer to the sponsor if you wanted to say a few words. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor. BLOCK The chair recognizes Counselor Baker. Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. Is. My concern with the ARPA money is. That we are going to spend it all and not have anything to show for it. I mean, we we're in our budget initial discussion today and basically there was 350 million there that that they are looking to just send around 30 later gone. I don't know about anybody else, but I haven't been asked my opinion on where I think the money should be spent. This was a way for me to get my opinion on record here and in for a little bit of history. On a Columbia Point was formerly the city dump, and it was a Columbia Point housing project, which is probably the most overlooked, one of the worst in the country, but one of one of the first. Also, they sent in the I believe it was early fifties. They sent 5000 families over on the on the peninsula one way and one way out. No stores, no amenities, no playgrounds, nothing. The peninsula is a different place now. We have we have Dorchester Bay City looking to do some building over there that will connect on to UMass. And we have this project right here in a time where we have. Not just kids, but all of our families are suffering to some degree with what just happened to us and in COVID and just being shut in and trying to figure out how we how we get on with life and how we heal as a city , as communities. And I believe in my heart that this building here. We'll go a long way at doing that. And $10 million is a lot of money. It's a big yes. I've never asked for $10 million. Someday, maybe I'll be asking for 10 million for myself someplace but 10 million out of three. It's not from Ways and Means to 10 million. 10 million out of the 350 million that's available to us now is 2.8%. 10 million is 2.8% of what's left on the $350 million. And that's not including what's going into what the school has. BP's budget has they have another 400, $500 million. This project this project will provide everything from indoor fields. So when we when we have 15 feet of snow, we can still play soccer. We can still play baseball. We can still play lacrosse in the middle of the winter. We'll have basketball courts will have. We'll have. Sorry. We will have performance spaces. We will have spaces that that will will be dedicated to kids with disabilities that may have sensory issues. Will, will, will, will allow the challenge of leagues to come in. And the challenge leagues are set up for kids that have disabilities that are in wheelchairs so they can experience sport. There'll be a test kitchen in the. Basically this this project, if we do end up coming for a vote, we're kind of figuring out how we end up doing. The vote isn't for me. It isn't my vote. The vote was for the kids that were here last night that totally amazed a lot of people that I think were in the audience. And it's this sort of investment in our future, in our kids that's going to allow them to be successful into the future. We're a different city now than we were 1980 and 1980 when I was growing up. All fields are all terrible where I mean, the best baseball I played was on. I was on a hard parking lot that it shouldn't be the case anymore. We have technology. We have really, really good. Building systems where this building will be teaching and. Speaker 2: Training. Speaker 3: And healing. Not just kids, but families for generations. And part of the larger picture, this will be infrastructure that will be community infrastructure before we have a whole lot more development over there in the next 10 to 15 years, akin to the seaport. Not necessarily to that scale. But there's going to be a lot of building that happens over there. And one of the criticisms on the seaport is there's no space for families or kids to run, to play, to. To have a community in this would be in their first and a $10 million investment with from the city of Boston would allow us to really position. The large foundations in the city to say, okay, the city's committed. The state will. I shouldn't say will, but I feel confident the state's going to come up with a good a good bit of money also. And the whole peninsula, the whole Columbia Point Peninsula. And when I look at the Columbia Point Peninsula, I do it from standing with the with the globe in front of me. The globe is now going to be is is is the bead. It's going to be 700,000 square feet of lab space research and development, which is part of excuse me, it's going on so long, but I need to get this out, which is part of the whole. New industry that's coming to Boston. It's it's biotech. It's high tech manufacturing. We don't know the jobs. None of us here know the jobs. You know what plumbers are? We know what crop and design. We don't know. Well, I don't know. Maybe I'm maybe I'm being a some making assumptions, but we don't know what the people in those labs are doing. The globe's going to be training towards those jobs. The project at Dorchester Bay City is going to be connected on to on to UMass is going to be training towards those jobs. The whole peninsula is going to avail us the opportunity for kids to build. So. The peninsula is going to be 0 to 16. Training and development of young minds. And this is the first step of it right here. And it's an amazing, amazing building concept. And I think that when it gets built. Regardless if the city gives us 10 million or not, this thing's going to get built. It helps us a lot if the city is committed. But when this thing gets built, we're all going to be able to look at and point out. I see. I want one of those in my district and we're going to be able to do that. We're going to be able to take that model and replicate it because it's not just like when I was growing up, it was all sports. It was that was the only outlet you had. We weren't thinking about we weren't thinking of singing. We weren't thinking of poetry. It's all different here now. There's so many different ways to form the child. This building is going to form. The child is going to form. The community. And the most important thing that I heard last night was from a young kid that said, we want to add to the good in the world. This is going to add to the good in the world. And that's why it's a formal request for $10 million across the hall to say, look at it. Pay attention to it. This is the way we should be spending our ARPA dollars. And I don't you know, I don't want to poo poo on any other way that we're spending ARPA dollars. I don't necessarily agree with a lot of it because I think it's going to feel like a Vegas weekend when we're done that pockets are empty, we got nothing to show for it. Right. I want to be able to point to it. Look at this thing right here, $10 Million. You know, we won in Vegas. We hit it craps. I'm bringing 100,000 home or whatever. You know what I'm saying? Making the analogy. I don't want to feel like we went to Vegas and it's all gone. So thank you for allowing me to ground on there a bit. Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Baker. The chair recognizes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Council. Fernandez Anderson. You have the floor. Speaker 6: If it's okay with you. Council President, it's council me here. Council Murphy. Council Fernando Sanderson. Then council for clarity. Speaker 0: Okay. The chair recognizes calcium here. Calcium here you have the floor. Speaker 2: So in this tired of me standing up, that's why he's trying to silence me. You know that's not going to happen. So I just quickly wanted to say, and I really do appreciate Councilor Baker's advocacy on behalf of this particular project. I also would be remiss if I didn't mention that there was a little bit of a controversy in regards to this very specific piece of land. The McCormick students, the faculty and some of the folks really wanted to keep that space green and there is some tension there. And I think it's important for us as we continue to move forward in this conversation that, you know, in the true spirit of really reflecting community voice, that we, you know, we honor that and we just uplift it because that is definitely something that was said in the presidency or that community voice is also being overlooked. So I just wanted to name that. And while I appreciate, you know, the whole vision of what the city could look like ten years from now, I also want to be 100% that the city, what it's going to look like ten years from now is not going to be a lot of us being able to go to this beautiful community center that that we're fighting for, because we're not going to be able to afford to live here in the city. So I think that while it's really beautiful and I'm excited to to support this initiative, I think it's also important for me to uplift. The fact of the matter is, is that every day the city changes and the beauty, the beautiful things that we're fighting for, most likely most of our people are not going to be able to benefit from it. So while I support this project, I want to do so with naming that. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. So it was a very inspiring hearing. And I just want to thank my D-3 city councilor Frank Baker for advocating so strongly for this project, but always showing up in the district and advocating for your constituents. So as one of your constituents, I did just want to take this time to say thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Murphy. The chair recognizes counselors and counselors. And you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank Counselor Bach and Counselor Baker for holding this hearing last night. Those students were extremely impressive. I have obviously a bias for some of the students. I'm a McCormick kid myself, and a lot of McCormick kids were here. I played basketball, track and field at McCormick because we didn't have a good track. We didn't have our own track. At McCormick, we had to use RBC High's track, right? A private school. Speaker 3: In. But we also. Speaker 2: Use the outdoor area for recess. And I think that it's important as we look at this project, to also think about the outdoor space and how we can maintain as much outdoor space as possible for the McCormick kids. There's also the issue of McCormick is merging with Buchla. That's going to add a lot more students to the campus, students who should be able to access the outdoors pretty freely. I'm also really encouraged by a memorandum of agreement that will exist between the project and the school so that we make sure that our our students in the area, both in the DeVry, the McCormick, BCA and McCormick UCLA, are able to access the site in a welcoming and and fully accessible way. So I look forward to further discussions about this project and also to honoring the voices of those who live in Columbia Point. They also presented a letter before the BPA announcing some of their concerns, which I think that we just need to take into account when we're considering this project. I also think, Councilor Baker, because last night, one of the things that he mentioned was that this project is a it could be a really great project in response to the reckoning that we are having and experiencing here in our city and in the country, trying to find spaces where we can find common ground. I think this project, especially with the use of ARPA funds, would really create a precedent and I think that is a precedent that I'd like to see a lot of our communities, especially communities of color use and how we're sending and supporting private initiatives, even though it's a nonprofit, it's not it's not a public initiative. And then, yeah, I think something else that was said was we should be creating beautiful buildings as a city. We can do that. We have the capacity to do that. And I'd like to see us build more beautiful buildings that really honor and affirm the dignity of all of our young ones. We as a city have the capacity and ability to do that with the land that is in within our purview. And so I want to I want to see us doing more of that. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. And the chair recognizes counsel. Flannery Council. Flannery, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 4: Just want to go on record and support, strong support of this. And I think it's important to note that both of these organizations have a stellar track record in delivering real deliverables to children and to families in Dorchester. I referenced at the hearing it's a it's a it's a gem of a location. You think about the Columbia Point housing project across the street, depending on who's golfing. It's a five iron from the memorial. McCormick, where I was born. The old have a projects, right? Think about the partnerships with the McCormack and the Devore BC High UMass. All the jobs that are going to be coming online at the Bayside Expo. Don't forget the Geiger Gibson Community Health Center there and the the plan to revitalize the JFK train station. So lots of opportunity down there if there's ever an organization or partnership that is going to help close these gaps. We're looking at them. And I think it's also important to note the the author or the first speaker did mention that the collective partnerships, both in the private and public sector, that this this ask there are there are matches that are lined up with that match. To put this in a shovel ready position, which is what clearly we want to make sure that happens. So, I mean, if you can think about what is sort of been in front of me and my team in terms of the future of that peninsula, it's absolutely amazing. And to think about the pipelines that are coming from these schools to those other institutions to those jobs, particularly in the STEM field, will be servicing these kids in the sort of the first two priorities will be the high point. The housing development in just on the other side of the circle will be kids from the Marilyn McCormack I mean sky is the limit that not not hard to get excited about this so I think this will be it's a modest request frankly particularly given that the matches that are lined up to make this a reality for the folks over there on Mount Vernon Street and for futures to come, you know, the track record of these organizations, not fly by night, not Johnny come lately is not mediocre kicking butt in their respective fields. And it's about children and families and they will be served. Our most vulnerable residents in the city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Finally that she recognizes counsel FERNANDEZ Innocent Council. Fernandez Innocent. You have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you. Councilor Baker, thank you so much for actually filing this. And. And before I go in to talk about why I support the project, I go back to my point about, you know, it's it's so it's one thing to actually know that there's a disparity in certain areas, but it's another than to have to get people on technicalities or bureaucratic processes before you can have access. So it's I've been working in the last hour, my my office and my team and I have been working the last three months in building asset mapping comparative data across the city and looking at the deficits. We have a list of those companies and nonprofits and organizations. We know exactly everything that Roxbury needs by now because we've been doing the study for the last four months, actually, before I even got inaugurated. But then there's the other thing that in 2022, Boston understands deficits and yet only provides to those who have access. That's odd. And so then the question is, it's like you slapping me twice. You know the problem. You don't fix the problem. But then when you fix the problem, you give the other side double the money of what you could give me or what you end up giving me. So we are going to be looking at those things to see if any of what I'm saying makes sense. But I learned a lot from the presentation yesterday. Oh my God. Like you have the resources Boys and Girls Club does. I connected to everything there. The three girls that were here, they were all West African, right? You pull them my heart strings. The Burtons, you had BPD. Like it was such a sorrow and such a influential presentation. How could I not? It was holistic. It was impressive. We want one of every BP's. We want BP to look like that. Right. So I agree with confusion. If we are to sit for forward, is this what we're doing? This is a new culture, y'all. We're setting precedents. This is what we're doing. What we can do is actually access money. This is what this government says. We can access money. And if you don't have access. Speaker 2: You, Counselor Laura, will. Speaker 6: Help us with technicalities. And if you don't know how to present counsel, Baker will help with that. And if you see disparity, counselor, me here will help you advocate. We have what it takes. We have the money and we have all of that. Yet I'm I'm I guess I'm just spilling over because I'm looking at all of the projects that's already proposed and I'm looking at what's happening. And now I'm learning little by little, all snap. I'm a rookie. I don't know, Jack. That's why it's just bypassing me so fast. And meanwhile, people are, like, suffering, so I support you. It doesn't take away from your project or their project. It doesn't take away right it right wrongs wrong. If it's a good project, let's support it and let's keep it moving. Let's do the same for other communities. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Council Fernandez Anderson for I call counsel Baker. I just wanted to weigh in. I had the opportunity to attend last night's meeting as well. And just listening to the young, young children there from from the McCormick School talk about how important this this facility would be to them. They don't they don't have money. They don't have any influence. A lot of them a lot of them actually live in public housing developments. But they're. I said that they should have a state of the art facility. That's as nice as any one in the city or nice as anyone in Lincoln of Wellesley. Those kids certainly deserve it. Council So I already mentioned that it's walking distance and as did Counsel Baker from the Mary Ellen McCormack Public Housing Development, which council counsel Baker represents. But it's probably the most difficult and challenging environment, living environment in the city. Um, so I just want to say thank you to Counsel Baker for advocating hard for your constituents. And I appreciate that that type of level of advocacy that you've provided. Most of them. Most of them have kids, kids of color, kids in public housing developments. A lot of a lot of African-American kids, black necks kids, a large, large Vietnamese population as well. And in Dorchester. So just want to recognize the live work counselor Counsel Baker did on that. Let me let me ask let me call on Counselor Baker. Now, Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to make a couple more points, and I apologize. So in 1974 for us here in Boston, on my side of the city, I was passed over to the devil to the devil school. This parking lot looks exactly the same that I did in 1974. So for us to try and hold on to this, I think is a bit shortsighted. We should be shooting for more B.S. high across the street is is getting ready to spend $49 million on fields and field houses directly across the street. So that means our kids in the Devil McCormac will be looking out over the fence saying, Look what's going on over there for them. BCI had one benefactor that gave them the $49 million. We're asking for ten to go towards this end. And some things happened in the redesign about the open space because before the kids were totally involved, it was more like a large one story kind of took up a lot. It took up a lot of light through the student council. They pulled the building in and went vertical with it. So it's it's it's on, it's on floors which provides. An open line on the on the front on Mount Vernon Street, which would be the only one on front on on Mt. Vernon Street. There will be outdoor basketball courts will be a lot of outdoor space here. That's that wasn't there in the original design and that came from involving that involving the teens. There's three housing developments that speak to ten years down the line. There's three housing developments, like you mentioned, within walking distance of the Harbor Point. Of course, Miriam Cormack and Old Colony, all calling might be, you know, might be a little more than a walk. But certainly if you have something to walk towards, you just go towards it. And that's I think, in those three developments is almost 2000, 2000 kids under the age of 21. So, I mean, and those are those are units that are going to be deeply affordable. For all of our lifetimes in those in those housing developments. So in 021202125, which is where this city, which is part of my district, which is where I grew up, has been identified as the most diverse district, the most diverse zip code in the entire country. So that means all people are congregating in zero two, 125 and this is going to be in 0 to 1 two five . But it's not just going to be 40125. It's going to be for Mattapan. If they if they can get there, it's going to be for South Boston. It's going to be for whoever wants to get there. I envision citywide track meets the citywide basketball tournaments. So I think. I understand the the the tension, the initial tension that was about saving green space. But I challenge anybody to go look at the green space is a green space. Is it green space? Is brown grass. Green space is a cracked parking lot with some paint on. Is that green space? I don't know. I think this is. Speaker 2: Far more. Speaker 3: Important. Speaker 2: Far more. Speaker 3: It will be it will deliver far more in the development of our kids than just open space. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Baker. Docket 0265 will remain in committee motions. Orders, resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read 05100510.

Mayor Order

Councilor Baker called Docket #0265, An order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend a grant funded through the coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery fund (CLFRF) in the Treasury of the United States established by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury for $10,000,000.00, from the Committee on Boston's COVID-19's Recovery. No objection being heard the matter was before the body. Councilor Baker moved to amend Docket #0265 from $10,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00. Seconded by Councilor Murphy Motion Prevailed; yeas 12; (Absent 1 Mejia). Docket #0265 as amended did not Pass; yeas 5 (Baker, Flaherty, Flynn Murphy and Worrell), nays 7 (Arroyo, Bok, Breadon, Coletta, Fernandes Anderson, Lara and Louijeune). (Absent 1 Mejia)

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Speaker 1: 05120512. Councilors were all in clarity after the following order for a hearing regarding allocating ARPA funds to a homeownership voucher program. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel. Earl. Counsel. Earl. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you. President Flint. Can I suspend Route 12 and add. Speaker 0: Councilor Bach as. Speaker 3: A original co-sponsor? Speaker 0: Yes. Having heard no objections, please add counsel advocate as an original co-sponsor. You have the full council rule. Speaker 3: Thank you. And thank you to my co-sponsors, Councilor Flaherty and Council. BLOCK As the African thought leader once said, people are not fighting for ideas. The things that anyone said they are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children. We have watched thousands of longtime residents leave Boston because of the rising cost of housing. Our neighbors, who have called Boston home for decades, cannot afford to purchase a home in their hometown and struggle to keep up with the rising costs of rent through the federal Section eight voucher program. We are able to subsidize rent and voucher holders are able to use their vouchers to purchase a home. In addition to expanding Section eight vouchers. We as a city can create our own voucher program. I'm a B, a little bit creative, and I came up with a name for it, but it's called the Boston Priority Housing Voucher , where we have the. Speaker 0: Flexibility to define who. Speaker 3: Is eligible for the assistance and would be able to create equity applicants like we have done in other programs. This is an opportunity to bring much needed housing assistance to long term Boston residents who are stuck in the middle. I've come across many of our neighbors who make too much to qualify for housing assistance but do not earn enough to purchase a home by layering relief. We will provide our neighbors with a clear path to the middle class as interest rates go up. Borrowing requirements will become more strict to increase homebuyers buying power. It would take more than just down payment assistance. If we are serious about homeownership, let's put Bostonians in the best positions to purchase and make Boston their permanent home and to continue on with Councilor Baker's analogy. Imagine, imagine going to Vegas, rolling the dice, being able to buy everyone in the city of Boston the home. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselor. All the chair recognizes counsel. Clarity. Counsel, clarity. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. That sounds like a chicken in every pot. So. But I want to obviously want to thank the the the lead sponsor for his leadership and partnership. We've been back and forth on this over the last couple of weeks, just trying to pull things together. And I just think it's important to note that our rental and homeownership markets are extremely competitive and are among the most expensive in the United States. And parallel to that is the cost of living in Boston has increased steeply over the last decade. Everybody in this room has heard from a constituent, a friend and neighbor on this issue. And all of us know long term residents and families that are being forced out of the city, a city that they know they love, a neighborhood they love, and to grow up with because they can't meet that. That's that financial crunch. And so I know it's a serious problem. We're quickly becoming the city of the very rich and the very poor. And interesting to note, at a hearing last night, my team and I heard from a landlord that rents to folks in his neighborhood at a well below market rate. And I know he's not alone. It's not an overabundance of it. But there are a lot of small landlords that rent to to their neighbors. And and that happens across the city. However, these landlords are starting now to express their own distress at rising costs in our city, whether it's property tax, maintenance and repair of those properties , and then now having to make decisions as to whether they can continue to do that and and continue to provide below market rents in light of the increasing cost. And and now they're starting to grapple with having to increase those rents so that they don't find themselves going into a hole. This dynamic, it's separate from sort of the focus of this hearing. But I raise it because I think it's important because we do have to stop bullying the small lenders. If they stop doing that, that's only going to sort of further exacerbate the crunch for affordable rental opportunities that give renters a chance to to stay in their communities. And so home homeownership is is the best way to build equity and generational wealth in Boston. That goal is becoming further and further out of reach. And I want to note that the the one plus Boston mortgage program, it works and it's making a difference. Not enough of our lending institutions are participating, and that's a whole other issue that we can address. But I think it's important to note that that program is an incredible program that helps income eligible first time buyers gain buying power in the market. And I think that this is sort of what we were getting at and obviously leaning into this with the lead sponsor and obviously in council box experience here providing direct cash for assistance to fund this to 2 to 4 income eligible first time homebuyers, whether that's cash for down payments, whether that's a cash for it to help with the closing cost, that could be cash to bridge a loan will make the difference between someone getting in a home and or not getting an A home. And so I think that's sort of the spirit of what we're looking to do here. I look forward to a robust discussion about this. Welcome. Any additional ideas and feedback. But we talked at length about the Section eight voucher. And is there another opportunity? Is there another voucher out there that can again, sort of close those those gaps when it comes to homeownership? And and I think that this may be the answer to that. So look forward to working with the lead sponsor and the co-sponsor and all my colleagues to try to make this a reality. No, no different game changer. Nothing will do a better job of creating generational wealth than a person owning their own home. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Clarity. The Chair recognizes counsel for counsel. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you so much, Mr. President. And this is another thing that I'm excited to have come to the Code Recovery Committee and be part of our conversation there, because I think it's exciting that the administration is proposing in their proposal to have the most money going to affordable homeownership than that we've ever done in the city. But I think that when I talk to colleagues on the council and there are so many advocates of homeownership that I'm hesitant to start naming them, but Councilor Louis Jen, Councilor Fernandes, Anderson, Councilor Brady, I mean, we talk about these all the time. And I think part of what I've heard coming from Councilor Warrell is whatever we do for affordable homeownership, we've got to make sure that it's actually hitting the right people, that programs are actually that the folks who we all talk to, who we know need them, that especially they are first time homebuyers of color and first generation Omar, that these are actually the programs that serve that group and fit that middle. And so I think there's been a bunch of interesting suggestions proposed on the affordable homeownership. Run by councilors. Councilor Royle's proposal is that it's the one that's before us today. I think the idea of really putting those side by side with what the Mayor's Office of Housing is thinking and really drilling down and making sure that homeownership money is well targeted to hit that missing middle and keep folks in the city is a really important role for this council. So I'm looking forward to being able to have this conversation side by side about that funding allocation. So thank you, Mr. Chair. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Borg. The Chair recognizes Councilor Braden. And Councilor Braden, you have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to also thank the world for taking this initiative and bringing this forward. Homeownership, someone mentioned recently, is the most reliable way to control your rent because you have a if you have a 30 year mortgage, you can predict your housing costs for the city in the way out. And it's it's a way to build generational wealth. Sadly, we are seeing our neighborhoods been impacted by folks who've grown up in the neighborhoods. Even folks who've had their families have owned a home in the neighborhoods. The next generation cannot see a future in which they will be homeowners in our city and in many of our immigrant community are leaving the city because their rents are just sort of unaffordable in relation to their earning capacity, that they're relocating to other other cities and are further out like Brockton and Framingham, etc.. So one of the big issues that we're faced with, a lot of potential folks who want to buy a home are competing with investors who come into our neighborhoods with $1,000,000 in cash and put the money down before the house. Can even the two family home that come even come onto the market and then they rent out those homes, those two family and three family homes, $1,000 a bedroom, that's those. And that's generating $55,000 a month from a from a unit in a two family home. Working families can't afford that housing. Folks work together. Young professionals or students can group together and pay up. But this is a totally unsustainable way to go for housing going forward. So not only do we need to think about this type of a voucher program to help homeowners folks get into the homeownership and and have a home have a home to build generational wealth. But I also think we need to really seriously look at the mechanisms to try and disincentivize this speculative investment that is driving families out of our city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Braeden, the chair, recognizes Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor Fernandez Anderson, do you have the floor? Speaker 6: I think this is an amazing idea, right. Especially since I file something extremely similar to it. So I'm wondering in how we can work together to merge the two so that we can make it work. I think there's room for us to do work together. And so if I file something and this looks super similar, then we should work together. And I'm wondering then if how how we create the space to do that same points using using alternative ways to create home ownership, especially with low aims, qualifying them through different vouchers assistance programs. Same point. So I just I just think that great minds think alike. I appreciate you, Brian, and I respect you. I think we have we want to fight on the same side. And I want to work with you and see how we can merge the two ideas. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter or add their name? If you please, Regi. Raise your hand, Mr. Carr. Squeeze out Council of Royal Councilor Baker, Councilor Braden, Councilor Fernandez, Innocent Council Ora Councilors and Council on the Here Council. Council and the Chair. Dark 0511 will be referred to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Mr. Clerk, please. Re Docket. Speaker 1: 05130513. Counsel is me here, and Laura offered the following resolution in support of the Out of Hospital Birth Access and Safe Act. 2341 The Senate 1519 in recognizing Black Maternal Health Week in the city of Boston.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing regarding allocating ARPA funds to a homeownership voucher program. On motion of Councilors Worrell and Flaherty, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Bok as a co-sponsor.

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Speaker 1: 05130513. Counsel is me here, and Laura offered the following resolution in support of the Out of Hospital Birth Access and Safe Act. 2341 The Senate 1519 in recognizing Black Maternal Health Week in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And before I go on, I'd like to add Counselor Arroyo as an original co-sponsor. Speaker 0: Mr. Clarke, please add Counselor Arroyo as an original co-sponsor. You have the floor councilman here. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. You know, I. When I gave birth to on the lease, I was considered a late H mom. I was 40, and I had gestational diabetes and a high risk pregnancy that ended in a C-section. And navigating the VA system was a bit traumatic considering all of the complications that I faced. But what I did not know was my rights and what I should be asking for and advocating on behalf of. And, you know, this conversation in terms of black maternal health is an issue of equity. And I think we have an opportunity here in the city of Boston to really lean into the conversation and help support the advocacy on behalf of this issue. We know that home births here in the city of Boston, not in the city of Boston, but just in general over the past years have risen dramatically. The new Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports showing that between 2019 and 2020, home birth rates rose 47% in Massachusetts alone. Out of births, births either at home or in birth centers are safe and beneficial and a valid reproductive choice that is currently denied to most birthing people here in Massachusetts because of certified professional midwives who attend low risk births in homes and birth centers, are not licensed in Massachusetts, despite being licensed in 37 states. And so had I had the option to have a home birth, probably my situation would have looked very different. Fortunately, there's legislation in the State House titled The Out of Birth, Hospital Birth Access and Safety Act has been filed, which seeks to establish within the Department of Public Health a licensing process for professional midwives and add them as medical slash MassHealth providers. Passing this legislation is crucial for supporting birthing people, closing the crucial safety gaps and expanding access to out of hospital birthing options, meeting people where they are and accommodating the needs of birthing persons to ensure that they feel comfortable, safe and well taken care of. It is crucial that we're making space for people with different preferences when it comes to birthing, and this legislation seeks to address just that. It also is very timely that this legislation is in the State House and we're currently celebrating Black Maternal Health Week in a time when historic and systemic inequities have resulted in the risk of death and severe mobility being two times as likely for black birthing women compared to white counterparts. And we need to be doing more to support this legislation to recognize black maternal health month. And I think it's all 365 days a year, especially as home birth rates have risen here by 36% among black birthing people in the United States and between 2019 and 2020. And for all those reasons, I'm excited to support this initiative and also just want to shout out this year to Brazil, who is leading now here in the city of Boston to have a birthing center right here in Boston. And I also want to give a shout out to Nurse Tiffany, the so who is in the labor and delivery, as well as Emily and Esther for all the work that they have been doing in this space. So just wanted to thank you both for your leadership and also to my co-sponsors for joining me on this. So I ask that we suspend the rules and pass this resolution. And I hope that my colleagues who have co-sponsored will rise up to the occasion to say a few words, too. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes council. Borough Council. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you, Councilor, for including me as your co-sponsor on this resolution. I am very happy to hear the share of Ariel's name invoked in the City Hall chambers as the shearer was my boss, the Boston Public Health Commission, when I worked there. And she taught me pretty much everything I know about home birthing. And I think that the city of Boston is incredibly lucky to have her working to open the first freestanding birth center in the city and ran by a black woman. Nevertheless, I'm excited that the Boston City Council has an opportunity to publicly support the out-of-hospital birth. Access its safety act and to recognize black maternal health week. This is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart as a mother. When it came time to make a decision about my birthing plan, I was bombarded with research and data that made it very clear to me that the decision to have a child, especially as a black woman, was a dangerous one. The United States has the worst maternal health mortality among all wealthy nations in the world. And it's the only nation with a maternal mortality rate has been rising every year. In Massachusetts, like Councilor Richard Black, working people are two times more likely to die or have a near miss than their white counterparts due to structural or interpersonal racism. And I know that it's kind of daunting to listen to that data and to listen to those facts. But there's a bright spot. And that bright spot is that most maternal health deaths are preventable, which means that we can do something about this crisis. When I decided to have a homebirth to give birth at home, I did it because I knew it would be the safest, most affordable option for me. My midwives and my doula were essential in ensuring that I had a joyous birthing experience. And our current laws in the state of Massachusetts make it so that experience is not accessible to everyone. I believe that all people deserve to have a birthday experience where they feel listened to, affirmed and cared for. And we should work to make that possible. Regardless of whether people are giving birth at home at a birthing center or at a hospital and working towards this like CC will make that possible. By supporting this resolution, we're acknowledging that the importance of safer, more equitable access to midwifery care options and the impact that offering those supports will ultimately have on the maternal health outcomes of black. And all birthing people in the city of Boston and across the state. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Our the chair recognizes counsel. Royal counsel. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to Counselor Miki and Counselor Lara for sponsoring this and bringing this forward. And for all the advocates who've been doing work on this. When I did the racism as a public health crisis, I dug into a lot of different health metrics and things that impact health. And one of the most striking, disappointing and painful ones was the inequities that we see in black maternal health. Even in the Boston, where our hospitals are considered world renowned, we have these wide gaps and inequities in these unnecessary deaths. And frankly, it's it's painful to know that our children and their parents are experiencing outcomes largely due to the fact that they are black. And so we need to get to a place where we prioritize this, where we speak on this, and we move on this in a way that effectively addresses a very real issue. I hope to see real action on this because these numbers are scary. They are very disappointing. And we are in the year 2022 and this needs to be more of a focus issue. So thank you to those who have raised it. And thank you to those who continue to advocate for these kinds of protections. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Arroyo, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes counselors and counselors. And you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. I just rise in support of this resolution. It is. I just want to reiterate that the numbers are scary, that black women are dying at rates that are should make us really jolt. And the number of stories from people in my own family, the number of time that I have had to exercise my strength as a lawyer to make sure that hospitals aren't discriminating against not only black women in the maternal health space, but in hospitals in general. So we have deep, deep health disparities where that we need to address. And there's so much work being done at the state level. At the state level, great advocates, which is why it's really important to help black women in spaces and legislative bodies really pushing for a black woman in our health. So just want to rise in support of this and rise in recognition of black maternal health. So I think thank you to the sponsors. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselors. And, um, anyone else, so to speak, on this matter? The first the first hearing I had as a city councilor four years ago, I sponsored a hearing with with Mayor Janey, Councilor Janey. And we had this discussion on the health care of African-American woman. And as we as we recognized black maternal month this month. I just want to say thank you to the sponsors and the tremendous work that you're doing on this subject and to our city officials as well for the focus that they're out there doing as well. But this is an important issue, and we need to work together to make sure that the health care and services are available to everybody equally, especially especially women in need, women of color as well. So. Thank you to the sponsors. If anyone else would like to sponsor this, raise your hand, please. Please. Howard Councilor Baker. Council. Council President. Council. Fernandez Innocent Council. Florida Conservation Council. Murphy's Council. We're all pleased that the chair. Um, docket 0511 will be referred to the committee in Boston. I'm sorry. Yeah. Um, docket zero five. Oh, yeah. Dark 0513 councilors McGwire, Laura and Arroyo. They seek suspension of their roles in adoption of 0513. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed saying, Hey, we have it. The resolution has been passed. Mr. Clerk, please read doc 0514. Oh, we did that one. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0515.0515.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution in Support of the Out of Hospital Birth Access and Safety Act (H.2341/S.1519) and Recognizing Black Maternal Health Week in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilors Mejia and Lara, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Arroyo as a co-sponsor.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04132022_2022-0517

Speaker 1: 0517 Councils Louisiana and Florida offered the following resolution in support of fully funding ABCD Title ten funding. Speaker 0: The Chair recognizes consultation and consultation. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. I asked to suspend Rule 12 and add my fellow colleague, Councilor Julian me here as a third co-sponsor. Speaker 0: Seeing and hearing. No objection. Councilman here is certainly added. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Mr. President. I also like to give a head tilt also to Councilor Aaron Murphy. If I could add a fourth co-sponsor, I would add her. The reason being, as Councilor Flaherty mentioned last week, ABCD lost its Title ten funding and I appreciate him for bringing that to our all of our attention, especially because all of the at large city councilors we sit as board members on ABCD. So this was an issue that really affected us and we're all really trying to figure out what we could do. As some of you may know, ABCD stands for action. The Boston Community Development was established in 1962 by the First Lady of Roxbury, Melanie Akash, who was a leader in so many ways in our city and centering the needs of those who are often forgotten of voting rights of just a number of issues that were important to Bostonians. But if you low income Bostonians regarding an absentee you worked on job training, child care, heating assistance, you name it, number of folks, constituents and family members have relied on ABCD over the years. They participated in Title ten program for nearly 50 years and they use that to really help empower folks and equip them with the tools to overcome poverty through a comprehensive and holistic approach to a range of health and racial barriers faced by households in poverty. The cultural, linguistic and economic distinctions in communities and neighborhoods create pockets of extreme poverty, exacerbated by history, by decades of neglect. And ABC works integrally in those spaces to really help empower those communities. And so with two days notice, they lost $2.8 million in grant funding, and it provides substantial resources to all the communities that I already mentioned. And so it was a very big hit to its family planning services. So members of the City Council and our representatives who all serve on the ABC board have been working with our city, with our state and federal partners here, the Boston delegation in Congress to really I talked to Secretary Beshear and hopefully reinstitute this to a $2.8 million in funding, which is so critical to family planning across our city. And so I just think my co-sponsors here for your work in supporting this resolution, also in our work together on the board of ABCD either personally or through our representatives. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel again, the chair recognizes counsel of clarity. Counsel clarity of the floor. Speaker 4: Mr. President, and thank you to the council we stand for for our partnership on this issue. As is referenced, it's a fantastic community organization on the front lines for community health services, fuel assistance, drug training placements, food pantries, you name it, the ABCD does it. They've been their Title ten funding has been doing and has been partnering with ABC for 47 years. Not quite sure what happened. Not sure how the ball sort of got dropped, but there was an oversight here. But it's critical that we get clarification and have this decision be reversed so that the Title ten funding be restored to ABC. And then for councils, colleagues, edification. That's the plan. And I were on a call with Congressman Lynch this week who with his relationships was also getting his phone was burning up on this issue. And I know that he was going to make efforts to connect with the secretary to try to have this Title ten funding restored . So I just want to give him a shout out. For his efforts on. On behalf as well. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Clarity. The chair recognizes. COUNSEL Here. Counsel Here you have the floor. Speaker 2: President And thank you to Counselor Lujan and clarity for having me as a co-sponsor. ABCDE has for me has meant the entire world first. My brother went through Head Start. We got our homes heated through the fuel assistance program and I ended up getting my first job right out of college through the Family Planning Title ten initiative . And, you know. The woman that hired me is Irving Golson, God rest her soul. I gave him my first job and introduction to family planning, to community engagement, to public health. This was 30 something years ago. So for me to be fighting to ensure that these funds. Stay with ABC. Is is personal. And I think we need to do everything in our power to ensure that everything that ABC has done for so many people that we all rise up and fight to to to keep this organization alive and. And I'm really thinking about Irene right now. I'm really thinking about Irene Golson and how much she's poured into this city around taking care of our bodies out of our health. And this is for her. And we have to fight for her. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. Here the chair recognizes counsel Murphy. Counsel Murphy of the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm happy to partner with my At-Large councilors. Thank you for including me. ABCD is a $200 million nonprofit. Speaker 5: Organization and they recently. Speaker 2: Lost their $2.8 million family planning grant. As we already heard, this loss won't shut their doors, but they will have to make some hard decisions and have. Speaker 5: To lay off as many. Speaker 2: As 15 counselors. ABCD provides social services for our youngest children in Headstart, child care settings, career training, summer jobs and they also run the William Oster Guy High School that services our youth recovering from substance abuse, clothing, food, housing and utility bill, advocacy for families and all the way up to our seniors where they help thousands of Boston seniors promoting health and financial. Speaker 5: Security and offering activities. Speaker 2: To help combat challenges like hunger and isolation. After struggling through the pandemic these past two years, we need these social services now more than ever. I'm in support and fully funding ABCDE, so there are no interruptions in the services they provide to our Boston residents. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Murphy. The chair recognizes counsel and counsel. Speaker 2: Yes. I just want to thank you, sir. I just want to add to the record that the majority of Title ten funding is goes to Matt Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester. And so when we're in an era of trying to make sure that these neighborhoods are getting maximum resources, we shouldn't be taking it away. Just wanted to add that for the record. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. And. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Just want to. I want to acknowledge and thank counsel, clarity and counsel and counsel here for their work on this important issue. Counsel Clarity received a call on a cell phone, I believe, from John Drew, who was the the executive director there, talking about how how this impact would hurt families in need. So I just want to acknowledge the the role the City Council played in advocating for families in need. ABCD plays a critical role in our city. They also supervise and administer the food access program SNAP, which I think is probably the best federal program there is. But having said that, I just want to thank my my colleagues for their important work on this on this matter. Consoles and console clarity. Console me here. And. Would anyone like to add their name? Please raise your hand, please. Council. Royal Council. Baker. Council. Bar Council. Brighton. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor. Laura. Please get the chair. Councilors Lujan seek suspension of the rules. Adoption of Docket 0517. All those in favor say our policy. The ayes have it. The docket has been adopted. We're on to personal orders. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 05180158.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution in support of fully funding ABCD Title X funding. On motion of CouncilorsLouijeune and Flaherty, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Mejia as a co-sponsor.

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Speaker 1: 05200520 Council of Flynn for counsel. Speaker 0: Around the suspension of the rules. Passage of docket 0520. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say may. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. We're on to leave files. I am informed by the court that there are three late files, two late file matters and one personnel order. Yeah. Two personnel orders in one resolution. The late files should be on everyone's desk. We will take a vote to add this these items into the agenda. All those in favor of adding delay file matter into the agenda. CIA matters have been added to the agenda. Mr. Kirk, please read the first file into the agenda. Speaker 1: Firstly far amount of personnel order for the Council of Flint for council or the chair.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Worrell offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Therese Fitzgerald in City Council, effective April 23, 2022.

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Speaker 1: Duncan Number 0321 petition for a special law regarding securing environmental justice in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo, chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Q Mr. Chair, the Committee on Government Operations had the working session on Monday, April 4th, on Docket 0321 petition for a special law regarding securing environmental justice in the city of Boston, which was sponsored by Councilor Liddy Edwards. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for attending. Councilor Flynn, Councilor Lara, Councilman here. Councilor Murphy, Councilor Flower City Councilor, BLOCK and Councilor. We're out. This home rule petition would declare that a state of emergency exists in the city of Boston with regards to environmental injustice and climate change. If passed, this legislation would amend the EPA's Enabling Act and remove public services corporations ability to seek an exemption to all Boston zoning laws by petitioning the State Department of Public Utilities. Instead, this legislation will give the Building Commissioner the authority to enforce environmental justice standards. If the Commissioner determines that a use or proposed use of a building structure or land in the city would negatively impact environmental rights afforded to residents by state law. The Building Commissioner would have the authority to issue a stop work order or suspend any issued permits, licenses or authorizations associated with the use or proposed use. At the working session, the committee heard from several environmental justice advocates about the urgency of securing environmental justice in Boston and protecting local communities. The utility company representatives stated that they believe that existing state regulations provided sufficient environmental justice protections. The sponsor clarified that the legislation would grant extra authority to the Building Commissioner and that more specific building standards can be crafted by the Zoning Commission and the Building Commissioner if the state passes this. There was a suggestion that language be added, specifying that the process of deciding those building standards shall be guided by the needs of a community through a civic engagement process. So while we wait to receive specific language amendments that were discussed at the working session, we're recommending that this remains in committee. Speaker 0: Thank you. As Council Royal. When any of our colleagues like to speak on this matter. To Ireland 0321 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket. Speaker 1: 029520295 Order for rehearing to explore municipal bonds and other fiscal options to increase affordable housing and community investments. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes Councilor Fernandez Anderson, Chair of the Committee and Ways and Means Counsel. Fernandez Anderson. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Can we. Can we refer back? So I left my. Speaker 0: Yes. Thank you. Mr. Carr, can we go on to docket 0313 and we'll return to Dawkins. Speaker 1: 0295.0313 message in order for an appropriation or in the amount of $27,205,854 from fiscal year 2022. Community Preservation Fund Revenues for Community Preservation Projects at the Recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee.

Council Home Rule Petition

Councilor Louijeune called Docket # 0321, Petition for a Special Law re: Securing Environmental Justice in the City of Boston, from the Committee on Government Operation. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. Councilor Edwards motioned to amend language. Second Councilor Breadon. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the Petition was passed as amended.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04062022_2022-0313

Speaker 1: 0295.0313 message in order for an appropriation or in the amount of $27,205,854 from fiscal year 2022. Community Preservation Fund Revenues for Community Preservation Projects at the Recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee. Speaker 0: Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Slattery, chair of the Committee and Community Preservation Act Council, for clarity of the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. And last night we held a great hearing on docket 0313, the appropriation for the 27 plus billion for the CPC. I want to thank my colleagues that would join me in obviously a special thank you to the Vice Chair of Council Kinsey by click on finish of the hearing with the Zoom testimony as well as central staff who worked late to accommodate the evening hearing. As someone who led the efforts on this body to help get CPA passed, along with some of my colleagues and many, many constituents and advocates and voters across the city, this hearing is my favorite hearing. Each year, it's the opportunity for us to see a great program evolve and continue to grow and you see more folks get excited about it. I think you referenced it last night after you had left other folks that spoke and referenced your comments about talking about something that just brings people and brings communities together. It's it's the CPA, as I believe, envisioned. With that said that we heard following testimony from a Maureen guy. So we heard from Chief Dillon, Deputy Director Jessica Boatwright, Chief Merriam Hammond, Ryan Woods, the Commissioner of Parks Courtney Whalen, and Jillian Lang from Historic Preservation. And last but not least, is dating Brown, deputy director of the Community Preservation. And she did. She does a phenomenal job is referenced. And also the folks that testified talked about how they need makes them feel like they're the only applicant. And she goes to great lengths to make sure that they have all the information and ducks in line and in that whatever is missing or her outreach as well. Can we do better always? We can always do better. But if any program in the city is working and is reaching out as best they can, it's this group and they'll continue to do so as referenced by our colleagues questions last night. Now the breakdown is as follows 27 million and change will go 14 million, 660,000 hundred $59 will go to affordable housing projects. 6 million hundred $41,357 will go to historic preservation projects and 6,404,338 in recreational use in open space project. So that to date that over 92 million has been awarded to 198 projects spanning across the city. And with the approval of this appropriation, we'll be awarding 119 million over 2 to 250 projects since the funding began in 2018 . So during the course of the hearing, we had robust public testimony in favor of the of the proposed project, although the very deserving, including testimony from some of our youngest residents in the city advocating for projects that impacted their school, their community and others. As chair of the committee like this matter remaining committee just to allow for some further public comment given that the hearing went late. And we want to make sure that folks at one of the opportunities to advocate on behalf of these free these three buckets of affordable housing, historic preservation and open space have the opportunity to do so. In which case I look forward to putting a committee report together for this body to consider to vote on next Wednesday. And if any of my other colleagues from the Chair would like to speak have been happy to accommodate that. And we'll have this thing turned around by next Wednesday. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel, for any of our colleagues like to speak on this matter. Just want to say thank you to counsel, clarity and counsel involved and central staff. The mayor's office that was here last night working late. We appreciate everything and your leadership on this important issue. As counsel clarity highlighted, the Community Preservation Act is an opportunity for neighbors to come together, work with city officials, learn about city government, and also improve. The quality of life of their neighborhood. So it's a tremendous program. Thank you, counsel. Clarity Docket 0313 will remain in committee. We're moving on to. Counsel Fernandez innocent. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket 0295, please? Speaker 1: Duncan number 0295. Order for a hearing to explore municipal bonds and other fiscal options to increase affordable housing and community investments.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022, Docket #0313, for an appropriation order in the amount of Twenty Seven Million Two Hundred and Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Dollars ($27,205,854.00) from Fiscal Year 2022 community preservation fund revenues for community preservation projects at the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04062022_2022-0295

Speaker 1: Duncan number 0295. Order for a hearing to explore municipal bonds and other fiscal options to increase affordable housing and community investments. Speaker 0: The DGA recognizes Councilor Fernandez Innocent, chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. The Chair. The Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing to explore prospect of opportunities for more housing or creating more affordable housing by way of bonds. And we I'd like to thank the administration. I'd like to thank my lead the lead co-sponsor or the lead sponsor and my lead and my co-sponsor on this hearing. And it will remain in in basically will main committee. And we just basically had a robust conversation about the possibilities. Administration broke down what Bonds was. They gave us a lot of back and forth, not back and forth, but explanations as to what the risks are and in terms of what the possibilities are. They said they would go back to us with projections of what those numbers actually look like. I don't know if my co-sponsors like to say anything else about it, but I think that we definitely saw a possibility of expiring bonds. And we'll be happy to report more as we go. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Fernandez Innocent. Would any of our colleagues like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes counsel. Illusion, counsel, illusion. You have the full. Speaker 2: Care conversation yesterday around bonds. I want to thank the administration. I just stare at Maureen Garcia and Jim Williamson. And we came and we talked about bonds. We talked about our R about our general debt policy, but also about, you know, what would it look like to increase to increase our debt service or to actually change our repayment schedule so that our bond repayments are a smaller fraction of our overall budget, which would give us flexibility to do a lot more. We obviously have been as a city, always touting this triple-A bond rating, which a lot of us are very proud of in the city. But a lot of that is built on a strong economy that is often entrenched in inequities in our city, and so exploring ways in which we can actually attack these issues like affordable housing, like community investments, like in more infrastructure, in neighborhoods that have been forgotten and excluded and leaning into our fiscal strength through our bond policy is one way to do that. So I want to thank everyone who participated in that conversation. Our new president, Flynn, comes in here and we're out. Obviously, my co-sponsor is Council back in Casper Finance and Anderson, both of whom have presented really great ideas around housing and how we can use our combined our city's fiscal strength with whether it's what we need to do under the 3:00 amendment to get more social housing built or rental home options. I think this really does present us with a really great opportunity to pay for and do the things that we need to do in community to address the urgency of the crises that we're facing as a city . So it's just the beginning of a conversation and I think the chair holding it and everyone who leaned into it because I know it can seem pretty dry like bond policy, but it is really important. It's how we pay for a lot of things that we need to get done. So I appreciate this hearing and look forward to further conversations. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor John. Speaker 2: Oh, and also just want to thank Councilor, former City Councilor Josh Cecum and Professor Ben Bradlow, who came and provided really great testimony and really, I think did a great job of of centering the urgency of the issues we face and how our bond policy can, can, can be a tool here. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Jan, um, the chair recognizes Councilor Borg Council block view of the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you so much, Mr. President. And thank you also to my co-sponsors, Councilor Fernandez Anderson and Councilor Blue John, the lead sponsor. This was a great hearing to have. I want summarize it because they they've on so, so well but it's just exciting to me. You know, the last time we were having a version of this conversation, it was last term and the mayor was a co-sponsor on that. And so I think that, you know, talking to our enough team and seeing the kind of desire and willingness in the council to really bond for housing in a new and robust way. I think like the stars are aligning, I hope for us to really talk about that at scale in Boston. And I just want to stress in this forum that, you know, when you look at the West Coast cities, L.A., San Francisco, Portland, many of which are in very similar acute housing situations as us, each of them in the last five years has put out bonds for $1,000,000,000 on housing. And I just think that, you know, in the same way that we talked about bonding for, you know, $1,000,000,000 over ten years for us with the strategy, I think the time has come to talk about that here. And I think that the reality is that there are ways to there are ways to adjust our our policy and even within our policy, some of our efficiencies and getting capital spending to actually happen in ways to kind of make room for that type of serious investment. And so, yeah, just really, really grateful to the colleagues for relaunching this conversation. And and as everyone knows, I'm I think we should be in the business of building more public housing in the city and that we can we're authorized by the feds to build another 2500 units. So I hope this is a conversation that we can have aggressively to move forward in the coming months. So. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. Anyone else like to speak on this matter at this time? Docket 0295 will remain in committee. We're going on to. Well, going on two motions orders in resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read docket. Speaker 1: 04650465 councilors were all in Louisiana, offered the following petition for a special law relative to enact authorizing additional licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in Boston.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to explore municipal bonds and other fiscal options to increase affordable housing and community investments.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04062022_2022-0465

Speaker 1: 04650465 councilors were all in Louisiana, offered the following petition for a special law relative to enact authorizing additional licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. We're all counsel. We're all over the floor. Speaker 3: I'd like to suspend and add Counselor Arroyo to the docket. Speaker 0: Seeing and hearing. No objections. Counsel Arroyo was added as the original third co-sponsor. Speaker 3: All right. Thank you, President Flynn, and thank you to my co-sponsors, counsel Louie Jan and Counselor Arroyo. Also want to acknowledge the work that Congresswoman Pressley has done on liquor licenses here in the city of Boston. Out of the 1448 liquor licenses in the city. Only two restaurants have liquor licenses in Mattapan and only six on Blue Hill Life. And this home will petition. We are being intentional by creating liquor licenses for those established restaurants in neighborhoods of Dorchester High Park and Mattapan, because we must do more and create equity in liquor licensing. I must admit this home rule petition is a little selfish of me because like many of our other residents, I too want to be able to eat, watch the game and enjoy it. Don Julio Reposado neat and my own neighborhood liquor license in these areas will help our small, locally owned restaurants reestablish himself after coming through a negative impact of COVID 19. This is an opportunity for us to use our powers to help create local revenue and local jobs and create a clear pathway to small business owners to recovery through the creation of capacity, size, liquor licenses. We will help the small restaurants establish financial sufficiency, generating the revenue to expand and the ability to create more jobs in our neighborhoods. This is why we must make sure we increase all liquor licenses each year. It's about the economic health of all of our neighborhoods. I'm looking forward to discussion and under discussion around what is the correct amount of liquor license needed. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. We're all. The chair recognizes counselors and counselors. And you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. Mr. President, I just want to thank Counselor Rao for introducing this home rule petition. And it's really important that we do everything we can like counsel overall. I would also like to have more restaurants in my neighborhood where I can just hang out, have a good time with my friends. And obviously in our neighborhoods like Mattapan, my parks are in Dorchester. Those are hard to come by. And we know that it has been really difficult and as as comfortable address stated. Now, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley really led the charge here and there's still a lot more work to do to get liquor licenses into our neighborhoods. Obviously, that's hard when we have to go to the state each time I'm in following on the work that we did last week trying to get restricted liquor licenses. One of my co-sponsor comes from me here in Roxbury. This is continuing part of that same dialog. And I think council we're out for his creativity on ways that we can address that offer our entrepreneurs and our startup restaurants and businesses and to think creatively about how we can automate, to automate having an increase in these license in the future. So thank you for your leadership and I look forward to working with you on this. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselors. And the chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Counsel Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, counsel and counsel, Louisiana, for moving this forward. As many counselors know, I don't actually drink, but I recognize the competitive disadvantage that restaurants without liquor licenses find themselves at in the city. When it comes to surviving as a as a business in the city, we know that there's also a difference in the quality of food at restaurants that have liquor licenses in terms of the ability to offer sit down services as opposed to take out services. And when they did a study at the Boston Public Health Commission on sort of the butterfly effect of things like this, what ended up being found was due to the lack of liquor licenses in some place like Mattapan. What actually that cascaded towards was a lack of sit down restaurants, and that led to a lack of food options and healthy food options for residents, which then led to health impacts on our communities. And so many of these things that may not seem to have any sort of intersectionality with other really important aspects of quality of life in our neighborhoods do. And so there's a competitive reason to do this. There's a smart small business keeping dollars local reason to do this. And there's also distinct health impacts and benefits of doing something like this in neighborhoods that have not seen the kind of liquor license access like Hyde Park, like Mattapan, like Dorchester, that other places, specifically downtown, in other places have seen. And, you know, this is something that I hope we continue to do. I hope that there's an automated way to continue to increase those numbers because, frankly, the liquor license process is a little arcane and I don't really believe beneficial to business in the city, period. Other cities that have different liquor license processes, have healthier restaurant industries, have healthier bar industries, have healthier sort of hospitality industries. And I think, you know, ultimately this is something that has been a fight for the council for a very, very, very, very long time when it comes to liquor licenses and preserving the value of people who have liquor licenses. And I do wonder in the future whether or not there's space to look at whether or not we have the ability to sort of purchase out as a city some of these liquor licenses and really move towards creating a brand new process at some point in time. But in the guidelines and in the rubrics and the ways in which we're supposed to do this now, I think this is a good start. So thank you to the councilors. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Roya, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. Mr. Kirklees had Council of Book Council of Britain Council, City Council, Borough Council here. Councilor Murphy lays out the chair. Government Docket 0465 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Kirklees re docket 04660466.

Council Home Rule Petition

Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Authorizing Additional Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages to be Drunk on the Premises in Boston. On motion of Councilors Worrell and Louijuene, Rule 12 was invoked to include CouncilorArroyo as co-sponsor. Referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

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Speaker 0: Councilor Murphy lays out the chair. Government Docket 0465 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Kirklees re docket 04660466. Speaker 1: Councilor Roy offer the following An ordinance creating a municipal identification card in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. Royal counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you. Mr. President, I'm very excited to introduce a municipal identification or an ordinance to create municipal identification for the city of Boston. This has been a long time coming. There was a study done in 2018 exploring the feasibility of this and what services residents would want. But other major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have already successfully done municipal identification programs. And the great part about a useful identification program as it gives Boston residents sort of a one card fits all situation. So in Chicago, for instance, their municipal resident's ID cards allow them to access the air. It serves as what our Charlie cards would serve as their venture card. So their ID actually works as their T card. It also works as their Boston their Chicago Public Library card. So the goal here is to create a municipal ID that sort of centers city services on one card, but also does things like New York's card, which New York's card gives you benefits to cultural institutions. It gives you sales and discounts to tickets, to the museums and to the to their zoos and to their different city institutions . And so it gives this one sort of resource rich card access. The wonderful part about municipal ID is that it allows us to be more inclusive in the city and who has IDs. We need IDs for many different things, and some standards for IDs are very difficult for folks who are here with proper documentation or without proper documentation to obtain. This would allow folks under a very strenuous list of requirements to preside identification of who they are to the agency that will issue these, but also that they live here. This gives the opportunity to create a very inclusive city and to send a message that Boston is a gateway city, is a city that is looking to be as inclusive and welcoming to all who call Boston home. And so I am excited to move forward with this. We have very workable examples that now exist in other cities. This is no longer a new idea. This has already sort of started to take root and has been in place for several years in other municipalities. So where we're sort of following up on that, but this is something that really should exist and really will go a long way to improving the lives and residents in the city of Boston. And so I look forward to introducing this and to moving this through. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Royal Oak, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand, Mr. Kirklees. Add Councilor Bach, Councilor Brad and Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor for Charity Council, Borough Council and Councilor here. Councilor Murphy Council. Were all pleased that the Chair. Dark at 0466 will be referred to. The Committee on Government Operations. Yeah. Mr. Quirk, please amend the attendance report to include Councilor Edwards as present. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0467.

Council Ordinance

Ordinance Creating a Municipal Identification Card in the City of Boston. Referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

BostonCC

BostonCC_04062022_2022-0468

Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Royal. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 04680468. Speaker 1: Council on Me. He offered the following in order for a hearing on establishing a mental health curriculum in Boston Public Schools. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And I would like to add my colleague, Counselor Erin Murphy, as a co-sponsor in this hearing order. Speaker 0: Councilor Murphy also added. Speaker 2: Thank you. Since even before the COVID 19 pandemic, we've been dealing with a pandemic in our Boston public schools around mental health and wellness. It's gotten so bad that the American Academy of Pediatrics and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children's Hospital Association have declared a national emergency in children's mental health, citing a serious toll of the COVID 19 pandemic . On top of existing challenges. Every day, students are being asked to leave their backpacks full of trauma at the door so that they can focus on their studies. And recently, we have seen how that untreated trauma has spilled over in our schools, out into the streets from the shooting outside of Boston Academy to the loaded gun found at young achievers of science and math in school, to several tombstones of our lost and loved ones being defaced and even stolen. It is clear that we need to be doing a lot more to address mental health and wellness in our schools. In school, we teach students how to read, how to write, how to run and even how to eat. But we do not do or we do not do is give them the tools and resources to unpack their trauma in a nonviolent and productive way. This is why we're following this hearing order in terms of the data. The numbers are pretty clear. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency departments, visits for suspected suicide attempts among adolescents jumped 31% in 2020 compared to 2019. In February and March of this year, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts were 51% higher among girls ages 12 to 17. During the same period in 2019. I get choked up because I have a 12 year old daughter. So this is hard. And I also have in my own experience with this issue. So I'm going up. You already know my story. So this clearly indicates that we need to be moving beyond the conventional plans of providing school psychologists and social workers when needed. They do great work, but we need to be doing more. In California, a bill which recently passed requires each school district, county office of Education, state special school and charter school that offers one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include those courses. Some form of instructional mental health. And way back in 1999. Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David Driscoll released a comprehensive health curriculum framework which seeks to introduce mental health into the classroom. But it's clear that we're not doing enough or being intentional around mental health education in our schools. So I'm hoping to use this hearing as an opportunity to look at what we what more we can be doing to uplift mental health and wellness in our schools. And before I finish, I also just want to give a shout out to Councilor Murphy, who has made youth mental health a cornerstone of our office's work. And I'm hoping that as the chair and vice chair of the Committee of Education, we will be able to work collaboratively on this issue together. Our success as legislators is measured by the quality of the world we leave behind for the next generation. And we need to ensure that we have all the resources they need to be set up for success. And that very much includes mental health and wellness. Thank you. And I just wanted to say really quickly, because you know me, I always got a riff at the top and speak from my heart because that's just the way I know how. You know, we have as parents oftentimes passed on our own trauma to our children because we weren't taught how to deal with it. You know, I talk about the fact that when I was a teen, I also attempted suicide. But my mom was so afraid that I would be taken away from her that she never did anything about it. And I grew up believing that she didn't love me. And I think that if we're tackling mental health, we have an opportunity to destigmatize it in a way that will help our the little ones understand that it's okay not to be okay and that they need to be able to seek the support services that they need. And I think that this conversation is not just about a moment of of of political theater. It really is looking at the the violence that's spilling over into our streets. There is a deep connection here. And we need to center mental health and wellness as part of that conversation. Otherwise, we're not getting to the root. So my hope is, is that as we continue to lean into this conversation, we recognize the responsibility and the opportunity that we have to change doing business as usual. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes Councilman Murphy. Councilor Murphy, you have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you. So we know our children are suffering with mental health issues and we cannot expect them to properly address their stress and mental health struggles if we don't teach them the tools they need to work through this. Teaching mental health will lead to better outcomes for our children. I know council here has mentioned some of them, but we know the statistics are scary. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 24 in many or most of mental health conditions dark during adolescence. Knowledge is power. So I think Council on Me here for being the lead sponsor on this important issue, and I look forward to working with her and my other colleagues to make sure that this happens for our students in the. Speaker 2: Boston public schools. Speaker 6: And across the city. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Murphy. The chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez innocent. Counsel Fernandez innocent. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilman. Here for your courage to open up to such a vulnerable state with us. And to be so beautiful and so pure, to be able to share yourself with us in a way that really exemplifies what a leader should conduct herself as. And I really appreciate the way you took us through that and. I'm just I'm just humbled to hear you, to be able to have so much courage to be that vulnerable with us, because a lot of us speak about mental health and it's become a political jargon that I think everyone now it's a catch phrase that we know that we all must support and we all. It's an issue. It's an issue. It's an issue. So we all talk about it. But the way that I've seen yourself and comes from Murphy can guide us through this, or at least the way I've watched you do it. I really I just really appreciate you for that. In terms of what you file today, I really look forward to the work. I would love to please add my name, Mr. President. I would love to work with you on it. I think that one of the issues is not just, you know, the problem. The problem is not adding one social worker per school or, as you say, bringing the homeschool connection or creating that platform. The Child Behavioral CBT. So Children Behavioral Health Initiative through MassHealth covers only medical necessities. So this means that the service, the clinician, will then go in and have to diagnose in order for the service to be rendered. The issue with that is fee for service then perpetuates this cyclical effect of this prison pipeline because you have to diagnose or sometimes misdiagnose or harshly diagnose a child. So I question and I really want us to talk about how are we diagnosing our black and brown children and how many fee, how many fees do you have to take in order to render that service? Sometimes the issues are, as you are putting it in your here in your request for the hearing in the order, is that you sometimes the issue is circumstantial, it's situational. So it deserves a temporary an OS just to get that three months service to figure out why that kid is in the shelter or why that kid's acting up. Well, why what's the problem? Circumstantially, we've temporarily for that moment. But what happens is once they get the diagnosis, it follows them throughout their lives and then they end up going, you know, not getting a job or not or whatever, you know, how does that cookie crumbles? But I can't say enough how passionate I am about it. I am a strong advocate and I look forward to the work with you. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council Fernandez Andersson and Mr. Kirklees. Council Fernando Sanderson. Her name. What? Everyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to wear their new outside to add the name Mr. Clarke, please? Out. Councilor Arroyo. Council Board Councilor Brading. Councilor Edwards Council Fernandez. Innocent Council of Florida. Council of La Mara Constitution. Councilor Rowland pulls out the chair. Docket 0468 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. Kirk, please read. Speaker 1: Dawkins 04690469 councilors were earlier in the year, offered the following order for a hearing regarding barriers to business.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing on Establishing a Mental Health Curriculum in Boston Public Schools. Referred to the Committee on Education.

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BostonCC_03302022_2022-0314

Speaker 0: Thank you. Dockets 0434 will be referred to the Committee on City Services, Innovation and Technology Reports of Committee. Mr. Clarke, please read Docket 0314. Speaker 2: Duncan Number 0314 The Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, to which was referred on March 2nd, 2020 to docket number 0314 message in order for your approval, in order for a short term extension of nine of the 14 remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, submit a report recommending the order ought to pass in a new draft. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Baker, chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation Counsel. Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. I am going to read this committee report if people will just stick with me here. The Committee on Planning and Development in Transportation was referred the following docket for the consideration docket 0134 in order to beginning the process of sunsetting urban renewals in the city of Boston until December 34th, that's actually wrong. It's supposed to be March 30, but that's the original. This is the original. I'm okay. This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michel will win first committee on March 2nd, 2022. The committee held a hearing on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022, and testimony was presented by Boston Redevelopment Authority officials included Director of Real Estate Devin Quirk, Urban Renewal Manager Chris Breen, Chief of Staff Heather Sarno, and General Counsel Eileen Brophy. The summary is in 2016, the Boston Redevelopment Authority doing business as a BDA, requested approval for a ten year extension for the 14 active renewal plans that were set to expire on April 30th, 2016. The BPD urged the City Council to pass this order that will protect the community development tools that will continue to cultivate vibrant neighborhoods around the city. After extensive deliberations around the use of eminent domain power, trust inequity issues and the lack of accountability and access to the BPD in the past, in the past and procedural changes moving forward, the City Council agreed to grant the approval of a six year extension of the 14 urban renewal planned areas, which is set to expire April 22nd, 2022. This request was subject to subsequently approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2016. Devin Quirk gave a historical look back on the negative impacts of urban renewal tools used in the past that cause irreparable harm to neighborhoods across the city, particularly the West End and other parts of the city. He explained that the BPD was operating in a new era of transparency and accountability. He explained that the BPD position is that authorization of this order will allow them to continue important work and spur economic development in partnership with public and private investments. Community stakeholders, and in working with the Boston City Council that is focused on the future development that addresses equity, displacement and building affordable housing for the residents of Boston . He highlighted that the administration is looking at development from the lens of equity and inclusion, community and community development. Mr. Quirk highlighted that by using these urban renewal tools, the BPD has effectuating great change in the city's central business district in neighborhoods, creating new opportunities for affordable housing, to solidify units for low and moderate income residents, and build new parks and public facilities and more. Mr. Quirk explained that since 2016, since the 2016 extension BPD, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, has facilitated a community engagement process that has garnered input on the future of urban renewal and has made relevant urban renewal documents accessible to the public through zoning viewer. Administration officials testified that the BPD reviewed the program and looked at the ongoing use of the urban renewal tools within the existing plan area to determine the future of BPD urban renewal polls in the city of Boston and to begin the process of sunsetting urban renewal. The BPD is seeking approval for a short term extension of the NAC. Extension of nine of the 14 remaining plans. In the Boston. In Boston that are set to expire December 31st, 2022. BPD officials noted that they plan immediately to sunset five of the 14 urban renewal plans on April 22nd, 2022, as the original intent and purpose of these plans have fulfilled. Mr. Quirk said that they intend to return to the Council with the plan moving forward. That requires further extension of some of the plans in order to wrap up ongoing community centered efforts. BPD officials further noted that the importance of the use of urban renewal tools in recent decades, which has resulted in the creation and preservation of nearly 10,000 units of affordable housing creation and protection of open space, provided new opportunities for many Boston residents, enabled public private partnerships and increased planning initiatives. Mr. Green presented a PowerPoint explaining BP's analysis and review process that helped to determine the reasons to allow the five urban renewal areas to sunset on April 22nd, 2022. The Five to sunset. That's what they presented the five parcels, including the following urban renewal areas. Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan. Central Business District. Boylston Essex Plan Central Busy Business District School. Franklin Plan. Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan in Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan. The extension of the nine urban areas through December 31st, 2022, included the following parcels Central Business District, South Station, Urban Renewal. Fenway Urban Renewal Plan. Campus High School. Urban Renewal Plan. South Cove Urban Renewal Plan. Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan. Downtown Waterfront Faneuil Hall Urban Renewal Plan Government Center Urban Renewal Plan. South End Urban Renewal Plan in Washington Park Urban Urban Renewal Plan. It was reported that as identified over 1300 parcels with existing land disposition agreements liaise that are tied to urban renewal power, some of which provide protection for affordable housing, open space and other other land use provisions. BPD officials explain that this request, if approved, will provide the BPD with additional time to set a plan for potential state legislation to transfer or protect appropriate provisions. Council has expressed reservations around extension of timeline of December 31st, 2022, as this will not allow BPD enough time to radically, adequately review and analyze all the Leah's LDA parcels in their inventory. Councilors discussed the impact on the owners of these properties relative to potential tax increases in the possibility of giving developers an edge in acquiring these parcels for market rate development. If these parcels were to expire without notice to the general public, discussions included the goals and responsibilities of BPD to use the urban renewal tool to shape and promote economic development throughout the city in a way that supports public good, particularly for the residents living in marginalized communities. Council stated that their focus is to protect the residents who were impacted by the urban renewal strategy in the past and most and most importantly, are looking to protect residents who will be impacted by the sunsetting of these parcels moving forward. And recommended that the BPD institute a longer time frame of sunsetting the nine parcels that would include a six month check in with the City Council during that time period. Cognizant of the trepidations and for the necessity of the BPAs role in future community development, the City Council felt vigorous. Meaningful discussions were necessary in a respectful public process that engages the residents impacted by the Urban Renewal Project's still going. Katzenbach and Flynn requested that Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan be added to the nine parcels that were extended to December 30, extended to December 31st, 2022, in order to address. The building height issue in the area council were later requested that the Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan also be added to the nine parcels in order to allow more time for to address residents concerns. Councilor Fernando Sanderson requested to add Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan to the nine Parcels Council has discussed and weighed ramifications of taking no action on the order and it allowed the renewal areas to sunset on April 22nd, 22, 2022. BPA officials explained that allowing the urban renewal parcels to expire will also cause the expiration of elders deed restricted provisions that include the protection of affordable housing and protection of open space and other land provisions. Councils expressed concerns in connection with eight month extension for aforementioned urban renewal plans, including the lack of information regarding BPD, a complete list of LDA inventory to date. They indicated that in order to mitigate the potential future harm posed to residents moving forward, it was determined that further analysis and review of the proposed nine current LDA zones and other BPD a LDA is necessary. The Council discussed extending the requested time period from December 31st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023. For the urban renewal decisions that wouldn't immediately sunset. The City Council also requested that the BPD do a six month check in with the body to provide updates on their progress. Following the hearing and additional consideration. The Committee recommends the following that the the following urban renewal renewal areas be allowed to expire first in its central business district, Boylston Essex Plan and Central Business District School Franklin plan that the following urban renewal areas be extended until March 31st 2023. Central Business South Station Urban Renewal Plan. Fenway Urban Renewal Plan Campus High School Urban Renewal Plan. South Cove Urban Renewal Plan. Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan Downtown Waterfront Faneuil Hall Urban Renewal Plan Government Center Urban Renewal Plan South End Urban Renewal Plan Washington Park Urban Renewal Plan Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan. Ian Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan in recognition of City Council Authority in connection with the aforementioned Urban Renewal Plan changes, the City Council and the BPD director agreed to implement a series of procedural changes with respect to the number of legitimate concerns discussing discussed at the hearing following the City Council approval, the BPD will seek approval from its agency Board of Directors, Mayor and Department of Housing and Community Development for extension of the plans. As Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, I recommend moving the list docket from the Committee to Full Council for discussion and formal action. At this time. My recommendation to the Full Council will be that this matter ought to pass in a new draft for the reasons stated above. Thank you, Mr. President. And I'd also like to have Counsel Earl or Councilor Anderson or Councilor Balk would like to speak. I'd like them allow them to turn. And also thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Baker. At this time, I'd like to recognize Councilor Balk Council. You have the floor. Speaker 4: For speaking substantively. I just wanted for a point of order perspective to suggest that we take a vote, that the count, that the new language is properly before the council. Just because there's a the the committee report that the chair read reflects an update to the order and and specifically that it turned out the updated version on the order accidentally had Brunswick came twice at the end and not square. So what councilors are holding in their hand that you have is the actual order that we were voting on. And I think we should probably make sure that this updated language that the chair is proposing is before it properly before the body. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council blocks would be a motion to substitute seeing and hearing no objection. The language of the committee report would be. Substituted. Well, Mr. Clarke, we'll take a vote on that. Any objections? No objections to the language. The new language will be added. And then go ahead, cancel a book. Speaker 4: And with that, I would just say briefly because the chair covered it very exhaustively that I think this is a a I think the council talked a lot about the fact that we want to make sure this is a thoughtful process. It's really important to our constituents. And each of us as district councilors have very specific district issues with each of these. And we want to make sure that we've got time enough to learn them and process them. So I appreciate the chair's recommendation that we extend that time period a bit. So it's not hitting us at the exact same time as a crunch on all other legislation and that we move a few of the districts that have some outstanding questions into that bucket for study over the next year. So thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. BLOCK Would any other counsel like to discuss this matter? Thank you. Councilor Baker, the chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, seeks acceptance of this committee report and passage of Docket 0314 in a new draft. All those in favor say I am opposed. Say no to other. Speaker 4: Things because it's. Speaker 0: Okay at this time. Mr. Clarke, would you take a roll call vote? Speaker 2: Roll call vote on number 0314. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 2: Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Book. Councilor Book. Councilor Brady. Council of Great Neck Council. Edwards. Council. Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Sanderson. Councilor Fernando Sanderson. Yes. Council Clarity. Council Clarity. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Lara. Councilor. Yes. Councilor Louise. In conclusion. Yes. Councilor and Media. Council and Media. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Council. World Council. World. Yes. Unanimous. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The docket has passed. I just want to say, on behalf of our colleagues, thank you to Councilor Baker. Thank you to the BP team for working on this important matter. Mr. Carr, please read DAWKINS 0312.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022 Docket #0314, for your approval for a short term extension of nine (9) of the fourteen (14) remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Baker moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.

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BostonCC_03302022_2022-0312

Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The docket has passed. I just want to say, on behalf of our colleagues, thank you to Councilor Baker. Thank you to the BP team for working on this important matter. Mr. Carr, please read DAWKINS 0312. Speaker 2: Lucky Number 0312 The Canadian government operations to which was referred on March 2nd, 2022 Docket numbers 0312 message in order for your approval, an ordinance regarding targeted residential picketing to protect the quality of residential life in our city submits a report recommending that the legislation to pass in a new draft. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Look. At this time. The chair recognizes Council Arroyo, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations. Counsel Arroyo, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to make a motion to. Seeing and hearing no objection. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 0: The language of the committee report has been substituted. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. Everyone should have this substituted copy on their desk. It's the one dated March 30th. 2022. This docket was sponsored by the mayor and referred to the Committee on Government Operations on March 2nd, 2022. The committee held a hearing on March 14, 2022 where public comment was taken in a working session on March 25 , 2022. This matter must be acted upon before May 2nd of 2022. The proposed legislation would prohibit targeted residential picketing between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.. The term targeted residential picketing is defined as picketing, protesting or demonstrating with or without signs that is specifically directed towards a particular residence or one or more occupants of the residence, and which takes place before or about the targeted residents. All other ordinances and statutes would apply, including laws regarding excessive noise, disturbing the peace and blocking streets and sidewalks. The provisions of this ordinance would be enforced by the Boston Police Department, and violators would be subject to fines of increasing amounts based on the number of offenses . 100 for the first offense, 200 for the second offense, and 300 for the third or subsequent offense. That's the version that was submitted. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for joining the working session. Councilor Murphy, Councilor Flaherty, Councilor Lara. Councilor Fernandez Anderson Council were real councilor me here, Councilor Louie Jan and Councilor Flynn and Councilor Edwards. I'd also like to thank the members of the administration for their participation. During the working session, the committee discussed why this ordinance is needed when a city noise ordinance already exists and how that noise ordinance was being enforced. The committee also discussed concerns with the fines and appeals process of this particular matter. The law department was able to provide clarity on the legal analysis and discussed the significant government interest in protecting individuals privacy rights within their homes. BPD discussed the need for balance and freedom of expression and enforcement of the noise ordinance, stating that the objective of the department is to de-escalate, divert and negotiate. Arrests are a last resort. BPD also stated that there have been no citations issued for violations of the current noise ordinance for the protected protests, but that the departments have been coordinating with the West Roxbury District Court. During the working session, councilors offered several language suggestions, including defining harm as a standard in order to provide context for the ordinance. For example, regulating activity that rises above a noise level and blocks public ways, removing the word towards and replacing it with, against or in opposition to and removing a particular residents. The committee also asked for clarification around the term subsequent offense and whether offenses would be tracked over a period of time. The law department reiterated that targeted residential picketing is permissible for 12 hours of the day. The amendments that have been made to the ordinance include the following the removal of the words a particular residence after the term torts to eliminate ambiguity so that it now reads for the purpose of this section. Targeted residential picketing means picketing, protesting or demonstrating with or without signs that is specifically directed towards one or more occupants of a particular residence, and which takes place before or about the particular targeted residents amending the fine structure so that they're not lower. So $50 for the first offense and 50 for the second offense and 300 for the third and subsequent offenses. And then defining the period for which subsequent offenses happen to within a 12 month period. In other words, after the first 12 months, if there's another offense, you would start out one again, referencing the specific state laws that give the city authority to issue fines and starting the word state before statutes and starting the word harassment in the third paragraph. And finally, inclusion of severability language, which is standard practice for the city to ensure that if challenged, only the challenge provisions would be impacted. The substitute committee report also includes one additional amendment in the fifth paragraph that would prevent information collected by the Boston Police Department through enforcement of this ordinance from being included in any database maintained by the Boston Regional Intelligence Center. Passage of this docket in a new draft will ensure that the expectation of privacy that individuals have in their homes is protected while maintaining freedom of speech and assembly rights. The stock it regulates targeted residential picketing between certain hours and imposes reasonable limitations on the time, place and manner of speech and is content neutral. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the quality of life of our residents and prevent them from becoming captive audiences in the privacy of their own home. In particular, this ordinance seeks to do this during the night and day, a night in early morning when such intentional intrusion into privacy is especially invasive and burdensome. The proposal in its amended draft provides clarity and is narrowly tailored, while leaving ample alternative channels of communication. As the chair of the committee, I seek acceptance of the Committee report as substituted and recommend that this docket on Odds Pass in a new draft. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel room. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter at this time? The chair recognizes. Counselor Baker. Counsel Baker. You have the floor at. Speaker 3: I wish this party came around me when this was happening to me. There were people out in front of my house, but they were crawling all around my house all hours of the evening. They were calling my phone and calling me a scumbag landlord scumbag. They were harassing my wife on her phone. Fireworks being shot at my house. Post being posted on my house. And this was happening. March, April, May, June, July, August of 2020. Because I took an action that was about transparency. And now because this is happening to one person, we're going to change all the rules. And I think we're I think we're we're edging in on First Amendment here. I think we're edging in on the right of free speech. Do I think that people should be out in front of the mayor's house at this point screaming at seven in the morning? No, but it's their right to be able to do it. And because it's happening to one person. Speaker 5: Now. Speaker 3: We're going to change the rules. I just think it's totally wrong. And again, I wish I knew the severity of what happened at my house. The last time, the same guy that drove by my house all summer long and threw firecrackers at my house all summer long, I came running out of the house and all my neighbors came out. The women with it, with their babies and everything, and they told me they were watching it happen. I didn't see it. I'm a little bit on the second and third floor. Don't see necessarily what's happened on the on the first floor. People were creeping all around my house. This party didn't really give. That much of a care about me and my family then my family and I proper English. Correct. But now because it's happening to one person and she happens to be sitting over there now, she could do certain things like maybe have the police back up into her driveway and get out the back door and drive through them. She could do things like that, but I don't think she's she's doing that. But this is a back and forth here. We're looking to just get people more divided, more and more divided. So I today will be voting no on this, not because I think that people should be out in front of anybody's house. They were at my house. They called my house. I lived with them for six months. I just got rid of all the text messages. Calling me a scumbag just got rid of them because I don't need it in my life. But I think that this is a problem here. So when it doesn't work for us, we're going to change all the rules. At what point does it end First Amendment? I think we're talking about it here today. So I will be voting no. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Baker. Any of our colleagues also wish to speak on this matter. Thank. I'm sorry. Now, the chair recognizes that large city council resolution council resigned. You have the floor. Speaker 5: A great working session on this as but I know that a lot of the counselors had questions from the Boston Police Department regarding some of the language that currently exists, saying laws would continue to be enforced. I'm just wondering if the chair's office ever received any data from the Boston Police Department regarding requests from counselors on enforcement over the last ten weeks, in the last year on this on the laws that are included in the ordinance that will continue to be enforced that. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel and Counsel Arroyo, are you able to respond to that question? Speaker 3: So we're still so as far as we know, I know that the question specifically, and you can correct me if I'm wrong on this case of Louisiana, was they had made clear that there were no NOI citations that they had put up and to their knowledge, within the last ten week period. And I think we asked for a time of a year so that we can have a better analysis of when and how they've actually held up the noise ordinance. We are still waiting on Boston Police Department to send us those numbers. They have not sent us those, but we will continue to ask and wait to receive and if required, do a 17 have to get the information specifically on the noise ordinances and how they've in the past enforce or not enforce them and where they're doing that and whether or not I believe that that was the outstanding request , correct? Yeah. So those those violations, those sort of civil violations, we're putting a request for that. We're still waiting for DPD to give us that that data. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Rail. The chair recognizes. Counsel Bork. Counsel Bork. View of the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you. Counselor Flynn. I was going to speak on this matter, but I just wanted to say, in response to what Councilor Baker was saying, you know, I think that a lot of the the outreach in 2020, both both as Councilor Baker saying that spring and then, you know, for many councilors that summer after the budget vote , I think that that that was a data point that the recent action has been another data point. And that's more about a pattern of the question of sort of like what we what we think counts as civil discourse in the city and and what are the appropriate places for people to make their message heard. I think that, as the chair has repeatedly said, nine and 9 p.m. still leaves 12 hours for picketing. And I don't actually think that the media coverage in the city has left anybody unable to express their message on any number of points recently. And so I guess what I would say to Councilor Baker's point is that it it seems to me that rather than being a reaction, like just for one person, you're saying for the mayor, it's more like we've got a consistent pattern here in which folks are crossing this threshold. And it's a real problem for a lot of our neighbors. Right. And we're trying to deal with how do you think about the fact that elected officials we answer to you, we absolutely need to hear what people are saying. But at the same time, we've got neighbors who, you know, have a right to their sleep at seven in the morning. And so for me, I guess as a councilor who's only been in for a couple of years, it feels as though that this that this last couple of years has been characterized by a lot of activity of this type. And so I don't think about the ordinance that we're voting on as being just about the mayor. I do think about it as also about what you were discussing happening at your dwelling. And I think that, of course, that's always the way that we should be thinking about legislation, is that as is general impact . And yeah, we might have a specific instance that makes us focus on the issue by work. We should always be legislating for a general impact. And I think for me the reason I'm going to vote yesterday is that I feel comfortable that the legislation is narrowly tailored enough to be well within the Supreme Court precedent when it comes to the First Amendment, a reasonable time, place and manner restriction that it's going to be evenly applied, that if we're talking about civil fines here, that it's not moving into criminalization. And for me as a councilor, I feel comfortable that that that is going to be a uniform impact and that it isn't about a particular act of speech. So I just wanted to stress that for me, there's actually a continuity rather than a discontinuity here. As somebody who was really troubled by what happened to Councilor Baker, what happened to many of our houses in the summer of 2020, and and also what's been happening to the mayor and other other folks. So I just wanted to say that from my perspective, it's more of a reaction to a pattern. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. BLOCK The chair recognizes counsel, royal counsel. Royal, do you have the floor? Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I just want to note as well that obviously targeted harassment of any kind, including and especially what Councilor Baker offered up, is wrong. It shouldn't be happening. And frankly, you know, last year with the budget votes, we saw folks as homes targeted in sort of an isolated incident this year. And I think it's mostly this year to get started this year. In 2022, we started to see targeted residential picketing in a way that we've never seen before. We had Superintendent Bailey on our working session, who's been an officer for over 30 years and said he's never seen this in the entirety of his time on the force . My mother's home was targeted and whether or not they were attempting to find my home when they were informed that it was my mother's home, they remained and they continue to harass my mother at her home. And I think one of the major issues with this is when we allow folks to to come to a conclusion that going to our homes or the homes of our family members is acceptable, those kinds of mistakes will happen. They will end up outside of people's homes that aren't the people that they're actually trying to get to. They are going to be putting people in distress who frankly aren't even necessarily the targets of who they're trying to put in distress. And so this doesn't and I just want to be clear, this doesn't even stop them from doing that. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., if they wanted to, they could still go to any home in the city and do what they've been doing. It doesn't actually stop that. It just gives folks some grace. From 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. to allow them to get ready, start their day, put kids on school busses, do the things that they have to do in the city regardless of where their political leanings are. It allows them to do this. This doesn't even stop the behaviors that we're talking about. It doesn't actually say you can't go to somebody's home, period. It says from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for 12 hours of the day. We got 24 hours in a day for 50% of this day. If you want to go stand outside of somebody's grandmother's house or mother's house, and fortunately, you can still do that. There's nothing here that stops that. And so this is very narrowly tailored, very contained. I think the idea here is. To provide some grace to residents to allow them some peace in the early morning hours, because, frankly, they deserve that. They did not sign up for that kind of picketing in their neighborhoods. And so that's addressing a new issue that I think we see escalating. We've never seen this kind of escalation. We've never had to deal with this to this degree. I think it's awful that it's happened in the past. And my hope is that, you know, I had someone say it's it's awful that we're legislating civility, but we are. And so my my goal is ultimately peace in our neighborhoods for folks to come to the appropriate sections. I have actually spoken with protesters. I've taken the time out of the day to do that. I have been at city hall, and yet they still find their way to our homes. And so what I am saying, period, is when we're doing these things, there's a time and place to do them. And this is just saying from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., the place is not in front of people's homes. So that's that's what this is doing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Speaker 0: Excuse me. Excuse me, please. Please. No comment in the city council. Officer, can you please ask for her out of the room, please? We're in a brief recess for 15 seconds. Speaker 5: In the working session. Earlier this morning, she was just about. Speaker 0: We're back and we're back in session. The chair recognizes. Counselor. Murphy, counsel. Murphy, you have the floor. Speaker 6: So to follow up on the question. My colleague, counsel Louisiana had if you could clarify, Counselor Arroyo, why if there were some questions, I was at that working session and I know we had many questions and some of them were answered in this new wording. But if we have until May 2nd, if you could just make it clear for me why we're voting today and we're not waiting for some of those more of the answers to come back. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo, Counsel Arroyo, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Because none of the questions that we're waiting to come back deal with the legality of the ordinance itself. There are questions about enforcement of other existing ordinances that, frankly, I think are important in our data. We're going to get and we can follow up on how and how we expect the city and DPD to enforce or deal with sort of these civil infractions and whether or not there's discrepancies in how they're being used and where they're being used. But all of the questions that had to do with legality and whether or not this ordinance would be legally or constitutionally upheld have been answered at this time. There are no outstanding questions on that that were posed at the working session. And so that is why we're moving forward with the vote today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel Thank you. Counsel Murphy The Chair recognizes counsel Fernandez. Andersen COUNSEL Fernandez A.nd you have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for holding the hearings and working sessions. I just have a point to make because and it's really unfortunate to my brother, Greg Baker, that you had to go through that and wrong. Two one is wrong is no matter no matter what is wrong. Well, so I and in James Baldwin I think and I'm not. Don't quote me word for word but in the letter to Angela Davis talked about if they come for you in the night, they'll come for us in the morning. And I think that the tone is about, you know, BROWN done to one humankind is it's like you were doing it to all and I'm just a little bit disturbed that wanted to happen to you. But to that, the point is if if it let's say hypothetically that that was the case, you should I believe you. I'm saying in your case, you should have been protected and supported. And I'm sure our colleagues, many of them supported you. But let's say hypothetically that it was only about one person in this instance, then it's wrong. Wrong is wrong. Right is right. And when someone is harassed or hurt and if that has to go to an extreme for us to change a thing in order for someone to feel safe that it's wrong, then she is not safe. Let's say it was only about one person. Remove the man from it. Then we have to do what is right to ensure that now we had the work in session and the police department was very clear that no one was arrested. There was there were no actions taken. And so and I also I'm to believe that I've seen it with my own eyes, because I know some of us have driven to our home to to to witness it, to understand what's going on. And I've seen it where officers stand by and things happen and she's harassed and she has to walk through people to go somewhere. As a woman or as a man, as a child senior, it doesn't matter. She doesn't feel safe. Even if it was only about one person removed her position or her job title. And tell me what you think that is. That's wrong. So we have to address it either way. And I don't believe that we need a new law, a new ordinance and new anything. I think we're talking about something totally different. This is not protesting. This is harassment. This is abuse and verbal assault. It's totally different. I don't think we need it. But if we have to go to extremes because there was a group of people not doing their job, not arresting, not taking action, for now, we do what we must to intervene so that someone can feel safe. But I don't think that this is just about the mayor. I think that, as my colleagues have stated, it's about her neighbors and council. Flynn is going through this council. Arroyo's mom's going through this and others have gone through this. And you just made your point. You said you wish that we did that for you when it happened to you. So do you wish for this to happen to protect someone or not? Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Fernandez. I wasn't planning to speak on this matter, but I'll speak briefly. I'm going to support. Support this proposal. And one of the reasons or several of the reasons I'm supporting it is based on the quality of life of neighbors that live near an elected official or a public official. Can you imagine a senior, 85 years old, that's that's a World War Two veteran that's struggling to try to get to sleep. And having being woken up at 9:00 at night or about 7:00 in the morning, how could you imagine a person with disabilities that's also struggling? Young, young little babies, infants or kids that are going to school that need their sleep so that they can function properly the next morning and they're being woken up at nine at night, eight at night, 7:00 in the morning. So there has to be some civility, some respect for neighbors. And I think this compromise is is fair. I do have a little problem. Problem with the 9:00 one. I, I couldn't imagine someone going to someone's house at 830 at night and trying to. Wake someone up and especially your little baby is trying to sleep or a senior or veteran is trying to sleep. I'm supporting it. But I think this is a fear a fear compromise. That's all I'll have to say on the matter. The chair recognizes counsel Baker. Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 3: I appreciate your concern, but my colleagues warrant wrapping themselves around me. They weren't calling to make sure my family was okay when the fire was out behind my house. That was until about midnight. They were crawling all around my house three or four or five in the morning. The calls started at seven until midnight. Nobody gave two shits about me and my family. And this is very specific. The legislation comes out after this happening to her. And by the way, she's not disengaged with the public that standing outside, that she's still. Speaker 5: Twitting around and everything else. Speaker 3: So at what point does she show that she's above it anymore and she's not going to be harmed that maybe maybe her ears will be harmed? The Boston police will not let her be harmed. And now, mind you, I lived through watching watching Newbury Street get totally looted. Nobody was arrested. We're looking to arrest people here now for for noise violations. We're going to go out with these things that, oh, that's above 70 decibels. We better arrest that guy. The city was on fire. We didn't arrest anybody. I think we arrested the one kid that that that burnt the the police car. That's what I saw. I saw my city that went through 2020. Championship banners and parades and everything. Not a problem. Not a problem. But yet we allowed people from outside because I was standing on the corners. I was standing on the corners. I was watching who was creeping around my neighborhood. Pennsylvania plates. Ohio plates. Florida plates. This is a national agenda playing out here. And it was the list that brought this all here. Now that it's happening to the left, we're going to change the rules. And I think it's very specific towards one person. And I disagree with you. That's what we're having this this this discussion about, because we should be able to to disagree without everybody in this room hate me. Quite frankly, I don't care if you hate me or not. I'm here to represent my people from District three. And I'm going to say what I have on my mind. I think it's very specific towards her. Yeah, 9 to 9. Not a big not a big deal. But I think it's wrong. I think we're encroaching on on our rights, our right to protest. I mean, the people that what that were that were. Looting the stores on on on Newbury Street. Not a single person got arrested. Not a single person got arrested. What about that business person that lost all of their all of their inventory? Did you see the video for the guy on Newbury Street with the bikes? That's in your district. What happened there? So, yeah, I think it's wrong. I think we're doing this specifically because someone's in. Someone's in the office over the head. Great. You won. Awesome. But we're looking to change the rules here now because the left is in charge. So they go to the left and now it doesn't work for them. So let's change the rules. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel, make up the last comment I'm going to have is counsel, our counsel, our view of the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, President Flynn. I just wanted to correct for the record that during the George Floyd protests, 53 people were arrested. The person who was not arrested was the Boston Police Department officer who was caught on video talking about mowing over protesters with his vehicle. But 53 people were arrested. Two of them who were still going into court and being supported by the ACLU up until just a few weeks ago. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. I'm sorry. I'm not going to take any more. Just young. Speaker 4: Counselor Flynn. Sorry. He specifically referenced me and my district. I just want to make. Speaker 0: All right. Can you counsel Bob, can you respond very briefly? And let me let me just be clear. This will be the last testimony before we go on to a vote. Speaker 4: Yeah, I just I just want to say. Speaker 1: From my perspective. I. Speaker 4: 20 and situation. We actually had like a major operational failure where there were no police in the area of Newbury Street because they were all centered around the Commons. We had out-of-state folks coming in with vans. It was very orchestrated and planned. It was pretty clearly a separate action from the folks who were on the college protesting. And so I just want to stress that I think the whole history of that is quite distinct from what we're talking about here. And it was, of course, something that I was deeply concerned about in my district and the ramifications going to be something we struggle with in the district. But it was not, I think, connected to the to the conversation that we're having today. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel walk. Counsel. Excuse me, sir. Please, please refrain from talking. Officer, could you please us? What? A lot of this. Council Royal the chair on the Committee of Government Operations. Seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of the docket zero three, one, two and a new draft. Mr. Clarke, if you can do a roll call vote. Speaker 2: Roll call on docket 031 to Consular. Royal Consular. Royal Yes. Council a Baker Council a. Baker no. Council a but yes. Council a Bach. Yes. Council of Reading Council of Region yes. Council Edwards. Council of Woods yes. Councilor Fernando Sanderson. Council Fernando Sanderson. Yes. Council Clarity. Council Clarity. Yes. Council Flynn. Yes. Council Flynn. Yes. Council. Borough Council. Ah no. Council Louisiana. Council of Louisiana yes. Council. Let me hear. Council a me here. No. Council a murphy council a murphy. No. In Council world. Yes. Council overall? Yes. Speaker 0: Thank you. And the docket has passed in a new draft. We're going on to matters recently heard for possible action. Mr. Couric please reach 0239.

Mayor Ordinance

On the message and ordinance, referred on March 2, 2022, Docket #0312, for your approval regarding targeted residential picketing, to protect the quality of residential life in our city, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Arroyo moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.

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Speaker 2: 0242024 to order for a hearing regarding recycling, compost and waste services in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Did she ever recognize this council chair of the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology Council? You have the floor. Thank you so much. It's excellent. Speaker 4: Okay, great. Thank you so much, Counselor Flynn. We had a great hearing on Monday. It was really wonderful to have Brian Coughlin, our superintendent of Waste Reduction and Waste Management Services here. And he took all of our questions and talked about all different matters of what the city does on the waste management front. And then we actually heard from panelists from both Seattle and I'm ready to name right now but just are Hooksett and New Hampshire hearing about what other model cities. And so I think it was a really good model. Mr. President, of the benefit of a hybrid hearing. And I think it made a real difference for us to have Brian there in person. But then it was great to have Seattle beaming in from across the country. So I want to thank all the colleagues that attended. And in particular, I think the most exciting thing was the confirmation that the the city curbside composting pilot that this council has long been fighting for. And I want to particularly flag the work of our colleague, Councilor Matt O'Malley, on this body. We've been fighting for that and funding it for several cycles now. And and it now actually, like the RFP is come back, they're planning to launch it this summer and it's going to make curbside composting available to 10,000 families at the beginning. And my hope is that that's a a real start down a path of ramping up to a city wide service in the same way that, as we heard, Seattle has. So I thought that was really exciting. But we talked about everything from batteries and and e-waste management, hazardous materials, the fact that the five days in city halls right now are just, you know, they're way above demand to recycling and the recycling market and how we can make sure that that we really put our city on a trajectory to reach our zero waste goals. Because I think Brian was very upfront about the fact that they've taken some major strides and yet still we are not on a path to actually meeting our goals there. So it's grateful for the participation of the environmental justice chair, Kassala Lara and a whole bunch of councilors. And I think another thing that really came out of the hearing that I expect we'll do more council follow up on is as Councilor Baker has constantly pointed out, and I think it's something that Councilor Laura and I share. I know you do, Mr. President, is just the idea that, you know, as we see the contracts for us doing this externally, becoming more and more expensive, and we recognize that we need to do more effective waste management to meet our climate goals. Like let's look for ways that we can have actual processing capacity, facilities and jobs here in the city of Boston. And let's actually be the place that other cities and towns turn to for help with processing their materials, because it seems as though there's a real opportunity there and and we're going to need more capacity. So I think we learned about I can't summarize everything. I mean, we learned about the fact the state guidance is going to affect how mattresses get recycled and turned and thrown away in the city of Boston. That's going to be an upcoming challenge. And I think just it was very brass tacks, city services, you know, what we what we do and in many ways, one of the ways that cities were organized and grew in the first place was to help manage and manage trash and waste and make sure that people have the opportunity to live in a clean and sanitary city. So I was grateful to host it and will definitely be continuing follow up, Mr. Chair. And my request would be that the docket remain in committee. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Speaker 4: Oh, sorry. And I neglected to mention my co-sponsors on the docket. Councilor Flaherty. And. Last count celebrating. He's right here with me, who were wonderful and stayed for very long here. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Would any of our colleagues like to speak on the matter? I will speak on it. I just want to say thank you to. To the chair and to the to the sponsors of this. I also want to make sure that when we roll the program out, that different neighborhoods have different needs. In the South End, I'm struggling with barrels and with the recycling and with pest control and adding composting, which which which I support. But we need to make sure that when we roll this out, we have a public awareness educational campaign that especially includes the residents, but also includes district city councils so that they can educate their constituents working with owners on the importance of this program. One of the first hearing I'm going to call for this year is on pest control, and I think that's also part of the subject of work on this issue with many of our colleagues, most recently with with Councilor Braden. But pest control is a major problem in the city of Boston. It's in my district and other districts as well. But during this budget process, we really need to advocate for basic city service funding for these critical nuts and bolts issues impacting practically every every neighborhood in the city. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The docket zero two for Cho will remain in committee. Thank you, Counsel. Barker Mr. Clarke, will you please read docket. Speaker 2: 01950195 order for a hearing regarding city level Conservation Corps for Boston.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing regarding recycling, compost, and waste services in the City of Boston.

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BostonCC_03302022_2022-0435

Speaker 2: 04350435 Counsel Inclusion. And may he offer the following petition for a special law reenact path raising the city of Boston to grant four additional licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the specified premises. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel. Eugene Constitution. Two of the four. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to my co-sponsor, councilor and me here on this petition. This is a homo petition for four additional liquor licenses at the bowling building. So place restricted. Liquor license is historically this body. And as the city, we know how hard it has been to get liquor licenses for our communities, especially in our black and brown communities, because of how expensive the liquor licenses are. And so this would be our request for four nontransferable and restricted licenses. In the past, we've attempted to get a lot more dispersed around the city, and we have failed even when the mayor has tried. So this is just a precaution before a liquor license, as we hope to in the future, work towards getting more liquor licenses to our neighborhoods. But this is just after the bowling building. We had some great businesses in that area in Roxbury that could really benefit from having those licenses. We also know that our colleague, Councilor Fernand Anderson, has been doing really great work in D7 and this would really help the businesses in her district and make sure that they're able to make more money and revitalize help to continue to revitalize the Nubian Square area with these liquor licenses. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Constitution. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes. Councilman. Here, Councilman, here. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my co-sponsor. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with the administration on securing four additional site specific liquor licenses located right in the heart of Roxbury. The council has had in the past voted to pass on all petitions to allow site specific liquor licenses, which has greatly benefit communities . The Charles River Speedway administrative building is a great example of that. This is an opportunity for not only to provide for additional liquor licenses to the Roxbury neighborhood, but hopefully this is also an opportunity for us to explore in greater detail the issue that this body has taken up many times, which is an equitable distribution of liquor licenses across the city. And I want to acknowledge our sister and service now, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, when she was on the council fight ferociously on making sure that our city had a real representation of liquor licenses. Unfortunately, a lot of those did not end up and in Mattapan and Dorchester and other parts of our most distressed neighborhoods . So I'm hoping that this is just the beginning of the revolution. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here, the chair recognizes Councilor Fernandez Anderson, Counsel Fernandez. Anderson, you have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. Let me say for the record that I appreciate the nuances involved as it pertains to the issue of liquor licenses. Said licenses do create a degree of economic viability for restaurants. But let me also state to quote an old adage, that man does not live by bread alone. Simply stated, my deeply felt religious views and customs place me in a position of opposition, the partaking of spirits. As a practicing Muslim, we believe that the consumption of alcohol is a decision that is detrimental to health and well-being. However, recognizing the significance of this issue to many of our esteemed small business owners, I have stepped aside and allowed or not allowed but welcomed my sister. Join me here and Rosi Lucia to file in my stead. Hence, there is a duality at play here for yours truly, where the importance of economical and spiritual realms are direct , indirect confrontation for me. And while I recognize that the economic realm is a great concern, I cannot compromise my core tenets of spiritual beliefs and hence compromise an essential aspect of my being. Furthermore, while acknowledging that alcohol sales do constitute an engine to economic empowerment for restaurant tours, I believe that there is a plethora of healthier society , societally more appropriate ways to grow economy. I hope that such alternatives can be discussed and implemented, and as time progresses, we can work together to develop them. But for now, I stand strongly on my spiritual beliefs. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Fernandez. Innocent. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Docket 0435 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clarke, please. We talk in. Speaker 2: 04360436 Council as Council agreed and offer the following order for a hearing on the state of Boston's non-governmental, nonprofit social sector and charting a post-pandemic recovery.

Committee Reports

On the message and order, referred on March 30, 2022, Docket #0435, Petition for a Special Law re: An act authorizing the City of Boston to grant four additional licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the specified premises, the committee submitted a report recommending the petition ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the petition was passed in a new draft; yeas 13.

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Speaker 2: 04360436 Council as Council agreed and offer the following order for a hearing on the state of Boston's non-governmental, nonprofit social sector and charting a post-pandemic recovery. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel Braden. Counsel Braden. You have the full. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. Since the onset of the pandemic two years ago, it became clear how essential our city's community based, non-governmental, nonprofit organizations are. Many of these social sector organizations quickly adopted their direct services to meet the moment from a rapid dissemination of information, food and PPE and serving as mutual aid networks reaching thousands of our Boston neighbors. The nonprofit sector is also often known as the third sector because they fill gaps to reach underserved communities, often overlooked by private and public sector services. The past two years have shown the importance of local governments coordination with community based nonprofits to collectively need meet the needs of our residents. While many community nonprofits stepped up to serve our city, the entire nonprofit sector across the country has drastically taking a hit. With smaller, locally based organizations. Serving disadvantaged communities are often being most impacted. The country is experiencing what economists have dubbed the great resignation. Historic rates of workforce voluntarily leaving their jobs due to wage stagnation, rising costs of living and inflation and outdated workforce. Culture with smaller community based social services nonprofits being particularly impacted. The pandemic exacerbated many of the existing stressors with real estate speculation. Long standing nonprofits have struggled to remain in their office spaces. For example, the Brazilian Worker's Center in Allston is threatened because of increasing rents, among many others. I'm sure many of my colleagues can cite other examples. Meanwhile, support from from the philanthropic sector often limits foundation grants to specific programmatic work rather than general operating overhead costs, like rent and paying employees a living wage suitable for the city. In January, the Treasury Department issued the final rule, which outlined the specified eligibility uses eligible uses of ARPA funds to include charitable nonprofit organizations as both recipients of assistance, as well as providers of assistance to others on behalf of the city. That means our goals of achieving an equitable recovery must conduct and maximize impact through partnerships with nonprofits who have existing infrastructure as trusted messengers to hard hit communities. With federal funds, we have an opportunity to strengthen partnerships by supporting the incredible and incredibly important work infrastructure that is important infrastructure the community based nonprofit organizations in our city provide while also establishing infrastructure for long lasting, transformative government nonprofit partnerships that could be sustained beyond recovery dollars. This is an essential step toward equitable and sustainable relief, recovery and transformative future. And I look forward to holding a hearing to discuss envisioning that process for all for intentional investment in our city's nonprofit sector. I also just today and on a similar theme related related to this issue. Mayor Wu has just announced today that 38 million of a $3,038 million to support nonprofit organizations to provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness through by supporting 15 nonprofit organizations that deliver critical services to support our unsheltered residents. The homelessness and housing instability is one aspect of the work that our nonprofit sector does. We have many nonprofits working on supporting families, supporting food access, literacy and job training. There's a whole range of of different purpose, different functions that our nonprofit sector does, that I and our nonprofit sector have been providing essential support for our communities over the past two years. And at this moment in time, it's a timely opportunity just to reflect on what they have done and how we can support them going forward. Thank you, Mr.. Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Bret. And would anyone like to speak on this matter? Through the share. Recognize this council. And here, council me. Here you have the floor. Speaker 5: I just wanted to rise and thank Councilor Freedom for her intentionality. You know, our office during the height of COVID, ended up working with a lot of nonprofit organizations, many of which were small mom and pop shops, oftentimes under-resourced and really doing the work without any real capacity. And I think when we're thinking about equity and we were thinking about making sure that we're supporting folks, we also need to be super mindful of who gets on that list and who's getting that support. And I think that that is an area that we may need to lean in a little bit more to ensure that organizations who oftentimes are doing more with less have an opportunity to build their capacity. And I also think that in terms of some of the work that we've experienced and it's not just there are a lot of folks who are running organizations that don't know how to speak English but have managed to create miracles during COVID. And I think that as we think about how we support folks, we I always go back to this information, just the situation I'm in, making sure that people understand what's at stake and that we're doing our due diligence to build capacity. And so we're really looking forward to the hearing and leaning in and welcome any way that we are able to support. And please add my name as a spot in the sponsorship. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Councilman here, please. That councilman here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? But anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. Mr. Clarke pleased. Councilor Arroyo. Councilor Bach. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez. Innocent Council. Priority Council. Borough Council. Regional Council. Member Here Council. Murphy Council. Round. Plays out the chair. Talk of 0436 will be referred to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Mr. Kirk, can we go back to zero four, three five? I want to see if any of my colleagues want to sign on as a co-sponsor. Going back to docket 0435, I neglected to ask if anyone would like to add their name to that docket. If you would like to add your name. Would you please raise your hand? Mr. Kirk, please add Counselor Arroyo, please add Counsel of Counselor Edwards. Counsel of Clarity Counsel. LRA Counsel. Murphy Counsel. We're all pleased that the Chair. Thank you. Mr. Clarke, please read your. Speaker 2: 404370437 Council upgrade and offer the following resolution in support of House 38 Senate 1874 and relative to payments in lieu of taxation pilot by organizations exempt from the property tax.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing on the state of Boston's non-governmental, nonprofit social sector and charting a post-pandemic recovery.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03302022_2022-0437

Speaker 2: 404370437 Council upgrade and offer the following resolution in support of House 38 Senate 1874 and relative to payments in lieu of taxation pilot by organizations exempt from the property tax. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes Councilor Braid and Councilor Brady on the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend Rule 12 in order to add Councilors Legion and Councilor Bach, please. As original co-sponsors of this docket. Speaker 0: Not hearing any objection, please add those. Mr.. Yes. Speaker 7: The proposed bill would provide a local option for cities and towns to adopt a standardized pilot program that is modeled after the city of Boston's pilot program. For an On Our Cities Pilot program currently calls for tax exempt educational, medical and cultural organizations with property values in excess of 15 million to make voluntary payments equivalent to 25% of taxes that would be paid where they are not were they not tax exempt with half of the payment in cash and half through in-kind community benefit contributions. However, a public program lacks enforcement mechanisms, and many large institutions are out of compliance, with several continuously failing to meet their fully requested cash payments. Passage of a statute mandating pilot payments would afford Boston a mechanism to hold accountable the large institutions who call Boston home. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill and calling on the legislature to enact it. Mr. President, I seek to suspend the rules and passage of adoption of this resolution today after my co-sponsors have an opportunity to speak on it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Brady. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes counsel, illusion. Constitution. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my colleague, Councilor Braden, for introducing this resolution. I am more than happy to be a co-sponsor on this because we have a lot of work to do as a city to make sure that we are paying for the things that matter. We have a climate crisis on our hands, an affordable housing crisis. Got to deal with repairing a lot of the harm policy harm that we've done here as a city. And so I think our institutions that are here that, you know, benefit from not being taxed, even though oftentimes they have very large endowments, should really be paying in to the capacity building that we have to do as a government to do the things that we have to do. So I support this bill, and I'm and I am glad to sign on to this resolution so that cities and municipalities can have a local option to tax institutions in their cities. We depend so heavily on property taxes, obviously, and there's so much that we're missing out on when these large institutions don't have to pay in and they need to be good neighbors. And so I'm grateful again to Councilor Brayton for introducing this resolution and very happy to co-sponsor and to continue to work on pilot here to hold institutions accountable so that we can build the city that we deserve. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council and the chair recognizes council by Councilor Borg. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you so much, Mr. President. And thank you to councilors grading in the region for allowing me to co-sponsor on this. I think it's so important that our large institutions, our hospitals and universities pay their fair share in supporting the city, which all of our institutions depend on. And it's a totally symbiotic relationship. And and given how dependent we are on property tax, the reality is that we just we can't have our very successful non profit institutions continue to take more and more parcels off the taxable rolls. It's just an unsustainable situation for the city fiscally. And so I'm really proud of the fact that the city back in 2009 sort of forged the initial way forward. And it was mentioned. It really is a model. A lot of other cities around the country and other municipalities in the Commonwealth have copied that program. But I think we've seen in the last few years and I was proud to chair the pilot committee last term that, you know, we're we're running up against the challenges. When everybody doesn't participate, then, you know, it makes the folks who are doing the right thing, who are paying their full pilot assessment, which in terms of cash is one eighth of what you'd be paying if you were taxable. And, you know, it makes those folks feel like they're getting a raw deal because other people aren't stepping up and doing it. So I think the question of what could we actually have as a local option that would authorize this is a more than voluntary arrangement . Seems like a conversation that does need to be had in the state, even as I hope very much that, you know, we're able to reconvene a pilot task force under the mayor. That was something that happened under Menino. We were on the verge of doing it under both Walsh and Janey, and the transition's just proved too difficult. But I do think that, you know, in the meantime, while we wait for state legislation, we want to try to re up the Boston conversations that it's just so critical to our tax base. But certainly if this legislation that's up to the state has passed, it would give us a very strong legal basis for having a program that goes beyond the voluntary. And I just think when you think about all the things council at Legion already listed out that we have to pay for in the city, you know, the the first time we talked about pilot, we talked about it the way we ended up with the 25% number, which then because they'll have to pay half of that in cash is really a 12.5% number. Where we got there was the idea that 25% of the city budget was fire police. And so that was a sort of theory. And I think that since oh nine, the conversation has really moved where more of our institutional partners would acknowledge, like, hey, we as institutions in the city, we have a stake in a city school system. We have a stake in the city's public health. God knows we all work together through this crisis. You know, we we have a stake in the streets. And whether they're clean or whether they operate and whether it's safe to get from point A to point B, whether you're a pedestrian, a bicyclist, a motorist. So I think we've we've embraced a bigger picture understanding of how what we do in this building affects everybody in all of these institutions. And we need a pilot program that reflects that reality. So I'm really grateful for the opportunity to co-sponsor this resolution and urge colleagues to join us for today. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council block with anyone else, so to speak, on this matter. What everyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. Mr. Kirklees, Council of Royal Queens. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Anderson Council. Hounslow Borough Council Fernandez Anderson Council. The Here Council. Murphy Council. We're all pleased. The Chair. Castle parade and six suspension of the roles in adoption of Docker 0437. All those in favor say I also say the ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. Mr. Clark, please read Typekit 0438.

Council Legislative Resolution

Resolution in support of H.3080/S.1874, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation (PILOT) by organizations exempt from the property tax. On motion of Councilor Breadon, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Louijeune and Bok as co-sponsors.

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BostonCC_03302022_2022-0439

Speaker 0: Not also great and seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Dorking 0438. All those in favor say aye. I oppose the seven. The resolution has passed has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 04390439. Speaker 2: Councilor Fernando Sanderson and Councilor Arroyo offered the following order for a hearing to explore a digital marketplace pilot program. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel Fernandez Anderson. Counsel Fernandez Anderson. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to suspend the rules and add a counselor. Bryan. Well, Morales a co-sponsor as well. Speaker 0: Please stand here and know Jackson counsel well is the as co-sponsor. Speaker 5: Thank you. The post-COVID world has seen windfall profits accrue to giant corporations, while our small businesses have suffered shuttered doors, skyrocketing rents and devastating diminution of sales. Council Royal Councilor Will Ruth and myself are here today to address this disturbing economic reality and to begin the process of introducing an idea to the city wide digital marketplace that will benefit our bipoc small business owners. And this to include, of course, small business owners of lower income as well, and seek to counteract the domination of international corporates and in the realm of local commerce in our communities. Such a digital marketplace, if properly implemented and sustained, could be an integral tool to support our beloved small businesses. Last day perish due to their lack of online presence. Always problematic, but particularly devastating in the midst of a pandemic. As such, a city led intervention to create conditions of economic empowerment for our local entrepreneurs strikes me as a vital task that we should commence. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Anderson. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognized the chair recognizes. Counsel role, council role. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you to my co-sponsors, Councilor Henderson and Councilor Arroyo. As we think of create tools to help small businesses, we know that establishing their online presence is becoming more crucial for businesses as consumers have changed their way and how they buy goods, whether it's for a house, car, a book or even groceries . It's all happening online. This is another. Speaker 0: Creative pilot by. Speaker 3: Council. My co-sponsors council, the Royal Castle Andersons. And I'm looking forward to that discussion. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Council. We're all the chair recognizes council. A royal council. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Councilor Fernandez Anderson, for this. And my co-sponsor, Councilor Ralph. We know I used to know this number off the top of my head, but I think it's something like 80% plus of our small businesses in the city of Boston are immigrant people of color own small businesses, because often when you are coming to a new country, you have to make your own job. And so they are a large driver of our local economies, our local identities. And we know that when we had the question about the big box corporation stores, Walmart, Mayor Menino, one of the things I actually very much enjoyed about him was his is not allowing Wal Mart to ever really set foot in Boston because of the damage it would do to small businesses. And we know that when we look at the new sort of metric of what is doing damage to our our small businesses, it's online commerce, it's things like Amazon. So crowding out our small businesses. If there's a way for us to create an online marketplace that takes a lot of the heavy lifting off of our small businesses in terms of the creation and maintenance of a website, but allows them to compete in a similar way that only brings dollars back to our local communities. And again, it's these small businesses that are sponsoring our little leagues, are at our school, dance recitals, our schools. All the things that I go to, I always go to my small businesses. I don't go to the target in my district. I don't go to those areas because generally speaking, the money for our neighborhoods always comes from the folks who live in it and work in it. And so I look forward to finding any way we can to strengthen our local businesses and our small businesses. And I think this will be a nice step towards exploring whether or not we can do that in the online space. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselor. Or anyone else looking to speak on this matter. Anyone else looking to add their name? The chair recognizes counsel. Braden, counsel. Breaking of the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. Kim. Madam President. Mr. President, sorry about that. I really want to thank the co-sponsors for for this important bringing this issue forward. When we last June, we had a hearing about the issue of GrubHub and other platforms that were interjecting their their presence into our small businesses and acting as a middle, a middleman to and taking a huge cut on our fee from our restaurants. And again, last week, I was on a walk in our Main Streets district with Chief Segal in Idaho. And one of the issues that came up was the restaurants talking about this. This. This experience of having a very significant fee taken taken from their bottom line by the delivery services. So I think that having having this conversation about a digital marketing marketplace for our small businesses in the city is a very timely one. Thank you. Please add my name. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Bright, and please add Counsel Braden's name. But anyone else like to speak on it or the chair recognizes. Counsel me here, counsel me here, and you have the floor. Speaker 5: You know, I'm always going to rise on everything and anything that my sister over there puts forth because it's this type of innovation that we need more of here in the city of Boston. And so I'm really encouraged by your leadership in the space, and thank you to your co-sponsors for joining you. I know I always keep talking about COVID because that's the only reference that I have that a lot of our small businesses, many who struggle with reading and writing, even in their own native language, really struggle to have access to information. And as we start thinking about creating this digital platform, really being super intentional about how we can use it in a way that's utilizing videos and audio and visuals to help the consumer being able to navigate what this could look like. And also, I think as we continue to have this conversation, is the resources that we're going to pour into to helping to support our small businesses to be able to be set up for success. So I think there's some work that we need to do on the council in terms of advocacy to ensure that we're setting up the administration for success. And I also think there's such an amazing opportunity to include some of these business owners to helping design what it could look like in terms of a user experience. So I'm really grateful for your leadership and looking forward to supporting this, and I am encouraged to what is to come if you continue to roll this out. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here, would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. The chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 5: Very quickly, thank you for that point. I'm really excited because imagine a world that it's not GrubHub, it's our own. And yes, I have to say more. So imagine a world where it's like you have this digital platform and you combine it with the back office for Main Streets. And I'm so excited because so many of you have done some of this work and looking forward to expand and also have partnered with Dole and the administration looking at the possibilities. So the conversation about merging technical assistance, coming from Main Street as the executive director and understanding, understanding this thing in and out, I think that it's very exciting. And I'm thank you so much for your support. Speaker 0: Anyone else like to speak or add their name? Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Bach. Please out council. Borough Council. Region Council. Meet here. Council Murphy. Councilor Edwards. Council. Clarity, please. The Chair. Joker 0439 will be first to the Committee on Small Business Professional Licensure since this hearing is focused on small business. In other aspects, it is appropriate for us to go into that committee. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 04400440.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to explore a digital marketplace pilot program. On motion of Councilors Fernandes Anderson and Arroyo, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Worrell as co-sponsor.

BostonCC

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Speaker 0: In other aspects, it is appropriate for us to go into that committee. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 04400440. Speaker 2: Councilor Murphy offered the following order for a hearing to address the lack of athletic opportunities for our students. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel and Murphy. Counsel Murphy. You have the floor. Speaker 6: Q I'd like to suspend the rules and add Counselor Louisiana and also my colleague, Counselor Braden, as original co-sponsors. Speaker 0: Seeing and hearing no objection. Mr. Garrett, please add those two city councils. The chair recognizes Counselor Murphy. Speaker 6: Thank you. So I'm calling for this hearing because our public school students deserve a full range of athletic opportunities. In nearby towns like Concord, the public school department spends $821 per student on athletic programs for their kids. The state average is $161. But here in Boston, we only spend $76 per student. That is less than one third of 1% of the $1.3 billion school budget. And it's not like we're not spending money. In fact, at close to $24,000 per student. Boston spends more per pupil than most other cities and towns in the state, $24,000 per student, and we can't find a few hundred dollars for our children. I think it's not right. This is a shameful statistic and a sad reminder of just how poorly our public schools are doing at fulfilling its responsibility to the holistic education and mental health supports that our children need so badly. The current state of the athletics program is not good. Too many middle and high schools have only a small handful of teams, and some schools have no athletic programs at all for the schools that do offer sports. The funding, resources and guidance from central office is severely lacking. The recent closure of the highly successful Scholar Athletes Program by its private funders adds to the loss of meaningful school sports for most of our public school students. The problem, like so many problems plaguing our public school system, is not funding. We have the money. What we need is the will and the leadership to follow through. Teachers, coaches and volunteer parents work so hard for our kids. This has to stop. And I will fight for our students here at the the council. It's the right thing to do because we know that sports are good for everyone. Sports provide our children with way more than just the opportunity to exercise their bodies. The physical benefits are just the beginning. There are social health and physiological benefits that allow our kids to do better in life. Kids who participate on school teams are far more likely to have improved grades, better school attendance report, healthier social behavior, and to reach higher academic and professional success after high school. As a mother of student athletes go dragons who benefited in so many ways from their time on school teams. And as a public school teacher, who knows that educating the whole child has to include physical and social wellness to be successful? I will fight for school sports for our kids. Boston Public School kids need this outlet for their social and mental health. Now more than ever, and I believe we should be doing everything possible to get our Boston Public School Sports back on track. Our own kids have the will, the talent and the right to all the wonderful, lifelong benefits the sports offer. I hope today my colleagues will join us on this and join the fight to be there for our Boston Public School students every step of the way. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counselor, if you would anyone else, so to speak, on this matter. The Chair recognizes councilor consultation. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to Councilor Murphy for introducing this hearing order. You know, the current focus of BEPS and I think we should be doing is adding a lot more school councilors, family liaison, social workers, and we are headed in that direction and we need to continue to push in that direction. For a lot of us to go and visit schools. You know, Maddison Park, you go and you hear students complain about the lack of sport options, a lack of teams at what they once had that have been taken away. We need to make sure that we are addressing the whole child, which means their emotional, social and physical intellect. And we also know that making sure that our students have access to sports helps to deal with the issue. Issues of absenteeism. That's both for just sports and for our kids. The more that we allow our students to exercise different parts of their lives in the school building, the better it is. And we're talking about all these capital improvements that we need to make to our schools. Almost 25% of our schools don't have gym facilities, and we're in a city with world class sports teams. That disparity of of being in a city that with those teams, but yet having schools that don't have any teams at all and they don't have the physical structure to support that is unacceptable. And so I'm in support of this hearing order so that we can see what we can do to support more and more of sports in our schools and to make sure that we are supporting our students as a whole. Thank you and thank you, counselor. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. And the chair recognizes counsel. All of our counsel. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, President Flynn. And I want to extend my gratitude to the sponsors of this hearing order. Okay. Sorry. Talking to me. I first want to add my name to it, please, if I can. As a student athlete, my self, both through BP and in college, I understand the importance of investing in our student athletes and investing to make sure that all of our students have access to sports. I wanted to rise to talk particularly about the problem of our fields and our athletic fields in the city. As the chair of the Environmental Justice Resiliency and Parks Committee. Our office has been working with a lot of the youth sports organizations in the city to have a conversation around how we can increase access to our athletic fields. And so I think that this is a perfect place for collaboration and a perfect place to extend conversations. I think that provides a lot of the athletics for our young people. But we have Pop Warner, we have youth soccer and all of the other teams that ultimately provide respite for our young people during the summer and after school hours. So we have to have a conversation around the financial investment, but we also have to think about the structural investment. How are we making sure that we have athletic fields and parks available in all of our neighborhoods, to all of our students and to all of the places in the city of Boston who are providing enrichment to our students and our young people. So I look forward to collaborating with the sponsor on that issue as well. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Laura. The chair recognizes Counsel Brayton calls. Operator and I failed to call on you earlier as an original co-sponsor, so I apologize. Speaker 7: Mr. President. I was a late addition, and I want to thank Counselor Murphy for having me as a co-sponsor. I'll speak to this issue. I really do feel that school sports are a vital component of the healthy development of young, young people. And I speak to my own experience. When I was 14 years old, my father passed away very suddenly, and it was my participation in school sports that really was a lifeline for me as a young person facing a sudden and sudden loss in my life and for my family and the school sports teams, my my fellow teammates , my coaches and my teachers involved in the sports realm were instrumental in helping me weather that time in my life. And I really do understand how vitally important it is for young people to have access to sports in school. Many of them don't have other opportunities to join clubs and the why or whatever. So school sports is a critical lifeline. I also thinking about my earlier conversation about pilot and relationship with our institutions or educational institutions in the city. I really feel that this this hearing of order also offers an opportunity to perhaps explore potential opportunities for our local schools, to partner with our local colleges to access some of their incredible world class sports facilities. In the off season, when there's no students in town, we have a lot of resources in the city of Boston. My colleague Councilor Flannery speaks about this all the time. We have so many world class institutions, incredible educational opportunities for higher and further education, but we really need to pay attention to our our public school population in the city. And I also want to give a big shout out to Boston High School teams. Go Bengals. They do us proud every time they hit the field. So thank you so much. I really welcome this opportunity and think it's a really critical part of a well-rounded education for our young people in our schools. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel brightened. The chair recognizes counsel. Clarity. Content, clarity. View of the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Speaker 3: Please add my name. Commend the lead sponsor and the co-sponsors. As mentioned, sports in general keeps kids in school, keeps them away from drugs and alcohol and in gangs. It fosters competition, sportsmanship, school pride, friendships, not to mention the potential for college scholarships. Speaker 0: And if. Speaker 3: Folks are really that good potential drafts and maybe even an. Speaker 0: Opportunity of a professional. Speaker 3: Career, the state of school board sports with respect to the CPS is in complete disarray. The fact that we had teams that were not able to compete in the MPAA because of whether it was a clerical or an administrative issue, whatever the issue was, not only was it a statewide embarrassment, probably a national embarrassment, those kids missed out on an opportunity. The buck stops at the top of the athletic director. I challenged my colleagues to try to get in touch with the athletic director. Good luck. I think the lights are on. No one's home. So more than appropriate to have a hearing on the state. Of the Boston Public School Stock School sports. School sports is a game changer for kids, for a whole multitude of reasons and why we are not more competitive, why we are not providing more opportunities for kids in schools as it pertains to their athleticism and the connection, there's a whole problem. Former State Representative Kevin Fitzgerald created sports and society over at Northeastern. They've done great work over here and the link between folks that are playing sports and again, that could be on the ice, that could be on the field, it could be at the gym. There could be anywhere you want in the pool. School sports in general can change the trajectory of someone's life. Speaker 0: On a number of fronts. And so time has come. Speaker 3: To address this issue. So I'll look forward to that. Hopefully be an expedited hearing because as we're heading into the budget season, some folks need to answer some questions regarding the state of affairs with respect to school sports and Boston public schools. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. February. The Chair recognizes. Councilman. Here, Councilman, here. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you. And thank you to the makers for this very important conversation. You know, I'm not going to hijack it, but I will just say, you know, there are a lot of young people who are working two or three jobs that can't participate in athletics. And I just want to name that as we start thinking about this conversation, is that we really need to look at some of the things that prevent people from participating in sports. And so that should be a part of the conversation in terms of how we're going to remove barriers so that young people can actually participate. Because otherwise, you know, it's just another conversation about another conversation. And I think that we need to really remove barriers so everybody could participate. And then the other piece that I'd like to just uplift is that I've gotten so many phone calls from folks who are looking for access to gyms, who are doing not school sports, but like are trying to supplement and create space for for folks to be able to and for young people in particular to to continue to participate in sports. And so I think there is an opportunity for the city to recognize the role that they play in opening up some of the centers and working more collaboratively with other folks , nonprofits. There are places and spaces that I think we need to include in this conversation so that it goes beyond the school sports, but that we're looking at 360 and that everybody is here to participate and create space for that sort of well-rounded opportunity for all kids. So thank you. I believe that my. Speaker 0: Name is that councilman. His name, the chair recognizes council Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. Councilor Murphy, I think this is a phenomenal idea. It's fantastic. Everything that you've been talking about in doing around mental health and education, amazing ideas. You sit there and all of this brilliance comes out and I can't wait to collaborate or talk to you more about it. And we've been talking to Berkeley and a few other schools about bringing in music and facilities as well. And it's like my colleague here saying, we get calls about opening up gyms and facilities and possibly, you know, doing like how do how two Muslim young girls swim separate from or whatever. So access and talking about that, I just want to say like as so for me, sports saved my life. I grew up in the projects. Everybody knows the story, right? I came immigrant, poor. I had to work two jobs. I was in throughout middle school, in high school. I fun fact I actually practiced martial arts for ten years. So doing that martial arts being in sports and for all those years, yes, I can kick butt. No kidding. So doing that all those years and it really did save my life like I had a subunit I'm a trainer that would really literally like work my behind if I did it if I didn't keep up to school. And then when I grew, as I became a young parent, I put my kids in medical, right? So my oldest was an athlete and they went to Weston, the best school in Massachusetts. Like when I see the best you walk through, literally, it's an emotional experience to see all of the facilities that they have, everything. How I get involved as a parent there in West in, and then to have clients in VIPs and see the difference, the stark difference, it's very depressing. I look forward to working with you on it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel for his innocent. I would also like to thank Counsel and Murphy in the. For her work on this important issue. Sports and school is is critical. During the pandemic our students suffered didn't have access the right access to sports and it really hurt their development. I think it hurt their development, especially academically, certainly, certainly physically and mentally as well. But when we hear that there's 25% of students that don't have access to an athletic gym at a school, that's that's outrageous. We had a conversation. I know Councilor Braden mentioned it. We had a conversation on pilot a few minutes ago, but we also have to get our colleges and universities more involved. I'd be embarrassed if I was a college college president right now, hearing this hearing this topic of of being discussed here, knowing that Boston public school students don't have the access to a gym either. Our college president called the mayor up in 5 minutes and and say, what can and what can we do to be helpful? How do we get involved? How do we donate more money? So as as a parent of a son that's in the same place, play sports. Sports is critical. So I just want to thank my colleagues and especially Council and Murphy for leading on this important issue and just following up on a comment of council salary. It's it's it's important for us during the council budget process to effectively advocate for spending, for athletic programs, to see where that money is going and to have the athletic director of of here testifying in person about what the about the state of affairs of the sport. So just want to say thank you to my colleague Council Murphy Council Murphy of the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you, everyone. I do just want to thank you for bringing that to our attention. And I want to make sure that when we are in these working sessions, the conversation needs to include what athletics are being offered during the school day. Also, if it's before school or during the day, and also not limiting to traditional sports that we're making sure we're including color guard, dance, share, martial arts, that we're not just thinking boys playing hockey or like crew, all of these. So thank you. And also the open spaces will definitely be a concern because if you visit schools and you walk through the door, they look very different. Some don't have gyms at all and making sure that how do we get to use those spaces if it's the park next door or if it's getting into the gym? I know. Speaker 5: There's issues around union. Speaker 6: And custodians opening the doors and we've had many of those conversations during COVID with hoping that BCI could get back into spaces and knowing the importance of our kids playing athletics. So thank you everyone and I look forward to our work ahead. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Murphy. If you'd like to add your name, please raise your hand, please, at Council of Royal Conservation Council Book Council, Edwards Council. Fernandez Innocent Council, Florida Council, Borough Council and Council were all pleased. The Chair. Docket 0440. Refer it to the Committee on Education Personnel. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket.

Council Order

Order for a hearing to address the lack of athletic opportunities for our students. On motion of Councilor Murphy, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Louijeune and Breadon as co-sponsors.

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Speaker 1: Using planning and land use tools for public good and docket number 0314 Message in order for your approval in order for a short term extension of nine of the 14 remaining urban renewal plans in Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Baker, chair of the Committee on Planning, Transportation Development Council. Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for allowing me to merge these these two docket numbers. The first 10192 was filed by Council BLOCK and co-sponsored by Council of Louisiana. It was to discuss land use tools for public good, basically urban renewal tools that we have that are available to us. And I believe Council will get up and speak about some of those. So we had two separate two separate panels. The first panel was from the EPA and they spoke on 0314, which was the extension for 14 urban renewal areas. And in so we were able to dig into a lot of content. We talked about elders quite a bit. Land disposition, land disposition agreements. We talked about land trusts and a whole lot of there was a whole lot of content content there. But what we came up with, with the 14 with the 14 urban renewal areas six years ago, we took a vote to extend it to this April. So basically, if we don't take a vote on this, all 14 of these go away. And within those districts, there's there's a number of tools that we use that help us in development and also protect the LDA, protect affordable housing. They protect open space, they protect a whole a whole wide range of different things. So what we come up with out of the 14, I believe we're going to take votes on on extending nine of them. And we're thinking about we're not going to we're not taking a vote on this today. We're looking to bring it to a vote next week. So councilors have a have a a week to talk about it, see what's within their districts. I know Councilor Warrell has some changes, so we want to give different people different times, but we're looking to extend nine of them. Ten of them extend extend ten of them because we added park plaza in the park plaza was on was on the list that we would sunset. But there are some major concerns around height issues and things like that around Park Plaza. So we will have the vote on that hopefully next week. And Council of Clarity came up with wanted to extend it two years and do a six month check in every two years. So what I think we're looking at doing and we're open to it is extended a year into a six month check in, which would be , I believe, in the end of September. So these will remain in committee and we will vote on them, will vote on 031 for next week. And with that, I'd like to turn it over to the to the to the lead sponsor of 019 to council. Speaker 0: BLOCK Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Baker The chair recognizes counsel via counsel. Walk. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you to Councilor Baker for running such a thorough hearing yesterday and to my co-sponsor, Councilor Louie Jan. We appreciate it. Everybody's indulgence letting us combine these two things, because in some ways they were kind of two sides of the same coin. On the one hand, we've got the long and difficult legacy in the city of urban renewal. As I mentioned there, I represent the West End, which is one of the many parts of the city that bore the brunt of that. And I think that the mayor's administration is laying out a path for us to really transform the city's relationship to planning into these tools and and looking at places where it's appropriate to sunset. At the same time, some of the stuff we were talking about yesterday was how do we think about like using some of these tools that we have for things like community land, trust, for things like building social housing on public land. And I think we had a really good second panel with some of the advocates in those spaces. Thinking about on the climate mitigation side, how do we assemble land parcels where we might need them to protect the fringes of the city? So I think it was a really productive conversation. And as councilor, as Councilor Baker said, I think, you know, the first part came out with some kind of good, good trajectories for the immediate decision at hand. But I'm very optimistic about the opportunity for the Council to be part of a real re-envisioning of how we use land use tools and public land for public good in the city. So thank you so much to everybody who came. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Docket 019 will remain in committee. Docket 0314 will remain in committee motions. Order in resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 04090409.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022 Docket #0314, for your approval for a short term extension of nine (9) of the fourteen (14) remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Baker moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.

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Speaker 3: Just went through my initial motion and now instead I'm moving suspension and passage of docket 0406040720408 with the consent of the Chair a planning development of transportation. The Beacon Hill Architectural Commission currently only has one valid full member, and so it's creating a real issue. And our side and all three of these people are are well known folks who have been very active in the community. And so. Mr. President, I seek reconsideration since I know we put them on file, but instead to suspend and pass all three dockets. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Do I hear a second? Second? Councilor Edwards second the motion. At this time, the chair recognizes counsel Baker. Counsel Baker. You have the floor. Speaker 2: I just wanted to rise. And in consultation with counsel, counsel, I'm familiar with this situation here. I believe for the for the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission to actually do business. This is this is this is an easy road for me here. So I have no problem not having a hearing on these ones. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Baker. So on docket 040604070408. Mr. Clerk, are we taking a we're going to take a vote on each one separately. So we'll start with zero four, zero six. All those in favor say I. I opposed say no, no. The ayes have it. Docket 0406 has passed. We talk at 0407. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I oppose any. The ayes have it. Dawkins 0408 all in favor, say I. I opposed. Nay, the ayes have it. Docket 0406.0407.0408 have passed. We're on to personnel orders. Mr. Clarke, please read Target. Speaker 1: 04110411 Council of Flynn for Councilor Loyal.

Report of Public Officer

Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Ralph Jackson, as a member of the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission for a term expiring on May 1, 2023. Referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Councilor Bok moved for reconsideration of Docket #0406 Councilor Bok and Councilor Baker moved that the Council confirm the appointment. On motion of Councilor Bok and Councilor Baker, the rules were suspended; the appointment was confirmed.

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Speaker 1: 03770377 message on order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $38,829.16 in the form of a grant for the fiscal year. 22 firefighters safety equipment awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the fire department. The grant will fund the purchase of rescue, safety and exercise equipment. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Flaherty, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Criminal Justice Counsel, three of the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Chair of the Committee on Public Safety in Criminal Justice asking to rise for to suspend the rules and past docket 0377. This grant small amount of 38,000 will fund the purchase and rescue safety and exercise improvement for our firefighters. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Counsel of Clarity. Counsel 30 moves for suspension of the Rules. Passage of docket 0377. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The docket is passed. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket 0378. Speaker 1: Stuck number 0378 message in order to accept for the benefit of the City of Boston Police Department, a donation of bicycle helmets from the Boston Police Foundation valued at $14,732 for the purpose of providing protective gear to the Boston Police Department.

Mayor Order

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Thirty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Nine Dollars and Sixteen Cents ($38,829.16) in the form of a grant for the FY22 Firefighters Safety Equipment, awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant will fund the purchase of rescue, safety and exercise equipment.

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Speaker 1: Stuck number 0378 message in order to accept for the benefit of the City of Boston Police Department, a donation of bicycle helmets from the Boston Police Foundation valued at $14,732 for the purpose of providing protective gear to the Boston Police Department. Speaker 0: Thank you. The Chair recognizes Counsel of Clarity, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Criminal Justice Counsel. Farrelly You have the floor. The President. As Chair, I rise to ask that the rules be suspended to pass Star Code 0378. It is a message in order for 14,732 to provide helmets in much needed protective gear for our police officers, particularly for the bicycle unit. And I know we all know as district and at large councils how popular that division is in all of our neighborhoods. So if we can get these resources and these helmets out to these officers as the weather is changing, so we get to see these cyclists out in the neighborhood. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Counsel Clarity. Counsel Clarity. Removed suspension of the rules. Passage of docket 0378. All those in favor say aye. Aye, aye. The ayes have it. The docket has passed reports of public officers and others. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 03790380 together. Speaker 1: Docket number 037. A notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter six of the ordinances of 1979 regarding action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of February 16th, 2022, and docking number 0380 notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter six of the

Mayor Order

Message and order to accept for the benefit of the City of Boston Police Department, a donation of Bicycle helmets from the Boston Police Foundation, valued at Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Two Dollars ($14,732.00) for the purpose of providing protective gear to the Boston Police Department.

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Speaker 0: Thank you. 03790380 will be placed on file reports of committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 02640264. Speaker 1: The Committee on Civil Rights and Immigrant Advancement, to which was referred on February 9th, 2022. Dr. Number 0264. Order that the appropriate committee of the Boston City Council hold a working session to review applications for the Commission on Black Men and Boys submits a report recommending that the order pass in the names of the 14 individuals listed in the report be submitted to Mayor. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chip. That she recognizes council illusion. Chair of the Committee on Civil Rights and Immigration Council Lujan the chair of Committee. Council of Illusion. You have recognized. Speaker 5: President. We're here to discuss docket 0 to 6 for the order to review applications for that commission on Black Men and Boys. Sponsored by Councilor Julian Mejia and Council President Ed Flynn. I was referred to the committee on February nine, 2022. I may, who is accepting 14 recommendations from the Boston City Council, of which seven will be approved and appointed to serve on the Commission on an ordinance creating the Commission on Black Men and Boys was initially codified last September. This year, the current ordinance was amended by adding provisions relating to executive director and defining the role of the Executive Director. And the Executive Director would be a member of the Commission ex-officio without additional compensation and would have a vote on a mat on matters before the Commission. In order to collaborate with the City Council, the mayor requested recommendations from us and will appoint seven members to the Commission from our 14 recommendations. And we establish an online application process where members of the public were encouraged to apply for to be one of the 14 nominees submitted to the Council. And the members of the Commission will serve a staggered two, three and four year terms. Councilors nominated two or three individuals when we held a hearing working session for consideration by the Mayor Council as we discussed the community involvement experience of the nominees. We also recognize the work of former District seven City Councilor Tito Jackson in getting this commission really off the ground, even when he was initially told no. He persisted on in council to express also support for our fellow city councilor colleague Brian Moore out to serve as a commission member. We emphasized the importance of participation and we also recognized that we wanted to ensure that members of the public had one of the 21 seats on the commission. And so it is our understanding that Brian Morrell, who had overwhelming support from city during the council process, will be included in the administration's selection process, which may also include being a member of the steering committee and being involved in other ways so as to ensure that members of the public will be able to have one of the seats and can be civically engaged in that way. So the passage of this order will prove the names of the following 14 individuals. A Submission to Mayor Woo. First Tito Jackson. Darrell Miller. James Hill. Dave Bazil. James Mackey. Jackson Killian. Justin Brown. Alex Edwards. Devin Morris. Curt Foulston. Kwame Edwards. Louis Elisa Ozark, Ohio. Ohio. Moby and Stephen Hinton. From these recommendations, Mary will appoint seven members to serve on the commission and submit this report, recommending that this order ought to pass. Thank you, Father Flynn. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel, again. Conclusion. The chair of the Committee on Civil Rights, Immigration of Advancement seeks acceptance of. The committee report named passage of docket 026 for. Before we do that I'd like to recognize council. Wirral Council. Well would you like to speak. Some of the. Okay. I apologize. I didn't see the identity on that. I do apologize. The light was not on, so I apologize it was. Speaker 2: And then I turned it off because you went straight to the other side. So I figured I let you live a little bit, but I do appreciate you looking out for me. So thank you. So just want to say thank you to President Flynn and congratulations to council for sharing your first hearing and holding it down like she always does. I'm incredibly proud to be here today to vote in favor of the 14 black men that we have nominated to serve on the Commission for Black Men and Boys. Our nominees come from all different backgrounds sexual orientation, ages, lived experiences, and bring so much resources and life to this conversation. And while the mayor is slated to select seven of our 14 nominees, I think we can all agree that all 14 deserve to sit on the commission during the working session at all. We also came to the conclusion that our very own Councilor Morales is incredibly qualified to serve on the Commission, and we hope that the Mayor , I will make room for him so that the voice of black men from the council can be heard as well. I look forward to working with the commission, the commissioners, once they are sworn in, so that we can continue to uplift the voices and the lived experiences in our spaces. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Here at this time, the chair recognizes Councilor Bryant Wirral Council. You have the floor. Yes. Thank you, President Flynn. And thank you. Thank you, Councilor Louis, Jane and Carson here for your work and your leadership in establishing the Black Men and Boys Commission. And I just want to thank to all my colleagues for nominating me. I'm very honored and truly grateful to have the opportunity to serve on this historic commission here in the city of Boston that will advance black men and boys here in the city of Boston, and to ensure that our community are given the supports and to that they need to thrive. Thank you. Thank you, counsel. We're all. Would anyone else like to speak on this? Thank you. Counsel Evolution. Counsel Here. Thank you. Counsel Overall, and I'm so, so glad that Counsel World will play a key role on this commission. He has an incredible, important voice in this city. So thank you, counsel. We're all for the important work you do. Conclusion Chair of the Committee on Civil Rights Immigration Advancement seeks acceptance of the Committee report and passage of Docket 0264. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket docket 0264 has passed. Matters recently heard for possible action. Mr.. Please read Docket 0185 Police.

Council Order

On the order referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0264, that the appropriate committee of the Boston City Council hold a working session to review applications for the Commission on Black Men and Boys, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

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Speaker 0: All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket docket 0264 has passed. Matters recently heard for possible action. Mr.. Please read Docket 0185 Police. Speaker 1: Numbers 0185 Petition for a special law relative to enact granting the City of Boston the authority to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for the city of Boston. Residents age 16 and 17 years old. Speaker 0: The Chair recognizes. Councilor Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Council. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. On Tuesday, March 14th, the committee held a hearing on docket 0185. This matter was introduced by councilors Maria and Councilor Bach. I want to thank the lead sponsors for introducing this matter and for my council colleagues that were able to join us Councilor Braden, Councilor Fernandez Anderson, Councilor Laura, Councilor Louise and Councilor Flynn , Councilor Wirral and Councilor Flaherty. I also want to thank the Elections Department and our panel of advocates for their time and participation. This home rule petition would authorize the city of Boston to allow any individual age, 16 or 17 who was a resident of Boston to be able to vote as long as they are eligible under state law for other all other qualifications other than age. These individuals would be added to a separate list of voters to be established and maintained by the Board of Election Commissioners and be allowed to vote for local office and ballot questions. This would be done by having them fill out an alternative registration form. The Board of Elections would be responsible for associated costs. The petition would also grant the Board the authority to implement regulations associated with this Act. When the individual turns 18, they would be removed from the separate list and informed that they must register to vote in accordance with state law. During the hearing, we heard testimony from the Elections Department on the logistical details that would be needed to address the implement and implement this petition. Including restrictions around how information of 16 year olds would need to be safeguarded. The Elections Department also shared that since implementation of pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds in 2020, the Department has processed a total of 3720 applications, showing that there is a high interest in electoral participation among those who have not yet turned 18. Both the administration and the advocates were able to speak to practices from other cities, states and countries that have implemented similar electoral policies, as well as the impact this legislation would have on expanding the electorate in Boston this time. This conversation serves as a good starting point for this home roll petition, and I look forward to more detailed conversations about the language in future working sessions. As Chair, I recommended, this matter ought to reign out to remain in committee. Thank you, Ms.. President. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Roya, would anyone else like to speak on this matter that she recognizes? Councilman here. Councilman, here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: I just wanted to thank the chair for hosting the hearing and also just want to uplift massage rare, who is one of the young one of the young people that participated in the hearing. She took some time from school to participate with us, which goes to show how important it is to ensure that we recognize that the reason why we're pushing for this is that young people want to be engaged, they are mature and understand what is at stake for them. They're the ones that are working, paying taxes, oftentimes working 2 to 3 jobs just to help support their families. So we need to do right by them and making sure that we support this effort. And I really want to thank my colleagues who participated and for their support around this initiative as well. So thank you so very much. Speaker 0: Thank you constantly here. The chair recognizes council block. Council block. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Mr. President. I also want to thank the chair and councilwoman here and all our panelists who came and the councilors. I think that, you know, this is a docket where I think we've already heard a majority of councilors and support we heard support from the elections commission. We had really good, tangible feedback from the Elections Commission about what they would need to implement it most effectively. So I'm looking forward to the working session under the auspices of the Chair. But I just want to emphasize, you know, we we had a colleague from Scotland come and join the meeting virtually in Scotland. 16 and 17 year olds have been voting for almost a decade in their local elections. And and it's been a huge driver of youth participation. It has not upended the world, but it has allowed a lot of people to really get involved in democratic civic activism. And as was brought raised on the call, when we involve our young people, it also means involving a lot of our marginalized communities. It often drives things in a direction of economic justice. I mean, there's a lot of reasons why we want to make voices and immigrant families sometimes as the only thought that you might have access to for now. And so just really want to stress that we're looking forward to partnering with a chair and making this something that the council is able to support in the near term. So thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor. BLOCK Anyone else like to speak on this matter? Docket 0185 will remain in committee. Docket 0291 has been withdrawn from the agenda now at this time. Mr. Kirby, please read docket 0312, please.

Council Home Rule Petition

Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Granting the City of Boston the Authority to Provide Legal Voting Rights in Municipal Elections for City of Boston Residents Aged 16 and 17 Years Old.

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Speaker 1: Duncan Number 0312 message in order for your approval, an ordinance regarding targeted residential picketing to protect the quality of residential life in our city. Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on February 28, 2022. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 6: President. On Monday, March 13th, the committee held a hearing on docket 031 to an ordinance regarding residential picketing to protect the quality of residential life in our city. This matter was introduced by the mayor on March 2nd, 2022, and, according to council rules, must be acted upon by this body before May 2nd, 2022. I want to thank my council colleagues that were able to join us Councilor Murphy, Councilor Louie Jeon, Councilor Barker, Councilor Braden and Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor Flaherty, Councilor me here, Councilor Flynn and Councilor Laura. I also want to thank Chief Miller for joining us from the administration. This ordinance would limit the ability of individuals to engage in targeted picketing between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.. For this ordinance, targeted picketing means picketing, protesting or demonstrating directed towards a specific residents. This ordinance would work in addition to existing laws around excessive noise, disturbing the peace and blocking streets and sidewalks. Violation of the ordinance would result in a fine of $100 for the first offense, 200 for the second offense, and 300 for the third and any subsequent offense. The ordinance would be enforced by the Boston Police Department. During the hearing, the committee discussed. There we go. Speaker 0: Excuse me. This is a warning. Next time you're going to be escorted out of the building. Speaker 3: Well. Speaker 0: Can we take a break briefly? So somebody's going to interrupt me. We're back in session. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr.. Speaker 0: Counselor Arroyo, you have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you. During the hearing, the committee discussed the legality of the ordinance and whether it would unreasonably restrict First Amendment rights. There was some discussion of including a sunset clause or more clearly defining which protest, demonstrations and picketing would be covered by this ordinance. Several councilors highlighted the fact that this ordinance was not introduced in a void, but rather in the context of hateful, extended attacks in the mayor's residential neighborhood. While the law department did send a letter discussing some high level legal aspects of the ordinance. They declined to attend the hearing, and the committee was not able to get further clarification on how the ordinance could be more narrowly tailored. Several councilors also inquired about the lack of enforcement of the city's existing noise ordinance and expressed concern over the addition of this ordinance instead of enforcement upon an existing law. The committee will be submitting requests for information to the administration, including an explanation from the police department about why existing noise ordinance has not been enforced. The total amount spent on police details for the demonstrations at the mayor's residence, the number of attorneys within the law department, their responsibilities and their salaries, as well as the amount of money spent on. Speaker 0: Excuse me. That's a warning sign. Please do not disrupt. Please do not disrupt this this hearing. You have your right to your opinion not to disrupt. Please escort him out. Please, American. Let's take a quick, quick. Question. Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. The number of attorneys within the law department, their responsibilities and their salaries, as well as the amount of money spent on contracting outside legal counsel, whether a stay away order would be a more effective punitive measure rather than fines. This hearing has also included a large amount of public testimony. And as Chair, I would just like to correct some misinformation that may have been spread because of this hearing that COVID 19 virus is real. It's not a hoax. Vaccines are proved safe and an important way to prevent serious illness. And in addition, City Hall has been open to the public since last summer. I also want to thank our essential staff lady Candace and Christine, whose patients leading up to and throughout the hearing allowed it to go as smoothly as I believe it possibly could due to outstanding questions of counselors. I recommend that this matter ought to remain in committee for a working session so that we can hear from the police department and the law department on specific language adjustments that were discussed at the hearing. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Royal. Would any other counselors like to speak on this? Dawkins 0312 will remain in committee motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read DAWKINS 0381.

Mayor Ordinance

On the message and ordinance, referred on March 2, 2022, Docket #0312, for your approval regarding targeted residential picketing, to protect the quality of residential life in our city, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Arroyo moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.

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Speaker 0: Counsel. Relevant. Please add the chair. Dark 0381 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development, Transportation. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 03820382. Speaker 1: Councilor Breeden offered the following order for a hearing on the importance of census and demographic data in the consequences of an undercount. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel Brett and counsel Brett. And you have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. This is a hearing order on an important on the importance of the census and demographics and demographic data and the consequences of an undercount as policymakers in municipal government. We like to say that we make data driven decisions, but we all know that the 2020 census was considered significantly underfunded, highly politicized by a former president, and was conducted in the midst of a pandemic and as a result of seriously undercounting black and brown communities across the country and certainly here in Boston, in addition to the 40% decline in Alston Bryant's group for this population. So in January of 2626, the council already voted to adopt docket numbers 0203 in order for the city to submit a count. Question Resolution Operate operation the formal and legitimate process for government units to challenge our census results. So however, I say this hearing order to discuss the importance of census and demographic data beyond just the decennial census years and explore how we can better integrate demographic data as metrics and indicators across all aspects of city work and programs. All of this data is essential to guiding our decision making and planning for the future. The important work of population estimates, projections and demographic interpretations happens every year and every day. As we know, the election department conducts an annual residential listing, which is what some decision making is based on. However, there are additional annual programs in the sense of programs of the Census Bureau, which would significantly impact Boston over the next decade. If we do not connect correct the inaccuracies of the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau conducts an annual population estimates program, a program collecting, using, collected, using population basis, which will be determined by the results of the 2020 census and takes into account population changed and change, including deaths, births and migration. The city of Boston has a record of successfully disputing estimates in the count in 2005, 2006 to 37 22,014, with the city's official population estimates been revised with increases between 5000 to over 35,000 residents at a time. Any change? Just want to state that any any changes are in correction of the numbers will not influence our discussions regarding redistricting or representing within the city. There is also the Census Bureau's housing unit estimates, which also uses the 20 census 2020 census population based on factors the Boston's reported building permits and new residential construction. So really, in essence, I anticipate that this hearing would be an opportunity for us to discuss the ramifications of the 2020 Census undercount and how it impacts all of our city departments. Revise updates for the Cities for our cities, challenge to the count and hear from our city departments, current practices and from demographers and policy experts on how to use the demographics and demographic data to inform our policymaking on city programs in general. So. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Braden. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else. The chair recognizes Constitution and Constitution. You have the floor. Speaker 5: As an Flynn, I just rise to say, to add my name and to say that I support this hearing order. We know that with undercount, it's really affect immigrant populations oftentimes who are afraid to answer census questions, especially under this past administration. We know that it affects transient folks, those who are under house, black and brown folks, and that this undercounting is directly tied to federal funding. Right. Seeing, seeing and realizing a decrease in funding at that level. And so I 100% support this hearing order so that we can get our numbers right, so that we can get the funding that we deserve, our neighborhoods, and for our black and brown and immigrant communities. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Illusion. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? I also wanted to I also wanted to state that during the census count, there was a lot of tremendous work from various neighborhood and civic groups, including the Chinese Progressive Association, the Council Square Tenants Association, the NAACP in Boston. And this during this count, the census count. It happened during the pandemic. And a lot of the a lot of my constituents weren't answering their door by their phone, especially in the AAPI community here in Boston. So I just want to say thank you to the Council of Great and the important work that you're doing on this on this issue. Would anyone else like to? Would anyone like to add their name? Please raise your hand. Please add Councilor Arroyo. Councilor Bach. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Council. Borough Council. Lucerne Councilmember here council. Murphy Council. We're all please other chair docket 0381 will be referred to the committee. I'm sorry. Yeah. Docket zero three will be referred to the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0383.

Matters Recently Heard-For Possible Action

Order for a hearing on the importance of census and demographic data and the consequences of an undercount. Remains in the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03092022_2022-0350

Speaker 0: Thank you, Doctor. 0349 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety Criminal Justice. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0350. Speaker 1: Lucky Numbers 0350 message. An order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $40,500 in the form of a grant for the Adopt a Statue endowment fund awarded by the Boston Foundation to be administered by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. The grant will fund the care and maintenance of the John Boyle O'Reilly Sculpture by Daniel Chester French. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Council Edwards Chair of the Committee on Arts, Culture, Special Events. Counsel Edwards, you have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. Due to the amount of the money and the fact that this is not a controversial fund, it is simply to preserve fund statutes and to allow for us to make sure that we have the care and stewardship of public monuments. I am moving to suspend and pass for this $40,000 to be immediately put to good use. I know my colleague, Councilor Baucus and brief remarks to make about the statute as it is in her district. But I would encourage my colleagues not to belabor this, nor do we really need a long hearing, about $40,000 to help preserve Speaker 6: . And maintain the statue. Speaker 5: So I am moving to suspend and pass. Speaker 0: Thank. Thank you. Counsel Edwards, the chair recognizes counsel. Bar counsel. You have the. Speaker 2: Floor. Thank you so much. President Clinton, I just briefly wanted to note on this statue, since we got St Patrick's Day coming up, John Paul O'Reilly was a really amazing figure in Boston. He grew up in Ireland. He was actually imprisoned by the British for being part of the Fenian Brotherhood and pushing for Irish home rule and independence. He was ultimately shipped off to Australia as part of the, you know, the shipping of prisoners to Australia. He made a daring escape from the Australian penal colony on a New Bedford whaler ship came to the US. We've been talking a lot lately about how Boston is a city of immigrants and the country is a country of immigrants. And I think it really underscores that when O'Reilly showed up in the U.S. the day that he landed, he was naturalized as an American citizen. Something which doesn't happen these days. And he then moved to Boston and ended up becoming an incredibly celebrated and beloved man of letters here in the city. He was the editor of the pilot, which was this big Catholic publication, and he was also just a really well known poet throughout the country. And so when he died. Oh, and I should also say, really importantly, he ended up being a real cultural figure between the like the sort of Protestant establishment in Boston and the growing Catholic immigrant community who was kind of beloved by all. And so when he died in 1890, it was really like all factions of the city that came together to create this subscription fund. The statue was actually paid for by just individuals and the public signing up, but thousands and thousands of them from all over the world actually have to fund this $20,000 statue. And but the city council actually appropriated the money for these memorial books to be printed by the City Printing Office. So when I was doing the history reading about this, I laughed because it's the municipal printing office that printed this and they were paid for out of the City Council's incidental expenses fund, a thing which doesn't exist these days, but, you know, just a flag. And so, you know, rather than having this just be like words on a piece of paper on the agenda, I wanted to underscore that he was just a really important person in the cultural life of the city 150 years ago. And also that I think it shows you that the stories of how immigrants become completely essential and embedded in the fabric of Boston is a story that we can we can and should tell again and again, and that we should memorialize again and again. So grateful to councilors for supporting Councilor Edwards's motion for suspension of passage today. And the statue is in Fenway. It is. It's facing if you you're coming on Boylston Street from the back Bay to cross the fence, it's immediately on your left across from the Massachusetts Historical Society Building. If you know it, it's kind of like some seating around it. Um, and, you know, I have a whole two page poem by O'Reilly, but Lydia said, I go on too long, so you're not going to get it today. But it was, you know, he he was the favorite poet of many Boston Saint Patrick's days for many years. So thank you for your indulgence. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council balking. And in South Boston on Dorchester Street, we have the John Boyle Reilly apartment buildings as well. So just wanted to give you a little bit more trivia. Councilor Edward moves for suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0350. All those in favor say I. I oppose say nay. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. Mr. Clarke, can you please read?

Mayor Order

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($40,500.00) in the form of a grant, for the Adopt A Statue Endowment Fund, awarded by the Boston Foundation to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. The grant will fund the care and maintenance of the John Boyle O’Reilly sculpture by Daniel Chester French.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03092022_2022-0259

Speaker 0: Dawkins 03550356 will be placed on file. Matters recently heard for possible action. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0259. Speaker 1: Number 0259 An Ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances Chapter 15, Section ten and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act. Speaker 0: Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Council of Rail. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday, March eight, the government operating committee held a hearing on docket number 259, an ordinance amending the City of Boston code ordinances. And Chapter 15, Section ten that establishes the Boston Fair Chance Act. This docket is sponsored by Councilor Me and myself. The ordinance would amend existing language in the Boston City Code establishing a chief affirmative action officer instead of instead creating the Boston Fair Chance Act. The Fair Chance Act would formalize the position of the Chief Diversity Officer who would provide oversight of the city's nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action policies. This ordinance would also require regular updates on progress made regarding diverse hiring. Would 1/2 just make sure I'm where I am in promotions and require that the Chief Diversity Officer work with officers to make sure there are fair hiring practices and policies in place for family members of current employees. I want to thank my co-sponsor councilman here for introducing this legislation as well as my council colleagues for joining Council President Ed Flynn, Councilor Rosie Louie and Councilor Erin Murphy, Councilor Kenzie Bok, Councilor Kendra Lara, Councilor Liz Braden and Councilor Brian Root. I also want to thank members of the administration for their attendance and participation, and I finally want to thank the advocates who took the time out of their workdays and showed tremendous courage in their testimony yesterday and sharing their experiences. I'm looking forward to getting to work on the specific language in this ordinance, and as Chair, I recommend that this docket remain in committee so that we can have some working sessions on it. Thank you. Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. The chair recognizes counsel here. Counsel, meet me here. You have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my co-sponsor, Counselor Arroyo, for. For chairing a great hearing. And I just want to take a quick moment to thank all the panelists and members of the public who took a big risk showing up at yesterday's hearing and speaking up about the injustices that they face here every day. We have heard from so many other people who experience the same workplace problems but are too afraid to speak up because they fear retaliation. But let's be clear it should not be a punishable offense for any employee to try to make a workplace better and friendlier to people from all backgrounds. That is, in fact, actually exactly what our ordinance is designed to do. We are incredibly grateful to receive testimony from mary i mary a generally solace severa from the mayor's administration. In addition to our panel of advocates Dennis Boneham, Daryl Higginbottom, Jerome Hagle and Jeff Dr. Jeff Lopes. We've learned a lot about their personal and professional experiences dealing with workplace discrimination, and I look forward to continuing working alongside each of these amazing advocates as we move towards working in our working sessions and eventually towards passing this ordinance. Finally, I'd like to say and to thank Jasmine from Castle Royal's staff for helping us pay all of this hearing and and moving this work forward. I just want to quickly say that, you know, over the last year or so, we have heard from so many people who were afraid to even meet with me in public because they didn't want to talk about this. And so it took a lot of courage for people to step up and share their personal journeys. But I think this is a call to action. It is if we're really serious about really looking at the systemic racism that exists and continues to prevent black and brown people from moving up . We need to make sure that we're leaning into this conversation and ready to roll up our sleeves to do right by so many employees who have been passed up for promotions that they were well qualified for and oftentimes are training their white counterparts to do the work that they should be doing. So I'm hoping that as we continue to move forward with the working sessions, that we come ready to do the work that it's going to take to bring justice to the folks who have been waiting for far too long. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, councilman. Here. Thank. Thank you, counsel. Royal docket 0259 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0272 and 0273 together. Speaker 1: Docket numbers 0272 message. In order for your approval, in order to reduce the fiscal year 22 appropriation for the reserve for collective bargaining by $2,016,409 to provide funding for various departments for fiscal year 22. Increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and senior docket number 0273 Message in orders for a supplemental appropriation

Council Ordinance

On the message and Ordinance, referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0259, Amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section X and Establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, the committee submitted a report recommending the Ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the Ordinance was passed in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03092022_2022-0273

Speaker 1: Docket numbers 0272 message. In order for your approval, in order to reduce the fiscal year 22 appropriation for the reserve for collective bargaining by $2,016,409 to provide funding for various departments for fiscal year 22. Increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and senior docket number 0273 Message in orders for a supplemental appropriation order for various departments for fiscal year 22 in the amount of $2,016,409 to cover the fiscal year. 22 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the city of Boston, as seen in the terms of the contracts, or October 1st, 2020 through September 30th, 2023. The major provisions of the contracts include base wage increases of 2%, 1.5% and 2% to be given in October of each fiscal year of the contract term filed in the Office of the City Clerk on February 14, 2022. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Bach, chair of the Committee on City Services, Innovation Technology Council. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Mr. President. And I note for colleagues that you have a committee report filed with you, and we had a productive hearing yesterday here in the chamber. Thank you so much to Council President Flynn and also Councilor Murphy for joining me and to Councilor Lujan for sending a thoughtful letter. And we were joined by Chief Financial Officer and Collector Treasurer for the city, Justin Sterritt, Budget Director Jim Williamson and our Director of Labor Relations, Tammy. And they were here to testify on behalf of the administration. And so I want to thank central staff for getting us back into this. Now, the second one of these hybrid hearings where we've we've got all the mechanics of the in-person hearing and also the mechanics of the hybrid hearing. So shout out as ever to the folks behind the scenes making that happen, especially in this case, Michelle and Terry Duckett 0272 Transfers transfer funds from the collective bargaining reserve to various departments and to 73 authorizes the funding of the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and Senate, which stands for the Salaried Employees of North America. As was recited in the docket by the clerk. We've reached an agreement from October one, 2020 to September 30th, 2023. It's for further background and for those who weren't able to make the hearing and I think many people know basically all of our bargaining units are out of contract right now. And Santa is one of the many that lapsed sort of a year and a half ago. And so the way that the city handles that financially is it sets a certain amount of money aside in this collective bargaining reserve, just sort of anticipating that we'll spend it once deals are reached. And that's what this appropriation today is is doing. It's taking 2 million out of that $10 million reserve because a deal has been reached. And that's to cover the amount of the deal that runs up through the 30th of June this year. Everything that's part of this contract that the city is obligated to after July 1st will be reflected in the proposed budget. So this is just for the balance of the contract period that's sort of already happened. And yeah, and so the main provisions of the contract are of the changes are that Juneteenth has been added for these employees as a holiday and that there are increases, incremental increases to salaries across the board, 2% for the first year, 1.5 for the second and 2% for the third. And this for it to even get to us. It's already been ratified by the union and been agreed to the table by both sides. And we heard good testimony about how sort of a balance between making sure that we're treating our city workers well and also that everything is within sort of the fiscally responsible remit of the city, especially since we have to balance so many of these. So with that. Mr. President, I would recommend that these 20272 and 0273 as read by the clerk pass today. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Constable. We will now take these votes separately. Council. County Council Board. The chair on the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology seeks acceptance of the Committee report and passage of Docket 0272. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. And docket 0272 has passed. Councilor Borg, the chair on the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0273. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I opposed nay. The ayes have it. Docket 0273 has passed. Motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Couric, please read Docket 03570357.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on February 16, 2022 Docket #0273, for a supplemental appropriation order for various departments for FY22 in the amount of Two Million Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Nine Dollars ($2,016,409.00) to cover the FY22 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and SENA. The terms of the contracts are October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2023. The major provisions of the contacts include base wage increases of 2%, 1.5%, and 2% to be given in October of each fiscal year of the contract term the Committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03022022_2022-0313

Speaker 0: Thank you. Dr. 031 child will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clarke, please read. Speaker 1: Dr. 0313 Duncan Number 0313 message in order for an appropriation order in the amount of $27,205,854 from fiscal year 2022. Community Preservation Fund Revenues for Community Preservation Projects. At the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee. Speaker 0: Fed chair calls on At-Large City Council Michael Flaherty Council. Speaker 3: Rates to look forward to sharing an expedited hearing. Hope to get something on the council chamber calendar very soon. Prior to the beginning of a budget process so that there are no delays and backlogs to funding these very worthwhile projects. So we get 27.2 million, 14.6 for housing, 6.1 for historic preservation, and 6.5 for open space and recreation. So I'll make sure we get notice out to other colleagues so they can attend and advocate and learn about projects that are happening in their in their respective districts. Thank you, Ms.. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Clarity. Docket 0313 will be referred to the Committee on Community Preservation Act. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0314.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022, Docket #0313, for an appropriation order in the amount of Twenty Seven Million Two Hundred and Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Dollars ($27,205,854.00) from Fiscal Year 2022 community preservation fund revenues for community preservation projects at the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03022022_2022-0314

Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Clarity. Docket 0313 will be referred to the Committee on Community Preservation Act. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0314. Speaker 1: DUNCAN Number 0314 message in order for your approval. In order for a short term extension of nine over the 14 remaining urban renewal plans in Boston. Speaker 0: The chair calls on District City Councilman Frank Baker. Counsel Baker, you have the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to make a quick announcement about this. This talk a number here between council block and myself. Council block. Had we had a hearing scheduled to talk about some of the powers of BPD. A lot of them fall under urban renewal. So we've decided to cancel next week's hearing and roll it and roll it into this 0314. So just so people have a little bit of clarification. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Baker. I could 0314 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Mr. Quirk, can you please read docket 031640319 together? Yes. Mr. Corrao, please read Typekit 0315.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022 Docket #0314, for your approval for a short term extension of nine (9) of the fourteen (14) remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Baker moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03022022_2022-0319

Speaker 1: a term expiring February 28, 2024, and talking numbers 0319 message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Matilda Drayton as a member of the Boston Housing Authority Monitoring Committee for a term expiring February 28, 2024. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Now. Councilor O'Hara, chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, is seeking suspension of the rules and passage of these dockets. We had similar dockets in the last meeting, which we also suspended the rules and passed council of our review working to speak on this. Okay. Okay. We will take the vote on each docket separately. They cheer, they cheer. Recognizes District City Councilor Frank Baker, Counsel Baker. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to make a point about the last meeting when we did suspend and pass the the new members for the the this housing board. At the at the time it was happening, I was unable to speak. I was having something going on. But I think it's our duty for for confirmations, especially when they're not three appointments, new people. I'm sure you don't know what the Housing Housing Board does. So the reason for hearings and reason for confirmation of the people that are coming on those boards for us to find out what they do . It isn't just asking people who they are, what they like, what color you have. It's what. Why are you good at going to be good for our city in this job? And actually, what does it what does the job entail? So we would also be asking VHA executives, probably, I would think, what what the task of the housing board is just a stake in him. Is that. Mr. President, I'm not. Look, these are all re appointments and we we routinely routinely suspended past reappointment. But I think with appointments, we should be looking we fight for confirmation powers school committee, I think at a baseline should come here and we should confirm those school committee appointments. That's something that we don't have in the original legislation that Eddie Eddie's dad put forth. The original legislation had city council confirmation powers within it. When the legislation came back to us, those those confirmation powers were taking out for the school committee, I stand up because there's a reason why we have confirmation powers. So just a statement. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Baker. Thank you for those comments. They they are very helpful. As these re appointments counsel Lara is seeking suspension of the roles in passage of these dockets. We will take the vote on each docket separately. Mr. Caulk on Docket 0315. Yeah. Okay. 1.20315 Console virus suspension of the rules in passage. Again, docket 0315. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I opposed say no. The ayes have it. Docket 0315. Council are seeking suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0316. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I oppose say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 0316 has passed. Council are seeking suspension of the roles and passage of docket 0317. All those in favor say aye. Opposed say no. The ayes have it. Docket 0317 has passed. Council are seeking suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 0318. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I oppose any. The ayes have it. Docket 0318 has passed. Council are seeking vet suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0319. All those in favor say aye. Aye. I oppose say nay. The eyes have it darkened. 0319 has past reports of public officers in other. Mr. Clark, please read docket. Speaker 1: 0320.0320 communication was received from the City Clerk regarding the 2021 2022 University Accountability Statistical Report.

Mayor Order

Message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Matilda Drayton as a member of the Boston Housing Authority Monitoring Committee, for a term expiring February 28, 2024.

BostonCC

BostonCC_03022022_2022-0222

Speaker 1: Lucky number 022 to the Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred on February 2nd, 2020 to Docket 0222 message in order for your approval, a home rule petition to the General Court entitled Petition for a Special Law Relative to an Act and be enact relative to real estate transfer fees and senior property tax relief submits a report recommending that the home move petition to pass in a new draft. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes counsel. Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. President. This docket was sponsored by the administration, referred to the committee on February 2nd, 2022. The committee held a hearing on February 10th and a working session on February 25th. I want to thank all of my council colleagues who attended the hearing, the working session. It was, and the entirety of the council actually attended. So that was Counselor Baker. Counselor Edwards. Counselor Flaherty. Counselor Flynn. Counselor Louis Gen Counselor. Overall Counselor Murphy. Counselor Media Counselor Counsel Laura Lara, Counselor Fernandez Anderson and Counselor Brady. So thank you, all of you, for your attention to this. I also want to thank Chief Dillon, Deputy Director Tim Davis, Commissioner Shea and Neil Dougherty for their attendance and participation. Docket number 2 to 2 is a home rule petition that would authorize the city of Boston to impose a transfer fee to be paid on certain real estate real estate transactions and expand the current senior property tax relief program. The transfer fee provisions would allow the city to impose a transfer fee of up to 2% on real estate sales over 2 million, exempting the value of 2 million of the sale. Revenue from the fee would be deposited in the Neighborhood Housing Trust. Transfers between family members, transfers of convenience and transfers to the government would be exempt. The city would outline specifics of the program through an ordinance which would come through this body for approval. The senior property tax relief provisions would adjust the income and asset limits for senior property tax relief eligibility. At the hearing, the administration testified that this home rule addresses a fact that all councilors are aware of, which is that too many Boston residents are struggling with housing. 15,000 seniors and the city are paying more than 30% of their income for rent. 60,000 non senior households are also rent burdened. Over 40,000 people are on the waiting list for housing. On any given night, there are 900 unhoused individuals in the city of Boston and as of the last census data, 900 families living in the Boston family shelters. We know that for families to build wealth and stay in the city, they need to have access to affordable housing and to expand affordable housing. We need increased revenue streams to do so. The proposed transfer fee will provide much needed revenue for affordable housing and housing stability programs based on 2021 sales. The fee would have affected 704 transactions across the city, the majority of which would have been in downtown neighborhoods and on high priced condominiums, as well as larger commercial transactions. The administration also highlighted how both components of the home rule proposal would help seniors in need of affordable housing who are having trouble meeting their expenses. 74% of individuals and 44% of older couples living independently in Boston have incomes below the elder index, meaning that they have less income than it costs them to live in the city. At the working section, the committee discussed various concerns, including overlap with the pending state legislation reevaluations of the exempted value amount, that amount for account for inflation and the extent of the ability provision. The administration explained that despite potential overlap, the current proposal would provide Boston with the best remedy for its residents. Councilors also suggested the addition of language for flexibility to increase the exemption value with inflation and market values. Though to be clear, the actual exemption amounts will be determined in an ordinance that will come to this body before this ever gets implemented. Regarding the amend ability provision, the administration stated that given the interest from multiple municipalities and the multi-year conversions on the topic of the transfer fee, giving the state maximum flexibility would increase the bill's chance of passage. The Council expressed concerns about the broadness of the current language regarding amend ability, and the Chair suggested limiting this language slightly, even just to specify the objectives laid out in the bill itself. Ultimately, based on information gathered at the hearing in the working session and follow up with the administration, that amendment was not taken up. The exempted value section was amended to change the evaluation period from five years to three years and also direct evaluations to happen. So to be clear, Councilor Flaherty and I believe Councilor Zero, among others, raised the the exemption amount with inflation with rising cost of inflation. Could could catch folks in the in the web that it wasn't designed to do. In the amendment that we have in the amended version seeks to incorporate the amendments that they suggested, which are to change the language to ensure that those evaluations happen, to change the years from five years to three years. So the evaluations were supposed to happen every three years, every five years. And the original draft in this draft, it's every three years. And so that's what's in the amended said section. It's those amendments that were taken up. There was also a request to to split essentially this into two parts. One part for the seniors tax relief, another for the transfer fee that was also not taken up. Passage of docket zero 2 to 2 and its amended version will provide property tax relief to vulnerable senior residents and provide the city with the authority and maximum flexibility to impose a transfer fee on certain real estate, the revenue from which will contribute to much needed resources for affordable housing in the city of Boston. As the Chair, I recommend that this this docket ought to pass in the new draft. And just again, to be clear. The transfer. Tax itself will have to come that transfer fee after we get approval from the House, after we get approval from the Senate, after the governor signs it, it will still have to come through this body and be passed by this body, the senior tax relief that will actually get implemented immediately. And so once that gets signed, that is that is law. And so, Mr. President, I am seeking a vote and passed in a new draft. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Royal. Any of my colleagues like to discuss the matter at this time. I want to recognize the chair, recognizes counsel, priority counsel, clarity of the floor. Speaker 3: Take, Mr. President, and obviously we want to thank the chair. I was having connectivity issues and he I don't know how he was able to do it, but masterfully was able to decipher what I was actually saying and then to, you know, accurately report those questions back to the panel. So I appreciate his effort as I was struggling with that with the Internet and also thank the one of the lead sponsors. And I've been a leader on this party with respect to affordable housing prior to her tenure here, but also while here. And this petition, I feel, is stronger than previous petitions that we've sent up to Beacon Hill, because it does more to ensure that we're not unintentionally targeting middle class property owners with that 2 million exemption as well as and I appreciate the indulgence of the lead sponsors in the chairs to to work with the administration on on having that reevaluation done every three years just to make sure, again, we're not sort of catching unintentionally catching folks in in that web, but this is targeting sort of the flippers, you know, the residential and the commercial flippers that we want to make sure that lifelong residents and to our long term property owners, those that I consider to be, as you say, house rich, but cash for many of the folks that we know that fixed income seniors that have on their own property, they retired and they continue to see things happening around their neighborhood, which they're not necessarily participating in. But every time that tax bill comes in, they're paying a price for that just by the fact that they've only their property. They've kept their property up and they're being valued and evaluated based on what sort of happening on that street or around the corner. So this will just sort of maybe bake in some protections for them. It's also an improvement because the senior property tax relief that changes Section 41 see that both the chair and council literary which had described in detail because we have seniors in every neighborhood, in every corner of the city that have burdened and overburdened by the increased property taxes. I also briefly want to touch on the ongoing discussion about the neighborhood housing trust, the ability to efficiently receive and distribute the influx of of funding. This was a discussion that we've had multiple times on this body, probably most recently as 2019 with an early version. And then we had passed that again in 2022. So if this were to pass in the State House, it's critical for us to be very prospective via the ordinance with the district distribution and use of these funds. You know, I've often suggested that, you know, we have an affordable housing crisis, a line item, we should have a line item in our budget in that so that we, as elected members on behalf of residents, could more readily and easily access those so that we could target those affordable housing crisis needs in our city. I also want to echo some of the comments that our colleague, Counsel Baker, had mentioned during the hearing specifically. You know, that's the most pressing issue facing our city. And yet the resources we continue to throw at it each year, it's still extremely difficult for all of us to help get people placed in housing and to secure affordable housing via the ADP. A lot of it still remains to some a mystery. So we need to continue to double down on our efforts to streamline that process. And, you know, so we need a district that is in need of affordable housing or a unit we as their elected representatives, district writ large council, we should be a conduit. We should be able to run out the ground ball for that person to get them into a house. And so I, I know that the D.A. and our affordable housing team, they do great work. And it's truly a labor of love for for many of our city employees, particularly those that are on the front lines for affordable housing. But I do want to stress that it's important that we allocate precious funding towards the highest and best use for affordable housing issues and really gives long thought to targeting shovel ready projects so that that money that once it becomes available, can go right to work and put someone in a home and get a roof over their head. And then we as their representatives can advocate on their behalf and help them facilitate an affordable housing unit. Thank you, Mr. President, for to to support him. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Florida, the chair recognizes District Council Counsel Baker Council baking of the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple comments. I will be voting no on this today. Based on based on the fact that I think the the senior benefits should be separated out of out of this. So so when we do send it to the state House, they're voting on just a senior benefit. This is something we should be doing already, shouldn't be attached to a tax. The problem I have with the tax with the with with this coming in here is somewhat council clarity had to say if this were much more prescriptive if we were in year one, going to build a West End library with 100 apartments above it and all the money was going to go towards that. I'm in if we were going to go into District four and some of our city land that we own or we're going to build 40 unit, 40 unit buildings, the. Many unit buildings here, the money being directly directed right there, large pieces of money, not $1,000,000 here to a connected development, $1,000,000 here, unconnected program or four 5 to 1 C, I think it needs we need to start taking larger pieces of our money, whether it's IDP, whether it's job, job, not job trust, housing, trust money and putting the amount of ten, 20 million into building our own infrastructure. Again, just the way the money gets cut up and sent spreads the infield. I don't find it to be an effective, effective model. And then the third point is we can't get our own people in these units that are getting built. Good luck trying to find an apartment for somebody when we know they're getting built all over the place. No. Yeah. 800th on the list. You've been on the list for ten years. Can't get you in. So there's a problem there some place I'd like the city to start actually owning the buildings that we're building, using our money and building infrastructure instead of just giving it to developed to developers. Because a lot of the money that's made in affordable housing is made in building fees. That's how that's how the people that are building these are making the money. And then and then it gets and then it gets managed to we have to do lotteries and everything else to get our people in. So I hope I didn't I made some sense there. But thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Baker. The Chair recognizes District Councilor Ken Rivera and this will not be council of our is made in speech console of our view of the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, President Flynn, as the chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee and as the City Councilor representing District six, I just want to reiterate my support for this home law petition. District six has one of the highest concentrations of seniors in the city, and in addition, our neighborhood in the past decade has seen an increase of displacement, lack of affordability and gentrification, which has made affordable housing that much more important. It's for that reason that I think it's not only important that we pass the transfer fee, but also the expansion of 41 C together. And so I ask that the Council not bifurcate those two, but keep them collective at this moment. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, counsel. Anyone else like to speak on this matter? Thank you, Councilor Arroyo, the chair on the committee. The Chair of the Committee of Government Operations seeks acceptance of the Committee report in passage of Docket 0222 in a new draft. Let let me call on counsel. Bork, would you like to speak before we do the vote? I just want to say. Speaker 2: This. And I think we need more resources for affordable housing of all types all over the city. And it's a very, very urgent thing. I actually wanted to thank Councilor Flynn. I think that the the hearings and working sessions that we had on senior property tax relief last year at his behest because of hearing orders that he filed, really allowed the administration to start getting into the weeds at 41 C. And so I think the ability for the administration to add that piece to this and combine the two really came out of that conversation we had in Ways and Means last year. So just wanted to acknowledge that I think this is a proposal that has been worked through by some really good council work, both by Councilor Flynn and our committee, and then also of course, by Councilor Edwards and some of our predecessors on the council. So I just wanted to thank everybody for all the work of the council in partnership with the mayor to get to this point. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Mark, and apologize for not calling on you sooner. Um. So Councilor Arroyo, the chair on the Committee on Government Operations, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0222 in a new draft. All those in favor say aye. All right. All those are proposing a a mr. Kirk, will you please do a roll call vote? Speaker 1: Roll call vote on docket 0222. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Name? Councilor Baker. No. Councilor Book. Yes. Councilor Bullock. Yes. Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes Anderson. Councilor Fernandes. Anderson. Yes. Council. 30 Years. Council 30 years. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Council. Council. Ah. Ah yes. Councilor Lui Gin Council. Region. Yes. Councilor me here. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Councilor World. Yeah. Councilor Warrell. Yes. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Docket zero to Tokyo has passed. Motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Quiroga, please. We talk at zero 3 to 1.

Mayor Home Rule Petition

On the message and order, referred on February 2, 2022, Docket #0222, for your approval a Home Rule petition to the General Court entitled “Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Relative to Real Estate Transfer Fees and Senior Property Tax Relief”, submits a report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft.

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Docket zero to Tokyo has passed. Motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Quiroga, please. We talk at zero 3 to 1. Speaker 1: Ducking number zero 3 to 1. Councilor Edwards offered the following petition for a special law re securing environmental justice in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clark. I know Councilor Edwards will move to substitute the updated draft in central staff already distributed the new draft. At this time, I call on City Councilor Edwards. Do you have the floor? Speaker 4: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Am very excited to bring this to the floor for us to to introduce this new home rule petition at the end of the day. It is dealing with our constitutional rights, our recent defined rights as for environmental justice and also making sure that our zoning is in line with those rights. I want to be I don't know if anyone else has read the Constitution and our constitutional rights in Massachusetts, but Article 97 states, very clearly the people should have the right to clean air and water freedom from excessive, unnecessary noise, the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic qualities of their environment, and the protection of the people in their right to conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose. So in our own Constitution, we have the right to clean air and water. Moreover, and part of that conversation continued as of last year, when we defined environmental justice principles and our general laws . Those principles meaning that the people. That people in the Commonwealth. Shall have protection from environmental pollution and the ability to live and enjoy a clean, healthy environment regardless of race, color, income, class, handicap, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religious belief or English language proficiency. And those principles include the meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies, including climate change policies, and, of course, the equitable distribution of energy and environmental benefits and environmental burdens. Our laws are very clear about our rights and the procedures that are to protect us. We are moving towards a more environmentally just state. But what isn't moving towards that is our zoning. And as many of you will know and some of you new councilors will soon learn. Boston is unique when it comes to zoning. When we want to change how we do business and how we build in the city of Boston, what we want to change is on the zoning board of Appeals. We and only the city of Boston must go to the state house. That is why this is in the form of a federal petition. Other cities and towns could easily inject and move environmental justice principles in their zoning with the snap of a finger. We must go to the State House because our system is broken. Article six, Section six of our zoning code currently allows the following. A building structure early on used to be land used or to be used by a public service corporation. Utility company may be exempted from the operation of zoning, regulation or amendment. If a competition of the corporation, the State Department of Public Utility shall, after public notice and hearing decide at the present or proposed situation of the building structure, land in question is reasonably necessary for the convenience of public welfare. In short, public utilities can simply petition the department or the public utilities to forego rezoning. And as long as the State Department of Public Utilities decides that it's best for Boston and our public welfare, that they forego and go through any process or zoning they can. Which brings me to this reason why I'm presenting this today. The East Boston substation is a perfect example of what happens when you can petition the state to determine what is better for a neighborhood and not actually have to face the individuals who will live with that permanent structure by their park, by their homes. When the city of Boston essentially abdicated their role because the utility company could simply ask to foreclose. So I'm asking you to support this homework petition because it corrects that system. That system we've been asking for and we saw it was broken. We had a five hour hearing at East Boston in many languages. We watched how the Dpu and the state agencies literally didn't include people who didn't speak English in the process for the substation. We, as you all know, have a mandate as public officials. That mandate on November 2nd made clear in every single one of our districts and of course, at the city at large, that that substation does not belong where it currently is situated and needs to go to another location. More importantly, the process that got it there was a failure. And as you know, question two is the most popular referendum we've ever had in the city of Boston getting more votes in the mayor. And of course, any individual, one of us in our districts. The time to act is now. And what I propose is this homo petition that would do three things. One for the first time if it allow for us at the city of Boston to take from the state this power that they have over us. And allows for us at the city of Boston to come up with a process. For for public utilities. If they want to be sited in our neighborhood, it then tells them, tells us or tells the city of Boston that the passing zoning commission will come up with that alternative process. We will not be going to the state House anymore to regard zoning. We will create it ourselves for public utilities and to make sure that they can move as fast as they need to. But according to our terms. And then ultimately it injects environmental justice as one of the enforcement powers of our building commission. Mission pursues me. That person already can stop a project because it's not safe, because it's not sanitary, and now because it's environmentally unjust. I want the Building Commissioner to be able to walk into a project and determine, based off of certain standards, that the environmental justice is being so violated that it cannot continue to operate and cannot continue to build. Basically, adding to the police powers of the city of Boston for our safety and for our loans that are guaranteed to us under our Constitution. As I mentioned, when I opened the right to clean air, the right to clean water, and essentially the right to live in a healthy environment. I'm hoping that you will join me. Sign on today to this Homo petition. I look forward to an expedited or close to hearing before I leave this body, and I look forward to catching this home rule on the other side. Beacon Hill. You have to know that environmental advocates are excited about this conversation and the amended version. I just wanted to note the only amendment was put in to make sure that our waterfront was also part of the enforcement protection from the building commissioner. Ultimately, this is where we need to go. This is where we are going as a state, as a country. We need our zoning to be updated, to include environmental justice standards and to protect our neighborhoods. And I hope you'll join me in doing that. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to ask? That she recognizes counsel, clarity, counsel, clarity of the focus. Speaker 3: Should obviously commend their colleague for her work on this and through the chance for her want to see whether or not there's an opportunity with existing sites that are not good neighbors and have been polluting. Is there a way through this legislation to maybe kind of hook back on to those and work with, you know, some city officials, etc., to maybe talk about either moving them or in finding more appropriate locations? Or are they, I guess, technically grandfathered? Right. I would because obviously I'm supportive of calling in for efforts in East Boston. But we can go across the city and you sit there and you say, how did that happen and why is that there ? And I heard about this. So. Is there a way through this legislation that will be able to kind of go back in time and identify sites that are inappropriate in those particular locations and then work with those entities to maybe move them to more appropriate locations? Again, just a question for the chair to make it count. Speaker 0: Councilor Edwards. Speaker 4: Thank you very much. As the standards for sanitation grow, as the standards and enforcement standards grow, and any other aspect of which the building commissioner can enforce our zoning laws, then they would have the same standards and the ability to grow and stop works on existing environmental injustices. So it isn't just that we don't like something. And I want to be very clear, this isn't a NIMBY move to stop infrastructure. We do need and need to talk about how we are building for our electrical grid. There is no doubt at some point we will need versions of substations in all neighborhoods. The issue with this one was the process that there wasn't an actual open assessment of the data used by Eversource. The fact that we weren't allowed to question it and moreover the fact that they didn't even think of green alternatives. And that would have happened, I believe. And we can zoned that and require that to happen going forward. But with the building commissioners, police enforcement powers, if there's an active environmental injustice, they should be under this law able to stop it, to move it. Well, that might be something you might want to put in a friendly amendment in the future. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel. I would think. Counsel. Clarity. Anyone else like to speak on this or your name? Mr. Clarke, please add Counselor Arroyo. Counselor Bach. Counselor Braden. Counsel Fernandez Andersen. Counsel. Clarity Counsel. Laura Counsel. Illusion Counsel. Murphy Counsel. Overall, please add the chair. Dawkins zero 3 to 1 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 032 to please.

Council Home Rule Petition

Councilor Louijeune called Docket # 0321, Petition for a Special Law re: Securing Environmental Justice in the City of Boston, from the Committee on Government Operation. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. Councilor Edwards motioned to amend language. Second Councilor Breadon. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the Petition was passed as amended.

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Speaker 0: 0323. Committee on Civil Rights, Immigration and Immigration Advancement. Docket 0324. Mr. Clarke, please read 03240324. Speaker 1: Council Illusion offered the following order for a hearing on the civil rights and liberties of returning citizens and reentry into their Boston communities. Speaker 0: They did she recognizes counsel counsel Luann and and on docket 0324. Speaker 4: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I offer this order, hearing orders that we can really evaluate and see what we can do more to support our returning citizens. Many of us participated in various forms of the budget listening tour that the mayor held, and we heard again and again the ones that I attended from returning citizens themselves about the lack of resources and lack of. And what we have we now have an office of returning citizens. What we can do to further buttress that office, to support the more than 3000 people a year returning to the city of Boston from prisons and jails who are in need of permanent housing or in need of employment or in need of driver's licenses. The very basics. And sometimes we need more than just referrals. We need people who are actually able to do case management and, you know, help people interact with them through the process. And we know that this is an issue that disproportionately affects our black and Latinx residents who are overrepresented and disproportionately represented in our criminal legal system. And we know that there are particular burdens, burdens that are that returning citizens face when it comes to placement in public housing because of because the very stringent rules around who can reside in public housing. And we also know that the prison system has long housed and held a significant portion of folks out front for mental health issues. So this is really when we're talking about folks returning our returning citizens, we're talking about connecting them to the mental health resources that they should have gotten in the first place. I had clients as a housing attorney who were I had to go visit in jail when they really should have been receiving services from a psychiatrist and got caught up in a very, very punitive system. So this is a hearing order to bring together voices in this space, a lot of them being led by returning citizens to really put our money and focus on really helping people to become whole. We too often are focused on individual decision making by a by an individual and not systemic problems and not bad policies that lead to people making sometimes decisions that are that lead them to this to places of incarceration. So this hearing order, I hope to discuss these issues and bring our office of returning citizens together with a lot of folks just for housing has been very active in this space and a number of returning citizens are hoping that we can get this out as part of the discussion to also talk about it as part of the budget. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel. Which and would anyone else start? Sorry. I'd also. Speaker 4: Like to add Councilor Ryan. Speaker 2: We're out to this to this here in order. Speaker 4: Thank you. Sorry. Speaker 0: Council of Wirral has added Council. Where would you like to speak on this matter? The Chair recognizes counsel role. Thank you. Speaker 1: Chair, and thank you, counsel Louis. Speaker 0: Jahn for bringing this quorum. Speaker 1: Issue to the floor. And with the shadows, mass incarceration. Speaker 0: Has cast upon too many of our communities. Speaker 1: Especially. Speaker 0: Black and brown neighborhoods. Speaker 1: In our city. We need to ensure that those who have served their time. Speaker 0: Can return to their communities with the opportunities, services and support they need to reintegrate successfully. Too often, residents end up in our correctional facilities because our city has failed to deliver them. The Education Economic Opportunity. As Counsel Louise Diane said also said mental health. Speaker 1: Services and stable housing. Speaker 0: They need it and to which they are entitled to. These systemic failures are exactly why we need to assess. Speaker 1: How we can ensure every returning citizen has a. Speaker 0: Civil rights restored and that our reentry efforts adequately address the root causes of criminal criminalization incarceration. I'm proud to support this here in order to better support our return to citizens and in assess how we interrupt these cycles. Thank you. Thank you, Counsel. Earl. But anyone else like to speak on this matter? The Chair recognizes counsel of our counsel. Why? You of the fourth. Speaker 4: Thank you, President Flynn. Well, that feels nice. Thank you, Counselor Eugene and Counselor Morel for bringing this hearing order onto the floor. In a previous life, I served as a street worker and a direct violence intervention worker here in the city of Boston, first in Mattapan and then in lower Roxbury and in the South End. A large part of the work that I did was to support young people and young men and women who are not only systems involved, but who are currently and previously incarcerated. And so this is an issue that's very near and dear to my heart. I think when we're having conversations, particularly around the civil liberties of people who are currently or formerly incarcerated, we need to expand what civil liberties are afforded to them before they become systems involved and also after they come home and want to expand the way that we think about reentry, not only with a problem, with a problem free solution frame, which calls on whether they have education, have a house and so on and so forth. But to think about the emotional well-being and how they are reintegrated into their community and into the civil process, whether it be through community organizing, voting and so on and so forth. So I'm really looking forward to this hearing. I'm looking forward to hearing from folks who are currently or previously incarcerated on what the levels of support they need from the city of Boston. And I would also urge us to look beyond the supports that come from city government and look directly to communities to offer the support to these folks. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel. Laura. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Counsel Royall, you have the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you. President Flynn. And thank you, Counselor Louis Gen and Counsel Ralph for offering this. Over 90% of our incarcerated population returns back to our communities. That's that's the number. And so often what they need and what led them into the to be system involved in the first place is stabilization and resources. And often when they are entering or exiting, they are not receiving those resources. And that's actually a detriment to our public safety, a detriment to them, a detriment to their families. And if we are serious about ending cycles of trauma, ending cycles of of harm, we're going to have to be serious about providing resources and dedicating resources to folks. I know this deals specifically as well with some of their civil liberties in the actions we take there. But I also know that it has to deal with and does mention the things that we have to do to make sure that we take care of them from a resource standpoint. And so this is incredibly important work. This has a direct impact on so many people's lives and family's lives and a direct impact on ending cycles of harm and trauma. And so please add my name. Thank you for your leadership on on presenting this. And I look forward to hearing not just what comes out of this hearing, but what we do from the from that hearing on. So thank you all. Speaker 0: The the chair recognizes the council region. Okay. Anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Councilor Baker. I just want to say. Okay, please. That council. Baker's name, please. That council box name. Buxton, Councilor Brading Council. Royal Council. Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor Clarity. Councilor Laura murphy. And please add the chair. I also wanted to highlight that myself and Council have already had several hearings in the past on quarry reform, which is also a critical part of this as well. Governor Patrick did an outstanding job working with the legislature in making reforms to quarry, but we need to go even further than that. As a as a former probation officer, there's nothing more frustrating for someone coming out of jail or coming out of prison to have that quarry hang over their head for their entire life, not being able to get a job or get into housing. But just want to say thank you to my councilors, fellow colleagues, for the incredible work that they've done on this work, on this issue. Docket 0293. Okay. 0.20234 will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights Immigrant Advancement. 3240324. Mr. Clarke. Please read docket 0325. Speaker 1: Docket number 0325. Councilor Braden and Councilor Flynn offered the floor for the following order for a committee meeting to discuss the organization of plays a public and semi-independent entities related to the city of Boston. Thank you, Mr. Clarke.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing on the civil rights and liberties of returning citizens and re-entry into their Boston communities.

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Speaker 1: Docket number 0325. Councilor Braden and Councilor Flynn offered the floor for the following order for a committee meeting to discuss the organization of plays a public and semi-independent entities related to the city of Boston. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden, you have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank President Flynn for joining me as an original co-sponsor on this order for the appropriate committee. Council committee to hold a hearing. Now hold a meeting, actually, not a hearing to discuss quasi public and semi-independent entities and agencies related to our city government. I signed this order with the intent, with the intention, along the amount, along the same sentiment of the hearing order. I filed last council meeting with Councilors Bach and Constitution to review our Organization of City Government, City Charter and Code of Ordinances. Knowing that our city is in a turning point for a new with a new mayoral administration and being a city council with two thirds of new members serving for their first or second term, I believe a general overview to understand the basic structure of the quayside public and semi-independent agencies of our city would greatly benefit our collective institutional knowledge of city government and help demystify many misconceptions. As a first term city councilor, two years ago, my office had to learn the ins and outs of how to discern the functions, responsibilities, budgets and authorities of these entities which operate separate separate from our city government and city hall. These and these entities include the Boston Housing Authority, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, BRE and the Environment and the Economic Development Industrial Competition. Also, all of those two entities doing business as the Boston Planning and Development Agency, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, the Boston Finance Commission, and the trustees of the Boston Public Library, all of which have their enabling legislation as state statute, varying financial relationships with the city, with their governing boards appointed by the mayor, and some of which we confirm not all as a legislative body of the city government, which has the right to consider legislation affecting these bodies and their public facing operations. It is our duty to have a baseline understanding of the structure, function, history and enabling legislation. I drafted this order as a committee meeting rather than as a hearing, so that we may focus on setting a strong foundation among Councilors of Knowledge on the organization of these entities and prioritize dialogs for the administration to ask background background questions, counselors to answer background questions that councilors may have. We've talked about in the past few months, we talked about the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and their the diversity of their workforce. We're talking about Boston Health Public Health Commission. I think this is a timely opportunity just to get a better understanding of how these what these quayside public and semi-independent entities are and how they function and how they relate to our roles as city councilors. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Braden. The chair recognizes the second original sponsor, Councilor Council President Flynn. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel of Royal. Thank you. Council operated for including me on this on this hearing order. And I know it'll be very helpful to me, but also be very helpful to all of our colleagues because those quasi agencies play a critical role in a lot of quality of life issues in the city of Boston, whether it's the water and sewer, the the critical role the public library system plays in Boston, certainly the BPA, Boston Housing Authority. It will be informative for all of us, including our new colleagues. But that's what makes us a better body, is learning from each other and learning from other city or quasi agency departments and making sure that we can provide the best services and quality of life to residents. Thank you, Councilor. Speaker 1: Thank you, President Flint. But anyone else like to speak on the matter? Seeing no hands. Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Baker, please add Councilor Bach. Please add Councilor Tanya Fernandez Anderson, please. That Councilor clarity please. And Councilor Laura, please add Councilor Lui Jan please and Councilor Murphy and please add Councilor Allen, please add my name at docket 0325 will be assigned to the committee on the whole. Mr. Clarke, would you read docket number 3 to 6?

Council Order

Order for a Committee Meeting to discuss the organization of quasi-public and semi-independent entities related to the City of Boston.

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Speaker 1: Doug in number 0326 Councilor Braden and Councilor by calling for the following a resolution condemning the unprovoked invasion and egregious act of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden, the floor is yours. Speaker 4: President Flynn as an original co-sponsor. Speaker 1: Seeing and hearing no objections. Councilor Flynn It is added as the third original co-sponsor. Councilor Braden You have the floor. Speaker 4: Just as how the Council has adopted resolutions in the past condemning war and imperialism across the globe. I offer this resolution today to condemn Russia's egregious invasion of Ukraine. Let's call it what it is. It's a war when you're firing cruise missiles into populations, civilian populations. It's a war, as we have seen in the news early Thursday morning, February 24th. The president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, launched a full scale invasion of sovereign Ukraine. The number of dead and injured, both military and civilian, is undetermined and growing. But the cost of this act of aggression will be lives, livelihoods, homes and cities. And the impact will reverberate beyond Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and it will reverberate in this country as well. To date, it looks like 800,000 Ukrainians have already been forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries and up to 4 million Ukrainians are expected to be displaced in this act of war. We must also condemn the threat of nuclear aggregation that was that has precariously mounted since the 2014 annexation of Crimea just less than three months ago. I introduced a resolution that was adopted by the council renouncing nuclear weapons proliferation and urging the United States to pull back from the brink and prevent nuclear war. In this situation in Ukraine, we are not one step closer to an on and on anticipated and unexpected escalation into a nuclear conflict. We must affirm our unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, self-governance and territorial integrity by calling for the immediate cessation of violence and illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is lacked regard for citizens lives. And commend the courage, resolve and resilience shown by the Ukrainian people, both in Ukraine and overseas here in Boston and in here in Boston, in their pursuit of sovereignty and democracy. On the humanitarian front, we must ensure all citizens have safe passage to escape into and that including black Ukrainians, have been held back from fleeing and seeking asylum. We must also increase aid efforts to for refugee resettlement both nationally and locally for those who are displaced, both as a result of the war in Ukraine as as as well as those who have been and will continue to seek asylum. Before and after Ukraine. What we're seeing in the turn on the television in this moment in the 21st century. It's such a sad and tragic situation that we do not have better mechanisms to solve and promote international cooperation and peace. And I do urge you to my colleagues to support this resolution. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor Braden, Councilor Bach, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Today for Catholics and civilians like myself, it's Ash Wednesday. And Ash Wednesday is a day of reflecting on our mortality and fragility and the extent to which we all ultimately depend on God and one another. And I think that when we see a situation like the situation in Ukraine and that there are a million conversations about what are the foreign policy options about the looming terror as counselor and great instead of nuclear war. But I think that the first thing that we can do and that we must do, and that to its credit, I think the world has largely done in this moment, is is to lift up our prayers. And that was why it was so good to be joined by Father Roman at the beginning of this meeting and to stand in solidarity with one another. And I think that this resolution is a way for this council, the city council of the city of Boston and the United States far away from Ukraine and yet home to a Ukrainian American community here, as we heard this morning and as we are home, as we've been discussing to so many communities of immigrants that still feel that that tether and tie to moratorium homes. And I think that what we can do here in the council today is to is to say that we stand with the Ukrainian people and to express, as the resolution expresses, not not only condemnation and then standing with, but also recognizing that Boston should be a home and a welcoming place for refugees and migrants from all countries. Just as we joined in supporting the resolution on against Title 42 a few weeks ago. And I think that that, you know, no one city anywhere in the world right now can be all of what the Ukrainian people need. The Ukrainian people are reaching within themselves of their own resources. And yet the. Speaker 4: World we have. Speaker 2: Has to figure out all the things that we can do. And and and. And just recognize together that when we many decades ago made the fateful decision as a as a humanity to move towards nuclear weapons and towards a destructive foreign force that quite literally ties all of our fates up together, that that also obligates us to think in universal terms about solidarity and moments like this. So I do hope that the council will join us in passing this resolution today. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor, back at the path, I would like now to recognize. Council President Flynn. Council President Flynn, the floor is yours. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you, counsel Counsel Arroyo. And just wanted to highlight the some of the Ukrainian flag raising ceremony, as we've had with counsel, clarity and counsel of counsel Baker and Councilor O'Malley. That was that was here before with attorney Nick Zazula, who was one of the leaders there in the community, and Professor Peter Walsh and Chuck. But it was a great, great to see the Ukrainian Ukrainian community join these flag raising ceremony. But what we also learned from the community is their love of country and their love, love of democracy. And as as counselor great and Counselor Bach discussed on this, the Ash Wednesday, we prayed for for peace and an end to the senseless war and suffering across across Europe and across Ukraine. And we continue to stand with the Ukrainian people during this very difficult time. The U.S. has always stood with people in need, and that's something we're proud of and we're going to continue to do. Thank you. COUNSEL Well, thank you. Speaker 1: President Flynn. The chair now recognizes Counselor Clarity. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Raised to support Ukraine. Please add my name to this resolution and through the chair to the makers if they would consider a sixth resolve in that calling upon the Biden administration to stop buying oil from Russia, it's been reported that we may be buying somewhere, let's say, of 600,000 barrels a day. The fact that we're participating in their economy is unconscionable. Not to mention we're getting price gouged through the chair to the makers if they would consider a six resolve calling upon the Biden administration to stop buying oil from Russia. Speaker 1: Thank you, counsel. Clarity. I'm going to turn it over to counselor back. Counsel, but the floor is yours. Or Councilor? Sorry. Not concerned about Councilor Brady. Speaker 4: I thank my colleague for his an amendment to a resolution. I'd be happy to hear that. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 4: So I also had another two comments. In Alston Brighton we have a large immigrant population of elderly, retired, Russian and Ukrainian folks. Many of them fought in World War Two to defeat fascism and Nazis. And I really want to stress this moment that Russian folks living in the city of Boston are not our enemy. Many of them fled oppression and persecution in the former Soviet Union, and they sought shelter and they were refugees here, along with their Ukrainian neighbors. So I want to stress that while we condemn the actions of President Putin and the Russian Federation in this moment, that we embrace and support our Russian and Ukrainian neighbors in our in our neighborhood, in our district and in our cities. Speaker 1: Thank you, Counselor Brady. And before I just go to the opens. It sounds like that's a yes for adding the six resolves that counselor clarity suggested that is there that so I'm saying that it heads from all of the original co-sponsors. I'm not going to go to Counselor Baker. The floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for my colleagues for bringing this bringing this to be a very, very important issue that we stand with the Ukrainian people in my quest to educate myself on things other than Boston. I started listening to political podcasts, and I came across a woman, Anne Applebaum, who broke down the Ukrainian new Ukrainian Russian issue that's happening, and in what she had described it as, is very similar to what the English had done to to the Irish. They they wanted them to be English subjects and the Irish wouldn't have it. They they went so far as to to even stab the Irish people going back to the 1830s, which is why the despair happened in Ireland and why you have Irish people all over the entire world as early as night, as late as 1930. Now, this this. This policy goes back to Czar Nicholas and was also enacted by Joseph Stalin. So in the thirties and they called it the Harlem. They went door to door in the Ukraine, taking their food to starve them out the exact same way that they did to the Irish people. So this is the type of longstanding political battle that's going on. And let's not forget that, that when Hitler came in, Hitler came into Poland first. Ukraine's right next to that. So this is scary, scary time. And I'm thrilled that you guys put this on the floor here today, and I'm glad to add my name. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Baker, Councilor Louis. Jan, the floor is yours. Speaker 4: Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. And thank you for to the sponsors for introducing this. So many of us right now are, you know, standing in solidarity with what's happening with Ukrainians who did not ask for this war and with many Russians through also did not ask for this war. Just want to make sure that we are also highlighting the plight of migrants of all of all of all colors who find themselves in Ukraine, even in times of war, xenophobia and anti-blackness reared its ugly head. And it is, you know, someone who is, you know, wants to be or is upset by the fact of war, by the act of war. It is it hurts w more when you see migrants, when you see folks of Arab descent, when you see black folks being denied entry into other countries as they to seek refuge. So as we address the issues here of war, of imperialism, of let's also not forget that migrants in countries, whether in the United States or in the Ukraine, also deserve safety and to be free from harm and persecution and war as well. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor Lui. Jen, Councilor Edwards, the floor is yours. Speaker 4: Thank you very much. I echo the comments of my colleagues as well, especially the comments from Councilor Braden, noting that the Russian people are not our enemy. I had the honor of getting to know and befriend a Katya who lives in Russia right now. And it was just somewhat surreal that I watched what's actor and said, How are you and what's going on? And for her to respond and say, None of us want this. We don't want this. This is not us. And I really want a lot of us to. My my neighbors, my friends to understand that the the Russian people are equally not are not behind this. This is the result of a madman, a dictator, and someone who honestly probably wasn't even legally elected to lead his country. So even his his authorities, I believe in question. I also want to shift not so much to shift the focus, but also added to this conversation. There's something Special Counsel Flynn and I both share, and that is our military connection. And I want you to know that when talks of war happen, there's a special kind of feeling you get in your gut. My mother served in the band the Air Force, and I grew up on military bases. And during Iraq one, everyone feels that part of that unique community, especially when you're the child of someone who could be deployed. And so we had therapy. We had people dealing with those of us who are going to school every day and knowing our parents going to work was going to Iraq and going to deal with and possibly not come home. So this is this is a message also to those who are serving in the military, those who are serving, of course, already in the military and Ukraine, but also to those who are coming and volunteering in different countries around the world, and especially ours, and to those who have been retired. I know you feel it as well. You feel the sense of it's it might be time, it might be coming up. It might be one of us. And I just want you to know, you, of course, have all my solidarity, my sense and and my patriotism. And I wanted to express that and thank those who've already answered that call and ultimately had the ultimate sacrifice for this country. But, you know, being a kid of the 19, 1980s, a good chunk of my childhood was during the Cold War on a military base. This is eerily familiar feeling. It's eerily familiar about Russia. It's eerily familiar from feeling. And so I want to acknowledge that feeling. And there are a lot of us who are feeling it. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Counselor Edwards. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Seeing. No. No hands. Would anyone else like to add their up? If I can. Speaker 0: Yeah. Speaker 1: Com's President Flynn for. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. I'll be very brief. Just want to. Wanted to respond to my good friend and colleague, Councilor Edwards. Um, we spent a lot of time over the last four years talking about military families, and you added so much to the discussion. I also want to recognize our other colleague, Tanya Fernandez. Anderson is also a military family. And we also know the the sacrifices of Tanya and and her family as well during this difficult time in our in our country. So I just wanted to acknowledge my acknowledge our colleague as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Speaker 1: Thank you. Council President Flynn. Would anyone else like to add their name? Please add Councilor Edwards. Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Fernandez Anderson Please add Councilor Lara, please add Councilor Lui. Jan, please add Councilor Murphy, please add Councilor Allen, please add the chair at this time to turn it back to Council. President Flynn But I do believe that there's a motion on the floor from Councilor Clarity, that is, to adopt new language that that is being brought out. And then I think it will be a vote on that amendment and then a vote to suspend and pass it today. So. Council President Flynn. Should I stay here? Yeah, I'll take care. I don't know if that I know that the. Mr. Clarke, do we already have the copy of. I see. Counsel Clarity has his counterpart. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Chair. The language is being just drafted to for the friendly amendment, and it just requires a second and a quick vote of the council. Maybe just a quick, brief recess. Another in your lady's office taking that's. Speaker 1: We'll take a brief recess until we have the. Until we have that in front of you. We are back in session. Thank you. Speaker 5: Okay. Yes. Yes. Speaker 1: I now recognize Councilor Fire to. Speaker 3: Take a message through the charity to the Makers. A friendly amendment to add a sixth resolve. Calls on the Biden administration to stop buying oil from Russia. Requires a second and a vote and we can move forward. Speaker 1: Thank you. So seconded. Now, Mr. Clarke, if you can do a roll call vote on the motion to amend the roll call. Vote on a motion to amend. Councilor Royal. Yes. Councilor Roy. Yes. Counsel Baker was voting on the motion to implement. Yes. Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Bark. Councilor Kiss. Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Sanderson. That's different than the standards. And yes, council clarity has clarity as. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Council The Council. Our Council. Our Yes. Council. The Regional Council. Regional Council. The Here Council. Murphy. Yes, that's. Murphy. Yes, and Council World. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The resolution will be so amended. Now we are seeking a vote, a suspension of the rules and passage of this docket as amended. Number 3 to 6. All those in favor say I all oppose. I say nay at the ayes have the ayes have it. Docket 3 to 6 is passed. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel rail. We're going into personnel orders. Mr. Clark, please read docket.

Council Legislative Resolution

A Resolution condemning the unprovoked invasion and egregious act of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation. On motion of Councilors Breadon and Bok, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Flynn as co-sponsor.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0273

Speaker 1: Message in order for your approval, in order to reduce fiscal year 22 appropriation for the reserve for collective bargaining by 2 million. $16,409 to provide funding for various departments for fiscal year 22 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and senior lucky numbers 0273 Message and orders for a supplemental appropriation order for various departments for fiscal year 22 in the amount of 2 million. $16,409 to cover the fiscal year 22 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the city of Boston and the terms of the contracts are October 1st, 2020 through September 30th, 2023. The major provisions of the contract include base wage increases of 2%, 1.5% and 2% to be given in October of each fiscal year of the contract term filed in the Office of the City Clerk on February 14, 2022. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. DAWKINS 0272 and and 0273 will be referred to the Committee on City Services in Innovation Technology. Mr. Clarke, will you please read darkened. Speaker 1: 02740274 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $1,642,723.10 in the form of a grant for the fiscal year. Senator Charles Shannon Junior Community Safety Initiative, awarded by the Mayor's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Police Department.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on February 16, 2022 Docket #0273, for a supplemental appropriation order for various departments for FY22 in the amount of Two Million Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Nine Dollars ($2,016,409.00) to cover the FY22 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and SENA. The terms of the contracts are October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2023. The major provisions of the contacts include base wage increases of 2%, 1.5%, and 2% to be given in October of each fiscal year of the contract term the Committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0278

Speaker 1: for a term expiring February 14, 2024, and docket number 0278. Message In order for the confirmation of the appointment of Garcia morales as a member of the Boston Housing Authority Monitoring Committee for a term expiring February 14, 2024. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel, LRA counsel, LRA. You have the full. Speaker 4: Approval of all of the assignments for the. Speaker 0: Thanks. Thank you, counsel. Yes, that would that was not console virus mating speech. I should have mentioned that at the beginning. Thank you. Counsel Lara. COUNSEL Lara is seeking suspension in passage of dockets. 027640278. The chair recognizes counsel. Thank you. So. Speaker 6: I just wanted to. Speaker 5: Great crowd in Boston. Speaker 2: And that that has been the structure of our, um, but of our ultimate governing board over the housing authority for many decades now, a thing which other housing authorities around the country and state are only starting to catch up on from a kind of tenant leadership perspective. So just having had the opportunity to work at the VHA with many of the names on the docket today, just wanted to thank them for their tenant leadership. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. And thank you, counsel. Laura. Uh, Mr. Clarke, um, could we do a roll call vote on a voice vote on docket 027620278. I understand we'll have to do them individually. Yeah, we'll do a voice vote.

Mayor Order

Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Dacia Morales as a member of the Boston Housing Authority Monitoring Committee for a term expiring February 14, 2024.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0240

Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clark. Docket 027940289 will be placed on file. Reports of committee. Mr. Clarke, will you please read. Speaker 1: 02400240 the committee in Government Operations, to which was referred on February 2nd, 2020 to Dr. Numbers 0240 in ordinance amending City of Boston Code Chapter 15, Section 11 Creating a Commission on Black Men and Boys submits a report recommending that the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Counsel Arroyo, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Rael, you have the floor. Speaker 1: At 11 2022. This docket would amend the current ordinance establishing the Commission on Black Men and Boys by adding provisions relating to an executive director and defining the role of the executive director. The Executive Director would be appointed by the Mayor to oversee the daily operations of the Commission. This person would have the powers of a department head to execute contracts, to manage personnel and to advise the Commission and would be an ex-officio voting member without additional compensation. I'd like to thank Councilman here for sponsoring this matter as well as my council colleagues who joined us. Councilor Bach, President Flynn, Councilor Louis Gen Councilor Fernandez Anderson, Councilor Worrell and Councilor Murphy. I'd also like to thank members of the administration, Frank Farrow, the executive director of the newly announced Office of Black Male Advancement and Chief Marion Daly. So the Savannah of the Office of Equity and Inclusion for also joining us. This amendment will ensure that the Commission is properly staff and equipped with the budget it needs to operate. The administration testified that a change to the original ordinance passed last summer was needed so that someone on the commission has the ability to execute contracts and manage personnel as required by the ordinance. The amendment before us would implement this change by creating the role of executive director who will be a paid employee of the city. During the working session, we will get some clarity about the relationship between the Office of Black Male Advancement in the Commission, how compensation would work and whether there would ever be a case where the Executive Director of the Office, Black Male Advancement or the Commission would be two different people. Mr. Farrow explained that though he will have the titles of Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Advancement and Executive Director of the Commission, he will only receive one salary under the Office of Black Male Advancement, which will grant him the powers of department head for the Commission. Mr. Farrow further explained that the intent, the intent of the proposal is to provide transparency and to ensure that the Commission is fully functional with a budget and an office. In order to provide clarification around this compensation piece, the committee suggested that a change in the language was necessary. The administration was presented with two options either to introduce a separate new ordinance codifying, codifying the Office of Black Male Advancement and stating that the executive director would have a seat on the commission as a director or the addition of language to this amendment as it stands, specifying that the Executive Director of the Commission must be a paid city employee. The administration agreed to amend the first sentence in Section 1511 to D to read as follows. Quote, The mayor shall appoint an executive director of the Black Boys and Men Commission that shall be an existing paid employee of the city of Boston to oversee and run the daily operations and administration of the commission, end quote. Passage of the docket will ensure that the Commission has the necessary tools and resources to function. The new draft of the docket eliminates confusion concerning the compensation of the Executive Director of the Commission. I recommend that this docket ought to pass in its new draft. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Royal. The chair recognizes. Counselor, me here. Counselor, me here. You have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to Counselor Arroyo for working so quickly to get this working session scheduled. We filed this amendment to the Black Men and Boys Commission ordinance to ensure that our commission was set up for success in every way in order for their work to have the major impact that is so desperately needed . We need they need to have the staff and they need a budget in our order in order to obtain those things. The best way to provide them is with an executive director who can serve as their administrative liaison. During the working session, we made small changes to the amendment to ensure that the person currently appointed to the Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Achievement is able to legally serve as the executive director of our commission. This will help us get our work done by the office and our commission to be lockstep with each other. I also just want to really quickly acknowledge and give a shout out to Council Worrell for stepping in and his leadership and joining us on this work and all the feedback that he's provided our office to ensure that we get this right. So thank you all for your support as well as Councilor Flynn, who really helped us expedite this entire process. So I'm encouraging my colleagues to please vote in favor of this ordinance so that we can get down to business. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. The Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Council seeks acceptance of the Committee report and passage of Docket 0 to 4 zero in a new draft. All those in favor say I oppose any. The ayes have it. Docket 0 to 4 zero has passed in an amended draft. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0 to 3, please.

Council Ordinance

On the Ordinance, referred on February 2, 2022, Docket #0240, Amending City of Boston Code, Chapter XV Section XI Creating a Commission on Black Men and Boys, the Committee submitted a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0223

Speaker 0: Docket 0 to 4 zero has passed in an amended draft. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0 to 3, please. Speaker 1: Lucky number zero 2 to 3. The Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology, to which was referred on February 2nd, 2020 to talk number 0223. Message In order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $250,000 in the form of a grant for fiscal year 22. Municipal Aid Improvement Grant program awarded by the Massachusetts Office of Disability to be administered by the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Speaker 0: Thank you. The Chair recognizes Council Board Chair of the Committee on City Services, Innovation Technology Council, Bach U of the Floor. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, President Flynn. And we had a productive hearing. I want to thank my colleagues, councilors Murphy, Braden Lujan, Glenn Fernandez Anderson, and we're all for attending. We were joined by Commissioner Christian Mccosh of the City of Boston's Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Carey Griffin from Public Facilities, and Joe CORNISH from Design Review at the Boston Landmarks Commission, who all testified as part of the administration. This is a much needed feature in City Hall. Currently, the mezzanine, while technically accessible by a lift, is only the lift that we have. It only works if you're in a wheelchair. So if you have other mobility challenges but you don't have a wheelchair, it doesn't work. It's very loud, it's scary, it attracts a lot of attention. And so the goal here is within the context of this landmarked building to build a new vertical lift that will both fit and visually. And that's why Landmarks was in the mix. But we'll just will serve folks with any number of mobility challenges as well and really add to the utilization of that space by all folks. And so we were excited to hear about that happening, excited that the city has access to this grant at a maximum award of $250,000 and which will not pay for the whole project, the rest of the projects being paid for by city dollars. But it is a significant chunk and it does need to all be expended. The materials and such that we're using the 250 to pay for have to be expended by June 30th of this year. So there is some urgency to this docket. And I want to stress that we talked not only about this item, but also about the larger challenges of how to make city hall and then city buildings in general more accessible and and really take a broad view of accessibility and make sure that it's not just about a path and kind of technical access to programs, but people really feeling welcome in our buildings. So I think it was a good conversation and it seemed like a conversation that will launch further conversations between councilors and the disability commission. But for now, Mr. Chairman, I would just like to recommend the passage of docket zero 2 to 3. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council BLOCK The Chair and the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology Council BLOCK six Acceptance of the Committee Report and Passage of Docket 0223. All those in favor say I oppose any. The ayes have it. Docket 0223 has passed.

Mayor Order

On message and order, referred on February 2, 2022, Docket #0223, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) in the form of a grant for the FY22 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program, awarded by the Massachusetts Office on Disability to be administered by the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0165

Speaker 1: 01650165 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $200,000 in the form of a grant for the No Kid Hungry grant awarded by sheer strength to be administered by the new urban mechanics. The grant will fund a fellowship to pilot solutions for increased access to healthy food for children and families that experience economic insecurity and food insecurity. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Braden, who is the chair of the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities Council. Braden. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. This, as already mentioned, this is a matter sponsored by the mayor and referred to the committee on January 26, 2022. And we had a hearing on February 14th, 2022, where public comment was taken. The administration was represented by Ms.. Hayden Kim, Deputy Director of Planning and Development of the Mayor's Office of Food Access. Mr. Christopher Carter, Chair of the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics. The No Kid Hungry. Crafted an inaugural fellowship program that would provide city innovation teams with a fellow dedicated to using human centered design to tackle hunger, challenges and bust. Boston is one of only three cities selected for the grant awarded by share strength of $200,000 each. This grant will be used to fund the fellows salaries for over 18 to 24 month period for the food security silo to conduct a human centered design process to improve, improve food access and launch improvement strategies are programs administered by the Mayor's Office of Urban Mechanics. The fellow will address any stigma associated with accessing food security resources and expanding community outreach by providing access to culturally competent foods. Increasing awareness of available resources for families and children in need with within their community, and empowering families by offering programs that utilize food options and choice. Passage of this dockets will authorize the city to expand these funds and hire a fellow to develop solutions to increase access to healthy food for our children and families who experience economic insecurity and food insecurity. As chair of the Committee of Strong Women, Families and Communities, I recommend that this adopt this docket up to pass. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel Braden, the chair and the Committee of Strong Women, Families and Communities seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0165. All those in favor say I oppose any. The ayes have it. Docket 0165 has passed. Mr. Couric, please read.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0165, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) in the form of a grant for the No Kid Hungry Grant, awarded by Share Our Strength to be administered by the New Urban Mechanics. The grant will fund a Fellowship to pilot solutions for increased access to healthy food for children and families that experience economic insecurity and food insecurity, the Committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0186

Speaker 0: Mr. Couric, please read. Speaker 1: 201860186 petition for a special law relative to an act providing certain retirement benefits for the widow of a former firefighter of the city of Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations. Counselor Arroyo, you have the floor. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. President. This docket was sponsored by myself and referred to the committee on January 26, 2022. The committee held a hearing on February 15, 2022, and I want to thank my council colleagues who attended that hearing. Counselors Murphy. Counselor Edwards. Counselor Lui. Gen. Counselor Flynn. Counsel. President Flynn. Counselor. Well. And Counselor. I also want to thank Mr. O'Reilly from the Boston Firefighters Local 718 and Maria Rodriguez for their attendance and participation. Docket number 10186 would authorize the Boston Retirement Board to pay a line of duty death benefit to Maria Rodriguez, the widow of Leroy Rodriguez. Lieutenant Leroy Rodriguez was a former Boston firefighter who died as a result of injuries sustained while responding to a fire as part of the Rapid Intervention Team. Under this proposal, the benefits will be paid and administered pursuant to Section 100 of Chapter 32 of the General Laws. The proposal outlines the amount of the benefit and provides that surviving children shall be eligible for original appointment to the Boston Fire Department and considered survivors under Section 26 of Chapter 31 of the General Laws. The line of duty benefit will be paid to Maria Rodriguez and an annual amount of pension equal to the amount of salary salary which would have been paid to fire Lieutenant Leroy Rodriguez had he continued in service of the Boston firefighter. This docket is a refile from last year. Lieutenant Leroy Rodriguez died of a heart attack during surgery to repair an injury to his Achilles tendon, which he received while responding to a fire incident. Heroically after receiving that injury. He actually proceeded at the station coming down the pole. He actually proceeded to fight a fire in Mattapan with the torn Achilles tendon until about 6 a.m. in the morning when he was relieved receiving surgery for his injury. He died of a heart attack on the operating table. Following his death, Maria Rodriguez applied for and received Section nine death benefits known as accidental death benefits, which only allow for a 72% annual rate of compensation. Due to the confusing nature of applying for benefits and the grief that Ms.. Rodriguez was under at the time. She mistakenly applied for Section nine benefits, but is now requesting Section one Section 100 death benefits known as Death in the Line of Duty Benefits. The committee discussed the difference between Section nine benefits and Section 100 benefits and inquired about the process for applying for the benefits. Section 100 benefits would raise the compensation rate to 100% and provide survivor benefits. The committee discussed the special circumstances of this case. Leroy Rodriguez died during surgery for an injury which occurred immediately in the in the line of duty. And after sustaining the injuries and performing his essential duties of a firefighter, if not for sustaining that injury, Leroy Rodriguez would not have been at that surgery or on that surgery table. Miss Rodriguez discussed the impact that her husband's death had on her family. She also explained that she was unaware at the time of the different types of benefits and discussed the difficulty in dealing with the administrative process. There is just one small formatting amendment to this docket. The title of the petition is being changed from Retirement Benefits to Death Benefits, as follows I petition for a special law regarding an act providing certain death benefits for the widow of former firefighter of the city of Boston. This will maintain consistency with the text of the legislation. This is an extraordinary case. It will not shift all Section nine death benefits to Section 100 benefits. But in this particular case, the circumstances for this case allow for the Section 100 benefits specific to this incident. Passage of this docket will allow the surviving spouse and children to receive the appropriate and full benefits that they deserve. Among those benefits, Leroy Rodriguez Jr is seeking to follow in his father's footsteps as a firefighter. This would, as one of the death benefits, allow for him to be on the priority list to become a firefighter like his father. As chair of the Committee on Government Operations, I recommend that this docket ought to pass in a new draft. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Arroyo, the chair of the Committee on Government Operations, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0186 in a new draft. All those in favor say aye. I oppose nay. The ayes have it. Mr. Kirk, please do a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Roll Call vote on docket 0186 Council Arroyo. Yes. Council Arroyo Yes. Council A Baker Council A Baker Yes. Council Council the yes. Council. Brighton Council. Brighton Yes. Council. Edwards Councilor Edwards yes Council. Fernandes Anderson Council. Fernandes. Hands and yes Council. Clarity. Yes. Council Clarity. Yes. Council. Flynn. Yes. Council. Flynn. Yes. Council. Council. Ah. Yes. Council. Louisiana Council. Yes. Council. Let me hear. Council. Let me hear. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. Council. World Council of Warrell. Yes. Unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket 0186 passed in a new draft amended draft. Motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Clarke, please read your code. Speaker 1: 02900290 Council of Flynn and Council on Me here offered the following order for a hearing to discuss ways for the city to increase communications access for people with disability to public facing televisions.

Council Home Rule Petition

On the Petition, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0186, for a Special Law re: An Act Providing Certain Retirement Benefits for the Widow of a Former Firefighter of the City of Boston, the Committee submitted a petition ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0290

Speaker 1: 02900290 Council of Flynn and Council on Me here offered the following order for a hearing to discuss ways for the city to increase communications access for people with disability to public facing televisions. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'm going to step off and ask Council Royal to please step forward. Speaker 1: Mr. Clarke, did you already read the. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes the lead sponsor. Sponsor? Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Royal. May I suspend Rule 12 and out? He had counseled Baucus, the third original co-sponsor. Speaker 1: Seeing and hearing no objection. Counselor Bach is added as the third original co-sponsor. Counselor Flynn, you have four. Speaker 0: This is a refile from last year and this is filled in partnership is filed in partnership with the Boston Disabilities Commission, which would discuss ways to ensure public facing televisions could provide closed captioning on public televisions for persons with disabilities so that persons with disabilities would have full access to information and resources share to the public. Television and public places have often played an important role in conveying important information to the public. So I hope that we can have a formative discussion to discuss ways for the city in business to ensure that all of our residents, especially persons with disabilities, are able to access and understand information that is shared on public television screens . Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor Flynn, the chair recognizes the second original sponsor, Councilor Maria. Speaker 4: You, Mr. Flynn. Oh, Mr. President, I thank you, Counselor Flynn, for adding me as an original co-sponsor. Your advocacy for communication access to all communities is incredibly inspiring and important because making sure that everyone has the ability and access to take part in the decisions that impact their daily lives in our city. And here is what this work is all about. I also feel like we need to acknowledge some of the advocates who have been pushing for these reforms in the city, particularly people like Lisa Jean Graff, who has spoken out about these reforms, not only online but in the community and also in our council chamber. We hold a hearing on this topic last year, and I look forward to the conversation that will begin to work alongside the new councilors. And I hope that sometime in the near future we move towards drafting an ordinance which will ensure that there is equitable access to public facing televisions across the city of. Speaker 1: Thank you, Counselor. Maria. I'll now recognize the third original co-sponsor, Counselor Buck. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Mr. President, and thank you to Councilor Flynn for inviting me to join and to councilor me here for her leadership on this. I think it's just been so clear throughout the pandemic that so often the information that we're getting out has been essential information. And so when you think about the ways that people encounter whatever is on television and in our public spaces, I think it's a really important piece of public accommodation that for folks who need the closed captioning that is there. And so this it seems like a small thing, but it really, I think, could do a lot to make the environment that people are navigating more accessible and make sure that that critical information is getting more broadly out to the public. So I'm really grateful again to Councilor Flynn for pushing on this and the partnership with the Disabilities Commission, and I look forward to working together to actually try to get this done and make sure that visible captions are on all public facing televisions in city Boston. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor. What? Anyone else likes to speak on this matter. Seeing no one. Would anyone else like to add their name? Uh, Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Braden, please add Councilor Edwards, please add Councilor Tanya Fernandez. Anderson, please add Councilor Flaherty. Please add Councilor Lara, please add Councilor Lui. Jan, please get Councilor Murphy. Please add councilor were Allan please add my name. Docket 0290 will be assigned to the Committee on City Services, Innovation Technology. Back to you, Ms.. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor. Mr. Clarke, please read docket. Speaker 1: 02910291 Council where l offered the following order for a hearing regarding equity in city contracts.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to discuss ways for the city to increase communications access for People with Disabilities to Public-Facing Televisions. On motion of Councilor Mejia, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Bok as co-sponsor.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0292

Speaker 1: 02920292. Councilor Braden offered the following order for a hearing regarding access to low cost veterinary care. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel Brett and Counsel Braden. You have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. This hearing order is a refile and was spurred by increasing volumes of constituents in public and subsidized affordable housing, expressing difficulty accessing low cost veterinary care services for their pets in their families. While Boston has many reputable veterinary hospitals and nonprofit organizations providing reduced cost care, including partnerships with Boston's City Animal Control. Not all programs are equitably accessible to residents in need across the neighborhoods. This has led to low income residents and also in Brighton, a need we have learned of residents in public and subsidized affordable housing developments having difficulty accessing low cost veterinary care. These include residents at the beach at Samuel Gardens, which is 250 units, plus a Commonwealth and um Commonwealth housing, which is over 400 units in Brighton with increased luxury development. We've seen a proliferation of corporate, boutique, upscale, specialty and subscription based veterinary services that widen this gap. My office has met with leading veterinary professionals from EMS, Piqua, Animal Rescue League and Tufts Cummings School to discuss equitable services as well as the impact of the pandemic on the industry. They have expressed enthusiasm for a hearing to deepen partnerships with the city to address this widening gap in service. Pets have increasingly become integral parts of our lives and families, including improving mental health and occupational health. As we look ahead towards the post pandemic recovery, the city should consider adopting a holistic one health animal human animal care approach. We know that the health of people is connected to the health of their animals and under shared environments. This approach has been approved by the CDC, veterinary professionals and policy advocates across the country and the world. Interdisciplinary human animal care approaches to city services should look like integrating broad and holistic public health approaches to food access, senior services, housing access, and considering population growth projections for neighborhoods and capital planning needs. Public health, education, disaster preparedness, and much more healthy pets mean healthy people. This is a much needed conversation. I look forward to hearing from veteran professionals, pet owners and struggling to access low cost care and city agencies, including animal control, care and Control and the Public Health Commission on how to incorporate a more holistic approach. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. Bright. And would anyone else like to speak on this? Would anyone else like to add their name, please? Please add Councilor Arroyo, please add Councilor Bark please that council Edwards council Fernandez in to send consulate priority consular me here consulate Murphy Council where all the the chair. Darkened 029 Till will be referred to the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology. Per the request of the sponsor, we will take Dawkins 0293 out of order, and we will come back to it in a minute. Mr. Clarke, can you please call docket 0294?

Matters Recently Heard-For Possible Action

Order for a hearing regarding access to low-cost veterinary care. Remains in the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02162022_2022-0293

Speaker 0: Aye, I opposed nay. The ayes have it. Docket 0297 has passed. We will now come back to docket 0293. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0293. Speaker 1: Lucky number 0293. Councilors Braden and Lou offered the following order for a hearing regarding transparency and publication of the Organization of City Government, the City Charter and City Ordinances. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The chair recognizes Councilor Braid and Councilor Braden. You have the full. Speaker 3: The original co-sponsor to this docket, please. Speaker 0: So, added Mr. Clarke, please. That Council block. Speaker 3: Having just completed my first full term on this legislative body, there was a massive learning curve over the past two years and getting oriented to the structure of our city and its governing texts. The state statutes that make up our city charter and other special, special acts affecting our city and the ordinance that comprise our city code . Through the arc, through the City Archives, my office has found a 200 year institutional history of published and updating of publishing and updating official documents as the framework for our city, including the municipal registry from 1821 to 1991, listing government departments and officers and the Organization of City Government from 1911 to 2006, listing the enabling legislation and members of the city's boards and commissions. Our ordinances were first codified and published in 1995. In addition to a compilation of special acts affecting the city, the ordinance is passed by the council and approved by the mayor were supplemented to the 1975 ordinances are available in the clerk's office and are posted online and annually updated by the publishing company. However. Code. Publishing companies suggest a standard of record defying and consolidating codes every 10 to 15 years to resolve inconsistencies and conflicts. For example, Framingham, one of the city's newest communities to become a city, requires that their charter be that their charter requires in their charter a review of the charter charter every ten years and and renew and renewal and modification of the ordinances every five years. It has been nearly 50 years since Boston has comprehensively reviewed our code. 15 years since we have revisited compiling state statutes in our city charter as well as other special acts that affect our city. At the end of the last term, five councilors moved on from this body, and currently two thirds of their members are serving their first or second terms. We are in a period of significant shifts in our city and it is immensely important that we access the institutional knowledge we lean on to conduct legislative duties as stewards of the city. This hearing is intended to be an opportunity for partnership of the city council, the clerk's office, the administration and the law department to assess the current condition of our governing document. Documents. Consider adopting updated best practices for periodic maintenance and ensure necessary capacity, support and appropriations. Ensuring efficient, easy to read up to date and enforceable governing documents free of obsolete and convoluted language enables our constituents and laypersons to have free, open and easy access to understanding our local laws. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Great. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes counsel. And Jen just want to say. Speaker 4: Thank you for. He gave us a great reason for it. It's really just about transparency. I know. And I was, you know, just got elected. And even before that, trying to find the mean the updated charter to access the codes, having everything in one place online, we need to make sure that that's available to all of our residents so that everyone can access and feel like they know the governing structures of our city. So access to an updated charter, a clear organizational chart with the departments, all of that. We need access to it all. So thank you, Councilor Braden and I look forward to working with you and making sure that we can tell folks that we're working towards a transparent government here in our city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. The chair recognizes counsel. Counsel. You have the floor. Speaker 2: So much, President Flynn. And thank you to Counselor Lujan for partnering on this. I think it's a great time with the start of a new administration to really look at updating these things. Often we see a certain amount of reorganization with the new administration and and so that makes it a good time to try to codify that and make it clear also something that Councilor Edwards has frequently raised in this body is that technically and officially, like all offices and such of the city, are meant to be codified by the city council, and that is a practice that has fallen off. And so I think there's a good opportunity here to work with the administration and kind of understand the overall chart and think about how we're making that publicly accessible. Because I'll just say that we have often found with, you know, interns and research fellows in our office that even trying to explain to them where they can go to find the most basic city information is often a challenge. And and it's an ironic thing that a number of the compilations that Councilor Braden mentioned, they've sort of they've been discontinued because the idea was, oh, well, now we have the Internet, we don't need those books. But the books used to really gather it all in one place. And now you have to be a bit of a Googling wizard to find all of the things. And so I think, you know, making sure that we really have this information about city government in our operations transparently available and in one place for people is a very important thing that the council can do. So. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Would anyone else like to like to speak on this? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please that counselor Arroyo Counselor Edwards Counselor Fernandez Andersen. Counsel Clarity. Counsel LRA counsel me here. Counselor Murphy Counsel. We're all pleased that the chair docket 0293 will be referred to the committee. On city services, in innovation technology. Mr. Carr, can we take a brief recess? Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 0: We will. We'll be in brief recess for a few minutes. Thank you to the city, to the clerk for working with us on an on an issue. Um, Mr. Kirk, I want to go back to 0294, please. Yeah. At this time. The clerk. The chair recognizes city council member. Councilman. Here you have the floor. Speaker 4: Q Mr. President, I have learned here in the last two years. But I'm I to always choose my battles and I'm going to fight when I need to. And this is one of those moments. So I'd like to put a motion to reconsider the committee, insert a docket to 94, was assigned to, I believe, city services and it should go to either the Education Committee, the workforce development and even for that matter, the Accountability and Transparency Committee. So I would ask the lead sponsor to support the reconsideration and move to one of my three committees. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel near me here. So there's a request. Is there is there a second? There was a second. Councilor Arroyo as second. And Council. Would you like the floor? Speaker 7: I'm okay with. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel, and thank you counsel on the Hill for bringing this to our attention. We want to. Provide you that provide the this hearing to the education committee. So. 02029411 Albion to be reassigned to the Education Committee. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Going into our trials. Yeah. Thank you. Mr. Clarke, we're going into personnel orders. Will you please read? Docket 0298.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing regarding transparency and publication of the Organization of City Government, the City Charter, and City Ordinances. On motion of Councilor Breadon, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Bok as co-sponsor.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02092022_2022-0158

Speaker 1: Lucky number 0158. Message in order for your approval. In order authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds in the principal amount amount not to exceed $200 million. The current conditions in the municipal bond market appears to be favorable for the city to potentially realize significant savings in debt service costs by refunding certain of its outstanding general obligation bonds Speaker 0: . Thank you, Mr. Clarke. At this time, the chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez Anderson, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Counselor Fernandez Anderson. You have the flow. Speaker 3: Thank you, counsel plan in case needs to be said. This is not my maiden speech. You should all have the committee report in your inbox. The Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing on Monday, February 7th and heard testimony from the city CEO Justin Sterrett and Maureen Castle and Richard Piano from Treasury. This order requests for funding authorization of $200 million, which will cover an upcoming anticipated refunding transaction and future potential transactions. Refunding transactions are transactions in which new bonds are issued at more favorable rates than previously issued bonds similar to the refinancing of an individual's home mortgage. As of an assessment one month ago. The city has approximately $60 million in bonds that could be refunded, which would save the city 3.5 million in debt service over the next ten years. The refunding transactions will be credit neutral, credit neutral and will not push the current debt out. The council last granted refunding authorization in 2019, which has since run out. Granting additional authorization to total, allows the city the flexibility to move quickly to take advantage of refunding transaction opportunities when market conditions are most favorable. I recommend that this matter all to pass. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Counsel Fernandez Anderson, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means six, acceptance of the Committee Report and passage of Docket 0158. Mr. Potter, can you please call the wrong. Speaker 1: Lucky number 0158. Councilor Royal. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Roy. Yes. Councilor Baker. I know Baker. Yes. Councilor Borg. Yes. Councilor Borg. Yes. Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Braden. Yes. Counsel Edwards. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Counsel Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Counsel of Clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so clarity. Yes. Counsel of Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so of Flynn. Yes. Counsel. Error. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Not sort of. Our In-house counsel. Louisiana. Yes. Counsel Louisiana. Yes. Counsel. Let me hear. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: That's what I mean here. Yes. Counsel Murphy. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Not sort the. Murphy. Yes. Speaker 2: Counsel World. Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel Oral. Yes, Mr. President. Docket number 0158, as we see the unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 0158 has passed in in. Counselor Fernandez Anderson is exactly right. That was not her maiden speech. We are looking forward to it in in a couple of weeks. So just want to say thank you for that reminder. Counselor Fernandez innocent. Thank you. We're on two motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0259, please. Speaker 1: Lucky Number 0259 Council on Me here in Arroyo offered the following an ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances, Chapter 15, Section ten, and establishing the Boston Fair Chance.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0158, for your approval an order authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds in a principal amount not to exceed Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000.00). The current conditions in the municipal bond market appears to be favorable for the City to potentially realize significant saving in debt service costs by refunding certain of its outstanding general obligation bonds, the Committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to passed.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02092022_2022-0259

Speaker 1: Lucky Number 0259 Council on Me here in Arroyo offered the following an ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances, Chapter 15, Section ten, and establishing the Boston Fair Chance. Speaker 0: To be chair. Recognizes Councilmember. Here, Councilmember. Here you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to Kelso Arroyo and his staff for co-sponsoring this docket alongside of our office, the city of Boston employees, nearly 20,000 people to do all sorts of jobs, from parking attendants to EMS workers to sewer workers and more. There are a few things in our city that aren't made better by the work of our city employees. We saw during the last storm how essential our Boston Public Works employees really are. And for many of them, this isn't just about collecting a paycheck. Their jobs aren't just what they do. It's who they are. Over the past several months, I have been in deep communication and meeting with these workers to learn about their experiences working for the city. In each meeting, we heard the same story. Workers of color, some who have been city employees for nearly 30 years, have been routinely denied opportunities to advance their careers to obtain higher wages. A quick look at the city's employment dashboard reveals this to be true. According to the Demographics dashboard as of January 2022, while white employees made up 48.9% of the total workforce, they disproportionately represented 61.6 of employees making over 80,000 a year. Even in departments with large percentages of employees of color, the top earners are predominantly white, such as the Department of Public Works, where black and brown employees make up nearly half of the total of the workforce. But only 10% of the top ten earners. We have heard from workers of color who have been tasked with training newer, less experienced, predominantly white employees for positions above them, meaning that they are somehow experienced enough to train management but not experience enough to be management. We have also heard from qualified city employees who sought to seek higher levels of employment, only to be passed over for a buddy or a relative of a hiring manager. In hearings, we have asked questions to numerous departments as to why they do not have a more diverse workforce. Each time we ask this question. We hear a similar response that the talent just isn't there. After meeting with countless workers of color, each of whom have demonstrated their expertize, their passion and their commitment to the city, it is clear that the talent is there, but we're just not utilizing it. This is why we are failing. The Boston Fair. Chance at the Fair Chance Act formally codifies a chief diversity officer position who will work with all city agencies to develop a detailed plan for hiring minority employees, women employees, LGBTQ plus employees and employees with disabilities. A detailed plan for promotion of State Employees. A detailed plan for improving work place culture, preventing harassment, intimidation and bullying. And a detailed plan for disseminating this information to covered employees. The Chief Diversity Officer will also take the steps to ensure that opportunities for nepotism or workforce discrimination are eliminated. We have the capacity in Boston to create a workforce that is representative of our communities and representative our commitment to economic empowerment. I look forward to this conversation and to strengthening this ordinance alongside my colleagues. You know, I just have to say, in being in deep community with a lot of our city employees, many of which were even afraid to speak up, it just goes to show that the volume of importance that this particular conversation has in this moment in time to ensure that we're moving the needle when it comes to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to rise up. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. The chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo. Counsel Arroyo, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Gray. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilman Heath, who summarizes really well. What I'll just add to this is I think it's incredibly, incredibly important that as a city, we ensure that residents are qualified to get employed, are promoted, get a fair chance at doing so. And my hope is that these changes help make a fairer and more just process when it. And frankly, a more transparent process when it comes to how we decide and make hires and promotions in the city of Boston. And so I look forward to working on this with council, and I'm grateful to councilman here for for our work in this. Thank you. Thank you. Council Royal. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? If you are, can you. Can you raise your hand? I don't see anyone wishing to speak on this matter. If you would like. If you would like to add your name, would you please raise your hand at this time? Mr. Clarke Can you hear it? Councilor Fernandez Anderson, Council LRA. Councilor Murphy Council of Rate and Council Lodging Council where. Council of City Council a block. Please add the chair. I don't see I don't see anyone else's name. Anyone else's hand. Docket 0259 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0260, please. Speaker 1: Lucky numbers 0260 Council plan all for the following resolution in support of each 3115 enact and in ensuring equitable representation in the Commonwealth.

Council Ordinance

On the message and Ordinance, referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0259, Amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section X and Establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, the committee submitted a report recommending the Ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the Ordinance was passed in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02092022_2022-0262

Speaker 1: Log in number 026 to Council of Florida for the following order for a hearing to discuss offering property tax abatements to property owners in the Newmarket area. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel. Clarity. Counsel, clarity. You of the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. As everybody on this body knows, particularly the district councils that have been covering this, the residents and business owners in the Newmarket and Mass and Cass area have experienced deteriorating and at times horrific conditions over the last several years. That includes decline in public safety, decline of public health, overall cleanliness in general, a decrease in their quality of life that are not necessarily reflected in property valuations in this area. As an at large councilor, I've done numerous walkthroughs with residents and business owners and advocates, along with neighborhood groups, city department leaders. And despite those efforts to increase city services and to better coordinate efforts across departments to meet the increased need in the area, and that includes expedited needle cleanup, sidewalk cleaning, mental health outreach and street workers, etc. We've still fallen short on our standards. So much so that the new market businesses have created a new market bid and are going around collecting fees from their members to finance supplemental services above and beyond what the city has been providing property taxes as folks now make up nearly 75% of our revenues. So again, suggesting an abatement for property taxes is not something that I take that I do serve lightly as a fiscal steward of the city. That said, I think this is a very unique and special case, and I feel that in recognition of our shortcomings, to provide an adequate level of city services to to the homeowners and to the business owners in the area, that we should explore the idea of offering a property tax abatement. Generally speaking, the driving idea behind this seeming order is the notion that taxpayers do deserve a high level of basic city services. And to some degree, I think we've dropped the ball here. And so looking forward to an expedited hearing, bring in the stakeholders. Let's talk about what area it would encompass and whether or not it makes sense for the city to offer them something even while the bid is ramping up. Maybe that's something that we can offer them. In addition to, we're going to be going at those businesses to to increase their contribution and or to make payments to the bid. And maybe we can offer them something in the short term that takes a little bit of a bite out of getting the bid going strong. And again, I know that there are folks here, our colleague Russell Baker is done, a lot of great work done. So Flynn on the bid not working with those folks. So this would be, I guess, a complement to that that if we can provide an abatement to to the residents, the homeowners business owners over there, you know , it may take a little bit out of their feeling that we, the city, have abandoned them over the last few years. As conditions continue to deteriorate in the area, they look forward again and feel free to hear some comments and welcome folks to sign on. Thank you, counsel. Clarity. Would any other counsel like to speak on this issue? If you do, can you please raise your hand? I see. Counsel Arroyo, the chair recognizes Counsel Arroyo. You have the floor. Thank you. President Flynn, I just have a question for the chairman. Would this apply to the residential folks in the area as well for some of the same similar reasoning? Or is this just for the business folks? And why the distinction or difference? Great. Thank you for the question. As referenced in my comments, the focus will be on the homeowners, the residents that are there. That's sort of priority number one, the residents and then obviously the businesses, both of them combined equally. And I've done the walk, as I'm sure you have, as well as our other colleagues up and down all those neighborhood streets and listening to the talk about having to clean out the needles and having their cars broken into and having people urinating and defecating and literally having sex out front of their house in their window, all of it trash, graffiti. And they continue to call us. They continue to reach out to the city, to public works, to everyone that would listen. And again, they felt that it fell on deaf ears, just given the complexity of the situation and all the issues that were involved with it and trying to deal with it in a in a in both balancing sort of the public safety and the public health needs. And sometimes they were on the same page, sometimes they weren't. So the the homeowners, the residents and some of them some of the city's highest taxpayers are in are in some of these properties. So. So, yes, the question is there will be for both. Thank you for that clarification. Please add my name. President. Yeah. Please said council Moreno's name. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter before we go to talk to others? Council braided. Your hand is raised. Beg your. Speaker 3: Pardon? Of my omission. I forgot to Norman's. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Okay. Consulate. Edwards, you have your hand raised. Okay. If. If you would like to add your name, please, please raise your hand. Please add. Councilor Murphy, Councilor Baker, Councilor Wirral, council me here. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Andersson. Councilor Borg. Council Councilor Braden, please. The chair. Console illusion. Darkened 0 to 62 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0263, please.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to discuss offering property tax abatements to property owners in the Newmarket area.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02092022_2022-0264

Speaker 1: Plug in numbers 026 for Council Makiya and Flynn for the following order that the appropriate committee, the Boston City Council, hold a working session to review applications for the Commission on Black Men and Boys. Speaker 0: Counsel Arroyo, will you please take over at this time? Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes the lead sponsor council here. Speaker 3: Thank you to the chair and thank you to council President Flynn for working with our office so quickly to get this order extended to the Council today. In September of 2021, the City Council passed an ordinance establishing a commission on black men and boys. Since then, we have been working with the administration and with advocates to ensure that the Commission is set up for success in the spirit of transparency. And as the Chair of the Committee on Government Accountability and Transparency and Accessibility, we have an opportunity to play a role in who is going to serve the commission. The mayor's office reached out to us and asked the council to submit 14 names, of which seven will be chosen to serve on the commission. We then partnered with Councilor President Flynn and Councilor Rochelle to design an application process in the hopes of getting a wide variety of people interested in applying in the Commission. Starting today, people interested in applying can go to Boston dot gov slash join dash the dash. Commission dash on dash. Black dashed men. Dash and dash boys and submit an application to be on the council's 14 nominees. Our office will send out a link to the application to each of your offices following the meeting. Applications will be open from today, February 9th through February 23rd. Applicants will be asked to share their professional and personal interests in regards to uplifting black men and voices. Once we receive our applications, we will hold a working session so that we can come to a consensus on our nominations. I strongly encourage my council colleagues to share the application to as many interested individuals and groups as possible. We have an obligation to ensure that our Commission on Black Men and Boys represents the diverse lived experience and world views so that it is truly a commission for all black men and boys. I want to again thank President Flynn and his office for their quick turnaround in authorizing this process. And I also want to thank Kurzel and his team for playing a vital role in ensuring that the application process meets this moment. And of course, I want to show my appreciation and deep gratitude for Kerry Jordan for working to get our application up and running. This has been a team process from the beginning to the end, and we are setting the tone for how we hope the Commission will operate. I look forward to this process and working alongside each of you. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Mejia. The chair recognizes the second original co-sponsor. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor. Thank you. Councilor Royle, I want to say thank you to Council Royal, but also called somebody here for your work on this important on this important subject. I also want to say thank you to Council Councilor Brian Worl for his important work as well, his leadership. Council and his leadership. As council members here mentioned that city council will be able to nominate candidates to be on the commission on black men and boys. So with this order, we are setting up a process to review applications to be ought to be on the commission to get feedback from our colleagues. I also want to say thank you to Mayor Wu in her administration. This will be similar to the process that Councilor Campbell had for nominations to the Civilian Review Board. I look forward to working with everyone on the nomination process. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Flynn, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Seeing no one would end. Would anyone like to add their names to the docket? Please add counselor clarity. Please. And Councilor Bok, please add council will you please add Councilor Murphy, please add Councilor Braden please add Councilor Baker. Please add my name. Please add Councilor Fernandez Anderson please at Councilor Laura and please take Councilor Lui Jen. Did I miss anyone else? No. Okay. And with that. Docket number 0264 will be assigned to the Committee on Civil Rights, Immigrant Advancement. Back to you, Mr. President. Thank you, Council Royal. Mr. Clarke, will you please read docket 0265?

Council Order

On the order referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0264, that the appropriate committee of the Boston City Council hold a working session to review applications for the Commission on Black Men and Boys, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02092022_2022-0265

Speaker 0: Back to you, Mr. President. Thank you, Council Royal. Mr. Clarke, will you please read docket 0265? Speaker 1: IP number 0265. Councilor Baker offer the following in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and extend a grant funded through the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery from Fund c. L f. R. F in the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9190 901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a RPA awarded by the United States Department. Speaker 0: Of the Treasury. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. B The Chair recognizes counsel. Baker Council. Baker You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just just to be clear, this is an ask for $10 million. I filed this law and order looking for a way to support the boys and Girls, Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, who , in collaboration with the Martin Richards Foundation, are proposing a once in a lifetime, once in a generation opportunity to transform a parcel of land on Columbia Point into a vibrant youth development facility, a field house designed to holistically meet the ever evolving needs of Boston's 50,000 children and teens living in a in a three mile radius, including the thousand Boston public school students who attend the abutting Gavin McCormick schools using the upon AP moneys has received the AARP money thus far has come down from the mayor. The pathway has come down from the mayor asking us for approval. I would like to change that and have an ask from a district city councilor and have it go up again. It doesn't necessarily need to be asked for money, but this is an official ask for $10 million to go towards this field house. So the city would signal to the state because the state has already made commitments towards this field house. The Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester currently operates three clubhouses servicing servicing a culturally and ethnically diverse range of children from and from newborns to 18. I believe I believe if we can help with some funding, we can create a community that can stay on the peninsula from a young age through college at UMass and potentially right into a job. As well as receive the support they need. This would be a hub school model where children and adults alike have a safe place from before, before school, through dinnertime. This will also be a facility that will be fully accessible and inclusive to all and a great benefit to the school community on on Columbia Point. We have an amazing opportunity here to use the funds to be able to point to a tangible structure that will be built successfully in this time for money and again, to reach to to restate what I've been stating since the beginning when we were talking about all we are for money. My concern is that if we're not in line with projects to build with the money coming down from the feds, we're going to look back and five years and and and look at a whole lot of debt coming down on the federal government and have no assets. No assets that we've actually built infrastructure meaning failed houses, meaning housing, meaning libraries, meaning parks. We need to be building things with money and yes, thank you. Building building things with this money. So we'll be able to point to things that we've been able to build with this money from the feds. Again, this is more of a waste. So I can have my. Speaker 3: Colleagues. Speaker 0: In a hearing and view this structure and and view what the whole plan is over here on Columbia Point. It's part of. A lot of mines that are that are that are together on the point talking about education that will start at zero and end in at UMass. And also job opportunities that will happen with the new development in the next 5 to 10 years also. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Counselor Baker. Is what any other counsel I was like to speak on this matter. If you would, would you please raise your hand? Good counsel. The chair recognizes counsel. Murphy. Counsel Murphy over the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Counselor Baker And I just wanted to quickly say that I do know personally the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, who has helped so many families and children and continue to and the Emirates Foundation and them coming together and really working on this and working hard to raise most of the funds themselves. This support from us would just really make the difference and also agree what Councilor Baker said, that this once in a generation lifetime money coming from the federal government. Housing and all of these other issues are very important. But if we can invest and make sure we're investing in lasting infrastructure, that our grandchildren can look back and see that it's not. Things that we're not going to even remember what we put into because this will be generations, thousands of children benefiting from this and would love, like Baker said. Counselor Baker said that when we have this hearing, having married in the Boys and Girls Club, come to us as the council and really share with us the work they've been doing and their vision for this amazing clubhouse. And, you know, it's an empty parking lot. Anyone who's been in that area or have lived in Dorchester like myself for the last decades, if you drive down that street, it's been an empty parking lot forever, right behind PC High, which is always updating their football field and their soccer field. And UMass Boston is on the other side of it. So in knowing that 100% dedicated to making sure that the students, the staff at the McCormick Denver, which is the public school there, which had recently got, you know, in receivership, has come out of receivership, struggling to, you know, be successful. It would be a really great support for the students and staff there. And they have openly and made sure that they're committed to be having the school use that as a gym. And that clubhouse all day during the school day is something that really mattered to me. And when I knew they were committed to that, that really makes a difference. So thank you, Counselor Baker, for bringing this up. And I hope also that other district counselors who know their neighborhoods best come forward to this council with their ideas of what they know that they need in their neighborhoods that we can use this money for. This is going to help our and I think it ties closely into the order I filed last week about mental health and making sure that we have spaces, safe spaces that are programed in this wonderful way for our students, for our children, for our, you know, our young adults. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Murphy. I know counsel of clarity has his hand up, but let me go to the original co-sponsor next time, Counsel Baker. Sorry, Mr. President. I meant. I meant to ask to suspend Rule 12 and had counsel counsel Murphy on that believe it's Room 12 as an original co-sponsor. Mr. Clarke, can we please add Counsel Murphy as an original co-sponsor? Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes counsel of clarity. Thank you, Mr. President. Great organization, great programing and great results. Please add my name. Thank you. Counsel Clarity. Please have counsel, clarity and counsel. Bach has her hand up. Speaker 3: Counsel BACHELDER Thank you so much, Mr. President. I just wanted to say, and this really follows up on a comment that Counselor Murphy just made, that, you know, just to all counselors, that I'm definitely, as the chair of the COVID Recovery Committee, happy to hold hearings in order to create a public forum for counselors to present ideas they have about our funds. And so I would just say and although Counselor Baker framed this one in the form of an appropriation order, it would also be fine if somebody writes something more informal, sort of a hearing order formally, just as long as it's clear that you're expressing an interest in the ARPA dollars conversation. Because I know that we talked about, you know, we have a hearing that we're currently scheduling right now for talking about the ARPA dollars more holistically. And I think that holistic conversation is really important. But I just want to stress as the chair of that, that I'm very happy to create a forum for folks to raise ideas they have because as has been discussed, obviously, where the legislative body of the city and I do see that as their role to make sure the create that space wanted to underscore that point for everyone. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Walk to those comments. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand if you'd like to have your name, please. And, Councilor Braden, please add the chair. Dawkins 0263 will be referred to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Personnel were offered onto personnel orders, of which we have none. Late files. I am informed by the clerk that there are zero way file matters. Green sheets. The City Council would like to remove the matter from the red sheets. You may do so at this time. We're moving on to the consent agenda. I have been informed by the court that the is that there are zero additions to the consent and consent agenda.

Mayor Order

Councilor Baker called Docket #0265, An order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend a grant funded through the coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery fund (CLFRF) in the Treasury of the United States established by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury for $10,000,000.00, from the Committee on Boston's COVID-19's Recovery. No objection being heard the matter was before the body. Councilor Baker moved to amend Docket #0265 from $10,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00. Seconded by Councilor Murphy Motion Prevailed; yeas 12; (Absent 1 Mejia). Docket #0265 as amended did not Pass; yeas 5 (Baker, Flaherty, Flynn Murphy and Worrell), nays 7 (Arroyo, Bok, Breadon, Coletta, Fernandes Anderson, Lara and Louijeune). (Absent 1 Mejia)

BostonCC

BostonCC_02022022_2022-0223

Speaker 1: Number 0223 message. In order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $250,000 in the form of a grant for the fiscal year. 22 Municipal A.D.A. Improvement Grant Program awarded by the Massachusetts Office on Disability to be administered by the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. The grant will fund the installation of a vertical lift to the third floor mezzanine. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. DAWKINS zero 2 to 3 will be referred to the Committee on City Services, Innovation Technology. At this time, I would like to stop counsel for. You have your hand up. Speaker 3: Just on the next docket. Speaker 0: Mr. President, I'd like to move a suspension and passage after you read it into the record. Thank you, counsel. Clarity. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0224 place.

Mayor Order

On message and order, referred on February 2, 2022, Docket #0223, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) in the form of a grant for the FY22 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program, awarded by the Massachusetts Office on Disability to be administered by the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02022022_2022-0160

Speaker 0: . Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Talking 0 to 2 530 to create will be placed on file. Matters recently heard for possible action. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0160. Speaker 1: Number 0160. Message In order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $5 million in the form of a grant. The grant payment awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the city's chief financial officer. Collect the Treasurer. The grant payment is made from the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery from fund in the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 90 901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes council block chair of Boston's COVID 19 Recovery Council. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Mr. President. And thank you to all the councilors who came to our hearing yesterday. We had nearly the whole council at our consideration of this docket. I do just want to draw the council's attention to the fact that there's a committee report that's in your inbox and that's been filed on this. So folks will take a look at that, just to say that this is a $5 Million appropriation out of city ARCA funds by the administration to replenish the Small Business Relief Fund 2.0. And as we heard yesterday at the hearing from Chief Segundo and from Deputy Chief Lori Mercola and director of Small Business Natalia, or through which we have had a lot of success in distributing funds through a number of different small business funds since spring 2020. At the start of the pandemic, the department's distributed almost $30 million in funds, and this SBIR 2.0 has so far given out $8 million in grants to 628 businesses. But since September 2021, as funds have been depleted. And so this $5 million would replenish the funds just to start allocating money to further businesses, many of whom have, like I said, already applied and have their applications waiting. And so we heard from the administration both about the breakdown of the grants they've given so far, the fact that these funds would be prioritizing the three areas that have come under the city's vaccine mandate. So restaurants, arts and entertainment and gyms and sports facilities. And and it was good to hear from them about sort of all the different outreach aspects that the department done. The applications being available, 11 languages, the kind of various ways in which we tried to lower the threshold for relief. And also the department's work to try to make sure that the folks applying for these funds also know about their eligibility for and are pointing towards the state grants being funded through the American Rescue Plan because the state's amount of funding is greater than ours. And so we want to make sure that our Boston based businesses are getting as much support as possible. There were great questions from councilors focused on eligibility, accountability, making sure that this these funds are being equitably distributed, making sure that we're sort of checking our own data, figuring out when we see discrepancies, what the source of that is. The department did report that they intend to have a public facing dashboard shortly. And then there are a number of questions that council has asked on that accountability front that I think we'll get to expect more data back from the department soon. One of the things that we also flagged in the conversation was that. This this committee is planning on having substantial further conversations about the bigger picture of Africa and that we're not intending to sort of grants it all out in small chunks like this. However, the administration's made a case for this 5 million, and I think we all, as councilors are hearing from small businesses every day who just need help and support and relief right now yesterday. And so with that in mind, Mr. President, I am recommending today that this docket 0160 pass. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counselor Bach. Does anyone else would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Please. Please raise your hand. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Bach, the chair. The chair of the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 Recovery seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0160. Mr. Clerk, can you please do a roll call vote? Speaker 1: Lucky number 0160. Consular Royal yes. Consular oh yes. Council a baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so Baker yes. Consular bar. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Consular but yes. Consular Braden. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Not celebrating. Yes. Consular Edwards. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Nuncio Edwards yes. Consular Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Consular Fernandez Anderson yes. Council clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so clarity as consular Flynn yes. Consulate Flynn. Yes. Speaker 2: Council Area. Yes. Speaker 1: Council Area. Yes. Consular legitimate. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Until the region. Yes. Councilor. Me here? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor. Me here? Yes. Councilor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: That's a murphy. Yes. In Council world. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: So? Well, yes. Talking numbers 0160 received unanimous approval. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Carter. Moving on to motions, orders, resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0239, please.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0160, authorizing the City of Boston (the “City”) to accept and expend the amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) in the form of a grant ( the “Grant Payment”), awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury, to be administered by the City’s Chief Financial Officer/Collector-Treasurer. The Grant Payment is made from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in the Treasury of the United States established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02022022_2022-0240

Speaker 1: In numbers 0240 Council on Me. He offered the following an ordinance amending City of Boston Code Chapter 15, Section 11, creating a commission on Black Men and boys. Speaker 0: Councilman here you are recognized. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. This is an amendment to the ordinance we passed last year establishing a commission on black men and boys. One of the biggest issues in ensuring that the commission is successful and has the tools to be able to do their work, is providing staffing and funding. In order to best do that, we need to formally codify an executive director position who can serve as an assistant to the Commission and to ensure that they are able to provide it with any and all materials and staffing. And this is a small amendment. So we're hoping that the review process will be short so that we can pass this and get to the work of standing up for our black men and boys here in the city of Boston. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Here. Would anyone else like to speak on this? If you want to raise your hand or raise a yellow hand. Would anyone else like to add their name to this? If you want to raise your hand or raise a yellow hand. Councilor Royal. Please our council have clarity, please ad council work. Well, please. And council adjourn, please. Councilor Murphy, please. That council. Brayden, please. Councilor Baker, please. Out the chair, please. Councilor Lara, please add Councilor Bach. Please add Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Darkened 0240 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Carclaze recalled zero two for sex, please. Speaker 1: There were two for one. Speaker 0: So yes, please please read 024102.

Council Ordinance

On the Ordinance, referred on February 2, 2022, Docket #0240, Amending City of Boston Code, Chapter XV Section XI Creating a Commission on Black Men and Boys, the Committee submitted a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02022022_2022-0242

Speaker 1: Lucky number. Zero two for two. Councilor Bullock offered the following or for a hearing regarding recycling, compost and waste services in the city of Boston. Speaker 0: The chair recognizes counsel. Counsel, walk up the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And, Mr. President, can I please request suspension of Rule 12 and add Councilor Braden and Councilor Flaherty as original co-sponsors on the item? Speaker 0: It is console console boxing suspension of Rule 12 to add councilors, councilors, Braydon and Council Clarity. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 0: He has original co-sponsor seeing and hearing no objection. Those councilors are added. Thank you, Councilor Bach. The floor is yours. Speaker 2: Great. Thank you so much, Councilor Flynn. And this is another city services thing and a sort of core municipal function, which is all the different ways that we deal with waste in the city of Boston, and in particular thinking about how we deal with all the ways. That isn't just simple trash. I think the real intention of this hearing order is one information. I think often residents in the city of Boston don't know about all the ways that we have of disposing of things like e-waste or the existing car host program, cardiovascular or, you know, things about how single stream recycling works. So certainly we want to create a platform for kind of informing people about the city's suite of programs right now and making sure that councils are up to speed on those. But this is another space where exactly, as Councilor Baker said, there is a real opportunity and a pressing need and in this case, a pressing environmental need to expand the services that the city offers and to think about how we do that internally in the city, how we build capacity, have good public jobs. And and really composting is something that we've sort of been at the edges of thinking about a serious curbside composting program for a while as a city. It's something that many other cities in the US thinking of Seattle, San Francisco have and have had robustly for a while now that we in Boston have not. And it's definitely a kind of another sort of systems need and it's a set of job opportunities. But then also I think with the the e-waste so thinking about how people dispose of batteries, how people dispose of all the electronics. Are more and more part of our life. And have these rare earth metals that are, you know, the reason for all kinds of all kinds of mining activity all over the world. I think we just have to think about what are the cutting edge strategies for getting these things recycled most effectively and well. And then as we know and it's something that Councilor O'Malley has brought up repeatedly. Recycling and the economics of recycling have really shifted over the last few years, such that what used to make the city money now cost the city money. There are some places in the country that are sort of experimenting with other approaches in order to reverse that dynamic. There's also questions again about it and the point at which we're paying other people to do a lot of processing instead of them paying us for the privilege, you know, does it make sense to bring some more of that in-house? So this is really designed to be a little bit of a catch all hearing to talk with public works. It's the same story. Our public works staff do an unbelievable job with waste and handling all these different streams. And just think about how the how the council can support them and support the city in building out more robust systems for the kind of the kind of green waste management that we really need in the contemporary city. So I'm looking forward to holding a hearing. And thank you, Mr. President, and to my co-sponsors, councilors. Great. And employers. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Bach. Anyone else like to speak on this? The chair recognizes. Counsel Baker. Counsel Baker. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Mr.. Mr.. President, if I. If I may. This is a point of order. My co-sponsors, councilors Brayton and Flaherty. I think it might. If there was an opportunity for them to speak before the open floor, that would be. Appreciate it. Speaker 0: Yes. Yeah. That was my mistake. The good Shia recognized as Council of Britain. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to the media for including me in this as a co-sponsor. This conversation is timely for us to review and very timely for us to review the cities recycling, compost and weeds with services, as well as ways to increase public awareness. Our office also conducted a survey last year distributed to members and leaders within our Orthodox Jewish community here in Brighton, with many community members expressing frustration that they could not drop off the list on the designated Saturdays when they observe the Sabbath. So as a result, we partnered with our local public works yard to host alternatives, hazardous waste drop offs, top up for members of the. Speaker 0: Orthodox. Speaker 2: Community, ensuring that our services were in ensuring that our services are increasingly culturally competent and accessible to all of our community members. This is a an opportunity that we offer twice a year in partnership with our public works department. And it really helps get those recyclables that folks are want to have just full stuff with responsibly to have them an opportunity to recycle on time that's culturally appropriate. I also look forward to discussing the status of expanding the project roster and the city's 24 hour community compost pilot program. We have only one location here in Brighton at the San Gardens Beach Development and we look to increasing, look forward to increasing convenient access to this service and and also with regard to the cost of recycling. We did then go from being a money maker to being a cost to actually making a cost to to recycle. But I just heard a news story on the on the radio this past few weeks about a city. And in New Hampshire, it's actually generating income from their recycling program. Obviously, it's a much smaller municipality, but I think we need to look at ways to make our recycling program more effective and to not be such a drain on our city resources. So I really look forward to this conversation and thank you to the maker. Speaker 0: Thank you, counsel. Counsel Bret and the Chair recognizes counselor Flannery. Counsel Flannery, the floor is yours. Mr. President, then I want to commend the leadership of our colleague, Counsel Locke, and thank you for including me in recognizing my efforts on the Council during the single stream recycling. Myself and Councilor Ross on behalf of the Council led those efforts, as well as the distribution of those big blue recycling bins that were distributed across the city. And the previous Speaker Council nailed it with respect to the recycling cost. Our efforts back then to do the single stream recycling was to reduce the cost of the trash collection. And then we started a partnership working with folks that wanted to do the compost, and we thought it would sort of be a three legged part of the stool. You put your household trash in, you put your recyclables, and then you have a compost option. And as she just referenced, the recycling costs now are arguably outpacing the trash cost with no one really knowing what to do or where to put it, whether you're shipping out your bag, you know, your truck it out. But ultimately those costs are increasing. And we continue to see the city's trash collection costs go through the roof. And most folks obviously enjoy the one day a week. There are some communities, the ones that are more densely populated with very little space, have enjoyed at 1.2 day a week collections. But in any event, keeping our eye on these costs, trying to be creative in identifying ways to eliminate one that costs, but also sort of the distribution, I guess, of our waste. And clearly the share a lead sponsor here is right on the ball. I look forward to partnering with her to find these creative solutions to drive those costs down, but to give folks creative options, to do their part, to make our world a better and in much cleaner place. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, counsel. Clarity. The chair recognizes Counselor Baker. Baker Council. Baker, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you to the makeup Counselor Bok for for keeping our eye on this counsel. Flynn said again, this can be looked at and viewed as a way for us to build infrastructure, especially at this time, especially with is ARPA money ARPA money out there with with something like with an investment, a true investment, whether it's ten, 15, $20 million. If we were to build an organic digester and to be able to divert all your organic organics waste out of that stream, it would be it would be a cost savings for the city. It would do wonders for the environment, and we would also be provide jobs. That's one thing I think we should be looking at it as a as a as a body. Also, we need real conversations around recycling. We went to the singles frame where we used to, you know, separate out the the the cardboard from the from the glass from the from the plastic. I think we're going to have to get back to something more more designated like that, where we're more separating out because it's in that it's in that mixing up everything that the recycling becomes contaminated, then we're unable to sell it. Not to mention that the places that we're buying, all our recycling in China or India are now no longer buying any, any of that. So all the things that we've heard about recycling being, we never really made that much money with it, but it was at least cost neutral. Now that cost is being on added on top of our of our waste contract. I think the last I think last year not sure we're just throwing it out there. We spend about a 250 million on our contracts for shipping costs, for our for our trash and our recycling. So if we're able to build any infrastructure with money that's available to us and put people to work and healthy, that help help our bottom line numbers and also put people to work, I think that's a win. So again, Council Bach, thank you for bringing this to our attention and please sign my name. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Baker, anyone else like to speak on this matter? I will speak. I will speak briefly. I just want to echo some comments Councilor Baker has made. It's also critical to make sure that we educate residents on how to take out trash, how to take out recycling. I've spent a lot of time and effort on this in the Southend and in Chinatown as well, but it's not as simple as just taking your trash out. We do have to work with residents. We have to work with neighborhood organizations, small businesses, restaurants to really educate people and including providing this information in other languages as well . But the public awareness campaign is also a critical part of this, and I hope we can add that aspect as well during the day during the hearing. So. So thank you, Counsel Bach. If anyone else would like to add their name, please raise your hand, please, at councilor me here, please. Councilor Arroyo. Please. Councilor Laurel, please. The chair, please. Councilor Murphy, please. That Councilor Tanya Fernandez Anderson, please. That council. Speaker 3: Have adjourned. Speaker 0: God please out console Laura Dawkins zero two for two will be referred to the Committee on City and City Services Innovation Technology. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0243, please.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing regarding recycling, compost, and waste services in the City of Boston.

BostonCC

BostonCC_02022022_2022-0246

Speaker 1: Lucky number 0246. Councilor Murphy offer the following order for a hearing to address the changes to the memorandum of agreement that the vaccine mandated created. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The Chair recognizes Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. So I am calling on an order for a hearing to address changes to the memorandum of agreement, the way that the vaccine mandate has created. Whereas, I understand that the COVID 19 vaccine will not prevent transmission, but it has effectively shown to prevent severe disease for those who contract COVID 19. And I encourage all Boston residents and employees to be vaccinated against COVID 19. And as a former Boston public school teacher and union member for over 24 years and daughter of proud union family, I know how important strong unions are to the quality of life for all Bostonians. Testing, contact tracing and social distancing have been effective tools to contain the spread of COVID 19. Vaccination and testing is crucial to our safety. The mandate for COVID 19 vaccination is requiring a condition of work that is not in the contract. All workers, I believe, have the right to a safe workplace and also have a right to have their voices heard through collective bargaining. Any changes that are made to the MLA should have the opportunity to be collectively bargain before any changes to work conditions go into place. I am asking that the appropriate committee members. That we have representatives from the mayor's office, executive director from the Public Health Commission, and representatives from all of the municipal bargaining units and from the restaurant industry industry come to the hearing to testify. I've scheduled a hearing so all parties impacted can share their concerns to the council, and we as a council can then make decisions supporting going forward. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Murphy, is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Please raise your hand. Counsel Baker, would you like to speak? Yes. There are a couple of hands raised for me. I don't know if they were looking to sign on, but I'll just go first. Okay. Okay. Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Counsel Murphy, for bringing this to the forefront here. The Be Together initiative. I see two major issues with the be the beach gatherer initiative. I mean, we're working off a two year old emergency declaration. That was that was an extension in April 2020. I would argue that the city of Boston and the the. The situation with coal, that has drastically changed. We've gone through numerous variants. There's been no discussion with the Public Health Board. If you look in the minutes of the Public Health Board, there was no discussion about this. These mandates, the vaccine mandate and also the passport mandate is out of the Be Together initiative. Multiple cities and towns that were at the press conference that that showed enthusiastic support of this when they went back to their cities and towns and actually brought it into a process meeting in a board of selectmen, city council or health boards. They numerous were voted down. Somerville's Somerville's Board of Health. Brian Green actually said that would not have any effect on decreasing transmission that's that's from Somerville in this. So so process transparency I have a major issue with here this seems like these these major changes are being implemented not only to our workforce but also to our small businesses that that quite frankly, I don't think the city should be in there and telling them what they should do. And the second major problem is with collective bargaining agreements that that we as Democrats and we as pro-labor and we talked about working and workforce and what people, people of jobs, part of the tenet of of being in Boston and having a workforce that is the best in the country. And that's all about. That's all about work that is best in the country for them to have agreements and to have this administration come in and basically roll that agreement up and throw it in the trash and and totally disrespect it, disregard it. I think it's a while. I don't think I know it's a major, major problem. Our whole civilization is based on the contract. Yes. I'm signing this and letting you know that I'm going to do that. Why are we allowing this administration to just take those contracts and throw them out without discussions? It's never come in front of us. Nobody has asked our opinion on where we are on this thing and and not to bring up a sore subject. But but last week that the people that came in to our chamber, they were looking for where where is the transparency? Where was the vote taken on this? Was this just unilaterally just decided? So those are some of some of my real concerns. And, Erin, thank you very much for this. And I just want to make one other point. There's a there's a large union that's noticeably absent in this discussion here. It's a teachers union. From what I understand, they have the most people out of compliance is a teachers union. So so I'm wondering what's going on with the teachers union here? Is there a side deal going on? There are there are there are commitments being made to the teachers union to kind of pit unions against each other. Again, no transparency, no conversations. But we had a previous mayor and we were in a real state of emergency. I don't know if people remember, but we met for 6 to 7 months every single day at eight or 9:00 in the morning, we had the entire mayor's team of team that that could answer our questions available to us every single day when we're in an emergency. Now, we're still calling it an emergency, and this administration is making decisions without even asking us our opinion. So it concerns me now and it really concerns me moving into the future. We can't just throw away collective bargaining like this. It's a bad, bad road to go on and sign sign my name on it. Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to speak here today. Thank you. Thank you, Counselor Baker. Any other counsel I like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Counsel Arroyo, you have the floor. Thank you. Mr. President, I come from a union family myself. My mother and sister are currently BTU union employees. My brother was a political record very to day. I work at the Committee for Public Counsel Services. We're actually trying to union organize for SEIU eight, eight, eight. So I'm a big believer in unions and what they deliver for us and for our our families. But I also fully understand that COVID 19 is the leading cause of death in this country right now for first responders . It is a terrible disease. And taking the vaccine one prevents and in most cases, a severe form of the illness. But on top of that, it actually because this is an airborne illness, because this is something that you can spread. The vaccine actually reduces the viral load. So folks who are vaccinated actually have less of the disease to share, which creates weaker infections. And so in for the positives. And so there's a lot of very good reasons to take the COVID vaccination. And I fully understand and support why our administration has decided to push forward with this. I will say that collective bargaining is obviously incredibly important. It's something that is the whole basis for why we have unions. But I also think that there are very specific safety issues here for both members and for the public, which these unions interface and that these kinds of decisions are not made. I think we're still in an emergency. I understand some people may say we're not, but I think we're still in the midst of a pandemic as we speak right now in which our scenes are always sort of teetering as to whether or not they're going to go into a place where all of a sudden we're over followed, overfull, overfilled, and then we're having issues with other folks. I know right now we're on a downswing, just on an upswing, but as variants continue to emerge and as we continue to see the growth of this, we're going to continue to see these surges if we don't do the things we have to do to minimize and maximize. And I would just say that what needs to happen isn't a testing or a vaccination mandate either or, but rather a testing and a vaccine policy in place together. Obviously, if you are vaccinated, you can carry the disease. You can catch you can catch COVID 19. And we should constantly be testing folks, whether they're vaccinated or not, to ensure that we're not doing the spread. And so I think we should probably go further than we have. We should have a mandate and for both testing and vaccination. But I understand that folks on this council may disagree and folks in the city may disagree, but that's simply what I believe to actually bring this. So thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilor Arroyo. Any other city councils like to speak on this matter? Please raise your hand. The chair recognizes council. Florida's council fire to go ahead, Mr. President. And just like to commend the lead sponsor for her leadership here, first as a former flight carrying Teamster. I've always been guided by the union consciousness, and I also believe that every worker is entitled to the fundamental rights of representation and collective bargaining. Secondly, and importantly, I want to stress that the vaccination against COVID 19 is critical in our cities, in our country's response to the ongoing public health crisis. It is proven to reduce severe illness and deaths caused by COVID 19. In large part, our city's workforce is vaccinated and is in compliance with the mandate. And I would say I strongly encourage residents and city employees to get vaccinated and or to consult with their doctor if they have any questions or concerns. But I also want to emphasize, and the previous speaker touched on it briefly, that the testing is also a critical part of our city's response to the ongoing health crisis. And that has to be at the forefront here because folks that have been vaccinated and boosted are still contracting COVID. Yet if we're not testing them, then we're not putting them in quarantine. We're not separating them from coworkers or their own family members. And so we'll continue to sort of chase our tail on this one. So I firmly believe that testing has to remain a critical component, along with social distancing and masking up where appropriate, etc.. So that said, I will continue to ask the administration and the municipal unions to come to the table and to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement. Now more than ever, I think we have a collective responsibility to act in the public's interest, to maintain our commitments to organized labor and to the rights of working families . We need to be as accountable. We need to be in the business of helping neighborhoods and helping businesses and helping our residents bounce back from COVID. So I'm not sure we should be in the business of sort of targeting or pitting folks against each other or going after folks and trying to take away their livelihood. I think that we need to sort of find some common ground here, indicate that obviously the vaccine has had results and has eliminated at least 20 hospitalizations. But also the testing option has to be on the table. It has to be an option for city employees. And so with that presser, please sign my name. Please include Council Fieri's name. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Before we go to hands, I would I would like to offer brief comments. I remember I actually called the first public meeting in the country on on COVID 19 at Josiah Quincy School two years ago , when little was known about. COVID 19 and. You know, during the last two years, it's been an extremely difficult period of time for our city. I would I would echo what counsel Larry has said. I'm also a proud member, a union member. I was a member of Needs, which is the National Association of Government Employees. As a probation officer in Suffolk Superior Court. So I, I also know the important role unions and organized labor play in our city and in our country. Building a pathway to the middle class. So the role of organized labor in Boston and across the country is critical. Just want to highlight the comments of counsel. Larry, we we do need to continue testing and we need to continue making sure that people that don't have the proper. Mask. They don't have the access to mental health counseling. They don't have access to the vaccination. We must do a better job providing those services to to our residents during this difficult period of time. It's also important for us to come together as a city, as a country. And there's so much division that we see happening in society today. But what this city does best is we work well together, especially during difficult times. So let's continue working together. Let's continue treating each other with respect. But it's important that we work together during this very critical time in our city. And please add my name as well. Mr.. Mr. Clark. Please. Anyone else like to add their name? Please raise your hand. You mentioned Council Clarity Councilor Councilor Baker. Speaker 2: Can I say one more thing? President Clinton? Speaker 0: Yes, go ahead, counselor. Speaker 2: I know also there's a concern that it's been postponed a few times, but that mandate had a date where people would be terminated. And as of Monday, I know, 372 BTU members were still not vaccinated. So when that I think this hearing is going to also be important to give us information, because we are going to have city employees, neighbors, people in our districts and neighborhoods that are going to lose their jobs before having the opportunity to speak to us as a council. And like Councilor Arroyo said and clarity. And I wrote it right in my order. I. And a strong supporter of the vaccine and making sure that we were getting sites up and running in all neighborhoods across the city. The testing is key to continue. Many people I know who got the the virus got it in the last few months after being triple backs. Many were already boosted. So we know that it's not stopping the spread. So the testing is necessary, but we also need to have these unions sit down and talk about how we can collectively bargain so that everyone is safe moving forward and that our we're not people aren't losing their jobs. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Murphy. DAWKINS 024 Sex will be referred to the Committee on City Services Innovation Technology. Mr. Clarke, please read. Mr. Clarke, please read zero two. I think. Can I make a point there that I think that that should go to Erin's committee, just maybe. I mean, it's probably it's a public health discussion. Mr. President, packages make a point. It does seem that. Hold on. Hold on. Please. Hold on. Please. At least a joint. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Baker. The reason the this is going to the Committee on City Services, Innovation and Technology. It has to do with specifically with the memorandum. And it's a kind of a labor wave of workforce union related issue, contract issue with city employees. So that's where a lot of the discussion will take place at that committee. And they have jurisdiction for that issue as compared to the previous docket. Whereas specifically on public health, that would go that went into the public health committee. But this one was more of a labor and union focus. So it would go into city services, innovation, technology. I think we could do a whole a cohering there at least because my my questioning is going to be about discussions around where was the Board of Health during all this? How did we come up with these decisions to get to the point to get. So there's my questions are all before the demo you. I think it's I think it's a public health and I'll leave it at that. I think it should be at least a code committee with public health staff. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. Thank you. I'm going to make a decision. But before I do, did someone else want to weigh in? Counselor Murphy, the EPA recognizes. Speaker 2: Thank you. Yesterday. I know things have changed, I guess, but it was going to be in my committee. And we have set up a hearing for Tuesday inviting people to come to this hearing to discuss. So please advise on going forward if it goes into a different committee. Speaker 0: Yes, this will be referred to the Committee on City Services, Innovation and Technology. Speaker 2: It will go into both. And I have my hand up to council President Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. I'm going to I'm going to go out to dark at 0247. But go ahead, Councilman, here. Can you can you ask the question briefly? Speaker 2: Yeah, I just I just want to acknowledge how amazing you're just facilitating today's meeting. So thank you for your patience with all of us today. And I also just kind of want to note I am the chair of Workforce Development and Labor as if there is any concern in terms to which committee this is going to be put under. I do know that I oversee both workforce development and labor issues. So if this is something that we can't find a home for, I'll be more than happy to take it under my wing and shepherd it through the process. So just let me know how I can be helpful. Speaker 0: Thank thank you for those comments constantly. Appreciate it. Thank you. Counsel Murphy Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0247, please.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing to address the changes to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that the Vaccine Mandate Created.

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Speaker 1: Lucky member 0247 and counsel on media offer the following order regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to establish formula retail uses. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The chair recognizes. The Chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor at this time. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. Politicians love to use the phrase Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. It's a phrase we hear so often. It's literally lost its meaning. Those words need to be backed up by action. And this is what we're doing here today. As many of you know, total wine and spirits. A major commercial retailer was recently awarded a liquor license to operate one of their major chain locations right here in Boston, despite opposition from local elected officials, community groups, abutters and neighboring small businesses. How is it that something so universally unwanted can pass through? Without question, especially when you know how deep the inequities are in our liquor license system. To begin with, this is why we're filing a tax amendment to establish a retail formula use in our zoning code. The purpose of this tax amendment is to define what major commercial chains look like. It is also to ban them from being allowed to set up shop in residential zones. And we would and would make their development commercial zones conditional. This is a tax amendment which was originally filed by my sister and service councilor Edward Janey and then Councilor Wu. It was ultimately vetoed by the Walsh administration. But given that one of the original co-sponsors is now across the hall in the Eagle Room, I think our chances of passing this have improved. We look forward to this conversation and doing more to stand up for small businesses in our city. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? I see. Councilor Edwards, the chair, recognizes Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Thank you very much. And it's true. At the time, we were dealing with Starbucks in the North End, specifically focusing on the concerns of big box stores, being able to out do move faster then and locate and small in our neighborhoods and therefore hurt our small business owners. I want to be very clear that that there was no passage of this ordinance, there was no veto by whilst the issue was legal and case law that demonstrated that zoning codes actually cannot favor small businesses over big box stores. So we tried the zoning amendment, but we were met with case law. And I can send that case law to the drafter of this ordinance. So what we will need is either a favorable case decision coming out of land court demonstrating that we can do this in our zoning courts and our zoning code, or we will need to draft this in such a way that it cuts. It helps small businesses, but doesn't look like we are unfortunately favoring them over big box stores. And that's I just want to add that historical context. We were met with legal opposition. There was case law. So. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Edwards, would anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Councilor Bach. Speaker 2: Thanks so much, President Flynn. And I just want to say, please do add my name. And I'm grateful to councilman here for bringing this forward. I agree with councilor is that we've got some legal challenges there. But I very much agree that, you know, trying to figure out some way to solve for this, that we're not prevented by is important because we hear it all the time on our local main streets about the need to really keep these giant chains out and help our local businesses thrive. As councilman here said, and I think it's really important to underscore the fact that so many small businesses have gone under in the pandemic and that it's sort of tilted the playing field even more towards folks with deep capital holdings. And those are the chains. And so I just you know, it's it's an issue that I know that councilman he and I both feel strongly about and definitely thinking through ways to block formula retail. Something has come up in my district and, you know, acknowledging those legal hurdles that the council has encountered before. Definitely. I look forward to trying to think through what we could do on this because it you know, none of us want a Boston where we blink in ten years and more and more of our main streets have been taken over by chains to the detriment of our local owners. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, please. That my name. Speaker 0: Is that council box name. The chair recognizes council rating because of rating of the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to the consumer here for proposing this zoning amendment. I believe our city needs to conduct a thorough review of our outdated zoning code, in particular. Allston. Brighton has never had a comprehensive master plan and we're pushing for a community needs assessment to guide zoning reform. Outdated zoning has resulted in a case by case approvals of commercial businesses in areas zoned for residential use. And I'm particularly interested in the proposed amendments impact on food access and neighborhoods experiencing food apartheid, formerly referred to as food deserts. While we would like to see like two prioritized non non chain grocery establishments that focuses on groceries, grocery stores may be the only option able to afford increasing commercial rents and in neighborhoods deprived of access to grocery stores. It is a balancing act between supporting the sustainability of our small, culturally diverse food retailers and recognizing areas of critical need for larger regional retailers. Might be able to slow food access gaps further as we anticipate increased development and population growth. We have to take into consideration whether the city is adequately planning for all essential services that people need. I'm interested in further exploring this proposal's impact on current uses and and how best to classify grocery stores and other such food retailers under the city's zoning code and hearing and hearing input from city agencies like the Office of Food Access. I thank you. I really welcome the opportunity to dove deeper into this issue, and I look forward to hearing I look forward to the hearing on this proposal. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Council Brighton with every other council vote to speak on this matter and or an addendum. Speaker 3: To. Speaker 0: Please that council. We're all pleased that Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Please. The chair. Speaker 2: I see Counselor Louis vision, and I also see Counselor Arroyo just making sure you see those. Speaker 0: Yeah. Thank you. Please. That console royal, please. That console illusion. Speaker 1: Lorraine. Speaker 0: Console brain. Thank you. DAWKINS 020247 will be referred to the Committee on Planning, Development, Transportation. Mr. Clerk, please read Code 0248.

Council Order

Order Regarding a Text Amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to Establish Formula Retail Uses.

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Speaker 1: Number 0248. Councilor Flynn offered the following bore for a special preliminary municipal election for District One City councilor on April five, 2022. In Special Municipal Election on May 30, 2022. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr.. Thank you, Mr.. Clarke. At this time, I'm going to step aside as the as the as the President and allow Counselor Arroyo to to speak to speak to on this docket. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Clerk, would you please read Docket Zero to pour into the record? Speaker 1: They really did it. Speaker 0: I already did it in here. Let's look at that. In that case. The chair recognizes Counselor Flynn. Counselor for you on the floor. Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Arroyo. As you know, Counsel Edwards will be resigning for a city council seat on April 30th. So we need to have a special election to fill the seat for District one. I'm filing this order today so that we can formally call for a special preliminary election in special municipal election for District One, which will be on April 5th. In May 3rd, I'm going to ask for a suspension of the rules in passage of this order so that we can stop this process. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Well. Thank you, Counselor Flynn. Would anyone else like to speak on the matter? Councilor Baker. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, let me congratulate our good colleague, Lydia, for making it to the Senate. Good job. I'm just curious. And moving forward as a district council, this is something that always kind of weighs on us. You don't want to lead your district in a lurch looking for representation. Is this a pathway forward or is just just something available? Going from elected to elected, if someone were to go into like a bureaucratic job or to a private sector job, would would we be able to put out our resignation like the same way this happened? Or is this based on just going elected to elected? Can anybody answer that question? The chair recognizes, can somebody? Speaker 2: Yes, it absolutely is, Councilor Baker. It's a form of resignation that is been set by precedent and confirmed by the Supreme Judicial Court. And the the case that set this was actually a senator who left for the private sector. And so she. And so the the case I made very clear, and that's why I use the language irrevocably resigned. That language is essentially saying you can resign effective this date and this body or anybody and and in the commonwealth, if they're going to be setting a special election, can basically act in advance of that resignation, saying we're going to go ahead and move this along. It is according to that case. And my reasoning, it's the most democratic option for us to allow for the democratic process to begin with, the election to start. But I leave before the end. The only requirement is I must leave before the election. Speaker 0: Thank you. And one more one more question through the chair to to Lydia. Who was who was that senator that last you do recall? Was it a was it Boston? Speaker 2: It was not a Boston senator. It was. I can get you the case law. It was. I can actually look it up right now. Well, Counselor Bork is well, she's asking her questions that I can. Speaker 0: Get a taste. And just to be clear, this is this is a this is a model we can use in the future. Absolutely perfect. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Counselor Baker. And I know this counselor has her hand raised by Papa John's. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Councilor Arroyo. I just wanted to second the idea that this is a precedent going forward and I think a good one. In fact, when you read the case and I think it's Wyler, Robert Wyler, that's at least it's a case from before. But anyways, I'm sure Counselor Evans will provide it. Basically, one of the rationales here was in that case was actually that you get more democratic representation this way because it allows us to call the election, as the president is proposing, for the same time as we would if Counselor Edwards had resigned, effective now. But in that situation, her district would be utterly unrepresented for the three months. And so I think it's definitely in the interest of the people who voted for their elected representative to have someone representing their district for as long as possible. It's also obviously in this body's interest to have an odd number and to have a vote from every district where possible. And so I think I think this is one of those things that is not actually just, you know, convenient for the elected official in question, but actually gets us closer to having full democratic representation for the maximum amount of time. So I just wanted to say that I'm strongly in support of it for that reason, and I know that that was part of the rationale that the SJC said when they said that this was appropriate. They said, Yeah, actually people are getting more representation if you do it this way. And then the one other just note I wanted to enter and Mr. Clark, I don't know exactly how this works because it's sort of a strange case, but even though I know Councilor Flynn said that he was requesting suspension of passage on this , I know that I think counselor should just be aware that in the charter it actually says that the Council shall order an election a week after the notice was read. So this is kind of a funny thing where I actually think we'd be in violation of the charter if we push this by a week, as opposed to the sort of normal, the norm of a suspension and passage being exceptional. So I just wanted to flag for folks that that's the language in the charter under 15, a section 15. Thanks thanks so much to. Speaker 0: Do we have any further discussion or anyone would like to speak on this? Thank you. Seeing no hands. Would anyone like to add their name? Mr. Clarke. Please add. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Braden. Councilor. Councilor Lucy Jane. Councilor. Clarity. Councilor. We're out trying to. Councilor. Trying to find out is innocent and all the boxes moving. Councilor May here and in Baker and Councilor Baker there, we got all the boxes we were when people hit the in the hand and then. Please add my name as well and councilor Laura as well. I believe I got everybody if I did not say your name, project and race please, Kristie. And so with that, Councilor Flynn had to move for a suspension of the rules and passage of docket number 0248. Mr. Clarke, can you please do a roll call vote? Speaker 1: Roll Call vote on docket 20248. Council Arroyo. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council Arroyo Yes. Council A Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council A Baker yes. Council Abad. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council a block. Yes. Councilor Approved. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Councilor Fernandes Sanderson. Will we turn back? Counsel Clarity? Speaker 0: Yes, sir. And I know that Constellation was having some connectivity issues earlier in the session, and they may have come back to her. So we want to check with you on that. Thank you, sir. Speaker 1: Thank you. Counsel of Clarity. Yes. Counsel Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Flynn. Yes. Counsel Lara. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Yes. Counselor. Louisiana. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel Reason Yes. Counsel Let me hear. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: That's why I'm here. Yes. Counselor Murphy? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Murphy. Yes. Speaker 3: Counsel world. Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor. Well. Yes. And Counselor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. And thank you, Councilor Flaherty. Speaker 1: Councilor Fernandez Sanderson. Yes, Mr. President. Docket 0248 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. We're going on, too. We're going on to personnel orders. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0249, please.

Council Order

Order For Special Preliminary Municipal Election For District One City Councilor On April 5, 2022 And Special Municipal Election On May 3, 2022

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. We're going on, too. We're going on to personnel orders. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0249, please. Speaker 1: Duncan number 0249 Council of Slam for council. Let me hear. Speaker 0: The Chiefs seek suspension of the rules and passage of docket 0249. Mr. Clarke, can you call the roll? Speaker 1: Docking number 0249 console the royal. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Roy? Yes. Councilor Baker. Council of Bug. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Borges. Councilor Brain. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Breen. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel Fernandez says. And yes. Counsel Clarity. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Clarity. As counsel of Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so thin. Yes. Cancellara. Speaker 3: Yes. Clara. Speaker 1: Yes, counselor. Who is in? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council decision? Yes. Councilor, me here? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor, me here? Yes. Councilor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Murphy. Yes. Councilor. Speaker 3: Overall. Speaker 0: Yes. That's a little. Speaker 1: Early. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Sorry about that. No problem, Mr. Clarke. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor. 0249 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke, please read the docket. Speaker 1: 02500250. Counsel of Plain Folk Counsel. Let me here the chair.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Jacob deBlecourt in City Council effective February 5, 2022.

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BostonCC_02022022_2022-0250

Speaker 1: 02500250. Counsel of Plain Folk Counsel. Let me here the chair. Speaker 0: Six Suspension of the rules of passage docket 0250. Mr. Clarke, can you please call the roll? Speaker 1: Roll on 025 Old Councilor Arroyo. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor IOU. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Borg. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor. But. Yes. Councilor Braid. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Brading. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Council. Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Fernandes. Anderson. Yes. Councilor Flaherty. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Flaherty. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Speaker 3: Council Ara. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council area. Yes. Council is in. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Gonsalves and yes. Council over here. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor, me here? Yes. Councilor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Murphy. Yes. Council World. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council world. Yes. Number 0250 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke, please read docketed 0 to 5 one.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Jacob deBlecourt in City Council effective February 12, 2022.

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Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke, please read docketed 0 to 5 one. Speaker 1: Buckingham A 0 to 5 on counsel of Flynn for counsel. Let me hear. Speaker 3: That. Speaker 0: The Chair seeks suspension of the rules and passage of talk in 0251. Mr. Clarke, can you call the roll, please? Speaker 1: Lucky number 0251. Councilor Royal. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Roy. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Baker? Yes. Councilor Buck. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Buck. Yes. Councilor Brady. Speaker 3: Is. Speaker 1: Not celebrate me as Councilor Edwards. Councilor Edwards? Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Anderson. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Counsel. Clarity? Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: That's authority as counsel. Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel of Flynn. Yes. Counsel. Lara. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: That's. O'Mara. Yes. Of Louisiana. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: You also lose in. Yes, Councilor. Me here? Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: That's not me here. Yes, Counselor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Murphy. Yes, counselor. Where I am. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor. Well, yes, Mr. President. Docket number 0251 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 025 to please.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Sandra Sanchez Saavedra in City Council effective January 31, 2022.

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 025 to please. Speaker 1: So I condemn a 0 to 5 to council of playing foot council. Speaker 0: EDWARDS The chair seeks suspension of the rolls of passage of dockets 0 to 5. So, Mr. Clarke, please call the roll. Speaker 1: Lucky number 0 to 5 to council Arroyo. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council Arroyo. Yes. Council a baker? Yes. Council the baker. Yes. Council aboard. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council aboard. Yes. Councilor Braden. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: That's what Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Council clarity. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Council clarity. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Council of Flynn. Yes. Speaker 3: Council area. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: That's hilarious. Council of Louisiana. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor. Louisiana. Yes, counselor. Me here? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: That's what making a Councilor Murphy? Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Murphy? Yes. Speaker 0: Councilor Warren. Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor World. Yes. Mr. President. Docking number 0252 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke, please read docket 0253. Speaker 1: Lucky number 0253. Council of Playing for Council Edwards.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Edwards offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Michael Bonetti and Judy Evers in City Council effective January 31, 2022.

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Speaker 1: Lucky number 0253. Council of Playing for Council Edwards. Speaker 0: The chair seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 0253. Mr. Clarke, please call the. Speaker 3: Roll. Speaker 1: Back in numbers 0253. Speaker 3: Councilor Royal. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Roy. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Buck. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor. Yes. Councilor Braden. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Ah. Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Counsel. Clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Clarity as counsel. Flynn Yes. That's what. Flynn Yes. Speaker 3: Counsel Laura. Yes. Speaker 1: Castle, Larry. Yes. Castle, Louisiana. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: So Louisiana has council on me. He. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Consult me here. Yes. Counselor Murphy? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Murphy. Yes. Counselor world? Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Not so well. Yes. Mr. President, Dr. Number 0253 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Clarke. Late Files now. Late Files now. Moving on to Late Files, I am I am informed by the clerk that there are no late file matters. Green sheets and wishing to remove the matter from the green sheets may do so at this time. The consent agenda. We are now moving to the consent agenda. I have been informed by the clerk that there are no additions to the consent agenda. The Chair moves for adoption of the consent agenda. Mr. Clarke, please call the rule.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Edwards offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Elaine Donovan in City Council effective February 5, 2022.

BostonCC

BostonCC_01262022_2022-0160

Speaker 1: Docket 0160 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and extend an amount of $5 million in the form of a grant. The grant payment awarded by the United States Department of Treasury to be administered by the city's chief financial officer slash collector. Treasurer. The grant payment is made for the coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, madam. Court docket docket 0160 will be for it to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Can we take a five minute recess, please? We are back in session. Madam Clerk, please read docket 016120164 together, please. Speaker 1: Did you put do I could 0160. Speaker 2: In. Speaker 1: Connecticut. You did? Speaker 0: Yes, we have. Speaker 1: To be sure. Speaker 0: Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Mayor Order

On the message and order, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0160, authorizing the City of Boston (the “City”) to accept and expend the amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) in the form of a grant ( the “Grant Payment”), awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury, to be administered by the City’s Chief Financial Officer/Collector-Treasurer. The Grant Payment is made from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in the Treasury of the United States established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.

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Speaker 1: Docket 0167 message in order authorizing City of Boston to accept and extend an amount of $70,000 in the form of a grant for the FBI 21 Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Slash Recycling Dividend awarded by the Mass Office of Attorney General to be administered by the Public Works Department. The grant will fund a cost benefit analysis of programs that utilize economic incentive incentives to increase residential waste diversion in Boston Small Business Relief Fund. Speaker 0: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk, since this is a small amount and it will go towards improving our waste program. I'd like to respectfully suspend and pass this grant. Now at this time, all those in favor of suspending the rules in passage of this docket, please say I. The polls say nearly. The ayes have it. Docket 0167 has passed.

Mayor Order

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00)in the form of a grant, for the FY21 Sustainable Materials Recovery Program/Recycling Dividend, awarded by the MA Office of the Attorney General to be administered by the Public Works Department. The grant will fund a cost-benefit analysis of programs that utilized economic incentives to increase residential waste diversion in Boston Small Business Relief Fund.

BostonCC

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Docket 0185 Council on the Here and Balk offer the following petition for a special law regarding an act granting the City of Boston the authority to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for city of Boston residents aged 16 and 17 years old. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, the chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you. And thank you to my co-sponsor, Counselor Bach. I know we have a lot of dockets that we're going to be speaking on today, so I will be brief. And we introduced this home rule petition last year, but unfortunately, we were not able to pass it or act on it. We are hoping that this year we will get to the point where we can send it over to the mayor's desk and then on to the state house. Young people have major impact in our community, but often do not have a say in the decisions that shape their lives. They pay taxes but don't have a say on how they are spent. They have tried to they are tried as adults, but are treated as minors in other courts of law. They are expected to advocate on behalf of their schools, but a lot giving an equal voice to do so. We are hoping to address that through this whole law petition. We look forward to the conversation and to moving forward on this issue. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, councilman. Here. At this time. The chair recognizes counsel Bork. Counsel Bork, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Mr. President, I just want to thank counselor here for collaboration on this and say that it is indeed something that we're excited to really get to this term. I know that opinions are conflicted on this, but I will just say that at a long time ago I used to teach Civics Weekly in the Boston Public Schools. And what I saw was that when our young people dig into civic engagement of all levels, they are just as engaged and passionate and capable of being just as informed as adults. And I think often the counsel sees that firsthand with advocacy from young Bostonians. And the reality is that our our current system of having people become voters at age 18 almost picks the moment in people's life where they are most dislocated. And it's the worst moment for habit formation. So people are often, you know, starting new jobs, starting new schools, moving across the country. And as a result, we see young people's registration rates often quite low. But the reality is, if you sort of zoom out, you say, well, it's almost like we're designing it for that to be the case. Whereas for if young people were able to start exercising the franchise on local issues where they live while they're in community , we'd be hearing these debates in school hallways, and I think we would be cultivating the habit of voting that would really last over time. In addition to the fact that I think that as we see time and time again are our young people, they are prepared to make their voices heard and they do deserve a say in what happens in our community. So looking forward to the conversation ahead. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. Buck. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Please. Please raise your hand. Councilor Braden. Cancellara. Council of Royal. Council region. Zip Docket 0185. We'll be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Excuse me. The. That she recognizes. Council. Council. Britain. Speaker 5: Mr. President, just a point of information with passage of counsel rules and docket zero two or five. When will committee misalignments be communicated to the members of the council and will communication be filed with the clerk as part of Off the Record? We are already assigning dockets to committees, but we don't have any idea who's actually on those committees and who will be chairing those committees. It's not it's not in our hands at this moment. Dockets are being assigned to committees right now. And without an understanding of the committee composition, members will not know if they would like to move for a reconsideration or of recommendations for another committee. So I really feel at this moment it's important that we we we address the committee assignment issue. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel. Bright And just as a point of reference, the committees will be released right after this meeting. Speaker 5: After the meetings or. Speaker 0: The the members of the committee, the chairs and the vice chairs will be announced at that time. Speaker 5: Thank you. Speaker 0: Um. Madam Clerk, please read docket 0186.

Council Home Rule Petition

Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Granting the City of Boston the Authority to Provide Legal Voting Rights in Municipal Elections for City of Boston Residents Aged 16 and 17 Years Old.

BostonCC

BostonCC_01262022_2022-0186

Speaker 1: Docket 0186, Counsel Arroyo offered to file petition for a special law regarding an act providing certain retirement benefits for the widow of a former firefighter of the city of Boston. Speaker 0: At this time, the chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Thank you. Speaker 4: Mr. President. I'm going to keep this brief because I have a couple of files. This is a refile on survivor benefits for the wife of a Boston firefighter, a mr. Leroy or Roy Rodriguez, who died on the surgery table for injuries he sustained during the course of his duties. He was responding to a fire. He tore his Achilles tendon. He still went to this fire. He still fought this fire. And then afterwards, a few days later, he went to receive the emergency surgery and he died on the operating table. For whatever reason, even though he received the all of the sort of pomp and circumstance and celebration and acknowledgment in his funeral and in his funeral rites of somebody who died on the line of duty, he did not receive the survivor benefits that his wife was entitled to. One of the major things here besides the survivor benefits is if you pass away in the line of duty, your children have a separate line to join the Boston Fire Department. His son would like to follow in his footsteps and join the Boston Fire Department. And so receiving this would would allow him entry before he ages out. And so that is something that we're going to move on hopefully soon, once we once we know how that's going to go. But that is what this is for the newer members who are not here last year when we had a hearing and introduced this . This is for the widow and his family. And this is to provide him with the survivor benefits and all that comes with that that he's entitled to and his wife is entitled to. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Counsel Royal. Anyone else like to speak on this matter or the idea of the other name? Please add Counselor Baker. Counselor Braden. Counselor Fernandez. Innocent Counselor Fiery Counselor with counsel. Laura Conservation Counsel. Counselor Murphy Counsel. We're all employees at the chair as well. Um. Docket zero one. 60185 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. 1600186. I'm sorry. But we will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Madam Clerk, please read docket 0187.

Council Home Rule Petition

On the Petition, referred on January 26, 2022, Docket #0186, for a Special Law re: An Act Providing Certain Retirement Benefits for the Widow of a Former Firefighter of the City of Boston, the Committee submitted a petition ought to pass in a new draft.

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Docket 0187 Council Councilors Arroyo and Mejia offer the following petition for a special law regarding an act relative to the reorganization of the Boston School Committee. Speaker 0: At this time. The chair recognizes Counselor Arroyo. Counsel Arroyo. You have the floor. Speaker 4: I'll be brief again because I have a few of these in a row. This is the home rule petition to reform how the school committee looks at an elected format. This is obviously something that I'm looking to, and I think the council is looking to move within the earlier part of the council's term. This is not something that we'll do lightly. I hope I fully hope and expect that this council will engage in what they want this to look like. I know that there's members on this council who want a fully elected body. There's folks who want district. There's folks who don't want the district, those folks who do want some version of a hybrid. And so my goal is in the next couple of months to hopefully have this go through working sessions and homework in maybe another hearing and additional hearing to make sure that all those voices are heard, that everybody sort of gets to come in and put their stamp on this. And hopefully we get to some some compromise that is not necessarily perfect but is good and does the work that the city has asked us to do when they voted overwhelmingly to to enact in next an elected school committee. And so this is just a refile from last year, and there'll be more edits to this and more work done on this with the body. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Counsel royalty, the original co-sponsor. Counsel me. Here you have the floor. Speaker 2: And to my co-sponsor, Councilor Arroyo, last November, Boston residents made it perfectly clear that we need to return to an elected school committee, with over 99,000 Bostonians voting in favor of returning to an elected school committee. We have an obligation to make that happen and to make the process as engaging and as collaborative as possible. We have had the privilege of working alongside several amazing advocates, the Yes on three coalition, the ECP, the Boston Education, Equity and more. We're going to continue engaging the public through a series of community conversations that we hope to be hosting soon. And I'm happy to say that we'll be doing it in various native languages to ensure that our voices are heard. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Here. Anyone else like to speak on this matter? The chair recognizes Council of Florida. Please have my name as a co-sponsor. Thank you, Counsel. Anyone else like to add their name? Please. Councilor Baker, Councilor Braid and Councilor. Console, Lara. Console vision. Councilor Murphy Council overall the chair. Uh, talking 0187 will be referred to the committee on. Government operations. Madam Clerk, please read docket 0188, please. Speaker 1: Thank you. Do I could zero 180 Councilors Arroyo in here are fortifying ordinance preventing wage theft in the city of Boston.

Council Home Rule Petition

Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee.

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BostonCC_01262022_2022-0197

Speaker 1: Certainly Docket 0197 council in the. He offered the following order for a hearing addressing civil rights in the creation of sanctuary state safe spaces in Boston. Speaker 0: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The chair recognizes counsel here called. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And I'd like Councilor Lujan to join me as a co-sponsor. Speaker 0: Ma'am, please. At the consulate, Louisiana's original co-sponsor. You have the floor councilman here. Speaker 2: Thank you. And I would also like to move to substitute the language of the docket to reflect updates we've received from BP since the original filing of the Stockett. The stock. It is basically a referral from our office and. Speaker 0: Counsel over here. I don't mean to cut you off. I apologize, madam. Could I just confirm that all of the counselors have received the amended budget? Speaker 1: I believe so. I know I have it. And I believe it was sent to everyone. It should be on their computer. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Clerk. I want to let my colleagues know that this this information was sent to your email, and it should be in your inbox. Let us take a minute if you want to check, just to confirm that you have it. If you don't have it, please, please raise your hand and we will make sure we get it to you. But it should be there. Actually the city message had distributed them at the beginning of the meeting in the chambers. Okay. Speaker 2: We got a copy on our chairs that our guest. Speaker 0: On. At this time, the the chair recognizes. Councilman here. Councilman, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. And this is basically a refile from my office first hearing order. We hold a hearing on this back in December, and we wow. Many, many, many. It feels like forever ago. And we've been working with amazing teams of advocates ever since. And we plan to file something in addition to this in the near future. But in the meantime, we're just we follow this docket. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Hill. Would any other counsel like to speak on this matter? Would any council let you add their name? Please raise your hand. Now. Madam Kirklees Ad Council. We're all. Please add counsel. Laura. Please add. Councilor Bach. Please add. Please add the chair. Please add. Councilor Braden. Please, Councilor Murphy. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk. Darkened 0197 will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights and Immigrant Immigration Advancement. Speaker 1: Right. Right. And. Speaker 0: But. Okay, madam, let let me go back. 0198 will be referred to the Committee on Education. Speaker 1: We, haven't we? We're going to read Sarah one. Speaker 0: Okay. Speaker 1: Thank you. Do I could 0198 Council media offered the following order for hearing addressing sexual assault and harassment. Boston Public Schools.

Council Hearing Order

Order for a hearing addressing civil rights in the creation of sanctuary safe spaces in Boston.

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BostonCC_01262022_2022-0203

Speaker 1: Certainly do. I could 0203. Councilor Braden offered the following order. The city of Boston should submit a count question resolution operation case to the United States Census Bureau. Speaker 0: At this time. The Chia recognizes Council of Britain. Council. And you have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to begin with the context that gives some context to this order, which I seek. A suspension of the rules and passage of today is and is in line with our certainly being on record intending to challenge the results of the 2020 Federal Dyson Census. In October 30th, 2021, Mayor Janey submitted a letter to the branch chief of the U.S. Census Bureau Conquest and Resolution Program expressing the city of Boston's intent to challenge the 2020 Census enumeration due to population concern and concerns related to grid quotas, foreign born and hard to count populations. However, I believe this order is necessary because the Census Bureau did not begin formally accepting the card question resolution program requests from local government units until January 3rd, 2022, this year. This order seeks to ensure that the city follows through in formally initiating a review of our census count. I want to make sure that we are all clear. The challenging census count will not revise data for redistricting purposes, but official revisions to enumeration data will more accurately inform future population estimates, ensure the accurate distribution of federal funds, and provide provide improved demographic data for policymaking, decision decisions and for planning purposes. This official review process is necessary given the challenges of the 2020 census at the outset of the pandemic. With Census Day beginning on April 1st, 2020, just two weeks after the city was shut down, these challenges impacted the accuracy of counting underserved communities, in particular renters, recent immigrants and college students and those in correctional facilities in addition to this operation. The Census Bureau is also proposing a group quarters review process, which is essential given Boston's initial census data reflected 5000 fewer college students and group quarters compared to the city's own data through the housing office Allston, Brighton in particular. Would be distinctly impacted by an uncorrected undercount, as our residents include large populations who are renters, college and postgraduate students and foreign born and recent immigrants. The BPA as well. Census data analysis suggested that all students population fell by 5.9%, with a 40% decline in the group quarter population, suggesting that the college dorm population in Allston may not have been correctly counted in the wake of the pandemic evacuation. As current and accurate census is instrumental in ensuring that federal funding for education, health care, housing and transportation, food, nutrition and other social services and our own city planning and services reflect the full extent of our residents needs in order to ensure that almost all of our Boston communities are counted and that the Boston census count accurately reflects our residents. The city of Boston must submit a current question resolution operation kits to the U.S. Census Bureau. And for this reason, I seek suspension of the rules and passage of this order today. This, as I said, this this opportunity to question the census count came into effect on January 3rd. And it is a time sensitive issue, and I hope that I urge my colleagues to support this initiative today. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Braden. I know Councilor Braden is seeking to. Suspend and pass. We also have the option of putting it in the Committee on City Services in innovative technology. But I think out of out of respect for Council Britain and for the importance of this. This this hearing or resolution, I would recommend that we suspend and pass as well. Madam Clerk. Could we take it? Could we take a roll call vote on that? Speaker 1: Absolutely. And it is. Speaker 0: Docket. Speaker 1: 020203. Correct. Speaker 2: Sorry. Speaker 1: We have to do a roll call votes and all these are just trying to get a chance. So I could 0203 for suspension and passage. Counselor Arroyo. Muted. Speaker 4: Yes. And if we can add my name as well. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Sorry. Speaker 1: Thank you. Bock. Speaker 3: Yes. And please add my name. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor Braden is a sponsor. Speaker 5: Yes. Speaker 1: Yes. Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilor Fernandez Anderson is has council clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. And please add my name, Madam Clerk. Speaker 1: Council clarity? Yes. Council Lim. Speaker 0: Yes. And please have my name. Speaker 1: Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilor Laura. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Cancellara. Yes. Cancer Council. Louisiana. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Yes. Council. Yes. Council me. Here. Speaker 2: Please add my name. Speaker 1: Council the here. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. And please add my name. Speaker 1: Councilor Murphy? Yes, Councilor. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: The world. And we will just add those names. Speaker 0: Madam Cora, could I also ask if anyone didn't add their name? If they would like to add their name. Could you also raise your hand, please? Speaker 1: Sure. Speaker 0: So, Madam Clerk, could you also add. Councilor Fernandez Henderson Council and Lara Council were all. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thanks. Speaker 0: Madam Clerk. Speaker 5: Mr. President. Speaker 0: Yes. Right in the floor is yours. Speaker 5: Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion. Speaker 1: Is this on matter two or three? Speaker 5: Yes. Emotion. Speaker 0: Suspension council rating. Is this on torque at 0203? Speaker 5: No, it it's with regard to the the rules. Speaker 1: We haven't. We couldn't. We haven't. Speaker 2: We did. Oh. Speaker 1: That's okay. I just want to make sure after all your work that we make sure we get this passed. Speaker 2: So good. Sorry about that. Speaker 1: Thank you. No, not at all. Speaker 2: Sorry. Can I just. Was my name. Added 20203. I just want to make sure. Speaker 1: Yes, it was. Thank you, Councilor. Mr. President. Target number 0203 has passed. Speaker 0: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk, will you please read? Dawkins 0204, please? Speaker 1: Certainly I could. 0204 Council BLOCK and Braden offer the following order for hearing regarding home ownership assistance, including for first generation home buyers.

Council Hearing Order

Order for the City of Boston to submit a Count Question Resolution Operation case to the United States Census Bureau.

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Speaker 1: Oh, thank you. Counsel Flaherty. Yes, Mr. President. Docket number 0207 has passed unanimously. Do I get? 0208 Council Flynn for Council Louisiana. Speaker 0: Madam Clerk, please take a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Thank you. So I could 0208 Councilor Arroyo. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Baker. Yes. Council Board. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: And Slovakia Councilor Braden. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Now. So Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Come. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Councilor. Clarity? Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council. Clarity of Council. Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Council. Flynn. Yes, Councilor. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Ancillary? Yes. Council region. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Lewisham. Yes, Councilor. Me here? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor. Me here. Councilor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Councilor, while. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: And see Wareham. Yes, Mr. President. Do I get number 020 wage has passed. Docket number 0209. Councilor Flynn for Councilor Laura.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Jesse Purvis in City Council effective January 24, 2022.

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BostonCC_01262022_2022-0209

Speaker 1: And see Wareham. Yes, Mr. President. Do I get number 020 wage has passed. Docket number 0209. Councilor Flynn for Councilor Laura. Speaker 0: Madam Clerk, please take a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Thank you. Docket number 0209. Councilor Arroyo. Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: So Baker. Yes. Councilor Bach. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Bach is Councilor Braden. Speaker 5: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: Mr. Edwards. Yes. Counselor Edwards. Do you want to be drafted? 0208. Correct, yes. Thank you so much. Counselor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Council Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Council clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: So clarity. Yes. Counsel Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel Senior Counsel. Lara. Best counsel, Larry, of Council of Louisiana. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Louisiana. Yes. Counsel me here. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel me here. Counselor Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Don't do Murphy as an Council of war. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Civil war? Yes. Mr. President. Target number 20209 has passed unanimously. Docket number 0210. Council of Flynn. Council A murphy.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Lara offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Stephanie Serrata and Dillon Tedesco in City Council.

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BostonCC_01262022_2022-0210

Speaker 1: Civil war? Yes. Mr. President. Target number 20209 has passed unanimously. Docket number 0210. Council of Flynn. Council A murphy. Speaker 0: Madam Clerk, please take a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Thank you. Docket 0210. Councilor Arroyo. Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Elisa Baker. Yes. Counsel Board. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Blockhouse. Counselor Braden. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards is councilor. Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Yes. Councilor Flaherty. Speaker 0: Is. Speaker 1: Also Flaherty as. Councilor Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Flynn. Yes. Council. Laura. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Larry. Yes. Counselor. Louisiana. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: And also the region. Yes. Counsel me here. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: I'm here. Counselor Murphy? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Murphy? Yes. Counsel. The world. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: I'd say. Warren. Yes, Mr. President. Docket number 00210 has received a unanimous vote. And last but not least, docket number 0211. Counsel of Flynn for Counsel to Murphy.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Murphy ordered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Thomas Mannion and David Mareira in City Council effective January 29, 2022.

BostonCC

BostonCC_01262022_2022-0211

Speaker 1: I'd say. Warren. Yes, Mr. President. Docket number 00210 has received a unanimous vote. And last but not least, docket number 0211. Counsel of Flynn for Counsel to Murphy. Speaker 0: Madam Clerk, please take a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Thank you. Docket 0211. Councilor Arroyo. Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 1: Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Baker. Councilor Bach. Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 1: Council blocking. Councilor Braden. Speaker 5: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Anderson. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilor Fernandez Anderson? Yes. Council clarity. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: That's the clarity of Council Flynn. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel frame. Yes, Counselor. Counsel. Larry. Yes. Counsel. Louisiana. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Answer Louisiana. Yes. Counsel me here. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Here you have counsel Murphy. Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Counselor Murphy. Yes. And counsel the world? Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. War. Yes, Mr. President. Docket number 0211 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're moving on to late files. I am and I am informed that there are zero way file matters. We're going on tour, we're going on to green shoots. Any anyone wishing to remove the matter from the green sheets may do so at this time. We will move on to the consent agenda. We now moving on to the consent agenda? I have been informed by the clerk that there are zero additions to the consent agenda. The Chair moves for adoption of the consent consent agenda.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Murphy offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Stephen Graham III in City Council effective January 22, 2022.

BostonCC

BostonCC_01032022_2022-0154

Speaker 1: Docket 015 for counsel of Flynn for Counsel Fernandez Anderson. Speaker 2: The Chair seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 015. For all of those in favor, say I now oppose saying no. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. Late files. Now, moving on to late files, I am informed by the clerk that there are two late file matters. They are both 17 f orders. We will take a vote to add these matters to the agenda. All of those in favor of adding the late file matters say i. I. While those opposing a. Thank you. The late file matters have been added to the agenda. Madam Clerk, please read the two late matters into the record. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. President. In the City Council and Order of Council, Frank Baker. All of it. Under the provisions of 17 of Chapter 452 of the Acts of 1948 as amended, and any other applicable provisions of law. The Mayor be and hereby is requested to obtain and deliver to the City Council within one week of the receipt thereof. The following information relative to Code COVID 19 Vaccination Mandate for City of Boston employees filed in the City Council on January three, 2022. The second 17 filed an Order of council. Frank Baker ordered that under the provisions of 17 Section 17 of Chapter 452 of the Acts of 1948, as amended and any other applicable provisions of law, the Mayor be and hereby is requested to obtain and deliver to the City Council within one week. The receipt thereof. The following information relative to the best Western Roundhouse hotel filed in the City Council on January 3rd, 2022. Speaker 2: The chair recognizes City Councilor Frank Baker. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sorry, this is unorthodox filing this, but we're in a period here now where we won't have any hearings, we don't have any committees. And both of these things are looking to be implemented in the in the month of January. So that's why we have the 17 FS sorry for the late file. I ran up against the holidays and didn't get them filed on a on a. In the proper timeline. The first one is the first one is about the the the the mandates. The the. The COVID vaccination mandates. And I'm not taking the position. I'm for it. I'm against it. But what's going to happen here in the next little while that I want clarification is is first of all, what jurisdiction do we have to go into private business and tell them they have to collect or they have to do the vaccine passports? But more importantly, we're talking about hundreds of people here that can potentially lose their jobs, whether it's police, firefighters, teachers, people that are collecting tickets, people that are giving tickets. Every department is going to be affected by this. We have no idea who they are, what they are, how many they are, and if they're going to have an opportunity to be able to come back to work if they comply. I'm looking for some clarification on this. And the second one is on is on the Roundhouse Hotel, which I defer. I couldn't be any more different from what the pathway that this administration is taking right here. Simple things. Who's the leaseholder is? Is it Public Health Commission? What's our what's our commitment going to be there? Meaning what's our money commitment going to be in there? Is it going to be drugs used on on the premise? What is the what is the the the security plan? When we asked in a meeting what the security plan was, a person from from BMC said it was very high level. So whatever that means, I can handle high level. I want to know what that security plans are. Again, these these were all filed because we are unable to have hearings now. We don't have our committees. We don't have our we don't have our. Yes, we won't we will not be having hearings for a month now. So this is this is pressing. And in the 17, if it's it's a face to face meeting, I would like to have someone sitting in front of me and explain to me all these things here. The Roundhouse isn't a surprise. It's not a surprise. We've been asking for over a month here all these questions I've been on record sending it over to this administration, all these questions. So it shouldn't be a surprise why they're not being why they're not being answered. We're asking the people on the street if they want hotel rooms. We're not asking the neighborhood what their their opinions are. It it reminds me if you ever wanted a question answered about the BPD and Menino, good luck. You never get it. You never get an answer question. At least I wouldn't had nobody to call. Nobody returned my calls. This feels eerily the same. So everybody that's here now, you should be asking questions here because it feels like. I'm going to save my comments. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Feels good to have you saying, Mr. Chair again. Although I may call you Madam Chair every once in a while, because it's just ingrained in my head. Sorry about that. If I do do that. I appreciate you and sorry for the the delay files. Thank you, everyone. Speaker 2: Thank you, Counsel Baker. The chair seeks suspension. Of the rules and passage of the first slate matter. All those in favor say, All right, all oppose, say nay. The ayes have it. The matter has been passed. The Chair seeks suspension of the rules and passage of the secondly foreign matter. All those in favor say aye. All oppose any. The ayes have it. The matter has been passed. Memorials. And let me also note that the recording of this to the stenographer is being recorded remotely. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Two memorials. Today, we will adjourn our meeting in memory of the following individuals. For counsel is Flynn Baker. Clarity in the body? Erica Calderon. A moment of silence, please. Thank you. Chair moves that when the council adjourns today, it does so in memory of the those mentioned individuals. And it is scheduled now to meet again in the Eisenhower Chamber on Wednesday, January 26th, at 12 noon, all in favor of adjournment. Please say I. The councils are joint.

Personnel Orders

Councilor Flynn for Councilor Fernandes Anderson offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Kalamu Kieta, Joshua McFadden, Aline Mercury and Amina Scott in City Council.

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-1274

Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket 1274 message. In order to accept the benefits of the City of Boston, Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, a donation of a shower trailer from the Boston Public Health Commission Commission valued at $38,781. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo, chair of the Public Health Committee Council, where you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a one time transfer of property and a shower trailer from the Boston Public Health Commission to the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. The Office of Emergency Management plans to utilize a trailer for decontamination after disaster and emergency responses. As Chair of Public Health, I ask that the City Council suspend the rules and pass this docket. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Council Royal six suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 1274. All those in favor say I. Speaker 3: Am. Speaker 1: Any opposed. Nay, the ayes have it. Docket 1274 has been passed. We will now move on to reports of public officers. Madam Court, could you please read Docket 1275?

Mayor Order

Message and order to accept for the benefit of the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, a donation of a Shower Trailer from the Boston Public Health Commission valued at Thirty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-One Dollars ($38,781.00).

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-0600

Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Dr. 1275 will be placed on file and we will now move on to reports of committees. And Madam Clerk, could you please read Docket 0600 Docket 0600? Speaker 0: The Committee on Government Operations, to which is referred on April 28, 2021. Docket number zero 600 Ordinance to create a task force to address literacy rates in the City of Boston, submits a report that the order ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The chair recognizes Councilor Edwards, chair of the Government Operations Committee. Councilor Edwards, you have the floor. Speaker 4: Thank you very much. Speaker 2: This legislation is the hard work of our colleague, Councilor me. The proposal to establish a task force on literacy rates in the city of Boston. And the. Speaker 5: Purpose would be to study rates. Speaker 2: Of illiteracy across the city, to develop a plan to help adults, as well as children who are not able to read or write or access city services and to recommend programs that not, um, that help to eliminate illiteracy, but also help to advance and make our city more accessible to those individuals. It establishes a membership of a task force and terms. The ordinance also provides that members of the task force who are not employees of the city will receive a stipend of $100 per meeting not to exceed $50,000 per year. Highly unlikely that we'll get that many meetings in, but the proposal also outlines the responsibilities and authorities of the task force. I would like to turn it over with your permission, to the lead sponsor and advocate for this proposal, and I recommend that this task force pass in an amended draft. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The chair recognizes councilman here. Councilman here. You have the floor. Speaker 5: Thank you, Madam President. So good to see you. Back in the chamber. Caught me off guard here. So I just would like to first say that when we filed this ordinance back in April, we all need to acknowledge the tremendous privilege we all have that allows us to communicate with each other on a daily basis through emails , text messages, city forms, and other paperwork. Both my mom and I came to this country from the Dominican Republic not being able to speak, read or write in English. My mother never got beyond an education past the third grade and to this day even struggles to read and write, even in her own native language. This is a reality for many families across the city of Boston. But this conversation is so much bigger than just what is going on with our immigrant friends and neighbors. We also need to be talking about the school to prison pipeline and those who experience interrupted education. The data is clear across the U.S. 85% of juveniles who interact with the court system struggle with reading and writing. And 60% of the nation of our nation's inmates who are incarcerated have little to no literacy. We need to be asking ourselves, as elected officials, what are we doing to ensure that folks reentering our society are set up for success in all aspects of life, but especially when it comes to reading and writing. A little bit of history as to who as to how we got here when we filed that ordinance, our language access efforts, which passed earlier this year. We wanted to put into that policy a set of standards for how to engage people who cannot read or write in any language. We received word from the administration that the city was not ready to implement these standards because we did not know enough about literacy rates in Boston. And sure enough, we did the research ourselves and found that and found very little is known or compiled about literacy rates. The most recent data provided by the National Center for Education Standards for Literacy Rates in Suffolk County was in 2003. That's almost 19 years ago. We need to do a better job in this city to understand the scope of literacy in order to find new and creative ways to provide services. We also need to know that there are currently organizations across the city, organizations like English for New Bostonians, the Meet Up Coalition, and others who do amazing work for English language learners. But this city needs to play a role in making sure that these services are coordinating and collaborating with each other to ensure that as many people as possible are receiving these services. Since filing this ordinance, we we have made very few changes. We have made a distinction between community members and administration members who are listed as ex-official. You guys got to Google that word. Other changes have been made to ensure that this ordinance is compliant with our city's charter. Overall, we have been lucky in that in this issue everyone is ready and willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. I know people tend to look down on task force, but in this instance we literally don't even know what we don't know. So reaching out to people who cannot read or write to learn more about how to provide care for them is a challenge because our whole institution of gaining knowledge is based on written surveys and emails. I also want to give a shout out to Edith Bazil and Elizabeth Santiago, who worked incredibly hard on this project alongside our office. So thank you to both of them. I'm encouraging my colleagues to vote in favor of this ordinance, and I also just kind of like want to acknowledge and thank the administration for their support in moving us along in this process. There was a lot of point of tension for me. I'll always talk about this work being personal and professional, but if we're really serious about dismantling the school to prison pipeline and addressing the issues that so many of our students are facing in the classroom, then we're going to need to lean in to some of the root causes. And if we're really serious about looking at the issues around reentry, we need to make sure that our incarcerated loved ones are being set up for success and can actually fill out job applications. And if we're really serious about supporting immigrants, then this, especially those who have had interrupted education. I think literacy is a fundamental human right, and I think we have an opportunity to just do more than just be a task force, but to really invest. And so I do hope that my colleagues will all vote in favor. And thank you to Counselor Edwards for shepherding us through this process. I really do appreciate your support and thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Counselor Edwards seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 0600 in a new draft. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor Arroyo. Councilor Roy. Oh yes. Councilor Baker. Councilor Bond. Councilor Bockius. Councilor Brady. Councilor Brady AS Councilor Campbell. Councilor Campbell. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor Savage. George. Councilor. Sorry, George. Yes. Councilor Flaherty. Council Flaherty. As Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Janey. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 0: Councilor Janey. Yes. Councilor. Me here. Councilor me here. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Councilor O'Malley. Yes. Councilor O'Malley. Yes. Councilor Baker. Thank you, Councilor Baker. So report. Speaker 1: It. Thank you so much. The committee report has been accepted in docket zero six. Zero zero has passed in a new draft. Before we move on, I want to acknowledge that we are joined in the chamber by councilors elect Tanya Anderson and Ruth C, who Jean, thank you so much for being here. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket 0638 at this time?

Committee Reports

On the Ordinance, referred on April 28, 2021, Docket #0600, to Create a Task Force to Address Literacy Rates in the City of Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-0638

Speaker 1: Madam Clerk, could you please read docket 0638 at this time? Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket 0638 The Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred on May five, 2021. Docket number 0638. Ordinance to create the Boston Commemoration Commission submits a report recommending that the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The chair recognizes Councilor Edward's counsel. Edward, you have the floor. Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Docket 0368 again is the work of Councilor Kenzie Bach, who I think has been leading in general and the historic preservation and understanding of our history on the council. And I wanted to thank her for that and thank her for this commemoration commission. It would establish a commemoration commission with the purpose of developing a plan to celebrate upcoming historical anniversaries of significance to Boston and to make sure that that celebration is inclusive, it's accurate, and it actually includes everybody in the diverse history of Boston. The ordinance establishes the membership of the Commission, the creation of the subcommittees, and defines the responsibilities and authority of the commission. And I believe, as this commission will continue to grow and be diverse and make sure that we are always accurate and inclusive of all aspects of our history and how every single one of us in our backgrounds played a role in building this beautiful city. So I would like to turn it over with your permission to Councilor Bach, and I recommend that this order pass or excuse me that this ordinance passed and amended form. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilor Bach Council. Bach, you have the floor. Speaker 6: Thank you so much, Madam President. As Councilor Edwards alluded to upcoming anniversaries, they provide us with an opportunity to both plan commemorative events and update our local and state laws concerning historic buildings and archives in ways that more fully preserve and honor a history that includes all Bostonians. And I think it's clear to us that there's a ton of opportunity here and not just originally for some folks on the council. Remember that I filed this thinking about this Hester Centennial, the 250th for 2026 of the country. But also, as we're on a path to the 2030 400th anniversary of the city of Boston, and we know that there's an opportunity to really tell our history in ways that include everyone in our interaction, as Councilor Edward says. But we also know that doesn't happen by accident or on autopilot. You have to be intentional about it. And so the purpose of the commission is really to pull the many pieces of our city that touch historical memory and the many stakeholders we have around of our neighborhoods, sort of into conversation together and coordinate and invest in inclusive and robust historical resources and preservation tools while telling the full range of our history, including the struggles and accomplishments of Boston's indigenous, black, immigrant, women's and LGBTQ plus communities who who have historically often been left out of our official narratives. Um, as it says in the ordinance, this ordinance affirms that our diverse and intertwined community histories are of great value to the city of Boston and its residents. The historical tourism should be a driver of true shared prosperity. That inclusive and honest historical memory is a crucial public good worthy of our attention and resources, and that communities all over the city should have the tools and resources to research, preserve, acknowledge and celebrate their history. And, you know, the aim here is to have everything from local history modules in in veeps to local people, library branches , having exhibits about that neighborhood's history, local trails. You know, as we talk about 2026, there is as much revolutionary history in Dorchester as there is downtown. We need to be really working together to tell that whole story and have everybody's voices. And so I'm just really thankful to the city departments that have participated in crafting this ordinance and all the advocates who have added their thoughts. And a lot of who's on the commission was informed by that, and also to the government operations staff and committee members and all the councilors who came along the way for their help in finalizing this ordinance and of course, for the Chair, a councilor, Senator elect Edwards. Um, and, and also the Vice Chair, Councilor Flaherty, for very helpfully chairing one of the sessions on this. So I'm grateful for the recommendation. And thank you so much, Madam President. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Councilor Edward seeks acceptance of the Committee Report and passage of Docket 0638 in a new draft. Madam Court, could you please call the roll? Speaker 0: Certainly. Docket 0638. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Councilor Baker. Councilor Bach. Councilor Baka. Councilor Braden. Councilor. Councilor Campbell. Councilor Campbell. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Edwards. Yes. Councilor. Savvy George. Councilor Sabi George. Yes. Council Flaherty. Councilor Flaherty as Council. Flynn. Councilor for ten years. Councilor Jane. Yes. Councilor Janey. Council me here. Councilor me here. See? Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. Councilor O'Malley. Yes, sir. Male Yes, Madam President, I voted 0638. Speaker 1: Comedian Thank you so much. The committee report has been accepted in docket 20638 has passed in a new draft medical. We're going to take the next three dockets together. That's 12, 19, 12, 20 and 1221. Speaker 0: Certainly. Dark at 1 to 1 nine, the Committee on Government Operations, to which is referred on December 1st, 2021, docket number 1219 Petition for a Special Law regarding an Act regarding the Disability Pension for Matthew Morris, and this report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft.

Committee Reports

On the message and ordinance, referred on May 5, 2021, Docket #0638, to create the Boston Commemoration Commission, the committee submitted a report recommending that the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-1221

Speaker 0: Docket number 1 to 2 zero the Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred on December 1st, 2021. Docket number 1220. Petition for a Special Law regarding an Act regarding the Disability Pension four Richard Santillo submits a report recommending the The Home Rule petition pass in a new draft and docket number 1 to 2 one. The Committee on Government Operations, to which is referred on December four as 2021, docket number one 2 to 1 Petition for a special law regarding actor going the disability pension for Scott O'Brien submits a report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilor Edwards, chair of the Government Ops Committee. Speaker 2: Tickets are consistent with several of the rockets we have done before and with police officers who as a result of an injury, have been decommissioned or unable to perform their duties. They were sponsored by Councilor Sobhy George and similar to the deep conversations that we had before when it came to the other dockets we went through and made sure that they were consistent in language. We removed things like Sirius and really made sure we were talking about firearm injury. We wanted to make sure that while that they could have additional income and we increased that income to $100,000 versus capping it at $15,000, I was one of the biggest concerns and also made sure that the there were certain outdated language that if a spouse got remarried somehow, some way, she should lose her benefit. That has been removed as well. So we made this consistent after a deep back and forth with the retirement commission and with other law enforcement individuals from prior hearings. So based on what we did before, this is consistent with that. I wanted to acknowledge also the service of these individuals. I know two of them were shot in East Boston. And so I did want to acknowledge that, um, that trauma. And how what they must have gone through in their families as well. And I would be remiss without acknowledging the leadership and the definitely the coming through of of council clarity on so many of these dockets as of late and as well as Christine O'Donnell for her shepherding so much of this as well. Thank you, Christine. So I want to now turn it a with your permission to Councilor Sabi George, who is the lead sponsor of the three dockets. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The chair recognizes Councilor Sabi George. Councilor Sabi. George, you have the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you very much, Madam President. And thank you to the chair and to the Vice Chair for their work to ensure that this could be before this body today. I do want to echo Councilor Edwards. Thanks for Matthew Morris, Richard Santillo and Scottie O'Brien for their service to our city. And through this ordinance, through this work, I believe we will make these officers and recognize their service, will make them whole and recognize very formally their service to our city. They all three have sustained tremendous and significant physical injuries as well as will have forever some emotional scars that will remain with them forever. So just grateful for their service to our city and look forward to an urge, passage and acceptance of these three dockets. Thank you, Madam President. Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. We're going to take these dockets separately in terms of our votes, beginning with Docket 1219. Oh, sorry. The chair recognizes Councilor Raul Castro. You have the floor. Speaker 3: So I wanted to start by thanking these officers for their service and also pre facing this by saying that I'm going to vote for this. I continue. And the reason I am going to vote for this is because we've created a standard now. And the previous the previous three, I think it was that we did this, we created this new sort of standard and formula. And so I'm going to vote for this because it's now part of what we already do as a set standard. I will just continue to uplift that. My concern with it is not the service of these gentleman or their injuries. As somebody whose grandfather was injured on the job as a police officer and had disabilities, I do have concerns about the council having different sets of standards for different for how you receive your injury rather than what the injury you have is. I do believe that, frankly, and thank God most of our officers did not receive their injuries through shootings. They receive their injuries in other ways. And I don't want to create a system where we are prioritizing how you received your injury rather than the severity of your injury, even if they are the same injuries. And so I know that we have a new standard that I will down vote to approve this under that, because that's been set up. But I do want to just voice that concern because I don't want officers or firefighters or other folks coming in with the same injuries in a different way that they've received them and receiving different treatment or different standards. And so I would like us to have some thought about in the future how we make this a uniform process for all. And that is all. And again, thank you for their service. They all were injured in really heroic ways, frankly. And so I will be voting for this today. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Arroyo. Madam Clerk, we're going to take each docket separately, beginning with 1219. Can you? Councilor Edward seeks acceptance of the committee report. Passage of Docket 1219 in a new draft. Could you please call the roll? Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket 1219. Counsel. Speaker 3: Arroyo Yes. Speaker 1: Counsel. Speaker 0: Arroyo Yes. Counsel. Baker. Counsel. Baker, I counsel. Counsel. BLOCK I counsel. Brady Counsel. Braden I Counselor. Campbell Counsel. Campbell Years Counselor. Edwards Counsel. Edwards Yes. Counselor Savi George Counselor Savi George's Counsel of Clarity. Counsel of clarity as counsel Flynn Counsel Flynn yes. Counselor. Speaker 1: Yes. Counselor. Speaker 0: Genius. Counselor. Me here. Counselor here. Counselor Murphy. Counselor Murphy. Yes. And Counselor O'Malley. Counselor O'Malley. Yes, Madam President. Docket number 1219 has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 1: Thank you so much that I could 1219 has passed and in a draft we will now vote on docket 1220. Madam Court, could you please call the roll? Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket 1220. Counsel. Arroyo. Yes. Counsel Arroyo. Yes. Counselor Baker. Counselor Baker. I. Counsel. BLOCK counsel back I counsel Braden. Counsel Braden I. Counselor Campbell. Counselor Campbell. Yes. Counselor Edwards. Counselor Edwards. Yes. Counselor Sabi George. Counselor Savi George's. Counsel of Clarity. Counsel Clarity as counsel Flynn's counsel Flynn years. Counselor. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 0: Counselor. Janie. Yes. Counselor. Me here. Counselor. I'm here. Yes. Counselor. Murphy. Counselor Murphy? Yes. And Counselor O'Malley? Yes. Counselor O'Malley? Yes, Madam President. Docket number 1220 has passed unanimously. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Docket 1220 has passed and in the draft we'll move on to docket 1221. Madam Court, could you please call the roll? Speaker 0: Thank you. Docket one, 2 to 1. Counselor Arroyo? Yeah. Counselor Arroyo? Yes. Counselor Baker. Counselor Baker. Counselor. Counsel Barchi. Counsel Brady. Counselor Braydon I. Counselor Campbell. Counselor Campbell. Yes. Counselor Edwards. Counselor Edwards. Yes. Counselor Sabi George. Counselor Sabi George is counsel clarity. Counsel of clarity as counsel Flynn. Counsel Flynn yes. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 0: Counselor Janey is counsel me here. Counselor me here? Yes. Counselor Murphy. Counselor Murphy? Yes. And Counselor O'Malley. Counselor O'Malley? Yes, Madam President. Docket number one, two, two, one has received a unanimous vote. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Docket 1221 has passed and a new draft. Before we move on, I just want to acknowledge that we are joined by former City Councilor John Tobin. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. Madam Court, could you please read docket 1239?

Committee Reports

On the petition, referred on December 1, 2021, Docket #1221, for a special law re: An Act Regarding the Disability Pension for Scott O’Brien, submits a report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft.

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-0863

Speaker 0: Certainly Docket 0863 order for hearing to discuss pest control and illegal dumping in the city of Boston. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Docket is up. The chair recognizes counsel. Flynn. Counsel, you have the floor. Speaker 3: Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, we held a working session on pest control and illegal dumping. Um, on December 15. Um, we held this working session with docket 0863 as in order for working session to discuss pest control, illegal dumping. I want to thank my colleagues, Councilor Murphy and Braydon, for attending. In the administration panelists for participating as well. This is a follow up from several conversations we've had throughout the year on the same subject. Because we know that there's a significant increase in rodent and pest control related issues in the city. And we have had neighbors reach out to us across District two. But I also know colleagues, District City Council colleagues, as well as our lodge have also received significant calls as well about pest control related issues as we move into the new year. We wanted to discuss ways that the city can adequately handle this critical issue. It's important that we discuss measures for effective pest control and keeping our streets clean, healthy, especially when we are trying to keep our residents and environment environment healthy as well. In the working session, we're fortunate to have great leadership that are part of a task force that includes the City of Boston Public Works and Inspectional Service Department, and they are providing the tools to curb rodent activity and illegal dumping. And we also talked about the possibility of using products that would stop rats from reproducing, using a new kind of trashcans that we had a pilot program before the pandemic in the south end and increasing the number of inspectors in inspect inspectional services. Inspectional services play a critical role, as does public works department. On this issue, we need to continue working with them with the mayor's office, to expand public outreach in different languages and continue doing neighborhood walkthroughs and working with residents on this critical issue. And finally, I highlighted the critical need that this is a public health issue. It's a public safety issue. It's a quality of life issue. And as we go forward during the the budget debate next year, it's critical that we all advocate for more resources for pest control. Again, it's impacting every district in the city, and we need to stay on top of this to provide our residents the best public health and environmentally safe neighborhoods as we possibly can. Thank you, Madam President. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. DUCKETT 0863 will be placed on file. We will now move on to docket 0732.

Matters Recently Heard-For Possible Action

Order for a hearing to discuss pest control and illegal dumping in the City of Boston.

BostonCC

BostonCC_12152021_2021-1167

Speaker 0: 1167 Certainly. Docket 1167 message in order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend an amount of $13,520,000 in the form of a grant for the federal FBI 21 Urban Areas Security Initiative awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. The fund will continue to support planning exercises, training operations that build regional capacity to help prevent, respond to and recover from threats or acts of terrorism, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, explosive incidents. Speaker 1: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes Councilor Campbell, Chair of Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Councilor Campbell, you have the floor. Speaker 8: I thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice held a hearing this past Monday. We actually held it on three dockets. We'll talk about the other two later in the agenda. But for now, I'll just talk about docket 1167. We heard from the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management Chief Charmaine Benford, who testified on behalf of the administration. Docket 1167 is a grant from the Urban Areas Security Initiative. It is administered by OEM. The grant will fund continued support for planning, exercises, trainings and operations that build regional capacities to help prevent, respond and recover from threats or acts of terrorism, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents. Chief Benford explained that this grant provides infrastructure support for OEM and the city's primary public safety disciplines in being able to maintain, of course, a readiness posture for safety and security threats. It is awarded to a region and this region includes Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy Revere, Somerville and Winthrop, for which the city of Boston serves as the fiduciary. It's managed by FEMA within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funds and the application are submitted by the state through AIOPS. And then, of course, it comes back to the city of Boston to actually dish out and allocate these funds. OEM collaborates with various regional partners to allocate these funds using a risk based methodology. This is going to be a little long. I apologize. The eight specific mission areas of the grant include several safety and security, which the breakdowns were sent to. All councilors, of course, who can review those. But $1 million for that critical infrastructure and protection. $2 million. Intelligence and information sharing. $3.1 million. Interoperable communications $2.2 million. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive detect. Detection and response. 1.6 million public health and emergency services $430,000, which also includes planning and community preparedness at 1.2 million. And lastly, cyber security at 1.2 million. There are further breakdowns in this. I sent this all to various councilors, some documents before the hearing, some documents during the hearing, and some documents that we received this morning from the various departments. A significant portion of these funds come from the Program Administration Fund and allow for much of this to serve some human capital. There were significant and I want to acknowledge that there were some concerns about the grants effect with respect to compliance of the surveillance, the new surveillance oversight ordinance and the funding of risk. And Chief Benford explained that the grant will, of course, be in compliance with that new ordinance that was passed by the Council. All of the new councilors and of course, the new mayor will have to ensure that happens, particularly with the procurement of any new additional technology. I also note that there were several questions that we forwarded to the BRIC and we did get some responses to those. Councilor Arroyo. I will just say more detail than we've received in the past, which I really appreciated in such a short timeframe. I also will stress that because this is a regional grant, some of this, of course, is within the control of other municipalities. So what they procure, for example, for their security, their safety may be different from what the city of Boston procures. And obviously they do not have the ordnance that Boston has. So there are different provisions that are in play. But here in the city of Boston, we got more information about what some of this regional technology will be. Some of it includes critical infrastructure monitoring system maintenance, which is referred to as Sims. This is an existing camera network that is a regional project. This will also include gunshot detection system, which is also a regional project. There is a license plate reader program that is not actually include Boston and includes some of the other regions. So it's not a project that DPD participates in. So this is some of the major technology that will be funded by this, and this will probably about be about 10.2% of the budget in terms of the BRIC. There are several positions that will be funded by the BRIC, and we know that this came up before with a previous grant of $850,000 that the council decided to hold because we didn't get as much transparency in responses to those questions. This, I think, is a little different here. We got specifics around what they will be funding these for. Analyst positions. I know that folks have questions about, well, what will they be analyzing? That's going to be a question for the new council, the new mayor to have to go through. They obviously have not been hired yet. And I would implore the council and the new mayor to do just that, to follow this, to continue, of course, to follow BRIC, to encourage greater transparency from the agency, and in addition to greater transparency, greater accountability and greater partnership, hopefully with the Council. I will just add, because the funding for the BRIC was folded into this regional grant, which is over $13 million. I am going to recommend that it be passed and that we pass it as a council because it includes so many regions and so many necessary equipment items and various infrastructure supplies that every department, every municipality absolutely needs. And also I will just add some of this infrastructure and supplies go to support our efforts with respect to COVID, which we know is still, of course, devastating of the Commonwealth. And I'll just add one more point. I just want to thank the councilors who actually attended thank you to councilors Brayden, Murphy, Arroyo and Flynn for joining the hearing and following up. Thank you to Sean Tall, who is over here for getting us responses really quickly. And thank you to Chief Benford, who, as he said, prides himself on transparency with respect to O&M. He was incredible at the hearing. He did not have all the answers, but he worked really quick with air to get as many responses as we could. So I'm recommending passage, but of course, asking that capacity issue. God bless you. The council colleagues as well as the new mayor continue. I think the advocacy of this body, continued advocacy of this committee in ensuring that certain departments connected to public safety in the city of Boston are transparent, are continuing to do the work, of course , of rooting out racial disparities, which we all see still exist in our response and our public safety response. So thank you for allowing me to go on a little bit long. Thank you, Madam President. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Councilor Campbell seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 11 six. Speaker 2: Thank God this is the last. Speaker 3: Of. Speaker 8: These red. Speaker 1: Lights. Thank you so much. The chair recognizes Councilor Royal Council role. You have the. Speaker 3: Floor. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to chair of Public Safety Catholic Campbell for a very good summation. I'll be voting yes on this, but I do so with reservations, largely based on the the so the truth is, this is much more information than we received on that grant. It is not very close. And I'm assuming the reason for that is the size of the number here. And my vote yes for this is largely for the reasons that you detail. There's regional partners here. There's there's other communities involved in this. And what I will say, which is sort of just a notice for for the for for both Boston reasons intelligence center for the administration I think also for the council is that most of their answers were we're going to comply with the, uh, surveillance oversight that we passed and check back us, back up with us in August of 2022 when we put together our report. And I think it's important that we just because I was kind of stunned at the amount or the lack of amount of say in where these funds go that OEM had given other the administrator their more of a pass through. They they ask for the grant they get the grant but they couldn't detail exactly what was going to be done with the grant, who was going to be doing what with the grant, whether or not, for instance, these analysts are going to be using the gang database, are going to be focused more on regional counterintelligence for terrorism or things of that nature. And so I look forward to in August of 2022, going through this and making sure that we do this, because I believe this is the annual grant and this is something that we will have the ability to ensure compliance moving forward with, with our ordinances, with the things that we have dictated we would like to see from a transparency, uh, for transparency sake moving forward because, because of the surveillance oversight, we should have more say in terms of what that information that they're doing and what they are doing with these dollars, because this is not a small amount of money and so we'll be voting for it. But with the, uh, just with the notice for everybody who's still going to be here, anybody who's joining that, we still have work to do on ensuring that they, that this is money that is being used properly, that is being used in a way that is the most positive for our community. So thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Madam Chair, for for your leadership. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Does anyone else want to speak on this? Okay, great. Councilor Campbell seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 1167. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I may oppose. The ayes have it. The docket 1167 has passed. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. Let's take the next four dockets together. Docket 1168, 1169, 1170 and 1171. Speaker 0: Great. Thank you. Docket 1168. Message in order. Authorize the city of Boston to accept. And an amount of 2,000,007 $70,874 in the form of a grant for the f y 22 Title three C Award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services passed to the Master Executive Office of Elder appears to be administered by the H

Matters Recently Heard-For Possible Action

On the message and order, referred on November 17, 2021 Docket #1167, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Thirteen Million Five Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($13,520,000.00) in the form of a grant for the Federal FY21 Urban Areas Security Initiative, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through the MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. The fund will continue to support planning, exercises, trainings and operations that build regional capacities to help prevent, respond to and recover from threats or acts of terrorism, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive incidents, the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.

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