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>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO OUR WEEKLY BOSTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I WANTED TO FIRST RECOGNIZED THAT WE'RE JOINED BY A FORMER COLLEAGUE, AT-LARGE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, STEVE MURPHY. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
[APPLAUSE]
AND AS USUAL, WE BEGIN TODAY WITH AN INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE, BOTH LED AND INTRODUCED BY COUNCILLOR McCARTHY.
BEFORE THAT, WE WILL CALL THE ROLL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A QUORUM.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE.
>> COUNCILLOR BAKER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL.
COUNCILLOR CIOMMO.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR LINEHAN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR McCARTHY.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILLOR WU.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILLOR ZAKIM.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
>> THANKS.
IF ALL COUNCILLORS AND GUESTS CAN RISE.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY.
TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE PASTOR DEXTER JENKINS. PASTOR DEXTER B. JENKINS IS THE LEAD PASTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
HE'S THE PASTOR OF WALTER APPLEWHITE.
HE'S A NATIVE OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT AND HOLDS A BACHELOR IN SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.
PASTOR DEXTER JENKINS.
>> DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COMMIT THIS SESSION TO YOU AND EVERY ASPECT OF IT. I PRAY THESE LEADERS HAVE YOUR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OUR CITY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, REFRESH EVERY CITY COUNCILLOR SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON. AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR.THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR McCARTHY.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO -- MADAM CLERK, PLEASE MARK THAT COUNCILLOR JACKSON IS HERE. AND I'M GOING TO INVITE COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE TO DO A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR PRESIDENT WU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS UNPLANNED
ENTER REP SHUN.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT BECAUSE HE'S WITH US TODAY BY CHANCE THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ONE OF BOSTON'S FINEST. BOSTON POLICE OFFICER MATT MARIS IS WITH US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE'RE OBVIOUSLY THRILLED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH US TODAY, BUT ESPECIALLY MATT WHO HAS GIVEN 13 YEARS OF HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU KNOW WATCHING, BUT ON OCTOBER 12,
2016, MATT WAS INJURED PRETTY SERIOUSLY, VERY SERIOUSLY. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL YEAR WITH US TODAY AND GREAT HANDS ON OCTOBER 12 AS I'M SURE YOUR WHITE,
KATELYN, WHO I LOVE DEARLY, WAS ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT YOU MADE IT AND THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY TO VIEW THIS GREAT COUNCIL HEARING.
WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU, PLEASE.
>> I HAVE TWISTED HIS ARM. WON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> WE MOVE ON TO FORMAL BUSINESS FOR THE DAY.
SETTING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING.
IF THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES SHALL STAND APPROVED.
MADAM CLERK, IF WE COULD PROCEED WITH COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0388.
APPROVING $9,200,081, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COST FOR
THE BOILER REPLACEMENT PROJECT
FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS.
BOSTON LATIN SKIN, JAMES F.
KHAN, JOHN W. McCORMICK, ROOF
REPLACEMENT.
AND WILLIAM E. CHANNING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BOILER
REPLACEMENT.
THIS INCLUDES PAYMENT OF ALL
COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED
THERETO AND FOR WHICH THE CITY
OF BOSTON MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS
SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY, SAID
AMOUNT TO BE EXPENDED UNDER THE
PUBLIC FACILITIES DEPARTMENT ON
BEHALF OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0389.
MESSAGE AND ORDER APPROVING THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE REVISION OF
GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 40, 6228, B
AND C.
AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 218 OF THE
ACTS OF 2016, THE MUNICIPAL
ORGANIZATION ACT.
THIS ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO
CONTINUE TO ACCOUNT FOR PARKING
RECEIPTS SEPARATELY AND TO KEEP
RECEIPTS RESERVED FOR
APPROPRIATION.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0389 WILL BE
ASSIGNED TO THE COMMITTEE OF
OPERATIONS.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0390.
MESSAGE AND ORDER AUTHORIZING
CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND
EXTEND A GROUND IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,680 FROM THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRIAL
CORPORATION OF BOSTON FOR THE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COOP TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE PROPERTY
MANAGED DEPARTMENT.
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I RISE TO ASK FOR SUSPENSION AND
PASSAGE OF THIS MATTER.
IT'S ONLY $1,680 FROM ONE
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY TO
ANOTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
LINEHAN.
AT THIS TIME COUNCILLOR LINEHAN
MOVES FOR SUSPENSION
RULES.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED SAY NEY.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND
OTHERS.
IF YOU COULD READ BOTH TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
DOCKET NUMBER 0391, THE
APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD D.DIANNO,
TEMPORARY FIRST ASSISTANT
TREASURER FOR A PERIOD OF 60
DAYS EFFECTIVE MARCH 3, 2017 AND
DOCKET NUMBER 0392, NOTICE
RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY ICANNO
FOR THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT
TREASURER FOR 60 DAYS.
>> DOCKET NUMBERS 0390 WILL BE
PLACED ON FILE.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0316.
A PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT
ENTITLED PETITION FOR A SPECIAL
LAW REGARDING THE JIM BROOKS
STABILIZATION ACT.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS, COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
>> A HEARING WAS HELD ON MONDAY,
A SIX-HOUR HEARING.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING ME
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
A SPECIAL MENTION TO OUR
COLLEAGUE, ANNISSA
ESSAIBI-GEORGE, OUR TRUSTED TYPE
KEEPER.
THE HEARING WAS FAIR,
WELL-BALANCED AND HEARD FROM
PROPONENTS, ADVOCATES THAT
PROVIDES THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE
LEGISLATION.
BASED ON THAT AND THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE -- WE ENDURED LOTS OF
CALLS AND E-MAILS ASKING THAT
THE MATTER REMAIN IN THE
COMMITTEE WITH AN EYE TOWARD A
WORKING SESSION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
FLAHERTY.
ANYBODY ELSE LIKE THE SPEAK?
DOCKET NUMBER 0116 -- COUNCILLOR
BAKER.
>> GOOD JOB WITH THAT HEARING
THE OTHER DAY.
ANNISSA STAYED THE WHOLE TIME.
IT WAS GOOD WORK.
COUNCILLOR ZAKIM AND I HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.
THERE'S A WAY FOR US IN WORKING
SESSION TO DELIVER SOMETHING
THAT WOULD REALLY HELP THE
ADVOCATES, HELP THE CITY BE ABLE
TO IDENTIFY WHERE THESE THINGS
ARE GOING ON AND ALSO ACTIVATE
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
STABILIZATION.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE
CAN, AS THIS BODY, GET SOMETHING
PASSED HERE THAT WILL PROVIDE
INSTANT HELP FOR US.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP IN THE
HEARING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
DOCKET NUMBER 0106 WILL REMAIN
IN THE COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0341.
MESSAGE AND ORDER APPROVING A
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF
$7,746,300 TO COVER THE FY-17
COST ITEM CONTAINED WITHIN THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND
THE PATROLMANS ASSOCIATION.
JULY 21 THERE JUNE 2017 AND JULY
2017 THROUGH 2030.
THE BASE WAGE INCREASE OF 2%
EFFECTIVE THE FIRST PAY PERIOD
OF JULY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR.
THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES INCREASES
FOR EXISTING TWIN
BILLS/EDUCATION BENEFITS,
MODIFIED STEPS BEGINNING IN JULY
OF 2016 AND INCREASE TO
HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY BEGINNING
JULY 27.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILLOR
CIOMMO.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE OF
RECOMMENDING PASSAGE OF DOCKET
NUMBER 0341, THE CONTRACT WITH
THE BOSTON PLACE PERFORMANCE
ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF
BOSTON THAT IS NOT IMMEDIATED
DECISION.
WE HAD THE HEARING ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 7.
DAVID SWEENEY, THE CFO, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR RELATIONS AND DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT STEVE WITTMAN
PROVIDED TESTIMONY.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR ROLE HERE IS TO
VOTE ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION TO VOTE ON THE
FIRST OF TWO CONSECUTIVE
AGREEMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE EFFECTIVE THE
FIRST PAY PERIOD OF JULY 1,
2016, THROUGH JULY 2017.
THE SECOND CONTRACT, A
CONSECUTIVE CONTRACT, WILL BE
FUNDED THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT
IN THE FIRST PAY PERIOD OF JULY
2017 THROUGH JUNE 30th, 2020.
THE BASE WAGE INCREASES ARE AS
FOLLOWS.
EFFECTIVE JULY 2016, 2%.
JULY 2017, 2%.
JULY 2018 AND 19, 2%.
THERE'S INCENTIVES FOR FY-17 AND
FY-19.
A NEW RISK ENHANCEMENT
ADJUSTMENT BENEFIT FOR SOME
OFFICERS BASED ON YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE AND INCREMENTAL
INCREASES FOR THE HAZARDOUS DUTY
DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN FY-18 AND
FY-20.
THERE IS ALSO SOME LANGUAGE
CHANGES IN THE CONTRACT.
MODIFICATION TO THE EXISTING
GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION
PROCESS TO ACHIEVE MORE
EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF
DISPUTES, CLARIFICATION OF
LANGUAGE TO LIMIT COST IMPACT,
ESTABLISHING AND CLARIFICATION
OF PROCESSES AROUND COURT TIME
WHICH FALLS ON TIME OFF AND
CREATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
EFFICIENCIES AROUND START TIMES
FOR VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS.
THERE'S 1,490 MEMBERS OF THE
PATROLMAN'S ASSOCIATION.
I WANT TO PRAISE THE MAYOR, THE
MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PATROLMAN
ASSOCIATION FOR BARGAINING THIS
AGREEMENT.
THERE'S A PROVISION FOR BODY
CAMERAS IN THE CONTRACT.
THE PILOT PROGRAM DOES EXPIRE
VERY SOON.
THERE IS A MEETING SCHEDULED
BETWEEN THE PATROLMAN, THEIR
MEMBERSHIP AND THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT WE HOPE WILL
EXTEND THAT PILOT PROGRAM AND
CONTINUE THE TALKS ON
IMPLEMENTING THE FULL BODY
CAMERA PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF
BOSTON.
I RECOMMEND PASSAGE.
THANKS.
>> THANKS, COUNCILLOR CIOMMO.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU.
DURING YESTERDAY'S HEARING,
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION
ABOUT STRATEGIES AND WAYS TO
FURTHER REDUCE OVERTIME.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE BPD HAD
REDUCED OVERTIME BY 10%.
A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT HOW TO
FURTHER REDUCE THAT NUMBER.
WE ALL AGREED ONE WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
PATROLMEN AND WOULD HELP THE
CITY KEEP UP WITH THE NUMBER OF
OFFICERS THAT WE'RE LOSING TO
RETIREMENT.
THIS IS ALSO ABOUT THE OFFICER'S
HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THERE'S TOO MUCH MANDATORY
OVERTIME.
WHILE WE'RE CONSIDERING OTHER
WAYS TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, I
DO THINK WE SHOULD LOOK FOR
STRATEGIES THAT LIMIT OUR
EXPOSURE TO FUTURE LITIGATION.
SPECIFICALLY BY ADOPTING THE
FEDERAL COURT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR MODIFYING DRUG TESTING OF
OFFICERS.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
FINANCIAL FUTURE, I AM PLEASED
AND I THANK CHAIRMAN CIOMMO FOR
UNDERSCORING THIS POINT.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
FUTURE, I'M PLEASED THAT THIS
CONTRACT HAS EXPRESS LANGUAGE
FOR FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS ON
BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD
CAMERAS.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE
COMMISSIONER'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS
TO THIS BODY AND THE MAYOR'S
COMMITMENT TO EXTENDING THE
PILOT AND COLLECTION DATA TO
FORM A FULL BODY-WORN CAMERA
PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE THE BODY-WORN CAMERAS
ARE A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY.
I WOULD SUPPORT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION.
IF MORE DATA HAS TO BE
COLLECTED, I APPRECIATE THE
PILOT WILL BE EXPANDED AND
INCLUDE THE CRITICAL SUMMER
MONTHS FOR ANALYSIS.
THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS THE CITY TO
REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT BODY
CAMERAS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE
CONTRACT, PERIOD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE BPD AND CONTINUING
THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT ADOPTING
THE FEDERAL COURT'S
RECOMMENDATION, ABOUT ADDITIONAL
OFFICERS AND MOVING TOWARDS FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF BODY-WORN
CAMERAS.
I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF
THIS CONTRACT.
THIS IS THE FIRST IN MY
EIGHT-YEAR TENURE THAT THIS HAS
BEEN NEGOTIATED AND NOT HANDED
DOWN BY AN ARBITRATION.
I WILL VOTE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I RISE IN FULL SUPPORT AND WILL
BE VOTING YES ON THIS MATTER.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOTH
PARTIES, THE ADMINISTRATION AND
THE BPPA FOR THEIR STEADFAST
WORK AND IN GOOD FAITH
BARGAINING TO AN AGREEMENT.
AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS AVOIDED
THAT EVER SO VOLATILE SITUATION
AROUND A BINDING ARBITRATION.
I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE
BOSTON POLICE PATROLMAN'S
ASSOCIATION, THE ADMINISTRATION
ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON BEHALF
OF THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
LINEHAN.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I RISE TO ECHO -- THANK THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYS AND MEANS
AND ECHO THE CALL FOR PASSAGE.
I WILL BE PROUDLY VOTING IN
SUPPORT.
AND I WANTED TO PARTICULARLY
ACKNOWLEDGE OTHERS HAVE DONE SO
BUT BEARS REPEATING THE GREAT
WORK OF MAYOR WALSH AS LEADING
MANAGEMENT AND PAT ROSE LEADING
THE BPPA FOR COMING TO THIS,
COMING TO THE TABLE TOGETHER.
IT'S RARE THAT LABOR AND
MANAGEMENT THESE DAYS SEEM TO
WORK TOGETHER WITH MUTUAL
RESPECT AND FROM AN HONEST
PLACE.
THAT'S WHAT THESE PARTIES HAVE
DONE.
WE HAVE A FAIR CONTRACT, A
CONTRACT THAT IS FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND RECOGNIZES THE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANCE AND HEROIC
WORK OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
PATROLMAN'S ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY.
ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COMMENT?
AT THIS TIME COUNCILLOR CIOMMO
MEANS FOR ACCEPTANCE AND PASSAGE
OF DOCKET NUMBER 0341.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED SAY NEY.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON DOCKET 0341?
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR BAKER?
YES.
COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL?
YES.
COUNCILLOR CIOMMO?
YES.
COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE?
YES.
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY?
YES.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
YES.
COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA.
YES.
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN.
YES.
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY?
YES.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR WU.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILLOR WU YES.
COUNCILLOR ZAKIM?
YES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, DOCKET NUMBER
0341 RECEIVED A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
DOCKET NUMBER 0341 HAS BEEN
PASSED WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[APPLAUSE]
DOCKET NUMBER 0256.
>> ORDER FOR HEARING RECORDING A
POST AUDIT REVIEW OF THE 2016
BUDGET.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
WE LOOK BACK AT THE 2016 BUDGET,
CHIEF AUDITOR AND CFO TESTIFIED
ON HOW WE ENDED 2016.
WE ALL KNOW RECENTLY THE CITY
WAS GRADED BY BOTH STANDARD &
POOR'S AND MOODIES TRIPLE A BOND
RATING AGAIN, WHICH WE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF.
THE SURPLUS FUNDING IN 2016 WENT
TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO RESERVE $10
MILLION FOR EXECUTION OF COURTS
WHEREAS BEFORE WE WOULD NEED TO
PUT THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
NOW WE HAVE A RESERVE FOR IT.
SIMILAR WITH FUNDING $12 MILLION
IN RETIREMENT, ADVANCED PAYMENT.
WE FUNDED OPEB OUT OF THE
GENERAL FUND.
FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE
REFUNDS AT $10.2 MILLION.
SO FY-16 WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR
FOR THE CITY.
WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN
SUSTAINABILITY AND GREAT RATINGS
FROM OUR BOND RATERS.
WE STILL HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF
OUR LIABILITY ISSUES WITH OTHER
POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THE
PENSION AND REDUCED REVENUE FROM
THE STATE.
A GOOD REPORT.
I'D LIKE TO KEEP THIS IN
COMMITTEE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR CIOMMO.
DOCKET NUMBER 0256 WILL REMAIN
IN THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND
MEANS.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0257.
RESOLUTION TO REFER SANCTUARY
SCHOOLS IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
>> WE HAD A PACKED ROOM LAST
NIGHT, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE REASON WHY IT TOOK ME A
LITTLE BIT TO GET UP, IT WAS
PRETTY EMOTIONAL TO HAVE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED
COME BEFORE US AND HAVE THE
COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD AND TO
TESTIFY ON THE RECORD.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILLOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE, COUNCILLOR
CAMPBELL, COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY
AND COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY FOR
THEIR ATTENDANCE LAST NIGHT.
WE HEARD NOT ONLY THAT PEOPLE
FEAR, ACTUALLY BEING TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY OF ICE, BUT WE HEARD
THAT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE
RESOURCES NEEDED.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY HAD A LINE
OF QUESTIONING THAT ASKED ABOUT
THE TRAUMA RESPONSE THAT WE NEED
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE FOUND OUT THAT MANY OF THE --
MUCH OF THE COUNSELLING GOING ON
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS COORDINATED
WITH MASS HELP AND MANY OF THOSE
NOT COVERED BY MASS HELP ARE
SEEING COUNSELLING.
A GREAT DEAL OF WORK THAT WE
NEED TO DO.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO PASSAGE OF
THIS RESOLUTION.
IN ADDITION TO MOVING FORWARD TO
DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO
TO DEAL WITH THE GAPS THAT THE
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CURRENTLY
HAVE AND IN DEALING WITH THE
TRAUMA ISSUES, THE TRAINING
ISSUES.
WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THE
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR
ACTUAL DECLARATION OF THE BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A SANCTUARY
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE BOSTON
CITY COUNCIL STEP FORWARD AND
ENSURE THAT WE PUSH THAT.
WE HEARD THAT THE MAN FROM OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE, WE HEARD IT FROM
OUR TEACHERS, HEARD IT FROM THE
NURSES AND ALSO HEARD IT FROM
STAFF IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
SO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
PASSAGE OF THIS AFTER OTHERS
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
FROM IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON.
COUNCILLOR ZAKIM, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILLORS
JACKSON FOR CALLING THIS
HEARING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD ANOTHER
OBLIGATION AND COULD NOT ATTEND.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ, IT
WAS POWERFUL TESTIMONY, VERY
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT AS WE
HEAR FROM WASHINGTON THAT
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE FEDERAL
AGENTS COMING TO OUR CITY TO DO
THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LONGSTANDING
PRINCIPLE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT
EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED TO A
FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
IT'S IN LAW REGARDLESS TO
IMMIGRATION STATUS, REGARDLESS
OF WHERE YOUR PARENTS COME FROM.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT IF
OUR STUDENTS ARE AFRAID IN THEIR
SCHOOLS.
IF THEY'RE AFRAID OF BEING
PULLED OUT OF CLASS AND ASKED
ABOUT THEIR STATUS.
SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCILLORS
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I SUPPORT A DECLARATION OF THIS.
I WOULD ADD THAT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY OF
BOSTON IS UNEQUIVOCAL AND SAYING
WE DO NOT FEEL LAW AND
IMMIGRATION INTO OUR SCHOOLS
WITHOUT A WARRANT, WHETHER IT'S
A SEARCH WARRANT OR CRIMINAL
WARRANT.
IF IT'S A SAFETY SITUATION, IT'S
DIFFERENT.
BUT WE NEED TO PROTECT EVERYBODY
IN OUR CITY AND SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING SOME
OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND
OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH BPS AND
THE ADMINISTRATION TO HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
ALL OF US OBVIOUSLY, I THINK,
STUDENTS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
WHAT IS OUT THERE AND THE
ANIMOSITY AND THE VITRIAL.
PEOPLE ARE BEING SINGLED OUT BY
CLASSMATES SAYING "YOU'RE NEXT."
YOUR PARENTS ARE FROM WHATEVER
OTHER COUNTRY.
YOU'RE NEXT.
WE REMEMBER, I DO, HOW IN MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PEOPLE
LOOK AT DIFFERENCES AND POINT
THEM OUT.
WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO MOVE ON THAT AND TO ACT
ON THAT.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON, FOR DOING THIS.
I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE.
LOOKS LIKE IT WAS A POWERFUL
HEARING AND IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR ZAKIM.
COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO -- WELL, I GUESS
COUNCILLOR ZAKIM WASN'T THERE.
BUT I WANT TO ECHO YOUR
SENTIMENTS.
IT WAS A VERY POWERFUL HEARING.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILLOR
JACKSON FOR HOLDING IT, FOR
HAVING TO PANELS THAT YOU HAD.
THE MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY CAME
FROM THE STUDENTS.
SOME OF WHOM WERE BPS STUDENTS.
ALSO STUDENTS FROM CHELSEA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAD POWERFUL
TESTIMONY AS WELL.
ALL OF US AGREE THAT THIS IS AN
IMPERATIVE TIME FOR US TO STEP
UP AS A CITY, TO ENSURE
RESIDENTS THAT FEEL ANY SENSE OF
FEAR RELATED TO STATUS ARE
PROTECTED.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED,
I WILL SAY, IN THE RESPONSE FROM
BPS LAST NIGHT ON TWO WEEKS.
I ASKED TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE SIMPLE
QUESTIONS.
ONE WAS, WHAT IS PROHIBITS
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM
DECLARING THE DISTRICT OR BPS
SCHOOLS SANCTUARY SCHOOLS?
LEGAL REASONS FOR THAT, FEAR OF
LOSING FUNDING.
I DON'T THINK THE RESPONSE THAT
WE GOT WAS SUITABLE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BPS
EXPLAINING IF THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO BE CLAIRE BPS SANCTUARY
SCHOOLS, THEY SHOULD UP TO
DELIBERATIONS RELATED TO THAT.
THE SECOND QUESTION HAD TO DO
WITH EXHIBITS POLICY THAT BPS
HAS WHEN IT COMES TO ICE
ENTERING OUR SCHOOLS.
WHILE THERE IS A POLICY, I WAS
SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT IT DOES
NOT PROHIBIT.
ICE AND LITERALLY WALKING INTO A
SCHOOL AND TAKING A STUDENT
UNDOCUMENTED OUT OF THAT SCHOOL.
THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE AROUND
THE SUPERINTENDENT APPROVING IT
BUT THERE'S ALSO LANGUAGE ABOUT
APPROVING IT.
GIVEN THE ATMOSPHERE WE'RE IN,
ICE HAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GO
IN A SCHOOL, THESE ARE
EXTENUATING SITUATIONS AND
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING THEM
AND REMOVING THEM FROM THE
SCHOOL.
THERE'S CONCRETE THINGS THAT WE
COULD BE DOING, BUT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING OPEN
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT.
MANY OF THESE HAPPEN BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE
BRING THESE CONVERSATIONS
RELATED TO THIS DESIGNATION,
RELATED TO THE CHANGING.
IT'S POSSIBLE OF THE POLICY INTO
COMMUNITY, INTO SPACES WHERE
CONSTITUENTS HAVE REAL QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING
TO PROTECT THEM.
FRANKLY, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO
WASTE.
WE'RE HEARING STORIES IN MY
DISTRICT AND OTHER DISTRICTS
ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON ABOUT
LEGITIMATE FEARS THAT PEOPLE
HAVE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO HEALTH
CLINICS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
GROCERY STORES, THEY'RE NOT
WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND
DOING THINGS BUSINESS AS USUAL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEARS AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL BE
PICKED UP BY ICE AND RETURNED TO
THEIR COUNTRY.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOLKS THAT
HAVE A RECORD OF VIOLENT CRIMES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FOLKS THAT
HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEY'RE
PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY, HAVE DEMONSTRATED
THAT THEY LOVE THE VALUES AND
IDEALS THAT WE SHARE AS
AMERICANS AND THAT THERE ARE --
THEY'RE HERE TO DO MORE AND
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS A YOUNG
PERSON SAID LAST NIGHT, MANY
FOLKS THAT COME HERE DON'T COME
HERE BECAUSE THEY NECESSARILY
WANT TO THEY COME HERE BECAUSE
THEY NEED TO.
THEY'RE LEAVING COUNTRIES WITH
VIOLENCE, FILLED WITH VIOLENCE,
POVERTY, GANGS AND A FORMER
EDUCATION ATTORNEY, I
REPRESENTED A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS
UNDOCUMENTED THAT CAME FROM
GUATEMALA.
THE JOURNEY HE TOOK TO GET HERE
WAS REMARKABLE.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE STORIES, WHEN
YOU HAVE SERVED THE
CONSTITUENTS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
SAY LET'S SEND THEM BACK.
REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAY LET'S
NOT DECLARE OURSELVES A
SANCTUARY CITY, LET'S NOT USE
THAT WORD FOR FEEL OF LOSING
FEDERAL FUNDING.
I APPLAUD COUNCILLOR JACKSON AND
HIS TEAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BPS HAVING
MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD
CONVERSATIONS WITH US ABOUT THIS
DESIGNATION, IF WE'RE GOING TO
DO IT OR NOT.
ALSO ABOUT THEIR EXISTING POLICY
THAT THEY'RE SEEKING, HAVING
MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OUR COUNTER
PART ABOUT CHANGING THAT POLL
SILL.
THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION
BY ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS WHO
ALSO HAS THEIR INCREDIBLE STORY
OF COMING FROM THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO THIS GREAT
COUNTRY.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A LOT OF
HAITIANS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT
HAVE STATUS, TEMPORARY
PROTECTIVE STATUS UNDER THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS SET
TO EXPIRE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR.
JULY 22.
SO IF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY DOES NOT REDESIGNATE
HAITI AS A COMMUNITY THAT
SUFFERED THE HURRICANE AND THAT
THESE FOLKS COMING AS A RESULT
OF THE HURRICANE, THAT THEY
DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS
STATUS, THEY BECOME
UNDOCUMENTED.
THESE NUMBERS WILL ONLY INCREASE
AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE WORK TO
DO THANKS, COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT
SHARE I THINK MY VALUES IN THAT
WE WANT OUR FOLKS THAT LIVE IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHO ARE
UNDOCUMENTED TO FEEL AS THOUGH
THEY'RE A FABRIC OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
WE VALUE THEM, WANT THEM TO KNOW
THAT WE STAND WITH US.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
CAMPBELL.
COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON, FOR REALLY CHAIRING AND
FACILITATING AN INCREDIBLE
PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT AND
CONVERSATION.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST 1 1/2
MONTHS, I THOUGHT ABOUT MY OWN
STORY, MY OWN IMMIGRATION STORY
AND ESPECIALLY THE STORY OF MY
MOTHER AND MY FATHER.
BUT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE LAST
NIGHT MAKE SORT OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WE'RE LIVING IN
RIGHT NOW MORE REAL.
AND LISTENING TO YOUNG PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THEIR
CHALLENGES AND WHEN WE HAVE A
HEARING ON EDUCATION OR A
HEARING ON THE BUDGET, LAST
NIGHT AND A FEW OPPORTUNITIES
THE LAST YEAR THAT I EXPERIENCED
LISTENING TO KIDS THAT ARE TRULY
AFRAID.
AND HOW ESPECIALLY WHEN BPS IS
AT THE TABLE, I HAVE SO MUCH TO
SAY.
AND CAN'T GET ENOUGH TIME TO ASK
ALL THE QUESTIONS AND GATHER ALL
THE INFORMATION I WANT TO
GATHER.
BUT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE LAST
NIGHT TO LISTEN TO KIDS THAT
WERE TRULY AFRAID AND SCARED
INCLUDING TWO STUDENTS FROM EAST
BOSTON HIGH, INCLUDING ONE OF
THOSE STUDENTS TALK ABOUT HER
FEAR OF GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY
DAY.
WANTING TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SHE'S A VALEDICTORIAN OF HER
CLASS.
SHE SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE.
SHE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO
COMPLETE A COLLEGE APPLICATION
AND PLAN FOR THE REST OF HER
LIFE.
NOT BE -- I THINK SHE USED THE
PHRASE, COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF
THE OTHER KIDS, NOT BE TREATED
AS A CRIMINAL BUT AS A DREAMER.
THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DOING.
THAT'S WHAT THESE KIDS ARE
DOING.
SOMETIMES I WORRY ABOUT THESE
CONVERSATIONS LIKE LAST NIGHT.
ARE WE PERPETUATING THIS
ANXIETY?
ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S A REAL
CONCERN, THIS IS THE FACTS OF
THEIR LIFE.
THIS IS THEIR EXPERIENCE.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT PERPETUAING
THAT FEAR, IT'S ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR
WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
SO LAST NIGHT'S CONVERSATION WAS
SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HAVE, FOR US TO HAVE BPS AT
THE TABLE TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION WITH BPS AND TO
GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND A SAFE
PLACE AND A SAFE SPACE FOR
ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS AND
STAFF TO EXPRESS THEIR FEARS AND
ANXIETIES.
WHAT DO WE DO AS A SCHOOL
COMMUNITY, IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY
SHOULD ICE ERUPT?
AND WHAT RISK IS THAT IF WE
DON'T HAVE A SOLID POLICY IN
PLACE?
WHAT POSITION DOES THAT PLACE
SCHOOL LEADERS AND SCHOOL
TEACHERS AND STAFF?
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE WE CREATED
FOR THEM?
WHAT LEGAL PROBLEMS HAVE WE
CREATED FOR THE ADULTS THAT ARE
CHARGED TO PROTECT THOSE KIDS?
THE START OF SCHOOL TO THE END
OF SCHOOL.
WE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE
TEACHERS LAST NIGHT.
I KNOW FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT
ARE STILL TEACHING, THIS DESIRE
TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS, THEIR
STUDENTS IS INCREDIBLY REAL.
IF WE'RE NOT GIVING SCHOOL
LEADERS AND TEACHERS THE
AUTHORITY AND THE DIRECTION TO
PROTECT THOSE KIDS, WE HAVEN'T
SERVICED ANYONE IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON.
I WILL SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING THIS.
I THINK COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL
ARTICULATED IT VERY WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MISSING
PIECES THAT BPS NEEDS TO BRING
TO THE TABLE.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I TOO RISE TO COMMEND THE MAKER,
COUNCILLOR JACKSON AND THANK HIM
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
THERE'S SO MANY CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS NEW WORLD, THE NEW
TERRAIN THAT WE'RE NAVIGATING
TOGETHER.
THE IMPACT OF THOSE DRACONIAN
POLICIES ROLLED OUT EVERY DAY
SEEMS -- WE'RE JUST TRYING TO
STAY AFLOAT WITH OR DEMOCRACY
AND HUMANITY BEING THREATENED IN
DIFFERENT WAYS EVERY DAY.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT
RESONATED DEEPLY WITH ME LAST
NIGHT AT THE HEARING, I THINK IT
WAS SOMEONE SPEAKING FROM THE
REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
FOR US TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND
DEVELOPING FAMILY PREPAREDNESS
PLANS.
SO THAT IF A PARENT WERE TAKEN,
WHERE DO THEY GO?
I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FAMILY
PREPAREDNESS IN THE EVENT OF A
FIRE.
IF WE HAVE TO EXIT QUICKLY,
WHERE WOULD WE MEET UP?
THIS IS THE CURRENT CLIMATE.
THIS IS NOT PARANOIA OR PEOPLE
BEING DRAMATIC.
THE THREATS ARE SO REAL AND SO
IMMINENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT A FAMILY PREPAREDNESS
PLAN SO WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY
ENDS, IF YOUR PARENTS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN AWAY.
I MEAN, THAT IS JUST -- IT'S
INCONCEIVABLE.
IT'S INHUMANE.
I THINK COUNCILLOR JACKSON FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE TEMPTED WE'RE MORE
INCLINED TO SAY THAT WE ALREADY
DO ALL OF THIS.
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE DO ALREADY
DO ALL OF THIS, NOW MORE THAN
EFFORT, WE HAVE TO REDEDICATE,
REDOUBLE, REAFIRM SCENARIOS THAT
STRENGTHEN WHATEVER IT IS THAT
WE'RE DOING.
IT'S VERY REAL THE THREATS AND
THE FEARS THAT PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING.
AS I SAID LAST NIGHT, THE WORK
THAT I'VE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH MANY OF YOU ON THIS BODY
ABOUT TRAUMA, THAT YOU KNOW,
FEAR IS TRAUMA.
WE KNOW TRAUMA IS A BARRIER TO
LEARNING.
A CHILD LIVING IN FEAR CAN'T
LEARN.
A TRAUMATIZED EDUCATOR CAN'T
TEACH.
THIS IS DESTABILIZING THE ENTIRE
SCHOOL CLIMATE.
SO DURING THESE CHAOTIC TEAMS,
WE HAVE TO BE EACH OTHER'S
SHELTER.
I RISE TO COMMEND THE COUNCILLOR
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I RISE TO ALSO THANK THE CHAIR
FOR THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION,
COUNCILLOR JACKSON FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT I CAN ADD
THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID
MORE ELOQUENTLY BY MY COLLEAGUES
OTHER THAN THIS OBSERVATION THAT
I HAD.
THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION LAST
NOVEMBER, COUNCILLOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE AND I HAD A
MEETING WITH BPS ADMINISTRATION.
PERHAPS I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN,
BUT I WOULD VENTURE A GUESS THAT
I REMEMBER TALKING TO THE
ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE
CONCERNS THAT MANY OF STUDENTS
HAD BECAUSE OF THE RHETORIC THAT
PRECEDED THAT ELECTION.
IT WAS INCREDIBLY SCARY FOR MANY
OF THEM.
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO
RE-AFFIRM THESE STUDENTS THAT
BOSTON IS A WELCOMING, SAFE CITY
FOR ALL, WE OUGHT TO BE DOING.
SO THANK COUNCILLOR JACKSON FOR
BEING THE LEAD SPONSOR ON THIS
AND COUNCILLOR ZAKIM FOR THE
WORK HE'S DONE.
OUR MAYOR HAS DONE GREAT WORK.
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, ELECTED
OFFICIALS HAVE DONE GREAT WORK
TO BE SUPPORTING THIS FOR US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON, DO YOU HAVE
ANOTHER COMMENT?
>> YES.
I DID.
I GUESS I WANTED TO REFLECT ON
THE ACTIONS AND COURAGE OF THOSE
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNDOCUMENTED, WHO HAD THE
COURAGE TO STAND UP AND IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT ADULTS
THAT ARE DOCUMENTED ACTUALLY
HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND
TO HEAR THEIR VOICES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME
YESTERDAY IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE
TESTIFIED, SPOKE ABOUT YOUNG
PEOPLE CARRYING THEIR FAVORITE
TEDDY BEAR TO SCHOOL WITH THEM
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT THEY WOULD MAKE IT HOME.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE GOING THROUGH AND IT'S OUR
JOB TO STEP FORWARD AND TO
PROTECT THEM.
1 TEACHER HAVING TO CORRECT
THEIRSELVES WITH A STUDENT
BECAUSE SHE TOLD THE STUDENT
THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE OKAY AND
HAD TO TO BACK AT THE END OF THE
DAY AND SAY, I CAN'T PROMISE YOU
THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
I THINK AS ADULTS AND FOLKS ON
THIS BODY, IT'S OUR JOB TO DO
THE BEST TO MAKE IT OKAY FOR ALL
OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
I WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE
FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY BROUGHT
FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION WHICH
ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT
ST. STEPHENS.
YOUNG LEADERS WHO MET WITH ME
AND SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING
THROUGH AND WE WANT IT
ADDRESSED.
I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE PROPS
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT
THEY HAVE DONE AND MIRROR THE
STUDENT IMMIGRANT MOVEMENT WHO
ARE THE LEADERS HERE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY AS COUNCILLOR
CAMPBELL NOTED, I'M TROUBLED
THAT BPS DIDN'T ANSWER A LOT OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.
I THINK IN MANY WAYS, AGAIN, WE
SHOULD BE LEADING IN THIS
REGARD, EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T
FIGURED IT OUT.
THEY BETTER FIGURE IT OUT AND
STEP FORWARD AND MAKE SURE OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED AND
WE HAVE POLICIES AND TRAINING IN
PLACE THAT DEAL WITH THESE
ISSUES.
THE ISSUES THAT COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY BROUGHT UP AROUND
TRAUMA, WE CUT THE TRAUMA BUDGET
BY 21% LAST YEAR.
50% OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE AT
LEAST ONE PERSON WHO IS BORN IN
ANOTHER COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TO STEP IT UP.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED IT
UP.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE PROPS TO
JOSH ZAKIM FOR THE TRUST THAT
YOU TOOK A LEADERSHIP ROLE, YOU
TOOK -- THERE WERE SOME FOLKS
THAT DIDN'T AGREE WITH YOU.
YOU STAYED STEADFAST AND WE MUST
STAY STEADFAST IN YOUR
LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT I'D LIKE TO
MOVE FOR ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON.
BECAUSE THIS IS UNDER MATTERS
RECENTLY HEARD FOR POSSIBLE
ACTION AND DOESN'T COME WITH A
COMMITTEE REPORT, I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE FOLLOWED THE
LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH
OUR STAFF HAS DISTRIBUTED AGAIN.
ONE FINAL CALL FOR ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE ACT ON COUNCILLOR
JACKSON'S MOTION.
SEEING NONE, COUNCILLOR JACKSON
MOVES FOR ADOPTION OF DOCKET
NUMBER 0257.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED SAY NEY.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON DOCKET NUMBER
0257?
>> COUNCILLOR BAKER.
YES.
COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL.
YES.
COUNCILLOR CIOMMO.
YES.
COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
YES.
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
YES.
COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA.
YES.
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN.
YES.
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY.
YES.
COUNCILLOR WU.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILLOR WU YES.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0257 HAS BEEN
ADOPTED WITH UNANIMOUS VOTE.
MOTIONS AND RECONCLUSIONS.
>> DOCKET NUMBER 0393.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY OFFERED THE
FOLLOWING ORDER APPROVING A
PETITION FOR A SPECIAL LAW
REGARDING AN ACT AUTHORIZING
ADDITIONAL LICENSES FOR THE SALE
OF ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO BE
DRUNK ON THE PREMISES IN BOSTON.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
TO EVERYONE.
I THANK THE FELLOWS FOR YOUR
SOLIDARITY ROCKING RED TODAY.
AND GIVEN WHAT I'M PROPOSING
TODAY, I HOPE AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WE CAN GO CELEBRATE WITH A
COCKTAIL.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
BEFORE I SAW ONE MORE WORD, I
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY
POLICY DIRECTOR, ERIC WHITE, WHO
HAS BEEN THE STEWARD FOR THIS
EQUITY AND THANK HIS FOR HIS
WORK.
I WANT
ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
SUPPORT AND SUPPORTING PASSAGE
TO HAVE THE STATE LAW IN 2014.
AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, THOSE
REFORMS RETURN CONTROL OF THE
BOSTON LICENSING BOARD TO THE
CITY.
NOW WE HAVE A LOCAL LICENSING
BOARD THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR, NOT THE GOVERNOR, JUST
LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY IN TOWN IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND
HIS TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN
GETTING THE 2004 LAW PASSED AND
CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP ON THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND OF
COURSE OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, SPECIFICALLY
THE BOSTON DELEGATION WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
US TO GET US TO THIS POINT
TODAY.
ON YOUR DESK YOU WILL FIND A
ONE-PAGER THAT WOULD ANSWER ANY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD
SIT-DOWN RESTAURANTS IN OUR
ECONOMY AND OUR CONNECTIVITY AS
A CITY.
AS I STATED BEFORE, I AM
ENCOURAGED BY THE GAINS AND
PROGRESS OF THE 2014 LEGISLATION
BUT NOT YET SATISFIED.
THERE IS A GREAT STORY TO BE
TOLD ABOUT THE NEW ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL ANCHORS THAT THE 2014
LEGISLATION HELPED US CREATE.
WE HAVE SEEN NEW RESTAURANTS,
CREATED EXISTING RESTAURANTS
BOLSTERED IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE
HYDE PARK, ROCHESTER,
DORCHESTER, AMONG THEM.
SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS ON
DORCHESTER AVENUE, BUT DESPITE
THESE AMAZING STORIES OF GROWTH,
DESPAIRTIES IN SIT-DOWN
RESTAURANTS NEIGHBORHOOD TO
NEIGHBORHOOD STILL EXIST.
THE 2014 LEGISLATION CREATED
EQUAL ACCESS, BUT THIS
LEGISLATION WILL TAKE US ONE
STEP CLOSER TO EQUITY ACROSS
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AGAIN, I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE
POWER OF RESTAURANTS AS SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC ANCHORS, IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON TO HAVE AN EQUITY AND
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY
AND TO BUILD WELL.
I DO BELIEVE THIS SECOND IT
REGULATION WILL GET US THERE.
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BUILDS
ON THE SUCCESSES AND THE
CHALLENGES OF THE 2014 LAW BY
CREATING NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC
LICENSES SO THAT RESTAURANTS IN
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE NO LONGER
COMPETING RESTAURANTS IN
ANOTHER.
THE SLAIGHT BEFORE YOU WOULD DO
TWO THINGS.
FIRST, IT WOULD CREATE 152 NEW
NONTRANSFERABLE LICENSE FOR THE
CITY, 152.
SECOND, IT WOULD CREATE A NEW
CLASSIFICATION OF LICENSES TO
PROTECT NEIGHBORHOOD LICENSES
FROM BEING SCOOPED UP BY
LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, 105 OF THOSE 152 LICENSES
WILL BE FOR SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN ONLY BE
USED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW, THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE
SAME AS THE 2014 LEGISLATION.
ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN,
HYDE PARK, JAMAICA PLAIN,
MISSION HILL AND EAST BOSTON.
SO YOU UNDERSTAND, THE 2014
LEGISLATION, IF YOU ARE LOCATED
IN ANY OF THE LISTED
NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU COULD APPLY
FOR ISSUE OF ONE OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTRICTED
LICENSES.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS GAME
CHANGING BECAUSE IT MAKES THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRIC AND NO
LONGER PITS NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN THE 2017 LEGISLATION, THERE
WILL BE 15 LICENSES OVER A
THREE-YEAR PERIOD FOR EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
15 FOR ROXBURY, 15 FOR
DORCHESTER, 15 FOR MATTAPAN, 15
FOR HYDE PARK, 15 FOR JAMAICA
PLAIN, 15 FOR MISSION HILL, AND
15 FOR EAST BOSTON.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE 30
ALL-CITY LICENSES OVER THREE
YEARS, AS WELL AS 15 LICENSES
DEDICATED TO OUR MAIN STREETS
OVER THREE YEARS.
ALL LICENSES IN THIS LEGISLATION
ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.
WHY DOES THAT MATTER?
THAT'S THE GAME-CHANGING PIECE.
LET'S LOCALIZE WEALTH BUILDING
IN PERPETUITY.
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO GROW AND ISSUE THESE
LICENSES AT THEIR OWN PACE.
MATTAPAN WILL NOW HAVE 15
LICENSES THAT NO OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD CAN USE.
SO NOW YOU HAVE FIVE IN THE
FIRST YEAR OF THIS THREE-YEAR
TRAJECTORY.
IF MATTAPAN DOESN'T USE THOSE
FIVE IN THAT FIRST YEAR, THEN
THEY CARRY OVER TO THE NEXT
YEAR, AND SO FORTH AND SO ON,
BECAUSE WHAT WE REALIZE IS THAT
WE HAVE A PIPELINE PROBLEM.
ANY RESTAURATEUR READY CAN HAVE
THE FINANCING, COMMUNITY BUY-IN,
YOU KNOW, WE ELIMINATED THE
COST.
YOU CAN GET A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR
$2,700.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
RESTAURATEURS IN OUR SIT-DOWN
RESTAURANT DESERTS IN ORDER TO
BUILD THIS PIPELINE IN.
ADDITION TO THESE NEW LICENSES,
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE
UMBRELLA LICENSES, NEW
DEVELOPMENTS OVER 500,000 SQUARE
FEET.
THESE LICENSES WILL APPLY TO THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM OF DEVELOPMENT.
MULTIPLE RESTAURANTS WILL BE
ABLE TO APPLY TO THRNSING BOARD
TO SERVE ALCOHOL USING THE
SINGULAR UMBRELLA LICENSE.
THE BEST EXAMPLE IS LOGAN
AIRPORT.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO USE THE
LICENSE UNDER THE CAP EVERY TIME
THEY WANT TO OPEN UP A NEW
RESTAURANT.
THESE NEW LICENSES WILL PROTECT
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTRICTED LICENSES
FROM BEING ISSUED INSIDE THESE
VERY LARGE SCALE PROJECTS
INSTEAD OF THEIR OWN LOCAL
BUSINESS DISTRICT.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP.
WE CONSIDER HOW TO BUILD ALONG
THE GAINS OF 2014 WHILE
ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFICIT AND
CHALLENGES, I THINK WE'LL GIVE
OUR RESTAURATEURS THE BEST
CHANCE TO SUCCEED, AND WHEN THEY
DO WE KNOW THEY CREATE SPACE
THAT ARE SOCIAL, CULTURAL,
ECONOMIC ANCHORS FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
CITY IS BETTER FOR IT.
THIS IS JUST A PROPOSAL AT THIS
TIME.
I THINK IT'S A SMART ONE WITH, I
THINK IT'S A THOUGHTFUL ONE, BE
BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
OF THIS WORK, REALLY, SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO DISCUSSING WITH ALL
OF YOU AND WORKING TOGETHER
DURING THE HEARING PROCESS TO
MAKE THE LEGISLATION EVEN
STRONGER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
RISE TO COMMEND COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY AND ASK MY NAME BE
ADDED.
SHE'S DONE REMARKABLE WORK ON
THIS SPACE AND WE'VE SEEN THE
TANGIBLE RESULTS.
I'LL BRING UP ONE THING, I HOPE
WE CAN HAVE WIGGLE ROOM WHEN IT
COMES TO BOUNDARIES OF MAIN
STREAM DISTRICTS.
THESE THINGS CAN OFTEN BE
DISPUTED.
JAMAICA PLAIN WHICH IS ONE OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS LISTED HERE
HAS THREE DISTINCT MAIN STREET
DISTRICTS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME AREAS THAT
DON'T FALL UNDER ANY MAIN STREET
DISTRICT, MOST NOTABLE THE
FOREST HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HOPE WE CAN MAKE THIS A
REALITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE ADD THE
COUNCILLORS NAMES.
COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA, TOUGH
FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY.
I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS A
GREAT, GREAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT YOU AND THE
MAYOR HAVE WORKED ON.
AS WE DISCUSSED, I DO HAVE
CONCERN ABOUT THAT BEING IN THE
MAIN STREET DISTRICT AND WE'LL
WORK THAT OUT AT THE HEARING.
SOMETHING I'M REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT, PARTICULARLY IN MY
DISTRICT, THERE IS STILL A LOT
OF BUSINESSES LEFT OUT, AND I
REALLY FEEL BAD FOR SOME OF
THOSE BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY
ONE EXAMPLE, IT'S AN ITALIAN
RESTAURANT IN EAST BOSTON THAT
JUST OPENED UP.
MY WIFE AND I HAD DINNER THERE A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WE SAW
TABLES LEAVE, AND THEY LEFT
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BEER
AND WINE LIST.
SOMETHING THAT REALLY CONCERNS
ME IS WE NEED TO CONTROL THE
BEER AND WINE LICENSES.
HOW DO YOU OPEN UP A RESTAURANT
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WITHOUT A
BEER AND WINE LICENSE?
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
I HAD A RESTAURANT GOING TO THE
BOARD, A NEW RESTAURANT, EAST
BOSTON FAMILY, LIFELONG
RESIDENTS, WANTED TO OPEN UP A
RESTAURANT ON SARATOGA STREET.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BEAR AND
WINE LICENSE UP THERE.
I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED THEY
WENT WITH UP THERE.
WE WANT TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS.
THIS IS A BIG, BIG START FOR THE
CITY OF BOSTON.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE BEER
AND WINE LICENSES THE CITY OF
BOSTON SHOULD CONTROL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS AND PLEASE ADD MY NAME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
LaMATTINA.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE ADD
COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA'S NAME.
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK IN
THIS PARTICULAR AREA AND
CONCERN.
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE
COUNCIL, THE FIRST MATTER THAT
WAS GIVEN TO ME IN MY COMMITTEE
AS THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS AN EXPANSION OF
LICENSES.
SO WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS
BATTLE FOR A DECADE, AND FOLKS
BEFORE US WERE FIGHTING IT
BEFORE THAT.
INCREMENTAL CHANGE HAS OCCURRED,
ALL GOOD.
WE NEED TO BE STEADFAST AND
CONTINUE IN OUR EFFORTS IN THIS
REGARD.
THIS IS A HUGE JUMP.
I DON'T SPECIFICALLY SEE ANY OF
MY NEIGHBORHOODS IN MY DISTRICT
IN HERE, AND I WOULD BET THAT MY
DISTRICT HAS MORE LICENSES THAN
ANYWHERE ELSE.
THEY'RE LIKE COUNCILLOR
LaMATTINA AND COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY, MAIN STREETS SOMETIMES
ARE NOT ORGANIZED ON A MAIN
STREET AND THEY NEED TO BE AND
IT SHOULDN'T BE PROHIBITIVE FROM
A SMALL OPERATION MOVING
FORWARD, AND ALSO THAT EVEN ON
THE LARGER DEVELOPMENTS, THAT
THERE'S A SENSE OF FAIRNESS IN
THE WAY THIS IS IMPLEMENTED
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE PROJECTED OUT A $400,000
COST, SECURED A LICENSE IN
HOPING TO GO INTO SOME NEW
SPACES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO BE
DESIGNATED IN THIS REGARD.
SO THERE IS STILL AN IMBALANCE.
I'M SURE THERE ALWAYS WILL BE.
THIS GETS US CLOSER TO MORE
EQUITY AND SURELY MORE ECONOMY
WHERE IT'S NEEDED, WHICH IS
EVERYWHERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
LINEHAN.
COUNCILLOR BAKER, TOUGH FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
COULD YOU PLEASE ADD
COUNCILLOR LINEHAN'S NAME.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILLOR
PRESSLEY FOR THE WORK SHE DOES
HERE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
UMBRELLA LICENSES A BIT.
THE UMBRELLA LICENSE IS NOT A
REACTION BUT MAYBE A REPLACEMENT
FOR WHAT WE PASSED A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO FOR SOUTH BAY, THE
PROJECT-SPECIFIC LICENSES.
THIS WILL HELP PLACES LIKE
BRIGHTON AND OTHER PLACES AROUND
THE CITY.
I HOPE IT DOESN'T SLOW MY
PROJECT UP, TO BE A LITTLE
PAROCHIAL THERE, BUT THIS WAS IN
REPLACEMENT FOR THAT AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SIGN MY NAME, ALSO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR BAKER.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE ADD
COUNCILLOR BAKER'S NAME.
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY, YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
I'LL BE QUICK.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE
SPONSOR ON FANTASTIC
LEGISLATION.
I'VE ALREADY SIGNED ON.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A
HEARING.
AS WE WERE READING THROUGH THAT
LIST, IT CAME TO MY MIND, AND
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING IT
UP, IS THAT WHEN THE FIRST
LICENSES WERE GIVEN OUT FOR A
LOT OF YOUR HARD WORK, I HAD
SOMEBODY CALL ME AND SAY HOW
COME WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN
MATTAPAN?
AND I SAID, WHERE ARE THEY GOING
TO PUT A LIQUOR LICENSE IN
T-MOBILE?
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SIT-DOWN
FAMILY RESTAURANT.
WHEN COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY
MENTIONED THE BARRIER TO ENTRY,
THE BARRIER IS REAL.
SMALL FAMILIES, BOSTON FAMILIES
TRYING TO OPEN A RESTAURANT,
SPENDING $100,000, $200,000 ON A
BUILD-OUT TO GET THEIR
RESTAURANT GOING, THEN HAVE TO
JUMP AHEAD TO $250,000, IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE.
IT'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
HEARING.
IT'S MAIN STREETS, THE
OUTSKIRTS, I AGREE WITH
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY, OUTSIDE THE
MAIN STREET DISTRICTS, WE HAVE A
SPOT FOR A COUPLE RESTAURANTS IN
THAT AREA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY.
>> I WANT THE TO THANK
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS A PATHWAY TO REAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON, AND WE KNOW -- WE TALK
ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL THE
TIME BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT
COMMERCIAL RENTS ARE SKY HIGH IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON ALSO, AND
THAT THE MARGIN ON FOOD, EVEN IF
GREAT FOOD, IS ABOUT 7% TO 11%,
AND SO VERY FEW RESTAURANTS AND
RESTAURANT CONCEPTS ARE ACTUALLY
ABLE TO GET OFF THE GROUND
WITHOUT A LIQUOR LICENSE, AND
THE BARRIER TO ENTRY AT A
$300,000 TO $400,000 RATE IS
ABSOLUTELY COST PROHIBITIVE.
SO I THINK THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A
FIX TO A SYSTEM THAT WE CREATED
THAT WAS BROKEN AND LET'S ALSO
BE HONEST THAT THE REASON WHY
THE CITY OF BOSTON IS CONTROLLED
AT THE STATE LEVEL IS BECAUSE OF
DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES BASED
ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST IRISH
FOLKS WHO WERE IN LEADERSHIP AT
THAT TIME.
SO WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE A STAND
AND, AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH
FORWARD WITH THIS RELATION, WE
AT SOME POINT NEED TO FIX THAT
DISCRIMINATION.
THE REASON WE'RE HERE OUT OF 351
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF
PA MA, ONLY ONE EVER HAD THE
GOVERNOR APPOINT THE BOARD, AND
THAT WAS THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND, SO, WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING TO
FRIENDS AT THE STATEHOUSE, WE
NEED TO REMIND THEM THAT THE
REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY IS
ACTUALLY NOT AN ISSUE OF LIQUOR
LICENSES, IT'S AN ISSUE OF
DISCRIMINATION, AND WE NEED TO
FIX THAT PATH OF DISCRIMINATION
AND PRACTICE.
WE ARE THE ELECTED BODY THAT IS
CLOSEST TO FOLKS AT THE
MUNICIPAL LEVEL, AND AS
COUNCILLOR LaMATTINA NOTED, WE
SHOULD CONTROL LIQUOR LICENSURE
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THIS IS
AN AMAZING WORK AROUND OF THE
UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT WE ARE THE
BODY THAT DEALS WITH ISSUES AT
THE CITY LEVEL AND WE ARE DULY
ELECTED TO DO THAT AND IT SHOULD
BE PUSHED TO THE CITY LEVEL AS
WE BUILD OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLANS, ZONING PLANS
FOR THE CITY, THIS SHOULD BE OUR
JOB.
I APPRECIATE YOU HAVE IT SET UP
BY NEIGHBORHOOD SO NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE COMPETING.
WE SAW MOST OF THE LICENSE
DIDN'T GO TO THE ROXBURY PART OF
MY DISTRICT, THEY WENT TO THE
LOWER ROXBURY PART OF OUR
DISTRICT.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
MECHANICS.
BUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS THIS
WAS A DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE IN
THE PAST AND WE SHOULD BE
WORKING AT THE STATEHOUSE TO FIX
THAT, REMEDY THAT AND ALLOW US
TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY OF BOSTON AND ISSUE OUR OWN
LICENSES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ENJOYING AN ADULT BEVERAGE WITH
YOU SINCE YOU HAVE STOPPED
DRINKING -- WELL, I'M NOT GOING
TO PUT YOU OUT THERE, BUT DRINKS
AS SWEET AS THE ONES YOU USED TO
DRINK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANKS, COUNCILLOR JACKSON.
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
>> I WANT TO EXPAND ON THE
UMBRELLA PIECE THAT WE HAVE A
HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL.
WE LEARNED FROM THE BCC THEY
WERE ABLE TO GET AN UMBRELLA
LICENSE.
THE MCC/BCC WAS TO GET A LICENSE
THAT WOULD FREE UP ABOUT SIX OR
SEVEN LICENSES THAT GO JUST WITH
THE MCC, SOME OF THE AREAS
AROUND THERE.
SO EVERY TIME SOMEONE HAS AN
EVENT, THEY HAVE TO COMMISSION
FOR A ONE-DAY LICENSE.
SO I SEE THEY'RE GRACIOUS TO
INCLUDE THEM.
BUT THE BERT SOLUTION IS
UMBRELLA AROUND THE BCC OR THE
MCCA AND FREE UP, AND BETTER IS
A TRANSFERABLE LICENSE.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR AT THE
HEARING IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
TRANSFERABLE AND
NON-TRANSFERABLE.
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL BETWEEN
TAKING AWAY THE EQUITY AND VALUE
IN THE TRANSFERABLE LICENSE, SO
THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS WE WILL
HEAR FROM THOSE WHO POTESS THE
TRANSFERABLE LICENSES.
BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH
COMPETITION AND MORE COMING,
THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME
MAINTAINING LOYALTY AMONG THE
EMPLOYEES, AND THE TURNOVER RATE
FOR THE COOKS AND HOSTESSES AND
BARTENDERS AND WAITRESSES IS
ASTRONOMICAL, AND IT'S A HUGE
COST TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
EVERY TIME THEY LOSE AN EMPLOYEE
AND HAVE TO RETRAIN SOMEONE.
AND BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
OPTIONS, ONE HAS TO WORK A
FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT BECAUSE
THAT'S THEIR SHIFT THEY WANT TO
GO TO SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
OR GO AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND, THEY
BLOW IT OFF, THEN THE RESTAURANT
HAS TO SCRAMBLE TO FIND THE
EMPLOYEE.
BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY, THE PERSON
WHO LOST THEIR JOB PICKED UP
ANOTHER JOB.
THE INDUSTRY THEMSELVES ARE
HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO
FIND THE LOYALTY THAT IS ONCE
THERE, SO I THINK WE'LL HEAR
SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL.
WE ALSO KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, MAYBE
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT
THEM WITH THE APPROPRIATE
TRAINING, WORKING WITH THE HOTEL
WORKERS UNION IS PROBABLY ONE
EXAMPLE TO GET PEOPLE READY TO
GO FOR WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO GET GAINFUL
EMPLOYMENT.
BUT JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A
PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'RE HEARING
FROM FOLKS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
ON THE UMBRELLA SIDE OF WHICH
WAS BROUGHT UP AT COUNCILLOR
BAKER'S HEARING, THERE IS A
SOLUTION, AND HAS TO BE OTHER
ENTITIES, LIKE THE LOGAN
AIRPORT, THAT ALLOW AN UMBRELLA
LICENSE TO FREE UP TRANSFERABLE
LICENSES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
FLAHERTY.
I THINK THAT'S EVERYONE.
MADAM CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE ADD
THE CHAIR'S NAME TO THE DOCTOR.
DOCKET 0393 WILL BE ASSIGNED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS.
>> DOCTOR 0394, COUNCILLORS
ESSAIBI-GEORGE, McCARTHY OFFER
THE FOLLOWING ORDER FOR HEARING
REGARDING FAITH AND SHARP
PRACTICES.
>> I HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND
COMMEND AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES
COUNCILLORS McCARTHY AND BAKER
FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE ON
THIS ISSUE AND PARTNERSHIP
TODAY.
I MOVE WE SUSPEND RULE 12 SO I
CAN ADD COUNCILLOR BAKER AND
McCARTHY AS ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSORS.
>> ANY OBJECTION?
HEARING NONE, COUNCILLOR BAKER
IS ADDED AS A SECOND CO-SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU.
AS YOU KNOW WE ARE FACING A
CRISIS.
OPIOID OVERDOSE IS THE NUMBER
ONE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH IN
MASSACHUSETTS CLAIMING FOR THAN
FIVE LIVES EVERY DAY.
AS OUR REGION'S CAPITAL, WE ARE
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS
BATTLE.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS EPIDEMIC HAS
HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON
THE CITY OF BOSTON DUE TO THE
CENTRALIZATION OF RECOVERY
SERVICES.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCILLOR
BAKER AND THE MAYOR, I WORKED TO
CONVENE A WORKING GROUP THAT
BROUGHT TOGETHER TAKE HOLDERS
TO -- STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND STEPS
WE COULD TAKE TO IMPROVE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS HEARING ORDER IS THE FIRST
TO COME OUT OF THAT WORK.
IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF,
RESIDENTS FLAGGED 3,000 NEEDLES
FOR REMOVAL.
THIS IS CITYWIDE.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE
FROM OUR NEIGHBORS, LIBRARIANS,
TEACHERS, PARK EMPLOYEES,
COACHES AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE NEED TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE AND
EVERYONE IN BOSTON SAFER.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE CITY
OPERATIONS LIKE CENTRALIZING OUR
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
CONTRACTS AND EXPANDING OUR
SHARP COLLECTION TEAM.
I'M AN EDUCATOR BY NATURE AND
BELIEVE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
WE NEED TO GIVE EVERYONE AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AS HOW
TO SAFELY DISPOSE OF THOSE
NEEDLES AND WHAT TO DO WHEN WE
FIND THEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING AN
EXPEDITED HEARING AND I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILLORS McCARTHY AND
BAKER AGAIN FOR BEING PARTNERS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
COUNCILLOR MCCARTHYY, TOUGH
FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE BRIEF.
COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE SUMMED
IT UP WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IN THE
ORDER SECTION OF THE PIECE WE
PUT TOGETHER WITH COUNCILLOR
BAKER AND COUNCILLOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE, THE BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE INVITED.
ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE
HAD A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS STUCK
BY A NEEDLE IN A PARK I GREW UP
IF, AND I HAD HELD A MEETING, A
HEARING WHICH A LOT OF YOU
ATTENDED AND MY REQUEST WAS
SIMPLE, THAT THE BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS PUT TOGETHER AN
EDUCATION PACKAGE FOR THE 57,000
KIDS THAT GO TO OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW
BETTER TO PICK UP A NEEDLE,
RIGHT FROM K-0 THROUGH K-1 ALL
THE WAY THROUGH.
I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR,
SO I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT
AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD
IDEA.
I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM
B.P.S. REGARDING AN EDUCATIONAL
COMPONENT.
MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THEM IS
VERY CLEAR.
I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE SOME
TRAGEDIES DODGED WITH KIDS AS
YOUNG AS THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS
OLD KNEW YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO
PICK THAT UP.
WHEN WE GREW UP, YOU KNEW WHAT A
KNIFE WAS, WHAT A GUN WAS, YOU
DON'T TOUCH THOSE THINGS.
THERE ARE THINGS IN YOUR HOUSE
YOU DON'T TOUCH.
YOU LEARN THAT FROM YOUR
PARENTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PARENTS
DON'T WALK AROUND WITH NEEDLES
IN THE KITCHEN, I HOPE, AND SAY,
DON'T TOUCH THIS, BUT IN A PARK,
IT HAPPENS.
WE'VE HEARD THE STORY OVER AND
OVER, AS WE HEARD COUNCILLOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE STATED, 3,000
CALLS TO 311 IN THE LAST 12
MONTHS.
THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC.
THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES CALLED
IN.
SINCE WE GOT A SIDE SESSION AND
TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE TALKED
ABOUT THE COACHES PICKING UP
NEEDLES, PUTTING THEM IN COKE
BOTTLES AND SEALING THEM UP.
WHEN I WAS IN PUBLIC WORKS, WE
GOT CALLS ABILITY DRAGGING OF
TRASH BAGS IN THE MAIN STREET
AREAS.
LIQUID IN THE BAG AND DRAGGING
IT IN THE STREET, WHY CAN'T THEY
PICK IT UP.
THERE IS A REASON, IF YOU SLING
A BAG ON YOUR BACK AND THERE'S A
NEEDLE, GUESS WHAT HAPPENS?
THE GUYS DRAG THE BAGS BECAUSE
THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THEM
CLOSE TO THEIR BODY BECAUSE OF
IMPROPER DISPOSAL.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
HEARING AND FORWARD TO BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS FAR AS NEEDLE
DISPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILLOR
McCARTHY.
ADD COUNCILLOR RINE HAN,O
MALLEE, PRESSLEY, ZAKIM,
FLAHERTY CIOMMO, CAMPBELL.
COUNCILLOR BAKER, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> (INAUDIBLE).
THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR BAKER.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> I JUST STAND TO COMPLIMENT
OUR COUNCILLOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILLOR BAKER THINKING OUT OF
THE BOX ON THIS.
SO ONE OF THE REASONS -- AND I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE
CREATION OF THE SHARP TEAM THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
SO I WANT TO GIVE THE HISTORICAL
CONTEXT TO HOW THAT ACTUALLY WAS
CREATED AND THAT IT WAS A MEMBER
OF OUR COUNCIL WHO PUSHED THAT
AND GOT THAT FUNDED.
SO I WANT TO GIVE COUNCILLOR
BAKER HIS KUDOS ON THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY, WHICH
SECOND TO LAST NIGHT, ONE OF THE
SADDEST HEARINGS THAT I'VE EVER
BEEN TO IS TALK ABOUT WHAT AGE
SHOULD WE HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH KIDS, A, B, C, D,
HYPODERMIC NEEDLE?
IT JUST REALLY SPEAKS TO THE
TIME THAT WE'RE IN.
LAST WEEK, I WAS AT TACO TUESDAY
AT ORCHARD.
I GOT TOUR TACOS INSTEAD OF TWO.
I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO TRADE MY
CORN FOR SOME APPLESAUCE.
THAT WORKED OUT REALLY NICELY.
BUT I WALKED THROUGH ORCHARD
GARDENS AND THERE WAS A POSTER
UP FROM THE NURSE AND SHE WAS
EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT
HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND THEY
SHOULDN'T TOUCH THEM.
THE NURSE TOOK ME ASIDE AND
SAID, EVERY SINGLE MORNING, THEY
GO OUTSIDE AND PICK UP
HYPODERMIC NEEDLES.
A B.P.S. STAFF MEMBER, EVERY
SINGLE MORNING, IS PUTTING
HERSELF AT RISK FOR HEPATITIS,
H.I.V. AND OTHER BLOOD-BORNE
ILLNESSES EVERY SINGLE MORNING.
WE HAVE TO STEP FORWARD AND
ACTUALLY DO RIGHT BY HAVING THE
STAFF AND PERSONNEL BUT ALSO THE
TRAINING, AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE
THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE --
ARE THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ON
THIS.
SO I WANT TO THANK
ESSAIBI-GEORGE FOR HER
LEADERSHIP HERE.
THIS IS URGENT, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO AN URGENT RESPONSE
AND ALSO IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE
CONTINUE TO ADD DOLLARS TO DEAL
WITH THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ADD MY NAME.
>> THANK YOU.
ADD COUNCILLOR JACKSON, THE
CHAIR'S NAMES.
DOCKET 0394 WILL BE ASSIGNED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS,
MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY.
I AM INFORMED BY THE CLERK THAT
THERE ARE NO LATE-FILE MATTERS
NEEDING TO BE ADDED TO THE
AGENDA.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE GREEN
SHEETS.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL A
MATTER FROM THE GREEN SHEETS?
THERE IS ONE LATE FILE MATTER
FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH
WILL BE ADDED ABSENT OBJECTION.
HEARING NONE, MOVE ADOPTION OF
THE CONVENT AGENDA --
(VOTING)
AYES HAVE IT.
CONVENT AGENDA IS ADOPT.
I'LL BECAUSE FOR A STAIRNTLE
FIRST RECOGNIZING TODAY IS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, AND I
WANT TO THANK ALL OUR
COLLEAGUES, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
YOU ALL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
FOR JOINING US IN WEARING RED IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE NATIONAL
MOVEMENT FOR A DAY WITHOUT WOMEN
TO MARK THE ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT
ARE VERY REAL, IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE LABOR MOVEMENT, TO
REMIND US TO BE BOLD FOR CHANGE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
>> SISTER EVELYN HURLEY WAS MY
FIRST GRADE NONE.
SHE'S HERE, OFFERED THE
INVOCATION, HER DAD SERVED AS
MEMBER TO HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SHE TURNED 102 YESTERDAY.
SHARP AS A TACK.
WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
SAYS SHE THINKS ABOUT CITY
COUNCIL REGULAR LIMIT SHE'S AT
THE MOTHER HOUSE IN KENTUCKY AND
WILL BE COMING BACK FOR A MONTH
IN APRIL.
I WANT TO EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES
TO SISTER EVELYN HURLEY FOR HER
102 BIRTHDAY.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
FLAIRTY.
COUNCILLOR JACKSON, FOR WHAT
PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
>> UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO MAKE A
JAIMENT.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY FOR
THE SISTERS IN THIS ROOM BUT
ALSO WANT TO STAND AS AN ALLY
AND A MAN TO SAY THE ISSUES
AROUND EQUALITY IN PAY AS WELL
AS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, PAID
FAMILY LEAVE, THOSE ARE NOT
WOMEN'S ISSUES, THOSE ARE ISSUES
THAT WE MUST LEAD ON AS MEN,
THAT WE MUST BE PART OF CLOSING
THE GAP ON, AND WE STAND IN
UNITY AND SOLIDARITY WITH YOU
ADVANCING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE THOUGHT TO
ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE MEMBERS
OF THIS COUNCIL, AND ALSO FORMER
MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WHO WORK
HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE,
SINCE I'M ALREADY UP, THE
PASSING OF A LEGEND IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON, AND REALLY THE CROWN
PRINCE OF ROXBURY, KIM VESCOTT
(PHONETIC).
MANY KNEW HIM AS A DEVELOPER,
BUT REALLY HE WAS SOMEONE WHO
WAS A PIONEER IN HIS TIME THAT
UPLIFTED THIS CITY.
H HE WAS A VETERAN AND AN
ENGINEER BY TRAINING, BUT
REALLY, TO ME, ONE OF THE MOST
SUBSTANTIAL FIGURES IN ROXBURY
IN MY LIFETIME THAT TRAGICALLY
PASSED THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND,
SO, I WANT TO EXTEND WELL WISHES
SO HIS FAMILY.
BUT LISA AND CECIL KNOW THAT WE
ARE PRAYING FOR THEM.
THERE'S A BIG HOLE IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON THIS WEEK WITH HIS
PASSAGE AS WELL AS THE PASSAGE
AS CHARLIE TITUS' WIFE, AND I
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE
FAMILIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
JACKSON.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD?
OKAY.
IF CAREY IS WATCHING US, AND
AFTER THE MEETING COULD COME
OUT, WE'LL DO A PHOTO.
WE'LL READ A LIST OF THOSE WE
ARE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY OF.
COUNCILLORS AND GUESTS PLEASE
RISE.
TODAY WE STAND IN MEMORY OF THE
FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS.
FOR COUNCILLOR JACKSON, NORMAN
JONES AND JUDITH SIMMONS.
FOR COUNCILLOR McCARTHY JOHN
TOLL.
FOR COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY, LOUIS
CUNAN.
>> IGNACIO GERARDI.
AND FOR ALL COUNSELORS, VESCOTT
AND LELAND WHITMORE.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
(SILENCE)
THANK YOU.
CHAIR MOVES WHEN THE COUNCIL
ADJOURNS TODAY WE DO SO IN
MEMORY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED
INDIVIDUALS.
SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN
WEDNESDAY MARCH 15 AT 12 NOON.
(VOTING)
AYES HAVE IT, COUNCIL IS
ADJOURNED
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