City Council

of the Boston City Council. Viewers can watch the council meeting live on YouTube at boston.gov forward slash city dash council dash tv. At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in the audience to please silence their cell phones and electronic devices. Also, pursuant to Rule 42, I remind all in this chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum?

Madam Clerk. Oh, Madam Clerk. Councillor Brayden. Here. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Here. Councillor Durkan. Here. Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Councilor Worrell. A quorum is present.

I have been informed by the clerk that a quorum is present. Now, it is my pleasure to introduce this week's clergy, Reverend Solanee Vedrine, who will be providing our invocation. Pastervidian, you can come on down. And he is here accompanied by a High Park neighbor of mine, Pierre Asineus, and his daughters, Kendall, his granddaughter, Kendall, and his daughters, Ketsia and Betsy. Thank you so much for being with us, Pastor Friedrin. He means so much to so many, including my family and to me. So thank you for being with us here today. Reverend Solanee Bedreen is a widely respected evangelical leader whose ministry has shaped Boston's Haitian Christian community for more than five decades. A native of Haiti, he holds a law degree from Haiti State University and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.

He is the founding and senior pastor of Boston Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served for over 52 years, guiding generations of Haitians, immigrants in faith, community building, and spiritual formation. He is also the co-founder and longtime leader of the Fellowship of Haitian Evangelical Pastors of New England, where he has helped strengthen one of the region's most significant networks of Haitian clergy, fostering collaboration, leadership development, and support for emerging pastors. Reverend Bedrine is universally recognized for his unifying presence within the Haitian diaspora and his lifelong commitment to strengthening the spiritual and civic life of communities across Greater Boston. Out of his church at the Boston Missionary Baptist Church in Roxbury, they run an exceptional food pantry to care for the least among us. So I want to say thank you to you, to your wife, to your family, for your leadership. And Pastor Solini, you have the floor. After the invocation, we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Madame Council President Louijeune, honorable elected city officials, distinguished guests, greetings. Shall we pray? Eternal God, our Creator, our Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves in your presence, giving you thanks for the privilege we have to call on your name On this historic day in the leadership of Boston, our beloved city. Today we hear again the voice of the great founder, John Winthrop. who about 400 years ago shared with his companions his dream that Boston be like a city on a hill spreading its light across the land and in due time. across the world.

Truly, that dream has inspired leaders and citizens, residents and visitors in investing in the development of Boston spiritually. intellectually, socially, economically over those 400 years. Today, Again, it is our prayer that the Lord keep guiding our leaders on the pathway of excellence that we have known thus far. As it was for Mr. Winthrop and his colleagues upon leaving England in 1630,

as it has been for the millions of others in the following centuries who decided to come to America in search of a better life. and many of whom have settled in Boston, making it the international hub it is today. May we hear again the Biden that call, let's go to Boston, let's go to Boston. May Boston still be the city on a hill, spreading its light throughout our state, our beloved country America, and throughout the world. Father, we humbly cry these words of our predecessors on our city seal. Secud patribus sideros nobis.

May you be with us Heavenly Father as you have been with our forefathers. This is our prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. Amen. God bless you all.

We will now recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. You mean so much to so many. And you've always been such a great support. And to your family and to your friendship. Thank you for all you do for the Haitian community. It goes noticed. And so we thank Boston Missionary Baptist Church for your leadership in our city. Thank you, Pastor. We are now moving on to presentations. Today we will have two presentations, one from Councilor Worrell,

and the second presentation recognizing the Shattuck Award winners. So, Councilor Worrell is recognizing the Conservatory Lab Charter. You have the floor in five minutes. because they're a performance and they are still getting ready, we're gonna do the Shattuck awardees now and then we will do the Conservatory Lab charter musicians afterwards. So if I could please have our Shattuck awardees and and Steve, and former City Council President Larry DeCarrer, who is also with us, and anyone else from the Municipal Research Bureau, please join us. Up here, up here.

You know the Joe Larry?

So many of us were a few weeks ago at the Shattuck Celebration, which is always a lovely celebration where we get to recognize, come on up here, Jeff, don't be shy. where we get to recognize our civic leaders and our city champions. The Boston Municipal Research Bureau's Henry L. Shattuck Awards are among the city's most respected honors, celebrating exceptional public servants whose work strengthens Boston's civic life. For 40 years, the awards have recognized individuals across departments and disciplines, teachers, nurses, police officers, planners, housing specialists, librarians, and community leaders who exemplify integrity, Dedication and a quiet, steadfast commitment to the public good. That's who we're looking at here. Administered by the Bureau, a non-partisan organization focused on effective and accountable city governance, the Shattuck Awards highlight everyday heroes. whose behind-the-scenes efforts ensure Boston remains a well-run, compassionate and forward-looking city.

Through both the Public Service Awards and the City Champion Awards, The program honors those who not only excel in their roles, but also model the values of service, leadership, and community that define Boston at its best. I'm going to bring up the Executive Director, Steve Poftak, of the Bureau to share a few words.

Thank you, Madam President. It's my honor to be here as a representative of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau. I also want to acknowledge Cara Buckley, the co-chair, of the Shattuck Selection Committee, who works tirelessly every year. And she and her team at P&G Gillette have been wonderful champions of the city. I also want to thank the City Council for their generosity in recognizing these awardees. We are at a moment in time where it is very easy to be cynical about public service. It is very easy to lose faith in the governments around us. and the folks that you see behind you represent the very best of public service here in the city so I think it's important in in a moment where it's easy to be cynical I think it's important and I'll Grab one of the City Council's favorite words. It is important to uplift this amazing service that these folks give this city. So I want to thank all of you for your generosity, and I want to thank our awardees for the service that they give the citizens of Boston every day. Thank you.

Awesome. Thank you.

Thank you, and again I want to thank my colleagues. A few Councillors made citations, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Coletta Zapata, and I'm grateful that we were able to recognize everyone. I think it's worth reading who we have among us. So when I say your name, just do a little wave so that people know who we're talking about because I think it's truly, what you do for the city is truly noble and deserves recognition. So first is Elizabeth Jackson, who is a city champion. She is a mission driven leader over at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, where she's the president and CEO, who has spent more than 30 years supporting homeless, Runaway and At-Risk Youth, bringing both frontline experience and deep operational expertise to bridge. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. Another city champion is Bill Kennedy, Oh, okay, but he was here with us when we were in the curly room.

I know many of us know Bill as a longtime civic leader whose legal and public policy work spans corporate, nonprofit, transportation, housing, and Education Sectors. He's widely regarded as a mentor and connector across Boston's professional community and gives a lot of really great advice. So Bill Kennedy, thank you so much for being a city champion and for all that you do. Jeff Elkins. Right here is a program manager, homeowner, and homebuyer services in the Mayor's Office of Housing. For over two decades, Jeff has helped hundreds of Bostonians buy their first homes and supported at-risk homeowners, particularly seniors of color, through the trauma of foreclosure. MOH's role in the Veterans Stand Down program, and he's identified a dangerous trend of seniors losing homeowners insurance. So thank you so much for the work that you do. Not with us today is John Connors, who is a court coordinator in the legal division of ISD. With almost 58 years of service, he's been central to protecting tenants from unsafe housing conditions.

Congratulations, John. Also not with us is Taylor McCoy, who is the sister of Councilor Fitzgerald's staffer, Amanda. She's an inclusion specialist at the Mattahunt Elementary School and the driving force behind Mattahunt's ABA strand. helping students with disabilities successfully transition into inclusive classrooms by tailoring supports with compassion and creativity. Next is Mary McCullough. A special library assistant, North End Branch, who all the kids love, according to Councilor Coletta Zapata. With 29 years of service, Mary has made the North End Branch a true community hub. known for remembering every patron's name, everyone, every single one, and guiding readers of all ages with warmth and expertise. Congratulations, Mary. Next up, we have Elsie Morantus-Petion. She is a nurse manager at the Child, Adolescent, and Family Health at Boston Public Health Commission. Across 37 years, Elsie Petion has provided home-based public health support

to over 5,000 families through programs like Healthy Baby, Healthy Child, and the Welcome Family Initiative. Congratulations, Elsie. Felicitasio. Next is Sergeant Peter Moscaritolo. Sergeant, right behind me. He is in the Street Outreach Unit at the BPD, and he leads it with empathy and professionalism, coordinating a multi-agency effort to dismantle encampments such as Atkinson Street while ensuring residents receive shelter, Treatment and Support. Thank you so much, Sergeant, and congratulations. Next is Alexa Panard. She's Assistant Deputy Director of Design Review at the BPDA. With over 26 years of service, Alexa has shaped thousands of projects across Boston, supporting homeowners, small businesses, and entire neighborhoods through complex planning and Preservation Processes. Congratulations. Last but not least, is Eric Prentice.

He's a principal administrative assistant in the Public Works Department and shows up for so many of us, as we heard earlier, when we have calls from constituents. He strengthens communication between public works, neighborhood residents, and city leadership, serving as a go-to problem solver on everything from constituent service requests to interdepartmental coordination. He supports ONS staff, attends community meetings, and manages hands-on projects like green infrastructure in Brighton and citywide Christmas tree distribution. We all know how important that is right now. with exceptional care and reliability. So congratulations to all of our awardees. And we've already given the citations, but if I could have all of my colleagues come up and we can take one picture here, that would be awesome.

Come on up.

No hiding, Eric. Come on. No hiding, Eric. I tried, Eric. It's on your watch. Come on. Move on up. Awesome. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

You want the mic?

That's all right. You're doing a good job.

and so on.

Our next presentation will be from Councilor Orrell, recognizing the Conservatory Lab Charter School and the musicians, and Councilor Fitzgerald. You both have the floor and five minutes.

Good afternoon, everyone. Today, as you see, we have some special guests with us, the fifth graders from the Conservatory Lab Charter School who will be performing for us today. The Conservatory Lab Charter School opened its renovated second campus this year. It's a K-8 school that has campuses in both mine and Councilor Fitzgerald's district. I'm thankful for the school's executive director, Nicole Mack, Director Matt Chaperon, the Head of Music Department Christina Chihara, Teacher Faraday Fontamas, and his assistants Juliana and Catherine. and of course, the stars of it all, our students. They'll be performing two songs, Night Fury and As Spirits Soar. We know the power of music and we know the power of our children, so I'm eager and excited to hear this performance today But before we dive into the performance, I want to pass it off to my counselor colleague and then open it up to the executive director.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. So excited to be up here tonight and to see this performance in front of us. It's such a beautiful school. We got to tour it last year. And you guys have state of the art. Music School in front of you, and I love to see the community using it to its full advantage. My colleagues are sick of me saying this, but I always, anytime I have the chance to say it, Three things to get a AAA bond rating as an individual. Academics, athletics, and the arts. And just because I say arts last doesn't mean it's the least. So I love to see these kids here today putting it all forth, finding a means to express themselves and becoming better, well-rounded individuals. So thank you for all the Conservatory Lab does. Grateful to the two campuses and for Councilor Worrell. and so guys, I can't wait to hear the performance. Thank you. Good luck.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name's Nicole Mack. I am the proud executive director of the Conservatory Lab Charter School. We're so happy to be here with you today. As mentioned, our school is very unique as a pre-K through eighth grade school where every single student has music every single day. You'll get to enjoy some of that. Our dedicated staff helps students achieve our mission of supporting students in becoming strong scholars, artists, and leaders. So we hope you enjoy. Thank you.

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What a great performance, truly amazing. And if I can ask my colleagues to come and take a picture with our outstanding performers.

Thank you again to our wonderful musicians from the Conservatory Lab Charter School and to Executive Director Nicole Mack for all you do for our young kids. That was a phenomenal performance. I'd also like to recognize Raul Fernandez, former Brookline, Town Member, thank you for being with us today. Madam Clerk, could you please update the attendance record to reflect that Councilors Pepén, Santana, and and Weber, and Weber are now present. Yeah, I thought Weber was here. And Worrell are now present and with us. Thank you. We are now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of November 19th, 2025. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The minutes of the November 19th meeting are approved. We are now on to communications from our Honored Mayor.

Madam Clerk, can you please read docket number 2034?

Docket number 2034, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand Grant in the amount of not to exceed $425,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Conservation Services, Parkland Acquisition and Renovation for Communities Program. The grant is awarded to the City of Boston through the Parks and Recreation Department for renovation to Ronan Park located in the neighborhood of Dorchester.

Thank you. Docket number 2034 will be referred to the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency, and Parks. Oh, apologies. Before we refer to committee, the chair recognizes Councilor Coletta Zapata, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This is in order to accept and expend a $425,000 parkland acquisition and renovations for communities grant. Awarded to the city by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This competitive funding will support planned improvements at Ronan Park in Dorchester, including a new play area with water features accessible pathways, new furnishings, enhanced tree canopy, and fully renovated basketball courts, leveraging city capital funds already committed to this project. The Council must act on this acceptance prior to December 31, 2025 in order for construction to proceed on schedule for substantial completion by June 2027. I respectfully ask for your support so that these investments can move forward and deliver long-awaited improvements for residents. I now would like to pass it off to Councillor Fitzgerald, who represents Ronan Park and who will no doubt be a beneficiary, especially from the renovated basketball courts. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Fitzgerald.

You have the floor. Thank you Madam President and thank you Councilor Coletta Zapata. The community is really excited about these renovations. It is a big, beautiful, open space piece of land right in the heart of Dorchester. that serves all communities surrounding it. And so I would humbly ask my colleagues as well to vote in suspending and passing this. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Councillor Coletta Zapata, the Chair of the Committee on Environment, Resiliency and Park Environmental Justice Resiliency and Parks, suspension of the rules and passage of docket number 2034. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. This docket is passed. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 2035.

Docket number 2035, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $339,888 in the form of a grant, neighborhood job trust grant. Awarded by the City Foundation to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development, the grant would fund both administrative and programming activities to ensure the funding allocated by the Neighborhood Job Trust. is used by training providers that prepare individuals with job readiness skills needed to secure permanent employment at the development project sites.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Weber, the Chair of Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you. As the chair of the Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, I seek suspension and passage of this docket. Madam President, may I go on? You may. This grant funds job training programs for Boston residents and is funded through Linkage fees paid by large-scale real estate developers. The funding is awarded by the City Foundation to cover staffing and administrative fees associated with the implementation and oversight of grant awards made by the Neighborhood Jobs Trust. The Neighborhood Jobs Trust ensures that providers are trained to prepare individuals with job readiness skills needed to secure permanent employment at the developer's project sites. Positions that are funded by this grant include the Senior Program Manager,

for the Neighborhoods Jobs Trust, who manages grant awards, invoicing, and organizing of trustee meetings, as well as performance and views and annual site visits to grant recipients, and it also Funds, portions of fiscal staff, salaries. I realize this is a decently sized grant, but I'm hoping we can accept are suspended past this today. Thank you.

Thank you. Is anyone looking to speak on this matter? Warbur, the Chair of Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, sees suspension of the rules and pass of docket number 2035. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. This docket is passed. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 2036?

Docket number 2036, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $148,824 in the form of a grant. for the Federal Bryant Justice Assistance Grant Relocation awarded by the United States Department of Justice passed through the Mass. Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant would fund the annual Boston Address Verification Procedure mandated by the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board.

Thank you. Docket number 2036 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Madam Clerk, can you please read docket number 2037? Docket number 2037.

2037. Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $5,000 in the form of a grant. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Roots Collaboration Grant awarded by donor group to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund transforming on used land into stable assets that provide climate, wilderness, and workforce benefits with a focus on removing invasion plants and establishing a walking path.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Weber, the chair of the Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam President. As chair of the Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, I seek suspension and passage of this docket. This grant is from Blue Cross Blue Shield. It will be given to Power Corps Boston participants to clear a path at the Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters in Hingham to create a walkway The grant would allow Power Corps Boston participants to receive hands-on learning and training, guidance, and onsite support while learning and working alongside industry professionals. Participants would learn how to identify and remove invasive plants in order to build a sustainable walking pathway at the Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters. So it's a relatively small grant, and it provides much needed funding for Power Corps Boston participants. I'm hoping we can suspend the pass. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I realize it's a very small amount of money, $5,000. Could I respectfully ask why is the money going to the city or town of Hingham and How is Boston involved in accepting the money, allocating the money to Hingham, and what impact will it have on Boston residents?

To the chair, Councilor Weber, if you'd like to respond, you may.

Sure, yeah, it's a decent question. The money is going to Power Corps Boston for people to gain experience. They're going to be doing the work in Hingham. That's all the information I have. But it's to benefit, the money will be used for Power Corps Boston participants. But if that doesn't answer the questions, I'm happy to see what answers I can get and we can bring this up at the next meeting. I had the same question, but it's because it's going to Power Corps Boston individuals to gain that experience in Hingham. That's why the same thought occurred to me. Flynn, but because it's benefiting Power Corps Boston workers or participants, I thought that resolved the issue. So that's my answer.

Flynn, would you like to respond?

I do, and I want to say thank you to the Chair for that response. I respect that. My request, Madam Chair, is could we continue the meeting and maybe If someone is able to text the chair a little bit more information during the next hour and maybe we could revisit it just so we're on the record of how it impacts and supports Boston residents, why Hingham is getting it. Again, it's a short amount of money, but I think we need to do our due diligence during these difficult economic times.

Councillor Weber, through the Chair, if you'd like to respond, you may.

Yeah, thank you. I think if it's okay with Madam President, I'm happy to bring it up. Thank you.

Let me just confer with Madam Clerk, how would you like to proceed in terms of us tabling it and returning to it? Yeah, okay, so we will just table docket number 2037 and we will return to it. Okay. We are now on to reports of public officers and others. Madam Clerk, could you please read dockets number 2038 to 2044?

Docket 203. Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Nicholas Gove as Interim Commissioner of the Public Works effective November 24, 2025. Docket number two. 039. The notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Nicholas Gove as Interim Chief of Street Transportation and Sanitation effective November 24, 2025. Docket number 2040. Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Johnny Hernandez as Second Assistant Collective Treasurer effective November 20th, 2025. Docket 0241. Notice was received from the mayor of her absence from the city from Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 12 noon, returning Friday, November 28, 2025 at 5 p.m. Docket 0243.

Communication was received by the City Clerk from the Board of Election Commissioners certifying the results of the election held for the Mayor and City Council. Docket 02043. Communication was received from Timothy Smith, Executive Officer of the Boston Retirement Board regarding Boston Retirement System CY26 operating budget. Docket 0244, communication from City Councilor Flynn to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board to investigate frequent breakdown of elevators at BHA Ruth Barclay Apartments.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn as a communication. You have only two minutes to speak on this matter. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you. I wrote a letter to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board regarding the frequent elevator breakdowns at BHA Ruth Barclay apartments. On November 26th, the evening before Thanksgiving, I was notified by BHA residents and disability advocate Dawn Oates that the elevator at 19 Monsignor Reynolds Way was out of service. and went out on Tuesday, November 25th. This failure occurred only weeks after a two-year complaint had been closed out at the Architectural Access Board. Residents stated that they called the Boston Housing Authority at 9.06 on Tuesday to report the outage. But instead of generating a work order, they were told that building maintenance would be contacted directly. Throughout the day, and overnight neither BHA Maintenance nor the contracted elevator arrived at the building. At 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, I visited residents at Ruth Barclay. The elevator was not working.

At 8.30 a.m., a white pickup truck arrived and waited until 9 a.m. An individual from the truck met BHA maintenance staff, was keyed into the building to reset the elevator, and departed only one minute later. This was a simple request. It should not have been prevented. It could have been prevented. Under BHA protocol, residents should have been notified on Tuesday that the elevator is expected to be out. There was no lack of urgency in calling the elevator vendor until Thanksgiving morning. Even after the elevator was reportedly restored after 9 AM on Thanksgiving morning, BHA did not notify residents until after 12 noon. By that time, Thanksgiving was over and people canceled their plans. BHA did not meet any of its elevator failure protocols. No staff were posted in the lobby. to assist with groceries, prescriptions, or packages.

No steer assist services were arranged for residents unable to navigate stairs. No temporary or mail per diem options were offered. No building-wide notification of the outage or resolutions were issued. Only a pre-recorded message was sent. after it was restored.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

No, Madam Chair, I need to finish though.

Councillor Flynn, it's two minutes on a communication. No, I understand.

Madam Chair, I was there on Thanksgiving morning and my constituents, most of them are persons with disabilities, in Wheelchairs were asking me to advocate for them. And that's what I'm doing here.

I know city councils don't want to deal with that issue. But Madam Chair, this is an important issue for me. It's an important issue for me, Councillor Flynn. We talked before this, and you asked me to call the administrator at the Boston Housing Authority. Councillor Flynn, we had a regular— Thank you, Councillor Flint. We had a regular conversation before this where you came up to me and asked me to call former Councillor Kenzie Bach, now the Administrator, to advocate with you, and I did that. I called her and she said, the elevators are functioning. There is no vertical. at the Berkeley Apartments right now without functioning elevators, except for the modernization project. But there are still elevators to support those people. So it is a communication. No, we are moving on. We are moving on to reports of committees. We are now on to reports of committees. Mr. Clerk, would you please read docket number 0138.

Docket number 0138. The Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred to on January 8, 2025, Docket Number 0138, Ordinance Qualifying the Office of Returning Citizens, Submit a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

The Chair recognizes the Chair of Government Ops, Councilor Coletta Zapata. The floor is now yours.

Thank you very much. This matter was sponsored by Councillor Ruzzi-Louijeune and was referred to the committee on January 8th, 2025. Docket 0138 is an ordinance proposing the codification of the currently operating Office of Returning Citizens. The ordinance lays out the purpose of the office, its duties, and responsibility of the executive director. The duties of the office include serving as an advocate for returning citizens, Helping to address barriers to reintegration, coordinating reentry services, and connecting returning citizens with support, training, and resources. This committee held a hearing on Wednesday, November 26, and I want to thank my Vice Chair, Council Weber, for filling in at the last moment. to discuss this docket. City of Boston Chief of Human Services, Chief of Human Services, Jose Masso, and the Office of Returning Citizens Executive Director, Ashley Montgomery testified on behalf of the administration. The admin tested in support of the ordinance highlighting the growth of the office during the last four years from a staff of two to a staff of 11 and an increase in annual budget from $200,000 to $2.5 million.

which has enabled the office to take on more clients and expand its services. The office focuses on individual case management and is currently serving 680 active clients with programming on topics ranging from financial literacy to digital equity to entrepreneurship. In the past year, the office was able to place 86 clients with permanent employers and 49 clients in housing. The office has also been able to greatly expand its grant-making opportunities with community partners, totaling nearing $1 million in FY26 to expand employment, housing, and reentry support. Moving forward, the office is focusing on addressing assessment-identified barriers including transportation, digital equity, housing, and social supports through provision of bus passes, collaboration with the city's digital equity team, and Boston Public Library. extending support hours and grant opportunities and increased intentional community programming. Councilors discussed additional possible areas of growth for the office, including recovery services,

Legal Aid and Policy Advocacy. The legislation as amended reflects the following changes. Minor wording changes were made including substituting the word assist for the word ensure and the word collaborate and the word partner throughout. removed examples and other non-substantive word changes to remove duplicate phrases and provide the office with the requisite discretion required by the charter. In section one, purpose, the following sentence was added at the end of thereof The office recognizes the value of returning citizens as both recipients of services, clients, and as leaders helping to shape the vision and work of the office. In Section 2, Duties of Office, the collection and maintenance of data was separated from the requirement to provide an annual report on the activities of the office. The phrase, provide an annual report to the mayor and the city council detailing the office's activities, outcomes, and recommendations for policy or program changes

was replaced by file with the city clerk an annual report on the activities and outcomes of the office. As chair of this committee, I recommend moving this docket to the full council for discussion and formal action. And at this time, my recommendation to the full council is that this matter ought to pass. I just want to shout out our council president, Ruthie Louijeune, for her work on this and give her the opportunity, of course, to speak on this. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Council President Louijeune. Council, you have the floor.

Thank you. And thank you to Chair Coletta Zapata for hosting This hearing, I know we had it right before the Thanksgiving holiday, and it was a busy time, but I really appreciate you I've been really proud to work on the office of returning citizens since I've been here in office. The office codification is about ensuring that people coming home from incarceration have real support. as they rebuild their lives here in our city. from helping find a job to a stable place to live, healthcare, education, and the services that help people stay on track. This body, we've been helpful in getting them more resources, more employees, For the first time ever, they're able to issue grants to nonprofits, most of them led by people of color who themselves are

The best way to reduce recidivism is by making sure that when people come home, they have the support that they need to stay home. As Councillor Coletta stated in the committee report, the ordinance clarifies the city's role specifically to coordinating with nonprofits and community partners and making sure residents don't navigate re-entry alone. It also outlines the responsibilities of the executive director who will lead this work, guide the office's growth, and advise city leadership. The report reflects how far this office has come and the breadth of services it now provides. And the amendments before us strengthen clarity, accountability by including an annual report. By placing this office into law, we are making a long-term commitment to stronger neighborhoods and communities. I want to thank Chief Massot and Executive Director Montgomery for their testimony and ongoing leadership.

especially around the difficulty around nuances in employment, which the city has been working on and leading on. If we want to encourage others to hire folks who are returning citizens, we also have to lead by example. I've been very excited to work on this office and support this office from when I first came into office and now that we are codifying it into law, we are saying that we as a city We deeply, deeply care about this issue. And so I want to thank all of the folks who I've had the pleasure of working alongside. Just recently I was with some members other returning citizen community that reminded and added to this language to make sure that we are always uplifting those who are formerly incarcerated as being Part of the solutions and part of building the vision for what this office should look like. So again, I want to thank everyone from Pastor Hobbs,

to Stacey Borden to Justice for Healing for their exceptional leadership and for being thought partners in this space. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I rise to support this. This is an issue I've focused and worked on prior to being on the city council for almost eight years as a probation officer supporting returning citizens. as a probation officer at Suffolk Superior Court. And when people would finish their sentence, whether it be the House of Correction or a state prison, oftentimes they would come to Suffolk Superior, if they were Thank you for joining us. returning citizens get back on their feet. Part of that includes quarry reform, an issue I've focused on and worked on here on the city council, but also giving people an opportunity

to get back into society and for society to treat them with a little bit more respect and empathy. They're going through difficult times transitioning from the House of Correction or prison and they deserve an opportunity to rebuild their lives. They made a mistake, they made several mistakes maybe, but they deserve an opportunity to live a healthy and productive life. They want a job, they want to raise their family and contribute to their community. We need to do everything we possibly can for our returning citizens and that also includes ensuring that We as a city provide opportunities for returning citizens in the city of Boston as a probation officer when someone would be hired

Oftentimes, they'd be at their job for a week or two weeks, and then the Corey background check would come back. And at that time, the boss would sometimes have to fire the person because of the background check. and it was probably the most discouraging thing that could happen to a returning citizens knowing that they're doing an exceptional job trying to contribute to society by working, working hard And then at the same time, they'll let go because of their quarry. So we need to do everything we can to support returning citizens. It also means that we need to treat them with respect and dignity as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I just want to thank Council President Louijeune for your leadership on this, also to Chair, Councilor Coletta Zapata, and also Councilor Weber for shepherding work in such as inherent. I also want to applaud the work and the growth of Office of Returning Citizens. And this ordinance is another step in growth, creating clear guidance and establishing the role city government plays in residents who are coming home. I look forward to supporting this ordinance and to continue this work of making equity a permanent part of how Boston governs. The chair of the committee on government operations seeks acceptance of the committee report and passes of document number 0138 in a new draft. All those in favor say aye. Madam Clerk, can you please conduct a roll call vote?

Roll call vote on docket 0138. Councillor Breadon? Yes. Councillor Breadon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata? Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? Yes. Councilor Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn?

Yes.

Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune? Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell,

Yes.

Councilor Worrell, yes. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 in the formative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and document number 0138 has passed in the new draft. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 0722?

Docket number 0722, the Committee on Veterans, Military Families, and Military Affairs, to which was referred to on April 2nd, 2025, Docket number 0722, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $12,881 in the form of a grant for the jobs for Veterans State Grant awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the United States Department of Labor, passed through the Mass Hire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund enhanced employment services for eligible veterans, prioritizing disabled veterans, and those facing significant barriers to employment.

with the goal of improving their job searches, their job search outcomes and economic self-sufficiency submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, and I want to apologize to Councilor Weber that I didn't recognize you as the one who shepherded the government operations hearing. So thank you, Councilor Weber, for shepherding that through. I appreciate that. Okay, Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

The committee held a hearing on Friday, November 21st to discuss docket 0722. The committee heard from Joseph Lee, Chief of Staff, for the City of Boston's Worker Empowerment Cabinet who provided testimony regarding this docket. Mr. Lee stated that this docket authorizes the City to accept and expand a grant in the amount of $12,000 $881. This grant is from the US Department of Labor, passed through the Mass Hire Department of Career Services, administered by the Office of Workforce Development. He stated that these funds will be used specifically to support costs associated with two mass hire veterans services located at 75 Federal Street in downtown Boston and 10 Malcolm X Boulevard in Roxbury. These service centers are focused on supporting veterans and their families entering the workforce.

It's about ensuring veterans have equal access to employment services as well. Mr. Lee stated that the last That last year, 59 veterans were assisted in job search, assessment, counseling. and 30 of these veterans have entered into employment with an average hourly rate of $28.49. Veterans and their families are also matched with education and job training programs as well. Councilors and panelists also discussed possible cuts to grants for veterans from the federal government, providing pathway for jobs in both labor unions and white-collar jobs, mental health services for veterans, the Mayor's Office of Veterans Services, Bridge the Gap grant programs as well as docket 0253, the goals and priorities for the Mayor's Office of Veterans Services.

We kind of combined both grants, both dockets rather, during this period of time. We had excellent feedback from the public, including Hayward Fennell, who spoke about how important veteran services are for communities of color. Meredith Tewitt, commander of the CATA post, American Legion CATA post on Blue Hill Avenue. I'm a member of the post. It's primarily a post of African American veterans. They do exceptional work at this location supporting veterans and military families. Both Haywood and Meredith were eloquent in ensuring in advocating for respect for persons with disabilities, respect for veterans, respect for military families. We often don't see that in the city or in this country.

I've witnessed it myself, the disrespect veterans experience. And it's not helpful. But there are other veterans. I was down at the New England Center and Home for Veterans Last week, right before Thanksgiving, talking to veterans that were living there and going to school there and training there and trying to get services there. Some of them have made mistakes in life. But they're trying to get back up on their feet. That's what this type of grant will do. It will help veterans in need, including homeless veterans, veterans that are struggling, military families that are also struggling. I also want to acknowledge at this meeting Shane, who did an exceptional job spearheading this meeting for us.

As chair of the Committee on Veterans, Military Families, I recommend moving this listed docket from the committee to the full council for discussion and formal action. At this time, my recommendation to the full council will be that the matter ought to pass. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? I want to thank you, Councillor Flynn, for hosting this hearing on this important topic. Madam Clerk, Councillor Flynn seeks passage of the—let me just— Seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 0722. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Madam Clerk, can you please conduct a roll call vote.

Roll call vote on docket 0722. Councilor Breadon? Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata? Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune? Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia? Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy? Councilor Pepén? Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes, I think it's 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 11 in the affirmative.

Thank you. This docket, docket number 0722, has passed. Madam Clerk, would you please read docket number 0766?

Docket number 0766, the Committee on Government Operation to which was referred to on March 31st, 2025. Docket 0766, Ordinance Extending and Enhancing Protection for Tenant-Facing Displacement Due to Condominium and Cooperative Conversion in the City of Boston, submit a report recommended that the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Coletta Zapata, the chair of the Committee on Government Operations. You have the floor.

Madam President, I need to move for substitution of the committee report to reflect the new sunset date rather than 2030 to 2026.

Is there a second? All those in favor of the motion to substitute, say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The motion to substitute is allowed. Coletta Zapata, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. This matter, and everybody should have the new committee report in front of them. This matter was sponsored by Councilors Liz Breadon and Ruzzi Louisian and was referred to the committee on March 31st, 2025. The committee held a hearing that was really a working session. It was amazing. I loved the conversation on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to discuss this docket. We heard from panelists which included Chief Dillon, Karina Oliver-Milchman, who's the Director of Policy Development and Research from the Mayor's Office of Housing, and Mack McGreat, who I think is here, who is an Access to Justice Fellow from Greater Boston Legal Services. The panel testified that Boston's condominium conversion ordinance first adopted in 1999 under authority granted by the 1983 state condominium law functions as one of the city's long-standing anti-displacement tools, protecting tenants and residential buildings with four or more units built before 1983.

It was explained that the ordinance requires property owners seeking to convert rental units into condos or cooperatives to provide residents with advance notice, lease extensions, relocation payments and a right to purchase with enhanced protections for elderly tenants. The panel further emphasized that current displacement pressures are concentrated in two and three family buildings, not covered by the existing ordinance, particularly in lower income neighborhoods and outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement through earlier identification of conversion activity and improved compliance practices. The committee voiced broad support for renewing and strengthening the rental equity ordinance under the new state authority. Councilors raised questions about operational procedures, enforcement practices, and the implications of expanding eligibility to smaller buildings.

Discussion focused on the city's ability to detect early conversion activity, whether the current look-back period is adequate, the feasibility of extending longer notice protections to general tenants, and the administrative workload associated with expanding the ordinance scope. In considering the ordinance broader impacts, Councillors questioned how these changes would affect both tenants and property owners. reaffirming that smaller owner-occupied buildings would remain exempt and exploring whether right-to-purchase options or affordable home ownership pathways would be incorporated into future policy work. Finally, the committee and the panel discussed potential changes that could further strengthen the ordinance by extending enhanced protections to veterans, families with children, returning citizens, and undocumented immigrants. The panel expressed support for exploring these additional changes and a willingness to work with the committee on language amendments.

Given the issues raised during the hearing related to enforcement, penalties, and early detection mechanisms, additional review and discussion are necessary to determine how best to expand and strengthen tenant protections consistent with the authority provided by the legislature including the most recent 2024 Affordable Homes Act. However, because the current ordinance is set to expire on December 31st, 2025, it is necessary to take action to prevent a lapse in these protections. Therefore, in order to preserve the existing framework while allowing the committee time in the coming year to undertake further conversations and develop a more comprehensive update to this docket, I recommend passage of an amended version of docket 0766. that reaffirms the City's recognition of the continued rental housing emergency in the City of Boston and extends the sunset date by one year to December 31st, 2026. And so as the chair of this committee, I recommend moving this new amended docket to the council for discussion and formal action.

And at this time, my recommendation is that the full council, excuse me, that to the full council, that this matter ought to pass in a new draft. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata. The Chair recognizes Councillor Breadon. Councillor Breadon, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Councillor Coletta Zapata for her leadership and her help in negotiating and navigating this change. I think as Councillor Coletta Zapata has already explained, when we did have our hearing on this, there were many issues that were brought up. Thank you very much. and arrive at an ordinance that is enforceable and that will address the needs of our housing emergency in the City of Boston. So many of our rental units are being lost, especially in districts like East Boston.

Thank you very much. Picking up again in the new year with some urgency. Thank you.

Thank you. And I want to thank you, Councillor Breadon, for your leadership on this issue. I think we're looking forward to seeing expanded eligibility in the new year pursuant to the state law. so that we can prevent the displacement of more of our tenants because, as we know, housing affordability is the number one issue in our city. So thank you so much for working on this and the work to continue. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Okay. Would anyone else like to add their name? Oh, right, reports of committee, okay. Okay, Madam Clerk, can we conduct a roll call vote on this docket?

Roll call vote on docket 0766. Breadon. Yes. Council Breadon. Yes. Council Coletta Zapata. Yes. Council Coletta Zapata. Yes. Council Durkan. Yes. Council Durkan. Yes. Council Fitzgerald. Yes. Council Fitzgerald. Yes. Council Flynn. Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. Eleven in the affirmative.

Thank you. This docket has passed in a new draft. Madam Clerk, would you please read docket number 1927?

Docket 1927, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred to on October 29, 2025, Docket 1927, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand the amount of $2,607,000 in the form of a grant for the community mitigation grant awarded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to be administered by the Office of Budget Management. The grant will fund offset costs related to the construction and operation of a gaming establishment. Submit a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you. The chair recognizes the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Councilor Arrau, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on Monday, November 24th, 2025 to discuss document number 1927. Testimony was provided by BPD Project Coordinator Braid, Planning Department Senior Project Manager Engineer for Capital Construction, Munden, Streets Cabinet Director of Finance, Budget, Koshafa, and BPD Director of Research and Development, Shevers. From the City Council, we had in attendance Councilor Murphy. The administration shared that part of the grant will fund the Harbor Walk Extension Project and the Little Mystic Channel, filling the missing section of the Harbor Walk in Charlestown and creating new outdoor recreation space as mitigation for casino impacts. The Streets Cabinet has noted that the grant will fully fund intersection work at Chelsea and Terminal Streets, and support four new blue bike stations in Charlestown. BPD representatives explained that the city has received Expanded Gaming Act funds since 2015.

Of this year's grant, $622,000 supports public safety specifically the human trafficking unit, crimes against children unit, brick, and field services to address casino-related impacts such as trafficking, organized crime, drug distribution, cyber threats, and traffic issues. BPD also reported increased patrols during high traffic periods and ongoing coordination with partner agencies. Starting in 2025, BPD has begun using this portion of funds to support a multi-agency law enforcement task force. The Harbor Walk project is in design and expected to be completed by 2027. As Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, I recommend that this docket ought to pass. Thanks.

Thank you, Councilor O'Rourke. Is anyone looking to speak on this matter? Rousey, suspension of the rules, the chair of the committee on ways and means, acceptance of the committee report, and passage of docket number 1927. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted, and docket number 1927 is passed. Madam Clerk, would you please read dockets number 1967 to 1970? Are you prepared? Okay.

Docket 1967, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred to on November 19, 2025, Docket 1967. Message in order for your approval in order to reduce the FY26 appropriation for the reserve of collective bargaining by $6,734,000. and $33.196 to provide funding for the police department for FY26 increases contained with the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association submit a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, the chair. Oh, okay, you're gonna read the additional ones.

Docket 1968, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred to on November 19, 2025, Docket 1968, Message and Order for the Supplemental Appropriation Order for the Boston Police Department for FY26, and the amount of $6,733,196 to cover the FY26 cost item contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Patrolmen Association. The terms of the contract are July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. The major provision of the contract include a base wage of 2% and a 1% increase hazardous duty differential. The contract also contained reform related to police performances, evaluation,

and will require officers to wear name tags, submit a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Docket 1967, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred to on November 19, 2025 Docket 1967, message and order for your approval and order to reduce the FY26 appropriation for the reserve of collecting bargaining by $506,452 to provide funding for the Boston Public Health Commission for the FY26 increase contained within the collective bargain agreement between the Boston Health Boston Public Health Commission and SEIU Local 888 program collective bargaining units submit a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

and Docket 1970, the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred to on November 19, 2025, Docket 1970, message and order for a supplemental appropriation order for the Boston Public Health Commission for the FY26 in the amount of $506,452 to cover FY26 cost item contained within the collective bargain agreement between the Public Health Commission and SEIU Local 888. Program Collective Bargain Unit. The terms of the contract covers October 1st, 2023 through September 30th, 2027. The major provision Contract Include Base Wage of 2% along with a flat weekly increase totally to an annual increase of 500, 200, 550, then 500 to be given in January of each year of the contract term.

The agreement also includes an amendment of longevity career awards reclassification on lower-paid employees. Submit a report recommended under order of the pass.

Thank you. The chair recognizes the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor O'Brien-Worrell. You have the floor.

President, the Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on Monday, November 24th, 2025 to discuss dockets number 1967 through 1970. From the administration, we have Budget Director Williamson, Senior Advisor Mandarini, Director Pushy of the Office of Labor Relations, Chief Assistants of the Labor and Employment Council for BPHC, Council Wilton for BPD, and Deputy Superintendent Brown from BPD, testifying on behalf of the administration. From the City Council, we had Councilors Fitzgerald, Weber, the Vice Chair of the Committee, Councilor Pepén, Councilor Flynn and Councilor Murphy. Director Williamson stated that dockets number 1967 through 1968 transfer $6,700,000 from the collective bargaining reserve to the Boston Police Department budget. and darkest number one nine one nine six nine through one nine seven zero transfer five hundred six thousand dollars from the CBR to the BPHC's budget.

The FY 26 CBR was funded at one hundred 2,700,000 to date. The council has approved five collective bargaining agreements totaling $58,500,000. If these dockets are approved, the total funding agreements will rise to $65,800,000. Senior Advisor Mandarini explained that the BPPA agreement is a one-year contract intended to keep the city's largest police unit current. while longer-term negotiations proceed. This approach is meant to avoid large retroactive agreements and delayed payments. The administration hopes to resume negotiations early in the new year to have a framework in place before the contract's June 2026 expiration. Council has raised concerns that a one-year agreement followed by a three-year agreement could create steep cost growth.

Representatives responded that the city's fiscal plan incorporates these liabilities and that all contracts are negotiated with an eye toward long-term affordability. Key provisions in the BPPA contract include a requirement to wear name tags while on duty, limits on overlapping details and regular pay, expanded eligibility for sick time redemption to align with other police contracts and new wellness supports including up to 30 minutes of workout or meditation time per shift. Free access to department gyms and city responsibility for gym maintenance. Representatives stated that expanded vacation periods and adjusted sick time redemption are intended to reduce overtime by smoothing staffing levels across the summer and at the end of officers' careers. Regarding details in the civilian flagger program, representatives noted that the Type 1 and Type 2 details were established in a prior contract.

This agreement adds garage near sporting facilities to Type 1. The city is working with vendors to build the scheduling system and to ensure civilian flaggers are hired as employees with appropriate protections. For the BPHC agreement, representatives highlighted general wage increases, reclassification of lower-paid positions, and an employer-funded legal services plan and updates to the longevity program to match other city contracts. Reclassifications at programs such as Healthy Baby, Healthy Child will allow staff to provide a broader range of services. Representatives also noted the citywide policy change increase in Veterans Day leave for city employees who are veterans. As chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, I recommend that these matters ought to pass, and if we can please conduct a roll call vote on our dockets. Thank you.

Thank you. It's open for discussion. Is anyone looking to speak on these dockets? The Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Over the last eight years, I have consistently advocated for the City of Boston to hire Two to 300 police officers every year over the next 10 years or 15 years due to staff shortages, early retirements, retirements, transfers. out of the department to other cities or towns. When a police officer works consistently 16 hours a day, it's having a negative impact on that officer. on that office's family, on their mental health, on the family as well. When an officer wants to go home and take his child or her child to a dance recital or a youth sports practice and told at the last minute that They don't have the time off. That has a big impact on a family.

It has a big impact on a spouse. It has a big impact on children. I hear from police officers all day about this. I live in a neighborhood where we respect police officers and the role they play in the community. They are our neighbors. They are involved in youth sports. They are active in the community. They give back. They contribute. They're not looking for anything other than a little bit of respect. But working 16 hours a day consistently is not the answer. It's a recipe for disaster. When you're working 14, 15 hours a day and then you have to make a major decision, you're not on top of your game. That's when mistakes happen. What I'm advocating for is I think we also have to change the language here in the city of Boston where we need to be more respectful and supportive of police officers and their families.

so that young men and women that want to join the police force can join the police force. We encourage them to stay with family-friendly human resources proposals. that make that possible. But working 16 hours a day is not healthy for any police officer. When Commissioner Clark's first started three years ago, there was a police officer that actually worked 19 hours a day in a shift. The first conversation I had with the police commissioner at that time was about that situation. and he promised me that that would never happen again. Police officer working 19 hours and then expect him or her to be on top of their game if there was a major issue where they had to take out their weapon for whatever reason. They would not be supported here at City Hall.

They would not be supported here on the Boston City Council, even though they were placed in an environment that was unfair to them and their family and to Boston residents. I think we have to have a serious conversation going forward about police in our city, ensuring that they are treated with respect, that the City Council advocates for more police officers in the budget. that we do this consistently. We don't cut services for public safety in ensuring that police are respected and are heard and valued in the city. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Oh, okay. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Durkan. Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Council President. I just want to just speak in support of this contract. I do appreciate the wellness. I also appreciate really just the tactic of getting these contracts up to date and keeping them up to date. and I want to thank BPPA for their advocacy I think collective bargaining is incredibly important and as someone who my sister was a police officer for three and a half years I know what it's like to have family members I just want to say that I support this contract. I think in the past few years, There have been a number of wins for the city, and I think this is all about partnership. So I believe in collective bargaining, and I believe in our role to approve it. So I will be voting yes.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? I just want to thank the Chair and the City and all involved in these negotiations. I know for a long time A lot of folks wanted to see the wearing of name tags and that's something that was able to negotiate as we discussed details on pay and increases in pay. I think that is really important. So again, I want to thank everyone, as my colleagues have done, for their work and in making sure that this is before us so that we can pass it. If no one else would like to speak on this matter, we will take each docket one by one. The chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 1967. Madam Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote?

Roll call vote on docket 1-9-6-7. Councilor Breadon? Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata? Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald?

Yes.

Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune? Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia? Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy? Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén? Pepén, Councilor Santana, Councilor Weber, Councilor Weber, yes, and Councilor Worrell, yes.

12 votes in the affirmative. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket number 1967 is passed. The chair of the Committee on Ways and Means accepts acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 1968. Madam Clerk, would you please conduct a roll call vote?

Roll call vote on docket 1-9-6-8. Councilor Breadon? Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata? Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana, Santana, Councilor Weber, Councilor Weber, Councilor Worrell, Councilor Worrell, yes. 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket number 1968. Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket number 1968 has passed. The Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket number 1969. Madam Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote? Roll call vote on docket 1969.

Councilor Brayden. Brayden, yes, Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes, Councilor Fitzgerald, yes, Councilor Flynn, yes. Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Louijeune, yes, Councilor Mejia, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes. Councilor Worrell, yes. 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket number 1969 is passed. Madam Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote on docket number 1970? A roll call vote on docket 1970.

Councilor Breadon? Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata? Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Pepén, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Santana, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Weber, yes, Councilor Worrell, yes, 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. Docket number 1970. The committee report has been accepted. And docket number 1970 has passed. We are now on to matters recently heard. Madam Clerk, would you please read docket number 1852.

Docket number 1852. Order for a hearing to learn how the City Council can support the Mayor's Youth Sports Initiative to increase youth sports participation across Boston.

Thank you. The chair recognizes the chair of the Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities. Councilor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As Chair of the Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities, I will briefly report on the hearing we had for the Mayor's Youth Sports Initiative. The committee heard from the administration officials and community support providers about the major gaps limiting youth participation, especially for low-income families in neighborhoods like Chinatown, the South End, and East Boston. Key challenges included lack of field and gym space, bathroom access, scheduling difficulties, and shortages of trained coaches and referees. We also heard about the progress the city is making, expanding BCYF programs, supporting community leagues through the Let's Play Ball initiative, in investing grant funding to grow local youth sports. Across all testimony, the message was consistent. Boston needs increased funding for facilities, maintenance, and staffing

along with better coordination to ensure every child has equitable access to sports opportunities. The committee is grateful to all the providers, families, the young people who shared their experiences. We remain committed to strengthening youth sports citywide for the physical, social, and emotional well-being of Boston's children. And I believe at this time, maybe some of the other lead sponsors would like to speak on this matter. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Weber. Council Weber, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Thank you. to Chair Murphy for a great hearing. I think what I took from that is we talk a lot about Thank you. Thank you. All volunteers around our city, parents, are providing for all the kids all across the city. It's like a whole institution unto itself, and it's up to us to support that throughout the city. And I think that what we heard is that while they want to provide more programming, the obstacle, you know, there's partly an obstacle in terms of funding, but more than that it's access to fields and

and so we need to make sure as a city Weber. Thank you, Councilor Weber. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you to the chair of the committee that had a very informative hearing, an important hearing, and thank you to the administration staff that was present, including testimony, public testimony as well. What I highlighted during this important meeting is the ability for families that don't have the means, they should also be able to engage in youth sports regardless of logistic challenges that might be in their way. My son played baseball at Boston Latin School. He had access and money for cleats or uniforms or or me taking him to a game of practice. Other families may not be so fortunate that they just can't drop everything or spend $200 on cleats, but how do we support residents Living in public housing that want to play sports.

How do we support low-income families that want to play sports? And young girls and young women Sports are critical for them as well. People of color, we want to ensure that all sports are equitable and they have access to all sports. My final point I want to make is how do we support children with disabilities, many of them in wheelchairs. Sports are critical to their health and mental health. I highlighted the important work Jose Massa was doing. But I also want to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to sports regardless of what neighborhood they are in. I love seeing the Challenge Baseball League. If you haven't seen it, it's a Youth Baseball League for children with disabilities.

My nephew plays, and I think they have a program in Dorchester. My father's the assistant baseball coach, but I love seeing the kids that have disabilities getting exercise, competing, learning from their fellow Classmates and teammates, about sportsmanship, about treating each other with respect and dignity, ensuring that a team is open to everybody, regardless of skill or ability. but ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in sports. That's a priority for me, not just because I have a little nephew that has significant disabilities but I have a large number of and constituents throughout my district, persons with disabilities and I believe

Youth sports should be open for everybody and how can we be in a more inclusive society to ensure sports are available for people without the financial means as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Okay, this docket will remain in committee. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 1447?

Target number 1447. Order for hearing to discuss electrical equipment maintenance and utility safety.

The chair recognizes Councilor Pepén. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This Monday, the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology held a hearing on docket number 1447, a hearing order to discuss electrical equipment and utility safety. I was joined by the sponsor, Councilor Coletta Zapata, as well as Councilor Flynn, Worrell, Fitzgerald, and Breadon. We heard testimony from the public and two panels with representatives from Boston Public Works, Public Improvement Commission, Boston Transportation Department, and the Office of Emergency Management, as well as our Public Utility Companies. Councilor Coletta Zapata and her constituents who brought public testimony shared their personal concerns with overhead wires in Charlestown, how the heat could be impacted this infrastructure, and how investments could be made to make public utilities safer. City departments were in attendance to explain their role in addressing utility compliance as well as their role in addressing emergency incidents like the one happened in Charlestown this July.

A panel of experts, officials from Evasource, National Grid, and Verizon spoke to the incident in Charlestown, how they manage such emergencies, and how they collaborate with city and state departments. Of particular interest in the hearing were Subterranean Utilities to reduce the risk of downed wires. I want to thank the sponsor and my council colleagues for a productive conversation, but at this time I would like to pass it over to the main sponsor, Councilor Coletta Zapata.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The chair recognizes Councilor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank the Chair for taking time out of his busy schedule to hold this hearing. It was an important hearing to examine electrical equipment safety. Aging Infrastructure and Emergency Response Coordination related to the July 29th incident in Charlestown where overhead wires ignited damaged property and made residents feel unsafe. While this was a difficult topic to review, I want to thank representatives from Public Works, the PIC, and the Transportation Department, and the Office of Emergency Management for walking us through their respective oversight roles. and gaps in coordination. We discussed long-term impacts of more severe weather events and heat due to climate change and the planning associated within the city of Boston. I also want to thank the utility companies who joined us for this hearing. These companies, namely Eversource, acknowledged the severity of the incident and pointed to equipment failure exacerbated by extreme heat.

Eversource discussed new transformer upgrades, enhanced staff training with Boston Fire, and areas where response coordination fell short. Both Eversource and National Grid describe the complexity and cost of potentially undergrounding these wires, and National Grid discussed its impacts, the potential impacts that could happen with their existing infrastructure and estimated that cost could go upwards of six to 10 million per mile with excavation challenges and burden often falling on municipalities. We also heard from residents in Charlestown who shared powerful testimony, and I want to thank Shannon, Amanda, and Nora. for taking the time to join us in person to share their concerns. I will continue to work with city departments and utility companies to examine areas for improvement, to streamline coordination, tighten emergency communication between departments, and ensure public safety. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. You have the floor.

I had the opportunity to attend this hearing and listen carefully to the public testimony from the residents of Charlestown, but also to the administration team and the public utilities that responded. I think it was referenced earlier, but I want to be clear on this. I wasn't satisfied with the response from the City of Boston Emergency Management Department. And the reason I was not happy with their response to this major incident, public safety incident, was the deputy chief that was present didn't know if someone from emergency management was actually on scene. During that fire, he didn't know if the chief was on scene or any official was on scene. He was unsure of what their role was as it relates to

A fire that could potentially burn down, which burned several cars, but could potentially burn down homes. Many of the residents that Councilor Coletta Zapata mentioned At least one of them had health issues. And with power out, not having that access to utilities and power can have a major impact on a senior. that needs the air condition, or a young baby, or someone going through difficult medical challenges. I challenge the city and I challenge the public utility companies to work closely with the City of Boston Emergency Management. Yes, we failed at the Charlestown response, But we can improve from that. There are lessons to be learned. But what we can't do is repeat the same mistakes again.

That's the challenge I highlighted in my statement during this hearing. And it's this challenge I'll highlight Again, we need to ensure that emergency management is fully engaged when there's a major incident happening in any neighborhood of Boston. They failed during that mission. It's time to work with them to make improvements. Thank you.

Thank you. This docket will remain in committee. We are now on to motions, orders, and resolutions. Reminder that pursuant to Rule 39, remarks by Councilors at the time of petition, order, a resolution has been admitted and assigned to committee for review shall be limited to three minutes for the sponsor and two minutes for any other councillor as the appropriate time for questioning and debate is at public hearings and working sessions. We will also be taking as a courtesy a docket out of order. We will be taking out of order Councilor Murphy and Flynn's docket, docket number 2048. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 2048?

Docket number 2048. Councillors Murphy and Flynn offer the following. Murphy, you have the floor.

President, and thank you for taking this out of order. I file this resolution along with Councilor Flynn in support of establishing a Chinese American Veterans Memorial on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. This memorial would honor generations of Chinese American veterans whose courage and sacrifice have too often gone unrecognized, and it would create a meaningful space for reflection, education, and community on the Greenway. As I said in the resolution, this memorial is long overdue. Chinese American veterans have served our country with extraordinary courage, dignity, and loyalty, often at times when our nation did not treat them with the same respect. Creating a permanent memorial on the Greenway ensures their contributions are finally acknowledged, honored, and preserved for generations to come. It will also serve as a place for education and reflection. Helping future generations understand their service and sacrifice.

With strong community support and thoughtful planning, this memorial will stand as a lasting tribute to these veterans and their families. and I'm proud to stand with Post 328 and our veteran community in this effort. I hope my colleagues will support this today, this resolution, and I do want to say that I spoke with Chris Cook about this and I know they're working closely with the post and supports this resolution and also Senator Collins and Representative Michaelowitz who this would be is in their district Also, just to make them aware that I thought it was important that our colleagues here just show us support. Boston, we have this opportunity to honor these veterans in a meaningful and lasting way, and I'm proud to help move this effort forward. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you to Councillor Murphy for taking the lead on this. This is an important resolution because what it does is acknowledges the incredible role and sacrifices of Chinese and Chinese-American veterans, the sacrifice and service they made for our nation and their families as well. I served with them. In my 20-something years experience in the military, I saw firsthand the contributions of Chinese and Chinese-Americans, Asian-Americans, but I also know that they weren't always treated with respect. treated with respect that they've earned. And I also know that during the same period of time I was serving with them, you know, back home in cities like Boston or San Francisco, Their families were often subject to anti-Asian racism. They are patriotic Americans.

They are not disloyal. They've served our country. They deserve respect. We have a history in this country of being disrespectful to Chinese and the Chinese-American community, including the Chinese Exclusion Act. Prior to that, the Transcontinental Railroad was built by the Chinese and Irish laborers. And at that famous photo in Utah, the Chinese community was not included. It was disrespectful. But what I want to do is ensure that these veterans are heard. They are important. They matter. Their sacrifices matter. They deserve some empathy. respect and dignity from the residents of Boston.

And I'm proud to stand with Councilor Murphy and Senator Collins and Representative Michalowicz and Chris Cook to ensure that the Chinese and Chinese American veterans are heard and respected. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Durkan. Councilor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. I just want to thank the makers for this. And I also wanted to shout out Karen Goodfellow, who does great work for the city, who's the Director of Transformative Art and Monuments. I know that oftentimes I've supported artwork at the Big Bruin statue at Portal Park and different things. There's quite a process to get from the Public Improvement Commission and the Arts Commission and obviously the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture to get something off the ground. I prepared to support this today and just knowing that there's sort of a bunch of check marks needed to get through just wanted to shout out Karen's great work at the city she does incredible work and So I hope that those veterans groups that are involved with this as well as the Greenway connect with her and excited to support this today because obviously Chinese American veterans have done a lot for

Thank you.

Is anyone else looking to speak on the matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Madam Clerk, could you please add Councilors Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Mejia, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Worrell. Please have the chair. Councillors Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 2048. Madam Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote?

Call vote on docket 2048. Councilor Breadon?

Yes.

Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata? Yes. Councilor Coletta Zapata, yes. Councilor Durkan? Yes. Councilor Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald?

Yes.

Fitzgerald. Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilor Flynn, yes. Councilor Louijeune? Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia? Yes. Councilor Murphy? Yes. Councilor Murphy, yes. Councilor Pepén? Pepén, yes. Council Santana?

Yes.

Council Santana, yes. Council Weber? Yes. Council Weber, yes. Council Worrell?

Yes.

Council Worrell, yes.

12 votes in the affirmative. Thank you, docket number 2047 has been adopted. Madam Clerk, can we go back into regular schedule and order and can you please read docket number 2045?

The last one was docket 2048.

Eight, so we're going back to the beginning of motions, orders, and resolutions, and reading, oh, I'm sorry, did I miss, okay.

You said 47.

Okay, sorry. Oh, right, okay, sorry, I see that. Docket 2048. has been adopted. Okay. Can we now go back to the beginning of motions, orders, and resolutions? And Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 2045?

Docket 2045, Councilor Worrell, offer the following order relative to the adoption of the class classification in the city of Boston in FY 2026. Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Worrell. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This is an order that the Council sees every year and is part of the tax rate classification process. It addresses two matters, the difference in tax rates between residential and commercial properties, and the maximum savings allowed by the residential tax exemption. Historically, the city has approved a breakdown that puts the lowest amount of tax burden on residential taxpayers and allows them the maximum amount of savings with the residential tax exemption. which is 35% of the average assessed value. This order aims to uphold that tradition. Today's filing is the same as we do every year. To set the maximum, 35% residential homeowners exemption for the year and to set the residential factor at the minimum shift versus the commercial rate. Essentially, like with all taxes under Proposition 2 1⁄2, this is a math problem. and the variables each year are the valuations and new growth.

The mayor this morning provided the numbers that Commissioner Aranello would testify to next week. The average residential tax bill for a single family home is expected to rise 13% or $780. The average Class A commercial tax bill is expected to decrease by 4.4% or $210,000. I also want to take this time to urge our colleagues at the Statehouse to move forward on the tax measures we've already sent up there from increasing the senior tax exemption to the tax shift and even tax rebates. There are a number of options available for the legislator to lower taxes for our residents and I urge them to act. We all know that residential taxes have seen spikes of more than 7% for several years now, dating back to 2018. And it's time to protect our homeowners and our residents. I look forward to this conversation and this hearing on this matter. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. Is anyone else looking to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Madam Clerk, please add Councilors Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Pepén, Santana, Weber, please add the chair. This docket, docket number 2045, will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Madam Clerk, could you please read docket number 2046?

Docket number 2046. Councilor Louijeune and Weber offer the following. Order for hearing on building a stronger fair housing future for Boston.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Council President Louijeune. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Can I suspend the rules to add Councilor Santana as a third original co-sponsor?

Council President Louijeune seeks suspension of the rules to add Councilor Santana as a third original co-sponsor. Hearing and seeing no objections, Councilor Santana is so added. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you. This is very similar to a hearing that we filed not this calendar year, last year, when Bob Terrell, may he rest in peace, was still with us and the head of fair housing looking into how we can improve our fair housing practices in the city of Boston. Fair housing is meant to ensure that people aren't being discriminated against who are part of who are Section 8 voucher holders. We know that housing discrimination is rampant and the way that we know that is through the gold standard for for housing testing, which is paired testing, where you send someone, maybe it's someone with a disability and someone who doesn't have a disability, applying for the same apartment and seeing If there's discrimination involved and then holding them liable under federal, state, and local laws. Because of the current administration, we don't have this testing happening which

which increases the likelihood that our residents are facing discrimination on account of race, gender, family status, ability status. And it's a real big cause for concern on this council. We've had hearings on discrimination with respect to fair housing and discrimination with respect to Section 8 vouchers holders. And I think that it's important that we make sure that the office that we have here, especially in the lack of a We have a structure really right now at the federal level to make sure this testing is happening that we do so here. We filed resolutions in support of Fair Housing Month. We've honored those who are doing the work. I've had hearings here since my first year and it's important that we I understand the urgency of this moment.

Weber also brought this issue to my attention and wanted to make sure that we have a fair housing structure here in the city of Boston. We talked about this and I told him that we've had hearings in the past about it. So I want to thank him for elevating the importance of this issue right now and the urgency of this issue right now. We don't have a director of fair housing here in this city. The work must continue. and it's incumbent upon us to make sure that that happens. So I look forward to having this hearing and seeing how we can support the city and making sure that all of our residents, it's already too expensive for most of our residents to Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. and as we look at the next budget cycle, think about how we're supporting the work of this office.

Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Council Weber.

Councilor, you have the floor. Okay, thank you. Just Madam President has spearheaded the advocacy around this, so I think she deserves 99% of the credit for us looking at this. Just a brief story. Yeah, it's 1973 in New York City. A large real estate holder is renting out apartments and the New York's, actually somebody, a person of color goes in, they're told that there are no apartments. The New York City Human Rights Commission sends over a tester who's white. They rent the apartment to that person. They then bring in the person of color to confront the building manager. The building manager says, I'm only doing what my boss told me to do. I'm not allowed to rent to black tenants. That led to a Department of Justice lawsuit against the landlord under the Fair Housing Act for discrimination. That landlord's name was Donald Trump. They sued him and his father.

And now that person is trying to dismantle our fair housing protections around the country. This is how you combat housing discrimination. You have housing testers. You have a viable program. We need to have that here in Boston. We heard in our hearing last year that similar to what happened in New York City in 1973, We have landlords who are openly texting, emailing people, sorry, do not rent units to Section 8 voucher holders. The way to combat that is a viable testing program, and so I look forward to working on this with all of you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Santana. Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank Madam President for bringing this conversation back forward. I think this needs to be treated with more urgency. especially at the times that we're living in right now. Housing is a fundamental human right, but in Boston, large parts of our community are denied access to housing opportunities and neighborhood choice. For these community members, especially our black and brown and low-income neighbors, Housing is a freedom that is restricted. The difficult truth is that discrimination widespread regardless of city, state, and federal law whether it be fighting against the higher rates of mortgage denial for aspiring black homeowners, denials of apartment applications for those using Section 8, Housing Vouchers, Discrimination in Vental Applications for Black Renters, or Denial of Apartment Viewing for Voucher Users. Our city can do more to protect the right to housing, and it has to.

Housing is a deeply intersectional issue for black and brown Bostonians, for voucher users, for our formerly incarcerated community members, for our disabled neighbors, and for everybody who wants to call Boston their home. We urgently need to We need housing justice and we need to hold landlords accountable when they use these practices. Our communities have deep concerns about equity in our housing market and rightfully so. A hearing is a first. Step in listening to those concerns, finding gaps in our current practices, and strengthening our strategies for ensuring equal access to housing. And also, like Madam President said, I think as we're approaching budget season, I think we need to really see How we can continue to serve this office and really invest in this office to make sure that they're doing that job. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councillor Brayden. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for bringing this forward again. It's really important that we enforce and really try and make it easier Thank you very much. We haven't seen so many international students coming back. Our housing inventory has a lot of vacancies at the moment, just as it had during COVID. And I've been in conversation with one realtor is a really good actor. He works really diligently. He takes on the cases himself because he wants to ensure that folks who come in with a voucher are getting the most help that they possibly can.

We've been in conversation with him for some time, since probably COVID, around the bureaucratic barriers in the system that make it really, really difficult. When someone has a city voucher or a voucher and they're going into the private market, they need to have all their T's crossed and all their I's dotted. They need to almost have a pre-approval piece of paper to say this person has got a voucher and they're pre-approved and this is all their paperwork. They've got all their credit checks, da da da, the whole way down the line. So that they can move quickly because I think what happens is that very often our systems, our bureaucratic systems, and we've talked to Chris Norris at Metro Housing about this, that there's a level of inertia in the system that we can't turn around those applications quickly.

and compete with people in the private market who turn up and move it along faster. We have fair market, small areas fair market vouchers. We have city vouchers. Lots of opportunities to help people bridge the gap between their income and the cost of market rate housing, but it's not working because there's many, many bureaucratic barriers in the system. and I'd really like to, I think we want to bring that into this conversation when we have it.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I support this proposal. Discrimination is wrong. I also think it's wrong When persons of disabilities, people of color, our seniors don't have that same level of access and are discriminated against in our own public housing developments. I've seen it. I've seen it Thanksgiving morning at Ruth Barclay apartments where a young woman of color and her daughter Felt, and was saying to me directly, she felt unheard, unseen, disregarded.

Another gentleman was in a wheelchair, and he felt like he was insignificant by the city. We have to face discrimination wherever it's at, whether it's at the federal government, whether it's at the state government, yes, right here in the city government, right here at Boston Housing. I have seen it at Ruth Barclay Apartments where residents are stuck on elevators for an extended period of time, unable to get out of the elevator or to get down from the elevator from the fifth floor to the first floor for a Medical appointment. That's discrimination. That's violation of the most important federal legislation there is, the Americans with Disability Act. We have to be consistent. ensuring that persons with disabilities, our seniors, people of color are treated with dignity and respect in Boston Housing Authority. We can't pretend it's not happening.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I just want to thank Madam President and Councilor Weber and Santana for bringing this forward. It bears repeated that our fair housing obligations are not optional. They are mandated by law. My colleagues have talked about the importance of fair housing testers, but I also just want to raise up that it also includes using Zoning as a tool to rectify the harms perpetuated by discrimination in services Linden practices and outdated codes that continue to make stable housing inaccessible for too many residents. That mandate also calls for us to create home ownership opportunities because that is how we help residents leave the rent burning cycle which only furthers traps them in the poverty and perpetuates inequality in our neighborhoods. If we are doing this the right way, we should be spending more time encouraging development that actually meets the expressed needs of our residents rather than shepherding projects through the review process as quickly as possible.

That is a recipe for further displacement and gentrification. We are obligated to make sure our planning department is set up with all the tools at their disposal to rectify zoning and housing wrongs and make Boston truly livable for all families. To that end, I want to uplift the work that Action for Equity, and their tireless advocacy in this space. My office has been working with them on a proposal to create policies that promote growth through responsible development and special protection zones for the areas at the highest risk of displacement and the City by using our zoning code to prevent displacement before it happens rather than react to it once people are already displaced. I look forward to continuing this work to solidify fair housing practices as a norm in Boston. Would anyone like to add their name? Madam Clerk, could you please add Councilor Breadon, Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor Durkan, Councilor Fitzgerald, Councilor Flynn, Councilor Pepén, And please add the chair.

Docket number 2046 will refer to the Committee on Housing and Community Development. Madam Clerk, can you please read docket number 2047?

TARGET NUMBER 2047 COUNCILLOR FLYNN OFFERED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDING PREVENTION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN RELATED TO SPIKING IN THE CITY OF

Thank you. And I also just wanted to say that the hearing order, I know it's a hearing order and we're not going to hold a hearing before the end of the year, but given the urgency that my colleagues mentioned, I wanted to file it so that in the new year we can refile and elevate it as an issue. Just wanted to make that clear as to why hearing order now with one meeting left. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you. Madam Chair, may I add Councillor Coletta Zapata as an original co-sponsor?

You sure can. Councillor Coletta Zapata is so added.

Madam Chair, I do want to give Councilor Coletta Zapata the opportunity if she would like to speak first on this. She's been working on this issue much longer than I have.

Awesome, wonderful. Councilor Coletta Zapata, you have the floor. Or would you not, you don't want to accept that deference? I'll defer to the lead sponsor. Okay. The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, and again, I want to acknowledge Councilor Coletta Zapata's work on this issue and many of these issues for many years. Drink spiking occurs when a person deliberately puts alcohol or drugs and to someone else's drink without their knowledge. These drugs can include roofies, GHB, or ketamine, instances of Drink spiking can occur at pubs, bars, nightclubs, even private houses, parties. According to reports in 2023 there were 107 reported instances of drink spiking in Boston and 71 reported in 2024. Physical symptoms of spiking can include confusion, nausea, and vomiting, loss of effective communication, memory loss, even paralysis.

If someone suspects they or someone else have been spiked, it is critical to tell the establishment's manager or party host and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Someone who has been spiked should never be left alone. and or continue drinking. What I'm asking for is for us to be aware obviously of this issue, but to put more resources and attention to it. I represent a large area. and District 2 with a lot of nightclubs or restaurants or bars, I should say. And a lot of young women do go there. And I do see... I do see young women together, but in my neighborhood, even in South Boston or downtown Boston, there have been many cases of these spikings taking place, and it's impacting the Thank you.

Thank you. educational resources so that they can deal with this growing problem. Also, there's a role for public safety for our police and fire department, too, who have some jurisdiction over restaurants. But restaurant owners need to be held accountable in bars for what happens on their premises. And we can't just ask them to educate people about this critical issue We need to be fully involved and engaged to ensure that residents are protected, mostly women in these restaurants and bars.

We have to have zero tolerance for any of this type of spiking that's taking place and including enforcement and criminal justice response as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Coletta Zapata. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Councilor Flynn for that kind gesture. I reached out and asked if I can be second and he immediately said yes. And so I just want to thank you for your leadership and your partnership. I'm proud to join you as a co-sponsor because this issue is deeply personal to me and so many Boston residents, especially our young people who deserve to feel safe in our nightlife spaces. As many of you know, I have been working on this issue since 2022. We heard from many survivors who called my office and shared their stories publicly. I filed a hearing order to investigate drink tampering in Boston and that work revealed gaps in care, testing, reporting, and prevention in and various strategies citywide, and it led to tangible action. So we actually improved the Boston police reporting system so we can track where this is happening. Now the Boston Police assigns a detective to each case, which was not happening beforehand. There's been better officer training to train them when folks come, both women and men, all people across the spectrum,

Come to the police and say that they've been drugged to better train how to handle the situation. We provided technical assistance for bars and clubs, including cup cover stickers. So I want to shout out to Corey and Reynolds from the Office of Nightlight. of Life Economy, who created these stickers and have now given them out to various Small Businesses and Establishments across the City of Boston and we've partnered with many stakeholders including the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. I shared that work at the State House this June testifying in support of a statewide legislation that establishes Standardized testing in hospitals. Wouldn't you know it? Sometimes this happens. Unfortunately, it's an unfortunate event, and my heart goes out to all the survivors. When they go to a neighborhood health center or hospital, sometimes they don't have nurses on staff that are trained to handle these sort of cases, and so people have to sit In this for hours at a time and it is truly undignified. So the statewide legislation would take care of that and mitigate the issue.

And so today's resolution aligns with that advocacy. Drink spiking is not a public health concern. It is tied to sexual violence and predatory behavior. And by supporting this resolution, we enforce a basic expectation that everyone should be able to enjoy a night out in the city without fear that their drink will be tampered with. And everyone deserves to go out and live their life authentically and free and have fun. And so again, I want to thank the maker and ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Durkan. You have the floor.

Thank you so much and thank you to Councilor Flynn for sponsoring this and Councilor Coletta Zapata for your continued advocacy on this issue. As someone who has experienced a drink spiking actually right outside of the City of Boston, I know what it's like to not really know what to do and I know what I ended up doing was calling a Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. for because they were they believe their drink was spiked and finding nowhere to have that testing done so I really want to Make sure that any conversations we have about this particular issue, we're including hospitals because that's often the first place that people go.

I also want to thank my constituent Alana Katz-Katz who's been working on this issue tirelessly and has come to my office hours to talk to me. about the work that Councilor Coletta Zapata has been working on for years. So I know this is so personal to so many people. And when I got on this council floor last year and talked about it, so many constituents that I did not expect reached out because their daughters, their sisters, and their sons had experienced biking. So I just want to thank everyone for being brave and speaking up. It's not easy. And I think it's really, really important that no matter what we do in the city of Boston, trying to shed a light on issues that people truly experience. So thank you to the sponsors.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be less than 20 seconds. Take your time. I forgot to mention, I should have included, one of the reasons I did file this along with Councilor Coletta Zapata is an issue that I've worked on for many years is the crime lab. Testing of sexual assault kits is a critical part of this discussion for me as well, and it's something I'm not giving up on, making sure we have the best crime lab in the country. We're not there, but I'm not giving up. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Would anyone else like to add their name? Madam Clerk, please add Councilors, Breadon, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, please add the chair. Flynn, and Coletta Zapata seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 2047. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. This resolution has been adopted. Before we move on to personnel orders, would anyone like to add their name to a docket when they were out of chambers or file or offer a motion to reconsider a vote? No? Okay. We are now moving on to personnel orders. Mr. Clerk, can you please read the personnel orders? And before we do that, I want to say a special thanks to docket number 2050, Melissa Morgan, who will be joining as the new council Human Resources Manager, after a thorough central staff process.

Thank you so much, Michelle Goldberg. And Public Rules Committee meeting held on November 14th. Thank you to my colleagues who were in attendance. It's been a priority of mine to make sure that we build and strengthen our human resources here on the City Council, and I'm excited to have her joining us. So I just wanted to Flynn.

Personal Order 2050, Consolution.

Thank you. The chair moves to passage of dockets number 2049 and 2050. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. These dockets have passed. We're now moving on to green sheets. Would anyone like to pull anything from our green sheets? I'm sure people do not need this reminder, but next Wednesday is our last council meeting of the year. And so if there are dockets that you want passed, Make sure that, you know, you're doing what's necessary from either pulling green sheets or committee reports so that we can get these DACAs and vote on them before the end of the calendar year. The chair recognizes Councilor Arrau, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. As Chair of Ways and Means, I'd like to pull docket number 1926 from the green sheets. It's on page two.

1926. Madam Clerk, do you have that docket before you? Okay, Madam Clerk, could you please read that docket into the record?

Docket 1926. Two seconds. Second reading. Message in order for the approval and order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of $11,150,000 for the purpose of paying costs for the windows and door replacement project at the following schools, the Gardner Pilot Academic School and the Leiden Elementary School. This includes the payment of all clause incidental or related therefore and for which the City of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. set amount to be expended under the direction of the Public Facility Department on behalf of the Boston Public Schools. Thank you.

Absent objection? The docket is properly before the body, and the motion of Councilor Orrell is accepted. Councilor Orrell, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Loan orders require two votes by the council, a minimum of two weeks apart. The first vote on this docket was taken November 19th. and this will be the second vote. It's focused on doors and windows for the Garden and Pilot Academy and Linden Lighting Elementary School. And as chair of Ways and Means, I now ask for a second reading of this docket and a vote in the affirmative. Thank you. Thank you.

And can you repeat the docket number so that I have it? 1926. 1926. Okay. Thank you. Orrell, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, acceptance of docket number 1926 in its second reading. Madam Clerk, could you please conduct a roll call vote?

Roll call vote on docket 1926. Breadon, Colletta Zapata, Collins, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Yes, Councilor Louijeune. Yes. Councilor Louijeune, yes. Councilor Mejia. Yes. Councilor Mejia, yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Pepén. Yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Councilor Santana. Councilor Weber.

Yes.

O'Rourke Aurelius, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and affirmative.

Thank you. This document has been accepted in its second reading, and it has passed. The chair recognizes Councilor Durkan. Councilor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. As the Chair of Planning, Development, and Transportation, I am pulling 1990, which is the landmark designation of Ferdinand's Blue Bookstore, a.k.a. the Bruce C. Bowling Building.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, do you have the docket before you?

No, I'm getting it together.

One second.

Durkan, do you have a copy of the docket?

It's a landmark designation.

. Communication was received from the City Clerk, transmitting a communication from the Boston Landmarks Commission for City Council action on the designation of petition 15289, Ferdella, Bruce, Thor, Bruce L. Bowling Building, Washington Street, Roxbury as a landmark effective after December 17, 2025, if not acted upon.

Thank you. Absent objection, the motion of the committee chair is accepted and docket number 1990 is properly before the body. Councilor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you. As the Chair of Planning, Development, and Transportation, I am in strong support of the Boston Landmarks Commission's unanimous decision to designate the Bruce Bowling Building as a landmark. During one of Roxbury's greatest periods of prosperity, this building was Ferdinand's Blue Bookstore, a retailer that contributed significantly to the development of Dudley, now Nubian Square, and help Roxbury become a cultural and entrepreneurial center not just for the city of Boston, but New England and beyond. Located in the prominent intersection of Warren, and Washington Streets architect John Lyman Faxon designed the building using a blend of Baroque and Renaissance Revival stylistic elements. Although only the facade of the store remains, the frame of the 19th century department store still stands as historic architecture and a reminder of the evolution of Dudley Station and the square as an important transportation and commercial center.

In 2007, the BRA gutted the interior of the building and rebuilt it as a municipal space so we've all been inside while preserving the exterior facade as part of Mayor Menino's Dudley Vision Project. In 2014, Mayor Walsh suggested that it be renamed in honor of the City Council's first black president, Bruce C. Bolling. As you all know, this building now plays a significant role in our city as the BPS headquarters and space for business and nonprofits. As always, it's one of the greatest honors as my role as Chair of Planning, Development, and Transportation to shepherd landmark designations before this body. This building carries profound cultural and historical significance, and the city's efforts to rename and restore it reflect our enduring commitment to honor these narratives. Today, I hope we affirm commitment by joining the Boston Landmarks Commission and the mayor in approving this designation and upholding this landmark for generations to come.

Thank you. And thank you, Councilor Durkan, for putting this forward. Bowling Building is historic, named after one of the greats here on the council, the late Bruce Bowling, but even before that, what it has meant to the Nubian Square community, and so it's well-deserved to have its landmark designation. The Chair recognizes, Councilor Weber, is that on this docket or is that on another, that's on another docket, great. The Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to support this proposal. I have the opportunity to Bowling and his family well over the years and just had a tremendous amount of respect for Bruce Bowling and the Bowling family and this is certainly an exceptional tribute to Bolling, Council President Bolling, and the Bolling family as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Councillor Durkan. seeks acceptance and passage of docket number 1990. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. This docket is passed. The chair recognizes Council Weber. Council Weber, you have the floor.

Okay, yeah, this is about docket number 2037, which I brought up before it was tabled. Do you want to reread it?

Yes, Madam Clerk, could you please reread it into the record? Okay. Apologies, I know how difficult it is to table something for the order, so I deeply apologize to the clerk's office.

Rocket 2037, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $5,000 in the form of a grant, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Roots Collaboration Grant awarded by the donor group to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund transforming unused land into stable assets and provide climate, wellness, and workforce benefits with a focus on moving an invasion plant and establishing a walking path. Thank you. Councilor Weber, you have the floor.

Yeah, just again, as the chair of the Committee on Labor Workforce and Economic Development, I seek suspension of passage. There's a question about this docket because the work being performed by Power Corps Boston participants will be done in Hingham, be paid for. by Blue Cross Blue Shield. I'm told by the administration that while most of the work Power Corps does is in Boston sometimes to get the participants, you know, Good experience. That work occurs outside the city. This is one of those instances. So I'm just going to bring it up for a vote and hopefully it's $5,000 and get some Power Corps, Boston people, some good experience. I hope we can pass this.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn on the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Chair Weber. and that explanation seems reasonable to me. I'm going to be voting in favor of the proposal. I also want to acknowledge Denise from Intergovernmental who has done an outstanding job as well doing some research about this particular issue. So I want to say thank you to Denise for her professional work as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Weber seats passage of docket number suspension of the rules and passage of docket number 2037. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. This docket is passed. Would anyone else like to pull anything from the green sheets? We are now moving on to late files. I am informed by the clerk that there are nine late file matters, eight personnel orders, and one communication. Can you please read the late file personnel orders into the record?

Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Fitzgerald. Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Fitzgerald. Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén. Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén, Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Weber, Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Weber, Personal Order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana, and personal order, Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana.

Okay, absent objection. Okay, we will take a vote to add these late file matters onto the docket. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. These late file personnel matters have been added onto the agenda. We will now take a vote on these late file personnel matters. All those in favor say aye. I, all those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. These late-file personnel matters have passed. Madam Clerk, could you please read the next late-file matter onto the record?

Late-file docket. 2-0-7-0. Communication from Councilor Flynn to Nicholas Arrinello, assessing commissioner, requesting data from the hearing to discuss tax rates for residential and commercial property owner in Boston.

Thank you. Absent objection, this late file communication order is added onto the record. Councilor Flynn, it's on the record. It is a communication. We normally do not speak on communications. But if you would like to speak on the communication, you have two minutes to do so. You're not seeking to speak on the communication? Okay, thank you. This communication will be placed on file. We are now moving on to the consent agenda. I've been informed by the Clerk that there are no additions to the consent agenda. The question now comes on approval of the various matters contained within the consent agenda. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Thank you. The consent agenda has been adopted. We are now on to announcements. Please remember, these are for upcoming dates and events. Some birthday shout outs to Anna Calderon in Councilor Santana's office.

Karishma, I believe both Anna and Karishma's birthdays are today, so happy birthday to the both of them, and next week to Angie Brutus. Also, we have a lot of tree lighting still happening the rest of this week in downtown and in other parts of our city at the Seaport. And this weekend is the Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour, so I hope to see My colleagues and our residents out greeting Santa. Do any of my colleagues have any announcements that they'd like to make at this time?

The chair recognizes Councilor Worrell. Councilor Worrell, you have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I just want to let my colleagues in the public know about a relief effort for Jamaica. We know that the hurricane, Category 5 hurricane, hit Jamaica a couple weeks ago. and we are still looking to raise funds because Jamaica is still looking for recovery and relief right now. So December 7th at 6 p.m., Cam Patterson from SNL will be performing at Laugh Boston. So I just want to let my colleagues and the public know about that fundraiser that will be happening on December 7th at 6 p.m. for relief efforts in Jamaica. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Arrau. Would anyone else like to make an announcement? We are now moving on to memorials. If anyone would like to speak on behalf of anyone who has passed, now is the time to do so. I just want to uplift State Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti, who recently passed after a valiant battle with cancer. So may she rest in power and peace. She meant so much to her residents in Cape Ann and in her district. So I just wanted to make sure that we uplift State Rep Anne Margaret Ferranti and her family. Also, another tragic loss to the Boston EMT was Regina Supran. who also recently lost a battle and so wanted to make sure that we uplift her family during this difficult time. And Carlos Castillo who lost his grandmother. Many of us know him.

and want to just make sure that we uplift him and Jelani Phillips, also a community advocate here in our city, lost his mother, Mary Jamila Elizabeth Phillips. I just want to make sure that we remember all of those who've passed. Would anyone like to? Uplifted Name. Okay. Today we will adjourn our meeting in memory of Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. Councillor Flynn.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I did want to acknowledge and highlight the West Virginia Member of the West Virginia National Guard that was killed serving our nation, Sarah Beckstorm. She was a young woman and killed in Washington, D.C. by Thank you.

Today, we will adjourn our meeting in memory of the following individuals. On behalf of Councilor Coletta Zapata, Newman A. Flanagan. On behalf of Councilor Durkan, Susan M. Anderson Flynn. On behalf of Councillor Flynn and myself and the entire Boston City Council, Army National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. On behalf of myself, Oscar Castillo, Head Chef at Erie Pub, Mary Jamia Elizabeth Phillips, Mother of Jelani Phillips, State Rep Anne Margaret Ferranti, Regina Supran, Boston EMT, Matilda Del Pilar Mata-Polanze, grandmother of Carlos Castillo. On behalf of Councilor Worrell, Allison Marie Wilson. A moment of silence. The Chair moves that when the Council adjourns today, it does so in memory of the aforementioned individuals.

The Council is scheduled to meet again in the INL Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 12 noon. for our last meeting of the calendar year. Thank you to my colleagues, to central staff, the clerk and the clerk's office, and the council stenographer. Thank you to Joe Walter, for stepping in today in our clerk's absence. All in favor of adjournment, please say aye. Aye. The council is adjourned.