City Council

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council. Viewers can watch the council meeting live on YouTube at boston.gov backslash 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 could you please take a roll call vote to ascertain the presence of a quorum I better give you the mic. Yeah, there you go.

Councilor Breadon? Here. Council Coletta Zapata? Here Council Culpepper? Here Councillor Durkan? Here council Fitzgerald? Here Counsel Flynn? Council Louie Jean? Here Murphy, Councilor Pepén, Council Santana, Council Weber and Council Worrell. A quorum is present.

Thank you Mr Clerk I've been informed by the clerk that a quorum was present Mr Clerk, if you would please do us the honour of offering some brief remarks as an invocation today. We do not have clergy.

Good morning. Please stand. Let's pray. We speak to the God, the goodness, the spirit of life, the eternal. We speaks to the mysterious thread that connects us one to the other and to the universe. At the center of our beings, we embody the yearning of all people to touch each other more deeply. To hear each other keenly. To see each others joys and sorrows as our own. And know that we are not alone unless Create solitude for ourselves, and even then community awaits us. Out of our yearning we have come. May we help each other to proclaim the possibilities we see, to create the community we desire to worship what is worthy in our lives, to teach the truth as we know it and to serve with justice in all the ways that we can and our lives fulfilled in one another.

Let us go now into the silence of our faith May peace be yours. Amen.

I recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Thank you everyone. Before we begin the presentation I'd like to invite the Boston International Newcomers Academy students I think these students visited our offices this morning. They had many good questions for us and just invite our students and our colleagues to come up for a photograph. And there's some room up on the dais here, so any come on up. Come on up!

Come on up.

Stand up here, you hold the gap.

You look like a really mean business.

With which band? Are we blocking anyone? All the kids? Okay. How about this? Is everybody in? Step forward, step forward. Yeah, everybody wants to come down here.

Can I go down? Yeah, go down. The shorter ones!

Come on.

Come here, right there. Excellent. This is better. All right. Is anyone still? Okay.

You guys got to be able to see these phones.

Three, two, one. Thank you all so much.

Thank you to Binka for coming to see us this morning.

Now we have one presentation today. Councilor Pepén is recognizing the Boston Ride for Life. Counciler Pepén, if you'd like to come forward and bring your guests with you? Here they come. One of our guests is all the way from Alaska, so welcome to Boston. Come on up.

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you Madam President for the introduction and good afternoon to everyone gathered here today. Today I have the pleasure of presenting to the Council, Alexa Gumberg and Sherry Arrington on behalf of Ride For Your Life. Ride For Your Life is a national organization that advocates for safer streets and an end to traffic fatalities, particularly those involving vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. The annual Ride for Your Life and companion events across the country is both a somber memorial to the lives lost to traffic violence, but also a rally to demand action at all levels of government. Boston's annual ride and walk will be taking place this Sunday, October 25th Yesterday I had a very good conversation with the family of Louisa Gag, a servant of this city who lost her life riding on our streets.

The Gag family pointed to cities around the country Even to some in our own backyard, cities that are doing the work and taking ambitious steps to save lives. That's what this is about, saving lives. We have the obligation to do the same here in Boston but at this time I want to provide the microphone over to Alexa and Sherry, to provide an opportunity for them to say a few words and talk about the work that they're doing.

Thank you so much, all of you for having us today and especially to Councillor Pepén and his team for having. My name's Alexa. About two years ago my lifelong friend was hit and killed by a truck while biking in Cambridge Two years later, it doesn't get easier. I wish I could tell you that it does especially for all of you who knew and loved Louisa. My friend Minty was killed A very similar crash to Louisa, and this Sunday we are going to honor both of them and the 255 other people who've lost their lives to traffic violence this year in Massachusetts. I'd also like to have Sherry speak.

I'm Sherry Arrington, and I'm the one from Alaska. I'm a survivor of a fatal crash October 1, 2021. My husband and I had just arrived in Boston for The beginning of a three-week vacation. We got almost to Danvers before we were involved in a crash where something came out of the vehicle, struck our car, came through the windshield and impaled my husband and killed him. So through that tragic experience, I have the journey that has brought me here today. I work with Families for Safe Streets and the Truck Safety Coalition Across the past five years, I don't just do this to honor my husband. I realize that this is a responsibility I have to help make every community To talk to people everywhere, how do we make our community safer for everyone no matter how they move whether you're driving a car or walking. So I'm here

I'll be leading the walk Sunday and so come out and join us because it really is important that people hear and see us and know that we need to change our communities.

I'll just add the walk will go from Boston Common around City Hall, which I think you guys are familiar with. And then back at the common for a rally and the ride taking place at the same time we'll leave from Boston common, go to the crash site where Louisa was killed. and then back to the common. And there will be media there. The ride will leave at 11, and the rally will be at noon. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm grateful to the both of them and later on in the council meeting, I have filed a resolution that I hope to get the support from my colleagues just an honor right for your life but I wanted provided them both with a copy of that resolution so you could take that home. And then also President Alexa Gumberg With a special City Council citation for your devotion to the cause of pedestrian and cyclist safety, thank you for your advocacy and for organizing the Boston chapter of Ride For Your Life. So this is for you Alexa. Thank you. And to my colleagues, thank you for your support and partnership in making our streets safer.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone. Mr Clerk could you please amend the attendance to reflect that Councillor Flynn is present? We're now on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of October 7th, 2026. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The minutes of the October 7 meeting are approved. We are now on to communications from our Honourable Mayor. Been working? The light's on here.

Doctrine number 1953, message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $668,000 $500 in the form of a grant, 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 and Operation of a Gaming Establishment.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 1954? Docket number 1954, message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Burton Malkofsky as a renewal constable authorized to serve Civil Process upon the filing of his bond for a period commencing May 1st, 2026 and ending April 30th, 2020 to 2029. Thank you Mr.

Clerk. Chair recognizes Councillor Santana. Councillor you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Burton Murkowski has been a constable for many years and is seeking a confirmation of this position for another term. Constable Murkowsky has served over a decade and this council has approved his reappointment without any Without issues many times, as Chair of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, I recommend that Docket 1954 ought to pass. Thank you.

Councillor Santana, the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, seeks suspension of the rules and confirmation of Docket 1954. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1954 has been confirmed. We now on to reports of public officers and others Per Rule 39, there are no remarks or communications from councillors. We are now, Mr. Clerk, could you please read dockets 1955 through 1957?

Docket number 1955 communication was received from Councilor Flynn Transmitting the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report by the Office of the Veteran Advocate. Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding Boston police officers assaulted in Blackstone Park. Document number 1957. Communication was receive from Councilors Culpepper and Worrell regarding civil rights concerns with the Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan.

Thank you. Dockets 1955 through 1957 will be placed on file. We're now on to reports of committees. Mr. Clerk, could you please read dockets 1515 through 1524?

Docket number 1515, a committee in planning development and transportation. to which was referred on August 5th, 2026. Dock number 1515 message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Giovanni Valencia as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring on May 1st, 2027 submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Docket number 1516, The Committee on Planning Development and Transportation which was referred on August 5th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Katie Warewell as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring May 1st, 2027. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Document number 1517, The Committee on Planning Development and Transportation to which was referred on August 5th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation

of the reappointment of Alan E. Langham as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring May 1, 2028 submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Document number 1518. The Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation to which was referred on August 5th 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Sherry Dong as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring May 1st, 2029. Submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Document number 1519, The Committee on Planning Development Transportation to which was referred on August 5th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Shamia Turner as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for term expiring May 1st, 2029. submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed.

Document number 1520, the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation, to which it was referred on August 5th, 2026, Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Jean Pinado as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal. For a term expiring May 1st, 2027, submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Doctrine No. 1521, the Committee on Planning Development Transportation to which was referred on August 5th, 2026 message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of David Collins as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring on May 1st, 2028 submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Docket number 1522 The Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation to which was referred on August 5th, 2026.

Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Carla Montero as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring May 1st, 2028 submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. Docket number 1523, The Committee on Planning Development Transportation to which is referred on August 5th, 2026. Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Patrick Walsh as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term expiring November 1st, 2028. submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed. In document number 1524, the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation, to which was referred August 5th, 2026, Message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of William Masterson as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal.

For a term expiring on May 1st, 2029, submits a report recommending that the order ought to be confirmed.

Thank you Mr Clerk. The Chair recognises Councillor Durkan, the chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair Breadon. We were joined by colleagues, Councillors and Flynn, and we heard testimony from each appointee, which you just read their names. We did have to receive a letter from Shamaya Turner who was unable to attend due Due to family emergency, we're wishing her family the best. The letter highlighted her experience as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for the past two years Appointees shared their backgrounds, experiences and approaches to zoning decisions. They represent diverse professional and community backgrounds and the reappointment spoke to their experience on the ZBA so far It was a privilege to speak with these individuals and their dedication to serving our city in the best interest of Boston residents is very admirable. I am confident that their expertise and thoughtfulness will allow them to continue to do that We also heard from some new appointees and they also are very qualified. So as the chair of the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation

I recommend moving the listed dockets at this time to the full Council for formal action. At this time, my recommendation to the Full Council is that these matters ought to be confirmed. Thank you

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Madam President, I was happy to be at this hearing and meet all of them in person. You know when we're on those Tuesday meetings we only see them in their Zoom boxes but it was great to hear directly from them not just their resumes which I had said speak for themselves, they bring a lot of expertise and definitely deserve to be reappointed to the Zoning Board. And we had three new alternates that we were considering also but It was great to hear their personal side and what they bring to their neighborhoods, their community. I'm just looking forward to approving and voting in favor today.

Thank you. Thank You Councilor Murphy. Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank Madam Chair. I rise to acknowledge the professional job Councillor Durkan did as chair of this committee. The nominees are exceptionally qualified There was some reappointments, there were some new appointments as well. It was informative talking to them actually before the Meeting started after the meeting started, but especially during the meeting itself. I just want to highlight one issue For my council colleagues, we have some limited oversight of the ZBA. And that limited oversight is the interaction and engagement we with nominees before the city council, before they voted on.

I would encourage my city councillors going forward if they would attend these meetings because you do learn a lot about Zoning, and you do learn a lot about the applicants. It does give city councilors especially district city council is an opportunity to ask specific questions as it may relate to their particular neighborhood or district. So I'm looking forward to supporting all of these nominees, thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you Councilor Flynn. Councilor Durkan your light's still on?

Do you have further comments?

For the next one.

Next one okay. We'll take each of these dockets separately. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1515 All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1515?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Bradon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Gillespie, yes. Councilor Culpepper? Yes. Councilo Culpeppe, yes, Councilor Durkan? Yes, Council Fitzgerald? Yes Councilor Fitzgeral, yes Councilor Flynn? Yes Counselor Flynn, yes Counselor Louisiane? Yes Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you. Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 1516. All in favour say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Thank you. Mr Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1516? Councilor Breadon. Yes. Councilor Brayden, yes.

Councilors Collett-Zapata. Yes Councilor Collett Zapata, yes Councilor Culpepper. Yes Councillor Culpeper, yes Councillor Durkan Durkin, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén. O'Penn, yes. Council Santana?

Yes.

Councilor Santana, yes, Council Weber? Yes, Council Webber, yes and Council Worrell? Yes Councilor Worrell, yes Dock number 1516 has received the unanimous vote in the affirmative Thank you

The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1517. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr Clerk could you please take a roll call vote on 1517? Council agreed

Yes. Councilor Brayden, yes. Councilors Calazapa? Yes. Councillor Calazava, yes, Councilor Durkan. Excuse me, Council of Culpepper. Thank you. Council of culpepper, yes Councilor Derkin. Yes. Joe, yes. Councilor Flynn?

Yes.

Counselor Flynn, yes Counselor Louijeune? Yes Counselor Mejia? Yes Councilor Murphy? Yes, Counselor Pen? Yes Santana, yes. Council Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes and Council Worrell? Yes Councilor Worrell, yes Docket number 1517 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative

The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1518. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1518?

Councilor Brayton. Yes. Councilor Verne, yes. Councilors Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes Councilor Durkan Durkan, Fitzgerald, Joe, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén. Councilor Pan, yes. Councilor Santana? Yes. Councilors Santana, yes, Councilor Weber? Yes Councilor Webber, yes and Councilor Worrell? Councilor Werrell, yes Dock number 1518 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 1518 has been passed. The appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1519.

Yes, Councilor Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Durkan. Yes, yes, yes. Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. Docket number 1519 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative.

Thank you, docket 1519 been passed and the appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1520. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1-5-2-0?

Councilor Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Brayden, yes. Councilora Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes Councilor Durkan, yes Fitzgerald, yes. Councilor Flynn? Yes. Councilors Flynn, yes, Councilor Louijeune? Yes Councilor Lujan, yes Councilor Mejia? Yes Counselor Meijia, yes Counselor Murphy? Yes councilor Murphy, yes councilor Pepén? Yes Councillor Pepén, yes Councillor Santana? Santana, yes. Council Weber? Yes. Councilor Weber, yes and Councillor Worrell?

Yeah.

Councillor Worrell, yes Talking number 1520 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative

Thank you. Docket 1520 has been passed and the appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of docket 1521. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 1521?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Bradon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes, Councillor Culpepper, yes, Councillor Durkan. Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? Yes. Council Fischero, yes, Councilor Flynn? Yes, Council Lujan? Yes Councilor Luján, yes Councilor Mejia? Councilor Murphy? Yes Pippen, yes. Council Santana?

Yes.

Councilor Santana, yes, Council Weber? Yes Council Weber, yes and Council O'Rourke? Council O Rourke, yes Dock number 1521 has received 12 votes in the adjournment

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and the docket 1521 has passed, and the appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1522 Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1522?

Councilor Brayden. Yes. Councilor Breadon, yes. Councilors Coletta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper, yes Councilor Durkan Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana. Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. And Councilor Worrell? Yes Talking number 1522 has received 12 votes in the affirmative

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1522 is passed, and the appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call? Vote on docket 1-523.

Councilor Breedon. Yes. Councilors Breen, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata. Yes, Councillor Culpepper. Yes Councillor Durkan Durkan, yes. Councilor Fitzgerald? Yes. Council Fitzgeral, yes, Council Flynn? Yes Council Flynn, yes Council Louijeune? Yes, Council Mejia? Council Meijia, yes Councillor Murphy? Yes Councillor Murphy, yes Vepen, yes. Councilor Santana? Yes. Council Santana, yes, Council Weber? Yes Councilor Webber, yes and councilor Worrell? Yes, Councilor Worrell, yes document number one five two three has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and Docket 1523 is passed, and the appointment has been confirmed. The Chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1524?

Councillor Breadon.

Yes.

Councillor Bradon, yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata, yes, Councillor Culpepper, yes Councilor Culpeper, yes Councillor Durkan Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén. Yes, Councilor Santana? Yes. Councilor Weber? Yes, and Councilor Worrell? Yes Councilor Werrell yes. Dock number 1524 has received a unanimous vote in the affirmative

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 1524 has been passed, and the appointment has been confirmed. Mr. Clerk could please read docket 1883?

Doctrine number 1883, the Committee on Planning Development Transportation to which was referred on October 7th, 2026. Message in order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $3,250,220 in the form of a grant. Boston MPO surplus fiscal year 26 community connections grant program awarded by the Mass Metropolitan Area Planning Council to be administered by the Transportation Department. The grant will fund support for new e-bikes and spare batteries for the bike share system, submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan, chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. You have the floor.

Thank you so much. We've had many hearings that I've chaired that have been regarding the Blue Bikes program This docket 1883 authorizes the City of Boston to accept and expend the Boston MPO surplus fiscal year 26 Community Connections Grant in the amount of $3,250,220. This grant was awarded by the Massachusetts Metropolitan Area Planning Council to be administered by the Boston Transportation Department. This grant would fund support for new e-bikes and spare batteries for the Blue Bike bike share system. The committee received information from the administration regarding this docket, a grant authorizing the city to accept and expend this amount of money to buy 887 e-bikes and 434 spare batteries. This purchase will contribute a significant increase in the number of e- bikes in the system, allowing participating municipalities to provide greater access and many more. This grant would allow Boston to increase its share up to 33% and as anyone

and many more. This percentage was decided by the 13 participating municipalities and all of them will be receiving a grant to upgrade their fleet in this amount. It was noted that trips, it was noted in neighborhoods further from downtown Boston like Mattapan and southern Dorchester e-bike trips make up more than 50% of the trips I know this because i've taken a e-bike from Fenway to Actually at the Dorchester South E line. So I know that for me, that's a little bit above my cardiovascular endurance. So the longer you go, the more you'd like to make sure that you're getting one of those silver bikes.

and I know that in my district where we have some of the biggest demand for blue bikes, that the e-bikes are rarely available including in places like Mission Hill You'd rather have an e-bike helping you up that hill. Boston will hold onto its classic e-bikes with e-bikes and sell them to other municipalities to recoup the cost, or we'll put them at a new Blue Bike station in Boston. The increased work to electrify Blue Bike stations will reduce operating costs associated with swapping out batteries. The operator is ready to begin deploying these as soon as the grant receives approval. And just for my council colleagues, I know we've gone over this before but the city signed a contract and the contract This grant is coming from the result of that multi-municipality contract and that's why this grant is from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

The City of Boston will provide quarterly reports to MassDOT and these reports will include a general narrative update on what work took place as part of the project during the last quarter, and whether the project will be completed by the end contract date which is December 31st 2027. This is an opportunity to make a pivotal investment in our blue bike share system, increasing participation and expanding access to multimodal transportation options. It is important that we continue to do this in tandem with our work for safer streets which the city is continuing to do through Vision Zero, an ongoing evaluation of street design and management to support the shared use of our streets by drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. As chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation I recommend that the listed docket that we go to the full committee um full council for discussion and formal action at this time my recommendation to the whole council is that this matter ought to pass. Thank you so much.

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

Thank You Madam chair. Madam chair I spent a considerable amount of time over the last several years working to regulate e-bikes, to make it safer for residents of this city and pedestrians as well. It's still an issue I continue to work on. I know Governor Healey is doing exceptional work on this issue as well, trying to improve our cities and towns in I also want to highlight how challenging it is

E-Bikes, and the accidents that we are having across the city is placing several hundred more e-bikes the answer to the public safety crisis we have in Boston. We also should know that the batteries for e-bikes deserve further scrutiny, and we must do our due diligence to ensure that we investigate The safety of these batteries and to ensure that we're supporting a project for several million dollars that is safe for Boston residents. Thank you, Madam Chair

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

Thank you so much. I just want to be very clear and I think it's important to sort of segregate some of the work that we've done around You know, motorbikes and scooters with these e-bikes because the e- bikes that are available on the Blue Bike System and many more. This is the slowest class of e-bikes and also their pedal assist, so there's definitely if you've ever ridden one what it does So I've ridden both. both are available and can be driven on our streets right now. I do want to charge us, when we have this and many more. As we continue to have a conversation about bikes and scooters, we definitely need the statehouse

Flynn, which is what Councilor Flynn was referring to. I'm so grateful for his leadership, grateful for all of us for working on these very nuanced issues. I encourage you all to get a Blue Bikes membership and ride on the e-bike. It's very different than the experience of other e-bikes that are available. Thank you.

The Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report in passage of Docket 1883. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1883?

Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén Yes. Councilor Pepén, yes. Council Santana? Yes. Councillor Santana, yes, Council Weber? Yes Council Weber, yes and council Worrell. Document number 1883 as received Thank you Mr.

Clerk, the committee report has been accepted and docket 1883 has passed. Mr. clerk could you please read docket 1774?

Docket number 1774, the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement to which was referred on September 23rd, 2026. Message not authorized in the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $500,000 in a form of a grant. MOIA Mayor's Mitigation Council awarded by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to be administered by the Department of Immigrant Advancement The grant will fund support for city-led programs that advance relief, inclusion and opportunity for underserved communities in Boston through the Global Cities Fund submits a report recommending that the order ought to pass.

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

Thank you, Madam President. This document authorized the City of Boston to accept and expand a $500,000 grant from the Mayor's Migration Council Global Cities Fund administered by the Mayor Office for Immigrant Advancement. Our committee requested additional information from the administration regarding the purpose of this funding and we received a memorandum outlining how these funds would be used. Specifically, the grant would support the creation of Boston's First Immigrant-Led Worker-Own Home Care Cooperative, addressing two important challenges. The growing need for home care services for older adults and the economic insecurity faced by and many immigrant caregivers. According to the administration, this initiative is expected to create opportunities for approximately 60 immigrant workers to become cooperative members

While providing home care services to more than 100 individuals. This is an innovative approach that would help strengthen our home care workforce while creating pathways to economic stability and Business Ownership for Immigrant Workers. For these reasons, Madam President, I recommend that Docket 1774 pass. Thank you, Councilor Culpepper.

The Chair of the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equality and Immigrant Advancement seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 1774. Mr Clerk could you please take a roll call vote on docket

Brayton. Yes. Councilor Braydon, yes. Council Coletta Zapata? Yes. Yes, Councilor Culpepper? Yes Councilor Durkan? Yes, council Fitzgerald? Yes Council Flynn, yes. Council Louijeune? Yes. Council Mejia? Yes, Council Murphy. Council Pepén? Yes Council Santana? Yes Webby, and Councilor Worrell. Docket number 1774 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you. The committee report has been accepted and docket 1774 We're now on to matters recently heard. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1718?

Docket number 1718, order regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts.

Thank you. The Chair recognises the chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation. Councillor Durkan,

Thank you, Council President. On Monday we held a hearing in the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation on Docket 1718, an order sponsored by Councillors Culpepper and Rowell regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts. We were joined by Councilors Flynn, Louijeune and Weber in addition to the lead sponsors. We first heard from Jeff Thomas of the Planning Department and Chief Information Officer Shin Pei say of the Department of Innovation Technology, they clarified there is no eminent risk of hyperscale data centers coming to Boston. Under the current zoning code, data centers are a conditional use and would face significant scrutiny through the Article 80 process and review by BPDA and Zoning Board of Appeal, including environmental regulations. The city recognizes the potential environmental risk and community impacts of data centers, and the administration emphasized that it would take a cautious approach to approving new facilities with community input as part of the process.

Boston is part of an international PAC, the C40 PAC that reflects these priorities. Computing power is essential to support the work of our world-class universities, hospitals, research institutions and broader innovation economy. Hyperscale large data centers are unlikely to come to Boston given the high cost of land and electricity. And Boston has already had several data centers, some dating back to the 1990s that provide computing services to local companies. The administration shared that it is working to develop clearer zoning definitions for data centers and is open to collaborating on the broader regulatory framework with the sponsors. The goal is to allow Boston to benefit from the jobs, innovation and discovery enabled by computing technologies that are protecting our communities. The administration does not support the current proposal emphasizing a need for clearer definitions and more targeted approach. We also heard from a panel of activists

advocates and experts representing the Boston Climate Action Network, the Conference of Teaching Hospitals, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Boston University, and Honest Future for Lowell. Our discussion explored the role data centers play in supporting hospitals, research and the broader innovation economy. The energy and environmental regulations they already face and how Boston can establish thoughtful regulations and clear definitions that protect our communities and Residence Quality of Life without undermining innovation and research. Finally, we heard testimony from the electrical workers and building trades unions who raised concerns about the potential impacts of a citywide ban on job opportunities. The hearing also highlighted the need for a more targeted approach to regulating data centers through zoning as we consider how best to protect our communities while supporting research, innovation and jobs that are important to Boston. It is clear that we need a more nuanced framework. I think the hearing was very successful and I want to thank the lead sponsors for bringing it forward because I don't think

Without this proposal, we wouldn't have had such a nuanced conversation. And so I want to let the lead sponsor, Councilor Culpepper, speak to his impressions of the hearing and at this time after that I'll recommend that it remain in committee at this

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor. Thank you Madam President and thank you Councillor Durkin for holding an informative and productive hearing on docket number 1718 I filed this amendment Because the data centers continue to expand across Massachusetts and the country, I believe Boston needs to take a proactive approach to determining whether data centers are an appropriate land use for our city rather than waiting until a major development proposal is already before us. After hearing from the administration, particularly the planning department as well as community advocates and subject matter experts on the second panel, I believe the most effective approach to regulating data centers in Boston is to work with the planning department to update the definition of data centers and continue to assess what kind of prohibitions, if any are needed. The Planning Department has expressed a willingness

to work with the council on this issue. And I look forward to continuing that collaboration with my council colleagues, the administration and community stakeholders to ensure Boston has appropriate zoning regulations in place to address the potential impacts of data center development. Thank you, Madam President.

Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1601?

Docket number is 1601 order for a hearing to explore raising the percentage of Community Preservation Act funds dedicated to affordable housing

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

Yesterday, the Committee on Community Preservation Act held a hearing to explore raising the percentage of Community Preseration Act funds dedicated to affordable housing The docket was sponsored by Councillors Worrell and Councillor Culpepper, and we were joined by Councillors Murphy, Flynn, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Breadon, Louijeune, and Mejia. We heard from Director Theodine Brown of the Community Preservation Office who spoke on the important projects the CPA funds support. Director Brown acknowledged the critical need for affordable housing we have in Boston, but also maintained the importance of open space and preservation projects. A panel of community advocates testified that the need for portable housing has never been greater and that financing affordable housing, especially affordable home ownership has been a great hardship. We need to explore options to improve the financing of affordable housing but having these discussions should not tug at war between affordable housing open space and preservation advocates.

I want to thank the makers for bringing this docket to the committee and I look forward to continuing discussions. At this time, I do want to give an opportunity to the main sponsor for remarks.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to Councilor Pepén for chairing this hearing. I also want to thank Executive Director Brown, the CPA staff, the board and our panelists and the residents who provided public remarks. I hear from residents in District 4 all the time who tell me they simply can't afford Boston anymore. Some of our former residents, who have already been priced out and City Owns Map shows part of my district as some of the highest risk of displacement In the hearing, we heard that construction costs keep rising while funding for affordable housing specifically We know that affordable homeownership isn't keeping pace. And in our last CPA round, we didn't directly fund construction of any new affordable home ownership units. It's not just our only best tool to fight displacement but also an important option that we need to have for our residents in order to comply with fair housing standards.

We heard from Adler of Norfolk Construction that he started his business focused on affordable home ownership projects but is now pivoting toward affordable rental housing and that's a major red flag for the future of our city. But look at what we've done for private development. The BPDA Board recently approved roughly $31 million in future property tax relief for largely market rate housing projects, and I understand why Sometimes public support is needed to make the numbers work, but affordable housing developers face the same costs and they can't charge market rate prices to cover them. So how are we helping make affordable housing developer's numbers work? Right now, CPA targets 50% toward housing, 20% towards parks, 20%, towards historic preservation and another 10% that's flexible. I support those investments But why wouldn't we consider putting that additional 10% toward housing? We can't keep waiting for Washington.

Can't keep waitin' for the State House, We can't keep waiting for another ballot question. People are being priced out of Boston today. We have to preserve our parks and our historic buildings, but we also have to preserved the people who make our neighborhoods what they are. Thank you.

Thank You Councilor Worrell Docket 1601 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 0407? Docket number 0406, order for a hearing.

to review prevention and response to bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual misconduct in Boston public schools.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia the Chair of the Committee on Education. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. So my committee hosted a hearing yesterday October the 20th I was also the lead sponsor of the hearing and as the clerk read into the record, it was all focused around the incidence of bullying sexual harassment and sexual assault and sexual misconduct in our Boston public schools. And let it be known that there are over 2000 cases that have gone underreported, and that's cause for concern. I want to thank my council colleagues, Councilor Murphy, Flynn, Fitzgerald, and Culpepper who participated, and I read a letter of absence into the record by my colleague, Councillor Louijeune. The committee heard testimony from students, parents, advocates and community organizations. And I want to thank MassCosh, Citizens for Justice, Juvenile Justice, Mejia and T-Law

for their fierce advocacy and showing up in partnership with our office over the last few years working around this particular issue. We were also joined by BPS administrators The key findings and concerns, testimony revealed significant concerns regarding the disconnect between existing BPS policies and the lived experiences of students and families. realized the lack of accountability and transparency. Families described inconsistent responses to reported incidents, delayed investigations, inadequate communication, and limited accountability. Witnesses raised concerns about the lack of clear reporting procedures, insufficient follow-through and fear of retaliation when advocating for their children. Students' safety and mental health was also uplifted.

Students and parents shared deeply troubling experiences involving bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct including long-term emotional trauma, interrupted education, and declining mental health Testimony highlighted the need for immediate safety plans, trauma-informed interventions, expanded counseling services and stronger protections for students. Three, inadequate prevention and intervention. Witnesses emphasize that BPS must move beyond responding to incidents after harm occurs and invest in proactive prevention, early intervention, restorative justice practice, and culturally responsive education. Reporting and Investigation Procedures. Concerns were raised regarding inconsistent implementation of bullying prevention requirements under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 370

Title 10 Procedures Mandatory Reporting Obligations and the Handling of 51A Reports. Families called for clearer investigation timelines, accessible reporting systems, protection against retaliation and improved communication. Five, staffing and resource challenges. Participants identified shortages in mental health professionals, insufficient staff training, concerns regarding school transportation supervision and the potential impact of budget reductions on student safety and support services. Six, students and family engagement. Students noted the importance of being heard Having access to trusted adults and participating directly in the development of solutions, families call for meaningful involvement in decision making and stronger partnership between schools and parents.

and BPS administration's response, BPS representatives outlined existing initiatives including restorative justice programming bullying prevention training safety planning Family Outreach and Efforts to Improve School Climate. The administration also discussed strengthening prevention strategies, developing follow-up plans for affected families, elevating student voices, and improving accountability measures. However The testimony underscored the need for greater consistency, measurable outcomes and stronger implementation across all schools. Recommendations and next steps what we're thinking of is based on the testimony that we received and the work that we've been doing in partnership with our coalition is to create an opportunity for us to continue not just having a hearing for the sake of having another hearing, but to start establishing possible solutions.

So for example, we discussed establishing an oversight and accountability framework involving students, community organizations, and BPS representatives to monitor policy implementation reporting And why is this important? It's because BPS already has many different task force, but the problem is that these task forces are hand selected and what we need is independent oversight. Something that we can help facilitate and that we could help rebuild trust. So whatever it is that we include, we'll be doing in partnership with community and hopefully BPS will come willing to the table. If not, well... Keep pounding them until they show up. Strengthening reporting and investigation protocols by establishing clear timelines, consistent family communication, immediate safety measures Guards Against Retaliation.

There should be no reason why families should feel nervous or scared of reporting something because they're afraid they're going to be retaliated against, and that's what we heard time and time again and that is the culture that we have within BPS, and that needs to be addressed not just with this situation but with everything else that happens. Improved transparency in data reporting through publicly accessible, appropriately anonymized information on reported incidences, investigations, the resolutions and corrective actions. We need a dashboard That protects the student's identity, but that we know when things are happening, where they're happening, the patterns and seeing what happens as a result of these things. No more lip service, we need tools so that we can actually get a hold of the situation.

Expand on prevention and student support services, including mental health resources, restorative justice practices, culturally responsive training, and stronger school-based intervention strategies. Five, strengthening student and family participation in the development We had a long hearing. Don't be looking at me like that I still got three more things to say, okay? Six, review staffing and resource allocations to determine whether schools have sufficient personnel and funding to implement effective prevention and investigation and response protocols. What we plan to do is retain, to keep this Docket 0407 in committee to allow additional oversight and continued testimony and solution-oriented working sessions with BPS students, families, and communities.

It is my understanding that the hearing made clear that while Boston Public Schools has policies intended to protect students, too many families continue to experience a system that falls short when they need it most. Every student deserves to be to feel safe, supported and protected in their school. And every family deserves to be heard taken seriously and treated with dignity. And so this docket will remain in committee and I look forward to working with my colleagues on not only holding BPS accountable but actually creating policies, protocols and procedures to do something about the things that we keep amplifying.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Docket 10407 will remain in committee. I'm now going to ask my colleague Councillor Coletta Zapata to take the chair.

Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket 1958?

Dock number 1958, Councilor Breadon offered the following. Ordinance establishing a bad landlord's list and extending rental property code enforcement against chronic offenders and scuffles.

Chair recognizes Councillor Birden. Councillor Birding, you have the floor. Thank you Madam Chair. I'd like to add Councillor Worrell as a second original co-sponsor. You so added? The Boston is a city of renters. Roughly 65% of our residents are renters, and in Alston that number is as high as 87%. While most landlords do things by the book and make good efforts To correct issues when they may arise, we know there are many repeat offenders. Current enforcement tools often require significant time and coordination across multiple city departments Thank you very much. Financial Assistance and Contracts from the City.

This ordinance establishes a worst landlords list to name and shame those repeat offenders. Landlords accumulate points for serious infractions and once a threshold is crossed, landlords will be included in the worst landlords list published by the city twice a year. This gives prospective tenants an easy way to access inspectional services and code enforcement data The City is already collecting, enabling them to be as informed as possible when they sign leases. But naming and shaming isn't enough. The ordinance outlines strict penalties for chronic offenders. Anyone on the list will be excluded from receiving city grants Zoning Relief, and consideration for Article 80 projects. They will also be subject to increased inspections and maximum fine amounts to get them to clean up their act.

Landlords can get off the list by correcting issues and paying outstanding fines. All tenants deserve a right to a safe, sanitary and healthy place to live. I look forward to working with my colleagues in a working session to continue to refine this ordinance and ensure we're doing everything that we can to protect the tenants that call Boston home. Thank you Madam Chair

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

Thank you Chair and thank you Council President for your leadership on this issue. I believe you've been leading on this issues ever since I've been on this council. Through the creation of a bad actors list it creates a type of focus We need our landlords who consistently fail to maintain their properties, provide quality housing or address issues that impact the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Every year, I file a hearing order on problem property and work closely with Keith Williams and the task force to proactively deal with some of the problem properties in my district. We held a hearing with him in 2024 and I'm hopeful we will have time to schedule a working session with him on the problem properties list by the end of this year. We also need to be using the enforcement tools we already have. I have one resident who reminds me that the city has a line on the tax bill for unpaid fines and violations. but it's left blank every quarter.

He calculates that there are millions of dollars being left on the table each year, they'll be enough to fund more affordable housing or restore some of the programs that were cut in last year's budget I want to again thank Council President for this, and I look forward to collaborating with you on this. And maybe boosting up a lot of these scar fluff finds as well. Thank you.

Thank so much. Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add Councilor Culpepper, Council Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber Thank you. Docket 1958 will be referred to the committee on government operations. Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket 1959?

Docket number 1959. Councilors Mejia and Worrell offer the following. Coordinates, Establishing the Displacement Impact Mitigation Initiative and Trust Fund.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I want to suspend Rule 12 and add Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor

Louijeune is still at it. Councilor Worrell is your second and Councilor Louis- Jeanne, you're third?

Yes. And I also just want to make note for the record that Councilor Culpepper wanted to join us, but I got you in the next one okay? And so I just wanted to, today we're introducing two interconnected ordinances. The Displacement Impact Mitigation Initiative and Trust Fund and the neighborhood-based affordability standards. Together, they represent a broader vision for how Boston can conform its housing Thank you for joining us. Small businesses and longtime residents struggle to hold on to their neighborhoods and watch them become increasingly unaffordable. These ordinances are designed to move us from reacting to displacement

We recognize that these proposals must complement existing efforts including Councilor Worrell's Special Protection Zones and Neighborhood Impact Commission. We are filing these ordinance now to begin a transparent, and community-driven legislative process Over the coming months, we will work with residents, housing advocates and our colleagues to strengthen the proposals, identify gaps in existing programs, prevent duplication and establish clear enforcement Oversight and measurable outcomes. Our goal is to return in 2027 with a stronger piece of legislation informed by the people most affected. Boston's future should not come at the expense of the people who made this city Growth and development must create opportunities without creating displacement.

That is the vision behind this legislation, and we look forward to building that together. Thank you.

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

Thank you Madam President and thank you Councillor Mejia for introducing this ordinance and adding me as a co-sponsor I think we all recognize that we need to be doing more to prevent displacement because what we have been doing has not been enough. I hear from residents in my district all the time who are struggling to afford to live, buy or rent in Boston and if you look at the city's Office of Housing Residential Displacement Risk Heat Map The city-wide average is 3.1, but in my district we are seeing areas with scores as high as 6.8 out of 7. A displacement impact mitigation initiative as proposed by Council Mejia will be centered on preventing displacement before it happens. It may help identify displacement risks early and create solutions for mitigation that fit individual project parameters rather than assume a citywide standard but that may not accurately address individual project and neighborhood needs.

And a displacement impact trust fund could create a pool of investments that we could then redirect into helping Boston residents and neighborhood businesses thrive As Councilor Mejia mentioned, this could potentially complement my initiative alongside Action for Equity to establish special protection zones and a neighborhood impact commission to protect those areas We are consistently seeing higher rates of displacement from development. So I'm looking forward to continuing this work around community advocates and my council colleagues, thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you to Councilor Mejia for adding me onto this. It is incredibly important that we continue to do the work of anti-displacement in a city where It is way too expensive to rent, where it is really hard for folks to become homeowners. And so everything and anything that we can do to prevent displacement is incredibly important. I think it takes many forms We know from the data and from the research that it is easier to keep someone in their home, and it is more cost-effective to keep somebody in their own than it is actually create a new unit of housing for that person. This council has done a number of things addressing anti-displacement, whether it be with the ARPA funds and putting more money into the Acquisition Opportunity Program, which helps nonprofit developers fight the speculative market and buy buildings with tenants and residents who live in them.

to make sure folks have attorneys when they're facing eviction, especially our BPS students because that also helps prevent eviction in Boston Housing Court. So I want to thank Councilor Mejia because we need to make that we're doing everything we can to prevent displacement. The city has anti-displacement plans that we need to really review and determine. Again, last Councilor Mejia stated that the work Thank you for joining us today. So the acquisition opportunity program, again which I've been a huge champion of because how it tries to put people before profit in a speculative and extractive market. We need to do more of that. And what I loved about the project that we did in Mattapan, protecting predominantly black and brown residents who fought for

The Commuter Rail Stop were subject to displacement was that it was a lot of other corporations and hospitals especially that realized that displacement was also a health risk, and is a social determinant of health. So we need to do a better job of bringing This entire city, corporations, hospitals, all entities together to help us do the work of anti-displacement and to help fund the work.

Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber and please add the chair. Docket 1959 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1960?

Docket number 1960. Councillors may hear and were all offer the following. Ordinance establishing neighborhood-based affordability standards.

Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councilor Culpepper as an original third co-sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no objection, Councillor Culpeper is added as a third.

As I stated before, this ordinance is part of a package deal with the displacement impact mitigation ordinance and is designed to work in connection with other proposed legislation. The displacement impact mitigation ordinance has two components, an initiative and a trust fund. The initiative will conduct displacement assessments Bill mitigation plans and ensure their implementation, and produce annual reports. The Trust Fund will financially support these efforts of mitigation Plan implementation and providing support for existing residents, businesses, and organizations. We are exploring funding resources for this trust fund such as a new linkage fee for developers The Neighborhood-Based Affordability Standards Ordinance seeks to address the longstanding issue of HUD's regional AMI defines affordability that is often beyond the means of our households living in the Boston neighborhoods. and therefore not actually truly affordable.

As someone who could only afford to buy a home, growing up here in the city of Boston we bounce from place to place and I know how high the cost of home ownership is and in renting in Boston. And there are significant disparities between neighborhoods, and this ordinance seeks to establish neighborhood AMI in all programs policies and more where the city has the authority to establish affordability standards. This does not conflict with or change the existing state or federal law but rather hold ourselves and the city to a higher standard in understanding truly and deeply affordability, and implementing it wherever we can. And the reason why I say that is because You know, what folks make in Mattapan is very different than what folks makes in Back Bay. It's very different from what you make in Grove Hall and Foundry Hall.

Like every neighborhood has its own dynamic when it comes to what the area medium And while we understand that is set on the federal level, I believe that we have an opportunity here locally to really start reflecting The actual medium income of our families, and that I believe could be a really great pathway towards preventing displacement. And so for me as someone who bounced from place to place I think we're well positioned to actually start doing things and thinking outside the box, and understanding the tools and the resources and the power that we have on the council to hold ourselves accountable just that. So I look forward to working alongside my colleagues and I want to give a shout out to the Megs, both Megan's who worked alongside my team and particularly Beatrix

Put this idea together and get it to a place where we were able to present it to you all today. Thank you.

Thank you Madam President, thank you Councilor Mejia for leading on this and adding me as an original co-sponsor. And we always hear when housing is being created or especially affordable housing The question we always hear in our neighborhood groups amongst residents is affordable to who? And this ordinance Start Stack Conversation, just pulling all the stakeholders together to make sure that we are looking at all the possibilities. Looking at all of the levers to make that we're reflecting area median income to that neighborhood. Looking forward to the conversation. I know it's one that has been going on for a while, but I think we owe it to our residents and ourselves to understand what's possible. Thank you. Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper.

Councilor, you have the floor. Thank you Madam President. Thank You to the original co-sponsors Councilor Mejia and Worrell for bringing this important ordinance forward and for adding me as an original co sponsor One of the challenges we continue to face in Boston is that housing designated as affordable is often still unaffordable to the residents who live in our neighborhoods. The regional area median income used to determine affordability does not always reflect the economic realities of families living in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and other communities across our city. This ordinance would establish neighborhood-based affordability standards to better reflect what residents can actually afford while maintaining compliance with existing state and federal housing requirements.

I believe this is an important step toward ensuring that affordable housing investments are truly serving the residents who need them the most particularly in neighborhoods facing significant displacement pressures. Thank you, Madam President. Thank You Councilor Culpepper.

Would anyone like to add their name? Flynn, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber. Docket 1960 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1-9-6-1?

Docket number 1- 9- 6- 1 Councilor Pepén offer the following petition for a special law an act directing the City of Boston Fire Department to waive the minimum I'm honored to file this homework petition for a dedicated public servant, Steve McGuire.

Steve has worked for the City of Boston in different departments since he was 15. He is currently a senior grant manager with the Office of Emergency Management and got the call to become a first responder with Boston Fire Department hybrid program. Steve just missed the max age limit of 36 this summer, but has successfully completed and passed his entrance exams. I ask my council colleagues who support Steve's selfless goals to suspend and pass his petition so we can move his application along.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. Would anyone like to add their name? Oh, Councilor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President, thank you Councilor Pepén I know we are working up at the State House to get these through broader level for these age requirements but I appreciate when residents reach out especially to the district councils to advocate in any way we can make this possible so thank you for putting this name forward looking forward to voting in favor of it

Thank you, Councillor. Chair recognizes Councillor Coletta Zapata.

You have the floor. Thank you so much Madam Chair. Just really briefly I really appreciate Councillor Pepén bringing this forward we know and love Steve he was a staffer here in City Council for then Councillor McCarthy and so just shout out to Steve for all the work that he does. And I'm sad to see that they just missed the age requirement here The one that we pushed forward to the Statehouse was for the police department only. Maybe we would consider doing something with the fire department, but just as the chair of this committee I really support you bringing this forward and hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of it. Thank you

Thank you. Chair recognized Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank You Madam chair and I just want to recognize Councilor Pepén for bringing this forward Steve deserves an opportunity to I continue the process of hopefully making it onto the Boston Fire Department. I know he'd be a tremendous, tremendous asset so I just want to say thank you to Council and Pepén for working in providing this information as we go forward and hopefully get it passed and then up to the State House. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Murphy, Santana, Weber and please add the chair. Councilor Pepén seeks suspension of the rules in passage of docket 1961. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1-9-6-1 has passed. Oh, Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1 9 6 1?

Councillor Breadon. Yes. Councillor Bradon yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata Yes, Councilor Culpepper? Yes. Councilor Durkan? Councilor Fitzgerald? Yes Councilor Flynn?

Yes

Murphy, Pippen, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. Docket number 1961. has received 11 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Docket 1961 has passed. Mr. clerk, could you please read docket 1962?

Docket number 1962. Councilor Santana offered the following. Petition for a special law, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Haji Mohamed Beyo.

Chair recognizes Councillor Santana. Councillor you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. Many Boston residents over the age of 39 have to skill physical fitness and dedication to serve as police officers yet they are held back by an arbitrary age restriction. Today I'm proud to sponsor this age waiver on behalf of Haji Muhammad Bayer. A resident of Mission Hill for 23 years, Haji brings a background as both a translator and a healthcare professional experience that will make him an exceptional asset to the Boston Police Department and the neighborhoods we serve His dedication to public safety is deeply personal. Having witnessed how the absence of law and order fueled a devastating civil war in his native Liberia, he understands the true value of community protection Joining the Boston Police Department has been a lifelong dream of Haji, inspired by the memory of his father who served as a police officer in Liberia. On October 2nd, Haji took the civil service exam demonstrating his sincere commitment to putting on the uniform for our city.

Haji has the skills, character and heart to serve Boston. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this waiver. Thank you.

Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Weber, Worrell. And please add the chair. Santana seeks suspension of the rules and passage of Docket 1962. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1962 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1963?

Docket number 1963. Councillor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss the 3% cost of living adjustment COLA and increasing the COLA base for retirees in the Boston Retirement System.

Thank you, Chair recognizes Councilor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I add Councilor Mejia as an original co-sponsor?

Mejia is so added.

May I suspend the rules and add Councillor Murphy as well?

And seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Murphy's added as a third.

Thank you. Retirees in the Boston retirement system dedicated their careers to serving the residents of Boston, improving the quality of life in our city. On May 20th, 2026, the City Council adopted docket number 1066 in support of a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, and increasing the COLA base for retirees in the system Yet the Boston Retirement Board continues to deny a raise in the call of base. Our retirees deserve a retirement package that provides a fair and dignified standard of living after so many years of public service. Retirees have not received an increase to their COLA base since 2021. Currently receive an annual COLA increase of only 450 bucks. which is failed to keep pace with rising living expenses.

Boston has a high cost of living, it is therefore critical to discuss raising the collar base for our retirees so that they can continue to afford to live in the city that they served and helped build. City retirees deserve an increase in their color base, in recognition of the years of service to this city in the significant rise in the cost of living across the city and Commonwealth. I do believe that it's important that the City Council hold a hearing to listen to the experience of our city retirees in the perspective of the Boston Retirement Board ahead of the FY28 decision and beyond. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Councilor Flynn for adding me to this. I just want to acknowledge that we all know the cost of living continues to rise and the COLA is not keeping up with that pace. Our retirees deserve dignity and respect, they have dedicated their entire careers to serving us in the city here. And this is an opportunity for us Pay them back, literally. This is pro-worker, pro-seniors and pro strong communities. And just as workers deserve a living wage retirees deserve to age in place with a living Pension that reflects their needs of the moment. And so I just want to thank the BTU and their fierce advocacy around this particular issue And I believe this is something that Councilor Flynn has been sounding the alarm since I've been on this council, and I just want to thank him for his leadership.

And I look forward to working alongside him to deliver. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you Councillor Flynn for putting this forward today I think it's always important to uplift and let our retirees know that we're advocating even though every year I've gone up to the retirement board meeting and we gave our reasons why we think we should be increasing all good reasons it doesn't pass but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep advocating and I do want to thank Jeannie and everyone at the BTU and other city employees who keep reminding us how important this is. And one day sooner than later, I will be in that group so I wanna make sure that when I retire that we're advocating, continuing to advocate for our city employees. Thank you.

Thank You Councillor Murphy. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell and please add the chair. Docket 1963 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Order for a hearing to discuss the recent verdict in the civil lawsuit against the Boston Water and Soil Commission.

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

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

Wael is so added.

A Suffolk County jury recently awarded $1 million to a former Boston Water and Soil Commission employee following a civil lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, retaliation. This case raised serious concern on racial discrimination in compensation promotion. The jury also awarded about $400,000 in punitive damages as a result of extreme and outrageous retaliation. I do think it's important for the City Council to examine what took place and provide accountability, transparency to ensure equal opportunity for all agencies in the City of Boston. Boston Water and Soil Commission shall be invited to testify before the council to ensure that cases of discrimination in retaliation never happen again. I don't have all the answers

about what happened. That's why I'm calling for a hearing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank Madam President and thank you to Councillor Flynn for bringing this forward. We have a responsibility to protect employees from retaliation when they file a workforce complaint. People should be able to raise concerns without worrying that it will cost them their job I know Boston Water & Sewer is a quasi-city agency, but that can't be an excuse for allowing this type of behavior. The recent retaliation verdict against Boston Water and Sewer should make us ask whether those protections are actually working. I also want to recognize the work that Councilor Mejia has done for her work to create workforce protection systems and structures. Having a complaint process means very little if employees are afraid to use it. We ask our employees to show up every day and serve the city, we have to make sure that this city shows up for them too. No one should have to choose between keeping their job and standing up for themselves. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Worrell. Seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Mejia has added as a third. Councilor Mahir you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and I want to thank Councilor Flynn for adding me and his support in 2022, I believe it was. We worked on the Fair Chance Act and worked alongside Public Works Terrence, who happens to be here in the building. Members of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. Women and people of color from all different spaces and places that work in-city government and quasi agencies. And one of the biggest complaints that we heard is that women, and people of color primarily were having a hard time navigating promotional opportunities And it was the Fair Chance Act that was established as a result of the fierce advocacy of the folks who brought these issues and concerns to us, primarily led under Terrence and Jerome from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. you know years later we're still at this.

I'm looking forward to really unpacking what we need to do differently as we continue to navigate this conversation and so Maybe it's an opportunity for us to revisit the Fair Chance Act and strengthen it some more. I think that there are definitely opportunities to talk about retaliation, and the culture of retaliation that I see here in this city Let anybody here get out of line, you will end up on the other side of the situation. So I think that there's a lot of work to be done as it relates to retaliation and I look forward Standing on the front lines for those who have been victimized by it.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell, and please add the chair. Docket 1964 will be referred to the Committee on City Services. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1965?

Talking number 1965. Councilor Culpepper offered the following order for a hearing to examine the central booking agreement between the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department.

Chair recognizes Councillor Culpeper.

You have the floor. Thank you, Madam President. I would like to add Councilor Flynn as a second original co-sponsor and request suspension of the rules at Council Santana.

Flynn is added as a second and seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Santana is added.

Thank you Madam President I also want to acknowledge all the advocacy that both Councilors Mejia and Worrell have fought for on this issue. And if I could add them as the fourth and fifth original co-sponsors, I would certainly do so. Madam President and my colleagues we need to examine The central booking agreement between the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department to ensure transparency, accountability, and the proper treatment of individuals in custody. In October 2023, the Boston Police Department and the Sheriff's Department entered into an agreement allowing individuals arrested by Boston police to be transferred to Suffolk County facilities including the Nashville Street Jail and House of Correction in South Bay before their first court appearance.

Since then, concerns have been raised about the booking and transfer process including difficulties families and attorneys have experienced determining where individuals are being detained as well as questions about the medical screening, mental health care, and the protection of detainees Civil Rights. These concerns are especially urgent given the deaths that have occurred in Suffolk County recent years, including the death of Shakobi Kenny in December 2025 whose manner of death was subsequently ruled a homicide. We have a responsibility to ensure that any agreement involving the detention of individuals arrested in Boston upholds the highest standards of Transparency, Safety and Civil Rights Protections. Thank you Madam President.

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you to Councilor Culpepper for adding me as an original co-sponsor. The 2023 agreement allows the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department to detain individuals arrested by Boston Police pending their first court appearance. Concerns remain about limited public notice, inconsistent booking locations difficulty locating detainees, communication between agencies. I was a former probation officer and spent considerable time at the jail and at the House of Correction as well Whether I was doing pre-trial investigations or sometimes I had probationers that were re-arrested and had to communicate with them. The agreement outlines responsibilities for medical screening, documentation, custody transfers, detainee care.

I look forward to this hearing to review the agreements current status booking transfer procedures Demographics and Treatment, Access to Custody Information to ensure transparency in accountability. Thank you Madam Chair.

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

Thank you Madam President and thank you to Councilor Culpepper for adding me as an original co-sponsor. As the Chair of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, I found it important to rise today in support of this call for greater transparency regarding I echo Councilor Culpepper's concerns about the fiscal viability of this MOU as well as concern about the recent deaths in the Suffolk County custody. Individuals arrested by the Boston Police deserve fair treatment and the same civil rights protections as you or I, and as a Council we have the responsibility to provide oversight on their behalf. Thank you Madam President.

Coletta Zapata, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Pepén, Mejia, Weber, Worrell and please add the chair. Docket 1965 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

Porter for a hearing to discuss the future of the SuccessLink Youth Employment Program.

Mejia. I file this hearing order today because we have an obligation to deliver on a commitment

on our commitments to Boston's youth. In the face of tough budget cycle, finding creative ways to fund youth programs was important but replacing SuccessLink with the Boston City Youth Corps Without advance notice or public process has caught our community completely off guard. More importantly, offering only 400 square job falls short of the 2,000 our youth were counting on. This is ultimately just 20% of what our community was promised. Our young people rely on these paychecks to help support their families, save for college and build their independence. And just as critical are the relationships behind these jobs. Many of our longtime community partners weren't told about this shift until after an informational session on October 2nd. When those partnerships are cut, our students lose trusted mentors and our community organizations are left scrambling to cover staffing gaps. Boston youth need these jobs, and our community partners have the trust and capacity to support them.

I call this hearing to bring the administration, our partners, and students together. We need an honest conversation to address the gaps in this rollout, to make sure that no young person is left behind. With collaboration and accountability we can continue moving towards a Boston where an after school job is available to every young person who needs one. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana. The Chair recognises Councillor Worrell. Thank you. Do you have the floor? Oh, I have two names. I've got Councillor Worrel and then I have Councillor Mejia. I beg your pardon. Councillor Meja, you're next. Councillor, you have

Rose, not even on.

Anyone?

But if you want to put them on, you can. Go ahead, Councilor Mejia. Is he on? Hold on. Thank you, Madam President. And thank you to Councilor Santana for his collaboration since our hearing. Our office filed a hearing and we were ruled 15 by the clerk. I also want to thank Councilor Worrell and Councilor Murphy for co-sponsoring the hearing that never made it to this chamber. During this year's budget process, community advocates and some counselors tried to sound the alarm around the public funding cuts to school year-end youth jobs and the impacts on youth and community organizations, and issues around transparency and accountability for the private jobs. Those concerns have become now reality. We need to have accountability around Delivery of the approximately 2,000 jobs promised in the summer when public funding was cut.

This demonstrates why we need to listen to community and implement their feedback during the council's city budget amendment process They told us throughout the budget process about these future problems around having enough jobs for youth, community organizations operating operations suffering and the lack of transparency for the private sector jobs. and here we are with communities predictions becoming a reality. They advocated for us to restore the success link public funding in our amendments, and if we had listened, we would not find ourselves in this situation My hope is in being a co-sponsor of this hearing, is to really get a better understanding of the financial impact that we have caused now our nonprofit partners.

who are on the front lines, as well as really helping us understand how we can justify sending our young people into spaces and places that are privatized and corporate. And they're not really ready to prepare to receive students who are dealing with social and emotional, and oftentimes mental health needs. I just feel like that is a recipe for disaster, and I'm looking to get back on track. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mejia. The Chair recognises Councillor Santana. You have the floor.

Thank You Madam President. I would like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Worrell as an original co-sponsor.

Thankyou. Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Worrel is added as a third. Councillor Worrelle, you have the

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to Councilor Santana and Council Mejia for both adding me as a original co-sponsor but they pretty summed it up just looking for a status on the youth jobs so just looking forward to hearing Coletta Zapata, Collins, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy

Pepén, Councilor Weber and please add the Chair. Docket 1966 will refer to the Committee on Labour and Economic Development. Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1967?

Docket number 1967. Councilor Flynn offered the following. Order for a hearing to discuss the Office of the Veteran Advocates Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Massachusetts Office of the Veteran Advocate is an independent Massachusetts state agency that was established to protect and advance the rights, benefits, and quality of life for veterans and their families. They work with state and independent partners. They provide policy recommendations and investigate oversight-related issues This office also assists veterans across the state to access local property tax extensions, connect veterans to various state agencies like MassHIRE, Executive Office of Veterans Services. and Guides Veterans on Laws & Benefits. It also produces an annual report each year in accordance with the requirements under Mass General Law The report provides an overview of the veteran population and demographics across the state.

It analyzes initiatives in operations, it offers recommendations to enhance state services and benefits for veterans and other fiscal matters. The reason I'm calling for this hearing is I want to learn more about the report, and to see what impact it may have on veterans here in Boston and across the Commonwealth in what we can do to partner with our state partners. But I'm really calling for the hearing to learn more about the report, it's a detailed report. Read it and ask questions, and hopefully with this information we can better serve our veterans here in Boston and across the Commonwealth. Have great respect for the people that are doing the work here at the City of Boston

have great respect for the people that are doing the work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well at the Office of Veteran Advocate and at the Executive Office of Veterans Services for the commonwealth. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan, Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepén, Weber, Councilor Worrell. And please add the chair. Docket 1967 will be referred to the Committee on Veterans, Military Families and Military Affairs. Mr. Clerk could you please read docket

Number 1968, Councilor Culpepper offered the following. Order for a summons for Philip Ng, General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Interim Secretary of Transportation For the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to appear before the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement.

Chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper you have the floor Thank You Madam President On October 14th, the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement held an off-site hearing at the William E. Reid Auditorium and Dorchester to examine longstanding rapid transit inequities affecting residents of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan to discuss potential rail alternatives for these neighborhoods. MBTA General Manager and Interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Ng was invited to participate in that hearing, but did not appear. Leaving important questions unanswered about the Commonwealth's plans to address these longstanding transportation disparities.

The city administration was also invited, while the represents from the street cabinets were unable to attend They at least had the courtesy to inform me ahead of time and provided a written statement on the dockets being heard. This summons also requests official crash data for Blue Hill Avenue, incomparable corridors including Columbus Avenue to help us evaluate the safety implications of these transportation investments. Since the center running bus lane was installed on Columbus Avenue, We have unfortunately seen an uptick in crashes and fatalities. The residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan deserve meaningful consideration of long-term rapid transfer transit alternatives, including a feasibility study of an orange line extension.

And they deserve answers from the state officials responsible for these decisions. My hope is that Mr. Ng will appear before the Committee on Civil Rights to provide answers to both the council and the residents who deserve to hear them. Madam President, I would like to request suspension of the rules to vote on the passage of this docket. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank You. The Chair recognizes Councilor Pepén. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I cannot support the summons. I would not be voting in favor of it today because I've actually been with Secretary of Transportation filling three times in my district and outside of my district, along the corridor Bluehoe Avenue. Once on a 28 bus to ride along with other elected officials that were invited in this room. We also started in Mattapan Square and we walked on The Corridor of Blue Hill Ave in that court to see how the transportation project could impact, talk to residents, et cetera alongside members of his team. Fast forward a few months later, the first big Blue Hill Av meeting Secretary Yang was there. September 30th, he was also there. So that's three times that I recall that the secretary has made himself available to talk to the community, to talk about the projects

and I worked very closely with the MBTA team, not just on this project specifically but on many other projects in my district. And whenever I reach out to them They provide a response, and either the secretary responds or a member of his team. So today I'm not going to vote in favor of this summons. I know that their team is accessible, and I look forward to the conversation. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Pepén. Chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. So I just need to understand what we're talking about here today So if I'm clear, the summons is to have Phil show up to a hearing. So the summions is not for him to show up in community, right?

The hearing.

to come to the chamber and present himself in front of the body. It's for a hearing, right? I mean to summons him to show up. Right?

For the hearing.

Right. And so there is a difference between having someone show up in community and having someone showing up to an official public hearing at the request of the council. So I just want to make sure that I'm voting specifically on what is being asked, which The right that we have to summons people to participate in our public hearings so that we can make more informed decisions, not just show up to a community meeting where there's really nothing that's set on the record that we can work with and legislate around. Clerk, can you please confirm for me what the request is so I understand if I'm going to be supporting or objecting to this.

Councillor Mejia will have the lead sponsor speak to that question.

Pepén for also raising that issue about the MBTA general manager showing up at Morningstar, then showing up at the Holland School. A very informal unofficial meetings that he showed up to but when there was an official council hearing and this was an Official Council Hearing that we had at the William Reed Auditorium. He failed to show up. What bothers me the most, not only did he fail to showup, he failed to even respond or submit a written statement. That's why the council has Thank you for joining us today. We are going to have the authority to summon members of

This is the Civil Rights Committee seeking answers to civil rights questions that we have regarding the MBTA and that the only MBTA has.

Hang on a second, hold on. Culpepper. Yes.

Councilor Mejia.

One at a time please.

Thank you. I just want to make sure you can hear me. One at a time, one at a Time Well no, I wasn't sure what was going to happen after he spoke. I wanted to make Finish my thought. Okay, great. Thank you for that clarification because I do remember when we were advocating for this particular hearing, we fought fiercely for it to be in your committee regarding civil rights Now, I understand the importance of making sure that people are showing up and addressing us. And the respect that we deserve as a body sets the presidents here because what we have become oftentimes is a joke because no one's taking us serious for a lot of reasons. And so I think that if we're going to utilize our political power and our political capital, and we're trying to advocate for our constituents and the people who are making decisions that impact us need to come before this body so that we can make informed decisions.

And therefore, I think your request to summons Phil show up and address the public, and the council seems to be appropriate.

So I thank you for your leadership. Thank you, Councilor Mejia Chair recognizes Councillor Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much I will be voting no as a district councillor that has many issues that i'd like to discuss with the MBTA given that a lot of my district is I just don't think this is for me what I would prioritize using my own political capital on. I do think it's incredibly important. There has been a very long process, I have pretty much stayed silent on the very long processes that is taking place on this particular issue and so forth, because it's not in my district. But I do think that if we're asking whether the city should accept money from the federal government to make improvements in our communities, and so I don't think this is appropriate use and i will be voting no. I do think the Selman's power that we have is incredibly important, so we should be choosy in the way that we use that power

and I do think that the general manager did show up at a community meeting that was a city I have a lot of things that I'm currently discussing with the MBTA about things in my district, and I just think I don't want to make a mockery of the summons process, so I will be voting no.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. The chair recognizes Councillor Mejia. Do you have your light on?

I want to be clear that there's a difference between a city-sponsored activity and an official city council hearing. And the reason why I'm stating this is because for those folks who are watching and following us, I don't want them to be confused by what we're talking about right now. And I think it's really important and we owe it to ourselves to be really clear. The fact of the matter is, is that we as a council have the power to subpoena people who are making decisions that impact the quality of life of our constituents. And both Councilor Worrell, District 4 and Councilor Culpepper, District 7 represent Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and that is a corridor Thank you, Council Member.

But I think when you call something dealing with the civil rights a mockery, and so when I look at Where we are in the 40 years that the black community was promised comparable rail transportation after they took down the train from Delhi Station, After they took down the train from Eggleston, after they took the train down from Northampton, after the took down a train from Dover. A train that I rode to school, to downtown, five minutes to downtown We lost that right to have rail transportation. That was really the heart of the community, that was the way we got downtown, we lost that and so when I look at the civil rights implications of Rail, Around the City, The Green Line, The Red Line, Blue Line.

But the Orange Line to the black community has none? I consider it not just a civil rights issue but a serious civil rights and when one of my council members calls it a mockery, it makes me realize that we have real work to do on this Council. And one of the works that we had to do today is approve these summons.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper. I really want to give Councillor Murphy an opportunity. She hasn't spoken yet so I will call on Councillor Murphy and then I'll come back Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you.

She hasn't spoken yet.

I haven't yes so I have filed and held many hearings in this last five years where The administration just doesn't show up. It's more than just discouraging, and I did have a conversation with Councillor Culpepper that I wished we had subpoenaed everyone who didn't show at this hearing last week. I was at this hearing in the community, and I was also at the city-sponsored hearings so like Councilor Mejia's comments very different very different places and spaces, and a very different opportunity for the community to actually share their concerns. Because at the city sponsored ones You had to write your questions and then they chose which ones they would read. It was very monitored, it was not a council hearing setting. I've said this before if i agree or not with the actual 17f, or the reason why.

I do want to support our colleagues because too many times we give up a power on this council and they say we don't have the power for their subpoena power about what teeth does it have. If we stood together and supported each other, then we would be respected more. So I do want to thank you Councillor Culpepper for bringing this forward. It is frustrating and discouraging that some people think that they're all treated equally, it's just not true so not everyone gets the same phone calls answered, not everyone Durkan.

Thank you so much. And I just want to respond to my colleague's charge about my use of the word mockery. Partly, I have actually done a city council summons. The person that I summoned did not show up and upon learning that when essentially our summons power as defined by Massachusetts general law allows us to summons of the City Council. Witnesses may be summonsed to attend or testify and produce books as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 100 of the General Laws. The Police Commissioner or Election Commissioner of Boston, as to a matter within their authority and such witnesses shall be summonsed in the same manner, be paid the same fees subject to essentially We are allowed to summons people within our own auspices and within our jurisdiction. And so I don't believe that the GM will appear if we summons him here today, which is why

I will be voting no. But I do think it's really important that, I do you think the charge made from my colleague that me, that my idea of using the word mockery or thinking that this is not appropriate I think we have different views on transportation. It might be our age, it might be where we come from, One of us owns a car and one of us does not. We just have different ways that we think about transportation in the city, and how we move people through the city. And so that is really at the core and many more. I do think it's really important that the general manager is aware of my difference of opinion on this particular subject matter As we talk about who gets phone calls answered and who doesn't get phone calls when we talk it's what do we use our political capital on. How do we talk to people? How do communicate with people?

I don't know when the general manager was invited, how long he was offered to respond. I have summons people that have not appeared before my committees before. and so I think it's important that this not be made into something that it's not. This is truly about differing views of how we move people through the city, and our most vulnerable road users including bus riders deserve a quick I just truly believe that about the city. It's not for me to really comment on given that it's not my district but if it's going to be brought before the City Council, I think I have the right to speak on it.

Councillor Culpepper, you have the floor. I would like to point out to my Councilor Durkan that under Chapter Mass General Laws 233 it provides for the council to subpoena state Organization has a Mass Racing Commission that we can subpoena. It has a State Water Commission and we can Subpoena so there are lists under 233 that already set out what state organization we could subpoenas So I think this is appropriate under 233, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the summons. Thank you Madam President.

Coletta Zapata, you have the floor. Thank you Madam President I just have a couple questions just because I take very seriously our City Council Powers. Everybody knows I'm an institutionalist and definitely want to maximize our power when we can. You had mentioned that you're doing this to get answers, and I just don't know has He had not answered you at all. Have you had meetings with him? Have you have one-on-ones, have you had any phone calls? Only because I think it's a difference where someone and we're being ignored Right, but if there have been individual meetings and you've gotten answers then you can share that with the community. But I'm trying to understand what the communication has been. If he's 100% ignored you like that's not good form at all. But we'd just love to understand a little bit more history behind this summons.

Thank you.

Councilor Culpepper, you may respond. Through the chair, thank you. He has not responded hearing that we had. So I used my one council hearing to take it to the field at the William Reed Auditorium Similar to any other hearing that a council would take to the field, an official hearing. The central staff came, the central staff set up. We planned how it would happen. General Manager Ng and asked him to appear. We didn't receive a phone call, we didn't see any written statement from...we've heard nothing. And so unlike the administration, the reason why and I think Councilor Murphy wants to know

Subpoena the administration because they at least responded to us and they submitted a written statement responding to the questions that we were asking at the hearing. So no, there has been no communication from him. There has been a written and that's why in this case we're using the power of a subpoena to bring him before the council.

Councillor Colletta-Zapata? Just a follow up, so you haven't had one on one meetings with him at all?

Yes, I mean we met last year. We met about the other issues with regard to the civil rights issues. We have not met about that. I thought it was appropriate to bring in for the civil rights hearing that we were having regarding the 40 years and more of MBTA investments in certain areas, and disinvestments in other areas. We wanted to get crash data to crashes at the Columbus Avenue. And so there were specific reasons why we're asking them to come to this hearing, Uh, answer to questions that this committee had so we could move forward with how best to approach this issue now.

Mejia. Councillor Fitzgerald hasn't spoken at all yet, so I'll call him first and then come back to you.

No, thank you. I hate doing this but I just want to say that I have to abstain from this vote to provide any clearages so I always like to come up here with a yes or no vote but when certain things come up Out of pure abundance of caution, I just want to say I apologize Rev but I have to abstain from this vote and not be voting present. Thank you.

Councillor Flynn you haven't spoken yet so Councillor you have the floor

Thank you, Madam Chair. I attended the meeting that was sponsored by Councilor Culpepper and Councilor Worrell in Grove Hall and I think it was about a three-hour meeting. And we did, I know Councilor Culpepper and Councilor Worrell and others fought hard to ensure that the meeting The docket itself would be assigned to the Civil Rights Committee. And at that meeting, we spent a lot of time really listening to residents in the impacted neighborhoods talking about this as a civil rights issue. And I think that was the main focus of the meeting, is the impact this has on civil rights

I learned a lot from listening to residents, mostly people of color talk about the process. I voted against the summons for when we summoned the postal inspector to the city council. I voted against that one. I'm here and my decision is to support my council colleague, Councilor Culpepper I have a lot of respect for and I agree with them. I do believe this is a civil rights issue, but my main focus and my main reason that I'm voting for this is to support Culpepper. Thank you Madam Chair.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President and I think it's really interesting there's a number of issues at play like bringing everybody back here Whether you support public transportation or not, that's not what is being discussed today. What is being discuss is whether or not Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan residents, particularly those who are going to be most impacted by decisions that are being made oftentimes without them, whether or not they have the space to be able to be heard in front of those key decision makers. That is what we're voting on. Whether or not we believe that people reserve the rights to be heard. And so I don't want anyone to get confused because I think what is happening here, and I don' t want this to be a 6-7 situation in terms of how we line up again

In terms of who supports it and who doesn't, I'm always going to be on the right side of the things because it's on the side of people that I serve regardless of what the issue is. That's just who I am. I think it's important for us to also know that public hearings allow us to have conversations on the record, which is very different than a conversation. Because what you say behind closed doors, you say beyond closed doors and it stays there. An official public hearing has a different tone and a different weight. And therefore, it's a whole different dynamic. I don't care how many times you talk to someone if it's not officially on the record, it doesn't mean anything especially when you're trying to advocate so I think that it's really important for us to also recognize that.

And I think, and this is the last thing that I'll say is that we need to all of us including myself Like, we're grown adults here. So let's start... I'm gonna speak for myself. I am going to work harder at leading with a different level of compassion for folks but We're making it very difficult when we're being so difficult about the simplest things. And I think, the way to restore trust in this body is for us to start learning how to trust each other. And I don't know what it's going to take to get to that point, but it is exhausting to come here and have to pick and choose what side of the fence you're on. When the people who are suffering, are those that we represent. And so I'm not going to police how I say things and how I talk to people.

If somebody doesn't want to take my calls, I don't care either! Before we proceed to a vote.

I beg your pardon, Councillor Well. Councillor you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. And I clearly support this summons. The community wants answers. They want to know about the process on how the MBTA decides where rail goes They want to discuss the transit gaps, they want to talk about the historical disinvestment in our community when it comes to the NVTA and 11% of ridership of the network that exists inside of the Blue Hill Lab corridor. So these are questions that the community wants and oftentimes at these one-off meetings or invited only The community is left out of the conversation or don't have time to and many more.

also known as the Burke, I think it was like 30. So this is an opportunity for residents, for the council to ask questions, for us to create the environment and to give direct answers from the MBTA, from General Manager Ng, to our community. So I'm in support of it. If anyone else was to put this up and they weren't getting answers from any city department or state department, or any other department I'll be in full support of. Thank you.

Thank You Councillor Worrell Before we move to a vote as the chair of the City Council I will be voting yes out of respect for my colleague Councillor Culpepper. As the Chair of the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement there are outstanding questions and if he feels it's important to have Philip Eng is the General Manager of the MassBay Transportation Authority. To come before his committee and answer questions, I will support him in that effort. We will now move on to a vote. Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Santana, Worrell. And please add the chair. Thank you.

Culpepper seeks suspension of the rolls in passage of docket one nine six eight. Mr Clerk could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1 9 6 8?

Councilor Breadon yes. Councilor Brayden yes. Councillor Coletta Zapata Culpepper. Yes. Councilor Culpeper, yes. Council Durkan? No. Councilur Durkan, no. Council Fitzgerald? Present. Council Fischerold, present. Council Flynn? Flynn, yes. Councilor Louisanne? Yes. Council Louisanne, yes Councilor Mejia? Yes Councilor Mehia, yes Councillor Murphy? Yes Councillor Murphy, yes, Councilor Pepén? Present. Council of Pepén present. Council Santana Santana, yes. Council Weber? Present. Councilor Weber present. Council Worrell? Yes. Eight votes in the affirmative.

Thank you all for your respectful conversation and debate on this very important matter Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1969?

Docket number 1969. Councilor Murphy offered the following. Order requesting certain information under Section 17F. regarding outstanding responses to previously filed Section 17F orders and administration accountability.

Chair recognizes Councilor Murphy. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I had filed 317Fs three weeks ago When we pass them, the administration has seven days to answer. Not only have I not gotten an answer in three weeks, I haven't gotten any response or... The administration hasn't reached out with any communication on where they are with it or if they're working on it, so I'm just filing another 17F to address that. I hope my colleagues support me in this. Thank you.

I appreciate your frustration with the lack of response to our 17Fs, or the slow response. Councilor Murphy seeks suspension of the rules in passage of Docket 1-969. All in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Mr. Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on docket 1-969?

Council of Breadon.

Yes.

Councilor Caleta-Zapata, yes. Councilor Culpepper, yes, Councilor Durkan, yes Councilor Fitzgerald, yes Counselor Flynn, Council Louijeune Lujan, yes. Councilor Mejia? Yes. Council Mejía, yes, Councilor Murphy? Councilor Murphey, yes Councilor Pepén? Yes Councilor Pen, yes Counselor Santana? Yes Counselor Weber? Yes and Councilor Worrell? O'Rourke. Yes, docket number 1969 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you Mr. Clerk. Docket one nine six nine has passed. I will now ask my colleague Vice President Coletta Zapata to come forward let us figure out which this one here

Mr. Clerk, could you please read docket 1970?

Docket number 1970. Councilor Fitzgerald will offer the following resolution urging the United States Postal Service to secure a new location for the Fields Corner post office

Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Could I please add Councillor Breadon as second co-sponsor and suspend the rules and add Councillor Worrell? And if I could, I would also—Councillor Santana did reach out, so I really do appreciate your advocacy for Fields Quarter. Thank you Henry.

Seeing and hearing no objections they are so added.

Thank you very much. So in five days on the 26th, the Fields Corner Post Office will temporarily close and I go heavy on the air quotes around temporarily because what we've seen play out over in Austin and Councilor Breadon's district The USPS will tell you that they're going to temporarily close and then remain vacant for many years until they finally give you the bad news of we are no longer seeking to be there. The Fields Corner Post Office plays a vital role in the community in Dorchester. I think, you know, I've said it before and some interviews around this too where people say John we have email now and we have electronic mail what why are we What is the big deal about post office anymore? The post office, people still get their prescription drugs. People still go for postage. People use it for their shipments. and it does create a community.

I've talked to a lot of the elderly in the community, and they say that they make their sort of either daily or weekly trip meet up with folks and go grab a tea next door You know, I think the post office is being disingenuous when they say that they are looking to relocate someplace nearby. They built the PO boxes that people go to over on Clayton Street and I went by and took a picture of what they're building out, and they're actually building into a public sidewalk. We checked and they didn't even have permits to go in there. It's bolted into the public sidewalk already so it just goes to show you sort of the disrespect that they are giving the city and the people of Dorchester. And so really I just want to thank all of you for coming out to support as we did with Councilor Breadon in Alston, in hopes that we can keep the post office infields corner and I did talk to the tenant if you hear those about they'll say it's the tenant wants them out. The tenant, when I spoke to the landlord, I'm sorry but the landlord wants him out.

They said John why would I want a long-term government funded tenant? Thank you all for your support. I hope you can get behind me on this and We'll see how it affects the future of Fields Corner and surrounding Dorchester neighborhood, and hopefully we can get it back to state. Thank you very much.

Fitzgerald, did I just say Culpepper?

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you to Councillor Fitzgeral for bringing forward this really important resolution. As many of you know, what is happening in Fields Corner is not an isolated incident. We're facing a similar situation in Alston right now. The Alston Post Office closed in December 2019 and it's a temporary closure and seven years later it's still closed. And Trump's USPS has a playbook they're deploying across Boston and Massachusetts to shutter post office locations Reduce service and break promises made to residents. I want to reiterate to Councillor Fitzgerald and the community What I said to him at the Save the Alston Post Office rally a few weeks ago. We are in this fight together, not just as Councillor Fitzgerald stood with our community in support of the Alstom post office I'm proud to stand with his community in defence of the Fields Corner Post Office.

And a few years ago, I went and stood with our colleague Councillor Durkan in defense of the Mission Hill Post Office This is a pervasive, insidious sort of creeping effect that the post office is closing in neighbourhoods where they think there's going to be no pushback and no impact. Let us be clear that this council will not stand for this. In this moment where we're getting ready for a midterm election, where the majority of our residents are choosing to vote by mail They're waiting for their mail-in ballots, and to have a deficient postal service is just totally unacceptable. We're not going to take this lying down. Boston's neighbourhoods deserve Accessible, Reliable Postal Services and we will continue advocating for the preservation of these really important community institutions.

In the aftermath of our rally in Alston, we've been getting calls from as far away as Alabama about this situation. in the Post Office. It's not just Massachusetts, it's all across the country and the postal service is an essential service that everyone relies on so we have to fight. Thank you.

Worrell. Thank you.

I apologize. Councilor Worrell was the third co-sponsor, so I'm going to go to him. I

Thank you, Chair. And thank you to the sponsors and also thank you for both of my colleagues fighting on this. Having previously represented the area, I'm still connected to this neighborhood and many of the residents in my district still use that post office. My office has heard loud and clear from residents that losing a permanent post office will hamper accessibility. We need only look to Alston's struggles reopening the post office after its branch was closed to see what the future will most likely hold for Phil's Corner and Dorchester residents. So I hope, as Councilor Fitzgerald has said, so we can stick together, come together on a unified voice and fight back and make sure that they stay permanent in this location. Thank you.

Thank You, Councilor Worrell. Councilor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank Madam Chair Thank you to Councilor Fitzgerald for the important work you are doing in Fields Corner, and I also want to acknowledge Councilor Breadon for the importance of what you're doing in Alston and Brighton as well. I think Councilor Fitch-Gerald mentioned The impact the post office has on mailing prescription drugs, especially mailing prescription for veterans. Most of the drugs now shipped by the VA Health Center in Jamaica Plain or West Roxbury, or a good percentage I should say is sent through the mail. Many people just can't get to the get to Jamaica Plain or West Roxbury. Therefore, the Postal Service plays a critical role in the health and wellness of veterans literally across New England. But I do know how important this is for veterans.

I don't pick up my medicine, I picked my medicine up at Jamaica Plain but I do hear constantly from veterans about how important their post office is to them and their families. So not only is this a, An important quality of life issue. It's a critical issue too for veterans and military families because when a post office It does impact the quality of care a veteran receives because of how important it is to receive your prescription drugs through the mail system. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Murphy of the floor? Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you Councillor Fitzgerald for filing this as I was out there in Alston supporting that community Obviously support my zip code 02122 where I grew up. It's important that we also acknowledge that not only are they good tenants in These buildings, but they're also anchors. People go to the post office, they stop at the coffee shop, a small business in and also in this community, thank you Councilor Flynn for mentioning the veterans use of our post office but Little Saigon many of our Vietnamese neighbors live right near this post office and we know they're often there mailing overseas mail. Anytime I go into that post office, I see many of my neighbors there Fields-Corner. So it's important to me that we keep O2122 open for all of the good reasons and the same reasons will be supporting for any others around the city, thank you.

Thank You Councillor Murphy. Durkan, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. As we are so aware of this issue just the Postal Service defunding and deconstructing these Post offices, which are so important to our community. So whether it's Alston or Mission Hill or Fields Corner we need to stand up. I know that we've had multiple hearings in the pilot committee about just the importance of of making sure that our post office is functioning. And I know in Mission Hill, we were able to save the post office because... But again, the post was pulling the same old games trying to point fingers and say, it's the landlord's fault. And then you talk to the landlord. It's the post office fault. Working with Senator Markey, we were able to get ahead of their lease ending.

But this is happening everywhere and I'm just grateful to Councilor Fitzgerald, to Counciler Breadon, and for everyone who's fighting for more postal service in our city. We know that the post office has done everything to change the standards. and many more. They have done a lot and I know Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has been working hard to get answers as well so grateful because it's our residents that will bear the brunt of the cost if we don't have access to these resources. So thank you, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, Councilor Fitzgerild. You were next but do you want to ask lead sponsor or go to council? Okay, Council Culpepper.

Madam President, and I rise to support Councilor Fitzgerald in this resolution. I also am encouraged by the solidarity that I see among the councillors with regard to post offices. And supporting, I went to Olsen and stood with Councilor Breadon even though my Back was in pain. I stood as long as I could. Every Friday, they're having protests in Roxbury at 55 Roxbury Street at the post office in Roxburry They'll be having another one this Friday and the following Friday, so I'm encouraged by the solidarity. I've said to Councilor Breadon at some point we need to take his protest to Washington I thought I'd be the first one to get my ticket, to make it down to Washington to protest in Washington.

To bring the seriousness and this issue especially around election time is very, very serious and we can't stop the fight. So I support Councilor Fitzgerald in his fight to keep the Post Office open in Fields Corner. Thank you Madam President.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I actually want to echo a lot of sentiments that Councilor Culpepper just said that it's really encouraging to see A lot of our colleagues just come together because of the impact in their districts. I think that something as resourceful as a postal office, it's a shame that we even have to do this but i'm just thankful that we have colleagues that want to protect them, want to save them. And I want to show my support to Council Fitzgerald and to Councilor Breadon and to anyone that's been impacted that I will be supporting this resolution today. Thank you.

Thank You Councillor Pepén. Council FitzGerald you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. I just do want to say a thank you. Senator Markey's office has always reached out and been helpful. Congressman Lynch's office have been helpful and also to Kerry Jordan at the Elections Department who is working A ballot drop box placed in the area so folks when they mail a vote, they could do it at least through a drop-off ballot box. He was way out ahead of that. I called him and he said we're already on it. So just a big thank you to Kerry. We also just have, we have a petition going online under change.org under the Fields Corner Post Office closure so I encourage everyone to go on to change. org and sign the petition as well but so thank you for your time. Thank You Chairman.

Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, please add Councilor Culpepper, Durkan, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber and please add the chair Fitzgerald seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket one nine seven zero all those in favor say aye all those opposed say nay the ayes have it thank you docket 1 9 7 0 has been adopted Mr. Clerk, can you please read docket one nine seven one?

Docket number one nine, seven one. Councilor Culpepper offer the following resolution recognizing right for your life and remembering the lives lost Oh, excuse me. I must have had Culpepper on my mind. Dr. Number 1971, Councilor Pepén offer the following resolution recognizing right for your life and remembering the lives lost to traffic violence.

Chair recognizes Councillor Pepén you have the floor

Thank you, Madam President. May I suspend the rules and add both Councilor Henry Santana as a second original co-sponsor and suspend the rule and add Councilor Sharon Durkan as a third original co sponsor?

Santana is added as a second. And seeing and hearing no objections, Councilor Durkan has added as the third.

Thank you. I said my statements earlier today during the presentation but wanted to just reiterate against the importance of Prioritizing safer streets across our city and to let everyone know that you know the ride for your life is actually happening this Sunday, October 25th. I mean everyone's invited to that but i do want to give an opportunity to my colleagues in price statements

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Santana. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Councillor Pepén for adding me as a co-sponsor to this resolution and for your advocacy for our city cyclists and pedestrians and all users of the road. No one in Boston should step off a curb or pedal down the street wondering if they'll make it home safely. Yet hardly a week goes by without our office hearing from a resident shaken by a near-miss A parent terrified of cars zipping through a school crossing or a neighbor pointing to another ghost bike where a loved one was taken. Behind every one of those calls is an empty chair at a kitchen table and a life lost on streets that should have kept them safe. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution, honoring life for your life and remembering every neighbor whose life was taken by traffic violence. We owe an immense debt

to the advocates, organizers and grieving families who refuse to look away and taking the time to prevent or demand that our city value human life over speed of traffic. We owe it to every neighbor turning their grief into action, to match their courage. To make sure that every single neighbor gets home safely and you know this is extremely personal for me as many of you know I lost my brother now 10 years ago due to a car accident And, you know, I always refer to what that has done for my family, to both my parents. And I know so many residents across the city. Again, I hear from them. My office hears from them and these are things we can prevent So I really want to thank Councilor Pepén for your strong leadership on this, not just today but since the first day you stepped into office. Just have safer streets and I'm looking forward to supporting this resolution. Thank you

Thank you, Councillor Santana. The chair recognizes Councillor Durkan.

You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair Breadon. This matters deeply to all of us. We all know what The cost is, we all read the news. We all know what the cost is of unsafe streets and I know tomorrow we have a hearing at 2 p.m about I know I even got an Instagram comment yesterday saying, oh is this the most important issue that you could be talking about? And the answer is yes. Traffic violence We lose people to traffic violence every week in Massachusetts and every day in the U.S., and I don't know the exact statistics, but we have felt it very locally this year and we all have been impacted by the loss of someone who has either died in my district, someone died in a crosswalk this year. and it shook all of us.

And so the ride for our lives is about commemorating and mourning those that we've lost, but also It's a charge of advocacy for the future and I think that is so important. That we both connect, that we both mourn the lives lost to traffic violence but also charge into the future and make sure that we're doing everything we can to work towards Vision Zero. So, to the folks who say is this the most important issue we could be working on? To me, the answer is yes. and it should be to everyone. And I'll be biking this weekend.

Thank you, Councillor Durkan. Chair recognizes Councillor Mejia.

Oh, beg your pardon, Councillor Flynn. Councillor Flynn, you're first and then we'll go to Councillor Meijia. Councillor Meajia? Councillor Flynn? Sorry.

You have the floor. Thank you Madam Chair and thank you to the sponsors for bringing this forward. Important, important resolution to ensure that we provide the safest environment for everybody. This is an issue I've worked on for Nine years is probably the issue I've worked on, spent the most amount of time on. And I've also had many people in my district that lost their life through traffic violence including young children. I do think part of the solution has to be strict enforcement of our current traffic laws. My goal as we focus on the upcoming city budget is to advocate for Boston Police to expand their outreach, to pull anyone over that's violating the rules of the road. I think that's a critical aspect of it.

The other aspect of is, I honestly believe a vehicle traveling 25 miles an hour is too fast. I advocated a reduction in the speed limit from 30 and then was able to get it down to 20 in school zones. But I do think 25 miles an hour is excessive I think it should be 20 miles an hour. But my main point is following the rules of the road, we have to ensure that Boston police do more enforcement of the current laws We see a lot of elderly people, persons with disabilities, others in crosswalks and cars will speed by them or other vehicles will speed up speed by the disregarding The health and safety of those in the crosswalk.

We have to not only enforce the law but we have to educate the public, everybody, to treat pedestrians with respect when you see them along along our streets and sidewalks. And that's an issue I'm going to continue to lead on and focus on. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank Councilor Pepén and Councilor Flynn for a few years ago joining me on the safety the Pedestrian Safety Task Force that we created because of all of the issues that were happening with the moped and the scooters, and just kind of like the difficult I just want to thank you and your offices for your support and partnership in that work. You know, what happens here or at least what I see is that oftentimes we get pitted against people who want bike lanes and people who wants this and don't want that. And I think when it comes down to people's lives

We have to start really thinking about the city as a whole and thinking about how everyone is getting around. And I think that we have a responsibility not just show up for this event that's happening on Sunday, and to Councilor Durkan's hearing tomorrow around pedestrian safety. I think that we need to start understanding that we're 13 city councilors, whether you live in a district that is impacted or not The votes that you take, the decisions that you make, the budget that we pass all impact the 800,000 constituents that we all serve. And so what we're gonna have to start learning how to do is trying to find some common ground and some ways Work together, because we're not gonna have pedestrian safety if we can't get on the same page around the things that we want to see. So I don't know what that's going to look like. I'm willing to facilitate it. I do have an award-winning personality

that I can help y'all with because we're gonna have to start doing things differently if we want to get these things passed through this body, getting the money that we need to make these things happen. I am volunteering to help you all out with that.

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. As a city councillor for Alston-Brighton District 9 In my time in office, we have lost—that I know of and there are others that I may not know of—five people killed on crosswalks. and an untold number of others who were seriously injured. More recently, we had someone who was crossing a crosswalk next to a senior housing development and she was struck by a truck and she broke her leg. Thankfully, she survived But she was unable to return to her home because she was deemed very disabled and wasn't able to get back to her for months. And also those clips, folks are crossing a crosswalk And they get clipped by a wing mirror or they get knocked over by a car that's just not giving them time to get across the road. So I think this is a really, really, important issue that we have to deal with it every day

And we shouldn't be talking about statistics like having five people killed in Alston Brighton on crosswalks. So I think that's why I'm sort of like a terrier and a bone, keeping advocating for more Speed bumps and to actually expand the safety surge so that We can actually slow people down and make them drive more carefully. And also responsible use of the roadway by pedestrians, like pay attention it's a dangerous space out there I look forward to continuing this work. The job is not done yet, so thank you. Thank you, Councillor Pepén, for your leadership on this one. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Santana, Weber, Worrell. Please add the chair.

Pepén seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1971. All in favour say aye, all opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1971 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1972?

Docket number 1972. Councilor Flynn offered the following resolution in support of H.R. 210, Dental Care for Veterans Act.

Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, may I add Councillor Murphy as an original co-sponsor? Thank you Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we must recognize the work and sacrifice that our veterans and service members have made to our country. To do that We must ensure that they have the necessary resources, support and care at the VA Medical Center. Oral health is essential for daily functions and has a profound impact on one's physical and mental health. and their well-being. Harmful bacteria, inflammation due to poor oral health can contribute to serious health conditions like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and respiratory issues. Access to dental care is limited due to restrictive eligibility rules and workforce shortages.

Roughly 80% of veterans enrolled in the VA Health Center are ineligible to ineligible to four dental benefits. Coverage is limited to veterans with 100% service-connected disability, in other categories as well including prisoners of war or those with service-connected dental injuries. Moreover, the VA faces a shortage of dentist, dental hygienist and clinic space as well. The Dental Care for Veterans Act, H.R. 210, introduced by Representative Julian Bronley, it aims to expand access to comprehensive dental care to all veterans enrolled in the VA health system. The bill is strongly supported by veterans organizations across the country, including disabled American veterans.

Expanding access to dental care would help our veterans receive preventive and necessary treatment and address oral needs before they become more serious. Our veterans should not have to solely rely on events like the Stand down for Greater Boston Veterans to receive dental cleanings and screenings. I talked to maybe seven people that were in line waiting to get dental care right out in front of City Hall and that's where they were providing dental care because they were ineligible to get the necessary care at the VA health center, because they just didn't qualify for it. Supporting the Dental Care for Veterans Act strengthens our collective commitment to serve those who have served us and ensure that they are treated with dignity in respect that they have earned.

I'm going down to DC sometime in December. I am meeting with some congressional member staffers to talk about this issue, but I would like to go down there letting them know that the City Council is on board with this particular piece of legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

And thank you, Councilor Flynn. The chair recognizes Councilor Murphy who has the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair and thank you Councillor Flynn for adding me. Dental care is health care, and we know that without dental care it can negatively impact Not just your physical health, but your mental health. So I want to thank those in Washington who are fighting to expand what limited benefits we are giving our veterans. I do believe that they should get full dental get the care they need. So supporting this and hope our colleagues do also, thank you.

Thank you Councillor Murphy. Would anyone like to add their name? Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana. And please add the chair. Flynn and Murphy seek suspension of the rules in adoption of docket 1972. All in favour say aye, all opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1972 has passed. Mr. Clerk, could you please read Docket 1973?

Docket number 1973. Councillor Pepén offered the following resolution urging Congress to reverse devastating cuts to the federal public housing and voucher budgets.

Chair recognizes Councillor Pepén. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. May I suspend the rules and add Councillor Santana as a second?

Councillor Santano so added.

And may I suspend the rules and add yourself, Councillor Breadon as a third original co-sponsor?

Seeing and hearing no objections. Councillor Bradens added.

I also want to acknowledge Councillor Culpepper who reached out and expressed support for this and also want to highlight his work with HUD that I know was very meaningful to the expansion of more affordable housing throughout our city. So thank you for your work. All of us as well as every Bostonian knows that we are in a housing crisis. We talk at length about the rising cost of construction, the deep concerns for displacements and the many tools our city is using to expand the market One of the few things we do not discuss nearly enough has been the continual lack of support from our federal government to keep people in their homes, especially our most vulnerable public housing. In fact, our government has arguably damaged public housing by cutting close to $18 million dollars to the Boston Public Housing Authority's federal public housing operating budget this year. I repeat, 18 million dollars cut by this presidential administration

at the federal government. This is after only prorating less than 87% in January Boston Housing Authority has tried to keep these cuts from impacting residents' lives as much as possible, but it is only a matter of time when staffing and maintenance will be at risk. The federal housing voucher budget also been cut back causing no new federal vouchers to be issued by BHA since February 2024. That was one month less than my entire tenure on the council. Lastly, earlier this year in February HUD proposed ending prorated housing assistance for mixed-status families. As a kid that grew up in public housing, to hear that families like mine are trying to do better for themselves and continue to elevate their status To find stable housing and to live a better life that they may lose necessary aid to keep their homes is disgraceful.

Masking my council colleagues to support this message, urging Congress to restore the federal public housing operating budget to at least 100%, raise a federal voucher program budget to issue vouchers again, include language in the next Federal Appropriations Bill to reverse the rollback The Restore Rebuild Program to build more affordable housing, to pay back the real regional energy cost and to continue supporting the existing legally housed mixed status families. I want to take the remainder of my time to also just give thank you to My member of Congress to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley because just, I believe it was last week, Councilor Louijeune, myself, the Mayor, Representative Consalvo, Administrator Bock Secretary Juana Matias from the state and Congresswoman Presley, we were at the Fairmont Public Housing in Hyde Park to announce investments that Congresswoman Pressley, the state, and the city were able to get for that housing facility.

and the people in the residence there were ecstatic, but we need more of that. We have to continue to protect our public housing residents if we truly care about housing in general in the city of Boston. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The chair recognizes Councillor Santana. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and thank you Councillor Pepen for including me as a co-sponsor Growing up in public housing, I know firsthand that a stable home is the foundation for everything else in life. In the middle of an already tenuous housing crisis, Boston cannot afford federal disinvestments that chips away at the stability and pushes our most vulnerable residents towards displacement. The real world impacts of the federal actions are already hitting our city hard. The Bosnian Housing Authority oversees 50 public housing developments 37 of which rely directly on the federal operating budget administered by HUD. Because of limited federal renewal funding and budget rollbacks, the BHA has been unable to issue a single new federal voucher since February of 2024. Federal budgets have frozen BHA vouchers Since February 2024, halting critical contracts for senior and supportive housing.

Combined with the rollbacks to rebuilding authority and attacks on mixed-status families, the federal administration is actively dismantling our ability and Preserve Homes across Boston. This crisis threatens the stability of Boston's low-income families, seniors and residents with disabilities while shutting out working people and families who are fighting to make Boston their long-term home. We must explore every measure at our disposal to push back against these federal measures, and demand that Congress fully invest in public housing I also, again, I want to thank Councilor Pepén. I know you also grew up in public housing and were the two Boston Public Housing kids on the council. And we need to take care of our Boston Housing residents I'm very glad to be able to support this resolution. Thank you.

and bring forward this resolution. I think this is a crisis, 18 million dollars is a huge amount of money to take out of BHA I think we need to send a very clear message, if anybody's listening. to those decision makers at the federal level that Our funding for public housing in the City of Boston is a crucial part of our housing infrastructure across the city. Our most vulnerable residents rely on support and Shelter in Public Housing.

This is a devastating move that we hope they will reverse. Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair and I strongly support this resolution. I represent probably the most residents of any district councilor that live in public housing have always been a strong advocate for public housing. What I also want to advocate for is for us as a city council body, to support current residents in BHA Many developments have major elevator infrastructure challenges. They bring that to me frequently, and they bring it to other district city councilors as well. I believe that's a civil rights issue when you can't get out of your apartment because the elevator is down impacting seniors, impacting persons with disabilities.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible role of Congressman Stephen Lynch has played in supporting tenants across, really across the city but across The Commonwealth as well. I want to acknowledge Congressman Lynch and his strong, positive leadership for the Boston Housing Authority and residents living in public housing. Thank you.

recognizes Councillor Colletta Zapata. You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Councilor Pepén for bringing this forward and please add my name. I also want to thank Administrator Kenzie Bach for her leadership during this moment where we are just it's such an adversarial time to be operating in the space where we've had a federal administration that has literally demonstrated disdain and contempt for people that live in public housing. It's disgusting, so I just want to thank you for bringing forward this resolution. This is $18 million or almost $18 that's gonna be cut and it's devastating because it's going to impact the contracted services that ultimately help with quality of life for residents there. And so I think of folks at Bunker Hill, Esonia in the North End, Maverick Landing, Orient Heights. And it's just another egregious act by this administration And so in addition to what you've laid out, this is kind of like a catch-all kitchen sink resolution where you talk about the fact that they're coming from mixed status households. Just making sure I'm reading my notes here.

The voucher funding is being choked and opportunities to create new affordable housing are also being restricted. And so I really see this as an example of this administration using housing As a political bargaining chip when really it should be treated as a right. So, um, it's just another example again and I think it's a good reminder for all of us and Councilor Mejia had talked about this but it's also a good to be united and fight for Boston, and fight residents while we have this federal administration who is doing all the things that I mentioned and more. And really coming for our most vulnerable so happy to support this resolution and just hopeful that my colleagues can come together on issues like this more often. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata. The chair recognizes Councillor Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam Chair. I want to say thank you to the makers for filing this resolution as we know on this body even for those of us who were here prior to this federal administration, public housing is severely underfunded. It is the housing that we depend on to make sure our most vulnerable, our poor residents have a place to call home because housing is a right and is a basic right that has been commodified, and that has made it really, really hard. So if we are not doing the... There needs to be government intervention in the market because it's too expensive. The government has to actually put the money into the housing and so we've seen What we're seeing right now is a devastation to families who are dependent on government recognizing its role and making sure that its residents have a place to call home. And so I want to be in full support of this, Councilor Pepén and I were in Hyde Park last week.

talking about how important it is to invest in public housing alongside Congresswoman Pressley, the mayor, Administrator Bock. And I want to thank him for his leadership and Councilor Santana for their leadership because as folks who grew up and who live in public housing. Their experience really should inform how we talk about, and how we deal, how we uplift the needs of residents living in public-housing and how work in partnership with our federal and state government to get more money into housing. And so this is an urgent need, there are many different forms of subsidized Housing, and this is such an important one for our most vulnerable residents. And so I hope Washington is listening because we are asking people to do even more on a shoestring budget. It was already underfunded and the attempts now from bureaucrats, not even bureaucrats Political appointees who don't know anything about housing is harming the most vulnerable among us. Thank you.

Thank You, Councilor Louijeune. Chair recognizes Councilor Weber and then we'll go to Councilor Mejia

Yeah, I just want to thank the filers for shedding light on a move by the Trump administration that's intended to spread cruelty and I just wanna elevate Residence in my district and public housing, in Mildred Haley and South Street and Archdale. And the organizations that work within those recognizing The South Street Tenants Association, South Street Youth Center and all the organizations working at Mildred Haley. So I just want to thank them and join my colleagues in strongly opposing this action by the federal government.

Thank you, Councilor Weber. The chair recognizes Councilor Mejia. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you Madam President. I want to thank my colleagues of the filers for bringing this resolution to the council and I'm really happy to support it. I just want to say a few things, one is my mom was on BHA's voucher you know we bounced from place to place and that provided us some housing stability back in the day but then when The person who owned the triple-decker that my mom rented from sold the house. They increased the rent to the point that her voucher was no longer going to be able to support And so there's this vision about who the folks are. And I think it's important for us to recognize that a lot of low income people, regardless of their status rely on housing as a way to stabilize their homes. And so, this is an attack on the working class and attack on immigrants and attack communities of color and attack poor people

Full stop. This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue, full stop. I think what the problem is that we come into this space and we forget who it is that were fighting for at the end of the day we're all under attack and if we don't recognize We're all going to end up in the chopping block. So I'm really encouraging my colleagues to support, I think about the BHA residents in South Boston and Charlestown. My office worked alongside Weber, Darrell Withers-Slim from Heal the Hood. A few years ago we did a tour called Dying to Live alongside. We invited Councilor Weber to team up with us and we went to Charlestown. We went to South Boston. We VHA housing residents were living under really difficult conditions. And I want to thank Administrator Bock for not only showing up and really understanding what it looks like to, not only be accountable but to then fight for the dollars that

She needs to make sure that our residents also have a quality of life. So while we're fighting for the money, we need to be fighting collectively on other things that are happening here Thank you very much

Thank you, Councillor Mejia. Would anyone like to add their name? Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Weber, Worrell, and please add the Chair. Thank you. Councillors Pepén, Santana and Breadon seek suspension of the rules in adoption of docket 1973. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1973 is adopted. Mr. Clerk, could you please

Read docket 1974. Docket number 1974. Councilor Worrell, offer the following resolution in support of designating the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse.

Chair recognizes Councilor Worrell. Councilor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add Councilor Culpepper as an original co-sponsor.

Councilo Culpeper so added.

And I suspend the rules and add Council Louis Jenner as a third original co sponsor.

Seeing and hearing no objection, Councillor Louijeune is added as a third.

Thank you I'm proud to bring this forward as we honor the life and legacy of Judge Leslie Harris A man who dedicated his life to public service, civil rights and creating opportunities for others. Judge Harris served on the Suffolk Juvenile Court helped establish Boston College Law Schools Black Alumni Network, taught in our schools and served as the director of the Melrose-Mechel Program. But I think what really speaks to his legacy isn't just the positions he held is the people he impacted and the doors he opened along the way. For many young black attorneys, he was one of the first black judges they had ever met and he understood the importance of that representation. He didn't just show them what was possible, he vested his time in helping them get there. Arianna Waldron, president of the BC Law Black Alumni Network said something I think captures that perfectly.

He didn't just open doors, he held them open and another reflection on his life described him as a mentor, a teacher, an affairs force for justice and systems that have too often overlooked people who look like us. That speaks to something bigger, because Judge Harris understood that representation matters but representation alone isn't enough We also have a responsibility to improve the very systems we're part of and make sure they're working for everyone. And that's why I think naming the Dorchester Courthouse in his honor is so meaningful. It's not just about putting his name on a building, It's about what that name should represent to everyone who walks through those doors. For the young person, who may one day become a judge or an attorney, I hope his name serves as a reminder of what is possible and for those working inside that courthouse, of this reminder the responsibility we have to treat people fairly uphold justice and continue improving a system that we know still needs reform.

Honoring Judge Harris shouldn't just be about remembering the work It should also be about continuing that work. I also want to take this time to give a shout out to State Representative Christopher Worrell for introducing this legislation at the statehouse and helping this move forward to the recognition that Judge Harris deserves. I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting House Bill 5116, designating the Dorset Division of the Boston Municipal Court at the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse, thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. Chair recognizes Councilor Culpepper, you have the floor.

Thank You Madam President, and thank you Councilor Forrel-Worrell for following this resolution and for adding me as an original co-sponsor. Judge Leslie Harris, who passed away last year at the age of 84 was not only a distinguished jurist and dedicated public servant But he was also a good friend of mine for many years. I had the privilege of knowing him personally, practicing law beside him and I can speak to the integrity, the fairness A humanity that defined both his professional career and his personal life. Throughout his decades of service in the legal profession, including his time as a public defender and as a judge on the Suffolk Juvenile Court Judge Harris understood that the law was not abstract, but something that directly shaped the lives of individuals, families and communities.

He approaches work with compassion, discipline and a deep commitment to ensuring that everyone who appeared before him was treated with dignity and respect. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Harris was a dedicated mentor, educator An advocate for expanding opportunities for black attorneys and students from underrepresented backgrounds. He helped open doors for generations of young people and worked tirelessly to make our legal institutions more accessible and equitable. I believe naming the Dorchester Division of the Municipal Court in his honor would be a fitting and lasting tribute to a man who devoted his life to justice, public service and strengthening our communities. I am proud to support this resolution

And I know that Judge Harris's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of legal professionals and public servants. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank You, Councillor Culpepper. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I want to thank Councilor Arell for this filing. This is an important resolution to honor someone who was a giant in the black legal community but really in our city. was a mentor to so many. He was my sister's mentor, He always, him and Beverly always opened up their home. I didn't go to BC Law but they would always allow me to crash the BC Law events at his home. And I know that there were so many, Arianne my sister who was so deeply touched and moved by the warmth of Leslie and Beverly, Beverly who passed away recently. And so I can think of no better tribute than naming a courthouse after him, the way that he cared about our young people, the We understood the difference between a legal system that sees our children as problems and a legal systems and justice systems that can help

He was definitely a judge who understood that Seeing him in Leslie show up, seeing him in Beverly show up in community. I remember we had our Black History Month event at the African American Museum and them just sharing stories of of their relationship with the museum and their relation with the city, with folks in attendance. was really a beautiful sight to see. So this is an enormous tribute for an enormous person in our city. This year it was a little bittersweet as we were going by during Carnival down Warren Street, Beverly and Leslie usually sit right at the corner and many more. Would anyone like to add their name?

Coletta Zapata, Collins, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and please add the chair. Wurrell, Culpepper and Louijeune seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket number 1974. All in favour say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1974 has been adopted.

Mr. Clerk, will you please read docket 1975?

Docket number 1975. Councilor Breadon offered the following resolution declaring Election Day a holiday for city Council employees in calling upon the City of Boston, the Commonwealth and Massachusetts to follow.

Thank you. May I also suspend the role and add Councillor Santana as a third original co-sponsor? Hearing and seeing no objections, he is so added. I also wanted to thank Councillor Mejia for her early leadership on the importance of Election Day as a holiday. Employment conditions remain one of the biggest barriers to voter participation. According to the US Census Bureau, over 26% of non-voters in the 2022 midterms cited conflicting work or school schedules as their primary reason for not casting a ballot. While the health of our democracy in America is obviously an existential crisis at the moment, I believe we as the council can lead by example and take small but meaningful steps. This is why I, as the City Council President will be closing this council

On Election Day this year, any City Council employee who chooses to work may do so but there will not be any council meetings or hearings. I hope My hope is that this provides my colleagues and all council staff the flexibility to vote, to volunteer as poll workers or to serve in their communities on this very important civic holiday. I urge my colleagues to join me as the Boston City Council and urge the city of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts respectively to establish an election day as an official holiday. Doing so affirms our commitment to protecting voters' access and ensuring every citizen's voice is heard in our democracy, so Election Day should be Democracy Day. and I ask my colleagues to support me in this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you to Council President Breadon for this filing. We had a hearing two weeks ago where we actually talked about this and we had It was a really great conversation about what it would mean if we had Election Day as a public holiday where people could exercise the right to vote and we would see so much More voter turnout. I think when they do a survey of all countries and where we stand in terms of voter turnout, this country is somewhere in the middle of the pack This would be an attempt to bring us a lot higher and encourage voter participation, especially for working families, especially This would also work great in tandem with question four, which we voted on as a resolution to allow for same-day election day voter registration. And so I think we should just be doing everything we can to strengthen our democracy and

We always talk about what it looks like to teach better civics, to make our students more engaged. Shout out to our BINCA students who were here asking Amazing questions and who are our leaders of today and tomorrow. But we can also model that by making sure that the powers that we have, that we're showing how much we value Election Day and Democracy Day has a nice ring to it And so I just want to thank Council President Breadon for this filing. I know that there are other states where we wouldn't be leading here, there are It is a holiday, and I think it just goes a long way in we've got to get ourselves back on track in this country both when it comes to so much misinformation. Things purporting to be news that misinforms our voters.

I think if we show that we are intentional about people being able to participate in our democratic process, we all win. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Louijeune. Councillor Flynn, you have the floor. Oh, Councillor Santana was a third original co-sponsor. Apologies. And we'll go to Councillor Flynn.

Thank you Madam President and thank you to Councillor Breadon for including me as a co-sponsor in this resolution. Democracy works best when participation is accessible, and this council must lead by example so I really shout out our Council President for leading and making that decision and leading by example I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution designating Election Day as a holiday for City Council staff and urging the City of Boston and the Commonwealth to follow suit. Voting, staffing the polls, and engaging with our community should be an active civic priority Not an afterthought squeezed around the workday, Boston must lead by example and ensure every worker has a time to make their voices heard. So I'm really excited about this. I'm very excited about the leadership that our council president is demonstrating with us. and we'll be supporting this resolution, thank you.

Thank you with apologies to Councilor Flynn, you have the floor sorry.

Thank You Madam Chair I have tremendous respect for the council president I do rise against this resolution for a couple of reasons. To give city council employees the day off on election day, I don't support that. If you think about it, if you are challenging a city councilor for public office, the City Council. You don't have the staff that can man the polling locations for you, or knock on doors on election day. But for incumbents, you can automatically have the day off

and your four or five staff members can automatically go to the polls for you, and support you. That's a huge advantage That's a huge advantage for an incumbent. What about someone that's trying to challenge the incumbent? that doesn't have the resources, personnel and manpower to put five paid people on the street to campaign for you. I don't want to be disagreeable As I mentioned, I have respect for the City Council President. I have a respect for her. It's not personal but I do think it's unfair to give City Council staff the day off when everybody else is working. I do think it sets a bad example and sets a good precedent.

My own opinion People can disagree with me. That's what I believe. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay. As someone who won by one vote, oh my lord, I understand how important it is to do whatever we can to get people out to the polls. So I am all in And I also know, as someone who had no support when I first ran and I still have very little support from the inside. I had to knock and I had do it all by myself and I still got in here. So the narrative about it favors incumbents, I don't know if that's the case because a person who I knocked off by just that one vote had the entire establishment and I still got in here. So, I think if more of my people had the day off, I probably wouldn't have won by one vote. I probably would've won but a lot more because all the working class people would have taken the day to go vote for me so I'm just saying.

We do have an opportunity to galvanize voters and get out there. And I do understand that there are some folks who might have advantage, but I believe at this particular election day and to correct me if I'm wrong, it's this election. It may be all future ones right? So are any of you on the ballot? Not this year so I don't know how many people y'all gonna have outside knocking on doors for who? So I just want to disagree respectfully that we're not talking about This is what I'm beginning to see, is that anything that creates democracy or creates opportunities for people to have a voice or vote

usually gets opposed by folks who are afraid of people like me and people of color and grassroots candidates having an advantage. And what that does is it gives people more opportunities, and I believe that we should be supporting this today and any other year that comes along.

Thank you, Councilor Pia.

Councilor Murphy, you have the floor. Madam Chair, so I just want to be clear. Thank you, Councilor Brayton for putting this forward but and I can get behind and support a holiday that would be city and statewide But to just say that we want this to be city council staff. So I just want the public to know that our staff already has complete flexibility on the days they work. It's not a Monday through Friday 9 to 5, some days remote like we've had this conversation for different reasons about staffing that they already can take a day knowing that we work nights and weekends so I don't think anyone is ever here already during

election days here on the fifth floor in City Hall for all the good and right reasons because I've seen so many not just our staff but family members out there at 6 a.m. at the polls, and we're bringing coffee and pizza to poll workers where Thank you, Mr. Chair. The involvement. I also want to just and I think this is a wonderful thing that we have two weeks of early voting from the 17th through the 30th anyone in this building can walk downstairs right now and vote so the days of only voting on November 3rd election day are gone and we know That Galvin expected up to 60% of the votes are going to be cast well before election day. So democracy day, I get it.

I support it on that day for the rest because we need more people to get out and vote but it's not the only day we vote So I do think it's important to recognize that declaring a day off, that's only going to let our staff on the fifth floor because we already have departments who don't have that Many departments like transportation and others don't get the work from home privilege, so I'm not going to be voting in favor of this resolution. but I do believe that we already do it and we should always continue to advocate and support people to get out and vote.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. Councillor Breadon, you were next. Would you like to go or wait till the end? Peppin, Councilor Durkan. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank You to the makers of this resolution

The way I envision and view this resolution is that this is us as a city council setting the precedence moving forward of how we should treat elections in general. In the city of Boston in the state of Massachusetts, like it says is calling upon the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to follow. And it's for us to show the importance of Election Day I don't view it as simply us giving a day off to our city employees, to our City Council employees. And like Councillor Mejia said we're not even on the ballot this year. This is for us to talk about how important it is to us to prioritize elections. You know there's a conversation I was curious, and I saw that there are some major countries that have made Election Day a holiday. and not to mention countries like Australia, Brazil, Germany, France. They actually have election days on weekends, on Saturdays and Sundays so that people have less of a reason to say they can't go vote because they're working

and it's the reason why I do support same-day voter registration. It's the same reason why i do support vote by mail or early voting in an early polling location which today you can vote at City Hall, by the way if you didn't know that. Really our priority to make sure that we are making voting easier for a lot of people and I simply see this as a step forward in making sure that If we're saying it's a holiday, why not the city and why not to state considerate as well? So I'll be supporting this today. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Pepén. Councilor Durkan, you're on the floor.

Thank you so much. I'll be voting yes but I actually really appreciate all of our colleagues Thank you so much for those talking points and what they're trying to get across here because I do think there are optical challenges Flynn, and so I appreciate Councilor Flynn's comments. I do think that our—I mean obviously with all that we care about we care Our staffs are not disenfranchised in any way. They're encouraged to participate in elections and get involved because of what we do here but I do think it's incredibly important that I think it's a great thing that we're doing this in a year where we are not on the ballot because I think its important for us to show that this isn't for our own benefit. It really is McFarland. We have a challenge in the city and my district has

City, it's really important that we get people involved and that we make it easy for people to vote. So if we were to I think that it should be a federal holiday so I'm voting yes on this but understanding that there are challenges optically to talking about elections when you yourself have to get elected in order Thank you to the lead sponsor and thank you to those trying to increase participation. and that is the point of this, and that's why we're talking about it. And I think that the city council is what's within our power here so that's as we try to craft a policy and try to create some, honestly creating news around this is great because we're encouraging other people to do the same. and we hope that employers in Boston do the same thing.

But I know for my staff, they love coming into work. We come into work every day So I think that's you know, I don't think it's not really about the day off. It's about sharing This is the domain that we can impact.

Thank you. Thank You councillor Durkan councilman. Hey said you had a question? Yes so

It's a question and just, I don't know what it is. Sorry. So it's a resolution, right? First of all. and it's a vibe check. And it's statement of our values or what we believe, right? So I just wanna be clear on what we're voting on right now. I also just want to note that in 2020 then Councilor Janey, Andrea Campbell and myself went ahead and fought for Juneteenth to be recognized as a holiday here in the city of Boston. And we started off here, then it went to the state, and then it into the federal government. We can make a difference, and we can set the presidents here locally and really get that groundswell. So I just want to name that, Councilor President Breadon, that this is a resolution

And my assumption is, and I just want you to name that for the record here, is that you're doing it for city council staff because that is what we have jurisdiction over. That is it, full stop. Tell the mayor and her team to do what, no right? So it's just us. So therefore because we have control or we have agency of our own staff Then this is an affirmation that each of us who are willing to participate in Democracy Day, that we have it upon ourselves to be able to support Democracy Day. Is that it? Then I'm on our board. Okay, great. Thank you for that clarification.

Thank You Councillor Mejia, Councillor Breadon and then Councillor Fitzgerald.

I think to your point, we're not on the ballot this year. Our staff are going to be working at the polls I encourage other folks' offices. The Elections Department is still looking for poll workers. There are non-partisan, non-profits who will be doing poll watching and ensuring that our residents in the City of Boston and across Massachusetts can safely go and exercise their legal right to vote safely and without interference. I really do feel it's a moment in time when our democracy is under attack, and this is our very symbolic way of saying as a council That we prioritise and value the opportunity, how sacred Election Day is.

And that we want to encourage as many people as possible to get out and exercise their right to vote. And so really, I encourage everyone who is supportive of this idea, if their staffs want to explore working as a poll worker or volunteering with a non-partisan nonprofit who's doing poll monitoring. There's lots of opportunities to really put yourself forward to support democracy on November 3rd. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the idea behind this proposal and the goal of making it easier for people to exercise their right to vote. However, I worry that people instead of prioritizing voting might prioritize vacation and sort of say, hey I'm banging on Monday and I got myself a four-day weekend and maybe I don't make it back in time with traffic or the plane cancelled or anything to even get back to vote. Now, I exaggerate there a bit but I do think that people might look at it as that. I would like to suggest an alternate suggestion and Councilor Breadon, I'd love to work with you on this I believe we should work with all employers, because if this was to generate from City Hall to all of city to all the state. We work with ALL employers to have them sign on Thank you for watching.

But they offer that to their employees so that they do have time and folks can have a plan to vote, and therefore increase participation. I just don't know if a holiday on a single day itself would generate that, and people could potentially take advantage of that rather than having large employers and all employers across the city and state make sure that it is part of their HR to designate that time to go vote. So I think we should actually be removing barriers to voting and making participation as accessible as possible, I just don't believe creating a holiday specifically is the right approach But we'd love to find other approaches that would maybe have a better impact and produce more voting. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for giving me another opportunity to speak. I will be brief. I think one Councillor mentioned it already but downstairs there is early voting that's already taking place here at City Council, here at the city hall. It's open and also it's easy to do. It takes five minutes of your time we don't need a I just don't support that. But will it be for the city council next year when we're all on the ballot? We already know that, on election day, no one really is on the fifth floor to begin with.

I'm going to have my city council staff come into office on Election Day to work. I work on Election day, but I don't think people need to have a city holiday and We need to get back to work and deal with neighborhood services, quality of life issues, public safety challenges. Thank you.

Thank You Councillor Flynn. Councillor Murphy had her light on before you Councillor Mejia

So if I can through the chair to Councilor Breadon, I do respect your authority as a president but I just want to clarify. I think you already stated that if this resolution passes or not you're already saying We can't schedule hearings and City Council will be closed on Tuesday, November 3rd. Is that true?

Councillor Brayden if you'd like to answer.

Thank you for your question. I think having looking back over many election days in City Hall, over the time i've been on the council we it's not our practice to have hearings or Hearings on election day because I think many of us Do our staffs do go and work in the polls? And they do volunteer. So that's just been customary practice.

That wasn't my question, sorry I might not have been clear. are you have you already said that city council is closed on election day I haven't said it yet but oh no but i thought okay when he was speaking yeah and is it true that it would be central staff also so if residents and Reach out for what they do every day for constituent concerns. There'll be no one here on the fifth floor, or is it just city councilor staff?

It would be city council offices will be closed on election day.

So just the 13 council offices?

And central staff as well.

Thank you.

Thank You Councillor Murphy, Councillor Mejia.

Okay this is the last time I get up. Okay, clerk. So that I'm clear and so that everybody understands what is happening here, it's Democracy Day. And it's not just to go out and vote, create the culture and the inspiration for democracy and activism, eh? It's not just about voting. I'm going to assume that, you know, our staff can go and drive elders to the polls. We could deliver pizza. It's Democracy Day, no? So it's not just about getting out to vote. Okay, so then that means if we don't pass this We can go ahead and do whatever we wanna do, period. Right? So that's what we do anyways.

But we can make a big deal about it, and we could say the Council affirms that Democracy Day should be infectious. Everybody should want to take the day off to go out and do our civic duty. That is what we're trying to do, is motivate people to understand the power of their vote and the power their voice, and we're gonna do so by demonstrating this here because change has to begin from within. Imagine that, we're beginning from within and inspiring everybody else to follow, no? Okay then. Let's just, I'm voting, let's move this to a vote. I want to close the discussion. I'd like to speak on this if possible.

Yes, absolutely. Thank you. Mahan, Councilor Brayden. You had your light on again. May I speak and then you can have the last word? Great, I really reserved my judgment for this particular docket until I heard everybody and trying to be additive rather than redundant. I think there's a couple of things that have been said First of all, I know that staff is here on Election Day and I know it for a fact because I always make sure that my staff is in the office to answer calls. Letting folks know where their polling location is without it being political, is a constituent service. And that's really important. So each council office has their own sovereignty to have staff there It's a District 1 tradition to have staff within the office with an election day. And it'll continue as such, regardless if this passes or not. Again, to each their own. I do think that the intent behind this resolution is good.

We are trying to promote democracy, and especially at a time where again the federal administration is bringing DOJ watchers to the polls which could could potentially turn bad. I do see a value in having city staffers there or council staffers, they're just watching the watchers to make sure that nothing goes haywire and no one's getting their right to vote I do think inherently when we are at the polls, it does turn political. So I would love to see something a little bit more fine-tuned maybe that's saying that our city council staffers should engage in Nothing but non-partisan or neutral services on election day so that they're not out at the polls during a day, 9 to 5, that is passing out. Fliers or whatever but especially if we're going to provide this sort of day that is so formal.

Murphy, and again to Councilor Murphy's point you know city councillors are in their staff members do have the ability and so on. So I do want to leave that flexibility up and especially in a year that we are on the ballot have it be a little bit more fine-tuned so it's not so political and it is a little more neutral. So I appreciate this resolution, Councillor Brayden you now have the floor.

I think this is a discussion we should continue to have in the future. Census, Elections and Redistricting Committee. To Councillor Mejia's point, Democracy Day is a day that I say to people what are you going to do? I say first of all go vote and second of all When you go vote, take five people with you. And check in with people about... Somebody mentioned the other day that a lot of people that we assume go to vote on election day, they don't go to So the fact that we have such a low turnout in the city of Boston is almost a disgrace. I'm being really frank. I come from Northern Ireland, which is its own thing But the constituency I come from, everybody loses their mind if the turnout drops to 60%. We would be very happy with a turnout of 60%.

So I think our participation is really, really important to have people pay attention and participate. and really engage with our democratic process more as we go forward. So I appreciate this is an idea that we had, just throw it out there and see what happens and I think in this moment, in this election cycle, in the midterm it's really going to be critically important for things that we've been talking about all afternoon like HUD funding and all of that. This is an opportunity maybe to have, it seems symbolic but I think it's powerful. And I think its really prompt other people to think about okay what am i doing on election day? Am I going to go and make a plan to vote because Our turnout is still abysmally low and we have a lot of work to do to bring people out. So thank you, I encourage my colleagues to support it but please vote your conscience whatever you feel. Thank you Councillor Breadon.

We'll now be taking a vote on this. Oh, would anyone like to add their name? Mr. Clerk, would you please add Council Culpepper, Councilor Durkan, Councillor Louijeune, Council Mejia, Councillor Pepén, Councillor Weber, Council Worrell and please add the chair Brayden, seek suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 1975. All those in favor say aye. Mr. Clerk would you please conduct a roll call vote on docket 1975? Councilor Braydon

Brayden, yes. Councilor Caleta-Zapata?

Yes.

Council of Caleta Zapata, yes, Councilor Culpepper? Yes, Council of Culpeper, yes Councilor Durkan, yes Counselor Fitzgerald? No.

Flint, no.

Councilor Flynn, no, Councilor Louijeune?

Yes.

Council Lujan, yes, Council Mejia?

Si.

Council Mejiya, si, Council Murphy?

No.

Council Murphy, no Council Pepén? Yes Council Pepen, yes. Councilor Santana, yes. Councilor Weber? Yes. Council Weber, yes and councilor Worrell? Yes Councilor Worrell, yes Ten votes in the affirmative and three in a negative

Thank you, docket 1975 has been adopted. Mr. Clerk can you please read docket 1976?

Docket number 1976, Councilor Flynn offer the following resolution recognizing November as lung cancer Awareness Month in the City of Boston.

Madam Chair, may I add Councillor Pepén as an original co-sponsor? Councillor Pepins so added. May I suspend the rules and add Councillor Worrell as well?

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Worrel is added as a third.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a resolution recognizing November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Boston. As we know, Pope Leo recently underwent surgery for lung cancer and has already returned to work and his duties, we pray for him in his continued recovery. Lung cancer is a disease in which the cells in the lung tissue change and form tumors that damage the lungs and can potentially spread throughout the body Non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for 80% of all lung cancer cases, while small cell lung makes up about 10 to 15 cases. It spreads more rapidly. And depending on the type and stage of the disease, there are different treatment options for patients to explore. Surgery is typically performed for early-stage

Tumors in which a small piece of the lung is removed. In rare cases, the whole lung may be removed. Radiation chemotherapy are commonly used to kill or shrink cancer cells. For many lung cancer patients chemotherapy and radiation causes significant side effects. The vast majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older, the average age is around 70 years. Active cigarette smoking Thank you for joining us. Men are diagnosed in diet high rates than women, and black men are about 12% more likely to develop lung cancer compared to white men. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among US veterans

with black veterans facing higher risk due to military related exposures. Black veterans experience disparities in diagnosis, Treatment and survival rates compared to other groups. The American Lung Association consistently ranks number one in the nation for lung cancer treatment. The rate of new lung cancer cases is 56%. 0.3 per 100,000 residents. Lung cancer patients in Boston have the opportunity for comprehensive care, screening resources through our major medical centers and patient support networks. The month of November, there are several walk-in charity events to raise awareness. On November 7th at 9 a.m.,

A foundation, the Lung Foundation will be hosting the Breath Deep Boston Walk at Assembly Row in Somerville and including the lung health resource fair and other activities. The 2026 Shrine of Light with VA, Veterans Administration event will take place on Thursday November 19th at 8 a.m in West Roxbury to raise lung cancer awareness but it's a significant medical problem Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn for adding me as a co-sponsor and for filing this very important resolution. To me I wanted to be added because it's it's a very personal thing at the moment for the Pepén family Just a few months ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and it impacted our family heavily. We discussed as a family how we're going to take care of this Luckily, just a few days ago she was able to ring the bell at the hospital after completing all the necessary treatments to make sure that she was okay. I always talk about public health and taking care of one another but It's always so important for us to check ourselves, to schedule that appointment, to go to your PCP Thank you for joining us.

and so I'm just very grateful. Also very grateful to all the staff at the hospital, our nurses, our doctors who do a great job for doing that. I was just at a groundbreaking event with Councilor Durkan and Councilor Louijeune, many others for the new Dana-Farber Cancer Hospital that is going to focus. It's all about cancer. And I think that's going to be a huge resource for our community, I'm very grateful for them. And I just want to sign a message to my grandmother and mama. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The Chair recognizes Councillor Worrell. You have the floor.

Thank you Madam President and thank you to Councillor Flynn for adding me as original co-sponsor and I'm happy to support this resolution This is also a reminder, like Councilor Pepén said just please I just encourage everyone to go To your primary care physician and get checked out. You never know what's going on And it's better that They catch it earlier than later. I have family members who lost their battle to cancer and some that have survived, The ones that have survived are the ones who got it checked out early. So please, I encourage everyone go get checked out and do it routinely because it is a matter of life and death early that they catch it. the more likely likelihood that you have for survival. So thank you again, just looking forward to supporting this and continue raising awareness around cancer. Thank you.

Thank You Councilor Worrell Would anyone like to add their name? Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkan, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louijeune, Councillor Mejia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber and please add the chair. Flynn, Pepén and Worrell seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 1976. All in favour say aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Docket 1976 has been adopted. Murphy. Before we move on to the green sheets, is there anyone who would like to add their name to a doc that they may have missed? If you put your lights

Could you please add my name to 1774 and 1974, and also put my vote in the affirmative? Please.

Which one?

1774 and 197th floor. It was before, it was a vote of matters most... So 1774. Hold on. It's on page four of nine. The Committee of Civil Rights, Racial... That was a roll call vote. Yep and I wanted to be in the affirmative for that roll-call vote please. Thank you.

Okay, I've got that. And then there's one more.

No, not yet. I have to go through all the roll calls now.

I'd like to be a yes, please. Thank you And then for 1974 is Councilor Worrell's resolution in support of the Judge Leslie Harris Courthouse. I'd like to be in the affirmative. Please, thank you. Thank you.

Okay, got that. Councilor Flynn, you had some additions?

Yes, thank You Madam Chair on docket number 1969 Could I add my name and also vote in the affirmative?

Okay, anyone else? Very good. Oh, Councilor Mejia. I beg your pardon?

Yes. I would like to just for the abundance of caution add my name on the record for yes roll call votes I'm not sure which one it was, so I'm just going to tell you. From 1519 to 1833, I just want to go... on the record as affirmative. 1519 to 1833 just

So 21, 22. 23, 24 and 1888 just in case. Thank you. Okay? Yeah, one second. Here, yes, okay, so I'll sit.

We're now on the green sheets. Is anyone wishing to pull from the green sheet today? No? Then we move on. Do we have any late files? We have two late files. Two personnel orders. I am informed by the Clerk that there are two late-file personnel orders. We will take these late file matters one at a time. absent objection these personnel orders will be added. Mr. Clerk, will you please read the first laid file matter?

First lay file matter personnel order. Councillor Breadon for Councillor Pepén.

Thank you. The chair moves for passage of this late file. All in favour say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it.

Secondly, file matter personnel order as well. Central City Council, Central Staff.

Thank you the chair moves for passage of this late file all those in favor say aye all opposed say nay thank you these late file matters have passed Now we're moving on to the consent agenda. I have 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 Consents Agenda All those in favour say aye Thank you the consent agenda has been approved. We are now on to announcements please remember that these are for upcoming dates and events If you put your lights on we'll take you around the room. Does anyone have an announcement? Councillor Mejia, you have the floor.

I want to welcome back Ellen, thank you for coming back. You were missed here in the chamber so welcome back. Tomorrow, our office is hosting our fourth annual School Vibes event. I know that it's in your district Councilor Culpepper so you'll be coming through, and I know Councilor Worrell as the Vice Chair of Education will be making their way there. So we're looking forward to welcoming you. School Vibes is really an opportunity for us to check in. Oftentimes it's around this time that families are experiencing the difficulties of navigating the Boston public schools, whether it be transportation issues, IEPs. Support Services, everything and anything. And so what we try to do is create a one-stop shop for families who are looking for resources, who're looking to gain more information We have advocacy organizations who are going to be there. We have entertainment.

We also have a coat drive, so it's getting colder. So we're gonna have our little clothing boutique and Ellen, you've been a big supporter in years past. And so we're gonna be giving away free coats to families. So it's going to be tomorrow at the Bruce Bolin Building. It starts at five from 5 to... 8. So come through for resources and what we're hoping to do is connect people to the things that they need so that they can have a good school year, so we'll see you all tomorrow at the Bruce Boland building I know Council Culpepper and Worrell will be there. And if any of my colleagues want to show up, let me know, and I'll make sure that we acknowledge you as well. Thank you.

CHRISTIE WOODARD- Thank you, Councilor Mejia. The chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to arise to congratulate our very own Shane Pack for getting a Shattuck Award tonight so congratulations to Shane.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a couple of announcements. The first one I do want to make note of is this Saturday, October 24th from 9 to 11 I'll be hosting a coffee hour in the Fort Point neighborhood at Cafe Nero on Congress Street. So if anyone wants to stop by and say hello, talk about neighborhood issues and connect with our neighbors Again, it's this Saturday, October 24th from 9 AM to 11 AM. The other event I do want to highlight is I want to congratulate the five graduates from my district who have completed the MPath, AMP-UP and Career Family Opportunity program. These determined and resilient graduates have spent three to five years working with mobility mentors Their economic goals and build brighter futures. This program, their CEO is Mayor Janey.

Their accomplishments include increased earnings, greater savings, improved employment and completed education and training. We celebrate their hard work, perseverance and commitment to creating lasting change. The celebration will take place this Saturday at Roxbury Community College 11 a.m. And finally, pest control hearing. It's a very important hearing this Friday at 10 AM. Hope everyone can attend especially district city councilors I know we all have We've been receiving so many quality of life calls from residents. It's probably the issue I receive the most calls on is pest control, what are we doing on making sure that we provide the safest and healthiest environment for our families, but pest control is a critical public health and public safety issue. I do want to encourage all of my city councilors to be there this Friday at 10 AM

Hope you can all attend. I'll be chairing the meeting and I don't think I really have missed anyone's meeting in over any year, so I would like to ask everyone to please be there to support Not just for me, but to support your constituents who need that advocacy. Thank you.

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

Thank-you Madam President. I'm not going to be at your hearing, Councillor, on Friday, but it's because I'm actually going to walk through with my residents and encourage everyone with rat issues to reach out to ISD for a walkthrough of your streets. They're very responsive. Shout-out to them. I want to wish my sister a very happy birthday. Her birthday is on the 25th, and it's been a big month for her. She also just got married. Our own clerk was able to marry her a few days ago This past Friday, so I just want to congratulate her and her new husband. Very, very, very proud big brother over here. So wanted to say congratulations and happy birthday. So that's it for me

Thank you, Councillor Pepén. The Chair recognises Councillor Durkan. Councillor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. It's my older sister Kaylee's birthday and just wanted to make sure that I didn't get... If she found out that other people were being told happy birthday on her birthday, she'd be mad. So happy birthday, Kaylee.

Very good. Wish all of them a happy birthday. Any other announcements? All good. Louijeune has already mentioned the Shattuck Awards are tonight. Everyone is invited and our very own Shane Pack is receiving an award as an Outstanding City Employee We're very, very proud of him and we hope to see you all there. The Shavik awardees will be in City Council in the Curly Room in two weeks' time so that we can all greet them and congratulate them and thank them for their service in two week's time. We're now on to memorials. Would anyone like to uplift a name? Please, we'll start off if you put your names. Councillor Flynn, you have your light on.

Thank you Madam Chair. The first person I do want to mention is Grace Campbell from Charlestown. I'm friendly with her daughter, Kim Mahoney, but she comes from a large Charlestoun family Very active in the community, but want to extend our condolences to Grace and her family. Wonderful person. The next person I do want to acknowledge is Joan Campbell who came to Boston as a young woman where she built her career as a model before establishing and running her own modeling agency. She was very active in the Bay Village neighborhood where she lived on Church Street for about six decades.

She was instrumental in so many neighborhood issues, including public safety as it related to the adult entertainment in addressing those challenges, addressing those public safety issues because Bay Village was an entirely different neighborhood years ago with a lot of public safety issue as a result. But Joan contributed greatly to the Bay Village through her kindness, her actions. She was involved in the Bay village neighborhood association and she was a wonderful person I just have two others that I would like to mention of Dorchester and South Boston is Alice Snee. Alice was a retired worker at John Hancock She was a beloved wife to the late John Knee for 71 years, devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her large and loving family was her lasting legacy.

We'll miss her. and finally a close friend in South Boston, Eamon Conley. A proud son of South Boston and founder of the Irish Volunteers Musical Group. A gifted storyteller musician Um, came from a wonderful family. And I know he'll be missed if you remember the an old place and right down the road used to be called The Midnight Court that's where he used to play Irish music for He passed away recently with his daughter Carolyn by his side. He'll be remembered with enduring love and laughter. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also would like to uplift the name of Grace Campbell and a friend. So my heart goes out to the Carr, Campbell and Mahoney family. I also have two names that I don't think and Madam President because it's been so recent, but a close family friend and former executive director of Homestar, Linda Woodboil. And also Anthony Ippolito who is the brother of a close constituent And then last but certainly not least, October 26th is the anniversary of my husband's mother's passing. She passed very suddenly in high school when he was in highschool and it was just devastating for the family. Her name was Kedidad Restrepo and I'd like to say her name in the chambers. Thank you. Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councilor Louijeune, you have the floor. Thank you I'd like to lift up Sanai Rempel who is the grandmother of my cousin And so we grew up calling her Gunsina. She died earlier this week at the age of 102. Growing up, I honestly whenever we went to New York, I didn't know Manhattan was a thing. New York was Flatbush and Queens. And it's because every time we went to New York to visit our family, the first stop was always house. And so I know my cousins are really, really even she dying at 102 My cousins are really, really, heartbroken. And so we've lost a lot of the matriarchs in our family in the last few years and this is a big blow to the families. I want to give my condolences to my cousins and to all the families mourning.

And I also want to uplift the name of Jean Daniel Semach. He is the father of a firefighter here, Matthew Semach who died recently last week. and Matt is right now in army training, and away from his family and loved ones. And I know that's really incredibly difficult as he experiences the loss of his father After just experiencing the loss of his nephew, who was his namesake. So I just want to give my deep, deep condolences to the entire St. Mark family. They also just lost a cousin to a tragic death in Brockton and so They're really hurting right now when it rains and pours, so just uplifting the San Marcos family.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Councillor Worrell. Councillor Worrelle, you have the floor.

Thank You Madam chair and I like to remember The Coleman family, Anna Coleman one of the oldest residents that we have here in the city of Boston. A resident of Mattapan has passed away at the age of 105 years old. One of the oldest residents in Mattapan just wanted to lift her name up and remember the family, the Coleman family. Thank you. Thank you.

On behalf of City Councillor Flynn, Joan Jo Campbell, Alice L. Knee, Eamonn P Connolly on behalf of Councillors Coletta and Flynn, Grace Elizabeth Campbell. On behalf of Councillor Louijeune, Sinai Rimple, and all the aforementioned folks who have passed recently. The Chair moves that when the City Council adjourns today, it does so in memory of the aforementioned individuals. A moment of silence please. The Council is scheduled to meet again in the Ionella Chamber on Wednesday, October 28th, 2026 at 12 p.m. Thank you to my colleagues, central staff, the clerk's office.

And once again welcome back to our council stenographer Ellen. All in favor of adjournment please say aye. Thank you. This council is adjourned.