;;;;BCC 200609 A

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>> GOOD MORNING ALL, YOU'LL BE
IN AS AN ATTENDEE.
I'M GOING TO REPEAT THIS SEVERAL
TIMES.
WE ARE ASKING ONLY PEOPLE WHO
ARE GOING TO TESTIFY TO BE ON
THE ZOOM.
EVERYONE CAN WAX THIS AT BOSTON
CITY COUNCIL TV AND IF YOU
GOOGLE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TV
YOU'LL SEE IT.
WE'LL GET GOING IN JUST A FEW
MINUTES.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILOR
FLAHERTY.
>> CAN COUNCILOR MEJIA IS
ATTEMPTING TO GET IN, CAN
SOMEONE SEND HER THE LINK?
>> I SENT HER THE LINK RIGHT
NOW.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
GOOD MORNING ED.
>> THERE HI MATT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THIS IS LIKE THE WALTONS.
EDDIE AND WE TWO ARE THE ONLY
THREE WHO REMEMBER.
>> THERE WAS A JOHN-BOY WASN'T
THERE?
>> THERE SURE WAS.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ALL
ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT -- WE'RE
GOING TO GET ROLLING SO.
>> I HAVE 20 YEARS ON ALL THE
OLD TV PROGRAMS.
>> ALL RIGHT, WANT TO GIT GOING.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INTEREST IN
SPEAKING TODAY SO, JUST LET
COUNCILORS KNOW SO FAR THE ORDER
OF ARRIVALS, WU, BRADEN,
FLAHERTY, ESSAIBI-GEORGE, FLIB.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE TO ORDER.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M KENZIE BOK.
THIS IS BOSTON.GOV/CITY-TV.
REBROADCAST ON VERIZON 1964.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING
IS TO DISCUSS AND HEAR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY ON ANY ASPECT OF THE
FY 21 BUDGET PRIOR TO THE
MAYOR'S ANTICIPATED RESUBMITTAL.
SO I'D LIKE TO REVIEW FOR FOLKS
WHO ARE WATCHING WHERE WE ARE.
THE COUNCIL RECEIVED A SUBMITTED
BUDGET BACK FROM THE MAYOR BACK
IN THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL.
WE HAD 27 HEARINGS AND NINE WORK
BEING SECTIONS ON IT,
CONSIDERING ALL THE DEPARTMENTS
HAD QUESTIONS ON THAT.
AND JUNE 3rd WE REJECTED THAT
BUDGET WITHOUT PREJUDICED.
FANCY WAY OF SAYING, BRING IT
BACK TO US, RESUBMIT IT.
SO NOW WE ARE WAITING ON THAT
RESUBMISSION SO WE ARE BETWEEN
BUDGET DOCKETS.
AND ON THE OPERATING BUDGET.
SO THE SCHOOLS AND THE
DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET.
WE TOOK A FIRST VOTE, A FIRST
POSITIVE VOTE, ON THE CAPITAL
BUDGET WHICH FUNDS LIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AN
SUCH BUT CAPITAL UJTS ABOUT
REQUIRE TWO TWO-THIRDS VOTES TWO
WEEKS APART.
WE HAVE TAKEN AN INITIAL ONE BUT
WE ARE STILL REVIEWING THE
CAPITAL BUDGET.
WE ARE IN TERMS OF SUBMISSION,
AS EVERYONE KNOWS THERE ARE LOTS
OF INTEREST IN THE BUDGET, FROM
THE NOT JUST FROM COVID-19 BUT
FROM BATTLING SYSTEMIC RACISM,
SO THIS DESIGNS TO BE A MEETING
THAT THE COUNCILORS HOPE TO
STATE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE, AND
TO THAT END, THE WAY IT'S GOING
TO WORK IS I'M GOING TO BEGIN
WITH OFFERING MY COLLEAGUES A
BRIEF OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK
ABOUT THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE IN
THE REVISED RESUBMITTED BUDGET.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SPINE
UP FOR TESTIMONY, IF YOU ARE
TESTIFYING THEN YOU SHOULD BE
USING THE ZOOM LINK.
IF YOU ARE NOT DEFG, YOU SHOULD
WATCH THIS ON THE TV LINK
BECAUSE WE HAVE A CAPACITY
OTHERWISE.
WHEN PEOPLE DO TESTIFY WE ASK
THEM TO MAKE SURE THEIR ZOOM
HANDLE IS THEIR FULL NAME, THAT
ALLOWS ME TO MATCH YOU UP WITH A
LIST AND CALL ON YOU.
YOU STATE YOUR NAME AFFILIATION
AND RESIDENCE.
WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
SIGNED UP.
I WILL GO HE OVER THOSE
PROCEDURES AGAIN IN A MINUTE.
ONCE EVERYBODY IS ON.
BUT I WANT TO JUMP STRAIGHT TO
MY COLLEAGUES.
FOR FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME IF
YOU CAN'T TESTIFY TODAY, IF YOU
HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
ALREADY YOU CAN ALSO SEND US
COMMENTS AT CCC.WM@BOSTON.GOV.
THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED 5500
MARYSVILLE IN ADVANCE OF THIS -- E-MAILS IN
ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A HUGE AMOUNT
AND WELCOME MORE.
APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.
AT THE END OF THIS HEARING WE
WILL ALSO BE PRAYING SOME VIDEOS
OF TESTIMONY WE ARE HAVE SEEN
FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M JOINT SO FAR BY COUNCILOR
MITCHELL WU, LIZ BRADEN,
COUNCILOR ARROYO, COUNCILOR MATT
O'MALLEY, COUNCILOR ED FLYNN AND
COUNCILOR JULIA MEJIA AT LARGE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I'LL
RECOGNIZE COUNCILOR MICHELLE WU.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BOK.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS MAKING
SURE WE ARE THINKING
INTELLIGENTLY THROUGHOUT THE
PROJECT.
VERY CHALLENGING NEW ENVIRONMENT
FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS JUST
WORKING TOGETHER PHYSICALLY
BEING APART.
IMVERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
MANY THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS
WHO HAVE REACHED OUT ABOUT THE
BUDGET THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
SIGN THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY
TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE
NATIONWIDE, AND SYSTEMIC AND
DEEP, BUT LOCALIZING IT, TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
IMPACTS TO CHANGE BEGIN.
AND CAN BE EFFECTUATED VERY
IMMEDIATELY.
SO THE WAY I'M THINKING ABOUT
THE BUDGET, AS IN THE MIDST OF
THE HEIGHTENED ATTENTION AND
INTEREST IN IMMEDIACY AND
URGENCY, THAT EVERY DOLLAR
SHOULD BE REALLY INTLENGSLY
ALLOCATED.
EVERY -- INTELLIGENTLY
ALLOCATED.
EVERY DOLLAR SHOULD BE GOING
TOWARDS COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT
IS EQUITABLE AND EFFECTIVE AND
THAT INVOLVES LOOKING AT THE BIG
PICTURE.
THAT WE KNOW THE WAYS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN FUNDING SAFETY AND
PUBLIC SAFETY HAS NOT LED TO THE
SAFEST OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE WAYS WE'VE BEEN
THINKING OF APPROACHING CRIMINAL
JUSTICE HAS NOT RESULTED IN JUST
OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND
PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, PARTICULARLY BLACK
AMERICANS.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE
CITY OF BOSTON BUDGET, IS THAT
OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FUNDING, OUR
RESOURCES THAT WE ARE SENDING TO
SCHOOLS FIRST SHOULD REFLECT
SOME CHANGES BEFORE AND AFTER
THE PANDEMIC AND THE FACT THAT
THERE WERE NOT MANY SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES GOING INTO NEXT SCHOOL
YEAR, GIVEN THE DEPTH OF NEED,
THE EXACERBATED INEQUITIES IS
TUNNELING.
I THINK WE ALSO SEE IN THIS
MOMENT JUST HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO
GO IN TERMS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY AND
THAT WE'VE RELIED HEAVILY ON
PARTNERS, LUCKILY WE HAVE THE
BEST HEALTH CARE PARTNERS IN THE
WORLD HERE IN BOSTON BUT MUCH OF
THAT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO
THE CITY'S PROACTIVE RESPONSE
AND ABILITY TO PLAN AND MANAGE
THAT, I THINK, IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY I WOULD AGREE WITH
SO MANY OF THE CALLS THAT WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT COMPLETELY
AND FIGURING OUT -- PUBLIC
HEALTH AND FIGURE AUTO HOW WE
CAN SHIFT THAT FUNDING TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE IN
THAT EFFORT.
LONG THE CENTER OF THE COUNCIL'S
DISCUSSIONS, WE THAT THREE,
FOUR, FIVE YEAR AGO NOW, WHEN
THE FIRST EFFORTS BEGAN ON THE
COUNCIL TO TAKE UP -- THINK
ABOUT HOW THE CITY WAS SPENDING
IS OUR OWN MONEY, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING
OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.
SO EVERY NEW CONTRACT THAT HAS
COME ABOUT WITH AFTER COVID,
EVERY BIT OF DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING THAT THE CITY IS
PUTTING OUT AS A MARKET
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, SO
I'M HOPING TO SEE MORE WHEN IT
COMES TO PROCUREMENT AND EQUITY
AND THE FORMS OF THE CENTER THE
MEAD STEPS TO BRING ABOUT A MORE
JUST SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY IN BOSTON.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> .THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR
WU.
AND NEXT IS COUNCILOR BREADON
AND THEN COUNCILOR ARROYO.
COUNCILOR BREADON.
COUNCILOR BREADON.
OKAY I THINK SHE JUST LOST HER
CONNECTION.
WE'LL JUMP TO COUNCILOR ARROYO
AND COME BACK TO HER.
COUNCILOR ARROYO.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
YOU'RE AFIRST YEAR COUNCILOR
LIKE ME AND THIS IS A HECK OF A
WAY TO CONVERT THE BUDGETS INTO
A WORKING DOCUMENTS.
SO TO THE BUDGET I CAME INTO
THIS JOB AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER, I
DID WORK FOUR YEARS, HAD
NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH
PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
PEOPLE WHO FIRSTHAND FELT SORT
OF THE ABUSES OF THE SYSTEM,
ALWAYS HAD THE POWERS OF THE
SYSTEM TO POLICE AND JAIL THEM.
BUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES OR JOB
TRAININGS OR MENTAL HEALTH BIDS
THEY SIMPLY DID NOT EXIST AT THE
LEVEL AT WHICH THE NEED WAS AT.
IT ACTUALLY LED ME TO RUN ON A
PLATFORM THAT DISCUSSED SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND EQUITY, IS PRETTY
MUCH INCESSANTLY BECAUSE THE
DATA AND I THINK ALL OF US WOULD
AGREE ON THIS POINT, SHOWS THAT
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CRIME
OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE
OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARTS
OF OUR SOCIETY THAT WE REALLY
WOULD LIKE TO FORM, POLICING
DOESN'T GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.
IT DEALS WITH SYMPTOMS OF IT.
BUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND
OPPORTUNITY DEALS WITH THE ROOT
CAUSES.
SO TO BE HERE IN MY FIRST YEAR,
NOT THE FIRST YEAR FOR
OEVERYBODY ELSE HERE, BUT BE
HERE IN THE FIRST YEAR
DISCUSSING WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO
ME IN THE BUDGETS I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THE BUDGET
REFLECT THOSE VALUES.
THAT WE START TO LOOK AT WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN REALLY DEAL WITH
ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOR AS
LONG AS -- I'M A LIFELONG
BOSTONIAN.
FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE
WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH FUNDING IN
THIS CITY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
FOR FUNDING ISSUES, FUNDING
B.P.S. PROGRAMS LIKE ARTS AND
MUSIC ARE PART OF THOSE
PROGRAMS.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY TO
LOOK AT IT.
I WOULD THOAT FOR ME A CONCERN
IS THAT THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS
IDENTICAL AS WHAT I HEARD AT THE
STATE OF THE CITY, THREE, FOUR,
FIVE MONTHS OF SCHOOL
ESSENTIALLY CLOSURE, RIGHT?
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HUMAN GAPS I
STRUGGLE TO SEE HOW FUNDING
SOMETHING THE WAY WE WOULD
HAVEFUNDED IT PREPANDEMIC WOULD
HAVE ADJUSTED ANY OF THOSE
ISSUES FOR US.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
EVERY COUNCILOR MYSELF BUT I CAN
SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
70% OF WHAT WAS NEEDED ARE BY MY
CONSTITUENTS HAD TO DO WITH FOOD
ACCESS.
WHICH I THINK SPEAKS TO A REALTY
ISSUE FOR OUR CITY WHEN WE ARE
SO WEALTH AND SO MANY OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND A
DAILY MEAL, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
EAT.
AND SO I HAVE REAL CONCERNS WITH
THE BUDGET THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF
A PANDEMIC DOESN'T MAKE
SUBSTANTIAL -- SUBSTANTIALLY
MORE, IN FOOD ACCESS SO I'D LIKE
TO SEE THAT REFLECTED KIND OF
THE URGENCY AND THE NEED AND I
RECOGNIZE ACTUALLY THAT WE DO
HAVE THE CARES ACT AND THAT
THERE'S CARES ACT MONEY AND I
DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HERE
KNOWS HOW EXACTLY THAT IS GOING
TO BE BROKEN DOWN.
IT WOULD BE GLAD TO KNOW THAT.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT
THE CARES ACT IS A ONE TIME
INFUSION.
WHEN WE ARE TALK BRG THE BUDGET
AND THE WAYS WE WANT TO
REIMAGINE THIS BUDGET IT WOULD
INVOLVE TAKING A REAL STEP IN
HOW WE WRITE OUR BUDGETS WITHOUT
THIS INFUSION OF EXTRA MONEY.
SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT I'M LOOKING AT
SPECIFICALLY, WITH THIS, I THINK
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REIMAGINE, I THINK IT WOULD BE
GOOD TO DO THAT FOR ONE TIME
SAKE.
SEE THE FLOOR BUT I APPRECIATE
IT.
THANK YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE HEARING PEOPLE
FROM PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR
ARROYO.
NEXT UP WILL BE COUNCILOR
FLAHERTY AND THEN CAN
KOLOMOISKY.
 COUNCILOR COLEMAN.
 COUNCILOR
O'MALLEY.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
HOW WE MEASURE THE IMPACTS OF
THOSE DOLLARS IN THE
DELIVERABLES THAT THE CITY
DESERVES.
PARTICULARLY OUR RESIDENTS AND
OUR TAXPAYERS.
AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, AROUND
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AROUND
BASIC CITY SERVICES, OUR HEALTH
CARE EFFORTS, ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFORTS, ISSUES AROUND
DEVELOPMENT.
EVERYTHING THAT IS SORT OF THE
TOUGHEST IN THIS BUDGET WE HAVE
A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO
THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF
BOSTON AS A LEGISLATIVE GRANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING OUR
BEST FOOT FORWARD.
WHATEVER RESOURCES WE HAVE
AVAILABLE, I KNOW THIS WAS AN
INTERESTING BUDGET, WE HAD MORE
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND
UNDERSTANDABLE IN LIGHT OF WHAT
HAPPENED, THAT SAID WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR SPENDING IS
INTENTIONAL AND THAT WE HAVE
METRICS AND HAVE MEASURABLE
IMPACTS AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE
GOING TO GAUGE THIS BUDGETS AND
THE SUCCESS OF THIS BUDGET.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED
PARTNERING WITH YOU AS CHAIR AS
WE CONTINUE THIS PROCESS BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY WE WORK FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND
EAGER TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO
SAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR
FLAHERTY.
COUNCILOR O'MALLEY AND L
COUNCILOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
INTERTHANK YOU MADAM CAN CHAIR.
OBVIOUSLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT I
THINK ROLE THAT WE ALL HAVE
TODAY SPECIFICALLY IS TO LISTEN
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, LISTEN TO
OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THERE'S A
TWRE AMOUNT OF INTEREST
OBVIOUSLY.
I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY HERE.
I THINK AS THE BUDGET WAS FIRST
COMMITTED THERE IS CLEARLY SOME
IMPROVEMENT AND SPECIFICALLY AS
WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY,
CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOLLARS AND
SORT OF REIMAGINING SUPPORTS
THERE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT GREAT TRIED AND TRUE
PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE BEST TEAM,
SUCH AS THE TRAUMA TEAM, LOOKING
AT BETTER PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION, LOOKING
AT WAYS TO REALLY BUILD ON THE
SUCCESSES AND LOOK AT
RESUBMITTED BUBLGHTS LOOKS LIKE.
MOREOVER THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION,
AS WE TALK ABOUT FOOD ACCESS AND
YOU KNOW OWBLGHT A FOCUS AT A WE
ALL SHARE IS ON PUBLIC SAFETY
DOLLARS BUT IT'S ALSO ON
EDUCATION DOLLARS, ON PUBLIC
HEALTH DOLLARS, ON SUPPORTS FOR
OUR SENIORS.
ONE THING I WAS PROUD.OF IN THE
INITIAL BUDGET THAT I THINK WE
CAN EVEN GROW IS SUPPORT FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES IN OUR
PARKS, AND SPECIFICALLY BILLINGS
FIELD WHICH IS SOMETHING
IMPORTANT TO MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND NEIGHBORS.
SO THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY AFTER
A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS, AFTER
EXAMINING DOLLARS, WE WILL DO SO
PROVIDING GOOD OVERCAST AND GOOD
IDEAS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING AND WORKING WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO BUILD A
STRONGER BUDGET THAT WILL
ADDRESS THE ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT
SPECIFICALLY AS IT COMES TO
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, OVERT
RACISM IS A WAY THAT WE CAN
PREPARE FOR THE CONTINUED CAN
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR PARTICULARLY OUR
SENIORS, WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR
MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
WHAT IT MEANS FOR JUST THE FACT
THAT THIS IS A PANDEMIC THAT
LIKELY WE'LL BE LIVING WITH THE
CONSEQUENCES FOR QUITE SOME
TIME.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT,
OBVIOUSLY, THE SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO HAVE BEEN SO IMPACTED BY
PANDEMIC AND BEYOND, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME
OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR THEM.
SO CLEARLY WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO.
WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT -- THIS IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR
JOB AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL
FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE ALL PARTICIPATED AND BEEN
ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THIS
DISCUSSION, WILL CONTINUE TO BE
SO, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM SOME OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILOR O'MALLEY.
COUNCILOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE AND
THEN IT WILL BE COUNSELOR FLYNN.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND I
ECHO THE THANKS OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
WE'LL NOTE THAT THIS PROCESS IS
STILL UNDER WAY AND I IMAGINE WE
HAVE NEWSEUM OF MEETINGS STILL
AHEAD OF US FOR YOU THE CHAIR
DURING THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO DAMAGE I'VE
RECEIVED OVER 16,000 E-MAILS
REGARDING OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
THIS IS MY FIFTH BUDGET AND IT'S
INCREDIBLE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE
ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
THOSE AMBASSADOR PREPARING TO
TESTIFY TODAY.
I WILL BE PRESENT FOR THE
DURATION OF THIS HEARING AND
THAT TESTIMONY.
SO THE RESUBMISSION OF THIS
BUDGET THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
ITEMS WOULD I LIKE TO SEE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR.
HERE ARE A FEW.
THE BEST TEAM, THROUGH THE
BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION,
DURING MY FIRST BUDGET CYCLE IN
2016 I WAS PROUD TO WORK WITH
FORMER COLLEAGUE AND NOW
CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY TO DOUBLE
THE SIZE OF THE COMMISSION,
THESE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
IN PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS CRITICAL
THAT WE PRIORITIZE THIS, PROVIDE
AN ADDITIONAL 19 CLINICIANS THAT
WOULD EQUAL 23 TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON HAS ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH RESPONSE INSTEAD OF
PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE.
FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, THROUGH B.P.S. AND
SCHOOLS, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY
5,000 STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE
THE INCREASE IN THE FUNDING FOR
THESE STUDENTS TO SUPPORT SOME
OF THE EFFORTS SUCH AS EXPANDING
THE REACH OF THE FAMILY LED
STABILITY PILOT WHICH I'M A PART
OF AND ENSURING THAT OUR
PROGRAMS HAVE THINGS LIKE
KATIE'S CLOSET AND FOOD PANTRIES
FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I'M VERY HOPEFUL AND EXCITED
ABOUT A COMMITMENT FOR ADVISORY
OF A COMMISSION TO END FAMILY
HOMELESSNESS HERE IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON AND THAT WOULD PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE TO DO THAT.
AND INCREASED INVESTMENT IN
NURSING AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
I WAS VERY PROUD TO PUSH FOR THE
FUNDING THE TO MAKE SURE THERE
IS A FULT TIME NURSE IN EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE
INVESTMENT LAST YEAR AND ONE I
CONTINUED TO WORK ON TO MAKE
SURE THAT SCHOOLS NOT ONLY HAVE
A FULL TIME NURSE BUT THEY HAVE
A APPROPRIATE ADEQUATE IF NOT
BEYOND ADEQUATE SERVICES.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE NEED
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS IN ALL OF OUR
SCHOOLS AND WOULD I ARC FOR AT
LEAST ONE FULL TIME NENL
HEALTH -- ARGUE FOR AT LEAST ONE
FULL TIME MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL IN OUR SCHOOLS.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF INVESTMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS
IN MORE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION THERE
IS STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO, TO
GET SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
DONE RIGHT IN OUR SCHOOL
INCLUDING INCLUSION.
TOO OFTEN, OUR BLACK AND BROWN
BOYS IN PARTICULAR ARE PLACED IN
SEPARATE CLASSROOMS AND WE NEED
TO STOP DOING THIS.
AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS
IMPROVE SPECIAL ED IS SERVICES,
CAN IMPROVE QUALITY OF INCLUSION
IN OUR SCHOOLS AND DOING IT
RIGHT.
THAT REALLY HELP OUR KIDS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT NEED
SPECIAL ED SERVICES.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
INCREASING THE MOBILE SHARPS
TEAM.
AND THIS IS ABOUT PICKING UP
IMPROPERLY DISCARDED NEEDLESS IN
OUR UNABLE -- NEEDLES IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUTREACH PROCESSES, OUR MOBILE
SHARPS TEAM CERTAINLY DOES MORE
THAN JUST PICK UP NEEDLES.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH SOME OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT I COULD DO IN A FIVE
MINUTE TIME FRAME.
THERE IS THE GAVEL, THANK YOU
MADAM CHAIR AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILOR
ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
NEXT UP IS COUNSELOR FLYNN AND
THEN COUNCILOR MEJIA.
COUNSELOR FLYNN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BOK.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE
CONCERNS MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED
BUT I ALSO RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF
E-MAILS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS AND I'M TRYING TO GO
THROUGH AS MANY OF THEM AS I
CAN.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET THE
PUBLIC KNOW I'M GOING TO BE
FOLLOWING CLOSELY WHAT THEY HAVE
TO SAY AS WELL.
AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUES
THAT IMPACT OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY, SUCH AS LANGUAGE
ACCESS.
THAT'S AN ISSUE I'VE ALLOCATED
AND ADDRESSED SINCE DAY 1 AS A
CITY COUNCILOR.
I HAVE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS AND
FOUR OF THEM ARE IMMIGRANTS AND
THEY SPEAK MANY LANGUAGES,
LANGUAGE ACCESS IS CRITICAL AND
SERVICE FOR OUR IMMIGRANTS IS
CRITICAL AS WELL.
ALSO HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO MAKE
PROGRESS AND REACH AND LISTEN TO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ACROSS OUR
CITY AND WHAT SERVICES THEY
WANT.
SOME OF THOSE E-MAILS HAVE
CAPTURED THAT.
HOPE BY THIS PUBLIC COMMENT WILL
CAPTURE THAT AS WELL.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE
BEEN LISTENING TO MY
CONSTITUENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND
IN TWO YEARS BELIEVE IT OR NOT I
HAVEN'T TAKEN A DAY OFF
INCLUDING A SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
SO I ENJOY LISTENING TO MY
RESIDENTS AND TALKING TO THEM
AND LISTENING TO THEM ABOUT
THEIR CONCERNS.
ANDONE OF THE BIK ONES IS PARKS
AND RECREATION.
WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE LOVE THEIR
PARKS, THE BOSTON COMMON THAT I
SHARE WITH COUNCILOR BOK IS VERY
WELCOMING TO MY CONSTITUENTS,
ESPECIALLY MY IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY IN CHINATOWN, MAKING
SURE THAT THERE IS A SPACE FOR
THEM AS WELL.
SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE WORKING
WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE PARKS
AND REC ARE CRITICAL, BOSTON
WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION, IS A
DEPARTMENT THAT PLAYS A CRITICAL
ROLE IN THE SOUTH END AND THE
IMAI VILLAGE AS WELL,
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WHO
IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AROUND
ARLINGTON STREET IN THE BAY
VILLAGE-DOWNTOWN AREA OR WHETHER
IT'S ON EAST BROADWAY AND SOUTH
BOSTON.
IT IS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES
THAT I'M FOCUSED ON AND MAKING
SURE THAT OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY IS TREATED WITH
RESPECT AND ALSO WE CONTINUE TO
LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
ANNAL E-AND MAKING SLUR THAT
THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD DURING
THIS PROCESS WHICH I KNOW THIS
CITY IS -- AND THE
ADMINISTRATION ARE ACTIVELY
DOING.
I KNOW COUNCILOR BOK IS
CERTAINLY DOING THAT AS WELL AND
MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM THE TESTIMONY, AGAIN I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR
BOK FOR IF TREMENDOUS WORK
YOU'RE DOING -- THE TREMENDOUS
WORK YOU'RE DOING AS BUDGETS
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSELOR
FLYNN.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILOR MEJIA.
COUNCILOR MEJIA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
HOW THOUGHTFUL YOU HAVE BEEN IN
MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE
MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROCESS.
I WANT TO START OFF BY BEING
100% HONEST THAT THIS IS ONE OF
OUR BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITIES AND
AND, YOU KNOW, I USUALLY SPEAK
FROM MY HEART.
THIS MOMENTS RIGHT NOW I'M A
LITTLE BIT NERCHES NERVOUS
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN THIS.
WE HEAR THE BUZZWORD THAT THE
BUDGET IS A VALUE STATEMENT.
BUT I RAN ON A PLATFORM OF
MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT ALL MEANS ALL THAT
EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE AT THIS
TABLE AND SO TO MEET SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO BE
FIGHTING FOR AND LOOKING TO SEE
IS AROUND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND
THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN MAKING
SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS
DEPARTMENT IS WELL FUNDED SO
THAT COMMUNICATION IS COMING OUT
IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN
INCREASE FUNDING AND CAPACITY
FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
SO THAT WHEN WE'RE HOSTING
MEETINGS WE'RE DOING SO IN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, THAT WE'RE
DOING SO IN WAYS THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING CHILDCARE AND FOOD TO
FOLKS IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS
ABOUT ENGAGEMENT THAT WE NEED TO
REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS TO THAT
ENGAGEMENT.
SO LANGUAGE ACCESS IS ONE OF THE
THINGS I DEEPLY CARE ABOUT BUT
REMOVING THOSE BARRIERS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDING IN
THAT SPACE.
IN REGARDS TO DID WFT THE ABOUT
BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION,
I STARTED OFF MY CAREER IN THIS
DEVELOPMENT, IN ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO REVISIT HOW WE'RE
UTILIZING THE BPD BUDGET AND
ALLOCATE SOME OF THAT BUDGETS ON
PREVENTION.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT
PREVENTION WE SHOULD BE FUNDING
YOUTH JOBS, VIOLENCE ELIMINATION
STRATEGY.
I'M GOING TO BE ADVOCATING THE
TRANSFER OF THIS GRANT OVER TO
THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH
COMMISSION, I THINK IT LIVES
THERE NOT IN THE BPD BUDGET.
I ALSO THINK WHEN WITH IT COMES
TO MENTAL HEALTH THERE ARE A LOT
OF YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO
ARE SITTING AT HOME FEELING
UNLOVED AND UNCARED FOR.
WE NEED TO FUND MORE
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMMING
AROUND MENTAL WELLNESS.
NOT AROUND PROGRAMMING BUT I
ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE MISSING THE
MARK WHEN WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE MINIMAL HEALTH
SUPPORTS THAT ADULTS NEED HERE
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES MORE
FUNDING FOR NARCAN TRAINING AND
PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WE NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL
ABOUT THAT.
IN REGARDS TO MICRODEVELOPMENT,
I'VE HEARD WHAT WE'RE DOING TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES BUT I'D
LOVE TO SEE MORE IN THAT LINE
ITEM SPECIFICALLY AROUND HOW DO
WE SUPPORT SMALL MINORITY WOMEN
BUSINESSES AND IMMIGRANT
BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE
ACCESS, MAKING SURE THAT THINGS
ARE NOT JUST TRANSLATED TWO OR
THREE DAYS LATER, BUT THAT WOULD
INVOLVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
REAL COMMUNICATION COMING OUT OF
THE SMALL BUSINESS PLACE, AND
THAT WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT
MAKING SURE WE ARE CONTRACTING
AND SUPPORTING SMALL MINORITY
WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES HERE IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON.
WE CAN'T KEEP SAYING THAT WE ARE
DOING THIS AND THEN NOT
PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL
THIS THAT.
I ALSO THINK -- IN THAT.
I ALSO THINK IN TERMS OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I WOULD
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT
SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT WHICH
WHILE I DO APPRECIATE I DO
BELIEVE THAT WE NEED YEAR LONG
EMPLOYMENT SO REALLY REALLOCATED
SOME OF THOSE FROM YOUTH JOBS
YEAR ROUND AS WELL AS DURING THE
SUMMER.
AND THEN I ALSO THINK IN TERMS
OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET, WE NEED
TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW
WE'RE SUPPORTING STUDENTS, WHEN
IT COMES TO ACCESS AND ALSO
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
SO I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE
MORE DPLOORS TO FUND THOSE
SPECIFIC GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
AND THEN IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY,
IN OUR SCHOOLS, I'D LOVE TO SEE
NOT JUST MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE LEADERS OF
COLOR.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, PEOPLE IN THE
ADMINISTRATION, I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN NOT
JUST THE RECRUITMENT BUT THE
RETENTION.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHY PEOPLE
ARE NOT STAYING IN THESE SPACES.
AND THEN LASTLY WHAT I WILL SAY,
JUST LIKE OTHERS OF MY
COLLEAGUES, I GREW UP HERE IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON, IF WE'RE
SERIOUS WHERE THE HEALTH AND
EQUITIES, WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR
IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY, AND I'M GOING TO
BE REALLY HYPER-FOCUSED IN
MAKING SURE THAT THE VOICES OF
THE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE HEARD.
WE RECEIVED OVER 55,000 E-MAILS
PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT THE BUDGET LOOKS LIKE OR
HOW THE BUDGET WORKS.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND
VOTED IN AND WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKING SURE
THAT WHATEVER DECISIONS WE MAKE
ARE LED BY THOSE WHO WE ARE HERE
TO SERVE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO TODAY'S TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA.
COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCILOR
CAMPBELL.
COUNCILOR BREADON.
>> WE HAVEN'T EXPRESSED ENOUGH
GRATITUDE TO YOU.
THANK YOU ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
PROCESS REALLY BEING INTENTIONAL
SO EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF,
KERRY AND MICHELLE, ALL OF THIS
IS VIRTUAL AND NEW SO THANK YOU
TO CENTRAL STAFF AND OF COURSE
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING
IN TODAY'S HEARING WHO HAVE
SUBMITTED TESTIMONY E-MAILED US,
CALLED US, TEXTED US, IT'S BEEN
REALLY REMARKABLE TO SEE.
WE OFTEN AS ELECTORS HAVE PUSHED
FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT AND ALL OF
US ARE ENGAGED.
THE SILVER LINING OF ALL OF
THIS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
TRANSFORM THIS BUDGET WITH
SOMETHING THAT MORE ALIGNS WITH
SOMETHING WE ALL WANT TO SEE.
THE THING I THINK IS MOST
IMPORTANT AND THIS HAS BEEN
MENTIONED BY SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES IS THE IMPORTANCE OF
BEING INCLUSIVE OF ALL
RESIDENTS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO TRANSFORM
SYSTEMS BUT IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT ALL RESIDENTS
ACROSS THE CITY OF BOSTON, THAT
IS ADVOCATES, THOSE WHO IDENTIFY
AS PROGRESSIVE, COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT
OF L DORCHESTER AND MATTAPAN,
THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND I DO
THINK AT MOMENTS WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT REFORMS, SOMETIMES
THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF
FOLKS AT THE TABLE.
AND SO I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY THINK
LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE.
I THINK DEEPLY ABOUT CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT, HAVE INVESTED
DOLLARS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES CAME THIS
IS A WAY TO THANK OUR RESIDENT
LEADERS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON
THE GROUND BUT WE HAVE CIVIC
ASSOCIATIONS ALL ACROSS THE CITY
OF BOSTON THAT ARE DOING
TREMENDOUS WORK TO ENGAGE
RESIDENTS.
THEY HAVE THE TRUSTED
RELATIONSHIPS, THEY SPEAK
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND I DON'T
THINK WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY
ACTIVATED THEM OR USED THEM IN
THE POLICY MAKING OR BUDGET
REVIEW.
TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT
BETTER IN THE FUTURE THIS
REQUIRES NOT REAL MONEY
INVESTMENT.
MOST OF THESE FOLKS ARE
VOLUNTEERS AND WOULD SHOW UP
WITHOUT A STIPEND OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT TO PARTICIPATE IN
THEIR GOVERNMENT PROCESSES IF
THERE WAS A WAY AND EXPLICITLY A
STRATEGIC WAY FOR THEM TO
ENGAGE.
IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT
THERE ARE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES
IN INFORMING WHAT WE DO, WE ARE
STILL DEALING WITH COVID-19 AND
THEN OF COURSE THE BACKDROP OF
POLICE BRUTALITY.
WE'VE ALL WITNESSED THE PAINFUL
AND TRAUMATIC CASES OF GEORGE
FLOYD AND SO MANY OTHERS, THE
LIST IS LONG AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR HAVE KNOWN THIS REALITY
FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
OTHERS ARE BECOMING MORE WOKE TO
THAT PAINFUL REALITY THAT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE TO
LIVE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
RACE AND RACISM ARE REAL.
I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO SEE THIS
BUDGET DO GREATER INVESTMENT FOR
ALL OF US TO BE SCHOOLED AND
LEARNED ON WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE
SAY SYSTEMIC RACISM,
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, WHITE
PRIVILEGE, WHAT DOES OIT MEAN TO
GO THROUGH A RACIAL EQUITY
TRAINING TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS, HOW DO WE INVEST
IN RESILIENCY, MANY OF THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY HILT BY
COVID-19 ARE LESS RESILIENT
BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS IN
WHICH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS EXIST.
WE HAVE YET TO I THINK REALLY
TRULY RECEIVE IN A GREATER WAY
IN THAT RESILIENCY WORK.
ALL OF THE RESILIENCY AND RACIAL
EQUITY WORK IS ESSENTIAL.
IT IS THE UNDERLYING LAYER TO
ALL THE SYSTEMS AND ALL THE
POLICY CHANGES.
WE DON'T GET THAT RIGHT, WE WILL
BE BACK HERE IN A FEW YEARS
TALKING ABOUT THE SAME
INEQUITIES.
AND WE WILL BE PART OF THE
PROBLEM IN PERPETUATING THEM.
THERE HAS TO BE GREATER
INTENTIONALITY THERE, WHEN IT
COMES TO SYSTEMS REFORM AND
TRANSFORMING OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEM I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO SEE
CHANGES IN THE BUDGETS.
IT IS STILL SURPRISING TO ME
THAT WE HAVE THE SAME BUDGET WE
SUBMITTED BEFORE COVID-19.
WE RIGHT NOW ARE ALREADY
LEARNING THAT THERE WILL BE
COVID LOSS, AND FOLKS WILL BE
BEHIND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR
LEARNING, I WANT TO SEE CHANGES
IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET.
POLICE REFORM, ABSOLUTELY THERE
IS A LONG LIST OF POLICY ISSUES,
I THINK THERE IS A WAY TO
REDIRECT RESOURCES IN THAT
BUDGET TO HAVE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO
ANTIVIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION WORK MANY REBRING
WORK, YOUTH JOBS, REENTRY WORK,
YOUTH JOBS.
I WANT TO SEE A STRATEGY,
INVESTMENT ATTACHED AS TO HOW WE
ARE GOING TO ERADICATE THE
HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT HAVE
LONG EXISTED IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE NEED TO DO THAT IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH FOLKS IN OUR
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, OUR
HOSPITALS, OUR HIGHER ED
INSTITUTIONS.
I DID WANT TO HEAR A LOT MORE
FROM THE HEALTH COMMISSION
BUDGET WITH RESPECT TO OUR
STRATEGY ON THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT
FOR FAR TOO LONG AND COAFNGD
CLEARLY HAS EA HUMAN NATALLED,
THERE IS MORE TO DO.
I COULD GO ON WITH INVESTMENT IN
OUR PARKS AND SO MANY MORE.
WITH THIS I WANT TO BE MINDFUL
OF TIME THAT I REFUSE TO BELIEVE
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE GOING
THROUGH A PERIOD OF RECESSION
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GOOD
BECAUSE OF COVID-19 THERE ARE A
LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON AND GREATER BOSTON BOTH
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HIGHER
ED, CITY GOVERNMENT, STATE
GOVERNMENT, IF WE WERE TO BE
EXTREMELY CREATIVE ABOUT
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS ALL OF
THESE NEEDS COULD BE MET.
MANY OF THESE THINGS WE HAVE
BEEN DOING CREATIVELY IN MY
DISTRICT HAVE BEEN FUNDED NOT
THROUGH CITY DOLLARS BUT THROUGH
PRIVATE NONPROFIT INVESTMENT.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO BE
PART OF THE SOLUTION.
I LOOK AT AMAZON WHO IS PUTTING
ON TV, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
WHAT DOES THAT MATTER?
WHAT THE ISSUES WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE AND HOW DOES THE CITY PUSH
THESE PARTNERS TO BE GRAISHTD
PARTNERS IN THE WORK.
TO TRANSFORM THE CONDITIONS OF
SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES SO
THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO BE IN
POVERTY WITH POOR SCHOOLS,
POORHOUSING OR LACK OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CREATIVE
THINKING AND OF COURSE, FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS ON HOW THIS BUDGET
CAN BE REVAMPED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IT MEETS THE GOALS AND
OUTCOMES THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND
OUR RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR BOK.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILOR BREADON AND
COUNCILOR BREADON.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILOR BOK,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN
HEADING US THROUGH THIS
COMPLICATED BUDGET PROCESS.
IT IS VERY HEARTENING TO REALIZE
THAT SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF
BOSTON ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
THIS PROCESS AND CONTACTING OUR
OFFICE.
WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OOF E-MAILS AND CALLS
REGARDING THIS BUDGETS.
AND ALSO, THANK YOU COUNCILOR
BOK FOR EXPLAINING AND
SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS.
YOUR GRAPHICS AND THE
EXPLANATIONS ARE HELPFUL AS WE
TRY AND EXPLAIN TO OUR RESIDENTS
HOW THIS WHOLE BUDGET OPERATION
WORKS.
SOS THE BUDGET IS REALLY A
GOLDEN FUND FOR US TO ADDRESS
LONG STANDING SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS
THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THIS TIME OF COVID IT HAS
UNMASKED SOME SERIOUS INEQUITIES
IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
THROUGH ACCESS AND IN OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM.
AROUND ACCESS TO -- AND ACCESS
FOR TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATIONAL.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE COVID
CRISIS IS CAUSING AN ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN THAT WILL HAVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR REVENUE
STREAM GOING FORWARD.
SO IT MAKES US EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK IN
TERMS OF OUTCOMES, IN TERMS OF
MOVING THE DIAL IN MAKING OUR
CITY, MORE EQUITABLE AND MORE
JUST.
SO THE ISSUES THAT I'M REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT ARE WITH REGARD
TO THE BUDGET ARE HOUSING, WE
NEED HOUSING, MORE HOWGD THAT IS
AFFORDABLE FOR WORKING RESIDENTS
OF BOSTON, THE INEQUITIES IN OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM I'M VERY
EXCITED WITH THE INCREASE IN
INVESTMENT IN OUR EDUCATION AND
INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL SOCIAL
WORKERS, ET CETERA.
BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO
BE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT
THAT THERE MAY BE SOME LEARNING
LOSS DUE TO COVID SO THAT MAY
DEMAND FURTHER INVESTMENT.
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE STUDENTS
WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ACCESS
TECHNOLOGY AND KEEP IN TOUCH
WITH THEIR TEACHERS, ET CETERA.
HOUSING EDUCATION, THE OTHER BIG
800 POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM IS
THE WHOLE IN THE BACKDROP IS THE
OTHER CRISIS THAT WE SEE IN THE
WORLD, NEVER MIND BOSTON, IS THE
CLIMATE CRISIS AND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
SO I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE
INVESTMENT IN THIS BUDGET.
AND WORKING WITH OUR URBAN
FOREST AND OTHER ISSUES TO
ADDRESS OUR CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE AN
ONGOING CHALLENGE WHICH WILL
IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND OUR MORE VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES IN THE SAME WAY THAT
COVID HAS.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE GO
FORWARD IN THIS BUDGET.
SUPPORT FOR OUR ELDERS, WE HAVE
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF ELDERS
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS COVID
CRISIS HAS ALREADY EXPOSED THE
VUBILITYD OF THAT POPULATION SO
WOO -- VULNERABILITY OF THAT
POPULATION SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS
THAT.
LIFE BLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY, I
REALLY FEEL I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND
CULTIVATE OUR SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S A WAY
FOR FOLKS TO GET ESTABLISHED IN
THIS COMMUNITY, TO MAKE VALUES
AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR
BREADON.
COUNCILOR EDWARDS.
>> TALK ABOUT BAPTISM BY FIRE,
JUST HAPPEN TO ALSO TAKE ON ONE
OF THE MOST POWERFUL COMMITTEES
AND ALSO DURING A PANDEMIC AND
ALSO WITH A BACKDROP OOF SOME OF
THE MOST HORRIFIC SCENES OF
POLICE VIOLENCE AND ALSO IN ONE
OF THE MOST I THINK LARGEST
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO SEE FOR
GENERATIONS.
SO CONGRATS TO YOU.
WELCOME ABOARD.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
TO PUT IT BRIEFLY, A BUDGET IS
AN EXPRESSION OF OUR MORAL
PRIORITIES, WHO WE SEE AND WHO
WE DON'T SEE.
AND SO THIS BUDGET SEASON
PARTICULARLY HAS TO RESPOND TO
SO MANY THINGS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THROUGH OUR ABILITY
TO FORM PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS, TOP ADJUST OUR
ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO CHANGE
AND CREATE A RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON
IS RESILIENT AND CAN RESPOND TO
CRISIS AND CAN RISE TO THE
OCCASION.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL WE?
SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE
FOLKS AND SO I WILL LEAVE MY
REMARKS AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR EDWARDS.
I'M HERE TO GET PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
I'M GOING TO READ A VERY QUICK
LETTER FROM OUR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
DEAR CHAIRMAN BOK DUE TO
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES I'M
UNABLE TO LOG IN AND PARTICIPATE
IN TODAY'S LIRVING SESSION ON
THE FY 21 UBLGHT BUSINESS
HOWEVER I'M WATCHING AND
LISTENING TO THE SESSION IN REAM
TIME.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
INCORPORATING THEIR IDEAS INTO
IF CITY BUDGET.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS CRITICAL
ISSUE.
PLEASE READ THIS LETTER INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD.
THANK YOU.
SO FROM COUNCILOR KIM JANEY OUR
PRESIDENT WHO REPRESENTS
DISTRICT 7.
WE'RE TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO READ THE NAMES OF
THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
TO BE SPEAKING.
AS THEY GET INTO THE PANELIST
ROOM I'LL MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK
REMARKS MYSELF.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM
FATIMA, (SAYING NAMES) SO I'LL
JUST ASK STAFF TO MOVE THAT
FIRST PANEL OF FOLKS INTO THE
PANELIST SPACE.
AND WHILE THAT HAPPENS I'LL JUST
SAY WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM ALL THE PUBLIC
TODAY, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM
ALL THE PUBLIC AS I SAID.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE
ARE IN THIS RECESSIONARY
SITUATION WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING
THE RESUBMITTED BUDGET TO GO
DOWN.
AND THAT DOES MAKE SOME OF THE
RECOMMITMENT OF FUNDS WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE HARDER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WHEN WE THINK OF THE BUDGET
AS A ARE EXPRESSION OF VALUE,
WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD WHAT WE
CUT, WHEN ECONOMIC TIMES ARE
CHALLENGING, IS A REFLECTION OF
ECONOMIC TIMES AS WELL.
IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO BE LOOK
AGAIN AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
BUDGET.
WE ARE IN A SITUATION OF
SCARCITY BUT WE HAVE REAL NEEDS
ON FOOD ACCESS, LANGUAGE ACCESS
HAS BEEN VITAL TO PEOPLE TO GET
BASIC INFORMATION THEY NEED, WE
HAVE SEEN SOME INVESTMENT THIS
WEEK IN YOUTH SUMMER JOBS, OTHER
COUNCILORS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
YEAR ROUND NEEDS FOR OUR YOUTH
FOR EMPLOYMENT AND THINKING
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AS BEING
ABOUT AN END RESULT WHETHER
PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON AND NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT
IF NUMBER OF -- THE NUMBER OF
LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.
SOCIAL OEMOTIONAL WELLNESS,
ABOUT TRAUMA AND ABOUT FORCE AND
COMMUNITIES, ABOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THE PIECES OF
THE PUZZLE FOR US TO DRAW
TOGETHER.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I REALLY
WANT TO MOVE TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
SO THE WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK
WE'RE GOING TO GRO TO FATIMA
FIRST, WE HAVE A PANEL FIRST,
PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP, ANOTHER
PANEL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED
UP.
I JUST ASK PANELISTS TO WATCH
WHEN YOUR TIME HAS ELAPSED.
I'M GOING TO HOLD UP MY GAVEL,
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD A FEW
COUNCILORS REFERENCE THEY HAVE
SEEN THAT.
IT IS REALLY TIME TO FINISH AND
WE DO THAT BECAUSE AS WE ALL
KNOW EVERYONE, NOBODY LOVES
WAITING.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN
SPEAKING TODAY.
SO FATIMA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HEY, GOOD MORNING, I'M FATIMA
AHMED, EXCITED TO BE HERE HOPING
TO SAY IN MY LITTLE BIT OF TIME
THAT I HAVE TODAY SO FIRST OF
ALL WHO IS THE LOCAL JUSTICE
LEAGUE, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION HERE REPRESENTING
THE LONG HISTORY OF WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT, THINK THAT THEY KNOW WHAT
THAT MEANS BUT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A REALLY LONG HISTORY OF
BLACK AMERICAN REFORMS IN BOSTON
INCLUDING MALL COME MALCOLM X,
IMMIGRANTS FROM AFRICA, SOMALIA.
>> NORTH AFRICA, A SIGNIFICANT
POPULATION THAT HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR DECADES, REFUGEES AND
IMMIGRANTS.
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME HERE TO GO
TO SCHOOL OR WHO GO TO SCHOOL
HERE INCLUDING IRANIAN AND
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO COME
HERE.
WHEN WE LOOK HERE AT THE JUSTICE
LYING, ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEEMED INHERENTLY
VIOLENT AND SUSPECT.
WE START BECAUSE WE ARE DIVERSE
AND WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKED TO
BE POLICED IN EVERY PART OF OUR
LIVES.
BUT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE
FOR OEVERYONE AND THAT'S WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO TOWKS ON COMMUNITY
POLICING AND THAT CONCEPT.
BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS ARE
JUMPING INTO THIS CONVERSATION
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY'S
FROM SOMEBODY DIFFERENT PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT THIS FROM FOUR
DECADES, ORGANIZATIONS FOR LIVE,
YOUTH JUSTICE AND POWER, SO MANY
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS, IT MIGHT BE A
LEARNING MOMENT FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE.
OFTEN OUR FIRST RESPONSE IS WE
ARE GOING TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO
COMMUNITY POLICING AND TRAINING
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WITH WE'RE
ASKING FOR.
NOBODY'S ASKING FOR THAT RIGHT
NOW.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
COMMUNITY POLICING IS JUST A
REALLY SLICK WAY OF MARKETING
POLICING.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT
ADVANCING ANYTHING THAT IS
ACTUALLY COMMUNITY BASED, ONLY
TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND I'LL JUST QUOTE FROM
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS THAT
BOSTON ARE PARTICIPANTS IN.
CRIMINALIZE TREATS SOMALI YOUTH
IN PARTICULAR REALLY HORRIBLY.
A KEY TENET OF THE TRAINING IS
THAT UNDERNEATH THE AN TICH
THINK AND MISTRUST YOUTH HAVE
FOR POLICE, THEIR ABILITY TO USE
IT.
THEY ARE ENTICED BY THEIR
CAPACITY, THE POLICE'S CAPACITY
TO CARRY WEAPONS, THEIR ALMOST
GANG LIKE DRESS CODE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK OF OUR
SOMALI YOUTH, THAT THEY WILL
ADMIRE THE POLICE FOR THEIR GANG
LIKE DRESS CODE.
IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE
RISK FACTORS OF WHY THEY THINK
SOMALI YOUTH ARE PRONE TO
VIOLENCE, IMMIGRANTS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES SUFFER FROM TRAUMA AND
OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES,
YOUNGER SOMALI YOUTH DEAL WITH
ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
POSITION HE THEIR FAMILIES FACE
HERE.
IT GOES ON TO SAY AN ESTIMATED
90% OF THE SOMALI POPULATION IN
THE CITY, USES SECTION 8
VOUCHERS.
I CANNOT FATHOM HOW ANYONE
THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO
QUOTE THAT, AND THEN SPEND
$500,000 OFTEN A PROGRAM FOR THE
POLICE TO HANG OUT WITH ISMATI
YOUTH INSTEAD OF PUTTING THAT
MONEY TOWARDS HOUSING.
TRULY CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE
CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY
POLICING WHEN THERE'S REALLY NOT
DATA THAT BACKS UP THIS IDEA
THAT THAT SOMEHOW ADDRESSES
VIOLENCE.
IT DOESN'T.
AND THAT'S OUR EXPERTISE AT MJL.
WE DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF
PROGRAMMING THAT SOUNDS LIKE
FLUFFY AND WONDERFUL AND WE'RE
GOING TO DO ENGAGEMENT.
DURING THAT PROGRAM THEY HAD
POLICE OFFICERS IN THE ROOM NOT
IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES, AS
POLICE OFFICERS.
AND THEN LETTING THE YOUTH KNOW
AFTERWARDS THAT THEY WERE
ACTUALLY THERE.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS COMMUNITY
POLICING IS POLICING AND
POLICING DOESN'T FIX RACISM.
IT MAINTAINS IT, IT DOESN'T FIX
THE WEALTH GAP THAT WHITE
AMERICANS HAVE, DOESN'T FIX OUR
HOUSING ISSUES, DOESN'T FIX
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I COULD GO ON
AND ON AND ON.
THE PURPOSE IS TO MAINTAIN IT
AND THAT IS TO CONTINUE THESE
COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAMS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
SCARCITY, $60 MILLION DOESN'T
SOUND LIKE SCARCITY TO ME SOUNDS
LIKE REALLY A GOOD PLACE TO
START IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS
VIOLENCE AND MOVING THAT MONEY
AND I DO SEE THE GAVEL, I KNOW
IT'S THERE BUT WE ALSO WAITED 45
MINUTES TO EVEN GET OUR
COMMUNITY TESTIMONY STARTED SO I
HOPE TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR
QUESTIONS AFTER OTHER PANELISTS
GO.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALEX.
>> HI EVERYONE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR ALL YOUR
WORDS REGARDING, MY NAME IS
ALEX, I'M A COMMUNITIES
ORGANIZER IN BOSTON AND I'M
FOUND ORE OF YOUNG
ABOLITIONISTS.
IMM I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY
THAT WE REALLOCATE 10% OF THE
POLICE BUDGET TO BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
A LOT OF US HAVE HEARD YOU GUYS
TALK ABOUT A LOT OF PROGRAMS,
THAT THIS -- THAT OUR BUDGET
SHOULD GO (INAUDIBLE) WHY THIS
IS SO FORTUNATE TO ME.
-- SO IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND THE STORY GOES BACK YEARS.
I WAS IN MY EARLY 20s, WALKING
HOME, FROM SCHOOL, WHEN I
NOTICED A CRUISER RIDING NEXT TO
ME.
AND I WAS IN PUBLIC HOUSING BACK
THEN.
SO (INAUDIBLE).
>> ALEX YOU'RE BREAKING UP AND
WE'RE LOSING YOUR TESTIMONY.
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST YOU SHUT
OFF YOUR VIDEO AND WE'LL CIRCLE
BACK TO YOU IN A SECOND.
JUST BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO
MISS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK NEXT UP WHY DON'T WE
HAVE KIANA GO AND WE'LL CIRCLE
BACK TO ALEX.
>> THANK YOU.
HI EVERYONE MY NAME IS NIKIANA,
I'M A RESIDENT OF HYDE PARK,
BOSTON, CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR
ARROYO.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE
SPECIFICALLY.
SO JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE,
POLICE ARE NOT ONLY INEFFECTIVE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES THEY'RE
ACTIVELY HARMFUL IN TERMS OF
CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPPRESSION
OF BLACK, BROWN AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING, I AM A
REPRESENTATIVE HERE, OF A
COLLECTIVE OF OVER 20 YOUNG
BLACK ORGANIZERS HERE IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON, CALLING FOR
DEFUNDMENT OF BOSTON POLICE AND
TO FUND OUR COMMUNITIES INSTEAD
AND WE'RE ASKING THAT CUT TO BE
BY AT LEAST 10% AND THAT IT
REALLY IS JUST A BARE MINIMUM.
AND WE'RE ASKING, AND WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT CUT WOULD
LOOK LIKE, THAT MEANS CAPPING
OVER TIME, THAT MEANS NOT
SPENDING MONEY ON MILITARY
EXERCISES, THAT ONLY CONTINUE TO
MILITARIZE, WE HAVE SEEN THEM
THERE, MAYBE IT'S AN OFF BRAND
KIND OF TEAR GAS, BUT YEAH.
AND ALSO REMOVING POLICE FROM
OUR SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW I FEEL
LIKE AS A SOCIETY WE HAVE THROWN
ANY TIME WE COME TO A PROBLEM.
WE THROW POLICE AT IT AS IF
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SOLVE
ANYTHING.
BUT IN REALITY, JUST THAT MUCH
POWER, YOU KNOW, CORRUPTION
HAPPENS.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO BRING
THAT POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE,
BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I HEAR ALL OF YOU TALKING
ABOUT HOW TO REALLOCATE THOSE
FUNDS, AS IF DEFUNDMENT WERE TO
HAPPEN.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SUCCESS
LINK IN THE CITY'S NEW
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS SUPER,
SUPERHELPFUL.
I ACTUALLY, I WAS PART OF THE
MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL FOR THREE
YEARS, I REALLY KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE IMPACT THAT THAT OFFICE HAS
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
JUST HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WALK
THROUGH AND GO THROUGH
SUCCESSFULLY, HOW THAT REALLY IS
THEIR FIRST REAL CONNECTION TO
THE CITY.
I REALLY THINK FUNDING THAT IS
REALLY FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THE
FUTURE OF BOSTON.
BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, OUR
COMMUNITIES ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE
NEED.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY, I DON'T
THINK WE NEED Y'ALL TO TELL US
THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKING AND
GIVING THE POWER TO THE
COMMUNITY DIRECTLY TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS ABOUT THOSE FUNDS.
AND SO BOSTON IS HOME TO THE
NATION'S ONLY YOUTH
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS
AND THE MAYOR ADVOCATES A
MILLION DOLLARS OF THE CITY'S
EXAM BUDGET TO IT EVERY SINGLE
YEAR.
SO I'M ASKING THAT A MAJORITY
OF, IF WE WERE TO DEFUND THE
POLICE AT LEAST 10% AROUND $41
MILLION THAT A MAJORITY OF THAT
GO THROUGH A PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS FOR THE CITY
SO THAT WE CAN GET DIRECT INPUT
FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW
THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY AND
HOW THEY WANT TO ALLOCATE IT.
THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN, I THINK,
REALLY SUCCESSFUL, THE YOUTH
PARTICIPATORY PROGRAM IN THE SIX
YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING
IN BOSTON.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND
THAT.
WE NEED TO GIVE THE POWER TO THE
PEOPLE.
AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS
BUDGETING PROCESS IS EXTREMELY
INACCESSIBLE.
WHETHER WE MAKE THESE CHANGES OR
NOT, 10 A.M. IN THE MORNING IS
NOT ACCESSIBLE WHEN COVID WAS
NOT A THING AND WE'RE DOING IN
PERSON MEETINGS.
WEDNESDAY MEETINGS AT 12 P.M. IS
EXTREMELY UNACCESSIBLE, WHO CAN
MAKE THOSE, HOW ARE WE
ADVERTISING WE'RE NOT INCLUDED
IN THIS PROCESS AND THIS PROCESS
IS NOT CENTERED AROUND US.
IT'S CENTERED AROUND Y'ALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM,
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND SO YOU
NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE
SHIFT THE POWER, THE BUDGETING
PROCESS TO THE PEOPLE.
AND I THINK PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS IS A REALLY
GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
NEW YORK HAS DONE -- DONE IT IN
A BIGGER SCALE THAN BOSTON HAS
AND I SEE THE GAVEL TO YEAH,
DEFUND THE POLICE AND FUND OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALEX ARE YOU BACK OR SHALL WE GO
TO SOMEONE ELSE?
>> I'M READY.
>> OKAY GREAT ALEX YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR, TAKE 2.
>> SORRY GUYS TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES, ALEX WITH YOUNG
ABOLITIONISTS AND I LIVE IN
DORCHESTER.
WHY DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND
REINVESTING IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR IS IMPORTANT THE ME.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU
GUYS A STORY OF MINE EXPERIENCE
OF MINE FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
I WAS IN MY EARLY 20s HEADING
HOME FROM A CLASS.
AND I WAS APPROACHED BY POLICE,
A CRUISER DOWN MY STREET.
AND THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS
UNUSUAL TO ME OR PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE ME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THIS CRUISER STOPPED ME AND
ASKED ME WHERE I WAS GOING AND
GUY, THE OFFICER, HOPPED OUT AND
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AND THIS
EXPERIENCE IS THAT DAY, I HAD
JUST BEEN TRAINED BY THE ACLU ON
STOP AND FRISK.
SO I WAS LIKE SUPER-EMPOWERED IN
THAT MOMENT AND I KNEW LIKE,
THIS OFFICER CAN'T STOP ME
WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE.
SO I TOLD THE OFFICER, AM I
BEING DETAINED?
AND THE OFFICER GOT OUT OF HIS
CRUISER, WALKED UP TO ME AND
ATTEMPTED TO SEARCH MY POCKETS.
AND I HAD JUST BEEN TRAINED BY
THE ACLU SO I KNEW, YOU CAN'T GO
INTO MY POCKET WITHOUT PROBABLE
CAUSE.
AND I SAID THAT TO THE OFFICER.
AND THE OFFICER LOOKED ME RIGHT
IN THE EYE, DUG HIS HAND IN MY
POCKET, AND GROPED MY GENITALS,
YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS AT THAT
MOMENT THAT I KNEW THAT IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE LAWS
SAY.
IT ONLY MATTERS IN THAT MOMENT
WHO HAS THE POWER.
YOU KNOW?
AND IN THAT AMOMENT, I KNEW THAT
I DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER, YOU
KNOW?
AND THAT IS A MOMENT THAT ALWAYS
BURNS IN MY MEMORY.
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE LIT A FIRE
WITHIN ME.
AND THAT'S WHY I DO THE WORK DO
I TODAY.
AND THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I JUST
SAID IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT MANY
BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS IN BOSTON
KNOW OF.
YOU KNOW?
WHEN COUNCILOR ARROYO SHARED HIS
EXPERIENCE I NEARLY CRIED
BECAUSE IT'S EXACT -- IT'S MY
EXACT EXPERIENCE.
AND THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT
IT, YOU KNOW?
THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THAT THIS
IS HAPPENING.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE OVERPOLICED
AND UNDERFUNDED.
AND THIS IS THE DEMAND TO DEFUND
THE POLICE AND TO REINVEST IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ISN'T A NEW
ONE.
I CAN SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF FIVE
YEARS AGO, YOUTH OF COLOR HAVING
A SIT-IN IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I HAVE A PICTURE THAT SAYS
FUNDING THE POLICE IS FUNDING
VIOLENCE.
AND THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND NOW WE HAVE A NATIONAL
ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE AND
FOLKS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND NOW THAT THERE'S NATIONAL
ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE WE'RE
SEEING CITIES PUTTING THEIR
MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS, YOU
KNOW?
L.A., JUST TALKED ABOUT
DEFUNDING THEIR POLICE AND
FUNDING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
NEW YORK IS LOOKING AT IT.
MINNEAPOLIS JUST ANNOUNCED
SOMETHING AROUND THESE LINES.
SO IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
AND OUR CITY PRIDES ITSELF AS
BEING A LEADER IN RACIAL EQUITY,
WHEN I THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING
MOVES LIKE THESE, LIKE THIS.
TO SHOW THAT THAT IS A REALITY,
AND WE WANT TO BE LEADING THE
COUNTRY IN RACIAL EQUITY.
THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE DOING IT.
EVEN LAST NIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE
JOSEPH KENNEDY AND ED MARKEE,
THEY BOTH ON THE RECORD SAID
THEY SUPPORT REALLOCATING MONEY
FROM POLICE TO COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
I JUST WANT SUPPORT EVERYONE WHO
IS SAYING WE NEED TO MOVE FUNDS
FROM POLICE TO COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
ALEX.
NEXT UP IS LAUREN CHAMBERS AND I
THINK WE'VE GOT SOME SLIDES.
TERRY CAN YOU PUT THOSE UP?
>> THANK YOU CAM COUNCILOR BOK.
GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF CITY
COUNCILORS AND THANK YOU TO
FATIMA AND ALEX AND KIYANA FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY, WE'VE ALREADY
HEARD SOME REALLY AMAZING
TESTIMONY TODAY ABOUT WHERE WE
SHOULD BE FUNDING, AND WE'VE
HEARD SOME AMAZING PERCENTAGE
TESTIMONY AS TO WHY WE NEED TO
FUND COMMUNITIES BETTER.
AND I WANT TO SUPPLEMENT THAT
DISCUSSION WITH SOME NUMBERS
LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE FUNDING,
SPECIFICALLY THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND JUDGE WE NEED TO
FUND THEM LESS.
SO I'VE JUST GOT FOUR QUICK TAKE
AWAYS FROM THAT.
IF WE CAN GO RIGHT TO IT, IF YOU
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE
FIRST TAKE AWAY IS
DISPROPORTIONATE ELABORATION.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE SLIDE
HASN'T BEEN CHANGED YET BUT
THERE'S A FIGURE ON THE SECOND
SLIDE THERE THAT ACCOMPANIES
WHAT I'M SAYING.THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES UP 15%
OF THE TOTAL CITY BUDGET.
IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY THE B
PFORTD DEPARTMENT IS ONE AND A
HALF TIMES LARGER WHICH INCLUDES
17 INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS IN IT.
IT'S FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN THE
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION, FOUR
TIMES LARGER THAN THE LIBRARY
DEPARTMENT AND 182 TIMES LARGER
THAN THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE.
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE
SPECIFIC PERSONNEL BUDGET THE
BPD HAS 20% OF THE BUDGET FOR
THE CITY WHILE ONLY HAVING 14%
OF THE CITY'S PAYROLL, THAT IS A
DISPARITY OF 10% FOR THE CITY'S
EMPLOYEES.
SLIDE 3 IS DISCUSSING PERSONNEL
REDISTRIBUTION.
SO WITHIN THE MASSIVE $414
MILLION BUDGET FOR B PFORTD
FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL IS REALLY
BEING REDISTRIBUTED.
12 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN
PERSONNEL FUNDING TO SUPPORT 25
NEW OFFICERS WHILE THE BUREAU OF
PERSONAL STANDARDS AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH
INCLUDE THE ANTICORRUPTION
DIVISION ARE SEEING PERSONNEL
CUTS OF UP TO $10 MILLION WHICH
REALLY SHOWS THAT THE BPD IS
CHOOSING TO SLASH PROGRAMS THAT
FOCUS ON PROFESSIONALISM AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, IN FAVOR OF MORE
BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
THE FOURTH SLIDE IS ABOUT BLOAT
OD PAYCHECKS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT EMPLOYEE
EARNING REPORTS FROM 2019,
YOU'LL SEE THAT BPD EMPLOYEE,
$127,000 AT SIX FIGURES WHILE
THE AVERAGE NONBPD CITY IMLOAM
EARNED 56 THOUSAND.
THAT'S A 58,000 DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN NONBPD AND CITY
EMPLOYEES.
THE MAYOR MADE $199,000 IN 2019,
530 BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
EMPLOYEES MADE MORE THAN MARTY
WALSH IN 2019.
MANY OF THEM MADE OVER $300K SO
I WANTED TO CONTEXT CHULLIZE
THAT.
UALIZE THAT.
$183,000, HALF OF WHAT THE
HIGHEST PAID BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE MADE IN
2019.
SO WHY IS THE CITY PAYING POLICE
OFFICERS WHO ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS
THAT REQUIRE FIVE MONTHS OF
TRAINING IN PAR WITH 12th
YEARS OF TRAINING, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHO MAKES $300,000.
AND MY LAST SLIDE IS ON
EMPLOYEES WILL USE 1.2 MILLION
HOURS OF OVERTIME.
IF YOU SPLIT THAT UP TO
EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT,
THAT BREAKS DOWN TO 420 OVERTIME
HOURS, EVERYONE IS WORKING A 40
HOUR WORK WEEK THAT MEANS BPD
EMPLOYEES WORKING 14 AND A HALF
MONTHS AND THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF HIRING 570 NEW FULL TIME
EMPLOYEES.
I SEE THE GAVEL SO I'LL JUST SAY
THAT $50 MILLION ITEM FOR THE
BPD, FAIR HOUSING AND EQUITY
DEPARTMENT, ELECTION DEPARTMENT,
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, OFFICE
OF TOURISM, NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OFFICE ON
IMMIGRANTS EDUCATION AND THE
OFFICE ON VETERAN EDUCATION SO.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPOUT
NUMBERS.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE MUSLIM
JUSTICE LEAGUE.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO QUESTIONS
AFTER THE PANEL.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT IS ICRAM
MOHAMMED.
AND THEN SAMANTHA.
ICRAM.
ICRAM WE DON'T HEAR YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE UNMUTED BUT
WE'RE NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
CAN YOU TRY SAYING SOMETHING?
NO.
CAN ANYBODY ELSE -- ANYBODY ELSE
HEAR ICRAM?
OKAY SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM ON MY
END.
STILL NO LUCK.
LET ME JUMP TO SAMANTHA FOR A
SECOND AND WE'LL MAYBE -- HMM.
I DON'T KNOW, TRY FLIPPING
THINGS ON AND OFF AND SEEING
WHERE WE COME NEXT.
OKAY, SAMANTHA.
>> GOOD MORNING TO MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL AND TO OTHER FOLKS
TESTIFYING AND THOSE WATCHING.
MY NAME IS SAMANTHA CARERO.
A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF ROXBURY
AND A LONG TIME PREVENTIONIST.
I WAS WORK AT BRIGHAM AND
WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IN THE VIOLENCE
AND RECOVERY PROGRAM.
I WAS ATTENDING A MEMORIAL FOR A
YOUNG PERSON FROM ALICE TAYLOR
AND MISSION HILL WHO HAD BEEN
SHOT TO DEATH.
MANY OF HIS FRIENDS HAD
WITNESSED IT.
FOAM YOUTH WORKERS AND I HAD
SPENT HOURS HOLDING SPACE AND
SUPPORTING THE YOUTH IN THEIR
GRIEF.
ALONG WITH MANY OF THE OTHER
EMOTION ONE FEELS WHEN YOU LOSE
A LOVED ONE TO VIOLENCE.
IT WAS GETTING DARK AND SUDDENLY
WE WERE SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES
BY THE POLICE.
THEY KICKED UP THE MEMORIAL THE
KIDS HAD SET UP AND SET UP,
PINNING THEM THERE LIKE SOME
PERVERSE LINEUP.
SOME OF THE YOUTH WERE INJURED
IN THE PROCESS.
WHEN I STEPPED IN TO TRY AND
INTERVENE AND DEESCALATE THINGS
ONE OF THE POLICE WALKED IN MY
FACE, LOOKED ME SQUARE IN THE
EYES AND ASKED, YOU WANT TO SEE
HOW MUCH WORSE CAN I MAKE ITS?
SO I BACKED DOWN.
NO ONE GOT ARRESTED THAT EVENING
AND YET THE DAMAGE THE POLICE
CAUSED WAS BOTH BANAL AND
PROFOUND.
THAT TRAUMA IS ONE INSTANCE
AMONG SO MANY THAT I HAVE LOST
COUNT OF WITNESSING OVER THE
YEARS.
IT IS NOT AN ABERRATION BUT THE
NORM.
THIS IS TRUE FROM THE WORK ON IF
FRONT LINES OF THE CITY AS WELL
AS WATCHING THE KIDS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD GROW UP.
I HAVE WATCHED THE POLICE BULLY
INTIMIDATE AND CAUSE IRREPARABLE
HARM TO THE VERY RESIDENTS THAT
WE SHOULD BE UPLIFTINGS AND
CARING FOR THE MOST.
OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE TIME TO REFLECT ON
HOW OUR CITY HAS INVESTED ITS
PUBLIC RESOURCES AND MAKE THINGS
RIGHT.
I'M DISGUSTED THAT THE BOSTON
POLICE BUDGETS IS FOUR TIMES
THAT OF THE HEALTH COMMISSION
AND 182 TIMES LARGER THAN THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
INDEED BY ALL CIVIC MEASURES OF
A THRIVING CITY BOSTON HAS
OVERRESOURCED THE POLICE WITH NO
MEANINGFUL ACCOUNTABILITY.
VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA ARE PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUES.
THEY ARE HEALTH INEQUITIES.
IT IS TIME HAD A BOSTON
ADDRESSES THEM AND FUNDS THEM AS
SUCH.
THIS LOOKS LIKE FULLY RESOURCING
SUBSTANCE DISORDER AND ADDICTION
TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
HOUSING INSECURITY, BOLSTERING
OUR TRAUMA RESPONSE AND SERVICE
NETWORK FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE
IMPACT REQUESTED BY VIOLENCE.
EXPANDING AND DEEPENING
OFFERINGS, IMAGING THE SCHOOL TO
PRISON PIPELINE, OUR COMMUNITIES
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IT'S TIME TO FUND THE WORK OF
JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY, I
SUPPORT THE DEMANDS OF ORGANIZED
BLACK AND BACKGROUND COMMUNITIES
THAT INCLUDES DEFUNDING THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOT
CUTTING FROM OTHER AGENCIES OR
PROGRAMS AS A MEANS OF
MITIGATING THE LOSS FACTOR FROM
THE PANDEMIC.
IN ADDITION WE WANT TO SNIFORT
REASONABLE, COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS AND COMMUNITY
DECISIONS AND PROCESSES.
THANK YOU.
>> STATUE, SAMANTHA.
I WANT -- THANK YOU SO MUCH,
SAMANTHA.
I WANT TO TRY ICRAM AGAIN.
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> YES REQUEST WE CAN.
>> MY NAME IS ICRAM.
I'M HERE OTODAY TO TELL WHAT YOU
I WITNESSED LAST SUNDAY DURING
THE BOSTON PROTESTS.
HISTORICALLY, THE CONDUCT OF THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HASN'T
ACTUALLY BEEN UP TO PAR AND THAT
DAY WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT.
THE VIDEO I'M ABOUT TO REFER TO
YOU CAN FIND IT AT TINY CAN
URL.COM/BPD VIOLENCE.
NOW I HAVE VIDEO PROOF ABOUT
WHAT LOOKS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE
POLICE OFFICERS BRUTALLY BEATING
UP A MAN IN FRONT OF THE CROWD
RIGHT BEFORE THEY SPRAYED
EVERYBODY WITH PEPPER SPRAY.
WE HAD OUR HANDS UP AND NOT
TOUCHING POLICE OFFICERS, IT
SHOWS IN THE VIDEO.
THE PEPPER SPRAY HAD GONE ALL
OVER MY CLOTHES.
DRIVING US TO ANNAL ALLEY TO OUR
LEFT TO GET OUT OF THE GAP.
THERE WERE RUBBER BULLETS FOUND
IN THE SAME AREA, MY FRIEND WAS
TEXTING ME IN REAL TIME THAT THE
POLICE WERE SHOOTING RUBBER
BULLETS AT THE PROTESTORS.
DAYS AFTER THAT THE BPD DENIED
USING TEAR GAS OR RUBBER BULLETS
ON PROTESTERS.
IF ANY POLICE OFFICER FROM ANY
JURISDICTION CAN BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS AND WHO
EXACTLY WAS IN CHARGE.
THIS PROTEST WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
PEACEFUL, IT WAS IN THE
BEGINNING.
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
WAITED FOR THE HUGE CROWD OF
PROTESTERS TO BREAK INTO IS
SMALLER GROUPS SO WE WOULD BE
EASIER TO HANDLE.
I WAS PREPARED TO GO HOME AT
THAT POINT ONCE THE IS
MAJORITIES HAD LEFT.
THE POLICE HAD CLOSED ALL PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION ACCESS, CLOSED
ACCESS TO BUSES, WE HAD NO
ACCESS TO BUSES AND WE HAD NO
ACCESS TO THE GREEN LINE, RED
LINE OR ORANGE LINE IN THE AREA.
I HAD NOWHERE TO GO PERSONALLY.
SO AFTER THAT I WITNESSED WITH
MY OWN TWO EYES THE POLICE
OFFICERS WHO ARE TRAINED TO
EXERCISE THE MOST RESTRAINT,
PUSH DOWN TWO WOMEN TO THE
GROUND WHO WERE DOING ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO THEM AND ONE OF THOSE
WOMEN THEY TRIED TO GET HER BAG
BEHIND THE BARRICADE THAT WAS
PUSHING US FORWARD, SHE TRIED TO
GET HER BAG, SHE TRIED TO GET IT
FROM THE GROUND.
THIS POLICE OFFICER PUSHED HER
AGAIN.
THE SIZE DIFFERENCE WAS
INSURMOUNTABLE AND IT WAS SO
CRAZE ANIY TO -- CRAZY TO WATCH.
THE CROWD I WAS WITH WE WEREN'T
TOUCHING THEM.
WE DIDN'T TOUCH ANY POLICE
OFFICER POORD FROM A FEW WATER
BOTTLES BEING THROWN.
YET THE MEDIA SHOWS PROTESTERS
AS BEING THE VIOLENT ONES.
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME I'VE
HEARD ABOUT GROSS POLICE
MISCONDUCT.
MY PARENTS WHO ARE BOTH
IMMIGRANTS FROM SOMALIA TOLD ME,
REQUEST WITH PAT ED DOWN ON THE
STREET SIMPLY FOR STANDING AND
TALK FOG HIS FRIEND.
TO MY MOTHER, HAVING TO FACETIME
MY SISTER, FOR BEING PULLED OVER
BY AN OFFICER.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US YET WE
NEED SOMEONE TO POLICE OUR
POLICE FORCE.
I ASK YOU ALL TO HEED OUR CALL,
TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND DEFUND
THE BPD BIR AT -- BY AT LEAST
10%.
I'M LOOKING AT SOME INFO
GRAPHICS ON THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR
AND THE BPD BUDGET IS ABOUT 15
TIMES GREATER AS THE BUDGET FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS RIDICULOUS TO OVERFUND OUR
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE
THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDERFUNDED AS
WELL AS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S TIME TO START INVESTING IN
OUR PEOPLE.
THAT'S IT.
>> GREAT, STATUE, ICRAM.
SO NOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
IS I'M -- SO JUST SO EVERYONE
KNOWS I'M NOT ENCOURAGING ROUNDS
OF COUNCILOR QUESTIONS TODAY
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO A
HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WANT TO
TESTIFY PUBLICLY, SO WE'RE NOT
GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERYONE.
I WILL ALLOW SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
FOR PANELISTS, FROM THE
COUNCILORS.
COUNCILOR ESSAIBI-GEORGE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, THANK
YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL
STORIES AND VERY EMOTIONAL
STORIES.
I'D LOVE IT IF LAUREN COULD
SHARE WITH US THE POWERPOINT SHE
SHOWED ON THE SCREEN.
SHE COULD E-MAIL TO THE CHAIR
AND THE CHAIR COULD GET IT TO
US.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S IT
FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND FATIMA IF YOU FELT LIKE YOU
GOT CUT OFF I JUST WANTED TO
CHECK IF YOU WANTED TO CLARIFY
JUST AT THE END IT SEEMED LIKE
YOU WERE SORT OF TRYING TO STATE
THAT THE MGL POSITION AND JUST
WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT CHANCE
BEFORE I MOVE ON.
>> THANKS.
NO, I THINK THERE'S JUST --
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO SAY AN
THIS IDEA OF COMMUNITIES
POLICING IN PARTICULAR.
AND I HAD, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FOUR
OTHER QUOTES FROM THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT OWN
PROGRAMMING, OUT THERE WHICH
OFTEN OUR YOWNG PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT IS BEING
SAID ABOUT THEM RIGHT?
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT BP HAS AN
$83,000 ICE CREAM TRUCK TO HAND
OUT ICE CREAM.
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE
INTERNET TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK SO
THERE IS JUST SO MUCH DATA THAT
IS HIDDEN BEHIND THIS AND I
REALLY HOPE, THAT PROGRAM
(INAUDIBLE) LIKELY TO
(INAUDIBLE) SO I HOPE CITY
COUNCILORS AND OTHERS MAKE SURE
THAT THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CONTINUE
THEIR ANTI-SOMALI PROGRAMMING.
>> THANK YOU, PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO ALSO SHARE THOSE QUOTATIONS
WITH THE COMMITTEE AND WE WILL
BE GETTING THOSE SLIDES THAT
LAUREN SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
SO ALL RIGHT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
NEXT TO FURTHER PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
AS I RECOGNIZE THEM IT WILL BE
FRANK O'BRIEN THEN BE JARROD WHO
WORKS ON TRANSIT MATTERS, AND
THEN ALYCE LINDSAY.
WE'LL BE MOVING BACK TO ALTHOUGH
PANEL IN JUST A MINUTE.
I WANT TO THANK THE PANTISTS.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, IF
YOU IDENTIFY YOUR AFFILIATION
AND DREFNS.
FRANK O'BRIEN, YOU ARE ON THE
FLOOR.
>> I'M HERE, I HAD A COUPLE OF
SLIDES, I HOPE THEY'RE
AVAILABLE.
>> KERRY ARE THOSE AVAILABLE?
ACTUALLY FRANK DO YOU MIND IF I
JUMP TO JARROD IN FOR A SECOND?
>> I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO HEAR
JARROD, I'D RATHER HEAR HIM THAN
MYSELF SO GO AHEAD.
>> WE'LL MOVE TO JARROD AND BACK
TO YOU IN A SECOND.
JARROD.
JARROD ARE YOU THERE?
>> YES.
YES, HI, I AM THERE.
HI.
>> GREATS.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CHANGE
MY NAME BEFORE I STARTED.
SO I'M JUST REPRESENTING, JUST
REPRESENTING MYSELF.
I'M JARROD JOHNSON.
I'M A DORCHESTER RESIDENT AND
FIRST I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
COUNCILORS FOR ALLOWING THIS
PUBLIC COMMENT AND THANK YOU
COUNCILOR BOK FOR LEADING THIS
AND I THINK THE NUMBER OF FOLKS
CREDIT READY TO TESTIFY IS A
TESTAMENT TO YOU DOING
AFANTASTIC JOB OF REALLY GETTING
THE WORD OUT ABOUT THAT SO
THANKS IN YOUR FIRST BUDGET
CYCLE.
SO I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY
APOLOGIZING AND HONORING THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS FIGHT
BEFORE.
BECAUSE I AM SOMEONE WHO JUST
CAME AROUND TO THIS.
AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE
STATE HOUSE, IN A HEARING ROOM,
WAITING FOR TESTIMONY.
I THINK ON A TRANSPORTATION
ISSUE BUT FOLKS WHO WERE
TESTIFYING FOR ABOLITION OF
PRISONS AND FOR A LOT OF THE
SAME THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY WERE SPEAKING AND I
SAT THERE THINKING I AGREE WITH
A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST SOUNDS
UNREALISTIC.
AND THAT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I
DIDN'T DO THE HOMEWORK AND
DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WERE
NOT ONLY PLENTY OF ACADEMICS WHO
HAD WRITTEN OUT EXACTLY HOW YOU
DO THIS AND ANSWERED A LOT OF
QUESTIONS THAT I HAD BUT THERE
WERE ALSO GRASS ROOTS GROUPS WHO
WERE DOING A LOT OF THIS WORK
AND PROVING SOME OF THOSE
STRATEGIES.
SECOND OF ALL I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LOT OF BOSTON
POLICE OFFICERS WORK REALLY HARD
AND A LOT OF THEM CARE ABOUT
THEIR COMMUNITIES BUT IT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE KIDS A
BIKE BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
WITH OF BUDGET PRIORITIES
BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH WE GIVE THE
POLICE THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFE
PLACE TO RIDE THAT BIKE.
IT'S 92nd ENOUGH TO HAVE
SCHOOL OFFICERS IN BPS TO MAKE
PEOPLE FEEL SAFE BUT THEY ARE
NOT IN SAFE BUILDINGS WITH MOLD
AND ASBESTOS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
REALLY STOOD OUT FOR ME AS I WAS
TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THIS WAS A
FANTASTIC ARTICLE FROM 2007 BY
DAVID BERNSTEIN, RESPECTED
AUTHOR REPORTER IN THE BOSTON
MAGAZINE, THAT HE LOOKED AT OVER
A TWO YEAR PERIOD THAT BPD ONLY
SOLVED 4% OF NONFATAL SHOOTINGS.
NOT A TYPO, 4%.
I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG I WOULD HAVE A JOB IF I WAS
ONLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH 4% OF MY
TASKS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS -- I SAID
THIS NOT AS A DIG BUT THAT
DESPITE THEM WORKING HARD, AND
DESPITE US SPENDING $400 MILLION
PLUS, THEY'RE STILL THAT MANY
UNSOLVED SHOOTINGS.
AND THIS IS ALSO NOT A CALL TO
LOCK UP MORE PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK WHAT IT'S SAYINGS IS
THAT WE HAVE TO FIND A INFLUENCE
WAY, THAT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT
MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY SAFER IS GETTING GUNS
OFF THE STREET AND REALLOCATING
THAT BUDGETS TOWARDS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM.
SO I'M, YOU KNOW, ASKING YOU ALL
TO CUT AT LEAST 41 TO $60
MILLION FROM THE BPD BUDGET AND
LET'S PUT THAT TOWARDS THE
THINGS THAT WE KNOW MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER AND THAT'S
BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFE STREETS,
YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND SO I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO
FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE
FOLKS LIKE I SAID WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THISON THIS BEFORE.
AND YOU KNOW, REALLY REALLY
POWERFUL TESTIMONY FROM THE
SPEAKERS BEFORE WHO TALKED ABOUT
THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH POLICE
VIOLENCE.
I THINK EVEN IF SOMEONE WHO IS
VERYçó PRAGMATIC AND WANT STEPS
AND PLANS, NO ONE HAS SHOWN ME
ANY PLAN THAT IS JUST ABOUT
REFORMING THAT WORKS AND
PRODUCES RESULTS.
BECAUSE IF THIS WAS THE CASE, WE
WPBT HAVE, YOU KNOW, GEORGE
FLOYD WAS MURDERED IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT IN FRONT OF DOZENS OF
CAMERAS AND WEŃi STILL HAVE PLENTY
OF CELL PHONES AND PEOPLE
RECORDING BOSTON POLICE OFFICERS
WITH CELL PHONES AND STILL
HARASSING PROTESTERS, KNOCKING
THEM TO THE GROUND.
SO IT'S CLEAR WE REALLY HAVE TO
TRY SOMETHING RADICAL AND I
BELIEVE THAT IS DEFUNDING THEM
AND PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS THE
THINGS WE KNOW MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY IS SAFE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP WE'VE GOT FRANK O'BRIEN
AND THEN ELISE.
FRANK.
>> YES, HI.
THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE ACTUALLY
BUT I'LL JUST SPEAK TO THIS
SLIDE AND WE CAN MOVE TO THE
OTHER SPEAKERS.
IT'S A VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION
AND INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUES,
AND SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO ONE
ELEMENT OF THE OVERALL PICTURE
OF ADVANCING EQUITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY IN BOSTON.
WHAT THIS CHART REPRESENTS AND
IT'S SIMILAR TO THE ACLU CHART
IN A SENSE OF TRYING TO REALLY
GET INTO THE DETAILS AND SHOW
WHERE THE NUMBERS REPRESENT OR
DON'T REPRESENT OUR VALUES AND
AND I'LL POINT OUT THREE ITEMS,
THIS IS A CHART OF THE CITY'S
DOLLAR ALLOCATION TOWARDS
CLIMATE AND RESILIENCY AND
ADDRESSING THE RISKS THAT COMES
FROM EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND RELATED THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THE CITY HAS BASICALLY
ESTIMATED A TEN-YEAR REQUIREMENT
TO SPEND AND IT'S AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE CHART ABOUT ANYWHERE
BETWEEN 150 AND 375 MILLION
DOLLARS AND RIGHT NOW THE CITY'S
BUDGET THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE
COUNCIL IS ALLOCATING LESS THAN
HALF OF THE LOW AMOUNT.
SO SIGNIFICANT UNDER FUNDING TO
ADDRESSING CLIMATE RISKS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCENES THAT
I'VE INDICATED AT THE BOTTOM,
ONE IS TO IDENTIFY ARE WE
PUTTING MONEY AGAINST WHERE THE
REAL NEEDS ARE.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THEME IN
ANY BUDGET DISCUSSION.
AND THEN THE SECOND IS, ARE WE
DOING THE RIGHT KIND OF EQUITY
ASSESSMENT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
IS EQUALLY PROTECTED AND
CITY-WIDE.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING ARE WE
DEAL WITH THE CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOB BASE.
YOU DON'T NEED TO MOVE THE
SLIDE, YOU CAN LEAVE IT RIGHT
HERE AS IT IS.
IF YOU GO UP TO LINE ITEM B,
YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THIS NEXT
DISTRICT ONE, THE UNDER SPEND IS
PRETTY DARN SIGNIFICANT IN
DISTRICT ONE EAST BOSTON,
CHARLESTOWN AND SECTIONS OF THE
NORTH END.
THE CITY'S REALLY PLANNING ON
ONLY SPENDING $18 MILLION WHEN
THE NEED IS UP TO ABOUT BETWEEN
90 AND 140 MILLION.
AS WE KNOW COMMUNITIES IN EAST
BOSTON IN PARTICULAR ARE
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO EXTREME
WEATHER AND THE SAME APPLIES TO
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING HEAT
ISLAND ALONG AMERICAN LEGION OR
BLUE HILL AVENUE OR THE ESTUARY
AND SO FORTH.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO SATISFYńr ITSELF THAT
THIS REPRESENTS THE LEVEL OF
SPENDING THAT'S NEEDED TO
PROTECT THE CITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, AND I DO
APPRECIATE THE TIME HERE, I
BRING THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE
WATCHING IT, IF YOU WOULD GO
BACK TO THE CHART AGAIN.
THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS A
PROPOSED RESILIENCY FUND OF $3
MILLION.
AND WHAT MYSELF WORKING WHAT
WHOLE BUNCH OF GROUPS CITY WIDE,
THANK YOU.
THIS LINE ITEM THAT'S LABELED C,
INCREASING THAT LINE ITEM AT
LEAST TO $5 MILLION AND MAKING
THAT A PROGRAM THAT COMMUNITY
GROUPS CITY WIDE CAN MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY
ABOUT WHERE LOCAL RESIDENTS
BELIEVE THE MONEY IS BEST SPENT.
AND I'M STILL OPTIMISTIC THAT
WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET,
I THINK THOSE COUNCILOR AND
THEIR STAFF WHO HAVE LISTENED
AND GIVEN PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
AND FINALLY I'LL SAY THIS IF I
MAY.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF GETTING
OLDER IS YOU GET TO LISTEN TO
YOUNGER PEOPLE, AND I THINK
LISTENING TO THE YOUNGER PEOPLE
WHO TESTIFIED TODAY IS SOMETHING
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARILY
IMPORTANT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL CAN DO
IS HELP TRANSLATE THE
EXPERIENCES AND THE INTELLIGENCE
INTO PARTICULAR POLICIES AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THAT
HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FRANK.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT ELISE AND
THEN I'M GOING TO BE PROMOTING
THE SECOND PANEL INTO THE
PANELIST SECTIONS.
SO ELISE.
>> HI.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME'S ELISE AND I'M FROM
BIRMINGHAM ACTUALLY BUT I LIVE
IN SCOTLAND NOW A LOT OF MY
FRIENDS LIVE IN THE BRIGHTON
AREA AND ALL AROUND BOSTON.
ACTUALLY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO MR. O'BRIEN WHO JUST
TESTIFIED AND SAID THAT ONE OF
THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS IS
THAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUNG
PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I WANTED
TO TESTIFY TODAY BECAUSE SO MANY
OF MY FRIENDS AND SO MANY PEOPLE
MY AGE ARE OUTRAGED AND ANGRY
AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
THERE'S NOT A LOT BEING DONE AND
I'VE HEARD REALLY WONDERFUL
SENTIMENTS TODAY FROM EVERYONE
ON THE COUNCIL.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT EVERYONE
SEEMS TO WANT THE RIGHT THING
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TRUTH IS
THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT THERE TO
PROTECT US, THEY'RE NOT THERE TO
SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE SET UP TO PROTECT
PROPERTY AND TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL
ORDER AND TO MAINTAIN CLASS
STRUCTURES AND THEY ARE NOT
PROTECTING US.
THEY ARE NOT SERVING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WE SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING THEM TO
THE EXTREME AMOUNT THAT WE ARE.
I THINK IT'S HORRIFYING THAT THE
CITY OF BOSTON HAS NOT ALREADY
STARTED DEFUNDING THEIR POLICE
AND BUDGET [INDISCERNIBLE] BUT
WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.
I DON'T LIVE IN BOSTON BUT
BOSTON IS MY HOME AND I'M VERY
PROUD TO BE FROM BOSTON AND I'M
VERY PROUD TO TELL PEOPLE I'M
FROM BOSTON BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE
ANYMORE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE
ARE JUST AS BAD AS ANYWHERE ELSE
IN THE COUNTRY OR ANYWHERE ELSE
AROUND THE WORLD.
THE BOSTON POLICE ARE JUST AS
RESPONSIBLE FOR INCITING
VIOLENCE AND KILLING PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND NOT PROTECTING THEIR
CITIZENS.
WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN HUGE
HUGE QUANTITIES AND WE NEED TO
START FUNDING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
AND THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL
WORKERS AND DRUG REHABILITATION
CENTERS AND HOMELESS SHELTERS.
IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW AND
I KNOW THAT SO, SO MANY OF MY
FRIENDS IN COLLEGE STUDYING
THESE ISSUES FEEL THIS WAY AND A
LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T TAKE
THE TIME TO COME TO MEETINGS
LIKE THIS.
THE REASON I'M ABLE TO DO THIS
BECAUSE I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE WORLD AND MY WORKDAY IS
DONE.
BUT THIS MEETING IS HELD AT A 10
A.M. ON TUESDAY AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE GO TO WORK AND WANT TO
SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES AND
LITERALLY CANNOT TAKE THE TIME
OUT TO DO THAT.
CAN'T BE HERE EVEN IF IT'S ON A
ZOOM MEETING.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL YOU'RE
ALLOWING US ALL TO COME AND
TESTIFY BUT JUST FRANKLY NOT
ENOUGH IS BEING DONE, NOT ENOUGH
HAS NOT DONE.
IT'S ALREADY FAR TOO LATE TO BE
DOING ANY OF THE THINGS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT DOING.
SO I THINK WE NEED RADICAL
ACTION NOW.
YOU NEED TO DRASTICALLY OVERHAUL
THE BUDGET AND WE NEED HUGE HUGE
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE.
REFORM IS NOT GOING TO HELP.
NEW TRAINING FOR THE POLICE,
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.
THE POLICE AS A STRUCTURE ARE
NOT THERE TO HELP US.
WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY A LOT OF
MR. MONEY.
I REALLY DIDN'T PLAN ON SAYING
ALL OF THIS RADICAL STUFF I HAD
MUCH WEAKER CLAIMS AND I HEARD
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE SAYING
AND I JUST GOT ANGRIER AND I
DON'T KNOW, I STARTED RAMBLING
AND THAT'S WHAT I CAN OFFER.
I'M SORRY IF IT WAS A BIT MUCH
BUT I DO THINK IT'S ALL TRUE AND
LIKE I SAID I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
ALL OF YOU AND I KNOW YOU GUYS
WORK REALLY REALLY HARD AND
YOU'RE LISTENING TO US AND YOU
WANT TO MAKE CHANGE BUT I THINK
IT NEEDS TO BE A LOT BIGGER AND
A LOT MORE RADICAL AND HAPPEN A
LOT FASTER THAN WHAT'S BEING
PROPOSED.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU ELISE.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO ANOTHER
PANEL SO IT'S GOING TO BE I'M
MISSING MELISSA ON THIS PANEL.
IYANA I'M RECOGNIZING YOU FIRST.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS IYANA AND
[INDISCERNIBLE] AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE AND LET YOU KNOW OUR
MEMBERSHIP EXISTS OF WOMEN
[INDISCERNIBLE] PEOPLE FROM
NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF
BOSTON MUST CUT THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND
INVEST IN COMMUNITIES AND
OVERINVESTMENT IN THEIR
CRIMINALIZATION AND
SURVEILLANCE.
BECAUSE OF MY WORK WITH
FRUSTRATED PARENTS I WANT TO SAY
CHILDREN ARE OFTEN TRAUMATIZED
BY POLICE BRIEFLY THROUGH MY
EXPERIENCE.
PEOPLE AND FAMILY CONTACT WITH
POLICE ARE REALLY SCARY.
WHEN I WAS SIX THE POLICE RAIDED
MY HOME, MY MOTHER MY
GRANDFATHER AND FOUR YEAR OLD
SISTER AND TWO YEAR OLD BROTHER
LINED UP AGAINST THE WALL AT
GUNPOINT.
WHEN IS THIS OKAY TO DO THIS TO
FAMILIES THEN THEY ARRESTED MY
MOTHER AFTERWARDS.
POLICE ABUSE THEIR POWERS EVERY
DAY NO MATTER WHAT THE LAWS ARE.
THESE STORIES PAST OR PRESENT
ARE IMPORTANT TO RAISE WHERE
CITY MONEY'S GOING.
IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE
GENERATIONAL IMPACT AND
GENERATIONAL TRAUMA OF FUNDING
THE POLICE AND PULLING THE
OFFICERS INTO OUR COMMUNITIES ON
TOP OF NOT INVESTING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
OUR ORGANIZATION RECENTLY
COMPLETED [INDISCERNIBLE]
PROJECT WHICH I SHARED WITH YOU
ALL BEFORE CALLED THE LISTENING
[INDISCERNIBLE] FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN A STATE WHICH
ARE ROXBURY, DORCESTER AND
MATTAPAN.
WE SURVEYED OVER 150 WOMEN.
WE ASKED WOMEN WHAT DOES THE
COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE TO YOU.
WHEN THE CITY COUNCILOR CUTS
FUNDING FROM THE DPB BUDGET
WOMEN HAVE INCREASED NEED FOR
ACCESS AND EDUCATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL
OPPORTUNITIES DIGNIFIED AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORE
NEIGHBORHOODS, SPENDING FOR MALL
COOPERATIVE AND BUSINESSES
COMMUNITY CENTERS, WOMEN ASK FOR
SERVICES THEY GET TRAUMA INSTEAD
OF INCARCERATION, AFFORDABLE
GROCERY STORES WE ADVOCATED FOR
MORE DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE ASKED WOMEN HOW DID YOU GET
THERE AND THEY [INDISCERNIBLE]
DEFUNDING RACISM LOOKS LIKE
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY INVESTING IN WHAT
PEOPLE NEED.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN MORE HOUSES
[INDISCERNIBLE] INCARCERATED
WOMEN DOING REAL WORK FOR WOMEN
AS AN ALTERNATIVE OF
INCARCERATION AND FOR WOMEN UPON
THEIR RELEASE.
I KNOW I HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES.
WE INVITE TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE
SERIOUSLY.
WE'LL BE SHARING OUR FIRST
ITERATION OF OUR PEOPLE'S BUDGET
LATER THIS WEEK OF INCARCERATED
WOMEN.
WE WANT TO LAY THE FOUNDATION
FOR REAL COMMUNITY AND MOVE THE
MONEY THAT'S CUT FROM BPD FROM
THE COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON IS KNOWN FOR RACE ISN'T
INJUSTIFICATION AND
INEQUALITIES.
USE THIS MOMENT TO DEFUND RACISM
AND TRANSFORM OUR CITY.
I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR
ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO
PARTICIPATED IN OUR LISTENING
SOURCE.
SHE SAID THE DRIVING COMMUNITY
OF RESOURCE OF OPPRESSION IN
COMMUNITIES WITH POVERTY, ALL
THE BLACK COMMUNITIES WHERE MADE
A SYSTEM TO KEEP US IN PLACE.
RESOURCE INTO JUSTICES AND
TRAUMA BY EVERY LEVEL.
IT'S ONLY POSSIBLE FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
OUR PEOPLE ARE LEADING THE WAY.
WE JUST NEED THE REARE SOURCES
TO DO SO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH IYANA.
NEXT UP IS TAMAYA ELLIE.
>> HELLO.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
TAMAYA ELLIE AND I'M HERE TO
EXPLAIN WHY WE SHOULD DEFUND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
POSITIVE IMPACT WE HAVE ON OUR
COMMUNITIES.
NEEDLESS TO SAY [INDISCERNIBLE]
ANY SAFER.
MY LIFE AS A BLACK PERSON IS THE
POLICE ARE THE REASON I'M
CONSTANTLY PARANOID AND
CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
EVERY THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE
SEEN COUNTLESS VIDEOS OF PEOPLE
[INDISCERNIBLE] ON CAMERA ARE
THE MOST PROMINENT EXAMPLE.
I AM ALSO FROM THE
[INDISCERNIBLE].
THESE MURDERS WE'VE SEEN HAVE
BEEN THE MOST PROMINENT EXAMPLE
OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
POLICE BRUTALITY HAS BEEN AN
ISSUE IN AMERICA GLOBALLY.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS
OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND
[INDISCERNIBLE] DURING THE
SUMMER WHEN MY BROTHER WAS
MURDERED.
THIS IS 2020 AND WE ARE STILL
SEEING BLACK LIVES TAKEN WITHOUT
ANY EXPLANATION.
WHILE THESE MURDERS DIDN'T OCCUR
IN BOSTON WE CANNOT FUND THE
BOSTON DEPARTMENT WHO HAS A
VIOLENT AND RACIST HISTORY.
[INDISCERNIBLE] WAS MURDERED BY
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHOSE MOTHER CALLED 911 HOPING
THE AMBULANCE WOULD COME
[INDISCERNIBLE].
WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED COLEMAN
AND HIS MOTHER HAD ENTERED THE
HOUSE AND WERE [INDISCERNIBLE]
BY THE PBD [INDISCERNIBLE].
THEY SAY HE HAD HIS ARM AND HAD
A KNIFE BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.
THIS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES WHEN
THE POLICE COME INTO A SITUATION
THAT IS NON-VIOLENT AND
AGGRAVATE [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS
IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF VIOLENCE.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE
DAMAGED THE LIVELIHOODS OF
BOSTONIANS INDIRECTLY AND
TOTALLY.
I'M REFERRING TO A GROUP
INITIATIVE PLUS A PROGRAM THAT
IS CREATED BY THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT [INDISCERNIBLE] BLACK
MOSTLY COUNTERVIOLENCE EXTREMISM
TEAMWORK.
THE PROGRAM WAS IF THERE IS A
WAY TO ENGAGE WITH POLICE AND
DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP.
HOWEVER TARGETED BLACK MUSLIMS
AND THE BPD [INDISCERNIBLE] MORE
VIOLENCE.
BLACK MUSLIM ARE ALREADY
IDENTIFIED AS DANGEROUS BEFORE
THEY COULD GRADUATE FROM HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHAT IS THE CITY TELLING US TO
BELIEVE OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE IF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
CRIMINALIZING CHILDREN.
THEY'VE BECOME MORE THAN
HASHTAG, THEY'VE BECOME RACIAL
AND VIOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
WHEN I SAY MURDER I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE
TAKEN AWAY AND THOSE UNWORTHY OF
LIVING SAFE AND HAPPY LIVES
[INDISCERNIBLE] SAFER AND
HAPPIER WITH A DECREASE --
DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS THE
FIRST STEP WE CAN TAKE
[INDISCERNIBLE] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS BETEL.
>> HI.
HELLO EVERYONE.
>> WELCOME.
>> HOW DO I SHARE MY SCREEN, MY
SLIDES.
>> YOU CAN'T SHARE YOUR SCREEN.
IF YOU CAN JUST, WE HAVE TO
SHARE IT ESSENTIALLY FROM HERE.
IF YOU CAN JUST E-MAIL THE SLIDE
TO CCC.WM.
AT BOSTON.GOV AND THEN CARLENE
[INDISCERNIBLE].
YOU'RE STILL MUTED.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.
>> YES.
>> OKAY, BEAUTIFUL.
FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND COMRADES WHO
INVITED ME TO SPEAK AND TO ALL
OF YOU FOR THIS.
MY NAME IS CARLENE.
I AM A BLACK IMMIGRANT WOMAN
MOTHER OF A SEVEN YEAR OLD SON.
I HAVE LIVED IN BOSTON IN THE
DORCESTER AREA.
I LIVE IN BOSTON AND DORCESTER
FROM THE AGE OF NINE.
I ALSO WORKED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL [INDISCERNIBLE]
WORKING ON THE
[INDISCERNIBLEISHES AND HIV/AIDS
WHICH TOOK ME INTO NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE FOR
HEALTH EQUITY.
INEQUITY.
CURRENTLY I ORGANIZE THE WEST
SIDE [INDISCERNIBLE] BOSTON AND
I AM A PART OF THE MOVEMENT FOR
BLACK LIVES.
IN MY MEMORY, IN PAST MEMORY AND
CURRENT LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH
THE POLICE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS
AND YOUNG PEOPLE I'VE MENTORED
AND WORKED THERE, POLICE HAVE
REPRESENTED AN OCCUPATION AND
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS A MOTHER
THAT POLICING BE ALLOCATED TO
FUNDING SOCIAL SUPPORT LIKE
YOUTH JOBS AND THE ARTS AND
COMMUNITY DETERMINED BUDGETING
PROCESSES.
REALLOCATING POLICE FUNDING TO
RESOURCES IN POOR AND BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES OF BOSTON
ENABLE US TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN
OUR LIVES NOT POLICE AND NOT
CREATE POLICE PRESENCE WHO DOES
NOT RESPECT AND HONOR OUR LIVES.
BUT INSTEAD POSE LETHAL THREAT
TO BLACK LIVES.
INSTEAD OF MILITARIZE POLICING,
I ASK WE REALLOCATE POLICE
BUDGET AND TRULY MAKE BOSTON
[INDISCERNIBLE] WHEN THE NET
WORTH OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IS $8
VERSUS $246,000 FOR WHITE
FAMILIES.
BOSTON IS TRULY [INDISCERNIBLE]
WHEN IT REMAINS AMONG ONE OF THE
MOST RACIST CITIES IN THE NATION
WHEN BLACK FAMILIES AND OTHERS
ARE AN IMNENT THREAT.
THE CULTURE OF POLICING BOSTON
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BOSTON CAN TRULY BE STRONG IF WE
FUND AND REALLOCATE TO PROVIDE
SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE
FAMILIES BUT INCLUDE THE
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME,
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HOUSING AND
CERTAINLY BY BRINGING BACK
[INDISCERNIBLE].
THE PANDEMIC REVEALS THAT OUR
MOST ESSENTIAL LABOR, LABORERS
ARE UNDER PAID CARE WORKERS IN
HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES AND
REHABILITATED FACILITIES.
COVID 19 [INDISCERNIBLE] THOSE
WORKERS ARE WORKING CLASS BLACK
AND BROWN AND IMMIGRANTS
[INDISCERNIBLE] COVID 19
[INDISCERNIBLE] OF RACIAL
CAPITALISM.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND
REALLOCATING THESE FUNDS FOR
CREATING SUPPORT AND
STRENGTHENING THESE MOST
VULNERABLE FAMILIES IS A WAY TO
MAKE BOSTON [INDISCERNIBLE].
THESE SAME ESSENTIAL WORKERS
COME HOME TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
POLICE PRESENCE IS
DISPROPORTIONATE AND THEIR
FAMILIES MEMBERS ARE NOT SAFE.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
REALLOCATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE
LIVELIHOOD AND [INDISCERNIBLE]
AND MAKE BOSTON TRULY STRONG.
THE STRENGTH OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE MAKES ALL OF US
[INDISCERNIBLE].
TO MAKE BOSTON STRONG BY
AFFIRMING THE INTEGRITY AND BY
EARNING DIGNITY OF THE
COMMUNITIES WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT.
VULNERABLE FAMILIES THAT ARE OUR
BACKBONE THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS AND
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO BE
AFFIRMED AND NOT POLICED.
THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER AFTER WE
DEFUND THE POLICE WE REMOVE
POLICE FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND
REALLOCATE FUNDING THAT WOULD
ENABLE VALUATION FOR PLAQUE
LIVES FOR ALL OF BOSTON TO BE
FREE.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS BETEL.
YES WE DID GET THE SLIDE.
WE'LL PEOPLING THOSE UP NOW.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HELLO EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS BETEL.
COULD WE ACTUALLY GO TO THE
FIRST SLIDE.
THAT'S NOT THE FIRST SLIDE.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS BETEL AND I AM WITH
THE [INDISCERNIBLE] UNION.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ALL THAT
WE'RE ASKING FOR $15 OF THE CITY
FUNDING TO GO TO SUMMER JOBS AND
YEAR ROUND JOBS AND MAKE SURE
THE LEFT OVER MONEY THAT IS CUT
FROM THE 10% GOES TO BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THAT SLIDE IS IS A VISUAL THAT
SHOWS YOU HOW POLICE ARE HIGHLY
OVER FUNDED AND HOW YOUTH JOBS
ARE UNDER FUNDED.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE WE SEE THAT
EVERY YEAR WE ARE TOLD THAT
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO ONE
CREASE YOUTH JOBS.
FOR 20, 18 AND 16 THERE WAS A
CHUNK ON OF MONEY LEFT UNSPENT
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUDGETED TO
BE USED FOR YOUTH JOBS.
AND HERE IN THE OTHER FIGURE YOU
SEE THAT THERE WAS 10 MILLION
EXTRA FUNDS IN POLICE OVERTIME.
IN THE NEXT SLIDE WE SEE THAT
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS YOUTH
JOBS HAVEN'T REALLY INCREASED
COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, THE
POLICING BUDGET.
IF WE ARE TAKING YOUNG PEOPLE
AND THEIR WORK SERIOUSLY THE
NUMBER SHOULD BE INCREASING
EVERY YEAR EXPONENTIALLY.
IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WE SEE THAT
THE MAYOR, EVEN THOUGH THE MAYOR
HAS INCREASED, HAS ADDED ONE
MILLION FOR THIS SUMMER'S JOBS,
WE ARE STILL AT 4.4 MILLION
SUMMER JOBS SHORT FROM OUR GOAL
EVEN THOUGH THE GOAL WASN'T A
BIG GOAL TO ASK FOR.
WE ALSO WANT TO REINVEST THE
EXTRA MONEY FROM THE BPD AND ASK
TO OPEN UP THEIR AGE RANGE FROM
14 TO 22.
HIGHER IN PAY UNDOCUMENTED YOUNG
PEOPLE.
NOW THAT I HAVE, IF YOU CAN GO
TO THE LAST SLIDE.
NOW THAT I'VE SHARED SOME OF THE
FIGURES I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY
I BELIEVE LIKE WE SHOULD INVEST
IN THESE JOBS PERSONALLY.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE
HAD COUNTLESS SUMMER JOBS WITH
DIFFERENT ORGANIZEIZATIONS AND
SUMMER SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THESE
JOBS HAVE LIKE COMPLETELY
ALTERED MY TAKEN LIFE AND LIKE
HAS SHAPED WHO I'VE BECOME.
LIKE I'M A BETTER PERSON.
I'M A BETTER COMMUNITY MEMBER
LIKE I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF
THESE JOBS, I'M A BETTER
COMMUNITY MEMBER.
ON MY SIBLINGS I SEE IT BETTER
WORKING AND I WOULD LIKE THAT TO
BE THE CASE FOR EVERY YOUNG
PERSON IN BOSTON.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY I
DON'T BELIEVE IN, WHY I DON'T
BELIEVE IN INVESTING MORE MONEY
IN POLICE AND WHY I BELIEVE IN
DIVESTING FROM THE POLICE.
I THINK THE POLICE AREN'T AN
OVERALL SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.
I THINK THEY ALWAYS SHOW UP IN
THE AFTERMATH.
THEY ARE THERE TO LIKE LOGICALLY
IF WE THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THE
POLICE SHOW UP WHEN AFTER
SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED AND
THEY'RE JUST THERE TO ENFORCE
AND PUNISH PEOPLE AND USUALLY
THOSE PEOPLE ARE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
AND THEY ARE JUST BEING PUNISHED
FOR POVERTY AND FOR THINGS THAT
YOU KNOW THAT AREN'T IN THEIR
CONTROL.
I THINK THOSE, THE MONEY THAT IS
TAKEN FROM THE POLICE SHOULD GO
TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
AND THEIR NEEDS SHOULD BE MET.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH BETEL.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NEXT UP I'M GOING TO
RECOGNIZE A FEW MORE FOLKS WHO
SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE.
SO WE'LL BE GOING TO CYNTHIA,
KATHLEEN, ROSE AND KIKI.
CYNTHIA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING TO THE CITY OF
BOSTON.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA PAGES.
I'M A STUDENT IN BOSTON AND I'M
A RESIDENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY SHARING
SOME CONSTITUENTS AND THE
QUESTIONS WHY MUST THE CITY OF
BOSTON DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE MUST DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IN MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE POLICE HAS
EXACT BAITED SITUATIONS EXPENLED
UP DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
PEOPLE KNOW POVERTY IS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO CRIME.
IF WE TAKE THE MONEY SPENT AND
USE IT FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE AS
A CITY WILL BE BETTER OFF.
I FIND IT HARD THAT 414 MILLION
ALLOCATED TO THE BOSTON POLICE
AND HOW IT WILE DIRECTLY BENEFIT
THE COMMUNITY.
SECOND THE CITY OF BOSTON NEEDS
TO DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE
SYSTEMATIC MARGINALIZATION THAT
HAS COST MORE PEOPLE THEIR LIVES
THAN PROTECTED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE
MANY STEPS TO REFORMING
[INDISCERNIBLE].
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
DOES NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY
SAFER.
BOSTON SHOULD RESPOND TO
PROBLEMS WITH SOMETHING OTHER
THAN A MILITARY FORCE THAT
AGGRESSIVELY PLEASES BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THE
OPERATIONS AGAINST PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING [INDISCERNIBLE] AND
DRUG ADDICTION.
AS THE CITY COUNCIL LOOKS TO
DISBAN THE POLICE FORCE
[INDISCERNIBLE] GEORGE EMPLOYED
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
[INDISCERNIBLE] REGIME.
THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS KILLED AND
BRUTALIZED HAVE BEEN DENIED
JUSTICE.
NOT ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A SISTAL
ACTUAL THAT CREATED THEM TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND LASTLY I'LL GIVE MY OWN
TESTIMONY.
THE CITY OF BOSTON NEEDS TO
DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OUR CITY IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] EXPONENTIALLY.
AS THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
EXPANELS THEIR DEPARTMENT
EXPONENTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC [INDISCERNIBLE] BEING
DEPORTED AS A CRISES OF THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND STUDENTS ARE BEING FUNNELED
INTO THE PRISON PIPELINE.
I AS A CONSTITUENT DEMAND THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THE CURRENT
BUDGET, THE BUDGET THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT BE DEFUNDED BY
AT LEAST 10%.
AND THERE IS RECORD TO ALLOCATE
THE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
COUNCILORS AND OTHER SOCIAL AND
WELLNESS SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE
BOSTON SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OTHER
COMMUNITY-LED VIOLENT PREVENTION
PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED.
I HEARD THE COUNCILMAN ASKED HOW
CAN WE BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE
BUDGET.
LISTENING TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
US WHO HAVE SAID DEFUND THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT MEANS 10% NOW AND AT
THE END ABOLITION.
AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CYNTHIA.
NEXT UP IF I CLARIFY THE ORDER,
IT'S GOING TO BE [INDISCERNIBLE]
AND THEN IT WILL BE KATHLEEN AND
THEN KIKI.
SO CECILIA.
YOU HAVE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS CECILIA DAWN AND
I'VE RESIDED IN BOSTON SINCE
1990.
I'VE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE
PUBLIC.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN HYDE PARK,
MASSACHUSETTS.
I'M CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE MEMBER
ARE FOR JUSTICE HEARING A
COMMUNITY-BASED PARTS TREE --
PAR TICE PERRY DEFENSE GROUP FOR
A COMMUNITY OF FUNDS THAT SHOULD
BE REINVESTED AND REALLOCATED
FOR US.
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS DEDICATED
PROGRAMS SOCIALLY AND
ECONOMICALLY DEVELOP OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUTH
INITIATIVES FAMILY ENRICHMENT,
MENTAL HEALTH AWARE ANYTHING, IN
ADDITION TO TRAUMA, THERAPY,
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND MORE
COMMUNITY OCEANIONS.
WE LACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
EDUCATION, HEALTH INSURANCE,
DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS AND
MORE.
THERE'S AN OUT RIGHT NEED FOR
REENTRY PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF
SERVICES THAT INCREASE STABILITY
AND FOR GROWTH AS INDIVIDUALS
WITHOUT DISCRIMINATORY
OBSTACLES.
$50 MILLION HAVE BEEN BUDGETED
TO BUILD MORE PRISONS BUT FOR
WHO.
TO FURTHER DIVIDE FAMILIES WITH
THE POWER OF UNJUST
[INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH HAS
IMPACTED BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES FOR CENTURIES.
MORE BY LOVED ONCE SPECIFICALLY
SILENCED AND SHUT OUT OF
SOCIETY.
I SAY NO, DO NOT CUT COMMUNITY
FUNDS AND REVERT THE PLAYGROUND
TO PRISON PIPELINE.
WE INVEST THE FUNDS PROVIDING
SERVICES THAT WE DO INCREASE
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, ULTIMATELY
ELIMINATING RECIDIVISM.
ADDRESSING THE $400 MILLION
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET,
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
ALREADY HAVE AN OVERWHELMING
POLICING PRESENCE.
HENCE FOUR OR FIVE OFFICERS
WARRANT [INDISCERNIBLE] ANY
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY IN THE
WORLD.
THE MAJORITY DO NOT LOOK LIKE US
AND THEY ARE NOT THERE FOR US.
THEY DO NOT PROMOTE SERVE AND
PROTECT LAW WHILE AGGRESSIVE
POWER OF AUTHORITY IS DISPLAYED
UPON ARRIVAL TO PROVOKING
ARREST.
THEY ARE DARING ME TO CHALLENGE
THEIR MISCONDUCT.
AS A PARENT I'VE HAD DISCUSSED
AND CONVERSATIONS WITH MY
CHILDREN HOW TO RESPOND TO
OFFICERS OF THE LAW.
I EXPLAIN HOW THE GAIN AND GIVE
RESPECT AND WHEN IT'S NOT
RECIPROCATED [INDISCERNIBLE]
MOST USED TODAY ARE ADVOCATED
FOR THEMSELVES WITH A MORE
ELEVATED APPROACH.
IT'S TIME FOR EVERYONE TO PICK
UP THE PACE FOR CHANGE AND
PROMOTING THE NECESSARY AND TAKE
ACTION NOW, RIGHT NOW.
THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTING TO
REIMAGED COMMUNE THESE.
BE A PART IN THE CHANGE OF
NARRATIVE OF OUR FUTURE
PROVIDING NECESSARY SERVICES
THAT SUPPORT AND UPLIFT US IN
SOCIETY.
IT'S IMPERATIVE NOW MORE THAN
EVER WE STRATEGICALLY UNIFY
IFERLTS TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT
OUR NEEDS.
PLEASE RECONSIDER AND
REALLOCATE.
IN PARTICULAR MY SON HAD AN
INCIDENT WITH THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT, NOT BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT, A POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHERE HE WAS RACIALLY PROFILED
AND FOLLOWED FOR TWO WHOLE
MILES.
ALL HE WANT TO DO WAS RENT A
NICE CAR AND WINE AND DIANE HIS
GIRLFRIEND [INDISCERNIBLE]
ULTIMATELY AND THANKFULLY AND
GRATEFULLY HE WAS FOUND NOT
GUILTY BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF
THINGS THAT TURNED OUT TO BE
RACIALLY PROFILED, RACIALLY
MOTIVATED WHICH IS THE REASON
WHY HE WAS PULLED OVER IN THE
FIRST PLACE AND ULTIMATELY
CHARGE AND TRIED TO BE TAKEN OUT
OF THE CAR.
LIKE I SAID WE HAVE AN
OVERWHENNING POLICING PRESENCE.
THE $414 MILLION BUDGETED FOR
POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDS SHOULD
BE REALLOCATED AND REINVESTED
INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
CECILIA.
NEXT UP KATHLEEN AND THEN IT
WILL BE KIKI.
KATHLEEN.
>> HELLO MADAM CHAIR AND THANK
YOU TO THE CITY COUNCILORS
ESPECIALLY MATT O'MALLEY WHO
REPRESENTS MY DISTRICT OF WEST
ROXBURY.
MY NAME IS KATHLEEN
[INDISCERNIBLE] NORMALLY TEND TO
SPEAK ON FACTS FIGURES AND
RESEARCH, I'M SPEAKING FROM THE
HEART OF THE PRIVATE SIST SUN
AND LIFE LONG RESIDENT AND
DAUGHTER OF TWO PUBLIC SURGEON
INVESTMENTS.
MY MOTHER AND FATHER ARE BOSTON
EMTS AND GOING ON TO BE HEAVY
HANDED IN HIT AND HUMAN
SERVICES.
I RECEIVED MY MASTERS NEGLIGENT
CASE FROM THE PROGRAM AT UMASS
BOSTON.
I CONTINUED MY TEACHING IN BPS
THROUGH THE CITY HERE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT BPS
STUDENTS NOT JUST THOSE WHO
GRADUATE FROM THE EXAM SCHOOLS
WILL CHANGE OUR CITY.
COUNCILOR MEJIA, I DID NOT DODGE
BULLETS THAT BLACK BROWN
RESIDENTS OF COLOR THAT BOSTON
FACE.
I GREW UP IN WEST BRIEF I
ATTENDED ST. TERESA'S WHERE I
WAS ABLE TO WALK TO AND FROM
SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR.
I ATTENDED BOSTON LATIN SCHOOLS
BECAUSE I WAS OFFERED
OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
SYSTEMICALLY PUT IN PLACE BY RED
LINING THE LEGACY OF BOSTON AND
MANY OTHER DEEPLY HELD RACIST
SYSTEMS IN BOSTON.
EVEN WITH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES I
DIDN'T KNOW THE ABILITY MY VOICE
COULD HAVE IN BOSTON POLITICS.
I DON'T WANT A SEAT AT THE
TABLE, I WANT MY STUDENTS AND MY
FUTURE STUDENTS TO HAVE A SEAT
AT THE TABLE.
I WANT MY STUDENTS TO SEE MORE
TEACHERS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AND
I WANT MY STUDENTS TO FEEL THEY
CAN BECOME THOSE TEACHERS.
I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE FOCUS
AND REALLOCATE FUNDS TO BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH
YOUTH JOBS, FOOD SECURITY,
ANYTHING.
FOCUS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS IN OUR
CITY ARE BEING POLICED THE EXACT
SAME WAY BLACK AND BROWN ADULTS
NATIONWIDE ARE.
IF BOSTON CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO
RESPOND TO ALL OF THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY TODAY ABOUT FUNDING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, START BY
DOING IT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE MORE SEGREGATED
NOW THAN THEY WERE BEFORE OR
DURING BOSTON.
AND ALTHOUGH BOSTON PRIDES
ITSELF ON BEING BLUE AND BEING
PROGRESSIVE WE'RE ONLY DOING SO
BY SWEEPING OUR DEEPLY RACIST
HISTORY UNDER THE RUG AND
ALLOWING IT TO LIVE THERE.
I WANT TO END WITH A QUOTATION
FROM GEORGE [INDISCERNIBLE] A
SPANISH IMGRUNTED FROM BOSTON
AND A GRADUATE FROM BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HE SAID THOSE WHO CANNOT
REMEMBER THE PASTS ARE CONDEMNED
TO REPEAT IT.
AS A COLLECTIVE BOSTON HAS NOT
REMEMBERED OUR PAST.
WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED BOSTON.
WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED RED LINING
AND WITHOUT CHANGE WE'RE
CONDEMNED TO JUST KEEP REPEATING
THIS HISTORY.
SO I WANT TO THANK AGAIN MADAM
CHAIR AND THE CITY COUNCILORS
AND THANK YOU DEEPLY FROM ALL OF
THE FOR ALL OF THE PREVIOUS
TESTIMONY ESPECIALLY KNOW THAT I
KNOW HAVE COME FROM BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE
THE WORLD BECAUSE IF WE PUT OUR
MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND
FUND BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOT
JUST THE EXAM SCHOOLS, A LOT CAN
CHANGE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CITY
COUNCILORS, MY KNOWN AND E-MAIL
ARE ALWAYS OPEN.
LET'S KEEP THIS CONVERSATION
GOING.
>> NEXT UP IS KIKI AND THEN
JOSH.
>> MY NAME IS KIKI
[INDISCERNIBLE] I'M 24 YEARS OLD
LATINX AND LIFE LONG BOSTON
AREA.
WE ARE FOR DEFUNDING THE BOSTON
DEPARTMENT AND INVESTING IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
10% IS NOT ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM THAT THE POLICE HAVE
BEEN [INDISCERNIBLE] MINUTE
APPEAR -- MINNEAPOLIS IS NOW
DEFUNDING THEIR POLICE
DEPARTMENT [INDISCERNIBLE] VERY
HISTORIC MOMENT.
POLICE IS UNFORTUNATELY ROOTED
IF I VIEW LUNS AND RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION AND SELECTION OF
PATROL ENFORCEMENT OF JIM
COROLLA IN ENFORCEMENT ON THE
WAR OF DRUGS.
POLICE CANNOT BE REFORMED
THROUGH POLICY WITH JUST A 10%
BUDGET CUT.
SINCE THE 1960'S THE CIVILIAN
AND REVIEW BOARD TRAINING AND
BETTER COMMUNITY POLICING
INITIATIVES YET WE'RE STILL AT
THE SAME PLACE TODAY.
FURTHERMORE THERE ARE MUCH MORE
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ENSURE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND POLICE.
MOST SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS COULD SERVE AS
ALTERNATIVE THAT POLICE GET
THEIR SEVERELY UNDER FUNDED.
I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF THE
NUMBERS THAT ARE PLAYED OUT.
THESE NUMBERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
BOSTON NEEDS HOUSING HEALTH CARE
AND BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.
THIS IS THE RULE OF SO MANY
CRIME AND BOSTON IS TRYING TO
SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY
VIOLENCE.
WE COULD HAVE THE MONEY TO
INVEST IN EVERY ONE OF THESE IF
WE TOOK THEM FROM THE POLICE
BUDGET.
I LOVE WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER,
BUDGETS ARE ABSOLUTELY AN
EXPRESSION OF OUR VALUES.
MINNEAPOLIS HAS ALREADY SEEN
SUCCESS WITH ITS PILOT PROGRAMS
THAT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND
MENTAL HEALTH CALLS FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND EMT TO THOSE
CALLS WITHOUT POLICE OFFICERS.
WE NEED UNARMED COMMUNITY-BASED
TEAMS ON WEEKEND NIGHTS
SPECIFICALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA WHO FOCUS ON DEESCALATION.
GRAPHIC ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN
COMPLETELY TURNED OVER TO
CAMERAS.
EXPANDING THIS IS POSSIBLE.
THE POLICE INSTITUTION AS
EXISTED FOR 200 YEARS THAT'S
MORE THAN [INDISCERNIBLE] HAS
EXISTED IN AMERICAS.
IT'S A FAR END NOTION TO EVER
SEND SLAVERY.
WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW PEOPLE
BACK THEN HAS ENGAGED IN A
LITTLE BIT OF IMAGINATION.
TODAY LET'S END UP ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF HISTORY AND ACHIEVE
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE EMPLOYED.
BRIONA TAYLOR AND OTHER VICTIMS
OF POLICE BRUTALITY BY ENSURING
THERE WILL BE NO MORE VICTIMS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KIKI.
UP NEXT IS JOSH AND THEN ADD
LINE AND [INDISCERNIBLE].
JOSH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THESE FEW
MINUTES.
THANK YOU BOSTON CITY COUNCIL
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY.
I KNOW I'M NOT THE TARGET
DEMOGRAPHIC THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY
BE REALLY LISTENED TO IN THIS
SITUATION SO I'LL TRY TO KEEP MY
COMMENTS BRIEF [INDISCERNIBLE]
JAMAICA PLAINS, I'VE LIVED HERE
FOR 15 YEARS.
WHY IS THE POLICE
[INDISCERNIBLE] FOR YOUTH AND
FAMILIES FOUR TIMES THE BOSTON
HEALTH COMMISSION OR
[INDISCERNIBLE] YOUTH EVEN
GAUGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
[INDISCERNIBLE] JUST AN
ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION IN
OVERTIME FOR THE BPD, THEY MAKE
[INDISCERNIBLE] NEED TO ADDRESS
BRUTALITY ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR
OWN CITY.
SHAME ON ANYONE WHO SAYS
[INDISCERNIBLE] COUNCILOR
FLAHERTY I FOUND YOUR
INTERPRETATION OF THE EVENTS OF
MAY 31ST PUBLIC.
MAYOR WALSH SAID THE CITY WOKE
UP TO THOSE WHO [INDISCERNIBLE]
DESECRATED [INDISCERNIBLE] THEIR
ACTIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE FOR
THOSE WHO SHOWED UP.
BUT THEN YOU ARE THE ADDRESSERS.
IT WAS THE BP -- ADDRESSERS.
IT WAS YOU THAT WERE THERE
[INDISCERNIBLE] THAT THEY
THEMSELVES [INDISCERNIBLE] IT'S
A MAYOR CULL THAT THINGS DIDN'T
HAPPEN ON TUESDAY WHERE THE
POLICE VEHICLES BARGED INTO
FRANKLIN PARK ENFORCING PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS VERY SUDDENLY OUT OF
THE WAY.
STROLLERS HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE
ACTION.
I WAS THERE.
EVERYONE IN THE CROWD HELD UP
THEIR HANDS [INDISCERNIBLE]
WHICH WAS QUITE OBVIOUSLY TO US
[INDISCERNIBLE] WAS ON DISPLAY
SULT BEFORE THE SUNDAY PROTEST
WHERE MY GIRLFRIEND AND I WERE
CROSSING COURT STREET
[INDISCERNIBLE] WHEN A POLICE
OFFICER CAME FLYING UP BETWEEN
TWO BLACK CARS ON MOTORCYCLES,
NO SIRENS THAT ALMOST HIT UGH
[INDISCERNIBLE] A WOMAN OF COLOR
STOPPED ME.
WE ENDED UP GETTING INTO A 45
MINUTE DISCUSSION WHERE I
LEARNED THE REASON SHE PULLED ME
AWAY BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO
GET IN TROUBLE ALMOST GETTING
HIT BY A POLICEMAN ON A
MOTORCYCLE.
[INDISCERNIBLE] MARRIAGE OF
POLITICAL INTEREST AND POLICE
UNIONS.
WHY ARE WE FOCUSING SO MUCH ON
ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE COULD BE
FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
OUR PUBLIC SHOULD REFLECT THAT.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD.
>> THANK YOU, JOSH.
NEXT UP IS ADLINE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ADDLINE AND I LIVE IN
MATTAPAN.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SPEND 10% OF THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR [INDISCERNIBLE]
OVERTIME AND INVEST THE MONEY IN
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND INCREASE
FUNDING FOR JOBS [INDISCERNIBLE]
MY COMMUNITY NEEDS FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY CENTERS AND JOBS
[INDISCERNIBLE] SUCH AS SUPPORT
FOR PUBLIC [INDISCERNIBLE]
BOSTON FAMILIES IN MATTAPAN
[INDISCERNIBLE] IN THIS
DIFFICULT TIME.
IN FACT [INDISCERNIBLE] BECAUSE
OF THE EFFECT OF COVID 19.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH JOBS FOR
ALL.
AS A BLACK YOUTH I'M HAVING A
HARD TIME HELPING SUPPORT MY
FAMILY [INDISCERNIBLE] BPD HAS
NEVER BEEN TRANSPARENT
[INDISCERNIBLE].
I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN A CITY
WHERE THEY SPEND OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS A DAY [INDISCERNIBLE]
BLACK AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE WHAT WE
NEED TO STRIVE.
I ASK THE CITY COUNCILORS TO
[INDISCERNIBLE] CUT THE BPD
BUDGET.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST ALSO
REJECT [INDISCERNIBLE] BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HOLD
MAYOR WALSH ACCOUNTABLE FOR NEW
JOBS AND ESTABLISHING A
COMMONNITY-LED PROCESS.
THE MONEY THAT CUTS FROM BPD
INTO THE HANDS OF BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON CONTINUES TO BE KNOWN FOR
REASONABLE JUSTIFICATION AND
INCOME EQUITY OR WE CAN USE THIS
MOMENT TO DEFINE
[INDISCERNIBLE].
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP AND THEN IT WILL BE
JASMINE AND THEN MORGAN.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL TO ALLOW ME TO TESTIFY.
I'VE BEEN A LIFE LONG RESIDENT
OF THE BOSTON AREA FOR BASICALLY
MY WHOLE LIFE.
I CANNOT [INDISCERNIBLE]
ORGANIZERS WITH A -- RHESUS
DENTED OF THIS CITY AND
SURROUNDING AREA SUPER PROUD TO
BE FROM BOSTON.
I WILL DEFEND THE PATRIOTS
[INDISCERNIBLE] LATELY I'VE BEEN
LESS AND LESS PROUD IN VIEW OF
ALL THESE THINGS I'VE LEARNED
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RACIAL
TENSIONS IN BOSTON AND OUR
INABILITY TO ADDRESS THEM EVEN
IF WE SAY WE'RE A PROGRESSIVE
CITY [INDISCERNIBLE] 10% CUT
BASED ON ALL THE RESEARCH I'VE
DONE MYSELF BY INDEPENDENT
ORGANIZATIONS I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE OFFICES
THAT WORK VERY HARD AND
UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT
IT SEEMS TO BE WE KEEP CALLING
FOR REFORM AND WHAT WE NEED IS
AN OVERHAUL OF THE SYSTEM TO
MAKE SURE THESE ISSUES ARE
ADDRESSED AND BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE COLOR ARE
RECEIVING RACIAL JUSTICE FROM
THE FUNDS WE'VE SET UP.
I WANT TO CONTINUE BEING PROUD
OF BEING PART OF THE CITY AND I
WANT TO KEEP BEING PROUD TO BE A
PART OF NEW ENGLAND.
I CAN'T IF THIS IS THE SYSTEM
THAT WE HAVE.
I KNOW THESE COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING
ARE AWE TUNED TO THESE ISSUES
AND ATTUNED TO THE ACTIVISTS WHO
ARE LISTENING AND I HOPE YOU CAN
TAKE THESE TO HEART AND
FUNDAMENTALLY RESTRUCTURE THE
BUDGET YOU'RE CONSIDERING TO
ALLOW FOR THESE CHANGES TO
HAPPEN.
I WANT TO YIELD MY TIME TO ALLOW
OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER ACTIVISTS
TO SPEAK WHO HAVE MORE
EXPERIENCE WITH THESE ISSUES.
I'M LUCKILY TO NEVER HAVE HAD A
NEGATIVE INTERACTION WITH THE
POLICE BUT I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE V
THANKS FORM ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK
AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE
ALL WATCHING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP JASMANI AND THEN MORGAN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD
AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE WHO IS
HERE.
MY NAME IS [INDISCERNIBLE]
BEHALF OF JASMANI WHO IS A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT.
DEAR CITY COUNCILORS MY NAME IS
JASMANI I AM A HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT AND I LIVE IN DORCESTER.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
INCLUDING $40 FROM OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST REINVEST THAT
MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES PRIORITIZING COVID
19 RELIEF, HOUSING, TREATMENT,
HEALING, SMALL AND COOPERATIVE
BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND
PROJECT AND INCREASED FUNDING
FOR YOUTH JOBS TO $15 MILLION.
WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL CUTS AT
LEAST 40 MILLION FROM THE BPD
BUDGET MY COMMUNITY NEEDS
FUNDING FOR BETTER SCHOOLS THAT
ARE NOT AN HOUR AND-A-HALF AWAY,
BETTER FOOD OPTIONS IN INNER
CITY AREAS RATHER THAN CORNER
STORES AND LIQUOR STORES.
BETWEEN THE LACK OF HEALTHY FOOD
OPTIONS THE TEMPTATION OF
LIQUOR.
CITIES LIKE MINE HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO FAIL ECONOMICALLY.
BPD HAS NEVER BEEN TRANSPARENT
OR ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL OR TO BLACK AND BROWN
BOSTONIANS.
THE BPD IS NOT KEEPING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SAFE.
I AM TIRED OF LIVING IN A CITY
THAT SPENDS OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS A DAY ON POLICING WHILE
BLACK AND BROWN YOUNG PEOPLE,
FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT HAVE WHAT
WE NEED TO THRIVE.
THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND FOR
RACIAL JUSTICE AND CUT THE BPD
BUDGET.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST ALSO
REJECT ANY CUTS TO WHAT
COMMUNITIES NEED AND I WANTED
THE CITY COUNCIL TO BAN FACIAL
RECOGNITION IN BOSTON TO PROTECT
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HOLD
MAYOR WALSH ACCOUNTABLE FOR
FULLY FUNDING THESE JOBS AND
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY-LED
PROCESS TO MOVE THE MONEY THAT'S
CUT FROM BPD INTO THE HANDS OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON CAN CONTINUE TO BE KNOWN
FOR RACISM, GENTRIFICATION AND
EXTREME INCOME INEQUALITY OR WE
CAN USE THIS MOMENT TO DEFUND
RACISM AND TRANSFORM OUR CITY.
THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF JASMANI
FROM DORCESTER.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE MORGAN AND
THEN LESLIE.
MORGAN.
>> GOOD MORNING THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
MIAMI ORGAN AND HERE AS A 20
YEAR RHESUS PRESENTS
[INDISCERNIBLE] FORMER PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHER AND HUMAN SERVICE
WORKER.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN
OVER THE 2021 BUDGET FOR THE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROPOSED FOR
THE BOSTON PD [INDISCERNIBLE]
BOSTON HEALTH COMMISSIONER
COMMISSIONER IS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF NATIONWIDE SYSTEM WHEN
MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH
HOMELESSNESS [INDISCERNIBLE]
COVID 19 IS BUDGETED A CLEAR AND
PRESENT DANGER.
AS RECREMENTALLY AS LAST WEEK
[INDISCERNIBLE] WITNESSED BOSTON
POLICE OFFICERS DRIVING THEIR
KAWRD INTO PEACEFUL CROWDS AS
POINT OUT EARLIER ON HIGH SPEEDS
THAT IS ON BEACON STREET AND ON
FRANKLIN PARK.
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED INNOCENT BY
STANDERS AS A YOUNG PERSON
TRYING TO FIND HER MOTHER'S CAR
TO GET BACK HOME.
THIS IS A DISTURBING EXPERIENCE
AND TO UNDERSTAND THE
INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE FOR THE
POLICE OFFICER TO PEPPER SPRAY
THIS TEENAGER AT THAT TIME CLOSE
RANGE.
SHE SEEMED CONFUSED BUT GOT HOMO
KAY.
THE POLICE IS ACTING MORE LIKE
AN OCCUPYING ARMY THAN TO
PROTECT THEIR BOSS TONE JUNLS.
I ASK YOU TO STOP REWARDING THIS
KIND OF GROSS VIOLENCE THAN OVER
EXTENDING BUDGET AND UNLIMITED
OVERTIME.
YOU HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO CUT
POLICE SPENDING NOT JUST BY 10%.
I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER
BUT BY A SPECIFIC AMOUNT CAP
POLICE OVERTIME AND GET BOSTON
POLICE OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS.
TO FUND THE MANY CITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES THAT
ARE PROVEN TO HELP PEOPLE IN
NEED.
WE HEARD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I.
IN CLOSING I URGE YOU TO
ESTABLISHED UP AND DO THE RIGHT
THING FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND
NEIGHBORS AND FOR YOUR FUTURE
CHILDREN.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU MORGAN.
NEXT UP IS LESLIE AND THEN
[INDISCERNIBLE].
>> I WORK FOR THE NATIONAL
COUNCIL INCARCERATED WOMEN AND
GIRLS AND FOR FAMILIES
[INDISCERNIBLE] I'M FROM
ROXBURY.
MY DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED IN THE
STREETS FOR BOSTON.
SHE WAS CONDOMINIUM BY GUN
VIOLENCE AND -- SHE WAS KILLED
BY GUN VIOLENCE AND SHE WAS ONLY
22.
WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY I DON'T
WANT YOU TO TAKE IT LIGHTLY BUT
I BLAME THE BOSTON POLICE IN THE
SYSTEM FOR MY DAUGHTER'S MURDER.
I BLAME THE SYSTEM FOR THE STATE
OF OUR YOUTH TODAY.
I BLAME THE SYSTEM FOR ALL THE
POLICING AND TURNING OUR
COMMUNITIES INTO CHAOS.
THE SYSTEM HAS CREATED THE STATE
OF OUR COMMUNITY OF WHAT IT IS
TODAY.
YOU CREATED THAT CHILD THAT
KILLED MY DAUGHTER.
FOR YEARS OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN
TARGETED BY POLICE.
AS SOON AS THEY TURN 13, IF
THEY'RE WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL
IN A GROUP OF FIVE OR MORE, THEY
ARE JUMPED OUT, HARASSED, THROWN
ON THE GROUND ON TOP OF POLICE
CARS AND LABELED AS A GANG.
AND THEY ARE PLACED INTO A GANG
DATABASE.
IF THEY ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF
THEIR HOME, THE DRUG UNIT WILL
JUMP OUT ON THEM, SEARCH THEM,
BEAT THEM AND HUMILIATE THEM.
OUR CHILDREN HAS BEEN LABELED AS
DRUG DEALERS, GANG MEMBERS AND A
DANGER TO SOCIETY FOR YEARS.
IF YOU CONTINUE TO TREAT OUR
CHILDREN LIKE CRIMINALS AND TELL
THEM THEY ARE BAD OVER AND OVER
THEY BEGIN TO BELIEVE IT.
ONCE THEY ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE
SYSTEM THEY CAN'T GET OUT.
YOU DON'T SEE THIS HAPPENING IN
OTHER COMMUNITIES IN NEW
ENGLAND.
OUR MAYOR GIVES ALL OF OUR CITY
OF BOSTON'S MONEY TO POLICING
AND CORRECTIONS.
FOR YEARS WE HAVE DONE IT YOUR
WAY WHICH IS OVERPOLICING OUR
COMMUNITY INCARCERATING OUR
PEOPLE AND ITN'T DOESN'T GET
BETTER.
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING
EVERY YEAR.
OUR CHILDREN CONTINUE TO BE
MURDERED.
OUR BLACK AND BROWN MEN CONTINUE
TO BE INCARCERATED.
OUR KIDS ARE PUT INTO GANG
DATABASES AND IT STARTS OVER AND
OVER AGAIN FOR DECADES.
IT HASN'T CHANGED.
IT'S BEEN A VICIOUS CYCLE.
WE AT FAMILY JUSTICE OF HEALING
HAVE A SOLUTION.
WE HAVE CREATED A SYSTEM OF
DIVERGENT AND PREVENTION.
WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS
RESPONDING INSTEAD OF POLICE.
WE HAVE CREATED ALTERNATIVE LIKE
NEW BEGINNINGS REENTRY SERVICES
WHERE WOMEN GET SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
MENTAL HEALTH, DON'T STICK
VIOLENCE -- DON'T STICK VIOLENCE
AND -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND JOB
TRAINING WHERE OUR OWN
BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE.
I WANT TO STAY THAT AS A MOTHER
OF A HOMICIDE CHILD COMMISSIONER
GOTH EXPLAINED TO BE SO
CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN
BEING KILLED BUT HIS HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES HAVE TOLD ME OVER AND
OVER THAT THEY CAN'T SPEND TIME
ON MY DAUGHTER'S CASE.
BECAUSE ANOTHER CHILD HAS JUST
GOTTEN MURDERED AND THEY HAVE TO
FOCUS ON THAT.
WHEN I REACHED OUT TO
COMMISSIONER GOTH AND TOLD HIM
ABOUT HOW HIS HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES HAVE NO SYMPATHY,
EMPATHY OR CONTINUE TO BRUSH ME
TO THE SIDE, HE TOLD ME TO CALL
HIM, E-MAIL HIM.
HE NEVER ANSWERED MY CALLS, HE
NEVER ANSWERED MY E-MAILS.
ALL WE NEED AT FAMILY JUSTICE
FOR HEALING IS THE REARE SOURCES
TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN THAT WE
HAVE TO END THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA.
OVER POLICING IS NOT THE ANSWER
AND IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, SOMETHING NEW FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE CAN REIMAGINE OUR COMMUNITY
AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE.
WE PARTICULARLY NEED THE
RESOURCES.
I HEAR YOU SAY YOU WANT TO GIVE
MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH BUT COMMUNITY OCEANIONS
LIKE FAMILY JUSTICE OF HEALING
NEED THE RESOURCES.
WE ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED AND WE
HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE INCAUTION
RISK SYSTEM SO WE KNOW WHAT --
INCARCERATION SYSTEM SO WE KNOW
WHAT WE NEED FOR OURSELVES.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANT TO SAY.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS, WE ARE THE
EXPERTS AND WE KNOW WHAT WE
DIDN'T GET.
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU LESLIE AND I'M SO
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
NOR YOU'RE UP NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
MY NAME IS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I
USE SHE/HER PRONOUN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF JAIL AWE PLAIN
AND I'M HERE IN MY CAPACITY AS A
PRIVATE CITIZEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ME
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WHICH IS SET
TO SET TO RECEIVE 420 MILLION
VIOLENCE.
THE ME KILLS MORE THAN A
THOUSAND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WE KNOW
IT HAS A DYSFUNCTIONAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH PLAQUE AND
BROWN PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
AS I ATTENDED A PROTEST LAST
WEEK I SAW FIRST HAND HOW POLICE
DELIBERATELY ESCALATED AND
PROVOKED ANGER DURING THE END OF
A PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE COUNCIL
SUPPORTS ESTABLISHING A CIVILIAN
OVERSIGHT BOARD UPGRADED BY THE
CAMERA POLICIES AND DIVERSIFYING
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I DO NOT THINK HOWEVER THAT
THESE POLICIES GO FAR ENOUGH.
THEY ARE BAND-AID SOLUTIONS TO A
PERCENTING INFECTION THAT IS
KILLING OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THE POLICE ARE BEYOND REFORM AND
SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A
COMMUNITY-BASED PROTECTION MODEL
THAT ADDRESSES THE UNDERLYING
ISSUES OR THE UNDERLYING
REASONS, RATHER, BEHIND CRIMES
SUCH AS HUNGER, ADDICTION,
HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY.
THE POLICE DO NOT AND CANNOT
ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.
CALLS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CRISES
SHOULD BE ANSWERED BY MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT KNOW
HOW TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS
WITHOUT VIOLENCE.
CALLS ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
COULD BE ANSWERED BY ADDICTION
EXPERTS.
INSTEAD BOTH GET COPS THE WHO
ARE USUALLY HARMED AND GOOD MORE
THAN GOOD.
I ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE
FOLLOWING MEASURE.
FIRST END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR
THE POLICE WHICH SHIELDS THEM
FROM CIVIL SUITS RESULTING FROM
THEIR MISCONDUCT.
SECOND, THE FEAR DEFENSE THAT
ALLOWS COPS TO USE AN
UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE IF
THEY SAY THEY FEARED FOR THEIR
LIFE.
NO MATTER HOW UNLIKELY THAT FEAR
IS.
THREE, TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT GEAR
AND WITHDRAW ALL PARTICIPATION
AND POLICE MILITARIZATION
PROGRAM.
THEY'RE THE POLICE, THEY'RE NOT
THE MILITARY.
FOUR, SUSPEND THE USE OF PAID
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR
OFFICERS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR
MISCONDUCT.
FIVE, WITHHOLD PENSIONS FROM
OFFICERS THAT HAVE USED
EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST THE
PEOPLE THEY ARE CHARGED WITH
PROTECTING.
SIX, CAP OVERTIME PAY WHICH IS
15% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET AS
WE'VE HEARD OR $60.8 MILLION.
SEVEN, CUT THE BUDGET OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BY AT LEAST
15% WITH THE GOAL OF REDIRECTING
DEPARTMENT FUNDING EVERY YEAR
AND REDIRECTING THAT $50 MILLION
NOW TO COMMUNITY HEALTH,
EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
EIGHT, REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE
POLICE FORCE AND LARGELY REPLACE
THE POLICE BY SOCIAL WORKERS.
IN SUMMARY, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE REMADE
INTO A SERVICE-BASED
ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN A
VIOLENT-BASED ONE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS A
MORAL OBLIGATION TO PREVENT
POLICE VIOLENCE BY IMPLEMENTING
REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH NOR.
NEXT UP WE'VE GOT LORENZO AND
I'M GOING TO BE LETTING SOME
OTHER PEOPLE IN TO CONTINUE.
SO LORENZO, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
YOU'RE MUTED.
>> HELLO.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, WE CAN'T SEE
YOU.
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU GUYS AND TO JOIN IN.
I WISH YOU GUYS COULD SEE ME.
I WANT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON MORE
PERSONAL MATTER.
I'M ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE SAME
PLACE WHERE I WAS APPROACHED NOT
TOO LONG AGO BUT NOT TO LOSE
FOCUS I WANT TO DEFUND, I WANT
TO DEFUND THE BPD BY 10% AND
MOVE THE BUDGET INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
PARTICULARLY SECTION 12 AND
SECTION 13.
I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF
MATTAPAN WHICH IS LISTED AS ONE
OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AREAS IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND AT THIS TIME IT'S A LOT
HARDER FOR US TO APPROACH AND
NOT LOSE FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE
ASKING FOR.
WE'RE ASKING TO DEFUND THE
POLICE BY A MINIMUM OF 10% AND
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PUT THAT
BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT
THEY CLAIM ARE THE MOST
DANGEROUS, WHICH IS SECTION 12
AND SECTION 13.
WHEN WE MOVE AND WE LOOK AT WHAT
IS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND MACHINE
ACTUAL PRACTICE, THIS IS
MORALITY HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ASKING
OF THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
ASKING THE PEOPLE TO COME AND
JOIN IN WITH THE BOSTON POLICE.
HOW CAN WE JOIN INTO A FORCE
THAT'S FUNDED TO BERATE US, TO
MISTREAT US, TO PULL US OVER, TO
HARASS US.
WE LISTEN TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
PROTESTERS BEING MACED.
WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE
DAMAGES THAT WAS DONE IN OUR
COMMUNITY BY THE BOSTON POLICE.
WE JUST HAVE A GRIEVING MOTHER
WHO CAN'T EVEN GET IN TOUCH WITH
OFFICERS AND THEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ADDING 5 00 NEW CADETS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE
ASKING THAT MARTY WALSH, HE MUST
REINVEST THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE
ASKING HIM TO DEDUCT INTO OUR
COMMUNITY AND INTO COMMUNITY-LED
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SOME OF
THE PEOPLE FROM ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAS SPOKEN TODAY.
WE'RE ASKING MORE THAN JUST
THAT, WE'RE ASKING FOR A HEALING
PROCESS.
THERE'S NO HEALING WITH MORE
POLICING AND IT WON'T WORK.
OVER THE YEARS, WE SPOKE ABOUT
HOW MUCH MONEY MARTY WALSH HAS
MADE.
LAST YEAR WAS $199,000.
WE FOCUS THAT INTO WHAT IT COSTS
TO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNION OF
NORTH AMERICA AND SO IS MARTY
WALSH.
I'VE HAD AT LEAST SIX DIFFERENT
INCIDENCES AT WORK, RACIAL
INCIDENCES AT WORK.
I'VE WORKED TO BUILD COMMUNITIES
IN EAST BOSTON.
I'VE WORKED TO BUILD COMMUNITIES
IN THE WEST END BUT WHEN THEY'RE
BUILDING A BUILDING IN DORCESTER
I CAN'T GET A JOB AND I LIVE
DOWN THE STREET FROM THERE.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON HAVING OUR
OWN PEOPLE GO TO COMMUNITY THAT
IS RESPECTED BY OUR OWN.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR THEM TO
DEFUND, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR,
WE WANT TO TAKE 10% FROM THIS
BUDGET AND PUT IT BACK INTO
COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS TO
SMALL COOPERATIVE BUSINESS
OWNERS AND WE WANTED TO REINVEST
THAT INTO THE TIME AND PLACES
THAT IT'S NEEDED MOST.
DISTRICT 12 AND DISTRICT 11.
I SEE YOU RAISING YOUR GAVEL SO
IN CLOSING I WANT TO THANK
CARLENE AND JARROD
[INDISCERNIBLE] I WANT TO
MENTION NAMES THESE ARE PEOPLE I
KNOW PERSONALLY.
TBAIRY BROWN, ELEANOR MALLORY,
KEVIN [INDISCERNIBLE], DARNELL
DAVIS WHO I WAS HIS MENTOR FOR
OVER SEVEN YEARS.
MARCUS GORDON WAS MY YOUNGER
COUSIN AND A MEMBER OF NORTH
EASTERN UNIVERSITY.
ALL OF THESE MURDERS, THESE ARE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
ONE OF WHO IS 77 YEARS OLD AND
USED TO TAKE CARE OF ME WHICH IS
WITH ALL THE ADDED POLICE
ASSISTANCE FOR ALL THE ADDED
POLICE PRESENCE NONE OF THESE
MURDERS HAVE BEEN SOLVED AND
NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND THESE
ARE ALL IN DISTRICT 13 AND 12K.
I THINK THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE
BACK IN COMMUNITY-LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND I THINK WE
NEED TO APPROACH THIS TIME TO
MAKE HISTORY IN THE CITY OF
BOSTON AND MAYBE PUT 60 MILLION
TO TEACHERS LIKE THEODORE
LANDMARK WHO IS A LANDMARK IN
BOSTON WHO WAS STABBED WITH A
CITY FLAG, AMERICAN FLAG.
IF HE HAD $60 MILLIONS INVESTED
INTO HIS CLASSROOMS AND TEACHERS
LIKE HIM TO PROMOTE SOCIAL
INJUSTICE AND TO BRING JUSTICE
TO COMMUNITIES OF BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE HURT AND
WHO HAVE NO MESSAGE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE LICK MYSELF AND
THERE WILL BE MORE, YOU'LL HEAR
MORE FROM ME AND AGAIN THANK YOU
LYDIA EDWARDS, THANK YOU JARROD
JOHNSON AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR
FOR HEARING ME OUT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR WE'RE ASKING
TO DEFUND THE POLICE AND TO
REBUILD OUR ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR
OWN COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE FORMALLY INCARCERATED AND
WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO DON'T WANT TO BE
RECOGNIZED AS SECOND CLASS
CITIZENS THAT WANT TO BE ABLE TO
RUN A BUSINESS WITHOUT BEING
HARASSED, THAT WANT TO BE ABLE
TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN
[INDISCERNIBLE] IN MY ANT WHERE
I WAS ALMOST ARRESTED.
I LIVE IN A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY
WHERE I DON'T FIT THE NORM.
AND I FEEL IT'S LIKE, I LOVE MY
CITY BUT I DON'T LOVE THE WAY IT
TREATS ME.
I ASK AND I BEG OF THE PEOPLE TO
CHALLENGE MARTY WALSH WITH HIS
IDEAS TO PUT MORE BUSINESSES,
SMALL COMMUNITY BUSINESS ON THE
FRONT LINES TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY TO BE LEADERS PUSH
FORWARD TO BUILD PROGRESS
WITHOUT POLICING EACH OTHER,
WITHOUT HARASSING EACH OTHER,
WITHOUT HURTING EACH OTHER,
WITHOUT PROFILING EACH OTHER.
AGAIN, I'M A MAN OF THIS
COMMUNITY ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF
THE THIS COMMUNITY AND I BEG OF
THE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE NEW
[INDISCERNIBLE] COUNCILORS, WE
NEED MORE SCHOOLS IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT GIVES RESOURCES
TO THE KIDS AND CHILDREN THAT
ARE GOING TO RISE UP AND BE
THESE THEODORE LAND MARKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'RE
GLAD TO GET YOU ON VIDEO THERE.
ALL RIGHT NEXT UP IS
[INDISCERNIBLE].
YOU LOOK UNMUTED BUT THEN WE
CAN'T HEAR YOU.
YOU.
JUST TRY FLIPPING IT ON AND OFF.
I'LL GO TO [INDISCERNIBLE] AND
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK.
WE HAD THE FIRST ISSUE AND IT
WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AND IT
WORKED.
SO [INDISCERNIBLE] JAMES I
RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> HELLO.
>> HI.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS KAMANI
JEAN I'M IN STUDENT IN BPI.
I'M HERE FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON
WHY DEFENDING THE POLICE IS NOT
ONLY THE BEST OPTION IN THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES BUT A DECISION
LONG OVERTO.
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT POLICE
OFFICERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
ARE BEING SCRUTINIZED FOR THEIR
CARELESSNESS AND BIGOTRY TOWARD
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND THAT
CITIZENS ARE ONCE AGAIN CALLING
FOR THE DEFUNDING OF THE POLICE.
THE SAME POLICE OFFICERS
DEFENDING WHITE COMMUNITIES AND
NOT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THIS HAS LED TO EGREGIOUS ACTS
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PLAQUE
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES -- BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WE'VE SEEN
FOR MANY YEARS.
TRAYVON MARTIN, MARTIN BROWN,
ANYONE GROW CASTITY YEAH, SANDRA
BLAND, BREONO TAYLOR AND GEORGE
FLOYD.
THIS GOES BACK TO THE TIME OF
SLAVERY YET WE STILL FUND THEM
MORE THAN WE DO OUR OWN SCHOOLS
OUR OWN COMMUNITIES, OUR OWN
PUBLIC HEALTH.
$414 MILLION THAT'S HOW LARGE
THE BUDGET IS FOR THE POLICE IN
THIS CITY.
TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR
THOSE LISTENING THE BUDGET FOR
YOUTH JOBS IS $6.5 MILLION.
WE'RE PROVIDING POLICE OFFICERS
WITH NEARLY 64 TIMES THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY THAT IS BEING INVESTED
INTO OUR YOUTH.
YOUTHS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED WITH
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH LITTLE
RESOURCES.
THIS ISN'T UNFAIR BUT SIMPLY
[INDISCERNIBLE] THAT IS WHY YOU
MUST CUT THE BUDGET BY 10%.
THE SAME MONEY IN BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNE THESE BY POLICE
OFFICERS AND INJUSTICES AND SO
MUCH OTHER THROWN AT US BY
[INDISCERNIBLE] HOW MUCH IS
INVESTED IN THEM.
THIS WOULD BE A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION TO BEGIN
REPAIRING DAMAGES DONE TO OUR
COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING ISSUES
AFOREMENTIONED.
I WANTED YOU TO ASK YOURSELF.
WHEN THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE
WRITTEN SEVERAL DECADES FROM NOW
DO YOU WANT TUSH KNOWN AS THE
BODY OF PEOPLE WHO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THAT PLAQUED OUR SOCIETY
OR THOSE THAT PRIORITIZE
CAPITALISTIC IDEALOGIES OVER
HUMANITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GO BACK TO
ELIZABETH HERE.
TRY UNMUTING YOURSELF AGAIN.
STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU.
OKAY, SORRY.
LET ME RECOMMEND IF YOU TRY
LOGGING OUT COMPLETELY AND
COMING BACK IN OR TRYING A
DIFFERENT DEVICE OR SOMETHING SO
WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
NEXT UP IS GERALD DUDLEY.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
MY NAME IS GERALD DUDLEY I'M A
RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAINS.
I AM HERE TO GIVE TESTIMONY IN
PART BECAUSE I'M CALLING FOR
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE EMPLOYED AND
FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS DIED BY
EXTRA JUDICIAL POLICE VIOLENCE.
I AM HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR DEFUNDING AND DISBANDING THE
ME DEPARTMENT AND STARTING FROM
SCRATCH BY RESTRUCTURING THE
CITY'S APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY
IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS
IMPLEMENTED IN NEW JERSEY THEY
TOOK ON THEIR POLICE UNION AND
WON.
I BELIEVE THAT BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD DO THE SAME.
I AM CALLING ON CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS ALSO TO DIVEST
THEMSELVES OF CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY MEMBERS OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I SUPPORT ALSO OF THE IMMEDIATE
FIRING OF ALL THE OFFICERS
PRESENTED EARLIER BY LAUREN
CHAMBERS FOR ABUSE OF OVERTIME.
WE NEED FUNDING FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES WE NEED RESOURCES FOR
OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
WE NEED FUNDING FOR THOSE WHO
NEED HELP WITH DRUG USE.
WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR FUN
LIBRARIES -- FUN LIBRARIES AND
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE NEED MONEY FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES WHICH IS MONEY THAT
IS CURRENTLY MISSPENT ON POLICE.
I AM NOT FROM BOSTON.
I MOVED HERE FROM TEXAS, DEEP
RURAL THEE AND I WISH I COULD
SAY I LEFT THE RACISM OF MY HOME
STATE BEHIND BUT INSTEAD WHEN I
MOVED HERE I LEARNED BOSTON HELD
WITHIN IT EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS
FORMS OF RACISM AND IN NO OTHER
INSTITUTION OF RACISM GIVEN OR
OMINOUS FORM IN ITS POLICE
FORCE.
BOSTON REMINDS ME NO WHERE SO
MUCH OF AUSTIN TEXAS A CITY
WHICH CLAIMS TO BE PROGRESSIVE
BUT IS A HISTORY OF RED LINING
JENTD KNOW CASE AND
OVERPOLICING -- GENTRIFICATION
AND OVERPOLICING.
WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER
EVERYTHING STARTS TO LOOK LIKE A
NAIL AND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS A HAVERHILL.
IT'S TIME TO PUT THE HAMMER DOWN
AND START USING OTHER TOOLS TO
BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT'S
EQUITABLE FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS,
BLACK BROWN AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE OF COLOR, EVERYONE, DE
FUND, DISPAN DO AWAY WITH THE
POLICE THE WAY WE KNOW IT RIGHT
NOW AND PUT IT INTO COMMUNITY
LED JUSTICE SAFETY AND
INITIATIVES AND LET'S START
THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN BUILD
FOR THE FUTURE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
I HAVE MY OWN GAVEL.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH GERALD.
NEXT UP IS MALLORY AND THEN IT
WILL BE JAN AND THEN ANTONIO.
MALLORY YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MALLORY
[INDISCERNIBLE] MY PRONOUNCE ARE
SHE AND THEY AND I LIVE IN
ROSLINDALE, MASSACHUSETTS.
OF THE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED
BEFORE ME HAVE BEEN LIFE LONG
RESIDENTS OF BOSTON AND AWARE OF
THE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION OF
TARGETED POLICING AND
INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
MONEY, CARE AND RESOURCES WITH
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE NOT BEEN A LIFE LONG
RESIDENT OF BOSTON.
I MOVED IN BOSTON IN SEPTEMBER
TO WORK WITH A COMPUTER COMPANY
AS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES
OF COLOR IN A WHITE WEALTHY
INSTITUTION IN A WHITE WEALTHY
PART OF TOWN.
I DON'T WORK WITH NUMBERS AND
FIGURES BUT MY JOB IS TO LOOK AT
NARRATIVES TO CONSIDER WHO IS
TELLING A STORY AND HOW AND ITS
IMPACT.
BOSTON IS KNOWN FOR ITS HISTORY
OF SEGREGATION OF RACISM OF NOT
SUPPORTING BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES ASK WHAT'S IMPORTANT
TO KNOW IS THAT WHILE BOSTON
DOES HAVE A RACIST HISTORY IT'S
NOT JUST A HISTORY.
THAT RACISM SHAPES ITS CURRENT
NATIONAL NARRATIVE AND
REPUTATION.
WHEN I TOLD MY FAMILY I GOTTEN A
JOB EFFORT IN BOSTON MY DAD TOLD
ME NOT TO GO.
HE TOLD ME BOSTON IS HOME PHOBIC
AND RACIST AS A CITY HE TOLD ME
TO BE WEARY OF BOSTON POLICE
BECAUSE OF HIS OWN EXPERIENCES
AS A BROWN BLACK AND THE CITY
DID NOT HAVE MY BEST INTEREST OF
HEART.
I COME FROM A FIRST GENERATION
OF IRANIAN IMMIGRANTS AND FROM
THE OUTSIDE BOSTON'S REPUTATION
PRECEDES IT AND PROCEEDS IT FOR
A REASON.
I LIVE IN ROSLINDALE.
I SEE EVERY SINGLE DAY THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMITMENT
BOSTON HAS REFUSED TO MAKE IN
SUPPORTING ITS BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I SEE ON THE [INDISCERNIBLE] TO
THE BACK BAY OR THE SOUTH END
AND I WATCH THE NUMBER OF BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE DWINDLE AS I GO
FROM ROSLINDALE TO THE WHITE AND
WEALTHY.
RIGHT NOW BOSTON HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE ITS
NATIONAL NARRATIVE.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET
INCLUDING 40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST REINVEST THAT
MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES PRIORITIZING COVID
19 RELIEF, HOUSING, TREATMENT,
HEALING, SMALL AND COOPERATIVE
BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND
PROJECTS AND INCREASING FUNDING
FOR YOUTH JOBS TO 15 GIN.
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN BOSTON
SHOULD NOT FEEL THEY LIVE IN A
CITY THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF
THEM.
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO
CHOOSE TO MOVE TO BOSTON SHOULD
NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TAKING A
RISK.
THIS CITY PENDS OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS A DAY ON POLICING WHILE
BLACK AND BROWN YOUNG PEOPLE
FAMILIES BUSINESSES AND
BUSINESSES DO NOT HAVE WITH A
THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
THIS IS A YEAR THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDS TO TAKE A STAND FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE AND CUT THE BOSTON
POLICE BUDGET.
YOU MUST REJECT WHAT THE COST
FOR COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE.
AND FOR RACIAL RECOGNITION IN
BOSTON TO PROTECT BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY IN THE
BOSTON POPULATION.
HOLD MAYOR WALSH ACCOUNTABLE FOR
FULLY FUNDING JOBS AND
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY LED
PROCESS TO MOVE THE MONEY CUT
FROM THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT INTO THE HANDS OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE
KNOWN FOR ITS RACISM, IT'S GENT
KNOW CASE, ITS EXTREME INCOME
INEQUALITY BUT IT WILL UNLESS WE
USE THIS MOMENT TO DEFUND RACISM
AND TRANSFORM THIS CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU MALLORY.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO JIM AND
THEN ANTONIO AND THEN WE'LL TRY
BRINGING YOU BACK IN HERE.
>> HI, I'M JIM ALEXANDRA
[INDISCERNIBLE] RESIDENT OF
AUSTIN BRIGHTON.
I'M HERE IN MY CAPACITY
[INDISCERNIBLE] POLICE AND
TRANSFER THE MONEY TO BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WHATEVER IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] FOR POLICING IS
FAR FAR TOO MUCH.
BOSTON POLICE HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
THE BOSTON POLICE
[INDISCERNIBLE] ETHNIC DEFINED
BY THE UN BEFORE THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
WE SHOULD BE ASKING THE BUDGET
FOR SECRET POLICE TO DISAPPEAR
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
PEPPER SPRAY INCREASES THE RISK
OF COVID 19 WHEN USED DURING
PROTEST BECAUSE THEY INDUCE
COUGHING SO POSE FATALITY
[INDISCERNIBLE].
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE
TRAUMATIC AND PERMANENT INJURIES
AS A RESULT OF INJURIES BY THE
POLICE [INDISCERNIBLE] SHAKING
HANDS AND [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS
IS NOT ABNORMAL, IT IS TYPICAL.
RACISM IS TYPICAL
[INDISCERNIBLE] IT IS NORMAL
[INDISCERNIBLE] MEANWHILE PEOPLE
ARE UNABLE TO GET FOOD MEDICINE
AND [INDISCERNIBLE] PEOPLE ON
LOCAL LEVELS SUPPORT PEOPLE
BARRIERS TO SUPPORT
[INDISCERNIBLE] THESE ISSUES
EFFECT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
[INDISCERNIBLE] POVERTY AND
RESOURCE ACCESSIBILITY TO COVID
19 ITSELF.
PEOPLE NEED FOOD, HEALTHCARE AND
THERAPY NOT GAS [INDISCERNIBLE].
WE ALLOCATE THIS MONEY TO
HELPING BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES AS A WHITE WOMAN
[INDISCERNIBLE] I FULLY SUPPORT
THE A LITTLE AS PART OF THIS
WHITE SUPREMACY AND POWER
STRUCTURE.
I'M ALSO GOING TO REINTEGRATE
[INDISCERNIBLE] ENGAGEMENT MARGE
FULLY.
THANK YOU ALL AND BEST OF LUCK.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS ANTONIO MORALES AND
WE'LL GO TO ELIZABETH.
>> HI MY ANTON OMO REAL ES MY
PRONOUNCE ARE HE AND HIM I'M A
REARE DENT OF BRIGHTON.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE IN THE BOSTON COMMUNITY
WHO SHARED THEIR STORY ACROSS
DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.
BEING A PERSON AND GLOWING UP IN
MASSACHUSETTS AND ALSO GROWING
UP IN THE U.S. WE'RE ALL AWARE
OF RACISM AT THE POLICE HANDS
AND WE RECOGNIZE THE POLICE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A TOOL.
IT'S BEEN THE GUN THAT SHOOTS US
AND HOLDS US DOWN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF
ANYONE IN A POSITION OF POWER
RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY ON THE CITY
COUNCIL IS NOT HEART BROKEN BY
THE STORIES THAT YOU ARE HEARING
OR THE GENERATIONS OF RACISM AND
INEQUITY YOU ARE PART OF THE
PROBLEM AND THE LEAST YOU CAN DO
IS ACQUIESCE YOUR POWER OR
PARTICIPATE IN THE BEGINNING OF
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN
THE BEGINNING WITH THE CITY
COUNCILORS WAS THIS IDEA OF THIS
INEVITABLE RECESSION THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
EVERYBODY IS SPEAKING ABOUT OF
COURSE WE NEED TO FUND COMOONITY
PROGRAMS WE NEED TO FUND PUBLIC
HOUSING AND PUT MORE MONEY INTO
EDUCATION.
IF YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT IN
A WAY THAT'S RELATED TO
RECESSION WHO IS GOING TO GET US
OUT OF THIS RECESSION.
IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE HAVING
THE JOB THAT BUILD UP OUR
ECONOMY, THEN HOW IS THE $414
MILLION THAT IS GIVEN TO THE
POLICE GOING TO GET US OUT OF
THAT RECESSION.
IT'S REALLY A VERY MINOR REQUEST
THAT WE'RE ASKING.
AND MORE AND MORE I'M THINKING
ABOUT THIS I JUST GET ANGRIER
BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT
[INDISCERNIBLE] I WAS RACIALLY
PROFILED BACK IN FEBRUARY.
I WAS WALKING HOME FROM THE GYM
WHEN POLICE CARS STOPPED ME
BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY GOT CAN
A CALL THERE WAS AN ARMED
ROBBERY AROUND THE AREA AND
[INDISCERNIBLE] WHITE IRISH
CATHOLIC AND I WAS COMPLETELY
COMPLIANT, PEACEFUL HELD MY
HANDS UP FOR LIKE 30 MINUTES AS
SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS KEPT
PATTING ME ASKING ME THE SAME
QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER.
IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE
BAITING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
I EVEN HAD A POLICE OFFICER SAY
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A
GENTLEMAN THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS.
AND LUCKILY I WAS RAISED BY A
SINGLE PUERTO RICAN MOM, FIRST
GENERATION WHO HAS BEEN A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNCILOR AND
ADVOCATE FOR 25 YEARS HAS WORKED
IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, CURRENTLY
WORKS IN A POLICE STATION AND
SHE TEXTED ME THIS MORNING
SAYING THAT SHE HATES IT THERE
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE RACISM IS
INNATE EVERYWHERE.
SHE EVEN SAID THAT THE POLICE,
AT THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOESN'T EVEN
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND
THAT WHITE PRIVILEGE AND RACISM
REALLY DOESN'T EVEN EXIST.
BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE
IT TOO AND THE PEOPLE IN THE
POSITION OF POWER IS WHO WE ARE
FUNDING.
AND WE ARE GET GIVING OUR
RESOURCES TO.
I WAS ALSO THINKING I UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE
GIVING OVER TIME PAY, YOU'RE
BUDDY BUDDY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN
THE KNOW.
YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE AND
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN
THEIR SERVICE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT
DOING THAT AND GIVING SO MUCH
MORE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES ALSO
MEANS YOU ARE QUIETLY SUPPORTING
THE SYSTEMIC RACISM IN PLACE
THAT ALLOWS IT.
IF OTHER PEOPLE SEE THE POLICE
WHO ARE THE UP HOLDERS OF TRUTH
WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVERY
DAY CITIZENS WILL PARTICIPATE IN
IT AS WELL.
SO I HAVE A MEETING TO GO TO AT
1:00.
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ANTONIO.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY ELIZABETH
AND THEN IT WILL BE REVEREND
ELIZABETH.
ELIZABETH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.
>> YES, CAN HEAR YOU AND CAN SEE
YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
HI EVERYBODY GOOD EVERYONE MY
NAME IS ELIZABETH I LIVE IN DOOR
CHER AND I'M A CLINICAL SOCIAL
WORKER IN A COMMUNITY HEALTH
CERTAIN IN BROCKTON.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MIANCE
PERIENCE IN THE HEALTH FIELD.
ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDY THOSE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE UP TO 16
TIMES, THAT IS ONE SIX 16 TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO BE KILLED BY
POLICE.
I CAN CERTAINLY SAY AS AN AGENCY
BASED COMMISSION I NEED TO
ENSURE SOMEONE IS NOT AT RISK TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY, I FEEL SO GRATEFUL TO
HAVE A MOBILE CRISES TEEN IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT I'VE HEARD THAT I
CAN GO TO, I CAN CALL ON THEM TO
CHECK ON THE PATIENT I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT.
MOBILE CRISES TEAM MEMBERS AND I
HAVE THE SAME EDUCATION AND
EXPERTISE AND WE CAN TRUST EACH
OTHER AND UNDERSTANDING A
PATIENT'S CONDITION.
I TRUST WHEN I CALL A CLINICIAN
ON THIS TEAM TO GO TO A
PATIENT'S HOME OR WHEREVER THEY
ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY WILL
ONE AND UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A
DEGREE AND LICENSE IN MENTAL
HEALTH.
WILL CHOOSE DEESCALATION AS A
DEFAULT RESPONSE.
THREE WILL PRIORITIZE THE
PATIENT'S WELL BEING AND
DECISION-MAKING GOOD TREATMENT
THAT WILL BE CLIENT CENTERED AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOUR THEY WILL NOT
HAVE A GUN.
I APPLAUD EFFORTS AS THE BOSTON
POLICE [INDISCERNIBLE] BOSTON
MOBILE CRISES TEAM WHICH IS BY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE
SPOKEN TODAY.
HOWEVER THE MERE PRESENCE OF A
POLICE OFFICER IS OFTEN ENOUGH
TO ESCALATE A NON-VIOLENT
SITUATION INTO A VIOLENT ONE IF
YOU'RE BLACK AND BROWN MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE POLICE
[INDISCERNIBLE] LET ME MAKE THIS
CLEAR THOSE WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS [INDISCERNIBLE] I'M
ASKING THAT FUNDING BEING
CONSIDERED FOR THIS UPCOMING
FISCAL YEAR BY DIVERTED AND PUT
TOWARDS MOBILE CEISES FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY IN NEED FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THIS IS IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISES
MENTAL HEALTHCARE IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE THE
SECOND MAN TELLIC AS A RESPONSE
TO THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH NOW.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IN OUR
FIELD RIGHT NOW AND IT'S ONLY
GOING TO CONTINUE TO ESCALATED.
DIVERTING FUNDS TO MOBILE CRISES
TEAMS WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND A
NON-VIOLENT WAY OF SERVING
MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE
MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMIZED
MORE THAN VICTIMIZING OTHERS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ALL OF
THE OTHER INCREDIBLE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIVERTING¦ HAVE SUGGESTED.
BUILDING CAN JOB, YOUTH JOB
PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY,
PUTTING MORE MONEY TOWARDS
HOUSING, PUTTING MORE MONEY
TOWARDS SCHOOLING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CHILDREN, I TRULY BELIEVE
THAT THERE ARE AN ABUNDANT
OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE BOSTON
COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD BE
PUTTING OUR FUNDING TOWARDS AND
THAT THE POLICE NEED TO BE
DEFUNDED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
TARGETED BY DEPORTATION AND
DETENTION BY ICE AND THEIR
ALLIES CALLED BEYOND.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU CUT THE
BOSTON POLICE BUDGET AND FUND
THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS FULLY
AS POSSIBLE.
IN IN MY PREVIOUS WORK, I WAS
IFLGD PRLG TO WORK WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE IN BOSTON.
BEFORE THAT THEY DEALT WITH
HARASSMENT, PROFILING
CRIMINALIZATION IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITY.
AND IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE
PROGRAMS THIS I WAS PART OF WE
WERE WITH OFTEN SEATING PEOPLE
AND PROVIDING THEM NAVIGATION,
WHAT WAS GUARANTEED WAS BLACK
AND BROWN YOUNG PEOPLE IN BOSTON
WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES
WITH THE POLICE.
WHAT WAS NOT GUARANTEED WAS
WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH
FOOD TO EAT OR A QUALITY
EDUCATION.
I VISITED MANY PEOPLE IN
IMMIGRATION JAIL AND IN MY
CURRENT ROLE I THINK OF JAY IN
JAIL AND ENDED UP IN DEPORTATION
PROCEEDINGS, THROUGH THE
SO-CALLED GANG DATABASE THAT
PROFILED HIM FOR WEARING THE
WRONG SNEAKERS, THE WROR COLOR,
THE WRONG BRAND.
I THINK OF NIECE IN PARENTING
WITHOUT HER HUSBAND BECAUSE HE
WAS TAKEN INTO ICE CUSTODY
DIRECTLY FROM SUFFICIENT FOAJ
FOAK COUNTY COURT BECAUSE OF
COLLABORATIONS WITH ICE AND
DEPORTED.
MANY OF US KNOW THAT SANCTUARY
CITY IS A LIE, IT'S A RHETORIC
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
CITY COUNCILORS PLEASE MATCH OUR
THELESS MORAL LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT WE'LL HAVE ADAM AND THEN
IT WILL BE ADAM YOU'RE UP NEXT.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MANY ADAM PINAZEC, I
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
DORCHESTER.
INVESTIGATE ALL EVIDENCE OF
BOSTON POLICE, L L MANY AND
VIOLENCE, I HAVE PERSONALLY
BENEFITED FROM BOSTON'S WHITE
CULTURE AND TELLING YOU I'M
OUTRAGED.
NO ONE SHOULD BE DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BECAUSE OF GENDER SEXUAL
OIRNTION ORIENTATION OR ANY
FACTOR.
SOCIAL RESPONSES TO SOCIAL
ISSUES.
INSTEAD OF SENDING ARMED FORCES
BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND
CROOUMENT WE NEED TO SEND CARE
WORKERS WHO CAN ACTUALLY HELP.
FIND ALTERNATIVES FOR POLICING,
KUDOS TO JULIA AND THE YOUTH OF
BOSTON FOR CREATING A FORUM TO
ADDRESS FIREWORKS.
WE NEED TO FUND SOCIAL RESPONSES
TO SOCIAL ISSUES.
FUND SCHOOLS, FUND PARKS, FUND
COMMUNITIES, FUND HEALTH CARE,
FUND RENAMING ALL MONUMENTS AND
BUILDINGS NAMED FOR RACISTS,
ALSO SHOPPING DOWNTOWN IN A
BUILDING NAMED AFTER A SLAVE
TRADER.
DEFUND THE POLICE, BUILT THE DOT
GREEN WAY.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MANY ADAM, SEDIAS,
MAR LOB AND JENOT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MY NAME PHIDIAS, I'M ASKING THE
CITY COUNCIL TO CUT AT LEAST 10%
OF THE BOSTON POLICE BUDGET
INCLUDING $40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH NEEDS TO FUND THAT
MINE INTO HOUSING TREATMENT AND
INCREASED FUNDING TO TO YOUTH
JUST.
I BELIEVE THE BPD'S FUNDS CAN BE
USED TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES
THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
FACE IN THIS CITY.
INCREASE WOULD, EVERY ACADEMIC
YEAR AND UPLIFT ARE ASPIRING
STUDENTS WITH NEW EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES.
I'M CALLING FOR THE FUND TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO HEALTH CENTERS TO
ENSURE THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED WITH
ENOUGH RESOURCES SO THE SECOND
PHASE OF CODONE STRIKES.
BEGIN TO RENOVATE SOME OF OUR
MOST SACRED PLACES.
NOW LET'S BEGIN TO DISCUSS THE
ASTROS ADVERTISE THAT HAPPENED
WITHIN THIS CITY.
IT IS UNFAIR THAT BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF MY SKIN MY PEERS AND I
HAVE TO WORRY WITH WALKING
OUT -- ABOUT WALKING OUT OF A
STORE WITHOUT PURCHASING AN
ITEM, EVEN WALKING A CERTAIN
WAY.
IT IS INEXCUSABLE FOR THE
INNOCENT CITIZENS OF MY
COMMUNITY TO BE PERSONAL
PUNCHING BAGS FOR SICK COPS.
ONE CANNOT SIMPLY TAKE OUTS
THEIR LICENSE AND PUT OUT THE
STOP AT THE SAME TIME.
COUPLED WITH A DRAWN OUT, ENSURE
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND
THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES WHEN
IT DOES.
WHENEVER I WITNESS RACIST POLICE
VIOLENCE COVERED ON NATIONAL TV
I IMMEDIATELY THINK ABOUT HOW
POLICE OFFICERS ALL OVER THE
NATION ARE ABLE TO PUBLICLY
HARASS AND EXECUTE DEFENSELESS
BLACK OR BROWN INDIVIDUALS
WITHOUT DESTINY REPERCUSSION.
THIGHS SAME OFFICERS ARE USING
ILLEGAL PROCEDURES IN ORDER TO
SUBDUE THEIR VICTIM WHICH IN
TURN ENDS UP KILLING THEM.
POLICE ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE
AID BEFORE FORCE.
IT'S AGAINST POLICY TO APPLY
TONIGHT KIND OF PRESSURE IF THE
VICTIM HAS UNDERLYING HEALTH
CONDITIONS WHERE AT LEAST A
SLIGHT ASPHYXIATION CAN BE
TROUBLE.
THE BPD IS OVERPOLICING AND NOT
KEEPING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
SAFE.
I'M EXHAUSTED FROM LIVING IN A
COMMUNITY THAT SPENDS OVER $1
MILLION A DAY ON POLICING WHILE
BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS
DON'T HAVE WHAT WE NEED THE
THRIVE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP MARLON AND
THEN JENOT AND THEN SAM.
SO MARLON.
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO, HI.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ON THE
COUNCIL AND ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT ARE ON IN CALL AND TRYING
TO NOT DATE MYSELF BUT I WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR INPUT
AND THEIR PASSION WITH THIS KIND
OF DIVERSE DIALOGUE THAT I
BELIEVE WILL KIND OF WILL FIND
THE SOLUTION THAT WE ARE LOOKING
FOR.
REPLY NAME IS LON SOLOMON.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN CULTURE INITIATIVE,
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, SO YEAH,
WE'RE BASED IN HYDE PARK AND OUR
MISSION IS TO BUILD CULTURAL
BRIDGES THROUGH AFRICAN
DIASPORA, I WANT TO ACTUALLY
TALK BECAUSE I THINK THAT I KNOW
WE'RE KIND OF WORKING ON SOME OF
WHAT WE THINK ARE SOME OF THE
SOLUTIONS IN REGARDS TO CULTURAL
COMPETENCE COMPETENCE AND HOW COMPETENCY, EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
POLICE THEY NEED TO FUND PROGRAM
TO HELP THEIR CULTURAL
COMPETENCY WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
SO THAT THE STAKES LIKE OR MAYBE
NOT EVEN MISTAKES, RACIAL THINGS
CAN BE SORTED OUT.
WE DEVELOP CURRICULUM BASED ON
AFRICAN DIASPORA EDUCATION.
WE ARE STATING THIS SUMMER WITH
ABOUT FIVE KIDS FROM THE YOUTH
LINK 2020.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING
CURRICULA NOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF
THE AFRICAN DIASPORA THAT IS
MAKING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN,
FRIENDS OF PEOPLE OF NONAFRICAN
DESCENT TO WORK WITH COMPETENCY,
THERE IS AN EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
TO IT BUT ABOUT ALSO AN ELEMENT,
ALLY MANAGEMENT TO IT.
THEY ARE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND THEY ARE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN
PLACE AND THESE SYSTEMS ARE
BASED ON A CAN CAPITALISM THAT I
BELIEVE THE ALLIES THAT WE HAVE
OR SUPPOSED ALLIES THAT WE HAVE
HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THEY MUST,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP
THEIR IDEA OF EXAMISM --
CAPITALISM.
I'M DOING A STUDY, I'M ALSO A
CIVIL ENGINEER AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE PROXIMITY OF FAST
FOOD TO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE ARE LOOKING AT JEREMIAH E.
BURKE AND BOSTON PREP AND HYDE
PARK.
IF MY CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HYDE
PARK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
THEY ARE BUILDING A BURGER KING,
RIGHT?
THIS IS A PROVERBIAL EXAMPLE,
THE CHILDREN THAT GO TO THOSE
SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE A HEALTH,
EVERYONE FORGETS A BURGER KING
PUT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
WHEN I SAY RIGHT ACROSS THE
STREET I SAY 75 FEET FROM DOOR
TO DOOR, OKAY?
THAT IS IN COUNCILOR ARROYO'S
DISTRICT.
SO THE ALLY MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO
TEACH PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO MAYBE GIVE UP THAT
BURGER KING AND YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING THAT IS
HELPING BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
SCHOOL ANDEN THAT IS LEAVING A
FORM OF CAPITALISM BECAUSE THAT
BURGER KING IS BASED ON A
PREDATORY PRACTICE BY
CAPITALISTIC COMPANIES, THAT ARE
MAKING PROCESS OFF -- PROFITS
OFF OF BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN
RIGHT?
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE
SCHOOLS HAVE BASICALLY 97% OR
ABOVE MINORITY INVOLVED
STUDENTS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE
McDONALD'S RESTAURANTS WITHIN
1.2 MILES OF THE SCHOOL.
THAT'S JUST McDONALD'S, WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT BURGER KING
AVERAGE.
LESS THAN ONE MILE FOR THREE
BURGER KINGS, AVERAGE LESS THAN
ONE MILE FOR THREE McDONALD'S,
AVERAGE ABOUT 2.7 MILES FOR
THREE WENDY'S.
SO BASICALLY WE HAVE A
SATURATION LEVEL OF LIKE, WE
HAVE NINE RESTAURANTS IN THE
SATURATION LEVEL OF -- SORRY
GOING THROUGH MY SLIDES THAT I
DIDN'T GET TO SEND, SORRY, WE
HAVE WITHIN 2.2 MILES RADIUS
FROM THE BOSTON PUBLIC CHARTER
SCHOOL, 2.2 MILES YOU HAVE NINE
RESTAURANTS.
THAT IS AFTERNOON AVERAGE NUMBER
FOR -- AN AVERAGE NUMBER FOR
THREE McDONALD'S, THREE
WENTY'S AND THREE BURG HE KING.
2.1 MILES.
THE AVERAGE OF JUST THE CLOSEST
THREE OF THOSE RESTAURANTS IS
0.1 MILES.
ONE WENTY'S ONE BURGER KING AND
ONE McDONALD'S WITHIN A MILE
RADIUS OF THE BOSTON PARK PUBLIC
SCHOOL.
I SEE THE GAVEL'S UP.
I'LL HOLD THAT DOWN BUT POLICE I
WANT TO JUST CONTINUE TO TELL
THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DOING DID
RIGHT THING, LISTEN TO YOUR
ELDERS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME
WAYS THAT WE CAN DO IT BETTER
BUT YOUR HEADS AND YOUR HEARTS
ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MARLON AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT
INFORMATION.
NEXT IS JENOT AND THEN SAM PAULO
AND JENOT YOU'RE UP.
JENOT WE NEED YOU TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> SORRY I WAS HAVING TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES.
OKAY, CITY COUNCILORS, MY NAME
IS JENOT, THE MO
THAT BPD DOES IS IGNORE CITIZENS
OF COLOR.
HUMAN BEINGS THAT SHOULD BE
PROTECTED BY POLICE.
WHEN YOU SEE BODIES ON THE
STREETS, NENTS ARRESTED, PEOPLES
OF COLOR GETTING INCARCERATED
THAT, REAL PEOPLE GETTING
MURDERED, PEOPLE HAVE NEAMS,
PEOPLE HAVE FRIENDS, THEY'RE
HUMANS I'LL KEEP SAYING THAT,
UNTIL UNDERSTOOD THEY ARE HUMAN
BEINGS.
MOST OF THE VICTIM FAMILIES ARE
NOT GETTING ADDRESSED, THE LEAST
YOU CAN DO IS AT LEAST CUT 10%
OF BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
TO REINVEST THAT MONEY IN BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
PRIORITIZING COVID-19,
INCREASING FUNDING FOR YOUTH
JOBS TO $50 MILLION.
I'M A 16-YEAR-OLD.
WHEN I SEE RACIST POLICE
VIOLENCE COVERING NATIONAL NEWS
I CAN'T REST MY HEND AROUND HOW
BOSTON ALLOWS THIS.
TOM OLIVING TURN MY SHOULDER IN
FEAR.
HOWEVER MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED,
WHERE FEAR IS NORMALIZED, WHERE
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE IGNORED AND
KILLED.
IMAGINE HOW I'M FEELING, ENDING
UP IN A PLACE WHERE CAN I BE
WHERE I AM.
HOW CAN PEOPLE WALK AWAY IN A
FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING
MURDERED AND NOT ADMIT THAT
FACT.
WE CAN USE THIS MOMENT TO DEFUND
RACISM AND FRFER OUR CITY,
REMEMBER YOU ARE FUNDING POLICE,
YOU ARE FUNDING MURDERERS,
GIVING THEM A PAT OFTEN THE
SHOULDER.
INSTEAD FUND MY FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
I ARE GIVE BACK.
>> THANK YOU, JENOT.
SAM, CALVEDO AND THEN ALEX.
SAM.
>> MY NAME SAM CALO.
I'M AN AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
TEACHER AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN
BOSTON AND I LIVE IN ARLINGTON.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE BOSTON
AREA MY WHOLE LIFE.
YOU I'M ASHAMED TO ADMIT I
DIDN'T NOTICE THE PROBLEM OF
STRUCTURAL RACISM AS A CHILD.
I GREW UP IN WESTFORD WHICH IS
SO OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE, I DON'T
THINK I MET A BLACK PERSON UNTIL
I WAS LIKE 11 OR 12 YEARS OLD.
AND SEEING NOW WHAT I CAN SEE
NOW, WORKING IN BOSTON, SEEING
HOW POORLY MY STUDENTS ARE
TREATED BY POLICE AND THE PEOPLE
AROUND THEM IS LIKE WORKING IN
THE ADVENT SCHOOL IS LIKE IN BY
BEACON HILL.
SEEING THE DISTRUST OF PEOPLE
AND WITH THE DISTRUST OF POLICE
IN THE CITY IS JUST -- IT'S
ABHORRENT.
SO I'M CALLING FOR ALMOST FOR
THE JURASSIC DEFUNDING OF THE
POLICE.
AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR BUDGET.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE.
$400 MILLION IS BEING PUT
TOWARDS A POLICE FORCE THAT DOES
IN THE HELP THE PEOPLE OF OUR
CITY.
I ENCOURAGE AT LEAST 200 MILLION
OF THOSE DOLLARS TO GO TO BLACK
AND BACKGROUND COMMUNITIES
TOWARDS FUNDING THE PEOPLE OF
THE CITY WHO REQUIRE THE MOST
CARE.
YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS TO GO TOWARDS
HEALTH CARE AND TOWARDS THE ARTS
AND TOWARDS STUNTS AND TOWARDS
SCHOOLS.
THIS CITY IS NOT DOING WHAT IT
CAN TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY.
AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING.
CRIME WILL GO DOWN IF WE FUND
PEOPLE.
IT DOES NOT WORK TO FUND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADD MORE TO
THEIR STUFF.
IT'S INDEFENSIBLE HOW MUCH MONEY
IS GOING TOWARDS POLICING.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAP ON
POLICE OVERTIME LIKE OTHER
PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH
TIME REITERATING WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE HAVE SAID BUT I DO THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT POLICE
AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSING
THEIR OVERTIME NEED TO BE
PUNISHED.
I CEDE MY TIME AT THIS POINT,
BECAUSE I'VE SAID WHAT I NEED TO
BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS NEED
TO BE DEFUNDED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SAM.
NEXT UP IS CAVENNA, ALEX,
JONATHAN.
>> HELLO EVERYONE, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS CAL VENA,
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGETS BY $40
MILLION USE NOR OVERTIME, I'M
ASKING MAYOR WALSH REINVEST THE
MONEY INTO BLACK COMMUNITIES
EXPECT AS THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS NEVER BEEN
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITIZENS DMOR
BLACK OR BROWN CITIZENS.
IN PRIORITIZING OUR COMMUNITIES
AS PEOPLE NEED HOUSING,
TREATMENT CENTER, COVID-19
RELIEF, COMMUNITY LED
ORGANIZATIONS, IN ROXBURY AND
DORCHESTER I HAVE BEEN ACCOSTED
BY THE POLICE ON MANY OCCASIONS.
I HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED BY THEM,
IN THE SOUTH BAY HOUSE OF
CORRECTIONS, I HAVE BEEN
HARASSED FOR JUST WALKING AT
NIGHT.
AS MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
SUGGESTED AS FAMILY ORGANIZATION
I RECENTLY CONDUCTINGS A
LISTENING TOUR WHICH WAS VERY
DRAW MATSIC.
IT BROUGHT BACK THE PAINFUL
MEMORIES OF THE BOSTON POLICE
ARRESTING ME ON DORCHESTER AV.
INSTEAD OF GETTING ME INTO A
TREATMENT CENTER, I WAS ON
DRUGS, THEY THREW ME INTO A
CAGE.
BEING A 22-YEAR-OLD BLACK
MOTHER, THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS NOT KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE.
I'M FIREFIGHT LIVING IN A
COMMUNITY THAT SPENDS $1 MILLION
A DAY ON POLICING WHILE BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO
SUFFER.
THIS IS THE YEAR THAT OUR CITY
CAN TAKE THE STAND FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE AND CUT THE BOSTON
POLICE BUDGET.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST ALSO
REJECT ANY CUTS TO WHAT A BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITY NEEDS.
BOSTON CAN CONTINUE TO BE KNOWN
FOR RACISM, GENTRIFICATION, AND
EXTREME INCOME INEQUALITY OR WE
CAN USE THIS MOMENT TO DEFUND
RACISM AND SHARE FROM OUR CITY.
I STAND IN SUPPORT OF DEFUNDING
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY,
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH SO
MUCH AND NOW WE'RE NEXT GOING TO
ALEX, WE HAVE LOST JONATHAN I
THINK AND THEN WE'LL GO NEXT TO
MARA.
ALEX.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX, I WORK AS A
PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYER.
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
HARMS BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST REDIRECT
THE FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIMES IN
BOSTON HOUSING COURTS, EVERY
THURSDAY MORNING EVICTION DAY
LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TENANTS
JAM INTO A SINGLE COURTROOM,
OFTEN IS MANY THEY ARE FORCED TO
STAND AGAINST WALLS AND AISLES.
THEY ARE INSULTED FOR NOT
KNOWING ARBITRARY COURT RULES
THAT ARE NOT POSTED ANYWHERE.
THEIR NAME OFTEN MISPRONOUNCED
ARE CALLED IN RAPT SUCCESSION.
IF A CANDIDATE DOES NOT ANSWER,
BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE WRONG
COURTROOM, THEY CAN'T TAKE A
THURSDAY MORNING OFF OF WORK OR
CAN'T GET CHILDCARE, IF A TENANT
DOES NOT ANSWER FOR ANY REASON
THEY ARE DEFAULT AD.
THAT MEANS THEY LOSE THEIR CASE
AND THEREFORE THEIR HOME.
HOUSING COURT IS DEHUMANIZING.
IT IS AN AWFUL PLACE AND THE
VAST MAJORITY OF TENANTS THERE
ARE BEING RIPPED FROM THEIR
HOMES, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THEIR COMMUNITIES EITHER BECAUSE
THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE
INCREASINGLY OUTLANDISH RENTS IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON OR JUST AS
OFTEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
SIMPLY BECAUSE A SPECULATOR
BOUGHT A BUILDING AND WANTS TO
FLIP IT TO TURN IT INTO LUXURY
PROPERTY AND IN THE PROCESS TO
FORCIBLY REMOVE FAMILIES AND
DESTROY COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST INVEST IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, I DO NOT
WANTS THIS MONEY GOING TO
HOUSING COURT.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, I DON'T
LIKE HOUSING COURT.
THE INJUSTICE OF HOUSING COURT
IS MERELY A SYMPTOM.
THE CITY MUST ADDRESS THE
DISEASE, THE ROOT CAUSES OF
THESE, SYSTEMIC BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES, DEFUNDING THE BPD,
INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEX, I
SEE WE HAVE BEEN REJOINED BY
JONATHAN.
JONATHAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET SECTION ON
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CABINET IS
SPLIT INTO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SERVICES IS TO,
QUOTE, SOLVE PROBLEMS AND REDUCE
CRIME, VICTIMIZATION AND FEAR.
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WITH
THIS.
FIRST, GIVEN THE DIRECT CANNIVE
TO REDUCE CRIME, VICTIMIZATION
AND FEAR, THE MONEY CAN
ALLOCATED WHICH INVOLVES ARMED
OFFICERS OCCUPYING ALREADY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, RATHER
THAN REDUCE VICTIMIZATION OF
FEAR, THE TESTIMONY TODAY
HIGHLIGHTS THOSE OFFICERS SO
DONE THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, OPERATIONS
LIKE THE COMMUNITY BASED
VIOLENCE PREVENTION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM DEPARTMENT
OF MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION
PROGRAM, THUS AND THE SAFE AND
SUCCESSFUL YOUTH INITIATIVE
PROGRAM ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES.
SECOND, WHILE PUBLIC SAFETY
SHOULD BE REIMAGINED TO ADDRESS
UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSES, THIS
SHOULD NOT BE PURSUED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CABINET SHOULD
HAVE AT ITS FOREFRONT COMMUNITY
BASED INVESTMENT IN CRISIS
ASSISTANCE AND THAT SHOULD BE IN
A DEPARTMENT DISTINCT FROM THE
POLICE.
A MODEL FOR THIS COULD BE CAN A
CAHOOTS, IN EUGENE OREGON, A
NONPROFIT THAT LAST YEAR CAN
HANDLED ALMOST ONE FIFTH OF THE
CITY'S 911 CALLS BUT ULTIMATELY
THESE SOLUTIONS SHOULD COME
DIRECT LOI FROM THE AFFECTED
COMMUNITIES.
IN TERMS OF CONCRETE POLICY I
ECHO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS CALLS TO
AS A BARE MINIMUM RELATE AT
LEAST 10% OF THE BPD'S BUDGET
AWAY FROM POLICING TOWARDS
COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU JONATHAN.
NEXT UP IS MARLA.
>> HI I'M MARLA SAYED.
I'M A HOMELESS WORKER, SOMEWHERE
E-HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE
OF THE POLICE BRUTALITY
INCIDENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE
THREATENED BY HOMELESSNESS,
OCCUPYING PUBLIC SPACE, FEEDING
SOME KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH,
HEALTH HELP OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
HELP, BUT INSTEAD OF USING THAT
HELP THEY ARE FARMED OUT TOSS
POLICE AND SEVER MASSIVE
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BUT ALSO
TIE IN THAT SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
I HAVE IN MY WORK.
I'M DEMANDING THE DEPUNDING OF
THE POLICE AND THE ACCOMPANYING
OF PARTIAL SYSTEMS WHOLESALE.
THE POLICE DON'T KEEP US SAFE.
SURVEILLANCE AND BRUTALITY DON'T
KEEP ANY OF US SAFE.
WE KEEP US SAFE.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT FARMING IT
OUT TO SOMEONE WITH A GUN, YOU
CAN'T SHOOT RACIST INVESTMENT,
THE POLICE HAVE SHOWN US YOU CAN
SHOOT IT.
THE ANSWER IS INVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITIES TO PREEMPT AND SOX
THOSE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES.
THAT MEANS PUTTING IT INTO SAFE
PERMANENT L AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND STABLE JOBS.
THAT LOOKS LIKE ACTUAL HEALTH
NOT JUST ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT
WHETHER IT IS A PLACE TO STAY
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR WHEN
THERE IS A FIGHT.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE ARE
CAPABLE OF DOING AN READY TO DO.
THE POWER LIES IN OUR BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES NOT WITH
AGGRESSIVE ARMED POLICE
OFFICERS, YOU CAN'T REFORM
SOMETHING THAT IS JUST AS IT IS
INTENDED TO DO.
YOU NEED TO GET REITERATE OF IT.
THIS IS A BROKEN SYSTEM BUT AS
THE HISTORY OF THE POLICE THEY
WERE INITIALLY CONCEIVED TO
PROTECT PROPERTY OR WEALTH,
WHETHER THAT IS A TARGET, AND
THIS LEGACY LIVES ON IN PRACTICE
AND RHETORIC TO THIS DAY.
THIS IS AN UNREDEEMABLE MODEL
AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE
BROUGHT INTO THE FUTURE WITH US.
WE SHOULD DEFUND THE POLICE AND
WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN
INEFFECTIVE AND DEEPLY RACIST
SYSTEM IF WE CAN JUST HAVE
STRONG SAFE AND HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU LA NOW WE'VE GOT
CASHIA AND THEN CASHIA GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS KIESHA, I LIVE AND
WORK ON PROPERTY IN BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF THE BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
INCLUDING $30 MILLION IN
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST INVEST THE
MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO
DEFUND THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
IT IS ASTONISHING TO SEE HOW
MUCH AS A CITY WE SPEND ON
POLICING WHEN COMPARED TO
HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING,
COUNSELING, YOU NAME IT.
AS A CITY WE HAVE INVESTED IN
OVERPOLICING AND CRIMINALIZATION
OF BLACK AND BACKGROUND
COMMUNITIES AND VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
MEANT TO HELP THE GREATER GOOD,
THE GOAL SHOULD BE THAT ONE DAY
WE DON'T NEED THAT SUPPORT
ANYMORE.
AT THE SCALE IT CURRENTLY
EXISTED.
TODAY IT IS POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE
THE POWER TO DO THAT.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS THE ONLY
WAY TO INVEST IN THAT FUTURE.
THIS IS A TIME TO IMAGINE WHAT
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO LOOK
LIKE AND HOW WE WANT THEM TO
RUN.
AS AN EDUCATOR I HAVE TAUGHT
TEN, 11 AND 12-YEAR-OLDS BLACK
AND BROWN CHILDREN IN BOSTON.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT RACIST
VIOLENCE I THINK ABOUT MY
STUDENTS, I THINK ABOUT TAMIR
RICE, 12 YEARS OLD.
HE SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY BUT HE
IS NOT.
HE WAS MURDERED BY OVERZEALOUS
POLICE WHO DIDN'T SEE HIM AS A
12-YEAR-OLD BOY.
IN LESS THAN TWO SECONDS THIS
CHILD'S LIFE WAS STOLEN.
WHEN I WAS EIGHT, PRACTICING
RIDING MY BIKE IN A CHURCH
PARKING LOT, WITH MY COUSINS,
THE POLICE WERE CALLED ON US.
I WAS JUST A KID RIDING THEIR
BIKE AND I WAS COLORADOD FOR IT.
THIS IS STILL TRUE FOR MY -- I
WAS CRIMINALIZED FOR OIT.
ABOUT BOSTON'S BLACK AND BROWN
CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A
CHILDHOOD.
AS BOSTON CITY COUNCIL I'M
ASKING TO YOU JUST LOOK AT THE
BUDGET.
WEIGHING BEST SHOWS WHAT YOU
VALUE.
WHEN I VOTED IN THE LAST
ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL MY
EXPECTATION WAS THAT I WAS
SUPPORTING A COUNCIL THAT WOULD
INVEST IN MAKING THE CITY I LOVE
A MORE POSITIVE, HEALTHY AND
JUST HOME FOR OITS RESIDENTS.
JUST BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS HAS
BEEN ORGANIZED IN THIS WAY DOES
NOT MAKE IT RIGHT OR EVEN MEAN
WORKING FOR SOME THE ISSUE THE
CITY FACES.
THE TIME IS NOW.
THE INVESTMENT IN POLICING,
REINVEST IN COMMUNITY WITH A
FOCUS ON YOUTH JOBS,
HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT TREATMENT
HEALING HOUSING AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
YOU HAVE THE FOUR DO BRING US
CLOSER TO A CITY HAS HEALTHY AND
JUST FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP WE HAVE GOT NAY WHEREELA
AND THEN LENA.
SO NAYELA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> MY NAME IS NAYELA LYNCH I'M A
DRINT OF THE DORCHESTER AREA, AS
WELL AS A STUDENT OF THE JOHN D.
BRYANT AND A MEMBER OF THE
STUDENT MOVEMENT.
MY YOUNG BLACK SIBLINGS, IT IS
NOT UNKNOWN THAT POLICE OFFICERS
ABUSE THEIR POWER AND TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POSITION.
WE GIVE THEM THAT POWER.
CONTINUING TO FUND A SYSTEM
BASED AND BUILT ON SYSTEMIC
RACISM WILL ONLY BE AN INCAN
JUSTICE FOR BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I URGE THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL,
IF LARGE SUMS OF MONEY CONTINUE
TO BE GIVEN TO THIS DISGUSTING
SYSTEM YOU'LL ONLY BE TELLING
OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT WE
DO NOT MATTER.
I DEMAND THAT THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET BEING CUT BY
AT LEAST 10% AND THOSE FUNDS BE
PROGRAMMED TO YOUTH JOSHES, ARE
PROGRAMS CATERING TO BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND NOW ONEXT UP WE HAVE GOT
LENA PAPAGIANIS AND VANESSA de
SILVA.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU COUNCILORS FOR BEING
HERE TODAY AND STAYING HERE
THROUGH THESE HOOURS, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT AND I'M REALLY
GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS LENA PAPAGIANS, I GO
BY MS. LENA, I'M HERE TO SPEAK
TO YOU AS BOTH LENA AND AS
MS. PAPA, LENA AS A RESIDENT OF
ROSLINDALE, EVEN WITH ALL ITS
MANY CHALLENGES I LOVE KIDS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SYSTEMS
REFORM AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM,
HISTORICAL INJUSTICE THIS ISN'T
IMPERSONAL TO ME.
THIS ISN'T ACADEMIC.
THIS IS MY HEART.
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED REALIZING
THE LEVEL OF COVID, I'M SURE
MANY OF YOU HEARD HOW STUDENTS
LIKE MINE RESPONDED.
THIS WOULD BE WELL AND GOOD IF
WE HAD SOAP IN THE BATHROOM IN
OUR SCHOOLS, THAT'S RIGHT, WE
LIVE IN ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES IN THE WORLD BUT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SOAP IN
MANY OF THEIR BATHROOMS OR PAPER
TOWELS AND THEY CAN'T DRINK
WATER FROM THE WATER FOUNTAINS
OR THE WATER FAUCETS WE ARE
SCARED OF LEAD.
TEACHERS RAISE MONEY FOR THE
BOOKS THEY TEACH, THEY DON'T GET
DEVICES FROM THE SCHOOL UNTIL OF
COURSE COVID EXPOSED THE NEED
FOR THAT AND SUDDENLY WE FOUND
THE MONEY FOR THOUSANDS OF
DEVICES.
THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AT HOME
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE
DEVICE.
THIS IS WHY THE TERM ACHIEVEMENT
GAP IS SO INSULTING.
WE DON'T DO ENOUGH, ALL THAT HE THAT WE
CAN DO, THERE IS AN ACHIEVEMENT
GAP BUT THE GAP IS ON US NOT ON
OUR KIDS.
WE CAN ACHIEVE SO OMANY MORE.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES AND OUR
COLLECTIVE FUTURE DEPENDS ON ALL
THAT.
I KNOW MONEY DOESN'T SOLVE
EVERYTHING BUT MONEY IN THE
RIGHT HANDS HELPS AND WRONG
HANDS HURTS.
CITY COUNCILORS LETS DO MORE.
AT LEAST 10% OF IT INTO
EDUCATION AND OTHER AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE KIDS
THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS ELIZABETH PETERS AND
THEN VANESSA.
>> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH PETERS
AND I'M A HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH
TEACHER IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAINS.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF THE OF
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
INCLUDING $40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
THE EFFECTS OF OVERPOLICING ARE
WELL DOCUMENTED AND AS WE KNOW,
PARTICULARLY DEVASTATING IN
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
FACE HIGH HIGHER RATES OF
ARRESTS INCARCERATION AND
BRUTALITY.
AS A B.P.S. TEACHER, I SEE MY
CHILDREN IN THE FACE OF SYSTEMIC
RACISM AND DELIBERATE
UNDERINVESTMENT IN BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES.
IT WOULD TAKE MANY, MANY HOURS
AND MANY, MANY HEARINGS TO
DETAIL THE WAYS THAT SYSTEMIC
RACISM AFFECTS MY STUDENTS,
THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR
EDUCATION.
SO I'LL FOCUS MY TIME ON ONE
CRUCIAL TIMELY REALLOCATION OF
BPD FUNDING.
INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND SUPPLIES, TO
SUPPORT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL
YEAR AS WE CONTINUE TO WEATHER
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE PANDEMIC DISPROIMPORTANCE
ATLY AND PREDICTABLY ATTACKED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN
INNUMERABLE WAYS INCLUDING
WIDENING LL CHASMIC WAYS.
LACK THE DEVICES AND CONSISTENT
WiFi ACCESS THAT THEY NEEDED
TO LEARN FROM HOMES.
GIVEN THAT WE ALREADY KNOW THE
COMING SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL, IF CITY OF BOSTON NEEDS TO
INVEST NOW IN ENSURING THAT
EVERY STUDENT HAS ALL THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE
LEARNING, REALLY LEARNING.
WHETHER THEY'RE AT HOME OR IN
THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THE CITY OF BOSTON NEEDS TO PUT
ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS,
DEFUND THE POLICE AND INVEST IN
THE CHILDREN OF BOSTON AND THEIR
EDUCATION, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ELIZABETH.
ALL RIGHT NEXT UP VANESSA AND
RYE.
WE HAVE SOME FOLKS NOT SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL, IF YOU
ARE IN THAT CATEGORY, RAISE YOUR
BLUE HAND OR PUT YOUR MESSAGE IN
THE CHAT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
VANESSA SA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
VANESSA de SILVA AND I'M A
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUTS AT LEAST 10% FROM THE
BUDGET, INCLUDING $40 MILLION IN
OVERTIME.
I HAVE TO BE THE CONVEYOR OF CAN
PRUDENCY, TO MY CHILDREN ALL THE
TIME.
WE CONSTANTLY ARE RECEIVE
SPEECHES AND E-MAILS, COMMIT
CANNED TO ADDRESSING THESE
INEQUALITIES AND THEN I HAVE TO
LOOK MY STUDENTS IN THE EYE AS I
CAN'T GIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED
BECAUSE IF BUDGET DOESN'T
SUPPORT THE INCLUSION MODEL AS
THEY SHOULD.
I HAVE TO TELL STUDENTS TO WEAR
A JACKETING IN CLASS BECAUSE
ACCORDING TO DOWNTOWN THE HEATER
IS NOT BROKEN.
DON'T TAKE THE HOODIE OFF EVEN
THOUGH IT'S AGAINST DISTRICT
POLICY.
IMPACTS OF TRAUMA ON COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR WHITE WATCHING STUDENTS
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SUFFER
WITHOUT THE PROPER RESOURCES
THEY TRULY NEED.
I HAVE QUELCH LET ME TELL YOU
THE STUDENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHY
THEY ARE NOT VALUED.
THEY KNOW BECAUSE IT IS THE
CREDITOR COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
MY STUDENTS DO NOT WANT LIP
SERVICE ANYMORE.
THEIR FAMILIES DO NOT WANT TO
HEAR WHY THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE EXAM
SCHOOLS OR SUBURBS HAVE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO CUT THE
FUNDING OF THE BOSTON PLARMS
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUT OUR
LITERAL MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS
ARE.
MORE TRANSPORTATION, MORE JOB
OPPORTUNITIES, FULLY FUNDED
SCHOOLS A RETHINK OF HOW WE
TEACH THEM, MORE NURSES MORE
COUNSELORS MORE MONEY TO BLACK
AND BACKGROUND COMMUNITY LED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVERYBODY
AGREES TO THAT.
WE NOT CONTINUE TO ADMIT, WE
MUST DIVERT THE 10% CUT FROM
BOSTON POLICE TO THE CHILDREN OF
BOSTON AND THEIR FUTURES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VANESSA, NEXT UP IS
RYE.
IT'S ON MUTE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO
SKIP, WAIT HERE WE GO.
RYE, YOU'RE STILL NEEDED.
THERE WE GO.
YOU THERE?
ALL RIGHT WE CAN'T HERE YOU OR
SEE YOU.
SO I'M GOING TO JUMP FOR A
SECOND TO IWADA, IF YOU CAN PLAY
WITH YOUR MIC OR VIDEO SO WE CAN
GET YOU NEXT.
>> HELLO YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME
ALL RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT I'D LIKE TO BEGIN,
I'M A BOSTON RESIDENT OF 20
YEARS AND ALSO A REFUGEE.
CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL
OF MICHAEL FLAIRTD, THE
IMMEDIATE DEFUNDING OF BOSTON
POLICE, NOT A CUT, AN ENTIRE
DEFUNDING, DO NOT MIX THE TWO.
AS A 20 YEAR DIRECTLY I'VE SEEN
MAJOR UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF THE
MBT TRAIN SYSTEM I'D LIKE
INCREASING WHAT HEIGHTS AT WHICH
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, WORST
OF ALL THE POLICE SUCK HERE.
MEASFUL ATTEMPTS TO HEAR OUR
VOICES.
IT SEEMS AS MUCH AS ME IMPACTED,
NO ONE WANTS TO PLIFN, I'M SICK
OF IT.
I WANT TO SAY MR. FLAIRLT I'M
DISGUSTED BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE,
YOU DON'T EVEN TURN YOUR CAMERA
ON.
YOU SHOULD BE COMPLETELY ASHAMED
TO BE ON THIS BOARD RIGHT NOW.
THE ACLU, WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU
HAVE VOTED FOR, NOT ENDING THE
BOSTON GANG DATABASE WHICH WE
HAVE SEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
AND ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE, I
KNOW YOU ARE NOT COMPROMISING
10% WHICH IS BULLSHIT.
WHY ARE YOU INSULTING SOUTH
BOSTON.
>> WE'RE ON PUBLIC TV.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT SEEMS LIKE I -- IT SEEMS LIKE
YOU GUYS ONLY REACT TO SWEARING
AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.
I'M DISGUSTED WITH THE ACTIONS
OF THIS BOARD AND THE INABILITY
OF MICHAEL FLAHERTY TO REALLY
COME TO TERMS ABOUT BOSTON
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
YOU'VE GOT, BECAUSE YOU WANT
MBTA BUS STOPS --
>> I CAN'T, I'M AFRAID I CAN'T
HAVE -- IT'S INADEQUATE --
>> MICHAEL FLAHERTY.
>> ONE MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO TO RYE.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR BEFORE
WE DO.
THAT IS A PUBLIC TELEVISION
CHANNEL, SO WE CAN'T HAVE
LANGUAGE LIKE THAT.
AND I UNDERSTAND PASSIONS ARE
HIGH.
AND HONESTLY, LIKE, FOLKS ARE
WELCOME TO EXPRESS THEIR ANGER
AND FRUSTRATION BUT WE NEED TO
KEEP IT WITHIN THOSE BOUNDS.
RYE, GO AHEAD.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO MY NAME IS RYE.
I'M A BLACK WOMAN RESIDENT OF
ROX BRING.
MY PRONOUNCE ARE SHE HER AND
HERS.
I GREW UP AND LIVED TO ROXBURY
AROUND THE AGE OF 14 WHERE I
ATTENDED BOSTON PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOL, WHERE I HAD MY FIRST
EXPERIENCE WITH METAL DETECTORS
AND COULDN'T WRAP MY MIND AROUND
WHY THERE WERE METAL DETECTORS,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE HIGH
SCHOOL BUILDING WAS FALLING
APART.
THE CURRICULUM WAS EMBARRASSING.
I ENDED UP SWITCHING TO AN EXAM
SCHOOL BUT COULDN'T STOP
THINKING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO
COULDN'T AND WOULDN'T HAVE THE
SAME OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THE
CITY REFUSES TO FUND EDUCATION.
THIS EXPERIENCE STAYS WITH ME,
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT THE VERY LEAST 10% OF THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
INCLUDING 40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH AND THE CITY
COUNCILORS MUST INVEST THAT
MONEY INTO BLACK AND BACKGROUND
COMMUNITIES, EDUCATION, HOUSING,
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
PUBLIC HEALTH, SMALL AND
COOPERATIVELY BUSINESSES,
COMMUNITIES LED ORGANIZATIONS
AND PROJECTS AND INCREASE
FUNDING FOR YOUTH JOBS TO $15
MILLION.
I'M BOTH TIRED OF AND INFURIATED
BY THE DECADES OF VIOLENCE THAT
BOSTON POLICE HAVE INFLICTED ON
MY COMMUNITY.
I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN A
COMMUNITY THAT SPENDS OVER $1
MILLION A DAY ON POLICING WHILE
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS HISTORICALLY
UNDERFUNDED THE NEEDS OF BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN BOSTON
POLICE TERRORIZE CITIZENS DAILY.
OUR STREETS BEING PATROLLED BY
POLICE WHO HAVE ZERO CONNECTION
OR RELATIONSHIP TO THE
COMMUNITIES THEY PATROL HAS
ALWAYS CAUSED MORE HARM THAN
GOOD.
BPD STOPS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
WITH NO CAUSE CONTINUES TO
HARASS HARM AND TRAUMATIZE US.
THE WHOLE POLICE FROM ARE --
POLICE FORCE FROM ITS INCEPTION
TO CURRENTS PRACTICES IS
ABSOLUTELY RACIST, INDIVIDUAL
POLICE OFFICERS, INTENTIONS
ASIDES CANNOT AND DO NOT DO GOOD
BECAUSE THEIR JOB IS TO UPHOLD
SYSTEMS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
WE DO NEED TO EXAMINE THE ROLES
WE PRAY IN SOCIETY -- PLAY IN
SOCIETY AND HOW WE SHOW TO
PEOPLE IN STRESS.
WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM
REACTIONARY VIOLENT FORMS OF
JUSTICE, RIGHT NOW COPS DO NOT
JUST SMO TO THE VERY SMALL
NUMBER OF SPROINLT CRIMES.
THEY MAKE NEEDLES TRAFFIC STOPS,
ARREST PETTY DRUG USERS INSTEAD
OF REHABILITATION, AND ENGAGE IN
A NUMBER OF BROKEN WINDOWS
POLICING, TO KEEP PEOPLE
OPPORTUNITY FORM OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, POVERTY IS IS
CRIMINAL CRIMINAL.
WE DO NOT NEED TO DIVERSITY THE
REPLIES FORCE AND WE CANNOT
WASTE ANY MORE SOMETIME MONEY OR
LIVES TRYING TO REFORM BPD.
AGAIN WE NEED MORE JOBS,
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
HOUSING, FREE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND SO MUCH MORE
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE NEED TO MAKE THESE HEARINGS
MORE ACCESSIBLE AS WELL.
AND WE NEED MORE OF A SAY IN HOW
OUR COMMUNITIES FUNCTION.
AND THE CITY COUNCILORS NEED TO
ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS INSTEAD
OF JUST GIVING US EMPTY JUFTSD
TO FAST PHI US.
-- JUSTICE TO PACIFY US.
FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED TO THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET
PEOPLE CAN HAVE MORE JOBS, FOR
EXAMPLE?
WE HAVE SEEN THAT BPD HAS NEVER
BEEN TRANSPARENT OR
ACCOUNTABILITY TO CITY COUNCIL
OR TO BLACK AND BROWN
BOSTONNIANS.
THIS IS THE YEAR FOR BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST
RACIAL INJUSTICE AND CUT THE BPD
BUDGET.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> IF I HAVE A MOMENT I'D LIKE
TO FINISH MY STATEMENT.
I COULD REDUCE MY SWEARG.
I WAS REMOVED.
>> I KNOW, I NEED YOU TO HOLD
OFF.
WE NEED TO KEEP GOING.
CATRIANA O'GRADY, IT IS YOUR
TURN.
>> CAN YOU SEE AND HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR
AND THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR
GIVING ME THE STUNTS TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY.
KATRINA O'GRADEY MY PRONOUNCE
ARE SHE HER AND HERS.
FENWAY NEIGHBORHOOD OF BOSTON.
TALKING ABOUT DEFUNDING AND
DISBANDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS
INTO BACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
AS WELL AS PUBLIC SERVICES THAT
ACTUALLY SERVE RATHER THAN
TARGET BRUTALIZE AND MURDER
MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I WANTS TO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE ME, YOU ARE
BRILLIANT.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING PERSONAL
STORIES AND POSITIONS.
MANY OF YOU TOUCHED ON THE FACT
THAT THE BUDGETS IS A REFLECTION
OF THE MORALS AND THE COMMUNITY.
WHOSE CITY AND WHOSE COMMUNITIES
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, A LARGE
PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY IS
FURTHER MARGINALIZED AND PUT AT
RISK AS A FURTHER GAP BETWEEN
WHERE THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL
INVESTS TAXPAYER MONEY.
THE FACT IS THAT THE VERY
FOUNDATION OF POLICING IN THIS
COUNTRY IS HISTORICALLY RACIST
AND VIOLENT.
NO ATTEMPTED EQUITY FOR BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITY CAN FIX A
SYSTEM THAT IS NOT BROKEN BUT
WORKING PERFECTLY, THE WAY IT
WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP NIECE
COMMUNITIES MARGINALIZED.
SPENDING $414 MILLION TOWARDS
THESE COMMUNITIES PASSES US TO A
GREAT MENTAL AND MORAL RISK.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE POLICE WHO
DO NOT HAVE PROPER DEESCALATION
TRAINING, SITUATIONS IN WHICH
THEF END UP THIS INSIGHTING
VIOLENCE OR REALLY IN ANY
SITUATION AT ALL.
EMERGENCIES AT ALL DEFINED AS
PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE A CULTURE
OF SAFETY EMPOWERMENT AND
HEALING.
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES SHA
THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
BRUTALIZED BY POLICE,
RETRAUMATIZING TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND IS A TACTIC THAT
BACK FIRES AS POLICE ESCALATE
AND AGAINST THE PEOPLE THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF
POLICE ABOLITION, EVEN IF THEY
ARE UNHELPFULMENT THE POLICE ARE
NECESSARY IN SITUATIONS OF
PROPERTY THEFT OR OTHER PETTY
CRIMES.
HOWEVER THIS TYPE OF CRIME
USUALLY HAPPENS AS A DIRECT
RESULT OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE
TO NOT MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
IF YOU ARE PROPOSING AN INCREASE
IN POLICE BUDGET TO FIGHT CRIME
IT IS UNFATHOMABLE, REALLOCATE
FUNDING INTO JOBS EDUCATION AND
PROGRAMS THAT CREATE JOBS AND
RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE OF, DO MORE
THAN JUST SURVIVE IN AMERICA.
AND MANY OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE
THAT.
MANY PEOPLE MYSELF COMPLUD,
NORLTD TO MORE SAFE REPLY
RESPOND TO AND DEESCALATE
EMERGENCIES, I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS
LEFT.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE
SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION ALSO HAS
THE HISTORY OF WHITE SUPREMACY
AS WELL AS ITS OWN, HUMILITY AT
ANY OPPORTUNITY.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE SAME
OBLIGATION.
COMMUNITY SPERTS, WE AS THE
PUBLIC NEED TO BE TREATING THEM
AS SUCH, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CA DREEN
AH AND NEXT UP -- KATRINA.
AND NEXT UP WE HAVE GOT SORRY
ONE SECOND.
WE'VE GOT VANESSA AND I'LL
NOTICE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WANTED TO CONCLUDE YOUR
STATEMENT.
I ASKED YOU TO NOT USE
PROFANITY, YOU USED IT THE
SECOND TIME, IT IS NOT THE FORUM
FOR THAT.
VANCE SEA YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
VANESSA, YOUR MIC IS ON.
CAN YOU HEAR US?
THERE IT IS.
IT IS OFF AGAIN.
OKAY.
SORRY WE'RE TRYING TO GET
VANESSA'S MIC HERE.
AIM GOING TO JUMP FOR A MOMENT
FOR FOLKS STILL WAITING TO
SPEAK.
IS THERE A BLUE HAND IN THE CHAT
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
OKAY NOW I'LL GO TO THE
(INAUDIBLE)NESS IS.
>> HI, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT
REGARDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT,
I'VE EXPERIENCED POLICE
BRUTALITY AT THE PROTESTS I WAS
HIT IN THE THROAT WITH A BATON,
ICRAM MOHAMMED GAVE A STATEMENT
EARLIER, POLICE PUSHING DOWN ONE
GIRL, IT WAS ME, I WAS THE GIRL
THAT WAS PUSHED DOWN.
I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET, A VICTIM
WAS HIT BY ABOUT PEPPER SPRAY, I
HAD TO, KICKED MY -- I'M SORRY,
I DIDN'T MEAN THAT, I'M SORRY,
THEY KICKED MY BAG ALL OVER THE
STREET, AND IN WERE MEDICAL
SUPPLIES IN THERE TO HELP
PERSONS WHO WERE AFFECTED BY
POLICE BRUTALITY.
THEY HIT US, I SPRAINED MY
ANKLE, I COULDN'T WALK FOR THREE
DAYS STRAIGHT.
THE POLICE HIT US WITH VIOLENCE
FIRST.
THERE IS NO NEED TO -- THERE WAS
NO NEED TO HAVE THESE POLICE
OFFICERS, THE FACT THAT THERE
WERE POLICE OFFICERS THERE WITH
THEIR GEAR ON IS A SHAME, IT'S
DESPICABLE.
ON TOP OF THAT I THINK IT'S
INTERESTING THAT U MASS BOSTON,
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW
TRUTHFULLY HOW YOU CAN SEND OUT
BLACK LIVES MATTER STATEMENTS
BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME DO
RIOT TRAINING AS INSTITUTIONAL
INDICATIONS WITH NO REMORSE.
I THINK WE KNOW THE VOTING
RECORD OF THIS BOARD AND I THINK
IT'S DESPICABLE THAT YOU CAN SAY
HOW YOU FEEL BUT THERE'S NO
ACCOUNTABILITY HERE.
IT'S ATROCIOUS.
MICHAEL FLAHERTY, YOUR WIFE HAD
HAD FAILED THE POLICE ACADEMY
FITNESS EXAM AND YOU HAD NO
ISSUES YOU HAD NO ISSUES, YOU
HAD NO ISSUES -- YOU HAD NO
ISSUES BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
BLACK LIVES BEING TRAMPLED YOU
DON'T CARE MICHAEL FLAHERTY.
>> I'D ASK YOU TO NOT ATTACK
MEMBERS OF THIS FORUM, IT IS NOT
AN APPROPRIATE CEVMENTD OF THAT.
BRAD ADAMS AND RECOGNIZING YOU
NEXT AND VANESSA IF YOU COULD
PLEASE MESSAGE US ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT YOU AUE TRYING TO TESTIFY
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
BRAD YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
MR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, WE SEE A
GRAY SCREEN WE DON'T SEE A VIDEO
FOR YOU.
>> I'LL TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO
ADDRESS THAT.
START OFF, PEOPLE ON THE POLICE
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
WHEN I WAS ATTENDING A PEACEFUL
SPRINKLE ILL IN FRANKLIN PARK, I
WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY IF
REDESCRAINT AND PROFESSIONALISM
THAT WAS SHOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS NOT ON
BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
THAT WAS ON BEHALF OF THE
PROTESTERS, WHEN WE WERE CHARGED
BY MOTORCYCLES, WE WERE CHARGED
ON A BRIDGE TRYING TO GET BACK
TO THE START OF THE MARCH WHERE
PEOPLE HAD PARKED THEIR CARS.
PEOPLE HAD ALL THEIR MEANS TO
TRANSFER THEMSELVES BACK HOME
SAFE REPLY.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WITHOUT
ANNOUNCEMENTS, WARMING,
VEHICLES, MOTOR SCALINGS, COPS
IN RIOT GEAR HADTO CHARGE FROM
THE REAR INTO THE CROWD.
IN THESE PROTESTS AND MARCHES I
HAVE SEEN A PATTERN MEANING THAT
THEY DO NOT TURN VIOLENT, THEY
DO NOT TURN UNPRESSFUL, THEY DO
NOT TURN DESTRUCTIVE UNTIL THERE
IS CONGREGATION SHOWN BY THE
BOSTON POLICE.
AGGRESSION SHOWN E.
IN EXCESS OF A ARE 10%
DENUNLDING.
THAT WAY WE CAN INVEST IN
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING
AND CREATING THIS LEVEL OF
UNREST AND ECONOMIC UNEQUALITY
THAT CREATES TENSE SITUATION.
IF WE WANT TO THICK OF OURSELVES
AS A PROGRESSIVE CITY AS A WORLD
LEADER WE ARE FAILING TO DO SO
AND IT'S EMBARRASSING.
EVEN FOR ME WHO WORKS DOWNTOWN,
WHO HAS AN MBTA NEEDS TO BE
INCREASING REPLY TAKING THEIR
RATES UP YEAR AFTER YEAR.
YES WE SEEM TO NOT HAVE THE FUND
TO REPAIR THAT SYSTEM AND NOW,
WILL CREATE THE PROBLEM MORE,
THAT'S NOT WHY WE ARE HERE
TODAY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE BLOATED POLICE
FUNDING CURRENTLY AND
REDIRECTING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS
WOULD BE HELPFUL IN ADDRESSING
THE ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN OUR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I YIELD MY
TIME.
>> GREAT THANKS SO MUCH.
I'M GOING TO ASK IF NIALA SUSAN
SHAH KERRIE OR SHANA, WANTS TO
TESTIFY, NOW WOULD BE A.
>> TIME TO RAISE YOUR BLUE HAND
TO LET US KNOW THAT.
OTHERWISE WE ARE GOING TO -- I
GO TO SHAMA, WE'LL TO CAN --
SHANA, WE'LL GO TO HER.
WE RECEIVED SOME OUTSIDE, SOME
VIDEO TESTIMONY FROM FOLKS WHO
AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE
WITH US AND WE'LL PLAY THAT AS
WELL.
SHANA LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY.
MY NAME IS SHANA MORALEZ, I'M 20
NOW AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
BOSTON HAS A BREED OF RACISM
THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO LIVE
HERE CAN ONLY TRULY TELL YOU
ABOUT.
THE EXAMPLES ARE NOT BEING
LIMITED TO BEING PROFILED AND
HARASSED, IT'S SNOOUCIALGZ
INSTITUTIONALIZED, THE FACT THAT
WE ARE AMONG THE TOP 10 U.S.
CITIES FOR INCOME INEQUALITY.
IT IS OUR LEADERS GENTRIFYING
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ARE
DISPLACING PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH
LUXURY CONDOS WHICH WE CAN'T
AFFORD.
80% OF PEOPLE IN YOUR BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM LIVE IN
POVERTY.
ME A FULL TIME STUDENT HAVE TO
WORK OVER 40 HOURS TO HELP MY
MOM PAY THE BILLINGS.
OUR CITY'S LEADERSHIP TELLS US
THEY WANT TO STOP IF SPREAD OF
VIOLENCE, BUT FAIL TO VEST IN
PROGRAMS WHICH WILL KEEP THE
YOUTH OFTEN THE STREET.
CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY,
ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, BYER IS
WHY I'M ASKS THE CITY COUNCIL TO
REINVEST FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
INTO PROGRAMS THAT WILL ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
OUR MARGINALIZED GROUPS NEED OUR
SUPPORT, SUPPORT FROM YOU IS
NOTICED ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE
THESE WHENMENT OF US ARE
UNEMPLOYED, AS WE FIGHT THIS
PANDEMIC.
I HOPE YOU HEAR US TODAY AND I
PRAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THE CITY
THAT WE LOVE INTO THE LEADER
INTO THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY.
LET US WORK TOGETHER AND BRING
HEALING TO OUR COMMUNITIES,
PROMOTE ADVOCACY INSTEAD OF
DISCRIMINATION, HELP RATHER THAN
HARM AND A CITY THAT BUILDS NOT
UPON THE WORST OF US BUT THE
BEST.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SHANA.
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR CO
COMMENTS.
I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANY
FURTHER FOLKS LOOKING TO MAKE
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OUR WAITING
ROOM.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GO
TO THE VIDEOS THAT WE RECEIVED
AND I WANT TO THANK FOLKS WHO
TOOK THE TIME TO SEND THIS IN.
THE ¦ SPACE AVAILABLE FOR
THE PUBLIC, AND TUESDAY AT 10:00
A.M. WAS A TIME WE COULD DO.
WE HAVE HAD FREE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY HEARINGS EARLY IN THE
PROCESS.
I'M VERY MINDFUL OF THE NEED TO
MAKE TIME AVAILABLE THAT WORK
FOR PEOPLE.
VIDEO TESTIMONY IS ONE OF THE
WAYS IN WHICH WE MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T
ABLE TO BE HERE ON THE DAY OR
CAN'T WAIT TO TESTIFY, ABLE TO
PARENTS PAINT WITH US.
SO KERRY, I'LL ASK YOU TO CUE UP
THE VIDEO TESTIMONY NOW.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS NAOMI, AND I AM A
RESIDENT OF BOSTON IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF JAMAICA PLAIN.
I AM MAKING THIS VIDEO TO
EXPRESS MY CONCERNS, MY CORE, MY
DISGUST AT THE BOSTON FISCAL
YEAR 2021 BUDGET AND HOW MUCH
MONEY IS BEING ALLOCATED TO THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM A VOTING MEMBER.
I AM A TAX PAYING MEMBER OF THIS
COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY THAT AS A QUEER BLACK WOMAN
AND AS AN ARTIST, THIS BUDGET
DOES NOT REFLECTED MY NEEDS, NOR
DO I THINK IT REFLECTS THE NEEDS
OF OUR CITY.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE HOW
MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO A LOT OF
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GREATLY
NEEDED AND GREATLY UNDERFUNDED
IN THIS CITY.
THIS CANNOT BE A GREAT CITY IF
OUR YOUTH ARE UNDERFUNDED.
THIS CANNOT BE A GREAT CITY IF
OUR ARTS AND CULTURE ARE
UNDERFUNDED.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE
THIS.
I VOTED FOR MY CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER, AND I WILL VOTE FOR
SOMEONE ELSE NEXT TIME IF THIS
BUDGET IS FINALIZED.
THANK YOU.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS EMMA.
I WORK IN BOSTON AT A TECH
COMPANY BASED DOWNTOWN.
I WANTED TO SUBMIT MY TESTIMONY
FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET MEETING.
THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ENCOURAGE
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE UP
DEFUNDING THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND REINVESTING THAT
MONEY INTO BLACK COMMUNITIES OF
BOSTON, INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE,
IN EDUCATION, IN SOCIAL MUTUAL
AID PROGRAMS.
WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE
THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, AND I
THINK WE CAN ALL ADMIT THAT THE
CURRENT MODEL OF POLICING ISN'T
WORKING, AND IT HASN'T BEEN FOR
A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME.
SO PLEASE HEAR MY TESTIMONY AND
TAKE UP THE ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
>> HI.
I'M A DORCHESTER RESIDENT.
AS A BLACK STUDENT, I FIND IT
IMPERATIVE THAT THE BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL DECIDE TO DEFUND THE
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT TO
ALSO CUT THEIR BUDGET BY 10%.
AS A MEMBER OF OUR YOUTH, I HAVE
SEEN SO MUCH GROWTH WHEN YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES
AND PROGRAMS TO INVEST THEIR
TIME IN.
SO I ASK YOU TO SHOW THAT YOUR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY YOUNG
LEADERS MATTER, THAT OUR VOICES
MATTERED, BY PUTTING THAT MONEY
INTO YOUTH JOBS AND YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU.
>> I LIVE IN SOUTH BOSTON.
SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I THOUGHT
THAT THE NORMALITY IN LIFE WAS
THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE IN
LIFE WHO ARE RICH AND SOME WHO
ARE POOR.
I GREW UP WITH HARD-WORKING
PARENTS WHO WERE BASICALLY
ABSENT ALL OF MY LIFE.
THEIR JOBS TOOK THEM FROM ME,
AND ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT
A CHILD SHOULD HAVE WITH THEIR
PARENTS WERE REPLACED WITH AN
EMPTY HOME.
THIS IS BECAUSE MY PARENTED WERE
FORCED TO WORK 100 TIMES HARDER
THAN THOSE WHO WERE BETTER OFF.
THEY HAD NO CHOICE TO WORK DAY
AND NIGHT TO PAY THE RENT FOR MY
APARTMENT WHO WAS INFESTED WITH
ROACHES.
MY PARENTS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
WHO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY
WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY
FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FIND
THEMSELVES WORKING.
GENTRIFICATION HAS NOT ONLY
AFFECTED FAMILIES BUT ALSO THE
CHILDREN FROM BENEFIT WHO LIVING
IN BOSTON, HAVING HOMES THAT ARE
AFFORDABLE, LESSEN THE STRESS
STUDENTS HAVE AND CAN HELP THEM
PERFORM BETTER.
THE MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
ARE INVESTED FOR MINORITIES, THE
MORE THEY ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN
BETTER-SUITED CONDITIONS THAT
ALL THEIR FAMILIES, INSTEAD OF
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALWAYS
REFERRED TO AS THE PROJECT OR
THE HOOD, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
INCOME THEY RECEIVED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A BETTER
LIVING.
IF YOUTH JOBS ARE PROVIDED
DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC,
IT WOULD ALLOW MORE MINORITY
STUDENTS TO HELP THEIR PARENTS
REGAIN THE MONEY THEY LOST
DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC AND HELP THEM AID THEIR
PARENTS.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF BOSTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS,
INCLUDING $40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST REINVEST THAT
MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES, AND PRIORITIZING
INCREASING FUNDING TO $15
MILLION AND FUNDING BETTER
HOUSING.
>> DEAR COUNCILOR, MY NAME IS
MICHAEL TOP.
AS A MISSION HILL RESIDENT,
RECENT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
GRADUATE, AND SOON TO BE
PSYCHIATRIST IN TRAINING AT THE
BAPTIST HOSPITAL, I AM SPEAKING
TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING TO BE
ALLOCATED TO PROMOTE EQUITY FOR
BLACK RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
THESE CONCERNS WITH COVID-19,
HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, COOPERATIVE
BUSINESS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND
COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND
PROJECTS.
I AM ALSO ASKING THAT FUNDING
FOR THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
BE CONTINGENT ON DISTRIBUTION
AND FORMS THAT WILL INCREASE
EQUITY AND REDUCE VIOLENCE.
THESE INCLUDE FULLY IMPLEMENTING
USE OF BODY CAMERAS, REQUIRING
DEESCALATION WHERE POSSIBLE,
PUTTING INTO ITS PLACE A DUTY TO
INTERVENE AND STOP AND REPORT
EXCESSIVE FORCE BY OTHER
OFFICERS, AND FULLY IMPLEMENTING
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON
MUNICIPAL POLICE IN SERVICE
TRAINING.
THESE INCLUDE TRACKING TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS, ADEQUATELY FUNDING
THE PURE REOF
STANDARDS AND BUREAU OF
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND
ENSURING THAT OFFICERS RECEIVE
ANNUAL EDUCATION IN DEESCALATION
AND ON INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THIS IS CURRENTLY A REQUIREMENT,
BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATE
AUDITOR'S REPORT, IT IS NOT
ALWAYS FULLY FOLLOWED.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> DEAR CITY COUNCILORS AND
PEOPLE OF THE BOSTON AREA, I
WOULD LIKE TO START OFF THIS
RECORDING BY STATING WHO I AM
AND THE GREAT IMPACT THIS
MOVEMENT.
CAN HAVE ON NOTABLE TO BOSTON
AREA BUT AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN
SOCIETY DURING THESE DIFFICULT
YET INSPIRING TIMES.
AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO
LIVES IN BRIGHTON AND ATTENDED
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL, I HAVE
FOUND RACIAL INJUSTICE AND
DISCRIMINATION DIRECTED TOWARD
MANY PEOPLE FROM MINORITY GROUPS
LIKE ME OUTRAGEOUS, AND THAT
NEEDS TO CHANGE NOW.
WITH BEING ABLE TO DEFINE 10% OF
THE INCOME MANY BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENTS MAKE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT, THE LIVES OF US, THE
MINORITIES, CAN CHANGE
DRASTICALLY.
EDUCATION CAN BE EXPANDED AND
TAUGHT TO THOSE, COMMUNITIES CAN
BE REBUILT AND RENOVATED INTO
SOMETHING MORE THAN IT IS NOW.
AND THOSE WHO ARE STRIPPED OF
LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES CAN
BE GIVEN MORE CHANCES TO GROW
AND BE RECOGNIZED AS PEOPLE.
IN ADDITION TO THIS THIS,
CRUCIAL THINGS SUCH AS JOBS,
HOUSING, AND EVEN LIFE INSURANCE
CAN BE IMPROVED IN MORE EQUALLY
DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT MANY
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
CONSIDERED GETO AND HOOD LIKE.
MINORITIES DON'T CHOOSE THE MAKE
THINGS HOOD-LIKE BUT RATHER
CHOOSE TO SURVIVE.
WITH THE CONSTANT LACK OF
NECESSITIES AND ATTENTION FROM
THE GOVERNMENT, THERE'S ONLY SO
MUCH WE CAN DO.
WHY NOT INVEST MORE TO US SO WE
CAN DO SOMETHING MORE IN THE
EYES OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.
THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN LIKE ME
ASPIRING TO BECOME DOCTORS,
LAWYERS, MUSICIANS, AND SALIENT
FIGURES IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT
WITH NO CHANGING FOR US AT ALL,
WE ARE NOT ONLY LEFT IN THE SAME
POSITION WE STARTED IN BUT AS
WELL OPPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE
POOR POSITIONS WE ARE LEFT INCH
CHANGE CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF
DEMANDS ARE MET WITH ACTIONS, AS
WELL.
FINALLY, MORE THOUGHTS AND
EFFORTS WE POUR INTO OUR
LESS-RECOGNIZED COMMUNITIES AND
HARD-WORKING FAMILIES, THE MORE
WE AS PEOPLE CAN SHED LIGHT ON
TO THEIR TEDIOUS LIVES.
THIS IS WHY I ASK FOR YOU AS
PEOPLE AND THOSE IN POWER TO
MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES.
10% OF THE INCOME BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENTS NEED AND USE IT FOR
THE EQUALITY AND PROSPERITY THAT
WE NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ABBY NEAL.
I AM A BOSTON RESIDENT, AND I
WORK IN TWO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE -- I'M
ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY OF
BOSTON TO DISCONTINUE POLICE AS
WE KNOW IT AND TO HAVE BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS COME UP WITH AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICERS AND END ITS
CONTRACT WITH THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT SO THAT THAT WOULD
INVOLVE COMING UP WITH A
DIFFERENT ROLE FOR SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICERS AND DO A
COMMUNITY ORIENTED APPROACH TO
MANAGING CHRONIC ABSENCE OF
STUDENTS.
I ALSO WANT BOSTON TO MOVE INTO
A COMMUNITY ORIENTED SAFETY
RATHER THAN POLICE, AND GET RID
OF POLICE RIOT GEAR AND
DEMILITARIZE.
>> DEAR CITY COUNCILORS, I WAS
BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCILORS
TO CUT AT LEAST 10% TO 20% OF
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET, INCLUDING $40 MILLION IN
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST REINVEST THAT
MONEY AND N BLACK, BROWN, AND
MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES,
PRIORITIZING COVID RELIEF,
HOUSING TREATMENT, SMALL
COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES,
COMMUNITY CENTERS, COMMUNITY
BLIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AND
PROJECTS AND INCREASING FUNDING
FOR NEW JOBS TO $15 MILLION.
LAST SUNDAY, MAY 31st, I
PARTICIPATED PEACEFULLY IN THE
BOSTON PROTEST AGAINST POLICE
BRUTALITY.
I WITNESSED SOME OF THE MOST
HORRID ACTIONS I'VE SEEN POLICE
DONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I WITNESSED THE COPS PUSH TWO
WOMEN WHO WERE PEACEFULLY
PROTESTING FOR ABSOLUTELY NO
REASON, JUST SO THEY COULD HAVE
FUN, JUST SO THEY COULD EXERT
THEIR PROBLEM OVER ANOTHER HUMAN
BEING.
I WITNESSED POLICE BEAT A MAN,
LITERALLY BEAT A MAN WITH THOSE
WOODEN BATONS, BEAT A MAN, AND
THEY HAD TO CALL THE AMBULANCE
FOR HIM.
IT'S INFURIATING.
MY FRIENDS AND I ACTUALLY GOT
PEPPER SPRAYED FOR PEACEFULLY
PROTESTING.
THAT'S MY FIRST TIME EVER
GETTING PEPPER SPRAYED.
IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
EXPERIENCES EVER.
I HAD TO SHOWER FOR ABOUT 30
MINUTES WHEN I GOT HOME TO GET
THE STING OUT OF MY EYES.
THESE COPS ESCALATED THE
SITUATION WHEN THEY DID NOT NEED
TO.
THEY WERE REALLY ONE OF THE MOST
HORRIFIC THINGS I WITNESSED AND
EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE
LIFETIME IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
I NEED YOU GUYS TO DO BETTER.
SO B.P.D. HAS NEVER BEEN
TRANSPARENT OR ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE CITY COUNCIL OR TO THE
BLACK, BROWN, AND MULTICULTURAL
BOSTONIAN, BUT THEY ARE NOT
KEEPING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
SAFE.
I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN A CITY
THAT SPENDS OVER $1 MILLION A
DAY ON POLICING BLACK AND BROWN
LIVES.
THIS IS A YEAR FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND ON
RACIAL INJUSTICE AND TO CUT
BPD'S DUGHT.
LAPD HAS ACTUALLY DONE THAT, AND
I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO DO THE
SAME.
YOU GUYS NEED TO BE A LEADER IN
THIS NATION.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HOLD
MAYOR MARTY WALSH ACCOUNTABLE
FOR FULLY FUNDING NEW JOBS AND
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY-LED
PROCESS THAT MOVES MONEY THAT
CUTS FROM BPD INTO THE HANDS OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BOSTON CONTINUES TO BE KNOWN FOR
RACISM AND GENERAL --
GENTRIFICATION AND INCOME
INEQUALITY, OR WE CAN USE THIS
MOMENT TO OVERCOME RACISM AND
TRANSFORM OUR CITY AND SYSTEM
INTO A MORE LOVING AND PEACEFUL
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING AND
TAKING THE TIME AND CONSIDERING.
MY NAME AGAIN MR. ROGERS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
>> RIGHT NOW PEOPLE IN MY
COMMUNITY NEED ACCESS TO COVID
RELIEF MONEY.
FOR YEARS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING,
EDUCATION AND THE LIST GOES ON.
CITY COUNCIL, YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT
10% FROM THE BPD BUDGET
INCLUDING $40 MILLION FROM
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH NEED TO INVEST THAT
MONEY INTO BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
MY COMMUNITY WILL NEED FUNDING
FOR GRANTED ORGANIZATION FOR THE
WORK THEY DO IN ORGANIZING THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
WE DEMAND AT LEAST $15 MILLION
BE INVESTED INTO YOUTH JOBS SO
THAT UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH CAN HAVE
ACCESS.
WE DEMAND THAT THERE T PROGRAM
AGE BE EXPANDED TO 14 TO 22.
YOUTH OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION
STATUS, DESERVE AN INTENTIONAL
INVESTMENT WITH A CITY THAT HAS
A BUDGET OF $3.65 BILLION.
IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND BPS ARE
SCARED BECAUSE THEIR INFORMATION
COULD BE SHARED WITH IMMIGRATION
CUSTOMS AND ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE
OF THE CLOSE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE WITH BTD
AND BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN I CON
BEFORE.
BPT CAN'T BE TRUSTED GIVEN THEIR
HISTORY OF RACIAL PROFILING AND
MONITORING IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF
COLOR, AND ACTIVISTS.
IN THE WORDS, WE HAVE NOTHING TO
LOSE BY OUR CHAIN.
>> DEAR CITY COUNCILOR, AM FROM
THE DORCHESTER-MATTAPAN AREA.
GROWING UP I HAVE SEEN THE LACK
OF INVENT IN TIME AND MONEY IN
MY COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, I HAVE
ALWAYS SEEN THE OVERINVESTMENT
IN THE POLICE FORCE, WHICH IN
TURN RESULTS IN THE OVERPOLICING
OF LOW-INCOME BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT AT LEAST 10% OF THE BUDGET
FOR THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING $40
MILLION IN OVERTIME.
MARTY WALSH MUST REINVEST THAT
MONEY BACK INTO THE BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES PRIORITIZING
COVID 19 RELIEF, HOUSING,
TREATMENT, HEALING, SMALL AND
COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES,
COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND INCREASE
THE FUNDING FOR YOUTH JOBS TO
$15 MILLION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS OPHELIA AND I LIVE IN
ROXBURY.
AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, I WANT
THE CITY COUNCIL TO CUT AT LEAST
10% OF THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET, INCLUDING $40
MILLION FROM OVERTIME.
YOU CANNOT TELL YOUTH THAT WE
ARE THE NEXT GENERATION TO DO
ANYTHING WE PLEASE BUT TREAT US
UNFAIRLY.
MAYOR WALSH HAS TO REINVEST THAT
MONEY SO BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES, FOR EXAMPLE,
COVID-19 RELIEF, HOUSING,
TREATMENT, HEALING, SMALL AND
COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES,
COMMUNITY CENTERS, COMMUNITY-LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS.
AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR YOUTH
JOBS TO $15 MILLION.
WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL CUTS AT
LEAST $40 MILLION FROM THE BPD
BUDGET, ANY COMMUNITYń
COMMUNITIES NEED FUNDING FOR
TEEN CENTERS OR SHELTERS OR EVEN
JUST PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL
SAFE AND NOT TO WALK AROUND WITH
FEAR.
WHEN I SEE RACIST POLICE
VIOLENCE COVERED ALL OVER THE
NATIONAL NEWS, WHEN I THINK OF
BOSTON IT'S DISGUSTING.
I SAY THIS BECAUSE I FEEL AS
THOUGH THIS ALL SHOULD HAVE
ENDED A LONG TIME AGO INSTEAD OF
IT STILL BEING HERE.
BPD HAS NEVER BEEN TRANSPARENT
OR ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL OR THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE NOT KEEPING COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR SAFE, THAT IS THEIR JOB
TO DO SO.
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF LIVING IN
A CITY THAT SPENDS OVER $1
MILLION A DAY ON POLICING WHILE
OTHER BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH,
FAMILY, BUSINESSES, AND
ORGANIZATIONS NEED IT.
THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND AND CUT
THE BPD BUDGET AND REJECT ANY
CUTS TO WHAT THE COMMUNITIES
NEED.
BOSTON CAN EITHER CONTINUE TO BE
KNOWN FOR RACISM AND
GENTRIFICATION AND EXTREME
INCOME EQUALITY, OR WE CAN TAKE
THIS MOMENT TO DEFEND RACISM AND
TRANSFORM OUR CITIES FOR GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> DEAR CITY COUNCILOR, I LIVE
IN BOSTON.
THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
DOES NOT GET A SMALL NUMBER OF
FUNDING.
I WANT THEIR BUDGET TO BE CUT BY
10%, INCLUDING $40 MILLION IN
OVERTIME.
MAYOR WALSH MUST INVEST THAT
MONEY INTO BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
WHEN I SEE RACIST VIOLENCE, WHAT
I THINK OF IS BOSTON NEEDS TO BE
A CHANGE.
I SEE HOW ENGAGEED THEY ARE WITH
ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM AND
THEIR COMMUNITY.
I WANT POLICE OFFICERS TO STOP
BEING HANDS UP, DON'T SHOOT.
I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN A CITY
THAT WOULD RATHER SPEND MILLIONS
A DAY ON POLICING INSTEAD OF ON
BLACK AND BROWN YOUNG PEOPLE.
FAMILY, BUSINESSES, AND
ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE ONES SO
FINDING IT SO HARD THE MAKE ENDS
MEET.
AS A FINAL MESSAGE, TO ALL THE
OFFICERS IN BOSTON, DO NOT LET
HATE WIN OVER YOUR HEART.
BY HURTING U3, YOU HURT MANY
OTHERS.
DON'T FORGET WE ARE STUDENTS,
COWORKERS, PARENTS, DAUGHTERS,
STUDENTS, PART OF BOSTON
COMMUNITY.
WE ALL HAVE A FUTURE.
DON'T CUT IT SHORT.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM A BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENT FROM AN UNDERFUNDED
SCHOOL IN COPLEY SQUARE.
I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS
THE FACT THAT YOUTH SUMMER JOBS
GARNER LESS THAN A FRACTION OF
THE FUNDING THAT POLICE OVERTIME
DOES.
$6.5 MILLION MAY SOUND LIKE A
LOT, BUT ON A SCALE OF HOW MUCH
WE RECEIVE, THAT'S NOTHING.
INVESTING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
NOT WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY SAFE.
KEEPING US OFF OF THE STREETS
IS.
OF $6 MILLION ON AN ALREADY
WELL-PAYING JOB REALLY WORTH
MORE THAN THE FUTURE OF AN
ENTIRE GENERATION IN THIS CITY?
IS IT REALLY WORTH OUR
OPPRESSORS HAVING A FEW EXTRA
DOLLARS IN THE BANK?
WITH ALL OF THAT MONEY, WE COULD
BE WORKING TO LEARN THESE SKILLS
FOR OURSELVES.
MONEY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE
YOUTH IS BEING WITHHELD, THAT IS
POSSIBLY IMPAIRING OUR ABILITY,
OUR POTENTIAL, AND OUR FUTURE.
AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT,
YOU'RE A PART OF THE PROBLEM.
>> HELLO.
I WORK IN ROXBURY.
AND I'M GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT WHY WE NEED 14 TO 22 YEAR
OLD YOU'D JOBS AND TO DO THAT WE
NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR
YOUTH JOBS TO $15 MILLION AND TO
GET THE MONEY, WE SHOULD CUT
POLICE BUDGET BY 10%, MAKING IT
$372 MILLION OR LESS AND CUT
OVERTIME FROM $60 MILLION TO $20
MILLION OR LESS.
AND THE REASON WE NEED MONEY FOR
YOUTH JOBS IS BECAUSE FOR PEOPLE
RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, IT CAN
BE SCARY THINKING YOU CAN'T
SUPPORT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU
DON'T AND CAN'T FIND A JOB FOR
YOURSELF.
AND ONE PERSONAL PROBLEM I HAVE
WITNESSED FROM... WITNESSED FOR
PEOPLE WHO NEED JOBS IS MY
FRIEND SAID... MY FRIEND LOST
HIS JOB, AND NOW THE ONLY PERSON
IN THE FAMILY THAT HAS INCOME IS
HER OLDER SISTER, AND HER JOB
ISN'T ENOUGH TO PAY FOR
EVERYTHING.
SO SHE HAS TO PAY FOR FOOD, GAS,
AND EVEN PAY THE BILLS IN THE
HOUSE.
BUT MY FRIEND WANTED TO HELP AND
BE ABLE TO TRY TO FUND A JOB,
BUT SHE WAS "TOO YOUNG" TO FIND
A JOB.
AND THERE ARE... THIS IS ONLY
ONE OF MILLIONS OF SCENARIOS.
>> HELLO, COUNCILORS.
I LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT POLICE
ARE RECEIVING WAY MORE FUNDS
THAN THEY REALLY NEED.
THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF POWER
IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A PART OF
THE BUDGET AND GIVE
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE YOUTH ARE THE KEY TO OUR
FUTURE.
IF WE COULD JUST SUPPORT
ADOLESCENTS AND TEACH THEM FROM
A YOUNG AGE THEY CAN DO SO MUCH
MORE, WE WON'T BE NEEDING THE
POLICE ONCE THE YOUTH ARE OUT OF
THE STREETS AND IN GOOD.
>> PAYING JOBS TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES AND THEMSELVES.
AS I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO DEMANDS
 -- DEPENDS ON MY JOB,
WHICH DOESN'T RECEIVE ENOUGH
FUNDS COMPARED TO WHAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES.
THESE COPS HAVE YEARS OF
TRAINING AND STILL DON'T KNOW
HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS RIGHT,
HOUR, WE CONTINUE IF WE CONTINUE
TO TEACH YOUTH HOW TO DO THEIR
JOBS RIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE,
WE CAN GET THERE.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCILORS.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CUT 10% OF THE BOSTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND REINVEST
THE MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY JOBS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST
POLICE OFFICER, BECAUSE I HAD
PLANS TO BECOME ONE OF THEM.
BUT I CHANGED MIHAILOVIC ABOUT
MY FUTURE.
BUT MY LITTLE SISTER WANTS TO
BECOME A POLICE OFFICER, AND I
TOTALLY ADVISE HER TO BECOME ONE
AND TO FOLLOW WHAT SHE WANTS FOR
A FUTURE.
I BELIEVE THAT A JOB OF A POLICE
OFFICER IS TO PROTECT EVERYONE
WITH NO EXCLUSIONS.
WHEN I SEE RACIST VIOLENCE IN
THE NEWS, I SEE THAT
PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE SUPPOSED
TO PROTECT PEOPLE, THEY ONLY
CHOOSE TO PROTECT WHO THEY WANT
AND TO EXCLUDE WHO THEY WANT.
I SUPPORT MY SISTER JOINING,
BECAUSE WE NEED POLICE WHO WILL
RESPOND CONVICTLY IN THESE KIND
OF SITUATIONS AND OTHER PEOPLE
WOULD FEEL BAD AND SAFE WITH THE
INCLUSION OF MORE WOMEN IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I ASK THE CITY TO TAKE PART OF
THE BUDGET FROM B.P.D. TO
INCREASE THE BUDGET OF JOBS IN
BOSTON.
THE BUDGET IS ONLY $6.5 MILLION,
LESS THAN 1%.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE BETTER
PREPARED FOR THEIR JOBS IF THEY
GET OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE
IN SUMMER JOBS.
IT WILL TAKE MANY CHILDREN AND
TEENAGERS FROM THE STREETS AND
GIVE THEM MORE CONNECTIONS,
EXPERIENCES, AND DIRECTIONS FOR
A FUTURE JOB.
THANK YOU.
>> HI.
I SUPPORT THE FUTURE USE
ORGANIZATION.
>> HELLO.
I'M MARIA BAKER.
I SUPPORT THE YOUTH
DEMONSTRATIONS DEMAND.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S ALL THE VIDEOS.
>> THAT SHOULD BE IT.
>> OKAY.
I WANT THE CHECK.
I SEE WE HAVE BEEN REJOINED BY
RUBY.
RUBY, IF YOU WANT TO TESTIFY,
YOU SHOULD RAISE YOUR BLUE HAND.
OTHERWISE... ALL RIGHT.
WELL, IT IS... WE'VE BEEN HERE
FOR FOUR AND A HALF HOURS, AN
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER CITY COUNCIL
HEARING IN HALF AN HOUR ON
FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY
THAT I KNOW MANY ADVOCATES AND
MANY OF US AS COUNCILORS PLAN TO
BE AT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO
SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST TO PUBLICLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE AN
INCREDIBLE TEAM OF STAFF FOLKS
WHO MADE ALL THE MECHANICS OF
THIS AND ALL OF OUR VIRTUAL
HEARINGS HAPPEN TODAY.
, INCLUDING KERRY JORDAN, SHANE
AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER
PEOPLE WHO REALLY MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO THIS KIND
OF THING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE HEARD.
IT'S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AS BUDGET CHAIR THAT TODAY WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO HEAR FROM SO MANY
BOSTONIANS ON THIS BUDGET AT
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT.
I KNOW THAT THE MAYORAL
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WATCHING
THIS ENTIRE MEETING, AND I
THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO
BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WE
HAVE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
ABOUT HOW AS I SAID AT THE START
WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF
BOSTON NEXT YEAR THAT REALLY
MEETS THIS MOMENT.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK ON THAT, CONTINUING TO HEAR
AND RECEIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEND US
WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
WE CONTINUE TO ACCEPT IT FOR
ANOTHER 48 HOURS AFTER THIS
MEETING AND, OF COURSE, WE'LL
CONTINUE IT AFTER THAT AS PART
OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS
AGAIN THAT OUR COMMITTEE E-MAIL
IS BCC.WM.BOSTON.GOV.
I WANT THE THANK ALSO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE, CITY
COUNCILOR O'MALLEY JUST POPPED
UP.
IF ANY -- I DO WANT TO GIVE
CENTRAL STAFF A LUNCH BREAK,
BRIEF AS IT MAY BE, SO I SEE
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, IF ANYBODY
WANTS TO SAY A WORD, VERY
BRIEFLY RIGHT NOW, I'LL ALLOW
IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE VERY BRIEF.
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, YES?
>> MADAM CHAIR, JUST A COMMENT
ON PROCESS, WE HEARD SOME
COMMENTS FROM OUR YOUTH, BUT I
STEPPED ASIDE TO WATCH THE
GEORGE FLOYD FUNERAL SERVICES.
AGAIN, SOMETHING NONETHELESS
OFFERING FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO
CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE, FEEL FREE
TO CALL MY OFFICE 617-635-4205.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG MORNING BUT A
VERY INFORMATIVE HEARING FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR
FLAHERTY.
ANYONE ELSE?
NO.
PERFECT.
WELL, WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO
CONCLUDE THIS MEETING OF THE
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL'S WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO
TESTIFIED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THIS PROCESS AND SEE
MANAGE OF YOU IN HALF AN HOUR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.