►
From YouTube: Committee on Ways & Means on April 30, 2020
Description
Dockets #0588-0596, 0613 - FY21BUDGET: Office of Economic Development, including the Boston Equity Fund
B
A
A
I'm
convening
this
meeting
of
the
Boston
City
Council
Ways
and
Means
Committee
I'm
Kenzie
Bach,
the
district
8
city
councilor,
and
share
of
the
committee
I'm
joined
here
today
by
my
colleagues,
councillor
Michael
Flaherty,
at-large,
councillor,
Kim,
Janey,
district
7
and
council
president
councillor
Liz
Breeden
from
district
9,
councillor
Julia,
Mejia,
at-large
and
councillor
Aneesa,
asabi
George
at-large.
Thank
you
all
for
joining
us.
This
working
session
is
being
recorded
and
live
streamed
at
Boston
gov
city
Council
TV.
A
It
will
be
rebroadcast
on
Comcast
channel
8,
RC,
n
channel
82,
Verizon
channel
1964,
and
the
council's
budget
review
process
this
year
takes
place
over
about
eight
weeks.
It's
some
27
hearings,
a
whole
bunch
of
working
sessions,
and
these
working
sessions
are
designed
to
be
a
can't
a
chance
for
councilors
to
brainstorm
their
questions
for
the
administration
in
the
hearings
coming
up.
So
as
such,
they
don't
take
public
testimony
at
these
working
sessions,
but
we
do
encourage
you
watching
at
home
to
get
involved
in
the
budget
process
through
public
testimony.
A
So
there's
a
number
of
ways
you
can
do
that
and
you
can
go
on
our
website.
Boston
gov
slash
Council,
FY,
21
budget
and
learn
all
about
the
process.
You
can
submit
a
two-minute
video
which
will
play
at
the
end
of
the
hearing
the
relevant
here.
You
can
also
submit
written
comments.
You
can
submit
those
through
the
forum
or
send
them
to
CCC
WM
at
Boston
gov
to
be
included
in
the
record.
You
can
send
us
comments
in
any
language.
A
You
can
also
testify
in
any
language
and
will
commit
to
getting
that
translated
for
the
benefit
of
the
whole
council.
We'll
also
have
two
dedicated
public
testimony
hearings
after
we've
heard
from
all
the
administrative
departments,
so
on
May
26th
at
6
p.m.
we'll
be
having
one
focused
on
VPS
and
on
May
28th
at
6
p.m.
we'll
be
having
one
focused
on
the
rest
of
the
city
budget.
A
You
can
also
always
attend
one
of
our
virtual
hearings.
Through
the
public
notice.
That's
posted
online
there's
a
zoom
link.
You
won't
be
able
to
watch
the
hair
and
grout
zoom
link.
You
need
to
watch
it
on
the
City
Council
TV
channel,
but
you
can
wait
in
the
zoom
waiting
room
and
then
we
will
take
public
testimony.
At
the
end
of
each
hearing,
so
that
so
those
are
a
number
of
ways
to
get
involved,
we
hope
you
will.
You
can
also
informally
tweet
your
questions
with
the
hashtag
vos
budget
vos
budget
on
twitter.
A
A
And
what
we're
actually
gonna
be
focused
on
today
in
this
working
session
is
the
opposite:
economic
development
and
the
Boston
equity
fund,
which
it
administers
so
both
those
things,
but
so
basically
we're
having
the
office
of
economic
development
in
for
a
hearing,
I
believe
on
May
12th,
and
so
this
is
preparing
the
council's
questions.
For
that
hearing,
obviously
economic
development
has
never
been
more
top
of
mind
and
given
the
ongoing
co19
crisis,
it's
something
of
huge
and
horns
to
the
whole
council
and
I.
A
Think
something
where
the
you
know:
budgetary
money
that
we
devote
to
it
can
really
have
a
huge
multiplier
effect
and
be
really
consequential
in
terms
of
the
effectiveness
and
the
equity
of
our
recovery.
So
I
know
it's
something
that
my
colleagues
and
I
are
really
interested
in
I'm
committed
to
working
on.
So
we'll
jump
in
to
questions
we'll
be
doing
what
we've
been
doing
so
just
running
through
councilors
questions
and
we'll
do
a
first
round.
A
So
again,
for
my
colleagues,
so
just
remind
you,
that's
councillor,
clarity,
councillor
Janey,
counselor,
free
councillor,
Mejia
councillor,
asabi
George
and
councillor
Arroyo,
councillor
Ricardo,
Roy
Oh
from
district
5
has
also
joined
us
and
again,
as
the
chair
I'll,
actually
reserved
my
questions
to
the
end.
So
councillor
Flaherty,
you
have
the
floor.
Thank.
D
A
D
D
You
know
on
our
on
economic
development.
Do
you
know
and
the
Boston
equity
fund
and
and
let's
try
to
work
together,
good
news
yesterday
with
respect
to
the
community
Block
Grant
funds,
I
mean
it
was
a
great
day
for
for
the
council
great
day
for
the
city
and
great
day
for
the
folks
that
are
in
need
of
affordable
housing
and
don't
protection
and
those
living
with
HIV.
D
So
we
need
to
work
together
as
a
legislative
body
to
identify
what
measures
can
be
put
in
place
immediately
to
you
know
when
we
get
the
green
light
to
open
back
up
and
how
we
can
get
stuff
jump-started
and
that's
all
going
to
come
with
a
plan,
and
our
hope
is
that
there
are
folks
as
we're
talking
right
now
that
are
sort
of
working
on
a
plan
and
hopefully
they're
going
to
be
willing
to
take
our
input
on
it.
So
look
forward
to
listening
to
my
colleagues,
questions
and
concerns,
but
that's
really
it
for
me.
A
B
B
What
support
is
being
given
to
the
businesses
there,
especially
now
during
Kovach,
19
I'm
interested
in
understanding
of
the
city,
is
keeping
track
of
which
businesses
are
still
open
which
have
had
to
close,
which
businesses
that
are
were
planning
to
relocate?
Are
they
in
touch
with
them?
What
is
the
status
over?
All
of
those
that
had
to
close,
including
some
that
were
art,
were
on
the
essential
business
list.
B
There
are
some
food
places
that
have
had
to
close,
because
they
were
very
dependent
on
the
employees
of
the
bolding
bowling
building
to
support
their
businesses
and
when
people
are
working
from
home,
there's
less
business
for
them.
So
I
know
that
there
are
restaurants
and
cafes
that
have
had
to
close
I'm
wondering
what
OAD
is
doing
to
support
them,
so
that
we
can
make
sure
that
they're
able
to
reopen
I'm
interested
in
understanding
if
any
businesses
and
Nubians
queries
see
to
relief
from
the
small
business
relief
fund.
B
If
so,
how
many
and
which
ones,
and
how
much
I
want
to
understand
when
the
next
round
of
funding
is
going
out
and
how
the
outreach
will
be
done,
particularly
in
our
commercial
districts,
but
certainly
in
areas
like
moving
square
that
are
in
transition
with
the
Boston
equity
fund.
Glad
that
my
colleague
raised
that
obviously
of
great
interest.
That
is
something
that
was
created
to
the
ordinance
that
we
passed
last
year
that
I
introduced.
This
is
the
first
and
only
fund
of
its
kind
in
the
Commonwealth.
B
This
is
the
Boston
equity
fund
that
was
created
through
the
cannabis
ordinance
that
we
passed.
I
know
that
fund
was
seeded
with
a
million
dollars
which
is
great.
The
fund,
however,
is
not
able
to
grow,
because
there
were
no
businesses
that
are,
or
at
least
no
recreational
businesses,
I
guess
the
medical
businesses
that
can
feed
into
it.
But
you
know
it's
not
growing
at
the
pace
that
we
had
hoped
it
would
grow,
be
precoded,
so
lots
of
questions
around
the
fund.
How
will
the
money
be
administered?
What
can
it
be
used
for?
How
you
know?
B
B
There
is
I
believe
$20,000,
an
economic
development
and
industrial
corporation
grant
for
the
summer
series
that
happens
and
Nubians
Squared's
I
think
was
down.
Dudley
is
how
it
was
marketed.
Then
I
don't
know
if
they'll
be
changing,
but
just
wanted
didn't
update
on
that,
and
that
is
it
for
me,
madam
chair,
thank
you.
So
much.
A
C
You
so
much
to
learn
about
this
budget
process.
It's
my
first
budget
so
and
I'm
really
intrigued
and
excited
to
learn
more.
One
of
my
concerns
really
is
the
whole
impact
of
the
cupboard
prices
on
our
main
streets
and
our
small
businesses
in
our
neighborhood.
So
and
that's
something
that
I'm
concerned
about
I'd,
also
like
to
learn
more
about
the
Boston
equity
fund.
We
have
a
few
cannabis
businesses
in
our
pipeline
and
I
was
just
wondering
where
we
are
with
that.
C
This
Colvard
crisis
has
sort
of
put
the
brakes
on
on
those
businesses
rolling
out,
so
I'd
like
to
know
how
we
can
facilitate
that
process
forward
and
just
have
a
better
understanding
of
how
the
Coburg
crisis
is
going
to
impact
this
particular
item
in
the
budget.
You
know
the
economic
development
hours
of
economic
development,
I
feel
is
going
to
be
vitally
important
in
our
recovery
process,
so
I'm
hoping
that
we
have
a
strategy
to
get
the
best
bang
for
our
buck
out
of
that
department
going
forward.
Thank
you.
E
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Let
me
just
like
president
Janey
I'm
also
very
curious
around
some
of
the
questions
around
the
equity
funds.
You
know
what
kind
of
outreach
is
being
done
in
the
communities
to
ensure
that
we're
getting
the
information.
How
curious
as
to
whether
or
not
this
thing
misinformation
is
always
also
going
out.
Another
language
is
aside
from
English
in
terms
of
the
opportunities
that
exist.
E
I'm
curious
in
terms
of
one
of
the
accomplishments
listed
in
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
list.
Is
that
an
executive
order
and
in
support
of
equal
treatment
policies
to
ensure
that
we
are
I,
heard
a
hearing
to
the
best
practices
in
outreach
to
see
certified
small,
local
and
minority-owned
women-owned
and
veteran
owned
businesses
for
the
city.
E
I'm
just
curious,
like
cities
like
Los
Angeles,
have
included
LGBTQ
business
enterprises
and
their
contracting
process,
so
I'm
wondering
if
a
OD
has
any
plans
to
expand
its
outreach
to
include
historically
underserved
businesses,
either
LGBTQ
non
English
english-speaking
businesses
just
wondering
you
know
in
terms
of
their
outreach,
if
they're
planning
to
expand
their
scope,
I'm
curious
as
to
right
now.
This
is
specifically
to
the
supplier
portal
is
the
application.
You
know
the
application
is
used
by
the
city
to
procure
contracts
to
be
filled
by
bidders.
E
Our
office
has
tried
to
go
through
the
process,
just
because
we're
exponential
learners
just
to
kind
of
see
what
the
process
looks
like
and
it's
very
difficult.
There
are
over
43
pages
of
instruction
on
the
help
with
the
supplier
portal
website,
all
of
which
is
in
English
and
to
try
to
explain
to
try
to
explain
and
navigate
that
system.
E
And
when
can
we
expect
to
hear
the
results
of
the
Main
Street
Convention
study
just
curious,
where
that
with
that
or
that
lands
and
can
can
they
explain
the
difficulty
in
filling
so
we're
talking
specifically
about
the
mobile
enterprise
managers
position?
Apparently
43
people
applied
six
of
whom
received
interviews
and
only
one
was
deemed
unfit
I'm
just
wondering
if
they
can
share
what
was
so
difficult
about
filling
the
mobile
enterprise
position.
E
Can
they
go
into
further
detail
about
what
the
recruitment
policies
look
like
and
then
I'm
also
curious,
just
overall
in
general,
in
terms
of
economic
development,
is
it
possible
when
we're
looking
at
other
ways
to
engage
young
people?
It
is
there
an
appetite
to
figure
out?
How
do
we
include
young
people
as
part
of
the
economic
development
pipeline
I,
just
think
that
there
are
a
lot
of
young
entrepreneurs
and
not
enough
resources
out
there
for
them,
so
I'm
just
curious
what
if
any
opportunities
exist
there?
E
A
F
Right
Thank
You
chair
and
thank
you
to
my
colleagues
for
their
really
thoughtful
questions,
especially
around
the
equity
fund.
So
I
will
skip
that
for
my
questions.
I
am
and
I
also
appreciate,
counsel
Flaherty's
question
regarding
sort
of
what's
the
general
plan,
because
I
do
know
that
all
of
our
businesses
are
small
businesses
in
particular
across
the
city
of
Boston,
are
gonna
need
some
really
intensive
supports
so
I'm
curious
about.
F
I
think
that
that's
a
really
important
subset
of
small
businesses
in
our
city.
There
is
also
from
a
just
generally
not
specific
to
Corona
the
impact
or
not
the
impact,
but
the
work
that
we're
doing
is
the
city
to
support
women-owned
businesses
I'm
curious
around
the
number
of
businesses
that
are
considered
women
to
owned
and
small
businesses
in
the
city
of
Boston.
If
there's
through
the
WBE
application
process,
how
many
how
many
businesses
are
in
sort
of
in
the
pipeline
or
in
a
holding
pattern
to
become
certified
and
what
what
are
those
business
types?
F
We've
done.
Some
work
over
the
last
few
years
to
support
women.
Don't
businesses
in
particular
I
am
a
small
business
owner
myself.
So
I'm
curious
as
to
the
very
specific
supports
that
Oh
Edie
is,
is
has
in
place
to
support
support
those
those
women-owned
businesses
of
all
different
types
and
I'm
curious
about
the
breakdown
on
types
too,
and
then
we
talk.
We've
talked
a
lot
about
because
of
the
current
situation,
with
the
pandemic,
that
some
of
our
operations
have
shut
down
around
licensing
and
zoning
and
and
in
particular
those
impacts
on
businesses.
F
How,
on
the
other
end
of
this
as
we
work
to
reopen,
how
does
OD
see
its
own
office
resources,
which
would
be
a
financial
investment
through
the
budget?
How?
How
will
we
be
using
those
resources
to
really
intensely
support
businesses
on
that
restart?
If
any
licenses
in
the
meantime
have
lapsed
or
need
to
be
renewed
or
updated
or
changed?
How
do
we,
you
know,
sort
of
create
a
fast
line
or
a
zip
line
of
sorts
to
make
sure
that
those
businesses
can
come
online
quickly?
F
F
I
think
that
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we
have
an
equal
bit
of
attention
paid
to
two
businesses
that
aren't
sort
of
restaurant
focused,
although
they
are
critically
important
in
great
parts
of
our
neighborhoods
across
the
city,
I'm,
a
big
fan
of
not
just
take
how
Tuesday
but
takeout
every
day
and
doing
what
I
can
to
support
local
businesses
across
our
city,
restaurant
businesses.
But
there
are
other
businesses
in
the
pipeline
so
we're
both.
They
have
needed
our
support
generally
outside
of
this
pandemic.
G
You,
madam
chair
and
I,
have
a
number
of
questions
here,
so
I'm
just
gonna,
be
watching
for
your
gavel
and
I'll
go
on
the
second
half
I
hope
to
do
it
so
to
begin.
The
economic
development
program
of
OED
focuses
on
fostering
economic
development
in
all
the
Boston's
neighborhoods,
which
will
arguably
be
a
very
important
aspect
of
recovery,
post
koban.
Why
is
it
decreasing
by
13%,
from
fiscal
year
20
to
fiscal
year,
21
why
our
personnel
service
is
decreasing
by
12%?
Why
our
non-personnel
service
is
decreasing
by
23%
all
for
fiscal
year?
G
Twenty
to
twenty
one
second,
which
trades
if
any,
have
consistently
fallen
below
the
required
percentage
of
ours
required
by
minorities,
women
in
Boston
residents
and
what
is
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
doing
in
order
to
address
these
compliance
issues?
Why
is
the
small
and
local
business
program
being
decreased
by
31%?
It
almost
started
2%
from
fiscal
year
20
to
fiscal
year
21.
When
next
year
is
arguably
a
time
they
will
be
needing
more
assistance.
G
Many
of
the
performance
indicators
for
the
small
and
local
business
program.
So
you
know
decreased
from
fiscal
year,
18
the
fiscal
year
19,
and
then
they
have
stagnated
from
fiscal
year
19
a
fiscal
year
20.
Is
there
an
explanation
as
to
why
that
trend
exists
and
how
the
fiscal
21
year
budget
addresses
this?
One
of
the
performance
indicators
for
small
and
local
business
program
is
quote
the
city
of
Boston
money
spent
with
minority
or
women
business
contracts
and
for
the
target
for
fiscal
year
21.
G
It
says
TBR
I'm,
just
looking
for
clarification
as
to
what
that
means,
and
why
there's
no
numerical
quantity
to
that
counselor
Flaherty
asked
them
my
questions
about
koban
19,
but
just
what
efforts
are
being
made
to
determine
the
damage?
That's
been
done
due
to
Cobie
19
to
those
contracts
and
what
plans
has
Odie
made
to
try
and
address
the
kovat
19
impact
on
minority
or
women
business
own
contracts.
G
G
Oh
Edie
launched
a
disparate
study
to
review
city
contracting
and
identify
challenges
for
mwbes
and
doing
business
with
the
city.
What
were
the
results
of
that
study
and
how
are
their
practices
is
changing
for
fiscal
year
21
and
how
are
they
being
informed
by
the
results
of
that
study?
Looking
for
your
gavel,
I
don't
see
it
yet
all
right.
So
it's
so
good.
Cobin
19
required
the
creation
of
a
small
business
relief
fund.
Is
that
an
initiative
that
will
exist
past
the
end
of
COBIT?
G
More
generally,
what
impact
is
cope
it
had
on
planning
at
the
OED
if
the
fund
is
going
to
continue
this
idea
of
any
plans
to
collect
data
on
who
is
receiving
those
funds
in
terms
of
MBS
WB
s
and
s
lbs
to
make
sure
it's
being
dispersed
equitably.
Let
me
just
see
here
we're
almost
done.
Actually,
the
approximately
81
led
contracts,
only
three
are
minority
women
owned
or
small
local
businesses.
More
specifically,
all
three
are
small
local
businesses.
A
G
G
Applicants
are
obviously-
and
we
received
calls
about
this-
all
the
time
our
paying
rents
on
properties,
while
they're
waiting
for
decisions
to
be
made,
and
so
just
figuring
out
what
their
remote
processes
there
and
I
think
that's.
Actually
all
the
questions
I
think
we
got
through
if
any
other
ones
happen,
I'll
ask
them
on
round
two,
but
I
think
that's
it.
Thank
you.
So
much
was.
A
You
know:
there's
a
great
playback
function
that
you
can
slow
down
all
right,
yeah,
no
definite
credit
to
all
essential
staff.
Taking
notes
on
these
working
sessions.
Next
up
is
councillor
Flynn
and
then
he'll
be
followed
by
we've
been
joined
by
councillor
Matt
O'malley
from
district
6,
so
counselor
Flynn.
You
have
the
floor.
H
Thank
You
council
block
and
like
like
you
mentioned
I,
want
to
say
also
say
thank
you
to
central
staff.
That's
doing
exceptional
work,
helping
helping
us
during
this
during
this
budgeted
process.
So
thank
you.
Thank
you.
Central
staff
and
we
miss
we
miss
seeing
their
smiling
faces
that
time.
So
thank
you
for
everything
that
you're
doing
I
know.
Council
authority
and
council
royal
mentioned
some
of
the
same
points.
H
I'll
be
able
to
do
a
kind
of
like
an
inventory
on
small
businesses,
see
where
they're
at
as
it
relates
to
short-term
in
long
term,
see
what
their
plans
are.
What,
specifically,
can
the
city
do
to
help
them?
It
almost
has
to
be
a
kind
of
one-on-one
outreach
effort
to
be
small
business
owners
and
to
identify
challenges
that
they,
if
they're,
going
to
face
as
it
comes
as
we
gradually
reopen
reopen
the
city
paying
close
attention
to
small
businesses.
H
You
know,
especially
these
business
businesses
that
have
been
here
for
a
long
time
that
are
doing
well.
You
know
this.
This
coronavirus
should
not
impact
their
future
going
going
forward,
so
we
want
to
provide
them
with
all
the
necessary
economic
tools
that
we
can
so
that
they
can
continue
to
be
a
good
neighbor
to
provide
a
good
service
in
hiring
hiring
people.
H
I'd
also,
like
just
do
an
inventory
on,
you
know
our
main
street's
program
and
see
what
challenges
they
are
focusing
as
a
as
a
as
a
group
and
provide
the
rest
of
necessary
resources
to
help
them
the
other.
The
other
point
I
wanted
to
make
is
you
know,
can
we
can
we
look
at
some
neighborhoods
that
don't
have
a
Main
streets
program
and
provide
to
provide
good
services
to
them
in
coordinate
with
them
and
maybe
even
help
them
in
the
process
of
applying
for
Main
streets
program?
H
I
You,
madam
chair,
apologize
for
coming
so
late
to
the
working
session,
but
appropriately
I
was
working
on
some
business
development.
My
district
I
won't
take
up
too
much
time,
they'll,
certainly
review
what
prior
questions
were
asked
and
I'm
sure
that
I
would
agree
with
virtually
all
of
them.
As
of
this
morning,
it
was
a
really
grim
statistic
that
additional
3.4
million
Americans
filed
for
unemployment.
I
The
number
of
Americans
who
are
now
unemployed
is
close
is
above
30
million
people,
so
obviously
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
hearing
ought
to
and
and
will
I
think
primarily
focus
on
recovery
and
really
just
addressing
the
issues
around
economic
insecurity
in
Boston
and
beyond.
So
my
questions,
obviously
the
the
path
forward
looking
at
it
supports
that
we
can
offer
realistic
supports
looking
at
ways
that
we
can
both
address
the
impacts
really
on
a
business
by
business
or
type
of
business
focus.
I
Obviously,
certain
businesses
are
going
to
have
needs
different
needs
than
others,
primarily
restaurants,
we're
working
to
address
some
of
the
restaurants.
The
state's
actually
been
quite
nimble
in
quickly
allowing
changes
for
delivery
for
Barron
wine
to
to
help
address
some
of
the
shortfalls,
consulars
flame
clarity
and
I
and
I
think
everyone
signed
on
is.
I
Looking
at
ways
for
to
address
some
of
the
third-party
delivery
fees,
so
there's
things
that
we
can
be
doing
now,
but
other
businesses
that
have
just
been
shuttered
since
March
17th
or
earlier
you
know
many
of
them
are
going
to
have
difficulty
if
not
it'll
be
impossible
for
them
to
reopen.
So
what
does
that
mean?
What
supports
are
available?
How
can
we
address
it?
How
can
we
deal
with
a
crushing
unemployment
rate
before
you
know
several
months
ago?
I
think
that
the
unemployed
rain
in
Boston
was
was
under
2%
or
some.
I
You
know
incredibly
low
number,
that's
obviously
going
to
to
grow
by
leaps
and
bounds.
So
the
focus
of
my
questions
just
generally
it
are
what
and
how
are
we
going
to
approach
our
economic
recovery
on
our
small
businesses,
our
larger
businesses
and
sort
of
unemployment,
opportunities
for
folks
and
training
going
forward
thanks
very
much.
A
Thank
you
so
much
councillor,
O'malley
I'll,
now
ask
some
of
my
questions.
Then
we'll
go
back
up
to
the
top,
so
mine
are
I'd
love
to
understand
the
Boston
resident
job
policy,
tech
enhancements
that
were
made
last
year.
I'm
never
mentioned
in
the
OED
budget.
Detail
document
just
to
know
how
that
might
shift
our
ability
to
follow
up
on
that
policy.
A
Also
just
interested
in
understanding
the
department's
oversight
of
casinos
and
what
resources
are
dedicated
to
that,
because
I
saw
that's,
obviously
something
that's
been
added
to
their
deck
in
the
last
few
years
and
I'm
not
totally
clear
on
sort
of
what
our
interface
with
a
casino
out
and
effort
is
councillor.
Mejia
mentioned
the
RFP
related
to
a
real
investment
in
our
Main
streets.
In
order
to
prepare
for
hosting
this
main
street's
convention
in
2021,
which
I
think
you
know,
we
would
all
hope
will
be
back
in
the
business
of
hosting
conventions
by
2021.
A
The
I'm
also
interested
councillor
Mejia
mentioned
just
the
challenge
that
OAD
acknowledged
around
hiring
a
mobile,
Enterprise
Manager
seems
like
mobile
enterprises,
aka
food
trucks
and
other
such
things
are
just
going
to
be
more
important
now,
as
we
want
to
do
more
and
more
business
outside
for
the
short
to
medium
term
and
so
and
also
I.
Think.
The
reality
is
that,
unfortunately,
because
of
the
change
in
the
unemployment
situation
as
councillor
O'malley
referenced,
there's
a
lot
of
really
talented
people
right
now.
A
I
know,
there's
been
a
lot
of
technical
assistance,
just
in
the
last
couple
months
around
helping
restaurants
move
to
take
out
and
helping
people
with
the
PPP
application
at
the
federal
level.
But
just
sort
of
you
know,
technical
assistance
doesn't
solve
all
problems,
sometimes
you're
just
facing
a
really
impossible
business
situation,
but
it
does
seem
like
every
problem
it
can
solve.
We
should
be
trying
to
do
that.
I'm
personal
businesses,
so
interested
in
how
we
ramp
up
the
program
we
have
existing
and
just
in
general,
I.
Think
on
that
front.
A
There's
a
reference
in
the
you
know,
Edie's
response
to
our
council
questions.
That
says
you
know.
Obviously
you
could
always
use
more
personnel
resources,
but
you
know
it's
a
time
where
you
have
to
do
less
with
more
I
mean
more
with
less.
It
seems
to
me
that
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
is
a
place
where,
because
of
the
multiplier
effect,
really
effective
economic
development
support
like
we
should-
and
this
really
connects
to
councillor
oreos
questions
like
we
should
be
seeing.
A
Staff
growth
in
OED
for
the
year
ahead
and
I
recognise
that
the
you
know
the
budget,
although
it
was
tweaked
a
bit
after
this
emergency
really
emerged,
you
know
wasn't
fully
changed
in
response
to
that
and
it
just
it
seems
to
me
like.
We
should
be
based
on
what
we've
learned
over
the
last
eight
weeks.
Thinking
about
okay,
what
are
their
really
high-impact,
hires
that
OAD
could
be
making
right
now.
That
would
like.
A
A
Those
highest
impact
places
that
we're
going
to
need
to
put
our
resources
so
I'm
interested
in
how
much
self
scrutiny
the
department
has
done
about
about
what
are
the
programs
it
has
that
seem
to
really
move
the
needle
in
terms
of
small
business
success
and
wrapping
those
up
and
wrapping
those
up,
particularly
with
our
small
businesses,
family-owned
business
business
of
color
women-owned
businesses.
You
know
all
the
the
people
who,
when
their
business,
succeeds,
that
money
stays
in
the
city
and
is
part
of
a
vital
ecosystem
here
and
I
guess.
A
My
last
set
of
questions
is
really
about
it's
about.
You
know
contracting
citywide.
It
just
seems
as
though
that's
something
that
I
know
has
been.
It's
been
identified
as
an
important
priority.
It's
something
that
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
has
various
programs
devoted
to,
but
we
like
all
it
feels
to
me
as
though
a
lot
of
our
programs
for
making
sure
that
our
contracting
base
is
more
diverse
because
of
the
procurement
like
law,
limitations
of
the
state
and
federal
level
that
you
know
it's
a
long-term
trajectory
we're
looking
at.
A
Can
we
build
a
pipeline
over
five
years,
etc,
etc?
But
we
are
gonna
have
a
whole
bunch
of
businesses
that
either
survive
or
don't
in
the
next
12
months.
So
I
just
think
we
need.
You
know
there
are
certain
things
in
the
city
I
think
about
you
know
providing
shelter,
space
or
some
of
the
stuff
that
we've
done
on
the
bps
side
that
we
would
have
said
in
ordinary
time.
A
How
do
we
throw
the
kitchen
sink
at
this
and
again
to
me?
That
seems
like
something
that,
like
might
involve
some
additional
staff
capacity.
So
I
just
want
to
understand
that
I
think
those
are
all
of
my
questions
and
now
we'll
go
back
up
to
the
top
and
do
a
second
round
and
so
councillor
Flaherty.
If
you
have
any
follow-up,
so
you
have
before.
B
You,
madam
chair
and
I,
got
a
lot
of
my
questions
out
in
the
first
round,
but
I
did
want
to
kind
of
go
deeper
into
the
small
business
fund.
I
know
we've
been
talking
a
lot
about
the
Boston
equity
fund,
but
the
small
business
fund,
as
it
relates
to
cannabis,
so
not
the
equity
fund
in
the
ordinance,
but
the
small
business
farm
that
was
relief
for
kovat
I'm
interested
in
understanding,
whether
cannabis
businesses
qualified
for
those
funds.
If
they
qualified
how
many
applied,
how
many
you
know
how
much
money
did
they
get?
B
What
could
they
use
that
money
for
and
if
that,
if
they
did
not
qualify
for
any
of
those
funds,
because
we
know
that
many
are
on
the
hook
for
lots
of
money,
even
though
they
don't
have
their
their
businesses
open
and
running?
So
if
they
did
not
qualify
as
we're
thinking
about
new
rounds,
I'd
be
interested
in
what
the
administration's
plans
are
for
casting
the
net
a
little
wider
to
include
some
of
those
entrepreneurs
as
part
of
the
recovery
I'm.
B
Also,
very
much
interested
and
I
know
we'll
get
to
some
of
these
questions
and
a
hearing
later
this
afternoon
with
the
back,
but
there
are
a
lot
of
economic
development
questions
as
it
relates
to
construction
and
what
is
happening
there.
So
I
will
just
reserve
those
questions
for
that
hearing,
but
I
am
interested
a
more
I'm
around
the
procurement.
It
is
very
frustrating
that
we
have
to
continue
to
have
these
conversations
and
I
know.
B
I
know
the
overall
overall
there's
a
decrease
for
OED,
but
you
know
from
what
I
understand
there
supposed
to
be
a
40%
increase
in
terms
of
equity,
inclusion
funds
and
just
understanding
how
we're
going
to
leverage
that
to
not
only
deal
with
the
recovery
of
colvett
but
really
deal
with
the
precoded
inequities,
like
the
quarter
million
wealth
gap
in
the
City
of
Boston.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
C
A
wonder
if
concern
of
me
is
that
the
the
disappearance
of
so
many
of
our
small
daycare
providers
across
the
city
and
and
I
feel
that
this
is
an
area
where
they're
predominantly
women-owned
businesses,
many
of
their
immigrant
owned
businesses
and
I
really
feel
that
they
need
support
and
attention
to
see.
If
we
can
bolster
that
that
sector
and
right
now
in
this
crisis,
they
are
so
very
essential.
Childcare
providers,
because
the
bigger
chains
and
franchises
of
daycare
providers
are
closed
because
they're
too
big,
so
I
really
feel
that
something
that
needs
attention.
A
E
A
E
Trying
to
figure
out
what
type
of
technical
assistance
and
support
and
funding
are.
We
gonna
be
putting
aside
to
support
these,
not
these
businesses
that
may
not
be
able
to
continue
and
they
do
open
up
their
doors.
You
know
what
type
of
technical
assistance
are
they
gonna
receive
to
be
able
to
do
it
in
a
way.
That's
safe,
so
just
kind
of
thinking
about
that
planning
about
that,
and
then
I'm
also
really
curious
about.
E
E
You
know
given
the
given
the
need
at
this
point,
whether
they're
not
whether
what
they're
fully
staffed
to
be
able
to
do
so
and
I'm
also
just
curious
about
knowing
that
we've.
We
had
a
lot
of
issues
around
language
access
during
the
relief
fun
application
process,
just
really
curious
about
what
lessons
they've
learned
as
a
result
of
covert
19,
and
how
are
they
adjusting
accordingly
to
to
kind
of
right
those
wrongs
in
terms
of
outreach
and
access
and
all
that
good
stuff?
So
it
definitely
have
their
work
cut
out.
F
You,
madam
chair
I,
did
I
stepped
away
for
a
second,
so
I,
don't
I.
Don't
think,
though,
anyone
asked
about
the
Office
of
Tourism
and
although
we
are
in
the
midst
of
a
global
travel
shutdown,
I
do
recognize
that
Boston
is
a
huge
destination
for
lots
of
visits,
especially
in
the
warmer
months
and
into
the
fall.
F
So
I'm
certainly
curious
about
the
impact
that
this
pandemic
has
had
on
our
tourism
and
what
that
means
for
receipts
and
what
that
means,
for
you
know,
certainly,
sales
tax
and
tell
tax
and
all
that
for
the
state
and
for
the
city,
so
just
curious
about
the
work
and
the
planning
that
needs
to
go
forward
to
make
sure
that
we
can
rebuild
that
industry.
We
build
our.
F
You
know
the
rebuild
opportunities
for
travel
to
Boston
and
in
that
tourism
industry,
with
the
uncertainty
of
our
colleges
for
the
fall
and
the
impacts
that
you
know
not
having
those
colleges
may
be
happening
in
person.
What
impact
does
that?
Have
you
start
Lindo
with
a
lack
of
graduations
that
impacts
all
of
our
hotels
and,
in
fact,
a
lot
of
our
local
economies,
but
as
we
work
to
rebuild
along
the
lines
of
the
conversation
around
an
equitable
rebuilding
on
the
other
side
of
this
pandemic,
we
should
also
have
a
you
know.
F
This
is
an
opportunity
to
make
sure
that
we're
rebuilding
our
tourism
industry
with
that
in
mind
as
well.
So
it's
not
just
about
the
downtown
corridor.
It's
not
just
about
sort
of
the
typical
tourism
hotspots,
but
making
sure
that
this
is
part
of
a
larger,
a
larger
vision
for
our
city,
but
taura
tourism
in
general.
Where
are
we?
Where
are
we
going?
What
are
the
plans
that
we
can
put
in
place
for
that,
and
then
how
can
we
also
make
sure
that
all
of
our
communities
are
seeing
seeing
a
piece
of
that
rebuild
I'm?
F
Looking
at
the
rest
of
my
notes
here,
this
is
sort
of
COBIT,
specific
and
I
am
trying
to
be
mindful
and
I.
Think
we
all
are
that
our
questions
are
certainly.
Our
budget
is
certainly
impacted
by
this
pandemic
and
our
questions
are
leaning.
That
way,
but
there
is
I,
think
there
needs
to
maintain
a
focus
for
us
and
a
focus
for
the
department
about
our
continuing
operations
in
a
more
in
a
not
a
normal
way,
but
a
non
Corona
specific
way,
because
eventually
we
will
be
on
the
other
side
and
it
will
change
practice.
F
It
will
change
business.
It
will
change
the
economy
of
the
local
economy,
of
Boston
and
local
economy
of
our
communities,
but
so
that
the
rest
of
the
work
needs
to
happen.
So
but
I
don't
know
if
anyone
else
specifically
about
what
our
initial.
The
initial
response
is
then
to
restaurants,
who
are
now
committed
to
cycling
three
items
and
what
that
made.
That
may
may
mean
for
them.
F
Just
you
know,
as
as
the
governor
has
done,
this
reopening
task
force,
I'm
wondering
what
the
efforts
are
and
I
think
this.
The
lends
itself
to
come
so
flairies
question
at
the
beginning.
What
are
we
doing
as
a
city?
What's
our
internal
task
force
look
like
for
reopening
the
city,
especially
around
economic
development?
You
know
that
we've,
you
know,
council,
Ryan,
Arroyo
and
I
have
called
for
hearing
around
the
return
to
school,
but
what's
the
return
to
business,
look
like
for
our
city
and
what's
that
effort
underway
happening,
that's
it
for
me!
H
But
specifically,
you
know
what
what
are
we
doing
to
help
the
hotel
operators,
the
the
in
the
the
the
owners
as
well,
but
I
also
wanted
to
make
sure
that
you
know
during
these
difficult
economic
times
in
the
hotel
industry
that
we're
also
mindful
of
the
fact
that
these
are
good
jobs
for
for
many
Boston
residents
in
in
the
hotels
in
the
restaurants,
local
26
hires,
a
lot
of
they
have
a
lot
of
women.
They
have
a
lot
of
women
from
communities
of
color.
H
They
work
in
our
hotels.
They
do
an
excellent
job.
They're
very
professional
and
hard-working
I.
Just
would
not
want
to
see
us
because
there's
an
economic
downturn
I
wouldn't
want
to
see
us
kind
of
contracting
out
a
lot
of
these
services
that
once
were
good-paying
jobs
so
for
workers,
and
now
we're
contracting
it
out.
So
I
think
it's
still
critical
that
we
continue
to
work
with
the
hotels
in
the
city
in
and
in
the
workforce
as
well,
because
they
they
really
represent
Boston.
H
H
So
I'd
like
to
get
a
little
more
information
on
what
the
impact
is.
Economic
impact
is
on
the
seafood
industry
in
and
around
the
South
Boston
waterfront,
the
area
the
Chinatown
area
has
two
seafood
companies,
the
South
End,
but
other
other
areas
of
the
city
also
does
as
well
so
I'd
like
to
take
a
look
at
some
of
those
those
issues,
but
I'm
Thank
You
council
block
for
giving
me
the
second
opportunity
to
ask
questions.
I
appreciate
it.
Thank.
A
All
right,
seeing
none
I'll,
just
I'll,
add
my
y'know
I'll
come
back,
don't
worry,
I
I'll,
just
add
my
additional
questions,
which
were
provoked
by
councillor
Flynn
I,
definitely
agree.
I,
think
we
need
to
think
about
with
things
like
hotels
if
we
expect
a
fairly
long
term
stoppage
of
business
as
usual.
A
You
know
that's
just
such
a
critical
work
force
in
our
city
and
so
thinking
about
things
like
I,
actually
think
we
should
be
looking
into
hotels
as,
like
you
know,
potential
isolation,
locations
for
people
who
you
know
find
out
that
they're
Kovac
positive
and
they
live
with
their
families
and
they're.
Not
they
don't
need
hospitalization,
but
it
would
be
safer
for
everyone
in
their
household
if
they
had
somewhere
else
to
stay
for
two
weeks.
That's
a
practice
that
has
been
done
successfully
in
all
over
in
other
countries.
A
Health
is
about
the
fact
that,
like
where
all
of
our
fates
are
tied
up
together
right
and
so
when
people
get
sick,
it's
all
of
our
problem
and
we
need
to
think
about
a
support
system.
That's
gonna!
Let
us
reopen
in
a
way
that
a
way
that's
safe
for
everybody
concerned,
so
I
think
thinking
about
what
how
does
economic
development
tie
in
with
those
those
plans
is
important
and
agree
with
councillor
Flynn?
A
A
B
You
thank
you
so
much
just
a
couple
of
follow-ups,
really
important
discussion.
I
really
appreciate
it.
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
as
president
of
this
body,
I'm
really
proud
of
the
work
that
we
are
doing.
As
a
body
and
I
know,
the
shutdown
was
tough
on
folks,
but
I'm.
Just
I
had
a
very
strong
reaction
to
a
longing
for
normal
operations.
B
Given
that
normal
operations,
they
are
steeped
in
inequities,
and
so
I
want
to
be
mindful
as
we
move
forward,
we
have
to
do
so
always
with
a
lens
toward
equity,
and
so
even
if
it's
not
Kovich
specific
I
want
to
make
sure
that
we
are
leading
with
that
equity
lens.
To
that
point,
I'd
be
really
interested
in
understanding
by
looking
at
different
ethnic
groups
in
our
city
and
understanding
what
percentages
that
they
make
up
in
terms
of
different
industries.
B
So,
for
example,
if
we
looked
at
black
residents
in
Boston,
who
are
entrepreneurs,
small
business
owners,
X
percent,
maybe
are
in
the
barber
shop,
hair
salon,
business,
X
percent,
maybe
in
the
restaurant
business,
etc.
I'd
like
to
understand
that
by
each
ethnic
I
think
there
was
a
point
earlier
I
think
it
was
council
Mahina
brought
up
about
barbershops
and
hair
salons.
B
So
a
barber
shop
and
a
hair
salon
and
a
nail
salon
are
so
essential
in
terms
of
how
people
connect
in
community
how
they
share
information
in
community
and
to
see
this
disruption,
and
that
is
really
worrisome.
I'm,
not
sure
what
Oh
Edie
can
do
about
the
the
disruption
and
that
social
fabric
I'm,
mindful
that
a
large
share
of
the
businesses
in
my
district
may
be
disproportionately
those
types
of
businesses
and
therefore
people
are
really
hurting
because
they
didn't
have
the
opportunity
to
say
open
the
way.
B
Other
businesses
a
state
open,
so
I,
just
like
that
deeper
dive
understanding.
You
know
for
this
particular
group
what
their
share
is
in
different
industries,
so
that
we
can
have
a
better
understanding
of
how
kovat
19
has
impacted
those
businesses
and
what
we
need
to
do
as
part
of
our
recovery
moving
forward.
So
I
just
wanted
to
get
that
on
the
table.
Thank
you
so
much
for
an
excellent
discussion
looking
forward
to
building
again
with
each
and
every
one
of
you
I'm,
really
proud
of
the
work
that
we're
doing
together.
Thank
you.
Thank.
E
Okay,
you
shipping
me
all
up
here,
wait
and
I
can't
there's
something
on
my
screen:
I'm
trying,
okay,
so
I,
just
I
just
have
a
quick
question
that
I'm
really
curious
about
and
I'm
not
sure
this
is
something
that
Falls
or
how
the
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
works
towards
this.
But
you
curious
about
two
things:
one
is
what
role
does
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
play
in
figuring
out
ways
to
be
more
collaborative
across
different
city
departments,
for
example
I'm
looking
at
arts
and
culture?
E
What
ways
are
they
not
only
supporting
small
artists,
but
what
opportunities
are
they
creating
for
artists
to
be
able
to
display
their
art
in
different
restaurants
like?
Is
there
an
opportunity
for
that
type
of
technical
assistance
or
partnership
to
help
boost
local
artists
and
then
I'm
also
curious
about
I
and
I've
learned
a
lot
in
the
last
hundred
and
something
days
that
I've
been
on
this
job
and
you
know
I
thought
it
would
be
something
as
simple
as
if
we're
not
serving
culturally
responsive
foods.
E
Why
not
just
work
with
restaurants
in
the
city
of
Boston
to
provide
meals
to
students
or
have
the
food
that
we're
providing
Boston
Public
Schools
be
more
local
from
what
I
understand
the
contract
is
given
to
this
company
called
revolution
and
I?
Guess
the
food
comes
from
I,
don't
know
where,
through
five
different
states
just
to
get
here,
and
some
of
it
is
frozen,
so
I'm
just
curious
as
to
what
opportunities
exist
to
break
up
some
of
the
food
vendors
contracts,
so
that
we
are
supporting
smaller
businesses
in
the
city
of
Boston.
E
Where
does
that
stand?
What
are
the
barriers
to
being
able
to
make
that
happen
and
then
really
really
pushing
to
to
figure
that
out?
And
then
in
that
same
spirit,
you
know,
Boston
Public
Schools
has
the
the
office
of
partnerships
and
oftentimes
a
lot
of
the
contracts
that
are
given
are
given
to
the
big
ticket
item.
Nonprofit
organizations
to
provide
services
like
after-school
programming,
I'm
just
curious.
E
You
know
the
real
the
scope
of
work,
that's
coming
out
of
that
department
and
I
keep
going
back
to
there
the
capacity
and
the
resources
that
they
need
to
be
able
to
do
these
things.
I
think
that
you
know
we
want
to
manage
expectations,
but
I
also
think
it's
important
to
know
where
the
show
their
shortfalls
are,
and
then
the
last
piece
is
that
in
terms
of
assessments
and
and
surveys,
just
curious,
you
know
who
is
at
the
table
in
forming
their
thinking
about
what
are
the
needs
of
small
businesses.
E
A
You
no
thank
you
so
much
councillor
Mejia
for
all
those
questions,
and
yes,
just
to
clarify
for
folks
are
amazing.
Central
staff
budget
team,
Michelle
Goldberg,
quorum
on
trend
and
shan-pak
are
between
them,
taking
notes
on
all
the
questions
that
get
asked.
So,
if
you
don't
see
me
typing
them
down,
it's
because
other
folks
are
doing
that,
but
we
will
and
we'll
make
sure
to
circulate,
as
we
did
with
the
capital
hearing
the
list
of
all
the
questions
that's
been
sent
over
at
the
administration.
F
You,
madam
chair
and
I,
just
I,
do
appreciate
all
of
your
work
on
this
I.
Don't
have
any
other
questions,
but
I
will
submit
some
of
my
notes
with
questions
to
you
and
I
think
that
that
the
practice
that
you've
developed
and
just
sort
of
an
extension
or
a
little
bit,
maybe
of
a
response
to
council
Mejias
comments
about
the
questions,
is
you've
reiterated
a
number
of
times
and
I.
F
Think
it's
important
to
note
again
it
we're
free
and
should
submit
questions
to
central
staff
that
haven't
been
asked
in
these
working
sessions
or
if
we
want
to
pretty
them
up
a
little
bit.
So
thank
you,
madam
chair
field,
leadership
and
certainly
the
effort
in
the
work
of
essential
staff
during
this
time.
Thank
you.
Thanks.
A
All
right,
seeing
none
I'll,
just
give
one
more
chance.
If
any
of
my
colleagues
want
to
ask
another
question,
raise
your
blue
hand
or
turn
on
your
video
screen
and
wave
at
me,
okay
and
I'll.
I
guess,
oh,
my
one
other
one
that
occurred
to
me
was
that
I
am
really
interested
in
how
we
can
help
our
as
we
get
into
the
nice
weather
and
as
we
get
into
some
kind
of
gradual
reopening
how
we
can
be
creative
about
helping
our
small
businesses
use
outdoor
space.
A
So
you
know
are
their
streets
where
we
can
permit
people
to
extend
their.
You
know,
tables
and
chairs
into
the
street
in
order
to,
in
order
to
create
an
opportunity
to
socially
distance,
but
still
do
their
work.
Are
there
places
we
can?
You
know,
permit
more
food
trucks
to
show
up
in
our
parks.
I
just
think
that,
again,
from
a
public
health
perspective,
we're
gonna
be
wanting
to
encourage
more
transactions
to
happen
outside
and
thinking
about.
How
are
we
creative
so
that
our
smallest
businesses
can
benefit
from
that
sort
of
thing.
A
I
think
I
think
is
a
important
collaboration
for
the
Office
of
Economic
Development
to
pursue
with
the
Public
Works
and
PTD
departments,
and
public
Improvement
Commission,
so
would
be
really
interested
to
know
whether
they've
started
having
those
conversations
and
encourage
them
to
do
so
if
they
haven't.
So
that's
my
last
thing
any
further
hands
seeing
none
I
just
want
to
thank
everyone
for
attending,
and
this
meeting
of
the
Boston
City
Council,
Ways
and
Means
Committee
is
adjourned.
Thank
you.
All.