►
Description
Docket #0887 - Hearing regarding predatory and deceptive practices by competitive energy suppliers
B
This
hearing
is
being
recorded
in
live
streamed
at
boston.gov,
slash
city
council
dash
tv.
It
will
be
rebroadcast
on
comcast
channel
8
rcn
channel
82
verizon
channel
1964,
the
zoom
link
to
provide
public
testimony.
Testimony
for
this
hearing
can
be
found
by
emailing
shane
s-h-a-n-e
dot,
hack
p-a-c
at
boston.gov.
B
D
D
For
the
past
few
weeks,
my
office
has
been
working
with
organizations
like
lawyers
for
civil
rights,
alternative
for
community
communities
and
environments,
otherwise
known
as
ace
and
many
others
on
how
to
inform
residents
of
deceptive
practices
used
by
competitive
energy
suppliers
and
how
the
city
of
boston
can
partner.
In
cracking
down
on
these
efforts.
D
uh
We
need
to
make
sure
that
we
are
doing
something
here
as
well
in
terms
of
the
information
and
the
protections.
So
I'm
I'm
glad
that
we
are
having
this
discussion.
I
know
from
our
town
hall
and
from
my
previous
work
and
the
work
of
the
advocates
that
poor
communities
of
color,
specifically
black
and
latin
x
communities,
have
often
fallen
prey
to
deceptive
tactics
by
competitive
energy
suppliers.
D
According
to
data
gathered
by
the
attorney
general
in
their
2019
report-
and
hopefully
we'll
hear
some
more
from
our
panelists
on
this,
but
according
to
that
report,
we
know
on
average
that
on
average
98
992,
low-income
households
paid
16.4
million
more
during
the
months
between
july
2017
and
june
2018,
so
a
year
period
um
that
they
paid
more
had
they
not
contracted
with
these
competitive
suppliers,
and
that
same
report
shows
disparities
around
zip
codes.
We
know
that
dorchester,
matapan
and
roxbury
are
paying
more
on
average,
and
this
is
just
shameful.
D
We
can
do
better
and
we
need
to
do
better.
So
I'm
glad
we're
having
this
conversation,
I'm
glad
that
the
city
has
already
started
to
implement
initiatives
like
the
communities
electricity
program.
I
think
there's
a
lot
of
promise
there.
I
I
want
to
thank,
as
I
close
um
everyone
who's
been
working
on
this
issue.
Certainly
our
non-profit
partners,
like
the
advocates
like
ace
and
lawyers
for
civil
rights.
I
want
to
thank
the
attorney
general's
office
and
I
want
to
thank
beacan
they've
been
doing
some
work
on
this
issue.
B
E
E
So
I'm
looking
forward
to
the
conversation
looking
forward
to
hearing
from
the
panelists,
um
I
do
see
uh
commissioner
cook
or
chief
cook
who's
literally
looking
directly
at.
I
know
a
lot
of
folks
have
done
some
extensive
work
here
um
so
looking
forward
to
the
conversation,
but
I
just
wanted
to
thank
the
makers
and
I'm
glad
the
council
president
is
feeling
better.
D
B
F
Thank
you,
um
councillor
flynn.
um
I
also
want
to
thank
the
makers
for
taking
this
initiative.
This
is
a
really
really
important
issue.
I
know
from
my
own
experience
that,
um
especially
in
the
summer
months,
we
have
folks
coming
knocking
on
the
doors
and
offering
to
cut
our
energy
bills,
and
I'm
really
concerned
as
chair
of
the
strong
women,
families
and
communities
committee,
that
our
elders
are
also
very
vulnerable
to
these
predatory
tactics
living
on
a
fixed
income,
finding
ways
to
cut
their
outgoings
and
saving
some
money
on
energy
seems
like
a
very
enticing
option.
F
So
it's
confusing
it's
um
misleading
and
a
really
important
discussion
this
morning,
and
I
hope
that
we
can
do
something
to
regulate
this
a
bit
better.
Thank
you
so
much
and
thank
you
to
chris
cook
for
also
being
here.
I
look
forward
to
hear
his
comments
on
this
issue
and
all
the
panelists.
Thank
you.
B
Thank
you,
council
braden.
um
I
would
like
to
go
directly
to
chief
chief
chris
cook,
but
before
I
do
that,
I
would
also
like
to
reiterate
what
my
colleagues
have
mentioned:
um
a
lot
of
unfair
practices
that
are
exploiting
so
many
vulnerable
populations,
including
our
our
seniors
persons
with
disabilities
uh
residents
that
may
not
speak
english
or
have
trouble
speaking
english
or
another
language
and
uh
communities
of
color
as
well.
B
So
um
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
council
president
janie
and
my
colleagues
on
the
council
and
and
chris
cook
and
then
mayor
walsh's
team
as
well.
Having
said
that,
um
I'm
going
to
ask
chief
cook
to
give
opening
comments
and
then
I'm
going
to
ask
the
ask
nathan
farster
from
the
massachusetts
attorney
general's
office,
to
follow
chief
cook
in
providing
an
opening
statement.
G
G
That
program,
which
is
only
possible
again
in
partnership
with
this
city
council,
hopefully,
will
not
eliminate,
unfortunately,
but
hopefully
it
will
reduce
some
of
the
energy
burden
that
is
being
put
onto
our
most
socially
vulnerable
residents.
I
mean
the
fact
of
the
matter
is:
if
you've
signed
an
electricity
contract,
you're
likely
paying
too
much
if
you're
not
receiving
that
electricity
from
eversource,
and
it's
very
confusing
some
people,
you
know
just
because
your
bill
comes
from
eversource.
That
doesn't
necessarily
mean
that's
the
person
who's
providing
your
energy,
so
some
people
get
into
these
long-term
contracts.
G
The
rates
change
over
time
and
they're
very
surprised
to
find
out
what
they're
paying
over
the
term
of
that
contract
and
that's
just
plain
wrong.
It's
predatory
and
it's
wrong,
and
hopefully
cce
will
help
stop
it.
You
know
competitive
electricity
suppliers
and
their
market
marketers,
as
the
counselor
said,
sometimes
use
aggressive
door-to-door
sales
and
telemarketing
tactics
to
sign
customers
into
promotional
rate
contracts,
which
then
dramatically
increase
over
time.
G
Now,
according
to
the
massachusetts
attorney
general,
I'm
sure
we're
going
to
hear
more
from
this
from
nathan,
the
average
household
overpays
by
226
dollars
annually
for
electricity
after
signing
a
contract
with
one
of
these
companies,
it
is
a
public
utility
and
the
public
deserves
better
than
that.
So
who
supplies
your
electricity
receiving
that
bill
from
eversource
does
not
necessarily
mean
that
eversource
is
your
supplier.
If
you
locate
the
most
recent
eversource
electricity
bill,
you
have,
and
you
use
the
reference
guide
on
the
backside
of
the
letter.
G
G
Now,
as
a
as
counselor
janie
mentioned,
as
madam
president
mentioned
soon,
the
city
of
boston's,
new
community
choice,
electricity
program
will
offer
you
another
electricity
supply
option,
and
we
know
that
there's
power
in
community
by
using
municipal
aggregation
and
by
harnessing
our
collective
buying
power.
The
program
seeks
to
deliver
affordable,
renewable
electricity
to
all
boston
homes
and
businesses.
We
are
hopefully
going
to
have
as
much
as
250
000
customers
on
that
service,
thereby
eliminating
the
ability
of
these
predators
to
actually
thrive
on
some
of
our
socially
vulnerable
residents.
With
these
door-to-door
techniques.
G
You
know
we
cannot
guarantee
savings
through
that
program,
but
by
using
our
collective
power
we're
going
to
make
sure
that
we
make
it
as
affordable
as
possible.
One
other
note
on
that.
I
do
want
to
note
that
one
of
the
other
goals
of
cce
is
to
ensure
that
we
are
doing
our
best
part
to
survive
this
climate
crisis
that
we're
currently
in.
G
We
know
that
our
most
socially
vulnerable
residents
are
also
the
most
likely
to
fill
the
ill
effects
of
climate
of
the
climate
crisis,
so
that
thereby
amplifies
the
negativity
we
associate
with
these
predatory
practices
to
take
advantage
of
the
very
people
who
are
going
to
be
most
affected
by
the
climate
crisis
by
raising
their
electricity
bills
is
wrong.
So
I'm
glad
that
we're
going
to
have
the
cce
program
up
and
running
in
february.
G
A
Thank
you
also
for
the
invitation
to
speak
today
about
the
attorney
general's
office's
efforts
to
protect
massachusetts,
consumers
and
what
we're
talking
about
today
are
those
companies
that
go
door
to
door.
They
call
you
on
the
phone,
often
promising
cheaper
electricity
bills,
but
the
ago's
investigations
and
published
reports
have
shown
that
these
companies
do
not
in
fact
provide
cheaper
bills.
A
A
low-income
customer,
however,
with
the
same
usage
pays
223
dollars
more
per
year
than
she
would
pay
for
the
utilities
electric
supply,
and,
unfortunately,
these
trends
hold
true
in
the
city
of
boston.
We
drilled
down
on
a
one-month
snapshot
of
detailed
municipality
by
municipality
data
customers
in
all,
but
one
neighborhood
in
boston,
overpaid.
A
That
means
that
customers,
in
each
of
your
districts,
on
average
overpaid
for
electricity
supply,
the
neighborhood
of
dorchester
in
particular,
has
been
hit
hard.
Our
most
recent
numbers
found
that
customers
in
dorchester
alone
overpaid
one
hundred
and
sixteen
thousand
seven
hundred
and
forty
one
dollars
on
net
in
a
single
month
in
2018.,
the
ago's
reports
corroborate.
A
A
In
response
to
these
complaints
and
the
findings
of
our
reports
the
ago
has
acted
decisively
to
protect
consumers
from
unfair
and
deceptive
acts
and
practices
committed
by
individual
residential
electric
suppliers.
Our
community
engagement
division
offers
competitive
supply
trainings
around
the
commonwealth,
including
seven
held
in
boston.
To
date,
these
trainees
help
consumers,
municipal
leaders
and
community
groups
learn
about
how
to
protect
themselves.
A
Our
office
has
also
investigated
and
sued
suppliers
and
their
marketers
when
they
violate
our
consumer
protection
laws.
The
ago
previously
reached
agreements
with
just
energy,
meridian
energy
and
starring
energy,
who
agreed
to
pay
a
total
of
nearly
20
million
dollars
back
to
massachusetts,
customers
in
the
commonwealth.
A
A
We
know
that
your
municipal
aggregation
program
is
designed
to
combat
the
threat
that
suppliers
pose
to
consumers
and
includes
thoughtful
ideas
on
how
to
protect
them.
Like
you,
the
ago,
is
anxious
for
electricity,
cuss
consumers
in
boston
to
review
the
final,
environmentally
conscious
and
safe
aggregation
option
this
winter.
A
The
ago
looks
forward
to
working
with
the
city
as
it
implements
its
aggregation
plan,
and
I
also
want
to
note
the
terrific
advocacy
of
many
organizations
such
as
greater
boston,
legal
services,
nclc,
the
green
consumers
alliance,
lien,
lcr
ace
and
many
others
who
have
joined
their
voices
to
ours
and
seeking
to
advocate
for
consumers
who
have
been
adversely
affected
by
this
market.
I
look
forward
to
hearing
from
some
of
them
today
and
finally,
because
of
the
massive
consumer
losses
and
continued
questionable
sales
tactics
of
the
industry.
A
The
agl
ago
filed
legislation
to
end
the
electric
supply
market
for
individual
residential
customers.
The
legislation
preserves
the
ability
to
form
municipal
aggregations,
such
as
the
city
of
boston's
the
ago
will
continue
to
work
with
the
city
of
boston,
as
well
as
massachusetts
and
state
agencies,
municipalities
and
other
stakeholders
to
educate
and
protect
customers
from
misleading
and
fair
tactics
from
electric
suppliers.
A
B
Thank
you,
nathan.
We
are
also
joined
by
city
council,
matt
o'malley.
um
I
had
I
just
had
one
question
before
I.
I
asked
the
um
council
president
janie
uh
to
follow
up
with
questions
um
for
for
chief
cook
infant
infant
nathan.
Maybe
the
question
could
be
answered
by
both
of
you.
um
What
efforts
are
are
both
of
you,
your
teams,
doing
to
provide
outreach
to
residents
to
vulnerable
residents
that
could
be
impacted
by
these
types
of
deceptive
practices,
and
maybe
for
nathan
too.
B
um
Is
there
a
certain
checklist
where,
if
a
company
that
wants
to
come
into
the
city
or
to
the
state,
they
must
work
with
the
city,
they
must
work
with
the
state
in
in
go
over
certain
rules
and
guidelines
to
provide
necessary
to
provide
services
to
residents
in
going
in,
to
stress
to
them
the
importance
of
integrity
and
not
exploiting
people.
um
So
maybe
maybe
I
can
start
with
uh
with
chris
cook.
G
Thank
you
very
much.
Counselor
um
part
of
the
goal
set
up
by
the
working
committee
of
the
municipal
aggregation
program
for
community
choice.
Electricity
um
was
really
around
this
issue
of
communication
of
where
does
your
energy
actually
come
from
and
there's
a
lot
of
people
who?
Actually
you
know
they
either
have
a
automatic
payment
plan,
or
they
just
see
the
number
that
they
actually
have
to
pay
and
make
their
payment
and
they're
not
looking
at
who's,
actually
providing
that
electricity.
G
So
there's
a
big,
been
a
big
focus
on
outreach
working
with
some
of
our
community
partners,
whether
it's
be
can
or
ace
or
sierra
club,
and
everybody
else,
who's
engaged
on
this
issue
about
making
sure
that
people
are
really
understanding
that
they
do
have
a
choice.
I
mean
that's.
The
whole
point
of
the
municipal
aggregation
program
is
that
it's
community
choice,
electricity
and
we're
calling
it
electricity
to
not
confuse
people
around
energy
so
that
they
think
it's
also
about
um
you,
know
their
gas
distribution
or
something
like
this.
G
This
is
about
their
electricity
bill
that
we're
communicating
so
over
the
past
month
and
a
half
we've
held
uh
seven
different
climate
justice
webinars
in
six
different
languages,
to
make
sure
that
we
are
also
targeting
those
same
populations
that
are
being
targeted
by
these
predatory
practices
and
exposing
them
first
to
the
fact
that
they
have
a
choice
and,
second,
that
we
will
also
be
standing
up.
This
program
community
choice,
electricity,
we've
had
varying
degrees
of
success
with
that.
G
So
we
look
forward
to
partnering
further,
not
only
with
the
ag's
office
but
again
with
the
city
council
themselves,
as
our
program
actually
moves
towards
implementation,
which
will
be
in
february.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
we
have
as
many
people
as
possible,
uh
signed
up
so
uh
really
having
those
language
specific,
targeted,
webinars,
trying
to
make
it
as
accessible
as
possible
and
soon
we
were
able
to
secure
the
um
the
ratepayers
address
list.
G
A
Point,
thank
you
counselor
flynn,
for
the
question.
It's
a
very
good
one
um
yeah,
as
I
I
referred
to
in
remarks,
our
our
community
engagement
division
is
tireless.
I
wonder
if
they
ever
sleep,
um
they
have
done
dozens
upon
dozens
of
consumer
trainings,
all
throughout
the
state
of
massachusetts
and
seven
in
the
city
of
boston
alone
and
they're,
terrific
they're,
knowledgeable.
A
You
know
they
reach
out
to
the
communities
that
have
been
most
affected
by
this
problem
and
they're
great.
uh
We
also
have
a
team
of
people
in
our
consumer
advocacy
and
response
division
um
and
anybody
who
is
having
an
issue
with
a
competitive
supplier.
We
very
much
encourage
them
to
call
and
register
a
complaint
or
to
just
give
us
notice
of
unfair
practices
that
are
going
on
in
their
community.
We
monitor
those
and
we
look
at
them
very
closely.
A
We
really
feel,
like
consumers
are
our
eyes
and
ears
on
the
ground
in
terms
of
what
is
happening
with
these
competitive
suppliers,
and
so
you
know
our
our
car
division.
um
Sometimes
they
can
actually
get
results
for
individual
consumers
who
complain
by
going
back
with
these
companies,
um
and
we
also
have
uh
voluminous
materials
on
our
website.
We
have
q,
a
that,
tells
consumers
what
they
should
do
um
if
they're
solicited.
A
It
summarizes
the
uh
findings
of
our
report
in
a
in
a
way
that
is,
is
digestible
to
people
other
than
energy
wonks.
Who
who
do
this
24
hours
a
day,
so
we've
really
taken
um
sort
of
every
avenue
we
could
think
of
to
get
the
word
out
to
consumers
and
the
attorney
general
herself
has
been
out
in
the
media
and
at
hearings
uh
raising
the
alarm
about
these
consumers.
You
know
one
of
the
things
that
she
says
to
consumers
is
to
treat
your
utility
bill
number.
A
Your
utility
account
number
like
your
credit
card
number,
because
if
they
have
just
the
consumer's
name
and
the
utility
account
number,
they
can
switch
you
to
their
account
and
steve
cook
made
a
really
great
observation
in
his
remarks
about
how
even
if
switched,
you
still
get
that
bill
from
eversource.
So
unless
you
know
enough
to
drill
down
to
that
supply
portion
on
the
bill,
um
you
might
you
might
be
paying
more
to
a
competitive
supplier
and
don't
even
know
it.
A
B
D
Thank
you
so
much
mr
chair
and
I
think
councilman
mejia
has
joined
us
as
well.
um
I
have
lots
of
questions
uh
for
this
panel
and
unfortunately,
I
got
booted
out
right
at
the
tail
end
of
chief
cooks,
testimony
in
the
beginning
of
mr
forrester.
So
forgive
me
if
my
questions
were
already
covered
when
I
got
booted
out
chief
cook,
we
were
talking
about
the
community
choice
electricity
program.
I'm
really
excited
about
that.
D
I'm
not
sure
if
you
gave
a
timeline,
if
you
could
give
a
timeline,
if
you
could
also
talk
about
eligibility,
is
this
for
everyone
who
lives
in
the
street
or
their
income
restrictions?
If
you
could
talk
about
the
rollout
and
how
we're
getting
the
information
out
what
languages
um
and
then
I'm
also
interested
chief
cook.
This
is
an
opportunity.
If
we're
going
to
be
doing
business
with
companies,
I
don't
know
that
there
are
a
lot
of
companies
in
the
space
that
are
mbes,
but
I
would.
H
G
Thank
you
counselor,
um
so
uh
trust
me
when
you
got
booted
out,
you
didn't
miss
anything.
It
was
just
me
ranting
about
predatory
practices
but
uh
and
that'll
be
the
theme
throughout
um
community
choice,
electricity.
The
timeline
will
be.
The
program
is
actually
alive
and
running
in
february
now
we
have
an.
H
G
Amount
of
community
outreach
to
do
through
november
and
december.
The
program
is
going
to
launch
in
february
21.
However,
due
to
eversource's
change
in
its
uh
basic
service
solicitation
process,
the
city
has
yet
to
had
to
decide
on
its
final
product
uh
selection.
So
after
it
does
that
in
november,
we
will
mail
out
that
product
and
the
product
options
directly
to
the
ratepayers
themselves.
G
So
they
will
receive
that.
There
will
then
be
a
period
where
ratepayers
can
opt
out
of
the
program
which
we
hope
they
don't,
because
we
think
it's
going
to
be
a
good,
affordable
program
for
them,
or
they
could
also
opt
up
in
the
program
and
when
I
say,
opt
up,
we
will
have
a
100
renewable
option
for
those
who
can
afford
it.
But
the
main
goal,
especially
with
the
first
iteration
of
the
program,
is
to
make
sure
we
are
offering
an
affordable
product,
because.
D
G
Now
to
our
municipal
aggregation
program,
you
then
have
the
choice
to
opt
out
should
you
want
to,
but
we
really
hope
people
don't,
because,
typically,
what
people
opt
out
of
when
they're
opting
out
of
basic
service
is
into
one
of
these
predatory
programs,
and
so
instead
they
will
be
into
a
city
program
and
obviously,
there's
accountability
there,
not
only
through
politicians
like
yourself,
but
also
the
fact
that
you
could
actually
get
the
program
manager
on
the
phone
at
city
hall.
Unlike
one
of
these
companies
when
you're
trying
to
change
your
rate.
D
G
You
yeah
so
we're
obviously
working
hand-in-hand
with
our
office
of
language
access
and,
obviously
our
office
of
immigrant
advancement,
but
we've
also
been
moving
forward
with
what
we've
been
calling
climate
justice
webinars,
making
sure
that
people
understand
um
the
electric
bill
to
begin
with,
and
the
fact
that
this
program
has
been
happening.
So
we've
offered
six
different
webinars
and
excuse
me
seven
different
webinars
in
six
different
languages.
G
So
far
we
will
continue
those
translated
services
moving
forward,
but
I
do
believe
the
most
powerful
um
information
that
we
will
have
will
be
those
direct
mailers
that
actually
go
to
the
rate
payers
themselves
and
fully
explain
the
electric
bill
and
the
option
that's
being
provided
to
them.
I
think
that's
going
to
be
very
powerful.
D
Cook,
I
think
so
too.
I
think
it
very
important
to
make
sure
that
that
mailer,
it's
clear
that
it's
coming
from
the
city,
because
the
tactics,
yes,
we
get
the
door-to-door
canvassing,
but
we
also
get
the
letters
and
it
gets
very
confusing.
What
can
we
trust?
What
can't
we
trust,
because
we
just
keep
getting
residents,
are
getting
bombarded
with
solicitation,
and
so,
if
we're
sending
something
out
just
to
make
sure
that
the
city
locals-
and
everyone
understands
that
this
is
good
information
coming
from
the
city.
D
I
want
to
make
sure
just
to
get
some
questions
in
from
mr
forester.
I
really
appreciate
all
of
the
work
that
the
ag
um
has
been
doing
and
I
I
wonder
if
there's
an
update
to
the
report,
you
mentioned
a
report
I
think
in
2017
and
then
was
there
something
in
2019.
If
you
could
just
give
us
a
sense
of
where
we
are
in
terms
of
the
data
that's
being
collected
and
then,
if
you
have
breakdown,
I'm
particularly
interested
in
the
city
of
boston.
D
I
know
you
guys
cover
the
entire
commonwealth,
but
if
you
have
a
breakdown
by
neighborhood
within
boston
or
any
breakdowns
by
race,
you
could
talk
about
different
languages.
You
mentioned
a
bunch
of
trainings
that
the
ag's
office
was
doing.
If
you
could
talk
about
how
we're
targeting
specific
communities.
That
would
be
helpful.
A
D
D
A
We
don't
actually
provide
the
names
of
those
suppliers
in
part
due
to
the
confidentiality
agreements
that
we
have
to
sign
to
get
the
data
in
the
first
instance.
um
So,
but
that
is
there
and
it's
sort
of
we
have
a
list
of
sort
of
the
top
10,
and
you
know
some
of
the
same.
We
identify
them
by
number
and
some
of
the
same
suppliers
appear
year
after
year
on
the
list.
D
A
Yeah,
so
I
I
have
some
here
um
so
in
our
reports
we
have
an
appendix-
um
and
this
is
true
of
both
our
initial
report,
our
updated
report
and
most
likely
the
future
report
that
we
will
be
issuing,
and
I
do
have
the
updated
numbers
for
um
you
know
individual
boston
neighborhoods.
um
So
I
can
you
know.
For
example,
um
I
could
tell
you
that
uh
you
know
I
mentioned
in
my
remarks
that
dorchester
has
been
the
hardest
hit
of
boston's
neighborhoods,
that
you
know
based
on
a
snapshot
in
september
of
2018.
A
What
we
do
is
we
take
a
snapshot
of
a
single
month
because
it's
not
feasible
to
get
that
sort
of
detailed
information
for
every
month
of
the
year.
So
each
report
we
take
a
snapshot
and
for
our
most
recent
set
of
data
that
snapshot
of
september
2018.,
dorchester
um
customers
in
dorchester
in
that
one
month
lost
on
net
116
741,
low-income
customers
in
dorchester
lost
twenty
six
thousand
three
hundred
and
sixteen
dollars.
That's
just
low
income.
D
And
what
it
does,
is
it
clearly
points
out
that
they
are
targeting
specific
poor
communities
of
color?
It
is
shameful
last
question:
are
there
opportunities
for
residents
for
customers,
consumers
to
get
their
money
back,
or
is
there
some
suit
that
people
can
join
or
is
it
just?
You
know
you
made
this
choice
so
therefore
like?
How
can
how
can
we
help
restore
um
and
make
people
whole.
A
um
We,
you
know,
we've
gotten
through
our
settlements,
almost
agreements
to
pay
up
to
a
total
of
almost
20
million
dollars,
and
most
of
that
goes
back
to
consumers,
and
one
thing
I'm
very
proud
about
about
those
programs
is
that
we
don't
require
people
to
fill
out
a
claim
form
to
get
their
money.
We
make
sure
that
the
suppliers
just
send
them
a
check.
Excellent.
A
Yes,
um
I
I
don't.
I
don't
have
the
the
the
specific
data
about
you
know
who
gets
this
or
that
in
each
supplier-
and
you
know,
in
fact
we
we
do
have
one
settlement.
That
is
very
recent
where
we
haven't
yet
paid
that
money
back,
but
we're
hoping
to
do
it
very
soon.
um
uh
But
you
can
go
into
our
reports
and
you
know
it
separately
lists.
You
know
for
alston,
brighton,
charlestown,
dorchester,
east
boston,
hyde,
park,
jamaica,
plain
et
cetera.
You
know
how
much
has
been
lost
in
total
in
those
communities.
A
A
B
F
Thank
you.
um
Some
questions,
um
I'm
interested
in
your
um
your
community
training,
the
trainings
that
you
do.
um
I
can,
I
can
think,
of
community
organizations
in
our
office
that
would
be
willing
to
sponsor
and
and
to
get
this.
I
know
from
my
own
experience
that
when
these
folks
turn
up
at
your
door,
they
look
very
official.
F
F
F
F
We
are
fortunate
to
have
our
own
electricity
supply
because
we
have
some
whole
solar
panels,
so
we
usually
just
tell
them
to
go
away
and
get
lost,
but
I
can
understand
uh
someone
who's
struggling
with
our
electricity
bill.
This
seems
like
a
very
inviting
option,
um
so
anything
we
can
do
to
spread.
The
word
I'm
also
you
know
I
want
to
echo
counselor
jenny's
um
concerns
that
we
get
these
letters
that
look
very
official
now
I
know
about
b
can
I
know
about.
F
I
think
I
thought
I
knew
about
community
uh
community
choice,
electricity,
but
they're,
very,
very
clever
about
how
they
presented
so
that
even
I
who
consider
myself
fairly
well
informed,
get
this
piece
of
literature
in
the
in
the
mail
and
I'm
thinking-
oh,
that's
great.
That's
the
community
choice,
energy
group,
they're
off
and
then
I'll
hang
on
a
minute.
B
F
A
F
B
J
J
J
I
was
very
proud
to
have
worked
with
councilor
wu
and
all
of
our
colleagues
I
know
counselor
jamie
campbell
and
flynn
were
on
the
body
when
we
are
actually
this
may
have
predated
you
joining
the
body
when
we
voted
on
it.
It
was,
uh
but
I
know,
you've
all
been
supportive
of
it.
It's
uh
been
a
very
long
process.
um
It
is
a
very
long
process,
thanks
again
to
the
attorney
general's
office.
J
I
remember
sitting
down
with
her
team
back
in
probably
20
15
or
16
initially
um
so
to
see
the
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel
is
something
I
am
extraordinarily
excited
about,
so
um
just
to
reiterate
uh
chief
cook,
I
think
you've
probably
said
this
several
times,
but
because
we're
so
close,
it's
it's
worth
being
repeated
uh
just
for
the
timeline
next
month.
All
ratepayers
will
receive
the
options
from
the
I'm
sorry
go
ahead.
No.
G
I
apologize
counselor,
I
just
don't
want
there
to
be
any
confusing
next
month,
we'll
set
that
we
will
set
that
rate
and
the
reason
why
is
eversource
is
not
setting
its
default
rate
till
november
17th,
so
we
will
set
our
rate
after
they
do
to
just
make
sure
again.
We
don't
want
to
further
energy
burden
anyone,
so
we
have
to
make
sure
that
our
product
is
actually
competitive
with
them.
um
We
will
certainly
socialize
that
uh
over
appropriate
channels,
but
the
big
communication
mailing
will
most
likely
be
end
of
november
december.
J
G
That's
so
counselor
we
were
pushed
because
of
dpu's
review
of
our
municipal
aggregation
program.
We
were
for
we
we
were
pushed
into
this
cycle
in
order
to
launch
our
program.
We
will
also
moving
forward
be
able
to
take
advantage
of
those
more
competitive
spring
bidding
times
so
you're
right,
fabulous.
J
G
It
will
and
but
also
give
people
the
option
to
opt
out.
Should
they
choose
or
opt
up
should
they
choose,
but
hopefully
we
want
everyone
to
stay
in.
I
think
to
counselor
jamie
and
counselor
breeden's
point
the
idea
that
is
coming
officially
from
the
city
of
boston,
just
like
a
tax
bill
or
just
like
some
other
communication
around
the
coronavirus.
J
G
uh
At
this
point,
I
think
what
we're
going
to
be
able
to
option
is
we're
going
to
have
the
default
pro
product
itself,
um
and
then
we
will
have
the
opt
up
product
um
when
we
have
more
competitive
bidding
cycles.
I
think
we'll
be
able
to
vary
that,
in
addition,
looking
forward
into
the
future
uh
to
counselor
janie's
point,
hopefully
we'll
be
able
to
incentivize
more
localized
renewable
energy
opportunities
uh
for
for
community
members,
roger.
G
J
Yeah,
I
think
it's
high
teens
or
so,
and
we
can
grow
that
significantly
more
at
no
additional
cost
or
or
sometimes
even
savings
to
the
ratepayer.
I
mean,
I
think,
that's
that
is
often
lost
on
this
debate
um
and
then,
secondly,
so
so
this
information
will
be
available
in
the
next
month
plus
and
then
it
will
actually
go
into
effect
in
february.
G
That's
right,
so,
if
you
do
nothing,
you
will
automatically
be
switched
over
to
the
municipal
aggregation
program
and
we
think
once
that
happens,
that
will
end
a
lot
of
these
deceptive
practices
that
are
happening
in
our
neighborhoods.
Frankly,
I
believe-
um
and
this
is
something
that
the
attorney
general's
been
really
leaning
forward
on
uh
maury
healy-
is
that
the
reason
we've
seen
this
uptick
is
not
only
people
taking
advantage
of
the
pandemic
and
the
fact
that
people
are
home.
G
Not
only
are
they
taking
advantage
of
the
fact
that
people
are
energy
burned
and
worried
about
their
electricity
bills
as
they're
sitting
at
home?
Maybe
they
have
a
spouse
or
another
member
of
their
household
out
of
work,
but
also
they
know
that
our
municipal
aggregation
is
pro
program
is
coming
through
the
partnership
with
the
city
council
and
so
they're
trying
to
take
advantage
of
people
and
lock
them
into
these
contracts
before
our
program
arrives.
J
All
of
those
are
absolutely
right
chief,
and
I
would
just
add
a
fourth
reason-
is
that
often
these
companies
use
the
sheen
of
environmentalism
to
sell
their
product
when
in
fact
it's
it's
often
not
as
energy
efficient,
sometimes
worse,
um
but
sort
of
capitalizing
on
the
fact
that
people
understand
that
we
need
to
do
more
for
the
environment,
so
I
think
that's
pretty
good.
So
I
appreciate
that
um
all
right.
Let
me
just
ask
this
for
my
own
edification.
So
when
will
I
have
to
affirmatively
opt
up
to
100
renewable?
J
J
B
K
Good
morning,
thank
you,
counselor
flynn,
um
and
thank
you,
president
janey,
for
calling
this
hearing.
um
I
I
believe
when
it
was
first
um
filed.
I
talked
about
my
own
personal
experience
with
people
knocking
on
my
door
with
the
bait
and
switch,
um
and
they
are
very
aggressive.
These
um
folks
who
are
out
here
trying
to
get
you
to
um
give
them
your
information
and
I'm
all.
K
I
have
a
few
questions
and
I'm
just
curious
in
terms
of
um
from
a
workforce
development
space,
uh
the
people
who
are
being
hired
to
do
the
work
um
curious
about
what,
if
anybody
has
any
intel
on
like
what
is
what
does
that
recruitment
process?
Look
like
what
type
of
training
these
individuals
are
getting
do
they
know
what
they're
walking
into.
I
think
that
that's
also
something
that
we
may
want
to
look
into,
um
because
if
folks
are
doing
things
that
are
illegal,
um
I
think
that
they
need
to
know
about
it.
K
um
What
kind
of
community
partnerships
are
happening
with
local
non-profits
and
advocate
um
advocate?
I
think
that
oftentimes
these
folks
are
out
in
the
streets
doing
organizing
in
different
ways
and
for
different
issues
that
I
think
that
some
partnership
with
some
of
these
folks
to
just
incorporate
some
of
this
language
in
in
their
outreach
efforts,
might
be
helpful.
A
A
Very
few
of
them
are
in
the
state
commonwealth
of
massachusetts,
if
any
uh
often
they
bring
in
folks
from
out
of
state.
um
You
know
it's
not
uncommon
to
hear
about.
You
know,
for
example,
a
living
situation
where
you
know
there's
a
collection
of
people
from
maybe
florida
or
ohio
or
oregon
or
somewhere,
that
are
all
you
know,
renting
some
place
in
boston
and
then
going
out
during
the
day
and
marketing
the
this
competitive
electric
supply
market
supply
product.
A
I
was
somebody
marketing
this
product,
and
I
thought
that
I
was
doing
a
good
thing
for
people's
pocketbooks
and
for
the
environment,
and
I
was
really
stunned
amazed
and
hurt
that
what
ended
up
happening
was
that
I
was.
I
was
basically
perpetuating
a
scam,
um
so
you
know
we
have
all
the
the
sympathy
in
in
the
world
for
these
folks.
um
You
know
a
lot
of
the
I'm
actually
not
aware
of
any
competitive
supply
company
that
is
in
massachusetts.
A
G
Unfortunately,
what
often
happens
is
we
have
to
refer
them
to
the
attorney
general's
office
and
you
can
imagine
the
case
load
there,
and
so
I
think
the
biggest
effort
we
can
do
is
to
be
proactive
and
make
sure
that
our
municipal
aggregation
program
is
up
and
running
for
those
informational.
Webinars
we've
been
very
fortunate,
we've
been,
you
know,
considering
that
they're
highly
targeted
to
specific
languages
we've
been
getting
as
many
as
20
people
to
those
different
webinars.
You
know.
G
Our
hope
is
that
they
are
climate
leaders
and
they
are
leaders
within
their
community
and
then
they're
bringing
forward
that
message,
but
we've
also
been
collecting
their
feedback
to
provide
further
communications
to
those
targeted
members
of
our
community.
And
then
the
last
thing
I'll
say
is.
I
think
your
point
on
using
the
organizations
is
um
is
is
really
key
to
all
of
this.
You
know
as
good
as
our
brand
is
the
city
of
boston,
the
brand
of
beacan,
the
brand
of
mcam
mothers
out
front
conservation
law
foundation.
G
Ace,
I'm
gonna
get
in
trouble
because
now
I'm
just
listing
all
of
our
amazing
organizations.
Sierra
club
and
I'm
gonna
forget
one
but
the
value
of
their
brand
when
we
have
our
final
product
and
they
say
to
the
community.
This
is
a
good
product
for
you.
They
have
such
trust
built
within
those
communities.
I
think
that
would
be
very
valuable,
but
this
goes
well
beyond
the
climate
justice,
environmental
groups.
We
really
have
to
connect
with
the
cdcs
and
all
the
folks
that
you
at
the
council
are
connected
with,
because
electricity
affects
everybody.
K
Yeah,
thank
you
for
that
chief
cook.
um
I
do
have
a
follow-up
to
that.
I'm
also
um
just
would
encourage
you
to
look
at
some
of
the
organizers
that
are
working
in
the
housing
space
just
because
um
obviously
folks
who
are
renting
are
experiencing
the
housing
crunch,
and
so
it's
just
a
few
little
talking
points
that
you
can
share
with
that
group
and
then
the
other
thing
that
I
would
say
is
that
I
always
talk
about
the
fact
that
everybody
knows
how
to
read
or
write
even
in
their
own
native
language.
K
So
even
if
it's
just
a
video
here's
five
things
that
you
need
to
know
that
go
out
into
the
social
media
so
that
we
can
um
share
it
across
our
platforms
in
terms
of
what
people
need
to
look
out
for.
That
would
also
be
helpful
um
to
us,
and
I
think,
if
there
was
a
list
of
those
bad
actors,
uh
public
shaming,
always
works.
K
B
That
ends
the
first
piano.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
chief
chris
cook.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
uh
nathan,
forrester,
you're,
more
than
welcome
to
stay
and
listen
to
the
conversation.
I
just
wanted
to
add
one
brief
story.
Before
we
go
to
the
second
panel,
there
was
an
elderly
woman
in
my
neighborhood.
She
got
mailed
of
an
official
looking
check
that
was
made
out
to
her
for
very
small
money.
B
I
think
was
like
eight
dollars
or
nine
dollars
and
she
cashed
the
check
and
once
she
cashed
the
check
and
got
the
eight
dollars
she
went
down
into
the
store
and
got
milk
and
bread,
and
then
she
was
signed
up
on
on
an
electric
plan
or
some
type
of
plan.
This
was
several
years
ago.
I
referred
it
to
the
attorney
general's
office,
but
you're
exploiting
seniors,
especially
seniors
that
are
in
desperate
need
to
pay
their
bills
or
to
have
a
little
bit
of
food
on
their
table.
B
So
we
appreciate
that
the
great
work
of
the
attorney
general's
office,
ian
of
um
chief
cook,
chief
chris
cook's
team
as
well,
so
thank
you
um
and
now
I
would
like
to
recognize
and
introduce
the
second
group
of
um
the
second
piano.
We
will
start
I'll,
introduce
them
and
then
they
can
give
an
opening
statement.
B
Monica
briggs,
who
is
with
the
boston
climate
action
network,
terry
mason,
also
with
the
boston
climate,
action
network,
warren
sampson
lawyers
for
civil
rights,
sophia
owen,
alternatives
for
community
and
environment,
and
I
might
be-
I
might
not
pronounce
this
name
correctly.
So
I
apologize
if,
if
you
could
help
me
as
dwayne
tyndale
alternatives
for
community
and
environment
at
this
time,
I
would
like
to
ask
monica
briggs
if
you
would
like
to
give
um
opening
comment,
and
I
also
know
that
you
have
an
11
30
hard
stop.
So
I
wanted
to
get
to
monica
monica's
testimony.
B
C
Thank
you
very
much.
Do
I
have
two
minutes?
Yes,
yes,
okay!
um
Well,
then
I'll
make
a
short
story
out
of
my
three
uh
separate
experiences
with
these
scammers,
um
I'm
an
environmentalist
very
eager
to
uh
use
renewable
energy,
so
I
was
uh
a
real
sucker
for
them.
It
started
nine
years
ago
and
uh
I
was
home
alone
recovering
from
an
injury
and
they
look
very
polished
uh
every
interaction
with
them.
They
have
had
logos
and
hats
and
shirts,
and
very
enthusiastic,
very
high
pressure,
very
excited.
C
C
C
Nonetheless,
I
stepped
into
another
potential
agreement
because
they
came
to
my
door
again
and
they
wanted
to
see
my
my
electricity
bills
and
I
didn't
really
understand
why
they
wanted
to
actually
come
in
my
house
and
look
at
my
electricity
bills.
um
Unfortunately,
uh
this
was
a
team
of
of
young
people
again
very
enthusiastic,
my
suspicions
kind
of
overrided-
and
I
told
them
I
would
contact
them
the
next
day
and
they
called
me
and
uh
asked
me
for
the
same
information,
and
I
just
decided
you
know
these
people
are
far
too
high
pressure
for
me.
C
Then
it
happened
again
a
couple
of
years
later
and
I
told
them
to
get
off
my
porch
and
uh
not
to
bother
me
and
that
I
was
tired
of
their
overtures.
These
were
three
different
companies
and
I
actually
alerted
my
neighbors
um
and
called
the
better
business
bureau
again,
um
but
uh
you
know
they
were
very
intense
um
and
you
know
I
consider
myself
somebody
who's
fairly
informed,
um
but
they
got
me
every
time.
C
C
L
L
But
I
too
was
approached
in
jamaica,
plain
on
my
front
porch
and
uh
by
a
you
know,
fairly.
Young
person,
and
all
I
can
say
is
that
for
the
long
amount
of
time
that
we
spent
on
the
front
porch,
I
was
very
concerned
about
climate
change
and
really
wanted
to
do
something
about
it.
And
so
they
sold
me
long
story
short
on
signing
up
with
just
energy,
which
I
noticed
is
one
of
the
companies
that
the
attorney
general's
office
has
already
gotten
some
kind
of
fine
from
for
uh
deceptive
practices.
L
um
You
know
revolution
as
it
turned
out
a
few
years
later.
They
sent
me,
I
guess
maybe
they
were
required
to
by
the
attorney
general's
office,
I'm
not
sure
uh
a
list
of
the
kinds
of
um
sources
that
they
had
for
their
energy
guess
what
it
was
almost
all
uh
natural
gas,
nuclear
energy
and
some
coal
and
then
tiny
tiny
amounts
of
solar,
and
I
I
just
downloaded
their
2019
environmental
source
report
for
their
energy.
And
it's
the
same.
L
L
H
H
I
want
to
start
by
just
breaking
down
for
those
who
might
be
watching
what
exactly
it
is
that
we're
talking
about
so
following
the
deregulation
of
the
utility
industry
in
massachusetts
in
1997,
consumers
can
now
obtain
electricity
or
gas
in
one
of
two
ways.
First,
they
can
rely
on
their
utility,
eversource
national
grid
or
unitil
to
provide
what's
known
as
basic
service.
H
H
We
have
seen
that
these
marketing
efforts
often
involve
deceptive
and
predatory
conduct,
including
pretending
to
be
a
utility
company
slamming
or
switching
accounts
without
permission,
refusing
to
leave
the
premises
without
a
signed
contract
or
caller
id
spoofing
council
president
janie
asked
for
data
and
I'm
happy
to
provide
that.
According
to
data
gathered
by
the
attorney
general
in
june
2017
30
percent
of
all
accounts
in
majority
minority
zip
codes
compared
to
19
in
white
majority,
zip
codes
use
competitive
energy
suppliers.
H
The
problem
is
very
acute
in
boston,
42
of
all
dorchester
accounts
and
53
percent
of
all
low-income
dorchester
accounts
are
with
residential,
competitive
energy
suppliers,
39
of
all
matapan
accounts
and
48
of
all
low
income.
Matapan
accounts
are
with
suppliers,
36
of
all
roxbury
accounts
and
49
of
all
low-income
roxbury
accounts
use,
suppliers
and,
lastly,
29
of
all
east
boston
accounts
and
43
percent
of
all
low-income
east
boston
accounts
are
with
these
suppliers.
H
H
H
A
woman
in
roxbury
who
was
recruited
by
her
section
8
inspector,
who
told
her
he
was
working
for
the
electricity
company
as
a
side
job.
Her
bill
went
up
immediately
and
she
was
told
she
couldn't
switch
without
incurring
a
large
penalty,
a
granddaughter
in
boston
whose
grandparents
were
signed
up
with
a
supplier
and
were
overcharged
considerably,
even
though
they
are
low
income
and
a
single
mother
in
lynn
who
provided
account
information
to
inspire
energy
when
the
salesperson
claimed
they
were
representing
her
utility
company
and
then
found
her
account
had
been
switched
without
her
permission.
H
As
recently
as
february
2020,
the
department
of
public
utilities
issued
a
notice
regarding
misleading
and
deceptive
telemarketing
campaigns
to
residents
on
behalf
of
suppliers,
which
claimed
consumers
were
eligible
to
receive
discounts
on
their
monthly
bills.
Even
though
the
name
of
the
supplier
was
never
mentioned,
and
the
agents
claim
consumers
could
avoid
paying
charges
that
are
actually
mandated
by
statute.
H
The
salesperson
conveyed
a
strong
impression
that
providing
account
information
was
mandatory.
Not
optional
and
was
pushy
and
aggressive
throughout
the
encounter,
even
sending
an
email
to
the
resident
from
a
third
party
service
while
at
the
door
and
pressuring
him
to
sign
up,
because
the
offer
would
only
be
valid
for
24
hours.
H
We
urge
the
city
council
to
explore
one
or
more
of
the
following
options:
supporting
groups
like
ace
and
lcr,
and
our
request
to
dpu
for
a
reinstatement
of
the
ban
on
competitive
energy
suppliers
and
communities
designated
as
read
by
the
department
of
public
health,
supporting
the
legislation
filed
by
the
attorney
general
that
would
prohibit
competitive
energy
supplier,
solicitation
of
residential
consumers,
providing
community
education
through
and
beyond.
The
city's
community
choice
energy
program
as
to
the
difference
between
electricity
supply
and
generation,
and
how
to
protect
oneself
from
scams.
H
The
city
also
maintains
an
online
no
solicitation
form
and
prohibits
commercial
solicitors.
From
going
to
addresses
on
that
list,
it
also
makes
available
no
solicitation
signs
that
residents
can
print
and
display
requiring
reports
of
the
dates.
Locations
and
number
of
salespeople
in
omni's
campaigns
would
allow
the
city
to
better
monitor
marketing
activities
and
identify
problematic
trends.
B
M
Had
enough
coffee
this
morning,
um
thank
you
councilor
flynn.
Good
morning
my
name
is
sophia
owen.
I'm
the
staff
attorney
and
the
director
for
environmental
justice,
legal
services
at
alternatives
for
community
and
environment
or
ace
based
in
roxbury
massachusetts
ace,
builds
the
power
of
communities
of
color
to
combat
environmental
racism
and
classism
to
build
healthy
and
sustainable
communities
and
to
achieve
environmental
justice.
M
Before
the
onset
of
closing
19
representatives
from
one
of
the
competitive
suppliers
had
a
semi-permanent
setup
in
the
parking
lot
outside
of
our
office
on
rural
street.
In
roxbury,
a
staff
members
and
volunteers,
including
myself,
have
been
repeatedly
badgered
by
marketers.
We've
been
offered
gift
cards.
If
we
switch
providers
misled
about
which
company
these
individuals
work
for,
when
pressed,
they
eventually
admitted
that
they
do
not
work
for
eversource
international
grid
and
promise
that
our
utility
bills
will
decrease.
M
M
We're
concerned,
however,
that
such
campaigns
were
allowed
to
resume
in
july.
Last
week
we
were
made
aware
that
jordan,
our
marketing
campaigns
are
ongoing
in
roxbury
and
chelsea.
Two
communities
that
are
reeling
from
the
public
health
and
economic
crises
brought
on
by
covet
19
and
one
of
our
staff
members
was
actually
approached
by
a
competitive
supplier.
M
Trick-Or-Treating
has
been
strongly
discouraged
in
chelsea
and
cancelled
in
springfield,
worcester
and
lawrence,
all
of
which
have
large
communities
of
color
and
low
in
communities.
Low-Income
communities
and
are
also
experiencing
high
rates
of
covet
19.
if
children
are
barred
from
attending
school
in
person
or
engaging
in
beloved
cultural
celebrations.
Competitive
suppliers
should
not
be
permitted
to
prey
on
vulnerable
residents,
while
risking
the
public
health
of
some
of
our
most
hard-hit
communities.
M
I
We
have
to
because
they're
going
to
come
in
many
different
forms.
This
time
they
came
through
the
utilities,
they're
going
to
come
in
other
ways,
and
we
have
to
draw
a
line
and
make
an
example
of
these
scammers
because,
as
the
next
months
happen
and
its
pandemic
expands
into
2021,
your
offices
will
be
one
of
the
first
places
that
our
residents
call
to
say
they
need
help
and
they
margins.
The
margins
of
existence
for
many
of
our
residents
is
at
at
a
very
slim
line.
I
I
I
think
the
city
of
boston
could
take
a
strong
stance.
um
We
will
continue
to
educate
our
population,
but
we
need
enforcement.
We
need
a
hammer
and
whether
it
come
from
the
state
or
city
or
combination
of
the
two.
um
It's
very
important
that
we
have
some
enforcement
component.
When
someone
is
stealing
resources
from
our
families,
there
has
to
be
a
direct
consequence
and
right
now,
I'm
not
sure
if
the
consequences
are
great
enough
for
those
companies
to
stay
out
of
our
neighborhoods.
I
B
B
um
You
know
scammers
or
criminals
come
in
many
forms,
summon
suits
others
over
the
telephone,
but
there
should
be
no
place
for
these
for
these
scammers
or
these
con
men
in
our
city,
and
we
do
need
enforcement
to
deal
with
these
scammers.
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
uh
dwayne
for
those
informative
comments
um
at
this
time.
I
would
like
to
ask
council
president
janie
if
she
would
like
to
open
it
up
for
questions.
D
Yes,
thank
you
so
much,
mr
chair.
um
I
want
to
start
by
just
thanking
uh
this
panel
for
their
work
for
being
on
the
front
lines,
I
want
to
especially
thank
the
panelists
who
shared
their
own
experiences
uh
dealing
with
these
scams.
One
of
the
things
we
haven't
really
talked
about
in
this
hearing,
but
it's
it's
a
big
issue
is
the
stigma
attached
to
being
scammed
and
for
many
it's
very
difficult
to
come
forward.
D
Many
are
left
feeling
um
silly
feeling,
like
they've,
somehow
have
participated
in
their
own
scam
when,
in
fact,
it's
important
that
we
lay
the
blame
where
the
blame
should
be,
and
that
is
with
the
scam
artist
period.
So
one
thing
it's
really
important
that
we
take
away
the
stigma
so
that
people
do
feel
like
they
can
come
forward
um
and
that
and
that
we
provide
the
information.
So,
in
terms
of
questions
um
again,
thank
you
guys
for
being
on
the
front
lines.
Thank
you
for
your
work,
I'm
very
interested
in
numbers.
D
I
heard
the
stories
and
different
examples
for
boston,
as
well
as
other
communities
surrounding
boston.
I
would
love
to
drill
down
on
boston,
the
boston
neighborhoods
and,
if
they're,
if
there
are
from
what
I
understand,
you
know
it's
dorchester,
roxbury
matapan,
um
which
are
also
the
neighborhoods
within
boston
that
are
largely
populated
by
people
of
color
um
and
tend
to
be
poor
communities.
D
And
so
I'm
I'm
just
very
concerned
that
not
only
are
these
artists
coming
into
our
city
to
take
advantage
of
folks
but
they're,
really
targeting
people
who
are
the
most
vulnerable,
whether
our
seniors
people
who
are
learning
english,
um
and
so
I
I
want
to
be
able
to
drill
down
specifically,
do
you
have
any
data?
Anyone
on
this
panel
that
really-
and
I
I
saw
miss
sampson-
uh
that
you
highlighted
like
like
in
in
certain
neighborhoods-
um
these
folks
have
it,
but
then
you
add
low
income
to
it.
It's
even
higher.
H
Okay,
so
that
in
places
that
are
have
a
high
percentage
of
people
of
color
that
to
have
like
those
striking
numbers-
and
I
would
add
to
those
three
communities-
east
boston,
like
I
mentioned
29
of
all-
accounts,
43
of
all
low-income
east
boston
accounts.
So
we
from
the
data
I
have
like.
I
said
we
don't
have.
You
know
x
percentage
of
black
households,
but
we
do
have
these
zip
code
based
data,
which
you
know
we
can
correlate
with
census
data
um
and
with,
of
course,
other
community
based
uh
community
level.
Data.
Excuse
me.
D
D
Where
are
the
cities
that
have
really
figured
this
out?
What
can
we
learn
from
them?
Are
there?
Is
there
anyone
that
you
could
point
to,
or
are
there
specific
initiatives
that
perhaps
other
municipalities
have
taken
on
um
that?
You
think
we
should
adopt?
I
I
heard
you
mention
amendments
to
our
code
around,
so
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that,
as
we
wrap
up
this
hearing,
we
have
some
good
nuggets
in
terms
of
solution-oriented
follow-up.
Next
steps
that
we
can
try
to
advance
here
in
the
city.
H
Sure
so
I
think
I
I
highlighted
in
my
opening
remarks,
in
particular
a
couple
cities
that
I
think
have
really
interesting
initiatives,
and
I
want
to
highlight
in
particular
the
city
of
montrose
colorado,
which
has
a
multi-pronged
approach.
So,
on
the
one
hand,
you
have
something
that
you
see
in
other
cities,
which
is,
if
you're
a
commercial
solicitor
you
have
to
have
a
city
issued,
permit
and
display
a
city
issued
photo
id
badge
so
that
right
there
is
just
a
way
of
giving
the
city
information
who's
in
our
neighborhoods.
How
many
campaigns
are
happening
simultaneously?
H
How
many
people
are
going
door
to
door?
So
you
know
one
thing
that
we
found
and
I'm
sure
that
my
colleagues
from
ace
and
b
can
will
note.
We
frequently
hear
from
people
who
don't
know
what
supplier
came
to
their
house,
because
the
suppliers
are
not
making
it
easy
to
identify
who
they
are.
But
if
the
city
knew
we
gave
badges
to
this
company
to
work
in
this
neighborhood
we
could
pin
down.
Who
exactly
is
you
know
preying
upon
our
residents?
H
Then
the
city
of
montrose
also
makes
it
easier
for
residents
to
sign
themselves
up
to
not
be
solicited
to
you
can
do
that
online.
You
can
do
that
by
phone.
You
can
go
to
the
city
and
say
don't
like.
I
don't
want
people
to
come
to
my
address
and
the
city
maintains
that
database
and
prohibits
commercial
solicitors
from
going
to
addresses
on
that
list.
You
know
the
city
makes
available
these
signs,
that
you
can
print
and
you
can
put
out.
H
D
Anyone
else
want
to
chime
in
just
on
solutions
and
then
I'd
I'd
love
to
yield.
My
time
to
other
colleagues,
I
just
want
to
again
emphasize
my
my
gratitude
to
you
guys
for
being
on
the
front
lines
and
really
tackling
this
issue
and
again
to
those
who
shared
their
own
personal
stories
having
dealt
with
scam
artists.
I
know
it
is
not
easy
um
to
kind
of
share
your
story,
but
we
need
to
again
take
back
that
power.
Make
sure
people
understand
they
don't
have
to
stay
in
victimhood.
D
That-
and
this
is
the
purpose
of
this
conversation,
to
make
sure
that
we
are
arming
people
with
the
information
that
they
need,
that
we're
putting
the
protections
in
place
and
that
we're
coming
up
with
solutions.
So
unless
anyone
else
wants
to
chime
in
mr
chair,
I
do
uh
yield
my
time.
Thank
you.
So
much.
M
I
appreciate
that
that
collection
is
difficult
and
that
there
is
more
that
is
forthcoming
from
the
ag,
but
if
we
can
collect
some
of
that
data,
as
you
said,
neighborhood
to
neighborhood
and
with
the
way
that
things
have
changed
so
much
with
displacement,
I
think
it's
important
to
have
a
more
up-to-date
picture,
so
anything
that
the
council
can
do
to
help
collect
and
solicit
information
from
folks
around.
This
would
also
be
very
helpful.
B
B
Council
president
to
the
general
public,
um
and
so
you
provide
provide
great
information
to
the
residents
that
you
know
then
they're
the
victim.
But
um
you
know
it's
not
their
fault,
so
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
council
jane
for
bringing
up
that
great
point,
um
and
at
this
time
I
would
like
to
ask
councillor
braden.
If
she
has
any
questions.
Counselor
brayden.
F
F
These
operators
are
incredibly
slick.
They
look
very,
very
professional
um
and
the
materials
that
we're
getting
in
the
mail
are
looking
very,
very
convincing
like
I,
I
myself
was
all
almost
thought
that
something
that
was
coming
through
and
the
mail
was
something
from
our
community.
um
What
is
it
I
have
to
always
check
it?
Community
choice,
electricity-
I
I
I
almost
there
was
a
big
switch
there
that
was
very
subtle
and
very,
very,
very
convincing.
F
So
um
I
really
feel
enraged
that
this
is
happening,
especially
in
our
neighborhoods
of
uh
where
we
have
large
communities
of
color
um
and
that
people
are
being
exploited
and
victimized
in
this
way,
so
anything
that
we
can
do
as
a
city
to
disincentivize
this
behavior.
I
applaud
the
attorney
general's
office
for
taking
such
I
think.
They've
been
pretty
effective,
but
it
is
still
happening
on
the
ground.
I
think
having
a
a
dashboard
with
um
with
um
businesses
that
are
doing
this
exp.
F
H
H
You
know,
certainly
these
are
jurisdictions
that
I
think
have
struck
a
good
balance
between
the
protections
of
the
first
amendment,
which
does
still,
of
course
protect
commercial
speech,
as
well
as
the
need
to
protect
residents
and
and
make
sure
other
interests
are
balanced
as
well.
So
we
can
circulate
that
document.
More
broadly,
um
like
I
said,
I
know
we
sent
it
to
council
president
janie's
staff
in
the
summer,
um
but
can
update
that
and
continue
to
circulate
it.
H
I
do
think
that
now
more
than
ever,
usually
the
interest
that
municipalities
talk
about
are
you
know
we
want
to
prevent
traffic
and
trash?
I
think
now
that
we
have
a
global
pandemic
and
we
don't
want
people
going
door
to
door.
The
interest
of
the
city
in
protecting
those
residents
is
even
stronger
and,
I
think,
militates
even
more
favorably
towards
a
code
amendment
that
would
ensure
that
solicitation
is
managed
and
handled
in
a
way
that
does
not
disadvantage
vulnerable
communities.
H
F
The
trick
is,
you
know
the
the
first
amendment
protections
are,
are
always
there,
but
um
if
first
amendment
protections
for
for
criminals
who
are
scamming
people,
I
we
have
to
find
a
solution
to
this
problem.
So
any
any
information
that
you
can
share
with
us
would
be
greatly
valued
lauren,
and-
and
thank
you
so
much
I
have
to
apologize.
I
have
to
jump
off
for
another
another
meeting
right
now,
but
thank
you
so
much.
This
is
really
important
um
and
and
critical
that
we
get
this
fixed.
I'm
I'm
I'm
really
passionate
about
this.
F
B
J
That
will
help
uh
not
totally
solve
this
problem,
but
will
certainly
help
uh
make
it
a
lot
better,
but
certainly
the
work
will
continue
and
I
think
some
of
the
ideas
and
suggestions
that
came
from
our
prior
speakers
um
are
ones
that
we
should
heed
and
we
should
really
put
into
practice.
um
This
is
a
social
justice
issue.
This
is
an
environmental
issue.
This
is
a
fairness
issue
and
um
an
economic
issue
as
well
and
obviously,
as
has
been
said,
uh
you
know
folks,
who
are
being
targeted.
J
J
I
think
that
that
there's
sort
of
a
two
way
we
can
maybe
capitalize
on
the
community
choice
um
uh
the
continuance
of
the
sort
of
rollout,
the
the
community
process
that
we
had
when
we
originally
wrote
this
this
or
when
we
originally
began
uh
pursuing
this,
we
had
anticipated
a
year-long
community
outreach
going
to
different
civic
associations
and
meetings.
It
was
largely
one
of
the
ways
that
we
were
able
to
pass
it
we
had
so
many
of
the
advocates
go
to
different
civic
associations
to
try
to
build
support
which
was
done
successfully.
J
um
Obviously,
the
pandemic
has
made
that
difficult.
While
we
have
been
doing
some
good
outreach
via
zoom
these
profiles,
don't
don't
they're
this
this
platform,
I
should
say,
doesn't
work
for
everybody,
so
we
need
to
be
really
intentional
about
that
going
forward
as
we
get
closer
to
the
february
launch
date,
but
I
think
there
is
an
opportunity
to
talk
about
what
community
choice
is
and
also
again
alert
members
of
the
public.
What
the
other
options
that
often
sound
too
good
to
be
true
are
too
good
to
be
true.
So
um
again,
uh
thanks
to
everyone.
J
K
B
D
uh
Thank
you
so
much,
mr
chair.
I
just
would
like
to
again
thank
the
panelists
the
first
panel,
the
second
panel
here.
Certainly
my
colleagues
all
of
the
advocates,
all
those
who
who
testified
particularly
those
who
shared
their
stories.
There
seems
to
be
lots
of
opportunity
to
continue
some
good
work
together.
So
I
look
forward
to
doing
that.
Working
with
lcr
working
with
ace
working
with
be
can
and
others,
and
certainly
my
colleagues
on
the
council.
So
um
I
appreciate
you
uh
sharing
this
important
discussion
and
look
forward
to
the
next
steps.
B
Thank
you,
council.
President
again,
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
advocates.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
administration
for
being
here,
the
the
office
of
the
massachusetts
attorney
general
for
for
her
leadership
as
well.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
city
council,
central
staff,
especially
candace
and
shane,
for
helping
us
helping
us
on
this
hearing.