►
From YouTube: Committee on Public Health on December 8, 2020
Description
Docket #0735 - Message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Rebecca Gutman, as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Board of Health for a term expiring on January 15, 2023.
Docket #0736 - Message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Manny Lopes, as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Board of Health for a term expiring on January 15, 2023.
Docket #0737 - Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Guale Valdez, as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Board of Health for a term expiring on January 15, 2022
A
Okay,
I'm
gonna
get
us
started,
as
colleagues
appear
out,
I'll
call
them
out.
So
for
the
record,
my
name
is
ricardo,
arroyo,
boston
city
council
for
district
five,
I'm
the
chair
of
the
boston
city
council
committee
on
public
health,
I'm
joined
by
my
colleague,
ed
flynn.
Today,
councillor
ed
flynn,
the
public
hearing
has
been
recorded
in
livestream.boston.gov
city
council
tv.
It
will
be
rebroadcast
on
xfinity
channel,
8,
rcn,
channel
82
and
verizon
files
channel
964..
A
We
will
take
public
testimony
at
the
end
of
the
hearing.
If
you
wish
to
testify
via
video
conference,
please
email,
shanepack
boston.gov,
to
sign
up
when
you
are
called
please
state
your
name
and
affiliation
and
residence
and
limit
your
comments
in
no
more
than
two
minutes
to
ensure
that
all
comments
can
be
heard.
You
may
also
submit
written
testimony
by
emailing
the
ccc.health
boston.gov.
A
Today's
hearing
is
on
docket
number
735
a
message
in
order
for
the
confirmation
of
the
reappointments
of
rebecca
gutmann
as
a
member
of
the
boston
public
health,
commission's
board
of
health
for
a
term
expiring
january
15,
2023
dockets
736,
a
message
in
order
for
the
confirmation
of
the
reappointment
of
manny
lopes
as
a
member
of
the
boston
public
health
commission,
board
of
health
for
a
term
expiring
on
january
15,
2023
a
message
in
order
for
the
confirmation
of
the
appointment
of
gualia
valdez
as
a
member
of
the
boston
public
health,
commission's
board
of
health
for
a
term
expiring
on
january
15,
2022.
A
many
lopes
and
guadale
valdez
are
both
here
today,
rebecca
gutmann
was
unable
to
attend,
but
did
submit
a
letter
and
is
a
reappointment.
So
we
have
a
resume
in
her
letter
and
I'll
make
sure
that
all
the
counselors
have
that,
and
so,
as
we
begin
I'd
like
to
know,
thank
you
councillor
flynn
for
for
being
here
and
present,
I'm
going
to
allow
councillor
flynn
if
you're,
okay,
with
that
manny
lopez
just
to
state
what
the
boston
public
health
commission
board
of
health
does
for.
A
Folks
that
are
listening.
What
seat,
what
are
the
seats
that
are
being
filled,
and
then
I'm
gonna
go
to
opening
statements
from
from
you,
counselor
flynn,
you
manny
lopez,
and
you
as
well
mr
valdez,
does
that
work
for
everybody?
A
It
does
thanks.
Thank
you
so
manny.
If
you
could
just
give
folks
that
are
watching
this
sort
of
overview
about
what
the
boston,
public
health
commission's
board
of
health
does.
B
Sure
first,
thank
you,
chairman
arroyo
and
counselor
flynn,
and
it's
pleasure
to
be
with
you
this
afternoon.
The
boston
public
health
commission
serves
as
boston,
boston's
board
of
health,
so
we
oversee
policies
related
to
the
health
of
the
city
servicing
under
mayor
walsh.
B
B
The
commission
members
are
made
up
of
community
leaders
from
the
community
who
have
an
interest
in
serving
as
leaders
within
the
commission
to
help
us
build
our
strategy
and,
of
course,
give
the
resources
needed
for
the
staff
at
the
boston,
public
health
commission,
the
resources
they
need
to
execute
on
that
strategy.
A
Thank
you.
That's
that's
perfect.
Very
well
done
very
brief.
It's
just
what
are
the
seats
that
are
being
filled
here
today?
Obviously
you're
a
reappointment
mr
lopes,
ms
gutman
is
a
reappointment,
and
am
I
pronouncing
that
correctly?
Is
it
goopman
or
government.
A
Okay
and
then
mr
valdez,
I
believe,
is
the
only
new
appointment
and
so
just
what?
What
are
those
specific
seats
that
are
being
filled.
B
That's
correct
so
mrs
guttmann
has
served
at
on
the
commission
now
for
a
couple
of
years,
so
it's
her
reappointment.
She
currently
is
a
member
or
serves
as
a
leader
within
seiu,
which
is
a
care
union
located
here
in
boston
in
massachusetts.
Servicing
many
of
the
members
who
work
in
healthcare.
B
Mr
valdez
is
a
leader
at
matapan
community
health
center,
and
I
won't
take
his
introduction
away
from
him
I'll.
Let
him
do
that,
but
he's
been
a
leader
in
healthcare
for
a
long
time
in
the
boston
area
and
we're
excited
about
his
appointment
to
the
commission
and
he
will
be
serving
in
one
of
the
seats
that
were
vacated
by
a
former
community
health
center
leader.
So
that's
a
seat
dedicated
to
community
health
centers.
That
was
part
of
the
statute
that
created
the
boston,
public
health
commission.
A
Thank
you,
that's
very
helpful.
Now
I
think
we
can
go
directly
into
just
openings
for
folks
that
are
here.
I
want
to
note
that
councilman
he
is
joining
us
and
just
for
those
watching.
Basically
there's
two
reappointments
happening,
rebecca
goodman
who's,
not
here,
but
has
sent
a
letter.
A
Mr
lopes
and
just
correct
me
if
I'm
wrong
on
this-
and
this
might
be
part
of
your
opening,
but
mr
lopes
you're,
the
chair,
I
believe
the
boss,
public
health
commissioner,
that's
correct
chairs,
yes,
thank
you
and
then
the
addition
of
mr
valdez,
who
I
know
because
matapan
is
in
my
district
and
he's
done
an
excellent
job
running
the
community
health
center
in
mattapan,
and
so
I'm
now
going
to
give
our
two
counselors
a
chance
to
speak
on
this.
A
But
this
is
a
hearing
to
hear
from
two
reappointments
one
who's
not
present
for
other
reasons
and
then
a
new
appointment,
mr
valdez,
to
the
boston
public
health
commission
board
and
so
with
that
counselor
flynn.
If
you
have
anything
to
say
now,
is
the
time
and
then
obviously
I'll
let
people
have
questions
after
mr
valdez
and
mr
lopes
has
spoken.
C
Yeah,
thank
you.
Thank
you,
mr
chair,
and
I
had
an
opportunity
to
review
the
resumes
in
the
letter
from
miss
goodman
and
from
mr
valdez
and
and
for
ms
stellops
as
well,
but
I
I'm
very
familiar
with
mr
valdez
and
mr
lopes
the
long
time
commitment
to
public
health
in
our
city,
especially
helping
you
know,
communities
of
colorado,
low-income
residents,
our
immigrant
neighbors.
So
I
know
that's.
I
know
we
have
two
outstanding
leaders
in
the
city
and
as
well
as
as
miss
miss
cookman
as
well.
C
So
I'm
I'm
proud
to
support
all
three
of
them
and
looking
forward
to
the
q
a,
but
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
all
three
of
them
for
working
so
hard
in
support
of
so
many
people
in
need
of
a
voice
on
public
health
in
boston's,
lucky
and
fortunate
to
have
leaders
like
you,
so
I
just
want
to
acknowledge
you
and
your
your
professional
work
that
you're
doing
across
our
city
and
helping
so
many
people.
Thank
you,
mr
chair.
A
I'm
muted,
like
this,
isn't
my
my
80th
zoom
meeting.
Thank
you
counselor
flynn
councilman
here.
If
you
have
an
opening
statement.
D
D
I
don't
live
too
far
from
there
and
I
know
sharon
who
is
I'm
blanking
her
last
name,
so
I
feel
incredibly
embarrassed.
I
just
dropped
the
name
and
I
can't
even
remember
her
last
name,
but
I
know
sharon,
that's
how
I
know
her
as
she
has
been
part
of
a
community
health
center.
Since
a
good
friend
of
mine,
carla
walker,
worked
there
many
many
many
years
ago,
and
we
did
a
lot
of
work
around
teen
health
prevention,
education
and
so
really
excited
to
to
see
you
and
and
be
here
and
many
lopes.
D
I
I
started
off
my
career
in
public
health
in
93,
when
hiv
and
aids
and
violence
was
at
the
all-time
high
and
before
the
commission
was
established,
worked
with
bradley,
bradley
cohen,
who
heads
up
your
hiv
and
aids
public
health
division.
So
at
least
I'm
dropping
some
names
that
I
remember
so
totally
happy
to
to
be
here
and
and
and
to
participate
in
the
conversation.
A
Thank
you
councilman,
and
I
just
want
to
say
I
don't
expect.
No,
none
of
these
appointments
are
controversial.
You're
you're
likely
to
get
unanimous
votes
of
support,
and
so
the
reason
for
this
hearing
really
was
to
give
anybody
who
might
have
a
question
for
either
of
you
the
opportunity
to
ask
that
question,
but
also,
I
think,
from
a
forward-facing
standpoint.
A
It's
important,
especially
in
the
times
that
we're
in
now
for
the
community
to
know
what
the
public
health
commission
is
and
what
they
do
and
what
the
board
specifically
does,
and
I
believe
both
of
you
are-
and
you
can
speak
to
this-
the
community
health
center
representatives
on
the
board,
but
just
the
makeup
of
what
this
board
looks
like
what
the
board
does
your
interest
in
joining
this
board
or
continuing
to
be
a
part
of
this
board
as
it
is
for
you,
mr
lopes,
and
I
I
think
we
could
probably
then
do
a
quick
round
of
questions
if
there
are
any
and
if
not
release
you,
because
I
know
you're,
both
incredibly
busy
and
so
with
that
mr
lopes,
followed
by
mr
valdez.
A
B
Again,
thank
you,
chairperson
arroyo,
and
the
members
of
the
community
committee.
You
know
I
want
to
start
by
giving
you
a
little
bit
more
of
a
background
about
me
and
then
go
into
what
we've
accomplished
really
as
a
commission,
particularly
over
the
last
couple
of
years
and
then,
of
course,
most
recently
with
the
pandemic.
C
B
B
You
know,
quality
and
in
low
cost
and
no-cost
care
is
what
drives
our
mission
and
very
similar
to
matapan
community
health
center.
We
strive
to
make
sure
that
ev
everyone
can
command
and
get
care,
regardless
of
their
ability
to
pay
language
that
they
speak
or
or
insurance
or
employment
status.
B
B
in
2019
we
restricted
the
sale
of
flavored
nicotine
delivery
products,
including
menthol
cigarettes
and
I'm
proud
to
say.
Both
of
these
amendments
were
ultimately
adopted
at
the
state
level.
I'm
confident
that
these
protections
will
prevent
nicotine
initiation
among
boston's
youth,
encourage
existing
smokers
to
quit
and
advance
mayor
walsh's.
Imagine
boston,
2030
goal
of
reducing
disparities
in
premature
mortality
between
boston's
neighborhood,
I'm
also
proud
to
work
with
mayor
walsh's
executive
to
implement,
may
walsh's
executive.
E
E
B
E
B
Close,
I
just
want
to
say
how
much
I
value
the
work
that
I
do
today
at
the
commission.
I
value
the
work
of
man,
walsh
and
chief
marty
martinez
and
many
of
the
talented
and
dedicated
staff
at
the
health
commission,
as
well
as
agencies
across
city
government,
including
the
city
council,
which
have
really
ensured
that
we
have
robust
coordinated
response
to
this
horrible
pandemic
and
especially
in
hard-hit
communities
like
east
boston,
mattapan,
roxbury
and
dorchester,
which
are
primarily
communities
of
color
and.
B
A
Thank
you,
mr
lopes,
mr
valdes
good
afternoon.
F
Chairperson
arroyo
and
councillor
flynn
and
country
media,
thank
you
for
your
for
your
kind
words.
My
name
is,
and
I'm
the
resident
of
the
south
end
and
I
work
in
memphis,
I'm
honored
that
mayor
walsh
has
appointed
me
to
serve
on
the
board
of
health
officers
of
health,
and
I
just
want
to
share
a
little
bit
about
my
background.
F
I
joined
medicaid
community
health
center
in
2010
as
a
chief
financial
officer.
When
I
started
what
was
the
purpose
of
coming
up
with
financing
for
a
new
building,
we
were
working
out
of
a
building
that
didn't
identify
us,
but
it
had
our
it
had
its
challenges,
and
in
that
role
we
were
able
to
come
up
with
financing
and
we've
been
in
our
current
location.
F
For
eight
years,
I've
been
the
ceo
now
for
three
years,
I'm
accountable
for
all
aspects
of
the
health
center
and
I
will
go
directly
to
the
board
of
directors
and
I
have
been
asked
what
my
vision
is.
What
my
vision
is
for
the
health
center,
what
my
vision
is
for
mattapan
and
I
would
respond.
I've
responded
to
that
with
a
very
simple
with
a
very
powerful
message,
and
that
is-
and
I
do
this
at
every
orientation
for
every
new
employee
that
we
have
and
possibly
employees,
I'm
never
going
to
ask
you
what
our
missions
do.
F
What
I
would
ask
you
to
do
is
remember
two
words
in
relationship
and
the
key
words
are
improved
and
exceptional,
and
if
you
remember
those
two
words,
then
it
defines
who
we
are.
That
is
a
true
understanding
of
our
mission
statement,
not
just
simply
recycling
every
question.
Every
problem,
that's
got
to
mean
the
question
I'm
going
to
ask
is:
how
does
this
improve
the
well-being
of
our
patients
and
how
are
we
going
to
do
this
in
an
exceptional
way?
F
Those
are
the
questions
I
have
asked
and
we've
made
great
strides
in
the
last
three
years
with
the
progress
that
we've
made
and
how
we
deliver
care.
I
have
a
very,
very
diverse
background.
I
have
an
undergraduate
in
accounting.
I
have
an
mba
with
concentration
in
healthcare
administration
and
I've
worked
for
a
broad
range
of
organizations
and
what
this
experience
has
given
me.
F
It
has
given
me
a
sense
of
idealism,
but
also
the
practicality
that
comes
with
that.
The
best
example
I
can
give
you
that
is
where
we're
currently
located.
When
I
started
at
matapan,
there
were
offers
that
were
made.
That
mattapan
should
just
build
a
two-story,
really
simple,
that
we
were
coming
out
of
a
building
that
had
its
deficiencies
was
working
out
of
a
double-wide
construction
trailer
in
a
two-story
view.
F
The
city
supported
factory
the
state
supported
that
dream
federal
government
supported
that
agreement
through
some
very
generous
experience,
and
our
donors
supported
that
it
was
a
sense
of
idealism
with
the
practicality
of
how
we
funded
this
this
endeavor
and
that's
what
my
experience
has
given
me
is.
I
get
to
be
idealistic
and
we
get
to
do
this
in
a
very
practical
way,
because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
you
need
to
keep
our
days
open.
F
That's
served
in
the
language
of
english
every
health
center
in
the
city.
Every
hospital
in
the
city
faces
this
challenge
this
challenging
language
barrier.
So
when
I
speak
for
the
red
for
our
patients
in
matapan,
where
english
is
not
their
first
language,
it's
for
every
patient
in
the
city
of
boston,
and
my
hope
is
that,
in
addition
to
sharing
the
perspective
of
a
ceo
at
a
community
health
center,
I
can
do
this
on
a
broader
level.
F
F
I
am
humbled
by
by
by
this
opportunity,
and
I
believe
that
we
need
to
be
constantly
searching
for
opportunities
to
deal
with
to
deal
with
our
public
health
challenges
and
to
take
care
of
our
patients.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
again
and
I
welcome
any
questions
you
may
have.
A
Thank
you
so
much
and
now
we've
been
joined
by
counselor,
savvy
george
and
just
to
sum
up
sort
of
what
you
may
have
missed.
I
believe
we've
had
an
opening
really
about
what
the
boss,
public
health
commission
does
rebecca
goodman's,
not
here,
she's
a
reappointment,
but
she
did
send
a
letter
and
we
have
her
resume.
Mr
lopes
is
here
he's
the
chair
of
the
boston
public
health
commission
board,
he's
a
reappointment
and
the
only
new
appointments.
E
A
Mr
valdez
who's,
the
head
over
at
the
mattapan
community
health
center,
and
I'm
just
gonna,
give
you
sort
of
my
two
my
questions
for
both
of
you
and
then
go
down
the
line
by
order
of
arrival,
and
this
should
be
pretty
quick.
One
thing
I'll
say
because
it
was
brought
up.
A
Mr
phillips
is
the
racism
is
a
public
health
crisis
was
something
I
took
on
when
I
first
actually
came
in
in
march,
and
the
reason
I
was
able
to
do
that
was
because
the
boston
public
health
commission
had
already
done
a
lot
of
this
labor
they'd
already
done
all
of
the
data
analysis.
They've
already
made
many
of
these
conclusions,
so
it
wasn't
so
much
that
I
had
to
do
like
some
deep
investigation
to
figure
out
racism
as
a
public
health
crisis
was
a
viable
and
the
right
thing
to
do.
A
I
was
able
to
do
it
because
the
boston
public
health
commission
had
already
set
the
groundwork
for
that
and
already
set
the
foundation
for
that
and
was
already
trying
to
do
work
in
that
field,
and
I
wanted
to
make
sure
I
gave
voice
to
what
they
were
doing.
And
so
I
I
see
the
boston
public
health
commission
as
one
of
boston's
treasures
really
and
something
that
is
really
helpful
to
the
work
that
we
do.
And
so
I'm
glad
to
hear
you
speak
to
that
and
I'll
just
say.
A
One
of
the
things
that
I'm
happy
about
with
who's
here
today
is
the
representation
that
we're
seeing
present
here
and
so
just
as
a
question
for
the
for
the
public
for
the
counselors.
How
many
folks
mr
lopes
are
on
the
boston
of
the
telecommission
board.
A
The
board
and
you
and
do
you
know
what
the
do
you
know
what
the
racial
and
gender
breakdown
of
that
is.
B
Yeah
we
pay
close
attention
to
that,
so
we're
intentional
in
making
sure
that
the
commission
represents
the
city.
So
we
have
myself
and
I
that
identify
as
black
k
verdian
my
parents
originated
from
cape
verde,
but-
and
I
identified
myself
as
black,
we
have
philly
le
patiste.
She
identifies
herself
as
I
believe
black
as
well,
and
we
have.
B
The
commission
was
created
as
part
of
the
merger
with
boston
city
hospital
in
university
hospital,
not
to
go
down
a
history
path,
but
that
meant
we
had
a
permanency
for
the
ceo
of
boston
medical
center,
which
was
again
the
creation
of
boston
city
hospital,
the
city
hospital
in
a
private
anthony
university
hospital,
which
was
owned
and
run
by
bu
medical
center.
B
So
the
ceo
of
boston,
medical
center
has
a
permanency
next
visioc
on
the
commission
and
that's
helped
today
by
kate
walsh
and
a
woman
white
woman,
and
then
we
have
commissioner
gutman
that
we
already
mentioned
in
her
reappointment.
I
believe
she
identifies
as
a
woman
and
then
we
have
john
fernandez,
who
is
president
and
ceo
of
mass
scientific
and
my
apologies,
I'm
not
sure
how
he
identifies
himself.
So,
of
course,
let's
represent
that
and
then
trying
to
remember
one
more
myself.
B
Mr
valdez
will
be
joining
us
and
I'll.
Let
him
identify
the
state
how
he
represents
himself
and
then
I'm
I'm
forgetting
one
more.
Commissioner,
a
woman
who,
I
believe
represents
who's,
also
white.
A
So
for
me
you
know,
I
think
the
work
of
east
boston
health
center.
Just
you
may
not
know
this.
My
father
receives
his
care
there,
and
so
you
know.
Obviously
I
don't
know
if
there's
a
better
compliment
to
be
paid
there,
but
that's
that's
a
indication,
I
think,
of
the
quality
of
the
care
and
the
in
the
trust
that
we
place
in
east
boston,
health
center
and
under
your
leadership.
And
so
you
know
I'm
I'm
very
familiar
with
you,
sir.
A
So
there's
not
many
questions
there
and
similarly
for
you,
mr
valdez,
you
know,
I
know
we're
really
proud
of
the
amanapan
health
center
and
I
think,
if
I
have
any
question
the
one
question
that
I
would
have
for
you
is
you
know
you
spoke
a
little
bit
about
your
vision
for
matapan
and
I
guess
my
question
once
you're
on
the
boston
public
health
commission.
It
has
boston
the
name
and
it
might
not
be
too
different
of
a
vision.
But
what
is
your
vision?
A
Moving
forward
for
health
in
the
city
of
boston,
what
how
do
you
hope
to
have
this
role
to
use
this
role?
To
advocate,
for
what
are
the
things
that
are
sort
of
your
top
priorities?.
F
One
of
the
top
priorities-
and
so
many
other
things
fall
under
this-
are
access.
It
is
about
promoting
access
and
it's
access
for
everyone
access
regardless
of
age
access
regardless.
There
are
transportation
issues,
for
example,
access
regardless
of
the
ability
to
pay
one
of
the
things
that
we've
done,
and
we
do
this
through.
For
example,
innovation.
F
F
How
much
easier
would
it
be
for
an
individual
that
we
can
monitor
daily
with
the
use
of
technology
and
that
technology
should
be
rolled
out
throughout
the
entire
city?
It
shouldn't
be
reserved
just
from
one
neighborhood,
but
if
we
can
monitor
consistently-
and
we
can
use
this
technology
with
a
patient
in
metabolic,
why
can't
we
do
that
with
a
patient?
F
Why
can't
we
do
that
with
the
patient
throughout
the
city
and
then
there's
funding
available
for
that
and
one
of
the
things
that
we
work
very
closely
with
with
boston
public
health
commission,
we're
very
fortunate
to
receive
some
key
grants
from
from
the
commission
and
and
we're
very
appreciative
of
those.
The
other
thing
is
is,
for
example,
we're
we're
involved
in
a
neighborhood
and
when
an
incidence
of
trauma
happens,
we
respond
to
that.
We
send
out
our
routines.
We
offer
counseling
to
those
that
have
been
impacted.
A
Thank
you.
That's
that's
perfect,
that's
good
for
me
to
know.
I
intend
to
frankly
vote
for
all
of
you,
so
it's
not
there's
not
really.
I
don't
think
anybody
here
is
like
on
the
fence.
People
for
myself.
A
Not
and
so
the
order
just
for
folks
to
make
a
question
or
a
statement:
counselor
flynn,
councillor
mejia,
followed
by
counselor,
savvy
george,
so
counselor
flynn.
The
floor
is
yours.
C
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
council
arroyo
and
again
thank
you
to
the
to
mr
valdez
and
mr
lopes
that
are
that
are
here
and
for
their
service.
C
The
the
question
I
have-
maybe
maybe
to
both
of
you
is
one
issue
that
I
probably
spent
more
time
on
over
the
last
three
years
than
any
other
issue
is,
is
language
access
and
I
know
you
both
do
tremendous
work
on
public
health
issues
in
the
immigrant
community.
I
have
I,
I
have
four
women
in
my
office
that
are
immigrants
and
they
speak
various
languages,
cantonese
mandarin
and
spanish.
I
couldn't
do
my
job
without
without
my
staff,
because
they
were
able
to
communicate
with
my
constituents.
C
I
guess
my
point
is:
can
you
just
generally
talk
about
the
importance
of
language
access
as
it
relates
to
public
health
and
what
we
can
do
better
or
what
we
can
improve
to
make
sure
that
non-english
speaking
residents
have
the
same
level
of
services,
health
services
as
as
english-speaking
residents
and
again
just
want
to
say
thank
you
for
your
work
and
I
look
forward
to
supporting
all
three
of
you,
but
I
would
be
interested
in
hearing
your
comments
and
my
final
point
is
mr
lopes.
C
I
know
you
you
merged
with
the
south
end
community
health
center.
I
think
that's
a
tremendous
it's
going
to
be
tremendous
for
the
neighborhood
in
in
the
south
end,
so
I
want
to
welcome
you
in
in
in
your
team
to
the
south
end.
You
don't
you'll,
do
exceptional
work
in
the
south
end,
just
like
you
have
done
in
east
boston.
So
I
want
to
say
say
thank
you
and
maybe
maybe
both
of
you.
If
you,
if
you'd
like
to
speak
on
the
importance
of
language
access,
sure.
B
Mr
valdez
doesn't
mind,
though
I
can
go
first,
please,
please
do
you
know
I
think,
to
address
the
needs
of
the
city.
It
begins
with
first
making
sure
that
our
staff
represent
the
community.
We
serve
so
I'm
proud
to
say
that
50
of
our
staff
come
from
the
community,
which
means
that
they.
B
Language,
but
they
know
the
culture
so,
as
we
know,
just
speaking,
the
language
is
is
important,
but
it,
but
it's
also
understanding
the
culture
so
for
us
at
east
boston,
we
have
a
very
large
we're
very
blessed
to
have
a
very
large
interpreting
services
department
that
provides
on-site
or
today
virtual
interpretations
as
well
as
translation
skills.
B
And
again
these
are
individuals
who
come
from
the
community.
Second,
to
that,
I
think
it's
important
for
us
to
be
aware
that
it
also
has
to
be
put
in
the
right
grade
level.
So,
as
we
know,
a
large
portion
of
our
population
have
a
high
school
diploma
or
less
and
making
sure
that
it's
at
an
appropriate
language
level
for
individuals
that
we're
serving.
B
So,
and
I
think
it's
an
important
part
of
our
job
and
I
think
from
a
public
health
perspective.
I
know
the
commission
has
done
quite
a
bit
of
work
to
make
sure
that
all
materials
are
translated
and
and
in
the
multiple
languages
that
our
city
speaks,
and
I
think
they've
done.
F
A
great
job
at
doing
that
I
would
answer
this
in
two
perspectives.
First
perspective
is,
we
were
asked
to
participate
in
a
study
and
the
first
question
I
asked
was:
what
languages
are
you
offering
for
surveys
study
and
they
said
english
and
spanish?
F
We
said,
but
the
majority
of
our
patients
can
be
patient,
real
and
feel
more
comfortable,
but
we're
not
going
to
be
able
to
do
that.
We
just
eliminate
it
and
my
response
was:
it
wasn't
functioning.
It
was
very
respectful,
but
I
said
you're
eliminating
you're
asking
our
community
what
they
need
yet
you're
eliminated,
and
I
said
we
want
to
participate,
but
you
please
come
back
to
us
with
in
languages
that
are
perfect
for
our
community,
but
we
have
individuals
on
staff,
expectations
and
individuals
from
advantage.
F
We
also
use
translation
and
for
a
medical
visit
that
works.
Okay,
it's
not
the
best,
it's
better
to
have
that
kind
of
face-to-face
contact,
but
an
area
that
we
would
like
to
see
some
changes
or
something
start
now,
because
it's
going
to
take
a
couple
of
years
for
this
unfold
is,
we
cannot
find-
and
we
have
been
looking
for
two
years
for
a
therapist
who
speed
station
language
interpret
alliance.
Don't
lend
themselves
that
well
to
a
30
to
45
minute
therapist
visit.
We
have
approached
schools,
we
we've
offered
internships.
F
If
we
could
find
a
student
who's
been
stationed,
korea,
we
will
do
everything
we
can
to
support
them
to
get
them
to
come
to
us.
We
should
start
addressing
the
pipeline
the
generating
therapists
and
encourage
more
individuals
who
speak
languages
other
than
english
to
to
to
become
therapists,
and
we
do
that
by
supporting
these
programs
by
doing
having
financial
incentives
for
these
programs,
we
can
offer
translation
services
for
dental.
F
We
can
offer
translation
services
for
medical,
it's
much
much
more
challenging
to
do
it
in
a
like,
I
said,
a
30
to
45
minute
therapy
session,
and
that's
where
we
have
one
of
our
biggest
challenges.
C
No
thank
you.
Thank
you
both
for
your
answers.
I
appreciate
it
counselor.
I
have
no
further
questions
and
thank
you
to
the
panelists
for
being
here
and
for
your
incredible
work
in
the
city.
A
Thank
you
so
much
for
planning
our
and
I'll
just
say,
mr
valdez.
We
should
touch
base
on
the
haitian
creole
therapist
issue,
because
I
think
one
of
the
things
that
I
know
is
near
and
dear
to
my
heart
personally
is
ensuring
that
we
have
representation
in
therapy.
A
You
know
there's
a
big
difference
in
therapy
when
it's
provided
from
a
perspective
in
a
lens,
whether
it's
gender
or
race
or
immigrant,
construct
to
a
person
who
understands
that
and
so
that
those
are
all
very
important
things.
So
we
should
touch
base
off
this
about
that
counselor
mejia.
D
Yes,
so
the
person's
name
is
sharon.
Calendar
calendar.
D
D
I
know
that
counselor
arroyo
asked
in
terms
of
the
makeup
the
commission
mr
lopes,
if
you
could
just
give
me
some
insight
in
terms
of
young
people
and
what,
if
any
opportunities
exist,
to
have
a
youth
voice
and
representation
in
that
space
and
when
I
think
about
representation
for
me,
having
grown
up
in
a
life
of
poverty,
I
think
that
social,
economic
status
and
class
and
level
of
education
is
also
just
as
equally
as
important
in
terms
of
representation,
but
that's
not
something
that
we
normally
talk
about.
D
When
we
think
about
filling
quotas,
we
always
just
go
into
the
race
situation,
so
I'm
curious
as
the
chair
of
the
commission.
What
are
you
thinking
about
in
terms
of
ensuring
that,
when
we
look
at
representation
we're
going
on
beyond
the
racial
makeup.
B
From
a
board
perspective,
I
think
it's
it's
it's
something
that
we
would.
I
would
love
to
see
what
the
staff
has
done,
which
I'm
very
appreciative
of-
and
I
can't
remember
the
name
of
the
group,
so
my
apologies,
but
there's
a
youth
advisory
group,
a
boy
that
comes
and
visits
the
commission
on
an
annual
basis
and
that
group
really
gives
us
insight
in
terms
of
you
know
this
next
generation.
What
are
they
concerned
about?
What
are
the
issues?
B
Everything
from,
as
you
mentioned,
from
school,
to
work
to
safety
to
to
lifestyles,
and
they
really
help
inform
the
staff
and
the
staff
have
them
present
to
us
in
terms
of
some
of
their
findings
and
some
of
the
issues
that,
within
their
peer
group
that
we
should
be
thinking
about
and
how
we
should
move
this
along
and,
in
fact,
during
the
debates
on
the
nicotine
amendments,
they
were
a
very
important
voice
because,
as
you
can
imagine,
this
was
a
very
controversial.
B
You
know
amendment
that
we
were
taking
up
to
ban
particularly
menthol
that
at
least
I'll
say
personally,
I
felt
very
strongly
about
because
we
know
that
if
we
know
the
history
around
flavored
tobacco,
particularly
menthol,
it
was
targeted
to
communities
of
color
in
underserved
communities,
and
I
think
the
voice
of
that
the
youth
and
in
this
generation
really
helped
just
strengthen
our
position
that
this
was
the
right
thing
to
do.
D
So
the
reason
why
I
asked
is
because
many
many
many
years
ago
I
used
to
work
at
the
boston
prevention
center,
which
is
now
health
resources
in
action,
and
we
did
a
lot
of
work
on
youth
development
and
we
realized
that
young
people
usually
have
the
best
answers
to
the
issues
that
we're
contending
with
in
terms
of
health
disparities,
and
I
just
want
to
advocate
that,
as
you
continue
to
build
the
board,
that
we
find
an
official
voice,
so
not
just
that
they're
serving
as
a
committee,
but
that
there
is
some
official
voice
and
space
for
for
young
people
to
help
inform
decision
making
on
a
more
a
formal
basis.
D
So
that
would
just
be.
I
know
that's
what
this
hearing
is
not
about
me
advocating
for
that.
But
since
I
got
you
in
my
face,
I
might
just
tell
you
that
that's
what
I'd
like
you
all
consider
working.
So
I
I
am
going
to
just
ask
mr
valdez
a
quick
question
in
regards
to
community
health
centers
in
general
and
the
role
you
know.
I
always
often
say
that
boston.
D
We
are
resource
rich,
but
coordination,
poor
and
we
think
about
trauma,
and
we
think
a
lot
about
the
the
issues
that
our
young
people
and
families
are
carrying
in
their
little
backpacks.
I'm
just
curious.
What
would
you
say
your
vision
is
for
a
more
of
a
kind
of
like
breaking
down
the
silos
like
I,
I
think
that
oftentimes,
the
boston
public
schools
aren't
really
working
that
closely
with
the
boston
public
health
commission
as
much
as
they
should.
F
F
I
want
our
staff
to
be
facing
outward,
not
necessarily
inward
and
the
work
that
we're
doing
has
to
go
beyond
our
core
levels
and
the
only
way
that
we
can
do
this
is
by
promoting
outreach
in
its
coordination.
Once
zoom
has
allowed
us
to
do
a
great
deal,
but
also
once
again
when
the
pandemic
is
over.
We
have
a
facility
where
we
can
bring.
We
can
bring
organizations
together.
We
have
the
superintendent
come
out
for
presentation
here
at
the
health
center
before
the
endeavor.
F
That
was
ideal
for
us
because
it
brought
in
families
into
the
health
center
and
that's
what
we
want
to
do.
We
want
to
be
a
center
for
the
community
and
it's
about
outreach
and
it's
about
coordination,
and
we
need
individuals
to
do
that
as
far
as
working
with
federal
health
centers.
One
of
the
one
of
the
changes
that
I've
seen
happening
is
we
work
very
closely
with
our
fellow
health
centers,
and
it's
going
to
take
all
of
us
coming
together
and
and
before
it
was
these.
F
Are
my
patients
and
you've
got
your
patients,
and
my
patients
live
in
my
neighborhood
and
your
patients
live
in
your
neighborhood.
This
pin
and
this
started
even
before
the
pandemic.
If
we
have
figured
out
how
to
do
something,
we
want
to
share
that
and
other
health
centers
we
have
reached
out.
When
I
first
started.
We
sent
our
dental
team
to
whittier
street,
because
whittier
street
figured
out
how
to
do
things
and
things
the
right
way
that
my
responsibility
would
be
that
same
concept
applies.
F
It
goes
beyond
the
health
side
and
it
involves
getting
the
health
centers
together
and
starting
a
program
to
do
outreach
to
the
boston
public
school.
One
of
our
one
of
our
actually
one
of
our
board
members
is
a
teacher
in
the
boston
public
school
system
and
she
is
a
strong
advocate
for
our
presence.
We
have
a
school-based
health
center.
A
lot
of
us
have
have
school-based
offices,
but
the
only
other
thing
I
wanna
I
wanna
say
is:
we
can't
do
a
lot
of
community
testing.
We
can
do
testing
for
coverage
here
here.
F
Several
health
centers
came
into
manifest
two
blocks
away
from
our
employees
parking
cars.
My
response
on
that
was
thank
you
thank
you
for
coming
in
and
taking
care
of
our
of
our
community,
because
we
can't
do
it
all,
and
this
is
one
of
the
changes
that's
happening
among
the
community
and
health
centers.
These
are
no
longer
different
from
migration.
F
D
Thank
you
for
that,
and
then
I
just
want
to
add
to
something
that
counselor
flynn
said,
and
I
and
I
promise
council
arroyo
that
I'm
done
is
that
when
I
think
about
language
access,
I
really
look
at
this
conversation
in
terms
of
information
justice
there's
some
of
us
who
have
more
than
what
we
need
and
there's
some
of
us
who
are
dying
to
habits,
and
I
think
that
we
often
just
think
about
it.
In
terms
of
interpretation
and
translation.
I
was
the
official
translator
for
my
whole
family
having
to
interpret
health.
D
So
that's
just
a
recommendation
that
I
urge
everyone
to
consider
and
I
will
yield
whatever
rest
of
the
time
that
I
have
and
I'm
really
excited
to
have
you
both
and
looking
forward
to
doing
a
favorable,
yes
vote
for
you.
Both
council.
B
Media,
do
you
mind
if
I
chairman
aurora,
if
you
mind,
if
I
jump
in
and
just
share
that
that
I
have
with
constantly
my.
B
How
to
read
or
write
either
I
taught
her
how
to
read
and
write
at
the
age
of
11,
so
she
could
become
a
us
citizen,
and
I
was
her
interpreter
as
well.
So
I
agree
with
you.
If
I
was
in
my
office,
I'm
at
my
home
today,
you
would
see
a
visual
around
masking
up
washing
your
hands
and
social
distancing
that
really.
B
Little
words,
but
it
has
pictures,
so
I
I'm
aligned
with
you
on
that.
Thank
you
for
sharing
that.
A
Thank
you
both
of
you,
especially
councilman
here,
for
bringing
your
whole
self
to
this,
but
also,
I
think
this
conversation
shows
the
importance
of
lived
experiences
really
in
the
ways
in
which
that
shapes.
A
And
so
with
that
counselor
savvy
george
on
the
floor
is
yours.
E
Thank
you,
mr
chair,
and
thank
you
both
for
being
here
with
us
and
for
the
work
that
you
continue
to
do
in
your
community
health
centers
that
I
I
do
know
well
and
just
very
proud
of
the
work
that
you
continue
to
continue
to
contribute
to
our
residents
across
the
city
and
beyond.
I
actually
don't
have
any
questions.
E
I
just
wanted
to
take
this
moment
because
you're
both
here
to
thank
you
for
your
continued
commitment
for
your
partnership,
especially
in
last
year's
needle,
take
back
day
that
we
weren't
able
to
do
this
year
and
hopefully
won't
have
to
do
going
forward
because
our
pharmacies
will
be
taking
them
back
for
us,
but
just
grateful
for
your
continued
commitment
to
our
city
and
to
the
the
work
that
remains
undone.
Thank
you,
mr
chair.
A
Thank
you
so
much
counselor
george,
and
that
that
is
the
sum
total
of
this
hearing.
I
think
you
know
I.
I
really
think
this
was
beneficial.
Like
I
told
you
from
the
outset,
I
don't
think
nothing
about
what
you
do
is
controversial
or
you,
as
individuals
is
controversial.
You
know
you
do
great
work.
I
think
this
is
just
a
good
chance
for
the
city
of
boston
who
who's
watching
this
and
we'll
have
this
for
posterity
to
kind
of
know.
A
The
people
behind
the
scenes
that
are
working
on
their
behalf
and
I
think,
that's
really
important.
If
there's
any
closing
statements
that
any
council
would
like
to
make,
I'm
happy
to
give
you
the
floor
to
do
it,
but
otherwise
I'm
happy
to
adjourn
so
that
you
can
both
get
back
to
the
work
that
you're
doing.
A
I
noticed
that
you're
both
in
your
offices,
and
so
I
I
appreciate
you
taking
the
time
to
be
here
today,
so
if
councillor
flynn
or
councilman
here
would
like
to
say
any
final
statement,
I
see
councillor
flynn
nodding
no
councilman
kid
nope
so
looks
like
you're
free
to
go
and
do
your
work
and
then
we'll
be
pulling
this
out
of
the
docket
tomorrow.
So
we
can
officially
move
forward
with
your
approval
and
have
mr
valdez
hopefully
join
your
ranks.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
what
you
do.