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From YouTube: Civil Rights & Immigrant Advancement on December 12,2022
Description
Civil Rights & Immigrant Advancement - Docket #0323, Order for a hearing to discuss restoring municipal voting rights to immigrants with legal status
A
A
Good
morning,
everyone
for
the
record,
my
name
is
Rudy
Legion
I
am
the
chair
of
the
Boston
city
council
committee
on
civil
rights
and
immigrant
advancement
I'm
joined
today
by
my
colleagues
city
council,
president
Ed
Flynn,
and
by
the
sponsor
councilor
Lara.
This
hearing
is
being
recorded
and
is
being
live
streamed
at
boston.gov
City,
Dash,
Council,
Dash,
TV
and
broadcast
on
Xfinity
channel
8
RCN
channel
82
FiOS
channel
964..
We
will
also
take
public
testimony
at
the
end
of
the
hearing.
A
If
you
are
interested
in
testifying,
please
email,
ron.com,
boston.gov,
that's
r,
o
n
dot
c-o-b-b
at
boston.gov
for
the
link.
If
providing
virtual
testimony,
please
make
sure
your
username
is
your
first
and
last
name:
there's
also
a
sign
up
sheet
for
anyone
who
is
here
and
present
and
would
like
to
give
testimony.
A
Please
state
your
name
in
affiliation,
residence
and
limit
your
comments
to
a
few
minutes
to
ensure
that
all
comments
and
concerns
can
be
heard.
Today's
hearing
is
on
docket
number
zero.
Three
two
order
for
a
hearing
to
discuss
restoring
Municipal
voting
rights
to
immigrants
with
legal
status,
though
we're
joined
by
the
administration.
A
A
You
know
we
are
here
because,
regardless
of
immigrant
status,
we
all
share
the
same
interest
in
having
good
schools,
affordable,
housing,
effective
transportation
and
economic
Justice,
allowing
a
permanent
class
of
non-voters
to
persist
on
the
margins,
only
benefits
people
and
when
people
and
corporations
would
benefit
who
would
profit
from
those
who
are
undocumented.
Far
from
diluting
the
concept
of
citizenship,
non-citizen
voting
would
enrich
it
by
fully
incorporating
immigrants.
A
So
I'm
excited
to
have
the
discussion.
This
discussion
today
about
restoring
Municipal
voting
rights
to
immigrants.
There
are
15
municipalities
across
the
country
that
allow
non-citizens
to
vote
in
local
elections.
As
of
January
of
this
year,
11
were
located
in
Maryland,
two
were
located
in
Vermont,
one
was
in
New,
York,
City
and
other
was
in
San.
Francisco,
Cisco,
Illinois
and
DC
are
also
in
the
process
of
exploring
granting
non-cities
and
voting
rights,
something
that
was
also
part
of
the
founding
of
this
country.
A
Here
we
know
that
the
citizenship
process
is
a
laborious
one
and
so
Lord
Boris
inexpensive,
one
that
creates
many
barriers
for
our
residents
and
so
enfranchising
them
will
help
to
show
who
we
really
are
as
a
city,
which
is
a
city
that
really
welcomes
and
incorporates
our
immigrants
into
the
social
fabric
of
our
of
our
city.
So
with
that
I'm
going
to
pass
it
on
to
the
sponsor
Council
Lara
for
any
opening
remarks.
B
Foreign
thank
you,
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
to
my
colleagues,
our
panelists,
who
are
here
with
us
today
and
our
neighbors,
who
have
joined
us
this
morning,
either
here
in
the
chambers
or
on
Zoom,
to
have
this
really
important
conversation.
When
I
delivered
my
maiden
speech,
I
set
forth
a
vision
for
a
truly
participatory
and
representative
democracy,
and
this
vision
is
a
vision
that
was
passed
down
to
us
by
leaders
like
IW
Wells,
Ella,
Baker,
Fannie,
Lou,
Hamer,
Dr,
Martin,
Luther,
King,
Robert,
Moses
and
Abram
Ramirez.
B
It
has
one
simple
aim
to
ensure
that
we,
the
people,
means
all
of
the
people
in
a
time
where
states
and
cities
all
across
the
country
are
systemically
disenfranchising.
Voters
and
the
Voting
Rights
Act
remains
at
risk.
We
have
a
responsibility
here
in
the
city
council
and
in
the
city
of
Boston
to
expand
access
to
the
ballot
and
to
reaffirm
our
commitment
to
a
strong
representative
democracy
as
it
stands
anywhere
from
68
000
to
a
hundred
thousand
immigrants
with
legal
status
live
in
the
city
of
Boston.
B
This
includes
but
isn't
limited
to
people
who
have
lawful
permanent
residents
or
people
who
are
Visa
holders,
TPS
and
DACA
recipients.
These
people
are
our
neighbors.
They
raise
their
children
here,
attend
our
schools
clean
our
streets,
serve
our
food
they're
entrepreneurs
CEOs.
They
run
our
non-profit
organizations
and
direct
their
resources
to
the
city
in
the
form
of
taxes.
Yes,
but
more
importantly,
in
their
investment
in
the
future
of
the
city
of
Boston.
B
B
But
last
year,
when
I,
his
youngest
daughter
ran
for
public
office,
he
couldn't
cast
his
vote
and
our
story
is
not
a
unique
one.
All
across
the
city
and
right
here
in
this
chamber,
we
have
people
who,
in
spite
of
not
being
given
voice
in
their
local
government,
they've,
worked
and
they've
sacrificed
and
invested
in
their
neighborhoods,
now
I'm,
one
of
those
people
that
believes
that
everyone
should
have
a
say
in
the
decisions
that
impact
their
daily
lives.
B
C
A
D
A
E
No,
it's
fine
yeah
and
I
love,
my
name
unique
good
morning.
Thank
you,
Council
Laura,
for
sponsoring
the
hearing
and
committee
chair
constellation
and
other
counselors
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
to
you
today.
Immigrants
are
a
vital
part
of
Boston
and
mayor
Wu
and
our
Administration
are
committed
to
making
sure
they
are
part
of
democracy
and
have
Equitable
access
to
what
Boston
has
to
offer.
E
E
There
are
a
lot
of
ways
to
do
that,
including
Civic
engagement,
voting
and
becoming
naturalized
citizen,
but
we
recognize
that
many
people
face
barriers
to
naturalization.
That's
why
the
mayor's
office
for
immigrant
investment
and
project
citizenship
partner
to
host
citizenship
day
every
year.
It
is
the
largest
citizenship
Workshop
in
New
England.
We
serve
about
300
people
annually
this
upcoming
year.
This
will
be
our
ninth
year
and
we're
hoping
to
increase
this
number.
But
in
2023
and
Beyond
volunteer
lawyers
help
fill
out
citizenship,
applications
for
free,
a
service
that
usually
costs
thousands.
E
We
also
help
those
who
are
eligible
for
the
low
waiver
fee
and
we
that
reduces
the
cost
in
half
the
full
application
fee
is
725
by
eliminating
the
barriers
of
legal
access
and
costs.
We've
served
more
than
2
600
people
to
date,
but
there
are
other
barriers
to
naturalization
for
immigrants
who
are
lawful,
permanent
residents,
known
as
lprs
they're
green
card
holders,
who
have
been
here
for
decades.
Many
tell
us
they're
afraid
to
naturalize,
because
they
don't
think
they
can
pass
English
tests.
E
Others
are
frustrated
by
the
cost
of
the
application
fee
and
attorney
fees
and
how
long
the
process
takes,
which
ranges
from
eight
months
to
over
two
years
at
best
for
lprs
I,
also
took
a
long
time
to
naturalize.
I
was
a
green
card
hold
for
almost
eight
years
because
of
the
same
fears
and
barriers
and
the
costs,
and
ever
since
I
did
naturalize.
The
first
thing
I
did
was
I
was
excited
to
get
out
and
vote
and
as
part
of
that
process,
I
also
got
really
into
door.
E
Knocking
and
I
always
meet
the
same
profile
of
a
person
every
year,
while
I'm
doing
door
knocking
and
canvassing
for
candidates
is
that
I
always
meet
someone
that
works
at
a
store
or
on
the
street
that
stops
me
and
just
like
who
like?
Who
are
you
like
canvassing
for
they're
they're,
wanting
to
sit
down
and
have
a
talk
about?
Who
would
they
vote
for
and
the
issues
that
matter
to
them
and
whenever
I
get
to
the
stage
it
was
like.
Okay,
what's
your
game
plan
to
getting
for
voting
day,
they're?
E
E
According
to
the
bpda
analysis
of
the
latest
data,
more
than
92
000
people
are
non-citizen
adults
of
voting
age
from
that
number
43
000
a
43
are
legal,
permanent
residents
and
the
rest
are
student
and
H-1B
H1B
Visa
holders
and
other
statuses,
or
no
status
to
break
down
the
numbers
of
non-citizens
even
more.
In
East
Boston
34
of
this
community
are
non-citizens
and
throughout
Boston
34
of
adult
has
Hispanics
and
40
of
adult
Asians
are
non-citizens.
E
Our
Administration
and
my
office
are
committing
to
serving
people,
regardless
of
their
status,
who
help
immigrants
get
involved,
feel
empowered
and
become
equal
contributors
to
a
society.
That's
one
of
the
reasons
we
have
immigrants
leave
Boston
now
in
his
third
year,
and
our
current
class
is
graduating.
This
Friday
they
represent
eight
Boston
neighborhoods,
come
from
17
countries
and
speak
14
languages.
E
They'll
join
our
Alumni
network
of
60
people
and
growing
immigrants
leave
Boston
as
a
program
that
recruits
emerging
immigrant
leaders
to
advance
their
skills
to
advocate
for
their
communities.
We've
seen
our
graduates
go
on
to
do
great
things
advocating
empowering
our
communities.
Just
last
week
an
immigrant
leads
Boston
Alum,
sat
in
this
room
and
gave
testimony
to
you
counselors
and
about
the
importance
of
support
supporting
migrants
in
Massachusetts
through
this
program,
I've
seen
firsthand
how
people
want
to
be
more
involved,
but
don't
always
have
the
pathways
or
resources
to
do
so.
E
That's
why
it's
our
job
to
invent
Equity
inclusion
in
our
work
and
our
Administration
and
Moya
will
always
stand
in
making
sure
everyone
has
a
seat
at
a
table
by
creating
opportunities
to
increase
civic
participation
every
day,
so
that
Boston
is
truly
a
city
for
all.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
time.
This
morning,.
A
Thank
you,
director,
Norman,
and
thank
you
for
sharing
those
stories
about
door,
knocking
as
a
haitian-american
and
canvassing
a
lot
in
my
communities,
those
stories
we
hear
them
time
and
time
again
and
so
just
give
ingredients
to
why
and
franchising
our
immigrants
with
legal
status
is
important
and
things
for
all
the
work
that
Moya
is
doing
on
behalf
of
our
undergrading
migrant
communities.
Next
up
we
have
Elijah
Miller
from
the
office
of
Economic
Opportunity
inclusion,
director
of
policy
director
Miller.
You
now
have
the
floor.
F
Thank
you
good
morning.
My
name
is
Elijah
Miller
I'm,
the
director
of
policy
and
the
mayor's
office
of
Economic
Opportunity
and
inclusion
I'd
like
to
thank
councilor
Lara
for
sponsoring
this
hearing
and
the
other
counselors
and
participants
in
attendance
for
bringing
attention
to
the
issue
of
Municipal
voting
rights
for
legal
immigrants.
F
F
The
office
of
Economic,
Opportunity
and
inclusion
understands
the
incredible
facts
about
how
much
immigrants
contribute
to
our
communities
and
our
economy.
Immigrants
pay
billions
of
dollars
every
year
in
taxes
to
help
ensure
we
have
the
best
public
schools
in
the
world
and
immigrants
Bill
roughly
a
fifth
of
all
local
jobs
in
Educational.
Services
immigrants
spend
billions
of
dollars
every
year
at
our
businesses
and
immigrants
fill
roughly
a
quarter
of
all
local
jobs
in
retail
trade.
F
F
A
Thank
you,
director,
Miller,
for
that
strong
statement
and
support,
and
for
recognizing
that
immigrants
are
just
such
a
vital
part
of
the
economic
fabric
of
this
city
and
of
this
country
really.
The
way
that
we
deal
with
labor
shortages
traditionally
is
through
immigration,
even
when
immigrants
face
xenophobia
and
racism
and
exclusion,
and
so
having
a
city
and
being
a
city
that
recognizes
the
Vitality
of
immigrants
and
their
contribution
is
really
important.
So
we
are
really
happy
to
see
such
strong
support.
A
B
One
of
the
arguments
that
we
often
hear
from
from
folks
and-
and
this
is
for
executive
director
when
is
that
voting,
you
know
if
people
want
to
vote
and
they
want
to
have
a
voice,
then
that
they
should
become
citizens
and
I.
Think
in
your
opening
statements,
you
really
outlined
the
barriers
to
becoming
a
citizen.
E
E
But
the
idea
is
very
daunting
to
get
to
a
stage
that
you
might
get
rejected,
so
fear
of
even
losing
some
sort
of
grounding
in
that,
and
also
the
cost
of
naturalization
is
725
dollars
just
to
feel
itself,
but
that
doesn't
include
the
legal
fees
of
getting
an
attorney,
because
you
are
fearful
of
even
doing
that
alone
and
then
getting
rejected
alone.
So
getting
the
getting
an
attorney
and
finding
one
that
you
can
trust
is
also
another
barrier
that
can
cost
thousands
of
dollars
if
it
wasn't
for
events
like
project
citizenship
day.
E
B
E
Yes,
because
then
you'll
have
to
reach
that
stage
of
like
adjust.
If
you
have
a
Visa,
a
Visa,
that's
eligible
for
Pathways
to
ship,
you
just
have
to
finish
that
process
and
there's
depending
on
what
type
of
Visa
it
is.
Then
it
has
its
own
wait
times
and
its
own
procedures.
So
so
that's
it's
contingent
on
what
type
of
Visa,
what
type
of
temporary
stats
that
you
may
have
and.
B
E
Yes,
it
just
stays
like
you're
you're,
not
eligible,
so
there's
there's
Visa
that
you're
you'll
have
a
pathway
there.
So
there's
even
a
lot
of
business
visas
that
are
just
designed
for
you
to
stay
in
that
Perpetual
stage
indefinitely.
But
you
can
run
and
operate
a
business
but
never
be
eligible
to
citizenship
or
vote
yeah
yeah.
But
then
you
can
be
an
employer
for
decades,
even
your
whole
life
and
never
be
able
to
to
vote.
B
Thank
you,
and
so
from
what
you've
shared
with
us
executive
director,
it
seems
like
people
with
legal
status
and
immigrants,
and
people
who
are
undocumented
are
already
incredibly
civically
involved
in
in
their
neighborhood
and
in
their
city.
But
if,
if
we
were
to
pass
this-
and
we
would
get
it
through
through
the
state
house,
if
we
go
by
home
a
petition
not
really
sure
what
the
next
step
is
going
to
be,
but
if
this
were
to
move
forward,
how
would
your
like?
What
would
you
anticipate
your
office?
B
E
E
B
And
I
have
a
Sabino
hi,
it's
good
to
see
you
we've
just
passed
a
home
repetition
for
16
to
17
year
olds
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
we
were
having
conversations
around
what
the
implementation
of
that
would
look
like.
I,
anticipate
that
the
implementation
of
that
for
you
might
look
similar,
although
it
might
be
a
much
on
a
much
larger
scale,
and
so
do
you.
If,
if
we
were
to
enfranchise
immigrant
voters
with
legal
status
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
how
do
you
anticipate
that
impacting
our
Municipal
elections.
D
Probably
be
the
same
impact
as
16
and
17
year
olds,
depending
on
the
amount
of
folks
that
will
take
advantage
of
the
of
the
opportunities
we
will
just
have
to
implement
new
ways
of
keeping
those
voting,
lists
and
impacted,
as
well
as
notifying
those
voters
of
what
types
of
elections
they
can
vote
in.
I
am
anticipating
that
this
home
rule
petition
will
be
just
for
Municipal
elections,
so
they
will
have
to
be
notified
for
non-participating
in
federal
or
state
elections.
B
Yeah
and
we've
conversation
with
the
16
and
17
year
old,
where
we've
solved
for
having
separate
ballots
where
the
federal
you
know,
the
the
federal
races
are
not
on
there
or
you're,
only
seeing
the
municipal
races
and
the
ballot
and
so
on
and
so
forth,
and
so
there
might
be
some
overlap
to
implementation
where
we
can
kind
of
implement
it
in
that
way
as
well.
Do
you
know
right
now
what
percentage
of
eligible
voters
in
the
city
of
Boston
are
registered.
D
G
B
So
probably
two-thirds
so
more
so
I'm
thinking
in
the
sense
that,
even
if
we
have
68
000
people
with
legal
status,
that
we
might
everybody
might
not
register
to
vote
or
take,
like
you
said,
take
advantage
of
it
and
so
I'm
thinking,
numerically
about
the
influx
of
Voters,
that
we
would
have
to
go
to
add
to
the
rule
and
Madam
chair.
If
I
may
ask
one
last
question
to
give
more
time,
because
not
a
lot
of
counselors.
Thank
you
perfect
to
director
Miller.
F
That's
a
great
question:
the
impact
of
enfranchisement
on
the
economic
prospects
would
likely
be
indirect
over
a
period
of
time,
so
them
getting.
The
right
to
vote
is
not
going
to
instantly
change
their
economic
footing,
but
it
may
you
know
what
what
is
a
large
barrier
both
in
the
Civic
and
economic
arena
is
fear,
fear
to
participate,
fear
to
try
to
reach
a
higher
economic
strata.
F
Fear
over
you
know,
competitive
employees
that
use
your
status
against
you,
and
so
this
kind
of
enfranchisement
gives
people,
perhaps
the
courage
to
do
more
and
to
get
more
of
what
they
deserve.
As
far
as
access
to
certain
city
services,
it
would
likely
be
a
similar
scenario.
So
there's!
No,
you
know
your
ability
to
vote
doesn't
impact
whether
you
could
get
low
income.
F
You
know
great
people
like
director,
Wynn
and
others
in
the
city.
There
are
programs
between
energy
assistance.
You
know
we
it's
getting
cold,
it's
winter.
It's
snowing.
There
are
low
income,
heating
assistance
programs
that
people
are
eligible
for,
even
if
they're,
not
citizens.
There
are
food
programs
that
some
and
I,
don't
particularly
like
the
term,
but
you
know
qualified
aliens-
is
how
the
federal
government
will
define
it.
Some
of
them
can
get
food
stamps,
and
so
this
is
gonna.
F
It's
very
particular,
but
I
really
encourage
people
to
you,
know
Reach
Out,
I'm,
coordinating
with
people
across
the
city
to
make
sure
that
they
have
intentional
strategies
about
communicating
the
fact
that
these
resources
are
meant
to
be
used
and
often
citizenship
status.
It
sometimes
is
a
straight
up
barrier
and
sometimes
it's
more
about
the
fear.
The
stigma
that
pushes
people
away
from
applying.
B
C
D
Gonna
go
off
the
deep
edge
here
and
say
probably
no
and
reasons
for
that
is.
We
have
to
figure
out
how
to
flag
any
of
these
immigrants
that
want
to
participate
in
the
upcoming
municipal
election
in
our
database
that
we
currently
have
right.
Now
we
use
the
state
database
to
keep
track
of
all
of
our
17
year
olds
or
older,
as
well
as
any
registered
voter,
and
that's
a
Statewide
database.
C
D
C
As
it
relates
to
this
proposal,
how
are
we
going
to
get
immigrants
engaged
involved
in
the
political
process
with
with
this
voting
or
without
the
voting?
What
is
the,
what
is
the
goal
to
include
immigrants
into
our
society
as
as
much
as
we
can,
because
they
play
an
incredible
role
in
contribution
sacrifice
to
our
city
and
Nation,
but
what
what
are
we
doing?
What
are
some
of
the
highlights
that
we're
we're
doing
right
now.
E
Let's
see
highlights
that
I
VY
right
now
is
there's
a
lot
of
Civic
leadership
of
immigrants,
regardless
of
immigration
status.
Right
now
happening
in
our
organizing
work
and
in
our
emergency
Boston
program,
and
even
in
our
a
lot
of
volunteership
programs
that
we
have
so
I
look
forward
to
deepening
that
and
having
more
catered
workshops
and
trainings
for
people
to
become
more
empowered.
So
they
can
do
more
Civic
leadership
practices.
E
Now
that
regardless
of
there's,
is
this
new
inclusion
of
non
non-citizens
in
voting,
so
I
look
forward
to
doing
more
of
that
work
and
also
expanding
people's
and
also
people
feeling
more
encouraged,
knowing
that
they
can
be
part
of
the
social
fabric
of
our
communities
without
needing
to
have
this
program
in
place
even
this
year.
So
I
look
forward
to
working
for
any
efforts
to
increase
us.
The
big
participation
of
our
community
members.
C
I
worked
with
the
Chinese
Progressive
Association
on
the
recent
ballot
initiative
on
driver's
license
that
that
passed.
So
can
you
so
I
say
that?
Can
you
tell
me
if
there's
a
distinction
distinction,
one
is
obviously
for
for
driver's
license.
One
is
one
is
for
voting.
Is
there
any
any
distinction
between
the
two
issues
in
terms
of
in
in
terms
of
why
someone
may
support
ballot
initiative
and
not
support
this
proposal?
Is
there
anything
that
would
that
would
philosophically
prevent
someone
to
not
support
this.
C
E
I
think
the
people
who
are
against
inclusion
of
immigrants
have
the
same
I'm
assuming
have
a
same
mindset
that
there's
not
feeling
like
immigrants
are
are
worthy
of
of
this.
But
we
as
a
community
have
chosen
that
and
supported
that,
within
with
the
driver's
license
law,
not
being
repealed
that
we
do
believe
that
immigrants
should
have
equal
access
to
Driver's.
Licenses
also
have
equal
access
to
civic
participation.
E
E
C
E
C
A
And
I'll
say
I'll
take
that
as
a
formal
request
to
probably
Moya
working
with
BPS
to
get
back
to
the
committee
on
the
percentage
of
Boston
public
schools
that
immigrant
students
I
assume
that
number
has
been
increasing
over
the
past
year.
So
would
love
to
get
that
those
numbers
we've
also
been
joined
by
counselors
Murphy
and
counselor
colada
Council
Murphy.
You
have
a
girlfriend
any
questions,
sure.
H
Thank
you,
panelists
for
being
here
I'm
here
to
listen
in
learn,
so
I.
Don't
really
have
any
question
right
now,
except
just
some
clarification
when
it
says
that
you
got
information
about
2.1
billion
taxes
being
paid
from
immigrants
in
the
city.
Is
that
undocumented,
or
are
we
saying
all
all
together?
H
You
can
get
back
to
me
on
that
and
also
thank
you.
Sabino
I
know
that
Council
of
Flynn
asked
kind
of
the
connecting
question
I
had
I
know.
We
worked
on
the
veteran
and
college
students
and
trying
just
to
make
sure
how
we'll
be
making
government
accessible
to
all
and
access
to
all
and
the
connections
to
the
driving
license
bill
seems.
H
B
I
A
I
Well,
I
realize
I
said
Thank
you
do
both
and
not
to
you,
so
I
didn't
want
to
leave
you
up
so
yeah.
Just
thank
you.
Everybody.
As
we
know,
no
person
is
illegal,
but
Through
The
Eyes
of
the
law,
we're
talking
about
legal
permanent
status,
and
these
folks
are
neighbors
of
mine,
they're,
wonderful,
folks,
temporary
protected
status,
DACA
residents,
they
pay
taxes,
they're
business
owners,
they're
involved
in
the
community.
So
why
shouldn't
we
allow
them
to
be
involved
in
local
democracy
and
expanding
local
democracy.
I
In
my
opinion,
especially
after
the
victory
of
the
driver's
license,
so
I
think
for
me
this
has
always
been
a
priority
and
this
will
be
a
priority
and
I.
You
know
I
I
do
want
to
learn
more
about
it.
Of
course,
I
want
to
gather
all
the
data
and
the
facts,
and
this
is
why
we're
here,
but
my
questions
are
more
around
the
the
procedures
and
I
apologize.
I
But
how
could
we
or
can
you
educate
me
about?
How
would
you,
how
would
we
even
go
about
finding
these
folks
and
I
mean?
Would
this
be
something
that
elections
would
have
to
be
proactive
about?
Would
we
ask
folks
to
sign
up
like
what
does
that
look
like
in
your
department,
If
This,
Were,
to
pass
and
then
also,
if
there's
any
ballpark
dollar
month
in
terms
of
resources
of
what
you
would
need
to
actually
get
this
done
by
the
next
election
in
2021.
D
So
I'll
just
jump
in
real
quick
on
this.
The
city
does
do
a
city
census
every
year
and
the
city
census
does
ask
for
all
residents,
age,
17
or
older.
So
that
is
a
good
start
on
where
and
how
we
can
start
incorporating
a
lot
of
the
people
that
fail
to
respond
to
the
census,
and
this
is
a
good
way
for
them
to
not
become
part
of
the
solution,
get
their
name
on
the
census
roles
and
then
from
those
census
roles.
D
Therefore,
responding
to
the
census
will
help
alleviate
a
lot
of
extra
work
that
we
have
to
put
together
and
then,
from
that
point
any
vote.
A
resident
that
is
not
registered
is
a
means
that
we
can
work
together
to
reach
out
to
and
see
why
they're
not
registered
could
be
a
choice
or
just
beings
that
they
don't
have
the
legal
status
to
become
a
registered
voter.
I
G
D
I
Thank
you
and
then
in
terms
of
of
Outreach
I
can
imagine
that
there
would
be
mailers
that
would
have
to
go
out.
There
would
be
a
lot
of
community
meetings
and
that
that
does
take
a
lot
of
time,
a
lot
of
resources
to
have
any
idea.
Just
as
we
move
forward
in
the
budget
cycle,
what
what
dollar
amount
would
that
be
or
can
you
is
it
too
early
to
say
I.
E
Say
something
like
yes,
I
I
can
speak
to
the
Outreach
and
engagement
I
think
especially
for
American
communities.
You
have
to
be
very
for
like
front
loading
and
a
lot
of
the
civic
participation
programs.
You
actually
have
to
do
active
like
ongoing
Outreach
and
engagement
throughout
the
year
Beyond,
just
these
Flash
and
the
pen
moments
whenever
we
need
to
do
elections
or
senses.
I
I
D
B
A
J
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
to
the
piano
all
your
great
work
here
in
the
city
of
Boston
I'm,
sorry
that
I'm
late,
my
staff
has
been
watching
I.
Don't
have
any
questions
at
this
moment,
but
I
am
a
child
of
immigrants
and
I
understand
the
impact
that
immigrants
have
here
on
the
city
of
Boston
and
they
represent
a
large
portion
of
of
our
community
and
includes
being
an
inclusive
City.
J
We
have
to
make
sure
that
we
include
their
voice,
so
definitely
supportive
of
this
effort
and
anything
I
can
do
Madam,
chair
and
Council
Lara.
Please
count
me
on
board,
but
thank
you
again
for
being
here
and
and
making
sure
that
we
have
a
strong
democracy
and
election
process
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you,
councilworld
Sabine.
I'm.
Sorry
did
you
want
to
respond
at
all
too
okay,
I,
just
I
have
a
few
questions,
one
just
piggybacking
off
of
counselor
Coletta.
It
seems
as
though
this
could
be
a
process.
We
could
potentially
do
a
binding
try
to
referendum
that
doesn't
require
us
to
to
go
through
the
state.
If,
if
anyone
has
a
comment
or
but
there
I
don't
know,
it
looks
like
there
might
be
other
avenues
through
which
we
can
explore
how
this
can
happen,
a
registrar
pamonti.
A
Can
you
tell
us
how
often
your
office
gets
calls
or
inquiries
from
residents
who
believe
that
they
have
or
Can
Vote
or
residents,
who
recently
became
citizens
but
fall
outside
of
the
registration
window?
What
does
what?
What
is
the
frequency
of
those
calls
that
you
get
in
your
office
or
or
emails
or
Outreach.
D
In
regards
to
new
citizens,
we
come
and
registered
I
believe
they
can
register
up
until
the
day
before
the
election,
and
there
is
not
a
huge
amount
of
inquiries
for
those
types
of
folks,
but
anyone
that
does
call
and
inquire
about
that.
We
do
take
care
of
them.
What
we
are
getting
numerous
calls
on
is
folks
that
have
become
registered,
to
vote
that
are
not
citizens
and
the
process
of
of
removing
them
off
of
the
voter
rolls.
We
have
quite
a
few
of
those
okay.
A
Yeah
and
if
we
had,
if
we
restored
the
right
to
vote
on
the
municipal
level,
that
at
least
for
Municipal
elections,
we
wouldn't
have
to
remove
them
from
the
roles
that
were
specific
to
Municipal
elections.
So
I
asked
because
this
year,
an
inquiry
that
I
got
on
Election
Day
was
from
someone
who
recently
became
a
citizen,
but
hadn't
been
given
the
opportunity
to
register
to
vote
or,
and
it
was
really
heartbreaking,
and
so
that's
I
think
a
question.
That's
tied
into
sort
of
also.
A
My
next
question
is
for
director
Nguyen.
You
talked
about
project
citizenship,
and
my
office
was
really
excited
to
Champion,
more
resources
for
project
citizenship,
because
of
how
again
how
expensive
it
is,
how
labor
intensive
it
is
labor
intensive.
It
is
for
folks
to
become
citizens
and
how
daunting
of
a
process.
It
is
so
eight
months,
maybe
just
for
the
application,
but
there's
so
much
more
outside
of
that
that
it
can
take
upwards
of
two
years,
if
not
more.
E
Yes,
definitely
we,
as
a
city,
we
have
a
immigration
consultations
that
that
are
offered
twice
twice
a
month
of
like
two
weeks
a
month
a
year,
and
that
happens
every
every
month
is
ongoing
throughout
the
year,
but
we
rely
heavily
on
partners
that
specialize
in
citizenship
to
leverage
like
attorneys
and
even
their
systems
to
support
people,
even
if
their
application
gets
rejected.
So
we
leverage
those
those
Avenues.
Thank.
A
You
and
one
of
the
reasons
why
it's
also
really
important
to
have
a
lot
of
this
assistance
on
the
city
level
in
partnership
with
organizations
that
we
trust
is
that
a
lot
of
immigrants
unfortunately
fall
privy
to
a
lot
of
scams
by
immigrants
or
folks
who
believe
that
they
have
legal
expertise
and
so
providing
those
resources
on
the
city
level
is
crucial.
Helping
to
build
that
trust
and
engagement
with
immigrant
populations
is
really
important.
A
So
you
know
I
have
another
question
regarding
the
city
survey.
When
we
send
it
out
every
year,
is
there
a
disclaimer
on
it
to
to
members
of
the
community
that
any
information
that
is
shared?
We
will
not
share
with
Federal
immigrant
immigration
Authority
so
that
as
an
encouraging
ways
for
folks
to
fill
out
the
survey?
Or
could
we
think
about
doing
something
like
that,
so
that
folks
are
more.
A
A
K
K
I
said
it
in
Spanish
in
case
anybody
wants
to
to
talk
to
me
about
my
decorum
up
in
here,
but
just
really
thank
you
and
grateful
for
your
for
your
leadership
in
the
space
I'm
just
more
curious
about
the
like
the
mechanics
of
the
implementation
of
something
like
this
and
I'm,
not
sure.
If
that
those
questions
were
already
asked
by
any
of
my
colleagues
here.
K
D
What's
the
word
here,
requirements
is
such
as
photo
IDs
or
or
residency
IDs
in
order
to
keep
that
residency
intact,
an
education
piece.
So
there's
a
lot
of
a
lot
of
work
that
will
have
to
go
around
the
education
of
letting
these
residents
know
that
if
they
do
participate
in
these
Municipal
elections,
it's
strictly
for
Boston
and
Boston.
Only
and
I'll
give
you
an
example:
I
live
in
East
Boston
and
there
are
folks
that
think
that,
because
they
live
in
Chelsea,
winthropo,
Revere
they're
part
of
Boston.
G
D
That
may
confuse
them
to
think
that,
because
they
moved
from
East
Boston
to
Revere
or
one
of
these
other
surrounding
communities,
they
can
also
participate
in
their
Municipal
elections
and
then
they
can
become
registered
voters
there.
So
education
is
the
key
component
of
how
this
is
going
to
work
and.
K
D
G
K
And
the
reason
why
I
asked
that
question
in
particular
is
because
we
know
that
it
is
again
it's
unlawful
to
register
to
vote.
If
you
are
not
a
U.S
citizen,
let
alone
undocumented
right
and
so
just
want
to
make
sure
that
we
protect
our
undocumented
Community,
as
we
continue
to
roll
out
this
in
terms
of
communication
and
what
it
means.
But
can
you
just
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
what
would
be
some
of
the
benefits
for
creating
opportunities
for
legal
residents
to
be
able
to
actually
vote
in
Municipal
elections?
E
I
can
talk
about
how
well
something
that,
like
a
tenant
of
mine
as
a
leader,
is
that
I
don't
believe
any
solution
that
we
put
forth
as
Society
will
be
refined
and
solved
for
unless
the
people
who
were
directly
impacted
are
help
designing
for
that
solution.
So
for
me,
the
benefit
of
my
work
with
would
be
needing
their
leadership
to
feel
empowered
that
they
can
actually
pinpoint
the
problems
that
we
have
of
a
community
and
solve
for
them.
E
So
just
knowing
that
that
that
I'll
have
access
to
more
people
to
feel
that
they
have
a
voice
to
actually
name
these
things,
and
it
gives
me
more
encouragement
encouragement
that
we
can
tackle
these
problems
as
a
society
together
and
for
an
engagement
even
for
folks
who
are
undocumented.
For
me,
this
is
something
that's
been
something
I've
been
kind
of
picking
my
brain
about.
E
How
do
we
even
cultivate
a
culture
of
the
family
vote,
because
we
know
a
lot
of
families
who
are
immigrants
have
mixed
statuses
and
the
law
of
a
hardship
during
election
times?
Is
that
whole
families
don't
want
to
vote,
because,
knowing
that
their
mother
or
their
grandmother
can
vote
so
they
feel
ashamed
about
it?
E
So
that
way
we
can
have
those
conversations
about
different
levels
of
varying
status
and
how
we
can
leverage,
even
undocking
folks
in
the
family,
can
have
a
voice
through
other
family
members
and
them
kind
of
being
that
person
to
kind
of
push
forward
the
family
vote
so
so
I'm
hoping
that
through
those
Pathways,
we
can
have
that
education
about
folks
who,
who
don't
have
status
but
folks
who
have
status,
to
be
able
to
to
move
together
politically
and
engage
and
I.
Think
Elijah
can
speak
to
the
economic
piece.
Oh
yeah
speak.
F
So
sometimes
it
gets
overlooked,
but
the
most
important
part
of
our
economy
is
our
people.
Without
people
you
do
not
have
an
economy
and
the
total
size
or
total
value
of
our
economic
output,
therefore,
is
directly
correlated
with
the
number
of
people
participating
and
giving
their
all,
essentially
whether
they
are
self-employed
or
they
work
for
somebody
else,
and
when
people
are
disenfranchised
politically,
you
know
culturally
they're
stigmatized
they
Retreat
from
giving
their
fullest,
and
that
only
makes
our
economy
weaker.
K
A
Thank
good
chair,
thank
you.
Counselor
and
I
also
just
want
to
Echo.
A
lot
of
the
work
seems
to
be
like
it
would
be
around
education,
and
that
would
be
the
work
that
you
do.
Dr
Nguyen
in
Moya
and
I
know
that
there
is
sincere
interest
in
helping
to
support
the
resources
necessary
for
the
community
organizing
program,
but
also
we'll
rely
on
your
deep
Partnerships
that
you
already
have
with
Community
Based
organizations,
Grassroots
organizations
that
are
immigrant-led
that
are
black
and
brown-led.
A
That
will
really
help
explain
voting
rights,
Municipal
voting
rights
to
immigrants,
really
relying
on
the
communities
and
foundations
of
trust
that
exist
within
that.
So
I
do
see
your
office
being
an
integral
role
in
the
Deep
Partnerships.
You
have
with
Community
organizations
and
immigrant
leads
Boston.
So
thank
you
for
being
here.
I
also
want
to
ask
if
all
of
the
panelists
I
opening
statements
were
were
wonderful
if
we
could
have
them
submitted
submitted
in
writing
to
the
committee
so
that
we
can
just
have
them
for
the
record.
That
would
be
great.
B
B
B
D
B
D
B
Two
parallel
processes
at
the
same
time:
okay,
that's
good
to
know
in
term.
You
know,
I
think
that
everybody
here
all
of
our
questions,
are
about
how
we
set
you
up
for
success
and
so
database
people
power
in
the
elections.
Department.
That's
really
helpful
to
know
that
is
those
are
all
the
questions
that
I
had
for
the
administrations
panel.
I
just
wanted
to
follow
up
on
that
because
of
the
concern
that
councilmania
brought
up.
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank.
I
Colada
get
the
floor.
Thank
you
so
much.
This
is
so
incredibly
informative
and
just
talking
about
databases,
it
calls
to
mind
that
knowledge
or
information
is,
is
power
right,
and
so,
when
we
have
databases,
people
want
access
that
information.
So
I'm
worried
about
the
protection
of
especially
this
group
of
folks
identity
and
making
sure
that
they're
protected.
So
with
that
in
just
terms
of
cyber
security
it
it
was.
D
D
It
all
depends
that
is
something
that
we'll
have
to
discuss
going
forward
on
what
what
the
requirements
are
for
these
residents
to
become
part
of
this
new
program
and
to
see
if
we
can
use
the
current
database
that
we
have
with
the
state
in
order
to
implement
it.
Obviously,
one
database
is
the
ideal
location
for
our
office,
because
these
folks
are
not
only
registering
for
Municipal
elections,
but
they're,
also
residents,
so
they
are
part
of
our
census,
which
is
controlled
by
the
state
database.
D
I
And
also
protect
it
too
I
mean
I,
there's
been
instances
in
the
city
before
where
one
database
has
been
shared
with
another
department,
and
there
have
been
unfortunate
consequences,
especially
as
it
relates
to
undocumented
immigrants
in
East,
Boston.
So
I
think
that
I'd
like
to
talk
through
that
a
little
bit
more
as
we
discuss
implementation
moving
forward
and
just
seeing
what
you
need
if
there
is
a
database
that
the
city
has
just
making
sure
that
that
is
protected
and
insecure.
The
thank.
K
Questions
I
wanted
to
just
follow
that
thread
a
little
bit
more
in
regards
to
supporting
our
our
community,
and
this
is
just
more
like
a
in
terms
of
education
and
and
the
engagement
piece
around.
This
is
that
you
know,
as
we
roll
this
out,
really
making
sure
that
people
know
that
by
participating
in
Municipal
elections,
it
won't
impact
their
ability
to
pursue
citizenship
down
the
line.
K
You
know
to
consolata's
point
and
I
believe
it
was
yours
in
regards
to
the
economic
impact,
but
there
are
a
lot
of
businesses
here.
That
could
also
be
part
of
your
engagement
and
Outreach,
so
it
gets.
If
you
will
like
to
help
disseminate
information
in
barber
shops,
hair
salons,
you
know
laundromats
multi-service
centers
like
these
are
all
folks
who
can
help
support
the
rollout
of
something
like
this,
so
that
Sabino
doesn't
have
to
figure
out
how
he
could
do
it
all.
K
Once
you
create
the
content,
you
know,
Moya
could
work
with
the
office
of
Economic
Opportunity
and
inclusion
to
help
tap
into
those
businesses,
because
it's
going
to
take
all
of
us
and
and
I
think
that,
in
order
for
something
to
be
set
up
for
Success,
it
is
going
to
require
you
know,
different
departments,
leaning
into
to
that
work
and
I.
Think
one
of
the
things
that
councilor
Lara
mentioned
in
terms
of
capacity.
So
you
know
to
give
some
thought
to
additional
workers.
K
A
J
L
My
question
is:
how
much
work
do
we
already
currently
do
on
language
access
around
voting
and
in
which
ways
would
that
need
to
expand
to
make
sure
that,
for
folks
that
are
being
brought
into
this
process?
For
the
first
time,
they're
able
to
read
and
then
understand
everything
that
we're
trying
to
put
put
down
for
them.
L
L
Back
so
so,
the
Department
of
Justice
settlement
led
to
those
four
language
changes
but
they're,
not
necessarily,
for
instance,
Portuguese
or
Haitian
Creole,
or
so
it's
not
based
on
necessarily
what
the
largest
voting
share
population
is
to
those
languages
specifically
in
the
city
of
Boston.
It's
not
like
those
are
the
top
four
languages
of
folks
who
go
to
vote.
It's
just.
Those
are
the
four
that
came
through
a
doj
or
some.
D
Correct
but
after
every
decennial
census,
the
federal
government
does
announce
the
languages
that
need
to
be.
The
ballots
need
to
be
printed
based
upon
the
size
of
the
population
of
those
languages
and
right
now,
I
believe
the
city
of
Boston,
based
upon
the
decennial
census,
is
only
English
in
all
precincts
and
some
precincts
is
Spanish,
but
obviously
the
city
does
the
whole
city
in
Spanish,
as
well
as
Chinese
and
Vietnamese,
and
the
precincts
that
require
it.
L
And
then,
in
terms
of
the
language
determinations,
is
that
a
state
like
so
when
we're
talking
about
getting
the
ballots
printed
in
different
languages?
Is
that
something
that
the
city
of
Boston
has
the
ability
to
control
how
many
languages
get
on
there?
If
they
want
to
add
additional
languages?
Could
the
city
of
Boston
do
that,
or
is
that
mandated
through
the
state
in
some
way,
shape
or
form
It's.
L
So
is
there
is
so?
Is
there
a
world
in
which
we
could
say
we
would
like
it
to
be
in
this
language,
and
the
state
could
come
back
and
say
we're
not
going
to
support
that
or
we're
not
going
to
do
that.
It's
a
possibility
all
right!
Thank
you.
So
we'll
we'll
cross
those
bridges
when
we
get
there
but
I.
L
Think
language
accessibility,
especially
on
something
like
this
is
going
to
be
an
important
part
of
I,
was
listening
in
earlier,
is
going
to
be
an
important
part
of
education
and
roll
out
just
based
on
on
how
this
goes,
making
sure
that
folks
can
read
this
information
in
the
language
that
they
are
most
comfortable
in
reading
and
and
taking
it,
but
I
support
this
initiative.
I,
look
forward
to
seeing
this
move
forward
in
a
more
official
way
in
the
future.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank
you
to
the
sponsors.
A
Thank
you
and
Monique
I
know
you
have
a
hard
stop
at
11
30.
It
is
now
11
30,
so
I'm
going
to
let
you
all
leave
I
I
will
just
say
that
a
lot
of
the
questions
that
came
up
around
implementation
and
about
best
practices
are
really
great
questions,
and
it's
really
also
wonderful
that
there
are
other
cities
and
municipalities
that
have
already
moved
forward
this.
A
So
there's
a
lot
to
learn,
I
think
from
how
other
cities
and
states
have
engaged
in
this
conversation
to
see
how
they
separate
out
voter
rolls
and
how
they
create.
Obviously,
I
think
you
would
need
a
like
a
mini
office
within
the
elections
office
that
works
on
this
issue.
That
has
a
deep,
deep
tie-in
with
Moya,
but
it
would
be.
You
know
this
is
where
we
learn
from
from
other
places
that
have
already
rolled
out
the
ball
here
on
this
issue,
and
so
there
are
lots
of
places
for
us
to
learn.
A
So
thank
you
again
for
being
here
for
being
part
of
this
conversation
about
how
we
restore
Municipal
voting
rights
and
glad
to
see
the
administration
supportive.
If
we
could
get
those
opening
statements
again
in
writing,
that'd
be
great
so,
but
thank
you
to
Elijah
Monique
Sabino
for
being
here
and
for
sharing
your
time,
energy
and
expertise
with
us.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
We
are
now
going
to
move
on
to
our
next
panel
and
I.
Believe
everyone
is
here.
A
If,
if
you
can
make
your
way
down,
we
have
Alex
kaisar
the
Matthew
W
Sterling
Junior,
professor
of
history
and
social
policy
at
Harvard.
University
is
here
via
Zoom
Jacob
love,
staff
attorney
from
the
lawyers
for
civil
rights
and
Shanique
Spalding
from
the
Massachusetts
voter
table
who's
executive
director
also
here
via
Zoom.
Okay,
so
Jacob
love
you'll,
be
in
the
hot
seat
here
by
yourself,
and
then
the
two
other
participants
are
here
via
Zoom:
okay,
okay,
Professor
Kaiser
am
I,
saying
your
name
correctly.
M
Okay
well,
thank
you
and
thank
you
for
inviting
me
to
speak
on
this
very
important
issue,
as
was
I
think
mentioned
in
the
instruction
I
teach
at
the
Harvard.
Kennedy
School
and
I
am
a
historian
of
voting
rights.
Who
has
written
a
lot
about
this
particular
issue.
Among
others,
and
my
comments
will
be
brief,
but
I'll
be
happy
to
answer
questions
and
what
they
focus
on
is
is
an
important
fact
that
that
allowing.
M
Non-Citizens
to
vote
in
Municipal
elections
is
not
a
new
departure
in
American
history.
This
is
something
which
has
been
done
on
many
occasions
that
actually
also
in
state
and
even
Federal
elections
in
some
periods
for
long
periods
of
time
and
many
locales
non-citizens
who
displayed
a
commitment
to
the
to
their
Community
have
been
able
to
cast
ballots.
So
this
is
not.
This
is
not
a
new
story,
and
let
me
give-
or
this
is
not
it's
not
a
new
idea.
It's
not
a
New
Concept,
there's,
nothing!
M
That's
breaking
with
American
tradition.
In
doing
this,
although
I
think
that's
not
commonly
understood,
I
think
there
is.
There
is
out
there
in
the
world
that
says
that
oh
we've,
only
let
citizens
vote
well.
That
hasn't
really
been
true,
and
let
me
make
just
some
brief
comments
about
that
and
then
and
then
something
about
why
the
Ebbs
and
flows
in
this
practice,
when
the
when
the
nation
was
first
created.
Actually
there
was
no.
M
M
But
then,
in
the
middle
of
starting
the
middle
of
the
19th
century,
many
states
adopted
what
could
be
what
were
called
alien,
the
cleric
laws.
These
were
laws,
saying
quite
simply
that
if
somebody
was
an
immigrant,
they
were
not
a
citizen,
but
they
had
lived
here
for
two
years
and
declared
their
intent
to
become
a
citizen
at
some
point
that
they
could
vote.
M
These
laws
were
first
adopted
in
the
midwest
in
the
mid
19th
century
and
then
after
the
Civil
War,
they
were
adopted
a
number
of
places
in
the
west
and
the
South,
and
they
they
were
passed
because
numerous
jurisdictions
wanted
to
encourage
immigration
and
also
because
they
thought
it
would
be
sort
of
fair
and
attractive
to
immigrants
to
be
able
to
vote
these
courts.
These
these
laws
were
challenged
in
the
courts
and
were
invariably
approved
by
the
courts.
M
M
The
principle
was
simply
people
identified
with
and
belonged
to
the
community
that
they
should
be
able
to
vote.
Several
does
roughly
two
dozen,
not
several
dozen
states
adopted
these
laws.
They
were
then
pulled
back,
revised
sort
of
annulled
in
the
late
19th
and
early
20th
century
as
parts
of
the
country
most
of
the
country
confronted
very
high
levels
of
immigration
and
they're.
Basically,
a
turn
against
immigrant
rights
and
the
last
state
to
repeal
immigrant
declarative
declaring
alien
laws
was
Arkansas
in
the
1920s.
M
The
issue
then
disappeared
from
view
for
a
while,
because
immigration
rates
were
rather
low
from
World
War
One
into
the
early
1960s,
and
the
federal
court
said
something
that
it
was
okay
to
exclude
non-citizens,
but
that
didn't
work.
They
didn't
require
it
and
then
now
what
we've
seen
you
know,
then
we
have
another
shift
or
we're
seeing
that
was
growing
interest
in
non-citizen
voting,
because
the
country
since
the
the
increase
in
Immigration
rates
starting
a
few
years
ago,
not
a
few
years
ago,
so
I
think
1970s
1980s.
M
In
fact,
in
Europe
the
the
rights
are
more
extensive
and
more
easily
attained
in
Ireland,
Netherlands
and
Scandinavia
non-citizens
have
been
able
to
vote
for
municipal
offices
for
for
decades
in
the
1990s.
A
treaty
within
the
European
Union
permits
all
citizens
of
the
EU
to
vote
in
the
local
elections
in
whatever
country
and
city
they
are
inhabiting.
A
N
Good
morning,
thank
you,
chairwoman,
illusion
and
councilor
Laura
for
the
opportunity
to
speak.
My
name
is
Shanique
Spalding
once
again
and
I'm
the
executive
director
for
the
Massachusetts
voter
table.
We
are
a
coalition
of
45,
non-profit
organizations
rooted
in
communities
of
color
in
Massachusetts.
N
Our
mission
is
to
increase
Civic
engagement
and
bipoc
and
immigrant
and
working-class
communities
in
Massachusetts.
We
support
the
proposal
to
restore
the
municipal
right
to
vote
for
immigrants
with
legal
status
as
filed
by
councilor
Laura
Lara
Boston
residents,
who
are
immigrants
should
have
the
same
say
in
our
city
as
any
other
citizen
resident
immigrants
live
here.
Work
here
raise
children
here
and
pay
taxes
here.
Local
laws
and
policies
affect
non-citizens
every
day.
They
are
all
governed
by
policies
set
by
legislators.
N
They
have
no
ability
to
elect
or
influence
efforts
to
give
local
efforts
to
give
legal
non-citizen.
Voting
rights
are
significant
because
they
help
provide
a
voice
to
those
with
a
vested
stake
in
their
communities
as
well
as
a
sense
of
belonging
and
I
should
know.
I
was
once
a
permanent
resident
and
immigrant
from
Kingston
Jamaica
I
am
now
a
naturalized
citizen.
Both
my
parents
have
lived
in
this
country
for
nearly
40
years.
They
were
business
owners
for
15
of
those
years.
N
They
joined
the
neighborhood
Council,
as
business
owners
gave
out
free
meals
during
Thanksgiving
to
the
needy
and
volunteered
in
elections.
They
couldn't
vote
in,
they
paid
taxes
own
a
home
shop
exclusively
local
in
their
community.
They,
like
so
many
non-citizens,
have
given
greatly
to
their
communities
but
with
no
say
in
local
government.
The
path
to
citizenship
is
expensive
and
difficult.
As
we've
heard
from
the
mayor's
office,
it
costs
up
to
three
thousand
dollars
for
myself
and
my
mother
to
become
citizens.
N
We
could
not
afford
in
2007
to
also
pay
for
my
father,
but
barriers
to
cost
access
to
naturalization
are
not
the
only
inhibitors
for
some,
but
what
about
our
temporary
protected
status
residents?
They
can
neither
go
home
to
their
birth
country
or
become
citizens
in
this
country.
Should
they
also
continue
to
live
here
and
be
disenfranchised?
N
Enfranchising
non-citizen
voters
exemplifies
a
healthier
democracy.
We
cannot
abide
by
A
system
that
takes
money
from
our
residents
without
any
say
in
the
municipal
government.
We
know
that
immigrant
communities
want
this
right.
Our
partner
neighbors
United
for
a
better
East
Boston,
has
set
up
voting
simulations
that
offer
a
chance
for
immigrants,
regardless
of
their
status
to
vote
in
mock
elections.
Are
non-citizen
neighbors
want
their
voices
to
be
heard
in
the
political
system.
N
A
O
O
We
respectfully
submit
this
testimony
at
today's
hearing
before
the
committee
on
civil
rights
and
immigrant
advancement
to
support
the
restoration
of
Municipal
voting
rights
to
immigrants
with
legal
status.
Non-Citizen
voting
is
the
suffrage
movement
of
our
time,
just
like
previous
groups
that
have
been
denied
the
right
to
vote
in
this
country.
O
Immigrants
with
legal
status
deserve
suffrage
and
Municipal
elections
at
the
very
least
as
a
matter
of
fundamental
fairness,
a
basic
tenet
of
democracy
is
the
idea
of
the
social
contract
that
those
who
are
who
are
subject
to
the
government's
laws
should
have
a
say
in
shaping
them.
That
principle
is
animated
civil
rights
movements
since
America's
founding,
and
it
is
particularly
relevant
here.
O
Immigrants
with
legal
status
not
only
abide
by
Boston's
laws,
but
they
also
contribute
to
Boston
Society
in
countless
and
invaluable
ways.
They
pay
taxes,
run
businesses
work
as
doctors
and
lawyers
send
their
children
to
public
schools
and
even
serve
in
the
military
as
active
members
of
society,
it
is
only
fair
that
they
be
able
to
influence
the
rules
and
institutions
that
affect
their
daily
lives
with
Municipal
voting
rights.
O
They
would
finally
be
able
to
do
so
directly
and
it
is
now
more
important
than
ever
for
immigrants
to
have
their
voices
heard
over
the
last
few
years.
Inflammatory
anti-immigrant
rhetoric
has
endangered
immigrant
safety
and
caused
discrimination
against
immigrant
groups
to
soar
as
an
inevitable
byproduct
of
this
environment.
Immigrants
continue
to
face
disparate
treatment
in
areas
like
housing,
medicine,
child
care
and
employment.
O
O
A
B
O
And
then,
in
the
past
the
Supreme
Judicial
Court
has
interpreted
the
word
citizen
to
mean
American
citizen
and
so
that
that
fundamental
tenet
of
Massachusetts
law
complicates
things,
but
is
also
my
understanding
that
the
the
state
laws
that
Define
voter
eligibility
also
allow
for
special
laws
to
be
passed.
That
would
allow
for
non-citizens
to
vote,
and
so
the
home
rule
petition
process
is
a
valid
means
of
creating
Municipal
voter
eligibility
and
my
understanding
of
Massachusetts
law.
B
O
Well,
I
can
go
first,
so
as
a
matter
of
federal
law
obviously
is
this:
is
the
city
council
knows
non-citizens
are
not
allowed
to
vote
in
federal
elections,
but
the
con
the
Federal
Constitution
allows
states
to
regulate
the
time,
place
and
manner
of
Elections.
So
primarily
these
laws
would
be
interpreted
under
state
constitutions
and
state
law,
and
so
to
the
extent
that
these
Municipal
voting
laws
that
have
been
passed
in
various
jurisdictions
across
the
country
have
been
challenged.
O
M
M
B
O
B
M
I
I
would
agree
with
what,
with
what
was
said,
I
think
a
home
rule
petition.
You
know
what
I
a
lot
of
this
depends
on
the
intricacies
of
the
State
Constitution
and
I
I
confess
that
I
haven't
looked
at
the
Massachusetts
Constitution
for
with
regard
to
this
issue,
but
I
think
that
a
home
rule
petition
route
is
the
most
common
difference.
B
A
I
Thank
you,
chair
I,
just
want
to
thank
the
panels
for
being
here
and
thank
you
Shanique
as
well
for
uplifting
the
work
at
new
bay
shout
out
to
any
inglourable
motor
for
their
work.
It's
it's
groundbreaking,
so
I
just
wanted
to
shout
them
out
as
well.
My
my
line
of
questioning
was
to
get
more
insight
into
charting
a
path
to
get
this
done.
So
it's
it's
interesting
to
hear.
You
say
that
the
Homeworld
petition
process
would
be
the
safest
legal
mechanism
to
do
this.
I
K
Yeah,
thank
you.
We
already
know
what
happens
when
things
go
to
the
state
house.
They
die
no
just
joking,
so
which
is
probably
why
we've
all
lost
hope
in
in
sending
things
over
there,
and
so
as
we
continue
to
identify
the
best
paths
forward.
I'm
just
curious,
if
you
all
have
worked
with
other
Municipal
municipalities
around
this
here
in
the
state
that
you
can
point
to
other
cities
that
have
attempted
or
are
we
going
to
be
the
first
like?
K
O
Sure
and
I
know:
councilor
Lara's
office
is
familiar
with
the
other
jurisdictions
in
Massachusetts
that
have
attempted
to
or
passed
these
types
of
laws.
Cambridge,
for
example,
has
done
so
and
they're
at
least
half
a
dozen
others
that
I
can't
think
of
off
the
top
of
my
head,
but
but
Boston
would
not
be
the
first
in
Massachusetts
there
are
others
Vermont
Maryland,
for
example,
San
Francisco
did
the
same
thing
in
New
York
as
well,
and
some
of
those
laws
have
been
challenged
and
some
haven't,
but
we
would
not
be
the
first
in
Boston,
so.
K
A
K
K
O
But
this
is
this
is
a
relatively
new
movement
in
Massachusetts
as
well.
Another
thing
to
take
into
account
advocacy
is
important
in
order
to
to
sort
of
shift
public
opinion
in
the
direction
of
of
passing
this
and
to
shift
legislative
opinion
in
the
direction
of
passing
this.
We
need
to
continue
talking
about
it
and
continue
trying
to
pass
these
laws
all.
M
M
Certainly
it
creates
grounds
for
some
concern
about
submitting
a
home
rule
petition.
However
much
that
might
be
the
most
legally
straightforward
path.
I
I
would
encourage
the
staff
of
the
city
council
or
someone
to
get
in
touch
with
people
in
Maryland,
which
have
had
a
particular
which
has
had
a
particularly
easy
time,
a
relatively
easy
time
in
in
permitting
municipalities
to
actually
do
this,
and
there
are
municipalities
which
do
permit
non-citizen
voting,
and
this
may
have
to
do
with
with
I.
A
L
And
I
just
want
to
thank
the
panels
both
panels.
I
didn't
get
to
thank
the
other
one
previously
I'm
sure
they're,
not
watching
now,
but
thank
you
to
them
as
well.
But
the
State
process
for
folks
who
aren't
observing
our
home
repetitions
has
even
in
the
best
of
times
even
with
mayoral
support
and
pushing
of
the
house,
and
the
Senate
has
led
often
to
nothing.
It's
so
I
think
trying
to
go
through.
That
process
is
another
way
of
saying
we
may
as
well
make
it
a
resolution
at
that
point.
L
Frankly,
it
just
say
we
support
the
idea,
but
we
don't
think
it'll
happen
and
so
I
think
going
through
the
ordinance
standpoint
of
that
and
I'm,
not
sure
who
would
have
standing
to
even
Sue
on
on
that.
So
that
would
be
something
we
would
have
to
figure
out
like
who
would
even
have
standing
to
bring
a
lawsuit
to
block
that.
L
But
from
the
standpoint
of
as
the
chair
of
government
Ops,
looking
at
this
from
an
ordinance
standpoint
and
a
city
standpoint,
I
think
that
would
be
my
preference,
as
opposed
to
going
through
a
home
rule
petition
and
watching
another
home
rule
petition,
go
wherever
those
home
rule
petitions
end
up
when
they
get
to
the
house.
So
there's
that
the
second
part
of
this
is.
L
We
know
that
there
are
other
cities,
major
cities,
I
think
New
York
just
did
something
on
this
or
just
voted
on
something
on
this
just
this
year
or
last
year
to
extend
voting
rights,
I
believe
two
folks
who
have
documented
status.
So
this
is
not
you
know,
even
when
my
father
proposed
this
in
2006
I,
think
there
were
like
53
municipalities
in
the
country
that
did
this
at
this
time.
Once
again,
this
is
not
a
Cutting
Edge.
L
L
I'm
not
sure
I
have
any
specific
questions
on
sort
of
this
issue
unless
I
think
we
have
just.
This
is
just
one
attorney.
We
have
on
our
panel
yeah
unless
you
have
any
idea
as
to
the
standing
question
as
to
like
so,
for
instance,
who
would
be
able
to
even
Sue
on
behalf
of
I
guess
who
would
they
be
suing
on
behalf
of
is
sort
of
the
question
in
terms
of
any
changes
we
made
as
an
ordinance
towards
expanding
voting
rights?
Well,.
L
G
L
O
Would
say
it's
a
good
question
and
anyone
who's
here
can
correct
me
if
I'm
wrong,
but
I
believe
that
the
New
York
City
law
that
extended
voting
rights
to
Municipal
voters
for
non-citizens
was
struck
down
as
a
matter
of
a
New,
York
state
law.
So
clearly,
in
that
case,
a
judge
did
find
that
the
challengers
had
standing.
L
L
So,
basically,
as
long
as
as
long
as
there's
a
viable
and
couchable
sort
of
way
of
doing
this
in
the
city
ordinance,
because
it's
a
city
of
Boston
election
that
doesn't
in
some
way
shape
or
form
conflict
with
what
the
actual
state
constitution
says,
it's
not
a
matter
of,
for
instance,
federal
law,
since
it
doesn't
involve
Federal
elections.
It's
not
a
matter
of
federal
law.
O
I
would
say
that
there
is
a
path
of
viability.
Yes,
it
may
be
complicated
and
I'm,
not
in
a
position
to
describe
exactly
how
it
should
be
done.
Mechanically
I
think
the
city
council
should
explore
all
available
options
and
I
also
don't
think
it.
The
city
council
is
precluded
from
trying
to
pass
it
in
both
methods.
If
the
city
council
attempts
to
go
through
the
home
repetition
process
and
that
stalls
in
the
state
government,
then
it
could
move
on
or
it
could
do
both
simultaneously.
There
are
a
lot
of
available
options.
P
Thank
you,
Madam
chair,
I,
like
to
acknowledge.
If
counselor
Anderson
has
joined
us,
you
said
that
yes,
okay,
I,
I'm,
sorry,
I'm
late,
I
think
my
questions
are
going
to
be
very
basic
since
I
I'm,
just
getting
here
and
I,
really
want
to
at
least
for
my
constituents.
I
want
folks
to
understand
and
be
able
to
interpret
to
my
folks.
So
can
you
if
you
and
if
you
can
I'm
sorry,
what's
your
what's
your
name
attorney
my.
O
I
know
that
the
professor
knows
a
lot
about
this
topic
and
he
can
correct
me
if
I'm
wrong,
but
my
understanding
was
at
least
as
voting
eligibility
was
initially
defined
in
the
Massachusetts
Constitution
inhabitants
of
Massachusetts.
It
was
either
the
word
inhabitant
or
resident
we're
allowed
to
vote.
O
But
at
the
beginning
of
of
of
this
Commonwealth
and
into
the
early
19th
century,
non-citizens
were
eligible
to
vote,
and
so
this
is.
This
is
something
that
has
been
allowed
in
the
past
and
throughout
other
jurisdictions
in
the
United
States
up
until
much
later
than
the
early
19th
century,
and
the
professor
can
can
add
to
that.
If
there's
anything
to
add.
M
I
I
think
I
I
think
the
lawyer
got
the
history
pretty
much
right
and
and
that's
good.
But
let
me
let
me
add
one
other
Dimension
to
this,
which
is
that
in
early
90s
in
the
first
half
of
the
19th
century,
the
law
was
such
that
municipalities,
if
they
had
Charters
that
predated
Independence
had
autonomy
from
the
states
in
many
areas,
including
with
respect
to
the
franchise
in
in
the
second
half
of
the
19th
century.
M
The
laws
throughout
the
United
States
alter
the
relationship
between
municipalities
and
the
state,
transforming
cities
into
Creations
or
creatures
of
the
State
and
State
legislatures,
giving
them
less
autonomy,
and
that
that
coincides
with
the
narrative
that
I
alluded
to
earlier
and
that
Jacob
love
just
mentioned
now,
so
that
there's
some
precedent
in
Massachusetts.
It's
the
early
19th
century,
but
not
for
a
very
long
time.
I
have
non-citizens
been
permitted
to
vote
yeah
in
this
city
in
this
state.
P
P
M
M
No,
it
would
it
would.
It
was
if
we
certainly
do
know
historically,
for
example,
that
that
legislation
passed
that
that
that
permitted
minority
communities
such
as
the
Voting
Rights,
Act,
that
it's
not
in
its
numerous
iterations
people
that
permitted
minority
communities
to
vote
did
increase
Civic
engagement,
we
don't
know
it.
What
I
was
referring
to
is
that
we
don't
know
it
about
this
specific
issue,
because
there
simply
Aren't
Enough
examples
in
data.
P
O
P
P
Does
anyone
I
mean
I,
think
I
think
it's
interesting.
We
see
you
see
where
I'm
going
with
this
right.
The
majority
of
these
folks,
especially
in
Boston
immigrants
with
legal
status,
are
black
and
brown
population.
Increasing
about
68
000
people
to
have
voting.
Powers
is
significant
in
the
black
and
brown
community.
P
P
O
O
P
This
is
not
about
just
you,
you
and
I
here
in
this
conversation,
but
it's
my
hope
that
they
play
a
central
role
in
the
process
and
just
really
grateful
that
you're
here
and
you're
having
this
conversation
with
us.
Thank
you
to
the
lead
sponsor
on
this
hearing.
Obviously,
I
support
it
and
I
share
the
sentiments
of
my
colleague,
counselor
Coletta,
that
if
we
could
move
forward
with
with
this,
it
would
be
magnificent
for
our
communities,
especially
Council.
P
Coletta
represents
a
lot
of
the
Hispanic
Community
or
latinx
community
in
East,
Boston
and
other
areas
in
her
district
for
myself
as
well.
Super
diverse
Cape,
verdeans,
Latinos
and
I.
Think
Haitians
majority
are
in
my
district
as
well
I'm,
just
looking
forward
to
more
conversations
in
one
or
two
Echo
Council
Colada's
point
about
moving
forward
with
an
ordinance.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
A
Thank
you,
counselor
Fernandez,
Anderson
I'm,
just
checking
Shanique
Shanique.
Are
you
still
with
us
I
know,
Shanique
had
a
hard
stop
at
noon.
Just
checking
okay,
well
Shanique.
If
you're
listening.
Thank
you
for
being
here
and
we
appreciate
your
work.
Second
round
of
questions
cancel
out.
If
you
have
any
questions.
B
I
think
that
the
the
question
that
I
had
was
similar
to
councilor
Royals,
but
I
think
that
attorney
Love
Is
Right
in
terms
of
us
having
the
conversation
around
the
the
challenges.
But
it
was
a
question
in
deciding
when
we,
when
my
office
was
working
with
lawyers
for
civil
rights
and
deciding
how
we
would
move
forward.
B
The
question
of
who
had
standing
to
sue
us
did
come
up
so
I
do
have
I,
can
give
an
answer
or
share
my
colleagues
in
terms
of
what
that
looks
like
who
has
standing
to
basically
Mount
up
a
legal
challenge,
but
I
think
that
Council
Arroyo
is
also
right.
Is
that
our
new
attorney
general
was
the
person
who
held
this
hearing
on
the
city
council
before
and
I?
Think
we'll
have
support
as
a
city
to
really
be
able
to
move
this
forward
I'm
just
reading.
My
notes.
B
Implementation,
no
I
think
the
questions
that
I
had
were
really
about
looking
at
other
cities
and
seeing
how
they've
been
able
to
do
it
if,
if
they've
put
up
and
so
I,
think
that
you
know,
we've
we've
been
in
contact
and
have
sat
on
a
panel
with
counselor
Tiffany
caban
from
New
York
and
we've.
You
know
we
we
all
come.
B
Have
this
conversation
and
so
I
think
that
we'll
want
to
talk
to
more
people
like
my
office
will
take
time
to
talk
to
more
of
the
people
that
are
the
municipalities
to
get
information
around
how
they
implemented
it
and
what
kind
of
challenges
of
any
they
they
had,
but
I
think
that's
all
that
I
have.
Thank
you
all.
A
G
A
I
want
to
thank
you,
Professor
for
being
with
us.
I
want
to
thank
Jacob
love
from
loyal
rights
for
being
with
us.
I
also
want
to
shout
out
to
the
late
professor
Alani
Grenier
of
Harvard
Law
School
who's,
my
professor
in
the
law
of
democracy,
who
was
a
big
Champion
for
expanding
the
franchise
and
including
immigrants
in
the
ability
to
vote
and
I.
A
Think
is
why
it
was
especially
important
Professor
for
you
to
provide
that
historical
context
that
we
hear
as
a
country
and
as
a
state
have
it
historically
provided
an
extended
the
franchise
to
non-citizens
and
that
the
manifestation
of
it
being
limited
to
only
citizens
is
is
actually
a
recent
manifestation
in
a
historical
context.
So
appreciate
you,
both
for
being
here,
I
appreciate
you
Shanique
for
being
here
and
my
colleagues
for
their
questions.