►
From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on April 9, 2018
Description
Docket #0174 - Ordinance regarding Right of Free Petition
A
18
2017,
this
ordinance
would
codify
two
ways
for
Boston
residents
to
participate
in
the
legislative
process.
1
any
residents
can
submit
a
petition
which
the
council
may
act
on
at
its
discretion
into
a
petition
signed
by
500.
Plus
residents
must
be
given
a
hearing
within
3
months.
Petitions
must
be
something
that
could
be
passed
in
ordered
by
the
City
Council
petitions
exclude
matters
affecting
council
operations
and
organization,
emergency
measures,
loan
orders
and
appropriations,
personnel
elections
and
appointments
referenda
in
initiative.
Petitions.
A
The
council
need
not
address
a
petition
if
there
has
been
substantially
similar
proceeding
within
the
previous
calendar
year,
hearings
may
be
held
on
multiple
petitions
at
once
in
the
city,
clerk
may
outline
further
procedures
and
policies
regarding
submission
in
acceptance
of
petitions
on
housekeeping
note.
4
just
want
to
remind
folks
that
this
is
a
public
hearing
and
is
being
recorded
and
will
be
broadcast
on
Comcast
8
hour
cnat
to
Verizon
1964
in
online,
and
just
ask
folks
to
please
silence
your
cell
phones
and
other
devices.
A
B
A
A
Hearing
on
the
ordinance
regarding
right
to
free
petition,
I
want
to
thank
Council
who
and
all
the
advocates
for
crafting
this
ordinance
in
elevating
this
critical
conversation,
the
participation
is
just
another
form
of
communication
from
our
constituents
and
the
dialogue
of
democratic
government
I
support
the
idea
of
the
sort
insulin
forward
to
continued
discussion.
My
policy
director,
Ron
Claude,
will
be
available
at
today's
hearing
and
she'll
and
I
will
intend
to
review
the
tape
of
today's
hearing.
Sincerely
Liana
Presley,
Boston
city
councilor
live
show
without
further
ado.
A
I'm
gonna
turn
it
over
to
the
lead
sponsor
I
know.
We
have
three
guests
here
from
the
administration,
our
clerk
and
former
city
councilor
in
a
city
clerk,
Maureen,
Feeney
joined
by
our
election
commission,
a
deal
in
Irish
and
also
subpoena
phenom
from
the
election
apartment
as
well.
So
no
further
ado,
Thank.
B
You
mr.
chairman,
and
thank
you
so
much
to
the
administration
and
Representatives
who
were
with
us
when
we
had
a
hearing
on
this
last
term
as
well.
I
want
to
start
with
a
big
big
THANK
YOU
to
the
person
whose
brainchild
this
is
just
Jamal
Crawford
he's
here
with
us,
Jamal
had
reached
out
to
my
office
and
said:
hey.
You
know.
The
state
has
this
right
of
free
petition
that
allows
residents
to
file
bills
up
at
the
Statehouse.
B
Could
we
do
that
here
and
upon
doing
some
more
research,
we
figured
out
that
we
could
actually
even
do
better
than
that
by
codifying
it
at
the
city
level.
As
about
a
dozen
other
cities
in
Massachusetts
have
done
because,
when
it's
codified
at
the
city
level,
it's
not
just
about
submitting
something
that
may
go
into
a
pile
and
you
know
be
taken
up
by
a
rep
or
not
it's
actually
about
guaranteeing
a
hearing
within
a
certain
amount
of
time.
B
So
I
want
to
quickly
read
down
the
list
of
other
cities,
so
we
have
a
sense
of
who
already
does
this?
It's
Newton
Winthrop,
Bridgewater,
Gloucester,
Lawrence,
Randolph,
Ames,
very
Chelsea
in
Newburyport
and
the
number
of
signatures
that
they
require
as
the
minimum
threshold
range
from
50
to
150
signatures,
and
they
guarantee
hearings
then
to
happen
either
in
a
within
two
months
or
three
months.
That's
the
general
sense.
My
office
over
the
course
of
last
term
had
reached
out
to
the
clerk's
and
counselors
in
each
of
these
municipalities.
B
I
know
Boston
is
very
different
than
some
of
these
municipalities
and
we
are
more
active
here,
but
they
all
lauded
this
as
a
great
way
to
engage
residents
and
make
sure
that
they
were
fully
accountable,
fully
responsive
to
what
the
community
wanted
to
talk
about.
So
similarly,
I
want
to
point
out
that
there
are
a
few
small
changes,
since
this
has
been
refiled
compared
to
last
term.
The
biggest
one
is
that
the
the
signature
threshold
was
increased
and
I
know.
We've
gone
back
and
forth
and
I
personally,
don't
even
I
cringe
at
doing
this.
B
But
what
I
would
hope
is
that
at
the
baseline
we
have
a
way
for
residents
to
truly
engage
with
city
government
and
particularly
the
council.
There
were
other
minor
changes
made,
particularly
in
response
to
madam
clerk's
feedback
around
the
timing
and
making
sure
that
the
clock
wouldn't
start
until
after
certification
of
signatures,
rather
than
just
the
clerk's
office
receiving
that
and
I
think
I
think
that
was
it.
B
C
Good
afternoon,
chairman
Finnerty
council,
president
campbell
and
all
the
other
members
of
this
esteemed
body,
my
name
again,
is
Dion
Irish
Commissioner
of
the
Boston
Election
Department
and
chairman
of
the
Board
of
Election
Commissioners
I
appreciate
the
invitation
to
testify
today
regarding
this
ordinance.
That's
intended
to
promote
transparency
and
engagement
with
constituents,
because
these
topics
are
topics
that
mayor
walls.
Key
is
deeply
about.
The
election
Department
stands
ready
to
be
as
helpful
as
we
can
in
providing
input
on
this
legislation.
C
Should
it
be
approved,
we
will
do
our
best
also
to
fulfill
our
role
in
this
implementation.
Overall,
we
have
no
major
issues
with
their
proposal,
but
there
are
things
that
we
would
like
to
make
the
council
aware
of
so
as
to
manage
expectations
and-
and
there
are
also
details
that
would
need
to
be
worked
out-
that
would
be
would
have
greater
interest
in
as
it
relates
to
the
election
department.
The
first
thing,
I'd
like
to
point
out,
is
the
limitation
on
on
data.
C
We
don't
we
don't
have
information
on
a
hundred
percent
of
the
residents
of
the
city
of
Boston
when
we
do
our
annual
census.
We
have
information
from
folks
who
respond
to
our
census.
We
have
information
on
folks
who
are
poor,
registered
voters
and
beyond
the
rest
of
census
responses.
We
also
collect
information
from
variety
of
sources,
so
we
could
do
a
thorough
job
with
our
annual
census,
so
we
collect
information
from
area
colleges
from
management
companies
etc.
We
do
email
blasts
to
all
city
agencies
and
to
culminate
the
process.
C
A
C
What
we'd
have
to
do
for
this,
because
the
the
voter
registration
database
that
we
use
for
to
validate
signatures
for
other
types
of
things,
that
candidacy
and
petitions
is
not
something
that
we
could
use
for
this
purpose.
We
would
have
to
download
information
for
each
petition
and
create
a
separate
database
that
we'd
have
to
of
residence
only
that
would
match
up
signatures
on
their
list
to.
A
C
Yeah
so
I
asked
Sabina
to
get
into
some
of
the
details
of
what
that
would
look
like,
as
he'd
actually
be
putting
that
together.
But
what
I
would
like
to
say,
though
there
is
that
we
would
it's
very
important
that
we
have
sufficient
time
because
of
the
fluctuating
work
and
needs
of
the
department.
If,
if
we're,
if
we
have
to
process
petitions
at
the
time
when
we're
doing
we're
up
against
a
registration
deadline
or
deadline
to
I'm
certified
signatures
for
candidates,
you
know
our
other
activities
that
come
up.
C
D
So
our
plan
obviously
will
need
more
clarification.
How
and
what's
needed
for
this
is
to
take
a
snapshot
of
our
database
as
it
stands
for
each
petitions
as
they
are
submitted
and
then
use
that
to
verify
the
signatures
that
are
submitted
to
us.
Another
thing
to
keep
in
mind
all
registered
voters
do
supply
us
with
a
signature
of
their
registration,
whether
it's
through
the
online
system
or
a
paper
form
residents
are
not
required
to
give
us
a
signature
for
every
single
individual
individual.
D
So
there
could
be
times
where
we're
getting
a
signature
from
a
resident
that
we
can't
compare
it
to
anyone
and
give
Clara
that
signature
to
that
person
and
in
regards
to
making
copies
of
the
database
once
we
have
the
first
system
set
up.
I,
don't
think
it's
gonna
be
that
much
time
to
do
that,
but
it
is
time
to
verify
500
signatures
and
in
times
when
we
have
elections
going
on
with
preparations
for
elections,
early
voting
season
is
coming
upon
us
as
well.
D
C
Yeah
I
mean
the
other
thing
that
we
would
like
to
discuss.
It
may
be
a
working
session
is
what
appropriate
to
have
this
conversation,
but
we
wanted
to
get
into
some
of
the
details
as
to
what
forms
would
be
used,
what
Steve,
what
the
process
and
procedures
the
details
that
would
make
it
run
smoothly
for
constituents
and
for
the
agencies
involved.
Very.
E
But,
as
has
been
indicated,
there
are
several
of
the
cities
and
towns
that
feel
that
this
has
been
a
great
tool
in
engaging
and
certainly
I.
We
don't
need
to
go
any
further
than
look
at
the
last
several
elections
and
how
many
people
are
coming
out
and
voting,
and
you
know
perhaps
this
is
a
tool
to
increase
the
voting
turnout
in
elections.
E
But
one
thing
I
want
to
go
on
the
record
as
stating
there
is
nothing
in
the
council.
Rules
are
in
the
city,
chatter.
That
requires
a
hearing,
so
not
that
anyone
would
do
this
and
certainly
I
would
be
irresponsible
to.
But
you
technically
could
pass
the
budget
without
a
hearing
which
is
never
going
to
happen,
but
there
is
nothing
preventing
you
from
putting
something
committee
and
then
the
next
week
taking
it
out,
you
know.
E
There
are
some
other
concerns
that
I
would
express,
and
that
is
that
a
hearing
be
held
within
two
weeks
once
we
receive,
as
you
know
where
the
filing
the
clerk's
office
is
the
filing
agency
for
the
City
of
Austin.
Everything
that
comes
into
our
office
gets
time-stamped,
but
in
this
instance,
that
information
would
then
be
hand-delivered,
probably
to
Sabino,
providing
our
wonderful
Election
Commissioner
directs
it
that
way
that
it
would
begin
the
process
of
really
certifying
these
names.
E
And
so
it
might
be
our
suggestion
that
we
don't
start
any
clock
until
the
names
have
been
certified
because
it
could
be
in
the
middle
of
a
campaign
or
nomination
papers.
And
you
know
it's
had
to
say
it's
not
that
we
want
to
say
one
is
more
important
than
the
other,
but
you
know
I
I,
think
it's
like
everything
else.
We
sort
of
have
to
take
things
as
we
receive
them,
but
also
be
aware
of
the
environment
which
something
gets
filed.
E
So
that
would
be
one
concern.
I
have
an
even
after
certification
in
the
months
of
July
in
August,
I
think
at
least
in
July,
and
maybe
in
in
August.
Also
we
only
have
one
meeting
so
we'd
be
right
off
the
bat
that
two
weeks
wouldn't
work,
and
so
you
know
I
think
to
just
change
that
language
on
the
second
page
that
just
might
be
for
the
next
hearing
or
the
next
council
meeting.
Something
like
that
that
it.
E
B
Didn't
mention
I
think
that
might
have
been
one
of
the
changes
reflecting
your
feedback
from
last
time,
so
just
for
total
clarification
on
the
timelines,
the
it's
three
months
from
date-
I'm,
sorry,
okay,
so
three
months
from
the
date
of
filing,
but
two
weeks
from
the
date
of
submission
to
the
clerk's
office.
It
says,
unless
an
extension
is
granted
by
the
City
Council
President,
to
try
to
take
into
account
what
time
of
year
and
whether
there's
other
elect
signature,
certification
happening
or
at
the
next
scheduled
City
Council
meeting,
specifically
to
address
that
summer.
Schedule
I.
B
Think
I.
You
know
personally
I
understand
all
everything
that's
happening,
but
would
hate
for
the
time
the
clock
to
only
start
after
certification.
Just
because
then
it
would
essentially
be
saying
that
we're
not
going
to
entertain
this
at
all
during
certain
months
of
the
year
where
there
are
elections
happening,
but
with
a
process
set
up
that
an
extension
could
be
granted
by
the
City
Council
president.
You
know
under
those
circumstances
that
at
least
creates
a
way.
E
And
the
other
issue
that
I
would
just
raise-
and
we're
certainly
more
than
happy
to
take
on
this
responsibility.
But
it
speaks
to
hearings
of
two
or
more
petitions
filed
in
the
section
that
may
be
held
at
the
same
time
and
place,
which
is
certainly
within
the
purview
when
it's
done
on
many
occasions.
But
it
then
goes
on
to
say
that
the
city
clerk
will
issue
notice
of
the
hearings
to
the
first
ten
persons
whose
names
appear
in
the
petition
within
the
48
hours.
E
And
we
are
happy
to
do
that
if
we
want
to
take
on
their
practice
for
free
petitions.
But
historically,
that
is
a
function
that
has
been
done
by
central
staff.
So
is
to
keep
sort
of
information
closer
at
hand
to
the
councillors
so
that
they
will
have
a
better
sense
of
who's
coming.
Who
will
be
testifying
that
kind
of
thing
so
I'm
happy
to
have
the
clerk's
office
take
on
that
responsibility?
And
that
might
be
something
that
you
want
to
think
about
and
so
other
than
that
we're
prepared
to
assist
in
any
way
possible.
A
B
Okay,
so
let's
see
I
had
a
couple
points
that
I
wanted
to
address.
So
one
in
terms
of
a
good
point
by
madam
clerk
around
council
rules
would
maybe
need
to
be
mapped
changed
to
match
to
include
this
portion,
but
something
that
the
council
could
do.
I
had
a
question
on
the
census
age.
So
right
now
the
census
only
asked
for
information
from
residents,
ages,
17
and
up
and
there's
there's.
No.
B
E
E
D
Well,
depending
on
the
workload
one
person
can
probably
take
a
day
to
do
all
those
if
they're
not
interrupted.
Obviously,
if
the
signatures
are
submitted
to
us
in
good
format,
we
can
read
the
writing
of
the
signatures
that
are
presented.
Obviously
the
more
signatures
we
have
to
go
through
the
longer
we'll
take
to
try
to
get
to
the
500
and.
B
D
So
the
census
we
start
doing
the
mailing
in
mid-january
mm-hmm
and
it's
an
ongoing
process
straight
through
almost
until
October
until
we
receive
all
the
college
dormitories
and
then,
after
that's
all
entered
into
the
system
in
the
midst
of
working,
the
elections
there's
a
lot
of
cleanup
that
has
to
be
done
as
well,
so
we
can
remove
all
duplicate,
duplicates
and
so
on
and
so
forth.
Okay,
so
it's
pretty
much
a
year
cycle
as
soon
as
we
finish
in
December,
we
start
all
over
again
in
January,
so.
B
B
F
Thank
You
mr.
chair,
so
in
terms
of
the
benefits,
I,
think
they're
clear.
Whenever
we
can
kind
of
give
power
to
the
people,
put
it
directly
in
the
hands
of
the
people,
that's
a
good
thing,
but
I
guess
my
questions
are
in
terms
of
implementation
and
I
would
address
them
to
you,
commissioner,
in
terms
of
the
other
towns
that
have
free
petitions
like
Newton
or
Chelsea,
are
there
lessons
that
we
know
from
them
and
how
it
works
for
them
in
terms
of
you
know,
getting
the
signatures
certified?
Are
they
looking
at
residents
versus
voter
registration?
C
Speak
to
up
to
Newton
could
actually
one
of
our
employees
is
a
former
employee
of
the
Newton
City
Clerk
and
election
Department
in
Newton.
The
number
is
very
different
asylums,
50
and
it's
registered
voters,
so
it
was
a
little
bit
easier
for
them,
based
on
the
number
that
they
have
to
look
at,
but
as
I'm
Sabina
pointed
out
even
for
500
signatures,
it
would
only
take
one
employee
in
one
day
for
us,
the
other.
F
C
The
current
census
information
that
we
have
a
fight
over
five
hundred
thousand
residents
right
now
in
our
census
database.
Yes,
the
voter
registration
database
is
a
cleaner
database
than
the
resident
database,
because
we
get
more
information
that
can
identify
specific
individuals
where
some
of
the
census
information
is
not
100%
complete.
For
example,
colleges
will
submit
a
list
of
their
residents
to
us,
but
we
mean
that
have
the
date
of
birth,
for
example,.
F
F
I
I
Know
what
you
mean
by
that,
but
I
mean
like,
for
example,
which
municipality
that
currently
does
it,
what's
which
one
has
the
highest
number
of
sort
of
residents?
Is
it
50,000
and
is
a
hundred
thousand
I'm
only
talking
about
the
practicality
and
the
difference
between
Boston,
for
example,
in
terms
of
a
number
of
residents
versus
some
other
municipalities
that
might
be
doing
this
through.
B
I
Thank
you.
That's
helpful,
I
think
it
provides
a
little
bit
of
context
and
that
the
the
scope
of
of
this
tool
would
be
very
different
in
the
city
of
Boston
I'm,
all
for
transparency
and
thinking
about
tools
that
will
allow
folks
to
more
easily
participate
in
government
I.
Think
each
I
can't
speak
for
at-large
CalSTRS.
No,
no
disrespect
to
my
at-large
counselors
for
the
district
councillors,
innovative
tools
that
we
were
trying
to
think
about
at
the
district
level
to
engage
more
of
our
residents.
I
So
speaking
for
myself,
I'm
constantly
going
around
district
4
talking
about
over
70,000
residents
in
this
district
are,
on
average,
less
than
10,000
come
out
to
vote.
But
for
me,
engagement
isn't
just
voting.
So
we
have
folks
who
engage
with
our
office
who
don't
actually
vote
but
still
email,
us
they'll
call
us.
So
how
can
we
reach
more
of
those
folks
so
that
that
numbers
a
lot
higher
than
less
than
10,000?
I
worry
about
something
like
this
for
a
couple
of
reasons.
I
One
is
the
workload
so
I
think
I
brought
this
up
in
the
first
filing
around,
particularly
some
committees
that
have
more
work.
That
comes
through
them,
so
government,
ops,
for
example,
or
Public
Safety
and
criminal
justice,
now
planning
development
and
transportation.
I
worry
about
the
priorities
of
individual
councillors.
So
all
of
us
take
our
cues
from
various
folks,
but
I
think
District
counselors
take
them
from
their
district
residents.
I
I
know,
I
do
and
so
I
listen
to
them,
and
we
constantly
think
about
what
issues
they
want
me
to
spearhead,
and
we
know
that
in
order
to
actually
make
a
dent
on
any
issue,
whether
it's
diversity
in
law
enforcement.
Talking
about
that
with
councillor
McCarthy,
the
body
camera
issue
and
how
long
and
the
amount
of
work
it
took
to
actually
advance
that
I
worry
about
the
hearings
and-
and
frankly,
it's
to
me-
it's
not
just
important
that
people
have
a
petition
and
have
a
hearing
after
the
hearing.
I
Then
what
are
we
going
to
do
with
that?
I.
Imagine
folks
wanted
to
turn
into
an
ordinance
a
policy
change
or
practice
change,
or
something
like
that.
So
whether
or
not
this
is
the
best
tool
in
terms
of
thinking
about
those
workload,
challenges
or
the
priorities
that
each
office
may
have
set
for
their
offices
and
making
sure
that
those
get
done
along
with
new
issues
that
might
come
up
through
this
process.
It's
just
something
to
think
about.
I.
I
I
We
afford
folks
who
live
in
the
city
of
Boston,
so
I
think
that's
I
think
this
is
definitely
time
for
a
working
session,
but
I'm
raising
some
of
those
concerns.
Because,
right
now
we
could
possibly
set
up
a
committee.
What
that
someone
could
chair
that
could
bring
in
some
of
these
petitions
and
have
hearings
on
the
petitions
that
come
in
in
some
way
and
then
after
the
hearing
to
decide
what
happens
next.
I
I
I
mean
we
could
pay
young
people
or
others
to
to
do.
Creative
engagement
work,
whether
it's
a
black
bloc,
a
captain
model
or
something
else
to
get
folks
engaged,
not
just
to
file
something
for
a
hearing
order,
but
to
truly
get
them
connected
on
a
particular
policy.
They
care
about,
to
get
them
connected
and
at
school
and
their
district
or
organizations
that
reach
out
for
mentors
and
want
more
mentors
of
color
from
their
district
I
think
there's
creative
ways
to
think
about
engagement,
so
I'm,
just
I'm,
not
a
skeptic
I,
just
think.
I
A
J
Just
had
a
couple
comments
and
I
just
wanted
to
say
thank
you
all
for
being
here
today
and
I
thought
your
your
testimony
was
extremely
informative.
I
also
think
councillor
Wu
and
also
Jamal
Crawford
for
this
leadership
and
getting
this
I
think
it's
a
very
important
discussion
to
have
about
how
we
would
want
to
be
petitioned
by
our
constituents.
In
many
cases,
I
have
just
a
few
suggestions
for
thoughts.
I
actually
support.
This
I
think
it's
great
to
have
this
kind
of
opportunity.
J
I
think
500
signatures
might
be
a
little
bit
too
low,
so
I'd
like
to
again
reexamine
how
many
signatures
are
required.
I
also
think
it
might
be
worth
us
just
as
we
had
mentioned
before.
It's
a
certain
amount
of
signatures
for
us
to
run
for
office,
but
there's
also
a
cutoff
date
for
us
to
get
those
signatures
in.
J
This
is
I
love
the
time
to
talk
to
you
about
this
I
fully
supported
actually,
and
maybe
we
could
do
something
together.
So
I
think
we
should
examine
a
cut-off
date
for
when
these
citizen
driven
petitions
can
be
filed
and
then
also
a
cut-off
date
for
their
hearings,
maybe
even
designating
certain
hearing
times
once
a
month
that
would
would
have
those
filed.
So
we're
gonna
hear
all
of
the
X
amount
from
this
time.
J
We're
gonna
do
the
first
ten,
their
first,
whatever
at
ten
fifteen
I,
don't
know
how
many
we're
gonna
have,
but
this
will
be
heard.
The
first
Friday
of
every
month
will
take
the
first
five
and
then
next
five
until
we're
done
so
there's
a
certain
I
think,
there's
ways
in
which
we
can
organize
this
so
that
we're
driving
it
in
a
conversation,
that's
not
all
over
the
place
and
also
making
sure
that
two
petitions
aren't
happening,
though
the
same
thing
right
and
we
can.
J
I
think
councillor
Campbell
talked
about
you
know
how
long
it
takes
to
be
a
resident
for
certain
things,
and
if
we
don't
have
a
requirement
for
that,
we
could
end
up
with
people
becoming
a
resident
just
in
time
to
sign
a
petition
to
have
the
city
of
Boston
do
something
and
then
abdicate
that
residency
to
go
on
and
do
whatever
they
want
to
do
so,
but
otherwise
I
think
that
this
is
a
wonderful
way
to
to
engage
community.
It
might,
but
also
to
be
forewarned.
It
might
also
engage
some
very
difficult,
painful
conversations
as
well.
J
There's
no
constitutional
limit
on
this
there's
nothing
that
says
a
petition
should
segregate
the
schools
couldn't
happen.
There's
no!
There's
no
petition
here,
saying
that
you
know
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we
can
discriminate
against
transgendered
individuals,
a
matter
of
fact.
They
have
that
petition
on
the
ballot
right
now
in
November,
so
there's
there's
no
limit,
and
so
we
just
need
to
understand
what
freedom
comes.
J
These
also
potential
burdens
and
difficult
conversations
as
well,
and
if
we're
mature,
as
the
City
of
Boston,
to
accept
that
that's
fine
but
there's
no
again,
there's
no
safeguard
here.
My
constitutional
rights
as
a
woman,
as
a
person
of
color
they're
all
could
be
petitioned
to
limit
that
and
that,
but
I
think
we
need
to
have
that
acknowledgement
as
well.
K
You
very
much
hi
mr.
chair
and
welcome
commissioner
Sabino,
madam
Clerk
good,
to
see
you
on
that
side
of
the
floor.
Kinda
I
usually
see
you
from
the
other
way.
I
couldn't
agree
with
councillor
woods
more.
As
you
know,
a
hammer
is
a
tool.
We
keep
saying
the
word
tool
tool,
tool,
hammers
a
tool.
You
can
use
that
hammer
to
knock
in
a
nail
and
you
can
use
that
hammer
to
beat
somebody
over
the
head
and
that's
what
that's.
What
frightens
me
the
most
about
this?
K
We
got
into
this
business
because
we
enjoy
engaging
the
community
and
I
think
we
all
got
elected
because
they
agree
that
we
do
engage
the
community
well
enough
and
if
they
don't,
then
in
two
years
as
councillor
Campbell
said
they
can
make
a
statement
and
make
sure
that
we
engage
when
we
are
private
citizens
again
and
that's
important
to
me.
The
the
whole
petition
thing
does
scare
me.
K
You
know
and
I
tell
you
why
Dion
and
I
Commissioner,
Irish
and
I
have
the
honor
of
going
to
Suffolk,
University
and
and
Dion
is
gonna
graduate
in
May
with
a
with
a
master's
in
public
administration.
Congratulations:
Dion,
that's
awesome,
but
I
think
he
took
the
same
class
with
me
about
petitions
and
the
reality
is
to
get
500
people
to
sign.
Something
isn't
really
a
difficult
thing
to
do.
If
I
walk
up
somebody
and
say
hey,
we're
gonna
have
a
petition
about
the
Boston
Public
Works.
Don't
you
watch
your
streets
cleaner
of
course
I?
K
Do
it
may
not
even
be
about
that
petitions
are,
you
know,
are
very
fickle
and
they
can
be
worded.
You
know,
statistics
can
can
be,
can
be
warped
anywhere.
You
want
it
and
so
can
petitions.
You
know,
there's
an
old
statement
about
statistics
that
statistics
are
like
a
lamppost
to
a
drunk
guy,
a
drunk
guy
used
it
for
to
lean
on,
but
most
people
use
it
for
illumination
and
that's
the
problem
that
we
have
with
with
petitions
and
that's
what
that's
what
scares
me?
K
Obviously,
in
the
working
session
we
can
continue
to
talk
about
it
is
do
we
have
a
list
of
the
issues
that
other
towns
that
they've
actually
brought
other
petition
town,
because
anybody
who
generally
comes
to
us-
and
this
may
be
more
of
a
question
in
the
working
session-
to
to
Clark,
Feeny
or
even
even
council,
clarity
or
constable
Malley,
for
that
matter,
who've
been
here
a
little
longer
than
four
years
and
four
months
like
me,
has
anybody
really
ever
been
shot
down?
That's
brought
something
serious
to
the
council.
Is
anybody
ever
said?
K
No,
we're
not
gonna
we're
not
gonna
have
that
hearing.
So
that
concerns
me
too.
So
I'd
like
to
know
what
positions
have
been
brought
up
in
other
towns
and
what's
what
shape
of
government
the
other
towns
have
or
they
they
bought
a
selectman?
Are
they
are
they
volunteer?
Selectmen?
Is
this
their
full-time
job
and
what
kind
of
impact
did
they
have
and
then
the
second
piece
to
that
question
that
we
can
discuss
is
why
why
the
elected
officials
at
that
time
didn't
address
it
in
a
better
way?
K
L
You,
mr.
chairman
and
good
afternoon,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
and
to
all
my
colleagues
and
those
watching
us
here
in
the
chamber
I,
a
lot
of
my
questions
have
been
asked,
but
I
want
to
sort
of
piggyback
on
the
line
of
questioning
that
council
president
Campbell
began,
she
asked
about
the
size
of
cities
or
towns
that
have
employing
this
as
a
tool
do
we
know,
do
any
city
or
town
that
employs
this
right
to
free
petition?
Do
they
have
full-time
legislative
bodies
with
staff
with
central
staffs
with
weekly
meetings?
My
guess
is
no.
L
If
the
two
largest
are
Newton
in
Lawrence,
the
answer
is
no
and
to
that
point
which
also
constantly
Karthi
brought
up.
If
we
meet
440
times
a
year
approximately
and
you
there
probably
an
average
about
five
herring
orders
or
ordinances
at
every
council
meeting,
that's
about
200
a
year,
admittedly
not
all
have
hearings,
but
that
separate
from
the
budget
hearing
so
I
guess.
My
point
is,
is
that
you
know
it
was
said
at
the
beginning
of
this
hearing
that
we
need
to
know
about
everything.
That's
important
to
people.
I,
absolutely
agree
with
that.
L
I
know
everyone
in
this
room
agrees
with
that
and
if
you
don't
agree
and
abide
by
that,
you
ain't
staying
in
this
position
very
long,
but
to
suggest
that
a
petition
would
allow
us
to
understand
to
work
on
something.
I
think
negates
a
lot
of
the
good
work
that
we
have
been
doing,
that
we
continue
to
do.
L
L
E
E
I,
don't
know
quite
where
I'd
find
the
information,
but
to
my
knowledge,
I
can't
think
of
of
any
one
situation
that
someone
has
not
picked
up
the
banner
and
ran
so
you
know
and
again,
I
I
think
you
know
some
of
the
wonderful
ideas
and
the
testimony
has
been
given
today.
You
know
just
because
it's
done
this
way
in
other
cities
and
towns.
Boston
is
has
always
been
unique.
We're
big
there
are
people
in
the
suburbs
who
think
we
get
too
much
of
every
thing.
E
We
know
that's
not
to
be
the
case,
but
it
does
not
prohibit
us
from
taking
the
intention
of
this
free
petition
and
creating
a
system
that
allows
people
to
literally
come
and
meet
with.
You
know
whether
it's
a
committee
or
or
whatever
and
say
you
know
these
are.
These
are
some
issues
that
were
very
concerned
with
you
know,
sort
of
have
some
sort
of
an
earring
of
it,
but
I
personally
cannot
think
of
any,
and
we've
had
some
really
interesting
here.
E
L
Mean
it's
somewhat
of
a
joke,
but
but
we
have
sunscreen
dispensers
in
our
parks
because
told
this
story
at
nauseam:
Adrienne
Levin,
now
a
doctor
was
then
in
dermatology
school
came
to
my
office
hours
and
said:
I
was
at
Hershey
Park
Pennsylvania.
There
was
sunscreen
dispensers,
I
said:
why
did
you
cut
and
you
should
run
with
it?
I
said:
why
did
you
come
to
me?
L
She
said
because
I
know
you
love
the
parks
and
you're
a
ginger
and
I
said
you're
right
on
both
counts,
but
so
I
agree
with
you
and
again,
I
I
don't
mean
to
diminish
the
good
work
of
councillor,
Wu
and
I.
Think
this
is
interesting
and
innovative.
I
just
don't
know
that
this
is
the
right
tool
for
the
city.
You
know
in
many
many
many
towns
across
the
Commonwealth.
We
have
the
purest
form
of
democracy,
called
Town,
Meeting
form
of
government.
It
works
splendidly
in
small
towns.
They
literally
will
pass
a
budget.
L
It's
a
participatory
budget.
It
harkens
back
to
when
this
country,
and
indeed
the
city
was
founded.
It
wouldn't
work
in
the
city
of
Boston,
I
mean
it
would
be
unworkable
for
a
city
of
six
hundred.
Eighty
thousand
people
and
I
think
we
wouldn't
be
straight
with
ourselves
if
we
suggested
otherwise
so
again,
I
appreciate
what
what
is
the
attentive
bit
of
right
for
free
partition.
I
know
it's
done
to
varying
levels
of
success
at
the
state
level.
I
believe
mass
is
the
only
legislature
that
has
the
right
of
free
petition.
L
Some
have
meant
some
good
ideas,
others
have
blended
and
late-night
talk
show
host
monologues
with
some
of
these
bills
that
have
been
introduced
because
a
state
rep
restate
senator
had
to
do
it.
So
I
appreciate
again
the
good
work
anything
we
can
do
to
increase
participation.
If
ik
engagement,
we
should
do
I'm,
not
sure
that
this
is
the
right
way
to
go
about
it
for
the
city,
but
look
forward
to
continuing
to
work
on
subsequent
working
sessions
and
whatever
Thank
You.
Mr.
chairman,
thank.
M
You
counsel,
Flaherty
and
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
counselor
wolf
for
her
leadership
on
this
issue
and
I
look
forward
to
learning
more
about
the
issue,
how
this
impacts
the
residents
of
Boston
but
again
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
council
will
for
her
strong
leadership
on
this
issue.
Thank
you.
Thank.
G
Baker
Thank
You
mr.
chair
I,
agree
with
the
comments
from
from
council
Malley
and
councillor
McCauley.
That
I
think
it's
probably
our
job
to
go
to
the
petitions
that
come
in
and
when
I
saw
this
I
was
thinking
about.
If
anybody
had
come
in
to
me
and
something
was
important
to
them,
I
would
think
that
I
would
file
it
so,
but
not
saying
that
I'd
also
be
open
to
something
like
the
council
president
suggested
and
also
Lydia
had
some
really
good
and
some
really
good
ideas.
G
I
think
there
may
be
maybe
some
kind
of
like
pathway
or
structure
for
us
to
set
up
to
hear
them.
So
people
could
get
in
front
of
our
committees
if
people
want
I
mean
I
I,
don't
really
like
to
have
my
hand
force
you.
If
you
put
put
something
in
my
committee
now,
I
have
to
have
a
hearing
in
X
amount
of
weeks
whatever
it
is,
although
I
would
be
open
to
being
forced
to
have
a
meeting
with
somebody.
G
E
E
But
it
was
the
work
working
with
the
Boston,
Police
Department
and
but
the
interesting
thing
is
it
really
engaged
the
community,
and
so,
although
the
curfew
was
never
which
I'm
just
you
know,
this
I
look
back
now
when
I
say
really.
Was
that
that
great
of
an
idea
but
I,
think
we
were
all
so
desperate
because
we
had
young
16,
17,
13
year-old
kids
being
killed,
I
mean
it
was
just
awful
and
but
it
really
engaged
the
community
in
terms
of
what
we
can
do
and
having
walking
beats
on
Bowdoin
Street
in
that
area.
E
You
know
so
you
know
I,
just
I
think
this
is
wonderful
work
and
some
of
the
ideas
today
I
think
of
fabulous,
because
we
are
different
and
you
know
maybe
this
wonderful
discussion
will
bring
about
a
process
that
is
so
fair
to
the
people
who
maybe
aren't
quite
as
engaged,
who
or
new
to
the
city
and
say
how
do
I
become
engaged,
and
this
is
a
great
vehicle,
so
I.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you
very
much
for
this
panel
and
we
will
in
just
a
we,
have
someone
willing
north
for
public
testimony.
I
see,
Jamal
Crawford
is
in
the
audience
and
if
Jamal
can
make
his
way
over
to
the,
if
there's
anyone
else
here
that
wishes
to
offer
public
testimony
now
is
the
time
to
do
so
and
feel
free
to
queue
up
right
behind
Jamal
Jamal
welcome
if
you
can
just
state
your
name
and
affiliation
for
the
record,
absolutely.
N
Jamal
Crawford
community
resident
and
activists
from
Roxbury
Community
Newspaper,
the
Blackstone
II.
Well,
first
of
all,
I,
you
know
I'd
like
to
start
off
with
compliments,
because
often
time
when
I'm
in
city
or
dealing
with
government,
it's
often
a
complaint,
and
so
I
want
to
extend
a
compliment
to
you
from
the
last
testimony.
N
If
you
will,
it
seems
like
you,
really
have
a
care
and
concern
for
your
job
in
the
city
and
I
appreciate
that,
and
also
to
the
election
department
and
Commissioner
Irish.
The
election
department
is
one
of
those
offices
in
the
city
that
I
never
had
a
problem
with
you
know
and,
and
the
election
department
for
years
has
been
operating
with
professionalism
when
I
ran
for
office.
Answering
questions
upon
question
and
and
just
always
taking
the
time
to
make
sure
that
that
everything
was
above
board
and-
and
you
have
continued
in
that
tradition
and
I.
N
Thank
you
for
that
and
I.
Thank
you
for
the
testimony
in
this
regard,
and
like
likewise
to
the
council
for
having
this
conversation
agreements,
disagreements,
questions
concerns,
I,
think
that
councillor
McCarthy
said
we
could
be
taking
an
aspirin
before
we
have
the
headache.
I.
Think
that's
a
good
thing
see
an
ounce
of
prevention
is
worth
a
pound
of
cure.
So
I
think
that
this
will
allow
us
to
have
some
dialogue
that
might
get
in
front
of
some
issues
before
they
become
larger
issues
and
more
difficult
to
manage.
N
God
knows
how
many
community
meetings
and
Affairs
and
events,
but
you
just
don't
get
to
reach
everybody,
and
there
are
some
people
who
are
averse
to
coming
in
a
forum
like
this,
some
people
who
are
averse
to
going
to
the
event,
but
they
have
a
great
idea.
They
have
a
great
issue
and
they
have
a
knowledge
of
this
issue.
That
I
think
would
be
served
by
allowing
an
open
mechanism
to
once
again
get
the
best
ideas,
and
this
is
not
just
about
a
complaint
box
where
people
just
saying
this
is
what's
wrong
with
the
city.
N
We
want
to
do
something
I
think
the
two.
If
we
depend
on
our
citizenry
and
residents
here,
then
you'll
find
a
wealth
of
knowledge.
We
have
people
here
who
are
technical
geniuses,
scientific
geniuses
and
health
and
education,
and
you
name
it
and
I
think
that
the
right
to
free
petition
in
the
City
of
Boston
would
kind
of
call
the
best
ideas
from
amongst
those
who,
first
of
all,
you're
not
going
to
get
ideas
from
people
who
don't
care,
because
the
very
nature
of
them
not
caring,
they're,
not
gonna
care,
they're,
not
gonna,
go
through
it.
N
So
what
you're
gonna
do
is
you're
gonna
get
stuff
from
people
who
are
passionate
and
some
of
the
concerns
about
you
know
the
legitimacy
of
the
issue.
I
was
just
saying
the
Commission
Irish
beforehand,
yeah.
If
somebody
says
we
should
have
a
hearing
on
on
you
know,
we
need
a
UFO
landing
pad
in
Franklin
Park
yeah
that
should
be
off
the
table,
so
there
should
be
some
actual
valid
point
there.
N
It
should
not
be
duplicated
of
other
efforts
or
other
hearings,
but
also
too
there
should
be,
and
maybe
there
could
be
some
prior
conversation
before
him
with
these
people
are
reaching
out
to
councillors
directly
I
can
remember
a
couple
of
times
where
ideas
that
were
brought
for
from
the
community
that
were
not
around.
We
met
with
open
arms
from
the
City
Council
and
primarily
that's
based
on
I,
think,
personality
and
also
geography.
N
A
great
example
McCarthy
did
I,
don't
know
if
you'd
know
this
sunscreens,
not
a
big
deal
in
my
community
I,
don't
know
if
you're
aware
of
that,
never
wore
sunscreen
in
my
life,
but
somebody
brought
it
to
you
resonated
with
you.
You
carried
it
through
when
it
went
forth.
I
would
submit
that
there
are
issues
like
that
for
my
community
that
some
people
are
not
hearing
in
the
same
way
might
not
apply
to
everybody.
N
Some
people
say
it
doesn't
matter
to
me,
but
it
will
allow
a
platform
for
these
ideas
to
be
brought
forth
and
also,
as
you
said,
harkening
back
to
the
beginning.
You
know
of
when
the
country
was
founded
in
Boston
in
Massachusetts,
and
you
see
these
old
movies
and
gentlemen,
and
you
know,
people
are
having
open
debates
on
Florida.
I
think
that
the
right
to
free
petition
opens
that
up
to
the
citizenry.
N
Everybody
has
not
had
the
good
fortune
to
be
elected
by
the
community
and
I
think
that
if
we
listen
and
open
up
the
floor
to
more
voices,
I
think
it's
it's
better
for
all
of
us.
The
last
thing
I
would
say
in
terms
of
signatures
and
all
this
type
of
things
how
it's
going
to
work,
we
would
have
to
defer
to
the
experts,
Madame
clerk
and
Commissioner
Irish
from
elections,
so
that
we
want
it
to
go
smoothly
as
possible.
We
don't
want
to
create
you
know
more
problems.
You
know
databasing
and
stuff,
like
that.
N
I
would
hope
that
we
would
be
able
to
bring
in
the
the
doit
office
as
well.
They
may
be
able
to
bring
some
some
more
technology
to
bear
in
that
regard,
but
the
one
thing
that
I
wanted
to
say
about
the
signatures:
500
signatures,
you're,
not
running
for
office,
but
these
are
500
signatures
that
are
not
necessarily
verified,
they're,
not
on
a
voters
list.
So
that's
a
that
gives
you
a
wide
appeal,
so
it
kind
of
gives
you
a
little.
N
It
takes
a
little
away
in
terms
of
how
difficult
it
may
be
for
a
person,
councillor
McCarthy
said
getting.
Signatures
for
petitions
is
not
that
difficult
I
once
again,
I
guess
it
would
depend,
and
if
you're
using
manipulation,
you're
not
telling
the
whole
story.
That
always
happens,
but
it
happens
in
elections
anyway.
People
who
don't
understand
issues
that
are
on
the
ballot.
People,
don't
really
have
a
good
sense
of
what
candidates
are
going
on
or
what
issues
are
going
on.
N
I
mean
there
are
certain
things
that
we're
not
going
to
be
able
to
prevent
from
happening
in
society.
So
I
would
say:
let's
not
worry
about
that,
and
let's
look
towards
the
best
of
it.
We
want
to
create
the
best
mechanism
to
bring
forth
the
best
ideas
that
are
not
crazy,
that
are
not
duplicating
other
efforts
and
the
signature.
N
Who's
running
for
office
generally
raises
money,
opens
a
bank
account
generally
has
either
staff
or
volunteers
and
generally
has
some
sort
of
base
they
might
have
been
prior
in
office
or
a
job
or
whatever,
and
I
think
it
might
be
an
unfair
threshold
and
comparison
for
just
average
Joe
or
Suzy
citizen,
particularly
if
that
citizen
is
a
youth
or
an
elder
or
from
any
disenfranchised
community.
That
makes
doing
anything
more
difficult
than
others.
I
think
that
was
it
I
believe
there
was
one
more
point,
but
I
can't
think
of
it.
N
Now
the
right
to
free
petition,
I
believe,
is
the
best
thing
that
we
have
for
Boston
to
get
better
ideas
from
the
community
and
please,
let's,
let's
not
look
at
this
as
any
bus
man
on
the
City,
Council
or
anything,
let's
just
open
it
up
to
more
people
to
me,
the
more
the
merrier
all
right.
Thank
you
very
much.
N
A
F
Chair
so
I,
just
you
know,
wanted
to
say
thank
you
to
councilor
room
to
mr.
Crawford
for
his
great
testimony.
Just
now,
I
think
this
is
a
very
important
issue
to
continue
to
discuss
I'm
looking
forward
to
any
working
sessions.
As
I
said
earlier,
you
know
putting
the
power
in
the
hands
of
the
people.
I
think
is
a
really
good
thing.
I
think
it's
a
democratic
thing
to
do.
H
Threw
the
chair
to
the
maker
I
am
curious
about
I
think
it
will
probably
flushed
out
during
the
working
session
the
variety
of
signature
requirements
and
then
also
considering
the
registered
voter
question
that
came
up
and
then
also
the
age
of
the
Signet
signature,
because
I
think
you
know,
we
think
about
education
issues.
We
think
about
issues
that
may
might
pertain
specifically
to
youth.
K
B
B
It
was
intentional
to
try
to
get
to
make
sure
that
we
are
engaging
all
of
our
residents,
even
those
who
are
not
registered
to
vote
by
choice
or
are
not
registered
to
vote
because
they
are
not
citizens
so
wanting
to
make
sure
we're,
including
our
undocumented
immigrant
residents,
who
are
not
able
to
register
to
vote
wanting
to
make
sure
we're,
including
people
who
are
younger
than
voting
age.
So
I
think
there's
some
question
there
about.
B
If
the
census
picks
ups
at
17,
what
do
we
do
if
it's
someone
trying
to
sign
who's
or
some
provision
for
that?
But
I
feel
like
all
these
details.
We
can.
We
will
figure
out
in
working
session,
but
the
goal
is
to
create
a
mechanism
that
would
encourage
people
to
participate
in
in
every
way
whether
it's
engaging
with
the
council
signing
up
for
the
city's
official
census
and
getting
you
know
their
information
to
us
that
way
and
then
hopefully
participating
in
future
elections
and
getting
more
and
more
involved
and
maybe
running
for
office
after
that.
A
Thank
you,
council,
wolf
for
your
efforts.
Thank
you
to
the
administration.
The
election
apartment
commission
do
an
Irish
and
Sabino
piemonte,
a
and
obviously
for
our
clerk
as
well
for
your
input,
as
well
as
the
public
participating
and
showing
up
and
with
respect
to
docket
zero
one,
seven
for
an
ordinance
regarding
the
right
to
free
petition.
The
Committee
on
government
operations
is
a
drip.