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From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on August 28, 2019
Description
Docket #0830 - Citizen petition entitled “Petition for Renaming Dudley Square to Nubian Square.” This petition will place a local nonbinding public opinion advisory question on the ballot for the next regular municipal election, which will occur on November 5, 2019
A
Shin
for
the
renaming
of
deadly
squid
to
Nubian
square,
my
name
is
City.
Councilor
lodge
Michael
Flaherty
here
with
my
colleague,
City
Council,
Kim
Janie
I,
see
city
councilor,
Edie
Flynn
in
City,
Council,
Matt,
O'malley
and
others
will
be
joining
us.
This
petition
seeks
council
approval
for
the
placement
of
a
local,
non-binding
public
opinion
advisory
question
on
the
ballot
at
the
next
regular
municipal
election,
which
is
on
November
the
5th
2019.
A
The
petition
includes
the
signature
of
his
at
least
10
registered
voters
in
the
city
of
Boston
that
has
been
examined
by
the
Board
of
Election.
Commission
is
indeed
to
be
sufficient.
Pursuant
to
Mass
General
Laws
chapter
53,
section
18,
a
a
non-binding
public
opinion.
Question
may
be
placed
on
the
ballot
for
regular
municipal
election
no
later
than
thirty
five
days
before
regular
municipal
election
by
a
vote
of
the
City
Council.
A
In
with
the
approval
of
the
mayor,
the
language
of
this
question
proposed
question
was
presented
through
a
memo
which
was
submitted
to
this
council
through
chief
of
civic
engagement,
Jerome
Smith,
who
was
here
with
us
who
also
worked
with
the
Nubians
queer
coalition.
The
question
specifically
is
quoted,
as
do
you
support
the
renaming
/
changing
of
Dudley
Square
to
Nubian
square
question.
A
B
You
so
much
mr.
chair,
I,
want
to
thank
and
acknowledge
the
panel
before
us.
I
also
want
to
recognize
all
of
those
who
are
in
attendance,
many
of
whom
are
organizing
this
effort
just
to
kind
of
put
this
and
somewhat
of
some
context,
at
least
for
me
and
my
perspective,
when
I
grew
up
as
a
little
girl
growing
up
in
Roxbury.
B
B
There
are
efforts
all
over
the
country
to
do
just
that,
and
I
certainly
apply
that
and
the
organizers
of
this
effort,
many
of
whom
are
in
the
room,
are
I,
believe
working
in
that
spirit
in
terms
of
my
advocacy
as
a
city,
councilor
well,
I
think
what
we
call
ourselves
is
important
and
there
is
an
effort
to
kind
of
change.
The
name
I
have
been
focused
on
changing
the
conditions.
What
I
recognize
as
a
city
councilor,
is
that,
even
if
we
change
the
name
tomorrow,
that
I
still
have
a
wealth
gap.
B
Well,
we
have
a
wealth
gap
in
this
city
of
Boston,
which
means
that
black
families
in
our
city
have
a
net
worth
of
eight
dollars
compared
to
white
families,
which
is
two
hundred
and
forty-seven
thousand
five
hundred
dollars.
We
still
have
high
unemployment.
We
still
have
schools
that
we
need
to
invest
in.
We
still
have
health
disparities
and
so
I
think
changing
the
name
and
having
this
conversation
is
a
very
important
conversation.
I
spend
the
vast
majority
of
my
time
really
trying
to
change
the
conditions
for
the
people
who
live
in
my
district.
B
That
being
said,
I
think
this
is
an
important
conversation
to
have
I
think
it
is
important
for
the
people
to
decide
for
themselves,
and
so
this
will
provide
that
opportunity
for
them
to
decide
for
themselves
what
to
be
called
and
I'm.
Looking
forward
to
having
this
conversation
and
understanding
all
of
the
procedures
that
we
have
to
go
through,
so
that,
in
fact,
the
community
can
decide
for
itself
what
to
call
itself.
So
again,
thank
you
to
the
panelists
for
being
here.
B
C
We
also
talked
about
our
Native
American
community
and
at
one
time,
South
Boston
at
a
large
Native
American
community,
and
we
also
talked
about
the
Navajo,
the
Navajo
code
talkers,
but
there's
so
many
ethnic
groups
that
have
done
so
much
great
work
but
they're
not
really
treated
with
the
respect
and
the
dignity
that
they
they
deserve.
I
called
for
a
public
health
hearing
with
councilor
Janie
on
public
health
issues,
impacting
communities
of
color
african-american
Latino
in
in
Asian.
Those
are
the
issues
that
I've
been
focused
on
I
know.
C
My
colleagues
certainly
have
been
focused
on
them
much
longer
than
longer
than
I
have.
But
those
are
the
types
of
issues
that
I
want
to
continue
working
on
working
with
all
of
my
colleagues.
We,
we
talked
recently
about
language
access.
We
talked
about
our
immigrant
community
food
access,
but
we
want
to
make
sure
boss.
Genesis
is
a
city,
that's
open
and
accessible
to
everybody,
regardless
of
your
ability
to
speak
English,
regardless
of
your
financial
situation
in
your
immigration,
immigration
status.
C
A
So
welcome
I
see
Jerome
Smith
chief
of
civic
engagement,
Neighborhood
Services
Director,
also
Anita,
Taveras
I
think
this
may
be
your
first
official
council
hearing
as
the
interim
commissioner
in
the
auction
apartment
and
is
no
stranger
to
this
body
is
someone
that
has
a
wealth
of
knowledge
with
respect
to
elections?
Is
the
assistant
registrar
sub?
You
know
PMO
hunty,
so
welcome
everybody
and
I'll
throw
it
over
to
Jerome.
A
A
E
Think
you,
mr.
chairman
and
members
of
the
committee
and
the
council,
my
name
is
Jerome
Smith
and
I
am
the
chief
of
civic
agent
for
the
city
of
Boston
and
I
appreciate
the
council's
thoughtful
time
today
for
us
to
discuss
something:
that's
not
common
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
that
is
the
non-binding
public
opinion
advisory
questions.
E
The
way
that
we
decided
the
administration
would
come
here
to
present
information
to
the
council
is,
is
that
I
was
here
from
the
beginning,
working
with
the
Nubians
square
coalition,
as
they
were
thinking
through
the
possibilities
about
how
to
engage
this
process,
and
my
colleagues
from
Elections
Department
are
here
for
the
council's
questions
that
are
purely
technical
about
the
ballot
and
the
times
and
the
dates,
and
things
like
that.
So
we
wanted
to
make
sure
that
we
were
able
to
give
you
as
much
information
as
possible
about
this.
E
We
met
with
the
new
BSQUARE
coalition
months
once
months
back
into
last
year,
where
they
had
began
their
own
organizing
efforts
of
hanging
signs
in
Dudley
square,
the
saying
Nubians
square
to
bring
to
the
attention
of
the
residents
that
they
should
start
thinking
about.
A
change
in
their
community.
They
subsequently
began,
as
any
community
group
does
letter-writing
campaigns
to
the
administration
into
the
city
asking
us
for
a
process.
It
was
around
the
time
where
the
city
was
having
the
discussions
around
changing,
lock,
iake
way
to
Jersey
Street.
E
So,
as
we
were
where
we
are
talking
with
the
Nubians
square
coalition,
we
found
that
the
square,
a
commercial
district
or
something
as
the
name
of
Dudley
square,
is
larger
and
impacts
more
people
than
the
simple
name
change
of
a
street
and
the
city
has
a
process
for
the
name
changing
of
street
through
the
pea,
the
public
Improvement
Commission.
Unfortunately,
that,
because
of
the
scale
of
the
name
change,
we
have
a
number
of
businesses
in
Dudley
whose
name
is
Dudley
square.
E
There
are
a
lot
of
more
impacted
players,
so
the
avenue
of
which
the
applicants
originally
wanted
to
go
of
the
street
changing
was
not
available
because
again
we're
changing
a
large
neighborhood
identity,
as
opposed
to
just
a
street
name.
So
we
sat
and
thought
around
how
we
could
accomplish
this
goal.
What
would
be
the
best
way
to
gauge
public
sentiment
again
because
of
this
is
an
unprecedented
step
and
then,
in
a
meeting
with
the
mayor
and
the
Newberry
Square
coalition
personally,
the
mayor
threw
out
the
idea.
E
Would
they
pursue
the
non-binding
advisory
question
as
an
option?
The
coalition
can
speak
for
themselves
about
their
timeline.
They
interacted
with
us
and
said
that
that
would
be
something
that
they
were
interested
with.
They
had
asked
for
assistance
from
the
administration,
because
again,
this
is
the
first
time
that
many
of
us
have
done
this.
E
The
mayor
had
offered
my
assistance,
along
with
other
members
of
the
administration,
to
walk
the
groups
through
the
process
so
that
they
it's
not
creating
a
new
process,
it's
written
in
our
Charter
and
then
written
in
state
law
how
to
get
about
question
on,
but
how
to
walk
the
community
through
it.
We
too,
we
as
administration,
support
the
Nubian
square,
coolish
coalition's
effort
to
engage
residents
of
Roxbury
and
this
ballot
question.
The
administration
does
not
have
a
position
on
what
the
name
should
be
through
the
name
change
or
what
it
should
be.
E
Okay,
and
what
that
means
is
is
that
for
the
council
certification
to
something
simpler,
that
you
guys
have
engaged
in
previously
think
of
it
as
polling,
any
polling,
that
an
elected
official
would
do
to
their
community
so
think
of
it
less
as
the
marijuana
question,
which
codified
something
into
state
law,
think
of
it
more
as
a
polling
question
where
you're
getting
feedback
from
the
community
and
that
way
you
can
then
slice
and
dice
the
data
and
use
it
as
you
see
fit.
All
this
data
will
be
publicly
just
like
your
election
results.
E
This
year,
we
post
online.
The
same
information
will
be
posted
online.
Anybody
can
use
this
data
and
information.
The
coalition
members
will
then
take
that
data
information
and
then
meet
with
the
pic32
pass
that
the
p
IC
e
will
then
look
at
that
data.
They
will
use
that
data
as
evidence
that
the
neighborhood
the
community
does
in
fact
support
a
name.
Change
will
create
regs
and
move
it
through.
So
I
just
want
that
clearly
for
the
council
that
on
November
I
forgot
the
date.
B
E
Know
you
know
counselor
I
want
the
council
to
be
clear.
It's
not
changing.
Our
number
v
air
will
be
a
time
period
where
the
coalition
members
will
be
working
with
the
p
IC
to
get
the
regs
in,
but
then
we
do
anticipate
that
change.
Should
it
should
the
question
win
and
a
large
number
of
residents
support
the
change
to
Nubians
square
that
will
happen,
this
fall
into
winter
and
then
the
name
of
the
square
will
be
changed.
E
I
I
have
to
say
that,
as
the
chair
of
chief
of
civic
engagement,
I'm,
looking
at
this
in
a
different
lens,
again
less
as
whether
or
not
name
should
be
changed,
but
more
about
how
we
communicate
with
our
residents
and
how
we
actually
get
intake
and
information
from
them.
I've
never
personally
participated
in
about
initiatives
such
as
this.
It
is
available
to
every
resident.
E
As
the
chair
mentioned
the
beginning,
it's
just
ten
registered
voters
can
sign
it
approved
by
the
Election
Commission,
and
then
it
begins
this
process
that
we
have
four
checks
and
balance,
but
I'm
very
interested
in
seeing
this
play
out.
I
do
believe
that
the
Nubian
Coalition
has
sincerity
behind
what
they're
trying
to
organize.
They
truly
feel
this
is
very
important
for
their
community.
Have
this
discussion
I?
Do
not
doubt
that
and
I
wholeheartedly
want
to
help
them
accomplish
that
goal.
E
That's
why
we
have
stepped
up
to
do
as
much
as
we
can
to
provide
support
at
answer,
questions
that
normally
are
not
City
function,
but
they
were
just
looking
for
advice,
I'm
off.
We
were
offering
that
because
we
actually
want
them
to
be
successful
in
having
the
conversation
we
originally
had
proposed
to
them.
We
had
made
an
error
when
we
first
started,
and
you
might
hear
from
some
of
the
coalition
members
where
we
were
under
the
impression
that
the
special
act
that
was
passed
by
the
legislature
allowed
us
to
target
a
neighborhood
for
these
questions.
E
It
had
happened
in
East
Boston
for
gaming,
so
in
our
quickness
in
the
beginning,
to
kind
of
help
them
and
move
them
in
that
direction.
We
were
all
geared
in
that
spot
that
it
would
be
a
Roxbury
question.
Unfortunately,
the
law
department
came
back
and
wrote
us
a
legal
memo
that
we
then
gave
to
the
coalition
where
the
city
is
not,
does
not
have
the
authority
to
do
district,
specific
or
neighborhood
specific
questions.
We
are
only
by
charter
allowed
to
do
citywide
questions.
E
So,
yes,
there
will
be
other
councillors
that
they
will
see
this
question
on
the
ballot
again.
I
want
to
hit
home
with
the
councillors
that
this
is
a
non-binding
public
advisory
question.
There
will
be.
It
is
the
way
we
currently
are
allowed
to
do
this.
Yes,
the
whole
city
can
vote
upon
this,
and
then
we
had
a
lot
of
part.
Men
write
up
a
little
explanation
in
their
conclusion
that
says:
section
18
a
creates
a
mechanism
to
place
a
non-binding
public
opinion
to
byers
your
question
on
the
citywide
ballot.
E
It
does
not
dictate
how
the
results
of
any
such
non-binding
question
should
be
used
or
interpreted
by
public
officials
and
city
boards.
Policymakers
remain
free
to
consider
the
results
of
such
questions
in
neighborhoods,
particularly
impacted
by
the
subject
matter
of
the
question.
So
while
we
are
engaging
in
this
citywide
public
question
from
my
perspective,
as
chief
of
civic
engagement,
I,
think
it's
great
that
we
are
actually
having
residents,
engage
in
a
dialogue
to
how
to
change
their
community.
But
how
we
look
at
the
results.
E
We
have
sav'd
the
Newberry
Square
coalition
and
we
believe
that
when
sitting
with
the
chair,
the
P
I
see
that
the
we
will
pay
extra
special
detail
to
the
votes
of
the
precincts
of
Roxbury.
The
the
residents
of
Roxbury
live
in
this.
This
is
their
major
business,
just
one
of
their
major
business
districts.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
we
hear
them
as
we
are
making
determinations.
So
as
we
look
at
the
polling
data,
we
will
be
leaving
a
keen
eye
to
the
way
that
the
words
and
precincts
of
Roxbury
have
decided
to
vote.
E
We
should
consider
if
it's
something
that
the
council
things
is
interesting
to
the
city.
We
should
consider
the
opportunity
of
doing
that
and
in
reaching
out
and
asking
for
the
third.
We
already
have
precedent
and
I
think
that
the
proponents
of
the
question
we're
a
little
daunted
when
I
had
to
come
back
officially
tell
them.
E
It
was
citywide
because
we
were
for
months
we,
you
know
we
were
going
for
Roxbury,
we
identified
the
precincts
and
we
all
ready
to
go
and
then
I
had,
unfortunately
tell
them
that
I
personally
made
a
mistake
when
I
president
of
information
and
presented
them
with
the
new
law
memo.
So
it
was
a
little
frustrating
for
them.
Definitely
because
they
go
from
a
mentality
of
just
worrying,
about
Roxbury
wearing
about
citywide,
but
I.
E
The
next
commission
can
talk
about
that,
but
ultimately,
yes,
the
checks
and
balance
to
this
is
has
to
be
passage
of
the
council
and
the
signature
of
the
mayor.
Should
the
council
vote
this
down,
or
should
the
mayor
not
sign
it?
The
citizens
will
have
to
go
out
and
get
10%
of
the
registered
voters
and
that's
like
40,000.
F
A
F
Will
be
at
the
end
of
the
palate
on
the
will
trying
to
make
it
into
a
one-page
ballot
so
right
now
we're
working
to
use
an
eight-and-a-half
by
11.
Should
we
have
to
use
an
eight-and-a-half
by
14
piece
of
paper
to
keep
everything
on
a
one-page?
It
will
be
at
the
bottom
of
the
page,
just
as
a
simple
yes
and
no
answer
it
translated
into
multiple
languages
and.
A
E
Yeah,
the
owner
you'll
see
as
some
of
us
political
hacks
who
are
on
refreshing.
The
city
website
on
election
night
you'll
see
live
data
coming
I'm,
one
of
those
people
you'll
see
Hugh
live
data
coming
in,
but
the
Commissioner
was
great
yesterday
to
tell
me
and
I
haven't
told
the
members
of
the
coalition,
yet
that
there's
ten
days
for
it
to
be
certified.
So
it's
not
so,
even
though
we
see
the
website,
I
can't
officially
tell
everybody
that
officially
one
until
it's
certified
and
that's
typically
ten
days
after
election
and
that's
certified.
F
So
we
have
ten
days
because
we
have
the
military
and
overseas
ballots.
We
have
ten
days
after
the
election
to
receive
those
ballots,
so
we
cannot
certify
the
results
until
that
point,
and
this
question
will
be
titled
question
one
in
a
retitled,
non-binding
public
advisory
question,
followed
by
question.
A
G
A
D
A
They're
gonna
go
right
to
the
microphones
and
then
go
back
to
my
colleagues
for
questions.
So
if
Siddiqui
can
make
his
way
to
that
first
microphone
and
if
truck
turner
can
make
his
way
to
that
second
microphone
and
then
after
Siddiqui
it'll
be
an
or
Eleanor
Eleanor
of
Dial,
collage,
Williams
and
then,
after
former
counsel,
eternal,
be
Luis
ELISA.
So
welcome
good
to
see
you
and
introduce
yourself
for
the
record,
and
you
have
the
floor,
who.
H
Appreciate
just
wanna
say:
good
data,
everyone.
My
name
is
Saad
Dickie,
Cambon
and
I'm,
the
director
of
the
black
community
formation
center
and
also
chairman
of
the
Nubian
square
coalition.
So
essentially,
what
it
is
is
that,
in
terms
of
the
information
center,
we're
an
all-volunteer
organization
located
in
Dorchester
master,
Lin
called
Imani
house
and
we've
been
around
for
several
years.
So,
of
course,
as
was
mentioned
by
the
the
council,
that's
been
this
national
phenomenon
along
taking
down.
H
You
know,
monuments
and
symbols
representing
folks
who
were
based
in
races
in
terms
of
their
perspective
and
their
actions,
and
so
several
years
ago,
our
organization
and
led
the
effort
to
have
the
former
Washington
Park.
We
named
Malcolm
X
Park,
because
you
know
George
Washington
was
a
slave
owner
and
we
thought
that
that
was
inappropriate.
H
Subsequently,
what
happened
was
someone
has
mentioned
to
me
that
did
you
know
that
the
Dudley
family
was
involved
in
some
level
around
the
slave
trade
and
that
led
to
our
efforts
with
the
assistance
of
then
council
Turner's
office
to
move
to
have
new
Dudley
Street
renamed
not
like
the
Boulevard,
then
would
happen.
People
said:
well,
you
know
what
about.
There
are
other
names
that
represent
the
other
family.
So
over
five
years
ago
we
started
a
campaign
to
have
Dudley
Square,
and
we
also
at
some
point
want
to
see
the
station
renamed.
H
Nubians
Square
and
you
know,
I,
want
to
get
into
the
details
when
you
know
the
Nubians.
You
know
that
was
an
African
Empire
from
you
know.
Many
centuries
are
going.
What
have
you
and
that's,
how
we
reached
consensus,
the
community
around
that
name
and
so
the
first
couple
of
years
we
were
working
to
educate
the
community
as
to
why
we
felt
that
the
name
change
was
appropriate.
We
have
a
petition
with
over
2,000
names
on
it.
H
You
know
whether
it
was
Thomas's
governor
or
his
son
Joseph
both
were
governors
and
Basie,
had
oversight
in
transit.
What
the
policy
was
about
slavery.
That
was
inappropriate
that,
in
our
primary
commercial
shopping
district,
that
we
have
a
name
honoring
that
that
family,
and
so
secondly,
we
also
wanted
to
do
a
partial
tribute
to
the
former
Nubian
ocean
that
served
our
community
for
over
50
years.
And
thirdly
and
very
importantly,
we
want
to
send
a
message
to
the
forces
of
gentrification
said
we.
H
D
H
Coalition,
because
of
all
the
folks
were
becoming
involved,
what
we're
doing
supporting
what
we're
doing,
and
so
what
we
had
wanted,
was
to
go
before
to
have
a
community
meeting
and
then
go
before
the
pic4
decision
needs
to
be
something
similar
to
like
what
happened
with
yaki
way
in
and
was
that
nature.
So
we
met
with
the
mayor,
and
some
of
the
staff,
including
Jerome
I,
believe,
was
March
8th,
and
so
we
came
into
the
meeting
prepared
to
discuss
the
possibility
of
what
we
had
proposed
about
the
community
meeting.
H
What
have
you
and
that's
when
the
proposal
was
made
about
well
considering
a
ballot
question
that
would
essentially
put
it
on
the
municipal
ballot,
I'm
November
the
5th
and
then
put
it
in
the
hands
of
the
people
to
decide
as
to
whether
or
not
the
name
should
be
changed,
and
so
we
and
the
coalition
felt
that
that
was
a
fair
proposal.
We
were
prepared
to
do
the
work,
and
so
where
we
are
right
now
is
that
a
couple
months
before
the
election
is
that
you
know
we
have.
H
H
We
have
that
support
and
that
would
have
to
go
before
the
council
in
order
to
be
able
to
get
the
support
from
the
council
to
in
fact
say.
Yes,
we
in
fact
support
this
question
being
on
the
ballot.
November
5th
4th
actually
happened
become
a
ballot
question.
So
that's
why
we
are
here
today
asking
the
council
to
in
fact
vote
in
support
of
our
call
for
this
to
be
on
the
ballot
November
5th
2019.
H
I
I
I
By
approving
this
ballot
question,
you
will
give
to
the
people
of
Roxbury
the
opportunity
to
remove
from
the
heart
of
our
economic
district,
the
name
of
a
family
that
played
a
major
role
in
legalizing,
as
well
as
maintaining
the
institution
of
slavery
in
the
Masbate
call,
because
of
the
historical
inadequacy
of
our
educational
system.
I
think
I
need
to
take
a
moment
to
educate
those
of
you
who
do
not
know
that
in
1641
the
Governor's
Council
passed
the
quote
body
of
liberties.
I
Unquote,
while
this
document
guaranteed
civil
rights
to
British
colonists,
Paradoxal
er,
perhaps
not
paradox,
Lee.
It
also
specified
that
slavery
was
allowed
in
cases
where
slaves
were
taken
in
just
Wars,
Indian
Wars,
as
well
as
what
or
as
are
willing
to
are
as
willing
to
sell
themselves
or
be
sold
by
us.
I
Through
this
language,
the
Puritan
established
their
right
to
treat
as
property,
Native,
Americans
and
Africans,
that
is,
the
Native
Americans
were
described
as
those
taken
in
just
Wars,
the
Native
American,
the
Africa,
the
Africans
were
described
as
strangers,
who
either
proposed
to
sell
themselves
or
whom
we
proposed
to
sell.
Of
course,
your
question
now
becomes
what
does
a
Dudley
family
have
to
do
with
the
legalizing
of
slavery
in
math
in
the
Mass
Bay
Colony?
I
Given
this
history,
the
passage
of
the
quote
body
of
Liberty
is
clearly
a
continuation
of
Dudley's
pattern
of
political
action.
While
he
died
in
1653.
His
death
did
not
stop
the
Puritan
government's
continuing
its
assault
on
the
liberty
of
Africans
and
Native
Americans
in
1670,
children
of
slave
women
were
declared
to
be
slaves
for
life.
Let
me
repeat:
the
in
1670
children
of
slaves.
Women
were
as
Native
American
women
and
African
women
were
declared
to
be
slaves
for
life
in
1707.
I
A
J
Greetings:
everyone
in
many
cultures,
names
and
their
significance
are
important.
My
name
is
Allen
or
Larissa
of
the
holic
Williams
and
I
am
a
resident
and
homeowner
in
Roxbury,
where
I
was
raised
and
remain.
I
am
here
in
support
of
the
name,
change
of
Dudley
square
to
Nubians
square
and
ask
for
your
support
and
creating
and
honouring
a
tribute
to
black
and
brown
people
who
have
invested
in
Roxbury
within
a
city
that
continues
to
reinforce
my
privilege,
systemic
racial
inequities
and
economic
disparities.
J
For
me,
the
reason
for
the
name
change
is
quite
clear
one.
It
is
a
step
forward
towards
addressing
a
need
for
the
representation
and
inclusion
of
black
people,
even
as
white
privilege
and
gentrification
are
on
the
rise.
Secondly,
it
addresses
a
need
to
recognize
honor
and
celebrate
the
contributions
of
blacks
in
Boston,
particularly
in
Roxbury.
A
nubian
notion.
J
Incorporated
is
my
family's
business,
which
was
established
in
Dudley
square
started
by
my
grandfather,
Malik
Abdul,
holic
and
managed
for
over
40
years
by
my
dad
Jacob
Abdul
holic,
as
an
heir
to
my
family's
legacy,
filled
with
sacrifice
and
service.
I
am
quite
familiar
with
Dudley
square
and
its
history
of
having
been
maintained
and
sustained
by
black
and
brown
business
owners,
black
patrons
a
few
culturally
diverse
white
supporters
and
its
black
residents,
even
as
the
city
of
Boston,
repeatedly
failed
to
financially
support
and
maintain
it
throughout
my
49
years.
J
The
square
is
where
I
have
experienced
an
extension
of
family.
It
is
where
I
have
received
affirmation
as
a
black
woman
felt
a
sense
of
community
and
witness
the
creativity,
Raziel
resilience
and
fortitude
of
my
race.
Despite
shared
trials
and
oppressions,
it
is
within
intentional
circles
and
spaces
within
Dudley
that
I
have
had
the
opportunity
to
see
black
people
experience
a
sense
of
belonging
dignity
and
respect
amongst
one
another.
J
J
Some
might
ask
why
rename
the
square
Nubian
square
well,
I!
Ask
why
not
isn't
Nubian
a
name
that
we
as
informed
black
and
brown
people
of
African
descent?
Can
relate
to
in
our
efforts
to
be
united
and
better
our
state,
in
light
of
the
fact
that
our
forefathers
were
stripped
of
their
identity
and
from
the
motherland
and
dispersed
throughout
the
world
to
cities
like
Boston,
where
they
were
and/or
continue
to
be
mistreated,
used
for
free
or
cheap
labor
and
systematically
denied
equitable
opportunities
in
representation.
I
challenge
those
who
oppose.
J
J
Changing
Dudley
Square
to
Nubian
square
is
a
step
towards
equality
and
inclusion
for
all
in
our
city.
It
offers
a
counter
narrative
that
says
black
and
brown.
People
are
still
here
in
this
city
that
we
matter
and
that
our
strengths
and
contributions
as
those
of
African
descent
deserve
to
be
recognized
and
celebrated.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
K
Afternoon,
my
name
is
Luis
ELISA
I
live
at
68
Syrah
Street
and
Roxbury
I've
been
a
resident
of
Boston
since
1970
to
come
here
for
graduate
school
and
being
captured
by
the
interesting
culture.
Good
evening
afternoon,
mr.
chairman
and
members
of
the
City
Council
and
those
here
I
came
in
support
of
the
name:
change
from
Dudley
station
Dudley
Square
to
Nubians
square
for
a
number
of
reasons.
K
This
is
the
same
thing
for
the
Dudley
family
and
the
name
Dudley
in
an
area
in
a
community
that
was
demonized
and
set
upon
by
the
Puritans
of
that
time.
Of
course,
they
went
through
a
process
using
the
Puritan
Church
and
others
to
not
just
destroy
the
lives
of
Africans
and
african-americans,
but
also
the
Pequod's
and
other
Native
Americans.
Here
their
history
is
wretched.
K
What
they've
done
was
so
inhumane
and
despicable
not
to
have
the
name
on
any
public
plaque
is
a
disgrace
to
humanity,
though
we
want
to
argue
whether
or
not
we
should
change
that
name
and
a
community
of
people
who
have
been
said
upon
for
the
last
400
years.
You
know
in
terms
of
whether
or
not
they
should
gave
to
choose
an
area
that
they
shop
and
have
hopes
for
economic
growth
and
development
or
future
for
their
children.
K
K
You
know,
set
upon
by
thugs
and
parts
of
the
you
know,
military
that
came
over
from
England
to
keep
the
colony
and
and
in
under
control.
So
the
role
of
African
Americans
well
known,
it's
established
through
Prince
Hall
and
others
who
advocated
and
fought
in
the
colony
and
the.
In
the
end,
the
Continental
Army
under
George
Washington,
who
was
reestablishment.
Prince
Hall
spoke
at
the
State
House,
trying
to
establish
the
first
African
school
in
the
United
States
and
building
the
first
school
over
there
on
joy
street.
K
These
things
are
historic,
but
the
role
of
African
Americans
in
America
is
one
that
has
to
be
respecting
uplifted.
Keeping
the
name
of
Dudley
over
sharing.
This
overshadow
in
this
community
takes
away
from
our
humanity,
takes
away
from
the
understanding
that
we
should
not
be
celebrating
applauding
or
even
giving
reference
to
someone
who
was
very
much
involved
in
destruction
of
humanity,
of
African,
Americans
and
Native
Americans,
and
the
manner
in
which
is
historically
documented
that
the
Dudley
and
the
Dudley
family
involved
themselves
in.
K
So
we
come
here
asking
you
to
look
at
why
it's
important
to
change
the
name
from
Dudley
to
Nubian
square,
why
it's
important
to
give
a
generation
of
young
men
and
women
hope
for
the
future?
Why
it's
important
to
say
to
those
who
are
past
their
senior
in
their
majority?
Why
we
now
recognize
the
fact
that
we
may
have
done
them
a
disservice
if
I
having
them
to
work
and
labor
and
travel
through
an
area
that
was
under
a
shadow
of
a
person
who
was
not
humane
enough
to
give
them
respect
as
human
beings?
K
The
change
is
not
uncommon
in
city
of
Boston
areas
do
reflect
the
people
who
live
in
there
when
I
came
to
Boston
72
to
stop
after
the
Medical
Center
was
called
Essex.
Street
is
now
called
Chinatown.
It's
a
very
good
change
in
the
name.
It
reflects
the
community,
that's
there
and
it
gives
people
understanding
what
the
culture
is,
that
innocence
predominates.
K
The
area
changing
Dudley
to
Nubian
square
I
will
say
the
same
thing
to
everybody
else
that
we
understand,
recognize
and
support
the
ideas
and
aspirations
of
African
American
people
in
the
city
of
Boston
have
given
so
much
this
name.
They
are
part
of
our
founding
fathers.
They
have
been
a
part
of
our
leadership.
They've
been
a
part
of
the
growth
in
the
development
of
this
city
and
to
have
them
to
continue
living
labor
under
a
shadow
of
a
man
like
Dudley.
It's
not
fair
to
them
and
all
changing.
K
That
name
was
Joe
recognition
that
we
are
aware
that
they
have
a
right
to
determine
the
quality
of
life
in
which
they
live.
So
I
would
just
end
by
saying
I
hope
that
each
of
the
council
was
taking
consideration
that
we're
not
asking
you
to
change
the
name
to
something
that
would
be
difficult
for
people
to
understand.
Nubia
basically
says
African
or
black,
or
it's
a
part
of
the
world
that
historically
the
world
came
to.
K
When
you
know
the
culture
of
Europe,
and
you
know
the
culture
of
Africa,
you
know
that
a
lot
of
the
history
and
a
lot
of
the
growth
of
Europe
came
from
Egypt
and
Africa,
particularly
from
the
northern
and
southern
part
of
the
Sudan,
and
all
of
Egypt
that
brought
medicine
and
science
to
the
world
that
the
Greeks
came
to
Nubia
and
studied
in
the
cartoon
in
different
places
and
took
knowledge
and
information
back.
So
there
can't
be
very
difficult
leave
for
people
to
make.
K
L
L
Basically,
I
think
that
Dudley
square
should
be
renamed.
I
think
that
the
past
of
the
Dudley's,
the
history
should
that
is
it's
wrong
and
it
shouldn't
be
the
name
of
a
majority
african-american
neighborhood,
but
at
the
same
time,
I
I,
believe
personally.
Renaming
it
to
Dudley's
or
renaming
it
to
Nubian
square
is
is
somewhat
hypocritical
because
in
the
past
the
Nubian
Empire
utilized
slaves
themselves
and
Sudan.
L
But
what
is
what
is
Sudan?
What
is
Africa
done
for
the
african-americans
in
the
US
and
that's
not
necessarily
like
it's
not
necessarily
something.
We
should
celebrate
the
people
that
let
us
go
and
didn't
try
to
help
us
afterwards.
But
at
the
same
time
there
there
are
always
there
are
always
other
factors
and
the
European
slave
trade
was
a
big
factor
in
a
lot
of
african-americans
coming
over.
But
at
the
same
time
there
are
no.
L
There
are
no
programs
in
Sudan
today,
helping
African
Americans
come
over
there
and
like
help
em
just
like
have
have
a
more
of
a
bigger
community.
I
think
the
best
name
for
the
square
would
probably
be
Louis
Farrakhan
Square,
since
he
was
all
about
like
going
back
to
Africa
and
having
having
just
like
pan-africanism,
but
if
we
named
it
Nubian
square
we're
kind
of
ricotta,
just
like
we're
missing
an
opportunity
to
honor
Boston
and
like
the
people
from
Boston
that
have
worked
for
us.
A
M
You
can
state
your
name.
Thank
you.
My
name
is
Jim
Otte,
Smith
and
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
in
his
absence
mayor
Marty
Walsh
into
the
city
council,
Authority
and
also
chair
of
this
operations.
Government
operations
I
definitely
want
to
thank
district
7
city,
councilor,
Kim,
Janey
city
council
of
Michelle,
wolf
for
your
presence,
city,
councilor,
Fred,
Flynn
and
city
councilor
O'malley,
for
your
presence
for
being
here.
M
M
I
was
one
of
the
initial
members
of
the
Dudley
vision,
advisory
task
force.
I
think
we
worked
eight
years
on
all
of
Abby
to
the
bowling
building,
also
and
with
what
I
named
Roxbury
collaborative,
and
we
are
the
ones
that
do
Patriots
Day.
You
know
where
William
Dawes
rides
through
Roxbury
I'm
part
of
the
veterans
and
Friends
of
Gordian
Memorial
Park,
which
is
right
across
from
the
b2
and
we're
putting
up
a
statue
of
Gordy
and
just
to
recognize
that
we
don't
show
very
much
about
the
African
American
veteran
I'm.
M
M
It's
kind
of
time
for
us
to
put
on
our
I'm
saying
spiritual,
sneakers
and
just
do
the
right
thing.
It's
not
that
I
don't
care
about
who
was
a
slave
owner
and
who
wasn't
I
think
that's
very
important
and
it's
important
to
a
lot
of
people.
But
you
know
it's
just
time
to
do
the
right
thing
at
my
Catholic
Church
during
Eucharist
will
we
get
Communion
and
every
single
day
we
have
mass
and
part
of
the
prayer.
M
As
we
talk
about
doing
what
is
Justin
right-
and
you
know-
sometimes
you
just
do
the
right
thing,
and
so
so
much
is
going
on.
You
know
people
are
talking
about
reparations
now
when
things
like
that,
all
we
have
to
do
is
try
to
fix
things.
I
know
that
counselor
Jamie
was
talking
earlier
and
she's
talking
about
the
conditions
and
the
wealth
gap
and
everything
like
that
which
I
get
and
I've
heard
people
say
well,
I
want
to
see
this
and
that,
but
can't
we
do
this
simultaneously.
M
You
know
we
don't
have
to
just
do
one
thing
you
know
and,
and
none
of
us
can
do
it
all,
but
all
of
us
could
do
something,
so
we
can
be
on
this
all
the
same
bandwagon.
The
goal
is
not
about
my
children,
not
about
my
grandchildren,
maybe
my
great-grand,
but
it's
about
the
future
of
the
children
and
they
need
to
be
able
to
just
kind
of
go
through.
M
So
this
is
my
plea
and
let
me
see:
I
I'm,
so
I
have
a
young
girl
in
the
community
and
I
was
I'm
a
little
I'm
gonna
tell
you
all.
This
I
just
recently
lost
my
husband,
so
I'm
not
trying
to
get
any
empathy
or
sympathy
or
anything
like
that.
But
that's
kind
of
why
I'm
not
my
regular
self,
but
also
I,
missed
the
senior
cruise
today,
because
I
said
I'd
better,
be
here,
because
if
something
doesn't
go
right,
it's
cuz.
I
wasn't
here,
so
everybody
else
is
on
the
cruise
and
so
I
missed
it.
M
But
so
you
are
just
gonna
have
to
bear
with
me.
So
one
of
the
things
I
do
want
to
say
and
I,
don't
know
how
much
I'm
gonna
I'm,
not
gonna,
be
very
long,
and
this
is
what's
kind
of
cute.
I
ran
out
of
I
was
doing
something
for
somebody
in
the
community
and
I
say
young
lady
at
the
Freedom
House
I
took
a
picture
of
my
notes.
Cuz
I
didn't
have
a
chance
and
the
child
wanted
it
to
be
big
for
me.
So
don't
y'all
talk
about
me
having
this
big
pieces
of
paper
here.
M
So
what
I
want
to
say
is
this
I'm
gonna
say
this
quickly:
last
Tuesday
Mountain,
the
400th
anniversary
of
the
landing
of
enslaved
Africans
on
the
shores
of
what
the
British
colony
of
the
British
colony
of
Virginia
and
on
August,
the
10th
of
16,
1920
and
Golan's
were
brought
to
Point,
Comfort
Virginia,
and
that
is
now
Hampton
Roads
and
they
was
sold
to
British
settlers
in
nineteen
forward.
In
1976
we
celebrated
the
bicentennial
of
our
country.
Although
the
focus
of
the
year
was
July,
4
1776
and
the
Declaration
of
Independence
no
thought
no
memory.
M
You
all,
and
you
all
know
the
famous
late
James
Brown.
We
said
please,
please,
please,
please
I,
really
hope
and
pray
to
God
that
we
don't
have
to
go
out
and
try
to
get
40,000
votes.
I
mean
all
we're
asking
you
to
do
is
to
vote
Yes
to
at
least
get
the
ballot
you
know,
and
so
that's
my
plea,
I
probably
have
some
more
notes
on
the
year,
but
councilman
Flaherty
is
so
sweet
he's
gonna.
Let
me
finish.
Okay,
so
thank
you
and
God
bless.
You
Thank.
A
You
jamadar
we've
also
been
joined
by
my
colleague
city
counsel,
Michelle
whoo.
Anyone
else
wishing
trough
any
additional
public
testimony
may
do
so
now,
seeing
and
hearing
no
additional
desire
for
public
testimony
that
will
conclude
the
public
testimony
standpoint.
Jerome,
you
want
to
get
the
final
word.
Okay,.
E
Mr.
chairman
I
just
wanted
to
point
out
one
again:
I
want
to
thank
all
the
counselors
say
for
allowing
us
to
come
down
as
you
as
you
see
and
heard
from
the
testimony.
This
is
a
sincere
effort.
The
the
organizers
have
went
from
going
old,
school
style
with
you
know,
petitions
and
signature
letters
to
sitting
down
and
trying
to
understand
a
complex
thing,
such
as
a
citizen's
question.
We
every
time
I
directed
them
to
do
something
so
just
create
an
official
ballot
question
committee
and
go
to
O
CPF
and
file.
E
They
went
and
did
it
they're
now
fundraising,
money
they've,
created
they've
created
mailers.
They
had
a
huge
contingent
with
banner,
is
at
the
Caribbean
festival
parade.
They
were
part
of
that
whole
Orient.
They
have
sincerely
come
forward
to
ask
us
to
help
them
talk
to
their
residents.
I
know
that
I
just
want
to
reiterate
on
behalf
of
the
Wahlstrom
ministration.
E
Did
they
get
somebody
to
again
commit
our
support
to
the
this
Community
Coalition
effort
to
engage
the
residents
of
Roxbury
to
see
about
whether
or
not
they
want
to
change
the
name
of
Dudley
square
I
hope
the
council
will
join
us
and
again
if
the
councillors
have
any
further
questions
fees
for
last?
We're
learning
about
this
all
together,
as
we
engage
in
this
civic
engagement
exercise,
but
I
do
hope
that
the
council
can
support
us
as
we
move
this
issue
forward.
A
B
You
so
much
just
in
terms
of
understanding
the
process,
and
you
mentioned
earlier
that
the
entire
city
will
get
to
vote
on
this.
How
will
we
then
determine
that
Roxbury
gets
to
in
fact
name
itself
and
that
those
votes
are
the
ones
that
will
be
counted?
Are
we
are
you
then,
now
looking
at
those
earlier
identified
precincts
as
the
precincts
to
count
so.
E
E
We
we
do
not
want
to
publicly
say
that
we
are
not
going
to
listen
to
any
voter
who
decides
to
vote
one
way
or
another.
We
again
that's
why
I
phrased
it
to
the
council.
The
council
should
look
at
this
less
as
a
ballot
question
and
more
as
a
polling
polling
data.
It
is
our
intention
to
offer
to
the
chair
of
the
pic2:
wait
the
precincts
that
have
been
previously
identified
by
the
coalition
ourselves
so
as
he
gets
all
the
data.
E
As
the
chair
of
the
P
I
see,
I
had
asked
him
to
put
close
attention
to
the
wards,
the
ten
wards
and
precincts
that
we
decided
when
we
originally
were
going
to
go
for
the
neighborhood
wide
process
that
we
give,
that
the
section
emphasis
and
then
I
also
have
instructed
that
the
coalition
members
will
have
a
chance
to
sit
with
the
chair
and
the
members
of
the
team.
Who'll
be
drafting
the
regs
and
they
will
see
all
that
happen,
so
they
will
be
from
the
very
start
to
the
very
end.
E
The
qolt
nubian
square
coalition
members
will
be
at
the
table
as
we
move
through
that
part
of
the
process.
Again
this
is
new.
First
time
we're
doing
it.
I
want
to
make
sure
it,
because
once
we
do
this,
you
know
as
upset
everything
it's
precedent-setting,
and
then
you
never
know
if
another
group
pops
up.
So
that's
why
we're
methodically
going
step
by
step
by
step
now
and
we'll
make
sure
the
coalition
members
are
with
us
at
every
step.
I.
B
Appreciate
it
just
a
couple
more
questions
and
I'm,
not
sure
that
you'll
be
able
to
answer
here.
I,
don't
see
anyone
from
economic
development,
but
one
question
or
a
concern.
That's
come
up
from
at
least
some
of
the
businesses
is
that
we've
invested
a
lot
in
this
name
of
Dudley.
Will
there
be
support
from
the
city
in
terms
of
branding
rebranding?
If,
in
fact,
the
name
has
changed
for
businesses
who
were
kind
of
organized
and
wedded
around
the
old
name?
How
will
they
be
supported
in
getting
resources
if
they
need
to
change
theirs?.
D
B
E
For
this
it
is
absolutely
a
concern
of
ours,
and
that
is
why
we
ask
the
applicants
to
do
such
a
broad
outreach
right.
That's
why
we're
doing
this
question
because
there's
a
number
of
businesses
who
have
tied
their
name
to
the
square.
As
you
know,
councillor
you
point
out.
In
the
beginning,
there
are
a
number
of
other
fronts,
both
my
office,
your
office
and
the
office
that
we
are
already
doing
in
Dudley
to
try
to
help
the
business
of
Dudley.
E
You've
had
a
number
of
community
large
community
meetings
where
the
residents
have
come
together
kind
of
decide,
not
the
name
but
how
they
want
the
square
to
feel
and
events.
We
want
to
continue
with
that,
and
so
my
commitment
from
my
office
is:
is
that
should
those
business
step
forward
and
say
that
we
do
need
technical
assistance?
E
I
will
make
every
effort
to
make
sure
that
those
departments
who
have
that
ability
are
sent
there
to
provide
the
attention
or
there,
because
the
last
thing
we
want
to
do
is
hurt
a
rival
oscura
in
Dudley
by
this
process.
It's
meant
for
everybody
to
come
together
and
to
the
gentleman
the
young
gentleman's
question
who
he's
not
clear
about
Nubian,
but
that's
the
point
of
this.
The
point
of
this
is
to
go
out
and
to
have
a
dialogue
and
discussion.
E
It
is
not
the
mayor
making
a
decree,
it's
not
the
city
council,
making
degree
all
that
we
are
doing
as
a
lot
of
residents
to
talk
and
that
thing
that
that
young
gentleman
care
so
passionate
I
would
love
to
see
him
involved
in
this
space.
Talking
with
the
residents
because
I
know,
the
nucleus
square
coalition
are
ready
to
go,
they've
already
started
door,
knocking
and
calling
and
they've
been
working
actively
and
so
I
again
Fred
as
chief
of
civic
engagement
and
really
looking
forward
to
seeing
how
this
works.
E
You
know
we
talk
about
different
things
that
we
do
to
3
1
apt
and
we
allow
more
user
interface
we're
engaging
with
the
media
Tina
the
the
web
team
about
how
to
do
community
meetings
online
I
know
didi
does
a
lot
of
the
online
stuff
with
some
of
their
properties.
So
how
do
we
marry
the
neighbor
association
meetings
with
the
Civic
Association
meetings
with
the
condo
association
meetings
and
then
providing
individuals
who
can
attend
these
rigid
time
meetings?
E
How
can
I
still
give
input
so
we've
been
trying
and
when
my
cabinet
was
created
four
years
ago,
we've
been
trying
to
think
about
how
the
city
just
does
as
broad
and
fine-tune
those
places.
So
again,
this
is
an
exercise.
I
have
never
been
a
part
of
and
I'm
actually
cleanly
kind
of
paying
attention
to,
because
I
want
to
see
how
this
works
for
the
city
of
Boston,
I.
B
Think
the
last
thing
that
I
would
say,
chief
Smith,
is
I
just
want
to.
Thank
you
because
I
know
from
my
engagement
with
the
Coalition,
my
engagement
with
you
and
your
office
that
you've
put
in
a
lot
of
time
and
working
with
the
coalition
and
I
know.
It's
not
always
easy
trust
me
I
am
blessed
to
have
a
district
where
there
is
a
lot
of
passion.
B
There
are
a
lot
of
activists
who
care
deeply
about
our
community
and,
and
sometimes
how
that
is
communicated
may
not
feel
good
to
the
person
on
the
receiving
end
of
that.
But
you've
heard
great
testimony
here.
As
I
said
in
the
beginning,
I
think
it
is
very
important
that
a
community
get
to
name
itself
when
I
was
a
little
girl
growing
up
in
the
1970s
in
Roxbury
we
and
my
family
who
actually
had
naming
ceremonies
for
all
my
younger
brothers
and
sisters.
I
mean
it's
a
big
deal
with
certain
african-american
I'm,
not
sure
other.
B
You
know.
Cultural
and
racial
groups
is
a
big
deal.
What
you
call
yourself-
and
so
it
is
a
very
important
conversation-
I-
think
that
the
people
should
decide
and
have
the
ability
to
determine
for
themselves
whether
or
not
they
want
to
change
the
name
from
Dudley
Square
to
Nubians
Square
and
grateful
that
they
will
have
that
opportunity
on
November
5th
I
support
the
effort
to
let
the
people
decide
and
we'll
be
encouraging.
B
C
Thank
You
counsel,
Flaherty
I,
just
want
to
echo
what
counselor
Janie
said
in
her
her
comments.
There
was
excellent
testimony
here
and
I
certainly
support
the
position
of
counselor
Janie,
and
you
know
just
going
back
to
the
excellent
testimony
that
was
provided
by
the
by
the
residents
by
the
residents.
Is
there
any
way
that
we
could
use
that
testimony
to?
Let
other
people
know
about
the
important
the
importance
of
this
issue
that
might
not
be
in
the
impacted
area.
C
E
I
have
been
thinking
about
because
I
believe
that
some
of
the
counselors,
particularly
the
district
counselors,
were
probably
getting
phone
calls
about
this.
So
what
we
are
going
to
do-
administrative
Lee
is
the
Elections.
Commission
is
already
gonna
put
the
ballot
question
on
the
website.
That
will
be
their
normal
course
I'm.
E
Thinking
that,
through
the
office
of
engagement,
we
will
also
post
a
ballot
question
and
then
I'll
work
with
the
getting
contact
information
from
the
coalition
and
we're
going
to
present
that
also
anybody,
member
the
public
can
be
directed
to
these
sites
to
get
additional
information
or
if
they
want
to
contact
the
coalition
we'll
do
it
that
way.
So
any
information
that
counselors
feel
is
helpful
if
I
have
not
put
it
on.
C
You
Jerome
and
I,
just
I
just
was
moved
by
the
the
testimony
from
so
many
people
here
tonight
on
the
incredible
contributions
of
African
American
veterans
teaches
business
people
often
not
receiving
the
credit
I
spoke
earlier
about
the
council.
Councillor
Turner
also
spoke
about
the
Native
American
community
as
well.
I
had
a
large
population
at
one
time
in
in
my
community
and
there's
so
many
different
ethnic
groups
across
our
city
that
do
so
much
great
work,
but
never
receive
any
type
of
credit
or
recognition
for
helping
build
the
city
or
helping
build.
C
This
country
I'm
proud
to
represent
the
Puerto
Rican
veterans
in
the
south
end
as
well,
but
I'm
just
so
so
proud
of
the
outstanding
contributions
of
our
african-american
veterans
and
families
that
have
really
helped
build
this
city,
without
any
credit,
not
that
they're
looking
for
credit,
but
they
really
helped
build
and
make
this
city
what
it
is.
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
participants
for
being
here
and
for
being
active
being
engaged
and
again.
Thank
you
to
the
panelists
and
especially
to
my
colleague,
councillor
Jenny,.
N
Jeremy
had
mentioned
several
times
the
the
gaming
question,
which
is
the
last
time
there
was
a
ward
specific.
The
way
that
legislation
was
written
was
that
any
city
or
town
with
a
population
of
more
than
a
hundred
thousand
people
could
affirmatively
opt
to
have
a
ward
vote
or
a
citywide
vote
depending
on
a
vote
of
the
council.
I
was
the
only
member
serving
at
the
time.
N
I
was
also
the
sole
vote
against
the
ward,
only
vote
for
a
whole
host
of
reasons,
not
the
least
of
which
is
that
this
would
affect
had
the
casino
to
affect
every
neighborhood
and
city
services.
I
had
asked
specifically.
Could
we
have
a
citywide
vote
with
special
weighting
of
members
of
East
Boston
Ward
one,
and
was
told
firmly
that
we
could
not
so
I'm
delighted
and
agree
with
your
interpretation
and
the
legal
departments
interpretation?
It
was
a
different,
a
different.
N
E
E
Conversation
that
we
we
truly
need
to
make
sure
everybody
in
Roxbury
got
to
vote
yeah
and
if
your
precinct
blend
into
another,
that
doesn't
mean
that
you
lose
your
ear
Roxbury
voice.
So
we
we
told
the
coldish
members
that
they
were,
because
that
is
how
voting
works.
You
had
to
allow
that
in
and
eventually
they
understood
that
okay,
some
of
Fenway
some
of
the
south
and
some
of
Dorchester
are
gonna.
Some
1jp
are
gonna
hit
this.
E
We
understand
that
it's
not
a
greater
percentage,
but
as
long
as
the
Roxbury
precincts,
all
of
Roxbury
is
included,
they
felt
comfortable,
and
so
we
agreed
what
those
precincts
were
at
one
like
I
said
how
new
we
were
at
this.
We
were
literally
looking
if
we
can
cut
streets
out
really
like
okay,
so
you
have
precinct
93,
but
this
part
of
it
is
actually
Fenway.
Can
we
cut
it
out?
How
would
we
figure
out
who
that
voted,
where
it
just
got
really
messy
very
quickly?
And
that's
when
I
get
this
is
this?
E
N
So
I'd
love
to
see
those
just
ahead
of
time,
agree
with
you
that
if
anyone,
you
know
the
debates
about
neighborhood
boundaries
and
we're
are
legendary
in
this
town.
So
that's
helpful
and
then
my
file
follow-up
to
commissioner
and
registrar
is
what's
the
deadline.
We
would
need
to
vote
on
this
so
that
you
all
and
your
team
would
be
ready
for
ballots.
Obviously,
this
will
not
be
in
the
preliminary
ballot.
It
will
be
on
the
November
ballot.
So
what's
the
deadline
for
you
guys,
it's
our
action
by
the
council
in
the
mayor.
E
E
A
B
I'm
good
I'm,
good
I
just
want
to
again
thank
everyone
for
their
advocacy
for
their
engagement
for
their
leadership
for
their
organizing.
You
know,
I
was
knocking
on
doors
myself
last
night
and
there
were
residents
who
are
showing
me.
Oh
do
you
know
about
this?
So
that's
great.
Keep
up
the
good
work
again.
I
think
it's
important
that
the
people
decide
and
so
we'll
be
encouraging
my
colleagues
to
vote
to
pass
this
through
the
council
so
that
we
so
that
clearly,
we're
not
gonna
ask
people
to
go
out
and
get
10,000
signatures
or
spend
a.