►
From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on September 10, 2021
Description
Docket #0896 - Communication from Eneida Tavares, Chair, Board of Election, for approval of a citizen petition entitled "An Elected Boston School Committee" for the placement of a local nonbinding public opinion advisory question on the ballot of the next regular municipal election on November 2, 2021
A
This
was
referred
to
the
committee
on
august
18
2021.
In
accordance
with
the
chapter
20
of
the
acts
of
2021,
modifying
certain
requirements
of
the
open
meeting
law
and
relieving
public
bodies
of
certain
requirements.
We
are
hosting
this
hearing
virtually
via
zoom.
This
enables
the
city
council
to
carry
out
its
responsibilities,
about
adhering
to
public
health.
Accommodations
public
may
watch
his
hearing
via
live
stream
at
www.boston.gov
city
dash,
council
dash
tv
and
on
xfinity
8
rcn82,
verizon
964..
A
A
I
believe
we
also
have
as
part
of
our
panelists
lee
knave,
jr
and
lisa
green.
So
I'm
going
to
go
ahead
and,
let's
see
I
have
the
counselor
speak
in
order
of
arrival.
I
believe
we
have
counselor
flynn
is
counselor
arroyo.
Also
here
counselor
mejia
and
then
counselor
braden
did.
I
miss
council
arroyo.
A
C
Thank
you,
council
edwards,
for
sharing
this
important
hearing.
Thank
you
to
city
council,
central
staff
as
well
via
professional
work.
I
know
that
this
is
a
citizen's
petition
for
the
placement
of
a
non-binding
question
on
the
ballot
to
see
what
the
public
opinion
is
for
an
elected
school
committee.
C
It
is,
it
is
the
citizens
right
to
have
a
petition
placed
on
the
ballot,
so
I
would
of
course,
support
that
petition.
The
question
would
also
give
city
leaders
greater
insight
into
what
residents
think
of
the
structure
of
the
boston
school
committee,
which
is
a
critical
decision-making
body
in
our
city.
C
I
support
an
elected
school
committee.
I
think
it
is
critical
that
we
have
a
school
committee
that
are
representatives
of
our
residents.
Community
voices
should
be
heard
at
the
center
of
decision.
Making
in
school
issues
are
critical
areas
where
community
input
should
be
at
the
forefront.
I
think
an
elected
school
committee
would
also
help
residents
and
enable
residents
to
contact
their
school
committee
member
on
a
personal
level
as
an
elected
official
in
developing
that
personal
relationship,
I
think,
is
also
part
of
the
process.
C
B
Obviously,
this
has
been
a
hot
button
issue
for
probably
since
actually
the
creation
of
this
in
1992
and
so
letting
the
city
of
boston
get
a
chance
to
weigh
in
on
how
they
feel
about
this
particular
issue
and
guide.
Essentially,
our
thinking
and
our
voting
in
the
future
on
whether
or
not
we
even
make
any
changes
will
be
dictated
largely
by
what
the
response
is
to
this
this
ballot
initiative.
So
from
my
standpoint,
I
support
the
ballot
initiative,
but
I
also
support
an
elected
school
committee.
B
I
think
it's
something
that
adds
transparency
and
accountability
to
a
body
that
has
often
not
necessarily
demonstrated
those
qualities,
and
so
this
is
something
that
I
think
is
good
for
boston,
because
it
gives
us
a
chance
to
let
boston
essentially
dictate
its
future,
but
also
it's
something
that
I
believe
in
terms
of
what
it
is
bringing
is
good
for
boston.
I
know
that
we
have
recently
faced
some
broadsides
in
terms
of
conversation
on
this.
B
I
think
the
globe
wrote
an
op-ed
on
this,
where
they
came
out
against
an
elected
school
committee
or
called
it
a
squabble,
but
I
don't
see
a
similar
attempt
to
tell
our
neighbors
or
our
neighboring
communities
or
any
of
the
other
cities
in
massachusetts,
that
they
should
give
up
their
elected
school
committee
for
an
appointed
board,
and
so
in
this
moment
in
time
where
boston
is
the
only
community
in
the
states
that
doesn't
have
an
elected
board.
I
think
it's
important
to
give
the
city
a
chance
to
speak
on
that.
B
I've
never
seen
a
piece
in
any
newspaper
that
I
can
think
of
that
has
called
for
somerville
or
cambridge
or
any
other
municipality
to
give
up
their
elected
school
committee,
and
so
I
don't
know
why
we
would
say
that
that
is
a
minor
issue
for
the
city
of
boston
or
something
that
we
should
also
just
easily
hand
over.
And
so
thank
you,
madam
chair,
and
I
look
forward
to
hearing
from
other
folks.
D
Thank
you,
counselor
edwards,
for
sharing
this
hearing.
We
have
been
having
the
same
conversations
in
the
city
for
decades,
and
this
is
the
time
for
us
to
flex
our
political
muscle
and
actually
do
something
about
it.
Returning
to
an
elected
school
committee
has
always
been
the
priority
for
black
and
brown
communities
in
particular,
and
since
having
even
before
boston
switched
to
an
appointed
committee.
Black
and
brown
residents
have
been
fighting
to
hold
our
community.
D
Our
school
committee
members
accountable
at
the
voting
booth
and
what
we
are
seeing
now
with
the
citizens
position
petition
is
a
milestone
in
that
work,
and
I
am
proud
to
have
co-sponsored
a
home
rule
petition
to
return
to
an
elected
school
committee
alongside
councillor
arroyo,
but
the
filing
of
this
petition
is
really
just
the
beginning.
As
elected
officials,
we
have
a
responsibility
to
make
sure
that
the
voices
of
the
people
are
heard.
D
I
remember
years
ago,
working
in
the
education
space
and
and
saw
members
of
the
cpc,
which
is
the
the
boston
parent
student
council,
parent
council,
working
really
hard
on
the
issues
that
they
deeply
care
about
and
always
being
neglected
or
unheard.
So
a
big
shout
out
to
christine
johnson
peshawn
lisa
green
anna,
the
george
and
all
of
those
advocates,
and
parents
who
have
volunteered
countless
hours
in
in
the
quest
for
fighting
for
equity
and
and
literally
justice
for
all
of
our
students.
So
I
think
that
this
is
a
moment
of
restorative
justice.
D
This
is
an
opportunity
for
us
to
give
the
people
back
the
power
and
for
people
to
elect
those
who
are
going
to
best
represent
them
and
their
values
and
their
issues,
and
so
incredibly
grateful
to
to
everyone
who
got
us
this
far
and
looking
forward
to
putting
this
on
the
ballot
and,
more
importantly,
a
favorable
return
to
giving
people
back
the
power.
So
thank
you
so
very
much
and
I
wholeheartedly
support
an
elected
school
board.
If
that's
not
obvious,
thank
you.
E
E
A
Thank
you
I'll
just
end
the
public.
The
council
comments
with
stating
just
a
reminder
to
folks.
This
is
a
non-binding
resolution.
So,
however,
it
comes
down
if
it
were
to
come
down.
The
majority
of
people
in
boston
would
like
an
elected
school
committee
that
is
not
binding
and
does
not
automatically
create
an
elected
school
committee,
and
I
just
want
to
set
expectations
very
clear.
A
Council
royal
has
filed
and
also
any
other
initiative
to
ultimately
bring
back
an
elected
or
hybrid
or
whatever
form
of
school
committee
that
allows
for
the
people
of
austin
to
have
a
voice,
but
this
is
again
non-binding.
So
I
just
want
people
to
understand
that,
so
I'm
going
to
now
turn
it
over
to
sabino,
pamonte
and
and
then
we'll
go
to
lisa
green
and
then
lee
knave.
F
Good
morning,
committee
members,
thank
you
for
holding
the
session
today.
My
name
is
sabino
pimarti,
I'm
the
head
assistant,
registrar
of
voters,
for
the
city
of
boston
election
department.
The
department
provides
fair
and
equitable
elections
in
a
safe
manner.
I
just
want
to
put
a
reminder
out
there
that
the
preliminary
municipal
election
is
this
coming
tuesday
and
september
14th
from
7
a.m,
to
8
p.m.
F
A
Thank
you
and
then
before
we
go
to
the
panelists
again
just
a
reminder.
This
is
not
a
debate
as
to
whether
it
should
or
shouldn't
be
an
elected
school
committee.
The
question
is
formed,
so
if
people
have
comments
or
questions
about
the
actual
question
that
that,
if
approved,
would
be
on
the
ballot,
I
prefer
that
the
questions
and
our
comments
and
conversation
be
dedicated
to
that
again.
A
A
So,
as
I
stated
we'll
go
to
the
two
people,
one
of
the
two,
some
of
the
people
who
actually
helped
to
present
this.
This
is
initiative
set
that
was
started
by
the
people
of
boston.
So
I
want
to
acknowledge
that
this
was
a
process
that
they
10
people
came
together
and
they
filed
the
question
and
ultimately
we're
debating
that
question
right
now
whether
it
goes
in
the
ballot,
but
it
came
directly
from
the
people
of
boston.
G
Hi,
thank
you
councillor,
george
thanks
for
having
me,
oh
and
my
dog
is
going
to
act
up
here,
to
throw
her
a
treat
and
see
if
that
keeps
her
busy
for
two
minutes.
While
I
talk,
but
thanks
for
having
me
here,
my
name
is
lisa
green
and
I'm
here
representing
bostonians
for
an
elected
school
committee.
As
the
counselor
just
said,
we
came
together
to
organize
for
changing
boston's
current
appointed
school
committee
structure.
G
We
believe
it's
critically
important
for
the
voice
of
the
people
of
boston,
to
be
heard
on
this
issue
and
we're
here
to
urge
the
chair
to
recommend
that
the
city
council
vote
to
place
this
question
on
november's
ballot.
At
its
meeting
on
wednesday,
our
committee
was
organized
to
work
on
this
proposed
ballot
question.
We
represent
a
growing
movement
of
individuals
and
organizations
from
across
the
city
community
committed
to
working
together
to
bring
democracy
back
to
the
governance
of
boston
schools.
G
Our
steering
committee
includes
a
diverse
array
of
organizations,
including
black
educators
alliance
of
massachusetts,
boston
coalition
for
education,
equity,
boston,
education,
justice
alliance,
boston
teachers,
union
citizens
for
public
schools.
Oops.
Sorry,
I
list
there:
citizens
for
public
schools,
jamaica,
plain
progressives,
healthy
food
for
boston
schools,
organizing
network
mass
alliance,
massachusetts
asian
american
educators
alliance,
mejente,
naacp,
boston
branch,
progressive
west
roxbury,
roswell
quality
education
for
every
student
showing
up
for
racial
justice.
G
Our
we
really
think
that
gene
mcguire,
the
first
black
woman
elected
to
the
boston
city
council,
said
it
best
when
she
signed
our
petition
for
this
ballot
question
on
electing
boston
school
committee.
Dr
mcguire
said
the
cinequan.
None
of
citizenship
is
the
right
to
vote.
It's
your
voice,
never
give
it
up.
People
died
for
that
right.
A
democratic
government
is
responsible
directly
to
the
voters.
That's
fundamental.
G
When
the
elected
boston
school
committee
was
abolished
in
1991,
gene
mcguire
lost
her
ability
to
represent
her
constituents.
So
did
the
other
committee
members
at
the
time
the
school
committee
was
more
representative
of
the
city
of
boston
than
ever
before.
Boston's
communities
of
color
had
more
seats
than
they
had
at
any
point
up
until
that
point.
G
The
result
for
boston
schools,
then
suddenly
at
the
time.
Excuse
me
sorry,
my
dog.
At
the
time
the
school
committee
was
more
representative
of
the
city
than
ever
before.
Boston's
communities
of
color
were
finally
being
herded
in
the
halls
of
power
that
suddenly
stopped
when
the
elected
school
committee
was
abolished,
the
result
for
boston's
public
schools
has
been
a
long
and
disappointing
record
of
school
decisions
that
often
haven't
been
in
the
best
interest
of
students,
especially
low-income
students
of
color.
G
There
are
351
towns
and
cities
in
the
commonwealth
of
massachusetts
and
only
one
denies
voters
the
right
to
elect
their
own
school
committee.
Public
dissatisfaction
with
the
current
school
committee
structure
is
widespread,
but
it's
anecdotal
unless
we
can
quantify
it
and
fruitless
unless
we
do
something
with
it.
We
believe
now
is
the
time
to
ask
the
voters
of
boston
directly
whether
they
want
to
have
the
same
right
as
the
rest
of
the
residents,
the
commonwealth,
and
once
we
have
their
mandate,
let's
make
sure
we
make
good
use
of
it.
G
The
time
to
make
that
vision,
a
reality
is
now.
We
urge
the
chair
to
refer
this
daca
to
the
city
council
for
a
vote
at
a
september
15th
meeting,
and
we
urge
the
city
council
to
vote
to
place
this
question
on
the
ballot
on
november.
2Nd
thanks
for
your
time
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
here
and
to
both
the
elections,
department
and
the
city
council
for
expediting
this
matter.
I
I
I'd
like
to
start
off
by
first
thanking
the
authors
of
this
extremely
important
resolution
and
also
the
whole
world
petition.
Thank
you
to
counselor
edwards
for
chairing
today's
hearing.
Thank
you
to
the
education
advocates,
a
mix
of
education
policy
professionals
concerned
parents
and
students,
teachers
and
an
array
of
citizens
fighting
to
bring
back
democracy.
I
I
The
concept
of
a
public
education
developed
here
right
now
down
the
street,
has,
for
nearly
30
years,
been
dictated
from
an
undemocratic
process
in
a
state
with
over
350
towns
and
communities.
The
very
mecca
of
the
commonwealth,
the
mecca
of
education
around
the
entire
country
and
some
would
argue
the
world
has
had
its
citizenship
of
the
right
to
determine.
Who
makes
the
key
decisions
for
our
children's
future.
I
I
have
a
16
month
old,
who
will,
one
day
sooner
than
later
be
a
bps
student
when
my
child
goes
to
school
down
the
street
or
across
town.
I'm
hopeful
decision
makers
are
elected
through
a
democratic
process.
This
process
starts
in
november.
If
you,
the
chair,
recommend
this
goes
up
to
vote
before
the
council
this
wednesday.
I
H
Thank
you
so
much
so
I'm
going
to
do
a
round
from
the
counselors
if
they
have
any
questions
again,
focusing
on
the
question
at
hand
to
be
placed
on
the
ballot.
This
is
not.
This
is
not
a
conversation
about
whether
we
do
or
don't
want
an
elected
school
committee.
Well,
it's
important
that
folks
can
voice
that
again.
C
C
C
Would
the
city
of
boston
election
department
notify
residents,
or
you
know
also
elected
officials
such
as
ourselves-
certainly
can
do
it,
but
would
we
formally
notify
voters
that
there
will
be
a
a
ballot
question
that
is
non-binding,
but
there
will
be
a
ballot
question
on
the
ballot
and
give
them
a
little
bit
of
background
about
it.
Give
them
and
also
let
them
do,
do
some
research
on
their
own
before
they
they
get
to
the
ballot
box
in
november.
H
I
think
that
question
is
for
sabino
pamonte.
Will
there
be
an
a
push
on
the
ballot
questions
and
for
everyone's
background
there
will
be
now
three
ballot
questions.
There
will
be
the
binding
ballot
questions
change
our
charter,
that
does
have
a
public
notification
requirement
and
everybody
every
registered
every
residence
with
a
registered
voter
will
get
a
copy
of
it.
H
Then
there's
the
non-binding
questions
that
we
will
be
voting
on
for
east
boston,
substation
concerning
east
boston,
substation,
and
then
we
have
this
non-binding
question
on
the
electrical
committee,
but
to
sabina
pamonte.
Do
you
have
any
thoughts
or
what
are
the
requirements
for
public
notification
about
the
non-binding
questions.
C
Yeah
yeah.
Thank
you,
council,
edwards
that
information
sabino
provided
is
helpful.
So
it's
it's
up
to
you
know
also
it's
up
to
us
as
elected
officials,
but
also
residents
of
the
community,
to
educate
people
about
the
ballot
about
the
question
I
should
say
and-
and
I
guess
my
final
question
is
to
sabino-
and
I
know
this
is
an
issue
I
focus
on
a
lot,
but
in
terms
of
the
ballot
itself,
the
question
on
the
ballot
will
certainly
be
written
in
various
languages,
including
spanish,
including
chinese.
C
Okay,
no,
I
I
understand.
Thank
you
sabino,
just
maybe
down
the
road.
We
should,
as
a
body,
take
a
look
at
whether
we
want
to
include
other
languages.
I
know
we
probably
have
to
get
state
approval
to
do
that,
but
just
something
just
something
to
think
about
as
a
as
another
as
another
challenge
that
we
might
want
to
address
down
the
road
anyway.
Thank
you,
sabino.
Thank
you,
council
edwards.
I
have
no
further
questions.
D
I
I
don't
have
any
questions
just
wanted
to
again
reinforce
our
support
for
this,
and
I
do
agree
and
echo
counselor
flynn's
comments
in
terms
of
the
importance
of
making
sure
that
we're
informing
voters
who
speak
multiple
languages,
you
know
different
languages
other
than
english
and
I
know
through
our
language
access
ordinance.
We
talked
about
information,
justice
and
the
importance
of
making
sure
that
we're
super
mindful
of
those
folks
who
even
have
interrupted
education
and
don't
know
how
to
read
and
write.
D
So
I
just
think
that
the
information
needs
to
like
audio
and
visuals.
I
think
so.
You
know
we
should
consider
in
terms
of
in
the
future
and
if
not,
now
how
we
can
disseminate
this
information
in
ways
that
everyone
can
access
it.
It's
just
something
really
important
for
us
to
keep
top
of
mind,
but
no,
I
don't
have
any
questions.
I
think
the
advocates
did
an
amazing
job
at
drafting
up
a
question
that
would
work
and
no
feedback.
I'm
just
here
to
support.
E
H
H
B
F
F
We
do
have
vote
by
mail
and
we
need
to
prepare
those
ballots
in
a
timely
fashion.
We
have
close
to
50
000
requests
in
iq
waiting
for
november
and
any
delay
in
us.
Getting
this
information
will
delay
us
getting
those
ballots
printed
and
out
to
the
voters
to
vote.
So,
if
you
can
take
that
into
consideration,
greatly
appreciate
it.
C
Yeah,
thank
you.
I'm
sorry,
I'm
sorry
to
take
up
too
much
too
much
of
the
time.
I
just
wanted
to
ask
sabino
and
I
don't.
I
don't
necessarily
need
an
answer
now,
but
I
figured
I
have
them.
I
have
the
opportunity
so
on
it's
unrelated,
but
the
city
council
election
in
the
mayor's
election.
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that
we
are
prepared.