►
Description
Docket 0164 - To discuss property taxes and assistance programs for seniors and long-term residents facing difficulties during COVID-19.
A
A
It
council
buck
okay,
great
excellent.
Well,
in
that
case,
mindful
of
time,
I
think
I'm
gonna
get
us
going.
So
I'm
going
to
call
this
working
session
of
the
boston
city
council's
ways
and
means
committee
to
order
for
the
record.
My
name
is
kenzie
bach,
I'm
the
district,
8
city,
councilor
and
also
the
chair
of
the
council's
ways
and
means
committee.
This
working
session
is
being
recorded,
it's
being
live
streamed
at
boston.gov
city
council
dash
tv
and
also
broadcast
on
xfinity
channel
8,
rcn
channel
82
and
fios
channel
964..
A
A
So
I'm
delighted
that
we're
joined
today
by
commissioner
aranello
from
the
assessing
department,
who
was
also
with
us
and
presented
considerably
at
the
hearing,
emily
shea
who's,
our
commissioner
for
the
age,
strong,
commission,
edna
prus
from
the
mass
senior
action
council
and
then
state
representative,
fluker
oakley
who's,
one
of
our
newest
state
representatives
in
the
boston
delegation
and
had
also
reached
out
and
offered
her
partnership.
Seeing
this
impact
constituents
on
her
side
and
recognizing
the
need
for
state
action
here.
A
So
I'm
grateful
most
of
all
to
counselor
flynn
for
filing
this
and
sort
of
really
pursuing
this
and
recognizing
that
we
need
action
on
this
front.
So
I'm
gonna
go
to
him
first
as
a
lead
sponsor
and
then
I'll
recognize.
My
colleagues
briefly
in
order
of
arrival
just
so
that
folks
have
a
chance
to
make
remarks
on
the
issue,
but
just
reminding
everybody
that
it
is
a
working
session
and
we
want
to
get
to
kind
of
work
on
the
on
the
topic
at
hand
sooner
rather
than
later.
B
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
steve
bark
for
holding
this
working
session
and
to
the
panelists
for
being
here
today.
I
also
want
to
thank
so
many
neighbors
who
contacted
me
regarding
this
critical
issue,
impacting
so
many
time
middle
class
working
families
in
our
city.
I
called
for
a
hearing
on
property
taxes
immediately
after
the
new
year,
dozens
and
dozens
of
constituents
reached
out
about
significant
increases
in
their
property
taxes.
This
year
I
wanted
to
do.
B
I
am
extremely
concerned
that
this
increase
puts
us
at
a
critical
place
for
many
neighbors,
whether
they
remain
in
boston
or
whether
we
were
always
a
big
part
of
the
soul
of
the
city.
In
the
hearing
last
week
we
heard
from
many
seniors
and
neighbors
who
come
from
working
families
and
bought
their
homes
decades
ago.
Well,
before
property
values
skyrocketed
one
neighbor
wrote
to
me
last
year.
She
previously
paid
under
three
thousand
per
quarter
in
a
most
recent
bill
now
is
over.
Is
over
fifty
six
hundred
these
neighbors
are
not
wealthy.
B
B
Two
years
ago,
I
was
proud
to
work
with
my
colleague
council
edwards,
as
the
original
co-sponsors
to
pass
an
ordinance
in
a
city
council
to
allow
low-income
senior
homeowners,
who
will
back
taxes
to
establish
property
tax
agreements
with
the
city
and
have
a
longer
time
paying
paying
the
balance
with
interest
release
interest
relief
as
well.
As
I
said
at
the
previous
hearing
at
this
time.
When
so
many
working
people
are
facing
economic
security,
we,
as
a
city
in
a
body
must
do
all
we
can
just
a
couple
ideas.
B
People
brought
to
my
attention
that
I
tried
to
include
in
my
comments
today.
We
should
look
at
to
pause
any
further
tax
increase
for
the
duration
of
this
pandemic,
because
seniors
are
facing
a
hardship.
Maybe
the
city
could
consider,
potentially
doubling
the
elderly
exemption
from
400
to
800.,
explore
increasing
the
residential
exemption
as
well.
B
Look
at
creating
an
exemption
for
long-time
residents
55
years
and
older
that
have
owned
their
homes
for
over
20
years,
provided
that
they
need
income
in
other
relevant
criteria.
Also,
my
colleague
colleague
in
the
state,
my
friend
and
my
south
boston
legislator,
city
council,
david
beal,
offered
some
great
suggestions
as
well.
Can
the
city
have
a
tax-exempt
caps,
exemptions
and
caps?
What
was
changing?
B
A
C
You
man,
I'm
sure,
obviously
be
brief.
Thank
you
for
hosting
thank
you
for
the
lead
sponsor
for
filing
and
clearly
we
need
to
do
more
here,
obviously,
for
our
fixed
income
seniors
our
lifelong
residents
and
for
those
particularly
that
are
renting
out
at
you
know,
either
participating
in
the
rent,
gouging
or
renting
out
at
below
market
rate.
Something
needs
to
be
done
to
help
bring
some
relief
to
to
their
doorstep
and
we've
been
hearing
it
across
the
city.
C
As
the
latest
round
of
property
tax
increases
went
out,
so
anything
we
can
do
to
stave
that
off,
as
council
flynn
had
alluded
to
maybe
putting
a
pause
on
it
or
finding
ways
to
increase
deductions
into
it.
Maybe
we
need
to
create
some
additional
categories
by
by
way
of
a
home
rule
petition,
so
look
forward
to
participating
in
the
working
session
and
appreciate
everyone's
thoughts
and
opinions
on
it.
D
Thank
you
so
much,
I'm
actually
moving.
So
my
my
camera's
off
right
now,
but
in
terms
of
what's
been
said,
I
don't
think
there's
much
more
for
me
to
say
we
know.
Property
taxes
are
incredibly
important
for
our
residents.
It
actually
is
what
kind
of
drives
this
placement
often
is
the
property
taxes,
and
so
I'm
looking
forward
to
this
conversation
in
terms
of
finding
ways
specifically.
D
E
That
was
on
mute.
Thank
you,
councillor,
bach,
for
holding
this
working
session
so
quickly.
Thank
you
also
to
counselor
flynn
for
your
continued
leadership
on
this
pressing
issue.
I
also
look
forward
to
the
conversation
and
really
figuring
out
what
we
can
do
in
the
short
term
to
help
folks
with
who
have
obviously
immediate
concerns
around
the
bills
they
just
received,
and
then,
of
course,
what
we
can
do
in
the
long
term,
and
thank
you,
of
course,
to
the
commissioner.
E
Oh
chief,
handy
good,
to
see
you,
I
just
expanded
my
screen,
so
thank
you
as
well
for
the
work
you're
doing
to
respond
and
rep
randy,
it's
good
to
see
you.
I
also
want
to
thank
miss
edmer
prus
for
your
leadership,
happy
birthday
again
and
also
I
have
a
constituent,
iris,
who's,
an
attendee,
but
who
wanted
to
be
a
part
of
the
working
group
if
we
were
in
person,
she'd
be
in
the
room
so
just
wanted
to
flag
that
her
hand
is
up-
and
I
know
I
flagged
it
for
councillor
flint.
Thank
you
all.
A
F
Thanks
for
the
opportunity
to
talk
some
more
about
what
options
are
before
the
city
in
terms
of
property,
tax
relief
for
our
seniors-
and
I
know
you
talked
in
great
detail
with
commissioner
aronello
about
the
what
has
occurred
for
the
city
in
this
tax
year
and
happy
to
talk
some
more
about
that
today.
If
that's
helpful,
so
just
want
to
offer
up
that.
F
G
H
What
things
will
work
with
things
won't
work
always
always
happy
to
be
a
willing
participant
in
these
conversations
and
kind
of
plan
for
the
future.
I
think
that
the
key
thing
to
keep
in
mind
in
all
this
is
that
none
of
these
options
are
without
costs
right
and
so
anytime.
We're
looking
to
provide
belief
to
someone.
There
is
another
person,
that's
paying
for
that
relief,
and
so
it's
important
that
we
always
keep
that
in
mind.
H
H
Every
other
community
around
us
is
higher
by
a
pretty
fair
margin
but
happy
to
get
more
into
that
data.
If
there's
any
interest
there
happy
to
talk
about
whatever
you
guys
feel
like,
I
also
have
some
answers
to
some
follow-up
questions
from
the
counselors
in
the
last
hearing,
but
I
don't
have
to
kind
of
get
into
all
that
now,
but
I'm
happy
too
whenever
it
makes
sense.
A
Great
perfect
and
we'll
definitely
yeah
any
of
that
that
you
have
also
be
great
if
you'd
send
over
and
we'll
make
sure
it
circulates
to
the
whole
committee.
I
want
to
just
finish
out
the
administration
panel
by
letting
commissioner
shea
offer
any
opening
remarks,
and
then
I
do
want
to
go
to
the
to
representative
fluke,
oakley
who's
joined
us
and
also
to
edna
who's
joined
us
on
behalf
of
mount
senior
action
and
then
we'll
jump
into
kind
of
the
meet
of
discussion.
So,
commissioner,
shay.
I
Great
thing
thanks
so
much
for
the
opportunity
to
be
here
today,
so
just
a
a
real,
quick
overview
of
what
my
office
does
is
kind
of
related
to
property
taxes.
So
we
operate
the
city's
property
tax
work
off
program,
which
is
the
program
where
our
older
residents
can
work
off
up
to
fifteen
hundred
dollars
of
their
property
taxes.
I
I
also
my
team
done
at
the
age.
Strong
commission
is
trained
to
help
people
with
the
applications
with
the
exemption
applications,
and
you
know
I.
I
know
that
we're
talking
today
about
what
more
we
can
do
around
property
taxes,
and
I
think
that's
so
important,
but
I
also
want
to
let
people
know
that
people
there
are.
We
have
very
low
uptake
on
people
that
are
actually
accessing
the
current
programs
that
we
have,
and
so
I
would
ask
for
all
of
your
help
in
working
to
promote
those
programs.
I
We
work
really
closely
with
assessing
around
that
and
just
a
couple
of
examples.
This
year
we
just
sent
a
a
calendar
out
to
an
age
strong
calendar
out
to
about
000
older
adults
across
the
city
to
their
homes,
and
we
put,
we
promoted
all
different
sorts
of
programs
that
people
can
access
that
can
help,
help
them
and
help
to
reduce
costs,
and
so
we
promoted
these
programs
in
that
calendar.
I
We
also
work
this
year
to
promote
the
programs
in
all
of
the
local
papers,
since
we're
unable
to
kind
of
get
out
and
be
with
people
in
person.
We
put
ads
in
all
of
the
local
papers,
about
the
programs
and
in
a
bunch
of
the
ethnic
newspapers
like
el
planeta,
el
mundo,
sam
pam
and
the
boston
haitian
reporter,
and,
and
then
this
that
was
in
november,
so
that
they
could
kind
of.
You
know
it's
good
to
get
it
in
before
before
the
before
january.
I
One,
although
folks
can
continue
to
apply,
and
then
in
february
we
did
the
same
thing
really:
promoting
the
state's
senior
circuit
breaker
tax
credit,
which
is
another
significantly
underutilized
benefit
for
older
adults.
So
just
ask
for
all
of
your
help
in
helping
to
get
the
word
out
about
all
the
programs
that
we
do
have
and
also
looking
at
what
else
we
can
do
for
our
older
residents.
Thank
you.
A
Great,
thank
you
so
much,
commissioner,
shea
and
yeah.
We
really
appreciate
all
that.
You
do
and
I
agree
I
think
when
we've
been
talking
about
this,
it's
been.
It's
been
definitely
with
the
two-pronged
like.
How
do
we
get
more
people
to
use
the
existing
programs,
but
also
recognizing
that
a
lot
of
the
folks
we've
heard
from
are
not
eligible
for
the
existing
programs,
and
so
we
wanna
find
find
ways
to
help
them.
A
I
think
actually,
I'm
gonna
go
if
it's
all
right
to
miss
edna,
pruse
next
and
then
and
then
I
will
go
to
the
representative,
because
the
representatives
brought
some
ideas
to
the
table
and
I
want
to
kind
of
get
those
in
the
mix
with
the
ones
from
counselor
flynn
and
and
kind
of
get
us
to
that
work.
So
I
think
it'll
be
more
efficient
if
we
go
first
to
edna
so
and
now
you
have
the
floor.
Thank.
J
You
so
very
much
good
afternoon
to
all
of
the
counselors
and
to
you,
chairperson
box,
for
for
this
working
committee.
My
name
is
edna
prus
and
I
am
the
president
of
the
massachusetts
senior
action
council.
We
are
a
statewide
organization
led
by
seniors.
We
have
six
chapters
across
the
state
with
boston
being
our
largest
chapter.
J
We
work
collectively
to
improve
the
lives
of
seniors
and
our
communities
across
the
commonwealth.
Can
you
hear
me
can
there's
a
blue
thing
on
my
screen?
So
that's
why
I
am
a
matapan
home
owner
and
today
I
am
serving
as
the
surrogate
to
the
thousands
of
boston
seniors
who
struggle
with
the
rising
cost
of
housing.
J
A
J
I
have
to
go
out
and
come
in
again.
I
believe.
Can
you
hear
me?
I
don't
know
we
can
hear
you
great.
It's
not.
You
can't
see
anybody
and
I
don't
know
what
I
did,
but
I
will
finish
my
points
when
you're
say
that
I
can
and
then
I'll
go
out
and
come
back
in
so
that
I
can
see
everybody
because,
as
you
know,
we
are
technologically
challenged
at
our
age.
A
Well,
I
think
I
think
today
it
sounds
like
the
city
of
boston
is
also
technologically
challenged,
because
the
the
stream
on
the
youtube
has
just
gone
out,
and
I'm
I'm
gonna
ask
for
everyone's
forbearance
for
just
a
couple
of
minutes,
because
I
think
that
from
the
pub
from
the
public
perspective
of
these
hearings,
if
people
can't
hear
what
we're
saying
it
doesn't
really
count.
So
so
just
give
me
a
minute
to
try
to
figure
out
how
we're
fixing
this.
I
think
this
is
a
new
problem,
so
I
guess
I'll
formally
say
this.
K
A
J
J
A
A
Counselor
braden
welcome
we're
just
standing
in
recess
for
a
couple
minutes.
There's
an
issue
with
the
live
stream
sound
on
the
youtube
side.
I
want
to
reassure
everybody
who's
participating
that
the
zoom
is
recording
just
fine
with
all
the
sound,
so
the
public
will
ultimately
be
able
to
watch
everything
and
hear
everything
that
people
have
said
so
far
in
this
point
at
the
hearing,
so
that
has
that
has
been
recorded
and
is
safe.
L
L
A
A
A
A
These
are
the
things
they
don't
tell
you
about.
When
you
sign
up
for
city
council,
all
right
sounds
like
it
is
going
through
we're
all
set
okay,
so
I'm
going
so
and
for
folks
watching
if
anyone
hears
of
somebody
who
still
isn't
getting
the
sound
they
may
just
want
to
refresh
their
stream
sounds
like
that
could
be,
could
be
an
issue
for
people
yeah.
B
B
J
The
first
one
is
that
massachusetts
seniors
have
the
highest
rate
of
income
insecurity
in
the
country.
Six
in
ten
massachusetts
seniors
do
not
have
the
income
to
make
ends
meet
and
massachusetts
ranks
50th.
At
this
time
we
went
below
mississippi
last
year
because
of
the
high
cost
of
living
in
massachusetts.
J
J
J
Unrequired
development
burdens
burdens,
long-time
homeowners
by
inflating
home
assessments
next
door.
To
me,
a
man
young
man
just
rehabbed
this
house,
at
the
tune
of
at
least
I'm
sure
three
hundred
thousand
dollars.
That's
raising
probably
the
cost
of
his
life's
house
triple
what
my
cup
house
would
be
today.
J
J
J
These
are
concerns
that
I'm
bringing
to
you
as
part
of
the
population
that
is
going
to
be
affected
and
is
being
affected
by
the
estate
taxes,
and
this
year
mine
went
up
another
400
and,
as
I
said,
I'm
88
reversed,
so
I'm
living
on
a
don't
go
to
your
cell
phones,
I'm
living
on
a
fixed
income,
so
I
speak
for
citizens
throughout
the
city.
Thank
you.
A
A
So,
I
feel
like
what
we're
engaged
in
today
is
in
a
is
in
a
long-running
tradition
and
something
that
we
we
can
be.
You
know
hopeful
and
purposeful
about
moving
forward,
so
representative
fluke,
oakley,
we're
so
glad
it's
always
great
to
have.
Somebody
join
us
from
the
state
level,
especially
on
something
like
this.
That
requires
collaboration.
So
the
floor
is
yours.
M
Thank
you
so
much
chairwoman,
bach
good
to
see
you
councillor
flynn,
other
honorable
members
of
the
city
council
to
the
commissioners
and
miss
edna.
You
know
it's
always
a
pleasure
to
see
you
happy
birthday.
I
hope
you're
enjoying
your
special
week.
I
did
send
a
written
testimony
out
to
the
ways
and
means
committee,
so
folks
should
have
access
to
that
I'll.
Just
talk
through
some
high
points
and
then
happy
to
engage
in
whatever
conversation
might
be
helpful.
M
Do
want
to
reiterate
what
chair
woman
box
said,
and
that
is
that
I
want
to
be
a
partner
and
knowing
that
this
impacts,
so
many
of
our
residents,
councilor
mejia,
so
wonderful
to
see
you
as
well
on
this
afternoon.
Basically,
I
am
state
rep
of
the
12th
suffolk,
I
in
the
city
of
boston.
I
represent
parts
of
hyde
park,
matapan
and
dorchester,
and
we
already
know
what
the
problem
is
here
in
the
city
of
boston.
It's
a
high
cost
of
living
and
expensive
housing
and
as
development
and
construction
occur.
M
Gentrification
and
displacement
often
follow
right
now.
Our
current
property
taxes
follow
a
regressive
model,
which
means
that
we
end
up
squeezing
and
penalizing
those
long
time,
neighboring
homeowners
like
miss,
edna
and
other
seniors
across
the
city,
community
members
who
may
not
be
seniors
just
yet,
but
have
owned
their
home
for
10,
20
or
our
senior
years
seniors,
30
or
more
years,
don't
necessarily
have
a
way
to
offset
the
cost
of
their
property
rising
and
our
seniors
are
on
a
fixed
income.
M
M
I
do
suggest
reaching
out
to
the
state
to
see
if
it
might
be
able
to
provide
an
additional
subsidy
for
folks
who
have
owned
their
homes
for
30
years
25
years
15
years
we
can
find
a
number
that
makes
sense,
but
what
we're
trying
to
do
is
as
new
developments
crop
up,
we
don't
want
to
push
out
and
displace
those
who
have
already
contributed
to
that
community.
For
such
a
long
time
related
to
developers
and
luxury
condos
and
home
ownership.
M
They
should
be
able
to
pay
their
fair
share,
so
we
know
that
when
new
developments
are
built
across
the
city,
what
ends
up
happening
is
that
they
raise
the
tax
base
for
the
entire
surrounding
properties.
So
what
would
it
look
like
if
the
city
of
boston
separated
out
the
tax
bracket
were
those
existing
structures?
So,
like
miss
edna's
home,
that's
been
sitting
there
for
50
plus
years?
Has
its
own
tax
base
versus
a
new
development
that
was
just
created
in
the
last
two
years?
M
M
We
want
to
be
able
to
provide
full
relief
to
someone
who
yes
has
their
personal
exemption,
but
might
also
identify
as
both
disabled
and
elderly.
How
can
we
find
a
way
to
compound
those
and
provide
that
support?
I
am
not
naive
that
all
of
these
things
cost
money
in
order
to
make
them
happen,
and
I
understand
how
our
tax
base
does
provide
the
important
services
that
we
need
for
our
community
members
and
similarly
to
what
ms
edna
has
already
suggested.
A
K
K
Let
me
stop.
Let
me
see
where
I'm
at,
because
I'm
going
off
script
right
now,
folker
oakley,
so
this
was
not
part
of
my
script,
but
I'm
just
I
just
want
to
shout
you
out
and
just
thank
you
for
bringing
your
voice
into
the
space
too.
Let
me
go
back
to
my
script
before
my
team,
like
what
you're
trying
to
do
here,
so
our
office
has
had
the
opportunity
to
sit
and
in
and
listen
to,
the
cpna
meeting
discussing
these
property
taxes,
and
we
also
took
part
in
the
hearing
that
followed.
K
What
we're
looking
to
get
out
of
this
conversation
is
some
concrete
action
items
that
we
can
take
on
as
a
body
to
ensure
that
the
people
who
live
in
their
homes
are
able
to
stay
in
their
homes
and
so
really
looking
forward
to
hearing
what
that's
going
to
look
like
and
and
and
the
conversations
that
follow.
So
thank
you
so
very
much.
L
L
We
have
so
many
elders
seniors
in
our
district,
who
are
really
struggling
with
the
increased
cost
of
our
real
estate
taxes,
and
I
hope
we
can
come
up
with
some
actionable
items
that
will
help
relieve
that
financial
stress
and
and
help
stabilize
the
situation
so
that
those
folks
can
continue
to
live
in
our
city
and
be
continue
to
contribute
to
our
wonderful
city
into
in
their
retirement.
So
thank
you.
Thank
you
all
for
your
testimony
and
and
thank
you,
miss
edna
for
and
happy
birthday.
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you
great.
Thank
you
so
much
so
I
guess
I
I
wanna
I've
heard
a
few
different
things
from
counselor
flynn
and
from
representative
oakley
and
I
think
they're,
in
line
with
the
things
that
people
are
kind
of
expressing
general
interest
in
and
with
a
bunch
of
the
points
that
edna
raised
and
so,
and
so
I
sort
of
want
to
understand.
This
is
sort
of
a
question
for
you.
A
I
think
nick,
like
in
terms
of
data,
because
I
think
you
know
we
would
want,
as
a
council,
to
draft
something
to
be
a
home
rule
petition
and
then
to
know
to
chief
handy's
point
sort
of
what
the
net
impact
is.
So
we
know
kind
of
how
many
people
would
this
actually
help.
So
I
guess
what
I'm
curious
about
is.
If
you
could
tell
us
a
bit
about
like,
I
think,
both
counselor
flynn
and
counselor
and
representative
fluke
oakley
mentioned
the
idea
of
something
for
long-time
homeowners
do.
A
H
H
It
might
be
that
that's
something
that
age
strong
has
maybe
not
tied
with
ownership,
but
maybe
just
type
the
city
overall
and
and
maybe
we
could
try
and
figure
out
a
way
to
kind
of
use
that
to
to
cross-reference
or
use
census
data
or
something,
but
in
general
we
don't
keep
track
of
that
data,
and
you,
you
probably
don't
want
us
to
keep
track
of
that
data
honestly.
So,
especially
when
we're
talking
about
seniors,
you
know
we.
H
Like
I,
I
don't
think
that
that
is
a
super
useful
list
to
have
be
available
to
anyone
publicly
and,
and
so
our
focus
is
really
on
property
attributes
and
not
necessarily
who
lives
in
the
property
and
to
be
quite
honest,
like
your
age
and
your
amount
of
income,
that
you
have
the
amount
that
you
have
in
your
savings
account
really
doesn't
tie
to
what
the
value
of
your
home
is.
But
it's
it's
interesting
to
try
and
figure
out.
H
Our
our
current
taxation
scheme,
based
with
using
classification
and
using
the
residential
exemption
as
examples,
are
set
up
to
be
very
progressive
so
that
the
lower
the
worth
of
your
home
you're,
paying
a
significantly
smaller
tax
rate
once
you
qualify
for
the
exemptions
than
for
for
a
higher
valued
home
or
an
apartment,
building
or
a
large
commercial
building,
and
then,
when
you
take
into
account
the
application
criteria
for
the
various
exemption
programs
that
we
offer.
Those
are
also
limited
intentionally
to
people
with
lesser
means
and
lesser
savings,
to
kind
of
address.
H
H
So
if
the
numbers
are
dropping,
it's
either
that
people
are
kind
of
graduating
out
of
the
program,
and
so
they
no
longer
meet
the
requirements
or
they're
just
not
around
anymore.
But
it's
it's
very
strange
and
it
might
also
be
a
be
an
outreach
conversation
figuring
out
how
to
get
more
information
out
there.
It
could
be.
H
I
think
it's
also
probably
important
to
mention
that
it'd
be
great
if
everyone
could
be
a
be
a
homeowner
and
and
have
the
ability
to
access
home
ownership,
but
there's
a
large
part
of
our
population
that
does
not
have
that
that
means
or
that
ability,
and
so
we're
talking
about
relief.
We
are
already
kind
of
talking
about
relief
for
a
group
of
people
that
is,
is
lucky
enough
to
be
homeowners
and
so
we're
thinking
about
the
city's
residents
and
who
we're
helping
that.
A
A
It
would
just
be
good
to
sort
of
have
an
like
think
about
whether
in
our
the
rest
of
our
data
world,
there's
a
way
to
estimate
like
what
number
of
homeowners
are
in
that
category,
because
I
think
if
someone
were
actually
applying
for
a
exemption,
they
could
raise
their
hand
and
be
like.
I
am
someone
you
know
who
has
lived
in
this
house
for
a
long
time
and
I
want
the
exemption
and
it's
not
like.
A
We
have
to
have
a
complete
list
of
those
people
in
order
for
people
to
raise
their
hand,
but
I
do
think
obviously
for
understanding
the
impact
you'd
want
to
know
that.
So
I
guess
just
two
questions
from
me
and
then
I
want
to
go
to
colleagues.
So
one
is
just
to
commissioner
shea
and
just
a
follow-up
on
what
the
what
commissioner
arnella
just
said.
A
Do
you
get
any
sense
anecdotally
whether
like?
Are
there
a
lot
of
people
who
reach
out
to
age
strong,
who
think
maybe
they
qualify
for
some
of
these
exemptions
and
then
find
out
that
they
don't
because
the
income
limits
are
too
low?
Like
is?
Does
that
seem
because
I
mean
instinctively,
it
seems
to
me
just
because
of
cost
of
living
increases
and
everything
that
like
it
would
make
sense
that
if
we've
left
those
at
a
fixed
number
in
state
law,
that
you
know
that
fewer
and
fewer
people
are
going
to
qualify
for
them.
I
A
I
think
the
representative
raised
the
idea
of.
Could
we
and
granted
write
that
all
these
things
require
state
action
so,
like
you
know
so
the
representative
raised
the
idea
of
like
some
kind
of
differential
rate
for
new
housing
stock
or
like
new
construction,
raising
the
income
limits
which
we
were
just
talking
about
and
then
the
idea
of
people
being
able
to
double
up
on
multiple
exemptions.
A
So
that's,
I
think,
seven
things
that
I
just
listed.
So
it's
a
lot,
I'm
just
wondering
if
there's
any
like,
you
know
flags
or
comments
that
you
wanted
to
get
into
the
conversation
on
any
of
those
right
up
top.
I
know
because
I
know
in
particular,
chief
handy's
got
is
short
on
time
and
then
I'm
gonna
go
to
colleagues
for
like
more
specific
follow-ups.
So
just
anything
that
comes
to
mind.
F
F
But
to
me
those
seem
like
the
way
to
target
the
types
of
population
that
we
are
here
today
to
talk
about.
I
think,
when
you
think
sort
of
more
broadly
about
pausing
increases
or
creating
new
classifications
that
has
a
broader
impact
on
the
overall
property
tax
structure
for
the
city
of
boston.
That
would
be
very
complicated.
I
think
for
us
to
understand
all
of
the
impacts
related
to
it,
and
also,
I
suspect,
would
benefit
many
types
of
either
individuals
or
businesses
that
we
are
not
talking
about.
F
You
know
trying
to
assist
over
the
course
of
this
conversation
today.
So
you
know,
I
think,
and-
and
I
will
also
say
right-
the
sort
of
the
construct
of
classification
and
what
that
looks
like
is
obviously
something
that
every
city
in
town
uses
it's
consistent
across
massachusetts.
Obviously
there
are
these
sort
of
opt-in
provisions
for
new
exemptions,
and
things
like
that.
F
And
you
know
all
of
that
process
and
value
setting
is
really
set
forth
in
terms
of
not
only
how
the
state
requires
that
we
do
it,
but
also
sort
of-
and
it
could
probably
speak
to
this
much
better
than
I
can
sort
of
a
general
theory
of
how
to
do
that.
In
a
way
that
is
fair
and
equitable
and
make
sure
that
assessors,
in
particular,
are
not
biased
by
things
that
they
see
and
interact
with
every
day
in
terms
of
setting
those
values.
F
F
A
F
F
Rather
than
you
know,
the
the
work
of
assessing
is
from
narrowly
targeted
at
the
they
are
literally
setting
the
values
for
each
individual,
home
and
and
the
bill
is
actually
another
department's
responsibility.
That
is
a
function
of
sort
of
the
levy
over
the
value,
and
so
the
the
series
of
facts
and
information
that
you
would
need
to
have
to
cater
a
program
like
that
and
have
the
impact
that
you're
intending
just
doesn't
fit
nicely
within
the
sort
of
singular
focus
of
setting
the
value
of
a
property.
H
No,
I
I
think
I
think
I
mean
you
probably
don't
do
yourself
service,
you
speak
to
these
things
a
lot
more
eloquently
than
I
think
I
do
sometimes.
So
I
think
those
are.
Those
are
excellent
explanations.
I
I
think
you
know
it's
a
lot
of
talk
about
equity
and
and
currently
the
way
that
our
tax
statutes
are
set
up.
They,
they
really
are
kind
of
meant
to
drive
this
like
across
the
board.
H
And
then
it's
driven
by
the
data
that
goes
into
our
model
and
that's
an
accuracy
thing
and
we're
we
are
always
working
to
make
that
data
better,
and
I
anyone
that
ever
has
an
issue
with
the
value
of
their
property
or
their
data.
I
would
much
rather
they
reach
out
to
the
department
and
so
that
we
can
have
that
be
right.
I
don't
care
how
many
phone
calls
we
get.
I
don't
care
how
many
abatement
applications
we
get.
H
One
thing
that
I
wanted
to
mention,
because
I
know
we're
talking
about
increasing
exemption
amounts
so
for
fiscal
year,
21,
the
41c
exemptions,
one
of
our
elderly
exemptions,
the
administration
and
the
city
council
actually
did
vote
to
increase
that.
So
that
was
capped
at
750
and
we
increased
it
to
a
thousand.
H
It's
a
math
that
kind
of
goes
into
that,
but
we
we
have
kind
of
been
working
to
make
those
programs
stronger
and
definitely
happy
to
keep
having
conversations
and
figure
out
kind
of
what
else
we
can
do
to
make
them
better
programs-
and
I
think,
right
now,
probably
the
fastest
easiest
thing
to
do
is
is
to
kind
of
look
at
the
income
limits.
I
think
that's
a
really
good
approach
and
see
if
those
have
gotten
too
far
out
of
line
with.
What's
realistic,.
B
Thank
you,
council
book
and
thank
you,
commissioner,
aaron
ello
and
chief
handy
and
representative
oakley
and
representative
beal
as
well.
Edna
happy
birthday,
it's
good
to
see,
commissioner
shea.
I
guess
my
I
get.
I
guess
my
point
is
I
wanted
to
make
from
feedback
from
a
lot
of
my
constituents.
Is
we
see
these
developments
taking
place
ongoing
developments
in
our
city
on
residential
blocks,
and
it
certainly
helps
the
economy
of
boston.
B
So
that's
the
equity
that
we're
trying
to
figure
out
and
during
these
difficult
years
in
the
50s
and
60s
and
70s,
these
elderly
people
were
working
so
hard
in
the
different
boston
that
was
barely
surviving,
but
they
helped
build
this
city
to
what
it
is
now.
So
we
want
to
make
sure
that
there's
a
place
for
our
seniors,
I'm
all
about
getting
something
done,
I'm
all
about
making
making
improvements.
B
However,
we
make
it
whether
it's,
whether
it's
a
whole
rule,
so
I
guess
my
point
or
question
to
neck
or
to
chief
is:
how
can
we
accomplish
something
that
helps
the
homeowners
of
the
city?
What's
the
best
way
to
do
it?
What's
the
best
recommendations,
we
have
great
recommendations
here.
We
have
great
suggestions,
but
the
final
analysis
is:
how
do
we
make
something
happen
effectively
efficiently?
F
Boston,
thank
you
counselor
flynn,
for
your
question,
so
I
I
think,
certainly
you
know
I
guess
to
echo
what
what
nick
just
said,
thinking
about
sort
of
what
the
the
structure
is
of
the
current
exemptions.
I
know
this
is
something
that
kishore
shea
has
been
working
on
for
a
long
time,
thinking
about
what
other
opportunities
exist
and
where
have
other
communities
done
more,
that
we
could
sort
of
look
at
and
figure
out
whether
we
can
pattern
after
them.
F
F
I
do
think
you
know
just
sort
of
go
back
to
that
that
prior
conversation,
things
that
fundamentally
alter
the
way
that
the
sort
of
overall
structure
of
property
taxes
works
in
massachusetts
again
are
probably
more
likely
to
to
receive
an
unfavorable
welcome
up
at
the
state
house
than
things
that
deal
within
the
sort
of
the
paths
that
we've
created
either
here
in
boston
or
in
other
municipalities.
Around
exemptions
and
things
like
that
that
folks
are
familiar
with,
so
I
think
the
question
is
around.
F
You
know,
as
we
sort
of
alluded
to
the
work
that
assassins
do
is
have
is
heavily
regulated
by
the
state
in
terms
of
sort
of
how
they
set
values
and
what
that
looks
like
and
it's
approved
by
the
state.
So
a
lot
of
what
residents
experience
this
year
in
this
year's
tax
bill
is
the
function
of
us
doing
this.
F
Because
again
that
is
governed
by
this
this
you
know
relatively
modest
increase
of
the
two
and
a
half
percent
sort
of
bandwidth,
so
it
I
think
what
would
be
helpful
to
you
know,
hear
more
about
over
the
course
of
this
conversation
is
just
what
are
we?
What
is
the
the
most
important
piece
to
target?
What
and
you
know
if,
if
we
are
able
to
target
an
exemption
either
an
existing
exemption
or
look
at
other
communities
for
things
that
we
are
not
yet
doing?
F
B
A
Great,
thank
you.
Counselor
flynn,
as
the
lead
sponsor
I'll,
definitely
come
back
to
you
at
the
end.
If
we
have
an
opportunity
all
right,
let
me
go
now
to
counselor
campbell
and
then
it'll
be
councillor
mejia
councillor
braden
and
we've
also
been
joined
by
counselor
michelle
wu
at
large
councillor
campbell.
E
But
you
know
there
are
some
ideas
on
the
table
right
now
with
rep
randy,
fluker
oakley,
obviously
who's
here,
presenting
some
ideas
of
things
she's
trying
to
push
at
the
state
house
through
a
home
petition
that
maybe
we
support
right.
That's
already
filed
up
there
versus
even
coming
through
the
council,
or
I
don't
know,
but
I
just
she's,
clearly
pushing
some
ideas
that
maybe
are
more
long-term
on
the
state
house
side.
As
wanting
to
be
a
partner
with
us
on
these
issues.
E
So
I
guess
the
question
for
the
administration-
and
maybe
this
is
for
you,
commissioner,
as
well
as
you
chief,
is
in
the
short
term
in
maybe
the
response
is
there's
nothing
we
can
do.
I
just
I
hope,
that's
just
not
true,
but
like
what
can
we
do
right
now
to
help
our
constituents
who
continue
to
call
and
email
us
with
respect
to
their
bills
right
and
then
what
are
some
of
the
long-term
solutions?
E
And
I
think
one
you
know
obviously
counselor
bach
lifted
up,
one
that
came
up
in
the
hearing
before
around
you
know:
landlords
who
are
providing
tenants
with
you
know
really
affordable
places
to
rent,
including
the
folks
who
are
very
much
on
the
zoo
who
live
in
my
district,
and
so
how
do
we
support
them?
Other
you
know
other
things
long
term.
But
what
can
we
do
right
now
because
it's
really
hard
to
respond
to
some
constituents
with
it's
just
hard
to
say,
there's
nothing
I
can
do
so.
F
F
That's
why
you
know
both
because
property
taxes
don't
get
at
all
of
those
details,
but
also
because
we
would
have
to
go
to
the
state
for
approval
to
do
something
like
that
sort
of
move,
taking
it
from
the
revenue
side
of
the
ledger
to
the
spending
side
and
saying:
is
there
a
program
we
should
stand
up
to
do?
That
is
probably
the
speediest
way
to
get
at
that,
and
that
is
you
know.
This
is
the
first
time
I'm
having
this
conversation
with
you
all.
So
that's
not
something
that
you
know.
F
I
thought
about
sort
of
what
are
the
details?
We
would
need
to
do
to
turn
that
into
a
program,
but
I
think
because
of
the
calendar
of
property
taxes,
because
of
the
need
to
have
state
approval
of
these
things,
because
we've
already
sort
of
maxed
all
of
the
things
and
I'll
confirm
that.
But
my
belief
is:
we've
maxed
all
the
things
that
the
state
has
allowed
us
to
do.
I
They
looked
at
all
of
our
exemption
programs
and
where
we
were
based
on
kind
of
what
the
current
state
law
allowed
us
to
do,
and
then
some
opportunities
that
would
require
change
changes,
changes
in
state
law,
with
with
a
couple
of
things
that
assessing
work
to
do
this
year
in
in
collaboration
with
you
all,
we
have
now
maxed
out
all
of
our
programs,
so
the
chief
is
right.
There's
you
know
beyond
taking
the
regular
cola
increases
that
were
that
were
allowed
to
do
there.
I
There
is
nothing
more
that
we
can
do
kind
of
with
our
with
the
exemption
amounts
that
wouldn't
require
a
homework
petition,
a
change
in
state
law.
So
so
that's
where
we
are
right
now
so,
but
but
I
think
that
doesn't
mean
that
we
can't
look
to
see
what
we
can
do
or
what
we
want
to
put
forward
to
the
state.
I
know
that
people
are
having
these
conversations
across
the
state.
Obviously,
mass
senior
action
council
is
a
statewide
organization.
I
J
But
if
you
come
up
with
a
couple
of
policies
that
you
would
like
to
change,
then
you
know
my
senior
action
would
go
into
its
mode
where
we
visit
every
legislator,
with
with
the
facts
and
the
concerns
of
the
council,
to
try
to
bring
change
about
something
specifically
and
we've
been
able
to
do
that
with
the
medicare
savings
program.
That's
our
modus
operandi
across
the
state.
J
F
Can
I
just
add
to
what
ms
bruce
just
said
just
because
I
want
to
make
sure
that
on
the
income
piece
to
answer,
counselor
campbell's
question
I'll,
say
what
can
we
do
right
now?
We
have
recently
done
this
collective
group,
council
and
and
the
mayor
what
we
can
do
on
an
annual
basis
right,
which
is
to
to
raise
it
based
on
cost
of
living.
J
E
Well,
that
was,
I
mean,
I
see,
commissioner
I'll,
let
you
respond.
That
was
my
only
question
was
just
folks
who
are
tuning
in,
of
course,
we
want
to
be
able
to
report
back
to
them
short-term
things.
We
can
do
to
offer
them
immediate
relief
and
then
more
long-term
solutions.
So
I'm
happy
to
support
homeroom
petitions
or
other
policies,
of
course,
but
it
sounds
like
even
some
of
the
long-term,
the
long-term
ideas
we
could
actually
maybe
actualize
or
implement
sooner,
maybe
in
a
short-term
way,
through
an
initiative
versus
a
change
in
tax
structure
right.
E
So
even
even
that
speeds
up
the
timeline
on
some
of
these
ideas,
which
is
great,
but
I
still
think
you
know
that's
what
constituents
are
waiting
for
the
short
term
and
the
long
term
and
us
being
able
to
report
back.
So
thank
you
all
for
your
response
to
that
that
question
and
commissioner
I'll,
let
you
finish
and
thank
you
councillor
bach
thanks.
H
Thank
you,
commissioner
campbell.
I
I
just
wanted
to
kind
of
get
to
your
point
about
short
term
versus
long
term,
so
what
your
constituents
can
do
right
now
is,
you
know,
go
on
our
website
or
reach
out
to
our
tax
bill,
referral
assistance
center
and
see
if
they
qualify
for
a
program
that
they're
not
already
getting
right.
H
So
the
deadline
for
residential
exemptions,
the
deadline
for
the
personal
exemptions
that
we're
talking
about
that's
april
1st
we
haven't,
we
haven't
hit
that
deadline,
yet
so
there's
still
time
for
people
to
get
applications
from
us
fill
them
out,
get
them
into
us,
and
then
we
can
make
sure
that
everyone's
getting
getting
all
the
programs
that
they
qualify
for
and
and
taking
advantage
of
those
programs.
So
there's
we
still
have
time
for
that
to
happen.
So
if
people
are
calling
you
and
they're
like
hey,
you
know
when
I
do.
H
I
can't
afford
this
bill.
I
would
I
would
direct
them
to
us
to
see
if
there's
a
program
that
they
might
qualify
for,
that
they
just
might
not
have
known
about
that.
Could
that
could
be
a
big
help?
You
know
and,
for
example,
one
of
those
programs,
so
there
are
two
big
things
that
we
did
last
year.
One
of
them
was
increasing.
The
41c
base
exemption
amount
from
seven
fifty
dollars
to
a
thousand
dollars.
So
that's
an
exemption
program
for
seniors.
H
H
That
being
said,
one
percent
is
an
interest
rate
that
individuals
cannot
get
anywhere
else.
That
is,
that
is
the
best
deal
going.
They
don't
have
to
defer
all
of
their
taxes.
They
can
just
afford
a
portion
if
they
want,
they
can
pay
them
back
when
they
want
to.
They
don't
have
to
wait
until
the
property
sells,
and
so
that
really
does
provide
flexibility.
For
that
immediate,
like
what
do
I
do,
I
can't
pay
my
bill
right
now.
H
I
don't
want
to
not
pay
my
bill
and
then
have
the
late
interest
charges
that
come
on.
That
is
much
much
higher
than
the
deferral
interest
and
so
like
that
is
a
viable
option
that
I
would.
I
would
push
people
that
meet
those
age
requirements
to
to
actually
seriously
seriously
consider
because
it
really
is,
I
think,
a
good
thing
that
the
city
did
with
the
city
council's
help
in
in
passing
that
adjustment
and
expanding
that
opportunity.
H
I
also
want
to
thank
miss
proust
for
her
comments,
and
you
know
the
availability
to
be
able
to
help
and
push
forward
agendas
in
terms
of
activating
her
group-
and
I
also
want
to
thank,
I
believe
your
group
has
invited
me
to
kind
of
talk
and
listen
to
your
ideas
on
on
thursday
at
your
meeting,
and
so
I'm
really
looking
forward
to
that
to
hear
what
ideas
you
you
guys
might
have
for
us
and
how
you
can
help
make
us
better.
So
I'm
I'm
really
excited
about
that.
H
But
to
counselor
campbell's
point:
changing
legislation
really
is
a
long-term
plan.
You
know,
because
at
minimum
we're
talking
changes
for
next
fiscal
year,
just
fiscal
year
22,
and
so
it
doesn't
really
address
like
the.
What
do
we
do
right
now
today,
issue
so
for
the
right
now
today
call
our
taxpayer
referral
assistance
center
635-4287
go
to
our
website.
Boston.Gov
backslash
recessing,
see
if
there's
stuff
that
you
should
be
getting
that
you're
not
and
if
you
qualify,
we
want
to
make
sure
that
you
get
into
those
programs.
A
I
I
But
it's
not
going
to
do
a
lot
if,
if,
if
we
don't
get
more
people
to
take
up
the
programs,
because
right
now,
there
are
a
significant
amount
of
people
that
are
eligible
for
these
programs
that
are
not
accessing
them.
So
we
both
need
kind
of
a
behavior
change
as
well
as
to
look
at.
How
can
we
help
some
folks
that
currently,
where
currently,
the
income
and
asset
levels
are
too
low
for
them?.
A
And
I
do
just
want
to
underscore
for
folks.
You
know,
I
think,
that
I
think
we
have
to
approach
on
both
fronts
and
I
think
that
a
a
home
repetition,
although
we've
learned
counselor,
campbell,
to
see
it
as
a
long-term
solution
because
of
how
long
they
often
take
up
at
the
state
house.
I
don't
think
we
have
to
accept
that
it's
a
long-term
thing.
A
I
mean
yes,
it's
not
going
to
operate
for
this
fiscal
year
sure,
but
I
think
we
should
be
aiming
for
next
fiscal
year
and
I
think
it
like
to
go
into
effect
right
and,
I
think,
to
miss
perusa's
point
right.
There's,
there's
lots
of
people
who,
I
think
are
are
ready
to
part
be
part
of
the
coalition
to
make
this
happen.
A
A
We
want
to
get
a
home
roll
up
to
the
state
house
sooner
or
later,
and
I
think
I
think
councillor
flynn's
intention
with
a
working
session
is
is
to
like
move
us
towards
you
know
we
don't
have
that
legislation
in
front
of
us
yet,
but
which
of
these
exemptions?
Is
it
gonna
include
right,
because
the
there's
really
to
me
there's
sort
of
three
types
of
things
we
could
do
with
this
with
a
home
rule.
So
there's
the
really
big
changing
this.
A
The
tax
structure,
stuff-
and
I
understand
what
chief
handy's
saying
about
things
like
you
know.
If
you
create
a
new
classification
or
you
say,
pause
property
tax
across
the
board
regardless
there's
both
the
fact
that
it's
probably
very
broad
and
it
hits
a
bunch
of
the
people-
we
don't
mean
to
help
necessarily
and
it
doesn't
help
some
people.
We
do,
but
also
just
the
chances
of
it
making
it
through
the
state
house
at
a
speedy
basis.
A
Are
we
looking
at
separate
homeworld
petitions
because
we're
going
to
see
which
of
these
goes?
You
know:
is
there
something
that
we
want
to
file
as
a
city
council
that
maybe
representative
fluke
oakley
would
carry?
Is
there
something
that
another
representative
would
carry?
I
know
she's
indicated
a
willingness
to
do
that
and
I'll,
let
her
say
something
in
a
sec.
But
but
that's
you
know,
that's
sort
of
to
me.
A
The
like
a
big
piece
of
this
working
session
today
is
about
narrowing
in
on
which
of
those
things
would
go
in
a
package
and
that's
where
I've
I've
understood
as
the
chair
counselor
flynn,
to
be
trying
to
drive
this
conversation
and
then
I
think
the
sort
of
third
category
would
be
creating
new
exemptions
right,
so
something
that
isn't
the
residential
or
the
elderly,
and
that
falls
into
that
question
about
like.
Is
it
a
long-term
homeowner
thing?
A
Is
it
a
landlord
thing
and
and
that
again
raises
the
question
that
chief
handy
pointed
to
of
like
well,
should
we
maybe
just
do
a
dnd
program
to
try
to
target
those
folks
on
the
like?
You
pay
your
property
tax,
but
then
there's
some
kind
of
a
program.
That's
supporting
you
on
the
other
side
of
the
city.
So
that's
my
understanding
of
where
we're
at
and
it's
a
little
bit
weird.
A
It's
always
weird
to
do
a
working
session
without
the
legislation
in
front
of
you
yet
and
that's
our
situation
here
today,
because
we're
still
operating
off
of
a
hearing
order.
But
I
think
that's
the
goal
is
to
get
to
legislation.
Did
you
want
to
add
anything?
Rep
oakley,
look
real
quickly
before
I
go
to
council.
M
Madam
chair,
you
said
it
perfectly.
I
just
want
to
make
it
known
that
I'm
here
to
be
a
support.
Should
this
body
decide
they
want
to
file
a
homeroom
position,
petition
more
than
happy
and
willing
to
to
do
so.
So
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that
that's
clear
and
apparent,
and
thank
you
again
for
allowing
me
to
be
a
part
counselor
here,
you're,
so
patient
I'll.
Let
madame
chair,
call
on
you.
K
Yeah,
I
don't
know
I'm
trying
to
always
learn
all
these
rules
of
engagement,
because
you
guys
have
conditioned
me
to
the
seven
minute
warning
and
then
I'm
like
that
kid
that
once
those
seven
minutes
have
come
up-
and
my
turn
has
not-
I
get
anxious
I'm
like
so
is
this
a
new
order
now
like
so
you
got
to.
Let
me
know
the
space
that
I'm
in
so
I
can
manage
all
of
my
expectations
because
yeah
bach,
I
don't
know
about
you,
I
need
those
rules
of
roberts.
K
K
You
know,
I
really
love
the
fact
that
you
are
helping
us
understand
that
when
there
is
an
appetite
for
change
there
is
nothing
that
can't
stop
us
from
doing
what
we
need
to
do
right.
So
I
know
that
for
me
I
feel
like
we
get
you
go
over
here.
You
ask
your
mom
for
five
dollars.
She
sent
you
to
your
dad.
You
asked
your
dad
for
five
dollars.
He
sends
you
to
your
cousin,
like
everywhere
we
go
when
it
comes
to
the
things
that
we're
trying
to
push
forward.
K
It
seems
like
we
keep
just
getting
pushed
from
place
from
point
a
to
point
b
and
like
that
level
of
accountability
is
always
hard
to
find
as
to
who
has
the
power
to
make
these
things
happen,
and
how
do
we
go
about
getting
there?
So
I
can
understand
and
appreciate
the
frustration,
but
I'm
really
happy
to
see
counselor
flynn
and
counselor
bach,
holding
the
space
so
that
we
can
get
to
that.
K
K
K
If
that's
something
that
when
it
comes
to
property
taxes
right,
I
always
think
about
when
a
new
property
is
built,
that
city
owned
and
it's
built
on
a
street
that
has
had
long-term
homeowners
for
the
last
30
years
and
then
a
nice
shiny,
new
boston
city
of
boston,
build
gets
put
on
that
block
the
property
taxes,
for
that
entire
block
is
impacted
by
this
new
shiny
building.
That
just
came
up
on
this
street
is
there
a
way
when
we're
thinking
about
planning
and
development
for
us
as
a
city?
K
So
this
we
don't
have
to
ask
permission
to
our
parents
at
the
state
house.
Is
there
a
way
from
accountability
standpoint
for
us
as
a
city
to
do
a
a
landscape
analysis
of
who
are
the
long-term
homeowners
on
that
block
and
then
provide
them,
some
sort
of
exceptions
or
or
some
sort
of
like
support,
so
that
their
property
value
is
not
impacted
by
these
new
shiny
buildings
that
are
popping
up
on
their
block
is?
Is
that
something
that,
as
a
city,
we
can
be
proactive
about?
I'm
just
curious.
H
H
K
Right,
so
that's
the
point
that
I
really
want
to
that's
the
thread
that
I
want
to
follow
a
little
bit
more,
as
we
think
about
displacement
and
gentrification
and
development
in
low-income
communities
is
that
when
starbucks
starts
popping
up
and
shopping
malls
and
all
of
the
things
that
make
our
neighborhoods
a
little
bit
more
attractive,
then
those
are
the
things
that
impact
our
long-term
homeowners
right.
So
my
question
then
becomes
what
what
safety
nets
right
are.
K
We
thinking
about,
as
we
think
about
planning
and
development
and
and
how
intentional,
are
we
being
about
supporting
homeowners
as
you're
thinking
about
the
landscape
of
how
things
are
changing?
So
that's
kind
of
like
the
the
thread
that
I
want
us
to
just
kind
of
really
think
about
and
not
to
say
that
I
have
any
bright
ideas
of
what
that
would
look
like,
but
I
just
want
to
name
that
that
that
is
the
sentiment,
whether
you
are
a
homeowner
for
the
last
50
years
or
you're.
A
homeowner
for
10
years
or
20.
K
K
I'm
curious
about
the
people
who
may
qualify
for
benefits,
but
do
not
know
that
they
exist,
for
example,
vet
veterans
or
people
with
disabilities
who
own
their
homes
but
have
never
applied
for
a
subsidy.
How
does
the
city
do
outreach
to
community
organizations
and
other
government
organizations
on
the
state
and
federal
level
to
inform
residents
of
these
subsidies?
K
Because,
let
me
just
tell
you,
you
know
these
there's
lots
of
programs
that
exist
that
the
city
of
boston,
our
champion,
but
those
benefits
are
not
reaching
the
everyday
homeowner
right,
and
I
know
you
guys
have
put
things
out
via
email
and
you
know
social
media.
I
just.
I
think
I
think
that
we
need
to
think
about
non-traditional
ways
of
communicating
with
folks
whether
it
be
through
the
newspaper
whether
it
be
through
psas.
K
I
mean,
I
think,
that
we
need
to
do
a
better
job
at
sharing
information,
so
that
everyone
has
access
to
the
same
information
at
the
same
time,
and
I
just
kind
of
want
to
just
put
that
out
there
something
to
think
about.
I'm
curious
what
efforts
are
made
around
outreach
specifically
to
those
folks
who
don't
have
access
to
digital
internet
or
may
not
even
have
a
phone.
I
mean
my
mom
always
talks
about
her
little
obama
phone
that
she
can't.
Even
you
know
like
that's
what
they
called.
K
So
you
can't
like
send
text
messages,
and
things
like
that.
So
I
just
want
to
just
I'm
curious
about
what
that
looks
like
in
terms
of
outreach
and
then
the
last
question
that
I
have-
and
this
is
to
representative
oakley.
Are
you
aware
of
any
stipends
that
the
state
already
offers
when
it
comes
to
subsidizing
long-term
homeowners.
K
Great,
thank
you
and
then
I'm
almost
I'm
being
mindful
of
time
before
the
gamble
comes
up
just
curious.
If
anyone
could
just
talk
to
me
a
little
bit
about
your
outreach
efforts,
especially
for
seniors,
I
mean
that's,
who
we're
here
to
talk
about
today,
but
you
know
we
have
to
recognize
our
privilege
in
terms
of
access
to
the
to
technology
and
I'm
so
happy
to
see
mass
senior
council
on
zoom
like
they
do
their
zooms
like
they
got
that
down
pack.
F
I
I
So
so
we
we
mailed
about
80
000
calendars
out
to
people's
homes,
and
we
tried
to
pack
them
full
of
information
on
programs
that
that
older
adults
could
access,
including
the
property,
tax
exemption
programs
and
the
senior
circuit
breaker
tax
credit.
We
also
ran
for
for
the
month
of
november.
We
ran
ads
in
local
papers
every
week
about
about
all
of
that
exemption
programs,
so
we
ran
them
in
the
high
park
bulletin.
I
The
west
roxbury
roslindale
bulletin,
the
boston
bulletin
bay,
state
banner
dorchester,
reporter
the
beacon
hill
times,
the
boston
sun,
the
regional
review,
which
is
the
waterfront
north
end
downtown
in
charlestown
patriot
bridge.
We
also
ran
them
in
el
planeta,
el
mundo,
sam
pam
and
the
boston
haitian
reporter.
So
that's
where
we
put
this
year
because
of
kovid
and
our
inability
to
kind
of
get
out
and
be
with
people
in
the
community.
K
Before
I
get,
I
got
one
more
minute,
counselor
bob!
I
just
yes,
yes,
go
ahead,
counselor
here
I'm
so
I
just
kind
of
really
want
to
follow
up
on
on
that
emily.
I'm
just
curious
in
terms
of
focus
groups.
Did
you
guys
work
with
math
senior
action
council
to
help
you
develop
the
messaging
and
did
you
all
get
solicit
input
from
them
so
that
they
can
help
inform
what
it
was
that
you
were
going
to
be
rolling
out
like
what
role
did
they
play
in
helping
you
shape?
K
I
know
you
have
we
have
age
strong,
but
I'm
just
curious
like
have
you
done
any
focus
groups?
Have
you
worked
with
seniors
directly
and
not
all
the
seniors
are
part
of
all
everything.
So
I'm
just
curious,
like
in
terms
of
just
developing
your
content.
What
role,
if
any
last
senior
council
played
in
in
providing
you
some
feedback.
I
Sure
so
we
have
met
with
math
senior
action
council
before,
but
we
didn't
do
it
specifically
around
kind
of
the
campaign
ads
that
we
put
out
but
always
happy
to
get
their
input
and
feedback
on
on
everything
you
know
so.
Edna
is
part
of
our
mayor's
senior
advisory
council
and
certainly
value
her
input,
as
well
as
as
well
as
everyone
else's.
K
Women
you're
in
good
hands
as
long
as
endless
in
the
house
we're
good,
then
I'm
curious
that
would
you
what
feedback
and
you
know
would
you
be?
Would
you
be
willing
to
provide
in
terms
of
how
we
can
better
engage
in
and
and
provide
whatever
information
is
coming
down
the
pipeline
to
our
seniors,
any
ideas
that
you'd
like
to
share
with
us?
K
J
I
don't
have
yeah.
That
would
be
the
the
first
step.
That
would
be
the
first
step
with
our
chapter
meetings,
where
people
can
spread
the
word
through
the
chapter
meetings
through
our
mailings
and
and
me
we,
we.
The
reason
that
you
hear
me
him
and
hauling
is
because
we
plan
everything
strategically
and
we
act
collectively.
K
A
N
N
There
are
three
older
people
in
in
my
building,
so
so
that
was
fine,
although
my
husband
and
I
don't
need
two
of
them,
but
still
I'm
curious
as
to
how
you
knew
who
those
seniors
were,
because
it
would
seem
that
if
some,
if
there's
a
list
of
those
people
out
there,
then
those
people
should
be
followed
up.
People
should
follow
up
with
those
people
to
see
what
services
they
could
take
advantage
of.
I
G
L
H
H
L
Yeah,
okay
and-
and
this
is
what's
for
emily
and
in
terms
of
you-
know
the
work
of
program-
I
don't
know
how
many
elders
I
know
we
had
covered
last
year,
so
it
probably
didn't
happen
even
in
2020,
but
how
many
elders
access
the
work
off
program
and
are
able
to
get
some
credit
for
their
real
estate.
Taxes.
I
Sure
so
this
is
another
program
that
we
wish
more
people
and
more
people
would
do
so
glad
we're
glad
we're
on
youtube
and
we
can
get
the
word
out
there
about
it.
But
last
year
we
had
23
people
during
covet
who
were
able
to
do
it
and
complete
it.
We
had
just
just
over
2
000
hours
of
volunteer
service
completed
through
that
program
and
but
in
a
typical
year
we
usually
have
somewhere
between
60
and
65
people.
I
Do
the
property
tax
work
off
program
where
folks
can
work
off
up
to
fifteen
hundred
dollars
of
their
property
taxes,
and
we
do
have
room
to
expand
that
program.
So
so,
certainly
we
could
have
more
people
doing
that
program.
On
the
flip
side,
we
would
need
to
also
create
additional
volunteer
replacements
for
people
within
city
departments,
yeah.
L
I
think
one
issue
for
folks
like
norse
and
brighton,
is
that
there's
not
that
many
work-off
opportunities,
so
it's
difficult
if
you
as
a
senior,
if
you
have
to
get
on
the
tee
and
go
into
town,
and
it
takes
you
an
hour
going
that
way
and
are
coming
back.
It's
it's
it's
a
big
undertaking,
so
I
think
really
being
creative
about
developing
some
more
volunteer
opportunities
for
those
folks
who
are
able
to
to
volunteer
and
and
do
the
work
of
program.
A
So
much
counselor,
braden,
yeah
and
and
counselor
wu
was
with
us
for
most.
The
discussion
unfortunately
had
to
go,
but
I
know
it
also
has
a
staffer
on
is
tracking
this.
I
think
I
think
we,
everyone
on
the
council
is
hearing
the
same
things
and
wants
to
figure
out
how
to
how
to
get
this
like
targeted
relief
in
a
way
that
doesn't
undermine
the
city's
finances,
but
really
helps
the
people
who
need
it.
A
Those
are
some
of
the
things
that
have
come
out
of
this
for
me
and
maybe
looking
maybe
having
a
follow-up
conversation
with
d
d
about
the
the
long-term
resident
peace
and
the
sort
of
generous
below
market
landlord
piece,
but
whether
there's
a
way
for
us
to
support
them
without
going
up
to
the
state
house.
But
I
wanted
to
see
if
there
were
other
things
that
had
come
out
of
the
conversation
that
anybody
really
wanted
to
highlight
before
the
kind
of
lead
sponsor
goes
off
to
to
think
about.
A
You
know
a
draft
piece
of
legislation
that
can
come
before
the
body,
so
I'll,
take
blue
hands
or
physical
hands
of
any
further
further
comments
on
that
score,
and
otherwise
I'll
go
to
counselor
flynn.
For
some
concluding
remarks,
oh
and
I'll
also
check
for
public
testimony,
so
any
anyone
in
the
zoom
all
right.
Let
me
just
check
candace
if
you're
on
the
line
do
we
have
anyone
signed
up
for
or
cora
signed
up
for
public
testimony.
K
N
J
A
A
Okay,
seeing
none,
I
think,
I'm
gonna
go
to
counselor
flynn
for
concluding
comments
and
then
I'll
just
I'll.
Just
underscore
that
I
think
you
know,
I
think,
I'm
I'm
certainly
hopeful
that
you
know
working
with
the
lead
sponsor
that
we'll
be
able
to
have
a
piece
of
legislation
before
the
body
soon
around
later
we'll
end
up
that
will
you
know
just
for
people
to
understand
process.
A
This
began
as
a
hearing
order,
which
is
what
we
do
in
the
council
when
we
identify
a
problem
and
we
want
to
understand
it
better
and
we've
been
really
grateful
for
our
administration.
Colleagues
and
the
advocacy
community
like
here
today
and
and
also
miss
iris
and
all
of
the
folks
who
came
and
spoke
at
our
prior
hearing
for
helping
us
understand
the
texture.
A
Then
the
next
step
in
the
counsel
process
is
filing
an
actual
piece
of
legislation,
a
home
rule
petition,
and
then
that
goes
that
instead
of
coming
here
to
the
ways
and
means
committee
goes
to
the
government
operations
committee,
which
reviews
all
pending
legislation
and
then
and
then
that
would
be.
That
would
then
move
towards
a
vote
in
council
and
then
in
the
case
of
a
home
rule
petition
where
we're
asking
our
state
partners
to.
Let
us
do
something
we
would
send
it
up
to
the
state
house.
A
B
B
I
just
got
an
email
from
a
neighbor
and
self
boss,
and
johnny
gets
up
here,
saint
bridget's,
that
he
he
just
wanted
me
to.
He
just
wanted
to
weigh
in
he
said
his
property
tax
goes
up,
even
if
he
doesn't
make
home
improvements
and
the
actual
property
is
what
the
developers
want,
not
not
their
home.
Basically,
they
want
to
tear
down
the
structure.
That's
the
value
of
that's
why
his
property
taxes
are
going
up.
So
I
told
him
I'd
read
that
into
the
record.
B
I
understand
the
calendar
and
how,
in
the
short
term,
the
focus
should
be
on
outreach
and
take
advantage
of
existing
programs
in
deferral
programs,
but
I
continue
to
be
interested
in
both
raising
caps
for
exemptions
and
creating
long-term
home
ownership
exemption.
I
understand
this
budget
and
revenue
considerations
about
how
how
much
we
can
raise
for
reach
and
what
income
levels
are
we
going
to
aim
to
keep
our
seniors
and
long-term
homeless
homeowners
here
in
boston?
That's
critical!
They
play
a
critical
role
in
our
city.
B
They
help
build
our
city,
the
city,
workers,
the
retired
or
state
workers.
What
they've
worked
hard
their
whole
life
and
we
need
to
make
sure
boston
is
a
place
for
them
as
well.
We
also
support
those
who
give
unofficial,
affordable
housing
to
keep
family
friends
neighbors
in
the
city
as
well.
So
I
want
to
thank
all
the
panelists
for
being
here
today.
Let's
work
together
on
short-term
initiatives,
long-term
initiatives
and
maybe
make
some
make
some
progress
in
getting
some
relief
from
elderly
homeowners
critically
needed
in
our
city.
Thank
you,
council
book.
A
Great,
thank
you
so
much
counselor
flynn
for
your
leadership
on
this
and
and
those
strong
comments
pulling
it
all
together
and-
and
just
before
I
adjourn
I
just
do
want
to
thank
again
representative
fluker
oakley
for
being
here
today.
I
know
representative
david
biel
sent
comments.
We
just
we
really
appreciate
partnership.
It's
it's!
A
The
only
way,
we're
gonna
get
something
done
on
this
front
and
in
a
similar
spirit
of
partnership,
thanks
to
the
administration
to
chief
handy
and
commissioner
arnello
and
commissioner
shea,
I
think
we
we've
all
got
to
pull
together
and
as
we've
as
we've
heard,
from
folks
like
mass
senior
action
and
and
miss
dupont
and
everybody
who's
at
our
last
hearing.
You
know
it's
something
that
our
constituents
are
really
looking
for.
A
Help
and
relief
on,
so
so
we'll
definitely
be
continuing
to
be
actively
working
on
this
with
the
goal
of
making
making
the
long-term
piece
up
at
the
state
house
more
short
term,
that's
got
to
be
our
goal.
So
thank
you
all
with
that
and
I
still
haven't
seen
any
public
testimony
hands.
So
I
think
with
that
this
is
adjourned.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.