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From YouTube: Committee on Ways & Means WORKING SESSION FY22Budget: BPL, OFA, LCA, OIA, HRC, Age Strong
Description
Docket #0524-0531 - Fiscal Year 2022 Budget: Boston Public Library, Office of Food Access, Office of Language and Communications Access, Office of Immigrant Advancement, Human Rights Commission, and Age Strong Commission
Held on May 6, 2021
B
C
Right
calling
this
working
session
to
order
for
the
record,
my
name
is
kenzie
bach,
I'm
the
district
8
city
councilor,
also
the
chair
of
the
city
council's
ways
and
means
committee.
This
working
session
today
is
being
recorded.
It's
being
live
streamed
at
boston.gov
city
dash,
council
dash
tv
and
broadcast
on
xfinity
channel,
8,
rcn,
channel
82
and
fios
channel
964..
C
It's
part
of
the
council's
budget
review
process,
which
encompasses
a
whole
sort
of
35
public
hearings
and
working
sessions,
and
these
working
sessions
are
actually
just
for
putting
counselor
questions
for
the
departments
on
their
record,
which
we
do
in
the
public
because
of
open
meeting
law.
But
the
real
hearings
there's
a
bunch
more
of
them
next
week
and
your
participation
is
invited
if
you
want
to
come
and
testify
at
the
end
of
any
of
them,
they're
all
virtual.
C
C
We
want
to
check
in
on
all
of
them
and
see
what
they've
done
with
that
those
funds
and
what
the
plan
is
for
the
year
ahead.
So
those
departments
are
the
office
of
food
access,
the
office
of
language
and
communications
access,
the
office
of
immigrant
advancement,
the
human
rights
commission
and
the
age
strong
commission.
C
So
we
will
be
and
we'll
be
talking
about
all
those
in
a
single
group
hearing.
So
those
are
the
topics
for
today.
I
have
a
number
of
colleague
questions
that
have
been
sent
by
folks
who
aren't
able
to
make
it
today.
So
I'm
going
to
start
out
with
reading
those
so
on
the
boston,
public
library,
councilor
ricardo
arroyo
of
district
5
asks
how
much
of
an
impact
will
the
elimination
of
fines
for
overdue
materials
have
on
bpl's
revenue.
C
He
also
asks
why
is
bpl's
capital
budget
decreasing
by
27
percent?
Is
this
because
of
the
completion
of
projects
last
year
or
for
some
other
reason,
and
then
he
asks
why
does
bpl
have
a
2.5
percent
decrease
in
research
services
under
personnel
services
and
then
councillor
braden
asks
counselor
liz
braden
from
district
9
asks
about
purchasing
for
branch
library
collections?
Can
local
branch
librarians
have
some
control
over
purchasing?
We
have
a
very
diverse
city
and
each
neighborhood
is
culturally
very
different,
so
local
librarians
should
be
able
to
purchase
books
for
their
collection.
C
They
know
their
population.
Could
we
can
we
make
that
a
bit
less
centralized
and
then
council
braden
also
asked
when
will
work
on
the
faneuil
branch?
Library
begin
the
library
closed
back
in
november,
and
there
is
no
sign
of
any
work
being
done
six
months
later
and
then
on
my
end,
I
have
some
questions
as
well
on
the
bpl.
So
one
is
just
that.
C
C
C
What
that
decrease
in
spending
entails
and
the
you
know,
and
just
I
I
realize
that
that
may
have
to
do
with
it
with
the
finishing
of
projects,
as
councillor
royal
said
in
timing,
but
there's
also
a
lot
of
branch
projects
that
are
underway,
and
so
just
would
love
to
understand
a
little
bit
about
the
reason
for
that
significant
decrease,
especially
given
the
construction
pause
in
fy21.
It
feels
like
we
should
have
more.
C
A
A
Where
are
some
of
these
sites?
That
bpl
is
looking
at
now
for
the
library
I
need
to
be
included
in
that,
but
I
mentioned
before
this
is
one
of
the
most
significant
projects
that
ever
happened
in
chinatown
in
50
years.
We
don't
have
a
public
library
in
there,
so
it's
very
important
for
me
and
for
my
constituents
to
have
a
library
in
in
chinatown
and
that's
that's
really
a
top
priority.
A
A
What
will
the
community
process
look
like
for
the
study
and
and
the
other
issue?
Is
the
south
boston
library
is
one
of
the
oldest
public
libraries
branches
in
the
city?
Now
they
have
a
beautiful
courtyard
out
in
the
back.
My
wife
likes
to
go
out
in
the
in
the
courtyard,
especially
in
the
summertime.
A
They
have
a
beautiful
courtyard,
but
the
building
itself
is
is
old
and
I
want
to
see
what
our
short-term
plans
are
for
the
south
boston,
public
library,
and
I
want
to
know
what
our
long-term
plans
are,
and
I
would
really
like
to
see
a
public
library
built
in
south
boston
as
well.
That's
all
I
have
right
now
for
public
libraries
and
also
council
bloc
just
wanted
to
let
you
know
that
I
support
you
on
the
public
library
in
on
cambridge
street.
A
A
lot
of
my
constituents
use
that.
So
thank
you
for
your
leadership
on
that.
I
also
support
counselor
edwards
on
the
public
library
in
the
north
end
as
well,
because
some
of
my
constituents
also
use
that.
Certainly
all
bostonians
use
the
copley
library,
which
is
also
in
my
district
and
I'm
proud
that
the
central
library
is
in
my
district
as
well.
But
I
love
the
libraries.
I
love
the
library
system.
A
I
like
it
because
it's
open
to
everybody
and
people
have
the
opportunity
to
go
there
to
read,
to
relax
and
to
study
about
different
subjects
that
they
they
may
not
know
about
that,
but
it
provides
a
great
education
for
people.
So
count
me
as
a
as
a
top
supporter
of
the
public
library
system
on
the
boston
city
council.
Thank
you,
council,
buck.
C
Great,
thank
you
so
much
counselor
flynn,
yes-
and
I
think
I
mean
personally
I'd
like
to
compete
for
that
label,
but
but
hugely
appreciate
your
support
and
yeah.
Actually,
you
came
in
right
when
I
was
about
to
turn
to
the
west
end
library
and
speaking
to
that
so
I'll
I'll
just
finish
a
few
questions
on
that
front
and
then
counselor
flynn,
I
I
will
go
back
to
you
for
once.
I
finish
my
library
questions.
C
Oh
an
immigrant
advancement,
so
I
think
we're
five
for
five,
so
yeah.
So
I'll
go
back
to
you
by
as
soon
as
I
finish,
my
library
questions
and
then
I've
got
a
bunch
of
questions
for
those
departments
from
colleagues
that
are
written
down.
But
we'll
give
you
precedence
since
you're
here
in
the
flesh.
So
are.
C
All
right
so
just
finishing
my
library
questions
I
mean
we
have
a.
We
have
our
third
west
end
library,
planning
meeting
tonight,
and
so
I
know
that
process
is
underway
and
I
right
now
feel
like
comfortable
with
you
know.
I
can
ask
my
questions
and
move
forward
inside
of
that
process
with
pfd
in
the
library.
C
But
certainly
do
you
want
to
understand
roughly
what
the
timeline
is
for
getting
you
know
a
more
full
budget,
because
obviously
the
full
capital
budget
for
that
project
is
not
in
the
budget
book
yet
because
the
planning
hasn't
concluded.
So
I
just
want
to
understand
what
the
timeline
will
be
there.
As
councilor
flynn
said
it's
it's
an
enormously
utilized
library.
It's
actually,
I
think
the
I
think
it's
the
it's
something
like
the
second
most
utilized
after
the
central
branch,
or
something
crazy
like
that.
So
it's
a
heavily
heavily
used
library.
C
It
serves
a
lot
of
communities
and
we
just
really
want
to
make
sure
it's
well
taken
care
of
and
that
there's
an
aggressive
timeline
for
getting
the
new
version
in
and
and
available
for
folks,
and
also
some
excitement
about
the
possibility
of
housing
over
that.
So
looking
forward
to
that
whole
conversation
on
the
other
branch
library
in
my
district
is
the
parker
hill
branch
and
out
in
mission
hill,
and
I
think
there
just
would
love
to
check
in
on
whether
there's
any
capital
needs
being
addressed.
We
did
have.
C
Last
year
we
were
having
a
bit
of
an
elevator
issue.
I
think
it
got
resolved,
but
I
know
that's
been
persistent,
so
I
just
would
love
to
check
in
on
that,
and
then
I
I
mentioned
this
already,
but
definitely
an
update
on
that
rare
books
project
in
the
central
branch
which
counselor
flynn
is
right.
It's
in
his
district,
although
my
constituents
vote
there,
so
I
sort
of
claim
it
as
well
but
yeah.
C
I
would
love
to
just
hear
about
how
and
also
just
how,
when
that
project
is
finished,
the
sort
of
operations
of
the
rare
books
and
manuscripts
are
going
to
improve
and
how
we
can
make
those
more
accessible
to
folks
there's
also
a
research
collections,
preservation
and
storage
plan
for
200
000,
that's
still
to
be
scheduled,
so
just
would
love
to
understand
what
the
delay
is.
What's
the
plan
is
that
enough
money?
C
I
think
it's
been
in
the
capital
plan
for
a
while
and
it
hasn't
been
executed
and
I'm
very
aware
again
as
a
historian
that
preservation
and
storage
is
not
sexy,
but
it
is
really
important,
so
we'd
just
love
to
know.
What's
going
on
on
that
front,
would
love
to
love
to
hear.
I
think
counselor
arroyo
asked
how
much
the
fees
the
cancelling
of
late
fees
was
going
to
cost.
I
think
there's
125
000
in
revenue
really
from
the
budget.
C
C
So
if
we
could
talk
about
what's
going
on
with
the
external
funds
and
then
a
little
bit
just
about
the
contract
to
services,
increases
for
equity
and
outreach,
programming
and
reopening
with
expanded
services,
both
seem
like
great
things,
just
know
a
bit
about
that
I'd
love
to
hear
an
overall
update
on.
I
know
the
library
has
done
an
enormous
amount
to
transform
it.
C
C
I
mean,
I
think,
all
of
our
patrons
are
eager
to
know
when
the
libraries
may
be
opening
and
now
that
there's
a
timeline
at
the
state
and
city
level
to
some
degree
would
love
to
understand
where
the
latest
thinking
is
on
reopening
the
branches
so
yeah.
Those
are,
I
think,
for
now,
my
main,
oh
and
just
confirming.
I
think
that
the
the
net
zero
carbon
municipal
buildings
rule
applies
to
new
building
to
new
library
ranch
buildings,
but
just
would
love
to
confirm
that
yeah.
C
A
C
A
I
think
they're
still
trying
to
determine
the
exact
date
office
of
food
access.
I
think
it's
probably
it's
probably
one
of
the
most
important
departments
in
the
city.
I
always
say
the
most
significant
most
important
social
program
in
the
federal
government
is
the
snap
program.
I
have
tremendous
respect
for
the
snap
program.
A
A
A
I'd
like
to
talk
more
about
how
office
language
access
is
able
to
expand
its
role
and
function
as
an
independent
office.
I
would
also
like
to
see
this
budget
significantly
increased
and
recruit
people
that
speak
various
language.
So
we
can
beef
up
our
our
personnel
in
that
team,
so
we
can
reach
more
people.
A
We
are
making
progress
in
the
boston
public
schools,
but
we
need
to
make
more
if
a
city
department
needs
to
have
its
forms
translated.
What
is
the
process
of
getting
it
translated
if
a
constituent
shows
up
for
a
visit
and
they
speak
a
language
other
than
english?
What
is
the
process
of
getting
an
interpreter
it
once
this
building
opens
whether
it's
next
month
or
sooner,
and
someone
from
chinatown
comes
to
city
hall
and
speaks
cantonese?
A
A
A
A
I
imagine
that
there
are
still
many
residents
who
still
have
questions
regarding
their
immigration
status,
immigration
cases
I-
and
I
know
that
moia
hosted
immigration.
Clinics
that
are
very
popular
with
constituents
are
those
still
going
on
with
covet
restrictions.
Our
programs
that
offer
resources
to
those
who
are
concerned
about
their
immigration
cases
will
they
be
continued.
A
They've
worked
hard,
they've
helped
build
our
city,
they've
helped
build
our
country,
and
I
also
am
concerned,
and
the
next
one
is
the
human
rights
commission
that
I'm
going
to
go
into
but
office
of
immigrant
advancement,
I'm
concerned
about
this
pandemic
and
and
the
impact
it
had
on
our
immigrant
neighbors
many
people
across
the
country
blame
this
pandemic
on
immigrants
unfairly.
They
blame
it
on
the
chinese
community
unfairly.
A
If
we
have
a
temporary
director
at
this
critical
time,
I
want
to
see
that
stock.
I
want
to
see
that
office
built
up.
I
want
to
see
it
staffed.
I
want
to
see
us
working
closely
with
boston,
police
and
human
rights
organizations
to
investigate
document
document
and
educate
on
bullying,
intimidation
and
hate
crimes.
A
When
I
get
on
the
train
on
the
on
the
orange
line,
she
said
when
I
get
on
the
train,
I
walk
to
the
train
and
all
the
white
people,
all
the
white
passengers
on
the
train
get
off
the
train
because
they
associate
me
with
with
covet
19
and-
and
once
I
heard
that
I
I
said
to
myself,
this
is
what's
going
to
happen
across
the
country
that
people
are
going
to
take
out
this
pandemic
on
the
asian
community
and
we
saw
a
rise.
Obviously
in
asian
anti-asian,
racism,
hate
crimes,
bullying,
intimidation.
A
I've
tried
to
work
on
this
issue
with
my
colleagues
with
mayor
walsh
with
mayor
mayor
janie.
I'm
going
to
still
continue
to
work
on
this,
but
the
human
rights
commission
is
something
that's
very
important
to
me
and
I
know
it's
very
important
to
the
city
of
boston
and
then
finally,
council,
bark
and
again,
thank
you
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
to
talk
about
some
of
these
issues.
Age,
strong,
our
elderly,
our
seniors,
disproportionately
impacted
by
covet
19..
A
Many
are
feeling
loneliness
and
loss,
and
you
know
my
staff
and
many
other
staff
city
council
staffs.
We
called
a
lot
of
scenes
throughout
the
pandemic
to
see
how
they're
doing
some
needed
food
some
needed,
someone
to
talk
to
some
needed,
a
holiday
card
or
or
just
some
connection
to
city
hall
or
a
connection
to
someone
that
just
wanted
to
listen
and
to
hear
people's
concerns.
A
A
A
That
might
speak
the
cantonese
that
might
speak
spanish,
that
might
speak
other
other
languages,
so
all
of
those
languages,
in
my
opinion,
they
all
kind
of
all
mesh
together
and
they
all
need
to
work
together,
because
if
one
is
doing
one,
if
one
is
doing
something
great
and
the
other
is
not
involved,
you
know
we're
missing
a
golden
opportunity,
so
those
those
departments
that
I
highlighted
you
know
what
what's
important
is
they
communicate
work
together
and
provide
the
best
services
to
our
residents,
so
councilor
bark.
Thank
you
for
giving
me
this
opportunity.
C
No
thank
you
so
much
councillor
flynn
for
bringing
all
those
great
questions
and
for
all
your
work
with
these
departments.
I
feel
like
this
is
a
bit
of
the
the
flynn
cabinet
list
here
so
really
really
appreciate
it.
We've
been
joined
by
my
colleague,
counselor
julia
mejia,
welcome,
counselor
mejia
and
I'm
gonna
go
straight
to
you.
C
So
the
the
order
we
did
boston,
public
library
first
and
then
the
other
five
departments,
so
obviously
bpl
will
have
its
own
hearing
and
then
we've
got
the
departments
that
receive
these
major
increases
from
the
reallocation
last
year.
So
food
access,
language,
access,
immigrant
advancement,
human
rights,
commission
and
age,
strong,
so
yeah.
So
I've
got
some
more
questions
from
colleagues
to
read
into
the
record,
but
I'm
giving
preference
to
the
folks
who
are
here.
So
you
should
go
ahead
and
do
yours.
E
Right
through
them,
okay
sounds
great
I'll
start
with
the
boston
public
library.
Okay,
so
I
would
like
some
more
information
as
to
how
the
hours
of
operations
are
determined
for
each
branch
branches
such
as
roxbury.
The
branch
in
roxbury
are
closed
on
saturdays,
and
given
that
there
is
one
of
the
few
free
spaces
available
to
our
community,
I
like
to
know
how
we
can
utilize
these
branches
to
be
more
intentional
about
creating
spaces
for
our
community
to
just
be
on
the
language
access
front.
E
We
have
worked
in
collaboration
with
the
lca
on
a
new
language
access
ordinance,
which
we
likely
will
require
changes
in
funding,
and
I'm
just
curious
as
how
our,
how
are
the
new
allocations
being
proposed
for
the
office
addressing
this
upcoming
ordinance,
the
new
federal-
and
this
is
another
question-
the
new
federal
regulations
came
in
from
hud.
How
does
the
new
funding
address
the
implementation
of
these
standards
for
the
office
of
immigrant
advancement,
I'd
like
for
them
to
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
their
goals,
specifically
around
increasing
media
and
social
media
coverage?
E
I
would
like
for
them
to
describe
the
function
of
the
two
new
full-time
positions,
I'm
particularly
interested
in
learning
about
the
economic
integration
specialists,
like
you
know,
as
the
chair
of
small
business
and
workforce
development.
This
is
key
to
us.
So
I'm
curious
about
what
that's
going
to
look
like
and
then
for
the
human
rights
commission.
E
E
I
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
my
chief
of
my
policy
director,
jacob
jacob
to
black.
He
is
the
one
that
has
been
working
diligently
on
this
budget
and
preparing
all
of
these
working
session.
Questions
and
helping
us
be
prepared
to
advocate
on
behalf
of
our
constituents.
So
that's
all
jacob
y'all.
I
just
show
up
and
look
cute
nah,
I'm
just
joking.
C
A
D
C
Yeah,
so
it's
the
team
behind
the
team.
We
really
appreciate
them
great.
Well,
thank
you
counselors
flynn
and
mejia.
I
am
going
to
go
back
to
reading
questions
that
were
submitted
by
some
colleagues
who
weren't
able
to
join
today
so
feel
free
to
stay
on,
but
also
feel
free
to
drop
off.
I
know
everyone's
got
a
lot
going
on.
Thank
you
for
joining
thanks
and
yeah.
So
going
first
I'll,
go
to
the
questions
for
these
assorted.
C
Other
departments
from
councillor
arroyo,
so
council
arroyo
asked
for
food
access.
Can
the
office
of
food
access
talk
a
bit
about
the
decreases
in
external
funds,
including
the
children's
hospital
boston,
eats
grant
the
double
up
food
bucks
grant
and
the
strategic
planning
grant?
What
did
these
grants
fund
and
how
will
they?
How
like?
C
The
language
and
communications
access
office
has
been
moved
in
this
year's
proposed
budget
from
being
within
the
office
of
neighborhood
services
to
being
its
own
office
under
the
equity
cabinet,
and
so
the
question
is
sort
of
it's
a
little
bit
hard,
comparing
apples
and
oranges
to
tell
how
much
owen
how
much
lca
was
funded
previously
and
how
much
it's
funded
now.
So
just
would
love
some
clarity
on
that.
Can
language
access
talk
about
its
anticipated
900
000
in
contracts?
Will
these?
What
will
these
contracts
be?
For?
C
What
efforts
will
the
office
make
to
procure
diverse
vendors
and
then
again,
specifically?
What
did
language
access
do
with
its
increased
investment
last
year
from
the
bpd
overtime
budget
and
in
the
request
for
information
lcaa
provided
a
breakdown
of
employees
that
are
moving
out
of
ons
and
the
table
only
shows
two
employees
is
language
access,
still
planning
on
moving
three
positions
out
of
ons
over
to
language
access
in
and
my
my
impression
on
that
this
is
mckenzie.
C
Not
ricardo
is
that
that
might
have
to
do
with
the
director
leaving,
and
so
there
were
three
budgeted
positions,
but
there's
only
actually
two
people
who
are
currently
in
post
who
are
moving,
but
I
think
it
would
be
great
for
the
council
to
get
some
clarity
on
that
and
then
council
arroyo
also
asks,
when
does
language
access,
anticipate
the
office
being
fully
staffed
with
its
five
ftes
that
it's
going
up
to
in
this
budget?
So
there's
a
proposed
increase,
but
you
know:
when
will
that
actually
be
real?
C
Then
counselor
roy
asked
about
immigrant
advancement.
What
specifically
did
the
office
of
immigrant
advancement
do
with
its
increased
investment
last
year
from
the
vpd
overtime
budget
and
then
in
the
budget
book?
One
of
the
performance
measures
is
the
number
of
equity
oriented
recommendations
made
to
city
state
and
federal
agencies,
nonprofit
organizations
and
for-profit
organizations
can
immigrant
advancement
talk
about
some
of
the
recommendations
that
were
made.
There's
15
projected
in
fy
21s
like
what
does
that
look
like
then
the
human
rights
commission?
C
What
will
the
hundred
thousand
dollar
increase
for
anti-discrimination
supports
in
the
human
rights
commission's
budget
fund?
Specifically,
this
is
located
under
the
contracted
services
line
item
and
then
hrc
is
also
expecting
an
increase
of
four
full-time
equivalents.
When
does
it?
When
do
they
expect
that
it'll
fill
these
personnel
positions?
C
How
many
complaints
did
the
human
rights
commission
receive
in
the
past
year?
What
specifically
did
human
rights
commission
do
with
this
increased
investment
last
year
from
the
reallocated
bpd
money
and
two
more
for
the
human
rights
commission
and
then
I'll
be
going
to
councillor
edwards,
who
has
joined
us
from
councillor
arroyo
still
as
the
overseer
for
citizens
to
ensure
that
recommendations
from
the
boston
police
reform
task
force
are
implemented,
you
know,
can
can
human?
F
We
wanted
the
update
on
the
east
boston
senior
center.
I
know
it's
currently
under
construction.
Last
time
we
were
picking
a
vendor
for
it.
He
had
wage
theft,
violation
issues,
but
it
seems
like
he's
back.
He
was
picked
anyway
and
they
seem
to
go
through
their
design
review,
but
that
was
it.
Let's
see
how
much
did
a
strong
spend
on
contracting
period?
I
guess
I
would.
F
I
would
love
to
know
that
when
it
comes
to
these
kinds
of
contracts,
we
had
a
big
issue
with
wasn't
just
age
strong,
oh
actually,
it
was
a
strong
who
put
out
the
contract
that
I
think
cost
of
fruits
were
concerned
about
either
way.
This
is
about
the
home
delivery
of
meals,
and
it
seemed
that
the
contractor
they
chose
was
not
even
an
mbe
came
in
above
and
seemed
to
have
already
been
planned
for
before.
F
So
there
was
a
real
concern
about
whether
there
was
equity
or
concerns
in
the
contract
thing
on
the
hrc.
As
you
know,
the
the
biggest
concern
I
have
is
the
fact
that
the
hrc
is
outdated.
They
have
forgetting
the
credit
issue.
Literally,
they
haven't
included
pregnancy
discrimination,
they
haven't
included
domestic
workers,
and
these
are
new
laws
that
we've
had.
They
also
aren't
consistent
with
the
hrc
statute
limitations
or
excuse
me
with
the
mcad
statute
limitations.
F
F
F
C
C
F
So
language
access
there
was
a
back
and
forth
over
whether
the
literacy
belongs
in
that
house,
and
I
would
like
to
know
if
that
landed
anywhere.
The
teaching
people,
how
to
read,
was
one
of
the
issues
that
councilor
mejia
brought
up
and
they
pushed
back
initially
saying
that
that
is
part
of
workforce
development
and
skill
set
development
and
not
part
of
language
access.
F
I
think
I'd
like
some
clarification
as
to
where
that
belongs,
mostly
because
there's
more
money
coming
in
for
workforce
development
right
now
through
either
it's
mitigation
for
suffolk,
downs
or
there's
many
other
forms
of
mitigation
through
what
you
call
coveted
recovery,
but
either
way
I'd
like
to
know
where
it's
housed
and
to
know
that.
I
agree
with
her
that
there
should
be
an
investment
in
the
city
and
making
sure
we
have
a
high
literacy
rate.
F
F
That
was
one
of
the
concerns.
I
thought
that
we
worked
that
out,
and
this
was
what
was
beautiful
about
this
is
we
didn't
need
state
legislation,
so
I
thought
an
rfp
went
out
years
ago
and
then
it
just
died
but
talk
about
something
meeting:
people
where
they
are
going
to
be
doing
immigrant
advancement
and
acknowledgement
and
empowerment.
C
Great
sounds
good
yeah
and
I
think
there's
also
there's
some
literacy
related
programming
listed
under
the
public
library
as
well,
and
I
know
that's
something
they
have
some
initiatives
on,
so
I
think
yeah
getting
some
clarity
for
the
council
on
where
literacy
sits
in
the
system.
All
right,
good
thing.
Thank
you
all
right.
Thanks,
counselor
edwards
appreciate
you
have
a
great
day
and
I
see
we've
been
joined
by
counselor
michael
flaherty,.
C
D
Ahead
I'll
just
be
very
brief,
if
I
could
just
out
with
the
age
strong,
obviously
our
elderly,
commissioner,
the
older
adults,
are,
among
our
you
know,
fastest
growing
population
in
the
city,
so
I
just
wanted
to
see
what,
if
any,
investments
we're
making
with
respect
to
you
know
digital,
so
digital
literacy,
teaching,
digital
and
literacy
to
our
older
adults.
Are
there
programs
that
age
strong
promotes
with
any
partner
organizations
and
and
also
where
is
the
funding
you
know
from
from
the
federal
sources,
whether
it's
the
cares
act?
D
Will
some
of
those
funds
be
spent
on
this
in
this
particular
issue?
Food
access?
Obviously,
I'm
happy
to
see
the
increase
in
the
operating
budget.
How
many
ftes
does
that
team
have
and
are
we
looking
to
expand
the
ftes?
Obviously
this
is
a
critical
issue,
as
we
saw
throughout
the
pandemic,
just
making
sure
that
they're
appropriately
insufficiently
staffed
as
we
move
forward.
That
would
be
great
in
the
office
of
language
access.
D
D
You
know,
needs
for
our
growing
city
and
then
obviously
mayor's
office
of
immigrant
advancements
same
thing
on
that.
Just
want
to
make
sure
that
we
saw
that
the
they
nearly
doubled,
the
department's
operating
budget
and
ftes
will
obviously
will
increase
by
one
person
and
we're
also
adding
an
additional
program
coordinator
there
so
making
sure
that
the
debt
is
also
sufficiently
staffed
and
our
libraries.
Obviously
our
commission
has
a
phenomenal
job.
He's
been
very
responsive.
D
D
C
All
right
and
now
I'm
going
to
go
back
to
reading
from
a
few
colleagues
who
weren't
able
to
join
us.
So
I
just
want
to
finish
council
arroyo's
questions
with
the
age
strong
commission,
so
council
arroyo
asked:
can
age
strong
talk
about
the
decrease
in
some
of
its
external
funds,
including
the
mobility
assistance
programs,
poa
respite
one
second
and
mcoa
respite
and
the
elderly
universal
fund?
What
do
these
grants
fund
and
how
will
the
department
make
up
for
these
decreases?
C
Then?
Why
is
age
strong's
programs
and
partnerships
and
transportation
line
items
being
reduced
in
fy
22?
I
think
on
that
transportation
front
we
all
want
to
know
about
the
taxi
vouchers.
I
think
there
was
a
reference
in
the
budget
book
to
sort
of
making
like
a
new,
updated
system,
but
definitely
I
think
the
the
lack
of
those
are
being
felt
by
our
elders
and
then
again.
Counselor
arroyo
asks
what
specifically
did
age
strong
do
with
its
increased
investment
last
year
from
reallocated
bpd
over
time.
C
C
Strong
and
counselor
braden
is
asking
whether
we
can
get
them
technical
assistance
for
grant
writing
financial
support
for
technology
programming,
equipment,
computer
classes
and
tablets.
This
relates
to
counselor
flaherty's
question
about
digital
equity
for
our
seniors
and
then
property
management.
The
center
needs
a
new
security
system
or
cam
and
camera
so
that
visitors
can
be
buzzed
in
so
those
are
questions
from
counselor
braden
and
then
I
will
turn
back
to
my
questions
for
these
departments.
C
C
So,
for
instance,
what
costs
are
under
the
760
000
in
non-personnel
funding
for
food
access?
Can
you
talk
about
specifically
how
your
money,
how
you
did
spend
the
money
last
year
and
then
the
money
that
was
reallocated
to
food
access
and
then
what
will
the
impact
of
the
330
000
in
increased
funding
proposed
for
this
year?
Be?
Can
you
talk
about
your
number
of
full-time
equivalents
and
and
the
detail
on
your
contracted
services,
including
sort
of
contractors
who
are
local,
minority
and
or
women-owned
businesses?
C
C
Just
would
love
to
know
sort
of
what
things
are
looking
like
for
fy22
and
sort
of
what
food
acts
as
its
current
responsibilities
are
and
how
we
expect
them
to
kind
of
change
this
year,
as
we
transition
to
the
post-pandemic
world
and
residents
go
back
to
to
school
and
work
in
person
and
such
yeah,
the
double
up
food
box.
We've
asked
a
bunch
of
different
departments
about
this,
but
that
also
went
from
160
000
to
zero.
C
What
does
that
mean
for
folks
and
same
thing
with
the
children's
hospital
boston
eats
went
from
80
000
to
zero,
so
I
think
the
spot,
this
children's
hospital
in
boston,
eats
money
and
the
double
up.
Food
bucks
is
spread
across
food
access,
age,
strong
nbcyf
and
it's
all
zeroing
out,
and
so
we
just
want
to
understand
what
the
transition
looks
like
there
and
then
just
a
thing.
C
I'm
asking
folks
in
general
is
what
their
out
their
outreach
to
the
native
and
indigenous
community
is
because
the
thing
that's
come
to
our
attention
and
we've
got
the
north
american
indian
center
of
boston
on
the
edge
of
my
district.
I
think
that's
come
to.
Our
attention
is
just
that,
because
it's
a
proportionately
small
group,
they
don't
always
get
included
in
the
outreach
that
our
departments
do
and
so,
especially
around
food
access.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
they're
that
they're,
that
outreach
is
happening
then
on
language
access
again
same
I'll.
C
Just
echo
counselor
royal's
question
about
what
was
the
actual
language
access
budget
last
year.
What
is
it
this
year?
Can
we
get
a
like
for
like
on
both
personnel
and
non-personnel
expenditures?
Do
we
have
a
goal
of
providing
translation
at
more
public
meetings?
What
does
that
look
like?
Can
we
just
clarify
whether
lca
assists
departments
with
asl
translation?
C
I
think
that
they
do.
I
know
at
one
point
we
had
even
talked
about
hiring
somebody
on
the
staff
and
just
would
love
to
understand
that
piece
and
in
terms
of
accessible
information
on
social
media,
was
wondering
if
language
and
communications
access
has
any
sort
of
policies
or
involvement
there
so,
for
instance,
putting
out
alt
text
for
graphics
and
digital
posters,
which
can
then
be
more
easily
translated.
Whereas
for,
if
you
just
have
the
image
you
can't
really
I
mean
it
can't
be
read,
and
it
also
can't
be
translated
easily.
C
That
is,
on
the
council,
docket
that
we're
considering
and
partnering
with
the
administration
on
and
then
there's
what
we
used
to
be
doing.
So
I
think
just
like
a
bunch
of
clarity
for
the
for
the
council
on
what
has
the
department
now
newly
committed
to
what's
that
going
to
entail?
Is
there
enough
staffing
in
this
budget
to
do
that
and
then
what
further
staffing
would
we
need
if
we
were
going
into
counseling?
C
But
later
in
the
request
for
information,
it
says,
lcaa
doesn't
have
any
existing
contracts.
So
if
we
can
just
clear
up
what
that
contracted
services
versus
contracts
issue
is
and
what
that
budgeted
amount
is
planned
to
be
used
for
or
if
that's
just
a
new
contract.
It
would
be
great
to
understand
then
on
immigrant
advancement.
C
What
are
the
most
common
services
and
cr
and
programs
and
critical
information
that
the
office
of
immigrant
advancement
sort
of
does
referrals
for
for
the
folks
reaching
out
to
it
and
what
types
of
resources
does
it
help
immigrant
serving
organizations
require?
I
think
council
royal
already
asked
about
what
policy
recommendations
they
make.
C
C
Under
goals,
it's
also
listed
that
there
are
500
immigrant
serving
organizations
have
been
connected
to
resources
to
better
serve
their
constituents.
We
assume
that's
the
number
of
unique
times
that
an
organization
gets
connected
to
resources
rather
than
a
number
of
unique
organizations,
since
we
don't
think
there's
500
organizations
that
moya
isn't
is
directing
with
is
there?
Is
there
data
connecting
with
sorry?
Is
there
data
on
how
many
organizations
they
are
connecting
with
and
then
yeah?
I
already
asked
about
the
equity
oriented
recommendations
that
they're
making.
Why
is
suitcase
stories
being
discontinued?
C
Do
you
know
your
rights
presentations
include
tenant
and
housing
rights,
or
are
they
solely
focused
on
immigration
rights,
and
then
I
had
the
chance
to
speak
to
the
inaugural
class
of
this
immigrants
lead
boston
program,
which
seemed
to
be
fantastic,
a
really
great
kind
of
civic
boot
camp.
That
a
lot
of
folks
were
using
we'd
love
to
hear
about
sort
of
what
the
learnings
were.
What
the
next
steps
are
on
that
I
see
it
being
it's
being
continued,
but
just
would
love
to
hear
more
detail
on
that
and
then
just
in
general.
C
What's
the
new
money
doing
this
year
and
kind
of
you
know,
are
there?
Are
there
things
that
we're
on
a
multi-year
path
to
achieving?
Do
we
kind
of
I
mean
that
moya
has
grown
quite
a
lot
in
size
over
the
last
few
years?
Do
we
feel
like
we're
kind
of
hitting
our
stride
with
some
of
the
things
the
city
had
hoped
to
address,
just
kind
of
more
of
that
like
where
we're
going
sense
from
the
department.
C
C
I
have
a
few
detailed
questions,
so
is
the
273
000
other
charts,
that's
under
department
personnel?
Is
that
the
commission's
members
stipends
or
is
it
for
additional
employees
or
something
else?
We
can
just
have
a
little
bit
of
clarity
there
in
fy21,
there
were
six
interactions,
assisted
with
city
departments,
on
compliance
with
the
hrc
ordinances.
How
are
those
initiated?
Does
the
hrc
audit
specific
department
or
are
those
are
those
due
to
complaints?
C
If,
if
the
latter
sort
of
how
can
we
be
more
proactive
and
also
to
counselor
edward's
point?
What's
the
mechanism
by
which
people
are
submitting
complaints,
since
it's
not
a
super
public
website,
and
then
what
will
the
increase
to
six
ftes
from
two
enable
the
hrc
to
accomplish
and
be
more
proactive
kind
of?
Are
we
actually
heading
into
that
phase
shift?
I
think
you
know.
C
And
then
it
says
in
your
metrics
that
100
of
your
complaints
resulted
in
inquiries
or
referrals.
What's
the
breakdown
of
inquires
versus
referrals
and
who
do
we
refer
people
to
and
what
constitutes
an
inquiry?
How
many
hearings
is
the
hrc
held
based
on
a
complaint?
If
any,
I
think
again,
sort
of
what's
the
opportunity
to
be
more
proactive
in
protecting
folks
against
racially
motivated
violence
or
harassment,
and
especially,
you
know
with
what
we're
seeing
with
our
aapi
community.
C
How
can
we
be
more
proactive
in
protecting
the
rights
and
safety
of
our
lgbtq
community,
particularly
trans
and
non-binary
individuals?
How
can
we
address
violence
and
discrimination,
including
in
the
workplace
and
the
housing
market?
You
know
when
we
had
the
authors
of
the
suffolk
study
on
at
our
fair
housing
hearing
last
year.
C
The
and
the
request
for
information
answer
supplied
to
the
council
outlines
some
of
the
great
work
hrc
is
doing
in
a
bunch
of
areas,
but
just
curious
sort
of
what
the
short-term
goals
or
outputs
are
for
each
of
those
areas.
So
like
securing
immigrants
rights,
we
sort
of
it
outlined
a
specific
workflow,
but
a
few
of
the
other
students.
C
So
if
we
get
just
a
bit
more
detail
on
that,
what
the
hrc's
work
has
been
on
workplace
discrimination
following
up
on
counselor
royal's
question:
how
much
have
they
interfaced
with
the
boston
police
reform
task
force?
Have
they
made
any
information
requests
yet
to
bpd
or
the
task
force
sort
of?
What's
the
what's
the
involvement
there
and
what's
the
nature
of
their
partnership
with
the
bpd
civil
rights
unit,
so
that
is
human
rights?
Commission?
And
now
I'm
gonna.
C
C
Why
we're
at
this
transition
point
we're
in
would
just
love
to
understand
sort
of
I
think
age
strong.
This
is
actually
a
question
also
for
for
food
access.
I
sort
of
asked
it,
but
both
age,
strong
and
food
access
have
gotten
some
significant
external
funding
as
part
of
the
kind
of
federal
aid
moment
that
we're
in
which
is
great
and
super
needed,
and
so
just
thinking
about
how
we
avoid
cliff
effects
and
sort
of
what
the
plan
will
be
to
to
build
that
capacity
that
we
can
sustain.
C
We'd
love
to
hear
a
bit
about
that.
If
you
can
there's
a
13.7
reduction
in
the
programs
and
partnerships
budget.
If
you
can
speak
to
that
a
bit,
if
you
can
speak
to
any
partnership,
you
have
with
the
north
american
indian
center
of
boston
around
around
indigenous
elders
and
sort
of
whether
whether
a
strong
has
that
relationship
and
if
so,
what
it
looks
like.
C
And
then,
if
you
can
speak
about
the
events,
budget
increase
and
the
fy
22
investments
under
contracted
services,
and
then
a
strong
has
done.
Some
amazing
phone
bank
outreach
to
older
adults,
both
at
the
height
of
covet
and
throughout
to
let
them
know
about
strong
resources.
And,
of
course,
its
phone
line
has
been
huge
for
vaccine
access
for
older
adults
in
the
city.
C
So,
first
of
all,
just
you
know
enormous
thanks
for
that
and
then
just
wondering
sort
of
what
we've
heard
about
what
we've
learned
from
that
in
terms
of
how
to
keep
reaching
out
to
older
adults
who
might
be
isolated.
So
they're,
not
really
in
one
of
our
like
elder
community
center
communities
or
housing,
communities
and
they're
sort
of
solo.
C
It
feels
like
those
phone
calls
were
a
good
way
to
reach
into
them.
And
how
are
we
thinking
about
that?
Going
forward?
What
what
has
the
call
volume
this
year
been?
You
know
like
what
what
number
of
these
calls
about
vaccines?
Have
you
dealt
with?
How
many
are
housing
related?
What
do
you
say
are
sort
of
the
most
frequent
ones
you
get?
C
I
know
there's
an
effort
to
work
on
addressing
hoarding
challenges.
Can
you
speak
a
little
bit
about
that?
I
think
that's
a
partnership
I'm
trying
to
remember
with
which
other
department
or
entity
so
speaking
about
that
would
be
great.
Does
age
strong,
have
any
sort
of
elder,
focused
housing
resources
that
it's
able
to
connect
people
with,
or
is
it
mostly
a
question
of
sending
them
over
to
ohs,
be
great
to
know
and
then
does
age
strong?
C
Do
wellness
or
health
checks
on
all
the
residents
or
reach
out
to
residents
the
neighbors
are
concerned
about,
and
if
so,
are
there
ways
that,
like
that
age
trunk
can
be
better
supported
in
this
by
other
departments
or
anything,
so
that
is
a
set
of
questions
for
oh
and
then
I
guess
just
again,
just
as
much
clarity
as
the
department
can
provide
about
what
they
did
with
their
money
last
year.
What
they're
planning
to
do
with
the
money
this
year?
C
It
would
be
great
to
get
sort
of
factual
answers
in
in
written
answer
form,
instead
of
all
on
the
slides
just
because
of
time
constraints
so,
but
we're
grateful
for
the
work
of
all
these
departments.
Thanks
to
my
colleagues
who
either
came
today
or
sent
in
questions
we'll
be
our
amazing
central
staff
will
be
typing
up
these
questions
and
we'll
be
getting
them
over
to
the
relevant
departments
and
and
yeah,
and
then
grateful
as
ever
as
well
to
my
budget
director,
emily
brown.