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From YouTube: East Boston Affordable Housing Celebration
Description
Mayor Wu spoke at Barnes School Apartments to celebrate the announcement of a new affordable housing initiative. The initiative involves the acquisition of 114 apartment units in East Boston that will be converted into affordable housing for families.
A
B
A
A
And
they
did
this
for
a
reason.
They
were
brought
here
from
Russian
concentration
camps
to
to
work
in
the
shipyards
when
they
got
to
America.
They
found
us
like
the
American
dream
for
themselves
and
for
their
children
and
they
fought
for
Education.
The
first
East
Boston
high
school
was
a
South
Station.
Seven
children
were
told
that
you
want
an
education,
come
to
work
pack,
a
bag
and
we'll
train
you
for
the
ship
of
God.
A
They
fought
and
they
won,
and
each
Boston
is
a
better
and
greater
place
because
of
that-
and
they
were
throttled
by
one
immigration
population
after
another,
the
Irish
to
escape
the
famine
and
Ireland.
The
Italians
are
fine
wealth
and
some
security
for
their
children
and
now
a
large
Hispanic
immunities
all
over
response.
B
A
A
B
A
A
You
know
CDC
over
the
years
has
done
dozens
and
dozens
of
developments
for
affordable
housing
and
we're
proud
of
that.
It's
well
over
1200
units
that
we've
been
responsible
for
and
I
think
back
on.
It
and
I
do
not
know
one
of
those
developments
that
I
didn't
have
to
turn
to
Shield
the
Dylan
and
ask
for
her
help
and
every
time
I
did
it.
She
was
there.
A
A
A
But
again,
thank
you,
Sheila.
You
know
over
the
past
couple
years
things
have
started
to
be
a
little
bit
pessimistic.
It
was
a
cloud
starting
to
hang
over
us
as
we
respond
and
soaring
class
of
housing,
as
we
saw
at
the
building
after
the
building
being
coming
up
around
us
with
no
control
over
path.
You
know
but
low
income,
housing
truly
response,
not
200
12500
a
month
rents
for
an
efficiency
of
time,
a
true
family
housing.
A
We
saw
that
out
and
there
was
pessimism,
but
right
now
there
seems
to
be
I
feel
when
we
were
watching
this
upon
over
this
whole
Community,
not
just
because
of
this
and
what
we're
doing
tonight,
because
not
because
we
were
fortunate
to
the
left
and
mayor
who
has
come
forth
and
proven
to
us
that
she
supports
Us
in
all
of
our
efforts.
As
from
the
very
beginning
of
her
Administration
the
static
to
push
forward,
affordable
housing,
open
space
for
our
children,.
C
Michelle,
thank
you
for
your
leadership
and
to
you
and
your
team
Tanya.
Everyone
who
has
been
a
part
of
this
I
shouldn't
be
up
here,
I'm
just
here,
to
stand
in
I'm,
going
to
Force
Sheila
to
come
up
and
speak
nice
and
safety
where
she
always
refuses
to.
But
she
is
the
Superstar
that
the
moment
that
she
agreed
to
stay
on
as.
C
B
D
D
D
D
D
C
If
the
model
that
will
ensure
that
our
neighbors,
our
residents,
our
family
members,
can
afford
to
stay,
which
is
not
only
something
we're
doing
for
these
families,
but
for
all
of
us
to
have
that
strong
and
Vibrant
Community
to
have
a
thriving
school
system
to
have
small
businesses
that
have
access
to
a
customer
base
and
and
Workforce,
and
to
have
that
special
ethos
of
Boston,
which
is
truly
being
a
city
for
everyone.
As
you
heard
from
Al,
this
is
this
neighborhood
really
embodies
and
represents
so
much
of
that.
What
is
that?
C
C
Made
possible
here
is
something
that
we
are
not
only
going
to
lift
up
and
celebrate
today,
but
ensure
that
we
are
taking
forward
to
other
neighborhoods
across
the
city
who
are
looking
under
Sheila's
leadership
and
her
team
to
think
about
units
in
Austin,
Brighton
and
Roxbury
and
Dorchester
and
Mattapan
in
Chinatown
and
other
parts
of
the
city.
We
are
putting
State
legislation
on
the
table.
We're
gonna,
well
partnering
with
city
council
first
to
ensure
that.
C
B
D
F
G
Just
want
to
say
a
couple
of
quick
things:
one
I
am
others.
I
feel
really
hopeful
right
now,
too,
I
feel
hopeful
for
the
city.
I
am
excited
to
work
for
mayor
Wu,
we're
starting
to
think
about
planning
and
what
we
want
our
communities
to
be
and
not
not
just
accept
what
is
coming
at
us,
but
really
think
about
who
we
are
and
where
we're
going
so
I
am
I
am
really
really
excited.
G
Just
a
couple
of
things
about
this
program,
so
I
think
we
all
read
the
ads
and
they
say
delivered
vacant
or
room
for
rental
growth
and
maybe
developers
look
at
that
and
say
great
every
time.
I
see
one
of
those
ads.
It's
just
like.
It
takes
the
wind
out
of
my
sales
and
I,
really
think
about
who
is
being
harmed
and
who
has
been
vacated
from
those
units,
so
someone
could
buy
unoccupied.
So
this
this
stood.
This
type
of
development
is
so
important.
G
G
G
Say
how
happy
I
am
to
be
here
tonight?
I
am
optimistic.
I
want
to
continue
to
work
on
this
program,
I'm
going
to
take
more
units
out
of
the
speculative
Market,
let's
build
more
affordable
housing,
let's
plan
for
our
futures,
and
thank
you
all
thank
you
all
I
had
my
doubts.
I
had
my
doubts
on
this
one.
It
was
just
the
the
Gap
was
growing
or
the
timelines
were
getting
too
tight,
or
some
some
lender
was
dropping
out.
G
B
A
F
F
This
Innovative
thought
it's
always
impossible
until
it's
done,
and
so
what
this
does
is
set
a
foundation
for
what
can
be
done,
and
while
it
may
have
been
a
huge
price
tag
at
the
moment,
it's
going
to
be
pennies
compared
to
the
Futures
that
we
have
now
made
sure
that
are
stable
here
in
this
community.
An
investment
in
stable
housing
is
an
investment
in
education.
Children
learn
better
when.
F
Fearing
displacement,
an
investment
in
stable
housing
is
an
investment
in
health
care.
People
are
able
to
go
to
local
clinics,
people
are
able
to
go
to
and
around
the
neighborhood
they're,
not
traveling
or
commuting
a
ridiculous
distance.
An
investment
in
stable
housing
is
as
an
investment
in
mental
health,
revealing
addiction,
stress
I,
don't
think
people
understand,
so
whatever
investment
we've
done
financially
with
dollars
pales
in
comparison
to
the
returns
of
that
investment
that
we
have.
F
F
F
B
F
We
come
together
the
amazing
things
that
we
are
able
to
get
done
us
united.
We
can
accomplish
anything,
especially
in
housing,
especially
in
the
medical
displacement,
but
this
day
and
moment
is
yours
and
I.
Think
The,
Advocates
I
think
Tanya
I
want
you
to
know.
Tanya
is
the
most
dogged
aggressor
I
mean.
F
F
H
Very
well,
we
are
expecting
our
next
child
next
month,
so
I
am
both
filled
with
excitement
and
also
a
little
terrified
of
John
wants
two
kids
under
two,
but
hey
one
day
at
a
time.
Folks
in
Adriana
we're
all
proud
to
be
the
State
Rep
there.
It
is
Boston.
I
am
filled
with
excitement
and
hope.
This
afternoon.
H
This
is
a
historic
investment
in
affordable
housing
in
East,
Boston
Sheila
hit
the
nail
on
the
head
to
take
36
buildings
at
a
time
when
hardly
anyone
in
this
neighborhood
can
afford
a
property
and
to
keep
them
affordable
in
perpetuity
from
East
Boston
families.
That's
forever
folks
right.
That
is
remarkable
and
I
think
it's
a
testament
of
what
we
could
do
when
we
come
together
and
I'll.
Get
to
that
point
in
a
second,
but
I
often
say
that
the
strength
of
East
Boston
is
our
diversity
and
that
diversity
is
reflected
in
our
people.
H
I've
always
felt
really
fortunate
to
grow
up
in
a
community
where
I
had
friends
from
all
quarters
of
the
globe
and
all
walks
of
life.
However,
what
we've
seen
the
past
several
years
is
that
the
power
of
the
people
that
diversity
quickly
eroded
so
fast
that
we're
forced
to
play
catch-up
to
figure
out
how
to
retain
the
character
of
the
fabric
of
our
neighborhood
and
make
sure
that
it
remains
a
place
that
anyone
from
any
part
of
the
world
can
come
and
start
their
life
and
know
that's.
H
The
story
of
East
Boston
today
represents
something
that
will
transform
our
neighborhood
permanently
and
that,
of
course,
wouldn't
be
possible
without
incredible
partners,
and
we
often
say
in
governments
that
good
work
is
it
you.
They
need
good
partners
to
do
good
work
and
that's
what
we
have
here
today.
Folks,
you
have
the
city
of
Boston
stepping
up
to
fund
us.
The
senator
and
I
help
secure
State
dollars
to
funds.
We
have
Grassroots
organizations
like
City,
Life,
Vita
or
body
who
are
constantly.
H
At
a
time,
by
the
way,
I'm
34
years
old,
I
have
never
seen
a
displacement
crisis
like
we're
dealing
with
now
evictions
daily
people
who
want
to
stay
and
continue
to
live
in
the
place
that
they
call
home,
getting
forced
right
out,
but
again
to
Circle
back
to
those
partners.
It
did
take
a
lot
of
money
and
government
stepped
up,
but
just
when
government
alone,
this
wouldn't
have
been
possible.
We
had
the
Heinz
Foundation
Lisa.
Thank
you.
H
H
H
B
A
I
I
am
just
so
excited
to
be
here,
mayor
Wu,
my
colleagues
in
state
local
governments,
and
he
liked
me
about
Ramana,
incredible
and
incredible:
Advocates
he's
watching
TVC,
and
so
many
others
who
helped
make
this
a
reality.
The
Blue
Line
portfolio
took
many
hands.
It
took
many
months
and
millions
of
dollars,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day
we
understood
that
we
needed
to
make
something
happen.
The.
B
I
To
the
speculative
Market
displacing
hundreds
of
families
in
East
Boston
was
not
a
reality
that
any
of
us
entertained
at
all.
So
we
got
to
work
at
an
unprecedented
level
of
collaboration.
This
Neighborhood
Trust
model
and
it
hasn't
been
mentioned
yet,
but
I
think
we
need
to
to
touch
upon
it.
It
has
the
public
sector,
it
has
a
private
sector.
It.
B
I
We
know
that
gentrification
disproportionately
affects
our
neighbors
low-wage
workers
and
lifelong
residents,
who
just
want
to
stay
here
as
a
lifelong
resident.
I
have
witnessed
my
own
relatives,
childhood
friends
and
their
families
resort
to
moving
outside
a
response
and
we're
just
maybe
they're
ready
to
be
lower
and
they'll.
Have
the
ability
to
make
ends
meet
so
today
gives
me
hope,
as
many
people
have
mentioned.
I
Moving
forward,
this
first
of
its
kind
model
should
be
used
and
can
be
just
one
tool
out
of
many
to
mitigate
some
of
this
pain
that
we
are
experiencing
and
stabilize
our
beloved
is
Boston.
I
was
proud
during
my
first
couple
months
as
City
councilor,
to
allocate
one
million
dollars
during
the
city
council's
Arco
oversight,
process
and
I
want
to
thank
councilor,
Kendra
Lara,
who
was
not
here,
which
she
was
integral
in
ensuring
that
that
money
got
into
campaign
and
the
cities.
I
I
want
to
be
sure
to
shout
out
housing,
Sheila
villain
and
your
entire
team.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
filling
the
funding
gaps.
There's
many
crazy
phone
calls
at
the
end
there
and
I
want
to
also
be
sure
to
call
out,
by
and
large
the
driving
force
behind.
All
of
this,
the
individual
who
was
working
with
the
spreadsheets,
making
the
calls
closing
the
deals
and
bringing
all
of
us
together
now,
foreign.
I
Another
reason
to
be
helpful,
and
this
again
is
something
that
hasn't
been
brought
up,
but
it
is
an
incredible
aspect
of
this
deal.
Ec
residents
will
not
have
ownership
of
their
homes
and
have
ability
to
control
the
fate
of
their
local
real
estate.
The
trust
will
be
staffed
by
renters
and
Grassroots
organizers
or
organizations.
I
Excuse
me
to
ensure
they
are
providing
stable
rental
opportunities
to
load,
middle-income
families,
so
just
to
close
I
look
forward
to
continuing
supporting
this
model
across
the
city,
I'm,
so
happy
to
hear
that
from
the
office
of
housing,
supporting
the
residence
organizations
who
will
be
steering
the
ship
and
working
with
all
of
you
to
ensure
that
future
generations
of
these
bostonians
have
access
to
stable,
family-sized,
affordable
units
thanks
everybody.
Congratulations.
A
J
J
Think
the
most
exciting
thing
about
tonight
for
me
is
that
I
get
to
meet
so
many
of
the
people
who
worked
so
hard
to
make
this
happen
in
person
and
so
I'm
going
to
do
my
best
to
run
through
quickly.
But
there's
gonna
be
a
lot
of
shout
outs,
so
bear
with
me.
We
are
going
to
start
with
trust.
Neighborhoods
Chef
neighborhood's
team
hold
up
your
hands.
J
J
It
was
not
so
long
ago
that
we
were
all
introduced
on
Zoom
calls
and
it
felt
like
really
weird
speed
dating,
but
we
all
decided
that
we
were
going
to
work
on
this
long
shot
right
and
we
were
just
gonna,
try
it
and
your
team
believed
in
this
from
the
minute
you've
heard
about
it,
and
you
turned
out
to
be
exactly
the
partner
we
needed.
You.
J
J
And
I
have
the
privilege
and
honor
of
thanking
our
amazing
lending
team.
So
one
thing
that
that
I
have
to
sort
of
constantly
remind
people
about
not
not
my
finance
team
but
because
they
always
remind
me,
we
have
a
first
mortgage
on
these
properties
and
that
is
from
Eastern
Bank
PCI,
the
Property
and
Casualty
initiative
and
ever
cooperative
bank.
So
young
May,
Chen,
John
migliozi,
and
you
know
Michelle
Volpe
and
Sarah
Kitterman.
J
J
And
now
I'm
going
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
investors,
because
we
have
never
had
investors
like
these.
We
are
working
with
some
really
really
impressive
funding,
Partners
groups
that
are
incredibly
sophisticated
right.
The
Boston
Foundation
the
Himes
foundations
all
of
these
people,
but
they
have
not
necessarily
made
direct
investments
in
housing
as
Equity
partners
or
as
subdebt,
and
it
is
an
honor
to
be
the
first
project
of
this
type
for
you
and
I
just
want
to
say:
don't
let
it
be
your
last,
please
cheese.
J
We
have
so
much
more
work
to
do
and
you
guys
are
such
a
big
part
of
what
is
going
to
make
Boston
a
success.
So
thank
you
and
then
I
want
to
talk
about
the
Boston
impact
initiative,
first
and
foremost,
because
Deborah,
freeze
and
her
team,
you
know
Betty
Francisco,
Henry,
Noel,
Eliana
Pinero,
who
can't
be
here
tonight.
J
You
pushed
us
to
think
more
deeply
about
who
we're
serving
so
we
came
to
the
door
we
knocked
and
you
you,
cracked,
the
door
right,
but
you
said
who
are
you
partnering
with?
How
can
your
housing
be
more
Equitable
and
more
inclusive?
So
thank
you
to
the
Boston
impact
initiative,
because
then
you
went
to
work,
helping
us
to
raise
the
money
we
needed
with
everybody
else.
So
thank
you.
For
being,
first
day.
J
She
doesn't
need
an
introduction
in
East,
Boston
she's,
one
of
ours
forever,
and
she
didn't
have
to
be
pitched
on
this
project
Lisa,
who
is
having
someone
like
Lisa,
who
is
serious
and
who
knows
Community
governance.
The
way
that
Lisa
does
is
the
reason
why
this
was
successful
and
the
reason
why
we're
going
to
be
successful
for
the
next
50
years
is
because
Lisa
is
setting
us
up
for
Success
on
community
and
she
took
it
to
the
Himes
foundation
and
she
made
it
happen.
J
So
thank
you
to
the
Boston
Foundation
to
Sony
Gupta
and
to
Orlando
Watkins.
Thank
you
for
believing
in
this
model.
Thank
you
for
taking
a
chance
on
something
new
to
the
bar
Foundation.
You
came
along
at
the
perfect
time.
You
are
an
angel
investor.
If
we
ever
had
one.
You
are
a
joy
to
work
with.
Thank
you.
J
The
Eastern
Bank
Foundation,
like
I,
said
they
saved
this
project
five
different
times
they
came
in
as
the
foundation
first
ever
investment
in
housing.
Thank
you
and
then
there's
individuals
who
stepped
up
to
the
plate
and
I
just
want
to
say,
because
it
is
really
humbling
to
look
at
the
list
of
investors.
Individuals.
J
I've
been
doing
this
work
for
over
15
years.
Al
has
been
doing
this
for
over
40
years
50.
over
50
years,
and
to
find
out
that
there
are
people
right
now
who
are
putting
their
personal
money
to
work
to
help
neighborhoods
like
ours
that
are
struggling
with
gentrification
gentrification
isn't
new,
but
having
individuals
like
you
who
are
with
us
tonight,
who
are
committed
to
fighting
it
hand
in
hand
with
the
community,
that
is
that
it
is
impacting
that
is
new
and
I
think.
J
J
Thank
you
to
the
salt
block
investors.
There
are
people
who
didn't
want
to
be
named,
who
put
their
personal
money
into
this.
Thank
you
to
the
Grossman
family,
because,
obviously
we
wouldn't
have
been
able
to
do
this
without
you.
They
were
a
big
part
of
this
deal
as
the
sellers
they
stuck
with
us
and
in
the
end,
they
decided
to
continue
their
involvement
with
these
properties
in
East
Boston.
In
a
new
way,
we
are
excited
to
have
you
participating
in
the
Reclamation
of
these
properties
at
a
as
affordable
housing
under
Community
ownership.
J
J
J
Proudly
owned
as
part
of
a
mint
mixed
income,
Neighborhood
Trust
learn
that
word
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
trust
stewardship
committee.
Thank
you
to
our
operating
board.
I'm,
not
going
to
name
everybody's
names
because
there's
a
lot
of
people
and
thank
you
to
the
East
Boston
CDC
team.
A
lot
of
people
have
said
really
nice
things
about
me
tonight,
which
was
very
unexpected
and
very
kind.
J
But
two
weeks
after
this
closed,
I
left
and
I
had
a
baby
and
I
have
not
been
back
since,
and
I
just
want
to
say
that
this
project
has
not
missed
a
beat
so
Sal
Columbo.
Our
deputy
director
has
carried
this
the
rest
of
the
ubcdc
staff
Jeff
and
Aaron
and
Elsa
and
everybody
thank
you
so
much
to
all
of
our
partners
introduce
each
other
to
each
other.
Thank
you.
A
A
A
E
All
right
for
the
folks
that
know
me
here,
they
know
I
think
this
is
not
me.
I,
don't
prepare
remarks
I,
just
like
it's
from
my
heart,
but
I
found
myself
incredibly
nervous
today
and
I'm
sitting
here,
listening
to
everything
and
I'm,
asking
myself,
why
are
you
so
nervous
and
it's
what
this
moment
is
for
our
neighborhood?
E
And
it's
hitting
me-
and
it's
hit
me
so
many
times
throughout
this
thing
and
I
told
Tanya,
I
was
gonna
cry
today,
I
said
it
and
I
know,
because
I
know
how
I
feel
but
I
think
a
lot
of
you
know:
I
love,
East
tea,
I
easty
is
our
home.
It's
our
neighborhood!
It's
where
we've
watched
loved
ones
pass
and
mourned
it's
where
we've
held
each
other
through
those
really
hard
times
it's
where
we've
gone
through
one
too
many
Quinceaneras,
it's
where
we've
celebrated
our
birthdays,
these
streets.
E
These
buildings
are
filled
with
our
memories
with
our
history,
and
it
has
been
my
greatest
privilege
to
fight
for
that.
To
be
continue
to
be
true.
I
remember,
I
mean
a
lot
of
you.
I've
met
so
far
before
this
project.
I,
remember
Sheila,
when
the
Maverick
Street
Building,
collapsed,
I
was
essentially
living
in
a
church
basement
with
30
other
people
and
Sheila
was
like.
E
E
E
Those
for
me
are
the
enormous
Heroes
of
tonight
because
they
were
the
ones
that
raised
their
voice
to
say,
whoa
whoa
whoa,
what
is
happening
to
East
Boston.
This
cannot
be
right.
A
different
world
has
to
be
possible
and
it
is
their
vulnerability,
their
courage
to
tell
their
stories
to
be
at
rallies
and
protests
and
marches
that
changed
our
Collective
Consciousness
around
this
problem,
because
in
2009
we
were
cheering
the
recovery,
but
tenants
were
already
saying:
no,
no,
no!
No!
No!
No!
E
We're
suffering
number
of
a
Great
Depression
the
trauma
of
a
neighborhood
that
had
long
been
disinvested
in
severely
disinvested,
that
made
us
incredibly
vulnerable
to
the
depreciation
of
the
housing
crisis,
and
so
what
we
wanted
and
needed
more
than
ever
was
investment
in
our
community
and
and
so
claimed.
The
renovation
of
the
blue
line.
I
mean
we
all
remember
Maverick,
before
the
renovation
and
for
those
that
don't
you're
lucky
it
was
a
lot
and
what
we
have
come
to
know.
E
E
Alert
access
to
the
T,
and
we
want
to
live
here
too,
and
we
deserve
to
live
here
too,
and
it's
those
residents,
it's
those
leaders
that
are
the
people
that
brought
us
this
moment.
I
mean
fathom
for
yourself
for
a
moment,
not
knowing
the
language
being
a
single
mother
and
having
to
face
enormous
amounts
of
money
on
the
other
side
and
fearing
enormous
fear
of
the
court
system
in
this
country.
As
an
immigrant
in
the
political
reality
we
live
and,
to
then
say,
no
I
will
not
be
moved
to
this
day
of
those
114
units.
E
That
for
the
last
eight
years
have
been
at
the
front
of
City
Life,
rallies
and
marches.
We
have
the
pictures
fighting
to
stay
in
their
neighborhood
and
we
now
get
to
say
they
get
to
sign
a
lease.
This
is
what
you
helped
us
do.
This
is
what
all
of
you
helped
us
do.
This
is
why
this
moment
is
so
important
because
we
had
affordable
housing
in
East
Boston.
It
was
just
naturally
occurring
it.
E
It
was
working
class
homeowners
that
lived
in
their
buildings
wanting
to
rent
to
families
at
an
affordable
rate
because
they
wanted
to
keep
the
neighborhood
a
neighborhood,
Madeline
I
know
you
know
what
I'm
talking
about.
How
many
calls
have
we
been
on?
Were
these
homeowners
testify?
Why
am
I
holding
the
burden
of
keeping
our
neighborhood
affordable?
Why
aren't
there
programs
that
can
do
that
and
Through
the
Years
with
Sheila's
support?
We
were
able
to
start
the
aop
program
which
was
critical
in
getting
this,
and
it
was
a
pilot
program
to
begin
with.
E
Right
and
now
we
have
the
the
Privileges
of
having
a
mayor
that
is
robustly
behind
it
and
supporting
it.
That
is
what
community
organizing
gets
you,
the
solutions
that
are
driven
from
our
community
from
the
base
up.
What
I
hope
we
take
from
tonight,
as
many
others
have
said,
is
what
is
possible
when
we
organize
in
our
communities
what
that
allows
us
to
achieve
how
much
transformative
deeply
transformative
change
is
possible,
and
we
are
right
now
at
a
moment
where
so
much
more
is
needed.
E
E
A
So
once
again,
we'll
close
out
the
program
by
saying
thank
you
to
all
of
you.
All
of
you
have
contributed
to
this
development
happening.
All
of
you
who
have
supported
us
in
this
effort
and
all
I
can
say
is
we
did
make
the
first
step
and
I
hope
you'll
be
with
us
when
we
start
the
next
42
steps.
Thank
you.