►
From YouTube: Fare Free Press Conference - 4/24/23
Description
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for an announcement regarding public transportation and fare free programs.
A
We're
also
going
to
hear
from
other
leaders,
but
I
just
want
to
Signal
out
that
we
are
joined
by
councilor
rusi
Luigi,
who
has
joined
us
that
thank
you
and
I
think
councilor.
Julia
Mejia
is
also
going
to
be
joining
us
this
this
afternoon
and
we
also
are
joined
by
representatives
from
350
Mass
cab.
Flames
is
here.
This
is
a
huge
advance
in
climate
justice
as
well
from
the
Sierra
Club
Massachusetts
chapter
Dan
McCarthy,
who
is
here
green
root.
Sarah
almond,
is
here
as
well.
A
Thank
you
Sarah
and
Community
Labor
United,
Susanna
boam
is
with
us
as
well,
and
we
thank
you
to
Xena
for
being
here
as
well.
So
we
we
thank
each
and
every
one
of
them
for
all
of
their
great
leadership
and
congresswoman.
Presley
and
I
are
here
to
announce
the
reintroduction
of
the
freedom
to
move
act,
legislation
for
Transit
Justice,
which
would
deliver
critical
funds
for
Fair
free
Transit
projects
across
the
entire
country.
A
Congresswoman
Presley
is
my
partner
in
this
fight.
In
the
halls
of
Congress,
her
commitment
to
Equitable
accessible
public
transportation
is
unnatched
in
the
United
States
House
of
Representatives
and
mayor
Michelle.
Wu
is
our
partner
in
this
fight
on
the
streets
of
Boston.
Her
steadfast
leadership
on
fairfree
Transit
and
her
tireless
efforts
have
put
Boston
at
the
Forefront
of
the
fair
free
Transit
movement
across
our
entire
country.
A
I
also
want
to
thank
Stacy,
Thompson
executive
director
of
livable
streets
Alliance,
whose
passion
for
equitable,
green
and
reliable
public
transportation
is
an
amazing
asset
for
the
Commonwealth
and
our
gratitude
to
Connie
Forbes,
who
you'll
be
hearing
from
in
just
a
few
minutes.
It
was
a
writer
of
the
fair
free
buses
here
in
Boston
for
joining
us
to
share
what
the
fair
free
revolution
has
meant
to
her.
We
know
that
transportation
is
about
freedom.
A
That's
why
the
legislation
the
congresswoman
Presley
and
I
are
introducing
in
Congress
is
called
the
freedom
to
move
act.
Our
bill
would
provide
25
billion
dollars
over
five
years
to
support
state
and
local
Transit
agencies
to
create
fair-free
public
transportation
systems.
The
freedom
to
move
act
would
also
make
critical
Investments
to
improve
the
safety
and
quality
of
public
transportation,
particularly
in
low-income
and
historically
underserved
communities.
A
We
know
now
more
than
ever,
how
essential
this
legislation
is
in
the
spring
of
2020,
at
the
height
of
the
covid-19
crisis,
ridership
plummeted
by
over
80
percent,
forcing
Transit
agencies
to
make
difficult
decisions
around
jobs
and
service
cuts.
Congress
helps
to
cushion
this
Blow
by
providing
billions
of
dollars
to
State
and
local
governments,
but
today
ridership
is
still
down
30
percent
across
our
nation.
At
the
same
time,
Transit
agencies
are
struggling
to
recruit
workers
and
restore
Services.
A
The
people
of
Boston
know
that
better
than
anyone
and
low-income
black
brown
and
immigrant
bostonians
know
it
the
best.
We
should
see
this
moment
as
an
opportunity
to
rebuild
reimagine
and
reinvigorate
our
public
transit
systems
to
fix
the
historic
injustices
that
are
built
into
the
physical
and
operational
structures
of
public
transportation
in
America
and
finally,
to
deliver
truly
accessible,
affordable
and
safe
public
transportation
for
everyone
with
the
bipartisan
infrastructure
law.
A
Congress
provided
90
billion
dollars,
The
Lodges
Federal
investment
in
public
transit
in
history
to
help
seize
this
opportunity,
but
it
is
only
a
start
to
truly
create
world-class
public
transportation
across
the
United
States
and
to
advance
Justice
and
Equity.
We
need
to
make
public
transit
free,
and
that
is
why
I
am
proud
to
stand
with
congresswoman
Presley
today
to
reintroduce
our
freedom
to
move.
A
Act
people
are
already
experiencing
the
benefits
of
fair-free
Transit
right
here
in
Massachusetts,
thanks
to
mayawu
and
mayor
Janie,
before
her
Boston
has
eliminated
fares
on
three
bus
routes,
routes,
23,
28
and
29,
all
of
which
stop
right
here
at
ruggle
station.
This
effort
was
made
possible
through
eight
million
dollars
of
federal
money
through
the
American
Rescue
plan.
The
results
of
beowoo's
fair-free
experiment
may
even
be
more
impressive
than
the
Boston
Bruins
historic
record.
A
This
season
in
Boston
ridership
on
Fair
free
Roots,
has
increased
by
35,
more
than
double
the
increase
on
other
MBTA
bus
lines
and
have
saved
many
riders
hundreds
of
dollars
a
year.
Other
Fair
free,
Transit
programs
in
Massachusetts
have
seen
similar
success.
Merrimack
Valley's,
Transit
Fair
free
program,
increased
ridership
by
over
120
percent
and
in
Worcester
the
what's.
The
regional
Transit
Authority
has
seen
ridership
surge,
nearly
150
percent
above
pre-pandemic
levels
in
pakdu
to
its
Fair
free
program,
and
thanks
to
this
success
last
week,
Worcester
extended
its
fair-free
program
for
yet
another
year.
A
This
is
an
exciting
Landmark
moment,
but
fought
you
along.
Our
country
has
prioritized
the
expansion
of
roads
and
highways,
but
we
have
to
put
that
approach
in
the
rear
view
mirror
we
need
fear
free,
because
public
transit
creates
stronger
economies,
Better
Health
outcomes
and
greater
access
to
education.
We
need
Fair
free
because
low-income
families
spend
nearly
30
percent
of
their
household
income
on
Transportation
expenses.
We
need
Fair
free
because
Fair
enforcement
disproportionately
impacts
communities
of
color
and
increases
altercations,
endangering
Transit,
Riders
and
workers
alike.
A
We
need
Fair
free
because
public
transportation
emits
50
percent
fewer
greenhouse
gases
per
passenger
mile
than
a
private
vehicle.
Our
vision
of
a
green
New
Deal
future
one
in
which
we
Center
Justice
racial
Justice,
economic
justice,
social
justice
and
environmental
justice
is
also
a
fair
free,
Transit
future
to
ensure
that
we
have
Transit
justice
as
well.
It's
an
honor
to
be
in
a
city
where
we
have
the
green
New
Deal
mayor
of
our
country,
of
the
entire
country,
the
leader,
but
down
in
Washington.
A
B
So
when
Senator,
Markey
and
I
say
this
is
literally
about
the
freedom
to
move
that
is
so
basic
and
so
essential
and
something
that
should
be
an
inherent
right
for
everyone
and
the
inequities
that
we
see
in
the
Massachusetts
7th.
As
you've
heard
me
speak
to
many
times,
maybe
you're
tired
of
hearing
the
statistics.
But
people
are
more
tired
of
living
them
that,
in
a
three
mile
radius
from
Cambridge
to
Roxbury,
life
expectancy
drops
by
30
years
and
median
household
income
by
fifty
thousand
dollars.
Transportation
has
everything
to
do
with
that
with
those
inequities.
B
Traditionally,
the
federal
government
has
made
Investments
that
have
only
served
to
create
and
exacerbate
these
inequities.
There's
been
a
funding
of
Highways
roads
and
bridges,
but
then
an
under
investment
in
our
public
transit
systems.
Public
transit
is
a
public
good
and
we
should
invest
in
it
as
such.
So
as
we
continue
to
advance
a
bold
infrastructure,
Investments
Transit
Justice
must
be
part
of
the
conversation
we
find
ourselves
truly
at
a
critical
inflection
point.
The
MBTA
is
in
a
moment
in
a
much
needed
point
of
transition.
B
Commuter
confidence
in
the
t
is
at
an
all-time
low.
There
is
no
better
time
to
make
the
Bold
robust
Investments
necessary
to
restore
Riders
confidence
in
the
T
and
to
promote
public
transit
Nationwide
as
the
public
good
that
it
is
our
freedom
to
move
act
will
help
us
do
just
that.
It
will
build
on
the
success.
Thank
you,
mayor
Janie.
Thank
you,
mayor
Wu
of
the
fair
free
pilot
programs
in
Boston
and
all
across
our
Commonwealth
providing
safe,
high
quality,
Fair
free
rides
for
all
across
the
nation.
B
We
have
seen
how
impactful
and
transformative
the
fairfree
transit
Pilots
have
been
here
in
Boston,
making
the
number
23
the
28
and
29
buses
for
free
has
allowed
students
to
get
to
and
from
school.
It
has
connected
people
to
jobs,
to
goods
and
essential
services
like
education
and
health
care.
It
has
helped
address
the
transit
gaps
that
have
deepened
the
racial
and
economic
disparities
in
our
Commonwealth.
B
The
data
and
the
benefits
are
clear:
when
we
lower
barriers
for
residents
to
ride
public
transit,
then
they
will
use
it.
These
are
the
types
of
Investments
that
we
should
be
making
those
that
make
our
communities
more
connected
and
that
directly
support
our
people.
As
someone
who
was
relied
on
public
transit
throughout
my
life
to
get
to
the
grocery
store
to
get
to
school,
to
get
to
medical
appointments,
I
know
how
life-changing
Fair
free
Transit
can
be
Transit.
Justice
is
a
racial
and
economic
justice
issue.
B
We
know
that
the
people
who
depend
on
public
transit,
the
most
are
mostly
black
brown
or
low
income.
The
average
Transit
commuter
spends
nearly
16
percent
of
their
annual
budget
on
Transit,
and
that
number
is
closer
to
30
percent
for
low-wage
workers
by
eliminating
fares
and
incentivizing
people
with
cars
to
take
public
transit
households
could
save
more
than
ten
thousand
dollars
a
year,
Fair
free
Transit.
B
This
is
the
type
of
bold
transformational
policies,
we're
supposed
to
advance
policies
that
go
as
deep
as
the
hurt
and
are
as
bold
as
our
aspirations
that
meet
people
at
their
needs
and
their
dreams.
That
is
what
Transportation
Justice
can
do.
It
is
also
climate
Justice.
Our
bill
will
help
us
meet
our
climate
goals
by
reducing
traffic
congestion
and
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
B
These
issues
are
intersectional
and
our
pursuit
of
Justice
must
include
them
all
I'll,
let
our
incredible
mayor
and
partners
and
again
I
think
at
large
counselors,
Louis,
Jean
and
Mejia
for
their
partnership
as
well
I'll.
Let
our
incredible
mayor
speak
to
the
impact
of
the
fair
free
pilot
program.
It
has
truly
been
a
game
changer
and
thank
you
once
again
to
my
senior
partner
in
good
trouble.
Senator,
Markey
and
now
I
will
bring
up
mayor
Wu.
C
C
Financial
crises
that
can
seemingly
come
out
of
nowhere
weather
events
or
climate
events
that
can
upend
lives
and
cause
tremendous
destruction
and
damage
all
around
the
world
and,
as
we
think
about
what
our
vision
is
for
Boston,
we
strive
to
be
that
city
that
is
providing
a
bit
of
respite
and
relief
and
comfort
for
our
residents
that
this
is
a
community.
That's
going
to
be
a
bedrock.
Community
stabilization
is
so
important
to
everything
that
we're
doing
that's.
C
Everything
in
between
you
need
to
be
able
to
get
around
to
where
you
need
to
go
in
the
city.
It
is
an
all
hands
on
deck
moment,
to
support
public
transportation
in
Massachusetts
and
in
Boston
particular,
and
that's
why
I'm
so
grateful
that
our
federal
delegation
once
again
is
stepping
up
to
ensure
we
are
rejecting
false
choices.
C
We
can't
be
a
community
and
a
society
that
says
we're
going
to
try
to
fix
the
T
and
make
it
reliable,
but
only
for
those
who
can
afford
it
that
we're
going
to
bring
the
service
improvements
and
make
it
run
smoother,
while
residents
get
priced
out
of
our
neighborhoods
and
can
no
longer
live
in
the
communities.
They've
built
up,
accessibility
having
everyone
be
able
to
reach
and
use
these
services,
including
Financial
accessibility,
has
to
go
hand
in
hand
with
reliability.
There's
no
other
way,
and
so
sometimes
people
will
say
well.
C
Why
would
you
prioritize
Fair
free
Transit
at
a
time
when
you
need
every
single
penny
going
to
make
the
system
more
reliable
and
make
those
fixes?
No
one
up
here
is
saying
that
we
have
the
luxury
to
delay
fixing
the
system,
but
in
fact
we
are
putting
forward
the
data
and
the
evidence
that
making
the
system
more
accessible
to
all
actually
improves
its
performance
and
reliability
as
well.
We
know
that
this
works
because
we've
been
measuring
every
bit
of
it
in
Boston
through
these
three
bus
routes
that
have
been
Fair
free
for
over
a
year.
C
Now
we
know
that
compared
to
the
entire
system,
these
are
the
routes
with
the
highest
ridership,
and
that
is
no
accident.
These
are
the
routes,
as
you
heard,
Senator
Markey
say
that
have
climbed
back
closest
to
their
pre-pandemic
levels,
at
nearly
double
the
rates
of
other
routes
that
are
not
as
financially
accessible.
As
you
heard,
the
congresswoman
say
these
are
routes
that
are
the
critical
links
to
all
the
pieces
of
people's
lives,
and
we
hear
the
difference
and
Miss
Forbes.
C
This
is
a
moment
where
everyone
has
to
rethink
how
we
fund
public
transportation,
the
old
ways
of
putting
it
all
on
the
backs
of
riders,
the
people
who
could
at
least
afford
to
figure
out
other
Alternatives
and
who
are
already
doing
the
most
to
promote
climate
Justice
and
reduce
traffic
and
all
the
other
benefits
that
public
transit
gives
us.
We
cannot
put
it
on
the
backs
of
our
essential
workers
and
families
who
are
already
riding
Transit.
This
has
to
be
funded
in
a
way
that
is
Equitable
to
all.
C
Just
as
how
we
fund
public
education,
we
don't
put
it
on
the
backs
of
families
to
say
figure
out
a
way
to
pay
for
everyone
to
benefit
from
us
having
the
most
educated
community
and
Workforce
in
the
country.
We
know
what
those
benefits
are
we
all
we
all
share
in
that,
and
so
whether
it
is
our
Legacy
as
a
city
of
being
the
first
to
declare,
we
are
going
to
go
all
in
on
creating
Public
Schools.
C
C
We
are
routinely
at
the
top
of
the
rankings
for
how
intense
our
traffic
congestion
is
in
our
incredible
chief
of
streets,
Chief,
Franklin,
Hodge
and
vineet
from
the
transportation
department,
and
all
of
our
teams
are
working
on
every
angle
that
we
can
to
fix
that.
But
there
is
a
key
at
the
at
the
the
root
of
that
is
making
sure
that
people
have
other
Alternatives
that
they
can
rely
on.
It
doesn't
take
that
much
to
improve
traffic.
C
We
just
need
our
transportation
system
to
be
truly
accessible
to
all,
and
so
I
also
want
to
thank
the
governor
and
the
new
general
manager
for
being
extremely
responsive
and
looking
to
work
with
the
city
and
all
of
our
partners
and
moving
things
as
quickly
as
possible.
We
know
they
are
a
key
partner
in
making
sure
that
again,
we're
not
choosing
one
or
the
other,
but
reliability
and
accessibility
are
fundamental
for
all.
C
So
thank
you
so
much
to
Senator,
Markey
and
congresswoman
Presley
for
elevating
this
at
the
national
level
for
fighting
for
the
resources
that
will
enable
us
to
expand
the
benefits
that
we've
already
seen
right
here
in
Boston,
with
the
pilot
that
has
been
working
really
well
and
I
want
to
thank
and
hand
it
over
to
Stacy
Thompson
from
livable
streets,
her
organization
and
her
leadership.
Their
research
has
really
laid
the
case
even
before
we
stepped
into
this.
C
This
pilot,
for
why
having
Fair
free
bus
would
be
a
huge
benefit
not
only
for
the
climate
and
for
a
cleaner
air
and
for
affordability,
but
for
the
system
to
run
better
for
the
buses
to
go
faster,
and
we
know
that
fair,
free
bus
everywhere
across
the
state,
through
the
MBTA
system
and
through
all
of
the
other
regional
transit
authorities,
will
have
a
huge
impact.
We
continue
to
partner
with
them
on
working
on
that
at
the
state
level,
buses
are
the
fastest
way
to
make
improvements
in
our
public
transit
system.
C
D
D
And
Ken
when
I
say,
public
transit
is
a
public
good
louder.
Public
transit
is
a
holy
ghost.
That
is
what
we
believe
in
the
state
of
Massachusetts,
and
that
is
why
we
are
here
today.
Thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
as
I
Was
preparing
my
remarks.
I
thought
that
I
would
take
a
look
back
to
2019
and
2020
headlines.
D
As
mayor
mentioned,
we
started
putting
out
some
research
that
was
like
hey,
it's
actually
pretty
cheap
to
make
buses
free
and
at
the
time
the
globe
wrote
about
the
wild
idea
of
free
Transit
boston.com
said
The.
Fringe
idea
of
Transit
was
picking
up
steam.
More
recently,
a
national
publication
said.
Free
Transit
is
a
distraction
from
the
real
work
and
I
laughed
at
these
headlines,
because
if
you
look
at
the
data,
the
real
data
instead
of
the
hyperbolic
headlines,
the
reality
is
free
Transit
is
working
in
Massachusetts.
D
We
are
not
coming
with
alarm
as
hot
takes.
We
are
doing
the
work
and
we
are
bringing
the
receipts.
As
Senator
Markey
mentioned,
we
are
seeing
massive
Transit
improvements
in
Boston,
Merrimack,
Valley
and
Worcester.
What
what
140
percent
ridership
means
is
that
more
people
are
riding
Transit
today
in
places
where
Transit
is
free
than
they
were
in
2019
and
that
these
systems
are
bucking
the
trends
of
downward
Transit
ridership
that
was
happening
before
the
pandemic.
We
are
reversing
the
negative
narrative
about
Transit.
D
We
need
support
from
the
federal
government
to
make
Transit
great
again
in
Massachusetts
and
great
across
the
country.
This
is
what
the
freedom
to
move
Act
is
designed
to
do
so,
just
like
the
sign
on
this
gloomy
day
that
keeps
optimistically
trying
to
poke
out
and
be
hopeful.
I
am
actually
hopeful
about.
E
Hi,
my
name
is
Connie
floors,
I'm
a
long
time
resident
of
Boston
and
I've
taken
the
team.
Most
of
my
life,
all
over
the
city
of
Boston
and
I,
will
say
that.
Oh
sorry,
I
will
say
that
my
experience
with
the
T
with
this
new
program
has
been
very
positive,
I'm
happy
to
say
that
residents
in
my
community
no
longer
have
to
worry
about
getting
money
for
the
tea,
and
now
they
can
put
that
money
towards
food
and
groceries,
which
are
now
skyrocketing
out
of
control.
E
In
a
lot
of
a
lot
of
ways
in
terms
of
asthma,
we
have
one
of
the
highest
asthma
rates
in
the
entire
area,
and
that
is
of
a
concern.
So
if
we
can
get
people
to
ride
the
tea
and
help
towards
getting
the
asthma
rates,
lower
that'd
be
fantastic.
I
took
the
28
bus
here
today
and
it's
nice
to
have
our
drivers
be
able
to
pay
attention
to
driving,
which
is
their
job
versus
having
to
be
the
fair
box
police
people
for
the
MBTA.
E
That's
important,
because
we've
I've
seen
fights
break
out
on
the
tee
and
and
now
with
the
new
system
in
place.
We
don't
have
that.
We
don't
see
that
and
I'm
not
sure
what
else
to
speak
about,
but
everything
I've
seen
so
far
for
this
program
is
fantastic.
I
apologize,
I'm,
not
a
great
speaker,
I'm,
just
talking
to
you
about
what
I
see
and
what
I'm
experiencing,
but
I
do
say
that
this
program
should
be
expanded
to
other
parts
of
the
city.
E
We
have
a
the
Roxbury
Dorchester
Mattapan
lines
are
really
high:
Family
Lines
people
who
have
multiple
kids,
summon
strollers,
some
being
some
walking,
and
some
may
have
some
medical
issues
and
having
that
ability
to
get
on
the
doors
where
they
need
to.
So,
in
other
words,
you
don't
have
to
go
to
the
front
door.
You
go
to
the
back
door,
you
get
on
much
more
quickly.
The
traffic
moves
more
smoothly.
E
It's
been
great
because
we
could
literally
you're
not
waiting
you're,
actually
moving
and
that
that's
been
a
big
plus
and
then
the
buses
are
running
more
steadily.
We
don't
have
a
backlog
of
buses
coming
four
and
five
at
a
time,
you're
able
to
move
through
traffic
and
show
up
in
a
more
a
better
pattern.
E
So
that's
been
really
positive
and
I'm
I'm,
seeing
so
many
good
things
with
this
and
again
I'm
really
hopeful
that,
if
you're
able
to
help
to
expand
the
program
to
other
parts
of
the
city
of
Boston,
so
that
our
kids
can
experience,
perhaps
the
museum
of
science,
which
is
a
hard
it's
hard
to
get
to.
Because
you
know,
even
if
you
get
a
transfer,
you
gotta
get
transfer
there
transfer
back
and
it
does
add
money
but
it.
E
F
F
F
Then
your
people
are
able
to
pay
for
food
they're
able
to
do
other
things,
that
is,
that
fairs
have
a
bigger
percentage
of
their
monthly
expenses,
and
so
when
we
eliminate
that
we're
really
doing
the
work
of
the
people
and
for
me
the
role
as
a
new
policy
maker
in
the
city
of
Boston.
It's
all
about
looking
at
what
is
regressive
and
doing
what
we
can
to
make
the
lives
easier
for
folks
who
have
a
hard
time
in
our
city.
So
I
appreciate
that
I
appreciate
being
here
at
regular
station.
F
It's
the
station
I
got
off
as
a
teenager,
going
to
middle
school
and
high
school.
My
dad
also
got
off
here
at
ruggle
station,
as
he's
working
right
here
at
Northeastern,
not
that
cool
riding
the
tea
with
your
dad,
but
it's
important.
It
shows
that
families
depend
on
the
teeth.
It's
not
one
person,
it's
families
can
depend
on
the
tea
and
when
we
invest
in
it
we're
really
helping
families
so
I.
F
Thank
you,
Senator
Martin,
to
helping
families
congresswoman
mayor
to
people
like
me,
my
dad
for
Connie
and
for
everyone
who
depends
on
the
T
so
really
excited
by
the
work
that
the
city
is
doing.
We
are
really
a
national
example
and
we
can
walk
into
gum
at
the
same
time,
which
means
we
can
make
fares
free
and
we
can
improve
our
system.
Thank
you.
A
Excellent
job,
so
I
just
want
to
say
my
father
was
a
Milkman
at
the
hood
milk
company,
so
he
just
had
to
go
up
to
the
Fellsway,
get
on
the
bus
to
go
into
Sullivan
station
to
work
on
the
bus
and
then
come
home
on
the
bus.
I
was
a
commuter
to
BC
and
BC
law
school
and
it's
a
long
way
from
the
felsway
on
the
first
bus
to
Sullivan,
switching
at
Park
to
go
out
to
BC
and
then
back
in
the
course
of
the
day.
A
A
Okay,
yes,
you
know,
congresswoman,
Presley
and
I
have
now
introduced
this
legislation
for
three
years
and
we
are
going
to
continue
to
Advocate
for
something
that
makes
sense,
and
we
can
see
it
obviously
in
the
condition
of
the
T
today
and
how
many
people
it
negatively
impacts
when
it
doesn't
work,
and
so
they
have
free
Transit
is
just
an
extension
of
that
for
poor
people
who
can't
afford
the
car.
He
can't
afford
the
tea
either
to
get
to
school,
to
get
to
work,
to
go
to
their
doctor's
appointment.
B
Well,
every
time
we
introduce
it,
we
gain
more
supporters,
and
so
it's
important
that
we
just
keep
the
momentum
up.
It's
our
job
as
policy
makers
to
advance
policies
that
are
responsive
to
the
needs
of
the
people
and
again
public
transit
is
a
public
good,
and
we
need
to
make
those
Investments
to
ensure
that
it
is
Equitable
that
it
is
accessible,
that
it
is
sustainable
and
that
it
focuses
on
connectivity,
because
we
can
do
the
work
of
making
housing.
B
That
is
a
more
affordable
jobs
that
pay
people
a
living
wage,
but
if
they
can't
get
to
any
of
it,
it
doesn't
matter.
Moreover,
I
do
just
want
to
say
that
it
is
demoralizing
when
you
cannot
simply
get
to
where
you
need
to
go
and
I
want
to
lift
up.
In
particular,
our
constituents
who
are
living
with
disabilities
I
have
written
public
transit
with
many
with
some
of
our
constituents,
and
our
leaders
in
the
disability,
Justice
space
and
I
just
wanted
to
be
sure
to
Center
them
in
this
as
well.
B
G
Your
concerns
about
the
serious
safety
issues
on
the
MBTA.
Can
you
talk
about
putting
the
money
towards
free
fares
versus
I
know
that
the
mayor
said
it's
not
one
or
the
other,
but
in
some
ways
some
people
may
say
you
already
have
a
shortage
of
people
working
for
the
team.
Then
we
have
safety
issues
on
top
of
that.
Our
free
fares
really
where
we
need
to
spend
our
money.
A
A
Historically,
we
haven't
been
able
to
see
these
people
black
brown,
immigrant,
disabled
people
in
our
society
and
we've
helped
to
lift
the
Gaze
of
people
to
the
constellation
of
possibilities
for
their
lives
and
pre-transit
is
a
big
part
of
it.
Access
to
education
to
health
care,
it's
all
a
big
part
of
it.
B
I,
just
I
just
think
it's
a
a
burden
for
Riders
to
feel
that
they
have
to
choose
between
safety
and
service.
Riders
should
not
have
to
choose
between
safety
and
service,
and
as
someone
who
served
on
the
municipal
level
for
eight
years,
it's
one
of
the
things
I
found
most
frustrating
is
that
these
unjust
binary
choices
are
often
foisted
onto
us.
You
know
we
don't
have
to
make
these
choices
because
people
deserve
both
both
safety
and
service.
C
Sat
on
this
front
in
particular,
it
costs
a
tremendous
amount
of
money
to
collect
money
from
from
Riders
and
the
T
right
now,
several
years
back
had
put
forward
nearly
a
billion
dollars
for
a
whole
new
Fair
collection
system.
That
would
involve
installing
stations
at
various
convenience
stores
and
other
locations
so
that
there
would
be
a
a
card
loading
station
within
a
quarter
mile,
walk
of
various
bus
stops
and
complicated
algorithms
to
figure
out
where
they
should
go,
and
this
and
that
and
that
this
that
is
now
years
delayed.
C
There
is
nearly
a
billion
dollars
on
the
table
right
now
to
find
a
way
to
collect
fares
better
because
the
tea
itself
acknowledges
that
it
slows
the
buses
down.
It
increases
our
operational
costs
for
everyone
to
line
up
at
each
bus,
stop
dig
through
their
bags,
find
their
card
or
uncrinkle
the
dollars
and
feed
it
through.
We
see
tremendous
benefits
and
savings
from
getting
rid
of
fair
collection,
especially
for
buses,
and
it
makes
the
operations
run
better.
We
know
that
this
is
a
sometimes
a
red
herring
about.
C
C
H
The
dynamic
of
Washington
right
now,
free
Transit,
really
is
going
to
be
more
space
issue
for
you
know
I'm.
So
what
is
the
goal
here
at
the
state
level?
Is
it
you
know,
while
you
guys
are
working
to
build
more
support
in
DC?
Is
the
goal
to
push
the
governor
and
the
T
to
accelerate
their
timeline
for
its
Fair
free
buses.
B
I
think
it's
just
built
again:
just
we
need
partnership
at
every
level.
We
did
just
pass
the
fair
share
Amendment
on
the
ballot,
and
so
that's
going
to
give
us.
You
know
shout
out
to
everybody
who
worked
hard
to
pass,
that
and
to
the
electorate
who
saw
how
critical
it
was
that
people
pay
their
fair
share
so
that
we
can
make
those
critical
investments
in
public
education
and
public
transit.
A
B
A
What
was
considered
unrealistic
four
years
ago
is
now
the
governing
principle
of
the
city
of
Boston
and
other
cities
are
now
emulating,
Boston,
not
just
here
but
around
the
world.
So
we're
not
just
the
Bay
State
we're
the
brain
State
as
well,
so
we
figure
it
out.
First,
we
can
see
where
the
problems
are.
We
identify
them
and
now.
A
D
My
favorite
question
I
do
actually
I'm
hearing
some
skepticism,
so
I
also
just
want
to
shout
out
that
one
of
the
most
successful
Carefree
efforts
in
the
country
is
in
Kansas
City,
so
I
know
you
all
think
that
this
is
a
blue
issue,
but
fair
free
Transit
is
being
advanced
in
La.
It
is
being
advanced
in
red
states,
it
is
being
advanced
in
Washington
DC
and
we
also
secured
more
money
for
Transit
than
than
in
history
in
the
most
recent
infrastructure
package.
D
So
I
do
not
think
that
this
is
Dead
on
Arrival
I
just
want
to
like
we
got
to
keep
the
momentum
up,
and
let's
not
pretend
that
this
is
only
us
to
answer
your
question
about
what
how
to
get
involved.
So
one
public,
transit
public
good,
has
a
petition
that
is
focused
on
low
income
fairs,
which
we
are
also
fighting
for
in
the
short
term.
If
you
have
questions
I'm
going
to
have
Suzanna
raise
her
hand
over
here,
you
can
sign
up
as
I
mentioned.
D
So
if
you
care
about
that
right
to
your
state
representatives
and
the
governor
directly
asking
them
to
use
the
money
that
they
have
the
authority
to
do,
to
give
municipalities
more
resources
to
advance
this
work
and
then,
if
you
want
to
get
involved
in
the
long
term,
you
can
also
reach
out
to
my
organization,
livable
streets
and
my
colleague
Catherine,
who
is
hiding
back
there,
can
help
you
with
email
addresses
Etc.
So
there
are
lots
of
ways
at
the
local
level.
Many
organizations
and
many
efforts
to
get
involved.
A
Well,
yeah,
it's!
This
is
a
new
idea.
It's
a
in
Boston
is
a
pioneering
City
in
advancing
this
idea.
Congresswoman
Presley
and
I
were
successful
in
the
American
Rescue
plan
and
adding
more
money
for
mass
transit
that
could
be
used
for
a
fair,
free,
Transit
here
in
Boston
and
around
the
country.
So
we've
we've
built
the
foundation,
and
now
we
have
to
go
to
work
to
get
a
majority.
A
Obviously
a
Kevin
McCarthy,
LED
House
Representatives
is
not
the
optimal
environment
to
be
working
in,
but
I
can
tell
you
that
there
is
a
massive
support
amongst
Democrats
in
the
Senate
and
we
control
the
Senate.
So
we're
going
to
continue
to
work
in
order
to
get
us
a
resolution
of
the
issue
to
make
sure
that
there
is
more
funding
to
get
into
the
hands
of
great
leaders
like
mayawu
Congressman.
B
Yeah
I
mean
again,
we
just
have
to
amplify
the
examples
where
this
is
proven
and
where
we
have
seen
people's
quality
of
life
and
even
their
station
in
life,
improve
exponentially
by
having
access
to
Fair
free
public
transportation.
It
reminds
me
very
much
of
when
we
first
started
banging
the
drum
on
student
debt
cancellation.
B
It
was
an
issue
that
people
saw
as
Fringe
as
radical
as
not
likely
to
be
one
that
would
be
viable
and
we
just
kept
up
the
pressure
until
ultimately,
the
president
did
act
by
executive
action
and
now
we're
keeping
up
the
pressure
on
the
Supreme
Court,
because
I
do
believe
that
the
president
does
have
a
sound,
sound
legal
ground
to
use
executive
action
to
cancel
student
debt.
But
the
point
is
we
built
a
coalition,
we
built
a
movement
and
ultimately
we
saw
action
and
the
same
will
be
true
here.
B
E
If
you
have
a
cup
of
coffee
from
Starbucks
or
you
have
a
cup
or
something
at
Stop
and
Shop,
a
lot
of
the
folks
who
are
using
those
bus
lines
are
coming
from
those
communities
and
so
you're,
enabling
them
to
get
to
their
jobs
and
be
able
to
afford
to
keep
those
jobs.
Because,
right
now
a
lot
of
my
neighbors
are
being
priced
out
of
this
community,
and
this
is
actually
going
towards
helping
them
to
be
able
to
stay
and
be
able
to
provide
the
underpinning
for
the
city
of
Boston.
E
So
again,
if
this
program
can
be
expanded
so
that
we
continue
to
build
on
that
population.
People
who
are
working
towards-
and
you
know
supporting
the
city
that'd
be
wonderful.
So
it's
not
just
about
one
group
of
people
in
one
part
of
the
city.
That's
right,
everyone's
connect
and
it
impacts
you.
You
may
not
realize
it,
but
it's
indirectly
impacting
everything
that
you're
doing
in
the
community.
A
Dollars
of
funding
for
green
Energy
Technologies
in
our
country
and
no
one
would
have
been
would
have
been
predicting
that
in
2021
someone
would
run
for
mayor
of
Boston
on
a
green
New
Deal
platform,
but
she
did
and
she
won
so
Boston
is
usually
right,
but
too
soon
for
other
parts
of
the
country,
so
we're
just
starting
okay,
but
ultimately
our
views
almost
invariably
adopted
by
the
rest
of
the
country.
So
we
take
one
final
question.
A
Okay,
I
I
will
let
Ayanna
answer,
but
I
think
that
what
the
governor
is
doing
is
complementary
to
what
the
mayor
is
doing
and
complementary
to
what
we're
trying
to
achieve.
You
know
it
just
shows
that
there
is
in
fact
now
a
political
space,
four
or
three
of
free
Transit,
and
that
is
being
embraced
at
the
state
and
the
city
level,
and
all
of
it
is
complementary.
It's
all
coming
together
with
a
common
view
that
we
have
to
do
something.
C
C
Again
we're
already
things
specific
communities
like
Lawrence
and
Worcester
are
taking
that
up
on
their
own,
so
I
think
the
state
has
to
do
it
right,
but
we
are
in
a
different
place.
The
low-income
discounted
fare
measure
had
been
previously
passed
by
the
legislature,
supported
by
the
MBTA
board
and
then
vetoed
by
a
former
Governor,
which
was
a
huge
setback,
and
so
we're
politically
in
a
different
in
a
different
world.
Right
now,
do
we
feel
impatient
about
the
pace
that
things
are
going.
C
I
am
always
impatient
about
how
fast
things
are
going
and
we
always
want
to
make
sure
that
Boston
can
have
the
maximum
room
to
to
work
on
this.
We
continue
to
work
on
how
we'll
expand
our
existing
pilot
at
the
city
level,
including
conversations
with
neighboring
municipalities
about
routes
that
might
cross
our
Municipal
borders,
but
we
are
cheering
hard
for
the
state
to
move
as
fast
as
they
can,
because
we
do
need
everyone,
city,
state
and
federal,
to
do
this
together.
C
I
A
B
H
Democrats
state
democratic
party
is
electing
a
new
chair
tonight,
I
just
kind
of
wanted
to
open
this
up
to
anything,
you
want
to
answer
to
answer:
Democrats
control,
every
major
Office
of
the
State
super
majority
of
the
legislature.
So
where
does
the
party
go
from
here?
What
are
the
goals
that
you
want
to
see?
The
news.
B
B
Okay,
so
Democrats
need
to
organize
and
all
the
time
we
need
to
do
the
work
of
Engagement
and
mobilization
all
the
time,
because
organized
power
is
realized
power
and
who
votes
determines
who's
elected
and
whose
elected
determines
the
policies
and,
as
we
have
seen,
the
policies
determine
who
lives
who
dies?
Who
survives,
who
thrives.
So
in
a
democratic
mind
in
the
minority
in
the
house
right
now,
we've
got
two
years
to
make
the
affirmative
case
for
Democrats
I
believe
that
we
will
do
it.
B
We
are
already
winning
you
see:
The
unionization
Happening
throughout
the
country.
You
see
the
number
of
cities
that
are
adopting
a
green
New,
Deal
policies.
You
see
red
States,
blue
States,
who
are
affirming
that
access
to
abortion
care
matters
to
them,
we're
already
winning
when
it
comes
to
the
issues,
and
now
we
have
to
make
sure
that
we
win
on
the
ground
and
that's
where
our
state
party
comes
into
play.
So
that
would
be
what
I
would
like
to
see
is
that
we
play
Big.
B
A
I'll
just
say
we:
we
have
to
continue
to
do
what
we
have
been
doing
at
The,
Cutting,
Edge,
same-sex
marriage,
renew
deal
strong
gun
safety
laws
and
then
say
we're
going
to
have
even
stronger
gun
safety
laws.
We're
going
to
be
the
green
New
Deal
state
we're
going
to
have
a
transgender
Bill
of
Rights
and
we'll
lead
on
that
nationally
as
well.
It
will
just
continue
to
be
out
in
the
leadership
for
our
nation
and
at
the
state.
Democratic
party
of
Massachusetts
will
be
that
engine
of
change.