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From YouTube: JPNDC Pitts Apartments Ribbon Cutting
Description
Join in as Mayor Janey gives remarks at a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of the JPNDC Pitts Apartments, a project to restore and preserve 201 affordable housing units in 21 buildings in Fort Hill, Nubian Square, and Roxbury.
A
I
often
start
my
morning
with
a
quote
from
maya
angelou,
and
so
I
just
want
to
share
that
quote,
and
it
is
essentially
that
when
you
have
an
attitude
of
gratitude,
you
wake
up
every
morning
with
a
thank
you,
and
although
this
isn't
the
morning
with
this
incredible
assembly
of
phenomenal
human
beings,
I
think
we
can
say
another.
Thank
you
for
the
afternoon
for
the
sun
coming
up,
but
also
for
what
we're
going
to
really
just
embrace
here
today.
A
I
want
to
start
by
saying
thank
you
to
the
residents
of
this
incredible
housing
portfolio,
and
I
know
there
are
a
number
of
funders
and
lenders
and
others
who
won't,
who
won't
be
shy
in
saying
to
me,
or
at
least
sharing
with
all
of
us.
I
think
the
same
sentiment
that
I
do
to
say
that
it
is
the
people
first
that
we
share,
thanks
for
when
we
are
working,
as
we
often
do
in
community
with
community.
A
A
A
A
Okay,
so
2016
we
got
a
phone
call
at
the
jp
dc.
There
was
about
201
units
that,
were
you
know,
many
of
them
at
risk
of
loss
to
the
market
and
jpndc,
as
you
know,
primarily,
is
a
community-based
organization
that
works
in
jamaica,
plain
in
terms
of
its
housing
portfolio.
But
many
of
you
probably
don't
know
that
we
in
terms
of
our
economic
prosperity,
work
our
work
to
sustain
and
really
bring
forward
the
families
who
are
looking
to
shift
their
economic
mobility
forward.
A
That
work
actually
takes
place
across
the
city
of
boston
in
a
very
big
way.
So
when
we
we
were
in
the
middle
of
a
strategic
plan
and
we
got
a
call
to
be
an
active
partner
in
one
of
these,
you
know
all
of
these
affordable
housing
deals
are
mind-numbingly
painful
in
terms
of
the
financing
structures
and
the
tax
credits
and
the
various
lenders
and
sources
of
funding,
and
all
of
that,
but
the
point
was
there
were
going
to
be
150
units.
A
Some
of
them
were
gonna,
maybe
see
a
little
bit
of.
Maybe
I
don't
know
that
were
at
risk
of
loss
to
the
market.
So
imagine
that
amazing
building
in
what
we
call
lower
roxbury
mission
hill
fort
hill,
that
kind
of
area
was
going
to
be
lost
to
the
market,
and
so
it
wasn't
a
question
of
whether
it
was
how
and
how
we
do
that
with
our
partners.
A
A
So
she
looked
at
our
rehab
scope
and
said
now.
We
know
better
we're
going
to
have
to
figure
out
how
to
find
additional
resources,
because
this
is
not
going
to
be
good
enough
for
what
we
find
behind
the
walls,
and
we
understood
that,
but
she
carried
the
mantle,
and
so
we
had
to
expand
the
construction
scope
and
we
had
to
go
back
to
our
lenders
and
we
had
to
explain
that
at
least
one
individual.
You
know
some
of
us
were
like
willing
to
figure
out.
A
You
know
sometimes
you're
finding
ways
to
prioritize
scope,
but
there
was
no
getting
around
her.
Her
principles
were
we're
going
to
do
everything
that
we
can.
We
are
not
going
to
cherry-pick
the
safety
and
the
care
and
the
consideration
that
goes
into
these
units,
so
we
increase
the
scope
by
eight
million
dollars.
Eight
million
dollars.
A
A
A
A
B
Thank
you
and
thank
you
terranda,
we're
we're
very
happy
that
you're
in
the
role
that
you're
in
and
I
haven't
been
to,
I
missed
the
the
the
last
housing
event
with
jp
dc.
So
this
is
the
first
time
I've
been
with
you
in
a
public
event
and
congratulations
on
your
new
job
kind
of
new
we're
just
thrilled
that
you're
there.
So
I
agree
preserving
what
we
have
in
the
city
is
so
important.
You
know
we
want
to
build.
We
want
to.
We
want
to
build
that
better.
B
We
want
to
continue
to
build
affordable
housing,
but
if
we
don't
hang
on
to
what
we
have
we,
we
will
this
families
will
be
harmed
and
we
won't
have
net
new,
affordable
homes.
So
I
too
want
to
thank
the
jp
dc
and
I
too
want
to
thank
the
residents.
This
was
tough.
We
heard
from
you
along
the
way,
but
every
single
time
there
was
an
issue.
We
called
the
jp
ndc
called
the
management
company
and
they
were
there
to
help.
So
it
was
well
done.
B
I
just
I
my
I
have
a
role
to
introduce
the
mayor
today
and
I'm
really
happy
to
do
that
and
when
I
was
quickly
drafting
a
few
remarks
on
my
way
here.
I
started
to
think
about
mayor
janie's,
commitment
to
affordable
housing
and
I
started
to
say,
okay,
I
know
we've
been
working
on
a
lot
of
things
together,
but
let's
take
off
some
of
those
things
and
in
the
just
in
the
last
several
months.
Let
me
tell
you
what
this
woman
has
been
up
to,
so
she
got
a
the
new
fiscal
year.
B
22
budget
passed
with
the
21
increase
for
affordable
housing
and
affordable
housing
programs,
21
increase
she
because
we
all
love
the
aop
program.
The
acquisition
program
that
helped
do
this
project
she
secured
through
negotiations
with
the
city
council,
an
extra
20
million
dollars
for
that
program,
tripling
its
size
this
year.
So
that's
that's
one
of
my
favorites
we're
all
getting
arp
money,
we're
very
excited
about
that.
That's
the
federal
relief
money.
B
That's
coming
and
mayor
janie
has
said
that
she
wants
additional,
affordable
housing
created
from
that
especially
affordable
home
ownership
for
our
families
and
finally,
and
three
or
four
months
ago,
I
stood
with
her
as
we
announced
50
million
dollars
for
rental
relief
to
help
people
stay
in
their
homes
after
the
pandemic,
and
that's
just
been
the
last
several
months.
So
I
want
to
give
everyone
to
give
it
up
to
to
our
mayor.
Our
housing
mayor,
mayor
kim
james.
C
C
C
You
and
your
entire
team
are
so
incredible,
and
I
wish
that
anyone
for
the
office
of
neighborhood
development
would
please
raise
your
hand.
I
know
I
saw
some
staff
earlier
today.
Carrie
is
here.
Thank
you.
So
much
your
entire
team
is
incredible.
Just
yesterday
we
were
celebrating
not
a
ribbon
cutting,
but
a
passing
of
the
keys
in
chinatown,
another
community,
like
roxbury,
that
has
been
hard
hit
when
it
comes
to
rising
cost
of
housing
and
to
be
able
to
take
a
row.
C
C
Crystal
all,
I
could
say
was
I'm
glad
I
don't
have
to
follow
crystal.
You
are
just
so
fierce
and
I'm
just
so
grateful
for
the
work
that
you
do
every
single
day,
and
this
takes
a
partnership.
It
takes
all
of
us
at
the
local
level,
at
the
community
level,
at
the
city
level
and
at
the
state,
and
so
I
am
just
so
pleased
to
continue
to
be
able
to
work
with
you
and
partnership
to
be
at
yet
another
ribbon
cutting
celebrating
affordable
housing
in
our
community.
C
C
C
C
Here
in
roxbury,
we've
seen
the
cost
of
housing
go
up
by
70
percent
in
a
five-year
period,
and
so
prioritizing
rental
relief,
prioritizing
home
ownership
opportunities,
making
sure
that
we
are
doing
more
to
invest
in
aop
and
in
our
land.
Trust
is
so
important
making
sure
that
we're
doing
everything
to
prioritize
the
residents
of
this
community
so
that
they
can
stay
in
a
neighborhood
that
they
call
home,
is
so
important
201
units
we
were
able
to
save
and
preserve
with
investments
from
the
city
and
the
state
and
lenders.
C
C
People
often
bring
a
lot
of
concerns,
a
lot
of
issues,
but
we're
able
to
work
through
that
together
as
a
community
as
a
neighborhood
and
we'll
continue
to
do
that.
Work
together.
As
we
push
forward
with
housing
all
across
our
city
to
meet
the
needs
of
residents
in
boston
and
doing
that
work
in
partnership
with
folks
like
jp
in
dc,
so
thank
you
so
much
for
this
project
for
getting
it
right
for
starting
off
starting
us
off
with
gratitude
and
quotes
from
maya
angelou.
C
A
A
A
We
don't
do
this
because
we
we
we
like
to
do
it.
This
is
our
way
of
paying
forward
and
I'm
going
to
talk
about
a
woman
whose
shoulders
we
all
stand
on
later.
But
this
is
why
we
do
this
work.
It
is
personal
because
I
grew
up
much
like
many
of
us
in
the
city
of
boston
in
public
housing
whose
mom
you
know
shifted
and
so
phenomenal
women
crystal
your
principles.
A
D
D
D
D
E
E
My
name
is
phaedra
bruton
page
I'm
a
mother
biologically
of
five
children,
two
step
children,
30
grand
seven
great-grandchildren
I've
been
a
tenant
of
lorenzo
pitts
jpndc
for
over
25
years
and
living
in
my
community
over
50.
I've
watched
people
come
and
go.
I
have
watched
people
lose
their
apartments,
lose
their
children
lose
their
lives.
E
I'm
praying
for
more
unity
to
expand
amongst
our
tenants
and
the
staff
so
that
we
as
a
whole
can
train
our
youth
and
our
communities
on
how
to
make
our
community
equal
and
better
for
all
of
us
to
live
here
with
the
knowledge
and
the
financial
awareness.
We
will
make
a
better
future
without
us,
as
adults.
Standing
respecting
each
other
and
directing
our
children
will
not
make
a
good
future
for
us.
E
E
E
E
E
So
at
the
end
of
the
day,
I'm
so
grateful
to
to
you
all
for
you
all
helping
me
to
make
awareness
to
the
people
in
my
community
that
they
do
that
you
do
care
about
them
and
all
the
killings
that
have
happened
in
my
community.
I
truly
don't
believe
united.
We
stand
divided,
we
fall,
may
god
keep
blessing
each
and
every
one
of
you
and
may
we
we
may
we
live
long
enough
to
build
a
better,
bigger
and
better
community
together.
Thank
you.
A
All
right,
so
how
are
we
feeling
all
right
good,
because
we
have
a
lot
of
people
to
thank
a
lot
of
people
to
embarrass
okay,
so
bear
with
us.
You
know
I
was
out
in
great
barrington
a
couple
weeks
ago,
home
of
booker
t,
I'm
sorry
scratch
that
wb.
I
got
wb
and
booker
t
on
my
mind,
but
but
stay
with
me
for
a
second.
A
A
The
booker
t
washington
said
that
success
is
to
be
measured,
not
so
much
by
the
person
that
one
has
reached
in
or
personhood
or
position
that
one
has
reached
in
life
but
by
the
obstacles
which
we've
overcome
and
and
this
team
that
I'm
going
to
thank
right
now
about
the
obstacles
and
we've
alluded
to
some
of
them.
I
just
want
to
say
first
of
all
we're
all
a
little
grayer.
A
So
I'm
going
to
go
out
of
sequence.
If
that's
okay,
I
want
to
start
with
a
little
phenomenal
woman
who
snuck
in
miss
leslie
reed.
She
received
the
phone
call
and
said
not
whether,
but
how
leslie
reed
was
the
real
estate
director
of
jp
dc
at
the
time
and
she's.
I
call
her
my
big
sister
now,
but
really
she
was
my
mentor
and
there
wasn't
there
weren't
many
people
in
the
city
of
boston
who
could
have
figured
this
deal
out.
A
Actually,
I
only
really
believed
that
there
were
two
you
and
crystal
that's
it
and
peter
monkenbeck
who's,
always
in
the
background
pushing
the
phenomenal
women
to
get
to
become
more
phenomenal,
but
really
those
spreadsheets
how
many
versions
100,
maybe
just
to
get
us
started.
So
thank
you,
leslie
and
crystal
for
kicking
this
thing
off.
A
I
want
to
talk
about
the
construction
team.
Where
are
you
guys
raise
your
hands
there?
You
go
all
right,
yeah
see.
I
said
what
about
the
hair
and
gray
and
all
that
stuff?
Okay,
I
don't
know.
If
do
we
have
t-a-t
here
there
you
go:
deandra
greg,
rocklin,
deidre
horan
and
my
friend
john
sullivan,
the
number
of
hours
we
spent
in
that
hot
room
before
this
building
was
renovated,
trying
to
figure
out
how
to
fit
the
square
peg
in
a
round
hole.
A
There
were
very
few
choice.
Words
spoken.
There
was
a
lot
of
tension,
but
it
was
healthy
tension
and
I
have
to
say
of
those
construction
meetings
that
I
attended.
I
could
never
have
been
more
impressed
by
the
creativity
and
the
instant
decision
making
that
had
to
happen
when
we
we
found
some
some
significant
issues.
It
was
impressive,
and
sometimes
I
would
return
to
the
office
and
feel
like
all
right
today
is
going
to
be
the
day
this
construction
meeting.
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
We
have
a
special
gift
for
you,
madam
because
at
11
o'clock
at
night
I
get
a
phone
call
and
she
said
I'm
not
leaving
so
you
better
get
over
here
and
there
was
a
resident
who
had
a
situation
and
ricky
said
she
deserves
better
than
what
she's
getting
and
I
got
over
there.
I
didn't
ask
questions
when
ricky
says
she's,
not
leaving.
You
know
you
gotta
get
there
and
that
resident
was
safe
and
we
got
it
done.
One
o'clock
we
got
home,
that's
how
it
goes
at
the
jpmdc
ricky.
A
A
A
A
Bethany
and
tysha,
so
our
legal
team
really
thank
you.
I
I
don't
even
know
what
to
say.
We
don't
do
this
without
good
legal
representation,
but
we
we
call
joe
taisha
and
bethany
kind
of
the
the
glue
that
holds
it
all
together.
The
other
one's
up,
preparing
all
those
mind,
numbing
words
that
go
into
all
those
documents
that
we
have
to
actually
read
and
analyze.
We
wouldn't
be
able
to
understand
any
of
that
without
you,
we
appreciate
it
all
right.
I
think
I've
taken
enough
of
our
time.
A
A
A
A
We
understand
that
it
is
tough,
but
we
will
do
better
going
forward
and
we
appreciate
that
240
years
ago
someone
had
the
courage
to
stand
up
and
say
we
can
fix
this.
We
can
do
better,
we
don't
have
choices
but
to
do
better
and
we're
going
to
do
that.
Amen,
amen.
All
right!
Thank
you.
One.
Two
three.