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Description
Mayor Walsh is committed to having an administration that is accountable to all residents, no matter who you are or where you live. Commissioners Corner introduces you to your city leaders, who will showcase their agencies and discuss information that is important to everyone in this great city. On this episode, host Najya Mawasi is joined by John Barros, the City of Boston's Chief of Economic Development.
A
If
you
live
in
the
city
of
Boston,
you
may
have
noticed
a
herd
of
several
changes:
for
example,
a
new
letter
grading
system
for
restaurants,
new
housing
infrastructure
in
mere
Marty
Walsh's
recent
announcement
to
change
the
gender
wage
gap
in
Boston.
It's
the
first
attempt
in
the
country
by
a
major
city.
These
initiatives
are
all
part
of
Mayor
Walsh's
vision
to
service
residents
and
strengthen
Boston's
economic
status,
and
it's
up
to
chief
of
Economic
Development
John
barrows.
To
make
these
ideas
into
a
reality.
A
Mayor,
Walsh
and
chief
barrels
are
working
with
Boston
residents
to
help
them
prosper
within
an
ever-changing
city.
What's
the
economic
status
of
Boston
today,
what
are
some
ways
for
you
to
improve
your
financial
growth,
your
equity
and
help
others
chief
barrows
is
with
us
today.
He
will
answer
those
questions
for
you
in
a
moment
plus
more
including
two
new
initiatives:
a
citywide
small
business
plan
in
an
updated
ordinance
of
the
Boston
residents
job
policy.
A
But
first
you
should
know
that
Mayor
Walsh
appointed
John,
barrows
chief
of
economic
development
in
2014
before
his
appointment
John
was
the
executive
director
of
the
Dudley
Street
Neighborhood
initiative
for
13
years.
He
led
a
successful
neighborhood
without
revitalization
effort
in
the
largest
urban
community
land
trust
in
the
country,
which
was
founded
as
a
community
wealth
creation
strategy,
including
permanent,
affordable
housing,
chief
barrows
such
a
pleasure.
Thank
you.
B
A
You
honey,
Boston,
yeah,
good,
to
see
you
again.
It's
all
waited
to
see
Muslims
busy.
What's
a
good
thing.
Yes,
let's
go
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about.
You
have
a
background
in
economics.
That's
what
you
study
that
when
you
attended
college,
so
you're
pretty
familiar
with
money
and
how
it
moves
around.
What
is
your
role
as
chief
of
economic
development
in
your
responsibility
to
uphold
to
uphold
bosses?
You
know
Boston's
economy,
sure.
B
Yeah,
so
when
Mayor
Walsh
decided
to
create
a
cabinet
for
economic
development,
he
did
it
and
we
had
a
conversation.
He
said
look
John
are
our
responsibilities
are
twofold:
one
is
we
can
make
sure
that
the
city
is
boss
and
continuous,
have
a
strong
economy
and
grow?
Second,
we
can
make
sure
that
everybody
participates
in
that
economy,
that
everybody
prospers
from
the
growth
of
our
economy.
B
So
that's
what
we've
been
focusing
on
as
a
as
a
as
a
cabinet
making
sure
that
the
city
policies,
regulations
processes
are
helpful
to
the
growth
of
our
economy
and
making
sure
that
we're
stepping
in
with
initiatives
and
programs
to
give
a
chance
to
all
residents,
give
a
chance
to
all
businesses
to
take
advantage
of
the
growth
of
our
economy.
Okay,.
A
B
A
great
question
so
Boston's
been
growing,
rapidly
brothels
economy's
doing
really
well.
We
grew
five
point
three
percent
between
2013-2014.
We
continue
to
grow
in
our
growth,
City
product
measures,
Donald
Trump
and
the
policies
of
the
federal
government
impact
Boston.
But
what's
more
impactful
for
Boston
is
our
local
partnerships?
What's
more
impactful
Boston
is
our
relationship
to
state
governments?
B
Morse
more
impactful
for
boston
is
making
sure
that
our
small
businesses
are
doing
well,
making
sure
that
our
large
businesses
are
participating,
that
we
have
the
kind
of
local
regional
partnerships
that
we
can
leverage
to
continue
to
grow
and
make
sure
everybody
participate.
So
the
mayor
has
been
quick.
We're
going
to
protect
Boston,
protect
blossoms
values,
protect
Boston's
residents.
So
if
there
is
federal
policy
that
doesn't
help
move
the
city
forward
and
make
sure
everybody
participates,
we're
just
not
going
to
abide
by
it.
A
B
There
are
more
women
in
the
trade
unions,
there
are
more
minorities
in
the
city
back
to
CD
is
fifty-three
fifty-four
percent
minority,
and
so
we
wanted
to
update
those
numbers
and
those
goals.
So
we've
update
those
numbers
we
wanted
to
make
a
statement
with
the
resident
numbers
is
that
now
51%,
so
51
/
set
on
mine
or
a
majority
of
Boston
residents
will
participate
on
all
construction
projects
wanted
to
update
the
minority
numbers
from
twenty
five
percent
to
forty
percent.
B
It's
as
you
move
towards
being
more
representatives
of
our
city
on
all
the
projects
than
me.
I
want
to
make
a
statement
and
then,
lastly,
the
women
numbers
from
ten
percent
to
twelve
percent.
Let
me
tell
you:
those
are
the
hardest
numbers,
the
women
goals
to
hit
in
trade
and
I.
Think
you
know
this
right,
so
I
mean
just
jump.
Yeah.
B
The
twelve
percent
is
saying,
even
though
we've
it's
been
hard
to
hit
the
ten
percent
that
we
can't.
We
can't
stay
back
right
when
I
gotta
keep
it
at
temp.
So
we
need
to
make
a
statement
it's
at
twelve
percent,
and
now
we
need
to
make
headway
by
working
with
unions
and
construction
companies
and
trade
programs
and
all
to
make
sure
that
women
actually
are
becoming
part
of
the
labor
force
and
can
be
part
of
these
projects.
What.
B
B
Women,
don't
think
that
this
is
an
opportunity,
unity,
right,
I,
think
we've
got
to
go
out
and
do
some
recruitment.
Is
it
no?
No.
This
is
an
opportunity.
You
know
this
is
a
male-dominated
workforce,
it's
male
dominated
for
years,
and
so
how
do
I
go
to
a
young
woman
and
say?
Have
you
thought
about
this
as
an
opportunity?
And
then,
if
you
have,
let
me
give
you
some
opportunities
for
pre
apprenticeships
in
a
way
that
gives
you
in
the
in
on
the
journey
to
then
join
a
trade,
so
we
were
successful
as
a
city.
B
Program
in
Boston,
that's
right,
and
so
it's
care
to
women
is
making
sure
that
our
women
know
the
kind
of
opportunities
that
are
out
there,
that
they're
connected
to
the
right
mentors
that
they
have
the
kinds
of
exposure
to
VCS
or
venture
capitalists.
People
who
have
money
that
they
have
the
kind
of
technical
assistance
that
they
need
to
be
successful.
Entrepreneurs.
How.
A
B
Had
in
fact,
I
want
to
give
credit,
you
ask
that
question
I
want
to
get
credit
for
some
residents
that
have
been
working
with
us
on
to
be
rjp,
and
so
the
residents
that
make
up
the
coalition,
the
Boston
jobs
coalition
have
been
sitting
with
us
almost
on
a
bi-weekly
basis
right,
but
I've
done
a
lot
of
work.
I've
done
a
lot
of
research,
looking
at
the
percentages
looking
at
who's
on
jobs,
who's,
not
on
jobs
and
how
we
can
be
better
at
making
sure
more
of
our
residents
are
participating
in
the
economy.
B
They
helps
us
do
this,
so
we
start
with
them
for
a
very
long
time.
We
then
SAT
with
small
business
owners
that
are
either
in
the
trades
or
part
of
these
projects.
We
certainly
SAT
with
us
some
of
the
construction
management
firm
that
we
have
in
the
city.
The
mayor
had
a
conversation
with
the
trades
we
had
a
conversation
with
the
trades
I'd
have
to
say.
Brian
doherty
has
been
amazing
to
work
with
from
the
trades
leadership
standpoint.
There
were
conversations
at
all
of
those
tables
that
got
us
to
a
point.
B
A
B
They
said
you
know,
I
mean
I,
think
the
the
the
story
that
that
rings,
true
in
when
you
sit
down
residences
I,
walked
by
that
job
site
and
I
would
love
to
be
working
on
that
project.
That's
right
down
the
street
from
my
home
I'd
like
it
on
it.
It's
not
clear
I,
don't
know
if
I
have
a
shot
right,
but
the
people
who
were
working
on
it
I
saw
I
saw
license
plates
from
other
places.
Other
states
I
saw
folks
not
from
our
neighborhood
working
on
it.
B
Can
we
have
an
opportunity
so
other
kinds
of
stories.
Those
are
the
kinds
of
things
people
say
and
the
mayor
is
sympathetic
to
that
story.
He
wants
to
make
sure
Boston
residents
can
work
on
jobs
that
are
in
Boston
his
neighborhoods,
who
wants
to
make
sure
that
Boston's
residents
can
work
on
jobs
and
all
day
but
downtown
and
all
the
other
neighborhoods
and
BR
j
pees
in
the
courthouse.
Excellent.
B
Small
businesses
are
the
backbone
of
our
economy
in
the
city.
Small
businesses
represent
15
billion
dollars
of
our
economy
and
there's
a
40
million
45
40
thousand
small
businesses
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Thirty-Three
percent
of
them
are
women-owned
small
businesses.
Another
30
plus
percent
are
minority
owned,
small
businesses.
B
What
were
the
challenges
for
small
businesses
and
what
was
happening
in
boston?
How
we
can
improve
that?
That
report
was
published
in
February
and
we're
really
excited
too
moving
and
making
some
headway
in
response
to
some
of
the
recommendations
that
came
out
of
that
report.
Small
businesses,
that's
what
you
could
use
some
assistance.
We
can
use
some
technical
assistance
and
please
help
us
figure
out
something
skills,
training,
skill.
B
We've
been
trying
to
connect
them
to
people
and
institutions
and
banks
and
such
and
then
they
said
to
us,
and
we
can
also
use
some
assistance
in
real
estate
right
because
it's
getting
expensive
out
there
and
some
of
us
are,
you
know
our
landlords
are
increasing
real
estate
rent
to
a
fluorescence.
It's
moving
us.
How
do
we?
B
How
do
you
help
and
so
part
of
the
response
to
that
has
been
the
mayor
right
after
the
announcement
of
a
small
business
plan,
said
I
want
all
of
the
business
development
offices
in
Boston
to
be
in
one
place,
because
there
were
three
or
four
small
business
groups
throughout
the
city
in
different
departments,
and
so
we've
now
consolidated
all
of
those
groups
on
the
economic
component.
One
team
we're
all
working
to
make
sure
that
we're
we're
all
available
to
small
businesses
when
they
need
the
city
and
that's
a
really
important.
Where.
A
B
So
we
support
the
small
business
office
or
the
office
of
economic
development
supports
all
businesses,
but
we
recognize
and
means
giving
some
of
the
staff
to
support
women
owned
businesses.
There's
no
question
about
it:
women-owned
businesses
only
avail
account
for
I,
think
one
percent
of
all
the
venture
capitalists
money
in
the
city
of
box.
That
said
that
women
don't
doesn't
want
to
trap.
One
percent
of
it.
Ok,.
B
Right
that
we
have
to
attack
that
we've
got
a
change
in
our
city
minority,
but
it's
the
same
thing
right.
So
minority-owned
businesses
are
don't
have
the
headway.
You
know
veteran
owned
businesses,
immigrant,
all
businesses,
the
little
businesses
that
we
focus
on
and
makes,
or
that
Boston
is
a
vibrant
city
and
that
everybody
can
participate,
and
so
we've
recently
established
a
certificate
program
program.
So
we
certify
that
are
known,
good.
B
That's
really
exciting:
to
make
sure
that
we're
saying
a
we
value,
we
want
to
know
how
many
you
are
out
there
in
terms
of
veteran
owned
businesses.
We
want
to
hear
from
me.
We
want
to
have
a
relationship
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
you
can
get
some
some
opportunities
to
do
business,
a
blossom.
How.
A
B
Is
it
if
you
are
a
women-owned
business?
If
you
are
a
minority
owned
business,
a
veteran
owned
business,
a
disabled
business
owner,
then
you
want
to
contact
the
City
of
Boston,
the
Office
of
Economic
Development,
go
to
city's
website
city
of
austin
gov
and
find
economic
development
and
under
economic
development.
You
have
all
of
our
information.
You
can
contact
us
by
email
by
phone.
You
can
visit
and
pay
attention
to
us
on
social
media.
We
have
a
Facebook
account.
We've
got
a
Twitter
account
and
we're
even
on
Instagram
to
make
sure
that.
B
B
B
A
B
Business
management,
they
include
in-depth
business
operations
and
how
operating
a
business
and
invoicing
from
everything
from
invoice
into
inventory
into
dock.
Then
they
included
human
resources
and
contracts.
You
know
what
are
the
kinds
of
policies
you
need
to
have
a
book
in
place
as
a
small
business
to
be
successful.
They
also
include
you
understanding
your
custom
experience
in
marketing
and
in
fact,
whenever
we
have
engaged
businesses
in
Boston,
we
get
really
positive
results
with
with
this
technical
assistance,
we've
assisted
over
2,500
businesses
to
other
city
of
Boston,
and
we
give
you
some
stats
over.
B
Eighty
percent
of
the
businesses
we've
worked
with
have
showed
an
increase
in
revenues,
so
they've
made
more
money
after
we
worked
with
them.
Forty-Six
percent
reported
new
customers.
Sixty-Nine
percent
reported
increasing
confidence
as
business
owners,
and
you
know
out
of
these
businesses
that
we
worked.
Sixty-Five
percent
have
been
minority-owned
businesses,
fifty
percent
women-owned
businesses,
another
fifty
five
percent
owned
by
immigrants,
so
we're
really
penetrating
that
that
market
of
small
business
owners
and
having
some
impact.
A
You
talked
about
small
business
jobs,
businesses
and
how
it's
important
in
the
city
of
Boston,
but
I
wanted
to
discuss
about
manufacturing
jobs
and
bringing
that
back
into
the
city
of
Boston.
The
mayor
just
recently
did
the
state
of
the
city
address,
and
he
talked
about
that.
I
want
to
come,
I
want
to
watch
a
clip,
but
I
want
to
come
back
and
what
we're
going
to
discuss
what
we
just
saw.
Okay,
our.
C
Goal
is
more
than
new
logos
in
the
skyline.
It's
good
jobs
and
job
training
for
all
employers
are
coming
and
they
are
growing
and
they
are
hiring
we're
going
to
make
the
fairmont
line
a
jobs
corridor
with
affordable
housing
through
the
heart
of
our
city,
from
Newmarket
to
roxbury,
Dorchester,
mattapan,
High,
Park
and
rebuilt
people
talk
about
bringing
back
manufacturing,
we're
doing
it
and
we're
doing
it
the
right
way
with
the
jobs
of
the
future
and
the
preparation.
I
young
people
need
to
build
it.
So.
B
So
you
know,
as
the
mayor
said,
some
people
are
talking
about
bringing
manufacturing
jobs
back
we're
actually
doing
it
right.
Boston
has
become
a
real,
a
rail
sort
of
leader
and
we've
got
a
robust
new
cluster
in
the
marine
industrial
park
by
the
waterfront,
where
we
have
a
set
of
new
manufacturing
jobs,
kind
of
Osman,
new,
new
and
21st
century
manufacturing
jobs.
So
our
challenge
is
making
sure
the
real
training
residents
and
we
are
providing
the
on
ramp
onto
these
new
jobs.
B
B
It's
a
great
question:
sinsemilla
took
office
in
the
last
three
years,
we've
been
able
to
add
another
60,000
jobs
to
bus,
that's
20,000
jobs
a
year
and
manufacturing
jobs
are
not
the
leading
job
producers
in
Boston.
In
fact,
professional
services,
and
particularly
the
health
care
industry,
is
what's
really
growing.
A
Am
great
to
see
you
because
thank
you,
nothing
so
better.
If
you
would
like
more
information
on
how
to
become
a
small
business
owner
or
would
like
additional
information
about
the
services
we
discussed
today.
Visit,
boston,
gov,
/e,
c,
0
and
d
ed
or
give
the
office
a
call
at
six
1763,
557
29,
and
as
always,
thanks
for
watching
the
commissioners
corner,
Naja
Milwaukee.