►
From YouTube: Winter Preparedness Press Conference 11-15-19
Description
Mayor Walsh and Boston city officials discuss preparations underway in the city for winter weather, and resources available to Boston residents.
A
Sorry
I'm
gonna
take
that
as
a
yes
all
right
there
we
go
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
coming
out
today.
I
want
to
thank
all
the
city,
folks,
the
transportation
and
Public
Works
folks
behind
me
who
actually
on
those
cold,
snowy
nights.
Rainy
nights
actually
do
the
work.
I
want
to
thank
well
everyone's
home
and
they're
cleaning
our
streets
and
clearing
out
trees.
I
want
to
thank
the
the
workers.
A
You
do
an
amazing
job
they're
here
in
the
thickest
of
snowstorms
they're,
making
sure
that
we
continue
to
run
and
I
want
to
thank
them
for
their
dedication.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
press
for
helping
us
spread.
The
word
here
on
this,
probably
one
of
the
most
important
press
conferences
we
have
throughout
the
year
I'm
hoping
that
this
is
the
last
press
conference
I
have
on
snow
this
year,
but
I
thought
that's
gonna,
be
the
case
we're
here
to
talk
about
the
city's
preparations
for
the
2019
2020
winter.
A
It
already
feels
that
the
season
has
started
over
the
last
couple
of
days.
Obviously,
today
is
a
one
of
those
sneaky
nights
days,
so
we
have,
but
after
the
blast
of
winter
we
experienced
earlier
this
week,
we
know
that
the
most
important
thing
that
we
can
do
in
in
the
winter
is
to
make
sure
we're
prepared
before
the
storms
during
the
storms
and
certainly
after
the
storms.
Today,
we're
gonna
talk
about
how
the
city
is
doing
our
part
and
we're
asking
Bostonians
to
help
us
as
well.
A
That's
how
we
get
through
these
tough
Boston
winters
year
after
year,
getting
snow
quickly
off
our
streets
and
our
sidewalks
is
crucial,
and
this
year
we're
prepared
for
it.
We
have
48,000
tons
of
salt
for
to
treat
our
roadways.
We
have
110,000
pieces
of
equipment,
the
ability
to
bring
an
additional
six
hundred.
We
could
bring
600
in
if
and
when
needed
this
year,
we've
added
equipment
like
tractors
with
plows
and
snowblowers.
A
Obviously,
since
the
2015
winter
we've
been
changing
our
structure
in
the
way
that
we
take
Stowe,
not
just
plowing
snow
but
removing
snow
from
our
streets
in
the
event
of
a
snow
storm,
we
need
our
residents
and
business
owners
to
do
their
part
by
clearing
the
sidewalks,
the
fire
hydrants
storm
drains
and
crosswalks
on
the
corners
of
streets.
Sometimes
people
don't
do
that.
We're
asking
you
to
clear
the
crosswalks.
We
can
make
sure
the
city
continues
to
remain
handicap
accessible
for
everyone.
A
Throughout
this
season
we
have
a
winter
weather
guide
that
will
be
sent
out
to
residents
and
they'll,
be
in
your
mailbox
assume,
and
this
year
we
have
several
translations
available,
we're
expanding
translations
to
other
languages.
You
can
also
find
information.
If
you
go
to
our
website.
Bronston
gob,
slash
snow,
that's
Boston,
gov,
slash
snow,
crystal
Osgood,
our
chief
of
streets
was
gonna,
talk
more
about
how
we're
keeping
our
streets
safe
all
winter
long
as
a
city.
A
One
of
our
top
priorities
is
keeping
residents
informed
in
a
timely
manner,
especially
when
it
comes
to
snow
and
cold
emergencies.
I
encourage
all
Bostonians
and
people
who
come
to
our
city
and
work
on
our
city
to
sign
up
for
alert
Boston
where
Boston
system
you'll
receive
texts,
emails
or
phone
calls
or
all
three.
If
you'd
like,
we
also
offer
alerts
in
other
languages
to
sign
up
we're
asking
you
go
to
Boston
gov,
slash,
alert,
Boston,
that's
Boston,
gov,
slash
alert
Boston.
A
A
A
That
includes
out
3-1-1
constituent
service
hotline.
We
always
add
extra
staff
during
storms.
They
answer
questions
about
issues
like
closures,
plowing
and
finding
places
to
park.
My
municipal
parking
lots
are
available
for
residents
parking
during
snow
emergencies
and
on
the
topic
of
parking,
we
always
get
the
question
about
space
savers,
regardless
of
how
much
I
talk
about
it.
So
we'll
do
it
again:
space
savers,
the
rule,
is
48
hours.
The
city
saver
applies
in
every
neighborhood
when
a
snow
emergency
is
declared,
except
for
the
south
ends.
A
A
If
you
have
older
neighbors,
who
ask
you
to
offer
it
to
help
shovel
their
driveways
or
their
sidewalks
and
check
on
them
periodically
to
make
sure
they're,
okay,
there's
a
city,
we
also
have
great
resource
programming
to
help
keep
our
seniors
safe
and
warm
and
healthy
I've
seen
you
say,
program
through
our
Boston
homework,
Center
help
seniors,
replace
their
heating
systems,
and
it's
getting
a
little
late
right
now
in
the
season,
but
NEC
univ
out
there
that
are
looking
to
replace
their
systems.
We
should
contact
us
if
we
can
get
it
done.
A
We
really
pushed
it
in
the
spring
in
the
summer
to
to
change
some
heating
systems
throughout
the
city.
I
also
encourage
seniors
to
call
3-1-1,
so
gonna
get
connected
to
our
eight
strong
Commission.
They
offer
incredible
programs
citywide,
and
they
also
help
residents
get
access
to
things
like
food
and
fuel
assistance,
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
during
those
times
we
want
to
make
sure
people
are
safe.
A
We're
also
asking
people
to
check
on
the
disabled
neighbors
that
they
might
have
same
same
rules
apply
with
shoveling
and
shoveling
out
their
sidewalks
and
shoveling
down
their
stairs.
The
cold
winter
weather
is
particularly
dangerous
for
our
homeless
individuals,
especially
people
suffering
from
mental
health
problems,
disabilities
or
substance
use
disorders,
we're
working
with
our
shelters
and
street
outreach
providers
throughout
the
city
in
the
Commonwealth
to
make
sure
we
have
safe
warm
emergency
shelter
for
everyone
in
need
or
who's
willing
to
seek.
A
Our
I
especially
want
to
thank
our
private
partners
for
stepping
up
in
so
many
ways.
This
past
week,
when
the
first
extreme
cold
snap
of
the
winter
came
early,
they
brought
us
overflow
beds,
open,
welcoming,
centers,
extended
street
outreach
and
other
critical
services
on
a
very
short
notice,
and
these
agencies
will
activate
this
response
whenever
necessary,
to
keep
people
safe
during
any
extreme
cold
events
or
heavy
snowstorm
in
that
preparedness
and
partnership.
I
want
to
thank
all
people
for
it.
A
At
the
same
time,
we're
going
to
continue
towards
our
goal
of
our
ultimate
goal
of
getting
people
into
permanent
housing.
We
continue
to
link
homeless
families
with
housing,
vouchers,
we're
updating
our
homeless
plan
as
we
speak,
and
we
have
more
to
come.
A
chief
of
Housing,
Sheila,
Dillon's
gonna,
talk
more
about
our
efforts
to
make
sure
everyone
is
a
place
to
call
home.
A
Lastly,
I
want
to
remind
everyone
to
look
out
for
each
other.
We
must
remind
people
that
they're
not
alone,
if
you
have
any,
if
you
see
anyone
on
the
street
or
anyone
in
distress,
we're
asking
you
to
call
911
commission
of
graz
is
here
with
us
in
the
Boston
Police
Department
today.
If
you
see
any
pets
in
distress
or
animals
in
distress
right,
you
call
3-1-1
or
Animal
Care
and
Control,
so
we
can
go
out
and
make
sure
that
they're
safe.
A
We
want
people
to
work
together
and
to
show
what
it
means
to
be
out,
be
neighbors
we're
asking
people
during
the
snowstorm
if
somebody
shovels
a
spot
out
and
put
the
space
saver
in
there,
let's
respect
each
other,
let's
distract
each
other.
As
neighbors
every
year,
we
generally
hear
a
threat
of
saw
notes
on
cars
what
better
than
that
is
Boston.
We
want
to
continue
to
rise
above
that
we're
asking
residents
to
respect
each
other,
I
hope
that
everyone
enjoys
Thanksgiving
and
a
safe
and
happy
holiday
season.
A
B
Thank
you
so
much
mayor,
as
the
mayor
said,
preparing
for
winter
is
a
team
effort
in
the
Public
Works
Department.
That
team
is
led
by
our
superintendent
Street
operations,
Mike
role,
he
oversees
things
like
the
salt,
the
equipment
and,
most
importantly,
to
the
mayor's
point.
The
team
is
out
there
in
the
middle
of
the
night
in
the
biggest
storms
on
the
coldest
day
is
making
sure
that
our
streets
are
safe.
On
this
side
is
the
Marin
dodeth?
B
It's
about
14,500
tons
of
salt
behind
me,
part
of
48,000
tons
of
salt
that
are
spread
throughout
the
entire
city,
coordinating
all
the
salt
logistics
across
the
city
of
folks,
like
Jerry,
Gorman
and
Darlene
Williams.
They
are
making
sure
that
we've
got
the
right
amount
of
salt
in
the
right
locations
across
the
city
all
winter
long.
Our
preparations
for
winter
start
long
before
the
salt
hits
this
lot.
B
Our
team
from
our
central
Fleet
Division,
led
by
Bill
Coughlin,
are
making
sure
that
we've
got
over
200
pieces
of
City
equipment
raised
to
be
able
to
plow
streets
and
spreads
and
spreads
salt
that
includes
this
year,
30
additional
pieces
of
equipment.
We
were
able
to
add,
including
the
two
pieces
of
equipment
that
you'll
see
off
to
my
right.
There
work
in
getting
200
pieces
of
equipment
ready
this
complemented
by
about
500
pieces
of
equipment.
We
can
call
in
from
contractors
allowing
us
to
have
about
700
pieces
of
equipment
that
face
the
biggest
storms.
B
It'll
come
our
way
this
winter,
in
a
typical
winter
in
Boston,
we'll
see
about
43
or
44
inches
of
snow,
which
is
about
the
height
of
this
podium.
About
four
years
ago,
we
had
over
a
hundred
inches
of
snow
this
past
winter
we
had
just
under
30,
but
you
can't
really
measure
the
severity
of
a
winter
or
the
importance
of
snow
operations
and
inches
of
snow.
B
We
prepare
for
every
single
storm
and
the
threat
of
every
single
storm,
whether
that
is
a
named
nor'easter,
the
sort
that
promises
to
deliver
over
a
dozen
inches
of
snow
or
the
sort
of
flurries.
The
mayor
mentioned
that
came
on
Tuesday
during
the
p.m.
rush
hour
with
a
sort
of
overnight
icing
that
you
can
get
following
us
leading
in
our
city.
B
Enforcement
division
looks
like
Brian,
Coughlin,
Steve,
tanco
officer
black,
more
folks
who
are
out
there,
making
sure
that
our
sidewalks
actually
are
getting
shoveled
and
that
snow
from
private
property
isn't
being
pushed
back
out
onto
public
streets,
our
public
gasps
sidewalks
and
all
of
this
and
all
this
team
effort.
Perhaps
our
most
important
partner,
is
the
public.
B
It's
not
just
the
Public
Works
a
Transportation
Department
team.
We
also
have
commissioner
grass
in
the
police
department,
Bischoff
and
the
fire
department
she
fully
the
entire
EMS
team.
She
main
Benford's
here
who
meets
the
mayor's
office
of
emergency
preparedness,
as
well
as
chief
Marty
Martinez
said,
will
Morales
were
making
sure
that
our
community
centers
are
well
staffed
on
those
coldest
days.
C
Thank
you
Chris.
As
Chris
said,
my
name
is
Sheila
Dillon
and
I'm
chief
of
housing
for
the
city
of
Boston.
So,
as
the
mayor
mentioned,
we
are
very
concerned
about
our
homeless
populations
every
winter
and
we
currently
have
a
shelter
capacity
that
can
house
on
any
given
night
1,500
homeless
individuals,
but
as
we
head
into
winter,
we
know
that
we
need
more
capacity
so
working
with
the
Boston
rescue
mission,
Pine
Street,
our
in
Boston
Public,
Health,
Commission
bridge
over
troubled
waters,
a
New
England
Center
for
homeless
vets.
C
We
have
secured
capacity
for
an
additional
200
individuals.
We
also
like
to
encourage
communities
outside
of
Boston
to
bring
on
additional
capacity
in
the
winter
and
so
working
very
closely
with
the
Commonwealth
I
am
happy
to
report
that
Cambridge
Malden,
plymouth,
Worcester
and
Springfield.
They
have
all
brought
on
additional
beds
that
can
help
relieve
the
pressure
this
winter
Pine
Street
Inn
will
double
its
outreach
efforts
on
cold
and
stormy
days.
C
So
I
also
there's
been
a
lot
of
attention
on
mass
cast.
The
mayor
has
made
this
area
priority,
we're
very
concerned
about
the
residents
in
the
mass
Cass
area
during
winter,
so
the
engagement
center
is
open,
7
a.m.
to
7
p.m.
7
days
per
week,
so
we
feel
confident
that
we
have
enough
capacity
given
what
we've
experienced
in
other
winters,
but
we
really
are
relying
on
the
public
to
call
3-1-1
if
they
see
something
they're
concerned
about,
and
we
will
make
sure
that
people
are
dispatched
or
9-1-1.
C
C
We
have
been
encouraging
people
to
upgrade,
especially
our
elder
homeowners
upgrade
their
systems,
but
we
also
want
to
make
clear
that
if
an
elder
a
senior
is
it
having
a
problem
with
their
heat,
the
heats
not
working
there
leak
their
roof
is
leaking,
etc.
They
really
are
feeling
the
impacts
during
a
cold
nights
days
and
nights.
We
want
them
to
call
3-1-1.
We
have
people
organizations
ourselves
in
other
organizations
standing
by
to
do
emergency
repairs
for
our
seniors.
C
So
once
again
that
6
3
3
1
1,
and
if
there
in
a
new
system
they
should
call
635
home
so
I
think
we
have
a
good
plan
in
place,
but
we
are
always
you
know,
soliciting
input
and
if
people
feel
that
they're
seeing
areas
that
they're
that
they're
troubled
about,
please
call
3-1-1
and
we
will
dispatch
as
quickly
as
able.
Thank
you.
D
D
So
we
actually
have
more
call
takers
in
the
system
than
we
normally
do
when
winter
storms
come
in
and
we
track
will
our
reporting
that
becomes
the
kind
of
lifeline
for
the
city
of
the
interaction
with
residents,
but
also
the
interaction
amongst
ourselves,
and
we
have
been
working
to
tighten
up
the
team
for
months
now
in
preparation
for
this
upcoming
snowstorm.
So
I
just
wanted
to
come
out
and
just
talk
about
a
couple
things
neighborhood
services
with
three
one
one
which
is
in
Neighborhood
Services.
D
We
have
created
a
language
line,
so
any
resident,
regardless
of
your
native
language,
is
able
to
call
Boston,
3,
1
1
and
speak
to
somebody
in
their
native
language.
So
we
encourage
everybody
to
use
this
service.
It's
now
a
more
widespread
service.
We
want
every
resident
in
City.
Boston
know
that
the
service
is
available
to
them.
The
office
of
Neighborhood,
Services
liaisons
will
be
continuously
out
reporting,
snow
issues.
So
besides
calling
301,
you
also
have
the
opportunity
of
every
neighborhood
has
their
own
liaison.
D
You
can
reach
out
to
their
neighborhood
liaison,
who
works
directly
with
Public
Works,
PTD
police
department
and
fire
to
work
on
issues
in
the
neighborhood,
and
so
ultimately,
at
the
end,
what
we
need
is
residents
to
come
together.
You
know
your
neighborhoods
best,
so
we
need
you
to
call
in
and
communicate
with
us
and
we're
trying
to
provide
in
many
ways
for
you
to
be
able
to
communicate
with
the
city.
One
big
thing
which
I
know
you're
all
gonna
ask
the
mayor
about
in
a
few
minutes
is
about
space
savers.
D
It's
the
topic
that
everybody
likes
to
cover
every
year
as
I'm
here,
just
to
remind
everybody
that
space
savers
are
only
to
be
used
in
the
city
of
Boston
when
the
snow
emergency
is
declared
and
they
have
to
be
removed.
48
hours
after
with
the
exception
of
the
south
end
where
that
community
has
decided
that
space
savers
will
not
be
allowed
in
the
neighborhood
so
again,
space
savers
are
when
the
snow
emergency
is
declared
and
they
have
to
be
removed,
48
hours.
D
A
Before
questions
I,
just
one
more
time,
I
want
to
thank
the
men
and
women
who
work
in
these
shots.
They
don't
get
the
credit
they
deserve
and
they're
the
ones
who
keep
our
city
moving
every
day.
They're
the
ones
who
clean
our
streets
they're
the
ones
who
helped
design
our
streets
and
build
new
streets
and
build
new
opportunities
for
our
community.
So
I
truly
want
to
thank
the
men
and
women
who
work
for
Public
Works
in
the
transportation
department.
With
that
open
to
questions
on
topic
and
then
I'll
go
off-topic
on
any
on
topic.
B
So
the
salt
pile
locations
are
sort
of
coordinated
at
the
public
works
yards
and
when
it's,
when
it's
laid
down
on
the
city
streets,
it
dissolves
her
into
the
stormwater
system
that
the
water
source
is
the
water
sewer
department
maintains
that
can
go.
We
can
coordinate
with
you
and
water
and
sewer
for
specific
questions
about
locations
that
you
have
in
mind.
I'm.