Human Services on September 24, 2026
2026-09-24

[0:47] GOOD MORNING.
[0:48] FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS ERIN
[0:50] MURPHY AT LARGE CITY
[0:52] COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR
[0:53] OF THE BOSTON CITY
[0:54] COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
[0:57] SERVICES.
[0:57] TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 24TH AND THE
[0:59] EXACT TIME IS 10:04 A.M..
[1:03] THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED.
[1:05] IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE
[1:07] STREAMED@BOSTON.GOV BACKSLASH
[1:09] CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND
[1:12] BROADCAST ON ITS FINITY CHANNEL
[1:13] EIGHT, RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS
[1:17] CHANNEL 964.
[1:19] WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO
[1:20] THE COMMITTEE EMAIL.
[1:22] AT SEEK DHS AT BOSTON KNOCK UP
[1:26] AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE
[1:27] RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL
[1:28] COUNCILORS.
[1:30] PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN
[1:32] AT THE END OF THIS HEARING.
[1:34] INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON
[1:35] IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
[1:36] SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE TWO
[1:38] MINUTES TO TESTIFY.
[1:39] IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON AND
[1:41] INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING, YOU
[1:43] CAN SIGN IN AT THE SIGN IN
[1:45] SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE
[1:47] CHAMBER.
[1:48] IF YOU ARE LISTENING IN AND YOU
[1:51] WANT TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY, YOU
[1:53] CAN EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF
[1:55] LIAISON MEGAN KAVANAGH AT M E G
[1:59] H A N DOT CAV AND A G
[2:04] H@BOSTON.GOV FOR THE LINK AND
[2:05] YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE
[2:07] LIST.
[2:09] TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET
[2:12] 1335.
[2:12] ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS
[2:14] THE STATUS OF THE BLACKSTONE
[2:16] POOL AND AN INDEPENDENT
[2:18] ENGINEERING STUDY ON REPAIRS.
[2:21] THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY
[2:23] COUNCILORS ED FLYNN, JOHN
[2:25] FITZGERALD AND MINYARD CULPEPER
[2:27] AND WAS REFERRED TO THE
[2:28] COMMITTEE ON JULY 8TH 2026.
[2:33] TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY
[2:35] COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL
[2:37] COUNCILOR FLYNN AND.
[2:41] HOPEFULLY MORE COLLEAGUES WILL
[2:42] SHOW UP.
[2:43] I KNOW THAT WE.
[2:44] HAD INVITED THE ADMINISTRATION
[2:48] OBVIOUSLY TO BE HERE TO DISCUSS
[2:49] THIS IMPORTANT MATTER BACK AT
[2:52] THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH ON
[2:54] NOVEMBER 2ND, BRIAN FORD,
[2:57] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[2:58] OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FOR
[2:59] BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MARY
[3:01] SKIPPER, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
[3:02] BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MARTA
[3:05] RIVERA, THE COMMISSIONER,
[3:06] BOSTON CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND
[3:08] FAMILY WAS SENT BACK ON
[3:10] SEPTEMBER 2ND INVITES.
[3:13] UM UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO
[3:14] ONE HERE FROM THE
[3:16] ADMINISTRATION YET.
[3:17] MAYBE THEY WILL SHOW UP
[3:18] HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE AS THE
[3:20] MEETING GOES ON.
[3:21] BUT WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR
[3:23] COMMUNITY PANEL I'M GOING TO
[3:25] HAND IT OFF TO THE LEAD SPONSOR
[3:29] COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[3:32] THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR
[3:34] SHARING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING
[3:36] .
[3:36] THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR CULPEPER
[3:39] ,COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR
[3:40] JOINING ME AS CO-SPONSORS ON
[3:43] THIS HEARING ORDER AND AS
[3:44] FELLOW SOUTH END CITY
[3:47] COUNCILORS AS WELL.
[3:51] LET ME JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT
[3:53] OF HISTORY OF THE BLACKSTONE
[3:55] SCHOOL AND WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
[3:58] IF I MAY, THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL
[4:02] IS LOCATED ALMOST IN THE HEART
[4:04] OF THE SOUTH END.
[4:06] IT'S LOCATED NEXT DIAGONAL TO
[4:10] THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY CROSS
[4:12] CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET UM
[4:16] BASICALLY FROM RUTH BARCLAY
[4:19] APARTMENTS WHICH IS THE OLD
[4:22] CATHEDRAL APARTMENTS.
[4:23] IT'S ALSO ACROSS THE STREET AS
[4:26] WELL FROM VILLA VICTORIA WHICH
[4:30] IS PREDOMINANTLY A PUERTO RICAN
[4:34] UM AND IN ASIAN COMMUNITY UM
[4:38] THE RUTH BERKELEY APARTMENTS
[4:41] VHA APARTMENTS IS PREDOMINANTLY
[4:45] UM BLACK AND LATINO.
[4:48] ALSO UP THE ROAD A BIT IS
[4:49] CASTLE SQUARE WHICH IS ANOTHER
[4:52] LOW INCOME RESIDENTIAL
[4:55] COMMUNITY THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY
[4:59] A ASIAN COMMUNITY.
[5:00] IT'S WALKING DISTANCE TO
[5:03] ROXBURY ROXBURY AS WELL AND IN
[5:07] WALKING DISTANCE TO CHINATOWN.
[5:09] I HIGHLIGHTED THE DEMOGRAPHICS
[5:12] IN AND AROUND THE BLACKSTONE
[5:14] SCHOOL BLACKSTONE POOL BECAUSE
[5:17] I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT I DO
[5:19] THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
[5:21] ACKNOWLEDGE AND KNOW WHERE IT'S
[5:22] AT.
[5:23] IT'S SURROUNDED BY COMMUNITIES
[5:25] OF COLOR.
[5:28] AND I FELT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO
[5:30] BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IT'S ONE
[5:32] OF THE ONLY PUBLIC SWIMMING
[5:36] POOLS THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR
[5:38] AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN
[5:40] THE HEART OF THE BLACK
[5:43] COMMUNITY IN BOSTON.
[5:45] HISTORICALLY, THE HEART OF THE
[5:46] BLACK COMMUNITY IN BOSTON WAS
[5:48] ALWAYS THE SOUTH END IN
[5:49] ROXBURY.
[5:52] WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN.
[5:56] PEOPLE DROWNED TRAGICALLY
[5:58] DROWNED MANY OF THEM OR A HIGH
[6:01] PERCENTAGE OF OF THEM ARE
[6:02] PEOPLE OF COLOR.
[6:06] MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS
[6:09] TO SWIMMING LESSONS.
[6:12] THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS A
[6:14] CRITICAL ISSUE FOR BLACKSTONE
[6:17] STUDENTS FOR SOUTH AND IN
[6:21] ROXBURY RESIDENTS FOR LOW
[6:23] INCOME RESIDENTS I BELIEVE THIS
[6:27] IS A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE TO
[6:30] HAVE A VACANT SWIMMING POOL IN
[6:34] THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITIES
[6:36] OF COLOR AND TO LEAVE IT
[6:38] UNFIXED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD
[6:40] OF TIME IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
[6:48] I KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE
[6:51] BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
[6:53] AND THE BOSTON CENTER OF YOUTH
[6:55] AND FAMILIES WERE INVITED TODAY
[6:59] TO THIS IMPORTANT HEARING.
[7:04] I DO WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL, BUT
[7:05] I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE
[7:08] ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION NOT
[7:09] TO SEND ANYONE TO TODAY'S
[7:12] HEARING DUE TO A SCHEDULING
[7:15] CONFLICT.
[7:17] FOR TRANSPARENCY, THIS PUBLIC
[7:21] HEARING WAS NOTICED WHICH MEANS
[7:24] IT WAS POSTED ON WEDNESDAY
[7:27] SEPTEMBER 2ND AT 125.
[7:30] INVITATIONS WENT OUT
[7:31] IMMEDIATELY TO CITY OFFICIALS
[7:34] INVITING THEM ON HOW WE CAN
[7:36] WORK TOGETHER, HOW WE CAN
[7:38] COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, HOW WE
[7:41] CAN FIX A SWIMMING POOL IN THE
[7:44] HEART OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
[7:47] THEIR IMPORTANCE IS CRITICAL.
[7:52] SEVERAL DAYS AGO ON FRIDAY.
[7:58] BP'S.
[8:01] WAS NOTIFIED APPARENTLY OR THE
[8:04] RED SOX WERE NOTIFIED
[8:06] APPARENTLY THAT THERE WOULD BE
[8:08] A PUBLIC EVENT AT THE SAME
[8:11] SCHOOL WE'RE TRYING TO FIX
[8:12] WHERE THE BOSTON RED SOX WOULD
[8:14] COME TO THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL
[8:16] FOR SOME INFRASTRUCTURE WORK
[8:19] AND AND FOR A CELEBRATION.
[8:24] THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY WANTED
[8:28] ME AT THE EVENT BECAUSE I SPENT
[8:31] A LOT OF TIME AT THE BLACKSTONE
[8:32] SCHOOL.
[8:33] I HAVE A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP
[8:34] WITH THEM, BUT I HAD TO TELL
[8:38] THEM I COULDN'T BE THERE
[8:39] BECAUSE I'M SHARING THIS
[8:41] IMPORTANT MEETING AND THEY SAID
[8:44] ,WELL ED, YOU'VE HAD THIS
[8:46] MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE
[8:47] LONGEST PERIOD OF TIME.
[8:49] WHY WOULD THE CITY OF BOSTON,
[8:51] UM, SCHEDULE A MEETING ON THE
[8:54] BLACKSTONE SCHOOL AT THE SAME
[8:56] TIME?
[8:58] WHY WHY WOULD WHY WOULD THE
[9:00] CITY OF BOSTON SCHEDULE A AN
[9:02] EVENT WITH THE BOSTON RED SOX
[9:04] AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU ARE AS
[9:06] YOU ARE HEARING?
[9:11] THIS FRUSTRATION ALL AROUND ON
[9:13] THIS DECISION?
[9:16] BUT WHO GETS HURT IS THE
[9:18] RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END.
[9:21] THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS.
[9:25] IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAD
[9:27] PRIORITIZED A RED SOX EVENT AT
[9:29] THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL THE VERY
[9:31] SAME SCHOOL AND POOL WE ARE
[9:33] HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS, THEY
[9:36] SHOULD HAVE MADE TIME TO SHOW
[9:37] UP AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT
[9:40] THE CLOSURE AND THE IMPACT IT'S
[9:42] HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY.
[9:46] IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
[9:47] SCHEDULED FOR THIS STATE FOR
[9:49] THIS TIME KNOWING THAT THIS IS
[9:51] ALREADY SCHEDULED.
[9:53] IT'S DISRESPECTFUL.
[9:54] THEY CAN BE DISRESPECTFUL TO
[9:57] ME BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE
[9:58] DISRESPECTFUL TO COMMUNITIES
[10:00] OF COLOR.
[10:01] I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN
[10:02] THE SOUTH END IN ROXBURY WERE
[10:05] PLANNING TO TESTIFY TO EXPRESS
[10:06] THEIR FRUSTRATION REGARDING THE
[10:09] CLOSURE OF THE POOL OVER THE
[10:12] OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS SO
[10:15] MANY RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED OUT
[10:18] TO ME AND SAID AND SAID LET'S
[10:20] WORK TOGETHER SO WE CAN REOPEN
[10:22] THIS.
[10:22] MAYBE IT TAKES AN INDEPENDENT
[10:27] ENGINEERING STUDY TO GET IT
[10:28] DONE.
[10:31] WE ALSO KNOW THAT.
[10:35] WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE
[10:36] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER IN
[10:37] THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL POOL,
[10:40] AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HAS
[10:42] HISTORICALLY SERVED COMMUNITIES
[10:43] OF COLOR IN THE SOUTH END IN
[10:44] ROXBURY COURTING THE RESIDENTS
[10:47] OF VILLA VICTORIA, BHP GROUP
[10:51] PARK AND RUTH BARCLAY
[10:52] APARTMENTS.
[10:53] IT'S BEEN CLOSED INDEFINITELY
[10:55] DUE TO STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
[10:59] A DETERIORATED POOL SHELL DRAIN
[11:01] LINE FAILURE AND GROUNDWATER
[11:03] INTRUSION OF THE 18 POOLS
[11:06] OPERATED BY BCF NINE WILL CLOSE
[11:09] THE SUMMER OF 2025,
[11:12] SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING ACCESS
[11:13] TO SWIM LESSONS IN RECREATIONAL
[11:16] WATER ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE
[11:18] VITAL FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY,
[11:19] HEALTH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND
[11:23] THE SUMMER OF 2026.
[11:25] 16 OF THE 18 POOLS HAVE SINCE
[11:27] REOPENED WITH THE EXCEPTION
[11:30] OF THE BLACKSTONE POOL AND THE
[11:31] MIRA MIRABELLA POOL AS WELL.
[11:36] WHEREAS THE JUSTICE FOR THE
[11:38] RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END IN
[11:40] ROXBURY AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS
[11:43] A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.
[11:45] THE CITY OF BOSTON'S FY 27 531
[11:49] CAPITAL PLAN INCLUDES $500,000
[11:52] FOR THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL
[11:54] STUDY, WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE
[11:55] SCOPE OF MAJOR RENOVATIONS AT
[11:58] THE SCHOOL AND POOL.
[12:00] A COMPLETE RENOVATION WILL TAKE
[12:02] YEARS TO COMPLETE.
[12:03] DOES THAT MEAN.
[12:07] THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A POOL
[12:09] OPENED AT THE BLACKSTONE?
[12:11] FROM WHAT I AM TOLD, THE ONLY
[12:13] WAY A POOL CAN OPEN AT THE
[12:16] BLACKSTONE IS IF A NEW SCHOOL
[12:19] IS BUILT.
[12:21] I'M NOT CONFIDENT A NEW SCHOOL
[12:23] IS GOING TO BE BUILT THERE.
[12:25] I'M ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT
[12:27] STUDY.
[12:30] IN HOW WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE
[12:33] RESOURCES TO FIX THE CURRENT
[12:35] BLACKSTONE SWIMMING POOL.
[12:38] I DON'T THINK WE CAN WAIT.
[12:41] I THINK IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY
[12:42] ISSUE.
[12:43] I THINK IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH
[12:45] ISSUE.
[12:46] I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S A RACIAL
[12:49] JUSTICE ISSUE.
[12:52] THIS POOL CLOSURE CONTINUES TO
[12:55] WORSEN DISPARITIES IN EXPOSURE
[12:57] TO HOTTER SUMMERS AND DENIES
[12:59] ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
[13:02] COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
[13:04] IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.
[13:08] IN JUNE 2026, THE CITY
[13:10] COUNCIL HELD A HEARING ON THE
[13:12] OVERALL CONDITION OF THE BCF
[13:14] POOLS.
[13:15] WE HAVE INFORMED THE BODY THAT
[13:18] REOPENING THE BLACKSTONE WOULD
[13:21] REQUIRE A FULL EXCAVATION TO
[13:24] UNDERSTAND THE FULL SCOPE
[13:25] OF DAMAGE AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS
[13:28] TO BCBS BLACKSTONE.
[13:33] AND CLOSING.
[13:35] I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THE
[13:36] CITY ADMINISTRATION BP'S TO
[13:40] HAVE PRIORITIZED A PUBLIC
[13:42] HEARING ON THE STATUS OF THE
[13:44] BLACKSTONE SWIMMING POOL FOR MY
[13:47] CONSTITUENTS, MANY OF THEM
[13:51] COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, MANY
[13:53] OF THEM AFRICAN AMERICAN,
[13:55] HISPANIC, ASIAN LIVING IN THE
[13:59] SOUTH END, LIVING IN ROXBURY.
[14:03] THIS IS ABOUT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC
[14:05] AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
[14:08] IT'S CRITICAL WE PROVIDE THIS
[14:10] IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR
[14:12] COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN
[14:13] NEIGHBORS IN PUBLIC HOUSING TO
[14:16] BE HEARD AND RESPECTED ON THE
[14:20] CLOSURE OF THE POOL, LET ME ASK
[14:24] IF THIS WAS IN ANOTHER
[14:25] NEIGHBORHOOD, A WEALTHIER
[14:27] NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD THIS HAVE
[14:31] BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE FOR
[14:32] AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME?
[14:36] BUT BECAUSE IT'S SURROUNDED BY
[14:37] ROUTE BERKELEY DEVELOPMENT IT'S
[14:40] SURROUNDED BY VILLA VICTORIA
[14:43] CASTLE SQUARE IS UP THE ROAD UM
[14:45] NOT A FAR A SHORT WALKING
[14:48] DISTANCE TO ROXBURY.
[14:49] DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEIR VOICE
[14:52] IS LESS IMPORTANT?
[14:56] DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY'RE
[14:57] INSIGNIFICANT?
[14:59] THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
[15:01] WE WANT SWIMMING SO WE CAN
[15:03] PROVIDE THEM VERTICAL SWIMMING
[15:05] LESSONS AND EXERCISE IN LIVING
[15:09] A PHYSICAL LIVING A GOOD HEALTH
[15:11] HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?
[15:13] I ALSO KNOW SENIORS WANT TO USE
[15:15] THE SWIMMING POOL AS WELL AT
[15:17] NIGHTTIME THEY SAY TO ME AND WE
[15:20] WE LOVE SWIMMING BECAUSE IT'S
[15:23] GOOD FOR OUR BODIES.
[15:24] IT DOESN'T HAVE THE PUNISHMENT
[15:27] UM ON OUR JOINTS AND MUSCLES IN
[15:29] A SWIMMING POOL AND IN ED WHEN
[15:32] CAN WE OPEN UP THE BLACKSTONE
[15:33] SWIMMING POOL?
[15:35] I JUST CAN'T IGNORE MY
[15:37] CONSTITUENTS AND SAY THERE'S
[15:38] NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
[15:40] THAT'S NOT HOW I WAS BORN.
[15:42] THAT'S NOT HOW I WAS RAISED.
[15:43] THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO ON THE
[15:45] CITY COUNCIL.
[15:46] I FIGHT FOR MY CONSTITUENTS
[15:49] REGARDLESS OF WHO GETS MAD AT
[15:51] HIM.
[15:54] AS YOU PROBABLY CAN TELL, I AM
[15:56] DISAPPOINTED.
[15:59] THAT THERE IS NO ONE FROM THE
[16:01] CITY ADMINISTRATION HERE.
[16:04] TO WORK WITH ME, TO WORK WITH
[16:05] THE COUNCIL TO SEE HOW WE'RE
[16:07] GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
[16:11] THAT.
[16:11] MADAM CHAIR, I DO KNOW THAT
[16:14] RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END
[16:16] INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD
[16:17] NEIGHBORHOODS, CIVIC LEADERS,
[16:20] UM RESPECTED CIVIC LEADERS
[16:22] INCLUDING JONATHAN THAT'S HERE
[16:23] RIGHT NOW.
[16:24] OTHERS OTHERS ON THE ZOOM
[16:27] SCREEN.
[16:27] UM, I DO WANT TO TESTIFY.
[16:29] I DO WANT TO ENGAGE IN THE
[16:32] CONVERSATION, DO WANT TO BE
[16:33] HEARD BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE
[16:35] HEARD BECAUSE THEY ALSO WANT TO
[16:38] ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.
[16:40] THEY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE
[16:42] SOUTH AND WHERE THE SWIMMING
[16:43] POOL IS LOCATED.
[16:45] AND THEY ALSO THINK THAT IT'S A
[16:47] IT'S A IT'S A RACIAL JUSTICE
[16:49] ISSUE.
[16:50] HOW COULD IT NOT BE A RACIAL
[16:51] JUSTICE ISSUE IF YOU'RE
[16:53] SURROUNDED BY A PUBLIC HOUSING
[16:56] DEVELOPMENT, YOU'RE SURROUNDED
[17:00] BY VILLA VICTORIA.
[17:01] RIGHT NEXT TO VILLA VICTORIA IS
[17:02] WEST ADAMS STREET WHICH IS A UM
[17:06] VHA DEVELOPMENT FOR SENIORS AND
[17:08] PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
[17:10] DID THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A
[17:11] SWIMMING POOL?
[17:12] THAT'S THE QUESTION TO THE TO
[17:13] THOSE RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE
[17:15] A SWIMMING POOL AND IF WE SAY
[17:17] YES LET'S GET IT DONE IF WE SAY
[17:19] NO THEY DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE A
[17:20] SWIMMING POOL THEN OKAY THEN
[17:21] THEY DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE A
[17:23] SWIMMING POOL BUT I'M NOT
[17:24] ACCEPTING THAT ANSWER FROM
[17:25] ANYBODY.
[17:26] I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I
[17:27] CAN TO GET THIS SWIMMING POOL
[17:29] OPENED AND I'M NOT GIVING UP.
[17:32] UM I'M GOING TO STOP THERE,
[17:33] MADAM CHAIR, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU
[17:35] HAVE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO
[17:38] INTRODUCE OUR, UM, PANEL.
[17:40] THANK YOU.
[17:41] AND THANK YOU FOR SETTING
[17:44] THE STAGE AND ALWAYS
[17:45] ADVOCATING.
[17:46] FOR THE RESIDENTS.
[17:48] SO THANK YOU, JONATHAN ELS.
[17:49] YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON,
[17:50] PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON
[17:51] HARRIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
[17:53] I DO KNOW THAT STEVE FOX AND I
[17:55] BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
[17:57] MORAN, WE'RE HAVING A FEW ZOOM
[17:58] ISSUES.
[17:59] WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM IN ON
[18:00] ZOOM BUT AND ALSO COUNCIL FLYNN
[18:02] I KNOW AFTER YOU SPEAK JONATHAN
[18:04] ,IN OUR PANEL YOU HAVE LETTERS
[18:06] ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT
[18:08] WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME TO
[18:09] UPLIFT THEIR VOICES.
[18:11] SO JONATHAN, WELCOME.
[18:12] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND IF
[18:14] UM YOU PROBABLY HEARD OR SEE
[18:16] THAT UNFORTUNATELY A
[18:19] CELEBRATION WAS SCHEDULED BY BP
[18:23] AND THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER
[18:25] THIS THESE INVITES WENT OUT AT
[18:26] THE SAME TIME.
[18:28] UM SO WE ARE GOING RIGHT TO.
[18:31] YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR
[18:34] DIRECTLY SO.
[18:35] YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
[18:36] THANK YOU.
[18:37] OKAY.
[18:38] THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MURPHY.
[18:40] UH THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN
[18:42] FOR ELEVATING THIS EXTREMELY
[18:45] IMPORTANT NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUE.
[18:49] THE CITY OF BOSTON.
[18:50] UH, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW
[18:52] ME, MY NAME IS JONATHAN ALVES.
[18:54] I AM A 12 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE
[18:57] SOUTH END, 15 YEAR RESIDENT
[18:58] OF THE CITY OF BOSTON,
[19:01] CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE
[19:02] PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON
[19:04] HARRISON NEIGHBORHOOD
[19:05] ASSOCIATION WHICH WAS FORMERLY
[19:07] THE BLACKSTONE SQUARE
[19:10] NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND
[19:11] EAST BERKELEY WE COMBINED
[19:12] EARLIER THIS YEAR.
[19:14] I REPRESENT THE LARGEST
[19:16] GEOGRAPHICAL NEIGHBORHOOD
[19:17] ASSOCIATION IN THE SOUTH BEND,
[19:18] WHICH HAPPENS TO INCLUDE THE
[19:21] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
[19:23] POOL.
[19:24] I AM A FATHER OF A TWO YEAR OLD
[19:27] DAUGHTER.
[19:28] UH I'M AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY
[19:29] MEMBER VOLUNTEER UH, ALTHOUGH I
[19:32] WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MY
[19:33] PASSION IS MY COMMUNITY UH,
[19:38] WHICH IS WHY I ALSO FELT IT
[19:39] REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE HERE
[19:40] TODAY IN PERSON EVEN THOUGH
[19:42] IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO.
[19:45] UH, FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY
[19:47] IS I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE
[19:48] FOCUS BUT I DO WANT TO GET ON
[19:49] RECORD SAYING IT.
[19:50] I AM PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WHEN I
[19:54] LOOK AROUND THE CHAMBER TODAY
[19:55] AND I DON'T SEE ANY CITY
[19:58] REPRESENTATIVES.
[19:59] I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER CITY
[20:02] COUNCILORS MANY WHO I KNOW
[20:04] PERSONALLY UH I DON'T SEE
[20:06] ANYBODY FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
[20:08] HERE FOR LEADERSHIP.
[20:11] UH, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY
[20:13] DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE THIS IS
[20:15] THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EQUITY
[20:18] ISSUE.
[20:18] THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR
[20:20] THE OVERALL CITY OF BOSTON.
[20:23] I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU
[20:24] KNOW, IT'S WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING
[20:25] THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT
[20:27] OF WORK DONE BY THE CITY TO
[20:29] OPEN A LOT OF POOLS THAT WERE
[20:30] HISTORICALLY CLOSED.
[20:31] SO THAT SHOULDN'T GO WITHOUT
[20:33] MENTION.
[20:34] BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S
[20:36] EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE AND
[20:38] FRUSTRATING THAT SINCE I'VE
[20:40] BEEN IN THE SOUTH AND AGAIN FOR
[20:41] MORE THAN 12 YEARS, THE
[20:45] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
[20:46] POOL HAS NOT BEEN OPENED AND I
[20:48] THINK IT GOES BACK FURTHER THAN
[20:49] THAT.
[20:50] SO THE QUESTION WE ASK
[20:51] OURSELVES IS WHAT IS A
[20:52] REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO
[20:56] DEDICATE RESOURCES TO AND
[20:59] BUDGET TO FIXING SOMETHING
[21:01] THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IN A
[21:03] COMMUNITY THAT IS EXTREMELY
[21:04] DIVERSE?
[21:05] AS COUNCILOR FLYNN NOTED, UH,
[21:08] THERE ARE MULTIPLE BOSTON
[21:10] PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS THAT
[21:12] SURROUND THE SCHOOL.
[21:14] UH THERE ARE ALSO MIXED INCOME
[21:16] USE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE
[21:17] SOUTH END.
[21:18] UH, THIS IS A POOL THAT CAN
[21:21] SERVE REALLY EVERYBODY NOT JUST
[21:23] ME AND MY DAUGHTER BUT, UH,
[21:25] OTHER FAMILIES AND THERE'S ALSO
[21:27] MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
[21:28] HAD KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH
[21:29] THE SYSTEM UH, THAT REMEMBER
[21:31] BACK 20 YEARS AGO USING THE
[21:33] POOL WHERE THEY LEARNED TO SWIM
[21:34] AND THEY WROTE LETTERS IN
[21:36] ADVOCATING TODAY I PERSONALLY
[21:39] SPOKE TO 50 RESIDENTS ABOUT
[21:42] THIS AND I KNOW THAT MANY
[21:45] ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS AND
[21:48] INDIVIDUALS HAVE SENT IN
[21:49] LETTERS HIGHLIGHTING THE
[21:51] IMPORTANCE OF GETTING A STUDY
[21:53] AND FUNDING DONE FOR THIS
[21:55] SCHOOL.
[21:56] NOW PERHAPS IT'S A BIGGER ISSUE
[21:57] ,BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN STILL
[21:59] FOCUS ON BIGGER ISSUES WHILE
[22:00] SOLVING IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
[22:01] AND ONE OF THOSE IMMEDIATE
[22:02] NEEDS IS MAKING THE POOL
[22:04] ACCESSIBLE.
[22:05] ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I
[22:06] WOULD POSE TO THE CITY
[22:08] OF BOSTON WHEN THEY THOUGHT
[22:09] ABOUT PRIORITIZING POOL FIXES
[22:12] AND AGAIN, THEY'VE DONE A GOOD
[22:13] JOB FIXING A LOT OF POOLS
[22:14] ACROSS THE CITY.
[22:14] WE CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY, BUT
[22:17] SOME OF THE POOLS THAT WERE
[22:18] PRIORITIZED WERE SEASONAL,
[22:20] MEANING OUTDOOR USE ONLY THE
[22:23] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
[22:24] POOL IS SEASONAL INDEPENDENT.
[22:27] IT'S AN INDOOR POOL WHICH MEANS
[22:30] IT CAN BE USED ALL YEAR ROUND.
[22:34] SO THE QUESTION I WOULD SAY IS
[22:36] WHAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS
[22:37] BEHIND THE POOL PRIORITIZATION?
[22:42] UH WHY WOULD A POOL THAT IS
[22:44] SEASONAL INDEPENDENT NOT
[22:46] NECESSARILY BE AT THE TOP
[22:47] OF THE LIST AND ESPECIALLY ONE
[22:49] THAT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR MORE
[22:50] THAN A DECADE?
[22:53] I THINK COUNCILOR FLYNN ALLUDED
[22:54] TO IT EARLIER BUT YOU KNOW,
[22:57] LEARNING HOW TO SWIM IS IS A
[22:58] PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AT ITS CORE
[23:02] .
[23:03] UH, OUTSIDE OF THE RECREATIONAL
[23:05] USES AND BENEFITS THAT HAVING A
[23:09] COMMUNITY ACTIVE COMMUNITY
[23:10] CENTER CENTERED AROUND A POOL
[23:11] CAN BRING, I THINK WE KNOW WE
[23:14] ALL KNOW THAT DROWNING REMAINS
[23:16] PREVENTABLE.
[23:18] UH, WE KNOW THAT ACCESS TO
[23:20] SWIMMING LESSONS CAN SAVE
[23:22] LIVES.
[23:22] AND IF YOU LOOK AT EVEN THE
[23:24] NATIONAL DATA, YOU KNOW
[23:27] APPROXIMATELY 65% OF AFRICAN
[23:29] AMERICAN CHILDREN AND 45%
[23:32] OF LATIN CHILDREN, UH, HAVE
[23:34] LITTLE TO NO SWIMMING ABILITY.
[23:36] AND I KNOW WE COULD LOOK AT THE
[23:37] ACTUAL NUMBERS IN THE SOUTH
[23:38] END, BUT THAT'S PRETTY
[23:40] ASTONISHING IF YOU THINK ABOUT
[23:42] IT, NOT EVERYBODY IS PRIVILEGED
[23:43] AND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO
[23:47] TO, UH, A PAY MEMBERSHIP POOL.
[23:49] UH, NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE
[23:51] OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO HAVE ACCESS
[23:54] TO PEOPLE THAT CAN TEACH THEM
[23:55] TO SWIM.
[23:56] THIS IS WHERE AS A SOCIETY THIS
[23:59] IS WHERE AS A CITY WHO SPEAKS
[24:01] TO CARE ABOUT EVERYBODY HAS TO
[24:03] STEP UP AND FILL THAT GAP
[24:05] BECAUSE CHILDREN AND KIDS AND
[24:07] ELDERS AND THIS IS THE
[24:09] EQUALIZER.
[24:09] THIS IS WHAT GIVES UH EVERYBODY
[24:13] A CHANCE AND THIS IS WHAT CAN
[24:15] PREVENT DEATHS.
[24:19] WE KNOW THAT THE SOUTH END IS
[24:20] EXTREMELY DIVERSE LIKE MANY
[24:21] NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON,
[24:23] ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST
[24:24] DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
[24:29] WE KNOW THAT LOW INCOME
[24:30] FAMILIES FACE PARTICULAR
[24:32] BARRIERS.
[24:35] AND WE KNOW THOSE BARRIERS ARE
[24:37] DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THINGS
[24:38] LIKE HAVING ACCESS TO SWIMMING
[24:40] AND LEARNING HOW TO SWIM.
[24:41] I MEAN, IF YOU WALK DOWN
[24:42] WASHINGTON STREET IN THE SOUTH
[24:43] END AND YOU TALK TO KIDS FROM
[24:45] THE VALEDICTORIAN, TALK TO KIDS
[24:46] FROM HOUSING, YOU KNOW, I CAN
[24:51] RECALL OVER THE SUMMER JUST
[24:52] TALKING ABOUT EVEN GOING TO THE
[24:54] BEACH WITH A FEW KIDS AND NONE
[24:55] OF THOSE KIDS THAT HAVE EVEN
[24:55] BEEN TO THE BEACH BECAUSE THEY
[24:56] DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM.
[24:57] THEY TOLD ME THAT PERSONALLY
[24:58] AND I WAS YOU KNOW, INITIALLY A
[25:00] LITTLE SHOCKED BUT THEN I
[25:01] WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN I WHEN I
[25:02] LOOKED INTO THE DATA AND I
[25:04] THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND.
[25:05] A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES
[25:06] ESPECIALLY THE LOWER INCOME
[25:08] ONES, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS
[25:09] AND THE ABILITY TO GET TO OTHER
[25:11] LOCATIONS IN THE CITY SO
[25:12] EASILY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE
[25:13] YOUNGER AND THEIR PARENTS ARE
[25:14] WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS AND
[25:15] THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE
[25:16] ENDS MEET.
[25:17] THIS POOL UH, THIS COMMUNITY
[25:20] CENTER SERVES A WIDE ARRAY
[25:25] OF FOLKS, UH, AND IT MAKES
[25:26] THINGS REALLY ACCESSIBLE BUT IT
[25:28] HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE
[25:30] LEVERAGED.
[25:32] SO I CAN TELL YOU, UH,
[25:34] REPRESENTING WASHINGTON
[25:35] HARRISON NEIGHBORHOOD
[25:36] ASSOCIATION, UH, REPRESENTING
[25:38] MANY RESIDENTS THAT I SPOKE
[25:39] WITH THAT WE ARE COMMITTED THAT
[25:42] I AM COMMITTED ON WORKING WITH
[25:44] COUNCILOR FLYNN AND
[25:44] COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE CITY
[25:47] OF BOSTON, THE MAYOR AND
[25:48] WHOEVER ELSE WE NEED TO TO GET
[25:50] THIS PRIORITIZED, TO GET THIS
[25:51] FUNDED, TO GET THIS BUDGETED.
[25:53] WE HAVE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE
[25:54] IN THE CITY WITH A LOT
[25:56] OF RESOURCES.
[25:56] WE CAN DO IT.
[25:59] SO UH, I WOULD JUST CONCLUDE BY
[26:00] SAYING I APPRECIATE THE
[26:02] OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
[26:04] UH, I TRUST THAT THIS WILL NOT
[26:06] BE THE FINAL CONVERSATION.
[26:08] I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO
[26:10] PAY ATTENTION TO THE MANY
[26:11] LETTERS THAT I SAW COME IN THIS
[26:12] MORNING FROM WELL-RESPECTED
[26:15] RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN
[26:16] THE SOUTH END.
[26:18] I KNOW.
[26:18] THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND
[26:21] LET'S DO BETTER.
[26:22] LET'S REOPEN THIS POOL.
[26:24] THANK YOU.
[26:27] THANK YOU JOHN.
[26:35] THANK YOU THANK YOU MEGAN THANK
[26:37] YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOU SAID
[26:41] IT AND NOTICED IT IS.
[26:42] ALWAYS DISCOURAGING WHEN THE
[26:44] CHAMBER.
[26:45] IS EMPTY NOT JUST WITH
[26:46] COLLEAGUES BUT THE
[26:47] ADMINISTRATION.
[26:49] UM IT.
[26:50] HAPPENS UNFORTUNATELY.
[26:51] OFTENTIMES WHEN COUNCIL FLYNN I
[26:52] FILE.
[26:53] HEARING ORDERS THERE DOESN'T
[26:54] SEEM.
[26:55] TO BE A POLITICAL WILL
[26:56] SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE
[26:56] ADVOCATING.
[26:57] FOR COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT,
[27:00] UM, BE HIGH ON THE PRIORITY.
[27:02] FOR.
[27:03] WHATEVER POLITICAL REASON.
[27:04] BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS.
[27:07] ADVOCATING NOT JUST FOR
[27:09] YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY BUT YOUR.
[27:10] COMMUNITY AND.
[27:11] YOU UNDERSTAND WHICH IS SO
[27:14] IMPORTANT IS AND AS AN AT LARGE
[27:15] CITY COUNCILOR IT'S WHAT I.
[27:19] SEE EVERY DAY IS.
[27:20] WHAT WE DO IN.
[27:21] HYDE PARK MATTERS.
[27:23] TO ROXBURY.
[27:23] WHAT WE DO IN THE SOUTH THEN
[27:24] MATTERS TO THE CHINATOWN.
[27:26] WHEREVER WE'RE INVESTING OUR
[27:28] TIME AND OUR ENERGY AND OUR.
[27:29] RESOURCES.
[27:30] IT RIPPLES OUT.
[27:31] TO THE REST OF THE CITY WHEN
[27:33] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
[27:35] COASTAL FLOODING.
[27:36] PEOPLE IN WEST ROXBURY HAVE TO
[27:38] BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION
[27:39] TOO.
[27:39] AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[27:42] STUDENTS CLOSE TO 600.
[27:43] STUDENTS AT THE BLACKSTONE,
[27:44] MANY OF THEM MINORITIES LIVING
[27:46] RIGHT THERE IN THAT
[27:47] NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WOULD HAVE
[27:49] THAT POOL OPEN DURING THE DAY.
[27:50] SWIMMING LESSONS, STUDENTS SO.
[27:51] THEY WOULD BE LEARNING.
[27:53] HOW TO SWIM.
[27:53] YOU KNOW, WITHOUT PARENTS.
[27:55] HAVING TO FIND TIME ON THE.
[27:56] WEEKENDS OR IN THE EVENINGS.
[27:58] SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
[28:00] STUDENTS OF THE BLACKSTONE.
[28:01] THEY DESERVE.
[28:02] YOU KNOW, I GREW UP LEARNING
[28:05] HOW.
[28:05] TO SWIM.
[28:06] AT THE MURPHY COMMUNITY
[28:07] SCHOOL IN DORCHESTER, RIGHT,
[28:08] THAT I.
[28:09] GREW UP IN COMMUNITY CENTERS
[28:11] AND WE KNOW THAT.
[28:13] ACCESS TO SWIMMING LESSONS NOT
[28:15] JUST SAVES LIVES.
[28:16] IT'S ACCESS TO YOU KNOW, OUR
[28:18] COMMUNITY CENTERS MATTERS.
[28:21] SO THE BLACKSTONE IN THAT
[28:23] COMMUNITY DESERVES WHAT EVERY
[28:24] OTHER SCHOOL IN YOU MENTIONED
[28:26] CHARLESTOWN I WAS THERE
[28:27] ADVOCATING FOR CHARLESTOWN.
[28:28] BUT IF WE'RE RE RENOVATING AN
[28:31] OUTDOOR.
[28:32] POOL BUT THEN NOT MAKING SURE
[28:33] WE'RE FINDING.
[28:34] RESOURCES TO OPEN A YEAR ROUND.
[28:36] POOL LIKE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
[28:38] THAT WHAT'S GOOD FOR ONE
[28:39] NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO BE GOOD FOR
[28:41] ANOTHER.
[28:41] SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.
[28:43] I DO TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[28:44] UM, ONE IS THE ZOOM IS NOT
[28:48] WORKING COMPLETELY PROPERLY.
[28:50] I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE
[28:52] MORAN.
[28:52] AND STEVE.
[28:53] FOX IS ON THERE AND SOMEBODY
[28:54] ELSE WE CAN'T SEE THEIR NAME.
[28:56] ETHAN IS WORKING HARD TO GET A
[28:57] FIX.
[28:57] WE MAY.
[28:58] SWITCH THEM OVER TO GOOGLE.
[28:59] MEET IN ONE MINUTE.
[29:00] BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, UM, I DO
[29:02] WANT TO.
[29:03] ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN
[29:04] JOINED BY COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
[29:05] SO COUNCIL CHARLES.
[29:06] YOU HAVE THE.
[29:07] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
[29:09] UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
[29:11] UH THE BOTH OF YOU ESPECIALLY
[29:13] COUNCILOR FLYNN, UH, AND
[29:15] CULPEPER FOR BRINGING THIS
[29:16] FORWARD AS WELL, UH, TALKING
[29:18] ABOUT THE NEED FOR A SWIMMING
[29:20] POOL IN THE SOUTH END I KNOW
[29:22] RIGHT NOW, UH, EVEN AT THE
[29:23] MURPHY SCHOOL, THE POOL IN
[29:24] DORCHESTER IS OUT AND WE'VE
[29:26] GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT
[29:27] THAT AND SORT OF THE THE UPTAKE
[29:29] ON THE SWIM TEAM AND THE
[29:31] ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR THERE AND
[29:32] THE THINGS THAT WE CAN OFFER
[29:34] OUR KIDS.
[29:35] UM, UH AND WHAT IS BEING UH
[29:38] IMPACTED BY NOT BEING THERE AND
[29:39] SO TO THINK THAT THAT HAS
[29:41] HAPPENED OVER A LENGTHY AMOUNT
[29:45] OF TIME AT THE BLACKSTONE, UM,
[29:47] AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE BEING
[29:48] DEPRIVED OF THERE UM, I JUST
[29:50] WANT TO SAY APPRECIATE TO
[29:51] MR ALVES FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
[29:53] UM, UH, IN REPRESENTING UH THE
[29:55] COMMUNITY UM AND I KNOW THAT HE
[29:57] CARES VERY DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT
[29:58] THAT COULD PROVIDE AND I WOULD
[29:59] LIKE TO THANK UH,
[30:01] REPRESENTATIVE MORAN AND STEVE
[30:02] FOX FOR ALSO UH, BEING HERE
[30:04] TODAY.
[30:05] UH, TO CHIME IN BUT UH, WE ARE
[30:06] IN SUPPORT OF, UH, GETTING THE
[30:08] INVESTMENT THAT THIS PLACE
[30:09] NEEDS UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
[30:10] SO THAT.
[30:11] UH.
[30:11] THE BEAUTY THAT COMES WITH
[30:12] THE.
[30:12] SWIMMING POOL AND ALL THE GOOD
[30:13] THINGS.
[30:14] UH, ALL THOSE AMENITIES WILL
[30:15] CAN BE OFFERED TO THE SOUTH
[30:16] BEND COMMUNITY.
[30:17] UH THANK YOU JIM.
[30:18] THANK YOU.
[30:19] UM, BEFORE WE TAKE A BREAK.
[30:22] TO SEE IF THAT'S GOING TO WORK,
[30:25] I DO JUST WANT TO.
[30:26] SHARE SOME DATA ON.
[30:28] PAST CAPITAL BUDGET.
[30:34] PROMISES AND JUST STATE THAT
[30:36] BACK LAST.
[30:36] YEAR, COUNCILOR FLYNN IN 2025
[30:39] FILE DOCKET.
[30:40] 1438 WHICH WAS AN ORDER FOR A
[30:42] HEARING REGARDING THE.
[30:43] STATUS AND.
[30:44] THE.
[30:44] FUTURE OF THE BLACKSTONE POOL.
[30:46] AND I BELIEVE THAT.
[30:47] IF WE WENT BACK.
[30:48] EVERY.
[30:48] YEAR EVERY YEAR YOU DO.
[30:49] FILE THIS HEARING TO GET SOME
[30:51] ANSWERS.
[30:52] SO THE CITY HAS NOT.
[30:53] PUBLISHED A REOPENING DATE, A
[30:55] CURRENT ITEMIZED REPAIR
[30:57] ESTIMATE OR A PUBLICLY
[30:58] AVAILABLE ENGINEERING
[30:59] ASSESSMENT ESTABLISHING THE.
[31:01] FULL SCOPE OF THE WORK.
[31:03] .
[31:03] THE POOL WAS.
[31:04] OPERATING IN MAY OF 2019 AND
[31:06] WAS LISTED AMONG THE.
[31:07] CLOSED FACILITIES BY THE.
[31:09] SUMMER OF.
[31:10] 2022 UH IN 2019 AND A WAYS
[31:13] AND MEANS HEARING
[31:14] COUNCIL OF FLYNN ASKED ABOUT
[31:16] THE.
[31:16] BLACKSTONE POOL AND WHETHER.
[31:17] THERE WERE ANY ISSUES, THE
[31:19] ADMIN RESPONDED.
[31:20] THAT THE POOL WAS FUNCTIONING.
[31:21] AND THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE
[31:23] OF ANY ISSUES IN 2021 AT A WAYS
[31:25] AND MEANS HEARING,
[31:26] COUNCILOR FLYNN REQUESTED AN
[31:27] UPDATE ON RENOVATION PLANS AT
[31:29] THE.
[31:29] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER.
[31:31] THE ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED.
[31:33] THE BCA BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY
[31:35] CENTER IS HOUSED WITHIN THE
[31:38] BLACKSTONE.
[31:38] SCHOOL.
[31:39] SO ANY AND ALL FACILITY
[31:40] UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS AS
[31:42] WELL AS DAY TO DAY CUSTODIAL
[31:44] WORK ARE PERFORMED AND FUNDED
[31:46] BY DPS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT,
[31:48] NOT BCA.
[31:50] WE HAVE COLLABORATED ON JOINT
[31:51] FUNDING IN THE PAST IN THE GYM
[31:53] AND THE POOL AREAS, BUT WE ARE
[31:55] UNAWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC
[31:57] RENOVATION PLANS.
[31:58] I DO HAVE YOU HAVE.
[32:00] THAT OFTEN HAVE BEEN ANSWER
[32:04] WHEN ASKED ABOUT.
[32:06] OTHER POOLS THAT THERE WAS.
[32:10] AN ABILITY I.
[32:10] WOULD SAY TO HIDE.
[32:11] BEHIND IS THIS.
[32:12] ISSUE IS THIS.
[32:14] A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ISSUE
[32:15] ?
[32:16] I KNOW THAT BACK.
[32:16] WHERE I HAVE IS NOW UNDER.
[32:18] PUBLIC FACILITIES AND I THINK
[32:19] MANAGED BETTER UNDER THAT
[32:22] UMBRELLA THAT BCA AND DPS.
[32:24] CAN'T JUST.
[32:25] PASS THE BUCK.
[32:26] BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE.
[32:27] AT THE END OF THE DAY RESIDENTS
[32:30] ,STUDENTS.
[32:31] AND YOU KNOW.
[32:32] US EVEN.
[32:33] COUNCILORS IT DOESN'T MATTER
[32:35] WHO THE BILL.
[32:36] GOES TO, IT MATTERS THAT THE
[32:37] CITY.
[32:38] IS WORKING TO GET IT OPEN.
[32:40] SO WE HAVE BEEN JOINED.
[32:42] SO I WILL GO AND READ MORE
[32:43] OF SOME OF.
[32:43] THE DISINVESTMENT PROMISES.
[32:48] ORIGINALLY $20 MILLION THAT NOW
[32:50] LOOK LIKE MAYBE.
[32:52] 200,000 WILL BE SPENT.
[32:53] ON A STUDY SO.
[32:54] I DO I'LL GO OVER THOSE AFTER
[32:56] BUT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED ON ZOOM
[32:59] BY STEVE FOX.
[33:00] WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE SOUTH
[33:02] END FORUM.
[33:02] AND ALSO.
[33:04] BY REPRESENTATIVE.
[33:05] JOHN MORAN.
[33:06] SO UM REPRESENTATIVE WOULD YOU
[33:07] LIKE TO.
[33:08] GO FIRST?
[33:08] THANK YOU.
[33:09] BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND
[33:10] SORRY.
[33:10] FOR SOME OF THE TECHNICAL
[33:11] DIFFICULTIES.
[33:13] YEAH.
[33:14] GOOD MORNING.
[33:15] UM.
[33:16] UH.
[33:16] HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME OKAY.
[33:18] YEAH.
[33:18] VERY VERY GOOD.
[33:19] MORNING JOHN.
[33:20] WE CAN HEAR YOU.
[33:20] IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU STEVE AS
[33:22] WELL.
[33:22] GOOD TO SEE YOU.
[33:23] AND I KNOW UM UH, JOHN FOR NOW
[33:25] DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF KIND
[33:28] OF REPRESENTING UH, SOME OF THE
[33:29] NEIGHBORHOOD VIEWS UH, BUT
[33:31] SITTING ME UH, RIGHT BEHIND
[33:34] ME YOU CAN SEE ME IS UH, PHOTO
[33:36] UH DONE BY ALLEN BRIAN CRIME,
[33:38] UH, FAMOUS SOUTH END PAINTER
[33:40] AND I GUESS JUST WANTED TALK UH
[33:44] ,AND JUST KIND OF EMPHASIZE
[33:45] RE-EMPHASIZE THAT I'M PROUD TO
[33:47] REPRESENT A VERY DIVERSE
[33:49] DISTRICT IN OF DISTRICT NINE
[33:51] AND INCLUDES FOLKS IN LOWER
[33:54] ROXBURY AND INCLUDES, UH, FOLKS
[33:56] IN THE SOUTH AND AND THESE KIDS
[33:58] ,UH, REALLY DESERVE A PLACE TO
[34:01] TO SWIM TO UH, YOU KNOW, FOR
[34:04] THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS
[34:05] THEIR PHYSICAL HAVE A MENTAL
[34:07] HEALTH PART IS A PART THAT
[34:08] MAYBE I BRING AS A MEMBER
[34:11] OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND
[34:11] SUBSTANCE USE AND
[34:13] RECOVERY COMMITTEE THAT IT'S
[34:14] REALLY IMPORTANT PHYSICAL
[34:15] EXERCISE IS REALLY IMPORTANT
[34:17] AND UH I DO FEEL VERY HEAVY
[34:22] HEART WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOME
[34:24] OF THE RESOURCES THAT HALF
[34:27] OF MY CONSTITUENTS GET AS BY
[34:29] VIRTUE OF BEING FAIRLY AFFLUENT
[34:31] AND HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES
[34:34] TO GO TO SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
[34:36] UH, BUT YET THERE'S THIS
[34:39] IMPORTANT 50% OF MY DISTRICT
[34:43] WITH CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE
[34:44] THE MEANS TO JOIN SPECIAL CLUBS
[34:47] OR GO TO OTHER PLACES.
[34:49] AND SO I JUST SIMPLY WANT TO
[34:50] SAY THAT, UH, THIS IS A REALLY
[34:52] IMPORTANT, UH, IMPORTANT TOOL
[34:56] IN OUR TOOLBOX FOR THESE KIDS
[35:00] AND IT IS YOU KNOW, HAVING
[35:02] VISITED IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
[35:05] IT'S JUST A SAD STATE
[35:06] OF AFFAIRS.
[35:07] WE CAN'T GET IT BACK UP AND
[35:09] RUNNING AND UM, I I WOULD
[35:11] ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AT THE
[35:13] STATE LEVEL TO HELP WE'RE
[35:15] WILLING TO DO BUT.
[35:16] I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE A.
[35:17] FOCUS ON AND I JUST WANT TO
[35:18] THANK UM.
[35:19] BOTH UH.
[35:21] COUNCILOR MURPHY AND
[35:22] COUNCILOR PLAN FOR HOLDING THIS
[35:23] IMPORTANT HEARING ABOUT THIS
[35:24] REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND, UH
[35:26] .
[35:27] WE REALLY, UH.
[35:28] I JUST WANT TO REALLY, UH,
[35:31] EMPHASIZE THAT I APPRECIATE THE
[35:33] FACT THAT.
[35:34] WE NEED TO FIGHT.
[35:35] FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LAST IN MY
[35:38] SUFFOLK DISTRICT NINE DISTRICT.
[35:40] SO THANKS VERY MUCH.
[35:41] THANK YOU.
[35:42] JOHN.
[35:44] REPRESENTATIVE.
[35:46] STEVE, YOU CAN GO NEXT.
[35:50] GOOD.
[35:51] GOOD MORNING ALL.
[35:52] CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY.
[35:53] YES.
[35:54] GREAT.
[35:55] THANKS.
[35:56] UH.
[35:56] COUNCILOR MURPHY,
[35:57] COUNCILOR FLYNN, THANK YOU VERY
[35:59] MUCH FOR FOR HOLDING THIS
[36:01] HEARING.
[36:01] UM, REP MORAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
[36:03] THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR.
[36:04] YOUR GOOD WORDS.
[36:05] JONATHAN ALVES.
[36:06] UM, GREAT JOB IN TERMS
[36:08] OF LAYING OUT, UH, YOU KNOW,
[36:10] SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
[36:12] IN.
[36:12] WHY WE'RE.
[36:13] CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
[36:15] UM.
[36:15] THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW
[36:17] THAT.
[36:17] UH, UM THAT THAT I COME FROM A
[36:19] SOUTH FORUM PERSPECTIVE WHICH.
[36:21] TRIES TO.
[36:22] BRING TOGETHER ALL.
[36:23] THE ORGANIZATIONS.
[36:24] AT THE SOUTH END BOTH.
[36:25] NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
[36:27] AS WELL AS NONPROFITS AS WELL
[36:28] AS OUR BUSINESSES.
[36:30] AND SO I CAN SAY TO YOU THAT
[36:32] ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I CAN
[36:34] REPRESENT HERE.
[36:35] THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN
[36:37] SPOKEN WELL BY JOHN OR JONATHAN
[36:41] IS THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE SOUTH
[36:44] AND AS A PUBLIC FACILITY.
[36:48] DESERT UM, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT
[36:50] TERM.
[36:51] UH, LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT
[36:54] WE'VE NOW HAD A CLOSED SOUTH
[36:56] END LIBRARY.
[36:58] FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
[37:00] WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A
[37:01] LIBRARY.
[37:02] BACK FOR AT.
[37:02] LEAST ANOTHER 18.
[37:04] MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.
[37:05] SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT FACILITY
[37:08] .
[37:08] THERE IS NO.
[37:10] OTHER PUBLIC FACILITY.
[37:12] IN THE SOUTH.
[37:13] UM WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN MEET.
[37:16] WHERE UM.
[37:17] THERE CAN BE RECREATION.
[37:19] WHERE THERE CAN BE KIDS WHO CAN
[37:21] GATHER WHERE.
[37:22] SENIORS CAN.
[37:23] COME TOGETHER.
[37:24] SO WHILE THIS HEARING.
[37:26] IS FOCUSED.
[37:27] ON THE POOL AND THAT'S.
[37:29] A REALLY CRITICAL ASPECT.
[37:31] UM, JUST A SIDE NOTE HERE.
[37:33] UH, JONATHAN SAID HE'S.
[37:34] BEEN HERE FOR A DOZEN YEARS.
[37:36] I'VE BEEN IN THE SOUTH END FOR
[37:38] A LITTLE LONGER.
[37:40] UH, SO LET'S SAY.
[37:41] THREE DECADES AND THE.
[37:44] SAME EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF THE
[37:46] POOL.
[37:46] I RECALL ONE SHORT PERIOD.
[37:48] OF TIME WHEN IT WAS.
[37:49] REOPENED UH, ALMOST THREE
[37:51] DECADES AGO AND THEN IT CLOSED.
[37:53] DOWN QUICKLY.
[37:54] AND NEVER REOPENED.
[37:56] UM, SO WE'VE.
[37:57] BEEN WITHOUT THAT.
[37:58] POOL IN THE.
[37:59] BLACKSTONE UH, COMMUNITY CENTER
[38:01] FOR QUITE.
[38:02] A LONG TIME.
[38:03] BUT THE LARGER ISSUE WHICH I
[38:05] THINK.
[38:06] ALL OF US ARE AWARE OF.
[38:07] IS THAT THE BLACKSTONE.
[38:08] COMMUNITY CENTER ITSELF.
[38:10] WHICH IS THE OLD BLACKSTONE
[38:13] SCHOOL.
[38:14] IS IN DESPERATE.
[38:16] DESPERATE NEED OF A RENOVATION.
[38:18] AND EVERY YEAR NEIGHBORHOOD
[38:21] ASSOCIATIONS PUT IT ON THE
[38:23] AGENDA.
[38:24] AS A PRIORITY FOR.
[38:25] FUNDING BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON
[38:27] THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
[38:28] AND EVERY YEAR.
[38:29] IT GETS IGNORED.
[38:32] SO I REALLY.
[38:33] WANT TO.
[38:33] SAY THAT FROM A SOUTH END.
[38:37] FACILITY PERSPECTIVE.
[38:40] WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A.
[38:42] REAL PRIORITY NOT JUST BECAUSE
[38:44] OF THE POOL WHICH I THINK IS
[38:46] CRUCIAL BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE.
[38:49] THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT
[38:51] HOUSES.
[38:51] THAT POOL.
[38:52] IS NOT GOING TO.
[38:53] BE ABLE TO HOUSE A BRAND.
[38:55] NEW POOL.
[38:56] UNLESS WE DO SOME MAJOR
[38:57] STRUCTURAL RENOVATIONS ON THAT
[38:59] COMMUNITY CENTER.
[39:00] I WILL TELL YOU THE.
[39:01] LAST TIME I HELD A MEETING AT
[39:03] THAT COMMUNITY CENTER, WE HAD
[39:04] TO LEAVE.
[39:05] HALFWAY THROUGH THE MEETING
[39:07] BECAUSE THE HEAT COULD.
[39:08] NOT BE TURNED.
[39:09] DOWN AND WE WERE AND.
[39:11] PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY SWEATING
[39:12] IN THE MEETING.
[39:13] UM, THAT'S THE LEVEL OF.
[39:15] INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS THAT WE
[39:17] SEE AT THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY
[39:19] CENTER.
[39:20] SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE.
[39:22] HOW IMPORTANT.
[39:23] IT IS TO THE SOUTH END THAT WE
[39:24] GET TREATED FAIRLY IN.
[39:27] TERMS OF FACILITIES.
[39:29] WE HAVE ONLY FIRE STATIONS WHAT
[39:32] POLICE STATION AND SCHOOLS.
[39:35] AND NO OTHER COMMUNITY.
[39:39] FACILITIES THAT ACTUALLY SERVE
[39:41] .
[39:42] THE 3030.
[39:43] 2000 RESIDENTS.
[39:45] OF THE SOUTH END.
[39:47] SO I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE
[39:48] HOW IMPORTANT IT.
[39:49] IS AS.
[39:50] A MATTER OF BASIC.
[39:51] FAIRNESS THAT THE SOUTH END BE
[39:53] TREATED WELL IN TERMS.
[39:55] OF GETTING.
[39:55] THIS FIXED, I REALLY APPRECIATE
[39:57] IT.
[39:58] UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
[39:59] QUESTIONS.
[40:00] UM.
[40:00] THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE.
[40:03] OPPORTUNITY TO, UH TO SPEAK
[40:04] TO YOU ALL.
[40:04] THANKS SO MUCH.
[40:07] THANK YOU.
[40:08] BOTH OF YOU.
[40:08] UM.
[40:09] WE DO HAVE ONE OTHER PERSON.
[40:11] FOR PUBLIC.
[40:12] TESTIMONY SEPARATE.
[40:13] FROM PANELIST.
[40:14] SO BEFORE WE GO.
[40:15] TO THAT, IF ANY OF MY.
[40:16] COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO ASK
[40:17] ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THIS.
[40:19] COMMUNITY PANEL.
[40:20] COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE
[40:21] FLOOR.
[40:21] YOU KNOW.
[40:22] I KNOW YOU.
[40:22] ALSO HAVE SOME LETTERS THAT.
[40:24] WERE MENTIONED.
[40:25] JONATHAN.
[40:25] THANK YOU.
[40:26] I THINK YOU SAW THEM COME IN
[40:28] TO OF.
[40:28] YOU KNOW.
[40:30] COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE
[40:31] WANT TO GET SOME OF THEIR
[40:32] POINTS ON THE RECORD SO IF
[40:34] COUNCIL FLYNN IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
[40:37] YEAH I.
[40:38] BEFORE I ASK QUESTIONS I WANT
[40:39] TO SAY THANK YOU TO UM STEVE
[40:41] FOX TO UM TO REPRESENTATIVE
[40:46] JOHN AND TO INTO JONATHAN AS
[40:48] WELL THREE THREE INDIVIDUALS
[40:52] THAT CONSTANTLY ADVOCATE FOR
[40:56] THE SOUTH END AND ROXBURY
[40:59] RESIDENTS BUT.
[41:01] YOU KNOW, HAVE TREMENDOUS
[41:03] RESPECT FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR
[41:06] ADVOCACY ESPECIALLY YOUR
[41:07] ADVOCACY FOR.
[41:09] COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
[41:11] THEY'RE PART OF OUR
[41:13] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[41:14] THEY CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO OUR
[41:16] CITY AND THEY'RE WHAT THEY'RE
[41:19] ASKING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT
[41:21] OF RESPECT.
[41:22] THEY'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT
[41:23] OF JUSTICE AND THEY'RE ASKING
[41:26] FOR THE SAME DECENCY IN AS
[41:31] STEVE FOX MENTIONED, THE SAME
[41:33] BASIC.
[41:33] CITY SERVICES THAT OTHER
[41:35] NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVE.
[41:37] IS THAT IS THAT REALLY A LOT TO
[41:39] ASK FOR?
[41:41] UM, I DON'T THINK SO.
[41:43] BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
[41:45] TO STEVE AND TO AND TO JONATHAN
[41:47] AND AND TO JOHN UM, FOR ALWAYS
[41:50] BEING THERE FOR FOR THE SOUTH
[41:52] END RESIDENTS.
[41:53] UM.
[41:55] LET ME LET ME.
[41:57] ASK LET ME START WITH STEVE
[41:58] FOX.
[42:01] UM AND THEN AND THEN I'LL GIVE
[42:02] AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MY OTHER
[42:03] COLLEAGUES.
[42:04] STEVE I RECEIVED A LOT
[42:05] OF LETTERS AND JONATHAN ELVES
[42:07] UM, HIGHLIGHTED IT TO JONATHAN
[42:09] SAID HE HE RECEIVED HE TALKED
[42:11] ABOUT 50 PEOPLE ALL ABOUT THIS
[42:13] ISSUE ADVOCATING FOR FOR IT TO
[42:16] BE OPEN.
[42:17] I RECEIVED A LETTER HERE FROM
[42:18] VANESSA CALDERON,
[42:21] WELL-RESPECTED LEADER IN OUR
[42:22] COMMUNITY.
[42:23] UM, I RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THE
[42:25] SOUTH END UM SOCCER PROGRAM,
[42:28] THE FRIENDS OF THE BLACKSTONE
[42:30] SCHOOL AS WELL.
[42:33] UM BUT STEVE, WE.
[42:34] SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT HOW
[42:36] CRITICAL IT IS FOR SWIMMING
[42:38] LESSONS FOR CHILDREN ALL
[42:40] CHILDREN TO RECEIVE SWIMMING
[42:41] LESSONS, ESPECIALLY.
[42:42] CHILDREN OF COLOR THAT MIGHT
[42:44] NOT HAVE ACCESS THIS IT'S VERY
[42:47] CHALLENGING, STEVE, FOR SOUTH
[42:49] BEND RESIDENTS TO GET TO
[42:51] ANOTHER SWIMMING POOL TO GET
[42:53] SWIMMING SWIMMING LESSONS AND.
[42:57] WE REALLY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED A
[42:58] PLAN TO ENSURE SOUTH END
[43:01] RESIDENTS HAVE THAT OPTION.
[43:03] THAT'S HOW CRITICAL A SWIMMING
[43:05] POOL IS.
[43:06] SO I GUESS MY MY QUESTION TO.
[43:08] YOU STEVE.
[43:09] IS.
[43:11] UM WHAT WHAT CAN WE.
[43:12] DO AS AS A NEIGHBORHOOD TO STAY
[43:15] ACTIVE, TO STAY ENGAGED, TO
[43:18] CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOUTH
[43:21] END RESIDENTS TO SHORE.
[43:23] TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE TREATED
[43:25] WITH RESPECT?
[43:27] WELL THANKS COUNCILOR.
[43:29] UM, I.
[43:30] THINK THAT THE SOUTH.
[43:31] END HAS ENDED UP.
[43:33] UM, TRYING TO UM, FIND.
[43:36] SOLUTIONS OF NECESSITY.
[43:39] UM UM AS A RESULT.
[43:40] OF THE LACK OF UH THE
[43:42] FACILITIES.
[43:42] FOR.
[43:43] EXAMPLE ON ON THIS ISSUE.
[43:45] IN TERMS OF POOLS.
[43:47] UM AND.
[43:48] I WANT TO BE SURE THAT
[43:49] EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S
[43:50] NOT JUST SWIMMING, IT'S.
[43:51] ALSO CREATING A.
[43:52] GATHERING SPOT FOR YOUNG KIDS
[43:55] TO BE.
[43:55] ABLE.
[43:56] TO COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY AND
[43:58] LEARN.
[43:58] SWIMMING, BUT.
[43:59] TO BE ABLE.
[44:00] TO ENGAGE AND FIND A PLACE
[44:02] WHERE THEY CAN.
[44:03] FEEL COMFORTABLE, SAFE AND CAN
[44:05] ENGAGE.
[44:05] IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
[44:06] ACTIVITIES.
[44:08] BEFORE THE SWIMMING.
[44:09] UM AND AFTER THE SWIMMING.
[44:11] SO UH, KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT
[44:13] WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FIXING THIS
[44:15] POOL WE'RE NOT JUST.
[44:16] TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE SITTING IN
[44:18] THE POOL AND LEARNING SWIMMING
[44:19] .
[44:19] THERE'S A BUNCH.
[44:20] OF ACTIVITIES ADJACENT TO THAT.
[44:22] THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
[44:23] UM, SO WHAT WE'VE.
[44:24] DONE IS.
[44:25] WE'VE REACHED.
[44:25] OUT TO PLACES LIKE THE Y AND
[44:28] UM, YOU KNOW, WE USED TWO YEARS
[44:30] AGO UM, AND THIS IS.
[44:32] WE'RE GOING BACK QUITE A WAYS.
[44:34] WE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE
[44:35] SHERATON IN THAT DAY.
[44:37] AND ASKED IF WE COULD
[44:38] POSSIBLY CUT A DEAL FOR SOUTH
[44:40] BEND RESIDENTS RESIDENT KIDS,
[44:42] UH, TO BE ABLE TO USE THE POOL
[44:44] THERE.
[44:45] UM, WE WEREN'T.
[44:46] ABLE TO CUT A DEAL, BUT.
[44:47] THAT'S THE.
[44:48] KIND OF THING THAT WE'VE
[44:49] BEEN FORCED TO DO OVER.
[44:50] TIME IN ORDER TO TRY TO SERVE
[44:52] OUR COMMUNITY AS NEIGHBORHOOD
[44:54] PEOPLE.
[44:55] UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE.
[44:57] WHY OF.
[44:57] COURSE HAS BEEN.
[44:58] TREMENDOUSLY RESPONSIVE AND.
[44:59] THAT'S OVER BY NORTHEASTERN AND
[45:00] THAT'S GREAT AND THEY'RE
[45:02] TERRIFIC BUT THERE'S NOTHING
[45:03] THAT REALLY.
[45:05] IS AS UM AS FAIR.
[45:08] AS HAVING A FACILITY.
[45:10] WHERE KIDS CAN FEEL LIKE THEY
[45:11] CAN GO AND LEARN AND BE.
[45:13] TOGETHER AND FEEL SAFE.
[45:15] UM, SO.
[45:17] I THINK I THINK IN RESPONSE TO
[45:19] YOUR QUESTION, COUNSELOR.
[45:21] UH, WE'VE.
[45:21] WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN TRYING
[45:24] EVERYTHING WE CAN.
[45:26] TO TRY.
[45:27] TO IDENTIFY.
[45:28] POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
[45:29] WHILE WE DON'T HAVE.
[45:31] OUR OWN SOLUTION.
[45:32] SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY.
[45:33] IMPORTANT THAT.
[45:34] THIS BE TREATED AS PRIORITY
[45:36] SO THAT WE UH THAT WE AREN'T,
[45:38] UH, ALWAYS COMING HAT IN HAND.
[45:40] THANKS.
[45:41] AND THANK YOU, STEVE AND.
[45:43] I.
[45:44] I APPRECIATE.
[45:45] THOSE COMMENTS AND RESPECT.
[45:46] THE WORK.
[45:47] YOU HAVE DONE.
[45:48] AND STEVE, YOU MENTIONED YOU
[45:50] HIGHLIGHTED THE SWIMMING BUT
[45:52] ALSO THE BUILDING.
[45:53] THE STRUCTURE ITSELF.
[45:55] I WAS THERE RECENTLY WITH I
[45:57] BELIEVE WITH JOHN MORAN WE WERE
[45:58] THERE FOR UH A YOUTH EVENT AS
[46:03] IT RELATES TO PAINTING OF A
[46:05] MURAL.
[46:06] UM UM IT WAS IT WAS A.
[46:07] BEAUTIFUL MURAL.
[46:08] DONE BY UM YOUNG PEOPLE,
[46:10] YOUNG TEENS UM FROM MANY FROM
[46:13] THE VILLAGE VICTORIA AREA AND
[46:14] THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
[46:17] UM BUT YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
[46:19] THE THE BUILDING ITSELF IS IS
[46:22] IN DESPERATE NEED
[46:23] OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
[46:24] .
[46:24] UM, SO I WANT TO ASK UM, REP
[46:28] MORAN JOHN, YOU YOU SPEND A LOT
[46:32] OF TIME IN THAT AREA WITH THOSE
[46:35] WITH THE YOUTH.
[46:36] UM, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO IN
[46:39] TERMS OF ADVOCATING FOR NOT
[46:42] JUST A POOL BUT ALSO FOR, UM,
[46:46] INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO
[46:47] THE TO THE FACILITY ITSELF?
[46:50] UM, THE PLAYGROUND THE THE
[46:53] OUTSIDE THE COURTYARD IT'S
[46:54] CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL I WAS
[46:57] THERE FOR OPENING I THINK YOU
[46:58] WERE THERE AS WELL FOR OPENING
[46:59] DAY.
[47:00] FOR SCHOOL.
[47:00] UM, WE GO TO THAT PANCAKE
[47:02] BREAKFAST ALL THE TIME BUT.
[47:05] THEY HAVE.
[47:05] THEY HAVE THE EXCELLENT
[47:08] PRINCIPAL, UM, MICHELLE BECK.
[47:10] SHE'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
[47:12] BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
[47:14] UM, REP MORAN AND I KNOW YOU'VE
[47:16] YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
[47:17] OF WORK IN THIS FIELD, BUT I
[47:18] JUST WANT TO ASK WHAT YOUR
[47:20] THOUGHTS ARE.
[47:21] YEAH.
[47:22] NO THANKS, COUNSELOR.
[47:23] I GUESS ONE THING THAT COMES
[47:24] TO MIND IS THAT TO YOUR POINT,
[47:25] WE HAVE AN AMAZING NEW WELL,
[47:27] SHE'S BEEN THERE, UM, TWO YEARS
[47:29] OR THREE YEARS.
[47:30] UH, COURTNEY SHUKMAN SHE'S
[47:31] SHE'S A PHENOMENAL UH, SHE'S
[47:35] SHE'S A SUPER HUMAN IN MY IN MY
[47:36] BOOK, UM, IN WHAT SHE'S DOING
[47:38] WITH THAT SCHOOL AND IF YOU GO
[47:40] THROUGH THE SCHOOL FOR THE
[47:41] EVENTS THAT WE GO TO WHETHER IT
[47:42] BE THE UH.
[47:43] THE BOOK.
[47:44] READING THING WE GO TO A
[47:45] COUNSELOR AND AND JONATHAN, I
[47:47] KNOW YOU GO TO THOSE TWO FOR
[47:48] THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST UH, OR
[47:50] OTHER THINGS IF YOU KNOW IF
[47:53] THERE'S SOME DEFINITE SPIRIT
[47:54] AND THEN THEN WE HAVE THE
[47:56] FRIENDS OF THE BLACKSTONE WHO.
[47:57] DO IT DO A YEOMAN'S JOB.
[47:59] YEAH.
[48:01] OF OF TRYING TO BRING
[48:02] RESOURCES TO THE SCHOOL.
[48:04] SO I GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT
[48:06] WHEN I LOOK AT THE HURLEY
[48:07] SCHOOL I SAY, WELL WHY ARE
[48:11] THERE SO MANY RESOURCES AT
[48:12] HURLEY?
[48:13] AND SO THEY RAISE $100,000 A
[48:14] YEAR FOR THE SCHOOL ITSELF.
[48:16] UH, AND WHY WHY SO I GUESS IT'S
[48:19] A LONG WAY OF SAYING I THINK WE
[48:21] CAN SOMEHOW BOLSTER THE.
[48:22] FRIENDS OF BLACKSTONE AND
[48:24] ADVERTISE.
[48:24] THE MORE.
[48:25] I KNOW THAT THEY'RE AT ONE
[48:27] POINT LAST YEAR WE INVITED THEM
[48:28] TO THE SOUTH BEND FORUM.
[48:29] THEY WERE GOING TO COME I THINK
[48:31] IF WE COULD JUST BOLSTER THEM
[48:32] AND AND BOOST BOOST THEM
[48:34] ECONOMICALLY AND JUST
[48:36] SPIRITUALLY TO KIND OF GET THEM
[48:37] GOING.
[48:37] AND I THINK.
[48:39] THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THEM TO
[48:41] ALSO FOCUSED ON THE ON THE POOL
[48:43] ITSELF.
[48:43] I THINK THEY COULD BE A HUGE
[48:44] ASSET OR A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL
[48:46] PEOPLE ON THAT ORGANIZATION.
[48:47] BUT I WENT TO A FUNDRAISER FOR
[48:49] THEM AND I'M JUST GONNA BE
[48:50] HONEST THE THE THE GOAL WAS
[48:51] LIKE $5,000 FOR THE HURLEY THE
[48:54] SCHOOL IS $100,000.
[48:55] BUT I DO HAVE A STORY.
[48:57] THAT I LISTEN I LISTEN TO THE
[48:59] ELDERS.
[49:00] UM UH.
[49:01] PEOPLE OLDER.
[49:02] THAN ME I SHOULD SAY AT THIS
[49:03] POINT THAT BUT BUT.
[49:05] THEY LISTEN.
[49:06] TO FOLKS AND THEY SAY THAT
[49:09] HURLEY SCHOOL WAS ONCE SIMILAR
[49:12] TO BLACKSTONE IN TERMS OF.
[49:14] NEEDING MORE RESOURCES.
[49:16] AND SO IF WE.
[49:18] IF WE SORT OF.
[49:19] LOOK AT IT AS WE DID IT.
[49:21] WITH HURLEY, WE PUT IN A PARENT
[49:22] TEACHER ORGANIZATION, WE.
[49:23] PUT IN THE RESOURCES.
[49:24] THERE'S SO MUCH FOCUS SO KNOW I
[49:27] DON'T WANT TO CO-MINGLE THE.
[49:28] SCHOOL WITH THE.
[49:29] DCF CENTER.
[49:30] BUT I DO THINK THEY'RE SOMEWHAT
[49:31] RELATED AND I.
[49:32] THINK A.
[49:33] TACTICAL THING WE CAN DO.
[49:35] IS PUT SOME ENERGY AND SUPPORT
[49:37] BEHIND THE FRIENDS OF BLACK.
[49:40] .
[49:41] THANK YOU.
[49:41] THANK YOU JOHN.
[49:43] UM I DO WANT TO ASK UM A.
[49:47] QUICK QUESTION TO MY.
[49:48] TO MY FRIEND JONATHAN AS WELL.
[49:51] JONATHAN WHAT YOU WHAT YOU.
[49:54] HIGHLIGHTED AT THE BEGINNING
[49:55] REALLY RESONATED WITH ME IS YOU
[49:58] SAID YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE MANY
[50:02] FAMILIES AND THE BLACKS IN THE
[50:04] SOUTH AND DON'T HAVE THE
[50:06] ABILITY.
[50:07] TO TAKE THEIR.
[50:08] KIDS TO PRIVATE SWIMMING
[50:09] LESSONS AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS
[50:13] IT'S THE JOB OF GOVERNMENT TO
[50:15] STEP IN TO PROVIDE THAT
[50:18] CRITICAL SUPPORT.
[50:18] I BELIEVE I WAS FORTUNATE
[50:21] ENOUGH MY WIFE AND I WERE
[50:22] FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEND OUR
[50:23] KIDS TO PRIVATE SWIMMING
[50:25] LESSONS.
[50:26] UM, I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S
[50:29] CRITICAL THAT EVERY KID
[50:30] REGARDLESS OF IF YOU HAVE ANY
[50:33] MONEY YOU SHOULD GET SWIMMING
[50:35] LESSONS.
[50:36] YOU SHOULD HAVE A SAFE PLACE
[50:37] TO, UH, SWIM IN A BCI FACILITY.
[50:42] UM, AND I KNOW THE IMPORTANT
[50:44] WORK YOU ARE DOING.
[50:45] JONATHAN.
[50:46] WHAT CAN WE DO?
[50:47] WHAT CAN YOU DO.
[50:49] AS A COMMUNITY LEADER.
[50:50] TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY ENGAGED?
[50:53] WE STAY.
[50:54] ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE.
[50:55] BUT WE ALSO.
[50:57] EDUCATE MORE PEOPLE ABOUT
[50:58] WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS
[51:00] FACILITY.
[51:00] AND I KNOW YOU CONTINUE TO DO
[51:02] THAT BUT JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT
[51:03] YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ARE.
[51:05] UH I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
[51:07] UM I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT
[51:09] THEN I'LL OFFER SOME IDEAS.
[51:11] UH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
[51:14] MANY FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH AND
[51:15] ROXBURY DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS
[51:18] TO ACCESS PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
[51:21] OR PRIVATE FACILITIES.
[51:23] UM, YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY
[51:24] SPEAKS PERSONALLY TO ME.
[51:26] UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM
[51:28] THE, YOU KNOW, SON OF AN
[51:30] IMMIGRANT FATHER WHO WAS ONE
[51:31] OF NINE WHO CAME OVER AND FROM
[51:34] PORTUGAL IN THE 1960S.
[51:37] MY GRANDPARENTS TOOK NINE KIDS
[51:38] OVER HERE.
[51:39] UH, THEY WERE ILLITERATE.
[51:40] MY FATHER HAD A FOURTH GRADE
[51:42] EDUCATION AND YOU KNOW, THEY
[51:44] WORKED TRADITIONAL JOBS FROM
[51:46] FIRST GEN PEOPLE.
[51:47] RIGHT.
[51:48] UH, JUST TRYING TO MAKE THEIR
[51:50] WAY.
[51:52] MY FATHER HAD THREE SONS.
[51:53] I'M THE OLDEST OF THREE.
[51:55] UH, AND HE DID HIS BEST TO
[51:57] CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
[51:59] UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE PRIVATE
[52:01] LESSONS, BUT WE HAD ACCESS
[52:03] WHERE I GREW UP IN CENTRAL MASS
[52:05] TO SOME SWIMMING PLACES AND WE
[52:06] WOULD GO THERE AND HE DIDN'T
[52:08] EVEN REALLY KNOW HOW TO SWIM
[52:09] BUT YOU KNOW, CONNECTED WITH
[52:11] SOME PEOPLE.
[52:11] AND NOW HE HAS THREE SONS WHO
[52:14] TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON,
[52:17] UH, WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
[52:19] AND A YOUNGER BROTHER WHO RUNS
[52:20] PLANNING FOR THE CITY
[52:21] OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
[52:22] SO IT'S A IN SOME WAYS A
[52:24] SUCCESS STORY FOR IMMIGRATION
[52:26] AND OPPORTUNITY REALLY AND YOU
[52:29] KNOW, EVEN HIS PARENTS, UH,
[52:33] ALWAYS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW,
[52:35] COMING FROM A DICTATORSHIP ERA
[52:37] PORTUGAL THERE'S VERY LITTLE
[52:38] OPPORTUNITIES THAT EDUCATION UH
[52:42] ,IS THE EQUALIZER AND THAT HAS
[52:45] ALWAYS STUCK WITH ME BECAUSE
[52:48] YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU
[52:49] GIVE KIDS A FAIR SHOT AND A
[52:52] CHANCE WHAT THEY CAN DO
[52:54] REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR
[52:55] BACKGROUND IS.
[52:56] NOBODY NOBODY CHOOSES TO BE
[52:57] BORN.
[52:58] YOU'RE BORN INTO WHAT YOU'RE
[52:59] BORN INTO.
[53:01] BUT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE AND
[53:02] YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION YOU KNOW
[53:06] YOU CAN YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL
[53:07] AND I'M LIVING PROOF OF THAT
[53:08] AND MY BROTHERS ARE PROOF
[53:09] OF THAT.
[53:11] SO THE POOL, THE COMMUNITY
[53:13] CENTER THIS IS ABOUT EQUAL
[53:15] OPPORTUNITY.
[53:16] THIS IS ABOUT GIVING KIDS A
[53:17] CHANCE, UH, TO MAKE IT AND DO
[53:20] GOOD THINGS.
[53:21] UH, AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, WHAT
[53:24] I WOULD SAY WE CAN DO, UH, A
[53:27] MORE FOCUSED JOB AROUND IS
[53:31] USING OUR NEW PLATFORM AS A
[53:33] COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD
[53:34] ASSOCIATION THAT HAS A LARGE
[53:35] FOOTPRINT TO KEEP THIS ISSUE
[53:37] FRONT AND CENTER TO MAKE SURE
[53:40] THAT WE HAVE A CONTINUED, UH,
[53:42] ELECTED REPRESENTATION ON OUR
[53:44] CALLS, WHICH WE HISTORICALLY
[53:46] HAVE.
[53:46] SO I THINK, YOU KNOW,
[53:47] COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, UH, FLYNN
[53:49] MURPHY, REP MORAN, STEVE FOX
[53:51] AND THE FORUM FOR BEING THERE,
[53:54] UH, HELPING TO USE OUR PLATFORM
[53:56] TO ELEVATE THE ORGANIZATIONS
[53:57] LIKE THE FRIENDS OF BLACKSTONE
[53:59] SCHOOL BECAUSE I DO THINK THEY
[54:00] ARE CONNECTED AS REP MORAN SAID
[54:01] .
[54:02] AND STEVE SAID, UH, THE OTHER
[54:04] THING THAT UH, HAS UH SURPRISED
[54:08] ME AND MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T HAVE
[54:09] BUT UH, MANY OF US ARE WELL
[54:11] AWARE OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOL
[54:13] THAT OPENED IN THE SOUTH END
[54:15] UNDER THE THE CROFT AND THE
[54:16] ISSUES THAT HAPPENED THERE AND
[54:17] NOW THE NEW SCHOOL SOUTH AND
[54:18] VILLAGE ACADEMY UH, WHO JUST
[54:21] GOT SOME ZONING APPROVAL TO
[54:23] REMAIN UH THE PLACE ON 1511
[54:25] WASHINGTON I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
[54:27] THAT UH THAT ORGANIZATION WHEN
[54:30] THE SCHOOL IS IN FINANCIAL
[54:30] TROUBLE TO RESTART RALLIED A
[54:32] LOT OF PARENTS.
[54:34] YEAH AND A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP
[54:37] IT GOING AND TO STAY AND WHAT
[54:41] POTENTIALLY STARTED OFF AS A
[54:42] LITTLE BIT OF A ROCKY
[54:43] RELATIONSHIP I THINK IS
[54:44] ACTUALLY STARTED TO UM STARTED
[54:49] TO IMPROVE.
[54:50] MANY OF THE LETTERS THAT CAME
[54:51] IN TODAY WERE FROM PARENTS AND
[54:53] ADMINISTRATION FROM THE SOUTH
[54:55] BEND VILLAGE ACADEMY.
[54:56] YOU KNOW THEY HAVE KIDS TO
[54:58] THEIR RESIDENTS NOW MAYBE THEIR
[55:01] BACKGROUNDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN
[55:01] SOME OF THE OTHER KIDS BUT THEY
[55:03] HAVE RESOURCES AND UH, I'VE
[55:07] COMMUNICATED WITH THEIR HEAD
[55:08] OF SCHOOL AND THEY'RE COMMITTED
[55:09] TO THIS TO SO I THINK LEANING
[55:12] ON THE SOUTH BEND VILLAGE
[55:13] ACADEMY AND THE NETWORK THAT
[55:15] THEY HAVE WHETHER IT'S UH
[55:19] FUNDING OR UH EXPERTISE COULD
[55:23] BE SOMETHING THAT THAT WE COULD
[55:25] WE COULD LEVERAGE UM BECAUSE
[55:27] I'VE BEEN PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH
[55:29] THE RALLYING THAT THAT THEY DID
[55:31] WITH A PRETTY SHORT NOTICE UH,
[55:34] TO PUT ATTENTION ON THIS UM,
[55:36] AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO TO
[55:38] THE FACT OF EQUALITY.
[55:39] I MEAN, MAYBE THOSE KIDS HAVE
[55:42] PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT THEY CAN
[55:43] GO TO.
[55:43] MAYBE THEY DON'T BUT THEY
[55:45] RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UH
[55:47] OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
[55:50] SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE, I THINK
[55:53] WHAT I CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO
[55:55] USE MY PLATFORM IN CONJUNCTION
[55:57] WITH THE SOUTH END FORUM TO
[56:00] ELEVATE UH, THE FRIENDS GROUPS.
[56:03] I THINK THAT WE CAN UH,
[56:06] LEVERAGE OUR CONNECTIONS WITH
[56:08] PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THIS
[56:10] OR I THINK THEY'RE NONPROFIT
[56:11] NOW BUT SOUTHERN VILLAGE
[56:12] ACADEMY AND TAP INTO SOME
[56:14] OF THOSE RESOURCES BECAUSE I
[56:16] THINK THE MONEY IS THERE.
[56:17] I THINK THE TALENT IS THERE.
[56:19] WE JUST NEED TO KEEP THE UH,
[56:21] FOOT ON THE GAS AND KEEP THIS
[56:23] ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER AND GET
[56:24] THIS DONE.
[56:24] I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO IT.
[56:26] SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
[56:27] WELL WELL THANK.
[56:28] YOU JONATHAN AND I'M GOING
[56:29] TO PASS IT ALONG TO MY OTHER
[56:31] COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THEY HAVE
[56:33] OR IF THAT'S UP TO THE CHAIR TO
[56:34] SEE IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
[56:35] BUT I DO WANT TO LET STEVE KNOW
[56:38] AND JONATHAN KNOW AND UH, THE
[56:40] REPRESENTATIVE NO UM LATER
[56:42] LATER IN THIS HEARING I WILL
[56:44] READ INTO THE RECORD UM, A
[56:46] LETTER FROM VANESSA CALLED THE
[56:48] RHONE WHO'S THE, UH, PRESIDENT
[56:51] OF IBA.
[56:52] I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE
[56:53] RECORD A LETTER OF SUPPORT AS
[56:56] WELL FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AS
[57:01] YOU MENTIONED, JONATHAN AT THE
[57:02] SOUTH END VILLAGE ACADEMY,
[57:05] CHRISTINA LOPEZ AND I'M GOING
[57:07] TO BE SPEAKING WITH HER LATER
[57:08] THIS AFTERNOON.
[57:09] I ALSO HAVE A LETTER I'M GOING
[57:11] TO READ INTO THE RECORD FROM
[57:13] THE FRIENDS OF THE BLACKSTONE
[57:15] SCHOOL AS WELL.
[57:17] UM, AND FROM THE PRESIDENT
[57:20] OF THE SOCCER UNITY PROJECT.
[57:23] UM I HAVE OTHER LETTERS BUT IN
[57:26] THE INTEREST OF TIME I'M ONLY
[57:27] GOING TO READ THESE FOR LATER
[57:29] ON IN THE HEARING.
[57:30] BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU
[57:31] THREE KNOW THAT, UH, I AGREE
[57:33] WITH YOU.
[57:33] THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT IN
[57:35] THIS COMMUNITY FOR US GOING
[57:37] FORWARD AND WHAT I'M GOING TO
[57:39] DO JUST SO YOU THREE KNOW, IS
[57:43] WE'LL CONTINUE HAVING THIS
[57:45] MEETING.
[57:46] UM, BUT AT SOME POINT, UM,
[57:49] MAYBE MAYBE IN NOVEMBER I THINK
[57:52] WE HAVE TO RECONVENE WITH THE
[57:54] CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN WITH
[57:56] PUBLIC WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
[57:58] THERE, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT
[58:00] OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WITH THE
[58:02] SUPPORT OF CITY OFFICIALS, UM,
[58:05] SUPPORT OF YOURSELF AS WELL.
[58:06] HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WHERE WE
[58:08] CAN DISCUSS THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE
[58:12] AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
[58:14] AND I THINK PART OF HOW WE MOVE
[58:16] FORWARD IS EFFECTIVELY
[58:19] COMMUNICATING, BEING RESPECTFUL
[58:20] TO EACH OTHER AND ENSURING THAT
[58:23] THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET SO
[58:24] WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO TO FIX
[58:27] THE POOL.
[58:28] I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
[58:31] IF WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING TO
[58:32] FIXING THE POOL WE CAN GET IT
[58:34] DONE.
[58:35] I'M CONFIDENT OF THAT.
[58:37] BUT IF WE DON'T WANT TO GET IT
[58:38] DONE AND WE WANT TO GIVE
[58:39] EXCUSES OF WHY WE CAN'T UH GET
[58:42] IT DONE THEN THAT'S THAT'S
[58:43] ANOTHER AVENUE THAT PEOPLE CAN
[58:45] TAKE BUT THAT'S NOT THE AVENUE
[58:46] I'M GOING TO TAKE.
[58:48] UM BUT I'M GOING TO DO
[58:49] EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN TO
[58:51] GET THIS POOL REOPENED AND I
[58:54] WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
[58:55] JONATHAN.
[58:56] I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
[58:57] STEVE AND I WANT TO SAY THANK
[58:59] YOU TO JOHN AS WELL FOR, UH,
[59:01] BEING STRONG LEADERS AND
[59:04] TREMENDOUS ADVOCATES FOR THE
[59:05] SOUTH END.
[59:06] UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE UM GIVE
[59:08] IT BACK TO THE CHAIR.
[59:09] THANK YOU.
[59:11] COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[59:12] I DID JUST ALSO WANT TO
[59:15] REITERATE AS THE CHAIR OF THE
[59:18] COMMITTEE WHICH WILL HOLD
[59:19] HEARINGS ON.
[59:21] POOLS AND COMMUNITY.
[59:22] CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY THAT
[59:24] I'M ALSO COMMITTED BECAUSE
[59:25] SEEING AS THOUGH THE
[59:26] ADMINISTRATION CHOSE TO.
[59:28] SCHEDULE AFTER THIS WAS ALREADY
[59:29] NOTICED AND THEY WERE INVITED A
[59:31] CELEBRATION.
[59:32] THAT WE WILL.
[59:33] KEEP THIS IN COMMITTEE AND
[59:35] RESCHEDULE A HEARING AND.
[59:36] IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH IT AND I
[59:38] KNOW COUNCIL.
[59:38] FITZGERALD YOU ARE ALSO A LEAD
[59:40] SPONSOR HAVING THIS NEXT
[59:42] MEETING IN THE COMMUNITY WE CAN
[59:44] HAVE IT EITHER AT THE
[59:45] BLACKSTONE SCHOOL I KNOW LAST
[59:47] YEAR WE.
[59:48] GOT A WELL ATTENDED MEETING.
[59:49] WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
[59:51] YOU KNOW, THE MASS AND CASS.
[59:53] ISSUES THERE.
[59:54] SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
[59:55] THAT WE HAVE IT IN THE EVENING
[59:56] IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE SO
[59:58] MANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU MENTIONED
[59:59] ARE AT WORK AND NOT ABLE TO BE
[1:00:01] HERE.
[1:00:01] AND I THINK.
[1:00:02] THAT TO GET.
[1:00:04] THE ATTENTION OF MANY WHO SEEM
[1:00:06] TO THINK THAT THIS MAY NOT BE
[1:00:08] WORTH THEIR POLITICAL CAPITAL
[1:00:10] TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS RESOURCE
[1:00:12] THAT'S SO NEEDED IN THIS
[1:00:13] COMMUNITY THAT.
[1:00:15] IF WE SHOW THAT PEOPLE WILL
[1:00:16] SHOW UP.
[1:00:16] AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL DO
[1:00:19] SO WELL AND JUST QUICKLY WANT
[1:00:22] TO MENTION LAST I THINK IT WAS
[1:00:24] JUST LAST YEAR WHEN.
[1:00:24] WE WERE.
[1:00:25] CELEBRATING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:00:27] GROUPS KIND.
[1:00:28] OF FORMING TOGETHER.
[1:00:28] YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
[1:00:30] DO GREAT WORK BUT ALSO.
[1:00:31] KNOW THAT WHEN YOU COME
[1:00:32] TOGETHER MORE CAN GET DONE.
[1:00:34] I THINK I'VE QUICKLY TOLD THIS
[1:00:36] STORY UM.
[1:00:37] HOW BACK WHEN MY.
[1:00:39] GRANDMOTHER AND.
[1:00:40] GRANDFATHER UM STARTED THE HILL
[1:00:43] NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
[1:00:44] BACK IN THE.
[1:00:45] 60S AND KNEW THAT THAT LANDFILL
[1:00:48] IN DUMP THERE WHICH IS NOW THE
[1:00:50] MURPHY SCHOOL AND PLAYGROUNDS
[1:00:52] YOU KNOW, BASEBALL YESTERDAY
[1:00:53] THERE WAS JUST.
[1:00:54] THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE
[1:00:56] UPGRADES THAT THE STATE FUNDED
[1:00:57] FOR THE PLAYGROUND THERE WE
[1:00:59] HAVE BASEBALL FIELDS BUT IT'S
[1:01:01] THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE
[1:01:02] SCHOOL WHICH WAS GOING TO BE
[1:01:04] IGNORED AND THEY WERE NEVER
[1:01:05] GOING TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN A
[1:01:07] COMMUNITY CENTER IN THAT
[1:01:08] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:01:09] AND MY GRANDFATHER REALIZED
[1:01:11] THAT HE.
[1:01:11] NEEDED TO WORK.
[1:01:12] WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
[1:01:13] SO HE CREATED WHICH IS STILL
[1:01:15] AROUND DUNA, WHICH WAS THE
[1:01:16] DORCHESTER UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:01:18] ASSOCIATION, YOU KNOW, BRINGING
[1:01:20] TOGETHER.
[1:01:21] COMMUNITY PEOPLE AND REALLY
[1:01:22] GETTING CITY HALL TO LISTEN.
[1:01:24] AND IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW YOU
[1:01:25] IN THE SOUTH END DO YOU SPEND
[1:01:28] AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME?
[1:01:30] NO, DON'T I KNOW WE'RE HERE TO
[1:01:31] TALK ABOUT THE BLACKSTONE IN
[1:01:32] THE POOL, BUT I THINK.
[1:01:34] FOR ME AS AN AT-LARGE
[1:01:37] COUNCILOR LIKE I.
[1:01:38] WANT IT TO BE ON THE RECORD.
[1:01:40] THAT THE COUNCILORS WHO ARE.
[1:01:42] HERE WHO REPRESENT.
[1:01:43] THE SOUTH END BUT ALL OF YOU
[1:01:44] WHO SHOW.
[1:01:46] UP EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE A.
[1:01:47] LOT GOING ON IN THE SALT THEN
[1:01:49] RIGHT WITH.
[1:01:49] THE RECOVERY.
[1:01:50] ISSUES WITH THE MASS AND CAST
[1:01:52] ISSUE AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS
[1:01:54] ARE SPENT MONTHLY I BET JUST
[1:01:56] TRYING TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY
[1:01:58] BETTER AND THE CITY SHOULD NOT
[1:02:00] TURN THEIR BACK ON SOMETHING
[1:02:01] LIKE A SCHOOL AND A POOL LIKE
[1:02:04] THAT TO ME EVEN THOUGH IT COSTS
[1:02:06] MONEY IT IT WOULD BE SUCH A
[1:02:08] POSITIVE IMPACT.
[1:02:09] I DO BEFORE I PASS IT BACK.
[1:02:12] TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
[1:02:13] MISS WANT TO STATE.
[1:02:14] SOME OF THAT CAPITAL FUNDING?
[1:02:16] AS YOU KNOW OUR CAPITAL.
[1:02:18] FUNDING COMES OUT FOR.
[1:02:19] FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS.
[1:02:20] SO WHEN IT WAS THE.
[1:02:22] 2428 PUBLISHED PLAN, THERE WAS
[1:02:26] A $2.
[1:02:27] MILLION.
[1:02:27] POOL PROJECT SHOWN.
[1:02:28] FOR THE BLACKSTONE AND THE 25
[1:02:32] FY 29.
[1:02:33] CAPITAL BUDGET.
[1:02:34] THERE WAS A.
[1:02:34] 2 MILLION AUTHORIZED WITH
[1:02:36] 500,000 EXISTING IN 1.5
[1:02:39] MILLION.
[1:02:39] ADDED IN.
[1:02:40] THE 2630 CAPITAL.
[1:02:43] PLAN PUBLISHED FOR THE
[1:02:44] BLACKSTONE POOL.
[1:02:45] IT'S A 2 MILLION AUTHORIZED.
[1:02:47] THE REVISED TABLE SHOWED ZERO
[1:02:49] PLANNED.
[1:02:50] ON THE 2526 YEARS.
[1:02:52] IN BOTH PROJECTS STILL TO BE
[1:02:55] SCHEDULED WITH NO ACTUAL
[1:02:57] SPENDING AT THAT POINT.
[1:02:59] AND WHEN.
[1:02:59] YOU LOOK AT THE 27.
[1:03:01] THROUGH 31 FDI.
[1:03:03] CAPITAL PLAN, THERE WAS NO.
[1:03:05] BLACKSTONE POOL PROJECT.
[1:03:06] THAT APPEARS.
[1:03:08] AT.
[1:03:08] ALL IN THE PROFILE.
[1:03:09] SO THE MISSION AND THE STUDY
[1:03:11] WE'RE.
[1:03:12] NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT
[1:03:13] IT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE THE
[1:03:15] .
[1:03:16] CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE NEXT
[1:03:17] FIVE YEARS.
[1:03:18] SO WE NEED TO GET IT IN THE
[1:03:20] BUDGET WE NEED TO ADVOCATE.
[1:03:22] WE NEED TO.
[1:03:23] YOU KNOW, TRACK DOWN THE.
[1:03:24] MONEY AND.
[1:03:26] MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY.
[1:03:28] GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
[1:03:29] UM THAT BEING SAID I WILL PASS.
[1:03:31] IT OFF TO
[1:03:32] COUNCIL FITZGERALD.
[1:03:33] AND THEN.
[1:03:34] COULD I.
[1:03:36] MADAM CHAIR I JUST WANT TO
[1:03:37] HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, REVEREND
[1:03:39] COLE PEPPER UM, DID HAVE AN
[1:03:41] EMERGENCY.
[1:03:42] HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
[1:03:44] HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB
[1:03:46] ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING THE
[1:03:47] RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END IN
[1:03:49] ROXBURY.
[1:03:49] BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
[1:03:52] HE IS NOT HERE BECAUSE OF AN
[1:03:54] EMERGENCY.
[1:03:55] UM, WITH WITH WITH THE, UH, A
[1:03:58] LOVED ONE IN HIS, UM, COMMUNITY
[1:04:00] PARISH.
[1:04:01] UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS
[1:04:03] THAT ON.
[1:04:03] THANK YOU.
[1:04:03] THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[1:04:04] AND I.
[1:04:05] OFTEN REFERRED TO HIM AS.
[1:04:06] REVEREND CULPEPER, NOT
[1:04:08] COUNCILOR CULPEPER.
[1:04:08] AND HE DID MENTION.
[1:04:10] YESTERDAY AT THE
[1:04:11] COUNCIL MEETING THAT HE HAD TO
[1:04:12] UM NOT HAVE TO BUT WAS GOING TO
[1:04:14] BE AT A FUNERAL MASS AND I
[1:04:16] THINK UM SENDING OUR PRAYERS
[1:04:18] TO.
[1:04:18] CULPEPER AND KNOW THAT HE IS A.
[1:04:20] STRONG ADVOCATE.
[1:04:21] SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
[1:04:22] COUNCILOR.
[1:04:22] FOR SURE.
[1:04:23] THANK YOU CHAIR I DON'T HAVE
[1:04:24] ANY QUESTIONS BUT I DO JUST
[1:04:26] WANT TO UH, THROW MY SUPPORT
[1:04:27] BEHIND THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY
[1:04:29] AS I ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS
[1:04:30] WILL.
[1:04:31] UM, WE'VE GOT THREE GREAT FOLKS
[1:04:32] UP HERE, UH, REPRESENTING
[1:04:33] COMMUNITY.
[1:04:34] I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, UH, OUR
[1:04:35] STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MORAN
[1:04:37] FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF WHAT
[1:04:39] I KNOW WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS
[1:04:40] BUSY SCHEDULE CAN BE TO COME
[1:04:41] AND TALK ABOUT A POOL.
[1:04:43] UH, BUT KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE
[1:04:45] OF THAT, UH, AND STEVE FOR
[1:04:47] ALWAYS BEING INVOLVED AND
[1:04:48] OBVIOUSLY JOHN FOR THE GREAT
[1:04:49] WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND IN
[1:04:51] GATHERING THE COMMUNITY
[1:04:52] TOGETHER TO BE A STRONGER
[1:04:53] VOICE.
[1:04:53] SO UH, JUST TO I SAY YOU GUYS
[1:04:55] DONE A GREAT JOB.
[1:04:55] YOU'RE PUTTING THE WORK IN THAT
[1:04:57] WORK SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.
[1:04:58] WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
[1:04:59] UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
[1:05:01] FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
[1:05:02] YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL
[1:05:04] AS ADULTS, ELDERS AND ANYONE
[1:05:05] ELSE WHO USES A POOL.
[1:05:06] UH, HAS ACCESS.
[1:05:07] TO THAT AMENITY.
[1:05:08] THANK YOU.
[1:05:10] COUNCIL I JUST WANT TO CHECK
[1:05:11] IS ANYONE.
[1:05:13] ON OKAY, SO.
[1:05:14] WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
[1:05:15] PUBLIC.
[1:05:16] TESTIMONY.
[1:05:17] IF ANYONE WANTED TO HAVE ANY
[1:05:18] CLOSING.
[1:05:18] STATEMENTS I'LL START WITH THE
[1:05:20] PANELIST.
[1:05:20] YOU CAN.
[1:05:22] OKAY.
[1:05:23] UM.
[1:05:24] UM, REP MORAN, DO YOU HAVE
[1:05:26] ANY.
[1:05:26] CLOSING STATEMENTS?
[1:05:27] OKAY.
[1:05:29] UH, COUNSELOR.
[1:05:30] NO, I'M I'M SORRY TO THANK
[1:05:31] YOU.
[1:05:31] AND I JUST WANT TO THANK
[1:05:32] EVERYBODY AGAIN FOR, UM FOR
[1:05:34] MAKING SOME TIME TODAY AND I DO
[1:05:36] THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
[1:05:37] TO DO AN ONSITE, UH, AN
[1:05:39] ADDITIONAL ON SITE HEARING.
[1:05:40] UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
[1:05:42] THE TIME.
[1:05:43] I KNOW YOU GOT A BIG CITY TO,
[1:05:45] UH, YOU KNOW, RUN AS AN AT
[1:05:47] LARGE COUNCILOR.
[1:05:47] YOU'VE GOT AN ENTIRE CITY.
[1:05:49] SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
[1:05:50] TIME FOCUSING ON THE SOUTH END
[1:05:52] AS WELL.
[1:05:53] OF COURSE.
[1:05:53] NO THANK YOU.
[1:05:53] UM.
[1:05:54] STEVE, DO YOU HAVE TO CLOSE?
[1:05:57] UH, NOT REALLY A CLOSING
[1:05:58] STATEMENT.
[1:05:58] JUST ONE ADDITIONAL, UM, PIECE
[1:06:01] OF THIS PUZZLE.
[1:06:02] UM, THAT, UM THAT I WANTED TO
[1:06:05] MENTION WHEN WE LOST THE
[1:06:07] HARRIET TUBMAN HOUSE AT 566
[1:06:09] COLUMBUS AVENUE.
[1:06:11] WE LOST ONE OF THE GATHERING
[1:06:13] SPOTS WHERE KIDS AND SENIORS
[1:06:15] AND OTHERS GATHERED.
[1:06:17] NOW THE USES HAS DONE A GREAT
[1:06:19] JOB, UH, AT THEIR NEW RUTLAND
[1:06:20] STREET FACILITY, UH, TO MAKING
[1:06:23] UP FOR WHAT WE LOST, UM, AT THE
[1:06:26] AT THE 566 COLUMBUS LOCATION.
[1:06:29] BUT, UM, I WANT TO BE CLEAR
[1:06:31] THAT UH THAT BUILDING WHICH IS
[1:06:34] NOW, YOU KNOW, GREAT HOUSING,
[1:06:35] UH, IN THE SOUTH END, UM, WAS
[1:06:39] REALLY A GATHERING SPOT AND THE
[1:06:41] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
[1:06:43] THAT POOL, YOU KNOW, UM, SHOULD
[1:06:46] HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL THE GAP
[1:06:48] BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE
[1:06:50] PROBLEMS AND A CLOSED POOL HAVE
[1:06:52] NOT ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO
[1:06:54] FILL THE GAP.
[1:06:56] SO IN ADDITION TO THE LACK
[1:06:58] OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, WE ALSO
[1:07:00] HAVE THE LACK OF PRIVATE
[1:07:02] FACILITIES WITHIN THE SOUTH END
[1:07:04] THAT'S PUTTING AN EVEN BIGGER
[1:07:05] SQUEEZE ON US IN THE SOUTH END
[1:07:07] IN TERMS OF OUR FACILITY
[1:07:09] DESERT.
[1:07:09] SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
[1:07:11] THAT WAS CLEAR AS WELL.
[1:07:12] THANKS VERY MUCH.
[1:07:13] REALLY APPRECIATE THIS CHAIR.
[1:07:15] THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
[1:07:16] GETTING THAT.
[1:07:17] ON THE RECORD.
[1:07:18] IT'S IMPORTANT.
[1:07:20] TO KNOW WHAT.
[1:07:21] OTHER RESOURCES AND JONATHAN
[1:07:22] .
[1:07:22] YOU MENTIONED WHEN.
[1:07:23] OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND
[1:07:25] OFTENTIMES WE'RE.
[1:07:26] ADVOCATING AND AS.
[1:07:27] AN AT.
[1:07:28] LARGE COUNCIL I DO ADVOCATE FOR
[1:07:29] ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT FOR
[1:07:30] SAY A COMMUNITY.
[1:07:31] CENTER OR A POOL.
[1:07:32] WHEN WE DO HAVE OTHERS MAYBE
[1:07:35] IT'S A Y OR ANOTHER BCF BUT IN
[1:07:38] THE SOUTH END IT REALLY IS.
[1:07:39] YOU CALLED IT A DESERT,
[1:07:40] RIGHT?
[1:07:40] WE TALK.
[1:07:41] ABOUT FOOD DESERTS WHEN WE
[1:07:42] DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW,
[1:07:43] APPROPRIATE FOOD MARKETS AROUND
[1:07:45] BUT THERE IS A INFRASTRUCTURE.
[1:07:48] DESERT IN THE SOUTH END AND
[1:07:49] IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO
[1:07:51] SOMETHING ABOUT THAT FOR THE
[1:07:52] COMMUNITY.
[1:07:53] SO UM.
[1:07:54] JONATHAN, IF YOU'D.
[1:07:55] LIKE TO.
[1:07:56] CLOSE OUT OR.
[1:07:57] SHARE I'LL BE BRIEF.
[1:07:59] UM I JUST WANT TO THANK
[1:08:01] COUNCILOR FLYNN, CHAIR MURPHY,
[1:08:03] UH, REP FITZGERALD,
[1:08:06] REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MORAN,
[1:08:08] STEVE FOX FROM THE SOUTH END
[1:08:09] FORUM, UH, FOR MAKING THIS A
[1:08:12] PRIORITY, UH, FOR BEING HERE
[1:08:14] TODAY TO ADVOCATE UM, I BELIEVE
[1:08:19] THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
[1:08:20] THIS AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
[1:08:24] ACHIEVE A DESIRABLE OUTCOME.
[1:08:27] I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH
[1:08:28] TALENT, RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO
[1:08:30] DO IT.
[1:08:31] UH, SO I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING
[1:08:34] WITH EACH ONE OF YOU TO DO
[1:08:35] THAT.
[1:08:36] UM, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
[1:08:38] PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE TO, UH,
[1:08:40] SOME FAIRLY LAST MINUTE THAT
[1:08:43] WROTE IN LETTERS AND UH,
[1:08:46] OFFERED TESTIMONY UM,
[1:08:49] SPECIFICALLY UH EBA AND VANESSA
[1:08:51] CALLE THEIR OWN.
[1:08:52] WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OVER THERE?
[1:08:54] UM, I WANT TO THANK THE SOUTH
[1:08:56] END VILLAGE ACADEMY CHRISTINA
[1:08:57] LOPEZ FOR NOT ONLY PERSONALLY
[1:08:59] WRITING A TESTIMONY AS A SOUTH
[1:09:01] END PARENT BUT ALSO ON BEHALF
[1:09:02] OF THE SCHOOL AND PUTTING THIS
[1:09:04] INFORMATION IN THEIR
[1:09:05] NEWSLETTER.
[1:09:06] UH, DAVID RUSSELL OF THE
[1:09:08] BLACKSTONE UM SCHOOL FRIENDS
[1:09:10] GROUP AS WELL AS THE
[1:09:12] ADMINISTRATION OF BLACKSTONE
[1:09:13] SCHOOL UH AND SEVERAL HURLEY
[1:09:15] SCHOOL PARENTS THAT I TALKED TO
[1:09:17] THAT ALSO SENT LETTERS AND UM I
[1:09:20] APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU DOING
[1:09:21] THAT ESPECIALLY ON A LITTLE BIT
[1:09:23] OF A TIME CONSTRAINT BUT IT
[1:09:24] MATTERS AND IT'S ON THE RECORD.
[1:09:27] UM, I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK
[1:09:29] THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW COULDN'T
[1:09:30] BE HERE TODAY.
[1:09:31] A LOT OF THE FOLKS FROM UH,
[1:09:34] CERTAIN COMMUNITIES,
[1:09:35] MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT
[1:09:36] UH THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT
[1:09:38] YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORKING RIGHT
[1:09:39] NOW.
[1:09:39] THEY DON'T HAVE THE THE LUXURY
[1:09:42] THAT THAT SOME OF US DO AND
[1:09:44] FLEXIBILITY IN OUR SCHEDULE TO
[1:09:46] TO TESTIFY AND BE HERE.
[1:09:47] BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE
[1:09:49] BEHIND THIS AND I WANT TO MAKE
[1:09:50] SURE THEIR VOICES ARE
[1:09:51] AMPLIFIED.
[1:09:52] UM WE'RE HERE FOR THEM AS WELL.
[1:09:54] AND I THINK THE IN-PERSON
[1:09:56] MEETING I THINK IN NOVEMBER
[1:09:57] WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA.
[1:10:00] UM, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO
[1:10:01] RALLY AS MUCH SUPPORT FOR THAT
[1:10:03] MEETING AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN
[1:10:05] HAVE A A BIG, BIG FOCUS.
[1:10:07] UH, I KNOW THAT THE
[1:10:10] ADMINISTRATION CAN DO BETTER ON
[1:10:11] THIS.
[1:10:12] UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
[1:10:15] IF WE KEEP THE FOCUS ON THIS
[1:10:18] ISSUE AND WE GET THE FOCUS ON
[1:10:20] THIS COMMUNITY, WE WILL BE
[1:10:22] SUCCESSFUL.
[1:10:23] SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
[1:10:25] APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[1:10:26] TESTIFY.
[1:10:27] THANK YOU.
[1:10:27] AND I WILL WORK WITH.
[1:10:29] COUNCILOR FLYNN AND ALL OF YOU
[1:10:31] TO SET THE BEST DATE AND
[1:10:33] LOCATION FOR THAT DEFINITELY
[1:10:35] BEFORE THE.
[1:10:35] YEAR OUT.
[1:10:36] SO COUNCIL FLYNN.
[1:10:37] IS NOW GOING TO.
[1:10:38] READ THOSE LETTERS THAT HE.
[1:10:40] MENTIONED EARLIER.
[1:10:43] TO HIGHLIGHT SOME IMPORTANT
[1:10:44] CONCERNS.
[1:10:45] YEAH RIGHT.
[1:10:46] WE GENERALLY DON'T HIGHLIGHT OR
[1:10:49] READ INTO THE RECORD LETTERS
[1:10:51] LETTERS OF SUPPORT BUT I I DO
[1:10:54] WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[1:10:56] DO THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE THEY
[1:10:58] ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
[1:10:59] THEY ARE.
[1:11:00] COMMUNITY PARTNERS THE
[1:11:02] WELL-RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY
[1:11:03] .
[1:11:04] AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
[1:11:05] THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
[1:11:07] UM, SO I, I DO WANT TO READ
[1:11:09] INTO THE RECORD A COUPLE
[1:11:12] OF LETTERS I LIKE JONATHAN
[1:11:14] MENTIONED I HAVE RECEIVED I
[1:11:16] DON'T KNOW, 2020 LETTERS, 30
[1:11:19] LETTERS UH, BUT I'M ONLY GOING
[1:11:21] TO READ IN A FEW OF THEM 3 OR 4
[1:11:23] OF THEM MAYBE THIS THIS LETTER
[1:11:27] IS FROM VANESSA CALDERON ROSADO
[1:11:29] PHD.
[1:11:31] UM AND SHE'S OBVIOUSLY
[1:11:33] ASSOCIATED UM SHE'S THE LEAD AT
[1:11:35] THE LEADERSHIP OF OF EBA WHICH
[1:11:37] IS THE ORGANIZING MANAGEMENT
[1:11:41] OF VILLA VICTORIA AND SOCIAL
[1:11:44] SERVICES ON BEHALF OF EBA, OUR
[1:11:48] BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN OUR
[1:11:50] COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS AT VILLA
[1:11:51] VICTORIA, I AM WRITING TO URGE
[1:11:53] THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE
[1:11:55] BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO
[1:11:57] PRIORITIZE THE REPAIR AND
[1:11:59] REOPENING OF THE POOL AT THE
[1:12:00] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER IN
[1:12:02] THE SOUTH END FOR MORE THAN A
[1:12:04] DECADE THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
[1:12:05] ASSET HAS REMAINED CLOSED,
[1:12:08] DEPRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:12:09] RESIDENTS OF A VITAL
[1:12:11] RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND
[1:12:13] PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCE.
[1:12:15] THE PROLONGED CLOSURE OF THE
[1:12:17] BLACKSTONE POOL HAS HAD A
[1:12:19] SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
[1:12:21] THE SOUTH END COMMUNITY,
[1:12:22] PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN,
[1:12:24] FAMILIES, OLDER ADULTS, LOW
[1:12:27] INCOME RESIDENTS WHO DEPEND ON
[1:12:28] PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR
[1:12:31] RECREATION AND WELLNESS.
[1:12:33] SWIMMING IS NOT SIMPLY A
[1:12:35] LEISURELY ACTIVITY IT IS A
[1:12:37] LIFESAVING SKILL, AN EFFECTIVE
[1:12:39] FORM OF EXERCISE AND AN
[1:12:41] IMPORTANT OUTLET FOR YOUTH
[1:12:43] ENGAGEMENT.
[1:12:44] THE ABSENCE OF A LOCAL PUBLIC
[1:12:45] POOL HAS HAS LIMITED
[1:12:48] OPPORTUNITIES FOR SWIMMING
[1:12:49] LESSONS, WATER SAFETY,
[1:12:50] EDUCATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND
[1:12:53] STRUCTURED YOUTH PROGRAM FOR
[1:12:55] MANY FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH END
[1:12:57] INCLUDING FAMILIES IN THE
[1:12:58] VILLAGE VICTORIA TRAVELING TO
[1:13:00] PAUSE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS
[1:13:02] CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO
[1:13:04] TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES, WORK
[1:13:05] SCHEDULES, CHILDCARE
[1:13:07] RESPONSIBILITIES.
[1:13:08] AS A RESULT, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
[1:13:10] HAVE LOST ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
[1:13:12] WATER ACTIVITIES ENTIRELY.
[1:13:15] THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
[1:13:17] INEQUITIES IN RECREATIONAL
[1:13:19] OPPORTUNITIES AND AS DEPRIVED
[1:13:21] GENERATIONS OF NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:13:23] CHILDREN HAVE THE CHANCE TO
[1:13:25] LEARN HOW TO SWIM CONFIDENTLY
[1:13:26] AND SAFELY, THE CLOSURE HAS
[1:13:29] ALSO DIMINISHED AN IMPORTANT
[1:13:31] GATHERING PLACE THAT ONCE
[1:13:33] HELPED STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY
[1:13:35] CONNECTIONS, COMMUNITY CENTERS
[1:13:37] AND FACILITIES PLAY A CRITICAL
[1:13:40] ROLE IN FOSTERING SOCIAL
[1:13:42] INTERACTION, SUPPORTING HEALTHY
[1:13:44] LIFESTYLES AND PROVIDING SAFE
[1:13:46] ENVIRONMENTS FOR RESIDENTS
[1:13:47] OF ALL AGES.
[1:13:48] THE LOSS OF THE BLACKSTONE POOL
[1:13:50] HAS LEFT A NOTICEABLE GAP IN
[1:13:52] THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES
[1:13:54] AVAILABLE TO SOUTH END
[1:13:55] RESIDENTS.
[1:13:58] REOPENING THE POOL WOULD
[1:13:59] PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS
[1:14:01] FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE
[1:14:02] CITY AS A WHOLE.
[1:14:03] IT WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO
[1:14:04] PHYSICAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND
[1:14:06] HELP ADDRESS HEALTH, SOCIAL AND
[1:14:09] RECREATIONAL DISPARITIES.
[1:14:11] SWIMMING IS PARTICULARLY
[1:14:12] VALUABLE BECAUSE IT IS
[1:14:14] ACCESSIBLE ACROSS AGE GROUPS
[1:14:15] AND ABILITIES, OFFERING LOW
[1:14:18] IMPACT EXERCISE FOR SENIORS,
[1:14:20] REHABILITATION OPPORTUNITIES
[1:14:22] FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INJURIES
[1:14:24] IN HEALTHY RECREATION FOR
[1:14:26] CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
[1:14:28] FURTHERMORE, A RESTORED
[1:14:29] BLACKSTONE POOL COULD SERVE AS
[1:14:31] A HUB FOR SWIM LESSONS,
[1:14:33] LIFEGUARD TRAINING, YOUTH
[1:14:35] EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND
[1:14:37] COMMUNITY EVENTS.
[1:14:37] IT WOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
[1:14:40] TO TEACH CRITICAL WATER SAFETY
[1:14:42] SKILLS, HELP REDUCE THE RISK
[1:14:44] OF DROWNING AND PROMOTING LIFE
[1:14:45] LONG HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
[1:14:48] INVESTMENT IN THE BLACKSTONE
[1:14:49] COMMUNITY POOL IS AN INVESTMENT
[1:14:52] IN EQUITY, HEALTH CARE, YOUTH
[1:14:55] DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:14:57] VITALITY.
[1:14:57] I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT
[1:14:58] SENTENCE AGAIN INVESTMENT IN
[1:15:00] THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
[1:15:02] POOL IS AN INVESTMENT IN EQUITY
[1:15:04] ,PUBLIC HEALTH, YOUTH
[1:15:06] DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:15:08] VITALITY.
[1:15:09] THE SOUTH END DESERVES ACCESS
[1:15:11] TO THE SAME QUALITY RECREATION
[1:15:13] FACILITIES AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE
[1:15:15] IN BOSTON, AND RESIDENTS SHOULD
[1:15:17] NOT HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER FOR
[1:15:19] THE RETURN OF THIS ESSENTIAL
[1:15:20] RESOURCE.
[1:15:23] I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOSTON
[1:15:24] CITY COUNCIL TO WORK WITH THE
[1:15:26] MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BOSTON
[1:15:27] CENTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES,
[1:15:29] COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
[1:15:31] LOCAL RESIDENTS TO SECURE THE
[1:15:32] FUNDING AND SUPPORT NECESSARY
[1:15:35] TO REPAIR AND REOPEN THE
[1:15:36] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY POOL AS
[1:15:38] SOON AS POSSIBLE.
[1:15:39] THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
[1:15:41] THIS SUPPORT MATTER AND FOR
[1:15:42] YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE
[1:15:44] PEOPLE OF BOSTON.
[1:15:45] SINCERELY, VANESSA CALDERON
[1:15:48] ROSATO, PHD.
[1:15:56] MADAM CHAIR, WITH YOUR
[1:15:58] PERMISSION, MAY I CONTINUE
[1:15:58] PLEASE?
[1:15:59] OKAY.
[1:16:01] THIS LETTER THAT I'M ABOUT
[1:16:03] TO READ INTO THE RECORD IS A
[1:16:04] LETTER FROM CHRISTINA LOPEZ,
[1:16:06] THE FOUNDING HEAD OF SCHOOL
[1:16:07] SOUTH END VILLAGE ACADEMY.
[1:16:11] DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY
[1:16:14] COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
[1:16:14] SERVICES I AM WRITING IN
[1:16:17] SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO REPAIR
[1:16:19] AND REOPEN THE POOL AT THE
[1:16:20] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER.
[1:16:22] AS A LIFELONG SHELTON RESIDENT
[1:16:25] AND PARENT, I HAVE APPRECIATED
[1:16:26] THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
[1:16:28] AS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR
[1:16:31] FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:16:32] WHILE MY FAMILY DID NOT USE THE
[1:16:34] POOL ITSELF, I FONDLY REMEMBER
[1:16:37] GATHERING AT THE BLACKSTONE
[1:16:38] COMMUNITY CENTER PRE-PANDEMIC
[1:16:40] WITH OTHER YOUNG FAMILIES AND
[1:16:42] BEING SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS
[1:16:45] RESOURCE WAS IN OUR BACKYARD A
[1:16:47] PLACE THAT PROVIDES
[1:16:48] OPPORTUNITIES, PROGRAMING AND
[1:16:50] GATHERING SPACE FOR SOUTH END
[1:16:51] CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
[1:16:54] IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL THAT
[1:16:56] PROGRAMING HAD PICKED UP.
[1:16:58] MARCO HAD DONE A WONDERFUL JOB
[1:17:00] BUT OPENING THE POOL WOULD BE
[1:17:02] CRITICAL AND ENSURING THE
[1:17:03] COMMUNITY CENTER FUNCTIONS AT
[1:17:05] THE LEVEL THAT OTHER
[1:17:07] NEIGHBORHOODS DO.
[1:17:08] AS A SCHOOL TEACHER, I KNOW
[1:17:10] THAT COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES WITH
[1:17:12] YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE
[1:17:14] WOULD SEE THIS COMMUNITY
[1:17:16] IMPROVEMENT AS IMPACTFUL IN
[1:17:19] DETERMINING THEIR DECISION TO
[1:17:20] REMAIN IN THE CITY AND IN THIS
[1:17:22] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:17:23] FAMILIES OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
[1:17:25] IN THE SOUTH END LOVE TO
[1:17:26] CONNECT BEYOND THEIR SCHOOL
[1:17:28] COMMUNITIES.
[1:17:28] IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
[1:17:30] THE SOUTH END IS SO SPECIAL.
[1:17:32] THE POOL WOULD BE A PLACE FOR
[1:17:33] ALL CHILDREN TO CONNECT AND
[1:17:35] GROW TOGETHER.
[1:17:36] IT COULD PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
[1:17:38] FOR SWIMMING IN WATER SAFETY,
[1:17:41] EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, PHYSICAL
[1:17:43] ACTIVITY ENRICHMENT AND SIMPLY
[1:17:46] ENJOYING A COMMUNITY RESOURCE
[1:17:47] TOGETHER.
[1:17:49] ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE
[1:17:50] NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE
[1:17:52] OF LIFEGUARDS IT WILL PROVIDE A
[1:17:53] KEY LOCATION FOR TRAINING IN
[1:17:55] JOBS FOR YOUNG ADULTS.
[1:17:57] BLACKSTONE IS ALREADY AN
[1:17:59] IMPORTANT INSTITUTION IN THE
[1:18:01] SOUTH END.
[1:18:03] REOPENING THE POOL WILL EXPAND
[1:18:04] WHAT THIS COMMUNITY RESOURCE
[1:18:06] CAN OFFER TO CHILDREN AND
[1:18:08] FAMILIES AND WOULD BRING AN
[1:18:10] EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSET
[1:18:12] BACK INTO USE AND CONFIRM THE
[1:18:15] SOUTH END AS A DESIRABLE AND
[1:18:17] SUPPORTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
[1:18:18] FAMILIES TO RAISE THEIR
[1:18:19] CHILDREN.
[1:18:21] I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY
[1:18:22] COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING THE
[1:18:23] STATUS OF THE POOL AND AN
[1:18:26] INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING STUDY
[1:18:27] TO DETERMINE THE REPAIRS NEEDED
[1:18:29] FOR REOPENING.
[1:18:31] I HOPE THE CITY WILL CONTINUE
[1:18:32] TO PURSUE A PATH TOWARD
[1:18:35] RESTORING THE POOL AS A
[1:18:36] FUNCTIONING PUBLIC RESOURCE AS
[1:18:38] A PARENT, A SOUTH END RESIDENT,
[1:18:40] A SCHOOL TEACHER, I WOULD BE
[1:18:43] GRATEFUL TO SEE THE BLACKSTONE
[1:18:45] POOL OPEN AGAIN FOR THE
[1:18:46] CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF OUR
[1:18:48] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:18:48] THANK YOU FOR YOUR
[1:18:50] CONSIDERATION AND FEEL WORK ON
[1:18:51] BEHALF OF THE SOUTH END
[1:18:52] COMMUNITY.
[1:18:53] SINCERELY, CHRISTINA LOPEZ THE
[1:18:55] FOUNDING HEAD OF SCHOOL THE
[1:18:57] SOUTH END VILLAGE.
[1:19:04] MADAM CHAIR, THIS
[1:19:07] WELL-RESPECTED GROUP IS THE
[1:19:09] FRIENDS OF THE BLACKSTONE
[1:19:11] SCHOOL.
[1:19:16] VOICE YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP
[1:19:17] REOPEN THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY
[1:19:19] POOL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE
[1:19:20] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY.
[1:19:23] THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS BROUGHT
[1:19:26] US INCREDIBLE ENERGY BACK TO
[1:19:27] BLACKSTONE ELEMENTARY.
[1:19:29] WE'RE REACHING OUT WITH AN
[1:19:30] IMPORTANT REQUEST YOUR HELP
[1:19:32] ADVOCATING FOR THE REPAIR
[1:19:33] OF THE BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY
[1:19:35] POOL, WHICH HAS SAT UNUSABLE
[1:19:37] FOR TEN YEARS WITH WHAT WE'VE
[1:19:40] JUST LEARNED THAT A HEARING ON
[1:19:41] REOPENING THE POOL WILL BE HELD
[1:19:43] SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 10 A.M. WITH
[1:19:46] AN OPTION FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY
[1:19:48] .
[1:19:48] FRIENDS OF BLACKSTONE PRESIDENT
[1:19:51] DAVID RAZZAQ HAS GRACIOUSLY
[1:19:53] WRITTEN A LETTER HIGHLIGHTING
[1:19:54] THE BENEFITS OF REOPENING THE
[1:19:56] POOL, AND WE INVITE YOU TO DO
[1:19:58] THE SAME.
[1:19:59] RENOVATING THE POOL WILL BE A
[1:20:01] VALUABLE ASSET TO BOTH THE BCU
[1:20:04] BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER,
[1:20:05] THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL OFFERING
[1:20:07] CHILDREN A SAFE, SUPERVISED
[1:20:09] SPACE TO LEARN A LIFESAVING
[1:20:11] SKILL WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE
[1:20:13] AND DISCIPLINE THAT'S BEEN THE
[1:20:15] FRIENDS OF THE BLACKSTONE
[1:20:17] SCHOOL.
[1:20:22] THIS IS A LETTER FROM CAROLINE
[1:20:25] AT THE SOCCER UNITY PROJECT
[1:20:28] CAROLYN K PASCALE.
[1:20:37] DEAR CITY COUNCILORS, ELECTED
[1:20:39] OFFICIALS, CITY OFFICIALS I AM
[1:20:40] WRITING AS A LONGTIME SOUTH END
[1:20:43] RESIDENT MOTHER, COMMUNITY
[1:20:44] MEMBER, YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
[1:20:47] TO STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR THE
[1:20:48] REPAIR AND REOPENING OF THE
[1:20:50] BLACKSTONE POOL IN THE
[1:20:52] RENOVATION AND REINVESTMENT IN
[1:20:54] THE BCI OF BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY
[1:20:56] CENTER.
[1:20:59] BLACKSTONE HAS LONG BEEN AN
[1:21:01] IMPORTANT PLACE OF CONNECTION,
[1:21:02] RECREATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
[1:21:05] SOUTH END AND LOWER ROXBURY
[1:21:07] FAMILIES.
[1:21:08] YET FOR YEARS THIS COMMUNITY
[1:21:09] HAS EXPERIENCED A LACK
[1:21:11] OF INVESTMENT IN THIS CRITICAL
[1:21:13] PUBLIC RESOURCE.
[1:21:14] OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES THE
[1:21:16] SAME LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN ITS
[1:21:18] COMMUNITY CENTER AND PULL THAT
[1:21:20] OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES HAVE
[1:21:21] RECEIVED.
[1:21:23] THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR ME.
[1:21:26] MY CHILDREN ARE NOW ADULTS BUT
[1:21:27] THEY WERE RAISED GOING TO THE
[1:21:29] BLACKSTONE.
[1:21:30] THEY LEARN TO SWIM THERE, PLAY
[1:21:32] THERE, MADE FRIENDS,
[1:21:34] CREATED MEMORIES THAT REMAIN
[1:21:36] WITH THEM TODAY AS A PARENT
[1:21:39] HAVING A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE,
[1:21:41] AFFORDABLE PLACE FOR MY
[1:21:42] CHILDREN TO PLAY LEARN BUILD
[1:21:45] RELATIONSHIPS WAS INCREDIBLY
[1:21:46] IMPORTANT.
[1:21:47] BLACKSTONE ALSO BROUGHT
[1:21:49] NEIGHBORS TOGETHER AND
[1:21:51] CREATED CONNECTIONS ACROSS
[1:21:52] BACKGROUNDS SOMETHING THE
[1:21:54] NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY NEED.
[1:21:58] I MET PEOPLE AND FORMED
[1:22:00] FRIENDSHIPS WITH FAMILIES I MAY
[1:22:01] NEVER HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITHOUT
[1:22:03] THIS SHARED COMMUNITY SPACE
[1:22:05] THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST
[1:22:06] IMPORTANT ROLES OF A COMMUNITY
[1:22:07] CENTER, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
[1:22:09] FOR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
[1:22:11] BACKGROUNDS AND GENERATIONS TO
[1:22:13] CONNECT AND BUILD A SENSE
[1:22:15] OF BELONGING.
[1:22:16] THE NEED FOR THESE SPACES IS
[1:22:18] ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THE
[1:22:19] SOUTH END IN ALL OF ROXBURY.
[1:22:21] WHILE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SEEN
[1:22:23] SIGNIFICANT HOUSING
[1:22:24] DEVELOPMENT, RISING MARKET RATE
[1:22:27] HOUSING, THAT DOES NOT MEAN
[1:22:29] THAT THE NEEDS OF LONGTIME
[1:22:30] RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE
[1:22:32] DISAPPEARED.
[1:22:33] THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE FOURTH
[1:22:35] HIGHEST RATE OF HOUSING
[1:22:36] DEVELOPMENT.
[1:22:38] THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS CANNOT
[1:22:39] AFFORD PRIVATE GEMS, SWIM CLUBS
[1:22:43] OR OTHER RECREATIONAL
[1:22:44] FACILITIES.
[1:22:45] PUBLIC SPACES LIKE BLACKSTONE
[1:22:47] PROVIDE HEALTHY, ACCESSIBLE
[1:22:49] OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.
[1:22:51] THE CITY HAS ALSO MADE A
[1:22:53] COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT
[1:22:54] BOSTON YOUTH HAVE OPPORTUNITIES
[1:22:56] TO LEARN TO SWIM.
[1:22:57] MAYOR WAS SPOKEN ABOUT MAKING
[1:22:59] SWIMMING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
[1:23:02] YOUTH AND EXPANDING
[1:23:03] PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS
[1:23:05] SUCH AS THE YMCA BOYS AND GIRLS
[1:23:07] CLUB, BLACKSTONE AND THE YOUNG
[1:23:09] PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD
[1:23:11] BE PART OF THAT VISION NOT LEFT
[1:23:13] OUT OF IT.
[1:23:14] I AM ASKING THE CITY TO
[1:23:16] PRIORITIZE THE REPAIR AND
[1:23:19] REOPENING OF THE BLACKSTONE
[1:23:19] POOL.
[1:23:22] COMMIT TO A MEANINGFUL
[1:23:23] RENOVATION OF THE BCI
[1:23:25] OF BLACKSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
[1:23:27] INCLUDE BLACKSTONE RESIDENTS
[1:23:29] AND PLANNING FOR THE FACILITY'S
[1:23:31] FUTURE.
[1:23:31] EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
[1:23:34] YMCA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND
[1:23:35] OTHER YOUTH SERVING
[1:23:37] ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND
[1:23:38] SWIMMING AND YOUTH PROGRAMING.
[1:23:41] PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A
[1:23:42] CLEAR PLAN AND TIMELINE FOR
[1:23:45] THESE INVESTMENTS.
[1:23:46] MY CHILDREN GREW UP IN THE
[1:23:48] BLACKSTONE.
[1:23:48] THEY LEARNED TO SWIM THERE,
[1:23:49] PLAY THE AIR, MADE FRIENDS
[1:23:51] THERE AND EXPERIENCED THE KIND
[1:23:53] OF COMMUNITY CONNECTION THAT
[1:23:54] CANNOT BE REPLACED.
[1:23:56] I KNOW OUR FAMILY IS NOT ALONE
[1:23:58] IN FEELING THIS WAY.
[1:24:00] BLACKSTONE IS MORE THAN A
[1:24:01] BUILDING IN A POOL.
[1:24:02] IT IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT
[1:24:04] HAS HELPED GENERATIONS
[1:24:06] OF FAMILIES CONNECT, GROW AND
[1:24:08] THRIVE.
[1:24:09] OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES TO
[1:24:11] HAVE THAT RESOURCE FULLY
[1:24:13] RESTORED AND INVESTED IN FOR
[1:24:15] THE NEXT GENERATION.
[1:24:16] THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE
[1:24:18] COMMUNITY FOR MAKING THE REPAIR
[1:24:20] ,REOPENING AND RENOVATION
[1:24:23] OF BLACKSTONE A PRIORITY.
[1:24:24] THAT'S FROM CAROLINE.
[1:24:26] FOR SCOTTO, THE SOUTH END
[1:24:28] RESIDENT.
[1:24:31] THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[1:24:33] DO YOU HAVE ANY.
[1:24:34] CLOSING STATEMENTS.
[1:24:35] BEFORE I.
[1:24:36] CLOSE OUT THIS?
[1:24:40] PUBLIC TESTIMONY?
[1:24:42] YEAH I THINK THERE IS.
[1:24:43] AND DO WE HAVE ANY.
[1:24:45] THERE'S NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY SO
[1:24:48] WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.
[1:24:49] FLYNN'S CLOSING STATEMENT.
[1:24:51] THANK YOU COUNCILOR MURPHY FOR
[1:24:54] SHARING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING
[1:24:56] AND THANK YOU TO JONATHAN ALICE
[1:24:57] FOR BEING HERE FOR STEVE FOX AS
[1:25:02] WELL FOR REP JOHN MORAN, ALL
[1:25:05] THREE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE WELL
[1:25:07] RESPECTED IN THE SOUTH END BUT
[1:25:10] FIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[1:25:11] I THINK THIS IS A RACIAL
[1:25:13] JUSTICE ISSUE.
[1:25:15] WE KNOW WHERE THE BLACKSTONE
[1:25:16] SCHOOL AND POOL IS LOCATED.
[1:25:18] IT'S LOCATED IN AN AREA WHERE
[1:25:22] IT'S ALMOST SANDWICHED BETWEEN
[1:25:24] BHP BERKELEY WHICH IS THE OLD
[1:25:27] CATHEDRAL PUBLIC HOUSING
[1:25:28] DEVELOPMENT.
[1:25:29] IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
[1:25:30] FROM VILLA VICTORIA,
[1:25:32] PREDOMINANTLY A GROUP IN LOW
[1:25:33] INCOME AREA A LARGE PUERTO
[1:25:35] RICAN LARGE ASIAN COMMUNITY
[1:25:38] ACROSS ACROSS AND THAT IS ON
[1:25:40] WEST ADAMS STREET IS A LARGE
[1:25:43] DEVELOPMENT MOSTLY PERSONS WITH
[1:25:45] DISABILITIES AND SENIORS PEOPLE
[1:25:47] OF COLOR.
[1:25:48] CASTLE SQUARE IS UP THE ROAD.
[1:25:51] A LARGE ASIAN COMMUNITY JUST A
[1:25:55] COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY.
[1:25:56] ALSO IS CHINATOWN A LARGE
[1:25:58] IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
[1:26:01] LOWER ROXBURY IS NOT FAR FROM
[1:26:03] THE BLACKSTONE AND THAT'S A
[1:26:05] THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY A OR A
[1:26:07] LARGE A LARGE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
[1:26:09] COMMUNITY.
[1:26:11] I BRING THAT FORWARD BECAUSE
[1:26:13] MANY PEOPLE JUST SIMPLY DON'T
[1:26:16] HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR
[1:26:18] PRIVATE SWIMMING LESSONS.
[1:26:20] MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE
[1:26:22] ABILITY TO JOIN A YOUTH CLUB
[1:26:24] FOR THEIR KIDS, BUT HAVING A
[1:26:28] BCI FACILITY THAT'S UPGRADED A
[1:26:31] NEW A NEW WORKING POOL, A NEW
[1:26:34] BUILDING WITH AN OPPORTUNITY
[1:26:37] FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO COME
[1:26:39] TOGETHER TO ENJOY, ENJOY THE
[1:26:42] SPACE AND SPEND TIME WITH EACH
[1:26:44] OTHER.
[1:26:44] THAT'S WHAT A COMMUNITY IS ALL
[1:26:46] ABOUT.
[1:26:47] THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN ABOUT OUR
[1:26:50] DIFFERENCES.
[1:26:51] THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE FRIENDS.
[1:26:55] YOU LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE'S
[1:26:57] BACKGROUNDS AND HERITAGE AND
[1:26:59] CULTURE AND IN ABOUT THEIR
[1:27:01] STRUGGLES BY COMPETING IN
[1:27:03] SPORTS AND PLAYING AND READING
[1:27:06] TOGETHER OR SITTING IN A
[1:27:08] PAINTING PROJECT AND IN
[1:27:11] ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND
[1:27:12] FAMILIES.
[1:27:14] THAT'S WHAT THE SOUTH END IS
[1:27:15] ALL ABOUT.
[1:27:17] THERE'S PROBABLY NOT THERE'S
[1:27:18] PROBABLY A A NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:27:22] THAT'S NOT MORE ENGAGED AND
[1:27:26] DEDICATED THAN THE SOUTH END.
[1:27:28] THEY'RE COMMITTED, THEY'RE
[1:27:30] COMPASSIONATE.
[1:27:30] WHAT I RESPECT ABOUT THEM IS
[1:27:34] IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE NEXT
[1:27:35] GENERATION.
[1:27:37] THIS POOL MIGHT NOT BENEFIT
[1:27:39] THEM PERSONALLY BUT IT WILL
[1:27:42] BENEFIT THE NEXT GENERATION
[1:27:44] OF SOUTH SOUTH AND RESIDENTS.
[1:27:46] THAT'S WHAT I RESPECT IS THAT
[1:27:48] IT'S NOT ABOUT THEM.
[1:27:49] IT'S ABOUT HELPING OTHERS IN
[1:27:51] NEED.
[1:27:53] AND THAT'S WHAT I LEARNED FROM
[1:27:54] THE SOUTH END COMMUNITY IS YOU
[1:27:57] DON'T GIVE UP ON A PROJECT, YOU
[1:27:59] DON'T GIVE UP ON PEOPLE.
[1:28:00] YOU CONTINUE ADVOCATING AND
[1:28:03] FIGHTING FOR THEM AND YOU NEVER
[1:28:04] TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
[1:28:06] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[1:28:07] THANK YOU.
[1:28:08] THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[1:28:11] BEFORE I ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
[1:28:12] ,I DO JUST WANT TO.
[1:28:14] REITERATE THAT I AM.
[1:28:16] COMMITTED TO.
[1:28:16] WORKING WITH THE LEAD
[1:28:17] SPONSORS COUNCILOR FLYNN
[1:28:19] FITZGERALD AND CULPEPER.
[1:28:21] AND THE ADVOCATES JONATHAN.
[1:28:22] AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
[1:28:24] TO MAKE SURE WE SET.
[1:28:25] A.
[1:28:25] GOOD TIME, A GOOD.
[1:28:26] DATE AND LOCATION TO CONTINUE
[1:28:29] THIS CONVERSATION.
[1:28:30] THE ADMINISTRATION WILL.
[1:28:33] BE UM.
[1:28:34] INVITED TO ATTEND AND HOPEFULLY
[1:28:36] AT THAT.
[1:28:37] TIME THEY WILL SHOW UP.
[1:28:40] WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
[1:28:43] COUNCILOR EARL.
[1:28:43] I WILL GIVE HIM AS SOON.
[1:28:45] AS HE SETTLES IN AN OPPORTUNITY
[1:28:48] .
[1:28:48] HE MADE IT.
[1:28:48] JUST IN TIME.
[1:28:49] I ALMOST BANGED THE GAVEL.
[1:28:53] IT'S A FAR.
[1:28:54] AWAY FROM MATTAPAN.
[1:28:56] DORCHESTER IS.
[1:28:58] YEAH.
[1:28:59] THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK
[1:29:00] YOU.
[1:29:01] THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
[1:29:02] TO, UM, COUNCILOR FLYNN, UM,
[1:29:05] FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND
[1:29:06] ALWAYS BEING A FIERCE ADVOCATE
[1:29:09] FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND MAKING
[1:29:10] SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS
[1:29:12] ARE GETTING, UH, THE SAME TYPE
[1:29:14] OF LEVEL OF SERVICE ACROSS THE
[1:29:15] BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO CITY
[1:29:17] SERVICES AND CITY FACILITIES.
[1:29:19] SO JUST WANTED TO COME, UM, AND
[1:29:21] SHOW MY SUPPORT.
[1:29:22] UM, SORRY THAT I WAS LATE.
[1:29:23] THERE WAS A FUNERAL, UH, FOR
[1:29:25] VICTORIA WILLIAMS, THE CHAIR
[1:29:27] OF WARD 12.
[1:29:28] SO I JUST WANT TO, UH,
[1:29:30] RECOGNIZE HER, UM, AND HER
[1:29:32] SERVICE AND LIFT UP HER FAMILY.
[1:29:34] UM, SO AGAIN, UM, JUST WANTED
[1:29:37] TO BE HERE.
[1:29:38] SHOWS HER SUPPORT AND AGAIN,
[1:29:40] SORRY THAT I WAS LATE.
[1:29:41] NO WORRIES.
[1:29:42] DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING
[1:29:43] ABOUT.
[1:29:44] I JUST SO YOU DO KNOW THE
[1:29:46] ADMINISTRATION DID NOT.
[1:29:47] SHOW UP?
[1:29:48] WE DID HAVE REPRESENTATIVE
[1:29:49] MORAN, STEVE FOX AND JONATHAN
[1:29:51] ALVES ARE HERE FROM THE
[1:29:52] COMMUNITY.
[1:29:53] PANELIST AND I.
[1:29:54] ALSO HAVE.
[1:29:54] COMMITTED TO HOLDING.
[1:29:56] KEEPING IT IN.
[1:29:57] COMMITTEE AND HOLDING.
[1:29:58] A MEETING IN COMMUNITY IN.
[1:29:59] THE.
[1:30:00] NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TRYING TO
[1:30:01] PICK A GOOD DATE WITH THE
[1:30:02] COMMUNITY.
[1:30:02] BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW.
[1:30:04] OFTENTIMES THOSE WHO WANT THEIR
[1:30:06] VOICES HEARD ARE AT WORK.
[1:30:08] AND MAYBE NOT ABLE TO GET HERE.
[1:30:10] SO I THINK WE.
[1:30:11] ALSO NEED TO SEND.
[1:30:12] A MESSAGE THAT AND THE
[1:30:14] LETTERS.
[1:30:14] THAT CAME.
[1:30:15] IN COUNCIL FLYNN HAD MANY.
[1:30:17] THAT HE READ.
[1:30:17] AND JONATHAN YOU MENTIONED THAT
[1:30:19] WE KNOW THAT.
[1:30:20] THE STRONG SOUTH BEND
[1:30:22] COMMUNITY.
[1:30:22] WANTS TO BE HEARD.
[1:30:23] SO ALLOWING THEM IN IN A PUBLIC
[1:30:25] SETTING I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT
[1:30:27] NEXT STEP TO SEND THAT
[1:30:28] POLITICAL WILL OUT THERE TO OUR
[1:30:30] COLLEAGUES.
[1:30:30] HOPEFULLY THEY'LL RALLY WITH
[1:30:32] US.
[1:30:32] ABSOLUTELY.
[1:30:33] AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO
[1:30:35] UH, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS
[1:30:37] UM PLEASE DO START THINKING
[1:30:39] ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
[1:30:40] UH, IT'S ONE THING TO GET THE
[1:30:41] FACILITIES UP AND RUNNING.
[1:30:42] UH, AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING
[1:30:44] TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFFING
[1:30:45] IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
[1:30:47] FACILITIES ARE OPEN AND
[1:30:49] ACCESSIBLE NOT ONLY DURING THE
[1:30:50] WEEK BUT ALSO ON THE WEEKENDS.
[1:30:52] SO UM I THINK WE HAVE TO
[1:30:54] ABSOLUTELY THINK ABOUT THIS IN
[1:30:55] TWO PHASES.
[1:30:56] UM, AND AS THE BUDGET SEASON
[1:30:58] APPROACHES I CAN'T BELIEVE IN
[1:30:59] THREE MORE MONTHS IT WILL BE
[1:31:01] YOU KNOW, UH, JANUARY DECEMBER
[1:31:04] ALREADY.
[1:31:05] UH, SO I THINK IT'S THINGS THAT
[1:31:06] WE HAVE TO KEEP IN FRONT OF OUR
[1:31:07] MIND.
[1:31:08] AWESOME.
[1:31:09] THANK YOU COUNCIL AS WELL
[1:31:10] AND I WILL NOW ADJOURN DOCKET
[1:31:14] 1335.
[1:31:15] THANK YOU.