City Services on September 21, 2026
2026-09-21

[0:51] GOOD MORNING.
[0:54] MY NAME IS ED FLYNN.
[0:56] DISTRICT TWO CITY COUNCIL.
[0:58] I'M CHAIR OF THE CITY
[1:00] COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON CITY
[1:02] SERVICES.
[1:03] TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 21ST.
[1:06] THE EXACT TIME IS TEN ZERO
[1:09] THREE.
[1:12] THE HEARING IS BEING RECORDED.
[1:15] IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED
[1:18] AT BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL DASH
[1:23] TV BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL
[1:25] EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES
[1:30] CHANNEL 964.
[1:32] WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO
[1:34] THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT AT
[1:41] CITY@BOSTON.GOV AND WILL BE
[1:42] MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND
[1:44] AVAILABLE TO ALL CITY COUNCILS.
[1:47] PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN
[1:51] AT THE END OF THE HEARING OR IN
[1:53] THE MIDDLE OF THE HEARING.
[1:56] UH DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE
[1:59] WE HAVE TESTIFYING, UM
[2:01] INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WILL BE
[2:03] CALLED IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY
[2:04] ARE SIGNED UP AND WE'LL HAVE
[2:06] TWO MINUTES JUSTIFY.
[2:09] BUT I WON'T CUT YOU OFF IF YOU
[2:11] GO OVER TWO MINUTES.
[2:12] I WANT TO HEAR WHAT'S IMPORTANT
[2:14] TO YOU.
[2:16] IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
[2:17] TESTIFYING IN PERSON, PLEASE
[2:20] ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP
[2:21] SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE
[2:23] CHAMBER.
[2:24] WHEN YOU WALK IN UH IN OUR
[2:25] CHAMBER, IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO
[2:27] TESTIFY VIRTUALLY, PLEASE EMAIL
[2:29] OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON RYAN
[2:32] PRATT AND RYAN ARE RYAN DOT
[2:37] PRATT PROTECT@BOSTON.GOV.
[2:40] FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL
[2:42] BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
[2:45] TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET
[2:48] 1085.
[2:49] WHAT'S IT WHICH IS A MESSAGE IN
[2:51] ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
[2:52] OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT EXPAND THE
[2:55] AMOUNT OF.
[3:01] $20,930 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT
[3:03] THE HEALTH CENTRAL FELLOWSHIP
[3:05] GRANT ORDER TO CATHOLIC
[3:07] CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON
[3:10] TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
[3:11] DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND
[3:13] TECHNOLOGY DO IT.
[3:14] THE GRANT WOULD FUND THE
[3:16] FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR L
[3:17] CENTRAL IT PROGRAM GRADUATES.
[3:21] THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY
[3:23] MAYOR.
[3:24] IT WAS REFERRED TO THE
[3:25] COMMITTEE ON JUNE 3RD 2026.
[3:29] DOCKET 1395 MESSAGE IN ORDER
[3:32] AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON
[3:33] TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE AMOUNT
[3:40] OF $225,125.11 IN THE FORM
[3:42] OF OF A GRANT THE MWBE DIGITAL
[3:45] EQUITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
[3:48] AWARD BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
[3:49] OF TREASURY PASSED TO THE
[3:50] MASSACHUSETTS TECHNOLOGY
[3:52] COLLABORATIVE TO ADMINISTER TO
[3:54] BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
[3:55] DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND
[3:56] TECHNOLOGY.
[3:57] THE GRANT WOULD FUND SERVICES
[4:00] AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS
[4:02] OF THE COMMONWEALTH WHO CANNOT
[4:03] AFFORD BROADBAND SERVICE AND OR
[4:07] INTERNET CONNECTED DEVICES OR
[4:10] LACK THE DIGITAL SKILLS NEEDED
[4:13] TO UTILIZE THE INTERNET THE
[4:16] FOLLOWING THE LAST DOCKET,
[4:18] WHICH IS DOCKET 1397 MESSAGE IN
[4:19] ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
[4:21] OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND
[4:22] A GIFT OF 43 HEATING,
[4:25] VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONED
[4:27] UNITS HVAC OF VARIOUS TYPES
[4:29] VALUED AT $84,210 FROM FWC 2026
[4:40] US INC. THIS GIFT IS AWARDED TO
[4:42] THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE MAYOR'S
[4:43] OFFICE FOR THE USE AND THE
[4:45] PUBLIC FACILITIES OF VARIOUS
[4:47] DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY
[4:50] INCLUDING POLICE STATIONS,
[4:51] SCHOOLS AND MUNICIPAL OFFICES.
[4:54] THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY
[4:55] MAYOR WU.
[4:56] THEY WERE REFERRED TO THE
[4:57] COMMITTEE ON JULY 22ND 2026.
[5:05] I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
[5:06] ADMINISTRATION TEAM FOR BEING
[5:08] HERE THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE
[5:11] PRESENT WITH US BRIAN DONAHUE,
[5:13] THE CHIEF DIGITAL EQUITY
[5:16] OFFICER, DIRECTOR OF BROADBAND
[5:17] AND CABLE DEPARTMENT,
[5:19] DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND
[5:21] TECHNOLOGY.
[5:21] DO IT SHEILA LEE, THE SENIOR
[5:23] DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS,
[5:25] DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION
[5:26] TECHNOLOGY.
[5:28] TRISH.
[5:32] KOSKI.
[5:33] FRISKY.
[5:35] OKAY.
[5:36] CAFFERTY I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THE
[5:38] PRONUNCIATION.
[5:39] THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
[5:40] ,REAL ESTATE AND CAPITAL
[5:42] STRATEGIC STRATEGIES THE
[5:43] MAYOR'S OFFICE.
[5:46] AND PETER SEVERINO OKAY, I GOT
[5:51] THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
[5:53] UH, BROADBAND AND DIGITAL
[5:55] EQUITY ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT
[5:58] OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY.
[6:01] UM.
[6:03] WOULD WOULD THE PANEL LIKE TO
[6:06] SPEAK ON ALL DOCKETS AT THE
[6:08] SAME TIME OR DO YOU WANT TO
[6:09] BREAK THEM DOWN OR WHAT WHAT IS
[6:11] BEST FOR YOU?
[6:14] I WOULD SAY WE WOULD PROBABLY
[6:15] NEED TO SEPARATE THE UM THE AIR
[6:18] CONDITIONING DOCKET FROM THE
[6:19] OTHER TWO, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO
[6:21] SPEAK TO WHICHEVER OF THEM IN
[6:23] WHICHEVER ORDER YOU PREFER.
[6:24] OKAY, WHY DON'T WE WHY DON'T WE
[6:27] DO ONE TALK AT A TIME?
[6:28] OKAY.
[6:29] LET'S START WITH THE, UM
[6:31] LET'S.
[6:31] START WITH THE FIRST ONE.
[6:33] UM, THAT'S THAT'S ON THAT'S ON
[6:37] THE AGENDA WHICH IS 1085 WHICH
[6:41] IS THE $20,000 UM GRANT FOR EL
[6:44] CENTRO.
[6:45] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
[6:46] OKAY.
[6:48] UM THANK YOU.
[6:48] UH, CHAIR IN GENERAL FOR ASKING
[6:50] US TO COME HERE AND SPEAK TO
[6:51] SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS.
[6:52] WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS,
[6:53] UH, OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
[6:56] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THESE
[6:57] TYPES OF PROGRAMS FUNDED.
[6:59] UH, FOR THE EL CENTRO GRANT.
[7:01] WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THIS
[7:02] ORGANIZATION IN THE PAST.
[7:04] THEY ARE A SUBSIDIARY OF THE
[7:05] CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
[7:06] UM, THE FUNDING FROM EL CENTRO
[7:08] IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL FELLOW.
[7:10] THESE UH THESE FOLKS ARE COMING
[7:12] TO US FROM NONTRADITIONAL
[7:15] BACKGROUNDS LEARNING TECHNOLOGY
[7:16] SKILLS, UH, DOING ON ON ON SITE
[7:20] JOB TRAINING.
[7:22] AND WE'VE BEEN THRILLED TO BE
[7:23] ABLE TO, UH, HAVE FIVE FELLOWS
[7:25] WORK WITH US PREVIOUSLY AND
[7:27] HIRE TWO OF THEM INTO FULL TIME
[7:29] ROLES.
[7:30] SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
[7:30] THESE TWO FELLOWS ARE GETTING
[7:32] HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AND
[7:34] CYBERSECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY
[7:35] PROGRAMS.
[7:36] UH, AND THE MOST RECENT
[7:38] PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED
[7:39] ON ARE AND IT HAS IT INVENTORY
[7:41] FOR UH COMPUTER REPLACEMENT UH
[7:45] VULNERABILITY UH NOTIFICATIONS
[7:46] FROM A UH CYBERSECURITY
[7:48] STANDPOINT AND UH,
[7:50] CYBERSECURITY TRAINING AND
[7:51] CONTENT CREATION FOR UH THOSE
[7:54] TYPES OF UH OFFERS THAT YOU
[7:55] PROBABLY GET IN YOUR EMAIL
[7:56] EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO UH,
[7:58] GET YOUR CYBERSECURITY SKILLS,
[8:00] UH, UPGRADED.
[8:01] SO, UH, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE
[8:03] THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ADD
[8:05] ANOTHER FELLOW TO THE PROGRAM
[8:06] AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
[8:08] ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
[8:11] EXCELLENT.
[8:12] THANK YOU.
[8:21] WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, I WAS I
[8:23] WANTED TO HAVE THE HEARING TO
[8:24] GIVE MY COUNCILOR COLLEAGUES
[8:27] THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE
[8:30] ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU'RE
[8:31] DOING.
[8:32] YES, SIR.
[8:34] I APOLOGIZE THAT NO ONE NO
[8:36] ONE IS HERE.
[8:38] LET ME LET ME START.
[8:40] I'M NOT I'M GOING TO KIND
[8:42] OF NOT GIVE AN OPENING
[8:43] STATEMENT, BUT LET ME JUST TRY
[8:45] TO GO ON THE FIRST DOCKET OKAY.
[8:49] SO MY QUESTION.
[8:54] WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE
[8:55] SPECIFIC.
[8:56] OUTCOMES OR EMPLOYMENT
[8:58] OPPORTUNITIES.
[8:59] WELL RESULTS IN THIS GRANT.
[9:04] IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
[9:06] YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET
[9:07] THIS TRAINING TO GET INTO A A
[9:12] CAREER FIELD?
[9:13] WELL THEY HAVE THE SKILLS THAT
[9:15] THAT ARE NEEDED OR.
[9:16] OR AT LEAST DEVELOPED SOME
[9:17] SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN GET
[9:19] ADVANCED SKILLS.
[9:20] THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT IS THE
[9:21] CORE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM IS
[9:23] THAT THEY GO THROUGH A CERTAIN
[9:24] AMOUNT OF TRAINING LEADING UP
[9:26] TO THE PROGRAM ITSELF AND THEN
[9:27] WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS THE
[9:29] SPACE AND THE SUPPORT FOR THAT
[9:30] ON THE JOB TRAINING.
[9:31] UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
[9:33] WITH THIS IN THE PAST FROM THE
[9:35] STANDPOINT OF UM, YOU KNOW,
[9:37] BRINGING FOLKS IN.
[9:37] THEY GET FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY
[9:39] SYSTEMS AND THEY GET FAMILIAR
[9:40] WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT
[9:41] THEY'LL BE WORKING ON, YOU
[9:43] KNOW, REALLY IN ANY KIND OF A
[9:44] JOB LIKE THIS ACROSS THE CITY.
[9:45] BUT WE ARE UH, REALLY IMPRESSED
[9:47] WITH THE NUMBER OF THOSE, UH,
[9:48] FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN IN THE
[9:50] PROGRAM AND WE'RE ABLE TO HIRE
[9:51] TWO OF THEM INTO THOSE ENTRY
[9:53] LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE CITY'S,
[9:55] UH, I.T OKAY.
[9:58] IS IS THE TRAINING ITSELF.
[10:00] WHERE IS THAT PROVIDED?
[10:03] UM, SHE I DON'T KNOW IF WE.
[10:04] UM EL CENTRO HAS A PROGRAM UH,
[10:07] IT PROGRAM FOR THEM TO LEARN
[10:08] THE SKILL SETS AND THEN THEY
[10:09] APPLY IT WHILE THEY'RE, UH
[10:10] WHILE THEY DO THEIR FELLOWSHIP
[10:12] AT THE CITY.
[10:13] OKAY.
[10:15] OKAY, I'M ON ON THAT
[10:18] SPECIFIC DOCUMENT DOCKET.
[10:19] I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
[10:21] QUESTIONS.
[10:21] UM, IS IT OKAY IF WE GO TO THE
[10:24] NEXT DOCKET?
[10:24] THAT'S FINE BY US.
[10:25] OKAY.
[10:31] SO THE NEXT DOCKET.
[10:34] WHICH IS DOCKET 1395.
[10:37] DO YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO
[10:40] QUESTIONS NOW.
[10:41] IF YOU'D LIKE.
[10:42] I THINK THAT IF YOU WANTED JUST
[10:43] A QUICK MAYBE MAYBE A QUICK
[10:45] OVERVIEW THAT WOULD.
[10:45] BE YEAH.
[10:46] THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT.
[10:47] YEAH WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO DO
[10:48] THE OVERVIEW.
[10:48] YEAH.
[10:48] SO SO THE MASSACHUSETTS
[10:50] BROADBAND INSTITUTE
[10:51] PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM IS A
[10:52] PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN
[10:53] RECEIVING FUNDING FOR FOR OVER
[10:54] THREE YEARS NOW.
[10:55] IT IS.
[10:55] FUNDED I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY
[10:57] OF IT IS OUT OF THE STATE ARPA
[10:59] FUNDING.
[10:59] UH WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
[11:01] IN A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS ROUNDS
[11:03] OF THIS FUNDING AND THEY
[11:05] IDENTIFIED US AS A CANDIDATE
[11:06] UH, IN THE MOST RECENT ROUND.
[11:08] UH, WITH.
[11:09] THE SPECIFIC FOCUS OF TRYING
[11:11] TO HELP UH FROM A STANDPOINT
[11:12] OF HIGH LITERACY AND THEN ALSO,
[11:14] UH, FOLKS WHO ARE RETURNING
[11:16] CITIZENS WHO UH, NEED SUPPORT
[11:20] UH DEVICES, UM AND UH
[11:23] CONNECTIVITY IN ORDER TO
[11:24] PROPERLY REENTER SOCIETY.
[11:26] SO WE'RE THRILLED TO BE ABLE.
[11:28] TO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR
[11:29] THIS TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP AND
[11:30] IT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP US
[11:32] BENEFIT TO EXPAND SOME OF OUR
[11:34] AI LITERACY PROGRAMING WHICH IS
[11:35] FOCUSED ON THE FOLKS STAYING
[11:37] SAFE ONLINE IN THE AGE WHEN ALL
[11:40] OF THESE NEW TYPES OF SCAMS
[11:41] HAVE BEEN UH, REALLY
[11:43] DETRIMENTAL TO A LOT OF A LOT
[11:44] OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BASIC TECH
[11:46] LITERACY BUT DON'T MAYBE HAVE
[11:47] THAT NEXT LEVEL AND I'D BE
[11:49] HAPPY IF UH IF WE HAD A COUPLE
[11:51] MINUTES FOR FOR PETER TO MAYBE
[11:52] WALK THROUGH THE PREVIOUS UH,
[11:53] SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH
[11:55] THIS THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDING
[11:57] OUR DIGITAL EQUITY FUND AND UH,
[11:59] KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
[12:00] FOR THIS THIS FUNDING THAT'S
[12:01] BEEN IDENTIFIED AT.
[12:02] THIS POINT.
[12:03] YEAH.
[12:03] THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT, PETER
[12:04] EUROPE.
[12:04] SURE THING.
[12:05] UH, GOOD MORNING COUNSELOR.
[12:06] OH.
[12:06] I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
[12:08] UM, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
[12:10] WE ARE JOINED BY CITY COUNCIL,
[12:12] UH, CULPEPER.
[12:13] CITY COUNCIL CULPEPER.
[12:14] THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
[12:16] UM, PETER, I'M SORRY TO
[12:18] INTERRUPT.
[12:18] GO AHEAD.
[12:19] MORNING, COUNCILMAN.
[12:20] GOOD MORNING, COUNCILOR DULL.
[12:21] UM, SO YEAH.
[12:22] SO TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK OFF
[12:23] OF BUT, UH, BRIAN WAS TALKING
[12:25] ABOUT SO OUR OUR DIGITAL EQUITY
[12:26] FUND HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MORE
[12:28] SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS OVER THE
[12:30] PAST ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW.
[12:32] UM, MOST RECENTLY WE FUNDED UH
[12:34] ,36 COMMUNITY BASED
[12:36] ORGANIZATIONS, UH, WITH A TOTAL
[12:38] OF $1.4 MILLION COMING FROM UH
[12:39] THIS DIGITAL EQUITY
[12:40] PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM GRANT UM
[12:43] 31 FOCUSED ON DIGITAL
[12:44] NAVIGATION WORK SPECIFICALLY,
[12:46] YOU KNOW, BASIC TECH HELP
[12:48] GETTING FOLKS, UH, HOOKED UP TO
[12:49] INTERNET, UH, DEVICES UM, AS
[12:52] WELL AS WE FUNDED TWO
[12:53] ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOU ALL TO
[12:55] HELP, UH, WITH EFFORTS TO
[12:56] IMPROVE TELEHEALTH PROGRAMING
[12:57] UH, AND THEN THREE
[12:59] ORGANIZATIONS TO DO DEVICE.
[13:01] REFURBISHMENT WORK.
[13:02] UM, AND THAT HAS RESULTED INTO
[13:04] A GREAT NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS
[13:05] ACROSS THE CITY.
[13:06] UM, THIS WORK IS IMPACTS EVERY
[13:10] RESIDENT IT'S THESE PROJECTS
[13:11] HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE ACROSS
[13:13] EVERY BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH
[13:14] IS SOMETHING WE ARE VERY PROUD
[13:16] OF.
[13:16] UM AND ADDITIONALLY WE WORK
[13:19] WITH UM THESE PROJECTS FOCUS ON
[13:21] A WIDE RANGE OF TARGET
[13:23] POPULATIONS INCLUDING UH OLDER
[13:25] ADULTS, VETERANS, UH FOLKS WHO
[13:28] UM WHO.
[13:28] DON'T SPEAK.
[13:29] ENGLISH AS THEIR MAIN
[13:30] LANGUAGE UM YOUTH PUBLIC
[13:32] HOUSING RESIDENTS SO ON SO ON.
[13:34] UM AND THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR
[13:37] WE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
[13:38] THAT EVERYONE WHO YOU KNOW
[13:40] NEEDS DEVICES NEEDS TECH HELP,
[13:42] UM HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO
[13:44] GET THAT AND SO UM, YOU KNOW,
[13:46] JUST UH SOME SOME HIGH LEVEL
[13:48] DATA FROM THIS MOST RECENT
[13:49] DIGITAL EQUITY FUND, UM, ACROSS
[13:52] ALL PROGRAMS JUST UM JUST OVER
[13:54] 11 UH THOUSAND RESIDENTS WERE
[13:57] SERVED BY BY THIS WORK.
[13:59] UM, WE HAD ABOUT ALMOST 2700
[14:02] DEVICES DISTRIBUTED TO
[14:04] HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE CITY UM,
[14:06] 20 ROUGHLY 26 UH, THAT 2600
[14:10] RESIDENTS RECEIVE BASIC SKILL
[14:13] UH DEVELOPMENT WORK UM
[14:15] SIMILARLY ABOUT 2400 RECEIVED
[14:18] UM INTERMEDIATE SKILL TRAINING
[14:20] AND UM ABOUT 1300 RESIDENTS
[14:23] WORKED ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
[14:25] SKILLS.
[14:25] UM AND SO THAT'S JUST UH AT A
[14:28] VERY HIGH LEVEL.
[14:28] SO UM SOME INFORMATION HAPPY TO
[14:29] FOLLOW UP MORE WITH UH THE REST
[14:31] OF THE DATA.
[14:32] UM, BUT THIS IS A NICE SEGUE
[14:34] INTO OUR NEXT ROUND OF THE
[14:35] DIGITAL EQUITY FUND WHICH, UH,
[14:37] WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS
[14:38] OF GETTING OUT THE DOOR UM,
[14:41] BASED BURGER'S BASICALLY UH,
[14:43] SHIFTING THE FOCUS A LITTLE BIT
[14:44] FROM, YOU KNOW, JUST UH,
[14:45] DIGITAL NAVIGATION AND
[14:46] COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY TRAINING
[14:47] WORK, UH, INCLUDING UM FROM
[14:49] WHAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF UH
[14:51] ,COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UM,
[14:53] ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES
[14:55] TO UH TO TEACH THEIR RESIDENTS
[14:57] ABOUT UH, ARTIFICIAL
[14:58] INTELLIGENCE WHETHER IT'S, YOU
[14:59] KNOW, BASIC MISINFORMATION, UM,
[15:01] HOW TO AVOID SCAMS,
[15:02] CYBERSECURITY, UM, ESPECIALLY
[15:04] YOU KNOW, WITH YOUTH, UM, AND
[15:05] OLDER ADULTS.
[15:07] UM, AND THEN THE OTHER FOCUS
[15:08] AREA IS DEVICE DISTRIBUTION AND
[15:10] REFURBISHMENT WORK.
[15:11] SO ONCE AGAIN JUST GETTING
[15:12] DEVICES INTO THE HANDS OF FOLKS
[15:13] WHO NEED THE MOST UH NO COST TO
[15:15] THEM.
[15:16] UM, AND LASTLY, UH ONE OTHER
[15:20] HIGHLIGHT ONE OTHER THING THAT
[15:21] WE WANT TO LIFT UP FROM THAT
[15:24] RESULTS FROM THIS THIS
[15:25] PARTNERSHIP GRANT IS OUR
[15:26] COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE
[15:28] OF RETURNING CITIZENS.
[15:29] UM, SO SINCE JANUARY OF 2025
[15:31] WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AWC UM
[15:35] TO PROVIDE UH BIWEEKLY TECH
[15:37] SKILLS TO OUR TECH HELP
[15:38] SESSIONS OR KIND OF LIKE TECH
[15:40] OFFICE HOURS, UH, TO FOLKS WHO
[15:42] ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
[15:43] UM, AND WE'VE IT'S BEEN ONE
[15:45] OF OUR LONGEST STANDING UH,
[15:47] PARTNERSHIPS WITH UH WITH UH.
[15:48] SO FAR UM AND THIS YOU KNOW, WE
[15:51] THESE OFFICE HOURS COVER A WIDE
[15:53] RANGE OF TOPICS SUCH AS, YOU
[15:55] KNOW, BASIC, AFFORDABLE, UH,
[15:56] GETTING AFFORDABLE INTERNET
[15:58] ACCESS, UH, HELPING FOLKS PUT
[15:59] RESUMES TOGETHER, UH, TO APPLY
[16:01] FOR JOBS, UM, LEARNING HOW TO
[16:03] USE GMAIL ETC. ETC. UM, AND
[16:05] IT'S KIND OF SUCH FUN WHAT
[16:07] BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
[16:08] WE'VE BEEN UH, ALSO PROVIDING
[16:09] FOLKS UH WITH HOTSPOTS UH, THAT
[16:12] WILL PROVIDE ONE YEAR OF SORT
[16:14] OF INTERNET SERVICE UM, YOU
[16:16] KNOW, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE UH
[16:18] BEING RELEASED FROM THE SUFFOLK
[16:19] COUNTY HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS AND
[16:21] SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, YOU KNOW,
[16:23] BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS
[16:24] PARTNERSHIP, CONTINUE THIS WORK
[16:25] ACROSS NOT JUST, UH,
[16:27] INTERDEPARTMENTAL, UM,
[16:29] PARTNERSHIPS BUT ALSO ACROSS
[16:30] THE CITY WITH OUR UH, COMMUNITY
[16:32] BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
[16:35] THANK YOU.
[16:36] OKAY.
[16:36] UM.
[16:38] I'M GOING TO GIVE UM I'M
[16:41] GOING TO LET COUNSELOR.
[16:42] CULPEPER GO FIRST IN TERMS.
[16:44] OF.
[16:44] ASKING QUESTIONS.
[16:45] ON THIS PARTICULAR.
[16:46] GRANT AND THEN AND THEN I'LL GO
[16:49] .
[16:49] AFTER COUNSELOR CULPEPER.
[16:50] UM, COUNSELOR.
[16:52] CULPEPER I'M GOING TO SET A
[16:53] TIME UM.
[16:56] I'M GOING TO SET A TIME.
[16:58] MAYBE FOR.
[16:59] SIX MINUTES.
[17:00] AND THEN IF WE NEED TO HAVE
[17:03] IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ASKING
[17:05] QUESTIONS YOU CAN.
[17:06] BUT WE ALSO CAN DO A SECOND
[17:07] ROUND.
[17:08] AS WELL.
[17:08] IF.
[17:09] IF IF NEED BE BUT.
[17:10] UH COUNCIL CULPEPER.
[17:11] YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
[17:13] THANK YOU.
[17:14] MR CHAIR.
[17:16] CHAIRMAN FLYNN FOR HOLDING THIS
[17:17] HEARING.
[17:19] AND, UH.
[17:20] THANK THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM
[17:21] THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
[17:25] MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
[17:30] FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS HEARING
[17:31] TODAY.
[17:33] I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT AND
[17:35] THEN WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
[17:38] LOOK AT DIFFERENT GRANTS COMING
[17:40] INTO THE CITY AND AND HERE'S
[17:44] WHAT'S INTERESTING.
[17:44] WE JUST HAD A HEARING LAST
[17:47] WEEK.
[17:47] WITH THE.
[17:51] I GUESS HE'S DEPUTY
[17:55] SUPERINTENDENT DELAY LEON AND
[17:59] UH BRIAN ABOUT THE HEATING AND
[18:02] AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS IN THE
[18:04] SCHOOLS AND WE WERE TALKING
[18:07] ABOUT THE THREE SCHOOLS THAT
[18:09] DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING
[18:11] YET.
[18:12] THAT MAY NOT HAVE IT UNTIL NEXT
[18:17] YEAR SOMETIMES.
[18:18] AND SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS UM
[18:23] ORDER EVEN HERE EVEN THOUGH
[18:24] IT'S ONLY $84,000, I THINK
[18:27] THESE AIR CONDITIONERS THE ONES
[18:30] THAT ARE GOING TO THE PUBLIC
[18:32] SCHOOLS WILL BE A GREAT
[18:35] ADDITION TO AT LEAST HELPING TO
[18:37] KEEP THE SCHOOLS COOL.
[18:39] SOME OF THE CHILDREN BELIEVE IT
[18:42] OR NOT WE'RE USING WET PAPER
[18:47] TOWELS OVER THERE.
[18:48] IT'S LESS.
[18:50] THIS PAST SUMMER TO KEEP COOL.
[18:53] AND HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU
[18:55] LEARN WITH A WET PAPER TOWEL
[18:59] OVER YOUR HEAD?
[19:00] AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THESE 43
[19:05] HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR
[19:06] CONDITIONING I DON'T KNOW HOW
[19:07] MANY AIR CONDITIONERS THERE ARE
[19:09] BUT EVEN IF IT'S A FEW IT'S
[19:11] GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
[19:13] TERMS OF HELPING TO KEEP THE
[19:15] SCHOOLS A LITTLE COOLER.
[19:17] UH.
[19:20] DO YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO
[19:21] COURSES NOW?
[19:22] YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE
[19:24] OF QUESTIONS AROUND IT.
[19:26] UH.
[19:28] ON COUNCIL ON.
[19:30] IT TRAINING AND THE.
[19:31] ON THE.
[19:32] OTHER PROGRAM.
[19:32] YOU SENT OUT SIX MINUTES,
[19:34] RIGHT?
[19:34] YEAH.
[19:35] YOU HAVE.
[19:35] SIX MONTHS.
[19:36] UM.
[19:36] AND I CAN USE ANYWHERE I
[19:37] WANT.
[19:37] RIGHT?
[19:39] YEAH.
[19:39] BUT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE IT
[19:41] ON THIS.
[19:41] DOCKET, BUT WE CAN WE COULD GO.
[19:43] OKAY, WE.
[19:43] COULD HAVE ANOTHER.
[19:44] SIX MINUTES ON THE OTHER
[19:46] DOCKETS.
[19:46] OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST
[19:49] GOT SOME BASIC QUESTIONS LIKE
[19:50] THE, UM AND IT'S KIND OF FROM
[19:54] CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
[19:55] YEAH.
[19:55] FOR THE GRADUATES WHO
[19:56] PARTICIPATE IN THIS FELLOWSHIP
[19:58] ,WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE
[19:59] FELLOWSHIP ENDS?
[20:02] UP WELL, THE PARTICIPANTS AND
[20:04] THE PROGRAM WITH THOSE SOME IN
[20:07] CLASSROOM TRAINING AND THEN
[20:09] ALSO WHEN THEY WORK THEY'RE
[20:10] WORKING WITH US THEY'RE AS
[20:11] FELLOWS THAT THEY'RE GETTING
[20:12] THE ON THE JOB TRAINING THAT
[20:13] THEY NEED.
[20:14] SO UM THOSE PREPARING THEM TO
[20:18] WORK OUTSIDE OF THE CITY BUT
[20:19] ALSO IN ADDITION TO THAT WE'VE
[20:20] BEEN ABLE TO BRING ON UH, TWO
[20:23] OF THEM AT THIS POINT INTO FULL
[20:24] TIME ROLES IN THE CITY.
[20:25] SO I THINK THE CITY.
[20:27] YES, SIR.
[20:27] AND WHAT.
[20:28] ABOUT THE OUTSIDE WORK?
[20:29] THEY'RE DOING THE EXTERNAL WORK
[20:31] WITH EXTERNAL PLAYERS SO
[20:33] THEY'RE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
[20:35] YOUNG FOLKS AFTER THEY
[20:36] GRADUATE.
[20:37] ABSOLUTELY.
[20:38] THESE ARE THE TYPES
[20:39] OF TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE
[20:40] TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW ARE
[20:41] EXACTLY WHAT PLAYERS ARE ASKING
[20:43] FOR.
[20:43] THEY'RE ASKING FOR FOLKS THAT
[20:45] HAVE UM, YOU KNOW, BEEN THROUGH
[20:46] BOTH A FORMALIZED CLASSROOM
[20:48] SETTING AND THEN ALSO ON THE
[20:49] JOB TRAINING SO THAT THEY'RE
[20:50] GETTING THAT SECOND COMPONENT
[20:52] WHICH IS OFTEN A LITTLE BIT
[20:53] MORE DIFFICULT TO COME BY OUT
[20:55] IN THE THE WILD WILD WORLD THAT
[20:57] WE LIVE IN THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO
[20:58] COME IN AND SAY HEY, I'VE GOT
[21:00] YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS NINE
[21:01] MONTHS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH
[21:02] THE CITY OF BOSTON AND I'M ABLE
[21:05] TO SAY CONFIDENTLY THAT THEY
[21:07] CAN WORK ON, YOU KNOW, THESE
[21:09] RANGE OF 6 OR 7 SYSTEMS THAT
[21:10] THEY WERE ABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO
[21:12] DURING THEIR TIME HERE WITH THE
[21:13] CITY.
[21:13] CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER
[21:15] OF CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED
[21:17] OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS
[21:18] THAT DATA THAT YOU KEEP.
[21:21] WE SO THAT THAT WOULD BE
[21:22] PROBABLY HELD AT THE CATHOLIC
[21:23] CHARITIES UH AT EL CENTRO FOR
[21:26] FROM THAT DATA STANDPOINT FOR
[21:27] US AT LEAST WE'VE BEEN PULLED
[21:29] IN TWO OUT OF THE FIVE FOLKS
[21:30] THAT WE'VE HAD COME WITH US.
[21:32] SO FROM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AT
[21:33] LEAST AND I'VE DONE THIS KIND
[21:34] OF WORK IN A COUPLE
[21:35] OF DIFFERENT PLACES UH, THAT'S
[21:36] A PRETTY UH AWESOME BEING ABLE
[21:38] TO RETAIN TWO FOLKS UNDER THAT
[21:39] SYSTEM IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.
[21:42] UM, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT
[21:43] THERE.
[21:44] IN THE ADDITION TO THAT, THE
[21:45] CATHOLIC CHARITIES EL CENTRO
[21:46] ARE GIVING THEM TYPES
[21:47] OF SUPPORT IN ORDER TO IF THEY
[21:49] DON'T END UP PLANNING WITH THE
[21:50] CITY TO FIND THAT UH,
[21:52] EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY FOR
[21:53] THEMSELVES OUTSIDE.
[21:54] OUTSIDE?
[21:54] YES, SIR.
[21:55] YEAH.
[21:56] THEY UH SO WHAT KIND
[21:58] OF PARTNERSHIPS ARE.
[21:59] THERE FOR OTHER PATHWAYS?
[22:02] UH.
[22:02] TO HELP THE YOUNG FOLKS
[22:05] TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT IT
[22:07] EMPLOYMENT OR DO YOU OR.
[22:10] AND OR ARE YOU AT THAT POINT
[22:13] YET.
[22:14] SO SO FROM FROM US FROM THE DO
[22:17] ITS ROLE IN THIS PART OF A
[22:19] PROCESS IT'S MORE TO BE THAT
[22:21] EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT GIVEN THEM
[22:23] AND THE EXPERIENCE WE DON'T
[22:25] NECESSARILY SPECIALIZE IN
[22:26] FUNDING THEM THE ROLE AFTER
[22:27] THAT'S OPEN A DIFFERENT A
[22:29] DIFFERENT PART OF OUR
[22:30] ORGANIZATION AND ALSO IN A
[22:31] DIFFERENT PART OF THE CATHOLIC
[22:32] CHARITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE
[22:34] ABLE TO US.
[22:34] AND SO THE PART OF YOUR
[22:36] ORGANIZATION THAT DOES THIS TOO
[22:37] THEY KEEP ANY KIND OF DATA ON
[22:40] THE SUCCESS RATES.
[22:42] OR ON BASED ON UM WHERE YOU PUT
[22:46] YOU MEAN MORE.
[22:47] PLACEMENTS ON PLACEMENT.
[22:48] REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE
[22:50] END RESULT UH THE EXPERIENCE
[22:52] THAT THIS YOUNG PERSON.
[22:53] HAS AFTER THAT TRAINING AND
[22:56] AFTER UM.
[22:58] MAYBE PART TIME EMPLOYMENT OR
[23:01] SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT?
[23:02] YEAH I'M I'M SURE THAT WE COULD
[23:04] WE COULD REQUEST THAT FROM EL
[23:05] CENTRO I THINK WOULD BE AN EASY
[23:06] THING TO GET BACK TO YOU.
[23:08] I'M NOT SURE HOW OFTEN THEY'RE
[23:10] SHARING DATA, BUT I KNOW THAT
[23:11] THEY'RE DEFINITELY COLLECTING
[23:12] IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE
[23:13] PROGRAMMATIC UH, REQUIREMENTS.
[23:15] AND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
[23:17] SEE UH, MR CHAIR, DO CAN I
[23:22] CONTINUE?
[23:23] YES, YOU CAN CONTINUE.
[23:24] COUNCILOR OKAY.
[23:25] THANK YOU.
[23:25] AND UM, THE UH.
[23:27] THE EQUITY PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU
[23:29] DID YOU ITS EQUITY PARTNERSHIP
[23:32] PROGRAM.
[23:33] YES.
[23:35] THE CITY IDENTIFIES AND
[23:38] REACHES THE RESIDENTS.
[23:41] HOW UM WELL, WE HAVE A DECENT
[23:45] AMOUNT OF INBOUND UH, FOLKS WHO
[23:47] REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE WE'VE
[23:49] BEEN DOING THIS WORK SINCE, UM
[23:51] ,I BELIEVE THE BIDEN
[23:52] ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM WAS
[23:53] CALLED THE AFFORDABLE
[23:54] CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM.
[23:55] SO WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF GET
[23:57] OURSELVES OUT THERE IN ADDITION
[23:58] TO KIND OF BEING A CENTRAL HOME
[24:00] WHERE WHERE FOLKS KNOW THAT
[24:02] THEY CAN CALL IF THEY'RE HAVING
[24:04] TROUBLE WITH THEIR CABLE
[24:05] PROVIDER.
[24:05] WE WE KIND OF LAYER THAT
[24:07] INTERNET ASPECT INTO IT DURING
[24:08] THE ACP PROGRAM.
[24:10] PETER LET A LOT OF THAT WORK TO
[24:11] GET FOLKS I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD
[24:13] ABOUT 50,000 UH RESIDENTS THAT
[24:15] WERE SIGNED UP FOR THAT
[24:16] PROGRAM.
[24:16] SO ALL OF THOSE FOLKS UH, SEE
[24:18] US AS A RESOURCE FOR THIS TYPE
[24:20] OF THING.
[24:21] UM, BUT FROM THE STANDPOINT
[24:22] OF WHERE WE'RE DOING A LOT
[24:24] OF THE OTHER WORK INCLUDING THE
[24:26] AI LITERACY AND CYBERSECURITY
[24:28] WORKSHOPS THAT'S THROUGH UH,
[24:29] NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
[24:31] SO WE HAVE A GROUP
[24:33] OF INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO
[24:34] HAVE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST
[24:37] ON THIS TYPE OF STUFF, AND
[24:38] WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ASKING
[24:40] THEM TO, YOU KNOW, SURVEY THEIR
[24:43] UH, THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO
[24:45] GATHER, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WHAT
[24:46] ARE FOLKS MOST INTERESTED IN
[24:47] LEARNING ABOUT AND AT THIS
[24:49] POINT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
[24:50] TO ALREADY DELIVER SIX
[24:52] WORKSHOPS, UH, ALL THE WAY
[24:54] SOUTH BOSTON, HYDE PARK,
[24:56] ROXBURY, MATTAPAN, CHINATOWN
[24:57] AND AUSTIN AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO
[24:59] IT AT THIS POINT WITH UM, BOTH
[25:01] HAITIAN CREOLE AND MANDARIN
[25:03] SUPPORT IN ADDITION TO SPANISH
[25:04] AS WELL.
[25:05] SO THAT'S MOSTLY GOING THROUGH
[25:07] THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
[25:08] THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK IN
[25:09] THE COMMUNITY AND ADDING THIS
[25:11] DIGITAL LITERACY ASPECT TO UM,
[25:13] HOW THEY'RE SERVING THEIR
[25:15] CONSTITUENTS.
[25:15] HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS
[25:17] RATE.
[25:18] RIGHT NOW.
[25:20] OR HOW DO YOU MEASURE WHETHER
[25:21] THIS FUNDING IS ACTUALLY
[25:23] IMPROVING THE DATA TO DO ACCESS
[25:26] ?
[25:26] UM, SO WE HAVE WE WE'VE DONE
[25:29] AND WE'RE ABOUT TO LAUNCH
[25:31] ANOTHER ROUND OF THIS BUT UH
[25:33] AND WOULD LOVE YOUR YOUR UH BUT
[25:35] EVEN THE CHAIR SUPPORT IS DOING
[25:36] OUTREACH TO THE CONSTITUENTS
[25:38] BUT WE'VE DONE A DIGITAL EQUITY
[25:40] SURVEY UH LAST ONE WAS DONE IN
[25:42] 2024 TO MEASURE OUTCOMES FOR
[25:44] FOLKS.
[25:45] IT'S, UH VERY SIMILAR TO HOW
[25:47] YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT UM,
[25:48] FOLKS WHO ARE WHO ARE LOW
[25:50] INCOME, WHO ARE FORMERLY
[25:51] INCARCERATED, WHO ARE
[25:53] NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING AS THEIR
[25:54] PRIMARY LANGUAGE ARE THE SAME
[25:56] FOLKS THAT ARE HAVING A LOT
[25:57] OF THESE PROBLEMS.
[25:58] SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE THINK
[25:59] ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE
[26:00] SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
[26:02] ALREADY HELPING THOSE TYPE
[26:03] OF FOLKS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
[26:05] THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE A
[26:08] DIRECT LINE BACK INTO THE CITY
[26:09] IF THAT'S THEIR PREFERENCE.
[26:11] AND SO THE ONE THAT DON'T HAVE
[26:14] A DIRECT.
[26:15] LINE, UM, HOW DO THEY GET
[26:18] CONNECTED.
[26:18] THROUGH THROUGH THE NONPROFITS
[26:19] THAT ARE ALREADY DELIVERING
[26:21] SERVICES TO THEM?
[26:22] YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S WHEN YOU
[26:23] BEGIN TO MEASURE THAT AT ALL.
[26:25] DO WE MEASURE UM.
[26:27] ,THE SUCCESS OF THE
[26:28] NON-PROFITS THAT THEY'RE.
[26:30] CONNECTING WITH?
[26:30] YEAH, ACTUALLY UH, PETER HAS A
[26:32] .
[26:32] WE HAVE A NICE UH.
[26:34] SET OF DATA THAT WE'VE HOPE TO
[26:35] SHARE WITH YOU THAT.
[26:36] I KIND OF.
[26:37] FOCUSES ON THAT IT KIND
[26:38] OF BREAKS IT OUT.
[26:39] THE THE TYPES OF FOLKS THAT
[26:42] PEOPLE SERVE AND THEN ALSO
[26:43] THEIR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
[26:44] WITHIN THE CITY WHERE THE
[26:45] ORGANIZATION IS.
[26:46] SO WE HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT
[26:47] OF DATA.
[26:48] I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE
[26:49] LITERALLY MISSED THAT BY UH.
[26:50] PETER, CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT
[26:52] THAT A LITTLE BIT?
[26:52] YEAH, DEFINITELY.
[26:53] YEAH.
[26:53] SO UM FROM THE LAST ROUND
[26:55] OF THE DIGITAL EQUITY FUND, UH,
[26:58] WE OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
[27:00] SERVED OR SERVED ABOUT JUST
[27:02] OVER 1100 THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN
[27:04] TOTAL.
[27:05] UM, WE'RE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE
[27:07] JUST UNDER 3000 DEVICES TO
[27:09] RESIDENTS FREE OF CHARGE.
[27:10] UM, FOLKS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT JUST
[27:13] UNDER 10,000 RESIDENTS IN TOTAL
[27:15] RECEIVED A WIDE RANGE OF, UH,
[27:17] DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING.
[27:19] SO BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
[27:20] LEVEL, UH, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS.
[27:22] UM.
[27:24] WE EACH ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
[27:26] WORKSHOPS UM, WE KIND OF GIVE
[27:28] THEM THE CREATIVE FREEDOM TO
[27:29] CARRY OUT THEIR UH THEIR
[27:32] TRAININGS AND THEIR THEIR WORK
[27:33] HOW THEY SAW FIT AND YOU KNOW,
[27:35] REALLY MET THE RESIDENTS WHERE
[27:36] THEY WERE BOTH LITERALLY AND
[27:38] FIGURATIVELY.
[27:39] UM AND SO, UH, HAPPY TO PROVIDE
[27:42] YOU KNOW, THIS THIS A MORE
[27:43] IN-DEPTH, UH, OVERVIEW OF THIS
[27:45] THIS DATA UH, AFTERWARDS BUT
[27:46] UM, OKAY.
[27:47] YEAH.
[27:48] JUST ONE FINAL QUESTION ON
[27:49] THOSE 43 EIGHTS FACTS SYSTEMS.
[27:53] HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHO THEY
[27:55] WENT TO AND CAN YOU TELL US
[27:57] WHERE THEY WENT TO?
[27:58] I BELIEVE THAT'S COMING UP AS A
[28:00] DOCKET LATER THAT COUNCIL DID
[28:02] YOU WANT THAT QUESTION TO BE
[28:03] ANSWERED AT THIS POINT?
[28:04] YEAH.
[28:05] KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO?
[28:06] UM WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE.
[28:08] WITH JUST.
[28:09] READ THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
[28:12] REMAINING DOCKETS INTO.
[28:13] THE RECORD AND THEN WE'LL
[28:14] CONTINUE.
[28:15] THEN WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS AGAIN.
[28:17] SO UM.
[28:18] INSTEAD OF.
[28:19] DOING ONE DOCKET AT A TIME
[28:20] WHEN.
[28:20] YOU JUST READ THEM.
[28:21] OKAY.
[28:21] THE REMAINING REST.
[28:22] MR CHAIR, THAT WAS MY LAST
[28:24] QUESTION.
[28:24] OKAY OKAY.
[28:26] YEP.
[28:26] THANK YOU COUNCILOR.
[28:27] THANK YOU.
[28:29] UH YEP.
[28:30] SO HI EVERYONE.
[28:31] MY NAME IS TRISH KAFKA.
[28:33] I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF
[28:33] OF OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY
[28:35] OF BOSTON.
[28:35] BUT I SIT WITHIN THE MAYOR'S
[28:36] OFFICE, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO
[28:38] TALK ABOUT THE THIRD DOCKET,
[28:39] WHICH IS THE 43 HVAC UNITS THAT
[28:41] WE'VE REQUESTED APPROVAL BY AND
[28:43] ACCEPT AND EXPAND ORDER.
[28:45] UM, SO THESE UNITS ARE COMING
[28:47] FROM THE FWC 2026 USA
[28:51] INCORPORATED.
[28:53] UM WE ACTUALLY HAD A DEADLINE
[28:54] TO PICK THEM UP SO WE ALREADY
[28:56] HAVE THEM IN OUR POSSESSION.
[28:57] WE HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED
[28:59] WHERE THEY WILL GO BECAUSE WE
[29:00] NEED TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND
[29:01] APPROVED FIRST.
[29:02] SO WE HAVE ONLY INVENTORIED
[29:03] THEM AT THIS POINT.
[29:04] UM BUT THERE ARE THREE
[29:06] DIFFERENT SIZES.
[29:07] THEY ARE ONE TON ONE AND A HALF
[29:09] TON AND TWO TON AND SO EACH ONE
[29:10] HAS A DIFFERENT SIZE SPACE THAT
[29:12] THEY'RE SUITABLE FOR UM THEY
[29:14] ARE GENTLY USED SO THEY COME TO
[29:17] US IN THE CONDITION THAT THEY
[29:18] ARE UM AND THEY MUST BE USED
[29:20] FOR A MUNICIPAL PURPOSE.
[29:21] BUT UM TO YOUR POINT,
[29:23] COUNCILOR CULPEPPER, THERE ARE
[29:24] A RANGE OF MUNICIPAL PURPOSES
[29:25] THAT WE CAN PUT THEM TO SUCH AS
[29:28] SCHOOLS, POLICE STATIONS, BCF
[29:31] CENTERS AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE
[29:34] INTEND TO DO WITH THEM.
[29:35] AND SO YOU HAVEN'T MADE A
[29:36] DECISION ABOUT WHERE THEY.
[29:37] GO YET.
[29:38] WE HAVE NOT MADE THE
[29:39] DETERMINATION WE HAVE REACHED
[29:40] OUT TO ALL OF THE FACILITY
[29:42] DIRECTORS IN THE CITY THAT
[29:43] REPRESENT ALL OF THE
[29:45] DEPARTMENTS THAT MANAGE
[29:45] PROPERTY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
[29:48] GROUPS THAT WE REACHED OUT TO.
[29:49] UM AND SO AS SOON AS WE HAVE
[29:51] APPROVAL TO USE THEM WE WILL
[29:53] BEGIN ASKING DEPARTMENTS
[29:55] BEGINNING WITH BP'S WHAT DO YOU
[29:57] HAVE NEED FOR?
[29:58] AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN
[29:59] DISTRIBUTING THEM.
[30:00] GREAT.
[30:01] AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PITCH
[30:02] FOR BP'S AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS
[30:03] THAT ARE, UH, NOT.
[30:05] AIR CONDITIONED.
[30:07] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[30:09] OKAY.
[30:10] THANK YOU.
[30:10] AND WAS THERE ONE FINAL.
[30:13] THERE WAS THAT.
[30:14] WAS THE FINAL DOCKET.
[30:16] OKAY.
[30:17] UH, WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY
[30:19] CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON.
[30:21] UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR.
[30:23] JOINING US.
[30:24] UM.
[30:27] COUNCIL BREADON I.
[30:27] WAS GOING.
[30:28] TO GIVE EACH.
[30:29] CITY COUNCIL'S.
[30:31] SIX MINUTES, UH, TO ASK.
[30:33] QUESTIONS BUT.
[30:34] THEN WE CAN UH, DO IT
[30:36] ANOTHER ROUND AS WELL.
[30:38] UM.
[30:39] IF YOU.
[30:39] BUT YOU COULD ASK QUESTIONS
[30:41] FOR.
[30:41] ALL OF THE DOCKETS UM AND.
[30:44] THEN AGAIN WE'LL.
[30:46] HAVE FURTHER TIME TO ASK UM.
[30:48] ASK AT ANOTHER.
[30:49] ROUND BUT COUNCIL OF COUNCIL
[30:52] BREADON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
[30:55] THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[30:57] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
[30:59] UM WE'RE ALWAYS WE'RE ALWAYS
[31:00] DELIGHTED.
[31:01] TO GET DONATIONS UH, IN-KIND
[31:03] AND THEN IN CASH UH, TO HELP US
[31:06] WITH THESE, UH, ESPECIALLY
[31:09] HITCHHIKERS A BIG A BIG BIG A
[31:11] NEED FOR OUR CITY.
[31:12] UM, ONE QUESTION I HAD WE
[31:14] NOTICED WHEN WE HAD THE CITY UM
[31:15] ,THE BP'S BUDGET THIS PAST
[31:17] YEAR THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE
[31:19] IN OUR ENERGY COSTS.
[31:20] I THINK GIVEN THE THE THE ARE
[31:23] WE UM, AS SUPPOSE IF YOU GET A
[31:27] GIFT YOU DON'T LOOK THE GIFT
[31:28] HORSE IN THE MOUTH AS TO SAY,
[31:29] UM, HOW ENERGY EFFICIENT ARE
[31:31] THESE, UM, HATCHBACK UNITS?
[31:36] UH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
[31:37] THEY ARE ON THE NEWER SIDE SO
[31:40] WE EXPECT THAT THEY WOULD BE
[31:41] BETTER IN BETTER CONDITION AND
[31:43] MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN A
[31:45] LOT OF EXISTING SYSTEMS THAT WE
[31:46] HAVE THAT ARE AT THE END
[31:47] OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE THAT WE
[31:48] COULD REPLACE.
[31:49] BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE DIDN'T
[31:51] SELECT THEM AND THEY DIDN'T GO
[31:52] THROUGH OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES
[31:54] DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR UM, YOU
[31:56] KNOW, SPECIFICATIONS.
[31:58] SO THEY ARE UH THE MODEL IS OR
[32:01] THE MAKE IS FRIEDRICH AND SO WE
[32:04] WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT MAKING
[32:05] SURE THAT WE'RE NOT REPLACING
[32:06] SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ENERGY
[32:08] EFFICIENT WITH SOMETHING THAT
[32:09] IS LESS.
[32:09] SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO
[32:10] IMPROVE WITH THE EQUIPMENT.
[32:12] OKAY THAT'S GOOD AND.
[32:15] UM AND TO UM I KNOW YOU
[32:18] MENTIONED THAT WE DON'T YOU
[32:19] KNOW WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCEPT
[32:20] AND EXPAND YET.
[32:21] SO YOU HAVE YOU'RE JUST
[32:22] INVENTORYING THESE UNITS WERE
[32:24] NOT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW
[32:26] WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LAND AT
[32:27] THIS POINT.
[32:28] YES.
[32:28] SO WE SUBMITTED THE EXPECT
[32:30] THE ACCEPT AND EXPAND TO CITY
[32:32] COUNCIL IN JULY IT WAS REFERRED
[32:34] TO THIS HEARING OR THIS
[32:35] COMMITTEE AND SO WE JUST NEEDED
[32:36] APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IN
[32:38] ORDER TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO
[32:39] USE THE UNITS.
[32:39] OKAY GOOD.
[32:41] AND UM.
[32:43] WHEN WE PUT IN HVAC UNITS DO
[32:45] THEY STAY IN THE WINDOW UNITS
[32:48] OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN
[32:49] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WINDOW
[32:50] UNITS.
[32:50] THESE ARE ACTUALLY MINI SPLITS.
[32:52] OR MINI.
[32:53] YES SO IT'S 43 MINI SPLITS
[32:55] OF THREE DIFFERENT SIZES.
[32:56] SO THEY ARE INSTALLED ON
[32:58] THEY'RE USUALLY VERY HIGH ON A
[33:00] WALL UM AND THERE'S BOTH AN
[33:02] INTERIOR UNIT AND THEN THERE IS
[33:04] ALSO A CORRESPONDING EXTERIOR
[33:06] COMPONENT TO IT.
[33:07] AND SO THE DONATION INCLUDES
[33:09] BOTH FOR EACH OF THE 43.
[33:11] OKAY AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT
[33:13] SCENARIO THEN THAT'S A.
[33:14] GOOD UM.
[33:16] DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF.
[33:18] WHAT THE ENERGY DEMAND ON THE
[33:19] MINI SPLITS ARE LIKE I, I
[33:22] HAVEN'T GOT MANY SPLITS AT MY
[33:23] HOME SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UH
[33:25] HOW ENERGY EFFICIENT ARE THERE?
[33:27] I KNOW THEY'RE BEEN GREATLY
[33:27] LAUDED FOR THEIR ENERGY
[33:29] EFFICIENCY.
[33:30] THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
[33:32] ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN OFTEN SAY
[33:33] A WINDOW UNIT.
[33:34] I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT
[33:36] SPECIFICATIONS FOR THESE UNITS.
[33:37] I CAN FIND OUT IF THAT IS
[33:39] HELPFUL.
[33:40] UM BUT AGAIN THEY ARE THEY ARE
[33:43] CONSIDERED MUCH MORE ENERGY
[33:44] EFFICIENT THAN MANY OTHER
[33:45] SYSTEMS THAT.
[33:45] WE COULD DEPLOY.
[33:47] SO IT'S A MINI SPLIT THE
[33:48] COOLNESS IN THE SUMMER DO THEY
[33:49] UM DO YOU HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
[33:51] USE THEM FOR HEATING IN THE
[33:52] WINTER?
[33:53] THEY CAN BE YEAH.
[33:55] YEP OKAY.
[33:56] VERY GOOD.
[33:57] OKAY.
[33:57] THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
[33:59] THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAD.
[34:00] THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
[34:06] I WILL ALSO TAKE UM, SIX
[34:09] MINUTES AS WELL.
[34:13] AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE
[34:14] ADMINISTRATION.
[34:15] PANEL FOR.
[34:16] BEING HERE.
[34:16] FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT
[34:18] YOU'RE DOING.
[34:19] I THINK IT WAS BRIAN I THINK
[34:20] WAS BRIAN THAT MENTIONED.
[34:24] AT THE BEGINNING.
[34:25] UH MAYBE PETER.
[34:27] BUT YOU MENTIONED UM ONE OF THE
[34:30] GRANTS IS BENEFITING.
[34:34] OLDER ADULTS.
[34:35] RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC HOUSING
[34:38] VETERANS, RETURNING CITIZENS.
[34:41] ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.
[34:44] I I STRONGLY SUPPORT I HAVE MY
[34:46] MY WHOLE LIFE.
[34:47] DID YOU MENTION ENGLISH
[34:49] LANGUAGE.
[34:49] LEARNERS THEY INCLUDE.
[34:51] YES OKAY OKAY.
[34:52] UM.
[34:55] WHAT OTHER WHAT OTHER.
[34:57] GROUP MIGHT BE PART OF THAT?
[34:59] DID I MISS ANY.
[35:01] UM YOU, UM.
[35:04] I GUESS.
[35:05] NEW IMMIGRANTS IN GENERAL, UM,
[35:07] LITTLE LOWER INCOME
[35:08] POPULATIONS.
[35:09] OKAY.
[35:10] WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE WE
[35:11] HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD DATA FROM
[35:13] 2024 LIKE WE MENTIONED, A LOT
[35:14] OF THIS.
[35:15] UH.
[35:16] PROBLEM DOES END UP, UH,
[35:17] CONCENTRATED IN THE HOUSING
[35:19] AUTHORITY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE
[35:20] ALSO FOCUSED ON, UM, AND
[35:22] LOOKING FORWARD TO AN
[35:24] OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD.
[35:25] UH.
[35:26] ADDITIONAL CONNECTIVITY UP
[35:27] UH.
[35:27] THOSE LOCATIONS AS WELL.
[35:29] SO OKAY, THE LONGER TERM FIX
[35:30] FOR THAT PROBLEM OKAY.
[35:32] JUST TWO.
[35:33] TOOK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
[35:35] DO YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE.
[35:38] LESS DIGITAL ACCESS.
[35:40] IN PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE
[35:42] OF THE.
[35:42] BECAUSE OF ANY INFRASTRUCTURE.
[35:45] RELATED ISSUES?
[35:47] ABSOLUTELY.
[35:48] THAT IS UM AGAIN IT'S A IT'S
[35:50] A LONGER TERM PROBLEM BUT IT IS
[35:52] SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FACING
[35:53] RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY WITH THE UH
[35:55] SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IS
[35:56] JUST ENTERING THE DOCKET RIGHT
[35:57] NOW IT'S A PROJECT TO EXPAND
[36:00] CONNECTIVITY TO UH, TWO OF THE
[36:02] CAMPUSES AND THEY DO HAVE UM,
[36:04] SOME REMEDIATION, UH, OLDER
[36:07] BUILDING ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE
[36:08] COMPLETED IN ORDER TO MOVE
[36:10] THOSE IN.
[36:11] SO YOU SEE A LOT OF UM.
[36:13] THE TRADITIONAL UH, SERVICE
[36:16] PROVIDERS NOT BEING WILLING TO
[36:17] GO THAT EXTRA MILE TO DO THOSE
[36:19] TYPES OF, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH
[36:20] THESE OLDER BUILDINGS AND UH,
[36:22] MAKE THAT WORK.
[36:23] AND SO THAT'S WHY THE CITY'S
[36:24] KIND OF STEPPING UP AND SAYING
[36:26] WE CAN HELP WITH THIS PIECE
[36:27] OF THE PUZZLE.
[36:28] SO THERE WAS A GROUP I WORK
[36:30] WITH.
[36:30] IT'S UM CASTLE SQUARE TENANTS
[36:34] ORGANIZATION.
[36:35] UM.
[36:36] AND THEY DO SOME OUTSTANDING
[36:38] WORK THERE.
[36:39] IN THE SOUTH END.
[36:41] IT'S ALMOST.
[36:42] PREDOMINANTLY A RESIDENTS
[36:43] OF COLOR.
[36:44] UH, BUT THEY.
[36:45] PROVIDE TRAINING AND ACCESS.
[36:47] TO ON DIGITAL EQUITY.
[36:50] UM, MY QUESTION IS.
[36:54] WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT WOULD.
[36:57] YOU PROVIDE?
[37:00] ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT?
[37:03] IS IT IS IT PHYSICAL LIKE
[37:06] COMPUTERS.
[37:07] OR DO YOU MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
[37:08] TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR DO.
[37:09] YOU PROVIDE.
[37:11] LAPTOPS OR COMPUTERS?
[37:13] UM COMPUTERS.
[37:14] SO UH WE KIND OF GIVE THE
[37:16] CREATIVE FREEDOM TO THE ACTUAL
[37:17] ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON WHAT
[37:19] THEIR EXACT NEEDS ARE.
[37:20] UM, WE'VE HAD ORGANIZATIONS WHO
[37:22] HAVE JUST WANTED DEVICES THAT
[37:25] ARE, YOU KNOW, IPADS OR YOU
[37:27] KNOW, SPECIFIC CHROMEBOOKS,
[37:29] LAPTOPS THAT ARE YOU FOR.
[37:30] FOR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO
[37:32] BE USING.
[37:33] UM, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS WHO
[37:34] HAVE REQUESTED HOTSPOTS SO THAT
[37:36] THEY CAN GO TO THOSE RESIDENTS
[37:37] WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE UH, YOU
[37:39] KNOW, IN IN HOME, UH, INTERNET
[37:41] ACCESS AND RELY ON MOBILE UH,
[37:44] DATA IF THAT BUT UM, IT'S IT'S
[37:47] REALLY KIND OF UP TO THEM WE WE
[37:49] SET UP SOME PARAMETERS, YOU
[37:50] KNOW, WE LOOK FOR UH
[37:52] ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE YOU
[37:53] KNOW, WHETHER WHEN IT COMES TO
[37:55] DIGITAL NAVIGATION WORK.
[37:56] SO ONE ON ONE TECH HELP WE HAVE
[37:58] CERTAIN DIGITAL LITERACY
[37:59] STANDARDS THAT UH, WE PROVIDE
[38:02] TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
[38:03] UH, WE ALSO PROVIDE UM FLIERS
[38:06] THAT THAT CONTAIN UM ALL OF THE
[38:08] LOW COST UH, INTERNET OPTIONS
[38:10] THAT ARE $30 OR LESS, UH, THAT
[38:12] ARE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS UH,
[38:14] IN BOSTON UM, AS WELL AS UM
[38:18] FLIERS WITH UH DEVICES THAT ARE
[38:20] REFURBISHED OR LOW COST UM,
[38:22] THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS AS
[38:23] WELL.
[38:24] AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE IN 12
[38:26] TOTAL LANGUAGES.
[38:27] UM, WE UH WE SEND THIS OUT TO
[38:29] NOT ONLY OUR DIGITAL EQUITY
[38:31] FUND, UH, COMMUNITY BASED
[38:33] PARTNERS BUT WE PARTNER WITH
[38:34] OTHER COMMUNITY FACING CITY
[38:36] DEPARTMENTS.
[38:37] SO WE KIND OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE
[38:38] WE'RE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM
[38:39] BUT OUR FAMILY IS IS VERY BIG
[38:42] AND SO WE TRY TO GET
[38:43] INFORMATION OUT TO ANYONE THAT
[38:46] IS IN OUR NETWORK HOWEVER WE
[38:47] POSSIBLY CAN WHETHER IT BE
[38:48] NEWSLETTERS, EMAILS, FLIERS,
[38:50] IN-PERSON MEETINGS,
[38:52] PRESENTATIONS, THE WHOLE NINE
[38:53] YARDS.
[38:54] UM BUT YEAH, JUST TO KIND
[38:55] OF WRAP UP AS IT PERTAINS TO
[38:57] THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, UM, WE
[38:59] WHEN WHEN WE REVIEW THE
[39:01] PROPOSALS THAT ARE SUBMITTED.
[39:02] TO TO US SUBMIT THE WITHIN THE
[39:04] APPLICATION PERIOD.
[39:05] UM, YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN IDEA
[39:08] OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR BASED
[39:09] ON YOU KNOW PREVIOUS DID YOU
[39:11] LIKE REFUND UM ROUNDS AND ALSO
[39:13] WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO TO ACHIEVE
[39:15] IN THE FUTURE AND BASED ON YOU
[39:17] KNOW INCLUDING LIKE BUT BUT
[39:18] BRIAN MENTIONED OUR 2024
[39:20] DIGITAL EQUITY SURVEY THAT WE
[39:22] CONDUCTED UM AND YOU KNOW, IF
[39:24] THERE'S A HIGH NEED FOR FOLKS
[39:26] TO ADOPT INTERNET UM, AND YOU
[39:28] KNOW, PUT AN EMPHASIS THERE BUT
[39:30] UM, IT'S REALLY KIND OF THE
[39:32] BALL'S IN THE COURT OF THE THE
[39:35] ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE PARTNER
[39:35] WITH.
[39:36] AND IN ADDITION TO THAT WE'RE
[39:38] MORE RECENTLY STARTING TO UH,
[39:40] COMPLETE AI LITERACY WORKSHOPS
[39:42] WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
[39:43] ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'D BE HAPPY
[39:44] IF YOU WANTED TO.
[39:45] CONNECT US WITH THE FOLKS IN
[39:46] CASTLE SQUARE.
[39:47] WE'D BE HAPPY TO, UH, SCHEDULE
[39:49] AT LEAST AN INTRO MEETING TO
[39:50] SEE IF IT'S A GOOD FIT FOR WHAT
[39:52] THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THEIR
[39:53] RESIDENTS.
[39:54] YEAH, THAT'S A.
[39:55] GREAT RECOMMENDATION.
[39:56] THANK YOU.
[39:57] SIR, I'D.
[39:58] I'D.
[39:58] LIKE TO TAKE YOU UP ON UH, MY
[39:59] FINAL QUESTION.
[40:00] I ONLY HAVE.
[40:01] 12 SECONDS.
[40:02] AND WE'LL DO ANOTHER ROUND.
[40:03] UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I'VE
[40:06] WORKED ON FOR FOR.
[40:07] YEARS I WAS A PROBATION
[40:08] OFFICER, UM.
[40:10] AT SUPERIOR COURT IS.
[40:15] UM.
[40:16] WHAT I KNOW YOU MENTIONED
[40:19] RETURNING.
[40:20] CITIZENS ARE COMING.
[40:21] OUT OF THE, UM.
[40:22] SUFFOLK COUNTY JAIL.
[40:24] WHAT ARE YOU PROVIDING
[40:26] RETURNING CITIZENS AS IT
[40:28] RELATES.
[40:29] TO DIGITAL EQUITY NOW WITH
[40:32] TRAINING EDUCATION.
[40:34] OR HOW WERE YOU ASSISTING THEM?
[40:36] YEAH.
[40:36] UH, I THINK THAT PETER
[40:38] TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT UH,
[40:39] DURING HIS REMARKS.
[40:40] WE WE'VE BEEN RUNNING SINCE
[40:42] JANUARY 2025, UH, OFFICE HOURS
[40:44] EVERY MONDAY FOR EVERY OTHER
[40:45] MONDAY, UH, OVER AT THE EOC
[40:48] LOCATION.
[40:49] SO WE'RE KIND OF THERE JUST AS
[40:51] A GENERAL TECH SUPPORT TECH
[40:52] HELP THAT'S RANGE ALL THE WAY
[40:54] FROM LIKE GETTING GMAIL SET UP
[40:56] FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO ACTUALLY
[40:58] HELPING THEM TO MANAGE GOOGLE
[41:00] MAPS BECAUSE IT'S AGAIN IF YOU
[41:01] CAN IMAGINE IF YOU'VE BEEN IN
[41:03] FOR A WHILE AND YOU AND YOU
[41:04] CAME OUT INTO THIS NEW WORLD
[41:05] AND EVERYONE'S NAVIGATING BY
[41:06] SMARTPHONE AND PEOPLE DON'T
[41:08] REALLY HAVE MAPQUEST ANYMORE.
[41:10] SO UM, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE
[41:11] MORE INTERESTING ONES THAT CAME
[41:13] UP DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
[41:15] UH, WE UH KIND OF TOOK OVER AS
[41:18] TECH GOES HOME WAS ROLLING
[41:20] THEIR OPERATIONS DOWN.
[41:22] THEY HAD MADE COMMITMENTS TO
[41:25] INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN UM IN
[41:28] SUFFOLK COUNTY FOR UH THAT IF
[41:31] THEY COMPLETED THE TRAINING
[41:31] THEY WOULD PUT A DEVICE IN A
[41:33] HOTSPOT.
[41:33] SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
[41:34] CURRENTLY EXPLORING HOW TO MAKE
[41:35] SURE THAT THOSE UM PROMISES ARE
[41:39] MAINTAINED AND THAT UH, THE
[41:40] CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HAVE ARE
[41:42] RECEIVING THE DEVICES, UH, WHEN
[41:44] THEY ARE WHEN THEY'RE RETURNING
[41:46] HOME.
[41:46] OKAY.
[41:48] I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS BUT
[41:49] I'M GOING.
[41:50] TO DO ANOTHER ROUND.
[41:51] OKAY.
[41:51] I'M GOING TO START.
[41:53] WITH, UM.
[41:54] COUNCILOR COLE PEPPER.
[41:56] I'M GOING TO GIVE I'M GOING TO
[41:57] GIVE ANOTHER SIX MINUTES AGAIN
[41:59] .
[42:01] UM THANK YOU MR CHAIR.
[42:02] SO YES YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THE.
[42:03] FULL COUNCIL RUN.
[42:04] I JUST HAD A COUPLE
[42:05] OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AI
[42:06] LITERACY.
[42:07] AND SO.
[42:10] WIDESPREAD IS THE TRAINING
[42:11] YOU'RE DOING ARE YOU DOING IT
[42:12] IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR
[42:14] YOU'RE CONNECTING WITH
[42:15] RESIDENTS ON AI LITERACY?
[42:18] YEAH ABSOLUTELY.
[42:19] SO SO THERE'S A WHOLE SET I
[42:20] WON'T SPEAK TO THE AI PROGRAM.
[42:23] THAT'S SOMETHING I'M FAMILIAR
[42:24] WITH BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT AND
[42:26] DON'T KNOW THE DATA.
[42:26] BUT YOU'RE NOT.
[42:27] WORKING WITH.
[42:28] IT.
[42:28] I'M NOT NO I'M NOT.
[42:29] OKAY YEAH.
[42:30] ON A.
[42:31] DAY TO DAY BASIS THAT'S, UH
[42:32] ,BEEN SPUN UP SEPARATELY FROM
[42:34] OUR STANDPOINT.
[42:35] UH, LIKE I MENTIONED AT
[42:36] COUNCILOR FLYNN'S QUESTION, WE,
[42:39] UH, DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE
[42:41] BEST WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP
[42:42] WAS TAKING SOME OF THE
[42:42] EXPERTISE THAT WE HAD IN-HOUSE
[42:44] AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
[42:45] ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZE THE
[42:47] TRAININGS.
[42:48] SO WHAT WE BASICALLY WE'LL
[42:49] WE'LL GO OUT.
[42:50] AND WE'LL SAY.
[42:50] WE'LL BRING THE TRAINER, WE'LL
[42:52] BRING THE CURRICULUM, WE'LL
[42:53] BRING DEVICES IF IF NEEDED FOR
[42:56] UM FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE
[42:57] CURRICULUM AND THEN UH, IT'S
[42:59] FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO RECRUIT
[43:01] THE CONSTITUENTS FROM FOR THEIR
[43:03] UM THEIR ORGANIZATION AND TO
[43:05] FIND SPACE FOR THE TRAINING.
[43:06] SO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT WE'VE
[43:08] BEEN ABLE TO DO SIX WORKSHOPS
[43:10] IN THIS FORMAT, UH, WITH OVER
[43:12] 70 PEOPLE ATTENDING.
[43:14] UH AND WE'RE GETTING PRETTY
[43:15] GOOD POSITIVE RESPONSE SCORES
[43:16] WHERE UH THEY'RE UH BETWEEN 85
[43:19] AND 95% OF FOLKS ARE SAYING
[43:20] THAT THEY'VE LEARNED SOMETHING
[43:23] NEW AND THEY WOULD BE, UH,
[43:24] INTERESTED TO SHARE THIS WITH
[43:26] ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS OR
[43:28] RELATIVES TO TO PARTICIPATE IN
[43:29] THIS TYPE OF TRAINING.
[43:31] SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ALL ANY
[43:32] OTHER QUESTIONS.
[43:34] BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE EARLY
[43:35] EARLY STAGE.
[43:35] WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR
[43:37] NUMBERS FOR THOSE COURSES.
[43:39] SO AS I JUST HAVE FOR
[43:40] COUNCILOR FLYNN, IF THERE IS A
[43:41] COMMUNE OR COMMUNITY
[43:42] ORGANIZATION THAT YOU WORK
[43:44] CLOSELY WITH THAT WOULD BE
[43:45] INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE
[43:46] OF THING, WE'RE ABOUT TO REOPEN
[43:48] AND START ASKING FOLKS FOR
[43:50] ANOTHER ROUND OF TRAINING.
[43:51] WE CAN DO IT UM ENGLISH AND
[43:54] SPANISH, UH HAITIAN CREOLE AND
[43:56] UH MANDARIN SUPPORT.
[43:58] UM SOMETIMES FOLKS PREFER TO
[44:01] EITHER HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE
[44:02] CITY HELPING ON THAT SIDE BUT
[44:03] IT'S ALSO BEEN PRETTY
[44:04] SUCCESSFUL.
[44:04] WE'VE DONE ONE WHERE THE UM THE
[44:07] TRANSLATOR WAS FROM THE
[44:09] ORGANIZATION.
[44:10] SO THERE ARE SOMEONE THAT THE
[44:11] FOLKS FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE
[44:12] WITH AND THEY'RE MAYBE THEY'RE
[44:13] LIKE CASEWORKER OR MANAGER AND
[44:15] THEY'RE DOING THE TRANSLATION
[44:17] SO IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT
[44:18] MORE CONVERSATIONAL FOR THEM
[44:20] AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
[44:21] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANY
[44:21] OTHER.
[44:22] THOUGHTS THERE.
[44:23] YEAH.
[44:23] AND UM WHEN WHEN WE REACH
[44:25] OUT TO ADVERTISE THESE PROGRAMS
[44:26] IT'S RIGHT ON BOSTON.GOV BUT WE
[44:28] WE SEND IT TO OUR UM WHAT.
[44:31] WE LIKE TO CALL OUR DIGITAL
[44:32] EQUITY COALITION
[44:34] OF ORGANIZATIONS.
[44:34] SO WHO ARE LOCATED ALL ACROSS
[44:36] THE CITY UM OR WHO WORK WITH
[44:37] FOLKS IN BOSTON.
[44:39] UM SO IT.
[44:40] GOES OUT UH.
[44:41] ,AT LEAST YOU KNOW 50 TO 100
[44:44] ORGANIZATIONS.
[44:45] UM, AND YOU KNOW FOLKS WHO WORK
[44:47] AT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
[44:48] SO WE'RE TRYING TO COVER ALL
[44:50] OF THE BASES THAT WE POSSIBLY
[44:51] CAN.
[44:52] AND ALSO LIKE I SAID, I UTILIZE
[44:54] OTHER COMMUNITY FACING CITY
[44:55] DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, UH,
[44:56] WHETHER IT BE CITY COUNCILORS
[44:58] OR UM, YOU KNOW, OFFICE OF UH
[45:00] MAYOR'S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT
[45:01] ADVANCEMENT, VETERAN SERVICES.
[45:04] ETC. ETC..
[45:07] DO YOU.
[45:07] DO WITH ALL THOSE OFFICES?
[45:09] YEAH THE.
[45:10] I TRAINING AND HOW IN-DEPTH DO
[45:12] YOU GO IS IS LIKE A I 101.
[45:15] OR.
[45:15] YES IT'S IT'S IT'S I 101 AND
[45:18] THEN WE CAN HAVE A FOCUS
[45:19] ATTACHED TO THE TAIL END OF IT
[45:21] THAT IS EITHER FOR SPECIFICALLY
[45:23] OR FOCUS ON SCAMS AND SCAM
[45:25] PREVENTION.
[45:26] SOME FOLKS REALLY WANT TO LEARN
[45:27] ABOUT THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO
[45:29] HAVE ON THE WORKFORCE AND WAYS
[45:30] THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW,
[45:31] SPECIFIC SKILLS THAT THEY CAN
[45:32] LEARN.
[45:33] OR AGAIN, WE'RE MOSTLY JUST
[45:34] POINTING THEM IN THE RIGHT
[45:35] DIRECTION AT THAT POINT IT'S A
[45:37] 60 TO 90 MINUTE WORKSHOP, BUT
[45:39] WE'RE ABLE TO DO A 101 A STRONG
[45:42] 101 THAT WE'RE WE'RE WELL
[45:44] VERSED IN AND THEN A LITTLE BIT
[45:46] OF UH, WHATEVER FLAVOR THE
[45:49] ORGANIZATION IS ASKING FOR
[45:50] SPECIFICALLY.
[45:51] UM AND A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN
[45:52] AROUND THE SCAM PREVENTION UM,
[45:56] STUFF SPECIFICALLY.
[45:57] SO.
[46:04] I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT HOW
[46:05] WIDESPREAD THAT IS FOR THE
[46:07] RESIDENTS.
[46:08] HOW DO YOU.
[46:09] I TRAINING UP HOW WIDESPREAD
[46:13] ACROSS THE CITY IS IT.
[46:15] RIGHT NOW WE'VE TRAINED 70
[46:17] FOLKS A LITTLE BIT OVER 70
[46:19] FOLKS AND UH ARE EXPECTED THE
[46:21] ONES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE
[46:22] SCHEDULED WOULD BE ABOUT 450 OR
[46:25] SO.
[46:25] AGAIN LIKE WE MENTIONED WE'RE
[46:27] GOING TO TRY TO EXPAND THIS A
[46:28] LITTLE BIT.
[46:29] WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THESE
[46:30] PROGRAMS UNTIL THE END
[46:32] OF DECEMBER.
[46:33] SO WE THINK THAT WE CAN MAYBE
[46:34] GET UH ABOVE 500 AT THIS POINT.
[46:38] BUT UM I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH
[46:40] FOR THAT WE CAN TAKE IT AND IF
[46:41] I CAN COMMIT IT INTO.
[46:42] THAT THAT AND.
[46:43] ONE THING I DID WANT TO ALSO
[46:45] ADD IS UM, THIS PAST SUMMER WE.
[46:46] UH.
[46:47] DID SOMETHING A LITTLE
[46:48] DIFFERENT SO WE'VE.
[46:49] BEEN ABLE TO.
[46:50] HOST, UM, A HANDFUL OF DIGITAL
[46:52] EQUITY SUMMER FELLOWS AND
[46:53] INTERNS AND AND THIS SUMMER WE
[46:55] HAD THEM.
[46:56] LOCATED AT DIFFERENT BCF SITES
[46:58] AROUND THE CITY.
[46:59] UM, SOME SOME OF THE FELLOWS
[47:01] WERE GOING TO TWO SITES EACH
[47:02] WEEK.
[47:03] UM, AND UM AND SO AT A CERTAIN
[47:06] POINT ONCE THEY FELT
[47:07] COMFORTABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL
[47:08] THE YOUTH THAT WERE COMING IN
[47:09] OR IF THERE WERE ADULT PROGRAMS
[47:11] THAT WERE THERE UM THEY OFFERED
[47:12] OUR FELLOWS OFFERED THEIR OWN
[47:14] COURSES AND AND LED TRAININGS
[47:16] ON NOT JUST THINGS ABOUT AI OR
[47:18] AI BASICS BUT ALSO GRAPHIC
[47:20] DESIGN CODING FOR FOR FOLK
[47:22] YOUTH WHO WERE INTERESTED IN
[47:23] CODING UM, AND THINGS OF THAT
[47:25] NATURE.
[47:26] SO WE WE TRIED TO UM YOU KNOW,
[47:28] BE IN MORE PLACES AND THAN JUST
[47:30] CITY HALL AND YOU KNOW AND UM
[47:32] AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
[47:33] SO UM WE TRY TO CAST A WIDE NET
[47:35] WHENEVER WE GO OUT AND DELIVER
[47:36] THESE TRAININGS OR OFFER ANY
[47:38] SERVICES THAT THAT.
[47:39] WE READ AND HOW MUCH OF THE.
[47:42] VHA PRESENT RESIDENTS ARE YOU
[47:44] TRAINING?
[47:46] DO YOU GO DIRECTLY TO THE VHA.
[47:49] AND OFFER TRAINING TO ALL
[47:51] OF THE RESIDENTS OR DO YOU?
[47:55] GIVE TRAINING MOSTLY TO THE
[47:57] VOLUNTEERS THAT REALLY WANT IT
[47:59] ?
[48:00] WE I WOULD SAY IT'S UH
[48:01] DEFINITELY OPT IN.
[48:03] WE DON'T FORCE THIS TYPE
[48:04] OF TRAINING ON ANYBODY.
[48:05] UM, WITH THE VHA WE HAVE A
[48:07] GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH UH,
[48:09] SAHAR LAWRENCE OVER THERE WHO
[48:10] IS THE DIGITAL EQUITY WHO HAS.
[48:12] A SIMILAR.
[48:12] ROLE TO THE ONE THAT PETER
[48:14] HOLDS IN HERE IN THE CITY HALL.
[48:15] UM, WHO IS ORGANIZING THOSE
[48:17] TYPES OF TRAININGS?
[48:18] BUT WE CAN GET YOU SOME MORE
[48:20] DATA BACK IF THAT'S A HELPFUL.
[48:21] ASPECT OF THE CONVERSATION.
[48:23] AND WHAT'S GREAT IS UM, LIKE AN
[48:26] EXAMPLE LIKE THE WEST BROADWAY
[48:27] TASK FORCES HAS BEEN LEADING
[48:29] THE CHARGE FOR FOR THEIR
[48:31] RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY AND SO WE.
[48:33] HAVE A LOT OF BUY IN FROM THE
[48:34] TASK FORCE THAT THE ACTUAL.
[48:36] UH HOUSING.
[48:36] AUTHORITY COMMUNITIES AND SO
[48:38] THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AT
[48:39] SPREADING THE WORD TO RESIDENTS
[48:41] THERE AND UM, AND AND STUFF
[48:42] LIKE THAT.
[48:44] THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
[48:45] THANK YOU.
[48:47] COUNCIL CULPEPER UM
[48:49] COUNCIL PRESIDENT YOU HAVE SIX
[48:50] MINUTES.
[48:51] THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
[48:53] UM, I'M STILL.
[48:54] YOU KNOW I KNOW THAT DURING
[48:56] COVID LIKE I WAS IT SEEMS LIKE
[48:57] YEARS AGO NOWADAYS YEARS AGO,
[48:58] SIX YEARS.
[49:01] UM IT WAS HUGE.
[49:02] WE IDENTIFIED HUGE GAPS IN.
[49:04] DIGITAL ACCESS.
[49:06] AND, UH, HOW.
[49:07] ARE WE ON TOP OF.
[49:09] ALL OF THAT?
[49:09] ARE THERE STILL PLACES AND
[49:11] SPACES WHERE.
[49:12] WE STILL FIND.
[49:13] THAT FOLKS DO NOT HAVE GOOD
[49:14] DIGITAL ACCESS?
[49:16] I THINK IT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT
[49:18] TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH
[49:19] YOU.
[49:20] I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE
[49:21] SOLUTIONS THAT CAME ABOUT
[49:22] DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE UH,
[49:24] SOLUTIONS THAT WERE GREAT
[49:26] TEMPORARY UH, AND THEN KIND
[49:29] OF SEEMED TO FALL BY THE
[49:30] WAYSIDE.
[49:31] AND AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THAT.
[49:32] IT'S BECOME EVEN MORE
[49:34] SUBSTANTIAL WITH THE BOOM IN AI
[49:36] AND THE.
[49:37] IDEA THAT SOME OF THE THINGS
[49:39] THAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH
[49:41] EVEN AT THAT POINT WHICH IS
[49:43] MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE
[49:44] ONLINE SAFELY THINK THAT'S ONE
[49:46] OF THE CORE ASPECTS OF DIGITAL.
[49:47] EQUITY IS.
[49:48] THAT WE'RE NOT JUST HANDING YOU
[49:50] A DEVICE AND THE INTERNET.
[49:51] WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT.
[49:52] THOSE TWO THINGS END UP WITH
[49:54] POSITIVE OUTCOMES INSTEAD
[49:56] OF SOME OF THE NEGATIVE
[49:57] EXTERNALITIES THAT YOU CAN
[49:58] OFTEN SEE DEVELOP.
[49:59] UM, FROM FROM OUR STANDPOINT WE
[50:01] ARE STILL SEEING NEED IN THE
[50:04] COMMUNITY.
[50:04] I THINK THAT UM IT'S SOMETHING
[50:06] OR IT'S ALSO THAT THERE ARE NEW
[50:07] NEW FOLKS COMING INTO BOSTON
[50:09] EVERY DAY.
[50:09] SO THAT'S DEFINITELY.
[50:10] A GROUP THAT WE SEE IS.
[50:12] UM A GROUP THAT WE.
[50:13] WANT TO.
[50:13] MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
[50:14] FOCUSING.
[50:14] ON UH FROM THE STANDPOINT OF.
[50:16] THE BIGGER LARGER PUSHES THAT
[50:19] WE'RE WE'RE HOPING TO TO MOVE.
[50:21] UM.
[50:22] ACTUALLY I THINK IT JUST GOT
[50:23] PUT INTO THE DOCKET TODAY IS UH
[50:26] A PROGRAM THAT THE STATE HAD
[50:27] FUNDED FOR UH, PROVIDING
[50:30] CONNECTIVITY TO THE FOR FREE
[50:32] FAST UH, CONNECTIVITY TO FOLKS.
[50:34] SO THAT'LL UH, KIND OF SHIFT
[50:36] FROM UH NOT TO SAY BAND AID
[50:38] WHERE WE ARE GIVING FOLKS ONE
[50:39] YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO HOTSPOTS
[50:41] AND A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT
[50:42] WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
[50:43] BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN
[50:45] BE LONG AND SUSTAINABLE AND
[50:46] ACTUALLY MAKE A REALLY BIG
[50:47] IMPACT ON FOLKS IS LOVE WHEN
[50:48] IT'S TIED WITH THE TRAINING AS
[50:50] WELL.
[50:51] SO I KNOW WE WORKING WITH I
[50:52] KNOW WHAT WORK WOULD BE A YOU
[50:54] MENTIONED BCC YEAH SO WE WORK
[50:56] WITH OUR LIBRARIES AS WELL
[50:57] LIKE.
[50:58] OF COURSE.
[51:00] THAT WAS LIKE SO.
[51:01] THIS NOT THIS.
[51:02] PAST SUMMER THE PREVIOUS SUMMER
[51:03] WE HAD OUR INTERNS AND FELLOWS
[51:05] AT DIFFERENT LIBRARIES ACROSS
[51:07] THE CITY AS WELL UM DOING
[51:08] DIGITAL NAVIGATION WORK.
[51:10] SO ANYONE WHO CAME IN WHO HAD
[51:11] ANY TECH QUESTIONS OUR INTERNS
[51:13] WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM RIGHT
[51:14] THERE ON THE SPOT.
[51:15] UM.
[51:16] IF THEY.
[51:16] NEEDED A LAPTOP WE WERE ABLE TO
[51:18] APPLY FOR A FREE REFURBISHED
[51:19] LAPTOP FROM ONE OF OUR
[51:20] COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
[51:21] UM, THEY NEEDED HELP WITH, YOU
[51:22] KNOW, BEEFING UP THEIR RESUME.
[51:24] SAME TYPE OF THING.
[51:25] SO WE'RE COVERING EVERYTHING WE
[51:27] POSSIBLY CAN.
[51:28] AND WE AND WE WERE ABLE TO, UH
[51:30] ,IN THE LAST ROUND OF THE
[51:32] DIGITAL EQUITY FUND TO PROVIDE
[51:34] SOME FUNDING TO BPL TO EXPAND
[51:37] THEIR LONG TERM LENDING
[51:38] PROGRAM.
[51:38] SO THAT'S THAT DEVICE PLUS
[51:40] HOTSPOT FOR A LONGER PERIOD
[51:42] OF TIME FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.
[51:43] AND SO WE WERE ABLE WE'RE
[51:44] THANKFUL THAT THEY REACHED OUT
[51:46] AND JUST KIND OF HAD A SMALL
[51:47] FUNDING GAP FOR HOW THEY WERE
[51:49] FUNDING THAT PROGRAM.
[51:50] THEY HAD A DONATION FROM
[51:51] COMCAST BUT IT WASN'T GOING TO
[51:53] COVER THE FULL FRAME OF THOSE.
[51:55] SO WE WERE ABLE TO STEP IN AND
[51:56] USE SOME OF THE FUNDING WE WERE
[51:57] ALLOCATED BY THE STATE TO UH,
[51:59] GET THAT PROGRAM INCREASED AND
[52:01] REDUCED.
[52:02] THE WAIT TIMES ARE ONE OF THE
[52:03] BIG THINGS WITH THAT LONG TERM
[52:04] LENDING PROGRAM.
[52:05] SO AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS
[52:06] CHANGING REALLY FAST.
[52:07] YES.
[52:08] IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP UP
[52:09] WITH ALL THAT.
[52:10] YEAH I STUFF.
[52:11] IN TERMS OF JUST.
[52:13] OUR VULNERABILITY OF OUR
[52:15] COMMUNITIES ACROSS THEIR
[52:17] PARTICULAR CONCERNS THAT YOU
[52:18] THAT YOU WERE SORT OF SETTING
[52:20] THEMSELVES UP TO TRY AND
[52:21] ADDRESS IN THE LONGER TERM.
[52:23] YEAH, THE.
[52:24] BIGGEST I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST
[52:25] TOUR AFFORDABILITY AND THEN
[52:27] SAFETY ARE THE TWO PIECES
[52:28] OF THE PUZZLE.
[52:29] SO UM, FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT
[52:31] WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS OUR AI
[52:33] LITERACY WORK SPECIFICALLY ON
[52:36] UM THE SCAM PREVENTION HELPING
[52:38] MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE KIND
[52:40] OF KNOW WHAT'S COMING UP.
[52:41] I KNOW THAT FOLKS HAVE HEARD A
[52:42] LOT ABOUT UM, YOU KNOW, ROBO
[52:44] CALLS THAT HAVE FAKE VOICES ON
[52:46] THEM AND SO KIND OF THAT
[52:47] DISCERNMENT ASPECT OF IT IS
[52:49] SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY
[52:50] WORKING HARD ON.
[52:51] UM, AND THEN AFFORDABLE
[52:53] CONNECTIVITY IS THE OTHER PIECE
[52:55] OF THE PUZZLE.
[52:56] SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY
[52:56] TRYING TO FOCUS AND PARTNER
[52:58] WITH THE TO PROVIDE THAT FREE
[52:59] INTERNET TO THOSE.
[53:00] FOLKS.
[53:01] OKAY VERY GOOD.
[53:02] THANK YOU.
[53:02] THANK YOU MR CHAIR.
[53:04] THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
[53:07] ALSO TAKE ALSO TOOK SIX
[53:11] MINUTES.
[53:16] MY MY MY REQUEST IS AND I'M
[53:19] GLAD YOU'RE DOING SOME TRAINING
[53:20] AND OUTREACH IN MANDARIN.
[53:23] UM MANY OF MY.
[53:25] CONSTITUENTS IN CHINATOWN.
[53:27] SPEAK CANTONESE.
[53:28] ARE WE.
[53:29] ABLE TO.
[53:29] DO ANYTHING.
[53:30] IN CANTONESE.
[53:31] ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY PEOPLE.
[53:33] IN CHINATOWN?
[53:34] THEY SPECIFICALLY SPEAK.
[53:37] UM CANTONESE.
[53:38] MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT.
[53:40] ARE ARRIVING.
[53:40] INTO INTO BOSTON FROM CHINA
[53:44] SPEAK MANDARIN.
[53:44] BUT MY.
[53:46] PRIMARY FOCUS.
[53:47] IS ON ON.
[53:48] THE ON OUR SENIORS IN.
[53:50] CHINATOWN, UM.
[53:51] THE LIKE THE DISTRICT.
[53:52] WE HAVE.
[53:53] A LARGE CHINESE COMMUNITY.
[53:54] BAY VILLAGE AS WELL.
[53:56] BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
[53:57] THE CANTONESE LANGUAGE.
[53:59] SO I CAN ACTUALLY I'LL TAKE
[54:00] THAT ONE.
[54:02] SO MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE SO
[54:03] ONE OF OUR DIGITAL EQUITY FUND
[54:05] PARTNERS IS THE UH ASIAN
[54:06] AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION UH
[54:08] GREAT PARTNER OF OURS.
[54:09] UM, WE UM WHEN WE WHEN WE WENT
[54:12] OUT AND THEY ASKED US TO DO
[54:13] SOME BASIC TRAINING ON YOU KNOW
[54:15] WHAT IS I YOU KNOW, HOW IS THIS
[54:18] GOING TO AFFECT DAILY LIFE
[54:19] STUFF LIKE THAT.
[54:21] UM AND WHILE WE WERE WELL WE
[54:22] GAVE THE PRESENTATION IN
[54:24] ENGLISH.
[54:24] THEY HAD REAL TIME TRANSLATORS
[54:26] WITH HEADSETS THAT WERE UH
[54:28] DELIVERING AND SPEAKING UH
[54:29] MANDARIN, CANTONESE UM STUFF
[54:32] LIKE THAT.
[54:33] SO IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE
[54:34] DIRECT TRANSLATIONS WE'LL UH
[54:36] ASK THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
[54:38] IF THEY CAN DO THAT OR WE'LL
[54:40] CONNECT WITH OUR LANGUAGE AND
[54:41] COMMUNITY UH, UM, LANGUAGE AND
[54:43] UM, COMMUNICATION ACCESS UH,
[54:45] OFFICE HERE AT THE CITY UM, TO
[54:47] GET SOMEONE WHO CAN.
[54:49] OKAY.
[54:50] CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE.
[54:53] DO SOME MORE TRAINING IN
[54:55] CHINATOWN?
[54:55] I DO.
[54:56] THINK I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
[54:57] IT'S A OBVIOUSLY IT'S A.
[55:00] COMMUNITY PRIMARILY
[55:02] OF IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE.
[55:04] OF COLOR.
[55:04] BUT IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD
[55:06] PRIORITIZE 100%?
[55:07] OKAY.
[55:08] UM, THEN MY OTHER QUESTION.
[55:10] IS SO FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON
[55:12] .
[55:12] THAT MAY NOT SPEAK.
[55:13] ENGLISH AND IS.
[55:15] NEW TO LEARNING ABOUT.
[55:17] UM.
[55:18] ACCESS TO THE.
[55:19] TO UM.
[55:20] TO THE.
[55:20] COMPUTER OR.
[55:21] DIGITAL EQUITY.
[55:23] ARE THEY EASILY.
[55:25] OR MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO.
[55:27] BE A VICTIM OF A.
[55:28] SCAM BECAUSE.
[55:31] PEOPLE MIGHT TAKE THEIR
[55:33] VULNERABILITIES AND USE IT.
[55:35] FOR VARIOUS REASONS FINANCIAL.
[55:38] BUT WHEN YOU'RE BRAND.
[55:40] NEW.
[55:40] TO AND YOU DON'T HAVE WHEN.
[55:41] YOU HAVE LIMITED COMPUTER
[55:42] SKILLS.
[55:44] AND THEN SOMEONE COMES.
[55:46] AT YOU WHAT THE WHAT SOME TYPE
[55:48] OF SCAM HOW DO YOU HOW.
[55:50] DO.
[55:50] YOU.
[55:50] ENSURE IF YOU'RE.
[55:51] AN ELDERLY PERSON THAT YOU
[55:53] KNOW YOU'RE FULLY YOU'RE FULLY
[55:55] AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
[55:57] YEP.
[55:58] SO UM ONE THING THAT WE WE
[55:59] LIKE OUR OUR APPROACH TO THIS
[56:02] WORK IS ALWAYS UH, I DESCRIBE
[56:03] IS THAT THE HUMAN SIDE
[56:04] OF TECHNOLOGY AND SO WHEN WHAT
[56:06] I MEAN BY THAT WHEN WE GO OUT
[56:08] WE TRY TO YOU KNOW, REALLY MEET
[56:09] FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE UM,
[56:11] WHETHER IT CONVERSING IN
[56:12] ENGLISH OR SPANISH UM, YOU
[56:14] KNOW, BEFORE WE EVEN SIT DOWN
[56:15] AND GET TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON
[56:17] WHATEVER THEY WANT TO WORK ON,
[56:18] WE JUST GET TO KNOW THEM, GET
[56:20] TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS, YOU
[56:20] KNOW, LET THEM KNOW THAT HEY,
[56:21] WE'RE ALSO A FELLOW BOSTONIAN.
[56:23] UM, YOU KNOW, HOW'S YOUR DAY
[56:25] GOING AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND
[56:26] BUILD A NICE RAPPORT WITH THEM,
[56:27] UH, AND AND GO FROM THERE AND
[56:29] KIND OF EXPLAIN ANY TRICKY
[56:32] CONCEPTS IN IN WAYS THAT ARE
[56:33] EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR THEM AND
[56:35] REALLY MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE
[56:36] AND UH, TRY TO GAUGE WHAT THEY
[56:38] KNOW, WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW,
[56:39] WHAT THEY MIGHT BE FEARING UM
[56:41] AND THEN PROVIDE THE RESOURCES
[56:43] THAT THEY CAN THEN USE AND AND
[56:45] HOLD ON TO TO UM, YOU KNOW, IN
[56:47] THE EVENT THAT THEY DO COME
[56:48] ACROSS A SCAM OR SOMETHING THAT
[56:50] LOOKS FISHY HOW TO NAVIGATE
[56:52] THAT THAT SITUATION IS IS THERE
[56:55] ANY.
[56:55] SITUATION WHERE A GOVERNMENT
[56:58] AGENCY OR A BANK WOULD ASK
[57:01] SOMEONE FOR THEIR SOCIAL
[57:02] SECURITY NUMBER OR UM, ROUTING
[57:06] NUMBER BANKING INFORMATION OVER
[57:07] THE TELEPHONE?
[57:08] IS THERE ANY.
[57:09] CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THAT'S.
[57:12] THAT COULD HAPPEN?
[57:13] UH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE.
[57:14] NOT THAT YOU YOU'RE.
[57:15] OKAY.
[57:17] UM, NO ONE WOULD EVER ASK.
[57:20] A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WOULD NEVER
[57:22] ASK SOMEONE FOR THEIR SOCIAL
[57:24] SECURITY OR BANKING INFORMATION
[57:25] OVER.
[57:26] THE TELEPHONE.
[57:26] UM, SO SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS
[57:30] CAN WE TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT
[57:32] MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS,
[57:34] ESPECIALLY IN LANGUAGES OTHER
[57:36] THAN ENGLISH THAT KIND
[57:38] OF REINFORCES THAT.
[57:39] MHM.
[57:40] YEAH.
[57:40] IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GUYS.
[57:41] ARE LOOKING AT.
[57:42] ABSOLUTELY.
[57:42] AND THAT'S I WOULD SAY THAT'S
[57:44] CORE TO LIKE AND AGAIN IT ISN'T
[57:46] A SPECIFIC AI TOPIC BUT THAT IS
[57:49] THE EXACT KIND OF THING THAT.
[57:50] WE'RE BRINGING UP IN THE.
[57:51] AI LITERACY SCAM.
[57:53] PREVENTION ASPECT OF SOME
[57:54] OF THIS WORK IS THAT THOSE
[57:57] BASIC.
[57:57] ORIGINAL CYBERSECURITY TENETS
[57:59] ARE THE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
[58:00] DESCRIBING THERE.
[58:00] SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
[58:02] MAKING SURE THAT WE REITERATE
[58:04] IT AND AGAIN THE NEW ADVENT.
[58:07] OR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS THAT
[58:09] UM.
[58:10] SOMEONE COULD BE ASKING YOU FOR
[58:11] THAT WITH A VERY CONVINCING
[58:12] SOUNDING VOICE OR AND TRY TO
[58:13] MAKE IT SOUND LIKE, YOU KNOW,
[58:14] ONE OF YOUR GRANDKIDS OR
[58:15] SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
[58:16] SO REALLY JUST TRYING TO MAKE
[58:17] SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS
[58:19] TECHNOLOGY IS OUT THERE AND
[58:20] THAT IT IS BEING USED BY FOLKS
[58:22] WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
[58:24] OF OTHER FOLKS AND THAT THEIR
[58:26] UM NOT TO SAY NOT DELIGHTED BY
[58:28] IT BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE THEY'RE
[58:29] WELL AWARE AND THEY SEE THE
[58:30] SCALE AT WHICH IT'S POSSIBLE
[58:32] AND THEY'RE ABLE TO.
[58:33] THEN HAVE.
[58:34] THAT THOUGHT IN THEIR HEAD, YOU
[58:35] KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THOSE KIND
[58:37] OF BASIC TENETS THAT YOU'RE
[58:38] DESCRIBED OF, IT WOULDN'T ASK
[58:39] YOU FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION
[58:41] LIKE THAT OVER THE PHONE.
[58:42] SO IF IT WELL.
[58:43] IF YOU TAKE IT A STEP FORWARD,
[58:45] EVEN A LOVED ONE OR A FAMILY
[58:47] MEMBER YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE
[58:49] YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION TO A
[58:50] FAMILY MEMBER OR A LOVED ONE.
[58:52] IS THAT RIGHT?
[58:54] UM, I WOULD.
[58:55] SAY ONE OVER.
[58:56] THE PHONE.
[58:57] YEAH.
[58:57] IT'S ONE OF THE SAFETY
[58:58] PRODUCTS.
[58:58] AGAIN BECAUSE YOU DON'T
[58:59] REALLY KNOW IF THAT'S THE
[59:00] PERSON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO
[59:01] ISN'T IT?
[59:01] OKAY.
[59:02] SO THAT.
[59:05] THAT WAS THAT WAS MY POINT WAS
[59:06] .
[59:10] YOU KNOW WHEN WHEN SOMEONE HAS
[59:13] ACCESS DIGITAL ACCESS AND
[59:14] THEY'RE FAIRLY NEW TO IT UM.
[59:19] YOU KNOW AND IS MAKING SURE
[59:20] THAT THEY KNOW THAT THOSE TYPES
[59:23] OF SCAMS FROM A LOVED ONE ARE
[59:25] OUT THERE.
[59:26] UM, DO THEY DO THEY KNOW THAT
[59:28] THOSE SCAMS EXIST OR OR ARE WE
[59:31] STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING
[59:33] TO EDUCATE.
[59:33] THEM ABOUT IT?
[59:34] SO ONE ONE THING THAT UM HAS
[59:36] BEEN GREAT SO OUR EVERY UM
[59:38] DECEMBER WHEN UH AT&T COMES IN
[59:41] TO CITY HALL WITH UH TO PARTNER
[59:42] WITH H STRONG FOR THE HOLIDAY
[59:44] CALLS EVENT UM THAT GOES ON
[59:46] AROUND HERE YOU KNOW, UM YOU
[59:48] KNOW, RIGHT UP FRONT THERE.
[59:49] YEAH.
[59:49] OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
[59:51] UM, SOME FOLKS FROM AT&T HAVE
[59:53] LED TRAININGS IN BOTH I THINK
[59:54] ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND MAYBE
[59:56] ANOTHER LANGUAGE AS WELL.
[59:57] BUT ON THOSE VERY, VERY TOPICS,
[1:00:00] YOU KNOW, JUST UH YOU KNOW,
[1:00:01] WHEN IT COMES TO SETTING UP
[1:00:03] PASSWORDS OR YOU KNOW, WHAT
[1:00:04] DOES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN
[1:00:06] OPEN WI-FI NETWORK IN A PRIVATE
[1:00:08] NETWORK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF,
[1:00:10] YOU KNOW, KEEPING YOUR PASSWORD
[1:00:11] SAFE AND YOU KNOW, NOT TO GIVE
[1:00:13] PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE
[1:00:14] PHONE TO FOLKS THAT YOU DON'T
[1:00:15] KNOW, UH, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[1:00:17] SO, UM, IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT
[1:00:19] DIRECTLY WE HAVE PARTNERS IN
[1:00:21] THE FIELD WHO WHO CAN
[1:00:22] DEFINITELY DO IT AS WELL.
[1:00:24] OKAY.
[1:00:25] MY MY FINAL QUESTION.
[1:00:27] IS UM.
[1:00:28] IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP WITH
[1:00:30] ME I KNOW YOU MENTIONED EVERY
[1:00:31] OTHER MONDAY YOU DO SOME
[1:00:34] SUPPORT TO RETURNING CITIZENS.
[1:00:37] COULD YOU.
[1:00:39] EMAIL ME THE NEXT UM THE NEXT
[1:00:41] COUPLE, UM, SCHEDULES THAT
[1:00:45] YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE?
[1:00:46] UM, THAT I'D LOVE TO COME BY
[1:00:47] AND AND SEE IF THERE.
[1:00:49] IS A IF THAT'S OKAY.
[1:00:50] YEAH DEFINITELY.
[1:00:51] YEAH IT'S UM SO I THINK TO
[1:00:52] TODAY THIS AFTERNOON UH BUT
[1:00:54] HAPPY TO IS ONE SO FROM THERE
[1:00:56] EVERY EVERY OTHER MONDAY 2 TO 5
[1:00:58] P.M. UH 30 DIMMICK STREET.
[1:01:00] OKAY.
[1:01:01] SO HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AN
[1:01:02] EMAIL WITH THE INFO THERE.
[1:01:03] AND IT'S TIED IN.
[1:01:04] WITH UH, A LOT OF THE OTHER
[1:01:05] SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
[1:01:06] THERE AT THAT SAME TIME.
[1:01:08] SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF ONE
[1:01:09] OF THE TOOLS.
[1:01:09] IN.
[1:01:10] THE TOOLKIT FOR FOLKS AND
[1:01:11] MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT
[1:01:13] UM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
[1:01:14] DISCUSSION WITH SOMEBODY AGAIN
[1:01:15] IF IT'S TRYING TO FIX THEIR
[1:01:17] GMAIL OR TRYING TO GET LOGGED
[1:01:18] INTO SOMETHING OR LEARN ABOUT
[1:01:20] THAT.
[1:01:20] SO I KNOW THIS MIGHT NOT
[1:01:22] NECESSARILY.
[1:01:23] BE DIGITAL ACCESS A DIGITAL
[1:01:24] EQUITY, BUT WHEN I WAS A
[1:01:26] PROBATION OFFICER ONE OF THE
[1:01:27] BIGGEST CHALLENGES SOMEONE HAD
[1:01:29] COMING OUT OF JAIL OR PRISON IS
[1:01:31] A SIMPLE THING LIKE GETTING
[1:01:33] YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
[1:01:35] UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MAYBE YOU
[1:01:37] HAD TO GO DOWN TO CITY HALL BUT
[1:01:38] MAYBE NOT FROM HERE AND YOU HAD
[1:01:40] TO GO TO ANOTHER CITY OR STATE
[1:01:43] EVEN.
[1:01:44] BUT HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT
[1:01:46] DIGITAL ACCESS DIGITAL EQUITY?
[1:01:49] IS THERE A WAY THAT THE
[1:01:52] RETURNING CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO
[1:01:54] ACCESS FORMS UM BASIC.
[1:01:57] FORMS SUCH AS.
[1:01:58] THAT THROUGH.
[1:01:59] FOR THIS PROGRAM?
[1:02:01] DEFINITELY.
[1:02:02] AND I KNOW WE COULD PARTNER
[1:02:03] WITH UH OTHER LIKE UM.
[1:02:05] OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT
[1:02:07] THAT DO THAT SPECIFIC WORK I
[1:02:08] BELIEVE UM THERE HAVE BEEN
[1:02:10] EVENTS THAT WERE WHERE YOU
[1:02:12] COULD.
[1:02:12] HAVE OR.
[1:02:13] REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAYBE
[1:02:15] THE REGISTRY AND GONE OUT AND
[1:02:17] YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTS
[1:02:18] OF THE CITY TO TO PRINT OUT
[1:02:20] YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, YOU
[1:02:21] KNOW, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
[1:02:23] SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE HOW
[1:02:24] WE COULD IMPLEMENT THIS INTO
[1:02:25] OUR PROGRAM.
[1:02:27] AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE RIGHT
[1:02:28] THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A
[1:02:29] DIGITAL THING.
[1:02:29] I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
[1:02:30] IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE.
[1:02:31] DIGITAL SIDE.
[1:02:32] OF THAT, UH, THAT HAVE.
[1:02:34] MADE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
[1:02:35] BUT I'M UNCERTAIN THAT THE OAC
[1:02:38] PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN
[1:02:40] EXISTENCE ARE ONE OF THOSE
[1:02:41] ASPECTS IS THE EXACT THING
[1:02:43] YOU'RE MENTIONING THAT PEOPLE
[1:02:43] STRUGGLE WITH RECORDS AND UH,
[1:02:45] RECOVERING THE RECORDS THAT
[1:02:46] THEY NEED TO MOVE ON WITH THEIR
[1:02:48] LIVES.
[1:02:49] AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I
[1:02:50] KNOW THAT HELPED A LOT.
[1:02:52] SO EXCELLENT.
[1:02:53] UM, WELL, I'M I'M ABOUT TO
[1:02:56] CONCLUDE THE MEETING, BUT DID
[1:02:57] YOU WANT TO OFFER ANY CLOSING
[1:02:59] STATEMENT BEFORE WE DO THAT AND
[1:03:01] JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
[1:03:02] I HOPE TO BRING THIS TO THE
[1:03:04] FLOOR ON WEDNESDAY FOR A FORMAL
[1:03:06] VOTE.
[1:03:07] THAT IS MY PLAN.
[1:03:08] I'LL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT
[1:03:10] OF RESEARCH AND MAKING SURE I
[1:03:11] WRITE IT UP THE PROPER WAY, BUT
[1:03:13] DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE ANY
[1:03:15] CLOSING STATEMENT BEFORE I
[1:03:16] BEFORE I ADJOURN.
[1:03:18] OVER TO YOU THERE I'LL GO FOR
[1:03:20] SURE.
[1:03:20] BUT YEAH, UM IN TERMS OF THE
[1:03:23] ACCEPT AND EXPEND FOR THE HVAC
[1:03:25] UNITS, I WOULD JUST THANK YOU
[1:03:27] FOR UM ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS
[1:03:28] TODAY BUT ALSO UM THE SHOULDER
[1:03:31] SEASONS LIKE THIS FALL IS A
[1:03:33] GREAT TIME TO DO HVAC WORK.
[1:03:35] SO IF WE JUST MISS IF WE AREN'T
[1:03:37] ABLE TO USE THEM THIS FALL WE
[1:03:39] WILL HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE
[1:03:40] SPRING TO LIKELY INSTALL.
[1:03:42] SO UM YEAH THE TIMELINESS OF A
[1:03:43] WEDNESDAY BUT WOULD BE PERFECT.
[1:03:47] EXCELLENT.
[1:03:48] UM I SHOULD HAVE THANK YOU
[1:03:50] FOR THE INCREDIBLE QUESTIONS
[1:03:51] THAT WE RECEIVED IN THIS
[1:03:53] HEARING ABOUT THAT.
[1:03:54] UM UH EVERYONE THAT JOINED I
[1:03:56] THINK HAS GOTTEN A LOT ABOUT
[1:03:57] OUT OF IT AT THIS POINT.
[1:03:59] UH, DID UH IT WAS IT WAS
[1:04:00] BUGGING ME WHEN YOU ASKED THE
[1:04:02] QUESTION OF.
[1:04:02] THE CAPTAINS.
[1:04:04] BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, OH, WE
[1:04:05] DID SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
[1:04:06] SO I FOUND THE ARTICLE FROM
[1:04:08] 2025 LAST YEAR THAT WAS UH IN
[1:04:10] THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
[1:04:11] SO THEY.
[1:04:11] DID A CANTONESE.
[1:04:12] SPECIFIC TRAINING AND HOUSING
[1:04:14] AUTHORITY.
[1:04:15] SO WE'RE EXCITED TO DO MORE
[1:04:16] OF THAT AND UM, EXCITED TO UH
[1:04:18] TO MOVE AND UH GET THIS GET
[1:04:20] THIS FUNDING PROGRAMED AND THEN
[1:04:22] ADDITION AT.
[1:04:22] THAT UH VERY EXCITED IF FEW UH
[1:04:25] BE INTERESTED TO TALK MORE
[1:04:26] ABOUT UM THE UPCOMING UH.
[1:04:29] THE ADDITIONAL EXCEPT.
[1:04:31] AND EXPAND THAT IS GOING TO BE
[1:04:32] FOR UH THE THE HOUSING
[1:04:35] AUTHORITIES UH INTERNET PROGRAM
[1:04:36] THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE
[1:04:37] FORWARD ON AS WELL.
[1:04:38] THAT'S A LITTLE BIT TIME
[1:04:39] SENSITIVE SIMILAR TO THE ONES
[1:04:40] THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
[1:04:41] UH, BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET
[1:04:43] IT FILED IN TODAY'S DOCKET SO
[1:04:44] IT WOULD BE, UH, HAPPY TO TAKE
[1:04:46] THAT, UM, UP TO AT YOUR
[1:04:48] CONVENIENCE.
[1:04:52] OH.
[1:04:52] WAS THERE.
[1:04:53] WERE YOU SAYING THAT THERE WAS
[1:04:54] ANOTHER DOCKET.
[1:04:56] THAT THAT.
[1:04:56] THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE
[1:04:57] AGENDA WEDNESDAY?
[1:04:58] THAT.
[1:05:01] THAT THAT'S SIMILAR TO THIS
[1:05:02] THAT EXACTLY.
[1:05:04] UH, OKAY.
[1:05:04] UM.
[1:05:06] CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT AND
[1:05:08] MAYBE I CAN.
[1:05:09] SUSPEND AND.
[1:05:10] PASS THAT ONE?
[1:05:11] UM, I DON'T THINK WE
[1:05:13] NECESSARILY.
[1:05:13] HAVE TO HAVE A.
[1:05:15] SEPARATE HEARING ON IT, BUT
[1:05:16] .
[1:05:16] I'D BE HAPPY.
[1:05:17] TO TOM.
[1:05:17] NO.
[1:05:18] IT WOULDN'T IT WOULDN'T BE
[1:05:20] FORMALLY IN THE RECORD.
[1:05:22] AS IN TERMS OF HAVING A.
[1:05:24] SPECIFIC DOCKET THAT SPECIFIC
[1:05:27] DOCKET.
[1:05:27] SPOKEN TO TODAY BUT AT LEAST
[1:05:29] I'M AWARE OF WHAT IT DOES AND I
[1:05:32] CAN RELATE TO MY COLLEAGUES
[1:05:34] THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD
[1:05:36] PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
[1:05:38] IT BUT DO WANT TO TAKE A FEW
[1:05:39] MINUTES TO EXPLAIN IT.
[1:05:40] YEAH.
[1:05:41] I COULD UH, BE SURE WITH IT.
[1:05:43] AND THEN IF YOU HAD ANY FOLLOW
[1:05:44] UP QUESTIONS UM, BUT THE STATE.
[1:05:45] UH.
[1:05:46] HAS HAD A PROGRAM RUNNING
[1:05:47] FOR UH, A WHILE THAT WE'VE BEEN
[1:05:50] JUMPING THROUGH A LOT
[1:05:50] OF BUREAUCRATIC HOOPS TO GET
[1:05:52] AUTHORIZED TO USE IN THE
[1:05:54] EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE'RE HOPING
[1:05:55] TO USE IT THIS, UH, UPCOMING
[1:05:58] SHORT TIME PERIOD HERE.
[1:06:00] UM, THE PROGRAM WILL FUND.
[1:06:02] UH.
[1:06:03] FREE SERVICE.
[1:06:04] FOR HOUSING RESIDENTS IN WEST
[1:06:07] BROADWAY AND ARCHDAILY AND, UH,
[1:06:10] WE'RE WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR
[1:06:11] THE SUPPORT OF SOME OF OUR UH,
[1:06:14] PROVIDERS AS WELL FOR FOR THIS
[1:06:15] .
[1:06:15] UH.
[1:06:16] ABILITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
[1:06:18] UM, IT'LL BE A GREAT, UH.
[1:06:19] BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
[1:06:21] AND IT'S FROM OUR STANDPOINT
[1:06:22] SOMETHING THAT WE THINK OF AS A
[1:06:24] LONG TERM SOLUTION UH, TO THE
[1:06:26] AT LEAST THE AFFORDABLE
[1:06:28] CONNECTIVITY ASPECT OF IT.
[1:06:29] UH, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH A
[1:06:30] LOT OF THE FOLKS IN ARE, YOU
[1:06:33] KNOW, MAKING LIKE 20 GRAND A
[1:06:35] YEAR SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE
[1:06:36] AND IF YOU CAN THINK ABOUT I
[1:06:38] DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU PAY FOR
[1:06:39] COMCAST OR VERIZON BUT UH, IT'S
[1:06:41] A GOOD CHUNK OF WHAT YOUR
[1:06:42] MONTHLY INCOME UH, WOULD END UP
[1:06:44] BEING IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT
[1:06:45] THAT WAY.
[1:06:46] SO WE'RE WE'VE BEEN EXCITED TO
[1:06:48] WORK ON A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS
[1:06:49] WITH THE VA, BUT WE REALLY
[1:06:51] THINK THIS IS THE ONE THAT IS.
[1:06:53] GOING TO BE.
[1:06:53] A LONG TERM SOLUTION AND BE
[1:06:55] ABLE TO PROVIDE FOLKS WITH THE
[1:06:57] CONNECTIVITY THAT THEY NEED AND
[1:06:58] THEN WE CAN FOCUS ON THE
[1:07:00] TRAINING ASPECTS AND MAKING
[1:07:01] SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE DEVICE
[1:07:02] THAT THEY NEED TO UM, OPERATE
[1:07:04] IN DAILY LIFE.
[1:07:05] SO WE'RE REALLY.
[1:07:06] EXCITED.
[1:07:06] ABOUT IT.
[1:07:06] WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK FURTHER
[1:07:08] OR YOU KNOW, TAKE IT OFF ON
[1:07:10] DISCUSS UH YOUR CONVENIENCE.
[1:07:11] IN HOW MUCH IS THAT.
[1:07:13] AWARD FOR.
[1:07:13] 1.3 MILLION.
[1:07:16] SO OUR PART OF THAT IS.
[1:07:17] THAT'S UH, MOST OF THE
[1:07:19] EQUIPMENT AND UH, UH,
[1:07:21] PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT
[1:07:22] WOULD GO TOWARD CREATING THE
[1:07:24] NETWORK.
[1:07:24] UM, ON THE SITE IS THE
[1:07:26] INSTALLATION.
[1:07:27] SO WE'RE.
[1:07:27] VERY HAPPY TO, UM, BE
[1:07:30] PARTNERING WITH A COUPLE
[1:07:31] DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO GET
[1:07:32] THIS UP AND RUNNING.
[1:07:33] AND.
[1:07:33] IT'S REALLY.
[1:07:34] EXCITING PROJECT.
[1:07:36] SO IT'S UH IT'S.
[1:07:37] UH WEST BROADWAY THE ARCH DEAL
[1:07:39] STEEL.
[1:07:40] WAS THERE ANOTHER ONE YOU
[1:07:41] MENTIONED JUST.
[1:07:41] JUST THOSE JUST A RIGHT NOW
[1:07:43] WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT WE
[1:07:44] CAN.
[1:07:44] GET ANOTHER.
[1:07:45] ONE ONE MORE PROPERTY IN UM.
[1:07:48] BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE
[1:07:49] STATE HAS TO KIND.
[1:07:50] OF GIVE US A FINAL SIGN OFF
[1:07:51] ON.
[1:07:52] SO THAT'S NOT IN THE IN THE
[1:07:53] DOCKET.
[1:07:53] IT'S ONLY THE 1.3 THAT COVERS
[1:07:55] THE FIRST TWO PROPERTIES.
[1:07:56] AND WE'RE REALLY.
[1:07:57] EXCITED TO.
[1:07:58] START WITH WEST BROADWAY
[1:07:59] BECAUSE IT'S AN AREA THAT I'VE
[1:08:00] BECOME REALLY FAMILIAR WITH
[1:08:01] OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
[1:08:03] YOU KNOW THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW
[1:08:04] IT'S UH IT'S ALMOST A PERFECT
[1:08:05] PROJECT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS
[1:08:06] AND WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE
[1:08:08] FORWARD AND JUST.
[1:08:09] A.
[1:08:10] LITTLE BIT STRUGGLING WITH THE
[1:08:11] TIGHT TIMELINES ON THESE KIND
[1:08:12] OF THINGS.
[1:08:12] SO THEY HAVE A STRONG AS YOU
[1:08:14] PROBABLY KNOW, A LATINO
[1:08:16] COMMUNITY THAT'S VERY ENGAGED
[1:08:17] THERE AT THE.
[1:08:18] CALLED THE SOUTH.
[1:08:19] BOSTON AND ACTION.
[1:08:21] BUT ALSO.
[1:08:21] THE THE YOU'RE RIGHT THE WEST
[1:08:23] BROADWAY TASK.
[1:08:24] FORCE UM DOES PROVIDE CRITICAL
[1:08:27] LEADERSHIP UM ON SO MANY ISSUES
[1:08:29] INCLUDING FOOD.
[1:08:30] ACCESS.
[1:08:32] UM CERTAINLY DIGITAL EQUITY.
[1:08:34] ACCESS.
[1:08:34] UM SOCIAL SERVICES.
[1:08:37] JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
[1:08:38] ARCH STEEL.
[1:08:40] UM, SO THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS
[1:08:43] IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS LARGER
[1:08:44] PROCESS.
[1:08:45] IT HAD TO FIT.
[1:08:47] A HALF A DOZEN CRITERIA FROM
[1:08:49] THE STATE TO BE PROVIDED.
[1:08:51] IT IS.
[1:08:51] GOING TO BE FOR UM.
[1:08:54] DOUBLE CHECKING 285 UNITS OVER
[1:08:56] SIX BUILDINGS.
[1:08:57] UH, SO WE'RE REALLY.
[1:08:58] THRILLED TO GET THAT ONE
[1:09:00] ROLLING.
[1:09:00] UM, AND THAT'S UH IT'S A VERY
[1:09:03] EXCITING PROJECT.
[1:09:03] I THINK THAT THE UM THE TASK
[1:09:05] FORCE THERE OR THE UH,
[1:09:07] COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THERE IS
[1:09:08] IS ALSO ENGAGED.
[1:09:09] UH, CAN I DESCRIBE WEST
[1:09:11] BROADWAY MAYBE IS THE BEST
[1:09:12] PARTNER FOR THIS BUT ARE STILL
[1:09:13] NOT TOO FAR BEHIND, SO.
[1:09:15] OKAY.
[1:09:16] UM.
[1:09:18] AND THEN AND THEN GOING GOING
[1:09:21] FURTHER YOU PROBABLY ABLE TO
[1:09:24] SUPPORT OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AS.
[1:09:26] WELL IS THAT IS THAT ACCURATE?
[1:09:27] THAT'S THAT'S THE HOPE IS TO BE
[1:09:29] ABLE TO GET.
[1:09:30] WITH THIS.
[1:09:30] EXACT FUNDING SOURCE AT
[1:09:31] LEAST ONE MORE THROUGH.
[1:09:32] BUT ONCE WE'VE PROVEN OUT THE
[1:09:34] MODEL UM THAT WE'D LIKE TO
[1:09:36] AGAIN COME COME IN THE REGULAR
[1:09:38] COURSE OF BUSINESS AND TALK
[1:09:39] ABOUT THIS WITH CITY
[1:09:40] COUNCIL AND OUR UH, LEADERSHIP
[1:09:41] OUR BUDGET OFFICE AND SEE WHERE
[1:09:43] WE COULD DO MORE OF THIS ONCE
[1:09:44] WE'VE, UH, FULLY.
[1:09:45] DEPLOYED IT AND GOT.
[1:09:46] THIS ONE UP AND RUNNING.
[1:09:47] AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION I
[1:09:49] YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT TELL
[1:09:51] ME WHERE THIS 1.3 MILLION CAME
[1:09:53] FROM.
[1:09:53] UH, THIS.
[1:09:54] IS FOR IT WHERE IT CAME FROM IS
[1:09:56] THE STATE AND BY THE SAME
[1:09:59] SOURCE AND THAT'S WHY WE WE'RE
[1:10:00] TRYING TO GET IT MORE TOGETHER
[1:10:02] BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME SOURCE
[1:10:03] THAT THE FUNDING THAT PETER WAS
[1:10:04] TALKING IT THROUGH ON THE
[1:10:06] PARTNERSHIPS GRANT THEY'RE ALL
[1:10:08] FROM THE SAME UH ENTITY.
[1:10:09] AT THE.
[1:10:09] STATE THAT ROLLS UP INTO
[1:10:11] MASTEC.
[1:10:11] OKAY.
[1:10:11] THEY'RE ALL UM ORGANIZATIONS
[1:10:14] BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAD
[1:10:16] THE FUNDING FOR THIS KIND
[1:10:17] OF WORK.
[1:10:18] OKAY.
[1:10:19] IN IN IN.
[1:10:22] WOOD WOOD RESIDENTS IN STEEL
[1:10:24] AND IN WEST BROADWAY BUT WOULD
[1:10:26] THEY.
[1:10:27] RECEIVE A LAPTOP OR THEY
[1:10:30] RECEIVE A COMPUTER OR WOULD IT
[1:10:32] JUST BE MORE OF THE
[1:10:33] INFRASTRUCTURE, UM THAT WOULD
[1:10:35] PROVIDE THEM WITH DIGITAL
[1:10:36] EQUITY?
[1:10:37] MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE WEST
[1:10:39] BROADWAY PART OF THIS HAS BEEN
[1:10:41] FUNDING DEVICES FOR FOLKS IN
[1:10:43] WEST BROADWAY IS FOR THE MOST
[1:10:44] PART ALREADY BEEN FUNDED BY
[1:10:45] VHA.
[1:10:45] I'D HAVE TO CHECK ABOUT THE
[1:10:46] RETAIL ONES, BUT WE DO HAVE A
[1:10:48] LITTLE BIT OF UH, FUNDING THAT
[1:10:49] WE COULD ALLOCATE TOWARD THAT
[1:10:50] AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
[1:10:51] WHO NEED A DEVICE ARE ABLE TO
[1:10:52] COME.
[1:10:53] ON TO HELP WHEN YOU WHEN YOU.
[1:10:55] UPGRADE SYSTEMS.
[1:10:57] IN PUBLIC HOUSING TO HAVE
[1:10:58] TO.
[1:10:59] DO YOU.
[1:10:59] WORK WITH UM CONTRACTORS THAT
[1:11:04] HAVE TO DO THE PHYSICAL
[1:11:06] INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THE
[1:11:08] WIRING INTO HOMES INTO
[1:11:11] BUILDINGS DO YOU HAVE TO WORK
[1:11:13] DO YOU WORK WITH ELECTRICIANS?
[1:11:14] DO YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU DO?
[1:11:16] OKAY.
[1:11:16] SO HOW IS UH.
[1:11:17] HOW DOES.
[1:11:18] GENERALLY HOW DOES THAT
[1:11:19] PROCESS WORK?
[1:11:20] UH, SO IN THIS.
[1:11:21] VERSION OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE.
[1:11:23] OF THE WAY THE PROGRAM WAS SET
[1:11:24] UP BY THE.
[1:11:24] STATE THAT WORK IS.
[1:11:26] WAS BID.
[1:11:28] UH RECENTLY AND IT'S.
[1:11:30] WITH UH MAPCO WHO ARE TO A LOT
[1:11:33] OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING WORK
[1:11:34] FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[1:11:36] WAS BID WITH THEIR SUPPORT BUT
[1:11:38] BY THE VHA AND WE RECEIVED BIDS
[1:11:41] BACK AND UH THAT'LL BE UH
[1:11:43] WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE
[1:11:45] SYSTEM UH, IN THE NEXT COUPLE
[1:11:47] OF WEEKS HERE.
[1:11:47] OKAY.
[1:11:48] OBVIOUSLY BID WAS THE ANSWER
[1:11:50] TO YOUR QUESTION WAS UH, POORLY
[1:11:51] BID PROCESS.
[1:11:53] OKAY.
[1:11:54] SO IT IS MY PLAN TO.
[1:11:55] BRING THE.
[1:11:57] DOCKETS THAT WERE.
[1:12:00] ON TODAY'S AGENDA FORWARD ON
[1:12:02] WEDNESDAY.
[1:12:03] I ALSO WANT TO BRING THE 1.3
[1:12:07] MILLION THAT'S COMING ON THE
[1:12:10] AGENDA THAT ON WEDNESDAY TO DO
[1:12:13] A SUSPEND AND PASS ON THAT
[1:12:15] ALTHOUGH.
[1:12:17] IT'S UP.
[1:12:17] TO MY COLLEAGUES THEY THEY
[1:12:19] THEY MIGHT ASK FOR A HEARING
[1:12:21] I'M NOT SURE BUT THAT IS THEIR
[1:12:23] RIGHT TO ASK FOR A HEARING.
[1:12:25] UM BUT I'M GOING TO RELAY TO
[1:12:26] THEM THAT I HAD AN.
[1:12:27] IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WITH YOUR
[1:12:29] TEAM AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT.
[1:12:31] WE THAT I CAN GO FORWARD ON THE
[1:12:34] 1.3 SO WE CAN GET THIS OUT THE
[1:12:36] DOOR.
[1:12:38] UM THANK YOU.
[1:12:40] SO.
[1:12:42] UM.
[1:12:44] IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT.
[1:12:46] WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC.
[1:12:47] TESTIMONY BEFORE WE END?
[1:12:51] I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY
[1:12:53] PUBLIC.
[1:12:53] TESTIMONY AS WELL FROM UM FROM
[1:12:57] UM ZOOM.
[1:13:01] SO THIS.
[1:13:02] HEARING ON DOCKETS.
[1:13:07] SO THIS HEARING ON DOCKETS 1085
[1:13:11] 1395.
[1:13:15] 1397 A HEARING REGARDING
[1:13:16] VARIOUS CITY SERVICE RELATED
[1:13:18] GRANTS AND GIFTS IS ADJOURNED.
[1:13:21] UM, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
[1:13:23] BEFORE I BANG THE GAVEL.
[1:13:24] I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
[1:13:26] RYAN FOR HELPING ME AT CITY
[1:13:29] COUNCIL CENTRAL.
[1:13:30] STAFF AND ETHAN WHO'S IN THE
[1:13:32] BACK THERE HELPING US WITH THE.
[1:13:33] DIGITAL UH, CAMERAS.
[1:13:36] SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
[1:13:38] BOTH OF THEM.
[1:13:38] THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.