PILOT Agreements, Institutional and Intergovernmental Relations on September 22, 2026
2026-09-22

[1:05] OFFICE.
[1:06] THIS HEARING IS BEING
[1:07] RECORDED.
[1:08] IT IS BEING LIVE
[1:09] STREAMED@BOSTON.GOV BACKSLASH
[1:10] CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND
[1:12] BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL
[1:14] EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES CHAT
[1:16] CHANNEL 964 WRITTEN COMMENTS
[1:19] MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE
[1:20] EMAIL AT £0.06 UH.
[1:23] PILOT AT BOSTON.COM AND WILL BE
[1:25] MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND
[1:26] AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS.
[1:27] PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN
[1:29] AT THE END OF THIS HEARING.
[1:30] INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON
[1:31] IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE
[1:32] SIGNED UP, AND THEY WILL HAVE
[1:34] TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY.
[1:35] IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
[1:36] TESTIFYING IN PERSON, PLEASE
[1:37] ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP
[1:38] SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE
[1:39] CHAMBER.
[1:40] IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TESTIFY
[1:41] VIRTUALLY, PLEASE EMAIL OUR
[1:42] CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON MEGAN
[1:44] KAVANAUGH AT MEGHAN DOT CAVA
[1:49] AND A G H@BOSTON.GOV.
[1:52] FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL
[1:53] BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
[1:55] TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET
[1:57] 1338.
[1:58] ORDER FOR A HEARING TO DISCUSS
[2:00] REESTABLISHING A POST OFFICE
[2:01] LOCATION IN ALLSTON.
[2:02] THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY
[2:04] COUNCILOR LIZ BREADON AND
[2:04] REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
[2:05] JULY 8TH, 2026.
[2:11] THIS MORNING I'M JOINED BY MY
[2:13] COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL
[2:14] UM COUNCILOR BREADON AND
[2:16] COUNCILOR ED FLYNN.
[2:18] UM AND UH, I WANTED TO GIVE A
[2:20] MOMENT.
[2:20] UM, UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
[2:23] MARK FLANAGAN FROM ED MARKEY'S
[2:24] OFFICE FIRST.
[2:26] UM, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY
[2:27] GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU TO
[2:29] EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
[2:30] I'M GRATEFUL TO BE CHAIRING
[2:31] THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AT
[2:32] THE REQUEST OF MY COLLEAGUE,
[2:33] COUNCIL PRESIDENT LIZ BREADON.
[2:35] THE ALSO COMMUNITY HAS NOW GONE
[2:36] NEARLY SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A
[2:38] POST OFFICE.
[2:39] IN APRIL, USPS REVERSED ITS
[2:40] COMMITMENT TO MOVE A NEW UM
[2:42] MOVE IT TO A NEW BUILDING WHERE
[2:43] IT HAD ALREADY NEGOTIATED A
[2:44] LEASE AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS
[2:46] ARE IN PLACE.
[2:46] WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ALLSTON
[2:48] ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
[2:50] I KNOW COMMUNITIES HERE IN
[2:51] BOSTON AND ACROSS THE
[2:52] COMMONWEALTH ARE FACING SIMILAR
[2:53] CHALLENGES.
[2:54] TWO YEARS AGO, RESIDENTS IN
[2:55] MISSION HILL RECEIVED NOTICE
[2:57] OUT OF THE BLUE THAT USPS WAS
[2:58] CLOSING THEIR POST OFFICE
[3:00] THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH
[3:01] THE PROPERTY OWNER.
[3:02] OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
[3:03] AND SENATOR MARKEY.
[3:05] OUR OFFICE WAS ABLE TO GET USPS
[3:08] TO RENEGOTIATE ITS LEASE.
[3:09] BUT THAT OUTCOME CANNOT BE
[3:11] TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
[3:11] THE POSTAL SERVICE SERVES AN
[3:13] IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR
[3:15] COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY LOCAL
[3:16] BUSINESSES AND SOME OF OUR MOST
[3:17] VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
[3:18] IT IS IMPORTANT, UM, THAT
[3:20] PEOPLE RECEIVE THE IMPORTANT
[3:22] COMMUNICATIONS THEY RELY ON
[3:23] THEIR GOVERNMENT BENEFITS AND
[3:24] OTHER SERVICES THAT THEY NEED
[3:26] AND THEY UM AND THAT THEY'RE
[3:27] ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
[3:28] ELECTIONS AND STAY CONNECTED TO
[3:29] THEIR COMMUNITIES.
[3:31] USPS IS FACING SIGNIFICANT
[3:32] OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL
[3:33] CHALLENGES, BUT THOSE
[3:34] CHALLENGES SHOULD NOT MEAN OUR
[3:35] COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT WITHOUT
[3:36] THE GOOD SERVICES THEY RELY ON.
[3:38] OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE CLEAR
[3:41] COMMUNICATION GOOD FAITH FOLLOW
[3:41] THROUGH.
[3:42] COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREEDEN HAS
[3:44] BEEN DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING
[3:45] FOR RESIDENTS OF ALLSTON AND
[3:47] BRIGHTON AND BRINGING OUR
[3:48] CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND
[3:49] STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE
[3:51] TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THE
[3:52] AWESOME POST OFFICE.
[3:52] WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT
[3:54] EFFORT THIS MORNING BUT ALSO
[3:56] TALK ABOUT PROTECTING ACCESS TO
[3:57] ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN
[3:59] NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS BOSTON.
[4:00] THANK YOU TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[4:01] BREEDEN FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE
[4:03] BEFORE US AND TO LABOR
[4:05] REPRESENTATIVES, CITY
[4:06] OFFICIALS, RESIDENTS AND OTHER
[4:07] STAKEHOLDERS FOR JOINING US
[4:08] THIS MORNING.
[4:09] UM, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
[4:11] MARK FLANAGAN FROM SENATOR
[4:12] MARKEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE I KNOW
[4:13] HE HAS ANOTHER COMMITMENT AND
[4:14] THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
[4:16] LEAD SPONSOR, COUNCILOR LES
[4:17] BREADON.
[4:19] GREAT.
[4:20] THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKAN
[4:21] .
[4:21] UM, I HAVE MARK FLANAGAN FROM
[4:23] SENATOR MARKEY'S OFFICE.
[4:24] I HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE
[4:26] SENATOR ON THE TERMINATION
[4:27] PROCEEDINGS IN AUSTIN.
[4:28] UH, AND THAT READS THE AUSTIN
[4:30] NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PROMISED A
[4:31] POST OFFICE AND THEY DESERVE A
[4:32] POST OFFICE.
[4:33] SINCE THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE IN
[4:35] 2019, I'VE PERSISTENTLY CALLED
[4:37] ON THE POSTAL SERVICE TO
[4:38] EXPEDITIOUSLY REOPEN A LOCATION
[4:40] IN AUSTIN.
[4:41] MOST RECENTLY ON JUNE 5TH, I
[4:42] WROTE IN COORDINATION WITH
[4:44] BOSTON CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[4:45] LIZ BREEDEN AND OUR FEDERAL,
[4:47] STATE AND LOCAL DELEGATIONS TO
[4:48] URGE YOU TO STAND BY YOUR 2025
[4:51] PROMISE TO RESTORE A POSTAL
[4:52] PRESENCE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
[4:53] THESE TERMINATION PROCEEDINGS
[4:55] ARE A BETRAYAL OF THAT PROMISE.
[4:57] UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CLOSURE IS
[4:58] PART OF A TROUBLING PATTERN
[5:00] OF POSTAL CLOSURES ACROSS
[5:02] MASSACHUSETTS.
[5:02] THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
[5:04] SERVICE IS MEANT TO BE THE
[5:05] FRONT FACE OF THE FEDERAL
[5:06] GOVERNMENT IN EVERY COMMUNITY,
[5:07] BUT IT IS TURNING ITS BACK ON
[5:09] NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE
[5:10] COMMONWEALTH.
[5:11] AS USPS UNDERTAKES THESE
[5:12] PROCEEDINGS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR
[5:13] POSTAL WORKERS AND TO THIS
[5:15] COMMUNITY, USPS SHOULD REVERSE
[5:16] THEIR DECISION TO TERMINATE A
[5:18] POSTAL PRESENCE IN AUSTIN.
[5:19] GO BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING
[5:20] TABLE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER
[5:22] AT 47 HARVARD AVE AND REOPEN AN
[5:24] AUSTIN POST OFFICE WITH ALL
[5:25] AVAILABLE SPEED.
[5:26] THANKS SO MUCH.
[5:27] THANK YOU SO MUCH MARK.
[5:28] UM, THANK YOU TO SENATOR MARKEY
[5:29] AS WELL FOR ALL OF HIS
[5:30] LEADERSHIP.
[5:31] AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
[5:32] LEAD SPONSOR, COUNCILOR LIZ
[5:34] BREEDEN FOR HER OPENING
[5:34] STATEMENT.
[5:35] GOOD MORNING.
[5:36] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND GOOD
[5:37] MORNING EVERYONE.
[5:38] UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[5:41] UH, I WANT TO THANK CHAIR
[5:42] DURKAN FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING
[5:44] AND ALL OF THE PANELISTS
[5:45] PRESENT, UH, FOR BEING HERE
[5:47] TODAY.
[5:49] AS A DISTRICT
[5:50] COUNCIL REPRESENTING ALLSTON.
[5:50] I SPONSORED THIS HEARING TO
[5:52] DISCUSS THE UNCERTAIN STATUS
[5:54] OF THE AUSTIN POST OFFICE
[5:55] BRANCH AND TO CALL ON THE
[5:57] UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO
[5:59] REESTABLISH THIS BRANCH.
[6:00] THIS IS NOT THE FIRST HEARING
[6:02] ON THE POSTAL SERVICE WE'VE HAD
[6:03] IN RECENT YEARS ON THIS
[6:05] COUNCIL.
[6:06] IN 2024 I CHAIRED A SIMILAR
[6:07] HEARING SPONSORED BY
[6:09] COUNCILOR DURKAN AS WAS THE
[6:11] CASE UH, AS WAS THE CASE THEN,
[6:14] USPS HAD FAILED TO RESPOND TO
[6:16] AN INVITATION TO REQUEST TO
[6:17] TESTIFY IN THIS HEARING.
[6:20] TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT, THE
[6:22] ALLSTON POST OFFICE BRANCH WAS
[6:23] PREVIOUSLY HOUSED IN A BUILDING
[6:25] LOCATED AT 47 HARVARD AV IN
[6:28] AUSTIN VILLAGE.
[6:28] DUE TO STRUCTURAL ISSUES THIS
[6:31] WITH THIS BUILDING.
[6:32] THE USPS SUSPENDED SERVICE AT
[6:34] THE US POST THE ULSAN POST
[6:36] OFFICE AND IN DECEMBER OF 2019
[6:39] AND 2021 THE SITE WAS PURCHASED
[6:42] BY A BOSTON BASED REAL ESTATE
[6:44] FIRM ETON PROPERTIES.
[6:46] A MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
[6:48] FOR THE SITE WAS APPROVED BY
[6:49] THE CITY AND IS NOW UNDER
[6:51] CONSTRUCTION.
[6:51] EDEN PROPERTIES WORKED WITH
[6:54] USPS TO INCLUDE THE POST OFFICE
[6:55] BRANCH IN THE UH IN THE NEW
[6:57] SITE, AGREEING TO THE TERMS
[6:59] OF THE LEASE WITH THE USPS IN
[7:02] JUNE OF 2025, USPS SENT A
[7:05] LETTER TO MAYOR WU AND MYSELF
[7:07] CONFIRMING ITS FINAL DECISION
[7:09] TO RELOCATE AND REESTABLISH THE
[7:12] BOSTON ALLSTON POST OFFICE
[7:14] BRANCH.
[7:15] THIS LETTER EXPLICITLY STATES
[7:17] THAT THE USPS STANCE INTENDS TO
[7:20] REESTABLISH RETAIL OPERATIONS
[7:21] FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN ALLSTON,
[7:23] MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE LONGER
[7:24] TERM AND THAT AND THAT THIS
[7:27] REPRESENTED THE FINAL DECISION
[7:29] OF THE POST OFFICE WITH RESPECT
[7:31] TO THE MATTER AND THERE WAS NO
[7:33] RIGHT TO FURTHER ADMINISTRATION
[7:34] OR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS
[7:36] DECISION.
[7:37] WE ALSO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS THIS
[7:38] TIME LAST YEAR.
[7:40] NOW AFTER YEARS OF PUBLIC
[7:42] ENGAGEMENT, PLANNING AND
[7:44] ANTICIPATION, USPS HAS HAS
[7:46] REVERSED THIS DECISION AND IS
[7:48] MOVING TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE
[7:50] ALLSTON BRANCH IN EARLY
[7:52] SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR 2026
[7:55] ALLSTON RESIDENTS RECEIVED A
[7:56] WRITTEN NOTICE FROM USPS THAT
[8:00] ANNOUNCED ITS PROPOSAL TO
[8:01] PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE ALLSTON
[8:03] POST OFFICE.
[8:04] THIS ABRUPT REVERSAL IS
[8:06] INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING FOR OUR
[8:08] COMMUNITY.
[8:08] FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE
[8:10] APPROXIMATELY 87 87,000
[8:13] RESIDENTS OF ALLSTON BRIGHTON
[8:14] HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO RELY ON A
[8:16] SINGULAR POST OFFICE LOCATION
[8:18] IN BRIGHTON FOR ESSENTIAL
[8:19] POSTAL SERVICES.
[8:21] IN CONTRAST, OUR NEIGHBORING
[8:23] CITY OF NEWTON, WHICH HAS A
[8:24] SIMILAR POPULATION IS SERVED BY
[8:26] TEN POST OFFICES.
[8:29] ALLSTON IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY
[8:30] WHERE MANY RESIDENTS SMALL
[8:32] BUSINESS OWNERS RELY ON USPS
[8:35] FOR THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT
[8:37] IT PROVIDES.
[8:38] WE ARE HOLDING THIS HEARING
[8:39] TODAY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
[8:42] CURRENT STATE OF THE STATUS
[8:43] OF THE ALLSTON POST OFFICE.
[8:45] SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
[8:46] OF THE AUSTIN POST OFFICE
[8:47] BRANCH AND ACCESSIBLE POSTAL
[8:49] SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND
[8:51] REJECT EXCUSES THAT CALL ON YOU
[8:54] AND CALL ON USPS TO HOLD THIS
[8:56] TO THIS DISCONTINUATION STUDY.
[8:59] I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
[9:00] DISCUSSION AHEAD OF US TODAY
[9:03] AND AT THIS TIME FOR THE USPS.
[9:05] IT IS TIME AND PAST TIME FOR
[9:07] THE USPS TO HONOR ITS
[9:09] COMMITMENTS.
[9:10] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[9:11] THANK YOU SO MUCH
[9:13] COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
[9:13] UM AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY
[9:15] COUNCILOR ED FLYNN.
[9:16] COUNCILOR ED FLYNN, DO YOU WANT
[9:17] TO GIVE A, UH, OPENING
[9:18] STATEMENT?
[9:20] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[9:22] AND THANK YOU TO
[9:23] COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON FOR
[9:25] BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE
[9:26] FORWARD.
[9:27] I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY
[9:29] COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN ADVOCATING
[9:33] A POSTAL OFFICE IN ALLSTON
[9:35] AREA.
[9:36] UM, I WANT TO THANK THE PANEL
[9:38] FOR BEING HERE.
[9:39] THANK THE RESIDENTS OF ALLSTON
[9:41] AND BRIGHTON FOR ADVOCATING FOR
[9:43] THIS AS WELL.
[9:45] AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE,
[9:47] UM, TONY DESIDERIO AND THE
[9:52] DESIDERIO FAMILY LONG TIME
[9:54] RESIDENTS.
[9:55] UM, FOR THEIR ONGOING
[9:58] COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND
[10:00] TO OUR CITY AS WELL.
[10:01] I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
[10:03] THE POSTAL WORKERS THROUGHOUT
[10:05] THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS,
[10:07] THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT DO
[10:08] AN EXCEPTIONAL, EXCEPTIONAL
[10:09] JOB.
[10:10] UM.
[10:10] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[10:11] UM, AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO
[10:13] ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED
[10:14] ABSENCE LETTERS FROM COUNCILORS
[10:16] ENRIQUE PEPEN AND
[10:18] COUNCILOR RUSSI LOUIJEUNE.
[10:19] UM, BOTH OF THESE ABSENCE
[10:21] LETTERS UM SHARE THE IMPORTANCE
[10:23] OF A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS
[10:25] AND UM SHARE THEIR SUPPORT FOR
[10:26] ALLSTON AND BRIGHTON AND THE
[10:28] COMMUNITIES AND UM, YOU KNOW
[10:30] WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE?
[10:32] UH, LACK OF SERVICE.
[10:33] SO I WANT TO THANK MY
[10:33] COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR ABSENCE
[10:34] LETTERS.
[10:35] UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
[10:36] START WITH THE PANEL.
[10:37] LET'S START WITH UH, NOAH WHO
[10:39] IS ON ZOOM AND THEN WE'LL GO
[10:40] THROUGH THE LINE.
[10:44] UH UH GOOD MORNING, CHAIR DEREK
[10:46] AND COUNCILOR BREADON
[10:47] COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[10:48] CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
[10:49] ALL RIGHT.
[10:49] YES.
[10:50] OKAY, GREAT.
[10:51] UH, THANK YOU FOR THE
[10:53] OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
[10:55] UM, MY NAME IS NOMADLAND AND
[10:57] I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EON
[10:59] PROPERTIES.
[11:00] UH, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE
[11:01] HARMON AVENUE PROPERTY IN 2021,
[11:04] THE ALLSTON POST OFFICE HAD
[11:06] ALREADY BEEN CLOSED FOR NEARLY
[11:07] TWO YEARS.
[11:08] FROM OUR EARLIEST CONVERSATIONS
[11:10] WITH COUNCILOR BRAEDEN.
[11:12] UM ALLSTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION
[11:14] TONY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
[11:16] WE UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT
[11:17] RESTORING POSTAL SERVICE WAS TO
[11:19] ALLSTON.
[11:20] UH, WE MADE THAT A REAL
[11:22] PRIORITY IN PLANNING THE
[11:23] REDEVELOPMENT, UH, OF THE
[11:25] PROPERTY BEGINNING INTO 2022.
[11:28] WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE USPS
[11:30] TO IDENTIFY A GROUND FLOOR
[11:32] LOCATION AND ULTIMATELY DESIGN
[11:34] THAT SPACE AROUND THE NEEDS
[11:36] OF A NEW POST OFFICE.
[11:37] WE AGREED ON THE BASIC BUSINESS
[11:39] TERMS OUTLINED IN A MUTUALLY
[11:41] AGREED UPON LETTER OF INTENT,
[11:43] AND USPS PROVIDED DETAILED
[11:45] BUILDING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE
[11:47] INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT
[11:48] BY LATE 2025.
[11:50] WE WERE TOLD THE LEASE AND WORK
[11:53] LETTER, BOTH DRAFTED AND ISSUED
[11:55] BY USPS HAD BEEN REVIEWED AND
[11:57] APPROVED BY USPS LEGAL AND WE
[12:00] WERE JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO,
[12:02] UH, EXECUTE THE LEASE.
[12:04] AND USPS.
[12:06] HAS ALSO FORMALLY COMMUNICATED
[12:08] ITS INTENTION TO RETURN TO
[12:10] ALLSTON IN ITS JUNE 2025 FINAL
[12:12] DECISION LETTER.
[12:13] THE POSTAL SERVICE SAID IT
[12:15] PLANNED TO RELOCATE THE BRANCH
[12:16] NEARBY TO REESTABLISH RETAIL
[12:18] OPERATIONS AND MAINTAIN LONG
[12:19] TERM SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
[12:21] WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WHEN USPS
[12:23] SUBSEQUENTLY PULLED BACK AND
[12:24] DID NOT SIGN THE LEASE.
[12:26] IT WAS AN UNEXPECTED EXPECTED
[12:28] REVERSAL AFTER SEVERAL YEARS I
[12:30] MEAN REALLY FOUR YEARS OF WORK
[12:31] AND AFTER WE UNDERSTOOD TO BE A
[12:33] CLEAR COMMITMENT TO RESTORE
[12:34] SERVICE MORE RECENTLY WE WERE
[12:37] EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN
[12:38] THAT USPS IS CONSIDERING
[12:40] PERMANENTLY DISCONTINUING THE
[12:41] AUSTIN BRANCH.
[12:43] WE UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION
[12:44] IN THE COMMUNITY.
[12:46] RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HAVE
[12:47] BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR THE
[12:49] RETURN OF THE LOCAL POST OFFICE
[12:51] AND WE KNOW THAT SERVICE
[12:53] CONTINUES TO MATTER.
[12:54] EDEN REMAINS READY TO WORK WITH
[12:56] USPS, THE CITY AND THE
[12:58] COMMUNITY IF THERE'S STILL A
[12:59] VIABLE PATH TO RESTORING.
[13:00] THE BRANCH.
[13:01] AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO NEED
[13:03] TO PLAN RESPONSIBLY FOR THE
[13:05] FUTURE OF THE PROJECT AND THE
[13:06] NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER
[13:08] THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE
[13:09] AN IMPORTANT WINDOW TO MAKE
[13:11] SURE THE GROUND FLOOR SPACE CAN
[13:12] ACCOMMODATE OTHER USES AND TO
[13:14] BEGIN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL
[13:15] PARTNERS.
[13:16] WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THAT
[13:17] OPPORTUNITY AND ULTIMATELY
[13:18] LEAVE THE COMMUNITY WITH A
[13:19] VACANT OR INACTIVE STOREFRONT.
[13:21] OUR PREFERENCE REMAINS TO.
[13:23] SEE POSTAL SERVICE RESTORED,
[13:25] BUT IF USPS ULTIMATELY DECIDES
[13:27] NOT TO REOPEN THE ALLSTON
[13:28] BRANCH, OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON
[13:30] FINDING ANOTHER USE THAT BRINGS
[13:32] ACTIVITY TO HARVARD AVE AND
[13:33] CONTRIBUTES POSITIVELY TO THE
[13:35] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[13:35] OUR COMMITMENT THROUGHOUT HAS
[13:37] BEEN TO LISTENING TO THE
[13:38] COMMUNITY WORK COLLABORATIVELY
[13:39] AND BUILD A PROJECT THAT
[13:41] STRENGTHEN THIS PART OF ALLSTON
[13:42] .
[13:42] THAT REMAINS OUR GOAL AND I'M
[13:44] HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
[13:46] THANK YOU SO MUCH NOAH.
[13:48] UM AND THEN WE'RE JOINED BY
[13:49] RAYMOND BELL, THE PRESIDENT
[13:50] OF THE AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS
[13:52] UNION AND THE BOSTON METRO
[13:54] REGION.
[13:54] SCOTT HOFFMAN, UH, NATIONAL
[13:56] BUSINESS AGENT FOR NEW ENGLAND
[13:58] FOR THE AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS
[14:00] UNION.
[14:01] JUSTIN DELORIA, UM COORDINATOR,
[14:04] MASSACHUSETTS POSTAL WORKERS
[14:05] UNION ALVARO LIMA, DIRECTOR
[14:07] OF RESEARCH FOR THE BOSTON
[14:08] PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
[14:09] AND TONY ISIDORA, PRESIDENT
[14:10] OF THE ALLSTON CIVIC
[14:11] ASSOCIATION.
[14:12] SO WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GUYS
[14:13] ALL GO DOWN AND INTRODUCE
[14:15] YOURSELVES.
[14:15] BUT UM, THANK YOU TO
[14:17] COUNCILOR RUBIN'S TEAM FOR, UM
[14:19] ,CREATING SUCH A GREAT PANEL.
[14:21] GO AHEAD.
[14:22] I'M, UH, PHILLIP GRANBURY.
[14:24] I'M A DEMOGRAPHER AND A
[14:25] RESEARCHER IN THE PLANT UH, THE
[14:28] RESEARCH DIVISION, UH, FOR THE
[14:29] CITY OF BOSTON.
[14:31] THANK YOU.
[14:32] I'M OBVIOUSLY, UM, DIRECTOR.
[14:34] OF RESEARCH.
[14:35] FOR THE.
[14:35] PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY
[14:36] OF BOSTON.
[14:38] TONY DESIDERIO, PRESIDENT
[14:39] OF THE ALLSTON CIVIC
[14:41] ASSOCIATION.
[14:43] JUSTIN DELORIA, UH, COORDINATOR
[14:45] .
[14:45] FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS.
[14:46] POSTAL WORKERS.
[14:46] UNION ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATING
[14:48] AND CONDUCTING.
[14:50] RESEARCH FOR POST OFFICE
[14:51] CLOSURES AND POSTAL COMPLIANCE
[14:52] WITH FEDERAL LAWS.
[14:55] UH, SCOTT HOFFMAN, A NATIONAL
[14:58] BUSINESS AGENT FOR THE POSTAL
[14:59] WORKERS UNION.
[15:00] UH, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK
[15:04] FOR FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[15:05] REALLY?
[15:05] AND I DID HAVE TO MAKE NOTE
[15:07] THAT RAY BELL, UH, HAD A FAMILY
[15:10] EMERGENCY, UH, AND COULD NOT
[15:12] MAKE IT TODAY.
[15:14] UH, BUT YOU KNOW THAT HE'S HE'S
[15:16] DEEP INTO THIS AND YOU CAN
[15:18] COUNT COUNT ON HIM FOR ANYTHING
[15:20] THAT YOU MAY NEED COMING COMING
[15:22] UP IN THIS FIGHT.
[15:23] I THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE ON THE
[15:24] ZOOM.
[15:24] WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR
[15:26] HIS TESTIMONY AT OUR LAST
[15:27] HEARING.
[15:28] WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY
[15:29] COUNCILOR JOHN FITZGERALD.
[15:30] THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
[15:32] UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR
[15:34] YOUR INTRODUCTIONS.
[15:35] UM.
[15:36] I WANT TO, UH, IN CASE YOU
[15:38] GUYS HAVE ANY OPEN DO YOU GUYS
[15:39] HAVE ANY OPENING STATEMENTS?
[15:41] OKAY.
[15:42] SEEING NONE I'M GOING TO HAVE
[15:43] UM, COUNCILOR WAS BREADON WHO
[15:45] IS, UM, OUR PRESIDENT AND, UM,
[15:48] THE LEAD SPONSOR ASK ANY
[15:49] QUESTIONS THAT SHE HAS.
[15:51] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[15:53] UM, I HAD A, UM SINCE, UM, NOAH
[15:56] HAS ALREADY UM, UH, SPOKEN I
[15:59] HAD A QUESTION.
[16:00] UM, SO, UM, AS A REPRESENTATIVE
[16:04] FROM EDEN PROPERTIES.
[16:05] NOAH, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE?
[16:07] BEEN WORKING WITH THE USPS TO
[16:10] REESTABLISH THE LOCATION IN THE
[16:12] COMMERCIAL SPACE ON 2935?
[16:14] UM, CAN YOU PROVIDE AN
[16:16] OVERVIEW?
[16:17] I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY
[16:17] MENTIONED IT, BUT YOU KNOW,
[16:20] JUST TO ILLUSTRATE, I THINK
[16:21] IT'S BEEN A LONG DRAWN OUT
[16:23] PROCESS AND VERY INVOLVED AND
[16:24] DETAILED CONVERSATIONS.
[16:26] IT WASN'T JUST A VAGUE CONCEPT
[16:29] THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
[16:31] YEAH.
[16:32] THANK YOU,
[16:32] COUNCILOR BREADON.
[16:33] SO UH, I IT'S.
[16:34] IT'S DEFINITELY WE'VE PROBABLY
[16:36] SPENT MORE TIME ON UM, WORKING
[16:39] ON THIS TENANT THAN ANY TENANT
[16:42] WE'VE EVER WORKED WITH EVER.
[16:44] UM, AND UH AND I THINK IT
[16:47] STARTED REALLY WITH YOUR HELP
[16:48] TO EVEN IDENTIFY WHO TO SPEAK
[16:50] TO AT USPS UM, TO EVEN UH, UM,
[16:54] KICK OFF THIS PROCESS AND TRY
[16:56] TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE WAS
[16:57] A VIABLE PATH FOR THEM TO
[16:59] REESTABLISH, YOU KNOW, IN THE
[17:00] NEW BUILDING.
[17:01] UM, SO WHEN WE PURCHASED THE
[17:03] PROPERTY IN UH 2021, UM, LIKE
[17:07] WE DO IN ALL OF OUR PROJECTS,
[17:09] WE JUST START TALKING TO FOLKS
[17:11] ABOUT THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE
[17:13] AND UH, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
[17:15] NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AND
[17:17] ,UH, YOU KNOW, THE
[17:18] REESTABLISHING THE POST OFFICE
[17:19] WAS NUMBER ONE ON EVERYBODY'S
[17:21] LIST.
[17:21] SO, UM, WE DILIGENTLY STARTED
[17:24] TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
[17:27] SO WE WERE CONNECTED WITH THE
[17:28] REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST AT USPS.
[17:31] UM, AND I THINK BY YOUR OFFICE,
[17:33] UM, CURTIS BULLARD AT USPS WHO
[17:37] THEN SAID YES, WE WE'VE BEEN
[17:38] LOOKING FOR A SITE AND TO
[17:41] REESTABLISH AND THEN CONNECTED
[17:43] US WITH THEIR THEY THEY
[17:44] ESSENTIALLY UH WHEN THEY WHEN
[17:46] THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SITE AND
[17:48] BEGIN NEGOTIATING THEY ASSIGN
[17:49] IT TO THEIR REAL ESTATE BROKER
[17:52] WHICH MANAGES YOU KNOW, I GUESS
[17:53] ALL THEIR NEGOTIATIONS UM,
[17:56] WHICH IS WITH JONES LANG
[17:57] LASALLE OUT OF WASHINGTON DC
[17:59] AND SO WE ARE CONNECTED WITH
[18:01] THEM AND UM AND THEN WE STARTED
[18:05] UH TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
[18:07] THEIR NEEDS ARE FOR THE SITE.
[18:08] THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY WANTED
[18:11] A REESTABLISH A RETAIL LOCATION
[18:13] THAT WOULD PROVIDE POST OFFICE
[18:15] BOX SERVICES, YOU KNOW, REGULAR
[18:17] MAIL SERVICE, PASSPORT PHOTOS,
[18:19] THAT KIND OF STUFF.
[18:21] AND UM.
[18:21] AND WE TRIED TO START
[18:23] UNDERSTANDING LIKE WHAT THEIR
[18:25] THEIR NEEDS WERE FOR UM FOR
[18:27] RENT UM, WHAT THE TERMS OF THE
[18:30] BUSINESS TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT
[18:31] ,HOW MUCH SPACE THEY WANTED UM
[18:34] AND AND WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT
[18:35] WITH THEM I BELIEVE IN C ONE
[18:38] WAS IT?
[18:40] UM AND UH, IN OCTOBER 2023 WE
[18:45] HAD A LETTER OF INTENT THAT WAS
[18:47] DRAFTED BY JONES LANG.
[18:48] SO WITH ALL THE BUSINESS TERMS
[18:49] THAT THAT'S THE TYPICAL PROCESS
[18:51] IN A LEASE YOU COME UP WITH A
[18:52] LETTER OF INTENT FOR THE
[18:53] BUSINESS TERMS AND ONCE THAT'S
[18:54] AGREED UPON YOU COMMENCE
[18:57] NEGOTIATING THE ACTUAL LEASE.
[18:58] SO THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN
[19:01] OCTOBER 2023.
[19:01] IT HAD A DETAILED LIST OF THEIR
[19:03] WORK REQUIREMENTS.
[19:05] UM, EVERYTHING FROM.
[19:07] THE THE STRENGTH OF THE
[19:09] CONCRETE IN THE FLOOR TO THE
[19:10] THE HVAC SYSTEM THAT THEY
[19:12] NEEDED.
[19:13] UH AND THEN WE PROCEEDED TO
[19:14] NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE
[19:15] LEASE, UM, THAT UH THAT
[19:18] CONCLUDED IN UM YOU KNOW, LATE
[19:22] 2025 AND IN FACT WE WE STARTED
[19:24] CONSTRUCTION ON THE BUILDING.
[19:26] UH, AT THE END OF.
[19:27] LAST YEAR 2025 BOUGHT OUT THE
[19:32] CONTRACT UM THE CONSTRUCTION
[19:33] CONTRACT AND IT INCLUDES VERY
[19:35] SPECIFIC UH, SCOPE ITEMS
[19:38] DEDICATED TO THIS SPACE TO MEET
[19:40] THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
[19:41] SO WE OWN UH, UH, ELECTRIC HEAT
[19:43] PUMP SYSTEM, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR
[19:46] THE PROJECT THAT SPECIFICALLY
[19:48] MEETS.
[19:48] THEIR NEEDS.
[19:49] YEAH.
[19:49] UM, SO IT HAS BEEN A VERY
[19:51] DETAILED DRAWN OUT PROCESS.
[19:53] IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME.
[19:54] I WE UNDERSTOOD.
[19:55] FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THAT
[19:56] YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT
[19:58] OF STEPS ALONG THE WAY.
[19:59] UM, BUT UM BUT.
[20:01] WE'VE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TO
[20:03] TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
[20:04] AND UM, YOU.
[20:06] KNOW.
[20:06] WE THOUGHT BECAUSE THERE WAS.
[20:07] YOU KNOW.
[20:09] CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING,
[20:10] YOU KNOW, TAKES TIME AND
[20:11] PERMITTING TAKES TIME THAT IT
[20:13] WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD LOCATION
[20:14] BECAUSE WE KNEW THE USPS
[20:16] PROCESS TAKES TIME AND IT
[20:18] ALIGNED PERFECTLY.
[20:19] UM, SO UM, YOU KNOW, IT GOES
[20:22] WITHOUT SAYING WE WERE JUST.
[20:24] DEVASTATED THAT THEY WALKED
[20:26] AWAY.
[20:26] ONE THING NO, I JUST WANTED
[20:28] TO CLARIFY IN THE RECENT LETTER
[20:30] TO TO CUSTOMERS AND ALSTOM, THE
[20:34] USPS STATED IN THE LETTER THAT
[20:35] THERE WAS NO SUITABLE
[20:36] ALTERNATIVE QUARTERS AVAILABLE
[20:38] FOR THE U.S. AND FOR THE ALSTOM
[20:40] POST OFFICE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE
[20:42] TOTALLY CONTRARY TO WHAT OUR
[20:44] UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION
[20:45] IS AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
[20:46] THEM VERY CLOSELY TO BUILD OUT
[20:50] A UH, RETAIL POST OFFICE SPACE
[20:52] TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS.
[20:53] UM, SO THIS STATEMENT THAT NO
[20:56] SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE QUARTERS
[20:57] ARE AVAILABLE SEEMS TO BE
[20:59] UNTRUE.
[21:00] WOULD YOU AGREE?
[21:02] I WOULD I WOULD 100% AGREE AND
[21:03] I THINK I SENT YOU LAST NIGHT.
[21:05] THE EXHIBIT D OF THE.
[21:08] LEASE THAT.
[21:09] THEY AUTHORED OR SCHEDULE ONE
[21:12] OF THE.
[21:12] LEASE THAT THEY AUTHORED WHICH
[21:14] INCLUDES THEIR DETAILED
[21:17] SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE HAVE
[21:18] INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN
[21:19] OF OUR BUILDING.
[21:20] SO HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON THE
[21:22] RECORD AS YOU KNOW AND UM.
[21:25] YEAH.
[21:26] THANK YOU.
[21:27] HAVE YOU DONE FOR TIME?
[21:30] YOU CAN HAVE AS LONG AS YOU
[21:31] WANT.
[21:33] UM SO I THINK THE NEXT QUESTION
[21:35] I WOULD HAVE IS FOR UM, OUR
[21:37] FRIENDS FROM THE POSTAL UM
[21:40] WORKERS UM UNION
[21:42] REPRESENTATIVES UM, WHEN
[21:46] PROPOSING TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE
[21:47] A POST OFFICE BRANCH I MY
[21:50] UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE USPS
[21:52] MUST FOLLOW A SPECIFIC PROCESS
[21:55] AS REQUIRED UNDER TITLE 39 PART
[22:00] 241 OF THE CODE OF THE FEDERAL
[22:01] REGS.
[22:02] CAN YOU SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBE
[22:05] OR BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT THAT
[22:06] PROCESS IS IS REQUIRED?
[22:09] AND IN YOUR EXPERIENCE DOES THE
[22:11] USPS TYPICALLY FOLLOW THEIR OWN
[22:13] OR THEIR OWN PROCESS OR DO THEY
[22:15] VARY FROM IT?
[22:16] OKAY SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION
[22:19] AND I CAN ANSWER RIGHT OFF AND
[22:20] SAY NO BECAUSE WHAT WHAT THE
[22:23] GENTLEMAN'S DESCRIBED THERE IS
[22:26] PLAYING OUT AGAIN UH I CAN USE
[22:30] AN EXAMPLE OF MEDWAY MASS HAD A
[22:32] SATELLITE POST OFFICE THEY WENT
[22:35] OUT THE POSTAL SERVICE
[22:37] ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC.
[22:38] WELL WE LOST THE LEASE.
[22:40] UH, NOTHING WE CAN DO.
[22:44] SORRY WE WE PUT IN UH,
[22:47] INQUIRIES, YOU KNOW, UH, RIGHTS
[22:48] ON THE LABOR LAW TO TO LOOK
[22:50] INTO VARIOUS THINGS AND FOUND
[22:52] OUT THAT NOT ONLY DID THE
[22:57] LANDLORD SAME HERE BENT OVER
[23:00] BACKWARDS THEY WERE EXPANDING
[23:02] THE STRIP MALL AND IT ACTUALLY
[23:03] OFFERED TO, UH, MAKE IT TO THE
[23:07] PARAMETERS, YOU KNOW, THESE
[23:08] ASPECTS THAT THE POSTAL SERVICE
[23:10] NEEDED UH, AND THE POSTAL
[23:12] SERVICE JUST LET IT FALL BY THE
[23:14] WAYSIDE.
[23:14] THE LEASE LEFT THE PROPERTY
[23:16] OWNER HOLDING THE BAG AGAIN AND
[23:18] THEN HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL
[23:20] THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WAS THE
[23:23] LANDLORD.
[23:25] SO DISPLAY IT IS IS SOMETHING
[23:28] THAT THEY DO ALL THE TIME.
[23:30] BUT MY COLLEAGUE JUSTIN WILL
[23:34] PROBABLY RATTLE OFF A FEW
[23:36] OF THE STATUTES THAT THEY'RE
[23:38] SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THAT FROM
[23:40] WHAT I CAN SEE AND WHAT WHAT
[23:41] WHAT JUSTIN HAS SHARED WITH ME,
[23:43] THEY HAVEN'T FOLLOWED ANY
[23:46] OF THE STATUTES, YOU KNOW, TO
[23:47] THE LETTER OF THE LAW UM,
[23:49] INCLUDING YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
[23:50] INPUT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH
[23:53] ,ANSWERING RESPONSES TO THE
[23:54] PUBLIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ALL
[23:57] OF THAT.
[23:58] UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN
[24:00] THE UNION UH, REQUESTED THROUGH
[24:03] THE PROCEDURES TO GET THE
[24:05] INFORMATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
[24:06] WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN
[24:08] OURSELVES, UH, IN ADDITION TO
[24:11] THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE POSTAL
[24:13] SERVICE HAS VIOLATED FEDERAL
[24:14] LABOR LAW BY FAILING TO PROVIDE
[24:17] OVER THE DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE
[24:19] OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW IT'S THE
[24:21] SMOKING GUN.
[24:23] SO SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
[24:24] ENTWINED HERE THAT THE POSTAL
[24:26] SERVICE IN THEIR EFFORT TO GET
[24:28] RID OF THIS POST OFFICE THEY
[24:29] DON'T FOLLOW AND AGAIN JUSTIN
[24:32] JUSTIN WILL PROBABLY UH LET YOU
[24:35] KNOW A FEW OF THEM BUT THEY'RE
[24:36] NOT FOLLOWING FEDERAL STATUTE.
[24:39] THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THEIR OWN
[24:41] PROCESS AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE
[24:44] NECESSARY TO SHUT DOWN THE POST
[24:45] OFFICE, UH, WHETHER IT BE
[24:47] TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT, THEY
[24:49] DON'T FOLLOW ANY OF THEIR
[24:51] REGULATIONS.
[24:52] THEIR GAME JUST SEEMS TO BE
[24:54] TRYING TO TELL THE PUBLIC IT'S,
[24:56] UH IT'S AN EMERGENCY AND IN
[24:58] THIS CASE IT WAS.
[25:00] BUT THEY HAVE ALTERNATE MEANS
[25:03] TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY.
[25:04] ORIGINALLY THEY PUT THE A
[25:06] MOBILE POST OFFICE OUT THERE
[25:08] BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO
[25:09] SPEND THE MONEY TO PUT THE
[25:10] MOBILE POST OFFICE SO THEY
[25:12] SUSPENDED THAT SERVICE AS WELL.
[25:14] SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE'S
[25:17] VERY SPECIFIC PROCESSES AND
[25:19] PROCEDURES THEY NEED TO FOLLOW
[25:22] AND THEY EITHER IGNORE THEM IN
[25:23] THEIR ENTIRETY OR COME UP WITH
[25:26] SOME TYPE OF UH YOU KNOW UH
[25:30] BASTARDIZED PROCESS TO SAY THEY
[25:34] THEY HAVE PERFORMED THEIR DUE
[25:36] DILIGENCE AND THEIR
[25:38] REQUIREMENTS BUT THEY
[25:40] ABSOLUTELY HAVEN'T AND I FEEL
[25:42] COMFORTABLE HERE SAYING THAT IN
[25:44] PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY
[25:47] HAVE IT.
[25:49] SO YOU KNOW I KNOW SOMEBODY
[25:51] REFERENCED IT BEFORE BUT I'LL
[25:52] TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE
[25:55] TALKING TO US POSTAL SERVICE
[25:57] SPOKESPERSON IF THEIR MOUTHS
[25:58] MOVE IN THEY'RE LYING.
[26:00] THANK YOU.
[26:02] UM.
[26:02] MADAM CHAIR, HOW WE DO.
[26:03] YOU CAN KEEP GOING.
[26:04] UM, SO YOU DID HIT SEVEN
[26:06] MINUTES, WHICH IS WHAT I'M
[26:07] GOING TO GIVE TO EVERYONE ELSE,
[26:08] BUT, UM, BUT GIVEN THAT THIS IS
[26:11] ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT, IT HAD.
[26:12] WELL, THANK YOU AND I
[26:13] APPRECIATE IT.
[26:13] MY COLLEAGUES, UM, FORBEARANCE
[26:15] ON THIS ONE.
[26:16] UM, HOW OFTEN DOES THE POST
[26:19] OFFICE REVERSE OR FINAL
[26:20] DECISION?
[26:21] UM, YOU KNOW, HOW OFTEN DO THEY
[26:26] REVERSE THEMSELVES?
[26:28] UH UH.
[26:28] WELL, USUALLY WITH DAY TO DAY
[26:31] BUSINESS DECISIONS THEY WON'T
[26:32] THEY'LL THEY'LL GO DOWN WITH
[26:34] THE SHIP ON ON THESE TYPE
[26:36] OF MATTERS.
[26:37] UH YOU CAN GET REVERSALS BUT
[26:39] IT'S USUALLY AFTER, YOU KNOW, A
[26:42] MAJOR HUE AND CRY FROM THE
[26:44] PUBLIC WHICH IS WHICH IS WHY WE
[26:46] NEED THESE KIND OF MEETINGS AND
[26:48] WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF, UH,
[26:50] ELECTED OFFICIALS.
[26:51] UM, SO WE'VE HAD SOME WE'VE HAD
[26:55] SOME SUCCESS ON REVERSALS OR
[26:58] KEEPING LOCATIONS OPEN BUT
[27:00] THERE ARE THOSE ARE ALWAYS WITH
[27:02] A MAJOR BATTLE BECAUSE WHAT
[27:05] THEY TRY TO DO IS WHAT YOU
[27:06] KNOW, SIMILAR TO HERE IS LET A
[27:08] PERIOD OF TIME GO BY.
[27:10] SO PEOPLE THEY HOPE PEOPLE KIND
[27:12] OF GET USED TO DOING WITHOUT OR
[27:14] THEY MAY HAVE NO OUTRAGES UH TO
[27:17] CAUSE US TO FIGHT OVER A NUMBER
[27:19] OF YEARS.
[27:20] SO THEY JUST WANT TO KIND
[27:22] OF JUST LET THIS PEACEFULLY GO
[27:23] OUT.
[27:24] SO I'M NOT GIVING UP TOTAL HOPE
[27:27] YET BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU MAKE
[27:29] ENOUGH NOISE YOU'LL BE ALL
[27:31] RIGHT.
[27:31] AND AND IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES
[27:33] I HAVE SEEN REVERSALS IN
[27:36] AUSTIN'S UNIQUE IT'S THE IT'LL
[27:37] BE THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
[27:39] CITY WITHOUT A POST OFFICE AND
[27:41] THE VOLUME I MEAN THE
[27:43] POPULATION YOU.
[27:45] COULD DO COMPARISONS.
[27:46] THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND I'D
[27:48] SAY YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO
[27:49] FIND A LOCATION WITH 34 35,000
[27:53] RESIDENTS VOID OF ANY TYPE
[27:56] OF POSTAL PRESENCE IN THAT ZIP
[27:58] CODE OR IN THAT COMMUNITY.
[27:59] THAT'S A VERY NICE SEGUE
[28:01] BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS
[28:02] HERE FROM THE DEMOGRAPHY
[28:04] DEMOGRAPHERS WHO JUST TELL US
[28:06] EXACTLY WHAT METRICS WE HAVE.
[28:07] YOU KNOW THAT AREA OF ALLSTON
[28:09] AND ALSO BRIGHTON WE HAVE SEEN
[28:11] A HUGE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL
[28:13] DEVELOPMENT AND.
[28:15] UM WELCOMING IT LIKE THIS VERY
[28:16] LOCATION IS GOING TO BE
[28:18] DEVELOPED INTO HOUSING.
[28:19] COULD YOU SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE
[28:20] CHANGES IN POPULATION IN
[28:22] ALLSTON OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS
[28:23] SINCE UH SINCE ALL OF THIS UM,
[28:26] TRANSPIRED?
[28:27] THANK YOU.
[28:28] THAT'S IT.
[28:28] UH, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT UH
[28:33] UH BREADON MADAM CHAIR DURKAN
[28:36] AND COUNCILOR FLEEING AND
[28:38] FITZGERALD UH, AS DIRECTOR
[28:40] OF RESEARCH FOR THE CITY
[28:42] OF BOSTON, THE 2020 CENSUS WAS
[28:44] MY SECOND CENSUS.
[28:46] UH, I'M GOING TO SPEAK VERY
[28:49] BRIEFLY ABOUT THE THE
[28:49] UNDERCOUNT OF THIS CENSUS.
[28:51] I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE PHIL GRAMM
[28:53] THERE WAS A DEMOGRAPHER TO TALK
[28:55] SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
[28:57] NEIGHBORHOOD OF AUSTIN.
[28:58] UH, IN EVERY CENSUS THERE IS
[29:00] ALWAYS AN UNDERCOUNT AND THIS
[29:03] UNDERCOUNT IS THE UNDERCOUNT
[29:04] OF THE SO-CALLED HARD TO COUNT
[29:07] POPULATION TO REDUCE THIS
[29:09] UNDERCOUNT TO THIS CITY, UH,
[29:11] WORK WITH WHAT WE CALL THE
[29:14] COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE WERE
[29:16] INVOLVED AND CITY OFFICIALS,
[29:19] ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY UH
[29:22] ,LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS SO
[29:24] THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE THE
[29:26] UNDERCOUNT AND THE THE 2020.
[29:30] CENSUS WE HAD THESE PROBLEMS.
[29:32] WE HAVE ALSO A HISTORICAL
[29:33] PROBLEM OF COUNTING THE
[29:35] POPULATION OF BOSTON THAT'S THE
[29:37] POPULATION OF 18 TO 24 YEARS
[29:40] OLD.
[29:40] THAT'S HARD TO COUNT.
[29:42] AND ALL THAT WAS COMPOUNDED BY
[29:45] COVID.
[29:46] IT START IN APRIL.
[29:47] EXACTLY WHEN WE STARTED TO
[29:49] CANCEL THE CENSUS.
[29:51] WE COULDN'T.
[29:52] DO OUR JOB BECAUSE IT WAS
[29:54] IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT PUT TOGETHER
[29:55] A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD GO
[29:57] OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO ASK
[29:59] PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN THE CALL IN
[30:00] THEIR IN THE CENSUS UH THE
[30:03] CENSUS DID THE BEST JOB THAT
[30:05] THEY COULD DO UNDER THE
[30:07] CIRCUMSTANCE THE STUDENTS WERE
[30:09] OUT OF TOWN SOMEWHERE IN HOTELS
[30:12] SOME OF THE POPULATION ARE LEFT
[30:14] TOWN AND THAT'S PROVOKED A HUGE
[30:17] UNDERCOUNT OF THE POPULATION
[30:19] OF BOSTON AND PARTICULARLY
[30:21] OF THE POPULATIONS THE
[30:22] NEIGHBORHOODS WITH JUST
[30:23] POPULATION STUDENTS FOR EXAMPLE
[30:24] .
[30:26] UH WE.
[30:27] UH HAD MANY.
[30:28] MEETINGS WITH THE CENSUS UH WE
[30:30] DID A LOT OF WORK SHOWING THAT
[30:33] YES, HAD THE STUDENT DISAPPEAR
[30:35] IN 2020 BUT THEN WE APPEARED IN
[30:38] 2021.
[30:39] WE HAVE THE DATA BECAUSE THE
[30:40] CITY COUNCIL HAS UP UH
[30:43] ORDINANCE.
[30:43] WE'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO HAVE
[30:45] IT TO TELL LIES OF MANY
[30:46] STUDENTS UH, IN BOSTON.
[30:48] WHERE THEY LIVE.
[30:50] SO WE DID EXTENSIVE WORK ON
[30:53] THAT TO HAVE ALL THIS
[30:55] DOCUMENTATION CAME BACK TO THIS
[30:56] CENSUS.
[30:57] THEY AGREED WITH US THAT UH OUR
[31:00] COUNT WAS RIGHT BUT THERE WAS
[31:02] NO PROCESS TO ACT LAST
[31:04] SEPTEMBER AND CORRECT TO THE
[31:05] CENSUS THE ACCEPT WAS THE GROUP
[31:08] QUARTERS BUT NOT THE OTHERS.
[31:10] SO WE HAD.
[31:11] WE WERE FORCED TO DO OUR OWN
[31:13] PROJECTION OF OUR POPULATION TO
[31:15] CORRECT FOR THE UNDERCOUNT.
[31:18] UH UH.
[31:18] WILL YOU.
[31:19] ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO TALK
[31:21] EXACTLY THE WORK THAT WE DID
[31:23] ABOUT THE WORK WE DID IN IN
[31:25] THOUSAND?
[31:26] THANK YOU.
[31:28] ALVARO.
[31:28] UH, SO BASICALLY WE HAVE
[31:31] DEVELOPED A METHODOLOGY TO
[31:32] ADDRESS THE CENSUS, UH,
[31:34] UNDERCOUNT UH, AND BASICALLY
[31:38] COMPARING UH.
[31:40] TODAY WITH THE AMERICAN
[31:41] COMMUNITY SURVEY, THE 2020 UH
[31:44] 2024 OR 5 YEAR ACS.
[31:46] THERE'S AN UNDERCOUNT
[31:48] OF ROUGHLY UH 10,000 PEOPLE.
[31:52] SO IF THAT'S TRUE IN OTHER
[31:53] WORDS, IF UH IF THE POSTAL
[31:54] SERVICE IS LOOKING AT THE
[31:55] AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY,
[31:57] THEY'RE SEEING A MAJOR
[31:58] UNDERCOUNT.
[31:59] I SAW YOUR NUMBER YOUR NUMBER
[32:00] WAS 34,000.
[32:01] WE HAVE ROUGHLY AROUND 32,000.
[32:03] AND SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE
[32:04] BALLPARK.
[32:05] UH, ALLSTON IS A NEIGHBORHOOD
[32:07] THAT HAS BEEN GROWING, UH, YOU
[32:10] KNOW, UH, WE'VE SINCE 2010 UH,
[32:14] ROUGHLY UH, 2000 UH, HOUSING
[32:17] UNITS HAVE BEEN ADDED.
[32:18] UH, THE POPULATION UH FROM UH
[32:24] UH 2020 TO 2025 UH HAS GROWN UH
[32:28] BY 7.2% WHILE THE CITY HAS
[32:30] GROWN AT 2.4%.
[32:32] SO FOR BY EVERY METRIC NOT ONLY
[32:33] IS IT HARMFUL THAT YOU LOSING A
[32:36] POST OFFICE, BUT THERE'S A MORE
[32:37] OF A.
[32:38] NEED FOR A POST OFFICE.
[32:39] UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WE
[32:42] REALLY WANT TO CAUTION THAT
[32:43] THAT IF THE IF THE POSTAL
[32:44] SERVICE IS USING THE AMERICAN
[32:45] COMMUNITY SURVEY NUMBER WHICH
[32:47] YOU KNOW, UH, THEY'RE USING THE
[32:50] WRONG NUMBER UM.
[32:51] AND YOU.
[32:52] ALWAYS MAKE THAT CLEAR WHICH
[32:53] APPEARS AS IF YOU'RE ALREADY
[32:54] DOING UH UH THIS UH AS AS
[32:58] ALVARO ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE MET
[32:59] WITH THE CENSUS BUREAU THERE
[33:00] THEY SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE.
[33:02] THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH IN
[33:03] AGREEMENT.
[33:04] .
[33:04] UH.
[33:05] BUT THEY NEED TO.
[33:05] DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY SO THAT
[33:07] THEY CAN BETTER COUNT UH,
[33:09] COLLEGE STUDENTS.
[33:10] UH, SO I WOULD JUST NOT TO GET
[33:12] TOO MUCH DETAIL.
[33:13] UH, BUT.
[33:14] EVERY TEN.
[33:15] YEARS THE CENSUS BUREAU WOULD
[33:18] FOR BOSTON WOULD.
[33:20] WOULD HAVE TO READJUST UH, FOR
[33:23] A PLACE LIKE AMHERST WHERE
[33:24] THERE'S UMASS THEY HAVE A WHAT
[33:25] THEY CALL A COLLEGE FIX
[33:27] PROGRAM.
[33:28] UH, BUT WE'RE SEEING THIS NOT
[33:30] AS A COLLEGE TOWN.
[33:31] UH, AND SO THEY DON'T ADJUST
[33:33] THAT, UH, BOSTON'S POPULATION
[33:35] THE WAY THEY DO IT.
[33:36] BUT WHEN THE 2020 CENSUS COMES
[33:38] OUT, YOU WE WE'RE EXPECTING A
[33:40] NEWER NUMBER.
[33:40] UH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
[33:42] UNDERCOUNT WE DIDN'T GET THAT
[33:45] NUMBER WE'RE HOPEFUL WILL BE
[33:46] CORRECTED IN THE 2030 CENSUS.
[33:48] UH, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW WE ARE,
[33:51] UH.
[33:52] LEFT WITH AND THIS IS THE
[33:53] REASON WHY WE HAVE DEVELOPED
[33:54] OUR OWN UH, POPULATION UH,
[33:58] ESTIMATE, UH, METHODOLOGY.
[33:59] SO USING YOUR METHODOLOGY TO
[34:01] TRY AND ADDRESS THE UNDERCOUNT
[34:02] IN THE 2020 CENSUS, WHAT'S
[34:04] YOUR, UM, ESTIMATE OR YOUR
[34:07] PREDICTION?
[34:07] YOUR GUESS NOT GUESS YOUR
[34:10] INFORMED BUT SURE.
[34:11] UH, OPINION ABOUT THE
[34:15] POPULATION AND IN ALLSTON IN
[34:17] THAT ZIP CODE LIKE 02134.
[34:19] AND UH IN 2020 WE HAD THE
[34:22] POPULATION UH UH 29,000 668 UM
[34:27] AND AND THE 2020.
[34:31] AND AND SO WHICH WAS A UM, YOU
[34:36] KNOW, SIGNIFICANT UNDERCOUNT UH
[34:37] ,PART OF THAT WAS TO THROUGH
[34:39] WHAT WAS CALLED UH, THE DORM
[34:41] POPULATION BUT IT UH BUT THE
[34:42] OTHER PART OF IT WAS DUE TO THE
[34:44] HOUSEHOLD POPULATION.
[34:45] THANK YOU.
[34:46] I UM AND I DO KNOW THAT.
[34:48] YOU'VE WORKED AS WHEN WE DID
[34:49] THE WE WE WENT THROUGH AND DID
[34:51] THE THE CONGREGANT CONGREGATE
[34:54] HOUSING WE WE TRIED TO WE
[34:56] WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR
[34:58] OFFICE WITH YOU FOLKS UH.
[34:59] AND THE DONAHUE INSTITUTE.
[35:01] I DID UMASS TO TO CORRECT THOSE
[35:03] NUMBERS SO GET A BETTER
[35:05] ESTIMATE.
[35:06] SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM
[35:07] CHAIR.
[35:07] I FEEL I'VE TAKEN A LOT
[35:08] OF TIME.
[35:09] I'D LIKE TO LET MY COLLEAGUES
[35:10] HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK THEIR
[35:11] QUESTIONS.
[35:11] WELL, CAN I COME BACK WITH FOR
[35:13] FURTHER QUESTIONS?
[35:14] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[35:15] AND, UM.
[35:16] YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO,
[35:18] UH, THE ELEMENT OF BLAMING THE
[35:20] LANDLORD BECAUSE THAT'S
[35:21] DEFINITELY WHAT WAS HAPPENING
[35:22] IN MISSION HEALTH.
[35:23] AND SO I THINK THAT IS
[35:25] HAPPENING A LOT WHERE IT'S AND
[35:27] I JUST TO HEAR WHAT UM EDEN
[35:30] PROPERTIES HAS GONE THROUGH
[35:32] BUILDING OUT THE SPACE TO
[35:34] SPECIFICATIONS OF THE POST
[35:36] OFFICE AND TO HAVE THIS UM, YOU
[35:39] KNOW, BE IT BUT TO BE AT THE
[35:40] STAGE THAT IT'S AT UM I JUST
[35:42] WANT TO SAY TO NOAH THANK YOU
[35:44] FOR ATTEMPTING TO GET THE POST
[35:45] OFFICE IN THAT LOCATION AND I
[35:47] HOPE THAT THIS HEARING, UM,
[35:49] SERVES AS A REMINDER AND AND UH
[35:51] ,YOU KNOW, ADVOCACY PUSH FOR,
[35:54] UH, THEM TO DELIVER ON THE
[35:56] PROMISES THAT THEY'VE MADE.
[35:58] WELL.
[35:59] I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT IS
[36:01] EVEN THOUGH THE GENESIS OF THIS
[36:04] POST OFFICE CLOSING WAS
[36:05] ORIGINALLY AN EMERGENCY BUT NOW
[36:08] IT'S TURNED INTO A LEASE ISSUE,
[36:09] THE EMERGENCY HAS COME AND GONE
[36:12] AND THE POSTAL SERVICE IS NOW
[36:16] WEAPONIZING LEASES,
[36:19] DELIBERATELY ALLOWING THEM TO
[36:20] EXPIRE UH, THINGS LIKE THAT AND
[36:23] THEN SAYING WELL THE LEASE IS
[36:26] UP, WE GOTTA GO.
[36:27] WE'RE LIKE IN MISSION MAKING
[36:29] UP ISSUES, YOU KNOW, SAYING OH
[36:30] THIS LINE WE JUST CAN'T COME TO
[36:32] AN AGREEMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR
[36:34] LINE AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE YOU
[36:36] KNOW IT'S VERY EASY YOU KNOW
[36:38] WHEN YOU GET A BUNCH OF LAWYERS
[36:39] IN THE ROOM TO COME UP WITH A
[36:42] LINE THAT SOMEONE CAN ACCEPT.
[36:44] WELL AGAIN, UM, SOMETHING LIKE
[36:46] THIS GOES TO YOU KNOW ONE TIME
[36:50] IT COULD BE OVER ONE LINE BUT
[36:52] WHEN YOU PULL BACK THE SCOPE
[36:54] AND YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE
[36:55] COUNTRY AND YOU SEE HERE THAT
[36:58] THE GENESIS OF THE OVERWHELMING
[37:01] MAJORITY OF THESE TEMPORARY
[37:04] SUSPENSIONS THAT SLIDE INTO
[37:06] LONG, UH, DORMANT SUSPENSIONS
[37:09] THAT TURN INTO PERMANENT
[37:11] CLOSURES, THE IT'S THE LEASES
[37:15] SO.
[37:16] IT IT.
[37:17] THERE'S ONLY SO MANY TIMES YOU
[37:18] CAN CRY IT'S AN ACCIDENT OR OUT
[37:21] OF YOUR CONTROL.
[37:23] BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
[37:24] THEY ALLOW THE LEASES TO EXPIRE
[37:28] OR THEY MAKE ONEROUS DEMANDS SO
[37:30] THAT THEY CAN'T INK IT WITH
[37:32] BECAUSE THEIR BOTTOM LINE
[37:34] PURPOSE IS TO GET RID OF POST
[37:37] OFFICES.
[37:38] AND I THINK PART OF WHAT I YOU
[37:40] KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEFINED
[37:42] POWER HERE AT THE CITY
[37:44] COUNCIL ON POST OFFICE ISSUES.
[37:46] BUT PART OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN
[37:47] ABLE TO DO IS SEE THROUGH THE
[37:49] BUS, TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT
[37:51] ARE INVOLVED AND GET TO THE
[37:53] BOTTOM OF WHAT YOU KNOW IS
[37:54] ACTUALLY HAPPENING AND I THINK
[37:56] THAT THERE'S SOME POWER TO
[37:58] THAT.
[37:58] SO I THINK TO ANYONE WHO'S
[38:00] ASKING WHY IS THE BOSTON CITY
[38:02] COUNCIL HAVING A HEARING ON THE
[38:03] POST OFFICE?
[38:03] IT'S TO UNCOVER UM, THOSE
[38:06] DETAILS IN WHICH THE POST
[38:08] OFFICE WOULD LIKE YOU KNOW,
[38:10] THEY IT TO REMAIN OBSCURED.
[38:12] UM, SO I THINK THIS HEARING IS
[38:14] VERY IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO
[38:15] THANK MY COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER
[38:16] DISTRICTS FOR UM FOR COMING UH,
[38:19] TO UM SO I WANT TO FIRST GO TO
[38:21] COUNCILOR FLYNN AND THEN WE'LL
[38:22] GO TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
[38:24] UM, YOU HAVE SEVEN MINUTES.
[38:26] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[38:29] AGAIN, THANK YOU TO
[38:30] COUNCILOR BREADON FOR BRINGING
[38:32] THIS FORWARD.
[38:33] I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY
[38:35] COLLEAGUE AND TO SUPPORT THE
[38:38] THE RESIDENTS OF ALLSTON.
[38:39] I THINK THIS IS ABOUT FAIRNESS
[38:42] AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT
[38:43] THE POSTAL.
[38:44] WORKERS AS WELL.
[38:47] UM, LET ME LET ME ASK A
[38:49] QUESTION TO UM TO TONY.
[38:54] WITH WITHOUT A POST OFFICE
[38:57] WHERE IS THE WHERE IS THE
[38:59] CLOSEST POST.
[38:59] OFFICE TO UM TO THE RESIDENTS.
[39:03] RIGHT NOW?
[39:04] COUNCILOR, THE USPS IS FRAMING
[39:07] BRIGHTON AS THE CONSOLIDATED
[39:10] POST OFFICE.
[39:11] SO WE JUST HAD A PUBLIC MEETING
[39:13] .
[39:13] UH, THEY GAVE US A WHOLE 30
[39:15] MINUTES TO DISCUSS IT AND THEY
[39:17] SEEM TO BE DIRECTING US TO THE
[39:19] BRIGHTON POST OFFICE.
[39:23] IN IN.
[39:24] THE NEIGHBORING TOWN OR UM OR
[39:27] CITY IS NEWTON AND I UNDERSTAND
[39:30] THAT NEWTON HAS MANY OFFICES,
[39:35] POST OFFICES AND OBVIOUSLY ALSO
[39:37] ALLSTON DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUT
[39:39] WHY.
[39:40] ISN'T THIS A QUESTION REALLY
[39:42] OF FAIRNESS?
[39:43] NEWTON HAS SO MANY AND ALLSTON
[39:45] DOESN'T HAVE ANY AND AND AND
[39:47] THEY THEY MIGHT BE ROUGHLY THE
[39:48] SAME POPULATION MAYBE.
[39:52] I I HAVE A BRIEF OPENING
[39:54] STATEMENT AND UH I TURN TO THE
[39:58] COUNCIL UH THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
[40:01] UH, WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO IT
[40:02] AS PART OF TESTIMONY UH, DO IT
[40:04] NOW UH, TO ADD SOME
[40:05] PERSPECTIVE.
[40:06] I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO
[40:07] THAT.
[40:08] UH, NO, TONY.
[40:09] ABSOLUTELY.
[40:10] WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF, UM,
[40:12] PEOPLE WHO'VE WRITTEN IN OFTEN
[40:14] I JUST WANT TO SAY AND NOT TO
[40:15] TAKE FROM MY COLLEAGUES TIME.
[40:17] OKAY.
[40:18] UM, THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT,
[40:20] UM, PART OF THE NEED FOR A POST
[40:22] OFFICE IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE YOU
[40:24] KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE
[40:26] ,UM, VULNERABLE THEY, YOU
[40:29] KNOW, ARE RENTERS.
[40:30] THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT
[40:32] BASICALLY HAS IS NOT BEING
[40:35] GIVEN IT'S IT'S FAIR.
[40:37] SO I I RESPOND TO THE
[40:38] COUNCIL.
[40:38] QUESTION AND THEN AT SOME POINT
[40:40] I'D LOVE TO DELIVER MY OPENING
[40:43] REMARKS BUT COUNCIL ABSOLUTELY
[40:45] IT'S A QUESTION OF EQUITY.
[40:48] UM WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN MY
[40:49] OPENING REMARKS IS THERE IS A
[40:51] HISTORY OF UM ALLSTON BEING NOT
[40:57] TREATED WITH A LOT OF DIGNITY
[40:58] AND RESPECT AND SOMEHOW,
[41:00] SOMEWAY AS A COMMUNITY WE'VE
[41:02] OVERCOME IT.
[41:03] THE RESULTS MAY NOT BE WHAT WE
[41:05] STARTED WITH, BUT I TALK A
[41:07] LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXTENSION
[41:09] OF THE MASS TURNPIKE.
[41:10] I TALK ABOUT URBAN RENEWAL
[41:12] TAKING AWAY BARRY'S CORNER.
[41:15] UM I TALK ABOUT A FEW OTHER
[41:16] SITUATIONS THAT AND OF COURSE
[41:18] WE'RE FIGHTING NOT FOR JUST A
[41:20] POST OFFICE BUT FOR COMMUNITY
[41:21] CENTER AND A NEW PRE-K TO SIX
[41:24] SCHOOL.
[41:24] SO YES, YOU KNOW IN SOME WAYS
[41:26] SOMETIMES COUNCIL YOU THINK TO
[41:29] YOURSELF IS IT BECAUSE OF WHO
[41:30] WE UH AND WHERE WE UH THAT
[41:33] WE'RE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY
[41:35] AND YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED IN
[41:38] MY COMMENTS, UH UH, SEEING
[41:42] YOU'RE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
[41:43] SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
[41:45] DISABILITIES, UH, FAMILIES WITH
[41:47] SMALL CHILDREN, IMMIGRANTS,
[41:49] SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THEY'RE
[41:51] ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK HERE
[41:52] AGAIN.
[41:53] THEY'RE TAKING THE HIT.
[41:55] UH, THE POST OFFICE SIMPLY
[41:57] WANTS THEM TO GO ELSEWHERE.
[41:59] UH, EVEN THOUGH, UH, THE IMPACT
[42:03] OF DESIGNATING BRIGHTON AS THE
[42:05] GO TO POST OFFICE COUNSELOR GO
[42:07] UP THERE ANY DAY YOU WANT AND
[42:09] THE LINE IS OUT THE DOOR.
[42:11] SO ALREADY THE IMPACT AND THE
[42:13] PROBLEM WITH THE POST OFFICE IS
[42:15] THEY ARE USING IN ANALYTICS TO
[42:17] MAKE THESE KIND OF DECISIONS
[42:18] INSTEAD OF GETTING DOWN TO THE
[42:19] HUMAN LEVEL AND REALLY
[42:22] UNDERSTANDING AS WAS PREVIOUSLY
[42:23] STATED, THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH
[42:25] AND REBIRTH AND RENAISSANCE
[42:28] OF ALLSTON HOW WE'RE GOING TO
[42:29] HAVE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE LIVING
[42:31] IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T LOOK AT
[42:32] IT LIKE WHAT YOU BRIGHTON IS
[42:34] ONLY A MILE AND A HALF AWAY
[42:35] THAT DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE
[42:37] ISSUE.
[42:38] THAT THAT A MILE AND A HALF
[42:41] AWAY IS VERY CHALLENGING AND
[42:43] DIFFICULT FOR SENIORS FOR FOR
[42:46] PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
[42:48] UM AND IT DOES IT DOES HAVE AN
[42:50] IMPACT IF YOU ARE A SENIOR ARE
[42:52] YOU A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES
[42:53] AND YOU YOU WALKING A MILE AND
[42:56] A HALF TO GO TO THE POST
[42:57] OFFICE, YOU WALKING BACK A MILE
[42:59] AND A HALF UM A33 MILE COMMUTE
[43:02] FOR A.
[43:03] PERSON WITH DISABILITIES.
[43:04] OR SENIOR IS CERTAINLY
[43:06] CHALLENGING AND IT'S UNFAIR AND
[43:12] YOU KNOW IT HURTS.
[43:13] IT HURTS THE MOST VULNERABLE
[43:15] PEOPLE.
[43:16] THAT'S WHAT THAT THAT'S WHAT
[43:17] GETS ME.
[43:18] IT HURTS THE MOST VULNERABLE
[43:19] PEOPLE IN SOCIETY.
[43:23] YOU KNOW OTHER OTHER PEOPLE
[43:24] MIGHT HAVE THE ABILITY TO UM
[43:27] GET TO BRIGHTON OR GET TO
[43:28] ANOTHER POST OFFICE.
[43:30] BUT IT DOES IMPACT NEGATIVELY
[43:32] ON OUR SENIORS AND IN IN IN
[43:36] PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
[43:37] UM, MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T HAVE
[43:40] ANYTHING FURTHER TO TO SAY
[43:42] OTHER THAN UH UH THIS IS ABOUT
[43:45] JUSTICE FOR THE RESIDENTS
[43:46] OF ALLSTON I SUPPORT THEM I
[43:48] SUPPORT THE POSTAL WORKERS AND
[43:51] I'LL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO
[43:52] SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.
[43:53] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[43:54] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[43:56] COUNCILOR FLYNN.
[43:56] UH, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
[43:58] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
[44:00] UH, AND THANK YOU.
[44:01] TO, UH.
[44:02] PRESIDENT DURKAN.
[44:03] UH, FOR BRINGING.
[44:04] THIS FORWARD.
[44:05] PRESIDENT DURKAN NOW.
[44:06] COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
[44:07] BRUTON BREADON.
[44:09] UM, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT TO SAY.
[44:10] I APOLOGIZE.
[44:11] SCHOOL JUST OUT OF YOU.
[44:13] GUYS RIGHT.
[44:13] IT'S ONLY A WEEK TO DROPPING
[44:15] THE KIDS OFF.
[44:15] WE'RE RUSHING IN.
[44:17] UM, MAYBE ONE DAY.
[44:18] SHARON.
[44:19] UM.
[44:21] IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT IF WE
[44:22] LOOK ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP
[44:24] OF THE POST OFFICE CHAIN, UH,
[44:26] THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO
[44:26] DISMANTLE THE POST OFFICE TO
[44:28] PRIVATIZE IT, TO PROFIT OFF IT
[44:30] AND TO CONTROL THE FLOW
[44:31] OF INFORMATION I IMAGINE.
[44:33] RIGHT.
[44:33] THAT'S SORT OF WHERE MY MIND
[44:35] GOES TO IT.
[44:35] BUT, UM.
[44:37] I THINK.
[44:38] MORE IMPORTANTLY I FEEL LIKE
[44:39] IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE
[44:41] WORKS NOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS
[44:42] ABOUT PRIVATIZING THIS UH, AND
[44:46] LIKE A LANDLORD WOULD LET A
[44:48] BUILDING GO INTO DILAPIDATION,
[44:50] THEY SAY, OH, NOW WE HAVE TO
[44:52] KNOCK IT DOWN.
[44:52] RIGHT.
[44:53] UM, AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE
[44:55] THAT'S HAPPENING.
[44:56] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL AGREE,
[44:57] BUT FROM WHAT I'M HEARING
[45:00] THAT'S HAPPENING IN COUNCIL.
[45:02] BRADEN'S DISTRICT, UM, I KNOW
[45:04] IS ALSO A POTENTIAL HAPPENING
[45:06] IN FIELDS CORNER.
[45:07] UM, BECAUSE A A DEVELOPER
[45:10] BOUGHT THE BUILDING THAT IT IS
[45:11] IN AND SAID THEY WOULD HONOR
[45:12] THE LEASE.
[45:13] UH, THE INTENT WAS TO HONOR THE
[45:15] LEASE AND NOW BECAUSE A IT IS A
[45:17] NEW OWNER THEY ARE SORT
[45:19] OF SAYING OH WE HAVE TO TAKE A
[45:21] LOOK AT THIS AGAIN AND FOUND AN
[45:22] OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RIGHT, UM
[45:24] ,KIND OF STAKE THEIR WAY IN
[45:25] AND CAUSE A WEDGE AND SO UM I
[45:28] KNOW THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING
[45:29] FOR THE PEOPLE OF DORCHESTER.
[45:30] WELL SO I THINK WE'RE.
[45:31] WE'RE REALLY ON THE SAME PAGE
[45:33] OF LOSING THE SERVICES.
[45:35] UM.
[45:36] I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TEXTING
[45:38] WITH MY MAILMAN TO TO TO SEE
[45:40] JUST NOW I SAID HEY TELL
[45:42] ME WHAT YOU WHAT YOU FEEL IS
[45:43] GOING ON, YOU KNOW, UM AND HE
[45:45] SAID THAT THE DISRUPTION TO THE
[45:46] ROUTE TO THE ELDERLY, TO
[45:47] EVERYONE ELSE THAT RELIES ON
[45:48] THE WHAT HE DOES ON A DAY TO
[45:51] DAY BASIS IS BOOTS ON THE
[45:52] GROUND.
[45:52] HE SAID IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING
[45:53] TO THESE.
[45:53] COUNCILOR FITZGERALD I JUST
[45:54] HAVE TO SAY IT'S A REAL FLEX TO
[45:56] HAVE YOUR POST MAN'S NUMBER.
[45:57] SO I.
[45:58] THINK EVERYBODY.
[45:59] SHOULD UH.
[45:59] I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD UH YOU
[46:01] KNOW I MEAN IT'S A IT'S A
[46:03] WONDERFUL JOB AND THERE'S NO
[46:05] THERE'S NO PERSON THAT UH CAN
[46:06] SPILL THE TEA MORE IN THE
[46:07] NEIGHBORHOOD AND UH THEN THEN
[46:09] YOU LOOK AT THE MAILMAN.
[46:11] UM.
[46:12] BUT SO I FIRST JUST WANT TO
[46:15] SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
[46:16] HERE.
[46:16] I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL
[46:18] SHOWING UP ALVARO AS A FORMER
[46:19] COLLEAGUE NOAH MASLIN GREAT TO
[46:21] SEE YOU.
[46:21] LONG TIME MY FRIEND.
[46:22] UM.
[46:23] BUT UH, TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS
[46:26] ON WHAT IS.
[46:27] IT THE.
[46:27] STEPS WE NOW CAN TAKE IF WE
[46:30] KNOW THAT THIS IS.
[46:31] SORT OF.
[46:32] THE BLUEPRINT TO SAY ALL
[46:33] RIGHT, THIS IS THE GAME THEY'RE
[46:34] PLAYING.
[46:34] WHAT DO WE HAVE IN OUR LEGAL
[46:37] POCKET?
[46:37] UH, IN OUR JUDICIAL POCKET.
[46:39] IN OUR COUNCIL POCKET?
[46:40] WHAT ARE.
[46:41] THE TOOLS.
[46:41] THAT YOU ALL FEEL IN IN YOUR
[46:43] UNION'S POCKET THAT FEEL THAT
[46:45] WE CAN EXERCISE.
[46:46] TO SORT OF BATTLE BACK AT THIS?
[46:48] UH.
[46:49] WELL, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE
[46:51] THIS IS A START, BUT WHERE
[46:55] JUSTIN IS PROBABLY GOING TO SAY
[46:57] THE VARIOUS STATUTES THAT
[46:59] THEY'RE VIOLATING AND THEIR OWN
[47:01] POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
[47:03] SO IT STARTS BY HOLDING THEIR
[47:06] HANDS TO THE CHECKS AND
[47:08] BALANCES THAT EITHER CONGRESS
[47:10] PUT IN PLACE OR THE POSTAL
[47:12] SERVICE WAY BACK WHEN THEY
[47:14] ACTUALLY WANTED TO ACT LIKE A
[47:16] PUBLIC SERVICE THAT PUT IN
[47:18] PLACE, YOU KNOW, TO TO MAKE
[47:20] THEM ADHERE TO THE PROCESSES.
[47:24] SO EVEN JUST TODAY WHAT I WHAT
[47:25] I CALLED UH A GREAT
[47:29] INVESTIGATION WE'VE ALREADY
[47:30] HEARD THEY HAD ALL AN ALTERNATE
[47:32] LOCATION PICKED OUT, YOU KNOW,
[47:33] MADE TO THEIR SPECS.
[47:36] SO YOU KNOW, EVEN IN MINIMAL
[47:39] TESTIMONY TODAY WE'RE FINDING
[47:40] OUT HOW EGREGIOUSLY THEY'RE
[47:44] VIOLATING ALL THE STEPS THAT
[47:45] ARE NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY SHUT
[47:47] IT DOWN.
[47:47] YOU KNOW, AND PART OF THE
[47:49] REASON, UH, THEY SO INVOLVEMENT
[47:54] WITH THE COMMUNITY HELPING US
[47:55] GET SOMETIMES EVEN GETTING THE
[47:58] SMOKING GUNS YOU KNOW I KNOW
[47:59] THEY'LL SAY TO THE CITY
[48:01] COUNCIL WOULD WE DON'T HAVE TO
[48:02] ANSWER TO YOU AND THEY'LL SAY
[48:04] TO US, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
[48:06] GET YOU THOSE DOCUMENTS EVEN
[48:08] THOUGH WE'RE ENTITLED TO THEM
[48:09] AND WE HAVE TO GO TO THE LABOR
[48:11] BOARD.
[48:12] SO BACKING US UP WHEN WE'RE OUT
[48:14] THERE TRYING TO GET THE GOODS
[48:15] ON THEM IT IS IS ONE WAY UH,
[48:20] GETTING THE PUBLIC OUTRAGED
[48:22] AGAIN.
[48:22] THIS IS A SLIPPERY ISSUE HERE
[48:25] BECAUSE YOU YOU'VE MENTIONED
[48:26] FIELDS CORNER.
[48:27] WHAT'S NEXT I LIVE IN ROSEDALE
[48:29] .
[48:29] WHAT'S NEXT?
[48:30] WE STOLE WE STOLE ALL SENSE.
[48:31] WELL WE'LL GO FOR ROSLINDALE
[48:33] AND THEY'LL PICK OFF THE CITY.
[48:35] UH, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER
[48:37] OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE THE
[48:39] DISENFRANCHIZED.
[48:41] SO JUST BECAUSE BRIGHTON IS A
[48:42] MILE AND A HALF AWAY, WHAT DOES
[48:44] THAT MEAN?
[48:45] EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING TO
[48:46] BRIGHTON HAS EMPTY HANDS.
[48:47] I WAS GOING TO LEAVE THERE.
[48:48] WOULD EMPTY HANDS.
[48:49] IT'S THE THEY'RE VERY.
[48:51] SHALLOW ARGUMENTS THEY USE UM
[48:55] SO TO ME IT'S ALMOST A UH A
[48:58] WATERLOO TYPE ISSUE.
[49:00] NOW IF THEY HAVE THE THE THE
[49:02] GUTS TO GO AFTER A NEIGHBORHOOD
[49:05] IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT SIZE
[49:09] AND SAY THAT A LOCATION OF THAT
[49:12] SIZE YOU CANNOT YOU DON'T HAVE
[49:15] TO SERVICE THE THE GATES ARE
[49:18] OPEN.
[49:19] SO TO ME THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT
[49:22] ALLSTON.
[49:23] IT'S ABOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON
[49:24] BECAUSE THEY'RE CLEARLY LOOKING
[49:26] TO PICK OFF POST OFFICES LEFT
[49:28] AND RIGHT.
[49:30] SO TO ME IT'S PUBLICITY.
[49:33] IT'S SHOWING WHERE THEY'RE
[49:34] DEFICIENT IN THEIR OWN
[49:37] PROCEDURES AND POLICIES SHOWING
[49:39] WHERE THEY VIOLATED THE LAW.
[49:41] YOU KNOW, GET GET GET THE
[49:43] SENATORS INVOLVED.
[49:45] UH, I YOU KNOW I KNOW IN
[49:46] PARTICULAR MARKEY'S YOU KNOW
[49:48] CRAZY FOR THE POST LOVE CRAZY
[49:50] GOOD SO THE POST OFFICE UM BUT
[49:53] THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
[49:54] BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CORPORATION
[49:56] NOW THAT DOESN'T CARE.
[49:57] THEY'LL THUMB THEIR NOSE IN
[49:59] ANYBODY.
[50:00] UH, THE DISINGENUOUS AS YOU CAN
[50:04] BE THEY THEY REALLY UH AND EVEN
[50:06] THE THE THE THE INPUT YOU KNOW
[50:09] THEY DID WANT VIRTUAL ONLINE
[50:11] YOU.
[50:11] KNOW THE PROCEDURES SAY THEY'RE
[50:12] SUPPOSED TO ANSWER INDIVIDUAL
[50:14] INQUIRIES BACK.
[50:15] THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
[50:16] THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING.
[50:18] SO SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PART
[50:20] OF THE PROCESS.
[50:21] YOU JUST GET GET THE COMMUNITY
[50:24] INVOLVED AND WE'RE GOING TO
[50:25] HAVE TO GET THE ELECTED
[50:27] OFFICIALS CITY COUNCIL WHETHER
[50:28] THEY TRULY HAVE A
[50:30] JURISDICTIONAL ISSUE OR NOT.
[50:34] IT THEIR INPUT IS CRITICAL.
[50:36] AND I KNOW ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO
[50:38] THE CITY COUNCIL DID THE SAME
[50:40] THING AND WE PUSHED BACK A LOT
[50:42] OF NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSURES.
[50:43] BUT THE POST OFFICE HAD HALF A
[50:46] CONSCIENCE BACK THEN.
[50:48] THEY HAVE NONE NOW.
[50:49] THE GOAL AS YOU SAID, IS TO
[50:51] PRIVATIZE SO THEY'LL STEAMROLL
[50:54] AND FRUSTRATION BY DESIGN.
[50:57] IT IS THEIR METHOD.
[51:00] RIGHT ON THE DOT.
[51:01] UM I.
[51:02] JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
[51:03] AGAIN.
[51:04] I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS
[51:05] WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD
[51:06] ANYTHING.
[51:06] I KNOW YOU COULD PROBABLY
[51:07] SQUEEZE ONE MORE QUESTION IN
[51:09] BUT THAT'S VERY QUICKLY
[51:10] RETURNING.
[51:11] JUST JUST REAL QUICK COUNSELOR
[51:13] I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOUR
[51:15] ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION.
[51:16] I THINK THE U.S POST OFFICE IS
[51:18] STAGING THEIR ORGANIZATION FOR
[51:21] PRIVATIZATION AND THEY CLEARLY
[51:22] ARE MOVING MORE TOWARDS TAKING
[51:25] THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT OF RETAIL
[51:27] POSTAL SERVICE AND MAYBE JUST
[51:30] LOOKING AT MUCH LARGER, MORE
[51:32] MODERN BUT CENTRALIZED MALL
[51:35] LOCATIONS.
[51:35] I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN
[51:37] ABSOLUTE DISASTER IF THAT WAS
[51:38] THE WAY TO GO.
[51:39] CHAIR COULD I JUST ASK IF
[51:41] ANYONE WHO PROFITS OFF OF THAT
[51:43] AND PRIVATIZING THE POST OFFICE
[51:45] WHO WOULD.
[51:45] PROFIT UPS FEDEX ANYBODY THAT
[51:49] STARTS UP A DELIVERY INDUSTRY?
[51:52] IT'S A YOU KNOW TO PUT THINGS
[51:55] IN PERSPECTIVE TO.
[51:55] POST ON THAT.
[51:56] YEAH BUT ANYTHING THAT DOES
[51:58] SHIPPING.
[51:58] ANY ANYBODY ANYBODY THAT SHIPS
[52:01] STANDS TO GAIN THAT PERIOD.
[52:04] SO I MEAN BUT TO PUT IT IN
[52:06] PERSPECTIVE YOU KNOW THE THE
[52:07] POSTAL SERVICE HANDLES MORE IN
[52:10] A DAY THAN U.P.S. DOES IN A
[52:11] YEAR.
[52:12] THAT'S HOW BIG THE
[52:13] INFRASTRUCTURE IS.
[52:14] IT TOOK 250 YEARS TO BUILD IT
[52:17] UP SO THAT WE CAN REACH EVERY
[52:18] HOUSE YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY SIX
[52:20] DAYS A WEEK AND SERVICE THE
[52:22] COMMUNITIES.
[52:23] IT'S $1 TRILLION INDUSTRY SO
[52:27] TRILLION DOLLARS YOU CAN DIVIDE
[52:28] THAT UP A NUMBER OF WAYS AND
[52:30] STILL GET RICH AND THAT'S WHAT
[52:31] THEY WANT TO DO AND THIS IS
[52:33] JUST PART OF IT.
[52:34] THIS IS PART OF THE
[52:36] DISENFRANCHIZING THE PUBLIC
[52:37] FROM THEIR PUBLIC POSTAL
[52:39] SERVICE SO THAT YOU THROW YOUR
[52:41] HANDS UP AND THEN GO TO PRIVATE
[52:43] INDUSTRY SO YOU KNOW THAT
[52:45] THAT'S THE END GAME.
[52:46] I, I DON'T THINK I CAN PUT IT
[52:48] ANY SIMPLER.
[52:48] AND YOU PICKED UP ON IT YOU
[52:50] KNOW I THINK EVERYBODY HAS
[52:51] PICKED UP ON IT.
[52:52] WELL I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
[52:53] YOU.
[52:53] ALL YOU GUYS DO IS BRING ME MY
[52:55] BILLS.
[52:55] BUT STILL IT'S A RIGHT THAT I
[52:56] WANT TO MAINTAIN.
[52:57] WELL.
[52:58] WE WANT TO WE WANT YOU TO
[52:59] MAINTAIN YOUR YOUR CREDIT
[53:00] RATING I.
[53:00] APPRECIATE THAT.
[53:01] I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU
[53:02] GUYS.
[53:02] SO I DO APPRECIATE THANK YOU
[53:04] CHAIR.
[53:04] THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD
[53:05] .
[53:06] UM, YEAH.
[53:07] I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO SOME
[53:08] OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
[53:09] MADE BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I
[53:12] ACCIDENTALLY GOT FORWARDED AND
[53:13] THIS WAS IN THE NEWS.
[53:14] I GOT FORWARDED AN EMAIL, UM,
[53:17] OF USPS SAYING THE LAST HEARING
[53:19] WE HAD AT THE CITY COUNCIL THAT
[53:21] THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HAD A
[53:22] POLITICAL AGENDA.
[53:24] I DON'T THINK THAT WANTING TO
[53:26] HAVE A POST OFFICE IN YOUR
[53:27] COMMUNITY IS HAVING A POLITICAL
[53:29] AGENDA.
[53:30] I ACTUALLY THINK IF THAT'S A
[53:31] POLITICAL AGENDA WE HAVE A
[53:32] POLITICAL AGENDA.
[53:33] I THINK UM IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT
[53:36] US TRYING TO STAND UP FOR OUR
[53:37] COMMUNITY MAKES US PAINT IT.
[53:39] IT'S LIKE WE ARE ELECTED TO
[53:40] REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS WHO NEED
[53:43] ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
[53:45] WE THINK THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE
[53:46] A FORCE FOR GOOD.
[53:47] UM, BUT I THINK THAT THAT
[53:49] SHOULD BE UH, YOU KNOW, A
[53:50] REQUIREMENT TO BEING AN ELECTED
[53:52] OFFICE IS THINKING THAT
[53:53] GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERVE THE
[53:55] PEOPLE.
[53:55] AND SO, UM, SO IF THAT'S A
[53:57] POLITICAL AGENDA, YOU KNOW, SO
[53:59] BE IT.
[53:59] BUT I THINK ALLSTON DESERVES A
[54:01] POST OFFICE MISSION DESERVES
[54:03] POST OFFICE FEELS CORNER
[54:04] DESERVES A POST OFFICE.
[54:05] ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
[54:06] DESERVE A POST OFFICE.
[54:07] UM, AND I'D BE REMISS IF I
[54:10] DIDN'T MENTION SOME OF THE FINE
[54:12] WORK THAT SENATOR MARKEY HAS
[54:13] BEEN DOING HAS REALLY BEEN
[54:15] AROUND.
[54:16] I MEAN, THE, UH, PERFORMANCE
[54:18] STANDARDS THEY'RE CHANGING THEM
[54:19] .
[54:20] UM, BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR
[54:21] THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT RECEIVING
[54:23] THEIR MAIL AT THE SAME CLIP
[54:25] THAT THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO.
[54:27] UM, PARTLY YOU KNOW, WE'VE
[54:29] WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SCAMS
[54:31] THAT GO ON.
[54:33] UM, IN ORDER TO FOR USPS TO SAY
[54:36] THAT THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS
[54:37] ARE JUST AS GOOD AS BEFORE.
[54:39] UM, BUT SOME OF IT'S SCANNING
[54:41] THINGS LATE.
[54:42] YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT'S UM YOU
[54:43] KNOW, SCANNING IT ON THE YOU
[54:45] KNOW, ON THE DAY IT'S LEAVING
[54:46] VERSUS THE DAY THAT IT ARRIVED
[54:47] AT THE POST OFFICE.
[54:48] THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS
[54:50] IN WHICH, UH, THEY ARE TRYING
[54:52] TO SCAM THE SYSTEM AND BOTH
[54:54] SENATOR MARKEY AND UM
[54:57] REPRESENTATIVE AYANNA PRESSLEY,
[54:58] WHO WAS AT ONE OF OUR LAST
[54:59] HEARINGS HAD UNCOVERED SOME
[55:01] OF THOSE UH, WAYS IN WHICH UH,
[55:04] THE PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE
[55:05] NOT, YOU KNOW, HITTING SO IT'S
[55:08] NOT JUST ABOUT THE YOU KNOW, I
[55:10] GUESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S ISSUE
[55:12] AND WE GET EMAILS FROM TIME TO
[55:14] TIME ABOUT POSTAL SERVICE.
[55:16] UM, POSTAL SERVICES NOT JUST
[55:20] THE CLOSURES OF OF THE POST
[55:22] OFFICE.
[55:23] IT'S ALSO WE'RE RECEIVING A LOT
[55:25] OF UH YOU KNOW, WE I HAD A
[55:28] CONSTITUENT WHO REACHED OUT
[55:29] LAST WEEK WHO MAILED SOMETHING
[55:31] IN FEBRUARY AND IT JUST ARRIVED
[55:33] YESTERDAY.
[55:34] I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED
[55:35] BUT UM BUT THAT YOU KNOW, BUT
[55:37] SOME OF THESE THINGS.
[55:38] SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU
[55:40] COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, ELABORATE
[55:41] ON SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE
[55:43] METRICS.
[55:43] UM.
[55:44] WELL YOU'RE RIGHT YOU THEY
[55:47] DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, SCANS
[55:49] BECAUSE THE SCANS DON'T LIE.
[55:51] BUT WHAT YOU DO LEADING UP TO
[55:54] POST SCANS USE CLEARLY
[55:57] MANIPULABLE SO IS THEY'LL PUT
[55:59] MAIL THE SIDE THAT SHOWED UP
[56:01] AND THE THE WON'T SCAN UNTIL
[56:03] THE FOLLOWING MORNING OR IF
[56:05] THEY REALLY WANT TO GET
[56:06] DISHONEST THEY'LL PUT THAT THEY
[56:08] MADE AN ATTEMPTED DELIVERY WHEN
[56:10] THAT PIECE NEVER LEFT THE POST
[56:12] OFFICE.
[56:12] YOU KNOW THE CARRIERS ARE
[56:14] ALREADY OUT.
[56:14] IT'S LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.
[56:16] SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT
[56:18] YOU BOX LINE MAIL BECAUSE THE
[56:20] PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THAT LETTER
[56:22] WAS REALLY THERE TODAY.
[56:23] THEY GET IT TOMORROW THEN
[56:26] THEY'RE UNAWARES.
[56:26] BUT THE POSTAL SERVICE WILL
[56:28] HAVE YOU SCAN IT ALL UP.
[56:29] THAT IS IF EVERYTHING THAT WAS
[56:32] COMMITTED FOR THAT DAY IS IN
[56:33] THAT BOX YET IT'S SITTING ON
[56:35] THE FLOOR RIGHT THERE BECAUSE
[56:36] THEY DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER
[56:38] BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE METHOD
[56:41] UH, ASIDE FROM TRYING TO SHED
[56:45] ITSELF OF FACILITIES IS
[56:49] DROPPING STAFFING TO, YOU KNOW,
[56:51] LEVELS WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN
[56:53] HAVE ENOUGH RAW STAFF TO
[56:55] COVER THE BASIC HOURS
[56:58] OF OPERATION.
[57:00] SO UH, TO MAKE UP FOR THAT,
[57:02] THEY JUST CAN'T FLAT OUT GET
[57:03] THE JOB DONE.
[57:04] THEY'VE PEERED BEYOND THE BONE
[57:06] MARROW OUT NOW.
[57:08] SO SO IT'S IT'S REALLY
[57:11] INSIDIOUS WHAT THEY DO, I
[57:14] BELIEVE.
[57:15] IT WAS YOU MISSED THE FIRST
[57:17] SHOW THE DISINGENUOUS FORMULAS
[57:19] .
[57:19] EVERY FORMULA THEY HAVE CAN CAN
[57:22] ONLY GO IN ONE DIRECTION.
[57:23] SPIRAL DOWN.
[57:25] AND I'LL GIVE YOU FOR INSTANCE
[57:26] ,THEY DON'T STAFF ENOUGH TO
[57:28] KEEP A POST OFFICE OPEN FOR THE
[57:30] ENTIRE DAY.
[57:31] SAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN
[57:33] 830 TO 5.
[57:33] WELL WE CUT THE TWO JOBS.
[57:36] SO-AND-SO RETIRED.
[57:37] WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL
[57:38] OVERTIME.
[57:39] SHUT THE BUILDING DOWN FOR
[57:41] LUNCH.
[57:41] WELL, THE POSTED HOURS
[57:43] OF OPERATION SAY 830 TO 5 IF
[57:46] YOU SHUT THE BUILDING DOWN FOR
[57:47] AN HOUR AT THE BUSIEST TIME
[57:49] OF THE DAY WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE
[57:51] RUNNING TO THE POST OFFICE ON
[57:53] THEIR LUNCH.
[57:55] NOW YOU'VE CUT, YOU KNOW, A
[57:57] QUARTER OF THE ABILITY FOR THE
[57:59] CUSTOMER TO ACCESS.
[58:01] AND YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE
[58:02] HEAD.
[58:02] SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
[58:03] CHARLES STREET.
[58:04] SO OF.
[58:05] COURSE YEAH THE THE SALES GOES
[58:07] DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO IN.
[58:10] TO BUY OR.
[58:11] UTILIZE THE POST OFFICE.
[58:14] SO BUT SO THERE THIS STAFFING
[58:16] SYSTEM GOES ALL IT ALWAYS
[58:19] SPIRALS DOWNWARDS.
[58:19] THEY GO ON UH ON A CONCEPT
[58:22] CALLED EARNED YOU EARN TIME
[58:24] WHICH THE THE MOST SUCCINCT WAY
[58:26] I CAN PUT THAT IS EVERY DAY FOR
[58:29] THE LAST 20 YEARS I TOOK ME TWO
[58:32] HOURS.
[58:33] I NEEDED TWO HOURS WORTH OF GAS
[58:34] TO DRIVE TO PORTLAND, MAINE.
[58:35] WELL, THEY CAME UP WITH A
[58:37] FORMULA AND SAYS.
[58:38] WELL WE DID IT ONCE AT 2:00 IN
[58:40] THE MORNING.
[58:41] WITH NO TRAFFIC WITH THE YOU
[58:43] KNOW, ON A SCOOTER AND.
[58:45] WE SAY YOU ONLY EARN AN HOUR
[58:46] AND A.
[58:47] HALF WORTH OF GAS.
[58:48] WELL IN REALITY I'M GOING TO
[58:51] RUN OUT OF GAS A HALF HOUR
[58:52] SHORT ON A MISSION.
[58:54] WELL THEY DO THAT WITH STAFFING
[58:55] .
[58:57] YOU ONLY EARN YOU ONLY EARNED
[58:59] THIS.
[59:01] IT TAKES WHAT IT TAKES TO
[59:02] CONDUCT THE TRANSACTION.
[59:04] THEY THEY ESTIMATE FLAT RATES.
[59:07] SO, UH, THEY'LL GIVE US 21
[59:09] SECONDS TO SELL A BOOK
[59:10] OF STAMPS.
[59:11] NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT'S
[59:13] IMPOSSIBLE.
[59:14] NEXT, PLEASE.
[59:15] YEAH.
[59:16] OH, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE STOCK
[59:17] .
[59:18] OKAY, HERE'S THE FLAGS AND
[59:20] HERE'S THE EAGLES AND.
[59:21] HERE'S THE FLOWERS.
[59:22] OKAY, WHO CHOSE THIS?
[59:24] AND THEN THE BASIC OPERATION
[59:25] OF THE COMPUTER ITSELF.
[59:27] SO THAT.
[59:28] TRANSACTION TOOK A MINUTE AND A
[59:29] HALF.
[59:30] THE POSTAL SERVICE ONLY
[59:31] CREDITS.
[59:33] 21 SECONDS AS REAL.
[59:35] WORK AND I.
[59:36] KNOW NO LONG THAT TAKES BECAUSE
[59:38] WE HAVE A OUR MY LIAISON FOR MY
[59:40] DISTRICT FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
[59:41] IS A STAMP COLLECTOR AND WE
[59:43] HAVE GONE IN TO LOOK FOR VERY
[59:45] SPECIFIC SUPPLIES.
[59:46] SO THE MOST SO ALL THE POST
[59:49] OFFICE EARNED FOR THAT
[59:50] TRANSACTION WAS 21 SECONDS.
[59:52] ANYTHING BEYOND THAT THEY
[59:54] CONSIDER FRIVOLOUS AND.
[59:56] FAT AND THEN THEY ADD UP ALL.
[59:58] THAT FRIVOLOUS AND.
[59:59] FAT TIME AT THE END OF.
[1:00:00] THE YEAR AND SAY YOU ONLY
[1:00:01] EARNED TWO CLERKS AND YOU HAVE
[1:00:03] FOUR.
[1:00:04] SO WHAT?
[1:00:04] CUT IT ALL.
[1:00:05] NOW YOU.
[1:00:06] HAVE.
[1:00:06] TWO CLERKS TO COVER A 40 HOUR
[1:00:08] OPERATION.
[1:00:09] THEY HAVE IT.
[1:00:10] YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH
[1:00:12] BODIES TO BE IN THE BUILDING
[1:00:13] FOR THE HOURS IT'S OPEN.
[1:00:15] IT'S LIKE SAYING YOU ONLY.
[1:00:16] EARNED TWO SURGEONS.
[1:00:17] WELL, THE.
[1:00:18] HOSPITAL'S OPEN.
[1:00:18] YOU NEED THE DOCTOR'S ON DUTY
[1:00:20] WHETHER SOMEONE'S COMING.
[1:00:22] IN THE DOOR SICK OR NOT.
[1:00:23] THE LIGHTS.
[1:00:24] ARE STILL ON.
[1:00:25] YOU GOT TO BE OPEN FOR
[1:00:25] BUSINESS.
[1:00:27] SO IT THEY THEY'VE DEVELOPED A
[1:00:29] SYSTEM TO SPIRAL DOWNWARD AND I
[1:00:33] AND I DID SEE I THINK IT WAS
[1:00:35] THE ARTICLE IN THE BULLETIN
[1:00:36] WHERE THEY WERE CITING THEIR
[1:00:39] FORMULAS WITH DECREASED SALES.
[1:00:41] WELL OF COURSE THIS DECREASED
[1:00:43] SALES.
[1:00:43] YOU AIN'T OPEN IT YOU KNOW
[1:00:45] NUMBER ONE NUMBER TWO YOU'RE
[1:00:47] CREATING LINES OUT THE DOOR TO
[1:00:49] FRUSTRATE PEOPLE TO TO GO TO
[1:00:50] COMPETITORS.
[1:00:51] SO IT'S IT'S DELIBERATE.
[1:00:53] AND AGAIN.
[1:00:53] WHAT SCARES.
[1:00:54] ME THE MOST.
[1:00:55] ON THIS ONE.
[1:00:56] MOST OF THE.
[1:00:57] OTHER LITTLE POST OFFICES
[1:00:58] THEY CLOSE SAY IN MASSACHUSETTS
[1:01:00] OR THEY TAKE THEY MAKE A GRAB
[1:01:02] FOR A LIKE A SATELLITE OFFICE A
[1:01:04] SECOND SMALLER OFFICE IN A TOWN
[1:01:07] .
[1:01:07] BUT IF THEY GET AWAY WITH
[1:01:08] GRABBING A CITY.
[1:01:10] NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A POPULATION
[1:01:12] THAT BIG, THEY'RE GOING TO GRAB
[1:01:15] EVERYTHING THEY CAN BECAUSE TO
[1:01:17] ME WE REALLY GOT TO PUT THE
[1:01:19] FIGHT UP HERE FOR ALLSTON.
[1:01:21] THERE'S NO WAY ON EARTH JUST
[1:01:22] THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ALLSTON
[1:01:24] THAT BIG KID CAN GO WITHOUT A
[1:01:26] POSTER.
[1:01:26] ABSOLUTELY.
[1:01:27] AND I KNOW THAT TONY ISIDORA
[1:01:29] HAS, UM, A STATEMENT THAT HE'D
[1:01:31] LIKE TO MAKE, SO, UH.
[1:01:33] SO TONY.
[1:01:33] GOOD.
[1:01:34] GO AHEAD.
[1:01:34] THANK YOU MADAM.
[1:01:36] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I
[1:01:37] APPRECIATE THAT.
[1:01:38] UM, I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE
[1:01:40] OTHER THING TO WHAT I FIND
[1:01:41] ABSOLUTELY AMUSING IS THE
[1:01:44] PROLIFERATION OF SCAMS IN THE
[1:01:47] SYSTEM WHERE CHECKS ARE BEING
[1:01:49] ALTERED AND STOLEN AND WHAT
[1:01:50] HAVE YOU.
[1:01:51] ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT THE USPS
[1:01:53] INFORMS THE COMMUNITY IF YOU
[1:01:55] GOT A MAIL LETTERS, DON'T PUT
[1:01:57] IT IN YOUR MAILBOX.
[1:01:58] DON'T PUT IT IN AN OUTDOOR
[1:02:01] MAILBOX BECAUSE THEY'RE
[1:02:02] STEALING THOSE KEYS AND PEOPLE
[1:02:03] ARE BREAKING IN AND ALTERING
[1:02:05] CHECKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU
[1:02:07] PHYSICALLY GO INTO THE POST
[1:02:09] OFFICE AND MILL YOUR LETTERS?
[1:02:11] WELL THINK ABOUT A SENIOR.
[1:02:12] THINK ABOUT A PERSON WITH
[1:02:13] DISABILITIES.
[1:02:14] THINK ABOUT UH, A FAMILY YOUNG
[1:02:17] KIDS AS HECTIC A DAY AS THAT IS
[1:02:19] AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THOSE
[1:02:21] PEOPLE WELL, IF YOU WANT TO
[1:02:22] MAIL YOU LETTERS AND YOU WANT
[1:02:23] TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, JUST
[1:02:25] DRIVE AS FAR AS YOU HAVE TO GO
[1:02:27] OR WHATEVER.
[1:02:27] TAKE TRANSPORTATION.
[1:02:28] IT'S JUST SO IRONIC.
[1:02:30] IT IS JUST SO SILLY.
[1:02:31] BUT LET ME THANK YOU, MADAM
[1:02:33] CHAIR.
[1:02:33] I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
[1:02:34] I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO
[1:02:36] WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY
[1:02:37] COUNCILOR CULPEPER.
[1:02:38] YES.
[1:02:38] UM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
[1:02:39] COUNCILOR CULPEPER.
[1:02:39] UM, TONY.
[1:02:40] GO AHEAD.
[1:02:41] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[1:02:42] UH, MADAM CHAIR.
[1:02:43] UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HOLDING
[1:02:45] THIS IMPORTANT HEARING AND
[1:02:47] THANK YOU TO OUR DISTRICT
[1:02:49] COUNCIL PRESIDENT LIZ BREADON
[1:02:50] FOR BEING THE CHIEF SPONSOR.
[1:02:52] AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK
[1:02:53] DISTRICT COUNCILS FLYNN
[1:02:55] FITZGERALD AND NOW CULPEPER FOR
[1:02:57] JOINING US THIS MORNING.
[1:03:00] MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE
[1:03:02] COUNCIL.
[1:03:02] MY NAME IS TONY DISORDER.
[1:03:03] I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN
[1:03:05] CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
[1:03:07] ONCE AGAIN AUSTIN IS IN A FIGHT
[1:03:09] FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
[1:03:11] JUSTICE.
[1:03:12] THIS TIME IT'S THE FEDERAL
[1:03:14] GOVERNMENT WHO DARES TO DEPRIVE
[1:03:16] US OF OUR DIGNITY AND THE
[1:03:17] QUALITY OF LIFE WE NOT ONLY
[1:03:19] DESERVE BUT ARE ENTITLED TO
[1:03:22] MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
[1:03:23] MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS IS AN
[1:03:26] ATTEMPT TO TO SUBVERT AND
[1:03:30] MARGINALIZE THE PEOPLE
[1:03:31] OF AUSTIN.
[1:03:32] IF YOU BELIEVE THE UNITED
[1:03:34] STATES POSTAL SERVICE IN THE
[1:03:36] NAME OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
[1:03:38] IS APPLYING THAT STANDARD
[1:03:40] EQUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU
[1:03:42] ARE SORELY MISINFORMED.
[1:03:45] IN A CITY THAT IS WIDELY
[1:03:46] REGARDED AS HIGHLY RECEPTIVE TO
[1:03:48] YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND
[1:03:50] STUDENTS SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
[1:03:52] DISABILITIES, FAMILIES WITH
[1:03:54] SMALL CHILDREN, IMMIGRANTS AND
[1:03:56] LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
[1:03:59] ONCE AGAIN ON THE CHOPPING
[1:04:00] BLOCK.
[1:04:01] BUT I COME TO YOU TODAY WITH A
[1:04:03] MESSAGE OF HOPE THAT THOSE WE
[1:04:05] ENTRUST TO REPRESENT US WILL
[1:04:08] JOIN OUR FIGHT TO SUCCESSFULLY
[1:04:10] RESTORE A RETAIL POST OFFICE TO
[1:04:12] AUSTIN.
[1:04:13] WHY AM I OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR
[1:04:16] CHANCES?
[1:04:20] WE HAVE ENDURED.
[1:04:21] I'M SORRY.
[1:04:23] UH.
[1:04:26] WE WOULD NOT HAVE LOST MY WAY.
[1:04:27] OKAY.
[1:04:29] UH.
[1:04:31] WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A GREAT
[1:04:34] DEAL OF CHANGE IN OUR
[1:04:36] COMMUNITY, UM, AND CHALLENGES
[1:04:38] IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[1:04:39] FIRST AND FOREMOST WAS THE
[1:04:42] MASSACHUSETTS, UH, TURNPIKE.
[1:04:45] UH UH.
[1:04:46] WE WE HAVE.
[1:04:48] UH WE FOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A
[1:04:51] PROJECT THAT TOOK AWAY OUR
[1:04:53] HOMES, TOOK AWAY OUR BUSINESSES
[1:04:55] ,TOOK AWAY OUR COMMUTER RAIL
[1:04:57] CAPABILITY, ENVIRONMENTALLY
[1:04:59] CHALLENGED US SIGNIFICANTLY
[1:05:01] BECAUSE THE CITY OF BOSTON WAS
[1:05:03] HURTING ECONOMICALLY AND UH, WE
[1:05:06] FOUGHT THAT AND NOW WE'RE ON
[1:05:09] THE BRINK OF RESTORING ALL THAT
[1:05:11] THROUGH THE AUSTIN 1990
[1:05:13] MULTIMODAL PROJECT.
[1:05:15] AND UM, UH, WE ARE LOOKING
[1:05:17] FORWARD TO RECONNECTING OUR
[1:05:19] COMMUNITY AND TO RESTORING WHAT
[1:05:21] WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
[1:05:23] SO THAT WAS UH, A TREMENDOUS
[1:05:25] VICTORY.
[1:05:26] JUST THINK THAT LATER ON THIS
[1:05:28] UH YEAR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
[1:05:30] SOUND BARRIERS INSTALLED ALONG
[1:05:32] LINCOLN STREET IN ALLSTON,
[1:05:34] BRIGHTON.
[1:05:35] WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE LIST FOR
[1:05:37] 50 PLUS YEARS AND UH, MASSDOT
[1:05:39] IS FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO
[1:05:41] ACHIEVING THAT PROJECT.
[1:05:43] UH, IT'S INTERESTING HOW NEWTON
[1:05:45] AND WELLESLEY NEVER HAD TO WAIT
[1:05:47] AS LONG AS THAT FOR THEIR SOUND
[1:05:49] BARRIERS, BUT THAT GOES WITHOUT
[1:05:50] SAYING.
[1:05:51] UM, WE'VE ALSO DEALT WITH, UH,
[1:05:53] INSTITUTIONAL EXPANSION
[1:05:55] SIGNIFICANTLY AND UH, WHAT
[1:05:58] STARTED OUT AS A LOT
[1:06:00] OF MISTRUST AND UM, UH, BAD
[1:06:03] COMMUNITY RELATIONS WE HAVE NOW
[1:06:05] FORGED A VERY TRUSTFUL AND UH,
[1:06:08] HONEST RELATIONSHIP WITH
[1:06:11] INSTITUTIONS.
[1:06:11] UH, WE.
[1:06:12] JUST.
[1:06:13] NEGOTIATED A SIGNIFICANT UH,
[1:06:15] REDEVELOPMENT UH, PROJECT IN
[1:06:17] ALLSTON THAT WILL HELP FUTURE
[1:06:19] GENERATIONS TO COME.
[1:06:20] SO THERE IS ANOTHER VICTORY AS
[1:06:22] WELL.
[1:06:24] WE ALSO FOUGHT URBAN RENEWAL
[1:06:26] THE TAKING OF BARRY'S CORNER.
[1:06:28] WE HAD A, UH, A WORKING CLASS
[1:06:30] COMMUNITY THAT WAS WIPED OUT BY
[1:06:32] URBAN RENEWAL.
[1:06:34] UH, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE IT
[1:06:35] WITH A TEN STOREY LUXURY
[1:06:38] APARTMENT BUILDING.
[1:06:39] AND ALTHOUGH WE LOST THAT
[1:06:41] COMMUNITY THROUGH, UH, THE
[1:06:43] PASSION OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
[1:06:44] ENGAGED IN THE FIGHT ON A DAILY
[1:06:46] BASIS, UH, WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE
[1:06:49] CREATED CHARLES VIEW WHICH WAS
[1:06:51] 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH,
[1:06:54] COMMUNITY WHICH NOW IS ON THE
[1:06:55] WESTERN AVE AND IS THRIVING AND
[1:06:57] WE'RE WE'RE SO PROUD OF THAT.
[1:06:59] SO WE HAVE A HISTORY.
[1:07:01] UH, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF UH
[1:07:05] OF FIGHTING BACK AND NO
[1:07:07] COMMUNITY SHOULD EXPERIENCE
[1:07:08] WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH.
[1:07:11] UH, BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE AND
[1:07:14] WHERE WE LIVE TODAY WE ARE
[1:07:16] FIGHTING FOR A RESTORED RETAIL
[1:07:18] POST OFFICE, A NEW COMMUNITY
[1:07:19] CENTER AND A NEW PRE-K TO SIX
[1:07:22] SCHOOL HIGH LIVING COST AND
[1:07:25] LIMITED HOUSING CONTINUE TO BE
[1:07:27] NOTABLE CHALLENGES.
[1:07:28] WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR
[1:07:30] YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE
[1:07:31] BLESSED WITH GOOD HEALTH AND
[1:07:33] HAPPINESS.
[1:07:34] DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN
[1:07:37] CITIZENS ARE ENGAGED.
[1:07:39] INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCOUNTABLE,
[1:07:40] RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND
[1:07:42] GOVERNANCE IS INCLUSIVE AND
[1:07:44] TRANSPARENT.
[1:07:45] FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS THE
[1:07:47] POSTAL SERVICE HAS CONTINUED
[1:07:49] THIS CHARADE OF STOPS AND
[1:07:52] STARTS SLICK, WELL-ORCHESTRATED
[1:07:54] PUBLIC MEETINGS AND A RELIANCE
[1:07:57] ON ANALYTICS RATHER THAN
[1:07:59] FOCUSING ON THE ISSUE AT A
[1:08:00] HUMAN LEVEL.
[1:08:02] ALLSTON RESIDENTS ARE A DIVERSE
[1:08:04] ,ENERGETIC AND COMMUNITY
[1:08:05] DRIVEN MIX WHO HAVE A RICH
[1:08:07] HISTORY OF STANDING UP TO
[1:08:09] INJUSTICE.
[1:08:10] WE NEED YOUR HELP AND YOUR
[1:08:13] VOICE IF WE ARE TO BUILD
[1:08:16] SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN A
[1:08:18] CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE.
[1:08:19] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[1:08:21] THANK YOU SO MUCH, TONY.
[1:08:22] UM, AND WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY
[1:08:25] COUNCILOR CULPEPER.
[1:08:25] YOU HAVE SEVEN MINUTES.
[1:08:28] MADAM CHAIR.
[1:08:30] THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
[1:08:32] HEARING.
[1:08:33] AND THANK YOU TO PRESIDENT
[1:08:35] REAGAN.
[1:08:35] BRINGING THIS DOCKET.
[1:08:37] FORWARD TO OUR PANELISTS AND
[1:08:40] MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
[1:08:41] JOINING US ALSO HAS NOW GONE
[1:08:44] PUT ON THIS NEIGHBORHOOD POST
[1:08:46] OFFICE SINCE 19 2019 WHEN THE
[1:08:50] U.P. USPS SUSPENDED OPERATIONS
[1:08:54] .
[1:08:54] I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
[1:08:55] ABOUT THIS ALL MORNING SO I'M
[1:08:57] NOT GOING TO READ THE ENTIRE
[1:08:59] STATEMENT BUT I DO THINK YOU
[1:09:01] HAVE TO FIGHT BACK.
[1:09:02] I DO THINK WHEN THE FEDERAL
[1:09:04] GOVERNMENT MAKES A DECISION TO
[1:09:07] BRING THE POST OFFICE BACK AND
[1:09:10] THEN DECIDES TO PAUSE IT AND
[1:09:12] THEN BACKS OUT OF A CONTRACT
[1:09:16] THAT THEY'VE ENTERED, I THINK
[1:09:17] NOT ONLY IS INCUMBENT UPON THE
[1:09:20] CITY COUNCIL TO FIGHT BACK, BUT
[1:09:22] THE COMMUNITY SHOULD REALLY
[1:09:23] COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT.
[1:09:25] AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
[1:09:27] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND YOU
[1:09:28] THINK ABOUT THIS POST OFFICE
[1:09:29] AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY
[1:09:30] DID YEARS AGO WHEN THAT POST
[1:09:33] OFFICE MASTER GENERAL WAS FIRST
[1:09:35] APPOINTED AND YOU LOOK AT THE
[1:09:38] DEBACLE THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER
[1:09:39] THE ELECTION, YOU LOOK AT THE
[1:09:42] DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE
[1:09:44] NOW IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL
[1:09:46] OF US TO STAND UP AND TO FIGHT
[1:09:49] WITH PRESIDENT BRAVEN AND THE
[1:09:51] ALTON BROWN COMMUNITY.
[1:09:53] SO COUNCIL CULPEPPER IS WITH
[1:09:54] YOU 100%.
[1:09:56] LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED US TO
[1:09:58] DO.
[1:09:58] AND YOU KNOW, IF NOTHING ELSE,
[1:10:00] I KNOW HOW TO FIGHT AND SO
[1:10:02] LET'S FIGHT TO GET THIS POST
[1:10:04] OFFICE RESTORED AND TO BRING
[1:10:06] REASONABLE SERVICE TO OTHER
[1:10:08] POST OFFICES THAT HAVE
[1:10:10] EXPERIENCED TERRIBLE SERVICE
[1:10:13] LIKE THE POST OFFICE AND
[1:10:14] ROXBURY POST OFFICE AND GROVE
[1:10:16] HALL.
[1:10:16] WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SENATOR
[1:10:19] UH, MARQUETTE SENATOR WARREN
[1:10:22] BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE AND SO
[1:10:25] WE KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE
[1:10:26] AND I THINK IT STARTS FROM THE
[1:10:29] GROUND UP FROM THE GRASSROOTS
[1:10:31] TO BEGIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
[1:10:32] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[1:10:34] UH, DO I HAVE TIME FOR
[1:10:36] QUESTIONS?
[1:10:36] YOU DO.
[1:10:37] HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
[1:10:38] ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD WAS
[1:10:42] HOW DID IT GET TO THE POINT?
[1:10:44] AND WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN THE
[1:10:48] UPS 25, 20 AND 25 DECISION WHEN
[1:10:51] THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO
[1:10:53] REESTABLISH IT IN THE APRIL
[1:10:55] 2026 DECISION WHEN THEY DECIDED
[1:10:57] TO PAUSE IT.
[1:11:01] UH, I.
[1:11:02] CAN'T TRULY ANSWER THAT
[1:11:04] QUESTION.
[1:11:04] YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE UH,
[1:11:06] CHANGE AT THE TOP.
[1:11:08] UH, MAYBE THEY THEY WANT TO
[1:11:10] ACCELERATE THEIR PRIVATIZATION
[1:11:12] PLANS.
[1:11:13] UH, COULD BE ANY ONE OF THEM.
[1:11:15] UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE WE
[1:11:19] HAVE, UH, DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT
[1:11:21] THIS IS A PLAY IN THEIR
[1:11:22] PLAYBOOK.
[1:11:23] IT'S PART OF PUTTING THE
[1:11:24] COMMUNITY TO SLEEP.
[1:11:26] EXTEND IT OUT.
[1:11:27] EXTEND THAT OUT.
[1:11:28] DON'T WORRY.
[1:11:29] WE WON'T TAKE IT.
[1:11:29] AND THEN THEY REJECT THE LEASE
[1:11:31] AND.
[1:11:32] SAY NOW WE GOT TO.
[1:11:33] CLOSE IT DOWN.
[1:11:34] SO IT'S PART OF THEIR LONG GAME
[1:11:36] .
[1:11:37] UH, I I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER
[1:11:39] SAYING OH, IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS
[1:11:41] BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PART
[1:11:44] OF THEIR STRATEGY TO
[1:11:46] SYSTEMATICALLY, UH, YOU KNOW,
[1:11:48] SHUT DOWN THE POSTAL SERVICE
[1:11:50] WHETHER IT'S BE INCREMENTALLY
[1:11:54] IN DEGRADING THE SERVICE IN A
[1:11:55] PARTICULAR LOCATION OR GRABBING
[1:11:58] A WHOLE POST OFFICE ITSELF THAT
[1:12:00] THAT'S THAT THAT'S THE
[1:12:01] DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING IN.
[1:12:03] UH, SO I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC
[1:12:06] ANSWER BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HAD
[1:12:08] ALREADY SAID THAT HALF OF THE
[1:12:10] HALF OF THE ANSWER TO COMBAT IT
[1:12:12] IS FIGHT IT AND DRAG IT OUT
[1:12:14] INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY BECAUSE
[1:12:17] WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS OPERATE
[1:12:19] UNDER THE RADAR IN THE DARK
[1:12:21] WITHOUT THE PUBLIC KNOWING,
[1:12:23] WITHOUT PUBLIC OFFICIALS
[1:12:24] KNOWING SO SO BUT I CAN'T POINT
[1:12:28] TO ONE THING THAT I COULD SAY
[1:12:30] WHY THEY WOULD, UH, RENEGE ON A
[1:12:34] LEASE THAT UH THAT A LANDLORD
[1:12:37] BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO BUILD TO
[1:12:39] THEIR SPECS.
[1:12:40] THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'M
[1:12:41] BASICALLY HEARING IT SO ONCE
[1:12:44] COULD BE AN ACCIDENT TWICE.
[1:12:47] AND I KNOW IF WE LOOK FURTHER
[1:12:48] THEY PROBABLY DONE IT BEFORE.
[1:12:50] I JUST WANT TO GIVE NOAH CHANCE
[1:12:52] TO RESPOND.
[1:12:53] YEAH.
[1:12:54] THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[1:12:54] UH, UM, COUNCILOR CULPEPER AND
[1:12:57] IT IS IT IS A BIT MIND BOGGLING
[1:12:59] BECAUSE IN TERMS OF WHAT
[1:13:02] CHANGED DURING THAT TIME
[1:13:03] PERIOD, I CAN SAY THAT WE WERE
[1:13:05] LITERALLY GOING BACK AND FORTH
[1:13:07] WITH THE USPS ON THEIR SPECIFIC
[1:13:10] CHANGES TO THE LEASE THAT THEY
[1:13:12] WANTED AT MULTIPLE TIMES,
[1:13:13] OF WHICH WE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS
[1:13:15] SAID YES.
[1:13:16] AND UM AND IN FACT THEY HAD
[1:13:18] SIGNED OFF ON THE WORK LETTER
[1:13:21] IN UH EARLY 2025.
[1:13:23] THEY CAME BACK TO US AND SAID
[1:13:25] NO, ACTUALLY WE HAVE YOU KNOW,
[1:13:26] FIVE OTHER CHANGES WE WANT TO
[1:13:27] MAKE TO THE WORK LETTER.
[1:13:29] WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL
[1:13:30] OF THAT AND UM AND SO IT'S IT
[1:13:33] IT'S CONFUSING TO US WHERE WE
[1:13:36] SPENT ALL THIS TIME UM EVERY
[1:13:39] MONTH WORKING WITH THEM TO GET
[1:13:41] TO THE POINT WHERE AT THE END,
[1:13:43] YOU KNOW, IN NOVEMBER
[1:13:45] ESSENTIALLY UM,
[1:13:48] OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2025 WHERE
[1:13:48] EVERYTHING HAD BEEN WORKED OUT
[1:13:50] HAD CONFIRMATION FROM THEIR
[1:13:51] BROKER UM, THEN THE REAL ESTATE
[1:13:54] SPECIALISTS THAT EVERYTHING
[1:13:55] THEN WORKED OUT THAT USPS
[1:13:58] INTERNAL LEGAL HAD REVIEWED THE
[1:14:00] LEASE AND UH AND WAS FINE WITH
[1:14:02] IT.
[1:14:02] THEY HAD COME BACK WITH TWO
[1:14:04] ADDITIONAL CHANGES WE AGREED TO
[1:14:05] THOSE UH AND THEN YOU KNOW AND
[1:14:07] THEN THERE'S TOTAL 180.
[1:14:09] SO UM, IF SOMETHING HAD CHANGED
[1:14:12] IT CERTAINLY HADN'T UM, THAT
[1:14:14] MESSAGE HADN'T GONE TO THE
[1:14:16] PEOPLE THAT WE WERE WORKING
[1:14:17] WITH THAT HADN'T GONE TO THE
[1:14:18] REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST FOR
[1:14:19] THEIR BROKER WHO'S RESPONSIBLE
[1:14:21] FOR UH, EXECUTING THESE LEASES
[1:14:24] UH, ALL THROUGHOUT THE
[1:14:25] NORTHEAST.
[1:14:26] HEY, ETHAN.
[1:14:27] WHAT EXCUSE DID THEY GIVE YOU?
[1:14:29] OH, NO.
[1:14:30] UH, FROM YOU KNOW.
[1:14:31] I'M SORRY.
[1:14:32] NO, SIR.
[1:14:34] YES.
[1:14:35] YES, THEY THEY THEY THEY'RE
[1:14:38] THEY'RE EXCUSES.
[1:14:40] UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE'RE
[1:14:41] HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
[1:14:43] AND THIS IS THE DECISION WE'VE
[1:14:44] MADE.
[1:14:45] AND SO HOW.
[1:14:46] MUCH WORK OR EXPENSE DID AIDEN.
[1:14:50] UH HOW MUCH HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN
[1:14:52] SPECIFICALLY TO ACCOMMODATE THE
[1:14:54] UPS US AND AND WHAT WORK WAS
[1:14:57] LOST.
[1:14:58] AND WHAT WAS MADE MORE
[1:15:02] EXPENSIVE.
[1:15:02] AS A RESULT OF THE LAPSE
[1:15:04] OF TIME.
[1:15:05] BETWEEN WHEN WELL STARTED.
[1:15:07] NEGOTIATING AND WHEN THE WHEN
[1:15:08] THEY PAUSE.
[1:15:09] UH, WELL I I HAVE TO ADMIT I, I
[1:15:14] HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO ACTUALLY
[1:15:15] CALCULATE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW,
[1:15:17] TIME AND MONEY WE'VE SPENT UM
[1:15:20] UH, AND YOU KNOW, LEGAL COSTS
[1:15:22] OR CONSTRUCTION COSTS BUT I CAN
[1:15:23] JUST TELL YOU CONCRETELY WE
[1:15:26] HAVE A BUILDING UNDER
[1:15:27] CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
[1:15:28] WE'VE ALREADY PURCHASED AN
[1:15:30] ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP SYSTEM THAT
[1:15:32] IS COMPLETELY TO THEIR
[1:15:33] SPECIFICATION TO INSTALL IN
[1:15:35] THIS BUILDING.
[1:15:36] YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR PAGES
[1:15:37] OF A WORK LETTER WE NEGOTIATED
[1:15:39] TOGETHER AND WE IN GOOD FAITH
[1:15:41] INCLUDED THAT ALL THAT SCOPE
[1:15:43] OF WORK IN OUR CONSTRUCTION
[1:15:45] CONTRACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NOW
[1:15:47] OWN.
[1:15:48] SO UM SO IF IF WE END UP WITH A
[1:15:52] DIFFERENT TENANT WHO CAN USE
[1:15:53] THAT EXACT AMOUNT OF SPACE AND
[1:15:56] THAT EXACT YOU KNOW HAS SYSTEM
[1:15:58] GREAT BUT IT'S IT'S UNLIKELY.
[1:16:00] SO UM, YOU KNOW THERE IS THERE
[1:16:03] IS A BUNCH OF WASTE HERE
[1:16:04] UNFORTUNATELY.
[1:16:05] AND SO MY FINAL QUESTION, MADAM
[1:16:08] CHAIR, WITH.
[1:16:08] REGARD TO THE CAUSE.
[1:16:11] IT MAKES SENSE TO AT LEAST
[1:16:12] LOOK.
[1:16:13] AT WHAT THE COST WAS THAT WENT
[1:16:15] INTO.
[1:16:15] THE WORK ALREADY.
[1:16:17] WHAT YOU MAY.
[1:16:18] HAVE LOST AND MAYBE GET BACK
[1:16:20] TO US JUST SO WE.
[1:16:21] KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN
[1:16:24] TERMS OF LOSS ON BEHALF OF EDEN
[1:16:26] PROPERTIES THANK YOU.
[1:16:28] THANK YOU.
[1:16:30] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[1:16:31] NO AND THANK YOU SO MUCH,
[1:16:32] COUNSELOR CULPEPER.
[1:16:34] UM I THINK UH THAT QUESTIONING
[1:16:36] WHICH OBVIOUSLY FROM OUR LAWYER
[1:16:38] ON THE COUNCIL UM THAT
[1:16:40] QUESTIONING IS IS IT JUST
[1:16:42] ILLUMINATES THE AMOUNT OF WORK
[1:16:44] AND TIME THAT AND HONESTLY LIKE
[1:16:47] HOW ON CALCULABLE YOU KNOW HOW
[1:16:50] IT'S VERY HARD TO CALCULATE THE
[1:16:52] TIME LOST ALSO THE COMMUNITIES
[1:16:55] ENERGY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
[1:16:57] ENERGY ALL THE ENERGY THAT'S
[1:16:58] BEEN PUT IN UM FROM THE
[1:17:00] COMMUNITY SIDE UH, TO DELIVER A
[1:17:02] POST OFFICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[1:17:04] UM AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK
[1:17:06] COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREEDEN FOR
[1:17:08] HER LEADERSHIP.
[1:17:09] UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EASY TO
[1:17:11] YOU KNOW, IT CAN FEEL LIKE
[1:17:14] INSURMOUNTABLE TO BE TAKING ON
[1:17:15] THIS FEDERAL ISSUE, BUT IT VERY
[1:17:17] MUCH IMPACTS PEOPLE ON THE
[1:17:18] LOCAL LEVEL AND OUR CITY
[1:17:20] COUNCILORS AS DISTRICT
[1:17:21] COUNCILORS WE ARE SO IN THE
[1:17:23] WEEDS AND I IT MAKES A LOT
[1:17:25] OF SENSE THAT YOU KNOW ALL THE
[1:17:26] PEOPLE HERE TODAY, UM, OUR
[1:17:28] DISTRICT COUNCILORS WHO WANT TO
[1:17:30] SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW
[1:17:32] EXACTLY HOW IMPORTANT WE'RE THE
[1:17:33] CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE AND WE
[1:17:35] KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH UM YOU
[1:17:39] KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO
[1:17:41] IMPACT RESIDENTS, UM, NOT
[1:17:43] HAVING A POST OFFICE.
[1:17:44] SO, UM SO WE URGE USPS TO TURN.
[1:17:47] OF COURSE I HOPE THAT THEY
[1:17:48] WATCH THIS HEARING.
[1:17:49] WE URGE YOU TO TURN CAUSE WE'VE
[1:17:51] RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS AND
[1:17:53] LETTERS UH, IN THIS REGARD.
[1:17:55] UM, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE OUR
[1:17:58] COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UM, LIZ
[1:17:59] BREADON THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
[1:18:01] ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND
[1:18:02] THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO
[1:18:03] PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
[1:18:05] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
[1:18:07] UM.
[1:18:08] I THINK JUST TO BE REALLY CLEAR
[1:18:09] AS IN THE PREVIOUS UM, HEARING
[1:18:12] THAT WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO
[1:18:13] WHEN COUNCILOR DUNCAN'S UH UH,
[1:18:16] IN COUNCIL DURKIN'S DISTRICT
[1:18:17] THE THE MISSION HILL POST
[1:18:18] OFFICE WAS UNDER THREAT.
[1:18:20] UH, USPS DECLINED TO ATTEND UH
[1:18:25] AND PARTICIPATE AS A PANELIST
[1:18:27] IN THIS.
[1:18:28] SO THIS FEELS LIKE A REALLY UM
[1:18:30] YOU KNOW THAT THAT OUR VOICES
[1:18:33] AND THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE
[1:18:34] THAT WE REPRESENT, THE USPS
[1:18:37] CUSTOMERS THAT THEY DON'T
[1:18:39] MATTER.
[1:18:39] SO IT'S A REAL SLAP ON THE FACE
[1:18:42] THAT IN THIS INSTANCE WHEN
[1:18:43] THEY'RE CLOSING A A REALLY
[1:18:45] IMPORTANT, UH, PUBLIC UH,
[1:18:48] AMENITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:18:50] UH.
[1:18:51] A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 30,000
[1:18:52] PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE CLOSING
[1:18:53] DOWN THE POST OFFICE AND THAT
[1:18:55] THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE
[1:18:56] RESPECT TO TURN UP AND BE HERE
[1:18:58] AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AND
[1:19:00] THAT THEY'RE DISREGARDING THE
[1:19:01] OPINIONS AND THE, UH, JUST HOW
[1:19:04] IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR OUR
[1:19:05] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:19:06] SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO GO ON
[1:19:08] THE RECORD TO SAY THAT USPS HAS
[1:19:10] DECLINED TO ATTEND THIS HEARING
[1:19:11] THIS MORNING.
[1:19:13] UM, JUST IN TERMS OF UM I KNOW
[1:19:15] WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JUSTIN.
[1:19:16] I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE UH
[1:19:18] ,FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS POST
[1:19:20] IN TERMS OF JUST PROCESS.
[1:19:22] AND AND WHAT THE BIGGER PICTURE
[1:19:24] IS LIKE.
[1:19:25] UH, I COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE
[1:19:26] ISSUE THAT.
[1:19:27] YOU KNOW.
[1:19:29] WHERE EXACTLY AND THEY'RE
[1:19:31] NOT NOT ABIDING BY THEIR OWN,
[1:19:33] UH, PROTOCOLS AND AND WHAT IS
[1:19:35] THE IMPACT OF THAT ACROSS NOT
[1:19:37] JUST HERE PARTICULARLY HERE IN
[1:19:39] IN IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT
[1:19:41] YOU KNOW, MAYBE FURTHER AFIELD
[1:19:43] IN MASSACHUSETTS.
[1:19:47] AND JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE.
[1:19:49] SOMEBODY SWITCH IT ON FOR YOU.
[1:19:51] THANK YOU.
[1:19:51] THANK YOU PRESIDENT.
[1:19:52] BREADON AND MADAM CHAIR FOR THE
[1:19:54] OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE
[1:19:55] TODAY.
[1:19:55] UH, RELATED TO THE COUNCILMAN'S
[1:19:58] QUESTION ON WHAT LAWS WE HAVE
[1:20:01] IN OUR POCKET TO UTILIZE, UH,
[1:20:03] TO FIGHT THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE
[1:20:05] POSTAL SERVICE, FRANKLY, TO
[1:20:07] ABIDE BY THEM.
[1:20:08] UH, I HAVE UH NON-EXHAUSTIVE
[1:20:11] LIST HERE, UH, WHICH IS TO BE
[1:20:13] MORE SPECIFIC TO YOUR QUESTION,
[1:20:15] THE MAIN AND MOST IMPORTANT
[1:20:19] LITERATURE THAT I HAVE CITED IN
[1:20:21] EVERY CASE INCLUDING FOR
[1:20:22] ALLSTON AND WATERTOWN, UH, IN
[1:20:24] THE BOSTON AREA IS THE POSTAL
[1:20:28] REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1970 AND
[1:20:29] THE POSTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
[1:20:31] ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006, WHICH
[1:20:32] STATES MAINLY THAT THE POSTAL
[1:20:35] SERVICE IS REQUIRED.
[1:20:39] TO PROVIDE PROMPT, RELIABLE
[1:20:40] SERVICE IN ALL AREAS AND ALL
[1:20:43] COMMUNITIES.
[1:20:44] FURTHERMORE, THEY ARE REQUIRED
[1:20:46] TO PROVIDE A MAXIMUM DEGREE
[1:20:48] OF REGULAR AND EFFICIENT
[1:20:49] SERVICE AND TO THE GENTLEMAN'S
[1:20:51] COMMENT EARLIER WHEN YOU GO TO
[1:20:53] SOMEWHERE LIKE BRIGHTON WHICH
[1:20:54] NOW HAS A LINE OUT THE DOOR,
[1:20:56] THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING EFFICIENT
[1:20:57] SERVICE ANY LONGER BECAUSE
[1:20:59] IT'LL CONTINUE TO COMPILE INTO
[1:21:02] LESS SERVICE FOR THE CUSTOMERS
[1:21:04] ,NOT ONLY MAKING THEM TRAVEL
[1:21:06] FURTHER TO OBTAIN POSTAL
[1:21:08] SERVICES BUT ALSO TO MINIMIZE
[1:21:10] THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE
[1:21:12] INSTALLATIONS THAT THEY'RE
[1:21:13] DIRECTING THEM TO.
[1:21:15] AS FAR AS THE PROCESS GOES,
[1:21:17] THERE'S NUMEROUS LAWS
[1:21:18] THROUGHOUT TITLE 39 UH, THAT
[1:21:21] THEY ARE FAILING TO COMPLY WITH
[1:21:25] UH ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE
[1:21:26] HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS OF THE
[1:21:27] POSTAL SERVICE THAT THEY
[1:21:28] PUBLISH THEMSELVES, A LOT
[1:21:30] OF THE LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE
[1:21:31] THAT WE CITE COINCIDE WITH THE
[1:21:34] LAWS UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY
[1:21:37] INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION TO
[1:21:39] CLOSE A POST OFFICE, THEY'RE
[1:21:40] SUPPOSED TO CONDUCT WHAT'S
[1:21:42] CALLED A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
[1:21:43] THERE'S MUCH CRITERIA IN THESE
[1:21:46] FEASIBILITY STUDIES THAT HAVE
[1:21:47] TO BE MET IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE
[1:21:49] DONE PROPERLY.
[1:21:49] SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT IS THAT
[1:21:52] THEY ARE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT
[1:21:54] CERTAIN DOCUMENTS UH, SUCH AS
[1:21:56] SURVEYS, UH WORKLOADS, UH
[1:21:59] DETERMINING THE EFFECTS ON THE
[1:22:01] COMMUNITY, THE EFFECTS OF THE
[1:22:03] EMPLOYEES UH, AND THE EFFECTS
[1:22:06] OF ECONOMIC SAVINGS WHICH ARE
[1:22:08] ALSO PART OF TITLE 39 AND THE
[1:22:10] HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS THEY ARE
[1:22:12] ALSO SUPPOSED TO CONDUCT AN ON
[1:22:13] SITE INVESTIGATION, UH, FOR ANY
[1:22:16] SAFETY ISSUES IF THEY'RE
[1:22:18] SUSPENDING A POST OFFICE OR
[1:22:19] SAFETY.
[1:22:20] I HAVE NOT SEEN OR BEEN
[1:22:23] PRIVILEGED ANY INFORMATION
[1:22:24] INDICATING THAT THE POSTAL
[1:22:26] SERVICE WHO ARE CONDUCTING THE
[1:22:28] OFFICIALS WHO ARE CONDUCTING
[1:22:29] THESE FEASIBILITY STUDIES HAVE
[1:22:31] CONDUCTED AN ON SITE
[1:22:32] INVESTIGATION ANYWHERE, UH,
[1:22:34] INCLUDING OUTSIDE THE BOSTON
[1:22:35] AREA.
[1:22:36] THEY ARE ALSO SUPPOSED TO POST
[1:22:38] A NOTICE AT LEAST 60 DAYS IN
[1:22:40] ADVANCE TO THE PUBLIC.
[1:22:42] TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE
[1:22:43] THEY HAVE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH
[1:22:44] THAT PROVISION AS WELL.
[1:22:46] THEY ARE REQUIRED TO POST A
[1:22:48] NOTICE OF AN OFFICIAL PUBLIC
[1:22:49] HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND
[1:22:53] RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNS TO
[1:22:54] SUBMIT COMMENT AND CONCERN AND
[1:22:58] ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE SUPPOSED
[1:22:59] TO RECEIVE THEIR COMMENTS IN
[1:23:01] WRITING AND RESPOND TO EACH
[1:23:03] OF THOSE PEOPLE IN WRITING UH
[1:23:06] WITH THEIR CONSIDERATIONS AND
[1:23:08] CONCERNS TAKEN INTO EFFECT
[1:23:09] PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION.
[1:23:11] THE POSTAL SERVICE OFFICIALS
[1:23:15] WHO WE CONTACTED FOR OUR
[1:23:18] INFORMATION REQUESTS AS FAR AS
[1:23:20] WE CONDUCT OUR INVESTIGATIONS
[1:23:21] THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE
[1:23:22] BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE
[1:23:23] POSTAL SERVICE HAVE BEEN ISSUED
[1:23:26] MULTIPLE TIMES ON MULTIPLE
[1:23:28] OCCASIONS REQUESTING ANSWERS
[1:23:30] THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND
[1:23:32] TESTIMONY TO THE COMMENT
[1:23:34] OF COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.
[1:23:36] OF WHO'S NOT SAYING WHAT WHAT
[1:23:38] DON'T WE KNOW?
[1:23:39] WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE ANSWERS
[1:23:41] TO THESE QUESTIONS THAT THE
[1:23:43] COUNSELORS ARE ASKING IN THESE
[1:23:44] HEARINGS?
[1:23:44] WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO
[1:23:45] THESE QUESTIONS ALSO IN PART
[1:23:48] OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THESE
[1:23:49] PROCESSES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
[1:23:52] RESPONDING TO OUR INFORMATION
[1:23:54] REQUESTS.
[1:23:55] NOT ONLY DOES THAT VIOLATE OUR
[1:23:57] COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS,
[1:23:58] BUT IT HINDERS OUR ABILITY TO
[1:23:59] BEAR OUR BURDEN OF PROOF TO
[1:24:02] DEMONSTRATE THROUGH THE
[1:24:03] APPROPRIATE CHANNELS AND OUR
[1:24:04] GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE THAT
[1:24:05] MANAGEMENT IS VIOLATING FEDERAL
[1:24:07] LAW AND THEY'RE NOT COMPLYING
[1:24:08] WITH THEIR OWN HANDBOOKS AND
[1:24:09] MANUALS.
[1:24:11] SO TO YOUR QUESTION OF THEIR
[1:24:13] PROCESS, ASIDE FROM THE
[1:24:17] LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT
[1:24:19] I BROUGHT TODAY WHICH I WILL
[1:24:20] MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU UPON
[1:24:22] REQUEST SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO
[1:24:23] RETAIN IT.
[1:24:26] THE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY
[1:24:28] AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS TO NOT
[1:24:31] ONLY RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM THEM
[1:24:33] AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS BUT TO
[1:24:34] RESPOND TO THEM AND THEN TAKE
[1:24:36] THOSE INTO EFFECT ALONG WITH
[1:24:37] OTHER CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO
[1:24:39] MAKING A DECISION SEEMS TO BE
[1:24:41] WIPED OFF THE TABLE AND BE NOT
[1:24:44] CONSIDERED AT ALL.
[1:24:46] UM AS FAR AS PROVIDING A VALID
[1:24:50] REASON IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT
[1:24:51] OF THE HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS.
[1:24:53] THEY CANNOT ARBITRARILY CLOSE
[1:24:54] THE POST OFFICE.
[1:24:56] THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT
[1:24:57] REASON TO DEMONSTRATE UH, NOT
[1:24:59] ONLY TO THE RESIDENTS BUT TO
[1:25:01] THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THE POSTAL
[1:25:02] SERVICE AND THEY SEEM TO BE
[1:25:03] SKIPPING OVER THAT PROVISION AS
[1:25:05] WELL.
[1:25:06] SO FROM THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT
[1:25:08] I'VE CONDUCTED SO FAR IN THE
[1:25:11] STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, IT
[1:25:12] SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE SOMEWHERE
[1:25:14] AND POSTAL MANAGEMENT IS JUST
[1:25:17] TRYING TO COVER THEIR BASES TO
[1:25:18] THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND
[1:25:20] CHECK OFF BOXES OF HEY, THIS
[1:25:23] PROVISION SAYS WE HAVE TO DO
[1:25:24] THIS SO LET'S JUST DO THAT REAL
[1:25:25] QUICK AND THEN JUST SAY WE DID
[1:25:27] IT.
[1:25:27] AND THE PARTS OF CONSIDERATION
[1:25:30] THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THEM TO
[1:25:31] TAKE SEEM TO BE TAKING A
[1:25:33] BACKSEAT AND THEY WANT TO READ
[1:25:35] IN BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE
[1:25:36] LANGUAGE AND CHERRY PICK WHAT
[1:25:38] THEY WANT TO FOLLOW AND THEN
[1:25:40] AND ILLUSTRATE TO US THAT
[1:25:42] THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE AND THAT
[1:25:44] THEY ARE DOING NO HARM.
[1:25:46] THANK YOU JUSTIN.
[1:25:47] THANK YOU.
[1:25:48] I THINK OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WE
[1:25:49] HAD A PUBLIC MEETING ONLINE
[1:25:51] THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR UM A
[1:25:55] FRIDAY AFTERNOON 1:00 1 TO 130
[1:25:58] .
[1:25:58] THEY COULD NOT WAIT TO CLOSE
[1:26:00] THE MEETING.
[1:26:01] THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT OH
[1:26:03] WE'LL TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION AT
[1:26:04] ABOUT 20 20 MINUTES INTO THE
[1:26:07] CONVERSATION AND UH, I THINK I
[1:26:09] SPEAK FOR TONY COULD MAYBE
[1:26:11] ADDRESS THIS BUT WE GOT VERY,
[1:26:12] VERY UNSATISFACTORY ANSWERS TO
[1:26:14] THE QUESTIONS AND WE HAD
[1:26:15] MULTIPLE I THINK THERE WAS OVER
[1:26:17] 100 QUESTIONS ASKED AND THE MAY
[1:26:19] I ANSWERED ABOUT 15 OF THEM.
[1:26:21] SO IT WAS A VERY UNSATISFACTORY
[1:26:23] EXPERIENCE OR SO-CALLED PUBLIC
[1:26:25] PUBLIC MEETING WAS WAS REALLY A
[1:26:27] STRETCH TO CALL IT A PUBLIC
[1:26:29] MEETING.
[1:26:31] UM UH JUST TO THAT COMMENT I
[1:26:32] JUST LIKE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT
[1:26:33] FOR A MOMENT.
[1:26:35] I BELIEVE THE REASON THAT
[1:26:35] THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING US WHAT
[1:26:37] WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THESE
[1:26:38] INFORMATION REQUESTS IS FOR
[1:26:39] THAT REASON THEY DON'T WANT US
[1:26:41] TO UNCOVER AND THEN SHED LIGHT
[1:26:43] ON ALL THESE THINGS THEY'RE
[1:26:44] SUPPOSED TO COMPLY WITH THEY'RE
[1:26:46] NOT DOING OR THEY DON'T HAVE.
[1:26:49] SO YOU KNOW, TO THAT REMARK
[1:26:51] IT'S BEEN EVIDENT TO US THAT IF
[1:26:54] THEY HAD NOTHING TO HIDE THEY
[1:26:56] WOULD GLADLY PROVIDE THE
[1:26:57] INFORMATION AND SAY SEE WE'RE
[1:26:59] DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
[1:27:00] WHAT'S THE NO PROBLEM HERE?
[1:27:02] BUT WHEN WE ASKED MULTIPLE
[1:27:03] TIMES, UH, FOR INTERVIEWS TO
[1:27:06] INTERVIEW POSTAL OFFICIALS AND
[1:27:08] OBTAIN DOCUMENTS TO ENSURE THAT
[1:27:09] THEY COMPLIED AND THEY'RE BEING
[1:27:12] EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE, WHICH
[1:27:14] IS ALSO AGAINST FEDERAL LAW
[1:27:15] THROUGH THE NATIONAL LABOR
[1:27:17] RELATIONS ACT THAT WE HAVE THE
[1:27:18] RIGHT TO THE INFORMATION, UH,
[1:27:20] TO PROCESS OUR CASES THROUGH
[1:27:21] OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
[1:27:22] AGREEMENT.
[1:27:23] IT'S BECAUSE THEY EITHER DON'T
[1:27:24] WANT US TO SEE THE DOCUMENTS OR
[1:27:26] THEY WERE NEVER GENERATED IN
[1:27:27] THE FIRST PLACE.
[1:27:28] I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE I'D
[1:27:30] LIKE TO JUST PUT ON THE RECORD
[1:27:31] IS THAT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE
[1:27:33] ARLINGTON POST OFFICE WAS IT
[1:27:35] CLOSED UH, AS AN EMERGENCY
[1:27:37] CLOSURE IN LATE 2019 JUST UH
[1:27:41] JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS LIKE
[1:27:44] IN MID-DECEMBER?
[1:27:45] UM, IT CLOSED BECAUSE THERE
[1:27:47] WERE STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE
[1:27:48] BUILDING.
[1:27:49] IT WAS IN DANGER.
[1:27:50] IT WAS DANGEROUS TO BE IN THERE
[1:27:52] AND THEY CLOSED IT AND THEN
[1:27:53] THEY SENT OUT THE VAN THE POST
[1:27:56] OFFICE FAN.
[1:27:56] UM BUT THEN COVID HIT.
[1:27:59] WE HAD A MASSIVE DECREASE IN
[1:28:01] OUR POPULATION LIKE WE
[1:28:03] RECOGNIZED AT LEAST 6000 PEOPLE
[1:28:04] LEFT ALLSTON AS A RESPONSE TO
[1:28:07] COVID.
[1:28:08] AND OF COURSE THE NUMBERS.
[1:28:11] WEREN'T AND NO ONE WAS GOING TO
[1:28:13] STAND IN THE QUEUE IN THE POST
[1:28:16] OFFICE.
[1:28:17] UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE
[1:28:18] DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE WASN'T
[1:28:21] DECREASED AT THAT TIME BUT I
[1:28:22] THINK TO USE THAT AS A
[1:28:24] JUSTIFICATION FOR CLOSING OF A
[1:28:25] POST OFFICE THAT HAS GOT IN A
[1:28:27] NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS GOT
[1:28:28] 30,000 PEOPLE IS UH,
[1:28:30] DISINGENUOUS AT BEST IT.
[1:28:32] YOU'RE BEING POLITE WHEN YOU
[1:28:34] SAY DISINGENUOUS IT THEY IT'S
[1:28:38] REALLY THEIR METHODS UH CATCH
[1:28:41] US CATCH US IF YOU.
[1:28:42] CAN BECAUSE AS JUSTIN SAID THEY
[1:28:46] HAVE SPECIFIED PROCEDURES IN
[1:28:49] ORDER TO SHUT IT DOWN BUT IT
[1:28:52] REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY.
[1:28:54] UH, AND THEY.
[1:28:55] HAVE TO.
[1:28:56] LEGITIMIZE THEIR ANSWERS.
[1:28:57] THEY CAN'T WHAT THEY'RE DOING
[1:29:01] IS JUST WRONG.
[1:29:02] IT'S CONTRARY TO TO YOU KNOW,
[1:29:04] THE STATUTES IT'S CONTRARY TO
[1:29:06] THEIR OWN, UH, MANDATES AND
[1:29:09] POLICIES.
[1:29:11] SO THE BEST WAY TO NOT GET
[1:29:13] CAUGHT IS IS TO IS TO HIDE AND
[1:29:16] THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
[1:29:18] SO EVEN WHEN YOU GET AN ANSWER
[1:29:20] IT'S A GENERALIZED ANSWER.
[1:29:21] YOU DON'T GET A SPECIFICS AND
[1:29:24] YOU'RE RIGHT THEY'RE NOT AFRAID
[1:29:25] TO USE UH SEGMENT OF TIME THAT
[1:29:28] THEY HAD DURING COVID AND
[1:29:31] PRESENTED AS AS NORMAL BUSINESS
[1:29:33] THAT THAT THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO
[1:29:36] DO THAT THEY'LL THAT'S WHAT
[1:29:37] THEY DO.
[1:29:38] UM AND LIKE YOU SAID THAT
[1:29:40] THEY'VE HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO
[1:29:41] PUT A MOBILE BRANCH OUT THERE
[1:29:44] THE ENTIRE TIME THEY'LL SIT.
[1:29:47] BEHIND THE PLANT.
[1:29:48] DOWN BEHIND SOUTH STATION.
[1:29:51] THEY'LL HAVE MOBILE.
[1:29:52] UNITS SITTING THERE NOT BEING
[1:29:55] UTILIZED WHEN THEY COULD.
[1:29:57] IT COULD BE OUT SERVICING
[1:30:00] EITHER THE ENTIRE OR AT LEAST A
[1:30:02] PORTION OF THE HOURS
[1:30:03] OF OPERATION OF ALLSTON.
[1:30:04] THEY JUST DON'T CARE.
[1:30:06] THEY DIDN'T WANT THEY THEY ALL
[1:30:08] GET THEIR BONUSES ON
[1:30:09] SUPPRESSING WORK HOURS WHETHER
[1:30:12] THEY BE REGULAR WORK HOURS OR
[1:30:13] ALL THE TIME WHATEVER.
[1:30:14] AND I WAS IN IOWA AND THEY ALL
[1:30:16] PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK WHEN
[1:30:18] THEY SUPPRESSED WORK HOURS.
[1:30:20] SO WHO'S EVER IN CHARGE OF THAT
[1:30:22] ALLSTON AREA?
[1:30:23] THAT'S THEMSELVES ON THE BACK
[1:30:24] EVERY DAY THEY DEPRIVE THAT
[1:30:26] COMMUNITY OF SERVICE BECAUSE
[1:30:28] THEY'VE HAD THE MEANS AND
[1:30:30] WHEREWITHAL TO DO IT, YOU KNOW,
[1:30:31] AND NOT NOW TO YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
[1:30:34] I KEEP GOING BACK.
[1:30:36] UH.
[1:30:37] TO TO THE PROPERTY OWNER
[1:30:40] IT'S.
[1:30:41] THE THEY THEY'VE SHOWN.
[1:30:43] THAT THEY THEY MOST.
[1:30:45] PLACES WANT.
[1:30:46] THE POSTAL SERVICE THERE
[1:30:47] LIKE IN THE STRIP MALLS IN THE
[1:30:49] SMALLER COMMUNITIES.
[1:30:50] IT'S THE ANCHOR.
[1:30:51] OF THE STRIP MALL.
[1:30:52] I GOT TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE.
[1:30:54] I'LL PICK UP MY SANDWICH OFF.
[1:30:55] I GOT TO GO TO THE POST I
[1:30:56] WAS.
[1:30:56] I'LL GRAB MY SIX PACK.
[1:30:58] WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE I'LL
[1:30:59] GO TO THE CVS SO.
[1:31:01] THE COMMUNITIES.
[1:31:03] DO WANT.
[1:31:04] THE POST OFFICE.
[1:31:04] THEY'RE NOT JUST FOR POSTAL
[1:31:06] SERVICE BUT.
[1:31:08] IT TENDS TO ENHANCE OTHER
[1:31:11] BUSINESSES.
[1:31:11] YEAH SO SO BUT THEY THEY.
[1:31:14] BUT WE I WOULD LOVE TO ADD
[1:31:16] SOMETHING TO THAT PIECE BECAUSE
[1:31:17] THE USPS USED TO BE THEY WOULD
[1:31:20] SIGN REALLY LONG LEASES AND YOU
[1:31:22] WOULD KNOW AND IT WOULD BE
[1:31:23] PREDICTABLE YOU'RE WORKING WITH
[1:31:24] THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
[1:31:26] UM THAT WAS ONE OF THE STICKING
[1:31:27] POINTS IN THE MISSION HALL
[1:31:28] LEASE.
[1:31:29] THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO
[1:31:30] VACATE WHENEVER THEY WANTED.
[1:31:31] YEAH.
[1:31:32] AND SO I GUESS IT'S REALLY
[1:31:34] IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT LIKE THE
[1:31:35] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT WOULD BE
[1:31:36] GREAT IF USPS WAS A GREAT
[1:31:38] TENANT AND WAS SIGNING TEN YEAR
[1:31:40] LEASES BECAUSE THAT MAKES
[1:31:42] SENSE.
[1:31:42] THAT'S A COMMITMENT TO THE
[1:31:43] COMMUNITY THAT THAT YOU'RE
[1:31:45] SERVING.
[1:31:46] UM AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY
[1:31:48] YOU KNOW, THE MORE THAT I HEAR
[1:31:50] ABOUT MEDFIELD AND ALL OF THESE
[1:31:51] OTHER COMMUNITIES IN WHICH
[1:31:53] THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING,
[1:31:55] UM, IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY DON'T
[1:31:57] WANT TO SIGN LONG LEASES AND
[1:31:58] THEY DON'T WANT TO BE
[1:32:00] ENCUMBERED AND I'M
[1:32:02] SORRY GOVERNMENT YOU KNOW,
[1:32:03] YOU'RE ENCUMBERED BY THE DUTY
[1:32:05] YOU HAVE TO THE PEOPLE
[1:32:06] OF BOSTON AND TO THE PEOPLE
[1:32:07] OF THE UNITED STATES
[1:32:08] OF AMERICA, YOU KNOW.
[1:32:09] AND SO IT'S IT IS UH IT'S
[1:32:12] FRUSTRATING.
[1:32:13] THEY SHOULD BE GOOD TENANTS AND
[1:32:14] THEY SHOULD BE GOOD TENANTS TO
[1:32:17] EAT AND PROPERTIES AND UH, TO
[1:32:19] HEAR NOAA'S TESTIMONY HERE
[1:32:22] ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE
[1:32:23] DONE TO BUILD IT OUT TO
[1:32:25] SATISFACTION REALLY A COMMUNITY
[1:32:27] BENEFIT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU,
[1:32:29] UH, NOAA FOR EDEN PROPERTIES
[1:32:31] WORK ON THIS UM AND TO HAVE
[1:32:33] USPS, YOU KNOW, GO BACK ON
[1:32:35] THEIR DECISION YOU KNOW WHILE
[1:32:37] THEY'RE MID BUILD IS IS REALLY
[1:32:40] INFURIATING AND CRAZY.
[1:32:42] SO UM SO NOT TO CUT OFF
[1:32:44] COUNCILOR BREADON UM,
[1:32:45] COUNCIL PRESIDENT IF YOU HAVE
[1:32:46] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BUT THE
[1:32:47] MORE WE HEAR AND THE MORE WE
[1:32:49] TALK ABOUT THE MORE THE MORE
[1:32:50] FRUSTRATING.
[1:32:52] IT JUST.
[1:32:52] SAYS OH GO AHEAD JUSTIN.
[1:32:55] THANK YOU.
[1:32:55] I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE TO
[1:32:57] YOUR COMMENT, PRESIDENT BREEDEN
[1:32:59] ON UH, STRUCTURAL ISSUES FOR
[1:33:01] POST OFFICES, UH, AND OSHA
[1:33:03] RELATED EVEN COVID IF YOU WANT
[1:33:05] TO INCLUDE IT IN THAT FOR
[1:33:06] SAFETY AND HEALTH.
[1:33:07] THIS IS A EXCERPT FROM THE OWN
[1:33:10] POSTAL SERVICE HANDBOOKS AND
[1:33:12] MANUALS THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED
[1:33:13] TO COMPLY WITH.
[1:33:14] THEY PUBLISH THEM THEMSELVES
[1:33:16] AND THIS IS FROM SECTION 213.
[1:33:18] I'D LIKE TO KNOW THIS FOR THE
[1:33:19] RECORD CIRCUMSTANCES IS
[1:33:22] INSUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY A
[1:33:23] DISCONTINUANCE STUDY.
[1:33:24] THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES
[1:33:25] CANNOT BE USED TO JUSTIFY
[1:33:27] INITIATION OF A DISCONTINUANCE
[1:33:29] STUDY IN ONE OF THOSE STATES
[1:33:31] OSHA REQUIREMENTS THE POSTAL
[1:33:33] SERVICE MAY NOT CONSIDER
[1:33:34] COMPLIANCE WITH THE
[1:33:36] OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
[1:33:37] ACT OF 1970.
[1:33:39] IN MAKING A DISCONTINUANCE
[1:33:41] DETERMINATION WHAT THEY ARE
[1:33:42] REQUIRED TO DO IF THERE IS A
[1:33:43] STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
[1:33:44] ISSUE THAT DANGERS THE PROPERTY
[1:33:47] OCCUPANTS, THE EMPLOYEES OR THE
[1:33:49] RESIDENTS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO
[1:33:52] UH SEEK COUNCILOR ON REPAIRING
[1:33:54] IT AND PROVIDE ALTERNATE
[1:33:56] LOCATIONS DURING THE QUOTE
[1:33:58] UNQUOTE SUSPENSION OF THE
[1:33:59] POSTAL SERVICE FOR OSHA
[1:34:01] REASONS.
[1:34:01] BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE
[1:34:03] LANGUAGE HERE AGAIN WHICH I
[1:34:05] WILL PROVIDE TO YOU, UM, IF YOU
[1:34:07] WISH THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED
[1:34:09] TO JUSTIFY AN INITIATION
[1:34:11] OF DISCONTINUANCE SOLELY ON A
[1:34:13] STRUCTURAL ISSUE.
[1:34:15] THANK YOU.
[1:34:16] SO.
[1:34:17] UM, I.
[1:34:18] GOT TONY NEEDS IS MIKE OKAY?
[1:34:20] THERE YOU GO.
[1:34:20] JUST, UH, JUST TO ADD ON TO THE
[1:34:23] COUNTLESS COMMENTS AND
[1:34:24] EVERYTHING, ISN'T IT A LITTLE
[1:34:26] BIT DISINGENUOUS WHEN THEY
[1:34:27] BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF THE
[1:34:29] MOBILE UNIT IN THE PUBLIC
[1:34:30] HEARING, THEY FAILED TO MENTION
[1:34:33] THAT THE MOBILE UNITS DO NO TO
[1:34:36] NO PACKAGES, NO PASSPORTS?
[1:34:40] UH NO OF COURSE P.O BOX IS
[1:34:42] BASICALLY JUST STEMS SO
[1:34:44] OF COURSE THEY MEANT TO YOU
[1:34:45] KNOW WE PUT IT OUT THERE AND IT
[1:34:46] WASN'T REALLY UTILIZED THAT
[1:34:47] MUCH.
[1:34:48] OF COURSE WHEN YOU ELIMINATE
[1:34:49] ALL THOSE SERVICES WHO WOULD
[1:34:51] END UP USING IT?
[1:34:52] AND TO REITERATE WHAT THE
[1:34:54] COUNCIL SAID ABOUT THE PUBLIC
[1:34:55] HERE, ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT ALL
[1:34:57] OF A SENSE OF OH SEVEN YEARS
[1:34:59] INTO THE PROCESS THEY'RE NOW
[1:35:00] TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE FORMAL
[1:35:03] DISCONTINUANCE PROCESS WITH THE
[1:35:04] PUBLIC HEARING THE SURVEY, THE
[1:35:07] QUESTIONNAIRE AND ALL OF THAT.
[1:35:09] THE HALF HOUR WAS A SLICK,
[1:35:13] WELL-ORCHESTRATED UH, PUBLIC
[1:35:16] HEARING ZOOM THAT I'M SURE THEY
[1:35:18] USE THAT MODEL ALL AROUND THE
[1:35:20] COUNTRY WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO
[1:35:21] CLOSE DOWN POST OFFICES.
[1:35:23] EVERYBODY MUST GET WELL TRAINED
[1:35:25] AND PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE
[1:35:27] PUBLIC AND GET THEM THROUGH
[1:35:29] THAT HEARING.
[1:35:29] IT WAS.
[1:35:30] UNBELIEVABLE.
[1:35:30] YOU KNOW, 100% RIGHT BECAUSE
[1:35:32] THEY GOT MURDERED 15 YEARS AGO
[1:35:35] WHEN THEY'D HAVE TRUE PUBLIC
[1:35:37] INPUT MEETINGS.
[1:35:38] SO NOW THEY ASK FOR QUESTIONS
[1:35:40] AHEAD OF TIME.
[1:35:41] THEY CHERRY PICK THE ONES THEY
[1:35:42] WANT TO IT'S UH THEY THEY FORCE
[1:35:44] IT IN A HALF HOUR FORUM AND GET
[1:35:46] OUT OF DODGE SO IT'S
[1:35:49] PERFUNCTORY AT BEST.
[1:35:50] HUNDRED PERCENT.
[1:35:51] YOU KNOW CHUCK IN THE BOX.
[1:35:52] UH, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
[1:35:53] JUST GO.
[1:35:54] OH NO.
[1:35:55] OKAY.
[1:35:56] UM SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
[1:35:59] FOR WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE THAT
[1:36:01] WANT TO TESTIFY.
[1:36:03] UH, MIKE DORGAN IS FIRST IN
[1:36:05] PERSON.
[1:36:05] AND A CHAIR.
[1:36:07] OH GO AHEAD COUNSELOR.
[1:36:08] QUESTION JUSTIN.
[1:36:10] ABOUT THE DISCONTINUANCE STUDY.
[1:36:12] WHERE ARE THEY IN THAT.
[1:36:14] DISCONTINUANCE STUDY AND WHEN
[1:36:16] YOU THE TWO LAWS THAT YOU CITED
[1:36:19] COULD YOU JUST CITE THOSE
[1:36:21] AGAIN.
[1:36:22] I MISSED THEM AS YOU WERE GOING
[1:36:24] A LITTLE FAST BUT.
[1:36:25] I WANT TO SEE WHERE THE
[1:36:26] DISCONTINUANCE.
[1:36:27] STUDY WAS.
[1:36:28] WE NEED THIS MIKE ON OKAY.
[1:36:31] UH THANK YOU COUNCILOR, TO
[1:36:33] ANSWER YOUR QUESTION
[1:36:34] DEFINITIVELY WE DON'T KNOW.
[1:36:35] AND THE REASON THAT WE DON'T
[1:36:37] KNOW IS AS I STATED EARLIER
[1:36:39] THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
[1:36:41] AND OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
[1:36:42] AGREEMENT WE HAVE SUBMITTED
[1:36:43] INFORMATION REQUESTS WHICH
[1:36:45] INCLUDE INTERVIEWING POSSIBLE
[1:36:47] OFFICIAL OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE
[1:36:48] WHERE THEY ARE AT, WHAT THEIR
[1:36:51] FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHO HAS
[1:36:52] AUTHORIZED IT, WHO IS
[1:36:53] CONDUCTING IT, WHERE THEY ARE
[1:36:55] IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT THEIR
[1:36:57] DETERMINATIONS ARE AND IF THEY
[1:36:59] HAVE TAKEN INTO EFFECT ANY UH,
[1:37:02] CONSIDERATION FOR THE EMPLOYEES
[1:37:03] ,THE RESIDENTS AND COSTS AS
[1:37:05] THEY'RE REQUIRED.
[1:37:07] AND AS I STATED EARLIER, THE
[1:37:09] POSTAL SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY
[1:37:11] UNCOOPERATIVE IN PROVIDING ANY
[1:37:12] OF THOSE INFORMATION OR
[1:37:14] REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE SENT.
[1:37:16] UH WE HAVE FILED CHARGES WITH
[1:37:17] THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
[1:37:18] BOARD, UH, FOR VIOLATION
[1:37:20] OF SECTION EIGHT OF THE
[1:37:22] NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT
[1:37:23] OF FAILING TO PROVIDE US TO TO
[1:37:24] THE INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR
[1:37:26] US TO PROCESS OUR CASES.
[1:37:28] UH, SO I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU
[1:37:29] WHERE THEY ARE, UH, IN THE
[1:37:30] PROCESS BUT THEY SEEM, UM, VERY
[1:37:34] COOPERATIVE IN NOT TELLING US.
[1:37:37] THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND
[1:37:39] DISCONTINUING.
[1:37:40] I'M SORRY, YOUR MICROSOFT.
[1:37:41] OFFICE THIS I.
[1:37:43] JUST WANT TO FOCUS A LITTLE ON
[1:37:45] THE DISCONTINUANCE.
[1:37:47] STUDY BECAUSE THAT WOULD LEAD.
[1:37:49] TO THE DISCONTINUANCE.
[1:37:50] THE OTHER.
[1:37:50] THING IS THOSE.
[1:37:51] TWO LAWS THAT YOU CITED IN THE
[1:37:53] BEGINNING.
[1:37:53] WERE UH, ONE OF THEM WAS THE
[1:37:57] FROM THE POSTAL REORGANIZATION
[1:37:58] ACT OF 1970, UH, AND ALSO THE
[1:38:02] POSTAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND
[1:38:04] ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006 WHICH
[1:38:06] STATES THAT THE POSTAL SERVICE
[1:38:08] IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
[1:38:10] EFFICIENT SERVICE UH, IN ALL
[1:38:12] AREAS AND ALL COMMUNITIES.
[1:38:14] AND THE REASON THAT I BROUGHT
[1:38:16] THAT UP IS WHEN THEY TAKE A
[1:38:19] POSTAL SERVICE FROM A COMMUNITY
[1:38:21] AS THE GENTLEMAN EARLIER STATED
[1:38:22] YOU CAN HAVE TEN POST OFFICES
[1:38:24] IN NEWTON BUT THE NEWTON
[1:38:26] COMMUNITY IS IN THE ALSTON
[1:38:28] COMMUNITY.
[1:38:28] SO AS SOON AS YOU TAKE A POST
[1:38:30] OFFICE OUT OF ONE COMMUNITY,
[1:38:31] THEY'RE FAILING TO COMPLY WITH
[1:38:32] THEIR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE
[1:38:33] POSTAL SERVICES IN ALL AREAS IN
[1:38:35] ALL COMMUNITIES.
[1:38:36] AND THE OTHER ONE WAS THAT THEY
[1:38:39] ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A
[1:38:40] MAXIMUM DEGREE OF REGULAR AND
[1:38:43] EFFICIENT SERVICE AND ALSO TO
[1:38:45] THE GENTLEMAN'S COMMENT WHAT
[1:38:46] THESE MOBILE POSTAL UNITS
[1:38:47] THEY'RE DOING IF THEY'RE NOT
[1:38:48] PROVIDING ALL THE SERVICES
[1:38:50] THEY'RE FAILING TO COMPLY WITH
[1:38:51] THAT LAW ALSO AND IN ADDITION
[1:38:55] THEY ARE REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE
[1:38:56] WITH TITLE 39 TO PROVIDE LETTER
[1:38:58] P.O BOX AND COLLECTION SERVICE
[1:39:00] ALONG WITH GENERALLY POST
[1:39:02] OFFICE AVAILABILITY.
[1:39:03] SO THE POSTAL SERVICE IS
[1:39:05] CIRCUMVENTING THE PROVISIONS BY
[1:39:07] SAYING WE'RE PROVIDING POSTAL
[1:39:08] SERVICE, POSTAL SERVICES AND
[1:39:11] POST OFFICE AVAILABILITY JUST
[1:39:12] OVER IN THE NEXT TOWN.
[1:39:15] SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GOING
[1:39:17] TO WASHINGTON TO PROTEST.
[1:39:17] UH-UH.
[1:39:19] WHEREVER WE GOTTA GO WE GO.
[1:39:21] THANK YOU SO MUCH
[1:39:23] COUNCILOR CULPEPER.
[1:39:24] UM AND THE PANEL IS RELIEVED.
[1:39:26] SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
[1:39:28] SERVICE TODAY AND UM, THANK YOU
[1:39:29] FOR BEING HERE.
[1:39:31] UM, WANT TO GIVE, UM, A CHANCE
[1:39:32] FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRATTON
[1:39:34] TO SAY ANY LAST REMARKS AND
[1:39:35] THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO.
[1:39:36] PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
[1:39:36] YES.
[1:39:37] UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
[1:39:38] ALL FOR BEING HERE.
[1:39:39] UM, WE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
[1:39:41] THROUGH THIS RODEO BEFORE WITH
[1:39:42] THE THE MISSION HILL
[1:39:44] CONVERSATION BUT UH, AS AS
[1:39:46] EVERYONE HAS STATED ALLSTON
[1:39:48] BRIGHTON IS IS IS A HUGE
[1:39:50] NEIGHBORHOOD WITH 30,000 PEOPLE
[1:39:52] .
[1:39:52] UH, TO TAKE THE POST OFFICE
[1:39:54] AWAY IS NOT ONLY WRONGHEADED,
[1:39:57] IT IS UNJUST AND UH, DOESN'T UH
[1:40:01] MAKE ANY SENSE FROM THE
[1:40:03] COMMUNITY POINT OF VIEW.
[1:40:04] WE NEED A COMMUNITY.
[1:40:05] WE NEED UH IT'S A BIG COMMUNITY
[1:40:07] .
[1:40:07] WE NEED A POST OFFICE.
[1:40:09] AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
[1:40:10] HERE.
[1:40:10] UH, JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
[1:40:11] WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, UH,
[1:40:14] PRESS CONFERENCE IN RALEIGH AT
[1:40:15] THE POST OFFICE SITE ON
[1:40:18] OCTOBER 5TH AT 4 P.M. UM, IF
[1:40:20] NEIGHBORS AND FOLKS WANT TO
[1:40:22] COME ALONG AND VOICE THEIR
[1:40:23] SUPPORT UH, PLEASE TURN UP UM,
[1:40:26] AND UH, YOU KNOW WHEN AS AS
[1:40:28] TONY ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, WE
[1:40:30] DON'T GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT
[1:40:32] IN ALLSTON BRIGHTON.
[1:40:33] SO, UM, I THINK, UM, THIS IS
[1:40:36] WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING QUIETLY.
[1:40:38] UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE OUR
[1:40:40] POST OFFICE AWAY WITHOUT A
[1:40:41] FIGHT.
[1:40:41] THANK YOU.
[1:40:42] UH, JUST REAL QUICK.
[1:40:43] WOULD YOU LIKE A NON-EXHAUSTIVE
[1:40:45] A COPY OF THE LAWS AND
[1:40:46] PROVISIONS THAT I'VE BROUGHT
[1:40:47] TODAY?
[1:40:48] YEAH, WE CAN PUT IT AS PART
[1:40:49] OF THE RECORD.
[1:40:49] YEAH, WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE
[1:40:50] THEM HERE FOR YOU, UH, TO
[1:40:51] ASSIST YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS.
[1:40:53] I MEAN, APPRECIATE THAT.
[1:40:54] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[1:40:54] THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
[1:40:57] OKAY.
[1:40:58] AND NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
[1:40:59] FROM MIKE JORDAN WHO'S AN
[1:41:00] AUSTIN RESIDENT.
[1:41:02] BUT I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE A
[1:41:03] CHANCE TO UM TO CLEAR THE
[1:41:07] FLOOR.
[1:41:16] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[1:41:19] THANK YOU OKAY SO MIKE YOU HAVE
[1:41:23] TWO MINUTES.
[1:41:23] THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[1:41:25] OKAY.
[1:41:26] UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[1:41:27] UM, THANK YOU TO THE, UH, MADAM
[1:41:30] CHAIRMAN, UH, PRESIDENT AND
[1:41:31] COUNCILOR.
[1:41:32] UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED IN
[1:41:35] AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
[1:41:37] UM, IT'S KIND OF IRONIC.
[1:41:39] UM, MY UNDERSTANDING LOOKING
[1:41:40] AT, UH, THE BRIGHTON AUSTIN
[1:41:43] HISTORICAL.
[1:41:43] SOCIETY IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM IT
[1:41:45] WAS THE.
[1:41:47] CREATION OF.
[1:41:48] THE POST OFFICE THAT
[1:41:49] ACTUALLY.
[1:41:50] ORIGINATED THE NAME OF AUSTIN.
[1:41:52] YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHEN THEY
[1:41:53] CREATED THE 02134 POSTAL
[1:41:56] CODE UM, IS WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT
[1:41:58] HAD THEN BEEN JUST BRIGHTON,
[1:41:59] YOU KNOW PREVIOUSLY LITTLE
[1:42:01] CAMBRIDGESHIRE UM YOU KNOW,
[1:42:04] SPLIT OFF AUSTIN UH, THE
[1:42:06] ELIMINATION OF THE AUSTIN UM
[1:42:09] BRANCH UH, IT FEELS JUST LIKE A
[1:42:13] CONTINUATION OF, YOU KNOW, A
[1:42:15] PROGRESSIVE DESIRE, UH, TO
[1:42:18] ELIMINATE AUSTIN.
[1:42:20] IDENTITY AS A SEPARATE, YOU
[1:42:22] KNOW, GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH, UH
[1:42:24] ,YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT
[1:42:25] CHARACTERISTICS HISTORICALLY
[1:42:26] AUSTIN'S BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, A
[1:42:28] POINT OF IMMIGRATION FOR LOTS
[1:42:30] OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND
[1:42:31] BECOMING U.S. CITIZENS.
[1:42:32] UM, SO WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE
[1:42:35] THAT.
[1:42:36] I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO
[1:42:37] HAVE AUSTIN HAVE ITS UNIQUE
[1:42:38] IDENTITY AS A COMMUNITY, NOT AS
[1:42:43] A DORM, UH, FOR THE
[1:42:45] INSTITUTIONS AND UH, BASICALLY
[1:42:48] I GUESS WORKING DORMS.
[1:42:49] YOU KNOW, I LIVED IN JAPAN AND
[1:42:51] WE HAD DORMITORIES FOR THE
[1:42:52] COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, ALL SINCE
[1:42:54] BECOMING A DORMITORY COMMUNITY,
[1:42:55] UH, THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE A
[1:42:57] SINGLE BEDROOM OR YOU KNOW, UH
[1:42:59] ,COMMUNITY, UH, LARGE GROUP
[1:43:02] BUILDINGS.
[1:43:03] UH, WE WANT TO PRESERVE AUSTIN
[1:43:06] AS AUSTIN AS A NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:43:07] COMMUNITY SERVING ALL PEOPLE,
[1:43:09] NOT JUST ONE GROUP.
[1:43:11] AND UH, YOU KNOW, THE
[1:43:12] ELIMINATION OF THE POST OFFICE
[1:43:13] IS, UH, JUST A CONTINUATION
[1:43:15] OF THE, UH, ATTEMPT TO
[1:43:18] ELIMINATE AUSTIN AS AN ENTITY.
[1:43:20] UH, I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED
[1:43:22] ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
[1:43:23] SUPPOSED TO BE A VERY PUBLIC
[1:43:25] PROCESS IF YOU'RE GOING TO, UH,
[1:43:27] GET RID OF A POST OFFICE AND
[1:43:29] THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE, YOU
[1:43:31] KNOW, DETAILED WHAT IS THE
[1:43:32] IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY, WHAT'S
[1:43:33] THE IMPACT TO THE LABORERS,
[1:43:35] WHAT'S THE COST SAVINGS, ETC.
[1:43:37] ETC. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY
[1:43:39] OF THAT INFORMATION.
[1:43:41] UM, YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW, AS A
[1:43:44] RESIDENT I CAN'T SAY THAT THIS
[1:43:46] HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION
[1:43:47] THROUGH THE POST OFFICE.
[1:43:48] IT'S BEEN PRIMARILY THROUGH UM,
[1:43:50] YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER SOURCES
[1:43:52] OF INFORMATION.
[1:43:54] SO I THINK THAT GOVERNMENT
[1:43:57] NEEDS TO PUSH BACK.
[1:43:58] I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S MORE AT
[1:44:00] THE STATE LEVEL.
[1:44:00] THE ATTORNEY GENERALS HAVE BEEN
[1:44:02] SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
[1:44:03] FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.
[1:44:04] UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CLEAR
[1:44:07] INJUSTICE.
[1:44:08] UM, THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THEIR
[1:44:10] OWN REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
[1:44:11] AND I THINK THEY NEED TO.
[1:44:13] THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIKE, AND
[1:44:14] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[1:44:16] UM, SO ONLINE WE HAVE UM I
[1:44:19] THINK IT SHOULD ALLEN MEGHAN
[1:44:20] MCMANUS FIRST THEN ARTHUR
[1:44:23] DOWNEY JR UM, IS ON DECK AND
[1:44:27] ANDREW FISHER IS IN THE HALL.
[1:44:55] ELAINE YOU HAVE TWO AND A HALF
[1:44:57] TWO MINUTE.
[1:44:58] THANK YOU.
[1:44:59] UM.
[1:45:00] SO HI, I'M MARLENE MCCAULEY
[1:45:01] MEEHAN.
[1:45:02] I AM A 30 PLUS YEAR RESIDENT
[1:45:06] OF AUSTIN AND BRIGHTON.
[1:45:07] UM, I ACTUALLY SAY AUSTIN AND
[1:45:09] BRIGHTON BECAUSE, UH, WHEN I
[1:45:11] FIRST MOVED HERE IT WAS
[1:45:12] DEFINITELY AUSTIN OR BRIGHTON.
[1:45:15] UM, I'M ACTUALLY QUITE PROUD
[1:45:17] OF THE FACT THAT IT IS AUSTIN
[1:45:18] IN BRIGHTON THERE WERE 87,000
[1:45:20] PEOPLE STRONG.
[1:45:22] UM NEWTON HAS 90,741 PEOPLE IN
[1:45:26] IT.
[1:45:26] THEY HAVE SEVEN POST OFFICE
[1:45:29] OFFICES.
[1:45:29] SOMERVILLE HAS 84,211.
[1:45:32] THEY HAVE FOUR POST OFFICES.
[1:45:35] I WILL TELL YOU GROWING UP THE
[1:45:37] SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ZIP
[1:45:40] CODE TO ANY GEN X PERSON WAS
[1:45:46] 021 3480 2134 BECAUSE ZOOM.
[1:45:49] TOLD US HOW TO DO A SASSY WHICH
[1:45:52] WAS A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED
[1:45:54] ENVELOPE VISIT SISTERS OF SAINT
[1:45:56] JOSEPH TAUGHT US WHAT WE NEEDED
[1:45:58] TO DO UH WITH THOSE SO I WORK
[1:46:01] FOR THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON HEALTH
[1:46:02] COLLABORATIVE.
[1:46:03] WE'RE A NETWORK
[1:46:04] OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
[1:46:04] INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO IMPROVE
[1:46:07] HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
[1:46:08] OF ALLSTON BRIGHTON.
[1:46:09] WE FOCUS ON FOOD ACCESS,
[1:46:12] TRANSPORTATION, CLEAN AIR AND
[1:46:13] EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS ROOTED
[1:46:15] IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY
[1:46:17] EMPOWERMENT.
[1:46:18] WE KNOW FROM THE HEALTHY
[1:46:20] NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE WORK
[1:46:22] THAT WE DID WITH THE BETH
[1:46:23] ISRAEL, THAT COMMUNICATION AND
[1:46:25] MENTAL HEALTH ARE HUGE
[1:46:28] COMPONENTS OF WELLNESS IN
[1:46:30] AUSTIN AND BRIGHTON.
[1:46:32] WE ALSO KNOW BECAUSE
[1:46:34] COMMUNICATION IS WHAT THE
[1:46:36] UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
[1:46:38] DOES THAT IT WOULD BE IT IS A
[1:46:40] HUGE LOSS TO NOT HAVE 02134
[1:46:45] WITH ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE, YOU
[1:46:46] KNOW, SEND IT TO ZOOM UM THERE
[1:46:50] AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE
[1:46:52] JUST RAISED THE FIFTH
[1:46:54] GENERATION OF MEANS IN UM THE
[1:46:58] AREA AND UH I HAVE TO SAY I
[1:47:02] AGREE THAT, UM, THEY'RE DOING A
[1:47:06] PRETTY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO
[1:47:08] DISMANTLE US AS A COMMUNITY BUT
[1:47:11] THEY ARE PUSHING AGAINST THE
[1:47:12] WRONG PEOPLE.
[1:47:14] WE ARE STRONG.
[1:47:15] YOU KNOW, I HAVE A.
[1:47:17] UNCLE WHO IS IN EAST HAMPTON,
[1:47:20] MASSACHUSETTS WHO IS A LETTER
[1:47:21] CARRIER STEWARD JIM MCCAULEY
[1:47:24] WHO IS YOU KNOW, SEWARD AND HIS
[1:47:26] UNION.
[1:47:26] UH, MY BROTHER'S THE LETTER
[1:47:28] CARRIER IN MASON, OHIO.
[1:47:30] I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE MAIL
[1:47:32] CARRIERS AROUND HERE ARE OUR
[1:47:35] FRIENDS.
[1:47:35] THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH
[1:47:37] THINGS.
[1:47:37] THEY KNOW OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
[1:47:39] THEY KNOW WHO WE ARE.
[1:47:42] WHAT A HUGE DISSERVICE WE ARE
[1:47:45] DOING TO OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR
[1:47:48] FRIENDS, OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE
[1:47:49] LIVING IN OTHER PLACES THAT
[1:47:50] WANT TO HEAR FROM US BY NOT
[1:47:53] OPENING 02134 BACK UP THEY
[1:47:56] REALLY LEAN.
[1:47:57] THANK YOU.
[1:47:59] OKAY ARTHUR DOWNEY JUNIOR THEN
[1:48:02] ANDREW FISHER AND THEN WENDY
[1:48:03] SCHWARTZ ARTHUR.
[1:48:13] THAT'S SOMEBODY ELSE.
[1:48:14] OKAY THAT'S NOT ARTHUR THAT
[1:48:16] MIGHT BE ANDREW.
[1:48:17] ANDREW UM THANK YOU.
[1:48:21] UM, FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO
[1:48:23] THANK YOU.
[1:48:24] UM.
[1:48:25] COUNCILMAN THE COUNCIL CHAIR.
[1:48:27] BREEDEN FOR.
[1:48:29] UH FOR ALLOWING.
[1:48:30] ME TO SPEAK.
[1:48:31] BUT ALSO.
[1:48:31] FOR.
[1:48:31] UM, LEADING.
[1:48:32] THIS.
[1:48:33] UM, BATTLE.
[1:48:35] THAT IS A NECESSARY BATTLE.
[1:48:36] WE NEED TO FIGHT.
[1:48:38] UM.
[1:48:38] MY NAME.
[1:48:39] IS ANDREW FISHER.
[1:48:40] I LIVE.
[1:48:41] AND HAVE LIVED.
[1:48:41] FOR.
[1:48:42] UM.
[1:48:43] CLOSE TO 40 YEARS.
[1:48:45] UH.
[1:48:46] IN BROOKLINE.
[1:48:48] UM, NEAR.
[1:48:49] UH.
[1:48:51] ABOUT UH, 100.
[1:48:52] YARDS FROM THE.
[1:48:54] UM FROM THE.
[1:48:56] BRIGHTON LINE.
[1:48:57] I'M I ATTEND.
[1:48:58] SYNAGOGUE IN BRIGHTON.
[1:48:59] AND UM.
[1:49:00] AND AS I HAVE FOR.
[1:49:02] AS LONG.
[1:49:03] AS I'VE LIVED HERE.
[1:49:05] UH AND I'VE.
[1:49:05] BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
[1:49:06] UM.
[1:49:08] JEFFREY AND EILEEN DUBIN.
[1:49:09] AND OTHER NEIGHBORS.
[1:49:11] UH.
[1:49:12] IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY
[1:49:13] STRUGGLES.
[1:49:14] AND EFFORTS.
[1:49:15] UM.
[1:49:17] THIS IS NOT.
[1:49:18] ABOUT JUST ABOUT THE UM.
[1:49:24] ALLSTON BRANCH OF THE POST
[1:49:27] OFFICE.
[1:49:27] THIS IS ABOUT.
[1:49:29] A MUCH BROADER.
[1:49:30] EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN THE POST.
[1:49:32] OFFICE AND.
[1:49:33] ALLOW PRIVATE.
[1:49:33] INDUSTRY TO TAKE OVER.
[1:49:35] UH, THIS.
[1:49:36] AFFECTS US ALL.
[1:49:37] UH, FIRST OF ALL, I USE.
[1:49:40] ,UM NOT JUST THE.
[1:49:42] THE BROOKLINE.
[1:49:43] UH.
[1:49:44] COOLIDGE CORNER.
[1:49:45] BRANCH WHICH I'M OBLIGED TO USE
[1:49:47] NOW BECAUSE THE WASHINGTON
[1:49:50] SQUARE I'M SORRY.
[1:49:51] THE.
[1:49:52] UM.
[1:49:54] BROOKLINE VILLAGE.
[1:49:56] BRANCH HAS BEEN CLOSED.
[1:49:57] FOR SOME.
[1:49:58] TIME AND UH, BECAUSE OF, UH, UM
[1:50:02] ,FIRE IN THE FLOOR.
[1:50:03] UPSTAIRS AND IT'S NOT THE OPEN
[1:50:05] AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING
[1:50:07] TO BE AN EXCUSE TO NOT REOPEN
[1:50:09] IT.
[1:50:09] IT'S MADE THE LINES AT
[1:50:11] COOLIDGE.
[1:50:11] CORNER LONGER.
[1:50:13] UM, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY
[1:50:15] YOU COME UM.
[1:50:18] IT IT'S TRUE.
[1:50:20] I ALSO USE THE, UH, UM,
[1:50:24] BRIGHTON BRANCH ON WASHINGTON
[1:50:26] STREET, UH, WHICH IS ALSO
[1:50:28] BECOME UH FROM A TIME WHEN IT
[1:50:31] WAS ALWAYS A UH A QUICK WAY TO
[1:50:33] GET IN AND OUT AND IT'S ALSO UH
[1:50:36] NOW MORE CROWDED CLOSING THE
[1:50:38] ALSO BRANCH WILL ONLY MAKE
[1:50:40] PROBLEMS WORTH WORSE NOT JUST
[1:50:41] FOR AUSTIN BUT IT.
[1:50:43] THIS IS A SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPT TO
[1:50:45] CLOSE THE UM.
[1:50:46] THE UM POST OFFICE SYSTEM.
[1:50:50] UM.
[1:50:51] UH I'M.
[1:50:52] A RETIRED LAWYER.
[1:50:53] I, UH, LEARNED MUCH OF WHAT I
[1:50:55] KNOW ABOUT FIGHTING UM, THE MEN
[1:50:58] WHO ARE FIGHTING THE
[1:50:59] ESTABLISHMENT FROM UH, MY UH.
[1:51:04] UH UM, PARTNER IN UH IN LAW UH
[1:51:07] NOW COUNSELOR CULPEPER UM.
[1:51:10] AND I WANT TO.
[1:51:11] SAY AS AN ATTORNEY.
[1:51:12] UM, THIS IS NOT JUST A BREACH
[1:51:14] OF CONTRACT ALTHOUGH IT IS A
[1:51:16] BREACH OF CONTRACT.
[1:51:16] IT'S NOT JUST A BREACH
[1:51:20] OF FEDERAL STATUTES.
[1:51:22] AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE
[1:51:23] UNION, UH, POINTED OUT, THIS IS
[1:51:26] A CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION.
[1:51:28] THE UM.
[1:51:30] KNOW THE UM.
[1:51:36] HOLD ON IT.
[1:51:39] I DON'T HAVE HAD IT HERE.
[1:51:41] THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDREW.
[1:51:43] YOU'RE A BIT OVER, SO.
[1:51:44] MAY I, UH, JUST CONTINUE ONE
[1:51:46] MORE THING.
[1:51:47] UM.
[1:51:50] YES.
[1:51:51] GO AHEAD.
[1:51:52] I'VE CONCLUDED.
[1:51:53] I JUST THINK IT'S MORE THAN, UM
[1:51:55] THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL
[1:51:57] QUESTION.
[1:51:57] THE RIGHT THE RIGHT TO A POST
[1:51:59] OFFICE IS EMBEDDED IN THE
[1:52:00] CONSTITUTION AND THIS IS A, UM,
[1:52:05] FIGHT FOR, UM, OUR RIGHTS UNDER
[1:52:07] THE CONSTITUTION AS WELL.
[1:52:09] IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL
[1:52:10] VIOLATION.
[1:52:10] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[1:52:11] THANK YOU.
[1:52:12] ANDREW.
[1:52:12] UM, WENDY SCHWARTZ.
[1:52:17] I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
[1:52:18] SPEAK AND I WANT TO EXPRESS
[1:52:20] VERY DEEP APPRECIATION.
[1:52:23] TO ALL OF THE PANELISTS.
[1:52:25] I KNOW THEY'RE GONE.
[1:52:26] FOR PARTICIPATING AND FOR THEIR
[1:52:28] EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF GETTING
[1:52:30] THE POST OFFICE BACK TO ALLSTON
[1:52:32] AND TO COUNCILOR BREDON, I
[1:52:34] REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS
[1:52:35] HERE.
[1:52:36] UM I AGREE OF COURSE WITH
[1:52:38] WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
[1:52:39] I AM IN ALL OH TWO AND THREE
[1:52:42] FOR HOMEOWNER FOR 2021 YEARS.
[1:52:49] UM AND I AGREE THAT IT'S A
[1:52:51] CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.
[1:52:53] I THE INCONVENIENCE OF NOT
[1:52:55] HAVING A POST OFFICE IS
[1:52:57] TANGIBLE AND MEASURABLE.
[1:52:59] I MEAN NOBODY'S MENTIONED THE
[1:53:00] COST IN TIME.
[1:53:01] I MEAN YOU'VE MENTIONED IT IN
[1:53:03] VARIOUS WAYS STANDING ON LINES.
[1:53:05] UM, AND I'M WONDERING IF
[1:53:07] THERE'S A LAWSUIT COMING UP OR
[1:53:10] IF THERE CAN BE A LAWSUIT
[1:53:12] BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
[1:53:14] IS NOT LIVING UP TO ITS
[1:53:15] OBLIGATIONS AND THE FACT THAT
[1:53:19] IT REVERSED ITSELF I THINK IS
[1:53:22] JUST UM, INAPPROPRIATE AND THAT
[1:53:26] WE SHOULD KEEP FIGHTING AND GET
[1:53:30] OUR POST OFFICE BACK.
[1:53:33] SO I CAN'T ADD MUCH MORE THAN
[1:53:34] THAT, BUT I HOPE THIS EFFORT
[1:53:37] WILL CONTINUE.
[1:53:38] THANK YOU.
[1:53:38] THANK YOU SO MUCH WENDY.
[1:53:40] AND I THINK WE NOW HAVE ARTHUR
[1:53:43] DOWNEY JR ON AS WELL.
[1:53:44] SO HE'S GOING TO GO NEXT.
[1:54:05] OKAY ARTHUR YOU HAVE TWO
[1:54:07] MINUTES.
[1:54:08] OKAY.
[1:54:09] FIRST AND FOREMOST UM I WANT
[1:54:12] TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
[1:54:13] BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO
[1:54:15] ATTENTION AND I REALLY
[1:54:17] APPRECIATE THAT.
[1:54:17] UM, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN 25
[1:54:20] YEARS.
[1:54:20] UM, I'M THE PROUD SON OF A
[1:54:22] FATHER WHO WORKED FOR THE POST
[1:54:24] OFFICE FOR 40 YEARS WHO HAD TO
[1:54:26] RETIRE IN 94 AFTER HAVING A
[1:54:28] QUADRUPLE HEART ATTACK.
[1:54:29] UM, IT ABSOLUTELY BREAKS MY
[1:54:31] HEART THAT THE POST OFFICE IS
[1:54:33] IN THE STATE IT'S IN BECAUSE I
[1:54:35] GREW UP WITH A DEEP AND
[1:54:36] PROFOUND REVERENCE BECAUSE THE
[1:54:38] POST OFFICE PROVIDED FOR MY
[1:54:40] FAMILY AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE
[1:54:43] WITHOUT THE POST OFFICE.
[1:54:44] UM, EVER SINCE THE AUSTIN
[1:54:45] BRIGHTON POST OFFICE CLOSED I
[1:54:48] HAVE HAD OVER 30 PACKAGE
[1:54:50] THEFTS.
[1:54:51] I RECEIVED MAIL FROM OTHER
[1:54:53] BUILDINGS.
[1:54:54] UH, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO FILE
[1:54:56] COMPLAINTS WITH THE POST
[1:54:57] OFFICE.
[1:54:57] IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
[1:54:59] UM, I NEVER GET REFUNDED.
[1:55:00] I HAVE TO GO THROUGH OTHER
[1:55:01] ISSUES.
[1:55:01] I'VE HAD TO FILE POLICE
[1:55:03] REPORTS.
[1:55:03] IT'S ABSOLUTELY INSANE TRYING
[1:55:05] TO DEAL WITH THE PARADE AND
[1:55:06] POST OFFICE.
[1:55:07] UM, AUSTIN NEEDS THIS POST
[1:55:08] OFFICE DESPERATELY.
[1:55:09] I'VE LOST SO MUCH MONEY.
[1:55:11] I'VE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH
[1:55:13] FRUSTRATION.
[1:55:14] UM.
[1:55:14] AND I HAVE TO HAVE MY PACKAGES
[1:55:16] DELIVERED TO A COMPLETELY
[1:55:18] DIFFERENT CITY IN ORDER FOR
[1:55:19] THEM NOT TO GET STOLEN, AND
[1:55:21] THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
[1:55:22] UM, I SO WE NEED THE POST
[1:55:24] OFFICE DESPERATELY.
[1:55:25] SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
[1:55:26] TIME AND I'LL SEE EVERYONE.
[1:55:27] TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH AT FOUR.
[1:55:29] TAKE CARE AND HAVE GREAT DAYS.
[1:55:31] THANK YOU SO MUCH, ARTHUR.
[1:55:32] UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS
[1:55:34] I'M GOING TO READ BEFORE WE END
[1:55:36] THIS HEARING.
[1:55:36] UH, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUBLIC
[1:55:39] TESTIMONY, UM, VIRTUALLY AND
[1:55:41] AND ONLINE AND AND LETTERS.
[1:55:43] UM, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
[1:55:44] IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM,
[1:55:47] A COMMUNITY LIKE ALSTON THAT
[1:55:49] HAS LOST ITS POST OFFICE OFTEN
[1:55:51] PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE OFF WORK,
[1:55:54] UM, TO COME AND MAKE SURE THAT
[1:55:56] THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.
[1:55:57] THEY HAVE TO THEY HAVE JOBS.
[1:55:59] UM, A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE
[1:56:01] EMAILED US UM, HAVE UH OUR
[1:56:03] SENIORS OR HAVE DISABILITIES.
[1:56:05] AND SO THOSE ARE UM BECAUSE
[1:56:07] THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MOST
[1:56:09] DEEPLY IMPACTS THOSE ARE THE
[1:56:11] DISABLED YOUNG PEOPLE.
[1:56:14] UM, PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE BANK
[1:56:16] ACCOUNTS OFTEN.
[1:56:16] UM, SO THE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC
[1:56:18] TESTIMONY WE'VE RECEIVED, UM,
[1:56:21] IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT
[1:56:23] THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.
[1:56:24] SO I JUST WANT TO READ UM, SOME
[1:56:26] OF THE SELECTED TESTIMONY THAT
[1:56:27] MY STAFF SELECTED.
[1:56:28] YES.
[1:56:29] ONE IS FROM JOAN PASQUALE.
[1:56:31] GOOD MORNING COUNCILORS.
[1:56:32] AS A 75 YEAR OLD SENIOR WITH
[1:56:34] MOBILITY ISSUES HAVING TO
[1:56:35] TRAVEL TO BRIGHTON CENTER OR
[1:56:36] COOLIDGE CENTER, COOLIDGE
[1:56:37] CORNER IN BROOKLINE TO ACCESS
[1:56:39] THE POST OFFICE IS EXTREMELY
[1:56:40] DIFFICULT.
[1:56:41] I'M ONE OF MANY SENIORS ON
[1:56:42] COMMONWEALTH AVENUE.
[1:56:44] UM IN MY ALLSTON NEIGHBORHOOD
[1:56:45] THAT SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.
[1:56:47] A POST OFFICE IN ALLSTON IS NOT
[1:56:48] JUST DESIRED.
[1:56:49] IT IS NEEDED FOR MULTIPLE
[1:56:51] REASONS.
[1:56:51] ALLSTON BUSINESSES AND
[1:56:52] RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
[1:56:54] TRAVEL TO NEIGHBORING TOWNS TO
[1:56:55] TRANSACT POST OFFICE BUSINESS.
[1:56:57] THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE
[1:56:58] POST OFFICE IN EVERY CITY AND
[1:57:00] EVERY UM MASSACHUSETTS TOWN.
[1:57:03] YET THE US POST OFFICE SERVICE
[1:57:05] HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN
[1:57:07] REESTABLISHING A POST OFFICE IN
[1:57:08] ALLSTON.
[1:57:09] REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR
[1:57:10] THE POST OFFICE CLOSURE OR
[1:57:12] REPLACEMENT, ALLSTON POST
[1:57:12] OFFICE LOCATION SHOULD BE
[1:57:14] DESIGNATED TO ACCOMMODATE
[1:57:15] ALLSTON BUSINESSES AND
[1:57:17] RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
[1:57:18] MY THIS CORRESPONDENCE SERVES
[1:57:19] AS MY WRITTEN SUPPORT
[1:57:21] OF REESTABLISHING THE POST
[1:57:22] OFFICE.
[1:57:22] AND THIS IS FROM JOAN ON
[1:57:24] COMMONWEALTH AVENUE.
[1:57:25] UM THIS IS FOR MILES.
[1:57:26] I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ON THE
[1:57:28] RECORD THAT ALLSTON DESERVES
[1:57:28] ITS OWN POST OFFICE.
[1:57:30] I I I HAVE A I HAVE A FAMILY
[1:57:33] MEMBER IN THE POST OFFICE WHO
[1:57:35] HAS TOLD ME THAT USPS DOES NOT
[1:57:36] INTEND TO BRING BACK POST
[1:57:37] OFFICE TO ALLSTON AND THAT MY
[1:57:39] OWN AND THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT
[1:57:41] MAKE OUR LIVES AS RESIDENTS
[1:57:43] MORE DIFFICULT.
[1:57:44] IT MAKES MAIL CARRIERS JOB FAR
[1:57:46] MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BACK
[1:57:47] AND FORTH FROM THE CENTRAL POST
[1:57:48] OFFICE NEAR SOUTH STATION.
[1:57:50] ALLSTON DOES OFTEN DOES NOT GET
[1:57:52] THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND
[1:57:53] PROTECTIONS AS OTHER BOSTON
[1:57:54] NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I AM TIRED
[1:57:56] OF SEEING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND
[1:57:57] VIBRANT COMMUNITY CRUMBLE DUE
[1:57:59] TO GOVERNMENT NEGLECT,
[1:58:00] PREDATORY LENDING AND CORPORATE
[1:58:01] INTERESTS.
[1:58:02] I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR NEARLY TEN
[1:58:04] YEARS AND WATCHING OUR
[1:58:05] ALLISON'S DETERIORATION HAS
[1:58:06] BEEN HEARTBREAKING.
[1:58:07] I WANT SO BADLY TO STAY HERE,
[1:58:09] BUT IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN OUR
[1:58:10] SOCIAL SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE
[1:58:11] TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
[1:58:13] A POST OFFICE AND A COMMUNITY
[1:58:14] CENTER SHOULD BE THE BARE
[1:58:15] MINIMUM FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD AS
[1:58:16] LARGE AND AS DENSELY POPULATED
[1:58:18] AS THE OLSON.
[1:58:18] THANK YOU.
[1:58:19] MILES, THIS IS FROM MARIE.
[1:58:22] DEAR COUNCILOR BREADON AND
[1:58:23] MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I
[1:58:24] WANT TO SUBMIT MY TESTIMONY IN
[1:58:25] STRONG SUPPORT OF KEEPING
[1:58:26] ALLISON'S POST OFFICE OPEN.
[1:58:28] THE BOSTON POST OFFICE PROVIDES
[1:58:29] ESSENTIAL POST OFFICE SERVICES
[1:58:30] FOR MY COMMUNITY.
[1:58:32] CLOSING THIS FACILITY WOULD
[1:58:34] CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INCONVENIENCE
[1:58:36] FOR THOSE THAT RELY ON IT.
[1:58:38] REDIRECTING RESIDENTS TO THE
[1:58:39] BRIGHTON POST OFFICE IS NOT A
[1:58:40] VIABLE ALTERNATIVE.
[1:58:41] THAT LOCATION IS ALREADY
[1:58:43] HEAVILY UTILIZED AND ADDING
[1:58:44] OLSON'S TRAFFIC CREATES
[1:58:45] UNNECESSARY STRAIN ON STAFF,
[1:58:47] FACILITIES AND CUSTOMERS.
[1:58:48] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[1:58:49] THIS IS SOMEONE FROM BRIGHTON
[1:58:52] UM TO HERE.
[1:58:53] AS A LONGTIME ALLSTON RESIDENT,
[1:58:55] I USED ALLISON'S POST OFFICE
[1:58:57] BIWEEKLY FOR OVER 20 YEARS
[1:58:58] BEFORE IT CLOSED.
[1:58:59] IT WAS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
[1:59:01] WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,
[1:59:02] SHORTER LINES AND OTHER
[1:59:04] BRANCHES AND IT WAS A TRUE
[1:59:05] PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[1:59:06] NONE OF THE OTHER BRANCHES ARE
[1:59:07] CONVENIENT TO ME AT ALL.
[1:59:08] THE COOLIDGE.
[1:59:09] CORNER BRANCH HAS RUDE
[1:59:11] UNPROFESSIONAL STAFF AND WAIT
[1:59:12] TIMES OF UP TO 30 MINUTES.
[1:59:13] THE BRIGHTON BRANCH IS TOO FAR.
[1:59:15] WHEN I HAVE PACKAGES DELIVERED
[1:59:16] FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THEY
[1:59:18] AUTOMATICALLY SHIPPED TO THE
[1:59:19] BRIGHTON BRANCH WHICH IS
[1:59:21] EXTREMELY BUSY WITH LONGER WAIT
[1:59:23] TIMES AND IS A HUGE
[1:59:24] INCONVENIENCE FOR ME TO GET
[1:59:25] THERE.
[1:59:25] I KNOW MANY ELDERLY, DISABLED
[1:59:27] AND NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING
[1:59:28] RESIDENTS OF ALLSTON WHO HAVE
[1:59:29] RELIED ON THE AWESOME POST
[1:59:31] OFFICE ARE NOW LEFT IN HARDSHIP
[1:59:32] BY THE CLOSURE OF THE POST
[1:59:34] OFFICE ON HARVARD AVENUE FROM
[1:59:37] GLORIA.
[1:59:37] DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CITY
[1:59:38] COUNCIL AS YOU WERE PROBABLY
[1:59:39] AWARE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, USPS
[1:59:41] HAS CLOSED OUR POST OFFICE IN
[1:59:43] ALLSTON.
[1:59:44] THAT FACILITY PROVIDED
[1:59:45] IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR
[1:59:46] NEIGHBORHOOD.
[1:59:47] NOW ALLSTON RESIDENTS WHICH
[1:59:49] TRAVEL TO BRIGHTON POST
[1:59:50] SERVICES TO ACCESS THE SAME
[1:59:52] SERVICES.
[1:59:53] THIS IS NOT CONVENIENT OR
[1:59:55] POSSIBLE FOR MANY RESIDENTS.
[1:59:56] OUR COMMUNITIES WITH
[1:59:57] POPULATIONS OF A SIMILAR SIZE
[1:59:59] HAVE MULTIPLE POST OFFICE
[2:00:01] FACILITIES.
[2:00:01] HOWEVER, AFTER COMMITTING TO
[2:00:03] REESTABLISHING THE NEW POST
[2:00:04] OFFICE IN ALLSTON, USPS HAS
[2:00:06] WITHDRAWN THAT DECISION.
[2:00:07] I ASK THE COUNCIL TO DO
[2:00:08] EVERYTHING AND THAT IS POSSIBLE
[2:00:10] TO HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
[2:00:11] REOPEN A RETAIL POST OFFICE IN
[2:00:12] ALLSTON.
[2:00:13] I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[2:00:15] GLORIA ALLSTON RESTAURANT.
[2:00:16] WE'VE RECEIVED MANY MORE
[2:00:18] PROBABLY LIKE 10 OR 12 SINCE
[2:00:19] THIS HEARING HAS STARTED AND I
[2:00:21] KNOW IT WILL.
[2:00:21] THEY WILL CONTINUE TO POUR IN.
[2:00:23] THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT UM
[2:00:26] TOPIC UH, FOR US TO BE
[2:00:27] COVERING.
[2:00:28] UM, DESPITE US NOT HAVING UM,
[2:00:30] YOU KNOW, UNILATERAL POWER OR
[2:00:32] REALLY ANY POWER IN THIS MATTER
[2:00:33] .
[2:00:34] OUR POWER IS REALLY IN, UM,
[2:00:36] CREATING AND UM, CONVENING THE
[2:00:38] VOICES OF ALLSTON RESIDENTS AND
[2:00:40] MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VOICES
[2:00:41] ARE HEARD.
[2:00:42] UM, AND AS MANY OF MY
[2:00:44] COLLEAGUES SHARED, THEY FEAR
[2:00:45] FOR THEIR POST OFFICES AND SO,
[2:00:47] UM, AS A UNILATERAL BOSTON CITY
[2:00:49] COUNCIL, WE ARE STANDING WITH
[2:00:50] OUR PRESIDENT.
[2:00:51] UM, TO DEMAND THAT ALLSTON
[2:00:54] REESTABLISH A POST OFFICE.
[2:00:56] UM, AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO
[2:00:58] THANK EDEN PROPERTIES, UH, NOAH
[2:00:59] FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
[2:01:01] IT REALLY SHINED A LIGHT ON THE
[2:01:03] LEVEL AND THE AMOUNT UH AND THE
[2:01:05] TIME AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE
[2:01:07] BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE
[2:01:08] SURE THAT US SPACE IN THIS
[2:01:10] COMMUNITY BENEFIT WOULD BE, UM
[2:01:12] ,REESTABLISHED IN THE
[2:01:13] COMMUNITY.
[2:01:14] UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, I WANT TO
[2:01:16] THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[2:01:17] BREEDEN.
[2:01:18] DO YOU HAVE ANY LAST REMARKS?
[2:01:19] NO.
[2:01:19] JUST.
[2:01:21] JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE I
[2:01:22] KNOW FOLKS HAVE JOINED US UH,
[2:01:25] VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON AND
[2:01:26] THANKS TO A WONDERFUL PANEL
[2:01:28] THIS MORNING AND, UH, I WOULD
[2:01:30] JUST SAY THAT THE FIGHT
[2:01:31] CONTINUES.
[2:01:31] THANK YOU.
[2:01:32] ABSOLUTELY.
[2:01:33] THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[2:01:34] BREEDEN.
[2:01:34] UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, DOCKET
[2:01:37] 1338 IS ADJOURNED AND WILL
[2:01:39] REMAIN IN COMMITTEE.