For the record, my name is Sharon Durkin, District Eight City Councillor, and I'm the chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Planning Development and Transportation.

Today is April 6th.

The exact time is ten oh two AM.

This hearing is being recorded.

It is also being live streamed at Boston.gov backslash city dash council dash TV and broadcast on Exfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, BIOS Channel 964.

Written comments may be sent to the committee, email at ccc.plan d E V at Boston.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all counselors.

Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing.

The individuals will be called on in the order in which they signed up, and we'll have two minutes to testify.

If you are interested in testifying in person, please add your name to the sign-up sheet near the entrance of the chamber.

If you are looking to testify virtually, please see our central staff liaison, Shane Pack at Shane dot PAC at Boston.gov for the link, and your name will be added to the list.

Today's hearing is on Docket O one seven eight.

Order for a hearing to discuss dedicating the new open space at Phillips Square to Tooney Lee Plaza.

This matter was sponsored by Counselor Edward M.

Flynn and was referred to the committee on January twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-six.

Today I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, lead sponsor, Counselor Flynn, and Councillor Murphy.

Okay, perfect.

Okay, for Mandarin or Cantonese.

I'd like to start with an opening statement from the lead sponsor, Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, before I begin, could I just take one moment just to make sure everybody is settled with interpretation and everyone has the right technology, the right headphones.

I just want to make sure everyone is included as part of this hearing.

Let me just ask the interpretation team.

The language and communication access.

Okay, you just gave me the thumbs up.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for holding this important hearing for our neighbors in Chinatown and the South End.

Over the last eight years, I have made language and communication access a critical part of any discussion in the neighborhood, and it's important that we have any meeting, any public meeting in either or Cantonese and Mandarin.

And that's that's important.

I want to say thank you to the interpreters and the language access team that is here.

A project has been initiated by the Boston Transportation Department to redesign the area of Harrison Avenue known as Phillips Square, into a more welcoming in cooling open space in a neighborhood impacted by the heat island effect.

The project will include a plaza that intersects with Oxford Place, the childhood home of Toonie Lee.

We're also honored to have Tooney's daughter with us here this morning.

And I know she'll be on a panel and will offer testimony.

We also know that Chinatown's urban tree canopy, only seven percent the least open space per capita among neighborhoods in the city.

Both as the chief of planning and design for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, their Department of Urban Studies.

Tuny Lee worked tirelessly to save working class neighborhoods and communities of color from destruction and demolition as memorialized in the book People Before Highways.

Toonie Lee mentored multiple generations of urban planners and community activists, not just here in Boston, but across the world, really.

Tooney Lee was an avid historian of Boston Chinatown, who led projects to explore the community history and historic streetscapes.

And more importantly, or as importantly, it's an opportunity to listen, listen carefully to the residents of Chinatown and the South End about what's important to them.

Honored to represent the residents of Chinatown, the South End.

I represent the largest Asian community in the city of Boston in language and communication access is a critical part of that representation.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Counselor Murphy.

Thank you.

Thank you to the residents who showed up.

We're happy to be have you here with us and hear directly from you.

But I want to thank Councillor Flynn for bringing this forward and always being such a strong advocate for the Chinatown community.

And I know I've been with you many times, Councilor Flynn, at events throughout Chinatown, where we're advocating for more open space, the health concerns, the heat island that we know Chinatown deals with all the time, the high rates of asthma, all of the concerns that we have to continue to advocate for in this area.

And happy to support this proposal.

I know this is a quarter-acre place that used to be a parking lot, which now is a public pedestrian area with artwork and a space for the neighbors to go and just looking forward to finding ways that we can make this possibility.

So we're just happy to be here and supporting Council Flynn and the community.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Um and now we have Amy Courting here, who's the director of engineering, uh, probably wearing multiple hats right now, I imagine the transportation department.

So Amy, thank you for being here.

I know how busy you are.

Um do you want to give an opening statement?

Uh uh, yeah.

So uh the city has had a tactical plaza out at this location um for many years.

We're moving into uh the design of the full plaza um and and what that will look like.

Um I think that this here is largely about how we name and dedicate uh these spaces.

Um so uh right like if the intention here is the Tuney Lee Plaza at Phillips Square.

I'm here to uh write, I guess discuss the um the steps that we take to uh to formally name and dedicate the space.

Thank you so much.

Well, I guess I'll then I'll um go to the lead sponsor.

Um I'm not gonna time you, Councilor Flynn.

I know this is a deeply important issue to you, so um, so feel free to ask as many questions as you like of the administration.

Thank you thank you, madam chair, thank you, Amy.

Amy, just for the record, could you just give us a little background on the design of the plaza?

What is taking place?

Uh yeah, so um we're happy to s to give you the full uh right uh design plans and everything, and there's a uh website um for Phillips Square on on the city's um page that I walks it through.

Uh but it's basically uh uh formally reconstructing the space that has now been um kind of done over in paint um and taking up all the excess space in that uh intersection to provide uh pedestrian plaza um and and kind of just there's a lot of pavement out there um and we were able to demonstrate, I think in the tactical way, uh what kind of space could be reclaimed um and now we are looking at what could go in there.

Uh it's actually uh right uh quite a nice plaza space uh with right like plantings, benches, uh gathering spaces, um, and and it's meant to kind of uh really formalize that as a as a pedestrian space for the neighborhood.

What is the budget to not just to design the the full plaza but to implement the infrastructure changes?

I do not know that off the top of my head, um, but I can absolutely provide that information for you.

Okay, maybe maybe through the chair, may I receive that information?

Yep, sorry, can you say it again?

It would it was the how much would it be for the design phase of the plaza but also the implementation of the infrastructure of those changes?

Okay, thank you.

Basically, how much of how much the budget is?

I'll get you the full design and construction budget.

No, that's that's excellent.

Thank you, Amy.

Um Amy, tell me about as we know Chinatown has the lowest um tree canopy percentage per capita of any neighborhood.

What is what is the plan in terms of ensuring that we get more trees um open space in in the area?

Uh so I the plaza does complain uh contain a variety of trees and additional uh plantings um for just that um I think that wherever uh it could be done, um, there's some interesting subsurface utilities that are happening, but we uh certainly at all the corners of the plaza.

I think that there was a opportunity to add uh uh trees and landscaping.

Thank you.

Uh maybe my final question.

Can you um give us give us a um a little bit of background information on the the process of changing a name or adding a name that fits in with the community, fits in with the Phillips Square name.

Give it just give us a uh a background on the logistics of how that would work, please.

Yep, so uh the plaza was dedicated in 1894 to uh Phillips and are I think that we have with a new plaza here, we have the ability to dedicate a city asset um with a name.

Um so this plaza could uh be dedicated uh to me Lee, and it would be uh the Tuney Lee Plaza at Phillips Square.

Uh there would be a separate process for dedicating a square or renaming a square.

Um, but if the intention here is to dedicate the plaza at Phillips Square, uh that dedication process uh happens within the streets cabinet.

are I think that we have with a new plaza here we have the ability to dedicate a city asset um with a name um so this plaza could uh be dedicated uh to me and it would be uh the two neely plaza at Phillips Square uh there would be a separate process for dedicating a square or renaming a square um but if the intention here is to dedicate the plaza at Phillips Square uh that dedication process uh happens within the streets cabinet at the streets cabinet okay I know the second panel will discuss more well discuss that as well but um I know the community does want to continue working with the team Amy and we've we appreciate the cooperation and the ongoing uh the ongoing dialogue so I want to say thank you to you Amy um madam chair um I have no further questions thank you counselor Flynn I just wanted to follow up on one of your questions um what obviously I have a petition here that's been um put forward by the community I was just curious w how it gets scheduled to be on the PICS agenda so it depends on right like if this is a uh asset dedication so a plaza dedication um I we would probably do the dedication in conjunction with the like formal um uh right ribbon cutting of the plaza it would it would probably be the formal dedication uh it's the process through us is largely just the documentation and we record it at the registry of deeds uh to to formally name it it goes in the city's street book um and all of that stuff uh is is relatively easy we can slide that into any sort of PIC process and then there is a uh process with the abutters is that correct so that's only if we are changing a name um of something the dedication of a uh a city asset within a right of way is largely done so that's only for roads not for not for plazas okay that I was just curious about that um counselor Murphy um thank you Amy for being here and the information you shared do you see um any issues or concerns that could pop up and maybe not directly in your department you did mention the streets cabinet kind of it falls on them ultimately uh yeah so uh the Streets Cabinet is right it falls on us to largely push the paper uh but I think that it is largely done based on a recommendation that comes through the neighborhood uh right the the mayor's office um so like we have done right bridge dedications and um I was gonna ask that like how often do you see this happening and what other types of city assets are we naming uh so we just renamed the North Washington Street Bridge Street O'Russell Bridge we have the Ray Flynn Bridge um and those are our city assets within uh right right of ways um and so that's just a a dedication process a square dedication is a is a separate process but we're not uh impacting the existing square dedication here so it wouldn't require uh right dedication or renaming separate step right okay just making sure that with having you here with that knowledge that we're giving the residents you know all the information they may need to make sure that they do this properly so yep no I think that we have everything that uh that we need I think we just needed to kind of be uh right clear about what we were doing with uh with uh dedicating a plaza within a named square and just making sure that everybody understood what that meant I think that we have what we need uh we need to make sure that we are doing it uh right uh coordinated with the the ongoing project so that um all this will be ready to go uh and the uh plaza can be dedicated right for uh ribbon cutting and do you have a timeline on when that uh I will I I I there is a timeline on here but I want to make sure that that is the most up to date one and I'll give you that with the budget.

Awesome oh thank you thank you Chair um counselor Flynn do you have any other questions for Amy or would you like to move to the next panel?

Yeah thank you madam chair I I just want to say that uh thank you to Amy and looking forward to uh continuing to work with you on your team thank you yeah thank you Amy and um I know that you have other commitments today but I just wanted to make sure that you could commit to watching every minute of the rest of the hearing so that you know that these residents have been heard.

Oh absolutely um and they know where to find us but yeah we're um we're we're happy to continue um working through this awesome okay getting it all lined up thank you you are relieved okay and now we'll we'll hear from our second uh panel Alice Kane the Chinese Historical Society Kayla Lee on behalf of two Neely's family Dr.

Carolyn Crockett um feel free to grab a seat Angie Lu from the Asian CDC and Chinatown Master Plan Committee Shahua Q uh sorry if I'm getting this wrong um Chinatown resident and Lydia Lowe from the Chinatown community land trust and commemoration commission and feel free to sit in any order

And I know we're sharing mics, so just make sure when you're speaking that the mic is close enough to you.

Um then I'll wait for him to turn on those mics as well.

Perfect.

Um so feel free to go down the line and introduce yourselves briefly.

Good morning.

My name is Alice Kane.

Uh I'm with the Chinese Historical Society of New England.

Hi, I'm Kayla Lee Tunney Lee's daughter.

I'm Carolyn Crockett, a professor at MIT in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Tunney's Department.

I'm Ian Chi Liu.

I'm the executive director of the Asian Community Development Corporation in Chinatown.

My name is Bao Lin Kwan.

I'm from Chinese Progressive Association.

I am the company organized.

I now bought see what's living in 86A Harrison Avenue.

That's moved to uh Pember Price.

Yeah.

Lydia Lowe, I'm executive director of the Chinatown Community Land Trust and a member of the Boston Commemoration Commission.

Wonderful.

So I want to thank you all for being here.

Um thank you for spending time out of your busy days to um to be in this space with us and to discuss this uh the matter at hand.

I want to start with the lead sponsor with any questions that he has specifically for the panel.

Thank you, madam chair, and want to say thank you to all of the community panel for being here for the important work you do in Chinatown throughout throughout Boston as well, but also respecting and advocating for immigrants, advocating for the Asian community and advocating for social and economic justice for immigrants and working class residents.

Um language and communication access is a big part of this hearing.

It's about listening to you, um, and listening to the residents about what's important, uh, what you have what your thoughts are, what your feelings are, and then we act as a city council.

But I'm honored to be here to represent this community in in in really to listen and had an opportunity to briefly um speak with um Kayla Lee this morning, uh daughter daughter of of um of Tooney, and want to say thank you to the important work that your mother has done, um, building building a strong and vibrant neighborhood that respects immigrants that respects our Asian roots and heritage.

Um why is this why is this project important to the community?

Why is this project important to you?

And is this a good way to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional contributions that your mother has made to Boston's Chinatown and um in the city of Boston as well.

Yeah, yeah, just can you turn that mic on?

Yeah.

Should I just read my speech?

Oh, yes.

That might be a good idea.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, that'll that'll include it.

Okay, okay.

So on behalf of our family, I want to thank you for considering the naming of Tani Lee Plaza.

This would be a great honor and a fitting one for our father, who grew up in Boston's Chinatown and always held it close to his heart long after he moved out.

My father arrived at the East Boston Immigration Center in 1938.

He turned seven during the long voyage from his hometown in Toyson, China.

Tunney's father brought him straight to his grandparents' apartment at 5 Oxford Place, where he spent the next several years until the family moved a few blocks away to Hudson Street.

Tunney learned English at the Quincy School, helped out in his grandparents' grocery store on Beach Street, played on the stoops and in the streets with his friends, and would later describe Chinatown as a village.

He loved how everyone looked out for each other.

Having traveled from the other side of the world, he found community and a deep sense of belonging.

In his life he traveled far, but he would always see Chinatown as his home.

The construction of the Central Artery and the Mass Pike Extension and their impact on Chinatown made a deep impression on Tunney.

Residents were displaced, buildings demolished, and neighborhoods destroyed.

In some ways, he spent the rest of his professional life at the Boston Redevelopment Authority in the Massachusetts Division of Capital Planning and Operations and at MIT, rectifying the city planner's deep disregard for Chinatown's residents.

Engaging community voices in planning was a key lesson he imprinted on his students in his many decades of teaching and mentoring.

As an urban planner, Tunney's work and teaching were devoted to creating welcoming, functional, and beautiful public spaces through a process inclusive of the community.

He brought that vision to the work he did in the South Cove with Asian Community Development Corporation and with the Chinese Historical Society of New England, among others.

Urban planning is of necessity about change in progress, but it is also about preserving what is vital and historic.

Finding that balance is key.

Tunney was amazed at Chinatown's resilience and evolution, and he was dedicated to chronicling both in his last major project, the Chinatown Atlas, a website which is about to be published in book form by MIT Press.

We appreciate your consideration of naming the plaza after Tunney.

The community made him who he was, and he spent his life advocating for and growing with Chinatown, always honoring the voices and needs of the community.

Thank you, Kayla.

Um, before I begin, does anyone else want to um offer any opening statement?

Yeah, if anyone has anything here has something to say.

Yeah, yes, I think go ahead.

Yes.

Sorry, that's what I was intending.

Hello again, my name is Alice Kane.

I'm the current managing director of the Chinese Historical Society of New England.

Um, Tani was a terrific volunteer with our organization.

And today I'd like to highlight just a few uh historical points about the area uh in the plaza that's being uh renamed or named.

Um the historical society's mission is to document, preserve, and share the history and legacy of Chinese immigration to New England.

Um of our ongoing activities is a tour of which this area is one of our scopes.

Excuse me, could I interrupt you for one second?

Yes, sir.

We might be having a challenge with the interpretation.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Okay.

Yep.

I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Yeah, I just speak up with you.

Okay.

So early Boston was a peninsula peninsula whose South Cove included today's Harrison Avenue, Beach, Tyler, and Hudson Streets.

By the mid-19th century, the South Cove was home to a vibrant immigrant community of Christian Arabs and Greeks who were joined by Chinese immigrants sometime in the 1870s.

Boston Herald account described the buildings numbered uh 32 through 38 and a half, Harrison Avenue, uh, as being Boston's Chinatown.

Uh Hong Far Low was the uh first Chinese restaurant in the city, opened at number 36 Harrison Avenue in 1879.

The area's row house architecture featured shop space at the ground level and three stories of living space above.

However, this architecture on Harrison Avenue changed in 1893 and 94 when the city decided to widen it for better access of street railways through this neighborhood.

Chinese residents lost their housing and businesses with this demolition and moved further into the South Cove.

This same stretch of Harrison Avenue witnessed the 1903 police raid that followed the funeral of Wang Ya Shong, a Tong murder victim.

Long planned for, police and U.S.

immigration authorities used the opportunity the funeral presented to round up Chinese at this event.

Local newspapers reported on the chaos of foot chases on Harrison Avenue and the use of number 19 Harrison Avenue as a holding area for apprehended Chinese awaiting transportation.

The operation overall was considered a success in catching 45 persons who did not have identified papers.

Forwarding a few decades later, Tani Lee lived his childhood in Oxford Place, a small street between Phillips Square and 28 Harrison Avenue, and became aware and remembering of the area's history through his life.

After a productive career in academics and in public service, Tunney Lee coordinated a collaborative project with our society, members of the MIT community and others that combined his love of Chinatown and of history.

The project was the Chinatown Atlas, which sought to understand and tell the story of Chinatown's history, dynamics, and context.

With the hope of future generations appreciating and preserving the community's vitality.

For his public and academic work as well as the positivity of his work on the Chinatown Atlas against the early history of Chinatown.

Tunney is firmly connected here and deserves to be recognized.

Our society believes that it would be appropriate to dedicate this space near Phillips Square to Tunney, who grew up near here in advance of this particular activity.

We have collected petitions supporting the naming of the plaza, which I will forward at another point.

We hope that this body will support our name and request.

Thank you.

Good morning, counselors Durkin, Flynn, and Murphy.

Thank you so much for having us here for this really important time of community and time of testimony.

I'm Carolyn Crockett.

I'm a professor of urban planning history and policy at MIT.

I am really proud to be in and to sit inside of Tunney's department.

It still feels that way each day, so I'm here to just bring a few reflections based on Tunney's impact on the field of planning.

As we have heard, Tunney was a towering giant of creativity, compassion, and intellectual power who understood how cities work best.

He learned this from his many travels and adventures, his values, and especially from his beloved Boston Chinatown neighborhood.

It is an honor to come here and speak and to think about how his legacy can be enshrined and enmeshed inside of the very fabric of the city by naming this plaza in his honor.

I read a little bit from MIT's website that describes Teddy, who is again someone who's very present for us as faculty and his students and alums each day.

An architect by training.

Lee was an accomplished planner, historian, and community activist at MIT.

His research focused on the process of community-based design with a particular interest in high-density urban settings or crowded places.

He led frequent collaborations between MIT students in Boston area neighborhoods.

His approach to urban planning and architecture emphasized how fields, how these fields could be harnessed to empower and enhance the lives of people.

When approaching design, Tunney viewed the built environment through the lens of how individuals would construct, use, live, and interact with the creations of planners and architects.

He said it's about understanding institutions.

And if you knew, or if you had the pleasure or honor of knowing Tunney, you know that Tunney always wanted to look inside of institutions, inside of buildings, inside of houses for how people lived.

And that was core to his practice and core to his impact.

Tunney's impact is all around us and continue to shape the field of urban planning and architecture.

Tunney understood cities and the built environments that they contained as fundamentally about people knowing each other, people taking care of each other, people listening to each other.

These kinds of ideas about mutuality and care represent the cutting edge of design and urban policy today.

But Tunney had already understood and mastered these ideas more than 60 years ago in his teaching and professional practices near and far.

Some of you may be familiar with the development of Tent City, which is at 130 Dartmouth Street.

In working with residents and Tent City, Tunney designed something called the Total Studio, which was very powerful in bringing planners and architects together, fields that sometimes exist, like they have a cement wall between them.

They do not interact.

Tony's create Tunney's creation of the Total Studio was a visionary breakthrough opportunity to again to bring together planners and architects to think about how to bring a community vision into the 269 mixed income units that make up Tent City today.

Continues to be a breakthrough and visionary approach to practice and also teaching and bringing together fields that are typically separate.

Tony also, Tunney also was deeply involved in the fight to stop I-95.

Some of you know I wrote a book about this People Before Highways, my interviews and conversations with Tunney make that story possible.

And in that story, he talks about being a young planner and what it meant to sit down with residents in Cambridge and Boston to tell them that it was possible to stop a highway, which people did not believe.

Tunney worked with residents using many of his experiences and some of his frustrations in Boston Chinatown to make the defeat of I-95 possible.

Tunney also worked in other parts of the country, including Washington, DC, where he had practice there.

He was also a lead planner for Resurrection City in Washington, DC, which was a 1968 encampment for 3,000 people on the Washington Mall that was meant to be as a temporary and functional city to house protesters that were engaged in Dr.

Martin Luther King's final campaign, final movement, the poor people's movement.

Tunney was instrumental in the four person planning team to lead that successful encampment and campaign.

His impact is also felt far beyond the United States, as many of you may know.

His projects include the launch of the Department of Architecture at Chinese University of Hong Kong, which he founded.

This department would go on to become the University School of Architecture in Hong Kong.

If you know anything about Tunny, what you know is that Tunney played for the long game.

He understood that conversations, listening, community building was about building generations of connection, of care and mutuality.

He did not espouse or support the 20th century's, the 20th century's obsession with displacement, with change, with erasure.

Tunney again played for the long game in a century and now and then really focused on disposability on the next new thing.

Tunny again played for the long game.

He said yes to us.

He said yes to life, he said yes to people.

And I hope you will say yes to Tani on this day.

Thank you.

Um about this proposal to name the new plaza at Phillips Square in Chinatown to honor Tani Lee.

So again, I'm Ann Gilu.

I'm the current executive director of the Asian Community Development Corporation in Chinatown, or ACDC for short.

We are a nonprofit community-based organization focused on preserving and strengthening Chinatown through affordable housing, financial wellness, and resident and youth leadership programs.

Tunney was a co-founder of our organization in 1987, alongside a group of dedicated community activists, some of whom grew up in Chinatown like he did, and experienced firsthand the urban renewal and displacement in the 1950s and 60s.

As you already heard earlier from Alice, Kayla and Carolyn, Tunney was a very well-respected urban planner who had a long career with the city of Boston as well as teaching at MIT.

But I think his heart really belonged to Boss's Chinatown.

uh of the 1950s and 60s as you already heard uh earlier from Alice um Kayla and um Carolyn Tani was a very well respected urban planner who had a long career with the city of Boston as well as um teaching in MIT but I think his heart really belonged to Bas's Chinatown and I just also want to highlight that um as a planner from that era he brought a really unique perspective because this was an era where urban planning was dominated by a top-down philosophy um and wholesale eminent domain so the fact that he was able to really value um the importance of listening to community residents' voices that was something really unique I got to know him for a number of years before he passed away in 2020 and I still remember uh vividly um seeing him walking through Chinatown um with his backpack and his presence and wisdom at many community meetings advocating for low-income immigrant residents he did not mince his words when it came to development pressures gentrification or lack of open space in Chinatown for many years he was a critical and steady presence at the monthly Chinatown master plan community meetings where we would discuss and debate about development proposals planning and zoning and he was critical in guiding the committee in thinking about how the Chinatown community could better hold the city and developers accountable.

Through his actions he set an example for us and he mentored several generations of Chinatown leaders and activists.

Given that the city and the Chinatown community have been collaborating on redesigning Phillips Square into a more user friendly open space we believe that the this presents a unique opportunity to name that new open space after Tani Lee to honor his legacy in this community the new plaza as you heard will be just steps away from his childhood home on Oxford Play and the improved designs will provide a much needed open space in a neighborhood that has the lowest tree canopy coverage and the least amount of open space per capita in the city thank you for the opportunity to testify and I ask that you support this proposal to name the new open space at Phillips Square after Tani to honor his legacy hi uh good morning counselor good morning my name's Ba Lin Kwang I am the staff in CPA.

CPA have the statement I will uh uh give the statement later uh my coworker but right now I want to uh say huh will share the lesson experience how to use the park but before she said the story I just want to let everyone know the China central Chinatown is not only the business is a lot of lesson living there is uh today suppose the Hong Long House Mr Yi will be here but uh he cannot come today because I have the doctor appointment but he he said in his building Hong House 15x his total is uh 75 unit and he said in their building so many elderly they use the walk out they need to use this space uh in the Philips and the other building over there is uh most a lot of elderly uh I think some uh less than we'll testify later is one one five Chansi Street uh I was living in Chan Street before uh they used that uh open space a lot too uh see for uh she's living uh she was living in 86 a hard sin street before a total 24 unit something got the bovatu phone so yeah what you find it uh the bong yeah uh she just says she was living in 86 a Harrison I didn't Councillor know that building right as she said the building is really hot ton uh total 24 unit but most of the tenant because they cannot use the AC in the uh in their building during the Shambhana they uh neighbor all go outside stay in the park uh or open space until to 2 or 3 a.m and then come back home sleep and see really important is for the uh children or the elderly or the family use the green space uh depth depth air that's a why hope can more treat

But most of the tenant, because they cannot use the AC in the uh in their building.

Do you think the Shambhorn High the uh neighbor all go outside, stay in the park uh or open space until to two or three AM, and then come back home sleep.

And see, really important is for the uh children or the elderly or the family, use the green space uh depth air.

That's a why hope can more tree in that place.

Uh say, I hope the council or city can uh uh use the money for this patch as soon as possible because our key, our family or elderly one to see this happening soon, and then make everyone can more help for uh the environment more progressive in Chinatown.

I try my best to do the interpretation.

I hope you understand.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm Lydia Lowe.

I'm the director of the Chinatown Community Land Trust and also a member of the Boston Commemoration Commission, and I'm happy to close up the panel in asking that uh this project at Phillips Square be named as Tani Lee Plaza and to underscore as um uh Shahua just did that um you know this project, the implementation implementation of this project is very important for the health and well-being of Chinatown and particularly the residents in the central business district of Chinatown, where Tunny grew up.

Um I'm not gonna go over the same, a lot of the same history that many other people spoke about about Tunny's childhood in Chinatown, his you know, very illustrious career, and that you know, throughout that career, that he always maintained what he said was a basic concern for the quality of people's lives and respect for all those involved in planning and creating buildings, including the people who will inhabit the buildings, co-workers, construction workers, owners, developers, fellow colleagues.

Tunney was the person who could talk to everybody and urged us all to come together for the good of the community.

He was also uh he also pioneered uh many um efforts to research and lift up Chinatown history, um, which he believed was very important for us to learn, um, starting uh launching projects like the Chinatown Atlas, um, which people spoke about, and also um encouraging us to activate Chinatown stories leading to our project, the Immigrant History Trail.

At a well-attended charret for this Phillips Square project last spring, Chinatown residents and community workers of all ages gathered around tables with maps and pictures to develop a vision for that project at Harrison Avenue between Essex Street and Oxford Place.

There were five different breakout groups, and amazingly, when the five different groups reported on their ideas, a common idea emerged that this project and this area could bring visibility to Chinatown's history and stories.

That became a theme of the project.

And project designers proposed a sidewalk of tiles marking Chinatown history.

Harrison Avenue and Oxford Place has been already identified as the priority site for a new city historic marker.

Across the street, the mural tied together by a thousand threads hangs at 1525 Harrison Avenue.

A marker on the immigrant history trail hangs on the union building of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union at Harrison and Beach with a shifting lenticular photograph of garment workers from the 1930s and 1960s.

And artist Wen T Sen, who was the first to propose this naming and is in the audience today, will soon install a life-size bronze statue of a garment worker on Harrison Avenue as well.

So naming the proposed streets project, Tunny Lee Plaza is not only an appropriate way to honor the contributions of an important Bostonian, but it would also be a keystone for implementing a broader vision of Harrison Avenue as a major corridor of Chinatown as a historic and cultural district that celebrates its decades as an anchor neighborhood for immigrant working class families and small businesses.

And finally, I want to speak to the support of the street improvement project itself.

Chinatown is one of the densest neighborhoods with a lack of open space and particularly impacted by extreme heat.

On hot summer nights, Phillips Square is filled with tenants sitting outdoors as they try to cool off.

The shade, greenery, and cooling features in the proposed design are urgently needed.

Just checking.

Okay.

So we're gonna hold for a second.

Okay.

Do you guys have a different device?

Let me see what we can do.

Okay.

Do you should we maybe pause the hearing?

Maybe the main hearing.

I'm gonna call a brief recess for a couple minutes just so we can get this under control.

Okay, we are back.

Um thank you all for your patience.

Um, so I know that Lydia Lowe was um giving an incredible history, and so I just want to, Lydia, if you're able to go back a little bit.

I know we missed, I think we probably missed a minute of your of what you said, translated.

Okay, I guess I'll go back to saying that naming this proposed project, Tunny Lee Plaza.

It's not only an appropriate way to honor the contributions of an important Bostonian, but it would also be a keystone for implementing a broader vision of Harrison Avenue as a major corridor of Chinatown as a historic and cultural district that celebrates its decades as an anchor neighborhood for immigrant working class families and small businesses.

And this is something that Tunney always reminded us that Chinatown has always been a working class neighborhood.

Finally, I want to speak in support of this street improvement project itself.

Chinatown is one of Boston's densest neighborhoods with a lack of open space that is particularly impacted by extreme heat.

As you heard, tenants in the older upstairs housing stock in the commercial subdistrict are some of those most vulnerable to extreme heat with inadequate or even no air conditioning and sometimes living in overcrowded apartments.

On hot summer nights, Phillips Square is filled with tenants sitting outdoors as they try to cool off.

The shade, greenery, and cooling features in the proposed design are urgently needed for heat mitigation.

So we urge you to support the naming of Tunney Lee Plaza and to fully fund this important street projects in a neighborhood with a pressing need for open space improvement and heat mitigation.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Lydia.

And just hearing all of the incredible testimony here today.

So just really grateful for all of your time.

Oh, and we have been joined by Councillor Minyard Cole Pepper from District 7.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And we we listened closely to the panel and want to say thank you to the panel for the moving testimony you provided.

It was very helpful to us.

And what I learned most, or one of the significant things I learned is the economic justice movement in Chinatown was really a result of the activist in the community, including including Tunny and the way he the way he brought this issue forward.

It's on the right of the mass pike, it's on uh on the highway system, the truck route from basically Maine to Florida across the strait is the salt station where the buses are on and the trains are running.

And you know, we we see the environmental challenges we've had.

We the the scientist community said that Chinatown had the highest rate of asthma of any neighborhood neighborhood.

I was with city council at the time, maybe city councillor woo with the United Concerned Scientist make him up with that study.

Um but let me ask um let me ask Tooney's daughter um why was environmental justice um so important to to your father and why um why will this why will this renaming um puts put more focus on the issue of economic justice, environmental justice in is that something that is that something that is is is significant to you and your family I guess that you know I mentioned briefly in my little talk that um I think growing up in Chinatown and seeing the disregard of the planning system and what that did to his community just uh I think implanted in him a pretty deep sense of injustice and I think that that that basically informed his his whole career.

Um he was deeply driven by those values.

You know, he uh Carolyn mentioned it.

I think everybody basically mentioned that he was he cared about people.

The work he did was planning and it was architecture, and he used his experience and his skills in that to improve people's lives.

And I don't know what more I can add to that, but he was just that was it for him.

And I I do feel that this project, and again, Lydia said it, everybody has said why it makes so much sense.

There's just so much uh it would I think yes, create sort of a long-lasting legacy, not just to my father, but to his values, right?

Sort of like what he cared about and what Chinatown meant to him is sort of uh maybe a microcosm of greater justice in the world for it.

I don't know if that answers your question.

No, it it certainly does, and thank you, and thank you to your father's commitment to economic justice, social justice.

Yeah, and thanks thanks for considering it.

It feels very um momentous.

No, thank you.

Um we're honored to have you here.

Let me ask a question to uh Dr.

Carolyn Crockett.

We listened to the testimony here about how Tani treated people and how important it was for residents to be re to be respected and treated with dignity, especially before um, especially when there's a project going on or advocating for something.

But do you, as a as a professor, teach your students some of the lessons that Tani demonstrated throughout his life in terms of bringing people together, listening to people, respecting each other, community engagement, um, how all that impacts in the um in government.

Yes, uh, absolutely thanks for the question, Councillor Flynn.

Um you know Tony was the planner's planner, sort of he was very much uh ahead of his time uh and someone who was thought of as a renegade in the field in the best possible way and continues to be understood based on these principles of listening, of thinking about the the needs of people letting people's needs and their own power decide what plans um and designs are.

Um and I think it well, I know for me in my courses, it is really important for students to understand who he was as a person, as a faculty member, as the as the head of our department, and someone who was really who had his his foot firmly in the academy and firmly in the world, so two feet.

And so your question about government service and practice and policy.

I mean, Tunney was in this very building working and thinking as the head of planning for the BRA, um, someone who was uniquely engaged, deeply engaged in government, but also his career, as his daughter was just saying, was so informed by what he saw happening in Chinatown and how residents were treated and mistreated often uh based on expansion of the city, highway expansion, and he told he told a story about residents in Chinatown coming to him when they received letters saying that their homes were going to be taken or demolished because of the expansion of the mass pike, and now people were so um confused and scared, and Tunney being able to talk to people about what to do, how to get redress.

Um I'm sure not only was he a good neighbor, but was in he was angered rightfully so by the misstep and overreach of government, and that's something that those personal experiences, both his own, his own neighbors, um what was happening in Chinatown provided like a textbook for his practice and his professional trajectory.

And so I do teach that in class about what it means to take your values and your experiences seriously.

Um certainly in my own my own story um is is echoes some of that.

Uh Tunney was also my teacher, will always be my teacher as someone who understood that you can take people's experiences, um, take entire communities' experiences seriously and let that create a path to uh a deeper sense of equity and justice.

That is certainly the case in Boston.

And so for us at MIT in the planning department, and certainly I would argue in the architecture department.

Um his example is one that continues to inform and instruct how to teach planners and architects who want to be in sync with and understand uh higher levels of justice and equity that have to be informed by how people live.

I'm sorry for such a long answer, but your question is so important and provocative and gets right to the core of why we're here.

So absolutely, um, and in it it is something all of us should have a plaza that makes us stop and say, hmm, who was Tunney Lee?

What was his life and what does it mean for this community?

And this is a great opportunity for that.

Right.

Thank thank you, Carolyn.

And um, I'm gonna ask one more question.

I do want to give an opportunity for my colleagues to to ask questions.

Um but maybe maybe I'll go to Alice and Alice.

And Alice, one sub one part of the discussion we, I think Carolyn kind of mentioned it briefly.

But one thing we really didn't discuss was the you know the anti-Asian racism that we've seen across the country.

We we just look at the example of the building of transcontinental railroad built mostly by the Chinese laborers, Irish laborers, the Chinese laborers didn't get any recognition, uh, weren't treated, weren't treated with respect, that famous photo outside of Salt Lake City when they were doing basically the ribbon cutting.

There wasn't one Chinese person or Asian person, I should say.

But what impact did racism have on the Tani or the or the his generation in terms of teaching or working in an environment that wasn't always that welcoming to Chinese or Asian educators or leaders in the city, and certainly tearing down the highway system had an impact, and I thought I think some of that was uh racist as well.

But what do you what are your thoughts as a historian that studies these issues through through through many years the the Chinese in the United States have experienced uh discrimination and harassment because of being misunderstood.

Um many people did not take the time to know the Chinese better uh to understand the culture, the work ethic behind what motivated them to be where they were.

I mean, they the first Chinese coming to the United States were just like anybody else.

Uh there were difficulties at home in terms of governmental conflicts, um, uh natural disasters.

So they, as anybody else else in in the world, uh we're looking for different environment.

And I think that what the Chinese experienced through the many years of this of the exclusion acts is certainly you know uh despicable.

However, it also led to many of them to rise above what they were experiencing to see beyond the immediate difficulties and challenges that they had.

And I think that Tunny is a wonderful example of rising above what he and other members of the community were experiencing to try and give a better quality of life to everybody involved.

Um I hope that that answers a bit uh of your question.

Um in dealing with this question uh overall.

Um I've been asked this on on different from different angles, and I think that it's important to know that the people who were here before us, uh yes, had many, many challenges, but those that really uh strive to be better have um have come out um on top, if you will uh in the community and to give back just like Tunny does uh did in his own time.

Well, well, thank you, Alice.

The the answer was excellent, and want to say thank you to you also for educating Chinese, but also the general public about the contributions, the the sacrifices that the Chinese Chinese American community has made to our city and to our to our nation.

I've seen it firsthand serving serving in the U.S.

Navy for 20 something years and on active duty and serving in a war, but I've I've served alongside you know Asian Asian American young men, young women willing to risk their life, and they're they're they're as American as as I am, and I still think about them risking their life for our nation, but on the other side, on the other hand, I think of their um their parents or their nephew or the niece or their grandmother in great cities like Boston or Chicago or San Francisco still being subjected to racism.

But I I do want to say thank you to you and to the Chinatown community for um always always educating us on how important and significant the contributions of the Chinese and Chinese community are to our city and to our country.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Flynn, um, and thank you to this amazing panel.

Um so next we're going to go to Councillor Murphy and then Councillor Culpepper.

We don't have any time limits, so just ask what questions you'd like to ask of the panel.

Thank you.

Um thank you to the panelists.

I want to thank you, Councilor Flynn and your team for convening this outstanding panel.

When we have, you know, a group like Alice from the Chinese Historical Society, Kayla, obviously here for your dad, your family, Dr.

Crockett from MIT, Angie from the Asian C Z C D C in Chinatown Master Plan, Shalwa, thank you for your, I think I pronounced correctly.

Thank you for your, you know, just testimony.

And I'm not in Chinatown often after dark, but um do know during the day, see that you know what little open spaces there are there are definitely used.

So um, and also Lydia from the community land trust in BCC.

Just wanted to name that again.

So if anyone's listening in, just hearing, you know, this expert panel who knows better than um, you know, any one of them, or at least me, so want to thank you.

And wanna just say how you know names matter, right?

It does matter.

And when you talked about your dad, a professor at MIT, it reminded me of my grandfather who was a custodian at MIT, but the Richard J.

Murphy school is named after him, and people often would ask me, you know, was he famous?

Was he a politician, a professor or something?

And I would say, well, no, he cleaned the toilets at MIT, but he had an impact on his community, right?

Like he did so much, and just wanted to read some of the words um that I wrote down when you were all speaking.

Visionary breakthrough, impactful, powerful, towering connection, people, community, look inside, um, always thinking of the long game, respect, and doing what was good for the community.

That's you know what I took away from all of what you were saying, and just think, you know, Kaylee, you must be so proud, right?

That and you obviously shared your dad for some to so many people, but um a life well lived, and I think we should be naming more than just the square, but and often thinking how how do we advocate, and it makes me want to advocate even more for the Chinatown community.

Sorry, but um wanted to say also a thought I had about um when it's built and when the name is there, and maybe it will already be part of it.

But when I go to Hero Squares along with Council Flynn and the Boston Veterans Committee um commission does um QR codes.

So any time at the Hero Square locations, you can take out your phone and scan it, and it gives you the you know history of why, like who was this soldier, why did, you know, what what sacrifices did they make?

Let's um make sure that there is a plaque somewhere in this park so that those who are visiting can learn about your father and why it was so important and the lasting, you know.

Obviously, when I often say as an at-large city councilor also that you know what we do in High Park in PAX Roxbury, right?

Like what we're doing in Chinatown in PAX, my neighborhood in Dorchester and Mattapan.

So it's important that all of us, which I believe we will, but support and see this through.

So looking forward to the bigger ribbon cutting, but you know, honoring your father in such a meaningful way.

So thank you.

Thank you so much, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Culpepper.

And I know I know I'm taking a risk by giving you unlimited time.

I appreciate uh the no time limits.

I wish Councillor Weber was here.

Because you're setting a precedent.

But I thank you.

I thank Councillor Flynn as a co-sponsor for bringing forward this important conversation.

The stock that sits at the intersection of environmental justice, public space, and cultural preservation.

Chinatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Boston.

And here, I won't go through this summary that they gave me.

But I remember Chinatown as a junior high school student.

Graduated from the William Howard Taft and Brighton.

And one of the things that we did that day to celebrate our graduating from high school.

And what an amazing experience it was.

And when I think about community, this is what I pulled up.

So that the young folks can actually see that it's possible for them to do it too.

We don't have to keep naming streets back to the 1900s and bring folks that we need to do it for folks like Sarah Anshar that actually lived it so we can help tell the story.

So let me read this to you, Madam Chair, and then I do have a few questions.

I don't think I'll go through them, but let me just read this.

The legacy of Tunney Lee, preserving the history of Boston, Chinatown.

Boston Chinatown lost a pillar of its community this summer.

MIT professor maritists, Tunney Lee, an urban planner, architect, and historian died in July of complications from cancer.

Lee immigrated from China in 1938 at the age of seven, spent his life shaping the growth in the Boston neighborhood, always working to preserve its history with an eye toward the future.

Tunney Lee's research focused on community-based design and engagement.

His Boston Chinatown Atlas.

An interactive online platform documents the history of Boston Chinatown.

Urban planners and history historians say the Atlas is one of a kind project which will teach new generations about their city's history.

And when you think about teaching these young folks about our city's history, and you think about this plaza being named Tunney Lee, it really raises for me some of the things we're dealing with in Roxbury, especially with that center bus lane, and trying to shape it in a way where it will teach young folks the future of what Chinatown is, how special Chinatown has been, how special Chinatown is, and how special based on how we shape and how we name different historical places that will preserve the future for many, many years to come.

And so when I think about this and I look at what we're struggling with in Roxbury, how do we preserve the history?

This is really teaching me that even though Roxbury, like Chinatown, tree canopies are an issue, uh trying to preserve open space.

So I think this is a testament to something that we really need to start thinking about in Roxburgh.

How do we preserve Blue Hill Avenue in a way that the young folks, 50 years from now, will know that Minyard Culpepper fought and worked hard to create whatever we end up with in the Roxbury Grove Hall.

And so look, I say let's do it.

I don't have any questions.

I just think it's something that we need to do and build upon it as maintaining the history based on those that actually helped develop and preserve it.

And you know the good thing about Tunali, he wasn't just focused on Chinatown.

I mean He's in that book.

People before Highway that Dr.

Crocker wrote and that celebrated today.

So let's celebrate.

I want to be at that.

And thank you for coming.

What a great panel.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you so much, Counselor Cole Pepper.

So I'm going to go back to the lead sponsor, Counselor Flynn, if he has any additional questions.

And then I we do have some testimony as well.

So Counselor Flynn.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And thank you for giving uh giving me another opportunity.

I do want to ask a question to my good friend Lydia Lowe about this renaming, but focusing, Lydia, on Chinatown having so few public spaces, such as Tai Tung Pak, as you know on Tyler Street, uh Taitong Village, probably the smallest, smallest park, maybe in the city of Boston.

I know you're also working, Lydia, on Reggie Wongpac, right in this this heart of the area that we're talking about where the highway system was, and Lydia Lowe is working with myself and some legislators, Aaron Michaelitz and Nick Collins on really making this PAC something for the community.

Lydia, talk to me about economic justice issues and what why is this important to rename this area after Tunney as it relates to economic justice and environmental justice I don't know if Tunney usually used the words economic justice, but his life was all about economic justice because you know he um he believed in um the strength of you know what was a poor immigrant working class community, you know, that raised him, and he didn't have any illusions about you know, he he was very fond of his childhood, he remained loyal to Chinatown through his whole life, but he was also like you know, there were rats and roaches, and you know, we were struggling, and you know, we were lucky because we were one of the first ones to have a bathroom, but back in those days we didn't have bathrooms, and um, you know, and those, you know, so I think that Tunney's life was about really identifying with the struggles of people, you know, who had humble beginnings, but that who deserved whose lives deserved respect, just like everybody else.

Um, and that's what he fought for when he fought the you know the encroachment of the highway, um, because he wasn't able to prevent it, you know, in Chinatown.

Um, and and I think he really taught generations of activists in Chinatown to kind of stay true to our goals, and at the same time he was eminently practical.

And so, you know, sometimes he'd scold me, but always, but always he was encouraging too, and he always told us like we have to come together, everybody in the community, you know, we have different perspectives, but we need each other.

And um yeah, so I and I think in terms of and you know, again, I don't think environmental justice, you know, was a term that he used a lot, but he really believed in you know improving the quality of life, and that you know, Chinatown deserved um open spaces just like other communities um do.

And I I just want to clarify also um for the record, because um, you know, the uh Amy from the administration was talking about the process of renaming versus the process of naming.

And um, you know, we had a whole discussion about this within the community because originally we're like, let's rename Phillip Square, and then we looked into well, who's Phillip Square named after?

And we said, well, wait a second, we don't actually want to rename Phillips Square because we're not against the person who's Phillips Square was named for, you know, also really deserved that honor.

But we we just we want to name this project as Tennilee Plaza.

Um and then you know, we requested this hearing because we understood that there wasn't a really clear process for you know for requesting that.

And so we said, well, let's just you know, let's ask for city council hearing to make our case.

Um, you know, so that that can give the city something to decide.

Um the lead sponsor of this, he's been dogged to get this hearing done.

So counselor Flynn, I want to thank you for I know that it's a busy time in the council schedule, and I know as chair I really tried to make this happen, but I just want to say he has been dogged, both talking to the administration and to my office.

So I just want to thank you for that persistence because I know it's not easy, it's not an easy time to get a hearing scheduled.

So well, well, thank you, madam chair, thank you for those kind words, and thank you, Lydia, for for that that response.

And maybe I'll just finish it with one final question, also to our wonderful friend.

Um in Angie, we listened, we listened to the example of Tani talking about Chinatown being a working class community that respects our immigrant roots.

That's what you've done building housing for working class families for our seniors, recognizing the contributions of our Chinese residents as well.

Is this something that you have also learned as you continue to advocate for building housing and to make sure that Chinatown is is a neighborhood that welcomes working class families and immigrants as well.

Um yes, uh, thank you for the question.

Um I think you know, um Tani reminded us that um, and I think what was something really unique um for a planner um from that era was that um so I think many of the earlier planners were so enamored with these mega projects, um, overwhelming projects that um if you look at a lot of renderings of big projects from the 1950s even through to the 70s, um rendering showed only buildings but very few people um or the people you know almost resembled ants.

And so I think because of his experience of growing up in a working class immigrant community like Chinatown, um he really reminded all of us that um it's about the people.

So whenever we're creating buildings, affordable housing or whatnot, it's really about making sure that the place remains uh a community where um those working class immigrant residents um can remain there.

Um and it's something that we also try to think about and balance, right?

Um, even while we think about uh you know, historic preservation, row houses and whatnot, is trying to balance preserving the history and the buildings of Chinatown, but the most important thing really is about the people, because as we've seen in other Chinatowns across the United States, not all of them are uh as vibrant as Boston's Chinatown, even though maybe ours is not as physically as large as New York or San Francisco, but we do have a lot of residents here, and that is because we have over the years as a community fought for successfully a lot of affordable housing that enables not only seniors but families with adult immigrants and children um to live here.

You know, you go to Chinatown at you know, um in the mid-afternoon, you will see um kids getting dropped off, you know, coming out of the schools from Josiah Quincy and other schools.

That's not necessarily the case in let's say DC's Chinatown.

Right.

They have only several hundred um Chinese elders living there, and it's pretty sad.

Well, thank you, Angie.

And I I think you're right.

One of the first things I do when I visit a city if I'm if I'm traveling, I I like to see the Chinatown, and I like to walk around and and and and see how the community interacts and how large it is, and see how many residents are living there, whether it's in Washington, DC or Manhattan or or Brooklyn.

Um but but you are right.

It's it's important that we keep and preserve this working class neighborhood, celebrate our immigrant roots, and want to say thank you to the incredible panel for being here.

Um, Madam Chair, I know we do have public testimony, so I I don't want to ask any more questions, but thank you for um this important hearing, Madam Chair.

Thank you so much, Counselor Flynn.

Um I do the same thing, only you sound more anthropological.

I am a big foodie, so I do the same thing, but I usually traveling through just trying to taste um some of the cheap eats.

Um I had a great experience in San Francisco's Chinatown, and I I got a little too full.

So it's just interesting.

Um interesting that we both do that.

Um grateful.

Um I I do have one question, and then I think we're gonna go to public testimony unless unless there are other questions for my colleagues.

I just want to ask a very specific question about where the idea came from, and then second, um how the how you formed the petition and just like what went into that as a community.

And that might be for Alice or for uh I don't know if that's for Lydia or Alice or Angie.

I think well, the idea came, I I spoke about that short design charrette.

Um it was actually at the Sasaki office where all of these different, you know, it's like I don't know, maybe 80, 100 people, 100 people, you know, different residents, community leaders, and we had all these different breakout groups talking about how we wanted the Phillips Square project to come together, and this, you know, really it was really amazing how all these groups started talking about this was a play way to um make visible Chinatown's history, and that as a second gateway into Chinatown instead of it, you know, we have already kind of the traditional gate on the other side, but people really wanted this to speak to Chinatown's history.

So that was so interesting and inspiring that everybody arrived at that um separately, and and this was during the report backs from the different groups, and so during those report backs, um so Wendy, who's in the audience, do you want to stand up, Wendy?

Wendy's an artist who is is working on the f the workers' statue project um to um create uh life size statues of Chin of immigrant laborers in four points around Chinatown, and he was at that um charret also, and as he was leaving, he kind of said to me, why is it you know, why do we keep just calling it the Phillips Square Project?

We should call it the Tunny Leap Square Project.

And so then he left, but I I was like, that's a great idea.

So I brought it up at the end of that full plenary and asked everybody in the room, what do you think of this idea?

And people just like all started clapping and saying that was a great idea.

It seemed really fitting, you know, knowing that um Tunney had grown up just around the corner, and um, so it sounds like this has a very grassroots origination of just people being in the same room, which actually sounds really fitting to Tani's history of planning.

It's it's kind of like a little serendipitous that that is the way this came about.

And um, I'm just curious, um, in terms of the actual petition, how was that formed and who was involved?

So then after that, um we kind of called a Zoom meeting together and uh just brought together some of the likely suspects, but it was really interesting because it was across the spectrum of like you know, there's certain Chinatown organizations that work together all the time, like the Land Trust and ACDC work together a lot, but there are other organizations that don't necessarily you know work together all the time.

And so, you know, in this Zoom call, you know, just to say, hey, what what do people think of this idea?

Um it was just unanimous.

You know, everybody really liked this idea.

And so based on the conversation, I drafted the petition.

And the first petition wasn't saying let's rename Tunny Lee, this as Tuny Lee Square.

But then we looked into the process, and we also looked into who is Phillips, because it wasn't clear.

We just called Phillips Square.

Nobody knew it was for Oliver Wendell Phillips, you know, until we did that research, and it took some digging before we could find out.

Um so then we called another Zoom meeting and we said, okay, what do we want to do?

Do we want to rename Phillips Square, or do we want to name Tunney Lee Plaza as a separate thing?

Or do we want to name a different square?

We could name Harrison Avenue and Oxford Place as Tunney Lee Square.

And so we, you know, we discussed it and um came to the idea that we're not trying to cancel out Phillips Square, but we do believe that Tunney Lee deserves you know this kind of honor, and so we proposed to um name the project Tunney Lee Plaza.

Yeah, and to me this is fascinating because I feel like Tunney's history um is one of I mean it sounds like he cared a lot about oral history and a lot about the community and a lot about like that community building element of planning.

And so the idea that people at a planning meeting had an idea about him being it's just kind of a really incredible um it it speaks a lot to to who he was.

And there were other people who I know submitted um written testimony or were going to um two of his partners on the Chinatown Atlas project really wanted to support this idea but couldn't be here today, so they did send written testimony.

And I'll just say we'll continue to accept public testimony until you know, and we'll make it part of uh this hearing.

So if there's anyone who after this wants to send anything in, um, and I do think we're gonna package that up and we will send that to those that make decisions with the pick as well.

And I know uh many people probably have heard of Helen Chin Schlick Day.

She's one of our elders in the community.

Um her health is not so good, so she had also really wanted to be here and um but wanted to express her support as well.

Yeah, we I mean we haven't heard from Auntie Helen yet, but when she does, I I know she she means a lot to everyone in in the whole entire city, so uh yes, go ahead, Counselor Culpepper.

Thank you.

I have one question, and I wanted you to speak to what it would mean for the community to have this space name in his honor.

But certainly given his uh ties to Oxford place, and his lifelong commitment to China Jones.

Just talk about what it would actually mean.

Oh, I mean all of you.

I mean Yeah, I anybody else?

Yeah, yeah.

I think what you said about the trail was so important that I don't know if Councillor Culpepper was here when we talked about that.

Yeah, I think it's it's not all.

Oh, sorry, could you turn on that mic?

Perfect.

Yeah, I think it's not only about um naming that one plaza, although that's important and it's you know very appropriate because it's near where he grew up, but it's the it's the fact that the communities come together with this idea of lifting up um Chinatown's history through this project, and that it's you know, a lot it's right on Harrison Avenue, that wide part of Harrison Avenue, that's that's where this project is.

And so it can actually lead to a whole corridor that really um does celebrate that history.

Um and I I don't know if you were here when I named a few of the things that are in the works, in addition to this um streets project, which we hope will be named after him.

Uh, there is actually um going to be a historic city marker.

The city is trying to put in 15 new markers before this summer, and to specifically with the goal of diversifying the city marker program compared to what it installed in 1976.

Um so one of them will be in Chinatown and it will be at the corner of uh Harrison Avenue and Oxford Place.

So again, an opportunity to lift up the incredible history of this as the origins of Chinatown, that point, but also to um talk mention it as the childhood home of Tunney Lee.

Our immigrant history trail, which is a um community-led project, then intends to put a lenticular photo uh kind of a photographic marker on the home where Tunney lived because one of our board members now lives there.

And then on other parts of Harrison Avenue, there is a mural already that was done by an artist working with the Asian CDC on the building where the historic, you know, raid um took place.

And then um a little further down Harrison Avenue is the historic garment workers union building, and there is a lenticular photograph, a photographic marker with two different images of garment workers um in the union um on that building.

And also, you know, in the it the one of the um workers bronze worker statues, the uh a statue, a life-size statue of a garment worker is also slated to be installed um along Harrison Avenue.

So it's just uh an opportunity to really create this historic corridor.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

And I see I'm sorry, I missed um Councillor Murphy's light.

So Councillor Murphy, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Um I know that at Phillips Square we have like the Christmas tree lighting, the August Moon Festival is there, the lion dance parade, when they shut the street and put you know up the stage for that.

Um it's it's a small space, and I I agree and respect that you know we want to you want to keep it Phillips Square, but if you could describe like know that little stretch of that quarter acre well, like in that space, what changes are coming in what spot specifically would be the Tunney Lee Plaza part of it.

Do you know, or should I have asked?

I assume you would know exactly.

Yeah, it was too bad that um I I know that it was too bad that one of the uh Todd city workers who is really working on the project, couldn't have shut shared a little bit more because it's quite a nice design that they've come up with that includes, I think includes some shade elements.

Uh they're hoping if there's enough budget to include a water feature, like a water misting feature.

Um it includes new planting because there's a lot of utilities underneath the ground there, they can't have big trees, but they can't will have some potted trees, I think.

Um, and uh, you know, and there were ideas about having different kinds of pieces of Chinatown history in the tiles of the you know, walkway.

So the idea of the naming is that that project itself would be called Tani Lee Plaza because it's not it's not a park, it's not like a a park, like a green park.

No, there will be more greenery, but it is essentially still uh uh a mostly paved area.

I appreciate that they're thinking of including water misting.

I'm not sure if there's other, but I know council Flynn, a few times you were in Chinatown, I think once with your wife, like during one of the heat waves and emergency heat wave and getting Boston Water and Sewer to come with you know one of the trucks, but and have been to um you know just community meetings about the need and including you know, like Tufts and other businesses and hospitals around the area because when we talk about it getting really hot in Chinatown, it's not just an inconvenience, it's a real health issue.

So, are there other features that would also be obviously beautiful but useful?

Do you think that they're not including, or were there things that were proposed by the community that maybe didn't make the cut that we could maybe advocate for I can just step in to say that I at least I went to one of the public meetings, and it feels like Sisaki has been really working with the community to make sure that as much as possible there's a lot incorporated.

I I think we really didn't get a full picture of the plans.

So what I'm planning to do is I I'll send it around Councilor Murphy to all of our colleagues, just in case there are thoughts.

Um Counselor Flynn, would you like to respond as well?

Yeah, thank thank you, madam chair, and I I do know that the community is actively involved in working with the design and the implementation of what the plan would be.

I I do feel like the residents have been heard, have been respected in this process, and I think that's a critical part of any infrastructure project of or any development project, but I am confident that the residents have been heard that this ongoing communication will continue, and it's important for the residents to stay engaged, stay involved.

And I am and I know the residents are committed to that, and I know the city is committed to doing that as well.

So I'm I'm happy with the project is going right now, and I I do want to acknowledge the city of Boston for working uh respectfully with the residents.

Yes, bowling.

Can I say something?

Of course.

Okay.

I I just uh you know, a lot of less than here.

We we uh going together when a lot of the full school at the side last a few years in the less than so happy is on June 26th.

5:30, we have the community decide celebration in Quincy School.

I have the still keep the flyer here and the less than so happy today because they talk about how to remember the history about the Chinatown or the things, and Lidia mentioned that Tucky Lee that idea on the Sasaki meeting.

I am over there.

I think half at least a half resident over there, they can raise the hand if they join that that meeting in the Shasaki over there because you want to raise your hand anyone.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I I think it's uh last yeah big because uh uh why we uh for say my personal story because I I was living uh uh immigrant here 2003.

I was living in Maman Phi Chon Cisji is uh near the uh uh across the street.

But I knew Turkey is still in a joy CPA, and then I joined two uh um Chinatown Masapan 2010 and Tony Two.

Tony Tony 10 and Ton Tony, oh my god.

And then I learned a lot from him, and then I know him.

But that is for me is I am so lucky, I still can talk talk to him in person, but I want more people know the history uh immigrant or our youth in the future.

That's why we need to name something to remember him because I'm so lucky.

I I I don't know any history here before I came here, but I learned from him.

I learned a lot.

This one I want to say here.

That is very important for our community.

Thank you.

Councilor Murphy, do you have any other questions?

No, just wanted to also uplift um Vlad to hear about the worker statues that are going to be placed, but also I know we hear from um many of the veterans, Chinatown veterans, and I know Councillor Flynn, you've been advocating along with um Senator Collins and Rep um Oh, sorry, it sounds like we're having some translation issues again.

Um better than okay.

Should I recess again?

Okay, I'm gonna recess.

Um so sorry to cut you short, Counselor Murphy.

Okay, I'm gonna recess for a second.

What they gave to this country, but like it was said earlier, weren't um recognized for it.

So just looking forward to advocating for that also.

Thank you.

That was all.

Okay, thank you so much, Councillor Murphy.

Now we're gonna move on to public testimony.

Um so I'm gonna take it in the order in which it came in.

Um Chenny Huang is first.

Um each each person will get two minutes to testify.

Um the panel is relieved.

Um, I just want to thank you all for uh your service and for for being here today to share um what it what this means to your community.

So Chenny Huang is first, Xumei Chen is next, then Drain O'Donnell, Yolanda Yang.

Um, and so we're gonna go in order.

Jenny Huang.

And I'm gonna set a timer, but when so when you hear that, if you could try to wrap up.

Um I would pull the mic closer.

Perfect.

You guys want copies?

Would you like copies of those?

Oh no, it's uh I we we can disperse them later, but go ahead.

Okay, hi council members.

Um, my name is Jenny Huang, and I am one of the community organizers at Chinese Progressive Association.

So I just want to say that on behalf of all of our members and residents of Boston Chinatown here today.

Um, Chinese Progressive Association is in support dedicating the new open space project at Phillips Square as Chani Lee Plaza.

And we really appreciate Councillor Flynn's call for this public hearing, which allows those of us who live and work in Chinatown to declare our support for this dedication.

And we're again we're not asking you to rename the square, but instead are urging you to name the project the Tani Lee Plaza and this space at the intersection of Harrison Ave in Oxford Place, where Professor Li lived with his family, is where Boston's Chinatown history began over 150 years ago.

And since then it has become a central commercial area and one of Chinatown's most visible corners with plenty of pedestrian traffic at our all hours of the day.

So marking the space in honor and memory of Tani Li will help preserve and celebrate our community's rich history and culture at a time when immigrant and working class families are eager to see their contributions, recognize and appreciated.

So we urge you to support this project and provide the funding that it requires.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Shoe made Chan.

You have two men.

I am my name so much in.

Oh, sorry.

Are you gonna translate?

I I can heal it.

Okay.

I can try my best.

Okay.

My name is Siumei Chen.

I am living in 115 Chanji Street apartment 1202.

I am going outside every day.

I saw my building and Hong Long House building.

The less than uh most is the elderly.

They use this uh uh park a lot.

They sit down over there every day.

Okay.

And I uh I see a lot of the people bought the lunch box uh uh including students.

They sit down all day, eat lunch, they use this a lot, and as you say, hope uh city can get money or uh uh to build and name uh techni and uh and then use this part.

And she said took a picture about uh how the elderly and they use the yesterday.

This picture from yesterday.

Yeah.

Uh not even winter Thai, they uh they still use it.

In summer, they use the until the midnight, 9 p.m.

Yeah, yeah.

Don't give that.

And the elderly they do exercise in the papa.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

Uh so next, um Diane O'Donnell.

And then Yolanda Yang.

Yolanda?

Oh, go ahead.

Hello, counselors.

Um, can everybody hear me?

Also the interpretation?

Yes.

My name is Yolanda Young.

I represent uh BCNC and a power center.

I work at a power center as arts engagement manager.

One of my biggest duty at Power Center is to engage young folks in our volunteer poll as well as the school tour students.

Um as many as many people would know um Chinatown, different organizations, so we would host different kinds of tours for Power Center.

We host student school groups uh very you know, like focusly.

So every time when I take a tour to with students um to have a historical and artistic tour in Chinatown, Philip Square, aka Tani Li Plaza in this case.

That's the spot we usually love to stop.

Renaming Philip Square into Tony Li Plaza is also a process of renaming the importance of belonging at this moment.

Every time we take students to stop there, everybody would ask who Philips is, and they would ask the name of this Philip Square.

And I hope the city would fully support the process.

So I think what we'll do is if we can have two translators, one come to this mic and one come to this mic.

If it's not working, I maybe have a phone for the same.

And just translate potentially from these.

Oh well, if the person speaking Chinese, I think we're okay because we all can hear.

But it was when you guys speak English, the batteries depleted.

Yeah, so if they if you if you could just maybe come.

Oh, I got it.

Yeah.

So it was when you speak, they couldn't understand.

When they speak Chinese, they get it.

Okay.

Yeah.

But if if you if you need to use these microphones to translate, go ahead.

Okay, we'll do that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um so we're almost done with the hearing.

Um we have one more testimony, but she has not signed up.

Um it's it's that okay for her to speak.

Yes, she can come up.

Okay.

Thank you so much for hosting this meeting.

Um what can things I came here today?

I feel like I have I have a history lesson today.

Now I know in 1860, there's Chinese living in the neighborhood in Chinatown.

And then I learned that Tunis have done not so much about for the community, but for the whole country and for the whole city.

What's our Hai Xiang Kong?

I just want to echo a lot of people's belief that to a name Philip Square to Tony Lee Plaza has a very deep meaning.

And like somebody say, I think we should have a permanent statute of fixture.

So something we will look at and to recognize this is a landmark.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

So seeing I just want to double check that there's no one else who would like to publicly testify.

Okay, thank you.

Counselor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for sharing this important meeting, and thank you to my colleagues in government for being here.

Councillor Dirk and Council Culpepper and Councillor Murphy as well.

I want to say thank you to the administration for being here.

I want to say thank you to the community panel for being here for the important testimony you provided.

This was really an opportunity for us to learn about Tooney and his life, his accomplishments.

And we got firsthand feedback, input, testimony from Chinatown residents about the leadership of Tooney and the impact he had on residents of Chinatown and the city as well.

And that's what this hearing was all about is really to respect the community, to listen to the community, to listen to the wishes of the community, to let the community know that we also respect Tooney in the con the contributions he made.

The other aspect I did want to mention about this hearing is the aspect of language and communication in how we interacted and ensure the vo voices of Cantonese speakers were heard and respected.

But I think this is what Chinatown is all about.

It's about respecting each other, respecting our differences, working together, finding common ground.

Thank you so much, um, Councillor Flynn.

Um I'm grateful to my colleagues for being here.

I'm grateful um to the community for um being here.

I know that Monday at 10 a.m.

is not an easy time for any of you to be here.

And so we're really grateful that you took time out of your busy days to under for to help us understand why this is important to the community.

Um I look forward to working with Councillor Flynn, the lead sponsor, um, on the next steps and what that looks like at the city.

Um I know that this isn't exactly within our purview, but our job is to push an agenda forward and understanding.

I think today I got a really good understanding of why exactly this matters to the community, how it came to be, how the ideas um came to be, and also the history of why Tooney is an important person in the city of Boston and uh why his work deserves recognition from the city.

Um and it's not often that we get to honor someone who has worked for the city and has been part of these processes.

It's it's actually just it feels very symbiotic to have this conversation about planning and naming um with someone who worked, you know, and about someone who worked on these issues.

So it's just a great honor to chair this hearing.

I want to thank um the lead sponsor, Counselor Flynn, for bringing this forward.

Um, and until next time, the hearing on Docket O one Seven Eight is adjourned.